SEPA, a nonprofit organization that envisions a carbon-free electric system by 2050, ranked Con Edison high for a wide range of actions, including its electric vehicles strategy, its work to connect customers who install solar panels and other clean-energy resources, and its smart meter program. The organization gave the company high marks for linking executive compensation to sustainability, setting aggressive carbon reduction goals, innovating, and embracing emerging technologies. "It's humbling because so many energy companies across the country are applying their people's talents and dedication to innovate and lead the transition to a clean energy future," Tim Cawley, the CEO of Con Edison Inc., said in accepting the award. "It's a source of pride because it acknowledges Con Edison's progress in following through on our Clean Energy Commitment. We support New York's aggressive environmental goals and we're doing our part to help achieve them." (See Cawley's full remarks.) "Con Edison stands out due to its comprehensive efforts to transition to a carbon-free energy future, and most importantly, its results," said SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm. "The transformation to a clean and modern energy system involves much more than clean energy generation; it will require changes to almost every part of a utility's business. We applaud Con Edison for its progress, and recognize that much work remains. The world does not have the luxury of time on carbon reduction." Con Edison is seeking to lead the transition to a clean energy future and considers the environment in every decision it makes. Cawley said Con Edison "is partnering with our customers on this journey." Indeed, Con Edison customers have completed 37,000 rooftop projects with the capacity to produce 334 megawatts of clean, renewable power. The company is working with the New York City Housing Authority, Solar One and other partners to place panels on three NYCHA developments. The project employs 12 apprentice installers who are NYCHA residents. The panels will provide discounted power to 400 low- and moderate-income subscribers. The addition of renewables to New York State's energy portfolio will require new transmission lines and energy storage systems. That renewable power will include 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind. Con Edison is investing in transmission and storage. The company is working with a partner, 174 Power Global, to place a mammoth 100-megwattt battery system at the site of a former fossil fuel plant near the East River in Astoria, Queens. The company has robust energy efficiency programs that pay customers to make energy-saving upgrades to their lighting, HVAC, and other equipment. Con Edison is seeking to triple its energy efficiency programs by 2025. Con Edison supports electric vehicle adoption, believing that EVs will play a key role in a clean energy future. Through its PowerReady program, the company is connecting thousands of new public and customer-owned charging stations. PowerReady provides incentives to offset the electric infrastructure costs of installing chargers. The company recently announced that in 2022 it will take delivery of the first all-electric utility bucket truck. Bucket trucks lift workers so that they can work on overhead electric lines, transformers and other equipment. Through its Clean Energy Commitment, Con Edison wants to offer 100 percent clean electricity to customers by 2040. The company has also cut its own carbon emissions by 50 percent since 2005. SEPA based its rankings on responses to a survey. More than 130 companies serving 83 million utility customers responded and 10 achieved listing on the Leaderboard. Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $12 billion in annual revenues and $63 billion in assets. The utility delivers electricity, natural gas and steam, and serves 3.5 million customers in New York City and Westchester County. Through Consolidated Edison Inc.'s subsidiary, Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, the company is the second-largest solar developer in the United States and the seventh-largest worldwide. For financial, operations and customer service information, visit conEd.com. For energy efficiency information, visit coned.com/energyefficiency. Also, visit us on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE Con Edison of New York Related Links https://www.coned.com A mother-to-be has filed a discrimination lawsuit against a pizzeria in South Jersey, claiming she was fired after she became pregnant. Ashley Shaner, 20, worked as a cashier and later a delivery driver for privately owned Pizza Heaven in the 700 block of Route 9 South in Cape May Court House, according to court documents. Shaner delivered pizza and worked 30-40 hours a week in the afternoons and evenings, states the suit, filed April 2 in Superior Court of Cape May County. In early September 2020, Shaner told business owner and operator Dilpreet Jimmy Singh that she was pregnant and showed him her pregnancy test, the lawsuit states. Singh was displeased and took an obvious negative attitude toward her, the lawsuit claims. Singh could not be reached for comment. A worker who answered the phone at the pizzeria on Tuesday said he did not know when Singh would be at the restaurant. The suit states Shaner then noticed her hours were reduced. She texted Singh, I can work the same hours I was working before, and then requested her hours be restored, the suit states. But Shaner claims instead of more hours, she was moved from the higher paying afternoon and evening shift to the lesser paying morning and lunch shift, the suit states. The shift manager allegedly told Shaner the change in hours and schedule was due to her pregnancy. Jimmy doesnt want you working. He said that in his religion he doesnt want pregnant women working, the manager allegedly said, according to the suit. The lawsuit states that Shaner continued to work at the pizzeria for several weeks but when she struggled financially to support herself, she decided to reach out to the owner again. Shaner texted Singh on Oct. 5 to request more hours. But instead of granting the request, Shaner said she was fired on Oct. 18. The lawsuit alleges Singh and Pizza Heaven violated Shaners civil rights under New Jersey law by discriminating against her gender and her pregnancy. Shaner claims she has suffered financially and has experienced losses to her self-esteem, reputation, and has struggled with emotional trauma and distress. The lawsuit seeks back pay, future pay, compensatory damages and other relief. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. More: $2.2 million agreement reached in State Police lawsuit that claimed fitness test discriminated against women Prime suspect arrested in 25-year-old Southern California cold case Britain will still be one of the most generous aid donors in the G7 group even when it slashes its overseas handouts. Germany was the only other member last year to meet the international target of spending 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid, figures showed yesterday. The UK gave more than double the 0.31 per cent G7 average. But Boris Johnson has announced plans to lower the target to 0.5 per cent this year to help fill the black hole in the country's finances. If other nations keep giving at a similar level to last year, this would still put the UK ahead of Canada, Italy, Japan and the United States. But Britain would fall behind France, which gave 0.53 per cent last year. The UK gave more than double the 0.31 per cent G7 average but Boris Johnson has announced plans to lower the target to 0.5 per cent this year to help fill the black hole in the country's finances Official figures revealed last week that Britain's foreign aid budget fell by 712million to 14.5billion last year, the first fall in more than a decade. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed how this compares to other nations. The US is the world's largest aid donor in cash terms, but its 27.7billion contribution is just 0.17 per cent of national income. Britain has slipped one place to sixth in the OECD table of 29 countries on its Development Assistance Committee. Sweden, at 1.14 per cent, is top, followed by Norway on 1.11 per cent, Luxembourg on 1.02 per cent and Germany and Denmark spending 0.73 per cent each. In comparison, Australia spent 0.19 per cent of national income on aid, with Italy on 0.22 per cent and Japan and Canada on 0.31 per cent. In total, 29 donors gave 125.7billion in aid, an all-time high. Britain gave around 1 in every 9. Turkey, not a DAC member, gave 1.12 per cent. Angel Gurria, OECD secretary-general, urged leaders to 'help developing countries with vaccine distribution, with hospital services and to support the world's most vulnerable people's incomes... to build a truly global recovery'. Around 1.4billion of the UK aid budget last year was spent on tackling Covid. Ministers said they would change the law to lower the spending target from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent, cutting handouts to around 10billion. But the Mail revealed last month the budget may be reduced for only one year to avoid new legislation that may be voted down in Parliament. In March's foreign policy review, Mr Johnson committed a return to 0.7 per cent 'when the fiscal situation allows'. Looking at the alarming rise in coronavirus cases in the country, the Ministry of Education and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board together have decided to postpone the Class 12 examinations and cancel the Class 10 board exams on Wednesday. The results of Class 10 will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion developed by the board, the Ministry of Education said. Also read: Centre cancels Class X exams, postpones Class XII exams While CBSE Class 10 board students are celebrating the joys of not having to write exams, students from CBSE Class12, ICSE and other boards are feeling left out. #cancelboardexams#cbseboardexam2021 Class 10th exams are cancelled, Class 12th exams are postponed. Le 12th students to #CBSE : pic.twitter.com/WTO6ofDhWO CBSE Wale Bhaiya (@CBSEWaleBhaiya) April 14, 2021 #cbseboardexams2021 CBSE class 12 exam postponed and Class X exam cancelled Meanwhile ICSE and state board students : pic.twitter.com/tJksy73PWk (@sarifpanda) April 14, 2021 #cbseboardexam2021 Exams of class 10th cancelled by CBSE . le toppers: pic.twitter.com/UkjxbTBJD6 SARCASM (@ssaarrccaassm) April 14, 2021 Govt. cancels CBSE X exam Meanwhile UG, PG and XII students- pic.twitter.com/kfflUA74wt WORLDINOS (@jagatttVani) April 14, 2021 1. CBSE students Right now 2. ICSE students Right now pic.twitter.com/thx3mDAWIy Vidhayak (@yours_vidhayak) April 14, 2021 #cbseboardexam2021#cancelboardexams#cancelboardexams2021 Class 10 exam cancelled but class 12 exam postponed Class 12th students to CBSE : pic.twitter.com/5VZmOMut8t Aman Pratap Singh (@Kush_aman12) April 14, 2021 After Knowing CBSE exams for Class 12 postponed, CBSE exams for Class 10 cancelled.. Backbenchers be like #cbseboardexam2021pic.twitter.com/MsxYZpPAjy BULLSORG (@BULLSORG1) April 14, 2021 no one: ICSE / ISE students after seeing CBSE cancel board exams: pic.twitter.com/C5IL8NDEPN Amal (@amalonlyfans) April 14, 2021 #cbseboardexams2021 CBSE class 12 exam postponed and Class X exam cancelled Meanwhile ICSE and state board students : pic.twitter.com/6oH3JSK7Ya (@rishabh_memes) April 14, 2021 The decision on the CBSE board exam was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The exams were scheduled to be held from May 4. According to the CBSE data, as many as 21,50,761 students were scheduled to appear for the upcoming Class 10 CBSE board exams while 14,30,243 students were supposed to take the Class 12 exams. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Joel Greenberg is said to have been cooperating against Rep. Matt Gaetz since last year. Greenberg reportedly said he and Gaetz interacted with women who were given cash or gifts for sex. Gaetz has been embroiled in a political firestorm over news he's facing a sex-trafficking inquiry. See more stories on Insider's business page. Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector and close associate of Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, has been cooperating with federal investigators since last year, The New York Times reported Tuesday. Greenberg is said to have given investigators information about an "array of topics," according to the report, including telling them that he and Gaetz had interactions with women who were given cash and gifts in exchange for sex. The Justice Department first indicted Greenberg last June, and he resigned from his government position shortly after. Since then, he's been charged with 33 counts, including carrying out the sex trafficking of a minor between the ages of 14 and 17. Gaetz has been embroiled in a political firestorm since The Times reported last month that the Justice Department was investigating him as part of the Greenberg inquiry. In particular, the feds are said to be looking into whether Gaetz had sex with a minor and violated sex-trafficking laws. The Florida Republican lawmaker has fervently denied the allegations against him and dismissed the department's investigation as being part of an elaborate and convoluted extortion scheme against his family. "Congressman Gaetz has never paid for sex," a representative for Gaetz told Insider in an email when asked for comment on the Times report. "Based on reporting from Politico, it seems Mr. Greenberg has been trying to ensnare innocent people in his troubles for quite some time." Tuesday's reporting comes after prosecutors and Greenberg's defense attorneys told a judge last week that they were close to reaching a plea deal. Story continues It's unclear what the terms of the agreement would be, but Greenberg's lawyer Fritz Scheller hinted that his client was cooperating with prosecutors, telling reporters last week, "I am sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today." It's unusual for prosecutors or defense attorneys to publicize the existence of a plea deal because they'd want to avoid tipping off other targets. "I don't know if [Scheller's] foreshadowing, I don't know what the motive would be because generally cooperators don't want people to know they're cooperating," Sherine Ebadi, a former FBI agent who was the lead agent in the government's case against the former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, told Insider. "But maybe that buck has passed because this case has been so publicly talked about." The Times' report on Tuesday, which indicated that Greenberg had been cooperating since last year, also suggests he didn't have much to lose when lawyers for the prosecution and defense told the court last week that a plea deal was on the horizon. Based on media reporting about the Gaetz inquiry, prosecutors most likely have a large trail of breadcrumbs to follow as they work to corroborate the allegations against the GOP lawmaker. The investigation is said to be looking into whether he used campaign money to fund travel for women, and The Times reported investigators were scrutinizing Gaetz and Greenberg's interactions with "multiple women who were recruited online for sex and received cash payments." CBS News reported that prosecutors were also zeroing in on a trip Gaetz took to the Bahamas in late 2018 or early 2019 with a hand surgeon and marijuana entrepreneur who is accused of footing the bill for female sex workers, hotel rooms, and travel expenses. And The Daily Beast reported that Gaetz sent Greenberg $900 via Venmo in 2018 and that Greenberg then sent $900, in varying amounts, to three young women. But there's other information that prosecutors would need to build a strong case, details they may not be able to glean from records and documents. That's where Greenberg comes in. For one, he could have been privy to conversations in which only he and Gaetz were present or private communications that took place on encrypted apps, in text messages that could have been deleted, or on a burner phone. "There could be a number of things they did that the government may not have access to or doesn't even know exist," Ebadi said. But the biggest thing he could speak to, she added, is whether Gaetz expressed his intent in the conduct he's accused of engaging in. "Depending on what prosecutors charge, often an element in various cases is intent, or proving someone's knowledge or willfulness when committing a crime," Ebadi said, adding that with Greenberg, "you could have someone that was present when [Gaetz] was making statements like, 'I'm going to do this,' or 'I'm doing this for these particular reasons.' Those are crucial words in a case like this, especially when it comes to that element of intent." Read the original article on Business Insider The Brooklyn Center police on Monday said the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright came by way of a rare mistake: An officer drew a service pistol when she thought she was holding a Taser. A gun-Taser mix-up by a police officer has been blamed for a handful of deaths in the U.S. at least three others nationwide since Tasers with a pistol-grip were first introduced more than two decades ago. Most of the cases did not lead to criminal charges against the police officer. A criminal complaint for the Brooklyn Center case may be filed as early as this week, according to Washington County Attorney Pete Orput. At a news conference on Monday during which body camera footage of the Sunday afternoon shooting was shown, Brooklyn Center police Chief Tim Gannon said he believed the officer later identified as department veteran Kimberly A. Potter meant to use her Taser. Im not in the mind of the officer, Gannon said during the news conference. I can only see what youre seeing. I can couple that with much of the training that I have received and thats why Im believing it to be an accidental discharge. In footage of the moments before Potter shot Wright, she can be heard shouting Taser! three times, the departments standard warning to the target and bystanders that a conducted energy device is about to be deployed. Moments after the shot, in apparent shock, the officer can be heard saying, Holy shit, I just shot him. According to press and court filings reviewed by the Star Tribune, similar shootings have happened at least 11 times nationwide since 1999 the year when Taser introduced the handgun-shaped Advanced Taser M-26. Earlier Tasers were shaped more like a TV remote control, and an early case hinged on the change. In 2001, Sacramento police officer Thomas Schrum shot Steven Yount once in the buttock as Yount fought with officers who were attempting to place him under arrest. Yount lived, and Schrum said afterward that he thought he had drawn his Taser. It was a novel case at the time: Taser had only recently introduced its Advanced Taser M26 model with a pistol grip, a change the company said was driven by customer preference. The Taser M-26 was later replaced by other models that are also handgun-shaped, and nearly all departments use such models. Inquiries with the Brooklyn Center Police Department seeking information about which model of Taser the department uses were not immediately returned Monday. The Taser can fire two barbed darts that are connected to thin wires. The weapon delivers an electric current that incapacitates muscles. When it works, the weapon makes people fall down with their bodies locked in a rigid state. They can be easily distinguished from handguns, according to a statement Monday by the maker of Tasers, Axon Enterprise. Tasers have different grips and are heavier than pistols, and the weapons have an LED screen that lights up when the safety is turned off. Some Tasers are bright yellow, but the weapon is also available in black. Axon also specifically warns of the possibility of weapon confusion and provides training recommendations to mitigate against it. Based on recommendations by use of force experts, Axon recommends that a TASER energy weapon be placed on an officers non-dominant side, and firearm on the dominant side, the statement read. The Brooklyn Center Police Department policy manual says officers must complete training before using the Taser, and must carry it in an approved holster and on the opposite hip as their firearm. The manual does not dictate which side of the body officers must wear the Taser, although chief Gannon on Monday said officers are trained to wear the Taser according to which hand is dominant. Its not unusual for police departments to instruct officers to wear the Taser on their non-dominant side so that they must reach across their body to draw it from its holster. A righthanded person, for example, would wear the Taser on their left hip. The Brooklyn Center police manual says all Tasers must be clearly and distinctly marked to differentiate them from the officers firearm. Officers are also required to undergo annual proficiency training for the Taser. Most cases where officers have mistaken a service pistol for a Taser including a previous case in Minnesota have not been fatal. Most have resulted in injuries. In 2002, a Rochester, Minn., police officer shot a man in the back while trying to subdue him, later telling investigators that he had mistakenly drawn his Glock service pistol when he wanted to use a Taser. The man who was shot, Christofar Atak, survived with a wound to his lower back. Police officer Gregory Siem was not criminally charged, and Atak later won a $900,000 settlement in a civil suit. In three cases that did prove fatal Everardo Torres in Madera, Calif., in 2002; Oscar Grant III in Oakland, Calif., in 2009; and Eric Courtney Harris in Tulsa, Okla., in 2015 the officers involved said they had intended to use their Taser, not their service weapon. ___ Matt McKinney of the Star Tribune wrote this story. 2021 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Ive been aching to visit Indonesia for quite some time as this nation comes across both as an intriguing travel destination and home to a thriving custom motorcycle scene that never fails to impress. For instance, the 750 Imola -inspired showstopper you see here hails from a Jakarta-based workshop named Sabotage Cycles.Before it fell in these folks' hands, this machine was an ordinary Ducati 860 GT. From the factory, the donor is brought to life by an air-cooled L-twin mill with two valves per cylinder and a displacement of 864cc. This piece of Italian machinery delivers 65 stallions at 7,000 rpm to a five-speed transmission, which feeds the oomph to the rear wheel via a chain final drive.Ultimately, this whole ordeal enables Bolognas model to reach a healthy top speed of 112 mph (180 kph). Now that weve covered the stock bikes main specs and features lets dive in for a closer examination of Sabotage Cycles mechanical warrior. To kick things off, the artisans removed every standard bodywork item in favor of a complete aluminum attire resembling that of a legendary Imola.You will find a hand-shaped tail section and a flawless Imola-style gas tank, as well as an alloy fender hugging the front hoop. Speaking of footwear, the team disposed of 860 GTs standard rubber to make way for bespoke counterparts that come equipped with a Borani expanding brake up front and a Takasogo drum module on the opposite end.Rear suspension duties are handled by a one-off swingarm and a single shock absorber from Sachs, which replaces the original twin shock setup. To improve handling even further, the factory forks were blessed with a set of progressive springs for good measure. Additionally, the Sabotage crew installed a pair of Telefax clip-on handlebars, and rear-mounted foot pegs to bring about a meaner riding stance.Last but not least, the front end was treated to a retro-style headlight unit, while the 864cc L-twin received a curvy exhaust system topped with reverse megaphone mufflers. Oh, and dont you even get me started on that classy single-seater saddle, okay? Ill bet Paul Smart would get fairly nostalgic were he to meet this Imola-infused 860 GT. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 16:55:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Buddhists bathe a Buddha statue at the Ounalom Pagoda during the first day of the three-day Khmer New Year holiday amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 14, 2021. The Ministry of Health has called on people to celebrate the New Year at home as Cambodia has seen a sharp rise in new cases. The kingdom logged 178 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday logged 178 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, the country's Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement. The new cases included 177 local cases -- mostly in capital Phnom Penh and one imported case, the statement said, adding that the imported case was detected on a 47-year-old Cambodian man returning from Thailand on Monday. In the latest move, the country required people in Svay Rieng province to wear face masks in the public and in businesses, saying that the province has been determined as the high-risk COVID-19 area of infections. Svay Rieng province is the sixth province that mask-wearing has been mandatory after capital Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, Kandal, Prey Veng and Siem Reap provinces. Under the kingdom's law, first-time violators will be issued a warning, as repeat offenders will be fined between 50 and 250 U.S. dollars. Since the start of the pandemic, the Southeast Asian country has officially registered a total of 4,874 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 35 deaths, the MoH said, adding that there are currently 2,544 active cases in the kingdom. Cambodia began an anti-COVID-19 inoculation drive on Feb 10. As of Tuesday, some 1.17 million out of the country's 16 million population had been vaccinated against the virus, showed a government report. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:19:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Stakeholders in Kenya's travel and hospitality sector on Wednesday appealed for fiscal, regulatory and financing incentives from the government to enhance its resilience in the face of pandemic-induced shocks. Mohamed Wanyoike, chairman of Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), said that state bail-out is key to enable the sector to weather a downturn occasioned by new COVID-19 restrictions. "We call on policymakers to continue discussions and agree on coordinated measures that are necessary for the successful start of travel even as they strive to improve the country's epidemiological situation," Wanyoike said in a statement issued in Nairobi. Kenya's more than 200 travel agency businesses that have a combined workforce of 15,000 have borne the brunt of travel restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. Wanyoike said that travel operators who are mainly small and medium-sized enterprises have been struggling to stay afloat amid cancellation of hotel bookings. "Suspension of domestic air services, an extended nightly curfew and a lockdown of five counties dealt a major blow to the industry," said Wanyoike. "In the meantime, industry will need continued financial support to help weather the extended dry-spell," said Wanyoike. Travel industry players are holding discussions with the Central Bank of Kenya and lenders to consider moratorium on loans. "This will give travel agents the much-needed cushioning from large-scale loan defaults, negative credit rating and risk profiling, even as they strategize on new ways to balance their books," said Wanyoike. He said that travel industry stakeholders are keen to comply with COVID-19 containment measures to facilitate safe reopening of a sector that is a key source of jobs and revenue to the exchequer. Enditem AKRON, Ohio A man is facing multiple charges after police say he used high-power rifle to shoot up a Sherbondy Hill home that had several people inside, including three children. No one inside the home on the 300 block of Howe Street was injured in the shooting, which occurred at about 3:30 p.m. Monday. Police say the residence was struck by bullets multiple times. Numerous shell casings were found at the scene. The suspect in the shooting, Tyrell Hunter, 27, was arrested a short time after the shooting when he was seen walking to his vehicle on Corson Avenue about 2 miles north in the Highland Square neighborhood. Police say an AK-47 rifle was used in the shooting. Police did not say if they know a motive for the shooting. Hunter is charged with multiple counts of felonious assault, improperly discharging firearms into a habitation, weapons under disability and criminal damaging. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Shooting at Lakewood park wounds teen, police say City recommends discipline for officers involved in pursuit that killed 13-year-old Tamia Chapmann Akron man abandons dogs in former home, 1 dies, prosecutors say The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter and is expected to be immediately accretive. The addition of E4:9 Holdings will provide Fathom with new and significant incremental revenue streams, enabling its agents to offer critical ancillary services to their clients, and enhancing Fathom's revenue per transaction. The purchase price is approximately $26.75 million, consisting of approximately $10.0 million in cash and $16.75 million in Fathom Holdings common stock, provided that certain stockholders of E4:9 Holdings may elect to accept additional shares of Fathom Holdings common stock in lieu of cash. Based in Katy, Texas, E4:9 Holdings, through its three operating subsidiaries, provides mortgage, insurance, and insurance industry lead generation services. "I cannot begin to fully express how excited I am with our planned acquisition of E4:9 and its three operating companies," said Josh Harley, Fathom's Chairman and CEO. "These are three amazing companies, all under one equally amazing group of business leaders and entrepreneurs. It is one thing to find a wonderful and successful business to bring into our Fathom family, but to know that the leadership shares our drive, passion, values, and desire to serve others is encouraging, and speaks volumes to why they have experienced such incredible success. "I have to give massive praise to both the Fathom and E4:9 teams for their tireless work and dedication to getting this transaction done. E4:9's businesses, as part of Fathom, should speed our path to profitability, and equally important, increase our revenue per transaction, while providing a better experience for our agents. We are successfully delivering on our promises, and plan to continue to do so," Harley said. "Unlike many of our competitors that go the joint venture route when entering the mortgage arena, with Encompass Lending Group, we chose to acquire the mortgage company. This is key for many reasons, including that it should allow us to net more revenue per transaction, better integrate our technology and lead flow for a higher attach rate, and better control the quality of clients' experience, to ensure our agents want to refer their customers to our mortgage company. We believe this acquisition will also help us attract additional successful mortgage teams and smaller operations to our company to better service our growing agent base and national expansion plans. "Dagley Insurance is equally exciting, because it brings the powerful addition of recurring revenue from a growing base of clients," said Harley. "Each time a client buys a home through a Fathom agent, works with one of our Encompass Lending loan officers, or closes their home with our title company, Verus Title, they will also need to insure their new home, and often that includes bundling their car, business and other complementary insurance, potentially increasing our revenue per transaction. By fully integrating Dagley Insurance into our intelliAgent platform and into our real estate, mortgage, and title businesses, we strongly believe that we can also capture our clients' insurance business as well. "Lastly, Real Results has built a strong lead generation and lead nurturing company focused on the insurance industry. They have experienced incredible growth and great results, and while I'm excited to see them continue to generate leads for our insurance company, we plan to expand their services into our real estate and mortgage operations. Real estate agents and mortgage loan officers are always seeking additional ways to generate or acquire leads to help grow their business and close more sales. We believe that Real Results can help us attract more real estate agents, more loan officers, and more insurance agents by providing Fathom-generated leads. "We believe that this acquisition, as with our already completed acquisitions, will bring strong leadership, more revenue to our organization, attract more agents to our platform, and generate more revenue per transaction, while better serving our agents, clients, and the industry as a whole," Harley added. "At the end of the day, that should equate to greater long-term and sustainable value for our shareholders." "We are extremely excited to be joining forces with Fathom Holdings, as we continue to identify ways to bring our services to a greater number of consumers and businesses," said Nathan Dagley, President of E4:9 Holdings. "Our vision is 100% shared by Josh and the Fathom team. Our strong alignment of culture and values was a critical factor in attracting us to Fathom. "I am most excited for our more than 140 associates, and the opportunities for future growth and expansion that will be created for them," said Dagley. "As leaders in the mortgage, insurance and lead- generation sectors, we could not be more pleased to be joining a true innovator in the real estate industry. The real winners will be our shared clients, who will experience VIP service and a one-stop shopping experience." About Fathom Holdings Inc. Fathom Holdings Inc. is the parent company of Fathom Realty Holdings, LLC, a national, virtual, full-service real estate brokerage that leverages proprietary cloud-based software called intelliAgent to operate a Platform as a Service model (PaaS) for the residential real estate industry. Fathom offers real estate professionals 100% commission, small flat-fee transaction costs, support, technology, and training, all powered by best-in-class operational efficiencies. For more information, visit www.fathomrealty.com . Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including, but not limited to, the timing of closing the E4:9 Holdings transaction, adding incremental revenue sources and being immediately accretive. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including: risks associated with making and integrating acquisitions; technology risks; risks in effectively managing rapid growth in our business; reliance on key personnel; competitive risks; and the others set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement for its initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Investor Relations and Media Contacts: Roger Pondel/Laurie Berman Marco Fregenal PondelWilkinson Inc. President and CFO [email protected] Fathom Holdings Inc. (310) 279-5980 [email protected] (888) 455-6040 SOURCE Fathom Realty Related Links https://www.fathomrealty.com 2021-04-14 Maeci Today, Deputy Minister Benedetto Della Vedova took part in the meeting of the Steering Committee on combating trafficking and serious exploitation, presided over by the Minister of Equal Opportunities and Family, Elena Bonetti. The aim of the Steering Committee is to draw up guidelines for programming and financing actions to prevent and combat human trafficking, firstly by preparing a new National Plan of Action against trafficking and serious exploitation for the period 2021-2023. The battle against human trafficking, reiterated D.M. Della Vedova, is a priority issue in Italian foreign policy, in light of the increase in migratory flows in recent years, as well as the ties with organised crime and terrorist organisations. The Deputy Minister referred to Italys roles in the major international forums, for promoting initiatives based on collaboration between Countries of origin, destination, and transit, with an approach based on respecting the victims and their needs, with particular care being taken of women and children, including unaccompanied minors. In order to step up this action, D.M. Della Vedova stressed the need for a drive internally, in relation to gathering and sharing data. In addition, the National Plan of Action against trafficking and serious exploitation for the period 2021-2023 must be adopted as soon as possible. This Plan, concluded Deputy Minister Della Vedova, is a tool that is useful not only for defining inter-institutional strategy and relations in this regard, which are essential for effectively and strategically dealing with a phenomenon as complex as this, but also for further valorising the actions going on in an international context. The Hamilton County Health Department, in partnership with Southern Adventist University, will offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to 1,000 individuals who make an appointment, this Sunday, at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists. This community event is free and open to the public by appointment. We are grateful to partner with Southern Adventist University to offer COVID-19 vaccine in the Collegedale community, said Hamilton County Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes. First or Second Dose Moderna Appointments: April 18 - Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, 4829 College Drive E, Collegedale, TN 37315 A second dose event will be offered when the time is due Make An Appointment: People are encouraged to visitvaccine.hamiltontn.govto make their appointment online. Those who do not have access to the internet can call the appointment call center to make an appointment over the phone: Appointment Line: 423-209-5398 Spanish appointment line: 423-209-5384 The Health Departments general COVID-19 hotline 423-209-8383 is available to connect people to vaccine and testing resources. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8AM-4PM and Saturday 10AM-3PM. Bilingual representatives are available. Instant Appointments: In addition to being able to make an appointment, there is also the option for instant appointments. Instant appointments allow people to drive up to Southern Adventist Universitys vaccination site between 10AM and 4PM to receive an instant appointment if slots are available. There is no guarantee a drive-up appointment will be available at that time. Important Information to Know Prior to Appointment: Do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Wear appropriate clothing to get a shot in upper arm Print and complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Encounter form for both first and second dose appointments. Click here to download the form: https://bit.ly/3rtuueu . Forms are available on-site, but bringing a completed form to the vaccination site will accelerate the process. Be prepared to wait 20 minutes after shot Be prepared for the entire process to take an hour or more Vaccination Record Card: When patients receive their first dose with the Health Department, they will receive a Vaccination Record Card with the following important information. The vaccine manufacturer (Moderna) The date the first dose of vaccine was given The date the second vaccine dose is due. This date is not an appointment. Patients must schedule a second dose appointment on or after the due date. Additional Resources: Stay up-to-date on new vaccine appointment information. Follow the health department via their email newsletter and social media accounts, available at this link:health.hamiltontn.org/ AllServices/Coronavirus(COVID- 19)/ConnectWithUs.aspx . For more information in Spanish, visit the Spanish Facebook Page: https://bit.ly/3ixLU6x After the United States announced the withdrawal of all its troops from Afghanistan by September 11, Berlin said that the foreign ministers of the US, Britain, France and Germany will hold talks on April 14 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. In a statement, the German foreign ministry said that the meeting between the four nations will primarily focus on Afghanistan. The ministry added that other issues, including developments at the Ukrainian-Russian border and the nuclear agreement with Iran, will also be addressed. The statement read, The main focus of the talks is Afghanistan. Other issues to be addressed are current developments at the Ukrainian-Russian border and the nuclear agreement with Iran. Meanwhile, The US extension in the timeline will allow a safe withdrawal of American troops in coordination with NATO allies. However, Joe Biden's decision risks retaliation by the Taliban on US and Afghan forces that would escalate the 20-year war. The Taliban has rejected the United States plan to restore peace in Afghanistan and they have also firmly opposed the proposed delay in the withdrawal of the American troops. Attacks will resume if troops dont leave on May 1: Taliban Taliban's website Islamic Emirate has released a statement against the US President's decision of violating the Doha agreement. They have warned that the attacks will resume if the occupying forces do not leave on the specified date. They have also mentioned that the group will not abide by the agreement if one party violates it by extending the deadline. They further warned that the responsibility of the violence caused will be on the party that violates the agreement. Taliban repeated their earlier threat to attack American and NATO forces if they do not leave on May 1. The message mentioned that any deal made with the Taliban will no more be valid if there is an extension in the deadline for the withdrawal of US troops is of no benefit. They further added that Afghanistan has been suffering due to insurgency for two decades and the violence and political dysfunction has worsened the situation in the country. It is worth mentioning that last year, the United States and Taliban had signed a deal intending to end the conflict in Afghanistan. in Qatar. The agreement called for the US withdrawing its troops in return for security guarantees from the militants and a commitment to starting peace talks with the Afghan government. The Taliban committed to preventing Al Qaeda from using Afghan soil for activities that threaten the US or its allies. But now, the Biden administration is considering keeping US troops in Afghanistan until September 2021. (Image: AP) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), listens to a question from a constituent in Wixom, Mich., on Aug. 15, 2019. (Paul Sancya/AP) Rep. Rashida Tlaib: US Policing Racist, Cant Be Reformed Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) took to Twitter Monday evening to call for an end to policing in the United States as we know it, claiming its intentionally racist and cant be reformed. Tlaibs comments come after the killing of a 20-year-old black man, Daunte Wright, who was fatally shot Sunday by an officer, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Police say the shooting was accidental. It wasnt an accident, wrote Tlaib. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. Police released body camera footage of the incident, showing Wright resisting arrest by police who were carrying out a warrant. Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled Wrights death a homicide. The citys police chief told reporters he believes the officer who shot Wright mistakenly drew her gun thinking it was a taser. I am done with those who condone government-funded murder, Tlaib added. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It cant be reformed. Tlaibs comment to end policing was criticized on Twitter, with people noting that the Capitol, where she works, has had a heavy police presence and additional fencing since Jan. 6. Kimberly Klacik, an African American who ran for Congress in 2020 from the city of Baltimore, Maryland, called out Tlaib for her comment. Another way to say I can afford to live in a completely safe neighborhood & I dont care about those who cannot afford to move, wrote Klacik. Fellow progressive Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) echoed Tlaibs sentiment about policing. From slave patrols to traffic stops. We cant reform this, wrote Pressley on Monday. L-R: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D.N.Y.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) at a House hearing in front of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, in Washington on July 12, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama called for reimagining policing in the wake of Wrights death. Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police, Obama said in a written statement Monday. Its important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country. Another black man, George Floyd, was killed last May by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, with the incident sparking protests and riots in major U.S. cities last summer and calls on the left to defund the police. Lawmakers in a number of states have since been taking money from police departments and redirecting it to mental health and social workers to handle things like domestic violence calls. Many cities have already begun reducing funds to their police departments. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for an investigation into Wrights death and for the Senate to pass her partys police reform legislation, The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which cleared the Democrat-controlled House in early March for the second time. Daunte Wright should still be alive today. Our hearts ache for his family and for the Minn. community currently seeking justice for George Floyd. This epidemic of injustice cannot continue, wrote Pelosi. Last year, The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate because GOP lawmakers said the bill would leave police departments unable to do their often stressful jobs, stripping them of legal protections. Currently, there is a chance Democrats will try to pass the police reform bill without GOP support by abandoning the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass major legislation. The Manitoba government is not hitting its COVID-19 immunization targets. Despite rising infection rates and rapidly spreading variants of concern, the province has failed to meet two crucial benchmarks: immunizing 70 per cent of Manitobans in their 60s and 70s by early to mid-April. The Manitoba government is not hitting its COVID-19 immunization targets. Despite rising infection rates and rapidly spreading variants of concern, the province has failed to meet two crucial benchmarks: immunizing 70 per cent of Manitobans in their 60s and 70s by early to mid-April. Even with a steady supply of vaccines from the federal government (and a stockpile of close to 120,000 doses still in freezers), the province is not meeting its timetable for those age cohorts. According to Manitoba Healths immunization schedule, 70 per cent of Manitobans aged 60-69 were supposed to get their first dose of the vaccine by Thursday. As of Tuesday, only 27 per cent of that cohort has had an injection. The province projected 70 per cent of those aged 70-79 would get their first vaccine by April 5. More than a week later, 66 per cent in that age group have received a first dose. When asked why the province has fallen behind, a government spokesperson mistakenly claimed those benchmarks are for high-range supply projections only. "As we explain in our technical briefings, there are high-range and low-range scenarios based on supply of vaccine and eligible people booking their appointments promptly," the spokesperson said in an email. "Your question focuses on the high-range scenario. The reality of hitting our target will likely be between those two scenarios." In fact, the timeline is the same under either scenario for both age groups, according to the provinces weekly technical briefing documents. Those havent changed since March 8. Download Provincial timelines for vaccine distribution Based on both timelines and vaccines already in stock, the province isnt hitting its targets for those age groups (it has for older Manitobans; 83 per cent of those over the age of 80 have received at least one dose). Government officials either dont understand their own vaccination schedule, or theyre trying to deliberately mislead. Either way, its further evidence of how poorly the provinces vaccine rollout has been managed. "Currently, we are working our way through the age cohorts and are optimistic our target goals will be achieved (by the) end of this month," the spokesperson said. "It was just last Friday when 60 year olds became eligible for their vaccinations; it will take some time for these appointments to be conducted and reflected in our data counts." The fact 60 year olds became eligible to make appointments only last week shows how far behind government has fallen. Every week the province fails to get doses into arms means Manitobans especially those older than 60 are at higher risk of severe outcomes and death. Every week the province fails to get doses into arms means Manitobans especially those older than 60 are at higher risk of severe outcomes and death. Solutions have been proposed to government to get vaccines into arms quicker; all have been rejected. Government seems determined to stick to a slow, low-performance rollout no matter the outcomes. The 54,600 AstraZeneca doses the province received April 3 (distributed to medical clinics and pharmacies) are being administered at a snails pace. Fewer than 3,000 of those doses have been doled out in more than a week. The entire shipment should have been in peoples arms by now (through whatever distribution channel was necessary to get the job done). Its unclear whether vaccine hesitancy around the AstraZeneca brand is playing a role, or whether some providers cant administer shots quickly enough. Whatever the case, it should be fixed immediately, starting with expanding eligibility. The province has not received a vaccine shipment in five days, yet still has an inventory of 118,318 doses. Health officials are not even close to running out, as they often predict they would following a period of no shipments. There are at least 100,000 Manitobans who should have been immunized by now who aren't. There is no excuse for this. Manitobas vaccine rollout has gone from utter incompetence to gross negligence. Meanwhile, the province is scheduled to receive another 77,400 doses this week. Provincial officials said last week they could "pivot" to a faster system if necessary. It's time to pivot. This is an emergency. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca Passenger air transportation is planned to be resumed in Zakarpattia region, the head of the Zakarpattia department of the Servant of the People party, MP Mykola Tyschenko has said. "We have finally reached an agreement with Windrose and ... I want to tell you the good news: we are resuming passenger air transportation in Zakarpattia," he said during a briefing. At the same time, the parliamentarian recalled that in 2019, air traffic was restored for a short time, but due to the fact that it turned out to be economically unprofitable, the transportation stopped. Windrose Director Volodymyr Kamenchuk, in turn, informed that the airline plans to start operating regular flights on the Kyiv-Uzhgorod-Kyiv route from June 1. "The flight will be operated three times a week. The increase in frequency will depend on passenger traffic. We hope it will increase daily," he said. Kamenchuk also stressed that Windrose is interested in the development of Uzhgorod airport as a potential air hub in Western Ukraine, therefore, intends to take part in training young specialists. The son of Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Menendez will be nominated to the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, one of the regions most powerful agencies, a source close to the appointment confirmed Wednesday. Robert Menendez Jr. of Jersey City is one of three new appointees to be announced soon, and was the product of negotiations that have been ongoing since Gov. Phil Murphy took office in 2018. The bi-state agency operates the airports, seaports and the tunnels and bridges connecting New Jersey and New York. Each state is represented by six commissioners on a 12-member board overseeing a $7.3 billion budget. The post doesnt pay a salary, but its a high-profile spot. Menendez will replace a long-stalled Murphy pick, Amy Rosen, who has served on NJ Transit Board and the Amtrak Board of Directors. That nomination has been in limbo because in order for it to advance, Rosen needed the informal but crucial backing from state senators in Essex County, lest her appointment be blocked through senatorial courtesy, the refusal of a senator to sign off on the nomination, according to three other sources with knowledge of the negotiations. A Montclair resident, Rosen and her husband, former state Human Services commissioner Tim Carden, have contributed $24,750 to Democrats, including Murphy, according to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission. But Rosen did not have the backing of at least one senator from Essex County, according to the sources, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to disclose party negotiations. Rosen will be appointed to another high-profile board in the near-future, the source with knowledge of the deal said. Rosen could not be reached for comment. Murphys office declined to comment. Menendez Jr., 35, is an attorney with Lowenstein Sandler who has been exploring a run for mayor against incumbent Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop. A graduate of Rutgers Law School, his work includes the structuring, formation, and operation of private investment funds. He did not respond to a request for comment. The selection of Menendez Jr. completes very complicated and protracted political maneuverings to fill three open seats from three counties most affected by the ports business, Hudson, Bergen and Essex. The governors goal and that of the state Senators, was to appoint women to a board that has always been dominated by men, sources said. The only two women serving as port commissioners represent New York. Two of the other nominees are women, according to three sources familiar with the negotiations. They are Michelle Richardson, executive director for the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation, and wife of former state Assemblyman, senator and retired state Superior Court Judge Joseph Charles. She was the choice of Sen. Sandra Cunningham, D-Hudson. Cliffside Park Councilwoman Dana Martinotti is Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinbergs pick. She is married to U.S. District Court Judge Brian Martinotti. Murphy has agreed to keep holdover Kevin McCabe, chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, on the board, sources said. If confirmed, these new commissioners would replace David Steiner and Richard Bagger on the Port Authority board. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. New Delhi: In a big relief for lakhs of students, the CBSE BOARD EXAMS 2021 have now been postponed. They were scheduled to begin on May 4 but have been deferred due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country. The Class 12 CBSE board exams have been postponed, whereas, Class 10 CBSE board exams have been cancelled. The decision was taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal. To conduct the Board Exams for Class XII, the situation will be reviewed on June 1 by the Board, and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations On the other hand, the results of the Class X Board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the Board. Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him/her on this basis will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams. As per a press note, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the well being of the students has to be the top priority for the Government. He also stated that the Centre would keep in mind the best interests of the students and ensure that their health is taken care of at the same time their academic interests are not harmed. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, School and Higher Education Secretaries and other top officials also attended the meeting. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry gestures as he addresses a press conference after a meeting with France's Economy and Finance Minister at The Ministry of Economy in Paris, France, on March 10, 2021. (Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images) US Sending the Wrong Signal by Traveling to China to Discuss Climate Issues: GOP Rep The United States is sending the absolute wrong signal by sending John Kerry, the Biden administrations climate envoy, on a trip to China to discuss raising global climate ambition, House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Tuesday. Kerry is expected to arrive in Shanghai on Wednesday and has scheduled meetings with Chinese officials on Thursday and Friday, ahead of President Joe Bidens Leaders Summit on Climate scheduled for later this month, and the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year. McCaul criticized the plans in a statement released this week following publication of a damning report from Bloomberg that reveals forced labor central to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) green energy policies. Ambassador Kerry is sending the absolute wrong signal by planning to travel to the Peoples Republic of China to discuss climate issues, McCaul said. The PRC is the worlds largest carbon emitter and backer of coal power. Now reporting from Bloomberg is further revealing that forced labor and polluting industries are central to the PRCs superficial green energy plans. He added, The United States should be working with countries that want to solve international problems, not those that are creating or worsening them. China is the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases at about 30 percent. It comes as Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) called on the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to detail measures it or member companies have taken to ensure that solar products sourced from Xinjiang, including polysilicon, are not made using forced labor. Polysilicon is the key raw material used to produce solar panels that generate electricity from sunlight. Three factories in Xinjiang collectively produce nearly half the worlds polysilicon supply, Bloomberg reported. McCaul last month urged the Biden administration to add the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) entities connected to the polysilicon supply chain to the U.S. Entity List, and cautioned Kerry about negotiating with the CCP on climate. There are clear ties between the polysilicon supply chains in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and forced labor. Thats why Im calling on the Commerce Department to comprehensively add PRC entities connected to the polysilicon supply chain, including [polysilicon factory] GCL-Poly, to the Entity List and for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue a withhold release order for polysilicon products from Xinjiang, he said in a statement on March 17. Companies or others listed on the U.S. Entity List are required to apply for licenses from the Commerce Department and face tough scrutiny when they seek permission to receive items from U.S. suppliers. During the Trump administration, the United States added dozens of Chinese companies to its economic blacklist, including the countrys top smartphone maker Huawei Technologies, top chipmaker SMIC, and the largest drone manufacturer, SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd. Those companies were sanctioned for a range of reasons, including their role in aiding the Chinese military and supporting the Chinese regimes repression against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published this week, Kerry made no mention of forced labor reports, but said that the United States will hold China to account on its climate pledges. The climate issue is a free-standing issue. Its not for trade against the other critical differences that we have with China right now, Kerry said. Those have got to be channeled separately. Climate is about the survival of the planet. The trip will mark the first visit by a senior Biden administration official to China. China experts have recently warned that the Chinese regime could use climate change as a bargaining chip to extract concessions in other areas. Experts fear that U.S. cooperation on climate change could lead the administration to give ground in other key domains such as human rights, trade, and national security. The Chinese regime has already indicated that the United States would have to accept its own terms before the two sides could work together. China is ready to cooperate with the United States and the international community on climate change, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Jan. 28. That said, Id like to stress that China-U.S. cooperation in specific areas is closely linked with bilateral relations as a whole, Zhao continued, adding the regime has repeatedly emphasized that no one should imagine they could ask China to understand and support them in bilateral and global affairs when they blatantly interfere in Chinas domestic affairs and undermine Chinas interests. Cathy He and Reuters contributed to this report. Australia's longest running soap Neighbours has been plagued with numerous racism allegations in recent weeks from former cast members. And on Wednesday, actress Sharon Johal released a statement about her 'painful' four years on the show, which included racial slurs, mocking comments and a colleague calling her a 'c**t' when she confronted them over an offensive remark. Sharon, who played Dipi Rebecchi from 2017 until last month, said: 'The past week for me has been a traumatising, triggering and painful experience, with the resurfacing of compounded trauma I have tried to deny, bury, and ultimately, survive.' Allegations: On Wednesday, actress Sharon Johal released a statement about her 'painful' four years on Neighbours, which included racial slurs, mocking comments and a colleague calling her a 'c**t' after she confronted them over an offensive remark She went on to allege that on more than one occasion, a current cast member (not a person of colour) directly referred to her as 'you people', while speaking in derogatory terms about an altercation they were involved in with an Indian person. She says the same cast member repeatedly referred to her as 'the black one' and/or blackie' behind her back while in the presence of crew members, and that the person claimed the show only employs Indian actors 'to fill their diversity quota'. Sharon says she communicated the comments to management, who were sympathetic and confronted the actor on one occasion to her knowledge - but the approach only caused her to become a target once again. 'For example, it had been reported to me that a cast and crew member each called me a "c**t" to another cast member after I confronted them over offensive comments,' she alleged. Speaking out: Sharon, who played Dipi Rebecchi from 2017 until last month, said: 'The past week for me has been a traumatising, triggering and painful experience, with the resurfacing of compounded trauma I have tried to deny, bury, and ultimately, survive' Sharon also claims a former cast member (not a person of colour) compared her to 'a bobble-head toy' accompanied by the comment, 'Oh, it's like you guys' - referring to Indians.' 'The same cast member repeatedly mimicked the Indian character Apu from the Simpsons with accompanying Indian accent and movement of head in my presence, despite me requesting they desist,' she added. Sharon also said she received horrifying abuse on the show's social media pages, but when she asked for the comments to be moderated she was advised: 'We leave the comments as they are for people to discuss.' 'It is clear the system has failed,' Sharon continued, before listing a series of changes she hopes the show will make - including cultural awareness training, better duty of care regarding online bullying, and a zero tolerance approach to on-set racism. Neighbours' production company Fremantle has asked Campfire X, creative leaders in Indigenous Cultural Protocols, to 'conduct an independent review of Neighbours and the production process'. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia regarding Sharon's allegations, a Fremantle spokesperson said: 'We remain committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees on the set of Neighbours and take very seriously any questions about racism or any other form of discrimination. 'We are engaging an independent legal investigation to work concurrently with Campfire Xs cultural review and hope to work directly with the individuals that have raised concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps are appropriate.' Call for change: Sharon also said she received horrifying abuse on the show's social media pages, but when she asked for the comments to be moderated she was advised: 'We leave the comments as they are for people to discuss' Sharon's statement comes after a number of claims regarding racism were made by former Neighbours cast members. On Monday, actor Sachin Joab - who played Ajay Kapoor from 2011 to 2013 - told the Herald Sun he was horrified to learn his Australian-born character Ajay Kapoor was being written off the show and 'sent back to India'. He said: 'It was a double-hit for me because not only was I confused at finding out that we, as the only remaining actors of colour on the show are being written out, but... our characters were not from India. Our characters were both born and raised in Australia.' Aboriginal actor Meyne Wyatt, who was a regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016, claimed on Instagram he'd experienced discrimination on set. 'It involved the c-word and I called that s**t out and it didn't happen around me again,' Wyatt claimed. 'I did walk in on this incident in particular, so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back. I have too much experience to believe otherwise.' 'Our characters were not from India': On Monday, actor Sachin Joab - who played Ajay Kapoor from 2011 to 2013 - told the Herald Sun he was horrified to learn his Australian-born character Ajay Kapoor was being written off the show and 'sent back to India' 'I have no doubt things were being said behind my back': Aboriginal actor Meyne Wyatt (pictured), who was a regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016, also claimed on Instagram he'd experienced discrimination on set Guest star Shareena Clanton alleged on Instagram last week that there was a toxic workplace environment and 'culturally unsafe space' for actors of colour. Among several complaints, Clanton accused a staff member of making crude remarks and claimed she heard the N-word used on set twice, prompting production company Fremantle to bring in an Indigenous consultancy firm to carry out a review. Clanton, whose guest appearance on the soap is set to air this week, vowed to never work on Neighbours again after claiming her stint on Ramsay Street was marred by 'multiple racist traumas' which have required ongoing counselling. 'I'm struggling to post anything positive about the months I endured on Neighbours after multiple racist traumas and navigating ongoing counselling from this highly problematic show,' she wrote. 'It's been lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe space.' STANTON President Biden recently stopped the Wuhan probe into what caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Why would he do that unless he was trying to cover up the cause? It is widely known that the Bidens profited heavily from their financial dealings in China and elsewhere during Joes vice presi (Natural News) Voters are not letting go of their belief that the 2020 presidential election was a fraud-filled nightmare. (Article by Paul Bedard republished from WashingtonExaminer.com) The latest evidence from Rasmussen Reports: By a margin of 51%-44%, voters said it is likely that cheating affected the outcome. That included 74% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats. Some 47% said it is likely Democrats stole or destroyed ballots for former President Donald Trump. That included 75% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats. An even 50% said that it is unlikely ballots were destroyed. It is the latest survey to show that much of the nation is stuck in neutral when it comes to moving past the 2020 election, especially Republicans. Trump has done little to help them move forward, as recently as last weekend claiming anew that Democrats and President Joe Biden robbed his reelection. That issue has been fed by continued controversies over balloting and election reform and the partisan fight over the impact of the Georgia voting changes. Liberals, most recently actor Will Smith, have fallen in line to decry the changes. However, a nonpartisan state-by-state review of election laws reported on by Secrets yesterday said that Georgia is in the group of states with the easiest election rules. Delaware, home to Biden, was not. Center for Election Innovation & Research The survey also looked at election laws and found that voters want cheating eliminated from the system far more than making it easier to vote. And they demand voter identification. Rasmussen said: Asked which is more important, making it easier for everybody to vote, or making sure there is no cheating in elections, 60% of Likely Voters say its more important to prevent cheating, while 37% said its more important to make it easier to vote. Only 22% of voters say it is currently too hard to vote, while 34% said its too easy to vote, and 41% say the level of difficulty in voting is about right. Read more at: WashingtonExaminer.com and VoteFraud.news. The target will need great investments in solar technologies, scientists warn, as less than 1% of the energy of oil-producing nation emerges from renewables. By 2030, Saudi Arabia will produce 50% of its energy from renewables and 10 billion trees will be planted in decades to come, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman has stated. Efforts to Diversify the Economy From its Oil Dependence In the comments the government-affiliated Saudi Press Agency reported, Bin Salman said the climate crisis had boosted air pollution, dust storms, and desertification in the Kingdom, destroying the economy of Saudi and the health of its citizens. In response, the Saudi Green Initiative focuses to transform one of the top oil producers in the world into "a global leader in forging a greener world". This is included in efforts to diversify the economy from its dependence on oil. The Saudi Press Agency said Mohammed bin Salman acknowledged the Kingdom's part of duty in advancing the fight in opposition to the climate crisis."We refuse the false decision between safeguarding the environment and preserving the economy. Climate action will boost spark innovation, competitiveness, and make millions of high-quality jobs available," he said. Also Read: Pakistan to Link Carbon Emissions Trade with China The Renewable Ambition of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Gulf allies, prime minister of Pakistan - Imran Khan, the International Renewable Energy Agency, and UN Climate Change chief Patricia Espinosa welcomed the statement. But the government did not disclose if it would manufacture and export any less oil while controlling its own economy with less expensive solar power. A climate change consultant that stays in the United Arab Emirates, Tanzeed Alam, described the renewable ambition of Saudi Arabia as "huge." "Arising from the largest oil producer in the world, it is a pretty bold statement," he informed Climate Home News. In 2017, renewables made up only 0.02% of the final energy consumption of Saudi Arabia, according to the IEA. Solar Power in Saudi Arabia By 2050, neighboring United Arab Emirate has an aim to reach the 50% target while Abu Dhabi, its capital wants to get to it by 2030. Although some mountainous areas have wind power potential, Alam said most of this renewable energy would be gotten from solar power created by huge farms in the desert. The scale of the projects and the sun power make solar power in Saudi Arabia less expensive than anywhere else, he said. "Solar PV [power], if installed at large scales and under favorable climatic conditions, can be very cost-competitive," the International Energy Agency said in a 2020 December report. The Saudi government had "much work to do" to accomplish its 50% goal, specifically by investing in energy storage Alam added. Presently, only Norway and Iceland get over 50% of their primary energy from renewables. He added that investment would be gotten from both the government and the private sector. The Public Investment Fund of the government puts down the risk finance that assists a competitive tendering process, he said. Relate Article: Climate Change: Persistent Carbon Emission Levels Place Earth On Red Alert For more news, updates about carbon emissions and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Chicago-based author and journalist Anna Marie Kukec Tomczyk debuts her new book We Are Eagles: Inspiring Stories of Immigrant Women Who Took Bold Steps in Life Through Literacy. The Dominican Sisters help people on the margins of society. So, Sister Kathleen believed creating a center to help immigrants to learn English and to improve their way of life fit perfectly into their mission." Since 1993, the Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora has been a trusted resource offering one-to-one tutoring to immigrants wanting to learn English and to help them become citizens in their new homeland. Led by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, the center has become a place offering inspiration, hope, confidence, comfort and safety for those escaping the many stressful and dangerous situations that many immigrants, especially women, face. Chicago-based author and journalist Anna Marie Kukec Tomczyk brings readers into the heart of the centers mission through the eyes of five Latinas from Mexico in her new book, We Are Eagles: Inspiring Stories of Immigrant Women Who Took Bold Steps in Life Through Literacy. She explained that the title of the book came from the daughter of Maribel, a domestic violence survivor, who cleaned toilets for a living until she learned English, got better jobs and went through a divorce. One day, her daughter gleefully announced that since her mother now learned to drive and got a used car, the two of them were like eagles who could fly anywhere. Nothing could hold them back, Tomczyk explained. Indeed, nothing held back Maribel or the other women in the book as they gained strength, confidence and endurance on their journeys in life thanks to the help they received at the center. The women in this book all had one thing in common: the arc of their lives paralleled each other, regardless of the year they attended the center. So, this book starts with the first public speech by Maribel that heralds more accomplishments to come. Then their stories are divided into four parts that mark the lifecycle of the eagle, one of the most powerful and enduring birds in our country. Four years ago, Tomczyk learned about the center from Sister Beth Murphy, the Dominican Sisters director of communications. Murphy told her about Sister Kathleen Ryan, the centers founder and director, who was inspired to create the center after watching a TV news segment describing a program helping immigrant women learn English. The Dominican Sisters help people on the margins of society. So, Sister Kathleen believed creating a center to help immigrants to learn English and to improve their way of life fit perfectly into their mission, Tomczyk explained. As more former students achieved in life, the sisters saw the pillars of their Dominican life in a new way. Those pillars, which undergird their lives as Dominican women, are community, ministry, study and prayer. Now, the sisters saw how the pillars were supporting their immigrant women as well. The book was a three-year process for Tomczyk as she interviewed the sisters and the five women whose stories appear. Each one offered something that I and others could relate to, especially in mid-life, she said. They each learned how to tap their strength, endurance, courage and empowerment. Each of these women preceded the Me Too movement, yet embodied it. Ryan also wants readers to know how brave these women are after the situations theyve experienced in their home country and here in the United States. As we work with these women at the Dominican Literacy Center, we see and admire their dignity and their resolve to enter into their lives in the United States as educated and participative mothers, wives, and workers, Ryan said. They are an inspiration to us all as they live out the immigrant story. A portion of the profits from this book will be donated to the Dominican Literacy Center to help support its literacy mission. For information about the book, visit https://amkukectomczyk.com/book. It is now available on Amazon. About Anna Marie Kukec Tomczyk Anna Marie Kukec Tomczyk, author of We Are Eagles, is a Chicago-based, award-winning journalist with bylines in U.S. News & World Report, ABA Journal, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald and Daily Herald Business Ledger, Prepared Foods Magazine, Chicago Bride Magazine and others. Anna Marie is a member of the Chicago Writers Association, Independent Writers of Chicago, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Chicago Headline Club. She is a graduate of St. Xavier University in Chicago, where she lives with her husband, Jim Tomczyk, a project manager and a lifelong Chicago Bears fan. ### HONG KONG It was a thrashing to behold. A government worker in northeastern China who complained of harassing text messages from her boss was captured on video beating him with the business end of a mop, spurring debate about the persistence of workplace harassment and turning her into an internet sensation. In the 14-minute video, the woman, later identified by her last name, Zhou, can be seen throwing books at the face of her boss, identified as Wang, and dousing him with water, in addition to hitting him with the mop. He is seen hiding his face behind his fingers, attempting to apologize and saying that he had been joking when he sent the messages. It is unclear exactly when the incident took place, but local news outlets said the woman filed a police report last week accusing her boss of harassment, and the video began circulating widely online this week. It has been viewed millions of times, with many social media users relishing what they saw as an uncommon display of resistance against an authority figure in a country with limited workplace protections against sexual harassment. Many users sided with the woman, lauding her for flipping the balance of power and calling her a defender of justice and a martial arts warrior. Lu Pin, a prominent Chinese feminist activist, said that many people viewed the video as an outlet for pent-up anger over the general absence of accountability for harassers and of available recourse from courts or the police. Many victims of harassment feel powerless to report it and worry that they will be disbelieved or retaliated against if they do. DALLAS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today announced executive leadership changes in support of its global business strategy. Russ Torres, president of Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP), has been named Group President of Kimberly-Clark North America. In his new role, Torres will lead Kimberly-Clark's North American consumer business, maker of many of the industry's most iconic brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Cottonelle, and Depend. Torres will succeed Kim Underhill who is departing after 33 years with the company. A successor to Torres at Kimberly-Clark Professional will be named in the near future. Torres will continue to report to Mike Hsu, Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO. "We're proud to have a deep bench of talented leaders to drive our global business," said Hsu. "Russ is a decisive leader with deep industry experience and a strong set of capabilities. His ability to rally teams around a common vision will drive results for our largest business unit." Torres joined Kimberly-Clark in 2020 with more than 20 years of deep experience within the consumer products goods industry, spanning a number of key senior leadership roles at Bain & Company, Mondelez International/Kraft Foods, and Newell Brands. Torres holds an MBA from Northwestern University, and a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. Kim Underhill, who rose through the ranks of Kimberly-Clark, began her career in 1988 as a process engineer and led several of the company's most strategic businesses, including the UK, Western Europe, Kimberly-Clark Professional, and the North American consumer business. "Kim is an outstanding leader who embodied the Kimberly-Clark culture. Her career was built on trust, teamwork, and a drive for results," continued Hsu, "The care she exhibited for our consumers, community, and most of all, our people will be long admired, and we are grateful for the example she set for the past 33 years." About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's nearly 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com. [KMB-F] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_RGB_Blue_Logo.jpg SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation Related Links http://www.kimberly-clark.com The BBC's diversity chief has claimed Idris Elba's TV detective Luther 'isn't black enough to be real' because 'he doesn't have any black friends and doesn't eat any Caribbean food'. Miranda Wayland said the hit crime drama, which won plaudits for having a strong, black lead character, was only superficially diverse and that corporation bosses are now looking to portray minority groups in a more convincing and rounded way. Elba, who first made his name across the Atlantic starring as Stringer Bell in The Wire, cemented his status as a worldwide star by picking up a Golden Globe, among other gongs, for his depiction of the obsessive John Luther between 2010 and 2019. However, Ms Wayland told the MIPTV conference this week that to achieve true representation, TV chiefs must ensure black characters have an environment and culture built around them that is completely reflective of their background. Idris Elba cemented his status as a worldwide star by picking up a Golden Globe, among other gongs, for his depiction of the obsessive John Luther between 2010 and 2019 Miranda Wayland said the hit crime drama, which won plaudits for having a strong, black lead character, was only superficially diverse and that corporation bosses are now looking to portray minority groups in a more convincing and rounded way Who is the BBC's diversity chief? Last February, Miranda Wayland was appointed as the BBC's Head of Creative Diversity, which the corporation said was a key move in its commitment to increasing on-air diversity. Her role involves championing its importance in the creative community, 'with a specific focus on production, content and suppliers'. She reports to former TV presenter June Sarpong, the BBC's first ever director of creative diversity, and her appointment preceded a commitment last summer to spend 100m of its content budget on diverse programming over three years. Ms Wayland took the role having previously been part of the corporation's Workforce Diversity & Inclusion team, where she had been acting Head of Workforce Diversity & Inclusion, and an HR Business Partner before that. Earlier in her career, she worked for a decade as ITV's diversity manager and also previously held the role of Progression Supervisor at Youth Culture Television. After taking the role last year, she said: 'I'm thrilled to be working with June to help drive the creative diversity strategy for the BBC, ensuring the diverse voices and talents within our industry are included and better reflected across our outputs and productions.' Advertisement She said: 'When [Luther] first came out everybody loved the fact that Idris Elba was in there a really strong, black character lead. 'We all fell in love with him. Who didn't, right? But after you got into about the second series you got kind of like, OK, he doesn't have any black friends, he doesn't eat any Caribbean food, this doesn't feel authentic.' Casting more black directors was only part of the solution, she added, but Luther's creator and writer Neil Cross expressed surprise, insisting that Elba only took the role in the first place because race was not considered important to the character. Mr Cross, who is white, said: 'I have no knowledge or expertise or right to try to tackle in some way the experience of being a black man in modern Britain. 'It would have been an act of tremendous arrogance for me to try to write a black character. We would have ended up with a slightly embarrassed, ignorant, middle-class, white writer's idea of a black character.' The corporation also formally defended the character, insisting it was 'tremendously proud', after seeing the show attracting audiences of 10 million viewers, and being sold to 200 territories around the globe. It emerged last year that BBC bosses discuss diversity in 'every conversation' about new programmes and the issue is 'non-negotiable'. The corporation has said it would spend 100million of its content budget on diverse programming over three years, following protests from Black Lives Matter activists this summer. Shane Allen, who is responsible for the commissioning of all scripted comedy programmes to BBC channels, says director of content Charlotte Moore has been constantly telling staff not to forget to factor in diversity. Elba confirmed back in August that Luther will be made into a feature-length film, teasing the upcoming flick by declaring: 'The sky is the limit,' The character has proved immensely popular with fans with his trademark trench coat and the unorthodox way he solves crime. The show explores Luther's different relationships with the character's wife Zoe and narcissistic murderer Alice Morgan but not his experience as a black man in a police force dominated by white colleagues. A BBC spokesperson said: 'Of course people can have open discussions about our shows but that doesn't mean it's a statement of policy. 'Luther is a multi-award winning crime drama series and the iconic role of DCI John Luther has become one of TV's most powerful detective characters of which we are tremendously proud. 'The BBC is committed to its continued investment in diversity and recent BBC One dramas I May Destroy You and Small Axe are testament to that.' Given the current trends in Bitcoin mining, Chinese researchers estimate that the energy consumption from this process in their country alone will peak in 2024 at 296.59 Twh (terawatt-hours) and generate 130.5 million metric tons of carbon emission. As Bitcoin attracted considerable amount of attention in recent years, its underlying core mechanism, namely blockchain technology, has also quickly gained popularity. Due to its key characteristics such as decentralization, auditability, and anonymity, blockchain is widely regarded as one of the most promising and attractive technologies for a variety of industries, such as supply chain finance, production operations management, logistics management, and the Internet of Things. Despite its promises and attractiveness, mining Bitcoin requires constantly expending and/or expanding computer processing power, which is associated with increasing energy consumption. In new research, Dr. Shouyang Wang from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues investigated carbon emission flows of Bitcoin blockchain operation in China using a simulation-based Bitcoin blockchain carbon emission model. They found that without any policy interventions, the annual energy consumption of the Bitcoin blockchain in China will peak in 2024 at 296.59 Twh and generate 130.50 million metric tons of carbon emission. These amounts exceed the entire annual greenhouse gas emissions outputs of entire mid-sized countries such as the Czech Republic and Qatar. Policy interventions are critical to reduce these impacts, the researchers said. Feeding different scenarios into the model, however, we found that current policies like carbon taxation are not effective at curbing emissions from the Bitcoin industry. Instead, we found that individual site regulation policies for Bitcoin miners represent the best way to alter the current energy consumption structure and reduce future emissions from the blockchain operation. A paper on the findings was published in the journal Nature Communications. _____ S. Jiang et al. 2021. Policy assessments for the carbon emission flows and sustainability of Bitcoin blockchain operation in China. Nat Commun 12, 1938; doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22256-3 ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan's interior minister on Wednesday recommended a ban on an Islamist political party whose supporters held violent rallies this week to condemn the arrest of their leader that left at least five people dead. Saad Rizvi, an Islamist cleric, had threatened protests if authorities did not expel the French ambassador over depictions of Islams Prophet Muhammad. The announcement by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad came hours after Pakistani security forces swinging batons and firing tear gas moved in to clear sit-ins by the protesting Islamists in the capital Islamabad and elsewhere. The crackdown came after five people, including two police officers, were killed Tuesday in the clashes. Police and paramilitary rangers quickly cleared most of the sit-ins staged by the protesters in Islamabad and roads were reopened. Ahmed asked protesters who were still blocking roads and rallying in the eastern city of Lahore to peacefully disperse. The announcement of a proposed ban on the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party came two days after supporters first began blocking highways and key roads in various parts of the country to denounce Monday's arrest of their leader. Rizvi was taken into custody after he threatened the government with mass protests if it did not expel French envoy Marc Barety before April 20 over the publication in France of depictions of Islams Prophet. Rizvi had claimed the government committed to expelling the French diplomat in an agreement. However, the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan insisted it only committed to discussing the matter in Parliament. Ahmad said police and paramilitary rangers launched a crackdown against demonstrators before dawn Wednesday and quickly cleared rallies in the capital and other cities, including the garrison city of Rawalpindi. He said two policemen were killed and 340 police were wounded in the clashes with Islamists. Ahmad did not say how many demonstrators died, but police earlier said at least three Islamists were killed in clashes. He said he hoped the situation would soon be under control in Lahore, where Islamists were still rallying and blocking some roads. Story continues Rizvi emerged as the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party in November after the sudden death of his father, Khadim Hussein Rizvi. His party wants the government to boycott French products and expel the French ambassador under an agreement signed by the government with Rizvis party in February. Tehreek-e-Labiak and other Islamist parties have denounced French President Emmanuel Macron since October last year when they say he tried to defend caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as freedom of expression. Macrons comments came after a young Muslim beheaded a French school teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class. The images had been republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to mark the opening of the trial over the deadly 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures. That enraged many Muslims in Pakistan and elsewhere who believe those depictions were blasphemous. ___ Dogar reported from Lahore, Pakistan. US$4.5 bn worth marine resources pillaged by Indian fishermen annually, say Sri Lankan fishermen by Zulfick Farzan April 14,2021 | Source: News 1st Indian fishing vessels illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters pillage around Rs. 900 billion worth of valuable marine resources in the northern seas of Sri Lanka. The Chief of the Northern Province Fisheries Association M. V. Subramanium speaking to News 1st said that the proposal to offer permits to Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters is unacceptable. This has not happened anywhere else and we are not ready to give up our resources, he said while alleging that every Indian fishing boat entering Sri Lankan waters is connected to Indian politicians and most of these boats belong to Members of the Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu who are sponsoring these illegal acts. On Tuesday (13), News 1st exposed how Indian fishing vessels illegally enter Sri Lankan waters not far from the Island of Delft, under the cover of darkness to pillage our marine resources. The Indian fishing vessels were using a fishing method banned in Sri Lanka, which is called Bottom Trawling. Bottom trawling is an industrial fishing method where a large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor, scooping up everything in its path, from the targeted fish to incidentally caught, centuries-old corals. These nets are dragged by two large trawlers, equipped with powerful engines, larger than any fishing vessel used in Sri Lanka. Indian fishermen forcing their way into Sri Lankan waters is not something that happened overnight, it is an issue that has been growing over the years. It is in such a backdrop, Sri Lankas Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda proposed to allow Indian Fishermen to enter into Sri Lankan waters by offering them a pass. Sri Lankan fishermen, especially those in the north are outraged by this proposal. Indian fishermen are already destroying our valuable marine resources, and now there is an attempt to offer passes for them to come here. We oppose this move. If this situation continues, the word FISH will be limited to text on paper, warned one fisherman. Sri Lankan fishermen say that Indian trawlers come very close to the Sri Lankan mainland under the cover of darkness and in the process of pillaging our seas, they destroy the valuable fishing nets of local fishers. They destroy the nets that we purchase at a high cost, sometimes valued in the hundreds of thousands. If permits are offered to them, why do we need a maritime boundary, said another fisherman. However, Sri Lanka Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said the issue needs to be solved diplomatically. 2019 MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd Theme(s): Fisheries Resources. After signing a partnership agreement with Ericsson in late 2020, Telia Lietuva has begun deploying the Swedish vendors next generation mobile base stations across Lithuania. As reported by CommsUpdate, the operator plans to deploy around 2000 base stations across the next three years to increase the security and sustainability of its network. Telia will deploy radio access network (RAN) equipment from Ericsson as it prepares its network for the launch of commercial 5G. Telia Lietuva began trialing Ericssons equipment in late March this year, and is now installing several base stations in the north of Vilnius to conduct a trial under actual conditions. Following this pilot test, a three-year network upgrade programme will commence in May. Dan Stromberg, CEO of Telia Lietuva, said: Digital society will need even more data and speed in the near future. We were the first in Lithuania to install a 2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G networks. Now with Ericsson equipment, we are substantially updating the mobile technology network of all technologies in Lithuania. We invest heavily in making our services high quality, innovative and sustainable. With over five years in the business, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts remains a popular brand for many South Africans. Having played directly in the 'sweet treat' category and having a clear conceptual difference, competitors are seen as few and far between. Strategic site selection has led to the establishment of 23 stores in prime locations. Krispy Kreme South Africa are keeping pace with their legislated development milestones and have since established production facilities and stores in all three metropolitan areas. Since inception, Krispy Kreme South Africa has created over 600 jobs for the community with five production facilities in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Gerry Thomas, director of Krispy Kreme South Africa. What does it take for a brand to be successful? For Krispy Kreme, what is that special ingredient that makes it a success? The brand is about more than just doughnuts - its about premium coffee, innovative frozen beverages and most importantly its about an experience that touches and enhances lives, through the joy of Krispy Kreme. Many businesses suffered thorough the Covid-19 storm. How and what did Krispy Kreme do? Could you perhaps share some insight into the marketing strategy? The customer experience is prioritised via our absolute dedication to hospitality and mission to ensure that everybody deserves a happy place Wondering how our NEW doughnuts are decorated? Well, they are glazed choc rings, filled with a scrumptious filling, carefully hand-dipped in a milk choc dip, dusted with shimmer and gold ball sprinkles, finished off with one of the Nestle Quality Street chocolates!#KrispyKreme pic.twitter.com/mSiUiYFOD3 Krispy Kreme ZA (@KrispyKreme_ZA) April 12, 2021 1. Care 2. Community 3. Confidence 4. Convenience 5. Consistency What does the future of the Krispy Kreme look like? A brand needs to live by its values. These values need to be relevant to the brand's most important associations; namely its team members, its customers, the community and its shareholders.What differentiates the brand is strict adherence to the Krispy Kreme way. These conceptual differences include the use of specialized ingredients and production methodology, the fact that doughnuts are made fresh daily and delivered to stores throughout the day.The franchisors dynamic approach to a global brand being able to encompass local nuances means that the South African business has flexibility within a framework to localise innovation and implement conceptual points of difference that enhance the local operation.The end game is to ensure that nothing less than the best is Krispy Kreme quality. Ultimately, the local operation is proudly South African, and its most asset are its 600 employees. People development is what is going to sustain the long-term success of the business. The South African business leverages Krispy Kreme global best practice and resources into training and skill development.We moved quickly and transformed the business to align with the new normal. Firstly, Krispy Kreme prioritised the safety of its team and guests. Secondly, we undertook to act with compassion and ensure as minimal as possible impact on everyone associated with the company. From here on the foundation was set to act on what we have always believed in, providing the most awesome doughnut experience imaginable. Fortunately, our omnichannel business allowed for enhanced revenue from our off-premises sales via Pick n Pay and Engen when restrictions compromised our retail store income.Krispy Kreme South Africa uses a bare-bones marketing strategy that relies on word-of-mouth marketing by its satisfied customers, in addition to cause marketing.. This strategy sets up our priority by word of mouth marketing. Digital marketing is also a vital marketing strategy with our Krispy Kreme loyalty app and the social media community leading the digital initiative.Krispy Kremes 5Cs spearhead #KKCARESWe are dedicated to bringing joy and magic moments to all South Africans, ensuring their care and safety comes first. Guests and staff truly are what matters to the brand. By being a part of the Reach for a Dream foundation, which is non-profit organisation committed to making dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, really ignites our brand love! Together we have made over 60 dreams come true and look forward to many more!We keep community engaged, entertained, and connected with each other by encouraging sharing and tagging in their comments sections. We have increased the number of giveaways and competitions which is used to reward our fans and followers. This amped up the joy factor as well as giving consumers something to look forward to.Even pre-lockdown, we have always given guests the reassurance that the brand complied with the strictest hygiene standards. Understanding of preventative measures and continuous training underpinned the absolute duty of the brand to do their part in containing the effects of Covid-19. An official brand statement was released across all platforms. Together with the use of influencers, the brand created a wider reach to audiences to assure guests that strict precautions are in place.With guests social distancing, self-isolating and in quarantine, we provided the convenience of purchasing doughnuts through mini locations, UberEATS and Mr D Food. We have also incorporated a contactless payment solution through our app, where guests can load their card details and simply scan their phone and pay in-store via the appAs lockdown has disrupted the income of many consumers and heightened their need for real value, trust and respect have become non-negotiable qualities in brands that consumers choose to support. Throughout the disruptions of lockdown, we assured guests that they can expect the same level of joy, magic, and quality that the brand has been renowned for, whether it be through their product or ocial media community engagement.Our goal is to use our unlimited passion and knowledge to create a fun filled magical experience, by serving craveable doughnuts, premium coffee at value for money and accessible to all.Within the next five years, we plan to establish doughnut production facilities and stores in the metropolitan areas where there is currently no brand representation. We will continue on the trajectory of growing an omni channel business adhering to our value of always considering others and generating sweet returns. The press briefing on April 13 to introduce the launch of the GRAFT Challenge Vietnam 2021 Proudly sponsored by Aus4Innovation under Australias Department for Foreign Affairs & Trade, the programme will support entrepreneurs from across the globe to solve the most pressing challenges facing Vietnams agri-food sector, including enhancing access to quality production inputs, reducing post-harvest losses, building consumer trust, and addressing specific challenges in crops and plantations, fisheries and aquaculture, and livestock. GRAFT articulated these needs in partnership with industry leaders such as Sao Thai Duong JSC, Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, NIC Group, Beacon Fund, Camimex Group, and Hung Nhon Group, among others. GRAFT Vietnam Challenge seeks agritech solutions from mature international and Vietnamese agritech innovators with validated, ready-to-scale solutions. Applicants must document how their solutions can address the identified industry needs while generating positive community impact and contributing to the sustainable growth of Vietnams agrifood sector. The online application period closes on May 14. Challenge organisers will select as many as nine of the most promising solutions to take part in a 12-15 week programme of scale-up support, including bespoke consultations from a curated network of in-market experts. Selected entrepreneurs will also engage with agrifood sector leaders, investors, and market enablers to develop partnerships and validate technology before participating in intensive in-market roadshows and customised business matching. GRAFT Challenge Vietnam 2021 is the first of its kind. It is a fast track for fast-growing tech entrepreneurs to access customers and partners in one of the worlds fastest changing markets, explained Phan Quang Vinh, director of MBI Innovation. According to Nguyen Duc Tung, general secretary, Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association (VIDA), Vietnams resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic and status as an agriculture export powerhouse gives it considerable growth potential. However, the country requires transformative solutions to capitalise on its opportunity. Through the GRAFT Challenge, VIDA wants to create an enabling ecosystem for agritech. GRAFT Challenge Vietnam 2021 is laser-focused on generating meaningful partnerships between Vietnams leading agribusinesses and transformative solution providers to generate real value across the agri-food value chain, and to strengthen in countrys agri innovation ecosystem at large, shared Justin Ahmed, GRAFT Programme Lead. GRAFT is implemented under the framework of the Aus4Innovation Programme between the Australian government and the Vietnamese government to contribute to promoting the testing of new models in public-private partnerships and strengthening Vietnam's capacity in digital, scenario building, commercialisation, and innovation policy. In 2021, GRAFT Challenge Vietnam 2021 is organised by Australian innovation agency Beanstalk in partnership with the VIDA, the Vietnam National Supporting Center for Youths Start-up (SYS), and MBI Innovation. The programme is proudly sponsored by Aus4Innovation under Australias Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of MSG Networks Inc. (NYSE: MSGN). If you are a shareholder of MSG Networks Inc. and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, free of charge, please visit us at: http://pjlfirm.com/msg-networks-inc/ You may also contact Robert H. Lefkowitz, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 212-725-1000. One of our attorneys will personally speak with you about the case at no cost or obligation. Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP is a law firm exclusively committed to representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and other types of corporate misconduct. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://pjlfirm.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. SOURCE Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP Related Links http://www.pjlfirm.com VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2021 /CNW/ - The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Customs and Immigration Union are calling on provincial health authorities to ensure that frontline Border Services Officers at YVR and other ports of entry are prioritized alongside other frontline workers as part of BC's vaccination efforts. "Border Services Officers operate in environments where they are likely to come into contact with COVID-19 and should be prioritized alongside frontline workers." Says Richard Savage, Customs and Immigration Union Fourth National Vice-President, "At YVR, one of the few international airports still open in Canada, flights from around the world are still arriving every day. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control over 120 international flights arriving at YVR from Delhi, Mexico City, and other hotspots have had a confirmed COVID case on board since January 1, 2021." Other provinces have included Border Services Officers in their provincial priority vaccination plans. Vancouver International Airport is the only airport in Canada open to international travelers where Border Services Officers are not prioritized for vaccination. "BC must follow other province's lead and CBSA management should work with provincial authorities to ensure their workers are included in accelerated vaccination efforts." Savage continues, "Border Services workers and officers have been playing a crucial role in keeping Canadians safe, all the while exposed to significant on the job risks. They must be adequately protected to continue this important work. Frontline border personnel must not be left behind." SOURCE Public Service Alliance of Canada - BC Region For further information: Patrick Bragg, Public Service Alliance of Canada, [email protected], cell: (778) 889-3486 He agreed to plead guilty to murder, serving 45 years, and aggravated battery, a level 5 felony, serving 5 years in prison. Indiana law required both sentences to run consecutively, because Goforth was on bond at the time of the murder, Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas said. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to wreak its havoc the world over, seemingly remaining one step ahead of scientists. With the rollout of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the focus shifted to making vaccines available in the vast quantities required for the global immunization effort. However, the emergence of multiple antibody-resistant mutants has cast doubts on the success of this strategy. Especially concerning are the three variants of concern (VOCs), namely, B.1.1.7 (20I/501Y.V1), B.1.351 (20H/501Y.V2), and P1 (20J/501Y.V3). A new research paper posted to the medRxiv* preprint server describes the changes in genomic sequence observed during the course of infection in a patient on the drug tacrolimus, along with steroids, both potent immunosuppressants, and who also received convalescent plasma treatment. These mutations were observed to occur within three weeks from infection. Immune escape mutations in VOCs All three VOCs carry the N501Y mutation in the viral spike protein, the viral component that mediates host cell attachment and entry. They show a high binding affinity to the host cell receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), to which their increased transmissibility is attributed. These VOCs have multiple grouped mutations affecting the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Some of them show resistance to convalescent plasma containing polyclonal antibodies to the virus and commercially available antibody cocktails, as well as to the antibodies elicited by COVID-19 vaccines. These VOCs are also reported to cause reinfection. Global distribution of S protein E484K mutation. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree with the 4 patient sequences (B.1.369) and 1,983 selected SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the GISAID database (date as 2/12/2021) is annotated using iTOL ( www.itol.embl.de ). The scale represents 0.0001 nucleotide substitutions per site. The SARS-CoV-2 Pangolin lineage and country are illustrated as two outer rings in different colors. Case study The current study focused on a man in his early fifties who presented with symptoms of COVID-19 to a Northern Jersey hospital. He was a kidney transplant patient with a history of graft rejection and recurrent collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The patient was on three immunosuppressive medications mycophenolic acid, tacrolimus, and prednisone. His symptoms were confirmed to be due to COVID-19 by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) test. In view of his medical history and current symptoms of respiratory difficulty, he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Mycophenolate was discontinued, but tacrolimus and prednisone were continued. Other therapies included antibiotics, convalescent plasma with a high titer of neutralizing antibodies, and the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor tocilizumab. The patient continued to show worsening respiratory symptoms, and intubation became unavoidable on day 2. The patient continued to deteriorate and required extracorporeal oxygenation (ECMO) and anti-thrombotic therapy on the fifth day. After a complicated clinical course, including septic shock, the patient was eventually taken off ECMO and mechanical ventilation. After almost 50 days, he was shifted to the step-down unit, and after 64 days, he was discharged to a care facility where he was on the ventilator only at night. However, he died on day 94, supposedly due to poor oxygenation secondary to respiratory failure, resulting from COVID-19 pneumonia. What did the patient's viral samples show? The researchers found that the nasopharyngeal swabs from day 0, 34 and 41, and tracheal fluid from day 7, 21, and 27 were positive for PCR testing in this patient. They then carried out genomic sequencing of the first swab and all three tracheal samples. The first swab and the first tracheal aspirate showed identical genomic sequences, with 14 mutations relative to the wild-type Wuhan-Hu1 virus. This put it in GISAID clade GH, or lineage B.1.369. The second tracheal fluid sample showed the virus had acquired five spike mutations in the NTD or RBD. Of these, the Q493R and the NTD 243-244LA deletion were present in 70% of reads. The latter is in the so-called recurrent deletion region (RDR). The ORF1a A138T mutation, and the spike 141-144LGVY deletion, were found in about 30% each, while the E484 172 K and Q493K substitutions had a frequency of ~20% and ~10%, respectively. The third tracheal sample on day 27 showed predominantly ORF1a:A138T, and the two spike mutations 141-144LGVY deletion and E484K substitution at over 95% frequency. Like the NTD 243-244LA deletion, the 141-144LGVY deletion is also in the RDR. Both these deletions are associated with resistance to neutralizing monoclonal antibodies targeting the NTD. Origin of VOC mutations The emergence of the VOCs may be due to the virus's opportunity to replicate endlessly within immunosuppressed patients. For instance, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently reported the detection of antibody-resistant mutants that allow immune evasion. The RDR deletions are found in chronic SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with weakened immunity and thus could be a mechanism to speed up the occurrence of adaptive mutations that overcome viral proofreading activity. The Q493K/R and E484K substitutions in the RBD are also linked to resistance to monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. Resistance to neutralizing antibodies is a potentially huge challenge to vaccine-mediated control of the pandemic. The E484K is well known for its presence in B.1.351 and B.1.1.28 variants, first detected in South Africa and Brazil and fast spreading over the region. However, it is also present in more than 17,000 variants found in more than 60 countries. Interestingly, the paired 141-144LGVY deletion-E484K substitution became predominant in the last tracheal aspirate in the current study, indicating that it replaced the other haplotypes by compensating for lower fitness or because it resists antibody-mediated neutralization more effectively. What are the implications? The study findings add to the body of evidence that an immunocompromised host is likely to harbor chronic infection and develop severe or critical illness in COVID-19. Both humoral and cellular responses are probably crucial to the adaptive immune response against the virus. Innate antiviral strategies include interferons type I and III activations, with CD8+ effector T cell activation for killing infected cells, enhanced by CD4+ T cells, which also increase B cell responses. Memory T cells preserve the memory of the virus for long-term immunity once the virus is cleared from the host. However, the presence of chronic infection mutes this response, at least in part, and may eventually cause T cell exhaustion by the persistent stimulation of these cells by antigen presentation. This is often marked by lymphopenia. The current patient was on an immunosuppressive regime directed against T cell function and replication and probably the proliferative burst of effector T cells. The continued use of tacrolimus and prednisone during the infection may have contributed significantly to the poor cellular immune response. The administration of convalescent plasma in such a situation could have led to the formation of a "breeding ground," which resulted in the independent emergence of an immune escape variant. This would account for the origin of VOCs in similar situations, which could spread in the community or via the hospital, requiring more intensive precautions and surveillance to contain such transmission. *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. [April 14, 2021] Globalstar Brazil Partners with Cisa Trading Bringing Asset Management Solutions for the Oil and Gas Sector in Brazil Globalstar (News - Alert) do Brasil Ltda., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE American: GSAT) and Cisa Trading, a company with 25 years of experience in trading operations within the oil and gas sector have partnered together to bring asset management solutions to Brazil. Already showing early success, the partnership has delivered improved operations within the supply and management of one of the biggest oil and gas companies in the world. As a requirement from the contractor, all 4,400 Cisa Trading containers require tracking and monitoring via satellite technology as they are moved in remote areas out of cellular coverage. Globalstar SmartOne Solar devices were selected to meet operational requirements. Powered by solar energy and with ATEX, IECEx, IP68/69K and HERO certifications, this powerful device can be operational for up to 10 years with little to no maintenance, bringing efficiency and cost reduction to operations. "The O&G sector is a very concentrated and competitive vertical in Brazil. We are excited to have the opportunity to procure this business and confident the partnership with Cisa Trading will deliver an effective long-lasting solution to the contractor," said Juan Porras, General Manager of Globalstar for Latin America. "This is just one of many key steps in our company's strategy to expand our IoT business in key verticals across the region and the globe." "For our company it was an excellent opportunity to offer our client a state-of-the-art solution for controlling the location and movement of its assets, optimizing the use of the euipment and interacting proactively with its operational team. This strategic alliance demonstrates the confidence we have in the Brazilian oil and gas market and in the potential of our client," said Edward Karic, Executive Director of Cisa Trading Oil and Gas Division. Brazil has become a relevant global player in the production of crude oil with increasing exports over the last decade. The quality of the product has also increased since the exploration of pre-salt layer supplying a lighter oil which is used to produce gasoline and diesel, some of the most valued products. Brazil expects to be among the six biggest oil crude exporters by 2030 which will bring additional opportunities and increased demand for various IoT solutions. About Globalstar, Inc. Globalstar is a leading provider of customizable Satellite IoT Solutions for customers around the world in industries such as oil and gas, transportation, emergency management, government, maritime and outdoor recreation. A pioneer of mobile satellite voice and data services, Globalstar solutions connect people to their devices and allow businesses to streamline operations providing safety and communication and enabling mobile assets to be monitored remotely via the Globalstar Satellite Network. The Company's Commercial IoT product portfolio includes industry-acclaimed SmartOne asset tracking products, Commercial IoT satellite transmitters and the SPOT product line for personal safety, messaging and emergency response, all supported on SPOT My Globalstar, a robust cloud-based enhanced mapping solution. Learn more at Globalstar.com. About Cisa Trading With international presence, Cisa Trading has offices in the main capitals of Brazil and in Lisbon, Portugal. Our customized services are performed by a team of more than 250 employees, who stand out for their high qualification, efficiency, punctuality, and flexibility. The company operates according to strict compliance rules in line with various service providers in the foreign trade chain, with strict compliance with the regulatory environment and in various import modalities. Cisa's differentials and logistical excellence have ensured its market recognition for 22 years with the conquest of numerous awards, including the Infraero for Logistics Excellence and the QSTP (Quality, Service, Technology and Price) Award from General Motors (News - Alert) (GMC), in the Supplier of the Year and Supplier Merit Awards categories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005167/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ATLANTA, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta-based nonprofit TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation will host the third in a series of four virtual forums addressing the subject of "Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Survivorship," one week from today on Wednesday, April 21, from 7 8:30 p.m. ET. The unique nonprofit TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation to host third virtual forum on racial disparities in breast cancer survivorship and outcomes April 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. ET "The goal in hosting this series of virtual forums is to discuss the magnitude and causes of racial disparity in breast cancer survivorship and propose solutions to improve health equity," said Dr. Marilyn Pink, Executive Director at TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation. "This particular forum our focus will involve looking at national strategies for change. We have been so pleased by the participation, interest, and dialogue from the first two forums held in October and February, respectively." Significant short and long-term physical and emotional consequences of breast cancer reduce quality of life for all breast cancer patients. Black women experience a higher incidence of these issues. Rehabilitation and exercise significantly reduce these issues, increase quality of life, and decrease breast cancer recurrence, but very few women and men receive this care. The lack of access to specialized breast cancer rehabilitation care is magnified in minority patients, resulting in even greater health inequity. Dr. Sheryl G. Gabram, MD, MBA, FACS Chief Scientific Officer, Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education in Atlanta, will serve as the event's moderator. Panelists for this forum will include the following experts: *Lorraine Dean, Scd Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health *Dawnovise Fowler, PHD, LMSW Lead Behavioral Scientist, Division of Violence Prevention at CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. *Nicole L. Stout, DPT, CLT-LANA, FAPTA Research Assistant Professor, West Virginia University Cancer Institute The audience for this forum includes physicians, rehabilitation professionals and other providers working in the oncology field, as well as stakeholders in health equity and breast cancer survivorship. To register - registration is free - sponsor or secure more information, visit https://myturningpoint.org/racial-disparities-in-breast-cancer-survivorship Sponsors and partners include the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), Henssler Financial, Alice Stubblefield Memorial Sponsorship, Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center, Champions for Change Sponsorship, JScreen, Educata, Georgia CORE (Center for Oncology Research & Education), Atlanta Business Chronicle, Grady Health System, My Style Matters and Beyond the Ribbon. There will be one additional forum on the subject, taking place Wednesday, September 8, 2021, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. with participants to be announced closer to the date. About TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation is a nonprofit healthcare organization that improves the quality of life for individuals impacted by breast cancer by providing and advocating for specialized and evidence-based rehabilitation while eliminating socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and geographic barriers to care. Since it was founded in September 2003, there have been more than 40,000 patient visits. Media Contact: Jill Binkley 678-936-0361 [email protected] SOURCE TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after the al Qaeda attacks that triggered Americas longest war, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The disclosure of the plan came on the same day that the U.S. intelligence community released a gloomy outlook for Afghanistan, forecasting low chances of a peace deal this year and warning that its government would struggle to hold the Taliban insurgency at bay if the U.S.-led coalition withdraws support. Bidens decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed to with the Taliban by his predecessor Donald Trump. The insurgents had threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops if that deadline was missed. But Biden would still be setting a near-term withdrawal date, potentially allaying Taliban concerns. The Democratic president will publicly announce his decision on Wednesday, the White House said. A senior Biden administration official said the pullout would begin before May 1 and could be complete well before the Sept. 11 deadline. Significantly, it will not would be subject to further conditions, including security or human rights. The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe in staying in Afghanistan forever, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in a briefing with reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the decision with NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday, sources said. Bidens decision suggests he has concluded that the U.S. military presence will no longer be decisive in achieving a lasting peace in Afghanistan, a core Pentagon assumption that has long underpinned American troop deployments there. There is no military solution to the problems plaguing Afghanistan, and we will focus our efforts on supporting the ongoing peace process, the senior administration official said. The U.S. intelligence report, which was sent to Congress, stated: Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Taliban is confident it can achieve military victory. It remains unclear how Bidens move would impact a planned 10-day summit starting April 24 about Afghanistan in Istanbul that is due to include the United Nations and Qatar. The Taliban said they would not take part in any summits that would make decisions about Afghanistan until all foreign forces had left the country. The May 1 deadline had already started to appear less and less likely in recent weeks, given the lack of preparations on the ground to ensure it could be done safely and responsibly. U.S. officials have also blamed the Taliban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda. It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following al Qaedas Sept. 11 attacks, when hijackers slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, killing almost 3,000 people. The Biden administration has said al Qaeda does not pose a threat to the U.S. homeland now. ABANDON THE FIGHT Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell accused Biden of planning to turn tail and abandon the fight in Afghanistan. It was Trump, a Republican, who had agreed to the May 1 withdrawal. Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake, McConnell said, adding that effective counter-terrorism operations require presence and partners on the ground. There currently are about 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of more than 100,000 in 2011. About 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in the course of the Afghan conflict and many thousands more wounded. Officials in Afghanistan are bracing for the withdrawal. We will have to survive the impact of it and it should not be considered as Talibans victory or takeover, said a senior Afghan government source, speaking on condition of anonymity. Although successive U.S. presidents sought to extricate themselves from Afghanistan, those hopes were confounded by concerns about Afghan security forces, endemic corruption in Afghanistan and the resiliency of a Taliban insurgency that enjoyed safe haven across the border in Pakistan. Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the United States could cut off financial assistance to Afghanistan if there is backsliding on civil society, the rights that women have achieved. Under previous Taliban rule, the rights of women and girls were curtailed. Democratic Senator Jack Reed, chairman of Senate Armed Services, called it a very difficult decision for Biden. There is no easy answer, Reed said. SOURCE: REUTERS Chennai, April 14 : PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Wednesday welcomed the Central government's decision to cancel the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) Class 10 exams and postpone the Class 12 exams, due to the Covid surge. Terming it a "correct" move, Ramadoss said the Tamil Nadu government should also cancel or postpone the state board's Class 12 exams as Covid-19 is spreading fast in the state. Mexico's Navy announced the arrest of 30 marines who played an alleged role in the forced disappearances of 40 people in the northern border town of Nuevo Laredo in 2014. The Navy said in a statement late Monday that the apprehensions had been ordered by the attorney general's office April 9, the same day the soldiers were taken into custody. The alleged crimes took place from February to June 2014, according to Mexican newspaper La Jornada. The soldiers were deployed for 'surveillance and deterrence' operations in Nuevo Laredo at the time of the disappearances during the previous administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto. 'It's a matter that has to do with the violation of human rights in the past administration,' President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during his daily press briefing at the National Palace in Mexico City. Marines march during the Independence Day military parade at Zocalo Square on September 16, 2020 in Mexico City. The Navy announced Monday the arrest of 30 soldiers who are being investigated for the forced disappearance of 40 people in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo in 2014 The Marines had been deployed on surveillance and and deterrence missions in Nuevo Laredo at the time of the disappearances The soldiers were transferred to a prison located on a military base in Mexico City. They are expected to learn if they will be charged in any crimes during hearings that are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, news outlet Milenio reported. Along with the Mexican Army, the Navy for years assumed a central role in the government's military-led crackdown on drug cartels, which was launched in late 2006. Their deployment led to frequent complaints of rights abuses by the armed forces, including forced disappearances. President Lopez Obrador, who took office in December 2018, created a militarized police known as the National Guard to lead the fight against organized crime. The Navy statement did not go into detail about the alleged crimes in Nuevo Laredo, which was often racked by violent turf wars between drug cartels during the last government. 'It is noteworthy that the Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico will act in strict accordance with the law, proceeding with rigor, forcefulness and transparency to the public in this and in all cases in which naval personnel are likely responsible for activities classified as a crime,' the Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico said in a statement. China's top legislator highlights new legislation to protect Yellow River Xinhua) 15:39, April 14, 2021 XI'AN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu has called for accelerated legislation to advance ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks while presiding over a symposium on Yellow River legislation on Tuesday in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Li stressed that the national strategy for ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin is important for national rejuvenation and sustainable development. He said that ecological conservation and restoration should be highlighted in the new law to improve the fragile ecosystem of the Yellow River. The legislation should emphasize implementing the plan to develop functional zones along the Yellow River basin and delimit ecological red lines, he said. It should provide legislative support to establish the strictest institution for the protection and utilization of water resources, as well as the most rigorous institutions for environmental regulation and water pollution prevention and control, Li said. The new law should attach importance to the construction of a comprehensive flood control and disaster mitigation system, and a system to monitor and provide early warnings for environment-related emergencies, he noted. Li also underlined the law's role in enhancing the preservation and inheritance of Yellow River culture. During his trip to Shaanxi, Li conducted research on Yellow River protection legislation, hearing views from local officials working at the primary level. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) DALLAS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marugame Udon, the world's No. 1 udon concept, will celebrate Earth Day by partnering with Oceanic Society. Twenty percent of every guest purchase made at all Marugame Udon locations on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, will go toward raising $10,000 for the Oceanic Society and its Blue Habits programs that support ocean health. Additionally, on Earth Day, the first 100 guests at each location will receive green udon noodles, colored with spinach powder, to commemorate the partnership. Based out of Tokyo, Japan, with U.S. locations in Hawaii, California and Texas, Marugame Udon specializes in authentic, handmade Japanese Sanuki-style udon noodles, along with fresh tempura, robata grill and katsu sandos, all made in a lively, theatrical open kitchen. Marugame Udon has several initiatives in place, including reducing paper and plastic waste by using reusable ceramic bowls in-restaurant and using paper-based carryout containers, that aid in keeping oceans clean. "As a Japanese concept, Marugame Udon respects the significant role the ocean plays in Japanese culture and history, and we want to drive consumer awareness of the small steps they can take to help care for our oceans," said Marugame Udon Chief Operating Officer Pete Botonis. "We also recognize that we as a company can do much more to improve our impact on the oceans, and our partnership with Oceanic Society will offer us new ways to do better. We think supporting their ocean conservation mission is a meaningful way for us to celebrate Earth Day." Founded in 1969 in San Francisco, Oceanic Society is a nonprofit dedicated to conserving marine wildlife and habitats by deepening the connections between people and nature. Its programs include research and environmental protection initiatives, family and volunteer research vacations, nature expeditions and whale-watching cruises. "The pandemic has curtailed many of our expeditions and fundraising efforts, so to have companies like Marugame Udon raise awareness and funds for the important cause of ocean health and marine wildlife protection is so key as we begin opening back up," said Roderic Mast, Oceanic Society president and CEO. "Between plastic pollutions, overfishing and climate change, our oceans are in trouble, and we thank all who have stepped up to help us continue our important mission to save them." Guests may also donate or adopt a species in support of Oceanic Society in honor of Earth Day. About Marugame Udon Founded in Kakogawa City, Japan, in 2000, Marugame Udon is the world's No. 1 udon concept with more than 1,000 locations in 13 countries and three U.S. states, serving up authentic, handmade-to-order Japanese Sanuki-style udon noodles, plus tempura, robata skewers and katsu sandwiches. Marugame Udon is led globally by founder and President Takaya Awata. U.S. growth will be led by private equity firm Hargett Hunter, Dallas-based food industry visionary Mark Brezinski, and longtime collaborator Pete Botonis. Learn more at www.marugameudon.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. About Oceanic Society Founded in 1969, Oceanic Society is America's oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation and works to improve ocean health by deepening the connections between people and nature to address the root cause of its decline: human behavior. For more than 50 years, Oceanic Society has been inspiring and empowering people worldwide to take part in building a healthy future for the world's oceans. Learn more at www.oceanicsociety.org. Media Contact: Sara Hundley, SPM Communications 817-329-3257 [email protected] SOURCE Marugame Udon Related Links http://www.marugameudon.com VR Resources (CVE: VRR- OTCQB: VRRCF) CEO Michael Gunning joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has started their field season at the Reveille property in Nevada. That includes having a drill starting to turn. Gunning tells Proactive they were able to secure a track-mounted diamond drill rig on route to a nearby project in order to complete a core hole on the jasperoid breccia-pipe gold target at Reveille [April 14, 2021] Sopheon Bridges Gaps Between Digital and Physical Product Development with Launch of Accolade for Smart Products Sopheon today announced Accolade for Smart Products, the first and only innovation management solution to bring together traditionally siloed software and physical product development. By coordinating the many different priorities, methodologies, work habits and technologies involved in creating smart products, this new SaaS (News - Alert) -based solution enables companies to develop innovative, high-quality and regulatory-compliant digitally enabled products. Businesses are rushing to build smart, connected products. The recent IDC Quarterly Smart Home Device Tracker (March 2021) forecast worldwide shipments of smart home devices alone will surpass 1.4 billion units in 2025 with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2%. Beyond home devices, digital applications are becoming common in most industries, from automotive to retail to manufacturing. But conquering the complex process of developing smart, connected products is a significant challenge for most companies. Developing, manufacturing and managing intelligent devices involves coordinating a large number of departments and disciplines. Accolade for Smart Products is the first innovation management solution to untangle the network of complexity and ensure that all efforts are aligned and coordinated. Adhering to a top-line strategy while preserving the best practices of all partcipants helps companies get products and services into the market faster, enforce consistent governance procedures and streamline costs. "Companies are racing to write software and release products quickly to digitally transform, break into new markets, and beat competitors to deliver the next great customer experience," said Paul Heller, chief technology officer of Sopheon. "But as the digital and physical worlds collide, many companies struggle to find the best ways to manage innovation across different disciplines. Accolade for Smart Products enables companies - from traditional manufacturers to new technology stars - to accelerate product delivery, while also implementing the best practices needed for product reliability without dragging down innovation." Accolade is Sopheon's award-winning innovation management platform that connects people, systems and information across departments and functions. This cross-functional collaboration and synchronization results in trusted, timely data for faster, better and more dynamic decision making. Accolade has proven its value to thousands of global users, such as Honeywell (News - Alert) , Merck KGaA, P&G, Philips, BASF, Parker Hannifin and other innovation and market leaders across a wide variety of industries. "Delivering successful smart products is an imperative for our market and for us," said Dr. Alper Soysal, global process owner of product management at Arcelik A.S one of the world's leading global manufacturers of domestic appliances including notable brands like Beko and Grundig. "It is critical that we have a single innovation management solution that provides governance, coordination and transparency of our entire new product development effort, spanning the digital and physical features of our products, as well as their initiation on the production line. Accolade is our single product innovation decision support and planning solution that still allows individual teams to use the development tools of their choice." "With Accolade, transparency allows for better visibility from the early phases of the development pipeline to alignment with corporate strategy, not only for our executives but also for the product managers and developers within their areas of responsibility," stated Dr. Peter Selders, CEO of Endress+Hauser SE. "On top of that, we have increased the efficiency in our annual review process with one single source of data." Sopheon will be hosting a series of Accolade for Smart Products Discovery Workshops in the weeks ahead. Those interested in requesting a workshop are invited to sign up here. And to learn more about how Sopheon is transforming enterprise innovation, visit our website at www.sopheon.com. ABOUT SOPHEON Sopheon (LSE: SPE) partners with customers to provide complete Enterprise Innovation Management solutions, including patented software, expertise and best practices to achieve exceptional long-term revenue growth and profitability. Sopheon's Accolade solution provides unique, fully-integrated coverage for the entire innovation management and new product development lifecycle, including strategic innovation planning, roadmapping, idea and concept development, process and project management, portfolio management and resource planning. Sopheon's solutions have been implemented by over 250 customers with more than 60,000 users in over 50 countries. Sopheon is listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange. Sopheon and Accolade are trademarks of Sopheon plc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413006169/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Florida House Republicans spoke against the rise of Democratic Socialism last Tuesday with a resolution opposing it. It mentions U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders as one the supporters of it, a danger to American democracy. Since the Democrats gained power, they've been changing the political landscape slowly. Republicans have called the encroachment of the left an attack on the U.S. constitution. Democratic Socialism is a threat to freedom in America When the resolution was published, it angered the Democrats who ignored it, they just dismissed it as irrelevant instead. The threat of Socialism and communism has become a focal point for Florida's sizeable Hispanic electorate with relatives fleeing political turmoil in Cuba, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries, reported Newsmax. Many of the Hispanic population have a fear for Socialism and communism that was an issue during the 2020 elections. The emergence of the Left that espouses Socialism as represented by Sen. Sanders got worse with President Biden's push to weaken even the Supreme Court by packing it with Democrat-leaning judges. According to the Republican sponsor, Rep. Tom Fabricio, he was quoted to say, "Democratic Socialism is really no different from socialism itself." In the debate, He stated that the politics of social democrats represented by Bernie Sanders is the wrong approach to take; it will be deadly for established American democracy and capitalism. Under the Biden administration, things took a turn for the worse with legislation like the Infrastructure bill, which is a start to reshape America in the shape of Socialism. Democrats Fail to Unite Over Passing the $15 Minimum Wage, Next Step Remains Unknown "Democratic socialism is a slippery slope that does lead to socialism in many countries, and people have died in the pursuit of individual liberty that we have today," Fabricio added. But it seems the Democrats would happily change that to suit their unconstitutional agenda. At the center of the debate, Sen. Sanders was not able to remark on the issue. Republicans running for office have tied in the Democrat's attempt to push their far-left agenda: Socialism and cancel culture that attacks conservatives with regularity. Cuban Americans and Latinos in the South of Florida came to the United States to escape oppression by totalitarian regimes. But, their fears seem to happen as the U.S. is under assault from the Far Left, and the administration appears to support it. This resolution is not about stopping any candidate or political party, like Sanders and the squad, who are avowed democratic socialists. Neither does it stop them from running under such a platform. Democrats don't like getting called Socialists, but the Florida resolution has made them unsettled. Democrat Florida Representative Joseph Geller was quoted on this. "Social democracy is not Socialism- if it was, there wouldn't be the modifier. It implies that there is an element of democracy." A majority of seats in the Lower House of Florida were Republican, who all voted for 79-36. The Democrats lost and had to bear it. Democrat Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith told the GOP sponsor of the bill that it was cherry-picking, trying to defend Sen. Sanders. Fabricio said that the Florida GOP was not trying to gaslight anything; democratic Socialism is a threat to freedom, as shown by Sander's contentions. Biden Approves $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill Ready for Rollout Democrats Pass $1.9 Trillion Partisan COVID-19 Relief Democrats To Approve $1.9T COVID Aid Plan @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. DALLAS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthMine, a leader in providing quality improvement technology solutions to health plans, has been designated as a Preferred Vendor by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP). ACAP is a national trade association which represents not-for-profit Safety Net Health Plans, collectively serving more than 20 million people in Medicaid, Medicare, Affordable Care Act Marketplaces and other publicly supported programs. Preferred Vendors must go through a rigorous review process to be vetted and approved into the program. HealthMine's commitment to improving quality of care for underserved and vulnerable populations, which aligns closely with ACAP's mission, greatly contributed to the company's nomination and approval. As an organization, HealthMine has more than a decade of experience serving a diverse customer base across commercial and government health plans. "We are honored to be named a Preferred Vendor by ACAP," said Kent Holdcroft, Executive Vice President of Growth at HealthMine. "We have worked with Safety Net Health Plans for over a decade to develop solutions that improve quality of care for their members. We are excited to further expand upon this mission by supporting ACAP-member plans." HealthMine offers purpose-built solutions for health plans with diverse and complex membership. By collecting and aggregating both clinical and non-clinical data in a HITRUST CSF Certified environment, HealthMine's sophisticated platform uncovers barriers to care and produces insights that help plans focus interventions and promote ongoing health improvement. Multi-channel, multi-lingual, and culturally relevant member engagement campaigns enable health plans to reach the right members at the right time, while smart rewards and incentives motivate members to complete market-specific healthy actions, such as those designed to improve Medicaid quality measures. HealthMine's low-cost, high-touch solutions particularly relevant to ACAP member health plans include: Member Engagement: Conduct targeted, personalized omnichannel outreach to engage members in self-managing health and conditions. Conduct targeted, personalized omnichannel outreach to engage members in self-managing health and conditions. Member Experience: Keep a pulse on member satisfaction through digital surveys (e.g., Mock CAHPS, NPS) and a real-time feedback loop to enable immediate interventions. Keep a pulse on member satisfaction through digital surveys (e.g., Mock CAHPS, NPS) and a real-time feedback loop to enable immediate interventions. Digital HRA: Maximize HRA compliance and uncover risk in your population through self-attestation via quick and efficient digital HRAs. Maximize HRA compliance and uncover risk in your population through self-attestation via quick and efficient digital HRAs. Strategic Advisory: Leverage a team of industry experts to guide strategy and implement technology tools in ways that best meet your unique needs. HealthMine looks forward to partnering with ACAP-member plans to improve the health of their member populations. ACAP members can also be on the lookout for details to attend a co-hosted webinar on May 11th, 2021. To learn more about HealthMine, visit HealthMine.com. About ACAP: ACAP represents 78 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net . About HealthMine HealthMine is a quality improvement solution focused on empowering people to take the right actions related to their health. We build personalized, ongoing member engagement strategies for health plans in all lines of business that drive health actions through customized incentives and rewards and enhance member experience. Unlike other solutions, HealthMine clients have transparency into real-time, actionable insights on the success of member engagement and satisfaction initiatives, as well as the ability to identify priority areas of opportunity to improve quality measures and Star Ratings. Connect with HealthMine on LinkedIn and visit our website. SOURCE HealthMine, Inc. Related Links http://www.healthmine.com [April 14, 2021] IPI Partners Closes Second Data Center Fund at $3.8 Billion IPI Partners, LLC (IPI), a global investment platform focused exclusively on data centers and other technology and connectivity-related real assets, today announced the final closing of IPI Partners II, L.P. (IPI II) at $3.8 billion. IPI's second fund attracted demand well in excess of its target, reflecting strong support from a global institutional investor base. With the closing of IPI II, IPI has raised more than $5.25 billion in total equity capital commitments since its inception. IPI is co-sponsored by ICONIQ Capital, LLC and an affiliate of Iron Point Partners, LLC. IPI II acquires, develops, leases, and operates data centers and related assets that serve the digital capacity needs of large, high-quality technology companies globally. Over the last four and a half years, IPI has built one of the world's largest privately held data center portfolios with 480 megawatts leased and capacity for more than 880 megawatts. IPI II began investing in 2020, and most recently closed on the acquisition of SUPERNAP Italia, a Milan-based data center platform. "Fundraising for IPI II has been a resounding success, and we are extremely grateful that our recent achievements and established market presence have earned the trust and confidence of a wide range of high quality, sophisticated investors," said Matt A'Hearn, Partner at IPI. "The fund's close comes at a truly ideal time, aligning with the large and growing opportunity we see at the core of our investment strategy." "We are very pleased to see the investment philosophy for IPI be validated over just a few short years," said Jeff Felder, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at ICONIQ Capital. "ICONIQ's real estate platform is centered on investing where technology disruptions make way for scalable opportunities. IPI has quickly differentiated itself as the partner of choice for large-scale technology companies that are facilitating an ongoing global digital transformation. We remain excited to provide strategic caital to the technology sector in support of cloud adoption and our data center customers' continued growth across global markets." Tom Lynch, Managing Partner of Iron Point Partners added, "The overwhelmingly positive reception to IPI II affirms the value of deep sector expertise, an experienced and cohesive team, and long-standing industry relationships. We are proud to serve as IPI's co-sponsor, alongside ICONIQ, and we look forward to supporting Matt and the entire team at IPI as they execute on this compelling opportunity." About IPI Partners (www.ipipartners.com) IPI Partners, LLC is a global investment platform focused exclusively on data centers and other technology and connectivity-related real assets, with more than $5.25 billion in total equity capital commitments. Since its formation in 2016, IPI has executed on its strategy of building the essential infrastructure of the data economy by acquiring, developing, leasing, and operating data centers in partnership with leading global technology companies. IPI owns one of the world's largest private data center portfolios focused on the hyperscale and enterprise markets. The firm is co-sponsored by ICONIQ Capital, LLC and an affiliate of Iron Point Partners, LLC. IPI is headquartered in Chicago, with investment professionals located in San Francisco, Amsterdam, and Singapore. About ICONIQ Capital (www.iconiqcapital.com) ICONIQ Capital is a privately held investment firm with approximately $54 billion in assets under management that advises and invests on behalf of some of the world's most influential families and organizations. Differentiated by an exceptional ecosystem of entrepreneurs backing entrepreneurs, ICONIQ's investment platform drives transformation at the intersection of technology and traditional industries. ICONIQ Capital is dedicated to improving the world by channeling ideas, talent, and capital to initiatives that advance society. About Iron Point Partners (www.ironpointpartners.com) Iron Point Partners is a private equity firm targeting investments in real estate and other real assets throughout North America and Europe. Since inception, Iron Point has raised approximately $8 billion in equity capital commitments across Iron Point sponsored and co-sponsored funds. Iron Point pursues a thematic investment approach across numerous commercial real estate property types and specialty asset classes. Prior to forming Iron Point in 2007, the founding principals of Iron Point managed real estate investment vehicles on behalf of the Robert M. Bass family office. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005262/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By the time Johnell Matthews won election last year to fill a vacant seat on the City Court bench in Baton Rouge, it was already time for her to retire, a special counsel to the state Judiciary Commission argued at a hearing Tuesday. Matthews, though, claims a mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges under the state constitution doesn't apply to her. Far from retiring, she was just getting started, her attorney argued. Matthews testified over more than an hour before a hearing officer of the Judiciary Commission, as she sought to defend a judgeship she won on Aug. 15 when she routed lawyer Whitney Higginbotham Greene in a runoff. The hearing before Carolyn Gill-Jefferson, a retired Orleans Parish civil court judge, appeared to mark the first public hearing over a disciplinary complaint against an elected Louisiana judge. Under pressure last year, the Supreme Court changed its rules to allow access to Judiciary Commission proceedings once charges have been filed. Matthews won an election twice delayed for the pandemic under emergency orders from Gov. John Bel Edwards. The primary had been scheduled for April 2020 but came off in July. Matthews turned 70 in the interim, on June 7. The state constitution says a judge shall not remain in office beyond his seventieth birthday, though jurists who reach that age while in office can finish out their terms. State voters reaffirmed their support for the judicial age limit in 2014. Matthews survived a court challenge from Higginbotham Greene and was sworn in Sept. 9, taking her seat on a court that hears low-level civil, criminal and traffic matters. Now, she faces allegations of judicial misconduct from the commission, which makes recommendations to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the only body that can remove a sitting judge. Matthews has remained on the bench, though the commission in February charged her with bringing disrepute on the judiciary every day she sits there. The Louisiana Supreme Court voted 5-2 not to suspend her in the meantime. Johnell Matthews sworn in as City Court judge after winning lawsuit Johnell Matthews was sworn in as a Baton Rouge City Court judge one day after a judge ordered the Secretary of State to certify her victory in "My intent was to win the election and serve," Matthews testified Tuesday. "I've done nothing unlawful. I've done nothing wrong." Matthews had run twice for judgeships and lost before throwing her hat in the ring one last time in January 2020 for a spot that came open when Judge Tarvald Smith won a district court seat. She'd planned to serve out the remaining 3 1/2 years of the six-year term, fulfill a professional dream and leave the bench. There are no age limits spelled out in the state constitution to run for judge; the 70-year cap is contained in a section of the constitution dealing with judicial retirement. Matthews' attorney, Mary Olive Pierson, argued Tuesday that the mandatory retirement provision doesnt apply to a judge who was legally qualified to run and was taking office for the first time. 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 "Ms. Matthews was embarking on a new career," Pierson said. "Ms. Matthews is not retiring from anything. How could she already be retiring one second after she took that oath of office?" Pierson pointed to a September ruling by 19th Judicial District Judge William Morvant that allowed Matthews to take the city court bench after her win. Morvant also noted the differences in the qualifications needed to run for judge and those needed to serve. It may be a loophole, he found, but it wasn't for him to fix. Morvant also cited leeway that the Louisiana Supreme Court has granted to others during the COVID-19 crisis. The court, for instance, allowed a proxy to sign qualifying papers for Baton Rouge District Judge Richard Chip Moore while he was incapacitated with the virus. It also changed its rules last year to let hundreds of law grads forgo the bar exam, in a controversial split vote. Pierson argued that Matthews seemed to be the only one excluded from such breaks. "But for COVID-19, this wouldn't have happened," she argued. But Lantz Savage, special counsel to the Judiciary Commission, argued that none of the Supreme Court's measures related to the COVID-19 emergency contradicted the state constitution, which lays out the qualifications for judicial candidates and judges. Savage also said Matthews' argument that the constitutional age cap was meant only for retiring judges would lead to "patently absurd consequences." People of any age could run for judge and serve a single term, for instance, while sitting judges over 70 would have to retire. Savage also noted that the high court essentially upheld the age barrier last year when it refused to allow septuagenarian judges Harry Cantrell of Orleans Parish and Janice Clark of Baton Rouge to qualify for re-election bids. "When a judge nears the completion of his or her term, an election is scheduled to fill that position. It is essential, therefore, that whoever seeks judicial office be able to serve," the court ruled. "If a person cannot serve, he or she cannot be a candidate for office." Gill-Jefferson is expected to forward her decision to the Judiciary Commission, which could hold its own hearing before forwarding any recommendation for discipline of Matthews to the Supreme Court. StrikeTru, a leading provider of cloud-based Product Information Management (PIM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), and Master Data Management (MDM) solutions, announced today that Baird & Warner, Illinois 160-year-old largest, family-owned independent real estate services company, is set to implement Unidata MDM to centralize data management and realize better competitive value. StrikeTru will lead the implementation and integration for Baird & Warner with a multi-functional Master Data Management platform that includes a single source of truth for enterprise data, data collection, accumulation, cleansing, comparison, consolidation, quality control, dissemination and data enrichment. Unidata is a mature platform with over a decade of experience and is a Gartner recognized vendor with deep expertise in MDM solutions. Unidatas ready-to-go core data management capabilities and modular platform architecture make it a great choice for rapid implementations and seamless integration with third-party enterprise systems. said Vik Gundoju, Partner at StrikeTru. We are really looking forward to provide our platform for implementation by StrikeTru for Baird & Warner. We really believe that our modular platform architecture will play a vital role for the whole project, said Unidata CEO Sergey Kuznetsov. Coupled with StrikeTrus domain knowledge and expertise in handling complex data management projects with robust implementation methodologies, the solution promises cost and cross-selling efficiencies for Baird & Warner. About StrikeTru For PIM/MDM/DAM/eCommerce implementations, expert solution consulting, fully managed services, digital content acquisition, syndication services, cloud PIM/MDM/DAM, data connectors, PIM in a Box solutions StrikeTru is a one-stop shop for affordable and scalable data management and eCommerce solutions. Phone: +1 832 303 3257 Email: sales@striketru.com Visit our website https://www.striketru.com/ for more information. About Unidata The Unidata platform is a multi-functional platform for building enterprise data management systems. The platform provides the means for centralized data management, data standardization, historical data tracking, data quality maintenance and metrics. The Unidata Community Edition is the only open-source master data management (MDM) solution in the world. It has powerful core data management capabilities, and its modular platform architecture allows for rapid implementations and easy integration with enterprise systems. Please, visit https://unidata-platform.com for more information. About Baird & Warner Real Estate, Inc. Established in 1855, Baird & Warner is Illinois largest family-owned independent real estate services company. The Baird & Warner brand has been synonymous with making real estate easier through experience, innovation, and integrity for more than 160 years. Steve Baird, the firms fifth-generation owner, has been consistently recognized among the industrys most influential leaders. In 2019, Baird & Warner was named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for the eighth year in a row. With nearly 2,900 broker associates in 30 offices and comprehensive mortgage, title, and relocation services, Baird & Warner ranks among the nations top real estate firms. Learn more at BairdWarner.com. Garbage In, Garbage Out: What COVID-19 Modeling Can Teach Us About Climate Change Commentary When the novel coronavirus first began to spread, the news was abuzz with predictions of mass infections overwhelming hospitals, and dizzying death tolls. We were told COVID-19 would kill millions in the United States alone, with carnage rivaling post-apocalyptic pandemic blockbusters, and dying patients would be left on the streets. We hoarded toilet paper and canned goods like the end was truly nigh. Though no death or sickness should be belittled, and each life lost is a tragedy to be mourned, overall, the coronavirus panic was overblown. As Americans lives graduallyfinallybegin returning to normal, it seems ludicrous to us how fervently we believed the doomsday prophecies trumpeted by media outlets hungry for clicks and viral views (pun intended). This is a lesson we should apply to other contentious issues, such as climate change, that involve questionable data modeling. The trouble with data models is that theyre purely statistical in nature, not scientific, and their results change based on the criteria used to design them. Besides, infectious disease modeling is often intended for short-term projections, not long-term forecasts, and is meant to be understood in the context of confidence intervals, suggesting a range of possible outcomes rather than absolute certainty. Because our understanding of new diseases, public behavior, and government policies changes rapidly, so too does the validity of model projections. They are what some scientists describe as wrong but useful. Scientists in all specialties should carefully heed this lesson from COVID-19especially those in climate science. Much attention is attracted by mind-boggling headlines and sound bites claiming catastrophic global warming is on the horizon, but the data models used to justify big-government climate programs are just as faulty as the COVID-19 models that contributed to mass panic. Most global climate change organizations use the Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Induced Climate Change, a data modeling system that projects a range of possible climate scenarios, each called representative concentration pathways (RCP). The fundamental flaw in these models is twofold. Climate models are built on unrealistic criteria. For example, RCP8.5the highest and least likely in the range of projectionsis calculated based on an improbable near-total global switch to coal (pdf) for power generation. Since the models were designed, coal consumption has plummeted, replaced largely by natural gas. Theres no sign of this trend coming to an end any time soon, making these projections highly suspect. These models are also widely misunderstood, since the media fixates on the worst-case-scenario estimate as gospelrather than carefully explaining the full range of possibilities. Most of the frightening headlines predicting massive heat waves and sea-level rise are based on RCP8.5, not on the more reasonable business as usual projectionsor the more measured projections by organizations such as the Energy Information Administration that are more reflective of current energy trends. So, what can the coronavirus data teach us about climate scientists attempts to project future temperature changes? Several things. First, climate models must use realistic criteria, taking into account real-world trends in our energy sources, technological advancements that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and humanitys growing resiliency to our natural surroundings. Otherwise, its all garbage in, garbage out. Second, the right models should be used for the right purpose. Some are designed for short-term projections, and others for long-term extrapolation. Most are designed to address a range of possibilities based on our limited current knowledge, not to precisely predict the future. Finally, scientistsand, most especially, the mediamust honestly acknowledge the limitations of data modeling. Even the most sophisticated number-crunching cant foresee what will happen generations from now. Models should serve as a guideline at best and not, in the case of climate change or public health, a cause for fatalistic alarm. Data should drive policymakers to use sound judgmentto be prepared for all possible outcomes, not to assume the worst and instill hysteria. Judicious discussions of confounding variables and statistical constraints arent sexy, and they dont drive clicks to news outlets that desperately need readers and revenue. But the public deserves to know the truth. The Honorable Jason Isaac is director of Life:Powered, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise Americas energy IQ. He previously served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. MOSCOW -- The authorities are investigating four editors of the student magazine Doxa, accusing them of "engaging minors in actions that might be dangerous" over a January video related to unsanctioned rallies to protest the incarceration of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. The magazine said that Armen Aramyan, Vladimir Metyolkin, Natalya Tyshkevich, and Alla Gutnikova were detained for questioning by the Investigative Committee after their homes and the magazine's offices were searched on April 14. Police confiscated the journalists' laptops and telephones, the magazine said, while Tyshkevich said police broke down her apartment door. According to Doxa, a court will decide on pretrial restrictions for the four journalists later on April 14. The video in question was issued by Doxa in January. It warned students about the possible repercussions they could face for participating in unsanctioned rallies on January 23 and 31 in protest of the arrest of Kremlin critic Navalny. Doxa editors say the video was immediately deleted from the magazine's website following media watchdog Roskomnadzor's demand to do so. More than 10,000 supporters of Navalny were detained across Russia during and after the January rallies. Many of the detained were either fined or handed several-day jail terms. At least 90 were charged with criminal offenses; several have been fired by their employers. Human rights groups have called on Moscow repeatedly to stop targeting journalists because they are covering the protests or expressing solidarity with protesters, since both are protected under the right to freedom of expression. "Instead of targeting journalists, the authorities should hold accountable police who attack journalists and interfere with their work," Human Rights Watch said in a statement on February 3. Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport on January 17 upon his arrival from Germany, where he was recovering from a poisoning in Siberia in August 2020 that several European laboratories concluded was from a military-grade chemical nerve agent. Navalny has insisted that his poisoning was ordered directly by President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin has denied. In February, a Moscow court ruled that, while in Germany, Navalny had violated the terms of parole from an old embezzlement case that is widely considered as being politically motivated. Navalny's 3 1/2-year suspended sentence from the case was converted to a jail term, though the court said he will serve 2 1/2 years in prison given the amount of time he had been held in detention. With reporting by Meduza and Novaya gazeta "We are so pleased to be working with the Wise Telemetry team. This acquisition will accelerate our diversification into the industrial gas market, allowing us to leverage our innovative solutions for remote tank monitoring and serve this growing segment. This represents an important step in our strategy to address the growing demand for reliable, affordable and automated tank monitoring solutions across a variety of industries and geographic markets," said Andre Boulay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otodata. "The Wise team is thrilled to be part of Otodata. Joining forces allows us to provide our customers with additional products, services and innovative pricing structures, enabling them to monitor every asset and receive an instant return on their investment, both locally and abroad." said Eric Wise, Founder and CEO of Wise Telemetry. About Otodata Technologies USA: Otodata has been a key player in the tank monitoring industry for almost a decade. Its goal has always been to produce a monitor with the lowest cost of ownership in the industry, making large-scale implementation affordable for all fuel resellers. For more information, please visit our website at www.otodatatankmonitors.com and our social media channels: About Wise Telemetry Wise Telemetry is a leading provider of remote monitoring devices and services for the industrial gas industry. Founded in 2014 by Eric Wise, the company has the capacity to monitor every aspect of gas distribution from tanker trucks and bulk tanks to dewars and cylinders. Wise Telemetry is a proud member of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA). SOURCE Otodata Related Links www.otodatatankmonitors.com KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) today announced the creation of The Holloway Family Fund, supported by an initial $2 million donation from AFTD Board Member Kristin Holloway. The fund, which was created in honor of the Holloway family's journey with FTD, aims to further understanding of FTD, drive basic, clinical, and translational research, and accelerate the path toward effective treatments and cures. AFTD is the leading organization dedicated to improving the lives of people and families affected by FTD, and driving research for a cure. The Holloway Family Fund gift will be broadly focused on supporting basic, translational, and clinical research; expanding the pool of professionals engaged in FTD research; funding infrastructure and events to encourage FTD researcher and clinician collaboration; and empowering a community comprised of individuals diagnosed, care partners, and family members (including individuals themselves at risk) to play a pivotal role in advancing research. The first initiative supported by the Holloway Family Fund is an expansion of AFTD's postdoctoral fellowship program. These fellowships seek to attract the best young minds in science to FTD, and inspire a new generation of researchers to dedicate their careers to advancing FTD science. An announcement is forthcoming for the 2022 Clinical Research Training Scholarship in FTDthe first award of its kindfunded by the Holloway Family Fund, and the American Brain Foundation in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology. The fund will also support an annual research summit to convene medical professionals and researchers and encourage collaboration around a specific, emergent issue. The first summit, envisioned for early 2022, will seek to accelerate development of digital biomarkers for FTD. The emergent field of digital biomarkers is harnessing advances in technology to enable researchers to collect physiological data via remote monitoringlike a smart watch or phone--and thus enable participants to provide more, real-life data without having to get to a clinic. "FTD has taken center stage in our family's life since my husband, Lee Holloway, was diagnosed in 2017," said Kristin Holloway, AFTD Board Member. "Lee was a brilliant technologist and entrepreneur who excelled at building technical infrastructure to solve hard problems. As we continue to navigate this journey and care for Lee, it's clear that solving the inherent challenges of FTD will require greater resources and a data-driven approach. It is vital to find better ways to support research and expand the medical community's understanding of this disease so that FTD can be treated, and eventually cured. Focusing the fund on research was important to our family, and builds on Lee's inherent gift to create solutions for tough problems." Lee Holloway was diagnosed with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) in 2017, at the age of 36. Alexandra Holloway, a NASA software engineer previously married to Lee and mother to his oldest child, said, "My son was old enough to watch his father decline as a result of bvFTD. As a young child, he was deeply affected by Lee's changes of mind and heart, and that transformation continues to devastate our entire family." She added: "I am grateful to Kristin for her work on the board of AFTD, and for creating The Holloway Family Fund, which will enable scientists to achieve a better understanding of FTD. I hope that one day, no child will have to watch a parent succumb to early-onset dementia." Since 2016, AFTD has expanded its staffing and its impact significantly, through engagement from thousands of individual donors, alongside corporate sponsorship and foundation support. The Holloway Family Fund amplifies and builds on support provided through a recent multimillion-dollar gift that established the Donald and Susan Newhouse Fund, the David Geffen Fund at AFTD, our annual Hope Rising Benefit, and commitments from donors and volunteers who lead a range of grassroots events across the country. "Kristin's role on AFTD's Board and her philanthropic commitment in establishing the Holloway Family Fund reflect strong resilience and determination brought into action," said AFTD CEO Susan L-J Dickinson, MSGC. "She has transformed the lived experience of an FTD journey into an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of other families, today and in the future. And I'm hopeful that her gift will bring new awareness of FTD's impact in the lives of so many." AFTD donor and volunteer Donald Newhouse added, "As a disease that can strike as young as an individual's 20s, and well into someone's 70s and 80s, FTD brings together a wide group of advocates determined to prevent this disease from affecting more families." He added: "I draw inspiration from seeing Kristin and her family dedicate themselves so boldly to this mission, and I hope that it will encourage others who have seen loved ones impacted by dementia join us in bringing an end to the devastating form known as FTD." About FTD The most common dementia under 60, FTD brings progressive changes in behavior, personality, language, and/or movement. Today, there are no disease-modifying treatments, and there is no way to prevent or cure this disease. On average, even receiving an accurate diagnosis takes 3.6 years. Advancing research into FTD is likely to have benefits for ALS, Alzheimer's, and other forms of neurodegenerative disease, and we welcome partnership and support from others looking to make a difference in the lives of the more than 60,000 people in the U.S. alone who are affected by this disease. SOURCE Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration Related Links http://www.theaftd.org Prosecutors will not pursue criminal charges against the Capitol Police lieutenant who shot to death a woman who stormed the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, the Justice Department announced on Wednesday after a three-month investigation. The departments decision to formally close the case followed the results of a preliminary inquiry that determined in February that charges were not warranted. The woman, Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran, was among a mob of pro-Trump supporters that sought to gain entrance to the floor of the House through the Speakers Lobby while officers were evacuating lawmakers from the chamber. At one point, as people in the mob shattered the lobbys glass doors, Ms. Babbitt tried to climb through one and a police lieutenant on the other side fired a single shot, hitting her in the left shoulder, the Justice Department said in a statement. After being taken to a hospital, she died. Research Roundup is a monthly feature that offers a sample of recent grants and publications for Emory faculty and staff. To suggest items for the next column, please email your submission to researchroundup@emory.edu. As an academic research institution, Emorys faculty and staff conduct studies across every discipline, from the sciences to the humanities. Heres a sample of recent grant awards and the work they will support, plus highlights from some published research findings. Grants highlighted: Publications highlighted: Grants Emory and NIH continue public-private partnership advancing Alzheimers research The National Institutes of Health is launching the next version of AMP AD (Accelerating Medicines Partnership Alzheimers Disease), a public-private partnership that takes an open science, big data approach to identifying biological targets for therapeutic intervention. The National Institute on Aging will lead research efforts for AMP AD 2.0 and has pledged to contribute $61.4 million over five years. This includes funding six multi-institutional, cross-disciplinary academic research teams, including the team at Goizueta Alzheimers Research Center at Emory University, along with a data coordinating center at Sage Bionetworks. Emory researchers served as a founding academic team for the first iteration of the AMP AD when the initiative began in 2014. Led by Allan Levey and Nicholas T. Seyfried, Emory investigators will play an integral role in AMP AD 2.0 as it seeks to support new technologies, including cutting-edge, single-cell profiling and computational modeling, to enable a precision medicine approach to therapy development. AMP AD 2.0 will expand the molecular characterization of Alzheimers by collecting more brain, blood and spinal fluid samples from Black and Latino Americans. These datasets will allow researchers to refine the characterization of new targets, discover new fluid biomarkers, define disease subtypes and increase the understanding of causative factors and steps in disease progression. Emory receives renewed NIH grant for influenza research and response Emory University has received a 7-year grant from the National Institutes of Health as part of the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR). The CEIRR program is an integrated network of centers that conduct surveillance-based research on immune response, viral pathogenesis and the factors that control the emergence and transmission of influenza viruses. Walter Orenstein, associate director of Emory Vaccine Center and professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine, will serve as the principal investigator for the grant. Anice Lowen, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Emory, will serve as the co-principal investigator. This is Emorys third, seven-year contract; the program was previously called CEIRS (Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance). The grant is funded at $1 million for the first year, with further grant options in subsequent years. Award will support research into lupus mechanisms Emory rheumatology division chief Ignacio Sanz has won a $1 million William E. Paul Distinguished Innovator Award from the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) to investigate mechanisms that induce an autoimmune response among lupus patients. Sanz plans to use the grant to further probe the genetic pathways that allow certain type of B cells to mature in lupus patients. In earlier research, in collaboration with Jeremy Boss and Christopher Scharer of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, he found that even at a very early phase in their development, B cells that produce autoantibodies have lupus-specific epigenetic changes that allow them to continue growing when they would normally be destroyed. The award will also help Sanz build on prior studies where he showed that a drug that eliminates B cells can be effective in treating lupus. The LRA's William E. Paul Distinguished Innovator Award in Lupus and Autoimmunity was established in 2012 to encourage exceptional investigators worldwide to pursue innovative research projects. Their work is expected to accelerate the development of novel treatments that prevent, arrest or cure lupus and its complications. NCI supporting breast cancer disparities research At Rollins School of Public Health, assistant professor of epidemiology Lauren E. McCullough has received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to examine drivers of breast cancer recurrence and mortality among women in Georgia. The project aims to identify multi-level contributors to race/ethnic, socioeconomic status and urban/rural disparities in both breast cancer recurrence and mortality among women with early stage disease. The five-year grant provides about $560,000 in total funding in the first year. Grant for book on American Protestant-Muslim relations Deanna Ferree Womack, assistant professor of history of religions and multifaith relations, has been awarded a Sabbatical Grant for Researchers from Louisville Institute to support her upcoming book, Imaging Islam: Gender, Race and American Protestant Encounters With Muslims. Geared toward pastors, Christian educators, seminary students and North American congregations, Womacks book will trace the roots of Anglophone Protestant discourses on women and violence in Islam. She contends that these discourses have prevented American Protestants from interrogating their own racialized views of Muslims, acknowledging the diverse understandings of gender across the Islamic world, and allowing Muslim women and men to represent their own lives and experiences. Funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment Inc., Louisville Institute awards grants and fellowships to those who lead and study North American religious institutions, practices and movements, advancing scholarship to strengthen church, academy and wider society. Publications FinTech changing how small businesses obtain loans FinTech broadly refers to a variety of financial technologies, ranging from mobile phone payment apps to crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe and cryptocurrencies. FinTech-facilitated lending to small businesses has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last decade. Goizueta Business School assistant professor of finance Tetyana Balyuk is co-author on a working paper analyzing small business lending through the FinTech lending platforms Prosper Marketplace and Funding Circle. Her fellow authors were Allen Berger and John Hackney from the University of South Carolina. Balyuk and her co-authors found that for small business borrowers, FinTech tends to replace loans by large, commercial banks which use traditional information such as credit scores and financial statements more than small/in-market banks. Additional results suggest that FinTech loans are relatively risky, but become safer after replacing bank loans. Cell markers may predict venetoclax sensitivity in multiple myeloma Winship Cancer Institute investigators have shown that a panel of B cell markers can predict whether multiple myeloma cells will be sensitive to the drug venetoclax. The findings were published on March 1 in the journal Blood. Venetoclax, known commercially as Venclexta and Venclyxto, is a medication that is FDA-approved for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma, and it is currently being investigated for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Lawrence Boise, vice chair for basic research for the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, was the senior author. Instructor Vikas Gupta was the first author. Ventoclax works by inhibiting the protein BCL-2, which can help cancer cells resist apoptosis (programmed cell death). The FDA has been reviewing the safety of venetoclax as a treatment for multiple myeloma, because clinical trials appeared to demonstrate increased mortality with ventoclax for some forms of the disease. Intellectual humility tied to less political myside bias In todays politically divided environment, dogmatism is often on display. Some people tend to more readily consider evidence in support of their existing beliefs and more often dismiss or distort evidence that goes against them. Emory psychologists have found that intellectual humility appears to be a key trait in those who are less prone to political myside bias. The study marks a first step toward a larger goal of investigating whether intellectual humility can be increased to reduce political myside bias. The Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin published the findings led by Shauna Bowes and Tom Costello, both graduate students in Emorys Department of Psychology. The senior author is the late Scott Lilienfeld, a professor of psychology at Emory and a leader in exploring psychology and political polarization, who passed away in August 2020. The researchers recruited more than 900 participants across two separate samples using a crowdsourcing platform. They completed an online battery of self-report measures and partisan bias paradigms. The results showed that those who had lower scores on measures for myside bias had higher scores on measures for intellectual humility the process of carefully weighing evidence to ensure one is not jumping to conclusions. Even when political beliefs were held with great conviction, intellectual humility was associated with less political myside bias and same-party favoritism. New antibiotic tactic vs. gonorrhea A new antibiotic compound can clear infection of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea in mice with a single oral dose, according to a new study led by researchers at Emory and Penn State. Like other antibiotics, this one targets the ribosome, the factories that generate proteins in bacterial (and human) cells. But it does so at a site that is different from other antibiotics. This one interferes with the process of trans-translation, which bacteria use to rescue their ribosomes out of rough spots. At Emory, biochemist Christine Dunhams lab used cryo-electron microscopy to produce high-resolution images of the compound as it binds to the bacterial ribosome. The results were published in Nature Communications, representing a collaboration involving several groups: Dunhams at Emory and Ken Keilers at Penn State, along with others at Florida State, the Uniformed Services University and the Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company Microbiotix. The compound MBX-4132 is also active against other Gram-positive bacteria, including tuberculosis and Staph aureus, and the company says it will continue to optimize it. More information is available here. Test of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes vs. dengue in Brazil A team of scientists led by Emory Vaccine Centers Srilatha Edupuganti have begun releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in Brazil as part of the EVITA Dengue trial, which is designed to test the efficacy of these mosquitoes to reduce the incidence of dengue virus. If successful, the project will provide additional evidence that the Wolbachia method reduces dengue and other mosquito-borne infections. As principal investigator, Edupuganti is collaborating with the World Mosquito Program, a global not-for-profit organization that developed the Wolbachia method. The method takes Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread viral infections including dengue, Zika and chikungunya, and modifies them to harbor Wolbachia bacteria. Mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia possess a crucial characteristic: they are less likely to transmit the dengue virus. The goal is for the proportion of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia to naturally increase in the environment over time, making the mosquitoes in that area less able to spread dengue. Regrowing adult heart muscle In adulthood, our hearts generally cant grow again in response to injury. Emory cardiology researchers Ahsan Husain and Nawazish Naqvi and their colleagues have been chipping away at this biological edifice in animal models, demonstrating that it is possible to remove constraints that prevent the heart from growing new muscle cells. Husain and Naqvis teams accomplished this by combining the thyroid hormone T3 already FDA approved with siRNA-based inhibition of an enzyme called DUSP5. Their latest paper, published in the journal Theranostics, applies the combination in an animal model of heart failure induced by the anticancer drug doxorubicin, a mainstay of treatment for breast cancer. More information here. The results are potentially applicable to other situations when doctors would want to regrow or repair cardiac muscle. Husain reports plans for a clinical study in patients with drug-induced or other forms of heart failure, supported by a generous gift from the Atlanta-based ten Broeke Family Foundation. Component of frog slime kills Zika virus Diving deep into Alzheimers data sets, a recent Emory Brain Health Center paper in Nature Genetics spotted several new potential therapeutic targets, only one of which had been previously linked to Alzheimers. The list of 11 genes/proteins named as consistent with being causal may be contributing to Alzheimers pathogenesis through various mechanisms: vesicular trafficking, inflammation, lipid metabolism and hypertension. The researchers identified the targets by tracing connections between proteins that are altered in abundance in patients brains and risk genes identified through genome-wide association studies, which they describe as a new approach. The spousal team of Aliza Wingo, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Thomas Wingo, associate professor of neurology and human genetics, are first and senior author. Among the new genes identified, they highlighted STX4 and STX6, genes involved in the SNARE complex, which drives vesicular trafficking in neurons. For more, see Lab Land. Successful adaptation of CAR-T cell therapy to multiple myeloma Sagar Lonial at Winship Cancer Institute was part of an international clinical trial that led to FDA approval of idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel), the first CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma. The CAR-T immunotherapy approach was first developed clinically against forms of leukemia and lymphoma, and now has been successfully adapted for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In the KarMMA trial, ide-cel induced responses were observed in more than 70 percent of 128 patients; minimum residual disease-negative status was confirmed in 26 percent. However, almost all patients experienced toxic effects, most commonly hematologic toxic effects and cytokine release syndrome. The results of the phase II KarMMa clinical trial were published on Feb. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Lonial is chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Taming brain immune cells in Alzheimers with sea anemone venom? Researchers interested in Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases are focusing their attention on microglia, cells that are part of the immune system in the brain. At Emory, neurologist Srikant Rangarajus lab recently published a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on a promising drug target on microglia: Kv1.3 potassium channels. The results strengthen the case for targeting Kv1.3 potassium channels as a tactic against Alzheimers. A peptide toxin derived from the venom of the Caribbean sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus can inhibit Kv1.3 potassium channels, and related peptides are being developed as potential therapeutics. In the Emory paper, researchers showed that Kv1.3 potassium channels are present on a subset of microglia isolated from Alzheimers patients brains. They also used bone marrow transplant experiments to show that the immune cells in mouse brains that express Kv1.3 channels are microglia of internal brain origin, not macrophages. Blocking Kv1.3 potassium channels in a mouse model of Alzheimers could reduce neuroinflammation and lower the burden of the toxic protein amyloid-beta built up in the mouse brain. More information is here. New avenue for exploring quantum information building blocks Emory physicists proposed a new framework for the realization of topological phase transitions in graphene superlattices. Physical Review Letters published the work by assistant professor of physics Luiz Santos and graduate student Jian Wang. The research opens a new avenue for the exploration of entangled electronic states that may serve as quantum information building blocks. Two-dimensional superlattices, where electrons experience a long length scale periodic potential, have emerged in recent years as versatile platforms to realize exotic forms of quantum matter. An example of such electronic phases is a Hofstadter-Chern insulator, a bulk insulating phase of matter supporting topologically protected electronic edge currents that are immune to disorder and deformations of the sample. Such electronic phases form because of a competition between an external magnetic field and the superlattice potential, which gives rise to fractal electronic bands. Through analytical and numerical methods, Wang and Santos established the existence of a vast number of topological transitions between Hofstadter-Chern insulators. The researchers showed that these transitions are tuned by changes of the superlattice in the presence of a fixed background magnetic field, establishing a connection between geometrical effects of the lattice and the topological response of the electrons. Factors associated with nurse burnout in the U.S. before COVID-19 Even before the pandemic, over 30 percent of nurses reported leaving their jobs because of burnout, with working in the hospital and more than 40 hours per week increasing the odds. Megha K. Shah, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, led the team with results published February 4 in JAMA Network Open. The authors analyzed cross-sectional survey data from more than 50,000 U.S. registered nurses, representing more than 3.9 million nurses nationally. These findings suggest that burnout is a significant problem among U.S. nurses who leave their job or consider leaving their job. Health systems should focus on implementing known strategies to alleviate burnout, including adequate nurse staffing and limiting the number of hours worked per shift. Co-authors included Nikhila Gandrakota, Neena Ghose and Miranda Moore from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine; Jeannie P. Cimiotti from the Nell Hodgson School of Nursing; and Mohammed K. Ali from Rollins School of Public Health. Impact of ad-blockers on online consumer behavior Ad-blocking technology significantly decreases spending for brands consumers have not experienced before, partially shifting spending toward brands they have experienced in the past. Thats one of the conclusions of a study to be published in Marketing Science. Goizueta Business School professor Vilma Todri analyzed data from 2015 2018 on consumer browsing and purchasing, obtained through a well-established (but undisclosed) American media measurement and analytics company. Todris study was the first to examine the effect of ad-blockers for consumers and brands, focusing on online consumer purchase and search behavior. She estimates that online consumer spending decreases by 1.45 percent due to consumers adoption of ad-blockers, revealing that ad-blockers have negative implications for advertisers. As a result, companies may seek less overt strategies to reach consumers. Xiaomi has announced the launch of a new Mi TV in India. The Mi QLED TV 75 will launch in India on April 23. The new smart TV will launch alongside the flagship Mi 11 Ultra smartphone. Xiaomi is also launching the Mi 11X series on the same day. Xiaomi has teased the upcoming Mi TV as The theatre of tomorrow on its website. It hasnt revealed anything about the new Mi TV but what we can gather from the product name is it will feature a QLED 75-inch screen. The teaser shows an almost bezel-less display for the Mi QLED TV 75 that is also expected to support 4K resolution. The new Mi TV will also most likely feature Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR 10 and HLG. This will actually be the biggest Mi TV launched in India by Xiaomi. The biggest one offered so far is the Mi QLED TV 4K with a 55-inch display. Theres the Redmi Smart TV with a 65-inch display as well but this falls under the Redmi sub-brand. Under the Mi TV series, there hasnt been a 75-inch model yet. The Mi QLED TV 4K is also the last Mi TV Xiaomi launched in India. Its priced at 54,999, and it comes in a metallic gray colour. The Mi QLED TV 4K comes with support for HRD 10+, HDR 10 and Wide Colour Gamut. It is powered by MediaTeks A55 64-bit quad-core processor paired with Mali G52 GPU. The smart TV packs 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. It has six speakers in total with four full range drivers and two tweeters. The 30W speakers also come with Dolby Audio and DTS-HD. On the software front, the Mi QLED TV 4K runs Android 10 out-of-the-box. It has support for Google Assistant and built-in Chromecast as well. The smart TV runs Xiaomis PatchWall OS on top of Android with features such as universal search, kids mode, smart recommendations, user center and live channels. On the Mi QLED TV 4K you get three HDMI 2.1 ports, two USB ports, one Ethernet port, one optical port and one 3.5mm port. Its connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.0 and dual band Wi-Fi. Download free sample report Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Request a free sample report for more information Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Promotional Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Promotional Services pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives. Insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers. Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 2.00%-4.00%. Identify favorable opportunities in Promotional Services TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Some of the top Promotional Services suppliers listed in this report: This Promotional Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Daniel J. Edelman Holdings Inc. WPP Plc Omnicom Group Inc. Publicis Groupe BlueFocus The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. Accenture Plc MediaCom Cheil Worldwide Boston Consulting Group Related Report on Information Technology Include: To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us. About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge BY CHRISTOPHER WILSON FOR THE DAILY MAIL 1. David, MARQUESS OF MILFORD HAVEN (1919-70) Philip's first cousin and best man. Both served in the Navy and, as bachelors after the war, drove around London in an open-top sports car, carousing to dawn. But, while Philip buckled down to work after marriage, Milford Haven continued partying. He married twice, first to American divorcee Romaine Dahlgren Pierce, then to model Janet Mercedes Bryce. By the mid-1950s, he was hosting sex parties at his Grosvenor Square flat for carefully chosen male guests. Evenings began with card games called 'Chase The Bitch' and 'Find The Lady'. Winners paired off with the women for sex in the luxury bedrooms. He drifted apart from Philip soon after the Royal Wedding and died of a heart attack aged 50. David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven (1919 - 1970) at the Dorchester hotel for a Foyles literary luncheon, London, 19th June 1959 2. MICHAEL EDDOWES (1903-92) Lawyer, author and restaurateur. Fascinated by the case of Timothy Evans, hanged in 1950 for the murder of his daughter. He published The Man On Your Conscience, an investigation into the story of the infamous murder at 10 Rillington Place in London. He argued that the real culprit was serial killer John Christie and his book was partly responsible for Evans receiving a posthumous pardon by the Queen. The case played a key role in the subsequent abolition of capital punishment in Britain. Deeply involved in the Sixties Profumo scandal, in which Secretary of State for War John Profumo resigned when it emerged that a call girl he had been seeing, Christine Keeler, was also sleeping with a Soviet naval attache. The man at the heart of the scandal, society osteopath and pimp Stephen Ward, had also introduced Eddowes to Keeler in 1962, and he fell in love with her. As Keeler later revealed: 'I kept my date with Michael Eddowes, but he was far too old for me. He was nearly 60, but he certainly was interested and wanted to set me up in a flat in Regent's Park.' After two of her other lovers got in trouble with the law, she sought legal advice from Eddowes. And pursuing a second 'miscarriage' of justice, he wrote The Oswald File, arguing that a Soviet agent impersonating Lee Harvey Oswald was the real assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He also claimed that Kennedy's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, covered up the involvement of the KGB so as to prevent a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. To test his theory, Eddowes brought a legal suit to exhume the body of Oswald's supposed 'impersonator' which took place in Texas in 1981. Dental records proved Eddowes wrong . . . it was actually Oswald. Having retired as a lawyer, Eddowes ran the Bistro Vino restaurant chain. Thrice-married, his son said he 'was active until nearly the end, fishing and writing'. Died aged 90 in a retirement home near Bognor Regis, West Sussex. 3. SEAN FIELDING (1908-63) Anglo-Irish journalist. While serving as a colonel in the Western Desert during the war, conceived and set up Soldier magazine, which remains the Army's official monthly publication. The first edition was printed in Brussels in 1945 and a reporter from the magazine visited Belsen concentration camp. In 1946, Fielding helped the photographer Baron Nahum a friend of Lord Mounbatten (and who took the stag night picture) to found the Thursday Club. Witty and stylish, Fielding was described as a 'terrific snob' by novelist Margery Allingham, one of the four great 'Queens of Crime'. Editor of Tatler (1946-54), he later worked for the Daily Express. Final years spent in Canterbury. Princess Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth II) and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh pose on their wedding day at Buckingham Palace in London on November 20, 1947 4. ARTHUR CHRISTIANSEN (1904-63) Legendary editor from 1933 to '57 of the Daily Express, once the world's biggest-selling newspaper with sales peaking at more than four million in 1949. The son of a shipbuilder, at 16 he started at the Wallasey and Wirral Chronicle before being hired by Press baron Lord Beaverbrook. Famous for exhorting his staff: 'Always, always tell the news through people.' Known by fellow Thursday Clubbers for drinking champagne out of his own shoe. Philip condemned the Express as 'that bloody paper!' in 1956 after reports of tension in his marriage, with him on a world tour aboard Royal Yacht Britannia and said to be accompanied by several women. Christiansen's memoirs, Headlines All My Life, have been loved by generations of journalists. Died at 59 in a Norwich TV studio. 5. BERNARD WALSH (1901-81) Proprietor of Wheeler's restaurant, Soho, where the Thursday Club usually met. Began work as a dancer before selling oysters in Whitstable, Kent, then opening an oyster shop in London frequented by intellectuals such as painters Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon (and Walt Disney). It became Wheeler's and thrived because oysters escaped post-war rationing. Donald Maclean, one of the 'Atom spies', ate his last lunch there before fleeing for Moscow with fellow traitor Guy Burgess. 6. BOBBY St JOHN COOPER (1905-84) Artist, designer and writer. As a war correspondent, sent home 'Young Bert' cartoons from France which inspired the song We're Going To Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line, a reference to Hitler's military fortification. After the war, became a commercial artist and created the Mr Cube character for a Tate and Lyle sugar advert. It was used in the firm's campaign against the Labour government's plan in 1949 to nationalise the sugar industry. Pictured, actor David Niven relaxes in his London hotel suite. 3rd March 1965 7. ANTHONY DAWSON (1916-92) Scottish actor, known for playing villains in Hitchcock's Dial M For Murder, and several 007 film roles (Professor Dent in Dr No and Blofeld in From Russia With Love and Thunderball). Died of cancer aged 75 in Sussex. 8. MATTHEW 'Matt' HALTON (1904-56) Canadian journalist. Became a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in World War II, reporting from the D-Day beaches. He later hosted coverage of the Coronation. His daughter married critic Kenneth Tynan. Died aged 52 in London. 9. JACK BROOME DSC (1901-85) Distinguished sailor who served in the Royal Navy during both World Wars. On his retirement in 1947, became a magazine editor, film director, writer and illustrator. Editor of Sketch magazine and author of five naval books. In 1968, won libel damages (which he gave to charity) from Holocaust denier David Irving, who claimed Broome had made a fatal decision while in charge of the ill-fated Allied convoy PQ-17 in the Arctic. Twice-married. Spent his final years in a cottage near Henley-on-Thames and died aged 84. 10. GUY MIDDLETON (1907-73) Jaunty actor with military-style moustache who specialised in playing cads. Born in Hove, East Sussex, he first worked at the London Stock Exchange before switching to acting. Roles in the George Formby musical comedy Keep Fit (1937), The Belles Of St Trinian's, Goodbye Mr Chips and the anti-war drama Oh! What A Lovely War (1969). TV appearances in Dixon Of Dock Green and Hancock's Half Hour. Had an affair with the wife of fellow actor Rex Harrison. Died, aged 66, in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. 11. MICHAEL TRUBSHAWE (1905-85) Actor and former officer in the Highland Light Infantry born in Chichester, West Sussex. Best man for David Niven for the actor's two weddings. His many film appearances included The Lavender Hill Mob, The Guns Of Navarone and The Pink Panther. Twice-married, he died aged 79 in Sussex. William Cooke is a physician specializing in family medicine, addiction medicine and HIV medicine. He is the author of the upcoming book, Canary in the Coal Mine, which details his experiences in Scott County, Indiana. Sydnee McElroy is a board-certified family physician and assistant professor at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. She works primarily with people facing homelessness through Harmony House, in Huntington. (TNS) Andrew Prine has a well-stocked workshop at home, so he had a chance to start practicing his carpentry class skills during remote learning.But for fellow Weaver Academy junior Kyndall Miller, hands-on learning this school year didn't start until early March, when he and Prine and other high school upperclassmen resumed in-person instruction a couple of days a week.Before then, he watched the instructor's videos, same as Prine, but was left itching to try it out for himself."Once I got into the shop and actually used some of the tools, learning became easier," Miller said.The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered education for students. During school board meetings, district leaders have frequently discussed the likelihood that many students would fall behind in subjects like English, math and science as a result of months of remote learning and that they would need help to get back on track.But there's a group of students for whom classroom learning has been even harder to replicate over the Internet: those enrolled in hands-on, tech-heavy courses with school-based equipment. That's the case for many students taking career-tech classes at Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts and Advanced Technology in downtown Greensboro.Weaver offers tech classes and equipment not present at every high school in subjects like construction, HVAC, culinary arts and video production. Many students in the tech classes are bused in from their high schools during the school day to take advantage of the opportunities.Across the district, there are about 25,000 middle and high school students enrolled in one or more career-tech classes. These students make up over a third of the district's entire K-12 enrollment.After months of remote learning, students in these classes who chose to return to in-person learning are trying to make the most of the last weeks of school to practice as much as they can.Students who spoke for this story said they were able to learn some things from their teachers during remote learning. They tried to learn what they could from watching videos that many teachers posted of themselves demonstrating techniques. And there's also some book learning, like memorizing vocabulary, that's the same as in other subjects.But they also agreed that there's no real substitute for practice in these classes. They see that practice as relevant to their main career goals, back up career plans, or life skills they were expecting to acquire."I feel like there's definitely some stuff I could have learned if we were in person the whole time," said John Richmond, a junior taking automobile fundamentals at Weaver. "But I feel like even after everything that has happened this year, and with how Mr. Dove is such a good teacher, I can learn what I really need to know just for life."Richmond said he learned about safety and the names of automobile parts during remote learning, but without the in-person lessons he is getting now, he doesn't think he would be getting the skills he wanted out of the class."Without this, it would have been kind of a waste of time, because I wanted to learn how to change the oil or change the tires on a car because it's a useful skill," he said.He said thus far, it's coming easily and it's all a lot less labor-intensive than how he'd seen mechanic work depicted on TV.Dove said it's been a challenging year teaching his classes.When students were all on remote learning, he posted his own videos and also found others on YouTube. Now he's trying to jam pack the days students are in class with hands-on practice and keep any book work to remote learning days. And some students have chosen to stick with remote learning through the end of the year.Instead of maybe 16 or so students in class together in a typical year, Dove's in-person group for the automobile fundamentals class on Thursdays and Fridays is just a few students.With the two other in-person students absent on Friday, Richmond had the vehicles in the shop to himself.That's more hands-on access than he would have seen in a more typically sized class during a normal school year."There's not 18 cars you can bring in," Dove said.Still, Dove said, he's looking forward to when many of his students will come back to school full time. Middle and high school students who are learning in-person two days a week now are set to return full time on Monday."I'm not going to miss the A-day, B-day," Dove said, referring to how students were split into two groups that came to school on different days to allow for social distancing. "I'm ready to get back to normal."Every day, he said, he faces the worry that students aren't learning what they need."It's very difficult," he said.Eboni Chillis, the district's interim chief innovation officer, said the district tried to help these students get the most that they could out of the online learning period. One strategy was to set up some students to use "Splashtop" software, which allowed them to remotely access desktop computers at the schools that had specialized software used in their classes.Another strategy, she said, was to bring in a production company to help some career tech teachers, including some at Weaver, make videos of themselves demonstrating their equipment to the students.And one particular group of students, seniors enrolled in the semester-long nursing fundamentals with practicum course, were given the opportunity to return in the fall, before other high school students. They needed to meet the required 40 clinical practicum hours to be eligible for the state health department's certified nursing assistant exam in 2021, hours that were not possible to get online.Chillis and other district leaders also have been concerned with making sure students across all other career tech subjects are at least able to take the skills tests they would need to receive industry certifications.Last spring, when the pandemic hit, tests were canceled, she said.Now the district has a plan to get students tested for their classes this semester, and to offer students opportunities to take tests they may have missed last year or last semester.They are planning one big push of testing between Saturday and April 23, plus more toward the end of the year."We are going for the gusto," Chillis said. VSPCs positive pre-feasibility study has confirmed the viability of its independent LFP cathode powder production chain as well as the ability to produce higher energy density variants such as lithium manganese ferro phosphate (LMFP). VSPC operates a pilot facility in Brisbane, Australia, where it produces advanced LFP and LMFP cathode powders. ( ) ( ) (FRA:3MW) subsidiary VSPC Ltd (VSPC) has delivered a positive pre-feasibility study (PFS) demonstrating its capacity to produce advanced lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cathode powders. The PFS confirmed robust project economics with proposed production to ramp up to a capacity of 10,000 tonnes per annum over a three-year period, reaching nameplate capacity in 2026. It considered three jurisdictions for production in Australia, Vietnam and India with the case for locating the plant in India revealed as the best financial outcome with a net present value (NPV) of US$253 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 33%. Major indicators include: A payback period of five years; Annual LFP sales revenue of US$140 million; EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of US$66 million per annum; A free cash flow of US$56 million per annum, and Plant investment of US$113 million in two stages over three years. Alternative cathode powder supply chain The PFS is based on proprietary VSPC process technology that provides competitive performance when compared with other processes for the manufacture of advanced LFP materials, notably the more expensive sol-gel processes used in China and Vietnam. Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said: VSPC has completed a PFS that clearly demonstrates the value of establishing an alternative cathode powder supply chain using VSPCs proprietary technology. "These major milestones have been achieved in an environment in which the largest electric vehicle (EV) producers are moving to incorporate LFP lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries into entry-level vehicles, due to their superior safety, lower cost, longer life and reduced exposure to conflict metals. Commercialising VSPC product Additional factors such as strategic partnerships with upstream mining, refining and chemical producers may provide further benefits for the commercialisation of VSPC cathode powders. Similarly, downstream partnerships (cathode and battery manufacturing) may provide additional financial benefits in other jurisdictions with the company evaluating specific opportunities in Australia, South Korea, Europe and the United States. Global trends in LFP production are expected to follow what is occurring in China where rising LFP demand, as forecast by are likely to see it become the dominant Li-ion chemistry in the next few years, due to its greater safety characteristics, environmental, social and governance (ESG) values and more positive cost structure. Meeting LFP demand Over the past 12 months, global demand for LFP has increased by more than 25%, bringing Chinese LFP cathode powder manufacturing up to over 100,000 tonnes per annum. Only 2% of the global LFP cathode powder production originates from outside China and with many major EV producers already manufacturing LFP-powered vehicles within China, and making these available in other jurisdictions, North America and Europe are likely to be areas of high demand. Griffin said: These LFP attributes are also expanding its utilisation in stationary energy-storage applications. Major battery producers worldwide are racing to expand their LFP production to meet demand as LFP becomes the fastest growing sector of the battery industry. "At present there is little LFP production outside of China, with original equipment manufacturers striving to secure alternative supply chains. Lithium Australia and VSPC aim to provide that supply chain security. Next steps Lithium Australia has committed to a definitive feasibility study and next steps include: Completing a business case review for the preferred Indian option; Engaging an engineering firm for the definitive feasibility phase; Confirmation of project location, as well as site selection; and Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment analysis of the project to determine sustainability factors and identify opportunities to reduce carbon footprint and other sustainability initiatives. The company will also continue to evaluate opportunities for downstream partnerships, particularly in jurisdictions where demand for LFP consumption is likely to increase rapidly; in, for example, Europe and North America. Panaji, April 14 : Goa's ruling BJP on Wednesday welcomed the decision of regional party Goa Forward to quit the National Democratic Alliance, saying the party was like "inauspicious eclipse". "This is a welcome decision. The Goa BJP is glad because we had sacked them from the government in 2019 after informing the national party leaders. The Goa Forward was like an inauspicious eclipse to the NDA. Now the eclipse is gone," state BJP spokesperson Urfan Mulla told reporters. On Tuesday, Goa Forward President and former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai, in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said that the party was forced to quit the NDA, blaming Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for leading a regime "marked by corruption and dishonesty". Mulla said that the NDA is a national coalition of political parties and the Goa Forward was neither a national party, nor did it have any MPs. "They have no Lok Sabha MP or Rajya Sabha MP. NDA is a national coalition. Goa Forward was in the NDA for timepass. They were waiting to return to government with the BJP. They have quit in frustration now," he said. Goa Forward had contested the 2017 Assembly polls on an anti-BJP plank. However in a flip-flop, the party formed a post-poll alliance with the BJP, after which all its three MLAs were appointed as cabinet ministers in the Manohar Parrikar-led government. After Parrikar's death in 2019 and the elevation of Sawant as Chief Minister, all three ministers including Sardesai -- who was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister for a few days -- were dropped from the cabinet and Goa Forward was forced to the opposition benches in the Assembly. The Truth About Georgias New Election Law | Larry Elder Its time to examine Georgias new voting laws that are supposedly racist. You know, the law that Coca-Colas chairman and CEO claims is taking a step backward in election integrity? The law thats so racist, President Joe Biden supported the MLBs decision to move the All-Star Game out of Atlanta to Denver, Colorado? In this episode, Larry criticizes the Democrats and liberal media for misunderstanding the bill and race-baiting the American people into believing this is worse than the Jim Crow era. Larry Elder with Epoch Times show available on YouTube, Rumble, Youmaker, and The Epoch Times website. It also airs on cable on NTD America. Find out where you can watch us on TV. The stepmother of former US President Barack Obama has died. Kezia Obama, the mother of Malik and Auma Obama, died on Tuesday. The cause of her death has not been disclosed but Kenya's Standard newspaper says she died in the UK. Kezia Obama's daughter Auma, who enjoys a close relationship with former President Obama, said she was numb after losing her: Lost my beloved mother yesterday. Im numb. pic.twitter.com/Hq8MIkhfAu Auma Obama (@AumaObama) April 14, 2021 The Obamas lost their grandmother Sarah Obama on 29 March.Kezia was Obama senior's first wife and had two children - Malik and Auma - with him before he went to the US, where he met President Obama's mother Ann Dunham. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. During and before the 2020 war, the Azerbaijani leadership was refusing to discuss as an agenda item the issue of Nagorno Karabakhs status, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament on April 14, presenting the wartime developments, namely on October 19 and after that. Much has been speculated on whatd happened on October 19 and after that. By having analyzed the situation and consulting with the president of Artsakh and the Chief of the General Staff of the military, Id decided that we must achieve a ceasefire even through certain difficult concessions. On that occasion Id convened a security council meeting, which was also attended by representatives of parliamentary factions. The session was attended by the President and the Catholicos. On the same day, I invited the representatives of the non-parliamentary opposition and again informed them about the ongoing developments, Pashinyan said. Pashinyan says that after that, as it was agreed, he phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin who was mediating - and said that Armenia wants a ceasefire with Azerbaijan with the condition of returning the territories under the 5+2 format. A condition that even in the past was put forward to Armenia by the mediators in the most various formats. We had a common understanding with the Russian President. We noted with the Russian President that we have a common [understanding] on overcoming the situation. You know that there was an issue of return of refugees, there was an issue of the return of Azerbaijani displaced persons to NK, I had said that we wouldnt have any objections in principle if we somehow interconnect this issue with the process of determining the status of NK. The Russian President then had a phone conversation with the Azerbaijani President, as a result of which it became clear that the Azerbaijani side is unequivocally against our demand for the de-occupation of the Hadrut region. Secondly, the Azerbaijani side was demanding the issue of return of displaced persons, including to Shushi, not be tied with the determination of the status. There was also an [indication] that they want the return of territories not under the 5+2 formula but 7 [at once], Pashinyan said, adding that this was said as a hint for the event of Armenia having agreed on terms put forward before that. Azerbaijan, just like before the war, and during it, refused to discuss in a status of an agenda item the issue of Nagorno Karabakhs status, Pashinyan said. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-13 23:00:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People march against racism and violence on Asian Americans from the city hall to the Union Square in San Francisco, the United States, March 27, 2021. (Photo by Dong Xudong/Xinhua) From massacring native Indians to enslaving African people, from racial discrimination making people "unable to breathe" to military interference in other countries, the country called the United States has not changed much its colonialism gene. BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Claiming itself as "the city upon a hill," the United States has always boasted about its role as a preacher for so-called Western-style freedom and democracy. However, beneath the gloss, history facts have exposed that the country was born with original sins starting from colonialism, featuring violence, lies and guile. From massacring native Indians to enslaving African people, from racial discrimination making people "unable to breathe" to military interference in other countries, the country called the United States has not changed much its colonialism gene. The native Indians were the first to bear the brunt. "Gradual disappearance of the native tribes ... Miseries accompanying the forced migrations of the Indians," Alexis de Tocqueville, a French thinker and historian, had written in his masterpiece Democracy in America. Demonstrators are arrested during a protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the United States, May 31, 2020. (Photo by Angus Alexander/Xinhua) According to the French writer's description in the 19th century, the United States, young at that time, systematically expelled and massacred the Indian aborigines. Several American administrations had encouraged the slaughter and suppression of native Indians. In 1814, then U.S. President James Madison issued a decree rewarding 50 to 100 U.S. dollars for every Indian's scalp. From the 1860s to the 1890s, then President Abraham Lincoln promulgated the Homestead Act, allowing every American citizen over 21 years old to obtain land in the west of the country, where native Indians used to live for generations. "The American government does not indeed rob them of their lands, but it allows perpetual incursions to be made on them ... they will then be exposed to the same evils without the same remedies, and as the limits of the earth will at last fail them, their only refuge is the grave," wrote Tocqueville in his book referring to the misery of the Indians. Besides bloody killing and looting, lies and coercion were also old tricks that the founders of U.S. government and their successors have been apt to use. In years after the founding of the United States, most of Indian reservations promised by the government had gradually disappeared. When the U.S. government decided to expand westward in the 1860s, buffalos became the critical target as Indians viewed the animal as sacred and lived on it as essential food supply. Hunting and killing buffalos meant destroying native Indians. After decades of hunting by civil hunters as well as the U.S. army, wild buffalos were nearly extinct by 1873. Protesters rally towards the White House during a protest over the death of George Floyd in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The ploy worked as the words of the Sioux leader Sitting Bull went, "a cold wind blew across the prairie when the last buffalo fell -- a death-wind for my people." During the period between 1887 and 1933, the native Indians lost about 90 million acres of land. From the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the Indian population plummeted from 5 million to 250,000. A real genocide in human history. The U.S. colonial crimes have also been committed outside the country. In modern history, the United States annexed the Philippines in 1898 and commenced a formal military occupation of Cuba in 1899. When following European colonist powers to the semi-colonial and semi-feudal society of China, the United States initiated the Open Door policy in 1899, promoting a wave of dividing China according to the interests of Western powers. In today's world, the United States remains as a habitual meddler by wantonly interfering in other countries' internal affairs. What an irony that a country with such bad records labels itself as the lecturer in human rights teaching other countries how to behave! People should be alert to the fact that though the colonialism era has long gone, the aftermath of the colonial crimes such as racism, hegemonism and interventionism still haunts the world. Navratri is one of the most popular Hindu festivals that is celebrated with great zeal across India. The nine-day long festival marks the defeat of deceitful demon Mahishasura by Goddess Durga, thereby signifying the victory of good over evil. Every year, families and friends reunite to celebrate the Navratri rituals as per their traditions. Like every year, we may not be able to celebrate Navratri with much fervour and pomp, but we can always celebrate at home with our loved ones. This year, Trell - Indias largest lifestyle social commerce platform is celebrating the festival with their #NavratriSpecial campaign by presenting users with a myriad of fun and quirky videos. Renowned creators on Trell like Anisha, Unnati Jain, Kanika, Isha, Shubhi Garg and Disha Khetarpal will share interesting ideas on celebrating the festival from home with videos around Navratri special makeup, Navratri beauty tips, festival makeup for beginners, long-lasting easy traditional Navratri makeup, Navratri western and makeup look, among others. With the online celebrations, the platform is set to bring alive the diversified traditions of India during this Navratri while keeping users entertained with informative and meaningful content. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Chris Boyle Published: April 14 2021 During the celebration, 50 Hope to Dream twin-sized beds were donated to children in the Brookhaven area in need. The new Ashley HomeStore in Brookhaven celebrated its grand opening with a donation of 50 beds to Hope For Youth. Recently, the new Ashley HomeStore in Brookhaven, located at 499 Sunrise Highway in the Gateway Plaza Shopping Center, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting and donation of 50 beds to Hope For Youth. During the celebration, 50 Hope to Dream twin-sized beds were donated to children in the Brookhaven area in need. Ashley HomeStore donated one bed for each year Hope For Youth has been operating. In addition to the donation, guests are invited to participate in a V.I.P. preview event today, April 9th, in exchange for a $10 donation to Hope For Youth. Hope for Youth is a local charitable organization with a 50-year history of serving children, youth, and families across the Long Island region. Representatives from Ashley HomeStore and Hope For Youth, as well as employees, families of youth receiving the donated beds, and members of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, were in attendance. A good nights sleep is something many of us take for granted, said Kate Travers, Hope For Youth Director of Program Development. From challenges at school to struggles making friends - lack of access to a comfortable bed can have an incredible impact on a childs life. We are so excited to be partnering with Ashley HomeStore to provide these much-needed beds to local youth. The new 24,000-square-foot showroom is owned and operated by Factory Direct Enterprises (FDE), an Ashley HomeStore licensee based in Edison, New Jersey. FDE operates 22 Ashley HomeStore locations in the Metro New York and New Jersey area. The new Patchogue store employs 25 people. Factory Direct Enterprises is thrilled to bring Ashley HomeStore, the number one selling furniture brand in the world, to our community right here in Patchogue, said Justin Chrinian, Vice President of Sales for FDE. Most people dont realize that were a locally owned and operated company. As such, we are committed to giving back to our community, and supporting Hope For Youth is a natural fit for us. Providing the dream of a beautiful home is our purpose and every child deserves a good nights sleep. We are excited to be expanding our Ashley HomeStore footprint in Long Island. Ashley HomeStore has more than 1,050 locations worldwide. The new showroom features complete lifestyle vignettes, down to the final detail of lighting, rugs, and wall art. Product categories include bedroom, dining room, upholstery, leather, occasional tables, home office, youth bedroom, recliners, mattresses, and accessories. Technology enhances the environment, incorporating various elements to improve the customer shopping experience. CEO Garrett Ainsworth said the company is very excited about receiving assay results from the first three drill holes next month District has hired volcanic resources expert Dr Rodney Allen as a technical advisor to unlock the potential at its high-grade polymetallic Tomtebo property District Metals Corp ( ) (OTCMKTS:MKVNF) (FSE:DFPP) told shareholders that it has sent drill core samples for analysis from its maiden drill program at the high-grade polymetallic Tomtebo Property in Sweden, and expects the results to arrive by late-May Vancouver-headquartered District Metals kicked off a 5,000-meter drill program at its advanced exploration stage Tomtebo Property in the Bergslagen Mining District, in Sweden on March 15. A total of 1,377 meters has been drilled in seven holes so far. Drill core samples from the first three holes have been sent to ALS Geochemistry in Mala, Sweden for preparation and analysis, with results expected by late-May, said the company. In a statement, District CEO Garrett Ainsworth said: "We are very pleased with the progression of our maiden drill program at Tomtebo. Our technical team and drill crew in the field are firing on all cylinders, which has resulted in optimized production from the drill rig with best practices being carried out with regards to health, safety, and the environment. We are very excited to receive assay results from our first three drill holes next month, he added. The company said that all drilling thus far has been concentrated at the Steffenbergs and Oscarsgruvan zones as follow up, infill, and step-outs from historical drilling returned high-grade polymetallic mineralization over significant widths. Appointment of key technical advisor District also said that Dr Rodney Allen, who did his PhD in volcanic resources, has been appointed as technical advisor to the company. Dr Allen was manager of Geology Research and Development for the Boliden Group in Sweden for ten years. Prior to that position, Dr Allen studied several polymetallic ore deposits in Sweden and his geological interpretations were instrumental in the discovery of new ore bodies at Garpenberg and Renstrom. Ainsworth noted that the appointment of Dr Allen is a natural fit for District Metals. Rodney is an important addition to the technical team given his depth of highly relevant experience at Boliden's Garpenberg Mine, and elsewhere in Sweden, added Ainsworth. Between Rodney and our Country Manager, Hein Raat, the company is fully equipped to unlock the potential at Tomtebo." Separately, District has granted 200,000 stock options to employees and consultants. Each stock option is exercisable at $0.40 per share which was the closing price of the company's stock on the grant date of April 13, 2021. All stock options have a term of five years and vest on the grant date. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive The Orleans Parish Coroners Office on Tuesday identified a teen boy and a young man who were shot to death recently. KRon Hoskins, 16, was fatally shot at the corner of Forum Boulevard and Duane Road in New Orleans Easts Little Woods area about 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The shooting also left a 15-year-old boy wounded. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Miguel Leon Jr. was slain at the corner of Orleans Avenue and North Dorgenois Street in Treme on Friday night. Police havent publicly named any suspects or discussed possible motives in either slaying. 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 In other matters recently handled by local authorities: The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office on Tuesday announced that it had arrested a group of juveniles accused of shooting paintballs at each other, residents, cars, homes and traffic signs in 14 separate cases since March. The agency said the arrests were alarming because paintball guns can cause serious injury or significant property damage "when not used in a controlled environment." The Sheriff's Office didn't identify any of the suspects because of their ages. Ronald Riley Jr., 22, a suspect in various mail drop box thefts in New Orleans, is accused of using a car to strike a police officer during a confrontation Friday in the 800 block of Harrison Avenue. Check out the news you should not miss today: Politics Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on Tuesday held a phone talk with Brunei Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, during which both agreed to regularly and effectively maintain the nations mechanism of joint committees on bilateral cooperation, the Vietnam News Agency reported the same day. Society Vietnam on Tuesday afternoon reported seven new imported cases of COVID-19, increasing the countrys tally to 2,714 with 2,445 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health. According to Hanois Department of Construction, the capital city now has 1,579 old condominiums built between 1960 and 1992, with many of them being seriously degraded and posing a threat to local residents. However, there have been huge obstacles in demolishing and reconstructing the buildings due to the lack of a legal framework. The Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in the southern province of Binh Phuocs Hon Quan District on Tuesday said they had recently caught two taxis transporting five foreigners to illegally enter the locality. Local authorities in the north-central province of Nghe An are working to find out the reason why the Nha Le (Le Dynasty) Canal through Nghi Yen Commune in Nghi Loc District has had its water turn dark and smelly during the past days. Business The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association on Tuesday announced that its members sold a total of 70,952 vehicles in the first quarter of 2021, a year-on-year surge of 36 percent, the Vietnam News Agency reported the same day. Education Students at Luong Dinh Cua Elementary School in District 3 are having the chance to watch water puppet performances on their school campus on April 12, 13, 14, and 16 as part of a project to bring the Vietnamese traditional art to primary schools across Ho Chi Minh City. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Patna, April 15 : Another 4,786 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Bihar in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases in the state to a weekly high of 23,724 -- 2.5 times higher than the cases (around 9,000) recorded last Wednesday, health officials said. Some of the state's top officials, Chaitanya Prasad, additional chief secretary of home department, S. Siddharth, principal secretary of finance department, and Madan Sahni, social welfare minister have also tested positive for the Covid-19. They have been admitted to AIIMS, Patna. Officials said on Wednesday that 17 people have lost their lives in different hospitals in the last 24 hours. At least 11 deaths were recorded in Patna. Four patients died in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), three in Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), 3 in Patna AIIMS and one at a private hospital. CID inspector Rakesh Kumar and Anish Akhtar, Deputy Secretary in Bihar Technical Services Commission, have also succumbed to the dreaded virus, in Patna. Meanwhile, the Bihar government has urged the Indian Army to provide 50 doctors to set up a 500-bed Covid hospital in Bihta in Patna district. "We need help from Indian Army to provide 50 doctors to run a hospital having capacity of 500 beds," said Pratyay Amrit, the principal secretary of the health department Bihar. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text [April 14, 2021] New Zealand General Insurance Market Report 2020: Key Trends, Analysis and Opportunities, 2015-2019 & 2020-2024 - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "New Zealand General Insurance - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. 'New Zealand General Insurance - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2024' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the New Zealand general insurance segment. This report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the New Zealand general insurance segment. It provides values for key performance indicators such as direct written premium, loss ratio and general insurance penetration during the review period (2015-2019) and forecast period (2019-2024). The report gives a comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country. The report brings together the publisher's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure. Key Highlights Key insights and dynamics of the New Zealand general insurance industry. Comparison of New Zealand general insurance segments, along with premium trends and key profitability ratios. A comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy, government initiatives, investment opportunities and enterprise structure. New Zealand insuranceregulatory framework's evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements. New Zealand general insurance industry's market structure giving details of retail and commercial lines of business. Details of the competitive landscape, M&A and competitors' profiles. Scope It provides historical values for the New Zealand general insurance segment for the report's 2015-2019 review period, and projected figures for the 2019-2024 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the New Zealand general insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2024. It profiles the top general insurance companies in New Zealand, and outlines the key regulations affecting them. Reasons to Buy Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the New Zealand general insurance segment, and each category within it. Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the New Zealand general insurance segment. Assess the competitive dynamics in the general insurance segment. Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Executive Summary Chapter 2 Economy Overview Key Macroeconomic Indicators Country Risk Index Chapter 3 COVID-19 Impact Assessment Chapter 4 Summary Trend and KPIs Penetration and Growth Premiums and Key Lines of Business Profitability Chapter 5 Regulatory Risk Evolution Key Facts Licensing Requirements Chapter 6 Key Lines of Business - Trend and Market Share Property Insurance Motor Insurance Liability Insurance Marine, Aviation and Transit Insurance Health Insurance Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape Chapter 8 Competitor Profiles Chapter 9 Insurtech Chapter 10 Appendix Companies Mentioned IAG New Zealand Limited Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (New Zealand) AA Insurance Limited FMG Insurance Limited TOWER Insurance Limited (New Zealand) Asteron Life Limited (New Zealand) AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd (New Zealand) Vero Liability Insurance Limited For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kaso9o View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005621/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An unexpected side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine has prompted experts to take a closer look at how menstrual cycles are impacted following the shot, reports say. Katherine Lee, a post-doctoral scholar in the public health sciences division at the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, told TODAY she and a colleague discussed their side effects after taking the vaccine. Turns out both of them had experienced an unexpected change in their menstrual cycle. Lees conversations with other women revealed that they too had experienced periods that came earlier, felt heavier or just seemed abnormal. Lee explained to TODAY the menstrual cycle is a dynamic process that is very flexible, and thats responsive to many different life circumstances like stress, physical or mental or immune changes. She added, the menstrual cycle is supposed to respond and adapt. She also reportedly reached out to her grad school professor, Kathryn Clancy, head of the Clancy Lab at the University of Illinois, who focuses on womens health research. When Lee mentioned the irregular cycles, Clancy was interested. Then Clancy received her shot. A little after a week following her first Moderna dose, Clancy said she had a period that was heavier than any she had ever experienced in the past. Not even in my 20s when I was having a really heavy cycle, the report cited. When Clancy shared her experience on Twitter, people responded with their own stories. This led Lee and Clancy to the conclusion they needed to gather this information in a standardized way. So they developed a survey. Lee noted while many people had noticed a change, they hadnt heard about menstrual changes being a side effect. So, the pair thought if a menstrual cycle change is a side effect of the vaccine, then it would be beneficial for people to be prepared. Both researchers, who are pro-vaccine, explain the purpose of the study is to understand the full range of side effects. Vaccines and menstruation Clancy told TODAY it was not until the 90s that the National Institutes of Health said women needed to be included in studies for more balanced drug trials. We make a lot of assumptions about vaccines and side effects based off of data that doesnt actually represent all bodies, she added. Currently, it is unknown how the COVID-19 vaccines might impact the uterus. But, although researchers do not understand how the vaccines might influence menstruation, there is some understanding of how having COVID-19 impacts menstruation. That relationship has been researched, mostly by China. How long do the menstrual changes last? According to the report, it appears changes seem to be short-lived. Although data from the survey hasnt been analyzed, Lee noted that anecdotally people have shared that their menstrual irregularities seem to last only for the cycles following the shots. Dr. Anar Yukhayev, an OB-GYN at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, told TODAY that if people notice period changes and are worried, they should talk to their doctors. This is because some menstrual changes may be caused by other reasons. Anyone interested in participating in the research survey can do so here. Read an expanded version of this report via TODAY. READ MORE: Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 00:08:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) on Wednesday signed an agreement to reinforce anti-poaching efforts. TAWA's acting conservation commissioner, Mabula Misungwi, said the anti-poaching and other conservation activities will be conducted along the Ruaha-Katavi ecosystem. Misungwi thanked WCS for working jointly with TAWA saying fighting poaching required joint efforts. Noah Mpunga, WCS director for Tanzania, appealed to other conservation organizations to support Tanzania toward wildlife conservation. The Ruaha-Katavi ecosystem comprises miombo plains, forested highlands, significant rivers, lakes and wetlands. It is the most important area in terms of elephant numbers in East Africa and a key habitat for endangered and vulnerable species including lion, wild dog, giraffe, hippo, vultures, sable and roan. Enditem The telecommunications industry must improve its response to customers who are experiencing financial hardship, according to Financial Counselling Australia. Financial Counselling Australias comments follows release of its report and survey - Telcos and Financial Hardship: Feedback from the Frontline. Commenting on its own report, which has two parts - a survey of financial counsellors and desk top research on other relevant studies and data - Financial Counselling Australia says every financial counsellor who took part in the survey said they have more than 50% of their clients struggling to pay their telco bills. According to Financial Counselling Australia, telcos refer their customers to financial counsellors and benefit when the customers get back on track. Other key findings of the report show: Overall, telco hardship practices are poor Mis-selling is common throughout the industry, with around 80% of financial counsellors saying they have clients with debts where mis-selling has occurred Affordability checks are inadequate, which places people under financial stress The report reveals that financial counsellors rated the three major telcos on the way they treated customers in hardship, where 1 was the lowest rating and 10 the highest - with Telstra scoring 6.2, Optus 5.6 and TPG/Vodafone 4.4. Financial Counselling Australia described these ratings as poor. As reported by iTWire earlier today, telecoms industry peak body Communications Alliance says that telcos want more Federal Government action on improving funding of financial counselling - with CA CEO John Stanton noting that financial counselling is a vital service for many Australians, and the FCA report shows that financial counsellors have had some mixed experiences when working with telcos on behalf of their clients. In its report, Financial Counselling Australia says that nearly a quarter of Australias 950 financial counsellors took part in its survey. This was a remarkable result, given the survey was only open for the three days immediately before Easter, the FCA noted. The timing of the survey coincided with changes in the level of government support that took effect at the end of March 2021: the end of JobKeeper and a reduction in the JobSeeker payment. These changes emphasise the need for telcos to improve their hardship practices and to work collaboratively with financial counsellors, to help struggling customers manage with less income following the pandemic. Financial counsellors assist people experiencing financial difficulty. They provide information and advice to help people tackle their financial problems and to minimise the risk of issues occurring in the future. Financial counselling services are free, confidential and independent, the FCA said in a statement. CEO of Financial Counselling Australia, Fiona Guthrie AM said that one of the major drivers of people being unable to pay their telco bills is mis-selling, and too many people end up with devices they dont need, dont understand and cant afford. Financial counsellors gave example after example in the survey of mis-selling to people who were vulnerable. These groups of people then end up in financial hardship, Guthrie said. Telco financial hardship practices just arent good enough. Some of the problems financial counsellors pointed to included telcos not offering hardship arrangements to customers at all, or not offering affordable arrangements. As Australia recovers from the pandemic, telcos must ensure that people in financial hardship are treated fairly. Telcos provide essential services. Without a phone or internet, people miss out on jobs, cant make medical appointments or stay in touch with government services. Thats why telcos must support their vulnerable customers, Guthrie concluded. Joanne Bennet eagerly slipped off the blue jacket covering her right arm so a nurse could inject a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Bennet was all smiles, despite a dislike of needles, sitting in a chair in a community room of her own apartment building. Itll be nice to get back to a little bit of normal after being incarcerated, said the 68-year-old resident of Bolton North apartments in Midtown Baltimore. I call it incarcerated, but it was really me spending the past year in my apartment. Four months after vaccinations began, everyone in Maryland age 16 and older is eligible, and tens of thousands of people are getting shots daily at mass vaccination sites, pharmacies and elsewhere. Some like Bennet qualified weeks ago because of their age or health condition, but still hadnt been vaccinated for reasons public health officials are struggling to understand and address. Such lapses not only threaten the lives of some most at risk from the virus, but potentially are delaying the pandemics end. So health and government leaders have begun targeting pockets of underserved older adults, African Americans, non-English speakers and the disabled. They are running small clinics in apartment buildings and churches and using mobile vans. Theyre even going door-to-door. Were about that strategic, on-the-ground tactical operation, getting shots in arms in people where they are, said Maryland National Guard Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, who heads the states Vaccine Equity Task Force. The tactics in some ways mirror early efforts, when vaccinators went to nursing homes to stem the tide of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. Close to 80% of older adults now have gotten at least one dose of vaccine. But those efforts werent aimed at the homebound or others living outside institutions. And mass vaccination efforts often arent reaching minority groups. White people in Maryland are still getting vaccinated at a much higher rate than Black people. Latino Marylanders, about 10% of the population, have received under 6% of the immunizations. Story continues In places prioritizing equity, the disparities are less severe. Baltimore City, which Gov. Larry Hogan once blasted for its vaccine distribution, has vaccinated a higher proportion of Black people than nearly every other county, according to state data. Equity has been such an issue nationally that a group of Yale University professors recently proposed holding clinics at Dollar General stores because they would greatly decrease the distance to vaccines for both low-income and minority households. These vaccination efforts are not just challenging, but also more labor-intensive and expensive. State and federal regulators are beginning to step up their efforts to reach groups who havent been served. Ten Maryland hospital systems have applied to a recently created state program funded with $12 million raised from patient billing. And local health departments will get the bulk of $54 million allotted to Maryland to help distribute vaccines to underserved populations from the recent COVID relief bill. Some health departments say there is work to be done before they schedule clinics. National surveys show hesitancy remains a problem, though more so now among rural Republican men than African Americans. Health workers in conservative Harford County, for example, said they have maintained consistent messaging on social media in an attempt to eliminate the skepticism they say derives from misinformation. Others are relying on church leaders, family doctors and other trusted community leaders to allay concerns about vaccinations or specific vaccines. Dr. Michael Kiritsy directs a vaccine outreach program for LifeBridge Health, parent of Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He sends vaccination teams to places identified by local health departments, down to specific apartment buildings, including Bennets Bolton North. They vaccinate anywhere from a few to a few hundred people a day reaching much smaller numbers than the thousands at mass clinics. Some recipients are without transportation, computers or the wherewithal to get and keep an appointment, while others are unsure they want to be vaccinated and havent tried. Many of these people certainly would have qualified for vaccination earlier, but they faced a variety of barriers, Kiritsy said. We reach out and bring vaccine to them. Bolton North apartments The seniors who live in this apartment building on West Mount Royal Avenue are mostly Black and Korean. Many dont speak English or drive, and some have health conditions, issues that make it important but difficult to be vaccinated. Gina Stritch, resident services coordinator, called around for help. LifeBridge Health responded with staff and coolers of the Moderna vaccine for about 100 residents. A Korean-speaking oncology nurse, Young Kim, volunteered to do the vaccinations because she felt the residents would be more comfortable, especially if they had questions. She gently reassured a nervous Bennet as she plunged a needle into her arm, though Bennet said there was no question of getting vaccinated. I got vaccines in the 50s for polio and all that, Bennet said. I prayed on it. She did have some stipulations. She did not want Johnson & Johnsons one-dose vaccine, with lower reported efficacy than the two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. And no long lines. Shed already turned down an appointment her doctor offered at a clinic in Columbia for that reason. With my asthma, I wasnt going to wait, she said. Regina Williams, 76, said she hadnt gotten a vaccine yet because her doctors hadnt yet offered her one, despite qualifying because of her age. She said the in-house clinic at Bolton North also worked out better because she was able to assist her neighbor. Williams arrived arm-in-arm with the woman and they were vaccinated one after the other. My family made me stay with my daughter for 3 months, and I only got to go on the porch and in the yard, Williams said. Itll be a relief to be more social. Bilingual Christian Church of Baltimore At the Bilingual Christian Church of Baltimore, Bishop Angel Nunez spent Friday night racing around the facility, where a vaccination clinic, boxed meal giveaway and hiring event were underway. Nunez worked with leaders on the states Vaccine Equity Task Force to hold the clinic at the East Baltimore church, where 120 people preregistered for appointments and others walked up hoping for extra doses. To Nunezs distress, some had to be turned away. The charismatic church leader had worked with parishioners to find people in need of vaccines, then worked to register them. He also called fellow bishops and pastors of other Spanish-speaking churches so they could get shots and pass the word. The process was taxing, Nunez said but worth it. Im seeing hope in the eyes of the people, he said. Im happy Im seeing the results. Luz Candelaria, a grandmother to eight, contracted the coronavirus in June. She had problems finding a vaccine online and through her doctors office, despite qualifying for a shot months ago. She found this appointment through her daughter, a church member. Others she knows have been out-of-luck or frustrated by long commutes necessary for two separate vaccine trips. Candelaria lives nearby and will be back for a second Moderna dose in May. Such community vaccination clinics run by the task force are delivering about 7,000 doses a week, officials said. Despite the churchs success at drawing people in, Dr. Dana S. Simpler, the sites head clinician, said she looked forward to offering doses in her office. There she could address concerns in more resistant patients. Sometimes I cant talk them out of their objections, she said, but most times I can. Southern Baptist Church The people lined up outside Southern Baptist Church in East Baltimore last Saturday morning wrapped around the building onto North Chester Street. Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Baltimore City Health Department had signed up about 400 people for immunizations ahead of time but left the door open for walk-ups. Within hours, they anticipated giving 600 shots. Leroy Key, 59, had been at home just down the street when a friend, who was one of the 4,000-plus members of the church, texted him about no-appointment vaccinations. Key had signed up at the mass vaccination site at M&T Bank Stadium but was having second thoughts. The vaccine is still new, he said, thats what makes me apprehensive. But Key hadnt been able to hold his latest grandchild born just two months ago and, if he gets his second dose on time, that could happen for the first time on his 60th birthday. Less than two hours after receiving the text message, he rolled up the sleeve on his gray collared shirt. The only thing driving it is my grandchildren, he said. For some the decision came down to opportunity, and for others it was the messenger: Bishop Donte Hickman Sr., who had been advocating for church-based clinics almost since vaccines arrived in December. He heard from congregants what health and government officials are finally understanding: Vaccine hesitancy wasnt keeping certain African Americans from being vaccinated, access was. When science and doctors cant be trusted, people have always looked to the community of faith, their churches, to find the right and trusted answer, Hickman said. Bernard Segar thanked God, and the reverends and the pastors who brought it to attention. Segar, 56, heard about the Southern Baptist clinic from friends after believing the odds were low of getting an appointment through the states system, originally only online. Segar said hes illiterate to the internet, but here he could get critical protection for himself and his 81-year-old mother. Segar moved through the line quickly from sign-up to shot to a 15-minute observation period, which Segar spent in a church pew. Im going to let some other people know, too, he said. That word-of-mouth advertising may help the city achieve its goal of vaccinating 80% of residents with many people inoculated at sites other than large vaccination clinics. You might not have the kind of schedule where you can plan something in advance, said Dr. Katie J. OConor, Hopkins director of community vaccination clinics. Maybe you didnt hear about it, maybe you dont even have a phone. And maybe you just happened to hang out around here, and if you see this happening, we can get you vaccinated. A couple of vintage Holdens are set to be snapped up for $1million at an upcoming record-breaking auction. The 1988 Holden VL Walkinshaw SS Group A is currently holding a bid of $220,000 while the 1990 Holden Commodore VN SS Group A is sitting at $185,000. With just over a week until the auction on April 24, both classics presented by Lloyds Auctions are expected to be sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Notable features of the two Holdens are that the 1988 model has just 1,400km under its belt while the Holden VN has amazingly travelled just 182km. A couple of vintage Holdens are set to be snapped up for $1million at an upcoming record-breaking auction (pictured 1988 Holden VL Walkinshaw SS Group A) With just over a week until the auction on April 24, both classics presented by Lloyds Auctions are expected to be sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars (pictured 1990 Holden VN Group A SS Build) Lloyds says the Holden Walkinshaw is in complete original condition and is 'arguably the most collectable VL Walkinshaw SS Group A' in Australia. Meanwhile, the Holden VN was one in just 302 models made and assumed to be one of the lowest kilometre VN SS models in Australia. Lloyds' chief operations officer, Lee Hames, said the values of vintage Holdens had recently boomed and he expected the Holden VN to be highly contested at the auction. 'Who knows what these cars will sell for, they are already fetching well into six figures due to their limited build and extremely low kilometres, but we must remember the effect of the Holden closure in Australia where we have seen a trend of records broken since they closed,' Mr Hames said. He said potential buyers wanted to tick boxes such as heritage, rarity and desirability. Notable features of the two Holdens are that the 1988 model (pictured) has just 1,400km under its belt while the Holden VN has amazingly travelled just 182km The auction will kick off at midday next Saturday and will feature another 120 cars from Europe, Australian and the US 'The VN Commodore SS Group A up for auction ticks all those boxes,' Mr Hames said. The auction will kick off at midday next Saturday and will feature another 120 cars from Europe, Australian and the US. Earlier this year, one of the last Holden Commodores to be produced in Adelaide was snapped up at auction with a top bid of $750,000. The VF Series II SSV Redline sedan was given the final vehicle serial number and was the last to travel through the body and paint shops at the company's Elizabeth plant, which closed in 2017. However, parent group General Motors still owns an identical Commodore which carries the ceremonial title of the 'last car' Holden produced in Australia. In the online auction which concluded on Saturday, bids for the car up for grabs jumped from less than $300,000 to $750,000 in the final hour, well above its original retail selling price of about $65,000. In information provided by Lloyds Auctions, the car had been bought by a former Holden employer who had spent 14 years with the company in various senior roles. Prosecutors to receive powers to represent Russias interests in international courts The live streaming screenshot 15:22 14/04/2021 MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) The Justice Ministry will delegate its authority to represent interests of the Russian Federation in international and foreign courts to the Prosecutor Generals Office, according to Russias Justice Minister Konstantin Chuichenko. This year Russian authorities took a decision on the transfer of these Ministrys powers to prosecutors, Chuichenko said during the extended meeting of the Justice Ministrys collegium on Wednesday. The Justice Ministry would do all for the process went promptly without delays, he added. In early 2021, the European Court of Human Rights delivered several rulings in favor of Russia in high-profile inter-State cases, the Minister reminded. In particular, ECHR declared Georgias accusations against Russia concerning events in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in August 2008 unfounded and found several Ukraines accusations against Russia over Crimea unproved, he stated. Algiers, 12 April 2021 (SPS) -Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to Algeria Abdelkader Taleb Omar said Sunday that France wants the conflict in Western Sahara to continue, as evidenced by the decision of the ruling party La Republic en Marche (LREM) to open an office in occupied Dakhla. In a statement to APS, Taleb said that "the position of the ruling party in France does not promote any political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara but rather accentuates the situation, and "France assumes full responsibility for this conflict that continues. The Sahrawi people "will face all the malicious plans" hindering their right to self-determination and colonial France does not want the Sahrawi cause to be settled within the framework of international legality, but works to prolong the conflict, he continued. The French party "La Republique En Marche" follows the path of former U.S. President Donald Trump, especially since Macron's party calls the city of Dakhla in the occupied Sahrawi territories "southern territories of Morocco, said the same official. He justified the sensitivity of this decision by the fact that it reflects the policy of France, especially since it comes from the ruling party and not from a simple political formation. The policy of France is "contradictory and hypocritical", he said denouncing the position of the ruling party in France, which is a "violation" of international legality and the right of the Sahrawi people. He recalled the position of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and the European Union (EU) in favor of a peaceful solution under a UN framework. Taleb Omar did not rule out "the involvement of France in the supply of Morocco with new military technologies, such as drones and satellites, stressing that the Sahrawi people will face by all means "the bellicose plans of Morocco and its allies. (SPS) 062/090/700 German architects design the new look of Bratislava's three central squares SNP, Velvet Revolution and Kamenne Squares will undergo reconstruction that should join them into one public space. Visualisation of the future look of the SNP Square (Source: Courtesy of the Bratislava city council) Font size: A - | A + Three adjoining squares in the heart of Bratislava will receive an uplift. Under the Zive Namestie (Living Square) project, SNP Square, the Neznej Revolucie (Velvet Revolution) Square and the Kamenne Square will merge into a unified public space without cars and with greenery meeting climatic requirements, the Bratislava authorities announced as they introduced the winning design by a German team of architects on April 7. The proposed design offers a better space for people to meet, addresses the complicated traffic situation, which has always been here to the detriment of pedestrians, and deals with new climate demands, said Bratislava Mayor Matus Vallo. The three interconnected squares totalling almost 35,000 square metres make up the largest public space in the centre of the capital. No reconstruction had taken place since the 1970s, with the exception of Klobucnicka Street and the surroundings of the Old Market Hall. After the planned reconstruction with an estimated price tag of 20 million, the three squares will create a loop along the former moat surrounding the historical city centre, extending the pedestrian area in the city centre. Architects who dont want to build The Zive Namestie project is one of the citys main projects for the reconstruction and renewal of public spaces within the Zive Miesta (Living Spaces) schemes. 14. Apr 2021 at 16:13 | Jana Liptakova Prime Minister on Wednesday paid tribute Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary. "I bow to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on AmbedkarJayanti. His struggle to bring the marginalised sections of the society into the mainstream will continue to be an example for every generation," Prime Minister Modi tweeted in Hindi. Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits) and supported the rights of women and workers. He died on December 6, 1956. He is also known for being the architect of the Indian constitution. In 1990, Ambedkar was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. (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.) Shannon Eubanks, a crew member on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, participated in a 2018 ice rescue training exercise in the Arctic Ocean, north of Utqiagvik. The Coast Guard, in collaboration with Canada, is planning to sail the Cutter Healy through the Northwest Passage this summer. He embodies what we want to teach our students, and that is how to get into good trouble, Ewing said. Our students and community members used the process (of renaming). They chose advocacy, and that advocacy got the board to step up and consider renaming the schools. x Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop and forward Alexander Radulov will not return this season while recovering from injuries. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop and forward Alexander Radulov have been ruled out for the remainder of the 2021 season, general manager Jim Nill confirmed in a statement Wednesday. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Bishop has been recovering from knee surgery that he underwent in October 2020 to repair a torn meniscus and hasn't played during the 2021 season. His original recovery timeline was set at five months. The veteran goalie last played during the 2020 playoffs, appearing in three games, before ceding the net over to Anton Khudobin who carried the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final, bowing out against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Radulov last played for the Stars on March 18, and will require surgery to repair a core muscle injury. Nill wrote that the Stars expect him to be ready to go for the 2021-22 season. The 34-year-old winger posted four goals and 12 points in 11 games during the 2021 campaign. It's been a tough season for the defending Western Conference champions overall, with a COVID-19 outbreak delaying their start, as 17 members were affected and four games were postponed. From the outside looking in, injuries and COVID-19 have certainly had an adverse effect on the Stars, who are currently stuck in sixth place in the Central Division, and probably hoping for this genuine nightmare of a season to reach its end. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. More coverage from Yahoo Sports As Covid-19 ravaged the world at the start of 2020, dogs in the UK were suffering an outbreak of another coronavirus, a study has revealed. Reports from concerned owners and disquieted vets at the time indicated more pet pooches than usual were getting ill and severely vomiting. Researchers studying the outbreak now believe it was caused by an animal coronavirus most likely a variant of canine enteric coronavirus (CeCoV). Humans can not catch this type of coronavirus and it is not the same as SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which causes Covid-19 in people. Scroll down for video As Covid-19 was infecting in humans at the end of 2019, dogs in the UK were suffering an outbreak of their own canine-specific coronavirus, a study has revealed (stock) There were various media reports of concerned pet owners who were mystified as to why their beloved companions were becoming violently ill, with vets at the time warning the condition of some animals was very serious. A team of scientists led by the University of Liverpool and the University of Lancaster dished out 1,258 case questionnaires to vets and owners while obtaining 95 clinical samples from 71 animals. Outbreaks of disease among dogs are rare because records often only come from domesticated animals, not strays, due to the need for the animal to go to a vet. Diseases that are known to affect dogs have vaccines to prevent them, which are highly effective and prevent the majority of canine pathogens. Danielle Greenberg, a vet in the north west of England, spotted around 40 cases of severe vomiting in dogs she reached out to her colleagues around the UK on social media. Analysis later revealed the virus had spread across the country. Pictured, a map showing where the virus was found. The darker red areas show places with more severe rates So when Danielle Greenberg, a vet in the North West of England, spotted around 40 cases of severe vomiting in dogs she reached out to colleagues around the UK. Ms Greenberg is a co-author on the paper which combined expert opinion with lab analysis and identified the cause of the outbreak. Electronic health records were scrutinised which contained information on breed, sex, neuter status, age, owners' postcodes, and vaccination status. A PCR test was run on samples from poorly dogs and revealed infection with the canine enteric coronavirus, a stomach bug. The outbreak was also tracked and found to span from December 2019 to March 2020, peaking on February 2, 2020. Questionnaires revealed most of the dogs were up to date on their jabs and deworming and their main symptoms were a loss of appetite and vomiting. Less than one per cent of the dogs died after contracting the virus and the dogs recovered, on average, in less than a week. 'In conclusion, this multidisciplinary approach enabled a rapid response to a newly described outbreak of canine gastroenteritis and identified a CeCoV as a potential cause,' the researchers write in the study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. 'Previous CeCoV seasonality suggests further outbreaks may occur.' Two attorneys general from Texas and Missouri sue President Biden and his administration to resume the remain in Mexico policy of then-president Trump. They cited it should be done to stem the tide of aliens at the borders. Remain in Mexico Policy is vital to dealing with illegals In a statement about the complaint, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, "President Joe Biden could effectively remedy the surge of crime and illegals passing the border by reinstating the Migrant Protection Protocols." During the Trump era, Mexico's stay worked until the President struck it down with his executive orders, reported the Epoch Times. "Dangerous offenders are making a mockery of the law enforcement lapse, resulting in human trafficking, bribery, a whole slew of violent crimes, and a massive cost, overwhelming strain on state and federal programs which taxpayers must pay the bill for," Paxton said. The Trump administration's Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) was introduced in January 2019 and required aliens to remain in Mexico for the length of their immigration proceedings. Thousands of illegal aliens were released into the United States before its implementation to wait for their cases. Many of them sometimes disappear in the country and are never seen again. Biden's administration announced soon after his inauguration that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would "cease adding individuals to the (MPP) program" on January 21. According to Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, the administration's failed policies caused the border crisis. Their blunders have made it hard to enforce border laws due to the President himself's bad decisions by ending the remain in Mexico policy. Republican Attorneys Plan Legal Roadblocks Against Biden Agenda It is time that the President admits that he failed in protecting the US border from the migrant surge, put back Trump-era border policies to restore the rule of law at the borders. The two attorneys general claimed in the lawsuit (pdf) that MPP played an "important role" in coping with the border crisis and that the Biden administration "disregarded the controlling legal authority and basic standards set out in the Administrative Procedure Act" by suspending the program. Both the attorneys general said that Texas and Missouri had spent more than they should have to fight human trafficking by drug cartels, caused by the President's seeming ignorance in issuing executive orders set out in the Administrative Procedure Act. The President's overreach has caused crimes against Texas and border communities caused by illegals' surge, with the cartels at the helm of illegal activities. Texas and its taxpayers are providing extra housing, educating, and providing healthcare and other social services for non-Americans which is too much to handle. They added that the Biden Administration's unlawful suspension of the MPP costs both Texas and Missouri damage in resources and their communities' safety. Paxton shot back that this lawlessness and ignorance caused by the President is inexcusable; he must not ignore the crisis and act now. Until now, the Biden administration has not admitted its blunders but gave excused instead. A week ago, Texas and Louisiana filed a lawsuit against the administration for not taking responsibility for criminal illegal immigrants. The remain in Mexico policy was unlawfully repealed, and no attempt to reinstate it. US Border Officials Say Among All the Migrants, 861+ are Criminals Joe Biden's Policies to Blame for Sending Children to U.S. Border Biden Administration to Use Taxpayers' Money to Pay for Migrants' Hotel Accommodations @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Hohoe Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service is investigating a case of alleged trafficking of 14 children in Hohoe. The children, made up of eight boys and six girls, are aged between 13 and 22 years. Detective Inspector James Kalami, in charge of the District Criminal Investigations Department (CID), told the Ghana News Agency that the Police acted upon a tip-off. He said the case was being treated as alleged trafficking until investigations were concluded. The Inspector said the driver and the mate of the vehicle were assisting the Police in the investigation. He said initial information showed that the children were from Damanko and Kpassa in the Oti Region and were heading towards Asikuma and its environs. Mr Henry Yanpalleh, Hohoe Municipal Social Welfare Officer, said the children were provided with accommodation and would be interviewed to get more information. The Officer said the Department would get in touch with officials of the District where the children were from to enable them to reach out to their families for possible re-integration. Mr Yanpalleh said there was a need for adequate education in most of the communities on issues of human trafficking. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Matthew Higgins and Thomas Klitgaard The pandemic sent consumer spending into retreat, helping drive up saving Change in Income = Change in Consumption + Change in Saving Government support bolstered household incomes Government support went beyond social benefits Will households spend down excess saving? How to cite this post: Matthew Higgins and Thomas Klitgaard, What Is behind the Global Jump in Personal Saving during the Pandemic?, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Liberty Street Economics, April 14, 2021, https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2021/04/what-is-behind-the-global-jump-in-personal-saving-during-the-pandemic.html Disclaimer The views expressed in this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the authors. Household saving has soared in the United States and other high-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite widespread declines in wages and other private income streams. This post highlights the role of fiscal policy in driving the saving boom, through stepped-up social benefits and other income support measures. Indeed, in the United States, Japan, and Canada, government assistance has pushed household income above its pre-pandemic trajectory. We argue that the larger scale of government assistance in these countries helps explain why saving in these countries has risen more strongly than in the euro area. Going forward, how freely households spend out of their newly accumulated savings will be a key factor determining the strength of economic recoveries.Consumer spending plummeted in the United States and other high-income economies with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The drop was sharpest in the second quarter of 2020, reflecting the strict lockdowns then in place. Spending picked up over the second half of the year, but the recovery was only partial. Consumption was still well below pre-pandemic levels at year-end.A simple accounting identity can help clarify how changes in spending feed into saving. Since income is either spent or saved, changes in income must be matched by changes in spending and saving.If income is stagnant, a decline in consumption will result in an equal increase in saving. If income is growing, the same decline in consumption will translate into a larger increase in saving.The chart below shows how this relationship has played out during the pandemic for the largest high-income economies: the United States, the euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The triangles represent the percent change in personal disposable incomeincome after taxes and net transferscomparing the first three quarters of 2020 with the first three quarters of 2019. The bars show how these changes in disposable income map into changes in consumption and saving, consistent with the identity above.While consumer spending weakened in all these economies, the magnitude of declines varied widely. U.S. spending held up best, dropping by the equivalent of 3 percent of pre-pandemic personal income. Spending in the United Kingdom fell the most, dropping by nearly 12 percent. Spending elsewhere was down 6 to 7 percent.Household saving, in contrast, was up across the board, with increases ranging from 7 percent of pre-pandemic income in the euro area to 16 percent in Canada. The counterparts to this increase varied widely. In the euro area and the United Kingdom, income stagnated, and higher saving came entirely from declines in consumption. In the United States and Canada, income grew strongly, and saving rose by more than twice the decline in consumption. In Japan, the increase in saving came about equally from lower consumption and new income.Data through the end of 2020available only for the United States and Canadatell a similar story. Saving grew strongly, with the largest contribution from income, and a smaller but still sizeable contribution from lower consumption.Notably, personal disposable income in the United States, Japan, and Canada grew by more than twice the average pace over the previous several years. The COVID-19 pandemic, of course, brought steep recessions to all high-income economies. This raises a natural question: Why did income growth hold up so well in the United States, Japan, and Canada?Wages and other labor compensation account for the largest part of household incomemore than 60 percent of income before taxes for the economies discussed here. The rest of income comes largely from private sources such as proprietors' earnings, rents, and investment returns. (The line between labor compensation and proprietors' income varies across countries, depending on differences in accounting practices and in how businesses are organized.) Net social benefits represent a final key category. This includes government-provided retirement benefits, unemployment insurance, income assistance, and similar programs, net of the taxes going to fund them. For some countries, net social benefits are typically a negative item for aggregate household income, with benefit-related taxes exceeding benefit payouts. What matters for our purposes, though, is how income streams changed over the course of the pandemic to yield the total change in household income.The chart below provides a breakdown of disposable income growth, comparing the first three quarters of 2020 with the same period a year earlier. (As with our earlier chart, data through the end of 2020 are available only for the United States and Canada, and tell a similar story.) Again, the bars show contributions to this income growth. The gold bar labeled Earnings combines labor compensation, proprietors' earnings, rents, and investment returns. The blue bar shows the net contribution from social benefits. The small green bar labeled Net other largely consists of changes in income taxes and in private transfers such as workers' remittances.Nominal earnings growth was negligible in the United States and negative for all other economieshardly a surprising development given steep recessions and the resulting sharp rise in unemployment and falloff in proprietors income. The positive outturn in the United States seems surprising, and can be traced at least in part to a less severe downturn: Real GDP for the Q1-Q3 period was down about 4 percent in the United States, compared to a decline of more than 6 percent elsewhere.Higher net benefits made a meaningful contribution to income growth in all economies. But the magnitude of the contribution varied widely, ranging from just under 2 percentage points in the United Kingdom to more than 8 percentage points in the United States and roughly 10 percentage points in Canada. Absent the increase in benefits, disposable income growth would have been barely positive in the United States and Canada and negative elsewhere.What would saving have been if there had not been these higher net benefits? It is impossible to say for sure. As an accounting matter, households could have maintained the same level of saving by making even sharper cutbacks in consumption spending. But consumption declines were already large and painful. More likely, the buildups in saving would have been substantially scaled back. Moreover, an attempt to maintain saving would be at least partly self-defeating. Deeper consumption cutbacks would have translated into steeper recessions, reducing incomes across the economyand forcing further cutbacks in consumption or saving. The perverse feedback mechanism, whereby a general increase in saving makes everyone worse off, is known as the Paradox of Thrift.Government pandemic assistance has gone beyond higher direct transfer payments. The United Kingdom, Japan, and some euro area countries have channeled wage subsidy payments to businesses rather than workers, which means these funds show up in household incomes as wages rather than social benefits. This arrangement helps explain why earnings declines have been small given the depth of recessions. Similarly, in the United States, Paycheck Protection Program funding shows up as proprietors' income or indirectly as wages, not as social benefits.A look at the government accounts serves as a check on the scale of support for household incomes. Countries' integrated macroeconomic accounts show government outlays on subsidies to the business sector. These outlays have risen substantiallyby roughly half as much as the increase in social benefit payouts in the United States, the euro area, and Canada, and by four times the increase in benefit payouts in the United Kingdom. No data are yet available for Japan, but indirect evidence indicates that the bulk of pandemic assistance there is captured in the household statistics.Unfortunately, the data do not allow us to specify what fraction of these funds were eventually paid out to households. But the upshot is clear enough. Government support for household incomes and saving was larger than suggested by the increase in social benefitsdramatically so in the United Kingdom. The euro area continues to stand out for support that is large relative to history, but small relative to what has been enacted elsewhere.How freely households spend out of their newly accumulated savings will be a key factor determining the strength of economic recoveries. Consumer spending would soar if households run down these funds aggressively when economies reopen. The potential upside is underscored by the fact that much of the buildup in savings is being held in easily spendable form. As the chart below shows, household deposit holdings for the five economies discussed here have risen by an amount equivalent to between 6.5 and 13.0 percent of annual disposable income.A recent Liberty Street Economics post , however, provides reasons for thinking that spending out of recent savings will be relatively modest based on how spending typically responds to an increase in the nations wealth. As noted in that post, goods consumption in the United States is already above its pre-pandemic trend. The same is true in other advanced economies. In addition, most consumer spending on services goes to essentials such as housing, utilities, education, and healthcare. There is only so much pop that pent-up demand for services such as travel, restaurant meals, and entertainment can deliver.This isnt to discount the upside potential for growth this year and next, particularly for the United States. Data in 2020 already place the scale of U.S. government support for households toward the upper end of the advanced economy range. The additional U.S. fiscal package passed in December boosted household incomes and savings starting in January, and the much larger package passed in March will add even more. ~Young Ministers also have challenges but are on the right track.~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs believes that her young cabinet members are doing fairly well despite the pressure they faced from the Netherlands to obtain liquidity support. The Prime Minister was responding to questions posed by SMN News regarding how satisfied they are with their performance since entering office. Jacobs said that her cabinet took office during challenging times as the island was now recovering from Hurricane Irma when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Jacobs said on March 28th, 2021 her government celebrated one year in office and everyone knows that her government has the youngest members of the Council of Ministers in the countrys history as such innovations and finding solutions are the key changes she noted. My Government has been faced with challenges that no other governments faced as such we are doing the best we can under the circumstances. Jacobs also credited the communication she has had with the coalition partners that support the Jacobs 2 cabinet despite the undue pressure the country received from the Netherlands to obtain liquidity support. The Prime Minister reminded that her government stood up to the Netherlands and the various conditions and the heavy-handed behavior even though they are facing those challenges on a daily basis. Jacobs said she agreed with the statements made by Members of Parliament regarding the conditions levied against St. Maarten. We did our best to maintain the integrity and laws of the country even though we gave in to a certain extent to obtain liquidity support. Right now, the same heavy-handed behavior is being displayed since Parliament submitted the petition to the United Nations, even though the country has accepted to follow the trajectory of the COHO." We are now being told that because Members of Parliament issued a petition it is being used against us and we are told we cannot be of two minds, while parliament is asked to clarify statements made related to the COHO in their petition visa vis their support for the Jacobs 2 cabinet to follow the trajectory. St. Maartens Prime Minister said that now there is an opportunity for all parties to sit around the table to come to a real consensus regarding the COHO while removing the heavy-handedness that has been identified by the State Council. If the Netherlands wants to show that they have not been discriminating or heavy-handed against St. Maarten then this is their opportunity, if this is achieved then I can truly say that St. Maarten is on its way to having true equity in the Kingdom, even though not sure if the islands will ever get true equality. There is still a lot that governments around the world want to do but are unable to do due to the financial constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran said in his response that while they are working in the interest of the country while maintaining law and order the sentiments and feedback he is getting is as if they are being picked on. Doran said when inspectors conduct controls persons feel they are being targeted or picked on while the government is only trying to apply the law. The same sentiments he said are shared when the Department of Domain Affairs tries to collect dues that are owned by the government, the same he said are being expressed in the area of infrastructure management, such as garbage collection. Doran said that he will continue to work in the best interest of the country while implementing the law, even though the mistakes of the past have placed the government where they are today however unpopular decisions will have to be made during the countrys downtime for the great come back. He recalled on the homeporting that the Minister of TEATT is working on that will greatly benefit St. Maarten. Minister of Justice Anna Richardson also shared the same sentiments when it comes to making unpopular decisions. I am one of those Ministers who received the most backlash when it comes to making changes and taking unpopular decisions however, I accepted it with honor because I am confident that positive changes are on the way. Richardson said every Minister in the Jacobs 2 cabinet is dedicated in their services and the oat they have taken. The Minister of Justice made clear that if certain cultures and practices have been developed over the years outside of the law then she is committed to changing that course. The Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel, the most senior politician within the Council of Ministers has also expressed his concerns over the amount of pressure being placed on St. Maarten by the Netherlands. Samuel said while he is someone that shares less of his views and remains silent most of the time, he too has an opinion on how the countries of the Kingdom are being treated, he said right now he wants to know what else will be demanded of the country and what more does the Netherlands want from St. Maarten and its people. Maintaining Good Governance and appointing people to boards of Government-owned companies. Asked if the government wants to clear up the cloud hanging over the country by having complete supervisory and managing boards at government-owned companies. Prime Minister Jacobs said based on the questions being posed by the Netherlands one would think there are now laws relating to governance on St. Maarten. Jacobs said in the past when certain politicians entered offices they appointed friends and families to boards of government-owned companies that went to work. The Prime Minister said that without making changes to the policies in place no member of government could appoint friends and families but they must follow proper procedures that are sometimes very lengthy. She said it is the decisions to appoint management boards and supervisory board members that are decisions of the Council of Ministers and not a particular Minister. She said in the past one would think that appointments for N.V GEBE are done by the Minister of VROMI while the Harbor and Airport would have been the Minister of TEATT. Jacobs said that was never the case and her government is ensuring that all procedures are followed prior to making appointments and dismissing of persons. Jacobs said that process is long and when it comes to screening that also takes a lot of time because the screening does not only involve the selected candidate but also their families. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged community groups, political parties and NGOs to harness their combined power in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. In his interaction with governors and lieutenant governors of all states and union territories via video conference, PM Modi urged them to actively engage in ensuring that social institutions collaborate seamlessly with state governments. PM Modi noted that the feeling of "janbhagidari" (people's participation) in curbing the virus which was seen last year needs to be encouraged again and added the role of governors becomes all the more critical to achieving this. "Governors are an important pillar of janbhagidari in this battle and their coordination with state governments and guidance to the institutions of state will further strengthen the nation's resolve," he said. Further, PM Modi asserted that the government is committed to ensuring adequate availability of vaccines and highlighted that India has become the fastest nation to reach the landmark of 10 crore vaccinations. "The prime minister emphasized the significance of increasing tracking, tracing and testing, and said that RTPCR testing needs to be increased from 60 per cent to 70 per cent. He said that it is pertinent to ensure that more and more people get tested," the statement said. "Modi suggested that governors can actively engage to ensure that social institutions collaborate seamlessly with the state governments towards micro containment. He said their social network can help ensure an increase in the capacity of ambulances, ventilators and oxygen in hospitals. Along with spreading the message about vaccination and treatment, governors can also spread awareness about AYUSH-related remedies," an official statement said. Meanwhile, a massive spike of 1.84 lakh new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday took India's total tally to 1.38 crore. India reported 1,84,372 new COVID-19 cases alongside 82,339 recoveries and 1,027 deaths in the last 24 hours. The unprecedented surge in infections has taken the country's active count to 13,65,704, as per the Union Health Ministry. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams' office said Tuesday it is refusing to prosecute charges of possessing small amounts of all drugs except heroin and fentanyl. Williams spoke often about refusing marijuana possession charges during his successful campaign for office last fall. But current policy from the district attorneys office goes further to include amounts intended for personal use of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines and black market painkillers. The policy was first reported by The Lens based on emails it obtained under a public records request to Williams first assistant, Bob White. In a March 25 email to a subordinate released to the news outlet, White said the policy is in effect for now." +3 How NOPD and DA pact plans to target a spike in auto burglaries, carjackings in New Orleans Police and prosecutors in New Orleans are crafting a special agreement to target serial car burglars and carjackers, Orleans Parish District A Whether the policy becomes permanent, it makes Williams an outlier among other district attorneys in Louisiana, where drug possession charges often come with stiff sentences upon conviction. Many Louisiana prosecutors are open to placing defendants in diversion programs, but those still leave the possibility of a court case hanging over their heads, in contrast to outright refusals to prosecute. Whites email left open the possibility that the policy could be a short-term measure as Williams' office works to clear a backlog of cases stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying courthouse shutdown. The exception to the policy, of heroin and fentanyl possession cases, involves a category tied to last years staggering increase in overdose deaths in New Orleans. Accidental drug-related deaths grew 51% in 2020 from the year before, according to the coroners office. Of last years 365 accidental drug deaths, 284 involved fentanyl. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Prosecutors dismissed 415 cases in the first month after Williams took office, with 55% of those narcotics-related, according to the DA's office. The aim of that first batch of dismissals was to give the court breathing room as it began resuming more normal operations. If the drug dismissal policy becomes permanent, it would place Williams on the leading edge of new policies around the United States from progressive prosecutors who have pledged to take a less punitive approach to drug crimes. Other progressive prosecutors, such as District Attorney Larry Krasner in Philadelphia, have moved away from prosecuting low-level drug possession charges. But those shifts have often come with a catch. As of 2019, Krasners office required defendants to prove that they had entered drug treatment programs, for instance. Orleans Parishs new district attorney has pledged to publish all his policies on the office website, but that hasnt happened yet, and the drug possession policy was instituted with no fanfare. At a Thursday forum, Williams said his office plans to post policies online as soon as it launches a new website. Williams also said the aim of his case dismissals thus far was to get rid of the fat and the bloat that has exited in this system. Weve removed that stuff off of our docket so we can have a laser-focus on serious crime. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/14/2021 -- Armor Materials Market Size USD 10.8 Billion in 2019, Industry Growth - CAGR of 7.3%, Industry Trends Increasing investment in military and defense sector. According to a new report by Reports and Data, the global Armor Materials market is forecasted to reach USD 18.97 Billion by 2027. The increasing security concerns and terrorism in countries globally is one of the major factors influencing demand. Based on the Global Terrorism Index, in 2018, approximately 71 countries reported experiencing at least one death from terrorism. Furthermore, the global economic impact of terrorism was around USD 33 billion in 2018. Countries, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East region such as Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, have witnessed an increase in both terrorisms as well as battlefield deaths over the past decade as the security situation continues to deteriorate. This is projected to lead to a rise in the demand for armor for military and defense personnel, thereby driving market demand. Get a Sample Copy of this Report with TOC, Tables, Statistics, Charts & Company profiles @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/3118 The Key Companies Profiled in the Market are: Saint-Gobain SA; Du Pont; DSM NV; Royal TenCate NV; Alcoa Inc.; Honeywell International Inc.; Saab AB; CoorsTek Inc.; Morgan Advanced Materials; CeramTec GmbH; Tata Steel; AGY Holding Corp.; and PPG Industries Inc. Increasing investment in the military and defense sector globally is also a major factor fostering demand. Statistics show that in 2018, global defiance spending was over USD1.67 trillion. Apart from the U.S., China, Russia, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European member states increased their defense budgets by almost 4.2% in real terms in 2018. Similarly, developing countries such as India has also been focusing on expanding its defense expenditure. The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing region with a 7.7% CAGR in the forecast period. Countries in the region, particularly China and India, have been focusing on increasing their spending on body armors for the defense sector. In February 2020, Communist China announced purchasing around 1.4 million body armor units over the next two years for war with Taiwan and the U.S. Similarly, Indian companies have also been focusing on providing armor with lighter materials. For instance, in 2019, MKU Limited, which produces ballistic protection for both the Indian Army and Navy, revealed investing in R&D for making lighter bulletproof jackets for the Indian Armed Forces. The COVID-19 impact: COVID-19 is expected to have a moderate impact on the market. The global production of products has suffered immensely due to the imposition of lockdown and social restrictions. With the majority of the economies, particularly in the Asian region crippled, the market is projected to witness disruption in the supply chain. Countries like China are still investing in body armors to prepare for war with Taiwan and the U.S. With the ease in restrictions and the government initiatives to start the economic activities, countries can hope for the imminent recovery of the market. Further key findings from the report suggest Rising concerns of governments globally towards soldier survivability and protection are expected to be the key driving factor for the market in the projected period. With increasing threats of war conditions and terrorist attacks, governments have been focusing on improved security systems. Metal and Alloys accounted for a major share of the market. Increasing adoption of composite metal foam is anticipated to influence growth. In 2019, researchers in the North Carolina State University demonstrated that a half-weight, vehicle armor made of composite metal foam (CMF) could stop ball and armor-piercing. The researchers revealed achieving significant weight savings, which improved vehicle performance and fuel efficiency. Aerospace armor is likely to witness significant growth in the forecast period. This can be associated with increasing investment by the government on fighter aircraft. Recently in February 2020, Germany and France signed a EUR 150 million deal to develop a prototype of the next-generation fighter jet. The prototype will see a total investment of about EUR 4 billion before it is completed in 2026. In January 2020, Avon Rubber, the U.K.-based military technology provider, announced acquiring ballistic protection business of 3M Company for approximately USD 91 million. Get Attractive Discount @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/discount-enquiry-form/3118 Material Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027) Metals and Alloys Ceramics Composites Para Aramid Fiber Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiberglass Others Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027) Vehicle Armour Aerospace Armour Body Armor Civil Armor Marine Armor Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027) North America Europe Asia Pacific MEA Latin America Browse Complete Report "Armor Materials Market" @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/armor-materials-market Table of contents Market Synopsis 1.1. Market Definition 1.2. Research Scope & Premise 1.3. Methodology 1.4. Market Estimation Technique Executive Summary 2.1. Summary Snapshot, 2019-2027 Indicative Metrics Armor Materials Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis 4.1. Armor Materials Market Material Segmentation Analysis 4.2. Industrial Outlook 4.2.1. Market Indicators Analysis 4.2.2. Market Driver Analysis 4.2.2.1. Increasing Security Concerns in 2nd & 3rd World Countries 4.2.2.2. Pressing Issues like Internal Security Measures 4.2.2.3. Advancement in Ammunitions and Weaponry 4.2.3. Market Restraint Analysis 4.2.3.1. Regulations by Government 4.2.3.2. Failure to provide Complete Protection 4.2.4. Market Opportunities Analysis 4.2.4.1. Next Generation Military Programs 4.2.4.2. Requirement for Lightweight Tactical Equipment 4.2.4.3. Drastic changes in Modern Warfare Situations 4.2.5. Market Challenges Analysis 4.2.5.1. Expensive Light Weight Armours 4.2.5.2. Modernisation of Other Types of Armour 4.3. ETOP Analysis 4.4. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.5. Competitive Metric Space Analysis 4.6. Price trend Analysis 4.7. Customer Mapping 4.8. Covid-19 Impact Analysis 4.9. Global Recession Influence Company Profiles 9.1. Tata Steel 9.1.1. Company Overview 9.1.2. Financial Performance 9.1.3. Technology Insights 9.1.4. Strategic Initiatives 9.2. Teijin Limited 9.2.1. Company Overview 9.2.2. Financial Performance 9.2.3. Technology Insights 9.2.4. Strategic Initiatives 9.3. Alcoa Corporation 9.3.1. Company Overview 9.3.2. Financial Performance 9.3.3. Technology Insights 9.3.4. Strategic Initiatives 9.4. Honeywell International Inc. 9.4.1. Company Overview 9.4.2. Financial Performance 9.4.3. Technology Insights 9.4.4. Strategic Initiatives Continued Read More Reports:- Wearable Payments Devices Market Trends, Revenue, Key Players, Growth, Share and Forecast Till 2027 Industrial Heating Equipment Market Size, Competitors Strategy, Regional Analysis and Industry Growth by Forecast to 2027 Biosimilars Market Trends, Size, Segment and Industry Growth by Forecast to 2027 Nitrile Gloves Market Size, Share, Top Key Players, Growth, Trend and Forecast Till 2027 About Reports and Data Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target, and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries, and help client's make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across multiple industries, including Healthcare, Touch Points, Chemicals, Products, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware of the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Our industry experience and ability to develop a concrete solution to any research problems provides our clients with the ability to secure an edge over their respective competitors. Seoul, April 14 : South Korea expressed strong regret on Tuesday over Japan's decision to dump radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Koo Yoon-cheol, chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said during an emergency vice-ministerial meeting that the South Korean government "expresses strong regret and will take all necessary measures for the safety of our people", Xinhua reported. Koo strongly urged the Japanese government to transparently disclose information on and verify all procedures of discharging the contaminated water from the Fukushima power plant into the ocean. The South Korean government planned to strongly demand Japan's concrete actions in a bid to help protect people's safety and prevent any damage to the marine environment, according to Yonhap news agency. The government has also planned to convey Seoul's concerns about the radioactive water release to the international community, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while requesting an objective verification over it. Koo said South Korea will take stern measures, such as compensation demand, if any damage by the wastewater release is found through an international verification or Seoul's scientific monitoring, vowing to more thoroughly implement radiation checks on food imports and inspect the import origin. The Japanese government announced its decision earlier in the day to release the massive amount of contaminated water into sea from the Fukushima power plant struck by an earthquake-caused tsunami in 2011. Regarding whether to refer Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Koo said Seoul may decide on it after collecting relevant data because the damage from the released radioactive water needs to be verified. The South Korean foreign ministry summoned Koichi Aiboshi, Japanese ambassador to Seoul, to protest against Japan's decision, it said in a statement. Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Taeho conveyed Seoul's opposition to the nuclear wastewater disposal, expressing grave concern about potential threats to the health of South Korean people and the environment. The vice minister emphasized the need for Japan's transparent disclosure of information on the contaminated water disposal, observance of environment-related standards acceptable to the international society, and objective verification through participation of the international community. South Korea's political parties denounced the Japanese decision. Choi Ji-eun, the ruling Democratic Party's spokesperson for international affairs, said in a commentary that it was a "shameless and selfish" act for Japan to make the unilateral decision despite the opposition from the international community. (Independent) A final withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will begin on 1 May, punctuating two decades of occupation as President Joe Biden aims to remove Americas footprint from a forever war that has cost thousands of lives, while the nations focus shifts to terror threats that have metastasized around the globe. Mr Biden said he believed a US presence in Afghanistan should be focused on the reason why we went in the first place to ensure Afghanistan would not be used as a base from which to attack or homeland again. We did that. We accomplished that objective, he said on Wednesday in remarks from the Treaty Room at the White House, where former George W Bush announced the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom on 7 October 2001. I said, among with others, we would follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, if need be, he said. Thats exactly what we did, and we got him. But that was a decade ago, Mr Biden said, and weve stayed in Afghanistan for a decade since. Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan have become increasingly unclear, he said. The US will aim to pull troops from the country by 11 September, 20 years after the 9/11 terror attacks, adjusting a 1 May timeline previously negotiated by former president Donald Trumps administration with the Taliban. We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result, Mr Biden said. I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth. But the US will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit, he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the safe, deliberate and coordinated withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan during remarks to global leaders and defence officials at Nato headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, hours before Mr Bidens address. Story continues Mr Biden also stressed the nations diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue, as well as its support for Afghanistans government and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The US also will support peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban through the United Nations, an Mr Biden pledged to support the rights of Afghanistans women and girls through humanitarian assistance. The number of US troops in Afghanistan has fluctuated from roughly 2,500 to 3,500, among roughly 9,600 Nato troops officially in the country. Over the last two decades, the conflict has killed 2,200 American troops, wounded 20,000 others, and cost as much as $1 trillion. More than 93,000 civilians, including women and children, have been killed or injured, according to an ongoing report from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. Among those civilian casualties, 31,425 were killed and 62,067 were injured. The president has sought to pursue a strategy with Afghanistan relative to a vastly different terror outlook than one in the aftermath of 2001, as the administration shifts its full attention on threats we face today, he said. Officials are refining efforts to monitor and disrupt terror threats not only in Afghanistan but wherever they may arise, whether in Africa, the Middle East or elsewhere, he added. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday that Mr Biden sought guidance from his national security team that did not sugarcoat their views on the impacts of the withdrawal. The president and White House officials shared the withdrawal decision within the past 36 hours with members of Congress, allied governments and the United Nations. The presidents intelligence chiefs unveiled a global threat assessment this week signaling that the the Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the US and allied partners maintain plans to withdraw from the country. We assess that prospects for a peace deal will remain low during the next year, according to the 2021 report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan Government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support. Intelligence officials also said the US ties to Afghanistan could complicate its relationship with Iran, which they said will hedge its bets in Afghanistan, and its actions may threaten instability. Iran publicly backs Afghan peace talks, but it is worried about a long-term US presence in Afghanistan, the report said. As a result, Iran is building ties with both the government in Kabul and the Taliban so it can take advantage of any political outcome. Mr Biden also spoke with Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday to discuss their continued commitment to a strong bilateral partnership following the announcement of the US withdrawal, according to the White House. Both men reaffirmed their shared conviction that every effort should be made to achieve a political settlement so that the Afghan people can live in peace, according to the administrations summary of their call. Read More Biden picks up toy belonging to daughter of slain Capitol officer during memorial Analysis: Afghanistan withdrawal loomed after Trump lost election Biden speech - live: President to announce Afghanistan withdrawal Padre Island National Seashore is offering beachgoers a nice special this Saturday. The Texas national park is having a no-fee day, meaning visitors can enjoy the beach for free. The promotion is part of National Park Week, which runs from April 17 to April 25. READ ALSO: Here's why floating caterpillars are all over San Antonio right now Padre Island National Seashore usually charges $20 per vehicle for a week-long pass, $10 per vehicle for a one day and $40 for an annual pass. The park, features 70 miles of protected coastline, dunes, prairies. The fee-free day applies to all National Parks, according to National Park Service. In Texas, you can visit several sites like Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains and Lyndon B. Johnson. Two South Australian police officers have been charged with assault after an investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption. In a public statement on Wednesday, commissioner Ann Vanstone QC said it would be alleged several police patrols became involved in an extended pursuit of a man suspected to be driving a stolen vehicle in October 2019. The man eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, running through a number of properties before hiding. Two South Australian police officers have been charged with assault after an investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (stock) Police found him and told him to raise his hands, and lie on the ground, which he did. 'It is alleged that a 35-year-old male police officer from Valley View then kicked the man a number of times to the torso,' Ms Vanstone said. 'It is also alleged that shortly afterwards another male police officer, a 35-year-old from Lightsview, approached the man where he was handcuffed and seated on the ground, and forced the man's head to come into contact with the concrete footpath.' The commissioner said in each instance it was alleged the assault was aggravated by the abuse of the officers' positions of authority. Both men have been summonsed to appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on April 21. It seems Vietnam is nearing her H-hour set for welcoming back international travelers. The tourism authorities and businesses in the field have readied themselves for a launch as soon as it is given the green light. One of the topmost priorities, they argue, is building customer trust. Preparations for a boat tour on the Saigon River running through HCM City. The tourism authorities have come up with a plan to welcome international guests to Vietnam, said an official with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). This plan will be carried out step-by-step in three phases, said the official. The first will be the pilot phase, and limited numbers of guests will be received in the second phase and normalcy restored in the third. The pilot reception of international travelers has to ensure a safety corridor for local communities by minimizing contacts between guests and the local populaces to diminish risks of infections and fears among citizens. That means short excursions may not be popular in this phase while preferred ones include long-stay trips, packaged resort tours and guests on board chartered planes. In the next phase, travelers on normal regular commercial flights will be welcomed. The VNAT will first select locations and standardize entry procedures so that tour operators can comply with them. Other related authorities, such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, will have to take part in the task so that the local hospitality industry can be gradually reopened to the fullest. Of this, the part to be done by the Ministry of Health is crucial because it has to negotiate with countries so that the two sides or multiple sides accept their respective Covid-19 vaccines to pave the way for a vaccine passport which grant entry to a traveler with two shots. Some tour operators have hoped for an opening in July to catch up with the neighboring Thailand. However, said the VNAT official, although the authorities are eager for an early resumption of international aviation traffic, the opening date may not be sooner than after summer so that tourist companies in the field finish their most hectic business time of the year on the domestic market. We plan to welcome [international] guests on a pilot basis in the third quarter of this year, said the official. It may take the tourism authorities and relevant agencies about three months to complete plans and other preparatory tasks. Earlier last week, Thailand has announced she would open the door gradually and pick the famous tourist island of Phuket to implement it on a pilot basis. As of the first of April, foreign tourists with complete Covid-19 vaccination to Phuket will have to spend a seven-day isolation at a hotel before being allowed to engage in tourists activities at designated areas (called the 0+7 model). Since July 1, all tourists with complete Covid-19 inoculation will not have to be isolated any more. In the above two phases, tourists have to produce a proof of their two shots which are endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and some other papers, such as a negative test result of the coronavirus and health insurance. The isolation will be totally lifted as of the beginning of Q4 of this year. Trust building Some business people in the tourism industry maintained that the recognition of WHO-endorsed Covid-19 vaccines the way Thailand does should be emulated by Vietnam when the latter implements her plans to resume the international tourism market. Furthermore, another crucial task is to build trust of tourists so that they can feel assured when tourism is back to normal. Observation of customer moods and the affected tourism market shows that even domestic travelers responded extremely negatively should one or two cases of infection occur even when the pandemic is well controlled by the authorities. A case in point relates to the two infected cases from abroad that entered Vietnam and visited Phu Quoc Island recently. Immediately after the news spread, a massive wave of cancellation of booked hotel rooms on Phu Quoc happened although this island was being a hotspot for domestic tourists. Many tour operators are still moaning the hardest time last March when they had to transfer their customers from one place to another as tourist sites were closed due to infections. Some companies had to arrange flights from Hanoi to HCMC so that their customers could return home following orders to close international commercial flights in Hanoi. All these above points indicate that actions must be taken to assure travelers they can go on tours without fears that they will be subject to infections or should they be under an emergency situation, they would be taken home immediately while their related interest is still ensured. Some suggested measures are: destinations must have common standards for guest reception and operation of safe tourism in the backdrop of the lingering pandemic and others which support travelers in emergency. If each locality has its own rules without a common set of standards, it will be difficult to operate smoothly when international travelers are admitted while Covid-19 is still going on, said Dang Manh Phuoc, director of Outbox Consulting. Some others emphasized on the need to make the set of standards keep pace with changes in responses to the pandemic of the Government. For instance, the initial concept of disease prevention was sparing no efforts. However, it has now changed to fighting the pandemic while spurring the economy. Or a detection of infections does not necessarily lead to widespread lockdowns but small-scale lockdowns. More experience which has been gained by the health authorities have enabled them to make decisions that have less effect on other services or industries. The new situation requires the sets of standards to be more detailed, flexible and suitable, too. Support for travelers in case of emergency is also important to restore confidence of international travelers after events caused by the pandemic. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and some other international organizations and influential tourism groups have recently started discussing a set of guidelines for nations around the world on support for travelers affected by emergency situations. According to a press release of the UNWTO, its secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili said the world will only be able to start international tourism again if it can restore trust in the tourism sector. Anybody wants to be safe and taken care of on their trips, he added. SGT VNAT plans to pilot international tourism resumption in Q3 The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is working with some relevant agencies to discuss a plan to welcome international tourists from some countries back to Vietnam in the third quarter of the year after the peak summer travel season. Although monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an effective treatment option against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for limiting viral transmission and decreasing the load on hospitals, their use is limited, especially in vulnerable populations. Comparing clinical outcomes in mAb-treated and untreated SARS-CoV-2 patients Recently, researchers from the U.S. reviewed electronic health records of SARS-CoV-2 patients at a medical center that started mAb infusions in January 2021 with the support of the National Disaster Medical System, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The study is published on the preprint server, medRxiv*. SARS-CoV-2 patients who received mAb infusions were compared with untreated patients who satisfied the eligibility criteria for mAb treatment. The researchers used logistic regression to assess the effect of mAb treatment on the risk of E.R. visit or hospitalization within 30 days of lab-confirmed COVID-19. Only 1.9% of mAb-treated patients need a hospital visit within 30 days of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 Out of the 598 COVID-19 patients who were part of the study, 270 or 45% of the patients received bamlanivimab, and 328 or 55% of the patients were untreated. Thirty-nine percent or 231 patients were Hispanic. Among patients treated with mAbs, only 5 out of 270 (1.9%) presented to the E.R. or needed hospitalization within 30 days of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, compared to 39 out of 328 (12%) untreated patients. The risk of hospitalization or E.R. visit was 82% lower in patients treated with mAbs compared to untreated patients after adjusting for gender, age, and presence of comorbidities. Flow diagram applying the inclusion criteria to collected health records that generated the final study population. Findings support broader treatment of COVID-19 patients with mAbs to reduce the burden on hospitals This study was conducted in a diverse, real-world population of COVID-19 patients at risk of progression to severe disease and showed that mAb treatment significantly lowered the risk of subsequent hospitalization or E.R. visit. The results of the study demonstrated that a single infusion of bamlanivimab within 10 days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms considerably decreased the risk of hospitalization related to COVID-19. The association between mAb treatment and better clinical outcomes remained significant after adjusting for factors such as age, race, ethnicity, and pre-existing conditions. BMI > 35 remained strongly associated with disease progression leading to hospital visits after adjusting for mAb treatment. A significantly larger proportion of untreated patients had co-morbidities that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes compared to treated patients in the current study, notably a higher proportion with elevated BMI. Individuals who are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those at risk of severe disease are being prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. However, treatment options such as mAb infusions are crucial for those who are unvaccinated due to vaccine hesitancy contraindications. Although studies show that the newer viral variants are poorly neutralized by many mAbs, the researchers believe that minor adjustments to the existing mAb products can help resolve this problem. In addition to this, the FDA has issued some guidance endorsing use of existing mAb formulations and clinical protocols to facilitate rapid review and introduction of these modified mAbs to the general public. The continued U.S. government efforts to increase access to mAbs are intended to ensure that COVID-19 therapeutics are equally available to all patients - an important national health equity consideration. To summarize, the findings of this real-world study show that mAb treatment with bamlanivimab resulted in a roughly 80% reduction in the risk of hospital visits in COVID-19 patients. Increasing availability and use of new COVID-19 treatment options may help improve patient outcomes, and reduce the burden on the healthcare system, thus contributing to better health equity in the U.S. Thus, the results support broader treatment with mAbs, especially in disadvantaged populations. Our results are consistent with prior clinical trial data showing a 70% reduction in medical visits by mAb-infused patients compared to placebo controls. *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. A customer walks by gift-set boxes sold at Hyundai Department Store in Seoul, on Jan. 6. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun Local supermarket chains E-mart, Lotte Mart and Homeplus have confirmed that they will continue boycotting the sale of Japanese seafood. The following announcement came after the Japanese government's recent decision to release a massive amount of radioactive water into the sea from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. The retailers' decision to continue banning the import of Japanese marine products is rooted in flow-on environmental effects of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant back in 2011. The region was contaminated with radiation and Koreans urged the government and retail companies to stop importing food from Japan. "To avoid any controversy, we just import seafood from far away in the United States or Norway. We don't even consider importing Japanese food products," an official from one of the chain supermarkets said. Department stores here have also stopped selling Japanese seafood from some 10 years ago. Even the department stores' sushi bars will not use Japanese fish. Before the nuclear plant disaster, various marine products such as hairtail, pollack, snapper and mackerel pike were commonly imported from Japan. Now they have been replaced by domestic products or imported frozen foods from overseas. E-mart and Lotte Mart also promised to strengthen their in-house radiation level testing on imported seafood, separately from what the government runs. E-mart will carry out radiation testing for 20 to 40 different types of seafood in stock, and all of the newly imported items will be checked as well, regardless of their place of origin. Lotte Mart has started radiation testing at its logistics centers in Osan in Gyeonggi Province and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, before the seafood is delivered to individual supermarkets across the country. "We will carry out rigorous radiation testing on all imported seafood products," a Lotte Mart official said. Homeplus said it will offer more seafood products that have the "environmentally friendly" label. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced on Monday that it will increase seafood management measures for Japanese products. Currently, the MOF only allows the importation of marine products that have tested safe from radioactive contamination by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The marine ministry will strengthen the management of the supply chain history and regulation regarding origin for imported fishery products, especially from Japan. "The government will crack down on restaurants, small dealers and retail giants that sell seafood imported from Japan. Any violation will incur strict penalties," a MOF official said. [April 14, 2021] The BlackNorth Initiative Receives $1 Million Donation From Fairfax Financial The BlackNorth Initiative is proud to announce a $1 million donation from Fairfax Financial. This contribution, which will support organizational growth, educational programming and community projects, represents a sustained commitment to empower communities in which they work. "On behalf of The BlackNorth Initiative, I would like to thank Prem Watsa and Fairfax Financial for their contribution. It is another example of their belief in our mandate - to combat anti-Black systemic racism in Canada," said Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, Executive Director, The BlackNorth Initiative. "At Fairfax, we recognize the important work being done by The BlackNorth Initiative and are pleased to support their efforts through both our pledge and our personal commitments," said Prem Watsa, CEO and Chair of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Co-chair of The BlackNorth Inititive. "Since its launch last year, The BlackNorth Initiative has made great strides as a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organization with over 400 organizations having committed to the pledge of dismantling anti-Black systemic racism" said Ahmed-Omer. "A report by the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities and Carleton University's Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership program revealed that Black charities are chronically underfunded in Canada. Specifically, for every 100 dollars donated to a charitable organization in Canada, as little as seven cents go toward supporting Black charities. We can and must do better. Fairfax's donation is an example of what corporate Canada can do to support Black charities." About the BlackNorth Initiative The BlackNorth Initiative was created by The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism to combat anti-Black systemic racism in Corporate Canada. The initiative challenges senior Canadian business leaders to commit their companies to specific actions and targets designed to end anti-Black systemic racism and create opportunities for all of those in the underrepresented BIPOC community. About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a holding company whose corporate objective is to achieve a high rate of return on invested capital and build long term shareholder value. The company has been under present management since September 1985. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005629/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Quarin/Bubniak family photo Gushul 1956 wedding portrait with amethyst superimposed I want to focus this week on a particular item I encountered in the 1956 edition of Vern Decouxs Pass Bureau scrap books. One thing Vern was diligent about was detailed documentation of events like weddings, graduations and special events. He was a wonderful writer and insightful in his comments. My attention was drawn, in this particular volume, to a beautiful picture of a young couple who were married that year. That young couple was Gino and Rose Quarin and, as usual, the write-up, that accompanied the all important wedding portrait, went into detail about how the bride was dressed. These were pretty important events back then and the fact that journalists chose to diligently document the brides appearance in detail makes them a treasure. In this case I will share the exact wording of the description of Roses attire, so you can see what I mean. The article began with, Entering the church on the arm of her father, the bride wore a floor-length gown of nylon tulle and lace. The strapless lace bodice was accented with sequins and topped with a lace jacket with lily-point sleeves. The bouffant skirt of nylon tulle was accented with sequins. A tiara of sequins and seed pearls held in place her fingertip veil of nylon tulle edged with lace. She carried a bouquet of red roses and white carnations. Her only jewellery was an amethyst pendant, an heirloom in the grooms family for four generations. continued below ... The picture that accompanies this description is a Gushul studio photo, taken by a man who rarely missed the mark in capturing those special moments in perfect detail. The early Decoux scrapbooks are a mixture of Gushul and Decoux images but in later years they are all Verns. The description goes on to say that Roses sister Irene was dressed thusly, Mrs. McFarlane wore a ballerina-length gown of sea foam green satin and net with white accessories. The bridesmaids chose gowns of daffodil yellow lace and net with matching headpieces. All carried colonial bouquets of roses and carnations. The reporters job back then was to create a nice mental picture for the reader of how this splendid wedding party appeared. The detail about the amethyst pendant caught my eye so I called Rose and Gino and went to see them. The day this column runs (April 14th) will be their 65th wedding anniversary, a remarkable feat these days, and one that deserves to be celebrated despite our restrictive times. Verns scrapbooks are full of wedding anniversary photos and write-ups, but they are mostly about golden (50th anniversary) events. It was a sad fact of life back then that many marriages didnt make it to the diamond Quarin milestone. Usually the worn out husbands didnt survive that long. As I sat and talked with Gino and Rose it became very apparent to me that the bond formed so long ago between them was as strong if not stronger than when they first came together. Gino stated to me emphatically that he felt their love continues to grow stronger every year. What a remarkable thing that is. A shining example of how a marriage should work. A blending of souls, in love always. Rose recalled that on that special wedding day her sisters Millie and Chris were in the choir loft of the Coleman Catholic Church and were singing as she walked down the aisle. Rose was overcome with tears by the beauty of this moment and at one point Father Dennis Fleming thought he might have to stop the wedding for a bit. Rose also mentioned that her brother Sparky was an altar boy for her service. Talk about a family affair. continued below ... Roses siblings are Bubniaks, a wonderful family story unto itself. I wrote about Louis Bubniak coming to Canada in a column back in 2007. His arrival here in 1927, is a classic example of leaving ones homeland (Czechoslovakia) to make a new life in Canada. Rose grew up with sisters Millie, Chris and Irene and a brother Tom (Sparky) Bubniak here in Coleman. Her sister Chris Peressini passed in 1997, Millie Yanota in 1998 and Sparky slipped away in 2019. Sparkys life story, spent with his beloved Eleanor, is another very moving legacy of love and commitment and one I will share some-day soon. Antonio Quarin, Ginos father, immigrated to Michel-Natal in 1921 at the age of eighteen. Tony married Mary Fraresso there in 1932 and they had four sons. Their first son named Remo died of a ruptured appendix in 1938 at age five. Gino was only three at the time and a year later Tony and Mary had another son who they also named Remo. The youngest brother Dennis was born in 1941 and they all were raised in a four-room-shack up against the hillside in Michel near the massive banks of coke ovens that existed there for decades. The family eventually came here to the Pass. Gino told me that he was working in a pool hall in Michel in 1955 when Rose Bubniak walked in the door selling tickets for the annual winter carnival. It was their first meeting and the beginning of a now 65-year-long love affair. I can picture that moment clearly. continued below ... After their marriage Rose worked in the Natal post office for a time and their daughter Terri was born in 1957 in the home of Dora Petovello, the midwife of Natal. They then moved to Coleman where, in 1958, they helped build and operate the one and only Satellite Cafe. Both Gino and Rose worked there for a time, Rose waitressed and cooked and Gino did a bit of cooking also. Part owner Albino (Nini) Peressini said to Gino one day, If you live to be a thousand years old you will never be a cook. I have fond memories of meals at the Satellite as a teenager. There were individual diner juke box outlets at the tables and the counter and their large (25 cent) plate of homemade french fries were legendary. Gino told me someone said this about the Satellite service one day. You dont always get what youve ordered but its all good. He also remembers a customer one morning ordering two on a raft which nonplussed him and also the guy cooking in the back. Turns out that is a term for poached eggs on toast. I asked Gino why the name Satellite Cafe was chosen and he said it had to do with Sputnik, the first Russian artificial satellite in space back then. Rose and Gino did a two year stint in Hudson Hope, BC where the monstrous 610 foot high W.A.C. Bennett hydroelectric dam was being built. They took Terri and their son Gary, who was born in 1960, with them. A longing to be back in the Pass brought them back two years later and both worked in a variety of jobs after that. Roses working career started early as a student working in Aboussafys Clothing Store downtown Coleman. Prior to that, during the early years growing up, Rose and her sisters all pitched in at the Bubniak West End Meat Market in West Coleman. continued below ... In later years Rose delivered for Sears Canada and spent 13 years in working for the Credit Union before she retired. Ginos career early on involved carpentry and working at the Michel Mines for a time. Later up in Hudson Hope he was camp maintenance man at a 2,000 man work camp close to the dam. On returning here he worked for a supply company in Sparwood and at the mine that I worked at (Line Creek) for several years as a chief warehouseman. He was also working as a warehouseman at the Greenhills Mine years later when the mine went into bankruptcy. Eventually Gino retired, at the age of 58, and he and Rose have spent many years together in happy retirement, enjoying their life and their extended family. I recall noticing when I first moved back to Coleman in 2005 that Gino and Rose walked every morning. And still do. The covid menace has interrupted a long standing family tradition to gather in September of each year to celebrate the birthday of her father Louie, the family patriarch. For this continually growing extended family these have gotten to be pretty large special gatherings. The family has had, for many years, a private group camp out near Baynes Lake, west of Elko. They all love to gather together there as family and pictures that Gino shared with me reveal that both he and Rose have pulled some dandy lake trout out of nearby Lake Koocanusa. Their South Country retreat has a big sign mounted at the entrance that says in Italian- Terra Nostra. A rough translation would be Terra meaning earth and Nostra meaning ours or belonging to. This pandemic is proving to be a real test of relationships these days. I can state, unequivocally, from my observation of these two, that Rose and Gino Quarin pass this test with flying colours. I asked them about the secret to their enduring love. I found the answer in their eyes, when they look at each other. And the laughter they say is key. Both agree that one must not forget the laughter. It is paramount to making our way in this world together. Live, Love and Laugh. HOME PAGE Equality Equation Not many will stand up against systemic racism. Crime, blight, trash, and poverty have become synonymous with Baltimore in the national news. The inability to solve these issues with a black mayor and black city council, implies that no matter how much money is allocated to Baltimore for development and the relief of urban blight, black folk are destined to be the permanent underclass. One caveat of that notion is that black mayors and black city councils are only the faces of chocolate cities, they are not ever in control of the assets. Real estate, procurement, and federal dollars are never controlled by blacks or those sympathetic to the plight of black folk. These assets are always controlled by boogeymen, characters who seem to always tilt redevelopment into gentrification and perpetuate the diaspora of the black community. Black developers, community development corporations, and minority contractors across Baltimore have a renewed sense of optimism with Mayor Brandon Scott's administration. Mayor Scott is seeking to end an era of subjective procurement practices, ambiguous contract award system, minority participation loopholes, and minority developer blackballing. In a City suffering from blight, crime, and education problems, the notion that the Mayor is starting with the root of those problems by effectuating fairness for black participation in Baltimore's economy is a signal to black businesses that equality is around the corner. In response to the historical oppressive practices absorbed by the black community, the Equality Equation was birthed. The Equality Equation is a socio-economic development model that uses public assets, subsidies and resources, to heal blighted and distressed communities in place, by building economically viable anchors of healthcare, workforce development, and sport. In cooperation with various state government agencies, private industry, nonprofits and investors, the Equality Equation mitigates the racial wealth disparity, and provides access to the American Dream, to all of Baltimore's citizens. The Equality Equations citizen-centered approach provides training for disadvantaged citizens which results in industry-recognized credentials, puts them to work on government contracts, utilizing minority contractors through the support of various government partners. Ultimately, disadvantaged legacy residents are utilized in the transformation of their community sparked by anchor commercial developments and market rate affordable homeownership that provides them with the tools to build generational stability and wealth. This revolutionary development model turns systems which have historically been supports in systemic racism and makes them partners in forging equality. Calling it a personal decision he made with his family a long time ago, Willow Creek Community Church North Shore campus Pastor Ed Ollie Jr. says he will only minister at racially diverse churches because thats how he sees the Church in the Bible. Ollie, who says one of his great uncles was beheaded by the Ku Klux Klan, told Shawn Williams, who leads the South Barrington campus of the Illinois megachurch founded by Bill Hybels, that he believes he has been called to do multiethnic ministry. However, he doesnt condemn churches that lack diversity. We made the decision a long time ago. We will never be a part of [a] church body that is not diverse. I didnt say that the other churches are not good. Its just not a place that I would be working, ministering and being a part, Ollie told Williams during an hour-long Black History Month discussion on race. Why? Because of the reality and the richness that we have come to see in the Gospel and the imperative when I open my mouth and we talk about certain things, he continued. Source:The Christian Post The program consists of around 1,000 metres of diamond drilling at the XC-29 anomaly and the new PGE sulphide target. ( has begun its maiden drill program at the Yarawindah Brook Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project in Western Australia. The companys exploration focus to date at the project has been to identify high-value nickel, copper and PGE mineralisation hosted by massive sulphide deposits, and it has successfully employed electromagnetic techniques and developed several new targets. In December 2020, Caspin identified the highly prospective XC-29 anomaly, which consists of three discrete zones over a strike of 1.3 kilometres. This anomaly is coincident with interpreted mafic and ultramafic rocks which are typical host rocks for orthomagmatic nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation. The diamond drilling program will consist of around 1,000 metres focusing on XC-29 anomaly, before moving to the newly recognised PGE target at Yarabrook Hill Prospect. PGE target drilling Caspin has also recently considered the potential for low-sulphide style, PGE-rich mineralisation, as reported by Chalice Mining Ltd ( ) ( ) at their Julimar Project, 40 kilometres south of Yarawindah Brook. This style of mineralisation typically occurs as minor disseminated sulphide, which is unlikely to be detected with electromagnetic techniques. A small number of deeper drilling campaigns at Yarabrook Hill were focused on nickel and copper sulphide mineralisation but were rarely assayed for PGEs despite these elements all commonly occurring together. The company recently identified a PGE target at Yarabrook Hill prospect that will also be drilled to test beneath a 2-kilometre strike of PGE surface mineralisation. Caspin plans to drill two holes beneath stronger zones of oxide mineralisation that may overlie a higher-grade sulphide source, as palladium is relatively immobile in the weathering zone. Washington, April 14 : US President Joe Biden has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate border tensions with Ukraine and proposed the two leader hold a summit in the coming months, the White House said. Biden spoke by phone with Putin on Tuesday to discuss a range of issues, from arms control to cyberattacks and fresh worries over the amassing of Russian troops on the Ukraine border, a statement said, DPA news reported. The US president suggested their meeting take place "in a third country." The last Russia-US summit was held in Helsinki in July 2018. At the time, then-president Donald Trump was embroiled in investigations over Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In March, the Kremlin was outraged by Biden's comments about Putin during an interview. Biden had answered "I do" to the question of whether he considered Putin a "killer." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said of the remark: "There has never been anything like it in history." He described US-Russian relations as "very bad" and accused Biden of showing no interest in improving the relationship. The Biden administration recently imposed sanctions on Russia over the assassination attempt on jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Meanwhile, anxiety has grown over the recent build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine's borders. During the phone call, Biden voiced "concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraine's borders, and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions," the White House said. Reports of Russian military activity in and around Ukraine as well as ceasefire violations have sparked worries that the seven-year conflict between the two nations could escalate again. Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula after a controversial referendum in 2014. Western governments still consider Crimea to be part of Ukrainian territory. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said that "thousands" of combat-ready Russian troops have been moved to Ukraine's border. Chairman of NSTB Collin Natonga said students tuition fees will be paid through the normal procedure whereby payments are executed upon receiving an invoice from institutions. [April 14, 2021] Taboola Drives Advertising Success for More Than 100 Women-owned Businesses as Part of #RecommendHER Program NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Taboola , a global leader in powering recommendations for the open web, helping people discover things they may like, today announced it has powered advertising campaigns for more than 100 women-owned businesses, as part of its #RecommendHER program. Taboola ran this global initiative during March 2021, providing $500,000 of free advertising on its network to women-owned businesses. Participants in #RecommendHER received access to Taboola's vast network which reaches 516 million daily active users, in a brand safe environment. These brands joined more than 13,000 advertisers that have already tapped Taboola's scale to achieve business objectives, from brand awareness to increasing conversions. Success stories from the 100 women-owned businesses that participated, across fashion, ecommerce, food and beverage and direct to consumer (DTC) brands, included: "RecommendHER has allowed Wide Fit Shoes to access to a much wider audience across some of the largest publishers in the UK. The Taboola team have provided support throughout the journey from signing up to setting up the creatives and providing full reporting on performance. The results have been great, with our traffic having increased by almost 210% and conversions by 120%. March has been our strongest month ever, in large part thanks to Taboola and the #RecommendHer scheme. As a female business owner and leader, I feel recognised because of this scheme." Nina Umeria, CEO and founder, Wide Fit Shoes "Our experience with Taboola during the RecommendHer initiative has been great. We've experienced some excellent curated guidance from the Taboola team and have really enjoyed working with a broader group of Taboola reps to get different perspectives and thoughts on how to best move forward and take our campaigns to the next level." Chris Worley, Product Marketing, Yumi "As a new category pioneer, and with an ecommerce first distribution model, new customer acquisition is our priority. Native advertising is the perfect format and environment for us to drive our business objectives, with cost efficiency and scalability. As a start-up, mostly self-funded, and still pre-revenue, this grant will go a long way to help us fast-track our launch." Isabelle Dunn , owner, PreppedFRESH "The Taboola grant will increase brand exposure to a targeted audience when they are most receptive to new messages and products. We're extremely grateful that a global brand like Taboola is recognising and empowering women-owned businesses and using their platform to give back to those smaller players in the market." LXL House founders Laura Pietrantonio and Lauren Scott "The campaign that Jerelyn Creado launched in Taboola ran for 3 weeks, in which we achieved great brand visibility in Italy. We would definitely work with Taboola again in the future. Attention to detail and responsiveness are very important to us, and the service that the Taboola team offers, as well as the level of detail that their campaign dashboard provides, is something that you dont see very often". Jerelyn Creado, Founder and Footwear designer at Jerelyn Creado "I started Book Thela with the aim to make books more affordable as well as accessible. COVID-19 had a huge impact on my business as for the initial six months of lockdown, all the operations were completely put on hold due to delivery restrictions which resulted in heavy losses for the business. I am very thankful for Taboola's support and believe that it will play an integral role in getting more traction to our website and ultimately help with the revenue recovery." Founder, Book Thela "By advertising the launch of the innovative, all-natural J'TANICALS CBD skin care line on Taboola's network of premium publishers with the support of the #RecommendHer initiative, we were able to increase the visibility and drive traffic to our website. Being a new brand that is just launching a completely new product line that is based on a rather unknown substance, it can be challenging to create the desired reach and buzz around our launch." Julia Wilde, CEO & Founder, J'TANICALS GmbH About Taboola Taboola powers recommendations for the open web, helping people discover things they may like. The company's platform, powered by artificial intelligence, is used by digital properties, including websites, devices and mobile apps, to drive monetization and user engagement. Taboola has long-term partnerships with some of the top digital properties in the world, including CNBC, NBC News, Business Insider, The Independent and El Mundo. More than 13,000 advertisers use Taboola to reach over 500 million daily active users in a brand-safe environment. The company has offices in 18 cities worldwide, including New York and Tel Aviv. Taboola is going public via a merger with ION Acquisition Corp. 1 Ltd. (NYSE: IACA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. For more information visit: https://www.taboola.com/press-release/taboola-goes-public. Learn more at www.taboola.com and follow @taboola on Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taboola-drives-advertising-success-for-more-than-100-women-owned-businesses-as-part-of-recommendher-program-301268656.html SOURCE Taboola [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kerala CM, Opposition Leader greet people on Vishu Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 14 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala have greeted Malayalees all over the world on the occasion of Vishu, the harvest festival of the State. In a message, the CM said: "Vishu is one of hope and expectations. We need utmost care when we pass through Covid times. I wish all you a happy Vishu." In a message, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said: "My heartiest greetings to Malayalees all over the world on the joyous occasion of Vishu." The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine intends to sign agreements with the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden on cooperation in the field of development. The corresponding draft agreement was approved at a government meeting on Wednesday. Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, was authorized to sign the document. The signing of the document will allow attracting technical and financial assistance from Sweden. What is the meaning of security of the person and right to liberty in a state of emergency (SoE)? The security of the person is a basic and most fundamental of all human rights (as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), and involves the liberty of the person, the right not to be unlawfully detained, or the right to be detained only with due cause or with due process. Unfortunately, the scenario where someone you know will need a transplant to some part of their body is a very real prospect, with their lives in the hands of hopefully getting a donor that matches their body. At any one time in Ireland there are between 550 and 600 people on waiting lists for organ transplants including heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. As part of Organ Donor Awareness Week 2021, one Louth family has come forward to tell their remarkable story in the hope it will convince others to become a donor. Four years ago, Dundalk hairdresser Emma OConnor gave her sister Louise Cowman the ultimate gift, a donor kidney. Fortunately for Emma, she was not born with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a hereditary condition that usually remains dormant until those who have it reach middle age. Several members of their family have been affected by the condition so the mother of two is very grateful they live in a time of medical advances and are grateful that because of organ donation so many of them have been given a second chance of life. I could donate my kidney to my sister Louise four years ago as I am fortunate not to have PKD stated OConnor who works for Peter Mark in Dundalk. Louise had suffered preeclampsia with her twins, and this sped up the progression of her kidney disease and she was struggling. Our father Joe Fitzpatrick had a kidney transplant nine years ago from a deceased donor and some of my aunts, an uncle and cousins had organ transplants too. Cowman, who works with the CDETB on the quality assurance of apprenticeships and further education courses, said, I am so grateful to Emma for giving me the chance to live a full life again and my children feel grateful also as they can remember me when I was sick and had little energy. My twins Andrew and Aoife who turned twelve years old during Organ Donor Awareness Week were only five when I went on the transplant waiting list. Our whole family feels very lucky that so many of us have been given a second chance through organ donation and transplantation. While Emma was able to help her sister out, the family have had to rely on organ donors in the past, with their cousin in Sweden the most recent recipient having received a kidney on the first day of Organ Donor Awareness Week. The sisters are highlighting their familys stories as a way of hopefully inspiring others to make the decision to become donor card holders. Families of living and deceased donors make huge sacrifices. So many members of our family are living proof of the legacy of the selfless act of organ donation. Thats why we are supporting the Irish Kidney Association in helping to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Whilst many things have been put on pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for organ donation and transplantation continues. Despite the unprecedented challenges which the pandemic has presented, organ transplants have continued thanks to organ donors and their families and also the dedicated transplant teams in our transplanting hospitals, Beaumont, St. Vincents, The Mater and Temple Street. 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 by Free texting the word DONOR to 50050. Former Minnesota Police Officer in Fatal Shooting Charged With 2nd-Degree Manslaughter The former Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer who fatally shot a 20-year-old black man during an April 11 traffic stop has been arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter. Kimberly Potter, 48, who resigned in the wake of the incident, was charged on April 14 by Washington County Attorney Peter Orput. Potter, a 26-year veteran of the Brooklyn Center police force, was arrested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and was booked into the Hennepin County Jail, where she will await her first court appearance in connection with the shooting of Daunte Wright. Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police officer, Imran Ali, Washington County assistant criminal division chief and director of the Major Crime Unit, said in a statement. With that responsibility comes a great deal of discretion and accountability. We will vigorously prosecute this case and intend to prove that Officer Potter abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her taser. Her action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright and she must be held accountable. County Attorney Peter Orput and I met with the family, expressed our deepest sympathies and assured them we would spare no resources in seeking justice for Mr. Wright. While the shooting of Wright took place in Brooklyn Center, which is in Hennepin County, the case was referred to Orput to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, under a recently adopted policy. The BCA is conducting the investigation into the shooting, which is active and ongoing. After Wright was pulled over on April 11 for a traffic violation, officers attempted to place him in custody upon learning that he had a warrant out for his arrest for a weapons charge. He slipped from the grasp of one officer before getting back into his vehicle; after a struggle, he was shot by Potter, body camera footage shows. Wright then drove about three blocks before crashing into another car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Wrights death was ruled a homicide, caused by a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office. Body-camera footage shows Wright struggling with police when a female officer shouts, Taser! Taser! Taser! Potter believed that she was firing her Taser, not her handgun, then-Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said April 12. After firing a single shot, the car speeds away, and the officer was heard shouting, Oh [expletive], I just shot him! Both Potter and Gannon resigned on April 13. According to the criminal complaint against Potter, obtained by The Epoch Times, Potters handgun was holstered on the right side of her belt, and the Taser was holstered on the left side. Potter would have had to use her left hand to draw the Taser, BCA agent Sam McGinnis said. Daunte Wright and his son Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party in an undated photograph. (Ben Crump Law, PLLC. via AP) Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potters house is blocked by security barricades in Champlin, Minn., on April 14, 2021. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images) Demonstrators march to Brooklyn Center Police Department to protest the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on April 13, 2021. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) In a brief resignation letter, Potter wrote, I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately. Potters lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Benjamin Crump, who is representing Wrights family, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that he and other lawyers appreciated Potter being charged. While we appreciate that the district attorney is pursuing justice for Daunte, no conviction can give the Wright family their loved one back. This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force, he said. Driving while black continues to result in a death sentence. A 26-year veteran of the force knows the difference between a Taser and a firearm. Kim Potter executed Daunte for what amounts to no more than a minor traffic infraction and a misdemeanor warrant. Wrights mother told a press conference this week that the day her son was shot was the worst day of her life. The shooting sparked three consecutive nights of rioting. Roughly 60 people were arrested for riot and other crimes late on April 13, when a peaceful gathering devolved into a violent demonstration as members of the crowd clashed with law enforcement and tried to overrun the Brooklyn Center Police Department. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, the states largest police union, said earlier this week that no conclusions should be made until the shooting investigation is complete. The groups head later said Wright would still be alive he had complied with police orders. - WealthTech Suite fulfils today's need for advisor desktop, being ready for tomorrow's broader digital ecosystem LONDON and MILAN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Objectway was mentioned again by Gartner, the world's leading information technology research and advisory company, in the March 2021 edition of the report Integrate Advisor-Supporting Wealth Management Technologies Into Digital Platforms to Accelerate Adoption[1]. Objectway was acknowledged as a representative vendor of advisor technologies for financial planning, portfolio management, client collaboration tools, and as an all-in-one wealth platform. Objectway was also included in two new categories of the Gartner report, such as Automated Onboarding/Customer Life Cycle Management and Proposal and Risk Tolerance Solutions. According to Gartner, "Client onboarding and life cycle management continue to be areas of both focus and struggle for wealth management firms. Although firms have been reporting that expanding automated client onboarding has been a priority for years now, Gartner's most recent survey of financial advisors indicates that not much progress has been made. In fact, only 26% of surveyed advisors indicated that automated client onboarding technology was available at their firm, and an even smaller percentage (14%) were actually using the solution. Although usage is low, effectiveness ratings are high, with 87% of advisors ranking the technology as effective." Further, Gartner notes, "Aligning suggestions with clients' risk tolerance and appetites is an imperative. Some firms will also use their financial planning solutions to suggest appropriate asset classes for portfolios to align with goals and combine with portfolio management to show actual securities and products that will align with needs. The latter example will become more prevalent as firms shift from a product focus to one of holistic advice delivery as simple asset allocation becomes commoditised. Advisors will align portfolio construction with multiple goals and, thus, potentially complex sleeves of investments designed on unified managed account platforms with multiple investment and account types. Before prospects become clients, however, advisors need to demonstrate the solutions they are suggesting, and proposal and risk assessment tools, whether packed or separate, will play a role in that." Objectway is seeing an acceleration in the roll out of digital tools for advisors' desktop, in line with Gartner's findings, but one of the biggest barriers to increase advisors' effectiveness remains the factual adoption of these applications. "To increase advisor productivity and facilitate the use of these solutions, advisers need to experiment a seamless experience across the advisor desktop. This requires integration of all the desktop components, automated workflows and relying on an ecosystem partner able to deliver a true digital transofrmation with a strategic approach," commented Luigi Marciano, Objectway Group CEO. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. [1] Gartner, Integrate Advisor Supporting Technologies Into Digital Platforms to Accelerate Advisor Adoption, Darrin Courtney, 16 March 2021 RESTON, Va., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced the winners of the 2021 Ellucian Impact Awards. The annual awards celebrate visionaries in higher education who are inspiring others to push the boundaries of technology and innovation. The announcement was made during Ellucian Live, the industry's top global technology conference. The winnersCommunity College of Baltimore County, University of Southampton, Ajman University, University of Hartford, University of the West Indies-Cave Hill and New Jersey Institute of Technologyleveraged technology solutions in novel ways to support students, faculty and staff. Selected for their positive impact across categories of student well-being, innovation and digital transformation, each institution will receive a $25,000 grant. "It has been inspiring to see how these Ellucian customers are using technology to operate more efficiently, overcome challenges, and offer a unique student experience. This year's Impact Award Winners truly exemplify what it means to be a transformational, digitally focused and student-centered institution. I'm honored to recognize them for their remarkable efforts and look forward to continued partnership in navigating the future together," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. More information about the winners is below. Student Well-Being Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD CCBC is located in Baltimore County, MD, with three full-service campuses and three extension centers as well as fully online programs. CCBC has a diverse student body, both in regard to ethnic and socioeconomic representation and in terms of students' life experiences, making it an anchor institution in the community. Of the more than 54,000 students CCBC served last year (close to 25,000 credit and 29,000 noncredit students), approximately 80% received full or partial tuition assistance and 48% worked more than 20 hours per week. When CCBC campuses closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the college launched CCBC Cares, a multi-pronged initiative that made a big impact on access, retention and success for its widely diverse student population, especially vulnerable students who needed technology to pivot easily to remote learning. Initiatives under the CCBC Cares umbrella addressed: academic supports such as changes to instructional methods that made on-campus learning safe and gave students the option to attend classes remotely; technology supports that used student-facing pages and forms to communicate vital information to students; and financial supports to distribute CARES Act funds directly to targeted groups of students impacted by the pandemic, such as those who needed laptops or Wi-Fi to work remotely. The combination of targeted messaging using the Ellucian Banner Student System and knowledgeable staff who knew how to deliver support were critical components to the success of CCBC Cares. The initiative touched close to 10,000 students and resulted in summer and fall enrollment numbers that surpassed the enrollment budget by 108 percent and 104 percent, respectively. University of Southampton Southampton, England Given that much of its student population traditionally resides on campus, the University of Southampton buzzed with activity pre-pandemic. Most students lived on campus and various welcome and registration events happened in person. Once Covid hit, the university intently followed and used Home Office guidance, and worked closely with the City Council and the National Health Service to move critical processes online. To avoid running afoul of social distancing practices, the university developed Banner Action Item Processing and PageBuilder workflows to bring identity checks, international "right to study" checks and graduation applications 100% online. Processing activities could be handled safely and virtually, and the university saved 15,000 in staff time alone by moving these processes online. The university also used a PageBuilder form to give students access to a saliva-based test and tracing system. This proactive testing resulted in the university's experiencing no significant increase in cases while their surrounding community spiked. Innovation Ajman University (AU) United Arab Emirates 2018 was the year of transformation and innovation at Ajman University. Since then, AU is focused on developing strategies for improving work cycles, adopting smart solutions that focus on both digital and "green", and automating manual processes. Some of the key improvement initiatives the university has undertaken include: Digitization of 86% of its processes Conversion of 100% of its documents to electronic archived format, including more than 75,000 student records Adoption of digital signatures for contracts and official documents Integration of the online request system with the digital government application program, UAE Pass The above initiatives helped us in improving our student satisfaction score to an impressive 91%. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Office of IT at AU successfully developed an innovative campus accessibility management system to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty members. The accessibility solution which is integrated with the existing SIS Banner system uses unique QR codes to validate Covid-19 test status of individuals and determines their eligibility for access to the campus. This has proven highly effective in ensuring a safe environment within the campus for students and staff members during the pandemic. At AU, we aim to take innovation to new heights, where a culture of innovation is embedded among students, faculty and staff members, as well as all our stakeholders and partners. AU is ranked among the top 2.5% universities worldwide, #35 in the Arab region as per the 2021 QS Arab Rankings and one of the top 150 young institutions worldwide. University of Hartford Hartford, CT Despite the pandemic, the University of Hartford believed it was imperative to remain on campus to provide all students a safe, flexible, and residential experience. The university created an integrated analytics "workbench" that took data from various sources and applied a predictive analytics model to proactively identify potential areas of infection risk. Data points were supplied from innovative practices like wastewater testing and pooled saliva testingthe first private institution in the region to implement these efforts. They also utilized a daily health survey. The University prioritized hiring an external, professional nursing staff to manage contract tracing, along with student health ambassadors to monitor compliance with social distancing and mask rules. As a result, the university had one of the lowest positivity rates among institutions in the State of Connecticut (.4%). In addition, the university was intentional about providing meaningful student support services, and celebrated one of the highest rates of first-year student retention in the institution's history, including a significant retention increase in students of color. Digital Transformation University of the West Indies Cave Hill Aiming to revolutionise its delivery of educational and other services, The UWI Cave Hill launched its Smart Campus Initiative (SCI) in 2017, seeking to integrate information and communications technology into all aspects of its higher education provisions and related operations. The University made this strategic investment to enhance the student experience, in addition to providing anytime/anywhere access to services; engaging in data-informed decision-making; increasing revenue and cost savings; and increasing both revenue and cost savings. As a result, the University was able to pivot quickly to support their students when the COVID-19 impacted the island. Student-experience focused efforts included: working with local Internet providers to provide "zero-rated" access to students; providing students with laptops and tablets to continue learning uninterrupted; offering its first-ever online new student orientation, which was received favorably by students and which saved the University over $70,000 (Barbadian) (or over US $35,000) at a time when the economy was declining due to lack of tourism; integrating apps to track student movement against the spread of COVID (at the time the award application was submitted, the University had no reported COVID cases on Campus); offering services like psychological and career counselling, health insurance support, and disability services online; and providing students with an online student success hub to teach study skills and prepare them for academic success. New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Prior to the pandemic, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) created a new delivery model for several classrooms to blur the lines between online and in-person learning experiences. When the pandemic hit, this Converged Learning Model (CLM) was immediately expanded to facilitate socially distanced attendance for the Fall 2020 semester. The onset of the pandemic also brought opportunities to improve online service delivery and create a global campus supported by a synchronous experience like that of the CLM. As a result of these innovations, 44% of all classes were offered in the CLM and more than 70% of all undergraduate students had an in-person experience that still provided social distancing for students and faculty. In addition, NJIT was able to minimize the spread of Covid on campus: NJIT's positivity rate never reached 2.5% and was well below 1% for most of the semester, while the surrounding city of Newark had a positivity rate of 19%. NJIT also successfully maintained its enrollment, with the undergraduate population increasing in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, and student academic performance remained comparable to prior semesters. All student support including advising, psychological counseling, and student events is available through online and digital services. NJIT will continue the digital options for students as part of the global campus, whether they are on campus or attending remotely. For more information on the Ellucian Impact Awards, visit: https://www.ellucian.com/impact-award About Ellucian Ellucian is the market leader charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence. Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com . Media Contact: Lindsay Stanley [email protected] 703.915.7966 SOURCE Ellucian Related Links http://www.ellucian.com Antequera Hospital is one of only five hospitals selected at the national level in Spain, and the only one in Andalucia, that will participate in a clinical trial evaluating the Pfizer vaccine in children from six months to 12 years, and pregnant women. The trial will begin in May and will be done with volunteers who will receive two injections approximately three weeks apart. The studies will be carried out by specialists from the pharmacy, gynaecology and paediatric services of the Malaga north health area. Both the principal investigator Mariano Miranda Valdivieso, and the study coordinator, Maria del Mar Perez Hidalgo, are also participating in other Pfizer vaccine research projects. Calls for people to participate will be made from the paediatrics and gynaecology services that will be in charge of selecting the appropriate patient profiles for the trials which will have a duration of approximately 26 months. People interested in participating voluntarily may contact the health officials by telephone on 951 061 147, or by sending an email to mar.perez.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es. China- border tensions "remain high" despite some force pullbacks this year, the US intelligence community has told Congress, asserting that Beijing seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to its preferences, including its claims over disputed territory. The Office of the Director of Intelligence (ODNI) said in its latest annual threat assessment report to the US Congress that Beijing will continue to promote the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand its economic, political and military presence abroad, while trying to reduce waste and exploitative practices, which have led to international criticism. The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came into power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. "China- border tensions remain high, despite some force pullbacks this year. China's occupation since May 2020 of contested border areas is the most serious escalation in decades and led to the first lethal border clash between the two countries since 1975, the report said. "As of mid-February, after multiple rounds of talks, both sides were pulling back forces and equipment from some sites along the disputed border, it said. The border standoff between the armies of and erupted on May 5 last following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February in line with an agreement on disengagement. India has been insisting that a resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra is essential for overall ties between the two countries. According to the report, seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to Beijing's preferences, including its claims over disputed territory and assertions of sovereignty over Taiwan. In the South Sea, Beijing will continue to intimidate rival claimants and will use growing numbers of air, naval, and maritime law enforcement platforms to signal to Southeast Asian countries that China has effective control over contested areas. China is similarly pressuring Japan over contested areas in the East China Sea. China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond. It is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are vital to global trade. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the strategically vital area. Beijing will press Taiwan authorities to move toward unification and will condemn what it views as increased US-Taiwan engagement, the report said. China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified, even by force. "We expect that friction will grow as Beijing steps up attempts to portray Taipei as internationally isolated and dependent on the mainland for economic prosperity, and as China continues to increase military activity around the island, it said. China's increasing cooperation with Russia on areas of complementary interest includes defence and economic cooperation, it added. China will try to increase its influence using vaccine diplomacy, giving countries favored access to the COVID-19 vaccines it is developing. It will also promote new international norms for technology and human rights, emphasising state sovereignty and political stability over individual rights, the ODNI said. China will remain the top threat to US technological competitiveness as the Chinese Communist Party targets key technology sectors and proprietary commercial and military technology from US and allied companies and research institutions associated with defence, energy, finance, and other sectors. Beijing uses a variety of tools, from public investment to espionage and theft, to advance its technological capabilities, it said. According to the report, China will continue expanding its global intelligence footprint to better support its growing political, economic, and security interests around the world, increasingly challenging the United States' alliances and partnerships. Across East Asia and the western Pacific, which Beijing views as its natural sphere of influence, China is attempting to exploit doubts about the US commitment to the region, undermine Taiwan's democracy, and extend Beijing's influence, it said. Beijing has been intensifying efforts to shape the political environment in the United States to promote its policy preferences, mold public discourse, pressure political figures whom Beijing believes oppose its interests, and muffle criticism of China on such issues as religious freedom and the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong, it said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As thousands of Russian forces assembled along the Ukrainian border, U.S. President Joe Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate tensions. Biden also suggests a summit in a third country in the immediate future, as relations between Washington and Moscow reached a low point in decades. Biden wants Putin to ease tensions in Ukraine's border Biden made it clear to Putin that the U.S. "would act squarely in support of its national interests in reaction to Russia's acts, such as cyber intrusions and election intervention." Also, the White House stressed the U.S.'s unwavering pledge to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Biden also affirmed his intention of "building a secure and predictable relationship with Russia that is aligned with U.S. interests," as per the statement, while also calling for a summit in the coming months to discuss the entire range of problems confronting both countries. Similar remarks were made by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Brussels on Tuesday for talks with Ukraine's foreign minister and NATO leaders. Meanwhile, Russia retaliated against U.S. threats and criticism on Tuesday. Russian news media cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying, "The United States is our foe and does all it can to undermine Russia's position on the world stage," Reuters reported. Ukraine, which has been battling rebels supported by the Kremlin in the Donbass region for the past seven years, said Russia had amassed 80,000 troops in total, with 40,000 on the eastern border and 40,000 in Crimea. The huge deployment of Russian forces along Ukraine's border and in Crimea, which Putin unilaterally annexed in 2014, has alarmed European leaders. On Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to pull its forces back from the border. The military buildup is the highest concentration of Russian troops since the illegal invasion of Crimea in 2014, Stoltenberg said. In a phone call with Putin last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel requested that the Russian leader decrease the troop deployment to de-escalate the situation, based on a German government statement. Putin, Russian President, Signs Law Allowing Him to Remain in Power Through 2036 Putin snubs Joe Biden's call for a summit Amid escalating tensions over Russia's huge troop buildup on the Ukrainian border, Vladimir Putin turned down Joe Biden's call for a summit yesterday, as per Daily Mail. Faced with his first big foreign policy challenge against a seasoned adversary, Biden asked Putin to 'de-escalate tensions' and proposed a summit in the coming months, according to the White House. The Kremlin refused to respond to the suggestion, instead insisting that the phone call was made at Washington's request to make it look as if Biden had crawled up to his opponent. According to the Kremlin, the two leaders have addressed Iran's nuclear program, Afghanistan peace negotiations, and global climate change. According to Moscow, Putin spoke with Finland's prime minister immediately after their call, which hosted previous high-level talks between nuclear-armed forces, including Donald Trump in 2018. Biden's phone call to Putin came just hours after Russia's deputy foreign minister warned the United States to keep its warships out of the Black Sea "for their own good," warning that doing so might turn the area into a powder keg. Vladimir Putin Tests Joe Biden by Massing Troops Along Ukraine's Border, Former US Ambassador Warns Biden's proposed summit isn't a sign of friendliness with Russia In the coming months, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have decided to move their tense relationship to the next level by meeting in a third country. However, the White House maintains that this is not an indication that the two are on the verge of being friends, Newsweek reported. "We're not looking for an establishment of trust as well as predictability and stability," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday, just hours after the two leaders talked by phone. "There are a lot of challenges and opportunities around the world, and the president needs to have the bandwidth to work on them, not an adversarial relationship with Russia." Their meeting has no fixed date or other information. Still, Psaki stated that it would take place in the coming months. Biden and Putin have had a strained relationship for a long time, which contrasts sharply with the friendlier U.S.-Russia ties under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump. Last week, Psaki told reporters that Biden is "disturbed" by news of imprisoned Putin critic Alexei Navalny's deteriorating health and has called for his release. Navalny, who has been on a hunger strike in protest of inadequate health care while incarcerated, was not included in the White House readout of their Tuesday call. US Slams China for Not Cooperating in COVID-19 Origin Probe, Reminds Its Shortcomings in Early Days @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NEW YORK and PARIS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BayBridgeDigital was recently recognized by The Startup Weekly as one of the 2021 Software Companies to Watch. The Startup Weekly presented the Software Companies to Watch award to software and technology services businesses that have showcased strong growth and excellence in 2020. Alain Attias (CEO) & Guy Jerusalmi (COO) BayBridgeDigital is a revolutionary software company that connects brand technology and people to create new growth and business value faster. The company was founded by cloud pioneers and has been innovating since its inception with the acquisition of top clients and the development of numerous tools like Bayretail. This award recognizes this innovative company and its efforts that will make BayBridgeDigital a major player in tomorrow's digital transformation. This year's awards attracted a record number of applications across company stages in the United States. The winners were selected by a panel of judges comprised of top executives, founders, investors, and industry experts. The companies were evaluated based on growth, strength of the technology product or service, impact on the industry, and commitment to customer success. "We are proud to have been recognized by The Startup Weekly as one of the 2021 Software Companies to Watch. Our continued commitment to lead the market and the involvement of our teams have enabled us to obtain this recognition which rewards the efforts of BayBridgeDigital since its inception. Our customers' success underscores our commitment to providing the best cloud software in the Salesforce industry for our customers and partners," said Alain Attias, CEO of BayBridgeDigital. This year's award recipients represent the very best of entrepreneurial excellence in the United States. The judging panel was thoroughly impressed by the accomplishments of all awardees," said Peter Justin, Managing Editor of The Startup Weekly. About BayBridgeDigital The company was founded in 2017, and it is headquartered in New York with offices in Paris, London, and its technology Hubs in Tel Aviv and Ukraine. The innovative software company operates through a new hybrid model. It helps companies in diverse industries throughout their digital transformation journey by providing a plethora of cutting edge services, including e-commerce, digital marketing, mobile solutions, business insights and analytics, and artificial intelligence. Visit www.baybridgedigital.com. Media Contact: Richard Impenge | Marketing Director +33 7 77 86 47 44 SOURCE BayBridgeDigital Related Links http://www.baybridgedigital.com GREENWICH A former Greenwich police sergeant pleaded guilty in federal court to taking part in a scheme to illegally transfer weapons to his drug dealer, who was also a convicted felon, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Joseph Ryan, a 57-year-old Trumbull resident who retired from the Greenwich Police Department in July 2019 after a 33-year career, entered the guilty plea in a New Haven courtroom Monday. The investigation revealed that Ryan, who was addicted to heroin, transferred firearms to an individual who was a convicted felon, and who helped facilitate heroin transactions between Ryan and a heroin supplier, the U.S. attorneys office said in a statement. Ryan was working for the Greenwich police at the time he was involved in the weapons transfer, authorities said. Greenwich police declined to comment Tuesday. The case began after Ansonia police confiscated a number of guns from a local resident on a risk warrant, which allows authorities to take guns if there is a credible risk of harm to the gun owner or others, and held them in their possession. In April 2019, Ryan presented the police in Ansonia with a valid pistol permit and paperwork documenting the sale and transfer of five guns to him, from another person. He was not acting in capacity as a law enforcement officer, court papers stated, but was there to fulfill the sale of the guns. The guns were later found to be in the possession of Malique Martin, who was arrested in October 2019 in Ansonia after an informant with a federal task force bought four weapons from him, including guns that Ryan had retrieved from the Ansonia police. Martin has been sentenced to a year in prison on federal weapons charges in the case. Ryan pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years. He was initially charged with knowingly providing firearms to a convicted felon. Ryan was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on Feb. 21, 2020. This case was presented in a far more sinister manner than it eventually resolved to be. This agreement (reached in court) is likely to work out in his favor, and were optimistic this will be over fairly soon, said Ryans defense lawyer, Phil Russell. As to the drug use that federal prosecutors alluded to, Russell said it was an isolated incident for his client. Judge Jeffery Meyer will hand down the sentencing July 6 in U.S. District Court in New Haven. Ryan was released from custody after posting $100,000 bond. The court earlier required Ryan to take part in a substance abuse program, as well as mental health treatment, according to court documents. Ryan did not have any public record of misconduct during his police career. He was hired in 1986 after graduating from Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., with a degree in criminal justice. In 2012, according to a review of salaries for municipal employees by Greenwich Time, Ryan was the top earner among rank-and-file officers with a salary of $146,796.30. Ryan was a state certified EMT, according to his LinkedIn page, with expertise in conflict resolution. rmarchant@greenwich time.com The public sector is a quickly growing area of need for cloud and data analytics solutions to drive informative and digital-driven decision making. Wavicle Data Solutions, a leading data analytics firm offering cloud migration services and data management consulting today announced that it has entered the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Public Sector Partner (PSP) Program. Wavicle, an Advanced Tier AWS Consulting Partner, joins a collaborative community in space, healthcare, financial services, government, education, and nonprofit. Wavicle and AWS are working together to build repeatable solutions to solve common analytics challenges throughout the public sector. The PSP allows Wavicle to leverage all its technical capabilities such as data science, cloud architecture, data management, data warehousing, data visualization, and more for solutions for the public sector. The collaboration with AWS strengthens an existing relationship. Wavicle has built expertise in AWS products and services in recent years, sustaining a leading-edge advantage as an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner and continuing to drive customer success with an AWS Competency status in travel and hospitality. Reaching another level of relationship with AWS is a statement of collaboration and dedication between the companies to deliver the best solutions available to customers, said Duane Lyons, Practice Area Lead at Wavicle. The public sector is a quickly growing area of need for cloud and data analytics solutions to drive informative and digital-driven decision making. Wavicles solutions on the AWS Cloud run the gamut of industries and data and analytics areas of expertise, with most including some level of cloud migration. These projects leveraged a variety of AWS products and services including AWS Lambda, Amazon Comprehend, Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Athena, AWS Glue, Amazon Redshift, Amazon QuickSight, and others. For information on how Wavicle and AWS are working together to build solutions for customers, please visit https://wavicledata.com/aws-partner/ ABOUT WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS Wavicle Data Solutions is a cloud, data, and analytics solution specialist. From data integration services and cloud consulting to dashboard development and data analytics consulting, Wavicle employs a team of professionals who enable and empower data-driven enterprises. Wavicle combines its expertise in data engineering and architecture with artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts to help enterprises imagine new ways of managing costs, increasing sales, and becoming more efficient. Wavicle was recognized as an Inc. 500 company on its 2019 and 2020 lists of fastest-growing private companies in America, by Crains Chicago Business to its Fast 50 list of fastest growing companies in Chicago, and won a 2020 Chicago Top Workplaces award from the Chicago Tribune. For more information about Wavicle Data Solutions offerings, please visit https://wavicledata.com. File photo of employees of Indias largest tobacco-maker ITC Limited and U.S.-based client Logic Corporation work in a call center in Bangalore. According to the Washington-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, most large U.S. companies now rely heavily on India-based IT services. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images) New Delhi: India as of Tuesday (April 13, 2021) has given the COVID-19 vaccine jabs to over 11.1 crore people as the vaccination is important amid the rising coronavirus infections across the country. The COVID-19 vaccines boost immunity against the virus. However, as per a few health experts, just the immunization won't stop the spread of the coronavirus. The experts say that the vaccinated people may not get the disease but can spread the virus further. Experts stated that the chances of people who have been vaccinated spreading the virus do not reduce unless every person on this planet takes the COVID-19 vaccine shot. The vaccine only helps in reducing the chances of disease but doesn't give full proof of safety against COVID-19. Vaccination, notably, induces the production of antibodies against one type of virus but other types of the same virus can also cause some deadly disease. The vaccine is not a magic wand and is just one of the many strategies to contain the spread of the virus. Experts believe that people will have to follow the COVID-appropriate behaviour unless every person is vaccinated on the global level. Meanwhile, India registered more than 1.60 lakh COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day, according to the official figures released on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) morning. India recorded 1,61,736 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, besides 97,168 recoveries and 879 deaths. Globally, there have been 13,72,26,735 infections, as per the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center on Wednesday (April 14) morning. Live TV Molly Lillard, the daughter of New York Jets legend Al Toon, was shot dead by her husband in an apparent murder-suicide, police have said. Officers believe Lillard's husband, Royce Lillard III, 36, shot her before later turning the gun on himself in their Scottsdale, Arizona, house on Sunday. Their eight-month old baby was in the home but was not injured, police told the New York Post. Royce had barricaded himself inside the family home when police arrived. After an hours-long stand-off, SWAT entered to find him dead. His wife was also taken to hospital, but she was pronounced dead having succumbed to her injuries. According to Facebook, the couple married over two years ago in 2018. Pictured: Molly Lillard (2-R) and Royce Lillard (L) pictured in a restaurant with Molly's father Al Toon, pictured right. Molly took after her father in sports and became a standout volley player both at high school and the University of Michigan Pictured: Molly Lillard together with her husband Royce Lillard III. Police believe Royce shot and killed Molly before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder suicide on Sunday Al Toon, a wide receiver, made it to the Pro Bowl three times in eight years during his time with the Jets, after setting new records with the University of Wisconsin. His daughter Molly took after her father in sports and became a standout volley player both at high school and the University of Michigan. Police said they responded to reports of a shooting in east Scottsdale at around 5 p.m. on Sunday, and found a woman with gunshot wounds in front of her house. As she was taken to the hospital, the shooter - who police said was the victim's husband - went back inside their house. At that point, officers were unable to communicate with the shooter - later identified as Royce Lillard - for a number of hours, according to a police press release. Toon, a wide receiver, made it to the Pro Bowl three times in eight years during his time with the Jets, after setting new records with the University of Wisconsin A SWAT team entered the couple's home at around 10:45 p.m. on Sunday, where they discovered the husband had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to reports. 'For several hours officers attempted to establish communication with the male with no success,' said Scottsdale Police Department officer Kevin Watts. 'At approximately 10:45 p.m. SWAT officers were able to make entry into the home where the male suspect was discovered deceased from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.' The couple's eight-month-old child was not hurt in the incident, and is now being cared for by other family members, the press release said. The identity of the victim Molly Lillard was later confirmed to be that of 28-year-old Molly Toon, daughter of Jets legend Al Toon, by sports journalist Rob Reischel. Police said the investigation into the incident is on-going. 'At this point in the investigation all indications are that this was a murder-suicide,' said officer Watts. 'At this point we can confirm that the couple's eight-month-old child was present at the time of the incident,' he added. 'That child was not injured and currently is in the care of family.' Writing for the Middleton Times based in Wisconsin, Reischel said on Monday that the Toon family are 'widely considered the first family of Middleton', and that news of Molly's death in Arizona has 'sent shockwaves through the community'. Molly Lillard (right) the daughter of New York Jets legend Al Toon (left) , was shot dead next to her husband in an apparent murder-suicide Molly, whom Toon shared with his wife Jane, had four siblings also involved in athletics. Her brother Nick was a former University of Wisconsin (UW) and NFL player and sisters Kirby and Sydney who also played volleyball at UW. Speaking to the Wisconsin State Journal, Franco Marcos - her girls volleyball coach at Middleton - said he was told Monday about the death of his former player. 'I coached her prior to high school in a club season and then four years in high school,' Marcos said in a telephone interview with the news outlet. 'Knowing the family and Al, it's really hard to hear a story like that. It's sad. I really don't know what to say. It's such a tragic loss and the way it happened.' Speaking to the Middle Times, Laura Wilkinson, a 2010 MHS graduate and a volleyball teammate of Toon, said she was 'in absolute shock.' 'Molly was such a good person, such a light in this world. It feels like things like this shouldn't happen to good people. 'I really looked up to Molly both on and off the court,' she continued. 'On the court, the thing I will remember the most about Molly is how she was such a strong leader, so mature, tough and inspirational. Molly was a four-year varsity letter winner during her time at Michigan University, and she received an All-American honorable mention recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association as a senior in 2013, according the The Journal. During her time at Middleton High School, from which she graduated in 2010, the volleyball team won 60 consecutive conference matches between 2005 to 2009, and is considered one of the finest volleyball players in the school's history. The suspected murder-suicide is the latest domestic violence-related homicide in Arizona, which has seen numbers rise during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Phoenix alone, there has been a more than 175 percent increase in 2020 compared to 2019, according to 12 News. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. [April 14, 2021] Strategic Partnerships for Data Platform Modernization LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pandemic has underlined the importance of digital services that can be deployed quickly and reliably. Particularly in the Middle East, the ability to roll out such services has enabled a recent surge of growth. But for many companies, this ability requires a complete digital transformation across every department, including the modernization of critical database systems, which enables companies to leverage the latest cloud technologies. Such transformations are far from trivial, and unfortunately, they are often unsustainably costly. This is mostly because data, the life-blood of every organization today, is stored across many different kinds of databases, applications, and systems, and many organizations simply cannot afford to interrupt data access while they build and implement new infrastructure. Even if organizations attempt to install a new system alongside an existing, legacy system, such as a data warehouse, it is challenging to integrate the data between the old and new systems, to support today's demanding use-cases. Most data-integration solutions work by physically replicating data to a new repository via extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes, but such processes are batch-oriented, so they cannot support real-time data-access, which is becoming increasingly important. In addition, they do not support agility, as they need to be re-scripted, re-tested, and re-deployed every time there is a change to one or more systems. The Logical Approach In recent years, Gartner, Forrester, and other analysts have advocated a different approach to integrating data, one that integrates the data logically rather than physically. And the foremost data-integration strategy that exemplifies this principle is called "data virtualization." Rather than moving data, data virtualization provides real-time views of the data, leaving the source data exactly where it is. With this architecture, companies do not have to pay the costs of moving and housing the data, and yet they still gain all of the benefits of data integration. Because data virtualization accommodates existing infrastructure in its existing state, it is relatively easy to implement, compared with other solutions. And because it provides data in real time, from a variety of systems that are nrmally very time consuming to integrate, such as transactional processing systems and cloud-based storage systems, it can support a wide variety of modern use cases. Data virtualization enables zero-downtime migrations to new systems and seamless, real-time data-access across myriad systems, such as modern and legacy systems, simultaneously, enabling companies to migrate to these new systems at their own pace, while users enjoy uninterrupted access to data and services. Finally, because data virtualization works without replication and does not require extensive development, it is extremely cost-effective. In short, data virtualization provides a strong foundation for digital transformation and data platform modernization, and as a testament to that, the data virtualization market has recently been growing at roughly 50% year-over-year. Denodo, the Leader in Data Virtualization Denodo, after specializing in data virtualization since its inception in 1999, was recognized as a Leader in both Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools and Forrester's Enterprise Data Fabric Wave, in 2020. Denodo is one of only two vendors to receive Gartner Customers' Choice awards in 2021. Denodo Platform 8 is the industry's only data virtualization platform that offers all of the necessary capabilities of a logical data fabric: an active data catalog for semantic search and enterprise-wide data governance, industry leading smart query acceleration powered by AI, automated cloud infrastructure management for multi-cloud and hybrid scenarios, and embedded data preparation capabilities for self-service analytics, to help bridge the gap between IT and business. The Denodo Partner Ecosystem The Denodo Platform is leveraged worldwide. But to achieve this reach, Denodo relies on an extensive partner network that includes leading companies like Accenture, Amazon, and Microsoft. Because the Denodo Platform is so extensible, technology companies, systems integrators, and resellers have found it seamless and powerful to partner with Denodo in providing the Denodo Platform's advanced data virtualization capabilities to a wider breadth of customers, enabling them to gain all of the benefits of real-time data and seamless, zero-downtime modernization activities. Because digital transformations are extensive, involving a company's business practices and culture, Denodo relies on its partners to provide additional value to customers, enabling them to undergo digital transformations that meet their unique business goals. Denodo and the Middle East Currently, Denodo is expanding its footprint in the Middle East, particularly in Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Bahrain, and is actively seeking partners in the areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), analytics, business and technology consulting, software development, systems integration, cloud services, and other related areas. To learn more, potential partner companies are encouraged to view the webinar session on-demand: https://pages.denodo.com/Win-More-Business-with-DataVirtualization.html Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487109/Emiliano_Pierdominici___Denodo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487110/Gabriele_Obino___Denodo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In a series of experiments that began with amoebas -- single-celled organisms that extend podlike appendages to move around -- Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have identified a genetic pathway that could be activated to help sweep out mucus from the lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a widespread lung ailment. Physician-scientists and fundamental biologists worked together to understand a problem at the root of a major human illness, and the problem, as often happens, relates to the core biology of cells." Doug Robinson, Ph.D., professor of cell biology, pharmacology and molecular sciences, medicine (pulmonary division), oncology, and chemical and biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting more the 15 million adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease causes the lungs to fill up with mucus and phlegm, and people with COPD experience chronic cough, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Cigarette smoking is the main cause in as many as three-quarters of COPD cases, and there is no cure or effective treatment available despite decades of research. In a report on their new work, published Feb. 25 in the Journal of Cell Science, the researchers say they took a new approach to understanding the biology of the disorder by focusing on an organism with a much simpler biological structure than human cells to identify genes that might protect against the damaging chemicals in cigarette smoke. Robinson and his collaborator, Ramana Sidhaye, M.D., also a professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonology at Johns Hopkins, with their former lab member Corrine Kliment, M.D., Ph.D., counted on the knowledge that as species evolved, genetic pathways were frequently retained across the animal kingdom. Enter the soil-dwelling amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, which has long been studied to understand cell movement and communication. The scientists pumped lab-grade cigarette smoke through a tube and bubbled it into the liquid nutrients bathing the amoeba. Then, the scientists used engineered amoeba to identify genes that could provide protection against the smoke. Looking at the genes that provided protection, creating "survivor" cells, one family of genes stood out among the rest: adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT). Proteins made by this group of genes are found in the membrane, or surface, of a cell's energy powerhouse structure, known as mitochondria. Typically, mitochondria help make the fuel that cells use to survive. When an ANT gene is highly active, cells get better at making fuel, protecting them from the smoke. Kliment, Robinson and the team suspected they also help amoeba overcome the damaging effects of cigarette smoke. To better understand how ANT genes behave in humans, the scientists studied tissue samples of cells lining the lungs taken from 28 people with COPD who were treated at the University of Pittsburgh and compared the lung cells' genetic activity with cells from 20 people with normal lung function. The scientists found that COPD patients had about 20% less genetic expression of the ANT2 gene than those with normal lung function. They also found that mice exposed to smoke lose ANT2 gene expression. Next, Robinson, Kliment and their research team sought to discover how ANT2 might provide protection from cigarette smoke chemicals and, in the process, discovered something completely unexpected. Cells lining the lungs use fingerlike projections called cilia to sweep mucus and other particles out of the lungs. In mammals, including people, the scientists found that the ANT2 gene produces proteins that localize in and around the cilia that work to release tiny amounts of the cell's fuel into a watery substance next to the cell. The fuel enhances the ability of the cilia to "beat" rhythmically and regularly to sweep away the mucus. "In COPD patients, mucus becomes too thick to sweep out of the lungs," says Robinson. The Johns Hopkins Medicine team found that, compared with human lung cells with normal ANT2 function, cilia in human lung cells lacking ANT2 beat 35% less effectively when exposed to smoke. In addition, the watery liquid next to the cell was about half the height of normal cells, suggesting the liquid was denser, which can also contribute to lower beat rates. When the scientists genetically engineered the lung cells to have an overactive ANT2 gene and exposed them to smoke, the cells' cilia beat with the same intensity as normal cells not exposed to smoke. The watery layer next to these cells was about 2.5 times taller than that of cells lacking ANT2. "Cells are good at repurposing cellular processes across species, and in our experiments, we found that mammals have repurposed the ANT gene to help deliver cellular cues to build the appropriate hydration layer in airways," says Robinson. "Who would have thought that a mitochondrial protein could also live at the cell surface and be responsible for helping airway cilia beat and move?" Robinson says that further research may yield discoveries to develop gene therapy or drugs to add ANT2 function back into lung-lining cells as a potential treatment for COPD. Robinson is now working to start a biotechnology company to further develop the technology. Kliment is continuing the work in her new laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, where she is now an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine. [April 14, 2021] $45-million investment to provide high-speed Internet access to over 8,000 households in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region by September 2022 QUEBEC, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Thanks to a $45-million joint investment made as part of CanadaQuebec Operation High Speed, over 8,000 households in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region will have access to Sogetel and TELUS high-speed Internet services by September 2022. The announcement was made today by Joel Lightbound, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Louis-Hebert; Marie-Eve Proulx, Minister for Regional Economic Development, Minister Responsible for the Chaudiere-Appalaches Region, Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and Member of the National Assembly for Cote-du-Sud; Stephanie Lachance, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Families and Member of the National Assembly for Bellechasse; Isabelle Lecours, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Public Security and Member of the National Assembly for Lotbiniere-Frontenac; Francois Jacques, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (municipal affairs) and Member of the National Assembly for Megantic; Luc Provencal, Member of the National Assembly for Beauce-Nord; Richard Biron, Vice-President, Corporate Development, Sogetel; and Marie-Christine D'Amours, Vice-President, Consumer Solutions and Customer Experience in Quebec, TELUS. For the deployment of high-speed Internet services, TELUS will receive $13.3 million to provide coverage to 2,700 households, while Sogetel will receive $31.7 million to provide coverage to 5,400 households in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region. The investments will accelerate the deployment of reliable, high-performing infrastructure in the targeted municipalities (see the appended list). Over the next few weeks, TELUS and Sogetel will take an inventory of the targeted regions to ensure that no household will be left without service. CanadaQuebec Operation High Speed is a joint initiative of the governments of Canada and Quebec to connect 148,000 households, through unprecedented agreements with six of the biggest telecommunications companies (Videotron, Cogeco, Bell, Xplornet, Sogetel and TELUS). Quotes "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that it has never been more important to connect all Quebecers to high speed Internet. This is why our government is investing to connect homes and businesses in Chaudiere-Appalaches by fall 2022. We will continue to invest and work in partnership with Quebec until every home and business has access to the high speed internet they need." Joel Lightbound, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Louis-Hebert "Access to high-speed Internet is a necessity in all regions of Quebec. To promote regional development, we need to have high-quality services to ensure vibrant communities. The government's commitment is clear: we will connect every household by the end of our first mandate. Investments in Chaudiere-Appalaches will help bridge a gap, since more than 9,000 homes are currently without service." Marie-Eve Proulx, Minister for Regional Economic Development, Minister Responsible for the Chaudiere-Appalaches Region, Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and Member of the National Assembly for Cote-du-Sud "Like electricity in the last century, high-speed Internet has become indispensableespecially during this period. This service will help not only retain citizens in rural environments like ours but also attract them, thus encouraging land use and development in our region. I am therefore very proud that our government has made huge investments to make high-speed Internet accessible to all residents of Bellechasse and Les Etchemins by fall 2022 and thus fulfil our electoral commitment." Stephanie Lachance, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Families and Member of the National Assembly for Bellechasse "I am pleased by this announcement, which shows our government's willingness to act and make connecting all households in the Lotbiniere-Frontenac riding a reality. In the coming weeks, the selected Internet service providers will be on the ground to fulfil this extraordinary commitment and give the population access to proper high-speed Internet service by September 2022." Isabelle Lecours, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Public Security and Member of the National Assembly for Lotbiniere-Frontenac "For the last several months, we have been working very hard to implement the deployment of high-speed Internet services so that all citizens in the riding of Megantic can have access to quality services. For municipalities in the southern part of Les Appalaches, like Beaulac-Garthby, Disraeli, Disraeli parish municipality and Sainte-Praxede, this announcement is welcome news. I applaud all the stakeholders that are participating in this project and that have contributed over the last year. I would particularly like to highlight the collaboration of the Les Appalaches RCM and the discussions we've had on this subject. I am very pleased to see that the entire sector will finally be able to be connected." Francois Jacques, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (municipal affairs) and Member of the National Assembly for Megantic "I am pleased to announce that TELUS will be connecting seven municipalities in Nouvelle-Beauce. This is excellent news for these communities, where Internet service is inadequate and even nonexistent in some areas. These investments by my government are unprecedented, and we are confidently making strides in the right direction." Luc Provencal, Member of the National Assembly for Beauce-Nord "Many municipalities in Beauce-Sud still don't have access to high-speed Internet service. Where previous governments have failed, our team is investing the funds needed to bring essential services to our regions. The vitality of our villages and the return of our young people to Beauce are at stake." Samuel Poulin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier (youth), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Member of the National Assembly for Beauce-Sud "Sogetel has been established in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region for more than four decades, where it has been deploying fibre optic extensively since 2009. Today's announcement is the culmination of several years of collaboration between Sogetel and the Les Appalaches and Les Etchemins RCMs to ensure all their residents have access to high-speed Internet. We are pleased to contribute to the region's economic development by offering citizens this essential service, especially with the ongoing pandemic." Richard Biron, Vice-President, Corporate Development, Sogetel "Our 350 team members in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region are committed to actively deploying our networks throughout Quebec and participating in our regions' economic recovery with the governments of Quebec and Canada. In the territory we serve, 93% of businesses and families already have access to our PureFibre network, and we are continuing to invest jointly with governments to reach 99% of homes by the end of 2022. The pandemic has reinforced the importance of having a fast, reliable connection to stay in touch with our loved ones, consult a health care professional or continue our education and business activities online." Marie-Christine D'Amours, Vice-President, Consumer Solutions and Customer Experience in Quebec, TELUS Quick facts CanadaQuebec Operation High Speed will give Quebec the highest connectivity rate in Canada , at 99%. the highest connectivity rate in , at 99%. The goal is to reach 100% of households throughout Quebec by September 2022 . However, there are still approximately 36,000 households for which no deployment plans have been established. These households are in areas that are particularly difficult to reach and sparsely populated. Technological solutions are currently being considered, and the strategy chosen to reach these households by September 2022 will be announced at a later date. by . However, there are still approximately 36,000 households for which no deployment plans have been established. These households are in areas that are particularly difficult to reach and sparsely populated. Technological solutions are currently being considered, and the strategy chosen to reach these households by will be announced at a later date. The Government of Canada has allocated billions of dollars to Internet infrastructure in rural and remote regions, including $1.75 billion as part of the Universal Broadband Fund. Associated links Backgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit satellite capacity agreement Universal Broadband Fund Connect to Innovate Program Project status updates Canada Infrastructure Bank announcement High-Speed Access for All: Canada's Connectivity Strategy Stay connected Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA Annex CanadaQuebec Operation High Speed List of municipalities targeted by TELUS and Sogetel projects TELUS projects Beauce-Sartigan RCM: ? Saint-ComeLiniere Bellechasse RCM: ? La Durantaye ? Notre-Dame-Auxiliatrice-de-Buckland ? Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse ? Saint-Damien-de-Buckland ? Saint-Henri ? Saint-Lazare-de-Bellechasse ? Saint-Leon-de-Standon ? Saint-Malachie ? Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse ? Saint-Nazaire-de-Dorchester ? Saint-Neree-de-Bellechasse ? Saint-Raphael ? Saint-Vallier Nouvelle-Beauce RCM: ? Frampton ? Saint-Bernard ? Sainte-Marguerite ? Sainte-Marie ? Saint-Isidore ? Saints-Anges ? Vallee-Jonction L'Islet RCM: ? Saint-Cyrille-de-Lessard Lotbiniere RCM: ? Dosquet ? Leclercville ? Saint-Agapit ? Sainte-Croix ? Saint-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere ? Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage ? Saint-Patrice-de-Beaurivage ? Val-Alain Sogetel projects Les Appalaches RCM: ? Adstock ? Beaulac-Garthby ? Disraeli ? Disraeli parish municipality ? East Broughton ? Irlande ? Kinnear's Mills ? Sacre-Coeur-de-Jesus ? Saint-Adrien-d'Irlande ? Sainte-Clotilde-de-Beauce ? Sainte-Praxede ? Saint-Fortunat ? Saint-Jacques-de-Leeds ? Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur-de-Wolfestown ? Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf ? Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine ? Saint-Julien ? Saint-Pierre-de-Broughton ? Thetford Mines Les Etchemins RCM: ? Lac-Etchemin ? Saint-Benjamin ? Saint-Camille-de-Lellis ? Saint-Cyprien ? Sainte-Aurelie ? Sainte-Justine ? Sainte-Rose-de-Watford ? Sainte-Sabine ? Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague ? Saint-Luc-de-Bellechasse ? Saint-Magloire ? Saint-Prosper ? Saint-Zacharie SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Susan Meikle and Margo Kissell, university news and communications Miami University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to assistant professors Carolyn Hardin of media, journalism and film and global and intercultural studies; Andrew Jones of chemical, paper and bioengineering; and Jessica McCarty of geography. University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards honor faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research or artistry and have achieved significant standing in their fields. Candidates for the award must have the rank of assistant professor by the due date of the nomination. Carolyn Hardin received the University Junior Faculty Scholar Award for a faculty member in the humanities and creative arts Hardin has gained international acclaim as an interdisciplinary scholar, bringing together economic and critical humanities approaches to understand phenomena ranging from the financial crisis of 2007-09 and neoliberalism to individual retirement investing and prepaid debit cards, a nominator wrote. Hardins research falls into the interdisciplinary subfields of critical finance studies and cultural economy of finance each of which draws scholars from disciplines including geography, anthropology, sociology, American studies, media studies and more to interrogate the cultural and material constitution of the taken-for-granted economic and financial spheres, a nominator wrote. The assistant professor with a joint appointment in the department of media, journalism and film and the department of global and intercultural studies joined Miami in 2016. Since then, Hardin has produced original research, presented at numerous conferences, worked with students on innovative research and has been promoted from reviews and commentary editor to associate editor and finally co-editor-in-chief of The Journal of Cultural Economy, the premiere international journal in her field. Her research on such topics as the visualization of individual retirement savings accounts in online platforms and the use of prepaid debit cards by black consumers has been published in leading journals, including the American Studies Association flagship journal, American Quarterly. Her book on the financial crisis is forthcoming from Duke University Press, and she contributed a co-authored chapter to the first edition of the Routledge Handbook of Critical Finance Studies. Hardin, who earned a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has received five grants since 2017 from Miami University College of Arts and Science, the Humanities Center and Committee for Faculty Research. What makes Hardin stand out as a scholar, another nominator said, is the quality of her work as well as the important interventions that her research makes in the fields of finance, cultural studies and American studies and the important ways that she is able to communicate her research to various segments of the public. Her unique and important scholarly interventions also serve to make her a professor that is in high demand and is exemplary of the teacher-scholar model that is promoted at Miami University." Andrew Jones received the University Junior Faculty Scholar Award for a faculty member in applied and natural sciences Jones is an accomplished researcher who has already enhanced the reputation of Miami University through his research on biochemical routes for production of psychedelic compounds. One nominator said, In an academic career of less than four years, Jones has already demonstrated the excellence in bioengineering research that indicates that he will have a lasting impact on the field over the next several decades. His research focuses on engineering microorganisms for production of psychedelic compounds that have potential for use as medicines to treat addiction and clinical depression. He uses a biologists toolbox with an engineers eye toward solving the problem of how to economically, reliably and renewably manufacture them. Jones was the first person to report a new approach to the production of psilocybin by E. coli. Psilocybin, the psychoactive component of magic mushrooms, is currently being tested in treatments of depression, anxiety and PTSD. His discovery has led to a $1 million research grant to extend these studies; two current patents; and the creation of a start-up company PsyBio Therapeutics Corp to commercialize his work. Jones serves as the chairman of the scientific advisory board of the company. His research impacts not only the body of knowledge surrounding bioengineering, but also commercial ventures to transfer psychedelics from curiosity to an actual pharmaceutical product that has the potential to help millions of people, a nominator said. Joness nominators highlighted his success at mentoring undergraduate students, particularly in a department that does not have a doctoral program. Talented undergraduates have played a large role in the research results produced in his lab. Jones was recognized with the 2020 American Institute of Chemical Engineers 35 under 35 Award Bioengineering Category. He received his doctorate from Rensselaer Polytechnic University in 2016, and served as a visiting assistant professor at Hamilton College from 2016-2017 before joining Miami in 2017. Jessica McCarty received the Junior Faculty Scholar Award for a faculty member in business, education and social sciences McCarty is a leading scientist in the field of geospatial technologies. Her research focuses on using geospatial and remote sensing science and technology to monitor and predict wildland and human-caused fire, greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on air quality, in addition to applications in food security, land-cover/land-use change and climate change. Since joining Miami in 2017, she has received seven external research awards in support of her work, including funding from NASA, the National Science Foundation, the USDA and the United Nations. She has received nearly $5 million in external research funding since 2010. Each of these research projects is highly interdisciplinary, involving not only geospatial scientists, but linking together political science, ecology, atmospheric science, landscape management, economics and agriculture. She is a U.S. representative to the Arctic Councils Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programmes Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane, the United Nations Environmental Programmes Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes Working Group on Biomass Burning, and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations special working group, FIRE$: Economic Drivers of Global Wildland Fire Activity. Her nominators said that McCarty has already had a profound impact in the geography department, raising its profile through her prolific research output and securing grant funding for students. She has enhanced Miamis Geospatial Analysis Center, becoming its first official director and securing grant funding for a research staff member. The center was selected by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution to host the inaugural Diversity in Environment and Health Internship Program. McCarty's expertise in the field of geospatial technologies is widely recognized through her research publications in top-tier journals. She is author/coauthor of more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and three book chapters, among other publications, and a NASA Technology Transfer. She has made many media appearances as a climate/biomass burning expert for outlets such as New Scientist, The Atlantic, Mashable, Vice, Wired and others, and was a much sought-after expert by general news outlets and scientific magazines following the Greenland wildfire in 2018 and wildfires in Siberia. She was also an invited deputy chair for the International Association of Wildland Fires Third International Smoke Symposium in 2020. McCarty received her doctorate from the University of Maryland in 2009. Prior to joining Miami, she served as assistant professor at the University of Louisville (2008-2011), adjunct assistant professor at Michigan Technological University and Research Scientist/Engineer II (2011-2017) at Michigan Tech Research Institute. A Lehigh Valley man who used to head advanced research at a Boston-area biotechnology company told investigators he was inspired by the television show Breaking Bad when he tried to obtain the powerul poison ricin, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Ishtiaq Ali Saaem, 37, who now lives in Upper Macungie Township, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Boston to obstruction of justice for lying to federal authorities about his reason for purchasing castor beans, the source of ricin. Saaem, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering and lived in Massachusetts at the time, in 2015 ordered 100 packets, each containing eight seeds, of castor beans online, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Boston. He became interested in acquiring ricin and convallatoxin, a poison found in lily of the valley plants, after watching Breaking Bad, prosecutors said. He told investigators he purchased castor beans because he was interested in planting them in his apartment as decoration and had only intended to purchase one packet, not 100. But after he spoke to agents, Saaem researched poisons that could be made at home, prosecutors said. Authorities did not say if he intended to use any poisons. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for Aug. 18. New funding from the world's top commercial real estate investors follows record-breaking growth and demand BOSTON, April 14, 2021, the only tenant experience operating system for commercial office buildings, today announced it raised $60M in Series C funding from leading venture capital and commercial real estate firms. Previous investors Accomplice , Insight Partners , JLL Spark , Navitas Capital , DivcoWest , Allegion Ventures , and The Pagliuca Family Office participated in the round, joining new investors PruVen Capital , Cushman & Wakefield , and Suffolk Capital . The company has raised $106.9M to date, and will use the funds to support its rapid growth. As HqO continues to scale, it will expand its existing footprints in Boston, New York City, London, and Paris, as well as open new offices in Toronto and the Midwest and West Coast regions of the United States. HqO is the undisputed leader in tenant experience technology with more than 150M square feet under management. The company tripled its revenue in the past 12 months and doubled its headcount. The new financing will further accelerate HqO's growth initiatives and continue the company's commitment to its world-class product through research and development, as well as support future mergers and acquisitions. "Customer demand for HqO's offering continues to be extraordinary. The company helped landlords, property teams, and tenants alike adjust to the changes of the pandemic around the world," said AJ Malhotra at Insight Partners. "HqO is empowering office owners to bring their assets into the future through tenant experience, technology partnerships, and advanced data and analytics capabilities. This is crucial to the success of CRE, and we are excited to continue our partnership with the HqO team as they lead the tenant experience space." HqO services over 60 commercial real estate clients worldwide, including Columbia Property Trust, Vornado Realty Trust, Nuveen Real Estate, Jamestown L.P., Hudson Pacific Properties, Grosvenor, Landsec, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Endurance Land. By using the HqO platform, landlords and property teams are guaranteed an advantage in the ever-changing commercial real estate industry. HqO lets office owners generate value by arming them with technology that blends the physical and digital office experiences to better engage with the people who occupy their buildings. These technology activations also provide important insights that can be leveraged to create the most value for their assets. HqO Co-Founder and CEO Chase Garbarino said, "We're really happy with the composition of our Series C round being led by existing investors, but also bringing together a network of strategic investors setting HqO up for unprecedented growth as the world returns to offices. This round of funding is more than just capital; it comes with strategic partnerships that will significantly expand HqO's reach and differentiate our offering." Supporting Quotes "The CRE industry is in the process of shifting the value equation away from the physical nature of the buildings to the tenants and employees who occupy them. We believe that a world-class tenant experience platform will help to satisfy this shift. After extensive research, we have identified HqO as the tenant experience market leader," said Travis Skelly at PruVen Capital. "Their best-in-class technology has made HqO the preferred platform for landlords. We are very excited to partner with the HqO team to help them deliver an unparalleled product with superior technology and client service." "We're proud investors in HqO since 2018 and excited to support them as they expand their industry-leading tenant experience platform and technology leadership," said Yishai Lerner, Co-CEO at JLL Technologies. "HqO is a must-have product for any landlord seeking to retain, attract and build stronger relationships with their tenants." About HqO This report provides actionable predictions that app marketers can use to strategize their return to business as usual and plan to take advantage of the many opportunities coming their way. MOLOCO (http://www.molocoads.com), a leader in machine learning and growth solutions for mobile marketers, found that dating and dining apps will be among the fastest to bounce back once COVID-19-related restrictions are lifted. These and other insights are included in MOLOCOs newly announced Mobile Life After Lockdown report, which analyzes data from the open programmatic advertising ecosystem to predict the category-specific impact of lifted restrictions on mobile applications. The reports analysis concluded that: Out-of-home dining apps can expect an increase in engagement of more than 450 percent as mobile users return to their favorite restaurants Dating apps will likely see a roughly 235 percent increase in engagement levels as app users seek to socialize after a long and sometimes lonely quarantine Gaming apps, which saw 200-400 percent increases in engagement during lockdown, will retain the players they acquired even as restrictions are lifted Travel apps will be the slowest to bounce back even as local restrictions end. 2020 was a one-of-a-kind year for mobile app marketers, said Ikkjin Ahn, CEO of MOLOCO. It changed the trajectory of many mobile app businesses, but not always for the better. Most dating, dining, and travel apps saw significant declines in engagement as lockdowns limited how people were allowed to interact. Fortunately, programmatic ad data suggests that this wont last forever. This report provides actionable predictions that app marketers can use to strategize their return to business as usual and plan to take advantage of the many opportunities coming their way. To understand how the events of 2020 continue to shape the mobile landscape and what they can teach marketers about the months ahead, MOLOCO analyzed 100+ million bid requests across multiple countries and app categories between January 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. The report focuses primarily on data from Australia thanks to its well-defined COVID timeline and similarity to major markets like the US and Canada in terms of market behavior. All data in the Mobile Life After Lockdown report was gathered from the open programmatic advertising ecosystem via the MOLOCO Cloud automated mobile ad buying platform. By connecting mobile marketers to the world of programmatic supply through the industrys leading exchanges, MOLOCO Cloud provides complete control over programmatic advertising operations while leveraging proprietary machine learning algorithms to maximize campaign performance. The full report can be downloaded at https://www.molocoads.com/mobile-life-after-lockdown. About MOLOCO MOLOCO is a programmatic advertising company that empowers mobile businesses to unleash the power of their data for fast, sustainable growth. Founded in 2013, the company offers a complete suite of proprietary advertising solutions to help mobile companies optimize the performance of their acquisition, retention and monetization efforts. MOLOCO Cloud is a top-rated real-time bidding platform that provides scale across more than 4 billion devices and enables marketers to take control of their programmatic advertising in-house. MOLOCO is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, London, Jakarta, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo. For more information, visit http://www.molocoads.com. Media Contact Lauren Tascan Fluid Group lauren @ fluidprgroup.com (Newser) Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they won't charge the Capitol Police officer who killed Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran shot during the Jan. 6 riot. Widely circulated videos showed that the officer fired as Babbitt, 35, tried to climb through an opening in the broken glass of a door inside the building as the mob moved toward the House chamber. She died at a hospital. Prosecutors concluded that the officer could reasonably have thought he was shooting in self-defense or in the defense of members of Congress and others rushing out of the House. A statement said there wasn't evidence to prove that Babbitt's civil rights were violated, the Washington Post reports. Prosecutors let her family know of the decision Wednesday, "acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences," a statement said. Babbitt's family had no immediate comment on the decision. story continues below The investigation of the officer, who was not identified, has been closed. He was put on leave after the shooting. A preliminary finding described the officer as a last line of defense between the mob and members of Congress and said he should not face charges, per the Wall Street Journal. Babbitt's family said she was an ardent supporter of former President Trump and went to the Capitol to protest the certification of President Biden's victory. She was wearing a Trump flag around her shoulders when she was shot. Some activists on the far right have portrayed Babbitt as a martyr, putting her image on flags and, in the case of the Proud Boys, referring to her as a "casualty of system aggression." Babbitt's death was one of five attributed to the attack on the Capitol. (Read more Ashli Babbitt stories.) In the context of its ongoing work on new trade and development partners in Africa, the Development Centre hosted a presentation and debate of Asia/Africa expert Deborah Brautigams new book The Dragons Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa. Professor Brautigam began by explaining away the greatest myths surrounding Chinas engagement in Africa and ended with a summary of the different approaches to development held by China and traditional donors to the region. Before the open Q&A period, remarks were made by the Centres Head of Research Helmut Reisen who provided a more global perspective on Chinas rise; and Michael Laird, Coordinator of the China-DAC Study Group who posed questions about data, transparency and what DAC donors can learn from China, among others. Related reading -The World Economy mini-symposium, co-edited by Development Centre economists, presents findings about the economic impact of China and India in Saharan African countries by Africa-based economists. The Asian Drivers and Africa presents case studies on Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. -Chinese Economic Performance in the Long Run- Second Edition: This book uses a comparative approach to explain why Chinas role in the world economy has changed so dramatically in the last thousand years. This edition has been revised and updated and Chapter 4 is new. It concludes that China will resume its role as the world's largest economy by 2015. -The Rise of China and India - What's in it for Africa?: African countries are not simply spectators to the economic rise of China and India, they are party to it. This book demonstrates how the growing economic power of China and India is already influencing the growth patterns of African countries. Bengaluru, April 14 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Wednesday reiterated that there will be no lockdown in the state, but stringent measures will be implemented to contain the spread of the Covid pandemic. In remarks on the sidelines of Ambedkar Jayanti to commemorate B.R. Ambedkar's 130th birth anniversary here, he said that there can be no lockdowns, and even weekend lockdowns are not necessary, and that the state government was gearing up to take all other measures to prevent the spread of this dreaded disease. "Already, we have imposed night curfew in some cities. If required, we will extend it to some other districts as well," he said. He added that he had decided to convene an all party meeting to consult the Opposition party leaders on the next course of action and deliberate on their suggestions. "I have convened a meeting with the opposition leaders on April 18, a day after the bypolls to three seats (Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency and Maski and Basavakalyan assembly seats)," he said in response to a question. Meanwhile, the opposition parties too contended that lockdown was not a solution to prevent Covid-19 infection as it would only make lives more difficult. Both Congress and Janata Dal-Secular leaders said that first, it has to be identified how this disease spreads and accordingly, treatment should be provided. Leader of Opposition, Siddaramaiah alleged that the state government had reduced the number of tests as soon as the positive cases had come down substantially and as a result of this, people became complacent. "Complacency had its impact, with people forgoing all the fear, they started mingling freely and as result of this, the second wave of Cond is gearing up to hit us hard," he said. He demanded that if the state government was enforcing another round of lockdown, then it should take steps to deposit Rs 10,000 into the account of one crore families belonging to the economically weaker section. JD-S leader H. D. Kumaraswamy said the state government should focus on the availability of essential drugs such as remdesivir and beds in hospitals as it is being projected that by the month end, cases may shoot up to 20,000 a day. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several U.S. officials said. Biden will lay out his vision for the way forward in Afghanistan and the timeline for the withdrawal in remarks Wednesday afternoon, The White House said. Punctuating the nearly two decades U.S. troops have fought and died in Afghanistan, the president will then visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. The decision to withdraw troops by fall defies a May 1 deadline for full withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump administration reached with the Taliban last year, but leaves no room for additional extensions. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that wont be affected by security conditions in the country. While Bidens decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al-Qaida and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, womens rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al-Qaidas haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Biden has been hinting for weeks that he was going to let the May deadline lapse, and as the days went by it became clear that an orderly withdrawal of the roughly 2,500 remaining troops would be difficult and was unlikely. The administration official said the drawdown would begin by May 1. Bidens choice of the 9/11 date underscores the reason that American troops were in Afghanistan to begin with to prevent extremist groups like al-Qaida from establishing a foothold again that could be used to launch attacks against the U.S. The administration official said Biden decided that the withdrawal deadline had to be absolute, rather than based on conditions on the ground. Were committing today to going to zero U.S. forces by Sept. 11, and possibly well before, the official said, adding that Biden concluded that a conditioned withdrawal would be a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever. Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. White House press secretary Jen Psaki didnt provide details of Bidens remarks planned for Wednesday, but she said during a White House briefing that Biden has been consistent in his view that there is not a military solution to Afghanistan, that we have been there for far too long. Psaki tweeted later Tuesday that Bidens visit to Arlington National Cemetery was to pay his respects to the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. Several U.S. officials confirmed Bidens withdrawal decision to The Associated Press, and an administration official provided details to reporters on condition of anonymity, speaking ahead of the announcement. According to the administration official, the only U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan will be those needed to protect diplomats there. No exact number was provided, but American troop totals in Afghanistan have been understated by U.S. administrations for years. Officials have quietly acknowledged that there are hundreds more in Afghanistan than the official 2,500 number, and likely would include special operations forces conducting covert or counterterrorism missions, often working with intelligence agency personnel. Bidens new, extended timeline will allow a safe and orderly withdrawal of American troops in coordination with NATO allies, the administration official added. The presidents decision, however, risks retaliation by the Taliban on U.S. and Afghan forces, possibly escalating the 20-year war. And it will reignite political division over Americas involvement in what many have called the endless war. An intelligence community report issued Tuesday about global challenges for the next year said prospects for a peace deal in Afghanistan are low and warned that the Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield. If the coalition withdraws support, the report says, the Afghan government will struggle to control the Taliban. Congressional reaction to the new deadline was mixed. Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake, said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed it as a reckless and dangerous decision. He said any withdrawal should be conditions-based, adding that arbitrary deadlines could put troops in danger, create a breeding ground for terrorists and lead to civil war in Afghanistan. Democrats were generally more supportive. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said President Donald Trumps May 1 deadline limited Bidens options. We still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that part of the world, but there are other areas, too, we have to be conscious of, Reed said. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said troops should come home, and the U.S. must refocus American national security on more pressing challenges. But at least one senior Democrat expressed disappointment. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said in a tweet that the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave w/o verifiable assurances of a secure future. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told the AP that the religious militia is waiting for a formal announcement to issue its reaction. The Taliban previously warned the U.S. of consequences if it reneged on the May 1 deadline. In a February 2020 agreement with the Trump administration, the Taliban agreed to halt attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for a U.S. commitment to a complete withdrawal by May 2021. Over the past year, U.S. military commanders and defense officials have said that attacks on U.S. troops have largely paused, but that Taliban attacks on the Afghans increased. Commanders have argued that the Taliban have failed to meet the conditions of the peace agreement by continuing attacks on the Afghans and failing to totally cut ties with al-Qaida and other extremist groups. When Biden entered the White House in January, he was keenly aware of the looming deadline and had time to meet it if he had chosen to do so. He began a review of the February 2020 agreement shortly after taking office, and has been consulting at length with his defense advisers and allies. In recent weeks, it became increasingly clear that he was leaning toward defying the deadline. Its going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline, Biden said in March. Just in terms of tactical reasons, its hard to get those troops out. He added, And if we leave, were going to do so in a safe and orderly way. --Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Islamabad and Eric Tucker in Washington and broadcast correspondent Sagar Meghani contributed to this report. Junior doctors in Sierra Leone have gone on strike over an alleged assault on one of their colleagues working at the countrys main referral hospital. It follows a strike by cleaners that left filth strewn all over the hospital for more than a week. The doctors' association said one of their female members had been physically assaulted by senior government officials during an incident at Connaught Hospital on Tuesday. "The event is frustrating and shows the continuous disrespect by the officials at the [health ministry] towards the medical practitioners across the country," it said in a statement. The association has asked for the immediate resignation of the concerned officials, saying their members "don't feel safe and confident working with authorities who violate the fundamental human rights of its people". The doctors say they will stay off work until appropriate action is taken. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video After more than four hours of play on the final table, "seboraptor" has taken down the 2021 PokerStars SCOOP-33-M: $530 NLHE [8-Max, Sunday Million SE] for $265,896 after agreeing to a heads-up deal with Bruno "brunoporto12" Porto. The tournament attracted 3,033 unique players who reentered 1,185 times to create a total prize pool of $2,109,000. "seboraptor" came into the day in second place but grabbed the chip lead away from Pablo "elmelogno4" Melogno once there were eight players left. They never looked back since then, only wavering for a minute or so when Porto took over the chip lead when they were heads-up, but they quickly took it back to then close it out shortly after. This is the first SCOOP title for the Polish player and looks to be the biggest score in their online tournament career. SCOOP-33-M: $530 NLHE [8-Max, Sunday Million SE] Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 "seboraptor" Poland $265,896* 2 Bruno "brunoporto12" Porto Brazil $248,245* 3 "GamadGADOL" Malta $150,588 4 "tzuzteutezu" Austria $106,482 5 Pablo "elmelogno4" Melogno Uruguay $75,294 6 "brille-390" Germany $53,241 7 Lucas "Rochinha2011" Rocha Brazil $37,647 8 "M4GPI3" Ukraine $26,621 9 William "WilliamI666" Barbosa Brazil $18,824 *reflects a heads-up deal Final Table Action William "WilliamI666" Barbosa was first to bust shortly after the first break when he ran his ace-king into the ace-ten of Porto. The ten on the turn meant the end of the road for the first of the three Brazilians at this final table. Ukraine's "M4GPI3" was next to go when they three-bet shoved with king-jack and got looked up by Melogno who held ace-jack. Lucas "Rochinha2011" Rocha then busted in seventh place when he got all his chips in with ace-queen to see him run them into the aces of "tzuzteutezu". "brille-390" had been pretty short for a while and was probably happy to be able to pick up some pay jumps before losing all their chips to Porto. "brille-390" held king-eight while Porto rivered the straight on the river with the king-queen in his hand. Day 2 chip leader, Melogno was eliminated in fourth place after some loose plays and wrong calls before finally handing over the remainder of his stack to "seboraptor" who held aces to the ace-queen of Melogno. Pablo Melogno finished in fifth place for $75,294 By the time the second break came around, "seboraptor" had more than 50% of all the chips in play. Most of the hands were raises and folds but Porto managed to double up with pocket eights against the aces of "GamadGADOL" as he turned the straight. Four-handed play lasted 75 minutes with "tzuzteutezu" pulling the short straw when they found ace-nine but were up against the ace-king of "seboraptor". Deal or No Deal The three remaining players tried to agree upon a deal twice and but couldn't as "seboraptor" wanted more than the ICM numbers gave them. Several double-ups later, "GamadGADOL" had turned two pair on the four-eight-four-ten board with ace-ten but when they bet-called the shove of Porto, they saw that Porto had flopped trips with the jack-four in his hand. The river didn't change things for the tournament to go to heads-up. "seboraptor" and Porto both quickly decided to look at the numbers again before agreeing to a deal with the Polish player holding the chip lead. They instantly agreed and had another $12,500 left to play for. Heads-up play lasted around 40 minutes in which Porto managed to get the stacks back to even, even grabbing the chip lead for a short while when they shoved on the four-eight-king-five-jack board and didn't get called. But "seboraptor" didn't sit back, they kept the pressure on and dealt the final blow when their ace-four shove got called by Porto who had found pocket tens. "seboraptor" turned top pair and improved to a wheel on the river to score the biggest SCOOP prize of 2021 up till now. This concludes the PokerNews coverage for this event but stick around for all the exciting action from all the other events. This photo taken on May 19, 2020 shows the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport. Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin A man seeking asylum status in Korea was allowed to leave Incheon International Airport and enter the country after being stuck there for 14 months, as his refugee application had been denied. Incheon District Court made a ruling, Tuesday, to allow temporary dismissal of his status as an "internee" and granted him the right to stay at a local hospital in order to undergo medical treatment. The man, whose nationality was not revealed, from his home country due to political persecution and arrived at Incheon International Airport in February 2020. But his refugee application was denied by the Ministry of Justice, as the final destination of his flight was another country, with Korea as a transfer point. Refugees can make applications as asylum seekers at immigration checkpoints. Since that time, he had been living in the transit zone of the airport. He was reported to have suffered from a hernia due to a disease contracted while en route to Korea, and his condition deteriorated during his time spent at the airport. Last June, the court ruled that it was illegal for the Ministry of Justice not to initiate a screening procedure for his refugee application, but the ministry has appealed that ruling. This time, the court acknowledged his status as an "internee" and stay only to the hospital temporarily lifted the status so that he can receive medical treatment at a local hospital while limiting his place. Under the Protection of Personal Liberty Act, a person who is staying at a state-run medical or protection facility against their own free will is defined as an "internee." A court may temporarily lift this status if an urgent need to prevent physical damage is deemed. "He has been left stranded in the airport transit zone for 14 months, with virtually no protection of privacy, or access to any medical services, to guarantee his basic human rights. It is likely that spending more time in the airport will lead to physical harm," the court said in its ruling. Lawyer Lee Han-jae from the Duroo Association for Public Interest Law, the man's legal representative, called it a landmark ruling as local courts have never recognized airport dwellers as "internees." "This ruling is the first of its kind to recognize an asylum seeker staying at the airport transit zone as an internee. The Ministry of Justice has argued that a transit zone is an open place where people can freely move around or depart, so people staying there do not fall into the category of internees," Lee said. The new ruling recognizing airport dwellers as "internees" enables them to get access to medical care when deemed necessary. "The ministry should prepare a system to allow for the entry of refugee applicants staying at the airport and begin screening procedures, as well as take measures to guarantee their human rights," he added. THE STAKES: No public official, no matter how powerful, should use public resources for personal or political gain. ---- Staffers in the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo worked on a private poll while on the taxpayer dime. So reports Times Union investigative reporter Chris Bragg, who obtained emails showing that Melissa DeRosa, a top aide to the governor, and others in his office helped with explicitly political polling being conducted on behalf of Jobs of New York, a super PAC funded by billionaire New York City landlords. A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo notes theres nothing wrong with the governors office seeking to gauge public opinion, which is true as far as it goes. But state law prohibits the use of public resources for an elected officials personal benefit, including to help political campaigns. And its hard to give Mr. Cuomo the benefit of the doubt when the revelation is only the latest in a long train of ethical abuses. New Yorkers recently learned, for example, that taxpayer-funded employees in the governors office were tasked with helping to produce and publicize a book, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic, for which Mr. Cuomo was handsomely paid. New Yorkers also recently learned that public resources and officials from the state Department of Health were used to provide prioritized coronavirus testing for Mr. Cuomos family members and associates. While less-influential New Yorkers often waited weeks for tests and results, if not longer, Mr. Cuomos preferred group got their results within hours. Those and other many examples show that in Mr. Cuomos universe, the political, personal and governmental are thoroughly and inappropriately blended. The good-government guardrails are down, and the long list of his abuses of the public trust keeps growing. An investigation into how public resources are being used to benefit Mr. Cuomo would be a fine way for the states Joint Commission on Public Ethics to prove its worth and independence, especially since having employees work on his book violated an agreement the governor had made with JCOPE. But time and again, the commission has shown its an inadequate ethics watchdog, more loyal to Mr. Cuomo than taxpayers. Such an investigation could also be taken up by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who has rarely focused his spotlight on dark corners within the governors office. Mr. DiNapoli wouldnt need to look far for a model: In 2019, then-Albany County Comptroller Mike Conners released an audit showing widespread payroll abuses in county government, including the use of public resources in the reelection efforts of County Executive Dan McCoy. But absent action by JCOPE or Mr. DiNapoli, the task may fall to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which has a long list of controversies to investigate as it weighs whether Mr. Cuomo should be impeached. One could almost wonder if the governor keeps generating new scandals to keep the investigation from ending. The more likely explanation is a simpler one: Mr. Cuomo doesnt believe ethics rules apply to him. [April 14, 2021] IDEMIA and INTERPOL Further Their Partnership to Supply Brand New Multi-Biometric System Following the renewal of an existing contract, IDEMIA will deliver INTERPOL's new identification system that will usher in enhanced capabilities such as higher matching accuracy and more user-friendly interfaces. Designed and scaled so that police officers in member states can carry out an unlimited number of searches and analysis at will, MBIS, IDEMIA's latest technological biometric solution, will allow up to one million forensic analysis searches per day. This includes fingerprints, palm prints and faces, making it the top performing automated biometric identification system on the market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005324/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) These capabilities pave the way for introducing the application of biometrics to other sectors. In addition to police investigations, INTERPOL plans to enable its members to query their database from border control stations. This latest alliance further strengthens IDEMIA's 20-year relationship with INTERPOL. Collaboration began in 2000 when IDEMIA delivered the first Automated Fingerprint Identificaion System (AFIS). AFIS was designed to make cooperation easier between police forces from INTERPOL's 194 member states, by giving them access to a shared fingerprint database of suspects in criminal cases. Building on fingerprint capability, in 2016 INTERPOL called on IDEMIA to make facial recognition available to its members. Thanks to both biometric systems, INTERPOL managed to match and identify over 300 suspects in 2019. "In the same way that criminals use ever more innovative and sophisticated ways to avoid detection, law enforcement must also benefit from the latest advances in technology, especially in biometric security, to better combat all forms of transnational crime. INTERPOL's enhanced partnership with IDEMIA will further help our member countries better protect their borders and their citizens," said Cyril Gout, INTERPOL Director of Operational Support and Analysis. Philippe Barreau, Executive Vice President for the Public Security & Identity Business Unit at IDEMIA said, "I would like to warmly thank INTERPOL for placing their trust in our expertise. Innovation has underpinned our work for INTERPOL from the very outset. We worked closely together to capture the specific requirements of the INTERPOL teams so as to enhance our solutions in line with making us biometric security provider number one. We're thrilled to cement our longstanding alliance with INTERPOL who share our purpose to make people's lives safer around the world." About IDEMIA IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, provides a trusted environment enabling citizens and consumers alike to perform their daily critical activities (such as pay, connect and travel), in the physical as well as digital space. Securing our identity has become mission critical in the world we live in today. By standing for Augmented Identity, an identity that ensures privacy and trust, and guarantees secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions, we reinvent the way we think, produce, use and protect one of our greatest assets - our identity. We provide Augmented Identity for international clients from financial, telecom, identity, public security and IoT sectors. With close to 15,000 employees around the world, IDEMIA serves clients in 180 countries. For more information, visit www.idemia.com / Follow @IDEMIAGroup on Twitter (News - Alert) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005324/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 40-year-old man was driving a car that contained fireworks, bullets and drugs in Richmond Valley, authorities allege. Police spotted Nathaniel Morton of Bement Avenue in West Brighton driving a gray Honda that he parked on the 4800 block of Arthur Kill Road around 2 p.m. on April 2, according to the criminal complaint and police. Mortons license was suspended or revoked and the car had a cracked windshield and expired registration sticker, the complaint alleges. I walked away from the car because I think my license is bad, the criminal complaint quoted Morton as allegedly saying to police. Police obtained a search warrant and examined the car and a large safe inside in the vicinity of the 123rd Precinct stationhouse in Tottenville. Officers found three boxes of pistol ammunition including 9 mm rounds, two scales with cocaine residue, 10 cylinder-shaped fireworks and a stolen New York license plate, according to the complaint and police. Arthur Kill Road and South Bridge Street in Richmond Valley (Courtesy of Google Maps) The suspect also was found to be in possession of cocaine, oxycodone hydrochloride pills, amphetamine pills and packaging typically used for drugs, police allege. Morton was arrested that night and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of stolen property, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of fireworks, unlawful possession of pistol or revolver ammunition, operating a motor vehicle without an inspection certificate and an equipment violation for broken glass. The suspect has been released on his own recognizance and is due back in Criminal Court on July 19, according to public records. An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment. RELATED COVERAGE: Crime news on Staten Island The parents of a bride-to-be who covered the catering bill for her upcoming wedding have sparked outrage on social media with a bizarre menu request. They ordered plates of shellfish, despite their daughter being highly allergic. The move could put her at risk of anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction that causes shock, a rapidly accelerated heart rate and swelling of the airways which results in the throat closing over. The bride asked for advice on her predicament in an Australian Facebook community group, hinting she hadn't complained because her parents are paying for the food. The bride asked for advice on her predicament in an Australian Facebook community group 'Hi everyone, I am very allergic to shellfish but my parents who were covering the food cost were strong in [their] opinions of having shellfish as an option at my wedding,' she wrote. 'Any fun ideas for signs relating to 'don't touch the bride until you sanitise'?' But she got more than signage suggestions, with dozens expressing outrage that parents would even consider serving a dish their daughter was allergic to. 'Oh, parents requesting a highly allergic food at their child's wedding.. They are looking for a payout or to not have a child,' one woman replied. A second added: 'My parents wanted to save costs so touch me to turn this wedding into a funeral! Two-in-one fun!' The bride she hinted she hadn't complained because her parents are paying for the food (stock image) Others poked fun at the situation, with one man writing: 'Goddamn, those parents are shellfish.' 'She must be adopted,' said a second, while a third added: 'I'd expect this from in-laws but her own parents.' However many failed to see the funny side. 'I wouldn't even risk going to your wedding,' one woman wrote. Another branded the bride's parents 'sociopaths' and urged her to pay for the food herself. A great opportunity for Otodata to continue expanding their product offering MONTREAL, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Otodata Technologies USA ("Otodata") is pleased to announce that it has acquired Wise Telemetry, a leading provider of remote monitoring devices and services for the industrial gas industry. Founded in 2008, Otodata designs, develops, and manufactures market leading remote level monitoring products and technologies for a variety of industries. Otodata's unique monitoring software that accompanies the hardware, allows users to monitor their tanks remotely, providing insightful, real-time data to drive asset and labor productivity in their business. "We are so pleased to be working with the Wise Telemetry team. This acquisition will accelerate our diversification into the industrial gas market, allowing us to leverage our innovative solutions for remote tank monitoring and serve this growing segment. This represents an important step in our strategy to address the growing demand for reliable, affordable and automated tank monitoring solutions across a variety of industries and geographic markets," said Andre Boulay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otodata. "The Wise team is thrilled to be part of Otodata. Joining forces allows us to provide our customers with additional products, services and innovative pricing structures, enabling them to monitor every asset and receive an instant return on their investment, both locally and abroad." said Eric Wise, Founder and CEO of Wise Telemetry. About Otodata Technologies USA: Otodata has been a key player in the tank monitoring industry for almost a decade. Its goal has always been to produce a monitor with the lowest cost of ownership in the industry, making large-scale implementation affordable for all fuel resellers. For more information, please visit our website at www.otodatatankmonitors.com and our social media channels: https://youtu.be/_YYCTIipmJo https://www.linkedin.com/company/otodata https://www.facebook.com/otodatawireless https://twitter.com/Otodata https://www.instagram.com/otodatatankmonitors About Wise Telemetry Wise Telemetry is a leading provider of remote monitoring devices and services for the industrial gas industry. Founded in 2014 by Eric Wise, the company has the capacity to monitor every aspect of gas distribution from tanker trucks and bulk tanks to dewars and cylinders. Wise Telemetry is a proud member of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA). Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1484810/Otodata_Otodata_Technologies_USA_Announces_the_Acquisition_of_Wi.jpg Gregory Bronner, Marketing Director, gbronner@otodatatankmonitors.com, C: +1 514-463-6303, T: +1 (514) 673-0244 Nicola Sturgeon is due to receive her first vaccine dose after the SNP unveils its manifesto - Andy Buchanan/Pool/Getty Images Coronavirus Article Bar with counter Nicola Sturgeon should thank Boris Johnson for ignoring SNP demands to sign up to the EU's disastrous vaccine programme when she gets her first Covid jab on Thursday, the Scottish Tory leader has said. Douglas Ross said the First Minister would have faced a much longer wait to be vaccinated if Mr Johnson had heeded her party's demands for the UK to join the European scheme last year. The SNP confirmed that Ms Sturgeon, 50, is scheduled to receive her first jab after she launches her party's election manifesto on Thursday morning. A spokesman said: "These remarks from Douglas Ross are utterly pathetic but entirely in keeping with his petulant, puerile tone." A series of Ms Sturgeon's ministers demanded that the UK sign up to the EU's vaccine procurement plan last year and expressed outrage when Mr Johnson refused. Mike Russell, the Constitution Secretary, warned at the time: "This idiotic refusal is all about Brexit and nothing to do with the pandemic. It will cost lives." The decision was publicly opposed by a series of SNP MPs. Vaccination rates in the UK and the EU The UK Government instead arranged for British-based AstraZeneca to partner Oxford University to develop a vaccine and took the gamble of pouring tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money into setting up a production line before there was any proof that the jab would work. Mr Johnson put Kate Bingham, a life sciences venture capitalist, in charge of the UK's Vaccine Taskforce and gave her discretion to speed up the process and lay bets on vaccine candidates. The taskforce bought doses early from seven candidates and has secured deals for 407 million doses. The EU was months behind in signing its own deals with AstraZeneca and Pfizer and only around a fifth of its population has been vaccinated, compared to well over half of Britons. The Scottish Tories disclosed earlier this month that more than 1.5 million fewer Scots would have been vaccinated under the EU scheme, based on the average rate across the bloc. Story continues Asked whether Ms Sturgeon should thank the Prime Minister for ignoring the SNP when she gets her jab, Mr Ross said: "Yes, absolutely. I think the SNP comments from a number of ministers at Holyrood and senior SNP politicians at Westminster at the time, on the approach that the UK Government took, have been shown to be false, hollow, and completely wrong. "If Nicola Sturgeon had her way, she would take an independent Scotland back into the European Union, and there would be well over a million and a half fewer doses of the vaccine available here in Scotland, and it would be some time yet before Nicola Sturgeon was due to get her vaccine, rather than just a matter of hours." Nearly 2.7 million Scots have now received their first dose and 634,422 their second. Letters are being issued to invite Scots aged between 45 and 49 to be vaccinated. By Andrew Hammond President Vladimir Putin signed a new law last week that could keep him in power till 2036, potentially alongside China's Xi Jinping. In other words, Russia's foreign policy is becoming dangerously emboldened again. Exhibit A is the Ukraine border where Moscow has built up an estimated 25,000 troops in a major show of force. Former Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak warned last week that Moscow could intervene to help its citizens in eastern Ukraine as tensions rise in the region which has been a flashpoint since Russian-sympathizing separatists seized swathes of territory there in 2014. The build-up worries the West, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steve Pifer asserts that the situation is "one step from war." To this end, the United States put its forces in Europe on a higher level of alert last week with President Joe Biden re-affirming his support for Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity." While the skirmishes may die down again, that is by no means guaranteed. Putin's mission since assuming power almost a quarter of a century ago has been trying to restore Russia's geopolitical prominence through international gambits like the annexation of Crimea, his intervention in Syria, and the fostering of joint economic activities in the Far East disputed islands off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Another recent illustration of Moscow's growing global ambitions was Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's tour of the Middle East and Asia. The grand itinerary saw him visiting key countries, including China, Korea, Pakistan, India, Iran, the UAE and Qatar. While Putin's foreign policy escapades have so far at least generally played well domestically, they have resulted in frostier relations with the West. A key question remains in the coming years how the relationship, specifically with the United States, will fare under Biden, who may not seek re-election when he will be in his 80s. The most likely outcome is continuing chilled ties, and Putin at 68 may already be thinking ahead to the next US president, or two, hoping for another maverick Donald Trump-type figure more congenial to his interests. Indeed, such is Putin's longevity, which would surpass even Joseph Stalin's long reign by the early 2030s, that he is fast becoming one of the longest serving world leaders of modern times along with Fidel Castro, who managed 52 years as Cuban prime minister and then president, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who has been in the post since 1989. Yet, while Putin appears to be firmly entrenched, if not politically impregnable right now, numerous challenges persist. The pandemic, for one, has posed a major challenge. Last spring, he introduced a six-week lockdown that severely hurt the Russian economy. His approval ratings plummeted to a recent low of 59% with the government forcing the easing of restrictions, helping reduce economic damage and shoring up his polling. The sinking of his approval ratings reveals that he is far from certain to serve till 2036, especially if his political luck finally goes south, fueled by a potential foreign policy misadventure or domestic economic travails. To keep his hold in power, it seems very likely that Putin will continue to rely on the political playbook that has served him well so far: namely, forging a sense of post-Cold War patriotism fueled by a growing economy during much of the period. Such post-Cold War patriotism could have profound implications for international politics, especially given his growing closeness to Chinese President Xi Jinping who is another potential "president for life." Xi was given a green-light to remain in power for an indefinite period in 2018 after the National People's Congress approved the removal of the two-term limit on the presidency, which had been in place since the 1990s. He has therefore amassed political power in his country, the likes of which has not been seen since Mao Zedong. In this context, both Beijing and Moscow are working more closely together not just to further bilateral interests, but also to hedge against the prospects of a continuing chill in US ties. The closeness of the relationship between Xi and Putin is one key reason why the frost appears unlikely to thaw in Russia's relations with the West. In this context, Putin is increasingly asserting Russian power in other areas of the globe, from the Asia-Pacific to Africa and the Americas. One of the key features of this foreign policy approach is doubling down support for longstanding allies who are Western foes, including Venezuela, Syria, North Korea and Iran. On the latter, for instance, Moscow pushed hard during the Trump presidency for the continuation of the 2015 nuclear deal. These current foreign policy moves show how the implications of Putin's long period in office go well beyond the Russian domestic political landscape. With Moscow's ties with Washington and the wider West being so frosty, an even closer economic and political alliance with Xi in Beijing appears likely if both of their presidencies extend into the 2030s. Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. Microsoft. Credit: Unsplash While web shells have been removed that previously provided attackers access to Microsoft Exchange Servers, the FBI has revealed that some malicious software might remain that hackers are still using as backdoors into victim networks. Now, U.S. Justice authorities have initiated the copy and removal of evil web shells from hundreds of computers running on-premises Microsoft Exchange Server software to operate their corporate email services. These attacks began back in January and February of 2021 when various hackers discovered and exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server software. The hackers took advantage of these vulnerabilities to set up backdoors and gain persistent access to these servers, right up until they were caught in March of 2021. Even after the initial hackers came to light, more attackers looked for ways to attack following patching and publication of these vulnerabilities. While thousands of victims of this attack managed to remove these backdoors, hundreds of malicious web shells have gone unremedied. For the target servers that the FBI succeeded in salvaging, they ended up writing a command from the web shell to the server, triggering the server to delete the web shell after identifying the shell's unique file path. So far, authorities have expressed positive sentiment regarding the ability of private and public organizations to join cybersecurity forces in order to oppose this threat. In fact, the FBI has already partnered with international colleagues in the field in order to keep an eye on further vulnerabilities and threats of this nature. Indeed, since this attack came to light in March, Microsoft and its various partners have taken significant efforts to provide their thousands of customers with the information and tools to help mitigate this threat, even for those organizations whose servers have already been impacted. However, despite many Microsoft Exchange Server users successfully removing evil web shells on their networks, the FBI warns that the original zero-day vulnerabilities have still not been fully patched. Therefore, the company recommends that all affected organizations continue to monitor and investigate their environments for potential malicious presence. At this time, the FBI intends to notify all entities from whose servers malicious web shells associated with these attacks have been removed. They expect network defenders of impacted organizations might encounter the challenge of detecting these evil web shells based on their unique file name and path. For now, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have collaborated toward a Joint Advisory on Microsoft Exchange Server to tackle this incident. Explore further Microsoft defends against new threat to Exchange More information: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas. "Justice Department Announces Court-Authorized Effort to Disrupt Exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server Vulnerabilities." The United States Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 13 Apr. 2021, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas. "Justice Department Announces Court-Authorized Effort to Disrupt Exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server Vulnerabilities." The United States Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 13 Apr. 2021, www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/j ploitation-microsoft 2021 Science X Network Values of faith, family, independence. Thats what were about, Mark Simmons, an Oregon rancher and former speaker of the state's House of Representatives added. We dont need the state breathing down our necks all the time, micromanaging our lives and trying to push us into a foreign way of living. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Despite these assertions, the group has had an uphill battle in attempting to conjure support from Oregonians. Last November, Oregon's Union and Jefferson counties voted to join Idaho, with two other counties nixing the idea, although making for a tight race. I want to thank all those who voted and those who got signatures [to put the measure on the ballot], Mike McCarter told the publication at the time. Were a grass-roots movement. This is a beginning. Although five additional Oregon counties are set to vote on the measure next month, even if the idea passes among residents, it may not change much. The county votes carry no weight, but are intended to potentially sway lawmakers to ultimately approve the plan, the outlet noted. Continue Reading Below Advertisement However, lawmakers still had questions, including Rep. Ben Adams, a Republican who said he was interested but was concerned about how Oregon would react to an Idahoan invasion. How is it being received right now by the state of Oregon? the lawmaker inquired. How hard would they be fighting to make it not happen? Most states dont like to lose their resources to their neighbors. Coronavirus vaccines should provide protection against COVID-19 for at least nine months, but booster shots might become necessary after that, especially among the elderly, a top Food and Drug Administration scientist said. The projection comes as scientists and public health officials debate what strategy to pursue on booster shots whether vaccine manufacturers should produce booster shots that are essentially the same as the original coronavirus vaccines or modify them to target a specific, mutant variant. Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, told physicians on Tuesday that the agency will closely watch for waning immunity among vaccinated people with weaker immune systems nine to 12 months after they first received their doses. Were believing that its probably going to last at least nine months, but were going to be checking this, Marks said in a call hosted by the American Medical Association. We need to be careful that in more immunocompromised individuals, particularly older individuals the oldest individuals who are vaccinated that we dont see that drop off more quickly. It is possible we dont know for sure that somewhere at nine months, a year, we may need to have boosters, Marks said. But well get a better sense of that, probably with each month, well get more certainty about when that might be necessary. Elderly individuals were among the first with access to COVID-19 vaccines in the United States after the FDA granted two vaccines, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, emergency use authority in December. In recent weeks, the FDA has issued guidelines for vaccine manufacturers on how to submit applications for the approval of vaccine booster shots. But neither private companies nor the federal government have settled on a strategy on whether to modify the vaccines to target new, emerging variants, which may be able to evade vaccine immunity, or simply to provide booster shots using the original vaccine, which have thus far proven effective enough against the various mutant strains. Story continues One White House official told McClatchy that the Biden administration has remained intentionally vague on its plans for the countrys excess supply of vaccines because they dont know what works best for boosters yet. The federal government has purchased roughly double the number of doses that will be necessary to vaccinate every American. It may just be by boosting with the same vaccine, youll get high enough titers that they would take care of these variants, said Marks, referring to the concentration of antibodies in the blood provided by the vaccines. There is something to be said for trying to keep it simple, because the more different types of vaccines that one has to manufacture, you basically take away from some of the capacity to manufacture as much vaccine. DETERMINING VACCINE DURABILITY Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told McClatchy in a recent interview that scientists are not at the point where they are able to predict when immunity whether naturally acquired after infection, or through a vaccine fades. When we look at animal studies, we look at antibody levels as one indicator, Modjarrad said. They always decline with time. The question is how quickly do they decline and when do they get to a point that is below a threshold of antibody levels that you need to protect against disease. We havent quite defined that threshold yet. Scientists only know with confidence that a vaccine works for six months, for example, if they have six months of data proving it, Modjarrad said. Pfizer and Moderna, which both use the same biological technology in their vaccines and were first to complete their clinical trials, have recently published findings that show their vaccines remain over 90% effective after at least six months of data collection. All of this is good news, and well find out were looking at the unknown, said Dr. Larry Corey, who has co-led the coronavirus vaccine clinical trials for the COVID-19 Prevention Network under the National Institutes of Health. The trials continue. Theyve been designed for two years. And the importance of those continued follow-ups is right in front of us. While only six months of data has been collected so far on the advanced, Phase III clinical trial participants, Corey noted that some volunteers who took part in the earliest phases of the trial in the spring of 2020 are now participating in early trials on booster shots. They continue to be part of the exploration of whats needed do we need to boost, when do we need to boost, and do we actually need to change the vaccine? Corey said. Maybe we dont need to boost everybody, or if we do, we could just give another dose of the same vaccine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which use messenger RNA technology, already appear to differ in effectiveness against new coronavirus variants from the other vaccines such as those made using viral vector technology, from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, and other protein-based vaccines. Each one is different. We already have data that theyre different, that its not going to be one size fits all, Corey said, on how the government is strategizing for boosters. The answer to me is different for each platform. FDA officials say they recognize there is a need for speed in determining a strategy for booster shots, so that the federal government is prepared for the moment scientists do identify a decline in the effectiveness of the vaccines. Marks said that for FDA authorization of booster shots, trials will likely involve hundreds of participants, not the thousands who were enrolled in the monthslong clinical trials for the original vaccines. One FDA official told McClatchy that the agency cannot address specific clinical trials. But it expects the manufacturing process to remain roughly the same, so that companies can essentially pivot from one product to another using the same elaborate infrastructure set up for the original vaccines. We want the American public to know that the FDA is using every tool in our toolbox to fight this pandemic, including pivoting as the virus adapts, the official said. As public health officials and vaccine manufacturers debate whether to prepare boosters with the original vaccines, or with modified vaccines, some worry that events may force their hands. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who previously worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said coronavirus vaccines may have to be more targeted geographically than flu vaccines. The thing with influenza is, if you have dominant strains, they are pretty dominant over huge geographic areas. There isnt any doubt, Schaffner said. At the moment, with COVID, it could become really very localized. They could have variants and strains that are dominant in Europe that are quite different than ours. That could happen in the southern hemisphere also. There are further blank pages in our textbook on COVID, and were still writing those as we go along, he added. New Delhi, April 14 : Delhi on Wednesday recorded a new high daily Covid tally of 17,282, as well as 104 deaths, while the number of active cases crossed the 50,000-mark to reach 50,736, according to the government's health bulletin. The national capital had recorded 13,468 cases and 81 deaths on Tuesday. Daily positivity rate zoomed to 15.92 per cent on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 9,952 people recovered, taking the cumulative recovery figure to 705,162. The new deaths take the toll to 11,540. In view of surge in cases in the last 24 hours, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought an emergency meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, and Health Minister Satyendar Jain. According to the Chief Minister's Office, Kejriwal will meet Baijal at 11 a.m. and then will hold a meeting with the Health Minister, the Chief Secretary and senior Health Department officials at noon. MANISTEE COUNTY, MI The Michigan Department of Natural Resources annual collection of steelhead eggs from the Little Manistee River is underway. Officials began their vital collection efforts at the weir in Stronach (Manistee County) on Tuesday. The weir has served as the sole source of winter-run steelhead eggs for fish hatcheries in Michigan and the main source for Ohio and Indiana since 1968. Yearling steelhead produced through hatchery operations are stocked in select tributaries of all the Great Lakes. The fish species provide one of Michigans premier sport fishing opportunities for both Great Lakes open water and tributary stream fishing. DNR egg-take operations begin with the lowering of the weir grates by mid-March, a process which stops the upstream steelhead migration in the Little Manistee River and diverts the fish into holding ponds. Fish usually ripen during the month of April when egg collection efforts begin. They continue until the established egg quota has been reached. RELATED: DNR to begin critical collection of 32 million walleye eggs from Muskegon River During egg-take operations, unripe or green steelhead are held in maturation ponds or counted and passed upstream to sustain the wild Little Manistee River steelhead run. Steelhead that are spawned during operations also are passed upstream, and many eventually return to Lake Michigan, as this species is capable of spawning multiple times. Once the quota of eggs is reached, the weir grates are removed, and all remaining fish can migrate upstream. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DNR facility will not be open for public viewing this year. The parking area, the viewing platform below the weir and all areas outside the fenced-in grounds will remain open to the public. To check on the status of the egg-take schedule, call the Little Manistee weir hotline at 231-775-9727, ext. 6072 Chennai, April 14 : The President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and MP from Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, Thol Thirumavalavan, has called upon the Congress to provide ticket to the daughter of late party leader P.S.W. Madhava Rao if by-elections are held in the Srivilliputhur constituency (reserved). Srivilliputhur Congress candidate Madhava Rao (63) died on Sunday morning after he was admitted to a private hospital in Madurai with Covid symptoms on March 20. Thirumavalavan said that Rao's daughter Dhivya Rao is an able leader and the party may consider her as the candidate if the constituency goes for bypolls. The senior VCK leader told IANS, "Madhava Rao's daughter Dhivya Rao is a good leader and has the capacity to step into her father's shoes. Me and Rao were college mates, and he had waited patiently to contest an Assembly election. But when he did contest, he couldn't see the results being declared due to his untimely demise. The Congress must consider Dhvya Rao as its candidate if bypolls are held in Srivilliputhur." The senior Dalit leader also said that Rao's victory from Srivilliputhur was a certainty, adding that the Congress must consider fielding his daughter for the seat. (Newser) Crashing waves were clearly eroding the land around a National Weather Service station on Massachusetts' Cape Cod. Still, officials thought it would stand for another 10 years at least. That's not the case now. The Chatham station, which has been in use for 50 years, was abandoned on March 31 "due to fears the property could fall into the Atlantic Ocean," reports the Guardian. "We'd [known] for a long time there was erosion, but the pace of it caught everyone by surprise," says meteorologist Andy Nash, who runs the NWS' Boston office. The station once stood 100 feet from the sea, but last year brought several intense storms, one of which erased 6 feet of land in one day. "We started losing a foot of a bluff a week," Nash says. Soon, the building was only 30 feet from the sea, and without its parking lot. "We were a couple of storms from a very big problem." story continues below Twice a day since 1970, station officials have sent up a weather balloon to gauge temperature, humidity levels, and wind speeds. This information won't be recorded in the short term; the station is to be razed this month. But Nash says a new Cape Cod weather station will eventually be built on higher ground, further away from the coast. "We have to recognize that where we think the beach is, is a very temporary line," John Englander of the Rising Seas Institute recently told the Cape Cod Times. "We have seen changes in the past 30 years, but we haven't seen nothing yet." He blames climate change, as does Andrew Ashton, an associate scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. "What's happened with the station is an indication of what we will see along the whole coast," he tells the Guardian. (Read more climate change stories.) A central question in the study of human evolution pertains to when, and of course how and why, modern human cognitive abilities evolved beyond those of our ape progenitors. New research sheds light on the timing of this process. In a just published article in the journal Science, an international team of researchers, led by Marcia S. Ponce de Leon of the University of Zurich, has found that modern-looking human brains appeared by about 1.7 to 1.5 million years ago as compared to the earlier, more primitive brains of the first members of the genus Homo . This is significant because the earliest known members of the genus Homo date back a million years earlier, to approximately 2.8 million years ago. These earlier humans had already dispersed out of Africa into Eurasia by 2.1 million years ago and had been making primitive core and flake stone tools known as Oldowan since at least 2.5 million years ago, despite their more primitive brain configuration. Therefore, this new research indicates that the first migration of humans into Eurasia was accomplished by populations not possessing modern human cognitive skills, later to be followed by more modern humans, also coming from Africa. Oldowan core tools (Wikimedia Commons) For obvious reasons, the behavior and cognitive abilities of extinct humans cannot be directly observed. Scientists must rely on proxy measures, including artifacts and physical anatomy, to infer these characteristics. Both have limitations, however. The material remains in the archaeological record for early humans consists almost exclusively of stone tools, while artifacts, food remains and other objects composed of organic materials have largely disappeared. While stone tools can provide insight into cognitive abilities based on the technological sophistication of the manufacturing process and, perhaps even the structure of language, much of the richness of modern human capabilities remains unobservable. The other main source of data for investigating early human cognitive abilities is the comparative anatomy of the brain. Unfortunately, given that the brain consists of soft tissue, it does not usually fossilize. Therefore, the deep structure of the brain is inaccessible in the fossil record. However, the outer configuration of the brain leaves an impression on the interior of the skull. By creating casts, either physical or by digital imagery, of the inside of fossilized skulls, known as endocasts, not only the overall size, but the outer form of major regions of the brain can be studied. The brains of modern humans are markedly different from those of great apes, both in overall size and in the configuration of various regions, giving some indication of the condition of our common ancestors. This is especially true of the frontal lobe, which is the region where complex cognitive processes, such as social skills, tool making and language, reside. Members of the first hominin genus, Australopithecus, had brains that, in size and outward appearance, did not differ greatly from their ape ancestors. Indeed, the brains of early Homo were still largely ape-like, about half the size of those of modern humans. It must be remembered, however, that internal changes in brain architecture and, therefore, mental abilities, are likely to have occurred in early hominins which are not discernable in the endocasts, as evidenced by the production of stone tools. Also, the number of usable specimens dating to earlier than 1.8 million years ago is quite small, making detailed examination of changes over time difficult. Comparison of human and chimpanzee brain (Wikimedia Commons) The new research is based on the examination of fossil skulls from Africa, the republic of Georgia (the site of Dmanisi) and the Indonesian island of Java, which revealed that the modern configuration of the brain had only appeared by about 1.7 to 1.5 million years ago. The Dmanisi fossil skulls (five individuals) represent an early Homo population (the species identification is in dispute), dating to between 1.85 and 1.77 million years ago, and, therefore, provide a good baseline against which to compare the later fossil specimens from Africa and Indonesia, identified as belonging to Homo erectus . Specimens from Africa dating between 1.7 to 1.5 million years ago show a mix of primitive and derived (i.e., more modern) characteristics of the brain, including a general increase in size, most notably of the frontal lobe, whereas later fossils consistently exhibit the more modern configuration. This strongly suggests that this transition first appeared in African populations of Homo. Specimens from Indonesia with the more modern brain configuration are less than 1.5 million years old, supporting the interpretation that they represent a second wave of migration out of Africa. Among the changes observed in the more recent specimens is the enlargement of what is known as Brocas cap, part of the frontal lobe, which is linked to speech production. It is significant that the appearance of a more sophisticated stone tool technology, known as the Acheulean, occurred at this same time, replacing the older and more primitive Oldowan technology, which is associated with the Dmanisi fossils as well as earlier members of the genus Homo . The Acheulean assemblage is characterized by the production of symmetrical biface tools, also known as handaxes, which require a much more complex manufacturing technique and associated mental capabilities than was previously employed to produce Oldowan tools, which consists of simple cores and flakes. Furthermore, Acheulean tools exhibit functional specialization not seen in the earlier technology. Acheulean handaxe (Wikimedia Commons) The contemporaneity of these developments supports the hypothesized correlation between the evolution of language and technology, both requiring the capacity for abstract thought. This is also the time period of the earliest known adaptation of a particular feature of the human hand thought to be associated with sophisticated tool manufacture. The specifics of the dynamic between these developments remains an area deserving much more research. Clearly, however, a revolutionary advance in human evolution took place at between 1.7 and 1.5 million years ago. All three of these developments are first known to have appeared in Africa. These results support two findings. First, that significant reorganization of the human brain took place later than the transition from Australopithecus to Homo, contrary to previous proposals (though some as yet undetectable changes are likely to have occurred at that time, as suggested by the development of Oldowan tool technologythe first known). Second, the interpretation that there were at least two early waves of human dispersal out of Africathe first wave, as early as 2.1 million years ago, consisting of early members of the genus Homo (H. habilis or very early H. erectus ), having relatively primitive brains, and limited language and technological skills, followed by more modern humans with developed mental and practical capabilities. The question of whether the second wave replaced or merged with members of the first wave is yet to be determined. Turkish companies owed 18 bn in Libya, says analyst From projects suspended since 2011, says Harchaoui (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 14 - "One of the reasons such contracts are being awarded directly to #Turkish companies without other nationalities being able to compete, has to do with the $18bn backlog of outstanding #Turkish projects that have been suspended since Feb 2011," wrote Jalel Harchaoui on Twitter on Tuesday. The country saw the beginning of a revolution in February 2011 that led to the end of a regime under Col. Muammar Ghaddafi. Hachaoui is a well-known analyst focusing on Libya and was commenting on a tweet announcing: "Turkey's Ronesans signs MOUs on Libya power plants, airport terminal". The company had signed a Memorandum of Understanding the previous evening with Libya for the construction of a new international terminal for the Tripoli airport, three power plants and a shopping mall. The tweet from the Geneva-based Global Initiative and former Libya expert at the Dutch think tank Clingendael Institute linked to the Tabadul TV website , which added that during the same ceremony with Ronesans, another Turkish group - Aksa Enerji - had signed an agreement for the building of a power plant alongside the General Electric Company of Libya (GECOL). (ANSAmed). Phuket, Thailand, 9th April 2021 Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach continued to give back to its island home in the first quarter of 2021, with a series of important CSR initiatives that helped to protect Phukets environment and support local communities. In line with Serve360 Doing Good in Every Direction, Marriott Internationals global pledge to be a force for good and create a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business, the resorts team took part in several highly worthwhile projects. In celebration of International Womens Day, a team of female associates from Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach visited Uncle Pitaks Home, a daycare center for the children of women in prison. The hotel team came together with members of the public to donate educational items and dried food to this volunteer-run facility. Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach also teamed up with SOS Thailand, the food rescue foundation, and other Marriott International resorts in Phuket for an interactive event to help feed underprivileged members of the local community. The resorts General Manager, Gerd Kotlorz, joined with other GMs and kitchen teams to prepare 800 delicious three-course meals, pack them into reusable food containers and serve them to residents in Patong. An estimated 150 people also brought their own pinto boxes and queued up for the event at Patong Fire Station. Looking ahead, this initiative will now be hosted every quarter. Other properties taking part include The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort, The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket, Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, and the new Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, which is scheduled to open soon. SOS Thailand is a long-standing partner of Marriott International, and all the ingredients used in the initiative were sourced from surplus food from Marriotts hotel kitchens, thus helping to reduce food waste. In the current global situation, health and hygiene is more important than ever. With this in mind, Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach has created a D.I.Y. spa scrub, which guests can help to make during a morning class hosted by the Quan Spa team. This homemade scrub is produced using natural ingredients and will be distributed to guests, associated and the community. The resorts beach cleaning activity has been a remarkable success, helping to keep all areas of the seafront free from litter. Marriott has already eliminated single-use plastics such as straws and bags, and replaced them with high-quality biodegradable options. With the beach now looking clean and pristine, many guests are taking the opportunity to enjoy a takeaway pinto box as a picnic on the sand or lawn. Finally, the resort has started its new weekly run, bringing guests and associates together for an early evening jog around the local area. More than 20 people regularly take part in this event, which is aimed at boosting health and fitness. Looking ahead, Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach will continue to work hand-in-hand with its sister hotels and resorts in Phuket, along with like-minded partners and non-profit organizations to preserve the environment and support local residents, including those most in need of help. At Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, CSR is not simply a mandatory exercise; it is a deep commitment to conserving and improving our destination. Our entire team is dedicated to serving our community, preserving the environment and enhancing the lives of local people. The last 12 months have been extremely tough for everyone, but we sincerely hope that our CSR projects will help to create a sense of hope for a brighter future. This is only the beginning; looking ahead, we will continue to forge new partnerships and embark on new activities for the benefit of everyone in Phuket, commented Gerd Kotlorz, General Manager, Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach. Marriotts Serve 360 Doing Good in Every Direction global pledge is guided by the UNs Sustainable Development Goals and Marriotts own 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. To learn more, please visit serve360.marriott.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 04:26:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Mining and metallurgical company Nornickel said Tuesday it will expand its nickel production capacity in Harjavalta, western Finland, to meet the growing demand in Europe. According to a press release issued on Tuesday, Nornickel plans to expand its annual nickel output in the Harjavalta plant from the current 65,000 tonnes to 75,000 tonnes by 2023, and to more than 100,000 tonnes by 2026. The company did not publish exact financial details of the Harjavalta expansion, but Joni Hautojarvi, the managing director of the Nornickel operation in Harjavalta, said that it is the largest investment in the company's history. Talking to the Finnish business newspaper Kauppalehti, Hautojarvi estimated that the annual demand for nickel in the battery sector in Europe would reach 300,000 tonnes in 2030. He also said the production of batteries would be at the 500 gigawatt hours level in 2030 in Europe. As a Russia-based company, Nornickel took over the plant in Harjavalta in 2007. The turnover of the Harjavalta plant in 2020 was 1.1 billion euros (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars), according to Kauppalehti reports. Enditem Click here to read the full article. Actor Jaleel White, whose character Steve Urkel in Family Matters was a cultural mainstay in the Nineties, is getting into the cannabis business with his own brand, as Forbes reports. His ItsPurpl line, which he is producing in partnership with 710 labs, comprises variations of the Purple Urkle strain. ItsPurpl will launch in California on April 20th. The thing that always stood out to me was there [was] no clear brand leader for fire purple weed, White told Forbes. It made no sense to me, that no company of significance had claimed this lane, so why not me? In addition to a classic Purple Urkle strain, White said there is a strain called Stefan, which is Purple Urkle x The White. I feel a little bit like Willy Wonka, the flavor came out so similar to grape candy, he said of smoking the product via one of 710 Labs vape pens with proprietary resin pods. It will also be available in eighths and as Noodle Doinks, hand-rolled joints that uses a fusilli noodle as the crutch, according to Forbes. The Army is well on its way to meeting its goal of having 80% of its active-duty force vaccinated by July 4th, Lt. Gen. Scott Dingle, the service's surgeon general, said Monday. In an online forum sponsored by the Association of the U.S. Army, Dingle, who also is commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Command, said the service is in a "full-court press" to reach that goal. Supply shortages left the Army unable to meet the demand for the vaccine early on, Dingle said. But now, production and distribution have increased and will allow the service to have four out of five soldiers vaccinated in the next three months. Read Next: How the Pandemic Spurred Congress to Rewrite GI Bill Rules for the National Guard Dingle was not specific about whether the 80% vaccination goal would include all three of the Army's components. But Army spokeswoman Jackie Wren told Military.com that the July 4 goal deals only with soldiers in the active force, which is currently at 486,000. As of April 12, the Army has "administered 733,048 COVID-19 vaccination doses at medical treatment facilities in more than 80 locations around the world to servicemembers, families, civilians, contractors, and all other eligible beneficiaries," Wren said in a statement. Currently, the number of active-duty soldiers who have been vaccinated is unavailable, Wren said. But while the pace of vaccinations is accelerating nationwide and in the military, so are concerns that skeptics might refuse in large numbers to be vaccinated and endanger efforts to stamp out the pandemic. CNN on Friday reported that nearly 40% of U.S. Marines have declined to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Army does not uniformly track opt-in rates across installations because the vaccine is not mandatory, Wren said. Dingle said that Army leadership is helping quell concerns about the vaccine in the ranks. He said the service is seeing a recent uptick in soldiers taking the vaccine across the active duty, Guard and Reserve, though he did not share specific statistics. From what he's observed as he travels and talks to soldiers, Dingle said, vaccine skepticism usually stems from one of three sources. Some troops come from families that have been hesitant to vaccines, he said. Others have absorbed misinformation about the vaccine from websites, he added, and some are concerned about the history of vaccines in the United States. The best antidote for such misunderstandings, Dingle said, is for leaders to engage directly with troops "all the way down to the lowest level." "When our soldiers know better, they do better," he said. "When we give them facts, they do better. When we tell them where to go look to find the information, they do better. As I've engaged with them and talked to them and clarified some of their questions at the lowest level, we've had good results." -- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Lawmakers Are Worried COVID-19 Did Long-Term Damage to Military Training Varun Dhawan is surely one of the most popular actors in India and his fans follow his every move. The actor has been in Arunachal Pradesh for a while shooting his new film, Bhediya and his fans there cant keep cool. They had already mobbed him earlier and the actor had to stand atop a car to tell them to calm down and maintain social distance and that he would meet them soon. He has been extremely understanding of their desires and him and Natasha Dalal had even donated money to the victims of a flood. Now, a new video has surfaced where Dhawan can be seen requesting a bunch of people to maintain social distance and wear masks. He tells them that he also wishes he could take off his mask and chill with them but cannot do so because of the raging coronavirus pandemic which has affected the world in a thousand ways and more. Dhawan also seems a little frustrated at the peoples callous behaviour because, after all, his life is in danger. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Police are investigating a report that a 91-year-old man from Oakwood was conned out of $12,000 in a shockingly common scam used by criminals who prey on seniors for financial gain. The man told police that he received a phone call from an unknown individual pretending to be his grandson. The caller said that $12,000 was needed to bail the grandson out of jail, according to a spokesman for the NYPD. The victim went to a package-delivery store and sent cash in a parcel. Afterward, the victim called the delivery store to try to retrieve the money, but the delivery service had already sent the package overnight to an unknown individual, according to the police spokesman. Thats terrible, the police spokesman said about the scam, which was reported to police on Tuesday around 1 p.m. It happens a lot everywhere. Detectives likely will try to track down the phone call which will be more difficult if its out-of-state and the delivery address as they search for a suspect in this grand-larceny investigation, the police spokesman said. DISTURBING TREND ON STATEN ISLAND Local officials will hold a virtual town hall meeting this week to address the growing issue of scams on Staten Island and across the U.S. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) will discuss a range of scams targeting residents across the Island, while offering advice on how to avoid becoming a victim. Slam the Scam! will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday via Zoom. Consumers reported losing more than $3.3 billion to fraud last year, which included nearly $1.2 billion in scams. On Staten Island, victims ranging from teenagers to seniors have fallen victim over the past year to a wide-range of schemes that typically start with an email, phone call or direct message on social media, top NYPD officials have told the Advance/SILive.com Over the course of just a few weeks in March, borough residents were taken for more than $400,000, experts say. Phone scams are on the rise throughout New York City. This year, many on Staten Island have been victimized by these types of scams, police said. Some lost their life savings, while many others lost thousands of dollars. From people posing as utility workers to a real-estate swindler duping a woman out of $250,000, scammers are targeting Staten Island hard and fast, conning borough residents out of nearly a million dollars in the past year alone, top NYPD officials told the Advance/SILive.com. This year through mid-March, the borough saw dozens of scam incidents hitting a lot of different households, though some populations, like seniors, are more vulnerable, Assistant Chief Frank Vega, the borough commander, previously explained to the Advance/SILive.com. Whats really hurting us as an Island in terms of financial loss to victims is scams, he said. Its hitting us hard and too fast. The worst-case scenario? A $250,000 loss in an investment fraud in which scammers convinced a Staten Islander to invest in real estate outside the country. You are talking about peoples lifetime fortunes, their inheritance for their grandkids, lifetime savings are being thrown away in a lot of cases. Its truly disturbing, Vega previously said, estimating the overall total of money scammed from Staten Islanders the past 12 months ending in March to be about $1 million. Scammers ask their victims to send money through different payment methods like Venmo, Apple Pay, Zelle, Pay Pal and even gift cards, officials say. (Bloomberg) -- The full implications of Beijings rapid-fire moves against Jack Mas internet empire in recent days wont be apparent for weeks, but one lesson is already clear: The glory days for Chinas technology giants are over. The countrys government imprinted its authority indelibly on the countrys technology industry in the span of a few days. In landmark announcements, it slapped a record $2.8 billion fine on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. for abusing its market dominance, then ordered an overhaul of Ant Group Co. On Tuesday, regulators summoned 34 of the countrys largest companies from Tencent Holdings Ltd. to TikTok owner ByteDance Ltd., warning them the red line of laws cannot be touched. The unspoken message to Ma and his cohorts was the decade of unfettered expansion that created challengers to Facebook Inc. and Google was at an end. Gone are the days when giants like Alibaba, Ant or Tencent could steamroll incumbents in adjacent businesses with their superior financial might and data hoards. Between the rules for Ant and the $2.8 billion fine for Alibaba, the golden days are over for Chinas big tech firms, said Mark Tanner, founder of Shanghai-based China Skinny. Even those who havent been targeted to the same extreme will be toning down their expansion strategies and adapting many elements of their business to the new bridled environment. Tech companies are likely to move far more cautiously on acquisitions, over-compensate on getting signoffs from Beijing, and levy lower fees on the domestic internet traffic they dominate. Ant in particular will have to find ways to un-tether Chinas largest payments service from its fast-growth consumer lending business and shrink its signature Yuebao money market fund -- once the worlds largest. Even companies that have been less scrutinized so far -- like Tencent or Meituan and Pinduoduo Inc. -- are likely to see growth opportunities curtailed. The watershed moment was years in the making. In the early part of the last decade, visionary entrepreneurs like Ma and Tencent co-founder Pony Ma (no relation) created multi-billion dollar empires by up-ending businesses from retail to communications, elevating the lives of hundreds of millions and serving as role models for an increasingly affluent younger generation. But the enormous opportunities coupled with years of hyper-growth also fostered a winner-takes-all land-grab mentality that unnerved the Communist Party. Story continues Regulators grew concerned as the likes of Alibaba and Tencent aggressively safeguarded and extended their moats, using data to squeeze out rivals or forcing merchants and content publishers into exclusive arrangements. Their growing influence over every aspect of Chinese life became more apparent as they became the conduits through which many of the countrys 1.3 billion bought and paid for things -- handing over vast amounts of data on spending behavior. Chief among them were Alibaba and Tencent, who became the industrys kingmakers by investing billions of dollars into hundreds of startups. All that came to a head in 2020 when Ma -- on the verge of ushering in Ants record $35 billion IPO -- publicly denigrated out-of-touch regulators and the old men of the powerful banking industry. The unprecedented series of regulatory actions since encapsulates how Beijing is now intent on reining in its internet and fintech giants, a broad campaign thats wiped roughly $200 billion off Alibabas valuation since October. The e-commerce giants speedy capitulation after a four-month probe underscores its vulnerability to further regulatory action. Chinese titans from Tencent to Meituan are next up in the cross-hairs because theyre the dominant players in their respective fields. Regulators may focus on delivery giant Meituans historical practice of forced exclusivity -- particularly as it expands into burgeoning areas like community e-commerce -- while investigating Tencents dominant gaming service and whether its messaging platform WeChat excludes competitors, Credit Suisse analysts Kenneth Fong and Ashley Xu wrote Tuesday. The days of reckless expansion and wild growth are gone forever, and from now on the development of these firms is likely going to be put under strict government control. Thats going to be the case in the foreseeable future, said Shen Meng, a director at Beijing-based boutique investment bank Chanson & Co. Companies will have to face the reality that they need to streamline their non-core businesses and reduce their influence across industries. The cases of Alibaba and Ant will prompt peers to take the initiative to restructure, using them as the reference. The revamp of Ant -- a sprawling financial titan once worth as much as $320 billion -- is a case in point. In its ruling, the Peoples Bank of China said it wanted to prevent the disorderly expansion of capital and ensure that all of Ants financial business will be regulated under a single holding company. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Ant Groups prospects could wane further after China halts improper linking of Alipay payments with Ants other products. New curbs on Yuebao also hurts its wealth business. Alipays 711 million active users are its potential fintech-product buyers. Ants valuation could now be near banks we cover (average 5x forward earnings) compared with over 30x at its IPO attempt. - Francis Chan, analyst Click here for the research. Mas company will likely have to apply and register to get into any new areas of finance in future -- a potential ordeal given the infamously creaky wheels of Beijing bureaucracy. It faces restrictions in every key business -- from payments and wealth management to credit lending. The companys most lucrative credit lending arm will be capped based on registered capital. It must fold its Huabei and Jiebei loan units -- which had 1.7 trillion yuan ($260 billion) of outstanding loans between them as of June -- into a new national company that will likely raise more capital to support its operations. And Ant must reduce its Yuebao money market wing, which encompasses a self-operated Tianhong Yuebao fund that held $183 billion of assets as of the end of 2020, making it one of the largest pools of wealth in the world. Alibaba appears to have got off lightly in comparison. While the $2.8 billion was triple the previous record set by Qualcomm Inc.s 2015 penalty, it amounts to under 5% of the companys annual revenue. Far more insidious however is the threat of future action and the dampening effect it will have on Alibaba. The fine came with a plethora of rectifications that Alibaba will have to put in place -- such as curtailing the practice of forcing merchants to choose between Alibaba or a competing platform. Executives also volunteered to open up Alibabas marketplaces more, lower costs for merchants while spending billions of yuan to help its clients handle e-commerce. Ant will likewise have to tame its market share grab in payments. Changes to that business, which is fending off Tencents WeChat Pay, were among the top priorities regulators outlined. Ant pledged to return the business to its origin by focusing on micro-payments and convenience for users. The most amorphous yet dire threat lies in the simple principle implicit in regulators pronouncements over the past few days: that Beijing will brook no monopolies that threaten its hold on power. The central bank warned in draft rules released previously that any non-bank payment company with half of the market for online transactions -- or two entities with a combined two-thirds share -- could be subject to antitrust probes. If a monopoly is confirmed, the State Council or cabinet has powers to levy a plethora of penalties, including breaking up the entity. Thats an entrepreneurs ultimate nightmare. Everyone is on the regulators radar, and it really depends on each ones reaction next, Chanson & Co.s Shen said. Its better to take the initiative to self-rectify, rather than having to go through restructuring ordered by the regulators, which may not have your best interests in mind. (Updates with a graphic of this weeks stock gyrations in fifth paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. A sharp turn at a high rate of speed caused an Army Polaris Ranger all-terrain utility vehicle to flip at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, last September, pinning down and killing the airman in the passenger seat. That's according to a new Air Force ground investigation report into the fatal mishap. Staff Sgt. Ronald Ouellette, 23, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, died in the non-combat related accident Sept. 14. Ouellette and the driver, only identified as an active-duty staff sergeant, were not wearing seatbelts, helmets, eye protection or long-sleeved shirts as required by regulations, the mishap report released Tuesday states. Read Next: 500 Marines Will Begin Testing These New PT Uniforms This Summer Furthermore, investigators said, the driver made inconsistent claims into why the airmen were operating the Polaris when their mission was to move other vehicles. A day prior, the driver, assigned to the 437th Aerial Port Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, picked up the Polaris vehicle, which had been offloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III. The plan was to keep the vehicle on base before turning it over to the Army downrange somewhere in the Middle East, the investigation states. Both airmen were part of the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at the base. The driver took the Polaris from the cargo loading area known as Whiskey ("W") pad and moved it to Bay 69, a cargo yard. In testimony, the driver said he felt that the Polaris was experiencing some mechanical issues and was "sputtering" -- but never notified vehicle maintenance personnel or his supervisors. The driver and Ouellette were called the following day to move a Jeep Cherokee and a large recovery vehicle known as a "wrecker" that had come in on another C-17 from the loading area to a designated location in Bay 69. Their 12-hour shifts began at noon. The driver took the wrecker, and Ouellette followed behind him in the Jeep. Their intended parking spots were on opposite sides of the lot, so when the driver finished parking the wrecker, he jumped into the Jeep with Ouellette to drop off the car on the other side. During the ride, the driver mentioned he wanted to drive the Polaris to "troubleshoot" the alleged sputtering. The two airmen parked the Jeep nearby and then got into the Polaris. The driver stated he wanted to do a lap around Bay 69. Investigators noted that multiple signs near the base flight line and cargo lot instruct vehicle operators to limit speeds to 5 miles per hour for safety reasons. The vehicle itself had a "slow-moving vehicle" sign fastened to it behind the passenger seat, according to accompanying photographs in the report. Around 5:00 p.m. local time, while finishing a lap around the yard, the driver lost control of the Polaris, skidding on the sand surface. The Polaris "rolled over onto its passenger side while performing a sharp left-hand turn, pinning [Ouellette] underneath the protective roll cage of the [vehicle]," the investigators said. The driver got clear of the vehicle, then turned to see Ouellette "pinned underneath the protective roll cage." He "attempted to lift" the Polaris off of the pinned airman, the investigation states, then used his personal cell phone to call his supervisor and requested emergency assistance. Ouellette was unresponsive, the driver told investigators. Emergency responders pronounced Ouellette dead at the scene roughly 10 minutes after the accident occurred. The driver recalled taking his foot off of the gas prior to making the sharp turn, and "did not recall using the brake," the report says. He was also evaluated for injuries. He estimated he was driving approximately 15 miles per hour. Actually, it's likely the vehicle was traveling between 25 to 35 miles per hour, and drifted until it rolled onto its side, a criminal investigator and a traffic investigator, who responded to the scene and analyzed wheel marks and the vehicle's position, found. Days later, investigators working on the ground investigation report were unable to examine the same drift conditions because personnel from the base's civil engineering squadron "level[ed] out the sand across the entire lot ... to improve its condition." Minutes after the accident, the driver told Security Forces airmen who arrived on the scene that he "wasn't going to lie to them" and that he and Ouellette were "just out joy-riding" and that he "hit the turn too hard" prior to the vehicle tipping over. But in subsequent interviews, the driver said he wanted to determine the cause of the ATV's sputtering. Investigators said it would have been inappropriate for the driver to do this himself since he was not authorized, and he should have alerted vehicle maintenance instead. To his leaders, the driver "expressed regret and sentiments that the mishap was 'his fault' but did not give any indication as to what he and [Ouellette] were doing in the [Polaris] prior to the rollover," the report says. Ouellette was trained to operate 14 different types of vehicles or equipment, including aircraft staircase ramps, forklifts and passenger vans. By contrast, the driver was trained and licensed to operate only five types of similar machinery. However, investigators said that "there is no licensing required to operate a vehicle of the type involved in the mishap." The Polaris ATV falls into the category of "non-tactical vehicles where gross vehicle weight rating is less than 26,000 pounds," and may be operated by airmen with a state-issued driver's license, the report states. The driver was previously deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar for six months in 2017 and had also worked in cargo and special handling. No deficiencies were noted in either Ouellette or the driver's training or military personnel records. Toxicology screenings conducted for Ouellette during the autopsy and for the driver via a urine sample were both negative for prescription medications, drugs and alcohol at the time of the accident. New arrivals at the logistics squadron are required to take a safety briefing immediately when coming to the base, the report states, which details how airmen should operate local vehicles and the protective gear associated. Of 12 airmen, including leaders, who were interviewed for the investigation, none were aware they should wear helmets, eye protection and long sleeves when operating the Polaris. "Leadership also stated the manner in which the briefing is conducted -- as the members are getting off the bus at all hours of the day and night -- is probably not the most conducive manner for retention of information," investigators said. "No records or documentation were kept reflecting actual attendance or completion of the safety briefing by [logistics squadron] members, including [Ouellette and the driver]." The Air Force Office of Special Investigation conducted its own analysis and determined "there was no evidence of foul play, criminal activity, or malicious intent, and therefore, the motor vehicle fatality did not fall within their jurisdiction," the report says. As a result, the Air Force did not open a criminal investigation. The driver sat for three additional interviews with the safety investigation board before leaving Kuwait. Eight days after the accident, the driver returned to Charleston, and was cooperative "for an additional interview" in October. But he declined to give further input for the ground investigation board report. The incident happened days after Senior Airman Jason Khai Phan, from the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., died after being ejected from an all-terrain vehicle while on a routine perimeter sweep of Ali Al Salem. An investigation released April 5 concluded that Phan and two other airmen, who were on a 12-hour night patrol in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle outside the fenced perimeter, were not wearing their seat belts or helmets when the accident occurred. That investigation also found that, while all three airmen had completed local training and certification on how to operate the M-ATV, the in-person Tactical Vehicle Course requirement was waived for many Security Forces personnel deploying to the Middle East amid COVID-19 restrictions. Phan and the two other airmen completed only the "Phase One" local welcome training given to newcomers within the first few days of arriving at the base, investigators said. Ouellette, who joined the Air Force in 2014, was deployed from the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Lack of Training a Factor in ATV Rollover That Killed 26-Year-Old Airman in Kuwait A second of David Cameron's mandarins was allowed to work for both business and Whitehall at the same time, it emerged last night. Sir John Manzoni kept his 100,000 directorship with drinks giant SABMiller after he was appointed chief executive of the Civil Service. The revelation came as the country's top civil servant demanded to know how many other officials are also working in the private sector. Sir John Manzoni (pictured) kept his 100,000 directorship with drinks giant SABMiller after he was appointed chief executive of the Civil Service Former BP executive Sir John was allowed to continue in the dual role by the Cabinet Office as it did not believe there was a conflict of interest. It was only after an outcry from health groups that he was told he would have to give up his pay from the industry role, before leaving the board the year after he joined government in 2014. He was knighted last year then quit the civil service and became a non-executive director for another drinks giant, Diageo, as well as chairman of energy firm SSE. A furious Cabinet Secretary Simon Case wrote to senior Whitehall colleagues that 'serious issues have come to light'. He ordered: 'If you come across any instances of senior civil servants holding remunerated positions or other interests outside government which might conflict with their obligations under the code please bring them to [my] attention immediately and, at the latest, by the end of this week.' Meanwhile the Treasury Select Committee, which had previously resisted demands to look into the affair, announced it would now launch an inquiry. Former BP executive Sir John (pictured meeting the Queen) was allowed to continue in the dual role by the Cabinet Office as it did not believe there was a conflict of interest Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves told the Mail: 'These latest revelations show just how far the web of cronyism from Greensill stretches across this Tory government.' Sir John had been in charge of the Cabinet Office at the time of another surprising arrangement which came to light this week. Bill Crothers was allowed to become a board adviser to controversial finance firm Greensill Capital while he was still in the crucial role of Government procurement chief. Sir John is likely to have signed off the move, although he did not comment yesterday. When Mr Crothers left to become a Greensill director in 2016, he did not have to ask approval from the 'revolving door' watchdog, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), as he was already working for the firm. Boris Johnson is understood to be concerned about the arrangement, which will be investigated as part of the review into Greensill and the way in which Mr Cameron lobbied Government on its behalf to get huge Covid support loans. Boris Johnson is understood to be concerned about the arrangement, which will be investigated as part of the review into Greensill and the way in which Mr Cameron lobbied Government Chairman of Acoba Lord Pickles has also asked the Cabinet Office to state how many other officials have been allowed to work for private firms. At Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the anti-corruption team of hit TV series Line of Duty needed to get involved. He told Boris Johnson: 'The more I listen to the Prime Minister, the more I think Ted Hastings and AC-12 is needed to get to the bottom of this one.' Mr Johnson who claimed he could not remember when he last spoke to Mr Cameron admitted: 'I share the widespread concern about some of the stuff we are reading at the moment.' But Labour lost its bid to force ministers to hold a parliamentary inquiry after Tory MPs lined up to accuse it of playing party politics. Andrew Bowie said that although the Greensill saga left a 'bad taste in the mouth', there was already an independent inquiry in train. But Miss Reeves criticised the 'wholly inadequate' review established by the PM, which will be led by lawyer Nigel Boardman. She told MPs: 'It's a fact that Nigel Boardman is a very good friend of the Conservative Government. Some may suspect the son of a former Conservative cabinet minister might be unlikely to make waves but let's look at his own record. 'Mr Boardman has been paid over 20,000 per year as a non-executive director at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy a department with a real interest in the British Business Bank, which lent to Greensill and the British steel industry, where so many jobs are at risk. 'Mr Boardman has already whitewashed the Government's handling of public procurement during the pandemic, and I fear he will do the same again with this inquiry.' Ministers and civil servants who break lobbying rules can now be denied gongs Ministers and mandarins who break lobbying rules when they go to work for the private sector can now be denied knighthoods and peerages. Former government figures who are nominated for honours are being vetted to see if they have taken up jobs without getting approval first, or rushed to approach ex-colleagues on behalf of business. The Honours and Appointments Secretariat now contacts the watchdog that approves business appointments for former ministers and top civil servants to see if they are fit to be given gongs. Ministers and mandarins who break lobbying rules when they go to work for the private sector can now be denied knighthoods and peerages The move, quietly introduced by the Cabinet Office last year, is intended to ensure that they do not ignore the Business Appointment Rules, which are meant to prevent them profiting from their knowledge of and contacts within Whitehall. It comes after widespread concern that the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) is a toothless watchdog. Although David Cameron did not break any rules in his lobbying of ministers on behalf of controversial finance firm Greensill Capital, the growing investigation into the scandal could identify others who did and they could be denied the prestigious awards traditionally given to retiring senior public servants. Acoba chairman Lord Pickles wrote this week: Any failure to comply with Acobas advice will be taken into consideration as part of the vetting process in awarding honours. Under the rules, ex-ministers or top civil servants who are offered paid or unpaid roles within two years of leaving office are meant to seek approval from Acoba first. Those who take up jobs with lobbying firms are usually banned from approaching former colleagues in Government for two years. But until now there have been no sanctions for those who flout the rules. WASHINGTON Connecticuts Department of Transportation has already drawn up a list of priority projects they hope will secure funding from President Joe Bidens $2 trillion infrastructure package that he proposed two weeks ago. State officials want to nab a bit of the $621 billion earmarked for transportation projects to reduce congestion on I-84 in Danbury, build new bus systems in New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford, replace three bridges on the New Haven rail line, and upgrade the Stamford Transportation Center, according to a list obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media. 5 1 of 5 Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 5 of 5 DOT will also prioritize converting all 700 CTTransit buses around the state from diesel to electric over the next 15 years, improve outdated traffic signal technology such as those along the Berlin Turnpike, and upgrading sidewalks, bike lanes and pedestrian signals to reduce traffic deaths. The state also wants to create a statewide electric vehicle charging network, including faster chargers in heavily trafficked areas. They also hope the money will allow them to reintegrate Hartford and East Hartford, cities divided by I-91 and I-84, a project long championed by U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1. Broadly, these projects reflect the states goals of reducing congestion, reconnecting neighborhoods, making rail more reliable and improving urban transit systems. These represent long-standing priorities for DOT that it cant afford to fund today, said Garret Eucalito, deputy commissioner for CT DOT. The American Jobs Plan the massive infrastructure package that could fund these projects is just starting to move its way through Congress and Democrats hope it might be passed over the summer. Many of the priority projects announced DOT align with the objectives of the federal plan including incentivizing electric vehicles, repairing roads and bridges and improving public transportation, especially rail speeds. The jobs plan is going to allow states and local government to move forward with long overdue projects to fix roads and bridges, to expand and modernize transit by the way transit not only in big cities, but in small communities and connect more of our communities, said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Monday. Any individual community and any state stands to benefit in a big way. DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti has met with several Biden transportation administrators to highlight Connecticuts transportation priorities and need for federal partnership, Eucalito said. As the administration works to build support for the plan, the White House released report cards for every states infrastructure Monday, grading Connecticuts at a C-. The vast majority of states received C or C- grades based on how the conditions of their roads and bridges, public transportation, resilient infrastructure, drinking water, housing, broadband, caregiving, child care, manufacturing, home energy, clean energy jobs and veterans health facilities. In Connecticut there are 248 bridges and over 2,100 miles of highway in poor condition, the White House wrote in its state infrastructure fact sheet. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 10.9 percent in Connecticut and on average, each driver pays $711 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. The infrastructure package goes well beyond just transportation investments, including billions of dollars for affordable housing, clean energy technology, manufacturing investments and money to support caregivers for seniors and the disabled. State and local governments will be able to access the $2 trillion in investments through some existing formulas and by applying for competitive grants. The Biden administration has proposed paying for the investment through corporate tax increases. Republicans in Congress object to these increases and are quick to point out that the package strays from more traditional definitions of infrastructure and mixes in items from Democrats climate agenda and other wish lists. One Republican who met with Biden Monday said his party could not support legislation that wiped away part of their 2017 tax law with corporate tax increases. Buttigieg dismissed the question of what is infrastructure as a semantic debate Monday and insisted their plan had plenty of bipartisan support. Connecticut had a hefty backlog of maintenance projects and transportation improvements slated for state investment, but not enough money to make them. That problem has fueled a controversial debate over establishing highway tolls in Connecticut, something Gov. Ned Lamont and other Democrats pushed for, but eventually failed to pass the legislature. Now state Democrats are advocating for a new user fee assessed on tractor trailer trucks that pass through the state to fund more transportation improvements. That could generate $90 million a year in revenue, said Transportation Committee chairman state Sen. Will Haskell, D-Westport. Buttigieg said Monday the American Jobs Plan will not eliminate the need for state and local governments to continue their own investments. I have not yet seen a case where proposed local investment makes any less sense because the federal government is stepping up, he said. Eucalito said Connecticut is viewing funding from the American Jobs Plan as supplemental to state investments and other federal funding for transportation. We dont have a specific dollar amount that were looking for, but I think were in a good position to receive a larger portion than we would traditionally get for a state the size of Connecticut and part of that is because we are already working and planning in a lot of these areas, Eucalito said. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / LINK GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INC. (CSE:LNK)(FRA:LGT)(OTC PINK:LGLOF) ("LINK" or the "Company"), an innovative power and infrastructure solutions provider for Bitcoin mining and data hosting operations, is pleased to announce it will be featured as a presenting company at the H.C. Wainwright Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & FinTech Conference. The conference is being held on April 27, 2021, virtually. Stephen Jenkins, CEO and President of Link, will give an overview of Links' journey to become the most innovative power solutions supplier for hosting and self mining cryptocurrency. The Company's unique power agnostic approach, allows for quick pivots towards the most efficient and profitable solution. Mr. Jenkins will also be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to join the conference. If you would like to listen to the Company's presentation or book a one-on-one conversation please click on the following link (www.hcwevents.com/crypto) to register for the conference. About Link Global Technologies Inc. Link is engaged in providing infrastructure and operating expertise for digital mining and data hosting operations. Link's objectives include locating and securing, for lease and option to purchase, properties with access to low-cost, reliable power, and deploying this low-cost power to conduct digital mining and supply clean energy and infrastructure for other data-hosting services. About H.C. Wainwright & Co. H.C. Wainwright is a full-service investment bank dedicated to providing corporate finance, strategic advisory and related services to public and private companies across multiple sectors and regions. H.C. Wainwright & Co. also provides research and sales and trading services to institutional investors. According to Sagient Research Systems, H.C. Wainwright's team is ranked as the #1 Placement Agent in terms of aggregate CMPO (confidentially marketed public offering), RD (registered direct offering) and PIPE (private investment in public equity) executed cumulatively since 1998. For more information visit H.C. Wainwright & Co. on the web at www.hcwco.com. On behalf of Link Global Technologies Inc. Stephen Jenkins Chief Executive Officer & Director For more information visit http://linkglobal.io/ or contact: Steve Jenkins stephen@linkglobal.io +1-877-770-6545 For investor information please contact: Omar Diaz Investor Relations Manager 604 551 2950 The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "forecast", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "would", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include, but are not limited, to: statements with respect to the Agreement and the terms and potential benefits thereof; that the parties will enter into the definitive partnership agreement and the terms thereof, including the timeline for same; that Link's significant expertise in international projects and government relationships will assist the development of these projects; and that the initiatives are slated to begin implementation in fiscal Q1 2021. All such forward-looking statements are based on factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including assumptions based on historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Since forward-looking statements relate to future events and conditions, by their very nature they require making assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The Company 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. In the case of the Company, these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors include, without limitation: that the parties may not enter into a definitive partnership agreement at all or on the terms announced; that actual results from the partnership may differ materially from the parties' expectations; those set out in the Company's most recent MD&A, fluctuations in the price of electricity, fluctuations in the price of digital currencies/Bitcoin, the future potential halving of Bitcoin, increases in the network difficulty rate and price of digital currencies/Bitcoin, negative changes in the level of digital currency/Bitcoin rewards per block, the securing of economic rates for the purchase of power, the opportunities for acquiring digital currency mining hardware, unanticipated changes in laws, regulations or other industry standards affecting the business of the Company, reliance on key management personnel, the Company's ability to implement its business plan, litigation risk, stock price volatility, the effects of general economic and other factors beyond the control of the Company, and other matters that may occur in the future. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date hereof. Other than as specifically required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. SOURCE: Link Global Technologies Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640403/Link-Global-Technologies-Announces-Participation-at-the-HC-Wainwright-Cryptocurrency-Blockchain-FinTech-Conference-April-27-2021-Virtual-Conference OAKLAND (BCN) The Bay Area Air Quality Management District ruled Monday that emissions from the AB&I Foundry in East Oakland pose an elevated health risk that require the company to take actions to reduce emissions. The finding comes in the district's draft health risk assessment required by law of the facility. AB&I Foundry's website describes the company as producing cast iron pipes and fittings for plumbing systems. "This health risk assessment is a critical step towards understanding and controlling toxic air emissions and protecting the health of a community that has historically experienced high exposures to air pollution," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. "The Air District remains committed to delivering clean air for the Bay Area's most vulnerable residents and will continue to fight for breathing equity." The public will have 60 days to review and provide input on the health risk assessment. Air District staff will respond to all comments before finalizing the report. The health risk assessment and staff contact information is available at: https://www.baaqmd.gov/community-health/facility-risk-reduction-program/facility-risk-reduction-list. Because of the elevated emissions, the company is required to submit a risk reduction plan to the Air District and to implement measures to reduce air pollution exposure to the community. "AB&I has already taken steps to reduce our emissions by announcing on March 12th that AB&I is moving molding operations to Texas in 2022. Heartbreakingly, this entails the loss of 100 of our current 200 jobs," company general manager Michael Lowe said in a statement. "We are continuing to work cooperatively with the Air District by adjusting our operations to meet the tougher emission standards hopefully saving the remaining 100 jobs. Unfortunately, California's regulations are a moving target which creates business uncertainty making it very difficult to continue long-term investments," Lowe said. 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. [April 14, 2021] Spark NZ Selects Calabrio as Part of Unified Front Line Initiative Calabrio, the customer experience intelligence company, has been selected by Spark, New Zealand's largest telecommunications and digital services company, to supply a cloud-based workforce management (WFM) solution as part of its Unified Front Line initiative. The initiative is a new way of working at Spark where employees are cross-skilled across multiple customer touchpoints and are part of an end-to-end "homebase." Resources will flow to where the customer is: contact centers, retail stores and at-home customer visits as demand requires. The new Calabrio (News - Alert) WFM, with embedded Data Explorer reporting, replaces an on-premises platform and will manage the workload of frontline staff to accommodate peaks and troughs in customer demand across omni-channel touchpoints including voice, digital and in-person. The Calabrio ONE platform covers some 1500 Spark employees in over 80 different locations including the company's contact centers, retail stores and those working from home. Calabrio WFM enables the company to manage parallel demand by forecasting, scheduling and dynamically moving capacity between channels and sites. Customers receive a consistent response and high level of service with whichever channel they select, and employees have the opportunity to become multi-skilled by working in different environments. With employee experience a key priority for Spark, the Calabrio self-service mobile app, MyTime, will provide advanced employee engagement options by empowering agents with schedule and performanc information direct to their smartphones. Employees have the ability to enter shift preferences, shift swap and process automatic holiday/leave requests, as well as easily move their own lunches and breaks via self-scheduling automation. This self-service functionality gives staff more control of their work/life balance. Additionally, WFM reporting capabilities will provide team leaders with up-to-the-minute key performance metrics to their mobile devices, providing real-time visibility of the workforce and supporting better decision making. Daniel Cooper, Digital Lead - Consumer Channels from Spark commented, "The Unified Front Line (UFL) is a new way of working at Spark, based on simplification, mobility and flexibility. Using Calabrio workforce engagement management (WEM) software enables powerful multi-channel agility to meet customer demand. Investing in the right tools is an important part of improving both the customer journey and the employee experience. Calabrio's unique industry experience of delivering unified workforce management functionality across an organization's entire frontline was a key reason we selected this solution." Peter Farnsworth, Regional Director - APAC, Calabrio concluded, "More often than not, when companies look to replace or upgrade their WFM they focus on replicating processes that worked yesterday not what is best for tomorrow, or even today. Spark are adopting a new and innovative approach focusing on balancing customer and employee experience. It is a concept we have been advocating for years, and to have the opportunity to work with an organization that shares the same beliefs as us is very exciting." Calabrio recently unveiled the new Calabrio ONE for the new era, with the integrated WFM solution at its heart that combines the "best of the best" from Teleopti WFM and Calabrio WFM, enabling organizations to better empower, educate and lead today's workforce. About Calabrio Calabrio is the customer experience intelligence company that empowers organizations to enrich human interactions. The scalability of our cloud platform allows for quick deployment of remote work models - and it gives our customers precise control over both operating costs and customer satisfaction levels. Through AI-driven analytics, Calabrio uncovers customer behavior and sentiment and derives compelling insights from the contact center. Organizations choose Calabrio for its ability to understand customer needs and the overall experience it provides, from implementation to ongoing support. Find more at calabrio.com and follow @Calabrio on Twitter (News - Alert) . Calabrio, Calabrio ONE and the Calabrio logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Calabrio, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005135/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Risks for severe thunderstorms and excessive rain continue for New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Acadiana on Wednesday following heavy rain and strong winds that caused damage across the state Tuesday, according to forecasters from the National Weather Service in Slidell. Flooding will be the main threat Wednesday as all areas of southeast Louisiana and Acadiana are under a flash flood watch until Friday night. The greatest risk for flooding will be in Baton Rouge, areas west of Interstate 55 and areas north of Interstate 10/12. Forecasters said strong to severe thunderstorms are possible and could bring damaging winds that may exceed 60 mph. Small hail and lightning are also a risk. The storms are expected to start earlier in the morning and intensify into the afternoon as they move east. Areas of southeast Louisiana are expected to see an additional 3 to 5 inches of rain by Friday with higher amounts possible in areas spanning from Baton Rouge, Acadiana and Alexandria. River flooding will be a concern as more water falls after days of heavy rain. Street flooding may also be possible, according to forecasters. (1/4): We have another round of widespread showers & storms in the forecast today...lets break it down again SEVERE: There is a Marginal Risk for severe weather today. Main risk will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 60mph with small hail & lightning also a risk #lawx #mswx pic.twitter.com/AdC7zsNs36 NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) April 14, 2021 The storms are part of a system moving across the state and have already caused damage across New Orleans. In New Orleans, trees were knocked into homes and debris littered the streets. Areas of Grande Isle are without power and water after being battered by hurricane-force winds, according to a report from WWL-TV. 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 A lift boat in the Gulf of Mexico south of Port Fourchon cap-sized Tuesday afternoon in the midst of the thunderstorms. At the time, a special marine warning from NWS forecasters was issued, advising that winds in excess of 57 mph were possible from Port Fourchon to the lower Atchafalaya River. There was a microburst of weather that came through the area at the time of the incident, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lally said Tuesday. I dont know whether that was the cause, but what we can say is that inclement weather did hit the area at the time. At least six of the boats 18 crew members were rescued so far as the search continues for the remaining members. Last week, severe storms also left damage in Baton Rouge and St. Landry Parish. Areas of Baton Rouge saw trees and powerlines down. A tornado in St. Landry claimed the life of one person and left homes in ruin on Saturday. Staff writers Katelyn Umholtz, Carlie Wells and Matt Albright contributed to this report. Geordie Shore original James Tindale has detailed the horrendous abuse he has received during his 10 years in the spotlight. The reality star, 30, starred on Geordie Shore from its inaugural series in 2011 up until 2015's 10th series, with a brief return in 2015 and then a comeback in 2019, and he has now shed light on the pitfalls of fame. Speakinge exclusively to MailOnline, James, who is currently working on his exercise and wellness platform James Tindale Fitness, revealed a vile troll once messaged him saying: 'I hope your plane crashes and you die'. Awful: Geordie Shore original James Tindale has detailed the horrendous abuse he has received during his 10 years in the spotlight (James pictured in 2011) James, who is returning to the show to mark a decade on screens, is currently backing Wayne Lineker's anti-trolling crusade and admits he has been badly effected by the experiences he has had in the past. Speaking about the worst trolling he received, James, went on: 'I had some really bad ones at the start. We used to do a lot of personal appearances... 'I posted one picture saying Im off to Ireland now and posted a picture of the plane and said like see everyone in such and such nightclub later, and then someone wrote I hope the plane crashes and you die and burn and I was just like WHAT... 'That one really stuck in my head. But I dont think a lot of people realise the damage of what they say, they dont understand how much it hurts people. But like I said earlier, I have been quite lucky as a lot of people have had it way worse.' Drama: James (top right), 30, starred on Geordie Shore from its inaugural series in 2011 up until 2015's 10th series, with a brief return in 2015 and then a comeback in 2019 (pictured, Back Row: Gaz Beadle, Jay Gardner and James Front Row: Charlotte Leticia Crosby, Vicky Pattison, Holly Hagan and Sophie Kaisae) Hench: James is currently working on his exercise and wellness platform James Tindale Fitness Wayne has recently launched an anti-trolling campaign, which James backed wholeheartedly given the horrendous experiences he has had online. He lauded the campaign's aim to ban anonymous social media use, by forcing users to input personal details such as a passport number. He said: 'I think at the very start [of fame], you dont know what you're getting yourself into, and you dont expect everyone to have an opinion on you... 'Its like, you would never expect someone to walk down the street and hurl abuse at you, its weird for someone in real life to comment on the way you look, what you're wearing, your personality, but online, its absolutely fine to comment... New start: James is working hard on his reinvention as a health and lifestyle guru at www.jamestindalefitness.com Helping out: James is currently backing Wayne Lineker's anti-trolling crusade and admits he has been badly effected by the experiences he has had in the past 'So I think you can never be mentally prepared for that. So when it starts, you just kind of have to get used to it in a way, still to this day though, Im not used to it, like even now if I get a message saying something nasty in my DMs... 'Im kind of thinking like, who are you to say this to me? Personally I feel that I have got off lightly, I know other people who have been on reality shows have had it way worse, some of the screenshots people post of what is said to them... 'I know a lot of the girls from the show get really bad stuff, Bobby Norris, Wayne Lineker, all them sort of guys, you see them posting about it and I just think wow this must be next level for these people and they are so strong to get through it... 'But I definitely think, this petition to have ID to create your profile, to stop from people being able to create fake profiles will help a lot, of course it wont completely stop it, but it will help a lot.' Wow: Speaking about the worst trolling he received, James,went on: 'I had some really bad ones at the start. We used to do a lot of personal appearances' On how he is affected and making plans: 'Yeah, as I said, they need to get the ID in place, they need to make sure your profiles real. They do it for like tinder and stuff surely they can do it for other social medias!' On having Geordie Shore regrets, James said: 'Im not really one to have regrets, there are a few things where I look back like I probably shouldnt of done that or whatever, but its all part of growing up... 'When I first started I was only 19 doing the show, so you dont really know whats going on, so obviously looking back now I wouldnt do half those things, so I just dont watch the old shows.' No regrets: Geordie Shore 's much-anticipated 10th Anniversary reunion has reportedly been hit with more delays following a row with the show's stars Geordie Shore's much-anticipated 10th Anniversary reunion has reportedly been hit with more delays following a row with the show's stars. Sources claimed that MTV bosses are determined filming for the special will go ahead in Colombia, despite complaints from the cast about quarantine rules. Much of Geordie Shore's original cast including Charlotte Crosby and Sophie Kasaei were thought to be taking part in the reunion, but have reportedly been told by bosses they will not be flying to South America as planned. Servier Ukraine LLC, a subsidiary of Servier, a global pharmaceutical group governed by a Foundation, has been recognized as one of the best places to work for in Ukraine. The certification process consisted of an employee assessment survey conducted among Servier Ukraine employees along with an HR Assessment evaluating people practices implemented within the organization. The key areas covered included leadership, compensation and benefits, recruitment and onboarding, employee engagement, corporate social responsibility, culture and personal growth opportunities. The company obtained outstanding scores across the key employee engagement factors where 99% of the employees confirmed that they would recommend the organization. Best Places to Work is an international HR certification program providing employers in different countries the opportunity to learn more about the engagement and satisfaction of their employees and honor those who deliver an outstanding work experience with the highest standards in regards to working conditions. "We are so honored to be certified among the Best Places to Work. This recognition underlines our efforts to create wide range of opportunities to Servier Ukraine employees to maximize their potential. We continually working on employer brand reputation to attract and retain highly qualified employees. And the figures speak for themselves Servier has been operating in Ukraine for more than 20 years. Our team throughout Ukraine consists of 280 committed professionals, almost half of whom have been working in the company for more than five years. Many thanks to our incredible employees for making Servier Ukraine so much more than a place to work" said Frederic Fouilloux, General Manager, Servier Ukraine. "Our people are the most valuable asset, so we pay great attention to building an atmosphere in the company through our culture, where each employee feels part of the team and valued. We focus on the latest HR trends as well as carefully listen to our employees, conducting regular engagement surveys and support the dialogue. As a result, adjust our programs to offer Servier Ukraine employees some of the best working conditions in the industry" said Olha Shylova, HR Director. About Servier Group Servier is a global pharmaceutical group governed by a Foundation. With a strong international presence in 150 countries and a total revenue of 4.7 billion euros in 2020, Servier employs 22,500 people worldwide. Servier is an independent group that invests over 20% of its brand-name revenue in Research and Development every year. To accelerate therapeutic innovation for the benefit of patients, the Group is committed to open and collaborative innovation with academic partners, pharmaceutical groups, and biotech companies. It also integrates the patient's voice at the heart of its activities, from research to support beyond the pill. A leader in cardiology, the ambition of the Servier Group is to become a recognized and innovative player in oncology. Its growth is based on a sustained commitment to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, oncology and immuno-inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. To promote access to healthcare for all, the Servier Group also offers a range of quality generic drugs covering most pathologies. More information: www.servier.com, www.servier.ua About Best Places To Work Program Best Places To Work is the most definitive 'Employer of Choice' certification that organizations aspire to achieve. The program certifies and recognizes leading workplaces in many countries around the world with its proprietary assessment that analyzes a company's attractiveness through a two-step process focusing on 8 Workplace factors. Join our community on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. For more information, please visit www.bestplacestoworkfor.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005379/en/ Contacts: Media contacts in Ukraine Hanna Akopian, Communications Manager hanna.akopin@servier.com +380 44 490 34 41 Media Team media@bestplacestoworkfor.org +44 208 895 6562 New Delhi/London, April 14 : British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to shorten his trip to New Delhi later this month in view of the severity of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India. The visit, due on April 26, is significant for the UK as it is eyeing a new bilateral trade deal with India, following its exit from the European Union. India is the second-largest investor in the UK, after the US. Post-Brexit, the UK is focused on the Indo-Pacific region for its economy and security. Johnson had earlier indicated that apart from New Delhi, he wanted to visit Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. Official sources on Wednesday however said that Johnson is reducing the length of his trip to India. A spokesperson in London told media that the decision to shorten the visit was taken after due consultations with the Indian government. Incidentally, India has placed a temporary hold on all exports of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine after the rise in Covid-19 infection cases at home. The suspension of exports is expected to affect supplies to around 190 countries including the UK. The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose vaccine jointly developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Serum Institute of India's Covid-19 vaccine, called Covishield, is the local version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India. However, as the second wave of the pandemic has hit India badly, the domestic demand for the vaccine has increased hugely. The coronavirus pandemic management and vaccine distribution will be part of Prime Minister Johnson's visit, ministry of external affairs sources in New Delhi said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) April 13, 2021 Technology has brought about some of the most significant changes to education and learning in recent history. From the way students learn to how the classroom is managed, technology has impacted nearly every aspect of education. These changes have enhanced the learning process in many ways and, with the rate at which technology evolves, students and educators will likely continue to see changes in the years to come. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water, Nebraska, has worked in education for 35 years. Today, Ken is retired. He directs a mens choir in Weeping Water and is actively involved with his church. He discusses how technology has impacted education and learning. Lesson Planning Modern technology, like the Internet, has drastically changed the way teachers work and plan. Today, educators have access to a wealth of information online that helps them develop more creative and engaging lessons. The ability to access lesson strategies and ideas allows them to save time on lesson planning so that they can focus on other important aspects of teaching. In addition to the ease with which teachers can access creative lesson ideas, technology has also provided tools to help educators organize and deliver lessons. ClassFlow, for example, allows teachers to simplify their planning process by offering tools for creating engaging lessons and assignments. Educators can store their lesson plans in the cloud and access them anywhere, anytime. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water notes that this capability is a significant improvement over traditional methods of lesson planning and organization. Collaboration Thanks to technology, educators are now more connected with one another than ever before. Tools like Microsoft Teams allow teachers not only to interact directly with their students, but also to communicate with their colleagues. This allows them to share ideas and resources more efficiently. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water recognizes that this collaboration is important, as it leads to new and creative teaching approaches. In addition, technology has allowed students to more easily collaborate with their peers. This has enhanced learning by promoting teamwork and new problem-solving skills. Engagement and Interaction Technology has also significantly increased student engagement and interactive learning. By incorporating tools like YouTube and other multimedia resources, teachers can provide engaging content in various formats. This is also beneficial, as it allows educators to incorporate different forms of learning into their lessons. For example, the use of YouTube (News - Alert) can help teachers address the needs of visual learners. Ken Heinz reports that tools like ClassFlow also allow educators to engage their students and promote increased interaction by using polls, digital activities, and online quizzes in the classroom. Ken Heinz on Distance Learning Recently, remote learning has become a very common practice, especially during times when in-person instruction is not possible. Technology has allowed for remote learning to be effective and streamlined. Tools like Zoom have permitted teachers to provide lessons online and to interact with students, even while they are miles apart. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water suggests that distance learning may become commonplace in the years to come. Undoubtedly, advancements in technology will help to ensure that learning remains a social and interactive experience. In 2018, Belgium reported its first domestic case of African swine fever. Back then, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France worked together in order to protect the border region. In Luxembourg, a nearly ten-kilometre-long fence was erected between Linger and Grass, which was meant to reinforce the already existing fence in the Belgian Walloon Region. Today, there are still cases of African swine fever in Europe. Recent examples include those reported near the German-Polish border. Didier Weber / RTL Minister of Agriculture Romain Schneider explains that Luxembourg and France have never had a domestic case because of the quick response two years ago. Belgium has also not recorded another case since September 2019 and was declared "swine-fever-free" at the end of 2020. Nevertheless, the Belgian authorities have decided to leave the fence up until the end of March 2022. As for Luxembourg, Schneider states that the government has decided to leave the fence up until 15 October 2021, at which point an assessment of the situation will be made. On the other hand, it is being considered to already open up all gates across the country as well as the fence itself in places where game passes. The fence was one of several measures taken to prevent the spread of African swine fever, with the others including biosafety measures in companies as well as the introduction of a "white zone" (zone blanche). Luxembourg also continues to carry out sporadic checks. So far, a total of 550 wild boars have been checked, all of them negative. Nevertheless, Schneider still advises caution, as swine fever "has not yet left Europe and can resurface at any point". With this in mind, the Minister thinks that the Grand Duchy is choosing the most prudent path in leaving the fence up, while even planning to extend it further north. It took until 1 April 2021 for the public to be able to access the affected forest areas in Belgium again. She moved to Dubai earlier this year following the breakdown of her relationship with James Lock. And Yazmin Oukhellou displayed her incredible figure on Wednesday in a marble print two-piece and matching beach dress from PrettyLittleThing, as she posed in front of the United Arab Emirates skyline. The former TOWIE star, 26, highlighted her ample assets in the cut-out bikini as she flicked her chocolate tresses while stood in front of a wall mural. Wow! Yazmin Oukhellou displayed her incredible figure on Wednesday in a marble print two-piece and matching beach dress from PrettyLittleThing, as she posed in front of the United Arab Emirates skyline She swept her brunette locks back in a sleek ponytail and wore typical full coverage make-up. Earlier that day, Yasmin continued to show off her washboard abs as she switched into a patterned bandeau bikini and soaked up the sun outdoors. Yazmin's statement swimwear, which contrasted against her sun-kissed complexion, featured a bejewelled brooch in the centre of her bust and blue waist bands. Also on Wednesday, Yazmin teased a look at her toned midriff once more in a pink crop top and matching shorts as she headed to the gym. Turn up the heat: The former TOWIE star, 26, highlighted her ample assets in the cut-out bikini as she flicked her chocolate tresses while stood in front of a wall mural She worked her best angles in a mirror selfie uploaded to her Instagram account before filming part of her workout routine. Yazmin showed her intense concentration as she executed a series of donkey kicks while balancing on a gym bench. Displaying the fruits of her labour, the former TOWIE star rocked cut-out high-waist trousers and a bralette complete with bandage straps in another sizzling Instagram snap. Yazmin turned her back on the new series of The Only Way Is Essex because she 'wants to pursue a career in real estate in the United Arab Emirates'. Set pulses racing: Earlier that day, Yasmin continued to show off her washboard abs as she switched into a patterned bandeau bikini and soaked up the sun outdoors Details: Yazmin's statement swimwear, which contrasted against her sun-kissed complexion, featured a bejewelled brooch in the centre of her bust and blue waist bands Motivated: Also on Wednesday, Yazmin teased a look at her toned midriff once more in a pink crop top and matching shorts as she headed to the gym A spokesperson for TOWIE told The Sun: 'Yaz has decided to stay in Dubai to pursue a career in real estate so she won't be starting this series of The Only Way is Essex. 'We support this decision and wish her well in this new venture. As with other cast, the door remains open should she return to Essex.' Yazmin has uploaded a number of Instagram posts about her new job, working for real estate brokers Property Hawk, in the office and out on viewings with clients. Dubai is on the UK's red list of countries, meaning if Yazmin had decided to return home to star in the next series, she would have to pay 1,750 for a mandatory, 10-day quarantine at a government-mandated hotel. Hard at work: Yazmin showed her intense concentration as she executed a series of donkey kicks while balancing on a gym bench Stunning: Displaying the fruits of her labour, the former TOWIE star rocked cut-out high-waist trousers and a bralette complete with bandage straps in another sizzling Instagram snap Yaz made the fresh start after the beginning of her trip to Dubai was marred by the breakdown of her relationship with co-star James, 34. The TOWIE couple mutually agreed to cut ties after their relationship turned toxic in February, with James flying home and Yazmin staying in the UAE. A source previously revealed to MailOnline: 'James and Yazmin haven't been in a good place for a while now and living together in Dubai only put further strain on their relationship. MILAN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Auto&Design magazine and Alcantara are challenging design students and enthusiasts around the world to create design solutions for future mobility that use Alcantara materials in an innovative way. Design executives from BMW, Lamborghini, Microsoft, Renault and Stellantis will serve as judges for the online "Dress Your Vision Alcantara is on board" competition. Entry forms and program details are available on the contest website at www.dressyourvisioncontest.com. The competition is open to aspiring non-professional designers, students and car-design lovers anywhere in the world who are 18 years of age or older. The deadline for entry submissions on the contest website is June 10. "Our goal is to find innovative interior design concepts that use Alcantara and are dedicated to future mobility needs," said Silvia Baruffaldi, the magazine's editor. "We're looking for creative, innovative designs that will stretch the imagination while at the same time respecting Alcantara brand values." Alcantara's "Made in Italy" materials can be found on leading brands in a variety of fields, including the auto industry, the world of fashion and accessories, interior design and consumer electronics. With a strong commitment to sustainability, Alcantara was the first industrial company in Italy and among the very first in the world to be certified as Carbon Neutral in 2009. Ten contest finalists will be chosen on August 31 with a winner announced on October 31. The competition's eight-member jury will include Alcantara Chairman and CEO Andrea Boragno; Domitilla Dardi, design curator for the National Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome; Manuele Amprimo, chief of interior design, color & trim, Automobili Lamborghini; Annette Baumeister, head of color and trim, BMW; Alec Ishihara, principal (color materials) & UX designer, Microsoft; Francois Farion, design director for colors and materials, Groupe Renault; and Auto&Design Editor Silvia Baruffaldi. The winner of the "Dress Your Vision Alcantara is on board" program will receive a trip to Alcantara's research-and-development center and production facilities in Nera Montoro in the heart of Italy's Umbria region. The winner also will receive a subscription to Auto&Design magazine and a plaque with graphics dedicated to the winning project. About Auto&Design - www.autodesignmagazine.com Auto&Design is a specialized publication that has been a constant point of reference within the automotive design world for the past four decades. A reference publication for universities and specialist schools, the magazine readership can be found at automotive design centers, independent design and engineering studios and independent design consultancies. About Alcantara S.p.A. Founded in 1972, Alcantara represents one of the leading Made in Italy brands. A registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A. and the result of unique and proprietary technology, Alcantara is a highly innovative material offering an unparalleled combination of sensory, aesthetic, and functional qualities. Thanks to its extraordinary versatility, Alcantara is the chosen material for leading brands in numerous specialist fields: fashion and accessories, the automotive industry, interior design, home decor and consumer-electronics. These characteristics, together with a serious and proven commitment to the use of sustainable materials, allow Alcantara to express and define contemporary lifestyle: the lifestyles of those who love to enjoy everyday products to the full while respecting the environment. Since 2009 Alcantara is certified "Carbon Neutral", having defined, reduced and offset all the CO 2 emissions deriving from its activity ("from cradle to grave"). To document the company's journey in this field, Alcantara conducts and publishes an annual Sustainability Report, certified by BDO and available for consultation on the company website. Headquartered in Milan, Alcantara also has production facilities and a research department in Nera Montoro in the heart of Italy's Umbria region (Terni). SOURCE Alcantara S.p.A. Seoul, April 14 : Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chip producer, on Wednesday expressed its gratitude to US President Joe Biden and his government for holding a meeting with business leaders to resolve the chip shortage in the industry. Samsung was one of the 19 global firms and the only South Korean company that attended the White House's virtual meeting on Monday (local time), where Biden stressed a need to invest in the semiconductor industry and secure the country's supply chain. Choi Si-young, who heads Samsung's foundry business, reportedly attended the virtual meeting, reports Yonhap news agency. "Samsung would like to thank @POTUS and his cabinet for convening this open conversation with industry leaders on how to positively impact and grow advanced semiconductor manufacturing," the company's U.S. public affairs unit wrote on Twitter. "We are committed to serving our customers with the world's most cutting-edge technology, and are pleased to see the Administration working with Congress to advance this necessary and bipartisan $50 billion investment in semiconductor manufacturing and research." Analysts here have been predicting that Samsung may accelerate its investment in the United States following the meeting. Samsung, also the world's No. 2 foundry firm, has been reportedly seeking to build a new chip facility in the US, in addition to its foundry factory in Austin, Texas. Washington, April 14 : US President Joe Biden wants to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a senior administration official has said. Biden has been facing mounting pressure to make a decision on the deployment of troops in Afghanistan, where the US has had a sustained military presence for the past 19 years. He will formally announce his decision in a speech at the White House on Wednesday, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Tuesday, DPA news agency reported. The senior administration official earlier briefed reporters on the plan, remaining anonymous under rules set by the White House. Former president Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban last year, agreeing to withdraw all US and international troops from Afghanistan by May 1. In return, the Taliban vowed to cut ties with al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups and enter into intra-Afghan peace talks. Since the signing of the deal, there have been no attacks on the foreign forces in the country. However, the Taliban has intensified attacks against the internationally-backed Afghan government. Biden said recently that his administration is unlikely to meet the fast-approaching May deadline, while also making it clear that he wants US troops out of the country. The US invaded Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks and overthrew the Taliban regime. It is the longest war Washington has ever waged. Biden said that accelerating the pace of peace negotiations under way among the warring Afghan parties would be key to pulling out troops. Since last September, the Taliban have been holding peace negotiations with representatives of the Afghan government in Qatar but progress has stalled. A US-initiated international conference on Afghanistan is set to begin in Istanbul on April 24, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The aim of the high-level meeting is to complement the talks happening in Doha and get the peace process on a faster track. The Taliban have yet to formally say if they will even participate. A spokesman Tuesday said the Taliban will not take part in a planned peace conference for Afghanistan until all international troops have withdrawn from the country completely. "Until all foreign forces completely withdraw from our homeland, the Islamic Emirate will not participate in any conference that shall make decisions about Afghanistan," Mohammed Naeem, spokesman of the Taliban's political office in Doha, tweeted on Tuesday. "The IEA performs its works with consultations according to the guidance of the noble religion of Islam and then adopts the stance whatsoever is decided in the result of the consultation," Naeem added. If it does go ahead, the planned conference will be the third international meeting on the peace process, following talks in Moscow and Dushanbe in recent weeks. The Afghanistan decision is one of the most delicate that Biden has had to make in his young administration. Observers fear that if international troops withdraw without a political solution, Afghanistan could enter a new civil war. According to official information, there are currently around 2,500 US soldiers in Afghanistan. At its peak 10 years ago, the number was around 100,000. Most recently, including the US troops, a total of around 10,000 soldiers from NATO countries and partner nations were in Afghanistan to support the democratically elected government by training and advising security forces. Ahead of Biden's speech, the US secretaries of state and defence, Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, will meet with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday. All foreign and defence ministers of NATO's 30 members are also to hold a videoconference, organised at short notice. (L) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a news conference in Ottawa on March 9, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) (R) NDP leader Jagmeet Singh during a news conference in Ottawa on April 13, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) NDP, Liberal Delegates Espouse Leftist Policies at Party Conventions Liberal and NDP party members endorsed a plethora of left-leaning policies at their conventions this past weekend following Easter, but it is doubtful many will see their way into an election platform. Liberal Convention At the Liberals national convention held online April 810, party delegates embraced a national pharmacare program as their top priority. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supports the premise, just as the party has since 1997. But in February he voted against an NDP private members bill for national pharmacare, saying the bill disregarded provincial jurisdiction. Trudeau is also unlikely to advance a universal basic income (UBI), even as Liberal delegates passed two resolutions in favour of a UBI and ranked them second and fifth in importance. Last December, Trudeau said of the UBI, Its not something that we see a path to moving forward with right now. Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux recently estimated that a UBI that costs $85 billion in 202122, rising to $93 billion in 202526, would give single people $17,000 a year and cut poverty rates by almost half in one year. However, a collaborative study released in January by academics at three Canadian universities concluded that improved disability assistance, dental care programs, and more money to help the working poor pay rent would be a better approach than UBI. In all, Liberal delegates passed 26 resolutions to become official party policy. Nine expanded the welfare state, seven addressed the green economy or the environment, three were for infrastructure, two dealt with minority issues, and five related to other issues. NDP Convention The NDP convention, which ran April 911, matched the Liberals by endorsing a transition to green energy and the recommendations of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. On some issues, the NDP went further. Both parties resolved to bring high-speed internet to remote areas, but the NDP wants a federal Crown corporation to be created to carry out the task. The Liberals want to enforce national standards on long-term care homes, while NDP delegates want the same but also propose an end to for-profit care homes, which would be pulled into the public health system. NDP delegates narrowed 500 policy proposals to a shortlist of 140. However, time limitations allowed just 13 to be discussed, partly because technical difficulties and points of order hindered discussion. Some radical proposals were shelved, such as phasing out the Canadian military, nationalizing the auto industry, or abolishing billionaires by imposing a 100 percent tax on all gross wealth above $1 billion. Still, delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of an 80 percent tax rate on income over $1 million, and an annual 1 percent tax on personal wealth above $20 million. This departed from the partys stance under previous leader Tom Mulcair, who called any tax above 50 percent confiscatory. In 2012, France adopted a 75 percent tax on annual incomes above 1 million euros, only to abandon it two years later as it failed to produce much revenue. Over 80 percent of NDP delegates supported a resolution calling for ending all trade and economic cooperation with illegal settlements in Israel-Palestine and suspending the bilateral trade of all arms and related materials with the State of Israel until Palestinian rights are upheld. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said at a press conference on April 11 that I strongly believe in Israels right to exist but that the resolution was based on a lot of evidence that weve heard from international human rights groups that say that we need to apply pressure to achieve a solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. Thats something I support. To achieve a peaceful resolution we need to, as an international community, use our tools to achieve that, he said, though he refused to say whether he would include the policy as part of his election platform. Singh said the suggestion to abolish billionaires was a manifestation of peoples frustration with the absurd inequality in society right now. However, he said he opposed a phase-out of the military. Political Scientists Weigh In University of Toronto professor Nelson Wiseman saw the conventions as pre-election political theatre. The function of the so-called policy conventions wasnt about policy at all. In the case of the Liberals, it was to showcase Trudeau, Mark Carney. And the important thing was what was going on in their workshops which werent policy-oriented. They were overwhelmingly oriented toward fighting an election, Wiseman told The Epoch Times. Some NDP resolutions included measures to combat racism, specific strategies to stop hate crimes against Asians, and an expression of solidarity with farmers in India. [Identify politics] hasnt completely taken over the NDP, but its there and Singh plays to it as well. But identity politics has taken over the Liberals, Wiseman said. The NDP isnt going to form the government, so those are all pie-in-the-sky things in a way. So much more relevant is what the Liberals propose. And I thought the most interesting thing was that they voted against increasing the capital gains tax. The Liberal convention boasted more than 10,000 participants, while the NDP claimed just around 2,000 at theirs. Royce Koop, political studies professor at the University of Manitoba, wishes there were more. Theres people in these parties, there are Canadians that are energetic and focused on these questions, and its a shame theres not more of them. And then probably a big reason for that is that these policy resolutions dont have any real-world consequences once the convention is over. The leader and campaign team have a larger say, Koop said in an interview. They will choose the policies that they want to run on on the basis of their polling and their focus groups and their segmentation. And if it happens to coincide with their resolutions in the past, then thats nice. Koop said he cant imagine a UBI anytime soon, and noted an interesting, very familiar dynamic of Liberal Party members of pushing ideas from the left, and they receive a cold shoulder from the leadership of the party. The Liberals campaign on the left and govern on the right. Allen Mills, a retired University of Winnipeg political scientist, said online conventions result in even less change than conventional ones. Theyre hard to generate any great standing insofar as theyre all being done virtually, and that doesnt seem quite right. But I think you can see the parties positioning themselves in light of an upcoming election, he said. Mills says the Liberals have been centre-left since 1965, and if they get re-elected, will not follow up on some of these policies. I think thats a solid pattern. Insofar as they differ in terms of their relative radicalism, it is because the NDP wants to not be outflanked by the Liberals, and the Liberals, I suppose, are quite happy to be outflanked a little on the left by the NDP. Because of course that reinforces their image as a sort of broad party which is centre-left rather than just to the left. To address Aboriginal deaths in custody, we need to look beyond the past three decades since the royal commission into this national disgrace and examine how colonisation perpetrated genocide against First Nations people on this soil. The ongoing indifference towards Aboriginal lives has resulted in an estimated 470 further Aboriginal deaths in custody and not one conviction of those responsible since the royal commission handed down its damning findings, 30 years ago to this day. There is no escaping the link between our colonial past and the persisting high levels of Indigenous incarceration. Credit:James Brickwood Aboriginal people deserve peace, not the perpetual pain families of victims now must endure. The systemic erasure of Aboriginal lives, languages and law from our own land is the product of a society founded on genocide. Killing Aboriginal people has always been a byproduct of the colonial project; it started with massacres, it persisted with the missionaries, and the remnants of this violent past are manifest in the mass incarceration of Indigenous peoples. We are the most incarcerated people on the planet. New information from Floridas insurance regulator paints a stark picture of the extent of litigation facing the states domestic insurers. The information comes as numerous stakeholders push for legislative reforms to address the litigation issue they blame for fueling the current insurance market crisis. According to National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) data mined by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, while Florida homeowners insurance claims accounted for just over 8% of all homeowners claims opened by U.S. insurers in 2019, homeowners insurance lawsuits in Florida accounted for more than 76% of all litigation against insurers nationwide. And those results are not an anomaly just for that year, the report says. Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier alerted Florida House Commerce Committee Chair Blaise Ingoglia to the new data gathered by his office from the NAIC in a letter last week. Litigation trends in Florida have been consistently many times higher than any other state, Altmaier wrote, citing NAIC data that shows Florida lawsuits rose steadily from 64.4% of all nationwide homeowners lawsuits in 2016, to 68% in 2017, to 79.9% in 2018 and 76.4% in 2019 (see chart). OIR pulled the information from NAICs Market Conduct Annual Statement (MCAS) Data Call to further provide information to lawmakers on litigation trends in the Florida insurance market. MCAS is a regulatory tool developed in 2002 by state insurance regulators to collect information from insurers regarding claims and underwriting. In 2019, over 750 homeowners insurance companies reported data via MCAS using uniform definitions and reporting requirements across all states. Altmaier, who also currently serves as NAIC president, said OIR included MCAS data of Floridas ratio of suits opened to total claims closed and a ratio of suits opened to claims closed without payment as well, to allow OIR to observe trends in the context of other states. For 2019, Florida trended with the national average when comparing the number of claims closed without payment to total claims closed. However, Altmaier noted, Floridas ratio of suits opened to claims closed without payment was eight times higher at nearly 28% than the next highest state, Connecticut, which had a ratio of 3.4% of suits opened to claims closed without payment. OIR analyzed the data between Florida and the other states to examine the disparity and validity of its methodology and results with MCAS staff at the NAIC, Altmaier said. It also analyzed the litigation to claims ratio of insurers operating in Florida because the states insurance market is so heavily reliant on domestic companies and other states to see if there was a pattern of these insurers experiencing litigation higher than their peers in other states, which he said could be an indicator of claims handling issues. But, Atlmaier noted, OIR did not detect any such systemic pattern that would explain the disparity. While we continue to explore these and other possibilities to explain the disparity, OIR does not have a readily available explanation for Floridas outlier status other than to simply state that Florida is experiencing far more claims-related litigation than the other 47 reporting states, Altmaier wrote. In light of the new data, he urged the legislature to consider additional reform measures to help the states property market challenges, including: Reforming the states one-way attorneys fee statute in a way that still allows policyholders to still file suit against their insurance company but removes the incentive for attorneys to file illegitimate claims. Altmaier said reforms like what were enacted in the 2019 AOB legislation preserves important consumer protections, while providing a framework to ensure litigation brought against insurance companies is legitimate. Addressing the ramifications of the decision regarding contingency fee multipliers by the Florida Supreme Court in the Joyce vs. FedNat (2017) case, which separates Florida from federal standards. Instead, legislation that codifies the adoption of rare and exceptional framework so contingency fee multipliers are only used in such cases could be effective at reducing the filing of meritless cases to receive a large attorney fee payout. Addressing the ramifications of the Sebo vs. American Home Assurance (2016) Florida Supreme Court decision regarding concurrent causation that OIR says has incentivized roof claim solicitations. Statutory language that specifically excludes wear and tear from concurrent causation could provide a disincentive for this behavior, while allowing consumers to keep replacement cost coverage for legitimate roof issues. Including provisions from legislation enacted in Texas in 2017 that broadens pre-suit notice and inspection requirements for property claims and addresses attorneys fees. These solutions could substantially reduce the litigation associated with claims, bringing more certainty into Floridas property insurance market, Altmaier concluded. Ultimately this will provide more stability in the market and more rate stability for consumers. Florida carriers lost more than $1.6 billion in 2020 thanks in part to excessive litigation, reinsurance costs and natural catastrophes. Companies are taking extreme steps to reduce their exposure in areas where there is high litigation rates or high reinsurance costs, including enacting coverage restrictions and increasing rates. OIR approved 105 rate changes, 90 of which were for rate increases, over the last year, with 55 of those for rate increases of more than 10%. Stakeholders have warned that without legislative reforms, rates will continue to increase and consumers may be unable to find coverage in the private market. Altmaiers letter to the Florida House Commerce Committee chair came days before the committees planned meeting today, April 14, where it will debate House Bill 305. That bill was formerly the companion bill of Senate Bill 76 that passed by the Florida Senate last week. The Senate bill is backed by the industry because they say it tackles many of the issues blamed for the current problems in the market, including excessive litigation and roofing claims. However, HB 305 has changed drastically since it was introduced at the beginning of the current legislative session and many in the industry and others say it doesnt go far enough in addressing the property markets issues. Lawmakers will have to reach a compromise before either bill can become law. Read Full OIR Report Related: Topics Lawsuits Carriers USA Florida Property Data Driven Lisbon (Portugal), April 14, 2021 (SPS) - On the eve of the meeting of the United Nations Security Council, called for next April 21, to address the situation in Western Sahara and the work of the Mission of Nations United for the Referendum in Western Sahara -MINURSO- 119 organizations have joined the initiative promoted by the collective For a Free Sahara to draw attention to the members about the serious situation that exists in the territory after the violation of the ceasefire by Morocco, on November 13, 2020, and the resumption of the armed struggle ending 3 decades of a peace process that has achieved little progress in the decolonization process. In the letter addressed to Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, President of the United Nations Security Council, the signatories recall that over the decades, dozens of letters, communications and complaints have been sent on the serious human rights situation of the Sahrawis in the occupied territories of Western Sahara . Likewise, they insist that "the right of the Saharawi people is clear in all the opinions, resolutions, declarations that the International Court of The Hague, the United Nations, the African Union and the Court of Justice of the European Union have issued at the same time. over decades .SPS 125/090/TRA Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Nobel29 Resources Corp. (TSXV: NBLC) (formerly Novo19 Capital Corp.) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced reverse takeover transaction (the "Transaction") with Nobel Resources Corp. (the "Target"), a private company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario with mining assets located in Chile. The Company will carry on the business of the Target, which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company intends to continue from British Columbia into Ontario and change its name to "Nobel Resources Corp.", subject to applicable laws. Lawrence Guy, Chairman of Nobel comments, "we are excited to have our company listing and commence building value for our shareholders as we develop our Algarrobo copper project, in Chile. Drilling has commenced and we look forward to initial results in the coming weeks." Prior to the completion of the Transaction, the Company: (i) completed a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares ("Shares") on the basis of one post-consolidation Share for every 6.6667 pre-consolidation Shares (the "Consolidation"); and (ii) changed its name from "Novo19 Capital Corp." to "Nobel29 Resources Corp." (the "Name Change"). The Consolidation and the Name Change were approved at the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company held on February 10, 2021. The Transaction was completed by way of a "three-cornered" amalgamation pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). Pursuant to the Transaction, all common shares of the Target ("Target Shares") were exchanged for post-Consolidation Shares on a one-for-one basis and the Target and 2791419 Ontario Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company newly incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) for the sole purpose of effecting the Transaction, amalgamated with the resulting entity ("Amalco") continuing as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company under the name "Nobel Resources Corp.". Pursuant to the Transaction: (i) a total of 63,732,500 Target Shares were exchanged for post-Consolidation Shares of the Company on a one-for-one basis; (ii) warrants exercisable for a total of 1,907,000 Target Shares were exchanged on a one-for-one basis for equivalent warrants of the Company; and (iii) options exercisable for a total of 3,775,000 Target Shares were exchanged on a one-for-one basis for equivalent options of the Company. With the completion of the Transaction, the Company has 65,758,290 post-Consolidation Shares issued and outstanding (on an undiluted basis). The TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") has conditionally approved the listing of the Shares. The Shares are expected to commence trading on the TSXV under the new ticker symbol "NBLC" on or about April 19, 2021. A further press release will be issued once trading has commenced. On January 14, 2021, the Target completed a brokered private placement of 22,020,000 subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.40 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $8,808,000. Clarus Securities Inc., as lead agent, along with Mackie Research Capital Corporation and Industrial Alliance Securities Inc. acted as agents in respect of the offering of Subscription Receipts. Immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction, each Subscription Receipt was converted into one common share of the Target (the "Nobel Shares") pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement between the Target, Computershare Trust Company of Canada and Clarus Securities Inc. (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement"), and such Nobel Shares were in turn exchanged for Shares pursuant to the Transaction. In addition, escrowed proceeds were also released in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Following the Transaction, the leadership team of the Company is as follows: David Gower - Chief Executive Officer and Director Greg Duras - Chief Financial Officer Vernon Arsenaeu - Chief Operating Officer and Director Lawrence Guy - Chairman Damian Lopez - Corporate Secretary Jeff Glass - Director Michael Shuh - Director Additional information in respect of the Company's business and the Transaction will be available in the Company's Form 2B Listing Application which has been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). As described in the Company's Listing Application, certain of the Shares are subject to escrow requirements in accordance with TSXV Policy 5.4 - Escrow, Vendor Considerations and Resale Restrictions. Miller Thomson LLP acted as legal counsel to the Target. Chitiz Pathak LLP acted as legal counsel to the Company. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP acted as legal counsel to the Agents. About the Company The Company is a British Columbia corporation with a head office in Toronto, Ontario. The Company, through its option agreement (the "Option Agreement"), holds interests in the Algarrobo IOCG Copper Project (the "Project"), located in the coastal IOCG (Iron, Oxide, Copper, Gold) belt in northern Chile, approximately 25 km from the port of Caldera on the Pacific Ocean. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Nobel can exercise its option and acquire a 100% ownership interest in the Project. The following table contains select consolidated financial information regarding the Target: Period from August 20, 2020 (Formation) to January 31, 2021 ($) Total assets 10,304,442 Total liabilities 9,318,361 Shareholder's equity 986,081 Total income (loss) (1,731,308) Net and comprehensive income (loss) (1,731,308) Basic and diluted income (loss) per share (0.06) About the Algarrobo Project The Project is located approximately 850 km north of Santiago, in Region III, Province of Chanaral, Chile. The Algarrobo Project is located in the southern Atacama Desert, with the city of Copiapo located approximately 43 km to the southeast and the port at Caldera 25 km to the east. The Property consists of 53 "Angela", 2 "Angelita" and 24 "Roble" tenures, comprising a total of 6,710 ha (16,581 acres). The Algarrobo Project hosts high grade copper mineralization with exploration and development potential for significant expansion that is consistent with an Iron oxide-copper-gold deposit (IOCG) along the western margin of both the Chilean Iron Belt and the Atacama Fault Zone. The Cerro Negro Norte iron deposit, having and similar structural setting and possible associated IOCG-style mineralization, is located approximately 15 km east of the Algarrobo Project. Manto Verde (120 million tonnes grading 0.73% Cu (Marschik et al 2011), approximately 30 km north) and the Punta del Cobre (>120 Mt grading 1.5% Cu, 0.2 to 0.6 g/t Au, and 2 to 8 g/t Ag (van Angeren 2005)) - Candelaria (Lundin) (366 Mt grading 1.08 % Cu, 0.26 g/T Au, and 5g/T Ag (Raab 2010)) belt (approximately 60 km south) are examples of IOCG deposits similarly located in the belt and are considered to be possible analogues for mineralization and economic potential for the Algarrobo Project. From the 1920's until 1997, sporadic manual production on a limited basis was undertaken by local miners on extensions of the veins previously mined at the Algarrobo Project. Mining operations to date on the Algarrobo Project, and immediately area, resulted in approximately 35 mines, ranging from near surface workings to more extensive operations extending several hundred metres below surface. The Algarrobo Project has only been exploited to very shallow depths. Within the old mines on adjacent properties to the Algarrobo Project, copper, as copper oxides, were mined to an approximate depth of 120 meters, with copper sulfide ores mined below to greater depth (i.e. 450 meters in the Viuda Mine). The mineralized trends are very well defined by abundant workings, both historical and those arising from more recent work, ranging from shallow pits and workings to mine development extending to depths up to 450 m below surface. Taken together, these workings delineate three major structures and a vast number of minor veins, having clearly evident surface extent of at least 1.3 km, with an interpreted potential surface extent of at least 4 km. In addition to the Major Veins, a number of subordinate, subsidiary and/or undeveloped veins are present between the Major Veins, defining the "Main Mineralized Trend". Veins on which the more significant workings have been developed are described as ranging between 1.2 and 3.5 metres at, or near, surface, and thickening with increasing depth up to 5 metres. Analyses of select grab samples from the recently developed drifts, False Estaca and Descubridora, document "Direct Smelting Ore" grades of representative grab samples of Brochantite-bearing, high grade "Direct Smelting Ore" from Acme Analytical Laboratories S.A. in Copiapo confirm grades in excess of 30% copper. Independent analysis of a representative grab sample of Brochantite (Cu4SO4(OH)6), submitted to Acme lab in Santiago, returned an analysis of 34.27% Cu and 36 g/t Ag. Additional information in respect of the Algarrobo Project can be found the Company's technical report prepared by Richard T. Walker, M.Sc., P. Geo. and Enrique Grez Armanet, B.Sc., P. Geo. titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Algarrobo Property III Region, Chile at 27 02' 34' E Latitude, 70 33' 52' Longitude" with an effective date of February 28, 2021, which has been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard T. Walker, M.Sc., P. Geo. and Enrique Grez Armanet, B.Sc., P. Geo., Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. *** The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Service Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. Any securities referred to herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: David Gower Nobel29 Resources Corp. Telephone: (416) 356-4839 Email: davidpgower70@gmail.com FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of 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 press release. Forward-looking information herein includes, without limitation, statements regarding the listing of Shares on the TSXV, the continuation of the Company into Ontario and name change, the development of the Algarrobo Project and prospects thereof and potential results from the Algarrobo Project drilling program. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected" "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could, "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. 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; and the delay or failure to receive shareholder, director or regulatory approvals. 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 the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER U.S. NEWSWIRES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80463 Michigans COVID-19 workplace precautions have been extended through Oct. 14, upsetting business groups that hoped workers could soon return to offices. A coalition of business groups called Reopen Michigan Safely describes the move as bad news for our economy. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which ultimately answers to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, makes the rules. Gov. Whitmers inability to find ways to work with job creators to restart our economy is a complete leadership failure that will cause economic pain for Michigan workers for years to come, said Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, which is part of Reopen Michigan Safely. The extended MIOSHA rules include a long list of safety precautions like having a written response plan, conducting daily health screenings and requiring masks. But the main blowback is about the rule prohibiting in-person work for employees to the extent that their work activities can feasibly be completed remotely, said Sean Egan, director of Michigan COVID-19 workplace safety. If Im only coming in there because thats where my cubicles assigned, I dont interact, I dont do much else, I dont need to connect to the database, you probably dont want that person in there anyway because you want that social distancing, Egan said. While MIOSHA has cited more than 200 businesses for not following COVID-19 protocols, none have been penalized for allowing in-person work, Egan said. Its up to businesses to decide when work can feasibly be done at home and when it cant. RELATED: Mall department store, high school among workplaces fined for COVID-19 violations Michigans 25-person indoor gathering limit doesnt apply to workplaces, Egan said. Still, business groups across the state said theyre frustrated with the continuation of the emergency rules. A half-year more of empty office buildings will have a damaging impact not only on productivity, innovation, collaboration and mental health, but on communities across the state, said Rick Baker, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, part of the Reopen Michigan Safely group. The group also argues theres little evidence that carefully managed offices contribute to the spread of COVID-19. The data indicates otherwise. There have been more than 350 COVID-19 outbreaks in Michigan tied to offices since September which is more than restaurants and bars, but roughly half as many outbreaks as manufacturing and construction settings, according to records tracked by state health officials. The outbreak numbers alone prove many businesses have had workers in offices, when in-person work was deemed necessary, Egan said. Planning for future rules The emergency workplace rules were first put in place in October 2020 for six months. State law allowed them to be extended once more for six months. If MIOSHA wants to extend rules beyond that, itll have to go through the more formal rulemaking process. The agency has already started that, just in case rules are needed after Oct. 14, Egan said. If we move through the summer and fall and things change, were not going to have (rules) just to have them, Egan said. We just need to position ourselves to be prepared. Meanwhile, a work group of state, health and business leaders is working on suggestions to adjust MIOSHAs current rules. The group will meet for the fifth time this week and Egan expects suggestions for tweaks to come forth in the coming weeks. One of the main recommendations from the work group will be how employers should engage in the vaccination process with their workers and how vaccination levels might impact the timeline of returning to work. For now, most employers dont plan to bring most workers back in person until late summer or early fall, Egan said but its largely dependent on COVID-19 trends. Since the pandemic started, more than 40 Michigan COVID-19 deaths have been tied directly to workplaces. MIOSHA has received more than 12,000 complaints from employees alleging COVID-19 hazards at their workplace. Local governments have warned MIOSHA about more than 600 workplaces potentially violating the rules. Employers and workers with questions or concerns can call MIOSHA at 855-SAFE-C19 (855-723-3219). Now is not the time to bring hoards of people back to the office, Egan said. Michigan still leads the nation in new COVID-19 cases per person, with 79 new cases per 100,000 people each day in the last seven days. No other state has more than 43 cases per 100,000 people in the same span. The goal here is separation, Egan said. Congregation is going to spread the virus, separation is going to help us mitigate the virus. RELATED STORIES For blue-collar workers, its fear. For white-collar workers, its isolation. COVID-19 changed work for everybody. Michigan to extend COVID restrictions in offices for six more months Michigan considers whether company vaccination rates should trigger office reopenings If you can work from home, does it matter where home is? Oregon company hires 300 in Michigan Gujarat high court suggested reducing the number of people allowed in marriage functions from 100 to 50 and for proper accountability of Remdesivir. The bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Bhargav D. Karia, set up to hear the matter, heard Advocate General, Kamal Trivedi, on behalf of the state government and posed a salvo of questions on various fronts due to which the present uncontrolled situation arose."Initially, when the pandemic struck last year, people were advised to home quarantine and also get treated at home.Now why have you changed it and insist on hospitalization? Why are you insisting that Remdesivir should only be available at hospitals and not for home patients quarantined who require the injections? Why is it not being available at all the hospitals?Why is it not available for anyone who needs it? Controlling these injections by supply from one outsourced agency is not at all in public interest," it said.Accusing hospitals of exploiting the situation, the court said: "We have come to know that hospitals have refused to admit patients despite having beds available."The court also noted that "right now it takes 5 to 7 days for a common man to get himself RT-PCR tested. By the time he or she gets results, has infected a lot many others"."Why is it taking so long? We advise ramping up the testing facilities and centres," it said.As the court asked the government what steps were taken to ensure the reduction of staff in various offices, the Advocate General said that only the paan shop owners association had come forward and voluntarily had decided to shut down for the weekends."Then they are acting with more wisdom and responsibility," the court observed.The court also stressed that fighting this pandemic was impossible without the cooperation of people, but "the people had lost trust in administration"."We are not happy with many of the policies of the government and there are some things which need to be corrected. At least people should feel that government is doing something. At present there is a total deficit in trust of people in the administration. That trust should be restored," it maintained.The court also suggested reducing the number of people allowed in marriage functions from 100 to 50.Justice Karia also suggested that just like during the election process, booth level micro level planning be done and a booth level official should be assigned accountability over a particular booth's COVID situation.The bench also asked the Central government to assist the state government to fight the pandemic as it scheduled the next hearing on Thursday, when both governments are expected to come up with plans and steps taken as advised by the court, as they have asked to submit these by Wednesday evening.On Sunday, Chief Justice Vikram Nath had observed that Gujarat was heading towards a health emergency, as he ordered that the PIL be filed.Source: IANS As an experiment, I put in a profile of a family member a generation older than me with a more complicated health profile to see how it would tilt my mental calculus. I would be devastated if this person was harmed by COVID-19. This person in their 70s would see a 1 in 211 chance of hospitalisation and a 1 in 556 chance of death, according to the Oxford model. Given we perceive the UK as one of the hardest hit nations in the world, they do not feel to me like extraordinarily, unacceptably high odds, but your mileage may vary. Some more figures. In a normal year you would expect about 3 million people to die in the United States of America. Health Minister Greg Hunt suggested Australias international border closures could stay in place even if the entire population had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The US has recorded 562,000 COVID deaths, though total deaths in 2020 of all causes were about 3.1 million, according to preliminary estimates. In 2019, 8.7 people per 1000 died in the United States. In 2020, according to those preliminary estimates, the figure was 9.7 per 1000. I have a theory that what Australians are really most scared of when they look overseas is being locked down and masked up like so many places we see on TV. Many Australians have British relatives, and what we get from the United States comes from the media capitals of New York and Washington DC, where lockdowns have been much more prevalent than in other parts of the country. My family connections are in Florida, where life has been mostly normal since last April. Hospitals have not been overwhelmed, masks have not been mandated and other COVID-19 outcomes are not obviously worse than in the lockdown states. Loading Do you want to get COVID-19? Of course not, and evidence is still emerging about long COVID symptoms that persist after a nominal recovery and it doesnt sound like very much fun. Should you get vaccinated? Absolutely: the evidence is strong that the vaccines yes, AstraZeneca too are very effective at preventing serious illness and death. Is COVID-19 a death sentence? Almost certainly not, with the major caveat being that the elderly and those with multiple health conditions are at much, much greater risk (as they are of all causes of mortality), which is why the vaccine for these vulnerable groups should be such an urgent priority. Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University is, I think, the most sensible and considered of the infectious diseases experts that we have heard from almost daily since the pandemic began. In trying to put the risk of blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine in perspective, he said something this week that caught my attention. If youre over the age of 70 and you get COVID youve got a 1 in 100 chance of dying and if youre over 85 youve got a 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 chance of dying. I wondered what the chances are of dying of anything if you are over 70 and over 85, so I went burrowing into the ABS life tables data. The chance of all-cause death at age 75 is 1 in 39 for men and 1 in 60 for women. The chance of all-cause death at age 85 is 1 in 12 for men and 1 in 17 for women. The figures show why it really is the elderly who should be most concerned about COVID and, for everyone else, the risk equation is far less tilted than the dominant media narratives would have us believe. Two moments from our federal leaders have hit me like thunderbolts this past week. The first was when Scott Morrison called a 7.15pm press conference to announce that AstraZeneca would no longer be preferred for under 50s because of extremely rare (1 in 250,000) but potentially serious blood clot risks. I listened to it live on 6PR in the car and my heart sank, because it was obvious immediately how it would undermine confidence in the vaccination program and delay its rollout. In the UK they shifted away from AstraZeneca for under 30s because they have ready supplies of alternatives for that very low risk portion of the population, but here, with so many eggs in the AstraZeneca basket, the consequences were obvious. In any population there is vaccine hesitancy, and the government made it worse by highlighting risks that are close to negligible (you have about as much chance of winning a Division 2 Lotto prize as developing a blood clot from AstraZeneca). There was much media and political focus on the West Australian woman in her 40s hospitalised in Darwin as a result of clotting linked to the jab, although not much of it was on this part: The family has asked for privacy to be respected but the patient was making positive progress and recovering well. The other thunderbolt moment was Hunt. If the whole country were vaccinated, you couldnt just open the borders, he said. We still have to look at a series of different factors: transmission, longevity (of vaccine protection) and the global impact and those are factors which the world is learning about. Then its hard to see how we ever open the borders. The whole country will never be vaccinated, and the virus will never be eliminated globally. It is not how public health works, it is not how life works there is never zero risk. Loading None of this is an argument to let it rip but it has been starkly obvious how little work has been done to facilitate the return of the movement of people. It is obvious that Howard Springs in the Northern Territory is the best practice model for quarantine - why havent we invested in 20 of them around the country in the name of a national recovery, persisting instead with too small, too risky hotel quarantine arrangements in the city centres? It has been an increasingly disorienting experience to watch our national reaction to the pandemic and how we treat COVID-19 risk so differently to risk in literally every other area, not just of public health but of human endeavour. This year, Intellias climbed from the Rising Stars to Leaders category. Intellias, a trusted technology partner to Fortune 500 enterprises and top-tier organizations, was acknowledged in the IAOP 2021 Global Outsourcing 100 list for the fourth consecutive year. This year, Intellias climbed from the Rising Stars to Leaders category. The Global Outsourcing selection is the most prestigious and reputable annual ranking of outsourcing service providers. IAOP features the worlds best outsourcing organizations that demonstrate exceptional customer dedication and excellence in service delivery. Inclusion on the list is the hallmark of the companys highest performance, operational, and organizational standards. Intellias is honored to be rated in such an authoritative listing as the Global Outsourcing 100 for the fourth year running. Choosing the right partners is more important than ever. Companies that outsource, not only in the traditional sense but also through the wide array of ever-changing collaborative business models, are scrutinizing their providers very closely. The Global Outsourcing 100 is the definitive guide to help companies research and compare service providers with whom they are considering relationships. - Debi Hamil, CEO of IAOP The IAOP Global Outsourcing 100 Program aims to reveal industry innovators and top performing outsources, serving as a comprehensive resource for choosing a reliable partner. To participate in the program and get shortlisted in the annual ranking, outsourcing service providers should apply for inclusion. IAOP considers companies based on applications received and evaluates participants depending on a rigorous scoring methodology. The scoring process includes a comprehensive review by an independent panel of IAOP customer members with extensive experience in selecting outsourcing service providers for their organizations. In 2021, Debi Hamill, CEO of IAOP, led the judges committee that included: Daniel Beimborn, Professor, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Teresa Harris, COP, Global Supplier Relationship Manager, GE Mary D. Lewis, COP, Sourcing Manager II, Supply Chain Management, T-Mobile Heiko Gewald, Professor, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences Mark Zammett, COP, former Senior Director, Globa Security Assessments, CIGNA Intellias is continuously maturing in its processes and expertise. The recognition among large established global firms referred to as "Leaders" in the IAOP selection is a powerful testament to the companys continuous growth and improvement. About Intellias Intellias is a digital transformation enabler and trusted technology partner of Fortune 500 enterprises and top-tier organizations. Operating in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, nearly 1,600 Intellias experts deliver services to businesses from various domains. The company has been numerously featured in the Global Outsourcing 100 list by IAOP, recognized by Inc. 5000, acknowledged in the GSA UK Awards, and named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award 17th Annual International Business Awards. For more information, please visit http://www.intellias.com. About IAOP IAOP is the global association that brings together customers, providers, and advisors in a collaborative, knowledge-based environment that promotes professional and organizational development, recognition, certification, and excellence to improve business service models and outcomes. Our members and affiliates worldwide are digging deep at IAOP conferences, learning at IAOP chapter meetings, getting trained and certified at IAOP courses and workshops, and connecting through IAOP social media, all with one goal: better business results. Whether you are a customer, provider, or advisor, new to collaborative business models like outsourcing, or you are an experienced professional, IAOP connects you and your organization to our growing global community and the resources you need to get the results your company deserves and demands. For more information and how you can become involved, visit http://www.IAOP.org. Gurugram: A leopard that strayed into Marutis Manesar plant was rescued after a 36-hour joint operation involving the forest department and Gurgaon Police on Friday. The feline, which had crept into the engine department of the plant on Thursday, was caught around 2:30 pm, an official said. The big cat did not hurt anyone. Around 100 police personnel, including Haryana Police commandos, along with two teams of the Forest department carried out the rescue operation. They have caught the leopard, Gurgaon Police PRO Ravinder Kumar said. The teams kept meat in two cages to lure the leopard. Goats were kept in a cage on Thursday to draw it out of the hiding, Kumar said. As soon as it stepped out, the personnel fired a tranquiliser dart and captured it, he said. It will be released into the forest after a medical examination. The animal did not hurt anyone, conservator of wildlife Vinod Kumar told PTI. Operations have resumed in the engine department, president of workers union of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) Kuldeep Jhangu told PTI. The leopard, which entered the plant yesterday morning, had brought the work to a halt. Thousands of workers had to wait outside the plant, as search parties went around the premises looking for it. Advertisement Travellers arriving at Heathrow Airport are currently being forced to queue for up to six hours due to coronavirus checks at the border, an exasperated airport executive claimed today. Chris Garton, the chief solutions officer for the London airport, told MPs 'the situation is becoming untenable', with wait times in recent days being 'well in excess of two hours and up to six hours'. Giving evidence to the Commons Transport Select Committee, he warned: 'We're starting to see disruption in some of the arriving passengers. If you're made to queue for two or three hours, it's not something you want to do, and we're even having to involve the police service to help us.' Mr Garton went on: 'What's happened is a whole host of new checks - 100 per cent checking of everybody - has been introduced, and that obviously has put a tremendous burden on the officers who work at the border. The Home Office has not provided them with additional officers.' Around 800 border staff are working at Heathrow and that all are currently in work subject to the normal reasons for absence, according to the Immigration Services Union (ISU). Spokeswoman Lucy Moreton told MailOnline the queues are taking so long because travellers cannot use eGates due to the government requirement to check 100 per cent compliance with Covid-19 border restrictions. Travellers often arrived at the airport without the right documentation and that pre-pandemic a non-contentious entry for someone with the right of residence would have been two minutes if they did not use the eGates. Post-pandemic with the right paperwork, that transaction time is five minutes, the ISU representative alleged - and that without the right paperwork that time shoots up to at least 30 minutes. Ms Moreton said: 'The Government can choose two routes. Either remove the requirement for 100 per cent checks, with all the attendant risk to national Covid security. Or compel carriers to ensure that no one arrives in the UK without having complied with the relevant requirements.' When asked to respond to the ISU's claims, a Home Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are in a global health pandemic - people should not be travelling unless absolutely necessary. Passengers have expressed their anger over the long delays in the arrivals hall of Heathrow. Some passengers have had to wait for up to six hours to clear the border due to a shortage of Border Force staff Passengers approaching the UK border at Heathrow Airport are facing waits of up to six hours for Border Force officials to check their documentation about their Covid-19 status 'Border Force has ensured it has the right level of resources to check that passengers are compliant with our border health measures. 'Queues and wait times will currently be longer, as it is vital that we undertake thorough checks at the border and due to the fact that some passengers have not completed the necessary requirements to enter the UK, such as purchasing covid testing packages or booking their hotel quarantine in advance.' He told the committee the amount of resources for processing passengers at the border 'always was a problem', but the coronavirus pandemic 'has just made that so much worse than it was before'. He continued: 'We want to see that bottleneck removed as quickly as possible. It's a problem today, it will become a much bigger problem after May 17 (when foreign leisure travel from England could resume).' Mr Garton said the 'solution' is to enable passengers to ensure their entry to the UK is 'assured' before they begin their journey. Errors on passenger locator forms should be spotted and corrected in advance, and eGates should be able to check the documents automatically, he told MPs. This would allow arriving travellers to 'flow as you would normally through the eGates rather than having to line up and present your paperwork to a rather overstretched border official', Mr Garton added. The Prime Minister's official spokesman defended the queues, saying Border Force is 'completing thorough checks of every arriving passenger' which is 'the approach the public would expect'. He added that the Government will ensure there are 'sufficient measures there and resources available' when international leisure travel resumes. Downing Street insisted that resources would be put in place to ensure airports can cope with increased passenger numbers when international travel resumes. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Whatever measures we set out from May 17 at the earliest, we'll ensure that there are sufficient measures there and resources available.' According to Heathrow Airport, many of the delays relate to the inspection of Passenger Locator Forms which are necessary for all travellers arriving in the UK Heathrow chief solutions officer Chris Garton said the situation was 'untenable' Meanwhile, Edinburgh Airport has called on the Scottish government for support claiming that passengers would be forced to fly in and out of England if nothing is done to help the airline industry Meanwhile, in Scotland, Edinburgh Airport bosses warned of a reduction in the number of direct flights to Scotland without a covid recovery plan - leaving people reliant on airports in England. Gordon Dewar, chief executive at Edinburgh Airport, called for immediate action from the Scottish Government to engage with airports and airlines for a recovery plan. Mr Dewar said uncertainty around Scottish airports could lead to a reduction in the number of direct flights and leave people reliant on airports in other parts of the UK. He highlighted the industry supports thousands of jobs and generates billions of pounds for the Scottish economy every year. In 2019, Edinburgh Airport generated 1.4billion Gross Value Added and 28,000 jobs in the Scottish economy. In February Heathrow experienced huge delays at the border caused by 'rigid and inflexible' social bubbles created to apparently prevent the spread of new variants. MailOnline revealed that Emma Moore, the chief operating officer of Border Force, had been responsible for organising the workforce into 12-person bubbles. She was subsequently appointed to the role of Trace Divisional Director with NHS Test and Trace, the Government's virus tracker. The bubble policy first came into force on December 31 and was blamed for the mayhem seen at the border as thousands of passengers tried to clear passport checks ahead of the quarantine hotel system. The ISU accused Ms Moore of ignoring their concerns that the scheme was 'arbitrary' and would overwhelm Border Force officials doing customs checks. An ISU spokeswoman also called the bubbles 'needless', because Heathrow had already received its three-star Covid-secure certification. The Department of Health said: 'Emma Moore has been appointed to the role of Trace Divisional Director. She joins us from her current role as Chief Operating Officer of Border Force, following a competitive hiring process. Emma has a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors to bring to this role.' | By Jena Frick As health care workers around the world race to get the COVID-19 vaccine distributed, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has joined the effort by opening a vaccination clinic in the Southern Management Corporation (SMC) Campus Center. The clinic is staffed by volunteers made up of UMB faculty and staff, UMBs Office of Emergency Management, as well as student volunteers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), and University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP). During the first week of the UMB-led vaccine clinic in the SMC Campus Center, Naya White received her first shot of the vaccine. We know that we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible in order to get to the other side of this pandemic, said Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean, UMSON. To have our students be able to play such an essential role in this process means a great deal. Especially because were also giving back to the community in the process, which is so important. The clinic is open for appointment only to Baltimore City residents who have been referred by the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) as well as eligible faculty, staff, and students from UMB and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). The central position of the SMC Campus Center provides a convenient location for West Baltimore residents to get vaccinated and an opportunity for students to get clinical experience. (View a photo gallery.) To be able to vaccinate the population, we have to be able to accommodate the surrounding community, said Veronica Quattrini, DNP, FNP-BC, senior director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at UMSON. Its amazing when you see the amount of people that have been trained and are so willing to be part of this effort. It has been a really great experience to see how we all came together in this emergency situation. Several students actually decided to give up one of their clinical rotations so they could volunteer their time at the SMC Campus Center Vaccination Clinic. Students from UMSOP work behind the scenes to prepare each dose of the vaccine while students from UMSOM and UMSON administer the vaccine directly to community members. They all agree that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that they felt a responsibility to be a part of. Were here to prevent the spread of COVID, and I think the vaccine is the No. 1 resource for people to get to protect themselves, said David Lee, UMSON student and volunteer at the vaccination clinic. As a nursing student, I feel so very privileged be here to help. Some people who come in have never had a shot before, so theyre scared of needles. It feels great to be there to comfort them and give them a potentially life-saving vaccine. Michelle Peakes, a Baltimore City resident, says she felt scared not to get the vaccine. As a person over the age of 65, Peakes is a high-risk individual, so she signed up to get her shot as soon as she was able to get an appointment through BCHD. I dont want to take any chances, Peakes said as she was waiting in line to receive the Moderna vaccine. I believe its a death threat for anyone who doesnt get it. I just dont want to take any chances if I dont have to. Adrian Anderson, who also received the Moderna vaccine at the SMC Campus Center clinic, agreed THAT its essential for everyone to get vaccinated. She lost an uncle to COVID-19 in April 2020, and her mother recently was diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized at UMMC. I was initially very hesitant to get the vaccine, but as time went on I began to realize that more people were getting sick and the numbers were not falling down, she said. I went ahead and made a conscious decision to get the vaccine and stop the spread to protect others and my own family. COVID has been wreaking havoc on all of the world, so we all need to get this vaccine so we can protect the community as a whole. Organizers of the clinic are working to collaborate with several local organizations to reach specific, at-risk populations in the Baltimore area. These organizations include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Esperanza Center to reach Spanish-speaking individuals, and the Indian Health Service to reach individuals of Native American descent. In addition, UMBs Community Engagement Center has started a canvassing effort to help West Baltimore residents get signed up for the vaccine through the BCHD website. So far, volunteers at the SMC Campus Center Vaccination Clinic have administered more than 30,000 vaccines to Baltimore community members in priority groups and students, faculty, and staff from UMB and UMMC. As a thank you to the volunteers who are helping with the vaccination effort, UMB has revived its Food for the Front Lines initiative, which provides free lunches to essential personnel working at the vaccination clinic. All of the lunches are purchased from small businesses in West Baltimore to help support local businesses. (Donate to the Food for Our Front Lines initiative.) (Note: Since this article was published, eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations at the SMC Campus Center has expanded to include anyone over the age of 16, regardless of whether they live, work, or learn in the city of Baltimore. This includes all students, faculty, and staff of UMB, as well as alumni, family members, friends, and neighbors. To schedule a vaccination go to GetTheVaccineBaltimore.org.) TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - You may have noticed an increase in stray animals on the streets, that's why a local author and illustrator teamed up to write a children's book to offer a solution. The book 'Perils of Pixie' came out a few weeks ago. It centers around a dog being rescued, after being found on the street. The author is giving some of the proceeds she makes, back to local humane society shelters across the Wabash Valley. Pixie was found behind a restaurant in Terre Haute. Workers in the restaurant took her in and tried to feed her, only to find out a lot of her teeth were missing. Thirteen others had to be removed. "She's now eight and a half pounds but she was only two and a half pounds and you could tell she just really needed somebody. And you don't really know where she came from. I tried to find where she came from. She was micro-chipped but never registered," says author Kimberly Kimbler. Now she's an advocate for people adopting from the humane society. "Any cat and dog that is not rescued, rescued through the humane society and you hate to think about it but they're euthanized," Kimbler said. The Terre Haute Humane Society says they need all the donations they can get. "COVID really put a hit on donations but we're so appreciative all the time when anybody gives and when somebody goes out like this and writes a book and says hey we're gonna give half of our proceeds to various shelters or nonprofits it means a lot to all of us," says the general manager of the Terre Haute Humane Society. The illustrator does various murals across Indiana including this one here, but she says she's grateful this story has a happy ending. "We went from sad and scared and lonely and hungry to happy healthy and loved and having a home so that is reflected in the illustrations in the book," says illustrator Becky Hochhalter. Kimbler says she will be holding a book signing soon so keep a lookout for that. You can purchase her book now on Amazon. President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he would pick the president of the American Statistical Association, a San Antonio native, to lead the U.S. Census Bureau as it works toward releasing data from the 2020 census that will be used for redrawing congressional and legislative districts. If confirmed, Robert Santos, who is Mexican American, would become the first person of color to serve as a permanent director of the Census Bureau, the nations largest statistical agency. Santos currently is vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute. Santos is an expert in survey sampling. He has 40 years of experience in survey design and social science and policy research. Santos was born and raised in San Antonio. In a 2019 speech, Santos related how his familys story tracked that of many U.S. Latinos, as the percentage of native-born Hispanics in the U.S. has increased over the decades. His Spanish-speaking grandparents came from Mexico, but by his generation he was speaking only English. Its this language loss that led to personal conflict in my journey of identity: How could I call myself a Latino or Mexican-American if I am a monolingual English speaker? he said. Well guess what, I wasnt alone being monolingual English speaker then, and the situation is more pronounced now. He described himself as an aspiring hippie coming out of Holy Cross High School in the early 70s, but he knew he wanted to study mathematics. He earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics at Trinity University in San Antonio in 1976 but only after attending San Antonio Community College. He went on to get a masters degree in statistics at the University of Michigan in 1977. During his career, he has been director of survey operations for the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan, vice president of statistics and methodology at NORC at the University of Chicago and senior study director at the Institute for Survey Research at Temple University. Last year, Santos co-chaired an American Statistical Association task force that urged the Census Bureau to use outside researchers to help analyze the quality of the census data after the 2020 head count was challenged by a pandemic, wildfires, hurricanes, litigation and repeatedly changing deadlines for ending field operations. The bureau agreed to the recommendation. The Census Bureau currently is in the middle of processing the numbers that will be used for redrawing congressional and legislative districts following last years head count of every U.S. resident. The statistical agency is set to release state population counts that will determine how many congressional seats each state gets this month. It will release more detailed data at smaller geographic levels as early as August. Staff writer Cayla Harris contributed to this report. The live streaming of Gujarat High Court's suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) expressing concern about the COVID situation in the state has been viewed by more than 94,000 people so far. During the hearing, about 9,000 people were watching the court proceedings, making this a pathbreaking development in bringing the judicial process closer to people and letting them follow a life-and-death issue that affects them. Chief justice Vikram Nath expressed dissatisfaction with how the state government had handled the COVID situation and directed the Gujarat government to submit a detailed affidavit by 14th April based on today's hearing. Earlier, the chief justice had asked the chief secretary and principal secretary to join the online hearing. The public response and the Gujarat High Courts decision to allow the hearings to be viewed by the public is a new milestone in Indias judicial process and has gladdened activists and lawyers who have been pushing for live streaming and legal transcriptions to create a better record of court proceedings. Specialised legal journals, such as Barandbench.com and livelaw.com who do an excellent job of live tweeting all important court hearings had already opened the doors to more transparency. The Gujarat government action is the next step forward in this process. Many legal experts believe, that this transparency will have big benefits for litigants and also hasten the decisions in the long run. Taking a serious note of the worsening coronavirus situation, especially regarding the healthcare system and infrastructure, the Gujarat HC had observed on Sunday that the state was heading towards a health emergency. Taking suo motu cognizance, the HC had filed a fresh PIL regarding the situation making the state and Central governments respondents. During the hearing on Monday, chief justice Nath said, "People are dying even after getting both doses of the vaccine. It is good, but it is not fool-proof. You cannot admit all COVID positive patients in hospitals, because there are no beds. I have been told that patients have been refused admission even if the hospital has beds. Even smaller districts in Gujarat are having high number of cases. Government should take care that all basic amenities including testing are provided to tackle the spread." The bench of chief justice Nath and justice Bhargav D Karia also observed that without the help of people, we cannot fight this pandemic. Justice Karia says, "Last time, the isolation of positive patients was being done vigorously, now no efforts are being made. There seems to be a breach between the government and the people. Unless the chain is broken, this will never come to an end. Earlier, people were afraid of moving outdoors, now they have become careless." "We are not happy with certain policies of the government," chief justice Nath says, adding, "No doubt it is doing its best, but some things need to be corrected." The bench posed a salvo of questions to the attorney general on various fronts due to which the present uncontrolled situation arose. "Initially, when the pandemic struck last year, people were advised to home quarantine and also get treated at home. Now why have you changed it and insist on hospitalisation? Why are you insisting that Remdesivir should only be available at hospitals and not for home patients quarantined who require the injections? Why is it not being available at all the hospitals? Why is it not available for anyone who needs it? Controlling these injections by supply from one outsourced agency is not at all in public interest," the bench asked. As the Court asked the government what steps were taken to ensure the reduction of staff in various offices, the advocate general said that only the paan shop owners association had come forward and voluntarily had decided to shut down for the weekends. "Then they are acting with more wisdom and responsibility," the Court observed. The Court also stressed that fighting this pandemic was impossible without the cooperation of people, but "the people had lost trust in administration." "We are not happy with many of the policies of the government and there are some things which need to be corrected. At least people should feel that government is doing something. At present there is a total deficit in trust of people in the administration. That trust should be restored," the bench maintained. The Court also suggested reducing the number of people allowed in marriage functions to 50 from 100. Justice Karia also suggested that just like during the election process, booth-level micro-level planning be done and a booth-level official should be assigned accountability over a particular booth's Covid situation. The bench also questioned the role of the Central government. "When the centre feels that a state is not doing well, why can't it intervene," the bench asked additional solicitor general Devang Vyas, who represented the Union government. The live streaming of the hearing on YouTube was viewed by more than 94,000 people from across the country. Advocate Jamshed Mistry, who has been urging for live streaming of court proceedings and legal transcriptions of the proceedings, feels that it is for the first time that people are able to participate in the judicial process on an issue that affects the people. "This is important since the chief justice of Gujarat HC had taken up this issue on a suo motu basis and had taken the unusual step of asking the chief secretary and principal secretary to join online. Also unlike what has been happening so far, 9000 people were able to log in simultaneously," Advocate Mistry says. The Supreme Court appointed e-committee has put out a vision document which includes transcription and live streaming for courts in India. Therefore, it was wonderful to see the Gujarat high court opting for live streaming of the PIL. During today's hearing, the bench also lashed out at the state government over the use of Remdesivir as well as the long time taken for test reports in Gujarat. While imploring the state to ramp up testing, chief justice Nath observed that it takes a common man three days to get a test done, and results come five days later. "For people like you and me, we can speed things up, but a common man cannot," he told advocate general (AG) Kamal Trivedi, who represented the state government. The AG contended that testing can be done at 97 centres across the state of which 43 are government facilities and the government will add 40 more centres soon. "Door to door surveys and more than 3000 mobile vans have also been pressed into service to conduct testing," he says. Responding on the shortage of Remdesivir in Gujarat, the AG informed the bench that this was not a drug for corona and it is being prescribed by doctors since it reduces hospitalisation period for a COVID patient. Stressing that Remdesivir is for emergency use only, the attorney general told the bench that people are hoarding Remdesivir in the anxiety that they may need it. "We request them not to do that. It causes liver and kidney damage, so we do not recommend its use at home. Doctors are indiscriminately prescribing it," the AG says. Earlier, the HC had advised the Gujarat government to impose a three-four day lock-down, and take appropriate measures to check COVID-19 cases. "But it has been five days since. Newspapers and channels are flooded with harrowing tales, unfortunate and unimaginable difficulties, unmanageable conditions of infrastructure, the shortfall and deficit of not only testing facilities, but availability of beds, intensive care units (ICUs), supply of oxygen and basic medicines like Remdesivir," chief justice Vikram Nath had said in his order on Sunday. "A perusal of some news would indicate that the state is heading towards a health emergency of sorts. Accordingly, I direct the HC registry to register this as a suo motu fresh PIL titled 'Uncontrolled upsurge and serious management issues in COVID control' by impleading the Gujarat government through the chief secretary, the principal secretary, health and family welfare department, and the central government through the department of home and the health ministry," he ordered. The chief justice also ordered a copy of his order to be forwarded to AG Trivedi, government pleader Manisha Luv Kumar, and additional solicitor general Vyas. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled on 15th April. Gujarat on Sunday saw a new high of 5,469 cases, taking its tally to 347,000, while the death toll rose to 4,800 with 54 fresh fatalities. In April so far, the state has added 39,797 cases at an average of 3,618 daily, while in March, it had seen 37,809 cases, with an average of 1,220 per day. EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio East Cleveland are searching for two men and a woman wanted for questioning after a 60-year-old man died in an apparent attack outside an automotive store. Police received a report about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday that two men attacked another man outside an AutoZone on Euclid and Shaw avenues, East Cleveland police Chief Scott Gardner said. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the victims identify, and police made no arrests. Officials released a photo of a woman Gardner called a possible suspect in the incident. Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office assisted detectives at the scene, Gardner said. The East Cleveland police department requested the publics assistance in the investigation. Anyone with information should call 216-451-1234. More than a month has passed since Gov. Greg Abbott ended virtually all statewide restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Nationwide, new coronavirus cases are on the rise as new variants of the virus spread. And about four-fifths of Texans are not yet fully vaccinated. But at least for now, the most dire predictions of a new major wave of cases in Texas have not come true, prompting a mix of theories from public health experts. Those experts caution that a major increase in cases could still come and it may still be too early to tell whether Abbotts decisions to lift the statewide mask mandate and allow businesses to fully reopen could prompt a new wave of infections. Still, daily new cases and the positivity rate have leveled off over the past month, while deaths and hospitalization have gone down substantially. Experts point out that vaccination is ramping up, many businesses are still requiring masks and there are unique factors impacting individual metrics like a drop in demand for testing that is driving down raw case numbers. They also emphasize that, especially at this point in the pandemic, a stabilization of such metrics, or even a modest decline, is not exactly cause for celebration. I think we couldve been even lower at this point in time, if not for Abbotts latest decisions, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious disease specialist at UTHealths McGovern Medical School in Houston. The fact that were sort of stable is not necessarily good news because were stable at a very high level. Its like everybody saying youre at a stable cruising speed but at 100 miles per hour. Abbotts decision to end most statewide restrictions went into effect 35 days ago, on March 10. The seven-day average for daily new confirmed cases was 3,020 on that day; it was 2,456 on Tuesday. The seven-day average of the states positivity rate the ratio of cases to tests was 6.24% on March 10; it was 5.89% on Monday. (The latest positivity-rate figures are considered preliminary and subject to recalculation as more test results come in from the date in question.) Deaths and hospitalizations, which lag new cases, have seen steeper drops since March 10. The seven-day average of new daily deaths was 187 on March 10; it was 64 on Tuesday. There were 4,556 Texans hospitalized with the virus on March 10; there were 3,002 on Tuesday. The four key metrics are way down from peaks earlier in the year, when the state was seeing daily new caseloads approaching 20,000, a positivity rate that went above 20%, hospitalizations that topped 14,000 and weeks of more than 300 deaths per day. At the same time, vaccinations have climbed steadily as the state has expanded eligibility, opening up to everyone age 16 and older on March 29. The percentage of fully vaccinated Texans more than doubled from March 10 to Monday, when it was 1 in 5 Texans. Overall, its great news, said state Rep. Chris Turner, the House Democratic Caucus chairman who has been critical of Abbotts decisions throughout the pandemic. Im very glad that so far the governors decisions have not resulted in an increase in cases. Clearly the massive investment in vaccines and the improved distribution of vaccines across the country since President Biden came into office is having a tremendously positive impact on protecting people from COVID-19, Turner added. Despite the numbers in Texas, it has been an open question as to how long it takes after the lifting of restrictions to see a spike in the data. The incubation period for the virus the time between when someone is exposed to it and when they start showing symptoms is believed to be two to 14 days, and not everyone immediately stopped wearing masks and visiting fully reopened businesses on March 10. Meanwhile, the rise of more transmissible variants across the country has added another threat. Average daily infections rose by almost 7% nationwide over the past week as officials race to vaccinate people as quickly as possible. Those efforts might be hampered in the short term after Texas paused the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine so federal health authorities could review six reports of blood clotting among 6.8 million doses nationwide. The nations top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, was asked in a TV interview last week about Texas numbers and gave an uncertain response about what was driving them at the moment. Speaking with MSNBC, he said it can be confusing because you may see a lag and a delay because often you have to wait a few weeks before you see the effect of what youre doing right now. Weve been fooled before by situations where people begin to open up, nothing happens and then all of a sudden, several weeks later, things start exploding on you, Fauci said. So weve got to be careful we dont prematurely judge that. Until recently, Abbott has been restrained in openly touting the Texas trend lines, instead focusing much of his celebratory public messaging on vaccination progress. We absolutely are not declaring victory at this time, Abbott told Fox News on Sunday. We remain very vigilant and guarded and proactive in our response, but theres simple math behind the reason why we continue to have success, he added, citing the combination of increasing vaccinations and the acquired immunity among Texans who have already had the virus and recovered from it. However, Abbott went on to make a dubious claim: that the state is very close to herd immunity, or the point at which enough people have been vaccinated or have already become infected and recovered to protect the rest of the population. Abbott said that despite acknowledging in the same response that he does not know what the herd immunity threshold is for the virus, an uncertainty echoed by the public health community. Fauci has said herd immunity against the coronavirus could require as much as 90% of the population to be vaccinated. Ostrosky said classically in epidemiology, we talk about herd immunity in the 60 to 80% range. In any case, experts agree that Texas is not anywhere near herd immunity. As of Monday, just 20.1% of Texans had been fully vaccinated and 9.72% had tested positive for the virus. There could be overlap between the two groups the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who had the disease get a vaccine. In the meantime, though, public health officials are keeping a close eye on the core metrics and whether they creep up as more Texans take advantage of the end of the mask mandate and businesses reopening at full capacity. Ostrosky acknowledged that so far, the numbers are not what we were expecting. The question is how come and the answer in my mind is vaccines, Ostrosky said. I think were making really good headway with the vaccination program. We were sort of aggressive moving through the stages [of eligibility]. I think our saving grace was the vaccines despite the not-so-good choices that some of our fellow Texans are making with regard to practices like masking, Ostrosky added. Jaquelin Dudley, the associate director of the LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease at the University of Texas at Austin, said the underreporting of previous cases could be masking the extent to which the states population is already immune. Combined with the vaccination effort, were definitely impairing the ability of the virus to spread at this juncture in the pandemic, she said. IN TEXAS: Houston teacher disciplined after using racial slur for class activity She and other experts also cited anecdotal evidence that most businesses, especially in the states major metropolitan centers, are still requiring masks despite the lack of statewide mandate. I think its too early to drop mask mandates, and thats really been left up to the individual businesses, Dudley said. Certainly the places that I know of are still requiring masks, and Im sure thats helping. One of the strongest arguments to keep wearing masks is the rise of variants, Dudley said. There are currently five "variants of concern" in the United States, according to the CDC, which is studying how effectively current vaccines address them. When it comes to steeper drops in deaths, Dudley said she thinks the state has just got a lot better about treating the infection after confronting the pandemic for over a year. Ben King, a clinical assistant professor and epidemiologist at the University of Houston College of Medicine, said the downward trend in both deaths and hospitalizations could reflect Texas prioritization of the highest-risk population the elderly for immunization. Both Texas and Florida made national headlines late last year for bucking CDC guidance and prioritizing older people over essential workers in their vaccine rollouts. And Abbott further prioritized older Texans with his Save Our Seniors initiative, which has deployed National Guard troops to help vaccinate homebound seniors. Over 100 counties have taken part in the the program, which has been underway for six weeks. There are also simple statistical truths behind the latest numbers. Since earlier this year, the number of tests administered has dropped, and with it, the number of cases identified. The falloff in testing is not for a lack of supply, according to experts, but due to an apparent lack of demand as Texans fatigued by the virus see less of a need to get tested in the pandemics final stages. READ ALSO: Texas is among the most stressed out states in America, but are you surprised? While the positivity rate has remained stable, experts said the end of the pandemic is especially not the time to let up on testing. King said Texas plan to provide state-licensed summer camps with COVID-19 rapid antigen tests is exactly the way we need to be thinking. We want to see testing go way up, but we also want to see cases go way down, said King, who agreed with Ostrosky that any flatlining of metrics at this point is "not what we need." We have to be crushing [the curve] at this point, King said. Abbott's latest decisions "could be just stretching out the flatness of the curve, which just makes it harder to get to zero, which is obviously what we all want. Experts also point out that the changing of seasons could be keeping the numbers relatively low. As the weather gets warmer, people are gathering more outside and not inside, where the virus is more likely to spread. The experts, though, are pleading with the public to still take the pandemic seriously, even as the numbers look good and the statewide restrictions fall further in to the rearview. If we dont focus and all were asking for is two more months were really gonna lose all that ground we gained, Ostrosky said. Disclosure: UTHealth and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), spreads globally, new emerging variants pose health threats to many counties. The emergence of variants with specific mutations of key epitopes in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 raises concerns on vaccination efforts and the use of monoclonal antibodies. Researchers at the University College London and the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aimed to describe the emergence of the B.1.1.7 variant of concern (VOC), including viral characteristics and clinical severity. The study, published in The Lancet, demonstrates that there is no evidence of a link between severe illness and death and lineage when comparing the B.1.1.7 lineage and other variants. The B.1.1.7 lineage Lineage B.1.1.7, also called 20I/501Y.V1, variant of concern 20DEC-01, or the British variant, was first reported in December 2020 in the United Kingdom. The B.1.1.7 lineage carries a mutation in the S protein (N501Y) that affects the receptor-binding domain (RBD). The variant has 13 other lineage-defining mutations, many of which are found in the S protein. These include a deletion at positions 69 and 70, which evolved spontaneously in other SARS-CoV-2 variants. The effect of the structural changes to the spike proteins properties has sparked concern about transmissibility, pathogenicity, and the variants effect on vaccine efficacy. In London, physical distancing restrictions were re-imposed on December 21, 2020, to mitigate the spread of this new variant. Genomic characteristics and clinical outcomes To better understand how the B.1.1.7 variant spreads and its effects on the human population, the researchers investigated the genomic characteristics and clinical outcomes tied to the B.1.1.7 infection in patients admitted to the hospital. They also assessed whether there was a difference in viral load, by proxy of PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and whole-genome sequencing read depths, between patients with the B.1.1.7 infection and those infected with previous circulating lineages. To arrive at the study findings, the researchers collected samples positive for SARS-CoV-2 on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from November 9, 2020, from patients who were admitted to one of two hospitals on or before December 20, 2020, in London, the U.K. These samples were sequenced for the presence of the mutations. The team investigated the link between the B.1.1.7 lineage and severe illness or death within 28 days of a positive test. Further genomic analyses were performed in a group of chronically shedding patients and a group of remdesivir-treated patients. The team then compared viral load by proxy, using PCR cycle threshold values, and by using sequencing read depths. The study findings revealed that of the 341 patients with positive samples for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 58 percent had a B.1.1.7 infection while 42 percent had a non-B.1.1.7 infection. The team found no link between severe illness and death and the lineages when comparing the B.1.1.7 lineage and other circulating lineages. Further, they detected no B.1.1.7 VOC-defining mutations in 123 chronically shedding immunocompromised patients or 32 remdesivir-treated patients. Meanwhile, they found higher viral load by proxy in B.1.1.7 samples than in non-B.1.1.7 samples. In terms of age, B.1.1.7 infection is more common in younger people, which gives a hint of more severe disease in patients with the variant are admitted to the hospital more often, compared with patients with other lineages. The study investigators urged the rapid collection of food quality clinical data, alongside whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2. These are imperative in deciding whether variants are associated with altered clinical outcomes. The data and the investigation of neutralization capacity of sera from people who had COVID-19 or those who received a vaccine are essential in the public health response and management of COVID-19. Our data, within the context and limitations of a real-world study, provide initial reassurance that severity in hospitalized patients with B.1.1.7 is not markedly different from severity in those without, and this study provides a model to answer the same question again as we move into an era of emerging variants, the researchers concluded in the study. To date, the United Kingdom has recorded over 4.39 million infections and over 127,000 deaths. Globally, more than 137 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, while over 2.95 million have died. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday wishing the Sikh community a joyful Baisakhi said the government had granted special permission to Sikh diaspora and Indian pilgrims to visit their holy sites in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday wishing the Sikh community a joyful Baisakhi said the government had granted special permission to Sikh diaspora and Indian pilgrims to visit their holy sites in Pakistan. "We have granted Sikh Diaspora and Indian Yatrees special permission to visit their holy Gurdwaras in Pakistan & attend the Baisakhi rituals," the prime minister said in a tweet. The prime minister said the visitors would be facilitated with free meals (Langar), transport and accommodation under strict COVID-19 protocols. Celebrated among Sikhs and Hindus, Baisakhi is a spring harvest festival that is celebrated on the 13th or 14th of April every year. - Double-digit Revenue Growth Guidance of 12%-14% for FY22 - Share Buyback of 9,200 Crore ($1.23 bn) and Final Dividend of 6,400 Crore ($0.85 bn) Announced BENGALURU, India, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, delivered strong FY21 performance with 5.0% CC growth, and growth accelerating to 9.6% in Q4 in the face of a turbulent economic environment. Large deal TCV for FY21 peaked to an all-time high of $14.1 billion with 66% being net new. Operating margin for the year expanded by 3.2% and Free Cash Flows increased by 38.5%. The Board has recommended capital return of 15,600 crore (app. $2.08 billion) including final dividend of 6,400 crore (app. $0.85 billion) and open market buyback of shares of 9,200 crore (app. $1.23 billion). "I am very pleased with our performance this year and incredibly proud of our employees for the passion and commitment they displayed despite a very tough environment. We have crossed a milestone of `100,000 crore in revenue in FY21. Our intense focus on client relevance, growing our digital portfolio with differentiated capabilities like Infosys CobaltTM, and empowering employees have helped us emerge as a preferred 'partner-of-choice' for our global clients. Our record large deal wins stand testimony to the effectiveness of this approach", said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "A strong momentum exiting FY21, alongside a focused strategy to accelerate client digital journeys, gives us confidence for a stronger FY22", he added. 34.4% Q4 YoY 29.4% FY CC Digital growth 9.6% Q4 YoY 5.0% FY CC Revenue growth 24.5% Q4 24.5% FY Operating margin 17.0% FY Increase in EPS (INR terms) $2.1 bn Q4 $14.1 bn FY Large deal signings Outlook for FY22: Revenue growth guidance of 12%-14% in constant currency Operating margin guidance of 22%-24% In Q4, Infosys continued to expand its digital capabilities, especially with the Infosys CobaltTM cloud portfolio. The company announced a partnership with LivePerson for Conversational AI to help brands manage AI-powered conversations with consumers and employees. Powered by NVIDIA DGX A100 systems, the company also built its own applied AI cloud to provide employees simple and fast access to AI infrastructure, expanding their ability to drive AI-driven transformation for enterprises. During the quarter, Infosys was also recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2021 by Ethisphere Institute, US and was ranked #30 on WSJ's 2021 list of 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world. 1. Key highlights for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2021 For the quarter ended March 31, 2021 Revenues in CC terms grew by 9.6% YoY and 2.0% QoQ Reported revenues at $3,613 million, growth of 13.0% YoY Digital revenues at 51.5% of total revenues, YoY CC growth of 34.4% Operating margin at 24.5%, increase of 3.4% YoY and decline of 0.9% QoQ Basic EPS at $0.16, growth of 18.0% YoY FCF at $799 million, YoY growth of 34.7%; FCF conversion at 114.6% of net profit For the year ended March 31, 2021 Revenues in CC terms grew by 5.0% YoY Reported revenues at $13,561 million, growth of 6.1% YoY Digital revenues at 48.5% of total revenues, YoY CC growth of 29.4% Operating margin at 24.5%, increase of 3.2% YoY Basic EPS at $0.62, growth of 12.5% YoY FCF at $2,973 million, YoY growth of 38.5%; FCF conversion at 113.3% of net profit "Despite the disruptions, we continue to execute seamlessly with broad-based momentum across verticals. This has led to healthy volume growth and record utilization in a seasonally soft quarter", said Pravin Rao, COO. While our employees continue to work from home through this health crisis, we remain focused on their wellness, including facilitating vaccination rollout for eligible employees. Attrition has picked up, largely reflecting a strong demand environment, but we remain confident of our employee engagement initiatives, vast talent pool and training capabilities to ensure seamless execution," he added. "FY21 was a landmark year with superior shareholder returns backed by robust operating metrics and strong growth across revenue, margins and free cash flows", said Nilanjan Roy, CFO. "Executing on our capital allocation policy, the company proposes to increase the total dividend per share by 54% over previous year and Buyback of Equity shares of up to 9,200 crore", he added. 2. Capital Allocation The Board in its meeting held today approved the following: Buyback of Equity Shares, from the open market route through the Indian stock exchanges, amounting to 9,200 crore (Maximum Buyback Size, excluding buyback tax) (app. $1.23 billion *) at a price not exceeding 1,750 per share (Maximum Buyback Price) (app. $23.3 per ADS*), subject to shareholders' approval in the ensuing AGM. *) at a price not exceeding 1,750 per share (Maximum Buyback Price) (app. per ADS*), subject to shareholders' approval in the ensuing AGM. For FY 21, the Board has recommended a final dividend of 15 per share ( $0.20 per ADS*). Together with the interim dividend of 12 per share already paid, the total dividend per share for FY 21 will amount to 27 (app. $0.36 per ADS*) which is a 54% increase over FY 20. With this, the company has announced total dividend of 11,500 crore (app. $1.53 billion *) for FY21. *USD-INR rate of 75.00 3. Client Wins & Testimonials The trust clients repose in Infosys drives us to invest further in building stronger digital capabilities and to raise the bar in delivery excellence. Sam Marnick , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Spirit AeroSystems , said, "We look forward to partnering with Infosys on our efforts to further diversify our business and strategically position Spirit AeroSystems for the future. We appreciate the long-standing relationship we have with Infosys and the support they have brought to a number of strategic projects for Spirit." , said, "We look forward to partnering with Infosys on our efforts to further diversify our business and strategically position Spirit AeroSystems for the future. We appreciate the long-standing relationship we have with Infosys and the support they have brought to a number of strategic projects for Spirit." Alan Feeley , CIO of Siemens Gamesa , said, "Implementing a single S/4HANA system across all business units and regions is a core component of our company-wide strategy towards process efficiency, standardization and industrialization. These first go live steps across 7 countries, supporting all business types, have proven the value of the greenfield approach chosen, achieving a stable productive environment around Hybrid Azure cloud by Infosys. This single and global setup provides an almost Zero "change the standard" approach giving confidence towards sustainable cost management & upgrade proofing for the future. Infosys has demonstrated admirable 'staying power' and has delivered a solid product whilst fulfilling our expectations of being a partner in full." , said, "Implementing a single S/4HANA system across all business units and regions is a core component of our company-wide strategy towards process efficiency, standardization and industrialization. These first go live steps across 7 countries, supporting all business types, have proven the value of the greenfield approach chosen, achieving a stable productive environment around Hybrid Azure cloud by Infosys. This single and global setup provides an almost Zero "change the standard" approach giving confidence towards sustainable cost management & upgrade proofing for the future. Infosys has demonstrated admirable 'staying power' and has delivered a solid product whilst fulfilling our expectations of being a partner in full." "We are pleased to continue to partner with Infosys BPM in standardizing and digitizing supply chain processes across our regions. Infosys BPM's strong leadership commitment and clear understanding of our operations will enable significant productivity improvements, service levels improvements, and cost savings," said Ryan Plourde , Group Executive Supply Chain, Newmont Corporation . . Paolo Lomonaco , CFO, Chalhoub Group , said, "We are delighted to extend our strategic collaboration with Infosys to accelerate our digital transformation journey and enable a seamless transition to a new business model in the post-Covid normal. Infosys has been our partner of choice in providing a range of technology services for almost a year and has managed to efficiently transition during the unprecedented situation. We look forward to leveraging Infosys' adroitness and a clear understanding of best in class retail technologies to scale digital commerce and drive operational efficiency." , said, "We are delighted to extend our strategic collaboration with Infosys to accelerate our digital transformation journey and enable a seamless transition to a new business model in the post-Covid normal. Infosys has been our partner of choice in providing a range of technology services for almost a year and has managed to efficiently transition during the unprecedented situation. We look forward to leveraging Infosys' adroitness and a clear understanding of best in class retail technologies to scale digital commerce and drive operational efficiency." "We collaborated with Infosys to organize our first Mars AI virtual festival in December 2020 , featuring top leaders from Mars, incorporated and globally renowned AI experts. With more than 8,000 associates and business stakeholders attending, spread across geographies, and spanning various business segments, we needed a platform that could not only support the scale of the event but also deliver a seamless, immersive, and engaging experience. And the Infosys Meridian platform delivered. Using the Infosys Meridian workplace ecosystem, we were able to drive interactions and collaboration amongst the global participants by orchestrating immersive interventions that included 26 kiosks, a speaker hangout area, a Twitter board, multiple games, a leaderboard, a digital caricature corner, and a live DJ. Over the five days of the event, we were able to execute an exciting agenda to create and sustain meaningful engagements with our global stakeholders." - Miao Song, Global CIO, Mars Petcare , featuring top leaders from Mars, incorporated and globally renowned AI experts. With more than 8,000 associates and business stakeholders attending, spread across geographies, and spanning various business segments, we needed a platform that could not only support the scale of the event but also deliver a seamless, immersive, and engaging experience. And the Infosys Meridian platform delivered. Using the Infosys Meridian workplace ecosystem, we were able to drive interactions and collaboration amongst the global participants by orchestrating immersive interventions that included 26 kiosks, a speaker hangout area, a Twitter board, multiple games, a leaderboard, a digital caricature corner, and a live DJ. Over the five days of the event, we were able to execute an exciting agenda to create and sustain meaningful engagements with our global stakeholders." - "Our partnership with Infosys has been invaluable, allowing us to innovate, strengthen our core operations, handle growing volumes and as customers focus on becoming increasingly digital, improve our services. The Infosys team supports our business transformation goals by helping us drive efficiencies and improve customer experience. Infosys demonstrated great support and flexibility throughout the pandemic, helping us keep our operations running and delivering with an unwavering customer-focus." - Petteri Naulapaa, CIO, Posti Group Oyj 4. Recognitions Ranked #30 (from previous ranking of #94 in 2020) on WSJ's 2021 List of 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies in the World Recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2021 by Ethisphere Institute, US Positioned as a leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data and Analytics Service Providers Ranked as a leader in HFS Top 10: Hyperscaler Cloud Service Providers 2021 Ranked as a leader in HFS Top 10: Digital Associates Services Positioned as a leader in NelsonHall NEAT on Salesforce Services 2020 Ranked as a leader in NelsonHall NEAT in SAP Cloud Migration Services 2021 Ranked as a leader in Constellation ShortList Microsoft End-to-End Service Providers Positioned as a leader in Constellation ShortList Blockchain Technology Services Positioned as a leader in Constellation ShortList Learning Marketplaces Ranked as a Leader in Everest - Software Product Engineering Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2021 Infosys scored 95 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQI+ Inclusion Rated by Sustainalytics as an ESG Industry Top Rated Company Awarded Top Employers Global 2021 certification in 20 countries across Europe , Middle East , Asia Pacific , and North America . With top ranking in 15 countries and #1 ranking in India , APAC, and Middle East Region, and among the top 2 employers in the United States and Australia . About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor "Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.". Infosys Limited and subsidiaries Extracted from the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet under IFRS as at: (Dollars in millions) March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 3,380 2,465 Current investments 320 615 Trade receivables 2,639 2,443 Unbilled revenue 1,030 941 Other Current assets 938 748 Total current assets 8,307 7,212 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment and Right-of-use assets 2,519 2,361 Goodwill and other Intangible assets 1,115 950 Non-current investments 1,623 547 Unbilled revenue 81 - Other non-current assets 1,180 1,190 Total non-current assets 6,518 5,048 Total assets 14,825 12,260 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Trade payables 362 377 Unearned revenue 554 395 Employee benefit obligations 276 242 Other current liabilities and provisions 2,072 1,743 Total current liabilities 3,264 2,757 Non-current liabilities Lease liabilities 627 530 Other non-current liabilities 432 272 Total non-current liabilities 1,059 802 Total liabilities 4,323 3,559 Total equity attributable to equity holders of the company 10,442 8,646 Non-controlling interests 60 55 Total equity 10,502 8,701 Total liabilities and equity 14,825 12,260 Extracted from the Condensed Consolidated statement of Comprehensive Income under IFRS for: (Dollars in millions except per equity share data) 3 months ended March 31, 2021 3 months ended March 31, 2020 Year ended March 31, 2021 Year ended March 31, 2020 Revenues 3,613 3,197 13,561 12,780 Cost of sales 2,357 2,133 8,828 8,552 Gross profit 1,256 1,064 4,733 4,228 Operating expenses: Selling and marketing expenses 165 161 624 664 Administrative expenses 207 229 784 840 Total operating expenses 372 390 1,408 1,504 Operating profit 884 674 3,325 2,724 Other income, net(3) 68 78 271 371 Profit before income taxes 952 752 3,596 3,095 Income tax expense 255 160 973 757 Net profit (before minority interest) 697 592 2,623 2,338 Net profit (after minority interest) 697 590 2,613 2,331 Basic EPS ($) 0.16 0.14 0.62 0.55 Diluted EPS ($) 0.16 0.14 0.61 0.55 NOTES: 1. The above information is extracted from the audited condensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2021 which have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on April 14, 2021. 2. A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded from www.infosys.com. 3. Other Income includes Finance Cost. IFRS-INR Press Release : https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2020-2021/q4/documents/ifrs-inr-press-release.pdf Fact sheet: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2020-2021/q4/documents/fact-sheet.pdf SOURCE Infosys Policy and Legislation Over the last decade, youth related issues were brought into the national agenda by the Peruvian government, which developed different tools and policies to address youth needs and rights. The government of Alejandro Toledo established the National Youth Council (CONAJU) in 2002 to implement youth policies through the National Youth Commission (CNJ). As a ministerial authority, the CNJ developed the Guidelines for the National Youth Policy which led to the establishment of the first National Youth Strategy (2006-2011). CONAJU and CNJ were merged under the Ministry of Education (MINEDU) and replaced by the National Secretary for Youth (SENAJU) in 2007. SENAJU is the current state body in charge of formulating and implementing youth policies as well as creating space for consultation with young people under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. The SENAJU coordinated the process for the establishment of the National Youth Strategy (2012-2021) gathering youth groups, civil society organisations and representatives from indigenous communities. The Strategy constitutes a kind of "National Agreement" for young people in Peru. It promotes a national dialogue between the State, civil society, as well as young Peruvians, and provides these actors with a strategic roadmap along six key areas of intervention: 1) access to inclusive and quality education; 2) youth participation and representation; 3) employment and entrepreneurship; 4) health; 5) culture, identity and integration; and 6) environment and sustainable development. Although the strategy demonstrates the willingness of the government to address youth related issues, it has yet to be fully operationalised and the SENAJU has neither the authority nor the resources to fulfil its mandate. As a non-ministerial body under the Ministry of Education, the SENAJU lacks both autonomy and decision-making power. Additionally, due to a lack of legitimacy and clarity of its mandate, the SENAJU is not able to play a coordinating role and there is no effective coordination mechanism between the different entities in charge of youth-related issues, which leads to frictions and overlaps. A similar lack of coordination can also be found at the intergovernmental level between the central, regional and municipal authorities in charge of youth issues. Health Socio-economic inequalities, compounded by gender, cultural and geographical discrimination, impede the public health system of Peru. Young women as well as youth from poor, rural and indigenous communities do not have adequate and equal access to basic health services and information. Perus youth is exposed to a variety of risks, including high rates of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, as well as diseases related to sexual and reproductive health. Although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Peru is low (0.2 per cent of youth aged 15-24), new infections are concentrated among youth due to a reluctant use of contraceptive methods. The rate of STD among young women (15-24) has significantly increased from 0.2 per cent in 2004 to 0.5 per cent in 2014 according to the Peruvian DHS, posing a serious risk for youth well being. As for alcohol consumption of teenagers, results show that more than half (58.6 per cent) of youth aged 17-19 are consumers of alcohol (Young Lives Survey). Alcohol and tobacco consumption is related to an urban lifestyle, high levels of education, predominantly for youth from richer and Spanish-speaking households. Regarding early pregnancy, birth rates among young women aged 15-19 vary widely depending on residence (42 per thousand in rural vs. 17 per thousand in urban areas) and wealth (44 per thousand in poorest vs. 14 per thousand in wealthiest households in 2014). The adolescent fertility rate was 48.5 per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 2015 (UNDP), and the majority of these births are the result of unintended pregnancies, reflecting the insufficient awareness of sexual and reproductive health. Abortion is illegal in Peru (except in case of a threat to the life or health of the woman) and complications of abortion are the main cause of maternal death. More worrying, this indicator has deteriorated over the last decade for rural, poor, less educated, indigenous young women. In addition, gender-based and domestic violence are common in Peru; hence sexual intercourse at an early age is highly associated with coercion. Although gender-based violence has significantly decreased for women aged 15-29, almost a third of young women had suffered physical and/or sexual violence from their intimate partner in their lifetime in 2014. Finally, youth are at higher risk of perpetuating violence but also of being victim of it. According to the National Youth Survey of 2012, 58.6 per cent of Perus youth consider gang activity and crime to be the most serious problems affecting their lives and health. A 2015 report by SENAJU shows that youth (15-29) have both the highest rates of deaths associated with criminal acts compared to other cohorts and represent the highest proportions of the prison population (41.8 per cent, for youth aged 18-29). Education The low quality of Peru's educational system is another major concern. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which analyses the performance of students in mathematics, reading literacy and science, ranked Peru as the worst performing country in 2012 despite an overall improvement for math, reading and science. Main barriers towards high-quality education are poor infrastructure, inadequate learning materials, out-dated curricula, and a lack of well-trained teachers. According to the World Bank, Peru spent 3.3% of its GDP on education in 2013. Nevertheless, over the past decade Peru has made significant progress in providing universal basic education. In 2014, the net enrolment rate in primary schools was 92.8 per cent. Enrolment rates have also increased for secondary and tertiary levels and female enrolment has had a significant increase over the last decade. More girls are now enroled in secondary and tertiary education than males: in 2014, the net enrolment rate in secondary schools was 79.4 per cent for young females and 77.4 for young males (World Bank). In addition, the literacy rate of people aged 15-24 years has also increased and was estimated at 98.94 per cent in 2015, showing an improvement in education quality. Dropout rates have also experienced a significant reduction, including in rural areas and for indigenous youth. However, dropout rates for lower and upper secondary education is still very high for youth living in rural areas, with low income and/or indigenous origins. Persistent inequalities related to geographical location, cultural identity and gender remain major problems while poverty status and ethnicity are still important factors of poor education outcomes. Indigenous youth face a variety of challenges they are more likely to be poor, usually from uneducated households and live in rural areas, where access to public services is limited. These factors impede the educational attainments of young indigenous people significantly. Spanish-speaking students are more likely to access and to complete basic education than students whose maternal language is indigenous (more than 12 per cent of young Peruvians speak an indigenous tongue as their maternal language, in some provinces the rate raises over 50 per cent). Although more indigenous youth now enrols in education further than primary level, the gap between indigenous enrolment rates and Spanish-speakers remains significant. Employment Young Peruvians still face a number of challenges when they enter the national labour market, above all the lack of decent employment opportunities and skills mismatch. Young women and indigenous youth are the most afflicted. Gender, location and ethnicity have a significant impact on the access and quality of employment, the most vulnerable groups being rural, low educated, female, poor and indigenous young people. The relatively low youth unemployment rate (9.2% in 2014) is an imperfect indicator. Indeed, the unemployment rate among young Peruvians is almost three times higher than that for adults. The integration of young people on the labour market also remains precarious: the labour force participation rate among youth (15-24) was 61.4 per cent in 2014 (ILO). The majority of youth works in the informal sector, while every second young worker is exposed to precarious working conditions, such as low wages, unstable employment, no social security or health insurance, and dangerous environments. In addition, more than one-sixth of the youth are inactive (neither in the labor force nor in education or training) with a majority of women (almost three fourths of Peruvian NEET). Even though the rate of youth NEET has decreased over the last years, from 16.5 per cent in 2004 to 15.3 per cent in 2014, this reduction seems small compared to the increase in youth population over the decade. Many Peruvians who leave school lack the foundational learning-, practical-, and life-skills demanded by the labour market. Especially marginalised youth groups are less likely to access vocational training and high-quality education, and face difficulties in the school-to-work transition. Lack of information about job opportunities and skills mismatch are major issue, with a high proportion of youth being over-educated for their jobs. However, the structure of the labour market has changed significantly over the past decade: while in 2004 31.29 per cent of youth were contributing family workers, this proportion is only a fourth in 2014 (24.35 per cent). More and more young people are employees (28.5 per cent in 2014 compared to 20 per cent in 2004) (ENAHO). In addition, the share of youth (15-29) with below-average wages has improved, dropping from 64.2 per cent in 2004 to 57.2 per cent in 2014 (ENAHO), for both young males and females. Youth Participation Even though there has been an increase in youth participation in civic and political activities, their participation to social, economic and political spheres of public life remains low. Less than 7 per cent of youth were civically engaged in 2014 (ENAHO) (i.e. the percentage of youth who during the past month have volunteered their time to an organization). In addition, institutional trust seems to have deteriorated, with a high proportion of youth who declared not being confident in institutions, such as national government, civil services, police, military, judiciary services and media: for instance, 80 per cent of youth declared that they did not trust the Congress in 2014 (ENAHO). Yet, the National Youth Strategy of 2012 identifies 'Youth Participation and Representation' as a strategic priority of public policy and defines as its objective to promote the integration, civic participation, and political engagement of young people in national development and the democratic system. In this line, the National Secretariat for Youth (SENAJU) established the volunteer program Voluntariado Juvenil, which articulates, promotes and coordinates youth volunteering in Peru. The priority areas of intervention are poverty alleviation, humanitarian aid, and public policies that contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. The programme Jovenes Electores also aims to promote political participation among young people, while the programme Jovenes Voluntarios organise awareness-raising activities about civic and political life, elections and young people's rights. Finally, the Youth Parliament of Peru is comprised of 130 members allowing young people (18-29) to become familiar with decision and law-making processes. Migration Persistent social and economic inequalities in the Peruvian society are the main factor that drives migration from rural to urban areas, and across national borders. In 2009, 76,400 young Peruvians left the country, representing about 54 per cent of all emigrants in that year. Between 1994 and 2008, the total number of young emigrants was around 500,000. The wish to leave Peru varies between age groups (56.3 per cent of youth aged 15-19, 36.5 per cent of youth aged 25-29) and between rural (33.3 per cent) and urban (51 per cent) youth (ILO). Most of the emigrants are male, aged 25-29, and relatively highly skilled while the share of female migrants is increasing. The main destination of internal rural-urban migration is Lima; international migrants predominantly aim at Chile, Bolivia, the United States and Spain. The main drivers of emigration are better economic perspectives and living conditions, education and family reasons. However, most of the young and skilled migrants are exposed to non-professional jobs and social exclusion. References Foreign Policy in Focus (2011): Perus Leftist Student Revival. http://fpif.org/perus_leftist_student_revival/ ILO (2013): Youth Employment and Migration in Peru. http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---ed_emp_msu/documents/publication/wcms_230171.pdf Machel McCatty (2004): The Process of Rural-Urban Migration in Developing Countries. National Youth Institute of Statistics and Informatics Peru (2014) Peruvian National Household Survey ENAHO National Youth Policy (2014): Factsheet Peru. http://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/country/peru/ Population Reference Bureau (2013): The World's Youth. 2013 Data Sheet. UNESCO (2010): Explaining and overcoming marginalization in education: a focus on ethnic/language minorities in Peru. UNESCO (2012): Youth and skills: Putting education to work. UNESCO (2015): www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx UNFPA (2005): Public Youth Policies and Reproductive Rights: Limitations, Opportunities and Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. UNICEF (2008): Situation of Children in Peru. Executive Summary. USAID (2010): Evaluation of USAIDs/Peru's Education Program: Apprendes and Cett-Andino. USAID (2014) Demographic and Health Survey ENDES Secretaria Nacional de la Juventud (2012): Plan Estrategico Nacional de Juventudes. 2012-2021. Secretaria Nacional de la Juventud (2012): Peru: Primera Encuesta Nacional de la Juventud 2012. Resultados Finales. Secretaria Nacional de la Juventud (2014): Website. http://juventud.gob.pe/ Young Lives (2014) Young Lives Survey Back to Peru page Back to the Youth Inclusion Project homepage Uganda has signed a landmark deal with Tanzania for the construction of the worlds longest electrically heated crude oil pipeline, working in partnership with French oil supermajor Total. The 1440km export pipeline, expected to be completed within three years, has an anticipated cost of $3.5 billion. It will run from western Uganda to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga in Tanzania. The deal between Uganda and Tanzania on Sunday marks the start of greater economic partnerships between the two countries in the energy sector and beyond. The governments of the two states hope the deal will encourage upwards of $15 billion in investments. The long-anticipated project is expected to tap over one billion barrels of crude oil from Uganda, to transport them from a landlocked position to a key sea port. In order to transport the oil effectively, the pipeline will be heated to manage the high viscosity of the Ugandan oil. Total East Africa Midstream, part of the supermajor energy group Total, will be developing the project. The construction of the pipeline is expected to solidify Totals position in the African region. Tanzania is not an oil-producing country, meaning that this pipeline offers significant potential to develop its oil import and export industry in partnership with Uganda. Oil extraction will be carried out in the Kingfisher oil field, operated by China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd (CNOOC), and the Tilenga field, operated by Total S.A. Related Video: The Conditions Are Ripe for A Second Shale Boom While the two countries are optimistic about unlocking the potential for both oil and several other areas of their economies, environmental activists are less than enthusiastic. Many worry that the pipeline could have a detrimental effect on the environment, including damaging water sources and wetlands due to the increase in CO2 emissions. However, there are significant benefits to be seen from the project, with an expected $1.7 billion of work for companies across the two countries during the construction phase. In addition, Tanzanian President Hassan stated, "The project will bring revenues to the regional countries and more than 10,000 jobs will be created". The project follows several years of stalling since the initial commercial oil discovery by Tullow Oil Plc. in Uganda in 2006. Tullow hoped to commence exports as early as 2015 but eventually sold its stake in the countrys oil fields, leaving Total and CNOOC to develop Ugandas oil exportation industry. Issues such as the geographic location of the pipeline, as well as tax concerns, delayed its development until now. To date, 6.5 billion barrels of oil have been discovered in Uganda showing the unlocked potential of the countrys natural energy resources. The new pipeline is expected to have a transport capacity of around 230,000 barrels per day, finally developing the countrys energy export sector. Related: Investors Rush To Oil Stocks Despite ESG Push Ugandan President Museveni explained that "This pipeline could turn out to be a very important project that could serve the entire region in the long term. We could build a return pipeline to carry gas from Tanzania to Uganda and the entire region". The hope is for the pipelines reach to expand beyond Tanzania to provide energy to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo via the improved oil facilities, which are expected to be developed through the project. The construction of the immense pipeline is expected to put Uganda on the map as an oil exporter, as well as developing the energy economies of countries across the East African region. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: FILE PHOTO: Flags of Taiwan and U.S. are placed for a meeting in Taipei TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan said on Wednesday its chip companies will adhere to U.S. rules after Washington added seven Chinese supercomputing entities last week to an economic blacklist and after a Taipei-based chipmaker halted orders from one of the entities named. The U.S. Commerce Department said the seven Chinese entities were "involved with building supercomputers used by China's military actors, its destabilizing military modernisation efforts, and/or weapons of mass destruction programs." Companies or others listed on the U.S. Entity List are required to apply for licenses from the Commerce Department that face tough scrutiny when they seek permission to receive items from U.S. suppliers. Tech-powerhouse Taiwan's firms are major suppliers of semiconductors globally, and Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said they would follow Taiwanese and U.S. rules. "Our companies, whether producers or exporters, must accord with our country's rules. Of course the United States has new rules, and our companies will pay attention and accord with the key criteria of the U.S. rules," she told reporters. The U.S. move came amid its rising tensions with China over Taiwan. China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically ruled island under its control. It also came amid a global shortage of semiconductors that has thrust Taiwan centre-stage into the technology supply-chain. On Tuesday, Taiwan's Alchip Technologies Ltd said it had stopped production for all products related to Tianjin Phytium Information Technology, which is on the new U.S. list. Alchip, which said 39% of its revenue last year came from Phytium, added that it was collecting "detailed documents for our U.S. counsel to determine if the products are subject to EAR (Export Administration Regulations)". A U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security "permit will be obtained for Phytium's products if necessary", it added. Story continues Its share price tumbled 9.9% on Wednesday, bringing losses to more than a third of the shares' value since the Commerce Department's announcement last week. Separately, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Co Ltd (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, has suspended new orders from Phytium. TSMC said it could not confirm the report, and declined further comment. TSMC shares closed up 1.16% on Wednesday, outperforming a 0.24% rise in the broader Taiwanese stock market. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christopher Cushing) Catholic bishops in Louisiana they include Most Rev. Douglas Deshotel of Lafayette who have not lifted the dispensation for the faithful for Sunday Mass attendance may meet soon to discuss when that will happen. Diocese of Lafayette spokesperson Blue Rolfes said she thought the matter was under discussion among bishops, although there was no meeting scheduled on Deshotels calendar by Wednesday. Its all up to the bishops, she said. They like to be on the same page. Dispensation from Catholics requirement to attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation was initiated March 13 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The diocese said there are 323,568 Catholics in the Lafayette diocese, many of them members of some 120 church parishes in eight civil parishes, who were initially advised to attend Mass on weekdays when attendance was lighter than Sunday or to watch televised or livestreamed Masses or pray the Rosary in lieu of attending public Masses. +10 A year ago, coronavirus brought Louisiana churches to a halt. Here's how the faithful responded. More than one year ago, religious services in Louisiana and across the nation came to a grinding halt. Holiday celebrations were muted, holy r Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The diocese has followed state and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to protect the health of church members and the public. Currently, the state is in Phase 3 of the COVID order, with no restrictions on Mass attendance, although the governor has urged people to adhere to wearing masks and socially distancing. In Louisiana, the Diocese of Lake Charles lifted the dispensation before Christmas except for those at special risk of illness. The Diocese of Shreveport lifted the dispensation under the same exceptions during Holy Week. Dioceses in Alexandria, Lafayette, Houma-Thibodaux, Baton Rouge and the Archdiocese of New Orleans have continued with the dispensation, at least through Wednesday. Imperial Valley News Center Chiropractor Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Multi-million Dollar Workers Compensation, Medicare, and TRICARE Schemes San Diego, California - Irvine resident Joserodel Zavala Candelario was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 36 months in federal custody for his participation in two huge health care fraud schemes, and for concealing income he received from those multi-million dollar schemes. According to court documents, Candelario was a chiropractor licensed by the State of California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. He was the owner of Candelario Chiropractic, a Professional Corporation, and R.I.S.E. Medical Center, a Professional Corporation, dba R.I.S.E. Wellness Center ("RISE Wellness"), which operated at multiple locations in the Southern District of California, including at 5030 Bonita Road, Suite B, in Bonita and at 3231 Waring Road, Suite N, in Oceanside. On January 21, 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty to a three-count superseding information, charging Conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1349, and False Statement on Tax Return in violation of 26 U.S.C. 7206(1). Separately, the defendant has been charged and has pleaded guilty in San Diego Superior Court case SCD281328 to Concealing an Event Affecting an Insurance Claim, in a violation of California Penal Code 550(b)(3). The governments sentencing papers reflect that, between approximately 2012 and July 2016, Candelario carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare and TRICARE out of millions of dollars by using physical therapy codes to bill for supposed physical therapy services performed on patients by individuals who were not licensed to provide physical therapy, including chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapy aides, and an acupuncturist. As a result, patients who thought they were receiving medical treatment were instead receiving substandard care, all so Candelario could bill Medicare and TRICARE. Candelario and his co-conspirators told patients that RISE Wellness offered an integrated approach to wellness, to convince patients to accept physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and diagnostic services at RISE Wellness, in order to fraudulently bill for non-covered services provided by unauthorized individuals, and collect as much money as possible from health care benefit programs. Candelario specifically targeted TRICARE beneficiaries as patients, despite knowing that TRICARE did not cover many of the services rendered by providers at RISE Wellness. The main page for RISE Wellnesss website made this goal plain. It featured a photograph of an individual in a military uniform, saluting, with the message, Supporting spinal health . . . Youve only got one spine. Take great care of it with supportive chiropractic care, even though TRICARE, the DoD health care program for uniformed service members, did not cover chiropractic treatment. Once patients came in the door, the defendant pushed his staff to conduct diagnostic tests on every patient, regardless of medical necessity, to increase billing and payment, and he also demanded that staff meet quotas for the minimum number of diagnostic tests, and recommendations for durable medical equipment, or DME, massages and other services, regardless of whether specific patients needed the items and services. He also imposed quotas for the minimum number of patients with specific types of insurance coverage at RISE Wellness, e.g., 60 Tricare patients per day, regardless of whether those patients needed treatments. For example, on June 6, 2014, Candelario instructed a staff member, I need you to do 5 axonii [diagnostic tests] a day no matter what for now on. The following month, on July 7, 2014, Candelario texted, OK team you are receiving 2 new diagnostic testing devices this month. I need 20 patients to be tested on each one this month no matter What [sic]. Defendant then, knowing that TRICARE and Medicare did not pay for chiropractic, acupuncture, massages, and other services, mischaracterized those services as physical therapy in bills submitted to TRICARE and Medicare. To increase billing and payment, the defendant pushed the schedulers to cram in as many as 50 patients per day for each provider. He complained when staff fell short of this goal, noting, on June 11, 2015, certain front desk issues including: No[one] has called any patients to fill empty slots in provider schedules or grab patients in lobbies to put into provider schedules. Candelario fired or marginalized staff who disagreed with his efforts to prescribe, recommend, provide, or bill in a manner primarily intended to increase the billing and payment to RISE Wellness, and contrary to Medicare and Tricare rules and the medical need of the patients. On October 1, 2015, Candelario instructed that the chiropractors were not allowed to treat patients unless they first prescribed X-rays and three other diagnostic tests, plus DME. Eventually, on October 19, 2015, Candelario informed a co-conspirator, I am finding it very difficult what needs we have [to retain the PA] moving forward. About a week later, the PA was fired. If a patient failed to show up for an appointment, Candelario directed staff to bill the health care benefit program for the visit, even though no visit had occurred and no service had been provided. For example, on March 9, 2015, Candelario wrote, about late reimbursements, that the only solution is to start billing the missed appointments like i asked following the system. It was part of the scheme that, using the mean and manners described above, and others, the co-conspirators submitted and caused to be submitted at least $7,260,327.20 in false and fraudulent bills to TRICARE and Medicare. Of those fraudulent bills, TRICARE paid a total of $3,450,596.43 and Medicare paid $37,843.04. In addition, between March 2012 and November 2015, Candelario carried on an unlawful cross-referral scheme, in which he would receive new Workers Compensation (WC) patients for RISE Wellness. In return for new patients, Candelario agreed to meet a quota for the value of ancillary services and DME he was expected to prescribe for each patient sent to him by co-conspirators, with a value -- such as $30-$50 per MRI referral -- set by those conspirators. As part of the scheme, Candelario, who could function as a WC primary care provider, dictated the same treatment plan for all WC patients, regardless of their individual medical needs, so he could fraudulently bill WC insurers. The defendant admitted that he violated his duty of honest services to his patients. He received approximately 529 new WC patients as a result of the scheme, and he submitted approximately $6,605,364 in bills to insurers for services rendered to those patients. Of those billed amounts, he was paid $771,000 by WC insurers In addition to fleecing taxpayer-funded government programs out of millions of dollars, Candelario failed to pay his fair share of taxes on the funds he fraudulently took, resulting in $505,000 in tax losses just for tax year 2013. Judge Bashant credited the rehabilitative efforts the defendant has made since his conviction to improve his circumstances. Statements in sentencing papers and in court reflect that the defendant has been teaching as an adjunct instructor at West Coast University, Canyon College, Santa Ana College, Orange Coast College, and National University, in such topics as human anatomy, human physiology, biology, Medical Ethics and Medical Billing. But in aggravation, the Court noted that Candelario put profits over the medical needs of patients, which warranted punishment. With so many health care systems and personnel strained due to the pandemic, we cannot afford the financial and physical costs of fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman noted. Doctors are especially culpable as they are violating the sacred trust they should have with their patients. We are working hard every day to protect patients, taxpayers and ratepayers who are being exploited by those members of the medical community who prefer purchasing power over principle. Mr. Grossman commended the work of AUSAs Valerie H. Chu and Michelle Wasserman, forensic auditor Robbin Ganicliffe, and paralegal Joan Carter, and the case agents from the FBI, DCIS, and IRS-CI. With this sentence, the defendant has now been held accountable for the years of lies and deceit in defrauding our healthcare system, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who intentionally try to line their pockets through fraud schemes rather than provide the honest service and care people deserve. The defendant requested a delay of the self-surrender date until after grades are due to be submitted for the current school term he is teaching. The defendant is scheduled to self surrender on or before July 14 at noon. A hearing to address forfeiture and restitution will be held on May 19 at 2 p.m. The United States is seeking restitution of $3,450,596.43 to TRICARE, $37,843.04 to Medicare, and a personal money judgment of $1,300,899.63. DEFENDANT Case Number 18CR3057-BAS, 18CR3058-BAS Joserodel Zavala Candelario Age: 48 Irvine, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: 5 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349 Maximum penalty: Ten years imprisonment and $250,000 fine Subscribing to a False Tax Return - 26 U.S.C. 7203(1) Maximum penalty: Three years imprisonment and $100,000 fine AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation Defense Criminal Investigative Service Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations California Department of Insurance U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will increase its presence in Germany, recommitting the US to the NATO alliance in a reversal from the previous administration's plans to withdraw troops from the country. The US will permanently station "approximately 500 additional U.S. personnel in the Wiesbaden area" of Germany and will be on the ground "as early as fall," Austin said during a news conference in Berlin. "This planned increase in U.S. personnel underscores our commitment to Germany, and to the entire NATO alliance," CNN cited him as saying. In his announcement Tuesday, Austin said the new personnel in Germany "will strengthen deterrence and defense in Europe, and they will augment our existing abilities to prevent conflict." He said the forces would "create more space capabilities, more cyber and more electronic warfare capabilities in Europe" and "greatly improve our ability to surge forces at a moment's notice to defend our allies." Air Force officials revealed that the B-21 Stealth Bomber' Raider', a next-generation bomber, can defend itself against air-to-air threats. This was confirmed as threats that can shoot down the bomber needs to be dealt with. B-21 Stealth Bomber Maj. Gen Scott L. Plus, Pacific Air Forces Director of Air and Cyber Operations confirmed the weapon system's new capabilities, reported Fighter Jets World. The United States Air Force said that the flying wing has long-range and low observable stealth capability. It can enter enemy defense zones without getting detected and attacking its own in critical strike missions. It has advantages of advanced radar that will guide munitions more accurately. Unlike the B-2, it can defend itself better if engaged by enemy fighters. It can even support its escort fighter if needed in a pinch. B-21 Raiders improved over the B-2 Spirit It is the next replacement for the much larger B-2 Spirit used by the USAF for now. Raiders are designed to be operated at a lesser cost of maintenance. More Raider is expected to be in service and improve payload capacity for bulky nuclear warheads and specialized conventional warheads, GBU-57. If needed, the B-21 Stealth Bomber' Raider' will be the spearhead to attack nuclear CCP targets in Western China, passing through what will be the most heavily guarded airspace on the planet. One of the widest obstacles is the Pacific, where Raiders' best stealth tech has the only chance to escape unseen. B-21 Bomber Is the Most Advanced Bomber Made to Overcome Anti- Stealth Defenses One or several Raider bombers will have to successfully stop DF-5 and DF-41 intercontinental-range ballistic missiles and DF-26 intermediate-range missiles aimed at carrier strike groups and land bases at Guam. One solution to keep the bombers escorted is the 6th generation fighters. It can replace the F-22 and F-18E workhorses of the USAF and the navy. The next-generation advance fighter (NGAD) will travel farther and escort the Raiders into Chinese airspace; these new fighters and bombers are the keys to American strategy. If the Air Dominance Fighter cannot be fulfilled, the Raiders with air-to-air missiles as an immediate solution. Before the jet age, the B-29 and B-52 were bristling with anti-aircraft guns all over; now, missiles are the best defense for a fighter or bomber in any engagement. One of the problems with having advanced escort fighters for Raiders is the expense to build and arm them in sufficient numbers. There is a good chance that arming the Raider with homing missiles and seekers guided by radar or other means is the least expensive option. A loss of one stealth Raider will be a big blow to the air force, and protecting itself is better than passively avoiding a missile or radar lock. The bomber is still large, and it can still carry air to air munitions, added to its usual stack of missiles inside the bomb bay. Armed with the most advanced radar and ways to fool enemy radar, with the best sensors that China or Russian doesn't possess, the B-21 Stealth Bomber is unmatched. Not much is known about China or Russian systems due to the secrecy of their programs. The US has 21 'Stealth Bombers' In-Tandem With F-35 Jets If China Wants to Tango U.S. Air Force Wants to Make the B-2 Bomber More Resistant Against EMP Attack @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The New Jersey Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a construction company to reimburse a workers compensation claimant for marijuana that was prescribed to relieve his back pain caused by a work injury. The high court rejected M&K Constructions argument that if it paid for Vincent Hagers marijuana it could be subject to criminal liability under federal law. The 7-0 decision, written by Justice Lee A. Solomon, says M&K fails to show and we strain to find how its compliance with the order exhibits a specific intent to aid-and-abet Hagers marijuana possession. The decision aligns New Jerseys workers compensation medical marijuana policy with positions taken by the supreme courts of New Mexico and New Hampshire and an appellate court in New York. The high courts in Maine and Massachusetts, on the other hand, ruled that insurers and employers have no duty to reimburse claimants for marijuana use. Solomon devoted a large portion of his opinion to an analysis of the Controlled Substances Act and Congress decision in each of the seven past fiscal years to bar the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana users and sellers who complied with state laws. The federal law lists marijuana as a Schedule I drug the governments strictest classification of controlled substances. No valid medical use is recognized, meaning marijuana cannot be prescribed. But according to the opinion, in the past decade the US Justice Department deprioritized prosecution for marijuana use in a series of instructions to US attorneys. While attorney generals during the Trump administration signaled they may renew enforcement, Congress tied their hands. Every federal appropriations act dating back to 2015 contained riders that prohibited the Justice Department from spending appropriated funds on prosecutions for marijuana activities that complied with state law, the opinion says. During oral arguments, attorney Matthew Gitterman said despite those apparent conflicts, employers cant pick and choose which laws to obey. Whether the payment is direct or indirect, the payment is still for marijuana, he said. Its knowingly for marijuana. Its a crime. Hager countered that M&K doesnt face any credible theft of criminal prosecution and asserted that employers in New Mexico were not charged after the high court there upheld orders requiring employers to reimburse injured workers for medical marijuana. The American Property and Casualty Insurance Association filed an amicus brief supporting M&Ks position. The National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws and two state marijuana advocacy organizations filed briefs supporting Hager. Hager hurt his back while toting a load of cement in a wheelbarrow while working as a laborer for M&K in 2001. He underwent surgery but continued to suffer pain that was treated with opioids for years. In 2016, he enrolled in New Jerseys medical marijuana program. Dr. Joseph Liota prescribed marijuana to wean Hager off of opioids. The doctor later increased the prescription to two ounces per month the maximum amount allowed costing $600 per month. M&K contended that Hager was no longer injured and no longer needed medications. Nevertheless, a workers compensation court found Hager was permanently disabled with a 65% disability rating 50% because of complications after back surgery and 15% attributable to his marijuana use. The court also ordered M&K to continue paying for Hagers medical care, including reimbursement for marijuana. M&K appealed but the Appellate Division affirmed the award. M&K argued that it should be treated as a health insurer, which the New Jersey Compassionate Use Act specifically exempts from any mandate to reimburse patients for marijuana use. The Supreme Court said state statutes clearly state that the term health insurance does not include medical care provided through workers compensation law. The court also rejected M&Ks argument that marijuana is not a reasonable and necessary medical treatment. Competent medical evidence was submitted to justify the request and the state legislature itself recognized marijuanas ability to relieve pain when it adopted the Compassionate Use Act, the opinion says. Finally, the Supreme Court was not persuaded by M&Ks argument that the Compassionate Use Act was pre-empted by federal law. It said Congress enactment of legislation barring prosecutions weakens that argument. (Natural News) Charlie Chester, one of CNNs technical directors, was caught on tape admitting that the fake news network got Trump out by spreading lies and disinformation about his presidency. Among other deceptions aimed at steering the public into panic and unrest, CNN told its viewers to be afraid of President Trump and many listened. Consequently, he was voted out of office through fraud and misdirection, complements of CNN. Chester stated that he 100 percent believes that if it wasnt for CNN, I dont know that Trump would have got [sic] voted out. I came to CNN because I wanted to be part of that, he added, further revealing that the fake news network engaged in propaganda to create a story about Trump versus Biden. [Trumps] hand was shaking or whatever, I think, Chester stated. We brought in so many medical people to tell a story that was all speculation that he was neurologically damaged, and he was losing it. Hes unfit to you know, whatever, he added. We were creating a story there that we didnt know anything about. Thats what I think thats propaganda. We would always show shots of him [Biden] jogging and that [hes] healthy, you know, and him in aviator shades. Like you paint him as a young geriatric. James OKeefe of Project Veritas, which has uncovered many truths over the years about Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter (BLM), the Democrat Party, and other evil organizations, tweeted video footage see below of Chester making these and other admissions. BREAKING: Part 1 @CNN Director ADMITS Network Engaged in Propaganda to Remove Trump from Presidency Our Focus Was to Get Trump Out of Office I Came to CNN Because I Wanted to Be a Part of That MORE BOMBSHELLS: https://t.co/kDe3HDdX2r#ExposeCNN pic.twitter.com/0G33tF83jr James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 13, 2021 CNN spread carefully curated propaganda to make Resident Biden appear healthy Many Americans already know that Resident Biden is a sick old man who can barely read a teleprompter, let alone lead as president. To help him, CNN has been cherry-picking clips and segments of China Joe appearing to do healthy things. Chester admitted that CNN has been working overtime to make Biden appear healthier and more with it than he actually is. Those paying attention know that Biden belongs in a nursing home, but CNN wants you to believe he is fitter than Superman. Theyre trying to make it like, Oh, Im healthy,' Chester admitted about CNNs pro-Biden agenda. For most of last year, CNN also endlessly fear-mongered about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), blaming Trump for the hundreds of thousands of alleged deaths that were caused by the Chinese virus. Now that Biden is in office, CNN will soon shift its coverage away from the Kung Flu and back onto climate change, a tried-and-true scare subject that easily gets leftists into a hysterical tizzy. I think theres a Covid fatigue, Chester admitted, noting that Covid-19 media coverage should be coming to an end in the near future. So like, whenever a new story comes up, theyre [CNN] going to latch onto it. Theyve already announced in our office that once the public is will be open to it were going to start focusing mainly on climate. In other words, now that Trump is presumably gone, CNN is planning to shift gears and change the narrative to advance the next stages of globalism. Biden is the perfect figurehead, too, because he rarely knows where he is, let alone does he possess the fortitude to defy anything his puppet masters tell him to do. I have a feeling that its going to be, like, constantly showing videos of decline in ice and weather warming up and, like, the effects its having on the economy, Chester speculates as to the future of CNNs media coverage. CNN wants you scared so youll surrender more of your rights to the globalists Jeff Zucker, Chester revealed, who currently heads up CNN, will ultimately make the call as to the direction of media coverage. Zucker and his council, Chester explained, will sit down to discuss the next steps for the fake news network. The Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic has already been beat to death, Chester admits. So, now it is time to focus on something new that people can get scared about, resulting in them allowing the government to further trample their rights in the name of safety and security. Be prepared: its coming, Chester warns. Climate change is going to be the next Covid thing for CNN. In a nutshell, fear sells, Chester revealed, and CNN has always capitalized on scaring its viewers into believing harebrained conspiracy theories about Trump being a Russian spy, for instance, or conservatives being domestic terrorists who engage in insurrection against the federal government. The Wuhan flu was perhaps CNNs most successful psychological operation as it helped convince millions of Americans to mask up and take an experimental gene therapy injection from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna that forever alters the DNA of recipients. You have to be some sort of special stupid to watch CNN, wrote one commenter at Zero Hedge. And MSNBC or ABC or CBS yeah, even FOX these days, responded another. Others pointed out that a small handful of folks such as Leonard Goldenson (ABC), James H. Rosenfield (RCS), Fred Silverman (PBS), and Lawrence Grossman (TIME) control most of the mainstream media that the average person consumes for news. The man admitted to sedition on camera and said it was CNNs policy, not that I expect anything from the DoJ or FBI that trust is gone, commented another. CNN also says I should take the vaccine, too, because its safe. Ill bet they are telling the truth for that, even if they lie about other things, this same commenter added sarcastically. More related news about CNNs fake news coverage can be found at Propaganda.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Press Release April 14, 2021 De Lima urges Executive branch to exert all legal remedies to assert sovereign rights in WPS Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is alarmed at the increasing presence and relentless intrusion of Chinese militia vessels within the country's local waters. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) 694 urging the government's Executive branch to exert all legal and diplomatic actions on the Chinese government in asserting Philippine sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reportedly spotted around 220 Chinese militia vessels moored at the Julian Felipe Reef. "The Duterte administration's refusal to strongly invoke our sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and opting instead to adopt a policy of appeasement towards Chinese militarization may result in condoning the continued unlawful actions of the Chinese Government that assault our sovereignty in the WPS," she said. "Silence and softness, if not inaction on the part of our President on a clear breach of our sovereignty only serves to weaken our territorial integrity for future generations," she added. Last March 7, the PCG said that it had spotted 220 Chinese vessels it believed to be "manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel" at the Juan Felipe Reef, approximately 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, and well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. On March 21, after a recommendation from National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. filed another diplomatic protest against China over this new incident in the WPS. A day after, however, Malacanang downplayed the incident with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque describing the Philippines as having a "close friendship" with China and that "friends and neighbors can talk everything out." Note that in a landmark ruling on July 12, 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) found no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to a "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea but China refused to honor the ruling. The said arbitral award recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in its 200 nautical miles (NM) EEZ in the WPS. De Lima, who, as then DOJ Secretary was part of the Philippine delegation to The Hague for the oral arguments, emphasized that the increasing presence and unrelenting intrusion of militia vessels within the Philippine territory expose the country to further geopolitical risks and destruction of marine resources that only serve to eclipse the country's international triumph from the PCA and diminish its claim over the WPS. "All acts that are or tend to be prejudicial to the national security or vital interests of the State must be thoroughly and conscientiously reviewed and dealt with - lest a perilous precedent of equating tolerance with surrender be assumed by foreign forces," she said. "The convenient excuse of diplomatic ties should never be whimsically and capriciously raised without first fully assessing the extent and far-reaching implications of matters that concern our national sovereignty and security," she added. De Lima stressed that necessary measures must be undertaken to ensure that Philippine territory is afforded utmost security from threats of invasion and subjugation. "The State is mandated to at all times assert our sovereignty over the entire archipelago in order to protect our national interest and national security, and to perpetually put premium on our nation's welfare," she said. "The serious repercussions of tolerating acts that amount to threatening our national sovereignty and security must never be watered down with nonchalant and reckless statements that paint the picture as less dangerous than what it actually is," she added. In order for the State to fulfill its mandate of protecting and upholding Philippine sovereignty, De Lima said "it is imperative that the government exhaust any and all legal remedies, including invoking the 2016 PCA ruling, in order to be more forceful in asserting our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea." CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Joshua Sodaitis, CEO of Mobicard, an exclusive and revolutionary digital business card platform exchange for seamless networking, will be a presenter at the Starlight Capital Technology Investment Forum. The two-hour event, being held via Zoom at 12 noon EST on Thursday, May 13, will be hosted by Barbra Ongwico, an associate at Venture Management Company with more than 10 years of experience in venture capital, financial event management, and clinical research. Mobicard is an industry pioneer in the digital business card exchange space. The platform provides users with the opportunity to link video tools, websites, email addresses, social media sites, Google driving directions, and even personalized audio voice recordings to their online cards. Available as a smartphone app, Mobicard provides real-time alerts when information is activated on the platform. The Starlight Capital Technology Investment Forum will feature compelling and innovative companies presenting their opportunities to and receiving questions and comments from investor guests. The upcoming virtual networking event will function like speed-dating, but with high net worth investors, venture capital firms, and hedge fund representatives as members of the audience. The format is strictly presentations, followed by Q&A with carefully vetted companies of interest, with no industry speakers, sponsor pitches, rankings, or judging. "I am beyond excited to present Mobicard to such an incredibly qualified group of investors and industry experts," said Sodaitis. "Our team has put in countless hours to develop and promote a service that we truly believe has the potential to revolutionize the classic exchange of business cards. Users are no longer restricted to the standard phone number, email address, and professional title limitations that are commonly found on physical cards. Our cards are built for engagement, and we are ready to put them in the digital pockets of millions of professionals." Mobicard strives to replace traditional business cards to create a more efficient information exchange - a demand that has become especially prevalent in a COVID-19 environment. The market's billion-dollar potential stems from its ability to assist every gender, every race, and every age over 18. To learn more about how Mobicard is changing the networking game through its comprehensive and customizable platform, please visit https://www.freemobicard.com. Starlight Capital has hosted over 100 similar conferences over the past 21 years. For more information on the Starlight Capital Technology Investment Forum, please visit https://www.starlightcapital.co/event-info/starlight-capital-technology-investment-forum-2. About MobiCard: MobiCard has created a game-changer in the networking arena thanks to its exclusive and revolutionary, customizable digital business card platform. This flexible and robust application makes exchanging contact information virtually a seamless experience. There's no limit to the creativity and ingenuity this app can provide for businesses and professionals alike as it provides an innovative networking solution that'll disrupt the traditional paper business card business. Media Contact: Amy Kauffman 214.235.6043 (Direct) [email protected] www.Newswire.com SOURCE MobiCard Inc. An internationally-renowned cartoonist has died of a brain haemorrhage - shortly before his wife recovered from a heart attack which their family claim was caused by the tragedy. Father-of-three Rod McKie, 63, died on March 26, a few days after suffering a stroke. Mr McKie had his first cartoon published in 1980, and was the youngest ever person to have a cartoon published in Punch magazine. His widow Lis McKie, 62 - who he met in school 48 years ago - had a heart attack soon after. The couple's daughter Kim Paton, 33, said her mother's 'heart is struggling as a result of his death'. She said Mrs McKie is 'alone for the first time ever' and has found it 'overwhelming'. Father-of-three Rod McKie, 63, (pictured) died from a brain haemorrhage on March 26 a few days after suffering a stroke Self-taught Mr McKie, from Gracemount, Edinburgh, scribbled gag cartoons at school. His work later appeared in The Sun, the Wall Street Journal, Playboy and the Harvard Business Review. Cancer survivor Mr McKie died at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and his family gave consent for his brain to be used for research to find out more about the type of intracerebral brain haemorrhage he had. His family laid him to rest on April 10. Just one day later, Mrs McKie was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack. She was discharged yesterday but will be on tablets for a heart condition for the rest of her life. Mr McKie is remembered as someone who encouraged other illustrators to value their work make sure they were being paid fairly for it. He rescued leftover cartoons from being burnt by executives at IPC Magazines. His actions lead to him to be featured in a comic by Alan Moore, who created The Watchmen and V for Vendetta. Ms Paton, 33, said: 'My dad taught himself everything he knew. Mr McKie had his first cartoon published in 1980, and was the youngest ever person to have a cartoon published in Punch magazine. Pictured: One of his cartoons 'He faced so much rejection in the early years but persevered until his work got out there. 'When his first story got published in The Sun, it was a massive achievement for a comprehensive-educated person. 'He was well known for going down to London and saving his and other's work from being burned. 'That's the type of person he was. He was loved and respected in the publishing community due to his love of the work. 'He encouraged others to recognise their skills and to value their work and make sure they got paid the appropriate rate. 'He encouraged and inspired others.' Mr and Mrs McKie met in school at the ages of 15 and 14, respectively, and 'they were still so madly in love 48 years later', Mrs Paton said. Self-taught Mr McKie, from Gracemount, Edinburgh, scribbled gag cartoons at school. His work later appeared in The Sun, the Wall Street Journal, Playboy and the Harvard Business Review She said: '[My mother's] poor heart is struggling as a result of his death. 'She's alone for the first time ever, so I think it's been so overwhelming for her. 'Dad did everything for her and for us three kids. The five of us have always been an incredibly close family. 'It's pretty horrific. I've never felt pain like this, to be honest. 'My dad was my best friend, I talked to him every single day. 'He would do anything for anybody and was the sweetest, most talented man. 'His life will live on through his work.' The family are fundraising 5,000 to help pay for a funeral as Mr McKie had been unable to get life insurance when he had cancer five years before. To donate to the fundraiser, click here. ADVERTISEMENT Fuel queues have resurfaced in Sokoto metropolis as consumers besieged few filling stations selling the product, while most filling stations in the state remained shut. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went round the metropolis on Tuesday, reports that some filling stations along Gusau Road were filled with consumers queuing to buy petrol. The same trend was witnessed around Bye Pass Express Way, Bello Road and Fodio Road within Sokoto town, while most filling stations within the town and those close to the city centre were shut. Some of the motorists who spoke to NAN said they just noticed the long queues and decided to top up. A driver, who simply identified himself as Adamu, said he had to buy fuel to be able to do his businesses, in case there was scarcity. I did not have in mind to buy petrol but seeing queues in two major marketers filling stations and the same thing is happening in others, I decided to join. I just have to buy now with the small money that I have, Mr Adamu said. Another buyer, Habib Muhammad, said he spent more than three hours in the queue but still could not buy the product. Mr Muhammad said he switched to three filling stations because of the long queues but still could not buy the product. NAN reports that only filling stations that belonged to major marketers sold the products at regulated price of N165 per litre as others sold between N175 and N180 per litre. NAN also reports that street sellers who sold the product in jerrycans and gallons, made brisk businesses as a four-litre gallon sold between N1,000 and N1,200, depending on the bargain. There had been no word from either the regulatory bodies or petroleum products dealers about any impending scarcity. (NAN) Amid escalating feud between Manila and Beijing, the Philippines government on April 12 summoned the Chinese ambassador to press its demand for the Chinese vessels to immediately leave a reef claimed by Manila in the South China Sea. The tensions between the two nations started after more than 200 Chinese vessels suspected by Philippine authorities to be operated by militias were spotted last month at Whitsun Reef. After summoning Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso expressed to him Manilas displeasure over the illegal lingering presence of Chinese vessels. Buensuceso said, The continuing presence of Chinese vessels around the reef is a source of regional tension. She further also reiterated to Huang that the reef, which lies about 324 kilometres west of the Philippine province of Palawan, is within an internationally recognised offshore zone where manila has the exclusive right to exploit fisheries, oil, gas and other resources. Buensuceso even cited a 2016 ruling in an international arbitration case the Philippines brought against China that invalidated Beijings vast claims on historical grounds to virtually all of the South China Sea under a 1982 UN maritime treaty. It is worth mentioning that the Philippines had also demanded the vessels to leave last month and had even deployed coast guard and patrol vessels to the area but China said that it owns the reef and the Chinese vessels were sheltering from rough seas. Tensions between China and Philippines Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brunei also lay claim to parts of the sea, which has vast oil and gas potential. However, tensions in recent years have escalated as Chinese incursions in the South China Sea have massively increased. Earlier this month, the US Navy strike group also entered the disputed waters after the president of the Philippines, a US ally, voiced concern about the Chinese vessels massing in Manilas 320km exclusive economic zone. The Philippines has also discovered illegally built structures on features in the Union Banks which is a series of reefs in the South China Sea. The reef is actually a part of the Spratly Islands archipelago and is claimed by both the Philippines and China. The Philippines claims that it falls inside the countrys exclusive economic zone and even United Nations (UN) ruled in 2016 that Chinas claim to virtually all of the South China Sea. however, China has refused to adhere to the recognition. China has been previously also accused of using its vast fishing fleet to help assert its territorial claims throughout the 1.3 million square miles of the disputed waters. (Inputs & image: AP) They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but does the same apply to a bottle of wine? While many of us will admit to being swayed by an impressive logo and swirling font, the information on a wine label can actually help you understand the quality and character of the plonk, once you know what all the confusing jargon actually means. You don't have to be a connoisseur; from the vintage year to the region, knowing a few key things to look out for will help ensure the next bottle of wine you pick up from your local supermarket doesn't end up poured down the sink. Here, FEMAIL speaks to Lukasz Kolodziejczyk, head of fine wine at Cult Wines, who outlines how to decipher a wine label. While many of us will admit to being swayed by an impressive logo and swirling font, the information on a wine label can actually help you understand the quality and character of the plonk, once you know what all the confusing jargon actually means (stock image) BRAND AND PRODUCER This is arguably the most important piece of information on a wine label, simply because a producer's reputation will have a clear link to the quality of the wine they produce. Iconic producers with a well-established reputation can charge a higher price point based on this alone. Other producers position themselves as recognisable household brands, and their name provides familiarity and reassurance for buyers. I believe German producers of Pinot Noir such as Wingnut Julg, Fritz Keller and Shelter Winery offer authentic wines with great price and high quality. CLASSIFICATION Premium French wines will usually display their classification as a matter of tradition. This is the wine body-approved mark of quality, based on the classification system applicable to the region the wine comes from. For example, the Saint Emilion Classification contains three levels Premier Grand Cru Classe 'A', Premier Grand Cru Classe 'B' and Grand Cru Classe. In Burgundy meanwhile, wines may fall under 'grand cru' or 'premier cru' status. Advertisement NAME AND GRAPE VARIETY This helps to distinguish between the wines within a producer's range. Some producers, particularly well-known everyday brands found on supermarket shelves, will simply use the grape variety such as 'Chardonnay' or 'Merlot'. Others will give their wines specific names that help to tell a brand story or family history. Familia Torres, once described as one of Spain's most innovative and influential winemakers, makes fantastic wines across the range that cost as little as 10. They can be found on Waitrose Cellar, and have delicious, textured tastes. I would say German Riesling is one of those grapes which come in many styles, from dry to lusciously sweet. Growers to look for are Weingut Wittmann, Weingut Joh. Jos. Prum and Keller Wein. REGION Note that the grape variety isn't always stated on the label; many producers will use the region instead. However, this can be as broad as 'South Australia', which covers more than 50 per cent of the wine made in the entire country, as opposed to a single vineyard. To get the highest quality wine, look out for specific destinations of where the grapes were grown. New Zealand is a country renowned for its quality wine. They have a fantastic climate and terroir for producing top Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. VINTAGE The vintage conveys the year in which the grapes were harvested and can tell you a lot about the wine, if you are familiar with vintage variations. When it comes to drinking vintage wine, generally speaking, three to five years of age works best for wine, as this will give it time to settle in the bottle. Examples that show this include 2017 red Burgundies and 2015 Bordeaux. In the event that there is no year on the label, or the term 'NV' or 'non-vintage' is present, it means that grapes from multiple vintages have been used to help create the wine. As a rule of thumb, non-vintage wines are usually ready for drinking on release, unlikely to improve with age, and cost less than vintage wines. ALCOHOL LEVEL A wine's alcohol by volume (ABV) can actually reveal a lot about the wine, although this information is usually displayed on the back of a bottle. Many wine regions in Europe only allow their highest quality wines to have a 13.5% ABV and above, while in America, some ABVs can be very high going up to 17%. Many high ABV wines are made from riper grapes and have more fruit forward flavours, which can give an indication of how alcoholic the wine may taste. The alcohol content doesn't really indicate quality; you can find wines with moderate 12.5% alcohol which are not so good. It's more about harmony between the wine flavour and the aroma, followed by proportioned harmony between acidity, alcohol and tannins. TERMS TO LOOK OUT FOR ON A WINE LABEL Estate-bottled wine: This means the wine was grown, produced and bottled on one estate, and tend to be lower quality. Reserve: This term might give a wine some added appeal, but it doesn't mean anything official. That said, some smaller producers use it to indicate their top-tier wines. Old vines: Or in French, 'Vielles Vins'. Using grapes from older vines usually results in more concentrated flavours in a wine, but again, there are no rules to say exactly how old a vine must be in order for a producer to use this term on a label they could range from 15 to 115 years! With these basic terms, you're in a good position to pick the right wine. Don't just rely on the label, however attractive it may be get used to looking at the details and you'll quickly be making informed and appetising choices. Advertisement For more information visit https://www.wineinvestment.com/ SOUTH BEND, Ind., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (AFRSO) has awarded blockchain innovator SIMBA Chain a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant to develop a solution that will ultimately allow the Air Force to manufacture, test, and deploy critical replacement parts for aircraft and other weaponry on forward operating locations and bases around the world using advanced 3D printing supported and secured by blockchain. SIMBA Chain has teamed with Steel Modular, Inc. to offer the AFRSO a self-contained, mobile 3D manufacturing facility housed in a repurposed shipping container. Each 20- or 40-foot disposable container is equipped with all of the components and resources necessary for secure metal and fiber additive 3D manufacturing, final machining, inspection of finished products, and communication. The mobile 3D manufacturing units can be climate controlled for the comfort and protection of military personnel and the equipment. And, because the containers are designed to be transported virtually anywhere with their contents, they are ideally suited for AFRSO's high-tech, battle-ready needs. The SIMBA Chain solution includes blockchain to secure conversations and information critical to the manufacture of specific parts, and supports the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense's strategy to transform engineering practices to digital engineering. The solution will accelerate the AFRSO's ability to produce tooling, fixtures, support equipment, and aircraft parts when and where needed. Based on the success of the SBIR Phase I, SIMBA Chain stands to be awarded a Phase II worth $1 million. The 90-day SBIR Phase 1, dubbed "RAD2 CAM-MCB," was awarded March 8, 2021 and will determine the feasibility of deploying the mobile 3D additive manufacturing facilities to austere locations such as battlefields. The U.S. Airforce Maintenance Enterprise is looking to lean into commercial off-the-shelf technology already in use in private sector maintenance and manufacturing organizations like SIMBA Chain, ITAMCO and Steel Modular, and build collaborations across the U.S. Air Force Maintenance Enterprise. SIMBA Chain CEO Joel Neidig says the ultimate goal of the project is to leverage additive manufacturing so the Air Force can design and product parts in days rather than months, respond faster to combat equipment needs on bases and overseas battlefields, and help backfill parts for aging but still serviceable planes for which there are no commercially available replacement parts. "At the heart of this project is enabling and safeguarding the digital supply chain and that's exactly where SIMBA Chain flexes its muscles," Neidig explains. "Our blockchain technology ensures data integrity and protects against tampering of intellectual property and communications. Sophisticated hackers are a very real threat and deploying SIMBA Chain globally and on a distributed, decentralized basis, provides an unhackable barrier and protects supply chain governance." Among the hard problems recognized by the Air Force Battle Damage Assessment and Repair (BDAR) of forward deployed forces and the critical need to deliver the right part to the right place at the right time and in the right quantitysomething easier said than done when in the heat of battle with lives depending on keeping aircraft and weaponry operational. SIMBA Chain and partner Steel Modular are betting their rapidly deployable, self-contained additive manufacturing facilities are exactly what Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office is looking for to support the warfighter within a rapid, austere, and controlled supply chain environment, and in terms of deployability, functionality, affordability, and eco-friendly design. Steel Modular Founder and Chairman Kelly Freis is pleased that the Air Force is looking to successful companies from the private sector to develop this next generation of critical parts manufacturing and digitally empowered supply chains. "We are honored to have been awarded this SBIR with SIMBA Chain and have the opportunity to use our modular structures in such a novel way. We look forward to proving out our concept to the benefit of the Air Force and other military branches." SIMBA Chain's cloud-based blockchain platform is increasingly the "go-to" solution for the U.S. Department of Defense for projects seeking a means to share and secure information in a manner that is immutable, transparent and verifiable. Once stored on blockchain, data can't be changed or deleted, creating a trust factor not afforded by other data sharing/storage solutions. About SIMBA Chain, Inc. SIMBA Chain's cloud-based enterprise platform enables academia, industry, and governments to quickly develop and deploy Web 3.0 distributed applications (dApps) across many blockchain platforms. SIMBA Chain was born in 2017 through a DARPA grant awarded to the University of Notre Dame and ITAMCO. SIMBA Chain is the recipient of TechPoint's 2019 Mira Award for New Product of the Year and 1st Source Bank's 2019 Commercialization Award. The SIMBA Chain platform supports Avalanche, Ethereum, Consensys Quorum, Binance Smart Chain, RSK, Stellar, Hyperledger, and other blockchain protocols. Learn more. About Steel Modular, Inc. Founded in 2018, Steel Modular, Inc. (SMI) is a small woman-owned and operated company that collaborates with both public and private sectors to design and manufacture steel prefabricated buildings. SMI specializes in ultra-energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable modular buildings from shipping containers to minimize the downtime to facilities following a major catastrophe crisis or conflicts. In addition, SMI also fabricates and supplies furniture, fixtures, equipment, and decorative lighting. Learn more. About the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office Established by the Secretary of the Air Force in 2018, the RSO increases mission readiness by rapidly identifying, applying, and scaling technology essential to the operation and sustainment of the United States Air Force. Learn more. Media Contact: Melanie Lux, [email protected], 803-331-4794 SOURCE SIMBA Chain Jasmila Zbanic's Quo vadis, Aida? puts its protagonist, Aida (Jasna Djuricic), a middle-aged schoolteacher working as an English translator for the UN peacekeeping troops, in a very difficult position. The place is Srebrenica, Bosnia, the year is 1995 and the film is based on a true story. The Serbian troops' incursion is imminent. As in all wars, people have to make difficult choices to survive. The kicker of the film is that this life and death situation it depicts has actually taken place merely 26 years ago. Considering an estimated 100,000 people killed, and 1.3 million displaced in The Bosnian War, I have to say right off the bat that the outcome in Quo vadis, Aida? is not a positive one. But it says a lot about how horrific the war actually was. And however well meaning the international interventions were, they were not at all prepared when faced with the humanitarian crises. The setting and the story is pretty specific. Srebrenica, a town of 30,000 people, consists of mostly Muslim population. The shelling by the Serbian tanks has started. The Dutch UN troops confined to their camp just outside the town are completely impotent since the entire UN command in Europe seems to be on vacation. So their ultimatum to the Serbian troops to halt or face the air strikes become empty threats. The snide Serbian commander knows its predicament and uses it to his advantage. Aida, working as a translator for the UN Command unit, sees that they are making promises to the townspeople they can't keep. The air strike never materializes. Once Srebrenica is taken by the Serbian army, all of the town's population seeks refuge in the UN compound. And the UN troops are not set up to deal with the unfolding humanitarian crisis , resulting in a shortage of supplies, food, water, fuel, and even toilets. All they can do is provide shelter for about 4,000-5,000 people on the concrete floor, and the rest camping out just outside the barbed-wire fences. Aida, using her connections with the Dutch, brings her husband and two sons into the compound. Her husband, who is a learned man, will act as one of the civilian leaders to negotiate the terms with the two-faced Serbian general. Things get dire as the Serbians dictate the terms of "moving refugees out of harm's way" by buses. Women get separated from their men, but no one knows if the buses are headed to where they were supposed to be headed. Some of the UN soldiers witness men being rounded up and executed. And some young women are dragged off by the Serbian army. Quo vadis, Aida? is all about one woman's mission to save her family at all costs. It's her survival mode taking over and working overtime in a dire, life and death circumstance. It also is a searing indictment of war and the West's naivete and hubris, as they believe in their own moral superiority, but are completely impotent when it comes to decision-making and action. Compellingly and deftly written and directed by Zbanic, the film moves along breathlessly to its tragic end. It ends with Aida going back to Srebrenica to resume her teaching after some time has passed. Life is back to normal. Everyone is supposed to be friends and neighbors again. The film questions if this so-called peace is acceptable, if you recognize a parent in the audience at the school talent show is the same person who is responsible for the death of thousands people, including your family. Can you ever forgive him? The film tries to make you understand the post-war Bosnian society, its fragile peace, its not so distant past and trauma and wounds not healed. Quo vadis, Aida? is a powerful, harrowing film with a stellar performance by Jana Djuricic in the title role. Highly recommended. Originally published in connection with the film's U.S. release in March 2021. The film is now streaming on Hulu. Dustin Chang is a freelance writer. His musings and opinions on everything cinema and beyond can be found at www.dustinchang.com 23 Shares Share I can tell you what I dont want to do. I dont want to mill through 50 patients a day, mindlessly clicking through EMR checkboxes so an insurance auditor five states away will deem that Ive done my job and deserve reimbursement. Thats a high volume, high overhead game, and I dont want to play it. I recently spoke with a doctor who was getting so many insurance denials that they needed to hire 14 additional billers at an estimated cost of somewhere around half a million dollars a year. Insurance companies want to make it difficult for doctors to get paid. They will only add more hoops to jump through, meaning that I need to hire more hoop jumpers as a doctor. Hiring hoop jumpers costs a lot of money, which means I need to see more patients. Seeing more patients in the same amount of time leads to shorter visits and worse care. Not to mention the pressure from hospital administrators to expand your indications, or in laymans terms, operate on someone who may not really need it. Daniel Paull is an orthopedic surgeon. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, I am an orthopedic surgeon who decided to stop taking insurance. Did you enjoy todays episode? Please click here to leave a review for The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out! Do you know someone who might enjoy this episode? Share this episode to anyone who wants to hear health care stories filled with information, insight, and inspiration. Hosted by Kevin Pho, MD, The Podcast by KevinMD shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. A FARMER was trampled to death by a herd of young bulls as he was trying to feed them, an inquest heard. Oliver Bowden, 56, of Mill End Farm in Hambleden, was found dead in the corner of the bull pen on May 5 last year. He had suffered multiple injuries consistent with trampling, Beaconsfield Coroners Court was told on Tuesday. It is believed that Mr Bowden was trying to feed the 17 uncastrated bulls alone when the incident happened. His daughter, Isobel Connell, told the court that uncastrated bulls are known to be aggressive and are worse at feeding times. Mr Bowden, who was a popular figure in the Hambleden Valley, was found by fellow farmer Samuel Beer, who called for an ambulance after being attacked by a bull himself when trying to check for his colleagues pulse. Paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service and an air ambulance team attempted to treat Mr Bowden but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 3.49pm. Mr Beer was taken to hospital for his injuries. Mariusz Krawczyk, a stockman at the farm, said in his witness statement that Mr Bowden had always asked for help to feed the bulls. He explained that Mr Bowden and another person would use the boom pole on the Merlo Multifarmer telescopic tractor to trap the animals at one end of the bull pen. One person would then make sure the bulls were secure while the other put food in the feeder or sorted out their bedding. Mr Krawczyk said: Oliver would ask me or someone else to help him feed the bulls. Ive not seen Oliver try to do this job by himself except for when the animals were small he always told us not to do it by ourselves. The inquest heard that the tractor was found parked up against the pen with the boom pole extended inside and reaching the ground. The pure bred dairy bulls, aged from eight to 20 months, were inside with a red and orange feeder. Mr Krawczyk said: When we were allowed to move the Merlo there were two foot marks at the back of the pen, which shows someone had climbed over. The inquest heard that the pen was large enough to allow the bulls to roam around freely. Mr Bowden was found in the right-hand corner of the pen with blood on his head and face. His right shoe and parts of his mobile phone were also found in the pen, although they had been moved around by the bulls. Mr Beer, who has been a farmer for Mr Bowden since 2015, had been working in a different area of the farm in the morning and didnt return to the main yard until about 2.45pm. In his witness statement, he said: I saw Oliver at 8.30am wearing blue trousers, a checked shirt and bright braces we passed each other going about our daily work When I completed my jobs I went back to the main farm and I saw a tractor and other equipment left around which wasnt out of the ordinary. I went to the bottom yard and saw a bucket outside the bull pen and I wasnt sure why it was there as its used for feeding. I jumped into the bull pen and in the corner I saw a shoe and I was instantly in a panic. I saw Oliver lying on the floor and he had blood over his face and head. I tried to find a pulse. A bull then started attacking me and Im not sure how many times it kicked me. At 3.19pm I called 999 and I kept trying to find Olivers pulse. As I was doing this, I was still being attacked by a bull and I picked up a stick to try to fight it off and protect Oliver. I had no idea how long he was lying there as I hadnt seen him since 8.30am. The ambulance soon arrived and helped me get him out of the bull pen and I was taken to hospital for my injuries. A post mortem found Mr Bowden had suffered crushing injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was the third generation of his family to farm at Mill End Farm and lived there with Anita Tackley, his partner of 15 years. In her witness report, Ms Tackley said the morning of the incident seemed like any other day. The couple had tea and toast together and watched the weather forecast before he went out to feed the cows. She last saw him at noon when he came into the house laughing before quickly returning to the farm which she said wasnt unusual. There were no witnesses to the incident and senior coroner Crispin Butler concluded that it was something that occurred very tragically with no one around to witness it but Oliver Bowden. The jury concluded it was death by misadventure. The 17 bulls have since been slaughtered and the farm no longer raises calves to be used for beef. Mr Bowdens funeral was held two weeks after his death and hundreds of people turned out to see the cortege accompanied by more than 45 agricultural vehicles. The procession made its way slowly from the Hambleden to Henley before heading to Reading Crematorium in Caversham, where a service was held for a small group of family members. Mr Bowden took over the lease of the farm in 1993 after his father George passed away. Last month, a tree was planted in memory of Mr Bowden at Couchfield Barn, off the footpath on the village outskirts. The Lebanese cedar sapling, which could grow up to 40m tall, is accompanied by a plaque engraved by Henley stonemasons E T Sheppard. This carries the inscription: Oliver Bowden, much-loved farmer and friend of this valley. 1963-2020. Organiser Kate Waddington, a lifelong friend, funded both through an online appeal which also raised about 30,000 for Mr Bowdens sons George, 13, and Archie, 11, to follow him into the profession. BOISE, Idaho Authorities in Idaho are trying to find three children believed to have run away from the same home, months apart. The Gem County Sheriffs Office said Tuesday night that investigators are looking for 17-year-old Tristan Conner Sexton, 14-year-old Taylor Summers and 8-year-old Taryn Summers, all of whom lived together and were last seen in the same rural neighborhood in the small city of Emmett, near the Oregon line. Tristan was last seen on Sept. 10, and Taylor was last seen Oct. 19. Taryn was last seen Monday, according to a Facebook post by the sheriffs office. It said the two teenagers arent believed to be in danger and that they have had frequent contact with family members. Authorities didnt say if the children were related and said they were believed to be runaways. Its not clear whom they were living with. The focus of recent efforts have been on locating Taryn, the sheriffs office wrote in an updated post Wednesday. Her status is that of missing due to her young age, but it is believed that she may have run away. Authorities have searched the area extensively to ensure Taryn wasnt nearby or injured, the sheriffs office said, and they are reaching out to people who know her to see if she is with a friend. The sheriffs office said the case is under investigation, and asked people with information to call. The office did not respond to phone messages left Wednesday by The Associated Press seeking more information. --The Associated Press Once-Homeless Former Addict Starts Nonprofit Overseeing 9 Sober Homes to Help Others After battling a decades-long drug addiction, four years in prison, and homelessness, a man from Canada entered a treatment program where he turned his life around. Today, he runs nine sober homes providing safe, supportive spaces for other addicts trying to get back on their feet. Speaking to The Epoch Times via social media, Russell Lee Abraham, 38, shared his advice for anyone seeking sobriety. Dont dwell on societys expectations, he implored. Your so-called faults are learning lessons, teachings; as long as you are ready for change and ready to learn then you can rise above the haters and follow your dreams. I did, he added, and Im just some guy from central Canada, Winnipeg off the block. A sober, Russell Lee Abraham. (Courtesy of Accountable On Atlantic) Abraham has been sober for the last two and half years. In March 2020, Abraham began to set up sobriety homes. In September of the same year, he officially registered his nonprofit, Accountable on Atlantic (AOA), and manages nine homes across Winnipegs North and West Ends to date. The flagship home in the North End, referred to by its address, 236 Atlantic, is a two-story detached home with five bedrooms housing mostly men. Ive seen how rough the world is, Abraham told CBC, alluding to the sobriety homes he has setup. When you get back out there [after prison] you have no one waiting for you. If you dont build a community, no one is talking to you. You have no one saying, Hey, how are you doing?' Added to all that, the bills, groceries, and thats a lot of pressure, he reflected. Abraham, who also goes by the name Junior Kozak, is part Ukrainian and Ojibway. He was into heroin, cocaine, and alcohol for almost 20 years before being convicted of attempted murder in 2006. After four years behind bars, Abraham was released but had nowhere to go. His chance for recovery came when a friend referred him to an addiction treatment program for men at Union Gospel Mission. Abraham graduated, stayed sober, and even worked at Red Road Lodge, a supportive housing facility, for a year. Translating his experience into a working model for AOA, Abraham is now helping others. Resident Steve Reinheimer, 36, moved into the 236 Atlantic home in August 2020 and has since surpassed a year sober. I feel like Im a proper functioning member of society and I feel good about myself again, he explained. Were family now, and its a new type of family. AOA is a passion project; Abraham is not remunerated for his work. Instead, he finds landlords that are sympathetic to his project, maintains strict house rules for residents including no storage of drugs or alcohol, and no visitors for the first month, along with charging CA$500 (approx. US$400) per room in rent each month. In addition, tenants need to commit to a six-month stay. AOAs flagship home at 236 Atlantic Avenue, North End, Winnipeg. (Courtesy of Accountable On Atlantic) Rent can be covered by social support, donations, disability payments, or employment, and includes utilities and communal groceries. AOAs independent living model bridges the gap between the two extremes of homeless shelters and supervised recovery facilities that many people seeking sobriety find themselves torn between. The feeling I get for helping one another, to see them smile and see them succeed and feel proud about themselves, is way better than a big fat cheque, Abraham reflected. Winnipeg locals have also responded well to Abrahams initiative. People just see what were doing, theyre dropping off food daily, clothes, and when we get an abundance of it we share it with the neighborhood, Abraham told APTN News. The ultimate aim of the project is to support sobriety, help tenants reclaim their sense of pride and purpose, and restore independence. When [tenants are] with us for a good while and they feel confident we will rent out a place under our own name for them for a year, Abraham explained. If they feel comfortable [well] sign it over to them; they got their own home. Abrahams partner and AOA CEO, Tyler Deva, told The Epoch Times that the nonprofit is expanding, with plans to meet the mayors of Vancouver and Gimli, Manitoba. They are also liaising with developers and investors with a new sober house in Hastings, Ontario, in mind. 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 Farmers in the Neolithic period had different jobs based on their gender, with men responsible for hunting and women for leatherwork, a new study of tools reveals. Scientists from the University of York analysed 400 stone objects found in graves dating back 5,000 years to when farming first started to spread across Europe. Their results show that tools found in female graves were most likely used for the working of animal skins and hide, whereas those in male graves were associated with hunting, woodwork, butchery, and potential conflict. Study author Dr Penny Bickle says this shows how 'the different roles of men and women were a crucial part of the transition to farming in human societies'. Farmers in the Neolithic period had different jobs based on their gender, with men responsible for hunting and women for leatherwork, a new study of tools reveals The UK team say the division of labour based on biological sex seen in these findings is not a sign of gender inequality within those ancient societies. ' 'Gendered roles actually show how dynamic farming societies were and how aware they were of the different skills of members of their community,' Dr Bickle said. 'The tasks attributed to women were difficult manual work and complemented the work of the men as equal contributors to their community. 'The fact that you see these objects in the graves of men and women, demonstrates how marked out and valued they were for these jobs.' The researchers also found geographic variations in these results, hinting gender-based division of labour may have shifted as agricultural practices spread west. In the east, there is evidence to suggest women moved around more than men, the experts said, with men moving about more in the west. The team noted differences in size, weight, and raw material dependent on whether the body was a male or a female. Archaeologists had previously believed that polished stone tools in the Neolithic period were used for woodworking, but analysis now shows a much wider range of tasks - with different activities for men and women. The researchers concluded that the different roles of men and women were a 'crucial' part of the transition to farming in human societies. Their results show that tools found in female graves were most likely used for the working of animal skins and hide, whereas those in male graves were associated with hunting, woodwork, butchery, and potential conflict Alba Masclans Latorre, a postdoctoral researcher from Barcelona and study lead, said the roles and contributions of women to early societies is often downplayed. 'Here we show that they took an active role in shaping early farming communities,' the researcher said, adding it was so important their activities were marked in death. 'We see the same in the graves of men, suggesting that there were indeed specific gendered roles, but all of these jobs were hugely significant to the proper functioning of their society.' The findings have been published in the journal PLOS ONE. That failure conspired with other lapses inside the Capitol Police force to create a dangerous situation on Jan. 6, according to his account. The agencys Civil Disturbance Unit, which specializes in handling large groups of protesters, was not allowed to use some of its most powerful tools and techniques against the crowd, on the orders of supervisors. Heavier, less-lethal weapons, including stun grenades, were not used that day because of orders from leadership, Mr. Bolton wrote. Officials on duty on Jan. 6 told him that such equipment could have helped the police to push back the rioters. Mr. Boltons findings are scheduled to be discussed on Thursday afternoon, when he is set to testify before the House Administration Committee. He has issued two investigative reports both classified as law enforcement sensitive and not publicly released about the agencys shortcomings on Jan. 6. He is also planning a third report. CNN first reported on a summary of the latest findings. The report titled, Review of the Events Surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol reserves some of its harshest criticism for the management of the agencys Civil Disturbance Unit, which exists to prevent tragedies like Jan. 6. Instead, nearly 140 officers were injured, and one, Officer Brian D. Sicknick, later collapsed and died after being assaulted by rioters. The Civil Disturbance Unit, Mr. Bolton wrote, was operating at a decreased level of readiness as a result of a lack of standards for equipment. In particular, Mr. Bolton focused in on an embarrassing lack of functional shields for Capitol Police officers during the riot. Some of the shields that officers were equipped with during the riot shattered upon impact because they had been improperly stored in a trailer that was not climate-controlled, Mr. Bolton found. Others could not be used by officers in desperate need of protection because the shields were locked on a bus. When the crowd became unruly, the C.D.U. platoon attempted to access the bus to distribute the shields but were unable because the door was locked, the report said, using an abbreviation for the Civil Disturbance Unit. The platoon was consequently required to respond to the crowd without the protection of their riot shields. An off-duty police officer who was trying to break up a fight in a Torremolinos nightclub had a glass smashed in his face that left him with a seven-centimetre scar that needed cosmetic surgery. The events took place on 9 November, 2018 at the Parthenon nightclub, when he was leaving the premises at 4am in the morning and he tried to break up a fight on the terrace area. He identified himself as a policeman and said that if they did not stop, they would all end up being arrested. A 37-year-old Spaniard, according to court papers, took a glass from a table on the terrace and smashed it into the face of the off-duty officer. The Malaga magistrates found the person guilty of the attack and handed down a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence and ordered the individual to compensate the local police officer 16,212 euros for the injuries suffered. Although the sentence includes a man's name, the defendant is a transsexual woman, but the change hasnt been reflected in her legal documentation yet. CAIRO A ship that blocked the Suez Canal for almost a week in March is being held in the waterway as canal authorities pursue a $916 million compensation claim against the ships Japanese owner, one of the vessels insurers and canal sources said on Tuesday. The Ever Given container ship, owned by Shoei Kisen, has been in a lake separating two sections of the canal since it was dislodged on March 29, as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) conducts investigations. Two SCA sources, who declined to be named, told Reuters a court order had been issued for the ship to be held. Negotiations over the compensation claim were still taking place, according to one of the sources. UK Club, the protection & indemnity (P&I) insurer for the Ever Given, said the canals claim included $300 million for a salvage bonus and $300 million for loss of reputation. Despite the magnitude of the claim, which was largely unsupported, the owners and their insurers have been negotiating in good faith with the SCA, UK Club said in a statement. On 12 April, a carefully considered and generous offer was made to the SCA to settle their claim. We are disappointed by the SCAs subsequent decision to arrest the vessel today. Earlier on Tuesday Yumi Shinohara, deputy manager with owner Shoei Kisens fleet management department, confirmed that the canal had made a compensation claim and that the ship had not been given clearance to leave, but gave no further details. Cargo The decision to hold the ship could impact its cargo, said Jai Sharma, a lawyer at Clyde & Co. I anticipate that there will be companies that are going to air freight cargo replacements, he said. There was no immediate comment from the SCA, but the authoritys chairman Osama Rabie said on Egyptian TV last week that the Ever Given would not leave until the investigation was finished and compensation paid. He said the canal had borne great moral damage as well as shipping fee losses and salvage operation costs. He has also said he hoped to settle matters amicably. Results of the SCAs investigation were expected by the end of the week, according to SCA sources. International supply chains were thrown into disarray when the 400-meter (430 yard) Ever Given ran aground in the canal on March 23, with 18,300 containers on board. Specialist rescue teams took six days to free the vessel, delaying the passage of more than 400 ships and causing others to divert around Africa. Industry sources told Reuters last week that reinsurers were set to foot most of the bill for the ships grounding. Asked about the SCAs claim, Sharma said: It would seem surprising that the claim could be quantified so quickly with any accuracy. One maritime lawyer said that normally the ship owner would provide an agreed security that would allow the vessel and crew to continue on their way with a court setting a final award later. Of course in this case, they are hoping for cash now, he said. About the photo: In this March 30, 2021 file photo, the Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship, is seen in Egypts Great Bitter Lake. The Suez Canal chief said Tuesday, April 6, 2021, that authorities are negotiating a financial settlement with the owners of the massive vessel that blocked the crucial waterway for nearly a week. (AP Photo/Mohamed Elshahed, File) Students from the Bay State who attend the University of Massachusetts, including the flagship Amherst campus, will not pay higher undergraduate and graduate tuition costs this fall thanks to a tuition freeze approved Wednesday by the trustees. Out-of-state students will see a $1.5% increase. The in-state freeze for the 2021-22 academic year marks the second consecutive year of tuition and mandatory fee freezes for UMass system. According to an announcement from the the trustees, the net price of attending UMass the cost minus financial aid remains consistent with other New England state universities and is 31% below comparable private institutions. Undergraduate tuition for in-state students at UMass Amherst will remain steady at $15,791. That is slightly higher than at the Boston, Lowell or Dartmouth campuses, which will also remain unchanged. For in-state UMass Amherst graduate students, tuition will stay at $14,778. Of the four campuses, Amherst ranks as the second lowest in tuition cost, with only Lowell carrying a lower price tag, at $14,590. Out-of-state students at the Amherst campus will see an increase of 1.5%. For undergraduates, the tuition bill will rise $537, from $35,779 to $36,316. Graduate students from out of state will see an increase of $496, bringing their bill to $33,536. The Amherst campus is the only location among UMass campuses charging an increase to out-of-state students. Tuition was frozen for those students at the Boston, Lowell and Dartmouth campuses. We recognize the very real challenges that our students and their families continue to face due to the pandemic and we are committed to doing everything within our control to lessen the burden while also preserving the quality of a UMass education. That is also why we have prioritized setting our tuition rates earlier this year, so that we can provide some predictability to our students and families during an otherwise unpredictable year, UMass president Marty Meehan said. This freeze was made possible by the active management of university finances at the system and campus levels. The decisions made over the last year have ensured that the university will emerge from the pandemic in a strong, stable financial condition, said Robert Manning, chairman of the Board of Trustees. During a difficult and tempestuous pandemic year, UMass trustees and administrators have received sharp criticism from faculty, union leaders and some student groups, who accused them of using the coronavirus pandemic to underfund the academic mission or, at the very least, to exhibit a shortsighted approach. UMass officials have responded by insisting that the unprecedented and unpredictable nature of the crisis, with its inherent cost to the university largely in lost dormitory and meal plan fees have required them to look carefully at staffing, programs and all other costs. Room and board fee schedules were not announced Wednesday. The cost increase for out-of-state students on the Amherst campus, and other potential increases, has been a target of the UMass Amherst Debt-Free Future Campaign, according to Sonya Epstein, spokesperson for the campaign. This increase in tuition & fees is extremely harmful to students, especially in the middle of a pandemic, Epstein said. Campaign leaders were expected to respond to the trustees announcement late Wednesday. In addition to announcing the tuition scale, trustees stated that the university increased its institutionally funded financial aid to a record high of $352 million, accounting for 40% of the total aid received by UMass students. Since fiscal 2015, institutional aid has increased by $116 million, or 49%, the announcement said. At least one quarter of UMass students at each campus receive Pell Grants. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is projected to provide $23 million to UMass to further support students and last years CARES Act provided $23 million in direct aid to students. These grants are not considered or included as financial aid. Related content: WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Alaska Airlines is set to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from municipal solid waste following a partnership with SkyNRG Americas, claimed to be the pioneer and global leader for SAF. Alaska Airlines is one of the most fuel-efficient airlines in the U.S. with a strong commitment to sustainability. It was among the first airline to use SAF in passenger travel, flying nearly 80 flights over the past decade, to reduce its intensity target of greenhouse gas emissions by 16 percent since 2012. Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG are already in a deal for supply of SAF and this partnership is increasing their investment commitment for SAF to be produced from municipal solid waste. This is part of the airline's long-term plan to reduce carbon emissions and its impact on the planet. Alaska Airlines said it has been working for more than a decade to advance SAF technology and viability. With this partnership, the airline will partner SkyNRG to advance truly sustainable production of SAF and develop supply in the Pacific Northwest. Under this partnership, SkyNRG Americas will initially focus on developing dedicated SAF production facilities to supply Western U.S. airports. These facilities will use commercially available technologies that enable the use of municipal solid waste and other waste-based inputs as feedstocks, as well as incorporating green hydrogen and renewable energy for minimizing carbon intensity. SkyNRG Americas and Alaska Airlines will also continue to build awareness and understanding of SAF technologies, and advocate for public policies to accelerate the development of the SAF industry and infrastructure. In October last year, Alaska Airlines partnered Microsoft with the aim to use SAF to offset Microsoft employee travel between Seattle and San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles. The airline is already using SAF, supplied by SkyNRG, which is an important option for the aviation industry to reduce carbon (CO2) emissions on a life-cycle basis. Instead of being refined from petroleum, SAF is generally produced from sustainable resources, like waste oils and agricultural residues. The SAF currently being supplied to Alaska Airlines by SkyNRG is produced in the U.S. by World Energy using waste oils and delivers a carbon reduction of approximately 75 percent compared to fossil jet fuel. Microsoft, Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG are also supporting the development of a global environmental accounting standard for voluntary corporate SAF purchases through their participation in a pilot project of the World Economic Forum's Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative. Meanwhile, United Airlines has made the airline industry's single largest investment in SAF and has purchased more SAF than any other airline in the world. World Energy, a long-term partner of United, will supply the SAF to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which makes it conveniently accessible to United's operations. United airlines has also launched a first of its kind Eco-Skies Alliance program, which gives customers the ability to contribute funds for additional SAF purchase or for use on initiatives United believes will help decarbonize aviation. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ALASKA AIR-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de The head of Italy's National Health Institute said on Tuesday it was too early to say how issues surrounding the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine will affect the nation's inoculation campaign, as the first deliveries of 180,000 doses arrived in the country. The US on Tuesday recommended a pause in using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to investigate reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots. Johnson & Johnson said it was delaying the rollout of its coronavirus vaccine across Europe amid the US probe, a move that experts worried could further shake vaccine confidence and complicate worldwide COVID-19 immunisation efforts. Silvio Brusaferro, who head's Italy's National Health Institute, said the country remained on "standby" ready to distribute the vaccines as soon as more information was known on the issues. Italy is expected to receive another 300,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of April. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Australians pay about $30 billion a year in superannuation fees more than their electricity and gas bills combined. This startling figure was touted by the federal government as they revealed plans in the 2020 budget to cut super expenses, reduce duplicate accounts and weed out underperforming funds. Theres no argument every dollar spent unnecessarily erodes workers super balances, reduces the benefits of compound growth and leaves workers with less in retirement. But finding the best way to reduce fees and increase competition has become the subject of significant debate as the Your Future, Your Super legislation nears a vote. Theres a long-running and bitter dispute between the Coalition and industry super funds, Labor and the trade unions about the future of the $3 trillion super sector. Credit:Louie Douvis Superannuation sources say comparing super fees, a cost of doing business to get a financial return, with the sunk costs of utility bills isnt useful, but the debate of how to lower funds has billions of dollars at stake in the $3 trillion sector. The Your Future, Your Super legislation, which was the subject of two days of public hearings last week, includes changes such as benchmark tests, expected to save $10.7 billion in the next decade, stapling people to funds, expected to save $2.8 billion over 10 years, and a new fund comparison tool, which is expected to save $3.3 billion in the same period. WASHINGTON More than 87,000 Americans died of drug overdoses over the 12-month period that ended in September, according to preliminary federal data, eclipsing the toll from any year since the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s. The surge represents an increasingly urgent public health crisis, one that has drawn less attention and fewer resources while the nation has battled the coronavirus pandemic. Deaths from overdoses started rising again in the months leading up to the coronavirus pandemic after dropping slightly in 2018 for the first time in decades and it is hard to gauge just how closely the two phenomena are linked. But the pandemic unquestionably exacerbated the trend, which grew much worse last spring: The biggest jump in overdose deaths took place in April and May, when fear and stress were rampant, job losses were multiplying and the strictest lockdown measures were in effect. Many treatment programs closed during that time, at least temporarily, and drop-in centers that provide support, clean syringes and naloxone, the lifesaving medication that reverses overdoses, cut back services that in many cases have yet to be fully restored. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. 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 Online Masters In Communication Degree Programs. Intelligent.com analyzed 116 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 49 making it to the final list for Online Masters In Communication Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-communications-degree-programs/ 2021 Online Masters In Communication Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): American University Arizona State University Asbury University Austin Peay State University California Baptist University Clarion University of Pennsylvania Colorado State University Columbia University Drexel University Edinboro University Florida International University Gonzaga University Johns Hopkins University Lasell College Liberty University Marist College Mercer University Michigan State University Minnesota State University, Mankato Mississippi College Missouri State University National University Northeastern University Northern Arizona University Notre Dame of Maryland University Ohio University Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Quinnipiac University Regent University South Dakota State University Southern New Hampshire University Southern Utah University Spring Arbor University Syracuse University Texas Tech University University of Alabama University of Central Missouri University of Denver University of Florida University of Iowa University of Nebraska University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Southern California Washington State University Webster University West Virginia University Western New England University Westminster College 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 alphabet was invented by illiterate Canaanite miners in ancient Egypt who turned elaborate hieroglyphs into basic letters 4,000 years ago, according to research. In 2006, Egyptologist Orly Goldwasser argued that symbols on artefacts from a temple in the Sinai are prototypes of the letters that we use to read and write today. While it had long been assumed that the first alphabet was the product of the highly educated elite, Professor Goldwasser believes the exact opposite was true. Inspired by the hieroglyphs they saw around them, the immigrant labourers forged letters for their own Semitic language based on the Egyptian glyphs' shapes. The miner's 'Sinaitic' script would go on to develop into Ancient South Arabian and Phoenician script, from which the Greek and Latin alphabets are derived. The alphabet was invented by illiterate Canaanite miners in ancient Egypt who turned elaborate hieroglyphs into basic letters 4,000 years ago, a study claimed. Pictured, a Sandstone sphinx from Serabit el-Khadim, with the 'Sinaitic' script etched on its side. The text reads: 'Beloved of Ba'alat', which is a reference to a Canaanite goddess In 2006, Egyptologist Orly Goldwasser argued that symbols (pictured) on artefacts unearthed from a temple in the Sinai in 1905 are prototypes of the letters that we use to write today The carvings of the earliest alphabet were unearthed by the Egyptologists Flinders and Hilda Petrie, a married British couple, in the year 1905. The duo excavated a site on the Serabit el-Khadim plateau, in the south-west Sinai Peninsula, which sported a turquoise mine, mining camp and a temple to Hathor. As a major goddess, Hathor played various roles in the Ancient Egyptian religion - most notably being a sky deity, the 'mistress of love' and an escort of souls entering the afterlife - but was also associated with both the colour and mineral turquoise. The mining efforts - blessed by offerings to Hathor - would have provided the Egyptians with a supply of the precious stone, which they saw as symbolising rebirth and, consequently, was used to colour the walls of many a grand tomb. Immigrant miners from the neighbouring land of Canaan were among the workers whose names and jobs were inscribed, in hieroglyphics, on giant upright slabs that lined the path that led to the temple. Alongside hieroglyphs, however, the Petries found the other, unknown, symbols - which resembled the Egyptian icons and were carved into the faces of the turquoise mine, as well as on the walls of buildings and small statues. One in particular - a reddish sandstone sphynx - was among the artefacts that they brought back with them to London. It currently resides in the British Museum. Ten years later, the British Egyptologist and linguist Alan Gardiner succeeded in deciphering the script on the side of the sphynx, translating it to mean 'Beloved of Ba'alat', a reference to a Canaanite goddess. The carvings of the earliest alphabet were unearthed by the Egyptologists Flinders and Hilda Petrie, a married British couple, in the year 1905. The duo excavated a site on the Serabit el-Khadim plateau which sported a turquoise mine and a temple to Hathor, pictured As a major goddess, Hathor played various roles in the Ancient Egyptian religion - most notably being a sky deity and an escort of souls entering the afterlife - but was also associated with the colour and mineral turquoise. Pictured, left, a statue of Hathor from the Luxor Temple and, right, hieroglyphs on a stone stelae from her temple at Serabit el-Khadim Immigrant miners from the neighbouring land of Canaan were among the workers whose names and jobs were inscribed, in hieroglyphics, on giant upright slabs that lined the path that led to the temple of Hathor at the Serabit el-Khadim site, which is depicted in the above painting by a member of a Prussian expedition from the mid-19th century The little sphynx beating the early letter is 'worth all the gold in Egypt,' Professor Goldwasser told Smithsonian Magazine. 'Every word we read and write started with him and his friends,' she added. According to Goldwasser, the Canaanite miners were likely inspired to create their own written script after seeing the glyphs that their counterparts used to dedicate their gifts to Hathor - offerings given in hope of plentiful yields from the mine. 'The mines were dark and very narrow. Its an unpleasant situation. You have to pray a lot to get out in good shape from this situation,' she told The World. 'You are in a place with thousands of beautiful hieroglyphs. And you want so much to write your gods [names] and write your name.' Unable to properly read the hieroglyphs - or speak Coptic, the corresponding language spoken by the ancient Egyptians - they borrowed elements to write down their own language in a novel way. Detailed the process that she thinks the Canaanites used to get from glyph to letter, Professor Goldwasser said: 'Call the picture by name, pick up only the first sound and discard the picture from your mind.' In this way, for example, the hieroglyph representing an ox - an animal whose name the miners would have pronounced as 'aleph' - became the loose basis for the shape of the letter 'a', but now divorced from its original connection to the ox. In the same fashion, the glyph for house - 'bet' - became 'b', and so on. Pictured, a table illustrating the evolution of the alphabet from the hieroglyphs that inspired it to more recent scripts Detailed the process that she thinks the Canaanites used to get from glyph to letter, Professor Goldwasser said: 'Call the picture by name, pick up only the first sound and discard the picture from your mind.' In this way, for example, the hieroglyph representing an ox - an animal whose name the miners would have pronounced as 'aleph' - became the loose basis for the shape of the letter 'a', but now divorced from its original connection to the ox. In the same fashion, the glyph for house - 'bet' - became 'b', and so on, with some letters borrowing from the hieroglyphs and others from objects from life. These first two letters provided the root of the name of the writing system - the 'alphabet'. According to the former president of the French Society of Egyptology, Pierre Tallet, the theory that the alphabet has its origins in illiterate miners, rather than the educated elite, makes perfect sense. 'It is clear that whoever wrote these inscriptions in the Sinai did not know hieroglyphs,' he told Smithsonian Magazine. 'The words they are writing are in a Semitic language, so they must have been Canaanites - who we know were there from the Egyptians own written record here in the temple.' The 'proto-Sinaitic' script would go on to develop into Ancient South Arabian and Phoenician script, from which the Greek and Latin alphabets are derived. Pictured, left, Flinders Petrie, who first unearthed the early alphabet with his wife Hilda in 1905 - and, right, Orly Goldwasser, who first proposed that the script was invented by illiterate miners Other scholars, however, have expressed doubt - such as, for example, . Hebrew scholar Christopher Rollston of the George Washington University, in the US. 'It would be improbable that illiterate miners were capable of, or responsible for, the invention of the alphabet,' he told Smithsonian Magazine - adding that he felt that the script's writers must have known hieroglyphics. However, Professor Goldwasser cautions, 'we must be careful not to be blinded by the genius of the invention of the alphabet, and, therefore, that such a breakthrough could be born only in the circles of highly educated scribes. 'These supposed scribes are presumed to be Canaanites, yet masters of all variations of Egyptian scripts - hieroglyphs and hieratic,' she continued. 'My thesis differs sharply from those of former scholars, in suggesting that the inventors of the alphabet could not read Egyptian - neither hieroglyphs nor hieratic.' 'I believe that the inventors related to the image alone, to the pictorial part of the Egyptian hieroglyph. They saw hieroglyphs as little pictures of items in their world. 'They chose those pictures that were relevant to their lives and made a completely new use of them, a use that disregarded entirely their function in the "mother script" the original Egyptian hieroglyphic system.' 'If someone comes and says, "Orly, its incorrect, they were real scribes" - I will accept it, but I will be sad,' Professor Goldwasser told The World. 'I like so much my miners, and the idea that they were not an elite society, they were not the privileged one of their times, and still they were able to emerge from all that with a fantastic innovation that changed the world until today.' The full findings of Professor Goldwasser's study were published in the journal Egypt and the Levant. User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Fort Portal (82.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 20-30 s : Earth tremor shaking for 30 seconds..woke me up! | 7 users found this interesting. Entebbe / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s : I was laying in my bed and felt it shaking for 5 or 6 seconds. The windows were also shaking. I immediately knew it was an earthquake. | 4 users found this interesting. Kampala (258.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 30-60 s : Like big boat that docks | 4 users found this interesting. Mubende (125.7 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : It woke me up, sound of the doors and windows shaking | 4 users found this interesting. Kampala / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : It was bit strong | 4 users found this interesting. Kampala / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : Felt the whole bed move | 4 users found this interesting. Kampala (0 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) : sitting in Sofa felt for 6 secs | 2 users found this interesting. Kyegegwa (136.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : More rattle sounds shaking | 2 users found this interesting. 255.5 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Felt vibrating of the building | 2 users found this interesting. Kampala / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Woke up in the early hours of the morning and felt my whole bed shaking and the glass windows in my room creaking! | One user found this interesting. Fort Portal / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : Woke me up! | 2 users found this interesting. Kampala / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : A bit of a shake | 2 users found this interesting. Kampala (258.3 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Bunia (51.5 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s Fort Portal, Uganda (48.3 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s Luweero (237.2 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single vertical bump / 1-2 s Fort Portal / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Heard a rumbling sound in distance and then awoke at 5.20am to rattling and shaking of things in room. Bigodi Uganda / Weak shaking (MMI III) Munyonyo / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Moderate but lasted for long time Entebbe, uganda / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Mubende, Uganda / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s Kasenda kabarole Uganda / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : Yes I felt it Fort portal Municipality / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s Kampala / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Enough shaking to wake us up. Nyankunde, DRC / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s Kampala, Serena Hotel / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s Ex-assistant of Ural Federal Districts Presidential Envoy gets 12.5 years for treason RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:44 14/04/2021 MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Wednesday sentenced a former assistant of the RF Presidential Envoy in the Ural Federal District Alexander Vorobyev to 12.5 years in high-security penal colony for treason, the courts press service told RAPSI. After release the convicts liberty will be restricted for 2 years. Vorobyev was also divested of his rank of the Full State Counsellor 3rd Class of the Russian Federation. Earlier, a prosecutor demanded 13 years behind bars for the defendant and a fine. The case was heard behind closed doors as it contained classified materials. Houston city council on Wednesday will consider approving a 400-unit affordable housing project in the East End that has drawn opposition from the area state representative and a local developer who says the land poses environmental health risks. The project at 800 Middle St. is a joint effort between the Houston Housing Authority, a public agency that oversees low-income and affordable housing vouchers for tens of thousands of Houstonians, and NRP Group, an Ohio-based developer. Officials ultimately plan to build more than 900 mixed-income units at the new apartment complex, though city council only is considering approval of 400 low-income units for the first phase of the project at Wednesdays meeting, along with a 4 percent federal tax credit for the project. Housing authority officials acquired the land, located east of downtown along the southern shore of Buffalo Bayou, using a portion of the funds they received after selling a nearby housing facility, Clayton Homes, to the Texas Department of Transportation for $90 million in 2019. The state transportation agency plans to demolish Clayton Homes to make way for its planned expansion of the adjacent Interstate 45 highway, while the housing authority intends to relocate residents of the housing facility to the new project at 800 Middle St. About three-quarters of the 400 proposed units would be for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as roughly $45,000 for a family of four. The remainder would be for households with incomes up to 30 percent of the area median income, housing authority interim president and CEO Mark Thiele said at a city council meeting last month. A portion of the 926 units envisioned in the final project would be offered at market rate. The proposed development has come under scrutiny from local developer Alan Atkinson, who has sought to stop the project through a lawsuit that is currently before a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In court filings, Atkinson who previously owned the land before selling it in 2006 says the property is located next to a lead processing facility that makes it unsuitable for development. He also said the land remains contaminated from its use as an ash landfill site for city garbage incinerators decades ago. They could not have picked a worse location on the bayou for pollution to build low-income housing, Atkinson said. The city has denied Atkinsons charges, arguing in court filings that the land had no known environmental issues until part of the property eroded along the bank of Buffalo Bayou in January 2020 as the result of recent storms. The owner of the land, Pinto East End LLC, installed a bulkhead along the eroded area that will prevent potential exposure of ash to the bayou or any person, according to city court filings. Before using proceeds from the Clayton Homes sale to buy nearby land, housing authority officials first had to gain approval from the U.S. Housing Department, which controlled the funds because Clayton Homes is a HUD-assisted housing project. Atkinson alleges Pinto and the housing authority unlocked the funds by submitting inspection reports to state and federal officials that misrepresented the environmental status of the land at 800 Middle St. City and housing authority officials have denied Atkinsons charge, noting that state officials deemed the land suitable for any use in 2016. They allege in court filings that Atkinson opposes the affordable housing project because he believes it would hurt the value of the townhomes he owns nearby, and argue that Atkinson has not taken legal issue with a planned high-end development next to 800 Middle St. Atkinson said he has long supported low-income housing development in the area and argued he is mainly concerned about what he views as a poor use of public funds. Any private developer can go build on this property, and nobody could stop them, because private developers can take risk, and they're passing that risk along to the people that they sell to, Atkinson said. But HUD operates by completely different rules, because when HUD approves a location to build housing on, they are taking on the responsibility to guarantee that that location is safe for its residents. Because those residents are typically impoverished people who don't have the financial ability to choose where they live. Councilmember Karla Cisneros, whose city council district includes the proposed site, said she supports the project in part because it will help ensure Clayton Homes residents are relocated nearby, instead of elsewhere in the city where theyre not connected, away from their jobs and schools and families. I'm a huge fan of affordable housing, especially in my neighborhoods that are gentrifying, Cisneros said. It is one of the best tools we have to (create) places where rents are protected and people can afford to live in their communities. Ahead of the city council vote, Atkinson has sent a letter to each council member outlining his arguments against the proposed project. He acknowledged he is waging an uphill battle, given that Mayor Sylvester Turner supports the project and council members typically vote with the mayor under Houstons strong-mayor form of government. Within the letter, Atkinson also argued the existing surface streets surrounding the housing project would not provide adequate access to Navigation Boulevard nearby. He said the streets would need to be widened to meet city right-of-way standards and support increased traffic resulting from the new apartment units. State Rep. Christina Morales, whose district includes the proposed housing project, echoed those arguments in a letter to Houston Housing Director Tom McCasland last October, in which she expressed her opposition to the development. I have heard from both long-time and recently relocated members of the community who have communicated to me that the project is not a good fit for the neighborhood, wrote Morales, D-Houston. There are issues regarding the negative impact it will have on traffic, congestion and accessibility. To accommodate the increased traffic, improvements to the street grid will be necessary. This will require the displacement of current homeowners, which I find unacceptable. McCasland could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In court filings, the city and housing authority have denied Atkinsons traffic-related charges, calling them speculative. Jason Arechiga, senior vice president for NRP Group, the project developer, told council members at a March 31 council meeting that Middle and Kennedy Streets the two main points for accessing the apartment complex would be improved and extended as part of the project. jasper.scherer@chron.com Notable new paper on doctor involvement in executions | Main | The still on-going struggle over lethal injection procedures in Missouri June 23, 2009 Madoff asking for a 12-year prison sentence As detailed in this new story in the New York Law Journal, which is headlined "Madoff Lawyer Asks Judge to Ignore 'Hysteria,' Impose 12-Year Sentence," the legal team for Bernie Madoff has come up with an interesting proposed sentencing number: If you are arguing that Bernard L. Madoff should be given a break, you work with what you have. Attempting to mitigate a maximum sentence of 150 years for a client whose name has become synonymous with greed, defense attorney Ira Lee Sorkin asked a federal judge this morning to set aside the "hysteria" generated by of the largest Ponzi scheme in history and give Mr. Madoff only 12 years in prison. In a letter to Southern District Judge Denny Chin, Mr. Sorkin argued as a fallback that a 15-to-20 year term would accomplish the goals of the sentencing laws "without disproportionately punishing" Mr. Madoff. "We seek neither mercy nor sympathy," Mr. Sorkin said, promising that at his scheduled sentencing on Monday Mr. Madoff "will speak to the shame he has felt and to the pain he has caused." Thanks to the folks at the NYLJ, everyone can (and should) check out the sentencing letter sent from the Madoff team to Judge Chin at this link. Some related Madoff sentencing posts: June 23, 2009 at 02:28 PM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e201157149a64b970b Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Madoff asking for a 12-year prison sentence: Comments Has anyone mentioned Madoff's lack of cooperation? By all accounts he was not especially helpful to investigators who have been trying to unravel his fraud. And he still maintains he acted alone, a claim practically no one believes. Those factors would militate heavily against giving this guy a break. Posted by: Marc Shepherd | Jun 23, 2009 4:52:24 PM Marc. He pled guilty. There was no plea deal to pledge cooperation so it's a non-factor. As for whether there was any other members, so far the government has come forth with no proof of that. Posted by: Daniel | Jun 23, 2009 6:00:47 PM Speaking of lenient sentences, the story of the day in Chicago is that a cop who beat a bartender (caught on security camera) only got probation. Posted by: . | Jun 23, 2009 7:54:01 PM 123...2000D. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Jun 23, 2009 8:56:56 PM The idea of calculating and documenting the client's actuarial life expectancy, and then suggesting a sentence of one year less than that term, is a very creative argument. Perhaps the best that any defense counsel could have come up with in this case. Posted by: Peter G | Jun 23, 2009 9:09:25 PM He needs to be taken to the courthouse basement. A police officer should shoot him in the head with his service pistol. He has outworn his welcome on earth. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Jun 24, 2009 2:16:16 AM I agree with Peter G. I also found the empirical sentencing analysis interesting. Do we know what sentence the government is seeking? Posted by: anonymous | Jun 24, 2009 8:13:43 AM This defendant has adhered to the time honored edict of the great Prescott Bush--father of President #41 and grandfather of #43. Prescott said this on many auspicious occasions: 'Pilage but be polite'. Madoff might have pilaged, but he was polite. For that he needs some time off for good behavior. Twelve years is a lot when you are his age. Posted by: mpb | Jun 24, 2009 8:49:29 AM Post a comment Dealing with mounting pressure to speed up the distribution of COVID vaccines in the country, the central government has agreed to expedite emergency clearance for Covid vaccines, which are widely used in Western countries and Japan. Dealing with mounting pressure to speed up the distribution of COVID vaccines in the country, The central government has agreed to expedite emergency clearance for Covid vaccines, which are widely used in Western countries and Japan. This will directly enable vaccine manufacturers from outside India, such as Johnson and Johnson (Bio E), Zydus Cadila, Serums Novavax and a nasal vaccine from Bharat Biotech., to market vaccines that have not been subjected to India-specific studies but have shown strong safety profiles in other global regulators trials. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Japans Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have all granted emergency use permission to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Following extensive deliberation, the NEGVAC suggested that vaccines for COVID, which have been produced and developed in other countries and have been given emergency approval for limited use by global regulators, be used. We hope and invite vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and othersto be able to come to India as soon as possible, VK Paul, chairman of the National Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration, said. Read More: Covid second wave grips India: Security tightened in Kumbh Mela; social distancing, covid norms flouted in public events Sputnik V, a Russian-made vaccine, has already received emergency approval in India. It is believed that these vaccines will be available by Q3. Though J&J is working towards reaching the Indian market as soon as possible. But Pfizer withdrew from the race in February due to regulatory issues. Novavax, on one hand, started testing in India in March with the aim of launching it in September. Moderna, on the other hand, is still in early talks with the CSIR about a potential collaboration. It will take a few more months to roll out the vaccine in the Indian market. A highly contagious COVID-19 variant has made its way to Manitobas north as the region races to vaccinate residents while battling a persistently high test-positivity rate. A highly contagious COVID-19 variant has made its way to Manitobas north as the region races to vaccinate residents while battling a persistently high test-positivity rate. "We're really not anywhere near the point of effective herd immunity levels yet," said Dr. Michael Routledge, the provinces former chief public health officer, who now is part of the health team at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. "We're continuing to see, across the north, a fairly high test positivity. It has been stubbornly high, around that 15 per cent level." Across Manitoba, the five-day test-positivity rate was six per cent as of Tuesday morning. Health officials generally agree that in order to know where cases are occurring and determine who needs to be isolated to contain spread, the rate should be kept below 2.5 per cent. The region isn't near the point of effective herd immunity levels yet, says Dr. Michael Routledge, the provinces former chief public health officer, who now is part of the health team at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. (Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files) The World Health Organization advises jurisdictions implementing temporary restrictions to keep them in place until the positivity rate holds below five per cent for at least two weeks. As of Tuesday, northern Manitoba had more active COVID-19 cases than Winnipeg, concentrated in communities such as Island Lake, Pukatawagan and the area surrounding Easterville because of social determinants, including cramped housing, which allows the virus to thrive by infecting numerous people in a home, sometimes over the course of weeks, Routledge said Tuesday during an MKO virtual briefing. "What we've seen for quite some time is that once COVID gets started in one of (the northern) communities, often times it explodes, in fairly significant outbreaks," he said. That's led to military deployments on seven Manitoba reserves since November to get dramatic spread under control. Avoiding those outbreaks could get even more difficult. The province announced the first confirmed case of a highly contagious COVID-19 variant in the north on Tuesday. Officials are awaiting the results of genomic sequencing to determine which mutant strain of the virus is involved. Northern chiefs are hoping checkpoints will help keep the more-infectious variants at bay. Reserves have tried to screen anyone arriving by road or snowmobile, sending visitors away and putting COVID-positive residents into isolation shelters. TRIBUNE MEDIA TNS Moderna shots get thawed and transported to reserves, who then have three weeks to use them. (Michael Sohn / Getty Images files) "It has been in place for non-essential travel, and I think that has really helped our First Nations," said MKO Vice-Chief Shirley Ducharme, who is the chief of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation. Anyone visiting the north should be tested beforehand, and follow protocols, including people heading home after medical treatment and Winnipeg residents travelling to their home reserve to obtain a vaccine, Routledge said. "Obviously, any travel presents some risks, but we need people to get to the vaccination sites and I have a lot of faith in the communities to manage their recommendations for their community members," he said. First Nations members are hospitalized at dramatically higher rates than other Manitobans with COVID-19 due to decades of inequities, which is why they're being prioritized for vaccination. Members living off reserve are currently eligible to be vaccinated at age 40 and older. All reserves will start immunizing anyone age 18 and older this month as part of a campaign by the First Nations pandemic team to administer 100,000 doses to Manitobans in the most remote parts of the province before July, including non-Indigenous people in far-flung communities. Forty-eight of the 63 First Nations reserves in Manitoba will have received their first large shipment of Moderna doses by the end of next week. A persistent data lag means it's not possible to determine how many of those doses have been administered this month; online data is missing some of the doses injected during the past two weeks. RUTH BONNEVILLE None of the vaccines have been wasted, says Melanie MacKinnon, the executive director of the University of Manitoba's Ongomiizwin Health Services who helps oversee the rollout as part of the First Nations team. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) Chiefs in southern communities have had difficulties drumming up enough interest, and some have given up doses to other Indigenous communities, although that number is amounts to "a little more than a handful," said Melanie MacKinnon, a nurse who helps oversee the rollout as part of the First Nations team. Originally, reserves were supposed to get enough shots to immunize 70 per cent of their populations; now, they have the option to receive 60 per cent of that quota at first, with the balance waiting in Winnipeg freezers. "It's a precaution to extend the life of the community's allocation," said MacKinnon, noting that the Moderna shots get thawed and transported to reserves, when the clock begins ticking down until doses expire three weeks later. Some reserves have had to reschedule this weeks vaccination clinics because of the weather, but the doses had arrived in the region last week and communities needing medical teams to help get shots into arms should expect them to arrive soon, MacKinnon said. The First Nations team is learning from its initial rollout and making plans to avoid the need to move thawed vaccines given the tighter timeline to use them, she said. "I can say none of that vaccine has been wasted; it has all been used before its expiry date," she said. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The TTY demystified Real teletypes in the 1940s. The TTY subsystem is central to the design of Linux, and UNIX in general. Unfortunately, its importance is often overlooked, and it is difficult to find good introductory articles about it. I believe that a basic understanding of TTYs in Linux is essential for the developer and the advanced user. Beware, though: What you are about to see is not particularly elegant. In fact, the TTY subsystem while quite functional from a user's point of view is a twisty little mess of special cases. To understand how this came to be, we have to go back in time. History In 1869, the stock ticker was invented. It was an electro-mechanical machine consisting of a typewriter, a long pair of wires and a ticker tape printer, and its purpose was to distribute stock prices over long distances in realtime. This concept gradually evolved into the faster, ASCII-based teletype. Teletypes were once connected across the world in a large network, called Telex, which was used for transferring commercial telegrams, but the teletypes weren't connected to any computers yet. Meanwhile, however, the computers still quite large and primitive, but able to multitask were becoming powerful enough to be able to interact with users in realtime. When the command line eventually replaced the old batch processing model, teletypes were used as input and output devices, because they were readily available on the market. There was a plethora of teletype models around, all slightly different, so some kind of software compatibility layer was called for. In the UNIX world, the approach was to let the operating system kernel handle all the low-level details, such as word length, baud rate, flow control, parity, control codes for rudimentary line editing and so on. Fancy cursor movements, colour output and other advanced features made possible in the late 1970s by solid state video terminals such as the VT-100, were left to the applications. In present time, we find ourselves in a world where physical teletypes and video terminals are practically extinct. Unless you visit a museum or a hardware enthusiast, all the TTYs you're likely to see will be emulated video terminals software simulations of the real thing. But as we shall see, the legacy from the old cast-iron beasts is still lurking beneath the surface. The use cases A user types at a terminal (a physical teletype). This terminal is connected through a pair of wires to a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter) on the computer. The operating system contains a UART driver which manages the physical transmission of bytes, including parity checks and flow control. In a naive system, the UART driver would then deliver the incoming bytes directly to some application process. But such an approach would lack the following essential features: Line editing. Most users make mistakes while typing, so a backspace key is often useful. This could of course be implemented by the applications themselves, but in accordance with the UNIX design philosophy, applications should be kept as simple as possible. So as a convenience, the operating system provides an editing buffer and some rudimentary editing commands (backspace, erase word, clear line, reprint), which are enabled by default inside the line discipline. Advanced applications may disable these features by putting the line discipline in raw mode instead of the default cooked (or canonical) mode. Most interactive applications (editors, mail user agents, shells, all programs relying on curses or readline ) run in raw mode, and handle all the line editing commands themselves. The line discipline also contains options for character echoing and automatic conversion between carriage returns and linefeeds. Think of it as a primitive kernel-level sed(1) , if you like. Incidentally, the kernel provides several different line disciplines. Only one of them is attached to a given serial device at a time. The default discipline, which provides line editing, is called N_TTY ( drivers/char/n_tty.c , if you're feeling adventurous). Other disciplines are used for other purposes, such as managing packet switched data (ppp, IrDA, serial mice), but that is outside the scope of this article. Session management. The user probably wants to run several programs simultaneously, and interact with them one at a time. If a program goes into an endless loop, the user may want to kill it or suspend it. Programs that are started in the background should be able to execute until they try to write to the terminal, at which point they should be suspended. Likewise, user input should be directed to the foreground program only. The operating system implements these features in the TTY driver ( drivers/char/tty_io.c ). An operating system process is "alive" (has an execution context), which means that it can perform actions. The TTY driver is not alive; in object oriented terminology, the TTY driver is a passive object. It has some data fields and some methods, but the only way it can actually do something is when one of its methods gets called from the context of a process or a kernel interrupt handler. The line discipline is likewise a passive entity. Together, a particular triplet of UART driver, line discipline instance and TTY driver may be referred to as a TTY device, or sometimes just TTY. A user process can affect the behaviour of any TTY device by manipulating the corresponding device file under /dev . Write permissions to the device file are required, so when a user logs in on a particular TTY, that user must become the owner of the device file. This is traditionally done by the login(1) program, which runs with root privileges. The physical line in the previous diagram could of course be a long-distance phone line: This does not change much, except that the system now has to handle a modem hangup situation as well. Let's move on to a typical desktop system. This is how the Linux console works: The TTY driver and line discipline behave just like in the previous examples, but there is no UART or physical terminal involved anymore. Instead, a video terminal (a complex state machine including a frame buffer of characters and graphical character attributes) is emulated in software, and rendered to a VGA display. The console subsystem is somewhat rigid. Things get more flexible (and abstract) if we move the terminal emulation into userland. This is how xterm(1) and its clones work: To facilitate moving the terminal emulation into userland, while still keeping the TTY subsystem (session management and line discipline) intact, the pseudo terminal or pty was invented. And as you may have guessed, things get even more complicated when you start running pseudo terminals inside pseudo terminals, a la screen(1) or ssh(1) . Now let's take a step back and see how all of this fits into the process model. Processes A Linux process can be in one of the following states: R Running or runnable (on run queue) D Uninterruptible sleep (waiting for some event) S Interruptible sleep (waiting for some event or signal) T Stopped, either by a job control signal or because it is being traced by a debugger. Z Zombie process, terminated but not yet reaped by its parent. By running ps l , you can see which processes are running, and which are sleeping. If a process is sleeping, the WCHAN column ("wait channel", the name of the wait queue) will tell you what kernel event the process is waiting for. $ ps l F UID PID PPID PRI NI VSZ RSS WCHAN STAT TTY TIME COMMAND 0 500 5942 5928 15 0 12916 1460 wait Ss pts/14 0:00 -/bin/bash 0 500 12235 5942 15 0 21004 3572 wait S+ pts/14 0:01 vim index.php 0 500 12580 12235 15 0 8080 1440 wait S+ pts/14 0:00 /bin/bash -c (ps l) >/tmp/v727757/1 2>&1 0 500 12581 12580 15 0 4412 824 - R+ pts/14 0:00 ps l The " wait " wait queue corresponds to the wait(2) syscall, so these processes will be moved to the running state whenever there's a state change in one of their child processes. There are two sleeping states: Interruptible sleep and uninterruptible sleep. Interruptible sleep (the most common case) means that while the process is part of a wait queue, it may actually also be moved to the running state when a signal is sent to it. If you look inside the kernel source code, you will find that any kernel code which is waiting for an event must check if a signal is pending after schedule() returns, and abort the syscall in that case. In the ps listing above, the STAT column displays the current state of each process. The same column may also contain one or more attributes, or flags: s This process is a session leader. + This process is part of a foreground process group. These attributes are used for job control. Jobs and sessions Job control is what happens when you press ^Z to suspend a program, or when you start a program in the background using & . A job is the same as a process group. Internal shell commands like jobs , fg and bg can be used to manipulate the existing jobs within a session. Each session is managed by a session leader, the shell, which is cooperating tightly with the kernel using a complex protocol of signals and system calls. The following example illustrates the relationship between processes, jobs and sessions: The following shell interactions... ...correspond to these processes... ...and these kernel structures. TTY Driver ( /dev/pts/0 ). Size: 45x13 Controlling process group: (101) Foreground process group: (103) UART configuration (ignored, since this is an xterm): Baud rate, parity, word length and much more. Line discipline configuration: cooked/raw mode, linefeed correction, meaning of interrupt characters etc. Line discipline state: edit buffer (currently empty), cursor position within buffer etc. ). pipe0 Readable end (connected to PID 104 as file descriptor 0) Writable end (connected to PID 103 as file descriptor 1) Buffer The basic idea is that every pipeline is a job, because every process in a pipeline should be manipulated (stopped, resumed, killed) simultaneously. That's why kill(2) allows you to send signals to entire process groups. By default, fork(2) places a newly created child process in the same process group as its parent, so that e.g. a ^C from the keyboard will affect both parent and child. But the shell, as part of its session leader duties, creates a new process group every time it launches a pipeline. The TTY driver keeps track of the foreground process group id, but only in a passive way. The session leader has to update this information explicitly when necessary. Similarly, the TTY driver keeps track of the size of the connected terminal, but this information has to be updated explicitly, by the terminal emulator or even by the user. As you can see in the diagram above, several processes have /dev/pts/0 attached to their standard input. But only the foreground job (the ls | sort pipeline) will receive input from the TTY. Likewise, only the foreground job will be allowed to write to the TTY device (in the default configuration). If the cat process were to attempt to write to the TTY, the kernel would suspend it using a signal. Signal madness Now let's take a closer look at how the TTY drivers, the line disciplines and the UART drivers in the kernel communicate with the userland processes. UNIX files, including the TTY device file, can of course be read from and written to, and further manipulated by means of the magic ioctl(2) call (the Swiss army-knife of UNIX) for which lots of TTY related operations have been defined. Still, ioctl requests have to be initiated from processes, so they can't be used when the kernel needs to communicate asynchronously with an application. In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams mentions an extremely dull planet, inhabited by a bunch of depressed humans and a certain breed of animals with sharp teeth which communicate with the humans by biting them very hard in the thighs. This is strikingly similar to UNIX, in which the kernel communicates with processes by sending paralyzing or deadly signals to them. Processes may intercept some of the signals, and try to adapt to the situation, but most of them don't. So a signal is a crude mechanism that allows the kernel to communicate asynchronously with a process. Signals in UNIX aren't clean or general; rather, each signal is unique, and must be studied individually. You can use the command kill -l to see which signals your system implements. This is what it may look like: $ kill -l 1) SIGHUP 2) SIGINT 3) SIGQUIT 4) SIGILL 5) SIGTRAP 6) SIGABRT 7) SIGBUS 8) SIGFPE 9) SIGKILL 10) SIGUSR1 11) SIGSEGV 12) SIGUSR2 13) SIGPIPE 14) SIGALRM 15) SIGTERM 16) SIGSTKFLT 17) SIGCHLD 18) SIGCONT 19) SIGSTOP 20) SIGTSTP 21) SIGTTIN 22) SIGTTOU 23) SIGURG 24) SIGXCPU 25) SIGXFSZ 26) SIGVTALRM 27) SIGPROF 28) SIGWINCH 29) SIGIO 30) SIGPWR 31) SIGSYS 34) SIGRTMIN 35) SIGRTMIN+1 36) SIGRTMIN+2 37) SIGRTMIN+3 38) SIGRTMIN+4 39) SIGRTMIN+5 40) SIGRTMIN+6 41) SIGRTMIN+7 42) SIGRTMIN+8 43) SIGRTMIN+9 44) SIGRTMIN+10 45) SIGRTMIN+11 46) SIGRTMIN+12 47) SIGRTMIN+13 48) SIGRTMIN+14 49) SIGRTMIN+15 50) SIGRTMAX-14 51) SIGRTMAX-13 52) SIGRTMAX-12 53) SIGRTMAX-11 54) SIGRTMAX-10 55) SIGRTMAX-9 56) SIGRTMAX-8 57) SIGRTMAX-7 58) SIGRTMAX-6 59) SIGRTMAX-5 60) SIGRTMAX-4 61) SIGRTMAX-3 62) SIGRTMAX-2 63) SIGRTMAX-1 64) SIGRTMAX As you can see, signals are numbered starting with 1. However, when they are used in bitmasks (e.g. in the output of ps s ), the least significant bit corresponds to signal 1. This article will focus on the following signals: SIGHUP , SIGINT , SIGQUIT , SIGPIPE , SIGCHLD , SIGSTOP , SIGCONT , SIGTSTP , SIGTTIN , SIGTTOU and SIGWINCH . SIGHUP Default action: Terminate Possible actions: Terminate, Ignore, Function call SIGHUP is sent by the UART driver to the entire session when a hangup condition has been detected. Normally, this will kill all the processes. Some programs, such as nohup(1) and screen(1) , detach from their session (and TTY), so that their child processes won't notice a hangup. SIGINT Default action: Terminate Possible actions: Terminate, Ignore, Function call SIGINT is sent by the TTY driver to the current foreground job when the interactive attention character (typically ^C , which has ASCII code 3) appears in the input stream, unless this behaviour has been turned off. Anybody with access permissions to the TTY device can change the interactive attention character and toggle this feature; additionally, the session manager keeps track of the TTY configuration of each job, and updates the TTY whenever there is a job switch. SIGQUIT Default action: Core dump Possible actions: Core dump, Ignore, Function call SIGQUIT works just like SIGINT , but the quit character is typically ^\ and the default action is different. SIGPIPE Default action: Terminate Possible actions: Terminate, Ignore, Function call The kernel sends SIGPIPE to any process which tries to write to a pipe with no readers. This is useful, because otherwise jobs like yes | head would never terminate. SIGCHLD Default action: Ignore Possible actions: Ignore, Function call When a process dies or changes state (stop/continue), the kernel sends a SIGCHLD to its parent process. The SIGCHLD signal carries additional information, namely the process id, the user id, the exit status (or termination signal) of the terminated process and some execution time statistics. The session leader (shell) keeps track of its jobs using this signal. SIGSTOP Default action: Suspend Possible actions: Suspend This signal will unconditionally suspend the recipient, i.e. its signal action can't be reconfigured. Please note, however, that SIGSTOP isn't sent by the kernel during job control. Instead, ^Z typically triggers a SIGTSTP , which can be intercepted by the application. The application may then e.g. move the cursor to the bottom of the screen or otherwise put the terminal in a known state, and subsequently put itself to sleep using SIGSTOP . SIGCONT Default action: Wake up Possible actions: Wake up, Wake up + Function call SIGCONT will un-suspend a stopped process. It is sent explicitly by the shell when the user invokes the fg command. Since SIGSTOP can't be intercepted by an application, an unexpected SIGCONT signal might indicate that the process was suspended some time ago, and then un-suspended. SIGTSTP Default action: Suspend Possible actions: Suspend, Ignore, Function call SIGTSTP works just like SIGINT and SIGQUIT , but the magic character is typically ^Z and the default action is to suspend the process. SIGTTIN Default action: Suspend Possible actions: Suspend, Ignore, Function call If a process within a background job tries to read from a TTY device, the TTY sends a SIGTTIN signal to the entire job. This will normally suspend the job. SIGTTOU Default action: Suspend Possible actions: Suspend, Ignore, Function call If a process within a background job tries to write to a TTY device, the TTY sends a SIGTTOU signal to the entire job. This will normally suspend the job. It is possible to turn off this feature on a per-TTY basis. SIGWINCH Default action: Ignore Possible actions: Ignore, Function call As mentioned, the TTY device keeps track of the terminal size, but this information needs to be updated manually. Whenever that happens, the TTY device sends SIGWINCH to the foreground job. Well-behaving interactive applications, such as editors, react upon this, fetch the new terminal size from the TTY device and redraw themselves accordingly. An example Suppose that you are editing a file in your (terminal based) editor of choice. The cursor is somewhere in the middle of the screen, and the editor is busy executing some processor intensive task, such as a search and replace operation on a large file. Now you press ^Z . Since the line discipline has been configured to intercept this character ( ^Z is a single byte, with ASCII code 26), you don't have to wait for the editor to complete its task and start reading from the TTY device. Instead, the line discipline subsystem instantly sends SIGTSTP to the foreground process group. This process group contains the editor, as well as any child processes created by it. The editor has installed a signal handler for SIGTSTP , so the kernel diverts the process into executing the signal handler code. This code moves the cursor to the last line on the screen, by writing the corresponding control sequences to the TTY device. Since the editor is still in the foreground, the control sequences are transmitted as requested. But then the editor sends a SIGSTOP to its own process group. The editor has now been stopped. This fact is reported to the session leader using a SIGCHLD signal, which includes the id of the suspended process. When all processes in the foreground job have been suspended, the session leader reads the current configuration from the TTY device, and stores it for later retrieval. The session leader goes on to install itself as the current foreground process group for the TTY using an ioctl call. Then, it prints something like "[1]+ Stopped" to inform the user that a job was just suspended. At this point, ps(1) will tell you that the editor process is in the stopped state (" T "). If we try to wake it up, either by using the bg built-in shell command, or by using kill(1) to send SIGCONT to the process(es), the editor will start executing its SIGCONT signal handler. This signal handler will probably attempt to redraw the editor GUI by writing to the TTY device. But since the editor is now a background job, the TTY device will not allow it. Instead, the TTY will send SIGTTOU to the editor, stopping it again. This fact will be communicated to the session leader using SIGCHLD , and the shell will once again write "[1]+ Stopped" to the terminal. When we type fg , however, the shell first restores the line discipline configuration that was saved earlier. It informs the TTY driver that the editor job should be treated as the foreground job from now on. And finally, it sends a SIGCONT signal to the process group. The editor process attempts to redraw its GUI, and this time it will not be interrupted by SIGTTOU since it is now a part of the foreground job. Flow control and blocking I/O Run yes in an xterm , and you will see a lot of " y " lines swooshing past your eyes. Naturally, the yes process is able to generate " y " lines much faster than the xterm application is able to parse them, update its frame buffer, communicate with the X server in order to scroll the window and so on. How is it possible for these programs to cooperate? The answer lies in blocking I/O. The pseudo terminal can only keep a certain amount of data inside its kernel buffer, and when that buffer is full and yes tries to call write(2) , then write(2) will block, moving the yes process into the interruptible sleep state where it remains until the xterm process has had a chance to read off some of the buffered bytes. The same thing happens if the TTY is connected to a serial port. yes would be able to transmit data at a much higher rate than, say, 9600 baud, but if the serial port is limited to that speed, the kernel buffer soon fills up and any subsequent write(2) calls block the process (or fail with the error code EAGAIN if the process has requested non-blocking I/O). What if I told you, that it is possible to explicitly put the TTY in a blocking state even though there is space left in the kernel buffer? That until further notice, every process trying to write(2) to the TTY automatically blocks. What would be the use of such a feature? Suppose we're talking to some old VT-100 hardware at 9600 baud. We just sent a complex control sequence asking the terminal to scroll the display. At this point, the terminal gets so bogged down with the scrolling operation, that it's unable to receive new data at the full rate of 9600 baud. Well, physically, the terminal UART still runs at 9600 baud, but there won't be enough buffer space in the terminal to keep a backlog of received characters. This is when it would be a good time to put the TTY in a blocking state. But how do we do that from the terminal? We have already seen that a TTY device may be configured to give certain data bytes a special treatment. In the default configuration, for instance, a received ^C byte won't be handed off to the application through read(2) , but will instead cause a SIGINT to be delivered to the foreground job. In a similar way, it is possible to configure the TTY to react on a stop flow byte and a start flow byte. These are typically ^S (ASCII code 19) and ^Q (ASCII code 17) respectively. Old hardware terminals transmit these bytes automatically, and expect the operating system to regulate its flow of data accordingly. This is called flow control, and it's the reason why your xterm sometimes appears to lock up when you accidentally press ^S . There's an important difference here: Writing to a TTY which is stopped due to flow control, or due to lack of kernel buffer space, will block your process, whereas writing to a TTY from a background job will cause a SIGTTOU to suspend the entire process group. I don't know why the designers of UNIX had to go all the way to invent SIGTTOU and SIGTTIN instead of relying on blocking I/O, but my best guess is that the TTY driver, being in charge of job control, was designed to monitor and manipulate whole jobs; never the individual processes within them. Configuring the TTY device To find out what the controlling TTY for your shell is called, you could refer to the ps l listing as described earlier, or you could simply run the tty(1) command. A process may read or modify the configuration of an open TTY device using ioctl(2) . The API is described in tty_ioctl(4) . Since it's part of the binary interface between Linux applications and the kernel, it will remain stable across Linux versions. However, the interface is non-portable, and applications should rather use the POSIX wrappers described in the termios(3) man page. I won't go into the details of the termios(3) interface, but if you're writing a C program and would like to intercept ^C before it becomes a SIGINT , disable line editing or character echoing, change the baud rate of a serial port, turn off flow control etc. then you will find what you need in the aforementioned man page. There is also a command line tool, called stty(1) , to manipulate TTY devices. It uses the termios(3) API. Let's try it! $ stty -a speed 38400 baud; rows 73; columns 238; line = 0; intr = ^C; quit = ^\; erase = ^?; kill = ^U; eof = ^D; eol = ; eol2 = ; swtch = ; start = ^Q; stop = ^S; susp = ^Z; rprnt = ^R; werase = ^W; lnext = ^V; flush = ^O; min = 1; time = 0; -parenb -parodd cs8 -hupcl -cstopb cread -clocal -crtscts -ignbrk brkint ignpar -parmrk -inpck -istrip -inlcr -igncr icrnl ixon -ixoff -iuclc -ixany imaxbel -iutf8 opost -olcuc -ocrnl onlcr -onocr -onlret -ofill -ofdel nl0 cr0 tab0 bs0 vt0 ff0 isig icanon iexten echo echoe echok -echonl -noflsh -xcase -tostop -echoprt echoctl echoke The -a flag tells stty to display all settings. By default, it will look at the TTY device attached to your shell, but you can specify another device with -F . Some of these settings refer to UART parameters, some affect the line discipline and some are for job control. All mixed up in a bucket for monsieur. Let's have a look at the first line: speed UART The baud rate. Ignored for pseudo terminals. rows, columns TTY driver Somebody's idea of the size, in characters, of the terminal attached to this TTY device. Basically, it's just a pair of variables within kernel space, that you may freely set and get. Setting them will cause the TTY driver to dispatch a SIGWINCH to the foreground job. line Line discipline The line discipline attached to the TTY device. 0 is N_TTY . All valid numbers are listed in /proc/tty/ldiscs . Unlisted numbers appear to be aliases for N_TTY , but don't rely on it. Try the following: Start an xterm . Make a note of its TTY device (as reported by tty ) and its size (as reported by stty -a ). Start vim (or some other full-screen terminal application) in the xterm . The editor queries the TTY device for the current terminal size in order to fill the entire window. Now, from a different shell window, type: stty -F X rows Y where X is the TTY device, and Y is half the terminal height. This will update the TTY data structure in kernel memory, and send a SIGWINCH to the editor, which will promptly redraw itself using only the upper half of the available window area. The second line of stty -a output lists all the special characters. Start a new xterm and try this: stty intr o Now " o ", rather than ^C , will send a SIGINT to the foreground job. Try starting something, such as cat , and verify that you can't kill it using ^C . Then, try typing " hello " into it. Occasionally, you may come across a UNIX system where the backspace key doesn't work. This happens when the terminal emulator transmits a backspace code (either ASCII 8 or ASCII 127) which doesn't match the erase setting in the TTY device. To remedy the problem, one usually types stty erase ^H (for ASCII 8) or stty erase ^? (for ASCII 127). But please remember that many terminal applications use readline , which puts the line discipline in raw mode. Those applications aren't affected. Finally, stty -a lists a bunch of switches. As expected, they are listed in no particular order. Some of them are UART-related, some affect the line discipline behaviour, some are for flow control and some are for job control. A dash ( - ) indicates that the switch is off; otherwise it is on. All of the switches are explained in the stty(1) man page, so I'll just briefly mention a few: icanon toggles the canonical (line-based) mode. Try this in a new xterm : stty -icanon; cat Note how all the line editing characters, such as backspace and ^U , have stopped working. Also note that cat is receiving (and consequently outputting) one character at a time, rather than one line at a time. echo enables character echoing, and is on by default. Re-enable canonical mode ( stty icanon ), and then try: stty -echo; cat As you type, your terminal emulator transmits information to the kernel. Usually, the kernel echoes the same information back to the terminal emulator, allowing you to see what you type. Without character echoing, you can't see what you type, but we're in cooked mode so the line editing facilities are still working. Once you press enter, the line discipline will transmit the edit buffer to cat , which will reveal what your wrote. tostop controls whether background jobs are allowed to write to the terminal. First try this: stty tostop; (sleep 5; echo hello, world) & The & causes the command to run as a background job. After five seconds, the job will attempt to write to the TTY. The TTY driver will suspend it using SIGTTOU , and your shell will probably report this fact, either immediately, or when it's about to issue a new prompt to you. Now kill the background job, and try the following instead: stty -tostop; (sleep 5; echo hello, world) & You will get your prompt back, but after five seconds, the background job transmits hello, world to the terminal, in the middle of whatever you were typing. Finally, stty sane will restore your TTY device configuration to something reasonable. Conclusion I hope this article has provided you with enough information to get to terms with TTY drivers and line disciplines, and how they are related to terminals, line editing and job control. Further details can be found in the various man pages I've mentioned, as well as in the glibc manual ( info libc , "Job Control"). Finally, while I don't have enough time to answer all the questions I get, I do welcome feedback on this and other pages on the site. Thanks for reading! Posted Friday 25-Jul-2008 19:46 Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low near 65F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. BEIJING, Apr. 14 -- Recently, the 16th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Sudan organized a maneuver defensive drill in the mission area. To promote the abolition and drawdown of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the 16th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Sudan is to withdraw two elements stationed in the mission area as scheduled. In response, the drill has highlighted more than ten items such as security guard and defense, emergency repair, emergency communication, and individual tactics on maneuver, while relevant forewarning measures have been formulated in line with the security situation. According to the UN Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Regulations on Rules of Engagement (ROE) and Requirements, the drill was set to meet with various simulated raids from rebels and militants on the way. Thereinto, seven tasks, including medical rescue, emergency evacuation, transfer of the wounded and sick, and maneuver evacuation, were conducted to further enhance the peacekeepers' capacities to deal with emergencies. Teachers like Ogunyemi are undeniably seers, and their projections into the future are not based on conjecture but valid conclusions aided by the accumulation of facts and an objective process of interrogation. For an educationist, two things occupy the cardinal position of their intellectual campaign: advocacy for a vibrant social environment and the development of fertile minds to enhance it. Among the arrays of intellectual gifts for which Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular, is blessed is Abiodun Ogunyemi, whose brainpower is reflected in the numerous academic and non-academic engagements for which he is popularly known. His date of birth, December 25, which coincided with that of the Christian messiah, Jesus Christs secularist choice, is metaphoric and symbolic because of the life of sacrifice that Ogunyemi has lived and continues to prioritise. Some parents had mythical reservations about education and were constantly in fear of losing their wards to Western education due to the sacrifice to concentrate on acquiring knowledge. For this reason, it is an heroic achievement on Ogunyemis part to not only remain persistent in the pursuit of education but also to make maximum accomplishments from it. Another thing that markedly gives him away as symbolic is that he was born a year before Nigerias independence. People born within this timeframe signal positive development in the threshold of the countrys history. Ogunyemi would eventually prove that he is made of sterner stuff when he confidently carved a notable niche for himself in social, political, and philosophical engagements. For one, he actively belongs to the intellectual group that employs its brilliance to shape the academic direction of the countrys educational system. He has made measurable contributions to the extension of the Nigerian educational systems frontiers. Between 2006 and 2008, Ogunyemi was the Head of Department, Curriculum Studies and Instructional Technology at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), a composite of the national body that actively determines what is taught to students and how. To understand how informed he is on the subject of educational design, his Ph.D. thesis, which is centered on the exploration of conventional lecture methods, value clarifications, among others, for the enablement of a suitable environment that would be complemented by competent personnel for the quality delivery of academic services in Nigerian institutions, should be studied. The critical mass of his works reveals his obsession with the idea of installing a credible structure for anchoring the Nigerian education system to build a formidable civilisation and society capable of withstanding the pressure of globalisation that is currently threatening the world with its torrents. He, unarguably, conceives of education as the spine of every civilisation, without which their standing would be shaky. Ogunyemis intellectual fecundity cannot be denied because he has a profound way of connecting his ideas to make considerable sense to people and audiences. For example, it may be difficult to link his dedicated advocacy for enhancing a admirable educational system and the quest for a fair society, where the safety of a group, especially children, is not threatened by the unguarded libidinal obsession of sexual predators. This productive professor has shown that quality education is not negotiable, especially in a country that aspires to be actively involved in the competitive global economy and politics. Natural resources could catapult a country to a level of economic prosperity and financial buoyancy that would transform it beyond imagination, but such a level, Ogunyemi insists, through his academic engagement, would only be transient and short-lived. He maintains, through his philosophy, that material development accrued through natural resources agencies is not reliable because people without a strong foundation in education would certainly mismanage financial surplus if they are suddenly inundated by it. For this reason, therefore, investing in education is the ultimate sacrifice that a nation can make to have a sturdy foundation to protect it in situations of emergencies, towards a solid future. Teachers like Ogunyemi are undeniably seers, and their projections into the future are not based on conjecture but valid conclusions aided by the accumulation of facts and an objective process of interrogation. For an educationist, two things occupy the cardinal position of their intellectual campaign: advocacy for a vibrant social environment and the development of fertile minds to enhance it. This explains why most of Ogunyemis academic productions are centered on social participation, socialisation, academic influence, among others. Beyond the facilitation of a progressive academic posture for the country is the insatiable quest for the reclamation of Nigerian, and African, moral structure, which has approached an unprecedented decline in recent history because of different factors. The pressure to universalise the worlds normative architecture, along with globalisation, has led many Africans to believe that unacceptable or fairly condemnable behaviour in certain cultural contexts can be accepted without hesitation. Simultaneously, the unbundling of civilisation does not translate to appropriating ideas that have more cultural persuasion in some places than others. The sexualisation of the African (girl) child, for example, has approached the rooftop in recent times, endangering innocent children, while also challenging our collective thinking, morality, and sense of values. Ogunyemis book, Child Sexual Abuse in Nigeria: Dimensions, Issues and Challenges, addresses the ubiquitous sexual abuses that underage children are exposed to in the contemporary time. Among many other things, he decries the flagrant disregard for the safety of the children demographic and challenges the fact that society is losing its sense of control by not maintaining the code of ethics for which the African society is historically known. the aspirations and dreams of scholars like Ogunyemi, whose concern is for the enthronement of a healthy social environment where the people would actively participate in development and progress, can be understood. The fertile and versatile professor has instigated several academic researches that placed their social philosophy within the appropriate quarters. Ogunyemis intellectual fecundity cannot be denied because he has a profound way of connecting his ideas to make considerable sense to people and audiences. For example, it may be difficult to link his dedicated advocacy for enhancing a admirable educational system and the quest for a fair society, where the safety of a group, especially children, is not threatened by the unguarded libidinal obsession of sexual predators. Nevertheless, there exists an awe-inspiring bond between them. Consider that if the children demographic is safe and assured of protection against these elements, the institutionalisation of a formidable educational structure would make substantial sense. This is not only because the children would be in a good frame of mind to process ideas and information disseminated to them by their various instructors, but it would also provide them with the safety insurance to ensure their continued protection. As a result, the combination of these would create the synergy needed for the crystallisation of development agendas that are progress-inclined. The communitys moral architecture would be solid, and the academic environment would have secured a healthy atmosphere conducive to the enablement of productive thinking and impactful ideas. Therefore, the aspirations and dreams of scholars like Ogunyemi, whose concern is for the enthronement of a healthy social environment where the people would actively participate in development and progress, can be understood. The fertile and versatile professor has instigated several academic researches that placed their social philosophy within the appropriate quarters. In 2006, he published Contemporary Issues in Social Studies Education, aimed at examining the emerging issues that circumscribed the country and continued to impede its full restoration of the social ideals used in making every important society. Issues ranging from the spread of capitalist and bureaucratic culture altered societys moral understanding and, invariably, affected human social relationships. Due to the haphazard arrangement of social ideals that resulted from this condition, the social education system was greatly affected, negatively at that, forcing the country to swerve away from its moral trajectory. Subsequently, the resulting outcome was appalling. This awareness inspired Ogunyemi to take a scientific approach to evaluate the situation, and he came up with better solutions to facilitate the countrys acceleration in a desirable moral front. Therefore, with all his involvement, it is understandable that various successes crowned him to reinforce his efforts and complement his nationalist efforts. When intellectuals make such efforts, they are usually taken note of by their immediate neighbours in the same profession and the international community, who have been the audience of their work. Their awareness of his versatility and the understanding of its potential advantage for humanity has won him numerous grants to support his academic inquiry. As a result of this encouragement, Ogunyemi has expanded his coverage and explored various angles, all of which continue to contribute to our general development. However, his recognition by the international community is complemented by the internal appreciation shown to him through the award of excellence and by other means. Several of the awards, according to him, are confirmation of his outstanding academic brilliance and the beautiful contributions he has made in this regard. Almost every school where he has served, either as a student or an instructor, has presented him with an outstanding award to recognise his invaluable contributions to the Nigerian education system as a whole. To hear him speak and answer your questions, please join Professor Abiodun Ogunyemi on: Sunday, Apr 25 05:00 PM Nigeria (GMT+1) 11:00AM Austin (CST) Participate via Zoom Watch on YouTube Watch on Facebook Toyin Falola, a professor of History and University Distinguished Teaching Professor, is Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin. ADVERTISEMENT One of the millions of periodical cicadas in the area crawls on a tree on in 2019 after it emerged from a 17-year hibernation in Zelienople, Pa. The insects come out of the ground once the temperature reaches optimum, then climb into trees and make a droning sound to attract mates to breed. He went on to call Ms. Clarke anti-Semitic because she hosted Tony Martin, a controversial Wellesley professor, on Harvards campus in 1994. Its true that his visit offended many Jewish students Professor Martin was known at the time for promulgating the theory that Jews played a dominant role in the slave trade. Ms. Clarke has since admitted that the invitation was a mistake. And shes gone on to have an impressive career fighting for religious freedom for Jews. From 2011 to 2015, she led the civil rights bureau at the office of the New York attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, where she spearheaded a religious-rights initiative that ensured that Jewish employees could observe the Sabbath and other holy days. Thats one reason that so many Jewish organizations have come to her defense. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a network of 125 Jewish community relation councils and 16 national Jewish agencies, recently sent a letter to the Senate calling attempts to focus on purported anti-Semitism during her confirmation process to be inappropriate, pretextual and baseless. The Union for Reform Judaism, which represents 1.8 million Jews nationwide, called her a steadfast ally. In fact, it is Mr. Carlson who is under fire from such groups for anti-Semitism in recent days. The Anti-Defamation League has urged Fox News to fire him for an impassioned defense of the white supremacist great replacement theory. Mr. Carlson has also pursued another baseless line of attack, claiming that Ms. Clarke worked very hard to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer. This, too, is a right-wing fever dream. She never worked on that case. Her sole connection is that, as a law student in 1999, she provided support to the organizers of a conference at Columbia Law School that featured a panel about the case. Her name appeared at the bottom of a flyer. Mr. Carlsons attempts to paint her as a radical champion of cop-killers has been refuted by none other than wait for it the police. More than three dozen current and former police chiefs described Ms. Clarke as a person of impeccable credentials, character and credibility in a letter to senators supporting her nomination. The letter said that as a federal prosecutor, she demonstrated an uncanny ability to work closely with federal and state and local law enforcement officials as well as crime victims. Lets get real here. The real reason some conservatives want to take down Ms. Clarke is that shes been an effective champion of voting rights for Black, brown and poor people. Thats why she was nominated. And thats why people like Tucker Carlson are grasping at straws to tank her nomination with lies. Under the new policy, MEA will take in about 60 interns every year in two batches, with each intern spending three months in the ministry Everybody loves a diplomat. Last month, after revamping its policy of inviting interns, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) opened its doors to interns. It was swamped by a deluge of applications from across the country. Under the new policy, MEA will take in about 60 interns every year in two batches, with each intern spending three months in the ministry. Sources say that the earlier 2016 policy was revised by foreign secretary Harsh Shringla recently. The idea is to bring young persons from different parts of the country to witness the making of the foreign policy up close. While internships are pretty normal in the United States government, which attracts droves of students fresh out of college to learn how the state functions, it is a novelty in India. Sources say that if the MEA experiment is successful, the government may replicate the model in other ministries and departments to bring in fresh minds, hopefully with new ideas as well. Perhaps the MEA could start with itself. It is well-known that Indias diplomatic corps needs much more than the sanctioned strength of 912 diplomats. How many of these interns will be motivated to want to become career diplomats remains to be seen. But the MEA initiative will be followed closely by interested parties. AI-based postings for babus likely It is often said about babus that once they join the civil service, usually in their 20s and early 30s, very few build on their skills. But that may be about to change. The Modi sarkar is reportedly in the midst of creating a database for officers that will maintain data about their background, interests and training history, among others. This will help list suitable candidates for different vacancies based on artificial intelligence. Future postings may now rely on this AI-based system. The system is apparently based on the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT), which is used to provide focussed and interest-based online training to officers. Sources say that the system being developed by the department of personnel and training (DoPT) will now provide a strong incentive to babus to constantly upskill themselves and take up courses since their future postings will depend on their training history. This initiative, along with the lateral entry of specialists from outside the government, is what the Modi sarkar is betting on to improve policymaking and governance. CAT and the whistleblower Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi is known for his tireless fight against the System. He has been a thorn in the side of many a state government and institution (or a whistleblower depending on how you view it). His run-ins with the authorities in the Haryana government and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) kept him in the headlines. In this particular instance, the 2002 batch Uttarakhand cadre officer has challenged the 360-degree appraisal system and lateral recruitment in the Nainital bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). A judge has recused himself from hearing Mr Chaturvedis plea after it was disclosed that the judge has appeared against Mr Chaturvedi on different occasions. Curiously, earlier in January, CAT chairman L. Narasimha Reddy, too, had recused himself from hearing the case. The judges recusal means that Mr Chaturvedis plea will have to be taken up by another bench. Curiously, in January this year, the CAT chairman had recused himself from hearing the case. Back in March 2019, too, the CAT chief had recused himself from hearing Mr Chaturvedis three other petitions citing some unfortunate developments and other reasons. But going by the whistleblowers track record, such delays are unlikely to put him off his stride. Watch this space for updates. Shareholders cheered as the budget carrier Easyjet said Britons can bank on going abroad this summer. In one of the most upbeat predictions from an airline yet, boss Johan Lundgren believes holidaymakers will be able to visit almost all major European countries by the time leisure travel restarts in May. The City has become increasingly nervous about the Governments proposed traffic light system, which will categorise countries into green, yellow and red lists. All will require Covid tests but yellow countries will also require isolation on returning home, and red will involve hotel quarantine stays. Easjet boss Johan Lundgren believes holidaymakers will be able to visit almost all major European countries by the time leisure travel restarts in May But Lundgren insisted that relatively free movement between the UK and beach favourites including Spain, France, Portugal and Croatia should be achievable, and that they would be on the green list despite vaccinations in Europe lagging behind Britain. The airline will fly 20 per cent of its normal schedule between April and June. A bigger risk, according to Lundgren, would be requiring pricey PCR Covid tests, which can cost 120 per person. The Governments travel strategy is still being hammered out, but Lundgren warned that expensive testing risks turning back the clock and making travel too costly for some. Stock Watch - Immotion Wallace & Gromit studio Aardman Animations will clean puppets and props using high-tech cabinets supplied by AIM-listed Immotion. The cabinets use ultraviolet rays to safely disinfect delicate kit. For Aardman, this will include the puppets for the new Shaun the Sheep movie. Immotions other customers include the NHS and Hewlett Packard, for cleaning its virtual reality headsets. Shares rose 13.9 per cent, or 0.75p, to 6.15p after the deal, which was for an unspecified amount. In a first-half trading update, Easyjet lost around 700million over the winter after second Covid waves grounded flights. Revenues tumbled 90 per cent to 235million in the six months ending March, as passenger numbers fell by 89pc to 4.1m. It will post a loss of about 700million. The shares rose 5.8 per cent, or 54p, to 978p, making it one of the top risers on the FTSE 250 yesterday. But it was pipped to the post by Tullow Oil, which barrelled to the top of the mid-cap leaderboard as crude prices surged by 5 per cent to $67 a barrel. The crude rally was prompted by the International Energy Agency raising its forecast for oil demand this year though it is still cautious about vaccine roll-outs and the rising cases in Asia as well as Europe. Tullow jumped 9.4 per cent, or 4,26p, to 49.64p, and there were rises for BP (up 3.4 per cent, or 10.1p, to 308.35p) and Royal Dutch Shell (up 2.8 per cent, or 36.6p, to 1365.2p). The FTSE 100 index closed 0.7 per cent higher, up 49.09 points, to 6939.58, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.4 per cent, or 86.99 points, to 22,355.45. Another mid-cap winner was the high-tech defence company Qinetiq. Shares in the Farnborough-based company, which was spun out of the Ministry of Defence and is said to have been the inspiration for the character Q in James Bond, climbed 8.9 per cent, or 28.6p, to 349.6p, after it upgraded its annual profit forecasts. Recruiter Robert Walters was also in demand, rising 6.3 per cent, or 40p, to 674p, after revealing it too would beat expectations. It is the third firm in the sector this week, following Page Group up 0.7 per cent, or 4p, to 544.5p and Hays, which climbed 0.4 per cent, or 0.6p, to 166p, to report that hiring activity has picked up. Elsewhere, Barclays fell prey to a blink and youll miss it share price plunge. Its stock tumbled by 10 per cent early in the morning in an incident chalked up as a fat finger error, which is when a trader presses the wrong key while putting through a trade. But it ended the day 0.4 per cent higher, up 0.76p, to 187.58p. British fashion house Burberry was boosted by strong figures from French conglomerate LVMH. It rose 1.2 per cent, or 25p, to 2086p, after an update from the Louis Vuitton-owner showed luxury spending had rebounded in Asia and the US at the start of 2021. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) represent the next generation of nuclear energy innovation OTTAWA, ON, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) congratulates the premiers of Ontario, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan for taking the next step forward in ensuring Canada becomes a global leader in the development and deployment of SMR technology with the release of the SMR feasibility study. We also applaud today's news that Alberta has formally joined the other three provinces by signing the SMR Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This is a crucial step in Canada's energy transition because SMRs produce the density of electricity and heat needed to maximize the potential of all other energy sources. On December 1, 2019, the provinces of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Ontario signed a MOU that puts in place a framework for action on the deployment of SMRs in their respective jurisdictions. As set out in the MOU, a feasibility study, 'Feasibility of Small Modular Reactor Development and Deployment in Canada', was prepared by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Bruce Power, New Brunswick Power (NB Power), and Saskatchewan Power (SaskPower) for the governments of Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick that includes the business case for the development and deployment of SMRs in their respective jurisdictions. The power companies assess that SMRs have the potential to be an economically competitive source of energy in their respective provinces. The next step will be the development of a strategic plan for deployment of SMRs. This plan will identify steps required to achieve project commitments in a timely manner, while identifying economic impacts, key risks, mitigation measures, as well as the policy and regulatory analysis required to enable and govern expanded deployment of nuclear technology in Canada. SMRs are nuclear reactors that produce 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity or less. Much smaller than traditional nuclear power plants, SMRs are less expensive to mass produce and easier to deploy. Their modular design allows for deployment in large established grids, small grids, remote off-grid communities and as an energy source for resource projects. SMRs provide a source of safe, clean, affordable energy, with the ability to contribute towards a resilient, low-carbon future. Learn more about the SMR Feasibility Study here. Quotes "We will only meet climate change goals through a swift transition to clean energy sources. This will require the adoption of existing and emerging low-carbon technologies, including small modular reactors," said John Gorman, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association. "In fact, for a successful clean energy transition, new nuclear must play a lead role. Initiatives like those announced today build momentum for Canada as a global leader in the development and deployment of these important technologies." "Nuclear energy is a cornerstone of New Brunswick's diverse generation mix and is a key resource when transitioning to a low-carbon economy, which is why NB Power is pleased the Feasibility Report on SMRs indicates an integrated Pan-Canadian approach for the development and deployment of the next generation of nuclear technology is feasible," said NB Power's President and CEO, Keith Cronkhite. "At NB Power, we believe that SMRs will have significant benefits for New Brunswick, Canada and the world. The excellent work that is currently happening in our province on the development of this technology is an important and integral element of the overall approach." "Small modular reactors have the potential to provide long-term, low-emission baseload energy for SaskPower's customers," said SaskPower President and CEO Mike Marsh. "The findings of the Feasibility Report on SMRs are encouraging and offer validation of the pan-Canadian approach as SaskPower continues to assess the viability of nuclear power generation in Saskatchewan. We will continue to explore the potential of power generation from small modular rectors, and support Saskatchewan's commitment to further development of the technology across Canada." "This feasibility study confirms SMRs are the flexible, scalable answer to some of Canada's and the world's most complex energy questions," said Ken Hartwick, President and CEO of OPG. "Both the provincial and federal governments recognize nuclear power is essential to reaching Canada's goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Canada has an opportunity to be a world-leader in SMR technology, and at OPG, we are leading that charge, working toward building an SMR at our Darlington site as early as 2028." "We applaud the long-range vision demonstrated by the premiers which allows the nuclear industry to continue to advance clean energy through this innovative technology," said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power's President and CEO. "Nuclear is 60% of Ontario's deeply decarbonized electric sector. By investing in our Life-Extension program, which will provide Ontario with low-carbon electricity for the next 50 plus years, we have recapitalized our supply chain partners creating a competitive advantage and positioning Ontario and Canada as leaders in the development of new nuclear technologies including the work being done at the Nuclear Innovation Institute here in Bruce County." About the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) Every year in Canada, nuclear technology helps avoid 80 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by displacing fossil fuels and supplies 70 per cent of the global supply of cobalt-60, radioisotopes that are used to treat cancer and sterilize medical equipment, among other things. It generates more than $6 billion in revenue and creates more than 76,000 direct and indirect, well-paying jobs. Canada stands to solidify its leading position in the world's nuclear industry with the introduction of next-generation technologies in the form of small nuclear reactors. The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) has been the national voice of the Canadian nuclear industry since 1960. Working with our members and all communities of interest, the CNA promotes the industry nationally and internationally, works with governments on policies affecting the sector and endeavours to increase awareness and understanding of the value nuclear technology brings to the environment, economy and daily lives of Canadians. SOURCE Canadian Nuclear Association For further information: Media Contact: Gehna Singh Kareckas, Director of Communications, (613) 979-4272, [email protected] Related Links http://www.cna.ca "Our Mission has always been the mainstay of our identity to contribute to human welfare," said Yvonne Farquharson, director of Human Resources, Medtronic Canada. "In this past year, tenet five of the Medtronic Mission, which reinforces the personal worth of all employees, has been especially resonant. We have focused on employee's health and safety, staying connected virtually, and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive." Medtronic has always strived to maintain a sense of connection among employees, especially since pivoting to a remote work model for most employees. This has been addressed through various initiatives, including bi-weekly virtual all-employee meetings. In these meetings, employees have rallied together to support and learn from each other. The calls have featured guest speakers, including a diversity and inclusion advocate who facilitated a meaningful conversation about anti-racism. Diversity and inclusion have been an important focus at Medtronic for many years. Medtronic has a strong foundation with active employee resource groups, networking circles and development programs. The efforts by Medtronic to advance women has earned the esteemed Catalyst recognition in 2020. At Medtronic Canada, women account for over 50% of all employees and 55% of the Canadian Leadership Team. "The importance of fostering a diverse workforce and supporting our women colleagues at all levels is ingrained in our organization's culture," shares Neil Fraser, president of Medtronic Canada. "Having an inclusive, diverse and equitable environment leads to innovation, which enables us to continue providing life-saving technology to people all around the world." Organizations on these lists must be Great Place to Work-Certified in the past year, headquartered in Canada and at least 90% of employees must agree that people are treated fairly, regardless of their gender. Recognition on these two lists is one of many honours Medtronic Canada has received over the past year. Medtronic was recognized by Forbes as one of Canada's Best Employers in January 2021, and in 2020, was ranked as among Canada's Top 100 Employers and the GTA's top employers by Media Corp. It was also ranked one of Canada's Best Workplaces in Healthcare, one of the Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness in Canada, and one of the Best Workplaces in Ontario by the Great Place to Work Institute of Canada. Medtronic is the largest medical device employer in Canada, with over 1,100 employees. In 2020 alone, Medtronic innovation and technology benefitted 75 million people globally that's two people every second. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, GPTW recognizes the world's Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit us at www.greatplacetowork.ca About Medtronic Canada ULC Proudly serving Canadian healthcare for over 50 years, Medtronic Canada ULC (www.medtronic.ca) is a subsidiary of Medtronic plc, the world's largest medical technology, services, and solutions companies alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. Serving physicians, hospitals, and patients across the country, Medtronic Canada ULC is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, with regional offices in Montreal and Vancouver, and a Medtronic Resource Centre in Surrey, BC. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. SOURCE Medtronic Canada ULC For further information: Carmela Reyes, Public Relations, +1-905-460-3653; Ryan Weispfenning, Investor Relations, +1-763-505-4626 Related Links http://www.medtronic.com/ca-en/about/canada.html Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to apologise to Christine Holgate after she accused him of bullying her out of a job as the first female chief of Australia Post. Mr Morrison said he regretted the hurt he caused Ms Holgate when, in a speech to Parliament in October, he slammed her decision to reward four senior employees with Cartier watches worth a total of $20,000 for securing a major banking deal. But he stopped short of acceding to her request for an apology, as he defended his strong language. Former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate says shed love an apology from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Dominic Lorrimer It was not my intention to cause distress to Ms Holgate and I regret any distress that that strong language may have caused to her and indeed did cause to her. That was not my intention, Mr Morrison said. He rejected Ms Holgates claim her gender was a factor in her treatment, saying his response in Parliament was designed to counter Labors attacks that his government condoned the Cartier gifts. FAIRFIELD A Superior Court judge this week agreed to hear a request by Fairfield residents to block the removal of four trees outside of the Community Theater but the trees had already been taken down. Judge Barry Steven on Tuesday scheduled a remote conference between the lawyer for the residents and the town for later this month on the residents request for an injunction. However the three Kwanzan cherry blossom trees and an oak were removed Friday morning, said James Hughes, the attorney who filed on behalf of the residents and is a resident himself. It was a gut-wrenching sense of immediate loss because the iconic cherry blossom trees were gone forever, Hughes said on Tuesday. I was shaking and incensed at what had occurred without authority. He argued that an automatic stay was in effect since the complaint and appeal were filed and served to the town on April 1. Removing the trees violated the law, he said, and the residents now plan to seek sanctions, damages and fines, since the town acted in contempt of court when took it upon itself to remove the trees without authority during the automatic stay. The town said the trees were removed legally under a state statute which doesnt include a right to appeal that allows a tree warden to consider applications to remove trees in a right of way. The statute also puts the removal on the applicant, not the town itself. On Tuesday, Town Attorney James Baldwin said theyll be filing to dismiss the case. We are confident the court will grant our motion to dismiss the appeal because it has no merit, he said. The clerk for Judge Thomas Welch, who is presiding over the case, said Welch was unaware the trees were removed and the status conference will still go on as planned on April 27 until one of the parties points out that the case has changed. The Town has been working with the Kleban family, Fairfields tree warden and the Town Plan & Zoning Department over the past year discussing the redesign of the Community Theater Corner, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said. She said removing the trees is part of the Kleban Companys master plan to make landscaping improvements and factor in the new outdoor dining that was approved earlier this year. Those plans were first proposed in 2019 as part of a lease agreement between Kleban and the prior administration and approved at public hearings held before the Board of Selectmen, Town Plan and Zoning Commission and Representative Town Meeting, Baldwin said in a memo. Earlier this year, an amended plan was approved by these same bodies which included site plans detailing replacement of the existing cherry trees. After a public hearing, the tree warden decided in favor of the application, saying three Kwanzan cherry trees and a northern red oak had to be planted along Post Road. He posted a revised decision nearly two weeks later on April 5, changing the statute the decision was made under but maintaining the approval and planting requirement. The permit was issued in full accordance with the law and the Kleban Company therefore had the right to remove the trees without further delay, Kupchick said. According to the lawsuit filed by Hughes and resident Alyssa Israel, on Feb. 25, they learned that the towns tree warden had posted signs on the Kwanzan cherry blossom trees on town property in front of the Community Theater. The signs said that the trees were going to be removed under a proposed site landscaping plan. During a public hearing in front of the theater on March 22, Hughes and Israel said numerous people spoke in opposition to the removal of the trees. In addition, they state in their lawsuit that a state-licensed arborist examined the trees and found them in good health. But for the issuance of the injunction (the plaintiffs) will suffer irreparable harm, because once removed, their beauty and iconic position and legacy in the town will be lost forever and cannot be replaced, the suit states. The trees were originally posted for removal under a state statute that only applies to a tree wardens decision to remove trees for safety concerns, but Baldwin said that was not the current situation. Upon my advice and counsel, I advised that he should amend his decision to reference the correct statute applicable to this situation, which was the one about public right of way, Baldwin said. Under this statute, the tree warden is vested with the ultimate authority (to) deny or grant a permit without the right to appeal, Baldwin said. Taking into consideration all the public hearings, the tree warden decided in favor of the applicant and the permit was issued in full accordance with the law. Kleban therefore had the right to remove the trees without further delay. Hughes said that while the trees are near the theater, the town is responsible for them, not the Kleban Company. The towns 6 a.m. morning action in removing the trees was done in a very sinister fashion, he said. The town must now answer to the court as to why they removed the trees while the appeal had been filed. Baldwin said Kleban, as the applicant, is responsible for the actual removal, the town just considers the request. Kupchick said the plans for and around the theater will spark vibrancy downtown, including new sidewalks, green spaces, wrought iron accents and updated outdoor dining. Residents waited many years for someone to step up and renovate the Community Theater, the surrounding building and outdoor space and the town administration is grateful the Kleban family and Sacred Heart (University) took on this challenge, Kupchick said. The world's most mutated Covid-19 variant has been found in travellers from Tanzania, according to new analysis. A report submitted to the World Health Organisation by a health expert says the strain has several more mutations than any other version recorded so far. Tulio de Oliveira, director of Krisp, a scientific institute that carries out genetic testing for 10 African nations, said his team found the variant in travellers arriving in Angola from Tanzania. Krisp scientists will continue to analyse the variant to examine how it interacts with antibodies, de Oliveira added. Little is known about the virus in Tanzania, whose late Covid-19 sceptic leader, president John Magufuli, died earlier this month. Read more: He was buried on Friday, nine days after authorities announced his passing away from heart disease. Mr Magufuli was not seen in public for over two weeks before his death was announced, prompting speculation from opposition politicians that he had been struck down by the disease, although this has never been confirmed. Tanzania stopped releasing data on Covid-19 during Mr Magufuli's time in office, raising fears of a hidden epidemic. The East Africa country last reported virus statistics in May last year, when some 500 cases and 20 deaths were logged. Mr Magufuli declared Tanzania "coronavirus-free" just a month later, with few lockdown restrictions imposed across the country - including in Zanzibar, which attracts tourists from across the globe. Observers are keen to see whether his successor Samia Suluhu Hassan, the former vice president Hassan, will take measures like mandating mask-wearing or ordering vaccines to try to halt the spread of the pandemic. During the requiem mass for Mr Magufuli, however, most of the attendees - including Ms Hassan herself - did not wear face coverings. Additional reporting by Reuters An Italian appeals court on Tuesday upheld a life sentence for an emergency room doctor convicted of killing ten people, while acquitting him of three other murders Milan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2021 ) :An Italian appeals court on Tuesday upheld a life sentence for an emergency room doctor convicted of killing ten people, while acquitting him of three other murders. The ruling by the Milan court against Leonardo Cazzaniga, 65, came just months after it upheld a 30-year-old sentence against his nurse lover for killing two people. Dubbed the "diabolical lovers", in the Italian press, they have been incarcerated since 2016 for a series of murders while working in the emergency room of the Saronno hospital, near Milan. Cazzaniga, the former number two in the hospital's emergency room, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter of eight patients. He was also convicted of killing the father-in-law of his lover, Laura Taroni, and acting in conjunction with her to kill her husband. The court on Tuesday acquitted him of three other murders. Prosecutors alleged that Cazzaniga killed in a "delirium of omnipotence" in administering overdoses of anaesthetic and sedative drugs to patients. Taroni, 44, the mother of two children, was previously convicted of the murder of her husband, with Cazzaniga, and the 2014 murder of her own mother. "From time to time, I want to kill someone. I need it..." she was heard saying in a police wiretap. The police investigation looked at approximately 40 deaths between 2011 and 2014 that corresponded to Cazzaniga's work shift. Both defendants are expected to appeal again, as allowed under Italian law. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 By Kamal Randhawa and Amanpreet Dhaliwal President Biden recently met with Indian Prime Minister Modi for the first time as part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. The leaders of the Quad countries the United States, India, Japan and Australia came together for the first time to pledge cooperation on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and to form a united front as democracies as a counterweight to China in the Pacific region. While this is certainly an important initiative, the president and his administration have yet to confront one Quad members increasingly anti-democratic actions at home. Since November 2020, the Indian government has responded to farmers peacefully protesting the passage of harsh new agricultural laws that will lead to their financial ruin with violence and a fierce campaign to squash any dissent. In addition to deploying police and paramilitary forces to assault the farmers, Prime Minister Modi has shut off the internet and essential services at protest sites; forced social media companies like Twitter to stifle the voices of protesters and their allies; intimidated, arrested and detained protestors, activists, and journalists; and unleashed vicious attacks on anyone outside India who supports the farmers, including Rihanna, Greta Thunberg and Meena Harris, the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris. Ironically, despite what Prime Minister Modi stated at the Quad meeting excellencies, were united by our democratic values and commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific he does not appear to practice what he preaches. If President Biden truly wants to reassert our countrys leadership role of promoting democratic values on the world stage, the administration should start with forcefully denouncing what is currently taking place in India. Secretary of State Blinken, at a recent United Nations conference, reasserted the American commitment to advancing our views on democracy and our views on human rights. If this is the case, why the abject silence on India? Despite repeated requests to speak up and address the dire situation in India from members of the Sikh American communities in New Jersey and New York, humans rights and social justice activists, journalists, and free speech proponents, the Biden administration and many members of Congress have been mostly silent or resorting to bland diplomatic-speak, seemingly afraid to confront Prime Minister Modi on his increasing abandonment of democratic ideals. Two of the more forceful voices, however, have been New Jerseys Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker the only two senators to date who have sent letters to Indian Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu expressing their concerns on this matter. As members of the Sikh American community in New Jersey, we need the whole of the U.S. government to step up and put their democratic values and commitment to re-establishing U.S. leadership around the globe into action. It is time for President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Blinken to meaningfully acknowledge what is happening to Indian farmers, the rule of law, free speech and freedom of the press in India today and compel Prime Minister Modi to change his ways. Members of Congress can show they stand for democratic principles and with Indian farmers by holding hearings on the current state of play in India, passing a resolution expressing their outrage about the Indian governments crackdown, and questioning why American social media companies are kowtowing to another governments anti-democratic demands. The Indian farmers protest and the governments harsh response has become a global issue, and the world is watching. The United States government has the opportunity to put its values into action now and to reposition itself as a moral leader and a champion of democracy and human rights. We sincerely hope that the rest of the New Jersey congressional delegation can follow the leadership of Senators Menendez and Booker in taking action now. Kamal Randhawa and Dr. Amanpreet Dhaliwal are leaders of Support Indian Farmers, a group of New Jersey-based Sikh Americans seeking to raise awareness of the plight of farmers in India. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. April 14, 1910 Death sentenced carried out at jail Shortly before 10:15 a.m., Shandore Fenez was led from his jail cell to the gallows constructed inside the Lackawanna County jail. Prior to his long walk, the Revs. Joseph J. Komorovszky and Paul Czimodia, of Holy Family Slovak Church on Capouse Avenue said Mass in Fenezs cell and heard the condemned mans last words. Czimondia shared those words with reporters and witnesses on hand for the execution. Fenez said tell the newspapermen he never told anybody he was insane; all that talk came from other people and he never advised anybody or told anybody that he was anything but sane. I fell in love with Lizzie Horvath and told her I loved her. She told me she loved me and every time (I) asked her to leave her husband, she said she would. Every pay day she would ask me for money. Fenez ended with an apology, according to Czimonida. I knew it was bad to kill her, I am sorry for it now, I am willing to suffer death for it and I hope I will be able to meet death bravely. James Van Hise, the hangman, carried out the sentence and Fenez was declared dead at 10:28 a.m. His body was immediately taken to the Hungarian Catholic Cemetery in Throop for burial. In 1909, Fenez had been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Lizzie Horvath of Throop. Fenez was a boarder in the Throop home of Steven and Lizzie Horvath when he came to this area from Hungary. He found work at the Price-Pancoast breaker as a laborer. After three years, Steven Horvath came to discover that his wife, Lizzie, was having illicit affairs with Fenez and another boarder, Wendel Modus. He kicked both men out of the house. Fenez continued to contact Lizzie, asking her to run away with him. These visits landed him in jail for a week. On Dec. 30, 1908, Fenez heard that Lizzie repented her actions with Fenez and Modus and recommitted herself to her husband before her church. Fenez proceeded to tell people at several taverns in Throop that he was going to kill Modus, Lizzie and then himself. The following morning, he shot and killed Lizzie Horvath at 7:30 a.m. in front of her George Street home. He tried to take his own life but he recovered from the bullet wound to his chin. He was convicted of first-degree murder on April 3, 1909, and he was sentenced to death on May 12. The state Supreme Court confirmed the conviction on Jan. 3, 1910. Gov. Edwin Stuart signed the execution order for April 14. Brian Fulton, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribunes expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140. UK food exports to the EU in February remained well below last year's levels, despite them recovering from the slump in January. Exports of all food and live animals recovered to 700m in February after dropping to 400m in the first month of 2021, according to new ONS figures. However, the UK exported 900m of goods in these categories in February 2020, indicating that exports are still down 29% since leaving the EU. The data for meat and meat preparations showed an even larger deficit, with exports to the EU down 42% on the previous year, to 66 million. Responding to the figures, the National Pig Association (NPA) said the UK was 'still a long way short of previous trade numbers'. The body warned that live pig exports were still not possible due to the lack of border infrastructure at the Channel ports. NPA senior policy adviser, Charlie Dewhirst said: "The pandemic will still be affecting export opportunities but there is plenty more work to do to tackle the systemic problems. Obviously its encouraging to see exports recover from the dire situation in January but we are still a long way short of previous trade numbers. "We need to improve and modernise our trading processes with the EU to help the pig sector recapture the export market and sell our world class produce on the continent. In January, overall pig meat - including offal - shipments fell by nearly a half compared with a year ago to only 15,600 tonnes. This was driven overwhelmingly by a fall in EU exports, which amounted to just 2,500 tonnes, a reduction of 13,000 tonnes (-84%) year on year. BRUNSWICK, Ohio --- The city of Brunswick will seek up to $4 million in pending federal funds for a planned $8 million Pearl Road improvement project. Service Director Paul Barnett said April 12 that the planned 2022 reconstruction project is expected to include base reconstruction, curb work, and sidewalk repairs to extend the lifespan of the road. However, Barnett said, a complete tear out of the road would cost in the neighborhood of $52 million. This is a rehab of the roadway, Barnett said of the $8 million option. The city currently has $3 million in state funding earmarked for the project, he said. Brunswick City Council approved a resolution April 12 supporting the Pearl Road reconstruction project and urging state and federal legislators to support funding for the project. Congress is looking at shovel ready projects to fund and we are trying to get an additional $4 million to do the project right, Barnett said. Barnett said the project scope includes Pearl Road within the Brunswick city limits, from Boston Road to Sleepy Hollow Road. Repairs to areas along the project route located in Brunswick Hills Township are being funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation, he added. Brunswick City Engineer Matt Jones said part of the project includes closing a lot of the gaps in sidewalks that exist. An example is around Hickory Ridge Plaza, Jones said. Ward 1 City Councilman Michael Abella, Jr. noted that it is important for residents to know this is not a full repair. Read more news from the Brunswick Sun. [April 14, 2021] Chicago's Yates Protect Launches The Yates Device to Prevent Carjackings and Save Lives CHICAGO, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yates Protect, a minority-owned business focused on protecting our communities, today announced the launch of The Yates Device, a system designed with revolutionary technology to both prevent carjackings and save lives. Recently, authorities across the country have issued warnings of an alarming national spike in carjackings, which are resulting in loss of life and property and aiding in secondary crimes. Many U.S. cities have seen carjacking numbers both double and triple over the past year and since the pandemic began, are commonly identifying teenagers as the perpetrators. Carjacking is a serious offense with often devastating consequences that can be prevented, said Dr. William Yates, founder and CEO of Yates Protect. We believe safety is not a privilege, its a right. To ensure a safe environment and instill peace of mind for drivers, we created The Yates Device to include a camera, LED light and siren technologies to deter and prevent carjacking by allowing the victim to free safely before initiating alarm systems which will cause the perpetrator to flee the vehicle. In the event of an emergency, vehicle occupants can simply tap the automobile foot pedal and activate The Yates Device, which immediately triggers a programmed preset time delay to allow for the occupant to leave the car and let the perpetrator drive away. After the programmed time delay, which can be set at five, 10, 20 or even 60 secnds, LED strobe lights begin flickering and sirens producing over 80 decimals of sound begin wailing as internal cameras record the incident. The Yates Device features include: Activation Switch A system that allows rightful vehicle occupants to activate the Yates solution on a programmable preset time delay in the event of an emergency. A system that allows rightful vehicle occupants to activate the Yates solution on a programmable preset time delay in the event of an emergency. Interior/Exterior Alarm A notification system capable of over 100+ decibels of alarm sound. A notification system capable of over 100+ decibels of alarm sound. LED Lights The system displays intense flashing lights capable of 1000+ lumens. The system displays intense flashing lights capable of 1000+ lumens. System A closed loop uninterruptible System that does not interfere with vehicles manufacturer wiring harness. A closed loop uninterruptible System that does not interfere with vehicles manufacturer wiring harness. Alerts A notification system that verbally announces that the vehicle has been stolen and or occupant is in distress. A notification system that verbally announces that the vehicle has been stolen and or occupant is in distress. Installation Scalable to integrate vehicles existing antitheft or over air software and or hardware system. Scalable to integrate vehicles existing antitheft or over air software and or hardware system. Notifications A system that cannot be deactivated for a minimum of 10 minutes and programmable for up to 120+ minutes of constant notification. The Yates Device the system that fights back is patent pending and will be an affordable and accessible for all. View a demonstration of The Yates Device in this video. For more information, please call 773-227-5225 or email info@yatesprotect.com. About Yates Protect Chicago-based Yates Protect is a minority-owned business focused on protecting our communities and providing simple solutions to big problems. Founded by William Yates, MD, a former trauma surgeon who uses his medical experience and business acumen to market products for the continued safety and health of the U.S. and its people, Yates Protect specializes in providing thermal detectors, metal detectors, PPE, and other safety and health solutions. The company offers high-quality goods and the best technologies on the market to deliver peace of mind so schools, offices, public events, restaurants, sporting events, concerts and more can be more secure and enjoyable. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cdff5331-126e-4a52-9e10-ae52419ca021 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Covid antibody levels have stopped rising in older people, as official figures show Britain may still be way off herd immunity. More than half of all adults tested positive for virus-fighting antibodies in the week ending March 28 but the figure is unchanged on the last update a fortnight ago. And rates are actually falling among over-65s, with millions still waiting for their top-up jab. Scientists say antibody levels dip naturally after peaking in the weeks following an infection or first vaccine, and that people may not have detectable antibodies now even if they did so earlier in the year. But the Office for National Statistics, which tracks the levels of immunity across the UK, insisted 'this does not mean a person has no protection against Covid' because the immune system does not rely on antibodies to fight diseases. The ONS surveillance project today revealed 54.9 per cent of adults have signs of immunity against the virus, rising to more than 80 per cent among those aged 64 to 73. But every age group over 65 saw their coverage decline after levels peaked at the beginning of March. Scientists say the 55 per cent nationwide will not be enough to offer herd immunity, which could stop the virus spreading, because this is likely to require three quarters of people to be immune to infection. But the figures may be lower than actual levels of immunity, with the data not going up to a recent enough date to account for top-up jabs. While most people develop antibodies after their first vaccine, some don't until their second. Bristol University's Professor Oliver Johnson said in a tweet: 'I think this may put herd immunity arguments to bed for a few more weeks.' A major Office for National Statistics (ONS) testing survey today showed 54.9 per cent of adults in England had Covid antibodies which show if someone has gained immunity from either having the vaccine or the virus at the end of March The age groups with the highest antibody levels in England were 65- to 69-year-olds (84.5 per cent) and 70- to 74-year-olds (82.4 per cent), though both were beginning to see falls by the end of March Why you should NOT be worried about declining antibodies Scientists have repeatedly said that declining antibody levels do not mean less immunity. They claim current tests are too insensitive to pick up on the small levels of antibodies that the body keeps in reserve for future infection once the initial illness or vaccine reaction dies down. When someone becomes infected with Covid or starts to gain immunity from vaccination, their antibody levels spike in the blood. But their volume drops sharply once the acute illness ends, or after the vaccines takes ahold in the body. At this point the body does not view Covid as an immediate threat so its production of antibodies slows down. But the immune system stores the memory of how to fight the virus and maintains its ability to mass-make the antibodies at the drop of the hat, if the body is faced with the same pathogen in the future. Dr Michael Mina, an immunologist at Harvard University, previously told the New York Times: 'Even if their antibodies wane below the limits of detection of our instruments, it doesnt mean their memory is gone. 'Whatever your level is today, if you get infected, your antibody titers are going to go way up. 'The virus will never even have a chance the second time around.' However, Covid antibodies are thought to start properly fading after about a year for most people and even quicker for elderly or vulnerable patients. This is why officials are preparing to give 'booster' doses of vaccines in the future. A small number of people may not produce any antibodies to the coronavirus at all. But even in that unlikely event, patients should still have cellular immunity, which includes T cells - a type of white blood cell - that learn to identify and destroy the virus. Studies have suggested that virtually everyone infected with Covid seems to develop T-cell responses. Advertisement The huge immunity coverage is partly a result of the country's vaccine drive, with more than 32.2million people now having had at least one jab over half of adults. Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced all over-50s, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers have now been offered a vaccine. The ONS report is based on random blood tests of around 30,000 adults. It said: 'Weekly data show a reduction in antibody positivity rates among older individuals in recent weeks, likely because the data do not yet show the impact of second doses of Covid vaccinations. 'Daily modelled antibody estimates by single year of age also show this decline, but the detection of antibodies alone is not a precise measure of the immunity protection given by vaccination.' The report estimates 54.9 per cent of adults in England had Covid antibodies which show if someone has some form of immunity from either having the vaccine or the virus at the end of March. Antibodies were higher than in Northern Ireland (54.5 per cent), Wales (49.1 per cent) or Scotland (46.0 per cent). Scientists warn not to draw strong conclusions between countries because sample sizes are too small in the other nations. Regionally in England, the areas with the highest antibody rates from March 22 to March 28 were the West Midlands (59 per cent) and North West (58.6 per cent). The lowest rate was in the South East, where 51.9 per cent of people tested positive for antibodies, and the South West, where 52.5 per cent did. London had an above average antibody rate of 55.4 per cent, despite having a significantly lower uptake of the vaccine. The age groups with the highest antibody levels in England were 65- to 69-year-olds (84.5 per cent) and 70- to 74-year-olds (82.4 per cent), though both were beginning to see falls by the end of March. Antibody levels were increasing in all age groups from 25 to 65 and over-75 were still seeing levels above 77 per cent, with second vaccine doses expected to top up levels further in the coming weeks. Reviewing the survey, Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University said a reason for the slightly lower levels seen in older age groups is because antibody levels tend to decrease over time. He said: 'One reason for declines in antibody positivity in some older age groups may be because some peoples antibody levels, that were positive soon after their first vaccine dose, will have fallen below the level at which antibodies can be detected. NINE OUT OF 10 OVER-80s HAVE COVID ANTIBODIES SIX WEEKS AFTER FIRST JAB Nine out of 10 people over 80 still had strong signs of coronavirus immunity six weeks after their first vaccine dose, a study has found. And both AstraZeneca and Pfizer's jabs work equally well at forcing the body to make antibodies that can fight off the disease. The latest research by the University of Birmingham adds to evidence that the Covid vaccines are successful in the real world and work for elderly people who notoriously have weaker immune systems and respond less well to vaccines. It found that the long-term white blood cell response were less good after a single dose of Pfizer than after AstraZeneca, but this is boosted after the second jab. Dr Helen Parry and Professor Paul Moss, who did the research, said understanding what happens after one dose gives an idea of what protection people have now. Out of 32.3million people vaccinated across the UK, only 7.9million have had their second jab because of a policy to stretch the gap between them to 12 weeks. This study shows that most people show signs of long-lasting protection from the virus even if they don't get a second dose within three weeks as people did in trials. Testing the blood of 165 people for Covid antibodies found that 93 per cent of people had them five to six weeks after their first Pfizer jab, and 87 per cent after AstraZeneca. Advertisement 'Theres some evidence in the oldest groups that levels might be beginning to rise again, which may well be because more of them have had a second dose and enough time has passed after that second dose for antibodies to increase.' Professor McConway said 'a lot is still unknown' about how long immunity lasts for and how antibody levels change over time. He also added that 'antibodies aren't the whole story on immunity' and there are other forms of protection the body develops to the virus. 'Its not possible to say definitely from these results either how close we might be to a level of immunity that will keep infections strongly in check,' he said. The figures come after a study last week suggested Britain would pass the threshold for herd immunity on Monday. Modelling by University College London (UCL) suggested 73.4 per cent of the population will have protection against Covid by April 12. The figures outdo pessimistic estimations by Imperial College last week, which suggested that just 34 per cent would have the vital antibody protection by the end of last month much less than the ONS figures today suggested. Herd immunity is when an infectious disease stops naturally spreading in a population because enough people are protected against the disease. Scientists disagree on what the exact herd immunity threshold is but top US medical official Dr Anthony Fauci has previously suggested it could be as high as 90 per cent. The UK governments Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance quoted a figure of 60 per cent back in March 2020 but scientists now believe it is much higher than that because the virus is more transmissible than previously thought. Imperial College's results formed part of data by SPI-M - whose calculations feed into the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE). Documents published by SAGE suggest that lifting lockdown curbs fully in June could lead to more than a thousand deaths a day this summer and push the NHS to the brink again. But UCL's data suggests Britain could be well on its way to lifting lockdown fully by June 21, the date set out in Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown. Chinese regulators on Tuesday urged internet platform enterprises to comprehensively rectify problems within time limits and establish a new order in the platform economy. Internet platform enterprises are urged to strictly prevent the disorderly expansion of capital to ensure economic and social security and guard against the formation of monopolies to ensure fair market competition, the regulators said at a meeting held by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and the State Taxation Administration. Representatives from 34 internet platform enterprises attended the meeting. The meeting also highlighted the innovative growth of the sector and its open and shared ecosystems, while warning against the abuse of algorithms and tax-related issues. The regulators said that internet platform enterprises should locate their own problems within one month and subsequently correct them. Any enterprise that is found to be involved in illegal behaviors after the rectification deadlines will be punished accordingly. The overall situation of the internet platform economy is good, but risks and hidden dangers are accumulating alongside rapid growth, thus it is imperative to regulate the sector according to the law, the regulators said. Strengthening the governance of platform enterprises does not mean the country has changed its attitude toward supporting and encouraging the internet platform economy, they noted. The government will respect the inherent laws of the internet platform economy and give full play to its important role, the regulators said at the meeting. Downtown Deli General Manager Denise Leppo felt relieved when the state eased pandemic-related seating restrictions, allowing the Scranton restaurant to increase capacity. On Monday the eatery sat empty, however. She was forced to close, not because of a lack of customers, but workers. The business is among a growing number of employers nationwide who weathered the economic havoc wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic, only to confront a new dilemma they have more jobs open than people to fill them.I have not had one single person come in looking for a job, Leppo said. Its like a constant game of dodgeball. ... We went through a whole year dodging everything thrown at us. Now this. The labor shortage has been a problem in recent years, but now is reaching critical levels across nearly all industries, economic experts say. In February there were 7.4 million job vacancies nationwide, the highest number since June 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats an increase of roughly 400,000 from January. In a March survey, the Tennessee-based National Federation of Independent Businesses reported 42% of its members said they had positions they could not fill thats the highest figure in the 48 years the organization has conducted the survey, said Holly Wade, executive director of NFIBs research center. The challenges they face trying to fill positions is at historic levels, Wade said, noting the number of businesses reporting unfilled positions is normally around 22%. We have not seen anything like this before. Locally, employers say the labor market has been tight in the past, but its gotten so challenging now its forced some businesses to alter how they operate. Leppo said she had little choice but to shut down Monday because she had no one to replace an injured cook. Decisions on future closures will be made on a week-by-week basis. We just couldnt give the customers the service and the quality we give every day, Leppo said. We decided to close for the day and have everyone relax, have a day off and regroup. Tracy Bradshaw, owner of the O-Town Bar & Grill in Olyphant, said she also had to close early one day last week because she had no server to cover a shift. Its heartbreaking, Bradshaw said. Ive been in this business since I was a young girl and Ive never seen anything like it. The shortages persist even though there are plenty of workers to fill the posts. As of February, 9.9 million people were unemployed nationwide, for a rate of 6.2%. That includes 462,780 Pennsylvanians, or 7.3%, and preliminarily 26,607 unemployed workers in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton region, or 9.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the life of me I dont understand how unemployment can be so high, said Dave Balent, owner of Balent Construction in Exeter. Everyone I talk to is looking for help. Balent employs six laborers and wants to hire at least two more, but has struck out. Ive been doing this 43 years and I never found it this difficult, Balent said. Julie Fish, operations manager for the NEPA Carton & Carrier Co. manufacturing plant in Moosic, said the situation is all the more frustrating because on the rare occasion she does get an applicant, they dont last long. No one comes in and the few that do, Ill hire them on the spot. They dont show up or they stay a couple of hours and leave, Fish said. I was able to hire one person within the last year that stayed. Employers say the federal governments $300 weekly supplement for unemployment benefits has exacerbated their labor woes. People can make more money staying at home than going to work, Fish said. I have no problem helping people who legitimately cant find anything. There are a lot of jobs available. Economists say the additional benefits may play some role, but theyre not solely to blame. I dont really see evidence of a large scale number of workers suddenly deciding Im not going to work, said Andrew Chew, a senior research and policy analyst with the Institute Public Policy and Economic Development in Wilkes-Barre. Chew said many people continue to face legitimate obstacles returning to work, including the closure of schools. Thats particularly an issue for women. Women are often the ones who drop out of the labor force to become full-time home schoolers, Chew said. Prior to the pandemic, women made up 40% of unemployment claims. Its now 50%. The speed with which the economy rebounded also played a role, said Gad Levanon, Ph.D., head of the labor market institute for the Conference Board, a New York-based nonprofit business membership and research group. The robust recovery means there are many employers competing for employees at the same time. Levanon said he expects the labor shortage will get worse before it gets better as long term issues that have plagued the market for years still remain. For the first time in U.S. history, the working age population is shrinking because so many baby boomers are reaching retirement age, he said. While that creates challenges for employers, its great news for workers who can now command higher wages and better working conditions, he said. Workers have a lot more options, Levanon said. They have more job security and will probably see faster wage growth. They will be able to move to jobs they like more, so job satisfaction will likely be higher. The situation locally promises to get even more challenging as several large employers are set to open manufacturing and warehouse operations. Among the projects is an Amazon fulfillment center in the Valley View Business Park that will create 500 jobs, and Krakow, Poland-based Canpack Group that plans to build an aluminum can manufacturing plant in Olyphant, creating 400 jobs. Those projects and others will put an ever greater squeeze on small businesses, said Teri Ooms, director of the Institute Public Policy and Economic Development. The bigger companies will be in a position to pay more, offer more comprehensive benefits and perhaps sign-on bonuses, Ooms said. Smaller companies can combat that by emphasizing the better life-work balance they may offer employees, she said. Small businesses do offer flexibility in scheduling and differences in workplace culture, she said. Those characteristics are appealing to the younger workforce, those seeking part time work and potentially seniors. Downtown Deli is among several area businesses now offering sign-on bonuses to attract applicants. Leppo said she will pay up to $1,000 to cooks, paid in two $500 increments after three and six months of employment. Shes hopeful, but not overly optimistic, that will be the key to getting the people she needs. The thing that scares me now, there is no point where I look ahead and see it changing until after summer, Leppo said. We will get through it, but when is it going to end? Women's Liberation Front is fighting the injunction which targets a private citizen for exercising her civil liberties Tweet this The Washington Public Records Act guarantees that citizens have the right to access public records, and requires the government to respond to requests within five days. The request asked for documents pertaining to: A complete and accurate count of inmates who identify as transgender (gender identity differs from sex identified at birth) in the custody of the Washington Department of Corrections [please break this information down by location]. Number of inmates that have been transferred from a men's facility to a women's facility since January 01, 2021 . Total number of male persons who identify as female, non-binary, or any other gender identity that are currently housed in a women's facility. Number of inmates who have transferred from a women's facility to a men's facility from January 01, 2021 to March 18, 2021 . Number of female persons who identify as male, non-binary or any other gender identity that are currently housed in a men's facility. The Washington Department of Corrections did not respond to the public request within the given time period. On April 8, the citizen received email notification that the ACLU of Washington Foundation had named her personally in a lawsuit to prevent the information from being released. The ACLU also named members of the press, including The News Tribune, a Tacoma-based paper, in the lawsuit. The ACLU of Washington has specifically advocated for the expansion of the Public Records Act in the past, stating, "Transparency is at the heart of democracy and today's decision affirms the right of the public to know about the work of the legislators that represent them." WoLF plans to fight this lawsuit, which is clearly aimed at suppressing citizen's rights to access public records. Lauren Adams, WoLF Legal Director said, "It is troubling both that the ACLU is seeking to silence and intimidate an individual who is petitioning their government, as well as attacking the free press." In a twist of irony, the citizen tells us she used resources provided on the ACLU's website to draft the public records request which they are now seeking to squash. More details on this lawsuit: womensliberationfront.org/aclu-lawsuit-public-records Media inquiries please contact: [email protected] SOURCE Women's Liberation Front Related Links https://www.womensliberationfront.org Ottawa is creating a new pathway to permanent residency for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco Mendicino holds a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Ottawa is creating a new pathway to permanent residency for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday. The new policy will grant permanent status to temporary workers and graduates who possess the skills and experience the country needs to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve an economic recovery, Mendicino said. "Canada's path to prosperity lies through immigration because newcomers ... will come and roll up their sleeves and contribute and give back in our health care sector and in many other vital areas of the economy," he said at a news conference. Mendicino said health care and other eligible essential workers must have at least one year of Canadian work experience to apply, while international graduates must have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary program within the last four years. On May 6, the immigration department will start accepting up to 50,000 applications from health care and other essential workers and 40,000 applications from international students who graduated from a Canadian institution. Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said the new program will strengthen Canada's economic recovery by ensuring that everyone who wishes to participate in the labour force has the ability to do so. "Immigrants have long played a critical role in supporting Canadians' high standard of living and building vibrant communities," he said in a statement. "They fill labour market shortages, offset our aging population and broaden the tax base, thereby helping fund social and public services." Hyder said COVID-19-related restrictions have hit Canada's immigration system hard, significantly reducing the number of newcomers entering the country. The Immigration department said the new policy will help the government meet its goal to accept 401,000 new permanent residents this year. Mendicino said the jobs that are deemed essential are the same ones that people have sometimes labelled lower-skilled. "From caring for seniors to putting food on our tables, we now have a greater appreciation for the many skills and talents and supports that temporary workers are contributing right across our economy." Mendicino said he hopes Canadians will look back on this moment as a time when the country began to recognize the value of essential workers with an immigration policy that reflects appreciation for their roles. "What began as temporary changes to keep our economy going are now blossoming into a wider shift in how we see and treat immigration to Canada," he said. Leah Nord, a director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the new program, saying it's "an important step towards the inclusive pandemic recovery." She said in a statement that international students and temporary foreign workers are essential sources for talent pipelines for communities and industries across the country. "We have long been advocating for the government to facilitate pathways to permanent residency for temporary residents." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. ------ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. MONTAGUE, MI Forty-three acres of the Lake Michigan shoreline purchased by the Land Conservancy of West Michigan will more than double a 31-acre nature preserve near Montague, the organization announced Wednesday, April 14. The new property, called the Huston-Rausch-Paprocki Reserve, expands the Flower Creek Dunes Nature Preserve to 74 acres of forested backdune habitat. The conservancy raised $200,000 from the community to support the purchase. The added land to the preserve has protected an indispensable natural connection, said Land Conservancy of West Michigan Executive Director Kim Karn in a statement. Douglas Paprocki and his late wife, Gretchen, bought the property in 1994 to protect the land as a conservation easement. The sale is the Paprockis final gesture in preserving the landscape, the news release said. The newly formed reserve features a hardwood forest near the lakeshore that is home to butterflies, hawks and songbirds. Including the Meinert County Park, the conservancy now oversees and manages 255 acres of connected natural land along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The protection of this property, with its biodiversity and varied topography, will help the landscape withstand and recover from the effects of climate change and other disturbances, said a statement from April Scholtz, conservancy land protection director. Flower Creek Dunes Nature Preserve started as a 14-acre park in 2012 and grew five years later following a similar fundraising effort. More on MLive: Makeover planned for major downtown Muskegon street 113-year-old Michigan train station to be redeveloped into mixed-use community space Health officials say slow response, political influence made coronavirus pandemic worse WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. is recommending a pause in administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots. In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said they were investigating unusual clots in six women that occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The clots occurred in veins that drain blood from the brain and occurred together with low platelets. All six cases were in women between the ages of 18 and 48. The reports appear similar to a rare, unusual type of clotting disorder that European authorities say is possibly linked to another COVID-19 vaccine not yet cleared in the U.S., from AstraZeneca. More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., the vast majority with no or mild side effects. U.S. federal distribution channels, including mass vaccination sites, will pause the use of the J&J shot, and states and other providers are expected to follow. The other two authorized vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, make up the vast share of COVID-19 shots administered in the U.S. and are not affected by the pause. CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases and the FDA has also launched an investigation into the cause of the clots and low platelet counts. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, and Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a joint statement. They are recommending that people who were given the J&J vaccine who are experiencing severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the shot contact their health care provider. U.S. health authorities cautioned doctors against using a typical clot treatment, the blood-thinner heparin. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous and alternative treatments need to be given, the FDA and CDC said. European authorities investigating the AstraZeneca cases have concluded clots appear to be similar to a very rare abnormal immune response that sometimes strikes people treated with heparin, leading to a temporary clotting disorder. Officials say they also want to educate vaccine providers and health professionals about the unique treatment required for this type of clot. Johnson & Johnson said it was aware of the reports of thromboembolic events, or blood clots, but that no link to its vaccine had been established. We are aware that thromboembolic events including those with thrombocytopenia have been reported with Covid-19 vaccines, said Johnson & Johnson in a statement. At present, no clear causal relationship has been established between these rare events and the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine. The J&J vaccine received emergency use authorization from the FDA in late February with great fanfare, with hopes that its single-dose and relatively simple storage requirements would speed vaccinations across the country. Yet the shot only makes up a small fraction of the doses administered in the U.S. as J&J has been plagued by production delays and manufacturing errors at the Baltimore plant of a contractor. Last week the drugmaker took over the facility to scale up production in hopes of meeting its commitment to the U.S. government of providing about 100 million doses by the end of May. Only about 9 million of the companys doses have been delivered to states and are awaiting administration, according to CDC data. Until now concern about the unusual blood clots has centered on the vaccine from AstraZeneca, which has not yet received authorization in the U.S. Last week, European regulators said they found a possible link between the shots and a very rare type of blood clot that occurs together with low blood platelets, one that seems to occur more in younger people. The European Medicines Agency stressed that the benefits of receiving the vaccine outweigh the risks for most people. But several countries have imposed limits on who can receive the vaccine; Britain recommended that people under 30 be offered alternatives. But the J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines are made with the same technology. Leading COVID-19 vaccines train the body to recognize the spike protein that coats the outer surface of the coronavirus. But the J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines use a cold virus, called an adenovirus, to carry the spike gene into the body. J&J uses a human adenovirus to create its vaccine while AstraZeneca uses a chimpanzee version. The announcement hit U.S. stock markets immediately, with Dow futures falling almost 200 points just over two hours before the opening bell. Shares of Johnson & Johnson dropped almost 3% The Cambodian government lashed out at the United Nations' criticism that its approach to mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus was breaching peoples right to privacy. The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva shot back at a statement released by four United Nations special rapporteurs on Monday, who urged the Southeast Asian country to review its approach to COVID-19. The statement refers to the Health Ministrys decision to release the photos and personal information of people likely linked to a COVID-19 cluster from November 2020. While the government agreed to remove peoples photographs, the press statement retained their personal details. The naming and shaming in public of those who have contracted the virus can lead to discrimination and stigma. These actions are a deplorable breach of privacy, the experts said. This may also deter people from having tests should they have symptoms of COVID-19 or if they suspect they are at risk of infection having been in close proximity with someone who has tested positive for the virus. The special rapporteurs, which includes Rhona Smith, the special rapporteur for human rights to Cambodia, also expressed serious concern over a series of harsh new legal and administrative measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to the Law on Preventive Measures Against the Spread of COVID-19 and other Contagious Diseases. The law came into effect on March 11 and was a response to the current cluster of COVID-19 cases, which has seen the country caseload balloon. The law includes harsh punishments such as a 20-year prison term and fines of up to 20 million riels, around $5,000, for those convicted of violations. The law grants the government power to ban, restrict any gathering or demonstration. According to experts, at least four people have reportedly been arrested since the law came into effect and several others sent to quarantine for violating restrictions on movements. We are concerned that the administrative and penal measures, including excessive prison sentences and fines provided in the law, appear to be disproportionate and unwarranted. All measures taken to fight the pandemic, including possible punishments, should be necessary and proportionate and not be used excessively, the statement reads. Cambodias U.N. mission in response released a statement on Tuesday saying its response to the pandemic adhered to the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. The Special Rapporteurs have to recognize the priority and play a responsible role in a manner that complements on the ground rather than detracts from the operation of lifesaving and suppression of community transmission, the mission said in its statement. Phnom Penh authorities decided to extend a night curfew that restricts non-essential movement around the city between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Cambodian authorities recently arrested three people, one person in Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Kampong Speu, for allegedly commenting on the use of Chinese vaccines in Cambodia. Soeng Senkaruna, a spokesperson for Cambodian human rights group ADHOC, said the U.N. experts have evaluated their analysis based on human rights principles and not the practical situation in Cambodia. He said the U.N. statement was meant to assist Cambodia and to improve the situation. The U.N. experts criticism is intended for the government to take care of respecting citizens rights, he said. They criticize now because it is the right time since they are afraid of the government's implementation, which is violating people's rights. Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Ukraine is starting to decline, the situation in many regions is stabilizing, Health Minister of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov said. "We have withstood another jump in the incidence of COVID-19, and gradually the situation started to improve. Now in many regions the situation is stabilizing. We have been observing a decline in incidence in Ukraine within ten days," he wrote on the Facebook page on Wednesday. Stepanov said that on the eve of Tuesday, April 13, "was the first day when the number of people discharged from hospitals exceeded the number of hospitalized people by 22.8%." He also said that 2,000 fewer patients were admitted to hospitals last week than a week earlier, and several regions, in particular Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia, left the "red" zone. At the same time, Stepanov said "some regions, in particular the city of Kyiv, as well as Kyiv, Lviv and Poltava regions, continue to be in the 'red' zone of increased epidemic danger and the situation there remains extremely difficult." "It is very important to continue adhering to the established restrictions and anti-epidemic measures: wearing masks, using antiseptics, avoiding crowds of people," the minister said. United Kingdom Prime Minister has reduced the length of his trip to India later this month because of the COVID-19 situation in the country, the British Prime Minister's spokesperson said on Wednesday. Johnson will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit. According to Reuters, the spokesperson told reporters that the decision was made following discussions with the Indian government. "We've been in close contact with the Indian government about the PM's upcoming visit in light of the COVID-19 situation in India. As a result of these discussions the prime minister has made the decision to reduce the length of the visit," the spokesperson told reporters, Reuters reported. "This programme will be focused on high-level discussions with the Indian government and Indian business leaders," he said, adding that the bulk of the programme would now take place on April 26. Johnson had said in March that he will discuss India and UK's shared vision for a sustainable future and other issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to India. The British Prime Minister had cancelled his visit to India in January this year due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the UK. He was invited to take part in Republic Day celebrations as chief guest. The UK is hosting the G7 summit in June where Prime Minister Modi is a special invitee. COP 26 is also scheduled to take place later in the year in the UK. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A mesmerising timelapse video taken from the window of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft left NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins 'blown away' by its beauty. The clip shows a field of black and blue stars moving across the frame and was taken by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi. 'I didnt think the views could get any better, then my crewmate [Soichi Noguchi] took this night timelapse from Resilience and I was blown away,' Hopkins said. Noguchi and Hopkins are among the ten astronauts currently on board the International Space Station, orbiting 250 miles above the Earth. The pair shared a ride to the orbiting laboratory with two other NASA astronauts as part of the Crew-1 mission operated by SpaceX in November 2020. The clip shows a field of black and blue stars moving across the frame and was taken by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi The four astronauts, including Noguchi and Hopkins had to move their SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience capsule to make room for incoming SpaceX missions. The Crew-1 astronauts were the first to be taken to the ISS by a commercial operator and the first from US soil since the last flight of the Space Shuttle in 2011. Noguchi, who took the sensational video of the stars moving outside the Crew Dragon spacecraft, has travelled to the ISS three times. His first was on the Space Shuttle, which was retired in 2011, then he flew to the station on a Soyuz spacecraft operated by Roscosmos, and finally in his latest trip became the first Japanese astronaut to fly on a commercial spacecraft. With another SpaceX crew Dragon due to arrive at the ISS on April 22 and cargo flights due over the next few weeks, the team had to free up a docking port. Resilience was docked with the Harmony module but needed to be 'reparked' on April 5 - the first time for a commercial spaceship docked with the ISS. Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker from NASA, with Noguchi wore their flight suits to move the capsule in a process that took about 45 minutes. The reason they had to be on the Crew Dragon vehicle was to ensure that if it couldn't re-dock there wouldn't be more people on ISS than seats on ships to escape if there was a problem on the orbital laboratory. Noguchi and Hopkins are among the ten astronauts currently on board the International Space Station, orbiting 250 miles above the Earth The second SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship will take NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, acting as spacecraft commander, and Megan McArthur, as pilot. They will be joined by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Akihiko Hoshide from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on April 22. A week later, on April 28, the Crew-1 mission will come to an end when Hopkins, Walker, Victor Glover and Soichi Noguchi splash down near Florida. The pair shared a ride to the orbiting laboratory with two other NASA astronauts as part of the Crew-1 mission operated by SpaceX in November 2020 The returning Crew Dragon Resilience will be refurbished for the 'Inspiration4 Mission' that will take four private citizens to the ISS no earlier than mid-September. The most recent launch for the ISS saw a NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blast off on a Soyuz rocket and dock with the station. NASA's Mark Vande Hei, Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskly and Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos made the journey on Monday. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reminded Muslims to be mindful of the existence of COVID-19 and prioritise the safety protocols as the month-long Ramadan fast begins. Muslims around the world on Tuesday, April 13, started their annual Ramadan prayer and fast, which is one of the Pillars of Islam. The Vice President, in his Ramadan message posted on his Facebook wall, encouraged them to be mindful of the COVID-19 and continue to strictly adhere to the safety protocols, especially in the various mosques. He urged them to pray for the prosperity of Ghana and loved ones during the Holy Month of Ramadan. "On the occasion of the commencement of Ramadan, Hajia Samira and I extend our warm wishes to Muslims in Ghana and around the world, as we observe the month-long fast, he said. He said the sacred month of Ramadan offered Muslims a unique opportunity to renew their faith in the Almighty Allah, and also show love and kindness to all, regardless of their religious affiliation, to reinforce the importance of peaceful coexistence as a people. "Let us use this period of devotion and purity to pray for the continuous peace and prosperity of our country, and the wellbeing of loved ones, he said. "May the Almighty Allah accept our devotions and grant us and our nation the blessings of Ramadan". Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien and head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov discussed the recent introduction of sanctions by Ukraine against a number of individuals and legal entities, as well as the prospects for reform of the SBU. One of the key topics of the meeting was the general security situation and the potential threat associated with Russia's buildup of its military presence on the borders with Ukraine, the SBU said on its website. During the meeting, Kvien assured that the United States supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and is ready to help it in the future in countering Russian aggression. She said that the U.S. reaffirms its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and wants to work with Ukraine and partners to achieve peace. Bakanov, in turn, noted that the Ukrainian special service is ready to join forces with international colleagues so that Ukraine can more successfully deter military and hybrid threats from the Russian Federation. "We are accustomed to the constant threat from the Russian Federation, since we have seen such saber rattling more than once. Such a neighborhood is a stable risk factor that other European countries do not have. And thanks to international partnership, Ukraine has additional opportunities to protect its own sovereignty," he said, noting the importance of such support. General Assignment Reporter Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012. He told police he paid Mills an extra $100 to buy the gun for him, since he was a convicted felon, records state. He claimed he was sitting in the car, as he pulled up his pants, the gun came out of the holster and went off, shooting her in the stomach, charges show. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. 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 Online Masters in Civil Engineering Degree Programs. Intelligent.com analyzed 181 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 29 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Civil Engineering Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-civil-engineering-degree-programs/ 2021 Online Masters in Civil Engineering Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Auburn University Clarkson University Colorado State University Columbia University Iowa State University Johns Hopkins University Kansas State University Kennesaw State University Lawrence Technological University Michigan Technological University Mississippi State University Missouri University of Science and Technology North Carolina State University Norwich University Ohio University Old Dominion University Texas Tech University University of Florida University of Houston University of Idaho University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Louisville University of Pittsburgh University of Southern California University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Tyler University of Virginia 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/. A body was found Wednesday as the search continued for 12 people missing after a 129-foot commercial boat capsized in angry seas off Louisiana. Good Samaritan boaters joined Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter searching the Gulf of Mexico, one day after six people were rescued Tuesday from the Seacor Power south of Grand Isle. Winds were whipping at up to 90 mph when the vessel overturned amid waves reaching 9 feet, Coast Guard Capt. Will Watson said Wednesday. "We are hopeful of finding survivors," Watson said. "We cant do this work if youre not optimistic, if youre not hopeful. The Coast Guard and multiple good Samaritan vessels rescued six people from a capsized commercial vessel Tuesday off the coast of Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards tweeted support for the effort: "Please join @FirstLadyOfLA and me in praying for those who remain missing after yesterdays capsizing off the coast of Grand Isle and for those who are working to rescue them." The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast at 4:30 p.m. local time Tuesday after being alerted that the boat was in distress. The cutter Glenn Harris, a 154-foot rescue ship, arrived on the scene within 30 minutes and pulled one person from the capsized vessel, the agency said. Another Coast Guard boat crew pulled someone from the water, and other vessels rescued four people. The National Weather Service issued a special marine warning Tuesday, alerting boaters to "seek safe harbor ... take protective actions." The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services reported wind gusts as high as 75 mph. Videos from the region show drenching rains and strong winds. Commercial boat capsized in severe weather: 6 people rescued, more missing The hope is that we can bring the other 12 home alive, Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson said Wednesday morning, adding that the forecast was for more "rough weather." Bruce Simon said he was on a boat in the area during the storm and he battled to keep the bow in the wind. "I've NEVER Heard soo many MAYDAY calls in my life!" Simon said in a Facebook post that described smaller boats flipping or taking on water. "Please pray for the Lost!" Story continues Liftboats have open decks and lifts to raise them above the water. They are often used for offshore mineral exploration and construction. The Seacor Power, owned by Seacor Marine, was built in 2002 and had a crew and passenger capacity of 48, according to the owner's website. The ship can carry more than 40,000 gallons of fuel; it was not immediately clear if any spilled into the sea. Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet, whose district includes nearby Grand Isle, told nola.com that multiple vessels were overturned or ruined on the island and that some trailers and businesses were damaged. "We expected some winds and possible rains but nothing as extensive as what took place on the coastal areas of Jefferson Parish," Templet said. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Liftboat capsizes near Louisiana: 1 dead, 6 rescued, 12 missing Fifteen years ago, Annette Lang left a Wall Street career for a new start. She was finally ready to follow her passion -- teaching. It brought her back home to New Jersey, where she got a job as a fifth-grade teacher at South River Elementary School. Two years ago, Lang began teaching middle school math. She was having a blast. "I just felt like I was hitting my stride there," she told CNN. "I was really excited about coming in and really blowing the walls off." Lang, now 61, was planning to stay in the classroom, with no thought of early retirement. "I was going to go at least four more years, until I turned 65," she said. "And possibly after." The coronavirus pandemic changed everything. "I had my first panic attack in 60 years of my life. I was worried about getting sick, I was also worried about bringing something home," Lang said, explaining her husband is older than her and has a pre-existing condition, making him more vulnerable if exposed to Covid-19. Lang said she was concerned about the school building itself. "When you look at the CDC guidelines, the big thing that they kept saying about schools is open the windows, open the windows," she said. "Windows in my building don't open." Ultimately, Lang left her job in December, after what she called a "very difficult" decision. "Being a teacher is not just a job ... I am a teacher, it's part of our persona." Lang is not alone. Teacher retirements are up in several parts of the country. Michigan saw a 44% spike from August to February compared to the previous year, while one of the largest districts in California, Long Beach Unified, reported a 35% increase in teacher leaves of absence to the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) at Stanford University. Linda Darling-Hammond, LPI president and an adviser to the Biden transition, said: "Teacher attrition is very high in the United States. It's twice as high as it is in places like Canada or Finland or Singapore." She said teaching had been a neglected profession in the US for a long time, and while the trend of increasing retirements began a few years ago, she worries it will be exacerbated by the pandemic. "There's fear about the safety of coming back in person, particularly in places where the mitigation strategies have not been well used in schools and where things are opening up," Darling-Hammond said. "People are getting rid of mask mandates and things like that sooner than everyone is vaccinated. So I think those are the things that are causing exhaustion and the fear that is driving a lot of teachers out." It was that fear that was behind Jaime Acosta leaving his job last October after seven years as a teacher in Houston. "I didn't feel safe. And I am pretty sure I can speak for a lot of my colleagues, we did not feel safe going back into the classroom." Acosta also struggled with exhaustion throughout virtual teaching, he told CNN. "Not only are you in new territory, but you're dealing with technology," he said. "You're still required to do all of the things that come with teaching a diverse group of kids and you're at home by yourself. Sometimes, half of my class was not present. What am I supposed to do about that? "At 3:30, after school was done, my responsibility was to call parents and figure out what's going on. It just became way too much, way too much." Stress, exacerbated by Covid-19, was the most common reason for early teacher retirement in 2020, according to a study by the Rand Corporation. Another factor is pay. The average salary for a public school teacher is about $61,000, according to Darling-Hammond. "Teaching pays about 20 or 30% less than other fields that often require similar training in the United States," she said. "Many people want to teach out of the altruism and commitment that they feel, but they can't afford to teach." President Biden's Covid-19 rescue plan allocates $129 billion for K-12 funding, which includes hiring more teachers. But that may prove to be difficult, with fewer college students pursuing careers in education. A survey by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education had nearly 20% of respondents reporting a significant drop in new undergraduate enrollment in teaching programs for fall 2020. Experts such as Darling-Hammond say reversing that trend begins with more teacher support. "Build the social services around them so that they don't have to become social workers and counselors and everything," she said. "We need to conceptualize a very supportive school environment that is going to be very different than the environment that many schools had pre-pandemic." In Houston, Acosta has been working at a local bakery for the past six months, but he still misses teaching. "I'm always going to be a teacher," he said. Even though I quit because of all the problems that were occurring and the Covid situation, I'm still a teacher, and I hope to go back one of these days." But he's wanting things to change first. "We, as teachers, are given way too much," he said. "I see that more in the public education system, specifically in Title 1 schools and poorer schools with less resources -- you have to take on and put on so many other hats to be able to do your job." In New Jersey, Lang's teaching days may be over, but she hasn't stopped thinking about her students. "I absolutely miss the kids," she said. "I'm a big New England Patriots fan and they all know that. And they would have been all over me about Tom Brady and Tampa Bay. So I miss being around them. I also I miss my coworkers. I mean, they were my family." Net revenue of $20.0 million in Q1 2021, up 24.7% versus $16.0 million in Q4 2020 Q1 2021 provincial sales growth of 7.6% quarter over quarter amid provincial inventory rightsizing initiatives across the sector Estimated share of the extract-based market increased to ~5.5% in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario in Q1 2021 from ~4.9% in Q4 2020, based on Headset data and not including B2B LP manufacturing Manufactured approximately 1.4 million units of finished goods over the twelve months ended February 28, 2021 KELOWNA, BC, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Valens Company Inc. (TSX: VLNS) (OTCQX: VLNCF) (the "Company," "The Valens Company" or "Valens"), a leading manufacturer of cannabis products, is pleased to report its first quarter financial results for the period ended February 28, 2021. Tyler Robson, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Chair of The Valens Company, said: "In the first quarter of 2021, Valens built upon the solid foundation that was laid in 2020 as we continue to lead the Canadian industry as a highly trusted third-party manufacturer of cannabis consumer packaged goods. Despite a slowdown in Canadian cannabis sales early in the year as a result of storefront restrictions and provincial inventory management due to the pandemic, we had strong sales growth with provincial sales increasing quarter over quarter. We expect to grow our provincial sales through fiscal 2021 as we continue to manufacture winning SKUs across all Cannabis 2.0 categories, including the newly-entered edibles and topicals segments, and an evolving portfolio of Cannabis 3.0 products. With the addition of the LYF Facility and the GTA Facility nearing completion, our strengthened manufacturing platform allows us to efficiently launch new SKUs, increase our market share alongside our customers and provides the capacity for us to drive significant volumes of previously launched and trusted products that have continued to gain acclaim from consumers across the country." Key Highlights Gross revenue increased 21.4% in Q1 2021 to $21.8 million compared to $17.9 million in Q4 2020 compared to in Q4 2020 Net revenue increased 24.7% to $20.0 million in Q1 2021 compared to $16.0 million in Q4 2020 in Q1 2021 compared to in Q4 2020 Product sales increased 23.3% to $17.9 million in Q1 2021 from $14.5 million Q4 2020 in Q1 2021 from Q4 2020 Product sales as a percentage of net revenue remained at ~90.0% in Q1 2021 Despite a decrease in sales in January and February in the broader Canadian cannabis market, Valens' provincial sales increased by 7.6% from Q4 2020 Manufactured approximately 1.4 million units of finished goods over the twelve months ended February 28, 2021 Estimated share of the extract-based market increased to ~5.5% in Alberta , British Columbia and Ontario in Q1 2021 from ~4.9% in Q4 2020, based on Headset data and not including B2B LP manufacturing , and in Q1 2021 from ~4.9% in Q4 2020, based on Headset data and not including B2B LP manufacturing Continued to entrench the Company's position as the largest third party vape manufacturer in Canada Manufactured and distributed the second best-selling vape SKU, Verse Cannabis' Tropic Lemon 1.0g vape cartridge, across Alberta , British Columbia , and Ontario during Q1 2021, according to Headset data , , and during Q1 2021, according to Headset data Ended the quarter with a strong cash position of ~$49.3 million Corporate and Operational Highlights: In the first quarter, The Valens Company continued to execute on its corporate strategy and advance its platform, as illustrated by the following milestones and initiatives: Improved capital position with the closing of its bought deal public offering (the "Offering") on January 29, 2021 , for total gross proceeds of $39.7 million . The Company plans to use a majority of the net proceeds of the Offering to pursue strategic M&A and business expansion opportunities in Canada and international markets, with the balance of the net proceeds for working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. with the closing of its bought deal public offering (the "Offering") on , for total gross proceeds of . The Company plans to use a majority of the net proceeds of the Offering to pursue strategic M&A and business expansion opportunities in and international markets, with the balance of the net proceeds for working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. Expanded product distribution capabilities and increased total addressable market with the amendment of its Health Canada licence to sell dried cannabis products to authorized provincial and territorial retailers in Canada . With this new licence, the Company now offers a complete portfolio of products to its customers in the Canadian cannabis market. Valens expects to begin manufacturing and shipping dried cannabis products, including flower and pre-rolls, to various provinces in the second quarter of 2021. to authorized provincial and territorial retailers in . With this new licence, the Company now offers a complete portfolio of products to its customers in the Canadian cannabis market. Valens expects to begin manufacturing and shipping dried cannabis products, including flower and pre-rolls, to various provinces in the second quarter of 2021. Submitted a site evidence package to Health Canada for the Company's fourth facility in Canada , located in the Greater Toronto Area ("GTA Facility"). The GTA Facility is now in the final stages of construction and will add 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space, focused on the formulation, co-packing, and manufacturing of cannabis-infused beverages and other customized 2.0 and 3.0 products using SoRSE by Valens emulsion technology. The GTA Facility is expected to receive its micro-processing licence in the second calendar quarter of 2021, after which the Company expects to begin manufacturing products at the facility and begin commercializing and shipping out products in the second half of fiscal 2021. , located in the ("GTA Facility"). The GTA Facility is now in the final stages of construction and will add 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space, focused on the formulation, co-packing, and manufacturing of cannabis-infused beverages and other customized 2.0 and 3.0 products using SoRSE by Valens emulsion technology. The GTA Facility is expected to receive its micro-processing licence in the second calendar quarter of 2021, after which the Company expects to begin manufacturing products at the facility and begin commercializing and shipping out products in the second half of fiscal 2021. Launched new and innovative Cannabis 2.0 product formats, including nuance's CBD 100, a high-potency CBD-dominant oil on the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers marketplace. Valens expects to unveil additional products on the platform in the coming quarters, such as topical formats like bath bombs and menthol rub, as well as water drops and additional premium oils. In partnership with Verse Cannabis, the Company launched an additional three vape cartridge flavours, Sunset Peach, Mandarin Mint and Summer Berry , in response to the popularity of the first launched Tropic Lemon 1.0g vape cartridge, which was the second-best selling vape SKU across Alberta , British Columbia , and Ontario in Q1 2021 per Headset data. Additionally, in the first quarter, the Company manufactured 53 SKUs in comparison to 62 in Q4 2020, including product formats in a number of newly entered categories such as edibles and topicals, and other existing categories such as tinctures, vapes, concentrates and beverages. The decrease in unique SKUs quarter over quarter can be attributed to Valens' focus on maximizing SKU and sales velocity of existing products that have proven to lead within their respective categories within the Canadian market. Financial Summary: Net revenue increased 24.7% to $20.0 million in Q1 2021 compared to $16.0 million in Q4 2020 Net Revenue Breakdown (in thousands of Canadian dollars) Three months ended February 28, 2021 $ Three months ended November 30, 2020 $ Product Sales 17,853 14,478 Toll Processing and Co-Packing 1,745 989 Analytical Testing 416 438 Other Revenue - 139 Total Net Revenue 20,014 16,044 Product sales revenue, including both provincial sales and B2B sales of finished goods, distillate, isolate, and other ingredients: Increased 17.2% to $17.9 million in Q1 2021 over Q1 2020, comprising ~90% of total net revenue, which can be attributed to the scale up of product manufacturing and sales of bulk oil for customers in Q1 2021 over Q1 2020, comprising ~90% of total net revenue, which can be attributed to the scale up of product manufacturing and sales of bulk oil for customers Provincial sales, included as part of product sales revenue, increased 7.6% from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021 Gross profit was $4.8 million , or 21.9% of revenue, in Q1 2021, compared to $18.1 million , or 56.6% of revenue, in Q1 2020 , or 21.9% of revenue, in Q1 2021, compared to , or 56.6% of revenue, in Q1 2020 Gross margin percentage was impacted due to the Company's transition to product development and manufacturing, as well as the repositioning of vape hardware utilized with certain industry partners. Additionally, various factors related to pandemic restrictions across the country, including provincial inventory rationalization and retail store opening limitations, led to the decrease in gross margin percentage. Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $(2.2) million in Q1 2021, compared to $14.3 million , or 44.7% of revenue, in Q1 2020 Jeff Fallows, President of The Valens Company, said, "The solid financial results that we reported today for Q1 2021 reflect our successful transformation as a business through several key strategic initiatives and during an uncertain, challenging pandemic environment. With our recent public financing, we have a strong capital position to fuel our growth as we launch new and innovative Cannabis 2.0 and 3.0 product formats and agreements, continue to build out our manufacturing capabilities and accelerate our international expansion strategy. Additionally, subsequent to the quarter, we announced new strategic agreements with leading cannabis partners in the industry that we expect will expand our product offerings and we look forward to increasing the number of those agreements through 2021." The following table of financial highlights is presented in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share, biomass extracted amounts and number of SKUs. Three-months ended February 28, 2021; Q1 2021 Three-months ended November 30, 2020; Q4 2020 Three-months ended August 31, 2020; Q3 2020 Three-months ended May 31, 2020; Q2 2020 Three-months ended February 29, 2020; Q1 2020 Gross Revenue $ 21,774 17,932 18,517 17,627 31,980 Net Revenue $ 20,014 16,004 18,128 17,627 31,980 Gross Profit (loss) $ 4,768 (5,993) 7,313 6,318 18,086 Gross Profit % 21.9% N/A 39.5% 35.8% 56.6% Adjusted EBITDA $(1) (2,241) (4,280) 1,440 2,699 14,282 Adjusted EBITDA %(1) N/A N/A 7.8% 15.3% 44.7% Net income (loss) $ (5,647) (16,634) (3,064) (3,528) 2,543 Net income % NA N/A N/A N/A 8.0% Basic / diluted income (loss) per share $ (0.05) (0.13) (0.02) (0.03) 0.02 Cash and short-term investments $ 49,300 21,376 30,257 45,067 44,286 Biomass extracted (Kilograms) (2) 17,813 10,311 8,054 30,059 19,962 Number of SKUs 53 62 56 36 9 (1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure used by management that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management defines adjusted EBITDA as loss and comprehensive loss from operations, as reported, before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, and adjusted for removing share-based payments, realized gains and losses from short term investments and liabilities and other one-time and non-cash items including impairment losses. Management believes adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance on an adjusted basis as described above. See reconciliation of "Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended February 28, 2021 for additional information. (2) Biomass extracted includes input from Licensed Producer partners for toll processing, in addition to the Company's own biomass inventory for 2.0 products. The management's discussion and analysis for the period and the accompanying financial statements and notes are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Update on Fiscal 2021 Strategic Initiatives Continued focus on US and other international markets , as broader legal and regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, and, with respect to certain cannabis products, subject to legalization at the federal level and dependent on the requirements of the TSX. The Company is currently in advanced discussions with respect to a number of global expansion initiatives, including increasing its existing international shipments with receipt of EU GMP certification on track for year-end. , as broader legal and regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, and, with respect to certain cannabis products, subject to legalization at the federal level and dependent on the requirements of the TSX. The Company is currently in advanced discussions with respect to a number of global expansion initiatives, including increasing its existing international shipments with receipt of EU GMP certification on track for year-end. Closed LYF Food Technologies ("LYF") Acquisition and accelerated Valens' entry into the edibles market, increasing its edible product portfolio and market share with collective capabilities to produce innovative gummies, chocolates, and baked goods. Since completing the acquisition, The Valens Company has launched soft chews in partnership with Verse Cannabis and has since completed repeat shipments of the products to Alberta , Ontario , and British Columbia , in addition to launching Summit soft chews alongside partner A1 Cannabis in Ontario and manufacturing and shipping edible products with other existing LYF customers. increasing its edible product portfolio and market share with collective capabilities to produce innovative gummies, chocolates, and baked goods. Since completing the acquisition, The Valens Company has launched soft chews in partnership with Verse Cannabis and has since completed repeat shipments of the products to , , and , in addition to launching Summit soft chews alongside partner A1 Cannabis in and manufacturing and shipping edible products with other existing LYF customers. Entered the topicals category with the launch of nuance CBD bath bombs , complementing the brand's existing lineup of premium wellness products. Valens expects to lead the wellness category in Canada with the launch of additional products under the nuance product offering in the coming quarters, including balm, menthol rub, soft chews, honey, and a variety of bath bombs. , complementing the brand's existing lineup of premium wellness products. Valens expects to lead the wellness category in with the launch of additional products under the nuance product offering in the coming quarters, including balm, menthol rub, soft chews, honey, and a variety of bath bombs. Expanded domestic distribution network to Manitoba , increasing Valens' ability to capture increased market share in Canada with the ability to now sell products in five provinces. Near-term entry into the remaining Canadian provinces and territories, including Quebec , is expected imminently as discussions continue with provincial and territorial boards and private retailers. , increasing Valens' ability to capture increased market share in with the ability to now sell products in five provinces. Near-term entry into the remaining Canadian provinces and territories, including , is expected imminently as discussions continue with provincial and territorial boards and private retailers. Increased share of the extract-based market in Alberta , British Columbia , and Ontario to an estimated ~5.5% in Q1 2021 from ~4.9% in Q4 2020 , based on Headset data and not including B2B LP manufacturing. Subsequent to the quarter, Valens announced that it will be distributing select products from its partner Verse Cannabis to the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers platform, which is expected to increase both the brand's national exposure and market share capture. , based on Headset data and not including B2B LP manufacturing. Subsequent to the quarter, Valens announced that it will be distributing select products from its partner Verse Cannabis to the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers platform, which is expected to increase both the brand's national exposure and market share capture. Entered into extraction and custom manufacturing agreements with leading Canadian licensed producers. Subsequent to the quarter, Valens entered into an extraction and custom manufacturing agreement with Rubicon Organics, where it will leverage its full complement of proprietary extraction capabilities, including organic certified CO2, ethanol, and other extraction technologies, to deliver customized consumer experiences in a variety of 2.0 products under the LP's product portfolio. Additionally, Valens entered into a custom manufacturing agreement with Experion Biotechnologies Inc. to provide end-to-end pre-roll manufacturing services and product distribution services, with continued discussions to expand the existing agreement to include additional product development and manufacturing services for a range of next generation products. Q1 2021 Conference Call Details The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 11:00 am Eastern Time / 8:00 am Pacific Time to discuss the financial results and business outlook. Participant Dial-In Numbers: Toll-Free: 1-877-407-0792 Toll / International: 1-201-689-8263 *Participants should request The Valens Company Earnings Call or provide confirmation code 13717926. The call will be available via webcast on the Valens investor page of the Company website at https://thevalenscompany.com/investors/ or at this link . Please visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available on the Valens investor page approximately two hours after the conference call has ended. Tyler Robson, Chief Executive Officer, Chris Buysen, Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Fallows, President, and Everett Knight, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Capital Markets, will be conducting a question-and-answer session following the prepared remarks. About The Valens Company The Valens Company is a leading manufacturer of cannabis products with a mission to bring the benefits of cannabis to the world. The Company provides proprietary cannabis processing services across five core technologies, in addition to best-in-class product development, formulation and manufacturing of cannabis consumer packaged goods. The Valens Company's high-quality products are exclusively formulated for the medical, therapeutic, health and wellness, and recreational consumer segments, and are offered across numerous product formats, including oils, vapes, concentrates, edibles and topicals, as well as pre-rolls, with a focus on next-generation product development and innovation. Its breakthrough patented emulsification technology, SoRSE by Valens, converts cannabis oil into water-soluble emulsions for seamless integration into a variety of product formats, allowing for near-perfect dosing, stability, and taste. In partnership with brand houses, consumer packaged goods companies and licensed cannabis producers around the globe, the Company continues to grow its diverse product portfolio in alignment with evolving cannabis consumer preferences in key markets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Valens Labs Ltd., the Company is setting the standard in cannabis testing and research and development with Canada's only ISO17025 accredited analytical services lab, named The Centre of Excellence in Plant-Based Science by partner and scientific world leader Thermo Fisher Scientific. Discover more on The Valens Company and its subsidiaries at http://www.thevalenscompany.com. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements All information included in this press release, including any information as to the future financial or operating performance and other statements of The Valens Company that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "trends", "indications", "potential", "estimates", "predicts", "anticipate", "to establish", "believe", "intend", "ability to", or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of these words or other variations thereof, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all disclosure regarding future results of operations, economic conditions and anticipated courses of action, and statements in this news release with regards to U.S. and international growth, policy changes and business opportunities. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others, Canadian regulatory risk, U.S. regulatory risks, including laws and regulations and any amendments and potential legal reform thereto regarding the application of U.S. state and federal law to U.S. hemp (including CBD) and cannabis products and the scope of any regulations by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the "USDA") and any state equivalent regulatory agencies over U.S. hemp (including CBD) and cannabis products and other risks relating to entering the U.S. market, U.S. border crossing and travel bans, the uncertainties, effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on licenses, expansion of facilities, competition, dependence on supply of cannabis and reliance on other key inputs, dependence on senior management and key personnel, general business risk and liability, regulation of the cannabis industry, change in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, reliance on a single facility, limited operating history, vulnerability to rising energy costs, unfavourable publicity or consumer perception, product liability, risks related to intellectual property, product recalls, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth, litigation, ability to identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, many of which are beyond the control of The Valens Company. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by The Valens Company, and which may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of The Valens Company to be materially different from estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, please refer to The Valens Company's latest Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com or on The Valens Company's website at www.thevalenscompany.com. The risks described in such Annual Information Form are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Although the forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management's current beliefs and reasonable assumptions based upon information available to management as of the date hereof, The Valens Company cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. The Valens Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Valens Company 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 applicable law. Nothing herein should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell securities of The Valens Company. SOURCE The Valens Company Inc. Related Links https://thevalenscompany.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:03:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGSHA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A direct China-Europe freight train route has been launched to link Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, and Kiev, capital of Ukraine. The maiden cargo train on this route departed from Changsha for Kiev on Tuesday, with 50 carriages loaded with furniture, food, machinery and equipment, daily necessities and other commodities. The train is scheduled to arrive in Kiev in 17 days, shortening the transportation time of goods between the province and Ukraine from 45 days by sea. Changsha has so far launched more than 10 China-Europe freight train routes, linking nearly 30 cities in 13 countries. As of Tuesday, Changsha had handled 171 China-Europe freight train trips this year, up 83.87 percent year on year. Enditem Mumbai, April 14 : Actor Rahul Roy on Wednesday took to social media to inform netizens that he has tested positive for Covid-19 along with his sister Priyanka and brother-in-law Romeer. The 53-year-old actor expressed that he is unable to understand how he and his family tested positive without leaving the house or interacting with people. "My Covid story. My Resident Floor was sealed on 27th March as a neighbour had got tested positive so as a precautionary measure we all were sealed within Flats for 14 days. I and my family had to fly to Delhi on 11th April so we did RTPCR test from Metropolis Lab on 7th April only to receive the test reports on 10th April stating my whole family @romeersen and @priyankaroy_pia are Covid positive," Rahul wrote in an Instagram post: "We had no symptoms at all, and we came to know that the same day BMC officials were doing testing for the whole society so we again did the Antigen test and we all were negative, and moments later again gave samples for RTPCR which went to Suburban Lab but the test report has still not been given to me," he continued. "BMC officials came made me and my family sign isolation forms, sanitised my home, the doctor called asking random questions of what my family business is into? Where is our office? Travel itineraries... haha don't know what the connection was? Suggested me to get hospitalised to which I replied We have no symptoms so he said ok and suggested to make a chart of oxygen level and take medicines which I am doing since the time I came back post brain stroke from hospital," Rahul further wrote. "I know covid is there but how did I and my family contract this virus without leaving the house, without meeting people or even without going for walks is a question I will never be answered to? My sister @priyankaroy_pia is a yogini and a breathing expert who practices ancient breathing techniques and did not leave the house since 3 months, and without any symptoms has been shown positive in the reports," he added. "For now waiting for second 14 days quarantine to get over and redo my tests. For all of you, wear your masks, wash your hands, stay clean. And I hope you do not contract the virus staying inside the house. Hope to be back soon with negative reports. Love you all," he concluded. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. by P. Wendao Pope Francis and the universal Church are called upon to stop the closure of Catholic orphanages for mentally and physically disabled children. It is time to review the Sino-Vatican Agreement. After hopes were raised, everything is now being betrayed in the name of politics. Beijing (AsiaNews) The Chinese government is shutting down Catholic orphanages that have been appreciated for decades even by members of the Communist Party. The latest shutdown was reported yesterday when the House of Dawn in Zhaoxian was closed. The Pope and the universal Church are urged to speak out in defence of orphans, as well as mentally and physically disabled children, who are now being sent to state facilities. In addition to the harm done to these children, suppressing the visibility of religion and the works of the Church harms the latter as well. By looking at the orphanages that are shut down, Fr Wendao, a priest from northern China with several degrees and long internships abroad, also looks at the enthusiasm sparked by the China-Vatican Interim Agreement. Recently, there is much concern about the closure of Catholic Church-run childrens homes. The latest to be shut down are the St Josephs Disabled Infant Home in Renqiu, Xianxian (Diocese of Cangzhou), and the Liming (Dawn) Home in the Diocese of Zhaoxian, both in Hebei province. Other places are Catholic-run orphanages in Zhangjiakou and Zhengding, both in Hebei. The same happened two years ago to an orphanage in Baoji, Shaanxi province, run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. These disabled childrens homes were respected and deeply loved by many Chinese; many caring people visited and served there, bearing good fruits of love to the Church and society. People learnt to care and respect Gods little ones. I still remember that years ago, when I was forced to take sessions and become reformed at the Central Institute for Socialism, one professor shared her views after visiting Catholic orphanages for disabled children in Hebei. She said those homes for children were well managed by the Catholic Church and solved some social problems. Abandoned children could be cared for. Catholic groups showed that what they did was for love, not profit, she said. The staff and the Catholic Sisters serving there deserve respect. The love shared with the abandoned children comes from their faith in God. It is uncommon and rarely seen in other sectors in society. Even though she was a communist, and an atheist, she acknowledged the services rendered by the Catholic Church to society. Now, the government is not only ignoring the beautiful contribution and quality social services provided by the Catholic Church, but wants in fact to destroy them. Government officials ordered the Sisters to stop providing orphanage services in order to transfer the orphans and disabled children from their orphanages to state-run facilities. In the past, the same people could not be bothered to register the childrens names, let alone find any sense in doing so. Have they changed and become kind-hearted overnight? It is clear that those government officials are not planning to serve abandoned children, but only to follow their senior officials political orders, namely to do everything possible to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church in China. For this reason, at present, the government is relentlessly suppressing and imposing various measures of control on Catholic social services or Church life. During the Holy Week and Easter days this year, many faithful from different parts of China have left messages that expressed their sadness that they could not participate in Holy Week liturgies. They said that they wanted to attend mass, but churches were locked down. If shopping malls and tourist attractions were open, why not churches? It seems that that the epidemic is to blame, but in reality, the latter is being used to tighten the screws on the Church. Sadly, reports from Shanghai indicate that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pilgrimage activities are not allowed in Sheshan, Shanghai in May, the month usually dedicated to honouring and praising our Blessed Mother. This crackdown is not limited to churches. Schools too have been involved. The government is tightening its grip over students and teachers, from elementary to university, in order to ensure that no religious or church-related activity occurs on their premises. Some Catholics sent comments to me saying that schools were inquiring into the religion of students and teachers. Some of those who held a particular belief (especially Catholicism) were persuaded to drop out of school; others came under psychological pressures. Some teachers received threats about their future career, while others were subjected to hate attacks in public. The goal is to turn schools into religion-free areas, making students and teachers realise that it is better to have no religion at all. Writing this reminds me of the China-Vatican Agreement. When it was reached, the Church in China felt encouraged. Everyone was waiting for that better day following the signing. Many church people cheered and many believers thought that the light would shine upon China. The media even began reporting that the Pope might visit China shortly. In view of such hopes, Chinese Catholics gradually began to accept official bishops as Church pastors. An organisation not recognised by the Church, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, became the official model, but this blurred things for the faithful. Some priests started to dream about becoming bishop, waving the agreement as a flag as if they were at the Beijing Liu'yin Street market, to their own benefit disregarding the interests of the Church. All this is happening because of the China-Vatican agreement. The Agreement and the guidelines given to the Chinese Church by the pontiff after the agreement suggest that it is here to stay. Everyone was waiting for some concessions to Church authorities and in the overall interest of the Church, on the expectation that the Church would soon make more adjustments. Sadly, what happened next to the Church in China cooled the feelings of many believers. Many churches have been dismantled, and children under 18 have been banned from taking part in Church activities. Some Church-related businesses (like bookstores, souvenir shops, etc.) have been shut down; minor seminaries have been closed. The Faith Press Weekly has been suspended, the Xinde (faith) Organisation was forced to toe the line. Every church has had to hang posters and flags to promote the Communist Party's ideas. Last but not least, all public religious celebrations have been banned because of the pandemic. In the past, when such things happened, the Chinese Church was eager to encourage and support the universal Church. Now, because of this Agreement, the Pope's voice of justice has been silent. Significantly, the episcopal see of Hong Kong has been vacant since Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung passed away. This is quite unusual for the Church. Some in the Church are saying that this is because of the China-Vatican provisional agreement. Despite the protests by millions against Hong Kong's extradition bill and the ongoing persecution, the Holy See has been silent. Although China is the most important missionary zone for the Church in Asia, Church affairs in China are no longer handled by the Congregation of Evangelisation of Peoples, which is responsible for missionary work, but are now in the hands of the Secretariat of State, the political arm of the Holy See. The actions of the Church have become political in order to serve political ends. This is why Cardinal Pietro Parolin said: With China, our current interest is to normalize the life of the Church as much as possible, to ensure that the Church can live a normal life, which for the Catholic Church is also to have relations with the Holy See and with the Pope. Cardinal Parolins optimism stems from the signing of the provisional agreement. Based on this mindset, everyone became confident, especially those bishops who hold public office, their voices of celebration and confidence concealing the real life of the Church, which is one of persecution, and covering all the voices full of painful emotions. People who believe in Christ are a minority in China. They are often discriminated against and suppressed. It is difficult for the outside world to hear their voices. Now, with the alternative shouts of the bishops who hold a public office, their true voices will go unheard even more. Most of the children cared for by the Sisters are disabled, some physically, others mentally. They need more care than others; abandoned by parents and society, they are burdened by physical and emotional pain. Against all these injustices, they have only the weakest of voices, and now, in light of such a heavy reality, will the universal Church remain silent and ignorant of their call for help? As a final point, I would like to ask you, our Holy Father of the universal Church: Can you hear the weakest and truest voiced of the Church in China? If youve been hankering for the blue sea and the open sky, and somewhere beyond the Bollywood favourites of the Maldives and Goa, the good news is that the Seychelles is now welcoming international visitors. The Indian Ocean island destination of Seychelles recently announced that visitors from across the world (except South Africa until further review) were welcome irrespective of vaccination status. No Vaccination, No Quarantine The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde has announced that visitors will now only be required to present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure. There will be no quarantine requirement nor restriction on movement upon entry. Additionally, the minimum stay in establishments upon arrival will no longer be applicable. The new measures give visitors access to all communal areas within the hotel premises including bars, swimming pools, spas and kids clubs. The minister stated that the decision to review and relax the entry procedures in the country has been made possible in view of the success registered in the aggressive vaccination campaign that the country embarked on earlier in the year. The vaccination campaign has been quite successful. The government has done everything in its power to make sure that the population is protected. We have now arrived at the point where opening our borders further is the next step to allow for our economic recovery. The measures being announced reflect broadly the recommendation of our tourism partners and have been done in full consultation with and the endorsement of our health authorities. Sensibly, visitors will still be required to adhere to the usual pandemic protocols such as wearing face masks, social distancing, and regular sanitisation or washing of hands. Time Now To Fy The air bubble agreement between Seychelles and India is in place, and Air Seychelles has resumed its commercial passenger flights from Mumbai to Seychelles effective April 8, 2021. Flights from Mumbai will depart on Thursdays and Sundays, with return flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Why Seychelles Should Be on Your Travel List The island nation off East Africa offers white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, verdant forests and, most importantly, the laid-back vibe that we are all seeking. Still, although lounging around on the beautiful beaches with a cocktail in hand could be all you do, there is also plenty to add to your kitty of experiences in the Seychelles. Victoria is the capital and the main city on the archipelago, and promises all the excitements that come with that status. Here you will find the National Museum of History, which offers insights into Creole life, and into the influences of a variety of invaders who have left their mark on Seychellois culture. Of course, in an island nation, theres also plenty of nature-based activity on offer. Dont miss a change to explore the Morne Seychellois National Park, where you can take a guided walk through the mangroves, or walk the self guided Copolia trail, which offers stunning views of St Anne and Victoria. The islands highest peak is also part of the national park, so walking up to it can also be part of your itinerary. Choose to stay, if you will, at one of the guest houses located near the park, which offer great views past steep cliffs to the sea. One of the most well known is the self catering La Villa Therese. The Seychelles is deservedly known for its beaches, the most famous among them the ones on Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and Beau Vallon; in fact, the beach of Anse Source dArgent on La Digue is considered one of the most photographed beaches in the world. You will find its sheltered reef and calm waters ideal if youre vacationing with young children. You can also take a 20-minute boat ride from La Digue to the privately-owned Grande Soeur, where you will find beautiful water, pink granite boulders and giant tortoises. In fact, if youre travelling with children, Curieuse Island makes a great day-trip from Praslin, In the marine national park on the island, you will find giant tortoises, hawksbill turtles and the very distinctive coco de mer trees that have to be seen to be believed. The colonial Creole architecture on Curieuse Island is also a definite draw. Not travelling with kids. Romantic break. Special celebration. If any of these phrases applies to you, consider splurging on a stay on Bird Island where a private resort has just 24 bungalows to welcome guests on one of the most isolated beach havens in the Seychelles. See also: Spend a week in the Seychelles Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Malic acid, a white crystalline powder, is used as a food additive to enhance flavor and sourness in many food and beverage products. Due to its solubility in water and alcohol, malic acid is used in the preparation of various luxurious drinks, including wine and other cocktails & mocktails. The malic acid market is growing steadily over the past few years, mainly due to its massive consumption in the food & beverages industry. According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global malic acid market is poised to touch a valuation of USD 217.8 MN by 2023. In its recently published analysis, MRFR also asserts that the market would grow at a CAGR over 4.70% throughout the forecast period (2017-2023). The market is largely driven by the demand in a range of application areas, which would continue in the coming years as well. Get a Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4170 Feedstock flexibility of malic acid allows high conversion yields, productivity, and concentrated process streams resulting in cost-competitive economics. Food & beverage, personal care, and pharmaceutical are the largest end-user markets of malic acid that consume an extensive amount of the product. Besides, the bakery product and confectionary sector absorb a vast amount of malic acid. Global Malic Acid Market - Segmentation The report is segmented into three market dynamics to widen the scope of understanding, By Type : DL-Malic Acid, L-Malic Acid, and D (+)-Malic Acid. By End-use Industry : Food & Beverage, Personal Care, and Pharmaceutical, among others. By Regions : Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World. Global Malic Acid Market - Regional Analysis The Asia Pacific region leads the global malic acid market, accounting for the largest share. Heading with the burgeoning end-use industries, the region is estimated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The APAC malic acid market would register over 5.82% CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the presence of a large number of producers, cost-competitive product development, and the colossal consumption of the product in the F&B industry. Furthermore, factors such as rapidly increasing population, urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth are commutatively pushing up the regional market, driving huge demand for food. Indonesia, China, Malaysia, and India are significant contributors to the market growth due to raw material advantages. The widening uptake of malic acid in cosmetic & personal care products industry is positively impacting the regional market growth. The malic acid market in North America takes the second lead, following the APAC market closely. Growing consumption of the product in well-developed end-user industries such as food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic & personal care is a tailwind pushing up the regional market growth. The US leads the regional market owing to higher penetration of end-user industries in the country. Driven by the demand for convenience food that is influenced by the fast-paced lifestyle and working population, the malic acid market in North America is estimated to reach USD 53.7 MN mark by2023. The Europe malic acid market is emerging as a profitable market, globally. In 2016, the market had accounted for a 20% share of the global market. Germany dominates the regional market, in terms of size due to the ever-increasing consumption in the well-developed industries like personal care and pharmaceutical. Moreover, the presence of major manufacturers of Malic acid in the region, impacts the market growth, positively meeting the demand for food additives with a superior quality product. Global Malic Acid Market - Competitive Analysis Highly competitive the global malic acid market appears fragmented due to the presence of several well-established as well as small players. To gain an edge over their rivals, these players incorporate strategic approaches such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, expansion, and product & technology launch, and partnership. These players also make substantial investments locally and in the emerging countries to expand their production capacity, distribution network, and supply chain. In such a scenario, obtaining strong financial support becomes the sole strategy of suppliers to sustain in the market. Manufacturers strive to minimize the cost of their product by adopting cost-effective manufacturing techniques. Major Players: Key players leading the global malic acid market include Corbion NV, Tate & Lyle, Polynt S.p.A, Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd., Fuso Chemical Co., Ltd., Changmao Biochemical Engineering Company Limited, Bartek Ingredients Inc., Anhui Sealong Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Isegen South Africa (Pty) Ltd, and Yongsan Chemicals, Inc., and among others. Access Complete Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/malic-acid-market-4170 Industry/ Innovation/ Related News: February 12, 2019 ----- Bartek Ingredients Inc. (Canada), a leading global producer of malic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic anhydride announced the successful completion of a 4,000 ton/year capacity increase of its malic acid production facilities. The global leader in malic and fumaric acid products completes the first project in a series of process and production improvements. Since its TorQuest Partners acquisition in October of 2018, Bartek has executed several significant capital projects to expand its capacity and improve efficiency. Additional projects scheduled to be completed in 2019 include state-of-the-art upgrades to Barteks laboratories and office facilities. These projects are Barteks response to the growing global demand for malic acid and others, supporting its customers growth and innovation needs. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 18:31:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on Wednesday said Turkey might lose nearly 500,000 tourists by June after Russia imposed flight restrictions, the NTV broadcaster reported. "There might be a fall of nearly 500,000 in tourist numbers," Ersoy was quoted as saying by NTV. The minister said no problems have been observed with summer bookings so far, and the end date of the ban could be brought forward depending on the decrease in COVID-19 case numbers. On Monday, Russia decided to reduce the number of regular and charter flights with Turkey from April 15 to June 1 to curb the spread of the pandemic. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, meanwhile, said a Russian delegation would visit Turkey in the upcoming period to observe the pandemic-related measures in the field, according to press reports. Despite a mass COVID-19 inoculation drive launched in mid-January in Turkey, the daily cases hit a record high of more than 59,000 on Tuesday. Turkey has imposed a "partial closure" for the first two weeks of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to curb the infections surge. The new measures will take effect on Wednesday evening. Enditem New Delhi: Eyeing Gujarat polls, the Centre has removed gems and jewellery dealers from the purview of the reporting requirement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The government rolled back August 23 notification that notified dealers in precious metals, precious stones and other high value goods as persons carrying on designated business and professions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Under the PMLA, every reporting entity is required to maintain record of all transactions of value exceeding Rs 10 lakh, all cross border wire transfers of more than Rs 5 lakh and all purchase and sale of immovable property of Rs 50 lakh or more. The Government of India has received representations from various associations in the gems and jewellery sector with respect to certain incongruities in August 23 notification, an official order said. "After considering various aspects of the issue, the Government has decided to rescind the said notification," it said. "A separate notification after due consideration of points raised and wider stakeholder consultation in this regard, shall be issued separately." Also Read: Exports grow by 8.32 per cent to USD 24 billion in May; trade deficit widens to USD 13.8 billion Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that there was a lot of misunderstanding about the notification and so that there is no panic in the market the government has decided to withdraw the notification. Also Read: India export up 9.59% to $23.51 billion in October; trade deficit at $10 billion Under PMLA, all reporting entities, like banks, are required to report cash deposits over Rs 50,000. Gujarat will go to assembly polls towards the end of the year. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Parents in San Francisco are being told to send their children back into classrooms while teachers instruct them over Zoom from their homes. The arrangement has been ridiculed by parents and comes after San Francisco's school district axed plans to rename 44 schools currently named in honor of past presidents they have deemed racist. Mother Kira Gaber said she's been told to send her kindergartner back to his San Francisco classroom with a laptop and headphones, as his teacher works online from home, and an adult monitor watches the kids in class. 'How is this OK? This is completely not in-person learning,' said Gaber, who doesn't plan to send her son to class with a computer. 'I'm going to send him with worksheets and a coloring book.' San Francisco County, which has a population of 875,000 had just 26 new COVID cases on Tuesday, according to a pandemic tracking project by The New York Times. San Francisco's Board of Education was already under fire over the plan to strip the names from third of San Francisco's public schools - a move that was criticized as cancel culture run amok. School students in California could soon be back in classrooms being taught by teachers at home. Schools in Los Angeles, such as Maurice Sendak Elementary School, began in-person learning this week for students such as kindergartener Nathan Ramos The decision to allow teachers in San Francisco to teach lessons from home, while their students go back to class, has been slammed by parents (File photo) Strict COVID-19 protocols are being observed by California schools as they begin to reopen. Here Maurice Sendak Elementary School employee Amanda Anguiano gets tested for COVID-19 on the first day of in-person learning on Tuesday San Francisco County, which has a population of 875,000 had 26 new COVID cases on Tuesday In February, the City of San Francisco sued its own school district to force school buildings to reopen, citing a 66 per cent spike in the number of suicidal students admitted to the city's UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital.# Most have been shuttered since COVID hit US shores in March 2020, with reopening classrooms prompting explosive confrontations between some parents and teachers. California teacher Alissa Piro was suspended from her job at San Marcos High School, 40 miles north of San Diego, on Monday, after ranting about the issue. Alissa Piro was suspended from San Marcos High School for daring parents who questioned her teaching methods to 'come at me' Alissa Piro, 39, was captured yelling at students in a video that was later posted to a private Facebook group, and shared on Twitter by an activist group calling for the full reopening of California schools. Piro was complaining about a plan to go back to in-person learning that has been driven by parents' suing school boards across the state. She suggested the parents didn't know what they were talking about. 'If your parent wants to talk to me about their profession and their opinion on their profession, I would love to hear that,' she says. 'However, if your parent wants to come talk to me about how I'm not doing a good enough job in distance learning based on what you need as an individual? Just dare them to come at me because I am so sick to my stomach of parents trying to tell educators how to do their job.' On Monday night, the San Marcos Unified School District where Piro has worked since 2016 announced that she had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. School principal Adam Dawson agreed Piro's behavior was 'inexcusable' and vowed to address it. And in March, union boss Matt Meyer, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, was caught taking his daughter to a private nursery while publicly railing against parents who demanded schools reopen. More than a year after the coronavirus pandemic forced California's classrooms to close, some of the largest school districts are finally welcoming back students this week. But the most populated state is lagging the rest of the country and in some cases offering options that parents say are unacceptable. In Los Angeles, students can start going back to school in person, but more than half say they will stick with distance learning. Reopening schools varies city to city because of California's decentralized education system, where 1,200 school districts must negotiate new contracts with workers. While educators were among the first groups eligible for vaccines, some districts have let them keep working from home if they or someone they live with is at increased risk from COVID-19. Across the US, what it means to be back in school looks very different from one state to the next. New York City, the nation's largest school district, allowed students to return last fall, but the Department of Education expects just one-third of its 960,000 K-12 students in classrooms by month's end. As of March 29, more than 40% of districts nationwide had offered all students the option to return to full-time in-person instruction, according to the Return to Learn Tracker, developed in part by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. California ranks last in the country, according to Burbio, a company that monitors some 1,200 school districts, including the largest 200 in the country. An analysis by the Los Angeles Times found that just 3 million of California's 6.2 million K-12 students now have the option to learn in a classroom, and most are younger children. Even in schools offering an in-person return, some kids will receive only a few hours a week of classroom instruction. Abraham Lincoln High School is seen in San Francisco. A San Francisco school board has reversed its decision to rename 44 schools that were named after historic figures including American presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson Former US Presidents Abraham Lincoln, left, and George Washington, right, are among 44 historical figures whose names were to be stripped from San Francisco schools Last week, the city's Board of Education voted unanimously to suspend its plan to strip the names of a third of San Francisco's public schools. It had claimed honored figures including Presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein, had become linked to racism, sexism and other injustices. The board now said it was reversing the vote to avoid 'frivolous litigation' after being sued for violating the states open meeting law with its initial decision. It initially voted to rename the schools back in January after critics slammed the decision as cancel culture gone too far and others pointed out significant flaws in the board's research. Di Rosa aspired to be a novelist, lived in Paris, moved to San Francisco, and worked as a journalist before discovering Napa and Sonoma counties. In 1960, he escaped the city and purchased a ranch in Carneros. Long before Carneros became an acclaimed AVA, di Rosa decided to grow wine grapes there; but while taking viticulture classes at UC Davis, he kept wandering off to investigate the university's thriving art department where instructors included Robert Arneson, Roy de Foret, Manuel Neri, and William T. Wiley. Part of what appealed to him was the artists' sense of humor. "Local Color" quotes di Rosa: "It's one thing to view an artwork and weep. It was another, and for me, a new sensation, to see a picture that [provoked] a teary feeling, except here a smile, a chuckle or a laugh moistened the eye. "I didn't have the money to collect established artists but I took satisfaction in helping artists who were then unknown," di Rosa admitted. "I wanted to help them become the artist I had failed to become." Noting that wealthy museum trustees traveled to New York to purchase art, and wealthy New Yorkers in turn, flew to Europe on the same quest, he decided he would "support our neighbors, the creative underdogs." Facebook is testing Sparked, a new dating app that helps people find dates online. As of now, the social media giants NPE team, which takes care of all experimental apps, is testing the upcoming dating platform, which is a video dating app, which makes it different from other ones available in the market. Interestingly, this is the second time when Facebook is entering the world of virtual dating currently dominated by Match Group, the parent company of Tinder and several other popular dating apps. Previously, the social media giant had launched Facebook Dating way back in 2019 in the US and was later launched in other countries. The app, however, remains unavailable in India. Therefore, currently, it's yet to be seen if the Mark Zuckerberg led company will launch Sparked in India or not. As of now, the app is missing from any major app downloading platforms such as Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. Only the webpage of the upcoming platform is available right now. Heres how Facebook Sparked works: Users can sign up on Sparked with their Facebook profiles to speed-date over videos. The videos last for four minutes, and both parties get a chance to go on a second date in which they can exchange their contact numbers to take their relationship to the next level. Most importantly, the app, which is expected to be free to use, won't include any public profiles, the option of personal messaging, or swiping, standing out from the normal dating apps. According to Facebook, the app is based on kindness. The social media giant describes Sparked as the app for "video dating with kind people." Users are reportedly asked to be kind enough on the platform to date on the app. Users are likely to review the kindness of other people on the platform. However, there's no information available on how the app's algorithms will help in helping users find love. Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has cautioned investors of fraudsters, who are posing as its officers and extorting money under the pretext of resolving grievances. These fraudsters are already been noticed by the regulator and the market watchdog has warned the investors and the general public against such potential traps. SEBI has clarified that it does not seek money or fees in any form for resolution of complaints. It says, Investors have been asked to exercise caution and not fall prey to fraudulent emails or communication in the name of SEBI or its officials. Investors have been advised to inform the local police or cybercrime authority about such frauds immediately. "These fraudsters are reported to have sent emails impersonating employees of SEBI, posing as officials or posing as official communication channels of SEBI and offer to help investors to resolve their complaints," the market regulator says in a release. SEBI also noted that many times, investors are made to part with money in the name of the processing and other fees. SEBI has further cautioned investors against such impersonations and further advised them to beware of emails, any other communication impersonating as employees of SEBI and refrain from responding to such emails and communication. Kevil Man Injured When Vehicle Falls From Bridge By West Kentucky Star Staff MCCRACKEN COUNTY - A Kevil man suffered serious injuries Tuesday afternoon after his vehicle fell approximately 30 feet from a bridge into the river bed below.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office responded to a single vehicle collision at the intersection of US Highway 60 and Maxon Road.Deputies said the vehicle driven by 38-year-old Samuel Martin of Kevil left the roadway, struck a concrete brige abutment and became airborne, falling approximately 30 feet then caught fire.Portions of US Highway 60 were closed for about an hour and a half due to the accident.Martin was flown to an out-of-state hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 15) The Duterte administration has "always been consistent" in invoking Philippines sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea has always been consistent in invoking Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights over West Philippine Sea, said Roque in a statement. Roque cited President Rodrigo Dutertes move to raise the importance of the 2016 arbitral ruling, favoring the Philippines claims in the disputed waters, before the United Nations General Assembly in September last year. RELATED: Duterte lauded for sea row stance, urged to turn PH arbitral victory into reality Malacanang assured the presence of Philippine maritime security and law enforcement forces in Kalayaan, Palawan has been beefed up to protect Filipino fishermen and marine resources. The municipality is near the islands reclaimed by Chinese and surrounded by China-based maritime militia vessels, despite those being under the countrys exclusive economic zone. The Philippine government filed diplomatic protests against China for the continued presence of over 200 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. On Tuesday night, the government task force reported that 240 Chinese ships were spotted around Pagkakaisa Banks and Pag-asa Islands, including the nine vessels that were still at Julian Felipe Reef. RELATED: Around 240 Chinese maritime militia vessels still in Philippine waters, West PH Sea task force says The Department of Foreign Affairs also asserted the countrys claims in the West Philippine Sea when it summoned China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday. The 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling said there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over most of the South China Sea using its "nine-dash line" assertion. It also recognized Philippine sovereign rights in marine features within its exclusive economic zone and said Beijing violated those rights by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration as well as constructing artificial islands. China has repeatedly refused to recognize the tribunal ruling and continued to reclaim islands in the disputed areas for military and research purposes. Americas top COVID adviser says Australia cannot rely on vaccines and border controls to protect its population, warning no country is safe while the virus is allowed to spread beyond its borders. Dr Anthony Fauci issued the sobering reality check during the University of NSWs inaugural David Cooper Lecture this week as the US administered a record 4.6 million vaccines in a single day and Australias vaccination rollout continues to stumble. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Credit:UNSW There would be no freedom from the virus for Australia or any country that had successfully suppressed it within its own communities until the overwhelming majority of the worlds population was vaccinated against COVID-19 and its spread was controlled globally, US President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser said via video conference from his home office. As long as theres the dynamic of virus replication somewhere, there will always be the threat of the emergence of variants which could then come back, said the long-time director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the US National Institute of Health. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 04:15:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SKOPJE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A court in North Macedonia convicted the country's former intelligence chief Sasho Mijalkov over abuse of power, and sentenced him to eight years in prison, local media reported on Tuesday. Mijalkov, former director of the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence, and three other ex-officials in North Macedonia were convicted for abuse of power in a case dubbed "Vault" over the procurement of surveillance equipment. The defendants were charged with abuse of power and budget damages of 862,000 euros (around 1,030,000 U.S. dollars) for buying British-made electronic communication equipment via an intermediary firm, instead of the regular procurement procedure from the Interior Ministry, according to the Media Information Agency. Former Interior Ministry official Goran Grujevski, who is currently a fugitive from justice, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while another two former officials each received a five-year sentence. According to the court decision, the defendants are ordered to compensate the budget damages. In February, Mijalkov had been sentenced to 12 years in prison in a case dubbed "Target-Fortress" for being the head of a mass-wiretapping program in 2016, which involved many judges, opposition politicians and journalists. Enditem The former Limestone and Athens city school superintendents along with four others are now facing a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit represents every student whose information was stolen in a school enrollment fraud scheme that allowed the group to pocket millions of dollars in state funding. Attorneys filed a class action lawsuit Tuesday morning in order to prevent hundreds of separate lawsuits against the group from being filed. The goal is to offer protections and restitution to the students involved. "Its basically about money, power, all under the guise of helping and educating underserved communities and students in the Blackbelt," Will League, attorney at Siniard, Timberlake and League, said. Former superintendents Trey Holladay, Tom Sisk and four others are facing several federal charges in an elaborate scheme where they offered private schools perks and benefits like laptops, equipment and paid conferences in exchange for student information. "Their names, social security numbers, and dates of birth were stolen to perpetrate this scheme," said Eric Artrip, attorney for Mastando and Artrip, said. Students who lived out of state were given fake addresses from vacant homes advertised on real estate websites. The lawsuit and federal indictment say the group used the information to enroll students into their virtual learning program. "Knowing that it requires a parent signature," said League. The lawsuit claims Holladay said private school headmasters could sign enrollment forms meaning parents and students had no idea their information was transferred. "The biggest thing that they experienced was shock and surprise that their students were enrolled in a program at the other end of the state that they had no, knew nothing about," said Artrip. Report cards were even modified to not include the private school names. The lawsuit claims they were filed as though the students earned the grade through the district, allowing the group to collect around $7,000 in state funding per student. "These children's identity were stolen to make money," Artrip said. At this time, it's unclear how many students were impacted by the scheme, but Artrip says, "we think there may be hundreds of students involved and we think there may be millions of dollars at stake here." Attorneys say students involved are already at risk of having their identity stolen. It could even impact their college applications. Having your identity out there, you know, do they need life lock protection for the next ten years? Are they going to wake up one morning and have their bank account drained? Their transcripts if theyre not in order you know, every parent and student's worry is to get accepted to college and progress academically if the transcripts are not in order, if they didnt get the credits they were supposed to get when they signed up for this education through Athens City School and the virtual school, then that could create havoc," League said. Attorneys hope this class action lawsuit will help protect them. "[To] help these children move forward with regard to their identity and their personal information being out there, says League. WAAY 31 reached out to the Athens and Limestone County school districts in regards to this new lawsuit. "I have reviewed the lawsuit filed in the Barbour County Circuit Court against former Superintendents Holladay and Sisk, and other individuals, which contains many of the same allegations as in the federal indictment. Although neither Athens City Schools, nor any of its active employees, are defendants in the case, I want to express that the allegations in the lawsuit, like those in the indictment, if true, constitute a monumental breach of trust and deception against the Athens City Schools board, teachers, students, and community," Athens City School Superintendent Beth Patton said. We are still waiting to hear back from the Limestone County school district. Attorneys are now waiting for a response from the defendants regarding the class action lawsuit. Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill. Channel Futures supports the channel community we serve. We have an obligation to use our platform to bring the community together, share best practices and detail successful business outcomes that a diverse workforce can help create." ~ Kelly Danziger, General Manager, Informa Tech Channels Channel Futures (https://channelfutures.com), a media and events platform serving companies in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) channel industry, is bringing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion to the boardroom. To help the technology and communications industry leaders meet and exceed the challenges of creating diverse, equitable and inclusive teams and organizations, Channel Futures has assembled a group of prominent executives to serve as founding members of the Channel Futures DE&I Advisory Board. The board will serve to strategically guide the new Channel Futures Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Network, one of the technology industrys largest efforts toward fostering true industry diversity. The DE&I platform has been built to provide tools and insight into how diversity, equity and inclusion can improve organizational performance while boosting team engagement and productivity, resulting in a more positive corporate culture. Among todays announcements, Channel Futures is introducing the founding board members for the initiative and opening the platform to technology vendor companies to provide them with an opportunity to actively demonstrate their support through sponsorship and participation so they can help make a difference in the IT industry. More information is available at: https://www.channelfutures.com/strategy/diversity-inclusion Channel Futures is here to support the channel community we serve. We have an obligation to use our platform to bring the community together, to share best practices and detail successful business outcomes that a diverse workforce can help create, says Kelly Danziger, General Manager, Informa Tech Channels. The online community group, ongoing workshops and live events are venues that welcome and celebrate diversity and help business leaders develop more inclusive work environments. The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Industry Advisory Board Channel Futures is honored to announce that channel leaders, including managed service providers, tech and telecom suppliers, agents, master agents, IT vendors and distributors, have committed to helping this important industry effort by becoming DE&I Advisory Board Members. In this role, they will provide strategic guidance on our content, direction and deliverables to the industry. Our founding DE&I Advisory Board Members are: Dany Bouchedid, CEO at COLOTRAQ Narine Galstian, Chief Marketing Officer at SADA Systems Brandon Knight, Vice President for Advanced Services Contact Center at Telarus Sarah Marsh, Director of Channel Enablement and Strategy at Verizon Business Group Jayson Pryce, Channel Development Manager at Datto Mayka Rosales-Peterson, Channel Strategy Manager at Telesystem Reggie Scales, Executive Vice President & GM for the Application Group, Americas & APAC at Vonage Orkideh Shahidi, Vice President for People Operations at SADA Systems Marcial Velez, CEO & Founder at Xperteks Phillip Walker, Customer Advocate CEO at Network Solutions Provider Raquel Wiley, Senior Channel Marketing Manager at TPx I look forward to working with my fellow members to increase awareness and create actionable plans that will empower individuals as well as organizations to successfully develop DEI programs that align with their companies missions, says Velez. In a time where there is a lot of talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion, I am proud and honored to be on this world-class board with some of our industrys biggest thought leaders to create actionable plans and initiatives to transform that conversation into actual change. I have no doubt that a concerted focus on DE&I will not only help companies within our industry thrive but also elevate the whole industry," says Bouchedid. Diversity, equity and inclusion has captivated much of the nations discourse over the past few years with technology and telecommunications channel leaders seriously focusing on the topic and looking for ways to become more diverse and inclusive in their hiring and promotion practices. They want to understand how diversity within their workplaces can improve business results. Those results can be staggering. A recent diversity study by McKinsey & Company, for example, found that companies ranking in the top quartile for executive team gender diversity were 25 percent more likely to demonstrate above-average profitability than companies in the bottom quartile. Executive team ethnic diversity differences showed even stronger results. Those companies ranking in the top quartile for executive team ethnic diversity were 36 percent more likely to demonstrate above-average profitability than companies in the bottom quartile. In addition, a Boston Consulting Group study found that companies with more diverse management teams achieve 19 percent higher revenues due to innovation, further proof that diversity is not just a metric to be strived for, but an integral part of a successful revenue-generating business The Channel Futures DE&I Network The purpose of the new Channel Futures Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Network is to help industry participants learn why passive approaches to diversity are destined to fail and how instead to develop and nurture proactive strategies to foster diverse viewpoints and perspectives. The network will dive deeply into why such programs are needed, how channel organizations can develop their own diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, and how results can be communicated to shareholders, senior leaders and boards. Our channel-focused Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Network includes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategies for Channel Success Workshops. Featuring subject matter experts, keynote speakers, panels and insight focused on improving business results through proactive diversity, equity and inclusion management practices. The Channel Futures Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 101 Recognition. Recognizing individuals from diverse and multicultural backgrounds who are changing the face of the telco/cable and IT industry through their words, actions and leadership. State of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Market Research. Surveying organizations diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, and their challenges building diverse teams and inclusive organizations. Research results will help leaders understand where their businesses stand in relationship to the broader channel landscape. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Channel Partners Conference & Expo and The MSP Summit. Face-to-face networking gatherings, panel discussions and award recognitions integrating our diversity, equity and inclusion offerings with the opportunity to connect with peers to share best practices. Channel Futures Dedicated Media Coverage. Documenting all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives by our editorial team with analysis, commentary, research, news and actionable information. The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Community on Channel Futures. Enabling our audience to share their views on diversity, equity, and inclusion business strategies, comment on top stories and connect with channel leaders. For information about sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please contact Brittany Watts, brittany.watts@informa.com, 480-518-2371. About Channel Futures Channel Futures is a media and events platform serving companies in the ITC channel industry with insights, industry analysis, peer engagement, business information and in-person events. Our properties include Channel Futures MSP 501, recognizing the most influential and fastest-growing providers of managed services in the technology industry; Channel Futures DE&I 101, honoring and celebrating those who have often been underrepresented in tech channels; Channel Partners Events, delivering unparalleled in-person events, including Channel Partners Conference & Expo, The MSP Summit and Channel Evolution Europe; and Allies of the Channel Council (ACC) and DEI Community Group, our initiatives to educate, support, promote and sustain diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the IT channel industry. Channel Futures is part of Informa Tech, a market-leading B2B information provider with depth and specialization in the Information and Communications (ICT) Technology sector. Every year, we welcome 7,400+ subscribers to our research, more than 3.8 million unique visitors a month to our digital communities, 18,200+ students to our training programs and 225,000 delegates to our events. Channel Futures is where the world meets the channel; we are leading Channel Partners forward. More information is available at https://channelfutures.com Media Contacts Brittany Watts Marketing Director Informa Tech / Channel Futures brittany.watts@informa.com 480-518-2371 Arthur Germain Principal & Chief Brandteller Communication Strategy Group for Informa Tech / Channel Futures agermain@gocsg.com 631-239-6335 x101 Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia on Apr. 22, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NSW Labor Backs Proud Coal Miner, Union Candidate in Upper Hunter By-Election New South Wales (NSW) Labor has shifted away from its national counterparts climate change agenda to support a former coal miner as its candidate in the Upper Hunter by-election. NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay made the statement while announcing their candidate for the Upper Hunter by-election. We do not support a moratorium on coal mines; lets get that out of the way, McKay said. The about-face comes as NSW Labor announced it would run a former coal miner and Jeff Drayton as its candidate. Drayton is district vice president for the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). McKay said that the by-election would be about the future of coal in the region but denied that her declaration damaged her partys standing on climate change and environmental issues. What frustrates me is that if youre in this corner, supposedly you cant accept that corner, McKay said. We need to be pursuing renewable energy, we all know that, but we also need to make sure that were protecting jobs in the coal industry, she said. McKay also noted that it was important to remember that Australia has a vibrant coal export industry that needs support and that people should actually be thanking the industrys workers for the thriving NSW economy. Coal has been a key issue in the by-election, which was sparked by the resignation of the former Nationals MP Michael Johnsen. Johnsen was forced to resign after it was revealed he was the subject of a police investigation into allegations he attacked a female sex worker in 2019. He also is accused of having sent lewd messages to the same woman. Drayton, who declared himself a proud coal miner, said he was sick of people attacking the coal industry and its workers. Every time I open the newspaper, every time I turn the TV on, I see someone having a go at coal miners, he said. That has to stop, and Im gonna fight bloody hard to make sure it does. NSW Labors choice of Drayton comes despite a poll showing that a majority of the regions residents dont support new coal mines. An Australia Institute poll taken in the Upper Hunter electorate found 57.4 percent of the 668 residents polled supported a moratorium on approvals for new coal mines against 35.1 percent who oppose the measures. However, Drayton believes the polling does not accurately reflect the region. I must be talking to a different 600 (people) than they polled, Drayton said. The news comes after climate change advocates accused the ALP of being soft on coal. The Climate Council of Australia has said that the ALPs climate policy is not explicit enough on the topic of coal. However, it did note that some of the partys policies will reduce Australias dependence on it. Climate change is affecting Australians today, the Climate Council said. The ALPs climate policy is silent on the current Coalition Governments potential investment in fossil fuel power generation and the need to phase out domestic and export coal and gas (including the controversial Carmichael coal mine). Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels is crucial to tackling climate change effectively. The Climate Council believes that the ALP should provide Australia with a clear climate adaptation strategy that will address the changes needed to move Australia away from fossil fuel technology. Draytons campaign will also focus on extending the states manufacturing sector, which he believes will answer any reduction the coal industry may face in the future. Kim Potter, the former police officer charged with second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, was released on a $100,000 bond on Wednesday, Hennepin County jail records show. Why it matters: Sunday's shooting of the 20-year-old Black man in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, just 10 miles from where George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer last year, has reinvigorated Black Lives Matter protests and led to three consecutive nights of unrest. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Context: Washington County Attorney Pete Orput arrested and charged Potter with second-degree manslaughter, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, according to Minnesota law. The big picture: Police said at a press conference the day after the shooting that Potter appeared to have inadvertently pulled out her gun instead of a Taser during a traffic stop. Both Potter and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon submitted their resignations on Tuesday. A New York Times review of 15 so-called "weapon confusion" cases of police shooting people found that only five were indicted and three ultimately convicted. Between the lines: Brooklyn Center, a suburb about 10 miles north of Minneapolis, is in Hennepin County, not Washington. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's office referred the case to Orput under a new policy meant to avoid conflict-of-interest issues given the close working relationship between prosecutors and local police. What they're saying: "While we appreciate that the district attorney is pursuing justice for Daunte, no conviction can give the Wright family their loved one back. This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force. Driving while Black continues to result in a death sentence," Ben Crump, attorney for the Wright family, said in a statement. Story continues "Its past time for meaningful change in our country. We will keep fighting for justice for Daunte, for his family, and for all marginalized people of color. And we will not stop until there is meaningful policing and justice reform and until we reach our goal of true equality." Go deeper: For more coverage, sign up for the Axios Twin Cities newsletter. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include details of Potter's release. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Brittany Higgins' boyfriend has criticised Scott Morrison for refusing to apologise to ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate. In a tweet on Wednesday, David Sharaz wrote: 'Genuine question: why is it so hard for our PM to apologise to women?' The jibe came after Mr Morrison said he regretted causing distress but stopped short of saying sorry to Ms Holgate who accused him of bullying her out of a job last year. Brittany Higgins' boyfriend (pictured together) has criticsed Scott Morrison for refusing to apologise to ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate Scott Morrison has refused to apologise to ousted Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate (pictured) Mr Sharaz has been critical of the federal government since Ms Higgins came forward in February to allege she was raped in parliament house in 2019. Earlier this year Mr Morrison apologised to Ms Higgins for the way she was invited to discuss the rape in the same room as the alleged incident took place in former defence minster Linda Reynold's office. 'That should not have happened and I do apologise,' he said. Ms Holgate resigned in November after it was revealed she used taxpayer funds to buy highly-paid executives four Cartier watches worth $5,000 each as a reward for signing a lucrative deal with Australia's biggest banks. In a heated Question Time debate after the lavish gifts came to light, a furious Mr Morrison called for her to stand aside, saying 'she can go'. Ms Holgate hit back on Tuesday, telling a Senate inquiry this amounted to bullying and harassment and insisting she did nothing wrong. The former chief executive said she was left suicidal and took insomnia medication due to her poor mental health as a result of Mr Morrison's public rebuke. In an interview with The West Australian on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said he regretted causing distress but stopped short of an apology. Mr Sharaz's criticism came after Mr Morrison confirmed he will meet privately with Ms Higgins. The prime minister's chief of staff wrote to Ms Higgins last week to organise the meeting and outline which topics will be discussed. Speaking to reporters in Perth on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said: 'I'm looking forward to meeting with Brittany. Scott Morrison has confirmed he will meet privately with alleged parliament house rape victim Brittany Higgins (pictured) 'We've reached out to Brittany Higgins to arrange a meeting, like I said we would, and we have and those arrangements are being put in place. 'That will be a private conversation. I know there are a range of issues she's relayed that she would like to raise and I look forward to hearing from her.' Former Liberal Party advisor Ms Higgins shocked the nation in February when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in former defence minister Linda Reynold's office after a boozy night out in March 2019. Ms Higgins said she did not feel properly supported by Ms Reynolds who later called her a 'lying cow' in front of colleagues. It comes as Ms Higgins signs a $250,000 book deal to publish a memoir. Penguin Random House Australia called Ms Higgins 'a young, brave voice and a pioneer for a new generation' and said it would publish her book in 2022. The prime minister's chief of staff wrote to Ms Higgins last week to organise the meeting and outline which topics will be discussed 'Brittany's story, in her own words, will be a call for desperately needed reform, and a watershed moment for Australian women in public life,' the publisher said. Ms Higgins said in a statement on Tuesday evening: 'This book will shine a light on the toxic workplace culture inside the corridors of power and provide a first-hand account of what it was like surviving a media storm that turned into a movement.' She said half of the royalties of each book will be donated to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre which helped her during her time of need. Police are investigating Ms Higgins' allegations. FredFroese/Getty Images En espanol | A year into the global pandemic, a picture is coming into focus of the toll that COVID-19 has taken on family caregivers sense of isolation and stress. In a survey of 750 caregivers, conducted by EMD Serono with the National Alliance for Caregiving, 72 percent of unpaid American caregivers agreed that the pandemic has caused them to feel more burned out than ever before. A full 30 percent said one of the biggest challenges they've faced during the pandemic is not being able to take a break. Burnout is especially high among Generation Z and millennial respondents (80 percent), who were also more likely to have become first-time caregivers during the worldwide health crisis. But every caregiver knows that the reality of carving out time for yourself is far more complicated. Creating that time to rest and recharge, even for 15 minutes, requires forethought, planning and effort. And if your loved one suffers from Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, that time can be even more fleeting when the person's judgment and safety are a concern. Feeling the strain Joanne Fontaine, RN, a geriatric care manager at Newbury Court in Concord, Massachusetts and the founder of Pro-Active Eldercare, is seeing the strains firsthand. She works directly with dementia patients and their caregivers living in the independent side of the community to offer advice, moderate support groups and help manage care as changes occur. "After the months of lockdown that started last March, many activities are still restricted, even with vaccinations, she says. Most caregivers have already lived a 36-hour day and had to double as full-time activity directors. Now, with the COVID lifestyle, they are living a 72-hour day. It's exhausting. Fontaine points out that caregiving assistance allows these selfless individuals to step back into the role of family member or spouse, an identity that often gets lost in the caregiving role. I can fully relate to that. While nursing my husband back to health after his traumatic brain injury, I wondered how intimacy would return if I were forever handling his basic needs and feeling frightened about the future. I had the luxury of Bob's returning to good health, but during that time, my mother's relationship with my father began to resemble that of parent and child as he slid further into dementia. As a case manager, Fontaine is concerned about the general cognitive decline she has witnessed in many dementia patients and even in some caregivers due to the long lack of socialization and activity this past year. She cautions that it's more important than ever to encourage caregivers to accept help in whatever form and to look for ways to engage their loved ones in activities that will allow them to step away, even for a short while. "Especially for those at the beginning of the memory-loss spectrum, Fontaine explains, as the disease progresses, life gets harder. It's important to establish those relationships and routines now, while your loved one can accept other people in their daily life." The tropical storm-force winds that swamped and toppled the Seacor Power lift boat eight miles south of Port Fourchon were created by a rare weather event called a wake low, a meteorologist said Wednesday. The compact, circular low pressure system grew out of a line of thunderstorms that draped southeast Louisiana Tuesday morning and afternoon, said Phil Grigsby, lead forecaster of the National Weather Service's Slidell office. +5 One dead, 12 still missing from lift boat that capsized in Gulf near Louisiana, Coast Guard says A crew member was found dead and 12 were still missing off the Louisiana coast Wednesday as the U.S. Coast Guard continued its search of the G The center of the low formed right around Covington, crossed Lake Pontchartrain and Jefferson and Orleans parishes, moved over Barataria Bay and exited over Southwest Pass, he said. The result was a system of thunderstorms punctuated by counterclockwise high winds around the low pressure center, blowing for several hours from the southeast on its eastern side and from the northeast on its western side. It was producing winds of 50-60 mph over New Orleans, and down near Grand Isle, there were 70 mph winds in offshore areas, Grigsby said. Coast Guard Capt. Will Watson said conditions in the area on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. as the Seacor Power sank included winds of 80 to 90 mph and waves of 7 to 9 feet. He said the intensity was unexpected. However, the Weather Service had issued a series of seven special marine warnings for locations in southeast Louisiana, including Port Fourchon, that began before the lift boat left Port Fourchon at 1:30 p.m., on its way to a drilling site at Main Pass 138, about 40 miles east of Venice. Each message warned of tropical storm force winds - 39 mph or greater - accompanied by "suddenly higher waves." The warnings were aimed at the effects of both the original line of thunderstorms and the high winds accompanying the wake low moving south into the Gulf. Make sure all on board are wearing life jackets. Return to safe harbor if possible. Large hail could result in injury and damage to boats ... vessels and oil rigs, the first warning said. 4PM- The heaviest rain and strongest thunderstorms are moving offshore but widespread light to moderate rain is still occurring. This could cause additional flooding. Heavier showers may also have gusty winds. pic.twitter.com/MUTl4lpu2m NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) April 13, 2021 At 2:57 p.m., a marine warning was issued for a large area along the Gulf Coast, including Grand Isle and Port Fourchon and extending to the lower Atchafalaya River. The warning extended 20 nautical miles into the Gulf, the area where the Seacor vessel was cruising. Boats could sustain damage or capsize. Make sure all on board are wearing life jackets. Return to safe harbor if possible. Large hail could result in injury and damage to boats ... vessels and oil rigs, the warning said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up At 3:58 p.m., forecasters issued another warning for that part of the coast and offshore. The warnings to return to harbor were repeated. At 4:29 p.m., just a minute before the first distress call to the Coast Guard, another warning was issued that included threats of wind gusts of 60 mph or greater and possible waterspouts. They would have experienced several hours of high winds, Grigsby said of the area where the Seacor Power capsized. The winds stayed up to 50 mph or more for several hours. Grigsby said Tuesdays unique weather conditions started when a weak frontal boundary stalled over southeastern Louisiana, its lower pressure acting as a focus for the creation of thunderstorms. In the upper levels of the atmosphere, fast-moving low pressure systems were sliding through the Gulf South, producing enough lift air streaming upward from the ground to drag moisture upward, forming the tall, strong thunderstorms that became the squall line. Its a scenario that Grigsby said was creating another round of thunderstorms on Wednesday, and will repeat on Thursday morning and possibly Friday. The other complex factors with Tuesdays weather included a layer of dry air between 5,000 and 10,000 feet above the surface. It helped drive wind gusts to the ground. When the initial squall line of thunderstorms moved south and east, that complex combination resulted in the formation of the wake low, which, with its counterclockwise sping, looked on radar almost like a tiny tropical depression. This was one of the strongest wake lows I've experienced in my almost 15 years in this office," Grigsby said. Home >Police Enforcement > Tickets and Cash > OPINION: How Speed Limits Are Set For Maximum Profit As I listen to pandemic program managers spouting COVID-19 bromides and watch their efforts to rush people into getting vaccinated, Im transported back to the little mixed farm in Alberta, Canada, where I grew up. I saw the COVID-19 playbook in action over sixty years ago in barns and fields, but particularly the corrals, out behind the barn. In retrospect, it was a proverbial subsistence farm. Dad milked a small herd of dairy cows and sold raw milk in eight-gallon cans to the Dairy Pool. That bought groceries. He raised hogs to market size, generating farm revenue. The three-hundred twenty acres of fields were used to grow hay for cattle feed, barley to be ground into pig chop and oats to be rolled (crushed) for dairy cows. Hens laid eggs before graduating to a featured spot on the dinner table. It took me a lot of years to realize that ours was indeed a subsistence farm, and more years to openly accept it. The term subsistence farm has a whiff of back-woodsiness to it. Now late in life, Im proud of the heritage received in that time and place. I wouldnt trade the priceless life principles I was learned there for a graduate program in the toniest university or college, nor would I trade the gift of having a father with work-thickened fingers, a generous heart, and wisdom far, far beyond his schooling. Im a fortunate man. Each fall we brought the cows thirty-five or so and their calves from the summer pasture, to the home place: where they would be fed and wintered. The calves had to be weaned from their mothers, which meant separating them. It was tricky. For one thing, the animals we called them range cows grew a bit wild over summer and didnt take kindly to being handled in close quarters. As for the calves, they were even wilder and wanted to stick to momma. The bawling herd was stopped in the main barnyard corral, then hazed into a smaller enclosure behind the barn. The next step was to ease about a third of the animals into a yet smaller corral. A few animals at a time are manageable; too many at a time arent. We cattlemen slowly ambled around the herd, placing the cows and calves between us and the target opening. We formed a half-moon as much of a half-moon as three people can form and began edging closer to the animals. We moved a short step at a time, not making sudden moves. Naturally, they edged away from us. As they moved, we moved slowly. All well so far. The herd churned as our pincer movement tightened. We allowed cows and even some calves to squirt out if necessary, as long as the main group could be contained. Better to let a few squirters get away than to lose the group. Tension increased as the animals found themselves in ever-shrinking space. We gaged herd stress by watching the old cows. They were a breath away from stampeding when standing as still as statues, heads down, with noses skimming the ground. When that happened Dad might murmur, Give them time, or Give them room, boys, give them room. Wed pause until the animals relaxed and lifted their heads even partway. After more slow steps, when the farthest animals were in or near the open gate, we rushed forward and spooked the group into the corral. The cows could then be cut out, leaving the calves. It seems to me that COVID-19 pandemic program managers and their minions are following the same playbook. Just over a year ago they murmured that a new virus had been detected in China and was infecting people. Experts and authorities of all stripes who imagined there were so many sages in our midst? began edging us toward an objective using the specter of a pandemic. The experts were quick to say they didnt understand much about the virus or how it worked but they were nonetheless sure it had deadly potential. Step one. The public was heads-up. As if on cue, Imperial College Londons Dr. Neil Ferguson whipped up a model predicting as many as 510,00 deaths in Britain and 2.2 million deaths in America. Surely discerning persons understood the need for drastic measures to stop the virus and protect people. Step two. The drumbeat of crisis was throbbing. People were alarmed. COVID program managers and a motley assortment of medical experts and authorities began catastrophizing about the likelihood of worldwide calamity. The hounds were off the leash, baying at full throat in calling for all sorts of ineffective prophylactic measures such as facemasks and lockdowns. Step three! The generally undiscerning public was listening and starting to panic. What can we do? people cried, ripe for exploitation. Mainstream media, lapdogs of an even more motley collection of Marxists, leftists, globalists, narcissists, gadflies, and people with more money than any human should have, launched into round-the-clock pandemic coverage. The coverage brainwashing, actually ingrained COVID pandemic propaganda as science and truth in the public mind. The media deliberately underreported or withheld countervailing information, so the fiction stuck. Step four. Unwitting, the public had been eased, slowly and unthreateningly, to the gate of the COVID-19 corral, then stampeded inside to be exploited. Step five! Objective attained! Actually, not even close! The apparent ultimate objective of the COVID pandemic program is to acquire global power. COVID-19 appears to be a key element in the power grab, an excuse to impose freedom-stifling restrictions that fall short of common sense. Consider some of the things that happened in the last year. Or didnt happen. The ballyhooed millions of COVID-19 deaths in America and elsewhere mercifully didnt happen as experts predicted. Face masks are proven to offer little or no protection against COVID-19, while sometimes causing dental or dermatological problems or problems associated with rebreathing ones own expelled CO2. Masks may be good for virtue signaling or showing subservience and obeisance to authority, but not for medical protection. Economy-destroying lockdowns are intensely damaging. Historical lockdowns in medieval Europe and in a U.S. County a century ago, for example, produced local benefits, but the model is impractical on the national basis now attempted, let alone on a continental or global scale. Social distancing for COVID mitigation is common sense in the same way that avoiding people with the flu and colds makes sense. Do that, but dont become a pariah about it. Washing ones hands as once taught in grade school is the most elemental common sense and should be assumed without mention, not juiced up and marketed as COVID science. Slavishly wiping inanimate surfaces with disinfectant wipes may be emotionally therapeutic but it is useless for COVID control. COVID-19 virus is rarely spread through surface contact. Perhaps I can be forgiven for fondly recalling lessons learned out behind the barn when common sense actually seemed common, and wise Dads taught sons how things worked. IMAGE: Cow and Calves. Public Domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Hank Azaria said says it took him years of work to fully understand the issue with Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Indian-born convenience store clerk he voiced for three decades on "The Simpsons." Now, the actor-comedian says, he feels like he should apologize to "every single Indian person in this country." Azaria, who is White and voices many characters on Fox's long-running animated comedy, said last year that he would no longer voice the character. But he stopped short of apologizing for his role in bringing the character to prominence. In a recent episode of Dax Shepard's podcast, "Armchair Expert," Azaria recalled feeling hurt and defensive in 2017 when "The Problem With Apu," a documentary by Indian American comedian Hari Kondabolu, launched a discussion about the character and the South Asian stereotypes he perpetuated. Initially, Azaria said he didn't want to "knee-jerk respond to what could have been ... 17 hipsters in a microbrewery in Brooklyn." But he realized he needed to educate himself: "I talked to a lot of Indian people. I talked to a lot of people who knew a lot about racism in this country," Azaria said. "I took seminars. I read." One conversation that particularly resonated with Azaria took place at his son's school, where the actor spoke with a group of Indian students. One 17-year-old approached Azaria with tears in his eyes. "He's never even seen 'The Simpsons' ... but knows what Apu means," Azaria explained. "It's practically a slur at this point. All he knows is this is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country." The student asked Azaria to pass a message along to his industry colleagues: "Will you please tell the writers in Hollywood that what they do and what they come up with really matters in people's lives, like it has consequences?" "I was like 'Yes, my friend, I will tell them that," Azaria said before turning to Shepard's co-host Monica Padman, who is Indian American. "I said to him, and I'm going to say to you right now, I really do apologize. I know you weren't asking for that, but it's important," Azaria said. "I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that." "Part of me feels like I need to go around to every single Indian person in this country," Azaria said. "I really, really appreciate that it took you two or three years before you felt comfortable really speaking on it," Padman told Azaria. "It wasn't just lip service ... you really committed to learning about it." Azaria is one of several White actors who have been called out for voicing characters of color in recent years. Jenny Slate and Kristen Bell, who is married to Shepard, said last year they would stop voicing mixed-race characters on Netflix's "Big Mouth" and Apple TV Plus's "Central Park," respectively. Mike Hale stepped down from voicing Cleveland, a Black man on Fox's "Family Guy." "The Simpsons" initially confronted criticism over Apu with a joke in an April 2018 episode, in which Lisa Simpson makes a reference to "something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect." The show's message, as it cut to a signed photo of Apu on the Simpson family nightstand: "Don't have a cow." The Fox show has since said it will stop using White actors to voice characters of color. Azaria, who also stepped down from voicing a Black "Simpsons" character on the animated series, called on Hollywood to cast people of color to play characters of color. "If it's an Indian character or a Latinx character or a Black character, please let's have that person voice the character," Azaria said. After the podcast was released Monday, Kondabolu wrote in a tweet that he has "Nothing. But. Respect" for Azaria, calling him "a kind & thoughtful person that proves that people are not simply 'products of their time,' but have the ability to learn & grow." Azaria said he continues to make amends for voicing the character. The actor said he has teamed with the anti-racist Soul Focused Group, which offered one of the seminars he took, to help educate others. It's been a journey, he said, to realize that what he thought was a "funny, thoughtful" character was actually hurtful to many people. "I really didn't know any better. I didn't think about it," Azaria said. "I was unaware of how much relative advantage I had received in this country as a White kid from Queens. I never thought about this stuff because I didn't have to." (ANSA) - ROME, APR 14 - Italian and Cambodian police on Wednesday arrested two Italian fugitive criminals convicted of sexual violence against a minor and financial offences respectively. Antonello Marras, 45, from Ozieri near Sassari, and Christian Casagrande, 45, from Pordenone, were caught in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh after Marras was lured to the local immigration office with a ruse, police said. Interpol helped track the pair down. Marras was sentenced in 2003 to eight years and eight months in jail for sexual violence against a minor while Casagrande, sought since 2017, must serve remaining prison time of 13 years for a series of financial crimes ranging from aggravated extortion to counterfeiting credit cards. Authorities said extradition proceedings would soon begin for the pair. (ANSA). The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allocated UAH 9.9 million to provide one-time financial assistance to family members of four dead servicemen and nine servicemen who received disabilities while participating in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Donbas. The corresponding decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday. Family members of the killed servicemen will receive assistance in the amount of 750 living wages for able-bodied persons on the date of death, and those who received disabilities, depending on the group - from 250 to 400 living wages. Those who received I group of disability will be paid 400 living wages for the able-bodied, II group - 300 living wages, and III group - 250 living wages. The Athens Sustainability Office will begin holding five virtual public town halls in April to collect public thoughts and opinions on how the county can navigate toward renewable energy, starting Thursday. The Oregon Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill Wednesday that would give struggling renters until the end of February 2022 to repay missed rent accumulated during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill still needs approval in the House, but it appears likely to pass the states lower chamber after receiving bipartisan support in a 25-5 Senate vote. Stable housing is about much more than keeping a roof over your head, its about the health and safety of our community, said Sen. Kayse Jama, D-Portland, who co-carried the bill. This is what this bill is all about. Lawmakers voted in December to extend the states eviction moratorium until the end of June, but didnt extend the grace period for renters to make up missed payments. That meant that renters would be required to repay any accumulated rent by July 1. If SB 282A gains approval in the House, residential tenants would be given an additional eight months to repay those outstanding rent bills, potentially averting an eviction crisis this summer. The bill would also bar landlords from reporting a tenants nonpayment of rent during the pandemic period to consumer credit agencies and would shield renters from having any missed payments during the COVID-era considered when they apply for rental housing in the future. In addition, the legislation would temporarily relax occupancy limits, allowing renters to have friends and family stay with them during the pandemic period while still giving landlords the ability to screen any guests. There is incredible worry among renters that they will lose their homes without more time to catch up after COVID, Sybil Hebb of the Oregon Law Center said in a statement. SB 282A will protect peoples homes while also ensuring that peoples rental record wont be permanently harmed due to the pandemics massive job and income loss that affected so many Oregonians. We are very hopeful it will move quickly through the House. The bill would only apply to residential tenants. The House will vote on a separate bill Thursday that would extend the grace period for commercial tenants to repay outstanding rent until the end of September. A report commissioned by the National Council of State Housing Finance Agencies last September estimated that Oregon renters would have missed between $249 million and $378 million in rent payments by January. It is unclear how much more Oregon renters may have accrued in missed rent by this point. More than 10% of Oregon renters had not paid their full March rent midway through the month, according to a recent survey of 253 Oregon property owners representing more than 90,000 units conducted by Multifamily NW, a rental industry group that represents landlords. Lawmakers said Wednesday that extending the grace period until February would give the state the time it needs to get an influx of federal rent assistance into the hands of those struggling renters, giving them the financial resources they need to make up their missed payments before they could potentially face eviction. Oregon is set to receive more than $500 million in rent assistance from the two most recent pandemic relief bills passed by the federal government, lawmakers said. We have coming to Oregon probably in excess of half a billion that qualifies for renter and landlord relief that will take care of a great deal of this back owed rent in a very straightforward way, said Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, who co-carried the bill. But those monies wont be here before the existing deadline to pay back the back rent. This pushes it off, so that money can be used accordingly. However, both lawmakers and landlords have raised concerns about the states ability to get that money into the hands of renters in need. It took months for Oregon to get rent assistance from the federal government out to renters last year during the heart of the pandemic. More recently, technical issues have plagued Oregons new Landlord Compensation Fund, which lawmakers seeded with $150 million in December. Residential landlords can apply for money through the fund to cover 80% of rent they are owed by tenants if they agree to forgive the other 20% of unpaid rent. But landlords who applied for relief through the fund last month are unlikely to start receiving payments until at least May. Problems with the states website delayed the initial application process, and applications for a second round of funding have also been delayed until the end of this month due to the technical issues. Oregons renters and housing providers cannot hold out forever, Deborah Imse, executive director of Multifamily NW, said in a statement Wednesday. We agree with the testimony heard on the Senate floor today, the greatest priority for our state is to distribute assistance as quickly as possible. Were very concerned that delays in distribution are contributing to increased housing instability. The states technology problems have caused major headaches and hardships for Oregonians throughout the pandemic. The Oregon Employment Departments ancient computer systems proved wholly incapable of handling a flood of claims last year, leaving hundreds of thousands of jobless Oregonians with unpaid claims for many weeks through the heart of the pandemic. Earlier this year, glitches with the Oregon Health Authority website for scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations led to major frustrations for those trying to sign up. I recognize the state housing agency is doing its best to ensure that its online portal is working, but I dont need to remind everyone in this chamber that the state has an unfortunate history with technology failures, Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, said. These failures have wasted taxpayer dollars and weakened the publics trust in our ability to deliver reliable solutions. We dont want to add this program to this list. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Oil surged to the highest level in a month -- breaking out of a weeks-long holding pattern -- as shrinking crude stockpiles in the U.S. supported hopes for a global demand recovery. Futures rose 4.9 percent in New York, the most since late March, after trading in a $5 range for weeks. U.S. crude inventories are at the lowest since February following the biggest decline in two months, according to the Energy Information Administration. At the same time, a gauge for gasoline demand ticked higher for a seventh straight week. Thats helped prices that have struggled to rally past $60 a barrel. Theres always bearish factors in any market, but now that weve broke out to the upside, it likely means were going to retest the old highs, if not go through them, said Bill OGrady, executive vice president at Confluence Investment Management in St. Louis. Both U.S. and global benchmark crude futures have also topped their 50-day moving averages. The stronger outlook for U.S. demand, along with improvements in China, earlier drove the International Energy Agency to lift its forecast for oil consumption this year. The IEA report follows similar moves by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase demand estimates for 2021. All three pointed to an improving economic outlook and the rapid roll-out of vaccines, particularly in the U.S. The EIA report showed the four-week rolling average of U.S. gasoline supplied has been on a multi-week climb back toward 9 million barrels a day, while refineries have been processing crude at the highest level since the early days of the pandemic. That comes as New York City toll traffic is set for its busiest April in at least seven years, while some see nationwide gasoline consumption having a record summer. A measure of jet fuel demand topped 1 million barrels a day last week for the fifth straight week, as Transportation Security Administration daily passenger data shows foot traffic above the 1 million every day since early March. The crude draw and the very slight increase in gasoline inventories speaks to the whole setup of recovering demand and balancing inventories, said Quinn Kiley, a portfolio manager at Tortoise, a firm that manages roughly $8 billion in energy-related assets. Its a stark difference compared to this time last year. Its not just the U.S. thats seeing green shoots of a return to normal consumption. Data from the U.K. showed road use was at 91% of pre-pandemic levels on Monday, the strongest daily reading since November. Meanwhile, in lifting its demand outlook, the IEA noted strength in other key demand hubs. Japan, for example, saw its oil demand top pre-pandemic levels for the second month in a row in February. Brussels, Apr 12 (AP) The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines have started to be delivered to the European Union on Monday, the first of 55 million doses which are expected to be provided to the bloc before the end of June. EU Commission spokesman Stefan De Keersmaecker said the Johnson & Johnson deliveries are indeed on track as agreed. About 105 million vaccine doses were delivered in the first quarter, a bitter disappointment since Anglo-Swedish company AstraZeneca fell about 90 million doses short of an initial commitment of 120 million. The other doses were delivered by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna with 65 million and 10 million doses respectively. In the second quarter the EU is counting on 200 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, 35 million of Moderna, 70 million from AstraZeneca and 55 million from Johnson & Johnson. The EU, with a population of 450 million, hopes to have 70 percent of its adults vaccinated by the end of summer. Because it relies only on one shot, the Johnson & Johnson jabs are a key component of the EU's vaccine strategy. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jo, meanwhile, continued to believe that the letters to Theo in which Vincent came through as a romantic figure, a tragic figure would open up his soul to America and beyond. Having the letters published in English was her last great objective. It proved to be a race against time. Her health was failing she had Parkinsons disease and the publisher she had contracted with, Alfred Knopf, wanted to produce only an abridged edition, to which she would not agree. She returned to Europe and lived her last years in a spacious apartment on Amsterdams stately Koninginneweg and in a country house in Laren. Her son, Vincent, and his wife, Josina, moved close to her, and Jo found happiness in the hour she spent each day with her grandchildren. Otherwise, she kept remarkably fixated on her lifes mission: shipping canvases to one exhibition after another, wrangling with the publisher, all the while coping with the pain and other symptoms of her illness. If anything, her obsession seems to have grown as she neared the end of her life. She got into a friendship-ending argument over a modest amount of money with Paul Cassirer, a German dealer who had worked closely with her to promote van Gogh. When a romanticized novel about the van Gogh brothers appeared in German in 1921, she found the factual liberties it took deeply upsetting. Requests for paintings for possible exhibitions kept coming at a furious pace Paris, Frankfurt, London, Cleveland, Detroit and she remained closely involved, until she no longer could. She died in 1925 at age 63. The first English-language edition of the letters, by Constable & Company in London and Houghton Mifflin in the United States, appeared two years later, in 1927. It contained an introduction by Jo, in which she furthered the myth of the suffering artist and highlighted her husbands role as well: It was always Theo alone who understood him and supported him. Seven years later, Irving Stone published his best-selling novel Lust for Life, based heavily on the letters, about the relationship between the van Gogh brothers. It in turn became the source material for the 1956 movie starring Kirk Douglas. By then, the myth was ingrained. No less a figure than Pablo Picasso referred to van Goghs life essentially solitary and tragic as the archetype of our times. There was one other homage Jo paid to her brother-in-law and her husband, possibly the most remarkable of all. Late in her life, while she was translating the letters into English, she arranged to have Theos remains disinterred from the Dutch cemetery where he had been laid to rest and reburied in Auvers-sur-Oise, next to Vincent. As with the Amsterdam exhibition, she undertook the operation like a general, overseeing every detail, down to commissioning matching gravestones. Hans Luijten told me he found it a striking manifestation of her single-minded devotion. She wanted to have them side by side forever, Luijten said. A wifes digging up her husbands remains is such a startling image it yanks one back to the central question of Jos life: her motivation. Why, finally, did she fasten herself to this cause and carry it across the length of her life? Certainly her belief in Vincents genius and her desire to honor Theos wishes were strong. And Luijten noted to me that in promoting van Goghs art, she believed she was also furthering her socialistic political beliefs. But people act from smaller, simpler motivations as well. Jos 21 months with Theo were the most intense of her life. She experienced Paris, joy, a revolution in color and culture. With Theos help she vaulted out of her careful, conventional world and gave herself over to passion. Moving today through the museum that houses all the paintings Jo couldnt bear to part with, another notion surfaces: that, in devoting herself utterly to Vincent van Gogh, in selling him to the world, she was keeping alive that moment of her youth, and allowing the rest of us to feel it. There will be fewer COVID-19 vaccinations available for at least a while after a newly discovered rare side effect led local, state and federal health organizations to pause use of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration are looking into reports of severe blood clots cerebral venous sinus thrombosis that have occurred from six to 13 days after vaccination. Six such cases one of which resulted in death have been reported, all in women ages 18 to 48. Thats out of the 6 million doses of the vaccine administered. For some west-central Illinois health departments, this will mean a decrease in the number of vaccinations they will be able to provide at upcoming clinics. Its a huge impact for us, said Sharon Bargmann, Pike County Health Departments nursing director. It remains to be seen what will happen. The county has on hand about 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, which it had planned to distribute Friday. That clinic now will use the Moderna vaccine. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced it would pause use of the vaccine out of an abundance of caution after the CDC and FDA announcements. The head of the FDA said use could resume within several days. Health systems, including Memorial Health System, also have paused distribution of the vaccine and switched clinics to the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. The pause will limit how many people Pike County Health Department can serve because its been using more of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine than other brands, Bargmann said. We backed off on our orders for Moderna because we were getting a lot of Johnson & Johnson, Bargmann said. There was a lot of interest in it, especially because it was only one shot. Clinics scheduled at Jersey County Health Department also have been switched to provide a vaccine other than the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, said Heidi Carter, emergency preparation coordinator for Jersey County Health Department. The county had about 100 Johnson & Johnson/Janssen doses on hand for the upcoming clinic, Carter said. We werent getting a large amount of that vaccine, Carter said. We have other vaccine in stock. The department had asked other health departments for additional doses of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine to support its clinic. We didnt even have it, we had to borrow it, Carter said. The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine on hand in Jersey County will be stored for future use if state and federal health organizations clear it, Carter said. Though having fewer vaccine doses available is a concern, Bargmann is more worried the pause and additional side effects will cause more people to avoid getting the vaccine, she said. We already have people saying theyd wait a while or there needed to be more research, Bargmann said. This is a big blow. There is already a lot of hesitancy. Even if it is six (cases) out of (6) million and is extremely rare. Health officials are asking those who have received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine to monitor themselves, Bargmann said. If they develop abdominal pain, leg pain, shortness of breath, severe headache within three weeks of getting the vaccine, they need to contact their health care provider, she said. Muri Assuncao, New York Daily News (TNS) Hank Azaria wants to apologize for his portrayal of an Indian character on The Simpsons. For about three decades, Azaria was the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian immigrant who runs a convenience store on the Fox long-running animated comedy. Last year he announced he would no longer portray the character amid criticism that Apus voice reinforced racial stereotypes. This week, speaking with actor and podcast host Dax Shepard in the latest episode of Armchair Expert, Azaria opened up about his journey to understanding why the character is problematic and why his portrayal was seen as offensive. I needed to look at my part. I went and learned, he told Shepard and co-host Monica Padman. I read, and I talked to people. I talked to a lot of Indian people. I talked to a lot of people who knew a lot about racism. I took seminars. Saying that he was unaware about how much relative advantage hed received as a white kid from Queens, Azaria said that he didnt think about this stuff because I never had to. There were very good intentions on all of our parts. We tried to do a funny, thoughtful character. Just because there were good intentions doesnt mean there werent real negative consequences to the thing that I am accountable for, he said. Azaria then apologized to Padman, whos Indian-American. I really do apologize. Its important, he said. I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do. Azaria has won four Emmy awards for outstanding voice-over performance for his work on the show which includes a number of different characters, such as Moes Tavern owner Moe Szyslak, chief of police Clancy Wiggum and Apu, who runs Kwik-E-Mart and speaks with an exaggerated and stereotypical accent. In 2017 the documentary The Problem with Apu, written by the Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu, slammed the character for being a south Asian stereotype. After initially dismissing the criticism, Azaria, whos white, announced in 2020 that he would no longer be the voice of Apu. New Delhi, April 14 : Surging ahead with an impressive growth in sales of its products, the Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL), the public sector manufacturing unit of the Ministry of AYUSH, has recorded a turnover of Rs 164.33 crore for the financial year 2020-21. IMPCL registered an all-time high profit at about Rs 12 crore for FY 2020-21, the government said in a statement, adding that it recorded a turnover of Rs 164.33 crore for in the last fiscal as compared to the revenue of Rs 97 crore recorded in the previous financial year. The ministry termed the growth as a reflection of the fast-growing adoption of AYUSH products and services by the public in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) had recently recommended 18 Ayurvedic products of IMPCl for WHO-GMP/COPP certification subject to certain observations. "to companies after conducting an inspection. This certification is an endorsement of the quality of IMPCL's products. It will help IMPCL commence export operation of quality medicines at a global level." The 'World Health Organization, Good Manufacturing Practices/Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (WHO-GMP/CoPP)' certification is given to companies after conducting an inspection. This certification is an endorsement of the quality of IMPCL's products that will help it to commence export operations of quality medicines at a global level. Every government institution doing business with IMPCL has praised the company for providing steady support to various health programmes and ensuring an unbroken supply of products during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry said. Presently, the IMPCL is manufacturing 656 classical Ayurvedic, 332 Unani and 71 proprietary Ayurvedic medicines for various diseases, it said. 's ( ) Neil Clark and Shaun Claydon talk to Proactive London about their results for the year which ended 31 December 2020. The company is about to start Phase 3 preparation following the recent positive Phase 2b clinical trial results for the XF-73 nasal gel to prevent post-surgical infections. Key highlights during the period include, buying NTCD-M3, a candidate for the a candidate for the prevention of C. difficile infection recurrence to start next year. +28% more Israeli housing in West Bank during Trump Peace Now says more streets being built for more settlements (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 14 - In 2020 Israel began building 2,433 new housing units in the West Bank, according to a report published by the Israeli NGO Peace Now. The organization added that the yearly average for new housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank grew by 28% during the Trump administration compared with Obama's presidency. It noted that at leats 13% of the homes (325) were in settlements considered illegal according to Israeli law. The report also underscored the large amount of funds and resources set aside for the development of the road network, with the intention of doubling the number of settlers in the next decades in the West Bank. Peace Now also spoke out against rules to expel Palestinians from the Arab quarters of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan in East Jerusalem. About 460,000 Israelis are living in over 130 settlements in the West Bank. (ANSAmed). A general store offering many local products is being planned for empty office space in the former Vacation Village. Lanesborough Will Consider New General Store For Beer, Wine License The board also heard about the annual townwide cleanup day on April 24. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. A new general store-style retailer with a focus on offering local products was given the nod to move forward with planning at a long vacant commercial space on Route 7, part of a complex formerly occupied by Vacation Village of the Berkshires. The Select Board on Monday offered no objection to a preliminary inquiry presented by Ana Bradbury about applying for a wine and beer license. Bradbury indicated the business which was not identified by name wanted to get a read on the availability and likelihood of obtaining the license before moving forward with the various other permitting steps. Bradbury said the store intends to offer "home goods and limited groceries" with the goal of stocking most of its shelves with products from within the region. "Everything from artisans to farms, the major items are going to be from the Berkshires," said Bradbury. In addition to farmed products like cheese, produce, and maple syrup, she also hopes to sell a selection of craft beers, and wines from Massachusetts. Currently, five beer and wine licenses are available in Lanesborough, on a first-come, first-serve basis. This license is the only one of the permitting requirements for the business that comes under the purview of the Select Board. Select Board members told Bradbury they have no prohibitive concerns about the concept of granting one of the licenses at that location, and were generally pleased to see the vacant space utilized. "This will be a fun shop to go to, an attraction," said Select Board member Gordon Hubbard. "As long as the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, I would be a huge advocate of new opportunities for Lanesborough." Building inspector Rick Reid said significant work will need to be involved to re-purpose the intended space at 20 Williamstown Road, which consists of four gutted previous office spaces, formerly part of office and conference space for Vacation Village. It is part of a five-building complex sold in August by Patriot Resorts Corp. for $250,000 Anthony P. Doyle, trustee of the Normalk NT, according to Berkshire County real estate records. Several other businesses have moved there in recent months. In other business: For the 13th consecutive year, Lanesborough will host a townwide volunteer clean up of its public roadways on Saturday, April 24. Martha Freedman of the Lanesborough Town Clean Up Committee told the board that trash bags and information will be available at Lanesborough Elementary School from 9 to noon, unless there is rain. "People usually have places that are really bothering them, where they see trash piling up," Freedman said, though the group is not encouraging residents to tackle more highly trafficked highways such as Route 7, which could be dangerous. Freedman said a master list of any larger items that are found that can't be picked up will be provided to the Highway Department, as in past years. The Select Board voted to The Select Board voted to finalize a new formal process for receiving complaints from residents, proposed by town employees in March. A new form will be available on the town website to process complaints confidentially; complaints about any town staff will go to town manager, unless the complaint is about the town manager, in which case it will go to the chair of the Select Board. President Joe Biden speaks during the service for U.S. Capitol Officer William Evans, as his remains lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, on April 13, 2021. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Pool) Biden, Lawmakers Pay Tribute to Capitol Police Officer Slain by Motorist William Evans died on April 2 WASHINGTONPresident Joe Biden and lawmakers on Tuesday paid tribute at a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda to the U.S. Capitol Police officer killed when a motorist rammed a car into two police officers and brandished a knife earlier this month. William Evans, an 18-year veteran of the Capitol Police force and father of two young children, died in a hospital after he was struck by the vehicle on April 2. His flag-draped casket sat in the middle of the rotunda surrounded by appropriately spaced rings of attendees, including members of Evans family. Biden told them: You are going to make it by holding each other together, referencing his own grief after losing members of his own family. My prayer for all of you is that a day will come when you have that memory that will make you smile. I promise you it will come. President Joe Biden pays his respects at the casket of the late U.S. Capitol Police officer William Evans during a memorial service as Evans lies in honor in the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on April 13, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Pool via Reuters) Immediately following the remarks, Biden walked over to members of Evans family and gave what appeared to be a large coin or medallion to Evans son. A military choral quartet then sang an a cappella rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, during which time Shannon Terranova, the mother of Evans children, cried while Evans daughter Abigail, 7, appeared to comfort her. Lying in honorthe public viewing of a persons casketis one of the highest possible honors Congress has for a civilian. Only five other people have received the distinction since the honor was created in 1998. Three of those people were Capitol Police officers who died in attacks on the Capitol, including Brian Sicknick, the officer who died from injuries suffered on Jan. 6, when hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the institution. A second police officer who was hit by the car was also injured. By Makini Brice SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Frustrated parents in San Francisco have coined a new phrase for their latest classroom reality: Zoom in a Room." In Los Angeles, students can start going back to school in person, but more than half say they will stick with distance learning. More than a year after the coronavirus pandemic forced California's classrooms to close, some of the largest school districts are welcoming back students this week. But the most populated state is lagging the rest of the country and in some cases offering options that parents say are unacceptable. Kira Gaber said she's been told to send her kindergartner back to his San Francisco classroom with a laptop and headphones aka Zoom in a Room. His teacher will be working online from home, while an adult monitor watches the kids in class. How is this OK? This is completely not in-person learning, said Gaber, who doesn't plan to send her son to class with a computer. Im going to send him with worksheets and a coloring book. Reopening schools varies city to city because of California's decentralized education system, where 1,200 school districts must negotiate new contracts with workers. While educators were among the first groups eligible for vaccines, some districts have let them keep working from home if they or someone they live with is at increased risk from COVID-19. Across the U.S., what it means to be back in school looks very different from one state to the next. New York City, the nation's largest school district, allowed students to return last fall, but the Department of Education expects just one-third of its 960,000 K-12 students in classrooms by month's end. As of March 29, more than 40% of districts nationwide had offered all students the option to return to full-time in-person instruction, according to the Return to Learn Tracker, developed in part by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. California ranks last in the country, according to Burbio, a company that monitors some 1,200 school districts, including the largest 200 in the country. Story continues An analysis by the Los Angeles Times found that just 3 million of Californias 6.2 million K-12 students now have the option to learn in a classroom, and most are younger children. Even in schools offering an in-person return, some kids will receive only a few hours a week of classroom instruction. Several states have ordered schools to offer in-person instruction, including Iowa, Florida, Washington and Oregon. But not California. Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed to reopen schools by prioritizing vaccines for educators and dangling financial incentives, but he's made it clear he will not order classrooms to open. On Wednesday, he again pleaded for schools to broadly reopen, saying he's responded to teachers' demands. Teachers unions have outsized political power in the Democratic-led state, and Newsom is expected to face a recall election partly over his handling of the pandemic. Last week, the Democratic governor said California plans to lift nearly all pandemic restrictions by June 15. There will be no barrier to having our kids back in in-person instruction, he said. That is our expectation. But most students will be on summer vacation by then. Advocates of reopening argue that online learning exacerbates the achievement gap between poor and minority students and their white and Asian peers. Many private schools and some smaller California school districts have been open for months. But the students at risk of falling behind are not necessarily the ones clamoring to return. In Los Angeles, where about 80% of the 600,000 K-12 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and one in five is an English learner, Superintendent Austin Beutner said a survey indicated that parents in communities hardest hit by the pandemic were more reluctant to send their children to school. Our challenge is convincing families that schools are safe, Beutner said recently. Nearly three-quarters of families surveyed in San Diego said they preferred a mix of in-person and remote learning, rather than online. Parents of white students expressed the most enthusiasm for in-person instruction, and those of Asian students the least. In the Elk Grove Unified School District, the states fifth largest, schools expanded in-person teaching to four days a week from two because of relaxed social distancing requirements and fewer students opting to return only 39% of elementary school students and 24% of secondary students so far, said Scott Scidmohr, lead director with the Elk Grove Educators Association. Unlike San Diego, LA and other larger districts, San Francisco has no timetable for middle and high school students to return this academic year. The city, which has had some of the lowest infection and death rates in the country, took the remarkable step in February of suing its own school district to reopen classrooms. While districts in other states have had to hire classroom monitors to oversee children as educators teach from home, the prospect of Zoom in a Room" sent many of San Francisco's already frustrated parents over the edge. Officials said almost 300 staffers have permission to work remotely. Im sending my kid because she misses her friends. If not, I wouldnt even bother because this is a joke," said Robin Herman, whose daughters fourth-grade teacher will be dialing in. One of the challenges in planning, educators say, is that California keeps changing the rules. Until recently, schools were told to space students 6 feet (2 meters) apart, then it changed to 3 feet (1 meter), allowing more students to squeeze into a classroom but requiring new negotiations with teachers unions. Educators wonder what might change with Newsom's June 15 reopening push. Santa Ana Unified, a district with about 45,000 students in Orange County, has decided to finish the school year online. Parents like Lucinda Solorzano, a mother of three students in the district, are pleading for classrooms to reopen. She says parents werent given a choice, despite falling infection rates and increasing vaccinations. They dont know what it is to have a child whos given up, Solorzano said. ___ Taxin reported from Orange County. Associated Press journalist Karen Matthews contributed to this story from New York. WASHINGTON, DC Actor Mark Ruffalo lent some celebrity heft on Tuesday to an announcement by Michigan Congressional delegates about the reintroduction of legislation that would force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to start regulating PFAS chemicals in drinking water and officially designate them as hazardous substances. Ruffalo, who portrayed attorney Rob Bilott in the 2019 film Dark Waters, said hes amazed that industrial chemicals known by manufacturers and regulators for years to be dangerous to humans are still being discharged into the countrys air and water every day. Whats amazing is the EPA has known about the risks posed by PFAS for decades and done nothing to regulate the discharges under federal laws the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, said Ruffalo, an environmental activist whose film told the true story of PFAS contamination in West Virginia and Ohio drinking water. The PFAS Action Act, which is what were talking about today, will simply set deadlines for the EPA to act, Ruffalo said. Thats it. The bill doesnt give the EPA any new powers. It just tells the EPA to use the powers that Congress gave the EPA more than 40 years ago. Ruffalo joined U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor and Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, on Tuesday, April 13 on a call with reporters organized by the Environmental Working Group to announce a new attempt to get the PFAS Action Act through the U.S. House and Senate. Dingell and Upton expressed optimism the bill can clear the Senate with a Democratic majority after stalling last year after passing the House with bipartisan support. Theres been a learning curve with a number of colleagues and, obviously, communities across the country that frankly didnt pay a lot of attention but now know a little bit more about (PFAS), said Upton. Bill sponsors aim to build upon that support and work with an administration that Im convinced would accept this if it gets to the presidents desk. Dingell said the bill mirrors the previous version. It would require the EPA to establish nationwide drinking water standards within two years for the individual compounds PFOS and PFOA, two of many chemicals in the PFAS family. In Michigan, those chemicals are regulated in drinking water because the state passed its own standards last summer. Other states with their own enforceable standards include New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont. The safe drinking water standard drives me nuts that we cant do it, said Dingell, who represents Ann Arbor, one of the earliest and largest cities in Michigan to detect the chemicals in the drinking water. We just have to get some of this done. The bill would also require EPA to designate PFOS and PFOA has hazardous substances within a year; a regulatory definition under federal Superfund law that would give the EPA authority to force polluters such as the U.S. military to clean up the contamination and recover some taxpayer costs. Bringing the EPA into the picture at military sites would likely please activists in states which have struggled to get the Department of Defense to comply with their own laws. Other elements of the bill include requiring the EPA to determine whether to designate other PFAS chemicals as hazardous within five years, set discharge limits on industrial releases and provide $200 million annually for wastewater treatment systems, designate PFOS and PFOA as hazardous air pollutants within 180 days. The bill would also prohibit incineration of PFAS wastes and place a moratorium on introduction of new PFAS compounds into commerce, require comprehensive PFAS health testing and create voluntary label for cookware. The Biden administration has shown support for both a national drinking water standard and the Superfund classification. In March, the EPA said its moving forward with developing a standard under the Safe Drinking Water Act after the agency pledged its long-awaited commitment to do that on Donald Trumps last full day in office. In February, the EPA re-proposed adding 29 different PFAS compounds to the list of chemicals tested under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5), a periodic nationwide testing program of large public water supplies. In late March, Biden proposed spending $10 billion to monitor and remediate PFAS as part of his $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan. Last week, President Biden released a fiscal 2022 discretionary budget request that seeks about $75 million to accelerate toxicity studies and research to inform the regulatory development of designating PFAS as hazardous substances. Some of that money would go to technical assistance grants to help state and local governments dealing with the issue. The White House said more PFAS investments are coming. Scott Faber, a vice president with the Environmental Working Group (EWB) on the call Tuesday, said the Biden administration efforts are welcome news but communities impacted by PFAS have heard pledges and promises before. Under current rules it could be almost four years before EPA even sets a drinking water standard and years longer before utilities would have to meet it, Faber said. It could be even longer than that before EPA issues standards for the industrial releases (Ruffalo) was talking about of PFAS into the air and water. Thats why communities support the deadlines provided by the PFAS Action Act. In his remarks, Upton referenced both the 2018 drinking water contamination crisis in Parchment and a more recent incident at the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport, where PFAS-based firefighting foam was accidentally released into the sanitary sewer. The March 30 spill caused a subsequent spike in contamination levels discharged to the Kalamazoo River because the city wastewater plant, like most, isnt equipped to filter out the compounds. Upton also directed some attention toward the U.S. military, calling them the real guilty party, here based on contamination levels at bases where AFFF firefighting foam use for training and emergencies has created serious plumes. Of the 162 known sites in Michigan where the chemicals are found in the groundwater, about a dozen are linked to foam use by the military. We need to make sure that theres a commitment from the Department of Defense that theyre going to be good neighbors, Upton said. That theyre going to clean up these communities and itll be full partners to make sure that thats done. This legislation will help us see that day. Related stories: Air Force says it cant comply with Mich. PFAS rules Whitmer invokes defense bill to force strict PFAS cleanup Michigan warns of PFAS levels in Lake Superior smelt Democrats ready to move on PFAS under Biden Pioneering lawyer wants U.S. to move faster on PFAS PFAS activist says blood testing probably saved her life Timeline: The Wolverine, 3M Scotchgard disaster Michigan PFAS lawsuit against 3M, DuPont advances Michigan PFAS site list surges past 100 Construction is set to begin on a 410-metre rock wall at a picturesque beach in Victorias south-west, sparking a fierce backlash from opponents who fear it will permanently damage the stretch of coast. Glenelg Shire is pushing ahead with plans to build the wall at Bridgewater Bay on Monday, arguing the foreshore is vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion. However, it acknowledges the foreshore is not currently eroding significantly. Jo Austin and his daughter Adelaide McLeod want the council to postpone plans to build a 410-metre rock wall at Bridgewater Bay. Credit:Nicole Cleary Some residents have mounted a last-minute bid to halt the project, instructing lawyers to file an injunction unless the council agrees to postpone building the wall. A master plan was developed in 2014 to protect the beach but locals say they only learnt of plans to build the $4.2 million structure in recent months. As Michigans COVID-19 positivity rate continues to climb, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is focused on bringing down hospitalization numbers by encouraging antibody treatments. The states rate of positive coronavirus tests Wednesday, April 14 was 14.63%. Hospitalizations are on track to surpass last Aprils peak of 4,365. On Wednesday, 3,549 Michiganders were in the hospital for COVID-19, with 668 in intensive care units. Two dozen hospitals were at 90% capacity or above, Whitmer said in a Wednesday press conference. Related: Michigan nearing record coronavirus hospitalization peak, reports 35 new deaths for Wednesday, April 14 Whitmer encouraged antibody treatments for those who do test positive for virus in an effort to minimize hospitalizations and deaths. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is working to add doses of monoclonal antibodies and expand the number of infusion sites in the state. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune systems ability to fight harmful pathogens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lily have been approved for emergency use by the FDA. Whitmer noted that Regeneron was given to former President Donald Trump after he tested positive for COVID-19. Regeneron helped save the former presidents life, she said. It could help save yours, too. The use of the antiviral drug Remdesivir is also being encouraged by Whitmer and MDHHS for those who test positive. The drug is used for patients hospitalized with severe symptoms to shorten hospital stays. So far, 6,600 Michiganders have received antibody treatments with 65% reporting feeling better within two days of treatment and less than 5% of them requiring hospitalization following treatment, according to the governors office. Antibody treatment has been used in response to outbreaks at long-term care facilities across the state. It was used at a 33-patient nursing home in Wayland in January, a senior care facility in Cass County in December and a veterans home in Grand Rapids in December, according to the state. In seven long-term care facility outbreaks, 120 vulnerable patients with high mortality rates were treated with antibody therapy. Three of those patients needed to be hospitalized. One died. The treatment should be administered within 10 days of the onset of symptoms, according to the FDA. About 30% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Michigan would be eligible for the treatment, Whitmer said. That includes those who are 60 or older, immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions. Treatments have also shown success in temporarily slowing the spread of the virus, Whitmer said. The treatment is available at some Michigan hospitals to those with insurance. Whitmers administration is working with the federal government to expand access and waive all costs associated with the treatment, regardless of insurance, she said. Anyone who receives the treatment can be vaccinated 90 days afterward. I want to be very clear that therapeutics are another tool, but they are not a substitution for vaccination, Whitmer said. As of Tuesday, 42.5% of Michigans adult population had gotten at least one shot of the vaccine and 28.1% of the adult population was fully vaccinated. Whitmer is still shying away from restrictions and instead doubling down on vaccination despite the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention advising Michigan to shut down. Whitmer reiterated that the surge is not a policy problem, but a compliance problem, considering Michigan still has some of the strictest public health orders in the Midwest. Michigan was once the envy of most other states for a period of time with low coronavirus rates, Whitmer said. Now, those who were not infected during the first three surges do not have the antibodies needed to fight off new, more contagious variants, she said. Now, were 14 months in and people are tired, she said. Im tired of this. Dr. (Joneigh Khaldun) is tired of this. We are seeing people abandoning the protocols. Whitmer urged Michiganders to continue masking, handwashing and limiting gatherings. Similar to last weeks suggestion, she advised eating outdoors and ordering take-out instead of indoor dining. More on MLive: No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA Health officials say slow response, political influence made coronavirus pandemic worse Heres what we know about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland announces today plans to celebrate 2021 spring graduates. Spring 2021 commencement exercises will be conducted in-person at Maryland Stadium, and live-streamed at commencement.umd.edu on Friday, May 21, 2021. In collaboration with Prince George's County, plans for commencement prioritize safety while celebrating the success of graduates. The ceremony will include remarks from Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ, an industry leader in quantum computing, founded on UMD research among others, and headquartered in the University of Maryland Discovery District. "All of us at IonQ are very proud to call UMD home, just as I am very proud to share this important moment with the Class of 2021," said Chapman. "Now more than ever, these young people represent our shared faith in a better future, driven by bold thinking right here in Maryland. I hope only to inspire them, the next generation of builders, as they have already inspired me." Before coming to IonQ in 2019, Chapman spent nearly five years as a director of engineering for Amazon Prime, managing hundreds of engineers to ensure speedy delivery, including Amazon's two-days-or-less shipping option. Along his tech and entrepreneurial journey, he made software breakthroughs that protect mutual funds, support e-readers, and assist the blind in reading; he founded the video game company Level Systems Inc., and invented the first sheet music-reading synthesizer capable of recreating orchestral instruments. Chapman also helped create the world's first fully automated algorithmic trading system for the stock and commodity markets. The son of a NASA scientist-astronaut, Chapman began his career at age 16 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Lab. "I share Peter's passion for the future of computing and technological advancements as we aim to solve many of the grand challenges of our time," said Darryll J. Pines, University of Maryland President. "I look forward to his compelling, insightful remarks as he addresses our graduates who have persevered through a challenging year, and I thank him for his continued commitment to excellence in College Park." Graduates plus two guests are invited to attend physically distanced commencement activities in person at Maryland Stadium. Based on the school or college of the graduate, they will be invited to attend one of two main commencement ceremonies on campus. Maryland will also invite Spring 2020 and Winter 2020 graduates back to campus to be celebrated in person on May 21. Individual colleges and schools will host their commencement ceremonies virtually on Thursday, May 20 featuring remarks from Deans and displaying the names of every graduate. Information about commencement, including tickets, regalia, and safety measures required to attend in person are available at commencement.umd.edu , and additional information will be added as it becomes available. All campus events are contingent on evolving COVID-19 conditions and guidelines from the Prince George's County health department. Hosting successful in-person commencement ceremonies will depend on everyone doing their part, and remaining diligent in following the university's 4 Maryland guidelines. About the University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students,10,000 faculty and staff, and 280 academic programs. As one of the nation's top producers of Fulbright scholars, its faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners and 59 members of the national academies. The institution has a $2.1 billion operating budget and secures more than $1 billion annually in research funding together with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu. SOURCE University of Maryland Related Links https://www.umd.edu Prominent investigative journalist Roman Anin believes that the newfound attention paid by Russian authorities to him and his media organization differs from the official line, and that recent raids on his home and office -- and his subsequent interrogation -- were in response to recent critical coverage of high-profile business and security figures. Speaking to RFE/RL's Russian Service on April 13 a day after his visit to the Investigative Committee for questioning relating to a story he wrote five years ago, the editor in chief of Important Stories (Istories) gave his assessment of what he sees as part of the "sad process in Russia of pressure on independent journalism." The April 9 seizure of computers and mobile phones from his home and and Istories' offices by Federal Security Service (FSB) officers, he said, had nothing to do with the recent reopening of the case centered on the piece he wrote in 2016 for Novaya gazeta that explored the connection between the wife of powerful Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and one of the world's largest yachts. That case had already been resolved, and resulted in the newspaper publishing a court-ordered refutation atop the article page that says the report was "untrue and discredited the honor and dignity" of Sechin, a longtime associate of President Vladimir Putin who is considered one of his closest allies. State-owned Rosneft is Russia's biggest oil company. However, the case was reopened in March and Anin is being investigated as a witness for "violation of privacy" through the abuse of his professional position, a development that has led to an outcry from media watchdogs and independent journalists in Russia. Whoever is behind the case, Anin told RFE/RL, had "a task, including gaining access to all my documents, to my sources, to my correspondence, to, perhaps, future publications that we are preparing." The FSB took away everything he had touched, and many items that were not his at all, he said, paying special attention to English-language documents and anything related to his time spent abroad. Officers nearly walked away with a picture of him with fellow students at Stanford University in the United States, he said, before opting instead to simply take a photo of it. "Of course, this was done in order to try to find something else," Anin said. His interrogation as a witness at the Investigative Committee three days later, he said, focused on two points: the editorial processes at Novaya gazeta, and queries as to how he managed to gain access to photographs from Sechin's wife's Instagram account that were published in the 2016 Novaya gazeta report. "I said that Olga Sechina, having published these photos on the site, a public site, thereby disseminated them among an unlimited number of people," Anin said. "And that it is clear that these photos, in fact, were published by her voluntarily." "Everything leads to the conclusion that they want to accuse me of publishing Sechina's Instagram photos illegally and without her permission, which, in my opinion, is just a delusional construction," he said. The potential charges under Part 2 of Article 137 of Russia's Criminal Code are punishable by up to four years in prison, as well as the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to five years. Istories specializes in investigative reports and lists among its recent articles an expose into the wealth of Kirill Shamalov, Putin's former son-in-law, as well as a report on the FSB surveilling imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. Another Istories investigation focused on deputy FSB head Sergei Korolev, and another on Rosneft's purchase of a stake in Pirelli and Sechin's role on the Italian tire giant's board of directors. "I can only say that any of these investigations could have become a reason to put pressure on the editorial board of Important Stories in the first place, and on me as the editor in chief and author of that text about the yacht," Anin told RFE/RL. Rosneft issued a press release on April 12 in which it said that it could not comment on the actions of law enforcement agencies, but alleged that the raid on the offices of Istories "was used by unscrupulous media to denigrate" the oil company and harm Russia. "A large-scale information war has been launched against Rosneft and its leadership, in which foreign interests are also participants," the press release said. "The smear campaign is aimed at discrediting the results of Rosneft's activities, given its budgetary and system-forming role for the Russian economy, as well as its leading position in the global energy industry. Such information attacks are organized to reduce competitiveness and create additional sanctions risks not only for Rosneft, but for the country as a whole." Rosneft added that it had already taken a number of legal actions to protect its business reputation and shareholder value, and called on the media to refrain from "biased assessments" and to take "legal responsibility for publishing false information in relation to the company." The company also said that the judgment by a Moscow court pertaining to the 2016 article published in Novaya gazeta "is exhaustive and confirms the fairness of the position of the plaintiff." Rosneft has recently filed several additional lawsuits against media outlets in Russia, including Dozhd TV, Ekho Moskvy, and Novaya gazeta. On April 14, Kommersant reported that Rosneft had filed suit against the newspaper Sobesednik and its journalist Oleg Roldugin. Roldugin said on his Telegram channel that the case was related to the newspaper's reporting in March on a Rosneft facility described as "Putin's personal ski resort." "Now it is definitely spring. This time Rosneft did not like this publication," Roldugin wrote on Telegram, providing a link to the story. "Read and distribute before Sechin bans everything." As for his case, Anin told RFE/RL that he did not know the authorities' intentions, but that "the laws in Russia are now formulated in such a way that any independent journalist, in fact, acts on the edge and sometimes even beyond these laws." "If they want to close Important Stories, they can do it tomorrow, no matter what excuse they have," he said. Written by Michael Scollon based on an interview conducted by Alina Pinchuk of RFE/RL's Russian Service SHANNON-based Atlantic Aviation Group is on the hunt for 15 ambitious apprentices to join its prestigious industry-leading training programme for aircraft maintenance engineers. The company is one of Europe's leading independent aviation organisations and it has an unmatched reputation in training aviation mechanics. Since 2015, more than 80 apprentices have participated in AAGs four-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme. With high-quality apprenticeships and skills at the centre of many post-pandemic recovery strategies worldwide, AAG is preparing for aviations return, offering participants both on-the-job and off-the-job training. The apprenticeship programme underlines AAGs commitment to grow its workforce and develop best-in-class skillsets that can future-proof its business development in what is a challenging time for the aviation sector. AAG, which was acquired by Patrick Jordan in 2015, employs 317 staff and 24 trainees at its Clare headquarters an increase in staff numbers of almost 100 over the past five years. It offers services in maintenance, repair and overhaul, aircraft modifications, continuous airworthiness management and aviation training and its customers include: DHL, Ryanair, ASL Airlines, Star Air, TUI Group, Jet 2 and major aircraft lessors such as GECAS, Aer Cap, Bank of America, SMBC, BBAM, Seraph, Aergo and Avolon. Announcing the call for 2021 apprenticeship applications, AAG CEO Shane ONeill said: While the industry has faced some challenges due to the pandemic, AAG continues to recruit and train for aviations inevitable return and we look forward to welcoming our future 15 candidates. Our continued commitment to our apprenticeship demonstrates our confidence in the future of our industry and in the future careers of the talent that will join our programme. Im proud that we have a diverse workforce in the company including our apprenticeship classes. Sharon OFlaherty, Talent Acquisition Partner said candidates of the programme would graduate fully equipped with the necessary skills to enter a variety of paths in the industry. She added: We have seen previous graduates continue their career in aircraft maintenance, along with venturing into CAMO, Part 21 Design, Quality Assurance amongst many other fields. One the company's current apprentices, Linda Keane from Lahinch commented: "From a young age, I have had an interest in cars and bikes and always helped my father in his garage growing up. When I looked into doing this apprenticeship with AAG, I thought it was a fantastic course with great career prospects. Applications for the programme are now open and close on Friday, May 7 2021. Candidates can apply via the AAG website. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 19:00:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People protest against Japan's decision to dump radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean outside Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, April 14, 2021. (Photo by Xu Ruxi/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday urged Japan to prudently handle the issue of Fukushima radioactive wastewater based on full consultation with international organizations and its neighbours and substantive participation of relevant countries and international organizations. This came at the first meeting of the China-ROK dialogue and cooperation mechanism of maritime affairs held via video link. So how, exactly, did the FBI unlock the iPhone 5C used by the 2016 San Bernardino shooter? According to The Washington Post, it turned to a little-known Australian security firm named Azimuth, which had developed a tool to bypass Apple's tough security measures. The iPhone in question was at the heart of a massive legal fight between Apple and the FBI. Authorities were previously able to brute force their way into iPhones by quickly trying multiple passcodes. But the enhanced security measures in iOS 9, which offered encryption and the ability to wipe the phone's data during hacking attempts, required a new strategy. The FBI believed there could be important information relating to the terrorist attack, and subsequently it tried to compel Apple to help unlock the phone. But Apple refused CEO Tim Cook said that creating a backdoor could be "chilling" and "dangerous" when it comes to security and legal precedent. That epic battle ended abruptly in April 2016, when the FBI announced that it bought a "tool" to get into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone. Sources tell The Washington Post that Azimuth founder Mark Dowd discovered a flaw in Mozilla's open source code, which was used by Apple to handle accessories connecting to iPhone Lightning ports. Azimuth researcher David Wang used that exploit to get into iOS 9 devices, and then stringed together other exploits to get access to their core processor. From there, he was able to try multiple PIN combinations without risking any data deletion. Wang later founded Corellium, a security company that's developed virtual iPhones for researchers to test. Apple, likely aware of Wang's background, previously tried to hire him for its own security work. Now, Apple is in the midst of legal battles with Corellium. In December, a judge rejected the company's claims that Corellium violated its copyright. And in an upcoming summer trial, Apple will try to argue that Corellium's tools illegally breach its security. Britain is preparing to follow the United States in pulling its troops out of Afghanistan by September, according to a report Wednesday that was not denied by the government London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :Britain is preparing to follow the United States in pulling its troops out of Afghanistan by September, according to a report Wednesday that was not denied by the government. "We are working closely with the US, NATO allies and partners to support a secure and stable Afghanistan," a government spokesman told AFP in response to the report by The Times newspaper. "Any change to our security presence will be made in agreement with allies and after consultation with our partners." President Joe Biden plans to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan before this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory, according to US officials. The Times said that Britain would follow suit in withdrawing its roughly 750 troops, citing sources as saying "they would struggle without American support because of a reliance on US bases and infrastructure". At its peak, the UK troop deployment in Afghanistan numbered nearly 10,000, but is now largely confined to security duties in the capital Kabul. Britain has also drawn up plans to hand over control to the Afghan government of a military academy in Kabul dubbed "Sandhurst in the Sand", The Times said. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 14.04.21: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020 during the parliament's regular session on Wednesday. During his speech, Pashinyan referred to the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and noted that the death toll of the Armenian side will reach nearly 4,000-4,050 people. The PM blamed ex-authorities for the failures during the war and army generals for failure to take control of the important Lele Tepe hill in Artsakh. The PM also said that Azerbaijan is doing everything to torpedo the process of opening communications. He also noted that oil and gas played an important role in the economic strengthening of Azerbaijan. But Armenia has a huge potential for oil in the 21st century - copper and water. Armenia should be able to do so as to export not ore, but finished products. And this is directly related to the opening of communications since the availability of a railway connection is important for investment, the PM said. Speaking about the Russian military base in Syunik Province, PM said that they are discussing the issue of enriching the capabilities of the Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri city of Armenia, as well as there are effective discussions with our Russian partners on establishing an outpost of the 102nd military base in Syunik Province. Pashinyan also said that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs expressed their readiness to continue negotiations around Nagorno-Karabakh within the previous principles. "And one of these principles presupposes the final determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh," Pashinyan added. In their statement, OSCE Minsk Group mediators also noted that they are ready to resume working trips to the region, including to Nagorno-Karabakh. The co-chairs also urged sides to the conflict to resume political dialogue. A park which displays trophy helmets and dummies of Armenian soldiers who were martyred in last year's war in Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)], was inaugurated on Monday by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and was widely condemned by the international community. MEP Nikos Androulakis denounced the countrys president and stressed that he insults the memory of the Armenian soldiers by establishing a park of barbarism. Meanwhile, System of a down star Serj Tankian noted that Aliyev will be treated like Saddam Hussein in time. The 'trophy park' opening has been condemned by international reporters as well. As of Wednesday morning, 1,075 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 205,128 in the country. Also, 19 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 3,794 cases. The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 583, the total respective number so far is 184,243. President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, twenty years to the day after the al Qaeda attacks that triggered Americas longest war, US officials said on Tuesday. However, the withdrawal of troops will be based on certain security guarantees. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the decision with NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday. Bidens decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed to with the Taliban by his predecessor Donald Trump. In March, the Taliban had threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops if that deadline was missed. Tesla only trails Germany's Big Three in China by Q1 premium brands' insurance registrations Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In the first quarter of 2021 (Q1), there were 69,631 consumers in China buying the Mandatory Liability Insurance for Traffic Accidents of Motor Vehicles (MLI) for Tesla's vehicles, according the to China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC). The performance made Tesla the No.4 premium brand in China by Q1 insurance registrations. The top 3 were Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, whose car registrations reached 222,513 units, 221,809 units and 197,005 units respectively. The CATARC's data show that Lexus and Cadillac ranked fifth and sixth with their Q1 insurance numbers amounting to 60,571 units and 58,655 units. EC6; photo credit: NIO Among the top 15 premium brands by Jan.-March insurance registrations, Hongqi and NIO were the only two Chinese indigenous brands. NIO's registrations reached 19,844 vehicles, rocketing 420% compared to the same period a year ago. Notably, the transaction price of NIO's vehicles stood at 428,000 yuan ($65,330), only following Porsche (789,400 yuan), Land Rover (593,700 yuan) and Mercedes-Benz (434,200 yuan). Among the top 15 all-electric SUV models by March insurance registrations, NIO's three production models all entered the list. The ES6 was honored the runner-up with an insurance volume of 2,960 units. However, it was still greatly outperformed by the Tesla Model Y, which got registrations of 10,140 units. Model Y; photo credit: Tesla Moreover, the Model Y and the NIO EC6 were the top 2 coupe SUV models priced above 300,000 yuan ($45,792) by March insurance registrations. According to the CATARC, 2,484 consumers in China bought the MLI for the NIO EC6s last month. Rep. Joo Ho-young, center, acting chairman and floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap By Jung Da-min The opposition political parties are clashing over how to set future strategies to join forces and counter the ruling bloc, with each highlighting their roles in the opposition bloc's landslide victory in the April 7 by-elections. In the mayoral by-elections of the country's two biggest cities, Seoul and Busan, the candidates of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) won both positions, beating their rival candidates of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The PPP's victory in the Seoul mayoral by-elections came after its candidate, Oh Se-hoon, now the mayor of Seoul, became the single unified candidate of the country's conservative opposition bloc by winning a public opinion survey against his rival, Ahn Cheol-soo, head of the minor opposition People's Party. The two conservative parties had earlier sought to merge in order to form a more solid "big tent" out of the conservative bloc, but this attempt was unsuccessful, as members of each party expressed different views on how to carry out the merger. While Ahn suggested that the two parties create a single new party, some influential figures of the PPP said that Ahn and other members of the People's Party, which holds three Assembly seats, should join the PPP, which has 102 seats. Such debates between the members of the PPP and the People's Party have resurfaced after the PPP's by-election victories against the DPK. While members of the People's Party attributed the PPP's victory to Ahn's push for a single candidate of the opposition bloc, some PPP members say that the PPP could have won even if the bloc offered more than one single candidate. The parties are expected to announce their stance about the merger and other forms of cooperation soon. The PPP plans to collect opinions from party members in a meeting set for Friday, and the People's Party will do so by early next week. Ahn said he believes a merger will be possible if the parties reach an agreement on the "primary" purpose, emphasizing the importance of the merger for the opposition bloc to win the next presidential election, set for March 2022. Minor conservative opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo delivers his congratulatory remarks at a forum on the country's economy at a hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps New Delhi: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that they both are two sides of the same coin. Asaduddin Owaisi while speaking at a public rally in West Bengal's Asansol said, "There is no difference between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi. They are two sides of the same coin." The AIMIM chief added, "They are brother and sister, who are making fool of people through their statements." He attacked the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government and said, "I challenge TMC to list things they did for Muslims in last 10 years." Asaduddin Owaisi was in West Bengal to campaign for his party which is trying to expand its base in West Bengal like it has in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. The polling for the first four phases has ended in West Bengal, while the fifth phase will take place on April 17. The result of the eight-phase elections will come out on May 2. (With inputs from agencies) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov qualified Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent phone conversation with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, as business-like MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th April, 2021) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov qualified Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent phone conversation with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, as business-like. The phone talks were held on Tuesday at Washington's initiative. Biden confirmed the goal of developing stable and predictable relations with Russia, and also invited Putin to hold a face-to-face meeting in a third country in the coming months. "It was business-like," Peskov told reporters, asked to comment on the negotiations. "Taking into consideration how many topics both sides mentioned following the talks, you can make a conclusion that the conversation was quite long," Peskov added. Advertisement Hundreds of people have tested positive for coronavirus in India at the site of the world's biggest religious festival, officials said Wednesday, as huge crowds of mostly maskless Hindu devotees descended on the River Ganges. The virus was detected in more than 1,000 people in just 48 hours in the city of Haridwar, which lies along the holy river where the Kumbh Mela is being observed, officials said. A new wave of coronavirus infections is sweeping across India, with experts blaming massive religious events, packed political rallies in poll-bound states and crowded public places. The government on Wednesday postponed high school exams for 15 to 18-year-olds, which were to be held in May-June, amid the resurgence of the virus, while its richest state - Maharashtra - began 15 days of tough new coronavirus measures. Despite rising virus cases, pilgrims have gathered in huge numbers to take part in the holy celebration. Hundreds of people have tested positive for coronavirus in India at the site of the world's biggest religious festival, officials said Wednesday, as huge crowds of mostly maskless Hindu devotees descended on the River Ganges The virus was detected in more than 1,000 people in just 48 hours in the city of Haridwar, which lies along the holy river where the Kumbh Mela is being observed, officials said A new wave of coronavirus infections is sweeping across India, with experts blaming massive religious events, packed political rallies in poll-bound states and crowded public places On Monday and Tuesday, a huge crowd of worshippers were cheek by jowl as they packed the river's banks to take a dip in the waters as part of a bathing ritual. 'Our faith is the biggest thing for us. It is because of that strong belief that so many people have come here to take a dip in Ganga,' Siddharth Chakrapani, a member of one of the Kumbh Mela organising committees, told AFP news agency. 'They believe that Maa (mother) Ganga will save them from this pandemic.' Officials said by Monday evening that more than 3.1 million devotees had bathed in the river, with many more expected to follow suit, the BBC reported. Dr Arjun Sengar, the health officer at the Kumbh Mela, said nine top religious leaders had tested positive. Despite rising virus cases, pilgrims have gathered by the River Ganges in huge numbers to take part in the holy Kumbh Mela celebration Pictured: An Indian holy man, known as a Naga Sadhu, takes a dip in the Ganges River during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar Of some 50,000 samples taken from people in Haridwar, 408 tested positive on Monday and 594 on Tuesday, the Uttarakhand state government said Of some 50,000 samples taken from people in Haridwar, 408 tested positive on Monday and 594 on Tuesday, the Uttarakhand state government said. The latest figures came as Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, tweeted on Wednesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19. India overtook Brazil this week to become the country with the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world. The vast nation of 1.3 billion people on Wednesday reported more than 184,000 infections in the past 24 hours - the biggest single-day rise since the start of the pandemic - to take the total to almost 13.9 million cases. India's daily death toll passed 1,000 on Wednesday for the first time since mid-October. Officials said by Monday evening that more than 3.1 million devotees had bathed in the river, with many more expected to follow suit, the BBC reported On Monday and Tuesday, a huge crowd of worshippers were cheek by jowl as they packed the river's banks to take a dip in the waters as part of a bathing ritual Pictured: A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a Hindu devotee during the ongoing religious Kumbh Mela festival In Maharashtra - which includes the financial capital Mumbai - non-essential businesses have been ordered to close as part of tough new coronavirus restrictions. It has been the country's worst hit state, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5million cases. On Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 60,212 new infections and 281 deaths. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday ordered most establishments and public places closed except those deemed essential, including grocery shops, hospitals, banks and stock exchanges. Gatherings of more than four people and non-essential use of public transport would be banned. 'The war has begun again,' Thackeray said at a press conference. 'Now is the time for action. India's richest state has announced 15 days of tough new restrictions amid a rise in coronavirus infections. Maharashtra - which includes the financial capital Mumbai - has been the country's worst hit state, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5million cases. Pictured: Relatives and municipal workers in PPE perform the last rites for Covid-19 victims during their funeral on the outskirts of Mumbai on Tuesday 'I am not saying a lockdown just now, but strict restrictions. Livelihoods are important, but life is more important. We need to increase existing restrictions.' The curbs, which begin on Wednesday and are due to last until May 1, are expected to cripple manufacturing and other businesses in the region and could hit auto companies like Tata Motors Ltd, Bajaj Auto Ltd and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd which operate factories in the state. E-commerce deliveries will be allowed but only for essential products, the government said. The restrictions will jolt businesses in Maharashtra but also risk having a broader impact on the Indian economy. The state accounts for nearly 15 per cent of India's gross domestic product, making it crucial for the country's economic recovery after months of slowdown. Cases have been rising in Maharashtra, which has reported more than 50,000 new cases each day in the last week Doctors have said that younger people and even children are now being hospitalised with coronavirus. Pictured: The death toll in Maharashtra over the last week Maharashtra had already shut down restaurants, bars, gyms, theatres and non-essential stores last week, a move some industry groups had warned will cause economic losses of billions of dollars. A night-time curfew was also imposed on the state's 125million people as the it grappled with the rise in cases. The more stringent restrictions announced on Tuesday said no one should 'move in public places without valid reasons' and all public places and non-essential services will remain closed. Shooting of films and advertisements will also be closed in the state which is home to India's Bollywood film industry. On Tuesday, Maharashtra reported 60,212 new infections and 281 deaths. Pictured: Passengers queue outside the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus railway complex in Mumbai on Tuesday to travel home ahead of the harvest season India has reported 13.9million cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began last spring At least 172,000 people in Indian have died from the virus since the pandemic began last spring On Tuesday, Thackeray acknowledged a lack of oxygen in the state and said the military would assist in seeking supplies. Kshitij Thakur, a local politician in the Vasai-Virar municipality of Maharashtra, said three people had already died due to the oxygen shortage. 'The supply can run for only three hours,' Thakur said in a tweet appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government. 'There are more than 7,000 active cases in the area and more than 3,000 people require oxygen supply daily.' Doctors in the state have said that some hospitals are reaching capacity. One described the latest surge as a 'tsunami' that 'has already overwhelmed the healthcare infrastructure in the state.' Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of the Mumbai Covid task force, told The Guardian that younger people and children are now being hospitalised with severe cases of coronavirus. 'The capacity for the healthcare system to hold on is fast dwindling,' he said. Health officials are split over whether public complacency or potential new variants are responsible for the surge. Pictured: A health worker checks a passenger's temperature and pulse in Mumbai on April 7 Modi has reportedly asked specialist teams to travel to the state and ascertain why it has seen such a huge spike in cases, the BBC reported. Health officials are split over whether public complacency or potential new variants are responsible for the surge. India has reported 13.9million cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began last spring. At least 172,000 people in the country have died from the virus. It faces the largest vaccine rollout in the world, which has proceeded more slowly than expected, with around 100million people having been vaccinated so far, according to the BBC. On Tuesday, it authorised the emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and agreed to fast-track approval for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots. The country has already approved the Oxford AstraZenica vaccine and the domestically produced Covaxin. India has the world's largest vaccine manufacturing capacity and had exported tens of millions of doses to smaller countries before domestic cases spiked. Teresa Giudice's new boyfriend Luis Ruelas is reportedly 'obsessed with sex' and has an 'insatiable' libido. Court documents revealed the 46-year-old businessman 'left behind a trail of ex-lovers' before getting serious with Tre, according to Page Six. Luis would reportedly 'punish' an ex if his sexual demands weren't met and also 'got upset with one gal pal if they didn't have sex as much as four times a day.' Interesting: Teresa Giudice's new boyfriend Luis Ruelas is reportedly 'obsessed with sex' and has an 'insatiable' libido The Real Housewives of New Jersey star began dating Ruelas in November 2020 after her divorce from ex-husband Joe Giudice was finalized. His ex-fiancee, Vanessa Reiser, made the stunning punishment claim in a 2020 legal action, filed after they broke up. 'He demanded that I be available for sex whenever he wanted,' she said in the court papers. 'If I objected to his demands, Luis Ruelas would punish me. He would be nasty, withdraw from me, and blame me for what happened.' Love is in the air: The Real Housewives of New Jersey star began dating Ruelas in November 2020 after her divorce from ex-husband Joe Giudice was finalized Luis was, at one point, also engaged to New Jersey native Paula Sanchez, with sources noting the couple constantly argued 'over his endless need to make love.' 'Ninety-nine percent of their fights were because he was complaining that they weren't having enough sex,' the source said. 'If they had sex like four times in one day, there was a complaint.' Sources told Page Six that Ruelas could be the organizer of a meetup group called Allendale Sacred Sexuality Meetup, which was created in 2016 by 'Louie R.' and based where he lives. Friendly: Sources told Page Six that Ruelas could be the organizer of a meetup group called Allendale Sacred Sexuality Meetup, which was created in 2016 by 'Louie R.' and based where he lives Insiders believe Ruelas is at the helm of the group for people who 'love themselves and love their bodies' and are 'entranced by the height of Tantric massage.' Ruelas' representatives denied he was seeking specific encounters or created the account; they also noted he was not on Tinder despite a similar profile showing up with his information. 'The Meetup profile and the Tinder profile have nothing to do with Louie and were created by others to harass him,' a rep for Ruelas told Page Six. 'These people need to get a life and move on. He has, it's time for them to do the same.' A source cautioned the RHONJ star: 'Teresa's going to get the business; he's really good at this. He knows how to make everyone fall in love with him, and then he'll punish her behind the scenes and then she will look like the villain.' Teresa recently vacationed in the Bahamas with her four daughters Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana and her ex-husband, a holiday which also included Luis. She served a nearly year-long prison stint in 2015 for a guilty plea to 41 counts of fraud after being charged accused of engaging in bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud with Joe. He was deported back to Italy in 2019 after serving a 41-month prison sentence. ALBUQUERQUE Despite having one of the highest poverty rates in the country, New Mexico is surging past states with far more resources in the race to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus. After New Mexico put into motion one of the most efficient vaccine rollouts in the United States, more than 57 percent of its adult population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Hampshire is the only state with a higher vaccination rate. Nearly 38 percent of New Mexico adults are fully vaccinated, more than any other state. The feat is providing some relief in a state where Hispanic and Native American residents groups that have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus together account for 60 percent of the population. Going into the pandemic with a dearth of financial resources compared with richer states, and vulnerabilities like having fewer hospital beds per capita than nearly every other state, the authorities in New Mexico saw the vaccine as their most powerful weapon to stave off an even more harrowing crisis. It was super important for us to get it right because we are a more resource-challenged location, said Dr. Meghan Brett, an epidemiologist at University of New Mexico Hospital. Chuck O'Rear It's a picture anyone who's ever used a computer has likely seen before: a brilliant blue sky stretching out atop rolling green hills, the colors so vivid they hardly seem real. But as the photographer behind it will explain, the beloved photo known as "Bliss" is as real as it gets and so, too, is the enduring, picture-perfect love story that made it possible. "I always carry a camera with me, because you just never know," Chuck O'Rear, the photographer who took the famous photo, tells PEOPLE. "I used to pull over often to take photos. I think the scenery there was so beautiful." There, of course, was Sonoma, where he snapped "Bliss" in January 1996 during a pitstop on his way to visit Daphne Larkin, a former journalist with whom he'll celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary in June. For the couple, who now call North Carolina home, "Bliss" is just a blip on the radar of their romance, which started in the most unlikely of ways: four combined divorces and the devastating loss of a child. RELATED: Husband and Wife Who Met While Stranded Because of 9/11 Reveal the Lesson of Their Love Story Terence Ford Chuck O'Rear holds a framed copy of "Bliss" Larkin, 75, tells PEOPLE that the love story that ultimately brought the world "Bliss" actually began after her second divorce, which left her a single mother of two living in San Francisco. Dating was difficult for Larkin, a journalist who worked at Newsweek and the United Nations, among other places, as much of her focus was on her young son Lucien, who'd been born with a congenital heart defect and had heart failure, lung disease and could not speak. Though Larkin soon channeled the trials and tribulations of raising a child with disabilities into an award-winning column for Parenting magazine, she was more focused on raising Lucien and his younger sister Zoe than on landing a man. But in May 1992, Larkin's world was turned upside down when Lucien died at 10 years old. Story continues Dave Gruen Lucien and Zoe Markus "After Lucien died, I said, 'This is it. I'm done. I'm not going to date anybody else until l see somebody that I might want to spend the rest of my life with,'" she says. Enter O'Rear. A longtime photographer for National Geographic magazine, he, too, had been through two divorces, and was also raising a son with a disability. Their paths crossed for the first time in 1994, at lunch in Napa Valley with a mutual friend named Jane, and though O'Rear, 79, had a girlfriend in Washington, D.C. at the time, it wasn't long before both began to see their future in a whole new light. "When I saw Chuck walk in that door I thought, 'That guy has some purpose,'" Larkin recalls. "He came in so assuredly and he was so attractive. Jane and I were waiting and he came and sat down at the table poor Jane. She thought she was going to have a nice time talking to Chuck, and it just became a two-way conversation between him and I for the next hour or so." RELATED VIDEO: Bill & Melinda Gates Reveal That They Unwind From Saving the World by Watching This Is Us "It was really magical and I never had anything quite like that," she adds. "It was a magical thing that happened at that restaurant." The two began as friends, meeting up for dinner once a month for a year, and growing close as they found common ground in their shared journalism backgrounds, and in raising children with disabilities. RELATED: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's Untold Love Story: 'She Never Looked at Anyone Else' Chuck ORear Chuck O'Rear in 1981 with his daughter, Stephanie Carpenter, and son Michael "We do have that in common, an appreciation, an understanding, an empathy," O'Rear says. "If each of us had not had kids with disabilities, I'm not sure that would've allowed us to connect on the level we did. It really helped bring us together." Once O'Rear broke things off with his East Coast girlfriend, the two were free to strike up a romance, and did so with a trip around the world drinking wine on assignment for Nat Geo. Chuck ORear Chuck O'Rear and Daphne Larkin in Beaune, France in 1996 "It was great fun drinking all that wine, and falling in love," Larkin recalls of their globetrotting. Once they returned home, with their relationship in full bloom, O'Rear began visiting Larkin on the regular, driving about an hour and 15 minutes from his home in St. Helena, California to her house in Marin County on the weekends. It was during one of his routine journeys that he took "Bliss" in a location he passed through during each and every visit. In fact, the act of stopping to take photos was so normal for O'Rear, Larkin didn't even know he'd taken the picture until Microsoft offered to buy it for six figures several years later, just before their wedding in June 2001. "It was just another picture for Chuck," she says. Jerry Alexander Daphne Larkin and Chuck O'Rear at their Napa Valley wedding in 2001 Soon, though, the image that was "just another picture" became iconic, as Microsoft plucked it from a stock photo agency called Corbis, named it "Bliss" and made it the default background of the newly launched Windows XP. "I get emails maybe every week or two, something related to the 'Bliss' photograph," O'Rear says. "When I die, although I won't be buried, Daphne has said, on your tombstone, we're not going to say National Geographic, we're going to say 'Photographer of Bliss.'" "Twenty-five years at Geographic and nobody ever gives a damn about that," Larkin quips of her husband's claim to fame. "Bliss" in New York City Though O'Rear still has no idea why Microsoft chose the image, he knows it's one that has cemented his legacy, for better or worse. "The picture, no matter where we've been in the world India, Thailand, Greece that picture is always there, either on some old computer in an upscale hotel that hasn't been updated in 30 years in the lobby the people are checking you in on, or, we saw that picture in billboards, airplanes, at airports," Larkin says. "We were walking through the Chicago airport years ago and there it was." Adds O'Rear: "When North Korea agreed to sort of talk to South Korea a couple years ago, there was a news story online and the South Korean person is sitting at a computer and has a direct link to North Korea. That was the first moment of connection between those two countries, and what was on the screen?" South Korea Unification Ministry/AP/Shutterstock "Chuck said, 'My photo made peace between South and North Korea,'" Larkin finishes. Mario Tama/Getty Bill Gates introduces Windows XP in 2001 Despite O'Rear's claim to fame, the couple say they're actually Apple people, and don't own Microsoft computers. (Larkin has made "Bliss," which is widely considered the most viewed photograph of all time, the background photo on her Mac. "I never get tired of looking at it," she says.) The pair, who have written a series of coffee table books together, relocated from the West Coast to North Carolina in 2017, and now live a, well, blissful life of their own near Larkin's daughter Zoe, 36. Chuck ORear Daphne Larkin and Chuck O'Rear's 2001 engagement photo "We start every day on a long hike," she says. "In the summer, we swim around lunchtime off our dock in our lake. We have a wonderful community of people Three is a charm. We finally know how to do it right." Remains of a 'high-status' Roman villa and bath house have been discovered beneath a building site near Scarborough in North Yorkshire. The 'fantastic find' was made during archaeological excavations at a housing development in the small town of Eastfield. Excavations revealed a large complex of buildings including a circular central room with a number of rooms leading off it, as well as the bath house. Archaeologists believe the remains are likely to represent a high-status luxury Roman villa or religious sanctuary, or a combination of both. They're likely the first of their kind to be found in Britain and possibly the entire ancient Roman Empire, which spanned from England to western Asia at its peak around AD 100. Photo issued by Historic England of rare Roman remains discovered during archaeological excavations at a housing development in Eastfield, Scarborough 'These archaeological remains are a fantastic find and are far more than we ever dreamed of discovering at this site,' said Keith Emerick, inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England. 'They are already giving us a better knowledge and understanding of Roman Britain.' Housing developer Keepmoat Homes employed archaeologists to carry out excavations at the site, which has now been redesigned to conserve the find. 'We are grateful to Keepmoat Homes for their sensitive and professional approach to helping ensure the future conservation of this important historical site,' said Emerick. Historic England said it will recommend that the remains be protected as a nationally important scheduled monument. A scheduled monument is an important archaeological or historic site that is given protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Eastfield is a town in North Yorkshire, England. Housing developer Keepmoat Homes is based in Doncaster The excavations revealed a large complex of buildings including a circular central room with a number of rooms leading off it, as well as a bath house A spokesman for Historic England said the remains were more significant than anticipated. 'This type of building layout has never been seen before in Britain and could even be the first of its kind to be discovered within the whole former Roman Empire,' they said. Historic England will grant aid for the additional archaeological work, which will include the analysis and publication of discoveries made at the site. 'This is a remarkable discovery, which adds to the story of Roman settlement in North Yorkshire,' said Karl Battersby, corporate director, business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council. 'Work by North Yorkshire archaeologists has already established the buildings were designed by the highest-quality architects in Northern Europe in the era and constructed by the finest craftsmen. Archaeology experts believe the remains are likely to represent a high-status luxury Roman villa or religious sanctuary, or perhaps a combination of both 'Because of the significance of this, it is excellent to see that the layout of the new housing has been redesigned so this important part of our history can be preserved. 'There will be further work on the finds and environmental samples to try to establish exactly what this enigmatic site was and why it was created so far from other Roman centres.' David Walker, Scarborough Borough Council planning manager, added: 'We are pleased to grant a change to Keepmoat's original planning application to accommodate the preservation of this nationally important archaeological discovery. 'In creating new homes for future generations, it is only right that we keep alive the fascinating history of those that have gone before us and how they lived.' Use-of-force expert for defense says Derek Chauvin was justified in kneeling on George Floyd WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Novavax Inc. (NVAX) said that Greg Covino will step down as Chief Financial Officer and will take on a new role as executive adviser to the company. The company noted that John Trizzino, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Business Officer, will assume the CFO role on an interim basis while a search is under way for Covino's replacement. Novavax promoted Gale Smith to Senior Vice President, Discovery and Pre-Clinical Research and Chief Scientist. It appointed Troy Morgan as Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer. Morgan will oversee the strategic direction of the company's comprehensive compliance program in a newly created role, which will help to ensure that all respective requirements are met across the organization. He will report directly to John Herrmann, III, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective April 19, 2021. 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. In stark contrast, operators providing tours, accommodation, events and experiences reported a 46 per cent decline. Western Australians are doing the classic drive and drop or fly and flop, TCWA chief executive Evan Hall said. They get there, stay in their accommodation and really have a self-service experience from there. West Australians do different things to our other visitors and spend a lot less because they are more self-sufficient. One of the regions iconic attractions the Busselton Jetty has seen these intrastate tourism habits first-hand, with its visitor numbers down since international borders closed. The jettys chief executive Lisa Shreeve encouraged West Australian travellers to stop and hop instead. Hop on a tour bus, a winery tour or a walk, Ms Shreeve said. I think the perception is the South West has gone really well and doesnt need any help, and in part that is right, because some hotels and restaurants are doubling or tripling last years figures, but there is a two-speed economy happening down here. There are lots of businesses in the South West that arent going well. A Margaret River winery Credit:Tourism WA According to Tourism Research Australia, 952,000 intrastate visitors went on an overnight trip in Western Australia in January 2021, up 3 per cent from the 926,000 visitors recorded in January 2020. While these travellers spent $774 million 20 per cent more in that month than in January 2020 it was not enough to compensate for the absence of interstate visitors. Total expenditure on overnight trips by interstate and international travellers in January 2021 was $876 million, down $105 million year-on-year. The absence of international visitors, which traditionally spend the most per visitor, further exacerbated this trend. Sharna Kearney, joint chief executive of the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, said the statewide decline in tourism visitation and spending was represented in the South West region, especially in relation to tours and attractions. Visitation to the four caves the group manages is down as much as 20 per cent year to date, with visitors to its two lighthouses down as much as 50 per cent. The regions visitation pre-COVID was 80 per cent from Perth, 10 per cent interstate and 10 per cent international, but those last two groups accounted for a much larger portion of the spend, Ms Kearney explained. They are likely to do and spend more while they are here, and so it was a valuable part of our tourism industry, more than the 20 per cent in visitor numbers might otherwise suggest. Our caves and lighthouses, and the Busselton Jetty, are all examples of attractions that would index higher with interstate and international travellers. The number of interstate and international visitors for those attractions would probably track closer to 40 per cent, rather than the regional average of 20 per cent so they are naturally going to be more impacted by the border restrictions. Ms Kearney said among the associations members, almost every sector has a very different story and different challenges whereas normally the sector moves as one. Its a really tricky balancing act for business at the moment, she said. There are varied challenges many wineries, accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes are struggling to get enough staff to manage their operations. A lot of the businesses that are doing really well arent doing as well as what they could be because they have to manage what they can provide from a staffing point of view. A good example is restaurants, and there were quite a few over Easter, that didnt do a la carte and only did set menus because they didnt have the staff in the kitchen or on the floor. Loading George Scott, general manager of the Beer Farm in Metricup, said the region had been absolutely pumping and the venue had regularly been at capacity but agreed many hospitality businesses were finding recruitment almost impossible. A few businesses I know have had to restrict their opening times because they havent been able to staff their operations. Our team has been working really hard to keep up with demand, he said. Cape to Cape Explorer Tours founder Gene Hardy said while business had remained relatively strong, he had struggled to find housekeeping and catering staff in the region. A friend from California sent me a document from the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Its called Cannabis Equity Grants Programs For Local Jurisdictions. As I read the document, Californias program will provide $2 million to help localities establish a cannabis equity program. An additional $13 million will be used to help equity applicants set up and operate cannabis businesses. Equity applicants include (and seem to be limited to) people who have been convicted of using and/or selling cannabis. Far out! Heres the justification: Cannabis prohibition and criminalization had a devastating impact on populations and communities across California. Individuals convicted of a cannabis offense and their families suffer the long-term consequences of prohibition and criminalization. These individuals have a more difficult time entering the newly created adult-use cannabis industry due, in part, to a lack of access to capital, business space, technical support, and regulatory compliance assistance. Thus, granting preferential treatment to drug criminals, including dealers, is a kind of reparation. Naturally, race and ethnicity figure in the analysis: During the era of cannabis prohibition in California, the burdens of arrest, convictions, and longterm collateral consequences arising from a conviction fell disproportionately on African American/Black and Latinx/Hispanic people, even though people of all races used and sold cannabis at nearly identical rates. The California Department of Justice data shows that from 2006 2015, inclusive, African American/Black Californians were two times more likely to be arrested for cannabis misdemeanors and five times more likely to be arrested for cannabis felonies than Caucasian/White Californians. During the same period, Latinx/Hispanic Californians were 35 percent more likely to be arrested for cannabis crimes than Caucasian/White Californians. The collateral consequences associated with cannabis law violations, coupled with generational poverty and lack of access to resources, make it extraordinarily difficult for persons with convictions to enter the newly regulated industry. (Emphasis added) Accordingly: The purpose of the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions is to advance economic justice for populations and communities harmed by cannabis prohibition and the War on Drugs (WoD) by providing support to local jurisdictions as they promote equity and eliminate barriers to enter the newly regulated cannabis industry for equity program applicants and licensees. By issuing these grants to local jurisdictions, GO-Biz aims to advance the wellbeing of populations and communities that have been negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition and the WoD. The documents wording makes me wonder what alleged barrier to entry into the cannabis business is actually driving the cannabis equity program. California cites collateral consequences associated with cannabis law violations and generational poverty. But which is the main barrier? In other words, is California really trying to offset the effects of criminal convictions or is this just another, albeit particularly bizarre, racial preference dressed up as justice for war on drug victims? Racial preferences are bad enough. But giving preferential treatment to criminals rewarding drug dealers, including those who sold to kids, for their past crimes seems crazy. Crazy, but not unprecedented. The left wants to reward millions of people who violated our immigration laws by granting them legal status and, indeed, citizenship. Those who took our laws seriously and followed the correct procedures for entry and citizenship take a back seat. Same, now, with those who didnt turn kids on to drugs for profit. The left has an understandable motive for rewarding violators of our immigration law. Doing so will create millions of new voters to support its agenda. Whats the motive for cannabis equity? Maybe its not entirely dissimilar funneling money to two favored Democratic constituencies, Blacks and criminals. In the name of equity, of course. A dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is prepared in a vaccination center at Newmarket Racecourse, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Newmarket, England, on March 26, 2021. (Andrew Couldridge/Reuters) Denmark Drops AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Amid Reports of Blood Clots Denmark became the first country in Europe to abandon use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, after the country and more than a dozen other European Union nations suspended its usage. Denmarks health agency director, Soren Brostrom, said Denmark wont use the shot as part of its vaccination campaigneven as the World Health Organization (WHO) and EUs European Medicines Agency (EMA) have said the benefits of using the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the negatives amid reports of rare blood clots. Overall, we must say that the results show that there is a real and serious side effect signal in the vaccine from AstraZeneca, said Brostrom in a statement. Based on an overall consideration, we have therefore chosen to continue the vaccination programme for all target groups without this vaccine. Noting that its been a difficult decision to make, Brostrom said the upcoming target groups for vaccination are less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19, and officials must weigh this against the fact that we now have a known risk of severe adverse effects from vaccination with AstraZeneca, even if the risk in absolute terms is slight. Danish officials previously said that two people who had received the vaccine against the CCP virus suffered from severe blood clots. One of them died, they said last month. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus is also known as the novel coronavirus. In March, most of the countries that stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine ultimately resumed its use. On April 7, the EMA said in a statement that theres a possible link between rare blood clots and the vaccine, adding that it is reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination. Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed, it stated. The decision to not use AstraZenecas shot will push back the scheduled conclusion of Denmarks vaccination scheme to early August from July 25, Danish officials said. Denmark also uses the U.S.-made Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which requires two shots. Denmark was also the first nation to stop using the vaccine in March. AstraZeneca officials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. AstraZeneca said in March that it would like to offer its reassurance on the safety of its COVID-19 vaccine based on clear scientific evidence, adding that a careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and UK with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country. This week, U.S. health agencies recommended that the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine be suspended amid reports of blood clots. Former President Donald Trump, in a statement, criticized the decision, saying that he believes it was halted for possibly political reasons, as the Food and Drug Administration has more love for Pfizer. Reuters contributed to this report. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions YEREVAN. The core of Armenia's external security is the Armenian-Russian military alliance, which is specified by several dozen strategic agreements and mutual obligations. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020. "In this sense, the joint Armenian-Russian single military grouping and the joint Armenian-Russian air defense system in the Caucasus region of collective security are of practical importance. By the logic of these two systems, an attack on Armenia means an attack on Russia, and the two countries must jointly face external challenges," Pashinyan said. He underlined that in this context, the large-scale process of reforms of the Armenian Armed Forces has started, which will first include structural and then substantive reforms. "In the strategic perspective, we imagine that we should seriously discuss Armenias transition to a professional army, we should be able to considerably change the structure of the term-based military service. In addition, we are discussing the issue of enriching the capabilities of the Russian 102nd military base in [Gyumri city of] Armenia, as well as there are effective discussions with our Russian partners on establishing an outpost of the 102nd military base in Syunik Province; also, that the Russian border guards take part in the protection of Armenias state border in some parts of Syunik Province. In the strategic perspective, we imagine that the protection of the parts of the border carried out by the Armenian Armed Forces will be assigned to the border guards, whereas the army divisions will deal exclusively with the issues of enhancing combat-preparedness, combat-readiness. The army should be engaged exclusively in the tasks of combat-readiness in its non-combat locations. They should not be engaged in agriculture half the week and the other halfin military work. This is a long process, it is not possible to do it in 1-2 days; this started in 2018," added the Armenian PM. DOVER, Del. (AP) A Delaware judge on Monday gave final approval to a $65 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit involving thousands of residents of a southern Delaware community affected by groundwater contamination from a local poultry processing facility. Approval of the settlement by a Superior Court Judge Craig Karsnitz coincided with a federal magistrate judge signing off Monday on a consent decree between state environmental regulators and Mountaire Farms. The consent decree was submitted more than two years ago but was held up by the legal dispute between Mountaire and area residents in state court. The approvals bring an end to lengthy and convoluted litigation in state and federal courts stemming from a wastewater treatment system failure at Mountaires Millsboro facility in 2017. In addition to settling the class-action lawsuit, Mountaire is expected to spend at least $120 million as part of the consent decree to upgrade its wastewater treatment system. In settling the lawsuit, Mountaire denied any liability for nitrate contamination in residential supply wells, excessive air emissions of hydrogen sulfide, or any health problems experienced by residents. While Mountaire does not believe that it caused any damage to any of the plaintiffs, it chose to settle the case in order to achieve a final resolution and to allow construction of a new wastewater treatment plant to proceed, the company said in a statement. Mountaire has been the subject of several lawsuits involving its handling of wastewater and sludge from poultry processing operations. The company agreed in December 2019 to pay a $420,000 civil penalty and upgrade its wastewater system as part of the proposed consent decree with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The agreement was aimed at resolving spray irrigation and land application permit violations cited by DNREC in 2017. In addition to the civil penalty, Mountaire agreed to offer residents living near its Millsboro plant options for an alternative water supply, including whole-house filtration systems, deeper wells or connections to a public water supply system. The company also agreed to pay a $230,000 administrative penalty regarding violations at its Selbyville facility and other violations in Millsboro that were not related to the 2017 wastewater treatment system failure. The company was allowed to offset up to $115,000 of that administrative penalty through a wetlands restoration or enhancement project. In January, DNREC issued two permits enabling Mountaire to move forward with the required facility upgrade and remediation efforts. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Germany has accused Russia of seeking provocation with its troop buildup in the occupied Crimean Peninsula and along the border with Ukraine, while rejecting Moscow's claim that it was responding to threats from NATO. "My impression is that the Russian side is trying everything to provoke a reaction," German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told public broadcaster ARD television on April 14. "Together with Ukraine, we won't be drawn into this game," she said, adding it was clear that Russia "is just waiting for a move, so to speak, from NATO, to have a pretext to continue its actions." Recent photographs, video, and other data suggest major movements of Russian armed units toward or near Ukraine's borders and into Crimea, seized by Moscow in 2014, fueling concerns that Russia is preparing to send forces into Ukraine. Ukraine and the West also blame Moscow-backed separatists holding parts of the country's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk for a recent spike in hostilities, while Moscow has pointed the finger at Kyiv. Kramp-Karrenbauer also cast doubt on Moscow's claim that the buildup is in response to "threats" from the transatlantic alliance. "If it is a maneuver, like the Russian side says, there are international procedures through which one can create transparency and trust," she said. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegitimate by at least 100 countries after Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted amid a wave of public protests. Moscow also backs separatists in a war against Ukrainian government forces that has killed more than 13,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. With tensions rising, U.S. President Joe Biden on April 13 urged his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to take measures to de-escalate the situation with Kyiv and proposed a summit between the two leaders in a third country. In a phone call with Putin, Biden "voiced our concerns over the sudden Russian military buildup" while reaffirming "his goal of building a stable and predictable relationship with Russia consistent with U.S. interests, and proposed a summit meeting in a third country in the coming months to discuss the full range of issues facing the United States and Russia," a White House statement said. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on April 14 that the Kremlin will consider Biden's proposal. "It is early to talk about this meeting in terms of specifics. This is a new proposal and it will be studied. There will be an analysis," he told reporters. Such a summit would be the first between Putin and Biden, who took office vowing a tougher stance toward Moscow than the one taken by his predecessor, Donald Trump. Some analysts have suggested that Russias recent actions may be meant to test the new U.S. administration and its commitment to Ukraine. The Kremlin has rejected Western calls to pull back its troops from the border region, denying they are a threat and adding that military movements within Russia are an internal sovereign issue. It has also warned that Moscow "will not remain indifferent" to the fate of Russian speakers who live in Ukraines east. Citing a Russian Foreign Ministry source, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that Putin's foreign-policy adviser, Yury Ushakov, had told the U.S. ambassador in Moscow on April 13 that Moscow would act decisively if the United States undertook any new "unfriendly steps," such as imposing sanctions. Speaking to the Vesti FM radio station on April 14, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused NATO of "playing games" with Kyiv, inciting politicians there to maintain tensions in eastern Ukraine, according to TASS. The previous day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Moscow has deployed troops to its western borders for "combat training exercises" in response to NATO "military activities that threaten Russia." But it was not clear to which activities Shoigu was referring, as the Western security alliance has denied making any military moves in the region. Shoigu didn't elaborate, but he could have been referencing the DEFENDER-Europe 21 military exercises taking place in Europe and Africa, which began in March and involve almost 30,000 troops from 26 countries. Nearly 30 Ukrainian soldiers have been reported killed since the start of the year, compared with 50 in all of 2020. Separatists have said more than 20 of their fighters had been killed so far in 2021. The exercises, which will run into June, are taking place in various countries, including Estonia -- which shares a border with Russia -- Bulgaria and Romania. According to Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy's office, Russia has massed more than 40,000 troops both on Ukraine's eastern border and in the occupied Crimean Peninsula. Kyiv has so far reacted in a "sober" manner, the German defense minister said in the ARD interview, stressing that NATO allies were "committed to Ukraine, that is very clear." On April 13, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held talks in Brussels with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who accused Russia of taking "very provocative" actions. Blinken also affirmed the United States' "unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression." At a news conference, Stoltenberg called on Moscow to end "the largest massing of Russian troops since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014," saying the movements were "unjustified, unexplained, and deeply concerning." Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said one of its soldiers was killed and three wounded on April 13 when separatists fired 82-millimeter mortar rounds toward Ukrainian positions, as well as grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and automatic rifles. Nearly 30 Ukrainian soldiers have been reported killed since the start of the year, compared with 50 in all of 2020, when fighting in the conflict subsided as a new cease-fire deal came into force in July. Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have said more than 20 of their fighters have been killed so far in 2021. Highlighting the growing tensions between Kyiv and Moscow, Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran said on April 14 that Russia is preparing Crimea for potentially storing nuclear weapons and warned that Moscow could attack Ukraine to ensure water supplies for the annexed peninsula. Taran, who made the statement to the European Parliament's defense sub-committee in Brussels, did not immediately provide evidence for his assertions. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said it had deployed tanks and artillery near the administrative border of Crimea on April 14 to practice repelling a force of tanks and infantry trying to break through the countrys defenses. The drills came as the Russian Navy began exercises in the Black Sea ahead of the expected arrival of two U.S. warships in the area this week, Russian news agencies reported. The drills will involve surface vessels from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Crimea, along with helicopters and planes, and will rehearse firing at surface and air targets, according to Interfax With reporting by AFP, UNIAN, TASS, Interfax, and Reuters A man was arrested and charged after protesters clashed with police outside a lunch attended by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Perth on Wednesday. The group of about 40 activists were surrounded by a heavy police presence as they protested several issues including the governments response to climate change, its handling of refugees and its treatment of women. The protestors were from a range of groups including United Against Bigotry and Racism, Extinction Rebellion and Rainbow Rebellion. A smaller group was chanting for Scott Morrisons resignation when police moved in on them, resulting in a brief scuffle. BOLINGBROOK, Ill., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsive, a leading data-centric omnichannel marketing agency, announced today that it has acquired OverflowWorks, a data-driven marketing agency located in Southern California that focuses on customer acquisition for the mortgage industry. OverflowWorks provides turnkey targeted marketing services that reach "most likely to refinance" individuals, delivering industry leading response rates. Brad Moore, CEO of Amsive, said, "In our efforts to add best-of-breed agencies that share our mission of leveraging data in unique ways across the omnichannel landscape, OverflowWorks became a natural fit. The team has a proven track record of delivering strong results in the highly-competitive mortgage lending space, among other niche verticals." Jeff Bush, Founder of OverflowWorks said, "Amsive's full suite of in-house marketing services and core competency in financial services makes them the right partner for us. We look forward to working with the Amsive team to continue driving industry-leading results to our clients." Amsive is a new marketing services agency that builds on a strong foundation in data-centric marketing by bringing together leaders in data intelligence, creative services, and digital marketing. The creation of Amsive follows a series of strategic acquisitions over the past 18 months. Amsive provides a unified service offering to drive customer acquisition and engagement across financial services, insurance, healthcare, and other industries. "We are excited to support this strategic acquisition," said Ryan Kaplan, Managing Director of H.I.G. Capital, "OverflowWorks aligns extremely well with Amsive's core mission of providing high-ROI data-centric marketing services that drive customer acquisition and engagement for its clients." About OverflowWorks OverflowWorks is a data-driven marketing agency specializing in lead generation and conversion in the mortgage lending space and other niche verticals. Utilizing a unique configuration of data, coupled with highly engaging personalized messaging, Overflow Works provides a high return on clients' marketing investment. For more information, please visit overflowworks.com About Amsive Amsive is a data-centric, omnichannel, marketing services agency that delivers market share growth with innovative customer acquisition and engagement solutions. Amsive operates as a full-service agency that brings marketing to life by shaping strategy, identifying audiences, developing impactful messaging, and executing omnichannel communications while measuring and analyzing results. Amsive's digital group, Amsive Digital, optimizes marketing programs across a full suite of digital solutions, including SEO, paid search, social media, display, design and development, and video production. For more information, please visit amsive.com and amsivedigital.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 higcapital.com. * Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. Contact: Joan Patrick - VP Marketing & Communications 331 318 7742 [email protected] SOURCE Amsive Related Links www.amsive.com YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The government-backed bill on creating a specialized court examining only alleged cases of corruption passed parliament 80-33-1 during the April 14 second reading. The Anti-Corruption Court will have at least 15 judges. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Ireland and ADB working together for a green post COVID-19 recovery for Small Island States Press release The Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President, Ahmed Saeed, today co-hosted a virtual consultation with leaders from the small island states of the Pacific aimed at preparing for a sustainable post COVID-19 recovery. Minister Brophy said: The small islands are suffering very significantly as a result of the pandemic. They are also already suffering arguably the worst effects of a climate emergency they didnt create. Ireland is determined to ensure their voices are heard and that their needs are clearly understood by the international community. Todays event was an important opportunity to listen to their ideas and concerns as part of the process of building back better and greener post COVID-19. Today I reiterated Irelands steadfast friendship with fellow small island states. We actively advocate for the Pacific island states at the EU table and as part of our ongoing membership of the UN Security Council. Participants in the event included leaders from Vanuatu, Fiji and the Marshall Islands. Also taking part were Selwyn Hart, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Climate and Ambassador Ken OFlaherty, UK envoy for the UN Climate Summit (COP26) to be held in Glasgow in November. In 2019, Ireland adopted its first strategy for cooperation with Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Ireland, through Irish Aid, has committed 12m over the period 2019-2014 to the establishment, within the ADB, of the Ireland Trust Fund for Building Climate Change and Disaster Resilience in Small Island Developing States, with 4.2m assigned so far. This funding is enabling projects which are enhancing the preparations and adaptations which small islands must make as they prepare for the effects of climate change. This includes supporting communities in Tonga and Vanuatu as they design more resilient infrastructure, and promoting the building of better coastal defences in Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Timor Leste. ENDS Press Office 14 April 2021 Previous Item | Next Item Google Play Movies will no longer be available for most smart TVs starting July 15. However, Google plans to provides support for users who paid money buying their movies. fortunately, there is a way to access purchased movies after the Google Play Movies app is removed. TheNewsWeb is not the first to report bad reviews on the Google Play Movies and TV app. Complaints include the app having a bad name, inconsistent pricing rates, poor movie resolution, and a bad user interface. Google is now taking steps to shut down its app permanently. Google Play Movies will no longer be available for most smart TVs, including LG, Samsung, Roku and Vizio. However, Google has taken steps to make amends for users who have made purchases in the app. Google Play Movies Available on YouTube Google support page informs users will still have access to Google home movies and shows through the YouTube app. Both are connected through Google accounts, so be careful about using the same account to open movies. All past purchases, content, and rent merchandise would also be available on YouTube. However, the Wishlist and Playlists will not be converted, so users would have to create new lists in the YouTube account. Google Play Movies should be available on the "Your movies and shows" section on the YouTube App. On mobile, this can be accessed in the "Library" icon, and on desktop, it is accessed by the three horizontal lines beside the YouTube icon. The Verge reported that the same system also allows users to access the service "Movies Anywhere" that users previously used to redeem codes from DVD and Blu-ray digital media. Starting July 15, users can access their movies and TV content in this manner: Android and Tablet users- Google TV app or YouTube app iPhone and iPad users- Google TV app or YouTube app Chromecast users - Google TV app Android TV users - Google TV app LG, Roku, Samsung and Vizio Smart TVs - YouTube app Roku device users - YouTube App Website users - Google TV website or YouTube website. Read Also: YouTube Copyright Issue Solved: New Feature to Warn Content Creators! Other Important Notes The Twitter account @liliputingnews also posted a few more things users should be aware of. Google is shutting down the Google Play Movies & TV apps for Roku, Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs on June 15, but past purchases should be available in the YouTube apps for those platforms, and you can use Play credits with YouTube. Watchlists won't transfer though. pic.twitter.com/WJh0qAYTPg Liliputing (@liliputingnews) April 12, 2021 Google Play credits can be used to make YouTube movie purchases. Play Family Library purchases can be viewed on YouTube. It is also available on the Google Play website or app and will continue to support family sharing. However, purchases made exclusively on YouTube are not eligible for family sharing. Google provides a "Thank You" gift for Google Play Movie & TV users who are affected by this system change. They will be giving a unique code to receive extra credit when applying for a movie or show purchase. Google Support also remains to be available for these services. Simply head to Google's Help Center to make an inquiry. Related Article: YouTube Logo Takes Drastic Shift With Minimalist Icons: Check the Logo Evolution The unmasked woman caught on video coughing and striking her Uber driver has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office confirmed Wednesday. The 24-year-old defendant, Arna Kimiai was arrested with her friend in March after their Uber driver, Subhakar Khadka, shared a video of the passengers hitting, coughing on and ripping off his mask after he ended the ride because one of the women was not wearing her mask. The women, who were picked up in San Francisco, became aggressive with the driver after he told them he wouldn't complete the ride. Kimiai also tried to grab his phone and ripped his mask off his face. Kimiai turned herself in a week after the incident and after video of the attack went viral. She has been charged with assault and attempted first-degree robbery, both felonies, as well as battery on a transit employee, and violation of a local health ordinance, which are misdemeanors. Kimiais next court date has been set for May 3. She is expected to appear alongside her co-defendant, Malaysia King, 24, another passenger in the car. A GoFundMe drive that was set up to assist Khadka had raised more than $106,216 as of Wednesday. The driver told the Chronicle that he will spend the money on pursuing legal action and to support his family. The attack on March 7 happened after Khadka picked up the three women passengers in the Portola district of San Francisco, at the corner of San Bruno Avenue and Felton Street. After Khadka saw that one of the women wasnt wearing a mask, he ended the ride and told the women they were free to leave his car, which they refused to do. He told the passengers that if they didnt leave, he would stop in the middle of the freeway. Kimiai, who was not wearing a mask when she coughed on the driver, struck Khadka in the head with her elbow before ripping off his mask. After the women left, one of them pepper-sprayed inside the window. King was also arrested in Las Vegas later that week. Chronicle staff writer Mallory Moench contributed to this report. Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @annievain popular top story Wednesday's vaccination updates: 5,835 Champaign Co. seniors yet to be vaccinated; 45% of adults have received at least 1 dose; DACC offers free class to anyone with vaccination card Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 16:43:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Over 78 percent of global netizens expressed opposition to Japan's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater into sea, according to an exclusive survey posted by Xinhua on its Twitter account on Tuesday. A total of 1,121 Twitter users took part in the survey which was of a single-choice vote and lasted for 24 hours. Of all the respondents, 65.7 percent voted "strongly against" and 13.2 percent voted "against." Only 11.2 percent voted "support," while 9.8 percent had no comments. The respondents' concerns mainly focused on the wastewater's lasting harm to the marines and human beings, Japan's irresponsibility and Western countries' collective silence on the matter. Sara Gomez Arancibia wrote with angry face emojis: "For me, (this) is a big mistake that goes against the respect of marine resources across our planet earth." Ahsen Abro wrote: "Radiation water reached the coast of California years ago, increasing cancer cases there by a wide margin. What's this stunt show about?" Edison Aardvark wrote: "We need more information on the effects. This affects the waters shared by many nations." Magic Stone wrote: "So surprised and shocked that someone still support this unethical and irresponsible decision." A netizen called subhasis said: "Neighbouring countries should sue the Japanese government." Another netizen called Bill said: "The Western and its media all keep in silence. Japan brought disaster to human beings during World War Two. Now, Japan again is dragging human beings into hell. Where are the U.S., Britain and their mainstream media? They choose deliberately to be blind." Xinhua also posted the same poll on Xinhua News app, where 389 netizens participated. Results showed that 95 percent of the respondents voiced objection to Japan's decision, among whom 87 percent were strongly against it. Only 1 percent supported it, while 4 percent had no comments. Earlier on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said his government had decided to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea. The water, according to reports, has been treated using an advanced liquid processing system, or ALPS, to remove most contaminants. However, things like tritium, a radioactive byproduct of nuclear reactors, are hard to filter out. The Fukushima nuclear plant has been struggling to store the contaminated water in huge tanks at the facility where more than 1.25 million tons of contaminated water are currently stored, and the plant is expected to reach capacity next year. Japan had considered evaporating or storing underground the tritium-laced water from the plant as an alternative. However, the Japanese government decided to dilute the contaminated water and discharge it into the sea because it was more technically feasible and would save on costs. Struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011, the No. 1-3 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns. The plant has been generating massive amount of radiation-tainted water since the accident happened as it needs water to cool the reactors. The plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said it will take around two years for the release to start. Japan's decision has raised concerns from neighboring countries, including China, South Korea and Russia, about a possible impact on human health and fishery businesses. It has also faced strong opposition from environmental groups like Greenpeace. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi on Monday called for efforts to forestall further harm to environmental protection, food safety and human health. Enditem CORNER BROOK, NL, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - The health and well-being of Canadians are the top priorities for the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Communities across Canada are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and need immediate assistance to ensure their public infrastructure is safe and reliable. That is why both governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done in these unprecedented times. Today, Gudie Hutchings, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development; the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology announced funding support for eight public and road infrastructure projects in Western Newfoundland. These projects will provide important improvements to public buildings in Corner Brook. The Corner Brook Arts and Culture Center will receive upgrades to the heating and lighting systems; the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary building will receive building control system upgrades; the College of the North Atlantic's Corner Brook Campus will have a garage door replaced; and the Sir Richard Squires Building will receive modern upgrades to the elevator to increase accessibility. In addition, two major roads in Channel-Port aux Basques will receive upgrades, including; asphalt replacement and reconstruction; a storm water collection system replacement; and the installation of associated works such as sidewalks, gutters and curbs. Furthermore, residents in Cox's Cove and Hughes Brook will benefit from local road improvements to ensure safe and reliable driving conditions. The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.2 million toward these projects through COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream and the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing $734,000 towards the projects while the municipalities are providing a total of $624,566. Quotes "Our Government is taking strong and quick action to protect the health and safety of all Canadians, to build-up and strengthen our economy, and to support communities across Canada. Today's eight public infrastructure investments will make sure that the people of Corner Brook, Cox's Cove, Hughes Brook, and Channel-Port aux Basques have access to modern public infrastructure, and reliable roads to get where they need to go. Our infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities." Gudie Hutchings, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development "We're delighted to work with the mayors and town councils and partners in Ottawa for these improvements to our communities. Investments in our public buildings provide better environments for those who depend on them. In addition, an improved road is a safer road, and safer roads make our communities better places to live." The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Quick facts Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities. To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories. Investing in Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories. Under the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects is 80 per cent in the provinces, and 100 per cent in the territories and for projects intended for Indigenous communities. To support smaller-scale projects, the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is providing up to $31 million in existing federal funding to help communities adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years. Across Newfoundland and Labrador , the Government of Canada has invested more than $520 million in 667 infrastructure projects. Related Product Backgrounder Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador invest in Corner Brook Region public infrastructure Joint funding through the Investing in Canada infrastructure program will support eight public and road infrastructure projects in Corner Brook and neighboring municipalities. The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.2 million toward these projects through COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream and the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing $734,774 towards the projects while the municipalities are providing a total of $624,556. Project Information: Project Name Location Fund Project Details Federal Funding Provincial Funding Municipal Funding Corner Brook Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Building Controls Upgrade Corner Brook CVRIS Upgrade building controls at the Corner Brook Royal Newfoundland Constabulary building. $80,000 $20,000 $0 College of the North Atlantic (Corner Brook Campus) Garage Door Replacement Corner Brook CVRIS Replace a garage door at the College of the North Atlantic's Corner Brook Campus. $40,000 $10,000 $0 Sir Richard Squires Building Elevator Modernization Corner Brook CVRIS Elevator modernization at the Sir Richard Squires Building. $400,000 $100,000 $0 Corner Brook Arts and Culture Center Heating and Lighting Upgrade Corner Brook CVRIS Upgrade heating and lighting at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Center. $112,000 $28,000 $0 Park Drive, Retaining Wall/Culvert Replacement Cox's Cove RNIS Replace a timber crib retaining wall and the associated culverts and roadway along 1 kilometre of Park Drive. The project aims to upgrade and protect existing municipal infrastructure in the area of Park Drive as well as improve the road conditions. $110,873 $110,840 $110,840 Street Improvements - Hughes Brook Hughes Brook RNIS Reconstruct and repave Lidstone's Road to improve driving conditions. $90,702 $90,674 $90,702 Cox Avenue Road Construction Channel-Port aux Basques RNIS The reconstruction of Cox Avenue from Legrow Street to Carson Crescent will include the removal and replacement of existing asphalt, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, along with rehabilitation of associated works, such as catch basins, valves and affected nearby properties. $220,405 $220,339 $220,339 Grand Bay Road Storm Sewer Installation Channel-Port aux Basques RNIS The replacement of the storm water collection system along Grand Bay Road, from Allen's Road to Grandview Crescent will include installing 150 m of storm water piping, manholes, and catch basins, as well as upgrades to 270 m of Grand Bay road. $154,968 $154,921 $202,675 Associated links Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html Investing in Canada Plan Project Map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map Government of Canada Resources - Coronavirus disease (COVID 19): www.canada.ca/coronavirus Canada Healthy Communities Initiative: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.html Federal infrastructure investments in Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-nl-eng.html Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada For further information: Marie-Pier Baril, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, 613-295-8123, [email protected]; Emily-Jane Gillingham, Communications Officer, Transportation and Infrastructure, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 709-730-4607, [email protected]; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada , 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected] Related Links www.infrastructure.gc.ca "These contributions create risk to reputation and harm to brands that are playing out in real time," said Shelley Alpern. Tweet this None of the three companies are signatories to the corporate statement released in today's New York Times, signed by hundreds of companies and executives, pledging "to oppose any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot." Shelley Alpern, Director of Corporate Engagement at Rhia Ventures, which is representing the filer of the JPMorgan Chase proposal, said that the three companies' refusal to sign on to the breakthrough statement is "quite disappointing, but not at all surprising following their opposition to the shareholder proposals." "Risk to reputation and brand is inherent in all corporate political spending, but for these three companies, we're seeing that risk has transform into actual damage in real time," Alpern said. Numerous media reports have called attention to longstanding corporate support for politicians, party committees, and other electioneering organizations that sought to subvert the 2020 presidential election results and are promoting voter suppression legislation. But these examples only scratch the surface, say the shareholders. In its communication to Pfizer shareholders, the Tara Health Foundation, the sponsor of the proposal, describes Pfizer's support for a political committee that led efforts to strike down the Affordable Care Act, which has made prescription drugs more accessible for millions of Americans. Tara also estimates that Pfizer Inc. and its employee PAC gave $10.8 million in the 2016-2020 election cycles to opponents of abortion access, despite the company's manufacture of a drug commonly used in medication abortions. "These examples illustrate vividly the disservice Pfizer is doing to its shareholders and broader stakeholders by failing to align its political expenditures with its policies and values," said Dr. Ruth Shaber, president and founder of Tara Health Foundation. "It not enough any more to simply assert that contributions don't imply endorsements of every view held by the recipient. Political contributions have unintended consequences." The influential proxy advisory firm ISS has recommended a vote in support of the Pfizer proposal to its clients. (ISS's recommendations for JPMorgan Chase or The Home Depot are pending.) The Tara Health Foundation is the sponsor of a similar proposal at The Home Depot, in its second year on the proxy ballot. Tara's communication to Home Depot shareholders points to funding for politicians who oppose actions to mitigating climate change, protect access to reproductive healthcare, and who have restricted voter access, and challenged the 2020 presidential election results. In 2020, The Home Depot Inc. and its PAC contributed over $200,000 to members of Congress who voted against certification of the 2020 election results. The case for the JPMorgan Chase proposal is being made by Rhia Ventures, a California-based nonprofit advising the proposal's filer. Political spending by JPMorgan Chase and its PAC has supported politicians who are holding back progress on addressing climate change and who have weakened access to reproductive healthcare, as well as funding opponents of LGBT equality and federal lawmakers who challenged the 2020 election results. Investors can cast their votes for these proposals before the companies' annual stockholder meetings, taking place on April 22 (Pfizer), May 20 (The Home Depot), and May 18 (JPMorgan Chase). Shareholder proposals rarely receive majority votes, but a strong showing of support can influence corporate policies and behavior. A similar proposal was recently filed at FedEx by Clean Yield Asset Management. The FedEx annual meeting will take place in the fall. The texts to the shareholder proposals can be found here: Pfizer JPMorgan Chase The Home Depot And the exempt proxy solicitations can be found here: Pfizer JPMorgan Chase The Home Depot This is not a solicitation of authority to vote your proxy. Please DO NOT send us your proxy card; Tara Health Foundation is not able to vote your proxies, nor does this communication contemplate such an event. Tara Health Foundation urges shareholders to vote for these proposals following the instructions provided on management's proxy mailing. * * * * Rhia Ventures is a women-led social impact organization that seeks to create a vibrant US market for sexual, reproductive, and maternal health that produces equitable health outcomes for all. Tara Health Foundation is a grantmaking foundation that seeks to improve the health and well-being of women and girls through the creative use of philanthropic capital and 100% mission alignment of its assets. Media Contact: Shelley Alpern Rhia Ventures [email protected] SOURCE Rhia Ventures Shake Shack to make South China debut next month From:ChinaDaily | 2021-04-14 09:21 Iconic New York-style casual eatery has outperformed in Shanghai, Beijing Shake Shack Inc, New York's iconic casual dining establishment, is bullish on the Chinese market and plans to further increase its investment and open more stores in the country, said its top official. After making its debut in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Macao, the global fine fast food giant will open its first store in the southern part of the Chinese mainland in the MixC World Shopping Mall, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in May. By 2030, Shake Shack and licensee Maxim's Caterers Ltd plan to open at least 15 chain stores in South China, including locations in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, Guangdong, as well as Fuzhou and Xiamen in Fujian province, and 55 chain stores in total in the Chinese mainland, said the companies. "We are very excited about the opening of the Shenzhen outlet. When I was touring in Shenzhen last year, I was amazed by the growth and vitality of the city, where a great amount of people are moving and building up dynamism. We just felt now is the time to bring Shake Shack to the city," said Randy Garutti, CEO of Shake Shack. Garutti said that similar to the Shake Shack store in Shanghai, the one in Shenzhen will also have its own localized features. In terms of menu, the store has "Shenzhen Exclusives".As the subtropical city is rich in guava, it will launch "Fan'tastic Shenzhen"a vanilla custard treat blended with guava, topped with passion fruit, mango, whipped cream and salted plum powder. "Be-an Idol"a red bean-flavored ice cream topped with grass jellyis also on the exclusive list, as grass jelly is a popular choice among Cantonese because it helps relieve humidity-related overheating. In terms of restaurant decor, Shake Shack invited Shenzhen-based artist Lee Yoyo to combine New York styles with Shenzhen characteristics. On Jan 24, 2019, when Shake Shack established its first store in the Chinese mainland in Shanghai, customers initially lined up for as long as seven hours. On ordinary business days, hundreds of people circle around the old Western style villa where the store is located to get a fresh bite of casual US cuisine. Huang Tao, an independent public relations expert, attributed Shake Shack's success in China to its smart business strategy. Randy Garutti, CEO of Shake Shack. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] "In terms of site selection, whether it's the Xintiandi commercial zone in Shanghai, or Sanlitun in Beijing, Shake Shack opened stores at places where high-end consumption groups gather. To cater to local consumers' eating habits, it has made slight adjustments to its foods and beverages. The combination of American cuisine and local features is a major attraction for consumers," Huang said. He added that Shake Shack pays attention to enhancing user experience. "Made-to-order food requires a certain waiting time. To ease consumers' anxiety when they are standing in line, it offers free desserts to consumers. People can also check their order status on the restaurant's online platform." Despite the great success Shake Shack has so far enjoyed in China, Garutti said the company does not plan to expand its presence in the country too rapidly. "We do one burger and one Shake Shack at a time. We build the store, and we work hard to make it a great gathering place. We don't just keep building and building without thinking about it," he said. Speaking of China's business environment, Garutti said that the company appreciates the warm and hospitable business climate the country has offered. "Our local partners helped us find locations, hire great people, enabling us to really grow a business locally. The government is cooperative, and we have established an incredible partnership," he said. China has been stepping up efforts to encourage foreign investment and optimizing its business environment in recent years. Specifically, it has been cutting its negative list, relaxing restrictions on market access, clarifying market regulations and improving services. China's actual use of foreign direct investment surged 31.5 percent year-on-year to 176.76 billion yuan ($26.07 billion) in the first two months of this year, said the Ministry of Commerce. "Our restaurants in China are the busiest ones for Shake Shack. We are confident about the market, which is the most resilient during the pandemic," Garutti said. "We remain humbled by our fans in China and continue to be encouraged by the performance of our Chinese business through this recovery. It's a great time to deepen our roots in this market," said Michael Kark, chief global licensing officer of Shake Shack. (Alliance News) - Ireland's government on Wednesday forecast an annual hit of EUR2 billion in lost revenue if US-led plans to enact a global minimum rate of corporation tax reach fruition. "The developments with Covid-19 have accelerated the progress towards new rules on global tax policy," Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told reporters. "In terms of the impact that will have on our revenue forecasts, we are modelling in a half a billion euro loss per year from next year onwards, with that loss reaching two billion euro per year," he said. The EUR2 billion drain on government coffers would take effect from 2025 if a new global minimum rate of corporation tax is enforced, according to new finance ministry projections. Earlier this month US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen began a push to reverse what she called "a 30-year race to the bottom on corporate tax rates". Last week she announced Washington would push the G20 for an agreement on a global minimum corporate tax to halt the erosion of government revenues, and the group is expected to unveil a proposal by July. Ireland relies heavily on receipts from its 12.5% corporation tax rate to fund government spending, and hosts an outsized number of technology and pharmaceutical firms. source: AFP Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Once youve figured out the logistics to get in and get out, you will have more homework to do. Dont expect your favorite airport restaurants or lounges to be operating normally. Before leaving home, check your airport website to see whats open near your terminal; if your options are lacking, pack a meal. Likewise, when you arrive at your destination, make sure to check the websites for the restaurants and tourist sites that you hope to visit for their hours. The travel industry is far from returning to normal. Keep up on vaccine passports To make traveling smoother, airlines may require travelers to present a vaccine passport, digital documentation proving that they have been vaccinated. Airlines have been testing mobile health apps including CommonPass, ICC AOKpass, VeriFLY and the International Air Transport Associations travel pass app to ensure travelers can present their health data in a secure, verifiable way. Most of the apps will, in theory, work like this: If you get vaccinated at a medical facility, the app connects with the database of that facility to retrieve your information. The app then loads a QR code, which is a digital bar code, verifying that the vaccine was administered. You could then show that bar code at the airport check-in counter, the boarding gate or immigration control. Too much is still up in the air with vaccine passports for widespread use, Mr. Harteveldt said. Airlines, government agencies and cruise lines are still testing the apps to determine which products are the most reliable and easy to use. Things could get chaotic if different parties require people to download different passport apps, and many experiments may fail. Vaccine passports have also set off a fierce political debate over the legality of requiring digital credentials for a vaccine that is ostensibly voluntary. (The Biden administration has said it would not push for mandatory vaccination credentials or a federal vaccine database.) So the best we can do with vaccine passports right now is nothing. Dont upload your data to any of the apps just yet but when it comes time to travel, do check your airlines website for updates on vaccine passports and follow the instructions. Prepare your phone The rest of your travel tech prep will largely be the same as it was in pre-Covid times. Pack a spare battery pack, charging cables and a safety pin to eject your SIM card. Then do the following: Unlock your phone. Your phone must be unlocked to work with foreign SIM cards. Many newer smartphones come unlocked by default, but you should call your carrier to confirm that your device will work with other wireless carriers. Buy a foreign SIM card. If youre traveling abroad, you can avoid paying expensive international roaming fees to your carrier by temporarily using a foreign phone plan. When you arrive at your destination, you can usually buy a SIM card at the airport or a cellphone store and insert that into your phone; you can also order a SIM card online and have it delivered to your home before you travel. (Some newer smartphones work with eSIMs, which are essentially a digital SIM card to add a separate phone plan. Ive had mixed experiences, including eSIMs that failed to activate when I reached my destination, so I prefer physical SIMs.) Nautical Historian Phil Vitiello will recount the history of the RMS Titanic and its sister ships, the Britannic and Olympic, built for the White Star Lines at the April 16 meeting of the members New Canaan Mens Club. This week marks the anniversary of the Titanics sinking after striking an iceberg 109 years ago. A 25-year member of the Titanic Historical Society, Vitiellos remarks will discuss the Titanic, and its sister ships, the older Olympic and the younger Britannica, noting that each of the vessels, when launched, were said to be the largest ship in the world. The Mens Club virtual meeting via Zoom will begin at 10 a.m. Typically, the featured speaker begins around 10:30 a.m. following the business discussion. While the Titanic history is well-known from fictional and non fictional accounts, Vitiello has said that the Britannic and the Olympic, although lesser known, also had notable histories. The Olympic had a long and successful stint carrying passengers across the Atlantic Ocean for the White Star Line passenger ship company, but the Britannic, initially designed as a passenger liner, was transformed into a hospital ship in 1916 to carry casualties in World War I. But in November of that year, the Britannic struck a mine off of Greece, and also sank. Vitiellos talk will also describe who built the ships, and what happened to each of them. In a sidelight, Vitiellos remarks will refer to Violet Constance Jessop, who coincidentally would serve on all three ships as a stewardess, and, during World War I, as a nurse, surviving the sinking of both the Britannic, and the Titanic. Vitiello, of New Haven, majored in law enforcement administration at the University of New Haven. Vitiello is the director of Marketing for Northeast Food Marketing, a Stamford based food broker. With his interest in history, he has been a Civil War re-enactor for more than 40 years, and has visited civil war battlefield sites throughout the east. Vitiello is also a charter member of the Friends of the Hunley, the first submarine in history to sink a ship in combat. Men 55 and older interested in joining the Mens Club should email ncmens@ncmens.club. Kolkata, April 15 : Ashis Ghosh -- a former worker at the Gouripur Jute Mill in Naihati in North 24 Parganas district -- had to leave his home in search of a job when the mill was shut in 2017. After working as a mason for around three years in Kerala, he had to return home last year after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now with the high-octane Assembly elections on in the state where all the political parties are promising employment and creation of job opportunities, Ghosh is holding his breath with a beating heart for something unusual to happen. "Four years ago when the factory was closed, I had tried everything here but I was left without any option, so I moved out of the state. I had to take care of my entire family, which includes my children and elderly parents. It was my responsibility to take care of them. I had left my home and my family only for survival. After three years, I came back home and found that nothing has changed. Many factories in the Barrackpore-Naihati industrial zone, which was once considered to be one of the best in the country, have closed. People don't have jobs. I can't live on doles all my life but I don't know where to go," Ghosh, who turned 44 a few days back, told IANS. Ghosh is perhaps the reflection of the sentiments of the people along the other side of Hooghly river which once had industrial prospects but now looks desolated. Initially hit by the unionism of the Left Front and then by the wrong industrial policies taken by the Mamata Banerjee-led government, the once throbbing industrial hub looks barren and desolate now. "There were huge prospects and potentials in the districts like South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah. There were skilled labour, resources, water and roadways that could have been used properly, but no government has tried to sue this workforce and resources effectively," a former industry secretary of the state said. With 33 Assembly constituencies in North 24 Parganas going to the polls in the next two phases, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will have to face these uneasy questions and her approach towards these legitimate problems will determine her prospects in this election. In 2016, she had won 27 of the 33 seats in North 24 Paraganas, 29 of the 31 seats in South 24 Paraganas and 15 of the 16 seats in Howrah. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, despite a BJP surge, the Trinamool had managed to maintain lead in the 21 Assembly segments in North 24 Paraganas, in all the 31 segments in South 24 Paraganas and the 15 segments in Howrah. With the BJP aggressively campaigning in all the constituencies in North 24 Parganas, promising jobs and other facilities, it would be difficult for the Trinamool Congress to retain its traditional fortress. The BJP causing dents into the SC and Matua vote-bank is perhaps another aspect that might keep the Trinamool supremo worried. In 2009, it was Banerjee who brought in caste-based politics in the state. Now, the BJP has turned the tables on her by promising citizenship for the Matuas, who constitute almost 20 per cent of the state's population. Matua votes will be a deciding factor across 40-45 Assembly constituencies in this election. These people are largely present in the rural areas of North 24 Parganas such as Barasat, Basirhat, Bangaon and in some parts of Nadia like Krishnanagar, Kalyani and Ranaghat that will all go to the polls in the next four phases. The aggressive campaigning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in these areas will be a big reason for worry for the Trinamool chief. The Modi-Shah duo has played the refugee and citizenship card like Mamata Banerjee to take the air out of her sail. The Bengal Chief Minister's once well-calculated move to ensure vote banks for her party now threatens to dislodge her in Bengal. The Scheduled Caste (SC) aspect is also keeping the ruling party worried. At 23.51 per cent, West Bengal ranks third in the country in terms of SC proportionate to its population. In terms of absolute numbers, Bengal outranks the other two states, with its 60 recognised SC groups making up above 25 per cent of the population in more than nine districts. Together, these nine districts account for 127 Assembly seats. Besides, in six districts with 78 Assembly seats, the SCs constitute 15-25 per cent of the population. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when it had won 18 seats, the BJP led in 33 of the total 68 SC-reserved Assembly segments in the state. Out of these 33 seats, 26 are Matua-dominated. The Trinamool led in 34 segments, and the Left-Congress combine led in only three seats. This indicated a massive swing of the SC vote in favour of the BJP as compared to the 2016 Assembly polls, when the Trinamool had won 50 of the reserved seats, followed by the Left (10) and Congress (8), while the BJP had drawn a blank. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Campus News UB Arts Collaboratory to welcome renowned painter for extended community project Cecily Brown, one of the foremost painters of her generation, will be visiting UB for the UB Arts Collaboratory's Spring 2021 Working Artists Lab. By BERT GAMBINI Working big is fun. Ive been working with mural-sized art over the years and have wanted to work on a public mural. Working big is fun, says Brown, who currently has a season-long exhibit on display at the Metropolitan Operas Gallery Met. Ive been working with mural-sized art over the years and have wanted to work on a public mural. And Browns excitement about the big opportunity ahead is more than a turn of phrase, since the teams goal is ambitious: a mural soaring two stories high on the side of the Arts Building on the grounds of the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA). Im looking forward to my time at UB very much because this will be completely unlike anything Ive done before, Brown says. Im always looking to open art in ways that reach more people, and this is a big opportunity to do just that. Browns program, presented in partnership with Artist/City , Bortolami, NYC, is a collaboration with a diverse team of local artists and storytellers that will represent the first public art project of her distinguished career. The UB Arts Collaboratory will welcome visiting artist Cecily Brown, one of the foremost painters of her generation, for its Spring 2021 Working Artists Lab. Artist Cecily Brown will work with the UB Arts Collaboratory and community members to create a mural on this two-story wall on the side of the building at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. Browns Buffalo visit begins with a series of three brainstorming sessions beginning April 16 with her collaborators: Naila Ansari, a SUNY Buffalo State assistant professor of theatre; Pam Glick, a widely exhibited painter from Buffalo; George Hughes, a UB professor of art; Jodi Lynn Maracle, an Indigenous artist and performer; Jae Skeese, a hip-hop musician and painter; Sara Zak, a UB MFA student; painter Julia Bottoms; and a group of BAVPA students selected by the schools faculty. Brown says the team will discuss Buffalos growing legacy of public art, its cultural heritage and the rich tradition of Mexican muralists and their influence on painters such as Jackson Pollock and Philip Guston. That history is so interesting since Pollack and Guston were among the artists hired by the Works Progress Administration, who learned under Thomas Hart Benton, Brown says. They did a lot of public art, which drew on the work of Mexican muralists. Brown will be in Buffalo from June 2-6 at The Space Between, the Arts Collaboratorys pioneering new incubator at 431 Ellicott St., where all of the groups source material will be on display. Shell return for five days on June 27 as the murals final conception is realized and the team begins work at BAVPA. We have assembled a group of collaborators that represent a cross-section of diverse artists working in many disciplines from within the university and throughout our community who are well-versed in storytelling, painting and drawing, says Bronwyn Keenan, director of the Arts Collaboratory. These seven people represent our core group, but everyone is welcome to participate and share ideas while were at The Space Between. Keenan says the project is a true collaboration, more than an attempt to bend toward a particular style. On this kind of large-scale platform, the creative process functions like a collective dance with an organizational system for all the imagery, she says. Thats a point echoed by Brown, who usually works spontaneously, thinking on her feet in the studio, but will now adapt to a process at UB that resembles a performance in itself. In the end, both Brown and Keenan agree that what emerges will be a story unique to Buffalo. I want this to be a Buffalo story, Brown says. Maybe Ill be like a designer, fusing my ideas with those of the collaborators and combining them into an overall scheme, but I dont want to think too much about it until I have a chance to speak with all the collaborators. Browns UB visit will be only her second trip to Buffalo, but she has always had a soft spot for the city. Her husband is a former New York Times architecture critic who has written about Buffalos architectural history, and she visited in 2000 when the Albright Knox Art Gallery became one of the first museums to buy one of her paintings. But Keenan says the community will be seeing more of Brown in the future. This is a long-term commitment and Cecily has said that shed like to return annually, Keenan says. Its all part of a very exciting program and it goes to the heart of our Working Artists Labs. We want to show our students and the community what its like to be a working artist in the world. Cecily is in that world as a painter and social justice advocate. Were fortunate to be able to welcome such a world-class talent to the university for an extended project in our community. Addressing public meetings in Jadcherla and Achampet on Wednesday, Rama Rao urged the people to support TRS in the upcoming municipal polls. (Photo: Twitter @MinisterKTR) Hyderabad: TRS working president and IT minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday hurried through three municipalities Atchampet, Kothur and Jadcherla and launched various development programmes. The minister had visited Khammam on April 2 and Warangal on April 12, where municipal corporation polls are due. Hints are that the state government is planning to hold municipal polls even before the announcement of Nagarjunasagar bypoll result on May 2. Official sources said the state election commission is expected to issue the municipal poll notification by April 17 and voting is expected on April 30. The SEC has completed the pre-election process such as publication of final voters list and reservation of divisions and wards. The elections will be held for Warangal and Khammam municipal corporations as also for municipalities in Siddipet, Achampet, Jadcherla, Nakrekal and Kothur. Finance minister T. Harish Rao was campaigning in Siddipet by launching several development programmes. Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation has 66 divisions and Khammam Municipal Corporation 60 divisions. Kothur municipality has 12 wards, Nakrekal 20 wards, Siddipet 43, Jadcherla 27 and Achampet 20 wards. In all, elections will be held for 126 divisions in two municipal corporations and 122 wards in five municipalities. This apart, the bypoll for the 18th division in GHMC will also be held along with these municipal polls. The seat fell vacant due to the death of a BJP corporator. Addressing public meetings in Jadcherla and Achampet on Wednesday, Rama Rao urged the people to support TRS in the upcoming municipal polls. This will help the government continue with the ongoing development and welfare schemes and ensure that they are implemented effectively, he said. The minister said the TRS government has created a large number of municipal corporations and municipalities with the objective of ensuring planned development of urban areas and to improve the living standards of the people by providing these areas with all infrastructure facilities. Tension prevailed in Achampet as BJP and ABVP activists tried to obstruct Rama Rao's convoy while he was heading for a public meeting. The activists raised slogans against the TRS government, chief minister Chandrashekar Rao and IT minister Rama Rao. They alleged that the state government failed to issue job notifications to fill vacancies though there were 1.91 lakh vacancies in various departments pointed out that students and unemployed youths were committing suicide in Telangana out of desperation due to the failure of the government in filling the job vacancies. They also protested against the high-handedness of the police against BJP and ABVP activists, like taking them into preventive custody ahead of Rama Rao's visit to Mahabubnagar and the CM's public meeting in Halia. The police took the activists into custody and cleared the way for Rama Rao's convoy. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 19:42:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Students attend an in-person class in a school in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on April 13, 2021. (Xinhua) The current 7-day moving average of daily new cases stands at 67,530 cases, up around 6 percent from the previous seven days. WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States has seen an upward trend in COVID-19 cases for four consecutive weeks, as social distancing and mask mandates were lifted in some areas and more variants transmitted across the country. Since March 20, the 7-day moving average of new COVID-19 cases in the country has consistently remained higher compared with the previous 7-day moving average, according to data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The current 7-day moving average of daily new cases stands at 67,530 cases, up around 6 percent from the previous seven days. People tour the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 11, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Meanwhile, new COVID-19 hospitalizations also went up 7.3 percent from the previous 7-day period, according to the CDC. As of April 10, the United States had recorded more than 21,000 infection cases of coronavirus variants, according to the latest data of the CDC. Among those variants cases, 20,915 cases were caused by the variant known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in Britain. There were 453 cases of a new strain initially discovered in South Africa, called B.1.351, and 497 cases of the P.1 strain first discovered in Brazil. People pass a sign advertising a COVID-19 vaccination site at the Javits Center in New York, United States, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) In addition, the B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants, two coronavirus strains first detected in the U.S. state of 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 that they have a stronger transmissibility, increase hospitalizations or deaths, and reduce effectiveness of treatments or vaccines. B.1.1.7 is the most common variant circulating in the United States and has been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, while variants P.1 and B.1.351 are relatively less, according to the CDC. Even as the country picks up its COVID-19 vaccination pace, the coronavirus variants are spreading rapidly, and health experts warn the variants infections could potentially stall the nation's recovery from the pandemic. Scott Distler: Finding a way out of 'the cave' YEREVAN. They say [ex-President] Serzh Sargsyan handed over "Lele Tepe." I said, Go, capture [it], and in this context there were 700 casualties? This is complete nonsense. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020, referring to a question by independent MP Taguhi Tovmasyan about the Armenian sides shortcomings during the recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war. Referring to the "Lele Tepe" issue, Pashinyan said: "The author of the proposal for that operation was a general [of the army], the proposal was considered acceptable by a general, the assessment of the possibility of implementing that proposal was carried out by a general, and the decision was made by a general; moreover, by generals who had the opportunity to implement that decision at that time. Yes, I was present at a part of the conversation, I moderated the discussion, and I did not express my opinion at all. I asked the highest-ranking [general]: 'What do you think?' He said, 'It's a good idea.' He assessed the situation and reported that it should and can be done. " Pashinyan stressed that all episodes of the recent war should be investigated, starting with his own actions, but it should be an objective investigation. More than 300 companies have signed an open letter urging the Biden administration to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. Former President Barack Obama promised a 25 to 28 percent cut by 2025 in 2015, almost double the previous goal. The United States is technically not close on achieving any of these objectives. Major Corporations Many of the United States' biggest corporations are among the signatories, including Walmart, Apple, McDonald's, and Starbucks. "An ambitious 2030 goal is required to catalyze a zero-emissions future. To stimulate a vigorous economic recovery, generate millions of well-paying jobs, and enable the United States to 'build back stronger after the pandemic," the letter said, repeating the president's slogan for economic recovery. A 50% reduction target will align the Biden administration with what the United Nations and the National Academies of Science believe are needed to reduce climate change's worst effects. Environmental conservation organization Natural Resources Defense Council said in a March statement that a scheme like this will "help lift the country out of the pandemic-induced crisis by putting millions of Americans to work" and encourage more aggressive international climate change ahead of a new UN climate conference in November. Related Article: Environmental Justice Goes Mainstream with Governmental Support Pollution Reduction Goal A 50 percent pollution reduction goal, including President Joe Biden's campaign pledge to lead the US to carbon neutrality by the middle of the century, will necessitate steeper emissions cuts than the nation has ever accomplished. In 2019, greenhouse gas emissions were nearly 13% lower than in 2005, a 1.8 percent decline from the previous year. Top Priority Climate action is one of the Biden administration's top four priorities. It has chosen influential, seasoned Washington veterans to lead climate policy activities at the White House, including former Secretary of State John Kerry and former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. Activists on the left are increasingly hopeful regarding the administration's climate agenda, as NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben previously noted, despite raising concerns about Biden's climate record during the Democratic primary. Initial Strategy's Rating Biden's original climate strategy received an "F" rating from the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate coalition that supports the Green New Deal. Varshini Prakash, the group's executive director, is now openly praising his administration's new $2 trillion climate-focused development bill, which includes a pledge to invest 40% of the plan's funding in poor areas and the introduction of an employment initiative called the Civilian Climate Corps. AOC's Address Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York, told NPR earlier this month that she believes Biden has now come around on climate issues. "As much as I think some sections of the party want to resist hearing 'Green New Deal,' and dance around and try to avoid using the word, I think the framework has been embraced," she said. The focus on climate change contrasts sharply with the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and lack of carbon mitigation goals. All signatories to the Paris Agreement, which Biden re-joined on the day he took office, are expected to set these goals collectively known as nationally defined contributions, or NDCs. Extensive Planning The deal also requires countries to review their objectives every five years to make plans more aggressive as the expense of environmental change decreases. Just fifty of the over 200 signatories to the Paris Agreement have submitted amended goals since it was first agreed to in 2015. According to a new United Nations review of international climate action, many governments are doing far too little to curb pollution for the planet to escape the worst consequences of climate change. The White House has not stated how ambitious its strategy will be so far. The White House is set to announce in the coming days as it prepares for its Earth Day climate summit with world leaders on April 22. Also Read: Climate Action Delay Can Cause Massive Global Food Insecurity, Study Shows For more news update about Environmental Action, don't forget to follow Nature World News! U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and State Secretary to the Prime Minister of Sweden Karin Wallensteen discussed the current situation in the occupied Crimea and on the Russia-Ukraine border. According to the White House press service, the parties discussed their shared concerns over Russias sudden military build-up and provocations in occupied Crimea and on Ukraines borders. They also discussed the critical role the OSCE is playing in conflict resolution efforts in Donbas, offering support for increased monitoring and reporting in response to Russias destabilizing moves. In addition to Ukraine, Sullivan and Wallensteen discussed the situation in Yemen, bilateral relations between the United States and Sweden, the fight against climate change, as well as human rights violations in China. As a reminder, the Russian armed forces have recently been building up troops near the state border of Ukraine in the north, east and south, as well as in the occupied Crimea. In addition, the number of ceasefire violations by the armed formations of the Russian Federation in eastern Ukraine has increased; there are losses among the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, the Russian Federation is conducting a propaganda campaign to justify possible aggression against Ukraine. The United States, other Western countries, as well as the EU and NATO, have come out in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity against the backdrop of Russia's escalation in eastern Ukraine. ish And to the mayor (Cr. Donovan) he presented a Vice-regal brooch, to be given to the first baby to be born in the new city. Carnival to celebrate the naming of Wangaratta as a city. Credit:The Age Archives In an atmosphere of carnival gaiety, and before a crowd of about 2000 people, the Governor (Sir Dallas Brooks) yesterday proclaimed Wangaratta, 146 miles from Melbourne, on the Hume Highway, a city. First published in The Age on April 16, 1959 The city presented a gay sight for the historic proclamation day, with street bunting setting off the special shop window displays, many of which depicted periods in Wangarattas history. In warm sunshine Sir Dallas Brooks congratulated the councilors and citizens on the rapid development they had achieved in Wangaratta. I am here today as the personal representative of the Queen in this State to put the seal on all you have accomplished here, he said. For you it puts paid to your claim that you are the capital of north-eastern Victoria. Development Two horses died in a fire at Belmont Park Tuesday. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) A fire broke out in a barn along the back stretch of Belmont Park Tuesday night, killing two of the 60 horses stabled there. The fire started around 6 p.m. ET at the Long Island track that hosts the third leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, according to the Associated Press. The New York Racing Association reports that it safely evacuated 58 horses, but that two perished in the fire. No human injuries or deaths were reported. "The tragic loss of both horses will be deeply felt by the hard-working women and men of the New York racing community, who dedicate themselves to the sport and to the care of these equine athletes, NYRA president and CEO Dave ORourke said, per a statement. That collective dedication and sense of community was on display this evening, when the heroic and selfless response of so many prevented further loss and saved the lives of dozens of horses. Officials did not provide the identity of the horses that died, which were under the care of trainer Wayne Potts, according to the NYRA. Horses under the care of Potts and Jeffrey Englehart were among those evacuated. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire, which was contained to a single barn after Elmont Fire Department responders extinguished the blaze. Belmont's racing season is scheduled to start on April 22. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled to run on June 5. More from Yahoo Sports: Lahore, April 14 : The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday granted bail to PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif in an assets beyond means case, Geo News reported. The PML-N president had approached the High Court against his arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the corruption reference also involving his family members. Shehbaz was granted bail against two surety bonds of Rs 5 million each. The LHC had earlier reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both parties. Shehbaz was taken into custody on September 28 from the high court premises after his bail application was rejected. During Wednesday's hearing, the NAB prosecutor argued that Shehbaz had no sources of income other than the Ramzan Sugar Mills and whatever he has now was acquired through TTs sent from abroad. To this, Shehbaz's counsel said if any witness of the NAB, out of the 110 witnesses, testifies against his client they would withdraw the bail petition. The court asked the NAB prosecutor why NAB was investigating the case if it falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Board of Revenue. According to NAB, the PML-N leader has acquired assets worth Rs 7,328 million which are disproportionate to his known sources of income. The reference states that the assets are held under the name of his close family members and benamidars who had no sources of income and added that the suspects committed offences of corruption and corrupt practices as envisaged under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. In December 2019, NAB had issued orders to freeze 23 properties belonging to the former Punjab chief minister and his sons Hamza and Suleman Shehbaz over the allegation that they were acquired through corrupt means. According to the accountability bureau, an investigation against Shehbaz, Hamza, Suleman and others for the offence of "corruption and corrupt practices" had revealed that Shehbaz had acquired properties in the name of his wives Nusrat Shahbaz Sharif and Tehmina Durrani. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI)-House Bill 1577 passed in the house on Wednesday. The bill, if signed into law, will require a medical professional to tell a woman that if she has a chemical abortion she is able to reverse it. However many argue that science isn't backed up by research. The bill also requires a minor seeking an abortion to have their permission slip signed by a parent or guardian be notarized. Those in opposition to the bill say this could be a potential HIPPA violation. Local state representative Chris Campbell voted against it. She said as a medical professional she couldn't vote for a bill that supports a claim that isn't backed up by the FDA. "I don't know anywhere else in Indiana code where it dictates a medical procedure that is not FDA approved I feel that that's negligent and very misleading to patients and it can put them at risk," said Democratic State Representative Chris Campbell who represents District 26. Republican State Representative Sharon Negele who represents District 13 voted in favor of the bill she sent me a statement saying the following. "Indiana has made substantial progress over the years to support the unborn and newborns, and this legislation is another step forward in our efforts for women to have all the information given to them as they make life-changing decisions. Notarizing of parental consent for minors undergoing an abortion ensures the parents are involved when such a big decision is made, and are not being forced or pressured, which is a common practice among sex traffickers. I will also continue to support policy that promotes education and increased birth control access which can truly impact the reduction of abortion. The bill passed 62-25 in the house and it now heads to the Governors desk where many representatives have told me he is expected to sign it. However, testimony during the bill said two other states have passed similar legislation which was struck down by state supreme courts. Those in opposition to the bill expect similar law suits will take place here in Indiana. To read the bill in full click here. Shanghai citizens rush to learn art at night school By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-04-14 17:33 Art education for young and middle-aged nine-to-fivers is often deficient. To meet the rising demand for spiritual consumption among this group, the Shanghai Citizen Art Night School was opened in 2016 especially for people aged from 18 to 55. 5 years on, the school is now expanding to recruit 800 more students. This term, the school has especially opened 46 Chinese and western cultural courses including street dance, cross talk and dubbing performance, which were all fully subscribed within 5 minutes of opening applications. Wu Penghong, curator of the Shanghai Mass Art Center where the night school is located, said that art programs that are practical and quick to get started and completed are more favored by the young and middle-aged. As such, the night school opened a light and shadow art course jointly with the Basel Museum of Contemporary Art this year. According to Xu Yangyang, the course teacher, the appreciation of art history and painting will each occupy half of the teaching time and the course will be more simple and easier to understand. In the first class, I will illuminate the modern art timeline and the life of Van Gogh, and then use his paintings as examples to demonstrate how to color. Learners can complete a Sunflower painting after two classes, said Xu. Yang Lingzhi, who is responsible for the night school, said that the school keeps conducting more fashionable and innovative new courses to attract young people. Besides the light and shadow art course, Han costume dance, jazz and debate have also been newly launched. (Photos/ Guo Xinyang) The UK's competition watchdog has provisionally cleared the merger between telecoms giants Virgin Media and O2, saying it would be 'unlikely' to lead to lower competition, poorer service or higher prices. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began its probe into the 31billion deal following the two companies request to fast-track the process to a phase two investigation last December. It was initially concerned the tie-up could encourage Virgin and O2 to increase prices, provide a lower quality service to wholesalers, or even pull out of supplying services completely. Investigation: The CMA began a probe into Virgin and O2's tie-up over concerns it could lead to price increases and provide a weaker quality service in the supply of wholesale services However, it concluded that the newly enlarged business is 'unlikely to lead to any substantial lessening of competition' within the telecoms market. The CMA said other companies in the industry offer the same leased-line services as Virgin Media, like BT Openreach which has a much wider geographical expanse. It added that Virgin's provision of wholesale leased lines to mobile telecom groups like Vodafone would not lead to greater charges for consumers because 'backhaul' costs form a small fraction of rival firms' total expenditure. The CMA observed there are a number of businesses alongside O2 that provide mobile networks for telecoms groups, meaning the Slough-based group will need to maintain competitiveness with its wholesale challengers in order not to lose trade. 'Given the impact this deal could have in the UK, we needed to scrutinise this merger closely,' stated Martin Coleman, the chairman of the CMA Panel Inquiry. 'A thorough analysis of the evidence gathered during our phase 2 investigation has shown that the deal is unlikely to lead to higher prices or a reduced quality of mobile services meaning customers should continue to benefit from strong competition.' Thumbs up: 'The deal is unlikely to lead to higher prices or a reduced quality of mobile services,' remarked Martin Coleman, the chairman of the CMA Panel Inquiry O2 and Virgin Media's parent companies Telefonica and Liberty Global agreed to merge the pair in May last year as part of plans to become a significant rival to BT, who themselves bought mobile network EE for 12.5billion in 2016. Virgin Media boss Lutz Schuler will become the chief executive of the new company while the finance boss will be O2's chief financial officer Patricia Cobian. The transaction values Virgin Media, which has around 9 million mobile, broadband and cable TV users, at 18.7billion, and O2, whose mobile network consumers total 34 million, at 12.7billion. At the time the tie-up was announced, the two firms said it would create a 'full converged platform' for customers and will mean an investment of 10billion in the UK over the next five years. O2 had previously sought to merge with mobile network provider Three, but was blocked in 2016 on the grounds that choice in the UK mobile phone market would be severely affected The CMA said at the outset that it was not concerned about overlapping retail services such as mobile due to the small size of Virgin Mobile, but instead focused on potential wholesale services concerns. The organisation was only granted permission to investigate the deal after the European Commission handed over the case in November. Under European law, the biggest mergers are generally handled by the commission's regulators in Brussels. But the CMA asked Brussels regulators to hand the case back because it primarily only affected UK customers and that any findings would come after the Brexit transition period had ended. O2 had previously sought to merge with mobile network provider Three, but the European Commission blocked the arrangement in 2016 on the grounds that choice in the UK mobile phone market would be severely affected. But in May last year, the EU's second highest court overturned the decision, ruling that the commission had made 'several errors of law' when analysing the potential downsides of the deal. Raymond Riles, who was sentenced to death in 1976 in the fatal shooting of a used car dealer, had his sentencing dropped Wednesday. The Texas Court of Appeals removed Riles death sentence because the jury was not advised to consider the now 70-year-old mans mental health when deciding his punishment 45 years ago. The case has been sent back to Harris County, where a court will once again determine Riles punishment in the 1974 crime. Were very pleased, Thea Posel, one of Riles attorneys, told The Texas Tribune. Its clearly established under Texas and [U.S.] Supreme Court law that Mr. Riles death sentence is unconstitutional. Riles was on Death Row longer than anyone in the United States, The Marshall Project reported earlier this year. He survived three canceled execution dates because hes been deemed too mentally ill to execute, the nonprofit organization said. Riles and Herbert Washington confronted John Thomas Henry in 1974 over a car they had purchased and shot him while robbing him of $42, the Associated Press reported. Washington took a plea deal and received sentences of 25 and 50 years, KTRK reported. Riles attorneys claimed he was insane and used testimony from his family, as well as psychiatrists and psychologists, to back their claim, court records show. These witnesses collectively testified that (Riles) was often psychotic and had suffered for some time from some type of schizophrenia, the court said. They opined that (Riles) had been legally insane at the time of the offense and that his mental illness played a role in some of his violent behavior preceding the offense. But the jury rejected the insanity defense. The jury, which was not instructed to consider Riles mental illness, then had the option of sentencing Riles to death or life in prison. It agreed on a death sentence. The appeals court said in Wednesdays ruling it was harmful the jury was not asked to consider the mental health of Riles when making its decision. Story continues A 1989 Supreme Court decision ruled mental retardation should be considered by a jury during sentencing. But before then, such instruction was not given for death penalty juries. The mental health evidence that (Riles) presented at his trial is the type of evidence that both this Court and the Supreme Court have come to regard as the kind of two-edged mitigating evidence calling for a separate, mitigation focused jury instruction, the judges said in their ruling. (Riles) jury did not receive any such instruction. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in February she supported Riles receiving a new punishment hearing. Death penalty law has evolved and now requires jurors to be able to meaningfully consider and weigh mitigation evidence about an offender such as childhood abuse and trauma, Ogg said. In 1976, Riles capital murder jury was not given this opportunity. Riles has lived in near-total solitary confinement and experts have deemed him grossly psychotic, The Marshall Project said. Sometimes he describes himself as God or King Moto-Cherry Velt-Love, according to The Marshall Project. Other times he worries that he will be sacrificed to Satan by his demonic captors. He once set himself on fire. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 00:19:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The private sector across the East African region will rally behind investments that accelerate green and inclusive growth while shielding local communities from adverse impacts of climate change, executives said Wednesday. More than 150 business leaders, diplomats and experts who participated at the virtual EU-Africa Green Talk held in Nairobi, Kenya said that leveraging on capital from industry is key to hastening low carbon development in the region. "Recent innovative investment across East Africa has transformed access for millions of people to clean water, renewable energy and finance essential for a better and more sustainable future," said Peter Mathuki, incoming secretary-general of the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc. The Nairobi green dialogue for business leaders was organized by the European Investment Bank and Portuguese embassy in Kenya ahead of the high-level green investment forum slated for April 23 in Lisbon, capital of Portugal. "Today's Nairobi green talks allow innovative solutions and technical best-practice to be shared with the rest of Africa and the world," said Mathuki, adding that regional blocs have prioritized green investments in order to generate new jobs and secure a sustainable future for local communities. Participants at the Nairobi green forum acknowledged investments led by the private sector have increased access to clean energy, food, water and carbon free transportation systems in the region. "Partnership between Africa and Europe is key to increasing investment essential to combat climate change and create new opportunities," said Luisa Fragoso, head of mission, the embassy of Portugal in Nairobi. Fragoso said that successful models of green investment across the East African region will be showcased to global business, political and civil society leaders at the green summit in Lisbon. Frank Matsaert, CEO of Nairobi-based Trade Mark East Africa, a regional trade lobby, said that businesses in the region have supported greening of their supply chains to boost their resilience amid climatic shocks including floods and droughts. "We aim to catalyze green growth, exports and investment through improved trade systems and corridors," said Matsaert. "However, more trade can mean more emissions, so it is important to invest in reducing the carbon footprint of trade and private sector capital will play a key role in making this a reality." Enditem [April 14, 2021] Astranis Raises $250 Million From Top Growth Investors Astranis, the company building the next generation of telecommunication satellites, today announced a $250 million Series C financing round, valuing the company at $1.4 billion. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005256/en/ Astranis employee Will Harden with an Astranis satellite. (Photo: Business Wire) The financing was led by funds managed by BlackRock, with significant participation from new investors Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Koch Strategic Platforms, Monashee Investment Management, and Uncorrelated Ventures. Existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Venrock, Fifty Years, ACE Early Stage Partners, Harpoon Ventures, Indicator Fund, Industry Ventures, Jaan Tallinn, Jeff Dean, Jerry Yang's (News - Alert) AME Cloud, Jude Gomila, Refactor Capital, Rising Tide Fund, SOMA Capital, and others also participated in the round. Astranis is solving one of the largest challenges facing the modern world: reducing the cost of internet access to get the next four billion people online. The new funding will be used to significantly expand production o Astranis's unique microsatellite platform, built to satisfy the significant global demand for affordable broadband. Additionally, Astranis will dramatically accelerate new technology research and development to support its next-generation platforms. That includes the company's proprietary software-defined radio technology, which increases satellite performance and flexibility, and allows manufacturing at scale, lowering the price point to end-consumers. Astranis's satellites can be deployed at a low cost and be built in months, not years. That's in contrast to traditional satellites that require hundreds of millions of dollars of capital and five or more years to get new capacity online. The smaller size of Astranis's satellites - just 350 kg, or about 20 times less than traditional satellites - and their deployment into geostationary orbit (GEO) allows Astranis to start providing coverage with just a single MicroGEO satellite and bring capacity online quickly, focusing beams of broadband connectivity right where it's needed. "We are solving one of the biggest problems facing the world today," said Astranis co-founder and CEO John Gedmark. "Four billion people do not have reliable access to broadband internet. Getting connectivity to those who need it the most changes lives in a profound way. It empowers people to take control of their health, education, and economic situation. We're talking about something that is now absolutely part of the base of the hierarchy of needs." Astranis has projects in work around the globe to deploy satellites to bring connectivity to some of the world's most underserved areas. BofA Securities, Inc. acted as sole placement agent on this transaction. About Astranis Astranis is building small, low-cost telecommunications satellites to connect the four billion people who currently do not have access to the internet. Each spacecraft operates from geostationary orbit (GEO) with a next-generation design of only 350 kg, utilizing a proprietary software-defined radio payload. This unique digital payload technology allows frequency and coverage flexibility, as well as maximum use of valuable spectrum. By owning and operating its satellites and offering them to customers as a turnkey solution, Astranis is able to provide bandwidth-as-a-service and unlock previously unreachable markets. This allows Astranis to launch small, dedicated satellites for small and medium-sized countries, Fortune 500 companies, existing satellite operators, and other customers. Astranis launched a first test satellite into orbit in 2018 and is now underway with its first commercial program-a satellite to provide broadband internet for Alaska that will more than triple the available bandwidth across the state. The satellite is undergoing assembly, integration, and test and is set for a launch later this year. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005256/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A new movie coming to Netflix is inspired by a gruesome murder in Upstate New York. Things Heard & Seen stars Oscar-nominated actress Amanda Seyfried as a young artist who discovers her husband and their new Hudson Valley home have sinister secrets after they leave Manhattan for the small town life. The trailer features a bloody ax, mysterious supernatural phenomena, and hints at an affair (or two). The horror film, also starring James Norton and Stranger Things actress Natalia Dyer, is adapted from the novel All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage. According to the Democrat & Chronicle, Brundage got the idea for the story while living in Brighton, N.Y. In 1992, she learned of the death of Cathleen Krauseneck, a Brighton woman who was found in bed with an ax lodged in her head a decade earlier. Her 3-year-old daughter had been in the house for hours with the corpse before Cathleens husband James allegedly returned from work to discover the grisly scene. I definitely used main points of the crime for the novel, Brundage told the D&C. As a novelist I was trying to do right by Cathleen. No arrests had been made when Brundage published the book in 2016. Three years later, James Krauseneck was charged with second-degree murder; a pretrial hearing is scheduled for June. Brundage, who now lives near Albany, said the Netflix film will have different elements from her novel, but both still contain similarities to the real-life 1982 homicide and the people involved. According to the Democrat & Chronicle, James Krauseneck lied about completing his doctorate to his employers at a Virginia college and later the Eastman Kodak Co. in Rochester; Nortons character George Clare, who teaches at the fictional Saginaw College, also hides a secret. George and Catherine Clare (Seyfried) move to a home with a dark past; the Krausenecks lived in a house where the previous couple reportedly died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning after leaving a car engine running in the garage. Things Heard & Seen, co-directed and co-written by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, premieres April 29 on Netflix. Downton Abbey creators new HBO series to film in Upstate NY The Night House, new horror movie filmed in Syracuse, gets a trailer A Quiet Place Part II, filmed in Upstate NY, sets new release date Hollywood in Western NY: Buffalo to get two new major motion picture film studios TORONTO, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Relay Medical Corp. ("Relay" or the "Company") (CSE: RELA, OTC: RYMDF, Frankfurt: EIY2) and Fio Corporation ("Fio") together through their joint venture company, Fionet Rapid Response Group ("FRR"), announce the execution of an agreement with LifeLabs LP ("LifeLabs") to deploy the Fionet Platform for COVID-19 rapid testing and real-time tracking across Canada. LifeLabs is Canada's largest provider of specialty laboratory testing services, laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor, and prevent disease. The company supports 20 million patient visits annually and conducts over 100 million laboratory tests through leading edge technologies and its 6,000 employees. "COVID-19's threat to personal and economic well-being across the country created a need for innovation in technology and service. Through this alliance, LifeLabs and FRR are bringing into any community setting the caliber of automated, quality-controlled testing and tracking that previously was available only in centralized lab facilities. FRR expects the Fionet Platform to deliver hundreds of thousands of tests per month through this agreement," said Dr. Michael Greenberg, CEO of FRR and of Fio Corporation. "We look forward to partnering with Fionet Rapid Response Group during this critical time in the pandemic. While we see the ongoing deployment of vaccines, the demand for COVID-19 testing remains high. This partnership serves as another big step in our combined efforts to provide safe, accessible, and quality testing for Canadians as we look to re-start our economy as part of our WorkClear program," said Charles Brown, President and CEO of LifeLabs. The Fionet Platform enables fast, scalable, quality-controlled testing and real-time automatic digital results for electronic reporting. Each Fionet device processes approximately 60 tests per hour at the point of need. FRR's business model is a fee for each test processed through its platform. Under the terms of the agreement, LifeLabs will provide the Fionet Platform in community-based settings at multiple sites across Canada, including airports, pop-up labs, and installations for small businesses. The Fionet Platform is integrated into LifeLabs' laboratory information system, ensuring seamless interoperation, as well as into LifeLabs' turnkey, end-to-end COVID-19 rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) program to support Canadians as they return to work. Yoav Raiter, the CEO of Relay Medical shares, "With this engagement, we are privileged to make available the Fionet Platform nationwide to bring Canadians a testing solution to give the country the confidence and support to begin a safe return to daily life. We've made rapid testing accessible for travelers, consumers, and employees across Canada and we look forward to doing the same for other countries and communities around the world as the Fionet Platform is ready to be widely deployed. This is a proud moment for Relay as we provide the new standard for rapid COVID screening." About LifeLabs LifeLabs is Canada's leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling customers and health care practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor, and prevent disease. We support 20 million visits annually and conduct over 100 million laboratory tests through leading-edge technologies and our 6,000 talented and dedicated employees. We are a committed innovator in supporting Canadians to live healthier lives, operating Canada's first commercial genetics lab and the country's largest online portal, with more than 5 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs is 100% Canadian owned by OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of one of Canada's largest defined benefit pension plans. Website: www.lifelabs.com About Fionet The Fionet Platform is an end-to-end, rapid testing and tracking solution for community-based or decentralized settings. Combining a fast, handheld point-of-need device connected in real time to cloud data services, the Fionet Platform handles scheduling and registration via phone app at home, on-site check-in, rapid, on-the-spot antigen testing, data integration with other testing devices, result notification, public health notification as appropriate, and anonymized data and stats for dashboards for authorized stakeholders. Website: www.fionetrapidresponse.com About Relay Medical Corp. Relay Medical is a technology innovation company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with a team of Canadian experts focused on the development of novel technologies in the diagnostics, AI data science sectors, and IoT cybersecurity sectors. Website: www.relaymedical.com About Fio Corporation Fio Corporation, privately held and headquartered in Toronto, developed and markets the world's first integrated guidance & tracking IT platform for decentralized healthcare settings, a new category of solution that raises healthcare quality and lowers healthcare costs. The platform enables average healthcare workers in clinics to deliver a new level of quality-controlled diagnostic testing and case management. Website: www.fionetrapidresponse.com For Media Inquiries, please contact: Destine Lee media@relaymedical.com | 647-872-9982 Subscribe: For further information on Relay Medical or to subscribe to the mailing list, please visit: https://www.relaymedical.com/news Contact: W. Clark Kent President Relay Medical Corp. Office. 647-872-9982 ext. 2 TF. 1-844-247-6633 ext. 2 investor.relations@relaymedical.com Bernhard Langer EU Investor Relations Office. +49 Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the technology described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, for which filings are available at www.sedar.com . LA JOLLA, CALIF. - April 14, 2021 - Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have shown that two existing drug candidates--JAK inhibitors and Mepron--hold potential as treatments for a deadly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtype that is more common in children. The foundational study, published in the journal Blood, is a first step toward finding effective treatments for the hard-to-treat blood cancer. "While highly successful therapies have been found for other blood cancers, most children diagnosed with this AML subtype are still treated with harsh, toxic chemotherapies," says Ani Deshpande, Ph.D., assistant professor in Sanford Burnham Prebys' National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center and senior author of the study. "We are excited about this study because we uncovered two promising therapeutic targets for which drugs already exist, setting the stage for potential clinical trials." AML is often caused by a chromosomal fusion--when part of one chromosome attaches to another chromosome--resulting in a fused protein that drives out-of-control growth of immature blood cells. There are dozens of different fusion proteins that can cause the cancer, and survival rates may vary depending on the fusion type. This study focused on a subtype of AML with fusions involving a protein called AF10, which is common in pediatric AML and deadlier. Many children with these subtypes don't survive very long; and if a child does respond to treatment, they often have debilitating, life-long side effects that stem from receiving chemotherapy at a young age. "After Luke battled AML, we learned there are little to no treatment options for his fusion type and that this type of cancer research is really underfunded," says Rena Johnson, co-founder of the Luke Tatsu Johnson Foundation, which partially funded the research. "These findings fill me with hope for a future where children like Luke can grow up and thrive." Targeting cancer-specific fusions When chromosomal fusions were first identified as a cause of AML, cancer researchers were hopeful that treatments could be found relatively easily. The protein produced by the fusion is unique to cancer cells, providing a target that could selectively kill tumors and spare healthy cells. "One of the most successful cancer drugs ever developed, Gleevec, actually targets a fusion protein. This drug melts away tumors in people with another type of blood cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML," explains Deshpande. "However, we lucked out a bit because the fusion protein that Gleevec targets is a kinase, a type of protein that is relatively easy to make drugs against. Now we know that most fusions involve other types of proteins such as transcription factors or chromatin modifiers, which aren't as easily druggable." To overcome this hurdle, Deshpande and his team got creative. The scientists decided to map which proteins interact--or are "friends" with--the abnormal AF10 fusion proteins, leveraging mouse models that allow the protein's production to be switched on and off. This work revealed that AF10 fusion proteins activate the inflammatory signaling proteins JAK1 and STAT3--both druggable targets for which inhibitors already exist. The scientists showed that both JAK1 and STAT3 inhibitors slowed the growth of human AML cells; and that Mepron, a STAT3 inhibitor, melted AML tumors and extended survival in mice with the CALM-AF10 mutation. "Interestingly, many people with AML already get Mepron to protect against infection after a bone marrow transplant, and analysis suggests that is linked to better outcomes. Our studies show that AF10 fusion positive patients may benefit from this drug," says Bo-Rui Chen, Ph.D., who completed the study as a postdoctoral researcher in the Deshpande lab, and is the co-first author of the study. "We are also very excited about our findings because one JAK inhibitor is already FDA-approved and many others are being developed for autoimmune disorders, which means they could be advanced to the clinic relatively quickly." The scientists do caution that while the results are exciting, more data is needed before children or adults with these AML subtypes can start receiving the drug candidates. "Before we can proceed to clinical trials testing these drugs in people with these AML subtypes, we need to test both drugs in larger cohorts of mouse models," says Anagha Deshpande, Ph.D., senior research associate in the Deshpande lab and co-first author of the study. "However, if those studies are favorable, clinical development will be accelerated since these drugs are already known to be safe in humans." ### Additional study authors include Karina Barbosa, Xue Lei, Narayana Yeddula, Alexandre Rosa Campos, Robert J. Wechsler-Reya, Anindya Bagchi, Ze'ev A Ronai, Sumit Chanda and Peter Adams of Sanford Burnham Prebys; Maria Kleppe, Pablo Sanchez Vela and Ross L. Levine of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Soheil Meshinchi of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Connie J. Eaves of British Columbia Cancer Agency; Irmela Jeremias of German Center for Environmental Health; Torsten Haferlach of MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory; and David A. Frank and Scott A. Armstrong of Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The study's DOI is 10.1182/blood.2020009023. Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R00CA154880, P30CA030199, P30CA008748, R35CA197594), the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and Luke Tatsu Johnson Foundation (19YIN45), Children's Cancer Research Fund, V Foundation for Cancer Research (TVF) (DVP2019-015), Lady Tata foundation, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. About Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Sanford Burnham Prebys is a preeminent, independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health. For more than 40 years, our research has produced breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and children's diseases, and is anchored by our NCI-designated Cancer Center and advanced drug discovery capabilities. For more information, visit us at SBPdiscovery.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/SBPdiscovery and on Twitter @SBPdiscovery. Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The former top prosecutor on the ongoing federal bribery probe into the Ohio Statehouse says he doesnt expect the case to go to trial any time soon. Id be surprised if it goes to trial this year, David DeVillers, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said in Columbus on Wednesday. And thats based primarily on COVID. Because weve got people who are already locked up in prison, and theyve got the first shot at going to trial. DeVillers, who helped oversee the HB6 investigation before he left office in February, fielded questions about the case during a Wednesday appearance at the Columbus Metropolitan Club, where he was a featured guest. Hes now in private practice, working for a Columbus law firm. Former House Speaker Larry Householder and four Columbus political operatives were arrested and charged last July, accused of helping pass HB6, a nuclear bailout law, as part of a $61 million bribery scheme. Two defendants, Jeff Longstreth and Juan Cespedes, have pleaded guilty. But Householder and another co-defendant, Matt Borges, have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Other than one of the co-defendants, Neil Clark, dying in what police said was an apparent suicide last month, there have been no recent major developments in the case. A pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 11 was postponed until June to give prosecutors and defense attorneys more time to prepare. As he has said previously, DeVillers said the coronavirus pandemic also is a factor in why there havent yet been additional charges in the case. No one from FirstEnergy, the Akron company prosecutors have made clear in court documents played a central role in funding the scheme, has been charged or accused of wrongdoing. When we brought this up in July... We got the bribees. But where are the bribers? Its no secret that it takes two to tango, DeVillers said. DeVillers said the case entered a new, more aggressive phase after the charges were announced, making the investigation public. But federal grand juries, which authorize federal charges, were prevented from meeting due to safety protocols, and only resumed meeting in March, DeVillers said. I know the grand jury started again in March, so I would expect that investigation is rolling along pretty well right now, he said. DeVillers, a Republican appointed to the job by former President Donald Trump in November 2019, was asked to resign in February, shortly after Democratic President Joe Biden took office in whats a typical move when the White House changes parties. Although hes now out of federal office, which strictly limited what he could say publicly, DeVillers said he still is trying to be careful about commenting on the investigation. But he did offer one opinion about Householder, a Perry County Republican who remains in the legislature after being re-elected last November. I dont want some defense attorney saying during the trial that Mr. DeVillers had something against Mr. Householder, so hes spewing his opinions throughout the Southern District of Ohio, tainting a possible jury, DeVillers said. Im going to be careful what I say about Mr. Householder. But I will say, I am surprised hes still in office, yes. CALGARY, Alberta, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canacol Energy Ltd. ("Canacol" or the "Corporation") (TSX:CNE; OTCQX:CNNEF; BVC:CNEC) is pleased to provide the following information concerning its March 2021 natural gas sales and drilling program. Gas sales averaged 173 MMscfpd for March 2021 Realized contractual natural gas sales (which are gas produced, delivered, and paid for) were 173 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfpd) for March 2021. Average realized contractual natural gas sales for the first quarter of 2021 averaged 177 MMscfpd. Canahuate 4 development well and Milano 1 exploration well The Canahuate 4 development well encountered 72 feet true vertical depth of gas pay within the upper Cienega de Oro sandstone reservoir and will be tied in and on production by early May 2021. The Milano 1 exploration well did not encounter commercial gas and has been plugged and abandoned. The rigs are currently being mobilized to drill the Nelson 9 development well and the Aguas Vivas 1 exploration well. Each will take approximately 5 weeks to drill and test. About Canacol Canacol is a natural gas exploration and production company with operations focused in Colombia. The Corporation's common stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the OTCQX in the United States of America, and the Colombia Stock Exchange under ticker symbol CNE, CNNEF, and CNE.C, respectively. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, including without limitation statements relating to estimated production rates from the Corporation's properties and intended work programs and associated timelines. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. They are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change and the Corporation assumes no obligation to revise or update them to reflect new circumstances, except as required by law. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration for and development of crude oil and natural gas properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological and geophysical data, fluctuating energy prices, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs or delays and other uncertainties associated with the oil and gas industry. Other risk factors could include risks associated with negotiating with foreign governments as well as country risk associated with conducting international activities, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Corporation. Realized contractual gas sales is defined as gas produced and sold plus gas revenues received from nominated take or pay contracts. Though some Americans were shocked by images of mobs of people bursting into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, apparently inspired by Donald Trumps baseless claims that he was the actual winner of the presidential election, A.C. Thompson saw the insurrection as the end of a trail that began in 2017 with the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In the 90-minute documentary, American Insurrection, Thompson, a reporter with ProPublica and a Frontline correspondent, traces the rise of far-right groups, and talks with members of militia groups and counter-terrorism experts who agree that during Trumps presidency, the number of extremists increased. Thompson says that the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville was a prelude to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. The Frontline documentary features Thompsons travels around the country, including a 2018 stop in Portland where he interviews people at a Proud Boys rally, who, as Thompson says, explained their presence by saying they were defending the U.S. from some kind of Communist takeover. In addition to the growing presence of Proud Boys at protests and at the Jan. 6 insurrection, Thompson examines the activities of other armed militia groups, such as the anti-government Boogaloo Bois. He also explores the thwarted plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. A counter-terrorism expert tells Thompson that Trumps claims that the real threat to the country was from Black Lives Matter and antifa helped embolden right-wing groups. A former official with the Justice Department says the sense of having the presidents approval made earlier far-right standoffs -- including the 2017 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge -- feel different than the incursions into downtown areas that followed, whether in small towns or big cities like Portland. Reviewing footage of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Thompson notes the presence in the crowd of both Boogaloo Bois and Proud Boys, and recognizes Ethan Nordean, who he had seen in Portland years ago. Nordean, who has brawled with left-wing demonstrators in Portland, faces charges in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection. Though Thompson says the events of Jan. 6 were the culmination of the radicalizations that occurred during the Trump presidency, American Insurrection ends with a caution that the threat of violence from far-right extremists is far from over. American Insurrection airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, on PBS. Stream it on YouTube. Subscribe to our free weekly What to Watch newsletter. Email: -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the age of retirement in America averages 63 for women and 65 for men. However, since the pandemic, more than a quarter of workers have had to move up their retirement dates. Steve Sexton, financial consultant and CEO of Sexton Advisory Group in San Diego, California, is addressing the top three retirement risks Americans should be prepping for right now. 1. Sequence of returns Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 00:49:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIGA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Like most other European Union (EU) members, Latvia started its COVID-19 vaccination campaign at the end of last year, aiming to immunize most of its population by the end of this summer. However, due to various reasons, the vaccination campaign has not been as smooth as expected, which now calls Latvia's chances of achieving herd immunity by August or September into question. So far, Latvia has been using COVID-19 vaccines made by AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech - the three jabs approved by the European regulator for use in the EU. On Tuesday, Latvia received the first shipment of the fourth EU-approved COVID-19 vaccine, made by Johnson & Johnson, but its use was immediately put on hold because of concerns that this vaccine might be the cause of rare cases of blood clots. The main obstacle to Latvia's vaccination drive has been delays in vaccine deliveries, but blunders have also been made by the Baltic country's health authorities. In November 2020, Latvian officials passed up an opportunity to order over 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, hoping that the country will be able to rely on vaccine deliveries from AstraZeneca. However, AstraZeneca has failed to fulfil the EU member states' - among them Latvia's -- vaccine orders, and reports of the AstraZeneca jab's potentially life-threatening side effects have badly damaged its popularity. Accordingly, the country briefly suspended the use of the AstraZeneca jab in mid-March, while the EU medicines regulator was reviewing its safety. So far, however, Latvia has not recorded any cases of blood clots, or thromboembolism, following inoculation with the AstraZeneca jab, and Latvian health experts claim that the vaccine has fallen into disrepute quite undeservedly. Meanwhile, health officials started to roll over the failure to procure the necessary amount of other COVID-19 vaccines. In January, Health Minister Ilze Vinkele lost her job and was replaced by Daniels Pavluts, who ordered an inquiry into Latvia's botched vaccine procurement. As a result of this inquiry, Pavluts demoted the Health Ministry's top administrator and opened a disciplinary probe against the head of the State Agency of Medicines. Latvia's vaccine rollout gathered pace, and on April 5, seven mass vaccination centers opened in Riga and several other cities to speed up the process, but COVID-19 vaccines at these centers were only available to groups prioritized for vaccination -- the elderly and people with chronic health conditions. This prompted calls from the public to let everyone who wants the vaccine to get it at the vaccination centers, which on the first days of operation failed to administer all the vaccine doses at their disposal, also because they only offered the AstraZeneca shot. Addressing Latvia's slow vaccine rollout at a government meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins did not hide his exasperation over the many hindrances that have been holding back the immunization of Latvia's population and called Health Minister Pavluts as the official responsible for the process to task. However, the prime minister also said that he was confident that the Health Ministry was capable of coping with the task of immunizing the population against the virus. "The Health Ministry must cope with this challenge and I am sure that it will," Karins told reporters following the cabinet meeting. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with already-authorized coronavirus vaccines. Meanwhile, 272 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 88 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on April 13. Enditem Move over, Andrew Cuomo. The latest accused sex-harassing pervert among the Democratic leadership is New Mexico's Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. It's a gross one. According to today's Albuquerque Journal (hat tip: Daily Caller): SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's gubernatorial campaign has paid at least $62,500 as part of a settlement with a former staff member who had accused her of sexual mistreatment during a staff meeting, according to documents filed Monday. The payments went to a law firm representing James Hallinan, a spokesman for Lujan Grisham during her 2018 general election campaign. ...and... Hallinan, who now runs his own communications company, accused Lujan Grisham in late 2019 about a year after he left the campaign of pouring a bottle of water on his crotch and then grabbing his crotch through his clothes as she laughed, an incident he said took place in front of other campaign staffers. It's hideous enough to read about men who do such things. But what kind of woman does that? On an unwilling man? That's not normal. Not even close. Apparently, except among Democrats, who have a lot of this sort of thing in their political culture, which seems to be getting worse. Like handsy, grabby Joe and his ally Andrew Cuomo, this governor is a big ally of the Biden bunch and came one step short of being Joe's new Health and Human Services secretary. She lost out only to the unscrupulous California attorney general, Xavier Becerra, but otherwise would have been in at the Biden center of power. She also was hailed in the press as New Mexico's first female Latina governor, with identity politics galore. Character in this nonstop coverage didn't matter. Seems as she was basking in all that First Latinatude, and drawing praise from all the little girls about Latinas now being able to become anything...that "anything" included becoming New Mexico's first female pervert in power. Seriously, as she was basking in all that "first Latina" praise, she was doing crotch-grabbing to the staff on the side. What kind of person does that? It's unfathomable. The young staffer made a pretty credible claim, too, tweeting out his harassment at the time it happened. A muscle man from her campaign, someone named Gabello, reportedly tried to talk him out of complaining and failed. To add insult to injury, the Lujan Grisham team deny anything happened at all and now brand him a liar, despite all those $12,500 payouts, which, the Journal notes, may be continuing and get a lot higher. To add further insult, they now claim that his motive was that he was effectively unemployable. Wow. None of the perviness charges happened at all, according to them, though they offer no credible alternative counter-explanation. They are now declaring the settlement based on "numerous dubious and disputed potential claims" as the reason for the big payouts. Can other people who lie get a spare $62,500 from their campaign? Don't think so. Something happened, and the money involved tells us it was a doozy. What's revolting here is how common it seems to be among Democrats, the very essence of their culture. They don't have any religion, none except state power, so anything goes, and now they are showing it. Think of how many there have been, just in recent years. There's Andrew Cuomo, who's been accused by nine women of groping and grabbing and kissing them while on the job, making creepy sausage talk, and asking them to play strip poker. He called at least one to his mansion and reached under her blouse and under her bra to cop a feel. He ogled the aides and had a thing for putting his hands on the small of their backs. Creepy, creepy, creepy. Nobody does that. While we are on it, let's take a look at old Joe. He's been accused of swimming naked in front of female Secret Service agents, seemingly expressly to make them uncomfortable, like a flasher. He likes to show himself. He's also done handsy, grabby things on unwilling females in public. He also been accused of bona fide sexual assault by Tara Reade, a charge that has yet to be adjudicated. He's not known as "Creepy Joe" for nothing. And Kamala Harris is well part of this culture, too. Sleeping with Willie Brown to bite and claw her way to top was one thing, but she also tolerated creepy behavior in others and then pretended she didn't know. Recall that in 2017, just four years ago, her office as thenattorney general of California was forced to make a $400,000 payout to a victim of a top staffer of hers, Larry Wallace, for sexual harassment. As I wrote when the news of that broke: And all the reported stories of what a pervert this guy was, about him making his female assistant act as a personal servant girl for errands, and worse, crawl under his desk to fix the printer, again and again, so he could get a gander at her butt, ignoring her when she asked to move the thing, and then tossing her to an unimportant division when she complained, Harris knew literally nothing? Despite being the state's top lawwoman with him her deputy? Further upstream, there were Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd, who "taught" us all a new phrase: "Waitress Sandwich." The pair of them were close allies of old Joe back when he was bothering Tara Reade. There was also New York governor Eliot Spitzer, who was awfully fond of hookers. And Bill Clinton, who got it on with the interns and "finished the job in the sink," as the Starr report noted. One difference: These pervy creatures paid a price back in those old days, with Clinton impeached and Spitzer forced to resign for his transgressions, which in both cases were justified at the time as at least consensual. The current crop don't bother with "consensual" and just write checks and stay in power. Non-Democrats such as Rep. Matt Gaetz, who's been accused of the same sort of thing, aren't going to last if the matter comes true, but Democrats are their own exception. That's Joe Biden's world now, that's the Biden standard, that's what goes on among Democrats, and we see it again and again and again. Sure, Bill Clinton ushered this kind of behavior in, now ironic in the age of #MeToo and Harvey Weinstein. Old Harv was expendable, but these Dems do it over and over and do it so often they now get away with it. Things have changed. They're the party of perverts. It is good to be the king. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. Chinese vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are seen at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on March 27, 2021. REUTERS New Delhi: Aerospace start-up TeamIndus, which is gearing up to land the first private rover on the moon, has got thumbs up from an international panel of judges from the Google Lunar XPRIZE, saying the team has made sustancial progress and was heading to the right direction. But, in order to move on, TeamIndus, founded by Rahul Narayan in 2011, says it needs to raise about Rs 225 crore before the launch of their lunar spacecraft and for this it is in talks with multiple sponsors and stakeholders. The total project costs Rs 450 crore and we have already collected half of the amount. For the other half of the amount, we are talking to various sponsors and will be able to raise this amount in the next 3 to 6 months, Rahul Narayan, founder of TeamIndus, said. The company had secured three rounds of funding, with series A getting completed, he added. Review of TeamIndus moon mission plan The moon mission plan of TeamIndus was on Friday reviewed by an international panel of judges. TeamIndus is the only Indian team competing for the $30 million (roughly Rs 196 crores) prize. 30 teams were selected as finalists and now five finalists are on track to compete its mission. TeamIndus is one of the 5 finalists. "I think we have seen very substantial progress...They are heading in the right direction. However, I would say in space you always can expect the unexpected and this team has the ability to tackle the problems," Chairman of the panel Professor Alan Wells said. The panel comprising of eminent space scientists and aerospace engineers are on a five-day review visit. "We see this engineering review as well as the support from the panel as validation that we are on the right path. We will now be integrating the learning from the review into fine-tuning the mission in the days ahead," TeamIndus Fleet Commander Rahul Narayan said. Narayan said that they were hopeful that the mission will be completed in next three to six months. In response to a question on investments, Narayan said, "The total cost of the programme is expected to be around Rs. 450 crore, out which more than half has been collected and spent and for the rest talks are on with sponsors and others who are interested in spending on this mission." About TeamIndus mission TeamIndus will launch its spacecraft weighing 600 kg on board ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharihota. The spacecraft will be injected into an orbit 800 km above the surface of the Earth. The spacecraft will also carry the 4kg Japanese rover belonging to its competitor Hakuto along with its own indigenously designed and developed robotic rover. It will also carry a further payload of scientific experiments, including a student experiment being taken to the moon for free. Deadline ALSO READ | TeamIndus among top 5 finalists to compete for Google Lunar XPRIZE by landing rovers on Moon The deadline for the completion of mission fixed by the Google Lunar XPRIZE is March 31 next year. The first launch window of the spacecraft is December 28, and after that there will be three-day windows every month, with a cutoff date of around the first week of March, if it is to meet the March 31 deadline. TeamIndus supporters Tata, Nandan Nilekani (Infosys), Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal (Flipkart) and Venu Srinivasan (TVS Group), K Kasturirangan (former ISRO chief) among others are supporting TeamIndus as its advisers. The five finalistsOther than TeamIndus (India), the other four finalist teams who have a verified launch contracts are SpaceIL (Israel), Moon Express (USA), Synergy Moon (International) and HAKUTO (Japan). About TeamIndus Team Indus, which is backed by the likes of Ratan Tata, Nandan Nilekani, Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, has emerged as one of the five companies to be selected out of 29 teams which participated in the Lunar XPrize contest. What is Google Lunar XPRIZE? TeamIndus is in the fray for Google Lunar XPRIZE, also called the Moon 2.0, which is a competition organised by Google. Privately funded spaceflight teams from across the world were called to land a rover on moon before March 31, 2018. December 2017 was the earlier deadline to launch the spacecraft. The winner team will land its rover on Moon and will also traverse 500 metre on the lunar surface. It also requires to send back high-definition pictures and videos from there. The winning team will be awarded $30 million. The $30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE is a competition that challenges and inspires engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. About XPRIZE XPRIZE designs and implements innovative competition models in order to solve the grandest challenges in the world. Active competitions include the $30M Google Lunar XPRIZE, the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, the $15M Global Learning XPRIZE, the $10M Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, the $7M Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, the $7M Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE, the $5M IBM Watson AI XPRIZE, the $1.75M Water Abundance XPRIZE and the $1M Anu & Naveen Jain Womens Safety XPRIZE. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. One of San Antonio's most recognizable names in news is retiring. In a video posted on YouTube Wednesday morning, KTSA radio personality Trey Ware delivered a heartfelt tribute to Elizabeth Ruiz, who is retiring Thursday after 40 years with the station. Ware said "Liz is San Antonio" and shared highlights of her decades-long career, which included coverage of major politicians, an historic Papal visit and more. "Thank you for allowing me to join you in your cars and your homes via the magic of radio for the past four decades, from the early days of dancing the 'Conga' with Sonny Melendrez on KTFM, to covering news stories and anchoring with the radio legends on KTSA," Ruiz said about her loyal listeners and followers in a Facebook message to the Express-News. "What a blessing you all have been to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." In 2016, Ruiz was inducted into the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame. According to her bio on the hall of fame website, she began her radio broadcasting career in 1980 with KKYX while taking a journalism class at San Antonio College, and then moved to KTSA a year later. During her legendary career, Ruiz has covered city hall, the police beat, natural disasters and the 1984 Democratic and Republican national conventions. She has also provided coverage of visits by Pope John Paul II in 1987, Queen Elizabeth in 1991 and four former presidents. Ruiz said she never would have imagined covering a global pandemic or the devastating winter storm in February, but said covering the Pope's visit to Plaza Guadalupe in '87 was one of her career highlights. "It was such a moving experience and Ill never forget his warm smile and gentle eyes," Ruiz said. Among the shows she has hosted at KTSA are The Ware Pair with Liz and Sunday Live with Liz. "Elizabeth Ruiz is a living San Antonio legend," said Dennis Foley, KTSA's news director. "It has been an absolute honor having her part of the KTSA team for 40 years. Her dynamic personality and sharp wit will be missed at KTSA, but we are excited for her as she moves on to her next adventure in retirement." Foley said Ruiz is one of the hardest-working reporters in the country and has earned a "well-deserved break from the news life." "I close every show at 9 a.m. with something from the heart when I say, 'I love you, San Antonio,'" Ware said during his tribute. "And Liz, I can tell you, San Antonio loves you." Peter.Rasmussen@mysa.com Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov signed an order to convene an extraordinary plenary session of parliament on the MPs initiative on Thursday. "Due to the demand of 155 MPs of Ukraine to convene an extraordinary plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the ninth convocation and in accordance with Part 8 of Article 19 of the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to convene an extraordinary plenary session [...] at 16:00 on April 15, 2021," the parliament said on its website on Wednesday. According to the agenda, the MPs intend to consider 15 issues, namely: bill on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the improvement of responsibility for declaring inaccurate information and the failure of the subject to perform the functions of the government or local self-government (No. 4651); bill on Constitutional Procedure (No. 4533); bill on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses in relation to the executed decisions (No. 5058); bill on amendments to the law on industrial parks aimed at raising investment in the industrial sector of the economy by introducing incentives in industrial parks (No. 4416-1); bill on amendments to Appendices 3 and 4 of the law on the 2021 national budget of Ukraine to ensure the activities of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine (No. 5197-2); bill on amendments to some laws regarding the improvement of the anti-raiding mechanism (No. 3774); bill on amendments to some laws regarding the provision of benefits to certain categories of citizens of Ukraine applying for consular actions (No. 4539); bill on amendments to some legislative acts regarding certification of the transmission system operator (No. 3364-1-d); bill on amendments to the law of Ukraine on the prevention of corruption (regarding the improvement of certain aspects of the declaration) (No. 5173); bill on amendments to some laws of Ukraine regarding the development of the institution of elders (No. 4535); bill on amendments to Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine on national awards of Ukraine (No. 5327); bill on stimulating the development of the digital economy in Ukraine (No. 4303) and others. Labor Senator Kristina Keneally Labor Senator Kristina Keneally has accused Peter Dutton of cancelling her trip to visit a Tamil family from Biloela who are being detained on Christmas Island. Senator Keneally, Labor's spokeswoman for Home Affairs, said the Australian Border Force had on Wednesday afternoon confirmed she could visit the family. But she said 22 minutes later she received an email saying Defence Minister Peter Dutton had 'determined that the Special Purpose Aircraft can no longer be made available' for the trip. 'Dutton cancelled the trip,' Senator Keneally wrote on Twitter on Wednesday night. The Biloela family of Priya, Nades and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa have spent more than three years in detention. The Biloela family of Priya, Nades and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa have spent more than three years in detention Community members have campaigned tirelessly for them to be returned to their adopted home in central Queensland Senator Keneally has said the 'sorry saga' should come to an end, with taxpayers spending millions of dollars to keep the family in detention (Peter Dutton pictured) Community members have campaigned tirelessly for them to be returned to their adopted home in central Queensland. Senator Keneally has said the 'sorry saga' should come to an end, with taxpayers spending millions of dollars to keep the family in detention. She had been due to visit Christmas Island with other MPs as part of a bipartisan parliamentary committee trip and she was planning on bringing a gift for the children, the ABC reports. Mr Dutton's office has been sought for comment. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Youve probably noticed a lot of buzz over the past few weeks about nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, the digital artworks that are stamped with unique codes. Last month, one of them sold for more than $69 million at a Christies online auction. Unfortunately, the prices for NFTs arent the only thing thats huge: They come with an astonishing environmental footprint. According to one estimate, the creation of a single NFT, on average, produces as much greenhouse gas as a 500-mile trip in a typical American gasoline-powered car. The culprit is blockchain technology, which underpins these digital tokens and is also the basis for Bitcoin. It relies on specialized computers racing to solve complex equations by making quintillions of guesses a second. Researchers at Cambridge University have estimated that Bitcoin mining alone, not even counting NFTs, uses more electricity than entire countries like Argentina, Sweden or Pakistan. Quotable: The numbers are just crushing, said Chris Precht, an architect and artist. As much as it hurts financially and mentally, I cant. Approximately 100 soldiers from Canadian Forces Base Shilo have been deployed to northern Manitoba communities to assist with the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Advertisement Advertise With Us Approximately 100 soldiers from Canadian Forces Base Shilo have been deployed to northern Manitoba communities to assist with the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The soldiers were deployed as part of Operation Vector, which aims to vaccinate people living in northern Manitoba First Nations, which have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. A member of the Land Task Force gets tested for COVID-19 in preparation for COVID-19 vaccination clinics to on-reserve Indigenous communities in collaboration with the Indigenous Services Canada, local Indigenous authorities and Public Safety in Thompson during Operation Vector on March 28. (Sailor 3rd Class Megan Sterritt, 17 OSS Imaging.) The soldiers are largely providing logistical support to the vaccination teams, said Lt.-Col. David Brassard, unit commander of the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, and helping out where needed. Some of the duties include providing transportation to medical personnel and co-ordinating equipment. "The Shilo soldiers provide the leadership as well as the logistical support to medical teams who actually carry out the nitty-gritty, which is the vaccination," Brassard said. Members of the Land Task Force arrive at the staging hub for COVID-19 vaccination clinics to on-reserve Indigenous communities in collaboration with the Indigenous Services Canada, local Indigenous authorities and Public Safety in Thompson during Operation Vector on March 28. (Sailor 3rd Class Megan Sterritt, 17 OSS Imaging) Photo By: Sailor 3rd Class Megan Sterritt, 17 OSS Imaging. "Were very happy to come and actually help carry out the vaccination campaign. Its great for the soldiers morale and it shows the public and Canadian taxpayers what we actually bring to the fight," he said. Soldiers have been in northern Manitoba since November as part of Operation Laser, when the military was deployed to help First Nations communities dealing with outbreaks of the virus. The long deployment has given the military more opportunities to co-ordinate the vaccination rollout with local communities, Brassard said, and people are now used to the soldiers presence. "A lot of these northern communities have dealt with the military, so when we arrive its not a surprise. Theyre used to seeing the uniform in a positive light," he said. The deployment has also been a big morale boost for the soldiers themselves, he said, as they are directly making a difference in the fight against the virus. Brassard said morale is "through the roof." "For my soldiers, its one way to get back at COVID-19 theyre super pumped because its much better to go up north, help our fellow Canadians, do the business, riding around in helicopters and make a change in peoples lives than staying in your basement sitting on your couch," he said. The military is taking precautions not to spread COVID-19 in the communities soldiers assist in, or between them, Brassard said. Vaccinations for soldiers have just started, so measures are being taken to make sure they themselves dont spread the virus. Military members are tested for COVID-19 before arriving in any new community to ensure they dont import new cases, he said. Soldiers were also tested within 48 hours of first arriving in Thompson, which is where the military has set up a hub from which to deliver vaccines. Soldiers sleep in common areas in community gymnasiums, if they have them, or in nursing stations. "Usually what we try to do is to go into communities and adopt a light posture. We dont want to be dependent on the community and take away from their supplies. Were self-sufficient. We bring our own rations, we bring our own medical equipment, we bring our own medical gowns you name it," he said. The military will have a presence in northern Manitoba for the "foreseeable future," Brassard said, so it is too early to work out plans for how soldiers will self-isolate when they return south. "The bottom line is, nobody will come back to Shilo with COVID-19," Brassard said. Operation Vector is scheduled to run until June. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ He might have been seen as James Bond, armed not with a Walther PPK but with a pen. John Slee, the one-time Sydney Morning Herald journalist who died on March 30, dealt with major issues in India and Japan in the midst of international tensions and crises, performed superbly, interspersing his journalistic forays with a couple of passionate love affairs. John Slee, winner of the Golden Quill award, with Lindsay Simpson winning Merit Award. May 1, 1986. Credit:Fairfax As a legal affairs reporter in Sydney, he continued to take on the big issues, though at one point he got in too deep and endured a prolonged legal battle. But nobody doubted his professionalism. Publisher Richard Walsh said: He was an old-fashioned print journalist, believing that professional journalism could change the world for the better. The tributes have flown thick and fast. Gregory Clark, a former Australian diplomat, said: I found John to be among the finest of journalists, with a keen interest not just in finding facts but what lay behind the facts also. He had a gentleness of touch and intellectuality not universal in our profession. Andrew Horvat, a Canadian journalist, said: John was a true prince among men, in some ways too much of a gentleman for a profession that thrives on the disclosure of embarrassing secrets. John Ross Slee was born on June 26, 1942 in Wilmington, rural South Australia, the youngest of six children of wheat farmer Frederick Slee and Eleanor (nee Lutz). He was a sickly child, having a turned eye from birth, and there were fears he might not survive. But he did and attended Adelaide University to study law. It was there that a radical side of him emerged. He rose in student politics, became an editor of the student newspaper, On Dit, and managed to defeat a Sydney University law student, one Michael Kirby, for the vice-presidency of the National Union of Australian University Students. NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The cannabis industry has long been awaiting New Jersey to open up its adult use program. And finally, on February 22, 2021, eleven years since its medical cannabis program opened, New Jersey has finally opened the floodgates of adult use. And, according to The New York Times, the adult-use market is expected to generate a whopping $126 million per year in profits. In a refreshing move, the State has established a diverse regulatory body, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Its 5 members bring unique perspectives and oversight in an effort to ensure inclusivity in the industry. The official first meeting held by the CRC occurred on Monday, April 12th, where the Commission made note that it has a mere 6 months to develop its robust regulatory program and get adult-use sales up and running. So for those interested in entering the market, what now? What can you do to position yourself to be a competitive applicant for a license? Consider the adage, "Slow is smooth; smooth is fast." Take the time to build a foundation and establish your goals. Consider what licenses to pursue to meet those goals. We believe strongly in utilizing expert guidance to first strategize how to best position yourself in the market, identify your weaknesses, and amplify your strengths. Once you do this, you can begin tackling items that can help you stand out from the competition. Those who fully prepare in advance of an application round opening are far better positioned than those who stumble into an application process too quickly or drag their feet and miss the window. Dedicate the time now to get prepared in advance of the application round and you will be far better off than those who do not. Canna Business Services is a cannabis consulting company that offers unparalleled market expertise and regulatory compliance. We provide the highest level of certainty in an uncertain and high-risk market by serving as specialized industry guides, revealing networks of high value connections and opportunities, and delivering future-proof solutions. If you want expertise, mastery, and certainty in the cannabis industry, you want Canna Business Services on your side. Call us now at 888.453.0555 or visit us at www.cannabusinessservices.com - we can't wait to hear from you! SOURCE Canna Business Services Related Links http://www.cannabusinessservices.com "River Where the Moon Rises" episode 18 occurred four years after the most enormous battle between Goguryeo and Gyeru Tribe. Go Won Pyo (Lee Hae Young) died during his fight against Princess Pyeonggang (Kim So Hyun). Go Gun (Lee Ji Hoon) killed On Dal's (Na In Woo) mother in retaliation. New King Yeongyang Holds Grudges against General Go Gun General Go Gun becomes a drunkard and doesn't go out of the house for years because of his grieving heart. On Dal, since his mother died in the palace during the war, also decided to leave the palace and stay in the mountains for good. Through those years, he has been longing for the princess. Meanwhile, Pyeonggang went to five battles in 4 years to keep her busy and occupied. Through the years, she remained brave and fierce. But this time, his younger brother is stronger than her when it comes to ruling their people. His brother Yeongyang (Kwon Hwa Woon) is the newly crowned king of Goguryeo. Many doubted his capabilities. The pure and innocent crown prince before had turned into a dangerous and vengeful monarch. He has been targeting Go Gun. It was still vivid to King Yeongyang how Go Gun betrayed the royal family years ago. That's why, now that he has all the power to rule the place, he wanted to make Go Gun pay for what he did to his family. On Dal and Pyeonggang Reunited after Years of Being Away from Each Other Love will always find its way back to two people genuinely in love with each other. On Dal and Pyeonggang held their tears and kept their distance because of the tragedy. And yet, they met again to rekindle their relationship as husband and wife. The two had the chance to be with each other again. Pyeonggang decided to visit On Dal in the mountains. She thought he still holds a grudge against her because of his mother's death. Surprisingly, On Dal couldn't hold back and rushed to ensconce the princess in a warm, tight embrace. The next day, Pyeonggang went to see Go Gun. She relayed to him the king's message. After some discussion, Go Gun confronted the princess and asked if she was the one who killed his father. Pyeonggang didn't hesitate to tell the truth. It hurt Go Gun even more, knowing that the woman who was once a friend and who he used to love is the reason why he has been living in grief and anger for so long. Have you watched "River Where the Moon Rises" episode 18? What can you say about it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Written by Shai Collins This photo taken on May 4, 2020 shows Australian farmer Kevin Tongue herding sheep at his property near the rural city of Tamworth, 450 kilometres north-west of Sydney. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) Australia and Saudi Arabia Resume Livestock Trade After 10 Year Hiatus A ten-year hiatus on livestock trade between Australia and Saudi Arabia has been broken with the Middle East kingdom now welcoming Australian exports again. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said on April 7 that Australia has been working with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on the arrangements. My department has been working closely with their counterparts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure that these new arrangements meet Saudi Arabias requirements and ensure the health and welfare of the exported animals, Littleproud said. The Australian Livestock Exporters Council (ALEC) thanked Littleproud for securing the opportunity for the countrys livestock producers. Securing access to Saudi Arabia has been an enormous task for industry, ALEC CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton said. This will not only enable exporters to provide food security to the Saudi people but will assist sheep and goat producers in having greater global market opportunities to a market we once had a significant share in. Sheep feeding on lush grass near the rural city of Tamworth, 450 kilometres north-west of Sydney, Australia on May 4, 2020. (Peter Parks/Getty Images) Harvey-Sutton said KSA is the regions major livestock market, importing almost 8 million sheep, goat, cattle, and camels each year. Two factors have been critical to reopening the market: the agriculture departments consultations with the industry to immunise livestock for scabby mouth and clostridial diseases, and developing the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) which provides mechanisms for animal traceback. The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and producers compliance under Livestock Producer Assurance (LPA) will be critical for this market and provides the mechanisms for animal traceback and verification of requirements by Saudi Arabia, Harvey-Sutton said. Exporters and producers welcome the opportunity to provide Australian livestock to Saudi Arabia and to further developing a mutually beneficial partnership, he said. Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) also welcomed the news, saying market access to KSA will offer additional food security to Saudis, while helping to create a sustainable live sheep export trade for Australians. The impact on producers from this moratorium should not be under-estimated and it is important for both the sustainability of the live sheep export industry as well as producers, particularly in Western Australia, that opportunities for new live sheep markets are pursued as a priority, SPA CEO Stephen Crisp said. Reopening the livestock export market with KSA comes after a difficult year for the Australian meat industry following the Chinese regimes decision to ban imports of Australian beef, lamb and shellfish in retaliation for Foreign Minister Marise Paynes call for an inquiry into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Haiti - Investigation report : Full details of the escape from the prison of Croix-des-Bouquets revealed The very detailed 22-page investigation of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) into the bloody escape of February 25, 2021 at the Croix-des-Bouquets prison reveals that the means deployed and the timing involved a very large planning in great detail and everything suggests that the operation was to free Arnel Joseph, the Leader of the Gand of Village de Dieu. The investigation confirms that : 32 people were killed, including the 28 on the day of the escape. The head of the prison was killed in front of the barrier and 6 inmates, inside the penitentiary itself 21 other detainees were systematically tracked down by agents of the specialized units of the PNH and were summarily executed in the streets of Croix-des-Bouquets. The next day, Arnel Joseph was killed in Estere, in the department of Artibonite https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33115-haiti-flash-arnel-joseph-killed-more-than-400-detainees-on-the-run-at-least-25-dead.html and 3 other inmates succumbed to their injuries at the HUEH. 18 people were injured among them, at least 3 staff members assigned to the prison. The RNDDH underlines contrary to what has been broadcast in some media that no loss of human life has been recorded in the community of Croix-des-Bouquets. All the bodies seen in the streets were detainees, chased by the police and coldly shot. 433 detainees escaped. Only 87 were apprehended. 346 detainees are still on the run, which does not seem to worry too much the police authorities. In addition, we should mention that the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti (IGPNH) announced that the investigation into the escape to the prison of Croix-de-Bouquets is about to be completed. Provisional measures were taken after their hearings against around 30 police officers who were on guard at the prison on February 25 during the escape. https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/1-Rap-Prison-Croix-des-Bouquets-Evasion-1Avr2021-VS-FR.pdf See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33184-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33137-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33115-haiti-flash-arnel-joseph-killed-more-than-400-detainees-on-the-run-at-least-25-dead.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33107-haiti-flash-arnel-joseph-escaped-spectacular-escape-from-the-prison-of-croix-des-bouquets.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31371-icihaiti-croix-des-bouquets-reinforcement-of-the-security-of-the-prison-and-its-surroundings.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31361-haiti-flash-failed-escape-attempt-by-arnel-joseph.html HL/ HaitiLibre [April 14, 2021] Scorpion Raises $100 Million From Bregal Sagemount To Expand Its Technology And Services; Bring Enterprise-Grade Technology and Opportunities To Local Businesses SALT LAKE CITY, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Scorpion , a leading provider of technology and services helping local businesses thrive, announced a $100 million investment from Bregal Sagemount to expand its technology and customer offerings. This funding is a reflection of the exceptional growth in Scorpion's business and investor belief in its vision to empower local businesses and the communities they serve. Through Scorpion's blend of AI technology and teams of experts, local businesses can improve business performance and marketing capabilities by better understanding their unique market dynamics, competitors, and customers. Scorpion brings everything together making it easy to gain insights at-a-glance and in-depth, and to take action through an all-in-one dashboard. Bringing significant local data and vertical market expertise to customers, Scorpion delivers the tools and services needed to set, measure and exceed goals. This funding comes at a time of tremendous growth for Scorpion, as the company makes plans to open a new headquarters in the Salt Lake City area. Scorpion will be bringing a team of executives, award-winning designers, developers and service professionals to the city to allow for continued expansion of talent and innovation. The company continues to add to its nearly 1,000 employees, bringing increased expertise across a variety of verticals including legal, home service providers, healthcare and franchises. Scorpion also expanded its impressive management team, appointing Daniel Street as CEO, Mikel Chertudi as Chief Revenue Officer, Raj Ramanan as Chief Operating Officer, and Azim Nagree as EVP Operations and M&A. Street, a former SVP of Digital for Nexstar, CEO of Loku, Executive at KKR and Management Consultant at Bain and Company, brings decades of extensive experience as a highly regarded technology executive with strategic insights in Local Media, Digital Marketing, and SaaS. Chertudi, former Head of Diital Marketing, Growth & Inside Sales at Adobe, is a digital SaaS expert with more than fifteen years of experience in marketing, product, and sales in B2B and B2C revenue models. Ramanan brings leadership and operational experience from his time spent at McKinsey, Disney, and KKR, and will help Scorpion grow revenue, onboard new customers, and continue to provide world-class service. Nagree, previously Principal of Nagree Consulting and VP of account management at Cision, brings 15 years of experience in growing, scaling and exiting innovative startups. Scorpion Founder Rustin Kretz remains the product visionary and will transition to its Chief Product Officer and Chairman of the Board. Additionally, Scorpion recently acquired CanIRank, an SEO software company that pioneered AI for customers to quickly secure locally-relevant, actionable, SEO insights and recommendations. This acquisition showcases Scorpion's commitment to accelerating the development of its technology, and providing customers with innovative tools. "The pandemic has cemented the need for businesses of all sizes to undergo a digital transformation in order to effectively reach and communicate with their customers. Many local providers recognize the need to adopt digital tools and services for local market insights, but simply don't know where to begin," said Scorpion CEO Daniel Street. "I am thrilled to lead Scorpion, as we continue to bring local businesses enterprise-grade technology to drive informed market decisions and enable them to focus on what they do best." Blair Greenberg, Partner at Bregal Sagemount stated, "Scorpion experienced remarkable growth thanks to its dedication to building a better way to help local businesses thrive." Kirk Smith, Principal added, "Its tireless determination, genuine care, cutting-edge tools and award-winning services are unmatched, and at the core of every customer experience. Bregal Sagemount is excited to be part of Scorpion's prosperous journey as we invest in its growth and technology expansion." Both Greenberg and Smith will be joining Scorpion's Board of Directors. About Scorpion Scorpion is the leading provider of technology and services helping local businesses thrive. It helps local service providers understand their unique market dynamics, maximize their marketing efforts, and delight their customers. Scorpion offers SEO, Reviews, Advertising, Email Marketing, Chat and Messaging, Social Media, Websites, Lead Management, Appointment Scheduling, and more. The company brings everything together in a way that's easy to understand and manage, blending AI and teams of real people with vertical expertise to support customers in setting, measuring, and reaching their goals. Scorpion is Headquartered in the Salt Lake City area, with offices in California, Texas, and New York. For more information, please visit https://www.scorpion.co/about-us/ . About Bregal Sagemount Bregal Sagemount is a growth-focused private capital firm with $4.0 billion of committed capital. The firm provides flexible capital and strategic assistance to market-leading companies in high-growth sectors across a wide variety of transaction situations. Bregal Sagemount invests $40 million to $200 million per transaction into targeted sectors including software, digital infrastructure, healthcare IT / services, business and consumer services, and financial technology / specialty finance. For more information, please visit www.sagemount.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scorpion-raises-100-million-from-bregal-sagemount-to-expand-its-technology-and-services-bring-enterprise-grade-technology-and-opportunities-to-local-businesses-301268944.html SOURCE Scorpion [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Delays in the vaccine rollout will not change border controls, according to a leading West Australian physician who says it will be at least 2025 before normal travel returns. A second case of a rare clotting disorder has occurred in a WA patient who was part of the early rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. WA Health Minister Roger Cook. Credit:Peter de Kruijff The new case was a woman in her 40s, who was in a stable condition in intensive care in Royal Darwin Hospital after being admitted 11 days ago. Since WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson delivered the Commonwealths revised advice about the AstraZeneca vaccine, just four West Australians aged under 50 had received a jab in public clinics. WA currently has 18,000 doses of Pfizer and 30,000 of AstraZeneca. 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 A set of flaws in a widely used network communication protocol that could affect millions of devices was revealed Monday by security researchers. The nine vulnerabilities discovered by Forescout Research Labs and JSOF Research dramatically increase the attack surface of at least 100 million Internet of Things devices, exposing them to potential attacks that could take the devices offline or to be hijacked by threat actors. "History has shown that controlling IoT devices can be an effective tactic to launch DDoS attacks," said Rohit Dhamankar, vice president for threat intelligence products at Alert Logic, an application and infrastructure security company in Houston. "As the IoT devices get richer in functionality, it is possible for them to be under an attacker's control, just like servers or desktops can be, and they can be further exploited to be beachheads in enterprise breaches," he told TechNewsWorld. Called Name:Wreck, the vulnerability set affects four popular TCP/IP stacks -- FreeBSD, Nucleus NET, IPnet and NetX. The researchers explained in a blog that Nucleus NET is part of Nucleus RTOS, a real-time operating system used by more than three billion devices, including ultrasound machines, storage systems, critical systems for avionics and others. FreeBSD, the researchers noted, is widely used by high-performance servers in millions of IT networks and is also the basis for other well-known open-source projects, such as firewalls and several commercial network appliances. They added that NetX is usually run by the ThreadX RTOS, which had 6.2 billion deployments in 2017 and can be found in medical devices, systems-on-a-chip and several printer models. "Organizations in the healthcare and government sectors are in the top three most affected for all three stacks," the researchers wrote. "If we conservatively assume that one percent of the more than 10 billion deployments discussed above are vulnerable, we can estimate that at least 100 million devices are impacted by Name:Wreck." Powerful Attack Vector Security experts told TechNewsWorld that TCP/IP attacks can be particularly powerful. "TCP/IP is the software that actually does all the communication from the device to other systems," explained Gary Kinghorn, marketing director for Tempered Networks, a micro-segmentation company in Seattle. "If it's a network-based attack -- as opposed to inserting a thumb drive in a USB port -- you have to go through TCP/IP," he said. "Corrupting the TCP/IP software to allow for vulnerabilities or exploiting errors in the design is the foundation of most attacks." Attacks on the TCP/IP stack can also circumvent some elementary security protections. "Anytime you have an attack on TCP/IP and you don't need a username or password, it's easier to execute the attack," observed Dhamankar. "TCP/IP vulnerabilities are powerful because they can be exploited remotely over the Internet or on an intranet without having to subvert other security mechanisms like authentication," added Bob Baxley, CTO of Bastille Networks, of San Francisco, a provider of threat detection and security for the Internet of Things. In addition, once a device is compromised, there may be a bonus for a TCP/IP attacker. "In most cases, the code of TCP/IP stacks runs with high privileges, so any code execution vulnerability would allow an attacker to get significant privileges on the device," said Asaf Karas, cofounder and CTO of Vdoo, a provider of security automation for embedded devices in Tel Aviv, Israel. Patching Problems Although some of the vulnerabilities aired by the researchers can be fixed, the process can be problematic. Baxley noted that patches have been released for FreeBSD, Nucleus NET and NetX. "For the end devices that use those stacks, patching is theoretically possible," he said. "But, in practice, many of the vulnerable systems are IoT devices running real-time operating systems that are not on a normal patch schedule and are unlikely to receive a patch." "IoT devices are usually handled with a 'deploy and forget' approach and are often only replaced after they fail or reach the end of their serviceability," added Jean-Philippe Taggart, a senior security researcher at Malwarebytes. "That isn't a very effective approach," he told TechNewsWorld. Age can be another problem for IoT devices. "These systems can be patched, but they are generally very old implementations that may be used for scenarios they weren't envisioned for," Kinghorn observed. "They are vulnerable based on their sheer complexity and inability to easily identify risks," he continued. "It's more often the case that hackers can exploit them before they are patched." "It has always been very hard to patch IoT vulnerabilities," added Dhamankar. "It's hard enough to get server and desktop vulnerabilities patched." Defense Tactics Even without patches, there are ways to protect a network from exploiters of the vulnerabilities found by the Forescout and JSOF researchers. Baxley explained that to exploit the Name:Wreck vulnerabilities, an attacker has to reply to a DNS request from the target device with a spoofed packet that has the malicious payload. To accomplish this, an attacker will need network access to the target device. "Keeping devices, especially IoT devices, segmented from the Internet and core internal networks is one mechanism to mitigate the risk of exposure," he said. Monitoring DNS can also help defend against Name:Wreck. "Monitoring DNS activity in the environment and flagging any external DNS server activity is a good step," Dhamankar observed. "In general," he added, "DNS is a great source to monitor for compromises with security analytics." Beefed up access management can also thwart attackers. "If the system itself can't be patched, and this may be the case for aging industrial control systems or other OT network devices and IoT endpoints, it's important to ensure that the network only allows secure, trusted traffic to these devices," Kinghorn explained. "This is where Zero Trust designs can help, ensuring that only authorized devices can access these vulnerable systems," he continued. "It can also help to continuously monitor and analyze traffic to those devices to ensure that potentially malicious or suspicious traffic is not reaching it." "IoT as a whole is a hotspot for security," added Chris Morales, CISO of Netenrich, a security operations center services provider in San Jose, Calif. "Weak passwords and hard coded user accounts, lack of patching and outdated components, these latest vulnerabilities are just more for the stack of insecurity that is IoT," he told TechNewsWorld. 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. Company Also Announces First Purchase Order for California-based Online Grocer - GTFO It's Vegan Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - The Very Good Food Company Inc. (TSXV: VERY) (OTCQB: VRYYF) (FSE: 0SI) ("Very Good" or the "Company") announced today a new partnership with Boulder, Colorado-based natural food and beverage brokerage, Green Spoon Sales ("Green Spoon"), to accelerate the plant-based food technology company's reach into grocery and retail across the U.S. Since launching its line of plant-based meat alternatives under The Very Good Butchers brand, the Company has seen tremendous interest from natural foods and other retailers representing hundreds of stores across the U.S. in addition to a record pace of direct online orders. The Company also recently secured it's first U.S. sales order from the California-based online vegan grocery store, GTFO It's Vegan; marking the first in its relationship with the sustainable grocer. "The partnership with Green Spoon is poised to significantly boost Very Good's wholesale retail distribution in the U.S. which is a key component of our 2021 growth strategy," said Mitchell Scott, CEO of The Very Good Food Company. "As consumers increasingly gravitate toward plant-based proteins, we have received incredible U.S. demand for our innovative, nutritious and delicious products. We are excited to partner with a like-minded company like Green Spoon to help us reach even more consumers at the store-shelf level in regional and nationwide grocers and other brick-and-mortar retailers. We are currently in advanced conversations with several large and mid-sized chains representing 800+ retail stores to carry our products, so we are well positioned for scalable growth in the U.S. this year." "This partnership incorporates everything we stand for as innovators in the natural food and beverage industry," said Green Spoon Sales CEO and Co-Founder Kari Pedriana. "The plant-based trend has seen tremendous growth and exciting innovation. Together, Green Spoon Sales and The Very Good Food Company are reshaping the future of foods available in the marketplace and bringing the highest quality products to grocery shelves and consumers' homes." Very Good recently announced the commission of its first production line at its 45,000 square foot facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Rupert facility is enabling the increased production of its low-processed, plant-based meat alternatives product line, allowing the company to meet high demand while expanding its footprint in Canada and the U.S. Very Good today also announced that it has retained KCSA Strategic Communications ("KCSA"), a leading New York City-based communications firm. KCSA and VERY's management team will create a comprehensive, strategic communications program to lead the Company's public and investor relations programs. For its services, KCSA will receive US$22,000 per month. The term of the engagement will be initially six months and then ongoing on a month-to-month basis. The Company has the right to terminate the relationship with KCSA on 30 days' notice. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6084/80394_dce0a4ee045c4b6f_001full.jpg About The Very Good Food Company Inc. The Very Good Food Company Inc. is an emerging plant-based food technology company. Our mission is to use progressive food technology to create plant-based meat and other food products that are delicious while maintaining a wholesome nutritional profile. To date we have developed a core product line under The Very Good Butchers brand. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. About Green Spoon Sales Founded in 2010, Green Spoon Sales is a natural food and beverage brokerage that represents the most disruptive and emerging consumer packaged goods in the industry. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Green Spoon works with like-minded national brands across 9 US regions. The company helps brands gain access to retail stores and shelf space, in addition to driving sales through promotions. The company is dedicated to providing an ethically valued business that positively impacts people, the community, and the consumer-packaged goods industry. To learn more, visit www.greenspoonsales.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "proposed", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward looking information contained or referred to in this news release includes, but is not limited to the benefits Very Good expects to derive from its partnership with Green Spoon including a boost to its retail distribution in the United States, the Company's advanced conversations with several other large and mid-size chains representing 800+ retail stores and Very Good's positioning for scalable growth in the United States in 2021. 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, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, timely receipt of regulatory licenses, permits and approvals, current and future demand for Very Good's products. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: negative cash flow and future financing requirements to sustain operations, dilution, limited history of operations and revenues and no history of earnings or dividends, competition, economic changes and the impact of and risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Very Good Food Company Mitchell Scott Chief Executive Officer and Director Kevan Matheson Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Email: invest@verygoodbutchers.com Phone: +1 855-472-9841 Investor Contact: Phil Carlson / Erika Kay KCSA Strategic Communications Email: VERY@kcsa.com Phone: 212-896-1233 Media Contact: Anne Donohoe KCSA Strategic Communications Email: VERY@kcsa.com Phone: 212-896-1265 ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80394 Mixing vaccines could allow for a more flexible rollout and to make up for shortfalls of doses, researchers said The University of Oxford has expanded a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trial where participants are given two different vaccines in the first and second dose. The extra study, aimed at exploring whether the rollout can be done more flexibly, will recruit over-50s who have received their first jab in the past eight to 12 weeks. These volunteers, who will have received either the Oxford- ( ), or (NYSE:PFI) vaccine, will be randomly allocated to receive either the same one for their second dose, or a dose of the inoculations produced by Moderna ( ) or Novavax ( ). The six new arms of the trial will each recruit 175 candidates, adding a further 1050 recruits into this programme. The analysis will compare the immune system responses to the gold-standard responses reported in previous clinical trials of each vaccine. The study has been classified as an Urgent Public Health study by the authorities and received funding of 7mln from the government through the Vaccines Taskforce. If we can show that these mixed schedules generate an immune response that is as good as the standard schedules, and without a significant increase in the vaccine reactions, this will potentially allow more people to complete their COVID-19 immunisation course more rapidly, said Matthew Snape, Associate Professor in Paediatrics and Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and chief investigator of the trial. This would also create resilience within the system in the event of a shortfall in availability of any of the vaccines in use. South African variant in London Meanwhile, there are concerns in the capital after 44 people tested positive for the South African variant in Lambeth and Wandsworth. The Department of Health and Social Care announced its largest surge testing operation to date on Tuesday to control the outbreak. Prof Peter Openshaw, a member of the Covid-19 clinical information network, told the BBC's Newsnight: "I think we're all just hoping that the staged reduction in lockdown is going to be OK. "If we get rapid spread of the South African or other more resistant variants, it may well be that we are going to have to put the reductions of lockdown into reverse." New Delhi: Gujarat Dalit teen who claimed he was stabbed by two Rajpoot men on October 3 allegedly for wearing moustaches, faked the attack to gain media attention, police said. 17-year-old Dalit teen Digant Maheria had claimed that he was attacked allegedly by two Rajput men in the Limbodara village in Gujarat's Gandhinagar district. According to the Gujarat police, the youth has confessed that he faked the attack "because he wanted media attention" and his attackers were his schoolmates. "We had registered a complaint and began an investigation. Our suspicion grew when the forensic team visited the spot where the boy claimed to have been stabbed," NDTV quoted police officer Virendra Yadav as saying. Also Read | Dalits thrashed for sporting moustache in Gujarat, one arrested "The team didn't find any blood marks. Neither did we, on examination of the boy's clothes, find them soiled, despite the attack allegedly having taken place in a muddy patch," he added. The incident of fake attack took place days after a Dalit youth was killed in the same district for sporting moustaches. Following the attack, several Dalit men started protesting and changed their WhatsApp display picture to a twirled-up moustache with crown and Mr Dalit written on it. The Mr Dalit intensified after an alleged attack on Digant and people started posting pictures on social media twirling their moustaches. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The head of San Antonio-based C.H. Guenther & Son LLC is stepping down and will be succeeded by an executive from a Los Angeles-area food manufacturer. Dale Tremblay has worked for Guenther for more than 23 years and served as CEO since 2001. He will remain with the company as board chairman. Hes being replaced by John Buckles, who will become president and CEO on April 29. I am confident John is the right leader for CHGs next phase of growth, Tremblay said in an announcement Wednesday. I am eager to support John through the transition as he drives new business opportunities, evaluates add-on acquisitions and further strengthens our critical customer relationships. On ExpressNews.com: Firm buys San Antonio's C.H. Guenther & Son Buckles previously served as chief operating officer at Ventura Foods, which makes dressings, sauces, mayonnaises and other products. I am thrilled to join Dale and the entire CHG team to honor the 170-year family legacy of this great company, he said. I have long admired CHGs culture, product quality, customer partnerships and manufacturing expertise. Buckles has also held leadership roles at PepsiCo, The Kellogg Company and The Coca-Cola Company. Steve Phillips, senior vice president of corporate services at Guenther, praised his background and experience. Im sure hell have some new ideas that we can use, Phillips said. Hes the perfect person to be the president and CEO for the organization. Guenther will continue developing new products and expanding, he added. The company employs more than 3,500 people at 24 facilities in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe and has acquired about a dozen businesses over the last two decades. No question well continue to grow, Phillips said. Guenther was founded in 1851 by German immigrant Carl Hilmar C.H. Guenther, who moved his flour mill from Live Oak Creek to the San Antonio River in 1859. On ExpressNews.com: Biscuits, pancakes and corporate acquisitions at one of San Antonio's iconic businesses The parent company of Pioneer Flour Mills makes flour, sauces, gravies, seasonings and other products under labels such as Pioneer, White Wings, Sun-Bird and Cuisine Adventures. Its popular Guenther House restaurant and museum at 205 E. Guenther St. is near a 20-story grain tower the company built in 1922. The company remained family-owned until 2018, when over 170 Guenther family members who were shareholders sold it to Pritzker Private Capital, a private investment firm with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles. One shareholder valued the deal at as much as $1.4 billion. madison.iszler@express-news.net An April 10 meeting of the Socialist Equality Party (UK) calling for a network of rank-and-file action and safety committees was attended by workers from many sectors including education, health care, transport, engineering, food and drink manufacturing, warehousing, services and the gig economy. A health worker protests over pay in Bournemouth as part of protests around the UK in August 2020. The placard reads "We are not angels or heroes: We are professionals that deserve a professional pay" (credit: WSWS media) Also attending were a number of students. Greetings were brought by World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) US labor editor Jerry White and Gregor Link of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Germany. The WSWS and the Socialist Equality Parties internationally are assisting workers everywhere in the building of an interconnected network of rank-and-file committees, independent of the trade unions that work on behalf of the employers and the government. These committees will provide the new and democratic organisations of class struggle workers need to stop the spread of COVID-19 and fight back against attacks on jobs, pay and conditions. UK Socialist Equality Party Assistant National Secretary Thomas Scripps opened the meeting by warning of the dangerous new stage reached by the global pandemic and the policy of herd immunity still pursued by the worlds governments, repackaged as learning to live with the virus. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reopening the economy, which means not only a return to mass sickness and death, but to job losses, wage cuts and attacks on working conditions. This is the ruling class ruthless class war strategy, said Scripps. The most urgent political questions today is for the working class to organise around its own class war programmeseizing control of the wealth and productive resources of society and using them to protect all lives and livelihoods There are currently no mass organisations of working-class struggle. What masquerades under the name of the trade unions is a giant apparatus for suppressing industrial and political action. Building new fighting organisations of the working class can only be done through a determined insurgency against this apparatus. That means the setting up and expansion of rank-and-file committees, run by, and accountable to the workers, resolutely independent of the trade unions. Above all, Scripps explained, this requires the fight for a new, socialist political perspective in the working class, for a massive redistribution of social wealth, the planned coordination of the world economy to meet human needs, and the necessary political struggle against the worlds capitalist governments. Jerry White noted that the US population had by that time suffered 575,000 deaths, the highest number of fatalities of any country. Cases are rising again in several states. It is under these conditions that the Socialist Equality Party in the US has won increasing support for its call for educators and other workers to build new organizations, independent of the corporatist unions, to fight this murderous policy. Workers have joined a growing network of national and international rank-and-file committees to organize the fight to save lives and oppose the brutal austerity being demanded by the corporate and financial elite, which is hollering that there is no money to save lives or pay living wages after receiving a multi-trillion bailout that has allowed US billionaires to increase their wealth by more than one-trillion last year. White referred to the defeat of the unionization campaign at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama yesterday, which exposes the extent of workers alienation from the pro-corporate trade unions. Workers opposed joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), even though US President Joe Biden himself had called for a vote in favour. The operation to install the RWDSU at Amazon did not arise from a movement of workers from below. Rather, it was an operation of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the ruling class, and the state from above. The intervention of the Democratic Party and Biden reflects calculations within substantial sections of the ruling class that the working class can be better restrained by placing it under de-facto state guardianship within the unions. Gregor Link explained, In Europe, almost one million people have died of COVID so far, with 25,000 people currently dying each week. Tens of millions more will suffer long-term health problems and the consequences of increased exploitation and ruin Opposition in Germanyas across Europeis widespread and growing The night after [Chancellor Angela] Merkel and the state prime ministers refused to impose the necessary lockdown two weeks ago, the hashtag #generalstrike was the No. 1 most-discussed trending term on Twitter for more than three hours. The SEP in Germany has established a network of rank-and-file committees for safe schools and workplaces and is fighting to organize independently of the unions and reach out to workers all over the world. We intend to fight for a general strike that includes and unites workers across Europe and beyond to shut down schools and non-essential production. All affected workers and small business owners must be completely recompensated. SEP (UK) member and special needs teacher Tania Kent spoke on behalf of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee established last September. It was clear from the beginning of the pandemic that the fight against its deadly impact and the protection of lives could not be left in the hands of the Labour Party and the trade unions, who supported the policy of herd immunity and the protection of profits over lives. The Committees founding statement said its purpose was to unite all those opposed to the unsafe reopening of schools and provide the necessary leadership to prepare for a nationwide general strike to halt the reopening of schools. Kent said, This continues to be the essential task before workers. The launching of a network of committees today is an essential step in providing this leadership and programme across all industries. Claire, a high school student, said that at her school, we have assembly twice a week with about 300 people and masks are not enforced at all. SEP member and bus driver Miles Driver said, Among key workers, London bus drivers have suffered one of the highest death tolls from the pandemic. More than 60 drivers have needlessly died from the pandemic over the last year If anyone listening believes the unions can be reformed, or pressured to the left, or forced to fight for our interests, I urge you to consider the experience of bus workers with Unite. On April 10 anger turned to fury after Unite, the union, which covers 20,000 bus drivers in London, sent thousands of letters to drivers stating that PPE was not recommended. The letter was signed by Unite Official John Murphy along with the head of Transport for London and top bus company executives. In September, as a new wave of infections developed in the garages. the London Bus Rank-and-File Committee was established The Committee has enabled workers to begin to act in their own interests. Our initiatives in defence of safety forced the companies and Unite on the back foot at a number of garages, exposing Unite's role as an industrial police force for Transport for London and the Johnson government. Rory Woods, an SEP (UK) member and nurse at an NHS hospital, told the meeting, I have been involved in the SEPs NHS Fightback campaign since its founding in 2012 Our experience during the pandemic, as well as over the last four decades, shows that workers cannot place any faith in the unions. If I were to list all the sell-outs carried out by the Royal College of Nurses, it would take more than an hour. Last month, when the Johnson government proposed an insulting 1 percent pay offer for health workers, the RCN union was quick to announce a strike fund of 37 million. This was simply to appease the 450,000 members... That hot air has gone now. Theres no talk of a strike anymore. The unions had said there would be a fight for workplace safety during the pandemic, but tens of thousands of staff have contracted the virus. Around 1,000 health and social care workers have died of COVID-19 over the last year. This is 1 in 150 of the deaths that occurred in the UK! Sadly, two of my colleagues are among the dead. Lucia, a parent, raised the issue of long-COVID: The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show one million sufferers and one in ten educators and I can see that situation getting much worse as everything opens up. It is estimated that half of children will become infected unless safety measures in schools were drastically improved. Children, educators, and their parents are being used as cannon fodder for short term economic gain. Lucia added that there are still a lot of vulnerable people in this country who are unvaccinated. Dennis, a worker in further education, said he had been assured he and his colleagues would work in separate bubbles before the first return to work, but within a month he was being asked to cover for someone across a bubble. After the second lockdown, they were told there would be no bubbles. Tutors are currently being asked to work up to 7.30pm every evening. WSWS UK editor Robert Stevens detailed the privileged existence of the trade union bureaucracy, with Certification Office records for 2019/20 showing that the union bureaucracy controlled assets worth 2.2 billion. The annual financial returns of the unions show that 22.1 percent of unions paid a salary to their general secretary of over 100,000; 19.2 percent paid between 60,001 and 100,000; 10.7 percent paid between 30,000 and 60,000. The average pay of 29 union leaders on more than 100,000 a year was 153,935 in 2019. The unions, Stevens explained, seek at all times to suppress the class struggle, which is the greatest threat to their privileged existence. In 2019/20 the Unite union, with over 1.2 million members, held 245 ballots. But from these the outcome was only 25 strikes or actions short of a strike. The other of the two largest unions, Unison, held 234 industrial action ballots, also leading to just 25 strikes or actions short of a strike. WSWS writer Tony Robson spoke about the GMB unions betrayal of the British Gas workers struggle, warning that due to the refusal of the unions to mobilise workers behind their strike, hundreds would be sacked in a fire and rehire operation. He insisted that the growing militancy of workers must be given an organised and political expression and that's why today's meeting is such a significant step forward. School teacher Helen, a union rep in a primary school, said she had been fighting for safety in her school but was given no support by her trade union. The harassment from the school and from the head teacher had resulted in a major impact on my mental health and the union has isolated me as much as the school has done I have networked and found that my case is just the tip of a very big iceberg. Scripps concluded the meeting by noting a question posted asking if the Corbynist wing of the Labour Party set up a new party, whether it is likely that the unions would switch their funding from Sir Keir Starmers party to a new left party? Scripps answered that Corbyn and his co-thinkers had no intention of leaving the Labour Party. The political function of Corbyn, and the so-called Labour left, is to serve, as has been proved time and again, as a trap. They are trying to drag leftward moving sections of workers and youth back to the Labour Party where they can be politically neutralised and disposed of. We place no confidence whatsoever in any section of the Labour Party This is an organisation which is viciously hostile to socialism and to the most basic interests of the working class. A genuine workers party, the Socialist Equality Party, has to be built and it has to be based on socialist principles and the complete political independence of the working class. In the wake of the alarming rise in coronavirus cases, the government has begun the 4-day long "Tika Utsav" to bolster the vaccination drive in the country. According to the union health ministry's latest data, a total of 10,85,33,085 vaccine doses have been administered through 16,08,448 sessions in the country as of April 12. Currently, healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above 60 and 45 years of age are only eligible for taking Covid-19 jab in the country. Until now, Indian citizens have been receiving two vaccines only-Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. But on Tuesday the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) allowed Russia's Sputnik V for an emergency usage. Sputnik V's manufacturer, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, will be exporting 850 million doses of its vaccine to India within the next two months. The Russian vaccine has an efficacy of 91.6 per cent. So, as Centre and states gear up to strengthen the coronavirus inoculation drive in the country, here what a common man needs to keep in mind before going for vaccination: One can take the coronavirus vaccine by directly going to any covid vaccination centres or can register on the upgraded version of the CoWIN app. But if the quota for the day is over, the centre can ask them to return the next day. Vaccination centres have been directed to reserve 40 per cent doses for pre-registered recipients and 60 per cent for walk-ins. How to register for Covid-19 vaccination on CoWIN? 1. Download the CoWIN app or visit the portal cowin.gov.in 2. Add your mobile number and Aadhar number or any other government identification number to register 3. Once registered, vaccination centres in the vicinity will be displayed. As per the rules, government hospitals will vaccinate for free, while in private hospitals, a recipient has to pay a maximum of Rs 250 per dose. In case of adverse events, the admission and hospitalisation charges will be separate. How to download the Covid-19 vaccine certificate: If someone receives their first vaccine shot, they will have to download a provisional vaccination certificate to get the notification about their second dose. After taking the first shot, the vaccine beneficiary will receive a message on his/her registered mobile number about the link to download the vaccination certificate. So, tap on the link you received on your number. Then enter your registered phone number to verify once again. And, then tap on download to get your certificate. The certificate is important so do not forget to download it once you get your first dose. On completion of the second dose, one will receive a message for the completion of the vaccination schedule. The message will include a link to download a digital certificate of vaccination, comprising name, date of birth, beneficiary reference ID, photo, vaccine name, hospital name, date, and other details. Also read: Tika Utsav: Over 25 lakh people get COVID-19 vaccine on day 3 Also read: Sputnik V in India: Dr Reddy's to begin supply of COVID-19 vaccine imported from Russia in May Also read: India's vaccination drive may limit economic impact of second COVID-19 wave: Barclays Kylie Jenner ensured she caught the eye on Tuesday evening as she prepared to go on a magical mystery tour courtesy of enigmatic business magnate Elon Musk. The TV personality bared her cleavage in a sleek white trouser suit while posing for her latest Instagram posts before taking a drive through a newly completed mile long tunnel, constructed by the Musk owned Boring Company. The 4,475 foot long underpass travels from one end of the Las Vegas Convention Center to the other and is the first in a series of similar projects aimed at creating a subterranean road network beneath Vegas and other US cities. Looking good: Kylie Jenner ensured she caught the eye on Tuesday evening as she prepared to go on a magical mystery tour courtesy of enigmatic business magnate Elon Musk Accompanied by Wynn Resorts CEO Matthew Maddox and former CAA agent Michael Kives - who previously worked for the Clintons - Kylie kicked off her night in style at the new Delilah Las Vegas restaurant by The h.wood Group inside the Wynn hotel. Corey Gamble - mum Kris Jenner's boyfriend of seven years - was also present during their appearance in the Nevada gambling mecca. Documenting her night across social media, Kylie was seen ordering herself a shot of 818 - the tequila brand owned by sister Kendall that recently found itself embroiled in a cultural appropriation storm. Advebture: The TV personality took a drive through a newly completed mile long tunnel, which runs beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center Don't mind me: Before leaving she bared her cleavage in a sleek white trouser suit while posing for her latest Instagram posts Having a ball: She enjoyed a luxurious evening including drinks at the Wynn and a ride into Elon Musk's newly built tunnel under the local convention center She posted a snap showing the glasses that she and her drinking companions were settling down to as she made the most of her night in Vegas. The group later piled into a waiting car before being whisked through Musk's latest creation. 'This is crazy!' said the makeup mogul as she observed the tunnel's rapidly changing florescent lights. 'Are we going to a different dimension?' Timeline: Drilling began on one end of the tunnel last year and reached the other end this Valentine's Day, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Wow: As her car raced through the tunnel the fluorescent lights inside kept changing colors, much to Kylie's astonishment Drilling began on one end of the tunnel last year and reached the other end this Valentine's Day, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Last year when Kylie's then-brother-in-law Kanye West was running for president Elon tweeted: 'You have my full support!' However shortly thereafter Kanye gave a Forbes interview denouncing COVID vaccines as 'the mark of the beast' among other eye-catching statements. After that interview - and just three days after his initial endorsement - Elon tweeted and deleted: 'We may have more differences of opinion than I anticipated.' 'Are we going to a different dimension?': 'This is crazy!' said the makeup mogul, who shares her daughter Stormi, three, with her ex Travis Scott Power lady: Kylie shared images from her private jet as she travelled to Vegas earlier that day Suits her: Kylie was in a power suit in a soft cream color as she was seated on her private jet which has monogrammed seats Meanwhile amid Kanye's failed campaign Kylie reposted a pro-Biden message by Michelle Obama and then deleted it. Kylie's older half-sister Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye in February after about a month of rumors that the marriage was on the verge of collapse. During the campaign he also went on some infamous tweet-storms against his wife and in-laws, including calling his mother-in-law 'Kris Jong-Un' and Corey 'calmye.' Good times: Before entering the tunnel Kylie stopped off at the new Delilah Las Vegas restaurant by The h.wood Group inside the Wynn hotel, where she asked for some 818 tequila - the brand owned by her sister Kendall All in the family: Kendall's new tequila brand has attracted some pre-release publicity with a cultural appropriation controversy The United States is ending the war in Afghanistan after 20 years and will complete the withdrawal of American troops from the country before this year's anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, a senior Biden administration official said on Tuesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2021) The United States is ending the war in Afghanistan after 20 years and will complete the withdrawal of American troops from the country before this year's anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, a senior Biden administration official said on Tuesday. US President Joe Biden made the decision following an extensive policy review, which began upon assuming office earlier this year, the official said. "After a rigorous policy review, President Biden decided to draw down remaining US troops from Afghanistan and finally end the US war there after 20 years," the senior official told reporters. "We will begin an orderly drawdown of the remaining forces before May 1 and plan to have all US troops out of the country before the twentieth anniversary of 9/11." The official noted that this withdrawal is not conditions-based, as have been previous attempts to exit Afghanistan, with Biden deeming further stipulations as another indefinite extension of the mission. The Taliban has been informed that any attacks on US forces during drawdown will be met with a forceful response, the official said. NISKAYUNA Our first impulse was to hug. It had been more than a year since I had visited my friend, Don Black, a 98-year-old World War II veteran, who resides in an assisted-living facility. I was his first visitor since the coronavirus pandemic lockdown began last March, aside from a son who was allowed to drive him to scheduled medical appointments. As Don removed one hand from his walker and sidled toward me with an outstretched arm, a flustered health aide stepped between us. Stop. Youll get me fired, she said. We apologized and settled for an elbow bump. After a year that he likened to solitary confinement, quarantined in his room for long stretches to combat COVID-19 cases in the facility, Black tried to put the months of deprivation and isolation into perspective. Im just grateful for all those good years Ive had in my life, he said. Gratitude allowed me to accept this past year more easily. Its unlike any other year in my lifetime. Black praised the dedication and commitment of the staff at Brookdale in Niskayuna throughout the ordeal of this past year. He praised low-wage aides who assist him daily, nearly all of whom are from Guyana. His primary aide, Valicia, offers extra small kindnesses, like re-positioning the plastic nasal oxygen tubes that hook over his ears to reduce chafing and discomfort. Valicia is friendly, attentive and a hard worker, Black said. Im fortunate to have her and other wonderful staff members taking care of me. Black did not complain about the strict lockdowns when positive coronavirus cases appeared. They did a great job keeping us safe, he said. They took all necessary precautions. We sat outside, 6 feet apart, on a sun-splashed Friday afternoon and savored a fine spring day. The Brookdale facility in Niskayuna has not had any presumed or confirmed deaths due to COVID-19, according to state Department of Health records. Overall, there have been 15,430 presumed or confirmed COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities statewide, including 5,866 fatalities that occurred outside of facilities, state records showed as of March 3. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos administration has been accused of deliberately obscuring the full scope of nursing home deaths in New York and providing false data to the Justice Department. The FBI is investigating. State Attorney General Letitia James released a critical report in January that concluded the Cuomo administration undercounted COVID-19 nursing home deaths by 50 percent. Some of Blacks prolonged isolation was his own choosing. He had grown accustomed to having meals delivered to his room. When the dining room reopened some weeks ago, he chose to pick up his meals and bring them back to his room rather than eating with other residents. Black has severe hearing loss and past efforts with hearing aids were unsatisfactory. I cant hear much with face masks, social distancing and dining room noise, he said. Im not anti-social. Its a hearing problem. In World War II, Black flew 17 bombing missions over Germany during the winter of 1945 as the war was coming to an end. He served as a radio operator on a B-17 in the 305th Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force. Black is the last survivor of his B-17 crew. He has become friendly with John Morgan IV, grandson of his tail gunner, Jack Morgan. He and a few dozen family members and friends, myself included, receive Blacks periodic email, Letters from Brookdale. He used to comment on politics or current events, but lately recycled past essays and travelogues from adventures as an avid cyclist in his 70s and 80s. His wife Evelyn, died in 2008 after 59 years of marriage. Brooklyn-born, Black retired in 1992 after a 50-year career in commercial banking. He suffered a fall at his home in Latham two years ago and fractured a hip, which required surgery, six months of hospitalization and rehab. His two grown sons have been supportive, but he misses his independence. He enjoyed driving to the Colonie library every few weeks to return a tote bag of books and check out a stack of new titles. Black had been a voracious reader, devouring two or three books a week. Im finding it harder to read and write now, he said. I dont have as much energy or concentration. He has been bothered by eye irritation and has difficulty focusing on the printed page. His son, Gordon, has scheduled an appointment with an ophthalmologist. He continues to subscribe to the Times Union, The New Yorker and Flying magazine. Sometimes, he dreams about flying. Black was a recreational civilian pilot for 30 years and logged more than 5,700 hours. He gave up flying at 74 due to rising liability insurance costs. He helped teach his son, Steve, how to fly beginning at 11. His son retired two years ago after a 40-year career as a commercial pilot. I do a lot of sleeping now, Black said. I tell people Im in practice for the big sleep. He keeps in touch with his sister, Sheila, a retired nurse who is 14 years younger and lives in Kansas. She is the last of his three sisters and finds great comfort in her faith, while he is agnostic. He does not fear death. I know it sounds maudlin, but I want to know what the big sleep is like, he said. We really dont know what comes afterward. Paul Grondahl is director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany ad a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com This enlarged land package is, in part, contiguous with FPX Nickel's (TSXV: FPX) Klow Project where mineralization consists of a central coarse-grained nickel-iron alloy (awaruite) target that is enveloped by a halo of finer-grained mineralization. The coarse-grained target measured 1,000 metres long. In 2012, FPX reported that work on the Klow Project included a ground-based magnetic geophysical survey, the results of which were used to assist in locating drill holes as part of an initial phase of exploration drilling. Forestry roads and helicopters provide primary access to the property. A BC Rail Line is located approximately 12 km to the south. About the Nickel 100 Group Mineral Occurrences The claims of the Nickel 100 Group (part of the "Nickel Project") cover 18 of 18 BC MINFILE chromite occurrences, some of which are reported to be mineralized with nickel, platinum/palladium group and other rare, highly valuable elements. History Nickel-cobalt mineralization has not been well-explored, but the presence of awaruite has been documented. Geologist, Ms. Ursula Mowat completed a preliminary field work program over the area of the Nickel 100 claim group in 2004, and confirmed the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks and stream sediments. Ms. Mowat is the recipient of the 2015 H.H. "Spud" Huestis Award for Excellence in Prospecting and Mineral Exploration granted by the Association of Mineral Exploration in British Columbia ("AME BC"). AME BC is both a large and successful industry association representing the mineral exploration industry in British Columbia . About the Hard Nickel Group The Hard Nickel Group (part of the "Nickel Project") consists of four non-contiguous mineral claims groups held by Nickel Rock Resources Inc. through three separate agreements. The exploration stage project is in the Takla Lake area of central British Columbia , partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project. , partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project. The Decar Nickel Project is an advanced project targeting awaruite, a nickel-iron alloy mineral, hosted by serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit within the Permian to Triassic age Cache Creek Complex. All the claim groups of the Nickel Project are partially underlain by variably serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit. Metallic mineralization discovered to date on the project includes nickel, cobalt, and chromium, and some of the nickel mineralization occurs as the nickel-iron alloy awaruite, and as sulphide minerals including heazlewoodite, bravoite and siegenite. The principal target on the project is nickel occurring as awaruite, but at the exploration stage all other styles of mineralization should be considered. Systematic, ground-based exploration work began within the area of the claims now covered by the Nickel Project under the direction of Ms. Ursula Mowat , P.Geo. in 1987, continuing intermittently until 2012. This work established the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. , P.Geo. in 1987, continuing intermittently until 2012. This work established the presence of elevated nickel, cobalt and chromium values in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. The area of the claim groups of the Nickel Project were included in Geoscience BC's QUEST and QUEST-West projects, including multiparameter regional geophysical surveys, and regional stream sediment reanalyzes and data compilations between 2008 and 2009. R. Britten's technical paper "Regional Metallogeny and Genesis of a New Deposit Type Disseminated Awaruite (Ni3Fe) Mineralization Hosted in the Cache Creek Terrane published in 2017 in Economic Geology should be utilized as an interim mineral deposit model or profile for the Nickel Project. The Nickel Project is worthy of phased, systematic exploration programs designed and implemented to delineate areas with known or high probability metallic nickel mineralization, and to discover new areas of similar mineralization. Proposed 2021 Exploration Program A 2021 proposed work program consists of trenching, surface exploration diamond drilling, camp construction, and exploration activities to support drilling and trenching such as soil sampling, rock sampling, prospecting, and geological mapping. The Company proposes a 12-man camp to be built in a cirque on the north slope of the un-named mountain west of and adjacent to Mount Sydney Williams and will be built next to a sub-alpine lake at the headwaters of Van Decar Creek. The location of camp was selected based on past exploration camps at this location and is suitable for exploration support and the camp will be used to accommodate field personnel and is accessible by helicopter. Nickel Rock's Lithium Project Clayton Valley Project, Silver Peak, Nevada The Company is exploring for lithium clays and brines within its project area of 118 claims covering over 930 hectares (2,300 acres). The property stretches in a northwest direction from the evaporation ponds of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB). It has been widely reported that Albemarle is planning to double its lithium production by 2025 by committing between US$30 million and US$50 million in additional investment on the property. In 2021, Albemarle plans to commence exploration of clay and evaluate technology that could accelerate the viability of lithium production from clay resources in the region. Qualified Person Jacques Houle, P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by NI43 - 101, is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. Readers are cautioned that the information in this press release regarding the property of FPX Nickel Corp is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property of interest. About Nickel Rock Resources Inc. The Company is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company active in the exploration for nickel-iron alloy in British Columbia and lithium in Nevada. Nickel Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. (http://www.nickelrockresources.com/) On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Robert Setter" Robert Setter, President & CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements. Nickel Rock Resources Inc. 1220 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1H2 604- 428-5690 www.nickelrockresources.com [email protected] SOURCE Nickel Rock Resources Inc. Madrid regional government has suspended all activity at Vivotecnia after an inspection discovered 'signs of animal maltreatment.' Regional officials in Spain, for the time being, have discontinued all activity at an animal testing facility after the release of secret footage that appears to reveal animals being smacked, taunted, tossed around and cut open with no insufficient anesthesia. Release of the Footage Madrid-based contract research organisation Vivotecnia since 2000 has performed trials on animals ranging from monkeys to mini pigs and rabbits for the chemical, cosmetic, biopharmaceutical, tobacco and food industries. The facility has secured funding in the past from the Spanish authorities and EU for its projects.The footage released on Thursday by Cruelty Free International (CFI), reveals what the organisation claims to be "gratuitous cruelty and abuse," appearing to exhibit the use of scissors in decapitating young rodents, dogs being thrown by the nape of the neck into cages or boxes, and technicians swinging and shaking rats aggressively. Also Read: Animal Cruelty Cases To Be Filed To Owner of Puppy Found Dead in Backyard, Woman With 180 Animals Spanish Legislation The group said the footage was gotten by a whistleblower who worked at the facility between 2018 and 2020. On Sunday, Madrid's regional government announced it had halted all activity at Vivotecnia after an inspection team paid a visit to the facility and verified "signs of animal maltreatment". After the viewing of the footage on Thursday, an inspection of the facility was instantly ordered amid concern that the act revealed appeared to breach Spanish legislation concerning the treatment of animals in trials. The regional government said in a statement: "After confirming the facts, the research activities at the centre were instantly, suspended temporarily, and a prohibition was put in place on carrying out any new projects that involve animals." Veterinarian Supervises the Animals The official also has contact with police animal protection services in the event that any of the discoveries from the facility could lead to a criminal offence, it added. The animals discovered at the facility are presently under the custody and supervision of the regional government and are being cared for by an on-site veterinarian. The graphic footage, which emerged to reveal completely conscious rats having blood collected from their eyes and a staff member scratching a "face" on the male monkey's genital, brought about immediate reaction beyond the borders of Spain. The EU has made available 630,000 (550,000) since 2010 to finance two projects at the facility. The EU Directive A European Commission spokesperson said: "What we see in the footage shows intolerable animal welfare standards and a breach of many requirements enacted in the EU directive 2010/63/EU - the most strict legislation in the world for the animal protection used in science". The EU directive specifies that the suffering of animals used in trials be kept to the barest minimum, that animals are used only when there is no other choice, and that a large number of animals should not be used. Related Article: Animal Brutality: USC Accused Of Chopping Off Mice Ears in Labs for No Reason For more news, updates about animal brutality and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World New! I'm speaking to you today from the Roosevelt - the Treaty Room in the White House. The same spot where, on October of 2001, President George W. Bush informed our nation that the United States military had begun strikes on terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. It was just weeks - just weeks after the terrorist attack on our nation that killed 2,977 innocent souls; that turned Lower Manhattan into a disaster area, destroyed parts of the Pentagon, and made hallowed ground of a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and sparked an American promise that we would 'never forget.' We went to Afghanistan in 2001 to root out al Qaeda, to prevent future terrorist attacks against the United States planned from Afghanistan. Our objective was clear. The cause was just. Our NATO Allies and partners rallied beside us. And I supported that military action, along with overwhelming majority of the members of Congress. More than seven years later, in 2008, weeks before we swore the oath of office - President Obama and I were about to swear - President Obama asked me to travel to Afghanistan and report back on the state of the war in Afghanistan. I flew to Afghanistan, to the Kunar Valley - a rugged, mountainous region on the border with Pakistan. What I saw on that trip reinforced my conviction that only the Afghans have the right and responsibility to lead their country, and that more and endless American military force could not create or sustain a durable Afghan government. I believed that our presence in Afghanistan should be focused on the reason we went in the first place: to ensure Afghanistan would not be used as a base from which to attack our homeland again. We did that. We accomplished that objective. I said, among - with others, we'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell if need be. That's exactly what we did, and we got him. It took us close to 10 years to put President Obama's commitment to - into form. And that's exactly what happened; Osama bin Laden was gone. That was 10 years ago. Think about that. We delivered justice to bin Laden a decade ago, and we've stayed in Afghanistan for a decade since. Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan are becoming increasingly unclear, even as the terrorist threat that we went to fight evolved. Over the past 20 years, the threat has become more dispersed, metastasizing around the globe: al-Shabaab in Somalia; al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula; al-Nusra in Syria; ISIS attempting to create a [caliphate] in Syria and Iraq, and establishing affiliates in multiple countries in Africa and Asia. With the terror threat now in many places, keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country at a cost of billions each year makes little sense to me and to our leaders. We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan, hoping to create ideal conditions for the withdrawal, and expecting a different result. I'm now the fourth United States President to preside over American troop presence in Afghanistan: two Republicans, two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth. After consulting closely with our allies and partners, with our military leaders and intelligence personnel, with our diplomats and our development experts, with the Congress and the Vice President, as well as with Mr. Ghani and many others around the world, I have concluded that it's time to end America's longest war. It's time for American troops to come home. When I came to office, I inherited a diplomatic agreement, duly negotiated between the government of the United States and the Taliban, that all U.S. forces would be out of Afghanistan by May 1, 2021, just three months after my inauguration. That's what we inherited - that commitment. It is perhaps not what I would have negotiated myself, but it was an agreement made by the United States government, and that means something. So, in keeping with that agreement and with our national interests, the United States will begin our final withdrawal - begin it on May 1 of this year. We will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit. We'll do it - we'll do it responsibly, deliberately, and safely. And we will do it in full coordination with our allies and partners, who now have more forces in Afghanistan than we do. And the Taliban should know that if they attack us as we draw down, we will defend ourselves and our partners with all the tools at our disposal. Our allies and partners have stood beside us shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan for almost 20 years, and we're deeply grateful for the contributions they have made to our shared mission and for the sacrifices they have borne. The plan has long been 'in together, out together.' U.S. troops, as well as forces deployed by our NATO Allies and operational partners, will be out of Afghanistan before we mark the 20th anniversary of that heinous attack on September 11th. But - but we'll not take our eye off the terrorist threat. We'll reorganize our counterterrorism capabilities and the substantial assets in the region to prevent reemergence of terrorists - of the threat to our homeland from over the horizon. We'll hold the Taliban accountable for its commitment not to allow any terrorists to threaten the United States or its allies from Afghan soil. The Afghan government has made that commitment to us as well. And we'll focus our full attention on the threat we face today. At my direction, my team is refining our national strategy to monitor and disrupt significant terrorist threats not only in Afghanistan, but anywhere they may arise - and they're in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere. I spoke yesterday with President Bush to inform him of my decision. While he and I have had many disagreements over policies throughout the years, we're absolutely united in our respect and support for the valor, courage, and integrity of the women and men of the United States Armed Forces who served. I'm immensely grateful for the bravery and backbone that they have shown through nearly two decades of combat deployments. We as a nation are forever indebted to them and to their families. You all know that less than 1 percent of Americans serve in our armed forces. The remaining 99 percent of them - we owe them. We owe them. They have never backed down from a single mission that we've asked of them. I've witnessed their bravery firsthand during my visits to Afghanistan. They've never wavered in their resolve. They've paid a tremendous price on our behalf. And they have the thanks of a grateful nation. While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue. We'll continue to support the government of Afghanistan. We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defenses and Security Forces. And along with our partners, we have trained and equipped a standing force of over 300,000 Afghan personnel today and hundreds of thousands over the past two decades. And they'll continue to fight valiantly, on behalf of the Afghans, at great cost. They'll support peace talks, as we will support peace talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, facilitated by the United Nations. And we'll continue to support the rights of Afghan women and girls by maintaining significant humanitarian and development assistance. And we'll ask other countries - other countries in the region - to do more to support Afghanistan, especially Pakistan, as well as Russia, China, India, and Turkey. They all have a significant stake in the stable future for Afghanistan. And over the next few months, we will also determine what a continued U.S. diplomatic presence in Afghanistan will look like, including how we'll ensure the security of our diplomats. Look, I know there are many who will loudly insist that diplomacy cannot succeed without a robust U.S. military presence to stand as leverage. We gave that argument a decade. It's never proved effective - not when we had 98,000 troops in Afghanistan, and not when we were down to a few thousand. Our diplomacy does not hinge on having boots in harm's way - U.S. boots on the ground. We have to change that thinking. American troops shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip between warring parties in other countries. You know, that's nothing more than a recipe for keeping American troops in Afghanistan indefinitely. I also know there are many who will argue that we should stay - stay fighting in Afghanistan because withdrawal would damage America's credibility and weaken America's influence in the world. I believe the exact opposite is true. We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that are in front of us. We have to track and disrupt terrorist networks and operations that spread far beyond Afghanistan since 9/11. We have to shore up American competitiveness to meet the stiff competition we're facing from an increasingly assertive China. We have to strengthen our alliances and work with like-minded partners to ensure that the rules of international norms that govern cyber threats and emerging technologies that will shape our future are grounded in our democratic values - values - not those of the autocrats. We have to defeat this pandemic and strengthen the global health system to prepare for the next one, because there will be another pandemic. You know, we'll be much more formidable to our adversaries and competitors over the long term if we fight the battles for the next 20 years, not the last 20. And finally, the main argument for staying longer is what each of my three predecessors have grappled with: No one wants to say that we should be in Afghanistan forever, but they insist now is not the right moment to leave. In 2014, NATO issued a declaration affirming that Afghan Security Forces would, from that point on, have full responsibility for their country's security by the end of that year. That was seven years ago. So when will it be the right moment to leave? One more year, two more years, ten more years? Ten, twenty, thirty billion dollars more above the trillion we've already spent? 'Not now' - that's how we got here. And in this moment, there's a significant downside risk to staying beyond May 1st without a clear timetable for departure. If we instead pursue the approach where America - U.S. exit is tied to conditions on the ground, we have to have clear answers to the following questions: Just what conditions require to - be required to allow us to depart? By what means and how long would it take to achieve them, if they could be achieved at all? And at what additional cost in lives and treasure? I'm not hearing any good answers to these questions. And if you can't answer them, in my view, we should not stay. The fact is that, later today, I'm going to visit Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, and that sacred memorial to American sacrifice. Section sisty [sic] - Section 60 is where our recent war dead are buried, including many of the women and men who died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. There's no - there's no comforting distance in history in Section 60. The grief is raw. It's a visceral reminder of the living cost of war. For the past 12 years, ever since I became Vice President, I've carried with me a card that reminds me of the exact number of American troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. That exact number, not an approximation or rounded-off number -- because every one of those dead are sacred human beings who left behind entire families. An exact accounting of every single solitary one needs to be had. As of the day - today, there are two hundred and forty- [2,448] U.S. troops and personnel who have died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom's Sentinel - our Afghanistan conflicts. 20,722 have been wounded. I'm the first President in 40 years who knows what it means to have a child serving in a warzone. And throughout this process, my North Star has been remembering what it was like when my late son, Beau, was deployed to Iraq - how proud he was to serve his country; how insistent he was to deploy with his unit; and the impact it had on him and all of us at home. We already have service members doing their duty in Afghanistan today whose parents served in the same war. We have service members who were not yet born when our nation was attacked on 9/11. War in Afghanistan was never meant to be a multi-generational undertaking. We were attacked. We went to war with clear goals. We achieved those objectives. Bin Laden is dead, and al Qaeda is degraded in Iraq - in Afghanistan. And it's time to end the forever war. Thank you all for listening. May God protect our troops. May God bless all those families who lost someone in this endeavor. Thackeray said he would speak to Modi to request him to provide Indian Air Forces assistance in the supply of oxygen for medical use Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 60,212 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total positive cases to 5,93,042. The state also reported 281 deaths on Tuesday. AFP Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced the imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC from 8 pm on Wednesday to 7 am on May 1 in order to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission. Only essential services will remain open between 7 am and 8 pm daily. Public transport will continue to function only for essential services workers and for essential activities by the general public. Nobody would be allowed to use the public transport without a valid reason, excluding the people notified under essential services in an order issued by the disaster management unit of the relief and rehabilitation department, Mr Thackeray said in a video address to citizens on Tuesday evening. Stating that the situation is very grim in Maharashtra, Mr Thackeray said the state government would use this 15-day period to scale up its health infrastructure. Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 60,212 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total positive cases to 5,93,042. The state also reported 281 deaths on Tuesday. Underlining the shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir injections, among other things, Mr Thackeray said: At present, 1,200 MT oxygen is being produced in our state. Of these, 950 MT to 1,000 MT oxygen is used daily. The demand for Remdesivir injections is also increasing. The CM also said he would speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request him to provide the Indian Air Forces assistance in the supply of oxygen for medical use from nearby states. Petrol pumps, financial institutions associated with Sebi, ATMs and construction work will be allowed to continue. Hotel and restaurants would remain closed for dine-in, and only takeaway/home deliveries would be allowed. Mr Thackeray also appealed to retired nurses, doctors and other health workers to extend their help during the Covid-19 crisis in the state. Review: A book celebrating Black American farming history View Photo We Are Each Others Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers Land and Legacy, by Natalie Baszile (Amistad) Farming would seem to be one occupation that Black Americans could find refuge from discrimination. Consumers choose their fruits and veggies by their size and vitality, unconcerned about the hands that raised them. How different America would be if agriculture were that ultimate meritocracy, rewarding those who master the science of soil, plants and the environment. However, the celebration Natalie Baszile refers to in We Are Each Others Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers Land, and Legacy is leavened by hard truths and cruelties of efforts to run Black farmers off the land. For decades, the might of the United States Department of Agriculture systematically tried to wreck Black farmers livelihood. Baszile cites figures showing that, for example, the U.S.D.A. lent $1.3 billion to farmers to buy land in 1984 and 1985. Of the approximately 16,000 farmers who received these loans, just 209 were Black. Thats one reason why, as Baszile writes, Black farmers cultivate less than half of 1% of the nations farmland today. As the author writes however, Black farming family ties to the land extend for generations, their origins traced to ancestors who braided seeds of okra, sorrel and black-eyed peas in their hair before they were loaded onto slave ships. This country was built on the free labor of enslaved people whom carried their agricultural expertise with them when they arrived on Americas colonial shores, writes Baszile. That knowledge endures. The Penniman family of Petersburg, New York, grows vegetables, fruits and herbs and also raise poultry on five acres using Afro-indigenous regenerative practices that leaves the land with more organic carbon and biodiversity each year. We belong here, says family matriarch Leah Penniman. Bare feet planted firmly on the land, hands calloused with the work of sustaining and nourishing our community. In Sondheimer, Louisiana, the Nelson family has been tending the land for four generations, surviving numerous efforts to cheat them out of their land. For those remaining Black American farmers, justice appears finally to have arrived in the form of $4 billion in federal grants and forgivable loans designed to help farmers of color regain their land, pay debts and resume raising crops. Baszile has recruited some strong writers to tell their family farming stories of perseverance and a kinship with the land best understood by people who work the rhythms of soil, plants and weather. Their ancestral farming links from Africa to America are best illustrated on the books cover, a picture of two women holding hoes, a farming tool invented in Africa centuries ago. By JEFF ROWE Associated Press Researchers Oana Teodora Moldovan and Silviu Constantin from the "Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology of the Romanian Academy recently signed an article in Nature journal, together with an international team of archaeologists and speleologists, that shows that there was a genetic transfer, resulting from the interbreeding between the Neanderthals and the first anatomically modern humans to arrive in Europe, agerpres.ro confirms. Titled "Initial Upper Palaeolithic humans in Europe had recently Neanderthal ancestry", the article was occasioned by the discovery, in 2020, by a team of specialists from the National Institute of Archeology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, of human remains and stone tools characteristic of the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in the Bacho Kiro Cave near the Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo, informs the Romanian Academy. The two Romanian researchers point out, in a statement quoted by the Academy, that the international team they were part of sequenced the genomes of the oldest modern humans in Europe, who lived about 45,000 years ago in the Bacho Kiro Cave, the findings suggesting that the interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals was by no means an exception for the first modern humans to arrive in Europe from Africa. "The oldest fossil bones dated by the radiocarbon method were 43,000-46,000 years old, making them the oldest known modern human remains at mid-latitudes in Eurasia. Until now, it was believed that humans from the early Upper Paleolithic disappeared without contributing to the genetic baggage of modern humans who later arrived in Europe. Now, researchers have shown that the oldest individuals in Bacho Kiro or related groups passed on their genes to modern humans. Surprisingly, this contribution is more important to people in East Asia and America than to European populations," the researchers said. The two Romanian specialists were requested based on their special experience in this field, as both were involved in the research of human remains discovered in 2002 in Romania, in the Cave of Bones near Anina (southwestern town in Caras-Severin County), estimated at an age of 40,500 years and considered the oldest in the European space. The research has revealed ever since the idea that modern humans and Neanderthals lived together and crossed paths, and the findings resulted in the publication in the same prestigious journal Nature, on June 22, 2015, of the first article on the subject. Carried out by researchers from the "Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology of the Romanian Academy, the "Max Planck" Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, Harvard Medical School in the USA and the Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins in Beijing, China, the 2015 study overturned the postulate, over 100 years old, according to which the Neanderthal human would have disappeared completely without leaving genetic traces and showed that "Romania was a migration path for human populations to Europe". The article published on April 7, 2021 in the journal Nature confirms the theory formulated six years ago and brings new scientific arguments, based on research conducted with innovative methods, on human remains in the Bacho Kiro Cave in Bulgaria. Ottawa, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :Canada continues to expect its first shipment of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines at month's end despite US and EU pauses over blood clot fears, officials said Tuesday, while also announcing a first Canadian clotting case linked to the AstraZeneca jab. US health authorities earlier recommended pausing the Johnson & Johnson shot while the company said it would delay its European rollout, after six American women aged between 18 and 48 developed a rare type of clot in the brain along with low platelets. One later died while another is in critical condition. "We are still on track to receiving our first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines by the end of this month," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference. "But obviously we're following closely developments in the United States," he said. Health Canada authorized the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on March 5, alongside three others. It said it is working with the manufacturer, the US food and Drug Administration and other international regulators to determine the shot's safety as it awaits orders for up to 38 million doses. The agency also identified Canada's first case of blood clotting with low platelets in a Quebec woman who received an AstraZeneca shot made by the Serum Institute of India. "The person is at home now recovering," it said in a statement, adding that it continues to urge using the vaccine, saying the benefits of protection against the coronavirus "outweigh the potential risks."As of Tuesday, Canada recorded more than 1,076,000 cases of coronavirus and 23,385 deaths. According to the Covid-19 Vaccination Tracker website, 20 percent of the Canadian population of 38 million have received at least one dose. Diyar Al Muharraq, the largest real estate development company in Bahrain, recently participated in the fifth instalment of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit, emerging as a platinum sponsor. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this years summit commenced on April 7 virtually under the theme of Redefining Smart Cities. The Bahrain Smart Cities Summit is a leading event focusing on the importance of how smart technology and infrastructure impacts and benefits businesses in the real estate, transport, communications, and technology sectors. It will comprise a series of talks throughout the year leading up to their annual event, scheduled to be held on October 10 to 11. The summit aims to ultimately provide a platform for discourse to develop sustainable solutions collaboratively. The active participation of Diyar Al Muharraq comes as part of its commitment to further drive corporate environmental responsibility within the kingdoms real estate industry, encouraging more sustainable practices through knowledge sharing in the industry via active discussions between leading industry players. Moreover, sponsoring the event comes in line with the strategic vision of Diyar Al Muharraq to create a sustainable future for its residents and Bahrain, which is aligned with the sustainable development goals of the country. The first panel discussion of the 2021 summit, which outlined the importance of sustainable urban development, was moderated by Waleed Khalaf, who steered the active discussion between the panelists, Diyar Al Muharraq CEO Engineer Ahmed Alammadi, UN Habitat Programme Management Officer Naomi Hoogervorst and Bahrain Society of Engineers VP Mohamed Ali AlKhozaaee. The points of discussion highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to sustainable development when building cities, or even smaller scale development projects. The panellists concurred that consideration must be made for environmental, economic, as well as social impact in projects no matter their scale. Furthermore, the importance of initiating discourse with governing bodies for the betterment of the development sector as a whole was of great importance, leading by example wherever possible, for a more sustainable future. Ali Alammadi said: "We are delighted to participate in the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit as platinum sponsors, and as peers in a shared vision to better the real estate development sector in Bahrain for a brighter socio economic future through implementing sustainable initiatives." "Sustainability is a core pillar in the development of the Diyar Al Muharraq masterplan, and is factored into every aspect of the integrated city from an environmental, social, and economic standpoint," he stated. Alongside a unique blend of commercial, recreational, and healthcare facilities; Diyar Al Muharraq comprises one of the largest integrated residential developments in Bahrain, aiming to preserve the family values of the Bahraini society and offer a variety of housing solutions suitable for a modern lifestyle. Fully equipped with facilities catering to the everyday needs of its residents through the provision of facilities including mosques, parks, shopping malls, hotels, schools, and universities. "From planning to infrastructure and even technology, sustainable and green solutions have been implemented throughout the masterplan of Diyar Al Muharraq and its various projects," noted Ali Alammadi. "Ultimately, we have ensured that the citys output is beneficial to residents, investors, and the Bahrain in its entirety. We look forward to continuing to deliver on our promise to provide a fully integrated mixed use and futuristic model city," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Lord Frost will head for Brussels tomorrow in a desperate bid to break the deadlock over the Northern Ireland protocol. The Cabinet minister will hold talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic amid mounting concerns that the post-Brexit rules are fuelling sectarian tension. Months of talks have so far failed to resolve significant differences over the implementation of the protocol - which was intended to prevent a hard border with the Republic but has been slammed by loyalists for obstructing trade with mainland Britain. The pair are expected to 'take stock of ongoing technical work' and 'provide a political steer for both teams on outstanding issues', according to the commission. The arrangements, agreed by Boris Johnson and the EU, have been cited as one of the key factors behind recent violence in Northern Ireland. The arrangements, agreed by Boris Johnson and the EU, have been cited as one of the key factors behind recent violence in Northern Ireland. Pictured, Belfast last week Lord Frost (right) will hold talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic (left) amid mounting concerns that the post-Brexit rules are fuelling sectarian tension. A UK Government spokesman said: 'This meeting is part of our ongoing engagement with the EU to work through the outstanding issues with the protocol, in order to restore confidence on the ground, reflect the needs of communities and respect all dimensions of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. 'The discussions so far have been constructive but there are still significant differences that need to be resolved. 'Both the UK and EU are continuing to engage with business, civil society and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland to understand the issues they are facing.' Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is in London for a series of talks with Lord Frost, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab as well as senior Labour politicians. Discussions today and tomorrow are expected to focus on the situation in Northern Ireland and EU-UK relations. Meanwhile, the European Parliament's foreign affairs and trade committees will vote on the Brexit trade deal this week, but no date has yet been set for a full plenary vote to ratify the agreement. The Trade and Co-operation Agreement, sealed on Christmas Eve, has been in place provisionally since the start of the year. The UK agreed to extend the provisional application until the end of April, but a date has still not been set for MEPs to approve it as they remain concerned about the implementation of the earlier Withdrawal Agreement the Brexit divorce deal which includes the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Johnson (pictured at PMQs today) agreed the Northern Ireland protocol as part of the Brexit divorce deal Downing Street said it had agreed the April extension and expected the EU 'to complete their processes to this timeline'. Under the deal, Northern Ireland remained part of the EU's single market for goods, meaning products arriving from Great Britain face EU import regulations. The UK unilaterally extended grace periods covering areas of the economy supermarket supplies and parcel deliveries to Northern Ireland from Great Britain, meaning post-Brexit checks are not yet fully applied. The first of the grace periods had been due to expire at the end of March, but the UK extended them until October in a move which has triggered a legal row with the EU. The UK has sought extra time to respond to the legal challenge. The PM's official spokesman said: 'It's in line with precedent that typically allows for around two months to respond to proceedings of this kind. 'We have agreed with the EU that we will respond to the letter of formal notice by mid-May. 'We have always been clear that the measures we've taken are lawful and part of the progressive and good faith implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.' TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - IU Health Arnett is opening its vaccine clinic over the next two weekends. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday and next Saturday and Sunday. As more people have become eligible and more vaccine has become available, the hospital says it wants to get shots into more people's arms. They plan on vaccinating around 650 people per day at the weekend clinic. IU Health Arnett is only administering the Pfizer vaccine, which is also the only vaccine that 16 and 17-year-olds can get. Abby Brendel is the pharmacy operations coordinator at IU Health Arnett. She said hosting the clinic on the weekends helps people who can't go during the work week. "Having it on the weekend, everybody can come. They don't have to miss school, and even for workers who work during the week, they can come on the weekend as well," she said. Amelia Mcauliffe is a sophomore at Lafayette Jeff who just turned 16. She got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday. She said she and her friends are all excited about getting their vaccine, and she encourages others her age to do the same. Protecting those around her, especially her loved ones, was her main motivation to get the shot. "I wanted to get the vaccine because it's very important to me to keep the others around me safe and because some people aren't doing the things to help it," she said. Parents do need to provide consent before the vaccine can be given to those under the age of 18. Brendel said consent can be given in person, verbally or written down. Those who get their vaccine at this month's weekend clinics will be signed up to get their second dose of Pfizer. IU Health will be hosting two more weekend clinics in May specifically for these people to get their second shot. You can sign up for the weekend clinic by calling 211 or going to www.ourshot.in.gov. Press Release April 14, 2021 'DO SOMETHING': Hontiveros tells Malacanang amid continued presence of over 200 Chinese vessels in the WPS Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged Malacanang to strongly step up and stand up to Beijing, after the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported that there are still around 240 Chinese maritime militia vessels, 11 Chinese warships, and poachers in the West Philippine Sea. "What is Malacanang waiting for? Nagsalita na ang Department of National Defense. Nagsalita na ang Department of Foreign Affairs. Nagsalita na ako at ang mga kasamahan ko sa Senado. Lahat kami matinding kinondena ang panghihimasok ng Tsina. Dapat may gawin na ang Malacanang," Hontiveros said. According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, China's maritime militia vessels are now dispersed at Pagkakaisa Banks and Pag-asa Islands. The NTF-WPS also said that each vessel can catch at least one ton of fish or 240,000 kilos of fish in Philippine waters. "Our DFA recently summoned the Chinese Ambassador to talk about the increasing tensions in the WPS. I had hoped that a fruitful and productive dialogue had taken place, but by the looks of this negative development, China is truly intent on refusing any diplomatic means of resolving our disputes. Dapat komprontahin na ng Palasyo ang 'best friend' niya. Harap-harapan nang niloloko ang Pilipinas," the senator said. "Like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region are taking action to ensure the rules-based international order. Yet, Malacanang hesitates," she added. The Philippine Coast Guard also spotted Chinese poachers illegally harvesting giant clams around Pag-asa Islands. The poachers immediately left after they were approached by our coast guards. The NTF-WPS said that this is in violation of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. "ASEAN member states have pledged action against illegal wildlife trade. Baka ito na ang common ground na pwede nating pagkasunduan sa ASEAN para maitigil ang panghihimasok ng Tsina. And besides, history does not provide any evidence for China having exclusive sovereignty over the South China Sea or its resources. The SCS has always been shared by the peoples of the region for peaceful trade and commerce. Perhaps another way forward is to think of the SCS as a global commons for the benefit of all stakeholders in the region," she said. "Dapat maging mas assertive din ating coast guards sa paghahanap ng mga Chinese na nanamantala ng ating karagatan at likas-yaman. We are within our Exclusive Economic Zone, so our coast guards have the absolute right to find out and report if China's 'fishing vessels' are complying with our environmental and fisheries laws," Hontiveros said, adding that we must also empower the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources by giving them boats to patrol and protect the environment. Last February, Hontiveros said that China now owes the Philippines over P800 billion in debt due to the ecological damage in the WPS. Citing journalist Jarius Bondoc, she specified that a total of P644 billion worth of fish catch has been looted from our waters since 2014. "At the rate China is going, she can easily deplete all our marine life, wealth, and resources in the WPS in no time. I call on Malacanang: do something about this now. We cannot afford to lose more than we already have. Bugbog na bugbog na tayo. Ipaglaban niyo naman ang Pilipino," Hontiveros concluded. California faith-based group helping moms out of homelessness seeks to double capacity Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A California-based Christian nonprofit that helps homeless mothers by providing housing and services is seeking to expand its campus to bring more women and their families out of homelessness. Acres of Hope, formed in 2005 and originally known as Placer Family Housing, is a ministry based in Auburn, Placer County, that offers longterm assistance for homeless mothers. At present, the charity has 12 units on its campus: 10 units are for mothers enrolled in their restoration program, each of whom has up to four children. Two other units are for mothers who've just completed their program. Jackie Turner, the ministry outreach coordinator for Acres of Hope, told The Christian Post in an interview that the ministry is seeking to expand and double the number of women who can be helped through the program. In California, each day news reports go out on how the community can deal with homelessness. Millions of dollars are coming in each year to end the crisis. Yet what continues happening is bandages. Handouts, instead of hand-ups, said Turner. Because our model is succeeding at ending homelessness for these families, we want to do more. We are working to raise awareness and funds for an expansion to our campus. We want to grow the campus to be able to serve 20 families at a time on campus. The Acres of Hope model involves a program that centers on five areas of aid for mothers and their children: mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, bodily health, and relational health. According to Turner, to strengthen these five areas, residents of the ministry have a daily structured schedule, monitored sobriety, counseling from a licensed professional, detailed case management, life skills training, education on parenting, childrens programming, and recreational activities. Acres of Hope has a model that is working, and that is because the power of Jesus Christ is transforming the lives of mothers and their children from the inside out, Turner said. They are learning the life they knew is not the life that God has wanted for them. They are rising up and becoming new creations. The charity has worked with many local churches, nonprofits and benefitted from businesses' charitable efforts. In 2019, for example, local business Collison Pros announced that it was partnering with Enterprise Rental Cars to donate to Acres of Hope. Lisa Risdal, the executive director of Acres of Hope and her team, have done amazing things to get homeless women off the street and transformed them into productive, self-sustaining members of society, said Collison Pros of the organization. Turner told CP that the program has numerous alumni who have never returned to a cycle of homelessness and are known to share testimonies with other residents of their lives today. God is the hope that resurrects lives, Turner added. I am looking at mothers who come in hopeless. Children who are in foster care, wanting to come home to mom. Some families come in afraid because they have left abuse. In all of them, I watch them transform before our very eyes, and each day they show me the Gospel is alive and active. God is still hard at work making impossibilities become realities. Chandigarh, April 14 : The Punjab government will spend at least 30 per cent of funds under all government schemes for the welfare of the state's Scheduled Caste (SC) population. This was announced on Wednesday by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, along with a host of other measures for the upliftment of the Dalit community, as a mark of homage to B.R. Ambedkar, who he said should be remembered as the first Indian who achieved so much for the Dalit Samaj. Paying floral tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, on his 130th birth anniversary, at a virtual state-level event, the Chief Minister also announced filling up of the SC vacancy backlog in all departments on priority, while promising to explore a post-matric overseas scholarship scheme for SC students, on the lines of the Baroda State Scholarship Scheme awarded to Baba Sahib under a scheme established by Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The Chief Minister further announced a special Rs 500 crore Rural Link Roads project for FY2022. The project will encompass construction of new link roads to the 'bastis' of the Scheduled Castes and other poorer sections of society, which do not currently have road connectivity. 'Shamshan ghats' and places of worship will also be connected through the project. "A special allocation of Rs 100 crore is proposed in 2021-22 for modernisation of villages having more than 50 per cent SC population," said the Chief Minister, adding this was aimed at providing further impetus to existing grants in the villages having SC population greater than or equal to 50 per cent of the total population. Smartphones will be given to all Class 12 SC students in government schools, while to motivate people to take up dairy farming, 150 village-level awareness camps and training at nine training and extension centres will be conducted, with special emphasis on the SC beneficiaries, he added. The Chief Minister further announced that his government also proposes to provide 30 per cent reservation for SC applicants in villages under the 'Har Ghar Pakki Chhat' scheme, and also 30 per cent in the affordable housing scheme for EWS. His government also plans to set up a Dr B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Training at Jalandhar for competitive exams, including civil services. Lamenting the anti-Dalit mindset that still exists in the country, the Chief Minister underlined the need for better awareness among the people. Unfortunately, he said, he did not have the resources to do all that he really wanted to do to spread Ambedkar's message. Amarinder Singh recalled that when Rajiv Gandhi contested for the first time from Amethi, after the death of his brother Sanjay Gandhi, the campaigning task was handed over to him for one of the four areas in the constituency. He went on to recall: "An SC youth who was deputed to help me wanted to get off the jeep before entering an upper caste dominated village, but I did not allow him to. He was standing next to me when the villagers offered me water, asking him to go out. But I made it clear that he will not go out alone. So I also left the place, telling them - "Votan pao ya na pao, appa jaa rahe hain". (Give us votes or not, we are going!) State Congress President Sunil Jakhar criticised the 'manuwadi soch' that still divides society on the basis of caste, colour, creed, with no financial equality and Dalits still treated as untouchables. "People who promote this mindset are playing with the sentiments of the community and Baba Sahib's ideology," he said, adding that it is "our responsibility to spread awareness among the SC community against their exploitation." MLA Raj Kumar Verka suggested setting up a committee for implementation of the 85th amendment, as well as increase in wages and permanent employment for safai karamcharis. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Tuesday published a bill on improving the electoral system in the Gazette. The draft law, the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021, was released in Hong Kong after revisions at the state level finished at the end of March. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted on March 30 the amended Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, which concerns methods for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the formation of the Legislative Council (LegCo). A government spokesman said it is incumbent upon the HKSAR government to implement the new electoral system that accords with the actual situation in Hong Kong by way of local legislation. The bill will be introduced into the LegCo for the first reading and second reading on Wednesday. The government will fully complement the work of the LegCo in scrutinizing the bill to strive for its early passage so as to kick start the extensive preparatory work for the elections, the spokesman said. Three major elections of the Election Committee, the seventh LegCo and the sixth chief executive will be held on Sept. 19, Dec. 19, 2021 and March 27, 2022, respectively. As Hong Kong was gripped by electoral chaos last year, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that the HKSAR government will take action against illegal activities of manipulating or disrupting elections this time. Citing the so-called "primary election" last year as an example, Lam said such subversive activities of conspiring to take control of the legislature and force the chief executive to resign went against the independent choice of voters. The bill to be delivered mainly comprises six areas, including reconstituting the Election Committee, providing for the method for selecting the chief executive, updating the composition and formation of the LegCo, and the candidate eligibility. Improving the electoral system can ensure that Hong Kong stays true to the original aspiration in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems" and get Hong Kong back on the right track, the spokesman said. It is only by putting in place institutional safeguards to ensure "patriots administering Hong Kong" that the principle of "one country, two systems" can be fully and faithfully applied in the HKSAR, which is conducive to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, he added. "This was an amazing event and an extraordinary group of finalists, so it's an honor and a thrill to be receiving this award," said Carl June, M.D., Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine; Director, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies; and Director, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania. T cells are like the body's security guards, recognizing harmful intruders and triggering an immune response. The 2021 winner of the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award, Dr. June, with colleagues Dr. Bruce Levine, the Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. James Riley, a Professor of Microbiology, and Dr. Michael Milone, an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, were able to reprogram selected T cells to recognize and destroy leukemia cancer cells. This therapy is now named KYMRIAH by Novartis and is FDA-approved to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In 2010, June and Levine treated their first patient a retired 65-year-old corrections officer named Bill Ludwig. After just a few infusions, Ludwig fell severely ill and spent a week in the ICU. Then, on the third week after treatment, he would come to find out that his cancer had disappeared when he woke up and found the masses had disappeared. A second patient, Emily Whitehead, had relapsed twice at the age of six with an extremely aggressive form of leukemia. Like Ludwig, Whitehead got severely ill as the therapy tried to rid her of her cancer. However, this time Dr. June recalled an arthritis drug (from his daughter's struggle with juvenile arthritis) that could manage her side effects. The story of Emily Whitehead was featured in a 2012 article in the New York Times and covered in Forbes, PARENTS Magazine and the PBS documentary "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies." "Sanford Health's commitment to discovery has always been driven by our relentless focus on making a life-changing impact for our patients, people and the communities we serve," said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health. "Today this continues as we honor Dr. June with the $1 million Sanford Lorraine Cross Award in recognition of his life-saving discoveries and accomplishments. This is just one example of how we are working to transform the future by supporting change-makers in medicine and research. While one can only imagine what the next century holds for health care innovation, we are proud to be at the forefront of it." Sanford Lorraine Cross Award While traditional awards in the medical sciences focus on the significance of the contribution of a researcher or clinician, the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award celebrates the role that the award candidate has played in bringing a new emerging transformative medical innovation across the finish line to patients, and their efforts in overcoming challenges, forging collaborations, and ensuring a successful outcome. "By recognizing an innovation now, we can further propel research and discovery to ensure a transformative impact will be felt as soon as possible," said David A. Pearce, president of innovation and research at Sanford Health. "Innovation is not easy, but it is essential if we wish to maximize our impact for the patients and communities we serve," said Micah Aberson, executive vice president at Sanford Health. "The Sanford Lorraine Cross Award is made possible through the generosity of a special group of donors united by their passion for creating a better tomorrow, inspiring future generations of courageous innovators and leaving a legacy of health and healing." Finalists for the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award are determined through a rigorous selection process that uses machine learning to identify innovative areas of discovery and breakthrough science. The candidate selection is then focused on the areas with the most promising transformative potential for patients. An interdisciplinary scientific advisory board narrowed down the top areas of innovation. The individuals who have made the greatest contribution in these three areas are then identified as the finalists. Two other finalists for this year's Sanford Lorraine Cross Award were honored at today's ceremony: Dr. Mark Denison of Vanderbilt University who has studied coronaviruses since the 1980s. In 2007, his lab discovered that coronaviruses have a protein that acts as a powerful proofreader during replication, meaning that the virus can self-correct errors in its RNA sequence; and of who has studied coronaviruses since the 1980s. In 2007, his lab discovered that coronaviruses have a protein that acts as a powerful proofreader during replication, meaning that the virus can self-correct errors in its RNA sequence; and Dr. Michael Welsh of the University of Iowa , a pulmonary physician who wanted to know how human airways work, particularly how salt ions move across the airway wall. This led him to study cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited disease that causes lifelong vulnerability to destructive lung infections and an early death. The award is named after the Cross of Lorraine, a global symbol first chosen as emblematic for those who took action against disease in 1902 at the International Tuberculosis Congress in Berlin. In recent history, Sanford Health has used it to symbolize profound innovation and progress in the medical sciences and also includes the image in its own institutional logo. The Sanford Lorraine Cross Award is supported in perpetuity through an endowment established by donors to the Sanford Health Foundation. Donors who invest $1 million or more are honored as members of the Founders Circle, a distinguished group celebrated for its visionary generosity. These individuals are united by their passion for creating a better tomorrow, inspiring future generations of courageous innovators, and leaving a legacy of health and healing. About Sanford Health Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 46 hospitals, 1,500 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and 10 countries. Learn more about Sanford Health's transformative work to improve the human condition at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News. Contact: Angela Dejene Sanford Health 218-280-0148 [email protected] SOURCE Sanford Health The Federal Council Bern, 14.04.2021 - During its meeting on 14 April 2021, the Federal Council approved the agreement with the United Kingdom on the mutual recognition of the authorised economic operator (AEO) status. The agreement is intended to reduce technical barriers to trade and facilitate trade with the United Kingdom for companies with AEO status. After the attacks of 11 September 2001, measures were taken internationally to increase customs security, and these also impact the cross-border movement of goods. Among other things, provision was made for an advance summary declaration for all goods imported from third countries or exported to third countries. A key element of the security initiatives is the introduction of AEO status for companies. The aim of this is to provide end-to-end security for the entire supply chain, from the goods producer to the end consumer. The transition period under the withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union expired on 31 December 2020. Therefore, the United Kingdom, like other third countries, has an advance summary declaration obligation for all goods. Special privileges for companies with AEO status The mutual recognition of AEO status with the United Kingdom, as approved today by the Federal Council, makes it possible to grant AEO-certified companies of the contracting states significant benefits and simplifications. Companies with AEO status are considered particularly trustworthy, which is why they enjoy privileges with respect to security-related customs controls and can take advantage of customs clearance simplifications. Technical barriers to trade are thereby reduced and trade is facilitated. The agreement has yet to be ratified by the United Kingdom. Address for enquiries Media Section Federal Customs Administration FCA Tel. 058 462 67 43, medien@ezv.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Finance https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html Lance Karlson, a geologist, and retired lifeguard, was with his two-year-old daughter in Geographe Bay in Dunsborough when he saw the monster in the shallow water, first mistaking it stingray striking a seagull. Karlson captured some video of the octopus and shared it on Instagram, where it has received over 221,000 views. He told Insider, "The octopus lashed out at us, which was a total shock." Aggressive Cephalopods "My initial reaction to the experience, which I was able to capture on video, was horror, accompanied by curiosity. I had never seen an octopus up close before, but I was more fascinated at the moment. Remember, I was with my daughter, and I'm sure every father can relate to being more defensive of her than afraid of the danger, "Karlson said. The former lifeguard left the octopus behind and went to put up a shelter for his wife and daughter farther down the beach. Karlson was floating in the sea on his own about 20 minutes later (having swum there "many years" before) when the octopus reappeared - he was whipped around his left arm when gazing at crab shells in water about 1.5 meters deep. "My goggles fogged up, the water became murky, and I was shocked and confused," he explained. "I was then slapped a second time around the neck and upper back, this time with greater intensity. I can only characterize it as a stinging accompanied by a 'whipping' feeling." Octopuses squirt an ink-like liquid when attacked, and Karlson claims he might have been unwittingly in the creature's house. Karlson swam back to shore, some 25 meters away, but his arm, leg, and upper back were covered with stinging red raised imprints from experience. Related Article: Singapore Beachgoer Stung By Stingray Gives Scary Warning After Hospitalization Immediate Action Karlson, a geologist for 13 years, and his family fled back to their hotel suite, struggling to locate some vinegar, in search of anything acidic to treat his wounds. Coca-Cola was their only choice. "I wasn't sure if Coke would work," he said, "but considering how acidic it is, I figured it was worth a shot." "It seems to fit." He didn't go to the hospital and said on his Instagram stories that he's fine now, that the pain and marks were just temporary. Octopus Attacks Despite the shock of Karlson's attack, Bryan Fry, an associate professor at the University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences, told CNN that octopuses do not pose a threat to humans in general. "It is venomous, like all octopuses, but it is harmless to humans," he added. "The venoms are dramatically more powerful on invertebrates like clams and lobster." Karlson's story has made international news, much to his amusement. Karlson spent a college exchange year at Cornell University in 2007-2008 as a geology student. "I recall being asked about the Australian species that frequently make headlines in the United States - our lethal snakes, spiders, great white sharks, and crocodiles - never could I have imagined appearing in one of those stories!" he said. A Hopeful Ending Karlson hopes that rather than terror, people will be intrigued and fascinated by his plot. He described them as "truly extraordinary, brilliant beings with distinctly powerful emotions." "I believe I just happened upon one on a day when it awoke on the Wrong Side of the Room!" Also Read: Rising Number of Shark Attacks in Australia Reveals A Darker Story For more news update about the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News! CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohios coronavirus case rate has increased to near 200 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks - a rate four times the level Gov. Mike DeWine has set as his test before he will lift health orders ranging from mask mandates to limited gatherings. The official update will come from the Ohio Department of Health Thursday afternoon, but cleveland.com projects that it will be close to 199.8 cases per 100,000 This is up from a low for the year of 143.8 cases per 100,000 reported on March 18, and well above the goal of 50 per 100,000 DeWine announced March 4 as a prerequisite to lifting his health orders. A week ago, the rate was reported at 183.7 per 100,000. Ohio was last below 50 cases per 100,000 in June. Yet despite the recent increase, the state is far below fall and winter highs. The rate topped out at 845.5 cases per 100,000 in mid-December. The rate is based on when people became sick, not when the cases were reported. And it excludes incarcerated individuals. The official number released by the state likely will differ some from the cleveland.com estimate, mainly because its unknown how many of the recently reported cases involve incarcerated people. But in each of the last five weeks the cleveland.com projection has been within decimal points of the official number, and sometimes exactly the same. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the states chief medical officer, has blamed much of the increase to the spread into Ohio of the B.1.1.7 variant. This is the variant first identified in the United Kingdom. DeWine has said Ohio is in a race to vaccinate more people to head off the variant, a race detoured somewhat this week with the pause of administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine amid concerns over blood clots in a handful of known cases out of millions of people vaccinated. Soon after cases began to rise in Ohio in March, so did hospitalizations. The Ohio Hospital Association reported 1,302 coronavirus patients across the state on Wednesday, a 32% increase from 984 at the end of March. The number this year was as low as 823 on March 7. The patient count was last above 1,300 on Feb. 24, though it was once much higher - a record 5,308 on Dec. 15. Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral. Previous stories Coronavirus hospitalizations plunge among Ohios most vaccinated age groups What can a consumer do about forced-arbitration clauses on cell phone, car and other deals? - Thats Rich! Ohio coronavirus cases, hospitalizations return to higher February levels; see county, statewide trends Ohio deaths in 2020 increased by nearly 20,000, latest data shows Yesterday Apple announced their Spring Loaded event would take place next Tuesday on April 20th. Today, Samsung announced that they'll be holding an Unpacked event on April 28. While many Android sites and leakers believe the event is going to introduce a new notebook lineup, Samsung's promotional video would suggest that what they're their big surprise is going to be much smaller than a notebook and more inline with a new phone (or smartglasses). Ahead of the latest Unpacked event, Samsung has released a teaser trailer to set the scene for the virtual unveiling. Largo Argentina site will become accessible to the general public for the first time thanks to raised paths that will allow visitors to "walk through history." Rome's archaeological site at Largo di Torre Argentina is to be opened up to the general public for the first time thanks to a 1 million project sponsored by luxury jeweller Bulgari, with works set to begin mid-May. The news was announced today by Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and Rome mayor Virginia Raggi who said the completed project, expected to take about a year, would offer visitors a "journey through time." "It is one of the most evocative places in Rome, a treasure chest in the heart of the city" - the mayor wrote on Facebook - "Imagine, this archaeological complex houses four temples dating from between the third and second centuries BC." Raggi said the works will - for the first time - make the site accessible in "an integral, definitive way" and that until now people have been accustomed to looking down on the ruins from street level, "as if from a balcony." The scheme involves creating a system of "vertical and horizontal paths" inside the archaeological area, allowing visitors to "walk through history," said Raggi, while the Torre del Papito will house a ticket office and exhibition space. The walkways will be built at a height and will be illuminated at night with LED lights, reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica, and the site will be accessible to visitors with disabilities. The raised paths will allow a close view of the four Roman Republican temples, including the circular monument to the goddess of Fortune, and the remains of Pompey's Theatre. Visitors will also be able to view the numerous archaeological finds from the excavations and demolitions carried out during the Fascist period. The so-called sacred area of Largo Argentina is best known as being the scene of Julius Caesar's assassination; it is also the home of a popular cat sanctuary which - the city assures - will not be affected by the works. The plan to make the site accessible to visitors is Bvlgari's latest act of patronage to the Italian capital. In 2016 the luxury jeweller financed the 1.5 million restoration of the Spanish Steps while more recently it provided a significant financial contribution to the new lighting system illuminating the Ara Pacis museum and its ancient altar. The re-lighting project at the museum in March came days before the city opened the Mausoleum of Augustus, following a 6.5 million restoration funded by the Italian telecommunications company TIM. The hive of activity in the surrounding Piazza Augusto Imperatore includes ongoing works by Bulgari to convert a landmark building in the square into a 5-star hotel. The Bulgari Hotel will be located in a rationalist-style building designed by Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, built between 1936 and 1938. The luxury hotel is set to open next year. Photo credit: ColorMaker / Shutterstock.com. Have you had the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine within the last month? If you experience a severe headache that does not go away, significant abdominal or leg pain that does not subside, or increasing shortness of breath, health officials want you to call your doctor immediately. Those could be signs of an extremely rare, severe type of clot that may be linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- so rare that only six cases have been reported in the United States out of the approximately 7 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered to date. However, if you received the J&J vaccine more than a month ago, the risk is 'very low,' said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a virtual briefing on Tuesday. The CDC announced six women between the ages of 18 and 48 had developed a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) -- a clot in the area of the brain that collects and drains oxygen-depleted blood. When this happens, 'blood cells may break and leak blood into the brain tissues, forming a hemorrhage,' according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The cases prompted the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration to recommend that administration of the J&J Covid-19 vaccine be paused to allow for further investigation. 'What does a pause mean? It really allows both the US Food and Drug Administration and CDC to further investigate these cases to try and understand some of the mechanisms of what it is, some more details about the history of the individuals that were involved,' said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a White House briefing on Tuesday. In response, Johnson & Johnson decided to pause vaccinations in all of its clinical trials while the company updates 'guidance for investigators and participants,' according to a news release posted Tuesday afternoon. Presenting symptoms The six women developed symptoms of this 'rare and severe type of blood clot' between six and 13 days after their J&J vaccination, the CDC said. For five of the six women, headache was the 'initial presenting feature,' said Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, vaccine safety lead with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Covid-19 Response Team, during a meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday. 'The important thing to note here is the initial features are largely kind of nonspecific symptoms, which at initial presentation -- or when a patient starts to become symptomatic -- may seem kind of mild and not that clinically significant -- things like headaches, lethargy, chills, myalgia,' Shimabukuro said. 'Later features include severe headache, some focal signs, in one case severe abdominal pain, bruising, swelling in the lower extremities.' One of the women died 12 days after receiving the vaccine and entering the hospital with 'dry heaving, sudden worsening of headache and (left) sided weakness,' according to a record in the US Department of Health and Human Service's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Of the remaining patients, Shimabukuro said, two are in intensive care, one is still hospitalized and two have been discharged. What does this mean if I've had the J&J vaccine? What should you do if you're recently had the J&J vaccine? 'Don't freak out, I'll be going on with my life, but I would be very attuned to my body,' Dr. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean at Emory University School of Medicine, told CNN's Poppy Harlow Tuesday. 'If I develop shortness of breath, if I develop leg pain, if I develop a headache and I'm within two to three weeks of having had Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, I would immediately notify my health care provider,' del Rio continued. While distress may be mild at first, CVST produces unrelenting pain that does not ease, said Dr. Mark Crowther, a member of the American Society of Hematology who is an expert in CVST. 'It gets worse. It's not pain that gets better by itself,' said Crowther, who chairs the department of medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. While CVST is not a stroke, people can experience strokelike difficulty speaking or moving an arm or leg, he added. 'Seek medical attention immediately. It's not the kind of thing that you wait until your physician's office opens on Monday before you deal with it,' Crowther said. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis affects about 5 people in 1 million each year, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, occurring mostly in young adults and children. 'CVST has been known about for decades, and there are many conditions in which you could see CVST, ' Crowther said. 'Meningitis, which is the bacterial infection around brain, causes CVST. In infants, a cause of CVST is actually severe dehydration.' It is yet unclear if the J&J vaccine was responsible for these six cases, Crowther said, and the clots are extremely rare. 'Covid-19 is associated with a risk of blood clots that is thousands of times higher' than blood clots possibly caused by any vaccine, Crowther said. 'it's important people not miss that.' No one should shy away from being vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna two-shot vaccines, or the J&J vaccine when it's available, Crowther stressed: 'Get vaccinated!' Need to educate physicians The CVST clots in six women in the US occurred in combination with thrombocytopenia, a condition in which people have a low blood count of platelets, the sticky, colorless blood cells that help blood clot. During Wednesday's briefing, Shimabukuro noted that four of the women had been treated with the anticoagulant drug heparin, which should not be used to treat such cases. Yet because CVST is so rare, many physicians may not be aware of the unique treatments that are needed. 'Physicians would not see very many cases of (CVST) in their career, so they may not recognize it as quickly,' Crowther said. 'We have some highly effective treatments for this so the problem is getting physicians to recognize this extraordinarily rare problem and treat it appropriately.' The CDC is working on 'aggressive' outreach to clinicians so they are aware of the possible risks and how to identify symptoms and treat the condition properly, health officials said. The need to communicate proper treatment to doctors was part of the reason the FDA and CDC moved so quickly to pause the J&J rollout this week, health officials added. Rare immune response A rare immune response that caused blood clots and low platelets also occured in 16 European patients who received AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, according to two papers published last week in The New England Journal of Medicine. In those papers, doctors describe clots in the patients' brains and abdomens that could indicate an abnormal immune response in 11 patients in Germany and Austria and five patients in Norway. There appear to be similarities between the rare blood clotting events possibly associated with Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine and the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, FDA's Marks said Tuesday, pointing to 'an immune response that occurs very, very rarely after some people receive the vaccine.' One possibility, Crowther said, is that vaccines trigger an overreactive immune response that attacks blood platelets. The platelets become active, and as a result cause blood clotting, even as their numbers drop. But that doesn't mean that vaccines always cause this phenomenon, Crowther stressed. Many people have lower platelet counts and don't realize it, he said, so when they get any vaccine and are later diagnosed with thrombocytopenia it may be attributed to the vaccine 'even though (they) may have had it for 10 years and just never known about it.' Strengthening tax-reporting requirements and the regulations overseeing tax-return preparers would help the IRS stop fraud and close the tax gap, Rettig said. About 99% of taxes are paid to the IRS when there is automatic withholding and reporting to the agency, but only 45% of whats owed gets paid when those are lacking, he said. Bengaluru, April 14 : Bengaluru police has arrested two persons and seized 141.250 kg marijuana valued at around Rs 84.60 lakh from them, the Koramangala police said here on Wednesday. According to the police, the arrested are Chaddakrishnan aka Santhosh, 22 years, resident of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and Murthy aka Channaiah, 40 years, resident of Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. Bengaluru South-East division's Madiwala sub-division's Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Sudheer M. Hegde told reporters that the Koramangala police acted on a tip off. "Main accused Chaddakrishnan, a resident of Araku valley of Dumbriguda Mandal, procured large quantities of marijuana from gullible tribals living in the deep jungle there. He has 'deep contacts' in jungles of Andhra Pradesh. We need to interrogate him further to know about his contacts," he explained. The ACP added that Chaddakrishnan had developed a well functioning network in Koramangala, K. R. Puram, H. S. R. Layout, K. R. Pet (City Market) and other adjacent areas as well, where he used to sell this large quantity of marijuana at a higher rate. Bengaluru South-East division Deputy Commissioner of Police. Srinath Mahadev Joshi said that Kollegal resident Channaiah is his accomplice in this crime who helped him in transporting this illegal substance from Andhra Pradesh to Karnataka. "We have seized a truck from him," he said. The police has registered a case and is investigating. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment On April 5, 2007, Time Magazineasked the question, Should Incest Be Legal? Three years later, when Columbia University professor David Epstein was arrested for a three-year, consensual affair with his adult daughter, his attorney noted, Its OK for homosexuals to do whatever they want in their own home. How is this so different? We have to figure out why some behavior is tolerated and some is not. Not surprisingly, some Columbia students asked why any sexual acts committed by consenting adults should be considered a crime. Today, that question is being asked again, this time in the context of a lawsuit reported by the New York Post on April 10. Specifically, A New Yorker who wants to marry their own adult offspring is suing to overturn laws barring the incestuous practice, calling it a matter of individual autonomy. They argue that, Through the enduring bond of marriage, two persons, whatever relationship they might otherwise have with one another, can find a greater level of expression, intimacy and spirituality, the parent argues in the Manhattan Federal Court claim filed April 1. Really now, in light of the prevailing logic that love is love, since this is consensual and between adults, why not? One immediate answer, aside from the obvious revulsion and horror which quite naturally greets this request for marriage, is that it is biologically dangerous. Any children produced as a result of this union could have serious genetic issues. In this case, however, we are told that this is not an issue. According to the filing, The proposed spouses are adults. The proposed spouses are biological parent and child. The proposed spouses are unable to procreate together. The lawsuit even uses the acronym PAACNP, standing for Parent and Adult Child Non-Procreationable. So, this would either refer to a same-sex parent and child who cannot, therefore, procreate, or to an opposite sex parent and child, one or both of whom is unable to procreate because of age or biological problems. Why say no to them? As their argument goes, Parent-and-adult-child couples for whom procreation is either virtually or literally impossible can aspire to the transcendent purposes of marriage and seek fulfillment in its highest meaning. Indeed, they claim that it would diminish their humanity if they were unable to marry. Why would anyone want to do something so cruel to them? Wasnt it diminishing to the humanity of gays to forbid them the ability to marry? (For those who are unfamiliar with my own views, Im simply playing the devils advocate here.) After all, who are we to tell people who they can and cannot love? Havent we been told that love is love? That love wins? That we have the right to marry the one (or ones) we love? Why draw the line here? For some years, I have been documenting the increasing acceptance of adult, consensual incest in our culture, including these articles: Here Comes Incest, Just as Predicted posted September 14, 2012, with documentation going back to 2007 and including reference to GSA (Genetic Sexual Attraction) along with actual cases in the courts in other countries. Next stop on slippery slope: Incest posted July 23, 2014, adding a surprising statement from a judge in Australia along with the latest celebration of incest in pop culture. Why Cant Two Gay Brothers Marry? posted October 27, 2015, citing a pro-incest argument from a gay politician in Ireland. Legalizing adult incest -- here we go again posted January 27, 2016, including further cultural updates. In my 2015 book, Outlasting the Gay Revolution, I also cited the latest examples of the medias celebration of adult consensual incest. So, again, sadly and tragically, all this is nothing new. The slippery slope is very real. In this light, it is worth revisiting the opening paragraphs of the Timearticle from 2007: When the Supreme Court struck down Texas's law against sodomy in the summer of 2003, in the landmark gay rights case of Lawrence v. Texas, critics warned that its sweeping support of a powerful doctrine of privacy could lead to challenges of state laws that forbade such things as gay marriage and bigamy. State laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity are ... called into question by today's decision, wrote Justice Antonin Scalia, in a withering dissent he read aloud page by page from the bench. It turns out the critics were right. Plaintiffs have made the decision the centerpiece of attempts to defeat state bans on the sale of sex toys in Alabama, polygamy in Utah and adoptions by gay couples in Florida. So far the challenges have been unsuccessful. But plaintiffs are still trying, even using Lawrence to challenge laws against incest. Note those words carefully, penned in 2007 in the left-leaning Time: It turns out the critics were right. (See further my video pointing to Scalias prescience.) Obviously, a strong argument against any lawful sexual or romantic connection between family members is that it opens the door to further abuses. In other words, the moral, legal, and societal wall against incestuous relationships helps remove the possibility of such relationships (and sexual unions). They are off limits. They are taboo. They are forbidden. Take down that wall, and anything can happen. Thats why challenges to incest remain more marginal than mainstream. But make no mistake about it. If marriage could be so radically redefined so as to remove the requirement of a man and a woman, it can be further redefined to include family members or to expand the number from two. Not surprisingly, when I participated in a written debate in 2014 on the quickly defunct Debate Out website, I was the only one of 5 participants who argued that consensual adult incest should remain illegal. (Two of the participants didnt like the idea of consensual adult incest but felt the government had no right to interfere; the other two operated on the love is love principle.) Interestingly, of all those interviewed for the debate, I was the only one who emphasized the importance of keeping social walls intact, quoting the famous dictum of G. K. Chesterton, Do not remove a fence until you know why it was put up in the first place. The interviewer, herself a liberal lesbian, found the argument very interesting, having heard it from me for the very first time. Writing about Chestertons dictum (and quoting Chesterton in full context), an FS blog noted that, Second-order thinking is the practice of not just considering the consequences of our decisions but also the consequences of those consequences. . . . Second-order thinking will get you extraordinary results, and so will learning to recognize when other people are using second-order thinking. Conversely, it is the lack of second-order thinking, a direct result of the sexual revolution that downplayed long-term consequences, that helped get us into our current cultural mess. As for the case before the New York court, let this serve as a further wake-up call in the midst of our ongoing moral decline. What on earth could be coming next? With more vaccine sites popping up in Harris and other Texas counties, more than 25 percent of Texas residents over 16 years old had been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of mid-April, a Houston Chronicle analysis found. Interactive map: Where you can get vaccinated in Houston In the midst of a pandemic, millions in the Harris County area found themselves without power during one of the most intense winter storms in Texas history in February, Winter Storm Uri, compounding the economic effects of COVID-19. Nonprofit and community organizations in Cy-Fair, such as Northwest Assistance Ministries and Cypress Assistance Ministries, work to fill in gaps for local families with food, vaccines and financial assistance while adjusting to the pandemic as Texas attempts to reach herd immunity. Did you get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?: What you need to know about risk of rare blood clots Food Assistance Cypress Assistance Ministries , a nonprofit for low-income families in need of assistance is seeking donations and volunteers in order to continue providing for the local community, including financial donations and help with food distribution. CAM is hosting a drive-thru food distribution for the community April 24 from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. Attendees will need photo ID and the event is first come, first served. The event will take place at the CAM Food Pantry, located at 11265 Huffmeister Road, Houston. As a way to bring the community together while building a new site to help the most vulnerable people in the area with all of their services connected, Cypress Assistance Ministries invited community leaders to a ceremonial beam signing for their future facility on March 25. The $2.4 million, 21,000-square-foot building at 12930 Cypress N. Houston Road will be constructed by J.A. Greene, with an anticipated opening day of Labor Day, Sept. 6. The building will feature room for case managers, the food pantry, classes and donations from the public. CAM plans to host a grand opening event for the community when the facility officially opens, provided COVID-19 vaccines go as planned, said Janet Ryan with CAM. Ryan said the nonprofit was seeing more walk-in clients soon after the winter storm. Residents needing assistance can come during walk-in hours from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday for aid. Appointments are required for help Monday through Wednesday. CAM is also accepting Operation Jobs clients in person, requiring they register online or by calling 281-955-5895. Operation Jobs helps clients learn how to write their resume, sign up for receiving job leads and how to interview well. CAM will also be reopening more services, such as their Operation Jobs program that connects clients to employers. Our employment services counselors will still work with clients over the phone if thats what is preferred, but we are again meeting in person if that is best for the client, said CAM Director of Development Janet Ryan. Weve reopened fax services and copy services as well. CAM will still require clients and staff to wear masks in the building, Ryan said. Even with the governor rescinding the mask order, we do not plan at this time to change our safety measures, she said. Everyone entering the premises, whether staff, volunteers, clients, or shoppers, will be required to wear a mask and those visiting the administrative offices and Client Assistance offices will have their temperature checked as they enter. Keeping everyone safe and healthy is a priority. CAM is also in need of financial donations to help clients with bills and food. The CAM food pantry is located at 11265 Huffmeister Rd. in Cypress. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cypressassistance. Cy-Hope is a nonprofit benefiting low-income students in Cy-Fair ISD. Cy-Hope is in need of volunteers for bagging food each month. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CyHopeTx. Cy-Hope Executive Director Lynda Zelenka said the nonprofit is seeing a need for plumbers, water and food from clients in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri. The Cypress Market at Cy-Hope will host a vendor show at Cy-Hope, 12715 Telge Road, Cypress, with a VIP event on April 30 and a public event May 1. For more information, visit https://app.donorview.com/v6XkG. Cy-Hope is in need of volunteers for their backpack program. Sign up can be found at www.signupgenius.com/go/805054aa8aa2ea7fd0-backpack. Cy-Fair Helping Hands , a nonprofit dedicated to homeless and low-income communities, also provides food for Cy-Fair area families. On Monday, Thursday and the first and third Saturdays of the month Cy-Fair Helping Hands accepts donations of nonperishable foods from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the back door of their office. The biannual Mettas Local Eats Dine Out for Charity event, which donates portions of sales from various local northwest Harris County restaurants directly to Cy-Fair Helping Hands, began April 1 at participating restaurants. This years event, organized by Metta Archilla and other cofounders of the Mettas Local Eats group the 6,300 member food and fellowship based Facebook group established in 2017 will feature more restaurants, all of which are offering specific items that will contribute toward a donation to CFHH. Last year, the event raised $27,665. For more information, including how to donate, visit https://www.facebook.com/CYFAIRHELPINGHANDS. Northwest Assistance Ministries , or NAM, serves hundreds of in-need families a week through their onsite food pantry with both nonperishable and perishable foods and is using a drive-thru model. NAM is still accepting rent and mortgage assistance applications online at namonline.org. We can use volunteers to call clients and help in Meals on Wheels and our food pantry, said Brian Carr, chief advancement officer for NAM. We can always use financial and food donations. NAM is providing food assistance Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at their main building and accepting donations between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. NAM is in need of food and financial donations. Frozen meat, fruit and vegetables, and canned and dry goods are needed for the food pantry. Northwest Assistance Ministries has seen a consistent increase in requests for rent and food assistance, Carr said. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. NAM is hosting multiple events and offering resources about the topic. For more information visit www.namonline.org/family-center. The NAM Resale warehouse is also accepting donations, such as furniture and household appliances. NAM Resale warehouse will be accepting donations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. The NAM Resale Boutique, at 15555 Kuykendahl Rd., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. NAM is also accepting registration for fall classes until June 14. For more information, visit www.namonline.org/learning. NAM is located at 15555 Kuykendahl Rd. in northwest Houston. Financial services NAM also provides financial assistance for clients needing help with bills or other expenses after losing their job due to COVID-19. Because of the way our funding is structured, our advice to our clients is to use the unemployment (payments) for your utilities, for your prescriptions, for some groceries and allow us to subsidize the rent because we can make that one payment to the landlord and get that caught up, Carr said. NAM has launched an online application process for rent and mortgage assistance, where applicants can submit all appropriate documents without visiting the nonprofit. The Training and Learning Center is also registering students for spring 2021 online classes. To check qualifications for a scholarship call 281-885-4523. Registration for the Training and Learning Center fall classes begins June 14. For more information, visit www.namonline.org. The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce has a community resources page, www.cyfairchamber.com/wearecyfair, where small businesses can apply for SBA loans, catch up on the most recent mandates on COVID-19 from the state government and individual instruction for navigating loan and benefits applications. For more information, visit www.cyfairchamber.com/ Mental health assistance Shield Bearer counseling sessions are being held through remote teletherapy sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit works with different financial situations to provide counseling for a variety of mental health challenges including grief, abuse, addictions and relationship issues. According to the organizations Facebook page, Shield Bearer has experienced an increase in the demand for mental health services and is seeking financial donations to help the organization continue meeting clients needs. For more information, visit www.shieldbearer.org. Igniting Gods Vision Ministry Senior Pastor Floyd Smith said the 19-year-old Cy-Fair area ministry has continued to operate the recently launched Turning Peer Pressure to Peer Power program and counseling for the local community. Weve launched this ministry enough to where were already dealing with the issues they are struggling with, he said. Our goal is to save money to get our own building or land so well be able to bring them and go through the counseling process. My concern is on the counseling side and what people are going through at this time not only with the teens but also with the pandemic. Igniting Gods Vision Ministries regularly hosts sermons and other events on their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Igniting-Gods-Vision-Ministries-Inc-193290454073044. Cy-Hope also offers counseling and speech therapy both in-person and through telehealth. In-person appointments require clients to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wait in their car until the beginning of the appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 713-466-1360. For more information, visit www.cy-hopecounseling.org. chevall.pryce@chron.com The Bui Power Authority (BPA) says the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) misinformed the Minister of Energy and Ghanaians, when it said the Bui Power Plant had been shut down due to low level of water and hence the intermittent power supply in the central part of Ghana and especially in Kumasi. Following the intermittent power supply in recent weeks, GRIDCo at a press briefing on the issue on April 1, 2021 said the Bui Power Plant had been shut down because of low water in the dam and therefore all the power the country needed was being generated from the coast, Tema and Takoradi. But reacting to the GRIDCo statement in a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, the Chief Executive of BPA, Mr Fred Oware said the claim by GRIDCo was misleading and added that Bui cannot be responsible for the current intermittent power supply in the country. Let me be bold enough and say that I think GRIDCo has misled the Minister [of Energy] in making such a sad statement because as we sit here, talking right now, Bui is in operation, we have three units which works at 133 [megawatts]. The water is gone down without any doubt whatsoever but this is not an unforeseen act, we knew this and last year when we submitted our supply plan, we indicated clearly that this year, we will not be able to generate as much as we generated last year and weve given them month by month how much we are going to. If there is a problem, lets talk about it but they cant put it on Bui because we knew last year that the supply plan will be what it is and so they should have looked at our supply plan and make alternative arrangements to fill in the gap but to say that there is dumsor in Ghana because, it is quite misleading and I think you can make your own independent investigation. As at this morning, we were generating 90 [megawatts] He insisted that the problem of intermittent power supply has nothing to do with Bui. He said Bui has a three-year cycle of and three years ago water was spilled at Bui for 10 days. And when they calculated it was something like US$600,000 equivalent per day for 10 days. Last year the rainfall wasnt as good as the previous year, this is the worst for the three years and so we expect next year to be much better. These are things which are known and calculated. Now it is for the system operator to say that if you are looking for, at peak 2800 [megawatts] to sustain the system and a generator number one, Bui will give me 90 [megawatts] what is the difference, the 2710, let me go and look for it from somewhere, if you dont go and look for it and you wait and your light goes off, you say that because of Buis 90 that is why, that is not right. GRIDCo had explained on April 1, 2021 that the Ameri Power Plant was being relocated from Aboadze to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region as a move to help use the 250 megawatts plant to stabilise the power situation in the central part of Ghana. GRIDCo's Director of System Operations Mr Mark Baah had said the Bui Power Authority (BPA) or the Bui Hydroelectric Power Plant happens to be the only power generation plant which is located in the central part of Ghana. All the other generating power plants are located in the southern and coastal parts of Ghana. Bui supplies the central part and the rest of the load is met by generation from down south. Whilst giving an update on the intermittent power supply being experienced in Ghana at the moment especially in Kumasi and Accra, the Director of System Operations at GRIDCo, Mr Mark Baah said "currently, we have had to shut down the Bui plant because of the low level of water in the dam." In view of this, every power that Ghana requires from the southern parts up to Bolgatanga, Wa, everything has to come from the coast, down south upwards towards the north. Interruptions He said since the beginning of the year, there has been some power interruptions in the network. This, he said is primarily due to the fact that the transmission system in particular has some "weaknesses, which we are trying to address but have not finished yet." "So we have had intermittent outages, sometimes transmission lines tripping off from the south western part of the country, affecting the entire system particularly Kumasi and this culminated in the entire system collapse on March 7, 2021". "Beyond this, Ashanti Region and in particular Kumasi has been experiencing intermittent outages particularly in the evening during peak times and all this is basically because of the fact that our power system has grown in terms of demand." Mr Baah said: "In fact, for the first time this year, we have crossed 3000 megawatts in terms of demand. At the moment, there is no generation plant in the central part of Ghana. All the power needed is generated from the coastal parts of Ghana. Kumasi "Kumasi happens to be the major central point within the system, heavy load. By the time the power gets to Kumasi, the voltage is so low, when voltages are low, you switch on your light and it is almost dim. Normally people call it low current, it is actually called low voltage, the voltage becomes so low and if we dont do anything about it to prop up the voltage, the entire system will collapse. "So it happens that during the evenings, during peak hours when the voltages are so low, sometimes weve resorted to taking off some figures particularly in Kumasi in order to prop up the voltages, so you will have Kumasi continue to experience this outage situation. "Weve noted that inherent problem and there was a partial solution whereby we moved one transformer from Accra to Kumasi, but this is not the entire solution.: To address the Kumasi problem, he said the Kumasi-Kintampo project is being built and will be completed by July 2021. Why Ameri is going to Kumasi He said as they analyzed, they saw that it is best to get a generator around Kumasi, "so the Ministry [of Energy] has taken a decision that the Ameri Power Plant, should be moved to Kumasi. So efforts are being put in place to ensure that gas infrastructure is sent to Kumasi to feed the Ameri Power Plant once tht project is done. So when this is completed, our system will become even more resilient, Mr Baah 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. Featured Video (Natural News) Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on April 7 that the country would have to dump radioactive wastewater from the site of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster into the Pacific Ocean. He said that disposing of the water this way was unavoidable, the Japan Times reported. No final decision had been made but Suga would meet with select ministers of state as early as April 13 to finalize a plan. For several years, the Japanese government has delayed making a decision on the disposal issue. But it will have to decide very soon since all of the tanks storing Fukushima wastewater will be full by next year. A panel of experts summoned last year recommended dumping into the ocean, which fishermen and environmental groups staunchly opposed. Japans radioactive wastewater problem In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and a tsunami caused core meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Though the power plant has been closed for good, it continues to generate massive amounts of radioactive water, which comes partly from the water it used to cool melted fuel. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO), the power plants operator, treats Fukushima wastewater using an advanced liquid processing system that strips the water of charged particles. But the process cannot remove tritium, the radioactive form of hydrogen, which is hazardous when ingested or absorbed through the skin. A decade after the disaster, more than a million tons of radioactive wastewater has been collected and stored in tanks at the plant. But the site will run out of room for new tanks by next year, according to TEPCO. This is pressuring the government to act very soon. What to do with the water is a task that the government can no longer put off without setting a policy, Hiroshi Kajiyama, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, told the press on April 7. In February last year, the government summoned a panel of experts to make a recommendation. The panel recommended either evaporating the wastewater or release it into the ocean, though it said the latter was preferable. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations organization that monitors the use of nuclear energy, agreed that ocean dumping was feasible. Agency officials said that nuclear power plants commonly get rid of radioactive wastewater this way, even when they are not in an emergency situation. TEPCO said that if it receives approval, it would release radioactive water into the sea off the coast of Fukushima over several decades. A month after the panel advised, the operator drafted a plan to reduce tritium levels to 2.5 percent of the legal limit for radioactive materials before discharging the water. Fishermen, eco groups oppose ocean dumping Fishermen strongly opposed the proposal to dump Fukushima wastewater into the ocean because consumers would refuse to buy seafood from the region. Suga met on April 7 with Hiroshi Kishi, head of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives known as JF Zengyoren, to discuss the disposal issue amid protests from fishermen. According to Kishi, Suga told him that the government would make a decision based on experts proposal that ocean dumping is the best option. The federation head said during the meeting that there is no change in the least in his organizations stance. It is inevitable that there would be reputational damage regardless of how the water will be disposed of, whether into the sea or into the air, Kishi told reporters. I want the government to clarify how it intends to respond to such reputational damage. (Related: Fish off the coast of Fukushima show high concentrations of radioactive cesium.) International nonprofit Greenpeace also vehemently opposed the recommendation. In a report released last October, the nonprofit warned that Fukushima water contained dangerous levels of carbon-14, which it noted has the potential to damage human DNA. Japans assurance that the water would be treated before being disposed of gave the impression that it only contained tritium, the organization said. Fukushima.news has more on the 2011 nuclear disaster and its impact on the environment and health. Sources include: WakingTimes.com HakaiMagazine.com English.KyodoNews.net 1 English.KyodoNews.net 2 BBC.com London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reduced the length of his visit to New Delhi at the end of this month due to the COVID-19 situation in India, Downing Street said on Wednesday. Johnson was to spend a few days in India starting April 26 as part of a planned itinerary, which is expected to include finalising a UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership. However, with the pandemic crisis in India taking a turn for the worse, the itinerary has had to be reworked and the major part of the high-level bilateral interactions, including bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are now scheduled to be limited to New Delhi on April 26. "We have been in close contact with the Indian government about the Prime Minister's upcoming visit in light of the Covid situation in India. As a result of these discussions, the Prime Minister has made the decision to reduce the length of the visit, due to take place at the end of this month, to a shorter programme in New Delhi," the Prime Minister's spokesperson at 10 Downing Street said. The programme will be focused on high-level discussions with the Indian government and Indian business leaders, the official said. "We'll set out more details in due course, but the visit will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. "As with all the Prime Minister's visits, his trip to India will prioritise the safety of those involved. All elements of the visit will be Covid secure," the spokesperson said. The 56-year-old UK prime minister is himself a COVID-19 survivor. In April, Johnson spent three nights in intensive care at a London hospital before being discharged. The statement from Downing Street came on a day India registered the highest ever single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with 1,84,372 new infections. On Wednesday, a single day spike of 1,84,372 coronavirus infections and 1,027 fatalities pushed India's tally of cases to 1,38,73,825 and death toll to 1,72,085. Last month, while addressing the virtual International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, Johnson had said that the UK and India's shared vision for a sustainable future will be among the issues on the agenda for talks during his upcoming visit. "We have a shared vision for a sustainable future for our nations and global community and I very much look forward to discussing this and many other issues with Prime Minister Modi on my upcoming visit to India," he said at the time. The announcement of the visit, which had been postponed from a planned Republic Day tour in January due to the escalating COVID-19 crisis in the UK, came as the UK launched the conclusions of its integrated review of defence, security, development and foreign policy a post-Brexit policy vision that falls within a wider Global Britain agenda. A central foreign policy shift included in the review is a definitive tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region as the 'geopolitical centre of the world'. "I am delighted to announce that I will visit India next month to strengthen our friendship with the world's biggest democracy," he said in a House of Commons statement on March 16. British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, recently said that the visit promises to be a very significant marking of a new kind of relationship across trade and investment as well as the exchange of people and ideas between India and the UK. The envoy, who is in charge of finalising the prime ministerial visit agenda, highlighted several pillars of focus for the bilateral engagement, covering areas such as defence and security and climate action and healthcare, including cooperation in the area of COVID-19 vaccines. "This is the first major bilateral visit that this Prime Minister would have made to any country outside the UK, that says quite a lot about the significance of the India relationship which he seeks," Ellis said last month during a seminar organised by the London-based think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). "It is very exciting that he is coming. He was planning to come in January, but the Covid situation in the UK put paid to that, but he is very keen to come and we are really looking forward to what we hope will be a very significant marking of a new kind of relationship," he added. A broken boiler is stressful enough at the best of times - never mind during a pandemic. You cant pop to a friend or relatives house for a shower or to do your washing. And there is nowhere to seek refuge from the still chilly weather. So the prospect of going weeks without hot water or heating at this time is just miserable - and for the elderly and vulnerable, its downright dangerous. Yet thats exactly what British Gas HomeCare customers have faced. Around 3.5million people pay hundreds of pounds a year for the energy giants boiler and heating insurance. Left in the cold: Around 3.5million people pay hundreds of pounds a year for British Gas Homecare boiler and heating insurance Its main selling point is the peace of mind it offers. Or, as its website boasts: The boilers the heart of your home. Keep it covered with HomeCare and well be there when you need us. The reality couldnt be more different. Last week Money Mail exposed how thousands of customers are stuck in a queue for repairs after workers went on strike earlier this year. Since then we have been flooded with emails and letters from readers left in desperate situations. British Gas had assured us that, despite the delays, it was reaching vulnerable customers on the same day. But as we report today, this hasnt always happened. One 97-year-old, who lives on her own and has a heart condition, was initially told she must wait three weeks for an engineer after her boiler broke. Others say they cannot even get through on the phone to make an appointment, or are repeatedly let down by no-show engineers. So its little wonder many customers are now threatening to cancel their policies. This cover is not cheap, with the most comprehensive policy costing upwards of 270 a year. And thats just if you are a new joiner. Annual price hikes can mean loyal customers end up paying four times as much over time. For many people, sticking the same sum in a savings account and finding a reliable local tradesman to keep on speed dial might be a more cost-effective option. In the meantime, British Gas must put in place a proper compensation plan for customers it has let down. This means footing the bill for emergency repairs its engineers failed to carry out, and offering partial refunds to customers who did not get their annual boiler service as promised. Given the energy giants services arm pocketed a healthy 256million last year, it is the very least it could do. Any Milk & More customer without a computer or smartphone will see deliveries cancelled Milk let-down Milk & Mores decision to force its customers online is a ruthless betrayal. Many have had the same milkman for decades and struggle to get to the shops. To refuse cash and cheque payments is bad enough but now customers arent even allowed to pay by direct debit. Anyone who doesnt have a computer or smartphone will see their deliveries cancelled from April 24. The firm claims the cost-cutting measure will future-proof jobs. But younger consumers can be fickle. And with many online grocery stores now offering deliveries within half an hour of booking, perhaps Milk & More should think twice before turning its back on valuable loyal customers. Scam fiasco Our investigation exposes just how easy it is for fraudsters to advertise scam investments on Google. Whats so baffling is that Google did raise concerns about our fake advert but for the wrong reason. So despite our website including all the hallmarks of a scam, it was still allowed to go live. This is just not good enough. As I said two weeks ago, its time tech firms were forced to clean up their act. Daft daffodils After buying cheery daffodils from Sainsburys last week, I was amused to note the Do not eat instruction on the tag. There was even an illustration of a knife and fork with a red cross through them. Id love to know what led to this being deemed necessary. What are the silliest instructions youve spotted when shopping? v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk A quantitative easing (QE) programme by the (RBI) may not go well with the countrys fundamentals, even as it bought Rs 3.13 trillion of debt from the secondary market in the last fiscal year and committed to Rs 1 trillion of bond purchase in the first quarter. India is among the 11 (EMs) that have jumped on the QE bandwagon. But it has one of the highest public debts and weakest debt affordability, global rating agency Moodys said on Wednesday. Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa and Turkey have recently announced their own versions of QE, so far the reserve of developed economies. But the fundamentals of these economies vary widely. While most of the 11 EM central banks score well in Moodys assessment of macroeconomic stability, with the exception of Chile, most of the 11 EMs have weak government effectiveness, suggesting potential risks executing fiscal reforms or consolidation plans. Debt affordability varies widely, with Ghana and India (Baa3 negative) weakest, Moodys said. Also, across the 11 EMs, India, South Africa and Ghana have the highest public debt and weakest debt affordability. A number of EMs score quite weakly on government effectiveness (close to 0), suggesting they may find it more difficult to implement fiscal reforms or consolidation. Indias score at 0.17, per Moodys methodology, lands it at the seventh spot in the list of 11. Echoing Moodys finding, UBS economist Tanvee Gupta Jain pointed out Indias public debt (as a percentage of GDP) has risen from 72 per cent in FY20 to 89 per cent in FY21. Our estimates indicate that nominal GDP needs to grow at least 10 per cent YoY to help stabilise public debt levels at the current high levels before bringing it down, she said. Among global EMs, India will have the third-highest public debt to GDP ratio, after Argentina and Brazil, in 2021. We believe the key for debt sustainability is the ability and speed with which the government can deliver on promises made in the Budget, specifically with regard to aggressive divestment/privatisation targets and also higher public capex spending to help support nominal GDP growth, she said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Digital Transaction Management (DTM) Market is projected to reach USD 10,528.2 million by 2026, according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. Digital transaction management is method of transforming traditional document-based processes to digital/electronic platform. In 2017 the electronic signatures solution segment dominated this market and in terms of regions North America is observed to be the leading contributor in the global market. This market is majorly strengthened by increasing importance and focus on cloud services and IT security. There is a strong preference in the banking and financial services industry for adoption of digital transaction management solutions due to changing customer requirement. Thus, steady flow in volume of transactions done via digital platforms such as e-wallets, internet banking, etc. presents transaction service providers with a genuine growth opportunity in the digital transaction management market. Furthermore, extensive adoption and acceptance of various electronic devices along with the convenience of usage and transacting through these devices is pushing enterprises in various industries towards digitally transforming their operations in line with the dynamic consumer requirements and preferences. All these factors are eventually expected to have a positive impact on the progress of digital transaction management market across the world. Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/digital-transaction-management-dtm-market/request-for-sample The market segments for digital transaction management are based on solutions, industry vertical, end user, and region. The digital transaction management solutions segment includes market for electronic signatures, document digitization, workflow automation, and security & compliance sub segments. Electronic signatures segment is expected to dominate this market in terms of digital transaction management solutions. End user segmentation in the digital transaction management market report covers SMBs and large enterprises. Major industry verticals in this market include BFSI, construction & real estate, education, government, healthcare, and IT & Telecom. North America is observed to be the leading region in this market during 2017, and is expected to lead the global digital transaction management market throughout forecast period. Presence of established players and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of investments in cloud-based services drive the market growth in the region. Also, the growing demand from banking sector due to its strong preference for digital platforms, and further technological advancements support market growth in this region. Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/digital-transaction-management-dtm-market Some of the leading companies operating in the Digital Transaction Management (DTM) market include DocuSign Inc., Fluix, Kofax Inc., Captricity, Box, Namirial Spa, ZorroSign Inc., Insight Enterprises Inc., AssureSign LLC, ThinkSmart LLC, eOriginal, Inc., Euronovate S.A., DocuFirst, OneSpan, HelloSign, Accusoft Corporation, Connective. These companies offer innovative solutions to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers from multiple industry verticals Digital Transaction Management Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Solution Electronic Signatures Workflow automation Document Digitization Security and Compliance Others Digital Transaction Management Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by End User Large Enterprises SMBs Digital Transaction Management Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Industry Vertical BFSI Construction & Real Estate Education Government Healthcare IT & Telecom Others Digital Transaction Management Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Asia-Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/digital-transaction-management-dtm-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 Huron County Board of Commissioners voted to extend a local state of emergency lasting until May 25, 2021, unless the board takes further action. The state of emergency only allows all units of government within Huron County to continue holding their meetings virtually under the Michigan Open Meetings Act. The office of emergency management will continue to be a liaison and coordinate with state and federal authorities for assistance related to the pandemic. Tuscola and Sanilac counties have also recently passed their own emergency orders allowing government meetings to continue virtually. Chairman Sami Khoury anticipates that this order will be extended beyond May 25, since he does not see this pandemic ending in either May or June. Were just trying to get through it like everyone else, Khoury said. The latest testing rates showed that Huron County went from an average positivity rate of 5.6% to 30% since March 3. There have also been 2,648 confirmed cases and 62 deaths from COVID since the pandemic started last year. The commissioners also passed an action declaring their opposition to State Senate Bill 203 and House Bill 4432, which would grant an entity the ability to establish a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly organization in a geographic area already served by an existing PACE organization. Representatives of the Region VII Area Agency on Aging, which provides PACE services, had spoken at a previous commissioners meeting where they claimed this new state legislation was done to accommodate one new Colorado-based provider. Dr. Ed Canfield, the Region VII Medical Director, had also said that this one company would not face the same regulations that in-state providers would. In other business, the commissioners declared that May would be Motorcycle Awareness Month in Huron County and allowed the American Bikers Aiming Towards Education in Michigan to set up signs in front of the county building for the month. The commissioners elected Vicki Koglin and Joseph Murphy to the health board, where each will serve a five-year term. They also appointed Lawrence Schnettler and Bill Goretski to the zoning board of appeals for three-year terms and David Hunter and David Rapson to the 911 authority board for four-year terms. New Delhi, April 14 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday again demanded the cancellation of the CBSE exams due to Covid resurgence. "My appeal to the government again is to cancel the CBSE exams," Priyanka wrote in Hindi on Facebook. The demand comes ahead of the Prime Minister's meeting with the education ministers of the states. Earlier on April 11, she wrote a letter to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, in which she said, "It will be practically impossible to ensure the safety of students at large and at crowded exam centres. Additionally, given the nature and the spread of the virus, it is not just the students who will be at risk, but also their teachers, invigilators and family members who are in contact with them. Aside from this, by forcing the children to sit for these exams during a raging pandemic, the Government and the CBSE board will be held responsible in the event that any of the exam centres prove to be hotspots at which large numbers of children become infected with the disease. "The responsibility to protect and guide the young lies with the political leaders. As state after state issues guidelines preventing the assembly of large numbers of people in public places, what moral grounds can we stand on, while forcing young children to do exactly that. "It is not just the physical health of these children, but also their psychological well-being that can be deeply impacted. They already face the immense pressure of the exams; in addition, they will now be fearing the conditions in which they will be taking them," she wrote in the letter. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also asked the Centre to reconsider its decision of holding the exams. [April 13, 2021] Forbes Names Tom Loverro to the Midas List of the World's Best 100 Venture Capital Investors IVP, a premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firm, is pleased to announce that General Partner Tom Loverro has been named to the prestigious Forbes Midas List of 100 Best Venture Capital Investors. The Midas List identifies the venture capitalists who are generating exceptional returns for their investors while helping create the most impactful and valuable companies. Mr. Loverro was part of the 2019 class of Brink List investors, and he is ranked #92 on the Midas list this year. Since its inception in 1980, IVP has invested in over 400 companies and supported 117 of them through their public offerings. The firm has backed innovative companies such as Coinbase, CrowdStrike, Datadog, Discord, GitHub, HashiCorp, Hopin, Klarna, Robinhood, Slack, Snap, SoFi, Supercell, Tanium, Wise, Twitter (News - Alert) , and UiPath and remains committed to its focused strategy of supporting innovation atthe growth stage and partnering closely with exceptional management teams. About Tom Loverro Mr. Loverro joined IVP in 2015. He focuses on investing in later-stage, high-growth consumer and enterprise companies. Tom currently serves as a Board Director or Observer for Attentive, HashiCorp, NerdWallet, and Podium. He was a Board Observer for Coinbase (COIN) until April 2021. He was also actively involved in sourcing, executing, and managing investments in Amplitude, Datadog (DDOG), GitHub (MSFT), IEX (News - Alert) , OnDeck (ONDK), and Tanium. Tom was previously a Principal at RRE Ventures, a leading early-stage venture firm, based in New York. Tom began his career at Goldman Sachs in technology, media, and telecommunications investment banking. Following Goldman, he joined RRE as an Analyst. Tom's involvement in RRE portfolio company Drobo led to him joining the company full-time where he led Marketing. Tom holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management, where he was an Austin Scholar, and a B.A. from Stanford University, where he graduated with Distinction. About IVP Founded in 1980, IVP is one of the premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firms in the United States. IVP has invested in over 400 companies with 117 IPOs. IVP specializes in venture growth investments, industry rollups, founder liquidity transactions, and select public market investments. IVP investments include such notable companies as AppDynamics (CSCO), Attentive, Brex, Coinbase, Compass (News - Alert) (COMP), CrowdStrike (CRWD), Datadog (DDOG), Discord, Dropbox (DBX), GitHub (MSFT), Glossier, Grammarly, HashiCorp, Hims & Hers (HIMS), Hopin, Klarna, LegalZoom, Looker (GOOGL), Marketo (News - Alert) (MKTO), MasterClass, Mindbody (MB), MuleSoft (CRM), Netflix (NFLX), Niantic, Podium, Robinhood, Rubrik, Slack (WORK), Snap (SNAP), Supercell (Tencent), Tanium, Twitter (TWTR), UiPath, Wise, ZipRecruiter, and Zynga (News - Alert) (ZNGA). For more information, visit www.ivp.com or follow IVP on Twitter: @ivp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413006221/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and nearly two dozen others in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday to rename Fort Hood for Medal of Honor recipient Roy Benavidez. A Pentagon commission was appointed in early January to look at the issue after 10 Army installations named for Confederate generals drew renewed attention during last summers racial justice protests and debate, reviving a dormant effort to re-brand them after less divisive war heroes. Latinos have fought and died in every single American war since our nations independence, yet too often our communitys service and sacrifice has been overlooked, Castro, D-San Antonio, and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego wrote in a letter to Austin that was signed by 18 other members of the Hispanic Caucus. Fort Hood in Texas is the natural candidate, and there could be no better namesake than Army Master Sgt. Roy Benavidez, a Mexican-American Medal of Honor recipient who spent many of his years in San Antonio and is buried in Bexar County. Fort Hood was named for John Bell Hood, a general known for aggressiveness on the battlefield but whose reputation waned with a string of defeats in the Civil Wars later years. William Luther /William Luther Benavidez, a Vietnam War hero who died at 63 in Brooke Army Medical Center in 1998, has long had advocates who believe hes the right soldier to honor by renaming the post. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Last year, then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the Army secretary at the time, Ryan McCarthy, said they were open to bipartisan discussion on a renaming plan, but the idea ran into a brick wall when their boss, President Donald Trump, tweeted that the existing names were part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. On ExpressNews.com: Push to purge Confederate names gets minimal traction around Fort Hood, but military is paying attention There hasnt been consensus on the issue in the Texas delegation in Congress, which is split between mostly Republicans who remain Trump loyalists and mostly progressive Democrats. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, supported creating a commission to review the naming of military installations, saying last June that it was the appropriate way to handle it. Texas Hispanics stand out in a long list of American war heroes. Those who considered San Antonio home include former Sgt. Santiago J. Everia, retired Master Sgt. Jose Rodela, Louis Rocco, Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, Cleto Rodriguez, Jose Lopez, David Barkley and Benavidez. On ExpressNews.com: Medal of Honor monument dedicated at Tobin Center Benavidez saved six lives in a six-hour battle in Cambodia on May 2, 1968, during which he was stabbed, shot and clubbed. He received the Medal of Honor in 1981 from President Ronald Reagan. Benavidezs son, Noel Benavidez, 48, of El Campo, said Tuesday that his family is staying out of the debate. My sisters and I know in our hearts that our father would be honored and humble that his name would be considered to have a military base named after him, just like my sisters and I are honored and humble that he is even being considered, he said. Knowing dad he would probably crack about it and would suggest that a military base should be named after someone more deserving than him. sigc@express-news.net A couple of weeks ago an anonymous Twitter account told the story of an almost-forgotten Microsoft April Fools prank, the 1996 seeding of empty boxes of a Microsoft Coffee Java development tool across Seattle. Of course, at the time, the pranksters didnt know that Microsoft was already working on its own Java implementation, Visual J++. That was the start of the first part of Microsofts Java story, which ended up the subject of litigation between Microsoft and Sun Microsystems over its support for nonstandard Windows APIs, before being removed from the Visual Studio suite of tools. That might have been the end of the story, if not for Azure and Microsofts commitment to go where the developers are. Part two of the story has been Javas return to Microsofts platform, with Java tools for Visual Studio Code and support for Java on Azure. And now Microsoft is offering its own open source Java distribution, named Microsoft Build of OpenJDK, more than a decade after Visual J++s demise. Microsoft, Java, and the Azure cloud So why Java now? Its all about keeping the costs for Azure-hosted applications to a minimum. Javas convoluted history has led to it being owned by Oracle, which commercially licenses Java development tools and runtimes. If you dont want to pay for a commercial license, theres an alternative, in the shape of the GPL 2-licensed OpenJDK. Following the public Java SE (Standard Edition) specification, OpenJDK provides source and binaries for Java runtimes and the developer toolkit, with contributions from many different companies and individuals, including Microsoft. Supporting Java on the Azure cloud has brought Microsoft back to Java, hence Microsoft recently announced its own build of OpenJDK 11, targeted at developers working with Java on Azure. Using an open source Java avoids complex licensing issues with some Java implementations. Since Microsoft offers Java support for Azure App Service, Azure Functions, and Azure Spring Cloud (among others), using OpenJDK will keep their costs to a minimum as Microsoft wont need to pass licensing costs on to users as part of Azure subscriptions. Now available for download, Microsofts preview build of OpenJDK 11 is for Linux x64, MacOS x64, and Windows x64, with debug symbols for all the releases along with source for your own builds. If you want to work with Arm64, theres an early access build of OpenJDK 16 for Windows on Arm, so you can start to experiment with it. They all will work with Visual Studio Codes Java development tools or with any other OpenJDK-ready Java development environment, simplifying setting up and running a test environment on your PC. A build of OpenJDK 11 is already available in the Azure Cloud Shell, so you can use it with jshell to try out code snippets. Being able to run Java code from the command line, either in the Windows Terminal or in the Azure Portal, will help you ensure your code will run on the new JVM, giving you more confidence about the upcoming transition. Initial support for OpenJDK 11 makes sense, even if it is based on the 2018 release. Microsoft has been using Azuls Zulu Enterprise implementation of OpenJDK 11 on Azure for some time now, as its a long-term support release. Switching to its own OpenJDK 11 from the equivalent Zulu release will have much less impact on existing code than a jump later in 2021 to the next long-term support release, OpenJDK 17. Microsoft describes its OpenJDK tooling as a drop-in replacement for any other OpenJDK release, on your own system or on Azure. It's important to note that Microsoft Build of OpenJDK is a Microsoft-specific build of OpenJDK. That means it contains Azure-specific and Microsoft-specific fixes that may not yet be fully available in the upstream distribution. However, this is not Microsoft forking OpenJDK, as all the fixes its including in its distribution have been submitted to the OpenJDK project. What its shipping today is a version that already has Azure and Windows support and bug fixes tested and running, so your code wont be affected by known problems. Other releases will eventually ship with the same fixes, just not as quickly as Microsofts. Using OpenJDK on Azure Microsoft will be making Microsoft Build of OpenJDK the default JVM for Azure managed services by the end of 2021, so its a good time to download the preview and start checking that your code will run on it. Its built using the same scripts as Eclipses Adoptium QA tools, and its been tested against the Java Technology Compatibility Kit, so Microsofts OpenJDK should be a drop-in replacement for the existing Azul Zulu OpenJDK implementation. However, its always a good idea to be sure that it wont affect your code. If youre bringing your own Java to an Azure virtual machine image, there wont be any changes as your existing image will continue to run under your management as always. If you want to change JVM youll need to rebuild your image to use the Microsoft OpenJDK tools. Microsoft isnt only focusing on long-term support releases; its working on an Arm build of Java 16, based on OpenJDK 16. Arm support has been one of Microsofts biggest contributions to OpenJDK to date, providing a basis for OpenJDKs Apple Silicon support as well as for Microsofts own SQ1 and SQ2 Arm processors. Behind the scenes, Microsoft is working on Arm silicon for Azure, with a focus on edge and content distribution. An internal Arm build of the OpenJDK platform will help it deliver edge runtimes for Azure services like Spring Cloud and for consumer-facing services like those that run Microsofts many thousands of Minecraft servers. Although Java SE provides a common foundation for Java applications, its not the full Java Enterprise Edition release (now known as Jakarta EE). Microsoft has yet to make any announcements about support for Jakarta EE on its platforms, and much of its Azure Jakarta documentation focuses on working with tools such as Red Hats JBoss Enterprise Application Platform. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft makes any moves in this direction or if it will continue with its existing Red Hat partnership. Returning to its own Java builds makes a lot of sense for Microsoft. Java remains popular, and cloud migrations of existing on-premises enterprise applications need a cloud Java. Using OpenJDK helps keep costs to a minimum while still adhering to the Java specification, ensuring existing code continues to run. Microsoft knows the capabilities of its virtual machines and its own Linux container OS and can produce an optimized OpenJDK build and deliver its changes upstream. Any other organization building on OpenJDK can take advantage of thema win for everyone in the Java community who wants to use Java in the cloud and on the edge. By Xinhua About a year ago, horticulture farmer Peter Ngorosha started his project of oyster mushroom production at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Immediately he faced some challenges when he started the business. COVID-19 affected me because there was no spawn since borders were closed and I started producing my own spawn, and also there was no wheat straws bundles in-country, the 54-year-old farmer told Xinhua. Because of his farming experience, he crushed the maize from his field to make a growing medium for his mushrooms. Even though there were so many challenges during COVID-19, he managed to overcome them. Ngorosha operates his farm located in Kumakwane village about 25 kilometers west of the capital Gaborone and on a monthly basis, he harvests around 112.5 kg of organic oyster mushroom from his small building at his farm. Ngorosha spends most of his time taking care of his farm, he gets water from his borehole and sprays the oyster mushrooms cultivation on plastic bags as well as monitoring the temperature and humidity in the darkroom and production room. The enterprising farmer said he chose oyster mushroom production because its a high yield per square meter and profit margins are so high because of the price. Moreover, Ngorosha said demand is very high because there is no competition in Botswana. When you do mushroom production the farmer determines the price but not with other crops, the retailers or big shops will determine the price for you and you cannot get the price you want, he says. Ngorosha sells all the oyster mushrooms to local shops and markets, 250 grams per pack will cost around 20 pula (about 1.83 U.S. dollars). Consequently, Ngorosha says the market still is available and he cannot meet the demand because there are no farmers producing mushrooms in Botswana. In the future, he expects to increase production but at the same time not flood the market. Furthermore, he says that the cultivation of oyster mushrooms is a potential income-generating enterprise that can be adopted by small-scale farmers and unemployed youth in Botswana. The successful farmer believes government should encourage the youth to go into oyster mushroom production because its cultivation requires limited space, low initial investment, and cheap raw materials that are easy to acquire. A 'much loved' University of Surrey professor took his own life after struggling to cope with remote working and being away from his students and peers, an inquest has heard. Professor Stephen Gourley, 54, had been forced to work from his home in Liss, Hampshire, because of the pandemic. An inquest into his death heard from his brother who said he'd been struggling with the isolation and remote working caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but had not disclosed the extent of his struggles. Speaking at Portsmouth Coroner's Court yesterday, Mark Gourley said: 'He [Prof. Gourley] had said that he was struggling with the whole remote working and coronavirus situation. University of Surrey Professor Stephen Gourley, 54, (pictured) took his own life after struggling to cope with remote working and being away from his students and peers, an inquest has heard 'Particularly from a work point of view, he set himself very high standards and perhaps he wasn't able to meet those high standards.' He added: 'He was very conscious that [the pandemic] was affecting his ability to do his job.' Professor Gourley was pronounced dead at his home on September 15, 2020 after his family had been unable to contact him. His sister-in-law, Caroline, and a neighbour gained entry to the property at around 8.45pm and found him hanged. Mark Gourley and his wife had also driven to the house that evening. Senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson concluded that Prof. Gourley had intended to take his own life but said it wasn't possible to know what was going through his mind at the time. Mr Wilkinson also noted that Prof. Gourley was not known to any mental health services and his medical records had no reference to mental health problems. According to the University of Surrey website, Prof. Gourley had worked in the Department of Mathematics at the Guildford campus for 27 years. He joined after gaining an MA in Mathematics from Oxford University and then completed his PhD in Bath in 1993, beginning his career as a lecturer at Surrey that same year. The inquest heard that Prof. Gourley was a hugely respected and popular member of the team at the university, and was held in high regard by both his colleagues and his students for his talent and skill and humorous, personable character. An inquest into his death at Portsmouth Coroner's Court heard from his brother who said he'd been struggling with the isolation and remote working caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but had not disclosed the extent of his struggles. Pictured: The University of Surrey, where Professor Gourley had worked At the hearing, Professor Tom Bridges, a colleague of Prof. Gourley's in the Maths department, said: 'I have the greatest respect for him, and I think the hardest part for me to understand is how we missed some of the issues.' Professor Bridges also described his colleague as 'internationally known for his success in his work'. Speaking at the inquest, Mr Wilkinson noted that Professor Gourley missed the 'genuine buzz' of being around his peers and students during the pandemic. He said: 'Once you have been involved in, particularly, a university life where you are surrounded by individuals, to have that pulled away from you becomes very difficult.' He added: 'We have heard Professor Gourley described as a leader in his field. 'Not only a well respected professor but a well respected lecturer and a very much loved part of the academic community at the University of Surrey, and clearly a very loved, respected and cared for member of the Gourley family who is very clearly missed.' A conclusion of suicide was recorded by the coroner. Mark Gourley passed his thanks on to the court for its support and compassion, and to the university for its support since his brother's death. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details. New Delhi: The government has initiated the process for inviting financial bids for the sale of national carrier Air India and the deal is likely to conclude by September, sources said. Salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group was among the "multiple" entities that had put in preliminary bids for buying loss-making Air India in December last year. The sources said that after analysing the preliminary bids, eligible bidders were given access to the Virtual Data Room (VDR) of Air India, following which investors' queries were answered. The transaction has now moved to the financial bids stage, the sources said, adding that the deal is expected to conclude by September. The government is selling its entire 100 per cent stake in Air India that has been in losses ever since its merger with domestic operator Indian Airlines in 2007. The stake sale process got delayed due to the COVID pandemic and the government had extended five times the deadline to submit preliminary bids for the national carrier. The airline, which started as a mail carrier in 1932, will give a successful bidder control of 4,400 domestic and 1,800 international landing and parking slots at domestic airports, as well as 900 slots at airports overseas. Besides, the bidder would get 100 per cent of the low-cost arm Air India Express and 50 per cent of AISATS, which provides cargo and ground handling services at major Indian airports. With previous attempts since 2017 failing to get any significant interest, the government had this time sweetened the deal by giving freedom to potential suitors to decide how much of the airline's debt they want to take on as part of the transaction. Previously, the bidders were required to take over the entire Rs 60,074 crore debt. Last month, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government will keep Air India running till it gets divested and there is no choice but to either "privatise or close" the debt-laden airline. "We are looking at another timeline now, what is called data room for prospective bidders to look at... That is opened up, 64 days for the financial bids to come in. After that it is the question of taking a decision and handing over the airline," Puri had said. "...There is no choice, we either privatise or we close the airline. We run a loss of Rs 20 crore every day despite Air India making money now. Because the mismanagement has resulted in a cumulative debt of Rs 60,000 crore," he had said. Live TV #mute Staunch Brexiteer Sir James Dyson has claimed the 'freedom' afforded by leaving the European Union allowed British scientists to develop a 'world-beating' COVID-19 vaccine. The billionaire inventor, 73, said the benefits of leaving the EU 'couldn't be better demonstrated than in the development of the [Oxford-AstraZeneca] vaccine.' Sir Dyson said: 'I think [Brexit is about] much more than [trade agreements] it gives us independence of spirits. 'We were not part of the European Union's development of the vaccine we had to develop our own brilliantly at Oxford. And they produced a world-beating vaccine produced in record time. 'That's because we did it independently, we had the independence of thought and independence of action', he told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday. Staunch Brexiteer Sir James Dyson has claimed the 'freedom' afforded by leaving the European Union allowed British scientists to develop a 'world-beating' COVID-19 vaccine The British inventor also hailed Brexit for unshackling UK trade agreements from restrictions tied to EU membership. He said: 'We have got our freedom. We can make trade agreements with other countries outside Europe that Europe can't make trade agreements with.' He went on to argue that allowing Britain to enter into international trade agreements had allowed companies, such as Dyson, to employ the best talent from around the world. 'We can employ people from all around the world', Sir Dyson said. 'Previously we were only allowed to employ people from Europe and we couldn't get the engineers we needed.' 'We have 60 different nationalities now on this site', he added, referring to the company's research facility in Wiltshire. The billionaire inventor, 73, said the benefits of leaving the EU 'couldn't be better demonstrated than in the development of the [Oxford-AstraZeneca] vaccine.' He claimed Oxford scientists were able to produce the vaccine in record time because of 'independence of thought' from the EU Reflective glass buildings sit on the Dyson campus in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, in October 2016 Challenged on the controversial decision to move the company's headquarters to Singapore in November 2019, Sir Dyson defended the decision The British inventor also said the company plans to create more than 200 new jobs at the offices in Malmesbury and Hullavington, Wiltshire. Challenged on the controversial decision to move the company's headquarters to Singapore in November 2019, Sir Dyson defended the decision, saying it was 'very important' to have a presence in the world's fastest growing market. He said: 'It would be arrogant to think that we could design and develop products for Asia and Britain. 'We can develop technology, but understanding what Asians want and what works in the market - we have to be there, we have to be immersed in it. 'I can't make things here and bring over all the components from the Far East here, assemble them here and then send them back to the Far East. That just doesn't work.' Sir Dyson also re-affirmed the company's commitment to Britain, saying: 'We're a British company I've put a lot into this country. 'I've invested about 2 billion on this site', he said. 'I'm taking on more people, I employ 4,000 people here, I pay a large amount of tax here.' Dyson has paid a key role during the pandemic, working with scientists and Cambridge-based Technology Partnership, to produce 10,000 ventilators for hospitals across the country. New official forecasts to be published today by the Irish government in the Stability Programme Update predict that the Irish economy is set for significant recovery, the bulk of which will occur in 2022. Goodbody Stockbrokers say the timing of this recovery will be dependent on the stuttering vaccine rollout programme, which was hit by further uncertainty yesterday. The report will point to GDP growth of 4.5% in 2021 and 5% in 2022, according to the Irish Times. Goodbody say the devil is in the detail with the Irish data. When looking to Modified Domestic Demand, they say a better gauge for economic activity in domestic sectors would be more subdued growth of 2.5% forecast for 2021, before a significant bounce-back is expected in 2022 with growth of 7.5% as the economy is expected to have fully reopened by that stage. However, the document is clear in stating that the forecasts rely heavily on the success of the vaccine rollout. Since the ramp-up in government spending due to labour market support schemes has continued into 2021 and will likely continue for much of the year, the document is forecasting a government deficit of 4.7% of GDP, not too dissimilar to the 5% of GDP posted for 2020. However, as activity rises and people return to work, the government expect this to fall to 2.8% of GDP in 2022. Furthermore, on the labour market, it is expected that the unemployment rate including those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will sit at 16.2% by the end of 2021 before dropping to 8.2% in 2022 as people return to work. According to Goodbody Stockbrokers, "The Irish economy is set for a significant rebound in 2021, however, the bulk of the economic recovery is expected in 2022 when the economy is fully reopened and a return to work for those in receipt of support is possible. While this mornings numbers are undoubtedly positive for the Irish economic outlook, the reliance on the vaccine rollout adds a layer of uncertainty to how strong the recovery will be in 2021 at least, particularly when considering the news of vaccine postponements in recent days. However, the rhetoric of a 2022 bounce-back is highly likely as any delays in the vaccine rollout are likely to only move us further into 2021." Source: www.businessworld.ie A woman gets a Covid test in Mumbai, India The EU said Wednesday it would get 50 million Pfizer vaccine doses earlier than expected, as rival drugmaker AstraZeneca faced a fresh setback after Denmark banned its use over blood clot links. The news comes after Johnson & Johnson said it would delay its European rollout, a major hit for the continent's beleaguered immunisation campaign as several countries battle rising caseloads. The vaccine setbacks threaten to dampen hopes that immunisations will allow countries to emerge from the pandemic that has now killed close to three million people and ravaged the global economy. But it was not all bad news in Europe, which will soon receive 50 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine initially expected at the end of this year. The doses will now be delivered in the second quarter of this year, and will start arriving as soon as this month. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said "there are still many factors that can disrupt the planned delivery schedules of vaccines", referring to the J&J delay. "It is therefore important to act swiftly, anticipate and adjust whenever it is possible." More than 820 million doses of vaccine have now been administered globally, but with demand far outstripping supply, countries are scrambling to secure much-needed jabs. Covid-19 vaccines in use The race to secure vaccines has sparked diplomatic rows, notably between the European Union and the UK after the bloc accused London of hoarding jabs. But Australia has also accused the EU of falling short on promised jabs. Canberra's trade minister will travel to Europe this week for talks with his counterparts in Germany, France and Brussels about vaccine exports. 'Third wave is upon us' Johnson & Johnson said it would put off its European deliveries over reports of rare blood clots among people who had received the shot. US health regulators also recommended pausing its use after six reported cases of clotsamong more than 6.8 million J&J doses administered in the US. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Wednesday it would make a recommendation on the safety of the J&J jab next week after evaluating clot links. AstraZeneca has faced similar setbacks, with many countries now limiting its use to older people following isolated cases blood clots among younger populations, some fatal. More than 820 million doses of the vaccine have now been administered globally Denmark said Wednesday it would stop using it altogethera European firstdespite assurances from the EMA and the World Health Organization that side effects far outweigh possible risks. The melee over vaccines comes as several countries, from Germany to India to Turkey, battle a worrying spike in cases. In some places, it is no longer just the elderly who are crowding into overrun hospitals. German doctors said they are treating an increasing number of young people as new variants sweep the country. "The third wave is clearly upon us," said Thomas Marx, the medical director at the Bavarian hospital in Freising. Most Covid patients are now between 40 and 60, and are badly hit by the virus, he told AFP. "They often have to be intubated and then face a long fight with the virus." A healthworker at a morgue in Paraguay River Ganges infections In India more than 1,000 people tested positive for the virus after bathing in the River Ganges for the world's biggest religious festival. A huge crowd of worshippers packed the river's banks to take a dip in the waters as part of a bathing ritualdespite soaring virus cases in the country. "Our faith is the biggest thing for us. It is because of that strong belief that so many people have come here to take a dip in Ganga," Siddharth Chakrapani, a member of one of the Kumbh Mela organising committees, told AFP. "They believe that Maa (mother) Ganga will save them from this pandemic." In Turkey officials imposed new restrictions including a tougher overnight curfew, while in Bangladesh police patrolled the capital as a strict nationwide lockdown was rolled out. Europe passed a million Covid deaths this week, with many countries from France to Italy and Spain still facing some form of virus restrictions after the continent's sputtering vaccine rollout. German doctors said they are treating an increasing number of young people as new variants sweep the country But in Belgium, cafes and restaurants got the greenlight to open their terraces from May 8 after a slight easing of cases there. Swiss officials also announced that bars and restaurants and some leisure facilities could reopen next Monday. In Japan, a spike in Covid cases forced a section of the Tokyo Olympics torch relay to be pulled from public roads, fuelling fears about whether the postponed Games should go ahead with just 100 days to go before the scheduled opening. International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates said Wednesday cancellation is "certainly not" on the table. "The Tokyo Games will be the light at the end of the tunnel," he told reporters. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP WASHINGTON When Alabamas Shelby County sued nearly a decade ago to strike down key pieces of the Voting Rights Act, a civil rights lawyer named Kristen Clarke helped to argue that the entire law should be upheld. A district court agreed, reaffirming that local governments with a history of discriminatory voting practices needed federal permission to change their voting laws. Though the Supreme Court ultimately overturned the lower-court ruling, the case helped establish Ms. Clarke as one of the nations foremost advocates for voting rights protections. Nominated by President Biden to lead the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, she would if confirmed be likely to play a key role on the issue for the administration, which has made defense of voting rights a priority as states including Georgia work to enact laws that restrict access to the ballot box. Mr. Biden called Georgias recently passed legislation Jim Crow in the 21st century, and he and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland have said that the government must preserve the right to vote. I will follow their lead in ensuring that the Civil Rights Division, if I am confirmed, is using the tools in its arsenal the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Citizens Voting Act to ensure that eligible Americans have access to the ballot in our country, Ms. Clarke said on Wednesday during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. BEIJING: China has warned the United States to stop playing with fire over Taiwan and lodged a complaint after Washington issued guidelines that will enable US officials to meet more freely with officials from the island that China claims as its own. The US State Departments Friday decision to deepen relations with self-ruled Taiwan came amid stepped-up Chinese military activity around the island, including almost daily air force incursions into Taiwan`s air defence zone. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on Tuesday they had lodged "stern representations" with the United States. China urges the United States "not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue, immediately stop any form of US-Taiwan official contacts, cautiously and appropriately handle the matter, and not send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces so as not to subversively influence and damage Sino-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", he said. Washington has watched with alarm the uptick in tensions, and on Sunday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was concerned about China`s aggressive actions against Taiwan. In a written response to Reuters on Blinken`s remarks, China`s Foreign Ministry said the government had the absolute determination to protect the country`s sovereignty. "Don`t stand on the opposite side of 1.4 billion Chinese people," it added. Taiwan`s Defence Ministry on Tuesday reported a further intrusion by Chinese jets into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ) - four J-16 fighters and an anti-submarine warfare aircraft. On Monday, Taiwan said 25 Chinese air force aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered its ADIZ, the largest reported incursion to date. Taiwan is China`s most sensitive territorial and diplomatic issue, and a regular source of Sino-U.S. friction. China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically ruled island under its control. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced days before the end of former President Donald Trump`s presidency in January that he was lifting restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts. While Washington officially recognises Beijing rather than Taipei, like most countries, the United States is Taiwan`s most important international supporter and arms seller. The United States is required by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. China believes the United States is colluding with Taiwan to challenge Beijing and giving support to those who want the island to declare formal independence. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen says the island is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name, and that she will defend its freedom and security. Live TV European Medicines Agency Approves AstraZeneca Vaccine, but Concerns Remain Commentary Following 20 million AstraZeneca jabs so far administered in the UK there have been 79 blood clot cases recorded, from which 19 deaths have occurred. The UK governments Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) concludes that roughly one in 100,000 young adults are likely to develop these types of blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine. An article in The Guardian, co-authored by David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at Cambridge University, and Anthony Masters of the Royal Statistical Society, calls this a tolerable risk compared to the vaccines benefits. It compares the chances of dying from the vaccine to the risk of dying under general anaesthesia, or on a skydiving jump, or winning the UK Lotto jackpot if you bought 450 tickets, or guessing the last five digits of someones mobile phone number. However, those fatality numbers were not just two digits but 19 people who might still be enjoying life today if they had not received that jab. Five were aged over 50, 11 were under the age of 50 and three were under 30. Given that the average age of COVID fatalities in the UK has been around 82 with the vast majority of those suffering other co-morbidities, a more pertinent comparison would be the chances of a young person under the age of 30 dying from COVIDwith or without a vaccinecompared to the chances of one dying after taking the AZ jab. As a result of those deaths, the UK governments Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) has paused the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those under 30, offering them an alternative vaccine instead. And this is just the latest temporary ban the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine has been subject to in Europe and around the world. South Africa stopped using the AZ vaccine back in February due to its lack of efficacy against mild and moderate cases of its own COVID variant known as B.1.351. In March, pending an opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) regarding its safety, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Iceland, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Cyprus, Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands all halted use of the vaccine. Under pressure from mounting fatality numbers across Europe, the EMA gave its ruling on April 7. Executive Director Emer Cooke told reporters, This is a safe and effective vaccine. Its benefits in protecting people from COVID-19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks. She then sought to reassure EU member governments with an implicit contradiction. She continued, The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots, but then admitted, We still cannot rule out definitively a link between these cases and the vaccine. On its own website AstraZeneca acknowledged the risk their vaccine poses: They (the EMA) came to the view that these events (blood clots) have a possible link to the vaccine and requested they be listed as an extremely rare potential side effect. Citing the link to blood clots, Denmark announced on April 14 it was ceasing the use of the AZ vaccine, and the EU Commission has decided not to renew contracts for the AZ and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Media outlets in the UK have reported an upsurge in hospital visits due to the side effects of vaccines, but claim these were minor incidents, a view backed up by the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Katherine Henderson: We are seeing people with mild headaches and persistent headaches but who are otherwise alright. However, I conducted an exclusive interview with one of the 79 blood clot patients registered with the UK government after she received the Oxford AstraZeneca jab. She wishes to remain anonymous, but her story is a harrowing one: I didnt want to take the COVID vaccine, but in order to be able to fly to see my three children overseas I felt I had no choice. Soon after getting the vaccination I started to feel cold and tired. I then got a bad headache, vomited and had diarrhoea. I couldnt lie down on the side I had a jab, or even pull up my blanket. I took painkillers but I was still shivering and shaking. The next day I went to work but soon had to call the emergency number because I had a chest pain. They told me my symptoms were not due to the vaccination but to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). After a week I developed more pains in my chest and legs so my husband took me to the hospital in the middle of the night. I was told my CT scan showed blood clots in my lungs and my low platelets count might be linked to the vaccination so my case was reported to the government. After three nights I was discharged but warned of the ongoing risk of new blood clots forming. Two days later I had to call the ambulance because my right leg and chest were in very acute pain. I was scared that I was having a heart attack and was given morphine. Another scan showed an infection in the lower part of my lungs so I was treated with antibiotics and told not to take the second dose of the AZ vaccine. She now has to live with the consequences of the UK government forcing her to choose between taking a vaccination that is not fully tested, like all of the other COVID vaccines, or not visiting her own children. AstraZeneca has acknowledged a possible short-term adverse effect but, because of the speedy roll out of the vaccines, none of the manufacturers, the WHO, national governments, nor anyone else knows exactly what the long-term effects will be. Andrew Davies is a UK based video producer and writer. His award-winning video on underage sex abuse helped Barnardos childrens charity change UK law, whilst his documentary Batons Bows and Bruises: A History of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, ran for six years on the Sky Arts Channel. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Japan has been dubbed an advanced country in meeting new challenges. These challenges include pollution and environmental degradation, energy crises, financial crisis, a nuclear power plant accident, and the countrys ageing population. Added to this list, coping with a rising China is one of the challenges the Japanese have had to face earlier than many other countries. A Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane flies over the disputed islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Credit:AP From Japans perspective that is a pity, because it has helped China in its efforts to develop and modernise since the late 1970s, soon after the calamities of the Cultural Revolution. But now there is no choice for Japan but to respond to Chinas maritime advancement and its attempts to change the status quo by physical force. Tirupati/New Delhi, April 14 : The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Parliamentarians have written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding an inquiry on the alleged stone pelting attack on Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Monday night. "TDP demands that the following aspects be implemented on emergency basis to conduct free and fair elections in Tirupati Parliamentary bypoll: Inquiry into the attack on Naidu and initiate appropriate action against the concerned," wrote TDP leaders Jayadev Galla, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, Kesineni Srinivas and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Tuesday. Their other demands include deployment of central forces for free and fair election, installation of web cameras at all polling stations for live streaming, alternative identity cards as alleged fake voter identity cards exist, deploying micro observers and election observers. Other demands include ban on village and ward volunteers in the poll process, checks on money and liquor distribution, adequate security to contesting candidates and avoiding illegal votes. "Only a quick and impartial probe by the Election Commission would restore faith in democratic elections among voters of Tirupati Parliamentary constituency," they wrote. This letter to the Constitutional body is a consequence of the alleged stone pelting attack on Naidu on Monday night when he was campaigning for TDP's Tirupati bypoll candidate Panabaka Lakshmi. According to the TDP leaders, this attack was allegedly launched by the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) supporters. "The police during and after the incident acted with complacence raising doubts that they are sailing with the ruling YSRCP. In this regard, we are apprehensive that the local police would not inquire into the attack seriously," the Parliamentarians alleged. They called on the ECI to 'save' democracy in Andhra Pradesh. The Scheduled Castes-reserved Tirupati bypoll is to be held on April 17. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into the death of a Virginia woman who received a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This probe is part of the agency's investigation into other possible "adverse side effects" from the vaccine, according to a Fox News report. Virginia State Vaccination Coordinator Danny Avula said that the death was reported to the CDC's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Details of the woman who died were not provided to the public. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration said in a joint statement that they are reviewing the unusual clots in six women between the ages of 18 and 48, according to an NBC Washington report. Avula said the state of Virginia has stopped administering the vaccine. "This pause is reassuring in that it demonstrates that the systems that are in place to monitor vaccine safety are working," Avula was quoted in a report. He added that they will continue the vaccine rollout in the state with other two authorized vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna. READ MORE: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Doses Delayed After a Batch Was Ruined Blood Clot Reports Reports of blood clots after receiving the vaccine involved women between the ages of 18 and 48. One of the six women already died. However, it is not yet clear what factors attributed to these six women becoming sick. Dr. George Rutherford III, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said that the lack of understanding is the reason why public officials need to pause the distribution. Public officials are not yet sure when the pause would end. However, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, said involved agencies should make the recommendations right away, according to a Yahoo News report. The White House pandemic response COVID coordinator Jeff Zients assured that there would be no significant effects of the J&J suspension on their vaccination program as the majority of vaccinations come from Pfizer and Moderna. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump scrutinized U.S. President Joe Biden for allowing the pause. Dr. Paul Offit of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a pioneer of vaccine science, said the decision is the right move as the blood clot is a rare but serious side effect. Johnson & Johnson Lab Contamination Earlier this month, another 62 million J&J vaccine doses may be contaminated, according to reports. This was in the same Baltimore factory that already ruined 15 million doses of the vaccine, according to a Business Insider report. If found that the 62 million doses were contaminated, they would have to be disposed of. However, the factor assured that none of those doses have been used as it has not been certified by regulators to distribute the said doses to the public. The plant is managed by Emergent BioSolutions, which is a manufacturing partner to both J&J and AstraZeneca. Federal authorities said that the incident is a human error. Meanwhile, federal officials say they expect to have enough doses from J&J and two other vaccines to meet the vaccination commitment. Pfizer is shipping doses ahead of schedule, while Moderna is ramping up their delivery with up to 15 doses, instead of 10. READ NEXT: Johnson & Johnson's Single-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Signs of Promise WATCH: FDA calls to pause Johnson & Johnson vaccines over rare blood clots: CNBC After Hours - from CNBC Television The victim told police that Mousa came into the store asking about his brother, an affidavit states. Mousa asked about someone the man did not know, then left the store before returning a few minutes later. The proposed EU regulation requires companies to get a special authorisation for applications deemed "high-risk" before they reach the market, including facial recognition. The EU unveiled a plan Wednesday to regulate the sprawling field of artificial intelligence, aimed at easing public fears of Big Brother-like abuses by imposing checks on technology deemed "high-risk". "With these landmark rules, the EU is spearheading the development of new global norms to make sure AI can be trusted," EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said. "By setting the standards, we can pave the way to ethical technology worldwide and ensure that the EU remains competitive along the way." The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, has been preparing the proposal for more than a year and a debate involving the European Parliament and 27 member states is to go on for months more before a definitive text is in force. Brussels is looking to set the terms with a first ever legislative package on AI and catch up with the US and China in a sector that spans from voice recognition to insurance and law enforcement. It insists that by laying out a clear framework for companies across the bloc's 27 member states it will help promote innovation. The bloc is trying to learn the lessons after largely missing out on the internet revolution and failing to produce any major competitors to match the giants of Silicon Valley or their Chinese counterparts. But the draft rules have sparked competing complaints from all sides of the debate, with big tech warning bureaucracy could suffocate development and civil liberties groups complaining the proposals have too many "loopholes". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said rules are needed to ward off abuses in the artificial intelligence sector 'High-risk' "Today's proposals aim to strengthen Europe's position as a global hub of excellence in AI from the lab to the market," EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton said. The draft regulation lays out a "risk-based approach" that would lead to bans on a limited number of uses that are deemed as presenting an "unacceptable risk" to EU fundamental rights. This would make "generalised surveillance" of the population off-limits as well as any tech "used to manipulate the behaviour, opinions or decisions" of citizens. Anything resembling a social rating of individuals based on their behaviour or personality would also be prohibited. On the rung below, the regulation requires companies to get a special authorisation for applications deemed "high-risk" before they reach the market. These systems would include "remote biometric identification of persons in public places"including facial recognitionas well as "security elements in critical public infrastructure". The EU wants 'high-risk' applications, such as biometric identification of persons in pubic places, to get special authorisation before reaching the market Special exceptions are envisioned for allowing the use of mass facial recognition systems in cases such as searching for a missing child, averting a terror threat, or tracking down someone suspected of a serious crime. Military applications of artificial intelligence will not be covered by the rules. Other uses, not classified as "high risk", will have no additional regulatory constraints beyond existing ones. Infringements, depending on their seriousness, may bring heavy fines for companies. 'Loopholes' Google and other tech giants are taking the EU's AI strategy very seriously as Europe often sets a standard on how tech is regulated around the world. Last year, Google warned that the EU's definition of artificial intelligence was too broad and that Brussels must refrain from over-regulating a crucial technology. Some civil liberties activists fear the EU's new rules on Artificial Intelligence don't go far enough in curbing potential abuses Alexandre de Streel, co-director of the Centre on Regulation in Europe think tank, said there is a difficult balance to be struck between protection and innovation. The text "sets a relatively open framework and everything will depend on how it is interpreted," he told AFP. Tech lobbyist Christian Borggreen, from the Computer and Communications Industry Association, welcomed the EU's risk-based approach, but warned against stifling industry. "We hope the proposal will be further clarified and targeted to avoid unnecessary red tape for developers and users," he said in a statement. Civil liberties activists warned that the rules do not go far enough in curbing potential abuses in the cutting-edge technologies. "Although the proposal technically bans the most problematic uses of AI, there are still loopholes for Member States to go through to get around the bans," said Orsolya Reich of umbrella group Liberties. "There are way too many problematic uses of the technology that are allowed, such as the use of algorithms to forecast crime or to have computers assess the emotional state of people at border control." Explore further Google cautions EU on AI rule-making 2021 AFP As local areas and states keep slugging away at the digital divide, time and money may separate the winners from the losers in the broadband infrastructure game. One potential way to save time and money is through a dig-once approach, which refers to the idea of minimizing the number and scale of excavations when installing telecommunications infrastructure in highway rights-of-way, according to the Federal Highway Administration Last year, York County, Pa., reaped the benefits of having a telecommunications conduit already installed underneath a rail trail, which was built about 20 years ago. The conduit sat unused for two decades but turned out to be a crucial difference-maker when the county used CARES Act money to construct a fiber backbone in a matter of months.Silas Chamberlin, vice president of economic and community development for the York County Economic Alliance, toldthat the conduit saved the county somewhere between $4 million and $5 million, as estimated by Katapult Engineering.So if a dig-once policy can make that much sense, why isnt everyone doing it? In a 2019 article,Editor in Chief Tyler Cooper pointed to shortsighted governmental budgeting.[T]ransportation agencies and public works departments have been known to oppose dig-once on the principle that it creates even more operational overhead, despite the long-term benefits far outweighing the short-term costs, Cooper wrote.With a less acerbic explanation, Jeff Sural, director of broadband infrastructure for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT), noted how the upfront cost of installing a conduit can be a legitimate fear for government.Youre not sure if it [the conduit] will ever be used, Sural said. That money could be kind of wasted. If youre DOT [Department of Transportation], your budgets will probably be pretty strict.Another fear is related to engineering standards, Sural said. Theres no guarantee a given Internet service provider (ISP) will want to use a conduit if it wasnt built according to the ISPs standards. Engineering is a tricky business in general: Sural shared a story about a local area putting in a conduit as part of a water and sewer project. Unfortunately, the conduit ended up being crushed by pipes.With such disastrous possibilities in mind, North Carolinas dig-once policy, which hasnt been implemented yet, amounts to more of a cost-sharing opportunity for ISPs. Under the policy, if an ISP submits an easement request to DOT with the intent to install broadband infrastructure, DOT will be notified and will post a notice about the request on a portal for ISPs.If anyone else is interested, they can participate and share the cost with the initial applicant, Sural explained.The cost of broadband infrastructure will also influence how Santa Fe County, N.M., ultimately implements its version of a dig-once approach. Joseph Montoya, executive director of the Santa Fe County Housing Authority, said his county wants to install fiber as part of a road project even before a formal policy is approved.But it all depends on funding. Montoya said Santa Fe is hoping to receive funds from the federal government. Assuming the county is able to acquire the money, it will move forward with the proposed broadband component at least thats the intention now.I never want to say its done until I see the fiber in the road, Montoya said.As far as policy considerations go, Montoya explained its important to think about what kind of roads would fall under a dig-once requirement. If the infrastructure wouldnt serve hundreds of people, that could mean a no-go for the broadband component. Moreover, depending on road conditions, a policy requirement may not be appropriate. Montoya offered an example involving a dirt road.Just because were grating a road doesnt mean we intend to lay fiber in the road, he said.One state, Utah, has utilized a dig-once approach since 2000. Lynne Yocom, fiber optics manager for the Utah Department of Transportation, said code 72-7-108 established a dig-once best practice, as opposed to a policy.Sometimes when you have a policy, it can hamper you because you cant get creative on what youre doing, Yocom stated. Youre having to strictly adhere to a policy.As part of Utahs best practice, Yocom said her team meets with companies once or twice a year to identify opportunities for coordination in relation to DOT projects. The key to making everything work is having a clear and consistent point of contact that companies can reach out to otherwise, actual coordination becomes difficult.It takes a lot of your time to make sure you have that one-on-one connection with the telecoms, Yocom said. In Utah, everyone knows the request comes through me. A lot of states struggle with that They havent really solidified their contact method.Furthermore, Yocom praised how Utahs code emphasizes neutrality. Maintaining a level of fairness has been the biggest help to the state when conflicts arise.Despite the fact that Utah has won acclaim for its best practice, Yocom said a 2018 federal law suggests that states should have some sort of policy. As reported by Ars Technica , the law can seem a bit strange, as it merely directs states to lay the groundwork for potential dig-once policies.Were wrapping our head around what that means, Yocom said.Although Yocom would prefer a best practice over a policy, she admitted that many states are reluctant to engage in dig-once practices. Perhaps a policy is what will finally get everyone on board.Everyones afraid that theyre going to be put in these fiber-optic lines and its going to be an access nightmare Its turned out fine [for Utah], she said. Its not been a nightmare. Its handled with permits and with safety, like we normally do. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. With the surge in coronavirus cases sweeping India, and many states imposing fresh curbs, demands for cancelling CBSE Class 10, Class 12 board exams have also grown louder. Students have been protesting against offline exams, urging authorities to address their concerns. Taking to social media platforms, students have argued that they too are at risk of getting infected with Covid-19. Many also argued that if classes could be held online, so can examinations. Students are using the hashtag #cancelboardexams2021 to express their views on the matter. Meanwhile, both the Education Ministry and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials are reportedly discussing if the board exams should be deferred since the cases are rising exponentially. Since the final call on board exam is yet to be decided, some students have put forward their views with funny memes and jokes. Students demand #cancelboardexam2021 Meanwhile government and cbse officials: pic.twitter.com/XSPj8Jt821 Aaditya Mishra (@Aaditya93334639) April 13, 2021 Students to cbse : cancel board exam 2021 #cancelboardexam2021 Le cbse : pic.twitter.com/Fd66BQkSBM Aakash Tomar (@Aakash___tomar) April 13, 2021 #cancelboardexam2021@DrRPNishank cbse :- exams should be held on due date meanwhile students:- pic.twitter.com/JLAFbUgl9S shubham sandilya (@shubham47253284) April 11, 2021 #cancelboardexams2021 Students: Cancel board Exams 2021 (Retweet) The only solution for government: pic.twitter.com/XA4B8XRDL6 Ruhiiii (@ruhii_ruhiiii) April 7, 2021 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, actor Sonu Sood and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have also appealed to the Centre to cancel board exams in order to prevent large-scale spread of coronavirus. According to the latest date sheet for CBSE board exams 2021, the Class 10 exams would be held between May 4 and June 7, and Class 12 between May 4 and June 15. Also read: Govt officials deliberate on CBSE exam dates as COVID-19 cases continue to peak Also read: Kejriwal urges Centre to cancel CBSE class 10, 12 board exams as Covid-19 cases surge - Pioneering use of 'smart sorting robots' enabling Asda Logistics Services to increase operational efficiencies LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Geek+, a global leader in robotic automation solutions, is excited to announce the successful collaboration with Asda Logistics Services (ALS) and AMH Material Handling to launch an intelligent sorting system in Asda's distribution center. The system will provide Asda with the capacity to support continued growth across its parcel collection and returns business. Sixty robots have been placed into the supermarket's South Elmsall, West Yorkshire distribution center, allowing 2,000 parcels to be sorted each hour with 99.99% accuracy through its Asda toyou service. The installation marks the first time the technology has been used in this way in the UK, supporting an increase in capacity for Asda toyou's services as demand for parcel collection and returns services has grown at pace in the last 12 months. With the pandemic causing a change in customer behavior and an uplift in the number of purchases made online, Asda toyou experienced significant growth through the provision of a reliable, convenient returns solution that allowed shoppers to combine activities in a single trip to an Asda store. At the same time, Asda toyou has expanded the number of retailers it supports. Over 100 are now available via the service, which has seen it process 65% more returns than at the start of 2020. The project was implemented by AMH Material Handling, a top provider of material handling solutions, and Geek+. By integrating S20C robots into the existing ALS sorting system, it has provided Asda toyou the ability to respond to rapid changes in order volume and continue to provide excellent services during periods of peak demand. Lit Fung, VP and Managing Director of Geek+ APAC, UK and Americas, says: "We're proud to see AMH leverage our sorting system to support a leading retailer like Asda with the flexibility and efficiency needed to expand its Asda toyou business. The process for intelligent sorting is pretty straightforward. By letting a network of AMRs transfer incoming parcels from workstations to cages of corresponding destinations, we can improve accuracy and efficiency while also making the process more ergonomic for warehouse employees. With no need for fixed platform development, it makes it easy for Asda to scale operations in line with business growth. All they have to do is adjust the number of robots and destination chutes." Adrian Carter, Sales Director at AMH Material Handling, says: "We had a lot of fun delivering the solution as Geek+ sorting robots are a highly flexible technology that can be integrated and customized to work with existing equipment on customer sites, such as conveyor belts or other robots. It provides us a powerful tool for optimizing sorting operations according to the specific needs of each customer. And, as an integrator, AI-enabled robotics solutions add a new dimension to our services as it allows us to continuously support our customers according to changes in business needs." Jon Parry, Vice President of Asda Logistics Services (ALS) at Asda, says: "We're pleased to be one of the first retailers in the UK to pioneer the Geek+ S20C robots in our National Sortation Centre working in collaboration with partners at Geek+ and AMH. The robots work alongside our colleagues, enabling us to drive greater efficiencies at times of peak demand, which have helped to boost the number of parcels we're now able to sort through our Asda toyou service." Geek+ and AMH started to cooperate in 2019 when AMH recognized Geek+ robotics solutions provided industry-leading technology. Today, the two work closely together to provide clients all over the UK with great automation solutions. About Geek+ Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ counts 300 global customers and has deployed more than 10,000 robots worldwide. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 800 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. For more information, please visit: https://www.geekplus.com/ About AMH Material Handling AMH Material Handling is a leading UK distributor for Geek+ robotics and AI logistics solutions. A successful material handling integration business with proven innovative materials handling solutions. Our vision is to lead the way through design and innovation, utilising the latest robotics and AI technologies that demonstrate the benefits to all of our customers. Starting at the concept and design stage through to final implementation and onto maintenance & service we provide a first-class service to ensure long-lasting relationships with our customers. Founded in 2015, AMH Material Handling is UK based and has offices in both Stoke -On-Trent and Halesowen employing over 60 employees nationwide. About ASDA Logistics Services Asda Logistics Services [ALS] is a division of Asda Stores Plc, supporting nationwide distribution across all five of the business's store formats, as well as the retailer's Asda toyou service and the delivery of parcels to customers' homes. The ALS distribution network includes 20 food depots, three clothing centres, two core hub National DC's, two import centers, five dot.com fulfillment centers, a national sortation centre and nine ASCs. In 2015, ALS launched Asda toyou as an end-to-end solution to support the collection and return of parcels from more than 600 locations. Today the service allows customers to conveniently pick up and return parcels at their local Asda store via George.com and over 100 online and High Street retailers, with real-time parcel tracking, automated parcel collections and QR code technology to support the printing of returns labels and parcel collection in store. For inquiries, please contact Geek+ Fish Yu Senior Marketing Manager, APAC fish@geekplus.com Fanny Hernmarck PR Executive fanny@geekplus.com +46738723822 AMH Material Handling Adrian Carter Sales Director at AMH Material Handling sales@amhmaterialhandling.com +44 121 550 4342 A construction crew works on a home in the Bent Grass development, in unincorporated Falcon outside Colorado Springs. January was another strong month for Springs-area builders. The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department issued 459 permits for the construction of single-family, detached homes last month, the most for any month in nearly 15 years. (RICH LADEN, THE GAZETTE) Periyar & Ambedkar Wall Painting Smeared With Cow Dung In Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri Tension prevailed in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district after miscreants smeared paintings of Periyar and BR Ambedkar with cow dung on Monday night. As per reports, a wall painted with Ambedkar & Periyar's image in Ambedkar Colony was smeared with cow dung and was spotted by the residents on Tuesday morning. The Krishnagiri Police are yet to find those responsible for the even though an investigation and enquiry is underway, as per sources. Wednesday is Ambedkar Jayanti. Read full story here Joe Biden Dials Putin, Urges Russian President To De-escalate Tensions With Ukraine United States President Joe Biden raised concerns with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the military build-up on Ukraine's borders. He called on Russia to "de-escalate tensions" on Ukraine's border. Biden on April 13 spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said White House. Read full story here Karnan Makers Promise To Change Year Of Riots In Film After Udhayanidhi's Intervention DMK's youth wing leader and candidate from Chepauk on Tuesday, April 13, tweeted that after he raised objections, the makers of the film Karnan starring Dhanush had assured him that they will change the alleged discrepancy in the timeline of a crucial event in the plot concerning the sequence of a riot filmed in the movie. He also requested to the makers to delete misleading scenes fro the film. Read full story here China-India Border Tensions 'remain High' Despite Some Force Pullbacks: US Intel Report China-India border tensions "remain high" despite some force pullbacks this year, the US intelligence community has told Congress, asserting that Beijing seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to its preferences, including its claims over disputed territory. Read full story here Joe Biden Vows To Withdraw All US Troops From Afghanistan By September 11 United States President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by September 11. The date marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from Afghanistan, said the US officials on April 13. The US administration has extended the earlier deadline of May 1 set by the Trump administration in agreement with the Taliban. Read full story here I was like, Yes, my friend. I will tell them that, Azaria said he told the student. He also addressed Padman, who is Indian American. I said to him, and Im going to say to you right now, I really do apologize. I know you werent asking for that, but its important. I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. ... Part of me feels like I need to go around to every single Indian person in this country. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. 2021 is shaping up to be the worst year on record for drought conditions in the Klamath Basin, and federal agencies have promised relief funding for farmers as any meaningful supply of water for irrigation appears increasingly unlikely. Members of Oregon's Congressional delegation said on Tuesday that they had met with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to discuss relief for the Klamath Basin. By Wednesday morning, the federal Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Agriculture released their plans for the region. Reclamation said in a statement that it will allocate $15 million in immediate aid for the Klamath Project, plus $3 million in technical assistance for local Tribes. The news of assistance was accompanied by Reclamation's temporary operations plan for the Klamath Project one that's unlikely to please many of the Basin's stakeholders. This water year is unlike anything the Project has ever seen, said Reclamation deputy commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. We will continue to monitor the hydrology and look for opportunities for operational flexibility, provide assistance to Project water users and the Tribes, and keep an open dialogue with our stakeholders, the states, and across the federal government to get through this water year together. According to the operations plan, farmers of the Klamath Project will receive an initial allocation of water at 33,000 acre-feet, but not until at least May 15. Any further water allocations will come no earlier than June 1. Meanwhile, levels at Upper Klamath Lake will be maintained at or above 4,138.3 feet, with additional water for the Project made available from the surplus, if any. The Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), which represents farmers in the region, said on Wednesday that the initial water allotment is only about six percent of the need for growers. And with any further water still an uncertainty, the organization said that farmers will not be able to plan ahead. KWUA president Ben DuVal pointed to Tribal-led efforts to preserve native fish species as the prime culprit in the lack of water for irrigation, by mandating water levels in Upper Klamath Lake and requiring flows down into the Klamath River. The KWUA maintains that diverting water for irrigation has had "no detrimental effects" on the protected fish populations. "It hasn't worked in 25 years. It won't work this year," said DuVal, "all it will do is create another dust bowl, destroy our farming communities and decimate our wildlife." Regardless, water shortages this year will not only impact growers. It will also reduce the baseline that other stakeholders, like the Tribes, have come to rely on in their efforts to help fish species rebound. "The 2021 Temporary Operations Plan recognizes that the current drought conditions have produced insufficient water supplies available to meet the competing demands for water in the basin necessary to maintain water in Upper Klamath Lake for endangered Cwaam (Lost River sucker) and Koptu (shortnose sucker) and to provide extensive spring flushing flows in the Klamath River for the Naypooie/Aama (fall run Chinook salmon and threatened Southern Oregon Northern California Coast fall run Coho salmon), as specified in separate Biological Opinions from the Service and NMFS," Reclamation said. The Department of Agriculture said that it will make available up to $10 million in assistance from the agency's "Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus" for Klamath Project irrigators impacted by the drought conditions. The program allows Oregon and California to provide block grants for impacted farmers, either based on drought losses from prior years or by funding producers that agree "not to use irrigation in 2021." "As ongoing drought conditions in the West continue to worsen, USDA is committed to providing help and assistance to producers, Tribes, and communities in the Klamath River Basin impacted by historically low water allocations, said Gloria Montano Greene, deputy under secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Governor Kate Brown also issued a statement Wednesday weighing in on the matter, promising that the Klamath drought crisis has the attention of state officials. This year the Klamath Basin faces drought conditions that have not been seen in decades. Much of the American West faces similar, unprecedented drought," Brown said. "Prolonged drought creates hardships that impact people and ecosystems, farms, ranches and communities. My message to the people of the Klamath Basin today is this: You are not alone." At the state level, the Water Resources Department is making it their top priority to review and approve emergency groundwater use drought permits that can irrigate up to 2.5 acre feet of water per acre sufficient water to produce a crop this year," the Governor continued. Though funding and other stop-gap measures are no doubt better than nothing for growers in the Klamath Basin, the KWUA made clear that it does not represent a permanent solution for an ongoing problem. "Farmers are called producers for a reason. They would rather produce than be reduced to mitigation funding that will never be sufficient to fill the gap left by the loss of irrigation water," said KQUA executive director Paul Simmons. "A long-term solution that guarantees a sustainable irrigation supply is the only course of action that provides a future for the Klamath Basin." There is an ongoing attempt to cast a shadow over European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit last week to the capital Ankara. A supposed scandal, dubbed "Sofa Gate," was invented to tarnish the host countrys reputation which is accused of having humiliated the female leader by assigning her to the couch, Daily Sabah reports. The most unfortunate reaction to the made-up scandal came from Italy, whose recently appointed prime minister, Mario Draghi, made the following statement: I disagree with the way President Recep Tayyip Erdogan treated Ursula. We must be frank with these dictators but, at the same time, cooperate with them for the sake of our nations interests. There were many problems with the Italians statement an embodiment of cheap European populism. The Turks hosted their guests according to the European Unions demands. Both Michel and Jean-Claude Juncker, the former president of the European Commission, confirmed that fact. According to EU protocol, the European Councils president takes precedence over the president of the European Commission. In other words, where Leyen was seated only represented a tug-of-war between the two figures. Let the European leaders, therefore, sort out their own problem of hierarchy. Any attempt to blame that issue on Turkey is, for lack of a better word, shameless and disrespectful. Draghi's scandal Nonetheless, what Draghi said about the Turkish president deserves to be analyzed in greater detail, with an eye on Turkeys relations with Italy and the European Union. First of all, the Italian prime minister would do well to remember his countrys recent past including Benito Mussolinis fascist regime and the invasion of Libya. Draghi currently looks for a new geopolitical move in Libya, where the interim governments formation restored some level of stability. The Italians now seek to lead the European Union in terms of Libyas reconstruction as well as energy and defense. Thats why Rome wants to align its interests with France and Greece, and favors the withdrawal of Turkey and Russia as part of a peace conference. Surely enough, the Italian prime minister issued that shameless statement against the backdrop of rampant anti-Erdoganism in Europe. European politicians, including French President Emmanuel Macron, tap into that sentiment out of populist concerns. The French president recently said he was concerned about Turkish meddling in next years presidential election. Draghis attempt to become a free rider is even more interesting because Rome would have had zero influence in Libya today, had Turkey not stepped in to save that countrys U.N.-recognized government from the coup plotter, Khalifa Haftar. Ironically, Erdogan defended Italian interests, too, by keeping Fayez Sarrajs government in power. In other words, Italy can pursue diplomatic influence today thanks to Turkeys successful attempt to balance out France. That the Italian government, which rejoiced at Ankaras intervention last year, now acts without shame is a whole different level of recklessness. European media outlets complain that the European leaders visit to Turkey focused on strategic interests, despite the lip service paid to human rights and democracy. Critics had put quite a lot of pressure on Michel and Leyen prior to their trip. Values have no impact? In truth, though, there is no dilemma here. The European Union exploits values to further its strategic interests. Keeping in mind Europes response to the Arab revolts and, in particular, the military coup in Egypt, it is obvious that EU values have no impact on European policy. Moreover, the Europeans do not respect Turkeys national interests enough. They want to offer little and receive much in return. Europe thinks that it can brush aside Turkeys push for the opening of new chapters and take minor and ambiguous steps toward updating the Customs Union and renewing the refugee deal. Yet they are eager to be free riders when it comes to exploiting Turkeys recent strategic gains. They demand that Turkish troops leave Libya, that Ankara leave Greece alone despite the latters maximalist demands, that Turkey supports the Minsk Group in Nagorno-Karabakh and that it accepts the EUs request to observe Cyprus talks. It seems that European politicians have really internalized the free-rider spirit. Dispersed across different countries, we are united by faith, language, history and traditions: Metropolitan of Bessarabia on the Day of Romanians Everywhere Apr. 14A proposal put before the Minnesota Legislature, introduced by Republican Rep. Jeremy Munson, outlines the growing divide that exists between metro, or eastern, Minnesota and rural outstate counties. Munson introduced legislation that would allow counties to decide whether to stay in Minnesota or join Republican-dominated states like North Dakota and South Dakota. Actually, Munson's proposal tends to point more toward a move to South Dakota, potentially creating a massive L-shaped state that would include South Dakota as well as a segment of Minnesota that runs west of a north-south line east of Baudette, Minn., and through St. Cloud and Mankato. Munson, of Lake Crystal, Minn., started a petition on his website; shortly after he announced the proposal, he had gathered nearly 6,500 signatures. It's never going to happen, but since it's in the political sphere, it's worth discussion. The proposal, HF 2423, would allow counties to "disassociate with Minnesota and join neighboring states," Munson said in a letter to the Mankato Free Press. "It's a long process that requires four steps, much discussion and both a statewide ballot initiative and congressional approval." Munson said he drafted the legislation after talks with many people over the past two years. In Minnesota, most rural counties lean right; the metro counties lean left. Meanwhile, metro counties have vastly different legislative priorities than their rural counterparts. Via Twitter, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem recently said apparently in reference to Munson's proposal that "in South Dakota, we roll out the red carpet for people who love personal responsibility and freedom." South Dakota and North Dakota both supported former President Trump with more than 60% of the vote in the past two presidential elections, as did most of rural Minnesota. So, if a secession is allowed and counties begin an exodus from rural Minnesota, those dark red counties would find a political haven in the Dakotas. Story continues David H. Montgomery, who has vast news experience in Minnesota and South Dakota, penned an interesting analysis article on Munson's proposal for Minnesota Public Radio. A few of Montgomery's points: The roughly 300,000 Democrats who reside in the (hypothetically) seceding Minnesota counties wouldn't be pleased. Nor would the roughly 900,000 Republicans who would be stranded in eastern Minnesota. South Dakota politicians would face great challenges. For example, can't-lose Republican Sen. John Thune would, no doubt, have serious competition in a Republican primary. Residents in Bemidji or Willmar likely wouldn't be pleased with a state Capitol in rural Pierre, S.D. Moving the center of government from Pierre would infuriate South Dakotans. And while Noem might have open arms on this proposal, would other South Dakotans? After all, if Munson's plan ever became reality, South Dakota could see a million new residents easily outnumbering the state's current population. While they might agree in principle on conservative issues, how would those ex-Minnesotans vote on, say, mining and ranching issues in the region South Dakotans simply call "West River"? In the end, it doesn't matter. Nothing will come of this, except publicity for Munson. And we agree with the Mankato Free Press that this is a waste of legislative time and, potentially, taxpayer money. McNeece appointed 5th Judicial Circuit magistrate judge A new magistrate has been hired for the 5th Judicial Circuit. "Noi chiediamo di riaprire bar e ristoranti, ma di farlo in sicurezza, seguendo tutti i controlli possibili. E poi serviranno i controlli mirati, per evitare dopo di dover richiudere per pochissimi che non seguono i protocolli. Non ce lo possiamo permettere". E' l'appello al governo che arriva, intervistato da Adnkronos/Labitalia, da Silvio Pannace, vicepresidente di Amira, storica Associazione maitres italiani ristoranti ed alberghi, nata nel 1955 nel ristorante Savini di Milano, e che rappresenta oltre 3.500 professionisti impegnati nel turismo e nella ristorazione, in Italia e all'estero. Secondo Pannace, quello che e fondamentale "e che si seguano scrupolosamente tutte le prescrizioni previste dal ministero e dagli organi competenti: i contagi sono ancora troppo alti". "E che ci siano gli adeguati controlli, perche lo scorso anno alla ripartenza tante aziende hanno fatto grossi investimenti per mettere tutto in regola e poi si sono trovati a dover richiudere per colpa di pochi scellerati che non hanno seguito le norme", aggiunge. La situazione per i professionisti del comparto, a causa della pandemia, e drammatica. "Io sento spesso i fiduciari della nostra associazione nelle diverse regioni e la situazione e drammatica: tantissimi colleghi -sottolinea Pannace- non hanno ancora ricevuto la cassa integrazione che gli spetta, tantissimi sono disoccupati e percepiscono solo la Naspi. C''e disperazione, specie tra i piu giovani. Il governo deve intervenire subito con adeguati sostegni, il nostro settore e stato travolto dalla pandemia". La soluzione per l'associazione Amira sta nei vaccini. "Noi chiediamo -sottolinea Pannace- che si velocizzi la campagna vaccinale, e la strada per uscire da questa situazione. Dobbiamo mettere in sicurezza i piu anziani, poi tutto andra di conseguenza, e speriamo che arrivi presto il nostro turno. Ma non chiediamo corsie preferenziali, fino a quando non saremo vaccinati seguiremo tutte le prescrizioni per lavorare in sicurezza". E anche con le riaperture e necessario comunque continuare a sostenere i lavoratori del comparto. "Anche se bar e ristoranti riapriranno non potranno mai avere la stessa forza lavoro precedente alla pandemia, sara al massimo del 30-50%. E quindi tutti i nostri colleghi e gli altri dipendenti non devono essere lasciati soli: servono ristori e sostegni veri e subito, non a parole", conclude. Children as young as five will be taught about respectful relationships under a new federal government programme which launched on Wednesday. A new government website called The Good Society contains about 350 videos, podcasts and other materials to educate students about relationships and consent. Children in primary school will be taught about respectful friendships and will not discuss sex. Children as young as five will be taught about respectful relationships under a new federal government programme which launched on Wednesday Students starting secondary school will learn about peer pressure and discrimination and pupils in years 10 to 12 will learn about intimate relationships. This will include learning about consent and meaning of the words 'yes', 'no', and 'I don't know' in the context of sex. Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said the materials were designed to assist existing sex education classes in schools run by state governments. 'These materials will provide additional support to better educate young Australians on these issues and have been designed to complement programs already being offered by states and territories,' he said. 'I will be discussing these matters further with my state and territory counterparts when we meet later this month.' Children in primary school will be taught about respectful friendships and will not discuss sex Minister for Women's Safety Anne Ruston said it was important for children to learn about respectful relationships from a young age. 'School years are crucial in a child's development and we want to guarantee that whether it be at home, at school or even playing weekend sport, that kids and their parents have been informed about what is respectful behaviour and what is not,' she said. The teaching materials are part of the Respect Matters program, which was set up under the government's women's safety package in 2015. Numerous protests have broken out in recent weeks in migrant internment camps on the Spanish Canary Islands. Migrants are protesting appalling living conditions and poor food in the camps, and the lack of medical treatment amid the escalating global COVID-19 pandemic. Included in their demands is that they be allowed to travel to the Spanish mainland, where many migrants have family members. They are also opposing the violent racism they have faced at the hands of far-right thugs on the archipelago. At the start of April, dozens of migrants demonstrated at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife internment centre, a former prison. Many are Muslims, but no arrangements have been made for the fasting month of Ramadan, which began this week. Spain Halts Moroccan Immigrants Protests in Canary Islands Migrants held at the El Matorral internment camp in Fuerteventura at an ex-school in Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria and in the Las Raices camp in Tenerife have also taken part in numerous hunger strikes over the last two months. Last Tuesday, a major protest broke out in the Las Raices concentration camp, the largest of the six camps on the island chain. Las Raices, a forest site on loan to the Interior Ministry from the Defense Ministry, currently houses 1,200-1,400 migrants. Tensions have been running high at Las Raices since it entered into use in February. According to the charity Asamblea de Apoyo a Migrantes de Tenerife (Assembly to Support Migrants in TenerifeASMT), Many people have been protesting for some time, in a hunger strike etc. ASMT continued: Yesterday [last Tuesday], there was supposed to be a meeting with someone in charge at Accem [an organisation contracted by the Spanish state to run the camps], but it didnt happen. As a result, protests were held and the situation became quite tense. Clashes also reportedly broke out between migrants of different ethnicities, including Moroccans and sub-Saharan Africans, according to Accem. Primary responsibility for the outbreak of tensions in the Canary Islands lies with the PSOE (Socialist Party)-Podemos government, which has imprisoned thousands of migrants in squalid conditions in tent camps, pending deportation. They have point-blank refused to allow migrants to travel to the Spanish mainland, claiming that to do so would be a pull factor for further migration. Explaining the broader causes of the protests, ASMT stated: The main demand is that they be allowed to continue their migration route. The majority have been in the Canary Islands for more than four months and many have family in Madrid or Barcelona. . There are people who, with their little money, have bought a [plane] ticket and when they arrived at the airport they were held by the police or not allowed to enter. ASMT also noted the lack of education for youth and described the appalling health situation in the camps, providing the perfect breeding ground for the coronavirus. Many minors are not being schooled, and medical care is dire, with sick children who need immediate attention, pregnant women in pain and badly cared for patients. Spanish police reacted violently to the protests at Las Raices, firing rubber bullets and blank cartridges at the migrants, according to videos posted online by ASMT. Police can also be seen attacking migrants with batons and riot shields. Migrants threw sticks and stones in response. Isora Mesa, a representative from ASMT, said, Twenty to 25 people had to be taken to hospital with broken ribs and broken arms, [and] injuries to the head from rubber bullets. According to the local government delegation, three migrants were seriously injured, with another seven also having to be hospitalised. The organization also posted a video of a trail of blood on a stairway leading to the camps infirmary, which Accem later explained had come from a young sub-Saharan man with a fracture in his leg which was showing the bone. Eight migrants were detained by police after the unrest. Last Wednesday, five of themall of Moroccan originwere given prison sentences for their role in the protests. PSOE regional President Angel Victor Torres responded to the altercations with a vicious anti-immigrant law-and-order campaign, promising that the regional government would immediately deport the migrants involved in the clashes. In the face of emergency situations, we have to impose order, he ominously declared. Responding to hypocritical criticisms last month by former Canary Islands regional President Fernando Clavijo that refugees are housed in unsanitary tent camps, the PSOE-Podemos government defended its anti-migrant policies. Of course, there are tents, PSOE Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Jose Luis Escriva blithely declared, like in every refugee centre in the world. It would be a waste of public money to erect large facilities for temporary situations, the minister continued. The camps are the best possible accommodation and of the highest standards, he added. Reports that Spain has been subjecting child migrants to invasive medical examinations to determine their age exposes the high standards of care migrants can expect from the PSOE-Podemos government. Children had been forced to undress completely and undergo an examination of their genitalia to establish whether or not they are less than 18 years old. Other migrant children have been subjected to bone tests or to orthopantomographic examinations, also known as panoramic radiographs. The first involves X-raying the wrists, hands or fingers of the children, while the latter is a radiographic examination providing detailed information about their jaw and tooth structure. Receiving countries are legally obliged to provide underage migrants with some limited care, including shelter and schooling. To avoid this, the Spanish state is stepping up efforts to declare young migrants arriving in the country to be adults, thereby relieving them of any responsibility for these migrants well-being. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has denounced Spain for using the barbaric and humiliating method of genital examinations, stating that it infringes on their [the childrens] dignity, their privacy and their bodily integrity and should be banned. The UN committees statement was made as part of a ruling on the case of a young migrant girl known as Arcange. She arrived in Spain in 2017 aged 16, after fleeing sexual abuse by her father and attempts to force her into marriage with an older man in her home country of Cameroon. Although immigration officials initially had no doubts that she was a minor, Arcange was later subjected to numerous degrading physical investigations, including being stripped naked and forced to undergo genital examinations. The examinations were conducted without the child having had any legal counsel and without the procedure being explained to her in a language she could understand. She was then falsely found to be 18 years of age or over and cast out onto the street to fend for herself. This is the fourteenth time that the UN has condemned the Spanish government for violating the rights of migrant children by subjecting them to forced undressing and genital examinations. Representatives of the PSOE-Podemos government responded to the UNs declaration with feigned indignation. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Social Rights, which is overseen by Podemos, told news site elDiario.es: The UNs condemnation of Spain for the Arcange case demonstrates the necessity of substantially amending the procedure for determining the age of children and adolescents who arrive in our country alone. It is essential to avoid carrying out unnecessary tests, especially those that involve the undressing of minors. The criticisms by PSOE and Podemos ministers are utterly cynical. The coalition government has imposed fascistic anti-refugee policies indistinguishable from those of the far right. The task of defending migrants and asylum seekers falls to the working class, as part of a struggle against the reactionary policies of the entire European Union and for socialism. At Kristen Clarkes Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to become the first Black woman to head up the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Departmentknown as the crown jewel of the DOJthe GOP playbook consisted of implying that a woman who has worked tirelessly within one serious institution after another is actually an institution-hating radical. Clarke, whom Ive only ever known to be deadly serious, soft-spoken, and collaborative (I have done various public events with her over the years), faced an almost wholly unserious effort, helmed chiefly by the usual suspects, to paint her as a dangerous firebrand. Even after spending six years in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division during the George W. Bush administration, Clarke was still called out as being somehow opposed to the police and a threat to law and orderby some of the very same GOP senators who fueled efforts to set aside the results of the 2020 election, which culminated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clarke, whose opening statement drew on her fears as the mother of a 16-year-old Black son, has been the focus of a Fox News/Tucker Carlson smear campaign to paint her as a wild-eyed lunatic who hates Jews, cops, and white people in about equal measure. Carlson has done at least six segments on her since January that were rife with reporting errors. Hes zeroed in on an almost-30-year-old op-ed that Clarke wrote at 19 to Harvards student newspaper promoting the genetic superiority of Black people. If a decades-old college piece is your best case for someone elses racism as youre doing Actual Racism in real time, you should probably think again. But Carlson and his followers seem to have also missed that her letter was a satirical response to The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life, which started from the presumption that Black people are intellectually inferior. Clarke may indeed be so fanatically serious that her efforts werent actually funny, but contemporaneous reporting from Harvard knew it was satire. Yet Sen. John Cornyn seemed to miss entirely that this was satire and also that it wasnt a strong line of attack. Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mike Lee used his time for questioning to try to imply that she pressured the Justice Department not to prosecute the New Black Panthers for voter intimidation in 2008. Clarke testified that she had nothing to do with that prosecution and wasnt at the DOJ when it was dropped. (She left the department in 2006 to join the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.) Lee then tried to read her a list of American institutions he believes she hates. She noted that she has in fact worked for several of them and that they are staffed by dedicated lawyers who adhere to the law. Sen. Ted Cruz shouted at her about the headline of a Newsweek piece she wrote after George Floyd was killed in which she expressly did not call for defunding the police willy-nilly, and in fact argued for a more complicated strategy: I advocate for defunding policing operations that have made African Americans more vulnerable to police violence and contributed to mass incarceration, while investing more in programs and policies that address critical community needs. Clarke had to explain several times to Cruz that she doesnt write her own headlines and that her viewin line with that of many nonradical police reform groupsis that the police have taken on roles they were never intended to handle and have too much contact with communities on issues they were never equipped to address. As she put it in response to Cruz: I do not support defunding the police. I do support finding strategies to ensure that law enforcement can carry out their jobs more safely and effectively and channeling resources to emotional health treatment and other severely underresourced areas. Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Josh Hawley went after her for her tweets saying that the Supreme Courts COVID cases have been largely handled on the shadow docket, trying to imply that this analysis means she holds some long-standing animus against Orthodox Jews. Clarke again explained that she has devoted her civil rights career to protecting the religious rights of Jews (including pathbreaking work at the New York State Attorney Generals Office from 201115). She has also been the litigation machine in several lawsuits against violent and anti-Semitic white supremacists. (She sued and beat the man behind the Daily Stormer, for example.) Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. One imagines the GOP gotcha moment was meant to be Sen. Tom Cotton interrogating her about her hate for the police, specifically in a line of questions through which Cotton insisted that she answer whether officer Darren Wilson was justified when he shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. Clarke was momentarily flummoxed, confusing Wilson briefly with Derek Chauvin. Then Cotton went on to criticize Clarke for various statements she has made about the grand jurys failure to indict Wilson, about other police shootings of unarmed Black men, and about the need for police reform. Cotton then noted that Eric Holders own DOJ in 2015 did an extensive review of Officer Darren Wilsons conduct and concluded that it did not support a filing of criminal charges. He used that to argue that Vanita Gupta and Holder had stated that Wilson was justified in the shooting of Michael Brown. And to wonder why Clarke was staking out a more unreasonable position than they held on whether Wilson was justified in shooting Brown. And to claim that every cop in America should be terrified of her reflexive belief that all police shootings are unjustified. Clarke tried again to explain that you can oppose police shootings of unarmed men without hating the police. Advertisement Tom Cotton is unhappy about comments Kristen Clarke has made suggesting that cops who shoot Black people should be prosecuted pic.twitter.com/D4ew8AkMxg Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 14, 2021 At the end of the hearing, Sen. Cory Booker offered a deep and personal tribute to Clarkes qualifications before noting that his staff had found no statements from Gupta or Holder to suggest that Darren Wilsons killing of Brown was justified. Indeed, what Cotton appears to have been playing fast and loose with was the DOJ announcement from March of 2015 stating that the departments extensive federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Michael Brown does not support federal civil rights charges against Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. What this means is simply that the extensive DOJ probe into whether the shooting was a violation of federal law that could be proved beyond a reasonable doubt determined that it was not. It was a broad finding about the applicability of a federal civil rights statute, not a determination that Wilson did nothing wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cotton, who had a tantrum today when Sen. Dick Durbin asked him to allow Clarke to answer his questions and in fact declined to do so, is a Harvard-educated lawyer in addition to being a senator. He is well aware that neither Holder nor Gupta has claimed the shooting was justified, that the federal civil rights charges available to the DOJ are far more limited than those available to state prosecutors, and also that the DOJ report made extensive findings of a pattern and practice of shockingly racist police conduct in Ferguson. This systemic policing problem is exactly the kind of thing Jeff Sessions declined to probe, though its an issue Clarke has been working to remedy for years. That work has nevertheless garnered her support from the police themselves. More than three dozen current and former police chiefs described her as a person of impeccable credentials, character and credibility in a letter supporting her nomination. The letter said that, as a federal prosecutor, she demonstrated an uncanny ability to work closely with federal and state and local law enforcement officials. Advertisement The rank silliness of targeting Clarke as someone hellbent on burning down American policing, justice, voting, and civil rights systems when she has built her entire career on working within those systems was the main takeaway of today. Clarkewhose parents immigrated from Jamaica, and who grew up in a federally subsidized public housing projectmight even be somewhat more justified if she were advocating for burning down entire systems than would, say, Josh Hawleyyet hes the one who doesnt accept the 2020 federal election results. After graduating from Harvard and Columbia Law School, she went to the Department of Justice, then joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, then served the Office of the New York State Attorney General as head of the Civil Rights Bureau. As president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, she has worked like a demon to protect voting rights, minority rights, religious and womens rights, all in precisely the way a lawyer would: through bold lawsuits and advocacy. Ive argued that targeting civil rights lawyers for strongly worded tweets and advocacy evinces a shocking double standard for women of color in public life. But when the white men who are targeting a Black female lawyer as lawless and reckless and dangerous still wont accept the results of the last presidential election and take no responsibility for the property damage and loss of life their words have caused, it just feels like cynicism for its own sake. That cynicism is the point. That this conversation is happening as the country is again roiled to the breaking point over racist police violence is why this transcends cynicism to become simply gross. London, April 15 : Top seed Novak Djokovic felt at home as he coasted past teenager Jannik Sinner in straight sets to book his place in the third round of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Wednesday. World No. 1 Djokovic, making a first appearance since his Australian Open success two months ago, needed just over an hour-and-a-half to end the hopes of 19-year-old Sinner, runners-up at the Miami Open, with a 6-4, 6-2 victory, reports DPA. "It feels great (to be back and) also playing in Monaco, where I reside," Djokovic said in his post-match interview. "I have used this as a training base for almost 15 years, so it feels like playing at home." Djokovic is chasing his third title in Monte Carlo. He added: "It was a very good encounter. I thought it was a great first match (and) a big challenge for me. Jannik is in form. He played the final (in) Miami and has been playing well. I just hung in there today and managed to find the right shots and the right game at the right time." Djokovic will next face Dan Evans after the British No. 1 defeated 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets. The Miami Open champion looked to be struggling with illness as Evans completed a 6-4, 6-1 win in just over an hour. Third seed Rafael Nadal, who last played in Melbourne on February 17, made quick work of his encounter with qualifier Federico Delbonis, winning 6-1, 6-2. "It was a good start, always good to come back to competition with a victory," the Spaniard said. "I think I played a solid match and I hope to keep going." Defending champion Fabio Fognini, the 15th seed, also progressed with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Australia's Jordan Thompson. [April 14, 2021] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Champignon Brands Inc. (SHRMF) on Behalf of Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Champignon Brands Inc. ("Champignon" or the "Company") (OTC: SHRMF) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Champignon investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/champignon-brands-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. On June 22, 2020, Champignon announced that the Company had "been selected for continuous disclosure review by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "Commission") and "in connection with the review, the Commission had issued a cease trade order suspending in the securities of the Company pending the filing of business acquisition reports." On this news, the Company's stock price fell 24% to close at $0.500 per share on June 22, 2020, thereby damaging investors. On September 15, 2020, the Company issued a press release stating, amongst other things, "the Commission issued a replacement cease trade order . . . , pending the filing of a revised matrial change report . . . in connection with the acquisition by the Company of AltMed." Champignon further stated that "the acquisition of AltMed should be treated as a reverse-takeover." On this news, Champignon's stock price fell 5% to close at $0.271 per share on September 16, 2020, thereby damaging investors. On February 17, 2021, Champignon announced that it would restate its financial statements for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2020. Specifically, "the Company previously recognized intangible assets in connection with" certain acquisitions, and "management determined that . . . the assets do not meet the definition of intangible assets for the purposes of international financial reporting standards and as result will be recorded as transaction costs in the Company's statement of loss and comprehensive loss." Champignon also stated that "a shareholder and contracted consultant (the 'Consultant') of the Company was a related party with respect to" those acquisitions. On this news, Champignon's stock price fell 10% to close at $0.687 per share on February 17, 2021, thereby damaging investors further. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Champignon should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email shareholders@glancylaw.com. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg (News - Alert) Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005912/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MACOMB Western Illinois Universitys new performing arts center will be designed by OWP/P Cannon Design Inc. The Illinois Capital Development Board announced its selection of the firm for the Rebuild Illinois-funded project on Tuesday. The $89 million project will be a 100,000-square-foot center with a performance auditorium and a convocation center for recitals, lectures and other functions. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the project is an investment in the future. Illinois is home to the best universities and research centers in the world and boasts a talented workforce that attracts companies from across the globe, Pritzker said. The new performing arts center at Western Illinois University, made possible through funding from the historic bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, will further cement the universitys place as a world-class institution that excels in preparing talented students for the careers of tomorrow. WIU President Guiyou Huang is ready to see construction begin on the project. We look forward to the day when we can open this outstanding center that will benefit our students, faculty and staff, our communities, and the region, Huang said. The Center for the Performing Arts will enhance Westerns academic distinction and provide our region with a state-of-the-art music, dance and theater facility. This is a true investment for WIU and west-central Illinois. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Wednesday that his agency is opening an investigation into various Chinese activities every 10 hours. 'We're opening a new investigation into China every 10 hours, and I can assure the committee that's not because our folks don't have anything to do with their time,' Wray told members of the Senate Intelligence committee during its annual 'Worldwide Threats' hearing. 'We have now over 2,000 investigations that tie back to the Chinese government,' he added. At the hearing, U.S. spy agency leaders said that China is an 'unparalleled' priority, citing Beijing's regional aggression and cyber capabilities. 'I don't think there is any country that presents a more severe threat to our innovation, our economic security and our democratic ideas,' Wray said, referring to China. 'And the tools in their toolbox to influence our businesses, our academic institutions, our governments at all levels are deep and wide and persistent.' Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines agreed. 'Given that China is an unparalleled priority for the intelligence community, I will start with highlighting certain aspects of the threat from Beijing,' she said. She described China as increasingly 'a near-peer competitor challenging the United States in multiple arenas.' FBI Director Christopher Wray said that his agency is opening an investigation into various Chinese activities every 10 hours and they have over 20,000 in process The harsh words on China comes amid an uptick of hate crimes against Asian Americans. As we grapple with the challenges posed by a rising China, our problem is with the Chinese Communist Party, not with the people of China or the Chinese diaspora globally, and certainly not with Asian Americans here in the United States, Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) said at the start of the committee's hearing. Other threats were mentioned in the public portion of the hearing. Haines also cited Russian efforts to undermine U.S. influence, Iran's contribution to instability in the Middle East, global terrorism and potential North Korean efforts to 'drive wedges' between Washington and its allies as significant threats. The appearance by Haines and the other intelligence directors was the first such public 'Worldwide Threats' hearing since January 2019. The committee brought the spy chiefs again in the afternoon for a closed-door session. Former President Donald Trump, who often clashed with security agencies, did not send officials last year to testify at what is normally an annual event. Democratic Senator Mark Warner, the committee's chairman, said he was 'dismayed' there had been no hearing last year. Much of the hearing focused on technology - the threat from hacking, the importance of leading-edge development and the malign influence of social media. 'Today's technology environment allows adversaries to wreak havoc,' panel Republican Vice Chairman Marco Rubio said. Warner noted the effort Beijing had put into making the Chinese firm Huawei a leader of advanced 5G systems, and said he was concerned it might make similar efforts in other emerging technologies. Noting the dangers of international computer hacking like the recent SolarWinds attack, Warner said: 'We may also want to develop new international norms where certain types of attacks are prohibited, just as the use of chemical or bio-weapons is banned.' FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies alongside CIA Director William Burns, Director Avril Haines of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and National Security Agency (NSA) Director General Paul Nakasone during a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence annual hearing about worldwide threats The US intelligence chiefs agreed that China, led by President Xi Jinping, is an 'unparalleled' priority, citing Beijing's regional aggression and cyber capabilities Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns, National Security Agency Director General Paul Nakasone and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Scott Berrier also testified. Burns said nearly a third of the CIA's workforce is focused on cyber issues. Nakasone and Wray said intelligence agencies could benefit from more information from companies about cyber threats, but did not directly endorse calls from some members of Congress for legislation that would demand more of firms like Facebook and Twitter. Wray said social media has become 'the key amplifier' to domestic violent extremism and malign foreign influence. 'The same things that attract people to it for good reasons are also capable of causing all sorts of harms,' Wray said. U.S. intelligence agencies on Tuesday released a sweeping report on global threats. Disease, the rich-poor gap, climate change and conflicts within and among nations will pose greater challenges, with COVID-19 already worsening some of those problems, the report by the National Intelligence Council said. The intelligence chiefs are due to testify at a second Worldwide Threats hearing, before the House Intelligence committee, on Thursday. Canada remains on pace to welcome 401,000 new immigrants in 2021 despite the pandemic. Canada had another strong month for immigration in February 2021 Canada remains on pace to welcome 401,000 new immigrants in 2021 despite the pandemic. Canada had another strong month for immigration in February 2021 Canada remains on pace to welcome 401,000 new immigrants in 2021 despite the pandemic. Canada had another strong month for immigration in February 2021 Canada remains on pace to welcome 401,000 new immigrants in 2021 despite the pandemic. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canada is on track to achieve its target of welcoming 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. This afternoon, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released new data showing that 23,375 people obtained permanent residence in February. IRCC data previously showed that Canada welcomed nearly 25,000 immigrants in January. All told, Canada has already welcomed 48,000 new permanent residents so far this year. By way of comparison, Canada welcomed 50,600 new immigrants in the first two months of last year. Next months IRCC data release is likely to show that Canada has welcomed more new immigrants by the end of March 2021 than during the same period in 2020. The reason is that Canadas immigration system has stabilized whereas immigration declined dramatically last March due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic resulted in Canada falling way short of its goal to welcome 341,000 immigrants in 2020. Instead, it welcomed just 184,370 immigrants last year. To help alleviate this shortfall, Canadas immigration minister Marco Mendicino announced the most ambitious immigration plan in the countrys history in October. The country is aiming to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, which would tie the record achieved in 1913. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration Immigration to Canada was booming prior to the pandemic with the country welcoming between 25,000 and 35,000 new immigrants per month. Canadas newcomer flows were disrupted once the country imposed travel restrictions on March 18, 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19. This resulted in what may have been the weakest month for Canadian immigration since the Second World War when Canada welcomed just 4,000 newcomers in April 2020. Immigration picked up in the following months but was not able to surpass 20,000 arrivals in a month until this January. The main way Canada is looking to achieve its Immigration Levels Plan goal in 2021 is by transitioning those already here to permanent residence. Groups such as temporary foreign workers and former international students can obtain more points under many of Canadas over 100 different economic class pathways. Many of these pathways are only available to Candidates with Canadian experience. For instance, the Canadian Experience Class program is the leading way the country transitions such individuals to permanent residence. In February, IRCC held the largest Express Entry draw ever inviting over 27,000 CEC candidates to apply for permanent residence. Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes economic class immigrants and accounts for about one-quarter of the countrys immigrant arrivals each year. In addition to transitioning people from within the country, Canada is looking to welcome from abroad those who are exempt from its COVID-19 travel restrictions. For example, sponsored family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are among those eligible to travel to Canada right now. The levels plan calls for the arrival of just over 100,000 family class immigrants this year. It remains to be seen when others already approved for permanent residence will be allowed to move to Canada. We should expect new permanent residence landings to pick up momentum in the second half of this year. Immigration to Canada is stronger during the warmer spring and summer months. In the context of the pandemic, this means those who are in fact eligible to immigrate to Canada now may be delaying their arrivals until the warmer months. Moreover, many of those in Canada who received permanent residence invitations last year and in the first half of this year will likely officially gain permanent resident status by the end of 2021. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Actress Seo Yea-ji in a scene from "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" / Courtesy of tvN By Kwak Yeon-soo Actress Seo Yea-ji is facing what may be the biggest crisis of her career, concerning her reputation. A few days after she was blamed for controlling her then-boyfriend and actor Kim Jung-hyun while he was filming MBC's romance drama, "Time" in 2018, Seo has been accused of school bullying, mistreating staff and falsifying her educational background. On Monday, local tabloid Dispatch reported that Seo and Kim, co-stars of the 2018 romance film, "Stay with Me," were dating when Kim was shooting the "Time" series, and the actress demanded him to decline to be filmed in any romantic scenes with his co-star Seohyun. Seo allegedly pressured Kim "to change the script to delete romantic scenes and physical contact" and to "act cold" toward female co-stars and staff. Kim eventually stepped down from his role, citing sleeping and eating disorders. Responding to reports, Seo's management agency, Gold Medalist, said Tuesday that messages exchanged by the two were, "Conversations between lovers showing jealousy over each other's physical contact with others," and are, "A commonly seen quarrel between actors who are dating." "After checking with Kim Jung-hyun's side, we received a clear confirmation that the controversy regarding the drama did not occur because of Seo Yea-ji. It is logically difficult to accept the controversial report that a drama's lead actor would act exactly as told by someone else without his own free will," the agency said in a statement. "All actors apply themselves to the craft of acting by putting aside their quarrels with their partners. We believe that Kim must have had an unavoidable personal matter as well," Gold Medalist added. Seo has denied certain allegations against her, such as falsifying her educational background, and simply avoided or refused to address others. Appearing on JTBC's variety show "Knowing Bros" in March 2017, Seo said that she attended the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain. However, the agency explained that she was admitted to the college, but chose not to attend in order to pursue her acting career in Korea. Seo Yea-ji poses during a press event for the film, "Recalled," held in Seoul, April 1. Courtesy of iFilm Corporation The somewhat surreal ad kicks off with a sunrise and an early 240Z driven in a warehouse. As the coupe moves behind massive pillars, it turns into the Z Proto. After a few close-ups, the scenario changes to a race track, and it's here that the use of CGI becomes obvious.The Z Proto overtakes the old 240Z and a fourth-generation 300ZX before being unleashed at high-speed on a twisty track. There's even a bit of drifting, with graphics and dynamics reminding me of the Real Racing 3 mobile game.The Z Proto catches up with the 240Z and 300ZX on the track and all three Z cars are then joined by the 350Z and 370Z. The ad ends with all five coupes driving in a V-shaped formation as the camera pans up to reveal that the track is a big Nissan logo.The music makes the ad seem a bit cheesy, but it's a cool way to remind us that the next-gen Z is underway. And I wouldn't mind seeing the Z Proto included in the next Real Racing 3 update. Drifting the Nissan 370Z Nismo on Laguna Seca is getting a little boring.Unveiled in September 2020, the Z Proto previews the next-generation Z car. Previous rumors said it would be called the 400Z, but more recent intel suggests it will be known as the Fairlady Z in Japan and Nissan Z everywhere else.It should debut by the end of 2021 with minor changes from the Z Proto and a V6 engine rated at around 400 horsepower. The Japanese coupe will reportedly start from $34,995 in the U.S., which is almost $5,000 more than the outgoing 370Z. An overhead net prevents pieces of the vaulted ceiling from crashing down on the floor, or on visitors. Juan Carlos Toro In 1838, just three months after the consecration of the newly completed cathedral in the southern Spanish city of Cadiz, the cleric Domingo Gonzalez Villanueva raised the alarm. Referring to its brand new vaults, he warned officials in the cathedral chapter that stone slabs and somewhat larger pieces are falling. What should have been a glorious celebration of more than a centurys tortuous work was undermined by concern. Now, 183 years later, salt continues to erode the 3,100 square meters of roofing. On January 29, a piece of masonry came loose from the facade, in a reminder to the authorities that it has now been a decade since any significant restoration work has been carried out; and that the blueprint to tackle the issue drawn up at the request of the Andalusian regional government is still to be executed. The piece of rubble from the facade, which landed in the cathedrals courtyard without causing injury, is not the only sign that the salt curse still threatens to wreak havoc. Repeated instances of falling masonry led to the building being closed between 1969 and 1983, and also to the installation in 1989 of a large net that stretches under all its interior vaults. The decision was made after the fall of a large block of masonry that shattered one of the pews mere days before the celebration of a First Communion mass. The crumbling of the vaults can be seen at a glance. The corroded blocks of stone constantly cause pieces of rubble to fall into the net, which is emptied periodically. Juan Jimenez Mata, the architect who installed the net over 30 years ago, is unable to say how much weight it would stand in the event of a major incident. The net that catches falling rubble. Juan Carlos Toro Building work on the cathedral began in 1722 as a project that would reflect the prosperity of a city enriched by trade with the Americas. But it wasnt finished until well into the 19th century, using a poorer type of stone as the city was entering a crisis from which it would never really emerge. As Juan Alonso de la Sierra, one of buildings top experts, says: The cathedral reflects the citys own trajectory. The cathedral was built with 24 different kinds of stone, first under the direction of architect Vicente Acero, who introduced hints of the Baroque style though later architects would tend more to neoclassicism and academicism. But it is specifically the kind of building material known as Estepa limestone that has plagued the edifice. As Juan Jimenez Mata, the architect behind the last 16 major restoration projects, explains the problem. When there was less money, this stone was used in the areas above the cornices. The trouble is that this stone is softer and reacts far worse to the weather. The damage would be similar to that endured by many other great monuments if it were not for the salt in the air that penetrates the walls. The cathedral is an immense salt factory, adds Jimenez Mata. The building was constructed using mortar made from beach sand and water extracted from a brackish well located in the crypt. According to the architect Alberto Jimenez, the son of Juan Jimenez Mata, when the tides were high the mortar did not set, and the lime turned to dust. This caused the vaults ashlars to be held in place by nothing more than fragments of material used to fill gaps, generating tension and causing the soft masonry to break. The proximity to the sea does the rest: the salt dissolves with the humidity, penetrates the ashlars and breaks them when it crystallizes again on dry days. A plan of the Cadiz Cathedral drawn by the architect Juan Jimenez Mata, showing the vaults and roofs. EL PAIS The salt curse could have been contained if the cathedral had not also had long periods when it was open to the elements. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, it spent 40 years without a roof. Then in 1947, an explosion left the building without windows for years. There is a laborious and expensive solution to the problem, which involves filling the empty joints with new mortar and replacing the lost stones with new pieces of masonry. It is the solution that the Jimenez Mata studio has resorted to for the last 30 years during which some sections have been restored, such as the lower sacristy or the Chapel of the Relics. Extending this solution to the 3,100 square meters of vaults would cost 15 million. At least this is the sum that Juan Jimenez Mata calculated in 2009 when the Andalusian governments department of culture commissioned him to draw up a blueprint listing priorities and laying out how the restoration work should be tackled. It has been more than a decade ago now since the architect delivered the document to the cathedrals college of clerics and to the regional government. When questioned on the matter by EL PAIS, the culture departments representatives in Cadiz had no idea why the architects master plan has still not been approved. There is an evident contrast between the dome of the cathedral, which has been restored and is now free from falling rubble, and the lateral vaults, which are crumbling. Juan Carlos Toro It is also more than 10 years since the cathedral last carried out major restoration in its battered vaults. During this time, neither the regional nor the central authorities have come up with the necessary funding, although from 1998 to 2009 they invested 1.5 and 2.3 million respectively in other restoration projects. Meanwhile, the cathedral chapters efforts have been focused on annual maintenance for the roofs and on emptying the net installed by Juan Jimenez Mata 32 years ago to catch falling debris, as well as occasionally restoring chapels and sculptures. The Cadiz Culture Delegation has authorized various restoration projects during this period, the last of which concerned the Chapel of the Assumption, the first in the cathedral to be built. But tackling the damage to the stones in the various vaults does not show up on the to-do list of the last 10 years. Fabian Perez, who has regularly collaborated in the cathedrals restoration work as part of the Ars Nova studio, defends the work of the cathedrals officials. The chapters efforts to restore movable and immovable assets is remarkable. It hasnt stopped even with the pandemic. However, the institution has rejected three requests by EL PAIS to explain how much it has invested and whether it is following the blueprints list of priorities. Meanwhile, the Jimenez Mata family is concerned about the absence of major work on the increasingly ravaged vaults. There should be a group of contracted masons, led by an architect, constantly reviewing roofs and cornices, says Juan Jimenez Mata. We are not asking for the work to be entrusted to us, but we do ask that the people who intervene in the restoration of historical heritage be assessed with transparency and a public tender, adds his son Alberto. Almost two centuries after the cleric Gonzalez Villanueva realized that the cathedrals construction was riddled with problems, the curse of the salt continues to eat away at it with no solution in sight. As Alberto Jimenez Mata says, pieces of rubble continue to fall, but the size of them is a lottery. English version by Heather Galloway GM Financial to Release First Quarter 2021 Operating Results GENERAL MOTORS FINANCIAL COMPANY, INC. ("GM Financial" or the "Company") will release its first quarter 2021 operating results on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Management will record remarks addressing the results. This recording, along with the presentation slides and press release, will be posted to the Company's website. Materials can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the website at www.gmfinancial.com. Questions on the materials should be directed to GM Financial's Investor Relations Department. Future earnings dates The company's subsequent quarterly earnings announcement dates are as follows: Q2 2021 - August 4, 2021 Q3 2021 - October 27, 2021 About GM Financial General Motors (News - Alert) Financial Company, Inc. is the wholly-owned captive finance subsidiary of General Motors Company and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.gmfinancial.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005863/en/ Ivanka Trump received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday, celebrating her vaccination with pictures posted to her social media accounts. The former first daughter was vaccinated in Miami, Florida, where shes living with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children. She will get her second shot in a few weeks. She is the first member of the former first family to post about her vaccination and did so amid rising concern about vaccine hesitancy. Safety first: Ivanka Trump, 39, received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a CVS in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday Celebrating: The former first daughter shared two photos of herself getting the shot on Instagram and Twitter after three months of social media silence 'Today, I got the shot!!!' In her caption, she encouraged others to get the COVID-19 vaccine A source close to Ivanka told DailyMail.com that she has full confidence in the vaccines and wanted to address the hesitancy issue. Dressed in jeans, a white T-shirt, sneakers, and a face mask, Ivanka encouraged people to get vaccinated. Today, I got the shot!!! I hope that you do too! Thank you Nurse Torres!!!, she captioned the photos. She posted about her vaccine because, 'especially during a time of rising levels of vaccine hesitancy, she feels it's vital to underscore the importance of getting vaccinated and to encourage others to do so as soon as they are able,' a source close to Ivanka told DailyMail.com. 'She did so after waiting to be eligible in her home state of Florida and has full confidence in the vaccines available,' the source noted. Health experts have raised concerns about the number of people hesitant about being vaccinated and many of those are supporters of former President Donald Trump. A PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll last month showed at least 41 percent of Republicans don't plan to get vaccinated. Going her own way: Ivanka is the first member of the former first family to post about her vaccination and did so amid rising concern about vaccine hesitancy Goal: A source close to Ivanka told DailyMail.com that she has full confidence in the vaccines and wanted to address the hesitancy issue Say cheese! In exclusive photos and video obtained by DailyMail.com, Ivanka posed for pics with people in the pharmacy and appeared to FaceTime with a customer Ivanka was given the opportunity to receive the vaccine during her time at the White House but wanted to wait until it was her turn to do so, DailyMail.com has learned. President Trump and Melania Trump received their vaccinations before leaving the White House in January. In exclusive photos and video obtained by DailyMail.com, Ivanka posed for pics with people in the pharmacy and joined one customer's FaceTime call. Footage shows the former White House senior adviser enthusiastically waving during the video chat that took place inside the story. 'Hi Vanessa! I made a new friend at CVS. We're both getting our first vaccines together,' she explained while the man next to her held is cellphone in the air. 'We're vaccine buddies now,' the customer agreed. Ivanka, who hasn't posted on Instagram or Twitter since her father left office in January, broke her social media silence to announce she had gotten the vaccine. Thoughts: Former President Donald Trump told Republican donors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday that the COVID-19 vaccine should be called 'the Trumpcine' Out and about: Trump was joined by his wife Melania at the party fundraiser The post comes just days after former President Trump bragged about his handling of the pandemic to an audience of Republican Party donors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday. He credited himself with the development of the coronavirus vaccines, saying they should be called 'the Trumpcine.' While president, Trump pushed vaccine development along with his Operation Warp Speed, and he pointed to that as an example of his success. However, he did not mention the more than 500,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19 Trump also called the November election in which Joe Biden won 'bulls**t,' according to the Washington Post, which cited an attendee who said he spoke for about an hour at the fundraiser. While her father is back to appearing at Republican events, Ivanka has been keeping a low profile in recent weeks. However, she made one girl's day last week when she posed for a picture with her at Disney World. She wasp photographed with a young fan named Ella in the photo that made the rounds on the former first daughter's fan accounts. It was originally posted by Instagram user @stevend803, who is presumably the girl's father. 'Regardless of your political affiliation, a special day for Ella. Got to meet @ivankatrump! So cool!' he wrote. Strike a pose: Ivanka took a photo with a young fan named Ella at Disney World last week. The former first daughter donned a shirt dress and white sneakers Incognito: Ivanka, pictured with her son Joseph in early March, kept out of the public eye in the weeks leading up to her vaccination Family fun: On March 14, Ivanka was photographed practicing her golf swing alongside her husband Jared Kushner and their sons Joseph and Theodore Ivanka beat the Florida heat in a bleach-print chambray shirt dress that featured a collar and a tie around the waist. The mother-of-three paired the short-sleeved frock with white leather sneakers, black cat-eye sunglasses, and a thick gold chain around her neck. She also donned colorful red and pink bracelets on her wrist and a protective face mask. Her straight blonde locks were pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she appeared to have hat head. She held a navy Yankees baseball cap in her hand and was likely wearing it around the park to go unnoticed. Meanwhile, Ella was decked out in Minnie Mouse ears, a Disney princess-themed dress, and a fanny pack. She also had on a mask, and even though it was covering most of her face, she seemed thrilled to have run into the former first daughter. It's unclear who Ivanka was with, but Disney World is only about a four-hour drive from her family's new Miami home, Arte Surfside, one of the city's most sought-after oceanfront buildings. It's possible that she spent the day at the 'Happiest Place on Earth' with her husband Jared and their three children: Arabella, nine, Joseph, seven, and Theodore, five. The Trump-Kushners have enjoyed a number of family outings since they moved to Miami in January and built a whole new life for themselves one that is far different than the hectic lifestyles they had in New York City and later Washington. D.C. Jared and Ivanka's future career plans remain unknown, but they seem to appreciate being able to kick back with their kids after four years of working as White House senior advisers. The Alabama aunt of Daunte Wright -- the 20-year-old unarmed Black man shot and killed by a suburban Minneapolis police officer Sunday that sparked protests across the country -- said her family will needlessly have to lay him to rest. Naisha Wright added that she does not believe the police claim that the officer mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her Taser when she shot Daunte Wright. SAY HIS NAME! DAUNTE WRIGHT! MY GREAT NEPHEW IS NOW FATHERLESS ALL DUE TO AIR FRESHNERS IN HIS FATHER'S WINDOW! Yall POLICE ARE HEARTLESS Posted by Naisha Wright on Sunday, April 11, 2021 This is a young man that had life in front of him. He had a son, Tuscaloosa resident Naisha Wright told CNNs Don Lemon in an interview Monday night. That was my blood, my heart. Naisha Wright, whose brother is Daunte Wrights father, said her nephew didnt deserve to die after he was pulled over in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center on Sunday. Brooklyn Center police said Officer Kim Potter meant to reach for her Taser to subdue Daunte Wright but instead grabbed her gun, shooting him. Both Potter and Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned in wake of the fatal shooting, the citys mayor said. Naisha Wright said she does not buy the police explanation. 10 Man shot, killed during traffic stop in Minnesota city, sparking unrest You know the difference from a fully loaded pistol versus a stun gun. And if youre a police officer you should know that, Ive seen that [body] camera [footage], she told Lemon. I saw she held that gun out in front of her for a little while. You mean to tell me she didnt see it? My nephew was a damn good kid, Naisha Wright added. He loved his family and we loved him. Accident? An accident? No, come on now. Everybody in this world now saw this gun. You mean to tell me you thought that was a Taser? She said her family should not have to be making funeral arrangements for her nephew and that his death could have been avoided. There is no peace in this. Say his name. Keep saying his name. My nephew did not deserve this. Naisha Wright, the Aunt of Daunte Wright, speaks out after her nephew was shot by a police officer and died following a traffic stop. pic.twitter.com/irGyDijrSd CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) April 13, 2021 My mother shouldnt have to be burying her grandchild. My brother, my sister they shouldnt have to be burying their son, Naisha Wright said. Not over an air freshener. they stopped him over an air freshener, lets get that correct. His tag wasnt expired. Police cited an air freshener hanging from the cars mirror when Daunte Wright was pulled over, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Police then later learned that Daunte Wright had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. They took my mans life from him, Naisha Wright said. My great nephew has to now grow up not being able to touch his father. Paxton, IL (60957) Today Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Pennsylvania is knocking on the doorstep of 3 million fully vaccinated residents, and with 90,000 people receiving a COVID-19 vaccine each day, theres a chance the state can reach the mark by the end of this week. Currently, there are 2,902,875 fully vaccinated Pennsylvania residents, including data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the City of Philadelphia, which is handling its own vaccine rollout and has separate data. (Cant see the map? Click here.) There are 2,070,589 residents with just their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, which require two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one shot, but Pennsylvania advised its healthcare providers to wait a week before distributing more doses of the brands vaccine after six women between the ages of 18 and 48 reporting developing potentially serious blood clots 6 to 13 days after vaccination. To date, there had been 6.8 million doses of the vaccine distributed. The good news from Tuesday was that Pennsylvanias vaccine eligibility pool opened up to everyone age 16 and older after Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Monday that the state was accelerating its program. Initially, all Pennsylvanians were supposed to be eligible on April 19. Wolf moved up the open eligibility date in response to the increasing COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations across Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, the Department of Health reported 5,730 new cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, as well as 50 more deaths. The states total case count is now up to 1,087,792 cases since March 6, 2020, and the death toll rose to 25,522. More Pfizer and Moderna on their way, no Johnson & Johnson due to pause On Tuesday evening, the states department of health released data showing the incoming vaccine allotment for April 19. Due to the pause in Johnson & Johnson recommended by the state and the federal government, there arent any new doses of the single-shot vaccine making their way to Pennsylvania. However, there are a total of 679,380 combined doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, about 26,000 more than the state received last week. Pennsylvania will receive: 195,390 doses of both first and second vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech. 144,300 doses of both first and second vaccines of Moderna. Both allotments are the second-largest of each brand thus far. The largest amount of Pfizer, 217,620 doses of both first and second shots, came on March 29, and the largest Moderna shipment was 226,400 units of each dose on Dec. 21, the first Moderna shipment. Because of the Johnson & Johnson pause, some vaccine clinics around the state and the country that had planned to distribute the vaccine are now receiving other brands to distribute. The vaccine clinic scheduled for April 21 in Phillipsburg was initially going to have Johnson & Johnson COVID in Pa. Of the 5,730 new cases, a whopping 1,321 were reported in Allegheny County nearly a quarter of Tuesdays new cases. According to the Department of Health, 1,101 positive antigen test results that were collected more than three days ago were just uploaded by a lab, and 85% of those test results were from Allegheny County, which ratcheted up its case increase for the day. While the new cases were reported Wednesday, some range back as far as mid-January. The states seven-day rolling average has continued to climb, now sitting at 4,785. The last time the states average was higher than that was on Feb. 3. Its taken 11 days for the states average to increase by 1,000 cases it registered a 3,779 average on April 3. And while testing has increased as well, the states positivity rate is the highest since mid-January, currently sitting at 35.9% positivity over the last seven days. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) The states hospitalizations have increased as well. Currently, there are 2,580 residents hospitalized with COVID-19 542 of them are in the ICU, and 262 are on a ventilator. The seven-day average for hospitalizations is currently at 2,484. The low average for 2021 thus far is 1,467, which the state reached on March 19. In just less than a month, that average has climbed by a little over 1,000 patients. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) While the states deaths havent yet increased the way cases and hospitalizations has, Tuesday and Wednesdays increases raise a bit of concern. With 50 new deaths reported Wednesday and 66 reported Tuesday, the 116 new deaths is the highest two-day increase since 119 new deaths on March 3 and 4. Given reporting trends, death increases are usually highest in the middle of the week, and a higher mid-week total this week than the state has seen in over a month could unfortunately be a sign of things to come. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) COVID in the Lehigh Valley The Lehigh Valley had 276 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Wednesday 135 in Lehigh County and 141 in Northampton County. The regions total case count is now up to 68,746, steadily approaching 70,000 total cases. Lehigh Countys case count increased to 36,160 cases, and Northampton Countys is up to 32,586. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) The vaccine rollout continues across the state, prompting pop-up and walk-in vaccine clinics in many counties and cities. One will be held on Friday in Tatamy Borough in Northampton County for all Pennsylvanians 18 and older. Itll distribute the Moderna vaccine. Lehigh County currently has 82,596 fully vaccinated residents, and Northampton County has 65,177 fully vaccinated residents. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Women are using a 'miracle' face oil to rid themselves of spots and stubborn scarring in a matter of weeks. Glory Oil, from Australian beauty brand Eco Tan, has gained cult status in recent years for its ability to alleviate acne and other chronic skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Its healing properties are found in natural ingredients such as Inca Inchi, an ancient Peruvian super seed that lessens the severity of fine lines and wrinkles, and acai fruit oil, which protects skin from environmental pollutants. The $49.95 'liquid gold' serum is also laced with pumpkin seed oil, an antioxidant powerhouse rich in vitamin E, zinc and omega fatty acids which deeply hydrate skin, making you look years younger. Scroll down for video Law graduate Georgie Stevenson (pictured) used the oil to clear her acne in a matter of months The 25-year-old from Queensland said she went to 'hell and back' with her skin before discovering the $49.95 'liquid gold' A product overview describes the oil as an 'all rounder' that can help to cure scarring, acne and inflammation, as well as reducing pigmentation signs of ageing. The oil can also be used on eyebrows and eyelashes to stimulate growth or applied to hair to tame frizz and strengthen split ends. Transformation photos on social media stand testament to the oil's power, with many customers claiming the results gave them the confidence to go makeup free for the first time in years. 'Having suffered from eczema since I was a child and tried everything to help fix it, I have always been caution with trying new products, but Glory Oil has given me my skin and my life back,' a woman named Emine wrote. Described by the brand as a 'miraculous night and day treatment oil', the oil is designed to reduce the appearance of scars and fine lines and restore skin's natural radiance Transformation photos on social media stand testament to the oil's power 'I no longer have itchy skin and have the most perfect complexion. Best part is that a little goes a very long way. Could not recommend this product more highly!' The oil, which is designed to be applied daily, morning and night, is available to buy from Eco Tan's official website. The brand was born in 2010 when Gold Coast founder Sonya Driver set out to make a product that allowed people to tan without exposing themselves to chemicals or harmful ultra-violet rays. Shunning all manner of chemicals typically used in self-tanners, Ms Driver experimented with samples of cacao, flower essence, chamomile and all things natural, mixing batches in the kitchen of her Currumbin home. A product overview describes the oil as an 'all rounder' that can help to cure scarring, acne and rosacea, as well as reducing pigmentation signs of ageing What's in Glory Oil? Inca Inchi: This ancient Peruvian omega abundant super seed oil high in antioxidants and the ultimate anti-ageing & healing ingredient. Acai Fruit Oil: This is an antioxidant powerhouse and helps protect the skin from environmental aggressors and reduces the appearance of ageing and helps to restore moisture balance. Pumpkin Seed Oil: This is rich in vitamin E, zinc, omega 3- and 6- fatty acids as well as antioxidants, therefore it has tremendous benefits for the skin in terms of retaining moisture and fighting free radicals. Advertisement The result is what is now one of Australia's most popular natural skincare brands, one that's won over 50 coveted awards for its clever organic formulations. Eco Tan made history in 2011 when it became the first and only tanning manufacturer to be certified organic by the Australian government's Organic Food Chain. Ms Driver said she hopes to continue making tanning products that enhance women's confidence without the risk associated with lying out in the sun. New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will finally begin his campaign in poll-bound areas of West Bengal on Wednesday (April 14) with two public meetings in Goalpokhar and Matigara-Naxalbari, the party revealed on Tuesday. The Congress leader will start the campaign after four phases of polling for assembly elections have completed in West Bengal. Congress is contesting 92 seats in alliance with the Left. Earlier, the former Congress president has been seen campaigning in four other poll-bound regions, namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and in the Union territory of Puducherry. Meanwhile, 45 Assembly segments are going to polls in the fifth phase of the state assembly elections, which is scheduled for April 17. The remaining phases will take place on April 22 (sixth round for 43 seats), April 26 (seventh phase for 35 seats) and April 29 (eighth and final round for 35 seats). The results will be declared on May 2. Live TV MEDFORD, Ore. -- Today were following up on a story we told you about late last month TheDove TV programming was removed from YouTube. According to TheDove, more than 15,000 videos were removed following a violation of YouTubes community guidelines. According to YouTube, in a statement sent to NewsWatch 12, the content was removed following three strikes within 90 days for repeatedly violating our covid-19 misinformation and presidential election integrity policies." This is a local example of a global issue that has been debated in courts, in congress and among people and politicians the question being, how do you balance, or should there be a balance of regulating misinformation and concerns surrounding censorship? NewsWatch 12's Alicia Rubin dug into this issue, with the goal of providing context and sharing what the debate is and both sides of it. We spoke with Professor Anam Sinnreich at American University School of Communications; he specializes in whats called political governance issues, which is the study of how the law intersects with technology and how that impacts our culture. According to professor Sinnreich, one of the challenges of living in a democratic society is that there are competing visions of what kinds of social goals are needed to make democracy work. "One of those visions is enshrined in the First Amendment, and that's the notion that we should have a free press and we should have freedom of speech. And that there's a marketplace of ideas and everybody should say whatever they think is right or true or good, and the best ideas will be debated and will rise to the top," said Sinnreich. The other side of the argument: "In order to have a functional democracy, you need people to be informed. So that they can vote and make a deliberative decision together and figure out what kind of a society they want. And so, you need to remove disinformation from the public sphere because you don't want people to make decisions based on wrong information," explained Sinnreich. According to Sinnreich, the two goals are fundamentally at odds with each other. Whats changed in our modern world is the creation of social media. "What social media does is it exposes us to those divergent viewpoints and it creates an architecture that is very different than the architecture of democratic debate," said Sinnreich. The basis of the marketplace of ideas, what Sinnreich refers to as a "Thomas Jefferson model," operates on the notion that the best ideas come to the top. "You might say that lizard people are running the world, and I might say that economic inequity is a problem," said Sinnreich, "and then we debate and we come up with the solution that lizard people seem unlikely. Economic inequity is a demonstrable truth. My idea is better than yours and that rises to the top." But social media isnt designed to bring the best idea to the top. It rewards users, and ultimately financially rewards companies, for inspiring the greatest degree of emotional reaction; whether it's joy or outrage or fear or excitement. So when emotions are the most monetized aspect of human expression, that creates a public sphere where, instead of the best ideas rising to the top, the most sensationalistic ideas rise to the top," said Sinnreich. That idea aligns with studies that have been conducted about social media. In 2016 a study was done by professors at Princeton, it analyzed 376 million Facebook users interactions with over 900 news outlets and found that people tend to seek information that aligns with their views So where does the responsibility fall to regulate misinformation, if it should be regulated at all? Is it on the consumer or is it on the platform? "One of the key questions that the courts keep coming back to over and over again is: does the first amendment prohibited private companies from regulating the speech that takes place on their communications platforms? The answer is 'sometimes,'" said Sinnreich. As Sinnreich explains, courts have treated communication platforms, in regards to the First Amendment, based on size. "The more that a communications platform becomes something that everybody in society has access to and that everybody needs in order to go about their business, the more expansively the courts interpret the First Amendment as applying to that platform," said Sinnreich, "The more private a platform is, the more it's like a private club or private residence . . . the less expansively the First Amendment tends to be applied to it." Then the question becomes, are Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms more like the postal service or telephone system; a publicly accessed good that everyone has access to and needs? "In which case the First Amendment limitations on censorship would apply more strongly to it," said Sinnreich, "or is Facebook more like a gym or a movie theater where a private entity owns it and invites you into it?" Right now, social media platforms are allowed to remove content, as we have seen with the removal of TheDove's videos; it is allowed to do so because it is considered a private company, but that distinction is also being debated in court. "You have Justice Clarence Thomas, basically arguing that it's more like a public good and they should not have the power to censor, said Sinnreich, "whereas you have other thinkers saying that it's, it's still private." Justice Thomas statements issued on April 5th, regarding a case about former President Trump blocking critics on twitter, was thrown out; Justice Thomas calling it moot since the former president is no longer in office. However, the discussion of social media regulation being brought up in the supreme court increases pressure on lawmakers to change current regulations. Its possible there could be a federal agency created for regulation, similar to the FCC being established to govern broadcast. "We don't yet have a federal agency that can really wrap its head around, let alone effectively regulate social media,' said Sinnreich, "The idea of setting up a federal agency devoted to internet communications or even social media communications is still such a new idea that we don't even really know what that would mean." As recent as March 25th of this year, there was a house subcommittee meeting about misinformation and social media's role. It addressed a wide range of issues and looked at how regulation could potentially help. The focus of the meeting was whether to strengthen Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to create new oversight of social media companies. Representatives on both sides of the aisle shed support for a revision but for different reasons. An airplane flies over the Taedong River near Pyongyang's Ryongwang Pavilion, circa 1920s or 1930s / Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Aviation history in Korea was made on the afternoon of April 3, 1910, when Ohtori 4 an airplane built and piloted by 37-year-old Japanese Lt. Sanji Narahara raced down an impromptu 35-meter-long runway at Seoul's Yongsan and soared into the air reaching the astounding height of 30 meters off the ground. For about 30 minutes the plane circled the field and then safely landed to the applause of an amazed crowd. One spectator later gushed that he had never in his life seen such a large audience. "It was almost a terrifying sight," he declared and speculated that "maybe the entire population of Seoul went out to see the spectacle." Over the next couple of days there would be several aerial demonstrations and it was estimated that about 135,000 people attended these exhibits an impressive number considering Seoul's population was about 200,000. Of course, not everyone in the crowd was from Seoul. Some people made great sacrifices to witness what was described as "almost a miracle." One man traveled from Yongcheong (near the Yalu River) to Seoul to see the exhibit, leaving his very-pregnant wife behind. Shortly after witnessing the flight he received a telegram from his wife announcing the birth of his son. He promptly answered her telegram but said nothing about the birth of his son, merely raving about the airplane. The aerial enterprise was so successful that Narahara and his sponsors one of which appears to have been Asahi Beer announced a three-day airshow to be held in Pyongyang starting April 12. The airplane was carefully packed and transported by train to the northern city unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any pictures of the plane being transported. Another view of the Japanese Sixth Air Regiment's aircraft in Pyongyang in the late 1930s or early 1940s / Robert Neff Collection In anticipation of the large number of spectators, additional trains traveling to Pyongyang were scheduled and people from Chinnampo (modern-day Nampo), Wonsan and even Hamhung began pouring into the city much to the delight of the local businesses. However, as the spectators began to pour in, something else began to pour. On April 12, the heavens opened up and the region was inundated by heavy rains and the aerial demonstration was postponed until the following morning. Starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 14, the airplane made four flights the final flight ending at 4 p.m. Nearly 30,000 people witnessed this daring aviator flitting about the sky and his record-breaking third flight which achieved an altitude of 100 meters off the ground. Delighted with his success, Lt. Narahara declared that on the following day he would attempt "a long distance flight" in which he would land at each of the five Japanese military camps located around Pyongyang. The Japanese Sixth Air Regiment in Pyongyang in the late 1930s or early 1940s / Robert Neff Collection On Monday, the plane went up twice in the morning and three times in the afternoon. According to an account in a Korean newspaper, the airplane flew from the Heijo Army Base to the Gangdong Infantry Base (which was across the Taedong River) a distance of 6 kilometers and was on its return flight when calamity struck. The engine died suddenly and the plane began to plummet to the ground. Narahara was able to regain control and crash-landed near the river. Fortunately neither he nor his copilot was seriously injured but the plane was damaged beyond repair. The Korean news blamed the accident on a short-circuited fuse in the engine. However, the Japanese newspaper, Mainichi, reported that on the last flight the plane "rose about 200 meters, made a large circular flight and performed evolutions equivalent to the conveying of military messages. In descending [the pilot] failed to cut off [the] power, and the machine descended heavily and was considerably damaged." Aircraft of the Japanese Sixth Air Regiment in Pyongyang in the late 1930s or early 1940s / Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection OTTAWA, ON, April 13, 2021 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Vaisakhi: "Today, the Sikh community in Canada and around the world will celebrate Vaisakhi, the holiest day in the Sikh faith. "For more than three hundred years, Sikhs have come together on this day to mark the creation of the Khalsa Panth the community of baptized Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. "In Canada, this day would usually be celebrated in Gurdwaras, Sikhs' place of worship, and through colourful Khalsa Day parades, from coast to coast to coast. This year, many Vaisakhi traditions will once again look different as we continue to fight the global COVID-19 pandemic and find alternative ways to celebrate in order to keep each other and our communities safe. "In these difficult times, we can all find inspiration in Sikhism's teachings of equality, compassion, and selfless service. Over the past year, Sikh Canadians have put these values into practice by supporting seniors in isolation, delivering meals to those in need, and raising money for community initiatives across the country. The spirit of seva teaches us that, even when we are apart, we can still be of service to one another. "Canada is proud to be home to one of the largest Sikh populations in the world. I hope all Canadians join me today in taking a moment to recognize the significant contributions Sikh Canadians have made, and continue to make, to our country. "On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating a joyful Vaisakhi. "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh." This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca/ SOURCE Prime Minister's Office For further information: PMO Media Relations: [email protected] Related Links http://pm.gc.ca/ FTSE 100 recovered some modest impetus after vaccine worries overnight as suspended the European rollout of its coronavirus vaccine amid reports of blood clots in the US. Londons leading index added 7 to 6,897 in early trading. ( ) posted a 20% drop in full-year profits after extra costs outweighed a surge in sales sparked by the pandemic. The grocer had to hire more staff and returned 585mln in business rates relief to the government. easyJet PLC ( ) said its ready to ramp up operations once restrictions on international travel are relaxed. The airline expects interim losses to swell three-fold. The University of Oxford has expanded a trial where over 1,000 participants are given two different vaccines in the first and second dose. Results from the first phase are expected next month but the study will last for a year. s ( ) Uvisan division has entered into an agreement with Aardman Animations, the creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. Uvisan will supply Aardman with UV-C disinfection cabinets to clean the puppets, props and rigging kit. ( ) unveiled a significant upgrade to oil and gas reserves at the Abu Sennan concession, onshore Egypt. According to an independent report, proved and probable (2P) reserves have risen by 24%. ( ) said the acquisition of cloud networking specialist Datrix for up to 16mln is a game-changer. The deal takes us to the forefront of next-generation networking delivery, said the telecoms specialist. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:04:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia registered 1,568 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the national count to 232,512 as of Tuesday evening, said the Ethiopian Health Ministry. During the period, 22 new COVID-19-related deaths were reported across the country, bringing the national tally to 3,230, said the ministry. The country reported 1,838 more recoveries, taking the national count to 173,818. The latest figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Ethiopia's COVID-19 cases accounted for about 5 percent of the African continent's total. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, is one of the African countries hit hardest by COVID-19, next to South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. Enditem Australia is set to shift to mass coronavirus vaccination clinics in a bid to roll out more jabs under the troubled immunisation program. Scott Morrison on Wednesday abandoned his opposition to major vaccine hubs, which Labor and doctors have pushed for. The prime minister made the shift after announcing he would meet with state and territory leaders twice a week to get the derailed rollout back on track. 'We'll need to change our rollout to go to mass vaccination options and that will have to be done in partnership with states and territories,' he told The West Australian. Scott Morrison on Wednesday abandoned his opposition to major vaccine hubs, which Labor and doctors have pushed for Mr Morrison said offering all Australians at least one shot of a vaccine by the end of this year remained a possibility. 'At this stage, there are too many uncertainties, I think, to commit to a timetable like that,' he said. 'I would need, and the states would need to be sure, they could put those arrangements in place and ramp them up and to do that safely.' The federal government is copping significant flack over its decision to dump a vaccine rollout timetable after falling short of its initial targets. Mr Morrison attributed the delays to three million doses failing to arrive from Europe and medical advice for people under 50 to avoid the AstraZeneca jab. The government is attempting to complete vaccinations for the most vulnerable people by the middle of the year. The prime minister said opening international borders at the end of this year or in early 2022 would mean having a similar tolerance for coronavirus as the flu. The federal government is copping significant flack over its decision to dump a vaccine rollout timetable after falling short of its initial targets (stock) 'There would be cases of COVID if the international borders were lifted,' Mr Morrison said. 'We'd have to be confident and comfortable that it would be in Australia's interest to have potentially large numbers of cases of COVID, knowing that it would not lead to the horrific outcomes that we saw.' Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, his department and Australia's chief medical officers have provided regular updates on case numbers since the start of the pandemic. But Mr Morrison said there would need to be a rethink on the attention paid to infection numbers. 'There's a lot of focus on the daily number of cases, both by state governments, their chief health officers, their premiers, but also by the media,' he said. The next national cabinet meeting has been brought forward to Monday and after that will meet twice a week. Mr Morrison said the more regular meetings would continue 'until we solve the problems and get the program back on track'. The opening of a trophy park in Baku dedicated to the celebration of the genocidal military conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh is incredibly disgusting, Claire Evans, Regional Manager for the Middle East of International Christian Concern, noted. It is one thing to respectfully document the horrors of war to show why such a tragedy should not be repeated, while another thing is to create a trophy park of military victory and in such a humiliating way to expose the losing side, she said. The position taken by Azerbaijan towards the Armenians is supported and encouraged by Turkey. This is a position of violence and genocide against ethnic Christians. The international community must not remain silent, such actions are the foundation upon which other human rights violations are based, Claire Evans added. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Yes, Theyre Open is a web series highlighting local bars and restaurants that are open for takeout, delivery, pickup or dining during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Live streams from the featured restaurants are broadcast on the Advance Facebook page every weekday around 3 p.m. On Wednesday, the Advance/SILive.com visited Taste of India II at 287 New Dorp Lane, which is open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, pickup and delivery from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from noon to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit tasteofindia2.com/. Staten Island restaurant owners: If you would like your establishment featured for free as part of Yes, Theyre Open, email reporter Victoria Priola at vpriola@siadvance.com. WANT MORE YES, THEYRE OPEN? Check out the listings below or check out all of our previous coverage here. Il Sogno, 26 Jefferson Blvd. Genki Sushi, 150 Greaves Lane Beso, 11 Schuyler St. Filoncino Cafe, 4569 Amboy Road The Colonnade Diner, 2001 Hylan Blvd. Joyces Tavern, 3823 Richmond Ave. Sagara Food City, 98 Victory Blvd. Twisted Vineyard, 500 Bay St. Chandigarh, April 14 : In a shocking incident, a Class 12 boy bludgeoned his bed-ridden 83-year-old grandmother to death in a fit of rage in a Punjab village over her insistence to study rather than spending too much time on mobile phones and loitering on a motorcycle. After committing the crime, the 16-year-old boy put her body on fire and locked himself in a room in his home to pretend that robbers did this act. The incident was reported in the Bassi Kale Khan village in Hariana tehsil in Hoshiarpur district on Monday. At the time of the crime the boy's parents were not at home. According to the police, the boy on Tuesday confessed that he killed his grandmother by hitting an iron rod on her head. He took cues from television crime serials to commit the crime. After the crime, the minor rang up his parents to inform them that four miscreants had come with an intention of robbery and had set the grandma's room on fire. When his parents returned, they found their son lying in a bed box with hands and feet tied with a cloth. The door of the room was locked from outside. The family informed the police about the crime. During his questioning, the boy confessed the crime, Superintendent of Police Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu told the media. He said the boy was inspired by the crime serials and was planning the murder for quite some time. The accused was sent to a juvenile home. (Reuters) -United Airlines said on Tuesday it has partnered with global firms including Nike Inc and Siemens AG in an "Eco-Skies Alliance" to finance use this year of about 3.4 million gallons of low-carbon, sustainable aviation fuel derived from trash. Though tiny compared with the 4.3 billion gallons of jet fuel that United consumed in 2019 prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount triples the roughly 1 million gallons of sustainable fuel it has used each year since 2016. Airlines have used sustainable fuel since 2008 as part of efforts to reduce outright emissions, but so far this represents barely 1 percent of the fuel used worldwide, industry groups say. Chicago-based United named 11 of more than a dozen global partners for the plan but did not disclose the cost, or how much each would contribute. Air transport accounts for 2 to 3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, the French aerospace association said on Tuesday. Environmental groups argue the sector's overall contribution is higher. Partners include companies with corporate or cargo deals with United, like Nike, Siemens, Palantir and Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. United said the project gives customers a way to help reduce the environmental impact of flying beyond buying carbon offsets and could help create more of a market for sustainable aviation fuels. "We'll see how it develops," Chief Executive Scott Kirby told reporters. "I think there's a huge appetite for it." The airline industry has focused more broadly on the purchase of carbon offsets to reduce the environmental impact of flying, pending the arrival of new technology to meet the sector's goal of halving net emissions by 2050 versus 2005. Environmental critics say offsets do not directly address climate goals and mask the problem of ongoing jet emissions. United, which along with some other carriers has said it wants to cut net emissions more aggressively by 100 percent by 2050, has criticized offsets and announced a recent investment in "carbon-capture" technology. It has invested in a sustainable aviation fuel producer called Fulcrum BioEnergy. "While we know that aircraft are never going to be completely decarbonized, we are not going to use offsets as the way to get to 100 percent green," Kirby said. Airline association IATA says life cycle greenhouse emissions from sustainable fuel can be at least 80 percent lower than normal fuel and are the only medium-term option for curbing emissions growth, since airlines cannot yet switch to electric planes. Delta Air Lines has said it plans to replace 10 percent of its jet fuel, currently refined from fossil fuel, with sustainable aviation fuel by the end of 2030. While using waste avoids taking land from food production, environmental groups like Transport & Environment say such supplies are limited and face competition from other sectors. (Tracy Rucinski and Ankit Ajmera / Reuters) (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Ankit Ajmera in BengaluruEditing by Tim Hepher and Matthew Lewis) Shares Outstanding: 265,821,467 Trading Symbols: TSX: GGD OTCQX: GLGDF HALIFAX, NS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - GoGold Resources Inc. (TSX: GGD) (OTCQX: GLGDF) ("GoGold", "the Company") is pleased to release the results of 6 diamond drill holes from the El Favor area in its Los Ricos North project. Hole LRGF-21-032 intersected 3.4m of 1,676 g/t silver equivalent ("AgEq") (See Table 1 for details including breakdown of silver and gold values), contained within 15.3m of 524 g/t AgEq, within a larger intersect from surface of 69.3m of 145 g/t AgEq. "El Favor continues to deliver high grade zones exceeding a kilo per ton surrounded by wide zones of potentially bulk mineable grades near surface," said Brad Langille, President and CEO. "With 9 drill rigs operating, we are aggressively advancing towards our initial resource estimate in Los Ricos North." Table 1: Drill Hole Intersections Hole ID Area From To Length1 Ag Au AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGF-21-032 Favor 0.0 69.3 69.3 107.8 0.49 144.6 incl. Guitarrillas 30.4 45.7 15.3 392.2 1.76 524.1 including 37.5 40.9 3.4 1,253.5 5.63 1,675.6 and Los Chivos 120.9 130.5 9.6 111.7 0.39 141.2 including 120.9 122.7 1.8 417.0 1.50 529.2 LRGF-21-034 Favor4 74.3 137.6 59.0 118.8 0.32 142.6 incl. Salomon 74.3 79.3 5.0 361.4 0.90 428.6 including 77.5 79.3 1.8 902.2 2.19 1,066.5 and Guitarrillas 156.7 159.5 2.8 109.7 0.16 121.6 LRGF-21-035 Salomon 102.2 103.7 1.5 147.8 0.37 175.4 and 111.1 127.1 16.1 96.6 0.21 112.6 including 122.7 126.1 3.4 187.2 0.41 218.1 and Guitarrillas 211.9 223.9 12.0 86.2 0.09 93.2 including 220.0 223.2 3.2 203.9 0.15 215.1 LRGF-21-036 Favor 54.1 57.1 3.0 49.1 0.06 53.4 LRGF-21-039 Favor 41.8 49.0 7.2 134.8 0.76 192.0 and Salomon5 70.2 95.7 23.3 92.1 0.22 108.5 including 89.5 91.5 2.0 550.3 1.43 657.7 Guitarrillas 168.9 181.8 12.9 254.1 0.81 314.8 including 168.9 177.0 8.2 392.5 1.25 486.2 including 171.0 173.7 2.7 919.9 2.85 1,133.5 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1. 3. Hole LRGF-21-038 assays are still pending. Hole LRGF-21-037 did not intersect significant mineralization. 4. Excludes 4.3m of historically mined void. 5. Excludes 2.3m of historically mined void. Three of the four major veins (Salomon, Guitarrillas and Los Chivos) appear to converge into a 100m wide zone at the western end of the El Favor deposit in the vicinity of the Hundido Pit at an elevation of 1300m. The wallrock in between the veins is strongly silicified, altered and mineralized. This mineralization can be observed in outcrop at the Hundido Pit, underground in the Salomon Cross Cut and in the road cuts along the north side of the El Favor hill and in the drill holes. More holes are required in this area to determine the strike length and potential depth of these wide combined zones. The Eastern end of the El Orito deposit (as presently defined) is located about 800 metres along strike to the west of the Hundido Pit (see Figure 2). Wide zones of precious and base metal mineralization were cut by drill holes at El Orito at elevations between 600 to 800m. Geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs in the area between El Orito and the Hundido Pit have been accelerated and given priority. Table 2: Drill Hole Locations Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Length LRGF-21-032 585240 2336495 1350.0 180 -45 202.5 LRGF-21-034 585182 2336510 1318.0 180 -45 203.6 LRGF-21-035 585277 2336535 1315.0 180 -45 265.3 LRGF-21-036 585377 2336410 1335.0 180 -45 169.2 LRGF-21-037 585325 2336430 1355.0 180 -45 131.2 LRGF-21-039 585327 2336496 1338.0 180 -45 242.0 Figure 1: Plan View La Trini to El Favor Area of Los Ricos North Figure 2: El Favor Drill Hole Locations Figure 3: Favor-Orito Long Section Figure 4: Cross Section LRGF-21-032 VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps. Access the GoGold Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com. The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for GoGold can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/9404 and on the Company's website at: www.gogoldresources.com. Los Ricos District Exploration ProjectsThe Company's two exploration projects at its Los Ricos property are in Jalisco state, Mexico. The Los Ricos South Project began in March 2019 and an initial resource was announced on July 29, 2020 which indicated a Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 63.7 million ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq contained in 10.0 million tonnes, and an Inferred Resource of 19.9 million ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq contained in 3.3 million tonnes. An initial PEA on the project was announced on January 20, 2021 indicating an NPV5% of US$295M. The Los Ricos North Project was launched in March 2020 and includes drilling at the El Favor, La Trini, Casados and El Orito targets. During 2020, GoGold's exploration team identified over 100 targets on the Los Ricos North properties, demonstrating the significant exploration potential. The Company plans to drill 10 of these targets as part of its 2021 drilling program which is planned to exceed 100,000 metres of drilling and will be one of the largest in Mexico. Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work. The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the ActLabs facility in Zacatecas, Mexico. ActLabs crushes the samples and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 150 mesh (106m). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 50-gram charge by fire assay (Code 1A2-50) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 1A3-50). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code 1F2 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 8-Ag FA-GRAV Ag). Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed GoGold's QA/QC protocols. Mr. David Duncan, P. Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information of this release. About GoGold ResourcesGoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States. This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Los Ricos South and North projects, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, including the intention to undertake further exploration at Los Ricos North, and the prospect of further discoveries there, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gogold-drills-1-676-gt-ageq-over-3-4m-within-69-3m-of-145-gt-ageq-from-surface-at-el-favor-in-los-ricos-north-301268333.html SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc. CALGARY - WestJet says it will extend its temporary suspension of international sun flights to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean until June 4. Grounded WestJet Boeing 737 Max aircrafts are shown at the airline's facilities in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, May 7, 2019. WestJet says it will extend its temporary suspension of international sun flights to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean until June 4. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY - WestJet says it will extend its temporary suspension of international sun flights to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean until June 4. Canadian airlines in January suspended all flights to sun destinations until April 30 at the request of the federal government. WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims said in a release that it made the decision with the clear expectation that as more Canadians are vaccinated, government policy will change. He says guests with affected itineraries will be notified of the cancellations. WestJet says since Nov. 1, 2020, it has been providing refunds for all travellers where WestJet initiated flight cancellations. Sims says WestJet continues to advocate for the replacement of mandatory hotel quarantines with a testing regime that is equitable and consistent with global standards at all points of entry into Canada. "Alongside an accelerated and successful vaccine rollout, this policy transition will support the safe restart of travel and help stimulate the Canadian economy, where one in ten jobs are tourism-related," he said Tuesday. "A safe travel-restart framework is the most effective way to support those interests and restore jobs." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2021 Legal Link Confidential Logo Our motto is FIRM: Find, Interview, Represent, Match professionals in legal pathways with the right mix of consultative matching, compassion, collaboration and balance. Launching into brand new employment markets in 2020quite possibly the worst year for the legal placement industry due to the unique characteristics of the pandemicwas difficult at best. Yet, the leadership at Legal Link Confidential (LLC) had a vision and counted on their 15 years of legal placement and partnering experience to make this bold move. We focused on positioning ourselves with the largest firms in Washington DC, New York, and Charlotte, and proving with both credibility and work ethic that we could bring high-quality candidates when law firms were ready for them, said Geoff Wexler, principal at LLC. Its now paying dividends for our legal placement clients. Last June when there was less than one legal associate openings for most large law firms, this placement group took the opportunity to grow and enhance their business firm relationships. Those numbers were anemic, said Wexler. We knew momentum could be generated by nurturing each professional relationship when the economy strengthened. LLC now has strategic placement relationships with 30 of the top 100 law firms, according to the American Lawyer (AmLaw). Wexler believes strongly in personal connections with both client and attorney talent. He focuses on connecting the right candidates with these law firms. Many organizations in placement include law as a part of what they do, said Wexler. This is all that we do. Our motto is FIRM: Find, Interview, Represent, Match professionals in legal pathways with the right mix of consultative matching, compassion, collaboration and balance. Conversely, now that number of openings has ballooned almost to 25X factor in growth since June 2020, LLCs approach is both discrete and elite. Hiring firms can try to bring a laundry list of candidates to the law offices, in hopes of making one of them stick. Were particular about which candidate goes to the legal team for a confidential review and interview. Bad matches dont do anyone any good, so wed rather minimize the time commitment for candidates and the clients alike. In less than a year, this strategic launch has resulted in over 300 active legal openings, mostly at the staff, associate and counselor levels. The targeting and re-engagement have swung the momentum. There are definitely opportunities in nearly all sophisticated areas of law practice for attorneys looking to explore their options." You can follow Legal Link Confidential on their Company Blog, their Updated Job Listings or on LinkedIn Formerly called Hillcrest Petroleum, it is funding its clean-tech transformation with oil production revenue Developing technologies to boost the performance of applications requiring precise control of rotating electric machines CEO says Hillcrests clean energy initiatives have limitless potential What Hillcrest Energy does: Ltd ( ) ( ) (FRA:7HI.F) is transitioning from fossil fuel production to clean-technology innovation and intellectual property (IP) development. Formerly called Hillcrest Petroleum, the company is funding its transformation with oil production revenue from its legacy West Hazel oil field in Saskatchewan. Hillcrest is now developing clean energy technologies that advance the performance of any application requiring precise control of rotating electric machines, namely electric motors and powertrains to increase the power/speed/torque performance of an electrical vehicle (EV) or extend its range. Such technology could have applications in the aeronautical and nautical industries as well. The Vancouver-based company also sees high-value opportunities in the power-systems market for both businesses and residential communities where energy efficiency and energy storage solutions are fundamental to achieving carbon neutrality and energy self-sufficiency. Hillcrest's motor and generator control system technology can effectively generate, store and deploy clean power from renewable sources such as electromagnetic electricity generators and wind turbines, among many others. In 2020, the company gained a foothold in the clean-tech market with the creation of ALSET Innovations Ltd, a joint-venture with Oropass Ltd, under which both companies will license technology that has been developed in Canada over the last 20 years and shown to increase electrical generation efficiency by as much as 80% in lab tests. Hillcrest also formed another clean-tech joint venture, with Extreme Vehicle Battery Technologies Corp (CSE:ACDC), a battery technology company which has exclusive North and South American as well as European and African distribution rights for patented battery management systems (BMS) and energy storage systems (ESS). In addition, the company owns ANIGO Technologies Inc, an engineering product development company and developer of proven electric machine control software specifically designed for use with electric motors, electric generators, and other integrated power systems How is it doing: For Hillcrest, April 2021 marked a major turning point in its transition from dirty tech to cleantech. In the space of one week, the company announced its name change and the landmark acquisition of ANIGO as Hillcrest promised to continue to target similar strategic partnerships that can scale quickly and align with its interests. Around that time, Hillcrest also closed on a $5 million equity facility which, in addition to $1.27 million raised in January, will help finance its transformation, and it started trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the new ticker symbol HEAT to underscore its new strategy and business model. ANIGO's software IP has the potential to greatly enhance the performance of any application requiring precise control of rotating electric machines. That control could also be useful in emerging technologies such as the blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and other applications. When the company acquired ANIGO, it also got Ari Berger who grew and commercialized ANIGO's IP over the last several years. Berger is now Hillcrests chief technology officer and the company has said he will continue building on ANIGO's existing technology to deliver new Hillcrest-owned IP and technology. The company also signed a five-year technology collaboration agreement in April with Systematec GmbH, a German specialist engineering innovator and component designer to Airbus, Audi, BMW, Continental, Volvo Truck Corporation, and other hybrid-auto/EV and electrical equipment manufacturers. Technical teams on both continents will jointly manage engineering activities to leverage Hillcrest's electric machine control software and develop high-value power electronics and electromechanical IP and technology for commercialization. All products and IP developed through the collaboration will be owned by Hillcrest. Hillcrest is also advancing its two joint ventures -- ALSET and Extreme Vehicle Battery. Under the ALSET partnership, the company holds a 50% interest and expects to receive between 25% and 50% of total net value generated from licensing, marketing, and deploying the electrical generation efficiency technology, as well as management and advisory fees. Prototype applications of the technology have successfully been tested on an electric motorcycle. If scaled up to an EV, there is the potential to extend the range from 400 miles to over 700 miles from a single battery charge. ALSET also plans to license the technology to companies manufacturing electricity generation equipment like diesel generators and wind turbines. Under the Extreme Vehicle Battery partnership, both companies will contribute their respective clean energy IPs, technology, specialized technical capability, and management to develop and commercialize scalable renewable energy management systems to service the BMS (ie EVs) and ESS industries. For energy management, potential commercial applications include residential and business communities moving towards a carbon-neutral, self-sufficient eco-status. In the meantime, the company will continue to pump oil at its West Hazel oil field in Saskatchewan to generate revenues to help fund its transition from dirty black to clean green. Four active wells are currently producing around 110 barrels of oil per day and a new well is in the works for 2021 -- which is expected to deliver about $70,000 per month in additional net cash flow at current oil prices. And as part of its commitment to responsible operations, Hillcrest plans to conduct significant field remediation activities earlier than required under current regulations -- which will reduce its long-term abandonment liabilities and underscore the wider ongoing objective of reducing the companys environmental footprint. Inflection points: Anticipate revenue from ALSET JV Expect to drill a fifth oil well at West Hazel Target strategic clean-tech partnerships that can scale quickly What the boss says: Our pivot from traditional oil and gas production toward a more diversified business model that transforms earnings into investment into clean energy technologies is aggressive and important. We intend to maximize revenue from the field which is providing seed funding to scale-up activity and focus on creating transformative energy technologies, Hillcrest CEO Don Currie said recently. Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham Police have found a new clue in their renewed search for a couple who vanished on a camping trip more than a year ago while they were having a secret affair as they declared 'somebody else is involved' in the pair's baffling disappearance. Detectives uncovered two shovels as they were trawling through dense bushland at an 'incredibly remote' location at Mount Hotham in the Victorian Alps about midday on Wednesday while desperately looking for signs of Russell Hill and Carol Clay. The shovels were placed into plastic bags and carried from the scene by officers so they could be forensically examined. 'At this stage... as to the relevance, or its importance, to the investigation, that's still to be assessed at this time,' Detective Acting Inspector Tony Combridge of the Missing Persons Squad said. Mr Hill, 74, and 73-year-old Ms Clay were last heard from when he made a call on March 20 last year via HF radio, saying he was in the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's high country. His car and the campsite were found burnt near Dry River Creek Track in the valley a day later. Large scale searches of the surrounding rugged bushland turned up no sign of the couple, but Victoria Police began searching an entirely new area near Mount Hotham on Wednesday morning after receiving 'fairly significant' new information. Investigators are still trying to determine how Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, disappeared while camping in the rugged bushland of the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's East Gippsland region on March 19, 2020 Police carrying out a renewed search for the pair on Wednesday found two shovels which were placed in plastic bags and taken away for forensic testing 'The decision to search in that area was made based upon information uncovered during the investigation. The information has been accrued over a period of time,' Insp. Combridge said. The information came from 'multiple sources' and the police are 'pursuing a number of lines of enquiry', although Insp. Combridge said they have no suspects at this stage. When asked if police were expecting to find the couple's bodies at Mount Hotham, Insp. Combridge replied: 'I'm not really expecting to find anything but I'm hopeful we will find some answers for the family'. 'These are particularly challenging circumstances that we find ourselves in. It is an incredibly remote area. There are parts of that bush that have probably never have been walked on by humans - it is that remote. 'Some of this bush is so thick we might not find what we're looking for.' The search site near the Great Alpine Road is 100km away from their campsite. Police investigations have indicated Mr Hill and Ms Clay spent the night at Howitt High Plains on the night of March 19 before entering the Wonnangatta Valley on March 20 and vanishing without a trace. 'I don't think anything's off the table but we look at what's in front of us and the likely scenario is that somebody else is involved. As for finding an outcome, we could be one phone call away,' Insp. Combridge said. Victoria Police want to speak to anyone who was in the area around Howitt High Plains or the Zeka Spur Track between March 19-20 of last year. They have also put out an appeal for information for anyone who was in at the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between March 20 to 24. Detectives want to speak to the driver of a white ute that was seen near the couple's campsite on March 19. The pair had been involved in a secret affair for years and had gone on the camping trip before their site was found burned to the ground two days later The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne Investigators from the missing persons squad have long worked off the theory the pair were set upon by unknown attackers. Insp. Combridge, previously said police were not giving up on the case despite the difficulty. 'It has been over 12 months since Russell Hill and Carol Clay disappeared and we are committed to finding the answers on what happened to them,' he said on Friday. 'We will continue to search the area and encourage anyone with information to come forward, no matter how small they think that information might be.' An earlier school of thought from police was that Mr Hill and Mrs Gray were ambushed or shot by illegal deer hunters they either stumbled upon or who they spotted with a now-missing drone. Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told A Current Affair officers are chasing all leads and have zeroed in on a driver of a white ute that was seen in the valley a day before the pair disappeared. 'It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carol's disappearance but we can't afford to leave any stone unturned,' he said. Police have noted the toilet at the campsite had been unused, suggesting the couple had not had time to settle in before they disappeared. Russell Hill and Carol Clay (pictured) were last heard from on March 20 last year Mr Hill's best friend Rob Ashlin (pictured) believe the couple had been attacked during their camping trip Friend Rob Ashlin said their bodies could have been disposed of in the sprawling bushland. 'The fact that it's been reported that those sleeping bags were missing, makes me feel that those sleeping bags were carted out of there and... used as body bags,' he said. 'There are a lot of places the country is very rugged where they can be got rid of, never to be found again.' Detectives have established Mr Hill had camped alone in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between March 11 and 13 before returning a week later with his lover. An older person or pair were later seen in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on March 22 and 23 but investigators have never been able to establish if this was Mr Hill and Ms Clay. Mr Hill (pictured) had left his Drouin home on March 19 for a camping trip along the Dargo River in Victoria's northeast and planned to leave the region on March 26 Victorian police believe it is 'highly unlikely' that either Ms Clay (pictured) or Mr Hill are alive after they went missing last year Detectives are calling for anyone in this area, including the pair themselves, to come forward. It is still to be determined whether the pair's disappearance is suspicious. Ms Clay had told friends she was expecting to return by March 29. 'The grief that these families have had to deal with over the past year, coupled with immense public speculation, is immensely difficult to comprehend and our thoughts are with them on this anniversary,' Det Insp Stamper said. 'I know they will be hanging on every phone call and every knock on the door, hoping they will finally get some answers. 'Sadly, at this stage we believe it is highly unlikely that either Russell or Carol are still alive.' MOSCOW -- Aleksandr Vorobyov, who worked as an assistant to President Vladimir Putin's envoy to the Urals region, has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison on a charge of high treason. A Moscow court sentenced Vorobyov on April 14 after a trial that was held behind closed doors due to classified materials in the case. Vorobyov was detained in July 2019 and fired shortly after the arrest. His chief, Nikolai Tsukanov, left the post of presidential envoy in the Ural Federal District more than a year after Vorobyov was charged with high treason. At the time, Tsukanov was a member of Russia's Security Council, the State Border Commission, and the Presidential Council on Priority Projects. He quit those posts after his aide's arrest. Media reports at the time said that investigators had found a Polish passport and a recording device in Vorobyov's possession at the time of his arrest. Vorobyov was stripped of the rank of state councilor of the third degree, which corresponds to the military rank of major general, and expelled from the ruling United Russia party. The affair was the first publicly known case of a government official being arrested on suspicions of treason in post-Soviet Russia. Since then, the number of cases of alleged high treason in general has increased dramatically in Russia. One of the latest high-profile high treason cases involves Ivan Safronov, a journalist and an aide to the Russian Roskosmos space agency chief, Dmitry Rogozin. Safronov was arrested on July 7 and later charged with passing classified material to the Czech Republic. He has denied the charge. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took a sharp dig at PM-Modi led government after the Centre gave a nod to fasttrack the emergency approval for the foreign-produced anti-coronavirus vaccines. Gandhi, who had earlier urged the government to allow foreign vaccines in the country, was sharply criticised by several BJP leaders for his demand. The Wayanad MP wrote a tweet that implied that the Centre's decision of allowing foreign-made vaccines in India had been prompted by his party's suggestions. Gandhi tweeted, citing Mahatma Gandhi's quote: "First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win". He also tagged a media report, saying the Centre has fast-tracked emergency approval for foreign-produced jabs. First they ignore you then they laugh at you then they fight you, then you win.#vaccinepic.twitter.com/FvfmTjJ7bl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 14, 2021 Gandhi, on Friday, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to fasttrack approval for vaccines. However, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had accused Gandhi of lobbying for pharma companies by asking for arbitrary approval for foreign vaccines. "After failing as a part-time politician, has Rahul Gandhi switched to full-time lobbying? First, he lobbied for fighter plane companies by trying to derail India's acquisition programme. Now he is lobbying for pharma companies by asking for arbitrary approvals for foreign vaccines," Prasad had said in a series of tweets. With an aim to expand the basket of COVID-19 vaccines and enhance the pace of inoculation in India, the central government has fast-tracked emergency approval for foreign-produced jabs that have been granted similar clearances in other countries. The move is significant as it may make available several vaccines, including those made by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, in India with certain conditions. This week, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave approval to the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, developed by a Moscow laboratory, for use in an emergency situation, the country's sovereign wealth fund informed. Moreover, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said it expects over 50 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine to be manufactured in India by this summer. Sputnik V will be the third vaccine to be used in India against coronavirus. In January, DCGI had given the emergency use authorisation for two COVID-19 vaccines -- Covaxin of Bharat Biotech and Covishield of Oxford-AstraZeneca manufactured by Serum Institute of India in Pune. Also read: Covid-19 vaccination in India: How to register on CoWIN app, download vaccine certificate Also read: Tika Utsav: Over 25 lakh people get COVID-19 vaccine on day 3 Also read: Sputnik V in India: Dr Reddy's to begin supply of COVID-19 vaccine imported from Russia in May London, April 14, 2021 (SPS) - In 2020, Morocco has illegally exported 1. 1 million tonnes of phosphate from Western Sahara, with a value of $170.8 million, said a Western Sahara Resources Watch (WSRW) report. The observatory in charge of monitoring the exploitation of Western Saharas natural resources (WSRW) published on Tuesday a report pointing out the transport of 22 vessels to different destinations during 2020. India and New Zealand were the first importers of this mineral after their agreement with the Moroccan national phosphate company OCP Group. OCP SA has no right to export phosphate from Western Sahara and the export remains approximately at the same level as in the record-low 2019, added Western Sahara Resources Watch. WSRW revealed that India and New Zealand respectively imported 64% and 20.41% of phosphate, while the remaining mineral went to Brazil, Japan and most likely to China and Philippines. Mineral equipment suppliers Continental and Epiroc have ended their collaboration with Western Sahara, after investor pressure, added the same source. The illegally exploited phosphate rock is an important source of income for the Moroccan government, which holds large parts of the Western Sahara territory under military occupation, contrary to international law, stated the report that recalled the constant complaints of the Sahrawi people against the trade, both to the UN and to the foreign companies involved in the exploitation of Western Saharas natural resources. Last February, WSRW has issued a warning to the Brazilian companies Cefertil and Copebras against the use of phosphate from Western Sahara in violation to international law. The observatory that traced back the phosphate cargo vessels travelling from Western Sahara to Santos, located in the state of Sao Paolo and to an industrial site in Cubatao, has reported observing since July 2019 many phosphate shipments for the purpose of producing fertilizers. WSRW has listed some shipments, including Orient Tribune bulk vessel which dropped anchor in July 2019 to the ports of Salvador and Antonina, Wulin vessel that landed in Santos in October 2019 and the three shipments of 2020 that jointly transported about 100,000 tonnes of phosphate from Western Sahara to Brazil. The Western Sahara phosphate trade is so controversial. The UN considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory () As stated by the International Court of Justice and confirmed by four consecutive decisions of the European Court of Justice () Morocco has no legal mandate to govern Western Sahara, stated the observatory in a letter addressed to Brazilian companies; namely, Cefertil and Copebras, a subsidiary of the Chinese company China Molybdenum.SPS 12/090/700 The city-owned Mas property could become a manufacturing corporate park and extending Constitution Boulevard North is the key to making it a reality. Mayor Mark Lauretti at a joint meeting of the Planning and Zoning and Inland Wetlands commissions earlier this month presented concepts for developing the nearly 70-acre parcel near Bridgeport Avenue, with plans that included extending Constitution Boulevard to reach Shelton Avenue/Route 108. The Mas property extends about halfway to Route 108 from Bridgeport Avenue, and the city has secured the rights-of-way for the rest, he said. The hour is now, Lauretti said. The economic cycle comes once every 10, 15 years, and if you miss it, you will be left behind. When people are ready to put their oar in the water, we have to be ready as well. Lauretti said he called the joint meeting to open a dialogue with both commissions, since the city would need a zone change before any work could be done on the site. Members of both commissions sought assurance that the development would not adversely affect the surrounding residential neighborhoods. To that, Lauretti asked that both commissions rewatch a drone flyover of the area, which shows how the city melds residential with similar developments. The vision is great ... I love it, P&Z Commissioner Mark Widomski said. The Mas property was the citys first Planned Development District in the 1980s, but the designation has expired. Lauretti said a new zone change request would call for the property to move to light industrial or another similar zone. Much of the land is zoned residential. There has been significant interest from light industrial (operations) over the past nine months, Lauretti said. These are some national name brands. Lauretti said one major manufacturer whose name he would not give because negotiations are ongoing is seeking a 270,000-square-foot building on the property. While negotiating with the company, Lauretti said he has since been approached by two other companies each eyeing 100,000-square-foot buildings. We have a significant number of companies from Connecticut and New York looking to relocate here, Lauretti said. They are seeking to consolidate and bring their headquarters here. They want to be in Shelton, for many reasons. The companies, according to Lauretti, are major manufacturers, which would also distribute their products from the location. This is all contingent on getting access and the road constructed that will not be a small task, Lauretti said. But I think at this point I think the economic viability for this type of use is now there. The uses in the whole area would be consistent it would become a manufacturing corporate park. In 1988, the P&Z approved a Planned Development District for most of the Mas property that included four 10-story office buildings and an 82-unit residential condominium. The project collapsed in the real estate crash of the late 1980s. The lead development entity was Citytrust, a Bridgeport-based bank that no longer exists. The city bought the land after it went into foreclosure from the FDIC and got an adjoining small parcel from the FDIC once environmental remediation was completed. The Mas property is now vacant. It is mostly wooded with considerable stone ledges and several ponds, including one some 600 feet long and 250 to 300 feet wide, and lies between Bridgeport Avenue, Cots Street, Tisi Drive, Sunwood Condos on Nells Rock Road, Regent Drive, Walnut Avenue, and Kings Highway. Part of the land abuts the back of the Perry Hill School property. Lauretti said some of the lands rougher features could be terraced into the landscape. He also said some of the interested companies recommended the creation of walking trails. The wetlands features are what are attracting interested companies, Lauretti said. Lauretti said the April 7 meeting was held to give commissioners a flavor of where we would and could go depending on the challenges. Plans on the city website show an extended roadway with seven separate lots, one of which is 10.6 acres of designated open space. Each of the remaining lots has one structure on it. In all, there is a 276,250-square-foot building, two 105,000-square-foot buildings, and two 34,250-square-foot buildings, along with related parking for each separate structure. Constitutional Boulevard North would extend northerly, terminating at Shelton Avenue/Route 108 where it intersects with Nells Rock Road, according to Lauretti. Lauretti said the road work would cost between $10 and $12 million. He said he plans to seek state and federal highway funding to cover roadway development. There is a lot of money out there right now ... the government is printing a lot money, Lauretti said. The government likes shovel-ready jobs, and this is about as shovel-ready as it gets. Its right in their wheel house. Its economic development, and its jobs. Im hopeful the Lamont administration will see the value of this project, Lauretti added, saying that in his 30 years as mayor he has received funds from four different governors and five U.S. Presidents. These governors understand the value a place like Shelton brings to the state. Weve become an employment hub, he said. Lauretti said plans remain preliminary. The mayor said he is working with the citys commissions, with engineering firms and the State Traffic Commission. The last eight months have been very hectic, Lauretti said. brian.gioiele@ hearstmediact.com [April 14, 2021] Perimeter Medical Imaging AI Announces Important Milestone in ATLAS AI Project with Standalone AI Algorithm Achieving Key Performance Metrics 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 high unmet medical needs, today announced significant progress within its ATLAS AI Project, an initiative aimed at advancing Perimeter's next-gen artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools through clinical development. Perimeter's proprietary "ImgAssist" AI technology has now been trained with more than 400 volumes of images of excised breast tissue collected during the first stage of its ATLAS AI project. Importantly, Perimeter's proprietary algorithm has achieved key sensitivity and specificity benchmarks, including an AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 0.94, which is a measure of how well the algorithm can differentiate between suspicious and non-suspicious breast tissue areas. This significant milestone supports the advancement of the ATLAS AI Project to the next stage, which involves a "reader study" to conduct an evaluation of clinician performance when using ImgAssist offline (not during a surgery) to interpret images from breast conserving surgeries. It is anticipated that the data from the reader study will support development plans to advance Perimeter's Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging System with ImgAssist into a larger, randomized pivotal study later this year to evaluate its safety and effectiveness. Jeremy Sobotta, Perimeter's Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are pleased to reach this important milestone within our ATLAS AI project, having achieved these exciting results with our proprietary AI algorithm. We are driven by our belief that Perimeter's novel imaging platform with AI has the potential to transform cancer surgery and reduce costs in the healthcare system." About the ATLAS AI Project Perimeter is advancing its proprietary, next-gen artificial intelligence technology and machine learning tools through clinical development under its ATLAS AI project, which is made possible, in part, by a $7.4 million grant awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), a leading state body funding cancer research. The first stage of the ATLAS AI Project involves collecting images of breast tissue samples from patients at leading pathology centers in Texas. These images are precisely labeled and signed off by a board-certified pathologist. In the second stage of the project, the Perimeter team is using this labeled dataset of breast tissue images to train and test Perimeter's AI algorithm, and further test its efficacy in a reader study. In the final stage of the project, Perimeter intends to conduct a randomized, multi-site, pivotal study to evaluate the Perimeter OCT Imaging System with ImgAssist AI against the current standard of care and assess the impact on re-operation rates for patients undergoing breast conservation surgery. 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 and commercializing advanced imaging tools that allow surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists to visualize microscopic tissue structures during a clinical procedure. Perimeter's Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging System 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. Perimeter's OCT Imaging System 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 advancing its proprietary, next-gen artificial intelligence technology and machine learning tools through clinical development under its ATLAS AI project, which is made possible, in part, by a $7.4 million grant awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Perimeter's 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 company's dedication to helping surgeons, radiologists and pathologists use Perimeter's imaging technology and AI 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 management's future outlook and anticipated events or results, and may include statements or information regarding the timing of and results from clinical studies, the clinical development of Perimeter's ImgAssist AI technology, the commercialization of Perimeter's 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 management's 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 Perimeter's control. Such forward-looking statements reflect Perimeter's 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 Perimeter's 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 Perimeter's 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/20210414005249/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Natural News) The top disease control official in China has admitted that the country is formally considering mixing multiple Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines as a way of boosting vaccine efficacy. Director George Fu Gao of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the Chinese-made vaccines dont have very high protection rates. We will solve the issue that current vaccines dont have very high protection rates, said Gao during a presentation on the Chinese vaccines and immunization strategies at a medical conference in China. Its now under consideration whether we should use different vaccines from different technical lines for the immunization process. Gao did not clarify how exactly Chinese researchers will mix the different vaccines, but he did say that the Chinese CDC was taking steps to optimize the vaccines. This includes mixing different vaccines, changing the number of doses and changing the time between shots. China currently has three vaccines that are widely used around the world. These were made by the private Sinovac Biotech and the state-owned Sinopharm. Sinovacs phase III trial in Brazil reported an efficacy rate of 49.1 percent. Sinopharms trial in Peru reported an efficacy rate of 33.3 percent for its Wuhan-made vaccine and 11.5 percent for the one made in Beijing. (Related: China says people who take Sinopharm vaccine now need a THIRD DOSE to boost its effectiveness.) Those phase III trials are below the 50 percent threshold set by the World Health Organization for a coronavirus vaccine to be considered suitably effective. Vaccines made by Sinovac and Sinopharm have made up the majority of Chinese vaccines distributed to dozens of nations including Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia, Hungary and Brazil. Gao immediately walks back comments regarding efficacy of Chinese coronavirus vaccines In a message to the Associated Press, Gao immediately denied admitting that the Chinese vaccines were not effective. According to him, he was talking about the effectiveness of vaccines in the world, not particularly for China. He refused to respond to further questions regarding which vaccines, in particular, he was referring to. Instead, Gao redirected journalists to an interview he did on Sunday, April 11, with state-owned tabloid Global Times. During this interview, Gao said his admission was a complete misunderstanding. The protection rates of all vaccines in the world are sometimes high, and sometimes low, said Gao. How to improve their efficacy is a question that needs to be considered by scientists around the world. But Gaos initial comments regarding the effectiveness of Chinas coronavirus vaccines might cause concern in the many countries that rely on the jabs manufactured in the communist nation. The situation was made even worse by the fact that Gao admitted in March that two doses of Chinese-made vaccine may not be enough and a third dose may be required to prevent severe infections. The antibodies in the body [produced after taking the vaccines] may not be so good for preventing respiratory infections, said Gao during an interview with state-owned media outlet CCTV. Even Chinese citizens are becoming wary of the Chinese vaccines, especially since Hong Kong authorities announced that at least 12 people have died after receiving a Sinovac vaccine. These same authorities were quick to deny any connection between the vaccine and the causes of death. There may even be evidence that Chinese authorities are attempting to lessen the number of people who could die after receiving its vaccines by preventing a lot of people from taking them. Zhou Na, a resident of the city of Qingdao in eastern China, told The Epoch Times during a phone interview that she knows at least one person who died after getting vaccinated. The doctor [that took care of him] said he had chronic diseases and didnt read the vaccines manual carefully, said Zhou. The hospital said that the death isnt a medical malpractice, and refused to pay any compensation to the family. Zhou admitted that before getting vaccinated she was forced to sign a multi-page document that listed the different kinds of people who cannot be vaccinated. The document is very long, she said. We thought we were healthy. We just signed the paper [without reading] and got the shot. Learn more about the many different coronavirus vaccines made around the world, including those made by China, by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com APNews.com Reuters.com TheGuardian.com Bombay Shaving Company, a premium personal care brand for men & women, has appointed Gaurav Anand as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. At Bombay Shaving Company, Gaurav will be responsible for driving business critical mandates across modern trade distribution, salon partnerships and new brand scale-up. He will also be taking on a people development role as a leader in the company. Previously, Gaurav worked with Reckitt for over 7 years and performed different roles in sales and marketing. He was majorly responsible for the P&L Management, Strategic Sales Planning and Execution as well as Distribution Management. Before joining Bombay Shaving Company, Gaurav spearheaded Zomatos Central India region followed by Strategic Initiatives for two years. As an Omni-channel brand, Bombay Shaving Company has created a niche in both digital commerce alongside modern-trade shelves by bringing mens and womens grooming products that are powered by Superfoods like Turmeric, Charcoal, Coffee, Aloe Vera and Onion. These solutions are big category disruptors and unique to the brand. They also have a range of Fitkari & Lavender based post-shave gels, which are therapeutic and ideal for sensitive skin. The brand is focussed on going back to nature to bring products that are good for you and for the planet. Their range of face razors for women is 80% biodegradable and made of wheat extracts. The metal razor for men ensures that over 10 plastic blades every year per user is saved from going into a landfill. A conscious, sustainability focussed, superfoods powered brand, each product line is SLS and Paraben free and without any toxic chemicals. Speaking on his appointment, Shantanu Deshpande, founder CEO of Visage Lines shares, "We are glad to have Gaurav join our leadership team. He has the right mix of large organisation thinking and ability to take agile decisions, which is imperative to scale emerging consumer businesses. His tenure at Reckitt and Zomato, coupled with strong first principles in business make him an asset to our fast-paced, high-growth organisation." I am deeply passionate about building and scaling new-age consumer goods brands. We are on a very interesting growth journey and Shantanu has a fantastic vision of the way we are becoming a house of brands and solving critical consumer problems. Through this year, we will be capturing high share-of-category across channels and geographies for accelerated growth. It is very rewarding to work with an agile, robust and experienced management team that is creating many FMCG 2.0 brands, says Gaurav Anand (Newser) A one-time California man who bilked wine collectors out of millions by selling cheaper booze he rebottled in his kitchen has been deported to his native Indonesia, US immigration officials said Tuesday, calling him a "a public safety threat because of his aggravated felony conviction." Rudy Kurniawan, 44, came to the US on a student visa in the 1990s, unsuccessfully sought political asylum, and was ordered to voluntarily leave the country in 2003. He stayed on illegally, authorities said. In a public black eye for the wine industry, prosecutors at Kurniawan's New York trial said he made millions of dollars from 2004 to 2012 by putting less-expensive Napa and Burgundy wines into counterfeit bottles at his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia. The scheme was recounted in the 2016 Netflix documentary, Sour Grapes, and in a March episode of ABCs The Con. Among the details, per the AP: story continues below Kurniawan built a reputation as a buyer and seller of rare wines and netted tens of millions of dollars at wine auctions. Other collectors dubbed him "Dr. Conti" for his love of a Burgundy wine, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. Kurniawan's trial featured testimony from billionaire yachtsman, entrepreneur, and wine investor William Koch, who said he was conned and cheated by Kurniawan into paying $2.1 million for 219 fake bottles of wine. A wine expert testified that 19,000 counterfeit wine bottle labels representing 27 of the world's best wines were collected from Kurniawan's property. An FBI raid on the home in 2012 also turned up hundreds of bottles, corks, and stamps. In one auction in 2006, Kurniawan sold $24.7 million in wine, a record for a single consignee. However, the scheme began to unravel after several consignments he submitted for auction were found to be fake. In 2007, Christie's auction house in Los Angeles pulled a consignment of what was supposed to be magnums of 1982 Chateau Le Pin after the company said the bottles were fake. In 2008, 22 lots of Domaine Ponsot wine valued at more than $600,000 were pulled from a sale amid questions about their authenticity. One bottle of Domaine Ponsot that Kurniawan attempted to sell at auction in 2008 was passed off as having been made in 1929, even though the winemaker didnt begin estate bottling until 1934. Others were billed as having been bottled at a specific vineyard between 1945 and 1971, even though Domaine Ponsot said it didnt start using that vineyard until 1982. Kurniawan also once consigned to an auction more magnums of a 1947 Chateau Lafleur than were actually produced, prosecutors said. In all, Kurniawan may have sold as many as 12,000 bottles of counterfeit wine, many of which may still remain in collections. Prosecutors said money from the fraud funded a lavish lifestyle in suburban Los Angeles that included a Lamborghini and other luxury cars, designer clothing, and fine food and drinks. Kurniawan was convicted of mail and wire fraud in 2013 in a New York federal court and spent seven years in prison. He was deported after being released from prison into immigration custody last November. At his sentencing, Kurniawan was ordered to pay $28.4 million in restitution to seven victims and to forfeit $20 million in property. (Read more Rudy Kurniawan stories.) American colleges and universities hope to return to pre-COVID life in the autumn. Some schools are urging students to get the vaccine but others are wondering if they should or legally could require it. Colleges and universities that plan to return to in-person teaching have launched campaigns to get students vaccinated before the summer. Universities including Rutgers, Brown, Cornell and Northeastern recently told students they must get vaccinated before returning to classes in the autumn. They hope to reach herd immunity among the student population. They believe it would permit them to lift space restrictions. It takes away any ambiguity about whether individuals should be vaccinated, said Kenneth Henderson. He is the head of Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He added that making sure students are vaccinated will tell the surrounding town or city that we are taking all appropriate measures. Northeastern and other colleges requiring shots believe they have the legal right to demand students be vaccinated. It is not unusual for colleges to require students to be vaccinated for other diseases. Last year, a court let stand a flu shot requirement at the University of California. Leave the decision to students However, some colleges believe they cannot legally require vaccinations and are leaving the decisions to students. Officials at Virginia Tech University say they cannot legally require the vaccine because it has not been given full approval by the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has only approved some vaccines for emergency use in the U.S. Legal experts say the COVID-19 vaccines emergency use approval makes a legal claim more likely. And some colleges may not require the vaccine to avoid legal problems. Harvard Law professor Glenn Cohen teaches health law and bioethics. He argued there is no legal reason colleges would not be permitted to require COVID-19 vaccinations. It makes no difference that the shots have not been given full approval, he said. The problem is that there is no federal law or court decision that helps colleges and universities decide how to move forward. Other legal issues The biggest problems could come in states that have already banned, or plan to ban, any vaccine requirements, Cohen said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis this month banned all businesses from requiring anyone to show proof of vaccination. The order raises problems for Floridas Nova Southeastern University. It plans to require students, teachers, and professors to get vaccinated. The college president said he will respect the laws of our state and all federal directives. Texas also has a ban on vaccine requirements. And then there are other problems for schools that require the vaccine. Federal law says colleges must work with any student who refuses a vaccine for medical or religious reasons. Also, there is no widely accepted proof of vaccination paperwork. At Northeastern, officials are still deciding whether students will be asked to show some kind of vaccine record or just be asked if they have been vaccinated. We would expect students to be honest, Henderson said. American colleges are also struggling with what to expect of international students. Some may not have access to vaccines in their home countries. And some may not have access to vaccines approved for emergency use in the U.S. Several colleges say they are planning to make shots available for international students when they arrive. Northeastern student Tyler Lee said he thinks requiring vaccinations is the right move because it will help stop the virus spread and protect the community. Students agree with the decision, he said. Its Northeasterns decision, said Tyler Lee. If I didnt like it, I would transfer. And thats what most students feel, he added. Im Susan Shand. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Quiz - US Colleges Divided Over Requiring Student Vaccination Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story herd immunity - n. herd immunity is a form of protection from infectious disease when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for individuals who lack immunity. ambiguity - n. something that does not have a single clear meaning appropriate - adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation bioethics - n. the study of the ethical issues emerging from advances in biology and medicine. transfer - v. move to another school We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. Intestinal worm infections can leave women in sub-Saharan Africa more vulnerable to sexually-transmitted viral infections, a new study reveals. The rate and severity of sexually-transmitted viral infections (STI) in the region are very high, as are those of worm infections, which when caught in the intestine can change immunity in other parts of the body. Researchers at the Universities of Birmingham and Cape Town led an international team which discovered that intestinal worm infection can change vaginal immunity and increase the likelihood of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection - the main cause of genital herpes. Publishing their findings today in Cell Host and Microbe, the research team also notes that worm infections significantly increase the death of tissue in the vagina (necrosis), which can result in gangrene. However, the researchers found that they could prevent this worm-induced changes in HSV2 pathology by targeting a particular type of immune cell called eosinophils - suggesting that this pathology could be prevented or reduced by using existing drugs. Co-author Dr. William Horsnell, from the Institute of Microbiology & Infection at the University of Birmingham and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape town commented: "Our work identifies for the first time how a worm infection can influence a very important viral STI. This is important for health workers and may help them to explain why STIs are more virulent in areas where worm infections are common. "We show that worm infections that never colonise the vagina cause a strong change in vaginal immunity. Following a viral vaginal sexually transmitted infection the pathology caused by the virus is hugely increased. Research into STIs has, until now, largely neglected the role of worm infections in influencing the severity of these important diseases." Rates and severity of sexually transmitted viral infections in sub-Saharan Africa are very high and are one of the world's leading causes of pathological disease. Worm infection rates are also very high in this region, but do not colonise the female reproductive tract. "Our research shows that eosinophils can have a very important role to play in vaginal immunity - we hope that this discovery will boost efforts to understand how parasitic worm infection indirectly influence control of sexually transmitted infections," added Dr Horsnell. The research was funded by DFG, Poliomyelitis Research Foundation, Marie Curie and National Research Foundation (South Africa). The research team is currently studying in West Africa (Togo) and South Africa how existing and past worm infections associate with risk of women having an STI. ### For more information, interviews or a copy of the research paper, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)782 783 2312. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165. Notes for editors * The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. It was established by Queen Victoria in 1900 as Great Britain's first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. * 'Il4ra -independent vaginal eosinophil accumulation following helminth infection exacerbates epithelial ulcerative pathology following HSV-2 infection' - William Horsnell et al is published in Cell Host and Microbe. * The research team comprised of experts from: University of Birmingham; University of Cape Town, South Africa; University of Bonn, Germany; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; University of Liege, Belgium; CNRS, Orleans, France; and University of Lome, Togo. New Delhi, April 14 : Airline major SpiceJet's cargo arm SpiceXpress has decided not to ferry cargo containing Vivo's mobile phones or accessories in the light of recent accident in Hong Kong. Accordingly, the mobile phone manufacturer's cargo caught fire at the Hong Kong airport leading to SpiceXpress' decision. Besides, other international airlines have also expressed similar reservations. The Hong Kong Air Cargo Carrier in a communication on April 11 said: "We regret to inform you that the latest update of embargo with immediate effect, all cargo (from any agent and destination) forbidden to accept the "CargoLink Logistics HK Co Ltd" and "Sky Pacific Logistics HK Co Ltd" and or co-loader on carriage by RH or HX aircraft until further notice. Also embargo all type of "VIVO" mobile phone." The incident took place on April 10, when a cargo consignment of the company's Y20 model caught fire at the Hong Kong Airport. In a Cargo Circular, SpiceXpress said: "Due to recent fire incident in Hongkong involving vivo mobile shipment caught fire at tarmac from the build-up ULD which was going to load on freighter at Hongkong station, with immediate effect acceptance of mobile & accessories shipment from company manufacturing VIVO has been restricted till further notice on all SG Flights." "If any undeclared or mis declared mobile shipment or accessories found during screening, tendering dangerous goods, the agent will be blacklisted. Also embargo all type of "VIVO" mobile phone." At present, international cargo operations are permitted on and from India. The Covid situation along with higher than usual freight charges and longer duration at ports for clearances has made the air cargo sector more attractive to ship lighter loads of manufactured goods around the world. -IANS rv/sdr/ Texas border agents discovered 20 undocumented immigrants, including two children, attempting to enter the US while hiding under the boards of a trailer on Monday. The discovery came two days before Vice President Kamala Harris announced she will travel to Mexico and Guatemala as the migrant crisis at the border deepens. Chief Patrol Agent Austin Skero shared images of the smuggling attempt that showed 18 adults and two children lying on top of one another under the boards. Skero confirmed that the children's ages are 10 and 15. It's unclear if they were traveling alone, with their parents or with other relatives. Another image shows massive bags and other items that were placed on top of the boards to conceal the migrants. Skero said they made the discovery after a Del Rio Sector K9 alerted agents to the trailer at one of their checkpoints. Texas border agents discovered 20 undocumented immigrants, including two children, attempting to enter the US while hiding under the boards of a trailer on Monday Another image shows massive bags and other items that were placed on top of the boards to conceal the migrants 'With temperatures on the rise, smuggling attempts like these have a high potential to turn deadly,' Skero said. It's also unclear where exactly they were traveling from. A DailyMail.com request for comment and more information to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was not immediately returned Wednesday morning. Harris said she'll visit Mexico and Guatemala but won't go to the southern border and the overcrowded child migrant camps because Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is in charge of that aspect of the crisis. She defended her move in a Zoom meeting with northern triangle country experts, 21 days after the White House named her the border 'czar'. The incident comes as Vice President Kamala Harris announced that she will be taking trips to Guatemala and Mexico to address the migrant crisis, but won't go to the US border. She held a virtual meeting with experts about the migrant crisis on Wednesday The GOP trolled Kamala Harris Wednesday for not yet visiting the border by brining a 'Missing at the border' milk carton with the vice president's face on it to a press briefing CBP data shows migrant crossings at the US-Mexico border is vastly higher in 2021 compared to 2020, which saw a decrease. Illegal crossing have reached an all-time high under President Joe Biden 'The President has asked Secretary Mayorkas to address what is going on at the border,' she clarified to the press before kicking off the closed-door meeting. 'I have been asked to address the root causes.' There were nearly 170,000 encounters with migrants on the US-Mexico border in March, a 20-year high. The total, announced Thursday, includes nearly 19,000 children traveling alone, the highest monthly number on record. About four in 10 border encounters last month were with families and unaccompanied children many from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador at a time when policies in the US and Mexico favor them staying in the United States while they seek asylum. It marks the third sharp jump in Central American asylum-seekers in seven years. One child who made national headlines is Wilton Obregon. Wilton was captured on video tearfully asking a CBP agent for help earlier this month. His family left Nicaragua for the US on February 8. Wilton and his mother, Meylin, illegally crossed the Mexico-US border in late March and were intercepted by border agents before they were forced to return back to Mexico. Wilton and his mother were then kidnapped an hour after arriving in Mexico. Their abductors then contacted her brother Misael Obregon in Miami requesting ransom, but he was only able to gather enough money to secure his nephew Wilton's freedom. After Wilton was released from his captors, he was able to again cross into the United States with more than 100 people. But he was left behind in the middle of the night while napping in the Texas desert area. On April 1, a CBP officer who was on his way home after concluding his work shift encountered Wilton in the middle of a dirt road in the Texas border city of La Grulla. Wilton Obregon (pictured), of Nicaragua, drew headlines earlier this month when he appeared in a video crying in front of a US Border Patrol agent and asking for help after he had been abandoned by the group of migrants that he had crossed the Mexico-United States border with A video recorded by the agent captured the moment Wilton went up to him crying and asking for help. 'It's that I was coming with a group and they abandoned me and I do not know where they are at,' the child told the officer in Spanish. Later the border agent asked the boy if he had been instructed 'to come ask for help,' but the the child replied, 'no, I am coming because if I did not, where am I going to go? Somebody could abduct me, kidnap me. I am scared.' These encounters have been occurring more often as the US tries to grapple with the border crisis. In another incident, two Ecuadorean girls were abruptly dumped over a steel barrier at the Mexico-United States border on March 30. Surveillance video footage released by Border Patrol showed the moment a smuggler dropped Yareli, three, and her five-year-old sister Yasmina over the 14-foot high border wall in New Mexico. Another smuggler was waiting on the American side to catch the girls, who were then tossed to the ground. Both smugglers then fled, abandoning the children. The surveillance camera operator immediately alerted Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station agents and directed them to the remote location. In another incident, two Ecuadorean girls were abruptly dumped over a steel barrier at the Mexico-United States border on March 30. El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez provides snacks to the two girls from Ecuador who were abandoned by smugglers The girls' mother, Yolanda Macas Tene, and father, Diego Vacacela Aguilar, had left their Ecuadorean home not long before, relatives said, and were awaiting their daughters in New York City. An official with the Consulate of Ecuador told DailyMail.com that the girls could soon be reunited with their parents in New York City. The latest jump in border crossings follows ferocious storms in Central America and President Joe Biden ending former president Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies, though many changes attributed to Biden are rumors or have been fabricated by smugglers to generate business. The 'root causes' prompting Central Americans to leave haven't changed, said Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, whose temporary shelter has been hosting 400 to 500 people nightly, compared with a peak of about 1,000 in 2019. 'I think that it's simply that the traffickers use whatever is happening in the United States to extort the families, to lure them, to create a narrative that says, 'Come right now. The president is going to let you in,'' she said. CBP agents register immigrants before bussing them to processing centers near the La Joya, Texas, border with Mexico on April 13 Thousands of migrants continue to arrive at the US-Mexico border. Here Romanian immigrants were taken into Border Patrol custody at the La Joya, Texas, border after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico on April 13 More than 21,000 unaccompanied migrant children are in federal government custody. Republicans who visited these centers last week shared images during a press conference Wednesday, April 14 of the massively overcrowded facilities Migrants, in dozens of interviews over the last two weeks, generally said circumstances in Central America led them to the US. When asked about Biden, nearly all said his relatively pro-immigration positions influenced their thinking. Smuggling fees vary widely, with some paying up to $10,000 a person in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. There is often a discount for additional relatives. The trip can take weeks in cars, buses and trucks, ending when an inflatable raft reaches the banks of the Rio Grande and families and children turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. Biden has exempted unaccompanied children from expulsion, allowing them to stay in the US while pursuing asylum claims and live with 'sponsors,' usually parents or close relatives. Harris and Biden both have been hammered by GOP lawmakers for not visiting the border, even as jarring photos of minors held in overcrowded detention centers drew fresh attention to the issue. Biden has dispatched a number of top aides to evaluate the situation at the border instead. Republican lawmakers returning from a border trip blamed the Biden administration for the problems, arguing for a return to Trump-era policies. They said the president and vice president need to go to the border to see firsthand the migrant surge. 'He can stop this today,' said Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the GOP whip. 'Vice President Harris needs to go down to the border and see this for herself.' Migrants seeking asylum from Cuba walk across a dirt road after crossing into the US from Mexico through the Rio Grande River in Del Rio, Texas A drone photo reveals two migrants along a dirt road in Del Rio, Texas after crossing from Mexico Migrant families are massed outside the Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition after being released from border patrol custody in Del Rio, Texas last month Harris faces her own set of challenges in taking on a problem that has long eluded any easy solutions. She's been tasked with overseeing diplomatic efforts to deal with issues spurring migration in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which includes pressing them to strengthen enforcement on their borders, while also developing and implementing a long-term strategy that gets at the root causes of migration from those countries. On Wednesday, Harris was led a briefing with a handful of experts focused on those very issues, and she acknowledged in remarks to reporters that solving the region's problems would take time. 'We have to figure out how to assess our impact,' she said, but added, 'it will not be obvious overnight'. 'The work we have to do is going to require a commitment that is continuous, that we institutionalize with our partners,' and that includes a long-term strategy in the region, Harris said. She added: 'It will take some time to see the benefits of that work, but it will be worth it.' Burma Myanmar Regime Takes Its Violence to a Small Town in Mandalay Region At least tree were killed in Myitnge town in Mandalay region on Tuesday and Wednesday. / CJ Military regimes troops killed at least three civilians in Mandalay Regions Myitnge town during raids into neighborhoods on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, marking the first violent deaths the town since the coup. Two men from Yankin ward were killed after being shot in the chest on the eve of Myanmars traditional New Year Festival or Thingyan. The casualty toll could be higher. Some reported that as many as five were killed. Regime forces opened fire on residents at noon on Tuesday while looting public donations that were intended for the towns striking railway staff. The donations had been kept at a monastery. During the gunfire, more than a dozen were wounded, according to a resident who was involved in the rescue of the wounded. A pro-democracy protester from Myitnge who went into hiding after the raid, said a protest leader in town and four civilians, including a 15-year-old boy who had been hiding beneath a house, were abducted during the raid. He also said that a young man was also severely injured when he was hit by a police van. Residents who surrounded the police station after the incident were also violently dispersed. On Wednesday afternoon, another man was shot dead and one was wounded when troops opened fire during a raid in Thazin ward. According to locals, soldiers and police raided a mosque and reportedly took donations away. A small town, Myitnge had staged anti-regime protests daily against the military regime. In Yangon region, U Nyein Htet, 44, was shot dead by regime forces while he was waiting for a bus at the MinLan bus stop in Bahan Township on the eve of Thingyan. The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Soldiers and police were stopping passing vehicles on U Chit Maung Road as they conducted inspections after a series of explosions. Troops fired at a car that drove away and hit U Nyein Htet as he waited for the bus. His body was taken away and later returned to the family. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters, aged 8 and 14. A series of explosions rocked several locations in Yangon including a ward administration office in South Okkalapa Township, near a park in Sanchaung Township, and near Thamine junction in Mayangone Township. The regime claimed through its controlled state-run TV that riotersthe militarys euphemism for anti-regime protestersare attacking government offices and public buildings. Other explosions occurred at a ward administration office Mawlamyine, near Monywa University in Monywa, and at a township administration office in Taunghtar, the regimes state-run TV reported. No casualties were reported in the explosions. Since the Feb. 1 coup, the regime forces have killed at least 718 people and arrested more than 3,000 people. You may also like these stories: How Many Mass Killings Are Enough Before the World Helps Myanmar? Myanmar Troops Sustain Heavy Casualties as Kachin Keep Control of Strategic Base Myanmar Junta Charges and Arrests Striking Doctors and Senior Medical Staff NASA has signed an agreement with reality TV competition 'Space Hero' to send the winner up to the International Space Station for 10 days as the first prize. The Space Act Agreement between the agency and the production company doesn't guarantee space travel, rather allows for information sharing between the two. The number of contestants and the exact format has yet to be revealed, but those up for the challenge will undergo rigorous training and gruelling tests that push them mentally, physically and emotionally, Space Hero confirmed. The series is set to be shown live around the world, allowing viewers to vote for their favourite contestant to send into orbit on the laboratory 250 miles above the Earth. Axiom Space will organise the $55 million trip, as they have a private spaceflight agreement with NASA. They will also select the launch provider. The number of contestants has yet to be revealed, but those up for the challenge will undergo rigorous training and grueling tests that push them mentally, physically and emotionally. However, the Space Hero website only shows a countdown clock and no other information about the show TOURISTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION So far all seven privately funded visitors to the ISS have flown on a Soyuz rocket and capsule from Russia. They have paid between $20 million and $55 million for their trips, lasting between eight and 14 days. Dennis Tito was the first to go to the ISS as a privately funded astronaut, with software architect Charles Simonyi the only person to go twice. TABLE TITLE NAME LAUNCH DATE DURATION Dennis Tito April 28, 2001 8 days Mark Shuttleworth April 25, 2002 10 days Gregory Olsen October 1, 2005 10 days Anousheh Ansari September 20, 2006 10 days Charles Simonyi April 7, 2007 10 days Richard Garriott October 12, 2008 13 days Charles Simonyi March 26, 2009 13 days Guy Laliberte September 30, 2009 12 days Advertisement Axiom Space, a private space infrastructure developer, says their eventual goal is to have a space station of their own, that will start as a module attached to the ISS. Space Hero will be a full reality competition open to anyone fluent in English, over the age of 18 and prepared to go into space as early as 2023. They hope to have 15 seasons of the show over 30 years, taking winners first to the ISS, but eventually on to the moon and even Mars as human spaceflight progresses. NASA hopes to send the first woman and next man to the moon by 2024, as part of the Artemis mission, and then have the first crewed mission to Mars by 2035. It is thought that Space Hero will follow in the footsteps of the NASA timeline. Axiom will provide the services, through deals with NASA, other agencies and launch operators such as SpaceX, Boeing and Roscosmos with the Soyuz vehicle. Space Hero has not announced which launch vehicle or spacecraft it will use to take the winner of season one to the ISS in 2023, although speculation is it will be SpaceX. So far, only SpaceX and the Russian space agency Roscosmos have successfully demonstrated the ability to take astronauts to the ISS in recent years. SpaceX is also running ahead with civilian missions, including an orbital trip later this year called Inspiration4 featuring a full crew of civilians and no pilots. There is some way to go before the show can launch, as Axiom and Space Hero have to negotiate permission to spend ten days on the ISS with NASA. 'Any decision for a longer-term partnership beyond this initial feasibility study covered under the agreement will require additional follow on agreement(s) pending concept approval, distribution, and funding,' NASA told Space.com. 'If approved by NASA, the private astronaut mission and its associated commercial activities would be conducted as part of a separate, future agreement between NASA and a private astronaut mission provider.' That provider would be Axiom and not Space Hero, according to a NASA spokesperson, who added Axiom would have to propose and be selected for that private astronaut mission out of any other proposals on the table at the time. Due to the size of the ISS, there are going to be limits on the number of visitors to the station at any one time - there are a core crew of six, but for short times it can hold up to nine, usually during changeover or for a tourist visit. Space Hero's champion will launch aboard a rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 10-day stay with the crew NASA said they would 'assess the feasibility of the mission' and if agreed, the timing would be negotiated between them and Axiom. Space Hero is not the first production with its eyes on space, as NASA confirmed in May it is set to film a movie aboard the ISS starting Tom Cruise, who will blast off on a SpaceX rocket. If it gets the go-ahead, the production would be the first action adventure feature film to be filmed in outer space. Deadline initially reported that the winner will take a seat on a SpaceX Crew Dragon (pictured) capsule for the voyage to the ISS, but Axiom told CNBC that the launcher has yet to be determined NASA's Jim Bridenstine shared on Twitter in May: 'We're excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the International Space Station.' Axiom has also planned a mission to the ISS for a private crew in 2022 called AX-1 that will fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon and remain for eight days. Four people are expected to leave Earth in January 2022 including NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe, Larry Connor from the US and Mark Pathy from Canada. Cruise was thought to be on that flight, but the crew of that movie, including the actor, will launch on a subsequent flight later in 2022. New Delhi: The Rajasthan government on Wednesday (April 14) announced that the Board exams for Class 10 and 12 have been postponed to a later date. The state government has said that the decision was taken in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has asked the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer to promote the students of classes 8, 9, and 10 to the next classes. The decision was taken after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held a meeting with state Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra. Earlier today CBSE postponed the Board exams for Class 12 students. It also cancelled the 10th board exams. Apart from CBSE, several other state boards have taken similar decisions. The Himachal Pradesh government has postponed the Board exams for Class 10 and 12 as well as the Undergraduate exams for various courses in the state. The Madhya Pradesh government has also postponed the board exams for Class 10 and 12 in view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the state and across the country. Live TV Chennai, April 14 : Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Telangana Governor holding additional charge as Lt Governor of Puducherry, Tamilsai Soundararajan, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and senior political leaders on Wednesday extended new year wishes to the people of Tamil Nadu. Governor Banwarilal Purohit said, "On this auspicious occasion, I extend my best wishes and heartiest greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu. The dawn of a New Year not only signifies a new beginning but also underlines our commitment to the common goal of development, the revival of the spirit of hard work and cultural ethos." The Governor also requested the people to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 norms while celebrating the New Year. Palaniswami in his message said, "Tamils have been celebrating the first day of Chithirai month as New Year since ancient times. May peace and love prevail in their lives." The Chief Minister also extended his wishes for Malayalam new year, Vishu. Lt Governor of Puducherry Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan while extending wishes, said, "May this New Year also lead us to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic". The Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said, "May the people of Tamil Nadu celebrate the first day of Chithirai month with fervour. We must not forget the menace of Covid and should take into consideration Covid protocol." TNCC chief K.S. Alagiri, BJP state chief L. Murugan, MDMK leader Vaiko, AISMK leader and Cine actor R. Sarathkumar, MNM leader and Super star Kamal Haasan, BJP women's wing National President Vanathi Srinivasan and other senior leaders also extended New Year wishes to the people of Tamil Nadu. The Defence Secretary has said any attacks on Allied troops will be met with a forceful response as he confirmed the withdrawal of the British Armed Forces from Afghanistan. Ben Wallace said the security of those still serving in the country remains our priority as he announced the drawdown. In a statement made after the confirmed withdrawal of Nato forces from May 1, Mr Wallace said: The people of Afghanistan deserve a peaceful and stable future. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace (Andrew Matthews/PA) As we drawdown, the security of our people currently serving in Afghanistan remains our priority and we have been clear that attacks on Allied troops will be met with a forceful response. The British public and our Armed Forces community, both serving and veterans, will have lasting memories of our time in Afghanistan. Most importantly we must remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, who will never be forgotten. Former defence minister Tobias Ellwood previously said the USs decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by the autumn risks losing the peace. The senior Conservative MP said Washingtons move would make it very difficult for British troops to remain in the battle-ravaged country and that the subsequent vacuum could allow extremism to regroup. President Joe Biden announced he will withdraw all 2,500 American troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from the Asian country. Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Ellwood said the presidents foreign policy decision was concerning and not the right move. It reflects the troubles weve had in interventions over the last couple of decades where we win the war, but lose the peace, the chairman of the Commons Defence Committee said. We dont put enough effort into the stabilisation and the peacekeeping, the nation building, and encouraging better governance, better security, that indigenous capability so they can look after their own affairs. Instead, as weve seen in Iraq as well, we defeat the bad guys and then we withdraw, we dont do enough to then lift the country off its knees. And I fear that we will see in fact its happening already is extremism will regroup in Afghanistan in the way that its regrouping in Iraq, and indeed, to some degree in east Africa as well. Mr Ellwood said there was still hope that a ceasefire could be negotiated with the Taliban before soldiers withdraw fully by September. Former defence minister Tobias Ellwood (Yui Mok/PA) It could be troops arent leaving immediately that this will prompt Afghanistan leadership itself to advance the talks and get some form of peace settlement, he added. The Government previously said any decision on the presence of armed forces in the country would be taken in agreement with allies. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was travelling to Brussels on Wednesday afternoon to discuss Afghanistan with Nato partners, as well as hostilities on the Ukrainian border. A spokeswoman said: We are working closely with the US, Nato allies and partners to support a secure and stable Afghanistan. For there to be any chance of a lasting peace, the Taliban must engage meaningfully in a dialogue with the Afghan government. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is reportedly due to meet US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in the coming days. Mr Ellwood predicted the pair would discuss the situation in Afghanistan and the increasing destabilisation across the globe. The threat picture across the world is deteriorating there is a 1930s feel to the world I think at the moment, with the rules-based order being tested at breaking point, international institutions not really working well any more and global strategic powerbases once again on the move, he added. Weve got China doing its thing, Russia very aggressive, not least in what is happening in Ukraine the agenda is going to be very busy indeed. Hayley Hasselhoff has spoken about how she has made history by becoming the first ever plus-size model to pose nude for Playboy Germany. The daughter of Baywatch icon David, 28, appeared on Lorraine on Wednesday where she talked about being the magazine's European May issue cover star. Hayley told stand-in host Ranvir Singh: 'I think it's very empowering. To be asked to do something like this when we're all worried about our own self-image, it was a revolution. Breaking boundaries: Hayley Hasselhoff spoke about how she has made history by becoming the first ever plus-size model to pose nude for Playboy during Lorraine on Wednesday 'It was a great honour and its a message for curvy women to know they are wanted and desired. 'Im tastefully topless. We shot it in a very artful approach, she shoots in a very cinematic way.' Hayley said it has taken 'a long time' to have a curve model on the cover of Playboy and is excited that she has been able to 'pave that path'. Making history: The daughter of Baywatch icon David, 28, talked about being the magazine's European May issue cover star In the nude: Hayley said it has taken 'a long time' to have a curve model on the cover of Playboy and is excited that she has been able to 'pave that path' The X Factor: Celebrity star also talked about how she hates the term 'summer body'. She told Ranvir: 'Well we've all been stuck inside for how many months now and you're telling people they can only get to the beach if they're summer body ready? 'You're summer body ready right now. We want to project to people that you're worthy, your body is worthy. Don't try and manufacture your body to then live your life, live your life here and now.' When Ranvir spoke about how Baywatch, in which Hayley's dad David starred as The Hoff, contributed to the idealism of picture-perfect figures, she replied: 'That was a television series and acting is a whole different beast. Racy display: Hayley shot the glamorous Playboy pictures in Paris during lockdown wearing her own lingerie In the nude: Hayley told stand-in host Ranvir Singh: 'I think it's very empowering. To be asked to do something like this when we're all worried about our own self-image, it was a revolution' 'I'm talking about real life here. Whether that relates to my fathers journey, it pretty much doesnt. I'm able to project my own body positivity.' On how the industry has changed over the years, Hayley added: 'We're definitely opening up doors. I've been a curve model since I was 14. 'There is so much more availability for now to artists to celebrate who they are. Do I think media and television play a big part to help people through their own journey of self love? Definitely. Body positivity: 'It was a great honour and its a message for curvy women to know they are wanted and desired,' she added 'Hopefully it will touch somebody and say, I am loved, I am worthy. We have good body days and bad body days. Remember, our bodies are ever evolving with the life that we live. Dont be down on yourself if you have those bad days.' Hayley shot the glamorous Playboy pictures in Paris during lockdown wearing her own lingerie after it became difficult for her team to source garments to fit her UK size 16-18 frame amid the pandemic. The curvaceous actress explained in an exclusive interview with MailOnline that being the first plus-size woman to star on the front of European Playboy is significant because it plays into a 'bigger movement' of embracing all different body shapes and sizes. She said: 'There are a few photos that are tastefully nude where I'm topless. 'At the beginning there were pieces of me like "oh Playboy" and then I had a think and I was like 'oh cool!' I get to make this movement for curve women during a global pandemic and let them know they have every right to celebrate their bodies. 'Looking at those images I have to say there were definitely moments on set where I was apprehensive because it was my first time ever shooting something like this. 'It was one of those moments where you have a thought bubble and that apprehensiveness but then that positive thought came back in and said "hold on a second that's the whole reason you're here today." A year on from the first avalanche of job destruction at Australias public universities in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is ever-clearer that the emergency is being used to accelerate the pro-business gutting of tertiary education. Initial illusions or hopes that the destructive impact of the crisis would be temporary have been dashed by the continuing offensive of university managements on the jobs and conditions of staff and students. With the pandemic resurging around the world due to the profit-driven policies of capitalist governments, outbreaks continuing in Australia and government promises of timely vaccines being abandoned, there is no end in sight. Part of Macquarie University [Credit: mq.edu.au] Moreover, the latest job cut announcements point to the underlying restructuring of universities. They include more staff cuts at the University of Newcastle, taking the total of job losses there to the equivalent of more than 110 full-time academic and professional staff positions. At Sydneys Macquarie University, 90 more full-time academic positions have been targeted, now by forced retrenchments, in the latest change proposals, on top of more than 350 voluntary redundancies of academic and professional staff already inflicted in 2020. At Macquarie, as at some other universities, the retrenchments involve Hunger Games-style schemes that demand that university workers fight each other for survival in filling fewer positions. Already many thousands of full-time jobs have been eliminated over the past 12 months, with untold tens of thousands more casual and fixed-term educators and administrative workers losing their livelihoods or having their hours slashed. By the NTEUs own estimate last year, the total could be as high as 90,000, although universities refuse to provide the relevant statistics on casuals and fixed-term staff. At the same time, the Liberal-National Coalition government is pushing ahead with its job-ready graduates and micro-credentialling programs, which have further slashed funding per student while intensifying the transformation of universities into vocational institutions servicing the narrow profit requirements of employers. None of this would be possible without the role of the trade unions covering university workers, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). A year ago, once the pandemic erupted, the NTEU rushed into backroom talks with the employers, volunteering wage cuts of up to 15 percent. This was fraudulently dressed up as a job protection framework, even though the union said it would still accept thousands of redundancies. When the NTEU finally unveiled its agreement last May, after weeks of secretive discussions with the employers representatives, NTEU president Alison Barnes claimed that it would: Save at least 12,000 jobs nationally, Limit redundancies and prevent stand-downs without pay and Help casual and fixed-term staff to regain and retain their work. That was always a fraud. As the WSWS warned at the time: Having spent two years locking university workers into the latest round of enterprise bargaining agreements (EBAs)which the NTEU also hailed as victoriesthe union is working hand-in-glove with individual managements to tear up anything in these EBAs that stands in the way of the unprecedented attack on pay and conditions. When outraged university workers objected to the NTEUs scheme, most university employers pulled out of the national deal, concerned that the union could not enforce it. But the NTEU then proceeded to strike comparable agreements with individual universities, pushing them through despite members discontent, paving the way for job losses, sacrifices of pay and conditions, increased workloads and cuts to courses. This response typified that of all the trade unions. It was in line with the pledge offered by Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Sally McManus that the unions would give employers everything you want in response to the pandemic. Over the past year, the NTEU has systematically isolated university workers, institution by institution, opposing any unified struggle against the government-management assault. At one meeting after another, NTEU officials have insisted that no such struggle was possible because of the anti-strike Fair Work laws, covering up the fact that this reactionary legislation was drafted by the last Labor government with the full agreement of the unions, precisely to muzzle the working class. How far the university employers have exploited the unions role has been indicated by the revelation that 10 of the 16 universities whose financial outcomes for 2020 are known have announced operating surpluses. That is, they have overcome the losses of international student revenue and government funding at the expense of university workers and students. Far from lessening, however, this ruthless cost-cutting will only intensify as the loss of international students continues and the lack of fresh intakes flows through university balance sheets for the next few years at least. The NTEU is now trying to corral university workers into another round of enterprise bargaining, while appealing to the employers for a closer partnership. The NTEU has appealed to the employers to sit down collectively with the union to address the new and different realities. That is, the essential purpose of the union-management bargaining is to enforce the ongoing offensive, in the name of adjusting to the new realities. Barnes wrote in this months first edition for 2021 of Connect, an online NTEU magazine for casuals: This year sees the commencement of bargaining at many of our universities and the prospect of a federal election The governments failure to deal with the scourge of insecure work across our economy points to the need to organise at our branches in preparation for bargaining. We need to work with those in parliament prepared to defend and support higher education and casual employees more broadly. This bargaining will no more protect casuals than the deals the union has struck for the past decade and more. During that time, the proportion of university employees on insecure terms has risen above 65 percent (43 percent as casual and 22 percent on fixed-term contracts). Rather, enterprise bargaining is designed to keep university workers straitjacketed in the Fair Work laws and subordinate them to the demands of each employer as they compete for survival in the tertiary education market. This industrial enforcement function of the unions was institutionalised under the ACTUs Accords with the Hawke and Keating Labor governments in the 1980s and 1990s, and entrenched under the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments of 2007 to 2013. By promoting speculation of an early federal election, the NTEU is also attempting to tie university workers to the return of another Greens-backed Labor government. That is despite the Rudd and Gillard governments being responsible for the market-style education revolution that laid the foundations for the under-funding and accelerated commercialisation of higher education. As a result of Labors revolution, federal grants for higher education teaching rose from $9.3 billion in 2010 to only $11.9 billion in 2019, despite larger enrolments. By contrast, private school funding increased from $8.1 billion to $12.1 billion, thus exceeding the university budget for the first time. To fight this historic assault, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) are calling for the formation of joint rank-and-file committees of staff and students, completely independent of the unions, to fight for a unified struggle against the huge cuts to jobs and courses. A recent IYSSE-CFPE online meeting adopted a resolution that gave a lead to this struggle. It demanded that, instead of big business being bailed out with billions of dollars, and billions more being handed to the military, resources be poured into healthcare and education funding, to protect the population from COVID-19 and guarantee the basic social right to free, first-class education for all students, including international students, and full-time jobs for all university workers, including casuals. St. Lukes University Health Network will pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine, following direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. The CDC and FDA announced Tuesday that six women, between ages 18 and 48, who received the J&J vaccine have experienced blood clots, out of 6.8 million people who have received the vaccine. Samuel Kennedy, St. Lukes director of corporate communications, said the network is temporarily transitioning all future appointments to Moderna or Pfizer doses, and patients who already received the J&J vaccine are being contacted to self-monitor for symptoms. Symptoms may include severe headache, visual changes, abdominal pain, leg pain, confusion or shortness of breath. Kennedy said the network is calling those scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine to reschedule. Depending on the location, we may be able to honor their appointment with one of the other vaccines, Kennedy said. But we have to speak to each person, because some dont want the other vaccines. The network, which has hospitals in Coaldale and near Orwigsburg, has administered 1,255 J&J shots, which include 616 women, 444 of whom are ages 18-55. Also on Tuesday, the Schuylkill County Courthouse announced two more positive COVID-19 cases among employees. After contact tracing, no additional employees were required to quarantine from the cases. Three other employees are in quarantine due to other exposure. The courthouse currently has two symptomatic employees and three exposed. Schuylkill County reached 13,405 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, with 386 deaths. As of Tuesday, 21,772 people in the county have been partially vaccinated, and 29,806 have been fully vaccinated. All Pennsylvanians 16 or older are now eligible for the vaccine. The U.S. Capitol police officer who fatally shot a 35-year-old woman during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6 will not be federally charged, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced on Wednesday. Ashli Babbitt was one of seven people who died due to the insurrection on Jan. 6. The officer shot Babbitt, who was a rioter. Officials examined video footage posted on social media, statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting, and the results of an autopsy, the press release states. Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution. Officials told Babbitts family of the decision on Wednesday. Ms. Babbitt joined a crowd of people that gathered on the U.S. Capitol grounds to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election, the press release states. The investigation further determined that Ms. Babbitt was among a mob of people that entered the Capitol building and gained access to a hallway outside Speakers Lobby, which leads to the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives. Those involved in the insurrection attempted to break through doors to entering the Speakers Lobby and the Chamber by striking them and breaking the glass with their hands, flagpoles, helmets, and other objects. During this time officers used furniture to barricade a set of glass doors, the press release states. Eventually, the three USCP officers positioned outside the doors were forced to evacuate, according to the press release. As members of the mob continued to strike the glass doors, Ms. Babbitt attempted to climb through one of the doors where glass was broken out. It then said Babbitt was shot in the left shoulder, causing her to fall back from the doorway and onto the floor. She then died due to her injuries. The name of the officer has not been disclosed. The officer reportedly holds the rank of lieutenant and is a longtime veteran of the force who worked protective detail in the Speakers Lobby, a highly restricted area behind the House chamber, sources told Real Clear Wire. The outlet also reported that the officer is an African-American and that he was put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. He had also gone into hiding out of fear for his safety, the outlet reported. Related Content: The XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrates the separation of the ALTIUS-600 small unmanned aircraft system in a test at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground test range, Ariz., March 26, 2021. The test was the first time the weapons bay doors have been opened in flight. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: As Maharashtra battles covid with 5.93 lakh active cases, hospitals are facing shortage of oxygen due to huge surge in COVID cases. Testing labs in Maharashtra are running out of kits and the high demand for testing has severely impacted Mumbai, where laboratories have been flooded with requests for Covid-19 tests. As Maharashtra battles covid with 5.93 lakh active cases; the government announced the imposition of Section 144 in the state from Wednesday in view of rising Covid-19 cases with curfew-like restrictions from 8 pm today. Maharashtra faces shortage of facilities amid rising cases in the state. Hospitals in Malad are facing shortage of oxygen due to huge surge in COVID cases. Meanwhile suppliers in Pune are facing difficulties in procuring liquid oxygen. Due to rise in COVID cases in the country, the demand of medical oxygen is continuously increasing. In shocking visuals coming in, a woman in Maharashtras Satara receiving oxygen in an auto due to lack of beds in hospitals. Many states are facing lack of facilities amid rising COVID cases in the country. Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhhav Thackeray called for a meeting on Wednesday of all departmental commissioners and district officials regarding Corona virus via video conferencing. Covid cases in Maharashtra are in continuous upsurge. In Delhi NCR and Mumbai, some of the labs have also started running out of test kits and are left with no option but to delay the pick up of samples since they are mandated to provide reports within 24 hours. Testing labs in Maharashtra are running out of kits and the high demand for testing has severely impacted Mumbai, where laboratories have been flooded with requests for Covid-19 tests. The state government had issued guidelines under the Break the Chain initiative on April 4 for making RT-PCR tests mandatory for those working in essential services. Also Read: Covid menace mounting across the world: Are countries facing global vaccine crisis? Under the new guidelines, all establishments, public places, activities will remain closed in the state. Only essential services will be exempted, and their operations to be unrestricted. (Natural News) When our founding fathers were debating the Bill of Rights, they agreed that the new country should have a press free from government control. A free press, they said, was vital to keeping local, state and federal governments in check with a fully informed populace. In their wildest nightmares, none of them could ever have fathomed that an American news outlet would voluntarily become nothing more than state media that is, a legitimate propaganda mouthpiece for a political party. They could never have imagined CNN, in other words. Thanks again to the intrepid undercover work of real journalists who work for Project Veritas, one of CNNs media content directors was caught on video admitting that the network spread propaganda in order to help get former President Donald Trump defeated. From the Project Veritas website: Project Veritas released a new video today exposing CNN Director Charlie Chester, who admitted that his network engaged in propaganda to benefit Bidens candidacy during the 2020 election to the detriment of then-President Trump. Chester also said CNN has a pre-determined agenda when reporting on COVID-19 and climate change. During a conversation with a Veritas journalist, Chester boasted about the impact the network had in determining the outcome of the presidential race last year. Look what we did, we [CNN] got Trump out. I am 100 percent going to say it, and I 100 percent believe that if it wasnt for CNN, I dont know that Trump would have got voted outI came to CNN because I wanted to be a part of that, Chester bragged. This professional liar went on to note that his network also schemed to create the false impression that Trump was physically incapable of being president. [Trumps] hand was shaking or whatever, I think. We brought in so many medical people to tell a story that was all speculation that he was neurologically damaged, and he was losing it, Chester said. Hes unfit to you know, whatever. We were creating a story there that we didnt know anything about. Thats what I think thats propaganda, he added. Thats rich considering that by falsely portraying Trump as feeble, these lunatics helped get a truly feeble, dementia-stricken man elected, at a time when the world needed a strong U.S. leader because its a ticking time bomb. We would always show shots of him [Biden] jogging and that [hes] healthy, you know, and him in aviator shades. Like you paint him as a young geriatric, said the CNN director said. Since these heady days of lying about Bidens health, the president has had difficulty remembering simple things like the names of people he has nominated to his Cabinet or even what he is doing at certain events and what hes supposed to say. He cant climb the steps of Air Force One without tripping and coming close to breaking his neck. He cant hold a conversation. He lets his vice president, Kamala Harris, talk to foreign leaders (definitely the presidents job). He doesnt hold press conferences (remember that Trump held impromptu pressers all the time). He isnt seen in public for days at a time. He didnt even campaign much last year for all the same reasons, staying holed up in his basement and flubbing teleprompter responses. All of which the garbage network called CNN and its state media propagandists hid from the American people. And yet, the tech giants like YouTube, Google, Facebook and Twitter publish CNN freely and without restraint while censoring outlets like the New York Post, which was the first newspaper to report on Hunter Bidens scandalous life. If there was ever any better example of why Trump called the mainstream media enemies of the people, we cant think of one. See more reporting like this at Propaganda.news. Sources include: ProjectVeritas.com Disinfo.news HOUSTON and Ingelheim, Germany ? The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the extension and expansion of their joint Virtual Research and Development Center (VRDC) to explore new molecules from Boehringer Ingelheim's KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma) and TRAILR2 (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2) portfolios for the potential treatment of lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer. The collaboration, launched in 2019, has successfully combined MD Anderson's innovative clinical research infrastructure and the patient-driven drug development capabilities of the Therapeutics Discovery division with Boehringer Ingelheim's pipeline of innovative cancer medicines and expertise in advancing breakthrough therapies. Under the new agreement, joint research will continue for five additional years. "Our collaboration with MD Anderson strengthens our determination to find solutions for the most difficult-to-treat cancers, and this latest commitment marks an important step forward, especially in our holistic KRAS program," said Norbert Kraut, Ph.D., head of Global Cancer Research at Boehringer Ingelheim. "We are delighted to extend our collaboration with MD Anderson. With our shared dedication to patients and like-minded approach to innovation, we have the potential to bring the medicines to lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients that they so much need." The flexible nature of the VRDC agreement allows the teams to expand their lung cancer indication programs targeting KRAS and TRAILR2, including Boehringer Ingelheim's first-in-class SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitor (BI 1701963), inhibitors of KRAS G12C (BI 1823911) and MEK (BI 3011441), as well as a novel undisclosed bi-specific TRAILR2 agonist. The collaboration already has resulted in a number of joint publications, conference presentations (including at the 2021 AACR Annual Meeting) and clinical trial activities. Boehringer Ingelheim is pursuing a comprehensive mutant KRAS-directed effort with multiple programs expected to enter the VRDC with MD Anderson. "We are proud to expand our work with Boehringer Ingelheim in a very exciting drug-development space - advancing novel targeted therapies against KRAS and TRAILR2," said Timothy Heffernan, Ph.D., head of oncology research in Therapeutics Discovery at MD Anderson. "Our collaboration is built upon a strong working relationship and complementary expertise, highlighting how an academic center and a pharmaceutical company can strategically work together to advance innovative therapies for patients with cancer." MD Anderson's Therapeutics Discovery division is anchored by an experienced team of drug development experts working to advance the next generation of cancer therapies. The Translational Research to Advance Therapeutics and Innovation in Oncology (TRACTION) platform, led by Heffernan, performs cutting-edge translational research to rapidly advance new therapies to the patients most likely to benefit. KRAS is the most frequently mutated cancer-causing oncogene. One in seven of all human metastatic cancers expresses KRAS mutations, with mutation rates of more than 30 percent in lung adenocarcinomas, more than 40 percent in colorectal cancers and more than 90 percent in pancreatic cancers. No approved treatments for KRAS-driven cancers exist currently, further underscoring the need for continued investment in research and development. Tumor cell-selective activation of TRAILR2 can trigger cancer cell death in indications of high medical need, including lung and gastrointestinal malignancies. ### Disclosures MD Anderson has an institutional financial conflict of interest with Boehringer Ingelheim related to this research and has therefore implemented an Institutional Conflict of Interest Management and Monitoring Plan. About Boehringer Ingelheim Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. Around 52,000 employees serve more than 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Learn more at http://www. boehringer-ingelheim. com About MD Anderson The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. It has ranked as one of the nation's top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 14 times in the last 17 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672). A museum in Pennsylvania on Monday, April 12, apologised for collecting the skulls of Black Americans. The museum also vowed to return the skulls to their respective communities. The director of Penn Museum, Dr. Christopher Woods, issued a statement in which he expressed regret and on behalf of the museum and the University of Pennsylvania of Archaeology and Anthropology. The Penn Museum and the University of Pennsylvania apologize for the unethical possession of human remains in the Morton Collection, said Dr. Woods. He further said, It is time for these individuals to be returned to their ancestral communities, wherever possible, as a step toward atonement and repair for the racist and colonial practices that were integral to the formation of these collections. We will also reassess our practices of collecting, stewarding, displaying, and researching human remains. The action plan The department has also announced its action plan regarding the repatriation or reburial of ancestors, including the remains of Black Philadelphians within the Samuel G. Morton Cranial collection. The plan is based on a report which highlights the recommendations from the Morton Collection Committee. This committee was formed in August 2020 and the report is being publicly released on April 12, 2021. The skulls were collected in the first half of the 19th century by Samuel G. Morton. His research was used to justify white supremacist views. The collection was moved from the Drexel Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia to the Penn Museum in 1966. Currently, it is housed in storage in the Museums Physical Anthropology Section. The Morton Collection Committee which is composed of museum leadership, staff, anthropologists, and students who have been comprehensively evaluating next steps for repatriation and reburial since last summer. The Committees report consists of an action plan and a fundamental community involvement. It also includes the resources required for implementation. An initial phase of rigorous evaluation was critical for ensuring an ethical and respectful process around repair. As we move into implementation, the Museum will immediately begin the process of working with local communities to understand their wishes for repatriation, explained Dr. Woods. (Image Credits: Twitter/@PennMuseum) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the state is contemplating a lawsuit, if the U.S. Centers for Disease Control fails to act soon to ease sailing restrictions and allow for a summer cruise season in Alaska. Dunleavy addressed the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce during a lunchtime speech Tuesday, April 13. LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- After the federal government paused the administration of Johnson & Johnson vaccines due to its potential correlation to rare blood clots, local health experts in Lane County are giving insight as to why this may be. RELATED: OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY HALTS USE OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE "So far there have been six events out of the 6.8 million Johnson and Johnson doses given out so far. None of them have occurred in Oregon," said PeaceHealth Medical Director of Infection Dr. Robert Pelz. "The AstraZeneca vaccine that's being used in Europe has exactly the same kind of clotting disorder. Both of these are engineered the same way. They use a virus to code the COVID protein." All six cases of blood clots were within three weeks of receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and all of the individuals were women between the ages of 18 and 48. Health experts say studies do show blood clots occur more frequently in women. "With AstraZeneca, it's not all women but it's about two-thirds women," said Pelz. "This does seem to be something more common in women but we don't know why." Lane County Senior Public Health Officer Dr. Patrick Luedtke also weighed in. "If you look at those background cases, the normal brain blood clots, it's typically exactly what it looks like with this vaccine," said Luedtke. "It's women under 50, especially women who are on birth control pills and maybe also smoke." Experts also say that if it's been more than three weeks since receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and no symptoms developed, then there should not be any concern of developing blood clots. A spokesperson from Lane County Public Health said that at least 4,000 Johnson & Johnson doses were administered in Lane County and all the individuals were notified of potential risks. The allocations were given to Bi-Mart stores, the White Bird clinic and other clinics in rural areas that requested them. Officials also said that they expect the FDA to approve the Johnson & Johnson vaccine again for future use as early as the next few days. Due to this, any unused Johnson & Johnson doses will most likely be stored for future use. Local residents weighed in on their thoughts about the vaccine. "They should still use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because so few people have been bothered by it," said Lane County resident Hal White. Lane County resident Barbara Foreman disagreed. "I think if there would be a possibility of it causing a blood clot, it would be best to avoid it," said Foreman. It has not been determined that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the definite cause for these rare blood clots. ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents arrest a suspected MS-13 gang member and Honduran national at his residence in Brentwood, N.Y., on March 29, 2018. (John Moore/Getty Images) Unaccompanied Minor Crisis Sparks Fear of MS-13 Resurgence McALLEN, TexasThe number of unaccompanied children crossing the border is causing concern over the knock-on effects the wave will have on U.S. schools and communities. The first surge of unaccompanied minors in 2014 was followed by an uptick in MS-13 gang violence in the areas where most of the minors were placed. MS-13 used the unaccompanied minor program as a recruiting tool, and vulnerable children found a home in the violent gang, often either by coercion or for a sense of belonging. Harris County, Texas, has absorbed the most unaccompanied minors since 2014 (more than 20,000), and state Attorney General Ken Paxton said hes absolutely concerned about the nexus with MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha. Weve already shown from the past that some of these unaccompanied minors end up in MS-13, Paxton told The Epoch Times. He said Houston is a hub for the transnational gang, while the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area also has a big problem. If we have a problem there, we definitely have a problem in the schools as well. Unfortunately, it is creating a problem for just regular kids having to be around these gang members. Paxton said MS-13 is known for murders, extortion, racketeering, assaults, robberies, drug trafficking, human traffickingthats not an exhaustive list, but it covers some of it. The gangs motto is kill, rape, control, and it has strong ties to El Salvador. Gang members are required to commit violence to rise in the ranks, as exemplified in a recent Houston case where seven men were charged with a 2018 murder. The victim was allegedly beaten to death with machetes in order for the defendants to further their positions in the enterprise, the Justice Department statement said on April 9. Five of the seven were in the United States illegally, one was legally in the country, and the final one was in custody in El Salvador. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in New York in 2018 resulted in the arrest of 99 confirmed MS-13 gang members who had entered the country as unaccompanied minors. Sixty-four of the 99 had obtained special immigrant juvenile status, which allows for a pathway to citizenship. The Department of Justice reported in 2020 that 74 percent of the 749 MS-13 gang members it has prosecuted since 2016 had entered the United States illegally. In 2017, ICE arrested 214 MS-13 gang members during an operation, 30 percent of whom originally entered the United States as unaccompanied alien children (UACs). A Nassau County, New York, operation in 2017 rounded up 41 alleged MS-13 gang members, 19 of whom entered as unaccompanied minors. The indictment alleged the individuals were responsible for 32 violent acts in Nassau County including eight attempted murders and other shootings, slashings, and stabbings, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. The operation has laid bare the critical need to carefully examine how we are handling unaccompanied minors as they come into this country, because its clear that current policies leave a vacuum that can turn into a recruiting pipeline for violent gangs, Singas said on June 15, 2017. She said MS-13 is aggressively recruiting in high schools in the towns of Hempstead and Uniondale, but the gang also targets children as young as 8 or 9. Record Numbers Former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan said the issues with MS-13 are going to be worse with the current influx of UACs because theyre releasing more and theyre releasing them quicker. Some of these UACs are going to be criminals, some are going to be gang membersnot all of them, but many will be recruited by the gangs as soon as they get to their cities, Homan told The Epoch Times. Its a cycle that repeats itself. In March, almost 19,000 unaccompanied minorsa record numberwere apprehended by Border Patrol after crossing the border illegally, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The number doubled from February when 9,400 were apprehended, whereas the preceding three months hovered around 5,000 per month. Border Patrol is required to transfer custody of unaccompanied minors to Health and Human Services (HHS) within 72 hours. However, the sheer numbers have overwhelmed facilities and children are staying in crowded CBP holding facilities for sometimes more than a week. Homan said Border Patrol agents at the Donna, Texas, facility told him fights break out among the older teenagers in the facility and theyre showing gang activity there. In addition to the CBP facilities, HHS has opened several emergency holding centers from Texas and California to Pennsylvania to increase its capacity. By April 13, almost 19,000 children were in HHS custodyup from 11,500 on March 24. By definition, an unaccompanied alien child is under 18 and has no parent or legal guardian in the United States, or no parent or legal guardian who is available to provide care and physical custody in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Regardless, DHS has found that about 60 percent of children who are initially determined to be unaccompanied alien children are released to a parent already living illegally in the United States. Additionally, restrictions placed by Congress in the 2019 appropriations package include a provision that illegal aliens in a household with an unaccompanied minor are now exempt from deportation. Exceptions apply for illegal aliens with aggravated felonies. Unaccompanied minors are eligible for food stamps, medical care, and social services. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), which was enacted to protect minors, has become a loophole for smugglers and for circumventing proper entry. Most unaccompanied minors are from the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, and the majority are aged between 15 and 17. The TVPRA includes a provision that says a minor from a non-contiguous country cant be turned back to Mexico or flown back to their home countryeven if the individual isnt a victim of trafficking, nor if their age, identity, credible fear status, or criminal background cant be verified. The Trump administration wanted Congress to amend the TVPRA so that minors who arent genuine trafficking victims can be quickly returned home or removed to safe third countries. In addition, the Flores Settlement Agreement, a Clinton-era settlement of a class-action lawsuit, puts pressure on relevant government agencies to release unaccompanied minors quickly. Under the Trump administration, more stringent measures were implemented to ensure the safe placement of unaccompanied minors. Since mid-2018, HHS has been required to submit the fingerprints of all potential sponsors to the Department of Homeland Security, which conducts criminal and immigration status checks before a minor is released. The Biden administration has said it intends to relax the vetting measures in order to speed the placement of children to sponsors. HHS didnt respond to requests by The Epoch Times to outline its current vetting process or the average length of time a child is with HHS before being released to a sponsor. Whenever you hasten or quicken a process to make sure these people are who they say they are, and make sure theyre not a danger to the community, youre putting the children at risk, Homan said. MS-13 and other gangs are taking advantage of open borders. He called MS-13 the most ruthless gang in the world. Ive seen the results of some things theyve done, he said. I wish President Biden and the Democratic leadership in Congress saw the things I saw in my careermaybe they wouldnt be so quick to turn this border open. Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew had a perfect response to an Instagram troll who told her to 'shut up' about Meghan Markle. The newsreader, 37, had unleashed on the pregnant Duchess of Sussex on Wednesday, after Ms Markle's friends claimed she wasn't attending Prince Philip's funeral because she 'doesn't want to be the centre of attention'. After footage of her rant went viral, Sunrise viewers weighed in on social media - and one comment in particular rubbed Bartholomew the wrong way. Scroll down for video Hitting back: Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew (pictured) had a perfect response to an Instagram troll who told her to 'shut up' about Meghan Markle 'Edwina should shut up,' they commented. Responding from her verified Instagram account, the journalist fired back: 'I agree, Lynda. I sincerely hope they [the Sussexes] reconcile with the [Royal] family this week and we can all shut up about it.' Bartholomew had criticised Ms Markle on air on Wednesday, after sources close to the American-born duchess said she wasn't attending Prince Philip's funeral because she didn't want to make the sombre occasion all about her. Markle did not travel to England with her husband, Prince Harry, to join his family in mourning ahead of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, and instead opted to stay at their home Montecito, California. 'Shut up': After footage of her rant about Ms Markle went viral, Sunrise viewers weighed in on social media - and one comment in particular rubbed Bartholomew the wrong way Clapback: Responding from her verified Instagram account, the journalist fired back: 'I agree, Lynda. I sincerely hope they [the Sussexes] reconcile with the [Royal] family this week and we can all shut up about it' In addition to not wanting the spotlight, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson previously confirmed Meghan 'has been advised by her physician not to travel' because she is six months pregnant. Bartholomew was less than impressed by the recent revelations from Ms Markle's camp, telling the Sunrise panel it 'really gets my goat'. 'I've reserved judgment about those two for quite some time, but if that is true, it just makes me so angry,' she said. 'I still liked Harry and Meghan. I just, I just feel I've turned now.' Having her say: Bartholomew had criticised Ms Markle on air on Wednesday, after sources close to the American-born duchess said she wasn't attending Prince Philip's funeral because she didn't want to make the sombre occasion all about her Explanation: In addition to not wanting the spotlight, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson previously confirmed Meghan 'has been advised by her physician not to travel' because she is six months pregnant. Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk behind Prince Philip at Sandringham on December 25, 2017. The Duke of Edinburgh died on Friday, at the age of 99 The Sunrise presenter made the comments after the breakfast show aired a story about Ms Markle, ahead of Saturday's funeral at Windsor Castle. Co-host David Koch then jumped in and compared Ms Markle to Yoko Ono, whose marriage to John Lennon was often cited as a cause of the break-up of The Beatles. 'She's the Yoko Ono of the Royal Family,' he said. Bartholomew agreed Ms Markle would have been criticised no matter what she decided to do for the funeral as it would have been her first visit since the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in which she repeatedly criticised the Royal family. 'She's right, if she had gone, there would have been a lot of tension on her and it would have distracted,' she said. 'But for them to say that out loud [about Meghan not wanting to be the centre of attention]... just go with the Palace line wouldn't you? Just for once. Just shut up.' Bartholomew concluded that Ms Markle and Prince Harry should have just said her decision to stay in the U.S. was based entirely on doctors' orders. Commentary: Bartholomew concluded that Ms Markle and Prince Harry should have just pretended her choice to stay in the U.S. was purely based off doctors orders Ms Markle has also said she is 'ready to forgive' the Royal Family despite telling Oprah they were racist towards Archie and ignored her mental health problems, a friend exclusively told DailyMail.com. 'Meghan said her main concern right now is supporting Harry. She said she left it up to him as to whether or not she would attend the funeral,' an insider with close ties to Meghan Markle tells DailyMail.com. 'Meghan said it's during these times when family should come together, put their differences aside and unite as one. She said this is what Prince Philip would want and that she's willing to forgive and move forward.' While there was still time for Meghan to fly to the UK to join Harry before Saturday's funeral, the insider added that her mother Doria is 'adamant' that she not travel while pregnant. 'Doria insisted that Meghan stay behind and support Harry from afar. Like Harry, Doria is very protective of Meghan and doesn't want to see her putting her own health at risk. Stress is the last thing Meghan needs right now.' Revelations: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pictured during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey The Sussexes are expecting their second child - a girl - this summer. 'Meghan said attending or not attending Prince Philip's funeral isn't going to change her relationship with the Queen. She said the Queen understands her absence and would want her to stay safe and healthy for the baby,' the friend said. 'Meghan said this is the opportune time for Henry to mend his relationship with his brother and his dad. She doesn't need to be there for that.' Prince Harry flew into London's Heathrow Airport without his wife over the weekend on his first visit to Britain since quitting royal duties. Harry's return to the UK ahead of Saturday's funeral is his first since March 2020 when he moved to Canada, and will be the first opportunity to reunite with Prince William and his father Prince Charles, who is said to be 'looking forward' to a get-together with his son. Harry gave a light-hearted tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh on Monday after his death at the age of 99 and declared: 'He was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end.' Harry said: 'He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, ''Oh do get on with it!''.' The Royal Family's Twitter page shared a picture with the Queen and Prince Philip along with a moving quote from the monarch about her husband from a speech she made celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1997. In the speech, looking back at their then 50 year marriage, she said: 'He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.' The Duke of Edinburgh died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday, aged 99. Rest in peace: Prince Philip died on Friday. The Royal Family had said in a statement, 'It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh'. Pictured with Prince Harry in 2014 The Sussexes, who ignored calls to postpone the March 7 CBS interview with Oprah because Philip was unwell, accused an unnamed royal, not the Queen nor the Duke, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin tone would be before he was born. Ms Markle claimed that she'd been trapped by the 'institution' of the Royal Family and was at one point suicidal, but that when she sought help, was told she could not have it. The Queen said after the interview that the allegations were 'concerning' and the matter was a family one that would be dealt with privately. Despite a team of World Health Organization (WHO) investigators ruling that it was extremely unlikely that the coronavirus was accidentally released from a research lab in China, the idea continues to persist. Most notably, the head of the WHO said last month that he remained unconvinced by the investigation, especially because it was difficult for the investigators to access any raw data, and suggested that the lab leak hypothesis warranted further attention. Now, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard researcher Alina Chan told Slate that she agrees. While she doesnt say thats what definitely happened, she suggests that its worth taking a closer look at what she feels is a plausible explanation for how the COVID-19 pandemic began. In Wuhan, there were early versions of the virus that didnt seem to pass through the [Wuhan Huanan] market, Chan, whos been a longtime proponent for the lab leak hypothesis, told Slate. They seemed to precede or be in parallel to the market, I want to be really clear that I still think wildlife trade is a plausible scenario, she added. But I think its essential that we have a real investigation, a credible one that is free from political influence, into whether this virus could have come from a lab or from the wildlife trade. The main hole in other coronavirus origin stories, Chan argued, is that its hard to explain how a coronavirus that may have emerged from bat caves hundreds of miles away made its way to Wuhan. But the Wuhan Institute of Virology had a program where scientists would travel to collect samples for analysis in the lab, Chan added. Given that the institute was studying a close genetic relative of the coronavirus at the time, she feels that its a coincidence worth probing. Labs around the world [all] have safety issues, and its not clear which labs are having how many accidents a year, Chan told Slate. But these processes do have accidents. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The judge at Derek Chauvins murder trial Wednesday turned down a defense request to acquit the former officer in George Floyds death. Judge Peter Cahill pressed on with the case after Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson argued that prosecutors had failed to prove that Chauvin killed Floyd. Requests for an acquittal are routinely made midway through a trial and are usually denied. Nelson said the prosecutions expert witnesses gave conflicting opinions about what caused Floyds death after the 46-year-old Black man was pinned under the white officers knee for what authorities say was 9-1/2 minutes last May. The request came on Day Two of the defense case. The prosecution rested its own case on Tuesday after 11 days of testimony and gripping video evidence. More: Defense calls first witnesses in case against ex-cop in George Floyds death George Floyds brother cries on stand as trial continues amid turmoil in Minneapolis It is important for Ukraine that U.S. President Joe Biden conveyed the U.S. position on escalation on Ukraine's eastern border during a conversation with Putin on April 13. "Ukraine is interested in the United States contacts with Russia, otherwise there will be a no-win situation," Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, said in a comment to an Ukrinform correspondent in New York. According to the diplomat, Biden is not ready now to talk about visiting Moscow or welcoming Putin to Washington. Therefore, it was decided to offer Moscow a meeting on neutral ground. According to Kyslytsya, this could be a meeting on the sidelines of an international event or in a bilateral format. In any case, for such a meeting to take place, it should be preceded by a long preparation of its content," the diplomat said, "I don't think Washington is interested in impromptu. The current situation is seen as a threat to regional security, i.e., a threat to the entire Black Sea region and Europe, he noted. According to the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, consideration of the situation in the UN is logically preceded by the use of the capabilities of regional organizations. In particular, Kyslytsya noted, the Vienna Document is currently used at the OSCE level, according to which a signatory country may request an explanation from another signatory in case of troop movements or other actions related to military activity. However, Moscow ignored such a demand in 2014, he reminded. As Kyslytsya said, Kyiv is constantly coordinating the actions of foreign diplomatic missions concerning increased Russia's military activity along the border with Ukraine. Ukraine, he noted, maintains close contact with the United States and European members of the UN Security Council. On Tuesday, Biden held a conversation with Putin, during which he reaffirmed his support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and offered to hold a meeting in a third country in the coming months. ol Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is looking for a marketing agency that can assist the towns fire department with the development of volunteer recruitment campaigns. MIAMI, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami personal injury attorney Gregg M. Goldfarb has launched a new podcast that puts an entertaining spin on current legal, regulatory, and public interest information and news. The new podcast - Cut To The Chase: - is available on Apple Podcasts. Goldfarb, whose law practice at Gregg M Goldfarb, LLP, focuses on personal injury, mass tort claims, PIP insurance claims, and civil rights claims, has practiced law in south Florida for more than 25 years. Miami personal injury attorney Gregg M. Goldfarb has launched a new podcast that puts an entertaining spin on current legal, regulatory, and public interest information and news. The new podcast - Cut To The Chase: - is available on Apple Podcasts. "My goal with this podcast is to help educate and inform the audience about some compelling and interesting issues of our day," said Goldfarb. "Too often people, including myself, are too busy or distracted to figure out what is going on with certain issues that shape our lives. I try to bring on guests that know these issues and get them to simplify them so we understand." Launched in mid-January, the Cut To The Chase: podcast has featured a variety of local and national experts who have discussed a number of "grabbed from the headlines" topics, including: David Chase , former SEC senior counsel, who discussed the SEC lawsuit against the cryptocurrency Ripple (XRP) and the recent GameStop stock play. , former SEC senior counsel, who discussed the SEC lawsuit against the cryptocurrency Ripple (XRP) and the recent GameStop stock play. Environmental professor Richard Grosso , who talked with Goldfarb about important South Florida environmental issues, including the controversial roadway project through the Everglades. , who talked with Goldfarb about important environmental issues, including the controversial roadway project through the Everglades. Miami immigration attorney Rodrigo Vilar , who provided his thoughts on the most important immigration topics for the new administration to consider. immigration attorney , who provided his thoughts on the most important immigration topics for the new administration to consider. CPA Boris Musheyev , who provided key insights and guidance regarding the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). , who provided key insights and guidance regarding the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). Financial advisor David Fink , an expert on Bitcoin, who discussed the tax ramifications of investing in cryptocurrency. , an expert on Bitcoin, who discussed the tax ramifications of investing in cryptocurrency. Physics professor Dr. Adam Leibovich , who educated Goldfarb's audience on the workings of the universe. In addition to practicing law, Goldfarb has served as president of the Center for Independent Living of South Florida, which helps people with disabilities fully integrate into their communities, and is the founder of Clean Miami River, an environmental nonprofit. For more information, visit gregggoldfarb.com. Media Contact: Gregg Goldfarb Phone: 305-374-7000 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Gregg M. Goldfarb, LLP Related Links https://gregggoldfarb.com URBANA, Ill. - Before humans can benefit from new drug therapies and nutritional additives, scientists test their safety and efficacy in animals, typically mice and rats. But, as much as they've done for biomedical research, rodents aren't always the best research model for studies on neonatal brain development and nutrition. That's where pigs can play an important role. University of Illinois researchers say the domestic pig is ideal for these studies because their brain size, rate of development, and digestive system are excellent analogues for human newborns. They know a lot about pig brains, having built the first - and recently, the second - complete, MRI-based atlases of the organ. They've used the first to study the effects of numerous nutritional interventions in pigs. But some critics say they can't be sure those outcomes reflect reality. After all, these research subjects are raised in carefully controlled environments, not mingling with siblings and mom in farm-standard farrowing crates. So just how much does the pig's early rearing environment affect brain development? "We've been countering a lot of criticism about whether the development of the pig brain is the same in our laboratory as it is on any pig farm. And the answer is yes. We now have indisputable evidence to say that the brains of pigs raised in an artificial environment grow and develop in the same way structurally as those of pigs raised by their mother," says Ryan Dilger, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and senior author on a new study in Frontiers in Neuroscience. In the study, the research team brought 2-day-old piglets to their facility, known as the Piglet Nutrition and Cognition Laboratory, which is outfitted with large individual enclosures that let pigs see, smell, and hear others in adjacent pens. Dilger says the high ambient temperature and ability for pigs to socialize is important. "In our nutritional studies, we want to keep them separated to avoid cross-contamination of the bacteria found in their colon, which is collectively known as the microbiota. But the pigs still get to express social behaviors by seeing, hearing, and smelling each other," he says. "And in many of our studies, we let the pigs out of their enclosures to socialize each day, so they get to have a piggy party each afternoon." Another subset of piglets stayed with their littermates and mothers in farrowing crates on a research farm on the U of I campus. At 4 weeks of age, when pigs have developed enough that they no longer need to solely drink milk, the artificially reared pigs moved back to the farm and were group-housed with their sow-reared counterparts. So, in the end, the pigs only lived in different environments for the first four weeks of life and from that point forward, all pigs were treated the same. All pigs were anesthetized and scanned in a state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks of age. The researchers assessed brain macro- and microstructure of the artificially reared and sow-reared pigs using the new pig brain atlases for young and adolescent pigs. Not only did the pigs eat and grow at the same rates in the two rearing environments, their brain development was equivalent overall as well. The researchers found no differences in absolute volumes of the whole brain, gray matter, white matter, cerebrospinal fluid growth, or microstructural changes (neuronal connections between brain regions) over time in the two groups. Joanne Fil, doctoral student in the Neuroscience Program at Illinois and first author of the study, says, "We looked at a surrogate measure of myelin, myelin water fraction, which reflects the fat and protein surrounding neurons and helps them communicate more effectively. Humans and pigs develop a lot of myelin significantly after birth, so if we see more myelination, then we assume the brain is maturing at a different rate. Longitudinally, there were no differences between the myelin water fraction in the two groups. "We did see slight differences in the rate of development, with artificially reared pigs having a slightly higher rate of myelin development than the sow-reared pigs, but in the end, pigs raised in either environment reached the same place when it came to brain growth." The researchers also compared the pigs' memory in behavioral tests. The pigs were presented with two stationary toys to play with - one they had previously been able to investigate and one they had never seen before. If they spent more time checking out the new toy, that was evidence they remembered the older one and therefore had encoded a memory. At a couple of early time points, 4 and 8 weeks, pigs in the sow-reared group had slightly greater object recognition. The authors suggest that might have been due to greater peer interaction in the sow-reared environments. However, the differences were slight and temporary. "Behavior is always more variable, more subjective. That's why we like the objective and structural measures of the brain we can evaluate by MRI," Dilger says. "And what we found is that when both sets of pigs are healthy and we've met their nutritional requirements, the rearing environment didn't appear to influence brain development. Their brains effectively grew the same." In addition to supporting the continued use of laboratory rearing environments in pig neuroscience research, the study provides new data on pig brain development over time. For half a dozen years, the first pig brain atlas served as the definitive reference for researchers around the world. But that atlas was based on 4-week-old pigs and couldn't be easily extrapolated to older animals. Not only do the new atlases include one for 12-week-old pigs, the rearing environment study provides absolute volume measures for pigs at many more time points, up to adulthood. "This provides a lot of foundational data where somebody could come back and ask how many cubic millimeters is the pig brain at a particular age. We can model that based on what we have here," Fil says. "Our objective was comparing the two rearing environments, but also providing what is expected for a certain age of pig. That helps because we can start to develop nutritional interventions for specific ages and understand what parts of brain development can be influenced by nutrition." Dilger adds, "There's a lot of power in the pig as a model for biomedical research, and we're showing that by bringing together engineering and agriculture, which are central to our mission as a land-grant institution. We use lots of mice in research on our campus, but we're also very good at working with pigs. We're mixing the biomedical world with the agricultural world, to ultimately benefit both pig and human nutrition. ### The article, "Influence of rearing environment on longitudinal brain development, object recognition memory, and exploratory behaviors in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa)," is published in Frontiers in Neuroscience [DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.649536]. Authors include Joanne Fil, Sangyun Joung, Courtney Hayes, and Ryan Dilger. Funding was provided by Nestle. The Department of Animal Sciences is in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. A limited but significant revamp of Louisianas corporate tax code on Wednesday passed the first of many steps before it can become law, but broader efforts to reduce or eliminate dozens of corporate tax breaks faced a blizzard of opposition from special-interest lobbyists. The action took place before the House Ways and Means Committee, which under its chairman, state Rep. Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, is trying to pare back credits and deductions that legislators and governors have added to the tax code for years with the stated purpose of encouraging business investment. Bishop and other House and Senate leaders want to reduce the tax breaks in exchange for lowering a top corporate tax rate that is higher than in neighboring states. Bishop and others say the higher rates keep businesses from coming to Louisiana, even if the actual taxes paid here are low because of all the deductions and credits on the books. But lobbyists turned in a stack of red cards to register their opposition to Bishops House Bill 444, which would take a big bite out of corporate tax breaks. Effort underway to lower income taxes in Louisiana-- but at a cost; here's the proposal A complicated tax swap that would eliminate a popular deduction in exchange for lowering income tax rates passed its first step when it won ap Bishop joked that the sergeant of arms ran out of the red cards for other bills. He announced that the committee would hear his bill another day since the Legislative Fiscal Office hadnt yet determined how much money it would bring in. The Ways and Means Committee did approve two measures aimed at passing a tax swap that aims to reduce the top corporate tax rate in exchange for eliminating a popular corporate tax deduction. The two measures, House Bills 292 and 293, both sponsored by state Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, would assess corporations a flat 6% income tax rate while no longer permitting them to deduct their federal tax payments on their state income tax returns. That tax swap would have a net cost to the state of about $20 million per year, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office. Louisiana corporations are currently assessed at five rates, topping out at 8%. Those five rates would collapse to the 6% rate if the Legislature approves HB292 and 293 and then the public approves the changes to the constitution in an election to be held in November 2022. Ways and Means didnt take up the third part of Risers package, House Bill 275. +3 Minimum wage hike, teacher raises among priorities as John Bel Edwards addresses legislative session Gov. John Bel Edwards called on lawmakers to address the inequities exposed by the coronavirus pandemic by passing a rash of priorities rangin Riser said the changes would simplify the corporate tax system and make Louisiana more attractive by moving to a lower top tax rate. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up State Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central, praised the proposed changes but advised his colleagues that potential investors care about more than simply the top corporate tax rate. We all know that the net tax liability for these corporations is relatively low, said Ivey, who has repeatedly tried and failed to restructure Louisianas tax system in recent years. He said that companies also want an educated workforce, which requires tax revenue. Ivey cited The Camelot Index, a quality-of-life metric conducted by a Washington, D.C. group based on 25 measures. Louisiana ranked last among the 50 states. Bishop and state Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, are also trying to eliminate the deduction for federal individual income taxes on state tax returns in exchange for reducing individual income tax rates. That effort began Tuesday. While Bishop deferred his bill Wednesday, state Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, brought forth House Bill 454, which would cut all corporate tax breaks in half. DeVillier said he knew his bill wouldnt be popular among business lobbyists he noted that many of them were sitting behind him in the audience but said lawmakers had to act now because one source of state tax collections is likely to drop while the other is scheduled to disappear. One reduction, he said, would arrive if Democrats in Congress and President Joe Bidens administration succeed in raising corporate taxes. If they do, it will reduce Louisiana income tax receipts because of the federal tax deduction provision. Under the current setup, higher tax payments to the federal government mean bigger tax write-offs on Louisiana tax returns. DeVillier also noted that a 0.45% state sales tax increase, approved by the Legislature during the third special session of 2018, expires in mid-2025. It produces about $500 million per year. LSU medical school chancellor suspended after criticism of his handling of sexual harassment claims Dr. Ghali E. Ghali, chancellor of the LSU medical school in Shreveport, was put on administrative leave Tuesday, a day after four employees fi DeVillier said lawmakers should act now. If they dont, he noted, they will have to wait two years to address tax issues next in a regular session. And because 2023 is an election year, he said lawmakers wont want to do anything until 2025. Bishop received a stack of red cards in opposition to DeVilliers bill. Lobbyists from the Louisiana Bankers Association and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association told committee members that a cut in the tax breaks would amount to double taxation for their members. In the end, the committee heeded DeVilliers request that they defeat an attempt to preserve one tax break and allowed him to present his bill another day, after the Legislative Fiscal Office determines how much it would generate for the state. Committee members then adjourned to have lunch provided by two Entergy lobbyists in a side room. Latin America could become a post-pandemic apparel manufacturing destination for Canada and the US if regional suppliers and governments seize the opportunities, new research suggests. A collaborative effort by textile and apparel manufacturers in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti and the Dominican Republic could lead to a resurgence of investment, according to a report by Nicole Bivens Collinson from international trade law firm Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg (ST&R). She suggests they should take advantage of free trade agreements or preferential programmes providing duty free access to the US and Canada, as well as leveraging their geographic proximity. The Apparel Manufacturing: Lessons from the Pandemic report points to a number of factors that could prove beneficial for textile and apparel manufacturers in these countries. For example, there are noticeable vulnerabilities in brand and retailer supply chains that are prompting them to consider changes. Most companies are reassessing and restructuring their global supply chains, Collinson says. The economic costs to retailers are resulting in physical presence reductions and closures of stores. The reduction of stores means a reduction in inventory. As such, Collinson says brands are looking at rebalancing their sourcing to ensure they are not overexposed in one geographical area; are considering a hub and spoke sourcing model to manufacture in geographical proximity to the target market; are looking at vertical manufacturing locations either as an individual country or as a close geographical region of countries; are looking at sustainable production to meet growing consumer demands; and are looking at nearshoring suppliers as it helps to meet several of the sourcing restructuring objectives. Additionally, a transformational shift is occurring in consumer shopping behaviours, with e-commerce sales increasing exponentially. At the same time, the US and Canada are imposing trade-restrictive measures on major suppliers in China in response to concerns about forced labour practices in the country. Further, there are increasing civil and governmental pressures to bring manufacturing and its attendant jobs back to or nearer to the US and Canadian markets. El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras are among the top ten apparel importers to the US, but in 2020 they all recorded declines. El Salvador and Honduras saw declines of 34% and 32%, respectively, to 492 million square meters (MM2) and 681 MM2. Imports from Mexico were down 14% to 680 MM2. Their volumes also pale in comparison to the three largest suppliers China, Vietnam and Bangladesh, which recorded shipments of 8,466 MM2, 3,788 MM2, and 1,890 MM2 respectively. 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 The report asserts that the six countries can take advantage of the evolving situation and become a post-pandemic manufacturing destination if they engage in a collaborative public/private sector effort that includes continued steps to: Demonstrate flexibility and quick response to market circumstances Maintain versatility in production and supply chains for e-commerce and drop shipment supplies Develop verticality in supply chains for yarns, fabrics, and apparel by working as a regional coordinated supplier Capitalise on their proximity to, and free trade agreements with, the US and Canada Provide complete visibility into their supply chains to demonstrate that no forced labour is used. Other recommendations include accelerated trade lanes for trusted or known traders, cooperative agreements with the US and Canada for pre-approved customs clearance for shipments, regional education and training initiatives, and integration of existing free trade agreement provisions. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 05:27:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on March 31, 2021 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden delivering a speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a live stream provided by CNBC. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home," President Joe Biden said. WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan before Sept. 11, a move to end the longest war in American history. "The United States will begin our final withdrawal, begin it on May 1 of this year," Biden said in his remarks at the White House. "U.S. troops, as well as forces deployed by our NATO allies and operational partners, will be out of Afghanistan before we mark the 20th anniversary of that heinous attack on September 11th." "It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home," he said, noting that the United States has achieved counterterrorism objectives in Afghanistan. In his remarks, Biden made clear that the withdrawal is not subject to any changes of conditions on the ground. "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create ideal conditions for the withdrawal and expecting a different result," he said. "I'm now the fourth United States president to preside over American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans, two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth." The upcoming Sept. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the United States into war in Afghanistan. Biden said that 2,488 U.S. military personnel were killed, and 20,722 have been wounded in this longest war in American history. Biden highlighted that the United States would continue to support the Afghan government and provide assistance to the Afghan military after the withdrawal. "While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue." An Afghan border forces soldier stands guard at a U.S. forces base which has been handed over to Afghan border forces in Dih Bala district of Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan, July 20, 2020. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Meanwhile, he voiced U.S. support for the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban facilitated by the United Nations. Biden spoke with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani earlier in the day. The two leaders discussed continued commitment to a strong bilateral partnership following the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, according to a readout issued by the White House. The latest decision extends the deadline negotiated between the previous administration and the Afghan Taliban last year to pull U.S. troops out of the country on May 1. The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in late February 2020, which called for a full withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan by May 2021 if the Taliban meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with terrorist groups. The Biden administration had concluded that the Taliban had not met its commitment under the U.S.-Taliban deal. The Pentagon said that there are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but U.S. media recently said the number did not include 1,000 more U.S. special forces in the country. Besides, about 7,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan rely on U.S. logistics and security support. 100 years ago 1921 Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Railroad celebrated the 75th anniversary of its birth and the shop whistles and the whistles on locomotives all sounded at noon. 75 years ago 1946 Reflecting the heavy movement of coal from north of the mountain, the Reading Company has put on more full crews out of the Gordon Yards and awarded jobs to other railroaders who put in bids for new positions. 50 years ago 1971 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN Borough council reorganized Monday night, electing a new president and vice president. A new councilman was seated. Ray Ebling, from the North Ward, was elevated from vice president to president. 25 years ago 1996 SHENANDOAH Donna M. Kulpowicz envisions an Olympic-sized swimming pool at Bicentennial Park where people could gather to cool off and have some fun. To make that vision a reality, Kulpowicz is working with other people in the community who are interested in raising money to bring a pool to the borough. Theres more than a possibility. Its actually in the works, Kulpowicz said. The pool would replace Sandy Beach, the boroughs former swimming area, which is a half-mile north of town in West Mahanoy Township. Last April the Shenandoah Area Recreation Authority closed the beach because of deteriorating conditions, lack of money and potentially hazardous conditions created by a nearby reservoir. So far, Kulpowicz and others have been researching the legalities of the project, such as applying for tax numbers and writing up a charter, she said. While Kulpowicz would not elaborate on who else is involved in the project or the proposal, she said an informational public meeting will be held to discuss it after more research. We want to make it a community thing, she said. We want everybody to be involved. The community getting involved is going to get a whole lot of action done. Daio wins Breakthrough Brands 2020 "GOO.N," Daio's baby diapers brand that transcosmos China sells on JD.com, was named one of the "Breakthrough Brands 2020" for its proactive and effective marketing strategies and dramatic performance growth achieved in 2020. transcosmos inc. is delighted to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary Shanghai transcosmos Marketing Services Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shanghai, China; CEO: Eijiro Yamashita; transcosmos China) helped "GOO.N," a baby diapers brand by Daio Paper Corporation (Daio) win the "Breakthrough Brands 2020" award under the "JD Services Partners Award 2020" announced in February 2021, by JD Marketing 360. JD Marketing 360 is a marketing platform under JD.com, one of the leading Chinese e-commerce shopping malls. transcosmos China has been offering its e-commerce operations services for Daio in marketing the company's "GOO.N" brand on JD.com. Recognized for its proactive and effective marketing strategies, and significant sales growth, "GOO.N." was highly recognized by JD Marketing 360 and won the award. JD Marketing 360, a specialty marketing platform that aims to become "China's best brand-building platform," announced the "JD Services Partners Award 2020" in February, 2021, which is divided into five different categories, namely, Best Partner of the Year, Breakthrough Brand of the Year, Emerging Brand of the Year, Innovation Award of the Year, and Operational Excellence Award of the Year. "GOO.N," Daio's baby diapers brand that transcosmos China sells on JD.com was named one of the "Breakthrough Brands 2020" for its proactive and effective marketing strategies, and dramatic performance growth achieved in 2020. For "Services Partners Award 2020," JD Marketing 360 named only 40 companies out of several thousand nominees the Breakthrough Brand of the Year. Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the online shopping environment has been going through a drastic change. Given the situation, companies must transform their business in various aspects in order to appropriately respond to the changing market, and meet consumer needs. As the online distribution partner, transcosmos China can make full use of the "JD Marketing 360" platform and its digital marketing tools, so that the company can leverage the "4E Marketing Model" that consists of "Evolve marketing strategy: Evolve," "Execute marketing plans: Execute," "Evaluate results: Evaluate," and "Enhance marketing techniques: Enhance." Ultimately, transcosmos China delivers omnichannel digital marketing solutions throughout the customer lifecycle from awareness, to interest, to action, to advocacy stage. Moreover, transcosmos China helps brands achieve digital transformation, shifting from online traffic operations to consumer operations. For example, to help brands precisely operate and manage their e-commerce stores, and optimize their marketing strategies, transcosmos China integrates consumer behavior data, performs data mining, and visualizes their buying behavior. What's more, transcosmos China has both deep insight and the ability to make the most out of analyzing big data on every e-commerce platform that the company offers services for clients. Being a recognized service operator, transcosmos China has earned TMALL Five-star service partner status, Kaola Five-star service partner status and more. In the future, transcosmos China will continue to strengthen its marketing services on each e-commerce platform to help companies achieve online sales expansion on multiple platforms. About transcosmos China transcosmos entered the Chinese market and launched its offshore services business in 1995. In 2006, the company opened its first call center in Shanghai and started to provide call center services for the Chinese market. Today, transcosmos has its bases and subsidiaries across 20 cities in China including Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hefei, Xi'an, Changsha, Wuhan, Suzhou, Taipei and more. transcosmos China was founded in Shanghai as a digital transformation partner for businesses in 2006 and launched its e-commerce business in 2009. Now, in partnership with platforms such as TMALL, JD, WeChat, and TIKTOK, transcosmos China offers a variety of services that include e-commerce store/website development & operations, sales channel development, online and offline data integration, system development, consumer operations, and integrated marketing services in the new retail industry (including cross-border e-commerce) to clients in diverse industries including the 3C Industry (Computer, Communications, and Consumer Electronics), cosmetics, apparel, baby care, toy, sports, beverage, musical instruments, homewares, home theater/audio equipment, and more. *transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries. *Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies. About transcosmos inc. transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 169 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of the e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/ Scott Morrison has refused to apologise to ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate after she claimed he bullied and intimidated her out of the job - as a newspaper cartoonist denies portraying her as a prostitute. Ms Holgate resigned in November after it was revealed she used taxpayer funds to buy highly-paid executives four Cartier watches worth $5,000 each as a reward for signing a lucrative deal with Australia's biggest banks. In a heated Question Time debate after the lavish gifts came to light, a furious Mr Morrison called for her to stand aside, saying 'she can go'. Scott Morrison has refused to apologise to ousted Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate (pictured) Ms Holgate hit back on Tuesday, telling a Senate inquiry this amounted to bullying and harassment and insisting she did nothing wrong. She also blasted the Australia Financial Review newspaper over a cartoon in which she believes she was depicted as a prostitute. The former chief executive said she was left suicidal and took insomnia medication due to her poor mental health as a result of Mr Morrison's public rebuke. In an interview with The West Australian on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said he regretted causing distress but stopped short of an apology. 'I see that this has caused some very strong reaction from Christine and had hurt her deeply. That was not my intention and so I regret that,' he said. 'The issue here was how taxpayers' funds were being used in a government-owned company and as prime minister I have to stand up for those standards and did. 'It was not my intention to upset or offend Ms Holgate. I appreciate she has gone through a difficult time and that's not something that I would have liked to have seen happen. 'But we're all accountable for the decisions we make and the things that we do.' 'It was not my intention to upset or offend Ms Holgate,' Mr Morrison said on Wednesday Mr Morrison also refuted Ms Holgate's assertion that her treatment was sexist. 'This was about the issues of taxpayers' money,' he said. 'I don't accept there were any gender issues here at all.' The Prime Minister pointed out that his anger at Ms Holgate's profligate use of government funds was widely shared. 'My language was strong, parliament can get very heated. The Labor Party were calling for her resignation,' he said. 'What I said was that there should be an inquiry... and I said she should stand aside while they were doing that.' The cartoon Ms Holgate referred to in her senate submission was an image by award-winning cartoonist David Rowe, who published the image on October 22. The cartoon featured Ms Holgate wearing a short dress with smudged lipstick while Mr Morrison wears several watches in reference to the government's other scandals. The caption reads 'Cartier... when it's time to go.' Mr Rowe has strongly denied depicting Ms Holgate as a prostitute, telling news.com.au: 'Not sure how the cartoon was taken as anything other than a criticism of Morrison. 'Like most, I was as appalled at Morrison's position on the 22nd and drew the cartoon in response to that. 'Not everyone likes a caricature, but drawing a female public figure as a prostitute has never been part of my cartoon vocabulary and I'm really sad to think this is giving her additional unnecessary distress.' Christine Holgate (pictured on 7.30) said she hasn't ruled out legal action against Australia Post after she was publicly slammed for gifting watches to executives When defending her decision to buy the watches in October, Ms Holgate claimed Australia Post's profits were not taxpayers' money but the government is the only shareholder of the company. 'It was very clear that the statement had been made that this was not taxpayers' money and I took great difference with that statement,' Mr Morrison said. 'If you're running a government-owned business then it is taxpayers' money and it has to be treated like that.' In a television interview on Tuesday night, Ms Holgate demanded an apology from Mr Morrison, describing his demand she step aside as 'one of the worst acts of bullying I've ever witnessed'. She revealed she hadn't ruled out legal action and had a personal message for Mr Morrison in settling her ongoing action against Australia Post. 'Maybe if the Prime Minister is watching he could give me a call and I would love an apology, but he could help me resolve my contract,' she told ABC's 7.30. She claimed she didn't see Mr Morrison's angry address in parliament until weeks after the event. 'Even now I have to take myself out of myself to watch it. It's an utter disgrace,' she said. 'You would have rather hoped that before someone publicly hung and humiliated you, that they may pick up the phone and call you and ask you directly what happened and why.' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who is chairing an inquiry into Australia Post, called on the Prime Minister to personally apologise for the way she was treated and backed her claims of being a victim of sexism. 'The treatment that Christine Holgate was given in comparison to the backing that the PM has given men who have behaved badly in his own government is just so stark,' she told ABC radio. 'It's hard not to understand the argument that gender was at play here.' Lucy Turnbull, wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, also took the side of her fellow businesswoman, and said she should be reinstated. 'She was treated disgracefully and I can't help thinking there was a bit of gender bias in the way she was treated,' Ms Turnbull told the ABC. 'I'd like anyone else to argue the contrary and point to a man who's been treated like that.' With AAP SEATTLE, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Taqtile and Booz Allen Hamilton are working together to demonstrate the capabilities of 5G and the Manifest augmented reality (AR) platform at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington state. The JBLM project is designed to test the security, scalability, and resilience of 5G networks and the advanced capabilities of augmented reality/virtual reality. The JBLM deployment is part of a $600 million investment by the Department of Defense (DOD) to test 5G at five U.S. military sites. According to a recent DOD press release, this represents "the largest full-scale 5G test for dual-use applications in the world." Planned projects include implementing 5G-enabled augmented reality/virtual reality platforms for equipment maintenance and repairs, mission planning and training, and use in smart warehouses. "The JBLM project is an innovative collaboration between 5G providers and AR category leaders like Taqtile," stated Chris Christou, Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton. "We expect this project to set a new standard for deploying advanced wireless applications on military installations." "We will break new ground through our work with Booz Allen Hamilton, demonstrating the advanced capabilities and tangible benefits of 5G and the Manifest AR platform on a military base," said Dirck Schou, CEO, Taqtile. "The ability to use Manifest and 5G to put knowledge at the fingertips of frontline military personnel will make them exponentially more efficient and effective at their tasks." Manifest can serve as a digital repository for maintenance and repair information, including video and audio "notes," and related documents. Equipment-specific repair information can be seamlessly transferred between personnel, reducing delays and the risk of human error. Manifest can also automatically upload all saved documents to a centralized maintenance queue for quick access to accurate materials. This project further deepens a strategic partnership between Taqtile and Booz Allen Hamilton in terms of driving XR capabilities into DoD. "Booz Allen is committed to remaining on the edge, integrating and deploying advanced capabilities for the warfighter," stated Eric Billies, Booz Allen's Principal guiding business in the Pacific Northwest that includes delivering immersive solutions for multiple defense clients. "That is why partnering with companies like Taqtile is so valuable combining applications like Manifest with other technologies including 5G, AI/ML and cybersecurity helps our clients realize the power of XR for mission execution." Participation in the JBLM 5G initiative is the latest endeavor Taqtile has been contracted to implement with the U.S. military. The company has been awarded a U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 contract, providing the opportunity for the Army to evaluate Taqtile's Manifest AR platform in use by motor-pool personnel. Taqtile also recently supported a study with the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) measuring the impact of its AR platform on technician performance. Among the confirmed benefits was a 53-percent reduction in errors and discrepancies by technicians using the Manifest platform. About Taqtile Taqtile, winner of the 2020 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award in the Mixed Reality category, builds enterprise software that leverages augmented reality to make Everyone an Expert, capturing the unique knowledge of company experts and sharing that knowledge with frontline workers. By virtually transporting the knowledge of experts when and where it's needed, sometimes under the most urgent circumstances, Taqtile customers enhance operational capabilities and improve performance. The Manifest platform allows company experts to easily document and record tribal knowledge, and distribute it across an entire workforce, enabling less experienced operators to easily follow instructions and complete complex tasks safely and consistently. For more information on Manifest, please visit www.taqtile.com. For additional information: Ray Vincenzo Taqtile (206) 290-4431 [email protected] SOURCE Taqtile Derek Chauvins defense called on Dr. David Fowler, who retired as Marylands chief medical examiner in 2019 and has a history of involvement with high-profile police use-of-force cases, to testify on Wednesday as an expert witness. At the request of Eric J. Nelson, a lawyer for Mr. Chauvin, Dr. Fowler said he reviewed medical, police and ambulance records, as well as toxicology reports and video footage, among other information in the George Floyd case. Dr. Fowler explained that a death certificate includes a primary cause of death as well as other significant conditions contributing to a persons death, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said it was his medical opinion that Mr. Floyd suffered cardiac arrhythmia, which was contributed to by his underlying health conditions, including heart disease, drug use and exposure to carbon monoxide from the exhaust pipe during his restraint by the police. ST. LOUIS, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, today announced it will hold a conference call on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EDT to discuss financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2021 outlook and to respond to questions. Robert V. Vitale, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Jeff A. Zadoks, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the call. Post also announced it plans to release its financial results for the second quarter after market close on Thursday, May 6, 2021. Interested parties may join the conference call by dialing (877) 540-0891 in the United States and (678) 408-4007 from outside of the United States. The conference identification number is 3392864. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast of the conference call, which can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of Post's website at www.postholdings.com. A replay of the conference call will be available through Friday, May 21, 2021 by dialing (800) 585-8367 in the United States and (404) 537-3406 from outside of the United States and using the conference identification number 3392864. A webcast replay also will be available for a limited period on Post's website in the Investor Relations section. About Post Holdings, Inc. Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in the center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice, food ingredient and convenient nutrition food categories. Its businesses include Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Michael Foods, Bob Evans Farms and BellRing Brands. Post Consumer Brands is a leader in the North American ready-to-eat cereal category and also markets Peter Pan peanut butter. Weetabix is home to the United Kingdom's number one selling ready-to-eat cereal brand, Weetabix. Michael Foods and Bob Evans Farms are leaders in refrigerated foods, delivering innovative, value-added egg and refrigerated potato side dish products to the foodservice and retail channels. Post's publicly-traded subsidiary BellRing Brands, Inc. is a holding company operating in the global convenient nutrition category through its primary brands of Premier Protein and Dymatize. Post participates in the private brand food category through its investment with third parties in 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc., a leading, private brand centric, consumer products holding company. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com. Contact: Investor Relations Jennifer Meyer jennifer.meyer@postholdings.com (314) 644-7665 Legal experts gathered on Monday at a virtual panel event hosted by the Washington, D.C.-based Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) to discuss how the religious freedom landscape is evolving, expressing deep concern about how the country's increased religious disaffiliation on the First Amendment is impacting Americans across the nation today. Titled "Religious Liberty: Where We Are and Where We're Going," the event gave an insight on America's current state of religious freedom and how it had shifted throughout the last few decades, encouraging a "sex over religion" mindset, especially amongst the youth. According to the Christian Post, the gathering was the inaugural event by the RFI's "Courtrooms to Classrooms," a program that invites judges and attorneys to middle school and high school classrooms to enlighten the youth about the history of the Constitution and engage with them through moot court activity. The discussion was moderated by RFI Senior Fellow Andrew Graham and featured speakers such as U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas and James A. Sonne, a law professor and director of Religious Liberty Clinic at Stanford Law School. Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Donald Trump to the federal bench in 2019, argued that there are several factors that contributed to the legislative changes in religious freedom in the last two decades. The primary factor, he said, is how the Democratic Party changed from what once was a "sanctuary for religious minorities and those among persecuted religious groups" who pushed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993 into today's Democratic Party that supports the restriction of the application of the aforementioned legislation. Kacsmaryk argued that legislation such as the Equality Act and No Harm Act are sponsored by Democratic leaders who are further driving the change in views of religious freedom through religious disaffiliation. He also cited a recent Gallup Poll that found how American's membership in churches continued to decline in 2020, decreasing as low as less than 50% for the first time in 80 years. There was also an increase in those who admitted they did not belong to any religion. Kacsmaryk blamed the diversion by the legal and legislative trends away from religious freedom, arguing that "law flows downstream from politics and politics flows downstream from culture." Another factor that impacted the change in views of religious freedom is the sexual revolution that sparked in the mid-20th century, during which the cultural upheaval caused the deregulation of sex. Kacsmaryk believed that when sociological, theological and theoretical factors come together, it creates a culture in which "expressive individualism, self-definition and therapeutic affirmation" are at its center. "It combines to create a politics that prioritizes expression over free exercise, prioritizes sex over religion and safe spaces over debate and dialogue," Kacsmaryk declared. "In the law, you see a shift in emphasis away from hard rules of damages, case and controversy." Sonne has the same sentiments on the change in views of religious freedom, saying that religious liberty had been diminished over the years for the sake of equality. But he remains optimistic that "work can be done" to reverse its course. [April 14, 2021] SolomonSimmonsLaw and Schulte Roth & Zabel Send Cease-and-Desist Letter on Behalf of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor Lessie Benningfield "Mother" Randle Tulsa-based civil and human rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons of SolomonSimmonsLaw and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (SRZ) have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission ("Commission") on behalf of Lessie Benningfield "Mother" Randle. Solomon-Simmons, SRZ and a team of civil and human rights lawyers represent the only known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, 106-year-old Mother Randle, 106-year-old Viola "Mother" Fletcher and 100-year-old Hughes (News - Alert) Van Ellis, who are still awaiting justice for Greenwood nearly a century after the brutal attack. The cease-and-desist letter is the latest legal action to help provide healing and justice to the survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. On March 23, 2021, Phil Armstrong, Project Director for the Commission, participated as a panelist for an event entitled "Better Conversations - Reconciliation, Resilience and Public Memory," hosted by the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. While describing the experience that visitors would have at Greenwood Rising, a history center being built by the Commission, Armstrong expressly referenced Mother Randle, stating " she's affectionately called Mother Randle and she's what we know as the last known living survivor in Tulsa, and I think there may be another, but unfortunately you know we're at that point where I think she's 106 years old, but we are dedicating much of this work to their lives." Mother Randle not only has no association with the Commission, or the Greenwood Rising project, but the Commission expressly refused to meet with Mother Randle and her representatives despite repeated requests to do so. The Commission did not allow Mother Randle (or any living survivor) any input regarding the formation, membership or goals of the Commission when it was founded. The Commission has not discussed with Mother Randle how she feels about the Commission's narratives that "Greenwood is Rising," "Tulsa Triumphs" or that "Tulsa is leading America's journey to racial healing," whie Mother Randle still lives in poverty because of the Massacre and its continued harm. By invoking Mother Randle's name without her consent and stating that the Greenwood Rising project is "dedicated" to her, the Commission creates the false impression that they support Mother Randle's quest for justice and that she is a direct beneficiary of the Commission's work. "My family and I were shocked to hear that the Commission is 'dedicating' much of their work to me since they have refused to meet with me, did not allow me an opportunity to participate in the Commission's planning, and declined to enter discussions on how I, a living survivor of the Massacre, feels about their activities around the Centennial." Mother Randle said. "However, my family and I still invite the Commission to meet to discuss how the Commission could tangibly support me and the other two known survivors who have waited 100 years for justice." On May 31, 1921, one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history completely decimated Tulsa's thriving, all-Black community of Greenwood. A large white mob, including members of the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, the Tulsa County Sheriff's Department and the Oklahoma National Guard, as well as other city and county leaders, overwhelmed the approximately 40-square-block community, killing hundreds of Black residents, injuring thousands more, burning down over one thousand homes and businesses and stealing residents' personal property. In the litigation related to the Massacre, an amended petition filed in February 2021 seeks to abate the public nuisance of racial disparities, economic inequalities, insecurity and trauma that the City of Tulsa's unlawful actions and omissions caused and continue to cause, and aims to return the Greenwood District, once known as Black Wall Street, back to the prosperous area it was prior to the devastating events of May 1921. Today, this area still remains poorer and in worse health than the rest of the city. SolomonSimmons Law, in conjunction with Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP; J. Spencer Bryan and Steven Terrill of BryanTerrill, P.C.; Professor Eric Miller (News - Alert) of Loyola Marymount College of Law; and Maynard M. Henry, Sr., Lashandra Peoples-Johnson and Cordal Cephas of Johnson Cephas Law PLLC, are working to not only secure justice for survivors and descendants of the massacre, but also to raise attention to the 100 years of continued harm the Tulsa Race Massacre has caused Black Tulsans. The legal team will also work with Mr. Solomon-Simmons' partners from the human rights community, including Human Rights Watch, which in May 2020 published a groundbreaking report documenting the impact of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the systemic racism that followed, and called for reparations, Bryan Stevenson's Equal Justice Initiative, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005881/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A Newark man who sexually assaulted an eight-year-old child and filmed the assault was sentenced to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison on Tuesday. An Essex County Superior Court judge sentenced Diego Ayala, 35, to 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 13, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. As part of a plea deal, Ayala will serve the 25 years before he is eligible for parole, according to the statement. Ayala also pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to the statement. During his guilty plea, Ayala admitted to sexually assaulting an eight-year-old and filming the assault on his cell phone, according to the statement. The assistant prosecutor who led the case praised the victim, who came forward about the assault, the statement said. We want to thank the courageous young victim for coming forward and we hope this sentence will provide some sense of healing and closure, Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Buermann said in the statement. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Sentencing the focus of inaugural Chapman Journal of Criminal Justice | Main | Local examination of the realities of plea bargaining June 27, 2009 Feds seeking the max for Bernie Madoff As detailed in pieces in the New York Times and in the New York Law Journal, federal prosecutors "recommended on Friday that Bernard L. Madoff be sentenced to 150 years in prison for conducting his enormous worldwide Ponzi scheme." Here is more from the NYTimes piece: That term is the maximum established for his crime under nonbinding federal sentencing guidelines. Although it would be a purely symbolic sentence even for a young prisoner and Mr. Madoff is 71 prosecutors said it was warranted by the extraordinary dimensions of his crimes. He engaged in wholesale fraud for more than a generation, said Marc Litt, an assistant United States attorney, in a memo sent to Federal District Judge Denny Chin, who will sentence Mr. Madoff on Monday. Although Mr. Madoff testified in March that his Ponzi scheme began about 1991, Mr. Litt said in his brief that a confidential presentencing report shows it began at least a decade earlier. The sheer scale of the Madoff fraud calls for severe punishment, Mr. Litt continued. Comparing his crime with others that have come before the federal courts in New York only underscores the enormity of Madoffs offenses, he added. Anyone interesting in reviewing the entire Government sentencing memorandum can find it at this link. June 27, 2009 at 01:34 PM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20115707c3090970c Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Feds seeking the max for Bernie Madoff: Comments The New York Times is certainly wrong in its reporting, since there is no federal sentencing guideline range that includes a term of 150 years imprisonment. That may be the total of the statutory maximum terms, running consecutively, but it isn't "the maximum established for his crime under nonbinding federal sentencing guidelines." Even if the Guidelines recommend life imprisonment (which they may here; I haven't checked) in a case where life imprisonment, as such, is not authorized (which would be the case here), the Guidelines only call for the imposition of maximum terms "to the extent necessary to produce a combined sentence equal to" the range. USSG 5G1.2(d). Putting aside the question of whether a sentence equal to or exceeding life expectancy is appropriate (on whatever criteria one would care to invoke) in this case, a sentence far exceeding that length is unlawful, contrary to the Guidelines, and not calculated to promote respect for law or the legal system. Posted by: Peter G | Jun 28, 2009 1:31:59 AM I had already downloadd it, so thanks for the show! Posted by: tiffany's engagement rings | May 9, 2011 1:45:06 AM Post a comment ATLANTA, April 13, 2021 Added to the robust CareerEco virtual event platform, the Queue Feature allows participants to enter a waitlist for one-on-one meetings with employers of interest. The new Queue Feature gives recruiters another way to optimize candidate interactions during a busy event. Organizations have the option to enable the Queue Feature in their virtual rooms, providing a unique visitor management format not commonly found in similar platforms. I The victim of an armed robbery incident on Monday, April 12, at Amanful, a suburb of Takoradi in the Western Region, has died. The man, believed to be in his 50s, was shot by the armed robbers who subsequently bolted with an undisclosed amount of money. The deceased was in the company of his wife when the incident occurred. According to a citinewsroom report, the Administrator of the Takoradi Hospital, Reverend Osei Owusu, confirmed the death of the man on Tuesday. According to a report by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) report, the robbery incident happened in broad daylight. It said the robbers trailed the couple who were returning from a bank where they had gone to withdraw a colossal amount of money. The couple, suspecting danger, parked their private vehicle at East Amanful only to be pounced on by their attackers. The armed men, shot the thighs of their victims, took the bag containing the money and rode on their motorbikes in the full glare of the public. This is the third of series of crimes committed between Friday and Monday with the same mondus operandi. The first incident happened on Friday evening at about 7pm at Ahenkofi in the Metropolis where the robbers made away with all the money of a mobile money vendor after shooting him on the thigh. The second incident, happened at the Takoradi Harbour Taxi area on Saturday, where another mobile money vendor was also robbed at about 7pm. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video You make the sentencing call: What sentence should Blago get? | Main | Georgia execution raising new questions (and more litigation) about new drug protocols June 28, 2011 Judge Denny Chin and Bernie Madoff talk about a sentence of 150 years The New York Times has this fascinating new lengthy article about the famous sentencing of an infamous white-collar offender. The piece is headlined "Judge Explains 150-Year Sentence for Madoff, and here is how it starts: With the sentencing of Bernard L. Madoff only a week away, Judge Denny Chin received a letter from Mr. Madoffs lawyer asking for a prison term substantially below the 150-year maximum. The lawyer, Ira Lee Sorkin, listed several reasons, including Mr. Madoffs confessing to his sons, knowing he would be turned in; his full acceptance of responsibility for his crimes; and his efforts to assist in the recovery of lost assets. Citing data that showed Mr. Madoff, who was then 71, could expect to live about 13 more years, Mr. Sorkin asked for a term of 12 years just short of an effective life sentence, as he put it suggesting that Mr. Madoff might be allowed a year of freedom before he died. Mr. Sorkin also proposed another option: 15 to 20 years. Judge Chin says he understood Mr. Sorkins goal. Its a fair argument that you want to give someone some possibility of seeing the light of day, the judge said, so that they have some hope, and something to live for. And, he added, that was one of the struggles in Madoff. Judge Chin said he quickly rejected the idea of a 12-year sentence for Mr. Madoff, but pondered whether 20 to 25 years might be acceptable. The judge ultimately concluded that even that would have been just way too low. In the end, I just thought he didnt deserve it, he said. The benefits of giving him hope were far outweighed by all of the other considerations. Judge Chin would impose a term of 150 years on Mr. Madoff, perhaps the most stunning and widely discussed sentencing in the history of American white-collar crime. In doing so, he seemed to find a way to translate societys rage into a number. Two years later, Judge Chins recollections resurrect all the anger, shock and confusion that surrounded Mr. Madoffs crimes, and provide a rare peek at the excruciating pressure faced by a judge who had to balance the law, the publics emotions and his own deeply held beliefs while meting out a sentence that was just and satisfied the courts need to send a message. Judge Chin agreed to an extensive series of interviews as part of a broader look into his sentencings in Federal District Court in Manhattan, which will appear in a later article. Most judges will tell you sentencing is the most difficult thing we do, he said. The New York Times also interviewed Mr. Madoff, who offered his first comments about the judge and the sentence, which will have occurred two years ago on Wednesday. Mr. Madoff, speaking by phone from federal prison in Butner, N.C., said he believed that Judge Chin went along with the mob psychology of the time. Explain to me who else has received a sentence like that, Mr. Madoff said. I mean, serial killers get a death sentence, but thats virtually what he gave me. Im surprised Chin didnt suggest stoning in the public square, he added. This piece has a lot more quotes from Judge Chin, and this companion piecehas more interesting quotes from Madoff. Here is an excerpt from that piece: Bernard L. Madoff remains upset that Judge Denny Chin did not give him a shorter term, which might have allowed him the chance someday to regain his freedom, even as a very old man.... [Q]uite frankly, theres a big difference with dying in prison, you know, and dying outside with your family. Judge Chin has said in recent interviews that he considered a sentence that might have allowed Mr. Madoff to be freed when he is in his 90s. But he concluded that Mr. Madoff simply did not deserve it, and in court called his conduct extraordinarily evil. Mr. Madoff, in a recent series of interviews and e-mails, took issue with the judges description. To characterize him as this monster and this evil person, he said, I just think that was totally unrealistic and unfair. In my mind, Chin was anything but fair, with zero understanding of the industry, Mr. Madoff added. He said the judge had made him the human pinata of Wall Street, while financial firms and government officials walk away free. Remember, he said, they caused the recession, not me.... He said he had pleaded guilty to spare his family the trauma and expense of a trial. Did he expect a long sentence? Yes, he said. But, did I think it was going to be 150 years? No. June 28, 2011 at 11:11 AM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e201543352f0c4970c Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Judge Denny Chin and Bernie Madoff talk about a sentence of 150 years: Comments Anyone who thinks that the functional-lifetime sentence this person received was an over-the-top symbolic gesture should read this individual's comments, which tend to suggest strongly that the judge pegged him correctly. "To characterize him as 'this monster and this evil person,' he said, 'I just think that was totally unrealistic and unfair.'" Wonder what characterization this individual would regard as "realistic and fair" for a person who, confronted with a grieving widow who, having lost her husband two weeks earlier, comforts her and tells her that everything is going to be okay, as he accepts her life savings, 401(k) plan funds, etc. (on top of everything her late husband had previously invested) into what he obviously knows is a pyramid scheme. This guy ruined a lot of peoples' lives, and he had to know what he was doing when he did it. Posted by: guest | Jun 28, 2011 12:11:28 PM 150 years represents fictional severity of sentencing. Because the law is an empirical practice on the body, anything fictional brings opprobrium on it. Such opprobrium is important, because disrespect and lack of credibility encourage crime. If the judge had made a claim a cream helped to grow hair, Consumer Protection would take him to court and get him to stop, even press charges for consumer fraud. I am thinking of requesting a Judicial Review Board investigation of this brazen exaggeration in sentencing, and its bad faith motivation. Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Jun 28, 2011 2:56:22 PM In addition to what guest has said, I would note that Mr. Madoff is the last person to be mouthing off about the faults of others. At least Madoff did something (quite a bit, actually) to deserve getting hammered. What did his victims do, other than fall for his entreaties to "trust me"? Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 28, 2011 3:40:26 PM @Bill: Well, there is the standard blame-the-victim con man's defense (which some commenters to the NY Times article have taken to extremes) that the victims aren't free from blame or fault because they should have known that it was too good to be true. As for me, I've never understood why "should have figured it might be good to be true" answers the problem that the con man *actually* knew as a matter of fact that it wasn't true. Posted by: guest | Jun 28, 2011 5:05:02 PM He got 150 years because he stole from so many rich people. Steal from poor people and you get 5 years. Posted by: anon2 | Jun 28, 2011 5:18:20 PM @ anon2: I guess you didn't read the publicly-available sample of victim-impact letters the judge received before sentencing. Not that it would have made what this individual did remotely acceptable had all of his victims been "rich," many of his victims were not rich. In fact, he made a number of people who invested with him decidedly un-rich, and left at least some downright impecunious. [One very strange, yet very confident-sounding, commenter on the NY Times website seems to be suggesting that "many" people consider this individual to be some sort of Robin Hood figure -- presumably because he stole from the rich. I can't imagine that anyone, much less "many," people think this. I assume that you don't think this.] In any case, I take it you're not taking issue with the proposition that this individual ruined many, many peoples' lives, but are simply suggesting that the arm of the law doesn't comes down less hard on other wrongdoers? Posted by: guest | Jun 28, 2011 6:14:29 PM anon2 -- "He got 150 years because he stole from so many rich people. Steal from poor people and you get 5 years." Actually, a common complaint against the DP is that it's imposed on some guy who knocks over some scruffy 7-11 and gets $35. I believe the DP is ordinarily thought to exceed in severity any term of years. Nor, even if what you claim were true, it would not in any way refute my point that Madoff has less than no standing to complain about the alleged misbehavior of other people. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 28, 2011 6:51:37 PM guest -- There are several levels of mind-boggling irony in the fact that so much of defense work lies in trying to protray the client as a "victim" of some sort -- just as Madoff now claims that the victim is, after all, the one who really should get the blame! Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 28, 2011 6:57:01 PM @ Bill: Not sure I see the irony. Both schools of thought minimize the culpability, or relative culpability, of the defendant for intentional criminal acts that hurt other people by asserting that others, e.g., society at large, the victims of the con, are also culpable. Indeed, some of the commenters on the NY Times website are actually asserting that the people this individual fleeced were "equally culpable." I don't pretend to understand the argument that they are "equally culpable." Posted by: guest | Jun 28, 2011 8:24:55 PM guest -- Here's how I see it. In many if not most sentencings, the defendant tries to turn himself into a victim (of some concocted sydrome or a lousy Head Start program or too many twinkies, etc.), thus to palm himself off as having less culpability. Now, we see defendant Madoff alleging that it's precisely the VICTIMS who are culpable, since they were stupid enough to believe him. Ahhhh, the varied uses of victimhood! You just have to love the imagination of criminal defense. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 28, 2011 10:35:51 PM Yes, fair and honest Judges go through excruciation during the penalty/sentencing phase of the proceedings. Also, I have noticed that they are also humans, subject to errors and omissions. In addition to that, almost all of them have somebody convicted (the proverbial black sheep) in their family/extended family. (Come to think of it, there are almost 30 million felons, ex-felons, probationers, et al. in the US; that is a whopping 10%.) Ultimately, however, Judge Chin succumbed to the hysteria and sentenced Madoff to 150 years. What I really think that convicted white-collar defendants should get is what hits them the most in their pocketbooks. They should be forced to pay back the monies that were wrongfully obtained. This way, everyone could be made whole. Yes, I do realize that the fulfillment of this seemingly noble goal may not happen in many cases, but it will at least make the defendants realize that they have the Damocles sword hanging over their head and they, I believe, would be more productive (and not to mention the reduced costs to the government). You see, by sending these defendants to prison for 5, 10, 20, or even 30 years, everyone knows that they are not going to pay back the victims. Most of these defendants literally hide their money, or cut deals with the prosecution to let them keep the money, with the hope that once they get out, they would be able to enjoy life again. (Of course, there are exceptions to every position.) A better way, in my opinion, to enforce money judgments by civil penalties and forfeiture actions. In Madoffs particular case, he could not have done all this fraud on this massive a scale without external help (read: banks, PE firms, investment banks, etc.). There are civil RICO provisions to get the money back for these alleged victims from these coconspirators, even if the defendants are allegedly pauperized during the proceedings. Criminal restitution statutes are sheer farce and they look fantastic on paper, but enforcing them is whole different ball of wax. Defendants have and do use numerous legal loopholes to get around these restrictions. Just incarcerating these guys (for however long) does not make any economic sense at all. Posted by: John Marshall | Jun 28, 2011 11:35:46 PM How many years do you give our elected representatives when we find out that SS, Medicare and Obamacare are a Ponzi Scheme? Posted by: albeed | Jun 28, 2011 11:51:01 PM Albeed: Well, what are you trying to tell us? That ouur elected officials are crooks?! How dare you? Come on, that cannot be further from the truth. They are the epitome of fairness, honesty, and integrity. Seriously, I hear you, buddy! Our whole country's economic engine seems to be running on a Ponzi scheme. However, the Government does not have such quotidian worries as balancing the budget; you cannot spend more than what you make; you have to live withing your emans; you cannot mess with your neighbors; etc. Or does it? The better question may be: Should it? Posted by: John Marshall | Jun 29, 2011 12:10:39 AM Judge Chin should be given ten days in a maximum security prison but housed in general population. I use the word "given". That is often the word employed when someone is sentenced to a term in a prison. Posted by: pbastian | Jun 29, 2011 1:07:00 AM Post a comment A young family saw the purchase of their dream home quickly turn into a disaster when they discovered it was riddled with mould. Megan and Jake Holah bought the three bedroom house for $480,000 in Pakenham, Melbourne, in March, only to find a hidden infestation so bad the was house unsafe to live in. Both Jake, 26, who is in remission from cancer and Darcy, 1, who was born with 'compromised lungs' and has severe eczema, are advised against living there. Megan Holah, 24, (pictured left with son Darcy) and her husband Jake (right, with daughter Brooklyn) thought they'd found their dream home - until it turned into 'an utter nightmare' Megan Holah (left) and Jake Holah, with their newborn son Darcy in 2018 Jake had a gruelling six-month chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma in 2019 that saved his life, but the cancer took its toll on his body. The risks of living with black mould at home Nasal congestion; sneezing, coughing, and/or wheezing; respiratory infections; and/or worsening of asthma and allergic conditions. People with allergies, asthma, lung disease or weakened immune systems are more susceptible. The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that there is an association between exposure to dampness or mould and conditions such as asthma, allergic alveolitis and mould infections in susceptible individuals. Source: Report on the Inquiry into Biotoxin-related Illnesses in Australia, Australian Parliament. Advertisement They also have a three-year-old daughter, Brooklyn. The family must vacate their rental property, also in Packenham, by April 20, leaving them with nowhere to live from next week. 'This was supposed to be one of the best experiences of our lives, that we've worked so hard to get to, and it's been an utter nightmare,' Mrs Holah, 24, said. The cost of the removing the black mould from the kitchen and bedroom was quoted at $14,000 - but that was just the start. Disaster recovery specialist Ametc told the Holahs they would also have to replace the kitchen and the wall to Brooklyn's bedroom to ensure the mould hasn't spread. Insurer RACV told the couple their policy would not cover the cost of the repairs - which could top $25,000 - because the mould pre-dated their occupancy. But as the previous owners were also with RACV, the company said it may cover the damage if the previous owner claimed, or at least signed a letter helping their claim. The Holahs managed to contact the previous owners - also a young couple - through their conveyancer and the selling agent, Harcourts - but were told decisively they would not help. When the Holahs removed the previous owners washing machine they found black mould that had spread through the kitchen walls and into their daughter's bedroom Once electricians and plumbers began to work on the Holah's new home it's true condition was revealed 'The message we got, twice, was "not our house, not our problem anymore, we want nothing to do with it. Stop calling",' Mrs Holah said. She also claimed that during an inspection before settlement 'the previous owner stood in front of the washing machine in the kitchen, and didn't move'. Plumbers told the Holahs the mould started with a dodgy hose fitting from the washing machine. When they moved, the previous owner left the washing machine behind. Mrs Holah also claimed she and Jake paid an extra $2,000 to fix 'DIY electrical repairs' to make the house safe. 'We are mentally drained and exhausted. But [we are] pushing through because all we want is to move into our home,' she said. 'It's the kids getting us through, they look up at you and they don't understand what's wrong.' The young family admit being 'disappointed' in previous owners who hid a severe mould problem that has made their new home unsafe to live in - but they just want the problems repaired so they can move in One year old Darcy (pictured right with his sister Brooklyn) has severe eczema and lung issues and the family has been advised he cannot live in a home with black mould Mr Holah works long hours as a manager at Kennards Hire and Mrs Holah runs a pet accessories business from home. 'My business will suffer because I won't have an office next week,' she said. 'But we thought, "we'll just wear that one because we want to get in". Then we discovered the mould issue.' 'I knew there were horrible people out there, but you have to be pretty bloody heartless to do this.' 'Not only willingly let a young family move into a home clearly not safe in any way, but then continue to completely shut us down when we're asking to help rectify it which literally would've cost them nothing.' Mrs Holah said she has no complaints with RACV, which offered to pay for accommodation until it makes a final decision on the family's claim. The Holahs will be technically homeless from next week, although their insurer may pay for accommodation while it makes a ruling on their claim The Holah's dream home is only 30 years old, but in places there were signs of dodgy building work, especialy DIY electrical repairs But if the decision goes against them they may have to repay the company for the accommodation and face living on friends' sofas until their home is safe to live in. Mrs Holah admitted she and Jake did not get a building and pest inspection report before buying the home because they were not advised to. 'We paid $4000 for a conveyancer and we assumed that either covered it or she would recommend inspections if they were needed,' she said. 'Now it baffles me that building and pest inspections are not compulsory on every home sale.' A friend of the couple, Chelsea Kent, began a GoFundMe page to try and help raise money towards the cost of the repairs - likely to be more $25,000. As of Wednesday morning, it was more than half way to its $5,000 target. Mrs Holah said she inquired about legal options to claim some form of compensation from the previous owners. 'So far we've just been referred from one organisation to the next in a giant loop and it always ends with them saying we need a solicitor,' she said. 'But we can't afford a solicitor. We spent all out money getting the deposit together for this home.' In October 2019, the owners of Aurecon Africa decided to demerge from the global Aurecon business and set course for a purely African business focus. The decoupling process culminated in its rebrand to Zutari, a proudly African player in the infrastructure space that will focus exclusively on solutions that are appropriate for the continent. Sonja Jansen van Rensburg, chief communications officer at Zutari Aurecon Africa demerged from the global Aurecon organisation in July 2020 and rebranded to Zutari. As chief communications officer, what was your role in the process? Why was the rebrand an important aspect of the demerger? How did you approach this? Where does the name Zutari come from? Combining these words enables a multilayer meaning that merges human design concepts, engineering, and innovation with nature's design and links to sustainability and the environment all critical elements of our new brand. How is being a proudly African brand incorporated into Zutari's operations and projects? #BehindtheBrandManager: Charmagne Mavudzi of Volvo Car South Africa Charmagne Mavudzi of Volvo Car South Africa uncovers recent campaigns she has worked on, plans for sustainability and more... Zutari's commitment is to infrastructure projects engineered to have impact. What does that environmental and social impact entail and how is it achieved? Infrastructure has been identified as a catalyst for growth and development not just in SA, but in the rest of Africa and further abroad, particularly following the economic impact of Covid-19. What are some of the other sectors that impact the infrastructure space? #BehindtheBrandManager: Hawa Moya for Werksmans Attorneys Hawa Moya, brand and communications manager at Werksmans Attorneys, chats to us about the responsibility and creativity required to manage a brand in the legal space, and the importance of keeping it authentic... What has been some of the vital tools and trends of your trade that you've incorporated into the rebrand? It was a true collaborative effort between staff, middle management and our executives. What have been the most successful channels for sharing the Zutari brand message in the market? #BehindtheBrandManager: Thobile Tshabalala, head of Brand at Old Mutual Thobile Tshabalala, head of Brand at Old Mutual is responsible for implementing the overall brand strategies and marketing-related plans to build and grow the Old Mutual brand... What's the best part of your job? Zutari's launch took place during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. We chatted to Sonja Jansen van Rensburg, chief communications officer at Zutari, who was at the helm of the rebranding process. She shared with us more about the process, how an ethos of co-creation has been interwoven throughout the organisation, and infrastructure's role as a catalyst for growth and development.I was responsible for the entire rebranding exercise. This included finding a new name, building a new brand strategy, embedding the brand, and launching the new company brand. We also had to create a new website, intranet there was a multitude of aspects involved in demerging.The Africa part of the Aurecon business separated from the global group to continue as an independent business. The Aurecon brand naturally remained with the worldwide group, so we had to build our own identity. It was not just a "rebrand"; we had to de-couple all our corporate systems and platforms and re-create our own. We had to re-design and deploy all of that in the process. And we were given six months to do that. Quite a challenge, if you consider that we had to do this during a pandemic and while re-locating our head office!As a professional services firm, our brand truly does reside in our people. It's why we started our journey by engaging our staff through several creative workshops across the continent in all our offices. We asked a simple question: "What would you like our new company to be known for?". It was amazing to see the level of engagement and energy these sessions created. When we revealed the new brand, we also made it clear how their inputs influenced our thinking, which went a long way to the new brand's uptake.At the same time, we engaged a market research firm to do an extensive survey in our industry of the existing brand, our competitors, and expectations of clients of a company like ours.We then assimilated these inputs in a briefing document, and we went to the market to find a brand agency. We shortlisted two companies that both presented potential brand strategies and visual concepts based on the brief. Getting recommendations from two agencies was a good approach and one I can recommend to other brand managers. Selecting the right agency to support a branding journey is one of the most critical actions to guarantee success. It's about much more than creative and strategic ability. It's about them becoming part of your team, adapting to your culture, and being willing to walk many extra miles. We were very fortunate in the agency we selected and have built a solid relationship with them over the last 12 months.Choosing a name was an interesting journey and much more complicated than anticipated. A new name is such a critical element of a brand and our future. The staff feedback and market research provided excellent direction. The challenge was finding a name that does not exist and is not a registered domain elsewhere in Africa.In the end, we used concepts and phrases to "build" our new name. Zutari combines two Swahili (Africa's most spoken language) terms,and, which means "to invent" and "nectar".As a local, private, management-owned firm with an almost 90-year presence on the continent, this is our home. We have a vested interest in our clients' success. It also means we understand the unique solutions required to meet the diverse challenges across the continent. It makes us the ideal partner for clients and international firms less familiar with the region.Our global experience on world-class projects matches our deep local knowledge and intimate understanding of the environments in which we operate. This understanding allows us to shape solutions for our clients in Africa that are locally relevant, fit for purpose, and based on the latest practices.And we've learnt that what works globally isn't always an authentic African solution. It contributed to our decision to demerge and return to what has always been our vision and passion creating a company that offers a uniquely African perspective. We call it Zutari.Impact is hard-won. We know that the best social and environmental performance needs to be underpinned by strong financial performance. True sustainability requires the three to be integrally linked. Our designs always consider the impact on the environment and communities - but we also consciously deliver solutions that help our clients stay and thrive in business. That's why our impact matters.As a catalyst for development, infrastructure impacts every other sector. Mines, schools, hospitals, office buildings, or manufacturing plants cannot operate without crucial infrastructure components like water and electricity or proper roads to get products to market. With the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw how vulnerable our communities were when, for example, there was no adequate access to water and sanitation. Good ventilation in hospitals became even more critical to prevent infections. Data and telecommunications had to accommodate much higher demand in residential areas when most people worked from home. Capital programmes stopped and now need to restart.We also saw how the public and private sectors rallied together to solve many of the pandemic's challenges. These collaborations will remain key to realising the ambitious post-Covid growth plans through infrastructure investment.Interestingly, we started the co-creation journey a few years ago as a "tool" for human-centred design. We relied heavily on this method in designing our brand both internally and externally.Any brand, but especially a new brand, must align around a common "why" the real reason you are in business. Our brand statement is simple. We co-create an engineered impact. It was through our co-creation that we identifiedas our why. Co-creation is how we do things and "engineered" refers to what we do and amplifies that we have moved beyond traditional engineering.We launched in mid-July 2020. Right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, with everyone working from home. We realised early on that we will have to get our messages out virtually. There were no opportunities for large launch events or face-to-face engagement with the market to share our story. The media, social media, and digital technology became our key conduits for this.Having a fantastic team to work with.Seeing how much our staff and clients love the new brand. It was hard-won, but we have built an exceptional team with internal staff collaborating with a wide variety of creative experts. Every day I see the power of co-creation and partnerships. Pets throwing up, men developing urinary tract infections, and people of all ages suffering from diarrhea and unexplained skin rashes those were among the maladies that customers of Tammany Utilities East cited during a nearly four-hour meeting Monday night of the St. Tammany Parish Council's utility work group. Their fear that water from the parish-owned utility could be causing the health issues was stoked in part by a sewage spill and a low residual chlorine reading earlier this month, both of which resulted in violation notices from the Louisiana Department of Health. The utility, which serves about 10,000 customers in eight subdivisions near Slidell, has a track record of problems that have been blamed in part on the aging system that the parish bought in the early 2000s. The system relies on two deep, aquifer-fed wells, one at Willow Wood subdivision and one on Steele Road, to extract water that is treated with chemicals at the well heads then sent out to customers through pressurized lines. Parish Council members said they want immediate attention paid to the matter, including the use of more sophisticated testing equipment that the parish already owns and installing additional equipment on the two wells to monitor and control them. Parish President Mike Cooper said that his administration is finding ways to pay for improvements and has agreed to having a third party evaluation. "I take this as a priority," he said. "I'm making a commitment that it's urgent...it was probably woefully inadequate when it was purchased." Tim Brown, director of parish Environmental Services and of Tammany Utilities, assured residents and officials at the meeting that there was no cross-contamination of parish water from the sewage spill, which he described as minor, although he was not able to estimate the amount of raw sewage that was spilled during the break of a sewer force main at the intersection of Gause and Cross Gates boulevards. He said that the repair would be completed on Tuesday. John Williams, deputy chief of field operations for LDH, also spoke at the meeting and downplayed the possibility of sewage contamination, citing the fact that the well water is from deep underground and there had been no pressure lost. While the utility was cited on April 1 for a low chlorine reading at one address, Williams said that bacteriological tests conducted on April 5 and April 9 showed no coliform. But residents brought skepticism along with their own data. David Binder, who uses professional grade equipment to routinely test his own drinking water, said his house in New Cross Gates is the first on the main water line from the Willow Wood well, which mean its closest to where the water is treated. Despite his proximity to the well, he told the council he got readings of zero for residual chlorine at his home for six consecutive days beginning March 28 a period that coincided with the sewer leak. The house tested by LDH was another neighbor who does his own testing, Binder said. Residents said that the ill effects that appeared recently have happened before. Neil Waguespack, a Turtle Creek resident who also tests his water, said his family has suffered off and on for years from skin rashes and intense itching from water used for bathing. They all drink bottled water including their pets. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up He called it "the Kentwood tax." Adam Johnsen, who lives in New Cross Gates, said his family uses bottled water to brush their teeth and he will not bathe his infant daughter in Tammany Utilities water. Allison Fronistas said her family has installed equipment, including a reverse osmosis system, because she and her son have genetic immunodeficiency. Now, she said, she wonders if she needs to add more safeguards since those she has now would not protect her family from water-borne pathogens. Councilman Jerry Binder, who has several family members that live in New Cross Gates, says he's heard from many people who live there, including one who boils his water every day and another who passed out and hit his head while suffering from a urinary tract infection. "This is not coincidence," Binder said. Councilman Chris Canulette agreed. "These people aren't making this up. Something is going on with this system," he said. Brown pleaded with residents to share information with the utility when they see a problem. "I would never knowingly put any of you or your families in jeopardy. It's not part of my makeup to be that callous....I don't think we have to be at odds," he said. But Council Chairman Mike Lorino told Brown that's not the residents' responsibility. Lorino said he's embarrassed that people have to buy bottled water and will have monthly meetings of the utility work group until the situation is resolved. Councilman Mike Smith, who represents the area, said the same person should not function as both head of environmental services and director of the utility, saying Brown is in essence his own supervisor. Both Smith and Lorino said that they favor selling the system, which Cooper said is being studied. "I don't know why we bought it in the first place," Lorino said. (Natural News) The Department of Defense paid Air Force scientist Salvatore Pais to develop a trans-medium military craft modeled after unidentified flying objects (UFO) that can operate both in air and underwater. The Pentagon funded the project out of concern that China might already have advanced UFO technology at its disposal. Pais was formerly an aerospace engineer for the Naval Air Systems Commands Warfare Center Aircraft Division before transferring to the Air Force this year. Known for his high-concept, futuristic inventions, the engineer filed several patents on behalf of the Navy, including for a compact fusion reactor that could practically generate limitless energy without consuming a lot of power to do so. His experimental craft is no less mind-boggling. Inspired by UFOs that were seen in American airspace before, the craft is a hybrid aerospace-underwater vehicle that can fluidly switch between two different mediums. According to Pais, the technology works by generating high-energy electromagnetic fields, which he claimed can allow one to manipulate the quantum vacuum that underlies the universe. If Pais were correct, a craft enveloped by a high-energy electromagnetic force field could move through air or water with virtually no resistance. In turn, the craft could travel at incredible speeds through both mediums, functioning as both a submersible vehicle and a supersonic stealth aircraft. Crews would be encased in a Faraday cage to shield them from intense electromagnetic forces. Pais remarked that the technology would engineer the fabric of our reality at the most fundamental level. While some experts expressed skepticism science writer Brett Tingley said that the craft had no basis in reality his ambitious project apparently convinced some defense chiefs. He was reportedly handed over $500,000 to carry out research on the concept. Internal emails from the Pentagon also revealed that there was at least one experimental demonstration of the technology. (Related: Navy patents suggest American military possesses alien technology.) Pentagon locked in a UFO tech race with China In a recent paper, Pais described his craft, which he called a hybrid aerospace-undersea craft (HUAC), as being shaped roughly like the point of a pencil: The HUAC is conical in configuration with an elliptical cross-section, similar in geometry to a hypersonic glide vehicle [or] dart. The schematics that Pais drew up for the craft resembled the triangular UFOs occasionally spotted gliding silently around the country. The National Institute for Discovery Science, a now-defunct research organization focused on ufology, cataloged multiple sightings of black triangle UFOs dating back to the 1990s. The experimental craft also closely resembled the triangular, trans-medium vehicle captured in camera by a F/A-18 fighter pilot in 2019. The pilots photograph was included in a Pentagon report that was widely circulated in the intelligence community, the Debrief reported last December. Federal officials told the news website that the photo was taken after the craft emerged from the ocean and ascended upward at a 90-degree angle. According to The Drive, the Pentagon appears to be intent on creating highly advanced aircraft modeled after UFOs. It fears that China may have already developed futuristic aircraft akin to the unidentified objects witnessed by American military pilots. The Chief Technical Officer of the Naval Aviation Enterprise personally wrote a letter addressed to the examiner claiming that the U.S. needs the patent as the Chinese are already investing significantly in these aerospace technologies, according to an article from The Drive, which was co-written by Tingley. Visit MilitaryTechnology.news to learn more about the fearsome weapons developed by the Pentagon in the name of national security. Sources include: DailyStar.co.uk PopularMechanics.com TheDebrief.org TheDrive.com We refer to the microbiome as the community of microorganisms that exist in or on all organisms, including bacteria and fungi. A team from the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) led by Institute head Gabriele Berg has now investigated the microbiomes of apples and oil pumpkins in two independent studies. The researchers have found that bacteria useful to plants are largely "inherited," i.e., passed on to the next generation, while the community of fungi in the microbiome is highly dependent on the particular soil microbiome and thus on the locality. Microbiome-guided breeding of oil pumpkins The breeding of the Styrian oil pumpkin is relatively recent - it started about 150 years ago and is well documented. Through selective breeding of resistant, increasingly tasty and high-yielding pumpkins, the seed microbiome of the oil pumpkin has changed over the generations. Using a well-documented breeding line, the environmental biotechnologists at TU Graz were able to demonstrate for the first time that the microorganisms on the seeds of the pumpkin are inherited and probably crucial for certain plant traits. Peter Kusstatscher, one of the study authors, explains: "We studied bacteria and fungi on oil pumpkin seeds and found that the plant passes on much of its bacteria on the seed - up to 60 percent, in fact - to the next generation, while fungal diversity on the seed depends largely on the local soil microbiome." Kusstatscher continues, "It's mainly microorganisms that are useful for the plants that are inherited. In this respect, the plant behaves in a similar way to humans: babies also get their microbiome from their mothers." The results published in Frontiers in Plant Science pave the way towards a microbiome-controlled breeding of oil pumpkins. Selective breeding of a beneficial seed microbiome results in plant traits that have a positive impact on yield, health and storability of oil pumpkins. On the tracks of the universal apple microbiome Apples are among the most popular and widely consumed fruits in the world. Fruit quality, yield, and storability are important factors for fruit growers, fruit trade, and consumers. In a worldwide study, the apple of the variety "Royal Gala" was examined for the first time with regard to the composition and possible local differences of its microbiome. An international team was able to show that the nature and structure of the fungal and bacterial communities of the apple at the time of harvest vary from region to region, i.e. they are strongly dependent on the geographical location and thus on the prevailing climatic conditions and management practices. In particular, the fungal diversity of the fruit is significantly dependent on the locality and suggests a relationship to the type and frequency of post-harvest diseases. On the other hand, a continental pattern can be drawn especially for the bacterial community which indicates adaptation of the apple microbiome to local environments. Ahmed Abdelfattah, Marie Curie post-doctoral fellow at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at TU Graz and lead author of the study explains: "Despite the variations we observed in the apple microbiome, we were still able to identify a so-called 'core' microbiome i.e. members of the microbiome that are shared globally among the apples. This global 'core' microbiome is represented by several beneficial microbial indicators and makes up a large portion of the fruit's microbial community." Similar to the study results on oil pumpkin, this study lays another foundation for new approaches to improving fruit quality and health, in this case of apples. Furthermore, the results form the basis for investigations of complex microbial interactions on the surface of apple fruits. The study results were published in Environmental Microbiology. Both studies highlight the importance of the microbiome for health issues from the crop in the agro-ecosystem to humans who consume the food. At the same time, new avenues for microbiome management are opening up for environmentally friendly pest control. ### This research area is anchored in the Field of Expertise "Human & Biotechnology", one of the five research foci of TU Graz. Publication in Frontiers in Plant Science: "Microbiome-assisted breeding to understand cultivar-dependent assembly in Cucurbita pepo" P. Kusstatscher, E. Adam, W. A. Wicaksono, M. Bernhart, E. Olimi, H. Mueller, G. Berg. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 3389/ fpls. 2021. 642027 The project was funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG and by the Horizon 2020 research project Excalibur. The cooperation partner was Saatzucht Gleisdorf GmbH. Publication in Environmental Microbiology: MOHAWK, N.Y. The Mohawk Homestead is the latest recipient of financial support from the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund. The adult care home was awarded an $8,000 grant to help with testing staff and replenishing stock of personal protective equipment for staff and residents. The fund is a partnership of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and The United Way of the Valley, and was established at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to help businesses and organizations serving vulnerable populations in the community. New Delhi: The NEET-PG 2021 admit cards that were scheduled to be out by April 12, but were deferred due to 'technical reasons', have now been released by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). The admit cards for the April 18 NEET PG 2021 exam have been released on the official website https://natboard.edu.in. "The admit cards are being made live from today onwards. The process of issuance of admit cards shall be completed in one to two days," the NBE said in a notice on Tuesday (April 13, 2021). Know how to download the NEET PG 2021 admit cards: Step 1: The candidates first have to visit the official website of NBE at nbe.edu.in. Step 2: The candidates will have to click on the 'NEET PG 2021' message flashing on the home page. Step 3: After clicking, it will redirect you to another page, where you will have to click on 'Applicant login'. Step 4: Now the candidates will have to enter their credentials. Step 5: The NEET PG 2021 admit cards will be available to download. The results of the NEET PG 2021 exams are likely to be declared by May 31, 2021. It was a phone call that Lisa Finley will never forget, it was the last time she heard the voice of her cherished daughter. Shortly before 10 a.m. Monday, Iderrika Finley called her mom, who was also her best friend, in a panic. Iderrika was on the interstate on her way to work and the brakes were seemingly failing on her Toyota 4 Runner. A CVS pharmacy technician who was to give birth next month, Iderrika was traveling northbound on Interstate 59/20 when she called her mother. She was telling me, The truck wont stop, the truck wont stop. Help me, Mommy, help me, Finley said. Then I heard a scream and a crash, and I didnt hear anything else. I asked her where she was, but she was panicking and I couldnt get it out of her,' the mother said. Finley was at work at Alethia House and in training with her supervisor when she received the call. Once the call ended, I just screamed and told them, Ive got to go find my baby,' she said. Finley called her other daughter because Iderrika always shared her location with her. The tracker showed Iderrika had been headed one direction on the interstate, and then the other. I guess thats when she was in the ambulance,' she said. I passed right by the ambulance. Authorities said Iderrikas SUV had rolled over and she had to be extricated. Finleys fiance had driven up on the wreck and didnt want her to see it, so he told her to go straight to the hospital. Iderrika had been conscious enough to give medical workers her mothers name and number. They called her mother and told her where to come once Iderrika got to UAB Hospital. She got to see her daughter briefly. I told her I needed her to fight and I loved her, and Dallas (her unborn son) needed her,' Finley said. She had a tear roll out of her left eye, so that let me know she heard me. But I guess God needed her more. Iderrika Patryce Callens, 24, was killed in a rollover crash on Interstate 59/20 Monday, April 13, 2021. Her son, Dallas, was delivered in an emergency C-section. (Contributed) Doctors performed an emergency C-section to deliver Dallas, who was born 18 inches long and weighing 5 pounds and 7 ounces. Dallas is fighting really hard to stay here,' Finley said. Hes still in trouble though. Theyre trying to wean him off the respirator but its too early. Iderrika was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m., never getting to see her little boy. Dallas was to be Iderrikas first child and she couldnt have been more excited about becoming a mother. Thats all she wanted was her Dallas,' said Dallas father, Deveonte Brown. He was really her whole world. He was her world before the world, and he didnt even know it. Thats the hardest part,' Brown said. She didnt even get to meet him. Hes going to be a special one. Iderrika, who graduated from Pleasant Grove High School and attended Alabama State University, was nicknamed the CEO by those who loved and knew her best. She lit up the room and was the life of the party,' Finley said. She was my most spoiled child. It was her way or the highway. Iderrika Patryce Callens, 24, was killed in a rollover crash on Interstate 59/20 Monday, April 13, 2021. Her son, Dallas, was delivered in an emergency C-section. (Contributed) She loved to dress, loved to travel,' her mother said. She was a fashionista. If you were dressed wrong, she let you know it. She was up on everything, hair, you name it. Her shoe game was tight. Her wardrobe was tight,' she said.' Finley said. It was like living with a superstar. The two had been feverishly planning for Dallas arrival, which was supposed to happen May 25. She was super excited,' Finley said. We had a gender reveal in December. We still had this big, huge baby shower planned for May. She had an amazing maternity shoot Friday, and we were picking the pictures on Saturday. We had so much planned, so much to do. Finley said she plans still have the baby shower. She put so much energy into planning it,' she said. She had hyped up everybody. It was all Team Dallas. Iderrika was so many things to so many people, but most of all she was there for those she loved and those who loved her. She had a heart of gold,' Finley said through tears. If you had her for a friend, you had a real friend because she was loyal. There was nothing I couldnt count on her to do,' she said. She was my best friend, my Uber, my stylist. There is no way to make sense of her death. My mom died the same way back in 89. I never questioned why, and Im not going to question it now,' she said. I guess God thinks I still have the strength in me to do this again. I didnt see it coming. Finley said she will spend her life loving and caring for Dallas. Hes not going to want for anything. Hes definitely going to know his mom,' she said. Ill never let him forget her. She made his entry so special. Already, she said, Iderrikas spirit is shining through Dallas. Hes probably going to have the same feisty spirit she had because hes really fighting like crazy to stay here,' she said. My baby CEO, thats what were already calling him. My little man is putting up a fight. NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. and MECHANICSBURG, Pa., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CareSimple , the platform simplifying remote patient monitoring (RPM) for virtually all patients, and MAGNET GROUP, one of the oldest and most experienced group purchasing organizations (GPO) in the country, today announced that they have entered into a strategic supplier relationship. Under the terms of the agreement, MAGNET GROUP will make CareSimple the first RPM platform of its specialty medical solutions, which are currently being sold to over 800 hospitals, 700 nursing homes and hundreds of physician practice members predominantly operating in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets. CareSimple is best known for its simplicity, which combined with experience and scalability, was particularly important for MAGNET GROUP as it starts to offer RPM to its 9,000 members. The addition of CareSimple speaks to the importance of RPM for MAGNET GROUP, as adding the solution means will open a new category in its portfolio. "As one of the longest-tenured GPOs in the country, we are committed to following the evolution of the American healthcare delivery system. As such, MAGNET GROUP is always evaluating new innovative healthcare products and services to add to our growing portfolio of well-known brands," said MAGNET GROUP president Diane Mase. "We've been on the lookout for the ideal remote patient monitoring (RPM) partner for some time, and when CareSimple came on our radar, the combination of simplicity, experience, scalability and great reputation checked all the boxes for our team. We're excited to work together to bring RPM to our membership." MAGNET GROUP started looking for an RPM vendor several years ago, and like many other healthcare organizations accelerated its selection process with the advent of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the launch of the FCC's telehealth funding program. Having found an RPM solution that matched both the elegance and user-friendliness demanded by its members, the GPO has no plans to actively explore adding other vendors in the space. "CareSimple is looking forward to our strategic partnership with MAGNET GROUP as it elevates our ability to not only extend the reach of our remote patient monitoring platform to more hospitals, nursing homes and physician practices, but also presents us with even more opportunities to have a substantial impact on the health of the at-risk populations we serve," said Michel Nadeau, CEO of CareSimple. "We look forward to the collaboration and bringing an affordable and uncomplicated solution to the organization's 9,000 plus members that meets all of their remote patient monitoring needs." About CareSimple CareSimple is an easy-to-use, secure, and scalable way to offer Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to at-risk patient populations. The company's RPM platform offers an end-to-end virtual care solution that integrates into electronic health records, providing hospital systems and physician groups with software, medical devices, connectivity, logistics and professional services required to improve their population health programs with EHR-integrated RPM. CareSimple's seamless patient-to-cloud-to-EHR data transmission, smart alerts, effective engagement, and automatic documentation capabilities enable nurses and care managers to focus on patient care, and give providers a holistic view of their patients' health to help prevent costly readmissions and improve care. CareSimple is powered by highly dedicated professionals, digital health pioneers with over a decade of profound RPM experience. CareSimple is HIPAA compliant and operates under the rigor of its ISO 13485 Quality and ISO 27001 Security audited certifications. For more information about CareSimple, go to https://caresimple.com/. About MAGNET GROUP MAGNET GROUP is one of the oldest and most experienced group purchasing organizations (GPO) in the country, serving approximately 9,000 members. Founded in 1979, MAGNET GROUP is "your other GPO" for simple secondary sourcing of capital and small medical equipment, facilities related products, select medical supplies, and various services. MAGNET GROUP operates in twenty states and the District of Columbia. Participants include all varieties of healthcare providers and non-healthcare entities, such as municipalities and universities. MAGNET GROUP members choose from over 200 no-hassle GPO contracts without volume compliance or bundled services issues and never pay membership dues or fees. For information about MAGNET GROUP contact Diane Mase, President, at [email protected]. SOURCE CareSimple East China customs seize over 10 kg of American ginseng Xinhua) 09:04, April 14, 2021 NANJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Jinling Customs in east China's Jiangsu Province have seized more than 10 kg of smuggled American ginseng this year. The customs reported Tuesday that they have confiscated 896 grams of American ginseng smuggled through mails, the 11th batch of its kind since the beginning of 2021. Since January, 49 packages of American ginseng weighing about 10.24 kg have been seized by Jinling Customs. American ginseng, also known as panax quinquefolius, is a species listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The import and export of the species are restricted in China. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) The fastest places to sell a property in Britain have been revealed and it is perhaps no surprise after the latest lockdown that a coastal town in Cornwall tops the list. With its sandy beaches, easy access to green open spaces and offer of a holiday without going abroad, Newquay has proved popular among homebuyers since the beginning of the year, according to property website Rightmove. It analysed 300,000 homes that have been put on the market during that time and identified the locations where the most properties were sold. The best places to be selling a property in Britain have been revealed by property website Rightmove This four-bedroom house in Newquay, Cornwall, is for sale for 340,000 via David Ball estate agents It said four in five homes in the town on the north coast of Cornwall have been snapped up since the start of the year, the highest percentage anywhere in Britain. It is followed by Newton-Le-Willows in Merseyside, where just under 82 per cent of properties have sold subject to contract, followed by Plymstock in Devon at 81 per cent. Rightmove said that all areas of the top 10 hottest seller markets have seen asking prices hit records since the market reopened in May 2020, with seven of the 10 hitting a price record this year. With its sandy beaches and easy access to green open spaces, Newquay has proved popular among homebuyers this year By contrast, there are a number of city centres where just one in five properties are marked as sold. In Birmingham city centre, this is the case for 18 per cent of properties, while in Liverpool city centre, the figure stands at 22 per cent. Other areas outside of city centres in the top 10 include the more expensive locations of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire where average asking prices are more than 1million, and Sunbury-on-Thames which has an average asking price of more than 500,000. This three-bedroom house in Newton-Le-Willows is on the market for 185,000 via Think estate agents This three-bedroom house in Plymstock is for sale for 250,000 via Cross Keys estate agents It comes as housing stock has decreased, down 26 per cent on this time last year, although the market was closed in April 2020. New properties coming up for sale improved in March and were 51 per cent higher than in February, but demand is still outstripping supply in a number of areas, Rightmove said. Market momentum has been building in recent months. So far this year Rightmove has recorded 20 of its busiest ever days for visits to the site, with a new record set last Wednesday on April 7 when there were more than 9.3 million visits. RIGHTMOVE'S TOP 10 BUYER'S MARKET AREAS IN BRITAIN Location % of properties that are Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) Average asking price 2021 Birmingham City Centre 18.4% 218,072 Liverpool City Centre 22% 165,912 Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire 29% 1,087,372 Manchester City Centre 31% 235,859 Sunbury-On-Thames, Surrey 31.4% 503,375 Langley, Berkshire 31.5% 440,846 Bushey, Hertfordshire 31.8% 564,683 Norwich City Centre 32.5% 230,186 Witney, Oxfordshire 33.2% 338,748 Southampton City Centre 33.3% 210,095 Source: Rightmove Tim Bannister, of Rightmove, said: 'Areas around the North and South West are the stand-out seller's markets right now, and places in Cornwall and Devon are continuing the trend of a desire to move to the seaside and countryside. 'Suburbs are also faring well as some people move further out from the centre of cities. 'Both sale and rental properties in city centres have been suffering over the past year as the usual appeal to live there has temporarily been taken away, leading to more stock than usual being available, but we may see these start to shift more quickly over the next few months as lockdown restrictions continue to be removed.' This three-bedroom house in Hailsham, East Sussex, is for sale for 295,000 via Crane & Co estate agents Bradley Start, of Start & Co estate agents in Newquay, said: 'The stock shortage is the worst I've seen in thirty years and there's just seemingly endless demand. 'We're getting requests for viewings within minutes of a property going on Rightmove and many properties are going to best and final offers due to the competition, something that usually we would only see a few times a year. 'It's a mix of locals moving, people buying holiday homes and those relocating completely, which is leading to more out-of-town buyers than we would normally see. 'Those who are choosing to relocate are, understandably, looking for a home right by the sea, which is pushing up demand even more for those homes with the all-coveted sea view. 'The lack of stock is mostly down to the fact that sellers are unsure that they will be able to find a replacement property to buy, but if more sellers decided to come to market this would help across the whole chain.' RIGHTMOVE'S TOP TEN SELLER'S MARKETS IN BRITAIN Location % of properties that are Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) Average asking price 2021 Newquay, Cornwall 82% 351,398 Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside 81.8% 182,280 Plymstock, Devon 81.2% 268,980 Hailsham, East Sussex 81.1% 310,642 Canvey Island, Essex 80.5% 302,769 Atherton, Manchester 80.3% 153,540 Quedgeley, Gloucestershire 80.1% 237,007 Willingdon, East Sussex 79.2% 326,338 Whitchurch, Bristol 78.2% 293,021 Melksham, Wiltshire 77.9% 276,096 Source: Rightmove And Simon Shepherd, Ashtons in Newton-Le-Willows, said: 'The train station and high street have had a lot of development over the past few years which had already been increasing activity here, but the past year has just been crazy. 'First-time buyers are queuing up for starter homes, and many of those moving from starter homes are looking for four-bed detached homes which are few and far between so when one comes up for sale it's snapped up immediately, especially those that are within walking distance to the high street. 'Some people are selling up their smaller houses closer into Liverpool and moving out here as well, which has pushed up prices to an all-time high. 'Right now I've had to rip up the rule book because the demand means it's hard to predict what a home is going to sell for, as in many cases we're achieving over the asking price.' Amid lockdown-like curfew situation beginning in Mumbai today, a massive rush of passengers comprising migrant workers is seen outside Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Mumbai Central, waiting to board trains for their home states. The Central Railway (CR) appealed to people not to panic and avoid crowding the stations. The Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police have deployed additional force outside the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) to control the crowd. AP What's happening? On Wednesday, several people gathered outside the LTT to board long-distance trains. The migrant workers can be seen leaving for their home states at key transit points in the city including, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai. Shivam Pandey, who hails from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi told ANI that they do not want to go through the pain they endured during the lockdown last year. "Now that curfew has been imposed, what would we do here? What would we eat? We are leaving the city because we do not want to go through the pain we endured during the lockdown," he said. #WATCH | Mumbai: Huge crowd of migrant workers arrive at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) in Kurla pic.twitter.com/6zkz8xt0eE ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2021 LTT at 12.00pm today. Apart from regular trains , special trains as announced are being run to clear rush. pic.twitter.com/EaW5k9OckP Shivaji M Sutar (@ShivajiIRTS) April 14, 2021 LTT station at 1.30pm pic.twitter.com/Qo0wWpNenf Shivaji M Sutar (@ShivajiIRTS) April 14, 2021 On Tuesday also, before the state government's announcement of fresh curbs on Tuesday, a large number of people, especially labourers, had gathered outside the LTT. Severe restrictions in Maharashtra to contain COVID Reeling under an unprecedented COVID-19 wave, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced severe restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state. The restrictions, which exclude essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on Wednesday and remain in force till 7 am on May 1. Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot, will be in force during the period, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said. The VN-Index set an all-time high record recently, reaching over 1,230 points and daily liquidity totaling around $1 billion. After nearly a decade of working hard, a couple living in Hanois Thanh Xuan district - Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ha and her husband - accumulated several billion dong. They bought gold to save and the remaining amount was deposited at banks. However, the fever for stocks in 2020, and stories told by Has friends about their huge profits earned from investment in stocks within a short time, prompted Ha to change her thinking. After Tet 2021 (lunar New Year), Ha trialed the first investment in stocks and earned a profit of nearly 20% and the couple poured all their money into shares of banks, industrial estate and logistic firms. Mr. Do Van Thanh, owner of a house for rent near Hanois Bach Mai hospital, quickly sold a large amount of gold that he had accumulated over the past decade to invest in stocks since late 2020. His current work is sitting on the first floor staring at the electronic board full of numbers and a few hundred stock codes. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Nguyen Hoang, the owner of a private enterprise, did not have many new plans to implement. His business is still running, but with fewer orders. Without expanding business, Hoang has spent several billion dong in stocks and he has earned quite a lot of profit in the past year. Not only new domestic investors, but foreign capital has started to return to Vietnam, with the appearance of new foreign funds like Fubon Vietnam ETF. Following Korean and Japanese funds, Taiwanese investors have come to Vietnam. A brokerage director of a securities company said that cash flow of new investors (F0) is still pouring into the market and their confidence is still great. Hundreds of thousands of new accounts are opened daily. More than half million new players According to data from the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD), the number of new securities accounts of domestic individual investors opened in March 2021 hit a record with 113,191 accounts, far exceeding the number 86,107 in January. This figure is double the monthly average in 2020. The number of new securities accounts (F0) in 2020 was equal to the total of the past 10 years. Each month there were about 50,000 new accounts and a total of about 600,00 new accounts for the whole year. There were about 1.5 million accounts in 2010, and 2.2 million accounts in early 2020, which means an increase of 700,000 in 10 years. But in a single year - 2020, the number of new accounts was up to 600,000, and 250,000 accounts for the first three months of 2021. In the first days of the second quarter of 2021, the VN-Index set an all-time high record, passing 1,230 points and the daily liquidity reached around $1 billion. So far this year, the stock market has witnessed a few tumbling sessions but it could not hinder new investors from pouring money into the market. New investors' tastes are also varied. Many people focus on blue-chip stocks, the leading stocks in the market such as Vingroup, Hoa Phat, Vinamilk. But there are also many people who invested in stocks of small firms with low market prices. Recently, new investors have shown interest in mid and small-cap stocks. For nearly two months, small and medium stocks became the support for the market. The prices of both good and bad stocks increased. Hot cash flow risks Vietnam's stock market is positive with a leading attractive P/E (price-to-earnings) ratio in the world, only about 18.8 times compared to 20-25 in Southeast Asia or 3x of US stock markets. Perhaps that is why, recently, foreign investors have come back to be net buyers. After restructuring, many funds have bought key stocks on the floor. However, new domestic investors are still the key of the market, the main driving force for the stock market to rise recently and possibly in the near future. Before the continuous price increase, many warnings were made when the P/E ratio increased from 11 times in early April 2020 to nearly 19 at present. This is said to be hot growth and risky. But like the fever 10 years ago, the warnings are for reference only. It is estimated that 90 percent of the accounts are individual ones, of which up to 50 percent are new investors. The enthusiasm of new investors is a great force to push the market up. With the current cash flow, from both new domestic investors and new investment funds, along with good signs from the economy, Vietnam's stocks are forecasted to increase. Many forecast that the VN-Index will rise to 1,300 points or even 1,500 points. But as a rule, after a period of warming up, there will be an uneasy time for new investors. The macro-economy is entering a new phase. Once the monetary policy changes, the cash flow into the market is tightened, some other investment channels are more attractive and the cash flow will be drawn out. The unstable and volatile sentiment of new investors along with the possibility of call margin when the stock price falls can lead to sell-off. This is what happened in the past. M. Ha Foreign investments might flow into Vietnam's stock market from the second half of 2021 Bao Viet Securities Company (BVS) expects Vietnam's stock market might attract up to US$1.4 billion from index tracking funds, if Vietnam is officially upgraded to a secondary emerging market by FTSE. Arlene Foster felt 'humiliated' after Embarrassing Bodies star Dr Christian Jessen tweeted a rumour she was having an affair, a libel court heard today, as she revealed she gets 'very distressed' when people call her homophobic. Northern Ireland's First Minister was quizzed on her views during proceedings against the celebrity doctor who posted unsubstantiated rumours of her having a fling on social media. Dr Jessen's tweet, on December 23 2019, referred to Mrs Foster as 'the sanctity of marriage preaching woman', adding: 'It always comes back to bite them on the a**e in the end.' The DUP had in the past opposed attempts to allow same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. It was extended to the region following legislation at Westminster while Stormont was suspended. The DUP opposed same-sex marriage on religious grounds, arguing that marriage should be between a man and a woman and that civil partnerships were already available to same-sex couples. Mrs Foster, who leads the party, was asked during proceedings at the High Court in Belfast if she took the 'traditional view of marriage' that it is a union between a man and a woman. 'Yes, I take the traditional view, the church-based view, yes,' she responded. Asked if she was homophobic, Mrs Foster responded 'no'. Arlene Foster (left) felt 'humiliated' after Embarrassing Bodies star Dr Christian Jessen (right) tweeted a rumour she was having an affair, a libel court heard today Mr Justice McAlinden said there is a 'big difference between holding strong religious views about the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman and having an irrational hatred of homosexuals'. Mrs Foster agreed: 'There is, absolutely. I get very distressed when people do actually call me a homophobe because that's something I am not. 'I do think, unfortunately, in politics sometimes, if you take a nuanced position on one issue it becomes a much wider piece, and that's unfortunately the case - if you cannot explain it in 140 characters in today's society then it must be true - it is simply not true. 'I have many friends who are homosexual, they know my views on same-sex marriage, and in any event, same-sex marriage is now the law here in Northern Ireland and has to be upheld. 'I have never in my own political utterances said anything in connection with people who are homosexual and that's why I do get quite upset when people call me a homophobe.' Mrs Foster also told the court how she felt the rumour of an affair with a close protection officer, which she described as having emerged online from anonymous accounts before the tweet by Dr Jessen, was designed to destabilise her at a critical time, as she was involved in talks to resurrect the powersharing government in the region. 'It was meant to destabilise me and thereby destabilise the negotiations as well,' she said. 'I have no proof of that, but I just think the timing of it is very significant given when it came.' Mrs Foster said she had to sit down with their two elder children, then aged 17 and 19, to talk to them about it, as well as her elderly mother, then aged 85, and assure them the rumour was not true, adding: 'It was not a conversation that I would like to repeat.' Asked how she felt about it, she replied: 'Very very upset. 'Having to speak to my husband and explain to him what had happened, because this gentleman has a large following, so this was going to go quite far and wide,' she added. 'It was very humiliating, I have to say, to see that the relationship that is most important to me had been trashed, if you like, and got put out there in the public domain in that fashion. 'There wasn't much sleep on the night of December 23. I spoke to my husband and we decided we needed to take action because this was only going to continue to grow. 'I therefore contacted my solicitor and asked him to take action in relation to the matter.' Northern Ireland's First Minister (pictured today) was quizzed on her views during proceedings against the celebrity doctor who posted unsubstantiated rumours of her having a fling on social media Mrs Foster said the rumours went further, including that she had moved out of the family home and was living in a hotel, that her husband was living in a hotel, and the family had broken down. She said her church minister was approached by a journalist to ask if they had attended the Christmas Day service together, and had they appeared together. 'Those closest to me of course knew that it wasn't true, but they were asked questions by other people,' she said. 'As a woman in politics and as a leader, we come under a lot of stress and strain but one of the things that gives me stability is my home relationships, and it was almost as if this cut to the very core of my life.' The court heard that Dr Jessen responded to a tweet by solicitor Paul Tweed on December 24, putting him on notice about the content of the tweet, with the short form 'lol', which means 'laughing out loud'. He then responded to an email from the solicitor on January 7 and removed the tweet. The court heard there was a 'further aggravating tweet' on December 26 in which Dr Jessen wrote he was being compared to Barbra Streisand, saying: 'this gay boys life cannot get any better', which was accompanied by exclamation marks and a number of emojis. This was described by Mrs Foster's legal team as a 'sneering tweet'. However, Dr Jessen has not responded to correspondence since, the court heard. Mrs Foster said the lack of acknowledgement from Dr Jessen was upsetting. 'I don't know Dr Jessen so I don't know why he took that view, it's very upsetting because it almost continues the validation of what he said, that he decided to keep it up on social media for a period of time and even when he took it down there was no acknowledgement of wrong-doing,' he said. Speaking about the contact with Dr Jessen, David Ringland QC, acting for Mrs Foster, told the court: 'I suspected he had more service than anybody in the history in these courts in terms of the number and manner of service. 'In terms of the service of each of these steps, the same approach has been taken by the defendant as he has taken to every aspect of this case, in other words, head in the sand, completely ignoring, not responding.' Dr Jessen, best known for his work on Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, was described in court as a medical doctor who practises as a GP on Harley Street in London. He has 311,000 followers on Twitter. His initial tweet on December 23 was retweeted more than 500 times, as well as prompting a thread of discussion described in court as 'pretty unpleasant', before it was deleted. Mr Ringland said: 'We are talking about huge publication in this case.' Mr Justice McAlinden said he will produce a written judgment on the matter. 'Obviously I am going to have to reserve my decision in this case and given a written judgment,' he said. 'I will try to get that dealt with as quickly as possible because I think that this has been hanging over Mrs Foster for long enough and the defendant's approach to this matter has extended the time during which it is hanging over her head, so I will attempt to deal with this matter as a matter of urgency, but it will take some time to ensure that I deal with it properly. 'I will give a written decision as soon as possible.' Panaji, April 14 : The Goa government has written to the Union Health Ministry seeking permission to vaccinate the state's hospitality industry workforce across age barriers, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday. Sawant also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a phone conversation on Wednesday, appreciated the state government's stand to not go in for a lockdown in the state where Covid-19 cases have witnessed a resurgence. "We have made a request to the Government of India for (allowing) vaccination of the tourism industry workforce across age groups. We have requested the (Union) Health Ministry," Sawant told reporters on the sidelines of a government event in Panaji. Sawant also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone conversation had appreciated the stand taken by the Goa government to consciously not opt for a lockdown and urged the former to expand the vaccination programme. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to check on the situation in the state. Right now, we have started the vaccination drive in a big way and all economic activities are going on. If we go for lockdown again, economic activity will shut down and people will suffer," Sawant said. "In a small touristy state like Goa, we can carry out vaccination in a big way. The PM said vaccination should be carried out in a big way and all facilities should be provided to the people," Sawant said. "The PM appreciated the stand to not go for lockdown. We have to create awareness and educate people about taking safeguards. Even if tourists come in a big way to Goa, public should not get involved with them. Hotel industries are also taking precautions. If we take those precautions, we will be able to contain it in a big way," he said. Over the last few days Goa has recorded an average of around 500 new Covid-19 infections every day. The state currently has 4,888 active Covid-19 cases. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) 'Sex over religion': Legal scholars discuss America's shifting religious freedom landscape Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Legal scholars discussed Monday how the religious freedom landscape is shifting in the United States and voiced concern about the impact of the nation's increasing religious disaffiliation on the First Amendment. The Washington, D.C.-based Religious Freedom Institute hosted a virtual panel event on Monday titled Religious Liberty: Where We Are and Where Were Going." Religious freedom legal experts were invited to discuss the progression that led to the current state of religious freedom in America and how it has been shaped through recent decades. The discussion was the inaugural event for RFIs Courtrooms to Classrooms series. Religious Freedom Institute Senior Fellow Andrew Graham moderated the discussion. Featured speakers were U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas and James A. Sonne, a law professor and director of Religious Liberty Clinic at Stanford Law School. Kacsmaryk, appointed to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump in 2019, said multiple factors have contributed to the legislative shift in religious freedom over the last 20 years. One of those factors, he said, is how the Democratic Party has morphed over recent years. The party was once seen as a haven for religious minorities. Within 30 years, the [Democratic Party], which had always been a sanctuary for religious minorities and those among persecuted religious groups, went from enacting and pushing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993 to at least sponsoring legislation [in 2019] that would expressly restrict the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act," the judge said. [You] see this in the 2019 Equality Act and No Harm Act, which are both sponsored by Democratic leaders, he continued. I think this cultural move toward religious disaffiliation is most pronounced in one of our major national parties, which had always been a sanctuary for persecuted religious minorities. So, I think this, in part, explains why there is maybe less support for religious liberty as a general principle. Kacsmaryk also referred to a Gallup Poll from March that showed how religious membership dipped below the majority of the population for the first time in the polls recorded history. There has also been a rise in religious nones, or those who do not adhere to any religion. This points to the recent legal and legislative trends away from religious freedom since law flows downstream from politics and politics flows downstream from culture, Kacsmaryk added. Another cause of the decrease in national religiosity resulted from the sexual revolution that began in the mid-20th century, the judge contended. This affected an evaporation of religious consensus, he asserted, suggesting that a cultural upheaval led to the effective deregulation of sex. When combined, the sociological, theological and theoretical factors generate a culture that is focused on expressive individualism, self-definition and therapeutic affirmation. It combines to create a politics that prioritizes expression over free exercise, prioritizes sex over religion and safe spaces over debate and dialogue, Kacsmaryk stated. And finally, in the law, you see a shift in emphasis away from hard rules of damages, case and controversy. You see this reflected in recent Supreme Court cases. The judge argued that traditional Abrahamic religions will become harder to explain to courts and legislatures as these beliefs continue to fall outside the mainstream. Sonne, who established a legal clinic at Stanford to serve individuals with religious freedom concerns, cited various Supreme Court cases in past years involving freedom of religion, including the Little Sisters of the Poor case against the Obamacare contraceptive healthcare mandate. Sonne said there has been a recent trend of religious liberty being diminished in the name of equality. Despite the pushback against certain areas of religious liberty in recent years, he remains optimistic. Really remembering the human, remembering what this is all about, Sonne said. What is religious liberty and religious freedom all about? And its different than those substantive questions." "My concern is that those disputes, though they are important in their own right, will overwhelm and we will forget what religious liberty is truly about, which is again, human beings trying to live, work, survive and follow the law as best they can, and be good citizens in a way thats true to themselves as human beings and most importantly exercise their faith," Sonne stated. "And so, to honor that and to really try and work together for a principled pluralism. I am optimistic that that work can be done, he assured. Lawton, OK (73501) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low near 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. America First in Vaccinations Commentary In the race to save lives, the United States and England are winning. A stunning 47 percent of U.K. residents and 36 percent of U.S. residents have received at least one dose. Compare that with the European Union, where only 15 percent have gotten at least one jab. The United States and the U.K. are way ahead thanks to the brash nationalism of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former President Donald Trump. The United States is now vaccinating as many as 4 million people a day, and President Joe Biden has announced vaccines are plentiful enough that all adults will be eligible by May 1. A remarkable achievement. Biden gets some credit for distributing the shots, but Trump is responsible for producing vaccines in record time and guaranteeing that America had first dibs on the supply. The current president claims he inherited a mess. In fact, he inherited a miracleTrumps Operation Warp Speed. In the spring of 2020, Trump put America at the front of the line for whatever vaccines would ultimately be produced. He had the foresight to contract with not one or two but six different vaccine companies for a total of 800 million doses. Not all six companies vaccines would actually be approved and put into use. He bet on all six because failure was not an option. Operation Warp Speed paid to manufacture the vaccines before clinical trials proved they were safe and worked. Companies couldnt take that risk. It was a bold strategy and it worked. Trump insisted hed have vaccines ready by the end of 2020, a goal naysayers like Anthony Fauci said was impossible. Prior to this, the fastest-ever vaccine developmentfor mumps in the 1960stook four years. Johnson, like Trump, showed the capitalist pluck to partner with the drug companies early and lock in the U.K.s future vaccine supply. Meanwhile, the European Uniona collection of 27 countriesdithered over what to buy and at what price. By the time the EU contracted with vaccine developers, 105 days after Johnson signed his deals, it was slim pickings. Thats largely why the European nations lack supply now. Looking back, French President Emmanuel Macron admits: We didnt shoot for the stars. That should be a lesson. We were wrong to lack ambition, to lack the madness to say: Its possible, lets do it. Now, EU countries are so desperate for supply that Hungarys bought 5 million doses from the Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm for a whopping $36 a doseprobably the highest price in the worldthough Sinopharm refuses to release clinical data showing the vaccine works. In fact, the shots may not work. The U.K. has plenty of supply, and Johnson regards that as a vindication of Brexit and proof of the innovative genius and commercial might of the private sector. Spoken like his buddy, Trump. As for Americas success, credit Trump. On March 2, Biden tried to rewrite history. He claimed: When I came into office, the prior administration had contracted for not nearly enough vaccine to cover adults in America. We rectified that. Sorry, even the left-leaning Kaiser Health News rates that mostly false. Without the contracts giving the U.S. first dibs on supply, America would have been left high and dry like the Europeans. Worse, the vaccines might never have been produced. Trumps intervention made warp speed vaccine development less risky for the companies doing it. Thats key because this is not the last pandemic. Trumps Operation Warp Speed is a model to follow next time. In 2019, before COVID-19 struck, Trumps Council of Economic Advisers warned that a flu pandemic could cost 500,000 American lives. The CEA said emerging technologies could make it possible to develop a vaccine against an invading disease in a matter of months, instead of years, provided government could reduce the financial risks. The advice was prescient, and Trump took it. The rest is history. Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., is a political commentator, constitutional expert, syndicated columnist, and author of several books, including The Obama Health Law: What It Says and How to Overturn, and The Next Pandemic. She is also a former lieutenant governor of New York. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Close While the effects of noise pollutions have been observed in humans and animals, a new study shows its effect on plants - and it might be more persistent than observed anywhere else. Researchers from California Polytechnic State University found that noise pollution affects plant life in an ecosystem stays even after the source of noise has been removed. This is also the first study to observe the long-term effects of noise pollution on plant communities. They presented their findings in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B in an article titled "Long-term noise pollution affects seedling recruitment, community composition, and negative effects persist after removal." ALSO READ: Traffic Noise Pollution Impairs the Ability of Songbirds to Solve Problems More Noise, Less Plants A previous study was done twelve years ago near natural gas wells in New Mexico. In it, researchers said that there were 75 percent fewer pinon pine seedlings in noisy areas compared to the more quiet ones. It was believed that the noise drove the Woodhouse's scrub jay away, which pollinates pine seeds as they try to store them as food during the winter months. Another research team returned to the New Mexico site to check whether the pinon pines were able to make recovery over the past year. Since gas companies change sites where they use noisy compressors to extract natural gas, the previously noisy sites might have become quiet - and the other way around. In these areas, researchers found that there were still fewer seedlings and saplings compared to locations that never had the compressors installed to the natural oil well pads for faster gas extraction. "The effects of human noise pollution are growing into the structure of these woodland communities," said Clint Francis, biology professor and senior author of the study, in a news release from Cal Poly. He adds that the phenomenon they observed shows that removal of the source of noise pollutants does not necessarily mean that the plants will recover. Animals Remembering and Plants Continue Suffering While researchers are aware of the possibility that the pinon pine has decreased because of lacking opportunities to produce, it's likely that the Woodhouse's scrub jay has not returned to the formerly noisy location, which in turn prohibits them from planting seeds. Jennifer Philips, lead author of the new study while a Cal Poly postdoc and now a professor at Texas A&M San Antonio, explains that some animals have episodic memory. This means that scrub-jays, for example, learn which places to avoid - including noisy places. While there is a possibility that they might rediscover areas, especially when they've changed, Philips admits that they have no idea how long this might take. Additionally, researchers discovered differences in juniper seedlings and flowering plant communities depending on noise levels and whether these levels have changed due to the removal of natural oil compressors. As expected, places with more noise pollution saw fewer juniper seedlings and other plants compared to the quiet sites. "Our results reveal that plant communities change in lots of ways with noise exposure," Francis added. While they have gained understanding by observing pinon pines and jays, they were also able to make observations on the effect of noise on other plants. RELATED ARTICLE: Anthropogenic Noise in the Ocean Is Disrupting Marine Life Check out more news and information on Noise Pollution in Science Times. Some residents of the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District have refused to be part of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise in health facilities in the district. An observation made by GNA at the various centers suggested that some inhabitants had failed to partake in the exercise with reasons best known to them. In an interview with the GNA, Mrs Mercy Biney Quansah, a nurse in charge of public health at the Abura Dunkwa district health center said the facility has seen low patronage since it commenced the vaccination activity. She stated that rigorous public education was done through Community Information Centers and at its clinics to sensitize the public to understand the importance of the vaccine. The facility, she indicated, recorded between 100 and 150 persons going for the jab daily and described it as "worrying. Mrs Quansah urged all to take an active part in the exercise as it was a necessary step in curtailing the pandemic adding that it was safe, effective, and painless just like any other vaccine. You only have to eat well like we always say, take good rest and when you feel you have a headache, drink more water, these symptoms are seen after every vaccine she added. Mrs. Grace Dzimmah, a 57-year-old trader, before taking her first jab was worried but the health personnel encouraged her. She said she needed to protect herself because of an underlying illness. Mr. Emmanuel Kwamena Andoh, a teacher said many people had politicised the vaccine forgetting that it was an issue of health and not politics, and urged all to take their safety into their own hands. According to Miss Jane Quashie the virus does not exist. How do I take an injection if Im not sick, nobody has been infected in our village, and even if there is, we can easily wash it off with seawater she stressed. A driver who refused to disclose his name said he does not need the vaccine because he had ways of ensuring that he was fine and free from the novel Coronavirus. As for me and my household we dont need any vaccine, apart from the fact that we are believers we also take herbal medicines which are equally powerful and we will not succumb to anything less, he indicated. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A crewmember has died and a dozen more are missing after a commercial boat used to service oil rigs capsized in hurricane-force winds in the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday. Rescuers in Coast Guard cutters, aircraft and volunteer civilian boats were hunting for the 12 missing people after the 129-foot commercial vessel, Seacor Power, capsized in 90 mile per hour winds south of Louisiana's Port Fourchon. The unnamed victim who died in the accident had their remains retrieved, with the Coast Guard yet to announce how they died. Guardsmen said they rescued two people after the ship overturned, and four more had been pulled from the water by the fleet of volunteer rescue boats. Coast Guard Captain Will Watson said searchers were 'saturating the area', adding that some people could still be trapped on the crippled vessel. 'We're giving it everything we have,' he said, adding they'd found a body on the water's surface. Marion Tyler, the fiance of one of the missing crewmembers, told WLOX.com she couldn't sleep from worry. 'You have hope but you're scared and you know you just have to keep [saying] 'he's coming in. They're all coming in. They're going to be okay,' she told the news site. 'They're sitting back there making jokes right now. That's what we believe and that's what's going to happen.' A Coast Guard Station Grand Isle boat crew searches for survivors after Seacor Power, a 175-foot commercial lift boat, capsized 8 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana The Seacor Power is a lift boat, also known as a 'jack barge', due to its extendable 250-foot legs that can reach the sea floor. It is a type of service vessel often used by energy companies for offshore construction projects or to service oil rigs. It is a type of service vessel often used by energy companies for offshore construction projects or to service oil rigs The crew of the a Coast Guard cutter pull a survivor from the water. Coast Guard rescued two people after the vessel capsized, and volunteer rescue boats plucked four more from the water The Seacor Power capsized about 8 miles south of Port Fourchon, a major base for the US oil and gas industry, supporting most of Louisiana's offshore platforms and drilling rigs On Tuesday afternoon, the US Coast Guard was asking for any and all help from boat operators in the area to try and aid their rescue operation. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson said he was worried about the potential for more bad weather expected on Wednesday but says they will deal with that when the time comes. Chaisson said relatives of the missing crew members had rushed to the port from their homes nearby, seeking any information they could get. The high winds from a line of thunderstorms with some hail and flooding were expected to continue in southeastern Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service. There is a threat of severe weather to overnight in the region and a flash flood watch is in effect till Thursday morning. Hurricane-strength winds and rain had battered the Louisiana coast this week, downing power lines and causing flash flooding Coast Guard cutter ships search the waters around the stricken Seacor Power for signs of life on Tuesday. The Coast Guard asked for any sea-faring boats to aid the search Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards Tweeted: 'Please join @FirstLadyofLA and me in praying for those who remain missing after yesterdays capsizing off the coast of Grand Isle and for those who are working to rescue them.' The vessel is owned by Seacor Marine, a Houston, Texas-based transportation company. The Seacor Power is a lift boat, also known as a 'jack barge', due to its extendable 250-foot legs that can reach the sea floor. It is a type of service vessel often used by energy companies for offshore construction projects or to service oil rigs. A representative for the ship's owner was not immediately available for comment. Port Fourchon is a major base for the US oil and gas industry, supporting most of Louisiana's offshore platforms and drilling rigs. Former Labor MP Annabel Digance is seen at TAFE SA in Adelaide, March 11, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) Former South Australian MP Charged With Blackmailing State Opposition Leader A former South Australian (SA) Labor MP and her husband have been arrested for allegedly blackmailing state Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas. Annabel Digance, 63, and her husband Greg Digance, 60, appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday and were released on bail, to appear before the court on June 15. Their bail conditions include that they have no contact with Malinauskas through any means, surrender their passports and that they each lodge a $5000 surety with the court in cash. The SA Police (SAPOL) alleged in a statement that the couple had sought to obtain personal gain by threatening to make allegations of misconduct by Malinauskas. It is important to be clear that the allegations did not relate to any form of criminal behaviour by Mr. Malinauskas, the statement reads. Mr. Malinauskas is simply the victim of an alleged blackmail and the details of the allegation will be presented and tested through the prosecution and judicial process. Mr. Malinauskas firstly approached SAPOL in Feb. 2020 and the investigation has been ongoing since thenculminating in todays arrests. Malinauskas said he was not in a position to comment on the case as it was now before the court. Early last year, I witnessed conduct that I thought was inappropriate and potentially unlawful, which is exactly why I immediately sought legal advice, and then subsequently reported that matter to South Australian police, he said. Digance served as a member of parliament for the seat of Elder from 2014 to 2018 and is now an associate professor at Flinders University and an active user on Twitter. On March 28, she posted on Twitter: Politicians must demonstrate integrity & leadership. The post followed accusations that the Labor party had used racist election flyers during the 2014 election campaign. The flyers targeted her opponent, Carolyn Habib, and asked readers Can you trust Habib? Critics say it was a smear campaign for Habibs surname. Digance blamed the party for the flyers and claimed she had been threatened by the party into silence. @alpsa apology under pressurethats one done! Politicians must demonstrate integrity & leadership not the same old gene pool of group think entitled patronising boys club! @SALibMedia #EnoughIsEnough #March4Justice https://t.co/2KimYdS5nd Assoc Prof Annabel Digance (@AnnabelDigance) March 27, 2021 AAP contributed to this report. The Associated Press is being ridiculed online after its style guide eliminated the term mistress from the lexicon because the word implies that the woman was solely responsible for the affair. Instead, the AP Stylebook, used by journalists and writers as sort of a universal guideline, recommends that the term be replaced by gender-neutral words like companion, friend, or lover. The AP initially recommended the elimination of the term mistress last year, but a tweet reminding the public of the change went viral on Wednesday. Don't use the term mistress for a woman who is in a long-term sexual relationship with, and is financially supported by, a man who is married to someone else, the AP tweeted. The Associated Press is being ridiculed online after its style guide eliminated the term mistress from the lexicon because the word implies that the woman was solely responsible for the affair. The AP initially recommended the elimination of the term mistress last year, but a tweet reminding the public of the change went viral on Wednesday Instead, use an alternative like companion, friend or lover on first reference and provide additional details later. In a follow-up tweet, the agency wrote: We understand it's problematic that the alternative terms fall short. But we felt that was better than having one word for a woman and none for the man, and implying that the woman was solely responsible for the affair. On Twitter, social media users mocked the AP. Mark Harris of New York City snickered: Yeah, definitely use friend, the term the husband uses to explain himself. Thats much less sexist. Christian Schneider thinks that a synonym for mistress should be homewrecker. Joe Cunningham tweeted: The preferred gender-neutral phrasing is Sugar Baby. The word for the man is "adulterer, wrote one Twitter user. Another Twitter user suggested mister-ess as an alternative. Matt Comer thinks the AP should just adopt the term paramour, which is just waiting to be plucked from the dictionary. The AP initially recommended the elimination of the term mistress last year, but a tweet reminding the public of the change went viral on Wednesday One Twitter user claimed to be cheated on by her husband. She said dropping the term mistress absolves the other woman of her responsibility. For some of us betrayed spouses, the affair partner knew we existed and had met us and our kids, wrote a woman who goes by the Twitter handle Jess. Although I agree it takes two, she knew what she was doing too. Plus she was also married and was not financially taken care of by my husband because she had her own job. Katherine Neukomm tweeted: Rather than diluting words about love and friendship, which invoke none of the scalding vitriol mistresses so often merit, perhaps an equivalent term for a man should be devised. Another Twitter user, Carl Feher, commented: Congratulations, you made a non-problem into one. One Twitter user suggested that AP simply adopt adulterer or cheat as the male equivalent to mistress. Another Twitter user hilariously offered up terms like gigolo, kept man, fancy man, toy boy, or cabana boy. Joe Cunningham tweeted: The preferred gender-neutral phrasing is Sugar Baby. The word for the man is "adulterer, wrote one Twitter user. Another Twitter user hilariously offered up terms like gigolo, kept man, fancy man, toy boy, or cabana boy. Twitter user Stephanie Ireland opined: The married man has a name. Adulterer, cheater, scumbag. Katherine Neukomm tweeted: Rather than diluting words about love and friendship, which invoke none of the scalding vitriol mistresses so often merit, perhaps an equivalent term for a man should be devised. One Twitter user suggested that AP simply adopt adulterer or cheat as the male equivalent to mistress. Another Twitter user, Carl Feher, commented: Congratulations, you made a non-problem into one. Another Twitter user suggested mister-ess as an alternative. One Twitter user claimed to be cheated on by her husband. She said dropping the term mistress absolves the other woman of her responsibility. Twitter user Stephanie Ireland opined: The married man has a name. Adulterer, cheater, scumbag. The AP style book has sought to introduce changes in response to the current trends. In November, it removed the terms insane, crazy, nuts, and deranged - unless the terms were used in quotes. Avoid using mental health terms to describe unrelated issues, according to the AP. Dont say that an awards show, for example, was schizophrenic. In July, AP altered its style to capitalize the b in Black when referencing people of color. The change was made during the massive, nationwide protests in the wake of the May police-involved killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, in Minneapolis. Controversially, the term white when referring to Caucasians will remain lower-case. APs style is now to capitalize Black in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential and shared sense of history, identity and community among people who identify as Black, including those in the African diaspora and within Africa, the agency announced at the time. The lowercase black is a color, not a person. AP style will continue to lowercase the term white in racial, ethnic and cultural senses. For those with conservative political leanings, the changes are simply confirmation of a liberal bias. In years past, the AP Stylebook has urged authors to avoid the term pro-life and instead use anti-abortion. It also recommends writers employ the terms militant or attacker instead of words like terrorists. The terms illegal immigrant and undocumented are not used by AP. Update 9:37 a.m. Saturday, Apr. 17, 2021 - We had an incomplete list of impacted fires in this article. It has since been updated from the list on the Fire Victim Trust website. --- BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. -The Fire Victim Trust (FVT) set up to may payments to fire victims from several fires after the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) bankruptcy payments has released a letter to survivors from the Trustee, Judge John Trotter. The letter was filed with the court on Monday and was posted to the FVT website Tuesday afternoon. Action News Now had posed several questions to the FVT that we have been asked to investigate by survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire and multiple other 2017 Northern California Fires. This letter from the Judge addresses several of the questions we asked them. Here is the list of fires that are included in the proceedings (This list has been edited as it was incomplete) (a) Butte Fire (2015) (b) North Bay Wildfires (2017) (Includes 37; Adobe; Atlas; Blue; Cascade; Cherokee; Honey; LaPorte; Lobo; Maacama/Youngs; McCourtney; Norrbom; Nuns; Partrick; Pocket; Point; Pressley; Pythian/Oakmont; Redwood/Potter Valley; Sullivan; Sulphur; Tubbs Fires) (c) Camp Fire (2018) Many of the questions Action News Now asked the FVT concerned finances and transparency. Action News Now was told on Tuesday that a detailed accounting of all the Trust expenses through December 31, 2020, will be filed with the Court later in the month of April, along with an update on claims payments. RELATED: Some fire survivors to receive 30% of their claim from Fire Victim Trust on Monday As of Monday, the FVT reports that 7,364 Preliminary Payments have been issued for a total of $95,523,500. Pro-Rata Payments of 30% of approved and signed-off claims have also been reported. 183 Pro-Rata Payments have been issued to fire survivors so far, totaling $45,816,527. The average of each of the 183 payments is $250,363. The FVT says they hope to pay survivors 100% of their approved claims over a series of payments, but there is no guarantee that they will have enough money in the Trust, even after the sale of the 478 million shares of PG&E stocks that they possess, to pay 100% of the claims. Judge Trotter said in his Monday letter that the proceeds of the Trust "currently do not come close to covering the cost incurred in the administration of the Trust." Trotter said his goal is to keep administration costs below or as close to 1% as possible. He said typically in his experience managing large-claim processes, the administrative costs run between two to four percent. In the letter, the judge addresses the hours required to review each of the 250,000 claims that are related to 70,000 claimants. He said the firm that they hired to review the claims hired more people as late as last week and that by devoting resources effectively, they expect to review all claims within months, not years. The letter from Judge Trotter is published below in its entirety. --- Dear Fire Victims, On January 26, 2021, I sent a letter providing you with an update on the status of the Fire Victim Trust (the Trust) and an understanding of what you might expect in the future. I take this opportunity to further inform you of our progress, including Claims Administration, monetization of the stock, as well as the Trusts involvement in the Third-Party Cases, designed to augment the total amount available for distribution to Fire Victims. Claims Processing The Trust was created and funded on July 1, 2020. Prior to accepting any claims, the Trust was tasked with creating machinery that would accept thousands of submissions electronically, organize and compile documentation to be reviewed, and provide the reviewers with a consistent way to make determinations. To handle this project, the Trust retained the services of BrownGreer, a law firm that specializes in claims administration and claims processing. Approximately 300 staff members are committed to this project, including attorneys, project managers, analysts, claim reviewers, and software developers. Out of this group, 130 of these employees are dedicated to claims reviews, with BrownGreer adding staff as recently as this past week. In addition, BrownGreer has increased the number of managers overseeing the claims reviews, which will increase output by increasing the rate of claims assignments, ensuring quality control, and helping to train reviewers on eligibility requirements. On August 17, 2020, the claims process opened, and the Claims Questionnaire became available for attorneys and claimants to use to submit claims. However, submission of the Claims Questionnaire is only the beginning of the process. In order to fully value and verify a claim, as required by the Court-approved Trust Documents, the reviewer must also have supporting 2 documentation, which can include proof of residence, content inventories, construction estimates, tree or landscaping estimates, insurance information, photos, videos or medical records. A submitted claim must be identified as complete, including all necessary supporting documents, before it can be reviewed. The Trust has no ability to independently gather information related to a claim and must therefore rely upon the sufficiency and timely submission of material provided to the Claims Administrator by the claimant herself, or, if the claimant is represented by an attorney, by claimants counsel. To date, the Trust has received 40,000 Claims Questionnaires representing over 70,000 claimants and approximately 250,000 individual claims. Roughly 27 million pages of materials have been received by the Claims Administrator and must be reviewed so that the circumstances of each claim can be fully evaluated. The damage categories eligible for payment are claims for real property, including forestry and landscaping, personal property, personal or business income loss, out-of-pocket expenses, wrongful death, bodily personal injury, emotional distress and other injuries. Claimants may make claims for each category of loss which they have suffered. For example, some claimants have made multiple claims within one damage category, multiple claims across several damage categories or multiple claims in every damage category. Because each of the claims involves unique circumstances, every claim must be individually assessed and valued by a reviewer, and the entire claim, including each of the damage categories claimed, must be reviewed, approved and finalized before any notice of determination can be sent. The Trust regularly receives inquiries from claimants regarding when payments will be made. Understandably, you have suffered with the devastating effects of these disasters for many years and are anxious to receive a recovery after so much time has already passed. Although it may seem that this process is moving slowly, it is actually much more efficient when compared to the court system. Plagued by COVID-19 and heavy dockets, it can take years for a civil case such as those 3 that the Trust is administering to wind its way through San Francisco or Alameda county courts. Some of the cases now appearing on the court trial calendar have been on file for over five years. If a plaintiff were to file a Complaint in the court today, it is possible that it would take even longer to be heard, given the impacts of the pandemic. Even if a plaintiff did try a case to verdict today, it is likely that a post-verdict appeal would take two to four additional years to completion. Alternatively, the Trust, which has only been funded since July 2020 and only started accepting Claims Questionnaires in August 2020, has already started to make payments to Fire Victims. As of November 23, 2020, the Trust responded to victims who were vulnerable and struggling because of the fires and impacted even more by the COVID-19 crisis by issuing Preliminary Payments of up to $25,000. As of today, the Trust has issued 7,364 Preliminary Payments for a total of $95,523,500 paid to victims. The Trust continues to review and respond to those requests on a rolling basis. In addition, as of March 15, 2021, the Trust began distributing the first round of pro rata payments toward satisfying the claims of individuals and families who suffered losses in the 2015 Butte Fire, 2017 North Bay Fires and 2018 Camp Fire. The initial pro rata payment is 30% of the total approved and accepted claim amount. As of today, the Trust has issued 183 pro rata payments, totaling $45,816,527. In all, the Trust has issued payments totaling $141,340,027 to Fire Victims. Notices of payments, which began being issued to claimants on February 15, 2021, continue to be issued daily and payments are made on a twice monthly basis, on the 15th and last day of the month. To put the magnitude of our undertaking in perspective, assume each claim took only one hour of a reviewers time to process and approve, and further assume there are 2,000 working hours per reviewer per year (forty hours times fifty weeks). The 250,000 claims would require 125 reviewer work years to complete. By devoting resources effectively, we expect to review all claims within months, not years. Although these numbers seem daunting, the Trust has and will continue making payments twice per month on all claims that are fully submitted, reviewed and eligible. While this effort may seem to be progressing slower than anticipated, the Trust anticipates that as more supporting documents are provided, a greater number of claims will become complete allowing them to be reviewed and more payments made. Monetization of PG&E Stock As you know, the Trust holds approximately 478 million shares of PG&E Stock and one of my duties as Trustee is to monetize these shares in the best interests of the Fire Victims. As such, I have been working closely with Trust advisors regarding the sale of PG&E Stock. This matter has involved some complexity: PG&E sought and obtained from the IRS a Private Letter Ruling so that it could make a significant tax election which benefits the Trust. This is the Grantor Trust Election and this election provides the necessary foundation for the Trust to sell PG&E Stock without federal or state taxes being imposed in connection with a stock sale. Without this Grantor Trust Election, the Trust would be subject to a 37% federal income tax and an 8.84% California state income tax on its gain from the sale of PG&E Stock to the extent the stock is sold at a value higher than its value on the Effective Date. The benefit of the Grantor Trust Election using illustrative numbers follows: The Trust acquired the PG&E Stock with a fair market value (i.e., tax basis) of roughly $9 per share. If the Trust were to sell the PG&E Stock at $11 per share without the Grantor Trust Election, it would be subject to tax on the $2 per share gain. Because the Trust currently has approximately 478 million shares of PG&E Stock, the tax cost to the Fire Victims would be over $400 million based on these assumptions. If the Grantor Trust Election is made, and the PG&E Stock is disposed of in accordance with necessary steps, the Trust would pay no tax on the same assumed facts. The complexity that we have been working on recently involves the necessary steps to monetize the stock. Basically, before the Trust sells any of its existing PG&E Stock, it must exchange those shares with PG&E (in a one-for-one exchange) and then sell the exchanged shares. Economically, this is neutral to the Trust, but it allows for the income tax result we desire. Because an exchange transaction of this type is not routine, I determined that it was prudent to seek the order of the Bankruptcy Court to proceed with these necessary steps which are detailed in an Exchange Transaction Agreement with PG&E. We intend to file with the Bankruptcy Court and post on the Fire Victim Trust website the Exchange Transaction Agreement, when finalized. I have sought and obtained the consent of the Trust Oversight Committee on this matter. And, I have stated in a declaration to the Bankruptcy Court that the execution of the Exchange Transaction Agreement on behalf of the Trust is in the best interests of Fire Victims and is consistent with the Plan, Confirmation Order and Trust Documents. The hearing on this matter is set for April 28, 2021 before the Bankruptcy Court, and I will keep you updated on developments. Third-Party Litigation When the Trust was created, in addition to cash and stock, it was assigned the right to pursue legal claims held by PG&E before the bankruptcy. This includes a derivative claim against the former officers and directors of PG&E in connection with their failure to assess and take appropriate action to manage the wildfire risk. The Trust has also begun to prosecute claims regarding third-party liabilities arising from the subject fires. These third-party claims involve individual and corporate contractors allegedly responsible for failing to maintain vegetation, trees, lines, poles and other PG&E equipment consistent with rules and regulations intended to prevent wildfires. These cases are in their early stage and I will keep you informed as they develop and progress. Additional Trustee Obligations As Trustee, I am also obligated to monitor the activities of PG&E as it might relate to its stock price. One arena that is particularly sensitive is the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The Trust has employed an experienced law firm to represent it before the CPUC. Significant hearings took place in December 2020 and January/February of this year regarding rate payer issues and PG&Es request to issue recovery bonds of $7.5 billion in order to retire outstanding short-term debt and accelerate a final cash payment to the Trust. While the prospects for all of the above appear favorable, a final decision is due May 6, 2021. Obviously, no one can predict the future or outguess the stock market. These developments, however, may seem favorable to PG&Es stock price. Finally, as Trustee, I am fully aware of my obligation to minimize the cost of administration while increasing the speed and fairness of payments. This is a daunting challenge. In my career, I have served as Court-Appointed Special Master in numerous large-claim processes. In most, the average cost of administration ran between two and four percent. That cost was generally covered by the return on investment of the proceeds of the settlement pending distribution. The Trust Documents mandate the proceeds be invested in government securities, which now are averaging 1.7 basis points and thus, do not come close to covering the cost incurred in the administration of the Trust. My goal is to keep the cost of administration below or as close to one percent as possible. I continually balance the need for personnel to assist in the resolution process against the cost, which reduces the corpus of the Trust. A detailed accounting of all the Trust expenses through December 31, 2020 will be filed with the Court later this month, along with an update on claim payments. Everyone employed by the Trust, including myself, knows there is little that can be done to ease the suffering that you have experienced. What we can do, and have been doing, is to direct our energies to the expeditious and fair administration of claims. Accordingly, we are focused on our responsibility to distribute funds to qualifying Fire Victims as quickly as we can. I hope that the foregoing provided you with some information and understanding of how we are accomplishing that task, balancing the need for alacrity against the need for accuracy, fairness, and economy. Very truly yours, Justice John K. Trotter (Ret.), Trustee Close Watch live as White House press secretary Jen Psaki holds briefing Joe Biden pledged additional pandemic supplies to India as the country faces a rapidly increasing number of new Covid cases. In a call with prime minister Narendra Modi, Biden committed to providing emergency assistance including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics. The Supreme Court has announced it will hear a major gun rights case on whether New Yorkers should be able to carry concealed handguns in public. Under New Yorks long-held handgun licensing law, handgun owners must be able to demonstrate proper cause to hold the firearms in order to obtain a license. Those who want an unrestricted license to carry must demonstrate that they have a special need to protect themselves. The challenge, which is backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) questions that, with gun rights advocates calling on the court to rule that residents have a constitutional right to carry their weapons outside their homes. If the justices vote in their favour, it could be the most significant ruling connected to the Second Amendment in years. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr has been mocked along with a number of other MAGA supporters after racing to defend his right to eat red meat in response to a viral story wrongly suggesting Mr Bidens new climate plan could limit Americans burger consumption. After the Daily Mail suggested that cutting back on red meat could be a way for the US to push towards the presidents goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions, the story was quickly misinterpreted to suggest that Mr Biden would be enforcing such a plan. Mr Trump Jr responded quickly to the perceived, but non-existent threat, tweeting: Im pretty sure I ate 4 pounds of red meat yesterday. Thats going to be a hard NO from me. An Illinois couple who moved into their home in December made a surprising discovery while repairing their sidewalk -- a 19th-century tunnel underneath the house. ADVERTISEMENT Gary and Beth Machens said they moved into their Alton home in December and recently decided to repair a section of sidewalk that had started to slope. Gary Machens said he had to remove part of a stone wall on the sidewalk to make the repairs, and he then discovered the entryway to a tunnel. "He called me at work and said, 'You better get home; you're not going to believe what I just found,'" Beth Machens told the Alton Telegraph. The couple said the tunnel is about 9 feet high and at least 60 feet deep. Local historians estimated the tunnel was created in 1840, 50 years before the house was built, but they do not know the original purpose of the underground structure. "It's unique. There are a few tunnels around the Alton area" according to the Landmark Historic Society, Gary Machen told KTVI-TV. "It's been used as an icehouse or root cellar or a lot of other options." "It could have been used for the Underground Railroad. There's no proof of that, but there was a ferry here in the Alton area to the Missouri side, and it's possible it could have been used for that," he said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Machen said he hopes to preserve the tunnel and possibly give tours if it is deemed safe and the city agrees to help with the cost. As more people get vaccinated and states begin to roll back some of the restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic schools, agencies and workplaces are working on a plan on how to safely return to normal. It's more than 100 days since Amy Schulkins, 36, walked out the door of her home in Brisbane's north and simply vanished. Wearing just her pyjamas and with $300 in her pocket, Amy's mysterious disappearance left her distraught wife Rebecca Schulkins struggling to raise the couple's five children on her own and deal with relentless online conspiracy theories about what may have happened to her partner. 'Not a whisper,' said Rebecca, fighting back tears as she spoke with Daily Mail Australia about whether there had been any contact or sightings of her wife. 'We've heard absolutely nothing, but we'll never stop searching,' she said. Amy left their home in Caboolture South around 11pm on December 30 last year. Amy Schulkins (left) and her wife Rebecca (right) at their wedding in September, 2019. Ms Schulkins, 36, was last seen at a home in Caboolture South, north of Brisbane, on the night of December 30 before she 'vanished off the face of the earth' Rebecca (right) has had to deal with online conspiracy theories and false sightings Amy hasn't touched her bank account or accessed social media accounts since disappearing She was driving her white 2001 Nissan Patrol with Queensland registration 257 VTN. The car was caught on traffic cameras at King Street, Caboolture, heading towards the highway and the direction of Bribie Island. Neither Amy nor her car have been seen since. Her bank cards, mobile phone, e-toll, Facebook account and email have also not been used or accessed since she disappeared. 'Today marks three months since you have been gone,' Rebecca posted on March 30. 'Three months of you not spending time with your children and family. We love you. So so much. Let us know that you are safe. I love you, like no words can say. Be safe baby, it is just you and me always.' 'I'm doing the best I can,' said Rebecca, speaking for the first time since she gave an emotional press conference with Queensland Police in early February to make a public appeal for information. 'I'm not sleeping,' she confessed. The social media campaign to find Amy had now grown to nearly 30,000 members on the Search Team for Amy Schulkins Facebook group, many of them contributing their search routes to a public map of south-east Queensland. The hashtag #findamy appears on car stickers and signs throughout the Caboolture area. The Facaebook page devoted to the search for Amy now numbers 30,000 people The hashtag #findamy is seen regularly on cars and businesses in the Caboolture area Volunteer searchers add their routes to a shared Google map in the ongoing search for Amy But along with those offering help and information are people offering conspiracy theories and implications Amys family had not told the 'full story' around her disappearance. Some suggest Rebecca and Amy had fought before her departure, others that she was part of a drug deal gone wrong. 'The family knows why she went and no, it isn't drug related,' wrote Rebecca in response to one commenter. 'It's the internet,' sighs Rebecca. 'Obviously I've told the police everything, and the family know absolutely everything and there are some things we would prefer to keep private. 'She was in a different kind of mood that night [that she disappeared]... all of that day actually,' said Rebecca. 'She was not herself. 'Her parents made a comment, when we visited them on that day, that she was out of sorts, but it wasnt anything that I was concerned with because Amy does have some mental health issues. Rebecca (pictured), who shares five children with Amy, broke down in tears during the Queensland Police press conference held in February Police released the last known photos of the mother-of-five, showing her behind the wheel of her white Nissan Patrol at Caboolture just before midnight on the night she went missing Amy's phone was last 'pinged' at a private residence located near Morayfield and Gleeson Roads at around 11:10pm the evening she disappeared 'She suffers from type 2 bi-polar so each day was different but it was a part of her and I loved every bit of her I love every bit of her,' she corrected herself. She said the couple's five children Dakota, Mika, Matilda, Zoe and Jensen, aged from six to 15, were still 'asking a lot of questions'. 'It's something no family should have to go through.' At the time she disappeared Amy had about $300, food and a tank of petrol with her. Her phone was last 'pinged' at a private residence located near Morayfield and Gleeson Roads at around 11:10pm the evening she disappeared. Ms Schulkins is caucasian, approximately 160cm tall. Shes of a larger build with short spiky brown hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing boxers and a white singlet. She has a large distinctive sleeve tattoo on her arm of a woman's silhouette against a sunset. Ms Schulkins has a large distinctive sleeve tattoo on her arm of a woman's silhouette against a sunset Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia that the investigations into Amys disappearance are continuing. 'Extensive investigations have been conducted with police continuing to appeal for information from the public that could assist with this investigation. No new information has recently come to hand, however this remains an open missing person case and is regularly reviewed,' said a spokesperson. 'We really can't understand how her car has not been seen,' said Rebecca. 'With all of the cameras and dashcam that are out there these days, none of us can understand how she hasn't been spotted. Does she truly believe Amy is still alive? 'Of course I do,' responds Rebecca, breaking down. 'I can't give up hope. Someone out there knows something and the family needs to know she's ok.' A GoFundMe page started by Amys family, parents Allan and Lee, and brother Levi, remains active to help raise money for a reward for information about her disappearance. The death has occurred of Nora Byrne (nee Dreelan) Kilkea, Castledermot, Kildare / St. Mullins, Carlow Formerly of St.Mullins died peacefully on April 13th. Predeceased by her husband Thomas and sister Julia. Deeply cherished and sadly missed by her children Mary, Hannah, Ann, Jimmy, Richard, John, Tom, Pierce, Eileen and Patrick, sister Nellie, brother Pierrie, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and close friends. MAY NORA REST IN PEACE. Due to current covid 19 restrictions a private Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, April 15th, at 12 noon at The Church of St.Laurence O'Toole, Levitstown followed by burial at St. Mullins Cemetery. A recording of this funeral will be available from 5.30pm on Thursday 15th of April at the following link. The death has occurred of William (Liam) Donohoe Rath View, Prosperous, Kildare / Ballygall, Dublin Donohoe, William (Liam), Rath View, Prosperous, Co. Kildare and late of Johnstown Park, Ballygall, Dublin, April 12th 2021, peacefully in the loving care of the staff of Naas General Hospital. Pre-deceased by his loving wife Pauline and sister Monica. Sadly missed by his loving children Ray, Alan, Regina and Liam, daughters-in-law Ashling and Elaine, son-in-law Sean, eight wonderful grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many good friends and neighbours. Rest In Peace Due to current government guidelines, a private family funeral will take place for Liam. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to the current restrictions cannot, please leave a personal message for the family in the condolence's section below. Liam's Funeral Mass can be viewed on Thursday morning at 11am by clicking on the following link : https://www.prosperousparish.net/webcam Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues. Liam's Funeral Cortege will be leaving Oliver Reilly's Funeral Home, Prosperous on Thursday morning at approx. 10:30am to arrive at the Church of Our Lady and St. Joseph, Prosperous for 11am Funeral Mass, followed by burial in Killybegs Cemetery. Those who would like to line the route, may do so in a safe and socially distanced manner. The death has occurred of P.J. Early Clongorey, Newbridge, Kildare The death has occurred of P.J. Early, Clongorey, Newbridge. 12th April 2021. Peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. P.J., husband of Lucy, dear father of Sinead, Emma, Padhraic & Tom, adored grandad of Ciana, Enya, Faye, Ayda & Kayla. P.J will be sadly missed by all his loving family, his sons-in-law David & Noel also Paula & Karen, his brothers & sisters, his mother-in-law Mary, his nieces, nephews, relatives & friends. May P.J. Rest In Peace. Removal on Thursday morning from Anderson & Leahy Funeral Home to arrive at Our Lady & St. Joseph Church, Caragh for requiem Mass at 11am. The funeral cortege will travel via his home on the Old Bog Road to the church, on leaving the church P.J. will go past the school in Clongorey & his birth place on the way to his final resting place in Barretstown Cemetery. P.J.'s Funeral Mass will be live streamed on https://www.newbridgeparish.ie/caragh Family flowers only please, donations if desired to the friends of St. Brigids Hospice, The Curragh. Donation box in church. Those who would have liked to have attended the funeral but due to current restrictions cannot, can leave their condolences on the RIP Condolence section below. The death has occurred of James (Jimmy) MURRAY Broadfield, Naas, Kildare / Stoneybatter, Dublin Formerly of Arbour Place, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 and Canberra, Australia. Predeceased by his parents Sarah and Michael (Sonny), his brothers Paddy and Eddie, his sister Hilary. Deeply regretted by his loving daughter Siobhan, sons Patrick, Michael and Rory, brothers Charles and John, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours, a wide circle of friends and his little Jack Russell Sunny. "May He Rest In Peace" Funeral arrangements will follow shortly. Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place with a Service on Thursday 15th at 10:40 am in Newlands Cross Crematorium with web-streaming from there on the link https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/newslands-cross-cemetery-crematorium Family Flowers only please. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions can not, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below. The death has occurred of Gertrude (Gertie) Sheehan (nee Mooney) Kilcullen, Kildare Sheehan (nee Mooney) Gertrude (Gertie), beloved wife of the late Tommy. Bishop Rogan Park, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. Peacefully in her 91st year in the kind and compassionate care of the staff at Willowbrook Nursing Home. Sadly missed by her daughters Geraldine(Dann) and Audrey(Mitchell), sons-in-law, Jack and Frank, beloved grandchildren, Simon, Amy and Gavin, brother Jack, sisters-in-law, Joan and Phyl, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. "Together Again" May Gertie Rest In Peace Funeral arriving to the Church of The Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen, for Requiem Mass at 9.30am on Thursday morning followed by burial in St Conleth's Cemetery, Newbridge. In line with government and HSE regulations, Gertrude's Funeral Mass will be private for family members only, max 10 people in church. Those who would like to have attended, but are unable to may leave a personal message in the condolence link below. Gertrude's Funeral Mass will be live streamed on www.mcnmedia.tv Northern Ireland Women will be heading to their first major tournament next summer after completing a Euro 2022 qualifying play-off victory over Ukraine on Tuesday night. Kenny Shiels side upset the odds home and away to beat a side 25 places above them in the FIFA rankings and book their ticket to England next July. Here the PA news agency takes a closer look at the background of an historic night in Belfast. How big an achievement is this? This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Shiels argued it should rank alongside pretty much any achievement in sport given the huge hurdles Northern Ireland have overcome. In ordinary times they would have faced a major uphill battle FIFAs rankings have them 49th in the world, they were playing a Ukraine side ranked 24th, and the next lowest-ranked team to have qualified for the finals are Russia in 23rd. But piled on top of that was a brutal injury list and the unprecedented challenges thrown up by the global pandemic. How many players were missing? Liverpool midfielder Rachel Furness was one of several key players missing (Tim Goode/PA) Eight players were absent from Shiels squad for the play-offs, four of them with long-term knee ligament injuries. And, as the manager pointed out, these were not squad players but first-team regulars when fit. Rachel Furness, Lauren Wade, Abbie Magee and Demi Vance would have been nailed on in Shiels starting XI if fit, while Megan Bell, Caitlin McGuinness, Rachel Newborough and Caragh Hamilton would all have been in the frame too. It was the sort of crippling injury list expected to kill off already faint chances. How has Covid impacted the team? This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. If the list of absentees was not enough to deal with, many of the players Shiels did have available have barely kicked a ball in anger during lockdown. The suspension of the Womens Premiership in Northern Ireland has left the bulk of Shiels squad many of whom are part-time without games to play, while a friendly against England in February was the only match they were able to play in preparation. So they should only get stronger from here? Northern Ireland Women will hope Tuesdays win is just the next step in an ongoing journey (Irish FA handout? Absolutely. With key first-team players to come back, Shiels should face selection problems of the best kind as next summers tournament draws closer, while there is obvious hope for a resumption of regular action for players as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. The trajectory has only gone in one direction since Shiels and his backroom team took over in 2019, with the challenge now to keep that going so that they can compete at next summers finals. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Have you ever told your dog to get a job? Well now your four-legged companion can get a job and be paid $20,000. Last year, Busch released its first-ever product made for dogs - Busch Dog Brew. The first batch of the alcohol-free, bone broth brew sold out in 24 hours. This year, as Busch Dog Brew expands, its also looking to expand its Senior Leadership Team to include a four-legged member with a discerning palate a Chief Tasting Officer (CTO), Busch said. The Chief Tasting Officer also will receive health care coverage with pet insurance and company stock options. The reaction to Busch Dog Brews release last year was so overwhelmingly positive that we knew we had a big challenge in Year 2 to keep the momentum going. So to expand the brand this year, we needed a true expert in the space on our team, said Daniel Blake, vice president of value brands at Anheuser-Busch. Were excited to give one qualified canine a real, paying job and to tap into their insider knowledge of our target consumer to expand Busch Dog Brew in 2021! The Chief Tasting Officer will be responsible for taste-testing, quality control and acting as an ambassador for the product and a featured content creator on Buschs social channels. In order to fetch this position, some qualifications include a refined palate, an outstanding sense of smell, and while not required, proficiency in English would be remarkable. Is your pup qualified to be Busch Dog Brews, Chief Tasting Officer? You can apply by posting a picture of your dog on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter along with their qualifications and #BuschCTOcontest. You must be a registered user of Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and follow Busch beer on those sites. The deadline to apply is April 28. Busch Dog Brew, Busch said, is registered with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The brew ingredients are bone-in pork butt, whole corn, celery, basil, mint, turmeric, ginger and water. You can buy 4-packs for $15 here. Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of UAE's national railway network, has announced that work at its operations and maintenance (O&M) unit in Al Faya, Abu Dhabi, was in full swing with 25 per cent of construction already completed at the facility in the last one year. The facility is the largest and the most significant on the network and will be responsible for warehousing, installations, operations, and the maintenance of locomotives and wagons. It will also include an administrative building to control the operations of the whole network, said senior Etihad Rail officials at a virtual meeting chaired by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court. The session was held to reflect upon Etihad Rails ongoing achievements of meeting its strategic objectives. In addition, it highlighted the latest progress in the first quarter of 2021 of Stage Two of the UAEs national railway network. Addressing the board members, Sheikh Theyab said it was indeed a proud moment to hold the meeting in conjunction with the beginning of the UAEs Year of the 50th celebrations, as the nation embarks on a new journey, defined by the strategic pillars of innovation, creativity, and global leadership. "Through this resolution, the leadership has empowered the UAE to achieve and retain leading international competitiveness standards," he noted. "The Year of the 50th undoubtedly marks a new phase for the UAE, and that the pursuit of strengthening the nation and forging sustainable development will be accelerated, resting on the legacy of the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed," he added.-TradeArabia News Service 17 Shares Share Many who know me might be shocked by this: I shot my first pistol when I was 8 or 9, taught by my father, a physician, aiming at targets in our basement. At summer camp, I loved riflery the way some kids loved art. Staring through the sight, down the barrel, I proved an excellent shot, gathering ever more advanced medals from the National Rifle Association. As a reward, for my 13th birthday, my uncle gave me a .22 Remington rifle. When I entered high school in the 1970s, I joined the riflery team and often slung my cased gun over my shoulder on my mile-long walk to school for practice. It didnt seem dissonant that, on other mornings, I went to the train station to join protests against the Vietnam War. I did not grow up on a farm or in a dangerous place where we needed protection. I grew up in the well-off, leafy suburb of Scarsdale, N.Y. Since then, the United States has undergone a cultural, definitional, practical shift on guns and what they are for. Once mostly associated in the public mind with sport, guns in the United States are now widely regarded more as weapons to maim or kill or to protect from the same. Guns used to be on a continuum with bows and arrows; now they seem better lumped in with grenades, mortars and bombs. In the 1990s, by which time I was an emergency room doctor at a Level 1 trauma center in New York City, I became acquainted with the damage that small-caliber handguns could cause. When I started treating gunshot victims, I marveled at how subtle and clean the wounds often were, externally at least. Much cleaner than stabbings or car wreck injuries. We searched for a tiny entrance wound and the larger exit wound; they were often subtle and hard to locate. If you couldnt find the latter, you would often see the tiny metal bullet, or fragments, lodged somewhere internally on an X-ray often not worth retrieving because it was doing no damage. These were people shot in muggings or in drug deals gone wrong. Most of these patients had exploratory surgery, but so long as the bullet had not hit a vital organ or major vessel, people survived. No one was blown apart. An assault-style weapon was allegedly used last month to kill 10 people in a Boulder, Colo., supermarket, just as one has been used in more than a dozen mass-casualty shootings, leaving four or more people dead, since 2017. Guns and the devastating injuries they cause have evolved into things I dont recognize anymore. My Remington .22 has about as much in common with an assault-style weapon as an amoeba has with a human life. The injuries they produce dont belong under one umbrella of gun violence. Though both crimes are heinous, the guy who shoots someone with an old pistol in a mugging is a different kind of perpetrator from the person who, dressed in body armor, carries a semiautomatic weapon into a theater, house of worship or school and commences a slaughter. Certainly many American gun owners maybe a majority of them are still interested in skill and the ability to hit the bulls-eye of a target (or a duck or deer, if youre of the hunting persuasion). But the adrenaline in todays gun culture clearly lies in paramilitary posturing, signaling to the world the ability to bring mayhem and destruction. Add a twisted mind with the urge to actually bring mayhem and destruction, and tragedy awaits. Before Congress passed an assault weapons ban in 1994, Americans owned about 400,000 AR-15s, the most popular of these military-style weapons. Today, 17 years after Congress failed to reauthorize the ban, Americans own about 20 million AR-15-style rifles or similar weapons. Why this change in the nature of gun ownership? Was it because 9/11 made the world a much scarier place? Was it NRA scaremongering about the Second Amendment? The advent of violent video games? Now, not just emergency rooms but also schools and offices stage active-shooter drills. When I was an ER doctor, we, too, practiced disaster drills. A bunch of surrogate patients would be wheeled in, daubed with fake blood. Those drills seem naive in 2021 we never envisioned the kinds of mass-shooting disasters that have now become commonplace. And, frankly, no disaster drill really prepares an emergency room for a situation in which multiple people are shot with todays semiautomatic weapons. You might save a few people with careful triage and preparation. Most just die. I gave up riflery as a teenager when other options boys, movies, travel came along. Maybe Ill take it up again someday, if assault-style weaponry is banned and the word gun again brings to mind sport and not a spinoff of war. Elisabeth Rosenthal is editor in chief, Kaiser Health News. Image credit: Shutterstock.com defection is as old as political developments in Nigeria, but while claims of marginalisation or imagined divisions or crises are justifications for this, in actual fact, issues of managing the huge egos of big people, personality clashes, power tussleare always behind-the scene. Which takes me back to Matawalle. All these cases are near absent in the Zamfara PDP, so who is pursuing Matawalle from the party..? Barring any last minute change of mind, the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), having been convinced, cajoled, perhaps blackmailed into thinking that his political future will be jeopardised without being in the ruling party. Unfortunately, the governor did not take into cognisance the many banana peels that lay ahead. He has forgotten so soon that the legal fireworks and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)s insistence that cleared the way for him to become governor, even when he didnt win the 2019 governorship election via the ballot box, are still very much in place. How will defection from one party to the other add value to the governor, who by all consensus appears to be doing well in opposition, other than to grace Governor Mai Mala Bunis many conquests as APCs new sheriff? The partys Caretaker Committee Chairman has had many successful runs lately. Under his leadership, former Speakers Yakubu Dogara and Deji Bankole; former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who was Atikus Campaign Director General in 2019; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State have all decamped to the ruling APC. Matawalles will add more feathers to Governor Bunis already colourful crown. The shape of things to come was recently revealed in a PUNCH newspaper interview with former Governor Abdulaziz Yari. The former governor, still bitter from the events of 2019 that robbed his candidate, Muktar Idris of the crown, stated unequivocally that Matawalle would lose his seat if he defects to the APC. Talking about the apex courts nullification of the APC candidates election, which subsists till 2023, Yari said, as such, until after that period, any PDP elected officer who defects to another party must also vacate his seat, going by the courts judgement, adding that Mattawalle should not forget the the circumstances that have made him to become the governor of the state. The highpoint of defection was that of a sitting Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (as he then was), who decamped from PDP to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), during his political battle with his boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; and in 2011, he again decamped back to PDP to contest the primary election To be sure, decamping, defecting or cross-carpeting has always been part of the countrys political development, a permanent feature among restless and power hungry politicians and their desire to belong to the centre (Abuja, that is) always, never minding that if Nigeria is restructured as being agitated, Abuja may not be as relevant as it is today any longer. History is replete with cases of defections. As far back as the pre-independence era in 1951, there was cross-carpeting from the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) to the Action Group (AG), that resulted in NCNCs majority of 42 becoming 22, thereby swelling the rank of AG and making it impossible for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to become the Premier of Western Nigeria. In the First Republic, the Premier of the Western Region, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, left the AG for the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) (NPC), not to talk of the decamping of Chief Akin Omoboriowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Abubakar Rimis defection from the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) to the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in the Second Republic. Since the birth of the new political dispensation in 1999, there have been many cases of defections for political advantage, beginning with Evan Enweren who decamped from All Peoples Party (APP) to the PDP, after losing the governorship primaries in 1999, to become a senator, and then be rewarded with the position of Senate President. The highpoint of defection was that of a sitting Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (as he then was), who decamped from PDP to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), during his political battle with his boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; and in 2011, he again decamped back to PDP to contest the primary election with the then President Goodluck Jonathan. The most absurd was that of Yuguda of Bauchi State, winning the governorship election in 2007 under the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), only for him to decamp to PDP. Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State moved from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to PDP, Aliyu Shinkafi of Zamfara won under ANPP and decamped to PDP and then lost; Saminu Turaki from ANPP to PDP. As a serving governor under the PDP, his second term is as assured, guaranteed and as strong as the rock of Gibraltar. No one in his right senses dares to wrest power from a sitting governor in Nigeria, except that governor is a weakling or the challenger is playing games or seeking relevance. Then the mother of all defections took place in 2014 when five governors moved from PDP to APC at its formative stage, leaving Jonathan bereft of a major support base in the North. One of the consequences of that defection was his loss of the presidential election in 2015 and the weakening of the former ruling party. Therefore, defection is as old as political developments in Nigeria, but while claims of marginalisation or imagined divisions or crises are justifications for this, in actual fact, issues of managing the huge egos of big people, personality clashes, power tussle and struggle for control of party structures, are always behind-the scene. Which takes me back to Matawalle. All these cases are near absent in the Zamfara PDP, so who is pursuing Matawalle from the party and who is scheming for his downfall? Does he think he cannot win the next election? Well, I think he can if he makes good governance his watchword. Thats what todays Nigeria lacks and what Nigerians are yearning for. As a serving governor under the PDP, his second term is as assured, guaranteed and as strong as the rock of Gibraltar. No one in his right senses dares to wrest power from a sitting governor in Nigeria, except that governor is a weakling or the challenger is playing games or seeking relevance. On the contrary, decamping to APC will make the governor only first among equals; he may even have to take directives from the warrying godfathers that abound in the State. From former Governors Abdulaziz Yari and Ahmad Sani Yerima, to combative Senator Kabiru Marafa, to the APC candidate (Muktar Idris), whose victory was legally taken away and given on a platter of gold to Matawalle, and other senior godfathers in the background, Matawalle will have to contend with managing the huge egos of these people and a possible gang-up during his second-term bid. Besides internal party feuds that may lead to Matawalles waterloo if he moves to the APC, there are legal issues too. Im not a lawyer and cannot tell whether the Supreme Courts ruling on the Zamfara election, as it concerns their candidate in the election in 2019, will remain binding during the 2023 election, but Im aware of some ambiguities in the Constitution that expose it to legal loopholes that politicians can exploit. Sections 68 1(g) and 109(1) and section 68(a) in particular of the 1999 Constitution states thus: a member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if he being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before expiration of the period for which that House was elected. Provided that his membership of the latter party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored. According to Dr. Udeuhele Godwin Ikechukwu of the Political Science department of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, the last part of the section provide(s) an escape route for politicians to cross-carpet since there are always divisions within the political parties. It provide(s) the platform for many legislators and governors who defectto justify their actions on the grounds of divisions or crises within their political parties since the 1999 constitution is not definitive on crisis or division that could cause defection or cross-carpeting. Three AD senators in 1999 Wahab Dosunmu, Yemi Brimoh and Fidelis Okoro who defected to the PDP exploited to that constitutional provision which grants an elected member the right to defect if there is a division in his party. Since then, it has always been defections galore to the ruling party, just to satisfy the interest of a few political leaders. This is not a catch-22 situation for Governor Matawalle; the matter is as clear as daylight. He has a choice to either remain where he is, or he will be sent to political Siberia. It is cold and lonely out there. ADVERTISEMENT zainabokino@gmail.com/08098209791 Etalon Corporation considers it contrary to the state interests to create favorable conditions for Belarusian vehicles' dominating in the market in the presence of several domestic manufacturers and supports the position of Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy, refusing to buy MAZ buses winning the tender. "Most of the tenders for the purchase of vehicles today are held for funds from the EIB and the EBRD, but at the same time they contain conditions that are difficult for Ukrainian manufacturers to fulfill - for example, the availability of contracts for at least EUR8 million (i.e. about 40 buses) - in Ukraine today only Bogdan has such. Or there are many unprincipled or far-fetched technical conditions. And as a result, only MAZ passes," Volodymyr Butko, the president of Etalon Corporation, said at a press conference in Kyiv. As the last example, he cited the announced tender for the purchase of buses for EIB funds by Mykolaiv (up to 50 units), in which only MAZ 206 buses pass according to the technical conditions. At the same time, he added, if approximately 50 buses can be bought for $ 90,000 per unit for the announced tender amount (EUR4.5 million), Etalon could offer a little more than EUR60,000 for a bus. According to Vadym Shkarupin, the director of the Etalon Auto Trading House, not a single customer of the auction for funds from European banks (except Chernihiv) has taken advantage of the 15% price preference for local manufacturers. "When we tell the city councils why you don't apply this preference or prescribe other impassable conditions, they say this is a requirement of the EBRD and the EIB. If we turn to the bank, they say that this is a customer. It turns out a vicious circle, which we have been walking for several years. It seems that there is some kind of agreement between European financial institutions and, for example, the government of Belarus, because e MAZ is a state-owned enterprise and enjoys state support," Butko notes. This site uses cookies to ensure the best experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Our cookie policy. Dow urged the public to come forward with any information they may have about the killing or other crimes Paul Flores may have committed. In more recent years, Paul Flores frequented bars around his home in the Los Angeles area of San Pedro and may have committed other sexual assaults, Dow said. Flores has been under suspicion from the earliest days of Smart's disappearance. He has gone from being a person of interest to a suspect to the prime suspect and, now, defendant. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said the arrests came after a search of the elder Flores' home last month using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs that turned up new evidence linked to Smart's killing. Until we return Kristin to (her family) this is not over," Parkinson said. Smarts family issued a statement saying it was a bittersweet day they had long waited for and a first step toward bringing their daughter home. Two weeks after the 2020 presidential election was called for Democrat Joe Biden, and as President Donald Trump sought to overturn the results, Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey issued a statement accepting Bidens win. The Keystone States 20 electoral votes handed Biden the White House. But they had become the target of an unprecedented effort by Trump and his allies to reverse what his Justice Department and eventually over 60 legal decisions would confirm was a free and fair election. On Nov. 21, U.S. Middle District Court Judge Matthew Brann, who is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, had just tossed out the Trump campaigns efforts to invalidate all 7 million of Pennsylvanias votes. Toomey, who voted for Trump, had seen enough. President Trump has exhausted all plausible legal options to challenge the result of the presidential race in Pennsylvania, Toomey wrote. Four days later, Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Butler County and a fervent Trump backer, filed a lawsuit challenging Act 77, which allowed for no-excuse mail voting. Almost every Republican lawmaker voted yes when the state legislature passed it in 2019. Kelly was asking that all 2.5 million mail in votes be invalidated. It was shocking, to be honest, said former Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar. A Republican Congressman, she said, was trying to disenfranchise millions of Pennsylvania voters. The lawsuit became a central piece of the former presidents sweeping campaign to halt the certification of Bidens win in Pennsylvania and a handful of key states. The cost of Trumps effort, along with other election-related lawsuits, hit taxpayers. The Pennsylvania Department of State paid law firms over $3.4 million for work on election-related lawsuits filed before and after election day by any group or political party, according to invoices obtained by WITF through a Right-to-Know request. All but one of the suits brought by Trump and his allies, before and after the election, failed. Yet they accounted for more than $1.9 million of the overall cost incurred by DOS. Almost $300,000 of that was spent on post-election lawsuits. Some were rejected with judges citing lack of evidence or standing raising questions from an election expert and a government reform group about whether Pennsylvania taxpayers spent that money defending suits that never had a chance of succeeding. Kellys lawsuit by itself cost the state $63,688.40. It was denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and later rejected by the U.S Supreme Court. Republicans like Kelly said they were angry at DOS decisions on things such as the three-day mail-in ballot deadline extension and allowing voters to cure mistakes made on their ballots. Plaintiffs cited those irregularities, and said they were trying to address concerns of voter fraud. But those claims were connected to Trumps election fraud lie, which began in summer 2020. There has been no evidence to support them. In addition, the lawsuits raised issues that were either litigated before the election for example, the deadline for when late-arriving mail in ballots could still be counted or demanded drastic solutions like invalidating millions of legally cast votes. Trump acknowledged he intended to use the legal system to help him hold on to power. In a March 16 interview with Fox News, he said, Our Supreme Court and our courts didnt have the courage to overturn elections. David Becker, the founder and executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research in Washington, D.C, questioned the lawsuits legitimacy, given how long after the election they were filed. You want to avoid the sore loser syndrome, where someone complains about a procedure only after they know theyve lost, rather than having to bring the claim beforehand, because theres actually legal principle involved. And that was something Pennsylvania saw a lot of, Becker said. Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar on Thursday defended her actions during the 2020 election, which have been upheld in the courts, and called on Republicans to end their lies. A cascade of cases Trump and Republicans were not the only ones who took DOS to court. On May 14, 2020, the Libertarian Party asked a court to allow third-party candidates on the ballot without in-person signatures, arguing the COVID-19 pandemic made it unsafe to collect them. DOS paid outside firm Myers, Brier, and Kelly, based in Harrisburg, to handle the case, costing the state $172,955.73 from May to October. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit eventually denied the Libertarians request. But the lawsuits kept coming, and the costs kept rising. In mid-July, in Pennsylvania Democratic Party v. Boockvar, a group of state Democratic lawmakers and candidates filed suit to ensure mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but that arrived by Nov. 6 could be counted, among other challenges to state election law. It also sought a court order to counter claims made in an earlier suit filed by Trumps campaign. In September, the court allowed the three-day rule to stand, given the strain on the U.S. Postal Service because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Myers, Brier, and Kelly handled that case as well, charging $87,432.82. The lawsuits really started coming after the election. At least a dozen were filed in Pennsylvania in November, beginning with three on Election Day. Most came from Trump and his allies. DOS hired Philadelphia-based law firm Hangley, Aronchick, Segal, Pudlin, and Schiller to handle most of their post-election cases. At least seven lawyers worked on cases, including partners Michele Hangley and Mark Aronchick. The attorneys charged up to $450 an hour. Lawyers worked with DOS in the months leading up to the election. Beginning in May, the department spent nearly $320,000 for legal advice on how to handle Act 77. It is not clear whether the work was connected to an active case, or why DOS needed that advice. DOS would not comment on specific questions about those charges. The invoices show some periods of heavy legal work. Between Nov. 1-3, the Act 77 Advice documents show, lawyers worked over 62 hours, costing the state nearly $18,000. Kellys suit centered on Act 77 and how DOS implemented the law. On Nov. 25, a Commonwealth Court judge ordered Wolf, Boockvar and other election officials to stop certification efforts. But the administration appealed, and three days later, the state Supreme Court unanimously denied Kellys request, saying the lawsuit was too late and its request was too extreme. The five Democratic and two Republican justices also unanimously denied his request for a stay of their decision on Dec. 3. Five days later, the same day Pennsylvania certified its election results, Kelly asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an emergency appeal on the case. Lawyers for the Wolf administration responded: After waiting over a year to challenge Act 77, and engaging in procedural gamesmanship along the way, they come to this Court with unclean hands and ask it to disenfranchise an entire state. They make that request without any acknowledgment of the staggering upheaval, turmoil, and acrimony it would unleash. The U.S. Supreme Court, displaying no evidence of dissent among the justices, rejected Kelly with one sentence: The application for injunctive relief presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the court is denied. On Dec. 11, Kelly asked the U.S. Supreme Court for an expedited review of the state Supreme Courts decision, assailing no-excuse mail-in voting and alleging Act 77 was unconstitutional. The court turned him down. Even a decision that would affect future elections, Kelly said, would be a win because, he claimed, voting laws were changed without amending the Pennsylvania Constitution. Trumps election-related lawsuits in Pennsylvania came to an end on Feb. 22 when the Supreme Court unanimously declined to hear Kellys case. Kelly did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A rally to "Stop the Steal" and to count every legal vote of the election is held at the Pennsylvania state Capitol in Harrisburg, November 5, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Boockvar: We saw it coming We always knew that it was going to be a big year and Pennsylvania would have a significant impact on the 2020 election cycle. But, each stage of it just increased that intensity, Boockvar said. Normally, election-related lawsuits are handled by DOS in-house counsel. But the pressure of the 2020 cycle prompted the agency to hire outside counsel, said DOS spokeswoman Wanda Murren. As lawsuits were filed and worked their way through courts, Trump was called out by Republican allies, including then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, both of whom said Biden won and the lawsuits were without merit. Boockvar, a Democrat, said she thinks the legal system was abused. We saw that again and again in the opinions issued by the court. The language used by these judges was pretty extreme, Boockvar said. For example, Trump appointee Judge Stephanos Bibas on Nov. 27 denied the former presidents effort to stop certification in Pennsylvania. Bibas wrote: Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here. The lawsuits had costs in addition to the bills paid by taxpayers. When (Philadelphia) Commissioner (Al) Schmidt or Secretary Boockvar are being deposed, theyre not managing elections. There are things that could go wrong because election officials are distracted by frivolous lawsuits, said Becker, from the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research. Boockvar said she and deputy Jonathan Marks were deposed, and data staff had to pull information for the cases. A safeguard for taxpayer money? Boockvar said she would like to see sanctions and bar association penalizations against those who are not only wasting taxpayer dollars, but also working to disenfranchise millions of voters with no basis for doing so, she said. At least one governor of a state targeted by Trump lawsuits is working to recoup taxpayer money. Gov. Tony Evers of Wisconsin asked a judge to order Trump and his attorneys to repay the state the $144,000 it spent on legal fees. But the Wolf Administration is not seeking sanctions or recovering lawyers fees. Common Cause Pennsylvania is looking into how to protect taxpayers from having to foot the bill for defense against baseless lawsuits. They are advocating for a third-party investigator within the government who can determine a lawsuits merit on the front end. The groups Executive Director Kalif Ali said if the lawsuit is found to be without merit, the plaintiffs should have to pay the legal fees. Not that there isnt a need for suits to settle doubts or to ensure the validity of a process, but instead, (wed like to see a) safeguard to prevent frivolous lawsuits that will cost the taxpayers unnecessary money, Ali said. It is important to adequately fund election agencies so they can defend against both legitimate and meritless lawsuits, Becker said. And if an agency sees a lawsuit as wasting taxpayer money, they should seek sanctions and recovery of lawyer fees. There are some times when litigation is important and necessary to clarify the rules. And we have to be able to allow for that to happen, Becker said. And when its frivolous, we have a system in place for that. Former WITF reporter Emily Previti contributed to this story. YEREVAN. During the previous government, the Armenian side had a problem in the negotiations: constantly inspiring Azerbaijan hope that it will achieve what it wants as a result of the negotiations. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020, referring to the matter of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. He noted that in an interview on December 4, 2020, ex-President Robert Kocharyan stated the following: "A number of examples can be brought. All this together has created a situation where you have not left Azerbaijan a chance to hope that it can achieve something through diplomacy. If you do not leave such a chance, the war remains. This is a brilliant sentence that expresses the 20-year diplomacy and negotiation logic of the Armenian side; that is, the Armenian side had a problem in the negotiations: constantly inspiring Azerbaijan hope that it will achieve what it wants as a result of the negotiations. But it wants Karabakh to be part of its cultural or any other status, or if possible, even without it. If you have been giving hope constantly for 20 years, the time will come for you to live up to that hope; it cannot be so that you give hope for 20 years and do not live up to [it]. This is the biggest failure when the whole Armenian people were inspired that we should give up all our rights, all the results of the Artsakh movement. The most absurd thesis that could have been has bee put into circulation: the worst negotiations are better than the best war. It was difficult to invent greater nonsense because worst negotiations lead to the worst war," Pashinyan said. "I am not even saying that in the time of Robert Kocharyan, himself, in 1997-1998, they not only gave hope to Azerbaijan, but also gave a guarantee, and that guarantee was to exclude Karabakh from the negotiation process. [First President] Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan were arguing over who from them left Karabakh out [of the negotiations]. But going to the talks without Karabakh was a guarantee and hope for Azerbaijan that they should achieve their goal. What were they supposed to do? They should have done what we did in 2019, when we announced that we cannot imagine a negotiation and a solution without Karabakh. They had to do it then because at that time Azerbaijan was not ready and could not give a military solution to the problem. Not only would we have not deceived ourselves that we are resolving the issue through negotiations, but we would have prepared for war in parallel with Azerbaijan," the Armenian PM said. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is calling on Kyrgyz authorities to investigate the harassment of journalists working for independent outlets while they were covering the countrys nationwide constitutional referendum on April 11. Police detained at least four journalists covering voting in the southern city of Osh and in the capital, Bishkek, while election onlookers attacked at least one reporter in Osh, the New York-based media freedom watchdog said in a statement on April 13. Kyrgyz authorities must investigate the police detentions and ensure that all members of the press can cover events of national significance freely and safely, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. If Kyrgyzstans elections are to be seen as free, fair, and legitimate, journalists must be able to cover them freely and without fear of detention and harassment, she said. In Osh, a group of people confronted two correspondents for the independent news website Kloop, Bekmyrza Isakov and Aliyma Alymova, while they were trying to interview a group of voters at a polling station, according to CPJ. It cited news reports and Ayzirek Almazbekova, coordinator of Kloops election-monitoring program, as saying that the group called the journalists traitors, with one woman pushing Isakov, striking him in the arm, and taking his phone. When Isakov took out a second cell phone to film the altercation, a man in the group stole it as well, along with the phone of a volunteer election monitor who was assisting the Kloop team. Police officers who were present at the scene only intervened after the woman who struck Isakov refused to return the phones except at a police station, according to reports, which said that the two journalists, the election monitor, and the woman were taken to a police station for questioning. The woman filed a complaint accusing the journalists of hooliganism; the journalists filed a countercomplaint, Almazbekova said. Police later returned the two cell phones to the journalists, who were released without charge. However, police kept the election monitors phone. Police in Osh also detained a reporter with the independent news website Eldik.media, Ayarbek Joldoshbaev, while he was filming at another polling station, according to news reports and an Eldik.media representative. Police told Joldoshbaev that he did not have permission from the polling stations chairman to film there and held the journalist for about an hour at a police station. Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, according to Eldik.media. In the capital, Bishkek, a Kloop reporter was detained while she was filming at a polling station, according to Almazbekova. She said the journalist, Aijan Avazbekova, was held for at least two hours and was released after giving a statement. In both Joldoshbayev and Avazbekovas detentions, police reportedly claimed that the journalists lacked the necessary permission to film. But under Kyrgyz laws, media workers have the right to film within polling stations during elections and referendums, CPJ said. So in refusing to reopen high schools, CTU now also claims it represents me and my kids? Please. Enough already. I am sick of CTU claiming it does everything for the kids while throwing so many under the bus, he said in an email. If this pandemic has exposed anything, it has exposed that CTU does what is best for CTU, not our kids. If you care about our kids youll show up to work Monday, just like teachers around the country have done for months. Do those teachers care less about themselves and the children than CTU does? We're simplifying the Snom provisioning experience and removing barriers to entry for the 3CX provider community. Comprehensive tests accompanied the standardization of the Snom template on 3CX's communications system. The updated standardized template is available for download via "Updates" within the 3CX Management Console. Follow these simple steps to provision your Snom D7xx devices on 3CX: Phone Provisioning > Options Select English (U.S.) for Phone Display Language When English (U.S.) is selected, North American-centric settings make the phone's behavior more conducive for the North American user Greg Steinig, VP of North American Sales at 3CX, exclaims, "Snom now having English (U.S.) templates is wonderful news for our U.S. Partners. 3CX Communications System is renowned for its ease of use and flexibility. The North American settings will make it even simpler for our U.S. partners to assist businesses with their set-up." During the provisioning process, the phone will automatically upgrade to 10.1.64.17 . Once the upgrade is complete, the user can expect the following North American-centric behavior, updated based on customer feedback: Transfer behavior In the transfer dial screen, dialing a number and pressing OK or selecting the transfer key would usually blind transfer the active call. Instead, this updated setting allows a typical outbound call with options to safe transfer ("blind transfer") or an attended transfer. In the transfer dial screen, dialing a number and pressing OK or selecting the transfer key would usually blind transfer the active call. Instead, this updated setting allows a typical outbound call with options to safe transfer ("blind transfer") or an attended transfer. Learn more: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/transfer_dialing_on_other Hold When placing an active call on hold, the user will no longer hear the dial tone. When placing an active call on hold, the user will no longer hear the dial tone. More on hold: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/cw_dialtone Auto Dial Auto dialing is set by default to 6 seconds after the last digit is dialed. Auto dialing is set by default to 6 seconds after the last digit is dialed. More on auto dial: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/auto_dial Call Waiting While on an active call and receiving a second call, the new caller information is displayed on the main screen. While still on the active call, you will hear the call waiting tone; however, any action taken on the phone affects the new caller, not the active call. While on an active call and receiving a second call, the new caller information is displayed on the main screen. While still on the active call, you will hear the call waiting tone; however, any action taken on the phone affects the new caller, not the active call. Learn more: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/always_show_active_call Provisioning URL This only applies when using DHCP Option 66, now defaulted to "off." The values found in the DHCP Options 66 & 67 will now clear after a reboot. This only applies when using DHCP Option 66, now defaulted to "off." The values found in the DHCP Options 66 & 67 will now clear after a reboot. https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/keep_provisioning_url_after_reboot Updated soft key displays when in different call states : : Connected Call users will now see Conference, Hold, and Transfer Call Holding users will now see Conference, Retrieve, and Transfer Incoming Call users will now see Transfer "3CX is a key strategic partner for Snom. We listened to 3CX provider feedback when designing our new template, and you can see that feedback reflected in the results," explained Matt Hickey, vice president of sales at VTech and Snom. "We're simplifying the Snom provisioning experience and removing barriers to entry for the 3CX North American provider community." Cost-effective and easy to use, the suite of Snom SIP endpoints seamlessly scales from small to enterprise businesses. Snom Americas backs their suite of products with North American-based sales, technical and support teams, as well as industry-leading three-year warranties. Snom helps business customers upgrade their communication system by offering back-to-business incentives like new lower prices beginning April 1, 2021, trade-in rebates up to $35 per device, and DaaS leasing by CSC Leasing. Businesses face numerous challenges right now, but affordable and reliable communication shouldn't be one of them. Snom's advanced feature set increases employee efficiency, providing the highest customer service and delighting customers. View the complete list of eligible devices and rebate values here . For more information on Snom Americas and our back-to-business incentives, please visit www.snomamericas.com . About Snom As a pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP phones, Snom provides a diverse collection of telecommunication products that elevate the business user experience through state-of-the-art technology and design. These business phones are sold through a wide network of trusted partners and are backed by industry-leading warranties and North American-based training and support. Acquired by VTech Holdings Limited in 2016, Snom started launching products for the North American market in 2019, which includes color desk sets, cordless phones, wireless conference phones, and public broadcasting systems. VTech is headquartered in Hong Kong and listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKSE: 303). For more information, please visit www.snomamericas.com . 2021 VTech Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. VTech is a registered trademark of VTech Holdings Limited. Snom is a registered trademark of Snom Technology GmbH. Use of Snom by VTech is under license. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owner. About 3CX 3CX is the developer of an open standards communications solution which innovates business connectivity and collaboration, replacing proprietary PBXs. The award-winning software enables companies of all sizes to cut telco costs, boost employee productivity, and enhance the customer experience. With integrated video conferencing; apps for Android, iOS, the web and desktop; a full suite of collaboration features, and website live chat, 3CX offers companies a complete communications package out of the box. 250,000 customers worldwide use 3CX including McDonalds, Hugo Boss, Ramada Plaza Antwerp, Harley Davidson, Wilson Sporting Goods and Pepsi. Maintaining its global presence, 3CX has offices in the U.S., U.K., Germany, South Africa, Russia and Australia. For more information, please visit www.3cx.com. VTech Communications Inc. Paige Huff Marketing Communications Supervisor [email protected] SOURCE Snom Related Links http://www.snomamericas.com NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National law firm Wilson Elser announced today that Anjali Das, a partner in the Chicago office, has been named to the Cybersecurity Docket Incident Response 40 2021, the digital publication's annual list of the 40 best data breach attorneys. Ms. Das is co-chair of Wilson Elser's national Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Practice and a member of the firm's Information Governance Leadership Committee. She draws on her background in the legal, business, technology and insurance industries to lead a national team of cybersecurity attorneys around the country in responding to some of the most complex cybersecurity incidents, ranging from cross-border data breaches to high-stakes ransomware attacks. Bruce Carton, Editor of Cybersecurity Docket, announced the names of this year's Incident Response 40 at the conclusion of Incident Response Forum Masterclass 2021, an all-day virtual event held on April 8. The lawyers in the Incident Response 40 represent many top law firms and have established themselves as the "first call" for companies hit with a cyber-attack or other data security incident. This year, given the growth of the incident response field since Cybersecurity Docket launched this list in 2016, the number of lawyers honored has increased from 30 to 40. Ms. Das is responsible for oversight of cyber crisis management and incident response for clients of all sizes and industry sectors that have been the victim of an actual or suspected cybersecurity or data privacy incident. She manages a team of attorneys across the firm's 39 U.S. offices who provide dedicated 24/7 incident response services. Her team routinely advises clients on their legal rights and responsibilities under state, federal and international privacy laws, including notification to affected individuals and applicable regulatory authorities. Ms. Das has represented clients in Data Breach Class Action litigation filed in state and federal courts around the country, including cases involving issues of first impression. She has educated courts, mediators and her opponents on the complexities and nuances of cybersecurity incidents to bolster the defense of her clients' cases, and has successfully mediated and obtained favorable settlements in these cases. Ms. Das also routinely represents clients in state and federal regulatory investigations arising out of a cybersecurity incident or data breach, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Department of Education, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and state attorneys general and state insurance departments. For more information about the Cybersecurity Docket Incident Response 40, see https://www.cybersecuritydocket.com/incident-response-40-for-2021/ About Wilson Elser Wilson Elser helps individuals and organizations transcend challenges and realize goals by offering an optimal balance of legal excellence and bottom-line value. More than 800 attorneys strong, Wilson Elser serves clients of all sizes, across multiple industries and around the world. Wilson Elser has a national network of strategically located offices in the United States and another in London. It is a founding member of Legalign Global, a close alliance of some of the world's leading insurance law firms created to assist companies doing business internationally. This depth and scale make Wilson Elser one of the nation's most influential law firms, ranked in the AmLaw 200 and 54th in The National Law Journal's NLJ 500. For more information, go to www.wilsonelser.com Contact: Andrew Blum, AJB Communications 917.783.1680, [email protected] SOURCE Wilson Elser Lucknow: The Coronavirus pandemic's second wave seems to have hit bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh in a big way. The COVID-19 has also not spared Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19, and isolated himself on Tuesday after some officials in his contact tested positive for the infection. On a day when Yogi Adityanath isolated himself after three members of his team tested Covid positive, at least 12 IAS officers in the state also contracted infection on Tuesday, said an IANS report. According to the report, among those affected are additional chief secretary SP Goyal, a key member of the chief minister`s team, chairman, Board of Revenue, Deepak Trivedi, additional chief secretary (agriculture) Devesh Chaturvedi, additional chief secretary (urban development) Rajneesh Dubey, additional chief secretary (labour) Suresh Chandra. Among others who were tested positive for COVID-19 includes additional chief secretary (higher education) Aradhana Shukla and her husband, retired IAS officer Pradeep Shukla, said the report, adding that Secretary (finance) Sanjay Kumar was also tested positive on Tuesday. 20 officials in the finance department are learnt to have been hit by the coronavirus. Principal secretary (social welfare) BL Meena, principal secretary (food and civil supplies) Veena Kumari Meena, principal secretary (irrigation) Anil Garg, special secretary (external aided projects) Prashant Sharma, special secretary (appointments) Sanjay Singh, special secretary (appointments) Dhananjay Shukla and special secretary to chief minister Amit Singh and at least three district magistrates have reportedly been tested positive for the pandemic. The majority of the officials are in home isolation and are being treated by medical teams. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath`s OSD Abhishek Kaushik has also been tested COVID positive. Among those who have succumbed to COVID in the past 24 hours, is Additional District Judge (ADJ) in Moradabad, Satya Prakash Dwivedi, who died on Tuesday. Dwivedi was under treatment at a Covid facility at Teerthanker Mahaveer University in Moradabad, the report said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19, had isolated himself on Tuesday after some officials in his contact tested positive for the infection. CM Adityanath tweeted, "After initial symptoms, I got myself tested. My report is positive. I am in self-isolation and following doctors' advice. I am doing all works virtually," advising those who came in his contact to get themselves tested and take precautions. Adityanath had taken the first dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on April 5. The immunity to the virus develops several days after the second dose. Earlier, the CM had said, "Officials at my office tested positive for coronavirus. They were in touch with me. Therefore, as a precaution, I am isolating myself." He, however, had not identified the officials who were tested for the infection. Yogi Adityanath was actively involved in election campaigning in West Bengal. Earlier on April 12, Yogi had attended a programme in the state capital with state Cabinet minister Ashutosh Tondon, who also tested positive. (With Agency Inputs) ADVERTISEMENT Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Uwemedimo Nwoko, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akwa Ibom State. He was arrested on Tuesday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, sources familiar with the matter told this medium. When contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest to our correspondent. Yes, the story is true he (Mr Nwoko) has been arrested, Mr Uwujaren said. Asked for further details about the arrest, he said, I do not have information on that. Ex-NBA presidents connection The EFCC had named Mr Nwoko as an accomplice in the alleged N1.4 billion money laundering charges filed against Paul Usoro, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), at the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2018. The anti-graft agency alleged in the charges that Mr Nwoko along with some other ex-officials of Akwa Ibom State government with whom Mr Usoro allegedly connived to lauder the money, was at large. The EFCC had re-arraigned Mr Usoro, on 10 counts of the N1.4 billion fraud in March 2019 with the accomplices, including Mr Nwoko said to still be at large. Those aside from Mr Nwoko said to be at large were the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mfon Udomah; and Margaret Ukpe. In February, the EFCC closed its case against Mr Usoro after calling Idongesit Udom, a deputy manager at Zenith Bank, as its first witness and Abdulrahman Arabo, the investigating officer as its second and final witness. After discharging the witness and closing its case, the defendant through his counsel, Effiong Effiong, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court of the defendants intention to file a no case submission. The EFCC alleged that Mr Usoro, among others, conspired with others to convert N1.4 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity. The prosecution said the money was proceeds of criminal breach of trust which contravenes the provisions of section 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. Sources also said Mr Nwoko will be charged over his roles in the alleged N1.4 billion scheme as soon as investigations are concluded. Welltec has been awarded an exclusive three-year contract by global energy and solutions company, Petronas. The agreement, which officially commenced on April 1, appoints Welltec as the sole provider of downhole conveyance and powered mechanical services in both East and West regions of Malaysia. Its a great team effort that has that has led to the award of this exclusive long-term contract with Petronas, and Welltec has demonstrated a strong ability to deliver, even though a challenging 2020, high quality services in a safe manner to the largest assets in the country at a very cost-effective rate, said Espen Dalland, Welltec Area VP for the Asia-Pacific region. This winning combination is the foundation for Petronas awarding us an even larger work scope for the next three years, where we will continue to deliver world-class technology and services. This is the third new contract we have received from Petronas following awards in 2014 and 2017, with an extension exercised in 2019. This latest contract predominantly features the same scope of services but now the geographical scope has increased from previously just being East Malaysia, to also include all assets in West Malaysia. With the new deal covering the entirety of Petronas intervention operations, the award not only builds on a long-standing relationship, but also shows a real vote of confidence in Welltecs fleet and technological capabilities. The services are based on daily or monthly rental and will be selected by the various Petronas assets for any upcoming project during the coming three-year period. The delivery will include the entire Welltec Intervention portfolio with the majority of services having already been deployed successfully for Petronas under previous agreements, but now additional services like the RCB (Reverse Circulating Bit) and several sizes of the Well Cutter family have also been added to the list. Welltecs unique RCB breaks through obstacles, such as composite plugs, and recovers the generated cuttings with suction into integrated bailer sections. In a single run, this allows users to mill such obstacles as composite plugs and recover any associated debris the well to prevent further associated problems. This is a fantastic win for us. Petronas is a key customer in the region who over recent years have moved more and more towards an integrated approach for interventions. said Alex Nicodimou, Welltec Sales & Marketing VP. The fact they have provided us 100% of their intervention work speaks volumes about their belief in our technology and ability to deliver. Were looking forward to continuing to support them to the best of our abilities. -- Tradearabia News Service Just briefly, overview your opinions in this particular case. I felt that Derek Chauvin was justified, was acting with objective reasonableness, following Minneapolis Police Department policy and current standards of law enforcement in his interactions with Mr. Floyd. In your opinion, was this a use of deadly force? It was not. And in your view of that use of force, what is your perspective on that? That Mr. Floyds level of resistance was it was objectively reasonable for those officers to do the techniques that they were doing. I felt that that level of resistance exhibited by Mr. Floyd justified the officers in higher levels of use of force that they chose not to select. In a situation where we have here, where youre actually physically on top of someone, in a position which, based on your training and based on your experience, based on your knowledge, could cause positional asphyxia thats a different context, correct? Yes. And in that context, it would a reasonable police officer would at least acknowledge and consider the possibility that what theyre doing is causing a problem, wouldnt they? Where you would interpret what Mr. Floyd is doing while hes making his statements, and it appeared to me with that video that he was still struggling. Struggling or writhing? I dont know the difference. Well, would a reasonable police officer on the scene consider whether somebody is actively resisting, or writhing on the ground because they cant breathe? I think itd be reasonable for the officer to take what Mr. Floyd had been doing prior to that and still consider that he was struggling. A woman has told of the moment she came face-to-face with a terrorist who told her to shh before murdering his second victim. Usman Khan, 28, killed two people at a prison rehabilitation event at Fishmongers Hall in London on 29 November 2019. Ama Otchere, a housekeeping supervisor for the venue, was one of the staff working on the day who witnessed the attack. Giving evidence to the inquests into the victims deaths on Wednesday, she told how she heard the sound of crying coming from the mens toilets shortly before 2pm. I heard a noise, somebody was crying in the gents toilets, she told the jury. Read more: I thought maybe somebody is sick, so let me go there and check and I will tell the security to call an ambulance or something. I tried to push the door and then the man came out. He was wearing a padded jacket and holding a knife in his right hand. The inquest previously heard that Khan had used the toilets to make his final preparations for the attack, taping two large kitchen knives to his hands and revealing an authentic-looking fake suicide vest strapped to his body. Jack Merritt, a 25-year-old course co-ordinator for the Learning Together programme, chanced upon Khan as he emerged from a cubicle and was stabbed multiple times before being left bleeding on the floor. Ms Otchere said Khan was very close to her when he burst through the toilet door, and raised the knife in his right hand while holding his left finger to his lips. When he saw me he raised the knife and told me to shh so I wouldnt scream, she added. He wasnt calm, you could see the anger on his face. Usman Khan seen being chased out of Fishmongers' Hall during attack inquest Ms Otchere told how she raised both hands and started backing away, but Khan kept approaching her as she moved into a cloakroom next to the toilet. She said his focus moved away as soon as he saw Saskia Jones, a 23-year-old, who had volunteered with Cambridge Universitys Learning Together programme. The inquest heard that she met Khan while they were sat on the same table at the start of the event, which marked the fifth anniversary of the scheme. Ms Otchere said she saw Khan move towards Ms Jones and stab her, while reciting what she believed to be the Quran in Arabic. The lady did not know what was going on there so she came in and was talking to the [member of staff] sat there, she added. She said she heard Ms Jones scream and ran, screaming and shouting to raise the alarm on the way. When Ms Otchere reached the lower level of Fishmongers Hall, she alerted a kitchen porter to the stabbing and went to a butler who called the police. The kitchen porter, Lukasz Koczocik, was among staff and attendees who then confronted Khan. The terrorist managed to stab several more victims before being chased on London Bridge and subdued using makeshift weapons, including a fire extinguisher and narwhal tusks. He was shot dead by armed police, who the inquest heard believed his suicide vest was real, shortly after 2pm. The inquests continue. Bethenny Frankel opened up on her exit from Bravo's Real Housewives Of New York City, saying that appearing on the Bravo mainstay lost its purpose for her. 'It became not who I really was anymore it's just not what I wanted to be doing anymore,' Frankel, 50, said Monday in a chat with Paris Hilton on the This is Paris podcast. The Skinnygirl mogul said she 'didn't want to be arguing about things that didn't really matter anymore' amid the ongoing drama on the reality series. The latest: Bethenny Frankel, 50, opened up on her exit from Bravo's Real Housewives Of New York City, saying that appearing on the Bravo mainstay lost its purpose for her Frankel said that the show has drastically 'changed' since the show's 2008 inception, as when she joined she was 'broke and didn't have anything to lose.' She added: 'I was there in the beginning when it was something that none of us really even knew what it was. And now it's something that people have a preconceived notion about it and they know what's going to happen.' Frankel said 'the time had come' for her to bid adieu to the show, implying she got bored with the creative dynamics of the show. 'I mean, how many charity events can we go to?' she said. 'How many friends can we not support on vacations and how much drama do we want to avoid and then go right into the drama on the vacation.' Moving forward: Frankel, pictured with LuAnn de Lesseps on the show, said 'the time had come' for her to bid adieu to the show, implying she got bored with the creative dynamics Frankel said that the show has drastically 'changed' since the show's 2008 inception, as when she joined she was 'broke and didn't have anything to lose' Frankel, who's working on an HBO Max show called The Big Shot With Bethenny, explained why she returned to the series in its seventh season after departing four seasons before. 'I was offered a number I felt I couldnt refuse,' she told Hilton. 'I managed to go back on very different terms, legal different terms I was literally there because of the money. It was a lot of money at that point for me.' In the exchange, Frankel asked Paris about her thoughts on her mother Kathy Hilton signing onto Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 'If there was not a pandemic happening right now and she wasn't so bored at home, there's no way that she would have said yes to this,' Hilton said of her mother, adding that she had spoken with her sister Nicky about the move. 'I think my sister and I - we just love our mom so much, we're so close and that show is just a lot of drama,' Hilton said. 'There's a lot of unnecessary arguments - drama is what gets ratings and what sells. So we just don't really want our mom being involved in that drama.' ADVERTISEMENT The Police Command in Niger has arrested Umar Jibril, for allegedly killing a cleric he claimed was his wifes lover. Mr Jibril, a resident of Enagi village, in Edati Local Government of the state, was arrested on Tuesday, according to Adamu Usman, the Niger Police commissioner. Mr Usman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the suspect was arrested on Monday, April 12, at about 0100 hours, based on credible information. He added that the suspect allegedly stabbed Attahiru Alhassan, the Chief Imam of Edagi, to death, with an iron rod. During interrogation, the suspect claimed that while relaxing in front of his house, on Monday, the deceased walked past him and went towards his neighbours house. He said that about the same time, his second wife, Aishatu Umar, also came out of the compound and indicated that she was going to the toilet, just behind the compound. The suspect told the police that after waiting for some time for her return, he went round to search for his wife and later heard her voice in the neighbours house. He claimed that he entered the house and met the deceased with his wife, adding that he immediately left the scene and rushed to a brother, one Abubakar Abdulrahman, to inform him of what he had seen. The suspect said that not long after, the deceased sent for him so that they could both discuss. According to the suspect, in the course of the discussion, an argument ensued and he grabbed an iron rod and stabbed the deceased on the neck, leading to his demise. The police commissioner said the suspect took to his heels after the incident and was pursued to Batati village in Lavun Local Government area, where he was arrested. Investigation has commenced and the suspect will be arraigned, as soon as the investigation is completed, he told (NAN) OXFORD, England, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokamak Energy is one of the world-leaders in the race for commercial fusion energy. The company is combining novel and robust high temperature superconducting magnets with the highly efficient and well-proven design known as a 'Spherical Tokamak'. One of the key challenges in a Spherical Tokamak for fusion energy is that the radiation shielding system, which protects the HTS magnets in the Central Column from heating and damage, needs to be as thin as possible. Simulations show that Tungsten Borides are likely to be highly effective. Tokamak Energy and UNSW Sydney are delighted to announce a research project to understand the precise mechanisms of radiation damage in Tungsten Borides and then alter the chemistry, microstructure, and other parameters of the material to maximise the lifetime of the shield without sacrificing its shielding efficiency. These new materials will then be tested in a follow-on phase to the project, while the supply chain is engaged to produce the materials in the required volume. Dr Patrick Burr of UNSW said: "I'm very excited about this new collaboration with Tokamak Energy. Together we're going to accelerate the development of shielding materials for their spherical tokamak fusion power plant. It is a big challenge to protect superconducting magnets at temperatures close to absolute zero, from a fusion plasma hotter that the centre of the sun, but we can see how to do it." Jack Astbury, Radiation Shielding Team Leader, from Tokamak Energy said: "It is great to be working with Patrick and his UNSW colleagues to tackle this crucial challenge for fusion power plants. Optimising the shielding materials will allow us to make quicker progress and will lead to lower cost and much more economically viable devices." About Tokamak Energy Established in 2009, Tokamak Energy is a private company working to develop compact fusion power. The company employs 150 people and has over 50 families of patent applications. Tokamak Energy's approach to commercial fusion energy is to combine the new technology of high field-strength, high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets with the efficiency advantages of the spherical tokamak design. Based in Oxford, England, the company is a spin-out from Culham Laboratory, the world-leading centre for magnetic fusion energy research. The company has raised over 117m to date from private investors including Dr. Hans-Peter Wild, L&G Capital and David Harding, CEO of Winton Capital. Fusion energy will be a key part of a sustainable future, complementing renewables for electricity, hydrogen production, process heat for heavy industry, and desalination. Tokamak Energy believes the world can have safe, clean, economic and abundant energy for the long-term future, without harming the planet. www.tokamakenergy.co.uk Contact: Mya Comfort, [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1439316/Tokamak_Energy_Logo.jpg SOURCE Tokamak Energy Related Links www.tokamakenergy.co.uk/ MUSKEGON, MI A major street in downtown Muskegon is in line for some significant changes as part of an ongoing effort to right-size the citys thoroughfares. Terrace Street from Apple Avenue to Shoreline Drive will be narrowed by more than half, with most of its boulevard median being removed, according to plans of the city of Muskegon. The removal of two traffic signals also is part of the project proposed to be completed next year. Its just a really big change from what you have today, Muskegon Public Works Director Leo Evans told the city commission earlier this week. Terrace has been a four-lane divided boulevard, though it was narrowed somewhat last year with the addition of angled parking on part of it. Plans are to turn it into a two-lane, two-way street. The Muskegon County Hall of Justice, Muskegon City Hall, the Muskegon Farmers Market and the downtown fire station all front Terrace as does the Hot Rod Harley Davidson dealership. The city last summer removed one traffic lane in each direction near city hall to create angled parking. The creation of 44 parking spaces helped offset the loss of a nearby city employee parking lot, which is the site of a new 75-unit apartment complex under construction. Evans called that move a baby step that worked well at slowing traffic. This will take it quite a step further, he said of the proposed project. City commissioners meeting in a work session were supportive of the proposal which would be funded in part with nearly $550,000 in federal transportation funds. Mayor Steve Gawron said the four-lane divided roadway went in at the time the city was planning a suburban mall and the focus was on feeding the car. The downtown Muskegon Mall, built over downtown shopping areas in 1976, has since been demolished and the city has been working for years to infill the space it had taken up. That work continues, most recently with the start of construction on the six-story mixed used building on Western Avenue at Second Street called The Leonard. Muskegon became awash in parking lots and overly-wide highways cutting through where once upon a time you had a community market, music stores and furniture stores, Gawron said. And all of a sudden were left with a bunch of asphalt. The Terrace Street plan would turn the two northbound lanes into a two-lane, two-way street. The median would be removed, and the two southbound lanes would be replaced with grass, and perhaps eventually a bicycle path, Evans said. The median on Terrace Street would be maintained near Shoreline Drive to avoid having to make significant changes to that intersection, Evans said. I think it has a real potential for improving the walkability of the downtown area and its linkage with residential neighborhoods, Gawron said. The narrower Terrace Street also would have parallel parking on both sides, but not as many spaces as were created last year, Evans said. Traffic signals at the Terrace intersections with Webster and Muskegon avenues likely would be removed and replaced with four-way stop signs, he said. However, traffic studies will determine if those changes are appropriate. Ten blocks of Webster and Muskegon underwent a similar transformation several years ago. Previously one-way, multi-lane thoroughfares, the streets were redesigned and narrowed in 2015 when six traffic signals also were removed and replaced with stop signs. The parallel avenues were no longer needed as the U.S. 31 Business Route with the completion of Shoreline Drive in 2004. Final designs are expected to be completed in July with the Michigan Department of Transportation seeking construction bids in November. Also on MLive: Getty Drive-In Theatre opening April 16 for the 2021 season Muskegons long-awaited convention center about to open, and were giving you a sneak preview Additional flight to Chicago announced by Muskegon County Airports new management firm Prime Minister Florin Citu announced on Wednesday evening having taken over as acting Health Minister after Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna refused to accept this responsibility and that he will stay in office until "the coalition colleagues" make a nomination for the Health portfolio. Citu mentioned that he has two online conferences scheduled on Thursday with the Public Health Directorate (DSP) heads and with COVID hospital managers, agerpres.ro confirms. "Along with the proposal to dismiss Mr. Vlad Voiculescu from office, I sent Mr. President the proposal to appoint Mr. Dan Barna as interim Health Minister. Given Mr. Dan Barna's refusal to take on this responsibility at this time, I forwarded to the President of Romania a new proposal for the job - myself, a proposal that has been accepted. I will therefore take over as interim Health Minister until our coalition colleagues appoint a minister to take over these responsibilities," Florin Citu said on Wednesday at the Victoria Palace of Government. The head of the Executive specified that he already had a meeting with a part of the Health Ministry's leadership. "Tomorrow I will have two online conferences, with all the DSP directors and all the directors of COVID hospitals. In this difficult period, our priority remains ensuring the 1,600 intensive care beds and managing this rough stretch," Citu pointed out. Im reading more now about how suspicious they were than I ever realized at the time, he said with a faint smile. He did not assert that any specific bank or fund knew about or was an accomplice in his Ponzi scheme, which lasted at least 16 years and consumed about $20 billion in lost cash and almost $65 billion in paper wealth. Rather, he cited a failure to conduct normal scrutiny. Both the interview and the e-mail correspondence were conducted as part of this reporters research for a coming book on the Madoff scandal, The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust, for publication this spring by Times Books, a division of Henry Holt & Company. In the interview and e-mails, he also claimed he had been helping the court-appointed trustee who is seeking to recover lost billions on behalf of his swindled clients. In e-mails, Mr. Madoff said repeatedly that he provided useful information to Irving H. Picard, the trustee trying to recover assets for the fraud victims. He met with Mr. Picards team over four days last summer, he said. The e-mails were written in December and January, but he only recently agreed that they could be made public. In prison, Mr. Madoffs access to the outside world is both limited and monitored. All visitors must be approved by prison authorities, who also screen his limited collect calls and his incoming and outgoing e-mails and letters, though interviews with lawyers are less restricted and can be conducted in private. Asked about his cell, he described a room about 12 feet square with a big window looking out on the grounds; he said he had a roommate, the second since he arrived at the prison. It was clear from the e-mails and interview here that Mr. Madoff closely followed news related to his case in December, the second anniversary of his arrest. He lashed out at what he called some of the disgraceful coverage of the suicide of his son Mark on Dec. 11. Dr. Bronwyn MacInnis of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (top left) and Dr. Nahid Bhadelia of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center (top right) were among the experts who briefed the Public Health Committee and the COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management Committee on the different variants of COVID-19. An American woman who relocated to Australia in 2013 has been locked out of the country and likely never able to return after a 10-day pre-Covid trip to the US. Katie Morris, 29, has been living in Sydney for the last seven years and had travelled back to America to perform a successful life-saving stem cell transplant for her aunt. 'I got locked out in the border closures and I'm desperate to return. My friends are watching my dog Moose and have donated most of my belongings,' Ms Morris told Daily Mail Australia. Katie Morris (pictured), 29, relocated to Australia in 2013 and was locked out of the country following a 10-day trip to the U.S. just before Covid travel bans Ms Morris (pictured centre) said she has had a permanent residency application submitted for nine months but her case has not been looked at The social media manager said she is continuing to work her Australian job remotely at nightas she tries to get someone at immigration to look at her permanent residency application before time runs out. 'My current visa expires in two weeks and if my residency application is withdrawn I will never be eligible again - barring marriage, which isn't currently an option,' Ms Morris said. 'I would have to say goodbye to my entire life there along with the thousands of dollars I paid for my application. I'm absolutely heartbroken'. Ms Morris said her residency application is based on her Sydney-based advertising firm employer sponsoring her after she had worked there for three years. However, this type of sponsorship has now been cut from the list - meaning if her current application is withdrawn she will not have another chance of returning. The Kansas native said she is working remotely at nights for her Australian job which is sponsoring her but the situation is not sustainable and she cannot re-apply for residency 'The current problem I'm trying to tackle is getting someone to even look at my application. I've seen celebrities get approved for visas while I cry myself to sleep at night, watching everything start to slip away,' Ms Morris explained. 'It's hard to explain the level of complete and utter despair, when you've followed all the rules and just constantly get overlooked'. As Ms Morris waits for her current residency application to be assessed she said her mental state from being in an extended limbo is deteriorating. On top of this, both her and her employer agree continuing to work remotely throughout the night for what could possibly be years before her application is approved is not sustainable. 'I came to Australia really unsure of myself. I worked so hard to establish a life there, I was told I'd never get a sponsored job - I got one. I was told I'd never be able to take care of a dog on my own, he's thriving.' The Kansas native said while many of her friends she met in Australia were also called home to other countries during Covid lockdowns, she has established a supportive group of friends who are also desperate for her to return to Australia. 'I've built an entire life there that I can't imagine giving up. I work hard, follow the rules, and embraced Australian culture, In exchange all I ask is for a chance to return.' The reason she briefly returned to America was to participate in a stem cell transplant for her aunt who had been diagnosed with cancer - with the procedure a completed success and her aunt now cancer-free. Ms Morris (pictured left) travelled back to America to participate in a successful lifesaving transplant for her aunt Despite the legitimate reason for Ms Morris' trip home she has now been locked out of Australia for more than nine months as she waits for her application to be assessed. According to the Department of Home Affairs, permanent residency applications - which cost in excess of $4,000 - currently have wait times of up to six months or more. 'My mental health has hit rock bottom, my working hours have become even later due to daylight savings starting here and ending in Australia, and my work needs me on the ground to help with clients'. She wants to highlight her case in the hope that she and others in her situation are able to get their applications assessed by Australian immigration officials rather than being ignored. Click to Tweet : "This diverse group, each with their unique experiences and expertise, will contribute to the ongoing growth and advancement of our remote patient monitoring technology." - Ryan Howard, CEO of 100Plus https://ctt.ac/zAyaa+ "We have assembled a dream team of healthcare leaders to advise 100Plus through its next stage of growth," stated Ryan Howard, CEO of 100Plus. "And this diverse group, each with their unique experiences and expertise, will contribute to the ongoing growth and advancement of our remote patient monitoring technology. Their collective leadership and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to scale our services to prominent practitioners and key strategic partners." Erick DeOliveira is a veteran finance leader with extensive experience in company growth. Prior to 100Plus, he served as CFO at Ticketfly (acquired by Pandora) and Vice President of Finance at Eventbrite, as well as holding positions at Practice Fusion, Skype and Amazon. "I am thrilled to join the 100Plus executive team and excited about the trajectory of our offering," stated DeOliveira. "I'm looking forward to bringing my Finance background from large technology enterprises and digital health, to drive growth of the RPM patient population on the 100Plus platform, and support our client practitioners who provide their care." Meghan Sinclair brings 12 years of product, operations, and engineering experience in hardware, software and the military using technology to solve customers' pain points and identify strategic solutions. Prior to 100Plus, Meghan was a lead product manager at Amazon Lab126 for smart home and Alexa devices. "Joining an organization like 100Plus is exciting for me given the company's ability to significantly decrease healthcare costs and provide remote monitoring tools to millions of patients," stated Sinclair. "The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the undeniable need for innovative technology and devices for people with chronic conditions. I'm looking forward to being a part of the solution and helping doctors drive better health outcomes for patients." In addition to former CMS administrator Verma, new Advisory Board members include Cora Tellez, former CEO of Blue Shield California, Fawad Butt, former Chief Data Officer of UnitedHealthcare and Optum, Jimmy Lee, former President of Anthem and Mehmet Oz, M.D., Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Professor at Columbia and host of The Dr. Oz Show. Seema Verma - The longest-serving administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in modern history. As administrator, Verma oversaw a budget of more than $1.3 trillion and health insurance programs for more than 140 million Americans. Verma also served on the White House COVID-19 Task Force, where she led efforts to drive telehealth and remote care across the health care system while creating flexibility for health providers to augment the health care workforce, expand services and testing, and ensure access to vaccines and therapeutics. Prior to CMS, Verma was the founder and CEO of a health policy consulting firm helping states and private industry on a range of healthcare issues. In addition to her work with 100Plus, Verma sits on the board of value-based health tech firm, Lumeris. The longest-serving administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in modern history. As administrator, Verma oversaw a budget of more than and health insurance programs for more than 140 million Americans. Verma also served on the White House COVID-19 Task Force, where she led efforts to drive telehealth and remote care across the health care system while creating flexibility for health providers to augment the health care workforce, expand services and testing, and ensure access to vaccines and therapeutics. Prior to CMS, Verma was the founder and CEO of a health policy consulting firm helping states and private industry on a range of healthcare issues. In addition to her work with 100Plus, Verma sits on the board of value-based health tech firm, Lumeris. Cora Tellez - Former CEO of Blue Shield California and an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare services industry with skills in Healthcare Management, Risk Management and Business Development. Successful Entrepreneur, Board member of publicly traded and private companies as well as nonprofit organizations. - Former CEO of Blue Shield California and an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare services industry with skills in Healthcare Management, Risk Management and Business Development. Successful Entrepreneur, Board member of publicly traded and private companies as well as nonprofit organizations. Fawad Butt - A 20-year data governance veteran with previous roles as Chief Data Officer for UnitedHealthcare and Optum and Chief Data Governance Officer of Kaiser Permanente. A 20-year data governance veteran with previous roles as Chief Data Officer for UnitedHealthcare and Optum and Chief Data Governance Officer of Kaiser Permanente. Jimmy Lee - Creative and innovative leader with over 30 years of healthcare industry experience. As a Senior Executive at Anthem, he had P&L accountability for $35 billion of premium and 17 million members across the Individual, Small Group and Large Group/ASO markets. He was also President of Individual and instrumental to Anthem's entrance into the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") Individual and Small Group markets. Creative and innovative leader with over 30 years of healthcare industry experience. As a Senior Executive at Anthem, he had P&L accountability for of premium and 17 million members across the Individual, Small Group and Large Group/ASO markets. He was also President of Individual and instrumental to Anthem's entrance into the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") Individual and Small Group markets. Mehmet Oz , M.D. - Nine-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning host of the three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Oz is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University . He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. About 100Plus 100Plus is the fastest-growing Remote Patient Monitoring platform empowering doctors to manage their chronic patients remotely, proactively engage them to avoid expensive, episodic care, and drive a higher quality of life. When a Medicare patient receives a 100Plus medical device, it's at no cost to them, fully configured, and ready to use out of the box no smartphone, app, Bluetooth, WiFi, or cellular plan required. Reduces episodic care and improves patient care by continuously monitoring high-risk senior patients. Media Contact: Elizabeth Katzki (650) 352-5154 [email protected] SOURCE 100Plus Related Links https://www.100plus.com Millennial Liu Lurui quit her job and moved to the outskirts of Beijing, where she built a farm on three acres of land to create a healthier lifestyle for herself and five friends. The farm was completed in April 2020, and includes a house, a garden and an organic orchard. They hope that their hobo life can set an example for people looking to lead alternative way of life Jun 04, 2021 06:31 PM 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. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. Communities across the nation marched and mourned for the third consecutive night Tuesday in memory of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by a police officer after a traffic stop over the weekend. Police and protesters faced off again in Brooklyn Center after nightfall, with hundreds of protesters gathered in the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch. Murderapolis was scrawled with black spray paint on a concrete barrier. Whose street? Our street! the crowd chanted under a light snowfall. About 90 minutes before the curfew deadline, state police announced over a loudspeaker that the gathering had been declared unlawful and ordered the crowds to disperse. That quickly set off confrontations, with protesters launching fireworks toward the station and throwing objects at police, who launched flashbangs and gas grenades, and then marched in a line to force back the crowd. You are hereby ordered to disperse, authorities announced, warning that anyone not leaving would be arrested. The state police said the dispersal order came before the 10 p.m. curfew because protesters were trying to take down the fencing and throwing rocks at police. The number of protesters dropped rapidly over the next hour, until only a few remained. Police also ordered all media members to leave the scene and threatened them with arrest. At least one person was injured when police fired crowd control munitions, video showed. In a news conference early Wednesday, Minnesota State Patrol Col. Matt Langer said about 60 people were arrested in connection to the Brooklyn Center protests ranging from "riot and criminal behaviors" and urged the public for help. "It is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated if you choose to do criminal activity and destroy property and throw objects and make it unsafe for people to come and exercise their First Amendment rights." Story continues "Brooklyn Center passed a resolution banning unnecessary crowd control measures intended to stifle protest including rubber bullets, teargas and kettling," the American Civil Liberties Union chapter in Minnesota said on Twitter. "We urge all law enforcement agencies there to follow this policy and remember honoring the Constitution is part of your job." 'He did not deserve this': Family remembers Daunte Wright as an adoring dad who enjoyed playing sportsAcross town, more than two dozen prayed and paid respects in the freezing weather at the memorial erected Monday night where Wright was killed a giant, rust-brown sculpture of a clenched fist, surrounded by flower bouquets, messages and candles. Samuel Howell, 65, from Princeton, Minnesota, fell to his knees and began to weep at the sight. He told USA TODAY that he is a former cop from San Bernardino, California, but that his son-in-law is Black. I just think, What if it was him? he said. Or my grandchildren? Lives are precious. Two women comforted and hugged him, saying that "we'll get through this together." The whole community feels helpless," said Katie Russell, 34, from Brooklyn Park. "All we can do right now is comfort each other." As Brooklyn Center mourned, other cities around the country started to protest. Several dozen people marched through downtown Chicago Tuesday evening, calling for justice for Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old boy fatally shot by a Chicago police officer at the end of March. According to videos of the demonstration shared on social media, protesters could be heard chanting: "Say his name, Daunte Wright!" Lamar Whitfield of the No More Foundation, organized in the wake of George Floyds killing by a police officer in Minneapolis, said by standing in solidarity, activists will be taken seriously by officials. In Columbus, Ohio, protesters got into the police headquarters, which was locked with handcuffs, according to student newspaper The Lantern. Police deployed pepper spray as they tried to get inside. Dozens of people marched in downtown Sacramento, California, facing off with police at a shopping complex there, according to local media FOX-40. Around 50 people held a vigil for Wright in Seattle, Washington. Police arrested one for chalk drawing, a practice banned in the city. In Dallas, Texas, protesters blocked roads. As protesters marched to the Portland Police Association in Oregon, they set off fireworks and police declared a riot, according to Twitter video. And in Philadelphia, more than 200 people marched. Daunte Wright's death: 'Another Black man has died at the hands of police': Outrage builds over fatal shooting Jamesetta Collins (left), Samuel Howell and Katie Russell pay their respects Tuesday near a Daunte Wright memorial in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The memorial site, a giant, rust-brown sculpture of a clenched fist, is surrounded by flower bouquets, messages and candles. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop on Sunday. Earlier Tuesday, officer Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the police force, submitted her letter of resignation, Mayor Mike Elliott said in a news conference. He said the city did not ask her to resign but had been moving toward firing her. I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately, Potter wrote in the letter, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Police Chief Tim Gannon also resigned Tuesday. Cmdr. Tony Gruenig, who has been with the department for 19 years, will take over as acting chief. A decision on whether prosecutors will charge Potter could come as soon as Wednesday. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement that no conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, Elliott said Tuesday that he is asking Gov. Tim Walz to reassign Wright's case to the office of the attorney general. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified Potter as the officer who shot Wright on Sunday. The Hennepin County medical examiner said Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled his death a homicide. Gannon said he believed Potter mistook her firearm for her Taser when she shot Wright. The department released body camera footage of the incident during which Potter shouted "Taser" several times before firing, then expressed surprise upon realizing she had shot Wright. Wright's family called for the officer to be held accountable in an emotional news conference with civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Tuesday. "I hope that since she went ahead and she resigned that they hold her at the highest (accountability) because she was the law," said Wright's aunt, Naisha Wright. Crump said he was stunned when he heard that another Black man had been killed at the hands of police not far from where former police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial in George Floyd's death. "If you told me and I didn't see little Daunte's face and his mother and grandmother crying, I wouldn't believe it," Crump said alongside the Wright and Floyd families. Crump said he thought that during the trial, "police would be on their best behavior, that they would exercise the greatest standard of care, that they would concentrate on de-escalation in a way they have never concentrated in America." Katie Wright, Daunte's mother, called the day her son died "the worst day of my life." She described the phone call she received as he was pulled over and how, after he was shot, the woman in the passenger seat of the car video-called her and she saw her son lifeless in the driver seat. Meanwhile, the cities of Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis and St. Paul imposed 10 p.m. curfews. Wright's death on Sunday has shaken a nation already unsettled by a series of police killings. Floyd died about 10 miles away during a police arrest last May, an incident that led to nationwide protests calling for an end to racial injustice and police brutality. About a six-hour drive from where Wright died, the Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer who shot Jacob Blake, a Black man who was paralyzed from the waist down after the shooting in August, has returned to regular duty and won't face any administrative discipline. Daunte Wright shooting: Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyonce, more speak out: 'Another senseless tragedy' 'You cant train them once': Taser confusion errors like Daunte Wright shooting are rare but avoidable, experts say On Tuesday, Chief Daniel Miskinis issued a news release on Twitter stating that Rusten Sheskey has also been cleared of breaking any internal policies, and has been back on duty after months of administrative leave since March 31. Contributing: Grace Hauck, Ryan W. Miller, Eric Ferkenhoff and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daunte Wright death: Protesters call for justice in wake of shooting Middle eastern countries have some of the strictest laws against the trafficking of drugs and liquor. The punishment could range from years in jail, deportation, or even beheading. Despite this, people try attempting to smuggling them there and even use unsuspecting everyday people who are travelling from their home countries to become carriers. NRIs in the middle east have been taught to ensure that no matter who it is if someone approaches them with a request to carry a small parcel for their relative in the middle east, make sure that nothing illegal is in the packet. What happened? A couple from Mumbai learned this the hard way when they were arrested at Hamad International Airport in July 2019 after Qatari authorities recovered 4.1kg hashish from their bag. BCCL The couple, Mohammad Shareeq and his wife Oniba Kauser Shakeel Ahmed had gone for their honeymoon, a trip that was sponsored by a relative. But the couple was unaware that the relative, Shareeq's paternal aunt Tabassum Riyaz Qureshi was using them as drug carriers. Qureshi who sponsored the trip had hidden some 4.1 kg of hashish in their luggage, claiming that it was tobacco that was to be given to a friend in Doha. The unsuspecting couple was arrested by the authorities and despite their pleas, was sentenced to ten years in jail. BCCL At that time, Oniba had just learnt that she was pregnant and she delivered a baby girl in jail last year. After the couple was convicted, Oniba's father Shakeel Ahmed had written to NCB Director General Rakesh Asthana on September 27, 2019, following which the agency started a probe into the case. "In his letter, Qureshi had said his daughter and son in law were deceived in the garb of a honeymoon package by a woman named Tabassum Riyaz Qureshi and her associate Nizam Kara. An NCB probe found the couple was trapped by a drug running network infamous as the Kasargod syndicate," he said. BCCL The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had then approached authorities in Qatar through diplomatic channels to bring back the couple, said KPS Malhotra, the agency's deputy director. The family's efforts paid off and in January this year, the 10-year jail sentence was overturned by Qatar's highest court. After being freed from prison, the couple was allowed to travel back to India and reached Mumbai with their daughter on Wednesday morning. Police in Kansas are hailing a dog as a hero after the canine ran to get help for his owner during a medical emergency. ADVERTISEMENT The Kansas City Police Department said in a Facebook post that a resident was walking his dog Sunday evening when he began to experience a medical emergency. "The dog quickly ran to alert a nearby neighbor that his owner was in trouble and they called 911," the post said. The department said the man "received prompt medical attention and is doing well" as a result of the actions of his "smart and loyal canine." "As for the pup, he was rewarded with lots of pats, praise and some yummy dog treats," the post said. Gov. Phil Murphy will be at the Trenton War Memorial at 1 p.m. Wednesday to hold another coronavirus press conference a day after the state suspended administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses. It will be streamed lived on the governors YouTube.com channel from the George Washington Ballroom. Murphy will be joined by state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, coronavirus advisor Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan. Murphy is likely to further to discuss the impact of New Jersey following federal recommendations and temporarily stopping the administration of single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines after six women developed blood clots. Murphy said people who have already had the J&J shot shouldnt worry with doctors pointing out that the chances of developing a blood clot are less than one in a million. Hospitalizations in New Jersey continue to remain nearly steady. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday there were 2,281 patients in in the states 71 hospitals with the virus or a case under investigation, down from the 2,319 in the previous 24-hour period. Hospitals had 2,294 coronavirus patients on April 1, according to the states dashboard. At least 5,540,631 vaccine doses have been given as of Tuesday morning. Officials said 2,243,427 in New Jersey have been fully vaccinated. Officials on Tuesday announced 49 more deaths and 3,466 COVID-19 cases. According to the state, 22,372 have died of the virus or related causes since March 2020. Another 2,573 deaths were probably caused by the coronavirus, the department of health said. At 2:15 p.m. the governor will is scheduled to make an additional announcement at Patriots Theater in the War Memorial. The topic has not been disclosed. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Press Release April 14, 2021 Villar welcomes WHO's call to ban sale of wild animals Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday described a "welcome development" the World Health Organization's call to stop the sale of live wild animals in food markets to prevent the emergence of new diseases like Covid-19. Villar, who chairs both the Senate committees on agriculture & food, and on environment, said she has repeatedly warned of chronic disease transmission from wild animals. She said researches indicated that the constant exploitation of wild fauna and their habitats had raised the risk of zoonotic disease transmission or the transmission of disease from animals to human. WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib related that the WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said wild animals were the source of most emerging infectious diseases in humans and recommended measures to reduce the potential risk. "Covid-19 has brought new attention to this threat, given the magnitude of its consequences," stressed Chaib. Villar said she hopes the Philippine government and other nations would heed the call of WHO to avert emerging infectious diseases like the new coronavirus. "As precaution, I hope all concerned government agencies will impose a ban on the catching and sale of wild animals in local markets to avert a potential recurrence of a similar Covid-19 pandemic," said Villar. She said there should be tough measures for the strict enforcement of this prohibition to guarantee wild animals, which can be the source of virus, would no longer find their way to the markets for human consumption. "We want to protect our people and the world from newviruses that could originate from wild animals and transmitted to humans like this coronavirus, which has affected and claimed the lives of millions of people worldwide," said Villar. The call to ban sale of wild animals runs parallel to the objective of Sen. Villar when she filed last month the Senate Bill No. 2078 or the "Revised Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2021," amending the 20-year-old RA No. 9147. The bill seeks to strengthen the wildlife conservation and protection mechanism in our country as the incidence of wildlife exploitation has evolved and grown, violators have become more equipped, organized, and syndicated or with international connections. WHO, OIE snd UNEP recalled that some of the earliest known cases of Covid-19 had links to a wholesale traditional food market in Wuhan, China. They noted that majority of the initial patients were stall owners, market employees or regular visitors to the Wuhan market. The agencies related at samples from the Wuhan market suggested that it might be the source of the coronavirus pandemic's outbreak. They also raised the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes Covid-19 disease -- originated in wild animals. Villar, as chairperson of the Senate committee on environment, likewise cited the need to be more vigilant against biodiversity loss, wildlife protection and conservation of their habitats. She said the Philippines belongs to the world's biodiversity hotspots or those areas experiencing high rates of habitat loss. This handout picture taken and released by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affaires (MOFA) on Wednesday shows former U.S. senator Christopher Dodd, left, and Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu waving after the arrival of an unofficial U.S. delegation at Songshan Airport in Taipei. AFP-Yonhap President Joe Biden sent an unofficial delegation of former U.S. officials to Taiwan on Wednesday in a signal of support for the democratic island as it faces increasingly hostile moves by China. Former senator Christopher Dodd and former deputy secretaries of state Richard Armitage and James Steinberg touched down in Taipei on Wednesday afternoon, live television images showed. They are expected to meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday. "Once again this visit demonstrates the firm relationship between Taiwan and the United States," said presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang. "It is strong as a rock." Taiwan's 23 million people live under the constant threat of invasion by authoritarian Beijing, which claims the island as its own and has vowed to one day seize it. It uses diplomatic, economic and military pressure to keep Taiwan isolated on the world stage and bristles whenever countries send delegations or maintain contacts with Taiwan. Over the past year, Beijing's sabre-rattling has increased considerably with Chinese fighter jets and nuclear-capable bombers breaching Taiwan's air defense zone on a near-daily basis. A record 25 Chinese military jets and bombers breached Taiwan's defense zone on Monday. Washington has diplomatically recognized Beijing over Taiwan since 1979. But it maintains relations with Taipei and is bound by an act of Congress to sell the island defensive weapons. It also opposes any attempt by China to change Taiwan's future by force. This week's delegation comes on the 42nd anniversary of that legislation the Taiwan Relations Act which Biden signed when he was a young senator. It also comes after the State Department said on Friday it was issuing new guidelines allowing U.S. officials to meet more easily with Taiwanese counterparts. Biden's predecessor Donald Trump ramped up contacts and visits to Taiwan by U.S. officials as relations between Washington and Beijing plunged over a host of issues. Biden has made clear he wishes to cooperate with China on common causes such as climate change. But concerns about China under President Xi Jinping have become a rare bipartisan issue in Washington and Biden has maintained a tough line with Beijing over its human rights record and threats towards Taiwan. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry will visit China later this week in the first trip there by the Biden administration, seeking to raise global ambitions despite soaring tensions with Beijing on other fronts. "We have big disagreements with China on some key issues, absolutely. But climate has to stand alone," Kerry told CNN. (AFP) President Joe Biden will defend his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after al Qaeda's attack, saying it is 'time to end America's longest war.' 'I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth,' he will say in a speech Wednesday afternoon. The White House released excerpts of his remarks. 'It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home,' Biden will advocate. In his remarks, Biden plans to detail his timeline for a U.S. troop withdrawal. Biden says he consulted with allies, military leaders, lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris to help make his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops. Biden will make the announcement from the Treaty Room of the White House, the same room President George W. Bush announced the U.S. and Britain had started bombing Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. The decision on a deadline to remove the final 2,500 U.S. forces would finally put an end to the war amid questions about how much stability and security the U.S. would leave behind amid a fragile government that the military has helped prop up in Kabul. Republicans slammed Biden's plan as essentially surrendering the region to al Qaeda amid the on-going war on terrorism. But Biden will argue that 'diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue' in Afghanistan after the military presence has gone. He will emphasize that his administration will continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban and assist international efforts to train the Afghan military. And he'll note that the U.S. and its partners are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel who are fighting in country. 'We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago,' Biden will say. 'That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come.' After his remarks, the president will then visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. President Joe Biden will defend his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, saying it is 'time to end America's longest war' Excerpts from Biden's speech on Afghanistan President Biden will make remarks on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. The White House released excerpts of his speech: We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result. I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth. After consulting closely with our Allies and partners, with our military leaders and intelligence professionals, with our diplomats and development experts, and with Congress and the Vice President, I have concluded that: It is time to end Americas longest war. It is time for American troops to come home. --- While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue. We will continue to support the Government of Afghanistan. We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Along with our partners, we are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel. And they continue to fight valiantly on behalf of their country and defend the Afghan people, at great cost. We will support peace talks between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, facilitated by the United Nations. --- We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come. Advertisement President George W. Bush announcing that the U.S. and Britain had started bombing Afghanistan, in the Treaty Room of the White House on October 7, 2001 Biden spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ahead of his remarks. 'The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition,' Ghani wrote on Twitter. 'Afghanistan's proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful,' he added. The White House is facing criticism from several corners about the decision to withdraw all of the American military presence - even from within its own ranks. CIA Director William Burns said on Wednesday that Washington's ability to collect intelligence and act on threats will diminish when U.S. troops leave Afghanistan. 'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact,' he told the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding that the United States would however retain 'a suite of capabilities.' But White House press secretary Jen Psaki countered that 'many of our intelligence officials have said publicly and in these hearings that the threats have evolved, that we need to approach how we look at counterterrorism through the prism of what the threats are in 2021. And even if you look at Al Qaeda, it is not being harbored in a safe haven in Afghanistan how it was 20 years ago.' Psaki said Biden made the decision after asking for a review from his advisers where they didn't sugar coat anything. She also said the president would not change his mind should the situation on the ground change in Afghanistan. 'We can't look at things through the 2001 mindset we have to look at things through the 2021 world,' she said at her daily press briefing. 'We are not going to take our eyes off the terrorist threat or any sign of al Qaeda has resurgence, and we will reposition our counterterrorism capabilities in that regard,' she said. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin briefed the decision to NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday. 'We will discuss our future presence in Afghanistan. We welcome this opportunity to closely coordinate and consult with all allies as we agree on our future presence in Afghanistan,' Blinken said ahead of his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 'Almost 20 years ago, after the United States was attacked on 9/11, together we went into Afghanistan to deal with those who attacked us and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorists who might attack any of us. And together we have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve, and now it is time to bring our forces home,' he added. Blinken said the United States would coordinate closely with European allies on the U.S. troop withdrawal. 'We will work very closely together in the weeks and months ahead on a safe, deliberate, and coordinated withdrawal of our forces from Afghanistan, but even as we do that, our commitment to Afghanistan, to its future, will remain and we'll talk about that today as well,' he said. Biden's decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed with Taliban insurgents by his predecessor Donald Trump's administration. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that won't be affected by security conditions in the country. The U.S. and allied effort to force the Taliban from power began in October of 2001, weeks after the Sept. 11th attacks under the George W. Bush administration, after the regime had provided sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda fighters. While Biden's decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al Qaeda and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, women's rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al Qaeda's haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. US soldiers arrives at the site of a car bomb attack that targeted a NATO coalition convoy in Kabul on September 24, 2017 - US war in Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000 In this file photo a US soldier investigates the scene of a suicide attack at the Afghan-Pakistan border crossing in Torkham, Nangarhar province on June 19, 2014 Were 20 years of blood and treasure wasted? How conflict cost $825billlion and 3,500 dead troops Critics lined up to slam the 'pointless' war in Afghanistan as US, UK and NATO allies prepare to pull out troops and hand the country to the Taliban after a 20-year conflict which cost $825 billion and the lives of 3,500 soldiers. The conflict has seen tens of thousands of deaths in all, with remarkably few of the aims set out in the beginning actually achieved. As NATO leaders meet for talks this week, with a possible withdrawal on the cards following President Trump's pledge to have all US troops out by May, those across the globe who have opposed the war have once again made their views known. American author and combat vet Daniel L. Davis wrote: 'The United States has been fighting a pointless, unnecessary war in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.' Laila Harre, leader of New Zealand's Internet Party, tweeted that it was '20 years since the Alliance stood against this predictably destructive deployment. 20 years wasted on war.' Meanwhile, a survey in 2019 found 58 per cent of veterans and 59 per cent of the public felt the conflict was not worth fighting. Afghanistan's government is held together by a fragile power-sharing deal, it is one of the least democratic and most-violent places on earth, and half of its territory is either in Taliban hands or being contested by the Islamists. It is unlikely that NATO forces will stay much longer. Their withdrawal would bring an end to one of the longest conflicts of modern times. But it will also be the beginning of the end of democracy in the country - the long-running campaign's main objective - as the Taliban reclaim total control. The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 on a counter-terrorism mission - seeking to capture or kill the Al Qaeda leaders who orchestrated the 9/11 terror attack, and to displace the Taliban government which sheltered the group. NATO was not far behind, arriving in the country two months later with a mission to secure Kabul province so the new government could be established there. But the objectives quickly changed - a new goal to rebuild Afghanistan as a stable and democratic country within the Middle East emerged, and the war dragged on. Military operations expanded to fit. In 2003, NATO's mission extended across the entire country and troops became more involved in day-to-day fighting alongside regular US forces. At its height, in 2011, the NATO force numbered roughly 130,000 men drawn from 50 countries, before declining rapidly from 2013 as US forces pulled back. In 2014, primary responsibility for security was handed over to the Afghan government and today, there are around 10,000 troops from 36 countries stationed there in support and training roles. Over that time, some 3,500 coalition troops have died fighting - the vast majority, around 2,400, were American. The UK lost some 450 soldiers - the second-highest total - who were largely killed in Helmand and Kandahar provinces when they took over combat operations from the Americans. On the Afghan side, it is thought that more than 110,000 have been killed including at least 31,000 civilians who were largely hit by airstrikes. At least 30,000 coalition troops have also been wounded in the fighting - the vast majority American - while tens of thousands of Afghans have also been wounded. NATO costs are hard to estimate because its troops are drawn from dozens of countries which control spending individually through many separate budgets. However, the respected Stockholm International Peace Research Institute previously estimated that combined US and NATO combat costs in Afghanistan from 2001 and 2012 totalled around $725billion. Advertisement Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. Republicans also hammered Biden on Tuesday after his decision was publicly reported. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted the move in a Senate floor statement saying Biden plans to 'turn tail' and calling it a 'retreat.' 'Just moments ago, new reporting suggests the Biden Administration plans to turn tail and abandon the fight in Afghanistan,' McConnell said. 'Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership,' he added. He said leaders in both parties criticized a 'reckless withdrawal' from Syria and Afghanistan in the 'prior Administration.' 'Those same voices in both parties should be equally concerned about the Biden Administration's announcement today,' he said. 'A reckless pullback like this would abandon our Afghan, regional, and NATO partners in a shared fight against terrorists that we have not yet won.' He also said it would 'specifically abandon the women of Afghanistan, whose individual freedoms and human rights will be imperiled.' Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a GOP hawk, called the planned withdrawal a 'disaster in the making.' 'A full withdrawal from Afghanistan is dumber than dirt and devilishly dangerous. President Biden will have, in essence, cancelled an insurance policy against another 9/11,' said Graham. Some Democrats criticized the decision. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called it disappointing. 'I'm very disappointed in the president's decision to set a September deadline to walk away from Afghanistan. Although this decision was made in coordination with our allies, the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave without verifiable assurances of a secure future,' she said in a statement.' Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), a voice on military issues among Senate Democrats, declined to say directly he was on board with the decision. 'Well, it will be a transition. Because we still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that area. But there are other places in the world too where you have to be conscious,' he said. We also have to maintain a presence for regional stability,' he said. Asked if he supports the move, he responded: 'You know there is no easy answer.' Said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), 'It's a little concerning to me. It should be a conditions-based withdrawal, and not just because it's the 20th anniversary of 9/11/' U.S. and coalition forces were able to drive the Taliban from power and a new Afghan government was created. A long effort to train and equip native Afghan forces followed, amid an ongoing insurgency. In a statement last month, the Taliban threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops in Afghanistan if they did not meet the May 1 deadline. But it would still set a near-term date with withdrawal, potentially allaying Taliban concerns that Biden would drag out the process. The May 1 deadline had already started to appear less and less likely in recent weeks, given the lack of preparations on the ground to ensure it could be done in a safe and responsible way. U.S. officials have also blamed the Taliban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda. It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following al Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington because the Taliban had harbored al Qaeda leaders. Thousands of American and allied troops have died in fighting in Afghanistan. Biden said at his first press conference last month that: 'It's going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline' for a full withdrawal. 'Just in terms of tactical reasons, hard to get those troops out,' Biden said, when asked about his plans. He said the nation was coordinating with allies, and allowed: 'If we leave, we're going to do so in a safe and orderly way.' Biden also said couldn't picture U.S. troops still being in Afghanistan by March 2022. 'I can't picture that being the case,' he said. He added: 'But we are not staying a long time. We will leave. The question is when we leave.' Afghanistan's U.S.-backed government is held together by a fragile power-sharing agreement. About half of the nation's territory remains under control of the Taliban or other islamists. The war has resulted in 3,500 U.S. and coalition casualties, with a cost to the U.S. Treasury of more than $2 trillion, and a cost to NATO of an estimated $825 billion. At the height of the conflict in 2011, the U.S. and NATO forces totaled 130,000. The war is believed to have resulted in 110,000 Afghan forces, with an estimated 31,000 civilian casualties. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In the 1992 dystopian novel, The Children of Men, P. D. James tells the story of a world where no child has been born in 26 years. Its a world without hope or purpose. Mass suicide by the elderly is common, and the not-yet-elderly are urged to watch pornography in vain hopes of stimulating libidos and reproduction. Mind you, the story is set in our very own year of 2021. In the book, male sperm counts collapsed in 1994 called Year Omega in the novel with the last children being born in 1995. While James story is fiction, in the real 2021, life may be imitating art. Male sperm counts around the world are in decline and, by one estimate, a real Year Omega could arrive in 2045. According to a new book by Shanna Swan, an epidemiologist at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, between 1973 and 2011 sperm counts in Western males dropped by 59%. In the 10 years since then, things have gotten worse. As Swan writes, If you look at the curve on sperm count and project it forward which is always risky it reaches zero in 2045 . . . Thats a little concerning, to say the least. The decline in male sperm counts coincides with a precipitous decline in fertility rates, not only in the West but increasingly in the developing world too. Half of the worlds countries have fertility rates below replacement level as of now, and by 2050 this is expected to rise to two-thirds. The obvious questions are, one, what role do declining sperm counts play in this fertility drop? And two, whats behind the declining sperm counts? Swan acknowledges that nonbiological factors, such as contraception, cultural shifts and the cost of having children are likely to have contributed to declining birth rates. But she insists that there is ample evidence for biological reasons, as well. Besides the decline in birth rates, she points to things such as increasing miscarriage rates, more genital abnormalities among boys and earlier puberty for girls. As for the cause in declining sperm counts, Swan and others single out endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment, including phthalates and bisphenol-A better known as BPA. These chemicals are found in plastics, pesticides, cosmetics and even ATM receipts. In addition to the environmental factors, there are lifestyle factors, such as tobacco and marijuana use, and obesity that might also be affecting sperm counts. Regardless of whats causing lower sperm counts, the drop is real. Throw in cultural attitudes toward marriage and childrearing, and the trend is indeed concerning. While its difficult to imagine a Children of Men-like scenario, we are already seeing the effects of the decline in fertility around the world: aging populations, a shortage of working-age adults, and 70 million men in China and India without a reasonable prospect of getting married. Between our treatment of the environment and our cultural attitudes and practices, it is almost as if we are following the recommendations of an extinction consultant. If we asked this consultant the best way to disregard and even rebel against Gods command to be fruitful and multiply, his answer would likely have resembled what we are currently doing. We can do something, of course, about the chemicals which Swan and others point to as being factors in the declining sperm rate. That, at best, would only slow the trajectory of our demographic demise. There are cultural factors, however, that are far more important and would remain untouched. Not to mention, for many people, especially in the West, the answer to every environmental and social problem from climate change to poverty is fewer people. That makes the Guardians headline about Swans book so ironic: Falling sperm counts threaten human survival, expert warns. Given the Guardians track record, and that of similar publications, you would expect them be cheering for our possible extinction, or at the very least to look on the bright side: At least the polar bears will be OK. The only way forward is somehow reversing the anti-human and anti-natalist worldview that is driving us toward a demographic crisis. In James 1992 novel, hope takes the form of a miraculous birth and a baptism. Thats a pretty good summary of what hope could look like for us in 2021. Certainly, it will require a lot more than banning chemicals from water bottles. It will require from us, including those of us in the Church, what the New Testament calls metanoia, a change of mind that results in a transformed way of life. Originally published at BreakPoint You probably didnt realize this, but theres a little slice of the silicon valley in Jersey City. ElectrifAi, a data science company, is a global leader in business-ready machine learning models with a mission to help organizations change the way they work through machine learning: driving revenue uplift, cost reduction, and profit and performance improvement. The 17-year-old company was restructured two years ago, with a group of new executives with deep experience, and it changed the companys tech from legacy to open source. The company recently achieved AWS (Amazon Web Services) Machine Learning Competency Status (ML) in Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI). The designation recognizes that ElectrifAi has demonstrated deep experience and expertise in building or integrating practical ML solutions on AWS. The biggest takeaway from this announcement is that the companys relationship with Amazon Web Services is growing, and it shows that ElectrifAi is a leader in artificial intelligence software for businesses. Amazon Web Services is a subsidiary of Amazon, providing on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments. AWS Partners, recognized as part of the AWS Machine Learning Competency expansion, help customers take advantage of intelligent solutions to drive business optimization, customer revenue growth and cost reduction. This is done by creating, automating, and managing end-to-end ML workflows with machine intelligence. AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the integration and deployment of these solutions, AWS established the AWS Competency Program to help customers identify AWS Partners with deep industry experience and expertise. What makes us unique is that were not a platform company like our competitors, says Gregg McNulty, chief information officer of ElectrifAi. Were not a workbench. Developers go to platform companies to try and build something. Thats not what we aspire to be. We have pre-built products already that are used by some of the biggest companies in the U.S. Founded in 2004, ElectrifAi has a global team of domain experts and a 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, McNulty said. 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. Companies use us because they dont want to build the AI, says McNulty. Say if you want to buy a car, would you order the 10,000 parts for the car and have them shipped to your house for you to assemble it? Youre not, because you want to buy it so its ready. Outside of Jersey City, ElectrifAi has offices based in San Diego, CA; New Dehli, and Shanghai. The company can be found at electrifai.net. U.S. Army MG Richard Coffman (Right) was speaking at the webinar held by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on March 10, 2021. (Screenshot of the webinar) US Army Prepares for Possible Global Land Conflict With China The classic assumptions surrounding a possible war between the United States and China focus on regional naval battles in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea, but U.S. Army Major General Richard Coffman recently stated that Americans must be and are already preparing for a worldwide ground conflict with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The development of the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) under his leadership is one technology and piece of equipment being prepared for such a conflict. Chinese General Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the Communist Partys Central Military Commission and second-in-command besides Xi Jinping, called for increased military spending in early March, in part because he judged that a military conflict between the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the United States was inevitable. It was the first time such a statement was made publicly at the highest level of the PLA. A few days later, on March 10 and March 15, Coffman referred to Xus statement in online remarks to the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), respectively. He commented, Anyone that would go to war with the United States would be foolish but we just got to be ready, no matter where it is, or when. PRC Is Americas Pacing Threat Coffman said there are many malign actors in the world, and Communist China is one of them, but unlike others, the PRC is the greatest threat to the United States. He elaborated, They are using their whole of government, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 [days], across diplomatic, information, military, and economic [to compete with and weaken the U.S.] According to Coffman, the United States has only two options in the face of Communist Chinas military competition, either to deter or to incite conflict. The United States is in the deterrence business [because] we dont want to go to war. To avoid misinterpretation, Coffman explained that once Beijing believes the U.S. has made concessions or is not ready for war, they will provoke further, or even initiate war. So, instead, the United States must always be prepared for a global war with China, with absolute strength to curb the other sides impulse to wage war. Coffman believes that if a military conflict arises between the United States and China, Beijing would not confine the conflict to the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait. Every scenario whether it starts there or elsewhere, it will go global fast, faster than wildfire. Coffman warned that the conflict could soon expand overnight to the Arctic or Africa. This is a global situation that we would be dealing with, he warned. Any belief that China would self-limit in conflict is short-sighted. Focus on Capability, Not Probability While the probability of war is the hottest topic, Coffman emphasized that his business is capability. [The U.S. Army] is a global army. We have to be ready to fight anywhere in the world. China is our pacing threat and were going to bring speed, range, and decisiveness so that we can have decision dominance anywhere in the world and be victorious. Some are accustomed to thinking of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commands area of operations as primarily a maritime theater, but Coffman argues that the Army is a proud partner of the joint force and the only component that will be decisive to clear, take, and hold terrain. A robotic combat vehicle from the Project Origin fleet prepares for a practice run during Project Convergence 20 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. (U.S. Army/Spc. Carlos Cuebas Fantauzzi) The number of PLA ground forces and tanks also requires the U.S. Army to be well-prepared to fight on land. According to Coffman, China has approximately 7,000 tanks and 3,000 infantry fighting vehicles, for a total of 10,000 armored fighting vehicles. We have to be there with armor to prevent the Chinese to getting into a position of relative advantage. Coffman also emphasized the value of joint operations for optimal performance, whether within the Army, between the services, or in the application of technologies and weapons. Coffman is the Director of the Army Futures Commands Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team. NGCV; big tough robots; mobile protected firepower and armored multi-purpose vehicles are the main focal points for the future of the fighting force, U.S. Army NGCV CFT @NGCVCFT tweeted on March 16. Survivability, mobility, lethality, and volume of fire are key characteristics of the newly developed vehicles. Survivability is number one for me, Coffman stressed. American soldiers are always ready to be called by the nation, and leaders ensure they are equipped with the most advanced devices to win and be safe. On my hierarchy, vehicles really come right after this person. It is all about the soldier. Coffman said when he spoke at the International Armored Vehicle Conference in 2020. The US Militarys Greatest Strength The PLA is also working overtime to modernize its technology and military, a feature of which is to follow the U.S. militarys technology step by step, using various means such as spying and stealing intellectual property. The number of times that our intellectual properties have been stolen and copied by China and other countries, is significant, Coffman said. He said he believes it is because the U.S. military is more technologically advanced that the PLA imitates it, however, there is one decisive factor that the PLA cannot learn or steal. He noted that what the PLA never will have is the professional women and men of our armed forces in our ability to fight as a joint force and a combined arms team for maneuver. Thats what our advantage is, that combined with our modernization efforts is what makes us the best military in the world. US envoy in Beirut for Lebanon-Israel talks resumption Discussion on dividing up energy resources at sea halted (ANSAMed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 14 - US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale arrived Wednesday morning in Beirut for talks with the highest institutional representatives for the resumption of talks between Lebanon and Israel for the drawing up of maritime borders. The issue is linked to the exploitation of energy reserves in the eastern Mediterranean off the Lebanese and Israeli coasts. Direct talks between Lebanese and Israel started in October and December with US mediation after ten years of indirect talks. The two countries had been officially in conflict since their creation as independent states over 70 years ago. Land borders have not been officially agreed on. The need to agree on a maritime border has been expressed several times by Lebanon since 2010 for reasons linked to the exploitation of energy resources. Lebanon is currently in a state of bankruptcy and suffering form its worst economic and political crisis in 30 years. The political class, which is strongly rejected to in the country itself, had sought in recent months to show interest - including through unprecedented talks in Israel - to find new energy resources. In recent days, the government in Beirut had begun to circulate a decree among its ministers with which it intended to extend its territorial request: this could increase rigidity by the US and Israel. However, the decree was blocked Tuesday night by Lebanese president Michl Aoun. (ANSAmed). Montgomery County is home to massive LG washing machine factory More investment, more jobs support increased production NASHVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and LG Electronics USA officials announced today that the world-leading home appliance manufacturer will expand its Clarksville operations. To help meet the unprecedented U.S. demand for its top-rated washing machines, LG is increasing production by investing an additional $20.5 million to add another shift for manufacturing. Higher production is creating 334 new jobs, bringing total LG Clarksville employment to about 1,000 this year. LG announced in early 2017 that Montgomery County would be home to its first washing machine manufacturing operation in the United States. Completed in 2018, the one-million-square-foot facility is believed to be the worlds most advanced integrated washing machine plant. The $360 million smart factory currently has the capacity to produce more than one million front- and top-load washers per year. Integrated production operations supporting assembly include metal fabrication, plastic injection molding and painting. Complementing the factorys skilled workforce are hundreds of robots used in the material handling, parts production, sub-assembly and final assembly processes. LG Electronics USA is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $56 billion global innovator in technology and manufacturing headquartered in South Korea, which is one of Tennessees top sources of direct foreign investment. Korean companies, including LG, have invested nearly $1.5 billion in private capital in the state and employ more than 4,500 Tennesseans. Hiring is under way. Those interested can learn more and apply at https://lg.dejobs.org/clarksville/tennessee/usa/jobs/. Over the last five years, TNECD has supported 6 economic development projects in Montgomery County, resulting in approximately 2,100 job commitments and $670 million in capital investment. QUOTES LG established operations in Clarksville four years ago, and has since provided great value and investment for the community. I thank the LG team for choosing to grow in Tennessee, creating more than 300 new jobs in Montgomery County. We are proud to have such a respected brand call our state home. Gov. Bill Lee We continue to focus on recruiting top projects from around the world. By investing in a broader international footprint, we are ensuring that Tennessee is deeply rooted in the global economy. We congratulate LG on this expansion and are grateful for the companys continued investment and job creation in Tennessee. TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe American consumers love LG washers from Tennessee, as seen by in the double-digit percentage growth in sales over the past year. The production expansion in Clarksville will help us meet the unprecedented demand for our top-rated washing machines across the country. Thomas Yoon, President and CEO, LG Electronics North America LG is proud to call Middle Tennessee our home, and all of us working in Clarksville take special pride in building the most-awarded washers on the U.S. market. More washing machines mean more jobs and positive economic impact on our community. LG Tennessee President Antony Jung We are grateful LG chose our community as the place to manufacture their high-quality washing machines with some of the best employees in the world. This decision by LG to invest an additional $20.5 million in their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and add an additional 334 jobs just shows that Lifes Good in Montgomery County. Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett TVA and Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation congratulate LG on its decision to expand and create hundreds of new job opportunities in Clarksville. Helping to foster job creation and investment is fundamental to TVAs mission of service. We are proud to partner with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to support companies, like LG and their continued growth in the Valley. John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development This is big news. Im thrilled that LG Electronics has chosen to expand its operations in Clarksville. This investment will not only lead to new, high-quality jobs, but also spillover in supporting other businesses in our community. I appreciate the work of the governor, ECD and everyone who has worked closely on securing this very significant investment. Sen. Bill Powers (R-Clarksville) Clarksville continues to be a top choice for global companies looking to establish and expand innovating technologies. This proves that cultivating a pro-business environment and making investments in education and infrastructure will result in quality jobs for Tennessee. Congratulations to LG Electronics and their employees on their remarkable success in our community. Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) TNECD Media Contact Molly Hair Public Information Officer (615) 878-0063 molly.hair@tn.gov About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Developments mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd. ### BISHKEK -- Marat Kazakpaev, a well-known Kyrgyz political analyst, has been detained on a charge of high treason. The State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said on April 14 that Kazakpaev and another person identified only by his initials, M.T., had been detained the previous day. Due to classified materials in the case, no further details were made public. If found guilty, the two men may face up to 10 years in prison. Associated Press An arrest warrant affidavit for a Colorado man charged with murder in the death of his wife who disappeared last year will remain sealed, a judge ruled Friday, saying that release of the document could harm the couple's daughters and witnesses in the case and hinder Barry Morphew's ability to prepare his own defense. Chaffee County District Court Judge Patrick Murphy ordered that the affidavit, which details investigators' reasons justifying Morphew's arrest in the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew, remain sealed until the conclusion of a preliminary hearing in August. A coalition of news media organizations, including The Associated Press, had petitioned the court for release of the 130-page document, arguing in part that the public has a presumptive right to know what led to Morphew's May 5 arrest. New Orleans does not expect its revenues to fully bounce back from the pandemic until 2025, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano told City Council members on Tuesday. In telling council members to brace for a four-year recovery, Montano also was making the case that the $377 million the city expects from the coronavirus relief package passed earlier this year known as the American Rescue Plan should not be seen as a windfall. In fact, he argued, the money, along with $59.3 million the city received from the CARES Act last year, will still not fully cover the $517.6 million the city expects to lose by the time its economy returns to full force. I think this helps identify mathematically and projection-wise where the city is set to recover, Montano 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 In its 2020 budget, New Orleans expected to have about $722 million to spend. The pandemic, and the restrictions imposed by city and state officials, cut that forecast drastically, with Montano estimating the city lost out on about $152 million in revenue. That gap was filled with a mix of cuts to city spending, including furloughs and one-time money. This years budget was $100 million less than it was last year, with expectations that the citys revenues would come in about $90.5 million lower. It wont be until 2025 that the city will get back to above $722 million in revenue, when projections show that the city will bring in $743 million, Montano said. Exactly how the city will use the money from the new relief plan is still being worked out, in part because the city is waiting on guidance from federal authorities on exactly how much it will receive and how the funds can be used. Already, Mayor LaToya Cantrell has lifted furloughs for all workers and reinstated overtime that was cut during the pandemic. Another top priority will be paying back a $50 million line of credit the city took out in case it found itself short on cash this year, which would mean not just repaying the money but covering between $2 million and $3 million in fees, Montano said. +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 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 Montano suggested the overall plan for spending the money would not be just to bring the city back to the status quo. To go back to the way we were would be silly; theres been a lot of nuances and changes to the agencies, he said. Councilmember Joe Giarrusso urged the administration to set up discussions to talk about how the influx of money could impact the citys budget, something that Montano agreed to. Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer also called on the administration to spend more beefing up the citys troubled Safety and Permits Department which she said has been understaffed in the wake of scandals over inspectors failing to actually check out sites -- and the City Planning Commission. +2 Millions in federal stimulus money coming to Jefferson, St. Tammany. How will it be spent? Though dwarfed by the nearly $400 million in federal stimulus money New Orleans is expected to receive, government leaders in St. Tammany and In the meantime, the city is already looking at the next pots of money that might be available. That includes looking into other portions of the ARP including roughly $3 billion being sent to the state -- that either the city or individual residents and businesses could tap into. And, officials said, there are already discussions underway about President Joe Bidens next big initiative, a $2 trillion infrastructure plan. Were lining up as many projects as we can for these different buckets to make sure we can get some infrastructure out of this as well, said Jabarie Walker, the citys director of federal relations. Were putting our list together, weve had conversations with RTA and Sewerage & Water Board so that all three can make sure we have projects ready to go to Congress as they develop this plan. +2 'These people are struggling': Huge spigot of rental aid begins to open up across Louisiana Julie Winn had done about all she could to keep up with the rent on her Central City shotgun, despite a steep loss in income from a cancelled Lana Condor was quite fashion forward, and fittingly so, as she hosted the 23rd Costume Designer Guild Awards. The 23-year-old star of Netflix's To All the Boys movies rocked multiple looks while hosting the virtual awards show in Los Angeles. The actress also hit the red carpet before the ceremony (which was streamed online) with Costume Designers Guild president Salvador Perez. Lana hosts: Lana Condor was quite fashion forward, and fittingly so, as she hosted the 23rd Costume Designer Guild Awards Another one: The 23-year-old star of Netflix's To All the Boys movies rocked multiple looks while hosting the virtual awards show in Los Angeles Lana and Salvador: The actress also hit the red carpet before the ceremony (which was streamed online) with Costume Designers Guild president Salvador Perez Condor first hit the red carpet with a rather unique look, rocking a maroon turtleneck with a ruffled sash-like section over her shoulder. She also tagged designer Prabal Gurung in an Instagram post when she was getting ready for her hosting duties. She also rocked black pants and black platform heels with a turquoise dress around her waist. Lana's look: Condor first hit the red carpet with a rather unique look, rocking a maroon turtleneck with a ruffled sash-like section over her shoulder Red carpet ready: She also rocked black pants and black platform heels with a turquoise dress around her waist Ready: She also rocked black pants and black platform heels with a turquoise dress around her waist She also rocked a much different look on the red carpet, which she also took to the stage with. The X-Men: Apocalypse star wore an elegant lacy black dress designed by Christian Siriano with dangling diamond earrings and an elegant ring by Raven Fine Jewelers on the red carpet. She completed her second look with black pumps, with styling by Tara Swennen, hair by Kat Thompson, makeup by Melissa Hernandez and nails by Thuy Nguyen. Look 2: She also rocked a much different look on the red carpet, which she also took to the stage with Lacy: The X-Men: Apocalypse star wore an elegant lacy black dress designed by Christian Siriano with dangling diamond earrings and an elegant ring by Raven Fine Jewelers on the red carpet Glam squad: She completed her second look with black pumps, with styling by Tara Swennen, hair by Kat Thompson, makeup by Melissa Hernandez and nails by Thuy Nguyen Before hosting the ceremony, Condor spoke with Variety about landing what she called a 'dream job.' 'I get to dress up and go wild. I havent dressed up in a bazillion years. Its so important to highlight costume designers and uplift their work,' Condor said. She added that as an actor, 'you spend so much time with them and theyre so patient, creative, kind and collaborative, so Im very excited to be the host.' Dream job: Before hosting the ceremony, Condor spoke with Variety about landing what she called a 'dream job' Dress up: 'I get to dress up and go wild. I havent dressed up in a bazillion years. Its so important to highlight costume designers and uplift their work,' Condor said Excited: She added that as an actor, 'you spend so much time with them and theyre so patient, creative, kind and collaborative, so Im very excited to be the host. Condor closed out her To All The Boys trilogy with To All The Boys: Always and Forever, which debuted on Netflix in February. She currently has two movies in pre-production, the sci-fi movie Moonshot and female buddy comedy Girls Night with Brianna Hildebrand. She is also slated to star in the comedy mini-series Boo, B***h, playing a high school senior who has always played it safe, who wakes up one morning to learn she's a ghost. Trilogy: Condor closed out her To All The Boys trilogy with To All The Boys: Always and Forever, which debuted on Netflix in February Gov. Ricketts Declares Nebraska a Second Amendment Sanctuary State Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation that designates his state as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State, reaffirming the states support for gun rights. Nebraska has always been a state that has supported our Second Amendment rights, Ricketts said, according to a video of the signing event. As a symbol of that support, I am signing a proclamation declaring Nebraska a Second Amendment Sanctuary State, and with my signature, it will become official. A number of counties in the state have already declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries. The move comes in light of recent federal gun-control proposals and orders following several mass shootings. Last week, President Joe Biden unveiled a series of executive orders including new designations on ghost guns, red flag legislation, and stipulated that pistols modified with stabilizer braces would be subject to the National Firearms Act. U.S. House Democrats, meanwhile, passed two gun measures that would expand background checks, although numerous Republican senators have said they would use their power to block both measures. The White House and U.S. Congress have announced their intention to pursue measures that would infringe on the right to keep and bear arms, according to a tweet from Ricketts, a Republican. His designation will stand up against federal overreach and attempts to regulate gun ownership and use in the Good Life, the governor said. Earlier this month, deputies in Cache County, Utah, said they wont enforce any federal policy that may infringe on residents Second Amendment rights. Sheriff D. Chad Jensen said that unconstitutional gun control will not happen in the county on his watch. I have always supported and wholeheartedly enforced all constitutionally sound laws that deter and penalize gun violence, Jensen wrote in the April 9 statement. It is critical we continue to work to keep firearms out of the hands of those who would use them to commit acts of violence against our citizens. Meanwhile, White House officials have said that more gun-control measures are forthcoming. The president is not going to wait for Congress to act to take additional executive actionsthis is the beginning, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last week. He will continue to have his team review, both from a policy and a legal standpoint, additional executive actions that are possible to take. Psaki said Biden will still attempt to push Congress to create long-term measures, without elaborating on what regulations he might seek. GQ Pan contributed to this report. The court had in its February 18, 2019, order said: Therefore, it would be fallacious to state that the tribunal has powers of judicial review akin to that of a high court exercising constitutional powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. AFP New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was not vested with the powers to examine the validity of any law or to strike it down. Prima facie we are of the view the National Green Tribunal cant strike down a law, said Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde, heading a bench that also comprised Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian. The courts observation on the limits of the powers of the green tribunal came in the course of the hearing of a petition by NGO Environment Support Group. The Environment Support Group had challenged the Karnataka high court order transferring a case to NGT and asking it to adjudicate a challenge to Section 40 of the Biodiversity Act that empowers the Central government to exempt certain biological resources. Staying the proceedings before the green tribunal, the court has posted the matter for further hearing next week. Section 40 of the Biodiversity Act reads: Notwithstanding anything contained in this act, the Central Government may, in consultation with the National Biodiversity Authority, by notification in the official gazette, declare that the provisions of the act shall not apply to any items, including biological resources normally traded as commodities. Appearing for the NGO Environment Support Group, senior lawyer Nikhil Nayyar told the court that earlier the Supreme Court had in the Sterlite case said that the green tribunal cannot strike down rules or regulations. The court had in its February 18, 2019, order said: It is clear, therefore, that under the NGT Act, the tribunal exercising appellate jurisdiction cannot strike down rules or regulations Therefore, it would be fallacious to state that the tribunal has powers of judicial review akin to that of a high court exercising constitutional powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India We must never forget the distinction between a superior court of record and courts of limited jurisdiction. KERRVILLE, Texas, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, announces the upcoming opening of their newest store on Wednesday, April 28 in Singing Hills at 326 Singing Oaks, Ste 151, Spring Branch, Texas 78070. "We're excited to bring a new store to this growing area in Spring Branch," says James Avery Director of Customer Service and Marketing Communications Lindsey Avery Tognietti. "As we expand, our goal is to bring the James Avery customer experience and jewelry close to home for our new and loyal customers." The James Avery customer experience has been transformed to ensure stores are safe and inviting while creating a memorable shopping experience. Tognietti says customer and associate safety is their number one priority, and the Spring Branch store will open following recommended health protocols and guidelines implemented in all James Avery stores. There are hand sanitizing stations in store for customers and associates as well as regular cleaning and sanitizing throughout the store. The company requests customers honor social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings while in store. James Avery associates undergo daily health screenings and wear facemasks. The store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. and are subject to change. Singing Hills customers are welcome to shop in the new store or use the Contactless, Curbside Pickup or Buy Online, Pickup in Store options at JamesAvery.com. About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, bronze and gemstones. James Avery jewelry is designed and crafted by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Comfort and Hondo, TX using the finest materials sourced worldwide. We are a multi-channel retailer with over 100 James Avery stores in four states. Our jewelry is also available at JamesAvery.com, more than 200 Dillard's locations and Dillards.com. You can also find our designs at airport stores in Austin and Houston and at the AAFES locations in Fort Hood and Fort Belvoir. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or facebook.com/JamesAvery. SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry LAST month, the Pallister government unveiled Bill 57, the Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act. Following the lead of several American states and the province of Alberta, Bill 57 would limit protests on and around so-called critical infrastructure. Opinion LAST month, the Pallister government unveiled Bill 57, the Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act. Following the lead of several American states and the province of Alberta, Bill 57 would limit protests on and around so-called critical infrastructure. Albertas legislation creates offences out of a range of activities, from interrupting the work of an oil sands operation to "wilfully entering" public roads "without lawful right, justification or excuse." Penalties include $10,000 fines and imprisonment for six months on a first offence. Not surprisingly, the Alberta law is already facing a challenge under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Manitoba legislation seeks to avoid the most obvious constitutional pitfalls. Bill 57 defines "critical infrastructure" to include (for example) food processing plants, grocery stores, highways, pipelines, banks and hospitals. Protected infrastructure includes both public and private property. However, owners would be required to convince a judge that protesters are interfering with their infrastructure and that a court order is required for its safe, unhindered operation. Court orders under the legislation could prohibit protesters from entering or blockading a zone around the business or government operation, or limit protest activity within that zone. The court could also establish a designated protest zone off to the side somewhere that protesters may use instead. Only after such an order is sought and granted would penalties come into play. Protesters breaching a court order could face fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment up to 30 days. But what makes the Manitoba legislation less obviously offensive to the charter also renders it redundant. The very first lines of Bill 57 declare "there exists a constitutional right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, which includes the right to assemble," and that "it is in the interest of all Manitobans that critical infrastructure be protected from interference while respecting the right to assemble." What has been overlooked, or ignored, is that Manitoba already has a well-articulated body of law that balances the right to protest with the ability of owners to obtain court orders limiting protests that interfere with business or government operations. While the ability to obtain injunctions court orders that compel persons to do, or not do, specified acts goes back centuries in English law, Manitoba modified its law 50 years ago. In 1970, the NDP government of Ed Schreyer passed legislation limiting the power of the courts to grant injunctions that restrain freedom of speech, including in protests on property to which the public is ordinarily granted access, such as a parking lot or access road. The primary aim of the Schreyer government was to protect the rights of striking picketers, but in the decades since, Manitoba courts have applied this law in a variety of scenarios. In 2014, the Manitoba Court of Appeal considered a dispute between Indigenous protesters and Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting. The protesters appealed an injunction granted by the lower court that curtailed protests on two mining roads in northern Manitoba. In deciding the appeal, the court balanced the interest of the mine owners with the free-speech rights of protesters as required by the 1970 legislation The appeals court dismissed the protesters appeal in relation to one of the two mining roads because the protesters had blockaded the road and impeded mining operations. But in the case of the other road, the court found that while there was protest, there was no blockade, so it lifted the injunction as it applied to that road. Just last year, when protesters blockaded a CN rail line near Headingley in solidarity with the Wetsuweten, Premier Brian Pallister pondered obtaining an injunction to end the blockade. While Pallister was still mulling it over, CN applied for and was granted an injunction that included provisions for police enforcement. The blockade ended less than 24 hours after it began. Since Manitoba has well-established law that effectively balances the rights of protesters with the ability to obtain injunctions, the new legislation addresses a non-existent problem. Bill 57 would set new standard penalties for breaching injunctions, but courts already have the ability to include police enforcement with injunctions and contempt orders that may include penalties against protesters who breach injunctions. Bill 57 would empower courts to make orders that are, in essence, injunctions. But it doesnt repeal the existing Manitoba law that requires courts to balance the free-speech rights of protesters with the rights of property owners. As a result, it is doubtful that Bill 57 could serve the ideological purpose of recalibrating the courts balancing act in favour of owners. In one respect, Bill 57 would alter the status quo: it includes a provision that requires courts to hear every application for an anti-protest injunction on an urgent basis. Yet this part of the legislation likely violates the charter: if courts do not retain the power to screen applications for injunctions which includes declining to hear them on an urgent basis if they are not, in fact, urgent then government and business are granted a new power to drag protesters into court without just cause. Mostly redundant, and likely unconstitutional in the one place where its not, Manitobans might be inclined to wonder if Bill 57 is anything more than political theatre. Martin Kramer is a Winnipeg lawyer. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) (OTCQB: CNUCF) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the drilling program currently in progress at the Company's San Javier Ag-Au Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The first hole, of a planned 6,000 m (20 hole) drill program, experienced several mechanical issues and was terminated at a depth of 89.5 m in a fault zone. This hole (SJ21-01), which is being drilled on the Silver Mountain target, intersected brecciated sedimentary rocks containing stockwork veining, magnetite stringers and blebs of magnetite throughout, from surface to the terminated depth. Three intervals totaling 9.0 m of massive magnetite breccia were encountered. This material was visibly similar to the veins sampled on surface which contained highly elevated Ag values ranging from 27.9 to 2,859 g/t Ag (See news release dated Sept 22, 2020). Pyrite mineralization, either disseminated or in stronger patches, was also encountered. Samples from the concentrated magnetite breccia zones as well the zones containing pyrite mineralization and the rest of the zones containing stockwork veining, disseminated pyrite and magnetite stringers have been split and sent to the lab for assay. The drill has been repositioned 2 m from the original collar, and the hole is being re-drilled to complete the test of a magnetic high detected at depth proximal to this site. The 20-hole program is designed to test at least 4 magnetic features that underlie areas where a 2020 mapping and rock sampling program identified silver, gold and copper mineralization. At surface, the host rocks for three of these features are found to be magnetite breccia. The magnetic features include a 600 m x 400 m target area (Silver Mountain and Wild Hog Zones) made up of a cluster of moderate magnetic highs and lows in the northeast part of the property. Hole (SJ21-01) was the first of at least 5 holes planned for this area. The second target area derives from a strong, circular magnetic anomaly measuring 600 m in diameter. Referred to as the Millrock Target, this zone at surface displays abundant stockwork veining and contains elevated gold and copper mineralization. At least 2 holes are planned to test the Millrock Target. The third target is a donut shaped magnetic feature located in the southeastern part of the property. The core of this feature is a magnetic low approximately 400 m in diameter, surrounded by a weak magnetic high. Elevated gold and copper and lesser silver occur in surface samples in this area. The host rocks are stockworked veined sediments and feldspar porphyry containing hematite, magnetite, pyrite and copper oxides. The fourth target to be investigated results from a strong magnetic high anomaly measuring 600 x 500 m which is located in the northwest part of the property. Ten rock samples collected from magnetite breccia at surface and from old workings along a 300 m span within this anomaly contained high silver (65.7 to 718 g/t) and copper (474 ppm to 1.03%) and elevated gold (0.039 to 0.812 g/t). The rock types in this area include volcanic and granodioritic intrusive sequences. "Drilling at San Javier is expected to continue throughout Q2 and Q3 and we will provide further updates as progress permits." Stated Chris Berlet, President and CEO of Canuc. Seymour M. Sears, B.A., B.Sc., P.Geo. is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. 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. About Canuc Canuc is a junior company focusing on the San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight producing natural gas wells and has rights for further in field developments. Canuc also has exclusive rights, through a Partnership Agreement with Ioticiti Networks Inc., to sell Industrial IoT applications and infrastructure in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada and in the State of Texas, USA. For further information please contact: Canuc Resources Corporation. (416) 525 - 6869 cberlet@canucresources.ca Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents. The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80319 News Around the Republic of Mexico Mexico's Anti-Covid Vaccine to Begin Stage 1 Trials Mexico's anti-coronavirus vaccine, known as 'Patria', has already successfully passed preclinical tests in animals and is ready to begin clinical trials in humans. The phase 1 trial is now in the recruitment stage. Maria Elena Alvarez-Buylla, head of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt), told a regular news conference that the agency is working on the vaccine known as "Patria" in collaboration with the Avimex company. The Avimex company is a private laboratory, founded in 1952, dedicated mainly to the research, development, manufacture, import, export and commercialization of biological products, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants and mycotoxin detoxifiers for animal health. According to the information provided by the authorities involved, the vaccine has been made in an alliance in which UNAM, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and the University of Texas. The National Institute of Public Health and the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) have been involved in the scientific development of 'Patria.' The anti-coronavirus vaccine has already successfully passed preclinical tests in animals and is ready to begin clinical trials in humans. The phase 1 trial is now in the recruitment stage. For this, the participation of between 90 and 100 volunteers from Mexico City will be requested. Those who offer to participate in this study will be asked to prove that they are in good health. In addition, participants must be between 18 and 55 years of age. Alvarez-Buylla commented that they expect to have the results of the phase 1 trial by May. She added that, if all of the subsequent trials are successful, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) is expected to approve the Patria vaccine for emergency use by November or December of this year. During the press conference, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador added that Mexico's 'Patria' vaccine will have a low cost and will be shared with other countries. Source: conacyt.gob.mx Mexico aims to have the anti-covid vaccine under development known as 'Patria' approved for emergency use by the end of this year, a senior official said on Tuesday.Maria Elena Alvarez-Buylla, head of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt), told a regular news conference that the agency is working on the vaccine known as "Patria" in collaboration with the Avimex company.The Avimex company is a private laboratory, founded in 1952, dedicated mainly to the research, development, manufacture, import, export and commercialization of biological products, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants and mycotoxin detoxifiers for animal health.According to the information provided by the authorities involved, the vaccine has been made in an alliance in which UNAM, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and the University of Texas. The National Institute of Public Health and the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) have been involved in the scientific development of 'Patria.'The anti-coronavirus vaccine has already successfully passed preclinical tests in animals and is ready to begin clinical trials in humans.The phase 1 trial is now in the recruitment stage. For this, the participation of between 90 and 100 volunteers from Mexico City will be requested. Those who offer to participate in this study will be asked to prove that they are in good health. In addition, participants must be between 18 and 55 years of age.Alvarez-Buylla commented that they expect to have the results of the phase 1 trial by May. She added that, if all of the subsequent trials are successful, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) is expected to approve the Patria vaccine for emergency use by November or December of this year.During the press conference, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador added that Mexico's 'Patria' vaccine will have a low cost and will be shared with other countries. Site Map Print this Page Email Us Top Edited by James Crews Storey. 208 pp. $14.95 - - - Edited by Karl Kirchwey Everyman's Library. 240 pp. $15.95 - - - Edited by Theodore Dalrymple Everyman's Library. 512 pp. $18 - - - The Polish poet Adam Zagajewski, who died March 21, wasn't a household name. But there's a decent chance you know one of his poems. And if you lived through 2020, you have a bone-deep understanding of the mood it evoked. In "Try to Praise the Mutilated World," Zagajewski summoned the urge to sound a note of positivity amid death and chaos: "you've seen the refugees going nowhere, / you've heard the executioners sing joyfully. / You should praise the mutilated world." The bittersweet poem circulated widely after 9/11. The New Yorker printed it on the back page of its first issue after the attacks, where it sat, alone, somber as a tombstone but surrounded by enough white space to feel something like hope. There are certain poems that provide comfort or emotional clarity in a crisis. Maggie Smith's "Good Bones" went viral after the Pulse nightclub shooting. Patricia Lockwood's "Rape Joke" encapsulated the righteous, coiled fury of #MeToo. Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb," read at President Biden's inauguration, made its author a global celebrity by offering some cautious optimism, four years after Donald Trump spent his (poem-free) inauguration bellyaching about "American carnage." Publishers are capitalizing on our collective need for comfort and inspiration. Books like "How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope," "Poems of Healing," "The Best Medicine: Stories of Healing," and even the runaway bestseller "The Hill We Climb" tap into that desire. But healing on command is a tricky, if not impossible business in literature. Even Gorman's poem couldn't avoid familiar valedictory sunniness, and often purported "healing" works devolve into feel-good "Chicken Soup for the Soul" sentimentality or are too on the nose. There's a whiff of chicken soup throughout "How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope," a collection of contemporary poems edited by James Crews. It's studded with "reflective pauses" that ask the reader to contemplate and/or journal the emotions its anthologized writers evoke. But the virtue of a good poem is a resistance to such easy prompts, and Crews has assembled an A-list of contemporary writers, among them Ross Gay, Jane Hirshfield, Li-Young Lee, Tracy K. Smith, Alberto Rios and Gorman, who revisits her 2016 poem "At the Age of 18 - Ode to Girls of Color." The collection's strongest poems find a melancholy strain thrumming under the good intentions. Lee's "From Blossoms" is lush and optimistic - its central image is biting into a peach from a roadside stand - but also acknowledges that optimism involves a bit of wishful thinking: "There are days we live / as if death were nowhere / in the background ... From blossom to blossom to / impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom." Laura Grace Weldon finds the perfect metaphor for the past year-and-a-half in a compost heap: "Surely our shame and sorrow / also return, / composted by years / into something generative as wisdom." Similarly, Farnaz Fatemi's "Everything Is Made of Labor" balances the muck and mire of living with wonder at our survival, using an inchworm's slow, persistent slog as a plea to "find the thread / through the dark." Such themes have endured as long as there's been mortality. For the slim, handsome anthology "Poems of Healing," editor and poet Karl Kirchwey assembles works stretching back to Sappho. And though the book wasn't produced as a response to covid-19 - Kirchwey writes in his foreword that he began the book in 2018 - it's organized like a clinical prescription for the current moment. The selections are arranged around headings like "The Illness," "The Diagnosis," "The Remedy" and the "Healing." Its motto might be a line from a C.P. Cavafy poem included: "Bring your drugs, Art of Poetry - / they numb the wound at least for a little while." Few of the works have the broad, melancholy, crystalline force of Zagajewski's "Mutilated World," which is included in the book. But the range of perspectives are a reminder that even in a pandemic, responses to illness aren't uniform. D.H. Lawrence delivers a cri de coeur about our collective fate: "Oh build your ship of death. Oh build it! / for you will need it. / For the voyage of oblivion awaits you." A poem from the 10th-century Persian poet Rudaki rejects easy hope in the face of suffering: "You want to give harmony to the world? / The world will not accept harmony from you." As comfort goes, Kirchwey's selections for "Healing" can be ice-cold. If there's a central theme to the collection, it's that illness disassociates us from ourselves, even if we survive it. The disconnect is the odd "formal feeling" Emily Dickinson wrote about, or the sense of forced sacrifice Sylvia Plath wrote about in "Tulips": "I have given my name and my day-clothes up to the nurses / And my history to the anesthetist and my body to surgeons." In its latter poems, the collection finds glints of joy in recovery, "drunk on a sudden pour of time," as Alissa Valles writes in "Discharge." But recovery is forever uncertain, as Danez Smith writes: "let this be the healing / & if not let it be." The stories in the companion book "The Best Medicine: Stories of Healing," edited by Theodore Dalrymple, tend to tackle that disassociation from the perspective of the doctor rather than the patient. Some of the classic writers included were physicians themselves, like Mikhail Bulgakov, Somerset Maugham and William Carlos Williams. And the prevailing mood is one of uncertainty. Bulgakov's "The Embroidered Towel" finds an inexperienced doctor unsure if he's up to the task; the doctor in Maugham's "Lord Mountdrago" questions his role in the decline of an officious British minister. Robert A. Heinlein's "Life-Line" imagines a doctor who can predict the moment of our death, which provides assurance to nobody, let alone the doctor himself. Throughout, true "healing" is rare. But nothing captures the live-wire mood of 2021 quite like Lorrie Moore's "People Like That Are the Only People Here." A panicky mother is trying to find treatment for her toddler son's tumor. Her tone is snappish and funny by accident - which is to say, true. Any attempt at writing a coherent narrative about a child with cancer is mocked by her "nightmare of narrative slop"; support groups feel like a "society of suffering." A shared illness isn't a source of grace or gratitude or healing for her, just evidence that illness is what we share. "In the end, you suffer alone," Moore writes. "But at the beginning you suffer with a whole lot of others." In a crisis, a good poem or story can offer a version of that companionship, and that's not a small thing when the hallmark of the covid era is isolation. But healing? That's a job for the professionals. - - - Mark Athitakis is a critic in Phoenix and author of "The New Midwest." DGAP-News: Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I / Key word(s): Annual Report Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I publishes Annual Financial Report for 2020 14.04.2021 / 10:52 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. This media release requires your immediate attention. It contains regulated information within the meaning of the Transparency Directive as implemented in the Netherlands Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I publishes Annual Financial Report for 2020 New York, 14 April 2021 - Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I hereby announces that today it makes generally available its annual financial report for fiscal year 2020. The financial report will be available on https://www.db.com/ir/en/reports-deutsche-bank-trust-preferred-securities.htm. The financial report will be filed with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, the officially appointed mechanism under the Transparency Directive as implemented in the Netherlands Financial Supervision Act (NFSA). Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I has elected the Netherlands as Home Member State under the Transparency Directive as implemented in the NFSA. Contact: Christian Streckert Deutsche Bank AG Communications Tel. +49 69 910 38079 christian.streckert@db.com New York, 14 April 2021 - Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I hereby announces that today it makes generally available its annual financial report for fiscal year 2020.The financial report will be available on https://www.db.com/ir/en/reports-deutsche-bank-trust-preferred-securities.htm.The financial report will be filed with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, the officially appointed mechanism under the Transparency Directive as implemented in the Netherlands Financial Supervision Act (NFSA).Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I has elected the Netherlands as Home Member State under the Transparency Directive as implemented in the NFSA.Contact:Christian StreckertDeutsche Bank AGCommunicationsTel. +49 69 910 38079christian.streckert@db.com 14.04.2021 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de China urges U.S. to treat Japan's disposal of contaminated Fukushima water according to facts Xinhua) 16:04, April 14, 2021 File photo shows bags of contaminated soil at Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua/Hua Yi) BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday urged the United States to treat Japan's decision to dump contaminated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea according to the facts, rather than according to the country that would make the move. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing when commenting on the United State's recently declared stance that Japan's decision has been "transparent," and "appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards." "International authorities and experts have clearly pointed out that the discharge of tritium-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean will affect the marine environment and the public health of neighboring countries," said Zhao, adding that at the same time, the existing treated wastewater contains other radionuclides and needs to be further purified and treated. "The disposal of nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan is related to the international marine environment, food safety and human health," he said. Zhao stressed that China hopes the U.S. side will treat the real environmental issue without reflecting on any particular country. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron has been exposed for using his personal and political connections to lobby the government on behalf of financial services company Greensill Capital. Greensill went into administration in March after the German regulatory authority filed a complaint about suspected balance sheet manipulation and several insurance groups withdrew their cover. The company was heavily exposed financially to GFG Alliance, run by Sanjeev Gupta, which also faces collapse. Cameron resigned as prime minister in 2016 and became an advisor for Greensill in 2018. According to an investigation by the Sunday Times, Cameron made repeated appeals to senior government ministers last year to secure access for the company to the Torys COVID-19 corporate slush fund. David Cameron announces his resignation as prime minister in 2016 (credit: Wikimedia Commons/Tom Evans-Open Government Licence) Just hours after the company was denied access to loans through the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF), Cameron e-mailed Prime Minister Boris Johnsons senior special adviser to demand the government reconsider. He wrote, What we need is for [Chancellor] Rishi [Sunak] to have a good look at this and ask officials to find a way of making it work. He also sent multiple texts to Sunaks personal phone and called two junior Treasury ministers. Sunak sent a message back to Cameron explaining he had pushed the team to reconsider Greensills proposals. After having originally given Greensill a firm no, the department went on to have nine meetings with the company over a two-and-a-half-month period. The Treasury ultimately still rejected Greensill for the CCFF scheme, but the company was allowed to lend out 400 million in taxpayer-backed loans under the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Schemeall of it to a single steel empire, owned by Gupta, despite the maximum for any one group being 50 million. As a result of Greensills financial collapse, thousands of jobs are under threat in Britain, France and Australia if companies owned by Gupta, once touted as the saviour of steel, are forced into administration and possibly wound up. Cameron held tens of millions of pounds worth of Greensill share options, reportedly telling friends he was set to earn as much as 60 million personallytaking him into the super-rich territory of former Labour Prime minister Tony Blair, who has raked in between 30 and 50 million since leaving office in 2007. Cameron had been able to peddle his political connections for the company before. In 2019, again according to the Times, Cameron arranged for a private drink between himself, Greensill founder and billionaire Lex Greensill and Health Secretary Matt Hancock to discuss a new payment scheme for the National Health Service (NHS). That meeting ledvia Lord Prior, the chairman of NHS England and a minister under Cameronto Greensill securing a contract with NHS Shared Business Services, managing the payroll for 400,000 NHS workers, all achieved without any competitive tendering process or transparency. The payroll service, provided by Greensill subsidiary Earnd, allowed workers to receive their salaries daily or weekly, with money provided by Greensill, which would later be recouped from the NHS. Two senior former employees told the Times that the plan was to monetise the NHSs future payments by turning them into bonds and selling them internationally. Earnd was planning to roll the system out to other NHS trusts until the company filed for administration last month. A similar early payment scheme, also run by Greensill, had already been established for pharmacies. The policy was developed by none other than Lex Greensill himself while working as an advisor to David Cameron when he was prime ministera position he gained in 2012. Also in 2019, Cameron attended a genomics conference on behalf of American private healthcare company Illumina, for which he is a paid adviser. Hancock was among the attendees. Shortly afterwards, Illumina was awarded a 123 million contract with the Department of Health. While prime minister, Cameron had announced a 78 million deal between Genomics England and Illumina. He then joined the company as a consultant and chairman of its international advisory board in 2017. The scandal over Camerons use of his political connections has lifted the rock on the sordid world of corporate lobbying and sent the UKs political elite scrambling for cover. After keeping silent on the issue for weeks, Cameron delivered a 1,800-word statement to Associated Press on Saturday. Insisting he had broken no codes of conduct and no government rules, and that it was right for him to contact the government on behalf of Greensill. He said, There are important lessons to be learned. As a former prime minister, I accept that communications with government need to be done through only the most formal of channels, so there can be no room for misinterpretation. Labour shadow minister Rachel Reeves said the Greensill scandal was just the tip of the iceberg in Conservative cronyism, which has been endemic during the pandemic and long before. But all Labour proposes is a vote by MPs Wednesday for a parliamentary inquiry into lobbying. In an attempt to stem a crisis that reaches into the heart of government, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a formal inquiry which will examine issues of supply chain finance and the role Greensill played and the way contracts were secured. However, Johnson was careful to ensure that the inquiry will have no legal powers. Its toothlessness was confirmed by Cameron, who announced he would be glad to take part. According to the Guardian, the man chosen to lead the investigation, Nigel Boardman, was a partner at law firm Slaughter and May in 2013 when it opposed, ironically, a few tame lobbying reforms Cameron had proposed. It argued that the measures may have the effect of stifling productive, even essential, dialogue between legislators and those who consider the implications and practicalities of relevant legislation on a day-to-day basis. As for the sudden widespread outrage over lobbying, the type of grubby wheeling and dealing exposed in the Cameron/Greensill affair is the most open secret in bourgeois politics. Cameron himself warned in 2010 after the MPs expenses scandal in a doubtless much-rued piece of political posturingthat the far-too-cosy relationship between politics, government, business and money was the next big scandal waiting to happen. He was one to know. According to the i newspaper, at least 66 members of Camerons 2010-2015 government have since taken up private sector jobs with links to their former government portfolio within two years of stepping down. Most prominent among them is former Chancellor George Osborne, who became an adviser to asset manager BlackRock while still an MP, being paid 650,000 a year for four days a month work. He was also paid 800,000 for 12 speeches, mainly to financial firms, before leaving parliament and is reported to have received 500,000 a year in speaking fees since. After standing down as an MP in April 2017, Osborne became the editor of the London Evening Standard, paid 200,000 a year for a four-day week. He recently gave up his BlackRock and Evening Standard positions to work for boutique investment banker Robey Warshaw. He will keep his position as chair of investment firm Exors advisory committee. Another former Tory chancellor, Philip Hammond, has notified the appointments watchdog of 13 different jobs or consultancy positions in less than two years. These include roles as a partner at fund manager Buckthorn, senior adviser at bank OakNorth and non-executive director at packaging company Ardagh Group. Sajid Javid, a former chancellor under Johnson for less than a year, was appointed as a senior adviser to bank JP Morgan, receiving 150,000 a year, almost as soon as he left office. To the extent that lobbying refers to a process of one party seeking to influence another separate party for financial gain, the term is somewhat outdated. The sated social layers staffing the government and the upper echelons of big business are one and the same, moving seamlessly between government offices and corporate boardrooms. Cameron entered government with an estimated personal wealth of around 3 million, Osborne around 4 million and Hammond 9 million. Javid was reportedly earning 3 million a year at Deutsche Bank before he moved into politics and owns multimillion-pound homes in Fulham and Chelsea. Johnson, who is used to such levels of wealth, was described as miserable by close friends last year, due to being forced to live on a measly salary of 150,000 as prime minister. The current chancellor, Sunak, understood to be the richest MP in the House of Commons, is married to the daughter of an Indian multi-billionaire. Her fortune is estimated to be higher than the Queens. This is government of, by and for a super-rich oligarchy, dedicated to preserving the immense fortunes of a parasitic elite. The Cameron/Greensill scandal exposes the real class relations in a country run by and for the financial oligarchy. Cameron and his ilk expect and receive the best access to the highest levels of government where they issue their demands on behalf of big business. Cameron will be treated with kid gloves and at most might face a slap on the wrist. In sharp contrast, the government is cracking down and illegalising any form of protest by the working class and is impervious to all demands to protect jobs, health and education and services. COLUMBUS, Ohio Officers used pepper-spray Tuesday night on people protesting a police shooting in Columbus after demonstrators tried to force their way police headquarters, according to reports. Police tell WCMH Channel 4 that one officer was hit in the head by a stick during the confrontation at the headquarters, although its unclear if it was intentional or accidental. WBNS Channel 10 reports pepper-spray was used on an officer. The crowd of about 50 demonstrators gathered downtown Tuesday night in response to the fatal shooting of a suspect Monday by police and security officers in the emergency room of Mount Carmel St. Anns Hospital in Westerville. The demonstration started peacefully at a downtown park with a vigil and a balloon release, WBNS reports. The group then marched to police headquarters. Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua tells WCMH the crowd began to leave the area, but some returned and began to try to break into the locked doors of the police headquarters. Demonstrators managed to get through the first set of doors, but were met by officers at a second set of doors. Police say a protester used pepper-spray on officers. Police then pepper-sprayed demonstrators, reports say. At least one person was detained, ABC 6 reports. Fuqua tells WCMH its unknown if the person will face charges. CWe share the frustrations over police killings of unarmed Black men, and we support nonviolent protests, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement on Twitter Tuesday night. That does not include breaking into public buildings or violence against officers. Let me be clear: Violence and destruction will not be tolerated. I am so worried about my future. It seems so murky. If the Taliban take over, I lose my identity, said Wahida Sadeqi, 17, an 11th grader at Pardis High School in Kabul. It is about my existence. It is not about their withdrawal. I was born in 2004 and I have no idea what the Taliban did to women, but I know women were banned from everything. Uncertainty hangs over virtually every facet of life in Afghanistan. It is unclear what the future holds and if the fighting will ever stop. For two decades, American leaders have pledged peace, prosperity, democracy, the end of terrorism and rights for women. Few of those promises have materialized in vast areas of Afghanistan, but now even in the cities where real progress occurred, there is fear that everything will be lost when the Americans leave. The Taliban, the extremist group that once controlled most of the country and continues to fight the government, insist that the elected president step down. Militias are increasing in prominence and power, and there is talk of civil war after the U.S. withdrawal. Afghans watched with cautious optimism when Mr. Biden assumed office in January. Many had hoped he would reverse the Trump administrations rushed pledge to withdraw all U.S. troops by May after brokering a shaky peace deal with the Taliban last year. Afghan leaders were convinced that the new American president would be a better ally, who would not immediately withdraw the troops that have helped keep the Taliban at bay and out of major cities. More than a decade after a black Buffalo police officer said she was fired for stopping a white colleague from choking an unarmed black suspect, a New York judge has ruled in her favor, saying she deserves to get her full pension and back pay. For Cariol Horne, Tuesday's decision came as a vindication after a 13-year legal battle with the City of Buffalo. 'WE WON!!!' a jubilant Horne wrote in all capital letters on her Facebook page. Vindicated: A New York State Supreme Court judge has sided with former Buffalo police officer Cariol Horne by giving her a full pension. Horne was a 19-year veteran on the force in 2008 when she was fired for stopping a colleague from choking a suspect Horne is pictured with Neal Mack, the man she said she saved from being chocked by her white colleague during his arrest in 2006 'While the Eric Garners and the George Floyds of the world never had a chance for a 'do-over,' at least here the correction can be done,' New York State Supreme Court Judge Dennis Ward wrote in his ruling In his ruling, New York State Supreme Court Judge Dennis Ward vacated a previous ruling that upheld Horne's 2008 firing, just a few months' short of receiving her pension after nearly 20 years on the force. The judge held that Horne is entitled to her pension, back pay for the period between 2008 and 2010, and benefits. 'While the Eric Garners and the George Floyds of the world never had a chance for a 'do-over,' at least here the correction can be done,' Ward wrote in his 11-page opinion, referring to the two black men whose deaths while in police custody sparked a national reckoning on systemic racism and excessive use of force. Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was caught on video pressing his knee in Floyd's neck last year, is currently on trial, charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Former officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who witnessed the arrest but failed to intervene, have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. 'My vindication comes at a 15-year cost, but what has been gained could not be measured,' Horne said in a statement to The Washington Post on Tuesday. 'I never wanted another police officer to go through what I had gone through for doing the right thing.' A spokesperson for the City of Buffalo released a statement to The Buffalo News in reaction to the ruling, which read: 'the City has always supported any additional judicial review available to Officer Horne and respects the Courts Decision.' In 2006, Horne, then a veteran police officer in Buffalo, physically intervened to protect Neal Mack, a 59-year-old black man, after her white colleague Gregory Kwiatkowski put him in a chokehold. Buffalo officer Gregory Kwiatkowski (left) had his hand around Mack's neck (pictured as a young man, right) when Horne told him he was killing the suspect 'I yelled, "Greg, youre choking him," and he didnt stop,' Horne recalled during an interview last year. 'I grabbed his arm from around his neck .... That was the only physical contact that I had.' Kwiatkowski, she said, responded by punching her in the face. Two years after the incident, Horne, a mother of five, was fired without pension. The police department claimed that Horne had put Kwiatkowski and other officers at risk, even though the suspect was handcuffed and unarmed at the time. 'I lost everything,' she said in an interview with CNN last year, ' but Neal Mac did not lost his life, so if I have nothing else to live for in life, at least I can know that I did the right thing.' Kwiatkowski, meanwhile, was promoted to lieutenant in 2008 and won a defamation lawsuit against Horne, from which Horne said he has collected $20,000. Kwiatkowski later pleaded guilty to deprivation of civil rights and was sentenced to four months in federal prison for using excessive force against four black teenagers suspected of shooting a BB gun in 2009. Prosecutors said Kwiatkowski slammed the teenagers' heads onto a car while yelling obscenities at them. Horne has become an activist for social justice and police reform, and has been taking part in protests in the wake of George Floyd's death Since her firing, Horne has reinvented herself as an activist for social justice, and has been pressing for a new 'Cariol's Law,' which would require officers to intervene if they see excessive force being used and protect them from retaliation. A registry of offenses would prevent violent officers from transferring among departments. Buffalo adopted a version of Cariol's Law, called 'Duty to intervene,' in October 2020. In the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, where white cop Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into the man's neck last May, Horne has been taking part in protests calling for police accountability. Less than a month after Floyd's death, the Buffalo Common Council asked State Attorney General Letitia James to conduct a new inquiry into Hornes case. A recent poll conducted by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) found that there is bipartisan support in West Virginia for the use of the filibuster during U.S. Senate floor debate. A recent poll conducted by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) found that there is bipartisan support in West Virginia for the use of the filibuster during U.S. Senate floor debate. The filibuster is a political procedure through which a senator can block or delay legislation from moving forward to a vote. Historically, this tool has been used by both Republicans and Democrats to encourage the U.S. Senate to act as a careful, deliberative body that can come to agreement through insightful debate. Its also an opportunity to state objections and offer improvements to the legislation. Understandably, its more popular with the minority party than the majority party each Congress as filibusters can lead to gridlock. West Virginians like it that way. There was a 20-point margin between those who support keeping the filibuster (52 percent) and those who would like to do away with it (32 percent). Sen. Manchin would also likely lose the support of many West Virginians as 56 percent of those polled stated they would be less likely to vote for him if he changes his mind and decides to help end the filibuster. Its worth noting that only 38 percent support doing away with the filibuster to help President Biden pass his agenda. While ending the filibuster is an annual debate, its commonly understood that removing the filibuster could mean the party you support has no voice in the Senate if, and inevitably when, the opposing party takes control of the chamber. The Senate is known as the worlds greatest deliberative body, said Nick Stehle, Vice President of Communications at FGA. West Virginians understand that protecting the filibuster keeps it that way, and prevents any one party from forcing legislation past the otherjust as our founders intended. ### The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is a nonprofit, multistate think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, and work reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org. For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/new_fga_poll_shows_west_virginians_clearly_support_the_role_of_the_filibuster_in_the_u_s_senate/prweb17862842.htm Though over 60 per cent of Indians live in rural areas, reaching out to them has always been a challenge for companies across sectors. Similarly, rural entrepreneurs, be it farmers, weavers or dairy farmers, all of them find it equally challenging to get a credible platform where they could sell their produce directly without interference of middlemen. Hyderabad-headquartered Hesa, which started as a rural marketing and event management company in 2012, in the last one year has pivoted into becoming a last mile digital rural marketplace. It connects the rural entrepreneurs with buyers and also doubles up as a platform where rural consumers can buy services such as insurance and also do bank transactions. "There are major gaps in supply and demand both from a business point of view as well as consumers. On the business side, the problem is unit economics. The cost of setting up a distribution mechanism often doesn't match with the revenue that a company earns," explains Vamsi Udayagiri, Founder and CEO, Hesa. Udayagiri, started with a physical platform, Janata Expo, where he connected weavers entrepreneurs and agri-producers with buyers in Andhra and Telangana. Last year, Hesa went 'phygital' with the launch of its app. The rural consumers' or entrepreneurs' point of contact is a 'Hesaathi', a village level entrepreneur, who is invariably a member of either a women's self-help group or is a progressive farmer. The Hesaathi, through the app, helps the entrepreneur to connect with the buyer and even enables her to do bank transactions without having to step out of the village. Hesa has tied up with micro-finance organisations to facilitate its consumers living in rural areas to repay their loans. "These entrepreneurs have to leave their daily chores and travel to a bank at the nearest town, stand in a queue in order to pay their interest, and if they don't do it on time their credit gets impacted. We have solved this problem by integrating the bank's payment application on our platform," says Udayagiri. The B2B2C platform aggregates agricultural produce and supplies to retailers such as Walmart and Metro Cash & Carry. It has also signed up State Bank of India for its KYC service in rural markets. While the platform is free for the consumers and entrepreneurs, it earns its revenue through commissions from the 35 companies it has partnered with. "Our revenue model is transaction-based," says Udaygiri. "If there is a Rs 100 transaction that happens on our platform, we get Rs 2 if it is a financial transaction, if it's an agri transaction we get Rs 8 and if it is a services or insurance transaction, we get upwards of Rs 15. Out of this, 80 per cent is passed on to the village-level entrepreneur and 20 per cent remains with us," he further explains. The platform on an average does 50,000-60,000 transactions per month. A Hesaathi earns anywhere between Rs 5,000-6,000 per month. Hesa is currently present in 11 districts of Andhra and Telengana and reaches out to 6,000 villages. It has a network of over 5,000 Hesaathis. Udaygiri hopes to have at least 25,000 village-level entrepreneurs by end of the year. It has already spread its wings in the neighbouring states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka and the plan is to penetrate further into these states. ALSO READ: Air India looking to hire CEOs for its subsidiaries ALSO READ: 9 in 10 firms to hire internally: LinkedIn ALSO READ: Flipkart to take over Cleartrip in distress sale Gandhinagar, April 15 : The Patan municipality in Gujarat on Wednesday issued an order mandating small traders, street vendors, shop owners, who can fall into the 'super spreader' category, get themselves vaccinated by Friday to continue their business. "It has been observed that despite a long duration vaccination drive carried out through camps... a majority of traders and vendors are not coming forward to get vaccinated due to rumours, beliefs, superstition or false fears. Such type of people can become a medium of spreading the pandemic. Such type of negligent behaviour cannot be tolerated looking at the public health of the citizens of the town," says the order. It said that after an urgent meeting convened for the matter, and after in-depth discussions and deliberations, it has been decided that all those small traders and vendors will have to get compulsorily vaccinated by April 16, and those who don't, will not be allowed to carry out their businesses in the town. "From April 17 onwards, forced personal lockdown will be imposed on such traders and vendors, who do not get vaccinated and it will be strictly implemented. The municipality, with the help of police, will form teams who will carry out the inspection. The vaccinated persons will have to produce cellphone messages or certificated copy or card issued after the vaccination, when asked by the authorities. If they fail to produce, their shops will be shut down and they will be sent home," says the order. Talking to IANS, the civic body's Chief Officer Panchabai Mali said that they were trying to convince them since a long time, but a majority of small traders and vegetable vendors do not understand. He said five specific centres have been set up where they can get themselves vaccinated between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mali said that there are a total of around 6,000 small shop owners and around 2,000 vegetable and other cart vendors, out of which only around 10 to 15 per cent had been vaccinated. Patan is among 10 cities of the state where the most Covid cases have been detected and is among those where night curfew has been imposed. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed The budget carrier said its losses for its first half are expected to be lower than predicted despite an almost 90% decline in passenger numbers as the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions collapsed demand easyJet PLC's ( ) chief executive Johan Lundgren expects popular EU holiday destinations should be on the UK government's 'green' list for international travel. "I wouldn't see a reason why you wouldn't have the majority of the countries of Europe in there," he told The Independent. Westminster is implementing a 'traffic light system' based on the level of risk in the country where the passengers are coming from. The 'green' category means that travellers are not required to quarantine although COVID-19 tests will remain mandatory. No countries have been added to the list yet but some experts reckon they would be areas with low levels of infections such as , Malta and Israel. In the half-year results published earlier on Wednesday, the firm said its first-half performance was slightly better than expectations and it is well-positioned to ramp up activities once Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on international travel are relaxed. In a trading update for the six months to March 31, the budget airline reported it expects headline pre-tax loss to be between 690-730mln. It added accurate capacity forecasting meant it was able to control costs while a focus on cash generative flying over the winter months resulted in second-quarter cash being better than guidance. Passenger numbers in the six months fell 89% to 4.1mln, in line with a decrease in capacity to 6.4mln seat, 14% of the levels seen in the first half of 2019. Revenues fell around 90% to 235mln as pandemic travel restrictions caused a collapse in demand for air travel. As a result of its cost savings and cash generation efforts, the company said it has access to 2.9bn of liquidity and said it is well-positioned to capitalise on the recovery of travel once restrictions are eased across the network. The firm added it will continue to operate a reduced schedule throughout much of its third-quarter but is ready to ramp up its operations to match demand levels, which are expected to rise from late May onwards. However, EasyJet said given the short-term uncertainty it is not appropriate to provide further guidance for the rest of the 2021 financial year, saying customers are booking closer to departure and visibility remains limited. "EasyJet has maintained a disciplined approach to flying during the first half of our financial year, resulting in a first-half loss and cash burn better than expectations. We continue to have access to significant levels of liquidity alongside EasyJet's major cost-out programme which continues to deliver ongoing cost and efficiency benefits. All of this positions us well to lead the recovery, EasyJet said in a statement. "We welcome the confirmation by the UK Government that international travel is on track to reopen as planned in mid-May We continue to closely monitor the situation across Europe and with vaccination programmes accelerating, most countries are planning to resume flying at scale in May. We have the operational flexibility to rapidly increase flying and add destinations to match demand. easyJet is ready to resume flying, prepared for the ramp up and looking forward to being able to reunite people with their families or take them on leisure and business flights once again. As a result, we remain well-positioned for the recovery this summer and beyond", he added. --Adds Lundgren comment on traffic light system-- YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he sees a certain diagnosis in Azeri leader Ilham Aliyevs latest statements and behavior. These statements arent new, Pashinyan said in parliament when asked by lawmaker Sergey Bagratyan on the matter. These statements were voiced in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, always. Now, there is a new excitement there and I think there is a certain diagnosis in these statements, because opening a museum and showing bodies of dead soldiers, posing for photographs on this background and displaying this for the international community and their own public I believe causes an issue for some physycological support. I think that one shouldnt be filled with aggression or revenge towards people displaying such behavior, but rather with pity. If Im not mistaken, it was Ignat Mamyan who wrote a poem on the Karabakh conflict, where there is a good quatrain which goes I dont hate you, I pity you. This is how smart people pity the mad creature cursing them from the gloomy cage of the psychopath. I think this verse is our todays response to Ilham Aliyev, Pashinyan said. Azerbaijan recently opened a so-called museum in Baku which is dedicated to the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war, where exhibits such as seized or destroyed Armenian military equipment, helmets of killed troops, as well as waxwork grotesque caricatures of Armenian soldiers are displayed as trophies. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan From April 17 to April 25, new customers will receive an up to 77 percent discount on any web hosting package purchase. Additionally, with each purchase, A2 Hosting will plant three trees through Carbonfund.org. A2 Hosting, a provider of high-speed hosting solutions, today announced a new promotion commemorating Earth Week 2021. From April 17 to April 25, new customers will receive an up to 77 percent discount on any web hosting package purchase. Additionally, with each purchase, A2 Hosting will plant three trees through Carbonfund.org. For the Earth Week promotion, three types of hosting will be on sale: Shared Hosting, Managed VPS Hosting and Unmanaged VPS Hosting. Each hosting service is available in four different packages customized to various customer requirements. Its Easy Being Green 2021 is a banner year for A2 hosting as it marks the companys 15th anniversary as a Carbonfund.org Foundation partner. Carbonfund.org leads the fight against climate change, making it easy for businesses to reduce their climate impact, hastening the transition to a clean energy future. The initiative enables A2 Hosting to offset its carbon footprint made by operating web servers in its four data centers in Michigan, Arizona, Singapore, and Netherlands. Being a green company is important to us, said Bryan Muthig, CEO, A2 Hosting. We made a promise early on to our customers and to ourselves to operate with purpose, to do what we can to affect positive change in our communities. Working with Carbonfund.org is one way we do that, and one were very proud of as it directly relates to our customer engagement. Its a way for us to say thank you for making us your web hosting partner of choice while contributing to forest and clean air preservation. In honor of Earth Day, A2 Hosting also reviewed and quantified its prior years environmental impact in other areas. Research suggests that the company saved: 705 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) 960,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy 1.3 million gallons of water 1.15 million cubic feet (cu ft) of natural gas Notably, these achievements are direct results of the companys decision to operate as a virtual company since its inception. Our business mission has always aligned with our environmental mission. It made sense to not have a brick-and-mortar headquarters. Being fully remote is a major benefit to a services company like ours, continued Bryan. It enables us to recruit the best IT talent from anywhere in the world. And it allows us to maintain our best-in-class, 24/7 support for our 24/7 hosting services with our knowledgeable internal Guru Crew support team. A2 Hostings Earth Day promotion can be accessed directly from the companys website. About A2 Hosting A2 Hosting, Inc. is a high-performance hosting services provider located in Ann Arbor, MI. The company delivers ultra-reliable solutions and 24/7/365 US-based support from its Guru Crew team. Since 2003, A2 Hosting has offered innovative, affordable, and developer-friendly hosting for small- and medium-sized businesses as well as web development agencies worldwide. Customers seeking the fastest hosting options in the industry can host websites of any size on A2s Turbo Performance server platform featuring page load speeds up to 20X faster compared to competing solutions. To learn more, visit https://www.a2hosting.com. ### Press Contact: Heather Ailara 211 Communications +1.973.567.6040 heather@211comms.com US$ 10 million financing package to revamp the district heating system in Dushanbe First project under the EBRD Green Cities in Tajikistan Project to have a significant climate impact through CO 2 reductions and water savings The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is committing funds to overhaul the district heating system in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. The countrys first project under the EBRD Green Cities programme will reduce the environmental impact of the municipal utility. A financing package of up to US$10 million, consisting of a US$ 5 million sovereign loan and a US$ 5 million grant, will be provided to the District Heating Company of Dushanbe. The package will be used to restore, upgrade and extend the existing district heating network and to overhaul pumping stations. As part of the project, and for the first time in Tajikistan, Dushanbe will introduce apartment-level metering on a pilot basis and procure operational and maintenance machinery and other specialised equipment. EBRD Green Cities is providing Dushanbe with support to develop a Green City Action Plan (GCAP), a crucial tool in helping cities to set out their sustainable development visions and strategic objectives, in addition to actions and investments to address priority environmental issues. With a population of more than 800,000, Dushanbe is the largest municipality in Tajikistan. The EBRDs Shareholder Special Fund finances the development of the Dushanbe GCAP. Once implemented, the project will have a significant climate impact by reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by around 39,000 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent. It should also achieve annual water savings of around 100,000 cubic metres. The project is part of the EBRDs recently announced plan to scale up its climate and environmental finance and to make more than 50 per cent of its annual investment green by 2025. The EBRD Green Cities programme, set up in 2016, now supports 45 cities in the economies where the Bank invests and aims to increase that number to 100 by 2024. It has so far secured more than 2.5 billion in funding from the Banks own resources, as well as concessional and technical cooperation funding from donors. To date, the EBRD has invested 731 million through 139 projects in Tajikistans economy. Wayne LaPierre runs the National Rifle Association as his personal kingdom, overriding checks and balances and making critical decisions about the gun groups future without consulting or informing its board, a director who is also a Kansas judge testified Tuesday. Any efforts to challenge LaPierres decisions and empower the associations 76-member governing board are essentially nonexistent, Phillip Journey, a family court judge in Wichita and member of the board, said at a bankruptcy trial. It essentially operates as a kingdom rather than a corporation, Journey said of the NRA. Waynes kingdom. LaPierres long tenure atop the association is under attack in a bankruptcy case filed in Dallas. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Harlin D. Cooter Hale is holding a trial to decide whether to appoint a trustee to run the NRA while its in bankruptcy, or throw the case out, as New York Attorney General Letitia James has requested. Hale will also consider Journeys request for a so-called examiner to look into allegations of financial impropriety leveled against LaPierre and other senior association officers. Journey testified that hundreds of NRA members have donated money to help with court costs. Journey rejoined the board of directors last year after being off the governing body for about 25 years, he said. He returned to an organization that he didnt recognize he said. All of the safety switches in corporate governance needed to be turned back on, he said. They were off. LaPierre put the gun rights group into bankruptcy a few months after James filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the organization. LaPierre said in court last week that the bankruptcy was necessary to get a fair legal playing field. Jamess lawsuit in New York seeks to dismantle the NRA and redistribute its $200 million worth of assets to other nonprofits. Should Hale dismiss the bankruptcy, James would have an easier time seizing those assets if she wins her lawsuit, which may not come to trial until next year, according to testimony. (Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, is a donor to candidates and groups that support gun control, including Everytown for Gun Safety.) ___ Steven Church and Neil Weinberg of Bloomberg News wrote this story. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC New Delhi : The status quo on Dokalam is as it was as on August 28 ever since the troops on both sides of the disputed territory disengaged confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday. 'No new developments at the face-off site & its vicinity since 28 Aug disengagement' said MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar. The MEA issued this clarification amidst news reports circulated about China building roads near the Dokalam pleatue. Earlier in the day Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted addressing to Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi if he was done with the chest thumping and would care to explain the Chinese build up of roads along the Dokalam pleatue. #WATCH: MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar says, 'no new developments at the face-off site & its vicinity since 28 Aug disengagement' #Doklam pic.twitter.com/E9ozgccdRs ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2017 Rahul Gandhi's allegations was based on similar news reports which was latter clarified by sources in the army as construction of road along the Chumbi valley which has no strategic implications. The Indian Army's top commanders are meeting in a conclave begining on Monday on October 9 where the Sino-India border as well as in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to dominate a week-long conference. China is reportedly maintaining a guard of 500 soldiers along the line of construction at the Chumbi valley. "All the issues having ramifications for India's security will be discussed," a senior army official said when asked whether China's assertiveness inDokalam Plateau will bem deliberated upon. There are also reports that People's Liberation Army (PLA) has increased more troops on its forward post in Yatung. The key conference will also be addressed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Sources said the top commanders are also likely to analyse the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with a focus on bolstering counter-terroroperations. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Biden announces U.S. troops withdrawal from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 to end longest war Xinhua) 09:02, April 14, 2021 Photo taken on April 13, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Shen Ting/Xinhua) In his remarks, Biden made clear that the withdrawal is not subject to any changes of conditions on the ground. WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan before Sept. 11, a decision to end the longest war in American history. "The United States will begin our final withdrawal, begin it on May 1 of this year," Biden said in his remarks at the White House. "U.S. troops, as well as forces deployed by our NATO allies and operational partners, will be out of Afghanistan before we mark the 20th anniversary of that heinous attack on September 11th." Biden delivered the address at the Treaty Room, the same place where then President George W. Bush informed the nation that the U.S. military had begun airstrikes against terrorists in Afghanistan nearly two decades ago. "It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home," he said, noting that the United States has achieved counterterrorism objectives in this war. In his remarks, Biden made clear that the withdrawal is not subject to any changes of conditions on the ground. "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan, hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result." The upcoming Sept. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the United States into war in Afghanistan. Biden said that 2,488 U.S. military personnel were killed, and 20,722 have been wounded in the prolonged war. This latest decision extends the deadline negotiated between the previous administration and the Afghan Taliban last year to pull U.S. troops out of the country on May 1. The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in late February 2020, which called for a full withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan by May 2021 if the Taliban meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with terrorist groups. U.S. soldiers inspect the site of suicide car bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 17, 2015. Four people were killed and several others wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded near the airport of the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, sources and witnesses said. (Xinhua/Ahmad Massoud) Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted earlier Wednesday that "if the agreement is breached and foreign forces fail to exit our country on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those whom failed to comply with the agreement will be held liable." "The Taliban should know that if they attack us as we draw down, we will defend ourselves and our partners with all the tools at our disposal," Biden warned. Since February last year, the Taliban has held off on attacking U.S. troops in Afghanistan but increasing attacks against Afghan forces. The Biden administration concluded that the Taliban had not met its commitment under the U.S.-Taliban deal for keeping up ties with al-Qaida. The Biden administration previously suggested that it would be tough to pull a large number of troops and equipment in weeks' time due to logistics reasons. The Pentagon said that there are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but U.S. media recently said the number did not include 1,000 more U.S. special forces in the country. Besides, about 7,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan rely on U.S. logistics and security support. In the meantime, Biden highlighted that the United States would continue to support the Afghan government and provide assistance to the Afghan military after the withdrawal. "While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue." He also voiced U.S. support for the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban facilitated by the United Nations. Biden spoke with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani earlier in the day. They discussed continued commitment to a strong bilateral partnership following the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, according to a readout issued by the White House. U.S. soldiers stand guard at the site of car bombing in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2015. (Xinhua/Tahir Safi) The latest decision has drawn criticism from analysts and lawmakers. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said in a statement that "Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership." "Disappointing that Biden admin opted for calendar- rather than conditions-based withdrawal from Afghanistan," Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted Tuesday. The expert noted that the withdrawal would come with high costs, including possible terrorism revival, a spike in repression by the Taliban, and damage to U.S. reputation. "I think that the critics make some valid points," David Gordon, a senior adviser at International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Xinhua. "But the fact of the matter is that the U.S. has been in Afghanistan for 20 years, the Ghani government has basically refused to compromise with the Taliban, public support for the war in the U.S. was lost quite a while ago, I see the President's move as the least-bad option," he said. A recent threat assessment report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence offered some grim predictions: "The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan Government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the collation withdraws support." Gordon, who served as vice-chair of the U.S. National Intelligence Council under the George W. Bush administration, agreed that the balance of forces in a continuing conflict will shift to favor the Taliban due to the U.S. withdrawal. "But we will also see Russia, Iran, India, and Pakistan - as neighboring states - each become more actively engaged. While they have differing interests, none will favor a rapid Taliban victory," he said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) The winter months are especially harsh for the homeless in Russias northern city of St. Petersburg, especially for those suffering serious medical problems. Recuperating from many illnesses in the winter and on the streets is impossible. After release from the hospital, they end up back on the streets in conditions that arent conducive to recovery, said Sergei Iyevkov, the founder and direct of Charity Hospital, which has more than 100 volunteers -- including dozens of doctors -- delivering health care to the homeless. An estimated 50,000 people in St. Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, are believed to lack a permanent home. Beyond the daily struggle to find food and shelter, those in need of medical attention face further hurdles. Many lack health insurance or even basic identification documents. Without those, only emergency wards and the citys sole specialized hospital for infectious diseases will treat them. Discrimination and hostility on the part of some health-care workers also dissuades many of the homeless from seeking hospital treatment, experts say. And even if they are treated for an illness, many of them never fully recover. For example, a person gets frostbite on his leg, has it amputated, and is discharged. He may then suffer acute pain, get infections or a fever. Getting to a health center is not always possible. Plus, they need to find a place to sleep. In most cases, they end up in the emergency ward again. Its a vicious circle, Iyevkov told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Charity Hospital and other NGOs -- including the Bus of Mercy, which is run by the Russian Orthodox Church -- are providing the much-needed help the homeless arent getting elsewhere. Much of the medical care Charity Hospital is dispensing is done inside vans, including the Bus of Mercy and the Night Bus, run by another NGO, Nochlezhka. In reality, whats the alternative to our work? These people are quietly dying on the streets or elsewhere without any care. Our goal is to give them hope. They are recovering. Many will be healthy again, said Irina Safonova, a surgeon who volunteers with Charity Hospital -- Blagotvoritelnaya Bolnitsa in Russian. Its impossible not to see whats going on in the streets, she said. The problem is that few think about it. Even some of my friends and family dont know about my work here; for many, it doesnt make sense. Unfortunately, even in the medical field, hardly anyone knows about our work either. Ivan Grigoryevich turned up at an emergency ward with the hope of having his frostbitten toes amputated. However, only a wound on his head was re-bandaged; his feet were ignored. They didnt even look at them and just waved me away, he recounted at a homeless shelter in St. Petersburg that is run by the Order of Malta. Like several homeless people who spoke to Current Time, he gave only his first name and patronymic, not his last name. After he was turned back a second time, Ivan returned with a volunteer from the Charity Hospital. This time, the amputation was performed. In the same shelter with Ivan was Andrei, who said the volunteers from Charity Hospital tended to his wounds after he suffered a fall at a worksite in St. Petersburg just before New Years Eve. His said he was wary about going to a hospital because he was working on the site illegally. The other workers took me to the gate and I waited for the ambulance. Im from the Urals, from Perm. The people from the Night Bus helped get me into this shelter, said Ivan, who has no plans to return to his hometown 1,500 kilometers east of St. Petersburg. What would I do there? I cant sit in my mothers lap! Hes not the only undocumented construction worker who has been helped by the volunteers of Charity Hospital. Two years ago, I fell eight floors at a construction site, said 46-year-old Nikolai Mikhailovich. "I dont know how I survived. I was in and out of hospitals for two years. Fractures of the chest, arms, legs. Now I have [metal] plates everywhere. My wife died; my daughter kicked me out. I have a criminal record and was in prison in the '90s, and shes a [police] investigator. She did it to save her career. Worsening cataracts had left Viktor Aleksandrovich nearly blind in both eyes. His plight was brought to the attention of Anna Matveyeva, an ophthalmologist and Charity Hospital volunteer, who took him to a hospital with which the charity has an agreement to perform surgical procedures. She picked me up in her car, took me for an examination. Then, two operations were performed in the medical center, Viktor told Current Time. I could see again. The light and the sky. I [had] a new life. It was like being born again. I was so happy. Before the operation, I couldn't see where I was walking [and] got around by touch. I knew my way around the shelter and knew how to get to the toilet. Now, Im happy. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI)-Senate Bill 389 which would allow certain Wetlands to be developed passed in the Senate on Wednesday 31-19. However, it wasn't without debate that caused some Republicans to vote against party lines. Several Republican lawmakers in support of the bill feel that the amendments that were made help strike an even ground. They say it only frees up regulations on Class one wetlands which are defined as wetlands that don't have standing water or significant hydrologic functions. However, Democrats argue that this gives builders free rein to build on most wetlands. Republican Senator Ron Alting Voted against party lines. He feels wetlands should be left alone. "I've been consistent in voting against the wetlands bill," said State Senator Ron Alting. "I think it's one of god's creations that is sacred. Not to mention, the fact that it keeps our water tables where they should be they also preserve our drinking water not to mention the habitat for our wildlife." The bill also creates a cropland exemption for farmers over the next five years. Supporters of the bill say farmers have been negatively affected by the current regulations that are in place. The author of the bill, Senator Chris Garten, argues that Indiana is still the 8th most restrictive state in the country when it comes to wetland regulation. The bill also creates a task force that would make recommendations on which wetlands could be built on and which could not. However, many argue that the recommendations should be made first before building can begin. The bill now heads to the Governor's desk. Click here to read the bill in full. ISTANBUL, APR 14 - Premier Mario Draghi's calling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "dictator" was "total rudeness, total rudeness," Erdogan told the Anadolu news agency Wednesday, almost a week after Draghi made the remark. "Before saying such a thing to Tayyip Erdogan you should know your own history, but we have seen that you don't know it. You're a person who was appointed, not elected," Erdogan went on, calling the Italian PM's remark "total impertinence". He said Draghi's remark had damaged bilateral relations. Draghi called Erdogan a dictator in a press conference on Thursday. The Turkish government rapidly summoned the Italian ambassador to Ankara to express its disapproval of the comments, which Draghi made in relation to the 'sofagate' case regarding the failure to provide a seat for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting on Tuesday. "I am really sorry about the humiliation that the commission president had to suffer with these, let's call them for what they are, dictators," Draghi said. The Italian premier said the EU had to be frank with figures like Erdogan, stressing the differences in outlook while at the same time being ready to cooperate. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the comments "ugly and unreasonable" and said they should be taken back. The deputy leader of Erdogan's AKP party, Numan Kurtulmus, said "there are no dictators in our country. If you want to see a dictator, look to your own history. Look to Mussolini". Draghi won backing from several quarters on Friday with European People's Party (EPP) chief Manfred Weber among the senior voices expressing support. "Prime Minister Draghi is right, under President Erdogan's lead Turkey has moved away from the rule of law, democracy and fundamental freedoms in the last decade," Weber said in a statement sent to Italian media. Turkey, Weber said, "is not a free country for all its citizens. "If Europe wants to build a constructive partnership with countries like Turkey, and it is in our strategic interest to do so, we ought to speak clearly and honestly about the actual facts. "This is also the reason why we have been asking the (EU) Council for years to finally close the procedure of enlargement of the EU to (include) Turkey. We are categorically against a prospect of accession of Turkey to the EU and as long as it is on the table it hinders a franker and more realistic relationships with the country". Turkey recently pulled out of the 2011 Istanbul Convention on violence against women, dismaying activists who say gender violence is on the rise there. Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, said Draghi was spot on. "Brothers of Italy has denounced the authoritarian, Islamist direction Erdogan's Turkey has taken for years and asked the EU to withdraw Ankara's status as a candidate country," said Meloni, whose party is the only major group in parliament not to back Draghi's broad coalition government. "Premier Draghi's clear, firm words were good. "We demand respect and we hope that the premier's comments are just the government's first step in powerfully defending Italian interests in the Mediterranean and stemming the political and cultural expansionism of the Islamist regime in Ankara". (ANSA). Advertisement President Joe Biden got emotional and paid tribute to his late son Beau when he visited the graves of US troops killed in Afghanistan at Arlington Cemetery. 'I have trouble these days ever showing up at a cemetery and not thinking of my son Beau,' he told reporters as he walked around the gravestones in Section 60 after announcing he would be pulling all American forces from Afghanistan by September 11 - the 20th anniversary of 9/11. 'Hard to believe, isn't it? Biden said as he held a wreatyh in his hands near the burial sites of more than 800 American soldiers and said it was 'absolutely clear' that he needed to bring 2,500 troops home. 'I'm always amazed at generation after generation, the women, the men, who are prepared to give their lives for their country,' Biden told reporters after being asked what this moment meant to him. He answered in the negative when asked if withdrawing was a hard decision. 'No it wasn't to me,' the president said. Beau Biden gave up his seat as the Delaware Attorney General to serve in Iraq in in 2008 before he died of brain cancer in 2015. On Wednesday the president officially announced his aim to end America's Longest War that has cost more than $2tillion and taken the lives of more than 2,300 Americans. His decision has drawn criticism from Republicans who say he is making a 'grave mistake', could create a vacuum for the Taliban to exploit and potentially reignite jihadi extremism. 'I said, along with others, we'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell if need be. That's exactly what we did. And we got him ... That was 10 years ago. Think about that,' Biden said from the White House Wednesday. 'Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan have become increasingly unclear.' President Joe Biden got emotional and paid tribute to his late son Beau when he visited the graves of US troops killed in Afghanistan in Arlington Cemetery 'I have trouble these days ever showing up at a cemetery and not thinking of my son Beau,' he told reporters as he walked around the gravestones after announcing that he would be pulling all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 On Wednesday he officially announced his aim to end America's Longest War that has cost more than $2tillion and taken the lives of more than 2,500 Americans 'Hard to believe, isn't it? Biden said as he held a wreath in his hands near the burial sites of more than 800 American soldiers and said it was 'absolutely clear' that he needed to bring 2,500 troops home Biden noted how he 'inherited' an agreement from former President Donald Trump and the Taliban to pull U.S. troops out of the country by May 1. 'It's perhaps not what I would have negotiated myself, but it was an agreement made by the United States government and that means something,' Biden acknowledged, adding that May 1 would not be the end, but the beginning of the drawdown. Were 20 years of blood and treasure wasted? How conflict cost $825billlion and 3,500 dead troops Critics lined up to slam the 'pointless' war in Afghanistan as US, UK and NATO allies prepare to pull out troops and hand the country to the Taliban after a 20-year conflict which cost $825 billion and the lives of 3,500 soldiers. The conflict has seen tens of thousands of deaths in all, with remarkably few of the aims set out in the beginning actually achieved. As NATO leaders meet for talks this week, with a possible withdrawal on the cards following President Trump's pledge to have all US troops out by May, those across the globe who have opposed the war have once again made their views known. American author and combat vet Daniel L. Davis wrote: 'The United States has been fighting a pointless, unnecessary war in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.' Laila Harre, leader of New Zealand's Internet Party, tweeted that it was '20 years since the Alliance stood against this predictably destructive deployment. 20 years wasted on war.' Meanwhile, a survey in 2019 found 58 per cent of veterans and 59 per cent of the public felt the conflict was not worth fighting. Afghanistan's government is held together by a fragile power-sharing deal, it is one of the least democratic and most-violent places on earth, and half of its territory is either in Taliban hands or being contested by the Islamists. It is unlikely that NATO forces will stay much longer. Their withdrawal would bring an end to one of the longest conflicts of modern times. But it will also be the beginning of the end of democracy in the country - the long-running campaign's main objective - as the Taliban reclaim total control. The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 on a counter-terrorism mission - seeking to capture or kill the Al Qaeda leaders who orchestrated the 9/11 terror attack, and to displace the Taliban government which sheltered the group. NATO was not far behind, arriving in the country two months later with a mission to secure Kabul province so the new government could be established there. But the objectives quickly changed - a new goal to rebuild Afghanistan as a stable and democratic country within the Middle East emerged, and the war dragged on. Military operations expanded to fit. In 2003, NATO's mission extended across the entire country and troops became more involved in day-to-day fighting alongside regular US forces. At its height, in 2011, the NATO force numbered roughly 130,000 men drawn from 50 countries, before declining rapidly from 2013 as US forces pulled back. In 2014, primary responsibility for security was handed over to the Afghan government and today, there are around 10,000 troops from 36 countries stationed there in support and training roles. Over that time, some 3,500 coalition troops have died fighting - the vast majority, around 2,400, were American. The UK lost some 450 soldiers - the second-highest total - who were largely killed in Helmand and Kandahar provinces when they took over combat operations from the Americans. On the Afghan side, it is thought that more than 110,000 have been killed including at least 31,000 civilians who were largely hit by airstrikes. At least 30,000 coalition troops have also been wounded in the fighting - the vast majority American - while tens of thousands of Afghans have also been wounded. NATO costs are hard to estimate because its troops are drawn from dozens of countries which control spending individually through many separate budgets. However, the respected Stockholm International Peace Research Institute previously estimated that combined US and NATO combat costs in Afghanistan from 2001 and 2012 totalled around $725billion. Advertisement In his 15-minute speech, he made it clear to the Taliban that the U.S. would retaliate if they attacked. 'The Taliban should know if they attack us as we draw down, we will defend ourselves and our partners with all the tools at our disposal,' Biden said. The Taliban has already warned of attacks if U.S. forces aren't fully out of the country by May 1. 'If the [Doha] agreement is breached and foreign forces fail to exit our country on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those whom failed to comply with the agreement will be held liable,' Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid tweeted Wednesday. Biden said he wouldn't rush a departure. 'We will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit. We'll do it responsibly, deliberately and safely,' he pledged. 'And we will do it in full coordination with our allies and partners who now have more force in Afghanistan than we do.' Biden made the announcement from the Treaty Room of the White House, where President George W. Bush announced the U.S. and Britain had started bombing Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001. He said during the speech that he had called Bush to inform him of his decision. 'While he and I have had many disagreements over policy throughout the years, we're absolutely united in our respect and support for the valor, courage and integrity of women and men in the United States Armed Forces who served,' Biden said. 'We're immensely grateful for the bravery and backbone they have shown through nearly two decades of combat deployments,' he continued. 'We as a nation are forever indebted to them and their families.' Later, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that Biden had also spoken to former President Barack Obama. 'I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth,' Biden said. Biden said he also consulted with allies, military leaders, lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris to help make his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops. He recalled traveling to Afghanistan in 2008 as the incoming vice president. 'What I saw on that trip reinforced my conviction that only the Afghans have the right and responsibility to lead their country and that more and endless American military force could not create or sustain a durable Afghan government,' Biden said. 'I believed that our presence in Afghanistan should be focused on the reason we went in the first place: To ensure Afghanistan would not be used as a base from which to attack our homeland again,' the president continued. 'We did that, we accomplished that objective,' Biden stated. Since then, Biden argued, the war on terror has moved all over the place. 'With the terror threat now in many places keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country, at the cost of billions each year, makes little sense to me and our leaders,' he said. He added, 'the main argument for staying longer is what each of my three predecessor have grappled with - no one wants to say that we should be in Afghanistan forever.' 'But they insist, now is not the right moment to leave,' Biden said. He left Trump, who announced a prompt departure from the country after losing the election to Biden, out of the calculation. The decision on a deadline to remove the final 2,500 U.S. forces would finally put an end to the war amid questions about how much stability and security the U.S. would leave behind amid a fragile government that the military has helped prop up in Kabul. Republicans slammed Biden's plan as essentially surrendering the region to al Qaeda amid the ongoing war on terror. But Biden argued that 'diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue' in Afghanistan after the military presence has gone. He emphasized that his administration will continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban and assist international efforts to train the Afghan military. And he noted that the U.S. and its partners are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel who are fighting in country. 'We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago,' Biden will say. 'That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come.' After his remarks, the president visited Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. 'Hard to believe, isnt it?' he said, looking at the lines of graves. Section 60 of the Virginia cemetery includes the country's most recent war dead, from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 'We went for two reasons - get rid of bin Laden and to end the safe haven. From the very beginning I never thought we were there to unify Iraq, I mean Afghanistan,' Biden said, making a quick fumble. 'It's never been done. It's never been done.' 'Thank you all for being out here in the rain,' he told the group of reporters, as he walked through the cemetery with an umbrella in his hand, but not opening it. Prior to his announcement, Biden spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ahead of his remarks. 'The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition,' Ghani wrote on Twitter. 'Afghanistan's proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful,' he added. The White House is facing criticism from several corners about the decision to withdraw all of the American military presence - even from within its own ranks. Biden looks at a grave marker as he walks through Section 60 during a visit to pay his respects in Arlington National Cemetery He placed the wreath and then saluted during the emotional visit after announcing the withdrawal of troops His decision has drawn criticism from Republicans who say he is making a 'grave mistake', could create a vacuum for the Taliban to exploit and potentially reignite jihadi extremism Biden said he wouldn't rush a departure. 'We will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit. We'll do it responsibly, deliberately and safely,' he pledged. 'And we will do it in full coordination with our allies and partners who now have more force in Afghanistan than we do.' Biden looks at the tombstone of Second World War and Vietnam Air Force veteran John Howard Stetson during his trip President Joe Biden arrives to speak from the Treaty Room at the White House Wednesday, where President George W. Bush announced the nation's involvement in Afghanistan just weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks 'I said, along with others, we'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell if need be. That's exactly what we did. And we got him. That was 10 year ago,' Biden said during his remarks on withdrawing forces from Afghanistan on Wednesday. He delivered the speech from the same room where George W. Bush announced he was invading in 2001 CIA Director William Burns said on Wednesday that Washington's ability to collect intelligence and act on threats will diminish when U.S. troops leave Afghanistan. 'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact,' he told the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding that the United States would however retain 'a suite of capabilities.' But White House press secretary Jen Psaki countered that 'many of our intelligence officials have said publicly and in these hearings that the threats have evolved, that we need to approach how we look at counterterrorism through the prism of what the threats are in 2021. And even if you look at Al Qaeda, it is not being harbored in a safe haven in Afghanistan how it was 20 years ago.' Psaki said Biden made the decision after asking for a review from his advisers where they didn't sugar coat anything. She also said the president would not change his mind should the situation on the ground change in Afghanistan. 'We can't look at things through the 2001 mindset we have to look at things through the 2021 world,' she said at her daily press briefing. 'We are not going to take our eyes off the terrorist threat or any sign of al Qaeda has resurgence, and we will reposition our counterterrorism capabilities in that regard,' she said. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin briefed the decision to NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday. 'We will discuss our future presence in Afghanistan. We welcome this opportunity to closely coordinate and consult with all allies as we agree on our future presence in Afghanistan,' Blinken said ahead of his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 'Almost 20 years ago, after the United States was attacked on 9/11, together we went into Afghanistan to deal with those who attacked us and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorists who might attack any of us. And together we have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve, and now it is time to bring our forces home,' he added. Blinken said the United States would coordinate closely with European allies on the U.S. troop withdrawal. 'We will work very closely together in the weeks and months ahead on a safe, deliberate, and coordinated withdrawal of our forces from Afghanistan, but even as we do that, our commitment to Afghanistan, to its future, will remain and we'll talk about that today as well,' he said. Biden's decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed with Taliban insurgents by his predecessor Donald Trump's administration. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that won't be affected by security conditions in the country. The U.S. and allied effort to force the Taliban from power began in October of 2001, weeks after the Sept. 11th attacks under the George W. Bush administration, after the regime had provided sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda fighters. While Biden's decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al Qaeda and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, women's rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al Qaeda's haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. Republicans also hammered Biden on Tuesday after his decision was publicly reported. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted the move in a Senate floor statement saying Biden plans to 'turn tail' and calling it a 'retreat.' US soldiers arrives at the site of a car bomb attack that targeted a NATO coalition convoy in Kabul on September 24, 2017 - US war in Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000 'Just moments ago, new reporting suggests the Biden Administration plans to turn tail and abandon the fight in Afghanistan,' McConnell said. 'Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership,' he added. He said leaders in both parties criticized a 'reckless withdrawal' from Syria and Afghanistan in the 'prior Administration.' 'Those same voices in both parties should be equally concerned about the Biden Administration's announcement today,' he said. 'A reckless pullback like this would abandon our Afghan, regional, and NATO partners in a shared fight against terrorists that we have not yet won.' He also said it would 'specifically abandon the women of Afghanistan, whose individual freedoms and human rights will be imperiled.' Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and GOP hawk, called the planned withdrawal a 'disaster in the making.' 'A full withdrawal from Afghanistan is dumber than dirt and devilishly dangerous. President Biden will have, in essence, cancelled an insurance policy against another 9/11,' said Graham. Some Democrats criticized the decision. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire called it disappointing. 'I'm very disappointed in the president's decision to set a September deadline to walk away from Afghanistan. Although this decision was made in coordination with our allies, the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave without verifiable assurances of a secure future,' she said in a statement.' Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a voice on military issues among Senate Democrats, declined to say directly he was on board with the decision. 'Well, it will be a transition. Because we still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that area. But there are other places in the world too where you have to be conscious,' he said. We also have to maintain a presence for regional stability,' he said. Asked if he supports the move, he responded: 'You know there is no easy answer.' 'It's a little concerning to me. It should be a conditions-based withdrawal, and not just because it's the 20th anniversary of 9/11,' said Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. U.S. and coalition forces were able to drive the Taliban from power and a new Afghan government was created. A long effort to train and equip native Afghan forces followed, amid an ongoing insurgency. In a statement last month, the Taliban threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops in Afghanistan if they did not meet the May 1 deadline. But it would still set a near-term date with withdrawal, potentially allaying Taliban concerns that Biden would drag out the process. The May 1 deadline had already started to appear less and less likely in recent weeks, given the lack of preparations on the ground to ensure it could be done in a safe and responsible way. U.S. officials have also blamed the Taliban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda. It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following al Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington because the Taliban had harbored al Qaeda leaders. Thousands of American and allied troops have died in fighting in Afghanistan. Biden said at his first press conference last month that: 'It's going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline' for a full withdrawal. 'Just in terms of tactical reasons, hard to get those troops out,' Biden said, when asked about his plans. He said the nation was coordinating with allies, and allowed: 'If we leave, we're going to do so in a safe and orderly way.' Biden also said couldn't picture U.S. troops still being in Afghanistan by March 2022. 'I can't picture that being the case,' he said. He added: 'But we are not staying a long time. We will leave. The question is when we leave.' Afghanistan's U.S.-backed government is held together by a fragile power-sharing agreement. About half of the nation's territory remains under control of the Taliban or other islamists. The war has resulted in 3,500 U.S. and coalition casualties, with a cost to the U.S. Treasury of more than $2 trillion, and a cost to NATO of an estimated $825 billion. At the height of the conflict in 2011, the U.S. and NATO forces totaled 130,000. The war is believed to have resulted in 110,000 Afghan forces, with an estimated 31,000 civilian casualties. A National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune study shows that more than 60 percent of Covid cases in Maharashtra have the double mutant variant. The study has been made out of the data recorded from January to March. According to the study, the genome sequenced had the double mutation E484Q and L452R, now classified as B.1.617 lineage. 220 out of 361 or 61 percent of the Covid-19 samples taken in Maharashtra from January to March and genome sequenced had the double mutation. Earlier the Central government had said that the mutation has been found in 15-20% of samples and it is not the reason behind the second wave in the state, a report in The Indian Express said. coronavirusexplained.ukri.org/ 2nd wave surge and mutant linked? NIV officials in a meeting on April 10 made a presentation to all the all district heads of government laboratories. The genome sequencing results were shared in the presentation, but officials said the state government is yet to receive a written report on this. It has been communicated to us only verbally, said an official. Health Minister Rajesh Tope reportedly said the state government had asked the Centre for a detailed report on the genome sequencing of all the Maharashtra samples. As the state is recording more than 50,000 fresh cases on a daily basis, health officials have remarked that the double mutant variant could be a reason behind it. Maharashtra has around 5.6 lakh active Covid-19 cases. NDTV Variant found in 13 districts Some of the doctors are also reported saying that a link behind surging cases and double mutant cases cannot be drawn as the number of samples is very few. The mutant B.1.617 lineage was also found in Delhi. According to the data by NIC, the variant is found in 13 districts of Maharashtra including Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Hingoli, Gondia, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Pune, Wardha, and Yavatmal. BCCL The Centre has maintained that there is no need to change the strategy, Maharashtra Health Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas reportedly said. However, other officials say that the surge in the state couldnt be directly linked to the mutant. It is a variant of interest now. But the number of samples are very few from these districts and therefore we cannot directly conclude that the surge is caused by the variant, Dr Sujeet Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control said. He added that that B.1.617 lineage were also found in few samples in Delhi too. Reuters Strain on the health system Experts and health officials in Maharashtra say that the variant is fast spreading putting a strain on the health system. It is critical to have genome sequencing results as soon as possible, if possible within three days. The pattern of the new variants is unpredictable, Dr Om Srivastava member of the State Covid Task Force said. The former lover of Melbourne woman Sarah Gatt says she saw a dead body in her girlfriend's bathtub six months before it was found by police. The body of the 40-year-old mother was found decomposing in the bathtub of her Kensington unit in January 2018. It's believed she died some time in April 2017. Her former boyfriend Andrew Baker has been charged with her murder and is facing a hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court this week. The corpse of Sarah Gatt (pictured as a younger woman) was discovered when police noticed a foul stench coming from a Kensington home Ms Gatt's former girlfriend, Leona Rei-Paku, last saw her in mid-April 2017 and says she made several attempts to contact her in the following months but they went unanswered. She says she went to visit Mr Baker in July 2017 and when she asked about 'my darling' he said he thought Ms Gatt had been with her. She said Baker told her that he and his friend had been living in Ms Gatt's home for four weeks, and invited her back with them. On the way there Baker told her 'there's a body in the bath', she said. 'Andy asked if I wanted a cuppa. He said go have a look at the body. I still didn't know whether to believe him,' she said. The body of the 40-year-old mother (pictured) was found decomposing in the bathtub Ms Rei-Paku said she went upstairs to the bathroom and saw a sheet. 'I lifted the sheet up to have a look and there was a kind of foot or something sticking up,' she said. 'He goes "see how it's sort of black" and he pulled the sheet right back.' Ms Rei-Paku said Baker told her it had been there for four weeks and they were 'just going to clean it up and throw it out'. 'I don't know if the body was real or not. It played on my mind a bit,' she said. She told the court she hadn't asked the men whose body it was, but became frightened when Baker's friend told her 'we thought it was you'. Ms Rei-Paku broke down in court when asked why she hadn't told anybody about seeing the body. 'I can only put it down to the fact I wanted my drugs more. I didn't care anymore,' she said. Ms Rei-Paku said it had been a shock to her system but she was now trying to sort out her mental health with medication and stop taking ice and marijuana, both of which she had been using since she was 14. The hearing is expected to continue on Wednesday. Sales of South Korea's major fried chicken franchises jumped in 2020 as people resorted more to food delivery amid the coronavirus outbreak, industry data showed Wednesday. Kyochon, the biggest franchise, saw its top line surging 17.8 percent on-year to 447.6 billion won (US$398 million) last year, and sales of No. 2 BHC shot up 25.7 percent to 400.4 billion won. It marks the first time that sales of local chicken franchises have exceed the 400 billion-won mark. Kyochon's operating income climbed 4.3 percent on-year to 41 billion won, and that of BHC spiked 33 percent to 130 billion won. No. 3 player BBQ posted better performances. Sales of BBQ soared 32.1 percent on-year to 325.6 billion won, with its operating income skyrocketing 119.3 percent to 55 billion won. Industry sources predicted chicken franchises will fare well this year thanks to the prolonged coronavirus outbreak and a rise in the number of single-person households. Fried chicken is South Koreans' most favorite delivered food, and fried chicken and beer, called "chimaek," is one of the most popular foods in the country. (Yonhap) The Johnson and Johnson vaccine roll-out in South Africa has been temporarily suspended. This comes after six women in the US, between the ages of 18 and 48, developed a rare blood-clotting disorder after getting the vaccine. One case was fatal and one remains in critical care. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize made the announcement during an online media briefing on Tuesday evening that the roll-out part of the Sisonke Implementation study would be halted. Mkhize's announcement comes after the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a pause on the issuing of the vaccine over potentially dangerous' blood clotting concerns. The FDA said it would investigate these cases, however, until the process was completed, it has recommended a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution. Mkhize said the Department of Health has noted the decision taken by the FDA to advise the temporary suspension of the J&J roll-out in the US. We have determined to voluntarily suspend our roll-out... I humbly call for calm and patience as we ensure that you will continue to be properly guided by science and ensure the safety of our people as we roll-out the vaccine campaign. We hope that the deliberations will only take a few days. More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J (Janssen) vaccine have been administered in the US. The J&J vaccine is part of the Sisonke implementation study roll-out and close to 290 000 health-care workers have received the shot. South Africa has procured 31 million of the J&J one-dose vaccine. The company said in a statement it would delay the roll-out of the vaccine in Europe. We are aware of an extremely rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets in a small number of individuals who have received our Covid-19 vaccine. Mhkize said meetings will be held with the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) and the Africa Center for Disease Control (CDC) IOL A two-week strike by thousands of long-exploited government sector workers in Pakistans Balochistan province was shut down by an alliance of trade unions last Friday following a court order declaring their job action illegal. The strikers, who are confronting menacing threats of state repression, are demanding a pay hike of 25 percent, and allowances like those paid provincial government workers in other provinces. The demand for higher wages resonates among working people across the country, who are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living skyrockets. Announcing the strikes suspension, leaders of the All Balochistan Employees union and Workers Grand Alliance claimed the job action will resume in one month if progress is not made in negotiations with the provincial government, which is a close ally of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Islamist populist Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Sit-in of striking Balochistan government workers. (WSWS) Such delaying tactics, which provoked outrage among many workers, are the typical means by which trade unions the world over demobilize militant struggles and pave the way for their defeat. In its order to both end the strike and a sit-in in the red zone of the provincial capital, Quetta, the Balochistan High Court called on negotiators on both sides to show flexibility in their talks. Making clear that in practice this means that the workers must give up their demands and accept whatever the government claims it can afford, Chief Justice Jamal Mandokhail declared threateningly, Until the end of the protest, we will stay inside the court, and if the demonstrators dont leave everyone will go to jail. The Balochistan public workers struggle is part of a global upsurge of working class struggles in opposition to the capitalist ruling elites prioritizing of profits over workers lives and livelihoods amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. With virtually no health care system and social safety net, Balochistan, the countrys poorest province by far, has been hard hit by the pandemic. The provinces impoverished workers and the poor have also been battered by a rapacious pro-market reform program championed by the International Monetary Fund and implemented by Imran Khan and his PTI government. Despite the economic disaster triggered by the pandemic, the Khan government has relentlessly pressed ahead with gutting whatever remains of social welfare programs and prices subsidies, raised taxes, and shut down publicly-owned enterprises, destroying thousands of jobs in the process. Tens of thousands of workers from various government departments, including schools and hospitals, joined the Balochistan strike, which began on March 29. They are all paid poverty wages, notwithstanding the critical nature of their jobs. For the next two weeks there were demonstrations and sit-ins in Quetta and other cities, effectively halting or disrupting government business, until the unions bowed before the anti-worker court-order and called off the strike on the evening of April 10. That same day, teachers had boycotted the start of high school matriculation exams. A similar boycott by health care workers resulted in the postponing of a mobile polio vaccination campaign. On Monday, April 5, the strikers enforced a virtual cut-off of Balochistan from the rest of the country with a blockade of the highways that connect it to Pakistans three other provinces. This protest impacted the transit of supplies for the US occupation forces in Afghanistan. The strike in Balochistan followed a similar struggle in Islamabad, where the government was forced to concede a pay increase of 25 percent to federal government workers after a brutal crackdown on the strikers failed to break their struggle. In Balochistan, workers defied a cynical ban of all public gatherings hastily imposed on the eve of the strike by the provincial government on the pretext of combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The government deployed massive armed forces contingents to prevent processions of workers from entering key government installations, and to intimidate the daily anti-government demonstrations. For most of the past two decades Balochistan has been under effective Pakistan military occupation, as it employs torture, enforced disappearances, and extra-judicial killings to suppress a Balochi ethno-nationalist separatist insurgency. The government refused to make any concessions to workers during the strike, instead demanding that they immediately return to work. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani responded to the strike by remarking that the strikers should all be in jail. He contemptuously declared that the workers do not perform their official duties properly. If workers do their job properly, the chief minister went on, we are ready to increase their salaries not only once but twice. Chief Minister Khan Alyani lamented the extra financial burden that the government would incur if it gave in to the strikers demands, which he estimated at 10 to 15 billion Pakistani rupees (US $65.5 to $98 million). He also complained about having to expand the allocation for pensions for retired workers, which has increased from 30 billion to 50 billion rupees during the last two years. The Balochistan Chief Minister, who himself hails from one of Balochistans traditional large landowning families, went on to blame current and retired workers, who are aspiring for a livable stipend, for the utterly bankrupt state of social infrastructure in the province. Will there be a time when the government will do nothing for education, health, roads, dams, social welfare, agriculture [since] we will only pay salaries, pensions and allowances? proclaimed Khan Alyani. Most of the government workers, including clerks, teachers and paramedics, sustain their families on a monthly wage of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 rupees, around $US117 to $US130. An increasing portion of the government workforce is employed as temporary workers, despite their years of service, denying them even the meagre benefits of a worker in a permanent job. The majority of Balochistan government workers are the sole bread winner in their households. Balochistan has been impoverished and devastated by decades of abuse and negligence by Islamabad, despite its abundant natural resources and its strategic location. The latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report detailing socio-economic conditions in Balochistan, which dates from 2018, estimated that a staggering 71.2 percent of its 12.3 million population lives in poverty, compared to 38 percent for Pakistan as a whole. Khan Alyani and his Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) represent a section of the provinces ruling elite, and play a critical role in sustaining the PTIs austerity coalition at the federal level. Typical of the utterly corrupt bourgeois elite in the country, Khan Alyanis declared wealth is more than 728 million rupees (or almost $10 million), and includes properties abroad. Pakistans venal capitalist elite is infamous for hiding much of their wealth offshore. The PTI government has admitted that an additional 10 million people across the country have fallen into poverty as a result of the pandemic. A more realistic estimation would produce a much worse picture, like the health impact of the pandemic itself. Officially, there have been 730,000 COVID-19 infections and more than 15,600 deaths. But the true figures, which are masked by barely existent testing and, in much of the country, basic health care facilities, are undoubtedly several times higher. When compared with the rest of the country, the situation in Balochistan is even more horrific. The province conducts only about 1,100 COVID-19 tests per day. When several hundred doctors and other health care workers protested the lack of personal protective equipment to treat patients amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the province last April, Khan Alyani ordered the police to beat them and jail them. Amid massive job losses and deepening poverty, only about 45,500 people in Balochistan received any assistance from the federal government, while the provincial government extended no assistance whatsoever. Designed as a face-saving measure by Prime Minister Khan, the federal governments assistance was limited to an absurdly inadequate 12,000 rupees (US $78) per household. In the midst of yet another wave of the pandemic, fueled by more contagious variants, Prime Minster Imran Khan is refusing to take any measures to contain the surge in infections. A tally by Bloomberg estimated that at its current pace, Pakistan would take 10 years to vaccinate 75 percent of its population. The government refuses to allocate necessary funding for vaccination, claiming it cannot afford the cost. The growing discontent within Baluchistan is not limited to government workers. Protests erupted earlier this month against the state-run Quetta Electricity Supply Company for power shedding, which in some areas extends to 22 hours a day. Protesters blockaded highways on April 1, bringing trade across Balochistan with Afghan cities to a halt. Balochistan is also engulfed in seething sectarian tensions. When eleven coal miners from the Shiite Hazara minority were dragged out of their sleeping huts and brutally killed by Islamist fundamentalists in January, prolonged protests erupted in Quetta and the dead miners coffins were part of a several-day-long highway blockade. chief minister on Wednesday said the BJP will not be able to win even 70 seats in the ongoing state assembly elections which many expect to be a cliff-hanger. Speaking at a rally at Dabgram-Fulbari in Jalpaiguri district, the Trinamool Congress supremo ridiculed Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent claim that BJP had already won a 100 seats in the four phases of the election to the 294-seat assembly. "Prime Minister Modi has said the saffron party has already won 100 seats out of 135 seats where elections have been held. I can say that after the elections are over, BJP will not even get 70 out of total of 294 seats", she said. The Trinamool Congress leader charged that the BJP was spreading falsehood by telling different things at different places on the same issue. Banerjee said home minister Amit Shah had said in Lebong in Darjeeling that there will be no NRC. However she pointed out that 14 lakh people have been identified and sent to detention camps based on a process to find illegal migrants under the National Register of Citizens. 14 lakh people have been asked to go to the detention camps", she pointed out. Banerjee said if TMC is voted to power once again, it would not allow the controversial National Register of Citizens(NRC) to be implemented in All of you are citizens. My only request to people is that they cast their votes, she said. The Trinamool Congress leader claimed that BJP is bringing in people from other states where the pandemic was raging and this was helping spread Coronavirus. "These people will spread COVID in the state and then go awaylast year when COVID was in spate, none of the BJP leaders cared to the come to the state", she said. Banerjee also criticised the saffron party for its 'anti-people and anti-poor stance allowing prices of fuel including cooking gas to skyrocket. SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho speaks at the company's general shareholders' meeting last month. Courtesy of SK Telecom By Kim Bo-eun SK Telecom (SKT) said Wednesday that it will split up into two parts through an equity spinoff, with one responsible for the traditional telecommunications business and the other to take control of semiconductor and e-commerce operations. The telecom firm will try to explore the best possible chances for developing businesses in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, while the new unit will mostly be assigned to invest in memory semiconductors. SKT said that the new affiliate's name is yet to be decided. The company said that splitting up SK Telecom and the new investment unit is necessary to enable separate management for both telecom and new businesses. New businesses in media, security and commerce accounted for 24 percent of SKT's operating profit for 2020. The country's top mobile carrier is seeking to list its affiliates in these businesses, including the local app market operator, One Store. The world's second-largest DRAM maker, SK hynix, is SKT's core affiliate. SK hynix accounts for around a 29-percent share of the global market. SK is set to take a more aggressive stance in chip-related investments with the new firm. "SK's investment firm, which has become an intermediary holding company, won't be absorbed into SK Inc.," said SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho. The markets were weighing in on the possible integration of SK's investment firm into SK Inc. because of SK Chairman Chey Tae-won's increased grip on the group's affiliates. A trolley carrying Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccines is transported to a warehouse after being unloaded from a Cathay Pacific cargo plane at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on Feb. 27, 2021. (Jerome Favre/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Arrives in China as Beijing Makes Available Imported Vaccines for First Time The first batch of German-made Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived in mainland China on April 13 and was made available to Chinese people for vaccination with a fee. This is the first time that the Chinese regime allowed Chinese people to receive an imported COVID-19 vaccine. The importer, Fosun Pharma from Shanghai China, ordered 100 million doses of the effective German-made COVID-19 vaccine for the mainland in December 2020. Its unclear how many doses are available in this first batch. The Chinese regime has approved five locally made vaccines for emergency use, and vaccinated people without charging a fee. At the same time, the regime ambitiously exports the vaccines to developing countries with its vaccine diplomacy agenda, such as forcing Taiwans allies to break away from supporting the island nation in exchange for vaccines. On April 10, Chinese CDC director George Fu Gao admitted that the China-made vaccines dont have very high protection rates, and suggested mixing different vaccines to boost efficacy. A firefighter prepares a vaccination against COVID-19 at the Gymnase Le Moulin in Cergy, a northwestern suburbs of Paris, France, on March 13, 2021. (Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images) Fosun Pharma always uses the name Comirnaty vaccine for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and claims that its a BioNTech vaccine that was made in Germany, without mentioning Pfizer. Pfizer is an American company. As the sole sales agent of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the Greater China region, Fosun Pharma supplied and vaccinated people in Hong Kong and Macao. By April 14, about 272,900 Hongkongers had received Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, with 141,300 of them having received two doses, according to Hong Kong authorities. The Macao regime reported that it had received 149,175 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by April 13, without giving the number of people who were vaccinated with it. For the mainland market, Fosun Pharma announced it had ordered no less than 100 million doses of Germany-made vaccines with a total contract value of 500 million euro ($600 million)with a unit price of 5 euro ($6)on Dec. 17, 2020. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have a relatively high protection rate compared with its Chinese competitors. Hui Aimin, president of Fosun Pharma, said at Chinas 2021 National Vaccine and Health Conference in Chengdu on April 10 that the effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines is 100 percent on children younger than 15-years-old; 95 percent on people between 15-years-old and 65-years-old; and 94 percent on the people older than 65-years-old. The efficacies of China-made vaccines were reported to be 50.4 percent in Brazil, and 33.3 percent and 11.5 percent in Peru for the Wuhan-made and Beijing-made vaccine respectivelyfigures that have been denied by the ruling communist party. Pins for Beaumont Health Care workers after receiving their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are seen next to a syringe at their service center in Southfield, Mich., on Dec. 15, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images) Vaccination in the Mainland Chinese people, including officials and doctors, have been reluctant to receive China-made COVID-19 vaccines since day one, with the concerns of the vaccines safety. At the same time, the adverse reactions are a state secret, and the regime censors any related topics. Furthermore, the authorities dont announce the vaccination rate as other countries do. State-run media Xinhua reported on April 9 that less than 10 percent of Chinese people had been vaccinated by April 7. On April 13, Fosun Pharma didnt announce publicly the arrival of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The related reports on Chinas media and posts on social media platforms were removed by censors hours after they were posted. From the saved web pages, Chinese people learned about the arrival of the first batch of the BioNTech vaccine. We, ordinary people, want to save our lives. Wed like to choose the safest and most effective vaccine. Cost is the second priority, Wu from Wuhan told Radio Free Asia on April 14. He said he would like to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine no matter how much it is. Zhang Hai lost his father during the pandemic last year. He told RFA: I believe a lot of Chinese people want to be vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, although the price is high. Wang Qian, a medical worker in China, told RFA: In China, you cant read any truthful report about vaccines. The only news we can read about foreign vaccines is that people died after vaccination. In fact, many Chinese people died after vaccination [with China made vaccines], but we cant see the report [because of the censorship]. Wang explained that Fosun Pharma kept a low key in China about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with the big concern of the regimes censorship. It just said a German vaccine. It didnt dare to mention that its a Pfizer vaccine, Wang added. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A West Brighton man has lost his freedom over an Independence Day heist. Shahem Minus, 37, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months to three years in prison stemming from a July 4 robbery in Port Richmond. A criminal complaint said the events unfolded around 10:10 p.m. The defendant entered a deli at 220 Port Richmond Ave., walked behind the counter and grabbed a butchers knife, said the complaint. He pointed the knife at the employee, whom he threatened, the complaint said. Im going to kill you. Dont call the cops. Shut the f--- up. Sit down. Wheres your money? Im taking this knife. Dont call the cops, the complaint quotes him as saying. Minus then left the store with the weapon, said the complaint. The defendant was arrested about a half-hour later, show online court records. Last month, Minus pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted third-degree robbery to resolve the case. Defense lawyer Mark Geisser has declined comment on the case. Assistant District Attorney Timothy Richard prosecuted it. Minus has previously spent time upstate. In July 2016, he was convicted of attempted robbery, said the complaint. He was sentenced to 18 months to three years in prison, show online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Minus was conditionally released on parole in March 2018, said those records. Lucknow: In a significant move, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government has decided to put the fourth and fifth-year MBBS students on COVID management. The state government has taken the decision following the cancellation of MBBS examinations due to a massive spike in COVID cases. "These students will now be deployed on COVID duties and this will ease the pressure on doctors to a considerable extent," said a government spokesman. Apart from this, private labs and hospitals are also expected to be acquired in order to increase the medical infrastructure in the state to cope with increasing Covid cases. Amid a rapid surge in the COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has directed the state government to consider imposing a complete lockdown in the most affected districts. The high court also asked the UP government to ramp up tracking, testing and treatment facilities. The Uttar Pradesh government has already announced restrictions on gatherings of five or more people in religious places for effective control of the Covid-19 pandemic during Navratri and Ramzan. Uttar Pradesh has recorded 18,021 new COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours, the state health department informed on Tuesday. The active COVID-19 cases in the state have mounted 95,980. The state has witnessed 3,474 recoveries and 85 deaths in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath went into self-isolation after coming into contact with a few officials who tested positive for COVID-19. CM Adityanath gave this information through a tweet. According to the government spokesman, the Chief Minister will continue to hold meetings virtually and will monitor the Covid situation in the state. Live TV To informally kick things off, Huckabay, Lyle, Moore and Tham will release solo albums on April 23, with an online launch party that evening hosted by Experimental Sound Studio. Each album was self-produced but shaped by feedback from all four artists; Moore took the lead on mixing and mastering at no cost to his partners. Their mutual approach lays the groundwork for Parlour Tapes co-op future a future that also means moving away from the ingratiating cool that reigned in Chicagos early 2010s contemporary classical scene. In retrospect, Huckabay feels alienated from Parlour Tapes foundational aesthetic, which she finds more fraught than it seemed at first glance. Paul Flores, 44, who was a Cal Poly student at the time, has denied any involvement in her disappearance. But the Sheriffs Office, after previously describing him as a person of interest in their investigation, began to refer to him in recent months as a prime suspect in the case. Asked on Wednesday if he knew where Ms. Smart was killed, Mr. Dow said that the last place where Kristin was seen was close to the dorms and near Mr. Floress dorm. He added, We certainly believe that Mr. Floress dorm room was a crime scene. Ms. Smarts family had her declared legally dead in 2002. Her remains have never been found. In March, the Sheriffs Office said it had obtained a warrant to search for evidence at Ruben Floress residence, and they used cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar to canvass the property. Additional evidence related to Ms. Smarts case was discovered at the site, according to the Sheriffs Office. The authorities had previously searched the homes of both Ruben Flores and Paul Flores. In February 2020, investigators executed search warrants at four locations in California and Washington State and recovered some items of interest, Tony Cipolla, a spokesman for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office, said at the time. Sheriff Parkinson said on Tuesday that the search warrants were sealed and that he could not discuss what evidence had been found. On Wednesday, Mr. Dow declined to elaborate on what the new evidence was. What I can tell you, he said, is that significant new information has come in to the Sheriffs Office that weve reviewed over the last two years, and some very important information just a month ago. Weve got physical evidence, we have witness statements things that, in our view, in the totality, have brought us to the point where we believe we can go forward and prosecute Mr. Flores for the murder of Kristin Smart. Robert Sanger, a lawyer for Paul Flores, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga are scheduled to meet Friday in Washington, D.C., for what will be the first in-person visit by a foreign leader since Biden took office. Americans generally hold this key U.S. ally in high esteem; 84% had a very or mostly favorable view of the country in February, Gallup's most recent reading. Since 1996, majorities of Americans have viewed Japan favorably. Line graph. Americans' views of Japan. 84% of Americans hold a very or mostly favorable view of Japan, little changed over the past 20 years. Gallup annually asks Americans their views of a number of countries around the globe, and in 2021, Japan was the most positively rated Asian country in that list. Japan is, in general, one of the countries Americans view most positively, trailing only Canada, Great Britain and France this year. For most of the post-World War II era through the 1980s, U.S.-Japanese relations were primarily characterized by U.S. efforts to contain communism and its commitment to defend Japan. However, in the 1980s, surging Japanese economic power brought the country into competition with the U.S. Gallup's first reading on Japan, in 1989, found 69% of Americans holding positive opinions. However, this rapidly declined to 48% by November 1991, as the U.S. struggled with a substantial recession. In a separate question Gallup asked that month, 77% of Americans identified Japan as an economic threat to the United States. From 1991-1995, roughly half of Americans continued to express positive views of Japan. This may have been related to both continued concerns about the economic threat Japan posed and a series of policy disputes centered on continued U.S. military presence there. In 1996, President Bill Clinton began an effort to reaffirm positive relations with Japan, including expanding defense cooperation to meet the growing threats in Asia. While this effort was underway, the percentage of Americans viewing Japan positively jumped to 65%. As the U.S. economy surged in the '90s, positivity toward Japan continued to rise, reaching 69% in 1999. Past U.S. worries about the Japanese economy also waned, and by 2016, 24% of Americans registered concern about the country as an economic threat. Japan Is Broadly Popular Among All U.S. Key Demographic Groups Positive views of Japan are shared by key U.S. demographic groups. This includes 84% of Democrats, 80% of Republicans and 86% of independents rating Japan favorably. While Americans at all levels of educational attainment express positive opinions about Japan, those with no more than a high school education (72%) are less likely to do so than those with some college education (87%) or a college degree (92%). Japan Broadly Popular Among Most Key U.S. Subgroups Next, I'd like your overall opinion of some foreign countries. What is your overall opinion of Japan? Is it very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable? Very/Mostly favorable Very/Mostly unfavorable % % Americans overall 84 17 Gender Male 86 13 Female 80 20 Race/Ethnicity White Americans 85 15 Non-White Americans 79 21 Age 18-34 86 14 35-54 81 20 55+ 84 16 Education College grad 92 8 Some college 87 12 HS grad or less 72 28 Political affiliation Republican 80 20 Independent 86 14 Democrat 84 16 Gallup, Feb. 3-18, 2021 Japanese Views of U.S. Leadership As part of its World Poll, Gallup asks people around the globe, including in Japan, for their views of U.S. leadership -- rather than the country more generally. Gallup has not yet asked the Japanese public about their approval of U.S. leadership since Biden took office. The historical trend shows that Japanese approval of U.S. leadership has fluctuated widely from one U.S. administration to the next. In the first Gallup World Poll reading on the issue, in 2005, during the administration of then-President George W. Bush, 18% of the Japanese public approved of U.S. leadership. This rose modestly in 2007 and 2008, only to jump to 66% approval in 2009 following the election of Barack Obama. After that spike, Japanese approval of U.S. leadership declined to 51% in 2010 and fluctuated between 41% and 52% through the rest of Obama's term. Japanese opinion of U.S. leadership was lower during the Donald Trump administration than during the Obama years, ranging from 31% to 39% approval, but was higher than during the Bush administration. Line graph. The Japanese public's approval of U.S. leadership. Before the Biden administration, 39% of the Japanese public approved of U.S. leadership, while 38% disapproved. Bottom Line The summit between Biden and Suga is a key early moment for the Biden administration. It will help set the tone for the president's foreign policy in Asia and potentially ensure continued cooperation from Japan in addressing the rapidly growing security challenges in the region. For Biden, Americans' broad, long-standing positive view of Japan primes the U.S. public to view the summit positively. For Suga, the summit offers the opportunity, should he take it, to showcase his rapport with Biden, who may be viewed more positively by the Japanese people than Trump was. Suga's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, largely maintained cordial relations with Trump, unlike the leaders of some other U.S. allies. However, there were clear signs in the past four years of a weakening of ties between the U.S. and Japan. This summit offers the two relatively new leaders the opportunity to begin repairing the alliance between their two countries. Things open with 'No Regrets', the focus track of the project that pairs motivational lyrics of levelling up with an idyllic, blissed-out production. Speaking on this tune, Vic says, "No Regrets is about finally taking that leap to enter the next phase in your life. Being able to assess your journey thus far and highlighting the lesson." Next up is recent single 'Came And Saw', with Vic in a nostalgic mood as he reflects on how far he has come, setting his intentions for how he means to go on. Produced and directed by Vic himself, the slick, monochrome official video perfectly captures the essence of his triumph over his struggles. 'Slipped Up' and 'Represents' are then characterised by lucid social commentary documenting his life on the streets and during his 11 year stint in prison, making for a more reflective listen. 'Top 5' closes things out featuring emotive vocalist Elle Cato, with Vic reflecting on his time in prison and vowing to never return to that life as he raps honestly amidst a funk-laden, gospel-inspired production. Speaking on the overall project, Vic explains, "Glory Days Pt. 2 is a continuity of my journal. On Part 1 I spoke on my trials and tribulations and on this one I speak on the tools I used to make it through difficult moments. This is the part in the movie where the main character recovers from a tragedy and goes on to be triumphant in his endeavours." Born in Cameroon before moving to the concrete jungle that is London, Vic Santoro found solace in his creativity during his teenage years, reading and reciting poetry, studying English literature before being turned onto the revolutionary teachings of rap's greatest poet Tupac Shakur. A supremely talented street poet, Progression: Glory Days, Pt 2 is destined to further bolster the ever-growing reputation of Vic Santoro. To find out more about Vic Santoro, go to: Facebook | Instagram | Website | Soundcloud Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487686/Vic_Santoro.jpg SOURCE Vic Santoro Got something on your mind that you want to share with City Hall? The Mayors Neighborhood Engagement wants to help you make the connection. The Community Office Hours program is available Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week through May (with the exception of holidays), as part of the mayors program to address neighborhood issues by connecting residents with neighborhood liaisons and city personnel through in-person or virtual appointments. Due to COVID-19, COH is by appointment only. Residents can make an appointment in their districts by calling (504) 658-4933 or online at www.nola.gov/coh. To make the program accessible to residents around the city, the office partnered with libraries and community recreational centers to serve as hosts. Please see the district locations: District A: Mid-City Library, 4140 Canal St. District B: Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center, 4300 S. Broad Ave. District C, Eastbank: Treme Rec Center, 900 N. Villere St. District C, Westbank: Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive Note: The District C liaison alternates locations on a weekly basis. District D: Milne Rec Center, 5420 Franklin Ave. District E: Lower Ninth Ward: Sanchez Multi-Service Center (1616 Caffin Ave.) District E: East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd. STORY TIMES: The New Orleans Public Library hosts two weekly story times, a live one every Saturday mornings at 10:30 and a prerecorded one that premiers at 10 a.m. Monday. Both virtual programs are designed by the librarys team of children's librarians and feature songs, stories, educational activities and games. Zoom story times are recommended for children ages 2-5, and the prerecorded programs are appropriate for children up to 5 years old. Visit children.nolalibrary.org to watch the prerecorded story times and nolalibrary.org/events to register for Zoom story time. FREE LEGAL ADVICE: The New Orleans Public Library and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services offer free virtual civil legal clinics for eligible library users through April 22. The clinics focus on assisting low-income families and individuals with civil legal issues involving areas such as: Evictions Landlord-tenant disputes Federal tax issues Employment Public benefits (SNAP food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security) Foreclosures Bankruptcies Consumer issues Divorces Sign up ahead of time for an appointment to speak with an attorney by phone or video conference. Appointments are limited and can be made from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays by calling the Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center at (504) 596-2660 or the Nora Navra Library at (504) 596-3118. Appointments can also be made online by visiting adults.nolalibrary.org. Staff will also available at these two libraries to answer any questions about this service and the librarys partnership with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. The clinic does not handle personal injury, criminal cases or malpractice cases. Dr. Gabriel Morley is director of the New Orleans Public Library. Odisha's COVID-19 tally mounted to 3,55,353 as the state registered this year's highest single-day spike of 2,267 new cases on Wednesday, a health department official said. The daily count crossed the 2000-mark for the first time in 2021, he said. The death toll rose to 1,933 as three more people from Bolangir, Ganjam and Jajpur districts succumbed to the disease. Taking to Twitter, the Health and Family Welfare Department said, "Regret to inform the demise of three COVID positive patients while under treatment in hospitals." Of the fresh cases, 1,314 were reported from quarantine centres and 953 detected during contact tracing. Sundargarh district registered the highest number of new cases at 458, followed by Khurda (348), Sambalpur and Bargarh (120 each), Cuttack (117), Nuapada and Nabarangpur (104 each). "The daily count breached the 2,000-mark almost six months after 2,019 fresh infections were recorded on October 19, 2020," the official said. now has 12,244 active cases, while 3,41,123 patients have so far recovered from the disease. The state has conducted over 94.61 lakh samples for COVID-19, including 33,251 on Tuesday, and the positivity rate stands at 3.74 per cent. The government has started imposing night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am in 10 districts bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh where the number of infections is rising sharply, the official said. Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra along with Health and Family Welfare Additional Chief Secretary Pradeepta Kumar Mohapatra and other senior officers on Wednesday visited Sambalpur district to monitor the COVID situation there. The chief secretary reviewed the preparedness of the Bargarh, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda administrations to contain the spread of the disease, the official said. The Nuapada district administration has declared the Sinapali Gram Panchayat as a micro containment zone for four days starting from Wednesday after several COVID cases were reported from the area, he added. RTHK: US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11 President Joe Biden will withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by Sepember 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several US officials said. Biden will lay out his vision for the way forward in Afghanistan and the timeline for the withdrawal in remarks Wednesday afternoon, the White House said. Punctuating the nearly two decades US troops have fought and died in Afghanistan, the president will then visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. The decision to withdraw troops by fall defies a May 1 deadline for full withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump administration reached with the Taliban last year, but leaves no room for additional extensions. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that won't be affected by security conditions in the country. While Biden's decision keeps US troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 US troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as US$1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al-Qaida and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the September 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, women's rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al-Qaida's haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Biden has been hinting for weeks that he was going to let the May deadline lapse, and as the days went by it became clear that an orderly withdrawal of the roughly 2,500 remaining troops would be difficult and was unlikely. The administration official said the drawdown would begin by May 1. Biden's choice of the 9/11 date underscores the reason that American troops were in Afghanistan to begin with to prevent extremist groups like al-Qaida from establishing a foothold again that could be used to launch attacks against the US. The administration official said Biden decided that the withdrawal deadline had to be absolute, rather than based on conditions on the ground. Were committing today to going to zero US forces by September 11, and possibly well before, the official said, adding that Biden concluded that a conditioned withdrawal would be a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever. Several US officials confirmed Bidens withdrawal decision to the Associated Press, and an administration official provided details to reporters on condition of anonymity, speaking ahead of the announcement. According to the administration official, the only US forces remaining in Afghanistan will be those needed to protect diplomats there, but no exact number was provided. The president's decision, however, risks retaliation by the Taliban on US and Afghan forces, possibly escalating the 20-year war. And it will reignite political division over Americas involvement in what many have called the endless war. (AP) This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. When it comes to saving for college, the 529 plan remains extremely popular, with over $352 billion in assets, according to some estimates. In my previous article (When Choosing Funds for Your College 529 Plan, Dont Make This Mistake) I reviewed how to maximize the growth in your 529. Many readers agreed with me that the age-based mutual fund options within 529 plans are often too conservative. Still, many parents had additional questions about how 529s work. Afterall, the plans are complicated and have very specific rules and regulations. In this article I will summarize answers to the most frequently asked questions on 529s. However, this list is not all encompassing and if you would like to learn more, join me April 20 and 23 at 12 p.m. EST for a complimentary webinar on college saving strategies. Here's a selection of what you need to know about 529 plans: What is a 529 plan? The name 529 comes from a section in the IRS tax code. Section 529 Qualified Tuition Programs are investment accounts administered by each state and intended to be used for qualified education expenses. What are the tax benefits? Generally speaking, the earnings on 529 plan contributions can grow free from federal income tax, and withdrawals used to pay for qualified education expenses are free from federal income tax as well. Contributions are with after-tax money; however, most states offer a state income tax deduction for contributions, but this varies for each state. Do I have to use my state's plan? No, you do not have to be a resident of that state to use another state's plan. However, there may tax advantages to using your own state. It's best to discuss with your accountant or financial adviser before opening an account. What are qualified education expenses? Qualified education expenses include tuition, mandatory fees, textbooks, computers and software, supplies, required equipment and room and board if enrolled at least half-time. Room and board costs may not exceed certain amounts, either the actual invoiced cost of living on-campus or, if off-campus, the applicable rate determined by the qualified college or institution. Special needs services for a special needs beneficiary are also considered a qualified expense. Does a 529 account have to be used for college? What about other schools, like a trade or vocation? 529 assets can be used at any eligible institution of higher learning. That includes four-year colleges, universities, qualifying two-year programs, trade schools and vocational schools. To qualify as an eligible institution, a school must be eligible to participate in student financial aid programs offered by the Department of Education. Can 529 money be used for K-12 schools? A relatively new provision allows 529 account owners to withdraw up to $10,000 per year per student for private primary or secondary education. Unlike for college, this only applies to tuition, not to textbooks, computers or other fees or activities. What if money is withdrawn for any other expense that isn't considered qualified? Any earnings on a non-qualified withdraw are subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. In addition, the earnings are subject to federal and, if applicable, state income taxes. Are there any exceptions to the 10% penalty? What if my child receives a scholarship? Withdrawals following a beneficiary's death, disability or receipt of a scholarship (to the extent of the scholarship award) will not be subject to the 10% penalty. However, you will have to pay taxes on the earnings. Who can open an account? Any individual who is of legal age to open an account and is a U.S. citizen or legal resident. In addition, U.S. trusts, corporations, partnerships and non-profit organizations may open an account. Who is the owner? Typically, the parent is the owner. There can only be one owner, no joint ownership. However, there is an option for a successor owner if the account owner dies. Who is the beneficiary? Usually the child, but it can be anyone including yourself and the beneficiary must be either a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident. Who can contribute to the account? Any person or entity may make contributions to the account for the benefit of a beneficiary at any time. What are the contribution limits? Contributions to 529 college savings plans are considered gifts for tax purposes. In 2021, gifts totaling up to $15,000 per individual qualify for the annual gift tax exclusion. This means if you and your spouse have three children you can gift $90,000 without gift-tax consequences, since each child can receive $15,000 in gifts from you and $15,000 in gifts from your spouse. Remember, this also includes non-529 gifts (such as gifts to a life insurance trust) so be sure to account for those. Is there an overall limit to 529 plan accounts? Technically there are overall limits to 529 plan account balances. But limits can vary from state to state, generally from $235,000 to $529,000. Once the balance on a 529 plan reaches its limit, the plan will not accept new contributions. It's worth mentioning some plans will consider balances in other 529 plans for an overall aggregate limit. For instance, if the owner has more than one 529 for the same beneficiary, the plan may aggregate all the plan's balances to determine if the maximum limit has been reached. What is the five-year election? You can front-load your gifts or contributions to a 529 plan and spread the gift over five years for gift tax purposes. For instance, if you contribute $75,000 in 2021, you can elect to use five years' worth of gifts in one year ($75,000 divided by the $15,000 annual exclusion). This is important for larger estates. Any 529 contribution over the annual exclusion amount is deducted from the lifetime gift exemption, which is currently $11.7 million per individual in 2021 (Source: SavingforCollege.com). Staying under the annual exclusion of $15,000 or using the five-year election will help preserve your lifetime gift exemption for other gifts. What are the estate tax implications of a contribution to a 529 plan? Except in special circumstances, contributions to a 529 plan are not considered part of the estate of the contributor for estate tax calculation purposes. Can you roll money from other accounts into a 529? Tax-free rollovers from one 529 into another 529 with the same beneficiary are permissible once every 12 months. Can you roll UGMA or UTMA assets into a 529? Yes, transfers from a UTMA/UGMA are permissible, but restrictions apply. To transfer UTMA/UGMA accounts to a 529 plan, you may be required to sell the UGMA/UTMA assets first. Generally speaking, UTMA/UGMA accounts do not allow for changing the beneficiary, and as such this restriction will carry over to UTMA/UGMA assets transferred to a 529. It's best to consult with a financial or tax adviser before transferring UTMA/UGMA assets to a 529. Can you change the beneficiary? A 529 account owner may change the beneficiary at any time. However, the new beneficiary must be a member of the family of the previous beneficiary to avoid being considered a withdrawal. If the account owner changes the beneficiary to a new beneficiary who is more than one generation younger than the previous beneficiary, the generation-skipping transfer tax may be triggered. For example, a parent changing the beneficiary from their child to their grandchild is considered a generation-skipping transfer. Can you change the investments in a 529 account? Currently, the IRS allows an account owner to change the mutual fund or funds only twice a year. There are currently no aggregation rules with respect to investment changes, so the investment change limit of two per year is per account. For example, if an owner and beneficiary have other 529 accounts, each account will have their own two-change-per-year limit. What is the treatment of 529s for financial aid? 529 assets may affect a beneficiary's ability to qualify for federal need-based financial aid. A 529 is an asset of the student's if the student is considered an independent student for tax purposes or an asset of the parent if the if the student is a dependent student. A student is considered independent if, among other criteria, he or she is at least 24 years of age, or is married, or a graduate or professional student. Generally, if a student is considered dependent and the 529 is a parent's asset, the more favorable the treatment for financial aid. A 529 should not affect the eligibility for a merit-based scholarship. As you can see, a 529 education savings plan has many rules. But if one follows the rules, the 529 is an unapparelled place to save for college and private school. There are several advantages, including the ability to defer taxes on earnings, withdraw earnings tax-free for qualified education expenses, plus the ability in some states to deduct within limits the contribution from state income taxes. Most accounts have several investment choices as well, from auto-pilot programs, such as age-based options, to the ability to pick individual funds, all of which could help contributions grow and keep pace with future college costs. The 529 plan is very flexible too, with the ability to change beneficiaries without incurring a penalty (assuming to another qualified beneficiary). For new parents, the low minimum contributions and the ability to invest automatically are attractive features. In addition, there are advantages for high-income earners, such as no income limitations to set up an account, very high contribution rates, and a contribution is a completed gift for estate tax purposes if estate tax planning is important. Higher education is a way to a better life for many people, and the 529 plan remains an excellent way to help get you there. To learn more, please join me April 20 & 23 12pm EST for a webinar on college planning strategies. Register here: College Planning Webinar. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Summit Financial LLC. Investment advisory and financial planning services are offered through Summit Financial, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser, 4 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Tel. 973-285-3600 Fax. 973-285-3666. The attached materials, URLs, or referenced external websites are created and maintained by a third party, which is not affiliated with Summit Financial LLC or its affiliates. The information and opinions found within have not been verified by Summit, nor do we make any representations as to its accuracy and completeness. Summit Financial and affiliates are not endorsing these third-party services or their privacy and security policies, which may differ from ours. We recommend that you review this third partys policies and terms. This material is for your information and guidance and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Legal and/or tax counsel should be consulted before any action is taken. UPDATE April 28, 11 a.m. Just two weeks after Placerville voted to remove a controversial noose from its logo, it has opted to keep a nickname connected to the image: "Hangtown." KXTV in Sacramento reports that the City Council vote was unanimous but city Vice Mayor Kara Taylor recognized that the vote would not "settle any acrimony in the community." Last week, a noose was found hanging near a popular hiking trail in the city center. The nickname is alluded in a town landmark, the Hangman's Tree, and in businesses around the area. "We're not going to go out and start telling businesses that they can't have that name on here," Mayor Dennis Thomas said. April 14, 11 a.m. The city of Placervilles official logo was intended to tout its legacy of gold mining down the American River. But it also shows a noose, a deeply troubling sight that carries a separate legacy of racist, anti-Black violence woven into America's fabric. KCRA reported that after almost a year since its removal was first discussed, the Placerville City Council voted to eliminate the noose from the city logo. Hundreds of public commenters, per the local news station, had deeply mixed, very intense reactions to the possibility of its removal. "I am horrified and deeply hurt that we have a symbol of a noose in our logo," said one caller, per the outlet. "A noose is a symbol of death. A noose is a symbol of lynching. A noose is a symbol of racism. Another wanted to keep it up, fearing that its removal would mean the removal of our history. With a miner holding a pan to the water, the insignia was intended to carry the proud history of the California Gold Rush (and in effect, casting aside the devastating toll it took on Native Californians) and the noose a reminder of the areas informal name before it became Placerville. It earned the name Hangtown in 1849 after a gambler was robbed by three men who denizens later found out stood accused of a murder charge, and within minutes, were hanged by a vigilante group that decreed their guilt without trial. They took law into their own hands at that time and there were people that were hanged for their crimes, Cleve Morris, the Placerville city manager, told KMAX last year. The stump of the tree is still intact in Placervilles Historic Main Street. But its not a historic symbol. In fact, the design, city councilmembers found that the logo currently used by the city was designed in the 1970s and was not a holdover from centuries ago. The removal of the noose from the citys official logo, Morris said at the meeting per KCRA, is estimated to cost around $5,300 a chunk of change that can be covered by the city budget. It will affect police cars, city websites and other city-run facilities. It is unclear when the removal will take place, or if the "Hangtown" nickname will remain intact. Former SFGATE reporter Mike Moffitt contributed to this report. The Biden administration is on the offensive against extremism. However, it is having trouble defining the term. The newly installed defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, has signed a memo ordering several "immediate actions," including military-wide "stand downs," to weed out "extremism" in the ranks of the military. Actions also included a review of and update to the DoD's definition of extremism and a review and standardization of the screening questionnaire "[t]o solicit specific information about current or previous extremist behavior, and to clarify that any demonstrably false answers provided in response could form the basis for punitive action for fraudulent enlistment." Defense officials said the Pentagon is reversing Trump-era policies that banned transgender people from serving in the military. The Pentagon will also issue new rules that will broaden transgender people's access to medical care and cosmetic surgery to imitate members of the opposite sex. Opposition to these policies may be considered extremist. Democrats are also calling for the vetting of National Guard members. D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser said, "When you have Guardsmen and women coming from all over the nation at this time, I do think that it is prudent to make sure that they are being vetted and that anybody who cannot pledge allegiance to their missions, and may be pulled by other views, needs not only to be removed from this duty, they need to be removed from the Guard." Rep. Steve Cohen claimed, "The guard is 90-some-odd-percent male ... only about 20 percent of white males voted for Biden. You've got to figure that in the Guard, which is predominantly more conservative I see that on my social media, and we know it. They're probably not more than 25 percent of the people that are there protecting us who voted for Biden. The other 75 percent are in the class, the large class of folks, who might want to do something." The Associated Press tweeted, "Defense officials tell AP they fear possible inside attack at inauguration and are having National Guard troops in DC vetted." Throughout the federal government, the consensus is that the greatest threat to the U.S. originates on the right. Former acting secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf stated, "I am particularly concerned about white supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years." Former secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy told the Associated Press, "We're continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation." The military has depended upon slides from the New York Police Department Intelligence Bureau that listed about two dozen symbols, ideologies, and memes considered "associated with or appropriated by domestic violent extremism." The list mentioned right-wing items exclusively. There was no mention of Antifa. Service members are being screened to determine if their political beliefs are considered a threat. NPR reports that "the Marine Corps found 16 cases of substantiated extremism, mostly postings on social media." NPR does not report on the nature of these social media postings. Using Rep. Steve Cohen's criteria, all Trump voters are suspect. The Defense Department is relying on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Anti-Defamation League to identify extremist groups. Wikipedia describes the SPLC as a "legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation." It is known for "its legal cases against white supremacist groups, its classification of hate groups and other extremist organizations, and for promoting tolerance education programs." The SPLC provides information about hate groups to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and many other law enforcement agencies. Who could object to this fine organization providing this information? However, there are problems with its choice of extremists. The SPLC lists conservative Christian groups such as the Family Research Council, the Ruth Institute, and the Alliance Defending Freedom as extremists. Wikipedia mentions examples of the problems the SPLC has encountered in the past. However, for some reason, Wikipedia neglected to mention that the SPLC put the "Singing Nuns" on its hate group map. The Department of Defense will be monitoring social media sites to identify extremists. Its concentration on right-wing extremists has caused it to miss extremists in its own ranks. Richard Torres-Estrada was recently appointed chief of diversity and inclusion of America's Special Forces. He was almost immediately reassigned after it was revealed that his social media contained a post where he compared former president Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler. Deaths and property damage during the summer of 2020 caused considerably more damage than the "insurrection" on 6 January. Yet the targets of the government efforts are almost exclusively on the right. In some corners, Black Lives Matter and Antifa are not considered extremist organizations. John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts degree in international relations from St. Mary's University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember:" Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany. Image via Free Stock Photos. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Hanoi today has a batch of new bridges planned, but only a portion of proposed capital to cover it has been amassed, photo Le Toan At the site of the second phase of Vinh Tuy Bridge, excavators are in full capacity and actively speeding up work to meet the construction timeline, which is scheduled to be put into operation in 2022. It is the first bridge in Hanoi to begin construction this year as part of 10 major crossings of the Red River in the citys new transport development plan by 2030, with a vision towards 2050 and approved by the prime minister five years ago. With the total investment capital of $110.43 million, the second phase is expected to contribute to ease traffic jams, accelerate socioeconomic development in the north of the Red River, and strengthen regional links with other cities and provinces. The plan in line with the prime ministers directions, in which the north of the river will be developed into new modern urban areas with developed infrastructure, is designed to enable the city to realise its dream of a balanced development between north and south. Pros and cons The new bridge development plan is, however, taking on different ideas after lessons from the failure of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) topped public concerns. The BRT was a costly investment of around $50 million and faces falling numbers of passengers because of half-hearted planning and lack of connectivity. The situation is forecast to become worse when the Cat Linh-Hadong urban railway line is put into operation. Ho Chi Quang, deputy head of the Ministry of Constructions Planning and Architecture Department, said the plan to develop more bridges over the Red River is necessary. Hanois existing planning takes Hoan Kiem Lake as the focal point, and then four city centre districts followed by three beltways. For years, Hanois expansion and development plans focused towards the south. However, building bridges is not enough for Hanoi. To develop modern urban areas and increase connection, means of transport should be taken into account, Quang said. Other countries use satellites to measure traffic volume, and they then make forecasts for bridge constructions to increase links among parts of the city, with other cities, and with airports. Senior transport expert Nguyen Xuan Thuy said that many countries worldwide build bridges that then become popular tourist attractions something that Vietnam could tap into over time. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, vice chairman of the Hanoi Urban Planning and Development Association, agreed by commenting that no matter how many bridges will be built, there should be due attention paid to the purpose of not only transport infrastructure development and economic development, but also culture significance. Many countries have successful models, but Quang explained that applying models of city development from other countries is not always the best method. We cannot build bridges to create a Seoul-like urban area in Hanoi because the Red River is very ferocious and people cannot live along the low-lying river dykes, he said. Moreover, the two banks are far from each other which is a different situation compared to the likes of South Koreas capital. At present, Hanoi has eight bridges crossing the Red River. Existing ones like Vinh Tuy and Thanh Tri are tapping into their full roles in connecting with industrial zones (IZs) and export processing zones (EPZs) as well as neighbouring cities and provinces, thus utilising land funds, human resources, and materials and then improving living conditions for people there. For instance, Long Bien, Chuong Duong, and Nhat Tan bridges all help solve the problem of regional connectivity, use of land funds, and improvement of living conditions for people living in the outlying districts. Similarly, other bridges like Thang Long and Nhat Tan increase links to IZs and EPZs, as well as between Hanoi and neighbouring provinces. Bankability questions Planning itself may not take forever, but the entire process from start to finish takes both time and huge investment. Normally it takes a few years to develop a bridge, and if it faces capital shortage or site clearance problems the time can be lengthened to decades. For example, Long Bien Bridge cost millions of French francs before the Euro came into use, and took nearly four years to complete. Meanwhile, Thang Long and Chuong Duong are valued at about $1 billion each and took 11 years to come into use. As noted, Vinh Tuy Bridges second phase only kicked off this year despite being approved in 2016. Hanoi may be able to manage capital for this project for now, but for others, no confirmation about investment capital has been made. At a meeting on March 28 with former Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chu Ngoc Anh, Chairman of Hanoi Peoples Committee, proposed two constructions among the 10 crossing the Red River Tu Lien Bridge worth $739.1 million, and Thuong Cat worth $391.3 million. The city proposed the government to apply other formats of investment, or utilise public investment, as well as to have special mechanisms to lure financial resources from society because the build-transfer (BT) model in exchange for public land which the city applied in the past is no longer allowed under the Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment, which took effect from January. BT investment attracted a number of private companies which greatly contributed to positively changing the face of Hanoi, especially the significant development of transport infrastructure. Prominent names included Vingroup, Sun Group, Tasco, and Him Lam Group. With the absence of BT investment, how to ensure sufficient capital for future bridge projects poses a headache for Hanoian leaders. While in the 2016-2020 period, the city planned $4.25 billion for bridge constructions, it has only been able to meet 10 per cent of the capital demand. Bridges might therefore remain stuck on paper in the next few years. International organisations have recommended an approach of integration with other transport segments such as rail to ease traffic jams and increase connection, while easing pressures on the huge budget for bridges by giving priority to those deemed most necessary, and more importantly avoiding incurring a debt trap. In June Hanoi will approve the plan on development of urban areas at the Red River in which it will be the axle of development of the two river banks. Until then, investors continue to wait for a solution in order to join related ventures. Migrants queued at migration centres across Chile after the implementation of a new law which could see a rise in expulsions. The new legislation stops a rule which allowed foreigners to arrive in Chile as tourists and then change their migration status to employed. On Sunday, President Sebastian Pinera said that the law aims to "put our house in order through an orderly, safe and regular migration policy, which allows legal migration and combats illegal immigration." His Interior Secretary Rodrigo Delgado suggested that migrants who entered the nation after 18 March 2020 would have to "leave the country and ask at a foreign Chilean consulate for a visa to enter again" if they didn't want to be expelled from Chile. The new law, which came into effect on Sunday, was processed over a period of eight years and was taken to the Constitutional Court, which eliminated six articles. (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) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. It was Monday, Oct. 21, 1957. The North Shore rail line, once a major transportation artery on Staten Island, had been closed for four years. But some very special passengers had need of the railroad, so the line was re-opened for one final journey. Those passengers? Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip died last week at the age of 99. As the world mourns and looks to his funeral this Saturday, Staten Islanders can look back at that time when the queen and her husband visited our shores, if only briefly. Queen Elizabeth II had been crowned four years earlier, following the death of her father, King George VI. Just 31 years old, Elizabeth was making her first visit to the United States as queen. Arriving on Oct. 17, the monarch visited President Dwight D. Eisenhower for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., and also toured Jamestown, Va., where she helped celebrate the 350th anniversary of its founding as the first English settlement in the Americas. The queens next stop was New York City, which included her train trip across the North Shore of Staten Island. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which owned the rail line, re-opened the railway for the queens journey. It was a B&O engine that brought the queens train from Washington to New York. They made the connection to the borough rail link at Staten Island Junction in Cranford, N.J., and traveled over the Arthur Kill lift bridge to join the North Shore line. Apparently, Elizabeth wanted to see the New York City skyline on her journey. North Shore residents who packed the rail route said that they saw the queen standing on a small balcony at the back of the train as it passed. The B&O train stopped at the Staten Island Terminal facility of the Armys New York Port of Embarkation in Stapleton. Following that leg of the journey, the Queen and Price Philip were greeted by enthusiastic throngs as they rode in a motorcade down Bay Street toward St. George. Some Islanders recalled being given the day off from school as children so that they could catch a glimpse of the royal couple. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Prince Philip, Duke o f Edinburgh, are shown on board the Lt. Samuel S. Coursen, which took them from Staten Island to Manhattan Oct. 21, 1957. (AP Photo) At St. George, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip boarded the ferryboat Lt. Samuel S. Coursen and sailed over to Manhattan, escorted by some 50 vessels, including water-spraying fireboats, on a route that took the monarch near the Statue of Liberty. In Manhattan, the queen was feted by a ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan and also addressed the United Nations. She was in New York City for just 14 hours. It was the last day of Elizabeths first visit as queen to the United States. And it was the last time that any passengers rode on the North Shore rail line. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, are feted at a ticker-tape parade through Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes during their visit to the United States in October of 1957. (NYC Municipal Archives) But Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arent the only famous Brits to have ridden the North Shore railroad line. On May 11, 1943, according to Advance archives, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill landed in Tompkinsville and traveled to Washington, D.C. via a special train to meet President Franklin Roosevelt. He came through the Island again on his return to England, catching a boat at Stapleton for the voyage home. Churchill would again stop on the Island on Sept. 10, 1944, on his way back to England after another trip to the U.S. We are thrilled that Harbor East has put their faith in Aeroturn over the years to deliver quality turnstile solutions and will continue to exceed all expectations on future projects and never let them down, states Michael Stoll, VP of Technical Sales & Marketing at Aeroturn. Aeroturn LLC, a leading turnstile manufacturer that offers 100% Made in The USA turnstiles, today announced that it has forged a strategic partnership with Harbor East over the years and installed its X-Wing turnstiles at various multi-tenant buildings in the prestigious Harbor East Community. Harbor East is a $1.67 billion mixed-use development on Baltimores waterfront and has become one of Baltimores most visible, rapidly emerging neighborhoods one that has become a premier destination for national employers, local residents and visitors seeking a dynamic metropolitan experience. Harbor East is home to 5.5 million square feet of office, retail, restaurant, and hotel space, including the luxury Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. Among the neighborhoods most distinctive characteristics are 1.6 million square feet of Class A office space home to Franklin Templeton, Morgan Stanley, Hogan Lovells, OneMain Financial, Medifast Inc., Brown Advisory, and Deutsche Bank, as well as Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Kennedy Krieger Institute. Aeroturns relationship with Harbor East Management Group started six years ago when the company teamed up with MidPoint Technology Group, a MD-based technical services company that provides integration of system solutions that includes AV, Electronic Security, Structured Cabling and IT-Wireless Services.Over the years, Aeroturns turnstiles were deployed at numerous Class A building locations at Harbor East which includes 650 South Exeter Street with 4 lanes of X-Wing turnstiles installed and 1001 Fleet Street with 3 lanes of X-Wing turnstiles deployed. Both projects were a huge success due to the collaboration and impeccable teamwork of Aeroturn, Harbor East Management Group, and MidPoint Technologies. In the past six years we have not had a single issue with any of the Aeroturn turnstiles installed throughout Harbor East, states Gerben Van Dorpe, RPA, Senior Property Manager at Harbor East Management Group, LLC. We have been extremely happy with our decision to implement Aeroturns turnstile solutions and based our decision on their stellar reputation in the industry in addition to great pricing and the ability to customize the turnstile solution to meet our needs. During each project, Aeroturn went the extra mile and was on hand to take measurements and come back with templates to ensure a successful implementation. Recently, when Harbor East was looking to replace its existing turnstiles at another building; Aeroturn was ready to lend a helping hand and provide first-class support and service once again. Based on its turnstiles past performance, Harbor East quickly turned to Aeroturn for advice on how to handle the upgrade. We are thrilled that Harbor East has put their faith in Aeroturn over the years to deliver quality turnstile solutions and will continue to exceed all expectations on future projects and never let them down, states Michael Stoll, VP of Technical Sales & Marketing at Aeroturn. For further information on Aeroturn turnstile solutions, visit http://www.aeroturn.com or send an email to sales@aeroturn.com. About Aeroturn LLC Based out of our 100% Made in USA Oxford, CT location, Aeroturn has been offering integrators and end users this centurys turnstiles that include a comprehensive range of turnstile products. With an engineering team that is second to none; the team has been together for over two and a half decades in the product design, development and manufacturing field and continues to lead the way in the security industry. Since its inception in 2001, Aeroturn offers every customer a 5-year warranty, zero maintenance mechanisms, 10 million passages guaranteed, site specific cabinets, 10,000 cycle factory burn-in, and industry unique-factory direct delivery & installation. The company installed its first turnstiles in 2003 and 2004 and has not stopped delivering quality turnstiles and services over the years to its high-profile customers in a wide variety of vertical markets that includes commercial, private, government, industrial, bio-pharma and education. Working closely with the architect, consultant & engineering community, Aeroturn understands the specific needs of its customers and continues to exceed expectations on each and every project. For further information on Aeroturns turnkey turnstile solutions, visit http://www.aeroturn.com. About Harbor East Since 1996, Harbor East has become one of Baltimores most visible, rapidly emerging neighborhoods one that has become a premier destination for national employers, local residents and visitors seeking a dynamic metropolitan experience. The Harbor East community consists of approximately 1,000 apartments and condominiums and 1,800 hotel rooms. The Four Seasons Private Residences, perched atop the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, consists of more than 60 condominium units and boasts club level amenities such as an infinity pool, masonry fire pit and grill areas, and a dog walking park. Liberty Harbor East, which opened Summer 2019, offers 282 luxury apartment units and 35 condominiums and features a new flagship Whole Foods Market at the street level. The 50,000 square foot grocery store includes a second-floor mezzanine with balconies for seating overlooking the water. Baltimore City residents and visitors are served by more than 350,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and can presently enjoy a seven-screen movie theatre, 50,000 square foot fitness facility, and a 200-slip marina located along a scenic stretch of the 8-mile long Harbor Promenade. There are 5,800 structural parking spaces within Harbor East. Harbor East has become widely known as Baltimores destination shopping district. The neighborhood offers renowned national brands including but not limited to Allen Edmonds, J.Crew, Anthropologie, Warby Parker, lululemon, Madewell, Under Armour Brand House, South Moon Under, Free People, and MAC Cosmetics, as well as the best of local and regional operators. Restaurants in Harbor East are consistently rated as some of Baltimores, and the regions, best as well. For further information on Harbor East, visit http://www.harboreast.com. Company Contact: Michael Stoll, VP of Technical Sales & Marketing Phone:203-262-8309 mike.stoll@aeroturn.com PR Contact: Monique Merhige, President Infusion Direct Marketing Inc. Phone: 772-380-4845 Email: monique@infusiondirect.com (CNN) -- McDonald's is planning anti-harassment training across all 39,000 of its restaurants, the company said Wednesday. The trainings, among other measures, are designed to hold up a new set of brand standards, which focus on preventing harassment, discrimination and retaliation, preventing violence in the workplace, collecting feedback from employees and health and safety more broadly. "There are no short cuts to ensuring that people feel safe, respected and included at a McDonald's restaurant," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a statement Wednesday. The standards should help make sure that "at every interaction, everyone is welcome, comfortable and safe," he said. McDonald's said it is working with independent experts to develop tools that will help franchise operators, who run the vast majority of McDonald's locations, meet the standards. It will start evaluating stores in January 2022. The chain has been dogged by lawsuits alleging harassment and discrimination within its ranks in recent years, at both the franchise and corporate level. Earlier this year, a "CBS Sunday Morning" story outlined allegations from female employees who said they have been discriminated against and faced sexual harassment at work from male employees. Dozens of women "from across the country [had] remarkably similar accounts of workplace abuse and harassment," CBS News said. The story sparked a response from McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski, who said that sexual harassment against restaurant employees "will not be tolerated" at McDonald's. "Let me say plainly: every single person working under the Arches must have a safe and respectful work environment," Kempczinski wrote in a statement at the time. "Sexual harassment in the workplace is an affront to everything we stand for as a system." He also said that he had called for a "review [of] our current policies and programs regarding workplace safety." Last year, McDonald's also launched an investigation into allegations of possible misconduct within its human resources department in relation to the behavior of former CEO Steve Easterbrook. Easterbrook was fired from McDonald's in 2019 because of a relationship with an employee. Last year, McDonald's sued him for allegedly lying to the board about the extent of his relationships with employees. CNN Business's Jordan Valinsky contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Australia's bungle-riddled coronavirus rollout has hit another hurdle with delays in the distribution of syringes needed to administer the jab. GP clinics across Sydney have finally received their long-awaited doses to vaccinate patients but are being forced to use their own supply of syringes and needles. One doctor claims she was told by the federal health department that it had 'run out' of syringes while another was told they were on backorder. Bondi Junction-based Sapphire Family Medical Practice owner Dr Dasha Fielder says using their own supply of syringes isn't sustainable. Bondi Junction GP Dasha Fielder (pictured) says her clinic has resorted to using their own syringes and needles for the coronavirus vaccination rollout 'We've been able to go ahead as planned this week, but if I don't have the needles and I don't have syringes - I can't administer the vaccine,' Dr Fielder told Seven News. Australian Medical Association NSW president Dr Danielle McMullen is among dozens of doctors affected by the supply shortage. 'This is very frustrating and while we can absorb this to a small degree we need to make sure it's not an ongoing problem and that it doesn't become widespread,' she told the Wentworth Courier. General Practice Cremorne's Dr Ann Allsop added: 'It's pretty poor that we're expected to wear the shortfall in supply.' 'With the first or second deliveries we can cope. But if it continues that's unreasonable.' Australian Medical Association NSW president and Sydney GP Dr Danielle McMullen (pictured) described the problem as frustrating Australia's coronavirus rollout has hit yet another bungle with a shortage of syringes and needles to administer the jab. Pictured is a Sydney woman being vaccinated in February The Department of Health confirmed it's aware that some clinics haven't received their consumable orders. 'These were on backorder, however, are now being filled as a priority and clinics should receive their orders shortly,' a spokeswoman said. Doctors aged under-50 have also expressed concern about not being eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, unlike hospital doctors and other health care workers. Australia's largest ever vaccination rollout has been riddled with one saga after another since the first patients rolled up their sleeves in February. Many GP clinics were still waiting for their doses one month later as phase 1B, the first large-scale rollout to the general public was launched. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced changes to get the vaccination rollout back on track. Pictured is nurse Maddison Williams being vaccinated More than 1,100 GPs clinics were listed on the federal government's health website at the time as being part of the next phase of the rollout, much to the shock of many doctors who were yet to receive a single does of the vaccine. The roll out sparked a tsunami of calls to GP clinics from patients who were under the impression they would be able to immediately book in. Mr Morrison announced earlier this week that two National Cabinet meetings will be held each week to get the rollout back on schedule. He insists offering all Australians at least one shot of a vaccine by the end of this year remained a possibility. 'At this stage, there are too many uncertainties, I think, to commit to a timetable like that,' Mr Morrison said on Wednesday. 'I would need, and the states would need to be sure, they could put those arrangements in place and ramp them up and to do that safely.' An international traveler carries their luggage into the Intercontinental Hotel on April 8 in Melbourne (pictured) - with harsh restrictions meaning most Aussies can't head abroad The federal government is copping significant flack over its decision to dump a vaccine rollout timetable after falling short of its initial targets. Mr Morrison attributed the delays to three million doses failing to arrive from Europe and medical advice for people under 50 to avoid the AstraZeneca jab. Originally the government had aimed to vaccinate four million Australians by the end of March, and managed just 400,000. But there's now no guarantee borders will reopen after Australia's Covid vaccine rollout is complete, the federal government has warned, due to the unpredictability of the virus. Australians have been locked in their own country in all but exceptional circumstances since the international border was slammed shut on March 20, 2020 - and there is no date nor a timeline for reopening. Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits a vaccine manufacturing facility in Melbourne (pictured) but health minister Greg Hunt has since admitted jabs won't be enough to open borders The situation has been slammed by experts, business leaders and commentators, as well as stranded Australians abroad, who accused the government of 'shifting the goal posts'. Not only does the closure stop Australians from going abroad for holidays or to visit families, but the ban has also left a multi-billion dollar hole in the economy - not to mention the tens of thousands of citizens unable to return home. 'Vaccination alone is no guarantee that you can open up,' health minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday. 'If the whole country were vaccinated, you couldn't just open the borders. 'We still have to look at a series of different factors: transmission, longevity [of vaccine protection] and the global impact - and those are factors which the world is learning about.' The government's cautious approach was quickly lashed by business leaders and media commentators who said Australia has turned into a 'prison island'. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. A dump truck passenger was killed in a three-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 295 in Gloucester County. The truck was traveling southbound in the right lane in West Deptford Township shortly before 3 p.m. when it was struck from behind by a tractor trailer, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. The impact sent the dump truck into the left lane, where it hit a car. The car and dump truck then struck a guardrail and the truck overturned. The dump truck passenger, Gary Shute, 75, of Pedricktown, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The truck driver, a 76-year-old Woolwich Township man, was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden with serious injuries. The car driver, a 38-year-old Jefferson, Maryland, man, was taken to Cooper with moderate injuries. The tractor trailer driver, a 69-year-old Mullica Hill man, was not injured. No charges have been filed, but the crash remains under investigation. The roadway was shut down for seven hours between exits 20 and 21 as a result of the crash and investigation, police said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Close Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is expected to appeal his conviction after being found guilty on all charges in the murder of George Floyd. The jury found Chauvin was: Guilty of second-degree unintentional murder Guilty of third-degree murder Guilty of second-degree manslaughter Joe Biden said the conviction of Chauvin in the killing of Mr Floyd could be a giant step forward for the nation in the fight against systemic racism. But he declared that its not enough. Chauvin remains in the maximum security prison there and is currently under administrative segregation, otherwise known as solitary confinement, for his safety, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Corrections told CNN. On Wednesday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland launched a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis, which will assess whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, including during protests. Sentencing was scheduled for 16 June, exactly eight weeks from today. Read More: Read The Independents updates and analysis below. In a normal world, San Antonio would be drenched in confetti, celebrating Fiesta, but the pandemic-wrought year has cracked the hearts of locals as the city's signature party has been axed and postponed in response to the virus. This year, businesses are making their own Fiesta fun as the city stands by postponed version of the party to unfurl. The Fiesta San Antonio Commission and the city decided to cancel the 2020 installment altogether after originally planning to postpone until the fall. At that point, organizers were eyeing this week as the return of the party. After the winter surge, Fiesta 2021 was postponed until June. Bridgerton's executive producer Shonda Rhimes has 'dismissed' the idea of creative differences being the reason behind Rege-Jean Page's exit from the hit Netflix show. In a new interview on Tuesday, she addressed the actors departure from the wildly popular period drama for the first time, saying she was 'shocked' at the fans' response to the news. Yet she shut down talk that she was behind the decision, telling Vanity Fair: 'Theres a lot of fantastically interesting talk thats been going on, mainly cause I think people are having a hard time letting go.' Rumours: Bridgerton's executive producer Shonda Rhimes has 'dismissed' the idea of creative differences being the reason behind Rege-Jean Page's exit from the hit Netflix show She also dismissed claims that Rege-Jean turned down a deal for cameo appearances in Bridgerton's second season, after it was reported that his lesser role in the next season was behind his reason to quit the show. Reiterating that she had only made a one-season deal with the star, Shonda said she didn't expect 'this much of an explosion' from the viewers. The news that the actor, 31, would not be returning as the Duke of Hastings in the second season sparked fury, heartbreak and speculation among fans earlier this month. Shocking: Shonda addressed Rege-Jean Page's departure from the wildly popular period drama for the first time, saying she was 'shocked' at the fans' response to the news While Shonda said she was 'shocked' at the fans' response to the news and that she didn't expect 'this much of an explosion' from the viewers, she said it means she has done her job right. She said: 'I was really shocked [at the reaction], because usually that happens when Ive killed off somebody thats been around for a while. Like, we didnt kill him, hes still alive! Shonda said that the huge reaction from fans means that she has done her job right, as it means she has cast an actor that audiences find 'devastatingly attractive' and become 'incredibly overly attached to'. 'He's still alive': Shonda said the reaction to his departure is usually the one she gets when she has killed a character off, saying: 'We didn't kill him, he's still alive!' A source previously claimed to Page Six that Rege-Jean's decision to quit Bridgerton was actually sparked by tension with Shonda over the fact that his character was not going to be the 'focal point' of the second season. 'Rege is not coming back to Bridgerton because of creative differences with Shonda Rhimes and her team,' a 'Hollywood source' told the publication. 'He wasnt happy with what was planned for his character for season two, which would have kept him a player but not the focal point of the show.' Ooh-la-la! She said that the huge reaction from fans means that she has done her job right, as it means she has cast an actor that audiences find 'devastatingly attractive' Rege-Jean shot to global stardom after appearing as handsome heartthrob Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, in the first season of the show, which centered on his character's romance with leading lady Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor. Netflix said in the first 28 days that the show was online, Bridgerton was streamed in 82 million households, and it came as little surprise when it was renewed for a second season in January. At the time, the streaming giant revealed that the second installment of episodes would focus on Daphne's brother, Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey, and his quest to find a wife, although it was initially suggested that Daphne and Simon would still feature in the show, just not in leading roles. Famous: Rege-Jean played Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, in the first season, which centered on his character's romance with leading lady Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) But much to the disappointment of the Duke of Hasting's most dedicated fans, Bridgerton's social media accounts announced earlier this month that the actor would not be a part of it. 'Dear Readers,' the notice written by Lady Whistledown herself began. 'While all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgertons quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Rege-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings. 'Well miss Simons presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family.' Shonda, meanwhile, added: 'Remember: the Duke is never gone. Hes just waiting to be binge watched all over again.' Shocking: The news that the Rege-Jean, 31, would not be returning as the Duke of Hastings in the second season sparked fury, heartbreak and speculation among fans earlier this month Page Six's source insisted that he left the show on good terms, despite his 'creative differences' with Shonda who is also behind huge TV hits like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. The source said Grey's Anatomy is an example of Shonda's determination to prioritize her shows over certain cast members, noting that if you 'look at all the big names who have left' the ABC hit in the past, 'you see [that if] you don't agree with Shonda, nobody is bigger than the show.' The Hollywood Reporter reported that Rege-Jean 'was offered an opportunity to return as a guest star in three to five episodes of Season 2 at a rate of $50,000 an episode but declined for a multitude of reasons.' Next up: Season two will move on to another Bridgerton sibling, oldest son Anthony (left) played by Jonathan Bailey In an interview with Variety this month, he insisted he was only ever contracted for one season of the show and indicated that Simon and Daphne's tidy happy ending was part of why he signed on in the first place. He said producers had pitched him a 'one-season arc' with 'a beginning, middle, [and] end' and asked him to 'give us a year.' '[I thought] "Thats interesting," because then it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on,' he said. As for the future, he added: 'I have nothing but excitement for Bridgerton continuing to steam train off and conquer the globe. 'But there is also value in completing these arcs and sticking the landing,' he added. The former Bridgerton star also has plenty of other things on his plate, having 'been inundated with offers for other interesting and challenging leading roles.' The award-winning actor is set to star is several other upcoming projects, including the recently announced Dungeons & Dragons flick with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Justice Smith. Onwards: The award-winning actor is set to star is several other upcoming projects, including the recently announced Dungeons & Dragons flick He is also currently filming the Netflix movie 'The Gray Man,' which will also star Ryan Gosling, Billy Bob Thornton, and Alfre Woodard. He is also a favorite to play James Bond following Daniel Craig's departure from the franchise, but only offered a vague answer when asked about it. 'Ah, the B word,' he told The Mirror. 'I think that if you are British and you do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that. 'I think that's fairly normal and I'm flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed. Nothing more or less than that.' He recently won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Bridgerton, and was also nominated in the same category at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Award-winning: He recently won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Bridgerton Meanwhile, Bridgerton seems to be following the outline set out by author Julia Quinn, the writer behind the popular romance novels on which the series is based. Each book in the series follows the love story of a different Bridgerton sibling, starting with Daphne in 'The Duke and I' and moving on to Anthony in 'The Viscount Who Loved Me' in the second book. Rege-Jean's character appears only briefly in Book 2, with the upcoming season focusing on Anthony, playing by a returning Jonathan Bailey, and Kate, played by Sex Education's Simone Ashley. The subsequent six books follow the love stories of siblings Benedict, Colin, Eloise, Francesca, Hyacinth, and Gregory. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The OCTA Research group on Wednesday sounded the alarm over the climbing COVID-19 case fatality rate among seniors in Metro Manila, and urged that they be given timely interventions. In its latest report, OCTA noted that the case fatality rate or CFR in the capital region from March 28 to April 13 stood at 5.36% nearly three times higher compared to the 1.82% logged from March 1, 2020 to March 27, 2021. For the 65 and up age group, the CFR also increased from 11.8% to 28.6% after March 28, OCTA noted. So 28 out of 100 people who are of age 65 and above, namamatay [are dying]. And this is troubling, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David told CNN Philippines Balitaan. OCTA attributed the spike in the fatality rate to the overwhelmed healthcare system as well as the presence of the more transmissible coronavirus variants in the country. RELATED: DOH detects 192 new cases of COVID-19 variant from South Africa, 190 from three other variants In line with these data, the group laid out three recommendations: for seniors to be given priority healthcare access; for seniors who have not yet applied for vaccination to strongly reconsider getting inoculated; and for those in the vulnerable sector to strictly follow strictly public health protocols to avoid infection. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, 15,447 people in the country died of the viral illness. Total cases meanwhile jumped to 892,880 as of Wednesday. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Overview: The global market for barite is getting significant traction from the healthcare industry and the construction sector. Barite or baryte is known for its low solubility, brightness or whiteness, high density, chemical inertness, softness, and low cost, which makes it perfect for several industries. Its application as an additive for paints, rubbers, plastics, friction materials, and other products are expected to make sure that the market gains substantial traction from several end user industries. Market Research Future (MRFR) predicts the market would rise by 5.82% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2023. However, challenges posed by strict regulations and availability of substitutes may deter the market from having a smooth growth. Get a Free Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2035 Segmentation: The global barite market, as discussed by the research analysts of MRFR, has been segmented by application and region to open up spaces for interpretations. This segmentation would reveal several insights that are backed by scientific inputs, factors, figures, graphs, and charts. This will help in crafting methods to increase the profit margin. By application, the global report on the barite market has been segmented into chemical manufacturing, drilling mud, pharmaceuticals, paints & polymers, and others. The drilling mud segment is getting significant traction from the oil and mining industry. Its ability to absorb X-rays and gamma rays and excellent purity are making the percolation process into the pharmaceutical industry much easier. The paint & polymer segment is also witnessing a significant rise in demand due to the growing activities related to construction. Regional Analysis: Asia Pacific dominates the market as most of the barite-producing countries are from this region. In addition, the region is experiencing substantial growth in several barite-related industries. North America is second in terms of generating revenues. The major part of its income comes from drilling mud. Competitive Landscape: Milwhite, Inc. (US), The Cary Company (US), DESKU GROUP INC. (US), Halliburton (US), Ashapura Group (India), APMDC (India), International Earth Products LLC (US), Mil-Spec Industries Corporation (US), Kaomin Industries LLP (India), and Dev International (India) are some of the major companies making substantial changes in the global barite market. Their focus is mostly on strategic dealings that can improve their market position and broaden the scope for operation. This triggers the implementation of techniques like merger, acquisition, innovation, branding, launching, tie-ups, and others. These companies have also increased their research-related funding to get certain advantages from the market. MRFR reported latest dealings of the market to understand how changes will impact the market and what trends are triggering growth. Industry News: In February 2020, Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Announced that they had received successful test results from SGS Minerals & SGS Life Sciences division (SGS) on the Frances Creek barite project. SGS testing is a part of the preliminary process that would assess the economic state of the Frances Creek project. The company confirmed the barium sulfate mined from the Frances Creek barium sulfate had met all the specifications released by the US Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines. The global market for barite is expected some struggles in the coming days due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. As a result of this outbreak, various industries have started suffering due to the lack of demand. Barite finds significant usage in the oil and mining sector, but due to the imposed lockdowns, the sector failed to meet the general standard of production. This triggered measures to save costs. It would affect the intake capacity of barite. Also, the slump in the construction sector can deter global market growth. Browse Full Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/barite-market-2035 The world has a COVID-19 vaccine access problem: Almost half of all doses administered so far have been in Europe and North America, while many poorer countries have vaccinated less than than 1% of their populations. With new coronavirus variants raising the health risk, South Africa and India have proposed that the World Trade Organization temporarily waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines to help ramp up production. The U.S., Britain and the European Union rejected the idea, arguing that intellectual property rights which give vaccine creators the power to prevent other companies from reproducing their products are necessary to ensure innovation and waiving them would not result in increased production. They are now under pressure to change their minds. So, are there only two paths here? Patents remain inviolate, or patents are disregarded? I have worked on legal issues related to access to medicines since 2004 and have been involved in these debates at the WTO and the World Intellectual Property Organization, working with civil society groups and developing countries. I believe there is a middle way: compulsory licensing. Governments can already get around patents When a country approves a patent, it gives the patent holder a monopoly for a limited term, usually 20 years, for new and highly inventive ideas. The promise of having a monopoly gives the patent holder more incentive to take on the risk of research and development and get a product to market. The company can charge a high price for a limited time to recoup that investment. The key phrase is limited time. This makes sure that once a patent runs out, others can make the product. Generic drugs are an example. Competition typically lowers prices and ensures greater access for those who want or need the product. For emergencies, the patent system has a series of safety valves that allow governments to intervene before that limited time is up. The most important safety valve for COVID-19 vaccine production is the compulsory license. Based on public needs including health emergencies a government can allow others to make the product, usually with a reasonable royalty, or fee, paid to the patent owner. Story continues Today, any country that has issued a patent to a COVID-19 vaccine maker can use that patent simply by issuing a compulsory license to enable production by its own companies. So, why doesnt this solve the COVID-19 vaccine access problem? Vaccine patents end at the border The same issue arose in the context of access to HIV medications during the late 1990s. Just like with HIV drugs then, the capacity to manufacture vaccines today is unevenly distributed. The real issue isnt whether a country like Botswana can issue a compulsory license allowing its domestic companies to manufacture the vaccines many countries dont have that kind of production facility and, in many cases, the drugs arent even patented there. The real issue is whether India or China or the Philippines countries with thriving pharmaceutical industries and where drugs are much more likely to be patented can issue a compulsory license that would allow their companies to export to Botswana. Why isnt this happening under the existing rules? Article 31 of the WTOs Agreement of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property, or TRIPS, limits compulsory licenses primarily to domestic production and use. It does not allow a country to issue a compulsory license to a company outside its territory. Countries also cannot issue compulsory licenses to companies within their territories to produce products primarily for export. There have been several attempts to solve this problem, including a change to the TRIPS Agreement approved in 2005. But only one country Rwanda has used that system to access drugs. After an almost two-year process, Rwanda was able to import 7 million doses from Canada. However, the Canadian generic producer, Apotex, declared that the system was economically unsustainable for a private company. During a 2010 review of the system, many developing countries noted how difficult it was to use, with several generic producers giving up in the middle of the process. The process requires an agreement between the two countries issuing compulsory licenses. It also comes with a series of legal requirements, including producing only the amount ordered by the importing country; using entirely different packaging, coloring or shapes to distinguish the drug from regular production; and following special processes in the importing country to prevent the product from being diverted elsewhere. A different compulsory license and production line would be needed for each additional country. For COVID-19, there is also another problem: The technologies in COVID-19 vaccines are complex and involve multiple patents, trade secrets and know-how. A compulsory licensing system would need to address not just patents but all related intellectual property. What to do about it An international consortium called COVAX is trying to expand COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to low-income countries through agreements with vaccine producers, but it is struggling to reach its goal of providing 2 billion doses by the end of 2021. To successfully expand vaccine production, countries need a relatively seamless system that allows a country like India to grant a single, blanket license allowing its companies to produce vaccines developed by U.S. or European companies for export to all countries that lack their own manufacturing capacity. This is ideally what a properly functioning system of global compulsory licensing would enable, in my view. Compulsory licensing is not a violation of patent or intellectual property. The rights holder still gets compensated, and access is assured when it is most needed. The proposed WTO waiver of intellectual property rights seeks to address this need, but it may be broader than necessary. A better solution as I see it would be to smooth the way for using compulsory licensing across all relevant intellectual property needed to expand vaccine manufacturing. Removing the TRIPS limitations on production for export would allow a country like India, at the request of a qualifying country, to issue blanket compulsory licenses covering all COVID-19 vaccine technologies, set the compensation prices and allow the vaccines to be exported to multiple countries simultaneously. The company would make the vaccine in its existing facilities and would be allowed to stockpile for future orders. Additional requests from other countries could be fulfilled from the same production line on the same basis, ensuring a sustainable business model. The patent owner Moderna, for example may lose control over the market, but it maintains its right to be compensated, as is normal for any compulsory license. This is part of the bargain Moderna and Pfizer made when they received patent protection. The result could be a fast increase in vaccine manufacturing that reaches countries that have been left out. Without global vaccinations, its hard to see an end to this pandemic. This emergency is exactly what the patent system is designed for, if its allowed to operate properly for the patent holder and for the public. [More than 104,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.] This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Dalindyebo Shabalala, University of Dayton. Read more: Dalindyebo Shabalala is affiliated with the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) as a Board Member. He has previously worked at the South Centre, an intergovernmental organization of developing countries on Access to Medicines projects funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, SIDA, and GIZ among others. Nearly three years ago, a little-known left-wing organization helped engineer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs shock victory over Representative Joseph Crowley in a House primary. Last year, the group, Justice Democrats, aided Jamaal Bowmans ouster of Representative Eliot Engel in another House primary. Now the group has found its next New York target: Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, 75, a Democrat first elected to Congress in 1992, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Justice Democrats has thrown its support behind Rana Abdelhamid, a community organizer and nonprofit founder, in her bid against Ms. Maloney, laying the groundwork for a generational, ideological and insider-versus-outsider battle that will test the power and energy of the left with President Donald J. Trump now out of office. Ms. Abdelhamid, a 27-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America who is keenly focused on matters of housing access and equity, officially announced her candidacy for the 2022 primary on Wednesday. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University's acclaimed snake-like robot can now slither its way underwater, allowing the modular robotics platform to inspect ships, submarines and infrastructure for damage. A team from the Biorobotics Lab in the School of Computer Science's Robotics Institute tested the Hardened Underwater Modular Robot Snake (HUMRS) last month in the university's pool, diving the robot through underwater hoops, showing off its precise and smooth swimming, and demonstrating its ease of control. "We can go places that other robots cannot," said Howie Choset, the Kavcic-Moura Professor of Computer Science. "It can snake around and squeeze into hard-to-reach underwater spaces." The project is led by Choset and Matt Travers, co-directors of the Biorobotics Lab. The submersible robot snake was developed through a grant from the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. The project aims to assist the Department of Defense with inspecting ships, submarines and other underwater infrastructure for damage or as part of routine maintenance, said Matt Fischer, the program manager at the ARM Institute working on the project. The military has limited options for inspecting areas like a ship's hull. To do so, the Navy must either send a team of divers to the ship's location, wait until it returns to port to deploy the divers, or pull it into a dry dockall options that take time and money. A submersible robot snake could allow the Navy to inspect the ship at sea, immediately alerting the crew to critical damage or sending information about issues that need attention back to port for use when the ship docks. "If they can get that information before the ship comes into a home port or a dry dock, that saves weeks or months of time in a maintenance schedule," said Fischer, who served in the Navy for three years. "And in turn, that saves money." Fischer, who crawled into the ballast tanks of a submarine during his service, said many sailors would gladly pass that difficult and tight duty to a robot. Steve McKee, a co-lead of the Joint Robotics Organization for Building Organic Technologies (JROBOT), a Department of Defense task force interested in technology like the submersible robot snake, said the project is a great example of a partnership between CMU, the ARM Institute, and the Department of Defense that will improve the readiness of equipment in the armed services. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University "The advancements being made hold great promise for helping not only the Department of Defense, but also various industries around the world," McKee said. Outside the military, the robots could inspect underwater pipes for damage or blockages, assess offshore oil rigs, or check the integrity of a tank while it is filled with liquid. The robot could be used to inspect and maintain any fluid-filled systems, said Nate Shoemaker-Trejo, a mechanical and mechatronics engineer in the Biorobotics Lab working on the submersible snakebot. "The distinguishing feature is the robot's form factor and flexibility. The smallest versions of regular submersibles are usually blocky, one-piece arrangements. The robot snake is narrow and jointed," Shoemaker-Trejo said. "The end result is that an underwater robot snake can squeeze around corners and into small spaces where regular submersibles can't go." Versions of the robot snakes have already proven useful in difficult situations. Travers led a team to Mexico City in 2017 to use robot snakes in a search-and-rescue mission after an earthquake. And a robot snake made a lasting impression on Jimmy Fallon when it climbed up his leg as a guest on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon." Credit: Carnegie Mellon University The robot's modular design allows it to adapt to different tasks, whether squeezing through tight spaces under rubble, climbing up a tree or slithering around a corner underwater. For the underwater robot snake, the team used existing watertight modules that allow the robot to operate in bad conditions. They then added new modules containing the turbines and thrusters needed to maneuver the robot underwater. Development progressed rapidly. The team started working on the underwater robot snake in July 2020 and by March 2021, had it swimming in the CMU pool. "I'm surprised that we made this robot work as fast as we did," Choset said. "The secret is the modularity and the people working on this technology at CMU." Explore further Control of snake-like robots for high mobility and dexterity Did you know that military members, veterans, military spouses, survivors and their families are targeted disproportionately for online scams, or cybercrime? From 2016-20, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the military and veteran community reported more than $420.5 million lost to online scams, a figure that was 44% higher than their civilian counterparts. The numbers of military members and veteran falling prey to fraud is most likely much higher than that, though. While the agency estimated that nearly 1 in 4 Americans is a victim of cybercrime, it said only 700,000 cybercrime fraud incidents were reported to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in 2020. To help fight that astounding amount of fraud, several veterans' service organizations, federal agencies, corporations, non-governmental organizations and foundations have joined forces to educate military members, veterans and their families on how to avoid being duped by these scammers. "Cybercriminals, online fraudsters and international crime syndicates are attacking our nation's military and veteran community at alarming rates," said Kristin Judge, CEO of the Cybercrime Support Network (CSN), which created the partnership. "Besides the emotional and financial toll on individuals and families, cybercrime can have a devastating impact on our military readiness and national security." Partners in the nationwide cybercrime prevention initiative includes veterans organizations, such as 22Kill, Army Emergency Relief, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Gold Star Wives-Arlington Chapter, Got Your Back Network, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Links to Freedom, National Association for Black Veterans, National Organization for Victim Assistance, Patriot Boot Camp, Racing for Heroes, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Travis Manion Foundation and VetSec. Tech companies like AT&T, Comcast, Google and Microsoft are also partners of the Cybercrime Support Network. The group has created a website, FightCybercrime.org, that provides information on how to avoid common scams and what to do if you think you've been scammed. It also includes links to local and national support and reporting agencies, as well as commercial security tools that can help you avoid being scammed. Some of the most common scams used to target military and veterans include: Sextortian scams -- Scams that claim to have explicit photos of someone and threaten to release those photos unless money is received. Romance imposter scams -- Fake profiles created on dating websites that are used to target service members for financial gain. Real-estate scams -- Fake rental homes that are posted online and demand cash security deposits for rental. Family or friend imposter scams -- An email that claims to be from a family member or friend who is in trouble and needs money. GI Bill scams -- Fraud schools created just to take GI Bill money without giving an education or presenting a degree. Charity scams -- Charities that claim to support military- or veteran-related causes but really don't. Fake job scams -- Nonexistent jobs that are offered to military families or veterans and then steal personal information when a person applies for that position. DFAS phishing scams -- Fake emails supposedly sent from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, which attempt to steal personal or financial information. As always, the best advice for someone who receives an offer that seems too good to be true is that it usually isn't true. Avoid these offers at all costs. For more information, check out FightCybercrime.org/military for more information. Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. In this Sept. 21, 2016, file photo, Iran's Revolutionary Guard troops march in a military parade in Tehran. Iran will begin enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity after an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, a negotiator said Tuesday, pushing its program to higher levels than ever before though still remaining short of weapons-grade. AP Iran will begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity after an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, a negotiator said Tuesday, pushing its program to higher levels than ever before though still remaining short of weapons-grade. The announcement marks a significant escalation after the sabotage that damaged centrifuges, suspected of having been carried out by Israel and could inspire a further response from Israel amid a long-running shadow war between the nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed never to allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon and his country has twice preemptively bombed Mideast nations to stop their atomic programs. Already earlier in the day, Iran's foreign minister had warned that the weekend assault at Natanz could hurt ongoing negotiations over its tattered atomic deal with world powers. Those talks are aimed at finding a way for the United States to re-enter the agreement, the goal of which is to limit Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for relief on sanctions. Nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi, in Vienna to begin informal talks Tuesday night, made a point to make his announcement in English. ''We believe this round of negotiations is the time for the U.S. to present a list and I hope that I can go back to Tehran with the list of sanctions which should be lifted,'' Araghchi told Iranian state television's English-language arm Press TV. ''Otherwise, it would be a waste of time.'' He said authorities would add another 1,000 ''more-advanced'' centrifuges to Natanz as well. Iran had been enriching up to 20% even that was a short technical step to weapons-grade levels of 90%. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. takes seriously Iran's ''provocative announcement,'' saying it ''calls into question Iran's seriousness with regard to the nuclear talks and underscores the imperative of returning to mutual compliance'' with the deal. Meanwhile on Tuesday, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported an Israeli-owned ship had been attacked by Iran in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of the United Arab Emirates near Fujairah. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an organization monitoring Mideast waterways run by the British navy, described it as ''a possible incident,'' without elaborating. U.S. military officials declined to comment and Emirati officials did not acknowledge any incident there. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, though the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency say Tehran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003. However, the nuclear deal prevented it from having enough of a uranium stockpile to be able to pursue a nuclear weapon. An annual U.S. intelligence report released Tuesday maintained the American assessment that ''Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that we judge would be necessary to produce a nuclear device.'' The talks in Vienna are aimed at reviving America's role in that agreement, which former President Donald Trump abandoned, and lifting the sanctions he imposed. The Vienna-based IAEA told The Associated Press that Iran had informed the agency it planned to begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity at its Natanz facility. IAEA inspectors have been closely monitoring Tehran's program since the 2015 nuclear deal. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to the IAEA, said that ''those who undertook an act of sabotage against the nuclear facility in Natanz probably wanted to undermine the process of'' reviving the nuclear accord. Russia is a member of the nuclear deal. The move to 60% had been hinted at in the past. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had threatened to go to that level in February if the country needed. ''We are determined to develop our nuclear capabilities in line with the needs of the country,'' Khamenei said then. ''For this reason, Iran's enrichment will not be limited to 20%, and we will take whatever action is necessary for the country.'' Iran previously had said it could use uranium enriched up to 60% for nuclear-powered ships. However, the Islamic Republic currently has no such ships in its navy. The weekend attack at Natanz was initially described only as a blackout in the electrical grid feeding above-ground workshops and underground enrichment halls but later Iranian officials began calling it an attack. Alireza Zakani, the hard-line head of the Iranian parliament's research center, referred to ''several thousand centrifuges damaged and destroyed'' in a state TV interview. However, no other official has offered that figure and no images of the aftermath have been released. The U.S. has insisted it had nothing to do with Sunday's sabotage. Israel is widely believed to have carried out the assault that damaged centrifuges, though it has not claimed it. But earlier Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif still issued a warning to Washington. ''Americans should know that neither sanctions nor sabotage actions would provide them with an instrument for talks,'' Zarif said in Tehran alongside visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. ''They should know that these actions would only make the situation difficult for them.'' Zarif separately renewed his earlier warning to Israel over the sabotage, saying that if Iran determines its archenemy was behind it, ''then Israel will get its response and will see what a stupid thing it has done.'' Kayhan, the hard-line Tehran newspaper, urged Iran to ''walk out of the Vienna talks, suspend all nuclear commitments, retaliate against Israel and identify and dismantle the domestic infiltration network behind the sabotage.'' Iran's withdrawal from the talks remains unlikely as the administration of President Hassan Rouhani, whose main diplomatic achievement was the 2015 accord, hopes to get the U.S. to rejoin it and provide desperately needed sanctions relief. But the announcement that it would enrich uranium further shows how pressure has been growing within Iran's theocracy over how to respond to the attack. Rouhani met later Tuesday with Lavrov and stressed the importance of all parties returning to the deal. ''We are neither ready to accept less than that, nor are we after achieving more than that,'' he said. (AP) By Ritah Kemigisa The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kuteesa has informed the United Nations Security Council that there have been no abductions and kidnappings by security forces in Uganda as alleged. The minister made the remarks while meeting the Heads of missions of the five permanent members of the council, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and the European Union Ambassador to Uganda. The council is made up of members from the USA, UK, France, and the Russian federation. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign affairs, Minister Kutesa also shared a report into violent riots that took place in Kampala and other parts of the country. The minister also said the 18th November 2020 riots in which about 54 people were killed were regrettable. He has assured the UN security council that the government is committed to bringing to book all wrongdoers in the country using the relevant laws. Many Ugandans have since last reportedly been kidnapped, tortured, or detained incommunicado. The government has since accounted for about 40 kidnapped people and also provided a list of 177 missing people. The NUP party however claims over 600 of its supporters have been kidnaped. Dr. Moby Kazmi, CoPilot President and Co-founder, recognized by National Minority Quality Forum for his efforts to reduce healthcare disparities and build better communities. ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / CoPilot Provider Support Services, a market-leading provider of technologically advanced healthcare access solutions, celebrates Dr. Moby Kazmi for his recent achievement, earning recognition as one of the National Minority Quality Forum's 2021 "40 Under 40" Leaders in Minority Health. Each year since 2016, the awards recognize individuals within the industry who are helping to reduce healthcare disparities and build better communities. Dr. Kazmi and his peers will be honored during the 2021 NMQF Leadership Summit on Health Disparities and Spring Health Braintrust Virtual Summit April 26 to 27. "The past year proved to be incredibly challenging for healthcare workers and patients alike and we remained committed to serving our community to ensure their businesses and/or livelihood remained unaffected," said CoPilot President and Co-founder, Dr. Moby Kazmi. "Our company was founded to improve lives through better access to healthcare and this acknowledgment from NMQF truly solidifies we are on the right path. I am beyond grateful to be included within this prestigious group of minority leaders making an impact as we work together to create solutions to ultimately end health disparities." In addition to his day-to-day work at CoPilot, Dr. Kazmi established and spearheads CoPilot Cares, a philanthropic initiative designed to benefit families on a global scale. One of the organization's key initiatives is the installation of hand pumps to provide free and clean drinking water in underserved regions like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. To date, the organization has donated over 200 hand pumps globally with plans to double its efforts this year. For more information on CoPilot Cares visit http://copilot-cares.com. About CoPilot Provider Support Services Founded by Dr. Moby Kazmi and Nuaman Tyyeb, CoPilot Provider Support Services, Inc. is a customized supplier of provider and patient-focused reimbursement programs (HUB's). CoPilot utilizes a proprietary, industry-leading technology platform that ensures that bio-pharmaceutical clients receive accurate real-world data, intelligence, and program information. Learn more at www.cmcopilot.com. Social Links: https://www.facebook.com/cmcopilot https://twitter.com/cmcopilot https://www.instagram.com/cmcopilot/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/copilot-provider-support-services-inc/ Media Contact: Company: CoPilot Provider Support Services Contact: Jennifer Garcia Telephone: (516) 514-9302 Email: jgarcia@cmcopilot.com Website: https://www.cmcopilot.com Address: 601 S Lake Destiny Rd, Ste. 300 Maitland FL 32751 SOURCE: CoPilot Provider Support Services View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640365/Dr-Moby-Kazmi-President-and-Co-Founder-of-CoPilot-Awarded-40-Under-40-Leader-in-Minority-Health Information about his involvement came from interviews with five people with knowledge of The Hub Project, an internal memo from another liberal group that was obtained by The New York Times, and the appearance of The Hub Projects business plan in a tranche of data made public by WikiLeaks. According to U.S. officials, the data was stolen by Russian intelligence from the emails of John Podesta, who has been an adviser to Wyss and was a top aide to former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. SoftBank has really turned a corner over the past year, says Rolf Bulk, an analyst at New Street Research. A lot of the companies in the Vision Fund such as Uber initially struggled. As we exit the crisis, a lot of these businesses are doing very well, and will probably continue to do very well. SoftBank started as a software distributor and was little known outside of Asia a decade ago, but capitalised on its lucrative Alibaba investment and a prescient decision to sell the iPhone through its Japanese telecoms business to become a global player. In 2012, it took a majority stake in the American mobile network Sprint, and in 2016, made an even bolder move with the 24 billion takeover of Arm, the FTSE 100 microchip firm. It was soon followed by the Vision Fund, the biggest ever vehicle for technology investment, which raised $US99 billion from SoftBank and investors including Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Despite being managed out of London, Son exercised close control of investment decisions; former executives say he often seemed impatient to throw money at entrepreneurs he took a liking to. Among its wilder bets were the office-sharing start-up WeWork, which would take more than $US10 billion in SoftBank money but came close to collapse amid a botched US listing, Wag, a dog-walking app that took a $US300m Vision Fund investment, and Zume, a pizza making robot. These were a handful of excesses among 150 investments but executives disagreed about multiple others. Son would ultimately make the call, believing any one could be the next Alibaba. The goalposts have moved The funds impact was big enough to rock the wider venture capital world, forcing other funds to write bigger cheques. They said were just going to be the biggest guy on the block, says Mark Tluszcz, the chief executive of tech investor Mangrove Capital Partners. The goalposts have moved. Hes going to make mistakes, but in aggregate, its hard to argue with consistent performance. A former SoftBank executive The Vision Fund spent liberally, and could afford to. Almost as soon as the first fund closed, Son started work on plans for a similarly-sized Vision Fund 2. But confidence had been hit. The second fund would come, but at a fraction of the first ones size, and with SoftBank as its sole investor. But as the virus has ripped through the world economy, SoftBank has been on a winning streak. Under pressure from activist investors Elliott Management to return cash, Son has shown he can sell as well as buy, engineering a $US40 billion sale of Arm to Nvidia and pulling off a $US26 billion sale of Sprint to US network T-Mobile. These sales have increased the importance of the Vision Fund, which has benefited from a fervent market for US tech shares, buoyed by a surge in SPACs, blank cheque investment vehicles that have been particularly hungry for the type of future-gazing start-ups the fund backed. Delivery app DoorDash, South Korean ecommerce company Coupang and property website Compass have all enjoyed public offerings. Investments that have raised eyebrows, such as smart window maker View Glass and robotics company Berkshire Grey, have joined the train of companies merging with SPACs. Even WeWork has announced its own merger that values it at $US9 billion. Singapore taxi app Grab last week disclosed plans for a SPAC that will value it at $US35 billion, 10 times the Vision Fund first invested at. Investments such as TikTok owner ByteDance and Chinese taxi app Didi are tipped to go public in the next year. Dont bet against Masa While the turnaround has largely been down to surging investor interest in technology companies, insiders say the Vision Fund has changed too. After WeWork, the company put in stricter rules about governance and conflicts of interest, and started writing smaller cheques. The last billion-dollar investment was over a year ago. SoftBank was ravaged in the early stages of the pandemic, but has bounced back in the ensuing 12 months. Credit:Getty New Street analyst Bulk says that while the turnaround has largely been down to surging investor interest in technology firms, confidence in SoftBank itself has also improved. He predicts the Vision Fund will report a record profit of over $US25 billion for the first quarter of the year. Son, or Masa, as he is known to those close to him, could find success encouraging further risky bets. The second Vision Fund is focused on smaller and more stable investments in promising areas such as health and artificial intelligence. But Son has still shown occasional glimpses of his wild streak. Last autumn SoftBank itself made a string of short-lived but undisclosed bets in publicly-traded tech companies that spooked investors. Dealmaking has picked up, too. According to figures from PitchBook, the Vision Fund has already completed 17 investments this year, compared with 38 in the whole of last year. Loading There are still casualties. The Vision Fund was the biggest shareholder in Greensill, the British supply chain financing firm that went into administration last month. SoftBank remains a bet on Son. Its in the DNA of Masa, and SoftBank, to make bold moves, but dont bet against Masa, a former executive says. Hes going to make mistakes, but in aggregate, its hard to argue with consistent performance. Telegraph, London The remains of Khaled al-Assaad, a Syrian archaeologist beheaded by Islamic State group jihadists, have yet to be recovered, his son told AFP on Wednesday. The official SANA news agency reported in February that authorities had uncovered three corpses in Kahloul, 10 kilometres (six miles) east of the ancient city of Palmyra where Assaad was killed in 2015. Assaad was believed to be among them, SANA said at the time, ahead of DNA testing. But two months later, DNA results have shown that the remains of the archaeologist have yet to be found, his son Tareq said. "Authorities have just informed us that the DNA test results are not compatible with my father," he said. "Our sorrows and wounds have returned," he said. "We had hoped to close this wound." Officials have yet to comment. Assaad, known as "the father of Palmyra", was 82 when IS fighters executed him on August 18, 2015, three months after they overran the so-called "Pearl of the Desert". Seen as a pioneer of Syrian archaeology, Assaad was director of antiquities in Palmyra for 40 years until 2003. He was responsible for the discovery of several ancient cemeteries and oversaw the excavation of 1,000 columns as well as the site's stunning necropolis of 500 tombs. mam/ho/hc Bill Girvin, a veteran traveler and jack of all trades, has completed his new book When the Road Calls: a first-person account of the authors year spent traveling the world. Girvin writes, This is the remarkable true story of a small group of modern-day adventurers traveling overland to India from Holland on the infamous hippie trail in a $360 Volkswagen van during 1973. They were challenged by the hatred they faced in countries like Turkey, Iran, and Pakistanjust for being Westerners. There were unforgettable moments sitting on top of their wheels as they drove through the blazing Desert of Death in Afghanistan toward the lush Himalayan Mountains en route to the Heavenly Valley of Kashmir and Nepal. They were saddened by the poverty they experienced in the slums of India yet enlightened by the holy gurus and people they met along the way. From the crossing at Dover to the brothels of Thailand, each day brought new memorable moments never to be forgotten, originally written in a daily journal. More than forty years later, that journal was discovered buried deep in a steamer trunk about to be sold at a garage sale. In book form, it is now ready to be shared with the world and hopefully encourage readers to make the most out of this gift we call life. Published by Page Publishing, Bill Girvins exhilarating journal of his adventures abroad is perfect for lovers of adventure. The authors voice shines through the thoughtfully detailed depictions of the countries he and his hippie-movement companions visit throughout their time abroad, describing their experiences with poverty-stricken nations, sweeping vistas, and the anti-Westerner sentiment often found abroad in 1973. Readers who wish to experience this delightful work can purchase When the Road Calls 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. As parents of three teenage daughters, my wife and I expend a lot of our leisure time managing other peoples laundry. Because our children are at an age when I can no longer differentiate their underwear according to their favorite colors or cartoon characters, I often beckon them to join in on the fun by collecting their own freshly cleaned clothes from the laundry basket so that they can strew them randomly throughout their bedrooms. Inevitably, my youngest daughter fails to heed my calls because shes practicing YouTube self-hypnosis somewhere in the house while wearing a pair of expensive noise-cancelling headphones. When I finally find her and disconnect her WiFi life-support, I usually ask her what shes watching, to which she recently replied with a mischievous smile, Im watching Karen videos. For those of you whove managed to avoid the soul-sucking world of social media culture over the past year or so, Karen has become a generic label for anyone over the age of 18 (man, woman, or other) who throws an angry fit in public, usually because someone else isnt following the rules as understood by the Karen in question. Unfortunately for Karens everywhere, these disputes are often recorded on cell phones (probably being financed by the recorders parents) and wind up on YouTube, SnapTok, or whatever those meddling kids are using these days. Now dont get me wrong here, some entitled Karens on these videos spout racist or abusive language, and they are worthy of their online ridicule. Other times, though, they simply insist that people do the right thing like wear a face mask, park legally, or keep their doglets from decorating someone elses lawn with organic IEDs. And, yes, these Karens often lose it in spectacular fashion, delivering epic tongue lashings the kind that my mom used to administer when I was a kid and left every cabinet door open in the kitchen after foraging for Ding Dongs. And, by golly, I deserved her wrath. I also knew better than to respond with anything other than a yes, maam if I wanted to retain the ability to sit on my sitter for the foreseeable future. I must admit that Ive had a few of my own YouTube-worthy Karen moments. For example, when a local hardware store clerk recently refused to accept my return of a defective weed eater, I asked to speak to the manager, gave him one of the few remaining pieces of my mind and informed him that I wouldnt be darkening his door again. (Im sure he was relieved and so was I when I later realized I had just assembled the weed eater incorrectly because I refused to read the instructions.) Another time, I mildly flipped out at a local restaurant when they forgot to cook my middle daughters order of Belgian waffles. I furiously marched right to the kitchen counter area and demanded to know who was in charge of waffles and whether there were any Belgians I could speak to directly. Luckily, Im pretty sure the chef only spoke Spanish at least she pretended to. My point is that we all reach our limits occasionally and have outbursts that could very well result in a televised interview with Oprah. So when you encounter various Karens, say a prayer for them. And if youre the object of a Karens Karening, try diffusing the situation with a yes, maam, sir, or whathave you. It wont happen again. You might be surprised at the Karens reaction and how much better youll feel. And if that doesnt work, feel free to whip out your cellphone and start recording. Jase Graves is an award-winning humor columnist and can be reached at susanjase@sbcglobal.net. [April 14, 2021] Snom Announces Standardized 3CX Template for North American Users The template eliminates the need for customization and is available now for download on the 3CX platform TIGARD, Ore., April 14, 2021 /CNW/ -- Snom (a wholly-owned subsidiary of VTech Holdings Limited), a pioneer and leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP devices, today announced a new standardized template for North American users on 3CX Communications System. We're simplifying the Snom provisioning experience and removing barriers to entry for the 3CX provider community. 3CX is a global leader in business communications solutions. The two companies joined forces to simplify Snom devices' provisioning process on the 3CX platform, eliminating the need for any customization. This new integration means rapid, easily managed deployments on 3CX with the latest Snom SIP offerings. Comprehensive tests accompanied the standardization of the Snom template on 3CX's communications system. The updated standardized template is available for download via "Updates" within the 3CX Management Console. Follow these simple steps to provision your Snom D7xx devices on 3CX: Phone Provisioning > Options Select English (U.S.) for Phone Display Language When English (U.S.) is selected, North American-centric settings make the phone's behavior more conducive for the North American user Greg Steinig, VP of North American Sales at 3CX, exclaims, "Snom now having English (U.S.) templates is wonderful news for our U.S. Partners. 3CX Communications System is renowned for its ease of use and flexibility. The North American settings will make it even simpler for our U.S. partners to assist businesses with their set-up." During the provisioning process, the phone will automatically upgrade to 10.1.64.17 . Once the upgrade is complete, the user can expect the following North American-centric behavior, updated based on customer feedback: Transfer behavior In the transfer dial screen, dialing a number and pressing OK or selecting the transfer key would usually blind transfer the active call. Instead, this updated setting allows a typical outbound call with?options to safe transfer ("blind transfer") or an attended transfer. In the transfer dial screen, dialing a number and pressing OK or selecting the transfer key would usually blind transfer the active call. Instead, this updated setting allows a typical outbound call with?options to safe transfer ("blind transfer") or an attended transfer. Learn more: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/transfer_dialing_on_other Hold When placing an active call on hold, the user will no longer hear the dial tone. When placing an active call on hold, the user will no longer hear the dial tone. More on hold: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/cw_dialtone Auto Dial Auto dialing is set by default to 6 seconds after the last digit is dialed. Auto dialing is set by default to 6 seconds after the last digit is dialed. More on auto dial: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/auto_dial Call Waiting While on an active call and receiving a second call, the new caller information is displayed on the main screen. While still on the active call, you will hear the call waiting tone; however, any action taken on the phone affects the new caller, not the active call. While on an active call and receiving a second call, the new caller information is displayed on the main screen. While still on the active call, you will hear the call waiting tone; however, any action taken on the phone affects the new caller, not the active call. Learn more: https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/always_show_active_call Provisioning URL This only applies when using DHCP Option 66, now defaulted to "off." The values found in the DHCP Options 66 & 67 will now clear after a reboot. This only applies when using DHCP Option 66, now defaulted to "off." The values found in the DHCP Options 66 & 67 will now clear after a reboot. https://service.snom.com/display/wiki/keep_provisioning_url_after_reboot Updated soft key displays when in different call states : : Connected Call users will now see Conference, Hold, and Transfer Call Holding users will now see Conference, Retrieve, and Transfer Incoming Call users will now see Transfer Matt Hickey , vice president of sales at VTech and Snom. "We're simplifying the Snom provisioning experience and removing barriers to entry for the 3CX North American provider community." Cost-effective and easy to use, the suite of Snom SIP endpoints seamlessly scales from small to enterprise businesses. Snom Americas backs their suite of products with North American-based sales, technical and support teams, as well as industry-leading three-year warranties. Snom helps business customers upgrade their communication system by offering back-to-business incentives like new lower prices beginning April 1, 2021, trade-in rebates up to $35 per device, and DaaS leasing by CSC Leasing. Businesses face numerous challenges right now, but affordable and reliable communication shouldn't be one of them. Snom's advanced feature set increases employee efficiency, providing the highest customer service and delighting customers. View the complete list of eligible devices and rebate values here . For more information on Snom Americas and our back-to-business incentives, please visit www.snomamericas.com . About Snom As a pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP phones, Snom provides a diverse collection of telecommunication products that elevate the business user experience through state-of-the-art technology and design. These business phones are sold through a wide network of trusted partners and are backed by industry-leading warranties and North American-based training and support. Acquired by VTech Holdings Limited in 2016, Snom started launching products for the North American market in 2019, which includes color desk sets, cordless phones, wireless conference phones, and public broadcasting systems. VTech is headquartered in Hong Kong and listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKSE: 303). For more information, please visit www.snomamericas.com . 2021 VTech Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. VTech is a registered trademark of VTech Holdings Limited. Snom is a registered trademark of Snom Technology GmbH. Use of Snom by VTech is under license. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owner. About 3CX 3CX is the developer of an open standards communications solution which innovates business connectivity and collaboration, replacing proprietary PBXs. The award-winning software enables companies of all sizes to cut telco costs, boost employee productivity, and enhance the customer experience. With integrated video conferencing; apps for Android, iOS, the web and desktop; a full suite of collaboration features, and website live chat, 3CX offers companies a complete communications package out of the box. 250,000 customers worldwide use 3CX including McDonalds, Hugo Boss, Ramada Plaza Antwerp, Harley Davidson, Wilson Sporting Goods and Pepsi. Maintaining its global presence, 3CX has offices in the U.S., U.K., Germany, South Africa, Russia and Australia. For more information, please visit www.3cx.com. VTech Communications Inc. Paige Huff Marketing Communications Supervisor phuff@vtechphones.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/snom-announces-standardized-3cx-template-for-north-american-users-301268384.html SOURCE Snom [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] TEL AVIV, Israel, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atera, a remote-first IT management company helping businesses transform as the world shifts to a remote work model, today announced a successful first quarter following its recent $25 million funding announcement. Over the past quarter, the company has enhanced its platform features, gained industry recognition, expanded globally and increased their community engagement. Industry Recognition Throughout the first quarter, Atera has continued to outpace industry growth and deliver innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of their users, earning them the top spot in G2's Remote Monitoring & Management (RMM) Momentum Grid. Atera was also recognized as the top company in the G2's Patch Management category. This recognition further solidifies Atera's market growth through improving user satisfaction scores, employee growth, and the company's digital presence. Product Innovation and Infrastructure Enhancements Following Atera's $25 million funding announcement, the company entered a new phase of product innovation and infrastructure enhancements. Atera added new automation features, patch management enhancements, increased their cloud security integration and improved performance speed. Additionally, Atera increased the number of shared scripts from 220 to nearly 500 approved scripts, a 100% increase this quarter. These updates build off the platform's success and further help MSP and IT professionals streamline and simplify their IT services. Global Expansion Atera became one of the fastest growing IT management platforms in the world during the first quarter by working closely with more than 6,000 MSPs and IT Professionals in 75 countries including recent global expansion in France and Germany. Additionally, Atera manages over one million devices globally and expanded their Customer Success department with support 24/7, 365. Community Engagement During the first quarter, Atera increased their community engagement with the introduction of their online Academy and continued webinar success. Atera's online Academy offers free courses on how to get the most out of Atera, use the platform, gain true business growth, and kickstart a successful MSP. In March, Atera hosted their sixth MSP Minds Live Webinar with expert panelists from the IT and cybersecurity industry including Kim Bassett, CTO of Jetty IT Solutions, Yolanda Santana IT Consultant at All Bits Tech, Lital Badash Sr. Cloud Solution Architect for Cybersecurity at Microsoft, and Yasmin Simmons Technical CSM at Atera. The webinar included a deep dive into how cyber security changed since COVID-19, where the industry is headed next and how MSPs can leverage cybersecurity as a key differentiator for their IT businesses. Additionally, Atera hosted a Fireside Chat Webinar, "The Year of the MSP." During the webinar, the Atera team, including CEO Gil Pekelman, CTO Oshri Moyal, Senior Product Manager Liran Madmon, and Technical CSM Yasmin Simmons discussed the highlights of 2020 and shared what is next for both Atera and the MSP and IT industries. Gil Pekelman, Atera CEO and co-founder, said: "The first quarter of this year focused on building off the momentum of our funding announcements and continuing to transform the way MSPs and Corporate IT departments work. We are looking forward to the next chapter of innovation for our company and continuing customer satisfaction and success." About Atera Atera is the developer of a predictive automation and remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform, built with a dispersed workforce in mind. With more than 6,000 customers in 75 countries, Atera's intuitive all-in-one platform offers MSPs and businesses improved operational efficiency, seamless integration and end-to-end management at industry-disruptive pricing. Atera's platform empowers IT teams of all sizes to increase operational efficiency while transforming to a streamlined remote working environment by analyzing over 40,000 data points per second around the clock. To learn more, visit atera.com. CONTACT: Kelsey Hamel [email protected] SOURCE Atera Related Links http://www.atera.com Lucknow, April 14 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday called upon the Yogi Adityanath government to stop covering up the numbers related to Covid cases and deaths in Uttar Pradesh. In a three-page statement issued here, she said that the Congress would support all efforts for the welfare of people. Noting that between April 5 and 11, Covid cases had increased by 70 per cent in the country and 281 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, she said that Uttar Pradesh has a population of 24 crore but not even one crore had been vaccinated till now. Priyanka Gandhi said that testing in the state was not up to the mark and reports of tests were being unduly delayed. "The number of beds is insufficient and this is leading to delay in treatment has led to increase in deaths and people are being made to wait for hours to cremate their near and dear ones," she said Citing the letter sent by UP Law Minister Brijesh Pathak, Priyanka Gandhi said that it exposes the grim reality of the prevailing situation, as compared to the tall claims being made by the state government. She further stated that there were merely 531 ICU beds in Lucknow whereas the number of patients here is over 13,000. "There are more than 5,000 posts of doctors lying vacant in district hospitals. There is a total requirement of 45,000 doctors in UP at all levels including primary health centres and community health centres but there are only 13,000 doctors at present," she pointed out. Priyanka further asked the Yogi Adityanath government to ramp up medical facilities, allow testing by private labs but cap their rates, and ensure an easy and transparent procedure for admission of patients in medical facilities. The Congress leader sought financial assistance for Covid patients from poor families and increase the vaccination drive. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Berlin, April 14 : Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) lost 1-0 at home against Bayern Munich on Tuesday but still dumped the title holders out of the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals from a 3-3 aggregate. Former PSG player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting headed home for Bayern in the 40th minute which wasn't enough as the Germans had lost 3-2 at home a week ago, DPA reports. Man of the match Neymar was denied twice by the woodwork as PSG reached the semis a third time to keep alive the dream of a first-ever Champions League title for the ambitious Qatari-owned club. "I am very happy. We eliminated the European champion, a great team," Neymar told RMC Sport. PSG are a great team. Now we are in the semi-finals and we dream bigger." The tie was a rematch of last year's final which Bayern had won 1-0. Chelsea meanwhile reached the last four for the first time since 2014, losing 1-0 against Porto from Mehdi Taremi's late bicycle kick but going through 2-1 overall. Chelsea next play record winners Real Madrid or compatriots Liverpool, who meet Wednesday at Anfield with Real 3-1 up. PSG will be up against Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund, with Pep Guardiola's City taking a slender 2-1 lead to Germany. "We weren't eliminated tonight, the result in Munich needed to be better. That was frustrating because we missed so many chances," Munich captain Manuel Neuer told Sky TV after their exit. "We're on our last legs - it's tough against such a top side, but the players gave everything on the pitch." Bayern were still without injured star striker Robert Lewandowski and coronavirus-infected Serge Gnabry, and midfielder Leon Goretzka was also not fit to play in their 100th Champions League knock-out match while PSG's list of absentees included captain Marquinhos owing to a groin problem. PSG did not sit back as Neuer saved from Neymar in a goalmouth scramble before the Brazilian was denied by the crossbar and the post. Bayern's 40th minute lead came out of the blue. David Alaba had a short-range shot saved well by Keylor Navas but Lewandowski's replacement Choupo-Moting headed into the net on the rebound. After the break Alaba aimed wide as Bayern went in search of the second goal they needed and Navas denied Thomas Mueller. PSG started lurking for the counter as substitute Moise Kean fired high and Mbappe was ruled just offside after smashing high into the net but it didn't matter in the end. Both matches between Porto and Chelsea were played in Seville owing to coronavirus travel restrictions, and Porto aimed to try and overturn their two-goal deficit in what was Chelsea's home leg. Taremi's spectacular goal in stoppage time came too late to deny Chelsea whose new manager Thomas Tuchel reached the last four the second straight year, having been in charge of PSG last year. "We accepted what was needed was a tough, tough fight," Tuchel told BT Sport. "Overall we deserved to beat Porto. It was a tough 180 minutes." BRUSSELS, APR 14 - The European Court of Justice on Wednesday gave wines from the Tuscan area of Chianti exclusive rights to use the iconic 'Gallo' (Rooster) symbol on their products. The court upheld a ruling by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that rejected an application by a similar wine to use the symbol. "Taking into account the image of excellence and prestige associated with the front trademark of Chianti wine," the Court of Justice said, "the requested use of the trademark (by the rival producer) could have generated an undue advantage for it." The Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) was the historic symbol of the medieval League of Chianti and has become the symbol of the wines of Chianti Classico. The Black Rooster symbol is linked to a medieval legend that takes place during the time of open hostilities between Firenze and Siena for control of the Chianti territory. (ANSA). PODGORICA -- Montenegro says it needs help from the European Union to pay off a whopping $1 billion Chinese loan for a controversial road project that has left the Balkan country in a dire financial situation. But EU spokeswoman Ana Pisonero told RFE/RL that the bloc "does not repay loans from third parties," though she added that Brussels did have concerns over "the socioeconomic and financial effects some of China's investments can have," as well as the risks of economic imbalances and "debt dependency." She did say, however, that the EU was willing to offer support through its $10 billion Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. "The Economic and Investment plan will help leverage funding from other public and private investors, including from the European Investment Bank at very favorable conditions," Pisonero said. The long-delayed and still-incomplete highway finds itself at the heart of a wider geopolitical contest on the EU's doorstep, where China's influence in the Balkans has expanded dramatically in recent years. The rebuffed call to Brussels for assistance comes as Montenegro faces a looming repayment deadline for the highway -- which is being built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) -- and is grappling with a host of political and financial challenges, including a tourism-dependent economy that has contracted significantly due to the pandemic and weakened its repayment ability. China holds approximately one-quarter of Montenegro's total debt, which reached 103 percent of GDP last year, and if Podgorica defaults on its loan the contract for the road project gives China the possibility to access land and assets in the Balkan country as collateral. According to the current contract with the Export-Import Bank of China, the first loan payments are due in July. The stakes are now high for both Brussels and Podgorica. Montenegro must now search for other options for its financial future, while the EU must look for a way to shore up its standing in the Western Balkans, a region where China continues to improve its ties amid the pandemic by strategically donating vaccines and providing aid in a time of crisis. "It's not a surprise to see where the project ended up, it was trouble in the making from the start," Vuk Vuksanovic, a researcher at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy, told RFE/RL. Debt Politics With debt help from the EU not on the table, the new Montenegrin government that was narrowly voted into power in December must find a new solution. The loan was taken out by a previous government led by current President Milo Djukanovic, who continues to be a long-term force in the country's politics. Montenegro, which became an independent country again when it broke away from Serbia in 2006, joined NATO in 2017 and is working to get the green light to join the EU. Like many countries in the Balkans, it also has strong ties to Russia and has increasingly looked to China -- under the guise of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative -- for infrastructure and investment. The current government of Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic has tried to distance itself from the highway project, raising concerns over being able to meet its debt obligations and tying the loan to its predecessors, who signed the deal in 2014. Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic first publicly raised concerns in March, when he told Montenegrin lawmakers that the EU should help refinance the loan to protect the country from becoming dependent on China. Montenegrin Finance Minister Milojko Spajic also joined the public effort, telling the Financial Times on April 11 that the EU helping the country with the Chinese loan was an "easy win" and "low-hanging fruit" for the bloc. A Winding Road Accepting the loan from the Export-Import Bank of China and building the highway was controversial from the very start. The project was designed to link the port of Bar on Montenegro's Adriatic coast to landlocked neighbor Serbia. The highway itself is divided into three sections, with the Chinese loan only covering the first 41 kilometers. That stretch, which passes through mountains north of the capital, has been the most demanding, with an estimated 60 percent of it made up of bridges and tunnels. The first section of the highway is not yet completed, having faced planning problems and delays due to the pandemic. The government recently said it intended for the first section to be complete this year. When the current government was the opposition it criticized the government for agreeing to the loan, raising concerns over the cost, a lack of transparency in the tender process, potential corruption, and the long-term economic risk it brought to the small Balkan country of 620,000. Subscribe To Our New China Newsletter It has become impossible to tell the biggest stories shaping Eurasia without considering Chinas resurgent influence in local business, politics, security, and culture. China In Eurasia is the new biweekly newsletter by correspondent Reid Standish in which he builds on local reporting from RFE/RLs journalists across Eurasia to give you unique insights into Beijings ambitions. It's sent on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here. Doubts about the highway first surfaced after two feasibility studies, conducted in 2006 and 2012, showed it was not economically viable. Montenegro had tried and failed to secure funding from European sources before it turned to China. "Some projects haven't been built for a reason," Jonathan Hillman, the director of the Reconnecting Asia Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told RFE/RL. "Just because financing becomes available it doesn't mean that it should be accepted." MANS, an EU-financed anti-corruption watchdog, also pressed the government at the time to provide lawmakers with data to support its vision and how the project would generate revenue before a vote to approve the Chinese-funded highway in 2014. But the government refused to do so and many details around the contract for the loan remain hidden. Even before the current problems posed by the debt repayment deadline, the Chinese loan caused economic pain to the country, forcing the government to raise taxes and partially freeze public-sector wages in order to get its finances in order. Because the government did not hedge against currency swings and failed to include a turnpike in its original plans, the cost of the project continued to soar, pointing to a looming debt problem. The highway itself proved to be extremely expensive, with an average estimated cost of $23.8 million per kilometer. In 2018, the Center for Global Development, a Washington-based think tank, listed Montenegro as one of eight countries at risk of a debt crisis after receiving a Chinese loan. "The risks around this highway were clear at the beginning," Hillman said. "This shows what can happen when there isn't proper accountability and effective oversight for these big infrastructure projects." China In The Balkans In addition to the economic problems it poses to Montenegro, the current saga also puts the EU in a difficult position in regard to China in the region. China continues to loom large in the Balkans, deepening its footprint through infrastructure and energy projects. Beijing has also begun to build up stronger political ties in the region, forging a comprehensive partnership with Serbia that has allowed it to expand out to neighboring countries. Montenegro is potentially attractive to China for a number of reasons. It gives Beijing a European presence on the Adriatic coast and closer political ties and heightened influence within the country could prove useful if Podgorica joins the EU. For Brussels, how it decides to navigate this situation will impact its credibility in the Balkans, which has been negatively affected during the pandemic over problematic episodes involving the supply of medical equipment and vaccines. Still, the EU is the region's top investor and main market and is exploring other avenues to assist Podgorica. On April 12, French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune tweeted that Paris was working with the European Commission to find a solution to Montenegro's debt problem and "reduce the dependence on China in the Balkans." "This is a rare opportunity for the EU to step up in its backyard and push back against China," Vuksanovic said. "But it also wouldn't be the first strategic opportunity that the bloc has squandered in the Balkans," he added. "Doing so would be a bad signal to the region and a green light to Beijing." Reid Standish and Asja Hafner reported from Prague, Gjeraqina Tuhina from Brussels, and Slavica Brajovic from Podgorica (Natural News) A doctorate student from Australia developed an automated system to detect fast radio bursts (FRBs), or mysterious and powerful flashes from outer space. In his report, Wael Farah from the Swinburne Institute of Technology discussed how he built the UTMOST FRB search program, an automated system for capturing FRBs using artificial intelligence (AI) at the Molonglo Radio Observatory. Farah and his colleagues were able to record five FRBs using the system. These radio waves came from a source approximately 3.6 billion light-years away from the Earth. In particular, one of the FRBs they captured is said to be the most energetic and broadest burst ever recorded. FRBs are intense and unexplained radio signals that reach the Earths atmosphere from sources millions of light-years away. Although FRBs last only for milliseconds, these resound in the sky together with other radio pulsars in the galaxy. It is fascinating to discover that a signal that traveled halfway through the universe, reaching our telescope after a journey of a few billion years, exhibits complex structure, like peaks separated by less than a millisecond, said Farah. The bursts are detected by the Molonglo Observatorys telescope, and Farahs device captures them. His invention also has the ability to sort FRBs out of all the other noises that the device picks up. Wael has used machine learning on our high-performance computing cluster to detect and save FRBs from amongst millions of other radio events, such as mobile phones, lightning storms, and signals from the Sun and from pulsars, said project scientist Chris Flynn. Molonglos real-time detection system allows us to fully exploit its high time and frequency resolution and probe FRB properties that were previously unobtainable, said project leader Matthew Bailes. Farahs project is a collaboration between his school and the University of Sydney, which owns the telescope in Molonglo. Discovery of the FRBs and possible source The first FRB arrived on Earth on July 24, 2001 and has a length of five milliseconds. However, astronomers believe FRBs have been traveling in the universe some 1.6 billion years ago when a dead star released these bursts in a direction towards the planet. In addition, the 2001 event was not recognized in history books until 2006, when an undergraduate student from West Virginia University, together with his adviser, discovered the signal from archival data from the Parkes radio telescope in Australia. With their discovery, the FRB from 2001 was dubbed as the Lorimer burst, after the students adviser, Duncan Lorimer. Since the FRBs have relatively short durations, scientists have a hard time catching and determining their possible sources. (Related: Mysterious blobs of radio emissions found floating in space.) One suspected source of these bursts is magnetic stars, also called magnetars by astronomers. According to them, these are remnants of massive dead stars that are highly magnetic. In April 2020, X-rays, gamma rays and a blast of an FRB were spotted by astronomers from a magnetar, which they named SGR 1935+2154. According to the discoverers, this magnetar is situated near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy and about 30,000 light-years away from Earth. This discovery was published in the journal Nature in November 2020. This discovery paints a picture that some and perhaps most of these fast radio bursts from other galaxies also originate from magnetars, said study co-author Christopher Bochenek in a press conference. According to Bochenek and his team, this is the first FRB detected in the Milky Way, the first FRB accompanied by other detectable radiations and the first FRB that can be attributed as released by a single source. Visit Space.news to learn more about the discoveries in the universe. Sources include: QuantumMagazine.org DailyMail.co.uk Astronomy.com Astronomy.SWIN.edu.au Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 03:20:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. federal health agencies on Tuesday called for a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine after rare blood clotting cases emerged in six recipients. In a joint statement Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. These adverse events "appear to be extremely rare," the statement said. Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given, according to the statement. More than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States as of Monday, according to the CDC. In a White House briefing Tuesday, Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said the pause will allow more investigation into the cases, including the mechanism of the reactions, and history of the recipients. The investigation would shed light on what would happen and what should do, he said. Noting the percentage of this rare side effect was low, Fauci said less than one in a million Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients experienced blood clots. But he recommended people who have administered the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be on lookout for symptoms including severe headaches, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and leg pain within three weeks of vaccination. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases and assess their potential significance. The FDA will review that analysis as it has also launched an investigation into these cases. "Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution," said CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat and Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks in a joint statement. Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus coordinator, said Johnson & Johnson's vaccine pause would not have a "significant impact" on U.S. vaccination efforts. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine makes up less than 5 percent of the more than 190 million recorded shots in arms in the United States to date, Zients said at the White House briefing. "We have more than enough supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to continue the current pace of about 3 million shots per day," he said. Zients said states would help those who have scheduled Johnson & Johnson vaccinations to reschedule Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 shots. Several states and cities, including Washington, California, Los Angeles, New York City and New Jersey, announced they would pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday it is aware of the rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets who have received its COVID-19 vaccine. "In addition, we have been reviewing these cases with European health authorities. We have made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe," the company said in a statement. The severe adverse events came at a time when U.S. health officials are encouraging Americans to get vaccinated as soon as they can. Experts are concerned that the blood clots related to Johnson & Johnson's vaccine may heighten vaccine hesitancy of the public. Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the United States in late February. It is the third COVID-19 vaccine that has received FDA's authorization, also the first single dose COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States. Enditem ATMORE, Ala., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- United Bancorporation of Alabama Inc. (OTCQX: UBAB) (the"Company"), parent company of United Bank and UB Community Development, released its 2020 Annual & Impact Report, documenting annual progress and corporate strategic initiatives as well as finding new innovative ways to meet our customer, community and employee's needs during the pandemic. The report highlights several corporate successes such as record high income, a $6 million Capital Magnet Fund award, and a $799,000 Financial Assistance award, in addition to community and economic development projects from both United Bank and UB Community Development, a community development partner of United Bank. The emphasis in this report was on our multi-bottom line commitment of strong financial performance, community and economic development. "The diversity of our income sources gave us the ability to offset trends, weather disruption, and maintain stability. We're confident this same diversity of income will sustain and propel us forward," said Bob Jones, President & Chief Executive Officer, United Bank. "Our Company is starting off the year in a very strong position accomplishing several strategic milestones. On February 22, 2021, United Bank received an award of $8 million from the US. Department of Treasury's Capital Magnet Fund program. United Bank was one of two applicants to receive an $8 million award, which was the largest award granted to a single entity. On March 17, 2021 United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc. announced an agreement to acquire Town-Country National Bank, a Camden, AL based community bank with approximately $126.2 million in total assets as of December 31, 2020. The acquisition is scheduled to close in the third quarter of 2021." You can download and read our Annual Impact report at www.UnitedBank.com on our Investor Relations tab or visit our microsite at www.UnitedBankAnnualReport.com. For information about UB Community Development visit www.UBCommunityDevelopment.com. Contact: Tonya Lambert 2514466004 [email protected] SOURCE United Bancorporation YPSILANTI, MI Pop-up vaccination clinics are being credited by Washtenaw County leaders as a key part of combatting the disproportionately low number of Black and Latino residents getting shots. Five pop-up vaccine clinics were done in March in areas most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 2,084 doses administered at schools, churches and community sites, 239 (11.5%) of those vaccinated were Hispanic or Latino, while 606 (29%) were Black. Getting residents from marginalized communities across Washtenaw County access to the vaccines presented a number of challenges that were met head-on by health care workers and government officials organizing the clinics, health officials said. It was intense work, Im not going to lie to you, said Spring Quinones, a bilingual outreach worker with the Washtenaw Health Plan, a program for low-income Washtenaw County residents who dont have access to affordable health insurance. In March, Quinones helped hundreds of Spanish-speaking residents sign up for vaccines at St. Francis Church in Ann Arbor. She describes her role as a labor of love, and said without bilingual workers on the ground, accomplishing the Washtenaw County Health Departments goal of increasing vaccine access to the countys Spanish-speaking community would be a daunting challenge. In February, Hispanic or Latino residents, who make up 4.8% of Washtenaw Countys population, accounted for just 2.5% of those who had received at least one dose of vaccine. After the pop-up clinics, Hispanic or Latino residents now make up 4.2% of those vaccinated. Quinones was tapped by the health department for her connections to Washtenaw Countys Latino community through her role with the Washtenaw Health Plan. I know what their concerns are medically, along with a whole bunch of other things, Quinones said. Because I am bilingual, they present everything to me education, immigration, healthcare Im like a clearing house for the Latino community here. The level of comfort Latino residents have with Quinones has been built during eight years working within the health department, she said. I know their story, so, every time they have to go and see someone, they dont have to start from the beginning, she said. That trust was vital in getting some hesitant members of the community to register for vaccines, Quinones said. While misinformation and conspiracy theories did play into some of the hesitancy, Quinones said some apprehension toward signing up for an appointment came from the location of the clinic itself. Thousands of people, including police were present at the health departments mass clinic at EMUs Convocation Center, which made people fearful that immigration authorities could arrive, Quinones said. Residents also are often hesitant to drive far outside their neighborhood, which made the church the perfect setting, she said. People react to familiarity, and professionals who speak Spanish and who are from their communities. If you speak Spanish youre family, so even if youre from another country, the language immediately connects us, Quinones said. Conversations lead to greater access There wouldnt be as many Black Washtenaw County residents vaccinated today if not for the countywide outreach from health and community leaders, said the Rev. Larry Davis, pastor of Ypsilantis Christian Tabernacle Church. Zoom calls in March with Washtenaw County Administrator Gregory Dill, County Commissioner Justin Hodge and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, focused on giving Black people in Washtenaw County greater access to vaccines, Davis said. It took the movers and shakers to get where we are today, Davis said. We were tired of you all making plans for us and then telling us to come. We want to sit at the table. Greg Dill made that possible. Like the Latino community, demand for the vaccine was there, but several factors, such as the prioritization guidance and a lack of email and internet access, made it hard for Black residents to find appointments, officials said. In Washtenaw County, 10.7% of vaccinations have been received by Black people, who account for 12.3% of county residents, 12.3% of coronavirus cases and 22% of deaths, data shows. In February, when the health department released its initial demographic data, Black residents made up just 8% of those who had received a vaccination, compared to 77% of white residents, who make up 74.1% of the countys population. Ive always talked about wanting to meet trauma in our community where its at, Dill said. When you start to look at the pockets of our county that really need a different vehicle for services, those are the places I think are important. Moving county services through community organizations, churches and schools is one way to do that, Dill said. People support what they helped create, Dill said. Being able to sit down, talk to community leaders about where there might be gaps in our services and distribution of vaccine was useful conversation. Connection to the Community Empowering community liaisons like Quinones and Davis to help organize vaccination clinics played a big role in their success, said Jimena Loveluck, Washtenaw County Health Department health officer. I think the clinics are incredibly successful when we partner with trusted messengers like faith leaders and community leaders to not only promote the events, but to help register people, connect people to vaccines, do education, answer questions, Loveluck said. Maintaining relationships with community members is key in supporting equitable distribution, Loveluck said. Loveluck said shes looking forward to continuing the clinics with the support of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which provided additional Moderna vaccines for the health departments initial pop-up clinics through its Community Outreach COVID-19 Pilot Project. Officials announced Monday, April 12, that new pop-up clinics are coming back. Several Ypsilanti churches, including Second Baptist Church, New Covenant Missionary Baptist, Brown Chapel Church are set to do more pop-up clinics in the coming weeks, Dingell said. St. Francis Church in Ann Arbor is also scheduled to receive pop-up clinics, she said. Two days per week are planned at each site with 100 doses per day, health officials said, adding that the tentative expectation is that 100 can be doubled to 200 if needed. The health department will make an announcement regarding these sites when details are available, officials said. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: COVID-19 surge closes in-person services at Ypsilanti Township Civic Center High COVID-19 cases prompt Ypsilanti to declare local state of emergency Michigan Ladder Company closes after 120 years in Ypsilanti Advertisement Hundreds of 'devastated' British Gas engineers who have lost their jobs today vented their fury after they refused to sign up to tougher employment terms under a controversial 'fire and rehire' scheme which has cast a shadow over chief executive Chris O'Shea's first year in office. The energy supplier, which is one of the UK's Big Six, handed dismissal notices to around 1,000 engineers who install and repair boilers and heating systems for the company's nine millions service customers, on April 1 amid a bitter row over pay and working conditions. Employees who had refused to sign up to tough new contracts forcing them to work longer hours and face cuts to higher pay rates for working over weekends and bank holidays were granted a two-week grace period in which to either change their minds or lose their jobs. Parent company Centrica, which currently employs around 20,000 people in the UK, announced plans last summer to cut hundreds of jobs and change the terms of existing contracts using a controversial 'fire and rehire' tactic that has infuriated unions. Under the new contracts, full-time engineers would be required to work an extra three hours a week, or 40 hours a week in total, and would not be paid a higher rate to work when required on weekends and bank holidays. Though the terms were accepted by most trade unions and employees, the GMB has staged more than 40 days of strike action in recent months in protest against the 'mass sacking' of its members and said British Gas 'should be ashamed' of the treatment of its workers. In the last two weeks, hundreds of engineers had agreed to the new deals. However, it is understood around 500 engineers had still refused to agree to the new terms by the end of Tuesday, with between 300 and 400 people who did not sign by midday today set to lose their jobs. The British Gas owner claimed the changes were needed to protect jobs as it tried to shore up its market position while battling to compete with rivals after sinking to a 362million loss last year amid increasing competition and the volatility caused by the pandemic. However, dozens of those who lost their jobs today took to social media to condemn the actions of British Gas, with one former employee writing: 'I won't sign an inferior contract.' British Gas engineers have shared their fury as hundreds today lost their jobs after refusing to sign up to tougher employment terms under a 'fire and rehire' scheme Another engineer, who worked with the company for 20 years, said the only 'thanks' they received was a demand for the return of his 'two-year-old honking work shoes' and van. Debbie Tinsley said: 'So by this time tomorrow I, along with many others, will be fired by British Gas. What have we done wrong? Absolutely nothing. 'We just didn't agree to their new contract that would make us work longer hours for less pay. Thirty years of loyal service counts for nothing.' Daniel Caie added: 'It's my last day at British Gas today. I'm getting dismissed for not signing their new contract. 'So big thank you's to: The Inverness & Elgin team for being sound and sharing vital experience throughout my 10 years. 'The BG Twitter community for giving it a hell of a fight.' Those who chose not to sign the divisive new contracts were applauded by Ed Miliband, who said he was 'proud to support the British Gas workers who are taking a stand against unacceptable 'fire and rehire' tactics.' Taking to Twitter, he added: 'Boris Johnson said that 'fire and rehire' was unacceptable, but he's done nothing about it. The government needs to act now.' Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, said: 'Today British Gas fires hundreds of its workers. Andy Prendergast, GMB acting national secretary, told the Guardian that many of its 8,000 engineers had agreed to the terms while allegedly 'under duress'. The GMB claimed that workers had been 'let down by successive regimes of mismanagement', and thundered: 'Our members have done everything they've been asked, always on the promise that this will lead to prosperity - but it hasn't.' GMB national secretary Justin Bowden told the Morning Star: 'That British Gas doesn't give a toss for either its customers or staff is evidenced by the mass sacking of the engineers that it badly needs to service these customers. British Gas workers who are members of the GMB union go on strike in Windsor in January Dozens of those who lost their jobs today took to social media to condemn the actions of British Gas, with one former employee writing: 'I won't sign an inferior contract' 'Why? They wouldn't sign new contracts that would make their lives worse. 'Companies shouldn't be able to do this. Fire and rehire should be illegal. 'Solidarity to those affected. Time to change the law.' The GMB Union today insisted British Gas should be 'ashamed of themselves' for their use of the controversial scheme. 'Whilst there is sadly nothing to stop a company bullying its own staff to sign terms they don't accept, and sacking those who won't submit to bullying, GMB members will not accept the outcome of this nine-month campaign of British Gas bullying.' Under the updated contracts, full-time British Gas engineers are required to work an additional three hours per week to 40 hours in total. They will also not be paid a higher rate when asked to work on weekends and Bank Holidays. Politicians are among those who have called for the 'fire and hire' scheme to be scrapped The terms sparked furious opposition in recent months, with the GMB Union staging more than 40 days of strike action to protest what it dubbed the 'mass sacking' of staff. Centrica today said it achieved 'collective agreement' with the majority of unions other than GMB over the terms following two rounds of talks which began in July last year. It added that the 'vast majority' of their 7,000 members have signed. A spokesman for Centrica told MailOnline: 'There is a job for everyone at the end of this process. We are changing the way we work to give our customers the service they want and protect the future of our company and 20,000 UK jobs. 'Today marks the end of the period for our employees to sign new contracts. These are highly competitive, and our changes are reasonable. 'Around 98 per cent of the entire company has accepted and we hope the remaining, also sign and choose to stay. Those who chose not to sign the divisive new contracts were applauded by Ed Miliband, who said he was 'proud to support the British Gas workers who are taking a stand against unacceptable 'fire and rehire' tactics' 'We have not cut base pay or changed our generous final salary pensions. Our gas service engineers remain some of the best paid in the sector, earning 40,000 a year minimum. 'While change is difficult, reversing our decline which has seen us lose over three million customers, cut over 15,000 jobs and seen profits halved over the last 10 years is necessary. 'The changes will also unlock our ability to grow jobs and hire 1000 green apprentices over the next two years.' Mr O'Shea previously revealed how his wife and son were sent a package of excrement with a note referring to the nine-month long dispute. 'I know this puts a lot of pressure on people,' he told MPs in February. 'Only yesterday, my wife and teenage son had a package of excrement delivered to them with a note about 'fire and rehire'. This is something that affects absolutely everybody; I'm not immune to this.' It comes after Centrica revealed its annual underlying earnings had plunged by nearly a third as it shed more customers and was hit by the pandemic and warmer weather. The Windsor-based group, which reported a 31 per cent drop in underlying operating profits to 447million for 2020, lost nearly 165,000 customers last year. Scandal that's made your blood boil! Pensioners left without heating, vital boiler repairs delayed... the shocking stories British Gas bosses MUST read By BEN WILKINSON AND FIONA PARKER FOR THE DAILY MAIL Scores of abandoned British Gas customers say they have paid the price of blind loyalty to costly boiler cover plans. Money Mail has now received around 100 letters and emails from fed-up policyholders who are spending hundreds of pounds a year on boiler and heating insurance but still can't get an appointment for repairs in good time. We have compiled a dossier of your letters and today sent them to British Gas boss Chris O'Shea, asking that he investigates and pays refunds where necessary. The stories include that of a 97-year-old woman who was told to wait three weeks for her boiler to be fixed; and a pensioner who was left without heating in winter. Fuming: We have now received around 100 letters and emails from fed-up policyholders who are paying for boiler and heating insurance but still can't get an appointment for repairs Last week, we told how 170,000 HomeCare customers were facing long delays for routine services and repairs. Today we reveal that: British Gas's services arm which includes HomeCare made a 256million profit last year. The bumper profit came despite this section of the business losing 122,000 customers in the same year. Loyal customers are also being hit with spiralling premiums, with new policyholders paying as little as a quarter of the amount paid by those who have been with British Gas for more than a decade. Boiler cover might not be worth the money for nine in ten households. HomeCare customers who can only afford to pay monthly are charged more than those who pay for a year upfront. Complaints about British Gas services soared by 64 per cent in 12 months. British Gas has more than 3.5million HomeCare customers, who pay for insurance to cover the cost of boiler repairs and annual services. They can also choose to spend more to cover extras such as home electrics, drains and plumbing. Yet lockdown restrictions and recent strike action by engineers have meant many customers are being told they must wait weeks for an appointment, leaving some elderly and vulnerable people without hot water or heating for days. Money Mail has heard from scores of fed-up customers who cannot get through to the utility giant on the phone, or who have been let down by engineers failing to show up. Some have even had to wait two years for their annual boiler service. British Gas, which disputes union GMB's claim that more than 170,000 homes are waiting for repairs, says it hopes to clear its backlog of service delays shortly, now that it has resumed non-essential jobs. Trust: British Gas has more than 3.5million HomeCare customers, who pay for insurance to cover the cost of boiler repairs and annual services I was left talking to a robot Elizabeth Douton with husband Carlos Elizabeth Douton, 79, says it is almost impossible to speak to a fellow human being when she telephones British Gas. The retired receptionist and her husband, Carlos, 82, recently spent two months trying to have their faulty boiler repaired. They have been HomeCare customers for more than three decades and paid 273 when they renewed for this year's cover. But it took three visits by engineers to fix the problem and each time, Elizabeth had to do battle with British Gas's dreaded automated phone system. Elizabeth, who lives in Birmingham, submitted a formal complaint to British Gas but was told that it would take eight weeks before she would receive a reply. 'I have had to ring up HomeCare on multiple occasions but most of the time it is impossible to speak to someone,' says Elizabeth, a great-grandmother of seven. 'You just don't feel you are getting the service you deserve.' Advertisement Cost does not always add up Recent research from consumer group Which? found that nine out of ten households would be better off if they ditched boiler cover and instead paid for repairs and services as and when they needed them. Half of the customers surveyed said they had needed their boiler fixed at some point in the past five years, paying an average of 107. But with a typical annual service costing about 80, the combined cost was still 101 cheaper than the average boiler cover premium of 288. More than a third said their boiler hadn't broken down at all in the past five years meaning they could save a total of 3,000 if it survived for a further five. The basic HomeCare One package, which includes an annual boiler service and repairs, now costs a new customer 14 a month if they are willing to pay a 60 excess on claims. The full HomeCare Four deal, which includes cover for drains, heating and plumbing, costs 23 a month or 38 if you want to avoid excess charges. But if you can afford to pay for the whole year upfront, the overall cost is cheaper by 12. Some HomeCare customers have also told Money Mail that delays and problems in booking an appointment mean they cannot get an annual service every year. Told to wait in the cold at 97 Three week wait: Beryl Farnsworth with her son Graham and family Beryl Farnsworth, 97, lives on her own and has a heart condition. When her boiler broke down, British Gas said she would have to wait three weeks for an engineer. Beryl's son, Graham, had signed the widow up to HomeCare 15 years ago and she pays 360 a year for cover. However, when Graham, 75, called the British Gas helpline, an automated message could only offer an appointment for April 22. He waited for 15 minutes to speak to an adviser, who at first said the visit could not be pushed forward. But eventually the employee spoke to his manager, and an appointment was arranged for the next day. Graham, who lives near Beryl in Lincoln, believes his vulnerable mother would not have been able to argue her own case without his help. Last week, British Gas informed the great-great-grandmother that it would be hiking her fees by 20 but she will not be renewing her cover. 'I just couldn't believe that they thought it was acceptable to leave a 97-year-old for three weeks in a cold home,' says Graham. Advertisement The 'loyalty penalty' trap And while new customers can pay as little as 264 for the HomeCare Four package, Money Mail has spoken to some households now paying more than 1,100. New customers are also currently being offered gift cards worth up to 75 if they sign up before May 10. City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority wants to put a stop to the so-called 'loyalty penalty' that means long-term customers pay far more than new ones. Under the regulator's proposals, firms will be free to set prices for new customers but banned from raising fees over time other than in line with changes to a customer's risk. However, these changes are largely aimed at the car and home insurance markets, and it is understood that boiler cover policies will not be affected. It took 15 months to fix radiators Abandoned: Jill Attfield has been a Homecare customer for 20 years When faulty radiators left the first floor of her guesthouse without heating in January last year, Jill Attfield called British Gas. The widow, 74, from Dorking, pays the firm 1,111 a year for its most expensive HomeCare plan. But it would be 15 months before British Gas resolved the radiator blockage. In that time, four appointments were cancelled and rescheduled, while on other occasions engineers would arrive with the wrong equipment. Her floorboards have been pulled up seven times and she has spent 1,000 on fan heaters for her guests. Jill, who has had HomeCare for 20 years, says: 'I feel totally let down. 'I just couldn't believe it when I saw the HomeCare adverts on television. Why are they trying to get more customers when they can't look after the ones they already have?' Advertisement But firms enjoy bumper profits Accounts for Centrica, which owns British Gas, show that services such as HomeCare made the company a 256million profit last year up 4million on 2019. The report reveals that British Gas lost 122,000 services customers in 2020 3 per cent of its total. In the past decade, the firm has lost a million customers. Mr O'Shea, the chief executive of Centrica, earned 659,000 last year, up from 620,000. Company accounts say his salary is 250,000 less than his predecessor's, though and Mr O'Shea also waived 100,000 of his annual salary in 2020 'in the context of the difficult choices he made to safeguard the business and colleagues'. The report also claimed the company managed to fulfil more than 97 per cent of essential breakdown appointments, 'despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic'. The energy giant said it had to cancel all but essential jobs in the third national lockdown, including most boiler services. A message on the HomeCare website now reads: 'As restrictions start to ease, we're able to help customers with non-essential jobs again. 'However, please bear with us whilst we get back to normal - we're also working really hard to catch up on appointments we had to cancel over the winter due to the pandemic.' But homeowners turning their backs on British Gas have told Money Mail they are tired of the pandemic being used as an excuse for delays. Ongoing strike action from engineers over pay and conditions is also understood to have played a part in the chaos. You have YOUR say We have had a HomeCare plan since 1986 and until two years ago, we were very happy with it. However, our boiler now hasn't been serviced since June 2019. We had an appointment booked for October 2020, but it was cancelled. K. H., by email. Thank you for highlighting the inefficiency of British Gas's HomeCare cover. The energy giant should pay compensation to customers it has been taking money from over the past year. C. N., Radstock, Somerset. I took out HomeCare in 2010 when my husband died. In 11 years, I've only had to call British Gas once - in January this year. I was plunged into such chaos and inefficiency, I wish I hadn't. R.W., by email. My aunt, 99, pays 28 a month for the service, but when her boiler failed on Easter Sunday she was told she'd have to wait until Tuesday for an appointment. Eventually, British Gas said we could book a local engineer and it would pay the bill. P. B., Lincolnshire. We normally have to wait 15 months for our boiler to be serviced through HomeCare. This means that over a four-year period, we lose one service. If this is the case with all customers, it must amount to a large saving for British Gas. M. C., Aylesbury, Bucks. The firm blames Covid-19 for delays. But I have had to fight for an engineer to visit me for several years now. G. B., Romsey, Hants. I pay about 90 a month for HomeCare. My boiler was last serviced in 2019, but when I rang to book an appointment last week, I was told non-essential services were not available. O. F., Newport. My husband and I are pensioners. When we needed an engineer, we were told we would have to wait three weeks for an appointment. P. K., by email. British Gas takes 35 a month from my account, even though it does not provide the promised service. I first contacted the firm in February when a radiator wasn't working. In the end I phoned a local company yesterday, and they came out today. M. D., Solihull. Advertisement Complaints are mounting Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service about British Gas Services Ltd have risen by 64 per cent in a year, from 263 in the 2019/20 financial year to 432 in 2020/21. One couple took British Gas to the ombudsman last year after the firm took 36 days to fix their fridge and 78 days to repair their dishwasher. The ombudsman ruled in the customers' favour and ordered the energy firm to pay them 150 in compensation. British Gas was also ordered to pay 100 compensation to one customer who had no heating or hot water but was told to wait nine days for a repair. The homeowner, who had been paying 340 a year for HomeCare cover, cancelled his policy and hired a local tradesman - yet British Gas only offered him a 16 refund. British Gas says it has now carried out appointments for all customers featured in our case studies in the panel to the right. A spokesman adds: 'We're sorry we've had to rearrange some appointments, such as annual service visits, primarily driven by our response to the Covid-19 lockdown this is in order to safeguard the health and safety of our staff and customers but we aim to do these as soon as we can. 'During the lockdown we have focused on emergencies with immediate threat to health, life or safety, including heating breakdowns and uncontrollable water leaks.' moneymail@dailymail.co.uk Citing a dwindling number of people incarcerated in the states prison system, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced that it is closing a prison in Susanville the second prison closure announced in a year. Prison officials said the California Correctional Center in Susanville, near the Nevada border in rural Lassen County, will shut down by June 2022. The more than 2,000 people incarcerated there will transfer to other facilities. The announcement comes seven months after prison officials announced another closure Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy which is expected to shut down in September. Prior to that closure, the last prison to shutter in California was the Northern California Womens Facility in Stockton in 2003. Officials attributed the declining prison population partly to health measures taken to reduce the states incarcerated population during the pandemic. The significant decrease in the states incarcerated population over the past year is allowing CDCR to move forward with these prison closures in a thoughtful manner that does not impact public safety, and that focuses on the successful reentry of people into communities once they release from our custody, CDCR Secretary Kathleen Allison said in a statement. The closure of the Susanville prison is expected to save $122 million annually. Prison officials also announced partial closures of prisons in Tehachapi and Soledad, which will save another $45 million. The Susanville prison serves as a training hub for inmate firefighters. The firefighting camps will be moved to the Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown (Tuolumne County), officials said. Elected officials representing Lassen County said the closure will have a devastating impact for the local community: More than 1,000 people work at the Susanville prison, though officials said they will try to place those employees at other facilities. Assemblywoman Megan Dahle and state Sen. Brian Dahle, who are married, said they received no prior notice of the prisons closure. The fact employees were notified of the closure through a press release is unacceptable, the Republicans from Bieber said in a statement. This gross misstep by a state agency is a slap in the face to hardworking employees, and correctional officers and their families, who have served on the frontlines during this pandemic and sacrificed a great deal to ensure our communities remain safe. The Susanville prison was built in 1963. Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaeldamianw Nominee for ambassador to the US Andrei Muraru said during his hearing today in the joint select committees of Parliament that he is confident that by the end President Klaus Iohannis's term in office Romania will be included in the Visa Waiver program. "I spoke about the need to have more American investments in Romania, an aspect that we consider vital. Then we talked about the rapprochement to the Romanian community overseas in this effort to promote and better defend Romania's interests in the United States and, last but not least, about the efforts we will make in the most determined and decisive way for Romania to be admitted to the Visa Waiver program, so that I am confident that by the end of President Iohannis's term, the Romanians will be able to travel to the US visa-free," Muraru said after the hearing that issued him a favorable opinion, agerpres.ro confirms. According to him, a major objective in the next period is to raise the profile of the Romania - US Strategic Partnership. "The United States of America is our main strategic partner and one of the pillars of our foreign and security policy, along with our EU and NATO membership. I am deeply committed, both personally and on behalf of Romania, to growing and deepening this Partnership. I also spoke about the list of priorities I am setting off with in this term, first of all - increasing the American military presence in Romania, a request we address to the Washington administration, and not just the enhancement of this presence, but also encouraging and supporting Romania to implement the goals related to NATO's forward presence on the eastern flank," Andrei Muraru detailed. Muraru has held since 2014 the position of presidential advisor, head of the Department of Liaison with Public Authorities and Civil Society. Officer and police chief have resigned after death of Daunte Wright, mayor says In a bid to boost the third phase of Indias vaccination drive, Uber is committing free rides worth Rs 1.5 crores for the residents of Delhi NCR. The package offered to the Government of Delhi is a part of Uber's recently announced pledge to support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), State Governments and local NGOs. Overall, the cab-hailing major is offering free rides worth Rs 10 Cr across 34 cities and Union Territories. Uber users will get free rides worth Rs 150 to and fro from vaccination centres across the capital city. Any user eligible for vaccination can benefit from Uber's initiative to travel free of cost to the nearest vaccination centre. A user needs to enter a redeemable promo code '10M21V' to get a free ride to the vaccination hub in a safer and easier way. Users will get only two rides free with this promo code which is capped to a maximum benefit of Rs 150. Uber app will show the final prices of the ride once the coupon has been applied by users. Besides being a big help for Delhi NCR citizens, Uber's decision will also help its driver-partners to get more earning opportunities at a time when cab-hailing services across the country are suffering from the pandemic blues. Uber India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh said on the efforts, "We feel privileged to support the Government of Delhi in its mission to vaccinate the citizens and rebuild the communities. He added that the companys efforts in this partnership will be focused on providing safer and timely transport options for all eligible for vaccination. Live TV #mute NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh activist Erbol Eskhozhin has gone on trial over his alleged links with the banned Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement as authorities continue to roundup supporters of the group that is led from abroad by former banker Mukhtar Ablyazov. The Saryarqa district court in the Kazakh capital began the hearing on April 14 as about a dozen of activists rallied in the city, demanding Eskhozhin's release and expressing support for dozens of other activists sentenced for backing the DVK in recent years. The trial is being held online due to coronavirus precautions. Eskhozhin, 44, was arrested in December 2020 and charged with taking part in the activities of the DVK, which was labelled as extremist and banned in the country in 2018. Last December, the charge was changed to organizing activities for the DVK, which is an offense punishable by up to six years in prison. Eskhozhin has rejected the charge as politically motivated. In recent years, many activists across the Central Asian nation have been convicted for their involvement in the activities of the DVK and its associated grouping, the Koshe (Street) Party. Last week, human rights activists in Kazakhstans second-largest city, Almaty, expressed concerns over the situation faced by another jailed DVK supporter, Aset Abishev, who, the activists said, was placed in solitary confinement after he cut his wrists to protest his treatment by guards and overall prison conditions. A Louth man who spent 14 months in prison for IRA membership has had his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice after the Special Criminal court agreed there was a "grave defect" in the administration of justice brought about "by agents of the State". The non-jury court on Monday found that Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan, who gave evidence of his belief that Michael Connolly (47) was an IRA member, had made "an unqualified assertion" during the trial that none of the material he viewed that formed the basis of his belief was in the Book of Evidence against the accused man. The Special Criminal Court described this assertion as "seriously incomplete and misleading". Evidence of the belief of a garda not below the rank of Chief Superintendent that an accused is a member of the IRA is routinely used in membership trials and privilege can be claimed on the material underlying the belief. In order to convict, the court needs to be satisfied that the belief evidence is supported by some other evidence that implicates the accused. Asst Comm O'Sullivan gave evidence suggesting that he had formed his belief relying on the entirety of materials contained in an intelligence file without any knowledge of what was contained in the Book of Evidence. In cross-examination in the original trial, he told Mr Connolly's defence counsel that he had not seen the Book of Evidence but was satisfied from the material that he viewed that none of it was in the Book of Evidence. In a subsequent re-trial of Mr Connolly, the three judges of the Special Criminal Court examined the intelligence file and ordered the disclosure of two relevant extracts. One of these summarised the movements or activities of the applicant on December 16, 2014: the date of the alleged offence. The court found there was no evidence that Asst Comm O'Sullivan made his assertion in the knowledge that it was misleading and there could not be any such evidence, as he had no knowledge of what was in the Book of Evidence. However, the three judge panel said they were satisfied that it was "careless" of the garda officer to make the relevant assertion without "being aware at least of the general nature of the alleged independent supporting evidence disclosed" in the Book of Evidence and because he knew or ought to have known December 16 was a date of relevance to matters contained in the Book of Evidence. Mr Connolly was previously granted leave to seek compensation from the State and last month his lawyers argued that he had suffered a "classic case of miscarriage of justice". In a retrial in 2019, Mr Connolly was acquitted of IRA membership after the non-jury Special Criminal Court found it could not rely on the belief evidence given by Gda Asst Comm O'Sullivan as being independent from the investigation. The court found beyond a reasonable doubt that Asst Comm O'Sullivan honestly and genuinely believed the accused was an IRA member and that the prosecution's evidence tended to implicate the accused in the transportation of two explosive devices. However, the evidence caused the non-jury court to have a reasonable doubt as to whether the garda officer had impermissibly double counted the relevant evidence in arriving at his belief. In June 2018, the Court of Appeal had set aside the applicant's conviction and ordered a retrial, having found that the trial court had failed to properly exercise its discretion in refusing a defence request to examine the intelligence file upon which the belief evidence of the member of An Garda Siochana was based. This was in circumstances where the Court of Appeal accepted that the belief evidence given by the senior garda officer had contributed "in a significant manner" to the guilty verdict and conviction of the applicant. Mr Connolly (47) of Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 16, 2014. It was the prosecutions case that Mr Connolly was observed by Gardai driving in convoy with another man, who was then found with two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In a judgement returned electronically on Monday, presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey said the requirement that belief evidence be supported by independent evidence that is "wholly extrinsic" to the matters relied upon by the relevant officer in forming their belief had become known as "the rule against double counting". It is an important safeguard which the Special Criminal Court must strictly uphold to counterbalance the use of belief evidence, he pointed out. The judge said the application for a miscarriage of justice by the applicant was grounded on the newly discovered fact that it was reasonably possible that the senior garda officer's belief was based in whole or in part on the very same facts as were being offered by the prosecution for its independent support. Mr Justice Coffey said the non-jury court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as to the existence of a body of circumstantial evidence which tended to implicate the applicant in the transportation of two improvised explosive devices for a criminal purpose on December 16, 2014. "This is not a case where the newly discovered fact establishes that the applicant was innocent of the crime alleged," he said. However, Mr Justice Coffey said the Special Criminal Court was satisfied that senior counsel for the applicant, Hugh Hartnett SC, had made out that there had been a "grave defect" in the administration of justice, brought about "by agents of the State". It is clear that the garda officer made "an unqualified assertion" in the trial that none of the material that he "viewed" or that he had "seen" was in the Book of Evidence, said the judge. Mr Justice Coffey said the non-jury court found that the assertion made by the garda officer was "seriously incomplete and misleading" in that it conveyed to the original court of trial that his belief was based only on matters that were "wholly extrinsic" to those contained in the Book of Evidence. The three judges were satisfied that it was "careless" of the garda officer to make the relevant assertion without "being aware at least of the general nature of the alleged independent supporting evidence disclosed" in the Book of Evidence, which the prosecution proposed to rely on, he said. In summary, Mr Justice Coffey said the way in which the senior garda officer gave his evidence "greatly contributed" to the issue of double counting not becoming a live issue in the original trial as it ought to have been. "We are further of the view that if the issue of double counting had been considered in the light of all the evidence that is now available, it is probable that the original court would have considered itself compelled, as did this Court, to acquit the applicant," he concluded. Mr Justice Coffey, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan, said they were satisfied that there was a "grave defect" in the administration of justice in the trial that resulted in the conviction and sentencing of Mr Connolly and approved the certificate for the miscarriage of justice application. LAST MONTH'S HEARING: At last month's hearing on March 22, Hugh Hartnett SC with Philip Rahn BL and instructed by David Thompson Solicitors argued that the applicants conviction on June 1 2017 (the first trial) was a miscarriage of justice and it was based in the main part on the belief evidence of Asst Comm OSullivan and evidence of the applicants movements on December 16, 2014. It had transpired that this was in breach of the rule against double counting, said the barrister, and he submitted that on the balance of probabilities, the belief evidence of the Asst Comm was formed amongst other things by reference to an extract on the intelligence file summarising the movements and activities of Mr Connolly on December 16, 2014. This newly-discovered fact, which Mr Hartnett submitted showed the conviction to have been a miscarriage of justice, came to light during the re-trial by reason of the courts ruling on May 22, 2019 that the relevant extracts from the intelligence files be disclosed to the defence. Furthermore, the applicant had spent 14 months and 22 days in custody on foot of this matter, he remarked. The lawyer said that before and during the first trial the applicant had sought disclosure of the intelligence file upon which the Asst Comm had based his belief but the investigating and prosecuting authorities had declined this request for disclosure and claimed privilege. The trial court in the first trial had upheld the privilege claimed and declined to review the intelligence file, he outlined. "If ever there was a glaring miscarriage it is that,' he added. Mr Hartnett said the re-trial of the applicant commenced in April 2019, where the Asst Comm again gave belief evidence and claimed privilege over the intelligence file which formed the basis of his belief. The Asst Comm maintained that in forming his belief he did not have regard to any matters contained in the book of evidence, such as Mr Connolly's conduct on December 16, 2014. The barrister said the three-judge panel in the re-trial examined the intelligence file and ordered the disclosure of two relevant extracts. One of these summarised the relevant movements or activities of the Applicant on December 16, 2014. This was in direct contradiction of the evidence of the Asst Comm in the previous trial that nothing from the book of evidence was contained in the file he examined. This extract had been ticked in the fashion described by the Asst Comm, he said. Mr Hartnett said Mr Connolly was acquitted in the retrial and the court was satisfied in reaching its verdict that there must be at least a reasonable possibility that the Assistant Commissioner considered and relied upon the relevant matters when forming his belief. The court could not accept that the circumstantial evidence relating to December 16 2014 provided independent evidence to support that belief evidence of the Asst Comm, which therefore effectively stood alone and an acquittal followed, he added. Regarding the application, Mr Hartnett said the fact which was newly discovered by the applicant at the re-trial was that the Asst Comm did indeed read and consider the contents of the extract of the intelligence file relating to Mr Connollys conduct on December 16, 2014, when forming his belief and that the claim of privilege in respect of the material was unfounded. The lawyer submitted that this fact was newly discovered in the second trial and that it breached the rule against double counting and tainted the belief evidence which led to the wrongful conviction of the applicant in the first trial, which he said amounted to a miscarriage of justice. He said this matter was of "great and grave significance" and the first trial was "marred" by a shortcoming in the administration of justice. "If ever there was unconstitutionality it was here," he said, adding that the three-judge panel must now look back at the first trial to see if there had been a miscarriage of justice as there was a deliberate decision not to impose safeguards. There was an unfounded claim of privilege in the first trial and as a result matters discovered in the second trial went "undiscovered", he said. "This is a classic case of a miscarriage of justice and we don't need to prove anything else such as innocence, we just need to prove that there was a flaw or failure in the administration of justice," concluded Mr Hartnett. In reply, Fiona Murphy SC on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the court must be satisfied that on foot of the newly discovered fact that there had been a miscarriage of justice. "It is certainly the case that courts have made it clear that simply because a conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal or someone was acquitted on a retrial it doesn't automatically follow that a certificate of a miscarriage of justice should be issued," she argued. Counsel said she accepted that the newly discovered fact were the documents disclosed by the court but disputed that the newly discovered fact was one that would show there was a miscarriage of justice in the case. Ms Murphy submitted that there was no finding either beyond reasonable doubt or even upon the balance of probabilities that double counting was engaged in or that the Asst Comm had acted in any way inappropriately. She said the court needed to be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there had been double counting and the applicant in this case had not reached the test. The barrister submitted that to seek a miscarriage of justice certificate was ill conceived and the relief sought ought to be refused. The Mississippi Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit that challenges the state initiative process and seeks to block development of a medical marijuana program. Voters in November approved Initiative 65, which requires the state Health Department to establish a medical marijuana program by the middle of this year. A lawsuit by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler is trying to block the program by arguing that Mississippis initiative process is outdated and Initiative 65 should not have been on the ballot. The state constitution says petitioners must gather an equal number of signatures from five congressional districts that Mississippi used during the 1990s. The state dropped from five congressional districts to four after the 2000 Census, but the constitutions language about initiatives was not updated. Butlers lawsuit argues that this creates a mathematical impossibility with four districts because the constitution still specifies that no more than one-fifth of the signatures may come from any single district. In papers filed Dec. 28, state attorneys argued that Mississippi has two sets of congressional districts one set used for congressional elections and one set used for other purposes. Butler opposed Initiative 65 because it limits a citys ability to regulate the location of medical marijuana businesses. The Health Department, the Mississippi Municipal League and some others have filed briefs supporting Butlers lawsuit. The Health Department argued that Initiative 65 seeks to transform the department into something it is not, even as the department is stretched because of the coronavirus pandemic. Health Department officials have been working to create a medical marijuana program, even as the legal fight over the initiative continues. During the legislative session that recently ended, the Senate tried to create rules for a state medical marijuana program, but the House defeated the effort. Republican Sen. Kevin Blackwell of DeSoto County said the proposal was a backstop to have a program in place in case the Supreme Court agrees with Butler and invalidates Initiative 65. But supporters of Initiative 65 balked at the Senates proposal, saying they saw it as an attempt to usurp the will of the voters. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cannabis Mississippi Houston attorney Tony Buzbee on Tuesday amended at least 11 lawsuits naming the women accusing Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and harassment, according to Harris County court filings. The Houston Chronicle typically does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault or harassment. Of the 11 named plaintiffs, two have already come forward with their identities: Ashley Solis and Lauren Baxley. Amended petitions for the other plaintiffs were not available online as of Tuesday night. The women, most of whom are massage therapists, allege that Watson assaulted or harassed them during sessions in 2020 and 2021 in Texas, California, Georgia or Arizona. Watson has denied the allegations. In a statement, Buzbee, in part, said the women have been emboldened by recent court orders to publicize some of their identities. It appears the Watson team thinks that if these courageous women are forced to identify themselves, they would slink away and not pursue this matter, he said. Watson and his counsel badly miscalculated. Due to the bravery of Ashley Solis to come forward publicly, and despite the death threats she has experienced, these women are now emboldened. Today we are amending our petitions to disclose the names of the victims, even those not currently subject to any court order. The message to Watsons team from these brave women is: Be careful what you ask for. Buzbee went on to say that Watson may now claim he had consent to do what he did to these victims, but lets be clear in their minds he didnt have consent, period. In his response Tuesday night, Rusty Hardin, Watsons attorney, contended that Buzbees form of accusation has never been legal under the law or Texas practice. We are happy that hes decided to comply with court orders, and we look forward to continually showing that the allegations of his clients are untrue, Hardin said. All of the other self-serving things he said, we will deal with in due course. I will say this, there is a reason that courts require both sides to be heard. That is because an accusation is not proof that it is true. The change to the lawsuits comes after two Harris County judges on Friday ordered in separate hearings that Buzbee should make the identities of the accusers public in accordance with state codes. All 22 women who sued Watson were initially named in court documents as Jane Doe, which many advocates and sexual assault litigators say is a common practice. State District Judge Dedra Davis granted Hardins request that Buzbee identify one woman in court documents, and Judge Rabeea Sultan Collier made the same determination in the cases of three other women. Ten other women who were set for hearings before Collier and another judge agreed to allow Buzbee to release their names to the court, Buzbee and Hardin said. Hardin previously said that Buzbees team wasnt giving him the names of the women, making it difficult for him to investigate and respond to the 22 separate accusations. Upon hearing that Hardin asked for emergency hearings to resolve the issue, Buzbee said he offered to confidentially hand the names to the defense but protect the names from the public and Hardin declined. The judges ultimately determined the names should be public. The issue of eight more names has not gone before a judge, and Hardin on Tuesday again asked for hearings in those womens cases. julian.gill@chron.com samantha.ketterer@chron.com The erectile dysfunction gel will be commercialised in Europe this year after the pharma company navigated unexpected twists and turns along the way When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, say many people on the internet. Thats one way to describe what ( ) has done with MED3000, its candidate for erectile dysfunction (ED). MED3000 is a topical gel based on the pharma companys proprietary technology DermaSys, which helps the skin absorb the medication. Unlike other treatments for ED, MED3000 is applied directly on the penis and is fast-acting: 60% of patients had onset of their erection within ten minutes in the clinical trials. The journey to the final product has taken unexpected twists and turns but the Surrey-based company is about to reap the benefits of years of work with commercialisation expected as early as this year. How it started The initial formulation was MED2005, which was also a gel but contained a drug, meaning patients would need a medical prescription to access it. Despite delivering a clinically meaningful benefit, it produced the same results as the placebo when tested on 1,000 patients with mild, moderate and severe ED across Europe. The placebo didnt contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient, called GTN, but used key components of Dermasys. The surprising data, which was published in December 2019, meant that MED2005 couldnt go ahead as a drug. When we investigated the reasons for that we found that the vehicle itself, the Dermasys vehicle, had remarkable efficacy in its own right, Ken James, executive director and head of R&D, told Proactive. So, that the thought occurred: well, if the vehicle is so effective, maybe we could adopt a different regulatory process, because it doesn't contain a drug, and therefore could be classified as a medical device. Changing direction Futura decided to focus its efforts on the gel used as a placebo, which it named MED3000. Being a medical device, the regulatory pathway ended up being much faster than it would have been with MED2005. The authorities in both Europe and the US were very supportive, James said, and allowed the company to go ahead with the new plans. Whats even more impressive is that the route to medical device was carried out during a global pandemic, though James noted that the Zoom meetings may have perhaps sped up the process. The FDA and the European authorities didn't close shop, they remained open for business, and the whole process work properly more efficiently than we had realised. I don't think we've really missed a beat on this all the way through, he commented. A global plan In February 2020, Europe started formal proceedings to make MED3000 available as a medical device throughout the bloc, leading to full approval last month. The CE mark, which will allow commercialisation, is expected before the end of May 2021 and will also be valid in the UK until June 2023 thanks to post-Brexit arrangements. Futura reckons that this certificate will pave the way for speedy registrations in most Middle East, Far East, African and Latin American countries so it can target global sales. In preparation to this, it has clinched a deal with Atlantis Investments to cover sales in China and South-East Asia. Under the agreement, the new partner will cover an estimated 4mln in development costs but will retain half of the profits. US approval, instead, will take a bit longer because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required a confirmatory trial. The study, dubbed FM71, involves 100 participants and is led by Arthur Burnett, Professor of Urology at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. It will last six months to reassure the FDA that the efficacy does not diminish over a longer period of time. Futura said FM71 has a "least burdensome" approach and modest cost compared to the previous trial, which tested the previous formulation and the placebo on 1,000 patients. According to house broker Liberum, MED3000 could deliver 110mln peak annual sales in the EU and 200mln in the US, while the Asian market is worth multiples of the European opportunity. Pushing against an open door James said that the company was pushing against an open door to make an ED product available over the counter in the US. I think, philosophically, [the FDA] would like the category to become available over the counter so people don't have to go to the doctor for their prescription every time, but they have concerns about the oral pills, he told Proactive. MED3000 doesnt contain a drug so it is expected to have fewer side effects. Conversely, Viagra is advised against men who have recently had a stroke or a heart attack and have low blood pressure, according to the NHS website. Plus, Futura reckons it could reach more people, because men wont have to get a prescription or, if they feel uncomfortable, their partners could buy it for them at the pharmacy or even apply it for them as part of foreplay, as it happened 30% of the times during trials. Where we see a real opportunity is first of all, for men that don't want to pre-plan, they want something spontaneous with this rapid speed of onset, chief executive James Barder told Proactive. One of the other things we've seen is a lot of doctors are concerned that there's a growing amount of erectile dysfunction in the younger population, he continued. You're dealing with an entire generation of men who have grown up with freely available porn on the Internet and have this perception on how they should perform, and are presenting the doctor saying I suffer from erectile dysfunction'. A lot of doctors are very concerned about putting men on treatments like Viagra. Whats on the market Futura, who said no other company has developed a direct competitor to MED3000, are presenting their product as an alternative for those who dont feel comfortable with the existing ED treatments. As a result, the ED market is forecast to increase by 7% although MED3000 may also grab market share from the likes of Viagra. These developments have been cheered up by the market, with shares rocketing 240% in the year to date. We expect continued momentum given the near-term catalysts of further out-licensing deals and the start of the US study, Liberum commented. We expect the shares to further re-rate as management crystallises the value of MED3000 over the coming 6-18 months. U.S. Republican lawmaker criticized for using racist term for COVID-19 Xinhua) 13:31, April 14, 2021 People rally to protest against anti-Asian hate crimes on Foley Square in New York, the United States, April 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A lawmaker of the U.S. state of Maine has been criticized for an email he sent to an Asian American resident, which Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau called "racist," local media reported. Republican Representative Michael Lemelin from Maine's Chelsea town called COVID-19 a "China virus" and significantly downplayed the impacts of the pandemic in the email concerning his signature on a letter asking for easing restrictions on full-time school, the Central Maine, a local newspaper, reported Monday. Fecteau described Lemelin's words as "a racist trope" that was "offensive and wrong," but said that he has no plans for formal reprimand as it is voters' responsibility to hold the lawmaker accountable. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Kashmir: The Indian Army, Border Security Force along with J&K Police foiled a Narco-smuggling attempt in the forward areas of Tangdhar Sector last night and recovered 10 kilos of narcotics estimated to be approximately Rs 50 crore. The Army issued a statement in this regard saying: "This is the second consecutive busting of Pak-Sponsored Narco Terror Model in the past one week. Incidentally, a 10 kilo heroin consignment was recovered from the same general area a week ago in a joint operation, however, this time smugglers were spotted carrying the narcotics along the Line of Control. Indian Army and BSFs strong anti-infiltration posture denied the smugglers accompanied by Pakistan-based Terrorists, the opportunity to cross the fence." The statement further noted that the infiltrators were forced to abandon their consignment and flee. An operation to identify the individuals in underway during the filing of this report. Local sources have affirmed high likelihood of arrests of certain kingpins in upcoming days. The statement read: Pakistan handlers controlling the nexus, get money in lieu of narcotics supplied which is in turn used to fund terror organisations operating in Pakistan & PoK. Pakistan Army is a key stakeholder in this Narco-Terror nexus which involves using of civilians on both sides of the Line of Control as cannon fodder. The modus operandi involves pushing the handlers and smugglers across the borders with an aim to exchange the drugs in lieu of money to support the militant organisations." Narco terrorism has been Pakistans long espoused model to culturally degrade the social fabric of the border areas of Kashmir and Punjab. Pakistan's attempt to support smugglers with armed terrorists exposes their nexus, the Army statement claimed. Virgin Media broadband is now working correctly after suffering a widespread outage earlier today. Thousands of user complaints were picked up by the independent site DownDetector this morning as the company's broadband crashed. Most people who experienced difficulties (80 per cent) with their internet said the problem was with their cable internet, not Virgin's mobile services. The outage coincided with thousands of other people complaining that sites like Zoom and Twitter have crashed. Reports of problems with Virgin's broadband services sprung up around 10:30am BST and rocketed to more than 1,700 in just 15 minutes (pictured) Thousands of user complaints picked up by the independent site DownDetector indicated London was the worst-affected location. Bristol, Birmingham and Brighton were also badly hit Major cities such as London, Bristol, Birmingham and Brighton were also badly affected by the outage. A Virgin Media spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Some customers very briefly lost access to certain online content and services this morning. 'We apologise to anyone impacted by this short issue which lasted around 15 minutes and has now been resolved.' Reports of problems with Virgin's broadband services sprung up around 10:30am BST and rocketed to more than 1,700 in just 15 minutes. Virgin Media is one of the most popular broadband providers in the UK and, unlike other internet service providers, has its own infrastructure and does not use the Openreach network. As a result, customers on BT, TalkTalk, Sky and other networks were unaffected. Virgin Media broadband appears to be suffering an outage in parts of the UK Virgin suffered another drop in its broadband coverage last month, when it crashed for Britons between 8am and 9am on March 10. Virgin rarely divulges the causes of its connection issues and the root of the latest problem remains unknown. Today's outage comes as more Britons are returning to the office and ditching working from home after the easing of lockdown restrictions on April 12. With some children on half term and schools now also back in full flow, this drop in coverage was now as disruptive as outages that occurred in the depths of the nationwide lockdowns in both 2020 and 2021. However, many people are still working remotely and shielding from the coronavirus. Affected customers took to social media to vent their frustration at being let down yet again by their internet provider. Chris Worldey quipped: 'Thinking of offering my internet counselling because it's always down.' Karl, also known as @Tango1892, from Merseyside is experiencing problems and spoke about the difficulties of working from home without a stable internet connection. Malaga is working on reactivating of tourism plans in the countdown to the high season when greater mobility is expected, at least between European countries. In the monthly meeting of the city's Tourism Forum, the councillor for Tourism and Promotion, Rosa Sanchez, indicated they will carry out several promotional campaigns in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Scandinavian countries and France, which are priority markets for Malaga. Sanchez also reported on some of the events in which the group has participated, virtually, such as the ITB Berlin international trade fair, and several online forums with tour operators and agents. In addition, she explained that work continues on the 'Safe Malaga' campaign for the early detection of Covid-19 through antigen testing. The meeting was also attended by the president of the Malaga Port Authority, Carlos Rubio, who announced the main measures implemented to support the recovery of the cruise market. Former federal health officials argue the United States was not prepared for COVID-19 and political considerations prevented the government from saving lives as outbreaks spread. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, led a Wednesday hearing focused on the pandemic response and steps to improve mitigation efforts in the future. In testimony before a Senate panel, former officials with FEMA, the CDC and DHHS said the government failed to take the novel coronavirus seriously early on and wasted valuable time needed to prepare for the worst. This was a disease that spread like wildfire, and we responded as if it were business as usual, said Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the CDC. COVID-19 is still surging across the U.S. more than a year after the first cases were discovered. There are 31 million confirmed cases and 563,510 deaths linked to the virus as of April 14. Michigan, which experienced some of the worst outbreaks last year, is again leading the country in new cases. The health experts described COVID-19 as one of the most transmissible viruses the world has ever seen, which made a quick response critical. They argued the country was slow to develop and distribute accurate tests to identify people who infected, failed to produce enough personal protective equipment for vulnerable workers and allowed partisan politics to confuse the public about how to protect their health. Joseph Nimmich, former deputy administrator of FEMA from 2014-17, said federal resources didnt surge to states experiencing worse outbreaks. The U.S. had robust pandemic response plans that were poorly executed, he said, resulting in a weak national strategy. Local health departments also struggled to handle the volume of laboratory testing and contact tracing to track the coronavirus. The former federal officials pointed to a legacy of disinvestment in public health that contributed to these problems. If you think that the first 100,000 cases were maybe unavoidable, certainly we could have changed the trajectory of this and saved countless lives, said Dr. Nicole Lurie, a former assistant secretary for preparedness in the Department of Health and Human Services. That failure to take all of the actions were really all avoidable. Even if we didnt know how bad it was, it was our responsibility to prepare for the worst. Former President Donald Trump was rarely mentioned during the hearing, though his administration presided over the bulk of the pandemic and was considered responsible for many of the failures discussed before the bipartisan Senate panel. Former federal health officials said a major mistake was the administrations hesitancy to communicate how serious the coronavirus could be. Its not only the deaths, but its people who have suffered long term health consequences from COVID, its people who have suffered long term mental health consequences from COVID, its their families, and obviously the consequences with social and economic disruption, Lurie said. Misinformation about the severity of the coronavirus divided the country on health measures like wearing masks and social distancing, Lurie said. Health officials said evolving science also contributed to the confusion. Safety guidelines and requirements changed as scientists came to understand more about how the virus is spread, which eroded trust in health experts and the government. Nimmich said this distrust played out every night on TV. Health officials warned that misinformation continues to plague the pandemic response as the Biden administration encourages people to get vaccinated. Roughly 20% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, according to Johns Hopkins University data. We have a long way to go before we really achieve herd immunity on the basis of vaccination because of the reluctance of so many people, Gerberding said. READ MORE ON MLIVE: No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA Heres what we know about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause Health experts hope J&J vaccine pause will build trust in vaccination process Michigans 6-month office ban extension another defeating blow, business groups say Bacanora Lithium PLC ( ) has updated investors on site activities at its Sonora lithium project in Mexico. In an operational update, the AIM-listed firm said it has rescued, removed and stored surface vegetation and topsoil in the area required for the construction of the lithium processing plant. This surface vegetation and topsoil is being stockpiled on the lease to be incorporated into the future project rehabilitation schedule. The company also said it has prepared tender packages for the plant's site bulk earthworks, construction accommodation and access road and will commence discussions with bidders during the second quarter of 2021 to enable construction works to begin on-site in the third quarter. Bacanora said it will provide an update to the market once decisions have been finalised, adding that it has also started the recruitment process for the remaining key management team personnel required to deliver the project. Meanwhile, Bacanora said it has purchased the Las Perdices land package, located directly south of the existing areas previously purchased in 2019, saying that these additional 9,000 hectares will provide the firm with greater access to flatter land, ensuring reduced earthwork costs alongside vital emergency access. In the latest trading session, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) closed at $38.77, marking a +0.15% move from the previous day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.41%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the teen clothing retailer had gained 7.02% over the past month. This has outpaced the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 1.33% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.07% in that time. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from ANF as it approaches its next earnings report date. The company is expected to report EPS of -$0.53, up 83.89% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $669.49 million, up 37.94% from the prior-year quarter. Looking at the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $1.36 per share and revenue of $3.48 billion. These totals would mark changes of +286.3% and +11.41%, respectively, from last year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for ANF should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. ANF is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Valuation is also important, so investors should note that ANF has a Forward P/E ratio of 28.39 right now. This represents a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 23.9. Story continues It is also worth noting that ANF currently has a PEG ratio of 1.58. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. ANF's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.74 as of yesterday's close. The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 88, which puts it in the top 35% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI A road rage incident between neighbors in Grand Traverse County ended with one man being stabbed multiple times. According to the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Department, the incident occurred in Garfield Township at 3:54 p.m. on Tuesday when a 24-year-old Garfield Township man and a friend were driving past the victims residence where a verbal interaction took place. The victim, a 30-year-old Garfield Township then began following the suspect in his vehicle, police said. The suspect then exited his vehicle at a stop sign and approached the victim who was sitting in his car with the window down. The suspect then began stabbing victim through the open window with a folding knife striking him multiple times, according to police. The suspect was located and arrested within minutes. First aid was rendered to the victim by deputies. He was then turned over to EMS who transported him to Munson Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He is in stable condition, police said on Wednesday. The men are familiar with each other and live in the same neighborhood, police said. The suspect was arrested for attempted murder and transported to the Grand Traverse County Jail. The incident remains under investigation Defence giant Babcock International is slashing 1,000 jobs and writing off 1.7billion from the value of the business as part of a drastic overhaul. The UK's second-largest defence company is expected to rack up a loss of more than 1billion on the back of the plan. But the shares soared by 32 per cent, or 77.4p, to 319.4p on the restructuring announcement. Choppy waters: The firm, which maintains the UK's nuclear submarines and is led by David Lockwood, is set to rack up a loss of more than 1billion This is because chief executive David Lockwood said the shake-up would be so extensive that it would not need to raise money from shareholders, which the City had expected. The majority of the job losses 850 will be in the UK and will mostly target middle management. The cuts will save 40million a year but also result in a one-off charge of the same amount. Babcock has a workforce of 34,000 people worldwide. The FTSE 250-listed firm is a key contractor for the Ministry of Defence. It maintains the UK's nuclear submarines, operates the Devonport dock at Plymouth and trains Royal Air Force pilots. Babcock chief exec David Lockwood said the shake-up would be so extensive that it would not need to raise money from shareholders The one-off charges of 1.7billion will come from writedowns after a review of how profitable contracts and acquisitions were. It warned annual profits are likely to be 30million lower than previously thought. Babcock will also attempt to raise 400million by selling various parts of the business as it focuses on being a defence, aerospace and security company with a leading naval business in the UK, France, Canada, Australia and South Africa. Lockwood said the move would create a 'more effective and efficient company'. He added: 'Through self-help actions, we aim to return Babcock to strength without the need for an equity issue.' Lockwood joined last September, replacing boss Archie Bethel. He was previously at Cobham and has brought his former finance director at that firm, David Mellors, over to Babcock. He was praised for overhauling Cobham but criticised for presiding over its sale to US private equity giant Advent International in a 4billion deal last year. The extensive restructuring will raise questions about accusations levied at Babcock by a mysterious short-seller that called itself Boatman Capital. In 2018 and 2019 it published claims against the company, which included that Babcock was too complex and could face 'potentially massive exceptional costs'. Although former management vigorously denied the claims, they wiped millions of pounds off the value of the company's stock. Liberum analyst Joe Brent said the 1.7billion write-offs were 'larger than expected but management is right to clean up the balance sheet once and for all'. Iraqi security forces arrested Tuesday the governor of the Babel province charged for corruption, reports say. Governor Hassan Mandil Al-Sariawi according to reports was arrested on the back of an arrest warrant issued against him by the Iraqi judiciary for corruption and misuse of funds. Early this month, the Babel Federal Court of Appeals issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of bribery in accordance with Article 160 of the Iraqi Penal Code, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) notes citing Turkish news agency Anadolu. Protests in province over the past week called for his dismissal on the grounds of mismanagement and corruption. Al-Sariawi is the second governor of the province to be accused of corruption. Karrar al-Abadi, a former governor was reportedly in March also charged for corruption, Zhyan notes. Abadi is accused of issuing fake documents to grant land to a number of ineligible martyrs families and political prisoners, the media reports. This is what real community development looks like, explains OneWest Executive Director Evon Smith. OneWest, a nonprofit community development organization with a mission to elevate the city of Louisville through commercial development in West Louisville, has announced a new initiative to attract and support minority business owners in the construction industry. The Plan Room is a business accelerator specifically designed for Black and brown contractors and construction business owners. The Plan Room provides education, training, mentorship, professional services, and networking opportunities in a dedicated physical space that recently opened in March of 2021. One of The Plan Rooms first programs is a Business Information Modeling (BIM) training program that will train individuals to use intelligent software to create the 3D construction documents needed to construct modern buildings. Interested candidates can now apply for the 14-week program at theplanroom.org. The first BIM Training program will begin in July of 2021, with prerequisite technology training courses starting in May. The BIM training program, along with all programs of The Plan Room, is available at no cost to participants. This is what real community development looks like, explains OneWest Executive Director Evon Smith. The launch of The Plan Room earlier this year has been an incredible step forward for racial minority business owners in the construction industry. The addition of the BIM Training Program provides access to practical skills for just about anyone not just those in the construction industry to succeed in a new higher-paying career. And this is only the beginning for One West and our incredible partners. The Plan Room was built in collaboration with 4 key community partners who are committed to building a better future in the West End KPFF, 7PM Group, Louisville Central Community Center (LCCC), and University of Louisville College of Business. Specifically, KPFF Consulting Engineers office in Louisville has been leading the charge for the BIM training program. There is a huge need for these professionals in our industry, says KPFFs Principal, Greg Buccola, We can teach a high school graduate how to use the BIM software in far less time than a 2 or 4-year degree program. So why not create our own ecosystem of BIM personnel and help lift up our community with higher paying jobs? KPFF is also working with Interapt Foundation (IF), a new non-profit organization formed by software development company Interapt. Interapt Foundation will provide the training program structure for the BIM curriculum. Also contributing to The Plan Rooms overall curriculum is the University of Louisville College of Business. University of Louisville College of Business Dean Todd Andrew Mooradian says, The Plan Room initiative is exactly how our College should be involved in West Louisville. We are teaching business that is our core, distinctive competency and were showing the way to building opportunities and wealth in the community. About One West OneWest was formed in 2014 by a diverse group of professionals in Leadership Louisvilles Bingham Fellows program. They believed that the clearest path to economic renaissance in west Louisville is an influx of private, philanthropic, and public capital. It is abundantly clear that Louisvilles continued growth and vitality rests primarily on intentional and focused inclusion of west Louisville. That concept has already worked for large-scale neighborhood revitalizations in Cincinnati and Nashville. Locally, Nulu and the Three Points District of Germantown, Schnitzelberg, and Shelby Park are examples of similar revitalization. OneWests focus on the built environment, coupled with the growth already happening with the Louisville Urban Leagues $52M track and field complex, Passport Healths Health and Well-Being Campus, the West Louisville YMCA and other projects under construction in West Louisville, will be catalytic in stimulating overall economic growth in this area of Louisville. For more information, visit onewest.org. The new R20 Rahe assault rifle entered in service with Estonian armed Forces in 2020, a total of 6,050 assault rifles in 5.56 mm and 500 rifles in 7.62mm caliber have been already handed over to the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF). In 2021, another batch of 18,340 R20 Rahe assault rifles will be delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces. The value of this contract is around 75 million. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link The LMT Defense R20 Rahe assault rifle for Estonian Defence Forces. (Picture source Wikipedia) According to the Estonian Defence Forces annual report 2020, the aim of the project was to acquire a modern weapon that would allow the use of various modern accessories and would be both ergonomic and durable. The R20 Rahe standard rifle is an LMT MLCPS rifle chambered for NATO 5.56 x 45mm, and the TA-R20 is an LMT CQBMWS rifle chambered for NATO 7.62 x 51mm. The rifle is manufactured by the American company LMT Defense. The R20 Rahe assault rifle is based on a modular design allowing one to easily and quickly change the barrel together with the bolt and magazine. This makes it possible, for example, to change the caliber of the weapon. In December 2018, the American company LMT has announced the award of the firearms contract for Estonian Defence Forces to provide 16,000 assault rifles. The rifles are the LMT Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS) family of rifles (5.56 and 7.62) that was developed in 2014 and delivered, under contract, to the New Zealand Defense Force. The contract with Estonia, set to run through 2021, includes an option for the purchase of additional weapons through 2026. The R20 Rahe assault rifle is based on the M16/M4/AR assault rifle design using an ambidextrous T-shaped charging handle located below and behind the rear sight. The rifle is also equipped with an ambidextrous fire selector with safe, semi-automatic, and automatic function. The R20 Rahe is an air-cooled, gas-operated assault rifle that has a gas valve with an adjustment cap and piston. It has a 14.5-inch barrel with a flash hider. The upper part of the handguard and the receiver is fitted with a Picatinny rail design platform which is made from a single piece of forged aerospace aluminum that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. The lower part of the barrel is fitted with an M-LOK free-floating handguard used to mount light, grips, bipod or other accessories. The weapon uses a standard 30-round magazine and has a collapsible stock that can be adjusted in length. The Times-Picayune and The Advocate are joining 21 news outlets across the country in a news collaborative focused on the effects of climate change. The Local Media Association's "Covering Climate Collaborative" includes newspapers recognized as leaders in local climate reporting, as well as television broadcast groups, public radio stations and climate websites. The news organizations currently cover some of the most pressing climate issues, including: Sea level rise in the Southeast Hurricanes and extreme weather on the Gulf Coast Drought in the Southwest and wildfires in the West Intense flooding and climate migration in the Midwest and Great Lakes area. Journalists from these outlets will focus on key issues in their region, collaborating on local coverage and exchanging content with their reporting teams and across the collaborative. The aim is to localize and humanize the effects of rising global temperatures and to empower residents in those communities to take meaningful action. The stakes are high for south Louisiana, where the heat and humidity seem intolerable, the threat of rising seas is greater than any place in the United States and the land is sinking, thanks to coastal erosion hastened by oil and gas exploration, hurricanes and levees that deprive wetlands of the sediment they need," said Judi Terzotis, publisher of The Times-Picayune and The Advocate. "We look forward to sharing our expertise with others and learning from them. The partners are grouped into five regional hubs. The Gulf Coast hub partners are: Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The Times-Picayune | The Advocate WWNO radio in New Orleans WRKF radio in Baton Rouge KPRC television in Houston KSAT television in San Antonio +2 How busier hurricane seasons are changing tropical weather forecasting this year Plus, forecasters are discussing whether to change the dates of the Atlantic hurricane season. Were thrilled to announce this group of newsrooms that are recognized for their commitment to reporting locally on the impacts of climate change, said Frank Mungeam, the Local Media Association's chief information officer. This collaboration brings together newsrooms with diverse platform expertise - from print to digital to audio and video - and represents key regions directly affected by our changing climate. The collaborative's project manager is Kyla Mandel, a Washington D.C.-based writer and editor who has covered climate and environmental issues for National Geographic, The New York Times and HuffPost. +30 The Times-Picayune and The Advocate to launch statewide investigative unit The Times-Picayune and The Advocate on Wednesday announced a plan to dramatically expand their commitment to investigative journalism by doubl The death of the British Royal, Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth II's husband, will see the Royal family and other prominent figures to halt state affairs and adhere to protocols and traditions as Queen Elizabeth II as per tradition entered an eight-day period of mourning. The Duke of Edinburghs passing would otherwise require the Queen not to carry out any royal duties and put affairs of the state on hold but she has decided to return to her duties. The Royals, however, will observe at least 30 days of mourning after Philips ceremonial funeral is held at St Georges Chapel, grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday, 3 pm with a limited number of attendees [approximately 30] due to the COVID-19 pandemic. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was a distinguished @RoyalNavy officer and a veteran of the Second World War. He enjoyed a close relationship with the Armed Forces and remains an inspiration to todays sailors, marines, soldiers and air personnel. pic.twitter.com/Hxpskom5O0 Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 11, 2021 Prince Philips funeral plans have been scaled down to pandemic guidance and the ceremonial traditions such as music, hymns, choir, or burglar will not be there. Although the monarchs wish to put him in Land Rover and send him up to Windsor is being planned by the Royals as it was his special request. As Britain observes the passing of its longest-serving consort at the age of 99, here are some of the Royal traditions and ceremonial royal calendar events that will be marked. The Duke had a number of Commonwealth appointments over the course of his life, including with @thecgf, @THE_RASC and the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League. HRH also had military affiliations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobagohttps://t.co/etp3I69V2t pic.twitter.com/5CVSX3g3Ms The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 13, 2021 Black funeral outfits The members of the British royal family will be seen in black mourning outfits to express grief for the loss of late Prince even as they travel overseas. A framed plaque with the royal familys statement that announced the Duke of Edinburghs death to the public was also hung outside as a part of the tradition. Brits left bouquets of flowers, notes outside the Buckingham Palace in London. The black outfit protocol was first introduced by after Elizabeth was without any black mourning clothes during her trip to Kenya when her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952. Flags at half-mast Britain follows the tradition of lowering of flags which is, at the time of passing of a Royal subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case," according to the National Association of Civic Officers in the UK. Flags will be flown to half-mast to honour the service of Prince Philip as a formal announcement of his death is made. Flags will flow at half-mast until 08.00 am next day of Princes state funeral. As a mark of respect, all flags at our stations will be flown at half-mast until the funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh next Saturday. pic.twitter.com/lOcdVEaGLL National Coastwatch Institution (@Nat_Coastwatch) April 11, 2021 Lying in state tradition Members of the public can pass the coffin of late Prince Philip to pay their respects for at least three days ahead of the official state funeral. The ceremony of lying in the state has taken place in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament and dates back to the tie of Queen Mary and Sir Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth IIs mother who died on 30 March 2002 was also laid at state ahead of her funeral on 9 April 2002. Gun carriage The State funeral of a monarch is marked by a gun carriage procession that transports the coffin across several locations as citizens mourn the loss. The carriage is accompanied by a procession of military bands and detachments along with mourners, and well-wishers. "A military procession carrying the coffin to Westminster Hall, a period of lying in state, and a service at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral, according to a 2013 House of Commons document. Although this tradition might be omitted due to the coronavirus pandemic. We pay tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh for his life of service and all he did to represent the United Kingdom across the Commonwealth and around the world. pic.twitter.com/QaxPPf6hvA Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) April 10, 2021 Hat for women Royal family women will follow the traditional protocol of wearing a hat or a fascinator as a display of respect to the deceased. This tradition was preferred by Queen Elizabeth. Men, meanwhile, will be expected to be attired in black suits. The gatherers are required to dress up before the mourning bands start the hymns and music, another part of tradition within the Royal Family. (Image Credit: Twitter@theroyalfamily) The Black Lives Matter co-founder took to Instagram, and in a series of posts, she claims not only is the information false but its dangerous Patrisse Cullors is finally speaking out about the rumors around her finances. Read More: Black Lives Matter backs Amazon union push in Alabama The Black Lives Matter co-founder made headlines after it was revealed that she allegedly purchased several luxurious homes in upscale neighborhoods with funds from the organization. As previously reported by theGrio, an investigation is being opened in light of the allegations. Cullors, 37, has reportedly purchased four high-end homes for $3.2M in the U.S. alone, per the New York Post, including property in a mostly white area of Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles County for $1.4M. BLM reportedly brought in $90M in donations last year, and questions have emerged about if or how Cullors is paid by the organization and how much she has contributed to charity, per Daily Mail. If you go around calling yourself a socialist, you have to ask how much of her own personal money is going to charitable causes, Newsome told the Post. Its really sad because it makes people doubt the validity of the movement and overlook the fact that its the people that carry this movement, he continued. In response to the claims, Cullors defended herself via a series of Instagram posts on Tuesday. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. She captioned the series of images with: Theres a false and defamatory article about me being amplified by media right now, and I want to make some things clear. Cullors full statement on Instagram read: This movement began as, and will always remain a love letter to Black people. Three words Black Lives Matter serve as a reminder to Black people that we are human and deserve to live a vibrant and full life. I worked multiple jobs across many organizations my entire life. Im also a published author, writer, producer, professor, public speaker, and performance artist. I love my work and all of these areas and I work hard to provide for my family. I am accountable to my community in pursuit of an abolitionist world founded in transformative justice. I do not receive a salary or benefits from Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. Period. This effort to discredit and harass me and my family is not new, nor is it acceptable. It has taken away from where the focus should be ending white supremacy. Story continues You may not like or agree with me. I have definitely made mistakes. I own up to that. I apologize for the mistakes I have made and I work hard at practicing my abolitionist values. But this is deeper than that. Im talking to these articles being full of lies. Its also dangerous. This is doxxing, attacking someone online by disseminating private information about them. Its harmful and its scary for people and their loved ones, especially someone who receives death threats regularly. To my fellow Black activists, you know what this is. Weve seen this tactic of terror time and again. Ill admit, this is a scary time for me. But I will not let this be the moment that silences me. We still have work to do. Patrisse Cullors at the Frieze Project Artist Patrisse Cullors x Summit x Cultured Magazine Dinner on February 13, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for The West Hollywood EDITION) Cullors did not specifically deny any of the allegations against her in her posts. Newsomes organization, Black Lives Matter of Greater New York which he represents during television appearances and interviews is not affiliated with Black Lives Matter Global Network, which was co-founded by Cullors along with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi. In a statement provided to theGrio, Black Lives Matter Global Network responded to concerns regarding Cullors earnings from the organization. Patrisse Cullors is the Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF). She serves in this role in a volunteer capacity and does not receive a salary or benefits. Patrisse has received a total of $120,000 since the organizations inception in 2013, for duties such as serving as spokesperson and engaging in political education work. Patrisse did not receive any compensation after 2019, BLM Global Network said in the statement. Read More: Activists call for release of bodycam footage in police shooting death of boy, 13 To be abundantly clear, as a registered 501c3, BLMGNF cannot and did not commit any organizational resources toward the purchase of personal property by any employee or volunteer. Any insinuation or assertion to the contrary is categorically false. Additional reporting by Ny Magee Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! The post Patrisse Cullors breaks silence on BLM controversy: Its harmful and scary appeared first on TheGrio. The point of President Joe Biden's call with Vladimir Putin was to stress the consequences of Russia's activities, including its show of force in the Ukraine, the White House said on Wednesday. 'He did not hold back on his concerns, including reiterating that there will be consequences to the actions that were taken. I expect you will know more about that soon,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her daily briefing. Psaki doubled down on the though stance Biden has taken with Russia during his tenure in the White House - a marked contrast to the relationship Putin had with Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump. The tough words come as the Ukraine accused Moscow of preparing to store nuclear weapons in Crimea amid soaring tensions in the region as the first of two US warships is expected to arrive during live-fire drills from the Russian navy and a mouthpiece for the Kremlin warned that war could be inevitable. 'The purpose of this call was to discuss, in part, the fact that there will be consequences to the actions of Russian leaders over the past several months back into last year,' Psaki added. She noted the United States reiterated its commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and pushed Moscow to accept the American offer of a peace summit held in a third nation. She said the U.S. emphasized 'our unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns about what we see as aggressive behavior on the border. And also to lay out to lay out the possibility of a meeting in order to move toward a more predictable and stable relationship.' Psaki did not offer any hints as to what those consequences might be. Biden is weighing action against Russia for the SolarWinds hacking campaign, Moscow's interference in the 2020 presidential election, reports of Russian bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and the poisoning and jailing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The United States is pushing for a summit with Russia in a third country but Putin gave Biden the cold shoulder on Tuesday, playing coy on whether or not he would accept the proposal. Biden also spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday about the situation in Russia. Germany is one the United States' strongest European partners. 'The leaders expressed concern about the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraines borders and in occupied Crimea, and reaffirmed their support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity,' according to a White House readout of the call. The point of President Biden's call with Vladimir Putin was to stress the consequences of Russia's activities, including its show of force in the Ukraine, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to request a peace summit amid rising tensions between the two nations Biden dramatically raised the stakes with Russia when he called Putin and asked him to de-escalate its military situation in the Crimea and requested a peace summit amid rising tensions between the two nations. The call came amid growing concern in the West about the Russian buildup at the border and a surge of cease-fire violations in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-baked separatists and Ukrainian forces have been locked in a conflict since Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula . Biden made it 'clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to Russia's actions,' the White House said in a readout of the call as Moscow demanded Washington stay out of the Crimea. Putin, in his response to the conversation, said the two countries would 'continue dialogue' over ensuring global security, according to a statement from the Kremlin. 'Both sides expressed their readiness to continue dialogue on the most important areas of ensuring global security,' the Kremlin said. The situation in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula is presenting Biden with one of the first major foreign policy tests of his presidency with neither leader likely to back down in what has been a rocky relationship from its start. Biden brought up a number of topics in the conversation, including cyber intrusions such as the SolarWinds hack, which Moscow denies; election interference, which Moscow denies; and Russia's growing military escalation. The Kremlin said the two men also discussed the Iranian nuclear program, Afghanistan peace talks and global climate change. Psaki said on Tuesday the Biden administration expected its relationship with Russia to be a 'challenge' but the goal was to have one that is 'predictable and stable.' 'Our approach to our relationship with Russia is one where we certainly expect the relationship to remain a challenge. We expect there will be continued difficult conversations. We are prepared to confront those, but our goal is to have a relationship with Russia that is predictable and stable,' she said. Tuesday's conversation was the second known call between the two leaders since Biden took office. In March, he invited Putin to attend his climate summit later this summer. There have been no details on when or where the Ukraine summit may take place but that it would likely be this summer. Putin held a similar summit in Finland in 2018 with then-President Donald Trump, who caused a furor in the States by appearing to accept the Russian leader's denials of election meddling. Three Russian missile ships, a frigate and a mine-sweeping vessel will take part in snap live-fire drills in the Black Sea today amid soaring tensions around the border with Ukraine Mine-sweeping vessel Ivan Golubets (pictured right during previous live-fire drills) is one of five vessels from Russia's Black Sea fleet taking part in exercises today, the nbay has confirmed Russia's Black Sea fleet, based out of Sevastopol (centre) is holding today's drills while more ships are being transferred over from the Caspian Sea fleet via the Don River (top right). In response, America has sent two destroyers due to arrive today Meanwhile, the Russian Navy on Wednesday held snap live-fire drills in the Black Sea amid the back-and-forth between Moscow and Washington. Two missile ships - the Graivoron and Vyshny Volochek - are taking part in sea-level and aerial target practice alongside the missile hovercraft Samum while accompanied by frigate Admiral Makarov and mine-sweeping ship Ivan Golubets, the Russian navy's Black Sea fleet command said. And Ukrain's defence minister Andrii Taran warned that Moscow could attack to ensure water supplies for the annexed peninsula and said he could not rule out a possibility that Russian forces in Crimea could 'undertake substantive military provocations' this year. 'Crimea's infrastructure is being prepared for potentially storing nuclear weapons,' Taran told the European Parliament's sub-committee on defense. 'The very presence of nuclear munitions in the peninsula may spark a whole array of complex political, legal and moral problems.' Taran provided no evidence for his assertion but said Russia was massing 110,000 troops on Ukraine's border in 56 battalion-sized tactical groups, citing the latest Ukrainian intelligence. The first of two US warships - thought to be destroyers USS Donald Cook and USS Roosevelt - are expected to arrive in the Black Sea today, despite Russian warnings to keep them away 'for their own good'. Ukraine announced it was also holding its own land-based drills with infantry and tank units rehearsing their defense against a tank and troop attack along the border with annexed Ukraine. Tensions between the two countries remained high today as Moscow showed no sign of abating its military build-up with gunboats, artillery and armored vehicles filmed heading towards the border - despite Joe Biden calling for Putin to 'de-escalate' during a phone call yesterday. There are tens of thousands of Russian troops stationed along the Ukrainian border alongside an array of hardware including tanks and anti-aircraft missiles, which Russia claims is being deployed for two weeks of training exercises in response to a NATO build-up - which the alliance says does not exist. Instead, western observers believe the build-up is designed to test Joe Biden's response - with German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer saying today that Moscow is trying 'to provoke a reaction'. 'Together with Ukraine, we won't be drawn into this game,' she said. Separately, Margarita Simonyan - editor-in-chief of Russian state-run outlets RT and Sputnik and staunchly pro-Kremlin mouthpiece - warned that war between the two nuclear-armed superpowers is 'inevitable' and encouraged Moscow to prepare itself. Ukrainian tanks take part in military drills near the border with Crimea as tensions continue to rise along the border Ukraine said armour and infantry units took part in a drill designed to simulate repelling a troop and tank attack Ukraine has said it will not hesitate to defend its territorial integrity if Russia decides to move its forces into the country Simonyan theorized that the war would not be a conventional one , but will instead be fought over information networks - with all-out cyberwarfare, nationwide blackouts, and the targeted disruption of internet services deployed as weapons. 'In conventional war, we could defeat Ukraine in two days,' Simonyan said, 'but it will be another kind of war. We'll do it, and then [the U.S.] will respond by turning off power to [the Russian city] Voronezh.' Simonyan encouraged Putin to shore up Russia's 'vulnerabilities' to cyber warfare while exploiting the US's 'catastrophic' educational standards in order to achieve victory. Won by conquest, given away as a 'gift', now occupied by force: Russia's history in Crimea and the Black Sea Prince Grigory Potemkin, who established the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea in 1783 The Black Sea - and the Crimean peninsula which juts into it - are a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and Asia which has been contested by Empires and nations for centuries. The sea itself contains vital trading routes, is bordered by five of Russia's near-neighbours, and today hosts vital energy pipelines and fibre optic cables. For Russia to assert power in the waters, control of Crimea - which contains its main Black Sea port at Sevastopol and controls the Kerch Strait leading to the nearby Sea of Azov - is essential. Crimea has, at one time or another, come under the control of the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans. It was not until 1783 that it fell fully under the control of the Russian Empire when Russian generals Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky led a force of 8,000 men to victory against an Ottoman army of 40,000 at the the Battle of Kozludzha. Russia's Prince Grigory Potemkin quickly established the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the port of Sevastopol, from where he asserted naval power over the Black Sea, it neighbours including Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey, and projected power further into the Mediterranean. Crimea also turned into a key trading post. On the eve of World War 1 in 1914 - some 50 per cent of all Russia's exports and a full 90 per cent of its agricultural exports passed through Bosphorus Strait which leads out of the Black Sea. In 1954 Crimea was given as a 'gift' by Nikita Khrushchev to Ukraine, ostensibly to mark the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's merger with Tsarist Russia, but more likely to secure Ukraine's support for Khrushchev's leadership and to cement Ukraine as part of the Soviet Union. Because Ukraine was then part of the Union, Moscow maintained control over Crimea and its vital ports - at least until 1991 when the union collapsed and Ukraine became and independent county. Following Ukraine's independence, access to the peninsula became a bargaining chip between the two nations, with Ukraine recognising Russia's right to the port at Sevastopol in return for concessions such as writing off debts and taking control of part of the Black Sea fleet. But in 2014, the pro-Moscow government of Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown in a popular uprising that wanted to draw the country closer to Europe. Fearing the loss of the port at Sevastopol, Putin marched troops into Crimea and seized control of it - later holding a 'referendum' which showed majority support for the region to become part of Russia, though the result is viewed as far from credible. Today, Moscow is in control of the peninsula and refers to it as part of its territory, though most world bodies refer to the region as 'occupied Crimea'. The Black Sea Fleet remains one of Russia's largest and most formidable, thought to comprise a total of 47 ships, seven submarines and 25,000 troops, mostly marines. Advertisement Speaking about today's exercises, the Russian navy said: 'In the sea, the crews of the ships will conduct single and joint test artillery fires at surface and air targets. 'The role of a simulated enemy will be played by naval target shields. In addition to ships, airplanes and helicopters of naval aviation and air defense of the fleet will be involved in the check.' As the two militaries rattled sabres, diplomatic machines also sprung into action with British foreign secretary Dominic Raab due in Brussels today for NATO talks with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and others for a meeting chaired by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The office of Ukrainian president Vlodomyr Zelensky also said that he had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga today who had expressed his support for Kiev amid the standoff. Meanwhile in Moscow, Biden's offer of a summit was being hailed as evidence that he blinked first during the standoff - with one politician saying Russia is now 'getting the respect it deserves'. 'It was a very important step forward... news on a global scale,' said Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian parliament's upper house. Separately, Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov invited John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, to talks on Wednesday, the Russian foreign ministry said, according to the RIA and TASS news agencies. Ushakov told the ambassador that Moscow would act decisively if the United States undertook any new 'unfriendly steps' such as imposing sanctions, RIA reported. The U.S. embassy in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request for comment about those talks. Russia has been preparing to be hit by new sanctions since Biden said last month that Putin would pay a price for alleged Russian meddling in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election. Moscow denies interfering. Elsewhere, Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer claimed that Putin may have ordered as many as half a million troops to the border, which would mark the largest massing of Russian arms in decades. 'The exact number of people participating is not officially indicated,' he said, before adding: 'Apparently more than half a million.' It comes after Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defence minister, said yesterday that Russian forces massing on the border are merely there to carry out training exercises in response to NATO drills. 'Over three weeks, two armies and three airborne units were successfully deployed to the western borders of the Russian Federation in areas for performing combat training exercises,' he said. He added that the 'troops have shown full readiness and ability to carry out tasks to ensure the country's military security' and that the exercises would be completed 'within two weeks'. In a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, NATO leader Stoltenberg said it was actually Russia which had built up arms in the region, calling its latest military movements 'unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning.' 'NATO stands with Ukraine,' he added. Stationed alongside the Russian troops are tanks, artillery, armoured personnel carriers, anti-aircraft missile systems, landing craft and artillery boats. In response, the Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that troop withdrawals from Germany approved under Trump will be cancelled and an additional 500 soldiers will be sent to the country. The build-up has been matched by an uptick in violence between Ukrainian government forces fighting Russian-backed rebel groups in the country's east, with another Ukrainian soldier killed on Tuesday. Alexey Mamchiy, 40, was killed by shrapnel from an enemy grenade which was dropped on him by a drone, according to Ukrainian media. It brings the total number of Ukrainian troops killed in the region this year to 29. Russia on Tuesday warned the US to keep its warships away from Crimea 'for their own good' as it accused Washington and NATO of turning the region into a 'powder keg' amid soaring tensions on the Ukraine border. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called Washington's decision to deploy two ships to the Black Sea 'a provocation' designed 'to test our nerves' as he branded the US 'an adversary' of Russia, ramping up a war of words between the two nuclear-armed superpowers. [April 14, 2021] CIMCON Lighting Selects UST to Scale Its Smart Lighting Controls and Smart City Platforms UST to provide high-tech services across software development, manufacturing, R&D, supply chain, firmware, cloud platforms, and mobility BENGALURU, India, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIMCON Lighting Inc., (CIMCON) the leading global provider of smart city technologies, today announced a strategic partnership with UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, to build and accelerate the time to market of CIMCON's best-in-class smart lighting controls and smart city platforms, in an effort to help cities and utilities more rapidly realize the benefits of smart city applications. Under the multi-year agreement, UST's Semiconductor business vertical and UST BlueConch Technologies, its product engineering services arm, will provide high-tech services across software development, manufacturing, R&D, supply chain, firmware, cloud platforms, and mobility to CIMCON Lighting. In this engagement, UST will partner with CIMCON, offering end-to-end engineering services to manufacture CIMCON's proprietary products. Working with CIMCON, UST's skilled hardware, firmware, and software engineers will help enhance and scale highly reliable product lines. UST will also work with CIMCON to optimize its supply chain and procurement, incorporating localization wherever feasible. Focused on intelligent lighting systems, this multi-year partnership involves all aspects of the business from system design to operations and will be operated out of UST's multiple Centers of Excellence (CoE)s across the globe. Swapnil Shah, Chief Executive Officer, CIMCON, said, "I'm excited for CIMCON to deepen our relationship with UST. I have enjoyed a long history of productive partnerships with UST throughout my career and have high confidence in their ability to support CIMCON's global delivery growth across North America, Latin America, Australia, and the rest of the world. I look forward to a long and pofitable relationship." Speaking on this occasion, S Ramprasad, President, UST BlueConch Technologies, said, "UST will leverage its vast product engineering expertise to further support CIMCON in the building of its world-class products and operate from our global centers, including the new center of excellence we recently set up in Ahmedabad, India. This engagement will further strengthen our presence in the Industry 4.0 and IoT-based solution offerings." "Our partnership with CIMCON is built on UST's strong and seamless synergy and expertise in IT, hardware, and product engineering, which enables us to provide end-to-end solutions to industrial and automotive customers across the globe. As a strategic partner to CIMCON Lighting, we also look forward to providing their smart city solutions to our customers in over 26 countries where UST operates," said Gilroy Mathew, VP, and Head of Semiconductor, UST. UST's semiconductor vertical has over 5,000 specialists spread across more than 15 countries. This versatile talent base supports eight of the top ten worldwide semiconductor companies. UST's strong semiconductor capabilities, coupled with BlueConch's deep experience in product engineering services, will uniquely position CIMCON Lighting to meet its growing global market demand. About CIMCON Lighting Inc. CIMCON Lighting is recognized by Gartner and Northeast Group as a global leader of smart city technologies. Our smart lighting controls and smart city applications help cities, towns, municipalities and utilities future proof their investments and become smarter, safer, and more sustainable. The company was recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company and has received the Edison Institute 'Gold Award', LFI Innovation Award, and Frost & Sullivan's 'New Product Innovation Award' for smart streetlighting. CIMCON's smart lighting solutions provide an easy way to control, manage and maintain streetlights across all terrains and city densities. The NearSky smart city platform transforms an existing streetlight infrastructure into a foundation for smart city applications, ensuring a faster, more effective digital transformation. The platform's multi-service, hybrid networking capabilities put data to work for the people and departments that interact with a city's infrastructure and assets. For more information, please visit www.cimconlighting.com Media Contacts, CIMCON Lighting: Heidi Sporel Director, Marketing CIMCON hsporel@cimconlighting.com Tel: +1-781-565-8259 Cell: +1-978-846-2659 About UST For more than 20 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations-delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 26,000 employees in 25 countries, we build for boundless impact-touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at ust.com Media Contacts, BCT: Natasha Rodricks-Naidu Marketing@blueConchtech.com Media Contacts, UST: Tinu Cherian Abraham +1-(949) 415-9857 +91-7899045194 Neha Misri +91-9972631264 media.relations@ust.com Media Contacts, US: Suzanne Dawson, S&C PR +1-646.941.9140 sdawson@scprgroup.com Cecile Fradkin, S&C PR +1-646.941.9139 cfradkin@scprgroup.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422658/UST_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Fiore Cannabis Ltd. (CSE: FIOR) (OTCQX: FIORF) ("Fiore" or the "Company"), a licensed multi-state cannabis cultivator, producer and retailer, today announced details for its upcoming virtual Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") to be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 10:00 am Pacific Time. To Attend the AGM Webcast Shareholders can attend the AGM and view the Company's presentation on the Zoom webcast at: https://zoom.us/j/92941344688 ( Zoom ID: 929 4134 4688) To Vote at the AGM Fiore's Notice of Meeting, Management Information Circular (the "Circular") and the Form of Proxy (collectively the "Meeting Materials") were mailed on or about March 16, 2021. For shareholders who have not yet received the Meeting Materials, please contact your broker if you are a non-registered shareholder or contact Computershare if you are a registered shareholder. In order to streamline the virtual meeting process, the Company is encouraging all shareholders to vote in advance of the meeting using the Voting Instruction Form or the Form of Proxy mailed with the Meeting Materials and to do so by 10:00 am Pacific Time on April 16, 2021. We ask that shareholders who wish to participate and vote during the virtual AGM to log in or call in at the following in addition to participating on the Zoom webcast: http://iqueue.iqconferencecall.com/ (Meeting Number: 13717442) 1-877-407-2991 or 1-201-389-0925 (Event 14) To Submit Questions for the AGM Shareholders wishing to have a question addressed at the AGM can submit them in advance to ir@fiorecannabis.com. The Company will address these questions as part of the presentation by President and CEO Erik Anderson. About Fiore Cannabis Fiore Cannabis (CSE: FIOR) (OTCQX: FIORF) is a publicly traded company that has been investing in the development of medical and recreational cannabis products since 2014. Fiore has expanded its operating portfolio to include cultivation, production and retail offerings in our key North American legal jurisdictions of Nevada and California. For more information, please visit www.fiorecannabis.com. For Further Information Erik Anderson, President and CEO 1-877-438-5448 Ext. 713 eanderson@fiorecannabis.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80355 A 23-year-old was arrested Monday boarding a Greyhound bus in Florida after members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force tracked her down in the fatal shooting of a Milwaukie businessman who owned a chain of pawn shops in the Portland area. Nistasha R. Tate is the prime suspect in the killing of Jimmy A. Pearson, 63, said the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Pearson was found dead March 3 in his spacious riverfront property. He had been shot two days earlier, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Tate is being held without bail on charges of second-degree murder and robbery at a Hillsborough County jail, where she is awaiting extradition to Clackamas County. The Sheriffs Office did not disclose what connection Tate had to Pearson. Pearson, 63, was found dead in his riverfront home last week. The Sheriffs Office said a forensic analysis showed Tate had visited Pearson on the date he was killed. Separately, a routine traffic stop nearby placed Tates car in the area of Pearsons home before his body was found. Sheriffs investigators said they later found some of Pearsons things in Tates car. Oregon Secretary of State business records show Pearson owns A1 Hawk. The company website says the business operates two pawn shops in Portland and another in Gladstone. Public records show Tate had a Vancouver address. She does not appear to have a criminal record as an adult in Washington or Oregon. In 2017, she was cited for driving without a license. At that time, she had a Beaverton address. On top of Tates Facebook page, her photograph accompanies text that says Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Tate, who appears to have at least three facial tattoos, posted most recently on Feb. 27, days before Pearson was shot. She posted a photograph of herself and wrote, I Sleep well Knowing I never done No sucka (expletive) to be Accepted. According to her Linkedin page, she attended Heritage High School and worked at the Acropolis strip club in 2018 and lists herself as an independent contractor at another Portland club. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie As many as 18,630 people (0.81%) in Romania test positive for COVID-19 between December 27, 2020 - April 11, 2021, after receiving the first dose of vaccine, according to information posted by the National Public Health Institute (INSP). As many as 69.2% of them were vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, 5.4% with the Moderna vaccine and 25.4% with the AstraZeneca vaccine. December 27, 2020 - April 11, 2021, as many as 2,983 people (0.21% of all fully vaccinated people) tested positive after their second and last dose, with 97.3% of these having been administered the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and 2.7% the Moderna vaccine."December 27, 2020 - April 11, 2021, 34 people (1.1% of all people who had a positive test result for infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, after the administration of the second and last dose of vaccine) died. Of them, 32 (94.1%) had been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine and two (5.9%) with the AstraZeneca one. None of the deaths were due to the vaccinations," according to INSP.INSP also reports that in the last two weeks (March 29 - April 11), 5,221 tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus after receiving their first dose of vaccine. 60.9% of them got the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, 7.7% the Moderna vaccine and 31.4% the AstraZeneca vaccine.At the same time, 1,119 people tested positive after becoming fully immunised: 98.8% of whom got the Pfizer BioNTech jabs and 1.2% the Moderna jabs. TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - A Lee County man who helped encourage many people to get the coronavirus vaccine said he wont stop advocating for vaccinations. This after the CDC announced a hold on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for causing blood clots. Robert Hall lost a best friend to the coronavirus. Despite the Johnson & Johnson pause, he said he still encourages people to fill their vaccination cards and get the other vaccines that are available. The CDC halted the distribution of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines after health officials said they could be the cause of potential blood clots. The CDC halted the distribution of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines after health officials said they could be the cause of potential blood clots. Hall is the founder of Project Elect, an organization that works to inform the community about various topics, including vaccination. Members of Project Elect have helped many people get vaccinated, some with the Johnson & Johnson shot. The CDC findings on pausing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is concerning and should be concerning," said Hall. However, Hall said he believes its still a good idea to get vaccinated using Moderna or Pfizer vaccines while the Johnson & Johnson shot is on hold. I caught up with people who also shared their opinions on the Johnson & Johnson pause. One woman took the Pfizer vaccine and shared if she was concerned that side effects would emerge. No, I figure if they would have, they wouldve done came," said Dale Britt. Another shared if he thought the pause would cause hesitancy among all coronavirus vaccines. Well that's always, itll always be some with doubt," said Alonzo Jones. "I would say, perhaps a small amount but not majority. Hall said he will continue to encourage people to get vaccinated and trust the CDCs guidance. We take a lot of medications every day thats prescribed by the medical professions and others and all of it we have side effects," said Hall. "If you read it, theres a lot of things that could cause serious illness or death. Dr. Fauci encouraged people whove recently received the vaccine to look out for symptoms that include shortness of breath and chest discomfort. A 48-year-old Chinese political prisoner died from a brain hemorrhage after spending some time in jail for supporting Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest in 2014. His death was suspected to be triggered by prison torture. Guo Hongwei had been serving a 13-year prison sentence in the northeastern province of Jilin since 2016. He was charged of "extortion, picking quarrels, and provoking trouble." Prior to his imprisonment, his family had repeatedly warned him of brutal consequences. On Monday, Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper reported that Guo was rushed to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage. He died shortly after two unsuccessful surgeries to stop the bleeding in his brain. His family is determined to uncover the root of cause for Guo's critical brain hemorrhage which led to his death. A trusted source by Radio Free Asia (RFA) revealed that Guo had been tortured behind bars. "Guo Hongwei was tortured by the authorities over a long period during his stay in Songyuan Prison," the person said. Additionally, Guo was kept in a cell that was two meters (6.5 feet) square. The person described it as "a small, dark room with no toilet, no light, and no ventilation." "He already had high blood pressure when he went in, so his chances of surviving such an environment weren't good," the source added. On Guo's surgery, RFA's source said that the doctors had removed a "large piece of bone" from his artery. This piece had been obstructing the flow of blood to Guo's brain. On April 6, Guo Yinqi, the Chinese activist's father, told RFA that it would take a miracle for his son to still live given his dire condition. "Guo Hongwei is totally emaciated, to the point that there is little to separate his ribs and spine," Guo Yinqi said. "He is unable to breathe on his own and is dependent on a ventilator." "His vital signs are very weak, yet we are hoping for a miracle," he added. Triggers in the Prison Guo Hongwei's brother Guo Hongqiang shared that he was still able to speak on the phone about two months ago, but could no longer speak on the first week of April. He added that his brother's blood pressure was pretty high and wondered what the police did to him in prison. "We don't know. I am guessing that something happened to trigger this," he said. In December 2019, a family friend of the Guos told RFA that Hongwei's blood pressure was around 240-250 systolic over 160-170 diastolic. The medication offered at the prison clinic would only trigger allergic reaction in him. Both his wheelchair and glasses were also deliberately smashed. Apple Daily News added that his lawyers have tried to get him medical treatments outside the prison's clinic but were denied. His family was also prevented from visiting him by the authorities citing the pandemic as reason. Guo Yinqi, the father, said that he believed the police have bullied his son to death in their effort to make Hongwei "confess" to the charges against him. In partnership with a respected zoologist who shared her views but not her freedom to agitate, Edge founded the Emergency Conservation Committee. Mrs. Edge takes the view that all conservation movements except her own are limited and discriminatory, The New Yorker quipped years later, and she puts in her best licks for creatures that many naturalists wouldnt touch with a 10-foot pole. A passionate pamphleteer and an incorrigible lobbyist, her protests helped change Audubons leadership and its policy on birds of prey. In 1934, Edge learned of a mountain in Pennsylvania that was a favorite spot for hunters to shoot raptors. Horrified, she bought the mountain, hired a caretaker, and transformed Hawk Mountain into a preserve that continues her legacy today. Among the visitors to this sanctuary was the wildlife biologist Rachel Carson. There she found evidence of a precipitous decline in the annual eagle migration, one clue in a puzzle she assembled in her groundbreaking 1962 book, Silent Spring. Carson showed that pesticides were doing more damage than an army of hunters, not only driving eagles toward extinction but poisoning creatures up and down the food chain, humans included. Her work inspired Stewart Udall, interior secretary in the Johnson administration, to push for legal protections that culminated in the landmark 1973 Endangered Species Act, an imperfect but indispensable bulwark against extinction. Tracing key turning points in the development of conservation biology, Nijhuis shows that the growing threat of extinction provoked an intellectual revolution in the way scientists think about the very meaning of species. Each animal came to be understood as an essential piece of a dynamic, interconnected web. While public sympathy is easily stirred to rescue charismatic animals, conservationists came to focus as much on the preservation of habitat. No longer just protecting animals from bullets, they expanded their mission to save shrubbery and wetlands from bulldozers. As the conservation pioneer Aldo Leopold put it, the only way to stop extinction is to first save the organism he called land. Leopold preached the essential value that apex predators play in keeping ecosystems healthy, while others joined his pioneering efforts to preserve wilderness. In the 1980s, E. O. Wilson captured the evolving insights of ecological science by framing extinction as an assault on biodiversity, a loss of genetic possibility that threatens all life, humans included. Others worked to overcome the conservation movements origin in white supremacy and European colonialism. Africas first game-protection measures were imposed by colonial masters determined to protect their sport of trophy hunting. More recently, transnational organizations have defended wildlife by supporting African communities as stewards of their own environmental inheritance, a strategy both more just and more successful. Nijhuis is an engaging storyteller as well as a self-described lapsed biologist, weaving this history with firsthand accounts of those on the front lines of species preservation today from the Blackfeet tribes restoration of a bison herd in the Northern Rockies (descendants of Hornadays rescue operation), to park rangers in Namibia who defend rhinos and elephants from poachers. She acknowledges that her story offers no reason for great optimism concerning the fate of so many species now facing extinction, but she reminds us of the very real accomplishments of these passionate experts and passionate amateurs who devoted their lives, and too often gave their lives, to protecting our fellow species from ourselves. "Black Friday Cost Me $186 Million" Claims Mike Matusow April 14, 2021 Will Shillibier In an upcoming episode of The Orbit, the poker panel show hosted by Cardplayer Lifestyle founder Robbie Strazynski, four-time WSOP bracelet winner Mike Matusow revealed that Black Friday cost him more than just the bankroll he had on Full Tilt. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Black Friday, "The Mouth", as he is affectionately known, was joined by three other panellists to discuss that fateful day and how it affected their area of the poker industry. Orbit Episode 10 Panellists Blair Hinkle - poker pro; WSOP bracelet and 4x WSOP Circuit ring winner Eric Hollreiser - former PokerStars executive executive Mike Matusow - 4x WSOP bracelet winner and former Full Tilt Sponsored Pro Steve Ruddock - Gaming Law Review Editor in Chief; BettingUSA.com Content Director Related: The Orbit Episode 4 - Using a VPN to Play Online Poker? Daniel Negreanu Says "No Problem!" Panel Reminisces on Black Friday The four players along with Strazynski started off reminiscing about the events of that fateful day. "I can't believe it's been 10 years," said Matusow. "I think about the scars every day. To me, it seems like yesterday." Ruddock said that the world of poker media got "flipped upside down" following Black Friday. "It was certainly an interesting time to cover the industry [...] you couldn't fall back on your knowledge solely of poker, I had to really invest in my knowledge of legislative deals, regulation and all that stuff." In terms of worlds flipping upside down, that was what happened to the world of Eric Hollreiser who had only just joined PokerStars. "Black Friday was just 24 hours of intensity," he said. "The managers and owners of PokerStars were in existential crisis time and just a swirl of phone calls. Related: PokerStars' Eric Hollreiser About the PSPC, Competition, Twitch, And More "As an executive, crises give you a chance to show your worth. But for the next 24 months everything we did was about Black Friday and its ramifications." Hinkle Wary of Unregulated US Online Poker Sites The most personal story of the episode came from Blair Hinkle who was a high-profile victim of Black Friday. In February 2011, Hinkle won $1.1m on Full Tilt, with that money frozen two months later as a result of Black Friday. It wasn't until 2012 that the money was returned to him. "Black Friday affected all of us," said Hinkle. "It's an experience that we can all learn and grow from. I've definitely become stronger emotionally afterwards, but receiving that money back was one of the best days of my life. Hinkle also had some words of warning for those playing online in the United States currently, saying that he was "very sceptical" about sites currently operating in unregulated states. "I keep very little money on the sites, so if I win any money I withdraw it immediately. I would love if we could get those regulated legal sites back in the US." Be sure to tune in to the The Orbit Extra with Daniel Negreanu and James Dempsey at 19:00 BST/11:00 PT on April 15. They will be taking questions from the audience and reacting to the episode Mike Matusow The star of the episode without a doubt was Matusow, who never refrained from elaborating on his time as a Full Tilt Pro. However, he very nearly became a PokerStars Pro, only opting to go for Full Tilt having been close friends with Howard Lederer, Erik Seidel and John Juanda. "The biggest mistake I ever made was not going with PokerStars. [Howard, Erik and John] took tremendous advantage of me. I trusted them and I believe what they had to say and that they had my best interests. As it turns they really didn't. " Read More: The Lederer Files on PokerNews Filming Late Night Poker Matusow says that Black Friday stuck out to him because he was due to travel to London the following day to film episodes of Late Night Poker. After Lederer insisted it was still on, Matusow flew to London and filmed two episodes. The following day production shut down. "I asked why," said Matusow. "And they told me the check bounced. A $1.1m check. From a company that rakes $2.5m every day. "I had no idea they had no money at all in the end. Those motherfuckers." Becoming "Penniless" After Black Friday Another topic that the panel discussed was how Black Friday has changed and any lessons they've learned from it. Again, Matusow's response was the most empassioned. With the $400k on Full Tilt frozen, Matusow says that following Black Friday he became penniless overnight, but that ten years on things have changed. "Now I have respect for money. $1,000 used to be like a $1 to me. But now I wonder how I was ever like that; I wonder how I could live like that. $1,000 feels like a lot to me now and that's made me a better person. Matusow and Bitcoin One of the craziest revelations from Matusow was his potential involvement in a bitcoin poker site called 'Get Lucky Poker'. Matusow said that in 2012 he had $10,000 worth of bitcoin at $27 a coin but following threats from the poker community over his potential involvement in "another" Ponzi scheme, he sold everything and took the loss. "Any way that $10,000 in bitcoin would be worth $186 million today. Who knows what I would do if I were to have had $100m maybe I'd have gone back to doing drugs. I might have ended up dead!" Editor's note: According to current prices (April 14) Matusow's bitcoin would only be worth approx. $23.6 million On Episode #10 of #TheOrbit we will mark 10 years since Black Friday together with @blur5f6, @erichollreiser, https://t.co/Sdl3wtXjaD Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) New Delhi, April 14 : Sam Pitroda revolutionised India's communications and IT landscape in the mid-1980s as Advisor to the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Now, he has turned his sights on a much wider canvas - a world that was last designed 75 years ago, about the same time that he was born. This design has outlived its utility, he maintains in his new book, "Redesign The World - A Global Call to Action" (Penguin). Hyper-connectivity and the Covid-19 pandemic offer a unique opportunity to redesign the world to take humanity to the next level. Redesigning the world is not about looking at it from the point of view of liberal or conservative; left or right; capitalism or socialism; public or private; democracy, dictatorship or monarchy; open or closed systems; rich or poor; urban or rural; east or west; white, brown, black or yellow. This proposed redesign of the world has the planet and its people at the centre; it is built on the foundations of sustainability, inclusion, equality, equity and justice so that everyone on earth can enjoy peace and prosperity. It is not an idealist or utopian vision, but one with humanity at its core. This book is about reshaping the world to meet the future challenges of our planet and our people. "Sam Pitroda uses his vast experience in public life and deep technical expertise to make a compelling and an audacious case for a new design of the world order. Stimulating read," says former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during whose tenure he also served as an Advisor of the book. Sam Pitroda is an internationally recognized telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker and policymaker who has spent 50 years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related global and national developments. He has also served as the chairman of the Smart Grid Task Force, as well as the committees to reform public broadcasting, modernize railways, deliver e-governance and other developmental activities. Pitroda is a founding chairman of five non-profit organizations including the India Food Bank, the Global Knowledge Initiative and the Institute of Transdisciplinary Health. He is also a founding commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development, and chairman of the International Telecommunication Union's m-Powering Development Board that looks to empower developing countries with the use of mobile technology. In addition, Pitroda is a serial entrepreneur who has started several companies in the United States. He holds around 20 honorary PhDs, close to 100 worldwide patents, and has published five books and numerous papers. He lives in Chicago with his wife. An NHS trust is set to tell its staff that Covid jabs are compulsory as it calls on workers who have turned down vaccines to change their minds. A letter from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust in London will go out to all of its 6,000 staff shortly to let them know of the change. It is said to state: 'We will be making Covid vaccination mandatory for all our employees and it will form part of the employment contract.' The document, seen by the Independent, is signed by the trust's chief executive Lesley Watts and says that employees who have 'chosen' not to be vaccinated are being called on to change their minds. The newspaper reports the letter as saying: 'We will need to take into account your vaccination status in your occupational risk assessment and this may impact the range of duties you undertake and indeed the environment in which you work.' It is also reported that the letter has been sent to other NHS bosses in London with the suggestion that they 'adapt and use' it in their trusts. Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust is set to tell its staff that Covid jabs are compulsory as it calls on workers who have turned down vaccines to change their minds Caroline Nicolls receives an injection of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine administered by nurse Amy Nash, at the Madejski Stadium in Reading, Berkshire GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO MAKE VACCINES COMPULSORY FOR CARE HOME STAFF Ministers will push for coronavirus vaccines to become mandatory for care home staff in England, Matt Hancock confirmed today. The Health Secretary argued workers have a 'duty of care' to elderly residents, who are most at risk of dying from the disease. Mr Hancock claimed industry bosses were united in their calls for a 'no jab, no job' policy, insisting good uptake was 'our route out of this pandemic'. Critics said any decision to make jabs compulsory would be an 'incredibly bad idea'. And England's care chief claimed the sector was still 'divided' over the plans, which were first leaked three weeks ago. Department of Health officials have now launched a five-week consultation on the proposal, with a final decision expected by July. Asked whether care home staff who refuse a vaccine could be sacked, Government sources told MailOnline: 'Everything is on the table'. The scheme will only apply to care homes for elderly people and does not include facilities housing younger disabled or vulnerable adults. NHS workers and home carers won't be subjected to the new rules either. NHS England figures show 78.9 per cent of care home workers are still to come forward for their jab, the equivalent of nearly 100,000. The Department of Health and Social Care said nearly half of all elderly care homes do not meet vaccination thresholds. SAGE has said at least 80 per cent of staff and 90 per cent of residents need to be immunised to provide a minimum level of protection against Covid outbreaks. More than a quarter of all Covid deaths have been care home residents. Boris Johnson's official spokesman previously accepted it would be 'discriminatory' to force anyone to be vaccinated. Quizzed about mandatory vaccines last November, the PM himself said: 'Thats not the way we do things in this country'. Advertisement It is believed that adding vaccination requirement into employment contracts would amount to a change in terms and conditions for staff that could throw up legal challenges. It comes as an NHS study has found that Pfizer's Covid vaccine has cut emergency hospital admissions for the disease by three quarters in elderly people. Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the health service in England, said 'vaccines are successfully reducing hospitalisations and deaths'. Internal figures showed Covid admissions in A&E were down 76 per cent among vaccinated people aged 80 to 83, and positive tests fell 70 per cent. The improvements were seen from 35 days after people's first vaccine doses and based on eight out of 10 getting their second jab within four weeks. Therefore, the findings are not specifically about effectiveness after either one dose or two doses. Everyone in the study was given the Pfizer vaccine because they were enrolled in December, before the AstraZeneca jab started to be used. The research comes as NHS England statistics show that over-65s now make up a smaller proportion of hospital patients than they did before vaccines, accounting for 49 per cent in March compared to 70 per cent in December. Meanwhile, Matt Hancock confirmed today that ministers will push for coronavirus vaccines to become mandatory for care home staff in England. The Health Secretary argued workers have a 'duty of care' to elderly residents, who are most at risk of dying from the disease. Mr Hancock claimed industry bosses were united in their calls for a 'no jab, no job' policy, insisting good uptake was 'our route out of this pandemic'. Critics said any decision to make jabs compulsory would be an 'incredibly bad idea'. And England's care chief claimed the sector was still 'divided' over the plans, which were first leaked three weeks ago. Department of Health officials have now launched a five-week consultation on the proposal, with a final decision expected by July. Asked whether care home staff who refuse a vaccine could be sacked, Government sources told MailOnline: 'Everything is on the table'. The scheme will only apply to care homes for elderly people and does not include facilities housing younger disabled or vulnerable adults. NHS workers and home carers won't be subjected to the new rules either. NHS England figures show 78.9 per cent of care home workers are still to come forward for their jab, the equivalent of nearly 100,000. The Department of Health and Social Care said nearly half of all elderly care homes do not meet vaccination thresholds. SAGE has said at least 80 per cent of staff and 90 per cent of residents need to be immunised to provide a minimum level of protection against Covid outbreaks. More than a quarter of all Covid deaths have been care home residents. Boris Johnson's official spokesman previously accepted it would be 'discriminatory' to force anyone to be vaccinated. Quizzed about mandatory vaccines last November, the PM himself said: 'Thats not the way we do things in this country'. It comes as Britain's daily Covid cases have fallen by 10 per cent in a week, according to official figures which suggest Easter hasn't caused the country's outbreak to spike despite fears infections would increase after the four-day bank holiday weekend. Department of Health bosses posted another 2,491 positive coronavirus tests today and 45 deaths down 16 per cent on last Wednesday. Infections have mostly trended downwards over the past few days, despite concerns that England's loosening of restrictions ahead of the bank holiday break would spark a resurgence of the virus. Ministers reintroduced the rule of six outdoors, allowing family and friends to meet up and enjoy the sunny weather. Experts said today they 'can't see anything' to suggest Easter has sparked any spike in infections, although they claimed it would take another week to spot any definite uptick in the daily numbers. England's lockdown restrictions were relaxed even further on Monday, with pubs and restaurants allowed to serve customers outdoors again, while gyms, shops and hairdressers were also told they could reopen. Number 10's top scientists say cases will inevitably spike during Boris Johnson's ultra-cautious roadmap back to normality. But any impact from Downing Street's latest easing won't be seen immediately because of the lag between getting infected, becoming ill, taking a test and receiving the results. The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust and NHS England have been approached for comment. In recognition of International Anti-Street Harassment Week (April 11-17th, 2021), LOreal Paris is reaffirming its commitment to Stand Up Against Street Harassment, in partnership with NGO Hollaback! and Breakthrough in India. The program, which was launched in November last year aims to train 1 million people by the end of 2022 on Hollabacks 5Ds methodology, which trains the public on how to safely defend themselves and to help victims of street harassment. Building on an unprecedented partnership with Ipsos dedicated to examining the issue of street harassment globally, the brand has committed to an ongoing research initiative that studies and reports societal data on street harassment around the world on a consistent basis. Delphine Viguier, Global Brand President, says, International Anti-Street Harassment Week is a key momentum to rally together against street harassment, that has directly affected 1 in 3 women this past year a startling figure given the condensed timeline and the locked-down situation. Stand Up against Street Harassment is an essential part of our effort to fight discrimination and ensure that anyone who experiences or witnesses street harassment is equipped to take action. At LOreal Paris, we are relentless in our commitment to breaking down barriers and to giving women the confidence and power to take the place they deserve in society. Adding to this, Pau Gruart, General Manager, LOreal Paris, India, said, At LOreal Paris our goal has always been to celebrate the true worth of women by empowering them to the fullest. We believe an act like street harassment is a significant obstacle to any person being able to truly feel empowered and self-assured, and in complete contradiction to what LOreal Paris believes. This International Anti-Street Harassment Week, we want to drive more awareness towards the issue, but also offer a safe and effective solution in the Stand Up training. Stand Up Against Street Harassment is our commitment to bring about positive change and a global bystander movement to reclaim public spaces and counter street harassment. A NEED FOR EDUCATION AND AWARENESS TO STAND UP AGAINST STREET HARASSMENT Some figures, drawn from across 15 countries among the world**, indicate the global expansiveness of street harassment: 80% of women have experience sexual harassment in a public space at least once in their lives**, with all respondents from all countries reporting a high level of exposure to these incidents (for e.g. 80% in the UK, 94% in South Africa, 92% in Mexico, 85% in Thailand or 84% in Canada**). The study also revealed 81% of those surveyed from India said there was a lack of training on how to intervene to put an end to sexual harassment; while 79% said that it improved the situation when someone had intervened.** Despite the worldwide prevalence of this issue, misconceptions remain, and there is a need for more awareness around shame and survivors guilt: globally for 53% of respondents, women are sometimes to be blamed for situations of sexual harassment in public spaces due to their attitude, behaviour or appearance (55% men, 50% women) **. Moreover, there is a need for education on how to safely react: globally, 86% of witnesses say there is a lack of training on how to intervene to put an end to sexual harassment in public spaces when they witness it. 33% of them also say that if they had known what to do, they would have acted**. STREET HARASSMENT REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE DESPITE THE PANDEMIC With the context of COVID-19 ushering in social anxiety, an exclusive and global survey conducted by LOreal Paris in partnership with Ipsos found that concerns about street harassment remain significant*. Indeed, some breakthrough findings, drawn from across 14 countries among 14000 people, revealed that women have experienced a heightened sense of anxiety about public spaces: 75% of women avoid certain public spaces* to avoid sexual harassment, while 59% adapt their clothing and appearance when going out in public* and 54% avoid certain means of public transportation. *More broadly, 1 in 2 individuals say that they do not feel safe in public spaces*. IN A LOCKED-DOWN WORLD, AN ATMOSPHERE OF APPREHENSION AND RISK IN PUBLIC SPACES Additionally, with lock-down omnipresent in many countries, an atmosphere of apprehension has become the norm and added to the perception of risk: 72% of respondents think that wearing a mask allows the harassers to hide themselves and feel untouchable*. Perhaps most notably, the perceived risk corresponds to high number of respondents having witnessed at least one incident of sexual harassment in a public space since the pandemic: 42% in total*. AN URGENT CALL-TO-ACTION: JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO STAND UP AGAINST STREET HARASSMENT During the International Anti-Street Harassment week, LOreal Paris encourages everyone to join the Stand Up movement by getting trained in the 5Ds methodology on standup india.com and also encourage others via social networks, with the 5Ds hand sign and the hashtag #WeStandUp Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) So how close are we to war? Arguably, only Vladimir Putin knows. The Kremlin's agent provocateur is indulging in his characteristic high-stakes games and contempt for international laws. While his frightening show of force may merely be intended to boost his popularity his approval rating hit a record high after his invasion of Ukraine in 2014 make no mistake, we are just one step from serious conflict. Putin is playing 'a suspense game', according to Russia expert Dr Maryna Vorotnyuk, of the Royal United Services Institute, and the longer he keeps everyone anxiously waiting, the more political capital he gains. A full-scale invasion of eastern Ukraine and Crimea seems on hold for now, because the build-up of troops and military hardware is achieving its desired effect of scaring the West. But just one mistake by Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky could dramatically trigger an advance of thousands of Russian troops back into the territory they seized illegally seven years ago. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the Russian Geographical Society via video link in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 14 The response by the UK and US would be heavy on rhetoric rather than military action, thereby providing Putin with another propaganda victory in time for the Russian parliamentary elections later this year. As this game plays out, London and Washington appear impotent, all words and no intervention because there is simply no desirable course of action for Nato's leading partners to embark upon to influence Russia's affairs. This lack of options is as obvious to Putin as it is to anyone else. The reality is only he is in a position to call the shots. Comedian-turned-politician Zelensky is equally powerless when it comes to influencing Putin or Nato, the defence alliance he is so desperate to join. President Joe Biden (right) as at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, April 14; Boris Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons, London, April 14 (left) Because while US President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have been at pains to express their unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial sovereignty and profuse in their condemnation of Russia's escalation of tensions, the US and UK governments are not going to risk a direct confrontation with Moscow. Similarly, in spite of Ukraine's valuable contributions to Nato security operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is not going to be granted membership of the alliance any time soon, certainly not before the issues in the Donbass breakaway regions and the Crimea are solved. The consensus of opinion among security experts is that there is definitely more to Putin's actions than simply 'sabre-rattling' he did not need to move military manpower and hardware from as far away as the Estonian border and Siberia to achieve that. Tanks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are seen during drills at an unknown location near the border of Russian-annexed Crimea, Ukraine, April 14 Three Russian missile ships, a frigate and a mine-sweeping vessel will take part in snap live-fire drills in the Black Sea Wednesday amid soaring tensions around the border with Ukraine This is already the bloodiest war in Europe since the Balkan conflict of the 1990s, with at least 14,000 people killed since the Russian invasion in 2014 and more than 1.5 million people forced to leave their homes. Russia's proposed solution is for Ukraine to federalise and for the breakaway regions to be granted permanent autonomy. But this is unacceptable to the Ukrainian government and to the UK and US. For its part, Moscow is equally averse to Zelensky's plan for further integration with the EU and Nato. So with tragic inevitability, it appears the seven-year conflict, during which time more than 20 officially sanctioned ceasefires have failed, will linger on. DUBLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "5G Consumer Commercial Use Cases Update and Telco Go-To-Market Strategies" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo "5G Consumer Commercial Use Cases Update and Telco Go-To-Market Strategies", a global outlook report provides a status update on commercially-deployed consumer 5G use cases globally, focusing on 5G FWA and 5G eMBB. It also outlines the go-to-market strategies that telcos have adopted for their commercial 5G offers in terms of available plans, pricing, bundling and positioning. Commercial 5G launches started in late 2018, building up momentum since April 2019 with a focus on two main use cases - 5G FWA & 5G eMBB. The report is structured as follows: Section 1: Introduction - 5G use cases; a snapshot of the different use cases enabled by 5G and a status update on the ones that have already been commercially launched. Section 2: 5G commercial use cases, deployment drivers, & service provider activity - FWA & eMBB; this section analyzes specifically the key characteristics and deployment drivers of 5G FWA & 5G eMBB. It then maps the key commercial 5G launches globally and provides an update of service providers' commercial activity in the 5G eMBB and 5G FWA spaces. Section 3: Telco 5G commercial go-to-market strategies across eMBB & FWA; focuses on telcos' 5G go-to-market strategies analysing telcos' commercial 5G tariffs, pricing strategies and VAS bundling approaches for 5G eMBB and 5G FWA. Section 4: Key findings and recommendations; we conclude the report with a set of key findings and recommendations for telecom operators to consider in their 5G go-to-market strategies. Scope eMBB and FWA are the first use cases for 5G. More advanced use cases will appear in markets where coverage is widespread, a large number of consumers have 5G smartphones and data speeds and latency are clearly superior to existing LTE networks. Worldwide, 44 of the 120 commercial 5G operators have announced FWA services, according to the Global Suppliers Association. 5G eMBB services are now available in most regions globally. As demand for mobile data grows almost exponentially, telcos are looking for 5G eMBB deployments to drive more network efficiency and support more robust connectivity - both in terms of user loads and data rates. In some more mature 5G markets, such as South Korea, operators have moved to incorporate advanced applications such as AR/VR. 5G is also coming to fruition as the world faces a widespread pandemic that leaves users at home and away from entertainment and sporting events. Some 5G operators have jumped in to fill the gap with 5G-based applications and services. Reasons to Buy Story continues This global outlook report provides an examination of 5G eMBB and 5G FWA macro and deployment trends to help telecom operators harness the technology and related monetization levers to capture new revenue streams. The market is past pricing innovation. It is now in the early throws of developing 5G-focused services and applications. The report's objective is to help inform global industry executives' decision-making process on 5G use cases' deployment and on 5G eMBB & FWA commercial go-to-market strategies. The analysis of six commercial 5G plans across eMBB and FWA illustrate the findings of the report, providing best practices and insights into telecom operators' positioning strategies. The report is designed for an executive-level audience, helping industry leaders gain knowledge into peer telcos' commercialized 5G propositions in order to effectively craft their 5G go-to-market & monetization strategies. Key Topics Covered: Section 1: Introduction 5G Capabilities and Use Cases, Deployment Drivers & Service Provider Activity FWA and eMBB 5G Capabilities and Initial Consumer Use Cases Focus on 5G FWA: Key Characteristics Focus on 5G FWA: Deployment Drivers Focus on 5G FWA: Service Provider Activity Focus on 5G eMBB: Key Characteristics and Deployment Drivers Focus on 5G eMBB: Deployment Drivers Focus on 5G eMBB: Service Provider Activity Section 2: 5G Commercial Consumer Case Studies Case Study for FWA: Verizon 5G Home Case Study for FWA: Zain Saudi Arabia Case Study for FWA: Globe Telecom At Home Air Fiber 5G Early Innovation for eMBB: SK Telecom's Caller 2.0 Early Innovation for eMBB: EE and BT Sports Early Innovation for eMBB: KT South Korea's GameBox Cloud Gaming Platform Section 3: Key Findings and Recommendations Key Findings and Recommendations Related Research Companies Mentioned Telia Verizon Fastweb Optus Sunrise SK Telecom KT South Korea AT&T T-Mobile EE Vodafone Three O2 China Mobile China Unicom China Telecom NTT Docomo KDDI Softbank Rakuten Globe Telecom Zain Saudi Arabia BT Sports For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o1k9mq Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-5g-consumer-commercial-use-cases-update-and-telco-go-to-market-strategies-market-report-2021-with-case-studies-for-verizon-5g-home-zain-saudi-arabia-globe-telecom-at-home-air-fiber-5g-301268841.html SOURCE Research and Markets By Rajendra Jadhav MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's richest state will impose stringent curbs on industry and e-commerce for 15 days to slow rising infections, its chief minister said on Tuesday, a move that is set to cripple manufacturing and other businesses in the region. - home to India's financial capital Mumbai - has been the country's worst hit state due to the coronavirus, accounting for about a quarter of India's 13.5 million cases. On Tuesday, reported 60,212 new COVID-19 infections. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/34pvUyi) On Tuesday, state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered most establishments and public places will be closed in the state except those which are deemed essential, including grocery shops, hospitals, banks and stock exchanges. "All factories/industries" barring some export-oriented units and those making items needed for essential services "must stop their operations", a government notification said. The curbs - which start Wednesday - could hit auto companies like Tata Motors Ltd , Bajaj Auto Ltd , and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd which operate factories in the state. E-commerce deliveries will be allowed but only for essential products, the government said, a decision that will affect deliveries and online ordering on companies like Amazon.com Inc and Walmart's Flipkart. "Livelihoods are important, but life is more important. We need to increase existing restrictions," Thackeray said. The restrictions will jolt businesses in Maharashtra but also risk having a broader impact on the Indian economy. The state accounts for nearly 15% of India's gross domestic product, making it crucial for the country's economic recovery after months of slowdown. Maharashtra had already shut down restaurants, bars, gyms, theatres and non-essential stores last week, a move some industry groups had warned will cause economic losses of billions of dollars. The more stringent restrictions announced on Tuesday said no one should "move in public places without valid reasons" and all public places and non-essential services will remain closed. Shooting of films and advertisements will also be closed in the state which is home to India's Bollywood film industry. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; editing by Aditya Kalra and Lisa Shumaker) (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 Madhya Pradesh government has postponed the board exams for Class 10 and 12 in view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the state and across the country. The exams will be conducted a month later than the original schedule, that is, in the month of June. The decision was taken on the instructions of School Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar in order to ensure the safety of the students. The High School, Higher Secondary, Higher Secondary (Vocational), Diploma in Pre School Education, Physical Training Journalist examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education will now be held in June. The exams will be spread out all over the month starting in the first week and will go until the last week of June. Earlier the exams were scheduled to begin on April 30. The CBSE has also postponed the Class 12 board exams. It has cancelled the Class 10 board exams altogether and students will be promoted on the basis of internal assessment. Live TV SEYMOUR The Board of Education voted Monday to set June 18 as the graduation date for Seymour High School. But exactly what the ceremony will look like remains to be seen. Superintendent Michael Wilson said Tuesday that school officials are planning for an outdoor graduation of some sort, with two guests allowed per graduate. In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, however, long-term preparations are tough, and the towns plans will be dependent on any regulations set out by the state. Last year the school held a drive-thru graduation ceremony in July. Students had their gowns and masks decorated for the occasion, while their friends and family decorated their cars with supportive messages. Wilson said he hopes to have more definite info on a more traditional high school graduation and prom in the coming weeks. We are still meeting with the high school administration team to finalize plans within the next month, he said. In addition to graduation, the school board also voted unanimously to set June 18 as the last day of school in town, provided there are no further closings this year. There was no discussion prior to either vote. Monday marked the day students in grades six through 12 returned for in-person learning full-time following the school districts spring break. Earlier in the meeting, Seymour High School student representative Zachary Braca told board members Monday felt like a second first day of school. It was awesome to see some of the faces that others and I havent seen for over a year now, Braca said. Associate Superintendent Vonda Tencza said that work is underway at the towns other schools to send off students after a challenging year. It is exciting that all of our buildings are planning some of their end-of-year celebrations and activities, field days and things like that, she said. Theyre going to look different, and different is OK. Were really excited that these things are going to happen for our kids because we know they need them. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2021) - Dynasty Gold Corp. (TSXV: DYG) (FWB: D5G) (OTC Pink: DGDCF) ("Dynasty" or the "Company"), further to the press release of April 9, is pleased to announce that subject to Exchange approval, it has closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement of 3,126,176 units for gross proceeds of $531,450. Each unit consists of one common share at $0.17 and one common share purchase warrant at $0.25 for a period of two years. The Company shall have the right to call the outstanding Warrants for expiry upon 20 days notice in the event that the closing price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX-V is above $0.35 for 10 consecutive trading days. The units issued under the private placement are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. The proceeds from the private placement will be used to advance the company's gold projects and for general corporate purposes. The Company is in preparation for an upcoming field season. Further details will be announced in due course. About Dynasty Gold Corp. Dynasty Gold Corp. is a Canadian exploration company currently focused on gold exploration in North America with projects located in greenstone belts in Ontario and the Midas gold camp in Nevada. Currently, the 70% owned Hatu Qi2 gold mine in the Tien Shan Gold belt, Xinjiang, China, is in legal dispute with Xinjiang Non-Ferrous Industrial Metals Group and its subsidiary Western Region Gold Co. Ltd.. For more information, please visit Company's 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/80377 Many Ina Garten dessert recipes include coffee and chocolate on the ingredient list. And for good reason. She not only loves the flavor combination but says coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate. Knowing Garten loves to turn up the volume on food, its not much of a surprise coffee usually makes an appearance in her Barefoot Contessa chocolate desserts. Ina Garten | Noam Galai/WireImage RELATED: Barefoot Contessa: Ina Gartens Store-Bought Chocolate Recommendations Originally featured in Gartens cookbook, Barefoot Contessa at Home, this particular recipe calls for two tablespoons of coffee. She adds it to the batter with the wet ingredients. Unlike her Beattys Chocolate Cake recipe one of Gartens highest-rated recipes on The Food Networks website the Barefoot Contessa doesnt put any coffee in the frosting. This time she sticks to a creamy, peanut butter frosting. Ingredients for the Barefoot Contessas Chocolate Cupcakes and Peanut Butter Icing: 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature 2 tablespoons brewed coffee 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup good cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Kathleens Peanut Butter Icing: 1 cup confectioners sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/3 cup heavy cream Garten also uses brewed coffee in her Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles RELATED: Barefoot Contessa: Ina Garten Once Revealed 4 of the Best Recipes Shes Ever Made on-Air The key to this is to add flavors that really complement the chocolate, Garten once said on an episode of Barefoot Contessa, according to a Food Network video on YouTube. I find vanilla and coffee really make [the] chocolate taste more chocolatey. Garten chops up a combination of bittersweet and semisweet chocolate before melting it with warm, heavy cream. Then she adds the coffee, hazelnut liqueur, and some good vanilla extract. The Barefoot Contessas favorite store-bought vanilla is Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon pure vanilla. Ingredients for the Barefoot Contessas Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles: 1 cup hazelnuts 3 1/2 ounces good bittersweet chocolate 3 1/2 ounces good semisweet chocolate 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 1/2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur (recommended: Frangelico) 1 tablespoon prepared coffee 1/2 teaspoon good vanilla extract RELATED: Barefoot Contessa: 4 Gluten-Free Desserts From Ina Garten Inspired by a restaurant dessert, Gartens version uses peanut butter chips and espresso powder to enhance the flavor of the chocolate. A tablespoon of instant espresso powder really brings out the chocolate, she said on an episode of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics. Plus two teaspoons of vanilla that also brings out the chocolate flavor. She mixes together butter, eggs, instant espresso powder, eggs, and vanilla extract before adding melted chocolate. Then she combines it with the dry ingredients and the mix-ins. They bake in a 325-degree oven for 15 minutes. Ingredients for the Barefoot Contessas Peanut Butter Globs: 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate 2 extra-large eggs 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder, such as Medaglia dOro 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup whole walnut halves (not chopped) 1 cup whole pecan halves (not chopped) 2/3 cup peanut butter chips, such as Reeses Garten adds instant coffee granules to her Skillet Brownies for more flavor RELATED: 3 of Ina Gartens Most Famous Barefoot Contessa Recipes Ever An adaptation of her own brownie recipe, Garten tweaked it to make Skillet Brownies. She added instant coffee granules, which as she called on an episode of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, one of those magic things that really brings out the chocolate flavor, according to a Food Network video on YouTube. After making the dry and wet ingredients and combining them, Garten adds even more chocolate with the addition of chocolate chips. Then the mixture is spread evenly between five 3.5-inch cast iron skillets. Baked for 25 minutes, these brownies dont have to cool before serving. In fact, Garten suggests serving them warm out of the oven. Ingredients for the Barefoot Contessas Skillet Brownies: (TNS) - Apr. 13Maine launched its first mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Monday morning, marking a shift from directing relatively few doses to large sites to trying to fill gaps in access across the state less than a week after everyone 16 and older became eligible.The federal-state partnership is one of the more significant developments in Maine's vaccination effort, which has largely sent doses to established providers like hospitals to date. The two-month roving clinic will send one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines to some poorer and more remote areas where people may struggle to get shots relative to other areas.Rural health experts said the clinics represent an important shift in priorities with more than one-third of Mainers fully vaccinated as of early Monday, although more flexible options may be needed to reach those in remote areas before the state's goals are realized."We have every confidence that this will be one of the things that will be remembered as a positive as we turn the corner to beat this horrible pandemic," Paul Ford, the regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said at a Monday press conference outside the Oxford Casino clinic.The sites will be able to provide at least 250 one-shot doses each day and will be jointly operated with FEMA staff, although Robert Long, a Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention spokesperson, said the site had 1,650 appointments scheduled for the week. The clinic's schedule is subject to change, but the state is currently projecting it will remain in place for about five days in each place with a day in between before moving to a new location.The route begins in western Maine and is set to go through Windham, Biddeford, Fryeburg, Turner, Waterville, Old Town, Milbridge, Calais, Madawaska and Auburn. Those areas were chosen because they have high federal vulnerability indicators such as poverty and lacking access to reliable transportation.That criteria will not always take the clinic through areas where vaccinations are lacking. Its route will go through Androscoggin and Oxford counties, where the rate of fully vaccinated adults is relatively low at just over 20 percent. But it will also travel through Washington County twice, which is leading the state with 34 percent of people having received final doses.It was not clear how many people scheduled to be vaccinated were from Oxford County, which has 10 vaccination sites included in the state's list of locations. Long said the state contacted Oxford County residents who signed up to get a shot through its website first before promoting the clinic to those in nearby Androscoggin and Cumberland counties and the rest of the state.Ann Marie Day, the executive director of the New England Rural Health Association, said incorporating a mobile clinic shows the state has moved past having to be solely focused on vaccinating its most vulnerable residents and working on filling gaps. Two-thirds of those having received their final doses are over the age of 60, according to state data.These sites may not work for everyone, she said, as most will likely require some kind of transportation. But Day said they could be the difference between someone having to arrange transportation to a site hours away, a trip she has heard people making near where she lives in the Biddeford area if they get an appointment in Bangor."It's not going to reach everyone and everywhere, but it's a start," she said about the clinic's planned route.Meeting people where they are has been a large part of Penobscot Community Health Center's vaccination efforts since it started receiving vaccines. Noah Nesin, the chief medical officer for the Federally Qualified Health Center, said it has done more than 60 clinics outside of its main locations including senior and low-incomes housing locations and social service agencies.Nesin said those efforts are critical to the center delivering all of its roughly 2,500 vaccines it gets weekly through the federal government, because its brick-and-mortar locations would not be able to handle that many people. But he said the state needs to invest in even more flexible options if it wants to close vaccination gaps.Nesin pointed to efforts like drive-thru clinics or allowing providers to go into places like schools and colleges to vaccinate people directly. Those efforts would target less vulnerable people, but go a long way toward vaccinating young people driving the national increase in new cases."The more ways we go at this, the more multifaceted it is, the better," he said.___(c)2021 the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine)Visit the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) at www.bangordailynews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Davangere, April 14 : Former Karnataka Minister and Congress leader, U. T. Khader's car met with an accident while he was travelling on Wednesday morning. However, the Mangaluru MLA escaped unhurt, the police said. According to the police, the accident took place near Anagodu in Davangere district when the Congress leader's car hit the container truck that was ahead of his vehicle. Davangere district is 265 kms from the state capital, Bengaluru. "In this section there are humps, the accident took place when both drivers (container as well as car driver) were negotiating on this stretch," the police explained. The police added that the front portion of the MLA's MUV (Multi-Utility Vehicle) was badly damaged. The Congress MLA, who served as minister of health, urban development and housing between 2013-18, was on his way to Belagavi to participate in electioneering ahead of the Lok Sabha by-election there. When passing through Anagodu, Khader's car reportedly hit a container truck ahead of him which damaged the front portion of the vehicle. According to reports, the driver of his car suffered minor injuries. Superintendent of Davangere Police H. Hanumantharaya reportedly visited the accident spot. He later met the Minister who has since then returned to Bengaluru. The bypoll for Belagavi was necessitated because of the demise of Union Minister Suresh Angadi in September 2020 due to Covid. Congress is fielding Satish Jarkiholi for the Belagavi seat. If youre looking to make the case that 2020 was the most disruptive year in the history of graduate business education, you will find a lot of data here to underline in bright red. Disruption doesnt even begin to describe the last year-plus for business schools, but the end result is that acceptance rates at the top schools in the United States climbed en masse, opening the door a bit wider for seekers of MBAs. This continues a long-term trend, making it hard to credit the coronavirus pandemic exclusively; however, class sizes also grew last year at more than half of the schools Poets&Quants examined, which for the most part was a direct response to the realities of the pandemic: With remote instruction, physical space limitations were no longer a concern at many schools, leading to the increase. Another clear effect of Covid was the collapse of yield, the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll, rather than choose another school or, the likeliest scenario in the pandemic year of 2020, defer. Yield was down nearly across the board, including at all but one of the top 25 schools. Two elite schools offer interesting illustrations of the different ways life in graduate business education underwent upheaval in 2020. Like many of its peers, MIT Sloan School of Management saw a massive increase in MBA applications during the pandemic and admitted nearly 1,395 candidates to its full-time MBA, 638 more than 2019, an 84% increase. This blew MITs acceptance rate up to an estimated 22%, doubling it from 2019. The school only enrolled 68 more students, however, a 16% increase; as a result its yield dropped precipitously, to about 35% from nearly 70% the previous year. Harvard Business Schools strategy in confronting the unprecedented disruption of coronavirus is well-documented. The school disclosed in September that its newest crop of MBAs would be composed of just 732 students, roughly 200 fewer MBA candidates than a more typical incoming class. The previous years cohort totaled 938 students. The shortfall occurred after HBS gave all Class of 2022 admitted students the option to defer their enrollment for a year or two and decided against pulling more of its applicants from an enlarged waitlist and came with the caveat that HBS expects to grow its next two classes to 1,000 or more students. Altogether the effect of these decisions was to drive HBS acceptance rate down into Stanford territory while it only lost a bit off its yield. At 85%, HBS had the highest yield in 2020 of any school we looked at. Story continues YIELDING TO REALITY As the table above illustrates, the overall acceptance rate at the top 10 schools as ranked by P&Q Stanford GSB, HBS, Wharton, etc. has been rising steadily for the past five years. Since 2016, the rate has gone up more than 50%; in the last year, given a little extra push by Covid-19, it jumped 13%, to an average of 22.3%. Meanwhile, applications which had been declining rebounded in a big way to 57,187 total, approaching the high water mark of 2017. Admits and enrollees are both at their highest point. Then theres yield. The effect of the pandemic on whether admits actually chose to enroll is dramatically illustrated in that one data point above: 50.2%, down 19% in just one year. What we found, though, is what we expected to find only more so: that every school saw some admission attrition and suffered drops in yield. It wasnt just an elite problem. In 2019, 37 of 50 schools saw yield declines; but in 2020 it was 45 out of 52, including 24 of the top 25 schools. The average decline in that latter group was significant: 9.3 percentage points. (See the last page of this article for school-by-school yield data.) What was the only top-25 school to avoid a drop in yield in the pandemic year of 2020? Columbia Business School, which grew its yield 2 percentage points to 69.2%, third-best out of 52 schools examined by P&Q. (The other four schools to avoid yield loss were Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business, Texas A&M Mays Business School, UC-Irvine Merage School of Business, and UC-Davis Graduate Business School.) Calculating yield is tricky in a pandemic year, because we dont know whether schools included deferments in their admit totals. Consequently we dont know the veracity in Harvard Business School reporting the highest yield in 2020, at 85.2%, nor for that matter that of those that followed: Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business (76.3%) and Columbia (69.2%). Stanford, in a message to P&Q after this story was published, insisted its calculated yield of 67%, based on U.S. News publishing that the school had 651 admits and 436 enrollees, was wildly off. We added an asterisk to the admit number. Overall, what we know from the available data is that 10 schools out of 52 reported yields of 50% or more; the lowest yield in the top 10 was Yale SOMs 34.1%, and the lowest outside it was Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business 24.6%. CMU Tepper was one of just six schools with yields below 30%. The school with the biggest increase: Texas A&M, which gained more than 9 percentage points to 49.1%; and the biggest drop: MIT Sloan, whose circumstances were described above. GETTING IN IS GETTING EASIER In acceptance rates, we have enough data from years past to do different interesting comparisons. In a three-year window, from 2018 to 2020, we find that 40 of the top 52 U.S. programs including 21 of the top 25 have seen their acceptance rates increase, that is, have cracked the door further ajar and admitted more applicants. Just nine schools (and five in the top 25) saw their rates decline in that span. Narrowing the scope, between 2019 and 2020, 27 of 52 schools saw acceptance rate growth, while 23 including 10 of the top 25 schools saw rate contraction. All this data is included on the following pages. Where were the biggest increases and declines? Over three cycles, MIT Sloan had the biggest increase, of 9.8 points (81% increase, to 21.9%), followed by the University of Maryland Smith School of Business (9.8 points, 27.2% to 45.8%), Yale SOM (9.7 points, 48.5% to 29.7%), Emory University Goizueta Business School (9.1 points, 24.6% to 46.1%), and the University of Florida Warrington College of Business (7.8 points, 41.5% to 26.6%). The biggest drop-offs in those three years came at Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, which shaved 14.7 points and 24.1% off its accept rate, down to 46.3%, followed by BYU Marriott (9.7 points, 18.4% to 42.9%), the University of Rochester Simon Business School (8.4 points, 25.5% to 24.5%), CMU Tepper (7.3 points, 20.9% to 27.7%), and UC-Irvine Merage (7 points, 25.6% to 20.3%). Overall between 2018 and 2020, 29 schools saw their acceptance rates grow. In the year between 2019 and 2020, 14 schools saw their rates go up, led by UCLA Anderson School of Management, which grew 8.4 points or 32.2% to 34.4%, followed by Maryland Smith (7.5 points, 19.6%), the University of Michigan Ross School of Business (6 points, 19.4% to 37%), the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management (5.9 points, 12.3% to 53.8%), and UC-Berkeley Haas School of Business (5.6 points, 31.6% to 23.3%). The biggest year-to-year declines were at Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business, which narrowed its acceptance rate by 15 points or 29.5% to 35.9%, followed by SMU Tepper (13.8 points, 33.3%), Vanderbilt Owen (12.4 points, 21.1%), and Michigan State University Broad College of Business (12 points, 20.3% to 47%). The lowest acceptance rate overall remains Stanford GSBs, which grew this year to 8.9%. The lowest rate outside the top 10 can be found at Penn State Universitys Smeal College of Business, which reported that 20.1% of applicants are admitted. UC-Irvine Merage was close behind at 20.3%. The highest acceptance rate in the top 10 belongs to Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business (34.8%), and the highest in the top 25 is at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business (56.9%), with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (52.5%) close behind. Georgetowns rate was also the highest overall in the top 50, with other notably high rates at Minnesota Carlson (53.8%) and Boston University Questrom School of Business (51.3%). In all, 22 schools out of 52 have an acceptance rate of 40% or more, including five schools in the top 25. Conversely, 18 schools and 13 in the top 25 have rates below 30%. BIG CLASSES And then theres enrollment. Many schools saw the pandemic, which we hope soon to be able to stop writing about, as an opportunity to increase class sizes without needing additional infrastructure to house and feed their new students. Twenty-eight schools out of 52 increased their class sizes from 2019, while 21 decreased them, including 10 schools in the top 25. One school, Minnesota Carlson, had the exact same number of students in both years: 74. See the second-to-last page in this article for enrollment data. UNC Kenan-Flagler was up the biggest, with a boost of 92 seats to 344, a 36.5% increase. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management increased its cohort size by 85, to 559, a nearly 18% increase; while Rice Jones jumped its MBA Class of 2022 by 73 students, or 68%, to 180. And the biggest decreases? Well, we know all about what happened there. Data, data, data see the next pages for complete tables on acceptance rates, yield, admits, enrollment & more at 52 of the top U.S. business schools. See the next pages for breakpoint tables on yield and class size at the top 50 B-schools. UC-Irvine Merage became one o the toughest schools to get into over the last year. UC-Irvine photo UNC Kenan-Flagler increased its MBA class size by more than 36% in 2020. DONT MISS MBA ACCEPTANCE RATES AT THE TOP 50 BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. (2020) and WHERE INTERNATIONAL MBA STUDENTS GO IN THE U.S. TOP 50 AND WHAT THEYRE PAID AFTER GRADUATING The post Acceptance Rates & Yield At The Top 50 U.S. MBA Programs appeared first on Poets&Quants. Public Invited to Pay Respects to Officer Billy Evans in Adams ADAMS, Mass. Community members are invited to gather Thursday at 1 p.m. on Park Street to pay their respects to Officer William "Billy" Evans during the funeral procession. "I think it is really important for the family, and for the law enforcement community," Adams Police Chief Scott Kelley said. "We will be out here and we will show our love and respect for our fallen brother. But for the community. ... I think it is important for them too because this is their home, it is his home, and I think it is important for them to come out." The town will close Hoosac Street, Summer Street, and Bellevue Cemetery on Thursday, April 14, to accommodate funeral services for Officer Evans. The procession will move from St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, where a Mass will be held, to Bellevue Cemetery. Evans' father, the late Howard Evans, is buried in Bellevue. Evans, a member of the U.S. Capitol Police, was killed on Friday, April 2, when a driver slammed his car into a checkpoint he was guarding at the Capitol. Evans was raised in North Adams and Clarksburg and was a graduate of Drury High School. He served with the U.S. Capitol Police since 2003 and was a member of the Capitol Division's First Responder's unit. The burial and funeral are private, but residents will be allowed to pay their respects on Park Street during the funeral procession. Residents are invited to gather along the street at 1 pm. Masks must be worn and social distancing is required. Participants are encouraged to bring American flags. Hoosac Street -- between Depot Street and Summer Street -- will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Summer Street to Weber Street will be closed to traffic 8 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Bellevue Cemetery will be closed to the public 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The town stated in a press release that people should expect additional traffic delays and targeted road closures throughout the day. An alloy is typically a metal that has a few per cent of at least one other element added. Some aluminium alloys have a seemingly strange property. "We've known that aluminium alloys can become stronger by being stored at room temperature - that's not new information," says Adrian Lervik, a physicist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The German metallurgist Alfred Wilm discovered this property way back in 1906. But why does it happen? So far the phenomenon has been poorly understood, but now Lervik and his colleagues from NTNU and SINTEF, the largest independent research institute in Scandinavia, have tackled that question. Lervik recently completed his doctorate at NTNU's Department of Physics. His work explains an important part of this mystery. But first a little background, because Lervik has dug into some prehistory as well. "At the end of the 1800s, Wilm worked to try to increase the strength of aluminium, a light metal that had the recently become available. He melted and cast a number of different alloys and tested out various cooling rates common in steel production in order to achieve the best possible strength," says Lervik. One weekend when the weather was good Wilm decided to take a break from his experiments and instead take an early weekend to sail along the Havel River. "He returned to the lab on Monday and continued to run tensile tests of an alloy consisting of aluminium, copper and magnesium that he had started the week before. He discovered that the alloy's strength had increased considerably over the weekend. This alloy had simply stayed at room temperature during that time. Time had done the job that all sorts of other cooling methods couldn't do. Today this phenomenon is called natural ageing. The American metallurgist Paul Merica suggested in 1919 that the phenomenon must be due to small particles of the various elements that form a kind of precipitation in the alloy. But at that time there were no experimental methods that could prove this. "Only towards the end of the 1930s could the method of X-ray diffraction prove that the alloying elements accumulated in small clusters on a nanoscale," says Lervik. Pure aluminium consists of lots of crystals. A crystal can be seen as a block of grid sheets, where an atom sits in each square of the grid. Strength is measured in the sheets' resistance to sliding over each other. In an alloy, a small per cent of the squares are occupied by other elements, making it a little harder for the sheets to slide across each other and resulting in increased strength. As Lervik explains it, "An aggregate is like a small drop of paint in the grid block. The alloying elements accumulate and occupy a few dozen neighbouring squares that extend over several sheets. Together with the aluminium, they form a pattern. These drops have a different atomic structure than the aluminium and make dislocation sliding more difficult for the sheets in the grid block." Aggregates of alloying elements are known as "clusters. In technical language they are called Guinier-Preston (GP) zones after the two scientists who first described them. In the 1960s, it became possible to see GP zones through an electron microscope for the first time, but it's taken until now to view them at the single-atom level. "In recent years, numerous scientists have explored the composition of aggregates, but little work has been done to understand their nuclear structure. Instead, many studies have focused on optimizing alloys by experimenting with age hardening at different temperatures and for different lengths of time," says Lervik. Age hardening and creating strong metal mixtures are clearly very important in an industrial context. But very few researchers and people in the industry have cared much about what the clusters actually consist of. They were simply too small to prove. Lervik and his colleagues thought differently. "With our modern experimental methods, we managed to take atomic-level pictures of the clusters with the transmission electron microscope in Trondheim for the first time in 2018," says Lervik. "He and his team studied alloys of aluminium, zinc and magnesium. These are becoming increasingly important in the automotive and aerospace industries." The research team also determined the clusters' chemical composition using the instrument for atomic probe tomography that was recently installed at NTNU. The infrastructure programme at the Research Council of Norway made this discovery possible. This investment has already contributed to new fundamental insights into metals. The researchers studied alloys of aluminium, zinc and magnesium, known as 7xxx series Al alloys. These light metal alloys are becoming increasingly important in the automotive and aerospace industries. "We found clusters with a radius of 1.9 nanometres buried in the aluminium. Although numerous, they are difficult to observe under a microscope. We only managed to identify the atomic structure under special experimental conditions," says Lervik. This is part of the reason why no one has done this before. Performing the experiments is tricky and requires advanced modern experimental equipment. "We experienced just how tricky this was several times. Even though we managed to take a picture of the clusters and could extract some information about their composition, it took several years before we understood enough to be able to describe the nuclear structure," says Lervik. So what exactly makes this work so special? In the past, people have assumed that aggregates consist of the alloying elements, aluminium and perhaps vacancies (empty squares) that are more or less randomly arranged. "We found that we can describe all the clusters we've observed based on a unique geometric spatial figure called a 'truncated cube octahedron,'" says Lervik. Right here anyone without a background in physics or chemistry may want to skim the next sections or jump straight to the middle heading "Important for understanding heat treatment." To understand the illustration above, we must first accept that an aluminium crystal (square block) can be visualized as a stack of cubes, each with atoms on the 8 corners and 6 sides. This structure is an atomic side-centred cubic lattice. The geometric figure is like a cube, with an outer shell formed from the surrounding cubes. We describe it as three shells around the centre cube: one for the sides, one for the corners and the outermost shell. These shells consist of 6 zinc, 8 magnesium and 24 zinc atoms, respectively. The middle of the body (cube) may contain an extra atom - an 'interstitial' - which in this illustration can be described as being located between the spaces (squares) of aluminium. This single figure further explains all larger cluster units by their ability to connect and expand in three defined directions. The picture also explains observations previously reported by others. These cluster units are what contribute to increased strength during age hardening. Important for understanding heat treatment "Why is this cool? It's cool because natural ageing isn't usually the last step in processing an alloy before it's ready to be used," says Lervik. These alloys also go through a final heat treatment at higher temperatures (130-200C) to form larger precipitates with defined crystal structures. They bind the atomic planes (sheets) even more tightly together and strengthen it considerably . "We believe that understanding the atomic structure of the clusters formed by natural aging is essential to further understand the process of forming the precipitates that determine so much of the material's properties. Do the precipitates form on the clusters or do the clusters transform into precipitates during heat treatment? How can this be optimized and utilized? Our further work will try to answer these questions," says Lervik. ### BNO issue nothing but hypocritical political manipulation by UK side: Chinese embassy Xinhua) 13:27, April 14, 2021 LONDON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Playing up the the issue of the British National Overseas (BNO) passport is nothing but hypocritical political manipulation by the British side, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London said Tuesday. The British government recently announced a 43-million-British-pound (59-million-U.S.-dollar) package to facilitate employment and settlement of Hong Kong BNO status holders in Britain. The position of the Chinese side regarding the issue of BNO status has been made clear to the British side on many occasions, said the spokesperson in a statement. "China and the UK exchanged an MOU on this issue in which the UK side explicitly promised that BN(O) passport holders who are Chinese citizens residing in Hong Kong shall not have the right of abode in the UK. The UK side is now changing the relevant arrangement unilaterally, which not only goes against its own pledges but also interferes in Hong Kong affairs which are China's internal affairs," said the spokesperson. The Chinese side expresses its grave concern and firm opposition, has announced that BNO passport is no longer recognized as a valid document for travel or identification, and reserves the right to take further measures, the spokesperson said. "Playing up the BNO issue and attempting to turn some Hong Kong residents into second-class British 'citizens' are nothing but hypocritical political manipulation that is doomed to failure," said the spokesperson. The Chinese side urges the British side to wake up to the reality and major trends, and stop such political manipulation, said the spokesperson. "The UK, with its grave racial discrimination and other social problems, is far from a paradise. It has been brought to our attention that there are many reports about Hong Kong residents being discriminated and living in distress after coming to the UK," said the spokesperson, adding that the Chinese Embassy in Britain has received requests for consular assistance in relation to such cases. "It is hoped that the UK will focus on solving its own problems, rather than stirring up trouble and misleading the public," said the spokesperson. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Albert Saenz Locals who have spent time in San Marcos, College Station, or Waco will soon be able to enjoy the goodness that is Fuego Tortilla Grill right here in the Alamo City. Albert Saenz shared the good news on Twitter on Tuesday, April 13, posting a picture of a fence surrounding the soon-to-be Fuego. In the picture, the building appears to be nearly complete with the recognizable Fuego sign seen twice while the parking lot appears under construction. Fox Corp chief executive Lachlan Murdoch will return to the United States from a months-long Australian sojourn in early September, a spokesman has said. Murdoch, who also co-chairs publisher News Corp with his father Rupert Murdoch, moved with his family to Sydney last month, joining a host of high profile people who have opted to ride out the coronavirus pandemic in relatively unaffected Australia. Lachlan, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, left Los Angeles for Australia amid claims that Joe Biden's election made things 'rough' for his family, given Fox Corp's reputation as catering to the GOP. Fox Corp chief executive Lachlan Murdoch will return to the United States from a months-long Australian sojourn in early September, a spokesman has said. Murdoch pictured with wife Sarah, above Spokesman John Connolly said Murdoch, who is also Fox's executive chairman, would return to Los Angeles in early September to reopen the company's operational head office there. Fox Plaza office building pictured above Murdoch was rumored to have turned control of the company to its chief legal officer - who is also the godfather of his son - after abruptly moving back to Australia last month. The New York Times published a profile on the chief legal officer, Viet Dinh, on Sunday, which examined the 'sociable and relentless' Republican lawyer's role at Fox Corp. Fox Corp has publicly insisted that Lachan is still very much in charge of the company and has even been keeping nocturnal hours from Sydney, working from midnight to 10am to stay on an American schedule. A Fox Corp spokeswoman did not mince words when approached by the Times for comment about claims that Dinh 'is exercising operational control over Fox's business units' - calling those claims 'false and malicious'. Dinh also dismissed the claims as 'flat-out false' in a recent interview with legal writer David Lat, whose article about the executive was titled: 'Is Viet Dinh the Most Powerful Lawyer in America?' 'To ascribe any role to me other than my day job, which is overseeing legal, regulatory and government affairs, is not only false, it would mean I have far more time than I actually do,' Dinh told Lat. 'Lachlan hired me for what is very much a full-time job, which I can barely manage to do with 24 hours in the day.' However, the Times noted that Dinh's salary - which came in at a whopping $24million in 2019 - suggests that he plays a major role in the company. Spokesman John Connolly said Murdoch, who is also Fox's executive chairman, would return to Los Angeles in early September to reopen the company's operational head office there 'and will go back to working and living in the U.S.' Fox last month told its 9,000 staff to return to their U.S. offices from September 7, after working at from home for several months. Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch (left) was rumored to have turned control of the company to its chief legal officer Viet Dinh (right) after abruptly moving back to Australia last month 'As with most CEOs of large companies, he's looking forward to moving from working from home to working from the office,' Connolly said, adding that Murdoch would commute regularly to Sydney where his immediate family will remain. While he is in Sydney, Murdoch will work midnight to morning local time, a source familiar with the plans said. Lachlan, his supermodel wife Sarah and their three children quietly arrived in Australia from Los Angeles last month without giving reason for their return. And while no reason was given for the family's return Down Under, a report claimed that it was the political climate in the US that helped make the decision for the family to leave LA in favour of their Sydney home. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that it was the political climate in the US that drove the decision. The newspaper said the family 'felt the cold winds of political change' when Biden assumed power over Donald Trump, after the family-owned Fox News appeared to favor the Republican Party throughout the election campaign. Things 'got pretty rough' for their children Kalan Alexander, 16, Aidan Patrick, 14, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 10, at school in their final weeks in Los Angeles, according to the paper. Australia and the United States have had vastly different pandemic experiences. While an average of around 69,500 new COVID-19 infections are being reported in the United States each day, Australia has a near zero rate. The surge in U.S. cases led Biden to urge states on March 29 to pause reopening efforts as a top health official warned of 'impending doom'. Research by Australian scientists could pave the way to a new treatment for a currently incurable brain cancer in children called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG Research by Australian scientists could pave the way to a new treatment for a currently incurable brain cancer in children called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG. Affecting about 20 children in Australia each year, DIPG is a devastating disease with an average survival time of just nine months after diagnosis. The research, led by scientists at Children's Cancer Institute and published this week in the international journal, Cell Reports, offers an exciting new therapeutic approach for the treatment of DIPG by using a new anti-cancer drug. The new drug, CBL0137, is an anti-cancer compound developed from the antimalarial drug quinacrine. The researchers found that CBL0137 directly reverses the effects of the key genetic drivers in DIPG, and has a profound effect against DIPG tumour models. They also foundCBL0137 is even more effective when combined with a second drug, panobinostat, a new type of drug known as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. When used in combination, the two drugs were found to work synergistically, each enhancing the others effects against DIPG. Associate Professor David Ziegler, Group Leader at Children's Cancer Institute and paediatric oncologist at the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, said there is a desperate need for a new and more effective way to treat DIPG. "Over the years, many different types of treatments have been tried for DIPG, but none so far have proven effective in clinical trials of children with the disease," he said. "Part of the problem is that the genetic driver in DIPG is a master gene that controls thousands of other genes. Until now, we have not known how to switch it off. Our data shows that CBL0137 acts to reverse the effects of this master gene, and then switch off the growth of the DIPG tumour cells." In the newly published study, Associate Professor Ziegler and his colleagues in the Brain Tumours Group at Children's Cancer Institute built on earlier research carried out by the Institute's Experimental Therapeutics Group, who found that CLB037 was effective against neuroblastoma. Taking a similar approach with DIPG, the Brain Tumours Group confirmed that CBL0137 interferes with the growth of DIPG tumours by inhibiting an important molecule known as FACT (needed for DNA transcription, replication and repair). They found that FACT binds with the key genetic driver in DIPG - a mutation called K27M. By treating DIPG cells with CBL0137 they were able to target this gene and stop tumour cells from growing. Next, they tested CBL0137 in 'patient-derived xenografts' ? mice specially bred to grow DIPG cells taken directly from children with the disease ? showing it effectively penetrated the blood-brain barrier and increased survival time. When the researchers added panobinostat to the mix, they found that the CBL0137-panobinostat combination was even more effective at killing DIPG cells and further improved the survival time of mice with DIPG. "K27M is the Achilles heel of DIPG tumour cells," said Associate Professor Ziegler. "The finding that CBL0137 indirectly acts against this genetic driver is very exciting, and gives us great hope for this treatment strategy." A/Prof Ziegler will lead an international clinical trial of CBL0137 for children with DIPG that will open in the top children's hospitals in the US and Australia. Plans to launch the trial are boosted by the fact that CBL0137 has recently successfully completed testing in phase I clinical trials in adults with solid tumours. ### This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Institute NSW, the DIPG Collaborative, The Cure Starts Now, The Kid's Cancer Project, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, Levi's Project and the Benny Wills Brain Tumour Research Fund. About Children's Cancer Institute Flash Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) agreed with a Chinese shipbuilder to build five tugboats and the contract will be signed very soon, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie told Xinhua. Without mentioning the name of the Chinese company, Rabie noted that each of the five tugs will be with a bollard pull of 80 tonnes. "We have already agreed with the Chinese company that the first tug will be delivered to Egypt in 14 months, the second in 20 months and all the five tugs will have been delivered in three years," Rabie told Xinhua on Monday, following a ceremony held in the northeastern Ismailia province to mark the recent arrival of a giant dredger to the SCA. "It is possible that we will cooperate with China in building bigger tugboats," Rabie added, voicing his confidence in the prospects of cooperation between the SCA and China. "In fact, the Chinese are so cooperative with us," the SCA chief told Xinhua, noting that Chinese companies are the first to present their offers in the tenders and projects launched by the SCA. In late March, the massive Panama-flagged container ship Ever Given was successfully refloated after being stranded in the Suez Canal for almost a week, thanks to cooperation between the SCA and the Dutch firm Boskalis as well as its emergency response team SMIT Salvage. Rabie noted that the SCA is upgrading its fleets of dredgers and tugboats, not only to ease navigation in the Suez Canal but also to prepare for rescue operations inside and outside the SCA. For his part, Mostafa Kenawy, head of the dredging department at the SCA, said that besides the five tugs to be built in China, most of the spare parts at SCA workshops are "made in China." "We have deep cooperation with China and we're about to hold a tender for building a new hopper dredger, and Chinese companies are welcome to present their offers," the SCA official told Xinhua in an interview aboard the newly received dredger. Linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal was officially opened for international navigation in late 1869, serving as a major lifeline for global seaborne trade as it allows ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa. WASHINGTON (AP) The No. 2 House Republican leader said Wednesday that party leaders would take action" against Rep. Matt Gaetz if the Justice Department formally moves against the Florida lawmaker, who is under federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking. The remarks by Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana made him the latest congressional Republicans to opt against springing to the defense of the three-term lawmaker from Florida's panhandle. Federal investigators are probing Gaetz over allegations that include sex with a minor, according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity because they could not discuss details publicly. Scalise said in recent years, party leaders have removed Republican lawmakers facing serious charges from their committee assignments. That was essentially a restatement of the House GOP's internal rules, which require lawmakers to resign from committees if they are indicted for felonies with penalties of at least two years in prison. If something really formal happened from Justice, we would of course react and take action," Scalise told reporters. A frequent face on conservative television networks and an ardent ally of former President Donald Trump, Gaetz has broadly denied the accusations and not been charged with any crimes. He serves on the Armed Services and Judiciary committees, and critics have said he should immediately be removed from the Judiciary panel because it oversees the Justice Department. Scalise did not directly answer questions about whether he has confidence in Gaetz. Scalise said he's not discussed the allegations with Gaetz but expected to meet with him this week. It's serious things alleged. Obviously we want to get the facts," Scalise said. Gaetz did not attend a weekly closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Wednesday, Scalise said. But he did appear at Judiciary and Armed Services committee hearings and appeared relaxed. Story continues At Judiciary, several conservative lawmakers chatted amiably with him, including Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the ranking member, and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who leads the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. Asked for comment Tuesday after returning to Washington for a vote after Congress' two-week Easter recess, Gaetz referred reporters to a column he wrote last week saying he had not paid for sex and accusing his critics of being corrupt. Florida's two Republican senators have also steered clear of voicing support for Gaetz. Most Republicans have taken neutral stances or said nothing about the three-term House lawmaker. Sure, and I dont think anyones saying theyre not," Sen. Marco Rubio said Tuesday when a reporter suggested the allegations are serious. And hes pretty firm in his denial, so well have to wait and see how it plays out." On Monday, Sen. Rick Scott said Gaetz faces pretty serious allegations but didnt say what should happen to him. I think weve got to get all the facts, Scott said. Both senators are considered potential 2024 presidential hopefuls. Few GOP lawmakers have voiced support for Gaetz, who has said he will not resign. Trump issued a brief statement last week that said Gaetz has totally denied the accusations against him. Gaetz is also the focus of a bipartisan investigation by the House Ethics Committee of accusations including sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, spending campaign funds for personal use and accepting a bribe or impermissible gift. The committee has provided no additional detail. Gaetz, 38, became engaged on New Years Eve at Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida. On Sunday, No. 3 House GOP leader Liz Cheney of Wyoming called the accusations against Gaetz sickening" but didn't suggest he should resign. Gaetz has called for Cheney's defeat after she was among 10 House Republicans to vote for Trump's House impeachment in January. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois last week became the first GOP member of Congress to say Gaetz should surrender his House seat, tweeting, Matt Gaetz needs to resign. Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, also voted to impeach Trump in January on a charge of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Gaetz and other Florida Republicans and political allies are being examined as part of a broad public corruption inquiry by federal investigators that began months ago, people familiar with the probe have said. Prosecutors are said to be examining whether Gaetz and Joel Greenberg, a former county tax official, paid underage girls or offered them gifts in exchange for sex. One person said investigators were looking at trips Gaetz and other men took and whether women were paid or received gifts to have sex with them or later received government jobs. It was also revealed in a Florida court last week that Greenberg was working toward a plea deal, which might mean he would provide prosecutors with information about the congressman. Greenburg pleaded not guilty to charges including child sex trafficking and fraud. ___ Associated Press photographer J. Scott Applewhite contributed to this report. The United States and Germany want to return to close military cooperation. This was the pledge made by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and German Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer following a meeting in Berlin. Austin promised to increase the number of troops deployed to Germany by 500 instead of cutting the deployment by 12,000, as the Trump administration had planned. Austin is the first Biden administration official to visit Berlin. He travelled from Israel and will travel on to Brussels and London to consult with leaders of NATO and the British government after a brief stopover with American troops in Germany. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, waits for the start of a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Johanna Geron, Pool via AP) At a joint press conference, Austin and Kramp-Karrenbauer sought to outdo each other with professions of friendship. They carefully avoided discussing controversial topics. Austin recalled his military service as a young lieutenant in Germany and invoked the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The stationing of 500 additional troops in the Wiesbaden area, according to the former general, would strengthen defence and deterrence in Germany, make available more capacity for the waging of war in space, cyberspace, and electronically, and increase the readiness to fight and win. Germany will continue to be an important economic and security partner for years to come, promised Austin. The strengthening of relations with Germany has a high priority for the Biden-Harris government, he continued. We are further expanding the Transatlantic relationship and partnerships with NATO allies, he said. Kramp-Karrenbauer returned Austins compliments and hailed the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which she said is based on values and freedom. The contribution of the US to the security of Germany and Europe is a decisive pillar of our peace and freedom, she said, adding that she is confident that a strong NATO alliance can overcome any challenge together. We need a NATO capable of action with a corresponding German contribution, she remarked. Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasised that Germany will spend 2.5 billion more on its military this year, and would stick to the goal of increasing defence spending to 2 percent of GDP. She pledged to work together with the US to bring the Afghanistan operation to an end. Kramp-Karrenbauer made great play of Germanys decision to send a frigate to the Indo-Pacific so as to show its presence in the region. With the overseeing of sanctions on North Korea and the securing of free navigation through the South China Sea, it was sending a signal. Austin explicitly praised this. Asked by a journalist about the mounting tensions in eastern Ukraine, Kramp-Karrenbauer praised the restraint on the Ukrainian side and expressed concern about the Russian mobilisation. The reality is that the explicit solidarising of Austin with Kramp-Karrenbauer has nothing to do with freedom, democracy, human rights, and the other values mentioned. Rather, it is part of the war preparations against China and Russia, which the Biden administration has been pushing ahead with tremendous energy since he came to power. As far as the oft-sworn friendship between Berlin and Washington is concerned, it has the character of an alliance between mafia bosses against a common enemy, while the weapons for the future mutual settling of accounts are being prepared in the background. The Biden administration did not have to alter Trumps ruthless pursuit of imperialist interests under the slogan America First, but merely the subjective and erratic manner in which he pursued this goal. While the Democrats agree with Trump that the rise of China poses the greatest strategic challenge to the US and must be stopped by any means, they viewed Trumps stance towards Russia as much too soft. Instead of intensifying pressure against Russia, Trump repelled NATO allies like Germany, who are useful for the US at least in the short term. The journal Foreign Affairs, an important voice in the US foreign policy establishment, has published a series of articles recently calling for a tougher line against China. Many analysts wrongly assume that Russia is a declining power, wrote Michael McFaul, who served as the US ambassador to Russia for two years under Obama. But Russia remains one of the worlds most powerful countries with significantly more military, cyber, economic, and ideological might than most Americans appreciate, and one of only two nuclear superpowers. Biden and his national security team, continued McFaul, must retire outdated perceptions of the Russian threat and formulate a new policy to contain the Kremlins economic, military, and political influence. This requires a military strengthening of NATO and an increase of U.S. military, political, and economic support for Ukraine. A Foreign Affairs article from 6 April entitled U.S.-Russian Relations Will Only Get Worse recalled that NATO was retained and expanded eastwards after the dissolution of the Soviet Union so as to keep Europe under control. For the United States, NATO was the right instrument to achieve European stability and security because it enabled the United States to remain in charge, stated the article. Austins visit to Berlin takes place under conditions where the conflict with Russia is threatening to erupt into open warfare. During its first three months in power, the Biden administration has systematically intensified pressure on Russia by inciting the Zelensky regime in Ukraine, which is threatening to capture Crimea, by intensifying the war in Syria, and by supporting Israels provocations against Iran. The situation in Ukraine is on the verge of spiralling out of control. Berlin supported the right-wing coup in Kiev in 2014, which brought a corrupt, pro-Western regime of oligarchs to power, and it is now once again backing the Zelensky regime. The renewal of the NATO alliance by Austin and Kramp-Karrenbauer is thus aimed at paving the way for a war that would have devastating consequences for the whole of Europe. At the same time, it contains the germ of future inter-imperialist wars, since the interests of German and American imperialism, which fought two world wars against each other, are by no means identical. Germany certainly wants to push back Russia so as to strengthen its own position in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and the Caucasus. But unlike the United States, Berlin does not want to totally economically isolate Russia, which has been among one of Germanys most important energy suppliers since the 1970s. This is the background to the unresolved conflict over Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline that the United States wants to halt, while Germany insists its construction must continue. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recently warned, An economic isolation of Russia would result in one forcing Russia and China closer together. And that cant be part of our strategic interests. Berlin and Washington are also pursuing divergent interests with regard to China. The German government and European Union no longer view China as a partner, but as a strategic rival, and are supporting the campaign over the oppression of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang province. But in spite of the China-American conflict, they do not want to be left out of the lucrative Chinese and Eastern Asian markets. German Chancellor Angela Merkel personally ensured that prior to the change of government in the US, the EU concluded an investment treaty with China that Washington opposed. She justified this by saying that on this issue, it is absolutely clear that there is no identity with America. It is noteworthy that the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the mouthpiece of German capital, is debating which side Germany should take in a war between the US and China. With the fate of the pitiable Muslim minority in northwest China, this provides a pretext to act, wrote the FAZ with incredible bluntness on March 29. What this is all about is geostrategic jockeying that is gradually affecting all of world politics. America has already decided where it will stand in this major conflict, it wrote. The old world power wants to hinder the rise of new countries and prevent them from drawing level with the US. For Germany, the calculation is not so clear cut. Exports are the most important pillar of German prosperity, it plays a much larger role for us than it does for America. According to the EU statistics agency, China surpassed the United States last year as the EUs most important trading partner. While in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, trade with the rest of the world fell, exports and imports to and from China grew. In this, Germany is the dominant actor: it accounted for 48 percent of the EUs goods exchanged with China. If Germany is now sending a frigate to the South China Sea, it is to pursue its own imperialist interests. This is why Kramp-Karrenbauer repeatedly noted that the increase in defence spending is aimed at our own security and our own interests, and not doing the US a favor. In the final analysis, the reason for the growth in militarism and the threat of a third world war lies in the bankruptcy of the capitalist system. As in 1914 and 1939, the ruling elites in Germany, the United States and all other imperialist powers are responding to the mounting social and international contradictions by driving humanity as a whole into the abyss. Only an international movement of the working class, connecting the struggle against exploitation and war with the fight against capitalism, can stop the danger of war. UK drama Call the Midwife has been renewed for two more seasons, taking it to Series 12 and 13, the latter in 2024. Heidi Thomas, Creator, Writer and Executive Producer, said: Its an incredible privilege to be able to look back on a decade of Call The Midwife, and yet know that our journey is still very far from over. We are thrilled to be going on for a few more years! Like Nonnatus House itself, we have a proud past but an even more exciting future full of old favourites, fresh faces, higher hemlines, new ideas. The stories we tell are like babies they never stop coming, we love them all, and we vow to do our best by every single one. Pippa Harris, Executive Producer for Neal Street Productions, said: We are all delighted by this vote of confidence from the BBC, and are looking forward to delivering more laughter, tears and babies for our loyal fans. Over the past ten years it has been an honour to see how warmly the show has been embraced by audiences around the world, thanks to the skilful writing of Heidi Thomas and the brilliant work of our cast and crew. Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, said: The enduring popularity of Call The Midwife is a testament to the extraordinary love and creativity from its creator Heidi Thomas and its producers Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank. We are delighted to have secured the future of Call The Midwife for two further series beyond those which are currently in production, and look forward to enjoying more adventures for the inhabitants of Nonnatus House for years to come. Season 10 gets an express morning broadcast on BBC First next Monday at 10am but comes with an evening replay. Related The money for railway maintenance is available, but remains inaccessible to maintenance units because no final decision has been made on whom to allocate capital - the Vietnam Railway Authority (VRA) or Vietnam Railways (VNR). Bui Dinh Sy, Director of the Hanoi Railway Signal and Telecom, said that railway maintenance companies still cannot get orders for maintenance service. The capital was allocated by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to VRA in December 2020. However, it has not been disbursed because of problems in regulations. Though contracts have not been signed, VNR has instructed representatives of the states capital at railway maintenance joint-stock companies to ensure the safety of railways. The company therfore has to use its resources to maintain the status of infrastructure and ensure the safety of railways. Since the beginning of the year, the company has advanced monthly salaries to workers. The advance to nearly 500 workers in the first quarter alone cost VND7 billion. After the first quarter, the company would have to pay VND11-12 billion in salaries, and VND1 billion a month in insurance premiums. Meanwhile, its charter capital is VND22.5 billion only. If the problem cannot be solved soon, the company will have to borrow money from banks. Duong Hong Anh, deputy director of VRA, confirmed that the problems related to the subjects to be allocated capital and the implementation method arose in early 2020. The reason is that VNR is no longer under the management of the transport ministry, but under the State Capital Management Committee. Therefore, under the State Budget Law, the ministry cannot allocate capital to VNR as it did in the past. MOT has proposed two options. First, MOT would assign the estimate for the management and maintenance of the national railway infrastructure to VNR to organize the implementation. Second, MOT would assign the estimate for the management and maintenance of the national railway infrastructure to VRA to organize the implementation. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) commented that the first option wont be contrary to current laws. The capital allocation would not have to go through intermediaries, which could hinder maintenance workflow and affect railway safety. The Ministry of Finance believes that the second option will be in line with the budget law. However, MOJ warned that a problem may arise that this is not suited to the 2017 Railway Law. Regarding the assignment of management and use of national railway infrastructure assets, MOJ said it would be legal to assign both VRA and VNR. However, VNR has experience, the labor force, and the professional and technical expertise to manage and use the assets. Vu Diep Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway trains to arrive every 6 minutes When Hanois Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway project is put into operation, every 6-10 minutes there will be a train arriving at the stations to pick up and drop off passengers. The son of a man charged with being inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 who claimed he urinated in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office also faces charges he participated in the attack, federal authorities say. James Douglas Rahm III, of Atlantic City, traveled with his father, James Douglas Rahm Jr., to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 5, for a Trump rally the next day. Both men then made their way to the Capitol and pushed their way inside, at times overpowering police trying to hold them back, authorities allege. The younger Rahm recorded it on a GoPro camera, and his footage shows his father inside the building, authorities say. Rahm Jr., 61, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, was arrested in early February and has since been indicted on five crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack. He appeared virtually Wednesday in federal court in Washington, where he was formally arraigned and pleaded not guilty. At the hearing was procedural, his lawyer, Leigh Skipper said he asked the judge, Thomas F. Hogan, if he could be allowed to communicate with his son, so long as they do not talk about their cases. Hogan, who said he was unaware his son was also charged, said that was fine. Rahm III was arrested on March 18 in Northfield, a town outside Atlantic City. His age is unavailable, and hes yet to appear in court in Washington, following an initial appearance in federal court in Camden late last month on five crimes. Rahm III is referred to in court papers and a text between his parents as JD Rahm. Both father and son are free on bond. The FBI said in court papers that Rahm Jr., the father, said he was with his son on Jan. 6. Another tipster told the FBI about the sons Snapchat, which described being at the attack and having footage on a GoPro camera, court papers said. During a search of a Rahm family home in Atlantic City on Feb. 5, which targeted the elder Rahm, the sons mother asked the FBI, is this because of that trip they took? When an agent asked what trip she was referring, the mother declined to comment further, the FBI says. The mother said her son, who lived at the home, was on a ski trip, court papers said. (Rahm Jr. later told the Press of Atlantic City the house is where his ex-wife and children live but his name was still on the deed and hes been living in Philadelphia for years.) At the early February search, the mother gave her phone to the FBI, who found a text exchange on Jan. 9 between her and Rahm Jr. with a selfie of the father and son with the Capitol in the background. Thats so GREAT!!! Dont post JDs pic plz, she texted. Rahm Jr. responded, No I just deleted it because I want it off my phone. Im deleting my Facebook also. After Rahm Jr. was arrested, though, the FBI later learned a lot of information about Rahm III from him. James Rahm III at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, in a photo from the FBI. Court filings in the case against Rahm III show he was candid with the FBI about being at the Capitol on Jan. 6. In an early February interview, he said he traveled with his father to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 5 and once at the Capitol after the rally, they split up so he could see some friends and record footage on his GoPro. Rahm III confirmed for the FBI a photo they found in his fathers cell phone was him at the Capitol, described the clothing he wore, and described for agents his movements inside the building, including being inside Pelosis office, and capturing footage of violence against officers, the FBI says. Father and son reunited outside and talked of being inside, the FBI says. The FBI says Rahm III also handed over the footage he recorded, as well as his cell phone. Rahm IIIs own footage shows the group he was in, overpowering U.S. Capitol Hill Police officers, to force the U.S. Capitol doors open from the inside. [JD Rahm III] is among the individuals at the front of this crowd, the FBI wrote in a criminal complaint. The sons footage also shows, about two minutes after the Capitol doors were forced open, he recorded his father entering the Capitol although its unclear if he knew it at the time, since theyd split up beforehand. And just before that, the FBI says Rahm III posted a video to Snapchat in which he is heard shouting expletives, and saying, we just stormed the Capitol, followed by another expletive and screams. No lawyer is listed for the younger Rahm. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday said the pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could create "some logistical issues" but expressed confidence that the state's vaccination campaign will not be significantly impacted. For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you. Infinity Q Diversified Alpha Fund Institutional Class (NASDAQ:IQDNX) If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/infinity-q-diversified-alpha-fund-loss-submission-form?prid=14696&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 27, 2021 Class Period: December 21, 2018 - February 22, 2021 Allegations against IQDNX include that: (1) Infinity Q's Chief Investment Officer made adjustments to certain parameters within the third-party pricing model that affected the valuation of the swaps held by the Fund; (2) consequently, Infinity Q would not be able to calculate NAV correctly; (3) as a result, the previously reported NAVs were unreliable; (4) because of the foregoing, the Fund would halt redemptions and liquidate its assets; and (5) as a result, the Prospectuses were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein. Canoo Inc. (NASDAQ:GOEV) If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/canoo-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=14696&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 1, 2021 Class Period: August 18, 2020 - March 29, 2021 Allegations against GOEV include that: (i) the Company's engineering services was not a viable business, would not provide meaningful revenue in 2021, and would not reduce operational risk; (ii) the Company would no longer be focused on its subscription-based business model; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. FibroGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:FGEN) If you suffered a loss, contact us at:http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/fibrogen-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=14696&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 11, 2021 Class Period: November 8, 2019 - April 6, 2021 Story continues Allegations against FGEN include that: (i) the Company's prior disclosures of U.S. primary cardiovascular safety analyses from the roxadustat Phase 3 program for the treatment of anemia certain safety analyses submitted in connection with CKD included post-hoc changes to the stratification factors; (ii) FibroGen's analyses with the pre-specified stratification factors result in higher hazard ratios (point estimates of relative risk) and 95% confidence intervals; (iii) based on these analyses the Company could not conclude that roxadustat reduces the risk of (or is superior to) MACE+ in dialysis, and MACE and MACE+ in incident dialysis compared to epoetin-alfa; (iv) as a result, the Company faced significant uncertainty that its NDA for roxadustat as a treatment for anemia of CKD would be approved by the FDA; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140. Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Vincent Wong, Esq. 39 East Broadway Suite 304 New York, NY 10002 Tel. 212.425.1140 Fax. 866.699.3880 E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/640373/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-IQDNX-GOEV-FGEN-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines The press and news media may be termed as the Fourth Estate, in terms of advocacy and its ability to frame political issues, however, with the news actually revolving around politicians, filmstars, sportsmen, and other celebrities, media persons are often made to adjust their timetables to suit the comfort of their interviewees. While there are a fair few renowned people who make it a point to turn up on time, many still choose to be fashionably late for events, leaving journalists to sweat it out in the sun for hours at a go. With most choosing to stay quiet and polite in their quest of obtaining that much-needed soundbite, there are a few who finally decide to draw the line. This is what happened in Pakistan, where journalists who had been waiting for two hours for the country's Water and Resources Minister Faisal Vadwa to address a press conference, chose to walk out when he finally decided to arrive. According to a 30-second video that has now gone viral on social networking sites, journalists confronted the minister on the rising corruption in the area, before withdrawing the mics and walking off from the press conference. One journalist could be seen in the video, saying, you did not give us time, so we are boycotting your press conference. Soon after, the video made rounds of the internet with viewers applauding the audacious move and calling the media persons, "journalists with spine." Here are some of their reactions: Bloody hell....what did I just see...!!! You won't believe it. Journalists with spine...! They exist but in other countries sadly pic.twitter.com/7hvRElcSYd Namma Uru Bengaluru, Namma Naadu Karunadu (@CitizenKamran) April 12, 2021 Bravo!! but can someone translate and give background please?? I could get the journalists were waiting for 2 hours. Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) April 13, 2021 @NAINAYADAV_06 Media is d only powerful nd independent institution in any democratic country whose responsibility nd contribution towards keeping masses alarmed nd informed on d pros nd coins of d developments by d parliamentary govt elected by d people, must b n high moral groun Manish Yadav (@exemanish) April 13, 2021 Wow..do we have journalists like these alive now???? (@OldMonk_knoMdlO) April 13, 2021 Wow that is from Pakistan DeviLal (@SyedDeviLal) April 13, 2021 While millions of Americans ran into an array of issues in receiving the three previous rounds of stimulus checks, progressive democrats are reportedly advocating for a fourth round of stimulus money and recurring economic relief payments. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan on Thursday, March 11, and millions received the third stimulus check the following week. Though, millions more still havent receive the third stimulus checks, worth $1,400 per eligible individual. Issues aside, Yahoo! reports 75 lawmakers in Congress are pushing for the president to sign into effect stimulus packages and recurring direct payments until the coronavirus pandemic ends. The 75 lawmakers pushing for recurrent direct payments includes 56 House Democrats who wrote a letter back in January addressed to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with millions of Americans either unemployed, forced out of the workforce or facing a decline in hours and wages, the letter read. Worsening systemic inequities, such as food insecurity and housing instability, are most severe for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, who are suffering higher infection and mortality rates of COVID-19 and higher unemployment levels, compared to white Americans. At the same time, many people of color are encountering reduced or stagnant incomes as frontline workers while not being able to access vital relief programs, such as unemployment insurance. Recapping their asks in the January letter: Continue until the economy recovers with equal payments to adults and dependents, Prioritize those who need it most and will spend it the quickest, Go to all immigrant workers, refugees, and their families (both ITIN filers and mixedstatus households), Include older dependents such as disabled and elderly dependents and those over the age of 16 still claimed as dependents, Add improved administrative outreach and communication at the state and local level to ensure families are aware of payments, and Ensure the Internal Revenue Service makes automatic payments available to all eligible households with better outreach to individuals left behind in previous rounds, including the underbanked and unbanked through pre-loaded EBT cards and those who had erroneous, delayed, or missing payments through improved casework assistance. In late March, the other 21 Democrats are senators who recently wrote another letter to President Biden about the ongoing economic crisis caused by the pandemic and the need of relief for struggling Americans. According to Newsweek, the second letter read: This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Families shouldnt have to worry about whether theyll have enough money to pay for essentials in the months ahead. Ed Mills, a Washington policy analyst at Raymond James, told CNBC in late March in reference to a fourth set of stimulus checks, I think its unlikely at this time. As the more Americans are getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and hiring is on the rise, the report also indicates the economy is starting to recover from the severe economic hardship the pandemic has caused. Biden hasnt publicly responded yet to either letter. Though, he has reportedly shifted focus from economic relief packages to his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan among other issues. Hence, the 75 lawmakers banding together and asking the president to include more economic relief for Americans in that bill. Read More: California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today announced two reappointments to the California Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureaus Governing Committee. Lara appointed Mitch Steiger and Diana Rich to the WCIRB Governing Committee for another two-year term. The committee sets policy, oversees WCIRB management, and reviews all issues involving pure premium rates, classifications, rating plans, rating systems, manual rules and policy, and endorsement forms. The WCIRB is a private organization licensed by the California Department of Insurance for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and compiling rating data, with funding coming from assessments of its insurance company members. All workers comp insurers in California are required by law to be members of the WCIRB. Steiger is a legislative advocate for the California Labor Federation, which is made up of more than 1,200 unions representing 2.1 million union members. Steiger represents the Labor Federation on the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation, the Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee, the Worker Occupational Safety & Health Training Education Program Advisory Committee, and he is a member of the Pacific Media Workers Guild Local 39521. Steiger will continue to serve as an organized labor representative with a term ending on April 14, 2023. Rich is director of risk management for Foundation Building Materials LLC, where she is responsible for risk management and claims for the $3 billion private company with more than 275 locations in 39 states. She also serves as principal for Clark Enterprise Partners, which delivers risk management and workers comp expertise to a variety of clients with a focus on claim resolution. Rich will continue to serve as an insured employer representative with a term ending on April 14, 2023. The next WCIRB Governing Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 21. More details are available at www.insurance.ca.gov/boards. Topics California In a shocking turn of events, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) told the Delhi High Court that the new privacy policy introduced by WhatsApp early this year could lead to excessive data collection and stalking of consumers for targeted advertising. Justice Navin Chawla of the Delhi High Court said that the CCI order appears to be concerned with WhatsApp users privacy issues, in response to the industry watchdogs stand. CCI has maintained that it was not examining any alleged violations of individuals privacy, as the Supreme Court of India is investigating the matter separately. Currently, the Delhi High Court is hearing a plea filed by WhatsApp and Facebook to keep the CCIs order of directing an investigation into the new privacy policy at arms length. Senior advocate Harish Salve appeared for WhatsApp in the High Court and argued that the competition regulator has jumped the gun by ordering the investigation. In his defence, he cited two reasons to back his arguments. Firstly, he said that the 2021 update doesnt change WhatsApps privacy policy. The policy is not altered and is only an amplification of existing privacy policy. The competition regulator couldnt have ordered an investigation on this issue since the high court and Supreme Court are already hearing cases on it, he said. Secondly, he argued that since the High Court and the Supreme Court are already hearing similar cases, the CCI cant order a separate investigation on the same issue. Senior advocate Aman Lekhi appeared for CCI. He cleared in the court that the industry watchdog is looking at the competition aspect and not on the privacy violation of an individual. He said that there is no question of jurisdictional error, adding that the pleas were incompetent and misconceived. SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Today CBD Life Sciences (OTC PINK:CBDL) through its wholly owned subsidiary, LBC Bioscience Inc. President & CEO, Lisa Nelson has issued this strategic overview for its shareholders highlighting the following news and events for CBDL in 2021. CBD Life Sciences Inc. received fantastic news in November with the passing of the Prop 207 initiative which included the legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use in CBDL's home state of Arizona beginning in 2021. CBD Life Sciences Inc. has a lot in store for the upcoming months such as two trade shows one being in Mesa, Arizona at the end of this month and one in Las Vegas in September! CBD Life Sciences Inc. also has vending machines being placed in convenient store locations which is expected to bring great revenue to the table along with tons of more products coming in due to Harvest season starting at the end of this month. President & CEO Lisa Nelson states "These next few months are going to be huge for the company as far as growth and revenue go and I cannot stress that enough!" Lisa Nelson also states "With Harvest Season right around the corner, the amount of new products we will be bringing in is going to be absurd." CBD Life Sciences Inc. has fantastic news for the shareholders regarding Amazon, one of the biggest online distributors in the world. The company is currently waiting on verification of the trademark for LBC Bioscience Inc. and after that is completed, the company will begin selling its Hemp products on the platform. The company decided to introduce the addition of its Hemp products on the shopping giant, Amazon.com, in a move that emphasizes the importance of hemp in the future of both LBC Bioscience Inc. and the nutritional hemp market which is "blowing up" around the world. The products we plan to distribute on Amazon focus more on the Health & Wellness side of things which would be our top selling Pain Relief Cream along with Anxiety and Sleep Tinctures. CBD Life Sciences Inc. has already identified several potential cultivation sites with the Arizona PROP 207 approved and is aggressively pursuing amazing new opportunities in Arizona's new recreational cannabis market. This new law gives CBD Life Sciences Inc. the capability of offering licensed retailers CBD Life Sciences Inc. premium cannabis products which are then made available for sale to 1000's of future recreational cannabis customers in addition to current cannabis sales to existing medical-use dispensaries in Arizona. The number of benefits CBD has is tremendous! These benefits include help with behavioral/neurological complications such as ADD/ADHD, anxiety, bipolar, OCD, PTSD, epilepsy, Parkinson's, osteoporosis, and ALS. CBD can also benefit pain management that can stem from headaches/migraines, arthritis, cramps, spinal injuries, and fibromyalgia. CBD has been found to also have gastrointestinal benefits with gastro-disorders and complications such as anorexia, cachexia, Crohn's, diabetes, and nausea. Physical complications/disorders such as muscular dystrophy and even immune system-based deficiencies and other complications such as cancer and hypertension even our bodies way and ability to maintain homeostasis have all been said to benefit from CBD. LBC BIOSCIENCE INC. ONLINE STORE LBC BIOSCIENCE'S Online Emporium LBC Bioscience Inc. is well stocked already as it is with some very high-quality CBD offerings - all at very reasonable prices. Check out LBC Bioscience Inc's newest product offerings including its: 100MG CBD Bath Bombs in a variety of scents, Delta 8 Gummies, 1500 MG Premium Berry Drops, and a variety of all-new Skincare products. Or shop our top selling products (based on order frequency) which include our CBD Pain Cream, CBD Oils and CBD Pet Treats. Become a Distributor Large Selection of Products (over 50 items and growing) 100% USA Made Products "organic & kosher." All Products are THC-FREE (they contain 0.00% THC) Weekly Deals (new deals every week) 20% off on all products using code "LBC20." LBC Bioscience Inc. accepts: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover etc. Shareholders and interest holders may also stay current with LBC Bioscience Inc Updates: LBC Bioscience Inc's Main Website at www.lbcbioscienceinc.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lbcbioscience Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lbcbioscience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lbcbioscience About LBC Bioscience Inc. LBC Bioscience Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBD Life Sciences Inc. LBC has developed and is retailing/wholesale a full line of cannabidiol based organic products including CBD Drops, Gumballs, Honey Sticks, Pain Relief Creams, Anxiety & Sleep Supplements, Edibles, Coffee, Skincare Line, Pet Line, Tablets and more. LBC's products can be viewed and purchased on the Company's website at www.lbcbioscienceinc.com. Ten Associates LLC Contact: Thomas E. Nelson Telephone: (480) 326-8577 Email: tenassociates33@gmail.com Website: www.tenassociatesllc.com Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See CBD Life Sciences, Inc's, Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking SOURCE: CBD Life Sciences Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640266/CBD-Life-Sciences-Inc-CBDL-Issues-Strategic-Corporate-Overview Mumbai, April 14 : For the first time since its launch on January 26, 2020, the Maharashtra government's "Shiv Bhojan Thali" will be distributed free to the poor for a month during the current 'lockdown-like' curfew measures being clamped from Wednesday night, officials said. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced that the 'thali' - comprising a wholesome meal of two chapatis, a vegetable, a bowl of rice and dal - will be given free to the poor people in the form of a parcel. While declaring the new restrictions from 8 p.m. on April 14 till April 30, he said that the government will provide 200,000 SBTs daily through its nearly 964 centres across the state. Since the launch, more than 5 crore SBTs have been distributed all over the state, benefitting the economically weaker sections, said an official of the Ministry of Food & Civil Supplies which is spearheading the scheme. During the Lockdown in 2020, the SBT had proved to be a huge boon to the urban, rural poor and the lakhs of migrants who were uprooted and on the move during the pandemic, and many reported that they could survive only because of the SBTs available at strategic locations. Originally launched for Rs 10 per plate, during the lockdown, Thackeray had slashed the price to just Rs 5 a plate, and now for a month, it will be given to the poor free of cost. The government will also distribute 3 kg wheat, 2 kg rice to around 7 crore poor people under the Food Security Scheme, he added. Thackeray also announced a Rs 5,476 crore financial package comprising Rs 1,500 each for 1.20 million construction workers, half-million street-side vendors and 1.20 million autorickshaw drivers and Rs 2,000 each to around 1.20 million tribal families as a one-time assistance under the new restrictions' regime. However, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leaders said the financial package was an 'eye-wash' and a lot more was expected from the government, given the current pandemic situation and the growing Covid-19 cases and deaths in the state, and the fresh norms which would hit people in a big way. Recent Emory College graduate Elliot Shuwei Ji has been selected as one of 30 Soros Fellows for 2021. Recent Emory College graduate Elliot Shuwei Ji, who has been working toward an academic or policy career focused on U.S.-China relations, is among 30 recipients selected for the 2021 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Ji, who graduated in 2019, is the third Emory College graduate to win the highly competitive fellowship. The award is given to outstanding immigrants and children of immigrants and comes with $90,000 for two years of graduate study at any U.S. university. Elliot is a remarkable individual whose interest in political science, international policy and foreign relations has important real-world implications. Elliots intellectual curiosity and desire to contribute to society exemplifies what we look for in Fellows, and were excited to support him along his journey, explains Fellowship Director Craig Harwood. Elliot is a mature, courageous and kind young man with a great desire to make lasting policy contributions that improve the lives of others, says Megan Friddle, director of Emory Colleges National Scholarships and Fellowships Program. I have been consistently impressed by his intellectual rigor and enthusiasm for his work. PD Soros Fellows have pursued careers in academia, business, law, medicine and more since the award was established in 1997. For Ji, the path to a career focused on foreign policy began when, at 13, he moved to the U.S. from Beijing, China, with his parents. As an undergraduate, Ji served as a research assistant at The Carter Center and an undergraduate fellow at Emorys Center for Law and Social Sciences. After he completed his second year of college, he served as an intern at the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. He also became a campus leader while at Emory, serving in various roles with the East Asia Collective, Deans Advisory Council and College Honor Council before earning his bachelors degree after just three years of study. Ji says he is particularly grateful for political science professors David Davis, Jennifer Gandhi, Eric Reinhardt and Jeff Staton, with whom he completed graduate-level coursework in his final year at Emory. More recently, Ji completed an internship with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he worked with the Democratic staff on Chinas growth and international expansion. Ji went on to earn his masters degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University last year as a 2019 Schwarzman Scholar. He is now a doctoral student in politics at Princeton University. His research interests include the change of international order, the rise of China and the implications of emerging technologies on international relations. The mission and spirit of this fellowship reaffirm my commitment to the betterment of U.S.-China relations and encourage me to contribute to my communities as a proud Chinese American, Ji says. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to the Yazidi community of Armenia on their New Year, the PMs Office told Armenpress. Dear representatives of the Yazidi community of Armenia, I warmly congratulate you on your New Year the Malake Taus. The friendship of the Armenian and Yazidi peoples having a centuries-old history have passed through a common struggle trial, have strengthened with a peaceful, creative work and common achievements. You have a great contribution to the creation and protection of our country. Malake Taus brings new hope and dream, therefore, I wish our region to be peaceful and safe in the new year, and the trials to remain in the past. I wish you good luck. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan In Forgotten Heroes, Harvey depicts the Walers with their riders in full uniform rehearsing for an ANZAC march in the high country of NSW. It was my desire to display the pageantry of this occasion with the underlining idea that the Waler horse should also be acknowledged for the important role they played in the war. I am an artist and not a historian but in my view, it was the Walers that were responsible for the military successes in the Middle East. If it had not been for these noble steeds, the war may have had a different outcome. Due to the costs said to be incurred for returning horses home and Australias quarantine laws, only one Waler is known to have been returned to Australia. The surviving horses were either culled or sold to the British army as remounts for Egypt and India. Many a soldier took it into their own hands to shoot their own horse rather than to see it sold into slavery, Harvey says. The soldiers had seen how horses were mistreated as farm labour. This aspect of the story truly horrified me and I cant believe that our government of the time could be so heartless an act of barbaric behaviour which must have traumatised so many men. After all, they had endured together; I find it almost impossible to believe but its true. The 18-year-old charged in the crash that killed Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, has been granted youthful offender status. Johnston Edward Taylor is charged with manslaughter in the May 25, 2019 deaths of the Brambletts. The teens bond was first revoked in December 2019 after got two speeding tickets and one reckless driving citation seven months after the deadly crash. He is still facing another possible bond revocation. Due to the confidential status of youthful offender proceedings, his attorney, Tommy Spina, declined to comment on the ruling. Lee County Circuit Judge P.B. McLauchlin, a retired judge handling the case, issued his order Tuesday. The order was made public at 4:24 p.m. At the time of the accident the defendant was a 16-year-old teenager with no prior criminal history, who had smoked or used marijuana and had been diagnosed with marijuana use disorder,' McLauchlin wrote. None of this justifies what happened; however, it does lend itself to treatment as a Youthful Offender. The youthful offender status will eliminate a jury trial, if there is a trial, and the range of punishment goes from two to 20 years had he been tried as an adult to zero to three years maximum. It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed. Taylor -- then a 16-year-old Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling south in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo. The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light. The Jeep struck the Brambletts SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest. The Brambletts vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb. Taylors blood sample contained THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, and is indicative of recent usage of marijuana at the time of the collision, records state. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries. Rod Bramblett, 52, who was the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury. At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couples SUV. The judge noted in his order that Taylor had only had his drivers license for three months when the deadly crash happened. He also chronicled facts of the case, which included that Taylor was traveling at 90 to 80 miles per hour and in the five seconds before the crash, the vehicle was not slowed or steered. He said Taylor told authorities he was on his way home from the lake after spending the day with a friend and her family, that he was tired and fell asleep, remembered only a loud crash, his vehicle spinning and smoke everywhere. The defendant says when he last looked at the speedometer, he was going 60 to 65 mph,' the judge wrote. McLauchlin also noted that Taylor had been pulled over twice following the deadly crash and that his bond had been previously revoked, landing Taylor in jail for five days. The defendant received 60-90 days residential rehab treatment in Nashville, Tennessee and has been confined to his home since then by agreement to reset bond,' he wrote. He also passed all drug except recently in March 2021 when he tested positive for alcohol. He alleged that was due to him taking allergy medicine which contained alcohol. He also was prohibited from use of any social media and must continue mental health and drug treatment therapy. According to the newest bond revocation request, which is still pending, Taylor had positive screens for alcohol on March 1, March 18, and March 20 of this year. All results are indicative of previous heavy drinking 1-3 days before test or recent light drinking within the past 24 hours,' wrote Lee County Assistant District Attorney James L. Farmer. Taylors attorneys filed an objection for bond revocation, claiming the request was a Hail Mary to put Taylor in jail and prejudice the outcome of the youthful offender hearing. A New Zealand High Court hearing requested by Christchurch mosque terrorist Brenton Tarrant has not proceeded. Australian-raised Tarrant had requested a judicial review into his prison conditions and into the NZ government's designation of him as a 'terrorist entity'. However, he didn't dial into the hearing. Pictured: Brenton Tarrant, who shot 51 people dead and wounded 40 more in an attack on two mosques in New Zealand on March 15, 2019 Tarrant is serving a term of life imprisonment without parole, and the review would not have had any bearing on his sentence. Further details on the adjourned hearing will be publishable later on Thursday, following a minute from High Court Justice Venning. The hearing was scheduled for the first week of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Rosemary Omar, whose son Tariq was murdered by Tarrant at Al Noor Mosque, told Radio NZ the timing was hurtful and probably part of a 'cat and mouse' game. The 30-year-old was in August convicted of 51 counts of murder for his atrocity, committed on March 15 2019. Tarrant was set to represent himself in the hearing via phone from Paremoremo Prison in Auckland. A student loan forgiveness of $50,000 would free student borrowers from debt. Over 36 million Americans would have their federal student loans entirely wiped out if the Biden administration was to go along with progressive demands to cancel up to $50,000 for every borrower. The federal data was released on Tuesday by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who requested the data from the Education Department previously this April. Student Loan Forgiveness The borrowers who would have their debt entirely canceled out account for 45 million federal student loan borrowers overall. According to the data, 9.8 million federal student loan borrowers who were in default or over three months behind on their debt at the end of 2019 would attain debt forgiveness. Democratic lawmakers are continuing to push President Joe Biden to forgive $50,000 in student debt per individual. New data from the Department of Education could have helped them make their case to Biden. A DOE analysis discovered that $50,000 in student loan forgiveness per individual would erase the whole debt for 36 million or 84 percent of the estimated 43 million borrowers in the United States with federal loans. Ten thousand dollars in forgiveness would wipe out the entire debt for 15 million or 35 percent of such borrowers, reported Business Insider. Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have prompted Biden to utilize executive power to cancel student loan debt. The Biden administration has declared it will probe into the problem, reported Thakoni. If the federal government were to cancel $50,000 for 36 million of the 45 million federal student loan borrowers, that would be an estimated 80 percent. That includes 9.8 million of the 10.3 million federal student loan borrowers who were either in default or over three months delinquent on their debt in late 2019. COVID-19 Relief Package Provides Families $3,600 per Child The data proffers more granular insight into how massive the student loan forgiveness would impact the federal government's $1.5 trillion student loan portfolio than is available from the department's public database. Less extensive student loan forgiveness of $10,000 for each borrower, which the president supported on the campaign trail, would entirely forgive the debts of 15 million borrowers, reported Politico. Warren's release of the information marks the most recent salvo in progressives' efforts to persuade the president to take unilateral action to wipe out $50,000 in student debt for each borrower. The president has set his sights lower. He stated he may target $10,000 in debt while still questioning his legal authority to forgive the debt by executive action. The data also displayed 9.4 million of the 36 million borrowers who would benefit from a $50,000 loan cancelation are at risk of default. This means they may fail to repay the loans. Also, 4.4 million borrowers, every individual holding an average of $48,000 in student debt, have had loans for over two decades since graduation. Another 10.7 million borrowers have had their loans for more than a decade. The data expounds more into the effects of large student loan forgiveness on the federal government's $ 1.5 trillion student loan portfolio than what the department's existing public records indicate. A less extensive cancellation of the $10,000 each borrower the president helped out in the campaign would entirely forgive the debt of 15 million borrowers. The data also displayed that millions of students in debt have been carrying federal student loan debt for decades. Over 10.6 million borrowers have been in repayment for over a decade. Third Stimulus Check: IRS To Start Sending Them Within Days @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Joe Biden has nominated Robert Santos to lead the U.S. Census Bureau as it inches toward releasing data from the 2020 census that would be used to redraw congressional and legislative districts. Robert Santos, a Mexican-American, is the American Statistical Association president and also the vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute, according to an Associated Press report. If confirmed, Robert Santos would become the first person of color to serve as a permanent Census Bureau director. He is set to replace Steven Dillingham, who stepped down in January amid reports that former President Donald Trump pressured him to produce citizenship information at the expense of data quality in last year's census. The White House issued Santos' nomination on Tuesday, USA Today reported. Ron Jarmin, the Census Bureau's chief operating officer, currently serves as the agency's acting director. READ NEXT: Californians Elect First Latino Secretary of State with State Senator Alex Padilla Robert Santos' Profile Robert Santos hails from San Antonio, Texas, and is deemed an expert in survey sampling with his 40 years of experience in survey design, policy research, and social science. In a 2019 report that he co-authored, Santos cautioned that underfunding and the last-minute introduction of citizenship could result in serious miscounts of Blacks, Latinos, and others in the 2020 Census. He noted that the percentage of native-born Hispanics in the U.S. has increased over the decades. Santos said his Spanish-speaking grandparents hailed from Mexico, but his generation only spoke English. "It's this language loss that lead to personal conflict in my journey of identity: How could I call myself a Latino or MexicanAmerican if I am a monolingual English speaker?" he said in a 2019 speech. Robert Santos earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics at Trinity University in San Antonio in 1976, while he earned his master's degree in statistics at the University of Michigan in 1977. In a statement, Santos said that he considers the nomination an honor to join some of the world's most talented statisticians and scientists. "The principles of transparency, scientific independence, and integrity will be key in allowing the Census Bureau to thrive and innovate over the coming decade," Santos said as reported by NPR. Robert Santos acknowledged that another big challenge facing the bureau is its plans to use a new method to protect people's information confidentiality. The bureau is already facing several court challenges over the delay in the release of 2020 census results to run more quality checks. The statistical agency is set to release state population counts and more detailed data at smaller geographic levels in August. Census Bureau The Census Bureau became a federal agency in 1902, and since then, it has been filled almost exclusively by white men. In 1998, the bureau was temporarily led by an African American acting director when James F. Holmes filled the position for about nine months after the resignation of economist Martha Riche. READ MORE: Famous Latinos Who Changed World of Politics, Astronomy, and More WATCH: Biden To Make Historic Census Director Pick With Latinx Statistician Rob Santos - From AbyssSting The sounds of power tools and hammering filled the air outside the Penumbra Kelly Building on Tuesday afternoon as workers repaired damage from a protest that was declared a riot the night before. About 200 people, most dressed in black clothing, gathered in Portlands Laurelhurst Park on Monday evening for a vigil in honor of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by a Minnesota police officer during a weekend traffic stop. After the vigil, the crowd marched to the Penumbra Kelly Building, which houses some Portland police and Multnomah County Sheriffs Office operations. Some in the crowd lit a fire inside a dumpster, broke windows and tore down a light fixture attached to the East Burnside Street building. Portland police officers responded by pushing demonstrators into the street, shooting munitions and deploying flash bang grenades before declaring an unlawful assembly. Police declared a riot shortly after 10 p.m. and dispersed the crowd toward Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Laurelhurst Park. About the same time, a group of people damaged patrol cars and a fence at a police building in North Portland. What we saw here last night at the Kelly Penumbra Building was not a demonstration, Portland Police Bureau Capt. Tina Jones said Tuesday, standing in front of a set of pockmarked windows. This was an organized event direct action event that was targeted criminal behavior. Jones, citing a bureau staffing shortage, said no one was arrested during the clash. She said the agency has 120 fewer sworn officers than it did in June, after protests against racism and police brutality began sweeping the nation. The bureau had to divert officers to the Penumbra Kelly Building on Monday night, requiring officers to delay their responses to non-emergency calls, Jones said. Weve got competing public safety events happening across the city, she said. Were doing the best we can. Jones said Portland police are discussing and planning for the possibility of sustained civil unrest in the coming months similar to what the city experienced last year after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. After a relative lull during the winter months, protests similar to those that occurred last summer have been ramping up again in Portland. Among those protests are events labeled as direct action marches, which typically occur at night and involve dozens of people marching to a public building, where theyre regularly met by law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear. Some protesters commit property damage or throw items at officers. The officers, in turn, will disperse crowds, make arrests, and at times use impact munitions or chemical agents like tear gas. As workers drilled light fixtures back onto the Penumbra Kelly Buildings exterior Tuesday, Jones warned of a nighttime march beginning at North Portlands Kenton Park. A flyer for the autonomous demonstration says no live streamers are welcome and that protesters should wear black. We want the neighbors and businesses in that area to be aware and we anticipate potential traffic impacts and we also will be monitoring the situation to determine if and how and when we would need to appropriately respond, Jones said. -- Catalina Gaitan; @catalinagaitan_ China welcomes U.S. companies' participation in modernization process: premier Xinhua) 08:48, April 14, 2021 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds virtual dialogue with U.S. business leaders in Beijing, capital of China, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday that China welcomes the active participation of companies from the United States and around the world in its reform and opening-up, as well as its modernization process. Li made the remarks during a virtual dialogue with U.S. business leaders, with board chairmen and CEOs from the U.S.-China Business Council and over 20 U.S. multinational companies in attendance. Promoting the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations is the common aspiration of both peoples as well as the international community, Li said. He called upon the two sides to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and uphold the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, respecting each other's core interests and major concerns, enhancing dialogue and communication, expanding practical cooperation and properly handling differences. "The essence of economic and trade relations between China and the U.S. is mutual benefit," said Li, adding that such a relationship benefits the two peoples as well as world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Noting that trade between the two countries in 2020 increased despite multiple shocks, Li said this indicates that there are objective conditions and opportunities for cooperation between the two sides. "Problems that occur in cooperation should be resolved through cooperation," said Li, adding that decoupling does no good to either side and will hurt the world. Li expressed the hope that China and the U.S. can meet each other half-way, promote cooperation by making a bigger pie of common interests and safeguard the safety and stability of the industrial and supply chains. Li reiterated that championing opening-up is China's fundamental policy and China's door to the outside world will open wider. The premier expounded that by fostering a new development pattern, China will, on the one hand, keep tapping the potential of the domestic market and form a stable support for economic growth and employment, and on the other hand, further open up China's market and continue to make China an important destination for foreign investment and a big market for the world. China will further open up, work toward a market-based and law-governed business environment that is up to international standards, and promote reforms to delegate power, streamline administration and optimize government services, ensuring a level playing field for both domestic and foreign enterprises. Participants from the U.S. side said that avoiding conflict and confrontation and putting bilateral relations back on a constructive track are in the common interests of both sides. Noting that economic and trade relations are the cornerstone of bilateral ties, they said that decoupling will bring huge uncertainties, not only for the two countries, but also for the whole world. They said the U.S. business community supports the two sides increasing mutual trust through communication, enhancing coordination and cooperation in areas including epidemic prevention and control, climate change, sustainable development and innovation, and resuming people-to-people exchanges as soon as possible. They said that U.S. companies welcome progress made by China in the areas of opening-up and optimizing the business environment, feel optimistic about China's development prospects and opportunities, and are committed to the long-term trade and investment cooperation with China. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Argus Research, an independent investment research firm, has launched Equity Research Report coverage on ASBISc Enterprises PLC (WSE: ASB) Click Hereto view full Argus Equity Research Report COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS: Excerpts (as conveyed by Argus Analyst Steve Silver) include: ASB (WSE): A Leading Global Technology Product Distributor ASBISc has grown revenues and earnings in recent years, and is well positioned for continued growth. The company has expanded its gross margin by more than 100 basis points over the past two years, supported by strong sales of private-label products, distribution efficiencies, and the increased use of e-commerce. We believe that ASBISc warrants a valuation closer to the industry average. Applying a slightly below-peer-average multiple of 15 to 2020 EPS of 2.51, we arrive at a fair value estimate for ASB of approximately 39 PLN per share ($10), well above current prices near 17.20 PLN ($4.36). INVESTMENT THESIS excerptsto view full Argus Equity Research Report): Although the pandemic caused widespread industry disruption in 2020, leading many businesses to close, ASBISc was able to meet customer needs for digital and remote connectivity technologies. We believe this is reflected in the company's positive revenue growth in all four quarters of 2020, including the difficult second quarter, when revenue rose 2%. In our view, the subsequent 34% growth in 3Q and 30% growth in 4Q highlight the resiliency and underlying strength of ASBISc's business. About ASBISc Enterprises PLC Founded in 1990, Cyprus-based ASBISc Enterprises PLC specializes in the distribution of computer hardware and software, mobile solutions, and other IT products and digital equipment. The company's geographic focus is the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). For more information Please Contact: Tziamalis Constantinos Group Risk and Investor Relations Director Tel: +35725857188 Costas@asbis.com About Argus Research Corp. Headquartered in NYC, Argus Research) is a leading independent equity research firm (est. 1934) - providing fundamental and quantitative research coverage on more than 1,600 companies across all 11 sectors of the S&P 500, as well as macroeconomic and equity market forecasts, thematic research, model portfolios and pre-IPO research. In addition, Argus has recently committed to providing a sponsored research solution for small & mid-cap companies seeking coverage. Argus's Equity Research/earnings estimates are available on major research / earnings estimate aggregator platforms, including Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Factset and S&P Global. For more Information please contact: Darrell Stone 646-747-5438 dstone@argusresearch.com Argus Research Co. has received a flat fee from the company discussed in this report as part of a Sponsored Research agreement between Argus and the company. No part of Argus Research's compensation is directly or indirectly related to the content of this assessment or to other opinions expressed in this report. Please refer to the full Argus report and the disclaimer for complete disclosures. While the United States grapples with yet another police killing of a young black man, Daunte Wright, in Minnesota, questions remain about the shooting of Jacob Blake, which occurred in August 2020. The officers involved in the shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, responded to a call about a domestic incident. Once police arrived on the scene, a confrontation ensued, and Officer Rusten Sheskey, claiming self-defense, shot Mr. Blake in the back seven times as he tried to flee. The injuries sustained by Mr. Blake left him paralyzed from the waist down. After the shooting, Officer Sheskey was placed on administrative leave, a common practice after an event of this nature, until an investigation could be completed. The investigation was finalized in early January 2021, and although it was determined that no charges would be brought forward against Officer Sheskey, he remained on administrative leave. What did the District Attorneys report say on bringing charges forward? In District Attorney Graveleys report on the investigation, he stated that the events of August 23, 2020 were a tragedy for Jacob Blake, for the people who love him, for his children who were witnesses, for the City of Kenosha, but that after considering the evidence of the case available to him, he did not believe the State could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Sheskey was not acting lawfully in self-defense or defense of others which 4 is the legal standard the State would have to meet to obtain a criminal conviction in this case. After the District Attorneys report was released, one of the lawyers representing Mr. Blake, Benjamin Crump, articulated his disappointment with the decision stating that the findings send the wrong message to police officers throughout the country. It says it is OK for police to abuse their power and recklessly shoot their weapon, destroying the life of someone who was trying to protect his children." In March, Mr. Blake brought an action against Officer Sheskey in civil court for using excessive force. The damages requested have not been specified. What was the response for the Kenosha Police Department? On April 13th, Kenosha Police Department released a statement to the media alerting the public that Officer Sheskey had been reinstated as of March 31st and that the department understood that some would not be pleased with the outcome but that given the facts, the only lawful and appropriate decision was made. This decision to reinstate Officer Sheskey was made based on the investigations finding and the conclusion that he acted in accordance with department police. Jacob Blakes case and its place within the broader discussion on excessive force by police The shooting of Jacob Blake is complicated. The case forces those in the United States to reckon with how police officers use deadly force and the frequency in which Black Americans, specifically Black men are the targets of this force. The arguments made by the District Attorney and the Kenosha Police Department illustrate the difficult situations police in the United States find themselves in, particularly given the widespread availability of firearms in the country, meaning police are constantly wary that they could come under fire. But as many racial justice advocates, like the American Civil Liberties Union, remind the public when cases like that of Mr. Blake arise, targeting the systemic issues of poverty and racism in this country could protect police officers and the communities they serve. Irans President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Iran will boost its uranium enrichment in response to Israels nuclear terrorism as an answer to the countrys evilness. Rouhanis remarks were aired on state TV nearly 3 days after Tehrans main Natanz underground atomic facility was compromised in an unforeseen electrical incident that sabotaged the Islamic republics nuclear enrichment activity. Natanzs centrifuges were destroyed in the 'suspicious' attack, that the Iranian agencies widely reported, was carried out by Israels spy agency Mossad Secret Service. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif openly held Israel responsible vowing revenge. In a state televised remark, Zarif said Zionists will get their answer. Irans top diplomat termed the electrical incident as Israels trap to deter Iran from comprehensive dialogue with the United States and P5+1 in the ongoing Vienna talks, that could have the Trump-era oppressive trade sanctions for the western Asian country lifted. In Wednesdays address to his cabinet, the aggravated Iranian leader vowed that Iran will replace the destroyed first-generation IR-1 centrifuges at Natanz with several times advanced IR-6 centrifuges that will speed the uranium enriching. "You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full," Rouhani said. 60 percent enrichment is an answer to your evilness, he continued, adding, We [Iran] will cut off both of your hands [attacking Israel verbally]; one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60 percent.Rouhani stressed that the Islamic Republic would now install 1,000 "more advanced" centrifuges in retaliation to Israels weekend terrorist attack on the Iranian facility. [Irans nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, Iran. Credit: AP] Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kazem Gharibadadi, stated that Iran will conduct uranium enrichment with two cascades of IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges. "Modification of the process just started and we expect to accumulate the product next week," Gharibadadi, in an online statement, wrote. Israels Channel 13s defense analyst Alon Ben-David, meanwhile, claimed that Israel attacked Irans key nuclear facility to tatter Irans leverage in JCPOA ongoing talks in Vienna. Although, at a joint press conference alongside his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, earlier yesterday, Irans foreign minister Zarif said: If [Israel] thought that they can stop Iran from following up on lifting sanctions from the Iranian people, then they made a "very bad gamble. He warned, what Israel did in Natanz, they thought it would reduce Irans leverage but Irans enrichment plant will be upscaled with advanced centrifuges to make it more powerful. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told the Iranian Fars News Agency that the gravity of the so-called accident was much more than what Iran publicly disclosed. The incident came a day after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that Iran has started fuelling uranium hexaflouride gas into advanced IR-6 and IR-5 centrifuges at Natanz. Iran vows enrichment at weapons-grade levels The extent of damage caused in Sundays incident has likely suspended Irans operation of its atomic grids installation at Isfahan Province for at least the next 9 months, Iranian officials told IRNA acknowledging the explosions, abrupt power outage, and rotors and bellows of enrichment cascades blowing up and disintegrating at the underground facility. The power outage hit approximately 155 miles south of Tehran, shocking Iranian lawmakers as the heavily secured site has remained under surveillance and safeguards of anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian military troops. At an estimated 50 deep underground nuclear facility, Iran enriched UF6 at 20 percent purity fissure suitable for fuel fabrication or for isotopic enrichment, but it now plans to ramp up levels to 60 percent, an approximate weapons-grade quantification to manufacture bombs. By Ece Toksabay and Ali Kucukgocmen ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkish journalist and writer Ahmet Altan was released from prison on Wednesday, his lawyer said, after the top appeals court overturned a verdict against him following a ruling by a European court that his rights had been violated. The 71-year-old Altan has been in prison in western Istanbul since September 2016, on charges related to an attempted coup in July 2016. He was detained over allegations that he disseminated subliminal messages related to the coup attempt during a TV programme, as well as articles he had written criticising the government. He denied the charges, which he and his lawyer said were politically motivated. Altan's case was one of those considered to be symbolic of the crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip Erdogan following the attempted coup. Ankara says the measures were necessary given the security threats facing Turkey. He was sentenced to life in jail in 2018 without parole for attempting to overthrow the constitutional order but the ruling was overturned by the Court of Cassation, the top appeals court. Altan was then re-tried and sentenced to more than 10 years for aiding a terrorist organisation. He was briefly released due to time served but re-arrested after the prosecutor objected. Altan was released again on Wednesday due to time served after the Court of Cassation overturned the second ruling, his lawyer Figen Calikusu said. "This has been a judicial persecution that went on for longer than four years and seven months. Ahmet Altan was held with a completely empty file," she said. "He was considered the perpetrator of the coup attempt for articles he wrote," Calikusu added. His case will now return to the lower court, which could decide to resist the ruling by the Court of Cassation but Calikusu said she expected Altan to be acquitted. The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Altan's right to liberty and security, as well as his freedom of expression had been violated since he was accused without reasonable suspicion. Story continues Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, welcomed the ruling by the Court of Cassation, adding that all charges should be dropped. Turkey accused Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the coup. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, denies involvement. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay and Ali Kucukgocmen;Editing by Alison Williams) ADVERTISEMENT Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Muslim faithful in Nigeria to devote themselves to higher virtues of kindness, love and generosity towards one another as they observe Ramadan. The vice president spoke with State House correspondents shortly after presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Muslims in Nigeria on Tuesday joined their counterparts around the world to begin the 30 days Ramadan fasting. I must express my very sincere greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters who have begun the Ramadan fast already. This is not just a time for abstinence from food, drink and other worldly pleasures; it is a time of rededication to the higher virtues love, kindness, generosity, and consideration for others regardless of faith or ethnicity. And also for our nation, the time, I believe to recommit ourselves to unity, brotherhood, to peace and reconciliation in various ways so that our country will achieve all of the objectives that we set for ourselves. So, I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a very happy period of Ramadan; Ramadan Kareem, he said. (NAN) The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released the following statement Tuesday: The Co-Chairs note with satisfaction the consolidation of the ceasefire, and are closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement reached by the parties on 9 November 2020. The Co-Chairs welcome the significant achievements with regard to the return of the remains of the deceased, and the ongoing progress with regard to the resettlement of those displaced by the conflict, provision of humanitarian assistance and adequate living conditions, as well as constructive discussions aimed at unblocking transportation and communication lines throughout the region. The Co-Chairs remind the sides that additional efforts are required to resolve remaining areas of concern and to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to long-lasting peace. These include issues related to, inter alia: the return of all POWs and other detainees in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law, the exchange of all data necessary to conduct effective demining of conflict regions; the lifting of restrictions on access to Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)], including for representatives of international humanitarian organizations; the preservation and protection of religious and cultural heritage; and the fostering of direct contacts and co-operation between communities affected by the conflict as well as other people-to-people confidence building measures. Having in mind the terms of their OSCE mandate and the aspirations of all the people of the region for a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future, the Co-Chairs stress that special attention should be paid to the achievement of a final comprehensive and sustainable settlement on the basis of the elements and principles well-known to the sides. In this respect, the Co-Chairs call on the parties to resume high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity. They reiterate their proposal to organize direct bilateral consultations under their auspices, in order for the sides to review and agree jointly upon a structured agenda, reflecting their priorities, without preconditions. The Co-Chairs also express their strong support for the continuing activities and possible expansion of the mission of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office (PRCiO) and call on the sides to provide full access and support to its efforts. The Co-Chairs underscore their readiness to resume working visits to the region, including Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, to carry out their assessment and mediation roles. In this regard, the Co-Chairs remind the sides of the requirement to provide unimpeded access and maximum flexibility of movement with regard to the Co-Chairs travel itineraries, in accordance with their mandate and previous practice. In just a few months, the price of white cardboard as a high-end gift box material has soared from 4600/ton to over 10,000 per ton today. This makes it difficult for Manager Wang, who has been engaged in the paper packaging industry for 20 years, to accept: Its already more expensive than steel. Up. In order to alleviate the cost pressure caused by rising raw materials, he had to raise the ex-factory price of packaged products by 20%, which also attracted complaints from downstream food customers. Since March this year, Vinda Paper, Hengan Group, Zhongshun Jierou and many other paper companies have successively announced to increase the prices of some household papers, which has aroused social concern. In fact, as industrial paper, the prices of white cardboard and cultural paper have also risen. Among them, white cardboard has undergone four price adjustments since November last year, and the price per ton exceeded 10,000 after the Ching Ming Festival this year. Many packaging companies described the price adjustment letter from paper mills as a urging talisman. White cardboard is an important material for the production of food packaging such as moon cake gift boxes. According to a reporter from the Beijing News, a series of price increases of upstream packaging materials have been transmitted to downstream food companies. Companies with financial strength have chosen to continue to carry a burden, while companies with greater cost pressure have begun to plan price increases. Affected by The price of white cardboard is more expensive than steel,the Silica powder market is changing rapidly. These changes are indicators of market growth.This year-on-year upward trend in the market indicates that the next November 2020-2026 will show an oval but steady growth.If you are looking for Silica powder or buy Silica powder in bulk,please send an email to: sales@ozbo.com The price of Silica powder continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum,various opportunities and challenges.However,during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026,the global Silica powder sales market is expected to continue to be above average.The growth rate will continue to increase.It is expected that from today to next week,the price of Silica powder will increase to a certain extent. Due to changes in consumer demand,import and export conditions,and various investigations on the development of Silica powder,the cost of Silica powder is constantly changing.Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis,channel partners,demand and supply,the cost of Silica powder will also be affected to a certain extent.It is estimated that the cost of Silica powder will increase slightly from today to next week. However,Ozbo.com provides high purity Nano Silica powder with steady price.In order to feedback to old customers,the company is still in full operations to provide Silica powder with competitive price.said Olina,sales manager of Ozbo.com. About Ozbo.com Ozbo.com (aka.Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd.) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials.As a leading nanotechnology development and Silica powder manufacturer,Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd dominates the market.Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries,create value,and easily cope with various challenges.If you are looking for Silica powder, please send an email to: sales@ozbo.com Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. On a day when Gov. Tom Wolf highlighted his support for small businesses, Schuylkill County business leaders testified in the state Senate that Wolf was in part to blame for suffering in the hospitality and tourism industries. Robert S. Carl, president and CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, and county restaurant owner and Pottsville Area Development Corp. Executive Director Savas Logothetides, were among the industry leaders who testified Tuesday in front of the state Senates Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Mario Scavello, R-40, Mount Pocono, on the economic impact COVID-19 related closures. Also testifying was Cynthia Smith, corporate counsel for Duncansville-based Hosss Steak and Seahouse, which has a location near Cressona. Carl said the states essential and non-essential classifications were unfair. A better way of determining if businesses should have remained open would have been to gauge their ability to safely operate within the guidelines set by the state and federal government. Too many businesses were shuttered for too long and the competitive environment that has made the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania successful has been unfairly tilted, Carl told lawmakers, blaming Wolf for an unequal playing field. He cited attractions such D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. Brewery in Pottsville, the Pioneer Coal Mine & Steam Train in Ashland and Fighters Heaven near Deer Lake having been adversely impacted. Carl said since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, the chambers 752 members have been compliant with guidelines issued by the federal government, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state. Devastating impact Logothetides, who owns Wheel restaurants in Pottsville and Tamaqua and Charlies Pizza and Subs in Pottsville, said his sales decreased 31.2%. The losses have continued into 2021. People are still hesitant to come out, he said. While incomes have declined, prices have risen, Logothetides noted. Adding to the strain for restaurants is the governors proposal to increase the minimum wage, which Logothetides said would be a death sentence for the industry, particularly if it interferes with tipping. The governor has proposed raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 an hour by July 1, with annual increases yearly until it reaches $15 per hour in 2027. Smith said the governors orders closing restaurants and requirements for them to mitigate the virus spread have been devastating to Hosss, which operates 30 locations in the state and West Virginia. All restaurants were closed and 2,400 employees were furloughed last March, she said. Closing and reopening restaurants has also lead to loss of food, while expenses have piled up. This resulted in 15 weeks of no sales revenue in 2020, Smith told the panel, adding sales were down 50% and the company now employs 1,500 people. Despite getting money through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, she said sales remain weak because of the restrictions, which she said have disproportionately affected the restaurant industry. Help businesses thrive Speaking during the virtual opening session of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers Growth Conference, Wolf said such small-business centers are an essential resource for them. Small businesses are a crucial part of our economy. They are our entrepreneurs, our community-focused employers, and our friends and neighbors, he was quoted in a statement. Working together, we can all help our small businesses thrive. The conference was a chance for PASBDCs network of consultants to learn from one another and network, according to the governors office. Vodafone Ghana has rewarded its best performing Vodafone Cash Hub Agents with a variety of prizes including a brand-new Suzuki Alto salon car at the 2021 Vodafone Cash Hub Akyedie Awards ceremony held at the telecommunications giants headquarters in Accra. Over 400 super-agents across the country also received television sets, smartphones, tablets, home appliances and many other prizes for their hard work and invaluable commitment towards Vodafones drive for financial inclusion and economic empowerment. The ultimate winner, Mr. Abdul-Kamal Dabuo of Wa-Tabaraka Enterprise from Wa in the Upper West Region, received the keys to a brand-new Suzuki Alto salon car to climax the event. Remarking on the award, Abdul-Kamal expressed immense gratitude to Vodafone for recognising his efforts and encouraged fellow Vodafone Cash agents and entrepreneurs to take their Vodafone Cash businesses serious, as it is a worthwhile, lucrative, secure and rewarding business venture. He stated, I am elated to have been recognised and celebrated by Vodafone today. Im also super proud to be driving home this brand-new car! Vodafone truly values its agents. Its always a good feeling for hard work to be rewarded and I look forward to injecting even more effort in my business to yield further rewards in the future. More importantly, Im proud of what I do because Vodafone cash is genuinely making a positive change in the lives of its customers and I encourage my fellow Vodafone Cash agents and all entrepreneurs out there looking for a viable business venture to look no further than Vodafone Cash and pursue it with all seriousness. Other winners including Nyarko Enterprise, Tu-philoshie Enterprise, My Kids Pride Links, Edebeck Enterprise and Lindas Fashion Centre, also expressed similar sentiments and lauded Vodafone for the gesture and the exciting awards. Vodafones General Manager for Regional Sales, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, who was present at the event reiterated Vodafones commitment to taking the agenda for financial inclusion in Ghana to the next level. He explained the rationale for the Cash Hub Akyedie Awards as well, saying: The Akyedie Awards is a scheme designed to reward our hard-working super agents based on their achievements of specified targets. We believe that together with our agents and our secure and convenient Vodafone Cash platform, we can push to achieve financial inclusion and economic empowerment for all Ghanaians. This is in line with our new brand positioning and tagline: Together We Can. We also believe that this awards scheme is essential to encourage and empower our agents to do more, as we work to expand our existing agent footprints across the country. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video At the end of the 19th century, the Glasgow Style emerged as the major manifestation of Art Nouveau in Britain. Combining influences from the Arts and Crafts movement, Celtic Revival, and Japonism, Glasgow artists created their own modern design aesthetic, synonymous with sleek lines and emphatic geometries expressed in a wide range of materials. This exhibition presents 165 works of fine and decorative art in a wide variety of media, including architectural drawings, books, ceramics, furniture, posters, textiles, and watercolors, drawn from Glasgow's most significant public and private collections. Videos provide guests with tours of buildings designed by Mackintosh and his contemporaries. Charles Rennie Mackintosh (18681928) is one of the most significant architects of early modernism, and Designing the New places his work into the context of Glasgow circa 1900, during the industrial city's heyday. In 2018 Glasgow Museums organized this exhibition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh's birth, and this is the first major Mackintosh exhibition in the United States since 1996. "Designing the New is a landmark in the study of his career and offers a rare opportunity to see the art of Mackintosh and his contemporaries outside of his native city," says Frist Art Museum senior curator Trinita Kennedy. "We are thrilled to introduce the work to our guests or further their knowledge and appreciation of the Glasgow Style's impact and legacy." As the most ambitious and inventive proponent of the Glasgow Style, Mackintosh is often compared to Frank Lloyd Wright, who was almost his exact contemporary. Mackintosh made his mark on Glasgow and its environs with his designs for a variety of buildings, including a church, houses, offices, schools, tearooms and, most important, the Glasgow School of Art, which is currently being rebuilt after two devastating fires. "Interest in Mackintosh has increased over the last thirty years, and architecture and design enthusiasts go on pilgrimage to Glasgow to see his buildings," says Kennedy. The show's chronological narrative spans Mackintosh's entire life, presenting his work in the context of his predecessors, contemporaries, patrons, and friends in Glasgow. "Informed by decades of research by curator Alison Brown of Glasgow Museums, this exhibition offers a penetrating new interpretation of Mackintosh that shows he was far from an isolated genius," says Kennedy. Mackintosh worked most closely with his wife, Margaret Macdonald; Margaret's sister, Frances Macdonald; and Frances' husband, James Herbert McNair. They met as students at the Glasgow School of Art in 1892 and together were known as The Four. "Learning their craft in the school's technical studios, they often worked collaboratively and applied their deliberately eccentric and bold artistic vocabulary to all fields of decorative design," says Kennedy. A significant number of women artists played integral roles in the movement. "Glasgow was a progressive city, especially in terms of public education, and some women were able to forge careers as artists. Women teachers and students at The Glasgow School of Art often continued working even after they married and had children," says Kennedy. A few of these same women were also suffragists (full voting rights were not granted to women in Great Britain until 1928). Among the highlights of the exhibition are interior design elements for entrepreneur Catherine Cranston's famous Glasgow city-center artistic tearooms, including the monumental frieze The May Queen and an aluminum and copper pendant light. A high-backed chair that Mackintosh designed for the Hill House in Helensburghconsidered to be his domestic masterpieceis one of several iconic chairs in the exhibition. His chairs entered mainstream pop culture with appearances in movies such as The Addams Family, Blade Runner, and Star Trek, and Madonna's "Express Yourself" video. Exhibition Credit Designing the New: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style is a touring exhibition co-organized by Glasgow Museums and the American Federation of Arts. The exhibition comprises works from the collections of Glasgow City Council (Museums and Collections), with loans from Scottish collections and private lenders. Support for the US national tour is provided by the Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation. Supporter Acknowledgment Platinum Sponsor: HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health Hospitality Sponsor: Union Station Hotel Education and community engagement supporters: The Windgate Foundation and First Horizon Spanish translation sponsor: Vanderbilt Center for Latin American Studies Supported in part by the Frist Art Museum's Friends of the Arts of Scotland The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by The Frist Foundation, the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Read about the Frist's health and safety procedures. Connect with us @FristArtMuseum #TheFrist #FristGlasgowStyle About the Frist Art Museum Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Frist Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tenn., the Frist Art Museum offers the finest visual art from local, regional, national, and international sources in exhibitions that inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. Information on accessibility can be found at FristArtMuseum.org/accessibility. Gallery admission is free for visitors ages 18 and younger and for members, and $15 for adults. For current hours and additional information, visit FristArtMuseum.org or call 615.244.3340. SOURCE Frist Art Museum Related Links https://fristartmuseum.org Health Minister Greg Hunt speaks as Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks on at the news conference at the CSL facility on February 12, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images) Australias Borders May Not Open Even if Whole Country is Vaccinated: Health Minister Australias federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has suggested that opening international borders for travel wont just be tied to achieving COVID-19 vaccination goals but will depend on a series of factors. Vaccination alone is no guarantee that you can open up, he told reporters on April 13, adding that you couldnt just open the borders even if the whole country was immunised against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Instead, federal health authorities would need to consider a series of factors, including transmission, longevity, and the global impact. Those are factors which the world is learning about, Hunt said. Australias borders have been shut since March 2020, but the country aims to progressively open up throughout 2021 once safety milestones are achieved, Hunt said. The health ministers update comes five days before Australia will open its borders for two-way travel green zone with New Zealand. Were then looking at other countries within the Pacific and within the region that are potentially low-transmission environments, and therefore Australia can do that, he said. Hunts comments come after Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned that it was not safe to open the international borders, given the prevalence of the CCP virus in other countries. Its not safe right now to open up our international borders, he told reporters on April 12. Around the world, COVID-19 is still rife. We are still seeing increases in daily cases, particularly in the developing world. One of Australias closest neighbour to the north of Australia, Papua New Guinea, is facing a severe outbreak. The prime minister said it was still a very dangerous situation. Well keep moving quickly to vaccinate our most vulnerable population, and well keep those borders closed for as long as we have to, but only as long as we have to, and were already right now preparing for what it looks like when we can open up again, he said. Morrison and Hunts statements come after Israeli scientists found in a real-world data study researching the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines that the coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can breakthrough Pfizer/BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine. In the study, cases of the South African variant, B.1.351, was found to be eight times more prevalent in patients who had received two doses of the vaccine than those who had been unvaccinated5.4 percent versus 0.7 percentsuggesting that the vaccine is less effective against the South African variant compared with the original coronavirus. However, the study has yet to be peer-reviewed. Just earlier this year Cecile Dalton was afraid shed have to draw the final curtain on Seals Class Act Lounge. Closed through the pandemic, bills were stacking up, coronavirus cases were high again, and she didnt see a way to save the business shes built over the past 22 years in her Seventh Ward neighborhood. Theres a lot more cheer around her bar now though. She got help with those bills from a grassroots bar support program called Bean Coin, created by the kinetically creative Krewe of Red beans (see info at nolabeancoin.com). With vaccination rates rising and local cases low, Dalton has reopened the lounge. It will be a while before she resumes booking the bands for its small stage. But on a recent evening there was a steady flow of old regulars coming through to sip cocktails and socialize together. For Dalton it felt a little bit more like the club she proudly calls a place where grown folks act a damn fool. Its a wonderful time. People are coming back, Dalton said. I was so scared before, I didnt see how we'd make it, but now theres light at the end of the tunnel. That light is evident at many different types of bars around New Orleans, where finally its not just the bulbs overhead snapping on for an early last call. New Orleans bars remain under the strictest rules in the state, though the city last week did extend the mandatory closing time from 11 a.m. to a modest 1 a.m. That at least means the people going back to work in the hospitality sector will have a place for that drink after their shift. +6 Bars in New Orleans can stay open later beginning Friday; here are the new rules New Orleans bars will stay open later beginning Friday under loosened coronavirus restrictions that come as cases continue to decline in the c Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Business is far from normal, and the anxiety that pandemic conditions could deteriorate again is all too evident. But, like restaurants during this encouraging spring, bars have been providing fresh reminders of the roles they play beyond simply wetting the whistle. +5 Why dining out right now gives a taste of New Orleans at its best It dawned on me somewhere between the mussels steeped in potlikker at Boucherie and the silky-smooth mirliton soup poured over crisp fried oys For many, getting back means changing things up, adding more outdoor seats, bringing in new pop-up eateries and expanding what they do to become more versatile and resilient. Most of all though, right now is about getting back to that first role they always play in a city that loves to socialize. Its that common ground just around the corner, that open door that can make any part of town feel like your own or give a glimpse of how another part of the community convenes. Thats what New Orleans bars do at their best. Maybe thats easier to see now as they hopefully start pulling through the worst. +10 A revival of Carrollton Station, a neighborhood bar with a new owner The small stage at the back of Carrollton Station remains quiet, but the sounds around the wood-enclosed spaces here are still music to the ea Savannah: With coronavirus shots now in the arms of nearly half of American adults, the parts of the US that are excelling and those that are struggling with vaccinations are starting to look like the nations political map: deeply divided between red and blue states. Out in front is New Hampshire, where 65 per cent of the population age 18 and older has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. A member of the Mississippi Army National Guard administers the COVID-19 vaccine. Credit:AP Following close behind are New Mexico, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts at 55 per cent or greater. All have a history of voting Democratic and supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, at the bottom are five states where fewer than 40 per cent have rolled up their sleeves for a shot. Four of them Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee lean Republican and voted for Donald Trump last fall. The fifth is Georgia, which has a Republican governor and supported GOP presidential candidates for nearly three decades before narrowly backing Biden. Former Neighbours star Nicola Charles has levelled more explosive allegations against her former castmates, after claiming they once tried to get her kicked out from Australia. The 51-year-old British soap star, who played Sarah Beaumont from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2013 to 2016, alleges that before trying to get her deported, the cast also openly victimised her for being a former model, rather than a serious actor. 'They would say under their breath, 'fu**ing MTA' behind my back and as I walked past after scenes,' she told News Corp on Wednesday. Former Neighbours star Nicola Charles, 51, has alleged that the cast of the soap sneered at her for weeks before trying to get her kicked out of the country in the late nineties. Pictured: Nicola Charles on the Big Breakfast TV programme in 1997 'For a long time I didn't know what 'MTA' meant finally I found out it was 'model turned actor'. 'That's when I started thinking, 'OK, they don't see me a real actor even though I did go to drama school in the UK,' she continued. Nicola has also alleged that her Neighbours castmates tried to get her deported from Australia. Criticism: The British soap star, who played Sarah Beaumont from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2013 to 2016, alleges that before trying to get her deported, the cast also openly victimised her for being a 'model turned actor' Nicola claims in her autobiography Soap Star, which is set to be released on Friday, that she found a handwritten letter sent to the immigration department shortly after her six-month probation ended in 1996. While she didn't identify the cast members in question, Nicola was stunned anybody would go to such lengths to make her lose her job. 'I did know who they were, the individuals who did it, but I thought - who goes to that length, and what have I done to be disliked that much?' she wrote, in an excerpt published by the Herald Sun on Monday. Allegations: Nicola has claimed that her castmates tried to get her deported back to Britain because she was 'taking a job from an Australian'. Pictured: Nicola Charles and Alan Fletcher on the set of Neighbours 'That experience coloured my relationships with everyone on the cast and crew, because I kind of felt nervous about trusting anyone after that.' Nicola claims she learned during a meeting with a producer that there was some 'resistance' to her involvement among certain cast members. Her own immigration lawyer apparently later confirmed a complaint from two Neighbours actors had been made because a British actor was given a full-time role on the show, thereby 'taking a job away from an Australian performer'. 'What have I done to be disliked that much?' Nicola claims she learned during a meeting with a producer that there was some 'resistance' to her involvement among certain cast members But Nicola said this didn't make sense because her character was British, adding: 'I did not take a role from a local actor because there was no role.' In September last year, Nicola revealed sordid details of what she claims went on behind the scenes of the long-running soap. She told the Herald Sun that a producer on the show once offered to pay for her to get a breast enlargement, and also encouraged her to leak naked photos. Fame: Nicola's character is best remembered for her extramarital affair with Dr Karl Kennedy 'I was patted on the knee in a very condescending way and told you can always leak photos of yourself after you wrap with the show to boost your image,' she said. 'It's from days of old that one, naked photos leaked online. This is the same Neighbours' producer who said to me, 'Would you like me to buy you a set of t**s?' 'I said no thank you, I plan on breast feeding. He said, 'It's fine, I've done it for all the other girls,' and I said, 'Really, I'm okay, thank you.'' Speaking out: Nicola alleges in her autobiography Soap Star, which is set to be released on Friday, she found a handwritten letter sent to the Australian immigration department in 1996 She refused to name the producer, explaining he has since died. Nicola said the culture of the show appears to have since changed for the better, and praised the series for including storylines involving gay people and minorities. It comes after two Aboriginal-Australians claimed last week that they had witnessed racist incidents while working on the set of neighbours. Evidence: Nicola's own immigration lawyer apparently later confirmed a complaint from two Neighbours actors had been made because a British actor was given a full-time role on the show, thereby 'taking a job away from an Australian performer' Shareena Clanton, 30, alleged producers fostered a toxic workplace environment and claimed the show was a 'culturally unsafe space' in a bombshell Instagram post on Tuesday. Among several complaints, Clanton accused a staff member of making crude remarks and claimed she heard the N-word used on set twice, prompting production company Fremantle to bring in an Indigenous consultancy firm to carry out a review. A day later, former Neighbours actor Meyne Wyatt alleged that he had also experienced racism on set in a tweet. Expose: In September last year, Nicola a producer on Neighbours once offered to pay for her to get a breast enlargement, and also encouraged her to leak naked photos In a statement, Fremantle's Asia Pacific CEO Chris Oliver-Taylor said 'all complaints are taken seriously and we are investigating all allegations fairly'. 'Fremantle is committed to providing an environment where employees and others in the workplace are treated fairly and with respect, and are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying,' Mr Oliver-Taylor said. 'We do not tolerate behaviour that does not align to our Anti-Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Harassment and Bullying Policy and take all complaints very seriously, investigating all allegations fairly and thoroughly.' [April 14, 2021] Baltimore Police Department, Largest Public Safety Agency in Maryland Using FirstNet, Transforms Public Safety Communications BALTIMORE, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Baltimore Police Department has connected more than 3,000 officers, first responders and other key personnel to FirstNet the only network built with public safety, for public safety. With this tech advancement, the department is equipping its first responders with new capabilities and reliable access to critical information while in the field, allowing them to better serve those who live, work and visit Baltimore. FirstNet is designed to improve communications across public safety entities nationwide, allowing first responders to communicate with one another easily and quickly during everyday situations, big events or emergencies. This network is integral to solving the communications challenges public safety has experienced in the past. Starting in January 2020, Baltimore Police Department began using FirstNet agency-wide on its department-issued smartphones, laptops, in-vehicle routers and modems. Additionally, Baltimore Police Department worked with AT&T to install in-building solutions at many of its facilities, increasing the coverage and capacity on FirstNet and helping to ensure 24x7x365 coverage. These investments proved especially important in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As public safety personnel in the area moved to a more mobile workforce, the FirstNet platform was crucial in the effort to respond and serve the local community as Baltimore Police Department managed public safety during the pandemic. "FirstNet is an important part of our technology mobilization efforts that assist our department in advancing our communications and policing goals in our communities," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison. "Having access to this dedicated public safety network is important in improving our service to our communities and working environment." Baltimore Police Department joined FirstNet to provide its first responders with reliable, modern communications tools needed to perform at their best, including: One, nationwide communications platform that allows them to coordinate emergency responses efficiently and effectively across agencies and jurisdictions. Alwas-on priority and preemption to give them reliable access to the connection they need even when the network is congested. A separate, dedicated and highly secure network core purpose-built for public safety's sensitive communications. Planned increases in coverage and capacity, enabling them to better respond to emergencies in all areas of Baltimore and across the state. and across the state. Innovative tools like relevant applications and connected devices to give them more actionable information for heightened situational awareness. Edward "Woody" Davis, Chief Technology Officer, Baltimore Police Department. "The improvements in service across the department, coupled with the network enhancements AT&T has made with FirstNet locally, have greatly improved communications and interoperability for us. Ultimately, these improvements are enabling us to keep Baltimore residents and our officers safe." FirstNet, Built with AT&T is a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). It's designed with and for public safety. "We're honored that Baltimore Police Department chose FirstNet to elevate its communications capabilities," said Stacy Schwartz, vice president, FirstNet Program at AT&T. "It's our mission to give first responders the cutting-edge tools they need to safely and effectively achieve their mission. FirstNet will help first responders in Baltimore and across the country perform at the highest levels to keep themselves and those they serve out of harm's way." "FirstNet is the exclusive communications platform being built with AT&T for public safety, inspired by public safety. There is no substitution for this dedicated platform," said FirstNet Authority CEO, Edward Parkinson. "We look forward to supporting Baltimore Police Department and all of Maryland's public safety community with FirstNet, making sure the network delivers what they need, when they need it." To learn more about Baltimore Police Department, visit their website. To learn more about FirstNet, go to FirstNet.com. FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. About AT&T Communications We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). For more information, please visit us at att.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baltimore-police-department-largest-public-safety-agency-in-maryland-using-firstnet-transforms-public-safety-communications-301268740.html SOURCE AT&T Communications [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Newser) Another setback for the troubled European Union COVID vaccination campaign: Denmark has become the first country to permanently stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine because of a link to rare cases of blood clots, reports Reuters. Danish Health Authority director Soren Brostroem said Wednesday there there is a "real risk of side effects" and the vaccine from the Anglo-Swedish company is being removed from the country's vaccination program, per MarketWatch. Brostroem said Denmark has the pandemic largely under control, with many of the older people most at risk of severe illness already vaccinated. It also has supplies of other COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. story continues below Brostroem said the decision should be seen in the context of the situation in Denmark and he would not hesitate to continue using the vaccine if the country was in "a completely different situation and in the midst of a violent third outbreak." Health authorities say the move will delay the completion of Denmark's vaccination program from late July until early August, though Reuters notes that target will depend on whether the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has also been linked to blood clots, is approved. The New York Times reports that Denmark first suspended use of the two-dose AstraZeneca vaccine on March 11. Authorities say those who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be offered a different vaccine for their second shot. (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.) While its numbers are still recovering after reaching the brink of extinction, an elephant seal resting on a beach in California was fatally shot by a man, who is now sentenced to three months in prison on Monday, prosecutors said. The man was identified as Jordan Gerbich, 30, who now lives in Utah. Gerbich shot the elephant seal in the head using a handgun on Sept. 28, 2019, near San Simeon on California's central coast. When asked for comment on Tuesday night, NBC News said the federal public defender of Gerbich did not respond to the request. However, the attorney earlier said in a court document he submitted before the sentencing that the killing was so unusual and troubling that even Gerbich was shocked and knew it was wrong. The attorney cited Gerbich's past history of substance abuse and childhood physical abuse. The lawyer also said that Jordan Gerbich was neglected when he was a kid that left him with a need for approval. That's why when an intoxicated friend asked him to shoot the elephant seal as a kind of "grotesque test," Gerbich killed the marine mammal. READ NEXT: Colorado Set to Legalize Human Composting to Turn Corpses to Soil 'Not an Accident' But in the document that they submitted, prosecutors noted that the killing did not happen accidentally or on a whim. Prosecutors said that Jordan Gerbich, together with this friend, drove out to a place where they knew elephant seals haul out, and Gerbich brought a gun with him. Moreover, the prosecutors noted that the shooting happened at night, and Gerbich even used a flashlight when he shot the animal on the beach in the Piedras Blancas Rookery. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detailed what they found at the scene. NOAA said the elephant seal has shot in the head with its tail fins cut off and cut open. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, northern elephant seals are protected. The act prohibits the "take" of marine mammals, including harassment, capturing, hunting, or killing in U.S. waters. The NOAA noted that northern elephant seals were once thought to be extinct due to commercial hunting in the 1900s, but their numbers eventually recovered. Jordan Gerbich pleaded guilty to one count of illegally taking a marine mammal last December. He will also have to undergo a year of supervised release after his prison term, three months of home detention, and 120 hours of community service. The U.S. Attorney's Office said he would also have to pay a $1,000 fine, The Associated Press reported. According to NOAA, the populations of northern elephant seals in the U.S. and Mexico were initially derived from a few hundred individuals surviving in Mexico. The agency noted that the largest colonies of northern elephant seals could be found off southern California in the Channel Islands. READ MORE: Endangered California Condor to Return to its Original Habitat After a Century WATCH: Man Sentenced to Prison For Fatally Shooting Elephant Seal in California - Yours News Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Grant Priority Refugee Status to Uyghurs Persecuted by CCP Uyghurs fleeing persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would get priority refugee status under a bipartisan proposal introduced by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) on April 13. The Uyghur Humans Rights Protection Act would make it easier for Uyghurs and members of other Turkic or Muslim minority groups to apply for resettlement. The measure also urges U.S. allies to adopt similar measures. As the CCP is committing egregious human rights violations, including genocide and crimes against humanity, urgent action is needed to end the atrocities and assist Uyghurs and others facing persecution in Xinjiang, Rubio said in a statement. The United States must continue to speak out against the PRCs human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and we must also provide assurance and protection for the Uyghurs and all those facing persecution as a result of their religious or ethnic identity, Coons said in the statement. To effectively compete with China, we must be the best version of ourselves, including by living our values and welcoming those who have been unjustly imprisoned in or forced to flee Xinjiang. On the last full day of the Trump administration, the State Department declared that the CCPs persecution of the Uyghurs amounted to genocide. I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the time. Pompeo also determined that the CCP had committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, citing the Beijing regimes detention of more than 1 million Muslims and authorities subjecting the population to forced labor, forced sterilization, and torture. Last month, Coons and Rubio introduced a resolution condemning the CCPs persecution of the Uyghurs. The two senators had also led the charge to urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take action to help the Uyghurs. The proposal by Coons and Rubio follows a bipartisan U.S. House bill introduced in March that aims to stop the forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China. The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act would authorize the U.S. government to deny or revoke passports for people who engage in the illegal purchase of organs. Coons served as the Senate co-sponsor for the bill, alongside Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) In 2016, the House condemned the communist regimes forced organ harvesting, citing research that found that practitioners of Falun Gong comprised the largest portion of prisoners of conscience in China. Frank Fang and Cathy He contributed to this report. DOVER, Del., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VlogBox , a leading CTV app development company, is thrilled to announce that it is launching a Roku app for Maya and Mary, a Youtube sing-along channel with over 13 million subscribers. The channel stars two ambitious, curious girls and their little sister Mia who explore their world with the help of their parents, Alexander and Anna. VlogBox has built a customized Roku app and is working on Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV channels right away, to bring Maya and Mary into the innovative CTV universe. As one of the leading CTV app developers and monetization platforms, VlogBox has been honored to help launch a custom streaming app for Maya and Mary on Roku, one of the top OTT streaming platforms in the US and UK. Nick Platonenko, the CEO of VlogBox, commented, "These days, content producers know that they have to move beyond just their original streaming channels. CTV platforms (devices like smart TVs, sticks, and consoles) are in up to 60% of households in the US. We at VlogBox help creators to realize the full audience and monetization potential of their content by developing apps to bring them into the CTV universe. Youtube channels, especially those which show vlogs, cartoons, and educational material like Maya and Mary - can find a welcoming home on TV screens now." Maya and Mary got its start in 2013. They create fun original sing-along videos to teach children the importance of friendship, family, and supporting each other while also helping them to develop good habits and knowledge of the world. Since its start on Youtube, it has expanded its presence to Instagram, Facebook, Spotify and other large streaming platforms. As mother Anna Kondratieva explains, "It all began as mother-daughter time with my eldest, Maya. We did little science experiments together and decided to put ourselves in front of a camera. While we started out as a fun amateur project, our channel has blown up like one of Maya's science experiments. Now we're creating professional-quality educational songs to reach kids and their parents globally." With their move into CTV, Ms. Kondratieva says that Maya and Mary aims to reach new audiences young and old around the world and to achieve the full potential of its content. "In addition, we're thinking of creating our own CTV store where we could sell our branded items and think VlogBox could assist in this relatively new work for us," Anna adds. About Vlogbox VlogBox is a global video content distribution and monetization platform helping animation studios, movie content companies, and independent video content creators reach their audiences across the OTT/CTV environment. With hundreds of live CTV apps under one roof, VlogBox allows video creators to reach audiences across multiple CTV platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV. From hosting, encoding, and video content streaming to custom app development, as well as efficient monetization and advertising, VlogBox provides fully-fledged content distribution services. https://vlogbox.com/ About Maya and Mary Maya and Mary has been producing quality educational videos for young children since 2013. Based in Miami, Florida, the Maya and Mary Youtube channel has garnered 13 million subscribers with its catchy sing-along tunes, silly costumes, and bright animation. The songs are translated into 11 languages and have captured the hearts of parents and young children around the world. New videos are released several times per week. Contacts: Ana Melamed, ana.melamed@vlogbox.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486899/VlogBox_Maya_and_Mary.jpg The district did not specify what the incident involved and said administrators learned about it more than two weeks ago. A screenshot provided to the Star-Telegram showed a Snapchat group with various names, including Slave Trade and another name that includes a racial slur. One person typed they would spend $1 on a peer, and another person wrote in the chat they would pay $100 for someone else. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Europe's medicines regulator said Wednesday it will make a recommendation on the safety of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus jab next week after US health authorities recommended pausing vaccinations over blood clot fears. The Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency's announcement also comes as the US pharmaceutical company itself said it was delaying rollout of its vaccine on the continent. The "EMA is expediting this evaluation and currently expects to issue a recommendation next week," it said in a statement, after announcing last week a probe had been launched. "While its review is ongoing, EMA remains of the view that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing Covid-19 outweigh the risks of side effects," the medicines watchdog added. The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday recommended a "pause" on the one-jab Covid-19 vaccine on worries over six reported cases of a rare type of blood clot in the United States. Johnson & Johnson then said it "made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe," adding that it was reviewing the cases with European health authorities. Question marks now hover over the adenovirus-type vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson after several blood clot cases in people who have received the shots. While the EMA has authorised AstraZeneca for all adults, many EU countries have taken the precaution of limiting its use to only older segments of the population. The EMA added that its probe into the "very rare" forming of blood clots from AstraZeneca's vaccine continued. "The review by EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) will enable authorities to put the risks of Vaxzevria into the context of the benefits of ongoing vaccination campaigns," the agency said, referring to AstraZeneca's vaccine. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP United States support for Ukraine amid Russias aggression, conduct of reforms, anti-corruption efforts and Ukraines Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations were the main topics of conversation at the first meeting between Blinken and Kuleba. Secretary Blinken affirmed the United States unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression, reads the statement by the U.S. Department of State following the meeting of Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels on April 13. Blinken also expressed concern about Russias deliberate actions to escalate tensions with Ukraine, noting Russias aggressive rhetoric and disinformation, increasing ceasefire violations, and movement of troops in occupied Crimea and near Ukraines borders. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed the importance of advancing rule of law and economic reforms to strengthen Ukraines institutions, support anti-corruption efforts, and further its Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations, reads the statement. As reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday in Brussels. Earlier, Blinken and Kuleba had two conversations by phone. ol The theatre was densely crowded, and everybody seemed delighted with the scene before them. During the third act and while there was a temporary pause for one of the actors to enter, a sharp report of a pistol was heard, which merely attracted attention, but suggested nothing serious until a man rushed to the front of the Presidents box, waving a long dagger in his right hand, exclaiming, Sic semper tyrannis, and immediately leaped from the box, which was in the second tier, to the stage beneath, and ran across to the opposite side, made his escape amid the bewilderment of the audience from the rear of the theatre, and mounted a horse and fled. New Delhi: The Western Railway has so far issued Rs 1.36 crore as ex-gratia to the kin of the victims of the Elphinstone Road railway station foot overbridge stampede in which 23 people were killed and 37 injured, an official said on Friday. Out of Rs 1.36 crore, we have disbursed Rs 10,735,000 in cheque while Rs 28,65,000 in cash to meet the emergency expenses, he said. Twenty-three passengers were killed and 36 injured in a deadly rush hour stampede that occurred on a narrow foot overbridge connecting the Elphinstone Road railway station to Parel station on September 29. The WR said it was offering all kinds of assistance to the kin of the deceased as well as to the injured passengers in claiming the compensation. In the unfortunate incident of the Elphinstone Road station stampede, the Western Railway is providing all assistance to the kin of the deceased and injured in claiming compensation. For assisting kin of the deceased, WRs Commercial Department staffers are visiting the families of deceased and helping them in filling the necessary forms for claiming compensation from the Railway Claim Tribunal, the WR said in a statement. A help desk/assistance cell has already been set up at the Churchgate headquarter of wht WR. The accident compensation forms had also been distributed to the family members of the deceased at KEM Hospital, besides, others have been contacted on phone, so as to make these forms available to them at the earliest. So far eight families have visited the Assistance cell, it said, adding that a camp has been organised at Churchgate to expedite the process. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries. The Maharashtra government had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those killed. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Oil prices made great gains on Wednesday on the back of falling U.S. inventories and stronger demand. At 3:30 p.m. ET, WTI spot prices were up $2.70 per barrel, or 4.49% on the day at $62.88. Brent crude was trading at $66.37 per barrel, also up $2.70, or 4.24%. Oil futures are set to finish out Wednesday with the highest finish since March. The significant price increase comes on EIA reports of shrinking U.S. crude oil inventories, along with higher crude oil demand outlooks from OPEC earlier in the week and the International Energy Agency today. In Tuesdays Monthly Oil Market Report, OPEC increased its 2021 global oil demand outlook by 190,000 bpd. Today, the IEA increased its global oil demand outlook by 230,000 from its previous report. When taken with the EIAs report of crude inventories that fell by 5.9 million barrels, strong economic data in China, and geopolitical tensions rising in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Iran, the overarching sentiment in the oil market is particularly bullish, even though U.S. crude inventories are still above the five-year average for this time of year, at 492.4 million barrels. According to OPEC, 2021 global oil demand is now expected to average 96.46 million bpd. The IEA is now estimating that global oil demand will average 96.7 million bpd, it said in its April report published Wednesday, on the back of improved economic forecasts and the outlook for accelerating vaccination programs. At 4:30 p.m., ED, the May 2021 futures contract was trading hands at $62.94, up from the prior settlement of $60.18. For WTI and Brent, prices for the front-month contract settlements are the highest since March 17. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: ADVERTISEMENT Fifteen people were killed on Monday night in communal clashes in Nyuwar and Jessu in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this on Tuesday night while speaking with journalists shortly after assessing the situations in the affected communities. The incident involved members of Lunguda and Waja ethnic groups who live in neighbouring communities in the state. Governor Yahaya expressed shock over the level of damage he saw in the communities. In Nyuwar, I was told eight persons died and here (Hemen village) in Jessu community, I was told seven died, making 15 people. This is unacceptable. Curfew The governor said he had declared a curfew in the affected communities to allow security personnel to restore peace and calm there. He added that the perpetrators of the violence would be made to face the full wrath of the law. The governor also assured the communities of their safety while appealing to them not to retaliate. Mr Yahaya instructed security personnel led by the State Commissioner of Police, Ishola Babaita, to prevent further attacks on the communities. The governor also assured the affected persons that relief materials, food and clothing would be brought to them quickly to ease their pains. Police assure communities Also speaking, the police commissioner said he had deployed enough officers to the areas to protect the communities. Briefing the governor, the Wakilin Nyuwar, Yohanna Galmaka, said many of his people had relocated from the communities. Mr Galmaka, who broke down in tears while briefing the governor, said the attacks were perpetrated by Waja people whom he described as brothers with whom they have lived together for years. The head of Lunguda ethnic group said the attack started on Monday at 9 p.m. and continued into Tuesday. We have been living together here for years, both the Lunguda and the Waja people, and we are from this same Gombe State but what we saw yesterday was horrible, he said. Alexandra Shulman has called out fashion influencers like Victoria Beckham for 'cheating' her by promoting products on social media that they actually have deals with. The former editor-in-chief of British Vogue said she originally believed the pop star turned designer was recommending a particular brand in a make-up video because she thought it was good. But the 63-year-old claimed she then found out Ms Beckham has an arrangement with the company whose product she was promoting. Last month the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced it was putting social media influencers 'on notice' after monitoring a sweep of accounts revealed a widespread failure to disclose advertising. Shulamn, who left Vogue in 2017 after almost 25 years at the helm, said the public deserve to know if influencers are making genuine recommendations or if they have a financial interest in doing so. Alexandra Shulman has called out fashion influencers like Victoria Beckham (pictured together in 2017) for 'cheating' her by promoting products on social media that they actually have deals with Speaking on the Life and Soul podcast by Emma Forbes, Shulman admitted that because Beckham was recommending a product that was not her own, she did not at first appreciate her links with the other unnamed company. She explained: 'The other day I was watching a Victoria Beckham make-up video and she had a product that she used and she was saying "I always use this product" but it wasn't her own brand. 'And then I happened to see an Instagram post from this other brand came through and then I saw that actually Victoria Beckham works with them. 'So I felt a bit cheated by that because I thought she was really promoting this stuff because she thought it was good, and then I realised it's because she has got a deal with them.' Speaking on the Life and Soul podcast by Emma Forbes, Shulman admitted that because Beckham was recommending a product that was not her own, she did not at first appreciate her links with the other unnamed company (pictured: Victoria Beckham modelling a dress from her own collection) What are the rules on ads for influencers? Celebrities can earn thousands of pounds posting about products on social media. But there are strict rules on how they need to flag these posts so consumers are aware that they are being paid to promote them. Under current industry guidelines, stars are supposed to clearly state that a social media post is an ad, typically by using #ad or #sponsored in the caption. Freebies are also included under advertising guidelines, with products, gifts, services, trips and hotel stays given for free qualifying as a payment'. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the UKs advertising regulator and makes sure ads across UK media stick to the advertising guidelines. They advise people should ensure marketing posts are obviously identifiable as such, and to make sure this is prominently displayed at the beginning of the post, rather than buried away among other hashtags. Influencers used to be able to get away with declaring who they work for in their bio, but this is no longer sufficient and each post should be adequately labelled up. Advertisement The former editor added that people 'deserve to know' whether you promote a brand because you 'genuinely like it' or because you're paid to advertise it. Podcast host and former TV presenter Forbes said there is a 'fine line' when it comes to influencers being genuine in their recommendations and that she can end up feeling 'cheated' and 'promoted to'. Shulman, who has a CBE for services to fashion journalism, added that if brands offer to send her items, she always responds telling them that she will not guarantee that she will be able to promote it. She admitted she only follows a few influencers and said good ones 'have a voice' if they are trusted. 'One knows in oneself if you trust somebody, you do believe in their recommendations,' Shulman explained. 'That's some of my make-up buys; I have seen somebody say something, and I rate them, so I think, "Oh yeah maybe I will buy that 65 face moisturiser even though I have got eight on my dressing table".' In September last year, the ASA undertook a three week monitoring exercise to review the Instagram accounts of 122 UK-based influencers to assess whether advertising content was being properly disclosed. It involved assessing over 24,000 Instagram Stories including posts, IGTV and reels to check compliance rates, focussing on this platform because complaints to the watchdog about influencer ad disclosure tended to relate to Instagram. The report on its findings stated that the proportion of influencers sticking to the rules was 'far below what we would expect'. A group of illegal immigrants is processed by Border Patrol after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in La Joya, Texas, on April 10, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) US Spending Tens of Millions Per Week on Unaccompanied Minors President Joe Bidens administration is spending roughly $60 million a week to shelter illegal immigrant children who cross into the United States from Mexico. Known as unaccompanied children, caring for the minors has driven the price tag for immigration-related expenses up sharply as U.S. officials grapple with the surge that some experts and Republicans say stems from Bidens reversal of key Trump-era policies. More than 18,600 unaccompanied children were apprehended after crossing the border in March, more than double the figure from the month before, sparking fear of a resurgence in MS-13 gang violence and recruitment activity. Nearly 18,800 are being housed in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facilities as officials try to locate a family member or other responsible adult to whom they can send each child. The average length of care for the children is 37 days, as of the end of February. The average cost to care for a child in a permanent facility is $290 per day, HHS officials told The Epoch Times, via email. That cost jumps to approximately $775 per day for children in temporary emergency facilities due to the need to develop facilities quickly and hire significant staff over a short period of time. Tables and materials are seen at an HHS holding facility for unaccompanied minors in Carrizo Springs, Texas, on March 24, 2021. (Pool) The leap in the number of unaccompanied minors reaching the United States, and Bidens decision to stop expelling the children under Title 42 emergency powers, has placed crushing pressure on the countrys immigration system. The HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement operates a network of permanent facilities but has been forced to open more than a dozen temporary facilities to have enough beds for the steadily increasing number of children it must clothe, feed, and shelter. Temporary facilities include converted convention centers in Dallas, San Antonio, and San Diego, military bases in border states, and structures in interior states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan. So far, more than 18,300 temporary beds, at the higher cost, have been opened. With only around 7,000 permanent beds, that means the United States is paying the higher price for the majority of immigrant children in its care. Since we do not know the timing of when and if additional [temporary and emergency sites] will be needed and we dont know how many children may use them, it is hard to predict final costs, the HHS stated. The numbers add up to roughly $60 million per week, according to Republican House members. The number was first reported by The Washington Post. Additional funding is being used by Customs and Border Protectionthe initial agency that immigrants encounterthe Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other agencies to deal with the children, Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) said on One America News. So its going to be a whopping, staggering figure that the American taxpayer is going to have to pony up, he added. Unaccompanied minors 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) Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote in a tweet: The Biden administration is spending $60 million per week to shelter illegal migrants. But they cant afford to keep building the wall? A White House spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. White House officials have rejected the idea of going back to using Title 42 to expel immigrant children, about half of whom are Guatemalan nationals. We are in a circumstance where we are not going to expel unaccompanied minors at the border. That would be inhumane. That is not what we are going to do here, as an administration, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in February, after the administration reopened a facility that Vice President Kamala Harris said was used to keep kids in cages during the Trump administration. We need to find places that are safe under COVID protocols for kids to be, where they can have access to education, health, and mental services consistent with their best interest. Our goal is for them to then be transferred to families or sponsors, Psaki said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:24:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Botswanan president has included the country's private sector in the COVID-19 vaccine deployment plan through Business Botswana (BB), which is Botswana's apex body for business operators. President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Wednesday in a statement he has given the private sector in Botswana to procure COVID-19 vaccine through the establishment of the COVID-19 Vaccine Public and Private Partnership. "The objective is to jointly develop a National Implementation Strategy on the vaccine procurement and rollout and to advise the government on the mutual engagement with any individual or company that may wish to assist in the vaccine rollout," he said. According to the statement, the private sector will facilitate logistics, identify cold chain capacity and the distribution of the vaccines as well as mobilizing resources needed for the procurement and management of the COVID-19 vaccines from all relevant stakeholders. Enditem CHICAGO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Grubhub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB), a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today announced it will release its first quarter financial results on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, after the market close. Due to the pending acquisition by Just Eat Takeaway.com, Grubhub does not plan to host a conference call to discuss its first quarter results. About Grubhub Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as over 31 million active diners. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features over 300,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with over 265,000 of these restaurants in over 4,000 U.S. cities. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, AllMenus and MenuPages. SOURCE Grubhub Inc. Related Links https://www.grubhub.com Bay Area residents having trouble finding COVID-19 vaccine appointments in their area may have luck if they are willing to trek beyond the region but providers are sounding some notes of caution. Some vaccination sites across California have expanded their eligibility to everyone 16 and older before the states formal statewide opening Thursday to all residents in that age range. While some providers are welcoming anyone, some are discouraging people to sign up for a slot, to allow their local residents to get vaccinated first. Complicating matters further, clinics across the Bay Area and California on Tuesday paused the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson version, following a recommendation from U.S. officials after six women developed rare blood clots. Officials said the pause may slow down vaccinations, but not dramatically, since Johnson & Johnson shots make up just 4% of Californias current supply. White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines more widely in use than J&Js shot, no such concerns exist. In Stockton, BJRX Pharmacy LTC is vaccinating individuals ages 50 and older, people 16 and older with a health condition and workers in the food, manufacturing and health care industry. The pharmacy will not turn away eligible individuals who dont live or work in Stockton, said marketing manager Ramon Dizon. If they are coming from the Bay Area and they qualify to take the vaccine, then well do that for them, said Dizon, adding that they have up to 300 available slots per day. UC Davis Health opened its vaccination site in Sacramento to anyone 16 and older before the states eligibility expansion after having up to 1,500 unfilled slots per day. That is in addition to the providers direct outreach to underserved communities in Sacramento, said Pamela Wu, a spokeswoman for UC Davis Health. Due to an overwhelming response from its vaccine eligibility expansion, slots have filled up quickly. As of Tuesday, all appointments were booked through the weekend. Wu said they hope to have more availability soon. Wu said UC Davis Health encourages eligible individuals to get a vaccination wherever they can. A vaccination is a vaccination, wherever you get it from, she said. Hopefully, Californians wont have to go far to get a vaccine after eligibility expands across the state on Thursday, she added. CSU Bakersfields mass vaccination hub, operated by Kaiser Permanente, is administering vaccines to anyone 16 and older. A Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said the hub was created to serve Bakersfield residents. We will accept people who wish to be vaccinated on a walk-in basis, including people who dont live or work in Bakersfield, said Terry Kanakri, a spokesman for Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region. However, it is not guaranteed that you will get immunized if you drive down to Bakersfield. Kanakri said walk-in availability will likely decrease or eventually end as more residents become eligible Thursday and sign up for a slot. In Tulare County southeast of Fresno, local officials began vaccinating everyone ages 16 and older in late March at International Agri-Center, off Highway 99 near Visalia. The expansion was due to a steady supply of vaccines received at the site, said Carrie Monteiro, a spokeswoman for the countys public health department. But their top priority is to vaccinate Tulare County residents and workers, Monteiro said. We are not encouraging individuals from outside the county to travel to Tulare, said Monteiro. We encourage them to get vaccinated within their own communities. Officials wont turn anyone away unless Tulare County residents and workers begin to report that they are unable to obtain an appointment, Monteiro said. Bay Area residents looking farther afield may also consider checking the websites of major pharmacy providers for appointments. Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS and Safeway statewide allow sign-ups regardless of county of residence. If you decide to schedule a vaccine appointment, you will have to drive back to the location several weeks later for your second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna shot, the two versions available, both of which are two-dose regimens. Heres how to schedule an appointment at these vaccination sites: BJRX Pharmacy LTC in Stockton: Book an appointment at zocdoc.com or by calling 209-395-0555. UC Davis Health: Check here to find out when slots become available. If youre a UC Davis Health patient, book an appointment through MyUCDavisHealth or UC Davis Health's self-scheduling link. Non-UC Davis Health patients can schedule here. Call 916-703-5555 if you need help. CSU Bakersfield: Walk-ins are accepted but it is not guaranteed that you will get a vaccine. 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, 93311. Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS and Safeway: Eligible individuals can book an appointment at a pharmacy outside their ZIP code or county for all four companies. Walgreens: Eligible individuals can schedule an appointment here, or call 1-800-Walgreens or 1-800-925-4733 to find participating locations. Rite Aid: 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. For more information and details about vaccinations in each Bay Area county, go here. Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 07:47:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Students attend an in-person class in a school in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on April 13, 2021. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time in more than a year, some Los Angeles schools reopened for in-person classes on Tuesday. Safety standards and mandatory COVID-19 testing of students were in place, but many parents still opted to keep their kids learning from home. (Xinhua) New Delhi: A major fire broke out on Friday at Oil depot on Butcher Island located close to Elephanta Island on the Thane creek, near Mumbai. Several fire-tenders rushed to the spot and operations are still on till the last reports came in. No casualty has been reported so far. According to officials, the fire broke out in two fuel storage tanks. "The fire has been brought under control," the official said. According to port officials, the incident took place around 5 in the evening at tank number 13 and 14, which have storage capacity of around 10 to 15 lakh litres each. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Denmark on Wednesday became the first country to plan to permanently stop administering the AstraZeneca vaccine, a month after suspending its use following reports that a small number of recipients had developed a rare but serious blood-clotting disorder. The director general of the countrys health authority, Soeren Brostroem, said Denmark was able to halt use of the vaccine because it had the pandemic under control and could rely on two other vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna. The Danish announcement is another setback for the AstraZeneca shot, which is easy to store and relatively cheap, and was expected to be the foundation of vaccination campaigns around the world. The country initially suspended the use of the vaccine on March 11, along with Iceland and Norway. Several other European countries, including France, Germany and Italy, followed suit last month. Tiger 3: Salman Khan And Team To Head To Russia In June-July For The Final Schedule? Read Deets... Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer Tiger 3 was being shot in full-fledge in Mumbai. The film suffered a small setback when leading lady Katrina tested positive for COVID-19, but the shoot went on and Salman Khan continued shooting for his portions in the film. It was said that the film would be wrapped up soon and just one foreign schedule remained to be shot! It looks like the makers have decided to head to Russia in June-July to shoot this final leg of the film. According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, the makers have decided to keep the last schedule for June-July. A source was quoted saying, The makers of Tiger 3 have selected some really exotic locales to shoot the film in. As for the shoot in Russia, Salman and the team will fly out to shoot the final schedule of the film, which will most likely be in either June or July depending on the situation. Not many details of what the shoot will feature are known right now. Once the team commences work on the final schedule, only then will details of the shoot be revealed. Well, given the fact that all the shoots, including that of Tiger 3, have been halted till 1st May starting today evening, we wonder whether the team will be able to keep up with the dates amidst such uncertainty.. But, we certainly hope that the situation gets better. A Bergen County man was arrested Tuesday and charged with groping two women in separate incidents last week in Rutherford. Dennis Kwiecinski, 28, of Lyndhurst, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact and is being held in the Bergen County Jail pending a court hearing, according to police and jail records. Investigators were able to compile significant surveillance footage from the areas (and) several witness statements showing the suspect and his vehicle just prior to and just after the incidents, police Chief John R. Russo said in a statement. The first incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday on Carmita Avenue near Donaldson and Woodward Avenues, Russo said. The 28-year-old woman told police she was jogging when the suspect pulled alongside her in a black pickup truck, leaned out the window and slapped her buttocks. The second occurred about 6:41 p.m. Friday on Montross Avenue near Donaldson Avenue when a 34-year-old woman was grabbed while pushing her child in a stroller, according to the chief. The woman told police the man had been sitting alone in the pickup truck, got out and grabbed her. Police on Monday released a security photo taken of the man and his truck, which didnt have license plates. Russo said officers located the truck in Lyndhurst and arrested Kwiecinski as he exited his home. Court records show Kwiecinski was charged in September 2017 with criminal sexual contact in Totowa. He was sentenced in Superior Court of Passaic County in December 2018 to three years of probation and ordered to pay $50 in court costs, public records show. 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. YEREVAN. Analyzing the situation, consulting with the President of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], the General Staff of the Armed Forces, I decided that we must reach a ceasefire through certainyes, also heavyconcessions. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia (RA) while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020, referring to the developments that took place before and after October 19, 2020. "In this connection, I convened a sitting of the Security Council, which was also attended by representatives of parliamentary forces. The opposition also took part in the sitting, to whom I said that I had invited [them] not to share accountability with them, but to inform them because at that moment I could not make a public statement about what was happening because if suddenly the other side did not accept our proposal, those statements would not have a positive effect on the general situation. The RA President and the Catholicos [of All Armenians] also took part in the sitting of the Security Council. On the same day, I invited the representatives of the extra-parliamentary opposition, and informed [them] about the situation. After that, according to the arrangement, I called the Russian President and said that we want a ceasefire on the condition of returning the territories of Azerbaijan in the 5+2 formata condition that has previously been proposed to Armenia by the mediators in the most various formats. We had a detailed discussion with Putin, and we achieved a common understanding and stated that we formulate or have a common formulation for overcoming the situation in the same way with the Russian president," Pashinyan said. He emphasized that there was a question of the return of refugees, and the return of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to Nagorno-Karabakh. "I have said that we have no objection to this issue and will not have if we somehow connect the issue with the process of clarifying the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. After that, the Russian President had a [telephone] conversation with [Azerbaijani president] Aliyev, as a result of which it became clear that Azerbaijan categorically does not accept the demand for the de-occupation of the Hadrut region. Second, it demands that the issue of the return of internally displaced persons be in no way connected with the clarification of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. There is also a new detail, about which I have not said before; also, there was also an implication that there should not be a return of territories with the 5+2 formula, but there should be a return of seven territories," the Armenian PM added. Pashinyan said that both before and during the war, Azerbaijan did not accept the agenda of clarifying the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. "This was, pay attention, the main reason for the 4-day war in April 2016 and the 44-day war in 2020, he said. The Armenian premier recalled that his statement made in the National Assembly on September 27, 2020, where he informed that Armenia was posited a condition to concede at least the security zone without any preconditions, without any status adjustment. "We [the incumbent Armenian authorities] have inherited the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a deadlock, pre-war, and post-war situation. What grounds do I have to say such a thing? This is proved by the two statements made by [ex-President] Serzh Sargsyan during the election of the Prime Minister on April 17, 2018. That day in the National Assembly Serzh Sargsyan said: The negotiation process does not inspire optimism; to be more precise, that process is simply stalled. It is stalled because Azerbaijan's expectations from the outcome of those talks are unrealistic, unacceptable for us. On the same day, Serzh Sargsyan said: First of all, I must say that the April war was both a surprise and not a surprise because in many cases, people are convinced of something, but inside they cherish hope that the adversary or the partner will be guided by sound logic and will not take steps that are harmful to both sides as well. In this regard, we should consider the first lesson that we should never hopeat least for a very long timethat the Azerbaijani leadership will abandon its trustless approaches, will abandon its desire to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by force," Pashinyan said, adding that back 2017, there was a situation where Armenia had reachedand even crossedits red lines. A bill that would have banned hydraulic fracturing in California along with most other ways of extracting crude oil failed to pass the state Senates Natural Resources and Water Committee by one vote. The sponsors of the bill that enjoyed strong support from environmentalist organizations said, as quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle, they were extremely disappointed. While popular among environmentalists and climate change advocates, however, the anti-fracking bill was the opposite of popular among other groups, including labor unions and legislators who were worried about its negative effect on employment in Californias oil industry. The state is the nations seventh-largest producer of crude oil. The Los Angeles Times notes that the states oil industry has substantial influence over Central Valley legislators. At the same time, trade unions are a force to be reckoned with in the Democratic Party. The daily also noted Governor Gavin Newsoms vocal support for the bill, which was basically a more aggressive version of an anti-frack proposal he had. Newsoms proposal envisaged a ban on hydraulic fracturing and the establishment of buffer zones around conventional wells to protect nearby communities. Related: China's Clampdown On Small Refiners Could Impact Oil Demand Obviously Im very disappointed, state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), one of the sponsors of the legislation, said, as quoted by the LA Times. California really has not done what it needs to do in terms of addressing the oil problem. We have communities that are suffering right now, and the Legislature has repeatedly failed to act. The sponsors of SB467, however, are not giving up. In a statement following the vote of the Natural Resources and Water Committee, Sen. Scott Wiener and Sen. Monique Limon said, While we saw this effort defeated today, this issue isnt going away, Wiener and Limon said in their statement. Well continue to fight for aggressive climate action, against harmful drilling and for the health of our communities. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Overcoming Thailand and India, Vietnamese rice ranked first in the world on average selling price, which in the first quarter was US$547 per ton, up 18.6% year on year. According to a report of the Department of Agricultural Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vietnam exported 1.1 million tons of rice in the first three months of 2021, earning $606 million, down 30.4% in volume and 17.4% in value over the same period of 2020. In March 2021, the average export price of Vietnamese rice reached $547 per ton, up 0.5% compared to that of February 2021 and 19.1% compared to March 2020. On average, in the first quarter of 2021, the average export price of rice increased 18.6% year on year. The price for Vietnamese rice was higher than that of Thailand and India. According to the Department of Agricultural Processing and Market Development, the price for Vietnamese rice was high during this period thanks to the high demand for new winter-spring rice from Vietnam from foreign partners. Vietnamese rice has held the top spot in the world in selling prices. The price for 5% broken rice of India rose sharply in late March, but it only reached $401 per ton. Indian rice currently has the lowest price among the three largest rice exporting countries in the world. Meanwhile, the price of Thai rice of the same type reached $538 per ton in early March but fell to $509 per ton in late March. In 2020, Vietnam surpassed its competitors in selling prices, with an export volume of 6.15 million tons, earning $3.07 billion, officially overtaking Thailand to become the second largest rice exporter in the world, after India. According to the Vietnam Food Association, since late March 2021, rice exports will increase as the supply of commodity rice is abundant and businesses have completed processing rice for export. T.A Last Chance for Animals Launches New Video TORONTO, April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last Chance for Animals (LCA), an international animal rights organization, launched a new video calling on Canadas Federal Liberal Fisheries Minister, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, to reject an export permit requested by Marineland Canada to export 5 Beluga whales to Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT. The video, designed to raise awareness of the issue and to place pressure on the Minister to deny the permit, can be found here: https://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/292-stop-the-export-of-beluga-whales To date, Minister Jordan has not issued the permit. Her office has confirmed via email that the exportation of the 5 Beluga whales from Marineland to Mystic Aquarium has been delayed until Marineland is able to provide sufficient information. While LCA is pleased with the delay and diligence of Minister Jordans office, it reiterates its call to reject the export permit. "These Beluga whales, Sahara, Jetta, Kharabali, Havok, and Havana, need our protection. We ask the Minister to exercise her authority to reject Marineland's export permit request; clearly, finally and soon." Chris DeRose, President & Founder of Last Chance for Animals. In order for the export to occur, an export permit needs to be issued by Canada, and an import permit needs to be issued by the United States. LCA and Friends of Animals are legally challenging the import permit in Connecticut. The U.S. government has issued the permit to import the whales, which is valid for five years and prohibits captive breeding. However, breeding would not be prohibited after the permit expires. Exporting the whales out of Canada will remove them from the hard-fought protections under the recently passed, Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (Previously Bill S-203). The Act is aimed at phasing out the captivity of these majestic creatures and reflects positive steps by the Canadian government to recognize their intelligence as well as the harmful effects of captivity. The Act prohibits the breeding of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, using them in performances for entertainment purposes, and restricts importing and exporting. The belugas would not have similar protection if exported out of Canada. Story continues Exporting the whales from Marineland to Connecticut sever the belugas social bonds with their family and friends and would take at least ten hours, which LCA believes would be traumatic and potentially fatal for the whales. The whales would have to be captured, hoisted out of their tanks with cranes, transported on trucks, wait to board their aircraft, fly to Connecticut, be unloaded from the plane, and transported again by truck to Mystic Aquarium. LCA strongly believes the whales must stay in Canada, where they will be protected under Canadian law. LCA calls upon Federal Liberal Fisheries Minister, Bernadette Jordan, to deny Marinelands request for an export permit. LCA believes issuing the export permit will have a detrimental effect on the whales and perpetuate the suffering of captive whales by making them vulnerable to breeding following the expiration date of the import permit. Exporting the whales is in direct conflict with the intention of Canadas law, Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. ABOUT LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS: LCA is an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating animal exploitation through education, investigations, legislation, and public awareness campaigns. Since its formation in 1984, LCA has succeeded as one of the nation's pioneer animal advocacy groups. LCA's educational and public outreach programs have empowered global citizens to make positive changes for animals. For more information, visit https://www.lcanimal.org/. MEDIA CONTACT Kevin Mercuri kevin@propheta.com 212-901-6914 ext 701 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1db3825c-1d7c-4fe8-832b-23c2522167f2 The 2021 CompassIntel Spring Award Recipients Compass Intelligence is eager and excited to announce the award recipients of the 9th annual CompassIntel.com spring awards to honor the top companies, products, and technology solutions in mobile, IoT, and emerging technology industries. This year we received 120+ nominations coming in from companies, public relations, and corporate communications firms, editors, journalists, analysts, and other colleagues. These awards, excluding the Compass Intelligence selected awards, were voted on by 40+ industry-leading press, editors, journalists, thought leaders, and analysts in early April. A total of 45 awardees are being recognized, including 39 nominated awards in mobile, IoT, and emerging technology, and 6 Compass selected awards. Of the 6 Compass Intelligence submitted awards, those include honors in smart cities, logistics, defense technology, chip innovation, and IoT development leadership. This time of the year is so very uplifting as we honor the best of the best in mobile, IoT and emerging technology, states Stephanie Atkinson, CEO & founder of Compass Intelligence. Honoring companies who put in the hard work, elevate the industry, and provide innovation and leadership is rewarding in so many ways and we congratulate this years award winners. The award recipients of the 9th Annual Compass Intelligence Tech Awards are as follows: IoT Awards - Connected Building: Smart Lighting - Landis+Gyr Connected Building: Smart Development and Design - UV Lighting by Signify Connected Building: Commercial Product Innovation - UIB Connected Solution Leadership: Fleet Management Tracking - Spireon Connected Solution Leadership: Asset Tracking - Pedigree Technologies Top IoT Standards Body of the Year - Telecommunications Industry Association IoT Data: Edge Computing Company of the Year - ClearBlade IoT Data: Data Analytics and Software Company of the Year - TwinThread IoT Vehicle Telematics Company of the Year - Verizon Connect IoT App Dev / Platform of the Year for the Enterprise Market - Losant IoT Emerging Company of the Year for the Consumer Market - bitsensing IoT Emerging Company of the Year for the Enterprise Market - Elevat IoT Enablement Company of the Year for the Enterprise Market - SAS IoT Security Platform of the Year - ZEDEDA IoT Semiconductor Company of the Year - MediaTek IoT Sensor Company of the Year - CommScope Industrial IoT Company of the Year - HPE Mobile & Wireless Awards - Top B2B Smartphone Device - iPhone 12 Pro Max (Apple) Top B2B Wearable Device - Axon Body 3 by Axon Enterprise Top B2B Workplace Device - Poly Studio P Series (Poly) B2B Application: Internal Operations - Splunk B2B Application: Client Facing - QTS Data Centers B2B Application: Enterprise Chat/Messaging - Microsoft Teams B2B Application: Team Collaboration and Team Building - Zoom Video Communications B2B Application: Augmented Reality - Vuforia by PTC B2B Mobile Application: Workplace Productivity - Asana Mobile Device Management - Citrix Top B2B Cable Operator - Comcast Business Top B2B VoIP Service Provider - Nextiva Top B2B Wireless Provider - T-Mobile for Business Top B2B Wireline Provider - AT&T Business Emerging Tech Awards - Machine Vision Technology - Teledyne Technologies (Teledyne e2v) Artificial Intelligence: Chipset - MediaTek Artificial Intelligence: Enterprise Solution - Augmentir Robotic Process Automation - Blue Orange Digital Retail Customer Experience - Syte Autonomous Vehicles - Polaris Autonomous Technology - Grand Farm & Trilogy Networks Enterprise Software Innovation - Poly Lens by Poly Compass Intelligence Nominated Awards - Defense Drone Innovation and Leadership - Camgian Transportation & Logistics Innovation Leadership - Zebra SmartPack Trailer by Zebra Technologies IoT Product Development Services Innovation - Very Intelligent City Innovation - Peachtree Corners Georgia Microcontroller Innovation in IoT - tinyML Tech for Good in Education - T-Mobile's Project 10Million Note: This last group of awards was selected by the Compass Intelligence team, while all others come in from nominations and submissions. About Compass Intelligence Founded in 2005, CompassIntel.com is a market analytics and consulting firm specializing in metrics-driven market intelligence and insights for the mobile, IoT, and high-tech industries. Compass Intelligence provides executive insights, market sizing/forecasting and modeling, competitive analysis, strategic consulting, advisory services, trending analysis, and survey research services. Compass Intelligence helps guide strategic business decisions, and support in the success of our clients through delivering content engagement, go to market planning, competitive positioning, and strategic advisory. Learn More: https://www.compassintelligence.com/awards--honors.html Note: Brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. ANN ARBOR, MI Its been five months since a woman was charged for hitting and killing two construction workers on I-94, but court proceedings havent moved forward. Friends and family of Nicholas Andres Sada and Davyon Desmon-Aereailes Rose, both 23 from Lansing, are frustrated with the delays. Sada and Rose were killed when a suspected drunk driver entered a construction zone on eastbound I-94 near Harris Road in Ypsilanti Township and hit them at about 1:40 a.m. Nov. 7. I-94 construction workers killed by suspected drunk driver remembered as longtime friends Ryann Danielle Musselman, 29, was arraigned Nov. 9 on two felony counts of operating while intoxicated causing death. Since then her next court date, a probable cause conference, has been delayed multiple times. The most recent hearing for April 8 was adjourned. She is currently free on bond. Family and friends of the victims are tired of waiting for the criminal justice system to move forward, though, Darian Ryan said. They held a protest outside the courthouse April 7, on the five-month anniversary of the mens deaths. Were tired of them pushing it back and making it seem like their lives do not matter, Ryan said. Thats what theyre making us feel like, like their lives do not matter. They arent doing anything to benefit us. They arent doing anything to show sympathy to the families. Musselmans conference is scheduled for May 6, court records show. The case has been delayed as they wait for more evidence from the Michigan State Police, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit said. Savit declined to comment further. Musselmans attorney did not respond to request for comment. They are saying its beneficial to us because theyre waiting on GPS trackers from her phone and surveillance footage from I-94 where the accident happened, Ryan said. But theyre not doing anything for us. They havent told us anything that we want to hear. They are basically making it seem like theyre trying to give her a slap on the wrist and thats not OK. Sada and Rose were longtime friends since they met in high school. They were working for the construction company C&D Hughes Inc., were Sada helped Rose get a job after serving four years in the military. They were killed 19 days before Roses goddaughter was born, Ryan said. Its been a very hard five months, she said. Weve going through five holidays and five months without them while (Musselmans) at home with her drivers license, still able to drive around. She is still celebrating holidays with her family while we are going to visit gravesites. Family and friends expect to be outside the courthouse protesting May 6 if the hearing is delayed again, Ryan said. Were sad but were not sad about the case, were mad, Ryan said. Theres no reason she should be out. Enough is enough. She took two peoples lives and shes out living her life like she didnt do nothing. More from MLive: University of Michigan, Michigan State University switching to Pfizer vaccine for students Chief diversity officer at University of Michigan stepping down at end of 2021 Trooper shoots armed man wanted for car theft, state police say Imperial Valley News Center Online Vendor Pleads Guilty to $5 Million Postage Fraud Scheme San Diego, California - Cuong H. Nguyen pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to conspiring to engage in a wide-ranging postage counterfeiting, forging, and tampering scheme that, over the course of multiple years and more than 160,000 packages, deprived the U.S. Postal Service of approximately $5 million of postage due and owing. Special Agents from U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Financial Investigations and Border Crimes Task Force (the FIBC - a multiagency Task Force based in San Diego and Imperial Counties, and funded by the Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture) led the investigation. As admitted in the plea agreement entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard, Cuong digitally altered, counterfeited, forged, and tampered with various postage evidencing systemsi.e., postage meters. These postage meters are intended to expedite the delivery and shipment of USPS packages by allowing mailers to purchase and affix postage labels in advance of depositing them into the mail. Nguyen primarily used the postage evidencing system known as Click-N-Ship when sending packages of beverages and food products from his businesses in San Diego. As stated in his plea agreement, Cuong admitted that he misrepresented information appearing on postage labels attached to packages in several waysincluding misstating the weight, size, destination, and origin of the packagesthat were intended to, and in fact did deceive, the USPS as to the underpayment of postage. Accordingly, when the USPS received the packages with labels that Nguyen and others had altered, forged, and counterfeited, they paid much less to the USPS than was owed, but the packagesapproximately 162,221 between 2015 and 2019were delivered anyway. Those who defraud the Postal Service are effectively stealing from the U.S. Treasury and the nations taxpayers, said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. We are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting these profiteers. U.S. Attorney Grossman commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Silva and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation agents who unraveled this complex, digital crime. As a result of the conspiracy, Nguyen acknowledged that the underpayment of postage to the USPS was approximately $5,127,712.88, resulting in net profits to Nguyen, his businesses, and others of $862,374.00. Postal Inspectors protect the U.S. mail from criminal misuse in a variety of ways, including efforts to root out postage fraud, stated Inspector in Charge Melisa Llosa of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Los Angeles Division. Scammers who selfishly deprive the USPS of revenue place an undue strain on Americas most trusted service. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Financial Investigations and Border Crimes Task Force for their assistance in a successful resolution. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to have worked alongside our law enforcement partners at the USPIS Inspection Service and the FIBC to crack this complex web of digital crime and theft, said IRS-CI L.A. Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner. No matter the venue, stealing money from the U.S. government is stealing money from American taxpayers. Our talented team of special agents and professional staff will continue to work tirelessly to overcome all challenges, including the current pandemic, to ensure that financial crimes will never pay. Sentencing is scheduled to occur on July 12, 2021 at 9 a.m. As part of his agreement to plead guilty, Nguyen agreed to forfeit $862,374.00 to the United States, as profits, proceeds, and property obtained directly or indirectly, as the result of the postage fraud conspiracy. DEFENDANT Case Numbers 21-CR-1131-BAS Cuong H. Nguyen San Diego, CA Age: 37 SUMMARY OF CHARGES Criminal Conspiracy Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison, forfeiture, and $250,000 fine AGENCIES United States Postal Inspection Service IRS Criminal InvestigationFinancial Investigations and Border Crimes Task Force *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or information are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. South Africa: President Ramaphosa to conduct oversight visit to Durban Port This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo will chair the no-fault compensation fund, as the country gears up for the mass COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme. Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, made the announcement in Parliament on Wednesday. Mkhize believes that the fund will give the country an opportunity to implement the vaccine adverse ... See more Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are more important than ever. Perhaps you are wondering: Well, what exactly is an HBCU? Or maybe you are saying to yourself: Renee, why are HBCUs important to the credit union system? Well friend, Im glad you asked. The 107 HBCUs across the country were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the mission to serve and educate the African American community. These epicenters of culture and higher education were founded on the belief that every individual ought to receive a strong education despite their ethnicity, race, or income level. With over 25% of African Americans earning their degree from an HBCU, it is no doubt that HBCUs have played an instrumental role in the development of African American professionals. I am a former instructor for Spelman Colleges Continuing Education Department and my 7 years at the college were eye-opening. Research from the Nationwide Retirement Institute says that nearly 90% of African American college students considering a financial services career report that they believe there are challenges that specifically impact financial professionals in the industry today. I cant help but to conclude that their concerns most likely arise from the profound lack of diversity in the financial services industry. Recent events in our country have certainly raised national awareness of the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, the financial services industry still struggles with recruiting and retaining people of color, most notably at the senior level. In fact, I would argue that the credit union movement struggles even more in this area when compared to our banking counterparts. Goldman Sachs recently launched a $25 million, five-year commitment to invest in the strength of HBCUs and created a program that gives students hands-on training, networking opportunities and mentorship. Morgan Stanley is providing scholarships and career training for HBCU students to enhance their skillset and prepare them for corporate success in the financial world. What are we doing in the credit union industry to support HBCU students and graduates? Wayne A.I. Frederick, President of Howard University in Washington, D.C., said that Its a danger to the national interest not to invest in these institutions. I must say that I couldnt agree more. The unfortunate reality is that HBCUs are underutilized in the credit union movement. How can we truly propel our movement forward without tapping into the greatest pool for African American talent? The short answer is, we cant. Sure, we see the value proposition and business case for DEI, but we must carefully assess how we can improve African American representation in the credit union system. Leveraging HBCUs, specifically, will help us break the barriers that have long been in place to keep people of color from integrating into the financial services marketplace. The fewer people of color that we have in our boardrooms and in our branches, the less we can authentically live out our mission of people helping people. The truth is that many African Americans can directly relate to the lived experience of the underbanked. Research shows that credit unions are more likely than banks to serve the underserved communities. If that is the case, our front offices should reflect the communities that we serve. Lets lay the foundation for the next generation of credit union professionals by working with HBCUs to increase diversity in the credit union movement. What if credit unions came together to create a new credit union that serves HBCUs? My colleague Gary Perez, president/CEO of USC Credit union, for example, started this important conversation that could be carried out sooner than we think. An HBCU credit union could provide affordable financial services and tailored financial education to fit the unique needs of HBCU students, alumni, faculty, and staff members. The value proposition of HBCUs also closely aligns with those of credit unions. Rooted in faith, community, and service, HBCUs provide tremendous value to our society. Like credit unions, HBCUs are meeting the needs of underserved communities and promoting financial wellbeing for all. Although they do not have the formal title, I would go out on a limb and say that HBCUs are cooperative in nature. When credit unions partner with HBCUs, we can help increase the number of African American credit union professionals nationwide, providing them with the training and mentorship opportunities that they need to be successful. When credit unions partner with HBCUs, we can help address the racial inequities facing our communities, moving beyond a commitment to change to taking action to change. Creating an inclusive and equitable credit union system requires us to invest our resources back into the communities that need them the most. Credit unions will reap the benefits that come with a diverse workforce while also helping powerful young men and women develop their finance skills. We cannot do this work alone; it will require us to work together. HBCUs are the stewards of African American intellectual thought leaders and professionals. I cant think of a better resource to strengthen credit union diversity than HBCUs. Priti Patel today lost a High Court case after her officials tried to kick a Nigerian immigrant out of Britain before he could give inquest evidence over his friend's death at a detention centre. In a landmark court ruling, two judges ruled that the Home Secretary's attempt to deport Ahmed Lawal, 34, before he could give evidence at an inquest was unlawful and that the process was 'legally deficient'. They told the Immigration Court that Ms Patel should be held accountable for failures in ensuring that deaths in immigration detention centres across the country are properly investigated. Three of the Home Secretary's detention policies were also found to have breached human rights rule, and she did not have the legal authority to frustrate or undermine inquiries into these deaths. The ruling relates to Mr Lawal and Oscar Lucky Okwurime, both from Nigeria, who were in Harmondsworth immigration removal centre when Okwurime was found dead in his cell in September 2019. Priti Patel has lost a High Court case after her officials tried to whisky a Nigerian immigrant out of the UK before he could give inquest evidence over his friend's death at a detention centre The Home Office tried to deport Mr Lawal, a key witness, just five days after the death - and before he could provide any evidence. Mr Lawal had been detained in the same wing at at the time of his death. He and a number of other detainees were able to instruct lawyers shortly before the flight and deter his removal on the basis that they were key witnesses. A month later, the coroner for west London informed the Home Office and Mr Lawal that he was an 'important witness of fact' as the 'only live witness who can speak to certain parts of the evidence, particularly the presentation of the deceased in the days before his unfortunate death'. Mr Lawal gave evidence in person at the inquest in November 2020, which found that Okwurime had died unnaturally as a result of neglect following a subarachnoid haemorrhage, often caused by hypertension. The jury found that his blood pressure reading on August 22, 2019 showed hypertension and ruled that neglect had contributed to his death due to multiple failures to adhere to healthcare policy. Mr Lawal's legal challenge crucially focused on whether the Home Secretary can remove a potential witness to a death in custody before it is clear whether they will be needed as an inquest witness. Ahmed Lawal, 34, had been detained in the same wing at at the time of his death The judges found that Ms Patel's decision to remove Lawal to Nigeria was unlawful as she had failed to take reasonable steps to secure his evidence relating to Okwurime's death before starting removal proceedings. A replacement policy in August 2020 was also found to be unlawful as it failed to identify and take steps to secure the evidence of those who may have relevant information about a death in detention. Lawal's solicitor, Jamie Bell of Duncan Lewis solicitors, said: 'This case demonstrates the cavalier attitude of the Home Office when enforcing removals. 'Despite a tragic death within a detention centre, the Home Secretary did not hesitate to maintain her plan to remove potential witnesses by charter flight, ignoring anyone who wished to come forward to give evidence.' There have been 28 deaths recorded in immigration detention since 2010. Emma Ginn, director of Medical Justice, said the Home Office appeared to want to 'sweep' Mr Okwurime's death 'under the carpet' by trying its best to remove witnesses from the UK before they could give evidence, telling the Independent: 'It looks like the Home Office is not learning lessons.' MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for comment. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University has been hand-picked by Big Idea Ventures LLC, a global leader in early-stage food technology and alternative protein investment, for a new fund to commercialize university intellectual property. The new Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) fund is a $125 million target fund that will fuel economic development in rural communities across the United States through the commercialization of food and agricultural technologies, protein innovation and other university intellectual property. We are proud to join a select group of universities for this new opportunity focused on commercialization, higher education and rural economies, said Wade Lange, vice president and chief entrepreneurial officer of the Purdue Research Foundation. Purdue has a strong network of innovators focused on technologies to provide food and agricultural solutions. The new fund is designed to capture universities breakthrough technologies that will impact the global food supply chain. Indianas agbioscience economy generates more than $52 billion in revenue with more than half of that coming from value-added food and nutrition, said Mitch Frazier, president and chief executive officer of AgriNovus Indiana. Indianas strengths across agbioscience, technology, manufacturing and logistics provide a powerful platform for post-pandemic food supply chain innovation and growth. About Purdue Research Foundation Purdue Research Foundation supports Purdue Universitys land-grant mission by helping the university improve the world through its technologies and graduates. Established in 1930, PRF is a private, nonprofit foundation. The foundation helps patent and commercialize Purdue technologies; builds places to encourage innovation, invention, investment, commercialization and entrepreneurship; and makes equity available to students to finance their Purdue education. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu. Writer: Chris Adam Media contact: Kelly Nicholl, khnicholl@prf.org Source: Wade Lange, walange@prf.org [April 14, 2021] Introducing Waffle Exchange; Could This Be The Next PancakeSwap Competitor? DORKING, United Kingdom, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Waffle Exchange is a BSC-based Defi platform designed to provide top decentralized exchange services to its users. This ecosystem is developing various projects all aimed at simplifying the investors' work in Defi. It has a world of features, foremost being the exchange option named RSET, which is already functional. Another vital service present in the Waffle exchange is the yield farming option for users. It will be relatively easy for users to earn passive income with yield farming and liquidity locking. However, the Pools and sale features are still under development. Since this platform is centered on the BSC, it will face stiff competition from other similar Dexs like PancakeSwap , BakerySwap , and JulSwap . How will Waffle make sure it thrives above the other competitors? The Dex Aggregator with Access to Multiple Dex Trading in decentralized exchanges requires lots of research from different Dexs to purchase an asset at the best price. The Dex aggregator, a Waffle exchange product, will help reduce the tussle. This aggregator will redefine and ease the process of buying tokens in exchanges. It will help investors buy BNB assets at the best price in the market at a particular time. There will be no need for long research in different exchanges to find the best prce; right there, on the same interface, the platform will show the Dex with the best price. The decentralized aggregator interface currently hosts three decentralized exchanges. When in need of an asset, you can select the asset you need and the payment token you have. Afterward, it's easy to check the price, and the aggregator opens prices in 3 Dex, PancakeSwap, JulSwap, BakerySwap. The aggregator will show the Dex with the best price and a direct link for opening trade. The aggregator and the system, in general, are designed with utmost simplicity, convenience, and user-friendliness. Moreover, the BSC base or this aggregator makes it very fast, scalable, and quite affordable. Is it possible for Waffle to be the next PancakeSwap? Yes, it's very much possible. Due to the excellent aggregator feature implanted, it will be relatively easy to buy Dex assets via Waffle than PancakeSwap. Moreover, Waffle implants top security trust and reliability to make it even more remarkable. Security, Trust, and Reliability is The Priority In their mission to compete with PancakeSwap, Waffle focuses on users' wealth security. In a recent post on their Twitter page, the platform posted their successful audit report. The platform's smart contract auditors are CDTSEC , one of the best blockchain auditors in the crypto space. According to CDTSEC, the platform's contract has adhered closely to the relevant Cyber Security practices and is therefore ready for public use. Waffle freely shared their detailed audit report for the public showing their commitment to trust and security in the ecosystem. Moreover, the platform does not instill the lengthy KYC procedures seen in many exchange platforms. Therefore, the investors' privacy is guaranteed. Presale is Coming Up Waffle has their native token $WAF, which will help in running the platform's services. This token possesses deflationary attributes due to the burning mechanism added. The presale for the $WAF token is coming up. In their previous private sale, the platform leveraged the pinpoint capital launchpad and successfully sold 500BNB in 30 seconds. The first round's speedy sale proved the high demand for the platform's services and final product. Waffle is on Friday 16th at exactly 00:00 UTC going to launch its token presale for public participation. The idea is to complete their hard cap sale fast, and list their tokens in exchanges like PancakeSwap and RSET for even easier access. The hard cap is set at 1500 BNB, an equivalent of 10 million $WAF tokens. Investors should know that 1 BNB is equal to 6,666 $WAF tokens during the presale round. However, past the presale, the tokens value will be 1 BNB representing 4800 $WAF tokens during the listing. Investors ready to enjoy the benefits of a highly reliable, fast, and secure network should participate in the Waffle ecosystem's token presale. Media Contacts - Contact Name: George Wright Organization name: Waffle Exchange Email: info@waffle.exchange Phone: +441306-728853 Website URL: waffle.exchange A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee92d05e-8309-4674-b8cc-4f8aefd97351 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] VertiGIS, a leading geographic information systems (GIS) solution provider and software developer, announced today the completed acquisition of longstanding development partner KMS Computer GmbH. KMS is an established and trusted computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software specialist based in Dresden, Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005039/en/ KMS by VertiGIS is an established and proven provider of computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software based in Dresden, Germany. KMS is known for its GEBman software and has been supporting municipalities, industrial, service and utility companies, among others, with their facility and document management requirements since 1990. The flexible, end-to-end solutions are based on the latest web technologies and are suitable for internal or mobile use. (Graphic: Business Wire) VertiGIS is backed by global, technology-based investment firm Battery Ventures, who began acquiring GIS and location technology-focused companies under the brand in 2017. Best known for the GEBman software suite, KMS has helped municipal, industry, service, and utility companies with their facility- and document management needs since 1990. Their flexible, end-to-end solutions based upon the latest web technologies and suitable for in-house or mobile use integrate access and analysis of factual data, documents, and spatial information for plants, real estate, and capital goods. For the past 15 years, KMS has worked with VertiGIS to bring ProOffice a process-oriented software solution with optional GIS connectivity for infrastructure workflows, and built upon GEBman technology to German, Austrian, and Swiss customers. The integration of KMS into VertiGIS ensures that the strategic planning and development of ProOffice and GEBman continue to be closely coordinated. "After 30 years, it was time for me to hand over the company to the next generation, explains Konrad Schulze, founder and Managing Director of KMS. Due to the successful partnership and cooperation that has existed between KMS and VertiGIS for many years, I know we can combine the greatest strengths of both organizations and expect our joint customers to benefit from the expanded expertise and industry-leading know-how we have developed over the years. Previous sales partners have now become colleagues, and we are looking forward to working together as one team. Schulzes son, Sebastian, will transition from CTO at KMS to assume the co-role of Managing Director together with VertiGIS veteran Theodor Meusburger. KMSs solution will become an integral part of the VertiGIS offering for all customers and business segments and will be further supported in sales and software development by VertiGISs global business units and teams. We are excited to have an even closer working relationship with our friends and partners at KMS, adds Holger Schade, CEO of VertiGIS EMEA. This transaction will drive additional innovation as we extend our technological capabilities to a broader group around the globe. Facility management solutions are a key strength of VertiGIS, and the shared development plans for ProOffice and GEBman fit perfectly into our product strategy moving forward. About VertiGIS: VertiGIS is a leading geographic information systems (GIS) solution provider and software developer. Its focus is the development of software solutions and services that help utilities, land management, public sector, energy, telecommunications, and industry customers connect their business processes and location technology. The VertiGIS product portfolio is used by thousands of customers and millions of end-users around the world and is designed to enhance the capabilities of leading mapping software, most notably Esris ArcGIS. Major product brands include UT for ArcGIS, the 3A product line, Geocortex, GEONIS, ConnectMaster, M4 Solutions, GeoOffice, WebOffice and ProOffice. Further information can be found at www.vertigis.com About Battery Ventures: Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, London, Israel and New York. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here. About KMS: KMS is an established and proven provider of computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software based in Dresden, Germany. KMS is known for its GEBman software and has been supporting municipalities, industrial, service and utility companies, among others, with their facility and document management requirements since 1990. The flexible, end-to-end solutions are based on the latest web technologies and are suitable for internal or mobile use. Learn more at www.gebman.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005039/en/ SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 100Plus, the fastest-growing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform for doctors and their patients, today announced that Erick DeOliveira has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Meghan Sinclair as Senior Vice President of Product and Operations. The company also welcomed the addition of four new Advisory Board members, including top executives from some of the largest healthcare companies and former CMS administrator Seema Verma. These new appointments come at a time when 100Plus is poised for significant growth in the $30 billion remote patient monitoring market as the only remote patient monitoring product to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and offer an end-to-end solution, including patient outreach, device setup, patient engagement and automated billing. Click to Tweet: "This diverse group, each with their unique experiences and expertise, will contribute to the ongoing growth and advancement of our remote patient monitoring technology." - Ryan Howard, CEO of 100Plus https://ctt.ac/zAyaa+ "We have assembled a dream team of healthcare leaders to advise 100Plus through its next stage of growth," stated Ryan Howard, CEO of 100Plus. "And this diverse group, each with their unique experiences and expertise, will contribute to the ongoing growth and advancement of our remote patient monitoring technology. Their collective leadership and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to scale our services to prominent practitioners and key strategic partners." Erick DeOliveira is a veteran finance leader with extensive experience in company growth. Prior to 100Plus, he served as CFO at Ticketfly (acquired by Pandora) and Vice President of Finance at Eventbrite, as well as holding positions at Practice Fusion, Skype and Amazon. "I am thrilled to join the 100Plus executive team and excited about the trajectory of our offering," stated DeOliveira. "I'm looking forward to bringing my Finance background from large technology enterprises and digital health, to drive growth of the RPM patient population on the 100Plus platform, and support our client practitioners who provide their care." Meghan Sinclair brings 12 years of product, operations, and engineering experience in hardware, software and the military using technology to solve customers' pain points and identify strategic solutions. Prior to 100Plus, Meghan was a lead product manager at Amazon Lab126 for smart home and Alexa devices. "Joining an organization like 100Plus is exciting for me given the company's ability to significantly decrease healthcare costs and provide remote monitoring tools to millions of patients," stated Sinclair. "The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the undeniable need for innovative technology and devices for people with chronic conditions. I'm looking forward to being a part of the solution and helping doctors drive better health outcomes for patients." In addition to former CMS administrator Verma, new Advisory Board members include Cora Tellez, former CEO of Blue Shield California, Fawad Butt, former Chief Data Officer of UnitedHealthcare and Optum, Jimmy Lee, former President of Anthem and Mehmet Oz, M.D., Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Professor at Columbia and host of The Dr. Oz Show. Seema Verma - The longest-serving administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in modern history. As administrator, Verma oversaw a budget of more than $1.3 trillion and health insurance programs for more than 140 million Americans. Verma also served on the White House COVID-19 Task Force, where she led efforts to drive telehealth and remote care across the health care system while creating flexibility for health providers to augment the health care workforce, expand services and testing, and ensure access to vaccines and therapeutics. Prior to CMS, Verma was the founder and CEO of a health policy consulting firm helping states and private industry on a range of healthcare issues. In addition to her work with 100Plus, Verma sits on the board of value-based health tech firm, Lumeris. The longest-serving administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in modern history. As administrator, Verma oversaw a budget of more than $1.3 trillion and health insurance programs for more than 140 million Americans. Verma also served on the White House COVID-19 Task Force, where she led efforts to drive telehealth and remote care across the health care system while creating flexibility for health providers to augment the health care workforce, expand services and testing, and ensure access to vaccines and therapeutics. Prior to CMS, Verma was the founder and CEO of a health policy consulting firm helping states and private industry on a range of healthcare issues. In addition to her work with 100Plus, Verma sits on the board of value-based health tech firm, Lumeris. Cora Tellez - Former CEO of Blue Shield California and an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare services industry with skills in Healthcare Management, Risk Management and Business Development. Successful Entrepreneur, Board member of publicly traded and private companies as well as nonprofit organizations. - Former CEO of Blue Shield California and an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare services industry with skills in Healthcare Management, Risk Management and Business Development. Successful Entrepreneur, Board member of publicly traded and private companies as well as nonprofit organizations. Fawad Butt - A 20-year data governance veteran with previous roles as Chief Data Officer for UnitedHealthcare and Optum and Chief Data Governance Officer of Kaiser Permanente. A 20-year data governance veteran with previous roles as Chief Data Officer for UnitedHealthcare and Optum and Chief Data Governance Officer of Kaiser Permanente. Jimmy Lee - Creative and innovative leader with over 30 years of healthcare industry experience. As a Senior Executive at Anthem, he had P&L accountability for $35 billion of premium and 17 million members across the Individual, Small Group and Large Group/ASO markets. He was also President of Individual and instrumental to Anthem's entrance into the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") Individual and Small Group markets. Creative and innovative leader with over 30 years of healthcare industry experience. As a Senior Executive at Anthem, he had P&L accountability for $35 billion of premium and 17 million members across the Individual, Small Group and Large Group/ASO markets. He was also President of Individual and instrumental to Anthem's entrance into the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") Individual and Small Group markets. Mehmet Oz, M.D. - Two-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning host of the three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Oz is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. About 100Plus100Plus is the fastest-growing Remote Patient Monitoring platform empowering doctors to manage their chronic patients remotely, proactively engage them to avoid expensive, episodic care, and drive a higher quality of life. When a Medicare patient receives a 100Plus medical device, it's at no cost to them, fully configured, and ready to use out of the box no smartphone, app, Bluetooth, WiFi, or cellular plan required. Reduces episodic care and improves patient care by continuously monitoring high-risk senior patients. Media Contact:Elizabeth Katzki(650) 352-5154elizabeth@100plus.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remote-patient-monitoring-leader-100plus-announces-new-executive-leadership-and-world-class-executive-board-members-301268315.html SOURCE 100Plus China to build 5 tugboats for Egypt's Suez Canal Xinhua) 09:26, April 14, 2021 Rescue vessels work at the site of a container ship trapped on the Suez Canal of Egypt on March 26, 2021. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Xinhua) ISMAILIA, Egypt, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) agreed with a Chinese shipbuilder to build five tugboats and the contract will be signed very soon, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie told Xinhua. Without mentioning the name of the Chinese company, Rabie noted that each of the five tugs will be with a bollard pull of 80 tonnes. Photo taken on April 12, 2021 shows a large cutter suction dredger (CSD) on Timsah Lake in Ismailia, northeastern Egypt. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) "We have already agreed with the Chinese company that the first tug will be delivered to Egypt in 14 months, the second in 20 months and all the five tugs will have been delivered in three years," Rabie told Xinhua on Monday, following a ceremony held in the northeastern Ismailia province to mark the recent arrival of a giant dredger to the SCA. "It is possible that we will cooperate with China in building bigger tugboats," Rabie added, voicing his confidence in the prospects of cooperation between the SCA and China. "In fact, the Chinese are so cooperative with us," the SCA chief told Xinhua, noting that Chinese companies are the first to present their offers in the tenders and projects launched by the SCA. People pose for photos on a large cutter suction dredger (CSD) on Timsah Lake in Ismailia, northeastern Egypt, on April 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) In late March, the massive Panama-flagged container ship Ever Given was successfully refloated after being stranded in the Suez Canal for almost a week, thanks to cooperation between the SCA and the Dutch firm Boskalis as well as its emergency response team SMIT Salvage. Rabie noted that the SCA is upgrading its fleets of dredgers and tugboats, not only to ease navigation in the Suez Canal but also to prepare for rescue operations inside and outside the SCA. Crew members work on a large cutter suction dredger (CSD) on Timsah Lake in Ismailia, northeastern Egypt, on April 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) For his part, Mostafa Kenawy, head of the dredging department at the SCA, said that besides the five tugs to be built in China, most of the spare parts at SCA workshops are "made in China." "We have deep cooperation with China and we're about to hold a tender for building a new hopper dredger, and Chinese companies are welcome to present their offers," the SCA official told Xinhua in an interview aboard the newly received dredger. Linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal was officially opened for international navigation in late 1869, serving as a major lifeline for global seaborne trade as it allows ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) South Korea is stepping up opposition to Japan's decision to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. South Koreans are worried about the possible radioactive contamination of their marine products. Amid the rallies, President Moon Jae-in is believed to be looking into ways to refer Japan's action to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and telling his officials to proactively look into filing for an injunction. - CNA On Saturday, when the nation comes to a halt for the funeral of one of its last bona fide Second World War heroes, not one of Prince Philip's family will be clad in military uniform. Instead his sons, daughter, grandsons and cousins who by virtue of appointment or distinguished service have a right to regimental or naval dress will be in mourning clothes: Tailcoats for the men and dresses of black crepe for the women. Not a flash of ceremonial gold stripe nor a navy blue sash will be on view, no decorated peak caps to be raised and lowered as protocol demands and no snappy salutes given. So how on earth has it come to this? A delicate compromise was how it was being seen in Palace circles last night, an attempt to head off the possibility of yet another internal family row. But to many it will look less like a concession and more like a capitulation. In an instant, centuries of tradition have been overturned. The reason? A question of uniforms for two royal dukes. The two dukes, of course, are Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, both semi-detached from royal life yet both with a compelling hold on a military heritage. On Saturday, when the nation comes to a halt for the funeral of one of its last bona fide Second World War heroes, not one of Prince Philip's family will be clad in military uniform The two dukes, Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Harry (right), are both semi-detached from royal life yet both have a compelling hold on a military heritage As the Daily Mail reported yesterday, Andrew who has stood down from official duties over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had made clear that he wished to wear the uniform of an admiral, the rank he was awarded by the Queen on his 60th birthday and which at the time he offered to defer. But while this has provoked unease in and around the office of the Lord Chamberlain, which is overseeing the formality of the funeral, the major focus is on the position of the Duke of Sussex. Harry's decision to give up royal life and move to California with his wife Meghan and their son Archie meant he had to surrender his treasured honorary military titles. This has thus opened up the very real possibility that Philip's grandson would have been the only senior male royal not in uniform at the funeral of the warrior prince. It is hard to escape the irony of this. Of all those in Philip's immediate family, only two had like him seen active service, his son Andrew and his grandson Harry. In the Falklands conflict of 1982 Andrew was a daring helicopter pilot flying dangerous decoy missions to lure deadly Argentine Excocet missiles away from British warships. No one questioned his courage then and he left the Royal Navy after 22 years of impeccable service. Philip's sons, daughter, grandsons and cousins will be in mourning clothes: Tailcoats for the men and dresses of black crepe for the women Harry displayed bravery on not one but two tours of Afghanistan, once as an infantry troop leader on the ground and second time round flying sorties at the controls of an Apache helicopter. He, too, was selfless in his service. Harry and Andrew both second sons, remember, who spent much of their lives as heirs to their elder brothers have been troubled by what they see as their exclusion from military matters. How this has hurt; both hardened by combat but crushed by disappointment. Andrew has long kept up links with other veterans and survivors of the South Atlantic conflict, while Harry turned his support for wounded servicemen into the Invictus Games. No wonder this has provoked a crisis at the Palace. Imagine the scene as the royals follow the family patriarch's coffin down the hill from Windsor Castle to its place of rest at St George's Chapel on Saturday afternoon. There is Harry, and possibly Andrew, in civilian clothes alongside Prince Edward, who abandoned the Royal Marines just weeks into its gruelling commando course, but who holds a handful of honorary military titles permitting him to don uniform, and Princess Anne, who also has a fistful of Army and Navy appointments but no service experience. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Harry watch the fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Parade on June 14, 2014 in London It is difficult to imagine Philip, who said he never left the Navy but was merely on permanent leave, doing anything but harrumphing at this extraordinary state of affairs. Here was a man, the youngest officer promoted to first lieutenant during the war, mentioned in despatches during the Battle of Cape Matapan and a witness to the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, now being denied the kind of send-off, with its blaze of ceremonial colour, he had so often presided over. When the Queen Mother was laid to rest in 2002, it was Philip leading the funeral procession in his ceremonial Royal Navy uniform. And it was the same in 1979, at the obsequies for Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the uncle he lost at the hands of the murderous IRA. He was in military uniform, too, for the funeral of Britain's wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. And he surely would have expected nothing less at his own farewell: That those entitled to wear uniform should do so. He might have helpfully argued that if Harry and Andrew could not wear the dress of the senior and honorary positions they held, why not the uniform of the ranks they left the service with? In Andrew's case in 2001 it was as a commander. Harry reached the rank of captain, which was automatically promoted to major on his retirement. But Philip, too, was the great pragmatist of the Royal Family. Might he not also have thought how much better if his funeral were a vessel for agreement rather than one of dissent? International Myanmar activists cancel new year festivities; UN urges end to slaughter Protesters taking part in a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan. (AFP) YANGON, APR 13 (AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 4/13/2021 1:11:29 PM IST Opponents of military rule in Myanmar cancelled traditional new year festivities on Tuesday and instead showed their anger with the generals who seized power through low-key displays of defiance and small protests across the country. The United Nations human rights office said it feared that the military clampdown on protests since the Feb. 1 coup risked escalating into a civil conflict like that seen in Syria and appealed for a halt to the slaughter. A Myanmar activist group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, says the security forces have killed 710 protesters since the ouster of an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Protesters were out again on the first day of the five-day New Year holiday, known as Thingyan, which is usually celebrated with prayers, ritual cleaning of Buddha images in temples and high-spirited water-dousing on the streets. We do not celebrate Myanmar Thingyan this year since over 700 of our innocent brave souls have been killed, said one Twitter user named Shwe Ei. Women wearing fine clothes for the most important holiday of the year protested in several towns holding traditional pots containing seven flowers and sprigs that are displayed at this time, media pictures showed. Many people painted the protesters three-finger salute on their Thingyan pots. Peoples power, our power, women marching on a street in the main city of Yangon chanted as passersby clapped, video posted by the Myanmar Now media group showed. In some places, people set out dozens of Thingyan pots daubed with messages such as Save Myanmar in silent shows of opposition to the military. There were no immediate reports of violence at any of the protests but information has become scarce because of the juntas curbs on broadband internet and mobile data services. Soldiers shot and killed a man and a woman delivering milk on a motorbike in the northwestern town of Tamu, on the border with India, three media outlets reported. Several small blasts went off in different places, including two in Yangon, but there were no reports of casualties or claims of responsibility. A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment. Nearly all British troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan following Joe Biden's announcement that US forces would leave by September 11. President Biden will withdraw all troops from the country before this year's 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory, officials said on Tuesday. The drawdown delays only by around five months an agreement with the Taliban by former president Donald Trump to pull troops, amid a growing consensus in Washington that little more can be achieved. Britain has now drawn up plans to hand over control of the 'Sandhurst in the sand' academy in Kabul where troops help to train Afghan soldiers to the government, the Times reports. There are about 750 British soldiers in Afghanistan who would struggle without US support because of the reliance on the country's bases and infrastructure, reports say. As at July 2015, a total of 454 British forces personnel or Ministry of Defence civilians have died while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001. Of those, 405 were killed as a result of hostile action. 49 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death. British soldiers stand guard at the site where gunmen attacked a political gathering in Kabul, Afghanistan, 06 March 2020 British soldiers arrive at the site of a car bomb explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, September 5, 2019 President Biden will withdraw all troops from the country before this year's 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory, officials said on Tuesday Following a helicopter crash on 11 October 2015, 2 further UK personnel have died while serving in Afghanistan, taking the total number of military deaths to 456. Most British troops in Afghanistan are involved in a mission in the capital involving transporting VIPs. Were 20 years of blood and treasure wasted? How conflict cost $825billlion and 3,500 dead troops Critics lined up to slam the 'pointless' war in Afghanistan as US, UK and NATO allies prepare to pull out troops and hand the country to the Taliban after a 20-year conflict which cost $825 billion and the lives of 3,500 soldiers. The conflict has seen tens of thousands of deaths in all, with remarkably few of the aims set out in the beginning actually achieved. As NATO leaders meet for talks this week, with a possible withdrawal on the cards following President Trump's pledge to have all US troops out by May, those across the globe who have opposed the war have once again made their views known. American author and combat vet Daniel L. Davis wrote: 'The United States has been fighting a pointless, unnecessary war in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.' Laila Harre, leader of New Zealand's Internet Party, tweeted that it was '20 years since the Alliance stood against this predictably destructive deployment. 20 years wasted on war.' January 02, 2008: Prince Harry on patrol in Helmand province in Southern Afghanistan Meanwhile, a survey in 2019 found 58 per cent of veterans and 59 per cent of the public felt the conflict was not worth fighting. Afghanistan's government is held together by a fragile power-sharing deal, it is one of the least democratic and most-violent places on earth, and half of its territory is either in Taliban hands or being contested by the Islamists. It is unlikely that NATO forces will stay much longer. Their withdrawal would bring an end to one of the longest conflicts of modern times. But it will also be the beginning of the end of democracy in the country - the long-running campaign's main objective - as the Taliban reclaim total control. The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 on a counter-terrorism mission - seeking to capture or kill the Al Qaeda leaders who orchestrated the 9/11 terror attack, and to displace the Taliban government which sheltered the group. NATO was not far behind, arriving in the country two months later with a mission to secure Kabul province so the new government could be established there. But the objectives quickly changed - a new goal to rebuild Afghanistan as a stable and democratic country within the Middle East emerged, and the war dragged on. Military operations expanded to fit. In 2003, NATO's mission extended across the entire country and troops became more involved in day-to-day fighting alongside regular US forces. At its height, in 2011, the NATO force numbered roughly 130,000 men drawn from 50 countries, before declining rapidly from 2013 as US forces pulled back. In 2014, primary responsibility for security was handed over to the Afghan government and today, there are around 10,000 troops from 36 countries stationed there in support and training roles. Over that time, some 3,500 coalition troops have died fighting - the vast majority, around 2,400, were American. The UK lost some 450 soldiers - the second-highest total - who were largely killed in Helmand and Kandahar provinces when they took over combat operations from the Americans. On the Afghan side, it is thought that more than 110,000 have been killed including at least 31,000 civilians who were largely hit by airstrikes. At least 30,000 coalition troops have also been wounded in the fighting - the vast majority American - while tens of thousands of Afghans have also been wounded. NATO costs are hard to estimate because its troops are drawn from dozens of countries which control spending individually through many separate budgets. However, the respected Stockholm International Peace Research Institute previously estimated that combined US and NATO combat costs in Afghanistan from 2001 and 2012 totalled around $725billion. Advertisement Major General Charlie Herbert, was had been senior NATO adviser to police in Afghanistan until 2018, said: 'Of course this dreadful war must come to an end one day but cutting and running from our Afghan partners in this way feels like a betrayal to them, not least the Afghan military whose sacrifices we shared for so many years.' Colonel Simon Diggins, a former UK attache in Kabul, said that not demanding conditions along with the withdrawal means America and Britain are granting a 'green light to the Taliban to take over'. The United States' decision to withdraw came as Turkey announced an international peace conference on Afghanistan in hopes of reaching an agreement that brings stability to a nation battered by nearly 40 years of war. But the Taliban, newly emboldened, said they would boycott the conference. Biden, who will make an announcement Wednesday, had earlier mused about keeping a residual force to strike at Al-Qaeda or an emergent Islamic State extremist threat or making withdrawal contingent on progress on the ground or in slow-moving peace talks. In the end, he decided to do neither and will order a complete withdrawal other than limited US personnel to guard the US installations including the imposing embassy in Kabul, a senior official said. 'The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever,' the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. Under the Trump administration's February 2020 deal with the Taliban, all US troops would leave by May 2021 in return for the insurgents' promise not to back Al-Qaeda and other foreign extremists - the original reason for the 2001 invasion. The Biden official said the withdrawal would begin in May and that the delay was largely logistical, with troops possibly out of Afghanistan well before September 11. The official warned the Taliban - who are observing a truce with US but not with Afghan forces - not to strike coalition forces as they leave, saying that in response to any attack 'we will hit back hard.' Fighting will likely grind on. A threat assessment report published Tuesday by the director of national intelligence said the Taliban 'is confident it can achieve military victory.' While in control of cities, Afghan forces 'have struggled to hold recaptured territory or re-establish a presence in areas abandoned in 2020,' it said. Afghan civilians have long paid a disproportionate price in the fighting and the rise of the Taliban has raised particular fears among many Afghan women. The Taliban, who enforce an austere brand of Sunni Islam, banned women from school, offices, music and most of daily life during their 1996-2001 rule over much of Afghanistan. Two decades later, 40 percent of schoolchildren are girls. The Biden official said the United States would use non-military 'tools at our disposal' to promote women's rights including bolstering civilian assistance. But Afghan women have been largely shut out of talks between the Taliban and Kabul on a lasting peace deal in the country, with activists arguing this could compromise their fragile, hard-won rights going forward. Biden's decision came as Turkey announced the dates of a US-backed peace conference that would bring together the Afghan government, the Taliban and international partners. The April 24-May 4 conference will aim to lead to 'a roadmap to a future political settlement and an end to the conflict,' the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. But Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban office in Qatar, said the insurgents will not participate in any conference on Afghanistan's future 'until all foreign forces completely withdraw from our homeland.' Many observers believe that the Taliban think they have already effectively won and can wait out the US withdrawal, as little progress has come out of on-off talks in Qatar. In a sign of the wide international concerns, diplomats said that all of Afghanistan's neighbors had been invited to take part including Iran and China, which both have tense relations with the United States. Also in attendance would be both Pakistan, the Taliban's historic supporter, and its rival India, a staunch ally of the Kabul government which has strongly backed the US presence. A decade ago, the United States had some 100,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of a 'surge' strategy by then president Barack Obama to defeat the Taliban. The troop figure by the end of Trump's presidency had gone down to 2,500 as support for military action waned. Even onetime backers of the war have voiced concern about limited gains on the ground as well as infighting and corruption in Kabul and questioned whether the $2 trillion spent in Afghanistan could have had better uses at a time of growing alarm about China. Senator Tim Kaine, an ally of Biden, said the United States accomplished a primary goal 10 years ago by killing Osama bin Laden and it was time to 'refocus American national security on the most pressing challenges we face.' But Representative Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was 'shocked and appalled' by Biden's decision. The withdrawal means 'abandoning our Afghan partners during critical peace negotiations and allowing the Taliban a total victory,' he said. Prospects are bright for Vietnam's labour market this year The report also reveals that 58 per cent of those employed anticipate looking for new job opportunities, while another 34 per cent are passively open to new roles. Around 10 per cent expect a zero pay increase from their current salary for new job offers. The insights in this report are derived from a regional survey that covers 12 Asia-Pacific markets. The responses came from over 5,500 businesses and 21,000 employees, of which 3,500-plus are directors or CXOs. Mark Donnelly, director of Michael Page Vietnam says, "By all accounts, Vietnam has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic better than many of its neighbours in the region. Its tight and swift control of the situation not only kept the number of cases low by comparison, Vietnams economy, too, remained in a relatively good shape over 2020. While multinational companies based there were cautious on the recruitment front, domestic companies took the opportunity to ramp up their hiring activities and secure the best available talent." "Our Talent Trends 2021 report reflects vital market insights for the next 12 months ahead of us. Acquiring and retaining high potential talent will be crucial for future growth. We saw many businesses looking to prevent employee cuts and redundancies as much as possible during the pandemic. And several industries are already showing signs of a healthy recovery," he said. This was evident especially among Vietnams burgeoning technology sector. Startups and e-commerce, for example, operated unabated throughout the year, and hiring demands within those sectors were healthy. In recent times, Vietnams efforts to position itself as a hub for software development also paid off in 2020, with markets like Japan, Hong Kong, China, and South Korea investing heavily into the countrys technology sector. Despite a slow year for manufacturing, Vietnam still saw a record year in terms of export surplus a positive indicator for the road ahead. Looking ahead, Vietnam is well-positioned to bounce back from the impact of COVID-19. In the meantime, businesses are well-advised to focus on employee engagement and well-being, ensuring that the entire organisation is poised for the recovery phase and beyond, according to Donnelly. The U.S. Agency for International Development announced in mid-March that it will provide nearly 104 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the ongoing crisis in north eastern Nigeria. This brings total U.S. humanitarian aid to Nigeria in Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 to more than 505 million dollars. The United States is committed to helping the people affected by this conflict and will continue to provide vital support to the people of Nigeria. The United States also welcomes the support of its allies and other donors to help provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable Nigerians, and the communities that host them. For nearly a decade now, the Nigerian states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe have suffered frequent and repeated attacks by the Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa terrorist groups. This is a mostly rural area, where people make their living from tending the land. The frequent violence has disrupted farming, resulting in wide-spread food insecurity since 2013. Nearly 2.3 million people have been displaced by the violence and hunger. Although some have taken shelter in neighboring countries, most of the displaced live in camps and host communities within north-eastern Nigeria. Today, the UN anticipates that 8.7 million people across Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states will require humanitarian assistance in 2021, with 6.4 million in acute need of life-saving aid. To complicate the situation, attacks by armed groups have hampered humanitarian access to affected regions, exacerbating the already dire situation. In February and March, terrorist groups conducted a number of attacks on government sites, camps sheltering the displaced and on humanitarian facilities, causing still more displacement and disrupting humanitarian aid operations. Nonetheless, the United States and its partners continue to deliver critical assistance to northeastern Nigeria. The nearly 104 million dollars in humanitarian assistance announced in March will help provide basic necessities such as food and nutrition, as well as water, health supplies, and shelter. The funds will also go toward improving sanitation and hygiene, help provide protection for the most vulnerable and fund humanitarian coordination programs for communities in urgent need of aid. The United States is committed to helping the people affected by this conflict and will continue to provide vital support to the people of Nigeria. [April 14, 2021] Rayburn Electric Cooperative Goes Live with PCI's Cloud Platform to Meet its Member Billing Requirements Rayburn Electric Cooperative, ("REC" or "Rayburn Electric"), has gone live with PCI's (News - Alert) Enterprise Platform to manage its member billing and settlement validation requirements in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power market. As part of this new partnership, PCI deployed its specifically tailored, cloud-based, integrated platform to replace Rayburn Electric's legacy system and several in-house applications. The new Member Billing Solution implemented by PCI, enables Rayburn Electric to: Manage multiple member power supply contracts, including power purchase agreements (PPAs) Perform billing calculations leveraging PCI's settlements business rules engine Validate and allocate ERCOT settlement charges Manage various billing components including transmission, distribution, and service costs Interface with upstream and downstream (physical, telemetered, and G/L accounting) systems Maintain comprehensive auditability with all data versions Automate invoice creation and management workflows Rayburn Electric CEO and President, David Naylor noted, "We are committed to our members and continually strive to add value to their portfolios and implementing a comprehensive billing platform offers increased transparency for them." Adding, "We are proud to partner with PCI on this project and appreciate the professional collaboration for delivery of a robust platform." Rayburn Eectric obtains power from various sources to maintain lower power costs for its members. Renewables are a key part of the cooperative's portfolio, including hydroelectric power from Denison Dam and several solar projects located within its territory. "We have a rich history of serving the public power sector and have found a great customer partner in Rayburn Electric, one that has a matching customer-centric mindset. The successful go-live represents our continued success in delivering a reliable and value-generating software platform," said PCI Vice President, Shailesh Mishra. As part of the next phase of this project, Rayburn Electric plans to leverage the PCI Platform to provide its customers with a dedicated member portal application for on-demand access to energy data and enhanced reporting. PCI's Platform offers unmatched functionality for public power entities to optimize their generation and transmission portfolios, including co-optimization of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in wholesale power markets. About Rayburn Electric Cooperative Rayburn Electric Cooperative (Rayburn Electric) is a non-profit generation and transmission electric cooperative, formed in 1979 by seven distribution cooperatives in Northeast Texas. It is a source of adequate, reliable, and affordable wholesale electric energy that meets the needs of its members. The cooperative has been certified as a transmission owner/operator by ERCOT and operates its own network of transmission lines within the ERCOT footprint. All Rayburn Electric operations comply with not only ERCOT, but also with the Public Utilities Commission of Texas, North American Electric Reliability Corporation ( NERC (News - Alert) ), and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). To learn more, please visit www.rayburnelectric.com. About Power Costs, Inc. (PCI) PCI is the leading provider of energy trading software, superior customer support, and value-added services for energy companies worldwide. Founded in 1992, PCI continues to refine and develop new solutions that meet the ever-evolving needs of its clients which include renewable energy companies, investor-owned, municipal and cooperative utilities, energy marketers and traders, as well as independent power producers. PCI optimizes more than half the power generated in North America, and more than 60% of the Fortune 500 Energy and Utility firms in the U.S. are PCI customers. The firm is privately held and based in Norman (OK) with regional offices in Houston (TX), Raleigh (NC) and Mexico City. To learn more, please visit www.powercosts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005265/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday in this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency. AP-Yonhap Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday its decision to boost uranium enrichment to 60 percent was a response to arch-foe Israel's "nuclear terrorism" against its Natanz facility. Tehran starting advanced centrifuges and producing more highly refined uranium "is a response to your malice," Rouhani said in a message aimed at the Jewish state. "What you did was nuclear terrorism," he said in televised remarks, referring to a blast early Sunday that knocked out electricity at its main nuclear facility in central Iran. "What we do is legal." Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement but public radio reports in the country said it was a sabotage operation by the Mossad spy agency, citing unnamed intelligence sources. Rouhani noted that Iran's security bodies were yet to provide a final report but that the incident appeared to be a "Zionists' crime". Iran's envoy to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, Kazem Gharibabadi, wrote on Twitter that preparatory steps to allow enrichment to higher purity had started and that "we expect to accumulate the product next week" from centrifuges at Natanz. Iran's announcement of stepped-up enrichment has cast a shadow over talks in Vienna aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that then U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned three years ago. The step will bring Iran closer to the 90 percent purity threshold for military use and shorten its potential "breakout time" to build an atomic bomb a goal the Islamic republic denies. Israel has often vowed it will stop Iran from ever building an atomic bomb, which it would regard as an existential threat. It is strongly opposed to U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to revive what it regards as a flawed nuclear agreement between Iran and the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany. The accord, agreed when Biden was vice president to Barack Obama, promised Tehran relief from punishing sanctions in return for agreeing to limits on its nuclear program. The United States said Tuesday it stood by Israel but remained committed to the Iran talks despite Tehran's enrichment plan. Rouhani asserted that Israel with the alleged sabotage attack had aimed to deprive Iran of its leverage during the Vienna talks, saying: "You want our hands to be empty during negotiations, but we will go there with fuller hands." Iran had decided on the more advanced centrifuges and higher-level enrichment so that Israel "would understand that you cannot stop us" from using nuclear technology, he said. (AFP) YPSILANTI, MI There have been two homicides reported in Ypsilanti within a week of each other, and police have not released any details about either to the public. Police are investigating a shooting death that occurred April 4 at the Citgo gas station, 505 S. Huron Ave., as well as an additional shooting death that occurred April 10 at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Leforge Road. MLive/The Ann Arbor News reached out to Police Chief Tony DeGiusti and his command staff requesting information about the recent homicides. Those messages have not been returned. Police previously acknowledged the April 4 fatal shooting but did not provide any details beyond admitting there was an ongoing investigation and there was no threat to the community. Police investigating fatal shooting in Ypsilanti According to an alert from the Eastern Michigan University Police Department, there was a report of shots fired at about 1:38 a.m., April 10, at an apartment complex in the area of Leforge and Green Roads. The report led to a death investigation at the complex. EMU police said there is no known connection to anyone at Eastern Michigan University regarding the incident. The identities of the victims in both shootings have not been released, nor has any other information about them including age, gender or hometown. It is unknown if anyone has been charged or arrested in the two shootings. Ypsilanti, a city with a population of more than 20,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has only two detectives working in its police department. In July 2020 there was a murder suicide in Ypsilanti that went unreported by police. I told her he would kill her one day, sister of woman killed in murder-suicide says MLive/The Ann Arbor News was only made aware of it after receiving a statement weeks later, Aug. 13, 2020, by the SafeHouse Center questioning why there was no media coverage about the incident. The center, a Washtenaw County organization that provides help and support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, was assisting the victim to free herself from her boyfriend who later killed her then himself. For more Ypsilanti-area news, click here. More from MLive: Resolution would remove Ann Arbor City Council member from board and commission seats Family, friends of road workers killed in crash seek justice after waiting 5 months in court Michigan Attorney General charges Ypsilanti man for running unlicensed adult foster care facility A suspect in the shooting early Wednesday of a Burleson police officer and the killing of a woman during a carjacking is in custody. Jerry Elders, 39, was arrested in Gainesville, Burleson police said. After shooting the officer during a traffic stop Wednesday morning, Elders and two other suspects a man and a woman drove away from the scene, but their car became disabled, said Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell at a Wednesday afternoon press conference. Elders and the other suspects left their vehicle, which had caught fire, and he carjacked the Toyota Tacoma from a woman at her home in the 8000 block of County Road 802, Cordell said. It is unknown if the other suspects were with Elders at the time of the carjacking. The woman who was carjacked was shot, but she managed to go to the Joshua Police Department about 8:45 a.m., Cordell said. She was then taken to Texas Health Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth and died. The name of the woman has not been released by authorities, but CBS 11 News identified her as Robin Waddell after speaking to her son. The TV station reported that the carjacker may have dumped Waddell outside the Joshua police station after kidnapping her. Joshua police declined to comment when a Star-Telegram reporter called the department. There had been a massive search Wednesday for Elders and the two other suspects. Elders was wanted on the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer, a first-degree felony, and possession of control substance penalty group 1, less than 1 gram, which is also a felony offense. The Burleson police officer was shot multiple times early Wednesday during a traffic stop. The officer was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth by another officer. He is in stable condition, and his injuries are not considered life-threatening, Cordell said Wednesday afternoon. The name of the officer, who has been on the Burleson force for four years and works a midnight patrol shift, has not been released. Story continues The shooting occurred about 4:15 a.m. in the 1100 block of Hillside Drive in Burleson, near Burleson High School and STEAM Middle School. Cordell said the officer had stopped the vehicle on an equipment violation and later noted it involved a defective light. The officer approached the vehicle on the passenger side. There appeared to be three occupants in that vehicle, Cordell said. As he turned toward the window, immediately shots started coming from within the vehicle through the window, striking the officer multiple times. Elders, who was driving, shot the officer through the passenger window with a handgun, Cordell said. A woman was sitting in the front passenger seat and another man was in the backseat. The police chief said he believes the officer returned fire at the suspects, but he did not know if any of the suspects were shot. The officer had no warning and nowhere to go when the gunfire started, Cordell said. He was ambushed, he said. No other way to say it. He was absolutely ambushed. KXAS Channel 5 reported that Cordell said the officer was lucid and speaking when he was transported to the hospital. Cordell later said the officer was wearing a bulletproof vest and he believes one of the shots hit the vest. Police are still investigating to determine how many shots were fired. The suspects fled the scene in their car, which police do not believe was stolen, before abandoning it in the 700 block of John Jones Drive, police said. The car appeared to have burned. No detailed description or names of the other suspects were released, but police were using body-camera video to try to identify them, the police chief said. Cordell said investigators had several promising leads on the suspects. The Texas Rangers are taking the lead in the investigation and are on the scene, Cordell said. The Department of Public Safety issued a Blue Alert for Elders, a statewide alert thats sent for suspects in attacks on officers. Officers from nearby cities, including Fort Worth, converged on the Burleson neighborhood as authorities searched for the suspects. Officers went door-to-door, checking on Burleson residents in the neighborhood where the suspects abandoned their vehicle. The police chief also said investigators would be going to residents and asking if home security cameras captured the shooting or suspects. Elders has a criminal history in Tarrant County, according to Tarrant County criminal court records. Since 2002, he has been charged nine times with crimes such as drug possession, theft and burglary. Burleson police arrested him in January and accused him of drug possession, according to Tarrant County criminal court records. His next court date was scheduled for May 3 in Criminal District Court No. 371 in Fort Worth A handful of police officers from area departments gathered at JPS Hospital. Standing in the street outside of the hospital ER, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn said of the officer, We believe and pray that its going to turn out good. He told press the recovering officer had the support of the community and his peers in law enforcement. Youre going to see police officers come in and out of here and deputies and sheriffs and constables. Theyre all going to show up, because thats our brother up there, Waybourn said. We know hes our brother in arms. And we want to make sure he and his family are OK. Police said to call 911 if you have information or see something suspicious. Staff writer Jack Howland contributed to this report. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Gangster movies have their own appeal of narrating tales inspired by real life events which wreaked havoc to humanity. While Hollywood has done a far better job in depicting gangster history, Bollywood has decently managed to make a few movies loosely based and inspired by true gangster lords. Here are 5 movies which were based on real life gangsters: 1. Company This super hit movie which was a big aesthetic surprise for people back in 2002 was rumoured to have been based on the real life friendship of underworld lords Dawood Ibrahim and Chota Rajan, who were pretty close knit prior to the 1993 Mumbai blasts. The movie stars Ajay Devgn and Viveik Oberoi in the lead roles and tells the tale of two gangsters who managed to stay close friends before falling apart. 2. Shootout At Wadala This Sanjay Gupta venture was supposedly based on the life of Mumbai gangster Manya Surve. The fictionalised account follows Manya, who is in prison for killing a gangster who attacked his brother. When Manya finally gets free, he forms his own gang and vows to seek revenge. 3. Black Friday This is one of the most authentic accounts which showed how the city of Mumbai fell under the shadow of the Mafia. Based on S Hussain Zaidis book, this Anurag Kashyap movie is a well researched project which depicts how the Mumbais gangsters were linked to Pakistans intelligence set-up. The film covers the 1993 blasts and the riots which broke after it and also depicts how Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon were attached to its execution. 4. D Day This is yet another attempt at depicting incidents from the lives of Dawood Ibrahim. This one has Rishi Kapoor in the lead role who is essaying the character of Iqbal Seth, a fictional character. The movie follows Indian agencies trying to capture him and the mission falling apart due to some miscalculations in the plan. 5. Once Upon A Time In Mumbai This one is inspired and based on the life of gangster Haji Mastan, who was the terror lord in Mumbai back in the 60s and the 70s. The movie was obviously heavily fictionalised but the portrayals of Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmis characters were inspired from the relationship between Haji Mastan and his disciple Dawood Ibrahim. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 02:29:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The recent changes within the top leadership of the South Sudan army (SSPDF) by President Salva Kiir have disrupted efforts to graduate the first batch of the unified forces. Lam Paul Gabriel, ministry of defense spokesperson said the sacking of Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Johnson Juma Okot last week, replacing him with Santino Deng Wol has put brakes on the implementation of the security arrangement. "The pending tasks on the security arrangement are paused due to the new SSPDF deployments and are expected to be completed by the new army chief," Gabriel told Xinhua in Juba on Wednesday. He, however, did not divulge details on whether training of soldiers in the training centers has been halted. "As far as security is concerned we just received new deployments, the chairperson (Okot) was relieved and now we have a new chief of defense forces who is going to become the chairperson of the Joint Defense Board (JDB)," said Gabriel. Under the 2018 revitalized peace deal, JDB is the body charged with overseeing security reforms in the country. In addition, the peace deal calls for the establishment of unified forces made up of 83,000 soldiers to take charge of security during the three-year transitional period. Meanwhile, Kiir also sacked Reuben Malek, deputy minister of defense and veterans affairs replacing him with Chol Thon Balok. In addition, he also sacked the director-general of external intelligence Thomas Duoth, replacing the latter with Simon Yien Makuac. "We are waiting for him (Deng) to take his office then he has to call the first meeting to be briefed on what has happened since the start of implementation of the security arrangement until now. From here the CDF will then come up with a decision on what to do next," said Gabriel. Gabriel said the number of soldiers supposed to form the first batch of unified forces to be graduated is still unknown due to the desertion of several soldiers from these training centers, mainly because of lack of food, safe water and medicines. Enditem LOS ANGELES - The suspect in the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart killed her while trying rape her in his dorm room and his father helped hide the body, the San Luis Obispo County district attorney said Wednesday. LOS ANGELES - The suspect in the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart killed her while trying rape her in his dorm room and his father helped hide the body, the San Luis Obispo County district attorney said Wednesday. District Attorney Dan Dow said prosecutors would seek to prove Paul Flores tried to sexually assault Smart by showing prior sex acts he engaged in and crimes they believe he committed in more recent years. FILE - This undated photo released by the FBI shows Kristin Smart, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo student who disappeared in 1996. The San Luis Obispo County sheriff plans a major announcement Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in the nearly 25-year mystery of the disappearance of Smart. (FBI via AP, File) Prosecutors filed a first-degree murder charge against Paul Flores, 44, and an accessory after murder charge against his father, Ruben Flores, 80, for helping him conceal Smarts body, which has never been found. The two were arrested Tuesday after years of investigation and a search last month using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs at the elder Flores' home that led to evidence connected to Smarts death, authorities said. They didn't revealed what was found. Smart, 19, of Stockton, was last seen May 25, 1996, with Flores while returning to her dorm at California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo after an off-campus party. She was inebriated at the time, and Flores, a fellow freshman, had offered to walk her home. FILE - In this March 16, 2021, file photo, San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office personnel dig in an area in the backyard of the home of Ruben Flores, in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Flores is the father of Paul Flores, who remains the prime suspect in the disappearance of Kristin Smart in 1996. The San Luis Obispo County sheriff plans a major announcement Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in the nearly 25-year mystery of the disappearance of Smart. (AP Photo/Daniel Dreifuss, File) Dow revealed that investigators think Flores killed Smart in his dorm room during the Memorial Day weekend when many students had left the campus. Investigators, who launched a renewed search Tuesday at his fathers property in nearby Arroyo Grande, believe they know where the body was buried but have not yet found it or disclosed the location. Paul and Ruben Flores are in jail and scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. A lawyer for Paul Flores declined to comment on the arrest or charges. Harold Mesick, a lawyer for Ruben Flores, told the Los Angeles Times his client is absolutely innocent. Paul Flores has remained mum through the years, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions before a grand jury and in a deposition for the lawsuit brought against him. Susan Flores, the mother of Paul and estranged wife of Ruben, broke years of public silence last month in an interview with KSBY-TV in which she said her family had no role in the death and her son had been a scapegoat. FILE - This undated photo released by the FBI shows Kristin Smart, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo student who disappeared in 1996. The San Luis Obispo County sheriff plans a major announcement Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in the nearly 25-year mystery of the disappearance of Smart. (FBI via AP, File) They keep trying to find the answers with us and they keep failing because the answers are not here, she said. We have no responsibility for her disappearance and what happened to that young woman. Susan Flores hung up the phone when contacted by The Associated Press on Tuesday. The criminal charges include a disclosure that prosecutors intend to admit evidence of prior sexual acts by Paul Flores. These prior sexual acts include ... incidents described in the investigative reports and audio/video provided to defence, and other alleged incidents of abuse, which will be provided as they are obtained by the prosecution, the document said. Dow said investigators have evidence Paul Flores continued to prey on women after Smart's death and the prosecutor appealed to any victims to come forward. Dow didnt disclose what investigators found, but said Flores frequented bars around his home in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles area since 2005 and may have committed crimes there. He has a record of several convictions for driving under the influence. We have evidence that we do believe there were other people not yet identified that have had some kind of a criminal act perpetrated on them by Mr. Flores, Dow said. Were concerned about sexual assault. Flores has been under suspicion from the earliest days of Smart's disappearance. He has gone from being a person of interest to a suspect to the prime suspect and, now, defendant. Sheriff Ian Parkinson acknowledged Tuesday that early missteps by law enforcement, including a slow response to reports of Smart's disappearance, hampered the investigation. The revelation that the alleged crime scene was in Paul Flores' dorm room highlighted one of those failures. Smart was reported missing May 28, 1996, but no search began until two days later. Flores' room wasn't searched for another two weeks after he had moved out for the summer. Smarts family, who welcomed news of the arrest as a step toward bringing their daughter home, noted that an indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years. A renewed effort to investigate the case led to new witnesses coming forward and warrants that allowed investigators to intercept and monitor Paul Flores phone and text messages and search his own home, along with those of his mother, father and sister that turned up new evidence, Parkinson said. He declined to offer more details because search warrants are sealed. Investigators served over 40 search warrants at 16 locations over the years, collected nearly 200 new items of evidence and used modern DNA techniques to test more than three dozen older pieces of evidence. So much evidence was compiled that it would fill three terabytes on a computer hard drive, he said. Speakers: Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office Tang Renjian, director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, and minister of agriculture and rural affairs Wang Zhengpu, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, and head of the National Administration for Rural Vitalization Hong Tianyun, deputy head of the National Administration for Rural Vitalization Xia Gengsheng, deputy head of the National Administration for Rural Vitalization Chairperson: Chen Wenjun, head of the Press Bureau and spokesperson of the SCIO Date: April 6, 2021 Chen Wenjun: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this briefing held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and thanks to the concerted efforts of the Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, China has attained a complete victory in the fight against poverty, creating a great miracle in the history of human poverty reduction. Today, the SCIO has issued a white paper titled "Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution," which is the topic of today's press conference. We have invited Mr. Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and minister of the SCIO, to brief you on the white paper. Also present are: Mr. Tang Renjian, director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, and minister of agriculture and rural affairs; Mr. Wang Zhengpu, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs, and head of the National Administration for Rural Vitalization; and Mr. Hong Tianyun and Mr. Xia Gengsheng, deputy heads of the National Administration for Rural Vitalization. They will answer your questions. Next, we will give the floor to Mr. Xu for an introduction. Xu Lin: Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media: This year marks the centenary of the founding of the CPC. Since its inception, the CPC has taken the happiness of the Chinese people and rejuvenation of the nation as its original aspiration and mission, and united and led the people in the fight against poverty. The 100 years of the CPC's development have been a century when the Party has worked hard to eradicate poverty and backwardness and to ensure better lives for the people. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has adopted a series of bold policies and measures to fight a decisive battle against poverty that is unprecedented in scale and intensity, and has benefited the largest number of people in human history. At the grand gathering held this Feb. 25 to mark China's achievements in poverty alleviation and honor its model fighters against poverty, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared: Victory in the battle against poverty is complete, and China has completed the arduous task of eliminating extreme poverty. Today, the SCIO has issued the white paper "Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution." The document records the course of the CPC uniting and leading the Chinese people in the fight against poverty, and particularly efforts made to achieve a complete victory since the 18th CPC National Congress, introduces China's approach, and shares its experience and actions in poverty alleviation. The white paper, which extends to more than 30,000 Chinese characters, consists of a preface, main body, conclusion and appendix. The main body includes five parts: "The Solemn Commitment of the CPC," "Final Victory in the Fight against Extreme Poverty," "The Strategy of Targeted Poverty Alleviation," "Exploring a New Path of Poverty Alleviation" and "A Global Community of Shared Future Free from Poverty." The paper is an important historical record that offers a comprehensive picture of China's poverty alleviation effort. China's fight against poverty entered a critical stage after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. At the end of 2020, following eight years of hard work, China achieved the goal of eliminating extreme poverty a key goal for the new era of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold all shook off poverty; and all 128,000 impoverished villages and 832 designated poor counties escaped poverty. Our complete victory over extreme poverty is an outstanding achievement in the history of both China and humanity. As stated in the white paper, the battle against poverty has been another great revolution in rural China, leading to historic and comprehensive changes. The campaign boosted overall rural development and laid a solid foundation for building a modern socialist China and realizing the Second Centenary Goal. China's poverty alleviation experience indicates that poverty is not predestined, nor is it unconquerable. With strong will and determination, as well as practical action, one can make steady progress toward overcoming poverty and realizing common prosperity. According to the white paper, China's complete victory over extreme poverty shows that the CPC has held fast to its original aspiration and mission, and demonstrates its ability to lead politically, to guide through theory, to organize the people, and to inspire society. It shows the strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics in pooling resources to solve major problems. It highlights China's spirit, China's values, China's strength, and the willpower of the Chinese people to strive to realize dreams with bold resolve "which dares to make sun and moon shine in new skies." It exemplifies the fearless and indomitable character of the Chinese nation determined to struggle and resolutely overcome all difficulties and challenges along the way. The strategy of targeted poverty alleviation is a major innovation in the theory and practice of poverty alleviation, and China's strongest weapon in its final battle to secure victory against poverty. In its poverty elimination efforts, China has launched a series of guidelines and measures to increase efficiency, summarized as accomplishing "Targeted Efforts in Six Areas" (efforts to accurately identify the poor, arrange targeted programs, utilize capital efficiently, take household-based measures, dispatch first Party secretaries based on village conditions, and achieve the set goals), taking "Five Measures for Poverty Eradication" (boosting the economy to provide more job opportunities, relocating poor people from inhospitable areas, compensating for economic losses associated with reducing ecological damage, improving education in impoverished areas, and providing subsistence allowances for those unable to shake off poverty through their own efforts), and addressing "Five Questions in Poverty Alleviation" (who should help, who should be helped, how to help, how to evaluate whether someone has emerged from poverty, and how to ensure those people stay free from poverty). The white paper emphasizes that in addition to securing a sweeping victory in the final battle against poverty, the strategy has also given a powerful boost to modernizing China's national governance system and capacity, and to enriching and developing the CPC's guiding philosophies and governance strategies in the new era. In its practices, China has embarked on a path of poverty alleviation and designed an approach with Chinese characteristics, offering enlightenment to the international community in its battle to reduce poverty. The white paper provides China's proposals and approach for poverty alleviation from the perspectives of upholding a people-centered philosophy, highlighting poverty alleviation in national governance, eradicating poverty through development, letting the poor play the principal role, and pooling all resources to create synergy. China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world, and the world needs China for further development. China has been actively engaging in international cooperation in poverty reduction and acts as an advocate, facilitator, and contributor to the international cause of poverty alleviation. According to the white paper, as China is home to nearly one-fifth of the world's population, its complete eradication of extreme poverty the first target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, makes an important contribution to the cause of global poverty alleviation. China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other countries on poverty reduction and make a greater contribution to building a global community based on a shared future that is free from poverty and blessed with common prosperity. Shaking off poverty is not the finish line but the starting point of a new life and new endeavor. As the world's largest developing country, China still has much to do to bridge the gap between unbalanced and inadequate development, narrow the gap between urban and rural areas and between regions, and realize people's all-around development and common prosperity for all. China will continue to consolidate the results of poverty elimination, dovetail new measures with rural vitalization, and comprehensively push forward rural vitalization by introducing more vigorous measures and pooling more resources. The white paper has depicted a bright future of China's rural vitalization and its development by the years 2035 and 2050, saying that the nation will continue to march towards higher goals of all-round development for the people and common prosperity for all. This is the end of my introduction. Thank you! Chen Wenjun: Thank you, Mr. Xu. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media organization you represent before asking questions. A dog owner has left horrified when her father returned home from the groomers with the wrong pooch. The female TikTok user, who goes by the username Womangineer, believed to be based in California, told how she sent her dad off with her beloved Yorkshire Terrier called Gucci to get his fur trimmed. But when her father sent her a photo of a newly groomed pup, she quickly noticed he was walking out of the parlor with the wrong mutt. Sharing the tale on her TikTok page, she exclaimed: 'My dad is NEVER picking him up from grooming again.' The female TikTok user, who goes by the username Womangineer, told how she sent her dad off with her beloved Yorkshire Terrier called Gucci to get his fur trimmed - but he came back with the wrong dog When her father sent her a photo of a newly groomed pup, she quickly noticed he was walking out of the parlor with the wrong mutt and sent him a series of frantic texts In the recently re-shared clip, which racked up 6.3million views the first time she shared it, the pet owner shares a series of snaps of Gucci dressed in adorable colorful harnesses and bow-tie collars. She then shared a WhatsApp exchange between her and her father when he went to collect Gucci from the groomers, which begins with a picture of a different pup looking forlornly at the camera. In response, the woman has replied with a series of panicked messages, reading: 'That's not Gucci?!?! Hello. That's not him. Hello!' Many took to the comments to question how her dad had managed to mistake Gucci for another dog - while a number remarked on the pup's designer name. Sharing the tale on her TikTok page, she exclaimed: 'My dad is NEVER picking him up from grooming again' One stood up for the father, writing: 'Will have been the groomer's fault, cos you can't just walk in and take your dog, they have to get them for you, that's all on them not the dad.' Another exclaimed: 'Omg noooo I'm freaking crying, did you get your dog back?' And one joked: 'Went from Gucci to Tesco,' while another admitted: 'I have no idea how you told them apart.' To appease concerned followers, the TikTok user shared another video, entitled: 'PART 2 Gucci is back, my dad is not,' showing the playful terrier tearing around her living room, rubbing his newly groomed fur on her plush living room rug. PHOENIX, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint Inc. (OTC: SING) ("SinglePoint" or the "Company"), a company focused on providing renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient applications to drive better health and living, today announced that Wil Ralston, President of SinglePoint will present at the Benzinga Cleantech Small Cap Conference on Thursday April 22nd at 9:30 AM ET. As part of the presentation, Mr. Ralston will provide a corporate overview and discuss how SinglePoint is transforming the traditional solar energy model, building, providing renewable energy solutions and working to become the single point for a customer's energy and efficiency needs, to drive cleaner healthier living through environmental improvement. Following the presentation, registered attendees are invited to participate in an interactive question and answer session. In addition, management will also be available to participate in virtual one-on-one meetings with qualified members of the investor community who are registered to attend the conference. To access the live presentation and schedule a virtual one-on-one meeting, qualified members of the investment community are invited to register for the event here: www.benzinga.com/events/small-cap/clean-tech/ About the Benzinga Cleantech Small Cap Conference The Benzinga Cleantech Small Cap Conference bridges the gap between cleantech companies, investors, and traders. Discover the companies in the cleantech industry who are moving the world forward through accessible green energy, energy efficiency, and innovative sustainability solutions. For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://www.benzinga.com/events/small-cap/clean-tech/ About SinglePoint Inc. SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceed, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. Investor Contact: JTC Team, LLC Jenene Thomas 833-475-8247 [email protected] SOURCE SinglePoint Inc. Related Links http://www.singlepoint.com Jackline Mwende, the renowned domestic abuse survivor from Machakos County, has appealed for financial help saying her life had become miserable despite promises from several leaders and well-wishers. Mwende, whose hands were chopped off by her ex-husband in 2016, currently lives with her parents and a four-year-old son, Gift Safari, in Kathama village, Machakos county. Speaking to the Star newspaper, Ms Mwende opened up about her silent physical suffering, the shame of living off her parents and the inability to take care of her only son. I live on painkillers, which I keep underneath my mattress. I often suffer headaches and pain in my arms, so I cannot do without painkillers. I dont have money to buy the drugs that I need and can barely afford these painkillers, she said. Mwende told the publication that she feels like a burden to her parents since she can no longer do anything for herself. She also explained why she stopped using prosthetic limbs, which were acquired at a cost of Ksh10 million. When I came from Kikuyu Hospital, I was taken to South Korea where artificial arms were fixed on me. But, they caused problems. They no longer function. I feel pain in the arms, but there is nothing I can do, she said. She said the prosthetic limbs became dysfunctional after three years despite doctors assuring her that they would last for 10 years. When I had my hands, I used to do everything for myself. Now I have to rely on my mother to fend for me, literally feed me, wash and dress me. I am back to being like a child, she said. Mwende blames herself for the high blood pressure that her parents have since developed. I pity myself. I am a burden on my parents. This thing has affected my parents, they are equally traumatised. My child has attained the age of going to school but he is at home since there is no money. Mwende went on to reveal that only a handful of wellwishers that offered to support her have kept their word, including Mothers2Mothers, an African-based NGO. Mothers2Mothers constructed for me this house, I thank them. Others gave empty promises. Some said they would take me to school. So many people made promises to help in public, only a few kept their word. My suffering continues as I struggle to adapt to a new life without hands, she said. Mwende also disclosed that the shop she was running in Masii town collapsed after it was broken into and stock stolen in January. I am calling on well-wishers, all those touched by my story to help me. I need to get to a clinic, see a doctor and buy drugs. I have lots of problems. I need money to educate my son so that he goes to school like other children, alongside some capital for business to offload the burden from my parents, she said. Additional Reporting by the Star KYODO NEWS - Apr 14, 2021 - 19:21 | World, All, Japan China on Wednesday asked Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso to drink treated radioactive water accumulated at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, after he said it is safe to drink it. "A Japanese official said it is okay if we drink this water, so then please drink it," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters, adding Japan's ignorance of the ecological environment is "totally unjustifiable." On Tuesday, the Japanese government decided to release the treated water into the sea from the plant in two years, a major development following more than seven years of discussions on how to discharge the water used to cool down melted fuel there. Aso, a former prime minister who has often made controversial remarks since he became deputy prime minister and finance minister in 2012, said at a press conference on Tuesday, "I have heard that we will have no harm if we drink" the treated water. Zhao said, "Japan's Minamata disease happened not far away and the pain of the local victims has yet to be healed," referring to one of the four big pollution diseases in the country. Minamata disease, which paralyzes the human central nervous system and triggered birth defects, was caused by mercury-tainted water dumped into the sea by a Chisso Corp. chemical plant in the city in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The disease, affecting thousands, was formally acknowledged by the local health authority in 1956. "Japan should not forget the historical tragedy," Zhao said, urging Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government not to release the treated radioactive water into the sea "without permission" from other nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency. China, South Korea and Taiwan have expressed opposition to Japan's latest decision, arguing that the treated water would hurt the marine environment, food safety and human health. Japanese officials, however, have pointed out some other countries operating nuclear power plants, including China and South Korea, have released treated radioactive water from reactors there into the environment. Related coverage: South Korea eyes legal action to stop water release from Fukushima plant Japan decides to release water from Fukushima nuclear plant into sea Q&A: Release of Fukushima nuclear plant treated water into sea [April 14, 2021] Solo.io Strengthens Executive Team with Addition of New CMO, Vice President of Sales CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solo.io , the modern API infrastructure company delivering application networking from the edge to service mesh, today announced the appointment of Erik Frieberg as chief marketing officer and Barry Lieberman as vice president of sales. The new appointments come after the company unveiled several industry first and only product updates at SoloCon , the companys community-driven conference. Solo.io announced the industrys first fully managed Istio Service Mesh, Gloo Cloud, as well as new enhancements to Gloo Mesh, and Gloo Edge 2.0. These product advancements will further the enterprise adoption, application, and use of service mesh technologies within enterprises, helping companies reap the full benefits of their cloud investments. These new executive appointments underscore Solo.ios growth trajectory, as the company has also reported a 300+% increase in new customers , a $23 million Series B round of financing, a re-organized Gloo API Infrastructure Platform suite and product portfolio, as well as continual contributions to the cloud native community. The company also recently welcomed industry-recognized Istio expert Lin Sun to its team as its director of open source. Solo.io remains committed to helping our customers make the transformative leap to microservices andwere seeing ever-increasing demand for cloud native technologies and service mesh, said Idit Levine, founder and CEO, Solo.io. We are always listening to our customers, working to deliver the product offerings they need to modernize their applications. We saw this recently, when we had more than 2,000 requests to take part in our Gloo Mesh Enterprise beta program. Erik and Barry bring a tremendous amount of strategic marketing and sales experience that will help in our ongoing conversations with companies as we work to predict, meet, and exceed customer demand. Erik Frieberg joins as CMO at Solo.io, bringing more than 25 years of experience in marketing, product management, and strategy roles. His technology areas of expertise include cloud, container infrastructure, application networking, systems management, and more. Frieberg joins the Solo.io team from open source infrastructure company Puppet, where he served as CMO and led marketing and communications initiatives. Before that, he worked as senior vice president of cloud, product, and integrated marketing at VMware. Previously, Frieberg was CMO at MongoDB, where he was responsible for all marketing and business development activities. Its clear that Solo.io is the industry leader in service connectivity and API management simplifying and unifying the configuration, operation, and visibility of distributed application operations, said Frieberg. Im excited to join a team so committed to Istio service mesh innovation and industry-wide collaboration. I look forward to working closely with Idit, the product team, and sales to get the message out about Solo.ios first-to-market product offerings and industry-leading projects. Barry Lieberman joins Solo.io as vice president of sales from API management company Apigee (part of Google Cloud), where he served as vice president of the business application platform business of Google Cloud. There, he led the customer and partner-facing teams that serve enterprises, mid-market customers, and small and mid-sized businesses. Previously, he served as Apigees vice president of worldwide sales/global go to market. Before that, Lieberman worked in sales leadership roles at Endeca and SuccessFactors. Solo.ios customer win numbers speak for themselves, including 500+% bookings growth and a 125% net dollar growth in renewals. The companys growth trajectory is undeniable, along with its contribution to cloud native innovation, said Lieberman. I look forward to applying my strategic sales experience to further expand Solo.ios customer roster to empower even more companies in diverse industries to reap the benefits of cloud native technologies. Check out Highlights from SoloCon 2021 Solo.io recently hosted its inaugural user conference, SoloCon , March 23-25. During the event, participants learned about cloud native technologies, engaged with experts, connected with peers, took part in hands-on workshops, and networked with other attendees. Featured topic areas included service mesh management (Istio, AWS App Mesh), WebAssembly (Wasm), and cloud-native API management. To view sessions and highlights: www.solo.io/solocon/ . Resources Solo.io Website Solo.io on Twitter Solo.io on LinkedIn About Solo.io Solo.io, the modern service connectivity company, delivers API infrastructure from the edge to service mesh, helping enterprises adopt, secure, and operate innovative cloud native technologies. APIs drive microservices and cloud native technologies, forming the foundation for developers, partners, and customers to interact with application services quickly, effectively, and securely. Solo.io brings developer and operations tooling to manage and federate security and traffic control and tie together the integration points to enable and observe the application network. Founded in 2017 in Cambridge, MA, Solo.io is backed by Redpoint Ventures and True Ventures. For more information, visit https://www.solo.io/ or follow @soloio_inc. Media Contact Danielle Salvato-Earl Offleash PR for Solo.io solo@offleashpr.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Florida state legislature is considering several new bills that would restrict voting rights, criminalize lawful protest and further obstruct the ability of Floridians to change state law through ballot initiatives, an already onerous process. One piece of legislation introduced, HJR 61, would raise the threshold to alter the state constitution from the current 60 percent of ballots cast to a full two-thirds, or nearly 67 percent of all votes. Florida is currently only one of two states, along with Illinois, that requires more than a simple majority to alter the state constitution. In recent years, several amendments have passed through ballot initiatives that were opposed by the state legislatures Republican majority, who remain in power through heavily gerrymandered districts. These include the restoration of voting rights to convicted felons, the gradual hiking of the states minimum wage to $15 an hour, and the legalization of medical marijuana. Protesters march in a rally in Detroit, Wednesday, June 3, 2020 (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The legislature considers it to be intolerable that the citizens it ostensibly represents would want to expand constitutionally protected rights, slightly reduce the hyper-exploitation of workers, or inhibit the ability of law enforcement to use authoritarian anti-drug laws to terrorize the population. Because the bill would itself represent a change to the state constitution, it would require passage by 60 percent of voters in 2022. Effectively, the legislature is asking voters to voluntarily surrender a further portion of their democratic rights. Though most observers agree that HJR 61 has little chance of being approved by voters, another proposed bill, HB 699, would target the petition-gathering process needed to put amendments up for a vote. Dubbed the anti-John Morgan bill, after the wealthy Orlando attorney who spent millions of dollars sponsoring both the minimum wage and medical marijuana amendments, the legislation would place a donation cap of $3,000 on political action committees that are sponsoring proposed constitutional amendments. The aim of this law is to restrict the ability of PACs to gather enough signatures to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. In comments made to the Orlando Sentinel , Morgan warned of the implications if the law is passed: It is aimed at subverting our democracy and giving power to a few, not all the people, they are erecting impossible barriers to deny the purest and most direct form of democracy. Here and across the country, we are looking at the deconstruction of what made us great: democracy. Glenn Burhans, another Florida attorney involved in various ballot initiatives, told the Sentinel that the proposed legislation would kill the citizens initiative process in the cradle. Theres simply no way that anybody can raise the types of funds necessary to mount a multimillion-dollar signature-gathering campaign, and the Legislature knows that, and thats why they want to pass it. Another bill under consideration, SB 90, is aimed at restricting voting rights throughout the state. Most of the provisions within the bill would make it more difficult to vote by mail or through absentee ballots, a method used by over a million voters in the state in 2020, including Donald Trump. These include provisions that would require voters to provide multiple forms of ID when requesting mail-in ballots, that their ballots be encased in a secrecy sleeve in order to be counted, and a mandate that voters request mail-in ballots every year, rather than every two years. It would also introduce new signature verification standards and eliminate or restrict the use of ballot drop-boxes, among other provisions. Additionally, any voter with a currently active request for a mail-in ballot would have to re-apply once the law goes into effect, a provision that would likely disenfranchise thousands of voters. These voter-suppression measures have been introduced in spite of the fact that former President Trump won the state of Florida with 51.2 percent of the vote in the 2020 elections. The states mail-in ballot process was also widely acknowledged by commentators at the time to be both efficient and transparent. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is being touted by the media as a potential Republican presidential candidate, is trying to push through this legislation so as to further boost his profile nationally among the far right. Another piece of reactionary legislation, the now infamous HB1, came closer to becoming state law after the Senate Appropriations Committee approved it in a near party-line vote of 11-9, with only one Republican opposing it. The so-called anti-riot bill would make any crime allegedly committed during a protest an automatic felony. The bill disingenuously conflates the anti-police violence protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd last summer, which drew in tens of millions of people and were overwhelmingly peaceful, with the relatively small amount of violence and looting that accompanied some of the demonstrations, much of it committed by riot police and right-wing provocateurs. The bill in fact seems customized to enable such provocations, as it defines a riot as any incident where a violent public disturbance involving an assembly of three or more persons that results in (1) injury to another person, (2) damage to property, or (3) imminent danger of injury to another person or damage to property. The third category, in particular, makes criminalization of protest virtually automatic, since its is purely subjective. Police or right-wing activists can always make the claim that some danger was imminent, in their perception, even if nothing at all has taken place. Senate Democrats introduced a number of amendments aimed at weakening the bill that were all voted down. During the public comment portion of the hearing 65 speakers expressed opposition to the bill. No one spoke in favor of it. As many as 72 jobs are at risk at PayPal in Dundalk. There could be up to 131 jobs lost at the online payments firm operations in Dundalk and Dublin. Employees were briefed about the situation this morning, Wednesday, and it is understood impacted workers will be able to apply for other jobs within the company, or for an enhanced voluntary redundancy package. Dundalk Deputy Ruairi O Murchu, reacting to the potential job losses at PayPal said: "Firstly, my thoughts, and those of my Louth colleague, Deputy Imelda Munster, are with the staff who have been affected by this announcement today. "There are 72 people in Dundalk who have been told that their jobs are under threat. "This is disappointing and worrying news from PayPal, but they have been strident in voicing their commitment to Dundalk and Dublin. "PayPal met with the government and the IDA and I want to hear that the government and the IDA have done everything in their power to try to ensure that as many jobs as possible are saved. "I will also speak to the IDA about this matter. "PayPal is an extremely profitable, multi-billion dollar global company that has enjoyed a boost from the increase of customer payments for online goods during the lockdown. "The workforce in Dundalk has been extraordinary in their willingness to show flexibility, working from home and engaging with their colleagues and customers online. "I want the company to reflect on that fact. "I understand there is a consultation process taking place this week and I welcome that. "However, while the staff directly affected had been briefed this morning, I have made senior management aware that the entire staff cohort had not been told there are job losses in the company, before the news broke online. "The company has told me they will be innovative in assisting staff in retraining and staff care. "I am informed there will be a voluntary redundancy scheme and I hope it will be sufficient to allow some people to take . "I will continue conversations with the company as this progresses and I will liaise with constituents to offer any support and help I can. "There are no unions in PayPal. "I hope PayPal will put the needs of these staff first and return in kind the loyalty and flexibility shown to them by the workforce of more than 2700 in the State." PayPal said it is proposing to relocate a selection of roles in a limited number of operational teams at its sites in Dundalk and Dublin to other global locations following a review of its operational needs and the proposal is subject to consultation. "Employees impacted by the proposed changes will have the opportunity to apply for new roles within PayPal locally", a spokesman for PayPal said. "The company is offering impacted employees the option to volunteer for redundancy, with enhanced redundancy and support packages to help them as they move to the next step in their careers. "PayPal is providing additional programmes to provide further support as they move to the next step in their careers. "PayPal will ensure that any colleagues who leave are respected for their contributions and treated fairly in accordance with the companys values." The spokesman for the company said that PayPal remains committed to Ireland and their sites at Dublin and Dundalk will remain two of PayPals largest global centres for employment as critical hubs for the companys global operations. The device, which is powered by ultrasonic waves, could help doctors monitor the health of transplanted organs and tissue Berkeley -- Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have created a tiny wireless implant that can provide real-time measurements of tissue oxygen levels deep underneath the skin. The device, which is smaller than the average ladybug and powered by ultrasound waves, could help doctors monitor the health of transplanted organs or tissue and provide an early warning of potential transplant failure. The technology, created in collaboration with physicians at the University of California, San Francisco, also paves the way for the creation of a variety of miniaturized sensors that could track other key biochemical markers in the body, such as pH or carbon dioxide. These sensors could one day provide doctors with minimally invasive methods for monitoring the biochemistry inside functioning organs and tissues. "It's very difficult to measure things deep inside the body," said Michel Maharbiz, a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at UC Berkeley and a Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator. "The device demonstrates how, using ultrasound technology coupled with very clever integrated circuit design, you can create sophisticated implants that go very deep into tissue to take data from organs." Maharbiz is the senior author of a new paper describing the device, which appears in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Oxygen is a key component to cells' ability to harness energy from the food that we eat, and nearly all tissues in the body require a steady supply in order to survive. Most methods for measuring tissue oxygenation can only provide information about what is happening near the surface of the body. That is because these methods rely on electromagnetic waves, such as infrared light, which can only penetrate a few centimeters into skin or organ tissue. While there are types of magnetic resonance imaging that can provide information about deep tissue oxygenation, they require long scanning times, and so are unable to provide data in real time. Since 2013, Maharbiz has been designing miniaturized implants that use ultrasonic waves to wirelessly communicate with the outside world. Ultrasonic waves, which are a form of sound too high in frequency to be detected by the human ear, can travel harmlessly through the body at much longer distances than electromagnetic waves and are already the basis of ultrasound imaging technology in medicine. One example of such a device is Stimdust, designed in collaboration with UC Berkeley electrical engineering and computer sciences assistant professor Rikky Muller, which can detect and stimulate electrical nerve firings in the body. Soner Sonmezoglu, a postdoctoral researcher in engineering at UC Berkeley, led the effort to expand the implant's capabilities to include oxygen sensing. Incorporating the oxygen sensor involved integrating both an LED light source and an optical detector into the tiny device, as well as designing a more complicated set of electronic controls to operate and read out the sensor. The team tested the device by monitoring the oxygen levels inside the muscles of live sheep. Sonmezoglu points out that this type of oxygen sensor differs from the pulse oximeters that are used to measure oxygen saturation in the blood. While pulse oximeters measure the proportion of hemoglobin in the blood that is oxygenated, the new device is able to directly measure the amount of oxygen in tissue. "One potential application of this device is to monitor organ transplants, because in the months after organ transplantation, vascular complications can occur, and these complications may lead to graft dysfunction," Sonmezoglu said. "It could be used to measure tumor hypoxia, as well, which can help doctors guide cancer radiation therapy." Study co-authors Jeffrey Fineman and Emin Maltepe, who both are pediatricians at UCSF and members of the Initiative for Pediatric Drug and Device Development, became involved in the work because of its potential for monitoring fetal development and caring for premature babies. "In premature infants, for example, we frequently need to give supplemental oxygen but don't have a reliable tissue readout of oxygen concentration," Maltepe said. "Further miniaturized versions of this device could help us better manage oxygen exposure in our preterm infants in the intensive care nursery setting and help minimize some of the negative consequences of excessive oxygen exposure, such as retinopathy of prematurity or chronic lung disease." The technology could be further improved, Sonmezoglu said, by housing the sensor so that it could survive long term in the body. Further miniaturizing the device would also simplify the implantation process, which currently requires surgery. In addition, he said, the optical platform in the sensor could be readily adapted to measure other biochemistry in the body. "By just changing this platform that we built for the oxygen sensor, you can modify the device to measure, for example, pH, reactive oxygen species, glucose or carbon dioxide," Sonmezoglu said. "Also, if we could modify the packaging to make it smaller, you could imagine being able to inject into the body with a needle, or through laparoscopic surgery, making the implantation even easier." ### This work was supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub and by the National Institutes of Health's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development through grants R44HD094414 and R01HD07245. Lauren Graham is best known for her role as Lorelai Gilmore, one part of the mother-daughter duo from the popular show Gilmore Girls. The show, which has been off the air since 2007, has since seen the cast reunite a few times. But when news first broke that the program had been canceled, Graham was caught completely off guard. Lauren Graham (right) and Alexis Bledel of Gilmore Girls | Amanda Edwards/WireImage The Gilmore Girls cast grew close during filming The show, which first premiered back in 2000, followed Lorelai and her teenage daughter, Rory Gilmore, as they navigated life in the tiny town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Lorelai, who became pregnant with daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) at 16, has a tense relationship with her own parents and wanted to make sure her bond with Rory remained stronger. Meanwhile, Grahams character was working at a bed and breakfast with a chef named Sookie (Melissa McCarthy), and the two eventually opened their own inn. The shows cast grew incredibly close while filming especially Graham, Bledel, and McCarthy. Graham and Bledel grew to have somewhat of their own mother-daughter bond, which remains strong years later. And to this day, Graham and McCarthy are still close friends. Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham pose on the set of Gilmore Girls | Warner Bros./Delivered by Online USA RELATED: Gilmore Girls: Luke Danes Cell Phone Number Was Very Real Lauren Graham was out to dinner when she learned Gilmore Girls was canceled Gilmore Girls ran for seven seasons, and Graham once revealed that she was totally caught off guard when she learned the show had been canceled. During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers in 2015, Meyers asked Graham how she learned Gilmore Girls was coming to an end. Graham revealed that there had been some discussion about the show ending, but nothing was set in stone and they ended up filming the series finale without even realizing it. Graham explained that she was out to dinner and had turned her phone off to be polite. Eventually, the waiter approached her and asked her name, telling her that her agent was on the restaurants phone and wanted to speak to her. I thought I was in a 40s movie or something, she said. I was, like, walking to the house phone, and I was like, Hello? and he goes, Its canceled, and thats how I found out that it was the end of the series. Gilmore was disappointed with how she learned about the shows cancellation because it didnt give her a chance to recognize that she was filming the final scene with her co-stars. Its better to be able to say goodbye, she said. The cast was thrilled to film the Gilmore Girls reboot in 2016 Less than two years after Graham spoke about the cancellation process, Gilmore Girls reunited for a reboot. In November 2016, the cast came back together for a four-episode reunion, which featured most of the original cast including Lorelai and Rory, of course. Others who made an appearance were Sookie, as well as Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop). Unfortunately, Richard Gilmore (Edward Hermann) was not in the reboot because Hermann died from cancer in 2014. There have been rumors about another season of the reboot, though nothing has been confirmed. ANCONA, APR 14 - A conductor's baton once used by 19th-century opera composer Gioachino Rossini is set to be put up for auction online with a reserve price of 1,500 euros, the Florence-based auction house said Wednesday. The ebony, ivory and mother-of-pearl baton was awarded to the Barber of Seville author by the town of Passy near Paris where he had a villa and died in 1868 aged 76. It will be sold by the Gonnelli auction house, based in the Tuscan capital. Also up for sale on April 19-21 will be antique books, graphic works, autographs, musical documents and another Rossini souvenir: an invitation to rehearsals for his Petite Messe Solennelle (1863), one of the many pieces of sacred music he also penned, and his last major composition. Rossi is best known for his early comic operas L'italiana in Algeri, Il barbiere di Siviglia (known in English as The Barber of Seville) and La Cenerentola, which brought to a peak the opera buffa tradition he inherited from masters such as Domenico Cimarosa and Giovanni Paisiello. He also composed opera seria works such as Otello, Tancredi and Semiramide. In 1824 he was contracted by the Opera in Paris, for which he produced an opera to celebrate the coronation of Charles X, Il viaggio a Reims (later cannibalised for his first opera in French, Le comte Ory), revisions of two of his Italian operas, Le siege de Corinthe and Moise, and in 1829 his last opera, Guillaume Tell. He remains one of the most popular Italian opera composers. (ANSA). International Nurses Day, 12 May 2020, was celebrated exclusively online through social media and web platforms, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This date is significant because it is also the 200-year anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who has been dubbed as the mother of modern nursing and the lady with the lamp. The celebrations also honoured the work of nurses in every country affected by the virus across the globe, without whom many nations would have been completely overwhelmed as a result of the crisis. Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, (yes, her parents named her after her birthplace) in 1820. Her parents returned to England and it was expected as she grew up that she would, as society dictated, simply get married into another wealthy family and raise her own family. She and her sister, Parthenope, were bright, but in the social climate it was not expected that girls should go to school. They outgrew the governesses that were sent to teach them, so her father took on the role of teacher and homeschooled them. Nightingale enjoyed the rigour of mathematics and applied her analytical mind to a variety of problems. She was adept at assimilating and organising information. Gods Calling In 1837, she heard a voice: God spoke to me and called me to His Service. What form this service was to take the voice did not say. By the time she was 30, Nightingale had decided to become a nurse, a decision that shocked her parents because nursing was only something the poor women did. She refused an offer of marriage and continued on the path of nursing. Throughout her life she sought a deeper experience of God, something beyond the socially expected rituals she had grown up with. She called this Mysticism. For what is Mysticism? she wrote once. Is it not the attempt to draw near to God, not by rites or ceremonies but by inward disposition? Is it not merely a hard word for The Kingdom of Heaven is within? In becoming a nurse at age 30, Nightingale noted that this was the age when Jesus began his ministry. She clearly saw her work as a way of following her Lord. And what better way to commit ones life to the Healer than by devoting oneself to healing? She once told an assembly of nurses, Christ is the author of our profession. Nursing was a means of doing something toward lifting the load of suffering from the helpless and miserable and Nightingale believed this was what God was calling her to do. To that end she travelled around Europe, looking at different hospitals, and studying nursing in Germany. In 1853 she became the superintendent at the Institute for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen in London. Then came the life changing event: the Crimean War broke out in 1854. In November 1854, The Secretary of War, Sidney Herbert, sent Nightingale and 38 nurses to Scutari (on the edge of the Black Sea near Istanbul) to the British hospital to help soldiers fighting in the war. Doctors there were initially resistant to working with women, but eventually were grateful for the help because of the volume of injuries. From 1854 to 1856, Nightingale served as the Superintendent of the Female Nursing Establishment of the English General Hospitals in Turkey. Importance of Hygiene Bringing her observational and analytical skills to bear, Nightingale realised that the significant death rates in hospital were not just due to injuries inflicted in the war. Poor hygiene and the prevalence of diseases such as typhus and cholera, as well as diarrhoea, dysentery and scurvy, accounted for many of the deaths. This was exacerbated by the blocked drains and rats that were scurrying around the wards. Nightingale cleaned the place up, literally. She also ensured that the men were well fed and had clean linen and bandages. The nurses brought supplies, nutritious food, cleanliness, and sanitation to the military hospital. They also provided individual care and support. Nightingale was known for carrying a lamp and checking on the soldiers at night, so they gave her the nickname the Lady with the Lamp. The introduction of sanitary improvements in the hospital significantly reduced the death rate from 60% initially, to 42% by February 1855, to 2% a few months later. Nightingale was also instrumental in changing legislation for hospitalised men. For example, the old law mandated that these men, since they were no longer in danger of being shot, have their pay cut. However, their wounds often handicapped them for life, so Nightingale opposed the pay cuts and wrote directly to Queen Victoria to explain why. The mens pay was restored. This was just one example where her friend Sidney Herbert introduced legislation in Parliament at her instigation. On her return to England, Nightingale continued to work on improving the conditions of hospitals. In 1856, on the basis of data compiled by Nightingale, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert formed a Royal Commission to improve the health of the British Army. Nightingale was also elected as the first woman member of the Royal Statistical Society, due to her skill with data and analysis. In 1883 she received the Royal Red Cross from Queen Victoria and in 1907 She was awarded the Order of Merit by King Edward VII for her services. Her Legacies In 1859, Nightingale helped to set up the Army Medical College in Chatham and she also published a book called Notes on Nursing: What it is, and What it is Not. Her book gives advice on good patient care and safe hospital environments. In 1860, the Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas Hospital was officially opened. She wrote over 150 books, pamphlets and reports on safe nursing practice. As a result of her efforts during the war, a fund was set up for Nightingale to continue teaching nurses in England. In her later years, Nightingale was often bedridden from illness. However, she continued to advocate for safe nursing practices until her death. During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, two of the strategies for stemming the rate of infection can be attributed to Nightingale: the use of data and statistics to interpret the spread of infection, and sanitation methods, as simple as washing hands and isolation. Nightingale also put a human face on caring for the sick her compassion embodies the ethos of nursing. Two years after her death, the International Committee of the Red Cross created the Florence Nightingale Medal, that is given to excellent nurses every two years. Also, International Nurses Day has been celebrated on her birthday since 1965. In May of 2010, the Florence Nightingale Museum at St. Thomas Hospital in London reopened to honor the hundredth anniversary of Nightingales death. When the war ended, she was the sole hero to emerge. As one biographer said, She had the country at her feet. The queen presented Nightingale with a diamond brooch. The inscription on the reverse side read, To Miss Florence Nightingale as a mark of esteem and gratitude for her devotion toward the queens brave soldiers from Victoria R. 1855. When the war ended, Jean Henri Dunant said, Though Im known as the founder of the Red Cross it is to an Englishwoman that all the honor is due. What inspired me was the work of Florence Nightingale. Written by Aira Chilcott for Did You Know Education Former Deputy Minister of Energy in the erstwhile John Mahama administration, John Jinapor has chided the Akufo-Addo government for refusing to come out with a load shedding timetable to help Ghanaians manage their activities. According to the Member of Parliament(MP) for Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency, it should not be a difficult task for the Akufo-Addo government to be truthful to Ghanaians about the challenges facing the energy sector, causing the unstable power supply in the country. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, John Jinapor posited that since the Energy Minister has come out to say that it is no longer an intermittent power outage but rather a systematic power outage, it means that the situation is predictable and expectant, hence, it should be accompanied by a load shedding timetable to help Ghanaians plan their lives with it. If you know that there will be a power outage, why are you not giving us load shedding timetable to know which areas will experience the power outage at a point in time so that Ghanaians will plan their activities with the load shedding and not destroy properties with this unregulated power outage?, he wondered. He, however, disclosed that the government officials stopped GRIDCo from coming out with a timetable after the company announced that the country is going to experience this systematic power outage from now till September this year and that a timetable will be needed to manage the load shedding. John Jinapor asserted that due to the Akufo-Addo government being economical with the truth with Ghanaians, the various stakeholders in the energy sector are doing blame-game with the electricity challenge; thus, the Bui Dam CEO, as well as the CEO of GRIDCo, the Energy Minister, ECG, and VRA are all giving different accounts of the situation. The Minister said it is maintenance and that is why we are experiencing a power outage in the country and even if that is the case, is it not proper that they inform Ghanaians before changing those lines that are weak? Is it difficult to tell Ghanaians that you are doing maintenance work and so some areas will experience a power outage for some period of time? Are they going to intermittently put our lights off till September without giving us a timetable to manage activities as a country?, he asked. While ECG is saying that the power outage will last till December, the Minister of Energy is saying it will end in July. This is why I have issued a statement that the government should be truthful to Ghanaians about whatever challenges they are going through with the supply of regular power to Ghanaians, he chided. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Its hard to see the results of the Amazon union vote in Bessemer, Alabama, as anything other than a creaming. The National Labor Relations Board revealed on Friday that workers at the warehouse voted 1,798 to 738 against joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The 1,060-vote margin of victory for Amazon, which had played hardball against the union drive, has labor experts, pro-union workers, and journalists questioning what exactly led to such a one-sided result. Advertisement The Bessemer drive was the most visible and forceful attempt in Amazons history to organize one of the companys workplaces, none of which has ever unionized. The campaign in Alabama started with a group of workers contacting the RWDSU last summer about unionizing in light of grievances about Amazons protections against COVID-19 and grueling productivity demands. It soon blossomed into a national debate, with prominent figures like Stacey Abrams, Bernie Sanders, and Danny Glover endorsing the union effort. President Joe Biden even released a video tacitly supporting the pro-union workers. All the while, Amazon treated the drive like an existential threat, subjecting workers to mandatory town halls about the supposed dangers of unions, allegedly pressuring local officials to change the timing of traffic lights near the facility to frustrate organizers outreach efforts, and constantly texting workers with anti-union messaging. Mail-in voting ran from February to March, and in the end, workers rejected the union by more than a 21 margin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been a number of postmortems written about why RWDSU was ultimately unable to win over a majority of the workers at the Bessemer plant. One of the prevailing theories is that the lack of house calls by the organizers significantly diminished the chances that workers would vote in favor of a union. A house call involves an organizer physically visiting workers homes to sell them on the benefits of a union. This method of canvassing has the advantage of assuring people that their voting decisions arent being monitored by their employers, since the interaction takes place in a private space. However, social distancing recommendations during the pandemic made visiting workers at their homes much more difficult, so the RWDSU focused more on social media outreach and calls to personal phones. This kind of virtual campaign still pales in comparison to the sort of in-person messaging that Amazon was delivering to its workers through its town halls at the warehouse. Despite the strictures of the pandemic, the union could have chosen to show up at voters homes equipped with PPE, just as Bidens campaign had in the last months of the 2020 presidential election. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the RWDSU, maintains that these sorts of visits nevertheless wouldve been a bad idea. He claims that Amazon warned people in its town halls that there might be house calls and used it as a reason that people needed to be wary of the union, and as a failure of the union to respect workers during the pandemic. Appelbaum was worried about feeding into this argument. Advertisement Advertisement Another likely major factor in the unions defeat was the size of the bargaining unit. When the RWDSU filed paperwork to hold the union election, it originally stated that it was seeking to represent 1,500 workers. Due to a pandemic-related hiring frenzy and a move to include truck drivers and seasonal workers, Amazon pushed the NLRB instead to make 5,800 of the workers eligible to vote. This meant that the union had to reach out to thousands more people than it had been planning to, a challenge that may have diluted the support it originally accumulated among the original 1,500 people. The timing and timeline of the drive have also been under examination. Amazon was able to reach workers early on during the election with compulsory meetings and via posters plastered throughout the facility, including in the bathrooms, pushing people to vote no. Typically, a union tries communicate with voters before their employer can in order to inoculate them against misleading and sensationalistic claims about the dangers of organizing. The RWDSU itself even admitted halfway through the election that people who submitted ballots early on likely voted no, because Amazon had reached them before the union could. The company also pushed workers to vote as soon as possible after the town halls in an attempt to ensure that the unions talking points wouldnt influence them. Even the endorsements from Biden and other leaders came fairly late in the election process. Advertisement Advertisement So why couldnt the union reach workers earlier on? Appelbaum attributes this to the difficulties of determining who exactly is working at the plant at any one time, even though itd only been open for a year. Burnout at Amazon is high, and the union believed that the Bessemer facility had an annual turnover rate of at least 100 percent, indicating that more employees leave or are fired per year than the average number of people working at the warehouse. This made it at times unclear whether people the union had previously won over were still working there. It was also difficult to determine who exactly the recently hired employees were. The RWDSU did end up receiving a list of people who were working at the plant right before the voting period, but Appelbaum said it was too late and left the union to play catch-up with Amazon. It took some time for a facility this large, Appelbaum said of efforts to identify and contact eligible voters. Amazon had complete access and a mandatory, captive audience several times a week an hour at a time where people were lectured on why they had to vote against the union. Advertisement Advertisement When asked if there was anything at all that the RWDSU couldve done differently to maximize its chances of success, Appelbaum replied, It took us too long to develop some momentum. Were pushing people. It took a little longer than we had hoped for. The high turnover rate meant that the union had to move fast; it wouldve been difficult to ploddingly build support within the ranks. The union may get a chance to continue riding that momentum, though. After it was clear that the vote was going to go in Amazons favor, the RWDSU announced that it would be filing objections to the NLRB about how the vote was conducted. One of its main objections has to do with a mailbox that Amazon pressed the U.S. Postal Service to install at the Bessemer facility around early February. The NLRB had already denied a previous request from Amazon to set up a drop box for votes at the facility, and the union argues that the USPS boxs presence may have intimidated workers by suggesting that the company was involved in the collection and tallying of votes. Advertisement Shortly after the vote was finalized, Amazon asserted in a blog post, Its easy to predict the union will say that Amazon won this election because we intimidated employees, but thats not true. Our employees heard far more anti-Amazon messages from the union, policymakers, and media outlets than they heard from us. If the RWDSU can convince the NLRB that Amazon violated labor laws by installing the mailbox or by engaging in any other illicit tactics, theres a chance that the results will be thrown out and another election held. It seems difficult for the union to win in a do-over given just how lopsided this vote was, though Appelbaum thinks that more workers are now aware and motivated to organize given that the drive was able to gain some steam in the latter portion of the voting period. We keep building now. We havent gone away, he said, noting that the RWDSU held a rally in the area on Sunday. We all understood that this was going to be a long struggle, and we were prepared for it. City Council on Wednesday approved a 400-unit affordable housing project in the East End, clearing the way for construction despite concerns raised about potential environmental health risks at the property. The project at 800 Middle St. will house low-income residents, including those expected to be displaced from the nearby Clayton Homes housing complex that the Texas Department of Transportation plans to demolish to make way for its expansion of Interstate 45. The Houston Housing Authority, which is overseeing the project along with an Ohio-based private developer, sold Clayton Homes to the state transportation agency in 2019 and used a portion of the proceeds to buy the land at 800 Middle St. The land is located east of downtown along the southern shore of Buffalo Bayou, less than a mile from Clayton Homes. City Council approved the project on a unanimous vote, without any discussion. About three-quarters of the 400 proposed units will be for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as roughly $45,000 for a family of four. The remainder would be for households with incomes up to 30 percent of the area median income. Housing officials ultimately plan to build 900 units at the site, some of which would be offered at market rate. The project will be partially subsidized through a federal tax credit for low-income housing projects funded by tax-exempt bonds. The proposed development has come under scrutiny from local developer Alan Atkinson, who has filed a federal lawsuit in which he argues the property is unsuitable for development due to its location next to a lead processing facility and its prior use as an ash landfill site for city garbage incinerators decades ago. Atkinson has alleged the previous landowner and the city housing authority misrepresented the environmental status of the land in inspection reports submitted to state and federal officials. The city has denied Atkinsons charges, arguing in court filings that the land had no known environmental issues until storm weather caused part of the property to erode along the bank of Buffalo Bayou in early 2020. Those who support the project, including Councilmember Karla Cisneros, say the new apartment complex will provide needed affordable housing in a gentrifying area of the city. They also argue it will help ensure Clayton Homes residents are relocated nearby their current residences. jasper.scherer@chron.com People living in West Africa 3,500 years ago were hunting wild bee hives for their honey and storing it in pots, scientists have discovered. Beeswax residue was found intact on recently excavated shards of pottery from the Nok people of Nigeria the oldest evidence of honey hunting ever found. Pottery fragments reveal beeswax was stored by more than three millennia ago and it may have used it as food, medicine or to sweeten drinks, including beer and wine. Scroll down for video Pictured, excavated Nok vessels are cleaned and photographed at the Janjala research station by Dr Gabriele Franke of Goethe University In parts of Africa today, honey is collected from wild bee nests which can be found in natural hollows in tree trunks and on the underside of thick branches. Pictured, a local forager brings freshly collected honeybee comb to the archaeological dig at Ifana How was honey used? One third of the pottery vessels used by the ancient Nok people were used to process or store beeswax, researchers found. They also believe the beeswax was made by either melting wax combs or from the storage of honey itself. But the scientists also say the honey may have been used to make honey-based drinks including wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages or for medicinal, cosmetic and technological purposes. For example, other archaeological sites have found evidence of beeswax being used as a sealant and as fuel for primitive lamps and candles. Advertisement Exactly how long humans have been seeking out honey remains unknown but experts suspect people have been consuming honey for a long time. Researchers from the University of Bristol analysed more than 450 pieces of pottery from the Central Nigerian Nok culture to investigate what goods they held. The Nok people are known for their remarkable large-scale terracotta figurines and early iron production in West Africa, around the first millennium BC. One third of the pottery vessels used by the ancient Nok people were used to process or store beeswax, researchers found. They also believe the beeswax was made by either melting wax combs or from the storage of honey itself. But the scientists also say the honey may have been used to make honey-based drinks including wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages or for medicinal, cosmetic and technological purposes. For example, other archaeological sites have found evidence of beeswax being used as a sealant and as fuel for primitive lamps and candles. Lead author, Dr Julie Dunne from the University of Bristol, said: 'This is a remarkable example of how biomolecular information extracted from prehistoric pottery, combined with ethnographic data, has provided the first insights into ancient honey hunting in West Africa, 3,500 years ago.' Pictured, a map showing the distribution of Nok archaeological sites sampled in this study Researchers from the University of Bristol analysed the chemicals on more than 450 pot shards from the Central Nigerian Nok culture to investigate what foods they held. Pictured, excavation work at the Ifana site Pictured, the view from a granite hill of the Ifana excavation site (in the distance) during the rainy season In parts of Africa today, honey is collected from wild bee nests which can be found in natural hollows in tree trunks and on the underside of thick branches. The Efe foragers of the Ituri Forest, Eastern Zaire, for example, have long relied on honey as their main source of food. They use smoke to distract the stinging bees and collect all parts of the hive, including honey, pollen and bee larvae, from tree hollows which can be up to 100ft (30m) above the ground. The Nok people are known for their remarkable large-scale terracotta figurines (pictured) and early iron production in West Africa, around the first millennium BC. But researchers also found evidence of beeswax in their pottery Pictured, stunning Nok culture terracotta figurines are excavated at the Ifana site in Nigeria as part of the dig Honey may also have been used as a preservative to store other products, with the Okiek people of Kenya using honey to preserve the meat they hunt and smoke. Professor Peter Breunig from Goethe University who is the archaeological director of the Nok project and co-author of the study, said: 'We originally started the study of chemical residues in pottery sherds because of the lack of animal bones at Nok sites, hoping to find evidence for meat processing in the pots. 'That the Nok people exploited honey 3,500 years ago, was completely unexpected and is unique in West African prehistory.' The UN welcomes the phone call between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, because the dialogue of the two countries is important for peace and security, UN Secretary General spokesman Stephan Dujarric said. "It is very important for peace and security that Moscow and Washington, the two permanent UN Security Council members, have an open and positive dialogue. We support a dialogue between the two countries," TASS cited him as saying. Earlier, a phone call took place between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin on the U.S. initiative. According to the Kremlin press service, both sides expressed their readiness to further dialogue on the most important fields of global security, which corresponds not only to bilateral interests of the two countries, but also to interests of the entire global community. The US President proposed to hold an in-person meeting on the highest level in the foreseeable future. In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the country and shortage of Remdesivir, the Centre has approved plan to step up production of the anti-viral drug used in treatment of infection and to reduce its price. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya held meetings with existing drug manufacturers and other stakeholders on April 12 and 13 in which decisions were taken to increase production/supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir, a release said. "The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month. Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having production capacity of 10 lakh vials/month to six manufacturers. Another 30 lakh vials/month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials/month," it said. Besides, it said the manufacturers of Remdesivir have volunteered to reduce its price to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of this week. Last month, Zydus had reduced the price of Remdac, its brand of Remdesivir, to Rs 899 for a 100 mg lyophilised injection from Rs 2,800 at the time of its launch in August last year. Also read: Remdesivir for COVID-19 patients: No evidence of anti-viral drug's effectiveness, says WHO The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that there is still no evidence to indicate that Remdesivir is beneficial in treating hospitalised coronavirus patients, but the drug has been in high demand across the country amidst a second wave of pandemic. Shortage of the drug and long queues to buy Remdesivir have been reported from across the country. The Health Ministry has urged hospitals to use the drug judiciously and rationally. It said Remdesivir should be supplied only to hospitals and not to chemists or patients, and the drug must be given only to hospitalised patients who are low on oxygen. It has recommended the use of Remdesivir in patients in moderate stages of illness in its 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19'. Considering the demand for the drug, the government has banned export of Remdesivir injection and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used for making the medication till the surge in COVID-19 cases subsides. "On government intervention, Remdesivir supplies of approximately 4 lakh vials meant for export is being diverted by manufacturers to fulfil domestic requirement. Export Oriented Units/Special Economic Zone (EOU/SEZ) units are also being enabled to supply to the domestic market," the release said. Also read: Remdesivir only for hospitalised patients low on oxygen, says Health Ministry The manufacturers of Remdesivir have been directed to give priority to fulfil hospital/institutional level supplies, it said. Currently, seven Indian companies are producing Remdesivir injections under voluntary licensing agreement with US-based Gilead Sciences. Enforcement authorities of states and Central government have been directed by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to take immediate action on incidence of black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of Remdesivir. Moreover, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority(NPPA) is continuously monitoring the availability of Remdesivir, it added. Meanwhile, the rise in COVID-19 cases continues unabated, with the country reporting 1,84,372 new cases in the preceding 24 hours as of Wednesday morning. Also read: Sputnik V to be $300 million boost to Dr Reddy's New Venture Gear Industrial Campus This design-build collaboration with PepsiCo has presented us with the ability to further enhance a property that continues to bloom as a leading economic engine for the Centerstate New York Market. Were proud to forge this relationship and look forward to a lengthy tenure of success & growth. Index Investment Group and OX GROUP have signed a 10-year, 70,000 SF (approx. 6,500 M2) turnkey design-build-lease with Rolling Frito-Lay Sales, LP, a division of PepsiCo at their New Venture Gear Industrial Campus in Dewitt, NY with multiple renewal options. All the combined leases in addition to the FedEx Ground development on the property have helped create and revive over 700 jobs to the local community and state. New Venture Gear Industrial Campus is a 109+ acre large-scale industrial, manufacturing, distribution and logistics facility that features over 1,703,000 SF (approx. 158,000 m2) with ceiling heights ranging from 16 to 227 clear, CSX Intermodal Rail access, 30+ loading docks, on-site wastewater treatment plant, electric substation with dual transmission lines at below market costs, and immediate frontage to I-90 and major highways, minutes away from Syracuse, NY. The property has an additional 250,000 SF of contiguous developable space for future expansion. This design-build collaboration between us and PepsiCo has presented us with an exciting ability to further enhance a showcase property that continues to bloom as a leading economic engine for the Centerstate New York Market. Pepsi/Frito-Lay will be joining a campus that is rooted in long term, high-quality companies that lead their industries and provide long-term opportunity, employment and stability to this re-evolving cornerstone. Were proud to have forged this relationship and trust, and we look forward to a lengthy tenure of mutual success and growth. - Robert J. Trafford Index has made numerous significant investments in industrial/logistics facilities and multi-family rental communities along the East Coast of the United States. The Jupiter-based real estate investment company has ongoing and completed twenty-four developments throughout North America since 2011. About Index Investment Group Index Investment Group is a dynamic real estate investment group based in Jupiter, Florida that has major investment initiatives throughout North America including apartment communities, industrial/logistics and senior living communities. Index Investment develops intelligently designed properties throughout the East Coast of United States with a focus on Florida and contributes to the community through valuable and meaningful investments. For more information about Index Investment Group, visit http://www.indexinvest.com. ### With much attention having been paid recently to patients developing blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, experts have spoken of just how rare such side effects are. In fact, most top-selling drugs, such as ibuprofen, have more side effects associated with them than the jab, they say. Much has been made of a series of cases of those who had received this particular jab, also known as the Oxford vaccine, developing blood clots in places such the brain, intestines and liver or having an abnormally low number of platelets in their bloodstream. However, the chances of developing such problems are thought to be around 1 in 100,000. Indeed, it must be remembered that most medicines come with some degree of risk. For example, ibuprofen is associated with a moderately increased risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke, according to its own packaging. Victor Jimenez, professor of Microbiology at the Complutense University of Madrid explained that: Any drug on the market can cause serious side effects at least as frequently as this vaccine does. Another case in point is the contraceptive pill, which causes blood clots in an estimated 1 in 1,000 cases. Instead, experts say that coronavirus itself is the far greater threat to public health. The statistics support this - in Malaga, eight per cent of those who test positive for the virus have ended up hospitalised since the start of the pandemic. The fatality rate for those who fall ill is thought to be around two per cent. Therefore, medical professionals underline that it is necessary to balance any risks associated with the vaccines with the benefits they will bring. A colleague of Jimenez, the biochemist and biologist Jose Manuel Bautista, condemned the panic associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine as unnecessary scaremongering. The Spanish Vaccinology Association stated that the risks of drugs being taken to alleviate side effects from the vaccine are as great, if not greater, than the risks stemming from the vaccine itself. More than one year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, optimistic signs are appearing on the health and economic fronts. On the health front, active case counts and hospitalizations are lower, and vaccine manufacturing is ramping up. The United States is administering nearly 2.5 million vaccine doses every day and has administered more than 100 million in total. Approximately 14% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, and more than 25% have received at least one shot. President Biden is calling on states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1, and vaccine supplies should allow all American adults to be vaccinated by the end of May. There is hope that a return to normal could come relatively soon. On the economic front, things are trending up as well. Retail sales in January jumped 5.3%; however, severe weather in February prompted a 3% drop that month. A recent survey indicates 56% of Americans plan on taking a vacation this year. Thats below the typical 70% but well above the 21% that have reported vacation travel since the pandemic began. Even if you are having problems with your stimulus checks and payments, the IRS makes itself clear: it does not want your call. IRS offers only the information present in irs.gov and the "Get My Payment" tool. Fortunately, you could use a few online options to track your stimulus payment. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides an online portal for anything related to your stimulus payments. "Get My Payment" helps eligible Americans see how much they are entitled to receive and the delivery status of their stimulus checks. For any other inquiries or problems unrelated to these two categories, you would, unfortunately, have to search for answers elsewhere. Missing Stimulus Money Even if you are properly eligible to receive your stimulus check, some people find their money missing. These include people who received the wrong stimulus payment amount, received a letter confirming delivery when no payment arrived, or experience having money missing from a previous stimulus check. At this point, you could try applying for a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return. A Recovery Rebate Credit is a special one-time benefit for people who did not receive the right amount of their stimulus check because their circumstances have significantly changed. This automatically prompts IRS to research your account and start a payment trace to confirm if you are eligible and lack payment money. Cnet reported that to file your Recovery Rebate Credit, fill up the worksheet IRS would provide you. This could be the 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. You would be required to provide a few personal information and your IRS letter that "confirmed" you received the stimulus payment, Notice 1444 Your Economic Impact Payment and submit it with your 2020 tax record to complete the claim. Be warned that it is also possible for your stimulus money to be garnished by banks and other existing credits. If this is the situation, you could try calling your bank or creditors to ask for the details. You could also file a request to a local court to temporarily stop the garnishment if your money has been mistakenly seized from you. Read Also: Stimulus Check Tracker and Updates: How to Check Your Plus-Up Payment Online--Requirements, Status and More Other Options to Trace Your Stimulus Checks When filing your payment trace, you need to be aware of the actual money you are due. Try checking some online calculators to compute the correct amount of stimulus payment you are entitled to receive, including the plus-up factor and your dependent's share. You could also try using the USPS Service tracker to track the delivery status of your stimulus payment check deposits. Availing this service would not only inform you about the delivery date of your stimulus check but also all the other parcels you are supposed to receive in your name. There are many different online trackers you can currently use on the internet. Try them out to correctly compute and monitor the status of your stimulus check payment. Related Article: Stimulus Check Tracker for Your $1,400 Payment: How to Use IRS Online Portal, Requirements and More Magda Szubanski has defended her attack on Jenny Morrison as she unleashed another swipe at the Prime Minister. The television personality and comedian landed herself in hot water on the weekend after she retweeted a photo of Scott Morrison's wife in a high-neck black dress as she watched her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip. Szubanski has since defended the controversial tweet that compared Mrs Morrison to an enslaved woman in the dystopian thriller The Handmaid's Tale and appeared on A Current Affair on Wednesday night to address the saga. She claims she didn't even recognise that the woman in the photo was Mrs Morrison, as she wasn't wearing her 'normal hair and make-up' and insisted she wasn't have a crack at her appearance - but later added the Prime Minister's wife was 'fair game'. Magda Szubanski says she didn't recognise Jenny Morrison (left) in this photo of her watching her husband Prime Minister Scott Morrison sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip 'I genuinely, when I first saw I did not realise it was Jenny Morrison, because it looks different for her,' Szubanski told host Tracey Grimshaw. 'She normally has her hair and make-up and the whole thing, and if people can believe me, I'd take a lie detector if they don't, I didn't realise it was her. 'I just that it was a strange PR photograph and all I'm suggesting is with that comment. Why would you put something that looks like 'The Handmaid's Tale' as a photo op? Scott Morrison is the master of spin.' She insisted many others on social media expressed a similar reaction to the photo. 'If I was the only one who had that reaction you'd think, 'Oh, Magda has an angle,' but heaps of people did,' Szubanski added. The actress said Mrs Morrison (pictured, far left, during a visit to Washington DC with her husband to meet the Trumps) was 'fair game' as she was an important political figure The left-wing comedian had retweeted a photo of Mrs Morrison watching her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip, captioning the image: 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid's Tale meme. But no. It's 21st century Aussie life' 'I was actually coming off the back of other people commenting and it took me a while to twig that it was her.' Szubanski reiterated she wasn't commenting on Mrs Morrison's appearance but believe the Prime Minister's wife is fair game for criticism. 'I can't prevent other people from saying what they're saying and I think doing a media pile-on people appearance isn't something I would condone,' she said. 'That's why I reasonably quickly said that is not what this is. 'I'm just saying this as an inept PR photo, and then it developed into this whole other thing.' Magda Szubanski defended the tweet when she addressed the saga on A Current Affair on Wednesday night The actress, best-known for playing netballer Sharon in beloved Australian comedy Kath and Kim, insisted she did not mean to spark criticism of Mrs Morrison's appearence. 'Do I think that a pile-on of Jenny Morrison's appearance is OK? Absolutely not. But do I think it is legitimate to critique her, yes I do. She is the Prime Minister's wife,' she added. 'You can opt in or out of public life and Scott Morrison frequently uses her as a policy advisor. 'He says, "I spoke to Jenny about this and that." If she is going to have some sort of influence in public life I want to know what are her values, what kind of woman is she?' Magda Szubanski believes Jenny Morrison (pictured) is 'fair game' when it comes to public criticism Szubanski told the program she was shocked at the backlash the tweet has sparked but insists she was doing 'okay' after celebrating her 60th birthday on Monday. 'I'm becoming Twitter toughened and if you speak up, this is what's going to happen,' Szubanski said. 'What stunned me was this was such a non-event, and non- comment - it was a comment about a photo that I genuinely thought was a meme. 'I was a bit staggered that I got drawn into this over such a nothing observation that thousands of people had already made on Twitter, made that comment,' 'I think it's sort of a fact of 21st century life if you are at all a public person, you do get better at it, but it seems excessive as to what the actual tweet was. It certainly wasn't at a tirade as it has been called.' Jenny and Scott Morrison (pictured together on April 11 at a prayer service for Prince Philip after his death) have two children Earlier on Wednesday, Szubanski fired of a series of angry tweets amid growing backlash and argued Mrs Morrison was fair game for criticism because she had 'opted in' to public life by offering her husband policy advice. Szubanski also suggested the outrage was distracting from ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate's scorching testimony against the PM at a Senate Inquiry Responding to criticism from Liberal MP Nicolle Flint - one of several conservative female politicians who took issue with her Handmaid's Tale tweet - Szubanski wrote: '1) seriously, my comment is 'appalling' says Flint. 'Appalling'?! '2) I never said a single word about Jenny. 3) why is this headline news when... Christine Holgate is testifying?! Blatant attempt to use 'sisterhood' to distract. Now THAT'S appalling.' She then addressed the paparazzi photos of her, taken on Monday, and denied any suggestion she was 'walking back' her initial comments about Mrs Morrison. The Handmaid's Tale is a novel written by American author Margaret Atwood, later adapted into a hit US TV series, about the aftermath of a fictional religious revolution. It leaves the majority of the US controlled by a totalitarian patriarchal regime and renamed 'Gilead', a land where fertile women are raped and used for their childbearing abilities after a global plummet in birth rates. Despite weakness in its biggest rival the US Dollar, the Japanese Yen remains generally unappealing and the British Pound to Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) exchange rate has been avoiding losses as a result. Still, following the pairs massive losses last week the Pounds appeal remains too limited for the British currency to mount a bigger advance. After opening last week at the high level of 153.10, GBP/JPY briefly edged even higher and touched on a best level of 153.36. This was the best level for GBP/JPY in over 3 years, since the beginning of 2018. Sterling was sold from its best levels in a burst of profit-taking after that though. Ultimately, GBP/JPY lost a huge three Yen throughout the week and closed the week at the level of 150.30. Since markets opened this week, GBP/JPY has seen relatively narrow and mixed movement. GBP/JPY neared a fortnight low this morning, but has since been trending closer to the weeks opening levels again. The Pound has seen many shifts in movement over the past week, causing big movements in currency markets. Last weeks main movement was a huge selloff in Sterling, as investors took profit from the currencys best levels in months, or in GBP/JPYs case, years. Sterling plummeted as investors sold it from its highest levels, and the British currency has struggled to mount much of a recovery since. Still, the British currencys selloff has softened for now after this weeks UK growth data and optimistic UK reopening news bolstered Sterlings support. However, investors have been hesitant to buy Sterling much again either. Other major economic outlooks such as the Eurozone and US outlooks are improving, softening Sterling's relative appeal. Pound investors were also slightly concerned about the surprise news that Bank of England (BoE) Chief Economist Andy Haldane was resigning and would step down in the summer. As Haldane is one of the banks more hawkish major officials, concern of a more dovish BoE weighed on Sterling a little this week. Analysts believe the news ultimately didnt dampen the Pounds outlook significantly though. According to Petr Krpata, Chief EMEA FX and IR Strategist at ING: Although a big hawk, his departure shouldnt alter the pounds prospects for the coming months as no imminent BoE tightening was on the table (like for the Fed, it is a story for 2023 Japanese Yen (JPY) Dampened by Japanese Data despite USD Weakness The Japanese Yen has benefitted slightly from losses in its biggest rival, the US Dollar, over the past week or so. As the US Dollar was also sold from highs in profit taking, the Yen advanced and was able to capitalise on Pound losses as a result. However, demand for the Japanese Yen was fairly limited overall. Investors have been hesitant to keep buying the Yen due to limited market demand for safe havens, as well as continued weakness in Japanese data recently. Apan's latest machinery orders data showed its worst losses in around a year, and its second month of contraction. According to Tom Learmouth, Japan Economist at Capital Economics: he sharp fall in machinery orders in February poses downside risks to our view that business investment continued to rise last quarter, However, the recovery in private investment should still gather pace again in the second half of the year as vaccines allow the economy to regain full health. Pound Sterling Yen Forecast April 2021 The Pound and Japanese Yen are both seeing limited movement this week, as factors prevent stronger gains for each currency. However, more advances may be ahead as market sentiment calms. The economic calendar will be slightly quiet until next week, when Japanese trade balance and UK job market data will be published. Until then, investors will be focused on tomorrows upcoming speech from Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, as well as potential developments in the UK and Japan coronavirus situations. Some analysts believe the Pound could start to strengthen again too. Petr Krpata at ING said: The fact that the market pricing of the BoE policy path was largely unchanged yesterday provides a case in point. Plenty of bad news now seems to be priced into GBP (EUR/GBP trades 1.3% overvalued based on our short-term valuation model) and with the UK vaccination programme powering ahead, GBP should recover in coming weeks. Overall, a lack of surprises in market sentiment could leave the Pound to Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) exchange rate well positioned to advance again. - The global food ingredients sterilisation market is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace, owing to rising demand for clean label and certified food products. -Firms in the food ingredient sterilisation industry are expanding their manufacturing abilities in order to produce UV seed sterilisers that can handle tea, herbs, and seeds. ALBANY, N.Y., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The intensely competitive food and beverage industry has developed a market for goods that are both safer and more delicious. As a result, food ingredient sterilisation is critical in assisting producers in preserving food for longer periods while also killing microorganisms and removing moisture from ingredients. Businesses in the global food ingredients sterilization market are investing more in electrically heated auger conveyors to disinfect items like grains, nuts, and spices, amongst many other things. They are working on systems that will make it easier for staff to monitor moisture, temperature, and humidity in different types of food products. In these systems, novel steam processes stop sticky powders from condensing and agglomerating, allowing them to be handled without agglomeration. The global food ingredients sterilisation market is expected to rise at a growth rate of ~4% CAGR to hit market value of around US$ 554 Mn by 2029. Sterilisation and pasteurisation of dry natural ingredients are becoming increasingly popular as a way for manufacturers to meet food safety requirements. In the food ingredients sterilisation industry, many solutions such as UV, ozone, and irradiation are generating incremental prospects for market participants. Request for Covid-19 Impact Analysis on Food Ingredients Sterilization Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Covid19.php Key Findings of Market Report Stringent Food Regulations in Europe and North America to Create Revenue Streams for the Market The food sector has thrived as business relations between different countries have improved, resulting in an uptick in import and export activity. Food sterilisation activities have increased as the food industry and supply chains have become more globalised. Raw materials for food processing are mainly imported by countries of North America and Europe. Because these regions' laws are strict, exporters from other parts of the world are obliged to test, sterilise and then export their food products. The demand for food ingredients sterilisation is being driven by an increase in import/export activity. Such stringent regulations are estimated to support growth of the global food ingredients sterilisation market in the years to come. Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php High Prevalence of Foodborne Illnesses Underscores the Need for Food Ingredients Sterilization It is estimated that around 48 million people fall ill every year owing to food-borne illnesses, out of which 128,000 are hospitalised, and around 3,000 people die, as per CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). These are known as zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are spread between humans and animals either directly or indirectly. Nearly 9 Mn foodborne disease episodes were caused by 31 main disease agents in the US. Each year, in Europe, nearly 23 million people suffer from illnesses and around 5,000 die from foodborne diseases, most of them are victims of diarrhoeal disease. The rapidly growing occurrence of foodborne diseases therefore causes increasing demand for sterile food ingredients. Technological Innovations to Play an Important Role in Market Progression Pasteurisation and sterilisation of dry natural ingredients are increasingly needed to help producers meet product safety standards. Many solutions such as UV, ozone, and radiation are providing producers with increased potential for sterilisation of food ingredients. Among these processes, steam sterilisation is gaining popularity as an internationally accepted solution for the sterilisation of food ingredients. The WOLFF Company, for example, a supplier of technologies and equipment to a wide variety of end users, has introduced SAFESTERIL, a constant system sterilisation process that ensures the natural and safe processing of sensitive raw materials. Such innovations are likely to augur well for the global food ingredients sterilisation market in the forthcoming years. View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/19133 Food Ingredients Sterilization Market: Growth Drivers Consumer appetite for healthier and safer food items is causing several authorities and governments around the world to enforce strict food safety regulations on food exporters, importers, processors, and manufacturers. Food and beverage manufacturers are likely to continue to opt for heat treatment as a sterilisation process. The growing burden of foodborne illness and health issues caused by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi are likely to drive growth of the global food ingredients sterilisation market in near future. Purchase Premium Research Report on Food Ingredients Sterilization Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php Global Food Ingredients Sterilization Market: Key Competitors Sterigenics International LLC Namah Steam Sterilization Wenda Ingredients Safe Spice Croll Reynolds Balchem Corporation Global Food Ingredients Sterilization Market: Segmentation Ingredients Spices, Herbs, and Seasonings Dried Fruits and Vegetables Meat and Poultry Seafood Dairy Ingredients Cereals and Pulses Tea Blends Nuts Sterilization Method Heat Radiation Moisture Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals and Materials Industry, Protein Ingredients Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/protein-ingredients-market.html Functional Food Ingredients Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/multifunctional-food-ingredients-market.html Explore More Upcoming Reports: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/upcoming.htm About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/food-ingredients-sterilization-market.htm Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1085206/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Dr Ravi Gedela, CEO of Banking Labs, an innovative banking strategy, products, and solutions company, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Dr. Gedela was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Dr. Gedela into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As a new member of the Council, Dr. Gedela will connect and collaborate with other respected leaders in a private forum. He will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. I am excited and honored to join Forbes Technology Council, a group of executive thought leaders and innovators, as a contributing member, said Dr. Gedela. At Banking Labs, we envisage banking, Banking is in our DNA and helping banks with Financial Intelligence using our artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. The insightful views from industry leaders in the Forbes Council will contribute to that essence of innovation and product direction at Banking Labs. ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. About Banking Labs Banking Labs delivers innovative, transformative, and sustainable products and solutions for the rapidly disrupted and ever-changing financial services marketplace. Our strategic partnerships with our clients allow us to produce business outcomes that automate, accelerate and derisk real-time financial transactions. Banking Labs actively services the financial institutions with solutions in finance, payments, channels, regulatory & compliance, fraud, and risk management. For more information, visit us at: http://www.bankinglabs.com. Media enquiries: Corporate Communications Division - HQ Banking Labs Inc. connect@bankinglabs.com Who's Skeptical? Public Awareness Campaign Vaccine Confidence Climbing (TNS) Gov. Gavin Newsom said his plan to reopen California for "business as usual" by June 15 banks on a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccine and low hospitalization rates.But that two-month deadline leaves little time to convince "vaccine hesitant" Californians that the shots are safe and effective and the best tool we have to getting back to some sort of normal.Without so-called herd immunity the point at which the majority of the population is protected against the virus California risks prolonging the pandemic."The only reason a virus wants to live is to replicate," said Dr. Rupali J. Limaye, an associate scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "If you have fewer people who are getting vaccinated against this virus, the longer it's going to take to reach herd immunity." Forty-four percent of Californians over age 16 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by April 7, according to the state's vaccination dashboard. Those numbers are expected to dramatically increase when the state officially opens availability to everyone 16 and up on April 15.Public health experts say that at least 70 percent to 85 percent of the population needs to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to reach herd immunity.In a March 2021 Public Policy Institute of California poll, 21 percent of those surveyed said they are unlikely to or definitely would not get the vaccine, which could spell trouble for Newsom's June 15 deadline.Vaccine hesitancy falls across party lines and racial demographics, Limaye said, and has flourished amid conspiracy theories, hyper-partisan politics and an era of distrust in the government and medical institutions."Besides the fact that they are worried about the safety and efficacy because it was expedited, they feel the process has been politicized," Limaye said. "They feel as though there is a bias here, that essentially many things that were done were done for political gain. And that leads to hesitancy."Vaccine hesitancy isn't "uniformly distributed," Limaye said. Instead, it tends to cluster in certain demographics.Twenty-nine percent of Black Californians surveyed for the March Public Policy Institute of California report said they didn't want to get the shot, while 22 percent of Latinos said the same. One in five whites interviewed said they didn't want to be vaccinated, while only 5 percent of Asian Americans reported hesitancy.State data also show that Californians 65 and older aren't signing up to get the vaccine at the rate they did when they became eligible three months ago.The number of California seniors with at least one vaccine dose grew, on average, by about 15,000 each day from April 2 to April 8, state figures show. A month earlier, that number was growing by 45,000 a day. Two months earlier, that number was growing by 101,000 a day. About 1.2 million California seniors have yet to receive a dose.Elderly Californians living in counties that voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020 are particularly less likely to sign up for the vaccine, according to areview of federal data.Fewer than half of California Republicans said they were willing to get the shot in a February UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies report."The disease has been politicized from the beginning in the United States," said GOP consultant Rob Stutzman.To persuade more Republicans into a vaccine appointment, Stutzman said California public health and political officials need to strategically reach out to this voting bloc."Gavin Newsom and Joe Biden imploring Republican men, or Republicans in general, to get vaccinated isn't going to solve their problems. Former President Trump enthusiastically endorsed the vaccine, said he got it, and encouraged people to get it. There's a lot that can be done with that," Stutzman said.Vaccine hesitancy isn't a novel challenge. What's new, said Jevin West, director of the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington, is how many people are turning to groups spreading inaccuracies online for answers to their questions."There's so much noise out there, so much misinformation on this particular topic," West said. "There's always hesitancy. That's not what's new. What's new is the media environment in which people get information, and we're still figuring that out as a society. We have a challenge."California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said during an April 6 press call that state officials were working hard to address vaccine skepticism through a $40 million statewide public awareness campaign.The California Department of Public Health is also partnering with local advocacy groups and leaders to build trust in marginalized communities that historically have been excluded or mistreated by medical organizations.Ghaly said that the campaign addresses "reasonable, important, very thoughtful questions" that Californians have about "what the vaccine does, how it works and what it will do in the long and short run."Ads from the campaign acknowledge fears some Californians have expressed.In one, an East Palo Alto man says, "I'm not sure if there's anything I could say to my family members to convince them to take the COVID-19 vaccine. I'm not even sure if I'm convinced.In the ad, California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris responds, "I think people respond more to what we do than we say. So after looking at all the data and the science about these vaccines, I got the vaccine. And I made sure that my mom and dad got the vaccine. Because these vaccines are safe."The statewide campaign has helped, said Dr. Sandra R. Hernandez, president and CEO of the California Health Care Foundation. But the "micro campaigns," meaning the community partnerships and local networking, have been most effective."This is relationship-based," Hernandez said. "Frankly, it has a bit to do with word of mouth. 'Oh you got a vaccine. Why'd you do that? Where'd you go, what information did they ask? To promote health equity, those are the kinds of relationships in listening and responding we need to do in order to capture that group."Sixty-one percent of Californians said in the Public Policy Institute of California survey that they were either already vaccinated or had definite plans to get inoculated, up from 48 percent in January. Another 18 percent said they would probably sign up for an appointment.Ghaly said state officials are already starting to see vaccine hesitancy decline."We see a number of individuals who might have been considered hesitant in the past willing to get vaccinated to protect themselves, others and their communities," Ghaly said.Vaccine hesitancy will also decrease as more communities gain access to appointments and resources to help make them informed decisions, said Kiran Savage-Sangwan, executive director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network."We really find the biggest barrier is not hesitancy, but access," said Savage-Sangwan said. "Are there any appointments available? Are they at a time when you're not working? Is the facility close to where you live?Skepticism in Black and Latino communities, which were disproportionately hard-hit by the pandemic, isn't necessarily because residents don't want to get vaccinated, added Hernandez, with the California Health Care Foundation.Instead, people might have questions about safety, or worry they need insurance. They might wonder how much identifying information they'll be required to share, or if they'll have out-of-pocket costs.More often than not, Hernandez said, people want to get vaccinated once they get their questions answered."This is a real opportunity to reach into communities that are hesitant about a lot of things, not just the COVID vaccine," Hernandez said. "Hesitancy is declining." Former neo-Nazi shares how Christ-like love of African American parole officer changed his life Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When Michael Kent met his probation officer for the first time after leaving prison, he was confused. With a yearslong association with neo-Nazi groups he began attending rallies and events at just 15 years old Kents reputation as someone who disliked the black community was well known. So when Tiffany Whittier, an African American woman, knocked on his door one night, he thought there must be a mistake. The first thing I said to her was, Are you alone? Kent recalled. She said, Yes. I wasnt sure what to think because anybody who knew my case file knew I was totally against anybody that was black. But she showed up at my house by herself, knowing who I was. She took that chance. I instantly had respect for her. I realized she had courage. It wasnt long before the two developed what Kent described as a big ol bond. Over the months, Whittier helped Kent abandon his old habits and embrace the positive, challenging him to grow into the man God created him to be. She instantly became a godsend to me, he shared. She mentored me, helped me and loved me. Most parole officers just saw me as a number, and I always ended back up in the system. This woman was someone I was supposed to hate, but she showed me love that my people, my peers, my own culture didn't show me. She opened up my eyes and my heart in a whole new way. A devout Christian, Whittier told CP it is her faith that allows her to see the humanity in those she works with, regardless of their background. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, she said. I care about these people. I saw Mikes tattoos. I saw his case file before I went to his home. So, I knew what I was getting into. But I wanted him to be comfortable. I wanted him to feel heard. I wanted him to know I viewed him as an equal. Yes, Im your probation officer, but I want to see you be successful. I knew, she added, that God was with me when I went to Michaels home. I knew He was going to guide me and tell me in my gut if I was in danger. I believed God when He said, This is okay. And if its Gods will for me to go, Im okay with that, too. Im not scared to go because I know where I stand with Jesus. Kents first encounter with racism began at the age of 12 when his black friends mom told her son she didnt want Kent in his house because he was white. From there, Kents anger towards the black community only grew. And over the years, he became heavily involved with extremist groups and drug abuse, finding himself continually in trouble with the law. When I think about my past, it makes me sick to my stomach, he said. Some of the stuff I did still gives me nightmares. I dont even recognize that person. Kent admitted that he still wrestles with issues from his past and said that the road forward isnt always easy. But thanks to Whittiers witness, Kent said that not only has his perspective on race shifted, but he developed a deep and intimate relationship with God, allowing him to be optimistic about the future. Looking back, I think God had a plan for me. God wanted me to struggle first before I could see my full potential and see what I was capable of, he said. I see Gods hand in all of it. Because if Tiffany wasnt a probation officer, I wouldnt have even looked at her. I would have called her every negative word in the book. I never would have given her a chance. But, he added, his voice breaking, she took that chance and believed in me. I believe I owe it to humanity and society, my kids, our youth and everybody else to encourage them to learn something new and open their minds. Whittier and Kents unlikely friendship was first featured in the I Am Second Conversations and is now retold in a new book from the organization titledI Found Love. At a time when racial tensions are at an all-time high, the pair said they hope their story can help foster reconciliation and healing. Though she's always seen her career as a calling from God rather than simply a "job," Whittier told CP that her experience with Kent has given her a newfound sense of purpose and mission. Jesus doesn't define us by our worst mistakes, she said. Michael wasn't a believer at first because he could not see how God love him and forgive him for all the hurt that he's caused people. But that's what Jesus is about: forgiveness and loving unconditionally. Thats what drives me, helping others and reflecting Jesus. Thats what brings me comfort and joy. Its not a job to me; its my passion. She encouraged others to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and step out of their comfort zones to get to know someone who looks or acts differently from them. Look for the good in people. It takes so much more energy to hate than it does to love, Whittier said. Love can overcome hate. If you open your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you open your heart to love, you can overcome anything. We will have our trials and tribulations, but at the end of the day, were all dealing with the same trials and tribulations. Once we get together and talk about these issues, we can overcome them together. Watch Michael and Tiffany's story below: Sabrina Cornwell woke up from a familiar nightmare this week, sweating that her feverish dream could again become reality. Sabrina Cornwell woke up from a familiar nightmare this week, sweating that her feverish dream could again become reality. Its the kind of bad dream shes had before. Only this time, even as she finds herself preparing for it earlier, Cornwells not sure she will survive the pandemic-related odds stacked against her. "As a hairdresser, and a mother of three kids to feed, this will be the third time Ill be asked to shut down," said Cornwell on Tuesday, who rents a chair at Hairplay Salon in Winnipeg. "I have a pit in my stomach just thinking about it," she added. "The only option I have is to quickly get my ducks in a row by being ready to move around all my appointments. Im just paying off what I can so I dont rack up on further bills. Its completely heartbreaking and infuriating." Sabrina Cornwell , a hairdresser at Hairplay Salon on Ness Avenue, is concerned about being asked to shut down her business for a third time. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press files) Many business owners and workers told the Free Press theyre feeling a similar sense of dread and apprehension, as the province prepares to battle a growing third wave of COVID-19. Manitobas top doctor warned Monday that outdoor mask requirements and smaller gathering sizes could be on the way, given a rise of the highly infectious B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant and its impact on the health-care system. However, the provincial government and public health officials remain mum about much else, especially when it comes to the new restrictions businesses can expect to be announced later this week. Commerce stakeholders and advocates are now pressing the government to be mindful about tightening pandemic protocols. They are asking for evidence-based restrictions instead of complete closures or shutdowns, and for emergency support to be announced along with the new orders. "The very second sentence after any restrictions being announced should be about direct aid packages for those businesses that are impacted," said Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. "But the fact is, what needs to happen more than going back to shutdowns and closures, is that the government needs to show greater urgency around vaccinations. The supply-issue argument that Manitoba is apparently contending with doesnt seem to be an issue in slowing down many other provinces. And really, vaccines are what will be the saving grace with this third wave." Remillard believes a "full-blown lockdown would be catastrophic for businesses, right now and for posterity." He said the province should look towards scaling down capacity limits before taking that approach. Aubrey Margolis, owner of Danali clothing store on Kenaston Blvd., says that online sales have been "barely half of what wed make otherwise." (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) "If the idea is to curb the spread of transmission, take that targeted approach. But dont just start targeting the same people you did before," he said. "And if you do want to close businesses again, show the evidence that says you have to you know, where is the data for restaurants or retailers causing transmission?" Jonathan Alward, Manitoba director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, agreed. "Personally, Id like to see the budgeted funding from the province for COVID costs to be used immediately for a grant," he said. "Right now, inspectors are already knocking from door to door at businesses, checking every day if theyre following rules. Frankly, if they caused any rising cases, youd know. Its all coming from indoor gatherings and not from businesses." Shaun Jeffrey, executive director for the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association, said restrictions for diners are already debilitating. "How much further could you go beyond these rules that are already crushing them?" he said Tuesday. Roula Alevizos, who manages Saddlery on Market at the Exchange District in Winnipeg, said its frustrating not knowing what comes next for her eatery. "Ive had to lay everybody off, its minimal staff already and honestly, I just dont see how or why they could limit us any more than these confusing restrictions about household-only customers," she said. "The very second sentence after any restrictions being announced should be about direct aid packages for those businesses that are impacted." Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. "I go to Costco, I go to Superstore and I see how they dont have to worry about a damn thing anymore. Meanwhile, I can barely have a quarter of my capacity because my precautions need to work differently somehow. Its just ridiculous." Aubrey Margolis, who runs Danali clothing store in south Winnipeg, said thats something his retail outlet can relate to. "I mean, of course, I want to do whats best to curb this health crisis. But its definitely easier to escape any rules as a mall outlet or large store," he said. "We went online and tried to get our income from there, and honestly, its barely half of what wed make otherwise." Dino Camire, owner of One Family Fitness, and Manitobas representative on the Fitness Industry Council of Canada, said gyms have been unfairly targeted during earlier closures. "Closing us without guaranteeing complete and rapid vaccination isnt going to be very well-received," he said, adding schools and factories must also be restricted instead of just storefronts. In a statement Tuesday, a provincial spokewoman could not provide details about the upcoming restrictions for businesses or emergency support. "More will be announced in the coming days," she said. Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @temurdur Police said the passenger, Steven Martin, got out of the van and on the ground so police could handcuff him, as advised, but driver Chris Shreve, 46, refused to get out so officers broke the window and ordered him to crawl out the window. He was placed on the ground and put into handcuffs. Police said both air bags in the van deployed and Martin and Shreve complained of pain from the crash, and Martin had facial injuries and burns. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) ("Calibre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (all amounts in United States dollars). Q1 2021 Highlights: Gold production: 45,452 ounces, highest quarterly production since Q3 2016; Production includes the first ore delivery from the Pavon Norte mine to the Libertad mill Demonstrating Calibre's ability to advance new satellite deposits: 'permit to plant' in less than 18 months; Gold sales of 45,882 ounces; Cash on hand of $58.2 million, a $5.1 million increase from December 31, 2020; 2021 production and cost guidance remain on track; Growth and exploration capital are currently expected to be H1 weighted; More than 200% increase in Mineral Reserves to 864,000 ounces since year-end 2019; Largest Mineral Reserve since 2010 with the highest grade on record, 4.49 g/t Au 1 ; High-grade drill results reported at Limon, including: 7.98 g/t Au over 6.8 metres at Atravesada underground; 8.92 g/t Au over 9.8 metres at Atravesada underground; 251.90 g/t Au over 1.0 metres at Limon Norte open pit; and 6.97 g/t Au over 6.1 metres at Panteon underground; 60,000 metre exploration and resource growth drilling program underway. Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, stated: "Another solid quarter of production demonstrating the reliability of our assets underpinned by the revitalization of the Libertad Complex. I am particularly pleased with our progress expanding our 'Hub-and-Spoke' operation to incorporate the high-grade 'Mining Spoke' at Pavon Norte. I would like to acknowledge the teams' efforts in safely and responsibly progressing Pavon Norte from 'permit to plant' in less than 18 months, a great result that clearly demonstrates the in-country expansion opportunity and supportive regulatory environment." "With the improved confidence in our multi-year outlook afforded by the more than 200% increase in Mineral Reserves, our exploration programs have been expanded to include growing resources at our emerging districts and generative drilling. Given Nicaragua's prolific history of gold production, it's somewhat surprising how much of the country remains relatively under-explored much beyond the known producing and historic gold mines. During 2020 we took steps to more than double our portfolio of 100% owned mineral properties and concession applications, bringing our total land position to over 2,000 km2, exclusive of our Rio Tinto joint venture properties. Currently Calibre has 15 drill rigs in operation and our exploration teams continue to see positive results and excellent opportunities for delineation of new resources and growth." Operating Overview The Company produced 45,452 ounces during the first quarter of 2021 from 419,340 tonnes of ore processed at a grade of 3.54 g/t and recovery of 91.3%. The Limon mill processed 124,149 tonnes at a grade of 4.42 g/t and a recovery of 89.3%, producing 16,337 ounces. The Libertad mill processed 295,191 tonnes at a grade of 3.17 g/t and a recovery of 92.4%, producing 29,115 ounces. During the past quarter, the Company added the new 'Mining Spoke' at Pavon Norte, ahead of schedule and well within budget. During the quarter, the Company transported ~350 tonnes per day ("tpd") from Pavon Norte to the Libertad mill and expects this to increase throughout the year to ~1,000 tpd. Pavon Norte contributed more than 3,000 ounces to Libertad's total production in the first quarter, with 31,983 tonnes of ore trucked at a grade of 3.25 g/t, positively impacting Libertad mill's grade and providing increased flexibility. The Company will continue to optimize its consolidated mine and process plans as we progress our 'Hub-and-Spoke' operating strategy to maximize value from our integrated asset base. Consolidated Operating Results Description Q1 2021 Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Ore Milled (tonnes) 419,340 501,228 524,099 Ore Milled Grade (g/t Au) 3.54 2.81 2.54 Au Recovery (%) 91.3% 90.9% 91.8% Gold Production (ounces) 45,452 42,573 42,085 Gold Sales (ounces) 45,882 42,335 37,494 Q1 2021 Operating Results Description Limon Libertad Ore Milled (tonnes) 124,149 295,191 Ore Milled Grade (g/t Au) 4.42 3.17 Au Recovery (%) 89.3% 92.4% Gold Production (ounces) 16,337 29,115 Gold Sales (ounces) 16,651 29,231 Q1 2021 Financial Results and Conference Call Details First-quarter financial results will be released after market close on Monday, May 3, 2021, and management will be hosting a conference call to discuss the results and outlook in more detail. Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 Time: 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Dial-in: +1 (866) 221-1882 or +1 (470) 495-9179 (International) Webcast Link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/959r9vnh (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/959r9vnh) Conference ID: 2695652 The live webcast can be accessed here (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/959r9vnh) or at www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com) under the Events and Media section under the Investors tab. The live audio webcast will be archived and made available for replay at www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com). Presentation slides that will accompany the conference call will be made available in the Investors section of the Calibre website under Presentations prior to the conference call. Qualified Person Darren Hall, MAusIMM, President and Chief Executive Office, Calibre Mining Corp. is a "qualified person" as set out under NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Darren Hall" Darren Hall President and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Ryan King Vice President, Corporate Development & IR T: 604.628.1010 E: calibre@calibremining.com (mailto:calibre@calibremining.com) W: www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com) About Calibre Mining Corp. Calibre Mining is a Canadian-listed gold mining and exploration company with two 100%-owned operating gold mines in Nicaragua. The Company is focused on sustainable operating performance and a disciplined approach to growth. Notes: (1)Technical Report on El Limon Complex, Leon and Chinandego Departments, Nicaragua dated March 30, 2021 and effective December 31, 2020 prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., (formerly Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.) in accordance with NI 43-101 as filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Technical Report on La Libertad Complex, Nicaragua dated March 30, 2021 and effective December 31, 2020 prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., (formerly Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.) in accordance with NI 43-101 as filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are often identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020, available on www.sedar.com (http://www.sedar.com). This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibre's forward-looking statements. Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Part of the problem with the house is that it comes with bills, all kinds of stuff, Mr. Joubert said. Lets see what we got, he added, revealing a second oversize check, for $45,000. Ms. Hamilton, overcome, clasped a hand over her mouth. Were going to pay your mortgage off, Mr. Joubert said. Jessie, you deserve it. Youve earned it. And for all the stuff we put up, made you go through over those years, we probably ought to pay you a lot more than this. Mr. Fusaiotti said he had gotten in touch with Ms. Hamiltons children before the celebration to find out how much she still owed on her house. The money meant Ms. Hamilton could finally retire. This has been a blessing to me, Ms. Hamilton, who could not be reached, told The Advocate. I have been worrying about how I was going to pay my house off. I am grateful for what God has done and has led them to do for me. Mr. Fusaiotti drove in for the celebration from Mobile, Ala., where he owns a car dealership. He said he was so nervous that he hardly slept for a week leading up to it. The night before, he said, he wrote about a dozen different speeches and cried as he read all of them. I didnt know if I was going to be able to do it when I got there. I was white as a ghost, Mr. Fusaiotti said. When you get 90 guys that are rallying around you, knowing how important it was for them, it made me nervous. I didnt want to disappoint. CINCINNATI, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Textile is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2021 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams. The 2021 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic, resilient culture, as well as strong financials, all while facing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite major challenges and immense pressure, they continued to lead with purpose and the vision to make significant contributions to their industries, communities, workforces, and the economy. "I am very proud that Standard Textile has been selected as a 2021 US Best Managed Company. In 2020, during a year of uncertainty, our leadership team and associates came together as a One Standard team to ensure our communities had continuous access to essential supplies needed to safeguard the health of clinicians, patients, and their families," said Gary Heiman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Textile. "This recognition speaks to the team's extraordinary commitment to doing what is best for our customers and our communities." In March 2020, Standard Textile restructured its global supply chain to provide support for America's frontline medical workers, leading an urgent charge to increase production of PPE (personal protective equipment) in order to provide hospitals and healthcare workers in the United States with additional protection against COVID-19. A collaboration between the company's research and development laboratory, and its operations in Thomaston, Georgia and Union, South Carolina, resulted in rapidly developing a unique American version of a liquid-resistant, breathable, and reusable cover gown for healthcare workers. In March 2021, Standard Textile was presented with the "Best Health Care and Medical Innovation" Award by Ohio Business Magazine in recognition of this effort. During the fall of 2020, Standard Textile launched a national program to combat homelessness called Standard Textile Cares. The company is partnering with non-profit organizations across the U.S. that provide mobile shower services to people living either on the streets or in insufficient housing, with a goal of supporting 80,000 showers by the end of 2021. Applicants for the Best Managed Companies program are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture and financial performance. Standard Textile joins a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 30 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program. About Standard Textile Founded in 1940, Standard Textile has developed a culture of innovation, quality, and service. With more than 80 patents, its products are engineered to deliver durability, longevity, and value. A vertically integrated company, Standard Textile is a leading global provider of total solutions in the institutional textiles and apparel markets. Leveraging textile design, manufacturing, and laundry expertise, and its global infrastructure, this company serves customers in the healthcare, hospitality, interiors, and consumer markets worldwide. For more information visit www.standardtextile.com. About the Best Managed Companies Program The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practicesstrategy, execution, culture and financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com. Contact: Judy Sroufe Vice President, Brand Marketing and Communications [email protected] Standard Textile One Knollcrest Drive Cincinnati, OH 45237 (513) 238-0592 www.standardtextile.com SOURCE Standard Textile Related Links http://www.standardtextile.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 16:24:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIEV, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Kiev can use the help of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to stop the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said during a joint briefing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Tuesday. During his visit to Brussels, Kuleba said Russia's military presence along the Ukrainian-Russian border poses a threat to Ukraine. "We are not planning any offensives or escalations. Ukraine is committed to diplomatic and political means of resolving the conflict," Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted Kuleba as saying on Tuesday. Kuleba noted that he discussed with Stoltenberg how NATO and its allies can support Ukraine amid rising tension. "We need measures that will hold Russia and its aggressive intentions back. This could be a new round of sanctions... This can be direct support aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities," said Kuleba. The Ukrainian foreign minister arrived at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday to participate in an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission. Last week, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky told Stoltenberg that NATO membership was the only way to end hostilities in Donbass. Russia, which has long opposed NATO expansion, said in a latest statement that it does not seek a war with Ukraine but is concerned for the Russian-speaking population in Donbass region. Enditem Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to being a percussionist, and it's a game that Bullock Creek High School Louis Spalding really enjoys. In the course of his seven years of band, throughout middle school and high school, Spalding has played the bass drum in marching season, as well as the vibraphone, cymbals, xylophone, bells and triangle among others. "It looked like a lot of fun a lot more fun than the other instruments because you got to hit stuff," Spalding said candidly of why he chose percussion back in sixth grade. "And (I liked the fact) that there was more than one instrument that you got to play as well." Spalding doesn't mind the challenge of having to learn a new instrument in a short period of time. For example, he had to get up to speed on playing the gong for a particular piece of music when he was in 10th grade. "If they want me to play a certain instrument that Ive never played before, thats a really good learning experience," Spalding said. "I had to learn how to play (the gong) right because theres a (certain) way you have to hit it. It took me a second because you cant just hit it you have to hit it right in the center." There's plenty else to like about being in percussion as well, Spalding said. At Bullock Creek, at least, the percussion section has its own camp in June at the high school, before the marching band as a whole goes up to Traverse City for band camp. "Every year before band camp, we have a drumline camp where we work on our cadences and warmups and stuff to get in shape for band camp, and thats always really fun," he said. Bullock Creek band director Josephine Bossenberger said Spalding's personality endears him to his fellow musicians, and he has gone the extra mile to improve as a percussionist. "He has always been very kind and respectful and somewhat of a quiet guy, but his passion for music shines through," Bossenberger said. "And he has the ability to bring other students together with his humor and personality. "Louis also took drum lessons outside of band to work on his musicianship and has grown a lot over the years," she added. Outside of music, Spalding also ran cross country for three years at Bullock Creek and was on the robotics team for two years. Besides all that, he loves to raise different kinds of fowl in a coop at home: chickens, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, among others. "Ive had chickens since I was in kindergarten, and in seventh grade, I got ducks for the first time. Now Im just trying to find the coolest-looking birds," Spalding said. After graduation this spring, Spalding plans to continue attending Greater Michigan Construction Academy, where he is already enrolled, for three more years to eventually become an HVAC technician. Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew has unleashed on Meghan Markle after her friends claimed she wasn't attending Prince Philip's funeral because she 'doesn't want to be the centre of attention'. The pregnant Duchess did not travel to England with Prince Harry to join his family in mourning ahead of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral and instead opted to stay in Montecito, California. In addition to not wanting the spotlight, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson previously confirmed that Meghan 'has been advised by her physician not to travel' because she is around six months pregnant. Bartholomew was less than impressed by the recent revelations from Ms Markle's friends, telling Sunrise it 'really gets my goat'. 'I've reserved judgment about those two for quite some time, but if that is true, it just makes me so angry,' she said. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry walk behind Prince Philip, who died on Friday 'I still liked Harry and Meghan, I just, I just feel I've turned now.' The Sunrise host made the comments on Wednesday morning after the breakfast show aired a story about Ms Markle, ahead of Saturday's funeral at Windsor Castle. Co-host David Koch then jumped in and compared Ms Markle to Yoko Ono, whose marriage to John Lennon was often cited as a cause of the break-up of The Beatles. 'She's the Yoko Ono of the Royal Family,' he said. Bartholomew agreed Ms Markle would have been criticised no matter what she decided to do for the funeral as it would have been her first visit since the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in which she repeatedly criticised the royal family. 'She's right, if she had gone, there would have been a lot of tension on her and it would have distracted,' she said. 'But for them to say that out loud... just go with the Palace line wouldn't you just for once. 'Just shut up.' Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew unleashed on Meghan Markle after her friends claimed she wasn't attending Prince Philip's funeral because she 'doesn't want to be the centre of attention' Bartholomew concluded that Ms Markle and Prince Harry should have just said her decision to stay in the U.S. was based entirely on doctors' orders. Ms Markle has also said she is 'ready to forgive' the Royal Family despite telling Oprah they were racist towards Archie and ignored her mental health problems, a friend exclusively told DailyMail.com. 'Meghan said her main concern right now is supporting Harry. She said she left it up to him as to whether or not she would attend the funeral,' an insider with close ties to Meghan Markle tells DailyMail.com. 'Meghan said it's during these times when family should come together, put their differences aside and unite as one. She said this is what Prince Philip would want and that she's willing to forgive and move forward.' While there was still time for Meghan to fly to the UK to join Harry before Saturday's funeral, the insider added that her mother Doria is 'adamant' that she not travel while pregnant. 'Doria insisted that Meghan stay behind and support Harry from afar. Like Harry, Doria is very protective of Meghan and doesn't want to see her putting her own health at risk. Stress is the last thing Meghan needs right now.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pictured during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey The Sussexes are expecting their second child - a girl - this summer. 'Meghan said attending or not attending Prince Philip's funeral isn't going to change her relationship with the Queen. She said the Queen understands her absence and would want her to stay safe and healthy for the baby,' the friend said. 'Meghan said this is the opportune time for Henry to mend his relationship with his brother and his dad. She doesn't need to be there for that.' Prince Harry flew into London's Heathrow Airport without his wife over the weekend on his first visit to Britain since quitting royal duties. Harry's return to the UK ahead of Saturday's funeral is his first since March 2020 when he moved to Canada, and will be the first opportunity to reunite with Prince William and his father Prince Charles, who is said to be 'looking forward' to a get-together with his son. Harry gave a light-hearted tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh on Monday after his death at the age of 99 and declared: 'He was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end.' Bartholomew concluded that Ms Markle and Prince Harry should have just pretended her choice to stay in the U.S. was purely based off doctors orders Harry said: 'He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, ''Oh do get on with it!''.' The Royal Family's Twitter page shared a picture with the Queen and Prince Philip along with a moving quote from the monarch about her husband from a speech she made celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1997. In the speech, looking back at their then 50 year marriage, she said: 'He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.' The Duke of Edinburgh died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday, aged 99. The Sussexes, who ignored calls to postpone the March 7 CBS interview with Oprah because Philip was unwell, accused an unnamed royal, not the Queen nor the Duke, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin tone would be before he was born. Ms Markle claimed that she'd been trapped by the 'institution' of the Royal Family and was at one point suicidal, but that when she sought help, was told she could not have it. The Queen said after the interview that the allegations were 'concerning' and the matter was a family one that would be dealt with privately. A husband accused of running a $15million fraud operation with his twin brother first came to police attention for allegedly using a rifle for a gender reveal with his wife. Twins Charbel and Elie Douna, 33, were arrested on February 17 in police raids across the Illawarra region, south of Sydney. The directors of Albion Park's LuxLiving have been accused of falsifying documents to get a $14.7million loan to build luxury properties on a 92-home estate in Avondale, near Wollongong. They appeared in Port Kembla Local Court on Tuesday for the first time since their arrests and remained silent before leaving together after their matter was adjourned to June 30. Court documents seen by news.com.au reveal Charbel is also facing charges related to a gender reveal filmed in 2019 at his rural home in Calderwood, south Wollongong, on May 5 last year. The footage allegedly shows the high-flying property developer shooting a balloon with a rifle to unveil the sex of their new child despite it sitting just above his wife's head. He has been charged with 'disregard for the safety of his wife, himself and/or other persons' and for using the firearm without 'genuine reason'. Charbel (left) and Elie (right) Douna, 33, were charged over an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud scheme It was Charbel's (pictured with wife Sara) gender reveal video that first attracted police attention. He has been charged over the stunt, court documents revealed Police allege the twins made 10 legitimate sales for their high-end development but forged the contracts for nine others in a bid to get a loan from Australian Unity Bank. Detective Chief Inspector Glen Broadhead said the allegedly illegitimate contacts were 'put in names of people who have not purchased land or had no intention to purchase land'. 'We believe the specific reason for those [allegedly] false contracts was to support the loan application to ensure the business appeared to have sufficient funds to move forward with the loan application,' he told the Daily Telegraph. Police also allege their real estate friend Ben Feltham, from Right Choice Real Estate in Albion Park, published the false sale contracts. The 35-year-old turned himself into police at Lake Illawarra Police Station last month. Feltham did not appear in court on Wednesday after his case was moved to June 30. During searches of the brothers' homes in Calderwood and Wongawilli, detectives seized financial documents, poker machines, electronic devices and firearms for forensic examination. The twins were each charged with 19 counts of publishing false and misleading information to obtain advantage, dishonestly obtaining a financial advance by deception and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. Feltham was charged with nine counts of publishing false or misleading information to obtain advantage and participating in a criminal group to contribute criminal activity. Charbel can be seen in the video firing the rifle at the balloon sitting just metres above his wife's head which police say was 'disregard' for her safety Sara and Emily (pictured) Douna have amassed a combined following of over 110,000 Instagram users by flaunting their extravagant lifestyles Detectives seized financial documents, poker machines (right), electronic devices and firearms (left) for forensic examination The new charges comes weeks after it emerged that the twins' glamorous wives had resorted to offloading their designer clothes on online marketplace Depop. Their wives Sara and Emily Douna have amassed a combined following of over 110,000 Instagram users by flaunting their extravagant lifestyles. Sara and Emily regularly post photos of lavish European holidays, weekend stays at The Langham, first class plane tickets, upscale dining and designer clothes. Elie's wife-of-four-years Emily listed a pair of Valentino stud heels for $300, a Camilla dress for $399, and $450 Sophia Webster sandals. The mother-of-three was also selling heavily discounted accessories, including $25 Carolina Lemke sunglasses that retail for $150, and a $300 Gucci headband with an RRP of $500. Sara, who shares four young children with Charbel, was trying to offload 16 designer items, including Valentino flats and a Dolce & Gabbana outfit. Neither women have been accused of any involvement in their husbands' alleged crimes. Emily Douna (pictured with husband Elie) returned to Instagram on Monday for the first time since her husband's arrest Scientists developed a model showing that a fragile, temporary state of immunity emerged during the early epidemic but got destroyed as people changed their social behaviors over time, leading to future waves of infection UPTON, NY--Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have developed a new mathematical model for predicting how COVID-19 spreads. This model not only accounts for individuals' varying biological susceptibility to infection but also their levels of social activity, which naturally change over time. Using their model, the team showed that a temporary state of collective immunity--what they coined "transient collective immunity"--emerged during early, fast-paced stages of the epidemic. However, subsequent "waves," or surges in the number of cases, continued to appear because of changing social behaviors. Their results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The COVID-19 epidemic reached the United States in early 2020, rapidly spreading across several states by March. To mitigate disease spread, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools and businesses, and put in place mask mandates. In major cities like New York City (NYC) and Chicago, the first wave ended in June. In the winter, a second wave broke out in both cities. Understanding why initial waves end and subsequent waves begin is key to being able to predict future epidemic dynamics. Here's where modeling can help. But classical epidemiological models were developed almost 100 years ago. While these models are mathematically robust, they don't perfectly capture reality. One of their flaws is failing to account for the structure of person-to-person contact networks, which serve as channels for the spread of infectious diseases. "Classical epidemiological models tend to ignore the fact that a population is heterogenous, or different, on multiple levels, including physiologically and socially," said Alexei Tkachenko, a physicist in the Theory and Computation Group at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), a DOE Office of Science User Facility at Brookhaven Lab. "We don't all have the same susceptibility to infection because of factors such as age, preexisting health conditions, and genetics. Similarly, we don't have the same level of activity in our social lives. We differ in the number of close contacts we have and in how often we interact with them throughout different seasons. Population heterogeneity--these individual differences in biological and social susceptibility--is particularly important because it lowers the herd immunity threshold." Herd immunity is the percentage of the population who must achieve immunity in order for an epidemic to end. "Herd immunity is a controversial topic," said Sergei Maslov, a CFN user and professor and Bliss Faculty Scholar at UIUC, with faculty appointments in the Departments of Physics and Bioengineering and at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. "Since early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been suggestions of reaching herd immunity quickly, thereby ending local transmission of the virus. However, our study shows that apparent collective immunity reached in this way would not last." "What was missing prior to this work was that people's social activity waxes and wanes, especially due to lockdowns or other mitigations," added Nigel Goldenfeld, Swanlund Professor of Physics and director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute for Universal Biology at UIUC. "So, a wave of the epidemic can seem to die away due to mitigation measures when the susceptible or more social groups collectively have been infected--what we call transient collective immunity. But once these measures are relaxed and people's social networks are renewed, another wave can start, as we've seen with states and countries opening up too soon, thinking the worst was behind them." Ahmed Elbanna, a Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Fellow and professor of civil and environmental engineering at UIUC, noted transient collective immunity has profound implications for public policy. "Mitigation measures, such as mask wearing and avoiding large gatherings, should continue until the true herd immunity threshold is achieved through vaccination," said Elbanna. "We can't outsmart this virus by forcing our way to herd immunity through widespread infection because the number of infected people and number hospitalized who may die would be too high." The nuts and bolts of predictive modelling Over the past year, the Brookhaven-UIUC team has been carrying out various projects related to a broader COVID-19 modeling effort. Previously, they modeled how the epidemic would spread through Illinois and the UIUC campus, and how mitigation efforts would impact that spread. Last May, they began this project to calculate the effect of population heterogeneity on the spread of COVID-19. Several approaches already exist for modeling the effect of heterogeneity on epidemic dynamics, but they typically assume heterogeneity remains constant over time. So, for example, if you're not socially active today, you won't be socially active tomorrow or in the weeks and months ahead. "Basic epidemiological models only have one characteristic time, called the generation interval or incubation period," said Tkachenko. "It refers to the time when you can infect another person after becoming infected yourself. For COVID-19, it's roughly five days. But that's only one timescale. There are other timescales over which people change their social behavior." In this work, the team incorporated time variations in individual social activity into existing epidemiological models. While a complicated, multidimensional model is needed to describe each group of people with different susceptibilities to disease, they compressed this model into only three equations, developing a single parameter to capture biological and social sources of heterogeneity. "We call this parameter the immunity factor, which tells you how much the reproduction number drops as susceptible individuals are removed from the population," explained Maslov. The reproduction number indicates how transmissible an infectious disease is. Specifically, the quantity refers to how many people one infected person will in turn infect. To estimate the social contribution to the immunity factor, the team leveraged previous studies in which scientists actively monitored people's social behavior. They also looked at actual epidemic dynamics, determining the immunity factor most consistent with data on COVID-19-related hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and daily deaths in NYC and Chicago. For example, when the susceptible number dropped by 10 percent during the early, fast-paced epidemic in NYC and Chicago, the reproduction number fell by 40 to 50 percent--corresponding to an estimated immunity factor of four to five. "That's a fairly large immunity factor, but it's not representative of lasting herd immunity," said Tkachenko. "On a longer timescale, we estimate a much lower immunity factor of about two. The fact that a single wave stops doesn't mean you're safe. It can come back." This temporary state of immunity arises because population heterogeneity is not permanent; people change their social behavior over time. For instance, individuals who self-isolated during the first wave--staying home, not having visitors over, ordering groceries online--subsequently start relaxing their behaviors. Any increase in social activity means additional exposure risk. "The epidemic has been with us a year now," said Maslov. "It's important to understand why it has been here for such a long time. The gradual change in social behavior among individuals partially explains why plateaus and subsequent waves are occurring. For example, both cities avoided a summer wave but experienced a winter wave. We attribute the winter wave to two factors: the change in season and the waning of transient collective immunity." With vaccination becoming more widespread, the team hopes we will be spared from another wave. In their most recent work, they are studying epidemic dynamics in more detail. For example, they are feeding statistics from "superspreader" events--gatherings where a single infected person causes a large outbreak among attendees--into the model. They are also applying their model to different regions across the country to explain overall epidemic dynamics from the end of lockdown to early March 2021. ### This work was supported by the DOE Office of Science; University of Illinois System Office, the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, the Grainer College of Engineering, and the Department of Physics at UIUC; DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship; and National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. This research was carried out as part of a CFN user program. The Illinois Department of Public Health, through a Data Use Agreement with Civis Analytics, supplied data for the calculations. The calculations were carried out on the Illinois Campus Cluster, a computing resource operated by the Illinois Campus Cluster Program in conjunction with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, which is supported by funds from UIUC. Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https:/ / energy. gov/ science . Follow @BrookhavenLab on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Tuesday, April 6 Identity theft was reported at the 3100 block of Edgemere on April 6. An unknown person filed for unemployment benefits in the name of the identity theft victim with the intent to harm or defraud another. A crash resulting in an injury was reported at the 900 block of Joliet St. on April 6. According to the police report, the vehicle disregarded a stop sign and struck another vehicle. A burglary was reported on April 6 at the 2200 block of Houston St. A hit-and-run was reported at the 2900 block of W. 4th St. on April 6. Damage to a vehicle was reported. Criminal mischief was reported on April 6 at the 300 block of SW Alpine St. An unknown person keyed a vehicle causing approximately $4,000 in damage. Fraud was reported at the 200 block of SE 5th St. on April 6. A known person purchased and activated a cellphone without the account holders permission using the account holders identifying information. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on April 6 at the 400 block of W. 5th St. Wednesday, April 7 Criminal mischief was reported at the 900 block of W. 5th St. on April 7. A known person damaged a cabinet and flooded the room with water, tore down drapes and flipped the refrigerator inside a business. A sexual assault was reported on April 7. The case was reported as indecency with a child. Police arrested 43-year-old Isabel Christina Morales Romero on April 7 at the 400 block of W. 5th St. for an outstanding out-of-county felony warrant. Officers arrested 27-year-old Cynthia Anne Cobb and a 30-year-old man at the 1800 block of W. 9th St. on April 7 after responding to the location for an assault. The man allegedly caused bodily injury to his live-in girlfriend and Cobb allegedly strangled her live-in boyfriend impeding his breathing during the assault. The man was charged with assault causing bodily injury, family violence. That crime is classified as a misdemeanor. Cobb was charged with assault of a family/house member impeding breathing/circulation, which is a felony. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on April 7 at the 500 block of Denver St. A theft was reported at the 1500 block of W. 5th St. on April 7. A known employee at the location gave out merchandise without making the customer pay. The unknown customer took clothes off a store rack and left without payment. Theft was reported at the 800 block of W. 8th St. on April 7. A weapons offense was reported on April 7 at the 1300 block of Mesa. According to the police report, a suspected person is believed to have carried a handgun into a facility prohibiting weapons. The individual has not been issued a Texas license to carry a handgun. Police found marijuana during a traffic stop at the 1800 block of W. 12th St. on April 7. An assault was reported at the 3000 block of Dimmitt Road on April 7. A suspect assaulted an ex-spouse and left prior to police arrival. No visible injuries were reported and the victim did not file charges. Thursday, April 8 A theft was reported at the 2400 block of N. Columbia St. An unknown person took a gym back from Amigos without the owners consent. Identity fraud was reported at the 2800 block of Mesa St. on April 8. An unknown person used another persons identity to try to get unemployment benefits. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 2400 block of W. 5th St. on April 8. Two vehicles were involved. A crash resulting in an injury was reported at the 2500 block of Yonkers on April 8. A man sustained injuries in a motorcycle crash and was transported to a local hospital. Friday, April 9 Officers responded to a miscellaneous incident at the 2500 block of Milwaukee on April 9. A reporting party told dispatchers that a person shot at another. An assault was reported at the 1400 block of W. 26th St. on April 9. A known person hit their girlfriend across the face. Officers arrested a 25-year-old individual on April 9 at the 2400 block of Dimmitt Road. The individual had an outstanding out-of-county misdemeanor warrant. A crash was reported at the 700 block of the west frontage road of Interstate 27. A driver allegedly failed to control his speed and crashed into another vehicle then drove away. A robbery was reported at the 1200 block of W. 21st St. on April 9. The suspects are believed to have used physical force to commit a theft. Police arrested a 67-year-old man at the 3100 block of W. 7th St. on April 9 after a crash. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving with an invalid license with previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution, and with outstanding warrants. Saturday, April 10 Criminal mischief was reported at the 900 block of Travis St. Damage to a vehicles tires was reported. Criminal mischief was reported at the 1600 block of Houston St. on April 10. Damage to the back window of a vehicle was reported. Theft was reported at the 800 block of Yonkers St. on April 10. A known person disposed of property from a residence without the owners consent. An assault was reported at the 100 block of SE 8th St. on April 10. A person intentionally caused injury to another. An assault was reported at the 1300 block of W. 11th St. on April 10. A person was assaulted with a stick by a cousin. A burglary was reported at the 2400 block of Fresno St. on April 10. An unknown person entered a residence without consent of the owner and took a rifle, a pistol, a set of samurai swords and one broad sword. Sunday, April 11 Police arrested 47-year-old David Medina at the 1000 block of W. 7th St. on Sunday. Officers were called to the location in reference to an assault. Medina was charged with driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, which is a felony. He was also charged with assault causing bodily injury, display of a fictitious license plate and with an outstanding warrant. Damaged property was reported at the 1200 block of Lexington St. on Sunday. An unknown person caused damage to a vehicle wit a BB/pellet gun. A burglary was reported Sunday at the 700 block of E. 9th St. An unknown person entered the residence and took money without the owners consent. Criminal mischief was reported at the 2200 block of W. 19th St. on Sunday. The resident of the location returned home from work and attempted to unlock the door. The doorknob fell off. A burglary was reported at the 1600 block of N. Date St. on Sunday. A known person broke a back door window, entered the residence and stole items from inside while the residence was occupied. State health officer, Dr. Scott Harris, said Alabama has temporarily paused Johnson & Johnson vaccines, cautioning possible adverse effects. The risk of dangerous blood clots are very rare. Dr. Harris said in the country, seven million doses of the vaccine were given, and only six cases of blood clots were identified. Dr. Harris said chances are 1 in 1.2 million. Kerry Dahlberg, a Madison resident, got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine five weeks ago at a local CVS. She said she feels safer and doesn't regret getting the vaccine, but is now a little anxious. State health officials said if you don't experience symptoms three weeks following your shot, you're more than likely OK. "I feel like I'm in the clear, and I understand it was six issues in seven million shots, and I'm like, I don't think I'm one in a million," said Dahlberg. Dahlberg said she didn't get even get a low grade temperature after getting the vaccine. The CDC says you should watch for heavy leg pain or a severe headache. In Alabama, 329 providers have the vaccine. There were 71,297 vaccines administered. There are no reports of adverse effects. If you're concerned, stressed or anxious after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there is an emotional support line that you can call to talk to a licensed therapist. That number is 1-888-442-1793. "Its OK to acknowledge youre worried," said Vivian Smith Carter, a marriage and family therapist. "You took this step and you're worried, but it doesnt mean that the sky is falling in. It doesnt mean that you made the worst decision in the world. Its just that some new information came out." New Delhi, April 14 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a high-level meeting convened on Wednesday to decide on the CBSE board examinations amid the rising Covid cases in the country, looked like a concerned guardian of the children. He expressed concern about the health of the students who were supposed to take part in class 10 board exams. According to highly placed sources, the officials had come to the meeting with a proposal to postpone the board exams and not to cancel it. The officials affirmed that once the situation gets normal, exams can be conducted, but the Prime Minister put his foot down and clearly said, the country cannot take the risk with the health of the children as they are under-age. Therefore, it is necessary to cancel the exams altogether, rather than defer them. However, Prime Minister Modi approved the cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of the class 12 examinations. Officials present in the meeting said that the class 12 students will have to seek higher education once they complete school. Therefore, their exams can be conducted later. Highly placed sources present in the meeting said that it was only after the intervention of the Prime Minister that the examinations for class 10 were declared to be cancelled. Prime Minister Modi, as per the highly placed sources present in the meeting, said that class 12 students must be informed well in advance about whenever their exams will be conducted and all help must be accorded to them and their parents by the Ministry of Education and their educational institutions. This must not lead to despair among the students, the Prime Minister said. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank informed about the decisions after the high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister ended. He said that the CBSE Class 10 examination to be held from May 4 to June 14 stands cancelled and the CBSE will declare the result on the basis of the performance of students in their schools. Dissatisfied students can appeal against it, and may get a chance to sit in the examination later. The Education Minister said the decision to hold class 12 exam will be taken after reviewing the situation on June 1. The candidates will be informed 15 days in advance, he said. Appointment 13 April 2021 Travelodge, the UK budget hotel brand which operates 586 hotels in the UK, Ireland and Spain, announces the appointment of Martin Robinson as its new Chairman. Martin has spent most of his career in the leisure industry and brings a wealth of expertise in brand building, strategic management and leadership. He spent 17 years at Center Parcs as CEO of the European business and President of the UK. He also served for 10 years on the boards of Disneyland Paris and Regus Plc and has chaired several other businesses including Holmes Place Health Clubs and wagamama. Martin currently chairs the UK operations of Burger King, and Parkdean Resorts, the UK vacation park operator. A HARARE lawyers attempt to have all mobile-based digital banking platforms of FBC Bank closed after an imposter used his name to fraudulently open an account with the bank for criminal activities, failed after the High Court denied the request since the lawyer had not opened the account and so had no grounds to sue. Mr Nigel Sithole sued the bank after an imposter fraudulently opened a bank account in his name to dupe members of the public of their money through a car hire-to-buy scheme posing as the lawyer to gain peoples trust. Those entering the scheme would deposit money into the banking account number 6017042200218469 held with FBC Bank. The scam came to Mr Sitholes attention on January 31 this year when a Facebook user called Samantha Ndaba posted on his Facebook page demanding repayment for the money that he had allegedly swindled from her. Upon engaging the woman, Mr Sithole discovered that some person unknown to him had opened a bank account with FBC Bank in his name. The person was advertising the sale of cars was luring victims to part with their money under the belief that they were dealing with the lawyer. Mr Sithole reported the matter to police and the Law Society of Zimbabwe. He also made an official complaint to the banks security and loss control department, where it was established that the imposter had even used a fictitious address, number 1034 Mabvuku. A bid to trace the imposter reached a dead end and the bank went on to shut the fraudulently opened account. After engaging the bank, Mr Sithole subsequently sued the FBC Bank along with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. He sought an order compelling the bank to shut the banks three digital banking platforms: the mobile banking platform under USSD quick code*220#; WhatsApp digital banking platform marketed as Noku under WhatsApp number +263 776670211 and the mobile software application called Mobile Moola App. He argued that the digital banking platforms were operating in breach of the provisions of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act with little regard to Know Your-Client verification process provided for in the Act. But Justice Esther Muremba dismissed the application, saying Mr Sithole had failed to establish that FBC Bank was liable for the relief he was seeking. It was the courts finding that Mr Sithole did not have a cause of action under the Act. Justice Muremba said Mr Sithole could not claim that he was suing in contract simply because he had given a narration of events he said entitled him to the relief. A contract which was fraudulently entered into in the name of another person without their knowledge and consent was not consistent with the doctrine of freedom of contract. As such, such a contract was not valid and it created no rights and obligations between the parties, she said. None of the parties could act and sue upon it. Since Mr Sithole did not open an account with FBC and neither did he authorise anyone to open an account on his behalf, so he had no contract with the bank for him to sue it, ruled Justice Muremba. There is no cause of action which entitles that applicant to be granted the reliefs that he is seeking, she said.In her ruling, Justice Muremba noted that Mr Sithole suffered harm as a result of the bank account that was opened with FBC Bank by an imposter in his name. She agreed with Mr Sithole that FBC Bank created a system that was open to abuse as evidenced by the fact that Ms Ndaba was duped into depositing money into the fictitious account. However, it was the courts final ruling that an interdict was appropriate only when future injury was feared. This meant Mr Sithole had the onus to establish on a balance probability that there were grounds for a reasonable apprehension that the injury that occurred to him would be repeated in future, which he failed to do. Herald She's been cast as legendary comedian and actress Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin's biopic Being The Ricardos. And Nicole Kidman was seen in costume as the famous redhead for the first time on Tuesday as filming got underway in Hollywood. Kidman, 53, who wore a shoulder-length wig, wrapped up warm on a chilly LA day in a black hooded coat as she waited between takes. On set: Nicole Kidman was seen for the first time in costume as Lucille Ball on Tuesday as she filmed scenes for Aaron Sorkin's biopic Being The Ricardos in Hollywood Underneath her coat, it appeared the actress was in costume in a cream blouse with pale green blazer and brown slacks. She chatted away with crew members as she waited patiently for cameras to roll. Ball and husband Desi Arnaz, who married in 1940 and split in 1960, starred as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on the sitcom I Love Lucy for six seasons from 1951 to 1957. According to IMDb, Being The Ricardos follows the couple 'as they face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage'. On location: Kidman, 53, who wore a shoulder-length wig, wrapped up warm on a chilly LA day in a black hooded coat as she waited between takes Filming: The actress returned to the US from Australia to start work on the Amazon drama. She said in January she'd been preparing for the role by watching episodes of I Love Lucy Drama: Kidman said of the role: 'I'm very excited for people to see what Aaron found out about her and the way hes interpreted Desi and Lucy and the way that it's so rich' Kidman returned to the US from Australia to start work on the drama which has been acquired by Amazon Studios. On April 8, she posted a photo of herself to Instagram as she shared that production had begun. In January, The Oscar winner revealed to Variety that she'd been preparing for the role by watching episodes of I Love Lucy. 'She's an amazing woman,' she told the outlet. 'I'm very excited for people to see what Aaron found out about her and the way hes interpreted Desi and Lucy and the way that it's so rich.' Couple on-screen and off: Ball and husband Desi Arnaz, who married in 1940, starred as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on the sitcom I Love Lucy for six seasons from 1951 to 1957 (pictured c. 1955) Being The Ricardos follows the couple 'as they face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage'. They divorced in 1960 (pictured at the Emmys in 1953) Lucille and Desi's daughter Lucie Arnaz, 69, posted a Facebook video in January in which she expressed her support for Sorkin's decision to cast Kidman as her famous mother. 'We are not doing a remake of I Love Lucy,' she stressed. 'No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo, nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things. Lucie explained that the film is 'the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband Desi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo. 'There will be humor in the film but it is a story of the two of them, and how they met, and what went right with finding the show, what went wrong their relationship, their love affair.' Spanish actor Javier Barden has been cast to play Desi. Big shoes: Lucille and Desi's daughter Lucie Arnaz posted a Facebook video in January in which she expressed her support for Sorkin's decision to cast Kidman as her famous mother Biopic: 'We are not doing a remake of I Love Lucy,' Lucie, 69, stressed. 'It is a story of the two of them, and how they met, and what went right with finding the show, what went wrong their relationship, their love affair' A New York woman who was asleep in her car in Union City was sexually assaulted after her attacker jumped into the vehicle and drove her into North Bergen, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. The 26-year-old told authorities that she was resting in the running vehicle that was parked in the midtown area of Kennedy Boulevard in Union City when she was kidnapped, the prosecutor said. She awoke to the man sexually assaulting her at approximately 10:30 p.m., the prosecutor said. The assailant fled the scene, which the prosecutors office described as downtown North Bergen. The incident is being investigated by the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit and the police departments of Union City and North Bergen. No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1234. All information will be kept confidential. A longtime suspect in the disappearance 25 years ago of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart was arrested on suspicion of murder Tuesday morning, along with his father, who was charged as an accessory to the crime. Paul Flores, 44, was arrested in San Pedro (Los Angeles County) and his father, Ruben Flores, 80, was arrested at his Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo County) home, where investigators later were dismantling part of a backyard deck. Smarts body has not been found, but San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson vowed that it will be. Were going to continue until we find her, he said. No matter the cost, no matter the time. The sheriff said he could not offer details of what investigators found that led them to arrest the Flores men because those search and arrest warrants are sealed. Nor would he describe why investigators believe Flores killed Smart and why they believe his father was involved. Both men were booked into the San Luis Obispo County jail. The younger Flores was driven to San Luis Obispo and booked just before noon. He is being held without bail. Ruben Flores is being held on $250,000 bail. On Wednesday, the San Luis Obispo District Attorneys Office filed a first-degree murder charge against Paul Flores and an accessory after murder charge against Ruben Flores, for allegedly helping him conceal Smarts body. Prosecutors said Wednesday that Smart was killed during an attempted rape. Parkinson announced the arrests at an afternoon news conference on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, steps from where Smart was last seen. This is a day that many had wished for, hoped for, prayed for, he said, offering his condolences to the Smart family. John Segale, a spokesman for the Smart family, said the family was informed of the arrests and would issue a statement later. Given that this is an extremely emotional day, the Smart family will not be conducting any interviews and will not be meeting with any reporters today or in the foreseeable future. Paul Flores was the last person to be seen with Smart and has long been the focus of the investigation into her disappearance. Last month, while searching the fathers house on a warrant, sheriffs investigators described Paul Flores as the prime suspect in the case. Smart was last seen on May 25, 1996 at around 2 a.m. as she walked home from a fraternity party on Memorial Day weekend of 1996 and went missing. She was last seen with Paul Flores on a campus footpath leading to the dorms. Investigators interviewed Flores and searched his dorm room, but he was not charged. In 2002, law enforcement said that the 19-year-old college student was presumed dead, but her body was never found. Her family, who live in Stockton, never gave up, maintaining contact with investigators. Interest in the case surged in late 2019 when Chris Lambert, a podcast creator, released a now eight-part series, Your Own Backyard, on the case. The Smart family thanked Lambert for helping revive the investigation. In 2016, authorities acting on a tip excavated a Cal Poly hillside looking for her body, but the dig turned up nothing. Early in 2020, investigators served search warrants in San Luis Obispo County, Los Angeles County and Washington state. They also seized two trucks the Flores family had formerly owned. While Parkinson declined to say what investigators discovered in searches over the past several months, he said that the separate homes of Paul Flores, his father, his mother and his sister were all searched and that forensic physical evidence was found at two of those homes. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan CHICAGO, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this Africa data center market report. The Africa data center market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 15% during the period 20202026. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: South Africa dominated the Africa market in 2020, in terms of area, investments, and power capacity, followed by Kenya . Morocco , Nigeria , and Egypt are emerging markets in Africa . Increasing internet penetration, adoption of cloud, and migration from on-premises to colocation and managed data centers is driving the data center demand in Africa . The rate of urbanization in Africa is expected to go up to aroundd 60% in 2050, with more than 10 mega cities comprising over 150 million residents, and accounting for over 15% share of the global GDP. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has introduced initiatives to boost renewable power generation across Africa , such as the Africa Clean Energy Corridor, West Africa Clean Energy Corridor, Entrepreneurship Support Facility in Western and Southern Africa , and Renewables Readiness Assessment. Smart cities are being built across Africa , including South Africa , Kenya , Morocco , and Nigeria , leading to increased network connectivity and data generation, and benefitting the data center industry. Smart Africa , an alliance between 29 African heads of state and the government, aims to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development, through affordable internet access and the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). 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 technique, cooling systems, general construction, tier standards, and geography Competitive Landscape 10 IT infrastructure providers, 11 support infrastructure providers, 6 construction contractors, and 14 data center investors. Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/africa-data-center-market Africa Data Center Market Segmentation The Africa IT infrastructure market expects to reach approx. USD 4 billion by 2026. The growth in data generation in Africa is fueling the demand for fast-processing efficient servers. The demand for build-to-suit infrastructure is growing to support specific applications. Several segments such as BFSI, healthcare, transportation and logistics, education, and heavy industries adopt advanced server systems for efficient services. by 2026. The growth in data generation in is fueling the demand for fast-processing efficient servers. The demand for build-to-suit infrastructure is growing to support specific applications. Several segments such as BFSI, healthcare, transportation and logistics, education, and heavy industries adopt advanced server systems for efficient services. The unreliable power grid connectivity increases the demand for power backup sources. UPS and generator systems are expected to grow due to the increased construction of large and mega data center facilities. The Kenya data center market has witnessed the installation of energy-efficient power infrastructure. Most facilities are of Tier III standards and are adopting power redundancy of N+1 or 2N to manage power grid instability. data center market has witnessed the installation of energy-efficient power infrastructure. Most facilities are of Tier III standards and are adopting power redundancy of N+1 or 2N to manage power grid instability. Data center facilities operating in the African region mainly adopt chillers and precision air cooling. The adoption of air-based cooling (free cooling chillers) is likely to gain traction as certain African countries experience cold winter seasons. South Africa is likely to adopt free cooling chillers or evaporative coolers. Africa Data Center Market by IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Network Africa Data Center Market by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches and Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructures Africa 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 Africa Data Center Market by Cooling Technique Air-based Cooling Technique Liquid-based Cooling Technique Africa Data Center Market by General Construction Core and Shell Development Installation and Commissioning Services Engineering and Building Designs Physical Security DCIM/BMS Africa Data Center Market by Tier Standards Tier I & II Tier III Tier IV Africa Data Center Market Dynamics The Africa data center market is increasingly moving towards digitization, with the rising adoption of the internet, the implementation of 5G services by a few telecom companies in Tier I cities, as well as improvement in overall connectivity in the region by way of terrestrial and subsea cables. The number of interconnected devices is also increasing significantly in recent years. By 2050, Africa will have 10 mega cities with over 150 million residents. These mega cities are expected to account for over 15% share of the global GDP. The rate of urbanization in Africa is expected to go up to 60% in 2050. This pace of urbanization will power the economy in the region and attract investments for technological advancements. Government-funded public administration initiatives are paving the way to the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) networks and related edge networks, 5G, and analytics applications in Africa. Smart city initiatives further emphasize the importance of data in improving communication among cities, citizens, automobiles, electronics, and devices. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Government Support to Boost Digital Economy Rising Adoption of All-Flash Storage Solutions Big Data & IoT on Data Center Growth Migration from On-Premises Infrastructure to Colocation & Managed Services Africa Data Center Market Geography South Africa is witnessing increased adoption of cloud-based solutions among enterprises and is rapidly emerging as a center for public and private cloud hosting, which will encourage more data center developments in the country. Cape Town and Johannesburg are the major preferred locations for data center development. For instance, AWS, a leading cloud service provider, has opened a cloud presence in Cape Town. This will help enterprises to gain faster access to their cloud service offerings at a cheaper rate in South Africa. The manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare sectors are among the major contributors to data center investments as these sectors are rapidly adopting cloud computing. The South African data center market is also increasingly adopting cloud technology. In September 2019, the data-only operator Rain, in partnership with Huawei, launched 5G network operations in South Africa. Vodacom and MTN have also launched commercial 5G services in the Tier I cities in South Africa, which will further increase the need for data storage, thereby increasing the requirement for additional data centers. Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/africa-data-center-market Africa Data Center Market by Geography Africa South Africa Morocco Kenya Nigeria Egypt Other Countries Key Data Center Critical (IT) Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Huawei Technologies IBM Juniper Networks Lenovo NetApp Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Caterpillar Cummins Eaton Envicool Legrand Rittal Rolls-Royce Power Systems Schneider Electric STULZ Vertiv Group Key Data Center Investors Africa Data Centres Amazon Web Services (AWS) io Internet Technologies Angola (ITA) Inwi IXAfrica MainOne (MDXi) N+ONE Orange PAIX Raxio Group Raya Data Center Teraco Data Environments Wingu Key Construction Constructors Arup Group Atkins Edarat Group Future-tech ISG Vantage Data Centers Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: enquiry@arizton.com Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1-302-469-0707 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence Have you had the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine within the last month? If you experience a severe headache that does not go away, significant abdominal or leg pain that does not subside, or increasing shortness of breath, health officials want you to call your doctor immediately. Those could be signs of an extremely rare, severe type of clot that may be linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- so rare that only six cases have been reported in the United States out of the approximately 7 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered to date. However, if you received the J&J vaccine more than a month ago, the risk is "very low," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a virtual briefing on Tuesday. The CDC announced six women between the ages of 18 and 48 had developed a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) -- a clot in the area of the brain that collects and drains oxygen-depleted blood. When this happens, "blood cells may break and leak blood into the brain tissues, forming a hemorrhage," according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The women all developed symptoms of this "rare and severe type of blood clot" between six and 13 days after their J&J vaccination, the CDC said. One of the women died 12 days after receiving the vaccine and entering the hospital with "dry heaving, sudden worsening of headache and (left) sided weakness," according to a record in the US Department of Health's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Another woman is in critical condition. The cases prompted the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration to recommend that administration of the J&J Covid-19 vaccine be paused to allow for further investigation. "What does a pause mean? It really allows both the US Food and Drug Administration and CDC to further investigate these cases to try and understand some of the mechanisms of what it is, some more details about the history of the individuals that were involved," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a White House briefing on Tuesday. In response, Johnson & Johnson decided to pause vaccinations in all of its clinical trials while the company updates "guidance for investigators and participants," according to a news release posted Tuesday afternoon. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday and share its subsequent analysis with the FDA for action, the agency said. What does this mean if I've had the J&J vaccine? "Don't freak out, I'll be going on with my life, but I would be very attuned to my body," Dr. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean at Emory University School of Medicine, told CNN's Poppy Harlow Tuesday. "If I develop shortness of breath, if I develop leg pain, if I develop a headache and I'm within two to three weeks of having had Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, I would immediately notify my health care provider," del Rio continued. The key here is unrelenting pain, said Dr. Mark Crowther, a member of the American Society of Hematology who is an expert in CVST. "Many people get headaches, many people have abdominal pain but (CVST) is sustained, it is very severe and it gets worse. It's not pain that gets better by itself," said Crowther, who chairs the department of medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. While CVST is not a stroke, people can experience strokelike difficulty speaking or moving an arm or leg, he added. "If patients get any of that kind of stuff, they should seek medical attention immediately. It's not the kind of thing that you wait until your physician's office opens on Monday before you deal with it," Crowther said. The CDC is working on "aggressive" outreach to clinicians so they are aware of the possible risks and how to identify symptoms, Schuchat said in the briefing. "Physicians would not see very many of these in their career, so they may not recognize it as quickly," Crowther said. "We have some highly effective treatments for this so the problem is getting physicians to recognize this extraordinarily rare problem and treat it appropriately." In some cases, physicians may not realize that the common anticoagulant drug heparin should not be used to treat CVST, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said during a virtual briefing on Tuesday. "With cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, heparin may be dangerous and alternative treatments need to be given, preferably under the guidance of physicians experienced in the treatment of blood clots," Marks said. The need to communicate proper treatment to doctors was part of the reason the FDA and CDC moved so quickly to pause the J&J rollout this week, health officials said. This development should not deter Americans or anyone else from continuing to be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna two-shot vaccines, or even the J&J vaccine once the government signs off, Crowther stressed. "Covid is associated with a risk of blood clots that is thousands of times higher" than blood clots caused by any vaccine, he said. "it's important people not miss that," Crowther added. "Get vaccinated!" How do low platelets factor in? Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis affects about five people in 1 million each year, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, occurring mostly in young adults and children. "CVST has been known about for decades, and there are many conditions in which you could see CVST, " Crowther said. "Meningitis, which is the bacterial infection around brain, causes CVST. In infants, a cause of CVST is actually severe dehydration." The CVST clots in six people in the US occurred in combination with thrombocytopenia, a condition in which people have a low blood count of platelets, the sticky, colorless blood cells that help blood clot, according to the J&J statement. A rare immune response that caused blood clots and low platelets also occured in 16 European patients who received AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, according to two papers published last week in The New England Journal of Medicine. In those papers, doctors describe clots in the patients' brains and abdomens that could indicate an abnormal immune response in 11 patients in Germany and Austria and five patients in Norway. There appear to be similarities between the rare blood clotting events possibly associated with Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine and the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, FDA's Marks said Tuesday, pointing to "an immune response that occurs very, very rarely after some people receive the vaccine." One possibility, Crowther said, is that vaccines trigger an overreactive immune response that attacks blood platelets. The platelets become active, and as a result cause blood clotting, even as their numbers drop. But that doesn't mean that vaccines always cause this phenomenon, Crowther stressed. Many people have lower platelet counts and don't realize it, he said, so when they get any vaccine and are later diagnosed with thrombocytopenia it may be attributed to the vaccine "even though (they) may have had it for 10 years and just never known about it." GREEN ISLAND A century after auto tycoon Henry Ford began building a power plant to drive his factory, the village Industrial Development Agency is seeking proposals to develop the northern 30 acres of the Ford Motor Company parcel. The 30 acres is the largest bank of land left for development in the village, accounting for 6.7 percent of the communitys acreage. This land plus 14.1 acres to its immediate south are whats let of the original 160-acre Ford site. The Ford property is the last of the undeveloped land we have, Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan said. Whether its housing, industrial, commercial or mixed-use that may be built on the islands northeast corner at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers will be determined by the proposals submitted to the IDA by the April 21 deadline. Its zoned industrial. A PDD (planned development district) would be required, said Sean Ward, executive assistant to McNulty-Ryan and the IDA chief executive officer. The IDA decided in March the 100th anniversary of Ford obtaining a license to build a private electrical plant for his planned factory to issue a request for proposals to develop the site. The IDA went this route after Ward reported that there was interest from developers in the northern 30 acres. Theres also been interest in the southern acres which Ford is currently cleaning up under a remediation agreement, Ward said. Ford became acquainted with Green Island when he went camping there with Thomas Edison and other industrialists. Eventually, Ford Motor Company would manufacture radiators and heater cores there for 65 years until shutting down its plant in 1988. The IDA has received one serious inquiry and a couple of others with questions about the property, Ward said. The 30-acre lot is assessed at $1,102,500.00. Theres another 1.5 acre lot thats on Cannon Street that can also be developed as part of the project which is assessed at $55,400. McNulty-Ryan and Ward said that additional housing, preferably including single-family homes not just apartments, would be a welcomed development. Its a beautiful spot, McNulty-Ryan said. Well see what happens. Housing would fit in neatly with the village trail, part of the states Empire State Trail, and village Black Bridge Trail that together run along the western boundary of the property and cross the Mohawk River over the Black Bridge, a former railroad bridge, into neighboring Cohoes, where the Van Schaick Island Country Club is located on the other side of the river. The northern Ford property is bordered by Cannon Street and the trails to the west, the Mohawk River on the north, the Hudson River on the east and on the south by the Veterans Memorial Drive and the 14.1-acre portion of the Ford property. The potential development of the 30-acre site follows the construction of apartments in the Starbuck Island project on Center Island at the southeast corner of the village along the Hudson River. The prime suspect was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder in the 25-year-old disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart. Paul Flores, 44, who was the last person seen with Smart on the California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo before she vanished in 1996, was taken into custody in the Los Angeles area. His father, Ruben Flores, 80, was arrested as an accessory at his Arroyo Grande home, where sheriffs investigators conducted their latest search for evidence. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said search warrants were sealed and so he could not disclose what evidence led to the arrests, but he said Smart's remains were not found. We have not recovered Kristin, he told a news conference. We will continue to focus on finding her remains regardless of any court action. Parkinson did say forensic physical evidence was located and, yes, we believe it's linked to Kristin. Smart, 19, of Stockton, vanished in May 1996 while returning to her dorm at Cal Poly after a party. She was seen with Flores, who was a student at the school at the time. In this Thursday, April 8, 2021 file photo, the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine sits on a table at a pop up vaccinations site the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, in the Staten Island borough of New York. The U.S. is recommending a pause in administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots. AP PHOTO/MARY ALTAFFER, FILE Korea and China on Tuesday protested against Japan's decision to release over 1 million tons of radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, but the U.S. expressed support. The Japanese government in a Cabinet meeting the same day approved a plan to discharge the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean in two years' time, when the plant's storage tanks become full. Some 1.25 million tons are currently stored in these tanks, increasing at a rate of 140 tons a day. Korean government officials expressed "strong regret." One said the government is putting the safety of Koreans first and "take all necessary measures" to get Japan to share information about the released water. The Foreign Ministry here summoned Japanese Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi to lodge a formal protest. The Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement said Japan "unilaterally" decided to release the water without discussing the matter with neighboring countries and accused Tokyo of being "highly irresponsible." The Western European powers who are party to the Iran nuclear deal have expressed "grave concern" over Tehran's announcement that it will start enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity. "Iran's dangerous recent communication is contrary to the constructive spirit and good faith" of ongoing efforts to revive the 2015 agreement, Britain, France, and Germany said in a joint statement on April 14. Last week in Vienna, Iran and the global powers held what they described as "constructive" EU-hosted talks centered on overcoming an impasse between Washington and Tehran to bring both parties into full compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Further discussions are scheduled in the Austrian capital on April 15. Despite the diplomatic efforts, Iran said on April 14 that it will start producing uranium enriched to 60 percent purity by next week following an alleged attack on the country's main Natanz nuclear site that Tehran has blamed on archenemy Israel. Few details have emerged about the April 11 alleged sabotage attack and no images of the aftermath have been released. Inspectors from the UN's nuclear watchdog visited the site without commenting on the extent of the damage caused by the alleged attack. "IAEA inspectors are continuing their verification and monitoring activities in Iran, and today have been at the Natanz enrichment site," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement on April 14. "The IAEA will continue to report on relevant developments regarding Iran's nuclear program to the IAEA Board of Governors," it added, referring to its 35-nation decision-making body. Israel is suspected of carrying out sabotage against Iran in the past, including cyberattacks and assassinations of nuclear scientists. The White House has said it remains committed to talks with Iran despite Tehran's "provocative" statement that it will ramp up uranium enrichment. Under the nuclear agreement, abandoned by the United States under former President Donald Trump, Iran had committed to keep enrichment to 3.67 percent. Recently it has been enriching up to 20 percent, saying the deal was no longer enforceable. Enriching uranium to 60 percent would be the highest level achieved by Iran's nuclear program, although it would still be short of the 90 percent purity needed for military use. Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear weapons saying its nuclear ambitions are purely civilian. Britain, France, and Germany said Tehran's decision was not based on credible civilian reasons and constituted an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon. "Iran's announcements are particularly regrettable given they come at a time when all JCPOA participants and the United States have started substantive discussions, with the objective of finding a rapid diplomatic solution to revitalize and restore" the accord, the so-called E3 European powers said. "In light of recent developments, we reject all escalatory measures by any actor, and we call upon Iran not to further complicate the diplomatic process," the statement said. The pact lifted international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limits on Iran's nuclear program. But the Trump administration imposed a raft of sanctions on Tehran under a "maximum pressure" campaign after it withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018. Iran responded by gradually breaching many of the nuclear restrictions saying the deal no longer applied. U.S. and Iranian officials have publicly clashed over the sequencing of possible U.S. sanctions relief and Iran reversing its breaches of the deal. In a message aimed at Israel, which fiercely opposes the nuclear deal, Iran's President Hassan Rohani said during a cabinet meeting on April 14: "You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full." Under the agreement, Iran had committed to keep enrichment to 3.67 percent. Recently, it has been enriching up to 20 percent, saying the deal was no longer enforceable. The White House has said it remains committed to talks with Iran despite Tehran's "provocative" statement that it will ramp up uranium enrichment. In a message aimed at Israel, Iran's President Hassan Rohani said during a cabinet meeting on April 14: You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks, but our hands are full." We cut both of your hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60 percent, he added. IR-6 centrifuges enrich uranium at a far faster rate than the IR-1 first-generation centrifuges that were taken out in the suspected sabotage attack. On April 13, the IAEA's director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, confirmed that Iran had informed the agency that the country intends to start producing UF6 enriched up to 60 percent." The White House is "certainly concerned about these provocative announcements," press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. "We believe that the diplomatic path is the only path forward here and that having a discussion, even indirect, is the best way to come to a resolution." "We cut both of your hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60 percent," he added. IR-6 centrifuges enrich uranium at a far faster rate than the IR-1 first-generation centrifuges that were taken out in the sabotage attack. Rohani reiterated that Tehran is determined to continue negotiations with world powers, and pledged that Iran's nuclear activity will "certainly be peaceful" and remain under IAEA supervision. Saudi Arabia said on April 14 that enriching uranium to 60 percent purity could not be considered part of a peaceful nuclear program, and called on Iran to avoid escalation and engage seriously in talks with global powers. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have supported Trump's move to quit the nuclear pact and reimpose sanctions. With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters, and RFE/RL's Radio Farda WASHINGTON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new paper jointly released today by The Concord Coalition and the Global Aging Institute (GAI) warns that the aging of the U.S. population not only threatens to overwhelm the budget, but could also usher in a future of permanently slower economic growth and diminished geopolitical stature. The paper, entitled The Macro Challenges of Population Aging , is the fifth in a series of issue briefs on the aging of America called The Shape of Things to Come . "The dramatic shift in the age structure and growth rate of the U.S. population poses a series of challenges that reach far beyond the impact on the federal budget," said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The Concord Coalition. "The aging of America could affect everything from employment and productivity growth to the nation's social mood and its place in the world order. In this issue brief, we take a broad look at the macro implications of population aging. The implications are sobering, and we cannot afford to ignore them." "Demography may not be destiny, but it can exercise a powerful influence on the economy and society, sometimes leaning with economic growth and sometimes leaning against it. Unfortunately, America, along with the rest of the developed world, has arrived at a juncture where the impact of demographic change is on balance likely to be negative," said Richard Jackson, president and founder of GAI. Macro challenges identified in the issue brief include: As the ratio of elderly to working-age adults increases, fiscal burdens will rise. As the growth rate in the working-age population slows, so will employment growth and GDP growth. Productivity growth may also decline, and along with it growth in living standards. As the electorate ages, the social mood may come to be characterized by greater risk-aversion and shorter time horizons. As America's population and economy grow more slowly, its geopolitical stature could diminish. The issue brief also identifies policy responses that could mitigate the negative impact of population aging, including increasing net immigration and increasing labor-force participation, especially at older ages. "An aging America can still be a prosperous America. Ensuring a positive outcome, however, will require confronting the challenges posed by population aging. Doing so successfully will test our ability to change, adapt, and evolve. Yet thankfully, that ability has always been one of America's defining characteristics," Jackson said. To read the whole paper, click here . Other briefs in the series can be found here . The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility. Since 1992, Concord has worked to educate the public about the causes and consequences of the federal deficit and debt, and to develop realistic solutions for sustainable budgets. For more fiscal news and analysis, visit concordcoalition.org and follow us on Twitter: @ConcordC SOURCE The Concord Coalition Related Links http://www.concordcoalition.org [April 14, 2021] NEW PUBLICATION: Rothman Index Provides New Approach to Triage for COVID-19 Patients at Hospital Admission The journal, Critical Care Explorations, has published findings based on work from a collaborative of researchers from Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS), LifeBridge Health's Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, and PeraHealth, Inc (Charlotte, NC), that offers important insights into patient care for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. The analyses use the Rothman Index, a well-validated measure of patient acuity. A comparison of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients shows that COVID patients are at "high risk" at significantly lower acuities than non-COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 patients, whose condition does not appear to be "worrisome" may in fact be at high risk for subsequent deterioration. The research also identifies "low risk" COVID-19 patients who may benefit from early hospital discharge. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005485/en/ Figure 1. Rothman Index (RI) at admission versus mortality rate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (solid red) and non-COVID-19 (dashed blue) populations (error bars are 2 sem) for three hospitals. For the Yale New Haven graph, the COVID-19 population is solid red, non-COVID-19 respiratory is dashed blue, and non-COVID-19 nonrespirator is dotted green. Source (News - Alert) : Stratifying Deterioration Risk by Acuity at Admission Offers Triage Insights for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients, Critical Care Explorations3(4):e0400, April 2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The Rothman Index, developed by PeraHealth, is the only proven algorithm that automatically derives one simple score from the vast amount of data in the electronic health record to create a picture of any patient's condition over time - any age, any disease, any care setting.? Because the data feeding the Rothman Index reflects the real-time status of multiple body systems, it captures subtle changes in patient condition, often hours or days earlier than existing vitals-based warning systems. The new publication titled, Stratifying Deterioration Risk by Acuity at Admission Offers Triage Insights for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients, detailed a retrospective study that outlines a new way to think about patient triage at hospital admission. The study analyzed data from 18,157 patients across four hospitals in Connecticut and Maryland and demonstrated the predictive correlation of the Rothman Index score to a patient's subsequent need for ICU level care or risk of in-hospital death. "It can be difficult for clinicians to make confident decisions around patient placement, especially in the current high-stress pandemic environment. Our work may help disambiguate data and provide a direction," said PeraHealth Founder and Chief Science Officer, Michael Rothman, PhD. "This publication highlights the importance of research with our hospital partners and how their relentless focus on innovation can improve patient outcomes." The publication in Critical Care Explorations journal can be viewed here: Stratifying Deterioration Risk by Acuity at Admission Offers Triage Insights for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients To hear more from the PeraHealth research team, consider viewing the recent webinar, "How to Identify High Risk COVID-19 Patients upon Hospital Admission." About PeraHealth PeraHealth is a SaaS (News - Alert) software company that uses the Rothman Index to transform the clinical and financial efficiency of healthcare. The Rothman Index is the first algorithm that derives a universal patient scoreTM from the vast amount of data in the electronic medical record to create a picture of any patient's condition over time - any age, any disease, any care setting. It is the only algorithm proven to reduce mortality in practice. Other results include reducing length of stay and readmissions. Our customers are leading hospitals and clinicians who need to identify patients at risk of rapid decline, make decisions about transfer and discharge, predict the risk of severe infection, and improve the overall efficiency and quality of care. For more information, visit www.perahealth.com and @perahealth. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005485/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Washington: The Morrison government hopes to use a summit next week organised by US President Joe Biden to repair the damage caused to Australias global reputation by a decade of infighting over climate policy. Australias ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos said he had spoken to John Kerry in recent days and told the US climate envoy that Australia wants to work closely with the US to promote global investment in low-carbon technologies. Arthur Sinodinos, Australias Ambassador to the United States of America, at his residence in Washington, DC. Asked whether Australia has an image problem on climate among Democrats in Washington, Sinodinos said: Its true to say that because weve had the climate wars with three or four prime ministers losing their jobs they see this has been a politically fraught issue for us. But we use that fact as a chance to explain why weve taken the approach we have to climate change and why policies such as carbon pricing and carbon taxation have fallen by the wayside. ATLANTA, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) will announce its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2021, in a release to be issued on April 21 after the market closes. Equifax will host a conference call at 8:30 am ET on April 22 in which senior management will discuss financial and business results for the quarter. Related presentation materials will be published on investor.equifax.com on April 22 at 6:30 am ET. Conference Call: US/Canada: (800) 263-0877 International: +1 786 460-7199 Please dial the appropriate number 5-10 minutes prior to the call to complete registration. Name and affiliation/company are required to join the call. Have the Conference Call You: With Click to Join, there's no need to dial-in. Simply click the link and enter your information to be connected. The link becomes active 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. An audio replay of the conference call will be available on investor.equifax.com beginning on April 23. ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employees, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com FOR MORE INFORMATION BEN SHEIDLER MediaInquiries@equifax.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equifax-announces-earnings-release-date-and-conference-call-for-first-quarter-2021-results-301268175.html SOURCE Equifax Inc. A former Berks County man will spend at least a decade behind bars after admitting to a federal judge that he conspired to distribute heroin and methamphetamine in 2017 and 2018 in Schuylkill County and elsewhere. William Terron, 38, formerly of Reading, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Scranton to conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and heroin. U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani accepted the plea, ordered preparation of a presentence report and said he would schedule sentencing at a later date. The crime carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Terron could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 million fine. A grand jury indicted Terron and four other people in December 2018 for meth trafficking in northeastern Pennsylvania Terron admitted that between January 2017 and December 2018, he conspired to distribute between 1.5 and 5 kilograms of crystal meth and one and 3 kilograms of heroin, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler. Amanda Boyle, 37, of Sweet Valley, Terrons co-conspirator, already has been sentenced to serve nine years in prison for her role in the conspiracy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. OHara is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Pennsylvania State Police, Kingston police, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the state attorney generals office investigated the case. The U.S. Attorneys Office brought the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and their communities to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer. An Islamophobic social worker has been arrested for racially abusing and spitting at a Muslim couple at a Florida Walgreens. Maskless Luba Bozanich was filmed launching the racist tirade at vacationers Nahla Ebaid and her husband Tamir Elhadad on March 31 at the store in Fort Lauderdale. 'You look like a f***ing n****r,' Bozanich is recorded telling the couple, in cellphone footage. 'Want me to spit on you again?' Bozanich adds, suggesting that she has already spit on the couple. 'What a [sic] ugly b***h,' Bozanich says, seemingly directed at Ebaid. 'Why do you wear clothes like that?' Luba Bozanich went on an Islamophobic, racist, and homophobic rant on March 31 'You are a f***ing c***sucker, you probably suck c***s,' she continued, before referencing they were Muslim and saying 'Kiss my a**.' Bozanich then calls 911 telling the officers; 'They're Muslim, here in our country. 'There's Muslims here that are threatening me,' she said, claiming that one of the victims threatened to throw her on the ground, which a man, off camera, refutes several times. There is no sign that Ebaid or Elhadad ever threatened Bozanich. 'No wonder people hate you. Israelis rule. Israelis rule cause you guys are ugly,' Bozanich says as she walks away, with a Walgreens employee questioning whether or not Bozanich is even shopping. During the confrontation, which reportedly began when employees asked Bozanich to put on a mask, which she declined to do, she is repeatedly asked to move away from the couple. The rant began because Walgreens employees asked Bozanich to put on a mask Luba Bozanich (seen on Facebook) apologized, but also suggested she was provoked An employee is also heard on the video repeating her request for Bozanich to wear her mask. However, when police do arrive, it's Bozanich who is arrested and is facing charges of battery for allegedly spitting on Elhadad. The incident is coming to light at the start of Ramadan, a 30-day holiday focused on forgiving and loving for Muslims. The couple chose to forgive Bozanich for her hateful rant and not press charges, leading police to releasing her. 'She apologized and we accept her apology,' Ebaid said to NBC Miami. 'This is from our religion, we have to forgive and give another chance.' Bozanich claimed that she can't wear a mask for medical reasons. Nahla Ebaid (pictured with her husband) forgave Bozanich and chose not to press charges The licensed social worker apologized for her actions, but also suggested that she was provoked into the confrontation. 'I dont like what I saw, but Im human,' Bozanich said to Local 10 News. 'When this guy said what he said to me I said what I said to him and I got angry. I felt very angry, and I told him off.' Ebaid, meanwhile, is not backing down after the incident from being true to her identity. 'My message for the Muslim women: Wear your hijab, dont be scared to wear your hijab,' Ebaid stated. London: The owners of Scrabble have banned players from using offensive words, sparking a furious backlash from players who have accused the company of virtue signalling. The toy company Mattel, which owns the rights to the board game outside North America, has removed 400 derogatory terms from its official list of playable words. Scrabble pieces. Although Mattel has refused to publish the list, the games official word checker reveals that it includes racial slurs against those of black, Pakistani and Irish origin. However, David Webb, a British Scrabble grandmaster, accused Mattel of pandering to wokeness. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global surface mount switch market features a largely fragmented competitive landscape, wherein the top five companies accounted for nearly XX% of the overall market in 2015, observes a recent report by Trends market research(TMR). These top companies, namely Omron Corporation, NKK Switches Co. Ltd, E-Switch Inc., Grayhill Inc., and C&K Components, have adopted the course of strategies such as expansion of production units, product innovation, and acquisitions and mergers to stay ahead of the competition. Owing to the rapid development of the global surface mount switch market, a number of new players have forayed into the market by acquiring niche product manufacturers. A number of existing players have also entered into strategic collaborations or have acquired smaller firms to make the most of the existing growth opportunities and remain competitive in the market. This has enhanced the capital base for companies, enabling them to invest higher amounts in research and development activities and strengthen their hold on the market. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3425 Most of the key manufacturers of surface mount switches are located in Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. This has limited the potential of the market from reaching regions such as Latin America and Africa. This could be a viable incremental growth opportunity for new entrants, especially in Latin America, wherein the flourishing telecommunication sector will lead to a vast rise in demand for a variety of electronics components in the next few years. Growth in Key End-use Sectors to Keep Demand across Asia Pacific Strong According to RRI, the global surface mount switch market was valued at US$XX mn in 2018 and is expected to reach US$XX mn in terms of revenue by 2025, exhibiting at a CAGR of XX% By 2025. In terms of product type, the segment of ultra-miniature surface mount toggle switch presently constitutes the bulk of markets overall revenue and is expected to exhibit strong growth over the forecast period as well. Geographically, due to strong growth in industries such as automotive, electronics, and telecommunication, the Asia Pacific market is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Rising Demand for Electronics Goods to Help Market Retain Healthy Growth The vast rise in the global consumption of electronics goods such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and laptops has been one of the key drivers of the global surface mount switches and will continue to have a strong impact on the markets future growth prospects. The electronics goods industry consumes vast volumes of electronics hardware that utilize the extensive usage of surface mount technology. Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/3425/Single The use of surface mount switches instead of through-hole devices grants the hardware an improved level of mechanization and also significantly reduced the cost of manufacturing. The potential rise in adoption of surface mount switches across the electronics goods industry owing to these factors will have a significant positive impact on the overall development of the market in the next few years. Higher Costs and Relative Unsuitability for Mechanical Stresses to Hinder Market Growth On account of the small size, better performance, and cost effectiveness of surface mount switches, when the overall cost of the end-product is considered, have led to their increased usage across a number of application areas; analysts have estimated that surface mounted switches are replacing through-hole switches in about 90% of new-age electronic hardware. However, surface mount switches are comparatively costlier than through-hole switches. Also, surface mount switches face limited competency when subjected to special electrical, mechanical, and thermal conditions, making through-hole switches relevant to a wide range of applications and for a number of cost-sensitive end-product varieties. Moreover, electromechanical surface mount RF switches are known to have lower operating lifetimes than solid state switches. Get Request for Table of Contents: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3425 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) President Rodrigo Duterte has called on Congress to immediately pass three economic bills that seek to relax foreign investments, in a bid to aid the country's economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Duterte requested the immediate passage of Senate Bills 2094, 1156, and 1840. The three measures are pending in their respective committees and are due to be passed on second reading. The President certified as urgent the passage of these economic bills to "provide a more conducive investment climate, increase job opportunities, foster more competition, and further spur the country's economic growth." Legislators can skip the three-day rule between the passage of a bill in second reading and third reading when the President certifies a bill as urgent. Senate Bill 2094 seeks to amend some provisions of the 85-year-old Public Service Act to improve the delivery of basic services in the country. The proposed bill distinguishes "public utilities" from "public services." The measure provides that "public utilities" will only be limited to three services which are electricity distribution, electricity transmission, and water pipeline distribution systems and sewerage pipeline systems. The three classified public utilities in Senate Bill 2094 will still adhere to Article 12, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that a firm operating as a "public utility" should be 60% owned by a Filipino. Those classified as "public services," including previously labeled public utilities like telecommunications, transportation power generation, petroleum, and wireless communications, are now exempt in the constitutional requirement of 60% Filipino ownership in these firms. Last March 10, the Senate Public Services Committee chaired by Sen. Grace Poe endorsed the approval of Senate Bill 2094 but it has yet to hurdle second reading. On the other hand, Senate Bill 1156 amends some provisions of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991. The proposed measure seeks to ease restrictions in foreign investments in the country, particularly considering e-commerce business entities as "domestic market enterprises" which means those can now be fully owned by non-Filipino nationals. The bill also orders the Department of National Defense, the National Security Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and other related government agencies to review foreign investments that may "threaten national security or jeopardize international relations." The measure also sought for the creation of the Investment Promotions Council to further encourage foreign investments in the country. The Trade Secretary will act as the council's chairperson. Lastly, Senate Bill 1840 seeks to amend the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000 to lower required paid-up capital for foreign enterprises. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution to ease restrictions on foreign business ownership. He wants the House to pass the resolution in May. Shocking new footage shows a drugged-up truck driver veering wildly between lanes on a busy freeway moments before he ploughed into four police officers. The chilling footage played at the sentencing hearing of Mohinder Singh, 48, shows his 20-tonne semi-trailer moving erratically on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway on April 22 last year. Other road users can be seen taking evasive action as they try to avoid the dangerous truck, which Singh was driving while on drugs and convinced he was possessed by a witch. One car is even forced onto the hard shoulder to avoid the rampaging truck. Singh was sentenced to a total of 22 years in prison by Justice Paul Coghlan at the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday for the deaths of Leading Senior Constable Lynnette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney. The victims' grief-stricken families said although justice was carried out, no amount of punishment could ever replace their loved ones. Left to right: Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and Constable Joshua Prestney all died in the crash Mohinder Singh thought he was being chased by a witch in the moments leading up the the horrific crash on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway on April 22 They offered a a heartfelt message to the brave first responders across the state who put their lives on the line everyday, and thanked the people of Victoria for their 'outpouring of love'. The four officers had been impounding a Porsche driven by mortgage broker Richard Pusey when they were struck and killed by Singh's semi-trailer. Singh had been in the midst of a ice-fuelled bender when he got behind the wheel. He had only slept for five hours over the previous three days and believed he was being 'chased by a witch' in the moments leading up to the horrific crash, the court heard. In sentencing, Justice Coghlan condemned Singh for his offending, describing the video of the incident as 'chilling'. 'There are events that shock the public conscience, this has been such an event,' he said. 'The police officers had no hope.' Justice Coghlan said the crash was 'entirely unnecessary' and 'could have been avoided'. The court heard Singh had been told to get some rest before he got behind the wheel that day. Mohinder Singh arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Wednesday for sentencing Mohinder Singh arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne before his pre-sentence hearing last month For two seconds before he ran the police officers down, alarms in Singh's truck warned him to stop. Singh's truck swerved into the emergency lane where the vehicle's front mounted radar sensor detected the stationary police vehicles in front of the truck. The truck triggered a 'Forward Collision Warning Event', which projected a red flashing light onto the inside of the windscreen. Crash experts later found Singh never hit the brakes and the only reason the truck stopped at all was because the vehicle itself had done so. Singh had spent the previous few days on a bender smoking ice and cannabis and downing bottles of booze. In sentencing, Justice Coghlan condemned Singh for his offending, describing the video of the incident as 'chilling' Mohinder Singh's truck careered off the highway and into the car of Richard Pusey, who had been pulled over by the officers Following the sentence, Mr Prestney's father Andrew read out an emotional statement. 'On behalf of the families and loved ones of Lynette, Kevin, Josh and Glenn, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to those members of the public and first responders that were at the scene of the collision on the 22nd of April 2020, for the care and respect that was shown to our loved ones,' it read. 'Even though we do not know them all, we share a history with them now and forever.' But the families' court pain is set to continue with the sentencing of Richard Pusey later this month for filming the crash site and taunting a senior constable as she lay dying. Pusey was urinating at the time of impact and missed being caught up in the collision. He fled the scene and was arrested a day after the crash on April 23. Singh will be eligible for parole in 18 years. Parents of Josh Prestney, Andrew and Belinda, arrive at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne during Singh's plea hearing. Mr Prestney said the sentence would never replace his lost son Richard Pusey, the driver of a Porsche who fled the scene of the truck crash, is taken away from his Fitzroy property by police on April 23 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Taste of Thai will reopen this week after relocating from the former spot at the gas station off exit 3 to Black Mountain Square. The food truck is hoping to be open to the public on Thursday. The Myanmar ambassador to the UK has barricaded himself inside his Hampstead home as regime loyalists threaten to evict him. Kyaw Zwar Minn's supporters are sleeping with pepper spray by their pillows after he was told to leave the north London house by tomorrow or face prosecution. Mr Minn previously alleged the embassy was 'seized' by a military attache in an 'unacceptable and disrespectful' act against Myanmar's people and the UK. The diplomat - who is hiding in his house with his wife, son and two golden retrievers - has called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's elected leader, after she was detained when the military seized power in a coup on February 1. A source, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, told The Telegraph: 'I'm sleeping with pepper spray by my bed in case the regime loyalists try to break in. We are all terrified they will try to force their way into the residence to evict the ambassador.' Kyaw Zwar Minn's supporters are sleeping with pepper spray by their pillows after he was told to leave the house in Hampstead, north London, by tomorrow or face prosecution Mr Minn waits outside the Myanmar embassy with his diplomatic car after being refused entry Mr Minn said he spent the night in his car after he was locked out of the embassy in Mayfair, central London, last Wednesday, in the hope the UK Government would reinstate his access. But two members of his former staff delivered a letter to his home on Sunday ordering him to move out by Thursday, he told The Guardian. Britain offers safe haven to Myanmar's ousted ambassador after his staff staged a mini-coup and locked him out of the London embassy Britain has offered safe haven to Myanmar's ambassador who was ousted in a mini-coup for supporting pro-democracy groups. Nigel Adams, the UK's Asia minister, said the government will 'support' Kyaw Zwar Minn and 'ensure his safety and security' while he remains in this country. 'I pay tribute to [Minn's] courage and patriotism,' Mr Adams tweeted after the pair met in the Foreign Office last Thursday. The meeting came just a day after Minn's former deputy Chit Win led staff in a mutiny which saw him locked out of the country's Mayfair embassy before spending the night asleep in his car outside. Myanmar's military rulers also sent official notification to the UK that his diplomatic status had been revoked for refusing to recognise their authority and continuing to support jailed leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Minn said he had stopped obeying orders from the junta last month after he was ordered to return home for criticising them. Asked yesterday whether he intended to return to his home country, Minn replied: 'Do you want to see me get killed?' Advertisement Speaking to the paper, he revealed his friends and relatives at home were forced into hiding because of his actions. He added: 'They are not able to show their face in public because of me. The Foreign Office said that if they invaded our residence the British police could not do anything. 'People are watching very closely the British government's next step. They got a lesson from the Myanmar army ... now they have to give a lesson back to the army. They have to show their strength.' The UK has made an offer of safe haven to the ambassador. Myanmar has been embroiled in unrest since the military carried out a putsch on February 1, disputing the results of an election that resulted in a pro-democracy party winning power. Citizens have been pushing back against the ruling junta, staging massive demonstrations which have been met with violence by the military and led to the deaths of an estimated 700 people. More than 3,000 people were detained as the Myanmar military squared off against its opponents in the courts, the streets, and the countryside. In a further assault on dissent, ousted civilian leader Ms Suu Kyi was hit with a fresh criminal charge on Monday as she appeared by video link before a judge in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw. Ms Suu Kyi, who led the government toppled in the military takeover, was accused of breaching a law intended to control the spread of coronavirus, the second such charge against her under the same law. She is already facing charges of illegally importing walkie-talkies, unlicensed use of them, inciting public unrest and breaking a colonial-era official secrets act that could see her jailed for 14 years. The junta has also accused Ms Suu Kyi of corruption and presented on state television what it said was evidence that she took bribes. However, her supporters claim the prosecutions are politically motivated tactics to discredit her and attempt to legitimise the coup. Military personnel participates in a parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27 Mourners attend the funeral of Saw Sal Nay Muu, who died after attempting to flee a checkpoint, on April 11 Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the government toppled in the military takeover, allege she is accused of a fresh criminal charge when she appeared by video link before a judge The generals overthrew Ms Suu Kyi's government less than three months after she won a landslide victory in a democratic election, and any conviction could see her banned from a future election. The coup put a halt to the progress Myanmar was making towards greater democratisation after five decades of dictatorship. The takeover and the bloody crackdown on the opposition which has followed has led to calls for an arms embargo on the country and other sanctions that could put pressure on the military. As of Sunday, 706 protesters and bystanders have been verified as killed in the post-coup crackdown, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which tracks casualties and arrests. The group claimed that at least 82 people were killed in the town of Bago on Friday, in one of the deadliest attacks of the post-coup period to have happened so far. The number of dead is expected to grow, they added. Meyersdale takes down Shade for fifth district title in six seasons Meyersdale took down Shade in the District 5 Class A softball championship on Friday, marking its fifth overall title win in the last six years. JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On 12 April 2021, PT Kreasi Teknologi Makmur (KTM) has signed an agreement with Wirecard Group entities to purchase all shares of PT Wirecard Technologies Indonesia (WDTI) including its newly established Malaysian subsidiary Wide Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. The closing of this transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions. WDTI is a leading provider of digital software products for banks in Indonesia, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. With its award-winning PrimeCash transaction banking solution, WDTI enables banks to offer innovative solutions to corporate customers for management of payments, payroll, taxes, receivables, liquidity and supply chain financing. A significant proportion of Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese consumers also use the retail banking products developed by WDTI to access banking services via websites and mobile apps. With the backing of KTM, WDTI aims to strengthen its relationship with existing customers and continue to grow its business in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. WDTI is committed to support its customers to rapidly advance the digitalization of their corporate and retail banking offerings, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Quotes from WDTI: "This is a great moment. Now, WDTI is able to strengthen even more our commitment to our partner banks, invest in product improvements and achieve long-term growth," said Oliver von Quadt, President Director. "KTM provides us the financial backbone to heavily invest in further product development to strengthen our technical leadership," said Pardjo Yap, CFO. Quote from KTM: "We see strong potential to grow a local champion in Indonesia to become an international champion in its segment. We are committed to serve the existing customers and utilize synergy effects within our group of companies," said Vincent Oei, Investor Relations Manager. About KTM PT Kreasi Teknologi Makmur (KTM) is a newly set-up technology holding company and aims to be a leading enterprise technology, software and services company in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. KTM is backed by a large Indonesian-based conglomerate with more than 50 companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates worldwide. About WDTI PT Wirecard Technologies Indonesia (WDTI), former PT Aprisma Indonesia is specialized on providing high-performant and complex end-to-end solutions for corporate and retail banking in Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, with presence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, WDTI has an experienced team of over 350 software professionals. Contact: WDTI Media Relations, press@wdti.io Click here to read the full article. Most songwriters spend their entire professional lives trying to achieve a run of hits as remarkable as what Omer Fedi and his friends have managed to do in the past six months. But for 21-year-old Fedi, who just started making big waves in the music industry last year, hes only at the beginning of his career. The Israel-born, Los Angeles-based guitarist, producer and songwriter scored a trio of smashes late in 2020 and into 2021, including co-writing/co-producing 24kGoldn and Iann Diors massive Mood (which is on the cusp of passing a billion streams on Spotify this month), co-writing and co-producing The Kid LAROIs Without You (which just cracked the top 10 this week on both alternative and pop radio charts, per Mediabase), and co-writing and co-producing last weeks No. 1 song in America, Lil Nas Xs Montero (Call Me By Your Name). Unlike many new songwriters, Fedi didnt take a traditional path to success, which usually involves slogging through hundreds of songwriting sessions in order to catch a lucky break and slide into the upper echelons of the charts after landing a big cut with a known artist. In fact, Fedi is against the very idea of strangers teaming in a studio to write for a top-tier star. I dont understand how you can make music with someone that isnt your friend, or someone random, he says via Zoom from New York, where he recently had some business to attend to. If you dont vibe together as a human, even if both of you are incredible musicians, you just cant make good music. Thats not to say that Fedis publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), hasnt tried to get him into writing sessions, but he was adamant that his was a better way forward as a songwriter from the start. They tried at the beginning, and I love my publisher, but I was, like, No, Ill just work with my friends, thank you. Fortunately for all parties involved, that strategy has worked out well. Fedis crew includes 24KGoldn (he executive produced 24KGoldns new album, El Dorado, and co-wrote/co-produced nearly every song on it), fellow UMPG writer Blake Slatkin (with whom he worked on both Mood and Without You), and producer Keegan Bach (aka K-Beazy). I just like to create a vibe and just rock n roll, says the modest musician, who almost acts as his own A&R taking pride in finding talent early and developing acts before they become big. Case in point: 24KGoldn, whose Mood hinges on a guitar riff of Fedis creation as the foundation and melody. As Fedi recalls: Me and my boy K-Beazy, when we made the track, we were, like, Lets do some early 2000s stuff, but if it was fast. If you listen to most pop music, the best riffs kind of stop during the song, so you dont get tired of it, but for Mood I was, like, Its gotta [continue] throughout the whole song. I felt like it was gonna work. Fedis influences are rooted in rock music. He cites Jimi Hendrix as an early inspiration growing up in Israel, where his father, Asher Fedi, is known in rock circles as an accomplished drummer. All my favorite bands and guitar players are people that make the catchiest riffs, like Jimmy Page, [Red Hot Chili Peppers] John Frusciante, the Strokes, stuff like that, he says. Both the young musician and his father (along with the entire family) moved to Los Angeles around five years ago from Tel Aviv to give Fedi, who displayed prodigious talent at guitar from an early age, a better shot at success. In Israel, theres kind of a ceiling as to how far you can go in music, but nothing here can stop me, he says with conviction. Fedis first break came via meeting connected songwriter Sam Hook while he was still in school at Calabasas High. Sam helped me a lot, I used to finish school and go straight to his house and make music, he says. He was like the first guy to tell me, Youre not just a guitar player; you gotta produce and write songs. I didnt know anything about the industry at the time, but then he told me about Andrew Watt and people like that. Soon after, Fedi began to gain confidence in his musical and production skills, while also getting a feel for his generation wanted to hear. Fedi was early in spotting Australias The Kid LAROI, and he immediately put his newfound confidence hustle to the test, writing him directly via social media. Says Fedi: I heard him on Soundcloud one day and he had this song Blessings that he released when he was 14, and I DMd him, and he didnt even have a lot of followers back then, and neither did I, so I didnt hear back at first. But they eventually got in touch, and the two started making music together as soon as the Australian artist landed in Los Angeles. He literally just got to the U.S. and we made this song Go when we first met, he adds. They became fast friends and continued to write together, eventually creating what is now the global smash Without You, which is nearing 1.5 million song project units since its November 2020 release, per Alpha Data. Hes one of my closest friends and to see this song we did together blow up is incredible, Fedi enthuses. Its always fun when you believe in someone and then you see that other people gravitate towards him too and say, Yeah, his music is good. All his songs before [were] more urban driven, and then we dropped a song thats just super bare minimum acoustic guitar, and its great because we are both big Nirvana fans. And while Fedi prefers to work with new artists that he finds on his own before they blow up (I never wanted a song with an A-list pop star, I wanted to find the new kid that I believe will be the next A-list star and then make a song with them he says)., he made an exception for Lil Nas X. I started to catch a little wave at Columbia Records because both Kid LAROI and 24KGoldn are signed there, so [Columbia chairman and CEO] Ron Perry was hearing my demos and he loved what I was doing, so we started talking and he was the one who put me in with Nas, Fedi says of how he came to co-write Montero (Call Me By Your Name). I love Ron and I think hes one of the smartest people Ive ever met, so when he tells me something, I listen to him, he adds. Fedi and Lil Nas X clicked instantly. The second we met, we were just, like, best friends and started hanging out, he says. I went to his AirBnb every day and we were just making music and watching movies. Im always a big fan of artists like Nas that you can never know how their next single is gonna sound like. I like challenges. One has to wonder whether the charismatic multi-instrumentalist Fedi is considering an artist career for himself? Not at the moment, he insists. Im more of a behind-the-scenes guy, and Im not even close to reaching my [songwriting] goals, he says. My friends push me to be better every day and I want to help them be the greatest artists of all time. Im simply along to be a part of the journey. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I reported previously how Hardin-Simmons University forced out a student who had published disparaging but accurate material about the Black Lives Matter movement. This is far from the only controversy that has happened on the watch of President Eric Bruntmyer. The Baptist Standard reports that, prior to the "canceling" incident in question and for unrelated reasons, Jeff Sandefer, a member of the family of former President Jefferson Davis Sandefer Sr., asked the university to remove his family's name from campus buildings and to also move the remains of Sandefer Sr. to another resting place. "This is a letter I never thought I would write; however, I believe HSU is headed for financial and spiritual bankruptcy due to poor leadership, unwise financial decisions and a disregard for HSU faculty, students and alumni." Sandefer did not use the word "disowned," but the extreme step of asking a university to remove the name of one's family from campus comes across as exactly that. The letter also alleges that 64% of the faculty and 550 alumni have stated that they have no confidence in President Bruntmyer or the board, and cites low graduation rates and poor starting salaries for graduates. "American Council of Trustees and Alumni Weighs In on HSU" adds that the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) cited issues such as threats to academic freedom and "ballooning construction costs." ACTA's own website elaborates further on these issues, and see also this page. In fairness to Hardin-Simmons, its graduation rate actually seems a little better than the national average. The same goes, however, for Texas A&M (Central Texas) whose in-state tuition for 2021-2022 appears to be less than $7500 per semester ($15,000 per year) for most if not all majors versus roughly $29,500 for Hardin-Simmons. Hardin-Simmons does offer a religious focus as a premium for Christian students. When I last heard, however, it is Jesus and not Eric Bruntmyer, who depicted the student's social media post as not reflecting Christian values, is the ultimate authority on this subject. While I cannot speak for Jesus, I think he also would have had trouble with Black Lives Matters' silence (as in, you know, "silence is violence") about all but conveniently-selected incidents of white-on-Black violence including a white cop who shot a Black man, Hakim Littleton, who is on bodycam video pointing a gun at the head of the cop's partner. Terrence K. Williams has raised almost identical concerns about this movement and I doubt HSU's wokesters are in any position to contend that Williams doesn't like Black people. Jesus also said to love your neighbor as yourself, he did not specify the utility of your neighbor's life to your movement, and BLM falls far short of this standard when it remains silent about incidents of Black-on-Black violence such as the killings of retired police captain David Dorn and eight-year-old Secoriea Turner. The latter was killed at an illegal roadblock, the kind typical of BLM's extreme elements in Atlanta last year. While the Sandefer family's actions are unrelated to the university's decision to force out a student for disparaging BLM, they do reflect on the same administration that was involved in this decision. Regardless whether HSU was within its rights to discipline the student, and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) appears to question whether HSU violated its own free speech policies by doing so, the decision was controversial. "Controversy" means that some people support your actions while others find them sufficiently repugnant to disqualify you from serving them and, even if the split is 60:40 in your favor, you've just thrown away 40% of your prospective customers, students, career opportunities, or whatever. The split is however probably 40:60 or even worse when it comes to toleration of those who interfere with the educational or professional careers of others over political and social media disputes. HSU may practice its customs and we will practice ours. Our custom is that cancelers that "go woke" should also go broke due to loss of business. This does not necessarily mean that I want HSU to go under, as it might indeed do given the number of private colleges that must compete for a declining number of high school graduates, but rather that HSU's trustees need to correct this situation and also the issues raised by the Sandefer family before matters reach that point. Bruntmyer added, "Hate speech or racist comments by anyone are completely unacceptable and we do not want to condone behavior that questions peoples worth, their value, their dignity or their equality," which comes across to me as a public accusation that the student in question is a racist, and one I perceive as false. It is far from racist to question the agenda of a movement to which, to paraphrase George Orwell's Animal Farm, some lives matter more than others. BLM and not the student therefore questions people's worth, value, dignity, and equality on the basis of skin color and also convenience to the movement. The "canceled" student also posted, as I understand, her belief that all lives matter which includes all Black lives, not just those whose names BLM finds it convenient to say. It is meanwhile to be remembered that Nicholas Sandmann sued several media entities over far less explicit allegations of racism. I would encourage the student involved to contact a Texas attorney who specializes in this field before the statute of limitations runs out. She should also investigate whether a complaint should be filed under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) which may prohibit public disclosure of disciplinary actions by universities that receive Federal funds. Bruntmyer said that he could not disclose the specific steps of the disciplinary process, and then added that the student was no longer enrolled in the school. I believe regardless of whether FERPA applies to HSU and/or this specific situation that any university whose president talks about why a student withdrew or was separated from the institution should be avoided, period. I would not recommend that anybody attend this institution as long as the problems remain uncorrected.. HSU can practice its customs but needs to understand that others may practice their own in response. Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. He or she is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter. Image: Hardin-Simmons. Univ. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 09:50:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Tuesday revealed that France had provided 1 million euros (1.2 million U.S. dollars) to support Libya's national elections. French Ambassador to Libya Beatrice Le Fraper du Hellen signed an agreement with UNDP Resident Representative Gerardo Noto, by which France committed 1 million euros to support the UNDP's Promoting Elections for the People of Libya project, raising the total funds from France to the project to 1,850,000 euros (2.21 million dollars), the UNDP said in a statement. The statement said the project works to support the Libya High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to prepare and hold national elections. "Amongst capacity development assistance, the UNDP works together with the HNEC on strengthening the voter registration system. Among the project's initiatives are the procuring of 12,000 ballot boxes and the issuing of voter cards to use as one of the prerequisites in voter identification at the polling stations to ensure a transparent process," the statement said. Ambassador du Hellen stressed France's full commitment to support Libyan presidential and parliamentary elections to be held later this year, calling on all actors to assist the HNEC in its mission. The UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum agreed last year to hold national elections in Libya on Dec. 24, 2021. Since the announcement of the decision to hold national elections, the UNDP has raised 2.8 million euros (3.36 million U.S. dollars) to enhance readiness for the elections, the statement said. Enditem The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has contacted Sinn Fein over its collection of data from Facebook to target voters for engagement, including a doorstep canvass. It emerged last weekend that the party had asked officials working for it to use personal information posted on people's Facebook pages to identify where they live. The Sunday Independent reported that people attending an internal digital training seminar were told "Facebook is king". They were also urged to cross-reference data taken from Facebook profiles with Sinn Fein's own searchable digital electoral register database, Abu. The digital media training presentation last September outlined the benefits of the social media platform, including through targeted advertising. Sinn Fein said it complied fully with Facebook's terms of service and all relevant regulations, but now it has emerged that the DPC has sought more information from the party about its use of the data. Data protection commissioner Helen Dixon has written to Sinn Fein seeking information about its collection and use of data from Facebook and the electoral register. Deputy commissioner Graham Doyle confirmed the DPC had put a series of questions to Sinn Fein and was awaiting a response. It is understood the DPC wrote to the party on Wednesday over how it was targeting people on Facebook and it is believed the DPC is concerned about transparency and the collation of more data than the party would need. It will also examine whether the party's actions comply with data protection legislation and GDPR requirements. A Sinn Fein spokesman said the party would engage with the DPC. "We can confirm that we have received correspondence from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner," the party spokesman said. "We look forward to engaging with them. Last month, Sinn Fein confirmed that supporters based in Serbia and Germany were involved in managing the partys social media channels. In response to calls from Fine Gael, Sinn Fein has confirmed its Facebook accounts are primarily managed in Ireland, but that supporters based abroad 'help out' with its online messaging. At the time, the party said: "Sinn Fein advertising on Facebook is managed in Ireland in full compliance with Facebook's advertising policies. "A party supporter who is now based in Germany works for our social media team. In Serbia, we have two party supporters who occasionally help out our social media team. This information is publicly listed on Facebook." It labelled as "spin" Fine Gael queries about the practice, but Fine Gael senator John Cummins said there were questions that needed to be answered. "Sinn Fein are accustomed to remaining silent on the partys lack of transparency and finances, but this latest development is something the party cannot remain silent about as it could potentially deal with a serious data breach of voters personal information," he said. The leadership of Sinn Fein must now reveal where this online database is stored and who exactly are the people being asked to elicit more information from social media users? What is their background?" New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with the Union education minister and key officials on Wednesday to discuss the issue of CBSE board exams, government sources said. Narendra Modi Class 10 and 12 exams are set to begin from May 4 amid demand by some leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, that they be cancelled amid an alarming rise in the Covid-19 cases across the country. A call on the examination may be taken in the meeting to be chaired by the prime minister, the sources said. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Trican Well Service Ltd. (TSX: TCW) ("Trican" or the "Company") intends to release its First Quarter 2021 results on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 after the close of the market. The company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. MT (12:00 p.m. ET) to discuss the Company's results for the 2021 First Quarter. To listen to the webcast of the conference call, please enter the following URL in your web browser: https://www.gowebcasting.com/11189. You can also visit the Investors section of our website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors and click on "Reports". To participate in the Q&A session, please call the conference call operator at 1-800-319-4610 (North America) or 1-403-351-0324 (outside North America) 10 minutes prior to the call's start time and ask for the "Trican Well Service Ltd. First Quarter 2021 Earnings Results Conference Call". The conference call will be archived on Trican's website at www.tricanwellservice.com/investors. ABOUT TRICAN Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Trican provides a comprehensive array of specialized products, equipment and services that are used during the exploration and development of oil and gas reserves. Requests for further information should be directed to: Bradley P.D. Fedora President and Chief Executive Officer E-mail: investors@trican.ca Klaas Deemter Interim Chief Financial Officer E-mail: investors@trican.ca Phone: (403) 266-0202 Fax: (403) 237-7716 2900, 645 - 7th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 4G8 Please visit our website at www.tricanwellservice.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80449 Motorola is geared to release its next budget device, the Moto G20, in the near future. Specs, features, and images of the phone have now been revealed, with a major talking point being the SoCMotorola eschewing offerings from Qualcomm and MediaTek in favor of a UNISOC T700. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker Motorola has unveiled several phones in its G series recently, starting with the well-received Moto G100 and on to the Moto G30. The company is set to release a budget offering in the series, the Moto G20, and details of the phone have now been revealed. As revealed by 91Mobiles, the Moto G20 will sport a 6.5-inch HD+ 90 Hz LCD. It's a phone that makes no attempts to hide the fact that it's a budget device, and rightfully so. Perhaps the most interesting bit is the SoC underpinning the Moto G20. Instead of a Qualcomm or MediaTek chipset, the phone will be powered by a UNISOC T700. While the UNISOC T700 is a mostly unknown quantity, we know it's an octa-core SoC with two Cortex-A75 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores. For those not in the know, UNISOC was previously known as Spreadtrum. The Moto G20 will offer four rear cameras, although two barely count: a 48 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle shooter, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a 2 MP macro sensor. At the front will be a 13 MP shooter. Other specifications include a 5000 mAh battery, up to 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, a capacitive fingerprint reader, and NFC support. 2020 and 2021 have been challenging times for many Texas schools. Denton ISDs Harpool Middle School experienced a significant setback when freezing temperatures caused a fire suppression system to burst, flooding the building. When Coryell Roofing and Construction heard about the issues, they delivered a donation of gift cards to help the school's teachers in their time of need. The school has been closed due to the damage and getting support from a community-focused business was a pleasant surprise that has raised spirits. Coryell employees Blake Cooper and Wendell Olson dropped off the gift cards with a great deal of enthusiasm from all involved. "Another situation where students and teachers have been displaced by circumstances that are not within their control," commented Cooper, who serves as a Coryell Roofing Texas Education Consultant. "I hope Coryell Roofing can play a small part in helping teachers get back on their feet with supplies so they can help meet the needs of those students under their care." Coryell Roofing and Construction operate in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas, providing first-class commercial roofing and construction services. An essential part of the company vision is to be a positive force in the communities it serves. Clearly, these efforts are truly appreciated. Jennifer Storm, Executive Director at Friends of Texas Public Schools, remarked about the company's work to lend a hand, "Texas school districts do so much for their respective communities. Now they need help recovering after the winter storm. Friends is proud to partner with Coryell to provide some assistance." For more information on Coryell Roofing and Construction, visit https://coryellroofing.com. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been branded a 'buffoon' for saying the death of Bernie Madoff, whose $64billion criminal Ponzi scheme ruined thousands of lives, was 'not a time to dance on a grave'. Speaking at a press conference Wednesday de Blasio was asked for his reaction to the death of the famous fraudster, who died of natural causes at a federal correctional facility in Butner, North Carolina, on Wednesday. 'Look, [it's] a very sad episode in the history of this city, and a lot of people unfortunately were hurt,' he said. 'The day someone passes is not a time to dance on a grave, but let's just be honest: Many, many people were hurt by his actions. 'It's time to hopefully turn the page and move forward,' he said. His remarks were met with anger online. Fox Business personality Charles Gasparino tweeted: 'Comrade Bill shows sympathy for the Devil - De Blasio says Bernie Madoff's death 'not a time to dance on a grave'. Another user, Ethan Mackin, wrote: 'As per usual this buffoon picks the important battles'. Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff leaves U.S. District Court in Manhattan after a bail hearing in New York in January 2009. He died on Wednesday aged 82 Mayor Bill de Blasio, who leaves office in November, said Madoff's death was 'not a time to dance on a grave' Some Twitter users did not share de Blasio's 'sympathy for the devil', with one branding him a 'buffoon' Madoff ran the biggest Ponzi scheme in US history, defrauding 37,000 victims in 136 countries of $64billion. Madoff's scheme involved taking one's victim's another. He managed to keep it running for two decades before finally being arrested in 2008 after his two adult sons turned him in. Madoff's victims included celebrities, billionaires and people who could barely afford to invest with him in the first place. Some lost everything and at least one killed themselves over the fraud. Among the high-profile victims were former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, who lost millions after investing in Madoff's finance company through Gerald Breslauer. Prominent Holocaust survivor, author and Nobel laureate Ellie Wiesel, who died in 2016, reportedly lost $15 million. Hollywood A-listers Steven Spielberg, couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick and John Malkovich, all lost undisclosed sums as well. Hollywood power couple Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon were among Madoff's high-profile victims. His two-decade long Ponzi scheme cheated 37,000 victims out of their savings Former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, left, who lost millions after investing in Madoff's finance company and Holocaust survivor Ellie Wiesel, right, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, reportedly lost $15 million Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian-born celebrity, and talk show host Larry King also lost significant investments through the Ponzi scheme. Other victims included Philadelphia Eagles owner Norman Braman, former Democratic New Jersey Frank Lautenberg, who charity invested $12.8 million, and businessman Ira Rennert, who reportedly lost as much as $200 million. New York hedge fund executive Charles Murphy, whose fund lost $50 million in Madoff's scheme, jumped from the 24th floor of the Sofitel New York Hotel in 2017. French financier Rene-Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet killed himself in Manhattan in 2008 after losing more than $1 billion in the Ponzi scheme. The fallout was felt keenly by the Madoff family as well. One of Madoff's sons, Mark, hanged himself in December 2010 on the second anniversary of his father's arrest, and his other son Andrew died from lymphoma in 2014. Madoff's wife Ruth moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, after his arrest to live in exile. She never divorced her disgraced husband, but claims to have stopped speaking to him after their son Mark's suicide. In December 2008, Madoff was arrested at his Upper East Side penthouse after Mark and Andrew turned him in. He had confessed to them that there was no money in their family office, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, saying it was all 'one big lie'. 'He said, everything I've been doing is all a big lie. He said, the business is a Ponzi scheme, and the firm is completely insolvent and I'm broke. And then he just started sobbing,' Andrew told CBS 60 Minutes in 2011. Madoff's scheme was toppled in the wake of the 2008 crash, when many of his clients came asking for the money they had invested back. Meanwhile, De Blasio's popularity has sunk in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and riots and looting that swept New York City last summer in the wake of George Floyd's death. A Siena poll in January found he had an approval rating of just 28%, with former mayor Rudy Giuliani polling higher. De Blasio will complete his second and final term in office on November 2, with Democrat hopeful Andrew Yang currently favorite to take his place. A drug addict who slapped and bit a garda attempting to assist him after he suffered a seizure in Dublin city centre has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he is very sorry for the offence. Craig Shevlin (31), of Buckingham Street, Connolly Lodge, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Caroline Thorton causing her harm on May 3, 2019. He has 14 previous convictions. Gda Thornton said in her victim impact statement that she had joined the gardai in order to help people and never expected to be slapped and bitten while persuading someone to wait for an ambulance. She said she remembered being bitten with horror and had been shocked by the incident. Judge Pauline Codd had adjourned the case after she heard evidence last year to allow for the preparation of various reports. On Tuesday she imposed a sentence of two years which she suspended in full on strict conditions including that Shevlin engage with the Probation Service during that time. She accepted that psychologist Doctor Kevin Lambe concluded in a report that Shevlins claim that he has no recollection of the assault, is consistent with his condition. The doctor said that Shevlins epilepsy causes seizures that are characterised by difficulties including agitation, confusion and memory loss. Judge Codd said it was most unfortunate that the garda had been attacked in this way and said it was a nasty bite. She said it was a very aggravating feature that a garda was assaulted while she was acting in the course of her duty and attempting to assist the accused. Sergeant William Brady told Karl Finnegan BL, prosecuting, at the earlier hearing, that Gda Thornton and a colleague were stopped by a member of the public and told about a man having a seizure on the street. Gda Thornton found Shevlin lying half on the footpath and half the road with his eyes moving back and forth. He would not move into the recovery position and an ambulance had been called for him. She picked his belongings off the street and tried to talk to him. Shevlin stood up but walked straight into the back of a truck. She urged him to sit back down, which he did before falling backwards and hitting his head. He stood up again and walked into a lamppost. Shevlin began walking away unsteadily, bumping into vehicles and a woman pushing a pram. Gda Thornton followed him and attempted to secure his stance, telling him she was there to help. Shevlin reached out and slapped her on the side of the face. She continued to try and calm him as he was agitated. He tried to walk around her but fell to the ground. Gda Thornton's colleague came to her assistance and they attempted to get Shevlin to stop resisting until the ambulance arrived. Shevlin then bit Gda Thornton on her left calf for three seconds. The gardai had to pepper spray Shevlin before they received help from members of the public in order to handcuff him. The ambulance arrived and he was then seen by paramedics. The court heard Shevlin's mother and girlfriend rang Pearse Street garda station to convey apologies to the garda. Shevlin also expressed remorse. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the Wild Polio Virus (WPV), which Nigeria has successfully eradicated, may resurface if preventive measures are not taken. UNICEF Communication for Development Specialist, Elizabeth Onitolo, made this known during the opening of a three-day media dialogue in Yola, Adamawa State, on Tuesday. The dialogue tagged Routine immunisation; Post-polio certification and COVID-19 vaccination is organised by UNICEF in conjunction with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigeria and the rest of Africa were formally certified free of the Wild Polio Virus on August 25, 2020, by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after no case of the virus was detected on the continent for three years. Nigeria is the last African country to eliminate the virus which can be prevented with adequate vaccination. Eight years ago, Nigeria accounted for half of the worlds polio cases. The poliovirus, which causes paralysis by attacking the nervous system, is spread from person to person mostly through contaminated water. Mrs Onitolo, however, said the recorded success is still fragile due to low immunisation coverage which has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world. She said the emergence of the COVID-19 virus has negatively affected Routine Immunisation (RI) and further put many children at risk of preventable diseases. Vaccine hesitancy Ms Onitolo noted that many parents and guardians are still sceptical of presenting their wards for vaccination. She said the only way to keep safe is to vaccinate every child. Many parents are not compliant, children are not vaccinated and environmental sanitation and personal hygiene in communities are still low providing a possible ground for polio outbreak, she said. It is over two years without polio in Nigeria and we want to ensure good surveillance, she said. According to Ms Onitolo, vaccine hesitancy is also frustrating efforts to fight the COVID-19 virus, which has infected over 160,000 people in the country. She said many Nigerians are scared of getting vaccinated due to misinformation on their parts. She noted that said the dialogue will improve the knowledge of key media practitioners on low RI coverage and how to reach more people on the importance of getting vaccinated. In his remark, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the country is at a critical point in ensuring access to and uptake of routine immunisation across the country. Mr Mohammed said there is need to address the immunisation situation with attention to COVID-19 and its impact on RI. Even though the country has been certified Wild Polio Free, there is an urgent need to address the immunization situation in Nigeria with attention to COVID-19 and its impact on RI and the roll-out of the vaccination for COVID-19 itself, he said. ADVERTISEMENT He said the federal government would continue to leverage on the media to promote messages on both the prevention of COVID-19 and increased vaccination. AES Vietnam, a division of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), on Tuesday launched its new brand identity that reflects the companys commitment and the worlds transition to a cleaner energy future. Among the forerunners in clean growth and innovation, AES has been spearheading the energy industry with cutting-edge technologies in LNG to power, renewables, digital innovation, and battery energy storage while creating the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. With 15 years of operation in Vietnam, AES continues to play a key role in meeting the countrys ever-increasing energy needs. The companys 2.2 GW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant and Son My LNG terminal project, both of which are under development, will bring a total investment of US$3.2 billion to Binh Thuan Province and significantly enhance the local economy. The plant and terminal will together play a major role in shaping Vietnams energy future by diversifying the energy mix with imported LNG as well as meeting the countrys increasing demand for sustainable and affordable electricity. Along with the launch of its new brand, AES Vietnam introduces new product offerings in solar energy and battery storage, with the aim of helping local customers reach a higher standard of clean energy, secure their sustainable energy future, and achieve benefits through shared platforms and applications. With the new branding and product offerings, AES Vietnam continues positioning itself as a global company with strong local expertise, providing innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies to help Vietnam meet its renewable energy goals, which were outlined in the Politburos Resolution No.55-NQ/TW," said David Stone, president of AES Vietnam. The new offerings in solar power include 5Bs revolutionary MAVERICK design, which enables customers to deploy up to two times more solar energy at three times the speed using 50 percent less land. AES is also the world leader in lithium-ion-based energy storage, both through the firms projects and via Fluence a Siemens and AES company. Worldwide, energy storage is considered a force multiplier for renewable energy, as it allows for the integration of more solar, wind and distributed energy resources, and increases grid stability. The offerings will enable AES to make it easier for organizations in Vietnam to speed up their clean energy transformation, make meaningful contributions toward a sustainable climate, and build competitive advantages within their industries, while at the same time accelerating the clean energy future the world deserves and needs. AES Vietnams vision is to be a leading sustainable power company in Vietnam that provides safe, reliable, and affordable energy. On September 30, 2019, AES was officially granted approval by the government of Vietnam to develop a 2.2 GW Son My 2 combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant, which will be located in Binh Thuan Province. The Son My 2 plant will have a 20-year contract with the Vietnamese government and is expected to achieve financial completion in 2021 and begin commercial operations in 2024. In October 2020, AES Vietnam and PV GAS inked a Term Sheet of the Joint Venture Agreement for the Son My LNG terminal. The terminal has an installed capacity of 450 TBtu, representing a total investment of about $1.4 billion. The terminal is expected to achieve financial completion in 2022 and begin commercial operations in 2025. It will play an important role in supporting Vietnams energy transition and economic growth. AES, through its subsidiary, AES Mong Duong Power Company Limited, has successfully developed and arranged financing for the Mong Duong 2 Power Project of 1,242 MW with total investment of approximately $2.1 billion. The AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy. Together with its many stakeholders, the company is delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. Its diverse workforce is committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence, while partnering with customers on their strategic energy transitions and continuing to meet their energy needs. After more than a month of intense debate, the future of the Lee Township Solid Waste Transfer Station has seemingly been decided. An ordinance and resolution were passed by the Lee Township Board of Trustees on Monday, under the advice of their legal counsel, allowing the township to move forward with curbside trash pickup in lieu of maintaining the dump. The resolution allows the township to disperse payments of the service to local residents, and to begin a contract with Republic Services curbside pickup. With curbside service to begin May 1, the dump is set to close on April 30, said township supervisor Kristy Gustafson. "The biggest reason for pushing this and doing it now is that we do not have enough funds to maintain and do the repairs that are needed for the waste transfer station," Gustafson said. The Lee Township Board voted at its March 8 meeting to switch to curbside trash service. Since the decision, a protest and multiple special meetings of the board have taken place. During a previous meeting on March 29, clerk Laura Dawson presented pieces of documentation she had retrieved from the Midland County Services Building. The documents were from the Midland County Board of Canvassers, certifying the results of proposals regarding the township's waste disposal practices in the 1988 general primary election. Dawson said the results of the two proposals set the precedent of the compactor's operation being solely up to the vote of local residents. "Since that era, we no longer hold an annual meeting of the electors, therefore it doesn't have to be on the ballot," Gustafson said. Gustafson also pointed to Act 451 of 1994 passed by Michigan Legislature, which allows municipalities to make these types of decisions for their township. Gustafson said the dump takes about $30,000 per month to operate. As soon as those costs can be cut and Lee Township only has liabilities to the city landfill and a waste hauling service, Gustafson said the township can get ahead to start keeping costs down for residents in the coming years. ADVERTISEMENT The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Mansur Matazu, has become Nigerias Permanent Representative at the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). A statement signed by Muntari Ibrahim, NiMets General Manager of Public Relations, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the appointment was in line with the provision of the General Regulations (Regulation 5a) of the WMO Basic Documents. This is in line with provision of the General Regulations (Regulation 5a) of the World Meteorological Organisation Basic Documents No. 1 (WMO No 15) 2019 Edition. This states that each member shall designate by written notification of the Secretary General, a Permanent Representative who shall be the Director of the Meteorological or Hydrometeorological services to act on technical matters for the member between the sessions of congress. Subject to the approval of their respective government, Permanent Representative should be the normal channel of communication between the organisation and their respective countries, it said. The statement further said the Permanent Representative would maintain contact with the competent authorities, government of their own countries on matters concerning the work of the organisation. According to it, a letter of notification signed by Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, on behalf of the Federal Government to the WMO, disclosed that Mr Matazu had been designated as the Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the WMO. Haven been appointed as the head of the meteorological services, he replaces Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi, it added. The statement said the WMO had acknowledged the move and reflected the changes on its community platform, including the WMO country profile database. The World Meteorological Agency is the United Nations specialised organisation whose mandate covered weather, climate and water resources. (NAN) Leadership Biden taps Inglis, Easterly for top cyber jobs President Joe Biden will nominate John Chris Inglis, the former deputy director of the National Security Agency, to become the first national cyber director, according to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Sullivan also said the White House will nominate Jen Easterly, a veteran intelligence official, to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Inglis had a hand in establishing the new White House cyber position as a member of the congressional Cyberspace Solarium Commission that recommended its inclusion into the most recent defense policy bill. The Washington Post, which first reported Inglis and Easterlys nominations, also reported that Rob Silvers, who was previously thought to be in the running to lead CISA, will be nominated to serve as the Department of Homeland Securitys assistant secretary for cyber policy. The White House in a separate statement confirmed that nomination. This is a very strong team, Chris Painter, a cybersecurity expert and former State Department official tweeted Sunday night. Chris Inglis is one of the smartest & most capable people I have ever known in government or outside it. He has the chops to make the NCD work. I think the world of Rob & Jen as well. Big talent for big challenges. Lawmakers and former government officials, such as CISAs first director Christopher Krebs, have been increasingly vocal in urging the administration to fill some of the governments most important cybersecurity roles. The nominations come as the administration continues to cope with the fallout of multiple cybersecurity crises including suspected Russian intelligence operatives breaching the networks of nine federal agencies and around 100 U.S. companies. If confirmed, Inglis and Easterly, along with Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security advisor, would comprise a trio of NSA veterans in the top administration roles focused on cybersecurity. This article first appeared on FCW, a Defense Systems partner site. Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) representing Irelands 49 Local Development Companies (LDCs) have welcomed the launch of a ValuesLab report by Minister for Community Development Joe O'Brien TD which looks at Travellers in the Mainstream Labour Market. The research report for the St Stephens Green Trust says improving Traveller employment needs to become a significant focus for Government policy and strategy if the 80% unemployment rate amongst Travellers is to be tackled. Local Development Companies have been identified in the report as having an important role in providing employment and enterprise supports to Travellers in achieving this target. Commenting on the publication of the report, ILDN CEO Joe Saunders said: Local Development Companies throughout the Country play a vital role in engaging with and supporting the needs of Travellers. Through supports delivered by LDCs such as the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the LEADER Programme, our members have been to the forefront in supporting Travellers into Mainstream Labour market. I welcome that todays report acknowledges the important role of our member LDCs and points to the importance of SICAP and LEADER as a method of supporting Travellers into Mainstream Labour Market. It is important that these important Programmes are appropriately supported by Government in order to resource LDCs in this important work. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs expressed their readiness to continue negotiations around Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of the previous principles, and in this sense, their statement was very useful, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting of the National Assembly. According to him, it is important that the statement, in particular, emphasizes the readiness of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to continue the negotiation process within the framework of well-known principles. "And one of these principles presupposes the final determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh," Pashinyan noted. He also assured that Armenia is ready to talk about the final status of Karabakh. Earlier OSCE Minsk Group mediators issued a statement, in which it is noted that they are ready to resume working trips to the region, including to Nagorno-Karabakh. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:41:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China strongly urges Japan to reconsider its decision on the disposal of nuclear waste, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on the international response to Japan's decision to dispose of Fukushima's radioactive water by releasing it into the sea. The international community including the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the European Commission expressed deep concern over the issue. Zhao said China strongly urges the Japanese side to face up to its responsibility, follow the science, fulfill its international obligations and duly respond to the serious concerns of the international community, neighboring countries and its own people. Citing Japanese media report that the work of releasing nuclear waste into the sea will start in two years and last for 30 years and that the total amount of nuclear waste will exceed 1 million tonnes, Zhao said that the amount, duration, scope of affected areas and the risk level is unprecedented. He then raised three questions to the Japanese side. First, has the Japanese side really heard the doubts and concerns at home and abroad? Zhao pointed out that there were protest marches in many places in Japan including Tokyo and Fukushima. Besides China, ROK, Russia and the EU, 311 environmental groups expressed firm opposition to the Japanese decision. The Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Japan said that the Japanese government turned its back on the clear evidence that the technology and conditions for greater storage capacity is available, they have opted for dumping the water into the Pacific Ocean. "The Japanese government has taken the wholly unjust decision in total disregard of the environment," he said. Second, does Japan's decision really comply with international law? Zhao said Japan's decision will set a precedent for discharging treated wastewater into the ocean after a serious nuclear accident. Japan, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), should be aware of the relevant provisions of the Convention. States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with the Convention. "Japan is also obliged to undertake such international obligations as notification and full consultation, environmental assessment and monitoring, preventive measures to minimize risks, and information transparency," Zhao said. "Has Japan fulfilled all these obligations?" He further noted that the endorsement of the Japanese decision by the United States does not mean endorsement by the international community, and the United States should shoulder its responsibility and urge Japan to prudently handle the disposal issue in an honest, scientific and responsible manner for the sake of marine environment and mankind's health rather than confusing right with wrong, foregoing principles and adopting double standard. Third, does the nuclear wastewater that Japan plans to release into the sea really meet international standards? Zhao said that the assessment report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert group clearly pointed out that the treated water still contains other radionuclides apart from tritium. According to statistics by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., there are 62 kinds of radionuclides in the water. "The oceans are not Japan's trash can, and the Pacific Ocean is not Japan's sewer," said the spokesperson, adding that the price of Japan's disposal of nuclear waste should not be borne by the entire world. Zhao said the Japanese side should reevaluate the issue and refrain from wantonly discharging the wastewater before reaching consensus with all stakeholders and the IAEA through full consultations. "China reserves the right to make further reactions," Zhao added. Enditem Darra Ann Morales and her son, Chaz, had been exchanging a series of sarcastic text messages about a dilapidated dresser he bought online when the banter suddenly stopped Tuesday afternoon. Morales didnt think much of it, knowing Chaz often got tied up while working his offshore oil industry job. But then she stumbled across the horrifying truth while cruising the internet: the jack-up boat where Chaz was working, the Seacor Power, had capsized after getting caught in a line of intense thunderstorms about seven miles south of Port Fourchon. After calling Seacor to confirm the news, I faceplanted on the floor, slithered into my bathroom like a snake, locked the door and lost my mind, said Morales, whose son was among 12 crew members who remained missing as of late Wednesday. Im just praying to God. I dont know what else to do anymore. Intense panic unfolded in homes across the region as word began to get out about the shocking maritime tragedy and massive rescue effort underway to find survivors. Six of the 19 workers on board were rescued, and one was found dead, officials said as search efforts spanning an area larger than Rhode Island entered a second day. A dozen relatives of missing crew members braved a mid-day squall and stiff winds to huddle anxiously inside the open bays of a firehouse in Port Fourchon, just waiting for news. Theyd been told little, an uncomfortable fact that didnt change after a representative of Seacor arrived to meet with them about 3 p.m., said one man there. +5 One dead, 12 still missing from lift boat that capsized in Gulf near Louisiana, Coast Guard says A crew member was found dead and 12 were still missing off the Louisiana coast Wednesday as the U.S. Coast Guard continued its search of the G The authorities likewise revealed little Wednesday, declining to name any of the crewmembers, dead, alive or missing. But, by Wednesday, Chaz's name surfaced through loved ones as one of those still unaccounted for. Social media posts authored by relatives also identified Jay Guevara, Gregory Walcott, Dylan Daspit and Quinon Pitre, all of whom hail from Acadiana, as missing workers. Darra Morales decided to share her sons story Wednesday so others could understand the devastating impact of the accident, which occurred just a week before the anniversary of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 men, also off Louisiana's coast. Morales said she was 16 when Chaz was born, and she described the two growing up together in St. Bernard Parish. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home in 2005, the pair moved to Slidell. Chaz, now 37, married his high-school sweetheart and had three children: Valerie, now 13; Chaz Jr., 10, and Jaxon, 5. He is currently going through a divorce, and Darra is helping him raise his children, as she has done since they were born. Thats my boy, and these are my babies, Morales said. Thats how we are were thick (as thieves). 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 Chaz has been supporting his family through his offshore work since he was 18, according to his mother. She said he was the main crane operator for Seacor Marine, the owner of the Power, which has massive legs that can be jacked down into the seafloor to create a standing platform for offshore construction work. Darra Morales said her sons divorce has been expensive, so hes been taking on extra work to keep providing for his three children. He does everything for them, Morales said of Chaz. You name it he does it. Morales said her son was supposed to take some time off beginning Monday but decided to work instead to earn extra money. He was aboard the Seacor Power on Tuesday afternoon as it headed to Main Pass 138, about 40 miles east of Venice. A line of thunderstorms packing tropical storm-force winds had just cleared out. But then, about an hour after the boat left, forecasters issued another warning of equally fierce winds and potentially damaging waves for the area to which they were headed. Winds turned out to be much more intense than anticipated, reaching hurricane strength because of an unusual weather event known as a wake low. And the ship capsized about 4:30 p.m., three hours after it embarked from Port Fourchon. Ever since, Darra Morales said, loved ones have been struggling to sort out rumor and fact about what happened to those aboard. She said she was particularly troubled about the possibility mentioned by a Coast Guard official that at least some of the crew members might still be trapped aboard the Seacor Power alive. All she knew was that she hoped she could once again kiss her sons bald head, gaze into his blue eyes, and tease him about how his red beard made him look like a leprechaun. She hoped her son's incessant workouts and side career as an arm wrestler gave him the strength to survive his ordeal. We need him to come home, Morales said. We are out of our minds. Staff writers John Simerman and Megan Wyatt contributed to this report. India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations, the US intelligence community told Congress in a report. Although a general war between the two countries is unlikely, crises between India and Pakistan are likely to become more fervid, risking an escalatory cycle, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in its Annual Threat Assessment report to the US Congress. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations, and heightened tensions raise the risk of conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a militant attack in India being potential flashpoints," it said. Also Read: 'India desires cordial relations with Pakistan': PM Modi writes letter to Imran Khan India and Pakistan have been without high commissioners in each other's capital since relations between the two countries nosedived after India withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories in August 2019. India has said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence and that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility. According to the ODNI report, the fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria has a direct bearing on US forces, while tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan remain a concern for the world. Also Read: With a blend of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi shows, ZEE5 to position itself as South Asian content platform The iterative violence between Israel and Iran, the activity of foreign powers in Libya, and conflicts in other areas - including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East - have the potential to escalate or spread, it said. On Afghanistan, the ODNI report assessed that prospects for a peace deal will remain low over the next year. "The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support. Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Taliban is confident it can achieve military victory," it said. "Afghan forces continue to secure major cities and other government strongholds, but they remain tied down in defensive missions and has struggled to hold recaptured territory or re-establish a presence in areas abandoned in 2020," the report said. (With inputs from PTI.) During a Wednesday hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler told a judge that surveillance footage recorded on Jan. 7 at the Comfort Inn Ballston in Arlington, Virginia, shows an alleged member of the Oath Keepers carrying what appeared to be rifle cases, BuzzFeed News reports. While the footage is not considered conclusive, BuzzFeed writes that Wednesday's presentation was the "most comprehensive" to date when it comes to showing that the extremist group "came prepared for violence" ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and "stashed firearms just outside of Washington, D.C., that they could easily access." The footage does not include any images of actual guns. Before the disclosure of the surveillance video, the government "had shared little evidence other than text messages that referenced" the alleged strategy, BuzzFeed notes. While dozens of rioters have been charged with assaulting police officers during the riot, most of the incidents do not appear to involve advanced planning; the government's case against the Oath Keepers is one of the few that specifically focuses on that notion. The man captured on video was Kenneth Harrelson. His lawyer Nina Ginsburg dismissed the idea that the footage "was proof of anything other than that Harrelson had luggage at the Comfort Inn," BuzzFeed reports. Read more at BuzzFeed News. More stories from theweek.com 5 colossally funny cartoons about Biden's infrastructure plan How a music teacher falsely accused of pedophilia sparked the Matt Gaetz investigation Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers mirthfully audit Matt Gaetz's Venmo receipts The 3billion HMS Queen Elizabeth, which will sail through the South China Sea - Royal Navy The Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier strike group will take a controversial route to avoid provoking China on her first major voyage, The Telegraph can reveal. Although HMS Queen Elizabeth will sail through the South China Sea, a vital shipping route which Beijing has become increasingly assertive over in recent years, she will not sail through the Taiwan Strait, instead going east as she makes her way up to Japan for the final section of the trip. However, the decision not to sail the 3 billion warship through the strait on a voyage that will focus on freedom of navigation operations, has raised eyebrows due to Beijings vow to annex Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, said the Government and Royal Navy need to rethink this journey. He said: I'm pleased the Aircraft Carrier is deploying in the South China Sea but they need to complete this process by letting the Chinese know that they disapprove of their very aggressive actions against their neighbours by sailing through the Taiwan Strait. I hope they will revisit their schedule, and ensure that this happens. Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Select Committee, said the carrier strike groups maiden voyage had been rolled out as such an important statement of intent and worried it could be diminished over fear of offence. Mr Ellwood said the purpose of the journey, pictured below, to the Indo Pacific is to stand up to the authoritarianism of China. Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier Many will wonder how a carrier visit to the South China Sea will alter Chinas behaviour. Clearly it wont and instead we are altering our behaviour, he said. Meanwhile Robert Clark, defence fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said while the voyage will send a powerful message to China and defend the freedom of navigation through international waters, he cautioned that on its onward voyage up to Japan, the group should continue the precedent set by the French Navy two years previously and sail through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait. Story continues This would be in keeping with US and British maritime policy of recognising the freedom of international waters, he said. However Admiral Lord West, the former first sea lord, believed such a move was unnecessary. I think its enough of a statement by going through the South China Sea, he said. You dont need to rub peoples faces in it by travelling through the Formosa Strait. The Telegraph can also reveal that the carrier strike group will deploy from Portsmouth the week commencing Monday May 24, with personnel instructed to be ready in Portsmouth from May 18. Sources have said there is a chance she will deploy on her maiden voyage as early as Sunday, May 23. Its first stop will be Gibraltar, before sailing through the Mediterranean to the Suez Canal, during which time the Royal Navy will complete exercises with both Nato and non-Nato partners. This will include anti-submarine warfare exercises. The vessels will then transit Suez, making their way to Duqm, the UKs base in Oman, for a stopover of up to a week, before sailing the Indian Ocean and engaging in light joint exercises with the Indian navy, followed by a brief stop over in Singapore. The voyage will finish with one to two weeks of joint exercises with the Japanese and Americans. The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine has called on Russia to release Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, who was detained by the Russian FSB in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Troubled by reports that Russian occupation authorities in Crimea tortured Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys freelance journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko to coerce his confession. We call for his release, and for Russia to cease its reprisals against independent voices in Crimea. #CrimeaIsUkraine, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Twitter. FSB officers detained and then arrested Vladyslav Yesypenko in the temporarily occupied Crimea on March 10. The day before, he and other Crimeans took part in an action dedicated to Taras Shevchenko's birthday. On March 12, Yesypenko was charged under Part 1 of Art. 223 of the Criminal Code (illegal manufacture, repair and modification of firearms), as well as illegal manufacture of ammunition. The Kyivsky District "Court" of Simferopol ruled to take Vladyslav Yesypenko into custody for two months, until May 11. The independent lawyers were prevented from visiting Yesypenko during his detention in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center. On April 6, Yesypenko told the court that he had been tortured by Russian security forces. ol The building of the Shirak Regional Administration of Armenia continues to be closed off, the relatives of the captives are still there, and their demand has not changed; they demand a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that there was a tense situation at the Shirak provincial hall Tuesday, and police forcibly removed the protesting relatives of these captives. It is about the reservists from Shirak who were captured by Azerbaijan in Khtsaberd village of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) after the recent war. The head of the National Security Service department of Shirak had met with their relatives Tuesday and tried to negotiate with them so that they vacate the provincial hall building. Armenia National Security Service chief negotiating with parents of captured soldiers in Shirak Province Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-13 18:05:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade surged in the first quarter of 2021, as the country made continuous progress in COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as economic and social development. The country's total imports and exports of goods surged 29.2 percent year on year to 8.47 trillion yuan (about 1.29 trillion U.S. dollars) in the reporting period, said the General Administration of Customs (GAC). Exports jumped 38.7 percent from a year earlier and imports climbed 19.3 percent in yuan terms. The trade surplus expanded 690.6 percent to reach 759.29 billion yuan. General trade, involving longer production chains and better reflecting the country's manufacturing strength, rose 32 percent year on year to 5.19 trillion yuan, taking a larger share in the total trade of goods. Private enterprises are now more vibrant and have become the main driving force behind China's foreign trade growth. Their foreign trade expanded by 42.7 percent to 3.95 trillion yuan in the first quarter. Mechanical and electrical products took the lion's share of the country's exports, with their export value hitting 2.78 trillion yuan, up 43 percent year on year. Imports of major commodities including iron ore, crude oil, natural gas, soybean, corn and wheat all increased in the first quarter. Foreign trade in the country's comprehensive bonded zones and pilot free trade zones respectively increased 41.1 percent and 28.4 percent year on year. Cross-border e-commerce, an emerging form of trade, has maintained the growth momentum of last year to become one of the main forces pushing the steady growth of China's foreign trade, according to the GAC. The country's foreign trade from cross-border e-commerce hiked 46.5 percent to 419.5 billion yuan year on year in the first quarter. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained China's largest trading partner during the period, followed by the European Union and the United States, the GAC data showed. In the first quarter, China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road rose 21.4 percent year on year to reach 2.5 trillion yuan. The country's imports and exports to Vietnam, Indonesia and Poland achieved relatively rapid growth. China's trade with the 14 other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership amounted to 2.67 trillion yuan in the first quarter, up 22.9 percent year on year and accounting for 31.5 percent of its total imports and exports during the period. Since the third quarter of last year, China's foreign trade has witnessed positive year-on-year growth for three consecutive quarters, and this trend is expected to continue for some time to come, GAC spokesperson Li Kuiwen told a news conference. But he cautioned that foreign trade still faces instability and uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage worldwide and the international economic landscape remains grim and complicated. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said earlier this month that the country will go all out to stabilize imports and exports. The MOC will improve the country's trade policies and continue supporting enterprises by reducing their costs and improving efficiency. It will also actively cooperate with relevant departments to increase high-quality product and service imports, said the MOC. Enditem Hearst Connecticut Media File photo WASHINGTON A virtual talk about the Region 12 public school district by Superintendent Megan Bennett will take place Sunday, April 25, at 2 p.m. Region 12: A Comprehensive Approach to Education, the lecture, is sponsored by the Washington Democratic Town Committee and part of the John Millington Lecture Services. To receive a Zoom meeting link, sign up through Gunn Memorial Library at gunnlibrary.org/programs. Australia's pursuit of a 'Zero Covid' strategy could see its borders remain shut even after the entire population is vaccinated, the country's health minister has revealed. Greg Hunt said he was not confident the jabs alone were good enough to keep the virus out, which meant there could be 'no guarantees' that Australia will reopen fully. He claimed there were still lingering questions about how long vaccine immunity will last and how effective the jabs are at stopping transmission. 'Vaccination alone is no guarantee that you can open up,' Mr Hunt said. 'If the whole country were vaccinated, you couldn't just open the borders.' The expectation was that once the vulnerable were vaccinated, restrictions could be lifted. But Mr Hunt's admission suggests that Governments are preparing for years of border controls and social distancing. His comments do not bode well for lockdown-easing plans in Britain, where foreign travel was earmarked to resume next month. Boris Johnson promised Britons the advent of the vaccines put the UK on a 'one-way road to freedom'. But the Prime Minister has refused to commit to the May 17 date he originally set out for the return of foreign holidays. And yesterday he downplayed the effects of jabs, claiming it was lockdowns, not vaccines, keeping the epidemic in check. Ministers have revealed a traffic light system will be put in place when foreign travel is eventually given the green light, paving the way of holidays to countries leading the way in the vaccine roll-out. Israel last night revealed holidays could be back on next month. Other countries that have said they will reopen their borders for UK visitors in the coming months include Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Turkey. Australia has been widely praised for a successful pandemic response, which has seen daily cases squashed to double-digits since last August. It is one of the few countries to pursue a 'Zero Covid' strategy, but in doing so it has had to enforce some of the strictest border measures in the world. The country was closed to everyone except Australian nationals but recently opened a travel bubble with New Zealand. A passenger wearing facemasks as she arrives into the international arrivals area at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport after landing from Auckland on October 16 Australia has recorded just 29,437 just coronavirus cases and 910 deaths since the pandemic started after closing its borders in March 2020 and imposing tough lockdown rules 'If the whole country were vaccinated, you couldn't just open the borders,' Greg Hunt (pictured) said on Tuesday An international traveler carries their luggage into the Intercontinental Hotel on April 8 in Melbourne (pictured) - with harsh restrictions meaning most Aussies can't head abroad Australia has recorded just 29,437 just coronavirus cases and 910 deaths since the pandemic started after closing its borders in March 2020 and imposing tough lockdown rules and a 'Zero Covid' strategy that aims to totally eliminate the virus. A few cases of the virus have resulted in strict city-wide lockdowns in Australia, including one that saw crowds banned from the Australian Open tennis tournament. But after 13 months of the strict rules a growing number of Australians, including some 36,000 who live overseas, believe the government is turning the country into a 'prison island.' Australian economist Chris Richardson said that travel to Australia may not reach its pre-pandemic levels until 2024 and anticipates 'weak' demand into 2022, with some sort of quarantine remaining for incoming travellers for some time. Part of the reason for the delayed re-opening is the glacial pace of the vaccine rollout, with a meagre 1.2million doses administered so far or 4.7 for every 100 people. For comparison, the rate in Britain stands at around 58.7 per 100 people. And Australia's vaccination program may not be complete until well into 2022 after the government stopped offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to under-50s over blood clotting fears. The government had bet heavily on the jab and it has now ordered 20million extra Pfizer doses, which will not be shipped from abroad until later this year. While those countries with a better-managed jab rollout are already opening up to overseas travel and trade, Australians face many more months and perhaps years of isolation. Not only does the closure stop Australians from going abroad for holidays or to visit loved ones, it has also left a multi-billion dollar hole in the economy and the tourism industry in ruins. Boris Johnson says lockdown - not vaccines - is behind the rapid fall in Covid cases Boris Johnson has said he 'can't see any reason' to speed up the lifting of lockdown restrictions despite plummeting coronavirus deaths. The Prime Minister warned that the relaxation of rules will 'inevitably' lead to more infections in the coming weeks. And he attributed the rapid fall in cases since the start of the year to the national lockdown, rather than the vaccine rollout. More than 32million people in the UK have had their first dose of a Covid jab and the NHS is now inviting people aged between 45 and 50 to book an appointment. But Mr Johnson said that while the vaccination programme has 'helped', the 'bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown'. 'So, as we unlock, the result will inevitably be that we will see more infection, sadly we will see more hospitalisation and deaths,' he told reporters yesterday. The comments mark a change in tone from the Prime Minister, who has previously likened the jabs to a 'scientific cavalry coming over the brow of the hill'. And they appear at odds with the Health Secretary who, in a letter to colleagues yesterday, said 'the evidence shows that over ten thousand lives have already been saved thanks to the vaccine programme'. Advertisement Australia currently allows travellers from New Zealand into the country, and Auckland is set to reciprocate with a 'travel bubble' due to start on April 19. All other travellers must quarantine for two weeks. In the UK, only British nationals and people travelling on business are allowed into the country. Those arriving from 40 'red countries' recording soaring infection rates or where troublesome variants are prevalent are required to go into a quarantine hotel for up to 10 days. In No10's roadmap out of lockdown, announced in February, foreign holidays for people in England were set to resume in May 17. But Mr Johnson has since refused to commit to the date. He said last week he was 'hopeful' of hitting the date but he added: 'I do not wish to give hostages to fortune or to underestimate the difficulties that we are seeing in some of the destination countries that people might want to go to.' The Prime Minister has also toned down his praise for the vaccines in recent days. Whereas previously he heralded them as Britain's ticket to freedom, yesterday Mr Johnson warned the fall in Covid cases, hospital admissions and deaths in the UK 'has not been achieved by the vaccination programme' but by tough restrictions imposed in the first week of January. 'Of course the vaccination programme has helped, but the bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown,' Mr Johnson said. 'So, as we unlock, the result will inevitably be we will see more infection, sadly we will see more hospitalisation and deaths. People have just got to understand that.' Speaking about the border rules down under, Australian Sky News host Rita Panahi, who told viewers: 'It's basically saying we're still going to be closed off from the rest of the world. 'It's a terrible policy. How much longer can we remain a prison island? At some point we have to rejoin the rest of the world.' Australia has recorded just 29,437 just coronavirus cases and 910 deaths since the pandemic started after closing its borders in March 2020 and imposing tough lockdown rules and a 'Zero Covid' strategy that aims to totally eliminate the virus. Data shows how Australia's infection rate the number of cases per every million people has compared to Britain's throughout the pandemic Part of the reason for the delayed re-opening is the glacial pace of the vaccine rollout, with a meagre 1.2million doses administered so far or 4.7 for every 100 people. For comparison, the rate in Britain stands at around 58.7. Data from Our World in Data shows how many vaccines are being administered each day, for every 100 people But Australia's 'zero Covid' approach has also reaped great benefits, including the chance to travel within the country, attend restaurants, bars and events which are unheard of around the world. Canada's explosion of Brazilian Covid variant shows how new mutant strains can sneak in even with strict quarantine hotel schemes, experts warn An explosion of cases of the Brazilian coronavirus variant in Canada shows how even strict quarantine hotels cannot completely block troubling strains from crossing borders, experts warned today. Scientists told MailOnline it was 'inevitable' when dealing with highly infectious new variants that they find a way to 'leak' out of the isolation scheme which is also being used in Britain. This usually happens via a staff member or a lapse in infection control practices. Despite having one of the strictest isolation rules for arrivals in the West, Canada has suffered the largest outbreak of the P.1 variant outside of Brazil itself and has reported large flare-ups in several provinces in recent days. Officials in British Columbia closed the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort after 877 cases of the highly infectious P.1 strain were found in the province, with a quarter linked to world-famous resort. It's still a mystery to health officials how the variant arrived to the resort. More than 100 people have caught the strain in both Alberta and in Ontario in the past week, many of which had no international travel links, suggesting the variant is spreading in the community. Professor Lawrence Young, a microbiologist at the University of Warwick, claimed it was impossible to pinpoint exactly how the Brazilian strain was imported. But he said with Canada's ultra-strict hotel quarantine rules in place, it likely was likely introduced to the community via a staff member. Professor Young told MailOnline: 'The point with restricting contacts and containing variants is you have to be mega, mega strict or it is inevitable with a very, very infectious virus [that it will be passed on]. 'There have been other cases leaking from strict hotel quarantines in Australia it could be that hotel workers are being too liberal and interacting with patients while giving them food. Transmission in quarantine hotels is well documented in staff.' Canada's quarantine system is stricter than the one in Britain, with every citizen arriving in the North American nation for 'non-essential' reasons required to isolate in a Government-approved hotel, no matter which country they came from. They must isolate for 14 days regardless of whether they test negative in that time. Countries in Europe and North America introduced the policy after its success in Australia and New Zealand, where daily infections have been limited to double-digits for most of the pandemic. But there have been a number of instances of the virus leaking out of hotels since the mandatory order was introduced for international arrivals in March last year. A review into Australia's second wave of coronavirus in Melbourne in summer last year found that 90 per cent of cases were linked to a single family that quarantined in a hotel. It led to the banning of outdoor exercise, limiting movement to hotel rooms only and ensuring all staff wore personal protective equipment at all times. Yet even with the heightened measures there have still been several cases of infections of cleaners and security guards at hotels in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, particularly since the emergence of new, more transmissible variants of the virus. Advertisement Sensible travel bans and quarantine restrictions were imposed reasonably quickly and the populace was generally content to abide by initial stay-at-home requests and basic social distancing measures. While other countries around the globe found themselves in and out of lockdowns over the past year, life in Australia remained generally relaxed and normal after containing the initial outbreak. Victorians were forced to endure a four-month lockdown last winter due to a failure of the state's hotel quarantine system which led to 800 deaths and 20,000 cases. There have been a few short snap lockdowns in the past few months but restrictions have quickly eased with revellers allowed to hit the dance floor, mandatory masks a thing of the past and inter-state travel encouraged. With more than 23million cases still active on the planet, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to make any apologies for his border restrictions. 'It's not safe right now to open up our international borders. Around the world, Covid is still rife,' he said on Monday. 'We are still seeing increases in daily cases, particularly in the developing world... but around the world, it is still a very dangerous situation because of Covid.' Back in January, the prime minister said vaccination in 2021 was 'a key component' in Australia's handling of the pandemic, and previously said it would be as 'mandatory as possible'. He even said that if the vaccines were effective at preventing transmission, borders could open sooner than expected but that is no longer the case. 'The key thing I think is going to impact on that decision, is going to be whether the evidence emerges about transmissibility, and how the vaccine protects against that,' Mr Morrison said in February 2021. The decision to bunker down for longer comes as stranded Australians accused the government of leaving them at the wayside overseas, with foreign nationals now outnumbering them for new arrivals Down Under. Foreign nationals can get into Australia, but must still quarantine for the mandatory two weeks in hotels, by getting exemptions - usually for essential work such as doctors and nurses, or for compassionate family reasons. In February, just 44 per cent of arrivals from overseas were Australian citizens, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. Lucy Morrell from strandedaussies.com - a website set up during the pandemic to advocate for the 36,000 stuck overseas and unable to return home - said Mr Hunt's statements mean citizens and permanent residents will essentially become stateless. She said as Anzac Day approaches its important to remember we're 'leaving Australians behind' in a crisis. Australia has not recorded a single case of community transmission within the last week, with all new infections tucked away in mandatory hotel quarantine. Deloitte economist Chris Richardson anticipates there will be some sort of quarantine remaining for incoming travellers for some time. 'That keeps international travel - both inbound and outbound - pretty weak in 2022, and it may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024,' he said. Last week health authorities recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to people above 50 due to the risk of blood clotting, sending the rollout into chaos. It was the vaccine the Australian government was relying heavily on, but it has since ordered an additional 20 million Pfizer vaccine doses that will be shipped from abroad later in the year. That means Australia's vaccination program may not be complete until well into 2022 - far behind many other developed nations and even worse than the likes of Rwanda, Indonesia and Bermuda. On Friday, 88,500 new vaccine doses were administered, bringing the total number inoculated to 1.16 million - well short of the four million Mr Morrison originally promised by the end of March. Mr Morrison dumped the target on Sunday due to 'uncertainties' surrounding vaccine imports. Trade Minister Dan Tehan will travel to Europe on Wednesday to urge his German, Belgian and French counterparts to do what they can to increase vaccine production. Many of the world's vaccines, including AstraZeneca and Pfizer, are manufactured in Europe. But because of the continent's export controls, it has effectively blocked contracted supplies to countries including Australia. Australia has rapidly fallen behind other nations for its Covid-19 vaccine rollout leaving it 102th in the world, as doctors call for state governments to take over. The federal Government had originally planned to have four million doses administered by April 1, but was 3.4 million doses short of meeting its target. So far, the rollout has been plagued by delivery delays and complications, with many GP clinics simply unable to give out the desired number of jabs. The Australian Medical Association slammed the rollout delays as 'unnecessary'. Hyderabad-based Dr Reddys Laboratories (DRL), the Indian partner for Russias Sputnik V, will use the governments vaccination cold chain infrastructure, along with its own cold chain capabilities, for last-mile distribution of the vaccine in India. Further, 60-70 per cent of Sputnik Vs global production is set to take place in India, said DRL. Sputnik V, a vaccine with 91.6 per cent efficacy the highest among Covid vaccines available in India requires a temperature range of -18 degrees C to -22 degrees C to remain stable. Deepak Sapra, CEO (API and Pharmaceutical Services), DRL, said they have already tested the cold chain infrastructure in India through simulations. We have tested the cold chain in simulation scenarios from Hyderabad to as far as Manipur in the north-east, Ladakh in the north, and Tamil Nadu in south, Sapra told reporters on Wednesday. He added that Sputnik V would be imported in the frozen form from Russia this quarter. DRL is responsible for ensuring that the vaccine remains stable and sanctity of the cold chain maintained from the manufacturing site in Russia to its cold chain point and eventually to all parts of India the company said. We have lined up a solution of compact boxes, using which the vaccine would be transported to various parts of India easily through a combination of air and road transport, Sapra explained. DRL will leverage the existing government cold chain infrastructure used in the national immunisation mission as well as its own cold chain capabilities, he added. We already have experience in cold chain handling for our critical care products, like oncology. We will leverage that too, Sapra said. Meanwhile, stability data for the Sputnik V variant that will remain stable at 2-8 degrees C is being generated. This will take a few more months. After that, we will approach the regulator again to modify the storage condition requirements to 2-8 degrees C. That will make the process of storage and transportation a lot easier, Sapra said. As of now, DRLs contract with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is for 250 million doses for India. However, there is an option to increase the number of doses. While the target is to produce 60-70 per cent in India, it will be imported from Russia at present, as long as the Indian sites Hetero, Virchow, Panacea, Gland, Stelis, Shilpa can peak their production of the vaccine. Together, the Indian sites have over 850 million doses in annual capacity, and more partners are likely to be added soon. China's disease control experts have called for efforts to guide and encourage the public to get inoculated voluntarily and ensure all people eligible for vaccination have access to it. Recent new cases in Yunnan's Ruili City are a reminder that the pressure of imported cases has not subsided, and the risk of the epidemic spreading in individual regions due to new imported cases remains, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination is an important strategy to prevent and control COVID-19, and herd immunity can only occur when the vaccination rate reaches around 70 to 80 percent among the whole population, Wu added. Anything below that can only bring about individual immunity, and that can not block the spread of a possible epidemic resurgence once new sources appear, he said. COVID-19 vaccines not only shield one's own health but also that of younger and older family members, said Wu Liangyou, an official with the National Health Commission. China is currently rolling out its vaccination in priority regions, including port and border cities with high risks of imported infection, big and medium-sized cities, and regions with a history of cluster infections. Priority populations, including cold chain, medical, and public sector staff, are also receiving the vaccines, he added. New Delhi, April 14 : With impressive advances having been made in artificial intelligence (AI), the Indian judiciary has been early to adopt it too. Soon, AI will be tailored for the justice delivery system, playing a vital role in improving administrative efficiency in courts, and aiding in decision-making processes for lawyers, judges and litigants. But how could robots decide questions of law and extract the accurate position of law from a mass of precedents? According to a strategy paper published by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, an independent think-tank, the integration of AI in justice system requires a comprehensive legal, regulatory, and ethical framework to establish trust in these technologies. The paper proposes a roadmap to integrate AI in the justice system. The basic information and communication tech infrastructure under the e-courts' programme is also looking to leverage AI's potential to intelligently recommend schedules for hearing by optimising and coordinating the schedules and times of judges, lawyers and litigants. On November 26, 2019, the national Constitution Day, Chief Justice S.A. Bobde launched the beta version of a neural translation tool called SUVAAS, a machine learning tool for translating Supreme Court judgments into vernacular languages. The top court's AI Committee is also working on a composite new tool named SUPACE, an AI tool to assist judges in legal research. The research paper suggests that actual development of AI-driven technologies for the justice system will require careful planning: expanding SC's AI committee to oversee the integration of AI within the justice system, publishing openly accessible datasets, and harnessing public private partnerships to design and deploy AI tech interventions. The SC is also contemplating using AI for administrative purposes and expediting the process of justice. AI's actual integration will require an understanding of its role in different judicial systems and addressing key legal and ethical challenges, which may arise. The research recommends the foremost exercise that must be initiated by the AI committee of the Supreme Court is to determine technology's short, medium, and long-term usage. "This exercise must establish clear ground ethical rules for the responsible design and deployment of AI. In parallel, it must also ascertain the logistical capacity of the judiciary to integrate such technologies (for instance, how can judicial data be archived and made more openly accessible)", said the research paper. Ameen Jauhar, a senior resident fellow and team lead at Vidhi, said AI is already making visible inroads within the Indian judiciary, manifested by the pilots of algorithmic tools like SUVAAS and SUPACE. "A more streamlined approach is needed to build on these first-generation AI pilots which can be steered by the Supreme Court's AI committee. In order to harness AI in a scalable and responsible manner, it will require some formalised governance and ethical frameworks, and the buy-in from other stakeholders, namely the bar and litigants in India," added Jauhar, who is also the lead-author of the study. The other authors of the study are Vaidehi Misra, a senior resident fellow at Vidhi, and Partha P. Chakrabati, a joint faculty member of the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence at the IIT, Kharagpur. According to the research, "identification of the different administrative processes in the entire life-cycle of a case, and prioritising which of these can either be completely automated (like scheduling hearings), or which are proving to be bottlenecks (like issuing summons). Once identified, such proceedings can benefit from the use of narrow, ML algorithms to automate, streamline and make basic court processes more efficient". The study also recommended that judicial AI should focus on eliminating the longstanding problem of judicial backlog in Indian courts. Chief Justice Bobde will release this paper on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the Indian justice system on Thursday. Social commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has slammed the Managing Director of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) for attributing the power cuts in the country to challenges with Bui Power Plant. GRIDCo is said to have told the Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, that the Bui Power Plant was a causative agent of the intermittent power supply. The company, at a press briefing on the issue, explained that the Bui Power Plant had been shut down because of low water in the dam. GRIDCo noted that it is due to this problem that certain parts of Ghana are currently experiencing power cuts, referred to in local parlance as 'dumsor'. But reacting to the GRIDCo statement in an interview on Joy FM on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, the Chief Executive of Bui Power Authority (BPA), Fred Oware says the management of GRIDCo misinformed the Minsiter. He stated emphatically that the GRIDCo claim is misleading, stressing the current intermittent power supply has nothing to do with Bui power. Let me be bold enough and say that I think GRIDCo has misled the Minister [of Energy] in making such a sad statement because as we sit here, talking right now, Bui is in operation, we have three units which works at 133 [megawatts]. The water is gone down without any doubt whatsoever but this is not an unforeseen act, we knew this and last year when we submitted our supply plan, we indicated clearly that this year, we will not be able to generate as much as we generated last year and weve given them month by month how much we are going to. If there is a problem, lets talk about it but they cant put it on Bui because we knew last year that the supply plan will be what it is and so they should have looked at our supply plan and make alternative arrangements to fill in the gap but to say that there is dumsor in Ghana because, it is quite misleading and I think you can make your own independent investigation," Mr. Oware stated. Discussing the issue during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Allotey Jacobs rebuked the Managing Director of GRIDCo asking why he would lie to the Minister and Ghanaians. To him, the electricity transmission company has been very poor when it comes to disseminating the right information to the public. "GRIDCo hasn't managed this situation very well . . . Why do you lie to the public as Managing Director of GRIDCo? This is no judgement. I mean it's a fact when the other side has come to tell Ghanaians that what the GRIDCo Managing Director said is not true. The information management isn't proper," he stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An unmanned boat found with its motor still running has prompted an air and sea search of Moreton Bay for a 26-year-old Brisbane man. Water police and PolAir, the Queensland Police helicopter, were searching for the owner of the tinny, which was found still running about 100 metres off Mud Island, late Wednesday afternoon. Police were alerted about 3.30pm on Wednesday to a small aluminium boat near the Port of Brisbane with no one on board. Crews were searching for a Brisbane man believed to have fallen off the boat in the afternoon. Water police, PolAir, Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Coast Guard were on scene. Burma UN Official Warns of Syria-Style Conflict in Myanmar, Urges Immediate Intl Action Anti-regime protesters resist soldiers and police in Yangon in March. / The Irrawaddy As the Myanmar military regime continues its deadly crackdowns on protesters and armed resistance in border areas grows, the United Nations top human rights official has voiced fears that the country could descend into a full-blown conflict as seen in Syria, and urged member states to take immediate measures against the regime. The Southeast Asian nation has been under military rule since February, and seen nationwide protests against the men in uniform. The regime has killed more than 700 civilians, including children, so far in its attempts to crush the protests, using live rounds and powerful explosives like rifle grenades. There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011. There too, we saw peaceful protests met with unnecessary and clearly disproportionate force, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday. I fear the situation in Myanmar is heading towards a full-blown conflict. States must not allow the deadly mistakes of the past in Syria and elsewhere to be repeated, she added. The brutal, persistent repression by the Assad regime of Syria against its own people led some to take up arms, followed by a downward and rapidly expanding spiral of violence across the country. In Myanmar today, due to the regimes deadly crackdowns, once-peaceful anti-regime protesters are now in favor of armed resistance. In the countrys north, east and south, ethnic armed groups that have been waging wars against the military to secure autonomy for decades recently launched attacks on regime troops in their areas, causing heavy casualties to the Tatmadaw (Myanmars military). They said they were not happy with the regimes bloody attacks on civilians. Internationally, the regime has been opposed since the coup. Targeted sanctions against the regime leadership and their families have been imposed. Despite individual calls to take serious action, such as invoking the responsibility to protect, or R2P, principle against the junta, nothing has happened. At the UN Security Council, the regimes allies China and Russia have blocked efforts by member states to make collective decisions to solve the crisis in Myanmar. Bachelet said on Tuesday that statements of condemnation, and limited targeted sanctions, were clearly not enough. States with influence need to urgently apply concerted pressure on the military in Myanmar to halt the commission of grave human rights violations and possible crimes against humanity, she said. You may also like these stories: The Day Nehru and Nasser Were Soaked in Myanmar Watchman Reportedly Tortured to Death by Myanmar Regime Troops Myanmar Regime Forces Kill Gurkha Couple in the Border Town of Tamu Authorities in Oregon said they are examining a piece of suspected space debris from a SpaceX vehicle that was found by a fisherman in the Alsea Bay. ADVERTISEMENT The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said the fisherman removed the object from the Alsea Bay, near Waldport, and transported it to a location near a local business before contacting authorities. The charred object was examined by Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue, which determined it was not a hazardous materials threat. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality contacted SpaceX to attempt to identify the item. SpaceX said it was unable to positively identify the object, but it is consistent with a composite overwrapped pressure vessel component. The company told authorities the object should be safe to transport. Deputies transported the item to a secure location for further examination and investigation. Pieces of a SpaceX rocket caused a light show in the sky over the West Coast in late March. A piece from the spacecraft was found last week on a Washington farm. He shocked Married At First Sight fans on Tuesday night when he brutally dumped 'wife' Georgia Fairweather at their final vows. And after the show aired, Liam Cooper took a parting shot at his ex on Instagram. Sharing photos from the gut-wrenching farewell, the 30-year-old prison case officer further criticised Georgia, 26, and said 'love isn't always enough'. 'Love isn't always enough': Married At First Sight's Liam Cooper took a parting shot at 'ex-wife' Georgia Fairweather on Tuesday after brutally dumping her at their final vows 'Making the decision to walk away from something special is never easy,' he said. 'However, when you feel like someone has not been their authentic self and then takes the opportunity to put you down for all of your faults without first ever wanting to work through it with you, sometimes you need to recognise that love isn't always enough and some words cut too deep.' He acknowledged in another post that he hadn't treated Georgia 'fairly' at the last dinner party, but he still felt she'd judged him too harshly in her vows - which he said were about 'the whole experiment and not just one night'. Lashing out: He acknowledged in another post that he hadn't treated Georgia 'fairly' at the last dinner party, but he still felt she'd judged him too harshly in her vows - which he said were about 'the whole experiment and not just one night' Taking the high road: Georgia conceded that she and Liam simply weren't meant to be Georgia, meanwhile, conceded that she and Liam simply weren't meant to be. 'If you love something, let it go,' she began on Instagram. 'If it returns, it's yours; if it doesn't, it wasn't.' She added: 'If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were.' Liam brutally dumped Georgia after she turned on him during their dramatic final vows on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight. Blindsided: Liam brutally dumped Georgia after she turned on him during their dramatic final vows on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight After he'd confessed his love for her, Georgia described Liam as 'manipulative and insecure' in her vows. Despite expressing a desire to continue their relationship, a furious Liam then dumped his wife and claimed she 'doesn't know the real me'. 'Entering into this experiment, I was counting on an adventure - an experience of a lifetime to learn about myself and to hopefully meet a compatible match,' she told him. 'But then at the [last] dinner party, without warning, you turned on me, you humiliated me, and you degraded me in front of everyone. 'It was obvious how devastated I was, and yet you chose to abandon me that night when I needed you the most. I've never felt so small, inadequate, and confused.' Ouch: After he'd confessed his love for her, Georgia described Liam as 'manipulative and insecure' in her vows. Despite expressing a desire to continue their relationship, a furious Liam then dumped his wife and claimed she 'doesn't know the real me' Despite criticising him, Georgia said she was willing to give their relationship a go. However, an unimpressed Liam responded: 'I love you, but hearing those vows, you don't know me. You don't know me at all. 'I've never seen this side of you, and I think it's a cop in the face that you say that I've done all this to you when this whole experiment, I have given you everything.' He continued: 'I am sorry for what happened at the dinner party, but I'm not gonna cop that, when that there is an outright lie. 'As much as I want to make this work, that just shows you don't know me, and I'm not gonna have a partner who doesn't know me.' 'So, let's just call it quits. I'm done,' he said before walking away. After he left the room, Georgia pulled off her wedding band and tossed it to the floor before bursting into tears. SwipBox has announced that shoppers in Denmark will now be able to return their parcels via its Infinity parcel locker network and logistics provider Bring will be the first to offer first-mile parcel services via the parcel lockers. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Launched two years ago, the innovative app-operated agnostic parcel locker solution operates under the Nrboks brand name in Denmark, with several logistics providers delivering parcels throughout the network. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> According to SwipBox, online shopping behavior has changed significantly since the coronavirus pandemic began and this has led to an increase in the utilization of its parcel lockers as customers shop more online, they inevitably need to return more parcels. Jens Rom, CEO at SwipBox, said, At SwipBox we are always looking into new solutions and ways to be sure that we are ahead of the markets needs and demands and that we can deliver every time. Its exciting news that Bring are ready to offer their customers the chance to safely return parcels throughout the network in order to create more convenience for the end users on the Danish market. The software that operates the SwipBox Infinity parcel lockers was designed to handle returns via its app. Customers simply need to register their parcel via the app and take it to their nearest locker. Jens Lauge, strategic product developer at Bring, commented, Reverse logistics is always a natural and integrated part of our value propositions. By adding the return service from the Nrboks parcel boxes, from which the customers first picked up their parcels, we will offer the 360 solution that our customers demand. San Francisco supervisors approved the settlement of a class-action lawsuit Tuesday by jail inmates who sued the city over cruel and unusual sleep denial and disruptions. The Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the settlement for $30,000 during Tuesdays meeting. The lawsuit resulted in extending nighttime sleep from five to seven hours and making efforts to minimize sleep disruption, but lawyer Yolanda Huang said plaintiffs remaining in custody are refusing to sign off on the settlement because of the way its been implemented. You need to treat them as human beings, Huang said. Theres all kinds of consequences of not getting enough sleep ... its a basic human need. Huang asked the city to return to mediation to address unresolved issues, including security checks that she said still disrupt sleep. The Sheriffs Office intends to mediate until a satisfactory outcome is reached for all parties and is committed to maintaining a safe and secure living environment for justice involved persons in jail, spokesman Christian Kropff said in a statement. Tuesdays vote was 9-2, with Supervisors Ahsha Safai and Hillary Ronen in dissent. I dont think thats humane or fair, and I dont understand why we cant just allow for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, Ronen told The Chronicle on Tuesday. There must be ways of doing security checks to not joust awake every single inmate. Nine plaintiffs at two jails filed the lawsuit in May 2019 against the city, the Sheriffs Department and its leaders, including Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, who at the time was chief deputy sheriff. The plaintiffs claimed the jail sleep schedule lights out at 10:30 p.m. and breakfast at 3:30 a.m., with frequent interruptions by lights, announcements and wake-ups created a cascading negative effect. Sleep deprivation adversely impacts inmates ability to participate in their legal defense, weakens their immune systems and makes them less able to control their emotions and comply with jail rules, leading to more punitive discipline such as solitary confinement, the complaint said. Since the lawsuit was filed, the city closed one jail in San Francisco. Under the settlement, nighttime sleep hours in the jail in San Bruno, which is under the jurisdiction of the city and county of San Francisco, were extended from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Kropff said deputies are required to conduct security rounds for safety and the office has implemented policies to ensure that they do so as quietly as possible. Deputies conduct a quick visual inspection and listen for breathing sounds through the food slot on the door, which makes a minimal amount of noise, he said. Huang said security checks create noise in the metal slots that disrupt sleep. She said that being locked in cells earlier cuts off access to the evening news, and that breakfast should be held at an hour that isnt considered by many to be nighttime. Kropff said all meals are served at the same time, with breakfast at 4:30 a.m. to ensure that those who have court dates or are being released or transferred can eat first. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench COLUMBIA Fights, drunken behavior and auto accidents show that Columbia's Five Points has become the kind of raucous bar district that the state constitution prohibits and shows why the state needs new restrictions on liquor licenses, a state senator said. Wild and violent bars were such a problem in the 19th century that tighter laws were written into the S.C. constitution, rules that state Sen. Dick Harpootlian maintains have been ignored in recent years, especially in Five Points. During a presentation at a Senate subcommittee hearing April 14, the Columbia Democrat played video from State Law Enforcement Division agents of a 2020 fight in Taneyhill's Group Therapy and showed social media pictures of a passed-out revelers in a bar bathroom. Harpootlian's presentation was part of his push to spell out a tight definition for what establishments can hold liquor licenses. His bill would require businesses to get 51 percent of their revenue from sales of food and nonalcoholic drinks to be licensed. Some in the food and beverage industry are concerned that the 51 percent level will be a challenge for far more establishments than just college town bars. Harpootlian noted that Group Therapy won a renewal of its liquor license despite objections in 2020, even after staff and law enforcement struggled to break up a large fight. He made the case that bars were such a problem in post-Civil War South Carolina that the state constitution was worded so liquor licenses could only be held by restaurants as places that were "primarily and substantially" in the business of serving food. Many Five Points bars only enforce the 21-and-over age-limit law for drinking when law enforcement is present, he said. When officers enter a bar, "underage drinkers go out the back door," he said. Harpootlian also showed video footage of an auto accident in Five Points in which a pedestrian was struck and killed several years ago. The driver, over the age of 21, had been drinking in a bar before the accident, he said. He argued his bill is necessary to spell out the requirement clearly and give the law a tool to cut down on dangerous behavior. Sign up for our Columbia business and real estate newsletter. Get all the latest industry happenings from the Midlands, plus exclusive development news and more in your inbox each week. Email Sign Up! "This has happened because the Legislature has been AWOL," Harpootlian said. While Harpootlian argued he is describing a statewide problem, Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, countered that this is really a Five Points issue. "We don't have this problem in Charleston," Senn said. In hearing testimony, a USC professor warned more young people, primarily women and often underage, are being drugged while partying in Five Points. Shannon Henry, who teaches physical education including self-defense at USC, said a survey of students reported a sharp increase in such events in Five Points. Henry said she is concerned about crimes against young women who don't realize they have had a sedative slipped into their drink. "My fear is that the wolves will show up," she said. Numerous speakers, including some against the bill, did not get a chance to be heard before the hearing ended. Another hearing will be held before the bill can advance out of the Judiciary subcommittee, and the measure is unlikely to pass this year, the first of a two-year legislative session. Currently, 11 Five Points bars are having to go to court to renew their liquor licenses because of public objections. Six bars in the district have closed for good in recent years, some amid looming legal battles over licenses. At least three others are closed while appealing their alcohol license renewals. NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A much broader range of Americans are investing and engaging in U.S. financial markets, with Millennials, as well as households with the smallest amount to invest, growing in influence from year-end 2017 through June 30, 2020, according to a new quantitative study released by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader. New Broadridge Data Study: Key Trends Impacting U.S. Investors This study, the first-of-its kind and scale Broadridge Insights on U.S. Investors provides unprecedented evidence-based data and observations of investors who buy mutual funds, ETFs and equities through financial intermediaries. The study covered tens of millions of U.S. investor households and billions of data points, providing a unique perspective across generations, geography, educational attainment, channels, investment products, and wealth tiers. "We are all witnessing an unprecedented and accelerated democratization of U.S. investing," said Bob Schifellite, Broadridge's Investor Communication Solutions President. "The signs are undeniable as younger investors, particularly Millennials, grew as a percentage of investors studied from 9% to 14% during this period. Additionally, households with the smallest amount to invest, referred to as the Mass Market, grew in influence from 30% to 38% of investing households. Many are investing using cost-effective ETFs, and more have broader access to low-cost institutional shares, highlighting a changing investing landscape." Key Findings include: Millennials are up-and-comers in the market Millennials (born 1981 1996), the fastest-growing generation in numbers of investors studied, will continue to grow within the Mass Market segment and beyond. Millennials grew as a percentage of overall U.S. investors studied from 9% to 14% over the period and Gen X (born 1965 1980) grew from 24% to 27%. Boomers (born 1946 1964) decreased as a total percentage of investors studied from 46% to 43% and the Silent Generation (born 1928 1945) also declined as a percentage of investors from 20% to 14% but both still comprise 57% of the number of investors analyzed across the generational segments studied. Mass Market rise The Mass Market, defined as households with less than $100,000 in investable assets, grew in influence with a rising share of households and Assets Under Management (AUM). During the study period, the Mass Market grew from 30% to 38% of households with Mass Affluent ($100K to <$1MM) dropping from 57% to 51% and High Net Worth ($1MM+) dipping from 13% to 11%. The Mass Market also represents a growing share of asset ownership, defined as investments in mutual funds, ETFs and U.S. equities. Despite lower household AUM of 10% of the overall assets studied, the Mass Market gained 3% in asset ownership share since 2017. In contrast, Mass Affluent and High Net Worth AUM decreased over the same period. "The study highlights trends that are indicative of things to come and present enormous opportunity for asset managers and advisors who adapt to address the emerging needs of investors," said Dan Cwenar, Broadridge's President of Data and Analytics. "Money is expected to continue to flow into low-cost investment vehicles such as passive and active ETFs and Millennials and Mass Market investors will continue to gain influence as their assets grow." Investors purchased low-cost Institutional Shares and ETFs While A-class shares and institutional shares are the most widely held by households, A-class shares declined in household ownership from 43% at the end of 2017 to 39% on June 30, 2020. During the same period, household ownership of institutional shares grew from 44% to 54%. Household ownership of ETFs grew steadily from 30% to 37%. In contrast, the share of mutual funds increased 2% over this period, although U.S. equities growth was flat. Limited Pandemic Asset Shifts Effects Seen Across Generations, but Equities Rise Boomer and Silent generations were at or above their pre-Covid AUM levels by the end of June 2020. Boomer and Silent generations comprised 76% of household AUM and fared slightly better than Gen X and Millennials who were slightly below pre-Covid AUM levels. However, purchases of U.S. equities increased to 31% as of June 30, 2020, a 3% uptick over 2019. Increases were experienced (in order) by Millennials, Gen-X and Boomers. Regional Differences The highest concentration of Mass Market households was in the South (38%) while the highest concentration of High Net Worth (HNW) households was in the West (41%) California alone accounted for 28% of HNW households. Mass Affluent households were more evenly divided across regions, with the highest concentration in the South (32%). The South consistently had the highest concentration of households across all distribution channels ranging from 31% for RIA, 31% for Online, 33% for Broker-Dealer and 35% for Wirehouse. However, the least concentration varied with Broker-Dealer and RIA both at 19% in the Northeast and Wirehouse (18%) and Online (19%) in the Midwest. Study Methodology Drawing on anonymized data, this study delivers a unique, evidence-based view of investor holdings. Represents 44 million U.S. households that invest in mutual funds (open-end, closed-end), U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) sold through financial intermediaries. Utilizes a de-identified sample of 20,000 households extracted from a dataset of those 44 million investor households spanning billions of data points. Includes data for year-ends 2017, 2018 and 2019 and the first half of 2020. This study focused on individual investor holdings through intermediaries. The sample does not include: Institutional investors, such as pension funds, hedge funds or endowments and foundations Retirement plans, such as 401(k) and defined benefit plans 529 college savings plans Bank deposits (checking, savings, CDs, money markets) Directly held mutual fund shares, fixed income, money market funds Real assets such as real estate, art, automobiles and jewelry About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $4.5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. In addition, Broadridge's technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of on average more than U.S. $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 12,000 associates in 17 countries. For more information about us and what we can do for you, please visit www.broadridge.com. Investors: W. Edings Thibault Investor Relations + 1 516-472-5129 [email protected] Media: Gregg Rosenberg Corporate Communications +1 212-918-6966 [email protected] SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Related Links http://www.broadridge.com The IABM offers networking opportunities that allow member companies to shape and define advances within the industry. As an emerging broadcast company, NativeWaves aims to play a key part in the development and adoption of technology that delivers a synchronised and personalised viewing experiences across multiple screens. NativeWaves CEO Christof Haslauer (pictured) said: At NativeWaves, we use ultra-low latency streaming technology to deliver compelling and immersive viewer experiences from live events. Membership of IABM will provide us with the ideal platform to showcase our offering and work with leaders inthe industry to bring these experiences to the market. We look forward to collaborating with other IABM members to deliver amazing viewer experiences. Lisa Collins, Head of Membership Engagement at the IABM, added: We are delighted to welcome NativeWaves to our membership and look forward to introducing them to our wide range of networking opportunities. The high precision synchronisation solution offered by NativeWaves allows audiences to choose what they want to see by providing instant access to alternate camera angles, audio and data feeds, without any lagging sequences or interruptions. Fans today want to craft and control their own viewing experience, Haslaurer added. By working with likeminded broadcast and media technology partners we aim to put as much personalisation power as possible at their fingertips. MONTREAL, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The government of Quebec has given the green light to the AppalachesMaine Interconnection Line project. This decision follows a 20-month environmental assessment process and a sustained collaborative effort between Hydro-Quebec and local communities. The interconnection line will link to the future New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, whose construction began in Maine last February. "Today, we have reached a major milestone in this project, which will have a significant impact in the fight against climate change and generate economic benefits for both Quebecers and our neighbors to the south," said Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Hydro-Quebec. This project was the focus of a provincial environmental assessment and review procedure, which includes a review by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE), Quebec's office for public hearings on the environment. In its report, made public on December 4, 2020, the BAPE concluded that the proposed line route is acceptable from the standpoint of the biophysical and human environment thanks to Hydro-Quebec's optimization efforts and planned mitigation measures. The BAPE also determined that the electricity transmitted via the interconnection will contribute to the decarbonization of the economies of Maine and Massachusetts. The project was also approved by the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Quebec in December 2020 and by the Regie de l'energie du Quebec in July 2020. Canada Energy Regulator Because the power line is part of a transborder initiative, the project must also be assessed by the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). This is the last approval to be obtained before construction can begin. According to the CER's procedural timetable, the ruling is expected in spring 2021. Work could begin thereafter, with commissioning scheduled for 2023. Here's an overview of the AppalachesMaine/New England Clean Energy Connect Project: Once completed, the new interconnection will increase the exchange capacity between Quebec and New England by 1,200 megawatts (MW). The interconnection will supply Massachusetts with 9.45 terawatthours (TWh) of clean Quebec hydropower annually for 20 years. In addition, through an agreement signed with Maine last summer, Maine will receive 0.5 TWh annually for 20 years. with of clean Quebec hydropower annually for 20 years. In addition, through an agreement signed with last summer, will receive annually for 20 years. The clean and renewable energy provided to Maine and Massachusetts will help avoid over 3 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annuallythe equivalent of taking 700,000 vehicles off the roads. and will help avoid over annuallythe equivalent of taking 700,000 vehicles off the roads. Over 275 workers will be on site. At the peak of construction, this figure is expected to rise to 400 . will be on site. At the peak of construction, this figure is expected to rise to . The project will generate regional economic spinoffs between $50 and $80 million . . The line route selected in Quebec extends 103 km between Appalaches substation in Saint-Adrien-d'Irlande (near Thetford Mines ) and a connection point in the municipality of Frontenac in Estrie on the QuebecMaine border. The length of the line route in Maine is 233 km. SOURCE Hydro-Quebec Related Links www.hydroquebec.com ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar powered illumination is just part of the success of a recent partnership between Henkel Corporation and ID Signsystems. Henkel Corporation, a leading manufacturer of well-known beauty care brands like Dial soap and Persil, identified a need for brand signage at their newest expansion and turned to IDS for solutions. Solar can radically cut down on electrical installation costs on large, landmark signs. 3D modeled prototypes demonstrate solar illumination processes for landmark signs. create the mold for The work of this project is what really stands out. In order to identify, test, and produce the best and most cost-effective solutions for Henkel, IDS devised a lighting legibility study using 3D modeled prototypes. A prototype was also tested to demonstrate the solar illumination approach and materials were carefully selected. "The applications for solar signage are rapidly expanding. Henkel presented the perfect solar scenario for large landmark signage that was also remote from immediate power sources," said IDS President Paul Dudley. The IDS-Henkel Design Facilitation Process: Design Phase. IDS provided a strategic signage master plan for possible opportunities including the use of a solar powered energy supply to radically cut down on electrical installation costs to remote sign locations. IDS provided a strategic signage master plan for possible opportunities including the use of a solar powered energy supply to radically cut down on electrical installation costs to remote sign locations. Engineering Phase. IDS developed full fabrication documentation that met heightened review requirements of the city planners and engineers. In addition, IDS devised a lighting legibility study using 3D modeled prototypes. IDS developed full fabrication documentation that met heightened review requirements of the city planners and engineers. In addition, IDS devised a lighting legibility study using 3D modeled prototypes. Fabrication Phase. All signs were built in-house after a prototype was tested to demonstrate the illumination approach. Solar powered units went through rigorous testing to ensure functionality and light output performance. All signs were built in-house after a prototype was tested to demonstrate the illumination approach. Solar powered units went through rigorous testing to ensure functionality and light output performance. Installation Phase. IDS managed the approval process and installed the signs and the solar illumination system. Henkel's newest expansion in Geneva, NY, included a $17.3 million investment in new equipment and technology. Contact us at: (855) 850-7764 or [email protected] to discuss project needs and explore how IDS can put our solar expertise to work for you! About ID Signsystems: ID Signsystems has been designing and building innovative sign solutions nationally and internationally since 2005. Headquartered in Rochester, NY, IDS offers client-focused solutions in architectural signage, design and lighting. United by a multi-layered understanding of materials and industry best practice, the IDS team are powerful partners for businesses and organizations developing both their brand and environment. Contact: Paul Dudley (585) 266-5750 x 208 (office) (585) 245-2189 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE ID Signsystems Washington Grade Center Ada Principal Tatum Sallee is one of many teachers and school administrators who have established themselves as front-line heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tatum Sallee has become a front-line hero during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education personnel like Sallee have put themselves in harms way to make sure students have access to a safe and effective learning environment. Every day, teachers, school administrators and others in the profession of education strive to provide our children with the best possible education during these difficult times, whether that be from instruction in a traditional classroom setting, or distance learning through computer technology. While teaching is her foremost passion, in her nearly 10-year career, Sallee has risen to become a principal at Ada City Schools Washington Grade Center, which serves third and fourth graders, in Ada, Oklahoma. While school administration is difficult in the best of times, COVID-19 has put a new wrinkle on education and factored into every decision made for her school during the past year. Some of these changes will continue after the pandemic is over. We began distance learning in March (2020), Sallee said. We didnt come back from spring break. It was all new. When we came back in August, one of the first things we did was a one-on-one meet and greet. It gave us the opportunity for students and parents to meet our teachers. This is something we will continue to do next year. According to Sallee, the most difficult aspect of the last year has been the unknown that teachers have had to face day-to-day. Teachers never knew what their schedule would look like, or when they might return to having in-person classes. Any given day, they could find out they wouldnt be at school the next day, the next week or perhaps longer. That is difficult because our teachers are focused on creating relationships, she said. Relationships are first and foremost in the classroom. It is incredible to see how teachers have risen to this challenge. While COVID-19 has been challenging, Sallee looks to the bright side of what the pandemic has taught school systems. Some of the implementations put in place are going to stay when things return to normal for the school. As an administrator, I help oversee everything within the school, Sallee said. In a way, I would like to think administrators are the schools heartbeat. I am so blessed that I get to be a part of anything and everything that occurs (at Washington Grade Center). We help children be the best that they can be. Education has always factored into Sallees life. Coming from a family of educators, Sallee wanted to be a teacher from a young age. She attended East Central University and graduated with a degree in education. Sallee is devoted to the Ada Public School system. As a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, she knows firsthand how important education is to First Americans and the challenges they face. Within the Ada Public School system, she has served as director of Indian education, where she worked with the Johnson-OMalley program, Title VI and the Chickasaw Nation Youth Community Project to assist First American students. Mommas Tricks of the Trade: Adjusting Your Outlook With Landmarks For many years, curious drivers on the rural route noticed three symbols on a telephone pole just south of my hometown. They were spray-painted bright white and reflected in the headlights of my dads Silverado as I drove home. Back in 1989, the message was a reminder to me and helped shape future events in my life. The message was a landmark made by my best friend. We usually think of landmarks as prominent identifying features of landscapes, boundary markers, or historical events, but I want to use the word in a more personal way. Anyone can make a landmark as an outward indication of a significant life-altering moment. I am speaking of landmarks as something spontaneous and purposeful. In Scripture, many times Old Testament characters had encounters with God and immediately set up rocks to enshrine the moment, reminding them of the message that had been given. These rock mounds were a visible testimony not so much to others who passed by, but to the person who set up the stones. Their path in life had been transformed so much by a particular event that it needed to be preserved. Unfocused Parenting The way we parent is like a path, sometimes well-worn because its the same way our parents, for better or for worse, raised us. The daily grind of raising children also causes some to abandon their good intentions. We may notice things arent going the way we intended, but dont know how to change. When I became a mother, I was often unfocused. Good thoughts that gave perspective would occur to me but be quickly forgotten. One day, however, I decided to make a landmark and harness the clarity before it escaped my clutches. My life was very different then. I was nursing a baby and had toddlers and preschoolers in tow. One of the children was always on my lap, chubby hands were reaching in my plate at mealtime, and I never went to the bathroom alone. I began to resent the constant touch of those precious babies. My selfishness loomed and threatened the contentment I had with my littles. I was particularly irked with my circumstances, and I longed to not be touched anymore by anyone. What would that really be like, though? Answering that question wasnt hard because I often visited the nursing home in town. Walking down the hall to see a particular resident, my kids would stiffen as they heard elderly ladies call to them. The frail skin, immobility, and dull eyes of the residents made my children recoil. One particular lady always snuggled a baby doll. I knew that someday, if I lived long enough, I would be just like those elderly people: seldom touched and rarely in contact with babies or children. Was that really what I longed for? Those residents yearned for one of my little children to crawl up on their lap and love on them. Immediately my resolve bloomed. I wouldnt resent my life situation but appreciate the blessings in the moment. I wrote a very bad poem about a nursing home resident envying a young mother with her children. It was my landmark, and I read it when I felt the selfishness creeping in. Culture may say that I needed me time or to stop having kids, but I know that landmark moments like this propelled me forward by giving me a long-term outlook in a way nothing else could. In America, our television, pop music, movies, and social media encourage us to strive for many selfish endeavors, but what in mainstream media encourages mothers to embrace the childrearing years? Going out with my children brought outrageous reactions from well-meaning and some not-so-well-meaning folks. Its funny that when we struggle and sacrifice for politically correct goals in America, its praiseworthy, but not so much for the simple day-to-day victories of being a selfless mom or dad. Erecting Landmarks The more landmarks I set up, the steadier I felt, and I didnt have to work hard at creating the reminders. After a miscarriage, a simple stone in the landscaping reminded me of the gift of life. Journaling, and reviewing those passages, helped me remember the ways to keep to the path and avoid laziness and impatience. When the kids were older, they painted a picture to remind the family of our life goals. Even the mistakes my kids made began to remind me of my own shortcomings and the power of coming alongside them in humility during discipline. The message on the telephone pole back in 89, my first personal landmark, was a reminder to me from the love of my life that even though he was off at college, he loved me. Every time I passed the landmark, I was reminded of his love, which eventually led to our marriage. Without that aptly placed message, my thoughts may have taken my life in a completely different direction. Mom, the path you are traveling with your kids is of your own making. Know your struggles, reflect on good viewpoints, use a landmark to remind yourself, and rejoice at feeling restored. Tricia Fowler is a Christian homeschooling momma in the Midwest. She currently spends much of her time teaching math, feeding sourdough, and helping with whatever is in season on the hobby farm she shares with her husband and seven children. Judge Gertner applies the safety valve while imposing a within-guideline sentence | Main | Fourth Circuit affirms upward departure in notable obscenity case December 18, 2008 "Madoff Mercy: How long should the Ponzi schemer go to prison for?" The title of this post is the title of this Slate commentary by Harlan Protass, who uses all the ugly Wall Street news to spotlight the the over-emphasis of loss in how the federal sentencing guidelines deal with white-collar fraud. Here are lengthy excerpts from an effective piece: [W]hen it comes to large-scale frauds involving public companies and their millions of shares, the guidelines' grounding in mathematics sometimes results in sentences that are, quite literally, off the chart. They fall within the realm of prison terms usually reserved for mafia bosses, major international drug lords, cop killers, child molesters, and terrorists. Remember Jeffrey Skilling losses to Enron shareholders of more than $1 billion largely determined his 24-year-plus sentence. Or consider WorldCom's former chief, Bernie Ebbers. He got 25 years based principally on the $2.2 billion loss suffered by his company's shareholders. Sure, these men destroyed enormous shareholder value, just as the targets of today's criminal cases allegedly did. But it's hard to contend that they deserved prison terms longer than the average sentence for murder (22 years), kidnapping (14), and sexual abuse (eight). Tying jail terms to the amount of money lost also puts way too much power in the hands of prosecutors. It gives them the muscle to threaten long prison stretches in order to coerce guilty pleas. If it weren't for the risk of lengthy sentences if convicted, many defendants might opt to test the government's evidence before a jury. Linking jail time to dollars lost also severs many of the ties to factors courts are supposed to consider when determining and imposing sentences. For example, a relatively short prison term years, not decades can be enough to deter prospective financial fraudsters. And economic offenders pose little future threat because they're generally stripped of powers that would permit continued criminal conduct. Also, aren't there more fitting and useful ways to punish the titan fraudsters of Wall Street? Strip them of their wealth. Make them work to pay back those they ripped off or to serve the public good. The Supreme Court's landmark decision in United States v. Bookerallowed judges to use good, old-fashioned common sense to reduce radically long sentences produced by the guidelines. And some judges have done that. In 2006, Richard Adelson, former president of Impath Inc., a laboratory services company that collapsed as a result of an accounting fraud, was convicted of securities fraud and filing false documents. The guidelines recommended a life sentence. Instead, a judge sentenced Adelson to 42 months in prison. (A federal appeals court in New York approved that call last week.) Lennox Parris and Lester Parris, co-directors of a New York-based water company, were convicted of securities fraud in connection with a scheme to boost the value of their company's stock with a series of press releases misrepresenting its success in scoring distribution contracts. They were each sentenced earlier this year to five years imprisonment, even though they faced 30 years to life under the guidelines. And this week, the former CEO of reinsurer General Re, Ronald Ferguson, who faced life imprisonment for his role in a rotten deal to artificially inflate the balance sheet of insurance giant AIG, was sentenced to two years in jail. But honestly, that kind of largesse is rare. Most judges still stick close to the guidelines and the huge sentence recommendations they make for causing huge financial loss. Given that hundreds of billions, if not trillions, were lost on Wall Street this year, we could be talking about a parade of defendants swapping cuff links for handcuffs and facing not years behind bars but decades. That's more punishment than even Bernard Madoff deserves. Regular readers know that I agree with a lot of what Harlan has to say, and his point about the power federal prosecutors wield in this context is especially important and often overlooked. That all said, Madoff's alleged crimes seem, at least from the early press reports, to be of a different character and magnitude than some of the other cases noted by Harlan. For me the core problem with an obsessive concern with loss amounts is that, in many settings, the quantifiable amount of "loss" under the guidelines often has little or no connection to offenders' culpable mental states and subjective culpability. There are suggestions, however, that Bernie Madoff was in fact very culpable (perhaps for a very long time), and that the high loss levels in his case may have a direct relationship to his subjective culpability. Like all good law professors, I am troubled by severe punishments based on strict liability sentencing factor, but it is not clear this is a major concern in the Madoff case. Moreover, Harlan's effective commentary still effectively ducks in the hardest question: exactly what punishment levels should be the norm in large-scale frauds involving public companies. He suggests that years and not decades may be the right ballpark, but there is a huge gulf between say three and thirty years imprisonment. These cases are so hard and the current guidelines are so inadequate because we do not have a ready metric or shared moral sense of how best to assess these kinds of crimes. But, as suggested above, I do think subjective culpability should be more important and that "loss" concepts are too important in the current federal sentencing scheme. Some recent related posts: UPDATE: This postat ChattahBox provides something of a counter to Harlan's commentary. It is titled "Bernard Madoff Deserves The Life Sentence Hes Likely To Get." December 18, 2008 at 04:04 PM | Permalink TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e20105367eb12c970b Listed below are links to weblogs that reference "Madoff Mercy: How long should the Ponzi schemer go to prison for?": Comments Should a defendant whose conduct rose to the level of signifigantly damaging the national economy be punished more harshly than a defendant with the same dollar total in damage who did not? Madoff has destroyed major charities, and done signifigant damage to consumer confidence in our financial system. He could end up ACTUALLY harming millions, or even tens of millions of individuals. The benficiaries of those charities could be at risk for physical harm or even death. Meanwhile, that murderer only killed one person. I understand and agree with the concern in most cases, but this doesn't seem like a very good example of how harsh sentences based on large dollar amounts is that unreasonable. Posted by: Monty | Dec 18, 2008 6:41:58 PM I tend to agree with the stance that an accused's culpability, or ill-intent, should be the focus of the sentencing. What is the utility of punishing him based on the consequences of his actions, or the magnitude of resulting loss, if there is no connection to his mental intent? How does punishment that is not related to mental intent serve to deter future crimes or rehabilitate the accused? Regarding the broad spectrum of harm that the accused may have caused and the potential loss of life: even if we accept that the financial loss caused by the accused's actions could have resulted in loss of life, without having some proportionality between the accused's intent and his punishment, how does a large punishment serve utilitarian goals? Would a large punishment be driven primarily by retributive desires to see the accused suffer? That being said, I think the suggestion that the amounts of money involved could be used to make inferences about an accused's culpability is sound. But such inferences must be made carefully and should perhaps be accompanied by evidence that the accused contemplated the magnitude of his actions. Posted by: Jacob | Dec 18, 2008 9:14:57 PM This defendant qualifies for a life sentence if any white collar defendant ever does! Sholam Weiss is presently an inmate at U.S. Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He has the longest white collar sentence ever rendered in America, 845 years! Yes, you read that correctly. If you doubt it, go to "bop.gov", the web site for the Bureau of Prisons, and put Sholam Weiss's name into the National Inmate Locator system. His "out date" is after the year 2,700. His white collar crimes involved the looting of a Flordia life insurance company of about $27 million, which led to the failure of the company and losses to thousands of policy and annuity holders, but nothing on the scale of the $50 billion dollars involved in the current case. He was sentenced by Chief Judge Particia Fawcett of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida at Orlando in 2000. His direct appeal was dismissed by the Eleventh Circuit under the "Fugitive Disentitledment Doctrine", as he was then on the run in Brazil and Austria. He was later captured in Austria extradited back to the U.S. Not surprisingly, he will be seeking a Presidential Commutation before President Bush leaves office. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Dec 18, 2008 11:11:43 PM "Tying jail terms to the amount of money lost also puts way too much power in the hands of prosecutors. It gives them the muscle to threaten long prison stretches in order to coerce guilty pleas. If it weren't for the risk of lengthy sentences if convicted, many defendants might opt to test the government's evidence before a jury." Funny how prison terms become too excessive when it comes to the heart of America--violating the trust of the people by fucking with their money. In the words of a Jamaican, "bun dem ded!" Posted by: | Dec 19, 2008 11:33:32 AM "Tying jail terms to the amount of money lost also puts way too much power in the hands of prosecutors. It gives them the muscle to threaten long prison stretches in order to coerce guilty pleas." Whats ok for the little guy should be ok for the poor misunderstood ceo Posted by: Mark | Dec 20, 2008 12:07:15 AM apparently Madoff is now blogging his own story Talk about chutzpah! www.bernard-madoff-scam.blogspot.com Posted by: Gordon G | Dec 21, 2008 3:33:27 PM I read with interest the Harlan commentry. It is a good example of academics overthinking to create a twisted controversy where there should be none. Madoff has destroyed the lives of many people and he deserves to die in a small cell, abused in every way by prisoners and whatever comes with it. Gone are those expensive Manhattan lunches and dinners and respect he ill-deserved. He is a devil in a suit and so are most CEOs it appears. I think morons like Harlan and yourself need to lose your money and get a begging bowl in your and your familiy's hands and I would like to see if you are still trying to be a high level intellectual idiot or actually being practical about sentencing. I am a Ph.D. and work in the industry. Posted by: s law | Mar 28, 2009 2:26:09 PM Post a comment Former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate, who sensationally lost her job last November after it was revealed she had gifted Cartier watches to four senior executives two years before, grabbed her chance on Tuesday to speak out. In a Senate estimates hearing, Ms Holgate accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of bullying her out of her job, said she had become suicidal during the scandal and called for the chairman of Australia Post to resign. Wearing suffragette white, Ms Holgate didnt hold back. Today on Please Explain, national editor Tory Maguire speaks to federal political reporter Lisa Visentin about Ms Holgates accusation of bullying by the Prime Minister. PORTLAND, Maine, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, a thriving community of veterinary hospitals whose mission is to create a premier animal hospital experience for patients and clients and is the employer of choice for veterinary healthcare teams, announced today it had added two members to its board of directors. Rarebreed Veterinary Partners Rarebreed Veterinary Partners Christina V. Tran, DVM, associate professor and clinical relations lead veterinarian at The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, has spent more than half her career working with small animals in private practice, shelter medicine, and as a house call practice owner. She has taught in the veterinary technology program at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon, and served as veterinary technology program director at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is also a founding board member and immediate past president of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Tran graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. "I'm thrilled to join the Rarebreed Veterinary Partners board of directors," Dr. Tran said. "I look forward to actively participating and sharing my ideas to help transform the veterinary profession. Through their actions and words, Rarebreed Veterinary Partners strives to be a place where the entire veterinary team thrives, new technologies are embraced, the human-animal bond is strengthened, and pets receive excellent medical care." Amy Wallis is an experienced human resources and organizational development leader in both the business and academic worlds. As chief human resources officer for Sunbelt-Solomon Solutions, she is guiding the organization through a significant merger and cultural transition, advancing its position as a leader in the electrical industry. As a professor of practice in organizational behavior and ethics at the Wake Forest University School of Business, she uses her professional experience to connect theory to practice, teaching courses on leadership, team development, business ethics and change management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international business from The University of Scranton and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Wallis commented, "Rarebreed's commitment to supporting its veterinary partners with cutting-edge business practices and investment in people is exceptional. I am excited to be part of the growth of this organization and look forward to advancing the Rarebreed mission." Dan Espinal, Rarebreed co-founder and chief executive officer, added, "I am thrilled to welcome Drs. Tran and Wallis to our board of directors. I'm confident that their backgrounds, experiences and insights will provide our community with the perspective and knowledge that will accelerate our ability to reimagine the veterinary experience in ways we hadn't yet considered. I look forward to working with and learning from them." "Rarebreed was founded to create exceptional work experiences for hospital teams," said Sean Miller, Rarebreed co-founder and chief operating officer. "The addition of Dr. Tran and Dr. Wallis to our board reflects our commitment to develop unique solutions that shape the future of work in veterinary medicine." About Rarebreed Rarebreed Veterinary Partners is a thriving community of veterinary hospitals that goes the extra mile to create exceptional work experiences, one partnership at a time. We pride ourselves in building trusted, lasting relationships with our partners. We continue to create a broad network of practices that value healthcare teams, provide compassionate care and offer the innovation and tools necessary for them to grow, improve and maximize relationships. For more information, visit rarebreedvet.com. Rarebreed and the Rarebreed logo are registered trademarks of Rarebreed Veterinary Partners. For further information: Media Contact Kim Farina, DVM Vice President of Marketing Rarebreed Veterinary Partners Cell: 530-848-8507 [email protected] Related Images dr-christina-tran.jpg Dr. Christina Tran dr-amy-wallis.png Dr. Amy Wallis SOURCE Rarebreed Veterinary Partners Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 17:05:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Losang Namgyal (2nd L) poses for a photo with his family in Qamdo City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 19, 2021. Losang Namgyal, once a serf in old Tibet, started to work for serf owners when he was no more than seven years old. Laden with heavy taxes, his families faced harsh punishments for minor mistakes. He once saw his grandfather being beaten while hanged up, only because the hunt harvest didn't pleased the serf owner. After the democratic reform, Losang Namgyal attended school for the first time in 1961 when he was 12. After graduation, he became a local official and made great progress for the local agriculture production. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) The Chief of Bukonor in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region, Nene Jacob Tei Kofi, has hailed medical drones delivery company, Zipline, for contributing immensely to saving lives in the Eastern Region. He said Zipline has been making positive impacts in health care delivery in the Eastern Region for which it deserves to be commended. He made this known in an interview with the media, saying he can personally attest to the fact that Zipline has been of immense help to the health sector in the region. According to him, "Zipline has been doing better projects" and "helping people." For instance, he stated that before Zipline started delivering anti-snake venoms, residents who suffered snake bites were relying on herbal medicines. But, that, he said, was not always safe. However, he said, with the coming of Zipline, residents who suffer snake bites are now receiving treatment in real time with anti-venoms that are being delivered by Zipline's medical drones. According to him, recently, there was a reported snake bite and within a matter of minutes, Zipline delivered anti-venom and the victim survived. This is a far departure from what we experienced in the olden days. I remember when I had a snake bite somewhere in 1987, it was a real miracle to survive. Today, technology is making things move right on the go. Government and all Ghanaians, for that matter, must support Zipline to succeed, he said. Yilo Krobo is one of the areas being served by the Omenako distribution center of Zipline. Currently, over 1000 medical facilities benefit from the lifesaving health delivery system within the operational areas of Zipline. Many health officials have so far expressed satisfaction with how the services have tremendously supported in the delivery of emergency medical components including blood to save the lives of patients. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The European Union will receive an extra 50 million doses this month of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, a lift in its effort to speed up inoculations in the face of difficulties with vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The announcement by Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, is part of the European Unions hard pivot to mRNA vaccines such as Pfizers, staking its future coronavirus response on them. The moves come a day after Johnson & Johnson suspended the rollout of its vaccine in the European Union and as the bloc continued to suffer the fallout from restrictions on the AstraZeneca vaccine, after reports of extremely rare but serious potential side effects from both. The 27-nation bloc has also entered negotiations with Pfizer over the supply of 1.8 billion new vaccine doses including booster shots to prolong immunity and new vaccines to tackle emerging variants in 2022 and 2023, Ms. von der Leyen said. President Moon Jae-in greets Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koichi Aiboshi during a ceremony to receive the latter's credentials at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. Yonhap Seoul considers taking radioactive water issue to international tribunal By Kang Seung-woo In the wake of Japan's decision to release radioactive water from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, the Korean government is taking flak for its laid-back response, compared with Tokyo's thorough preparation for the planned discharge. Amid growing criticism of the government's poor handling of the issue, President Moon Jae-in expressed his concerns to the new Japanese ambassador to Seoul, Wednesday, about dumping water containing tritium, a radioactive isotope byproduct of nuclear fission, into the Pacific Ocean, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said, "Moon told Aiboshi that there was great concern over Japan's decision to release radioactive water as the two nations are geographically close to each other and share the sea." His remark was made during talks following a ceremony to receive Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi's credentials at Cheong Wa Dae. "He asked the ambassador to deliver the concerns of the Korean government and the people over the water's discharge to the Japanese government," Kang added. The spokesman also said the President instructed his officials during a meeting held earlier in the day to review taking the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. On Tuesday, the Japanese government approved a plan to dump over 1.23 million tons of radioactive wastewater stored in the plant's tanks into the Pacific Ocean starting 2023, leading the Korean government to voice strong regret over the decision. The radioactive cooling water has been collected and stored on site ever since the nuclear plant was damaged by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011. Korea became aware of the water discharge plan in 2018 and formed a pan-governmental taskforce, but it has failed to come up with practical and realistic ways to oppose it and secure cooperation from the international community, as evidenced by the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) endorsing Japan's decision. Regarding the ocean release as a matter of Japan's sovereignty, the Korean government has mainly focused on verifying all procedures of disposing of the contaminated water into the ocean. In addition, it allegedly sought a plan to form a verification team composed of multinational experts, including Koreans. "As the dumping will occur in Japan's inland sea, not international waters, we have no practical measures to stop Japan from discharging the radioactive water," a foreign ministry official said. "We have shared relevant information with Japan and the IAEA, so we thought the decision would be made after more discussions." In addition, the Korean government criticized Japan saying the decision was made unilaterally without full consultation with relevant countries. However, the Japanese Embassy in Korea issued a statement refuting the ministry's criticism of a lack of discussion. It was released after its Ambassador to Seoul Koichi Aiboshi was summoned to the foreign ministry, later Tuesday. "The decision was made after multiple discussions with representatives from many countries, including Korea," the embassy said. The embassy also said its government held more than 100 briefing sessions for diplomats in Tokyo. Korea's failure to gain support from the international community is another blow to the Moon government. The U.S. said Japan has been "transparent about its decision" and "appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards." The IAEA also welcomed the decision, calling it a "milestone" that will help pave the way for continued progress in the decommissioning of the nuclear plant. The government has expressed its intention to participate in an IAEA verification team that will investigate the safety of the radioactive water after it is dumped. However, it remains to be seen if Korea will join, as team selection is the IAEA's independent right and the water discharge will occur two years later, while a discussion of the verification team has not yet begun in earnest. Despite its strong protest, Korea has a few options such as reinforcing radiation testing on imported food products and inspections of supply chain origins for food imports. "I am furious about what the government has done so far about the issue that is directly linked to the people's safety," Rep. Joo Ho-young, the acting leader of the main opposition People Power Party, said Wednesday. Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Diplomacy and Security at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said, "The government needs to join forces with countries that will be immediately affected by the radioactive water such as China, Taiwan and Russia to reflect their position on Japan's decision." Dr Vinh To at the University of Tasmania (Photo courtesy of the organising board) Hanoi - Lecturers in 10 Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam are invited to participate in an international online education forum to be hosted by Australias University of Tasmania in June and September this year. The project, entitled Australia-ASEAN Academics Forum: Online Education during COVID-19 and Beyond, is funded by the Australia-ASEAN Council under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government. It is led by a research team including Dr Vinh To, Professor Victoria Carrington, Professor Sharon Fraser, and Professor Monica Cuskelly from the School of Education at the University of Tasmania. Through a series of webinars and interviews, the forum will invite academics from the 10 Southeast Asian nations, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, to discuss the readiness, practices and challenges they have faced delivering online lectures during COVID-19, and the mutual benefits of engaging in an academic forum to enhance online teaching in higher education in both Australia and Southeast Asia. Vietnamese-origin project leader Vinh To said: Having a deep connection with Vietnam made me more aware of my responsibility to make contributions to the Southeast Asian region. COVID-19 had required the majority of academics in Southeast Asia to move to online education for the first time. This was challenging in the many cases where all previous experience had been in traditional face-to-face teaching. This project aims to help improve participating ASEAN academics knowledge and skills to teach online. Academics from the University of Tasmania and selected universities in Southeast Asia will be invited to share examples of high quality online teaching practice in various disciplines - education, humanities and social sciences, health, ICT, business and economics. The project also aims to support the Australian Governments international relations policy and the Australia-ASEAN Councils people-to-people link objective, especially during COVID-19, by establishing and fostering the multilateral relationship between academics and institutions in Southeast Asia and Australia for ongoing partnership and collaboration, Dr To said. The project will officially begin in June this year, with rounds of webinars taking place in the same month and September. The webinars will be available to 300 academics or more, and lecturers in the focus disciplines in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are invited to register at this link. https://australiaasean.org/asean-information-and-consent/ For more information, please visit the project website https://australiaasean.org Deadline for registration is 30 April, 2021. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / ECC Ventures 2 Corp. ("ECC2" or the "Company") (TSXV:ETWO.P) is pleased to announce that Infield Minerals Corp. ("Infield") has completed an additional non-brokered private placement financing (the "Second Tranche Financing") conducted in connection with the Company's proposed Qualifying Transaction to acquire Infield (the "Acquisition"), as announced on December 7, 2020. Pursuant to the terms of the Second Tranche Financing, Infield issued 962,500 subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.40 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of $385,000. Immediately prior to the completion of the Acquisition, on satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below), each Subscription Receipt will be automatically exercised, for no further consideration and with no further action on the part of the holder thereof, to acquire one unit (an "Infield Unit") of Infield. The Infield Units issuable upon exercise of the Subscription Receipts will be exchanged for one common share (a "Resulting Issuer Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Resulting Issuer Warrant") of the issuer resulting from the Acquisition (the "Resulting Issuer") in connection with the closing of the Acquisition. Each Resulting Issuer Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of the Resulting Issuer (a "Resulting Issuer Warrant Share") at a price of $0.60 per share for a period of two years from issuance, subject to adjustment in certain events. The gross proceeds of the Second Tranche Financing (less a $7,000 cash commission) were deposited in escrow on closing of the Second Tranche Financing pending satisfaction of certain conditions (the "Escrow Release Conditions"), including, amongst others: (a) the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions precedent to the Acquisition; (b) the Resulting Issuer being conditionally approved for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), and (c) the receipt of all required shareholder and regulatory approvals in connection with the Acquisition, the Second Tranche Financing and the financing that closed on February 16, 2021 for gross proceeds of $3,436,000 with substantially the same terms as the Second Tranche Financing (the "QT Financing"), including the approval of the Exchange. Upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, finders to the Second Tranche Financing shall be issued 17,500 finders' warrants, each such finders' warrant to be exchanged for one finders' warrant of the Resulting Issuer (a "Resulting Issuer Finders' Warrant") upon closing of the Acquisition. Each Resulting Issuer Finders' Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Resulting Issuer Share at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a period of 24 months from issuance, subject to adjustment in certain events. If the Escrow Release Conditions are not met on or before the date that is 120 days following closing of the QT Financing, the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled, and holders of Subscription Receipts will be returned a cash amount equal to the issue price of the Subscription Receipts. Once released from escrow, the Resulting Issuer will use the net proceeds of the QT Financing for the proposed exploration program on Infield's principal property, and for general working capital purposes. Infield is also pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's length marketing agreement with Hybrid Financial Ltd. ("Hybrid Financial"). Subject to Exchange approval, on closing of the Acquisition, Hybrid Financial will provide the Resulting Issuer with its database of Registered Financial Professionals in North America. Hybrid Financial will not promote a specific purchase or sale of securities; it will provide its database, technology, and call center services to enable the Resulting Issuer to disseminate its information to Financial Professionals only. Hybrid Financial provides its services directly to the Resulting Issuer. Hybrid Financial will be paid $22,500 plus GST per month for an initial term of 6 months. Upon expiration of the initial term, the agreement with Hybrid Financial shall be automatically renewed for successive three-month periods thereafter (subject to termination by the Resulting Issuer), for which Hybrid Financial will be paid $15,000 plus GST per month. The Company has been advised that Hybrid Financial and its principals do not currently own shares in the Company or Infield. For more information, please visit www.hybridfinancial.com. Completion of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including Exchange acceptance. Trading of ECC2's common shares will remain suspended until completion of the proposed Acquisition. For more information, please contact Scott Ackerman, the CEO, CFO and a director of the Company, at 778-331-8505 or email: sackerman@emprisecapital.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of ECC Ventures 2 Corp. Scott Ackerman Director Suite 1600, 609 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C3 Telephone: 1-778-331-8505 Completion of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including, among others, TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Acquisition cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document to be prepared in connection with the Acquisition, any information released or received with respect to the Acquisition may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of ECC2 should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Acquisition and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents 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) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our and Infield's plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be, but are not always, identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's and Infield's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (including risks that the Acquisition does not proceed, or proceed on the expected terms, geopolitical risk, regulatory, Covid-19 and exchange rate risk) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate or that management's assumptions underlying such statements, including assumptions concerning the Acquisition or future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this new release and the Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: ECC Ventures 2 Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640419/ECC-Ventures-2-Corp-Announces-Closing-of-Additional-Financing The lower reaches of the Passaic River are toxic. Heavy industrial pollution through the 19th and 20th centuries left the river-bottom laced with hazardous substances, including carcinogens like dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Its a history of pollution that has robbed residents in Newark and surrounding towns of the chance to fully enjoy the river, a fact that once led U.S. Sen. Cory Booker to call the river New Jerseys biggest crime scene. To this day, people are warned against eating any fish or crabs pulled from the Passaic. Federal efforts to clean up this section of the river, known as the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, have been underway for decades. Now, the next chapter of that work is set to begin. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Wednesday plans to dredge 387,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from the bottom of a nine-mile stretch of the Passaic River, roughly between the Dundee Dam in Garfield and Kearny. Not all of the pollution will be dredged and removed in the proposed plan. Some will be left behind, and buried underneath a cap to prevent it from spreading. The EPA said dealing with this section of the river is critical to keeping pollution from spreading downstream, into areas where other cleanup work is already underway. This proposed interim action will address highly contaminated sediment located just upriver of the lower eight miles that is an ongoing source of contamination in the target area and acts as a reservoir for potential contaminant migration, said Walter Mugdan, the acting regional administrator of EPA Region 2. The new EPA plan has the support of Gov. Phil Murphys administration. This cleanup will improve water quality and benefit communities throughout the Passaic River Basin and will help New Jersey to further the promise of environmental justice by remedying a Superfund site that affects overburdened communities along the Passaic River, said Shawn LaTourette, the acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The new cleanup is expected to cost $441 million and take over 4 years to complete. Its unclear when work would begin. The nine-mile stretch affected by the new plan is just one part of the sprawling superfund site, which encompasses Newark Bay and the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. The former Diamond Alkali pesticide facility on Lister Avenue in Newark, a place where Agent Orange was once made and served as a major source of pollution, was deemed remediated in 2001. The EPA announced in 2016 a $1.4 billion plan for dealing with toxic sediments in the Passaic between Newark Bay and river mile 8.3. That effort is still in progress. Its unclear how much work will be required to clean up the Newark Bay portion of the superfund site. The EPA is still studying the extent and nature of pollution in the bay. Pending litigation will likely determine who will foot the bill for the new plan and other cleanups in the affected area. Under federal law, the parties responsible for the pollution are on the hook for Superfund cleanup costs. The EPA secured a $165 million settlement in 2016 from Occidental Chemical Corporation, just one of the polluters, to fund some of the work on the lower eight miles. But getting other polluters to pay up has not been easy. The prime example is Maxus Energy Corp., the successor of Diamond Alkali. Maxus is a subsidiary of Argentinas state-owned oil company, YPF S.A. In 2016, YPF declared bankruptcy for Maxus in a move that lawmakers blasted as an attempt to dodge its share of cleanup costs. New Jerseys pension had $18 million invested in YPF as of 2018, when Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a bill that would have stopped the pension from investing in companies that declare bankruptcy as a possible way to evade Superfund cleanup and companies that hold substantial shares in those companies. A 30-day public comment period for the new proposed plan will occur from April 15 to May 14. EPA will host a Virtual Public Meeting on April 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. To register for the public meeting, visit https://epa_proposed_plan_lprsa.eventbrite.com. To learn more about the public meeting, contact Shereen Kandil at kandil.shereen@epa.gov or 212-637-4333. Written comments on the Proposed Plan should be e-mailed or postmarked no later than May 14 to salkie.diane@epa.gov or Diane Salkie, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10007-1866. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Producers of KBS 2TV's drama "Revolutionary Sisters" announced that they would be postponing their production after a cast member came in close contact with a COVID-19 positive patient. In an official statement obtained by a South Korean publication, the comedy-romance series is set to have a one-week break to follow the health protocols and government-mandated rules for the safety of the whole cast and crew. It came after lead star Hong Eun Hee, who plays the role of Lee Kwang-Nam, entered a self-quarantine after being in contact with someone who has COVID-19. Despite the whole cast and crew testing negative from the dreaded virus, Hong Eun Hee still needed to undergo quarantine for two weeks as a safety precaution. With this, "Revolutionary Sisters" episode 11 and 12 will air on April 24 and 25, instead of the scheduled April 17 and 18. Furthermore, the management also viewed that they will "adhere closely to health authorities' guidelines" and closely monitor "to prevent the spread of COVID-19" for everyone's safety. On the other hand, the 41-year-old actress' agency, Namoo Actors, also addressed the issue and said that it was one of her glam team who tested positive for COVID-19. Moreover, aside from the "Less than Evil" actress, "a number of staff members have gone into self-quarantine." Following the COVID-19 scare, the agency apologized for the inconvenience and concern that it caused, adding that their "company plans to continue to actively adhere to government policies in the future, and we will do our utmost for the safety of our agency's actors, employees, and staff." "Revolutionary Sisters" Cast and Synopsis The KBS 2TV's drama premiered last March 13 and is set to have 50 episodes. Aside from Hong Eun Hee, "Revolutionary Sisters" cast also includes Yun Ju-Sang who is the patriarch Lee Cheol-Soo, Jeon Hye-Bin plays the role of the second eldest sister Lee Kwang-Sik, who works as a public officer, and Go Won-Hee as the youngest daughter, Lee Kwang-Tae who is a skilled martial artist. It follows the story of the Lee family, who was entangled in a crime after their mother was murdered while in the process of filing for a divorce. Unfortunately, all the members of the family are turned into potential suspects. "Revolutionary Sisters" Rating Climbs Up ahead of "Vincenzo's" One Week Hiatus With its almost three weeks of airing, the comedy-romance series saw a massive increase in rating as it climbs to the top spot as the most-watched program on Sunday. According to Nielsen Korea, the latest episode reached an average nationwide rating of 23.6 percent and 26.3 percent for its two parts. Meanwhile, its counterpart, "Vincenzo," also had a slight increase ahead of its one-week postponement. The tvN's drama starring Song Joong-Ki reportedly lands a viewership rating of 10.6 percent nationwide. Amid the hiatus, the production team explained that this move is to further "improve the quality of the drama" and is set to return on April 17 with a special episode. KDramastars owns this article. Written by Geca Wills Advertisement Weekly totals of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States are continuing to rise despite the mass vaccination campaign picking up speed. Over the last seven days, the nation has reported 498,637 new infections, which is the highest weekly total recorded since February 26. It also represents a 10 percent spike in the weekly totals, from 453,116 last week, a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data shows, despite nearly 50 percent of the population receiving one shot or being fully vaccinated. Additionally, over the last week, 6,910 COVID-19-related fatalities were reported, an increase of 25 percent from the 5,527 deaths recorded the prior week. On Tuesday, the U.S. recorded 77,878 new infections with a seven-day rolling average of 71,234, also the highest figure seen since February 26. Although the figure is far below January's peak of about 247,000 average new cases, it has surpassed the late July surge, when daily cases were averaging about 68,000. Just 913 coronavirus deaths were reported on Monday, which is higher than the day before but also mark the fifth-straight day in a row deaths have been below 1,000. It comes as cases continue to surge in 25 states - including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Texas, Florida and Illinois - and Michigan records its second-highest number of infections in a single day. A DailyMail.com analysis found that the majority of states where cases are increasing have high rates of the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7. Since the pandemic began, more than 31.4 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 564,000 have died. The U.S. saw a 10% rise in new weekly coronavirus cases from 453,116 new cases last week to 498,637 new cases this week Weekly deaths linked to COVID-19 increased 25% from 5,527 the previous week to 6,910 fatalities this week On Tuesday, the U.S. recorded 77,878 new infections as half of U.S. states - 25 in total - saw spikes, mainly in the Northeast and in the Midwest According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 122.2 million Americans - or 36.8 percent of the population - have received at least one dose and 75 million Americans - or 22.7 percent - are fully immunized. Currently, New Hampshire is doing the best when it comes to the percentage of residents who have received a least one dose with 53.3 percent doing so, according to CDC and Bloomberg data. Out of the top 10, five states - Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Pennsylvania - are all seeing rises in COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, Mississippi is doing the worst with just 28.1 percent of adults receiving at least one, the analysis shows. Five states in the bottom 10 are also experiencing an increase in cases: Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana and Wyoming . Of the 10 states noted above with increasing cases, seven of them report high rates of the UK variant, which is believed to be about 50 percent more transmissible. A DailyMail.com analysis found that five states in the top 10 states with at least one dose given to residents and five states in the bottom 10 have increasing cases - and seven of the states where cases are rising have high rates of the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7. T0P 10 AND BOTTOM 10 US STATES VACCINATING THEIR RESIDENTS AGAINST COVID- 19 TOP 10 STATES 1. New Hampshire - 53.3% 2. Maine - 45.3% 3. New Mexico - 45.1% 4. Connecticut - 45% 5. Massachusetts - 44.5% 6. Vermont - 43.1% 7. New Jersey - 42.8% 8. Rhode Island - 41.8% 9. South Dakota - 41.3% 10. Pennsylvania - 40.1% BOTTOM 10 STATES 1. Mississippi - 28.1% 2. Alabama - 28.7% 3. Louisiana - 29.9% 4. Tennessee - 30.4% 5. Georgia - 30.6% 6. Idaho - 31.1% 7. Indiana - 31.3% 8. Wyoming - 31.4% 9. Arkansas - 31.6% 10. Missuouri - 32% Percentages indicate share of residents who have received at least one dose. Source: CDC/Bloomberg Advertisement For example, in Pennsylvania, the UK variant accounts for at least 28 percent of cases. On Tuesday, the state recorded 6,016 new cases, the highest figure since late January Over the last two weeks, the seven-day rolling average has increased nine percent from 3,952 cases per day on March 20 to 4,311 per day. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 counties in the state saw a rise in cases and 52 had statistically insignificant changes while just three counties - all rural - saw decreases. Meanwhile, the test positivity rate has also climbed to up above 29 percent, which is a number not reported since mid-January, the newspaper reported. Dr Joseph Kontra, of Lancaster General Health, said there are two factors behind the surge in Pennsylvania: variants and infections among younger people. 'It's not only the UK variant that's around, but we also know the New York variant is here. I think that combination of things, the population density and the fact that we are opening up a bit,' he told WGAL News 8. What's more, according to Department of Health data, residents between ages 20 and 29 now make up the largest share of infections with more than 190,000 since the start of the pandemic. In nearby Connecticut, B.1.1.7 makes up 29.1 percent of cases, CDC data reveal. Although coronavirus cases have declined in The Constitution State the week before, they have increased over the last month. Pennsylvania health officials recorded more than 6,000 new infections on Tuesday, which is the highest single-day total seen since January Weekly totals of coronavirus cases in Connecticut have increase 38% over the last month from 5,500 in early March to 7,600 in early April Coronavirus cases in Rhode Island have gone from an average of 354 new infections per day on March 30 to 419 on Tuesday, an 18% jump over two weeks During the first Saturday in March to the following Friday, more than 5,500 new infections were recorded compared to more than 7,600 recorded during the first Saturday in April to Friday, a 38 percent jump, reported the Hartford Courant. Hospitalizations are also on the rise, with state data revealing there were 21 new hospitalizations Tuesday, bringing the statewide total up to 545 people, which is the highest number since mid-February. Similarly to Pennsylvania, experts say that the UK variant and New York variant now make up a majority of cases in Connecticut. Rhode Island is also seeing a rise in cases and has a high number linked to B.1.1.7, accounting for 17.5 percent for all infections. The Ocean State saw cases jump from an average of 354 new infections per day on March 30 to 419 on Tuesday, an 18 percent increase over two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins data. Last week, the seven-day total of hospital admissions increase from 122 to 163, a 33 percent increase. The average number of cases in Minnesotas increased by 40% over the past two weeks from about 1,500 new cases per day to about 2,100 per day In Illinois, the seven-day rolling average of coronavirus cases in the last 14 days has spiked 14% from 2,636 new cases per day to 3,053 per day On Tuesday, Michigan recorded near record-levels of cases and hospitalizations with 8,867 new infections and 4,205 people hospitalized with COVID-19 Cases are also continuing to surge in the Midwest, such as Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. None of the states are in the top 10 or bottom 10 of vaccinations, but all have high rates of B.1.1.7. In Minnesota, the average number of cases increased by 40 percent over the past two weeks from about 1,500 new cases per day to about 2,100 per day. Coronavirus infections among young people, with resident in their 20s making up the largest share of confirmed cases at more 101,000 since the pandemic began, with more than half among those from ages 20 to 24. In Illinois, more than 3,100 cases were reported, the highest number seen since February, while the seven-day rolling average in the last 14 days has spiked 14 percent from 2,636 to 3,053. Data from the state's Department of Health also showed 2,028 people hospitalized with COVID-19, which is double the figure reported one month ago. Notably, the UK variant accounts for 55.6 percent of cases in Minnesota and 30.1 percent in Illinois. Eperts are keeping the closest eye on Michigan, which saw near records in both COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on Tuesday. According to the Department of Health, 8,867 new cases were reported, which is the second-highest single-day total behind the record 9,779 new cases seen on November 20, 2020. This brings the seven-day rolling average to 6,400 cases, which are the highest numbers seen since December. Meanwhile, there are 4,205 Michiganders currently hospitalized with confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus, near the record 4,300, which was set on November 30. 'The situation in Michigan is pretty concerning,' Dr Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, told CBS News. 'It's as bad as it was over the holidays. The variants are definitely one of the drivers of it.' According to the CDC, the UK variant is the biggest driver of infections, making up 57.6 percent of all cases reported in the state. In Texas, the seven-day rolling average has increased from 2,784 new cases per day on April 1 to 3,567 per day on Tuesday, a 28% increase The seven-day rolling average has risen 6.9% in Florida from 5,403 new infections per day on April 1 to 5,776 on Tuesday Texas and Florida, two states that have resisted shutdown measures have also seen increases in coronavirus cases over the last two weeks. In Texas, the seven-day rolling average has increased from 2,784 new cases per day on April 1 to 3,567 per day on Tuesday, a 28 percent increase, according to data from Johns Hopkins. Meanwhile in Florida, there has been a much less dramatic spike, but one nonetheless, with the seven-day rolling average rising 6.9 percent from 5,403 per day on April 1 to 5,776 on Tuesday, the data show. Similarly to the other states, both have high rates of B.1.1.7 spread. According to the CDC, the UK variant makes up 52.2. percent of cases in Florida and 42.7 percent of COVID-19 infections in Texas. Determined not to let her disability stop her from reaching her goals, Nguyen Thi Cam Nhung, from Ben Tre Province in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, is pushing herself toward a bright future regardless of the hardships life throws at her. Students at Ton Duc Thang University, located in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, have gotten used to the girl with one leg making her way to class on weekdays. Nhung is a first-year student of the industrial arts faculty. Before her accident while playing, she was a boisterous child like any other. The serious fall broke the upper bones of her right leg but the injury was taken lightly until complications developed a few months later. Examinations showed abnormal swelling in the leg, which later turned out to be a large tumor. The little girls life was derailed when her leg joints were immediately disarticulated to avoid tissue necrosis in the leg. Instead of frolicking around just like her peers, Nhung would wind up spending the majority of her early childhood with limited mobility. The young girl refused to give up learning to walk with crutches, despite the countless bruises and scratches she accrued from falling, and was finally able to walk on her own. After Nhung finished middle school, her family decided she would sit out high school and find a manual job that does not require much mobility instead. The girls education was spared thanks to her 9th-grade homeroom teacher, who signed her up for Doan Thi Diem High School, located in Thanh Phu District, Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, without the family's knowledge. Toward the end of her high school years, Nhung again found herself at a crossroads when her family tried to advise her against moving to Ho Chi Minh City to attend college. Her parents expressed doubts regarding how she would face struggles alone, take care of herself away from home, and how to use less disabled-friendly public transport. The thought that left Nhung most nervous at this critical point was if she would be able to land a job that matches her mental ability as well as physical disability. Her final decision made, she did her best in her studies and was admitted to Ton Duc Thang University, where she took her first steps toward a brighter future. 'Ill look for a suitable job to cover part of my tuition fees and gain new experiences,' said Nguyen Thi Cam Nhung (right). Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre I decided to pursue my education to the very end," Nhung said. "I want to be independent and determine my own future. Therere so many places I want to visit and so many things I want to learn. "Ill try to exceed my limits and wont let my impairment hold me back. Nhung showed her painting talent quite early in her life, and art helps take away sorrows and gives back love and positive vibes while connecting her to the outside world. When it was time to choose majors in college, she followed her passion, believing she is cut out for the job, which might not involve a lot of traveling. Except for the beginning when her father took her to Ho Chi Minh City and helped her complete admission procedures, the physically challenged girl always tries to handle everything on her own. When she has classes, she hops from the school dormitory, where she stays, to the halls and classrooms within the school campus, one of the citys largest and most modern-looking. Now I can go anywhere within the campus," Nhung shared proudly, adding she just needs to take an occasional rest during the long walks. "I can reach the second floors on foot but have to use the elevator for higher ones. Though she just took some fundamental courses and hand-drawn painting classes in her first year, the student is well aware of hurdles ahead. Nhungs father, who earns a meager income as a construction worker, and her homemaking mother struggle to afford education for her and her two younger siblings. Refusing to let her disability and poverty get in the way of realizing her dreams, Nhung forces herself to face her situation head-on while trying to save as much as she can. As she is still unable to buy a laptop, she often borrows her friends or uses computers at the school libraries, also some of the citys most well-equipped and modern, for homework. Ill look for a suitable job to cover part of my tuition fees and gain new working experiences, Nhung shared. Nguyen Duc Hong Quang, a lecturer of the universitys faculty of industrial arts, pays special attention to Nhung during the two courses she took with him. According to Quang, art-related fields have seen relatively fierce competition and high requirements in recent years. The road will even be much bumpier for students with disabilities like Nhung, he said. Challenges can sometimes motivate us to keep moving forward and gain unexpected accomplishments, Quang noted. Nhung should keep up her persistence and determination if she is to succeed." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Germany will give under-60s who had one dose of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine a jab from a different manufacturer as their second dose, health ministers have said. It comes after the country restricted the jab's use to people aged over 60 because of evidence it can very rarely cause blood clots, with the young more at risk. Germany was not routinely offering jabs to those aged under 60 before the Astra ban took effect, meaning the group affected will only a small portion of the population - likely the clinically vulnerable and other risk groups who had priority. Those aged under 60 in Germany given a first dose of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine will be given a different jab as their second dose (file image) France last week announced a similar policy, after restricting AstraZeneca's jab to those aged over 55. In France, the policy is thought to affect some 500,000 people. Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek said the approach will still offer 'a good level of protection' to those who have the split-dose vaccines. The moves come as the UK and other countries carry out investigations into whether splitting vaccine doses is safe and effective, which would allow officials to be more flexible with how the jab roll-out is managed. The new policy is in line with recommendations released last week by Germany's vaccine commission, which also recommended the second injection be given 12 weeks after the initial AstraZeneca dose. Germany is among numerous countries that have restricted use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to older people after rare blood clots were detected in a small number of younger people who had received the jab. The European Medicines Agency last week said that unusual blood clots should be listed as a very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, while stressing that overall benefits in preventing Covid-19 outweighed the risks. Germany has restricted the use of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccines to the over-60s after evidence emerged that they very rarely cause blood clots, with the young more at risk (file) There were 222 cases of these atypical thromboses out of 34 million AstraZeneca injections carried out in the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) and Britain, as of April 4, according to the EMA. And there were 18 deaths, as of March 22. Most of the cases reported were in women under 60 years of age within two weeks of vaccination. According to Germany's health ministry some 2.2 million people aged under 60 have received an AstraZeneca dose in recent weeks. Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine has come under similar suspicion for the same issue, with US health authorities recommending Tuesday that it be paused while they investigate six cases of clotting. The World Health Organization has said it cannot recommend switching vaccine between two doses as a protection against Covid-19, due to insufficient data showing the effects. New Delhi, April 14 : To keep the pressure on the Centre, the Congress has called a meeting of its working committee, CWC, on Saturday to discuss the issue of Covid resurgence. This comes a week after the ministers and chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states met to discuss the Covid-19 crisis. The Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi had earlier written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding a waiver of GST on the drugs and equipment used for Covid treatment. She also demanded that Rs 6,000 should be transferred every month in the accounts of those who are eligible. She urged the government to put a system in place for the relief and rehabilitation of the migrant workers and transfer Rs 6,000 every month to the eligible people as the curfews and curbs have been imposed to contain the virus spread. The Congress has also started a social media campaign for 'vaccination for all'. Claiming that the country was facing a shortage of vaccines, the party said that export of the vaccine should be stopped immediately and the people of India should be vaccinated first. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) By Nam Hyun-woo A human rights group commemorating the late pro-democracy movement activist Park Jong-cheol has awarded the people of Myanmar, who are staging protests against the military junta's coup, as the winners of the Park Jong-cheol Prize for Human Rights. According to the Park Jong-cheol Memorial Business Association, Wednesday, its award committee decided to present the award to the people of Myanmar, saying it wants to be in solidarity with them. "The sacrifice of Park, who sought democracy by risking his life despite the fear and pain of torture, put an end to the military dictatorship in Korea which seemed to last forever," the committee said in a statement. "We promise to stand in solidarity under Park's name until Myanmar's military dictatorship ends." It also called on the military and police in Myanmar to stop the violence and massacring of citizens. The annual award was established in 2003 to honor people or organizations that have made significant efforts to improve democracy and human rights. The association said it seeks to commemorate Park's righteous death and his spirit of pursuing justice. The association said it will deliver 5 million won ($4,454) of prize money and a charity fund raised by the public to Myanmar citizens. The fundraising started on Monday and will be available until May 30. Park, a former student at Seoul National University, died on Jan. 14, 1987, at the age of 21, after being tortured during a police interrogation about his activities during the nationwide pro-democracy movement that year against the Chun Doo-hwan regime. Employees of the Risk Function Unit at Absa Bank Ghana have donated essential items and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Ghana Prisons Services Senior Correctional Centre, formerly known as the Borstal Institute for Juveniles, to support the Centres measures taken in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The items donated, worth GHs10,000, included veronica buckets, nose masks, bundles of tissue papers, gallons of hand sanitizers and liquid soaps as well as soft drinks among others. At a short ceremony, the Chief Risk Officer at Absa Bank, Mr. Adolph Kpegah who presented the items to the officials of the Senior Correctional Centre said the bank will continue to be a force for good in society by remaining a responsible corporate citizen. As a bank that has been playing a shaping role in our society for over a hundred years, we remain committed to supporting the fight against the pandemic. This donation is therefore to complement the governments effort against further spread of the virus and to help consolidate the progress we are making as a country, said Mr. Kpegah. Leader of the Team and Head of Credit Risk at Absa Bank Ghana, Mrs. Annie Aboarh appreciated colleagues for donating generously to support the Centre during this pandemic. As a Unit, we have been supporting the Centre over the years and this donation came from colleagues who raised funds to acquire these PPEs and other essential items to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic at the Centre, said Mrs. Aboarh. Receiving the items on behalf of the Centre, the Assistant Director of Prisons, Officer-in-Charge of the Senior Correctional Centre, Mrs. Millicent Owusu, expressed gratitude to Absa Bank employees for the donation. On behalf of the entire Correctional Centre, we are grateful that you to our aid at this time. Yes, indeed, we are all in this COVID-19 season and these are the items that we need to safeguard ourselves. They will go a long way to help the juveniles, Mrs. Owusu said. Located in Accra, the Senior Correctional Centre is the only institution in the country that caters for young offenders and juveniles. The Centre takes care of these young offenders by training them in various vocational trades like welding, vulcanizing, tailoring, carpentry, draftsmanship, auto electrical and mechanical and general electricals. 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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For customer and media inquiries, contact Paul Bazzano, Vice President of Sales & Business Development at [email protected] SOURCE Global GRAB Technologies Related Links https://grabglobal.com A carer and her husband 'starved' their live-in landlord to death in a bid to inherit his 3.5 million estate, a jury heard on the second day of their re-trial. The skeletal body of James 'Anthony' Sootheran, who once weighed 17 stone, was found on March 18, 2014, in his bedroom in Oxfordshire. Lynda, 62, and Wayne Rickard, 66, were arrested and jointly charged with murdering the 59-year-old former auctioneer's clerk. Today, the couple watched as prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC told a jury at Reading Crown Court that the case is 'casual, opportunistic greed'. The Rickards moved into High Havens farmhouse in the village of South Newington, Oxfordshire, in late 2006. They had an arrangement that saw Lynda become a full-time carer for Mr Sootheran's 92-year-old mother Joy until her death in August 2012. Lynda, 62, and Wayne Rickard, 66, (together left, and Wayne, right) 'starved' their live-in landlord to death in a bid to inherit his 3.5 million estate, a jury heard on the second day of their re-trial The skeletal body of James 'Anthony' Sootheran (pictured), who once weighed 17 stone, was found on March 18, 2014, in his bedroom in Oxfordshire With Lynda as the driving force, the couple planned to plunder both his and his mother's estates, the court heard. Mother-of-three Lynda had previously admitted forging the will of pensioner Joy - who suffered from dementia - so she could gain half of her 1.5million inheritance. She also admitted forging Mr Sootheran's will so she could inherit a third of his 3.5million estate when he died. The Rickards today denied murder, instead claiming Mr Sootheran's death happening after Lynda forged the will was 'entirely coincidental'. Their defence counsel is set to claim Mr Sootheran died due to his own self-neglect. The jury was told how Mr Sootheran was kept isolated from his beloved daughter Hannah and that Lynda turned away friends and family who called to see him. During the prosecution opening speech, the court heard how former social worker Lynda was paid 900 a week to look after Anthony's mother, before she died from old age and dementia in August 2012. The court was told how just before Joy's death, hundreds of pounds was being spent in supermarkets more than once a week and numerous cash withdrawals were made on a regular basis. Ironically, Anthony was found dead in his bedroom on March 18 2014, his body in a state of severe malnourishment. A court heard in the months after his mothers death, Anthony spent time 'hibernating in his room' and did not want to be helped for fear that he would be returned to hospital under the Mental Health Order. He had previously been sectioned for three months suffering from severe anxiety disorder. At his mother's funeral, Mr Sootheran was described as 'dishevelled, unkempt and wild looking' by witnesses. Mr Saxby told the court: 'This is a case about greed. Casual, opportunistic greed. The Rickards moved into High Havens farmhouse in the village of South Newington, Oxfordshire, in late 2006. They had an arrangement that saw Lynda become a full-time carer for Mr Sootheran's 92-year-old mother Joy (pictured) until her death in August 2012 'In simple terms, assisted by her husband, Lynda Rickard starved Anthony Sootheran to death thereby satisfying her greed and securing for herself and her family the windfall she craved. 'In short, for their own gain, they killed him by isolating him, neglecting him, failing to obtain appropriate medical help for him and depriving him of food and drink,' said the prosecutor. He added: 'His being isolated suited Lynda Rickard - it allowed her to tighten the net around him and exert her control over him and his affairs, over what he thought and what he did.' The jury heard that 'controlling' Lynda found the perfect cover in Mr Sootheran due to him being a 'recluse, prone to gross self-neglect' with 'complex mental health issues'. Mr Saxby added: '[This] gave Lynda Rickard the perfect cover for precipitating his death, for setting him on a trajectory to die something she was able to achieve behind closed door by isolating him, by utterly neglecting him, by failing to obtain appropriate medical care for him, by on occasion preventing medical assessments from taking place, by controlling him and his life and, ultimately, by depriving him of food and drink.' Today, the jury of six men and seven women were warned they are set to see distressing images of Mr Sootheran lying dead with a 'particularly nasty bed sore'. Mr Saxby said: 'They show him lying dead, in his room at the house he shared with the Rickards as he was found by a doctor who popped in to see how he was.' With Lynda as the driving force, the couple (Wayne, pictured outside court today) planned to plunder both his and his mother Joy's estates, the court heard Lynda admitted abusing her position as a carer to dishonestly use Mr Sootheran's elderly mother Joy's money as her own - stealing between 50,000 and 167,000. She had previously admitted using between 40,000 and 133,000 of Mr Sootheran's money for personal gain. Should their plan have succeeded, the Rickards were set to gain almost 3.5million, the court heard. This was made up of the estimated 300,000 stolen from both of the Sootheran's accounts; half of Joy's will; a third of Mr Sootheran's estate and the sale of High Haven's farm which sold for 1.8million in 2018. Standing alongside the Rickards in the dock today were friends Shanda Robinson, 51, Denise Neal, 41, and Michael Dunkley, 49, who were all alleged to have become 'embroiled in [Lynda's] dishonesty'. Standing alongside the Rickards in the dock today were friends Shanda Robinson, 51, Denise Neal, 41, (right) and Michael Dunkley, 49, (left) who were all alleged to have become 'embroiled in [Lynda's] dishonesty' Mr Saxby QC said: 'Shanda Robinson and Lynda Rickard were close. 'Denise Neal helped Lynda Rickard look after Joy Sootheran at High Havens Farm, and the Rickards are godparents to Michael Dunkley's son.' The signing of pensioner Joy's forged will was witnessed by two signatories, 78-year-old June Alsford - who previously admitted to signing the will knowing it was not genuine - and defendant Ms Robinson who denied fraud and perverting the course of justice. Ms Neal and Mr Dunkley denied they signed Mr Sootheran's forged will knowing that it was not genuine. Defendant Shanda Robinson (pictured) denied fraud and perverting the course of justice Mr Saxby QC said: 'There was this will. Anthony's will. And the prospect of a windfall. 'But Anthony needed to die. That, with a view to securing this inheritance and with Wayne Rickard's assistance, Lynda Rickard precipitated Anthony Sootheran's death. 'Lynda Rickard says that Anthony Sootheran's demise was a consequence of how he chose to live his life and that his death was entirely coincidental to her having forged his will. 'Good timing, as it were. Instead, she did everything she could to help him and was devastated by his death he being someone, she says, who she cared for deeply. 'Albeit as her guilty pleas show, this did not stop her using his money as her own or forging his will.' In addition to murder, Lynda denies gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and two counts of perverting the course of justice. American Wayne was additionally charged with causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult, fraud and perverting the course of justice. Mr Dunkley stood charged with fraud in relation to the forged will of Mr Sootheran alongside Ms Neal. Ms Robinson denied fraud and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The five defendants are out on bail. The agreement with Cannabis Queen, which has an established footprint and reputation, is expected to help drive growth and increase the visibility of Creso Pharmas product in emerging markets. Products from Creso Pharmas portfolio that will be sold in Africa through the agreement. ( ) (FRA:1X8) has signed a bilateral commercial agreement with Cannabis Queen, South Africa, to market and distribute Cresos cannaDOL topical line and cannaQIX tea range in African countries. This agreement will also see Creso Pharma market and distribute Cannabis Queens anti-ageing Serum 30ml and Argan & Cannabis Hair Treatment 50ml products in Switzerland and Europe. Creso Pharma plans to sell these products through its existing distribution network of more than 2,100 points of sale including pharmacies, drugstores and retail chains to consumers in Switzerland, with additional European territories earmarked for near-term expansion. Similarly, Cannabis Queen will sell Creso Pharma products to its wholesale and retail network of more than 1,000 points of sale. Leveraging established reputation Creso Pharmas CEO for Swiss international operations Jorge Wernli said: We are very proud to be able to market and distribute our topical products in the African continent with Cannabis Queen, South Africa. The group has an established footprint and reputation, which we will be able to leverage to drive growth and increase visibility in a strategic and emerging market. This agreement also represents a meaningful strategic complementation of the current Cannamics (cannaQIX) business with our very successful partner Pharma Dynamics South Africa. Shares of the company, which has a market cap of approximately A$231.4 million have been up as much as 5% to A$0.205 intra-day. Cannabis Queen Cannabis Queen is a skincare company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was established in May 2019 following a decision by South Africas Department of Health which made cannabidiol available for consumer use in the country. Cannabis Queen became one of the first companies of its kind in South Africa and has a range of CBD-based topical products that are made from full-spectrum CBD oil and advanced formulas with enriched botanicals. According to the African company, its raw materials are ethically sourced and the groups products are highly effective compare to its competitors products. Terms of agreement The agreement is non-exclusive on either party and has an initial term of one year which will automatically renew unless: Either party notifies the other of their decision to not renew the agreement within 90 days before the expiry of the Initial or Renewal Term; or The parties do not enter into a further definitive agreement on or before September 30, 2021. As part of the agreement, Cannabis Queen will market and distribute CannaDOL and Creso Pharmas recently launched CBD-based products through multiple channels including its established online store, direct to consumer sales, retail distributors, specialist wellness shops, beauty salons and spas and pharmacies. Creso Pharmas CBD-based tea products have been introduced under the CannaQIX brand and include cannaQIX tea, cannaQIX NITE tea and cannaQIX Immunity tea. The agreement provides Creso Pharma with an established footprint into the African market and de-risks the launch of new products the company brings to market. Sale of African product in Europe Creso Pharma will market and distribute Cannabis Queens anti-ageing Serum 30ml and Argan & Cannabis Hair Treatment 50ml products initially in Switzerland. The companys established distribution footprint in excess of 2,100 points of sale across Switzerland Includes pharmacies, pharmacy networks, drugstores, health nutrition shops and large retail groups including leading department store chain Manor. Creso also supplies all major wholesalers in the country including Galexis, Amedis and Voigt. Wernli said: We also look forward to initiating marketing and distribution initiatives for the Cannabis Queen skin and hair products further optimising the companys high-quality value proposition to our end-customers. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in region, has issued a consultation paper proposing to issue Intellectual Property Regulations under the Intellectual Property Law No. 4 of 2019. The Proposed Regulations will facilitate the administration and enforcement of the DIFC IP Law and enhance the regulatory framework in DIFC. The Proposed Regulations deal with the requirements concerning intellectual property infringement complaints to the DIFC Commissioner of Intellectual Property (IP), the inspections and investigations that the IP Commissioner may carry out in dealing with such complaints, and the requirements for issuing directions in respect thereof. The Proposed Regulations will establish a Register of Experts, which the IP Commissioner can refer to when investigating complaints, and also covers the ability of the IP Commissioner to cooperate with relevant federal and local authorities in the UAE from an enforcement perspective. The consultation paper and legislative proposal can be accessed by visiting Consultation Papers on Dubai International Financial Centre website. The deadline for providing comments is May 9, 2021. The Proposed Regulations reflect the Centres commitment to maintaining a transparent and robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with global best practice. TradeArabia News Service [April 14, 2021] Introducing Beyond Green: A Purpose-driven Hospitality Brand Dedicated to Helping Global Citizens Make Travel a Force for Good LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to building a brighter future for the planet, Beyond Green officially launches today as a curated guide for travellers seeking a more purposeful way to explore the world, featuring a global portfolio of 27 properties that exemplify sustainability in action. Debuting at the onset of a new era of travel, this forward-thinking brand invites travellers to plan and experience adventures that align with their responsible travel values through a variety of tools, including a new brand website; storytelling via its @StayBeyondGreen social media accounts; benefits through I Prefer Hotel Rewards; and a limited-time Journeyer's Pick Package. Digital Resources for Inspiration & Information Travellers can now visit StayBeyondGreen.com for thoughtful resources to book sustainable luxury getaways, including informational content of each member property, along with travel stories through its Good Stories blog. The brand also invites travellers to engage in daily dialogues about sustainable tourism on social media by ollowing its newly launched Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels and #StayBeyondGreen and #TravelGently online conversations. I Prefer Hotel Rewards Member Benefits As part of the Preferred Hotel Group family of brands, Beyond Green invites travellers to enrol in I Prefer to access rewards at more than 650 participating properties worldwide. In addition to receiving standard benefits such as points for every eligible stay and early check-in and late check-out privileges, I Prefer members who book stays at participating Beyond Green hotels receive access to bonus points-earning opportunities that are tied to participation in on-property enrichment activities. I Prefer members with Elite-tier status also receive a welcome amenity or community giving opportunity, in addition to earning 50 percent more bonus points during every eligible stay. Celebratory Launch Offer Travellers can now take advantage of a limited-time only Journeyer's Pick Package, featuring the best available rate plus a unique local experience or memento and 5,000 I Prefer bonus points, at 15 participating properties. Highlights include a forest therapy session at andBeyond Vira Vira, a guided walking tour of the Monastery of Panagia Spileotissa, and a wellness experience at Borgo Pignano, to name a few. Bookings must be made by September 30, 2021 for travel through December 31, 2021. Learn more about Beyond Green, Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of both Beyond Green and its parent company, Preferred Hotel Group, and Costas Christ, Brand Leader of Beyond Green and President of Beyond Green Travel, by reading the full press release via StayBeyondGreen.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486679/Beyond_Green_Wilderness_Safaris_Bisate_Lodge.jpg Contact: Antonia Robinson Senior Manager, Public Relations & Social Media EMEA arobinson@staybeyondgreen.com +44 (0)20 7440 0327 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-beyond-green-a-purpose-driven-hospitality-brand-dedicated-to-helping-global-citizens-make-travel-a-force-for-good-301268071.html SOURCE Preferred Hotel Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. Advertisement Britain's top mandarin has warned high-level Whitehall officials should not have second jobs because it threatens the 'integrity and impartiality' of the civil service as he ordered a crackdown on mandarins with 'problematic' external paid roles amid the David Cameron lobbying scandal. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, formerly private secretary to the Duke of Cambridge, yesterday ordered the heads of all government departments to search their ranks for civil servants taking money for a second job that could pose a potential conflict of interest. In a letter sent to senior mandarins across the Whitehall establishment, he warned there must be 'transparency and full and proper management of any outside interests' among senior civil servants, and stressed that conflicts of interest are 'not permitted'. Mr Case said any instances identified must be flagged 'immediately' to him and Darren Tierney, the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics chief, adding that bringing in outside expertise and skills development outside government must help to maintain 'the integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service'. The extraordinary edict came amid a growing row over Greensill Capital, the lender that imploded last month, and the access its Australian-born founder allegedly enjoyed to Downing Street and at least 11 Whitehall departments including the Ministry of Defence. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged that a Greensill investigation launched this week will have 'carte blanche', but dodged claims he was trying to take revenge on his longstanding Tory rival Mr Cameron, a paid part-time adviser to Greensill since 2018. The scandal began last month when it was revealed that Mr Cameron had lobbied ministers and officials last year to let the firm gain access to the Bank of England's huge coronavirus loan scheme. But in recent weeks more details have emerged of the previously unknown links between Greensill and government when Mr Cameron was in No10, with financier Lex Greensill even given Downing Street business cards. A photo also surfaced of Mr Cameron and Mr Greensill on a 'desert camping trip' to Saudi Arabia. Dressed in business suits and drinking tea around a campfire, the picture obtained by the Wall Street Journal show the pair during their visit to Riyadh in January 2020 when Greensill Capital planned to open an office there. During the trip, they met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been accused of ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey after he criticised the Saudi regime. Mr Cameron insisted he raised human rights concerns with the Arab leader. Yesterday Tory MPs lined up to slate Mr Cameron over the lobbying row as Mr Johnson admitted 'boundaries' might have been breached with civil servants being allowed to take second jobs. Mr Cameron's behaviour was attacked by a string of Conservatives during a Commons debate as Labour launched an abortive attempt to establish a cross-party inquiry. The ex-PM was accused of leaving a 'bad taste' and 'tarnishing us all', while other MPs warned that the damage to his reputation will 'last a long time'. Mr Johnson tried to limit the fallout by insisting his government was 'tough' on lobbying as he fended off attacks from Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs, with the Labour leader jibing about 'the return of Tory sleaze'. An Opposition attempt to create a new parliamentary committee on lobbying was comfortably seen off by 357 votes to 262. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, formerly the private secretary to the Duke of Cambridge, has ordered the heads of all government departments to search their ranks for civil servants taking money for a second job that could pose a potential conflict of interest. Boris Johnson has pledged that a Greensill investigation launched this week will have 'carte blanche' Sipping tea in front of an open fire, this is the first picture of David Cameron and Lex Greensill on their 'desert camping trip' to Saudi Arabia Mr Cameron, a paid part-time adviser to Lex Greensill's (right) firm since 2018, lobbied ministers and officials last year to let the firm gain access to the Bank of England's huge Covid loan scheme Ex-civil servant had Greensill stake 'worth 5.7m' before it folded Until the winter of 2015, Bill Crothers was one of the most powerful non-elected figures in government. As chief procurement officer he managed a 40billion budget and was paid a handsome 149,000 a year. But in his final few months in the job he joined a financial firm where he would go on to command shares that dwarfed even the tidiest of Whitehall salaries. Between September to November 2015, he worked as an adviser to Greensill Capital while still on the government payroll. As that had already been approved in an 'internal conflict' process at the Cabinet Office, he was not required to run it past the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments on leaving Whitehall. Financial documents show that in 2019 Mr Crothers owned 3,653 shares in now-collapsed Greensill, which were worth 1,570 each. It meant his stake in the company would have been valued at 5.7million, had the lending business not cratered into administration, rendering all shares worthless. Yet although the ex-official was unable to cash in on these shares, the saga has poured petrol on the lobbying row engulfing top mandarins and former prime minister David Cameron. Mr Crothers had a long career at Accenture before joining the civil service. Since leaving he has declared other posts to ACOBA, including advising Green Park and technology firm Salesforce.com. Advertisement But the row is threatening to spiral after it was revealed that Bill Crothers, the government's procurement chief under Mr Cameron, spent several months acting as a Greensill board adviser alongside his 150,000 Whitehall role. The extraordinary arrangement meant when he quit to work for the lender full-time in November 2015 he did not have to ask approval from the watchdog that monitors the revolving door between Whitehall and business. There is no suggestion Mr Crothers broke any rules - but questions are being asked about who was aware of the arrangement, and how many other civil servants had similar. Matt Hancock, now health secretary, was the Cabinet Office minister at the time, but allies insisted the permanent secretary John Manzoni would have been responsible for giving approval. Sir John was embroiled in his own row in 2014 when he was allowed to keep a non-executive post with drinks company SABMiller after becoming civil service chief executive. He agreed to waive the reported 100,000 a year salary, and the role ended the following summer. Mr Johnson has tried to quell alarm over the stream of revelations by ordering a Cabinet Office probe by a legal expert. Asked whether he believed the current lobbying rules were fit for purpose, Mr Johnson told the Commons: 'I indeed share the widespread concern about some of the stuff that we're reading at the moment and I know that the Cabinet Secretary shares my concern as well. 'I do think it is a good idea in principle that top civil servants should be able to engage with business and should have experience of the private sector. 'When I look at the accounts I'm reading to date it's not clear that those boundaries had been properly understood and I've asked for a proper independent review of the arrangements that we have to be conducted by Nigel Boardman and he will be reporting in June.' Mr Johnson also flatly denied having any contact with Mr Cameron about the lobbying controversy. 'I can't remember when I last spoke to David,' he said. A senior Government source told MailOnline they were surprised by the arrangement for Mr Crothers. 'You've got to ask if a minister knew,' one source said. Another said: 'It's pretty astonishing.' Lord Pickles, the Tory former Cabinet minister who now serves as head of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointment, wrote a stinging letter to the Cabinet Office yesterday demanding to know how many other civil servants had gone through the 'internal conflicts' process for outside jobs. The peer is set to give evidence to MPs tomorrow. The Tory chair of the Public Administration committee said yesterday that he also hopes to take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case in the coming weeks. In bruising clashes at PMQs, Sir Keir said that every day there was further evidence of sleaze 'at the heart' of the Government. Joking that AC12 from hit series Line of Duty might need to be called in, he told MPs: 'I know the Prime Minister is launching an inquiry, that inquiry isn't even looking at the lobbying rules. 'I'm not sure it's looking at very much at all because every day there's further evidence of the sleaze that's now at the heart of this Conservative Government.' Bill Crothers (pictured left) spent several months as Government procurement head and a Greensill board adviser. Matt Hancock, now health secretary, was the Cabinet Office minister at the time, but allies insisted the permanent secretary John Manzoni (pictured right) would have been responsible for giving approval William Wragg, who chairs the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, condemned Mr Cameron for breaking his silence on the Greensill row at the weekend after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. 'In a week of national mourning, and even on the day of tributes to his late Royal Highness, I did not think it seemly to be prattling about television studios and nor for that matter did I think it was at all seemly for Mr Cameron's statement to be released at that time as well,' he said. 'But rest assured the committee is and will be giving these matters proper consideration.' Mr Wragg said he was 'more than happy' to act as 'the AC-12 of Whitehall' - but played down the Labour plan. 'For the benefit of the tape, I have full confidence in the members of the committee to discharge their duties and do not require a re-organisation,' he said. He added: 'I would ask the House to be assured that we will pursue every possible line of inquiry with our witnesses and shall conduct ourselves without fear or favour.' Fellow Conservative Andrew Bowie said: 'We all condemn the actions that are alleged to have taken place regarding Greensill and the involvement of the former prime minister. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth. 'As so many have said, far better than I could, it does tarnish us all. We do need to make sure we uphold the best possible standards in public life and ensure there is transparency in all interactions between companies, individuals and decision-makers in government.' Former minister Jackie Doyle-Price said: 'The thing David Cameron will be concerned about more than anything else is the damage to his reputation that's been done by this episode. Frankly that will be with him for a very long time.' The Cabinet Office revealed that Bill Crothers, the government's former chief commercial officer, was already working for Greensill before he left the civil service in November 2015 Boris Johnson had to pause his morning run to clear up after Dilyn the dog, with a fiery PMQs expected later amid the Greensill row Ex-civil service chief John Manzoni 'approved Greensill role' for Bill Crothers after facing his own row over second job Sir John Manzoni, the former chief executive of the Civil Service, agreed to arrangements that allowed a senior Whitehall figure to work for Greensill while still in his public sector job, it was claimed today. Bill Crothers, the government's former head of procurement, became an adviser to the finance firm in 2015 while he was still a civil servant. The move was approved via a Cabinet Office internal conflicts of interest policy. Government sources told MailOnline Sir John was 'inevitably' involved in signing the arrangement off due to his role as permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office. Sir John joined the civil service in February 2014 when he became the chief executive of the Major Projects Authority after a lengthy career working for the oil giant BP. He was then made the first chief executive of the civil service as part of a shakeup of the management structure in October 2014. But he faced criticism when he took the role because of a second job he had working for the drinks firm SABMiller. The Cabinet Office initially said he could keep the reported 100,000-a-year role because it judged it was not a conflict of interest. But critics questioned how keeping the job could be compatible with Government public health policy due to the firm being opposed to the introduction of minimum alcohol pricing. The Cabinet Office then changed its stance, saying the second job would be unpaid before then saying it would come to an end in the summer of 2015. It was announced in January 2020 that Sir John would be stepping down from his civil service roles. He then left Whitehall in April. His normal five-year tenure in the post had already come to an end in October 2019 but he reportedly stayed on a bit longer due to the general election. Sir John was named as a non-executive director on the board of drinks firm Diageo, the owner of Guinness, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan, effective from October 2020. He is due to become chair of the Ministry of Defence's Atomic Weapons Establishment this autumn. Advertisement Sir Keir added: 'Does the Prime Minister accept there's a revolving door, indeed an open door, between his Conservative Government and paid lobbyists?' Mr Johnson responded: 'This is a Government and a party that has been consistently tough on lobbying and indeed we introduced legislation saying that there should be no taxpayer-funded lobbying, that quangos should not be used to get involved with lobbying. 'We put in a register for lobbyists and there's one party that actually voted to repeal the 2014 Lobbying Act and that was the Labour Party in their historic 2019 election manifesto.' If approved by the Commons later, a cross-party committee would investigate whether current laws are sufficient to prevent 'inappropriate lobbying' of ministers and officials. Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves urged Tory MPs to back the Labour motion if they want to 'stop the cronyism rampant in their party and in government'. During the debate in the House yesterday, Ms Reeves launched an excoriating attack on the 'wholly inadequate' review to be led by Nigel Boardman. Ms Reeves told MPs: 'It's a fact that Nigel Boardman is a very good friend of the Conservative Government. Some may suspect the son of a former Conservative cabinet minister might be unlikely to make waves but let's look at his own record. 'Mr Boardman has been paid over 20,000 per year as a non-executive director at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy a department with a real interest in the British Business Bank which lent to Greensill and the British steel industry, where so many jobs are at risk. 'Mr Boardman has already whitewashed the Government's handling of public procurement during the pandemic, and I fear he will do the same again with this inquiry.' She added: 'What is being proposed by the Government is not remotely fit for purpose. It's not an inquiry, it's not independent, it's an insult to us all.' Downing Street defended Mr Boardman as a 'distinguished legal expert'. The PM's official spokesman said: 'I think anyone can see that Nigel Boardman is a distinguished legal expert. 'He was asked to lead this review independently, he has been asked to do it thoroughly and promptly and we trust him to do that.' Asked whether he was a 'friend' of the Tory administration, the spokesman said: 'He is an independent reviewer.' They also rejected the idea of a whitewash. 'We would encourage anyone not to prejudge what will be an independent and thorough inquiry into this issue,' the spokesman said. Conservatives are being whipped to oppose Labour's committee plan and there seems little chance it will be passed. Tory MP Steve Double said: 'The revelations and allegations that have come to light in recent days are clearly concerning and do raise a number of very serious questions. 'That's why I welcome the Government's decision to initiate an independent and wide-ranging inquiry.' Conservative John Penrose, the Prime Minister's anti-corruption champion, said he would not support Labour's motion. However, he warned that the transparency about contacts between officials, ministers, businesses and other groups was currently far from sufficient. 'Those disclosures don't happen fast enough, they aren't complete enough, they aren't mutually comprehensible and machine readable and searchable enough, and as a result it is much too difficult at the moment to link up who ministers have met with, who the lobbyists are working for, with who is donating money to which political party,' he said. 'All those three things should be immediately understandable, immediately searchable and immediately identifiable in order for the system to work well.' Mr Penrose said more officials such as special advisers and civil servants should be included in the disclosures. The fact the Cabinet Office agreed to the highly unusual dual role for Mr Crothers was revealed in official correspondence yesterday. On Monday, correspondence was published showing how senior civil servant Mr Crothers was involved in this close relationship. He had been the Government's Chief Commercial Officer inside the Cabinet Office, responsible for overseeing an estimated 40billion of taxpayers' money, from April 2012. Then in September 2015 he was given permission to become an adviser to Greensill's board, while still in the civil service. The joint role meant that when he left Whitehall in November that year, he did not have to seek approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA). Mr Crothers wrote in a letter published by the watchdog: 'I was given approval to take up a part-time board advisory role with Greensill Capital starting from September 2015, whilst employed as a civil servant. 'At that time Greensill was a small business, 30 or 40 employees, which did not conduct any business with UK Government. 'The approval was to be a board adviser, attending board meetings, with the role developing, discussed as becoming a director.' Boris Johnson is understood to be concerned about the highly unusual dual role agreed by the Cabinet Office He went on: 'I then left the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service in November 2015. I again sought advice and was told that as I was already working in an advisory capacity to Greensill before I left the Civil Service, with that role captured under the conflicts of interest policy, no BARs [business appointment rules] application was required to be submitted to ACOBA.' Mr Crothers said the part-time role took up one day a month but he had been given approval to work 'up to a day a week'. He insisted: 'It was seen as a way of me transitioning back into the private sector and was supported by the Cabinet Office leadership. 'This advisory role was not seen as contentious, and I believe not uncommon.' It is thought the move would have been approved by the Cabinet Secretary at the time, Sir Jeremy Heywood, who had originally brought young Australian banker Mr Greensill into Government in 2011, or the then-Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary John Manzoni. Government sources told MailOnline that Sir John would 'inevitably' have been involved as Mr Crothers' line manager. Sir John left his civil service job in April last year, and has been serving on the board at drinks firm Diageo. He is due to become chair of the Ministry of Defence's Atomic Weapons Establishment this autumn. In 2016 Mr Crothers became a director of Greensill Capital, and went on to hold 3,653 shares, according to financial reports, which could have been worth as much as 5.7million when the company was highly valued in the City. But it went bust last month and the shares are now worthless. Mr Crothers went on to have at least five meetings with Whitehall officials on behalf of Greensill. ACOBA chairman Lord Pickles wrote to the Cabinet Office yesterday requesting its guidance on conflicts of interest. He wrote: 'The lack of transparency around this part-time employment with Greensill may have left the misleading impression that Mr Crothers had wilfully ignored the obligation to seek advice.' Lord Pickles called for the Cabinet Office to publish 'historic and current numbers of individuals' given approval for dual roles as well as a register of interests. The probe into the Greensill scandal to be carried out by City lawyer Nigel Boardman by June will look into dual roles such as that carried out by Mr Crothers as well as lobbying by Mr Cameron. Speaking publicly about the inquiry for the first time yesterday, the Prime Minister told broadcasters he had given Mr Boardman 'pretty much carte blanche to ask anybody whatever he needs to find out'. The Treasury released Chancellor Rishi Sunak's texts to Mr Cameron after a freedom of information request He added: I would like it to be done quickly, but I want him to have the maximum possible access so we can all understand exactly what has happened, and that will of course be presented to Parliament in due course.' Asked if he was looking to 'rough up a rival' in the form of Mr Cameron by launching the inquiry, the PM replied: 'I think people have got questions they need to satisfy themselves about including me about how this supply chain finance stuff is meant to work.' In the Commons, MPs demanded answers on how Greensill had obtained an estimated 200million in Covid loans under a Government scheme, as well as a series of meetings with senior civil servants as it sought access to even more cash. Labour had called for the establishment of a new independent 'Investigation into Lobbying of Government Committee', consisting of 16 MPs, fearing the Government-commissioned probe will be a whitewash. But Conservative former minister Tobias Ellwood said the vote was 'political opportunism'. The chairman of the Commons Defence Committee told Times Radio: 'What has happened is the former prime minister (David Cameron) has put up his hand and said I didn't act in the spirit of the rules, you then have No 10 that have come out with their own investigation. 'These things should be allowed to take their course. 'The idea suddenly that we all, with the limited knowledge that we have, can make a judgment on this it is political opportunism. 'Let's see what happens with the review, it is being done independently that is the process that we should do these things, not just jump on this bandwagon and the day after a review has been called say, 'Right let's have a determination by having a vote in the House'. 'We simply cannot do that, we don't even have access to all the information, so let's slow down on this but let's get the right answer.' Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who served under Mr Cameron, became the latest to speak out against his lobbying last night. 'If you have been a minister of the crown and you have held high office then, I think, to turn oneself into a paid lobbyist is an unfortunate thing to do,' he told Channel 4 News. 'The public are increasingly cynical about the way politicians behave about allegations of corruption and cronyism in government, and the perception that there are lots of private channels which are being exploited.' Mr Cameron, who will co-operate with the inquiry into his lobbying, has insisted that he broke no rules or codes of conduct. Last night the Cabinet Office said of Mr Crothers' dual role: 'The Boardman review into Greensill Capital and supply chain finance will be wide-ranging and will also consider the issues raised so the public can judge whether they were appropriately handled at the time.' Getting cosy in the Saudi desert... David Cameron and his financier chum sip tea in business suits in first photo revealed of their camping trip Sipping tea in front of an open fire, this is the first picture of David Cameron and Lex Greensill on their 'desert camping trip' to Saudi Arabia. They are wearing business suits and appear to be reclining on luxurious floor cushions inside a tent in the photograph obtained by the Wall Street Journal newspaper. Greensill Capital was planning to open an office in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at the time of the trip in January 2020. The pair are wearing business suits and appear to be reclining on luxurious floor cushions inside a tent The former PM and his friend met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who was accused of approving the brutal 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Mr Greensill is said to have later boasted that they went 'camping in the desert' and he bonded with the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia under the night sky, because they had both studied law at university. Mr Cameron insisted he raised human rights concerns with the Crown Prince during the trip. He said in his statement on the affair: 'While visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in January 2020 to advise on their forthcoming chairmanship of the G20, I also with Lex Greensill met with a range of business and political leaders, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 'As the Softbank Vision Fund was by this time the largest investor in Greensill, the company was, in effect, part-owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. 'Greensill planned to open a new regional office in Riyadh as part of its international expansion and I wanted to assist in this effort. 'While in Saudi Arabia, I took the opportunity to raise concerns about human rights, as I always did when meeting the Saudi leadership when I was prime minister.' U.S. and NATO Beat the Drums of War over Ukraine April 13 , 2021 (EIRNS)Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, among others, gathered in Brussels today to sound the alarm about Russias alleged massive military buildup along Ukraines border and warn Russia to immediately cease its provocative actions or suffer the consequences. No consequences were spelled out, but war talk is in the airas stupidly dangerous as that is. In almost ID format, every single speaker and public statement made in the course of todays meetings insisted that Russia has massed the largest military force along the border since 2014, while reminding people of Russias alleged illegal annexation of Crimea, and lying that it has turned its back on the Minsk agreements and all efforts to de-escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine. Blinken repeatedly referred to Russias provocative and aggressive behavior. Ukraine wants membership in NATO now, to have access to its Article 5 that states that an attack on one member country is considered an attack on NATO as a whole. Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna made that clear in an article published in Foreign Policy saying that NATOs response to Russias aggression is insufficient and demanding immediate negotiations for a membership action plan for the country. In an outrageous denial of historical fact, Foreign Minister Kuleba claimed that Ukraine should join NATO because it belongs to the world of democracies, to the Western worldthis is a very clear message NATO can send to Russia. Ukraine isnt part of the Russian world and will never be considered as such. Prior to his private meeting with Blinken, Kuleba repeated to the media how pleased he was that the Euro-Atlantic countries are standing by Ukraine, and that Ukraine stands by the principles and values of the Euro-Atlantic community. Confident of military backing, he warned Russia that should it not cease its aggression, the actions taken against itby the West presumablywill prove too heavy a burden to bear. During his joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, Kuleba said he expects international allies to deter Russian aggression. He suggested new sanctions or more direct military support to strengthen Ukraines defenses. Demanding that Russia cease and desist from its provocative behavior, Stoltenberg announced that it is the sovereign right of every nation to apply for NATO membership, but it is the right of the 30 allies-members to decide when membership should be offered. This is important, he said, because right now Russia is trying to establish some kind of sphere of influence reminiscent of the era when big powers could decide what neighbors could do. So therefore we strongly support the sovereign right of Ukraine to apply, and to decide its own path, and then for the 30 allies, and only the 30 allies, to decide when the standards are met, Stoltenberg said. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says the nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise it began yesterday is not a mass disconnection exercise to recover the debt owed by customers. Rather, it said, the exercise was a normal business activity to mobilise revenue for the company to enable it to pay its suppliers, to whom it was indebted. If you owe us, we will look at the data, see how much you owe and the age of the indebtedness and then we will come and see you and talk to you about repayment, the General Manager in charge of Public Relations at the ECG, Mr William Boateng, told the Daily Graphic. The disconnection exercise, he said, was quite different from revenue mobilisation. The disconnection exercise is different from revenue mobilisation. In this instance of mobilising revenue, you have the data of the customer owing you, and because the bill is overdue and he or she is not paying, you just move in and disconnect the person, and that granted by law, he said. Different Mr Boateng said the ECG had had to relax the revenue mobilisation measure because of the COVID-19 because protocols on the disease had to be observed, noting that now that the situation with the disease had improved with vaccination, the company had thought it wise to begin the exercise. We will come to you and show you what our data say. If you have anything contrary to that, you say it, and if you are ready to give us a cheque for the amount, we will be ready to accept it. But if you dont tell us anything regarding the payment of your debt, then you are inviting us to come and disconnect you, he said. During such exercises, he said, many institutions tended to pay up when revenue officers from the ECG visited their premises. Pay suppliers The PRO of the ECG said the exercise generally was meant to raise money, so that the company could pay its suppliers, so that the business did not suffer hiccups. You pay us, so that we can also pay our suppliers for the business to run smoothly. We have to have money to pay the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCO) and independent power producers (IPPs) who are all depending on us, he said. A statement issued by the ECG informed its cherished customers and the public of the resumption of its normal revenue mobilisation exercise, effective April 12, this year. The exercise, it said, would focus on all categories of customers in arrears and advised all customers who owe the ECG to pay up their bills. Revenue mobilisation teams will be identified by their staff identity cards. Customers are thus strongly advised to inspect the ID cards of the teams before allowing them into their premises to avoid imposters. All the necessary COVID-19 protocols will be observed by our officers, it 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. Featured Video Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" and top officials at 12 pm on Wednesday, April 14, to discuss the issue of CBSE Board exams. PM Modi has called the meeting to discuss the class 10 and 12 board exams amid demands to cancel them due to the massive surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had announced in February this year that class 10 and 12 exams will start on May 4 with all exams to be held in offline-written mode. Also Read: Govt officials deliberate on CBSE exam dates as COVID-19 cases continue to peak The announcement was made at a time when daily coronavirus cases had dipped to fewer than 15,000, however, as of Wednesday morning, India registered 1,84,372 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic broke last year. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have appealed to the Centre to cancel the exams in the wake of the massive spike in COVID caseload across the country. Also Read: CBSE Board Exam 2021: Demand to cancel Class 10, 12 exams grows louder; students start meme fest "Six lakh students in the city will appear for board exams. One lakh teachers will be on duty. Conducting board exams can lead to largescale spread of coronavirus... alternative methods of assessment can be explored. Students can be promoted on basis of either online exams or internal assessment. The board exams should be cancelled," Kejriwal said. Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also urged the central government to consult with all stakeholders before taking any decision. Rising timber prices and the value of individual species have enticed thieves to steal timber across Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture urges forest landowners to be aware of timber theft and provides steps owners can take to protect their assets. Timber theft can be financially devastating to a landowner, State Forester David Arnold said. The value of the timber is not the only loss. In most cases, the thieves damage property and negatively impact conservation efforts and wildlife. We want Tennessee landowners to know what they can do to help protect their property against theft or accidental harvest. Steps to safeguard against timber theft include well-marked property boundaries and a plan of action for your property. Landowners without marked property lines can unintentionally invite timber theft when neighboring land is harvested. The plan of action is invaluable if you do not live on the property or if you plan to be away for an extended period. Your plan should include your name, how to contact you, and how to contact local law enforcement. Share your plan with neighbors so they can reach you if they see harvesting on your land. A current timber inventory with estimated value is another helpful tool should any theft occur. Consulting foresters can help guide landowners on how to mark their property lines and how to mark trees prior to a timber sale. The Division of Forestry maintains a directory of private consulting foresters who specialize in timber inventory and in damage and trespass assessments at www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/landowners/consulting-foresters.html. Weve had reports of oak trees, poplar, and some hickory stolen in Middle and East Tennessee, Agricultural Crime Unit Special Agent LaLonna Kuehn said. One of the best ways to prevent this crime is to let your neighbors know if you will be removing timber from your property. If they havent heard from you and see harvesting, they should contact you or law enforcement immediately. Whether the timber theft is intentional or accidental, it is a crime and can carry civil penalties of double or triple the current market value of the timber. If you experience timber theft, report the crime to the Agricultural Crime Unit via the online Farm Tracs form found here www.tn.gov/agriculture/consumers/ag-crime-unit.html or contact your local law enforcement. ACU is a specialized unit dedicated to investigating and enforcing state laws and regulations related to agriculture, forestry, animal health, and agribusinesses. Visit the ACUs webpage to learn more, www.tn.gov/agriculture/consumers/ag-crime-unit. The U.S. military veteran population is known to have abnormally high rates of suicide, so health officials have been concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic might elevate risk of psychiatric disorders, particularly among those suffering from post-traumatic stress and related disorders. A recent national study of more than 3,000 veterans participating in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study did find that 12.8% reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to COVID-19 and 8% said they had contemplated suicide during the pandemic. However, the same survey, published April 8 in JAMA Network Open, revealed another, startling finding. A full 43.3% of respondents -- more than three times the number of those reporting COVID-related PTSD symptoms and five times the number of those who had contemplated suicide -- said that they have experienced positive psychological benefits during the pandemic. These veterans reported greater appreciation of life, closer interpersonal relationships, and an increased sense of personal strength. "Yes, there have certainly been many negative mental health consequences of the pandemic, but we are also seeing that a considerable proportion of people may experience positive psychological changes," said Robert Pietrzak, director of the Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD, associate professor of psychiatry and public health at Yale, and lead author of the paper. "This suggests that the experience of stress and trauma related to the pandemic can lead to positive personal growth." Over the past decade, Pietrzak and Steven Southwick, the Glenn H. Greenberg Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Yale and senior author of the new paper, have been studying veterans who experience what is known as "post-traumatic growth" following a traumatic experience. Scientists have long been fascinated with the concept of resilience -- how people who endure trauma find a way to bounce back. The concept of post-traumatic growth posits that while trauma can increase risk for mental disorders such as PTSD, it may also spur positive personal growth. For the latest findings, Pietrzak and Southwick initially asked veterans about their psychological health between November of 2019 and March 2020. The advent of the pandemic motivated them to follow up that survey with another, of the same group, a year later. In this second survey, they asked questions about PTSD symptoms and possible positive psychological changes related to the pandemic. Of the 3,078 veterans who responded to both surveys, 43.3% reported that the pandemic led to positive psychological changes in their lives. Among veterans who screened positive for COVID-related PTSD symptoms, more than 70% reported experiencing these changes. "Post-traumatic growth is a process that often happens naturally and is stimulated by reflective processing about a traumatic event," Pietrzak said. "Sometimes you need to be sufficiently shaken by an experience and even experience symptoms of PTSD to begin to process it at a deeper level and ultimately be able to grow from it." Greater post-traumatic growth -- particularly an increased appreciation of life and improved interpersonal relationships -- was also associated with a 40% lower likelihood of contemplating suicide during the pandemic. This finding suggests that psychological interventions to promote post-traumatic growth may be a helpful measure to prevent suicide among veterans. While the scientific study of post-traumatic growth is relatively new, the concept is not. Ancient religious and spiritual traditions, philosophers, and scholars have long expressed the potentially transformative power of suffering. "The saying 'Grow through what you go through' captures the essence of post-traumatic growth," Pietrzak said. He and his colleagues plan to continue to follow their cohort of veterans over time to examine the longer-term course of post-traumatic growth and whether it may help promote resilience to subsequent traumatic events. ### The National Health and Resilience in Veterans study is supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD. Jack Tsai, an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Yale who also serves as campus dean and professor of public health at the University of Texas School of Public Health in San Antonio, co-authored the paper. Scott Morrison has confirmed he will meet privately with alleged parliament house rape victim Brittany Higgins. The prime minister's chief of staff wrote to Ms Higgins last week to organise the meeting and outline which topics will be discussed. Speaking to reporters in Perth on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said: 'I'm looking forward to meeting with Brittany. Scott Morrison has confirmed he will meet privately with alleged parliament house rape victim Brittany Higgins (pictured) 'We've reached out to Brittany Higgins to arrange a meeting, like I said we would, and we have and those arrangements are being put in place. 'That will be a private conversation. I know there are a range of issues she's relayed that she would like to raise and I look forward to hearing from her.' Former Liberal Party advisor Ms Higgins shocked the nation in February when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in former defence minister Linda Reynold's office after a boozy night out in March 2019. Ms Higgins said she did not feel properly supported by Ms Reynolds who later called her a 'lying cow' in front of colleagues. It comes as Ms Higgins signs a $250,000 book deal to publish a memoir. Penguin Random House Australia called Ms Higgins 'a young, brave voice and a pioneer for a new generation' and said it would publish her book in 2022. The prime minister's chief of staff wrote to Ms Higgins last week to organise the meeting and outline which topics will be discussed 'Brittany's story, in her own words, will be a call for desperately needed reform, and a watershed moment for Australian women in public life,' the publisher said. Ms Higgins said in a statement on Tuesday evening: 'This book will shine a light on the toxic workplace culture inside the corridors of power and provide a first-hand account of what it was like surviving a media storm that turned into a movement.' She said half of the royalties of each book will be donated to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre which helped her during her time of need. Police are investigating Ms Higgins' allegations. Number 10 plans to slap calorie counts on all alcohol served in pubs was today branded 'un-British' and 'an attempt to nanny the country'. Documents leaked last night revealed health chiefs want to force larger chains to disclose the amount of calories for every beer, wine and spirit ordered in their bars. The scheme, drawn up by Matt Hancock's Health Department, could see calories advertised on pump labels and menus at franchises such as Greene King and Fullers. Critics described the plans as 'madness' and 'disruptive' for pub chains that are already struggling to claw back losses from the pandemic. The Adam Smith think-tank told MailOnline: 'Everyone already knows if you put away a few jars a day you're likely to get fatter. The cost is going to fall on businesses who will now need to redo their labelling. 'The Department of Health has spent the entire time [during Covid] on a crusade against food and drink when it should be focusing on the pandemic, which it has done a poor job of responding to.' And Matt Lambert, CEO of the Portman Group alcohol regulator, told MailOnline the labelling changes would put further financial strain on an industry that has been put under sever pressure by the Covid pandemic. As part of the plans, leaked to The Sun last night, all alcohol sold in shops could also be legally-bound to publish the same nutritional information. Health chiefs have proposed including an alcohol warning on every bottle from the chief medical officer Chris Whitty, who has gained a cult following during the pandemic. As well as details of how fattening the booze can be, the plans would additionally see labels include information on the dangers of drink-driving. A pint of Guinness contains 210 calories roughly the same as a KitKat Chunky. A large glass of white wine is slightly more calorific (240) the same as a packet of Starburst sweets. Documents leaked last night revealed health chiefs want to force larger chains to disclose the amount of calories in every beer, wine and spirit ordered in their bars Liquid lunch! These friends wrap up in coats and perch on a table outside a pub in Bath on Tuesday afternoon Two young women drinking wine outside a bar on Old Compton Street, Soho, London, on Tuesday Matt Lambert, CEO of the Portman Group said: 'The alcohol industry is committed to giving consumers detailed information to help them make well-informed decisions about drinking. We welcome this consultation and its aims. 'However, we are very concerned about plans for a new set of mandatory regulations. 'The industry, particularly small businesses, has been hit very hard by COVID-19. It can ill afford the further financial burden of costly mandatory labelling changes. 'We are committed to working in partnership with the Government. Over the past two decades there has been a significant decline in binge-drinking, alcohol-related violence, drink-driving and underage drinking. 'We have shown time and time again that the voluntary approach works. It will deliver the result we all want to see, faster, more effectively and without extra costs to a sector is already struggling due to the necessary closure of hospitality.' The proposals, affecting any business that employs 250 or more people, therefore including most major pub chains, could undergo a 12-week consultation shortly, according to leaked details. Public health minister Jo Churchill is said to be arguing that around a twelfth of drinkers' calorie intake comes from alcohol and that the poorest and most overweight could be better off as a result. Report finds nine out of ten global Covid deaths happened in countries with fattest populations A report showing that Covid deaths have been 10 times higher in countries with high levels of obesity was branded as a 'wake up call' to the West. World Obesity Federation research last month found nations where at least half of adults are overweight have accounted for a staggering 90 per cent of global Covid fatalities. The report suggested thousands of lives may have been saved in the UK if the population was slimmer and lockdown measures may not have needed to be as drastic because there would have been fewer hospital admissions. Dr Raghib Ali, an epidemiologist at Cambridge University, described the research as a 'wake-up' call and said he hopes it will serve as an incentive for Brits to slim down. He said: 'I think there has been a wake up call, even in my own experience working on the frontlines with Covid patients. 'It was particularly noticeable that in younger patients the majority were overweight or obese. It reminded of 20 years ago when I first started practicing medicine, patient used to come in with heart disease or lung problems who were smokers. 'It really did give them an incentive and made them realise they needed to give up smoking - it may have the same impact now, that people realise just how unhealthy being overweight and particularly being obese can be.' Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) tweeted earlier in the day: 'This report must act as a wake-up call to governments globally. The correlation between obesity and mortality rates from Covid-19 is clear and compelling. 'Investment in public health and coordinated, international action to tackle the root causes of obesity is one of the best ways for countries to build resilience in health systems post-pandemic. We urge all countries to seize this moment.' Advertisement While ministers have not yet calculated the wider benefits to consumers, there are fears that the plans will strike a 92million blow to an industry already decimated by the Covid crisis over the last 12 months. Free market think tank, the Adam Smith Institute, told the paper: 'We don't need government enforced calorie counts to tell us something we already know.' Boss Matt Kilcoyne added: 'Ministers thinking up this madness should stop and drop the policy. 'Let the publicans and the punters do what they want in the pubs without Mr Hancock wagging his finger each time a pint is pulled.' Calorie labels were considered two years ago but shelved following opposition from businesses and the Treasury. A 2019 study by Cambridge University's centre for diet and activity research found that food from restaurants with in-store menu labelling had on average 45 per cent less fat and 60 per less salt than items from other outlets. It comes amid a Government crackdown on obesity ordered by Boris Johnson following his near-fatal brush with coronavirus last April. Mr Johnson, 56, famously admitted 'I was too fat' after the Covid scare that saw him taken into intensive care. Since then, the Prime Minister who is regularly pictured out running in London says he has lost 'quite a lot' of weight by cutting down on carbs, chocolate and cheese and exercising regularly. But the PM has ditched his long-standing opposition to 'nanny state' policies, in an attempt to crackdown on the nation's bulging waistlines. Obesity is one of the key risk factors for Covid and an international report last month claimed it was behind the huge pandemic death tolls in the West. World Obesity Federation research found Covid deaths have been 10 times higher in countries where at least half of adults are overweight, and they have accounted for a staggering 90 per cent of global deaths. Number 10 has launched a 100million Government drive to tackle the UK's obesity crisis, which will include a ban on buy-one-get-one-free supermarket deals in 2022. A fitness drive is also expected, with millions of pounds allocated to encourage walking and cycling. GPs will be given the ability to prescribe more than 700,000 of the fattest Brits diet plans, apps and wearable activity trackers. Taxes on foods high in fat, sugar and salt have been ruled out because ministers are said to want to give individuals the information needed to make healthy choices, rather than hit them in the pocket. The WOF report found that significant proportions of Covid deaths happened in fatter countries like the UK and US which, combined, have suffered around 643,000 deaths from the virus a quarter of the world's total. The report, which compared countries' obesity rates and Covid death tolls, found that the coronavirus death rate was 10 times higher in countries where 50 per cent or more of the population is overweight. It saw that 2.2million of the world's 2.5million deaths so far had happened in countries with these high obesity rates. 'Increased bodyweight is the second greatest predictor of hospitalisation and a high risk of death for people suffering from Covid-19,' the report said. 'Only old age rates as a higher risk factor. The unprecedented economic costs of Covid-19 are largely due to the measures taken to avoid the excess hospitalisation and need for treatment of the disease. 'Reducing one major risk factor, overweight, would have resulted in far less stress on health services and reduced the need to protect those services from being overwhelmed.' The UK has had the third highest coronavirus death rate per person at 182 per 100,000 people, lower only than Slovenia (183) and Belgium (192) and the fourth highest overweight rate, at 64 per cent. Social enterprise and charity Sour Lemons will work with the Young Vic and the Royal Court to trace and tackle systemic racism within the theatre community. Sade Banks, CEO and founder of the charity, explained that: "Our mission is to make the truth irresistible - if it becomes impossible to not be aware of how racism manifests, it's impossible not to do something about it. "The Sour Lemons model is unique because it responds directly to the lived experiences of racism within the organisation. By centering the needs of Black and Global Majority colleagues, it forces us to acknowledge that racism is happening over here - not over there in America' or in another institution - here, in the UK and in our sector. This is the opportunity to do something about it." Sour Lemons will work alongside each venue to build awareness of how systemic racism manifests within their organisations through the establishment of working groups. Every six month cycle will see a report produced, reflecting on progress and ongoing issues. Banks went on: "The commitment the Young Vic and Royal Court Theatre have made and continue to make, not just to the partnership but in creating a culture that is accountable and hostile to racism, sends a strong message to the rest of the industry. This work has been happening behind the scenes for the past year and Sour Lemons are excited now to announce it publicly." Russia has been doing everything possible in the past days and weeks to provoke Ukraine and NATO and thus open the way for further aggression, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has said. She said this on the Morgenmagazin program on the ARD TV channel, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "It is clear that Putin's regime is waiting for a step by NATO to have a reason to continue to act. I have the impression that the Russian side is doing everything possible to provoke a reaction. [...] We together with Ukraine do not want to be involved in this game," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. She emphasized Kyiv's balanced reaction in such a situation. "I am very grateful, first of all, to Ukraine for still reacting [] very, very sensibly. We in NATO will do the same," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. She stressed that it was in the interests of Kyiv and its Western partners to prevent the further escalation of this conflict. According to the minister, if Russia says that the massing of its troops on the border with Ukraine is only a military exercise, there are prescribed international procedures for ensuring transparency and trust. She said that it would be right to hold an OSCE meeting, but she recalled that Russia had rejected such an opportunity. "Such behavior does not create trust," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. She said that Germany was "committed" to helping Ukraine, but when asked if Berlin was ready to help Kyiv with arms in the event of a hot conflict, she said that Germany, as a NATO member, was providing assistance to Ukraine in the training of the Ukrainian army's strike forces and in the sphere of military medicine, whereas other NATO countries were supporting Ukraine in other areas. "It's a matter of individual member states, rather than NATO as an alliance," she added. op New How To Guide to Gainful Employment An all-encompassing resource for today's veterans. The journey to a successful job search begins with confidence. Simply stated: a certain frame of mind or mindset. Today, American Job Centers aim to offer veterans a sense of empowerment while identifying meaningful job and career opportunities. Especially so for those veterans with specific barriers to employment. It's a place where a vast array of viable options and qualified staff are made available to all those who have served our country honorably -- turning military and life experiences into promising futures. P.D. Pritchard, DVOP, GCDF, MS, or what is commonly known as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Specialist, works exclusively with veterans who have significant barriers. It is his job to prepare, motivate and show them how to conduct a contemporary job search in order to secure meaningful employment. It begins with the simple basics: cover letter, resume, how to market and promote yourself to prospective employers, how to properly fill out a job application, preparing for the interview and the importance of follow-up. For years, Pritchard has recognized the need for a guide or "Cliff Notes" with which veterans can reference to learn more. What he calls the "Veteran Basics" designed to teach, inspire, and instill confidence in veterans as they embark on their job search journey. VOYAGER/VETERAN: The Journey to a Successful Job Search Mindset (Clovercroft Publishing, $14.99), is based on and draws from real-life stories of veterans facing personal barriers. It is Pritchard's hope that the 'Veteran Basics' series will help to instill self-value, self-esteem and self-confidence in veterans to activate the creative genius within. The Veteran Basics are designed to help establish and maintain a productive job search mindset, inclusive of the following authentic situations: The 9 Key Areas Veterans Should Master to Find Gainful Employment Dealing with The Past and Preparing for the Future by Accepting Change The Reality of Resumes and Cover Letters Avoiding Shortcuts; Why Job Hunting Shortcuts Will Hurt Your Chances at Long Term Success The Value of Learning How To Network The Job Application Challenge and How To Complete the Application Form Interview Etiquette: How to Prepare for and Participate in the Job Interview The Federal Application ProcessLearning the Art of Navigational Tools The Necessity, Value and Method of Saying Thank You Manifesting Success -- A Never-ending Journey; Take time to value and enjoy the voyage. Learning is a journey that never ends. In summary, consider the 'Veteran Basics' series as a valuable "How-To" guide to a successful and contemporary job search for today's veteran. Now, let your job search journey begin. To learn more, visit: https://www.voyager-veteran.com/ -- Pete (P.D.) Pritchard is a Certified GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator), a graduate of the Lila Atchison School of Community Service and Public Affairs at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he received master's and bachelors degrees. He has an associate degree in Criminal Justice Disciplines from Shasta Junior College in Redding, California. Pritchard helps veterans develop and marshal the self-motivational skills needed to move forward with their lives after serving their country. His book, "Voyager/Veteran: The Journey to a Successful Job Search Mindset" is available through Amazon.com and bookstores. # # # [April 14, 2021] Automation Event of the Year - Nintex ProcessFest 2021 - Goes Virtual on 20 May Business Tech conference will highlight latest innovations in process management and automation software with 90-minute virtual keynote and on-demand access to business, technical and partner best practices LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation, today announced that registration is open for the company's annual conference, Nintex ProcessFest 2021. Everyone seeking to reimagine, transform and optimise the way people work through process management and automation is encouraged to register for the 90-minute virtual keynote taking place on Thursday, 20 May 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. BST. Register for Nintex ProcessFest 2021 at https://www.nintex.com/processfest. Registration is free and every attendee will receive access to hours of valuable business, technical and partner content following the keynote. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across nearly every industry are accelerating their digital transformation initiatives with powerful and easy-to-use process mapping, workflow automation, robotic process automation (RPA) and document automation software from Nintex. Customers speaking at this year's Nintex ProcessFest event include Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Hernando County Schools, and more. "The challenges of remote work during the last year have significantly reinforced the need for all of us to work smarter, faster, and with the support of better digital processes," said Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. "We look forward to sharing our unwaering commitment to every Nintex customer and partner by sharing the latest best practices and innovations delivered through our leading process management and automation platform during virtual Nintex ProcessFest 2021." This year's digital experience includes a 90-minute, highly interactive keynote with Nintex leaders and customers from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. BST. Following the keynote, attendees will receive access to valuable on-demand content featuring business and technical product deep dives, solution scenarios, tours of Nintex customer success resources, and more. Additionally, every active current Nintex customer that attends our 20 May live broadcast will receive 12-months of free access to Nintex University, to continue to refine their workflow automation, RPA and app dev knowledge and skills. Nintex CEO Eric Johnson will kick off the event by sharing updates on company strategy and process capabilities. He will be followed by Nintex Chief Product Officer Neal Gottsacker and members of the Nintex product team who will provide more details on the company's technology vision and product roadmap including a preview of soon-to-be-released innovations that deliver an unrivalled experience for every organisation leveraging the Nintex Process Platform. Highlights include: Showcasing the next generation of Nintex Workflow Cloud Experience everything that is new with Nintex Workflow Cloud including unification, integrations with K2 Software, actionable process intelligence with Nintex Analytics, innovation in digital forms featuring AI capabilities and support for cloud migration. Experience everything that is new with Nintex Workflow Cloud including unification, integrations with K2 Software, actionable process intelligence with Nintex Analytics, innovation in digital forms featuring AI capabilities and support for cloud migration. Extending digital workflows across applications Learn how to extend the power of Nintex Workflow across existing organisational tools by leveraging 100 connectors and the Nintex Xtensions framework to build unique connectors. Learn how to extend the power of Nintex Workflow across existing organisational tools by leveraging 100 connectors and the Nintex Xtensions framework to build unique connectors. Achieving FedRAMP authorisation Learn about Nintex's journey to achieve FedRAMP authorisation for Nintex Workflow Cloud in 2021 and what this milestone means for government agencies. Throughout the keynote Nintex Chief Customer Officer Josh Waldo will introduce Nintex customers who will share their best practices in process mapping, management and automation and highlight key customer success resources available through the Nintex Community, Nintex University, and Nintex Solution Accelerator Gallery which provides hundreds of downloadable process maps, workflows, RPA Botflows, and Nintex K2 Cloud templates by solution, industry and department. Media Contact Kristin Treat Nintex kristin.treat@nintex.com cell: (215) 317-9091 About Nintex Nintex is the global standard for process management and automation. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487454/Nintex_ProcessFest_2021.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] U.S. recommends pause in Johnson &Johnson COVID-19 vaccination over blood clot concerns Xinhua) 09:43, April 14, 2021 Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2020 shows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland, the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Johnson &Johnson's vaccine pause would not have a "significant impact" on U.S. vaccination efforts. "We have more than enough supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to continue the current pace of about 3 million shots per day," the White House coronavirus coordinator said. WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. federal health agencies on Tuesday called for a pause in the use of Johnson &Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine after rare blood clotting cases emerged in six recipients. In a joint statement Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson &Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. These adverse events "appear to be extremely rare," the statement said. Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given, according to the statement. More than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson &Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States as of Monday, according to the CDC. In a White House briefing Tuesday, Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said the pause will allow more investigation into the cases, including the mechanism of the reactions, and history of the recipients. The investigation would shed light on what would happen and what should do, he said. Noting the percentage of this rare side effect was low, Fauci said less than one in a million Johnson &Johnson vaccine recipients experienced blood clots. But he recommended people who have administered the Johnson &Johnson vaccine to be on lookout for symptoms including severe headaches, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and leg pain within three weeks of vaccination. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases and assess their potential significance. The FDA will review that analysis as it has also launched an investigation into these cases. "Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution," said CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat and Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks in a joint statement. People line up to enter a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago, the United States, on March 10, 2021. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua) Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus coordinator, said Johnson &Johnson's vaccine pause would not have a "significant impact" on U.S. vaccination efforts. The Johnson &Johnson vaccine makes up less than 5 percent of the more than 190 million recorded shots in arms in the United States to date, Zients said at the White House briefing. "We have more than enough supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to continue the current pace of about 3 million shots per day," he said. Zients said states would help those who have scheduled Johnson &Johnson vaccinations to reschedule Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 shots. Several states and cities, including Washington, California, Los Angeles, New York City and New Jersey, announced they would pause administration of the Johnson &Johnson vaccine. Johnson &Johnson said Tuesday it is aware of the rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets who have received its COVID-19 vaccine. "In addition, we have been reviewing these cases with European health authorities. We have made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe," the company said in a statement. The severe adverse events came at a time when U.S. health officials are encouraging Americans to get vaccinated as soon as they can. Experts are concerned that the blood clots related to Johnson &Johnson's vaccine may heighten vaccine hesitancy of the public. Johnson &Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use in the United States in late February. It is the third COVID-19 vaccine that has received FDA's authorization, also the first single dose COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) IT services major Infosys Ltd will announce its Jan-March quarter financial results today. After a strong performance by IT bellwether Tata Consultancies Services (TCS), the market, as well as shareholders, will closely watch Infosys' performance in Q4 and through the Covid-hit financial year. The IT major could post Rs 5,210.9 crore profit and Rs 26,557 crore revenue in the last quarter of the financial year, a Bloomberg economists' poll said. Investors will closely watch Infosys' revenue guidance for the next fiscal year and its plans to achieve it. It is expected that the Bengaluru-based IT giant will provide a revenue growth guidance of 12-14 per cent in constant currency terms, with a buffer for upgrades in the preceding months. Analysts see Infosys clocking in 3-3.2 per cent sequential growth, mainly on account of high bookings and large-scale deals. Infosys will also consider a share buyback plan in its board meeting scheduled on April 14. The company will declare the final dividend for the last financial year after announcing the quarterly results. As per Nomura Research, the company could announce the buyback worth $1.3-1.9 billion at Rs 1,650 apiece. Investors will also keep an eye on Infosys' plans to acquire large-scale deals. In December, Infosys won its largest deal ever from German automotive manufacturer Daimler that is estimated at $3.2 billion. The Infosys and Daimler AG deal is much bigger than the $1.5 billion Vanguard deal which was signed in August, this year. Infosys will also announce its plans to acquire an additional workforce in the next fiscal year. They will also be looking at Infosys' attrition numbers, which at 10 per cent is higher than its rival company TCS that had reported an attrition rate of 7.2 per cent in Q4, its lowest ever. The country's second-largest software exporter in January reported 16.6 per cent growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 5,197 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to Rs 4,457 crore in the same quarter last year. The consolidated revenue of the company rose by 12.3 per cent to Rs 25,927 crore in Q3 FY21 as compared to Rs 23,092 crore in the December quarter of the last fiscal. The share of Infosys was down 1.61 per cent or Rs 22.90 at Rs 1,402.85 from its previous session close of Rs 1,425.75 on the NSE. ALSO READ: Infosys stock hits all-time high as firm to consider share buyback on April 14 ALSO READ: Another stellar quarter for Infosys, TCS, Wipro? IT to see strong growth in Q4FY21 ALSO READ: IT spending in India to touch $93 billion in 2021 -- but it's still low! ALSO READ: India Inc's revenue to rise 15-17% YoY in Jan-Mar: CRISIL The previous contract between the hospital and nurses expired in July 2020. But because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides paused negotiations. In the last few months, 1199SEIU launched a public awareness campaign about the contract negotiations. A rally was held in February to build community support for the union members and their efforts to secure a new labor agreement. Hospital officials didn't want to negotiate through the press, but they expressed willingness to engage in a "respectful and collaborative negotiating process in order to reach a prompt and fair resolution with our nurses, and also one that allows the hospital to continue to function in the community." On Monday, with the ratification vote, a new contract was approved. "Auburn Community Hospital prides itself on its history of union collaboration," said Scott Berlucchi, the hospital's president and CEO. "We also recognize that the process of reaching an agreement during a contract negotiation is not always an easy one. We have enormous respect for our nurses because of their unwavering dedication and commitment to our patients and our community." Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pandemic has underlined the importance of digital services that can be deployed quickly and reliably. Particularly in the Middle East, the ability to roll out such services has enabled a recent surge of growth. But for many companies, this ability requires a complete digital transformation across every department, including the modernization of critical database systems, which enables companies to leverage the latest cloud technologies. Such transformations are far from trivial, and unfortunately, they are often unsustainably costly. This is mostly because data, the life-blood of every organization today, is stored across many different kinds of databases, applications, and systems, and many organizations simply cannot afford to interrupt data access while they build and implement new infrastructure. Even if organizations attempt to install a new system alongside an existing, legacy system, such as a data warehouse, it is challenging to integrate the data between the old and new systems, to support today's demanding use-cases. Most data-integration solutions work by physically replicating data to a new repository via extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes, but such processes are batch-oriented, so they cannot support real-time data-access, which is becoming increasingly important. In addition, they do not support agility, as they need to be re-scripted, re-tested, and re-deployed every time there is a change to one or more systems. The Logical Approach In recent years, Gartner, Forrester, and other analysts have advocated a different approach to integrating data, one that integrates the data logically rather than physically. And the foremost data-integration strategy that exemplifies this principle is called "data virtualization." Rather than moving data, data virtualization provides real-time views of the data, leaving the source data exactly where it is. With this architecture, companies do not have to pay the costs of moving and housing the data, and yet they still gain all of the benefits of data integration. Because data virtualization accommodates existing infrastructure in its existing state, it is relatively easy to implement, compared with other solutions. And because it provides data in real time, from a variety of systems that are normally very time consuming to integrate, such as transactional processing systems and cloud-based storage systems, it can support a wide variety of modern use cases. Data virtualization enables zero-downtime migrations to new systems and seamless, real-time data-access across myriad systems, such as modern and legacy systems, simultaneously, enabling companies to migrate to these new systems at their own pace, while users enjoy uninterrupted access to data and services. Finally, because data virtualization works without replication and does not require extensive development, it is extremely cost-effective. In short, data virtualization provides a strong foundation for digital transformation and data platform modernization, and as a testament to that, the data virtualization market has recently been growing at roughly 50% year-over-year. Denodo, the Leader in Data Virtualization Denodo, after specializing in data virtualization since its inception in 1999, was recognized as a Leader in both Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools and Forrester's Enterprise Data Fabric Wave, in 2020. Denodo is one of only two vendors to receive Gartner Customers' Choice awards in 2021. Denodo Platform 8 is the industry's only data virtualization platform that offers all of the necessary capabilities of a logical data fabric: an active data catalog for semantic search and enterprise-wide data governance, industry leading smart query acceleration powered by AI, automated cloud infrastructure management for multi-cloud and hybrid scenarios, and embedded data preparation capabilities for self-service analytics, to help bridge the gap between IT and business. The Denodo Partner Ecosystem The Denodo Platform is leveraged worldwide. But to achieve this reach, Denodo relies on an extensive partner network that includes leading companies like Accenture, Amazon, and Microsoft. Because the Denodo Platform is so extensible, technology companies, systems integrators, and resellers have found it seamless and powerful to partner with Denodo in providing the Denodo Platform's advanced data virtualization capabilities to a wider breadth of customers, enabling them to gain all of the benefits of real-time data and seamless, zero-downtime modernization activities. Because digital transformations are extensive, involving a company's business practices and culture, Denodo relies on its partners to provide additional value to customers, enabling them to undergo digital transformations that meet their unique business goals. Denodo and the Middle East Currently, Denodo is expanding its footprint in the Middle East, particularly in Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Bahrain, and is actively seeking partners in the areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), analytics, business and technology consulting, software development, systems integration, cloud services, and other related areas. To learn more, potential partner companies are encouraged to view the webinar session on-demand: https://pages.denodo.com/Win-More-Business-with-DataVirtualization.html Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487109/Emiliano_Pierdominici___Denodo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487110/Gabriele_Obino___Denodo.jpg The Hanseatic League was a confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe, which came to dominate trade in the region for three hundred years. A digital platform has now been built which reveals the long-distance trade routes in Northern Europe between 1350 and 1650. The Research Center for Hanse and Baltic History, the Universities of Magdeburg, Aarhus and Nijmegen, and a team from the University of Gottingen worked together to make this possible. The map features historical road routes as well as a location database with more than 10,000 entries. It is published on http://www. viabundus. eu . The project results will be presented in English via Zoom on Monday 19 April 2021 at 16:00; registration at launch@viabundus.eu. The map enables the researchers to calculate routes and travel times for the Hanseatic economic area, to have an overview of market dates and to analyse the accessibility of places as if they were using the historical transport network. In combination with other data, a wide range of questions about economic and transport history can be researched. The team was able to draw on preliminary work from Hanseatic research and maps compiled at the Institute for Regional History at the University of Gottingen. "The result is like an Open Street Map for the Hanseatic period," explains historian Dr Bart Holterman from the Institute for Historical Research at the University of Gottingen, who was instrumental in designing the database. The major transport hubs and links were based on regional routes. The routes for trade also provided routes for pilgrims, the military and those who wanted to travel from villages the nearest town. The map makes it possible for anyone - whether researcher, historian or someone who is just curious - to take a peek at the actual historical routes from long ago and discover places of interest along the way. The researchers have thus created a scientifically reliable basis for the analysis of pre-modern trade. "Then as now, lucrative trade meant bridging great distances. Transport routes played a central role in this," emphasises project coordinator Dr Niels Petersen from the University of Gottingen. "Many people are surprised when they learn that the majority of the Hanseatic cities were inland. These cities depended on transport by carts or canals and rivers to bring their goods long-distance to market. For example, a total of 575 freight wagons loaded with Swedish herring passed through the Eilenburg customs post near Leipzig in 1525. This clearly shows how goods were traded across the continent, how efficient the transport network was and how high the traffic density was on some routes." Customs posts, markets, river and sea ports, bridges and ferries formed stops on the wagons' journeys and are recorded in the database. The team has made all the data freely available under the Commons licence CC BY-SA. The transport network in what is now Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt is currently the most developed. "International connections are the cornerstone of a European map. We are therefore pleased that in a few months our project partners in Denmark and the Netherlands will have completed their work and add another significant piece to the jigsaw puzzle," adds Holterman. ### The project was funded by the state of Lower Saxony in the Pro*Niedersachsen programme and by the Friedrich-Christian-Lesser-Stiftung, Nordhausen. Contact: Dr Niels Petersen University of Gottingen Institut fur Historische Landesforschung Heinrich-Duker-Weg 14, 37073 Gottingen Tel.: +49 (0)551-3924348 niels.petersen@phil.uni-goettingen.de A judge reduced the bail for a mother charged with abandoning her child, but she remained in Bexar County jail Wednesday and her son is still missing. The bail for DLanny Chairez, 20, who was arrested in mid-March, was reduced from $250,000 to $150,000, court records show. If she can make that bail, which would require posting a bond of $15,000, she would have to remain at home except to go to work and wear a GPS monitor. On ExpressNews.com: 'Please return him' - Family pleads for safety of missing San Antonio toddler Her child, 21-month-old James Avi Chairez, hasnt been seen for three months. Family and friends continue to search for the boy and were in front of Main Plaza downtown Wednesday, wearing shirts with a photo of his face and holding up signs describing the missing child. James was last seen Jan. 4 on security video, entering a drug store with his mother in the 7100 block of Marbach Road. Mariesol Gomez, DLanny Chairezs aunt, hasnt seen her great-nephew since Thanksgiving. I dont know where to look for him, Gomez said sadly. How can you keep your normal life going when you have this big rip in your heart? Right before going into work one day last week, Gomez received a call from an unknown number. Heart racing, she answered and heard a prompt from Bexar County jail. It was her niece. The two spoke twice for a total of 17 minutes, Gomez said. DLanny, I want to help you, but youve got to help yourself, Gomez said she told her niece. Youve got to say something. Just tell us where James is, Gomez pleaded. On ExpressNews.com: D'Lanny Chairez, the San Antonio mother missing with her infant son, has been arrested by police Chairez began crying, Gomez said, and told her aunt she cant talk to her about James and that she was already speaking to Gomez against her attorneys advice. Gomez thinks Chairez just wanted her stepdads phone number since his mother had recently died. She also put money in Chairezs jail account so she could make phone calls. Bill Simmons, Chairezs attorney, said he listened to the call and said it was mainly Chairez trying to figure out how the rest of her family was doing. Court records show that when Chairez was first arrested March 16, she refused to tell police her sons whereabouts. Jasmine Anderson, the founder of KJs Angels, which provides resources and serves to help end child abuse, was horrified that the bond was reduced. Why would we let her out of our sight when she cant even produce this child her own child, Anderson said. Simmons said they could attempt to get Chairezs bond lowered again. Simmons was also skeptical of Chairezs family going to the media. Nothing that youre hearing from her family is accurate ... Everything they say is purely speculative, he said. I can understand their concerns; we share those concerns, Simmons continued, but hopes that the idea of innocent until proven guilty isnt lost. Simmons also assured that there is an extremely comprehensive investigation being conducted regarding the case. Chairez is currently scheduled for an examining trial on April 22. There, the prosecution will introduce evidence, and the judge will determine whether there is probable cause to hold Chairez for the offense. Anyone with information regarding James whereabouts can call SAPDs Special Victims Unit at 210-207-4093 or 210-207-2325. Callers can remain anonymous. liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway Jobless rates fall in the Tri-State; labor force numbers down, too Area unemployment rates fell during April, with some diving to less than half of what they were during the pandemic-related slowdown. A new report details Gov. Andrew Cuomos career in politics from a failed run for governor in 2002 to his rise as New Yorks most powerful politician as he faces several scandals. The New York Times published Andrew Cuomos White Knuckle Ride Tuesday, featuring interviews with dozens of aides, political allies and elected officials who worked with him. Hes painted as a politically calculating bully who allegedly compared himself to the impulsive, violent son in The Godfather. I loom over that table, Cuomo said, according to a former associate. In their minds, Im Sonny Corleone and Im capable of anything. A spokesman told the Times that Cuomo never uses Godfather references, calling it an anti-Italian, bigoted, false, defamatory statement. He similarly objected to Godfather comparisons last year after his younger brother, CNNs Chris Cuomo, was referred to as Fredo (Sonnys younger brother in the 1972 film), which the Cuomo Prime Time host said was like the N-word to Italians and Italian-Americans. Gov. Andrew Cuomo did, however, publicly compare himself and Dr. Anthony Fauci to The Godfather co-stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in December. The article also featured comments from former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, who was previously an aide to Cuomos father Gov. Mario Cuomo. Miner said many Mario Cuomo aides privately referred to Andrew as the prince of darkness, a nickname for Satan famously used in John Miltons Paradise Lost. Miner also recalled a weird apology from Cuomo when he ran for New York State Attorney General in 2006. He acted like we were old friends and apologized to me for anything he had done that had offended me, Miner told the Times. And I remember thinking, This is weird because I dont think he could pick me out of a lineup. It was just a blanket apology. A spokesman for Cuomo denied the conversation happened. Miner, who served as Syracuse mayor from 2010 to 2018, also addressed Cuomos alleged misconduct, including multiple women who have accused him of sexual harassment and criticism over his handling of data on Covid-19 deaths in state nursing homes. It is an outgrowth of his obsession with power for powers sake, Miner told the publication. What happens when somebody has that level of power and there are no checks? Its corrupting in all ways. Read the full story at The New York Times. The 3D computer vision company expands the availability of its breakthrough perception software in the APAC region ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seoul Robotics , the 3D computer vision company using AI and machine learning to power the future of mobility, today announces a distribution partnership with Macnica , a global leader in supplying semiconductor, electronic components, network equipment, software products, and various services to customers worldwide in the electronics and enterprise IT markets. This partnership will enable Macnicas customers throughout Japan to build and deploy LiDAR-based perception solutions utilizing Seoul Robotics proprietary perception software, SENSR. Throughout the Japanese market, there is growing demand for 3D sensor solutions that create safer and more efficient business practices. The pain point for many companies looking to deploy these technologies is the lack of resources to build their own cloud-based perception algorithms. Seoul Robotics first-of-its-kind perception software, SENSR, solves this challenge, as the technology is sensor-agnostic and compatible with more than 70 different types of models and 3D sensors, and supports a range of functions from basic tracking and monitoring to autonomous mobility. Our SENSR software opens up a realm of new possibilities for companies, as they are able to design solutions and select the 3D sensors that best fit their application needs, said HanBin Lee, CEO of Seoul Robotics. Our partnership with Macnica will help to grow the adoption of LiDAR and 3D sensor technologies first in Japan, and eventually, around the world, as we work together to bring greater insights to their customers. Macnica will work directly with its customers to build and deploy LiDAR and 3D sensor-based solutions across a range of industries including smart cities, retail, and security. The distributor is also working with some of the worlds largest OEMs as well as customers within construction and rail service to implement and accelerate the adoption of autonomous mobility solutions. Partners will be able to utilize SENSR, which uses machine learning to analyze and understand 3D sensor data with extreme accuracy, for multiple applications including ADAS, automated driving, V2X communication, traffic safety, retail analytics, pedestrian safety, and more. The flexibility that Seoul Robotics brings to our partners is key. Their technology gives our customers the opportunity to build truly custom solutions and find, or change, which sensors they are using based on application, said Atsushi Sato, Executive Officer from Macnica Fuji Electronics Holding, Inc. Partnering with Seoul Robotics allows us to offer even greater value to our customers, simplifying the process of bringing together sensor technology and perception algorithms. This partnership comes as Seoul Robotics is rapidly expanding throughout the APAC region. Last month the company also announced a partnership to mass-produce LiDAR and imaging radar products with Mando, the global Tier-1 OE automotive parts manufacturer to carmakers like Hyundai and KIA Motors. To learn more about Seoul Robotics or SENSR or if you are looking to join the companys growing team, visit https://www.seoulrobotics.org/ . About Seoul Robotics Seoul Robotics is a 3D computer vision company building a perception platform that uses AI and machine learning to power the future of mobility. Founded in 2017, Seoul Robotics has partnered with OEMs, system integrators, and government agencies around the world to diversify the use of 3D data. The company has developed its own proprietary software, which is compatible with nearly all commercially available LiDAR and 3D data sensors, to increase accuracy, efficiency and ensure safety across a range of industries and applications. Seoul Robotics has offices in Seoul, Silicon Valley, Munich, and Detroit and is backed by leading global financial institutions. For more information, visit http://www.seoulrobotics.org/ . About Macnica Since it was established in 1972, Macnica has provided leading-edge semiconductors, electronic devices, networks and cyber security products with high value-added technology. More recently, Macnica has been actively developing new businesses in the fields of AI, IoT, automated driving and robotics, based on its strength in global sourcing and strategic planning for world-leading technologies. With its slogan "Co.Tomorrowing", Macnica connects leading-edge technologies with Macnica intelligence to provide unique services and solutions, creating social value and contributing to the betterment of future societies. Headquartered in Yokohama, Macnicas global business spans 24 countries and 84 locations worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.macnica.co.jp/en/. Christian universities are fighting a lawsuit filed by an LGBT legal group, which seeks to strip federal financial aid from college students for attending faith-based universities that espouse biblical beliefs on marriage, gender and sexuality. The Oregon-based Religious Exemption Accountability Project, an LGBT activist organization, filed a federal lawsuit on March 29 against the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of 33 LGBT former and current students who felt discriminated against on 25 faith-based campuses across the country. The lawsuit wants to remove the Title IX religious exemption to restrict students at faith-based institutions that adhere to traditional sexuality and gender beliefs from receiving tuition grants, student loans and any form of federal financial assistance. Alliance Defending Freedom, a national religious liberty advocacy legal group, filed a motion last Friday to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of college students at Corban University in Oregon, William Jessup University in California and Phoenix Seminary in Arizona. ADF contends that the demands of the lawsuit threaten the federally-protected rights of religious post-secondary institutions. Source:The Christian Post People gather near the White House to call on the U.S. government to respond to China's alleged abuses of a Muslim ethnic minority called the Uighurs, near the White House in Washington, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Leah Millis) A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators on Tuesday introduced a bill to expedite refugee applications from Uighurs, matching an effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to assist members of the largely Muslim ethnic group that advocates say face persecution in China. Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Senator Chris Coons put forward the "Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act," which would grant Priority 2 refugee status to Uighurs and other groups, including Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, who have faced repression in or fled from China's Xinjiang region. Advertisement Priority 2 status would allow hundreds, or possibly thousands, of Uighurs to forgo a United Nations referral and apply directly as refugees to the U.S. government, reducing concerns that Beijing could be notified by a third country and seek their deportation back to China. China denies abuses, but the United States has declared that Beijing is perpetrating a genocide. "The United States must continue to speak out against the PRC's human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and we must also provide assurance and protection for the Uyghurs and all those facing persecution as a result of their religious or ethnic identity," Coons said in a statement referring to the People's Republic of China, the country's formal name. The Senate bill, complementing a House version put forward in March, has Republicans and Democrats increasingly optimistic that the refugee upgrade could become law, even as the U.S. Congress forges ahead with a sweeping package of other legislation to counter China's influence. "From a substantive perspective, the end game here is extremely similar," one Senate aide comparing the Senate and House bills, told Reuters. "We see this as an area of easy bipartisan support," he said. U.N. experts and human rights groups estimate that more than one million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in harsh conditions in Xinjiang as part of what Beijing calls a vocational training campaign to battle terrorism. The bill also encourages U.S. partners and allies to make refugee accommodations for Uighurs. Police in Vietnam on Tuesday announced that they had busted a massive drug-trafficking ring from Cambodia. The Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with other agencies arrested Diep Trong Hieu, 33, and Tang Minh Tri, 35, from Ho Chi Minh City for illegal drug trading, and seized five grams of synthetic drugs at around 7:30 pm on April 4, according to their information. After searching Hieus house, officers confiscated nearly 100 grams of meth. Police officers also made an urgent search of the residences of other suspects and arrested Phan Thi Thanh Nhan, 31, at Yen Trang Hotel, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City while she was allegedly delivering drugs. Following Nhan's testimony, investigators searched a warehouse on Lac Long Quan Street, Ward 5, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City, and found 49 heroin cakes, 13 kilograms of stone narcotics, eight kilograms of synthetic drugs in the form of ketamine, 11,000 pills of ecstasy, 1,000 bottles of water-based drugs, 5,000 packages of powdered drugs, and many related exhibits. Expanding the investigation, officers also apprehended Nguyen Van Thinh, 28, from Ho Chi Minh City, who was a suspect allegedly involved in this drug-trafficking. According to the probe, they purchased the number of narcotics from Cambodia and resold them to local drug users. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! New research by University of Texas at Dallas scientists could help solve a major challenge in the deployment of certain COVID-19 vaccines worldwide -- the need for the vaccines to be kept at below-freezing temperatures during transport and storage. In a study published online April 13 in Nature Communications, the researchers demonstrate a new, inexpensive technique that generates crystalline exoskeletons around delicate liposomes and other lipid nanoparticles and stabilizes them at room temperature for an extended period -- up to two months -- in their proof-of-concept experiments. The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines use lipid nanoparticles -- basically spheres of fat molecules -- to protect and deliver the messenger RNA that generates a vaccine recipient's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. "The expense of keeping these vaccines very cold from the time they're made to the time they're delivered is a challenge that needs to be addressed, especially because many countries don't have sufficient infrastructure to maintain this kind of cold chain," said Dr. Jeremiah Gassensmith, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and of bioengineering at UT Dallas and a corresponding author of the study. "Although we did not include in this work the specific lipid nanoparticles used in current COVID-19 vaccines, our findings are a step toward stabilizing a lipid nanoparticle in a way that's never been done before, so far as we know." The idea for the research project began during a coffee-break discussion between Gassensmith and Dr. Gabriele Meloni, a corresponding co-author of the study and assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UT Dallas. Gassensmith's area of expertise is biomaterials and metal-organic frameworks, while Meloni's research focus is transmembrane transporter proteins. These proteins reside within cell membranes and are crucial for moving a variety of small molecules, including ions and trace metals, in and out of cells for several purposes. "Membrane proteins sit in a cell membrane, which is a lipid bilayer," Meloni said. "To study their structure and biophysical and biochemical properties, we must extract these proteins from the membrane using detergents and then reconstitute them back into an artificial membrane -- a proteoliposome -- that mimics the proteins' natural environment." Shell Creation Lipid nanoparticles and liposomes are similar in structure, and neither are thermodynamically stable at room temperature, Gassensmith said. The lipid structures can fuse or aggregate, exposing any embedded membrane proteins or cargo to degradation. "One of the challenges in my field of research is that both membrane proteins and lipid bilayers are very delicate and intrinsically metastable, and we're trying to combine them in order to understand how these proteins function," Meloni said. "We have to handle them carefully and prepare them fresh each time. They cannot be stored for long periods and are not easily shipped to colleagues in other labs." The researchers joined forces to develop a methodology to stabilize this kind of lipid system and demonstrated their results using transmembrane proteins from Meloni's lab as a case study. They mixed liposomes -- some with embedded proteins, some without -- with a combination of two inexpensive chemicals, zinc acetate and methylimidazole, in a buffer solution. In about a minute, a crystal matrix began to form around individual liposomes. "We think that the lipids interact with the zinc just strongly enough to form an initial zinc-methylimidazole structure that then grows around the lipid sphere and completely envelops it, like an exoskeleton," Gassensmith said. "It's analogous to biomineralization, which is how certain animals form shells. We sort of co-opted nature in creating this totally fake shell, where the biomacromolecules -- the lipids and proteins -- catalyze the growth of this exoskeleton." The ability of biomimetic shells to form around biological molecules is not new, Gassensmith said, but the process hasn't worked well with lipids or liposomes because the metal salts that comprise the shell material suck water out of the liposomes by osmosis and cause them to explode. "One of the keys to this research was identifying the buffer solution in which everything resides," Gassensmith said. Building a Buffer Three graduate students collaborated on the project to develop the unique buffer medium that allows the reaction to occur. "The buffer medium maintains the ionic strength of the solution and keeps the pH stable so that when you add a huge amount of metal salts, it doesn't osmotically shock the system," said Fabian Castro BS'18, a chemistry doctoral student in Gassensmith's lab and a lead author of the study. Castro and co-lead authors Sameera Abeyrathna and Nisansala Abeyrathna, chemistry doctoral students (and siblings) in Meloni's lab, worked together to develop the buffer formulation. Once the biomolecules have grown a shell, they are locked in, and the lipids remain stable. While the exoskeleton is very stable, it has a fortuitous Achilles' heel. "The shell will dissolve if it encounters something that is attracted to zinc," Gassensmith said. "So, to release and reconstitute the liposomes, we used a zinc chelating factor called EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), which is a common, inexpensive food additive and medicine used to treat lead poisoning." In addition to the laboratory experiments, in another proof-of concept exercise, Gassensmith mailed through the U.S. Postal Service a sample of the stabilized lipid particles to his mother in Rhode Island. She shipped them back to Texas, but because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of most UT Dallas research labs in 2020, the samples sat untouched for about two months until the graduate students returned to campus to examine them. Although the informal experiment lasted much longer than the researchers had expected, the samples survived and functioned "just fine," Gassensmith said. "This project required two different types of expertise -- my group's expertise in membrane transport proteins and Dr. Gassensmith's long track record working with metal-organic frameworks," Meloni said. "Our success clearly demonstrates how such collaborative research can bring about novel and useful results." ### Other UT Dallas authors of the study in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry include Dr. Ron Smaldone, associate professor; doctoral students Yalini Wijesundara, Olivia Brohlin, Alejandra Durand Silva and Shashini Diwakara; and Michael Luzuriaga PhD'20. Researchers from Graz University of Technology in Austria also contributed to the work. The research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (R35GM128704), The Welch Foundation, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, the UT Dallas Office of Research's Seed Program for Interdisciplinary Research, the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology, the European Union's Horizon 2020 Program, and the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium. ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, today announced that Scott Aaronson has been named the recipient of the 2020 ACM Prize in Computing for groundbreaking contributions to quantum computing. Aaronson is the David J. Bruton Jr. Centennial Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. The goal of quantum computing is to harness the laws of quantum physics to build devices that can solve problems that classical computers either cannot solve, or not solve in any reasonable amount of time. Aaronson showed how results from computational complexity theory can provide new insights into the laws of quantum physics, and brought clarity to what quantum computers will, and will not, be able to do. Aaronson helped develop the concept of quantum supremacy, which denotes the milestone that is achieved when a quantum device can solve a problem that no classical computer can solve in a reasonable amount of time. Aaronson established many of the theoretical foundations of quantum supremacy experiments. Such experiments allow scientists to give convincing evidence that quantum computers provide exponential speedups without having to first build a full fault-tolerant quantum computer. The ACM Prize in Computing recognizes early-to-mid-career computer scientists whose research contributions have fundamental impact and broad implications. The award carries a prize of $250,000, from an endowment provided by Infosys Ltd. "Few areas of technology have as much potential as quantum computation," said ACM President Gabriele Kotsis. "Despite being at a relatively early stage in his career, Scott Aaronson is esteemed by his colleagues for the breadth and depth of his contributions. He has helped guide the development of this new field, while clarifying its possibilities as a leading educator and superb communicator. Importantly, his contributions have not been confined to quantum computation, but have had significant impact in areas such as computational complexity theory and physics." Notable Contributions Boson Sampling: In the paper "The Computational Complexity of Linear Optics," Aaronson and co-author Alex Arkhipov gave evidence that rudimentary quantum computers built entirely out of linear-optical elements cannot be efficiently simulated by classical computers. Aaronson has since explored how quantum supremacy experiments could deliver a key application of quantum computing, namely the generation of cryptographically random bits. Fundamental Limits of Quantum Computers: In his 2002 paper "Quantum lower bound for the collision problem," Aaronson proved the quantum lower bound for the collision problem, which was a major open problem for years. This work bounds the minimum time for a quantum computer to find collisions in many-to-one functions, giving evidence that a basic building block of cryptography will remain secure for quantum computers. Classical Complexity Theory: Aaronson is well-known for his work on "algebrization," a technique he invented with Avi Wigderson to understand the limits of algebraic techniques for separating and collapsing complexity classes. Making Quantum Computing Accessible: Beyond his technical contributions, Aaronson is credited with making quantum computing understandable to a wide audience. Through his many efforts, he has become recognized as a leading spokesperson for the field. He maintains a popular blog, Shtetl Optimized, where he explains timely and exciting topics in quantum computing in a simple and effective way. His posts, which range from fundamental theory questions to debates about current quantum devices, are widely read and trigger many interesting discussions. Aaronson also authored Quantum Computing Since Democritus, a respected book on quantum computing, written several articles for a popular science audience, and presented TED Talks to dispel misconceptions and provide the public with a more accurate overview of the field. "Infosys is proud to fund the ACM Prize in Computing and we congratulate Scott Aaronson on being this year's recipient," said Pravin Rao, COO of Infosys. "When the effort to build quantum computation devices was first seriously explored in the 1990s, some labeled it as science fiction. While the realization of a fully functional quantum computer may still be in the future, this is certainly not science fiction. The successful quantum hardware experiments by Google and others have been a marvel to many who are following these developments. Scott Aaronson has been a leading figure in this area of research and his contributions will continue to focus and guide the field as it reaches its remarkable potential." ### Biographical Background Scott Aaronson is the David J. Bruton Jr. Centennial Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. His primary area of research is theoretical computer science, and his research interests center around the capabilities and limits of quantum computers, and computational complexity theory more generally. A graduate of Cornell University, Aaronson earned a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. His honors include the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics (2018), a Simons Investigator Award (2017), and the Alan T. Waterman Award of the National Science Foundation (2012). About the ACM Prize in Computing The ACM Prize in Computing recognizes an early to mid-career fundamental innovative contribution in computing that, through its depth, impact and broad implications, exemplifies the greatest achievements in the discipline. The award carries a prize of $250,000. Financial support is provided by an endowment from Infosys Ltd. The ACM Prize in Computing was previously known as the ACM-Infosys Foundation Award in the Computing Sciences from 2007 through 2015. ACM Prize recipients are invited to participate in the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, an annual networking event that brings together young researchers from around the world with recipients of the ACM A.M. Turing Award, the Abel Prize, the Fields Medal, and the Nevanlinna Prize. About ACM ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting computing educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking. About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Greece plans to lift quarantine restrictions from next week for travellers from the UK, European Union and four other countries who have been vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19, a senior government official said on Wednesday. Last month, the country lifted a one-week quarantine rule for Israeli travellers who have been inoculated and test negative. However, Brits will not be able to take advantage of the easing until at least May 17, when restrictions on international travel are set to be lifted according to the government roadmap. Greece plans to lift quarantine restrictions from next week for travellers from the European Union and five other countries who have been vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 Greece, which emerged from a decade-long financial crisis before the pandemic last year, has said it will open its tourism sector, a key growth driver for its economy, from the middle of May. 'We will gradually lift the restrictions at the beginning of next week ahead of the opening on May 14,' a senior tourism ministry official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The official said citizens from the European Union, the United States, Britain, Serbia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be allowed to travel to Greece via the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu, and two border crossings. Passengers from those countries will not be quarantined, as long as they prove that they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or show a negative PCR test carried out 72 hours prior to their arrival. Tourists will still be subject to domestic lockdown restrictions under this new easing, the official added. Brits will not be able to take advantage of the easing until at least May 17, when restrictions on international travel are set to be lifted according to the government roadmap Passengers from exempt countries will not be quarantined, as long as they prove that they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or show a negative PCR test carried out 72 hours prior to their arrival Under current rules, all foreigners arriving in Greece should test negative and quarantine for seven days. For passengers from Britain and the United Arab Emirates, a second mandatory test is also required upon their arrival. The announcement comes as Brussels has said it wants vaccine passports, or Digital Green Certificates, to be rolled out across the EU by June 21. European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders told MEPs on Tuesday vaccine passport trials should be launched in all countries in the bloc between now and early June. He said: 'The commission is working very hard to ensure large vaccination coverage of the European population to prevent discrimination of individuals who are not yet vaccinated, 'The proposal regulates not only the insurance verification and acceptance of an interoperable vaccination certificate but also a test certificate and certificate for a person who has recovered from COVID-19.' The European Commission in Brussels has said it wants vaccine passports, or Digital Green Certificates, to be rolled out across the EU by June 21 The European Commission had wanted the vaccine passport scheme fully operational by late May to help states that rely on tourism, such as Greece and Spain, bounce back from the pandemic. It appears that target has now been scrapped in favour of the later date. Vaccine passport proposals have been widely criticised for their potential to discriminate against people who cannot, or do not want to, be inoculated. The UK is set to roll out pilot schemes later this month. Greece has fared better than other EU countries in containing the first wave of the pandemic but a resurgence in COVID-19 infections has forced the country to impose lockdown restrictions since November. Greece has reported a total of 301,103 cases and 9,054 deaths so far. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After decades of giving back to the community to which the company owes its success, Casandra Properties, Inc. is officially formalizing its community outreach program. Associate Broker Celia Iervasi has been appointed Manager of Community Affairs and will be handling all community outreach inquiries for the company moving forward. Celia Iervasi appointed Manager of Community Affairs Not only has Celia Iervasi served as an exemplary Associate Broker for Casandra Properties for more than a decade, she has an extensive history of volunteer service to her Staten Island community that has been recognized by both New York City and New York State Legislature. Enormously qualified for this appointment, Celia Iervasi has cultivated various relationships with not-for-profits and other local businesses and organizations here on the Island. She is well recognized and regarded for her professionalism, dedication and integrity both in the real estate industry and throughout the Staten Island community. Celia Iervasi is presently active and involved with the following organizations: President of the Verrazano Kiwanis Club Vice President of the Ralph J. Sansone Foundation Carl V. Bini Foundation NorthWell Health Patient Partnership Board Member of YMCA Counseling Center of Staten Island Community Board 3 Land Use Committee Most recently, Celia has been involved with raising funds through the Verrazano Kiwanis for 'Giving Kids with Cancer a Fighting Chance' - in an effort to build a new Pediatric Cancer Unit at NorthWell Health/Staten Island University Hospital. For more information on Casandra Properties, Inc.'s community outreach program, please contact: Celia Iervasi - email: [email protected] Casandra Properties, Inc. is a City and State certified WBE (Woman-Owned Business Enterprise). Related Images celia-iervasi-casandra-properties.jpg Celia Iervasi Casandra Properties, Inc. Celia Iervasi appointed Manager of Community Affairs SOURCE Casandra Properties, Inc. For 200 days, Dr. Bindi J. Naik-Mathuria thought her patient, Sir Romeo Milam, might die. Sir Romeo was 5 years old when he was struck by a stray bullet from a gunfight outside his Sunnyside apartment while watching television with his mother and grandmother in 2018. Naik-Mathuria, trauma director at Texas Childrens Hospital, said he had a spinal cord injury caused by the bullet entering his body at a dangerous angle. Movies and television show bullet holes as just that a hole, but that entry point is just the tip of the iceberg, said Naik-Mathuria, a former member of the Mayors Commission on Gun Violence. With bullets, there is a blast effect. One bullet can affect multiple organs and vessels, she said. We dont hear about the ones that dont die theyre often paralyzed or have lifelong pain, need an ostomy or have disabilities. For the first time in nearly 25 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is funding gun violence research. Naik-Mathuria and 17 other researchers and doctors received grants for two- and three-year long research projects. On HoustonChronicle.com: Is ammo the new toilet paper? Shortage has shelves bare, buyers lining up before stores open Naik-Mathurias project, Understanding the Epidemiology of Firearm Injuries in a Large Urban County: A Guide for Targeted Intervention Efforts, will examine gun violence as if its a disease. She was granted $342,190 for the two-year project, which will integrate data from trauma centers, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences and the Houston Police Department to study risk factors at the individual and neighborhood levels. If we understand why its happening, where and who its happening to, we can understand ways to treat or fix it like its a disease, Naik-Mathuria said. All the statistics for firearm violence are related to deaths, but there are three times more people that are shot who dont die. Earlier this month, the Biden administration released six initial actions to help curb gun violence while it waits for Congress to vote on two bills to close loopholes in the background check system. The initial actions include evidence-based community violence interventions, including a $5 billion investment over eight years to support them. According to the administration, a key part of community violence intervention must be connecting individuals with job training and jobs. Howard Henderson, director of Texas Southern Universitys Center for Justice Research, called the White Houses initial actions a good attempt to delve into why gun violence continues to affect minority communities more than white communities. The Center for Justice Research has recently launched a project examining the motivations behind why young Black men pick up guns. We needed someone to do that from that level, and Biden took the opportunity to do that, Henderson said. Hopefully, the politics wont take over, as it oftentimes does, and they can deal with this public health issue in a nonpartisan way. It doesnt make any sense for us to live in one of the freest democracies in the world to have gun violence so rampant in certain communities. Determinants of gun violence Gun violence is a public health problem that will benefit from a public health approach and solution, Naik-Mathuria said. Still in the early stages, the project will break down data from HPD and Harris County by shooting type, neighborhood, race, ethnicity and age, along with other factors. If we know more specifics, we will be able to target these populations with interventions, she said. Sir Romeos immediate family no longer lives in the Sunnyside apartment complex where he was shot. His mother, Shacherra Milam, said shes glad to be away from the area. On RenewHouston.com: As deaths by suicide continue to rise, mental health workers worry about the 2020 effect When you just have the money to stay in certain areas, thats all you can afford, Milam said. The gates broken, and we dont know what theyre doing about security. There was a shootout in front of it not long ago. Nearly two years, and several surgeries later, now-7-year-old Sir Romeo walks with a limp but has made an incredible recovery, Naik-Mathuria said. Some days, he is the reason she goes to work. Her research will work to identify risk factors for each kind of shooting: homicide, intentional, accidental, suicide and suicide attempts. Data from Houstons highest-level trauma centers, morgues and police records will help Naik-Mathurias team create a key map of gun violence in the states largest county. Saving kids like (Sir Romeo) is why we do what we do, Naik-Mathuria said. This is not about gun control its about gun safety and injury prevention. Leave the politics to the politicians; our job is saving lives and lifetimes. Houston as a template Until lawmakers understand why people pick up a gun in the first place, they wont be able to curb gun violence, said Henderson. Texas Southern University is researching why young Black and urban youth ages 15-24 carry guns. The center announced in December that it was one of several universities to join a $1 million Thurgood Marshall College Fund grant project funded by the National Gun Violence Research Center. TSU will receive $243,000 to study Houston, which is one of four research sites. We recognize that we know a lot about the research in terms of who is involved in violent behavior, but we dont know why these individuals would participate in violent behavior, Henderson said. We want to understand from these kids perspectives what made them pick up a gun. If we understand that piece, we have a better chance of building programs to prevent that from happening. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas Childrens has diagnosed more than 10K cases of COVID in kids. Heres what you need to know. The study will work to determine trigger points for young Black men between the ages of 15 and 24 by asking why they possess guns and their views on them. The other study sites include Coppin State University in Baltimore, Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., and Delaware State University in Wilmington. The two-year, two-phase project will first look at local gun-death statistics and how they relate to state and federal gun laws, Henderson said. The first phase will analyze existing data, and the second will include interviews with young men from various Houston neighborhoods. Were trying to use the local analysis as our framework. With national averages (on gun statistics), it limits the ability to look at the community, Henderson said. If we dont know what and why its happening, we wont know how to solve the problem. Initial research will delve into hot spots for gun-related crime, including Sunnyside, Fifth Ward and Alief, Henderson said. He added that the project will examine a fair cross-section of the city. Houston has already seen more than 100 homicides in 2021, a fast follow-up to last years 400 murders in the city. It is a 37 percent increase from the same time last year, according to preliminary statistics from the Houston Police Department. Naik-Mathurias research will look back at three years of data. She noted Harris Countys large size and diverse population make it a good template to examine both urban and suburban gun violence. The next step is what to do with the data you have, she said. There will be interviews, working with leadership in neighborhoods to improve those areas and create more access to mental health assistance. We must target things based on what we find. Staff writer Nicole Hensley contributed to this story. julie.garcia@chron.com twitter.com/reporterjulie New Delhi: The central government on Wednesday (April 14) took a major decision to cancel the Class 10 board exams and postpone Class 12 board exams conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Several state boards such as the Madhya Pradesh board have also postponed the exams. Following these developments, the students of Council For The Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) are looking up to the authorities to make an announcement on similar lines. The decisions to cancel or postpone the exams are being taken in view of the COVID-19 surge across the country and students of all boards would be equally vulnerable to the infection. In such a scenario, several students and parents have requested the CISCE board to cancel or postpone ICSE exams for Class 10 and ISC exams for Class 12. According to the present schedule, ICSE exams will begin on May 4 and continue till June 7, whereas ISC exams will begin on April 8 and conclude on June 18. Considering that the largest educational board of the country has taken such a huge decision, it wouldnt be surprising if other boards such as CISCE make similar announcements. Live TV A news release from police said officers tried to conduct an investigatory stop in the 5900 block of West Cornelia Avenue in Portage Park, about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. Police said they made the traffic stop because the driver allegedly was wanted on several prior incidents, but a spokeswoman for police said she did not have access to details about those incidents or whether Birman had active warrants for his arrest. A Queensland judge has described legal action launched by two of billionaire Clive Palmers companies against liquidators who took over his failed Queensland Nickel refiner as hopeless and a beat-up. The lawyers for the two Palmer businesses withdrew their own court application after an original case, which they relied upon succeeding, was dismissed by the Supreme Court in September 2020. Clive Palmer pictured in November 2020. Credit:Attila Csaszar While Mr Palmer himself was not listed as a party to the latest failed application, it was launched in the courts by two of his companies, QNI Metals Pty Ltd and QNI Resources Pty Ltd. Both companies were part of the QN Group, which operated the liquidated Queensland Nickel refinery, located near Townsville in north Queensland. MCLEAN, Va., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States House of Representatives today passed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research (FASTER) Act (S. 578), a critical piece of legislation requiring that sesame be labeled on packaged foods and prioritizing food allergy research. This legislation will benefit the 85 million Americans who are affected by food allergies or intolerances, of which 32 million suffer from a potentially life-threatening condition. Last month, FARE hosted its Courage at Congress virtual fly-in where 500 food allergy champions met with more than 200 members of the House, Senate and their staff to push for passage of the bill. "There is nothing more important to the food allergy community than ensuring that the FASTER Act is put into law," said Lisa Gable, chief executive officer of FARE. "On behalf of the nearly 1.6 million Americans who are allergic to sesame, I thank Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-6) and Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) for championing this critical piece of bipartisan legislation and now look forward to President Biden signing it into law." The FASTER Act has been the highest legislative priority for FARE, the world's leading non-governmental organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Today's action follows the Senate's passage of the bill on March 3, 2021. The FASTER Act would require that sesame be labeled as an allergen on packaged foods. Sesame would become the ninth food allergen for which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires plain-language labeling. Sesame is often used when a label reads "natural flavors" or "natural spices," adding another layer of difficulty when consumers review product labels at their local grocery store. This is the first time since 2006 that a new allergen has been added to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). "Today is a testament to the hard work of thousands of food allergy advocates who sent emails, made calls, and visited members of Congress and staff to build support and make sesame the ninth allergen to be labeled under law," said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. "The outpouring of support was incredible, and I'd like to thank Lisa Gable and everyone at FARE for their hard work mobilizing this dedicated, resilient community. The FASTER Act will truly make a difference for those living with potentially life-threatening food allergies and we are proud that it will now be signed into law." The FASTER Act would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a report on scientific opportunities in food allergy research that examines prevention, treatment and new cures. In addition, the legislation establishes a risk-based scientific process and framework for establishing additional allergens covered by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. "Today, I was proud to see the FASTER Act pass the House," said Congressman Patrick McHenry. "This bill provides a much-needed update to allergen labeling laws to include sesame, which affects the over 1.5 million people allergic to sesame. Additionally, the bill will enable us to better treat the millions of Americans that suffer from life-threatening food allergies by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regularly review promising food allergy treatments and research." "Today is a life-changing and life-affirming day for our family and for the families of the nearly 1.6 million Americans allergic to sesame," said Talia Day, a food allergy advocate with two children who are allergic to sesame. "With today's passage and hopefully President Biden's signature, no longer will I have to live in fear that my children could accidentally eat something that would kill them simply because it was not included on a food label. I thank Senators Scott and Murphy, Representatives Matsui and McHenry, FARE, and the thousands of food allergy advocates who helped make today possible and created a better future for the more than 32 million Americans living with potentially life-threatening food allergies." For more information on the importance of the FASTER Act, please visit foodallergy.org/FASTER. About FARE FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the world's leading non-governmental organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Our mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. FARE is transforming the future of food allergy through innovative initiatives that will lead to increased awareness, new and improved treatments and prevention strategies, effective policies and legislation and novel approaches to managing the disease. To learn more about FARE, visit our Living Teal YouTube channel , or www.foodallergy.org . SOURCE Food Allergy Research & Education Related Links http://www.foodallergy.org The Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna requested on Wednesday an emergency coalition meeting in order to discuss the withdrawal of confidence in Prime Minister Florin Citu. "We are requesting an emergency coalition meeting in order to have a responsible dialogue with (PNL's chairman) Ludovic Orban and (UDMR's chairman) Kelemen Hunor, to discuss the withdrawal of confidence in Prime Minister Florin Citu," Barna declared, in Parliament, agerpres.ro confirms. "We are requesting an emergency meeting, today or tomorrow at the latest (...) to discuss the solution through which USR (Save Romania Union) PLUS (Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity) wishes to keep responsibility alongside PNL (National Liberal Party) and UDMR (Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania), (...) regarding what Romania means after the crisis and what a Romania that is starting to get better might mean. The fact that we have been sitting around for weeks for a political ballet, without seeing support from the Prime Minister, is a very dramatic problem which we mean to clarify within the coalition. And I am saying that because reproaches are being addressed to Vlad Voiculescu which he never had under control," Barna said. He criticized the way the anti-COVID vaccination campaign developed, reminding that this is under the direct coordination of Prime Minister Florin Citu. "The vaccination campaign is decided by the Prime Minister of the Romanian Government and the fact that we are placed among the last, 25 out of 27, at EU level, given that we started very well and we were among the top during the first days shows neither performance nor strategic wisdom. But, from this perspective, a discussion within the coalition is very important," Dan Barna said. The Deputy Prime Minister said that revoking the Minister of Health, Vlad Voiculescu, is a "unilateral decision", "politically immature", which "raises questions" regarding Prime Minister Florin Citu's ability to run a "functional coalition" during this period. According to him, revoking Vlad Voiculescu is a decision which throws the governing coalition into a "major" crisis. "It is a decision by which, as of this moment, Prime Minister Florin Citu no longer has the support of the USR PLUS Alliance. Vlad Voiculescu, since day one, started a fight with the corrupt and tick-infested health system, a very complex battle, and I saw the very vehement and harsh reactions and the media lynching which targeted him in the last weeks. The transparency of the act of governing, carrying out procedures for building new hospitals, contests at the Health Houses are all actions taken at the Ministry of Health which hit a very large blockage," Barna also said. The Deputy Prime Minister added that the announcement on Wednesday morning, according to which he would follow to take on the interim at the Ministry of Health, was also "a unilateral decision", taken without being asked, him or USR PLUS. "It is a decision which again confirms immaturity and lack of political wisdom. I discussed with the president of Romania and we will find a solution", he indicated. Dan Barna mentioned that the Prime Minister has the right to evaluate the ministers' performance, but revoking Voiculescu "is based on no evaluation". A U.S. Army sergeant first class is currently under investigation after shocking video showed him berating and pushing a young black man he did not believed lived in their South Carolina neighborhood. Jonathan Pentland, 42, was quickly identified after the Monday video went viral showing his altercation with the young man at the Lakes at Barony Place - a gated community in Richland County located in the Summit neighborhood. Photos show that Pentland has been a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson in South Carolina since at least 2019. Fort Jackson Commanding General Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle, Jr, took to Twitter to announce that the video would be investigated. 'This is by no means condoned by any service member,' he said on Twitter. 'We will get to the bottom of this ASAP.' In a statement to Dailymail.com, a spokesperson for the base said Fort Jackson was working with local authorities on the matter, adding that 'this type of behavior is not consistent with our Army Values and will not be condoned.' 'The soldier in the video is stationed at Fort Jackson and Richland County Sheriff's Department have confirmed that he has been charged,' the statement reads. 'The U.S. Department of Justice is also looking into the incident.' 'The leaders at Fort Jackson in no way condone the behavior depicted in the video posted recently,' added. Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle, Jr. 'This action deeply impacts our community--the neighbors in the Summit, the city of Columbia, Richland & Lexington counties, and our Army family,' Beagle said. 'I ask that our communities and leaders exercise a degree of patience, affording Sherriff Lott and law enforcement investigators to account for the full measure of events before, during, and after the incident that was recorded.' The three-minute clip shows Pentland repeatedly scream at the young man - identified only as Deandre - to 'go away now.' Cassie Pentland, his wife, can also be heard shouting at the black man and telling him police have already been called when he tells them to alert authorities. Scroll down for video Jonathan Pentland, 42, was quickly identified after the Monday video went viral showing his altercation in the Summit neighborhood of South Carolina Pentland pictured in uniform. He is a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson in South Carolina 'This is by no means condoned by any service member,' Commanding General Milford Beagle Jr. said on Twitter. 'We will get to the bottom of this ASAP' 'Maybe you should stick around a little longer and then we won't have to get the report by ourselves,' Cassie tells Deandre. Pentland asks the young man what he is doing in the area, to which Deandre calmly retorts 'walking.' 'That's what I was doing, walking to my house,' he continues. But Pentland dismisses the man's remark, telling Deandre that he has been 'here for 15 minutes now.' He and his wife then tell the young man to walk away, with Pentland suggesting that he can 'help' Deandre walk away. The two continue arguing, with Pentland denying that he has hit Deandre. Deandre clarifies that he was actually pushed. The three-minute clip shows Pentland repeatedly scream at the man - identified only as Deandre - to 'go away now' Cassie Pentland, his wife, can also be heard shouting at the black man and telling him police have already been called when he tells them to alert authorities 'You're aggressing in the neighborhood,' Cassie Pentland claims. 'How am I the aggressor when someone came running up to me,' Deandre responds, turning his attention to the irate wife, who is not seen in footage. But as he turns to talk to the screaming woman, her husband charges at Deandre and roughly pushes him back. 'You better walk away,' Pentland screams at Deandre. 'You are talking to my wife right now.' Deandre, who remains calm throughout the ordeal, tells the sergeant: 'That's your wife, I didn't do nothing to your wife but speak.' The two continue arguing, with Pentland denying that he has hit Deandre. Deandre clarifies that he was actually pushed. As the two engage in tense standoffs, Pentland lodges threats at Deandre if he doesn't move. 'Check it out, you can either walk away or I am going to carry your a*s out,' he says to Deandre. A composed Deandre tells Pentland not to touch him, but the Army sergeant first class scoffs at the notion. Pentland responds: I'm about to do something to you...You're in the wrong neighborhood motherf****r get out.' When Deandre tells the couple he lives in the area, Cassie responds: 'Maybe we should walk you home?' Pentland pushes Deandre as the black man turns to speak to his wife who called him an aggressor Pentland inquiries where the young man lives and claims that Deandre is 'harassing the neighborhood,' to which Deandre reiterates that he lives in the neighborhood. 'Check it out, we are a tight knit community, we take care of each other,' the Army sergeant first class asserts. 'How long have you lived here,' Deandre asks. Pentland responds: 'A lot longer than your a*s because I have never seen you before in my life.' When Deandre repeats his question, the couple grow even more incensed and tell him that it is none of his business. The clip comes to a close with the camerawoman approaching Deandre and getting him away from the couple as Pentland continues making threats towards him 'Check it out motherf****r I am not playing with you,' Pentland tells Deandre, to which the black man responds: 'You smell drunk... You are drunk.' The argument continues for several more volleys as several black women can be seen making their way to the commotion. Cassie mentions that the entire ordeal spawned after Deandre got into a verbal spat with a neighbor of theirs, who seemed to exit the scene as the couple got more involved. The clip comes to a close with the camerawoman approaching Deandre and getting him away from the couple as Pentland continues making threats towards him. Shirell Johnson, one of the black women who came to see the commotion, took to Facebook to share the video after the woman who initially filmed it - identified as Lady Shadae - shared it with her. Shirell Johnson, one of the black women who came to see the commotion, took to Facebook to share the video after the woman who initially filmed it - identified as Lady Shadae - shared it with her In a post online, the Richland County Sheriff's Department said that Sheriff Leon Lott was meeting with politicians and various organizations to discuss the incident Johnson shared that the group of women waited with Deandre until police arrived and 'repeatedly informed the officer' that he was assaulted by Pentland, with the Army sergeant first class knocking his phone out his hand and cracking it. She added: 'The officer told us that his supervisor told him that he could only charge the white guy with malicious injury to property and not assault! Deandre was calm throughout and he had been in that neighborhood-The Lakes @Barony Place walking plenty of times and he lives in the summit! Lots of people walk out there and never any trouble.' In a post online, the Richland County Sheriff's Department said that Sheriff Leon Lott was meeting with politicians and various organizations to discuss the incident. Records indicate that Pentland was promoted to his sergeant first class in March 2020 Prior to his station in South Carolina, Pentland was stationed at Fort Drum in New York as part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). He was also stationed in Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado 'Sheriff Lott realizes the importance of putting out correct information quickly as there has been a lot of incorrect information distributed through Facebook and other social media,' the department added in their release. 'We want to ensure the community knows this incident has been a priority for our Department. The video in itself is very disturbing and has helped tremendously in our investigation. More information will be provided when it becomes available.' Records indicate that Pentland was promoted to his sergeant first class in March 2020. Prior to his station in South Carolina, Pentland was stationed at Fort Drum in New York as part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). He was also station in Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Pentland can be seen in the background in this picture at Fort Jackson It's now the third time Kavalan Distillery has been named Icon's 2021 Visitor Attraction. This year's prize recognizes the innovation of a distillery dedicated to telling the story of Kavalan whisky. In 2020, the distillery completed its "Kavalan Garden Hall" by incorporating a stunning island cocktail bar, redesigned DIY Whisky Lab and tasting room that offers the complete Kavalan range and distillery-exclusive cask-to-glass whiskies. Garden Hall aims to highlight the natural environment of the distillery and provide visitors with an immersive space to experience the Kavalan brand. Icons of Whisky's 2021 World Whisky Brand Ambassador award celebrates Kaitlyn Tsai's unique skills in promoting not just Kavalan, but also the land it's from. In Kaitlyn's masterclasses and interviews she eloquently explains how the natural beauty of Yilan County shapes a whisky known for its complexity, depth and smoothness. Time and again, Kaitlyn channels her passion for Taiwan's whisky into painting an unforgettable picture of a remarkable whisky. Kavalan also scored a clutch of top medals in the 2021 World Whiskies Awards (WWA). "Best Taiwanese Single Cask Single Malt" went to Kavalan's Solist Oloroso Sherry, and "Best Taiwan Single Malt" went to Kavalan Podium, making it the second time Podium has won this award after its 2016 win. Judges on the Solist Oloroso Sherry: "A real sherry bomb on the nose with intense Pedro Ximenez influence. Notes of apricot, sultanas and cherry compote, with some wood influence. On the palate it is floral, fruity and sherried, with raisins, peaches, plums, dark chocolate and elegant mixed spices." And on the Podium: "A very malty nose with soft spices, vanilla, caramel, dried fruits and a bit of tobacco. The maltiness continues onto the palate, where it meets classic oak notes, honey, vanilla, roasted hazelnuts and a touch of smoke. The finish is prickly and slightly peppery and smoky. Very clean, well balanced and complex." About Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County has been pioneering the art of single malt whisky in Taiwan since 2005. Our whisky, aged in intense humidity and heat, sources the meltwaters of Snow Mountain and is enhanced by sea and mountain breezes. All this combines to create Kavalan's signature creaminess. Taking Yilan County's old name, our distillery is backed by about 40 years of beverage-making under parent company, King Car Group. We have collected more than 450 gold awards or higher from the industry's most competitive contests. Visit www.kavalanwhisky.com Media Contact: Kaitlyn Tsai +886(0)39 229 000#7164 [email protected] SOURCE Kavalan Related Links http://www.kavalanwhisky.com Recent tragic and scary events in America have raised awareness of anti-Asian racism in our society. The history of anti-Asian discrimination, exclusion and exploitation is easily found through a Google search. I have found, however, that we learn and understand complex issues better when we can connect it to a personal story, to see the humanity in it instead of just the abstract. Rabbi Angela Buchdal, one of few Asian American rabbis in the United States, suggested that one way to start dealing with anti-Asian hate is to listen to the stories of Asian Americans who are treated as perpetual strangers in this land. She teaches us that this radical act of empathy can be transformational. I invite you to make that radical act. Let me share some thoughts as a Jewish Asian American today. I am the daughter of Taiwanese and Japanese immigrants. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., and grew up on Long Island and in Chesterfield. I graduated from Parkway Central, for those wondering about that quintessentially St. Louis question. I was not raised with any particular religion and came to Judaism as a young adult. Growing up, I noticed a lot of similarities between Jewish culture and my Asian heritage. Good humor about Jews enjoying Chinese food on Christmas Day is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. While I see similarities and feel the affinity between these communities, the fact is that there are differences. As a part of both communities, I have felt those differences. I have felt othered and, at times, erased as an Asian American within the Jewish community. Friendly and well-meaning congregants at my temple have asked me who I was with when attending services, as though I was not there because I am Jewish or because Im a member of the congregation. ADVERTISEMENT On the other hand, Ive been in meetings of Jewish organizations to discuss race where participants have said some version of, We need to do better, I mean we dont even have any people of color here. Ive been asked myriad times, Where are you from? [Creve Coeur] No, I mean, where are you from from? Its been assumed that I or my children are not Jewish based only on our faces. When asked whether I speak Japanese or Chinese and I respond that I dont, Ive been told that its such a shame. Shame is a heavy label. I choke back a snarky instinct to respond, Do you speak Yiddish? because I know what the pressure to assimilate does to immigrant cultures. Sometimes, there are compliments. My English is so good. They wish they had my hair people even touch it without asking. I must be good at math. Of course, I went to a good college. Stereotypes and assumptions are hurtful, even if they superficially come with positive intent. They limit the depth and breadth of humanity. Other times, its the jokes. Last year, when the pandemic first started, there were a few COVID-era seders going around on the internet. A popular one included the Wicked Child stating, Im too young to worry about Kung Flu. Its a Chinese plot! People have used variations on the label China Virus in my presence. Last summer, I asked someone not to use the phrase because its use perpetuated it in popular culture. I was chastised that because it was used in the context of ridiculing former President Donald Trumps use of the term, that I had no cause to complain. And finally, theres the overt racism. From within the Jewish community on social media, I have seen Asian Americans referred to as dog eaters and read excoriations that Asian Americans should go back to China. While that is hurtful, even more so is the fact that those comments were minimized and excused in the name of freedom of speech. On Twitter, I posted a message of solidarity with an Asian American woman speaking out about anti-Asian hate. A few people looked at my profile, in which I proudly identify myself as a Taiwanese-Japanese-Jewish American woman, and replied to me with variations of: Youre not Jewish. I have a child who experienced teasing within the Jewish community about needing to stay away from him because he might have coronavirus. No other child in his class was teased in this manner. He tolerated it for days before he even told me about it because he didnt want it to be a big deal. I have no illusions that sharing my story will change anything immediately. This hate and othering have existed in the United States since the 19th century. Im asking for empathy and solidarity so we can start the change. If youre in a situation where you notice that anti-Asian discrimination or perpetuation of stereotypes is happening, speak up. It is exhausting and demoralizing to repeatedly be the one whos going to deal with these issues. No one wants to be That Person all the time, much less the only one. That Person who cant take a joke. That Person who is playing the race card or is being a downer. While I appear to carry the burden of racism well, its still really heavy. When I speak up, it is because I care about the community we share. I want to believe that my burden is your burden, your burden is mine, and that we both want a world where that burden is not as heavy. Please dont be silent; your voice strengthens us all. Amy Kuo Hammerman lives in Creve Coeur with her husband, two school-aged sons, and a Bernedoodle. She is the State Policy Advocacy Chair of National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis, a member of the board of trustees at Congregation Shaare Emeth, and a member-at-large of the Jewish Community Relations Council St. Louis. The Capitol Police inspector general has issued a blistering report criticizing the agency's response to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, writing that leaders received ample warning that extremist supporters of former President Donald Trump posed a threat to law enforcement and civilians, but were still not prepared to handle the crowd, The New York Times reports. The report from Inspector General Michael A. Bolton was issued Tuesday, and has been reviewed by the Times. On Jan. 6, a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, following a "Stop the Steal" rally that claimed the election had been rigged. Bolton writes in the report that three days earlier, a Capitol Police intelligence assessment revealed that a map of the Capitol complex's tunnel system had been shared on pro-Trump message boards. Further, the Jan. 3 assessment warned, "Congress itself is the target on the 6th. Stop the Steal's propensity to attract white supremacists, militia members, and others who actively promote violence may lead to a significantly dangerous situation for law enforcement and the general public alike." Despite this cautionary message, when Capitol Police on Jan. 5 put together a plan on how to handle the protest, they wrote there were "no specific known threats related to the joint session of Congress." Bolton also found that agency leaders told the Civil Disturbance Unit not to use stun grenades and other powerful crowd-control tools to quell the Jan. 6 assault. Officers who were at the Capitol during the attack told Bolton these instruments could have helped them "push back the rioters," the Times reports. Additionally, some officers wielded riot shields that "shattered upon impact" because they had been kept in a trailer that was not climate-controlled. Extra shields were kept on a bus that was locked, leaving officers unable to access them. Nearly 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the assault, with Officer Brian Sicknick collapsing during the riot and later dying. In the report, Bolton determined that the Capitol Police's internal dysfunction led to an intelligence and communication breakdown, the Times reports, and there needs to be "guidance that clearly documents channels for efficiently and effectively disseminating intelligence information to all of its personnel." On Thursday, Bolton will testify in front of the House Administration Committee. More stories from theweek.com 5 colossally funny cartoons about Biden's infrastructure plan Matt Gaetz's girlfriend was reportedly paid $6,500 by Joel Greenberg, alleged sex ring leader Mads Mikkelsen reportedly joins the cast of Indiana Jones 5 Michigan is averaging more than 7,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day for the first time since Nov. 23 as it continues to lead all other states in new cases per capita. At the peak of the fall surge, there were three days in which the seven-day average sat above 7,000, and it peaked at 7,270 on Nov. 21. Now, the state is up to 7,014 cases per day and climbing. Four counties in the states thumb lead the way in cases per capita. Huron, St. Clair, Sanilac and Tuscola counties each have more than 1,000 cases per million residents per day. Four additional counties -- Macomb, Otsego, Lapeer and Arenac -- are above 900 cases per million per day, and another 10 are higher than 800 per day. For context, the top level of the states six-level risk assessment is >150 new cases per 1 million people. Seventy-five counties are at that level. Below is a look at state and county numbers for new cases and positivity rates, as well as statewide numbers on hospitalizations, deaths and vaccinations. New cases: The state is averaging 7,014 new cases a day. The daily case average jumped another 18% from last week. In two weeks, Michigan has gone from reporting 4,680 new cases per day to 7,014. On Tuesday, there were 8,867 new cases -- indicating the average is likely still climbing. Below is an online database that allows readers to see the number of new coronavirus cases in the past seven days compared to the previous week, as well as the per capita number that adjusts for population. The arrows indicate whether the total number of new cases reported in the last seven days has gone up or down compared to the previous seven days. The top counties in cases per capita over the past seven days: Huron, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola and Macomb. The map below is shaded based on the states six risk-assessment levels. The arrows indicate whether the total number of new cases reported in the last seven days has gone up or down compared to March 31 through April 6. Readers can put their cursor over a county to see the underlying data. (Hint: You can drag the map with your cursor to see the entire U.P.) Positivity rate: The seven-day average is now 15.8%. The good news is Michigans positive test rate has seen a slight decline in recent days. The bad news: its still three-times higher than the threshold recommended by health officials for closing schools and communities. The seven-day positivity rate is about where it was a week ago, which matched the peak of the fall surge. Sixty-nine of the states 83 counties reported increases in positivity rates week-over-week. The top ten positivity rates came from Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, Oceana, St. Clair, Missaukee, Lapeer, Iosco, Wexford and Newaygo counties. However, all 10 counties did report declines in their rates week-over-week. State health officials noted last week that the high positive test rates not only indicate high case rates, but that not enough residents are getting tested. The chart below allows you to look up any county by name to see the seven-day average positivity rate for April 6-12. The chart compares the average from the past seven days to the average for the previous week. The interactive map below shows the seven-day average testing rate by county. You can put your cursor over a county to see the underlying data. Hospitalizations: 4,250 inpatients on Tuesday Michigan had 4,205 adults patients and 45 pediatric patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 14. That includes 842 patients in the ICU. By comparison, there were 2,687 patients hospitalized on Thursday, April 1, with 511 in the ICU. Health systems are closing in on the patient totals from last springs initial surge, and some hospitals have already begun postponing elective surgeries. Deaths: The state is averaging 41 deaths a day. That compares to an average of 31 deaths a day a week ago, and 23 deaths per day two weeks ago. The current death rate is the highest since Feb. 8. Deaths are a lagging factor, but typically follow a surge in cases and hospitalizations by a few weeks. State officials have said theyre closely monitoring this data. Vaccinations: 41.9% of adults have received at least one dose Through Monday, April 12, there were 3,389,738 Michiganders with at least one dose of vaccine, and more than 2.2 million who had completed their vaccine regimen. About 27.5% of residents 16 years and older have completed their vaccination. Below is a breakdown by age group of adults who have gotten at least one dose of vaccine and those who are fully immunized. 75 and older: 70% initiated; 61.3% completed. 65 to 74: 70.8% initiated; 60.8% completed. 50 to 64: 49.5% initiated; 29.1% completed. 40 to 49: 34% initiated; 18.1% completed. 30 to 39: 30.6% initiated; 15.6% completed. 20 to 29: 21.1% initiated; 10.1% completed. 16 to 19: 13.5% initiated; 2.9% completed. States overall risk assessment: All regions at highest level All eight of Michigans MI Start regions are back to Level E in the states overall risk assessment for the second consecutive week. In assigning the risk scores, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services looks at factors such as new cases and deaths per capita, test positivity rates, number of tests administered and emergency department visits for COVID-19 symptoms. The scale used by MDHHS has six levels -- low plus Levels A-E. Read more on MLive: Michigan will pause use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine, following CDC guidance Whitmer carves out priorities for Michigans $18.8 billion in stimulus funds A mask shouldnt have a political party, says GOP leader who thinks he caught COVID-19 at Republican meeting Johnson & Johnson pause has similarities to AstraZeneca, not Pfizer or Moderna vaccines Michigan restaurants would be shut down under GOP bill that sought to tie COVID-19 restrictions to metrics President Biden, frustrated in his efforts to end Americas Forever War a decade ago, announced on Wednesday a Sept. 11 deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years, a move that immediately triggered similar action among the countrys NATO allies. While a complete withdrawal has long been seen as inevitable, it is likely to lead to an expansion of the Taliban that could overwhelm the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, despite assurances by intelligence agencies that the withdrawal can be done without precipitating the kind of violent, entropic instability that led to the 2001 attacks on America. We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result, Mr. Biden said. Mr. Bidens spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that Mr. Biden had consulted more than one of his predecessors before making his decision. (A person with direct knowledge of the situation later said Mr. Biden reached out to Barack Obama and George W. Bush). The National Food Buffer Stock Company has denied reports that it is replacing eggs with Chinese mackerel in Senior High Schools nationwide. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Buffer Stock Company, Hanan Abdul-Wahab told Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' that the allegation was unfounded. "That is not the case . . . since September 2017, mackerel has been part of the food items supplied by Buffer Stock to second cycle institutions. We are responsible for the supply of non-perishable food items and that includes mackerel. Eggs which are classified as perishable is supposed to be supplied by the school itself. So it cannnot be the case that we are substituting it with eggs.These are two different food items and they perform different functions; so it cannot be the case," he indicated. Listen to him in the video below Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Pelosi Considering an Alternative to 9/11-style Jan. 6 Commission Amid Opposition House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday she is considering establishing a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 breach on the Capitol if the plan to create a 9/11-style commission fails to win over bipartisan support. The one thing among our members that is consistent iswe must find the truth, she told USA Today in an interview. Adding that while she would prefer the independent panel to carry out the investigation of why security failings happened on Jan. 6, answers could also be found by the select committee. Its always an option, she said. Its not my preference in any way. My preference would be to have a commission. But GOP members oppose the speakers proposal on the structure of her 9/11-style commission because it gives more power to Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he is against the partisan nature of the speakers proposal. Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stands next to then-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2015. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) She cites the precedent of the 9/11 Commission, but her draft fails to track with that precedent in key ways. The 9/11 Commission was intentionally built to be bipartisan. The 50/50 bipartisan split of the commissioners was a key feature, said McConnell during a speech on Feb. 24. McConnell said to gain the publics confidence in the findings of the commission, it needs the same authority and representation as the two partys members on the panel. This time however Speaker Pelosi started by proposing a commission that would be partisan by designseven appointments for Democrats, just 4 for Republicans. The 9/11 Commission also built consensus by requiring bipartisan support for subpoenas. The speakers bill would vest subpoena power in one appointee chosen by the Democrats, McConnell continued. He said there is consensus that an investigation must be conducted. Everyone agrees that todays events must occasion a serious and thorough review of the specific institutions and security procedures within Congress that proved so insufficient, McConnell said. Pelosis office did not immediately return a request for comment on the structure of the commission. The leaders of the 9/11 Commission, Republican Tom Kean and Democrat Lee Hamilton have both spoken about the need for equal representation of the two parties on the Jan. 6 commission, to enable public confidence and support for the work the panel would do. Democrat co-chair of the 9/11 Commission, Hamilton said the speakers proposal for the Jan. 6 commission, sounds like a partisan beginning. Republican co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Tom Kean spoke to NPR on Feb. 19 about what can be done to investigate the Capitol breach. So the question is, how are you going to find out what happened? And you set up a commission that has the confidence of the people, Kean said during an interview with NPR. People understood that we were not doing it from a Republican point of view. We werent doing it from a Democratic point of view. We were doing it in the nations point of view. And youve got to have people wholl put country first, ahead of party, Kean added. Meanwhile, members of the GOP have been critical of what they say is a double standard by Democrats in downplaying the riots that have occurred since the spring of 2020 as peaceful protests while playing up the Jan. 6 event as a domestic terrorist attack and an insurrection. Protesters gather in front of a liquor store in flames near the Third Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 28, 2020. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, in February, alleged that Democrats were exploiting the Jan. 6 incident and using security concerns as an excuse to paint a large part of the Republican base as dangerous. Lets be clear, this is not about security at this point, this is about political theater, Cruz said. Half the country, the deplorables, are dangerous, and [Democrats are] going to turn the Capitol into a military outpost in Baghdad just to have the compliant media echo that message, he added, referring to the enhanced security measures around the Capitol like barbed wire fencing. McConnell questioned the speakers motivation for establishing the 9/11 style commission and the purpose of the partisan investigation her commission would undertake. It sets the stage for a somewhat broader inquiry into domestic violent extremism, beyond just that day. But the partisan panel wouldnt get to decide which other incidents are and are not relevant. Rioting and political violence are abhorrent and unacceptable, no matter what cause the mob is advancing, said McConnell. If Congress is going to attempt some broader analysis of toxic political violence across the country, McConnell said, then, in that case, we cannot have artificial cherry-picking of which terrible behavior does, and which terrible behavior does not deserve scrutiny. We could do something narrow that looks at the Capitol, or we could potentially do something broader to analyze the full scope of political violence here in our country, McConnell said, adding, We cannot land at some artificial, politicized, halfway point. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. A mystery photo and a geography enthusiast helped locate a missing California hiker who is now safely back home. Rene Compean of Palmdale was on a hike Monday near Mount Waterman, a popular ski destination in the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California. While the 45-year-old was on his outdoor adventure, he snapped a picture. It showed him from the knees down, dangling his bare legs from a precipice with a canyon below and slopes in the distance. Compean texted the shot to a friend. And then, he went off the map. He was reported missing at 6 p.m. by a friend, who received one last text from Compean saying he was worried he was lost and his cell phone battery was running low. The photo was turned over to investigators at the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department who posted it to social media, asking if anyone recognized the spot in the photograph. Benjamin Kuo saw the message and thought he might be able to help. As a satellite image aficionado, he was already familiar with tracking California wildfires in remote areas. "I've got a very weird hobby, which is I love taking a look at photos and figuring out where they're taken," Kuo told NBC Los Angeles. Using satellite images, maps and the scenery below Compean's feet in the photo, Kuo was able to estimate the coordinates of where he believed the man had gone missing. Kuo sent his tip to the sheriff's office, and a helicopter was sent to survey the area Tuesday. There, as if by magic, was Compean. "I really don't know if I could make it there another day," Compean told Kuo in a virtual thank you meeting. "It was just so cold." Compean was airlifted to safety near the Chilao campgrounds and did not need to be hospitalized, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Kara McDonald have discussed the observance of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to Ukrinform, Denisova wrote about this on her Facebook page. During the online meeting, the ombudsman expressed concern over Russia's military build-up and ongoing aggression along Ukraine's borders, which violates the right to life and security. According to Denisova, two out of seven checkpoints are operating in eastern Ukraine - Stanytsia Luhanska and Novotroitske. Due to the blockade of the entry-exit checkpoints, Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories cannot receive pensions and social benefits. She also stressed that 280 people, including 44 servicemen, were still being held illegally in the said territories. Some 258 Ukrainian citizens are missing. Russia is politically persecuting 133 Ukrainian citizens, 114 of whom have been illegally imprisoned in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. Denisova also said that a ban on freedom of speech had actually been in place in the occupied territories, particularly in Crimea, for the past seven years. Journalists are pressured, tortured, illegally detained, searched and threatened. Evidence of this is the situation with the illegal detention in Crimea of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko. Denisova briefed McDonald about the measures being taken to restore his rights and release him. Both parties also discussed the observance of human and civil rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Denisova answered McDonald's questions concerning the observance of the rights of members of national minorities and problematic issues related to the prevention of domestic violence. The ombudsman said that at the end of last year she presented a special report entitled "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Roma community in Ukraine." Among a number of legal, social and economic problems, one of the key issues is the issue of Roma access to education. As for the observance of the rights of members of the LGBTI community, she said that during the pandemic, community members cannot get information about their partners in hospitals, cannot help them, donate blood for them, or become donors. She said that "for the second year in a row we are trying to do everything possible for the parliament to adopt a bill on civil partnership, which applies not only to same-sex couples, but also to heterosexual people who live together and cannot exercise their rights." According to Denisova, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem of domestic violence. She said the number of calls to the government hotline, police and social security services had increased by 62%. According to Denisova, in her annual report for 2019, she recommended that the Verkhovna Rada ratify the Istanbul Convention. Progress has already been made in this area: together with the government, public organizations, with the support of First Lady Olena Zelenska, a bill on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention has been prepared, and "we are waiting for its submission to the Verkhovna Rada," Denisova said. Denisova thanked McDonald for the high assessment of the work of the Verkhovna Rada human rights commissioner, as well as for the proposal to continue bilateral cooperation in the field of protecting human and civil rights and freedoms. On March 17, Denisova presented Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov with an annual report of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights on the state of observance and protection of human and civil rights and freedoms in Ukraine for 2020. op Pound Sterling Braced for another Political Storm, Pivotal Scottish Elections on May 6th The issue of Scottish independence will come into sharp focus if the Scottish National Party wins an overall majority in the forthcoming parliamentary election. Traders would have to factor in another risk factor for the Pound Sterling with increased volatility. Coming so soon after Brexit, there is a risk that global investors will see the Pound as suffering from a permanent constitutional crisis. SNP Aiming for Outright Majority Elections to the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood will be held on May 6th. There will be 129 seats up for grabs with 73 constituency seats and a further 59 allocated proportionally on a regional basis. There is no doubt that the Scottish National Party (SNP) will win the largest number of seats in the parliament. Opinion polls have suggested that the SNP will be very close to an overall majority. Credit Agricole notes; according to the latest polls, the upcoming local elections in Scotland could give a supermajority to the pro-independence parties the SNP, the Greens and the newly-formed Alba party. Marshall Gittler, Head of Investment Research at BDSwiss Group considers that the disturbances in Northern Ireland will increase the possibility of an SNP win in May. Furthermore, weve now got open rebellion in Northern Ireland, which increases the odds for a win by the Scottish National Party in next months elections. I havent heard much about this news in the financial commentary, but the more I read about it, the worse it seems. Aggressive Push for Second Independence Vote If the SNP does secure an out-right majority, it will inevitably push for a second independence referendum. The previous vote was held in 2014 with a 55-45 vote to remain in the UK. Opinion polls suggest that there is close to 50% support for independence with Brexit having given the separatist camp another boost. Party leader Sturgeon has stated a strong preference for a vote by 2023, although this would be dependent on coronavirus developments. If the Westminster government refused to accept the call, there would be the potential for a court battle. TD Securities commented; Our base case sees the UK government successfully denying Scotland the ability to hold a referendum, at least for the duration of this (UK) parliament, but this outcome is not a certainty and will bear close watching. JP Morgan commented; Regardless of the likely schedule, GBP is nevertheless likely to be wary about the possibility of a second vote, and hence the possibility that the UK itself could break-up only a few years after the tortuous process of the UK removing itself from the EU and the single market. The bank expects that there would be an immediate risk premium placed on the Pound due to increased uncertainty; This would justify a risk-premium in GBP, albeit nowhere near the scale as the Brexit risk premium (which was initially 20%, and is now closer to 10%). Goldman Sachs strategist Sharon Bell noted the risk of renewed damage to international sentiment: Political uncertainty, coming straight after five years of Brexit uncertainty, would be unlikely to encourage global investors back to UK stocks. Stephen Gallo, European head of currency strategy BMO Capital Markets, expressed similar reservations. Come early May the markets will wake up to this and probably trade the size of the majority or the end result. The stronger Nicola Sturgeons position is, the more headline risk theres going to be over the next three to six months regarding this issue. Nomura strategist Jordan Rochester commented; It matters more when we actually get a date of another proposed referendum, as then the market will foreign exchange hedge that event risk. Economic Impact Inevitably in Focus There will also inevitably be a debate over the economic consequences and major questions surrounding any independence move in practice. JP Morgan commented; One of the key consequences would be a larger trade deficit due to the exclusion of Scottish energy exports (this would lift the UK current account deficit by a non-trivial 2% of GDP). There would, however, also be some speculation that the economy would be in a stronger position without Scotland which could benefit the Pound over the medium term. TD Securities still expects that the recovery dynamics will have a much more substantial short-term impact. We are currently inclined to downplay the risks that the upcoming election in Scotland and its immediate aftermath will become a sustained driver for Sterling. It does, however, consider that there is no room for complacency; That said, we readily acknowledge the issue can bubble quickly to the surface in the short-term. With that in mind, we see merit in having some degree of exposure to (or protection against) potential GBP downside over the next several weeks. Matt Gaetz attended gated community house parties with other Republican lawmakers where cellphones were handed over at the door and the 'frat party boy' Florida representative would discuss politics while popping pills, according to a new report. Two women told CNN they regularly partied with Gaetz at drug, sex and booze-fueled bashes over the past few years, and that they would often receive payments the following day for sex with people at the events. The latest claims come as the congressman's past behavior has increasingly come under the spotlight in recent weeks after it emerged he is under investigation by the Justice Department for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl and trafficking her across state lines. Investigators are also looking into allegations he paid women via Apple Pay for ecstasy-fueled sex at Florida hotels after being introduced to them by former tax collector Joel Greenberg, who has been charged with sex trafficking a minor. Gaetz has repeatedly denied having sex with a 17-year-old and said he has never paid for sex. He has not been charged. In a bizarre twist in the saga, the lawmaker has instead claimed he is the victim of an elaborate extortion plot by a former Justice Department official seeking to free an American hostage from Iran. Matt Gaetz attended gated community house parties with other Republican lawmakers where cellphones were handed over at the door and the 'frat party boy. Gaetz at the Save America Summit Friday The two women, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, said Gaetz was a regular fixture at the parties where the guest list read like a who's who of Florida Republican officials. The women said they would arrive at the gated community in the suburbs of Orlando and were told to put away their cellphones for the duration of the visit so they could not document what went on. Once inside, the women described nights fueled by champagne, cocaine and ecstasy, and sex, with money changing hands the next day. One woman told the outlet Gaetz behaved like a 'frat type of party boy' at the parties, where he would like to discuss politics and was seen taking mystery pills on more than one occasion. 'No one ever wants to stop partying, stop drinking, once you've had a few glasses of champagne in you,' one woman said. The woman said she was paid for sex after some of the parties by Greenberg, the disgraced former Seminole County tax collector in prison awaiting trial on 33 counts including sex trafficking a minor. Receipts show at least one of the women was sent hundreds of dollars by Gaetz and Greenberg through a digital payment app, reported CNN. The payments were made between 2018 and 2019 with at least one labeled that it was to pay for travel. One woman said she was paid for sex after the parties by Joel Greenberg (above) who has been cooperating with federal prosecutors Greenberg is pictured with Roger Stone and Gaetz after having dinner together in 2017 Greenberg has been cooperating with federal prosecutors since last year, a report revealed Tuesday - days after his attorneys said he was willing to reach a plea deal. The woman would not reveal who she had sex with at the parties but did say she had never received money directly from Gaetz. Both women insisted they never saw anyone at the parties who looked to be underage. Many of the partygoers would often show up to the parties still dressed in formal wear after coming straight from a political event that day. Other events were smaller affairs taking place in private hotel suites at the end of alcohol-fueled political conferences, the women told the outlet. It is not clear if the parties and the alleged payments are being looked at as part of the Justice Department probe. The two women said they have not spoken with DOJ investigators, probing the congressman's behavior. Claims that Gaetz had paid women for sex via payment apps first surfaced in a bombshell report from the New York Times earlier this month. The report, which cited several unnamed sources close to the DOJ investigation as well as text messages and payment receipts reviewed by the outlet, said multiple women had told investigators Gaetz would tell them a time and place to meet and how much he was willing to pay them for sex. They would then meet in hotels in Florida where the lawmaker and staunch Trump ally would sometimes take ecstasy before they had sex, the women said. Gaetz with his fiancee food analyst Ginger Luckey, 26. Two women told CNN they regularly partied with Gaetz at drug, sex and booze-fueled bashes over the past few years, and that they would often receive payments the following day for sex The DOJ investigation is also reportedly looking into whether one of the women was 17 at the time and whether he paid her or gave her gifts to have sex with him. Gaetz was reportedly first introduced to the women through close ally Greenberg, who investigators believe met the women through 'sugar daddy' websites. Greenberg is currently in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges related to a minor aged between 14 and 17 across a six-month period in 2017. The minor is said to be the same 17-year-old girl at the center of Gaetz's sex trafficking probe. Gaetz's future is currently hanging in the balance as his friend and alleged accomplice Greenberg is said to have been cooperating with federal prosecutors since December. Greenberg, 36, has reportedly told investigators that both he and Gaetz gave women cash and gifts in exchange for sex, The New York Times reported Tuesday. Last week, Greenberg's lawyers said he was cooperating and was prepared to take a plea deal as he sits behind bars awaiting trial. 'I'm sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today,' Greenberg's attorney said. As well as the federal investigation, the House Ethics Committee has also launched an inquiry into a string of allegations including 'sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct.' Gaetz refused to answer a question from a CNN reporter Tuesday about whether he was cooperating with the committee inquiry. When asked, on leaving Congress, if he had a statement, he said: 'I think you can read my statement in the Washington Examiner. 'I think you can check out the work that your network has done to propagandize lies about me. I think that really ought to concern you.' Gaetz, one of the former president's biggest fans, fiercely denied being rejected by Trump after a CNN report said the president had snubbed him Gaetz was referring to a story by Project Veritas, a right-wing media watchdog, which filmed a technical director at CNN saying the network's coverage of Gaetz was designed to hurt him. 'The agenda is to get Matt Gaetz right now,' said Charlie Chester, a New York-based cameraman for the network. 'He's a problem for the Democratic Party because he's so conservative and he can cause a lot of hiccups in passing of laws. 'We're going to keep running these stories to keep hurting him.' The Florida congressman and his allies were enraged by a CNN story on Sunday, which reported that Donald Trump had refused to see Gaetz. Gaetz is among the most fervent supporters of the former president, and has long been determined to remain in his orbit. The congressman leaped to Trump's defense during both impeachment trials and has long been a fixture at Mar-a-Lago. Gaetz met his fiancee Ginger Luckey at the club in early 2020 and then proposed to her there in December. Gaetz has insisted he neither sought a meeting with Trump, nor was he rejected. Trump's spokesman Jason Miller said the same, and Trump issued a statement on Monday attacking CNN. 'Fake News CNN, relying on all anonymous sources, meaning they probably made the whole thing up, wrote a very dishonest story claiming Congressman Matt Gaetz asked for a meeting with me at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, and was denied. 'This is completely false,' he said. CNN stood by its reporting, however. Last week Maggie Haberman, The New York Times' White House correspondent, told CNN that her sources told her Trump had been warned to keep his distance from Gaetz. 'His first impulse was that he wanted to defend Gaetz, you know: 'He's one of our people,'' said Haberman. 'They have been very close, and it's been because Gaetz is a presence on television, he's from Florida, and he's willing to defend Trump vocally no matter what happens.' Trump's silence had been deafening since the allegations first broke in late March and the Republican party has largely stayed silent on the matter. On Wednesday Trump finally issued a statement saying Gaetz had never sought a pardon from him personally after the New York Times reported he had asked the White House for a pre-emptive pardon during Trump's final days in office. The scandal first erupted late March when it emerged Gaetz is under investigation by the DOJ for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and for violating federal sex trafficking laws by paying for her to travel across state lines with him. Sources close to the DOJ probe told DailyMail.com earlier this month that Gaetz is expected to be indicted within the next few weeks after the 17-year-old testified before a Florida grand jury saying she had sex with the conservative Republican before she turned 18. Gaetz denies all allegations and has insisted he will not resign. This week were celebrating a Cuban Prohibition classic, El Presidente; its an enigma in rum, vermouth and bitters. But what have the French got to do with it or Christina Aguilera for that matter? According to the BBC, the top five most popular lockdown 1.0 buys were Tequila, gym equipment, makeup, luxury bedding and elastic. Im guilty of four of those items, but I eschewed elastic for something slightly more, as I like to tell myself, educational MasterClass! Yep, those Instagram ads finally paid off. No sooner had the well-worn security code of my debit card been tapped in (muscle memory is a wonderful thing), I had some of the best minds in the country teaching me their crafts. My favourite writer David Sedaris on storytelling and humour, Dr Jane Goodall on conservation, and, um, Christina Aguilera on singing. But perhaps the most natural fit was award-winning bar duo Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) and Lynnette Marrero on mixology. And it was through watching the soothing videos of the two making their staple cocktails that I rediscovered the Cuban classic El Presidente and its rich, nuanced and nostalgia-laden history. Found and lost It all started where most good things did during Prohibition (or so some say) and in Havana. One story goes that it was first created to mark President Mario Menocal coming to power; he was in office from 1913-1921. The drink combined amber rum, vermouth and Angostura bitters. Yet according to Esquire cocktail editor David Wondrich, it was really the creation of American bartender Eddie Woelke in the mid 1920s, during his tenure at Havanas Jockey Club and in honour of President Gerardo Machado (in office from 1925-1933). However it was invented, the combination of white rum, Chambery vermouth (more on that later), orange Curacao, grenadine and a garnish of orange peel, became the drink of Cubas upper echelons. It is the aristocrat of cocktail and is the one preferred by the better class of Cuban, wrote Basil Woon in his 1928 book When Its Cocktail Time in Cuba (feel free to grab yourself a copy for 3,000). It was also enjoyed by visiting booze-deprived Americans. Though apparently, US President Calvin Coolidge declined an El Presidente from el presidente Machado for fear of drinking during Prohibition and being cancelled. Post-prohibition, Pan Am served a version of it called the Clipper Cocktail made with gold rum, vermouth and grenadine. But by this stage, El Presidente itself was going out of fashion and stopped being ordered by the beautiful people. New discoveries Its fall from grace may have had something to do with vermouth. As Wondrich points out, when bartenders started making the cocktail, most bars would have been stocking French dry vermouth but the original recipe calls for a Chambery Blanc. This is, in fact, a sweeter style of vermouth more specifically Dolin Blanc which was created in France in 1821. This seemingly small change is where the El Presidente can win or fail, and many a drinks lover and expert has been undone by it. Making one at home? Make sure its Dolin Blanc not Dry. When it comes to the Curacao, dear lord make sure its orange and not blue. And the choice of rum is important too. The 1915 tome Manual del Cantinero by John Escalentecalls for a light rum and while white expressions are the classic choice, bartenders arent shy of veering towards those with a light amber hue. Bitters and twists As for bitters, here bartenders can really get creative. Rum-specialist London bar Trailer Happiness has its El Presidente on home delivery site The Drinks Drop. It combines Santiago de Cuba 11 Year Old, Lillet Blanc, strawberry liqueur, falernum, passionfruit, with Supasawa and Angostura bitters. Meanwhile in Wales, 2021-born drinks company Distill & Fill run by Jenny Griffiths and Philip David has just unleashed The Presidential Suite on its website. This version mixes Plantation Isle of Fiji, Sacred English Spiced Vermouth, Monin Acerola Syrup, with a touch of both Ferdinands Vineyard Peach and Peychauds Bitters. So what are you waiting for? Surely, our own pre-Roaring Twenties, post-lockdown world is the perfect time for an El Presidente revival. In the words of Christinas What a Girl Wants: Its for keeps, yeah, its for sure. Now thats philosophy. How to make an El Presidente 45ml Plantation 3 stars white rum (or any light rum) 22ml Dolin Blanc 22ml orange Curacao 1 dash grenadine Orange peel twist Chill a coupe or Martini glass. Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add white rum, Dolin Blanc, Curacao and grenadine and stir with a bar spoon. Strain into your chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel. Recipe from Ryan Chetiyawardana and Lynette Marrero on MasterClass. Many of the patients we serve regularly travel from the Lincoln area to our Omaha site to participate in clinical trials. This will bring more research opportunities to Lincoln, and help us support the development of new therapies. Nicole Osborn, Founder and CEO of Meridian Meridian Clinical Research, a leading multi-specialty investigative research network, has opened a new site in Lincoln, NE. Meridian is partnering with Lincoln Medical Education Partnership, an organization providing medical care and educational health services to Nebraskans since 1971. The research site is located at 4600 Valley Rd., Lincoln, NE 68510. Jay Meyer, MD, will serve as principal investigator to conduct clinical trials related to general medicine and infectious diseases, including vaccine studies for people of all ages. Dr. Meyer specializes in emergency medicine and has been a principal investigator at Meridians Omaha headquarters since 2019. Nicole Osborn, Founder and CEO of Meridian, said her team is looking forward to making clinical trials more accessible to more Nebraskans. Many of the patients we serve regularly travel from the Lincoln area to our Omaha site to participate in clinical trials, said Osborn. This will bring more research opportunities to Lincoln, and help us support the development of new therapies. Through our partnership with Meridian, LMEP will help shape the future of medicine and healthcare delivery, said Alan Linderman, MD, FACP, MMM, President and CEO of LMEP. Clinical research paves the way for new medicines and treatments. Supporting these trials enables us to contribute to a healthier community and potentially improve lives worldwide. The site will be Meridians eighth in Nebraska, and follows the companys recent opening of a dedicated research center in Grand Island. Meridian has conducted numerous COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in Omaha, Norfolk, Grand Island, and its other sites nationwide. In May 2020, Keith Vrbicky, MD, a Meridian Principal Investigator in Norfolk, enrolled the first participant into a Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccine trial in the U.S. Since then, Meridian has enrolled more than 7,000 people into COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, including research programs for the COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization. Meridian was founded in Omaha in 1999, and has enrolled more than 50,000 participants into clinical trials. If youre interested in joining a clinical trial at Meridian, visit mcrmed.com/find-study. For more information about careers at Meridian and current openings in Lincoln, visit mcrmed.com/careers. --- ABOUT MERIDIAN CLINICAL RESEARCH Meridian Clinical Research partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to research new drugs, medical devices, and diagnostics that could improve human health and wellbeing. Founded in 1999, Meridian is a multi-specialty site network headquartered at its dedicated research center in Omaha, NE, and conducts Phase I-IV studies at investigative sites nationwide. Meridian supports research across numerous therapeutic areas and excels in high-volume vaccine trials. For more information, visit mcrmed.com. She never fails to look effortlessly glamorous when she steps out. And Joan Collins looked effortlessly chic as she coordinated with her husband Percy Gibson, 56, in navy on a dinner date in Los Angeles on Monday. The legendary actress, 87, opted for a navy blazer with large gold buttons that matched her partner's smart navy suit. Glamorous: Joan Collins looked effortlessly chic as she coordinated with her husband Percy Gibson, 56, in navy on a dinner date in Los Angeles on Monday She wore it with a white cowl-neck top, tan trousers with a stylish slit at the front and a pair of tan-and-white stiletto heels. The Dynasty star accessorized with large gold earrings and carried a navy polka dot scarf and a blue quilted purse. Both her and her husband of 19 years wore face masks as they arrived at celebrity hotspot Craig's in West Hollywood. She held onto his arm as he escorted her from the car into the restaurant for their date night. Date night: The legendary actress, 87, opted for a navy blazer with large gold buttons that matched her partner's smart navy suit The British actress married fifth husband Percy in London in February 2002. The couple are back in Los Angeles after spending most of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown at their UK home in London. They divide their time between their homes in London, LA and St. Tropez on the French Riviera. Joan recently listed her longtime Manhattan pied-a-terre for $2.095 million, according to hauteresidence.com. Stepping out: She wore the blazer with a white cowl-neck top, tan trousers with a stylish slit at the front and a pair of tan-and-white stiletto heels The 2,200-square-foot apartment comprised of three combined units is located on the eighth floor of The Dorchester building and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms As a dual citizen, Joan is exempt from rules banning British nationals from travelling to the USA if they have been in the UK for the last 14 days. Those entering the USA are required to self-isolate for at least seven days and have a Covid-19 test three to five days after arriving, but as Joan received her vaccine, it is unclear if this rule still applies to her. WARC, the global authority on marketing effectiveness, today launched the 2021 WARC Awards for Asian Strategy to showcase Asias smartest marketing thinking, highlighting breakthrough ideas from across the region. Launched in 2011, the Awards, previously known as the WARC Prize for Asian Strategy, are free to enter and are open to agencies, brand owners and specialists in any marketing discipline across the region. This years competition will be chaired by Lynette Pang, Assistant Chief Executive, Marketing Group, Singapore Tourism Board, who is responsible for building the Singapore destination brand globally and helms the global marketing efforts of STB. Commenting on her upcoming chairing role, Pang said, As Asia moves determinedly forward to bounce back strong from the changes wrought by the global pandemic, the role of strategists and strategic marketing becomes mission-critical. I am thrilled to be the Jury Chair for this years WARC Awards for Asian Strategy and look forward to seeing work that will serve as both a showcase of, and guiding light for, Asias next generation of strategists. Joining Lynette Pang are an eminent judging panel made up of 50% senior marketers from brands, including Diageo, Lifebuoy, L'Oreal, Pernod Ricard and Visa, and 50% agency strategy experts, with global networks such as Havas, Grey, Mindshare and PHD represented. Overall, there is a 56%/44% male/female gender split. The 25-strong jury is as follows: Lynette Pang, Assistant Chief Executive, Marketing Group, Singapore Tourism Board - Jury Chair Charu Aggarwal, Chief Strategy Officer, India & SEA, Havas Group Antoin Breen, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Vietnam Bitop Das Gupta, AVP & Strategy Lead, Grey Group Bangladesh Hazlina Dayangku, Head of Marketing, Samsonite Melissa Henson, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines Issa Ignacio, Strategic Planning Director, TBWASantiago Mangada Puno Anita Kanal, Vice President, Consumer Marketing Asia Pacific, Visa Stuart La Brooy, Senior Marketing Director, Strategic Partnerships, Diageo Mi Li, Chief Marketing Officer, Advance Intelligence Group Nhan Mai Ngoc, Senior Brand Manager, Lifebuoy, Unilever Vietnam Akira Mitsumasu, Vice President, Global CX & Marketing, Japan Airlines Masahito Namiki, President & CEO, Interbrand Japan Nicholas Nyeow, National Sales Manager, Kara Marketing Malaysia Huiyan Pan, Regional Marketing Lead (Branding & Partnerships), Shopee Avinash Pareek, Head, L'Oreal, Wavemaker India Nathalie Pellegrini, Chief Performance Officer, Mindshare APAC Hari Ramanathan, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, VMLY&R Asia Ali Rezgui, Group Planning Director, Publicis Group APAC Saloni Shah, Head of Digital, Consumer Products, L'Oreal India Jaskaran Singh Kapany, Former Head of Marketing, Paytm India Jason Tan, Executive Director, Zenith Singapore Luke Tucker, CMO, Citibank Singapore Alex Woodford, Vice President, Client Partner, APAC, Essence Cynthia Zhang, Managing Director, PHD Shanghai The jury will award Grand Prix, Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades as well as five Special Awards recognising specific areas of excellence, one of which is new for this year: The E-Commerce Excellence Award (new) - for the best use of e-commerce platforms and features to further amplify brand objectives. The Early Adopter Award- for the best example of a brand using a new innovation or emerging tech or platform. The Long-Term Strategy Award- the best strategy designed to build a long-term brand platform, executed over a period of three years or more. The Customer Journey Award- for the best example of a brand creating a compelling path to purchase. The Research Excellence Award - for the best use of research in the development of strategic ideas. Chiara Manco, Commissioning Editor, Case Studies, WARC, said, We look forward to working with our largest judging panel to date for these awards, to bring to the forefront the very best of Asias strategic thinking that is driving business growth at a time of enormous change effective strategies that will also inspire others globally. The deadline to submit entries is July 14, 2021. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 15:13:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The world in the past 24hrs. A selection of the best daily press photos from Xinhua. This undated file photo shows gold foil with human image characteristics unearthed from the Reshui Tombs in Dulan County of northwest China's Qinghai Province. The national top ten archaeological discoveries of the year 2020 were unveiled in Beijing on April 13, 2021. (Xinhua) A reader is seen at the Wormhole Library in the Haikou Bay in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province on April 13, 2021. The Wormhole Library, designed as a landmark building in the Haikou Bay, opened to public on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) A staff member of an institute of ecological studies on coral plants coral on reef-like artificial coral reef nurseries of Yazhou Bay in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, March 18, 2020. The ecological restoration demonstration in Yazhou Bay has achieved initial effects. The project is proposed based on the urgent need for the restoration of Hainan coastal ecosystem. Researchers carry out systematic ecological restoration activities for the coral reef ecosystem around Dongluo Island. Thanks to researchers' work, the survival rate of coral has reached more than 70 percent. And the coral coverage rate has increased by 10 percent. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Tourists look at a mobile COVID-19 vaccination vehicle outside the Donghua Gate of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, April 13, 2021. The bus-like facilities, equipped with vaccination stations, medical refrigerators and first-aid equipment, have been rolled out in different districts of Beijing to save time and improve inoculation efficiency. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) China's Wang Shuang celebrates after the second leg of Tokyo Olympic Asian qualification playoffs between China and South Korea in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Xu) People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that his government has decided to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea amid domestic and international opposition. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) U.S. President Joe Biden pays his respect to U.S. Capitol Police officer William "Billy" Evans at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 13, 2021. William "Billy" Evans, the 18-year Capitol Police officer killed while in the line of duty when a car rammed into him and another officer, lay in honor in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday. (Amr Alfiky/Pool via Xinhua) A visitor poses for photos with blooming cherry trees in Bonn, Germany, April 13, 2021. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua) Students play in a school in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on April 13, 2021. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time in more than a year, some Los Angeles schools reopened for in-person classes on Tuesday. Safety standards and mandatory COVID-19 testing of students were in place, but many parents still opted to keep their kids learning from home. (Xinhua) China's Tang Jiali (front, C) competes during the second leg of Tokyo Olympic Asian qualification playoffs between China and South Korea in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) BERLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Europeans are concerned that the COVID-19 crisis will influence their quality of life for the long haul, according to a new survey "Digitising Europe Pulse: The impact of the second COVID-19 wave", commissioned by the Vodafone Institute, and conducted by Kantar, with over 15,000 interviewees from 15 European countries. Two out of three Europeans agree that the pandemic will affect their lives in the short term (65%), and almost as many see effects in the long run (61%). Those living in Portugal (78%), Greece (77%) and Spain (75%) consistently remain the most concerned about long-term quality of life impact brought about by the pandemic. Germans (44%) and Estonians (45%) are the least concerned in this regard. The same tendency can be observed regarding the short-term impact; for example, 82% of the Greeks and 80% of the Portuguese state that the COVID-19 crisis will limit their quality of life in the short term only 49% of the Germans and 50% of the Dutch share these concerns. The personal economic situation of Europeans has also worsened, compared to results in May 2020. This includes loss of savings (18%, May: 14%) or danger of bankruptcy (6%, May: 4%). In every country, except Sweden, more people lost their savings compared to May. In Poland, Spain and Greece a plus of 9% state that they have already been affected by the loss of their savings. 8% of the surveyed Europeans claim that they cant afford to buy food anymore; 16% expect this to happen in the future. The degree of affectedness in the crisis depends on demographics, as families are much more affected than single households. Almost 10% of households with minimum two adults and children up to 16 years cant pay their mortgage anymore. 18% expect this to happen in the future. In contrast, only 5% of the single households are not able to settle their mortgage and 9% are worried about it. In every other economic indicator, like "loss of savings", families are noticeable more affected than single households. Inger Paus, Managing Director of the Vodafone Institute, said: "The 'Digitising Europe Pulse' shows how significant the economic and social impact is for a majority of Europeans after one year of the pandemic. Corona also has the potential to exacerbate structural inequalities in Europe in the future - between low and high earners, between families and singles, between northern and southern Europe. This is where the European Union must start with its recovery fund/reconstruction programme to guarantee equal living conditions for all citizens in the future as well." Methodology An online survey conducted by Kantar of over 15,000 citizens from across 15 European countries including: Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK. There was a sample size of at least 1,000 interviews per country (in total 15,008 interviews) and all participants were aged 16 years or older. This research was conducted between 07.12. 18.12.2020. Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications The Institute is Vodafone's think-tank. We explore the potential and responsible use of digital technologies for innovation, growth and sustainable social impact. Through research and events, we provide thought leadership and offer a platform for dialogue between business, academia and politics. Press Contact: Friedrich Pohl Head of Communications Mobile: +49-172-71-55-900 Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications Office Berlin Behrenstrae 18 10117 Berlin www.vodafone-institut.de Social Media: linkedin.com/company/vodafone-institute twitter.com/vf_institute youtube.com/VodafoneInstitute View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covid-19-majority-of-europeans-sees-negative-long-term-consequences-301268586.html SOURCE Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Statement of Strategy (2021-2024) has been published by Minister Charlie McConalogue. Alongside the Statement of Strategy is an Action Plan for 2021, which outlines 75 actions to further develop a sustainable, innovative and competitive agri-food, forestry and seafood sector. The Action Plan for 2021 will build on significant work already underway by Ministers McConalogue, Hackett and Heydon and the Department, including: Continuing to provide vital supports to the farmers, fishers and foresters which are the lifeblood of a balanced rural and coastal economy and community. Finalising and publishing a new 10-year Strategy for the agri-food sector - delivering on a key commitment of the Programme for Government, which called for an ambitious blueprint for the industry for the years ahead, taking into account our climate action and environmental obligations. Developing Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan. Designing, developing and commencing new transitional schemes for 2021 including an Agri-Environment results-based Pilot Project which rewards farmers for committed environmental effort by linking payments to the quality of environmental outcomes delivered. Implementing Irelands first over-arching Animal Welfare Strategy. Working to develop initiatives and policies to underpin and support farm and fisher incomes. Welcoming the publication of the new Statement of Strategy and Action Plan, Minister McConalogue said: The key priority for me as Minister is the protection of incomes and the sustainable development of our sector. "Our farmers, fishers and food producers face many challenges as they continue to provide the high-quality food, fish, timber. Our primary producers also excel at supporting a range of ecosystems services, while playing a central role in the transformation of our economy and society towards a long-term sustainable future. "We will provide a policy platform that protects incomes, ensures that our food offering is safe and of the highest quality and that our industry is environmentally sustainable and competitive. The Statement of Strategy sets out five Strategic Goals for the Department which will be underpinned by actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water and air quality and reverse biodiversity decline to give effect to the Programme for Government commitment to make climate action a core pillar of Department strategies. The five goals are as follows: To promote and safeguard public, animal and plant health and animal welfare for the benefit of consumers, producers, the economy and wider society; Provide income and targeted supports to farm families and others in the agri-food sector to underpin the balanced rural economy and optimise environmental sustainability; Provide the optimum policy framework for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector; Deliver a sustainable, competitive and innovative seafood sector, driven by a skilled workforce, delivering value added products in line with consumer demand; and Maintain and develop strategic, operational, regulatory and technical capacity and capability to deliver excellent services to our customers. Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State with special responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, stated: I welcome the publication of this Statement of Strategy and Action Plan. "They provide us with a clear outline of what is required to progress action on climate and biodiversity, and the means by which we integrate them into all aspects of the Departments work. From nature-friendly land use, to reducing emissions and enhancing our farmland biodiversity these and other actions are vital to the continued health of our society, economy, species and planet. Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development, added: This Statement of Strategy provides a concise and accessible foundation from which to advance our ambition to support strategic investment in research and development; identify, negotiate and develop new market access; and improve health, safety and wellbeing outcomes on Irish farms. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Action Plan 2021 and the Departments Statement of Strategy, 2021-2024 are available HERE. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The OCTA Research group on Wednesday recommended the strict enforcement of mandatory quarantine period for returning Filipinos amid threats of new COVID-19 variants in other countries. In an interview with CNN Philippines, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David pushed for a 14-day isolation or even longer for countrymen coming from abroad to prevent a further rise in cases. We echoed that recommendation to have mandatory 14-day or even longer quarantine period, David told Balitaan. I know medyo costly yung to have quarantines, and medyo nakakapagod for our returning Filipinos, he added. Pero at the same time, we cannot allow a surge to happen because we are not willing to make tough decisions. [Translation: I know its costly to have quarantines, and this would be tiring for our returning Filipinos But at the same time, we cannot allow a surge to happen because we are not willing to make tough decisions.] David was reacting to reports that a new coronavirus variant detected in France was more difficult to detect through standard tests. Media company France 24 reported in March that French authorities are investigating a new variant found in the western Brittany region but noted that it currently does not appear to be more dangerous or contagious. David, meanwhile, pointed out that a mandatory quarantine has been a standard practice even in other countries. In response, the Health Department maintained that the quarantine policy is already being practiced in coordination with local government units. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that all incoming travelers, once tested negative after the 5th or 6th day of quarantine, will be endorsed to their respective LGUs to ensure the completion of their 14-day isolation period. Atin po talagang kinausap ang local government (units) that they really have to enforce the continuation of this 14-day quarantine of these travelers so we can assure na walang kakalat na sakit doon sa kanilang lugar, Vergeire said in a separate media forum. [Translation: We really told the local government that they really have to enforce the continuation of this 14-day quarantine of these travelers so we can assure that the disease will not spread in their area.] The country has so far recorded cases of the COVID-19 variants first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. The Health Department also logged cases of the P.3 variant first discovered in the Philippines. RELATED: DOH detects 192 new cases of COVID-19 variant from South Africa, 190 from three other variants Overall, the Philippines has listed over 890,000 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday. Kanal Istanbul has nothing to do with the Montreux Convention, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday as he vowed that the huge waterway project on the edge of Istanbul is about Turkey's sovereign rights and would bring major relief to the city, Daily Sabah reports. The convention is a 1936 agreement that gives Turkey control over the Bosporus and Dardanelles and regulates the transit of naval warships. It guarantees the free passage of civilian vessels in times of peace and limits the passage of naval ships that do not belong to littoral Black Sea states and governs foreign cargo ships. Kanal Istanbul, which has nothing to do with the Montreux Convention, will bring Turkey greater comfort and peace, Erdogan told a meeting in the capital Ankara. Erdogan earlier this month said Turkey remained committed to the accord but could review it in the future. Signed on July 20, 1936, at the Montreux Palace in Switzerland, the convention gives Turkey permission to remilitarize the Bosporus and Dardanelles. It went into effect on Nov. 9, 1936, and was registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series on Dec. 11, 1936. Turkey moves forward with plans to construct the huge Kanal Istanbul waterway project that will connect the Black Sea north of Istanbul to the Marmara Sea to the south, parallel to the Bosporus. It is estimated to cost over TL 75 billion ($9.2 billion). Officials have said Montreux would not cover the canal. The government says it will ease traffic on the Bosporus Strait, one of the worlds busiest maritime passages, and prevent accidents similar to those in previous years. It was announced last week that Varadis Ltd, a Cork based deep technology radiation detection company, has won a significant contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). The companys novel radiation detection sensors and sub-systems are already well known to the global space exploration industry and have already been used by astronauts in the International Space Station. Varadis technology is also used by several of the largest private and public sector organisations around the world. The technology, Radiation Sensing Field Effect Transistors (RADFETs), is built on 30 years of research at Tyndall National Institute, and accurately measures the absorbed doses of ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, protons, and x-rays. Now ESA are expanding the use of this technology on satellites. Welcoming the announcement Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Damien English said, "The success of Irish companies in this highly competitive environment is a testament to the quality of research and development taking place in our third-level institutions and the support infrastructure that enables the commercialisation of this research. I look forward to more Irish companies benefiting from the Governments ongoing investment in ESA this year and achieving similar success to Varadis." Manager of ESA Space Solutions Ireland and Head of New Ventures at Tyndall, Peter Finnegan added, "Varadis is an ESA Business Incubation Centre Ireland supported company that is commercialising ground breaking propriety technology that was developed at Tyndall. Varadis has been supported by Enterprise Ireland, the European Space Agency, UCC Innovation and Tyndall, which underscores our combined commitment to the commercialisation agenda." Source: www.businessworld.ie Bollywood's Mr Perfectionist will be seen next in Laal Singh Chaddha where he stars opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan. In a new video, the actor has spoken about his experience shooting the highly-awaited movie amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Laal Singh Chaddha is a remake of the Hollywood classic, Forrest Gump. "Forrest Gump begins with a feather, the feather comes floating down from the sky and it goes over peoples shoulders and drives over a car, the wind kind of pushes it here and there, and Advait (Chandan), who is the director of this film, he and I often joke that when we took on this film, our lives have become like a feather different winds are pushing us in different directions, and we are just kind of flowing with it and we are just going to figure out where we land up by the end of the film," Aamir says in the video posted by his fan club on YouTube. Aamirs wife, Kiran Rao also makes an appearance in the video. "While the rest of the world was dealing with Corona, we were dealing with Corona and Kareena who was the heroine of the film, she got pregnant, another complication so we are like one more gust of wind has pushed us in another direction," Aamir mused. (Natural News) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not plan to seek expert advice before deciding whether or not to amend the emergency use authorization if gave Pfizer-BioNTech for its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to include adolescents aged 12 to 15. As Pfizer has announced, the FDA has received the companys request to amend its emergency use authorization in order to expand the age range for its COVID-19 vaccine to include individuals 12-15 years of age, a spokesperson for the FDA told the Epoch Times via email. Based on an initial evaluation of the information submitted, at this time, the agency does not plan to hold a meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on this request to amend the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was discussed and recommended for authorization at a VRBPAC meeting in December 2020. The VRBPAC provides the FDA with recommendations and advice on scientific and regulatory issues, including the evaluation of data concerning the safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use of vaccines that are intended for use in the prevention, treatment or diagnosis of human diseases. The committee is composed of independent experts from the medical and scientific community. However, the committees role is purely advisory in nature. The FDA often accepts the VRBPACs recommendations, but it has the option of not implementing the advice. FDA expected to expand age range for Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine The FDA is expected to extend the emergency authorization of Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine to children aged 12 to 15 years old, but the agency said it doesnt know when that decision will be made. (Related: SACRIFICE THE CHILDREN: Oxford Vaccine Group recruits children for coronavirus vaccine trials.) While the FDA cannot predict how long its evaluation of the data and information will take, the agency will review the request as expeditiously as possible using its thorough and science-based approach, an FDA representative said. As with all FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, we are committed to transparency with this EUA review process. Pfizer and BioNTech submitted a request to the FDA on April 9 to expand its vaccine emergency authorization to the adolescent group. If broadened, young adolescents could start getting vaccinated before going back to school in the fall. The companies said in a joint statement that they plan to request similar authorizations from health agencies around the world in the coming days. These submissions represent a critical step in Pfizers and BioNTechs ongoing efforts to support governments in broadening global vaccination efforts, the statement said. Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine Phase 3 trial demonstrated 100 percent efficacy and robust antibody response from over 2,200 volunteers aged 12 to 15 1,131 of whom received a vaccine and the rest received a placebo. Preliminary data showed that no COVID-19 cases were observed in the vaccinated group versus the 18 cases in the placebo group. The study has not been published yet. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is currently approved for use via emergency authorization in people 16 and older. Vaccine makers initially focused on adults because children were proving far less likely to die from COVID-19. A childs biology differs from that of an adult, which can affect the way vaccines work. Johnson & Johnson announced on April 2 that it had begun testing its vaccine on adolescents aged 12 to 17 in a Phase 2a trial. Moderna is also testing its vaccine in children. Results from its study of children aged 12 to 17 years old, which began in December last year, are expected soon. A separate trial consisting of children below 12 years old began last month. Pfizer began testing its vaccine in children below 12 years old in March, with results expected during the second half of the year. Health expert says theres no reason to mandate COVID-19 vaccination on healthy children Meanwhile, Oxford University announced earlier this month that it was suspending a trial of the COVID-19 vaccine that it developed with AstraZeneca on children and teenagers. While there are no safety concerns in the pediatric clinical trial, we await additional information from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on its review of rare cases of thrombosis/thrombocytopenia that have been reported in adults, before giving any further vaccinations in the trial, the university said in a statement. Parents and children should continue to attend all scheduled visits and can contact the trial sites if they have any questions. The MHRA reported that seven people in the United Kingdom have died from rare blood clots after getting the shot. There were 30 identified cases of rare blood clots in the country overall. There is no reason to mandate healthy children aged 12 to 15 years old with any of the investigational COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Teryn Clarke, communications director of Americas Frontline Doctors, told The Epoch Times in an email. The facts are clear: Children do not get serious illness from this virus. Until larger-scale studies are completed, including on people who have recovered from COVID-19, parents should carefully weigh the facts when deciding on vaccination. According to the FDA, any vaccine issued an emergency use authorization and not FDA-licensed is considered an investigational vaccine. All three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson continue to collect safety and efficacy data for their Phase 3 clinical trials. Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to coronavirus vaccines. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NYTimes.com EuroNews.com The reality of an imminent American withdrawal from Afghanistan differs from its long-anticipated likelihood. Already the anxiety engendered by this new certainty in the capital, Kabul, and other urban centers is making itself felt. Afghans fear is multifaceted, evoked by the Talibans grim record, bitter and vivid memories of civil war and the widely acknowledged weakness of the current government. These conditions in turn push Afghan thinking in one direction: The countrys government and armed forces wont survive without American support. Many American policymakers, security officials and diplomats concur with this gloomy view. Just this week, the U.S. intelligence assessment, presented to Congress, suggested as much: The Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support. During their five years in power, 1996 to 2001, the Taliban operated one of the worlds most oppressive and theocratic regimes, and there is little in their public posture and behavior during the groups years of insurgency to suggest that much has changed, at least ideologically. In Afghanistans cities, the new middle-class society that emerged under the American security umbrella over the last 20 years dread a return to that era of rule. Bajaj Finance, the consumer finance arm of the Pune-based Bajaj Group, has mobilised close to Rs 3,500 crore from banks, mutual funds and other institutional investors by way of non-convertible debentures. The non-banking finance company with market capitalisation of Rs 2.84 lakh crore has raised the substantial sum in March alone amid the second Covid wave. The private sector Axis Bank has put in Rs 750 crore followed by mutual funds like HDFC and IDFC. The funds would be utilised for refinancing of earlier high cost loans and also for growth and provisions, if any, for the stress loans. The operating environment has suddenly changed for banks and NBFCs as second Covid wave has gripped Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and other states. There is no regulatory protection like moratorium or restructuring available for customers now. The Supreme Court has also lifted the NPA standstill in March, which means higher NPAs and also higher provisioning pressure for financial services companies. The banks flush with liquidity are keen to invest in NCDs of well-managed and good-rated NBFCs. In fact, the banks also have a direct loan exposure to NBFCs. In the aftermath of IL&FS and Dewan housing debacle, the RBI had also relaxed the upper limit for bank financing to NBFCs. Also read: 'Don't want to arrest economy': Sitharaman says govt won't go for lockdowns in a big way While the Bajaj Finance's reliance on bank funding has gradually gone down in the last 5-6 years, the NCDs share in the funding profile has seen a change from 30 per cent to 35 per cent of its total borrowings. Deposits have also achieved a critical share of one-fourth from negligible some six years ago. Last year, banks which got RBI money at the repo rate under its long term repo operation (LTRO), invested in the NCDs of high-rated NBFCs for quick gains. Bajaj Finance with a dominant share in consumer durable loans has been stress-testing its loan assets quite regularly. The second lockdown is also likely to impact NBFCs like Bajaj Finance as there are no new government or regulatory reliefs. The NPA classification norms are also in place. The company's gross NPAs after the lifting of the Supreme Court's NPA standstill is expected to touch 2.86 per cent. But the current restructuring and earlier moratorium hide the real stress in the system. Also read: Housing finance firms likely to see 8-10% growth in FY22: Icra The company has always maintained good liquidity buffer. The company had liquidity buffer of Rs 14,347 crore as on December 31, 2020, which is 11 per cent . The company had earlier planned to go back to its pre-Covid liquidity buffer of 7-8 per cent of its borrowings by March 2021. There is always a cost attached to excess liquidity, but the challenging Covid environment has forced many good NBFCs and banks to sit on higher liquidity to meet any short-term obligations like deposit outflows. The company is well capitalised with capital adequacy ratio at 28.18 per cent in December 2020. In fact, it has adequate capital to meet growth target for the next 2-3 years.Currently, the company is focussing on existing customer base for cross-selling and also growing its asset under management. The company reported a AUM of Rs 1.47 lakh crore, income of Rs 26,386 crore and profits of Rs 5,264 crore for 2019-20. It looks like Gov. Phil Murphy will go unchallenged in this years Democratic gubernatorial primary after administrative law judges Tuesday said his two would-be challengers should be tossed off the ballot for failing to get enough voter signatures on their petitions. Judge Jeffrey Rabin ruled one of the challengers, Lisa McCormick, didnt have a single valid signature from all of the 1,951 she submitted. The state requires a minimum of 1,000 signatures to get on the gubernatorial ballot. The Democratic State Committee charged that McCormicks campaign used voter data to automatically fill petitions without the voters knowledge. There were at least two petitioners who were dead when they allegedly signed their support for McCormicks campaign, some names were misspelled and others had moved out of the state, Rajiv Parikh, attorney for the Democratic State Committee argued. It appeared to the laymans eye as if respondent McCormick had, at the last minute, simply created a template for completing individual single signature petition forms and merely inserted the names of addresses of miscellaneous registered Democrats into the forms, Judge Rabin wrote in his ruling. The final decision is now up to Secretary of State Tahesha Way. Her ruling could also be appealed in state court. Parikh had said Monday he believed there should be a criminal inquiry into McCormicks petitions. McCormick told NJ Advance Media Tuesday she will ask voters to write in (her) name on June 8. I am surprised that they are so afraid of someone who wont raise money and only is armed only with the truth, she said. In a statement from Monday, McCormick said her campaign manager, Jim Devine, handled petitions for me and I am confident that he knows what hes doing. Neither McCormick nor Devine attended the Monday virtual hearing. McCormick has run failed campaigns to get on a city council or become a county clerk. She also lost a Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Her best showing in a political race was when she took nearly 4 out of 10 votes in the 2018 primary race against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, in the wake of his Senate Ethics Committee admonishment and a criminal corruption trial that ended in a hung jury before the charges were dropped. Murphys other potential challenger was Roger Bacon. In Bacons case, Administrative Law Judge JoAnn Candido ruled he didnt meet the signature requirement because about 280 he gathered were from registered Republicans which is invalid for a Democratic primary. About two dozen other petitions were tossed out for other reasons. Bacon had submitted 1,271 signatures to the state. He was trying to run under the Make New Jersey Great Again slogan. Bacon has been a candidate in multiple failed races in the state, including running for Congress as a Libertarian in the early 1990s and placing fourth in a Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2009 when three people tried to challenge former Gov. Jon Corzine. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Even as Midland Health officials are closing down the mass vaccination location at the end of the month, officials are still stressing the importance of receiving a vaccine. A reason for the continued sense of urgency is because if there is a high enough level of COVID-19 vaccination in the community, it is possible to decrease the amount of virus in the community. That means there would be less replication of the virus and less opportunities for mutations that create variants that are occurring even in Midland. That is what Dr. Larry Wilson, VP of Medical Affairs and chief medical officer for Midland Health, said during a press conference Tuesday. It was during the press conference that Midland Health CEO Russell Meyers stated around 26 percent of eligible Midland County residents could be considered fully vaccinated. Meyers said that around 36 percent of the eligible population age 16 and older has had at least one dose of vaccine. He then said about 26 percent has either had a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. In Midland County, the vast majority of people fully vaccinated had the two doses of Pfizer, Meyers said. So, we still have a long way to go to get our community as fully vaccinated as it could be to minimize the risk going forward of another outbreak, Meyers said. Meyers added that almost two-thirds of those over the age of 65 have had at least one dose and about 52 percent are considered fully vaccinated. Meyers was asked about the percentage of the community that needed to be vaccinated for community members to be able to resume normal life. We are all moving in the direction of more normal life every day, Meyers said. We have said the end of May is kind of our reevaluation deadline. And I think as we continue to see hospitalization numbers in the low teens or the single digits -- or hopefully one of these days we'll be able to say we have no COVID patients in the hospital -- that's probably the thing that I will watch the most closely -- what's the hospital's activity. The number of COVID patients in the community is of less concern. He added he would like to see two-thirds of the community vaccinated. On Tuesday, Wilson said COVID variants are in the community. He said of the 25 recent tests from positive COVID patients, three of them showed a British variant and another had a California variant. Wilson said variants create a higher level of concern because of the higher level of transmissibility of those infections. He also said with the British version, it seems that it's infecting people with a more severe infection at a lower age. Through the end of April, residents can still schedule an appointment at the Horseshoe. From that point, Midland Health will work with local United Supermarkets to make sure vaccinations are possible for those that want them. Wilson said the Pfizer vaccine will be offered at those locations. Wilson also said appointments are available at the Midland Health Department for the Moderna vaccine, which also requires two injections. It's during replication of the virus that mutations occur that create the variants, Wilson said. So, if we want to reduce the risk of having to have yearly boosters or changes in vaccines that have to be made so that we can accommodate the new variants, reducing the amount of virus in the community by getting to the point of high levels of immunity through vaccination is the key to accomplishing that. So, please, if you havent done so, get vaccinated. Lets decrease the variants that are developing. The authorities said this decision was taken out of an abundance of caution while investigations are ongoing ( ) said it is delaying the European rollout of its COVID-19 vaccine after it was suspended in the US over concerns of blood clots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this decision was taken out of an abundance of caution while investigations are ongoing. This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot, a statement read. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously. As of April 12, 6.8mln people had received the single-dose jab with six people experiencing a rare and severe type of blood clot. These were all women between the ages of 18 and 48 and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. "We have been reviewing these cases with European health authorities. We have made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe," the pharma giant said on Tuesday. "We have been working closely with medical experts and health authorities, and we strongly support the open communication of this information to healthcare professionals and the public." Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered, the US authorities said. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots but administration of heparin may be dangerous in this setting, so the patients had to receive alternative treatment. The CDC and FDA added that people who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Shares shed 3% to US$156.82 just before open. --Adds J&J's statement-- Newport, OR (97365) Today Showers early, then partly cloudy for the afternoon. High 56F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. From left, former U.S. senator Chris Dodd, former U.S. Deputies Secretary of State James Steinberg and Richard Armitage have their photo taken with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu upon arrival in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 14, 2021. (Central News Agency via Reuters) As Bidens Emissaries Go to Taiwan, Beijing Terms Exercises Combat Drills China described its military exercises near Taiwan as combat drills on April 14, upping the ante as senior former U.S. officials arrived in Taipei on a trip to signal President Joe Bidens commitment to Taiwan and its democracy. Taiwan has complained about the proximity of repeated Chinese military activity, including fighter jets and bombers entering its air defense zone and a Chinese aircraft carrier exercising off the island, which is claimed by Beijing. Twenty-five Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on April 12, the largest reported incursion by Taipei to date. Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its fold by force if necessary. Since last year, it has ratcheted up its military aggression toward the island, prompting criticism from the United States and its allies. This year, the regime has been sending aircraft over Taiwans ADIZ on a near-daily basis. The Chinese regimes Taiwan Affairs Office alleged that Taiwans government and separatists were colluding with external forces. The Peoples Liberation Armys organizing of actual combat exercises in the Taiwan Strait is a necessary action to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty, spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said on April 14. It is a solemn response to external forces interference and provocations by Taiwan independence. The PLAs military exercises and training operations are sending a signal that our determination to curb Taiwan independence and TaiwanU.S. collusion is not just talk. China has previously offered little public comment on its recent military actions near Taiwan. Its defense ministry referred to them only as military activities in late January. The United States, which like most countries only officially recognizes the Chinese regime and not Taiwans government, is nonetheless Taipeis strongest international backer and has watched tensions mount with growing alarm. Former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg arrived in Taiwan on April 14 in an unmarked private jet in what a White House official called a personal signal of the presidents commitment to Taiwan and its democracy. Theyre due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on April 15 in a trip thats further straining U.S.Sino relations. Taiwan presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said the trip again shows the TaiwanU.S. relationship is rock solid and is a full expression of cross-party support for Taiwan in the United States. Tsai has repeatedly said Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name. Ma, the Chinese regimes spokesman, said the meeting of the U.S. officials with Tsai will only exacerbate the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait and that it doesnt matter whether its being cast as an official or unofficial visit. Since the Trump administration, the United States has steadily dialed up its engagements with the democratic island. President Donald Trump sent two senior officials to visit Taiwan last year. On March 28, U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessey-Niland arrived in Taiwan as part of a Palau delegation headed by President Surangel Whipps. Palau is one of Taiwans 15 diplomatic allies. The state department last week issued new guidelines that will enable U.S. officials to meet more freely with officials from Taiwan. Cathy He contributed to this report. A man who made millions from selling fake wine bottles to collectors was expelled from the United States last week. U.S. Customs and Immigration officials said the man, Rudy Kurniawan, was sent back to his home country of Indonesia. Between 2004 and 2012, he made millions of dollars by putting low-cost wines from Napa Valley into fake bottles of expensive wines. The 44-year-old Indonesian did it all from his home outside of Los Angeles, California. Kurniawan came to the U.S. on a student visa in the 1990s. He unsuccessfully applied for asylum protection and was ordered to leave the country in 2003. But he stayed illegally. Kurniawans family gained their wealth operating a beer supply business in Indonesia. He claimed to be a buyer and seller of rare wines and made millions of dollars at auctions. Some collectors called him Dr. Conti for his love of a French Burgundy wine, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. In one auction in 2006, Kurniawan sold a record $24.7 million of wine. His plans started to fall apart when some of his wines were found to be fakes. Christies is a company that auctions rare and expensive items. In 2007, Christies withdrew a bottle that Kurniawan said was a 1982 Chateau Le Pin. The company said it was a fake. In 2008, his $600,000-collection of Domaine Ponsot wine was also pulled from an auction. Kurniawan claimed that one bottle was made in 1929. But the winemaker did not begin selling that kind of wine until 1934. When the FBI searched his home in 2012, law enforcement officials found hundreds of bottles, corks and labels. At Kurniawans trial, a wine expert testified that he collected 19,000 fake wine labels from 27 of the worlds best wines. And Billionaire William Koch, a wine collector, said he paid Kurniawan $2.1 million for 219 fake bottles of wine. Government lawyers said he might have sold as many as 12,000 fake bottles of wine. Many are still in peoples collections. With money from the fraud, Kurniawan bought expensive cars including a Lamborghini and paid for clothes and other living expenses. The government took $20 million worth of his property. And the court also ordered Kurniawan to return $28.4 million to seven victims. He was found guilty of fraud in 2013 and spent seven years in prison. Last week, U.S. immigration officials said Kurniawan is a public safety threat and sent him back to Indonesia. Im Jonathan Evans. Robert Jablon reported this story for the Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fake- adj. not true or real fraud- n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person expensive- adj. costing a lot of money auction- n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most label-n. a name shown on clothes that indicates the store, company, or person who sold, produced, or designed the clothes A church in Canada was forced to hold an "underground" service after the authorities barricaded its worship center. Pastor James Coates, recently released from jail for holding worship services, held the church service at an "undisclosed location" last Sunday. GraceLife Church published the video of their online service early Monday, blurring the faces of members who attended the physical service, Faithwire reported. Watch the service at the bottom of this report. "They can take our facility, but we'll just find another one," the pastor told the congregants. After a few moments, two worship leaders came forward and the other blurted out, "Did you ever think you'd be part of the underground church?" The two then led the church with the song "It is Well With My Soul." After singing, Pastor Coates took the stage for the sermon. He said that he was planning to preach from Psalm 56 but following the shutdown of their worship center, he had to change the topic of his preaching which led him to Psalm 2 and titled it "A Vain Thing." "We need a Psalm more appropriate for an occasion like this. We need to hear a 'Jesus is Lord' kind of sermon," he explained. "As we read Psalm 2, I want you to consider that what we see taking place in this Psalm though it really describes something yet future to us, is a sense in which this is taking right now at present," the pastor added. He continued by reading the chapter. After explaining the context, he drew a parallel of the chapter to the current situation that their church is going through. "Governments all over the world are counseling together in a unified effort to oppress the people they govern," he said. "In that context, those who are faithful, those who follow Christ and confess that Jesus is Lord are going to be the ones they have to silence and get out of the way because everyone else is going to fall in line," the pastor added. He further stated that the role of the believers is to honor God and "call governments" to surrender to His lordship, ruling in accordance with God's Word. He also said that the government knew that it will be judged according to the Word of God but it continued with its "obstinacy," which he called a "defiance." The service was ended with the song "How Great Thou Art" and declaration of the passage from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word," the verses said. On April 7, the church building was barricaded by the Canadian police after health officials in Alberta decided to "physically close" it, until its leaders comply with the province's pandemic regulations. The move was criticized by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, the legal organization that represents GraceLife and Pastor Coates, stating that it prevents the citizens from "exercising their Charter freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and worship." Protesters came and removed the fences, but the government sent 200 armed riot police in response. GraceLife Church members weren't present when the incident happened. Dr Reddy's Laboratories, which has exclusive marketing and distribution rights for the first 250 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccines in India, may get potential upside revenues of $300 million from the contract, estimates an analyst report. The government's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has recently recommended Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)'s Sputnik V vaccine for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in India, subject to satisfactory immunogenicity data submission. "Considering the base case scenario of a pricing cap of USD 2 per dose for the vaccine, we believe the upside potential for revenues is USD 300 million for Dr Reddy's Laboratories for the duration of the contract," say analysts Tushar Manudhane and Bharat Hegde in a Motilal Oswal analyst report. The company has got permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to import the vaccine. Reddy's is also going to tap domestically contract manufactured vaccines as and when companies are allowed to start commercial manufacturing in India. According to RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev, the vaccine roll out in small quantities will likely begin as early as May and production on a larger scale will start by July, with plans to produce 500 million doses. RDIF has contracts in place to make 1.7 billion doses of Sputnik V with about 20 manufacturers. Main among them are a Korean consortium of seven manufacturers who will make 650 million doses and Indian manufacturers like Gland Pharma (252 million), Strides Arcolab's Stellis (200 million), Virchow Biotech (200 million), Panacea Biotech and Hetero Drugs (100 million each). According to sources, Dr Reddy's will be initially depending on imports as final clearance for the vaccine is pending, subject to submission of additional data asked by the regulator. The contracted companies are now readying the facilities. According to an informed pharmaceutical expert who work with biotech companies, most of the contracted companies may require at least 2-3 months to start commercial production. "Except for two of those five companies, the rest currently do not make vaccines, according to my knowledge. Their biosimilar/biotech plants need to be refurbished to make vaccines, then test batches have to be made and data need to be approved by the respective state drug controllers to allow commercial manufacturing," he said. Some of the companies have already started the process since signing of the contract and are making minor production, he added. RDIF is now negotiating with the Indian government on price of the vaccine and more deals are likely to be announced within a fortnight. While the pricing is capped and distribution is also controlled by the government in India, the opening up of vaccine distribution to the private market may lead to better pricing and margins for companies like Dr Reddy's, say the analysts. According to reputed medical journal The Lancet, the vaccine is 91.6% effective. Phase 3 trials for the vaccine have been conducted in India, the UAE, Venezuela, and Belarus. Data related to the 'bridge trial' is awaited and expected to be submitted by end April. While Sputnik V is registered in 55 countries, other countries that have administered this vaccine are the UAE, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Iran, Palestine, Argentina, and Serbia. Some countries such as Mexico, San Marino, Slovakia, Paraguay, Montenegro, Venezuela, and Bolivia are also going to use the Sputnik V vaccine. Also read: Sputnik V in India: Dr Reddy's to begin supply of COVID-19 vaccine imported from Russia in May Also read: India badly needs Sputnik V in fight against COVID-19 The mayor of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota is calling for Daunte Wright's case to be reassigned as angry protests continue into a third night. Wright, 20, was shot and killed by cop Kimberly Potter who said she mistook her gun for a taser during a traffic stop. During a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Mike Elliott said he would ask Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to have state Attorney General Keith Ellisons office take over the investigation 'to ensure transparency and to continue building trust in our community'. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput is currently handling the case, despite the shooting happening in Hennepin County, due to state law involving police-involved shooting cases. A decision on charging Potter could come as early as Wednesday. It's not clear what charges Potter might face. Mayor Elliott's call to action came ahead of a third night of protests following Wright's fatal shooting. Potter's home was barricaded up on Tuesday, with officers posted inside as a group of protesters gathered at the fences. Meanwhile, protesters and police also clashed outside the Brooklyn Center Police precinct, where demonstrators created umbrella barricades while cops pelted them with gas and flash bangs. Scroll down for video Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott is asking for the shooting cause of Daunte Wright to be reassigned to state to 'ensure transparency' in the wake of Sunday's shooting death Daunte Wright (left) was killed by Kimberly Potter, a veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police (right) during a traffic stop on Sunday, sparking days of protests Tuesday night marked the third night of protests as police officers used flash bangs to clear crowds near the Brooklyn Center Police Department Ellison, the state Attorney General in Minnesota, addressed protesters on Monday night in Brooklyn Center. 'Raise your voices, but let's do it in a way that everybody stays safe,' Ellison said, according to KARE 11. 'We don't need no more casualties, no more martyrs.' Ellison is responsible for another high-profile prosecution, that of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, with the sensational trial ongoing. Both Potter and Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned after he released bodycam video of the incident, going against the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. That bodycam video shows Potter expressing shock after she fired her gun at Wright instead of her Taser, like she thought she had. Mayor Mike Elliott said he would ask Democratic Gov. Tim Walz (right) to have state Attorney General Keith Ellisons (left) office take over the investigation Police released footage of the incident from Potter's bodycam, showing her and two other officers approaching Wright's car after he had been pulled over for a traffic stop. The footage showed one officer trying to handcuff Wright as a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. Wright immediately jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee. A struggle then broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car. 'I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!' Potter could be heard shouting in her bodycam video. Immediately after, Potter can be heard saying, 'Holy sh*t. I shot him.' Wright drove several blocks before coming to a stop when he hit another car. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his girlfriend, who was a passenger in the car, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Wright's death has been ruled a homicide, with a gunshot wound to the chest listed as his cause of death. Meanwhile, city manager Curt Boganey was fired after Potter was 'entitled to due process.' Demonstrators were faced with a curfew on Tuesday night in Brooklyn Center The National Guard was called in to defend the Brooklyn Center Police Department Protests continue to rock the city and the region as the legal process begins to play out for everyone involved. A 10pm curfew was in place for Tuesday night, but an unlawful assembly was declared with 90 minutes to spare, leading to the use of pepper spray and flash bombs. Curfews were in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove from 10pm local time, KSTP reports. Demonstrators began gathering Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence. Police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch as more than 1,000 protestors arrived early in the evening. According to FOX 9, 34 arrests were made on Monday night as there were isolated incidents of looting, including damage to a Dollar Tree that had items stolen and windows smashed in. The search for Kristin Smart's remains is continuing after the college classmate who was the last person seen with her before she vanished nearly 25 years ago was charged with her murder. Suspicion has long followed Paul Flores, now 44, ever since Smart disappeared from the Cal Poly University campus in San Luis Obispo back in 1996 on her way home from a frat party. Despite being a suspect from day one, investigators say they never had enough evidence to charge Flores over Smart's disappearance until Tuesday when he was taken into custody on suspicion of murdering the 19-year-old. His father, Ruben Flores, 80, was also arrested as an accessory to the crime. The lengthy road to an arrest culminated this week after years of conducting more than 40 search warrants, collecting nearly 200 new pieces of evidence and using modern DNA techniques to retest old evidence. Since 2019, investigators have also been tracking Flores' phone and text messages. And last month, they used ground penetrating radar to search for Smart's remains at the Flores family home. Still, the search for Smart's body continues. Despite being a suspect from day one, investigators say they never had enough evidence to charge Paul Flores over Kristin Smart's disappearance until Tuesday when he was taken into custody (above) on suspicion of murdering the 19-year-old Following the arrests, investigators set up a coroner's tent at the Flores' family home in Arroyo Grande and a radar was used to search the ground. Investigators also used power saws and drills to dismantle a large deck outside the home as they searched underneath it and in the garage. Suspicion has long followed Paul Flores, now 44, ever since Smart disappeared from the Cal Poly University campus in San Luis Obispo back in 1996 on her way home from a frat party The search warrants related to the investigation have always remained sealed so it is not clear exactly what evidence led to the arrests. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson, however, vowed not to rest until Smart's body was found, saying: 'Until we return Kristin to (her family) this is not over.' He confirmed that forensic physical evidence was located that they believe is linked to Smart. 'I am confident we have enough of a case to prove beyond a reasonable doubt... I believe we will find Kristin,' he said. Smart's family issued a statement shortly after the arrests calling it a 'bittersweet day' but slammed Paul and Ruben Flores for allegedly hiding 'this horrible secret' for decades. 'The knowledge that a father and son, despite our desperate pleas for help, could have withheld this horrible secret for nearly 25 years, denying us the chance to lay our daughter to rest, is an unrelenting and unforgiving pain,' the family said. The case dates back to May 25, 1996 when Smart was last seen returning to her dorm at the Cal Poly University campus at about 2am after an off-campus party. Paul Flores, 44, and his father, Ruben Flores, 80, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with Kristin Smart's 1996 disappearance 2021: They served another search warrant on Tuesday at Ruben Flores' home. Investigators appeared to be disassembling a deck outside the home and the sound of power saws and drills could be heard whining in the background 2021: Following the arrests, investigators set up a coroner's tent at the Flores' family home in Arroyo Grande and a radar was used to search the ground A then-19-year-old Flores, who was a fellow freshman at the school, had offered to walk her home from the party. Smart was not reported missing to the Cal Poly Police Department until three days after she was last seen. Her dorm mate at the time said police were initially reluctant to take a missing persons report because it was Memorial Day weekend and she might have left the campus. As the last person to see Smart alive, Flores was under suspicion from the start. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office has been in charge of the investigation since a month after Smart vanished. During the investigation, four different search dogs trained to pick up the smell of human remains led police to Flores' dorm room. No evidence was ever found in Flores' room. Smart was officially declared dead in 2002. Various search efforts have been carried out over the years, including the excavation of three different hillside locations near the campus in 2016. At the time, an investigator said a lead strongly suggested her remains might be buried near a large concrete letter 'P' that is the school's landmark but the search ended with no trace of Smart's remains. Smart's family (above in an undated photo) issued a statement shortly after the arrests calling it a 'bittersweet day' but slammed Paul and Ruben Flores for allegedly hiding 'this horrible secret' for decades 2016: Various search efforts have been carried out over the years, including the excavation of three different hillside locations near the campus in 2016 2020: The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department are pictured seizing evidence from Flores' LA home in February 2020 The case picked up steam in the past few years after Parkinson, who became sheriff in 2011, ordered a thorough review of the evidence and hired a fulltime cold case detective. Flores then went from being a 'person of interest' to a 'suspect' to 'the prime suspect', Parkinson said. The sheriff revealed a new witness came forward in 2019 and, coupled with new evidence, they were able to get a warrant to intercept and monitor Flores' phone and text messages. Other warrants enabled investigators to conduct searches on Flores' home, along with those of his mother, father and sister, in February and April last year, which turned up additional evidence. In total, Parkinson said they served over 40 search warrants at 16 locations over the years, collected nearly 200 new items of evidence and used modern DNA techniques to test more than three dozen older pieces of evidence. He said so much evidence was compiled that it would fill three terabytes on a computer hard drive. Just last month, officers conducted yet another search warrant at the Flores' family home using ground penetrating radar equipment and cadaver dogs. Investigators discovered more evidence that resulted in the charges being brought against Paul and Ruben Flores this week. Flores has remained silent over the decades-long investigation. He has previously invoked his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions before a grand jury and in a deposition for a lawsuit that was brought against him in relation to the investigation. The Smart family filed the $40 million lawsuit in 1996 against Flores and added the the university for allegedly not protecting their daughter. It is pending awaiting a criminal case outcome. Smart was officially declared dead in 2002 but her body has never been found Investigators have long said that Flores was the last person to see Smart alive. He told police at the time that he walked Smart back from the party but parted ways with her about a block from her dorm The sheriff said Flores had nothing to say when he arrested at his home in the Los Angeles suburb of San Pedro early Tuesday morning. He was taken to a police car in handcuffs wearing pajama bottoms and a surf t-shirt. His father was arrested as an accessory around the same time at his Arroyo Grande home where investigators then carried out the new search for evidence. The younger Flores is being held without bond, while his father's bail was set at $250,000. The sheriff on Tuesday credited the podcast 'Your Own Backyard' for giving the case renewed widespread attention that led to a key witness coming forward. The podcast's creator, Chris Lambert, was a musician who grew up in the area and was intrigued by a billboard offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to Smart. 'Driving past that billboard was a periodic reminder that, oh yeah, they still havent found that girl,' Lambert said in a video posted on the podcast website. 'It's different when somebody goes missing in your own backyard.' Parkinson, who held his press conference at the university, acknowledged missteps by law enforcement early on that hampered the investigation. He pointed to Smart not officially being treated as a missing person until three days later. 'There really is no hiding the fact that there was mistakes made early on and it made it much more difficult,' Parkinson said. 'You know that first 48 hours is pretty critical in a missing person or a homicide.' Smart's family said in their statement that 'an indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years.' Parkinson likened the case to a puzzle where missing pieces are located, leading to new evidence and locations to search that then revealed other information. 'It's a very slow process to find each of those little pieces,' he said. On the occasion of Tamil New Year, Nippon Paint (India), Asias leading paint manufacturer has launched Nippon Paint Tamil Nadu Style Guide Tamizhnatin Vanna Puthagam! This Style Guide brings the rich hues of sprawling Karaikudi Palaces, the ever-changing blues of our seas & rivers, the vibrant colours of true Tamil arts and the splendid rainbow of our feasts, our timeless literature, our games and our life. The people of Tamil Nadu will have more choices of colours to choose from to suit their tradition. Some of them would include: Harvest Dance, Ripe tomatoes, Yellow pendant and Sunshine Tea. As Tamil New Year is a celebration of all the wonderful shades of this great land, the Nippon Paint Tamil Nadu Style Guide captures perfectly all that this land has to offer: hospitality, architecture, literature, delicacy, culture and sport. The colours of hospitality range is inspired by the intricate yet simple looking Kolams that adorn every porch in Tamil Nadu. The colours of architecture takes inspiration from Tamil Nadu's rich architectural like the Chettinad House and the vast temple landscape. The colours of delicacy takes after the wide and dynamic palate of Tamil Nadu. The colours of literature takes after the Thirukkural and Aathichoodi. The colours of culture combines the performative arts landscape of Tamil Nadu including Koothu, Bommalaatam, Villu Paatu, Carnatic Music, and Bharatanatyam. The colours of Sport embodies a mix of Jallikattu, Kabaddi, and Silambattam. Speaking about the Nippon Paint Tamil Nadu Style guide, Mr. Mahesh S. Anand, President Nippon Paint (India) Private Limited (Decorative Division) said, Tamil New Year symbolises the beginning of good things and embodies everything our land stands for. During such an auspicious day, we are extremely happy to launch this Tamil Nadu Style Guide to commemorate this culturally significant festival. The Nippon Paint Tamil Nadu Style guide brings you the colours of this great land. The beauty of colours is spread throughout Tamil Nadu. We aim to share this colourful journey of Tamil Nadu's culture and traditions with this style guide. We are certain that our consumers will get some inspiration for their homes from this style guide. RICHMOND, Va., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group, LLC ("THG") announced today that it has acquired a select book of business of quick-serve restaurant clients with over 100 locations in NJ & NY. These clients will participate in THG's Alternative Solutions Insurance Company ("ASIC") program, which provides captive insurance solutions for quick-serve and fast-casual restaurants. The transaction became effective on January 1, 2021. About THG: THG is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. THG is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. THG seeks to growth through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 100 acquisitions and now has over 100 offices in 20 states. THG is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. Please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com Media Contact: Ally Barbour 804-533-0191 [email protected] M&A Contact: Ryan Havermann 804-414-6508 [email protected] SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC Related Links http://www.hilbgroup.com Service personnel and civilian builders launch a ground excavation project for the construction of 10 000 homes in the Songsin and Songhwa areas of Sadong District, Pyongyang, North Korea on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The North Korean capital Pyongyang has begun demolishing entire neighborhoods to make way for leader Kim Jong Uns ambitious plan to construct 10,000 homes in the city by years end, but people displaced by the project have nowhere to live, sources in the capital told RFA. At a congress of the ruling Korean Workers Party in January, Kim unveiled a plan to alleviate a housing shortage in the countrys largest city by building with 50,000 new homes by the end of 2025, beginning with 10,000 in 2021. Construction began almost immediately after the announcement, with organizers utilizing the military to provide special brigades of laborers called storm troopers. But before the new homes are finished, the project is actually making an already severe housing shortage in the city of 3 million people worse because it is putting thousands of people who live in the areas marked for demolition out on the streets, sources said. It was not clear how many homes were destroyed. Demolition is in full swing on the outskirts of Pyongyang to make way for the new 10,000 home construction project. By the 9th, they razed all the houses in Soryong neighborhood #2, sections 1 through 4 in Taedonggang district, a resident of Pyongyang told RFAs Korean Service last week. Not long ago authorities in charge of construction for the city delivered notice that they would demolish the original residents homes through the neighborhood office and each neighborhood watch unit. The residents complained to authorities, saying it would be impossible to find a new place to live on their own within such a short amount of time, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. The source said that some residents who were not able to relocate before the deadline asked for a postponement of the demolition date. On demolition day, storm troopers dispatched to the village refused to wait, saying it was on the orders of the Supreme Commander, said the source, using Kim Jong Uns military rank as a sign of respect. Residents who couldnt even move out their belongings from their homes cried out and protested, the source said. Many of the residents who lost their homes have had to ask friends and family members to allow them to rent rooms in their houses, according to the source. But there are so many displaced people that only a few have found refuge in other peoples homes. Another source, also a resident of Pyongyang, told RFA: In Pyongyangs Sadong district, they are demolishing private houses to make way for the new 10,000-house construction project. In a neighborhood called Turu, sections #1, 2, and 3 were demolished yesterday, said the second source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. The second source said some of the residents were able to find housing with family members, but others were not as lucky. An acquaintance of mine who lived in Turu neighborhood #2 lost a precious home to the project, but he was relieved that he was able to move in with his parents who dont live too far away. But there are people who have nowhere to get any help, and they are in a situation where theyve been thrown out in the street almost overnight, and they are looking for even a storage room to stay in, said the second source. To rent a room just outside Pyongyang its 100 yuan [U.S. $15] per month and 30 yuan [$4.50] for a storage room. Poorer families cant even afford 100 yuan per month so they feel fortunate when they can find a tiny storage room where three family members can barely lie down, the second source said. The government has attempted to solve the problem by giving the original residents the right to live in the new houses, but until construction is complete many are essentially homeless. They dont know when the new house will be move-in ready and the authorities didnt guarantee a place to live in the meantime, so many have been ruthlessly kicked out of their own homes, said the second source. All real estate in North Korea is owned by the state. The second source said that since the affected residents are living in Pyongyangs outskirts, it is likely that they are not elites and therefore have no power to protest their neighborhoods being sacrificed. The Highest Dignity declared that the construction of 50,000 modern homes in the capital city would provide more stable and civilized living conditions for Pyongyangs citizens, said the second source, using an honorific term to refer to Kim Jong Un. But the residents are angry, saying that the breakneck pace of the construction has resulted in being kicked out into the street with no place to go. They wonder if the new homes are really for the citizens of the capital city or if it is just more propaganda to tout the achievements of the government. The pressure to build so many homes so quickly has made construction managers forego safety standards. RFA reported last week that about 20 storm troopers died in an electrical fire in their on-site workers barracks. Because the storm troopers are overworked, the one assigned to watch the building at night was asleep, allowing the fire to consume the whole building. Reported by Jeong Yon Park for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington on May 7, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) GOP Lawmakers Renew Push to Block Supreme Court Packing A group of Republican lawmakers has renewed efforts to prevent Democratic lawmakers from expanding the Supreme Court after a commission was created by President Joe Biden to study possible reforms to the nations top court. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who is leading the effort, proposed a constitutional amendment on April 13 that would limit the number of Supreme Court justices to nine. Similar proposals were introduced last year by other Republican lawmakers. We dont need a commission to know court-packing is a radical idea that would undermine confidence in one of our countrys most importantand trustedinstitutions, Gallagher said in a statement. The Supreme Court has been comprised of nine justices for more than 150 years, and its time we amend the Constitution to make this longstanding precedent permanent before its too late. Bidens order creates a bipartisan commission that would spearhead debate on Supreme Court reform. The panel will consist of former federal judges and lawyers who have argued in front of the Supreme Court, as well as advocates for the reform of democratic institutions and of the administration of justice, the White House stated. The expertise represented on the commission includes constitutional law, history, and political science. The panel created by Biden will be led by Bob Bauer, who served as White House counsel for former President Barack Obama, and Yale Law School professor Cristina Rodriguez, who served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel in the Obama administration. The president first floated the idea of a presidential commission last fall while on the campaign trail, following calls by liberal groups to expand the high court after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Biden presented the idea of the commission as an alternative to court-packing efforts. Court-packing had previously been attempted and was proven to be unpopular. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed legislation to expand the size of the Supreme Court to a maximum of 15 justices. Roosevelts motive was to shift the ideological balance of the court so that it would stop striking down his New Deal programs. While the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary are set up by the Constitution, it also gives Congress the authority to pass laws to set up the judicial branch, including how many justices are on the top court. The Constitution states, The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The bar to amend the Constitution is very high as it requires two-thirds of the House and Senate to approve the text of the amendment and then three-quarters of the states to ratify the amendment. Given the current division in the country, such an effort is unlikely to succeed. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer addressed the issue of court-packing in a speech to Harvard University students and alumni last week, when he warned against the effort. To make those whose initial instincts may favor important structural change, or other similar institutional changes, such as forms of court-packing, think long and hard before they embody those changes in law, Breyer said. If the public sees judges as politicians in robes, its confidence in the courts and in the rule of law can only diminish, diminishing the courts power, including its power to act as a check on other branches. My experience of more than 30 years as a judge has shown me that once men and women take the judicial oath they take that oath to heart. They are loyal to the rule of law, not to the political party that helped to secure their appointment. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. Advertisement Soldiers from the Household Cavalry and Coldstream Guards today carried out rehearsal drills for Prince Philip's farewell on Saturday, as a security ring of steel went up around Windsor ahead of the funeral. The preparations, involving members of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, took place on the Drill Square at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking, Surrey. Soldiers from the Welsh Guards, the Coldstream Guards, and the Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 Scots (the Highlanders) were also involved in practice sessions ahead of the funeral at Windsor Castle. Armed guards and wardens continued to patrol outside Windsor as preparations were made to the streets outside including signs referred to the coronavirus pandemic, saying: 'Don't let your guard down.' It came as mourners continued to gather outside royal residences to pay their respects following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh five days ago aged 99. Elsewhere, media companies were busy setting up tents for broadcasting facilities ahead of Saturday while Thames Valley Police are carrying out specialist searches around Windsor town, with officers examining street furniture including phone boxes, post boxes, drains and bins as part of the operation. Members of the Household Cavalry, The Blues and Royals rehearse in Woking today ahead of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral Soldier from the Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 Scots (the Highlanders) rehearse in Woking today ahead of Philip's funeral Military personnel rehearse for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on the Drill Square at the Army Training Centre Pirbright today A member of the Coldstream Guards prepares his uniform before rehearsing in Woking today for the Duke's funeral Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 Scots (the Highlanders) at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking today Soldiers from the Welsh Guards rehearse on the Drill Square at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking, Surrey, today A member of the Coldstream Guards prepares his uniform in Woking today ahead of rehearsals for Philip's funeral A member of the Household Cavalry, The Life Guards prepares her uniform before rehearsing in Woking today for the funeral The bugler leading The Last Post at Philip's funeral, Sergeant Bugler Jamie Ritchie, I/C Corps of Drums, Royal Marines, ahead of a rehearsal for the service on the Drill Square at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking, Surrey, today One Royal Navy commander said the magnitude of being involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral has not quite sunk in for members of the military. Philip's close association with the military will be on show at his ceremonial funeral this weekend, with elements of the Royal Navy, RAF and Army present during an eight-minute procession in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The duke had a distinguished career in the Navy, and while he gave up active service in 1951 he remained closely connected to the Navy and other military organisations throughout his public life. Lieutenant Commander Hywell Morgan, commanding officer on HMS Magpie, is among hundreds of military personnel rehearsing this week for the funeral at Army Training Centre Pirbright, near Woking, Surrey. Looking ahead to Saturday, he said: 'It's a slightly nerve-racking experience really. I don't think the magnitude of it has quite sunk in. Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 Scots (the Highlanders) rehearse for the Duke's funeral in Woking today A soldier from the Household Calvary Life Guards prepares his uniform before rehearsing in Woking today for Philip's funeral A soldier from the Coldstream Guards prepares his uniform before rehearsing for the Duke's funeral in Woking today A soldier from the Household Calvary Life Guards prepares his uniform before rehearsing in Woking for the funeral today Soldiers from the Welsh Guards rehearse on the Drill Square at the Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking today Soldiers from the Household Calvary, Life Guards prepare their uniform before rehearsing in Woking today for the funeral A soldier from the The Life Guards is pictured during rehearsals in Woking today for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral Soldiers from the Household Calvary, Life Guards and the Blues and Royals prepare their uniform in Woking today Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Broadlands on November 18, 2007. The Duke died last Friday aged 99 'It's an incredible privilege to be involved given the connection between the unit I currently command and the Duke of Edinburgh's own command back in the early 1950s.' Duke of Edinburgh Award launches new fund in memory of Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has announced it is launching a new fund in memory of Philip, who founded the charity. It said the Living Legacy Fund will give a million more young people in the UK the chance to achieve a DofE Award over the next five years. The fund will help to establish new centres, train thousands more leaders and volunteers, and provide targeted help to young people who need specialist support to complete their award, the charity said. Advertisement In July 1950, Philip was promoted to lieutenant commander and given his first command of HMS Magpie - a name that lives on in the current Navy fleet. Lieutenant Commander Morgan, from the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, said: 'There's definitely a sense of following in the footsteps of greats, even though our vessels are considerably different in scope and size.' He described the last few days as a 'baptism of fire', adding: 'I don't think the magnitude has quite sunk in for me personally, I think for some of the others as well. 'But as we line up ready to march off on Saturday I'm sure it will sink in, and the true impact of just the scale of that event will sink in.' Pirbright was chosen for rehearsals due to its proximity to Windsor and the infrastructure that allows for regular Covid-19 testing and accommodation. The majority of the personnel gathered today were in their barrack dress as they practised parading and bands rehearsed music in a large space on the site. Captain Gemma Darrington, operations officer for 27th Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, spoke of the importance of the rehearsals being Covid compliant. She said organisers are 'making sure we were doing everything that society would do and making sure our people are as safe as possible', adding that personnel have been subject to Covid tests and social distancing is enforced. 'Everything is made more difficult by Covid. Simple things - normally you can accommodate 1,000 people here, but that's been reduced to 500 people, and so key for us is keeping bubbles as small as possible, so if anyone does contract it it's affecting as few people as possible. Children lay flowers among the tributes left near Windsor Castle today following the death of Prince Philip last Friday A warden walks in front of police officers who stand guard outside Windsor Castle today, three days before Philip's funeral People stand outside Windsor Castle today in front of flowers left in memory of Prince Philip following his death aged 99 A well-wisher arrives to deliver a floral tribute to Windsor Castle today in memory of the late Duke of Edinburgh Members of the public look at Windsor Castle and take pictures outside today following the death of Prince Philip last week Children stand outside Windsor Castle as they look at flowers placed at the gates in memory of Prince Philip Armed police patrol outside Windsor Castle today, nearly a week after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99 A worker installs Covid-19 information signs depicting Coldstream Guards wearing face coverings at Windsor Castle today Wardens stand outside Windsor Castle today as preparations continue inside for Prince Philip's funeral this Saturday A well-wisher wheels a floral tribute to Prince Philip through the streets of Windsor before arriving at the castle today 'Again, you want to reduce that spread. It is just that detailed planning of how you get everyone in here in that Covid-compliant manner and safely. 'It's a huge honour. I don't think we've really had time to think about it, and the magnitude of the event that we're supporting, because we have been very busy. 'But I very much look forward to taking that time on Saturday when the service is going ahead and take the time to think about the royal family, and what they're going through, and really paying our respects in that way. 'But absolutely, we know we're playing a part in history here and we do feel very privileged to be in that role.' Members of the public make their way along the Long Walk at Windsor Castle today as people leave floral tributes to Philip Well wishers leave floral tributes outside Windsor Castle in Berkshire today following the death of Philip last week A pedestrian walks under a sign asking people not to gather at royal residencies as Windsor Castle is also seen today A worker carries social distancing signs in the shape of soldiers outside Windsor Castle today A Windsor Castle warden stands outside the royal residence today as preparations continue for Philip's funeral Tents are set up for television broadcast journalists to work from near Windsor Castle today ahead of Saturday's funeral Workers move flowers left as tributes to inside the grounds of Windsor Castle today as mourners continue to gather Members of the media work near Windsor Castle today ahead of the funeral being broadcast around the world this weekend Three portraits are seen in a gallery window near Windsor Castle today following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh A tribute is seen in a pub window near Windsor Castle today ahead of the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh this Saturday A mounted regiment of the British Army exercises their horses along The Long Walk leading to Windsor Castle today Preparations being made for TV and radio broadcasters outside Windsor Castle today ahead of the funeral this Saturday Wardens and a police officer stand outside Windsor Castle today as preparations continue ahead of Philip's funeral One cafe worker in Windsor said the Duke of Edinburgh was a 'big part of the community', and is expecting the Berkshire town to be 'very busy' on the day of Philip's ceremonial royal funeral at St George's Chapel. Prince Andrew 'has no intention to distract' from Prince Philip's funeral amid ex-officer's fury at his demand to wear full admiral's uniform Prince William has 'neither wish nor intention to distract from' his father Prince Philip's funeral, a source close to him told MailOnline today as the Queen was forced to decide which rank of military uniform he can wear. The Duke of York has demanded to go as an Admiral to Saturday's service, in a move condemned today including by one former Territorial Army officer who blasted it as a 'hissy fit' that is 'not going to go down very well'. Prince Andrew who stepped back from public duties over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein 18 months ago was made an honorary Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy on his 55th birthday in 2015. The 61-year-old Duke was due to be promoted to Admiral on his 60th birthday last year, but offered to defer it until he cleared his name and returned to public duties. Now Andrew has sparked ructions at Buckingham Palace after he told his mother and senior officials that he wished to attend the funeral as an Admiral. The widowed Queen will have to make a decision in the next 24 hours. But a source close to Andrew told MailOnline today: 'The Duke of York is very keenly aware of Saturday's funeral being a moment for the Duke of Edinburgh, HM (Her Majesty) and the nation. He has neither wish nor intention to distract from that. Speculation on what he may or may not wear is just that, speculation, and no matters of this nature have yet been decided upon. The Duke of York will do what is appropriate to the circumstances - he remains stepped back from royal duties.' Royal officials are also wrestling with the dilemma of Prince Harry possibly being the only senior male royal not in uniform at the funeral. Speaking about Andrew, a former Territorial Army infantry officer, who did not wish to be named, told MailOnline today: 'Wow. I would have thought he had bigger fish to fry than whether he had an extra epaulet on his shoulder. I think it will cause outrage for people - he's not a popular person. Having a hissy fit that you want to be an Admiral is not going to go down very well. It doesn't sound great.' Advertisement Tone Mendez, who has worked at the nearby Clairmont's cafe for 12 years, said he may be working from 3am that day due to an expected influx of visitors. But the 39-year-old, originally from Portugal, said the cafe in the High Street has been ordered by the local council not to put any tables outside. Authorities have already warned well-wishers not to visit the town on the day of the funeral due to concerns over the potential transmission of Covid-19. 'This weekend we received a letter from the council saying we're not allowed to put any tables from Friday night until six o'clock on Saturday,' Mr Mendez said. 'It is a big shame. It will be lovely to put all the tables out and people just sit there on (a) sunny day. But they probably think the town is going to be very busy and, for safety reasons, we're not allowed to put tables outside.' He said the last time such a rule was imposed was for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May 2018, when thousands lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. Asked about his expectations for Saturday, Mr Mendez said: 'I believe it's going to be very, very busy. I've been hearing things around that they are going to shut Windsor, but I don't know if it's true or not.' Mr Mendez said lockdown had meant a 'tough few weeks' for the cafe, but the last few days have been 'quite intense'. He added: 'Windsor is packed now. Every weekend is going mental now,. And we expect to be more busy this weekend.' The duke's funeral will take place entirely behind the walls of Windsor Castle, with members of the public urged not to visit the historic market town to try to watch the proceedings. John Story, mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead, previously said: 'It is a very difficult time for people and people have very strong feelings, but we have to ask everyone to put theirs and the health and safety of others at the top of their list of priorities and not come in to Windsor.' When he initially learned of Philip's death from his daughter, Mr Mendez said he thought it was 'a joke' but when he saw 'a lot of people walking by with flowers' he knew it was 'real'. He added: 'He's a big part of the community of Windsor. We see him in the Long Walk riding his horses... at the market he's there talking to people. He's a very nice person to deal with. But now he's gone, it's a shame.' Thames Valley Police have also advised people to respect the Royal Household's wishes and Government advice by not visiting royal residences or gathering in public to protect against coronavirus transmission. Additional officers are due to be patrolling Windsor town centre. The UK is officially in a period of national mourning for the next week, up to and including Philip's funeral on Saturday afternoon. The service at St George's Chapel will be like no other, with the Queen and her family wearing face masks and socially distancing as they gather to say their final farewell amid Covid-19 restrictions. Members of the public leave tributes to the Duke Of Edinburgh outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London today Police officers and well wishers gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace today to pay tribute to Prince Philip A police officer speaks with members of the public through the gates at Buckingham Palace in London today A cyclist walks past tributes to Prince Philip outside Buckingham Palace today following the Duke's death last Friday A member of the Queen's Guard crosses the street to Buckingham Palace in London today as funeral preparations continue The Union Flag at Buckingham Palace flies at half mast today as a tribute to Prince Philip following his death last week Buckingham Palace is pictured from Green Park today as mourners continue to gather at the royal residence in London People sit outside Kensington Palace in West London today as the world continues to mourn the death of Prince Philip The statue of Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace is pictured today as the Royal Family continue their period of mourning Philip's wishes are the driving force behind the funeral plans, and on the day his coffin will be transported from the castle to the chapel in a specially modified Land Rover he helped to design. Princess Eugenie releases a poignant tribute to her 'dearest grandpa' Philip Princess Eugenie has paid a heartfelt tribute to her 'dearest Grandpa' the Duke of Edinburgh, pledging to look after 'Granny' the Queen for him. Eugenie, one of the duke's eight grandchildren, recalled fond memories being taught to cook, paint and what to read by Philip, who died on Friday aged 99. Princess Eugenie, 30, has penned an emotional tribute to Prince Philip. They are pictured at the Epsom Derby in 2017 Looking back on happier days, the princess, 31, who just weeks ago gave birth to her first child, began her message to the duke on Instagram with: 'Dearest Grandpa, We all miss you. You would be so touched by all the tributes that have been shared with me the past few days. 'People remember sitting next to you at a dinner, or shaking your hand once, who remember you saying hello in passing, or remember how much their DofE award meant to them. 'I remember learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read. I remember laughing at your jokes and asking about your spectacular life and service in the navy. 'I remember incinerating the sausages and you swooping in to save the day. I remember your hands and your laugh and your favourite beer. I will remember you in your children, your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thank you for your dedication and love for us all and especially Granny, who we will look after for you. With all my love Eugenie.' Advertisement This will be followed by Prince Charles and senior royals on foot. The coffin will be covered by the duke's personal standard together with his naval cap and sword and a wreath of flowers. Only 30 people - expected to be the Duke's children, grandchildren and other close family - will attend as guests, but the Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her doctor not to travel to the UK for the funeral. Mourners coming from outside England are required to self-isolate for the first full ten days after they arrive, but are allowed to leave on compassionate grounds to attend a funeral of a close family member. The Duke of Sussex, who is in quarantine at Frogmore Cottage after travelling from the US, could also be released from quarantine if he gets a negative private test on day five under the Test to Release scheme. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given up his seat at the funeral to allow a family member to attend. While all public elements of the funeral - to take place entirely in the grounds of the castle - have been cancelled, it will be televised. As the funeral procession makes its way through the grounds of the castle, Charles will be joined by senior royals - but not the Queen - walking behind the coffin and followed by Philip's household, the most senior figure his private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell. The route of the procession will be lined by representatives from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF and the Service chiefs will walk ahead of the coffin, with the cortege led by the Band of the Grenadier Guards. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, are expected to officiate at the service. The duke died peacefully in his sleep at Windsor Castle on Friday, two months before his 100th birthday. On Saturday, gun salutes were fired across the UK, in Gibraltar and at sea in tribute. The royal family has appealed to people who wish to pay their respects in person to stay at home instead. The Queen may have to sit alone during the service due to social distancing rules, the Telegraph has reported. She is staying at Windsor with a reduced number of around 22 staff, in what has been dubbed HMS Bubble. It is thought Philip's funeral could attract one of the largest television audiences of the year. The biggest TV audience so far saw 25.1 million people watch Prime Minister Boris Johnson's televised address on January 4 announcing a new national lockdown, while 13.9 million viewers tuned in for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with US broadcaster Oprah Winfrey last month. Broadcasters have yet to confirm their plans for Philip's funeral, but the BBC and ITV are likely to devote several hours to the event, including the ceremony at 3pm. The number of deaths continues breaking long-term averages Every fifth deceased person was younger than 65. Font size: A - | A + The number of deaths is still higher than the long-term average. In February 2021, altogether 7,555 people died, which was 59 percent higher than the previous five Februaries, as stems from the data of the Statistics Office. The number of deaths this February was 2,800 higher than in 2020 or 2019. One in five people who died in February was younger than 65 years. An overall number of the deceased younger than 64 was 43 percent higher than the average The worst situation was in the Trnava Region. Significant impact of the second wave The second pandemic wave has significantly impacted the numbers of the deceased, statistics have confirmed. The numbers were also quite high in the previous months. While in January 2021, it was 75 percent higher than in the previous years, in December 2020, it was 60 percent more. In 2020, Slovakia suffered its worst death toll since the end of WW2 Read more At the national level, the excessive mortality in February was lower than in January, but only slightly, Zuzana Podmanicka from the Statistics Office said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. It is early to be optimistic about the drop, she added, stressing that it is necessary to wait how the situation will develop in the coming months. The data will be adjusted later, with the causes of deaths being specified. Most deaths between 65 and 74 years The most deaths occurred in the 65-74 age group. The increase in the number of deaths was slower, but when compared to the five-year average, it was 92 percent higher, the Statistics Office reported. At the same time, the January data confirmed that the number of deaths are also on the rise in the age group below 64 years. One in five people who died in February was younger than 65 years. Altogether 1,625 people of this age died in the second month of 2021, while in the previous years it oscillated between 1,100 and 1,200 people, according to statistics. While in other age categories, excessive mortality decreased in February, it remained at the January level in the age group of 65 years and less, Podmanicka noted. Lowest decrease in the Zilina Region From the world's best to the worst. The pandemic year in Slovakia Read more In regional terms, the worst situation was in the Trnava Region, where the number of the deceased rose 90 percent compared to the previous years. It was followed by the Nitra Region with an 86.4-percent increase, and the Kosice Region with 78-percent growth. The Banska Bystrica Region and Bratislava Region reported an increase of around 50 percent. The lowest growth in the number of the deceased was reported by the Zilina Region, where it went up by 15 percent only. 14. Apr 2021 at 11:51 | Compiled by Spectator staff One KIA, three WIA amid five enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours JFO HQ In Donbas, over the past day, a Ukrainian serviceman has been reported as killed in action (KIA), another three wounded in action (WIA), amid five attacks from the Russia-led forces. Since Wednesday midnight, the enemy has opened fire on Ukrainian positions twice, the press center of the JFO headquarters said. The press center of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and another three sustained injuries in Donbas over the past day, and five attacks were observed over that period. According to the JFO staff, the attacks were launched in the vicinity of Pivdenne, Zaitseve, Katerynivka, Pervomaisk, and Svitlodarsk. The Ukrainian army returned fire, the JFO staff said. Last month, a conservative panel of judges on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the First Amendment grants professors a right to intentionally misgender trans students in class. The decision, authored by Donald Trump-nominee and Mitch McConnell protege Amul Thapar, had a triumphant tone: Thapar depicted himself as a champion of free speech combatting the classroom thought police at modern universities who seek to turn their campuses into enclaves of totalitarianism by prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ students. Advertisement The facts tell a much more nuanced story than Thapars simplistic tale of academic freedom versus totalitarianism. The case centers on professor Nicholas Meriwether, a philosophy professor at Shawnee State University in Ohio. In 2018, Meriwether misgendered a trans student, known in litigation as Jane Doe, in class; she asked that he use her correct pronouns and honorifics in the future, but he refused. The university found Meriwether in violation of its nondiscrimination policy, which requires professors to use students preferred pronouns. Meriwether refused to comply with the policy, and following an investigation, the university placed a written warning in his file noting his noncompliance. The professor, backed by the viciously anti-trans law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, then sueddragging Jane Doe into the center of a years-long legal dispute that she desperately wished to avoid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I recently corresponded with Doe over email about the case, including its effect on her own freedom of expression and academic experience. We spoke on the condition that I use the pseudonym Jane Doe to preserve her privacy. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mark Joseph Stern: How did you feel when professor Meriwether first misgendered you? Jane Doe: At first, I thought it was a mistake, either mix-up of words or a miscue based on my clothes or appearance. When it is the latter, it is particularly painful; it makes you feel ugly or that your body is broken. But, at the time, there was no way for professor Meriwether to know that I am transgender. All my documents and school records reflect my correct name and female gender marker. Advertisement The 6th Circuit wrote the following about your reaction to professor Meriwethers refusal to acknowledge your gender identity because of his religious beliefs: Doe became hostilecircling around Meriwether at first, and then approaching him in a threatening manner: I guess this means I can call you a cunt. Doe promised that Meriwether would be fired if he did not give in to Does demands. Is this account accurate? Advertisement This account is only partially accurate. I approached professor Meriwether after the first class session to let him know that he mistakenly referred to me as male and ask that he refer to me as female in the future. He refused. I showed him my drivers license to further prove that I am female. He refused again. It was degrading to have to debate with my professor whether I am female and entitled to the same treatment as my peers simply because professor Meriwether believed that I was transgender (it was not until I filed an internal complaint with Shawnee that I disclosed that I am transgender). Professor Meriwethers persistent refusal to treat me with the same respect he afforded other students was upsetting. Although I made the remark quoted in the opinion, I was not threatening or hostile. Advertisement Did professor Meriwethers actions interfere with your education or your broader experience at college? Being discriminated against by professor Meriwether negatively affected my experience both in and out of class. Before the semester began, I was excited about Meriwethers class, but quickly started dreading it. Because of professor Meriwethers discriminatory treatment, I had to constantly worry about how he would refer to me each time I was called on in class and whether my peers would also start referring to me using male pronouns or otherwise mistreat me. I stopped wanting to participate but felt compelled to because class participation accounted for a significant portion of my grade. The stress from being in class was exhausting. Over the course of the semester, it became harder and harder to focus on classwork. To preserve my energy and attention for school, I stopped socializing with friends and withdrew from campus life. It was a difficult semester for me. Advertisement Advertisement Do you think the courts decision poses a threat to trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students right to equal education? Do you think it could chill these students own speech? Yes to both. Trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students will not have an equal chance to learn if professors or other school personnel are permitted to discriminate against them. I dont know any transgender students who feel comfortable taking Meriwethers classes, which is a problem because some of the classes he teaches are graduation requirements. Now that the 6th Circuit has prevented the university from requiring professors to treat transgender students equally, I am concerned that other professors may adopt the same discriminatory practice as Meriwether. Certainly, there is no question that trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students will be deterred from taking classes with those professors, including Meriwether, and many will do all they can to stay silent and avoid being called on in class. Advertisement When you are being discriminated against by a professor, the professor is conveying that you and your presence in the classincluding your opinionsdo not matter. I would not have participated in class if I didnt have to in order to do well in Meriwethers class. Instead, I would have done anything to go unnoticed. And, if that can happen in the classroom, it can happen anywhere on campus. Advertisement The 6th Circuit held that the university had a fairly weak interest in enforcing its pronoun policy against Prof. Meriwether, while finding that the professor had a strong interest in misgendering you because pronouns constitute matters of public concern. What do you think of this analysis? The pronouns and honorifics professor Meriwether used to refer to me in class are not a matter of public concern. The sole purpose of those pronouns and honorifics is to call on me to answer a question or refer to a comment that I made. To the extent those words could carry any other message, it was a message about me and improperly disclosed to my peers that I am transgender, private information I first shared with Meriwether as part of my Title IX complaint to Shawnee. Converting those words, and the meaning professor Meriwether believed those words conveyed, into a statement on matters of public concern gives professors and other school personnel an unrestricted license to discriminate against students on any number of bases from race to religion. Advertisement If you could explain to the 6th Circuit what, to your mind, they got wrong, what would you say? Shawnees anti-discrimination policy seeks to ensure all students can access the education offered by Shawnee. Enforcing that policy does not inhibit speech on important issues being debated in society. I didnt file a complaint with the school to stop Professor Meriwether from, hypothetically, dedicating a class session to a discussion of the transgender rights movement. I simply asked that he treat me with the same dignity and respect he affords all other students in his class. That would have allowed me to fully participate in class discussions on equal footing with my classmates, regardless of the topic of the discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discipline he received, which was very mild and essentially was just a direction to treat all his students equally when calling on them in class, was a direct result from his repeated refusal to extend that courtesy to me, not because he decided to teach about anything related to transgender people. Shawnee didnt discipline him for his viewpoint or religious beliefs, but because he undermined my ability to learn in his class and deprived me of the college experience Shawnee offered. I think it has gotten lost in a lot of coverage that it was Meriwether, not you, who filed this lawsuit. How does it feel to be thrust into this role, forced to have your rights disputed in a controversial case you did not initiate? Advertisement It doesnt feel good. I am a private person and, generally, keep to myself and a small circle of friends and family. In fact, I tried to resolve this issue with Meriwether as quietly as possible by waiting until after class to speak with him and filed an internal Title IX complaint with Shawnee when he refused to stop discriminating against me. I did not want to be in the spotlight, but when he filed this lawsuit, he repeatedlyand unnecessarilyused my name, putting me at risk for being targeted for further harassment and discrimination, and physical violence. I actually moved to secure housing for safety reasons when the complaint was first filed. As uncomfortable as this has been, I also know that this is about more than me. I want the court to know my story and to understand the serious harm Meriwether caused. Many Danbury-area clinics and providers say they will be largely unaffected by the federal pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration announcedTuesday morning following six cases of rare but severe blood clots. Some providers reported small allocation from the state, while others said the vaccine is used minimally at their facilities or that can switch to other vaccines. Bethel, Redding and Danbury health departments have not been using Johnson & Johnson, while New Milford has used it at its regular clinics. Ridgefield has also used it at its clinics and, specifically, to vaccinate homebound populations, but did not receive any Johnson & Johnson vaccine last week. The one-shot vaccine has made up less than 1 percent of the shots received by the Community Health Center, Inc., which, as of Tuesday, has distributed 250,000 doses statewide, including at the Danbury Fair mall. The Johnson & Johnson doses administered by the center make up an infinitesimally small portion of total vaccine administered, said Lisa Gianelli, spokeswoman for the health center. We have it on hand, but we havent been using it, she said. The health center has been focused on vaccinating high school students, who are cleared to receive only the Pfizer vaccine. For now, the doses will stay in the refrigerators. Well leave them in the inventory until were advised otherwise, Gianelli said. But the postponement is a wedge in the health centers plans to administer 2,500 doses of Johnson & Johnson to Western Connecticut State University beginning next Tuesday. The university is working the state health department and the Connecticut Board of Regents to come up with a new plan, WestConn spokesman Paul Steinmetz said. Appointments and clinics in other areas are less affected. Nuvance Health, which includes Danbury and New Milford hospitals, is not administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at its clinics, said Jeff Nicastro, chief medical officer and system chairman of surgery at Nuvance Health, due to limited supply. Brookfield received 240 doses of the vaccine and used them at its clinic Monday. But First Selectman Steve Dunn said the town doesnt have any more Johnson & Johnson appointments planned because it doesnt have the supply and is not expecting more deliveries any time soon. We anticipate that we will not receive any further allocations of the [Johnson & Johnson] until the FDA, CDC and the state have been able to review this and make a decision on the safety of the [Johnson & Johnson] vaccine, Dunn wrote in an email Tuesday. Newtown has primarily distributed the Moderna vaccine, but its health department received a small allotment of 50 doses of Johnson & Johnson that were administered last week at its regular clinic, said Donna Culbert, health director. The department had no future Johnson & Johnson clinics planned, she said. For RVNAhealth, the Ridgefield-based organization running the towns local clinic, Johnson & Johnson doses have not been abundant, and the group received none of the one-shot vaccine in its state allotment this week, according to Nancy Rowe, spokeswoman. Meanwhile, New Milford will pivot its Johnson & Johnson appointments quite easily due to a large allocation of Pfizer, according to Mayor Pete Bass. While providers across the state are altering appointments and leaving the Johnson & Johnson in refrigerators for now, officials are doing their best to deal with concerned residents and provide insight. Bass said residents have called his office and the health center Tuesday and asked residents to reach out to their primary doctors with questions. State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, has spent his morning trying to provide information and context to his constituents about the data to mitigate increased vaccine hesitancy. Theres already a lot of hesitancy and skepticism, and I think that hesitancy can lead to more deaths, said Allie-Brennan, who got his Johnson & Johnson vaccine on April 1. With just six people affected of the nearly 7 million whove received this type of vaccine, Allie-Brennan said its important to understand the statistics. Thats less than one in a million, he said. The CDC says the odds of being struck by lightening are one in 500,000. Allie-Brennan noted that women taking birth control medication are also susceptible to blood clots. I think people need to take a breath and let the CDC do its investigation, he said. Area residents said they werent terribly worried. Summer Hoogenboom, a Brookfield woman who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last Monday, said while she had a fairly bad reaction to it, she was not overly concerned that the vaccine has been paused. My side effects lasted two days, she said. It was intense, but I feel like it made sense. I dont think it was abnormal. She said her reactions included fever, serious muscle pain and chills. Hoogenboom, who said she didnt feel 100 percent until the end of the following day, had COVID-19 in January. Kents resident Jennifer Willcox, who received Johnson & Johnson April 1, said while the news is worrisome, she is still glad she got that vaccine, over the other options. Prior to receiving the vaccine, she had consulted with family members who are doctors, who specifically told her to get Johnson & Johnson over Moderna or Pfizer because it's a more proven technology. I was worried about blood clots, but they told me this was very rare. Everything has a risk, and the shot is still safer than driving in a car, she said. Staff writers Shayla Colon and Julia Perkins contributed to this report. The shooting death of a Birmingham teen who was called by two people involved in an altercation to settle the dispute earlier this month was ruled justifiable, police said Tuesday. Travio Ollison, 19, died April 5 at UAB Hospital after being shot in the 1900 block of Druid Hills Drive. Birmingam police spokesman Sgt. Rod Mauldin said it appeared the deadly shooting stemmed from an altercation between two people who were living together. Both parties, he said, called Ollison and a suspect to the location and they intervened in the dispute. A physical altercation then took place and Ollison was shot. The suspect was taken into custody and was undergoing questioning by detectives. No formal charges had been announced. On Tuesday, police said the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office ruled Ollisons death justifiable. Ollison was the youngest of four children. His sister, Takyria Ollison, said the family was devastated by his death. He was very respectful, always had good manners, always kept you in a good mood, stayed uplifted and was always smiling,' she said. He was always giving you a hug every time he saw you and telling you he loved you. Pictured: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Millions of Australians will finally be able to stand up while having a beer and ditch facemasks as the Queensland government winds back Covid restrictions two weeks after an outbreak shut down Brisbane. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the Sunshine State would ease a number of measures put in place at the end of March from 6am on Thursday morning, allowing Queenslander a lot more freedom. Under the new rules face masks will no longer be mandatory, dancing in nightclubs will be permitted, stadiums will be able to operate at 100 capacity and visitors will once again be welcome at aged care homes, hospitals and correctional facilities. Weddings and funerals can have 200 people in attendance under the one person per two sq/m rule. The cap on guests at private house parties has been elevated to 100 people and there are will be no restrictions on outdoor gatherings. Under the new rules face masks will no longer be mandatory. Pictured: A woman in Brisbane's West End is seen in a face mask on April 1, 2021 What Covid restrictions are being eased on Thursday in Queensland? - Face masks will no longer be mandatory except in sensitive settings like airports - Dancing will be permitted in nightclubs along with stand up drinking and eating - The number of guests allowed at weddings and funerals will rise to 200 - Stadiums used for sporting fixtures and events will be able to operate with full capacity crowds - The number of house party guests allowed at private residence will jump to 100 - There is no longer any cap on outdoor gatherings - Visitors will once again be welcome at aged care homes, hospitals and correctional facilities Advertisement 'We can once again go to pubs and restaurants and stand up and have a drink,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'It has not been easy But by doing that we've kept everyone safe. 'I know it's been very tough on families who have had loved ones in hospitals, in aged care facilities and disability homes, so families are going to be reunited.' Just two weeks ago on March 29, Queensland was thrown into chaos after two million people in the Greater Brisbane area were ordered into a snap three-day lockdown. Two separate Covid clusters had spread from the Princess Alexandra Hospital putting hundreds of venues in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales on high alert. The 19 cases of community transmission were sparked after an infected return traveller was treated at the hospital by a doctor and a nurse who later tested positive. Dancing in nightclubs will be permitted from Thursday. Pictured: A couple are pictured walking by the Brisbane River on March 31 'We can once again go to pubs and restaurants and stand up and have a drink,' Ms Palaszczuk said Although the premier said it's 'great news' life can return to normal in Queensland she urged residents to remain cautious and said face masks will still have to be worn in some sensitive setting like airports or when social distancing is not possible. 'If you're going to go into a crowded area or a shopping centre or public transport and you can't socially distance, have your mask and if you feel like putting it on please feel free to do that,' she said. The easing of restrictions comes as Australia's national Covid vaccine rollout was thrown into turmoil last week, after medicine regulators ruled the AstraZeneca jab should not be given to anyone under 50 due to the risk of blood clotting. Australia had been relying on the Oxford University-developed vaccine to make up the bulk of its rollout. Stadiums that hold sporting fixtures and events will be able to operate at 100 capacity. Pictured: Shoppers leave Woolworths at Newstead in Brisbane during lockdown Visitors will once again be welcome at aged care homes, hospitals and correctional facilities. Pictured: A man is seen crossing an empty Edward Street in the CBD of Brisbane on March 30 Now the federal government is scrambling to secure millions of doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which aren't expected to arrive until the final quarter of this year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday he plans to hold weekly National Cabinet meetings with state leaders and health chiefs to address the bungled vaccine rollout. 'The Australian public needs confidence that everybody is working together,' Ms Palaszczuk said in response to the announcement. Queensland recorded two cases of coronavirus on Wednesday. Both infections were discovered in hotel quarantine and believed to have originated in Papua New Guinea. Queensland recorded two cases of coronavirus on Wednesday. Pictured: People wearing face masks are seen in the CBD of Brisbane, Tuesday, March 30, 2021 (@ChaudhryMAli88) Arbil, Iraq, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Apr, 2021 ) :Rocket fire targeted an airport where US soldiers are based in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, on Wednesday evening, Kurdish counter-terrorism officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack that caused a loud explosion audible across the city. Pro-Iranian factions were accused of carrying out a similar attack on February 15 that killed a civilian and a foreign contractor working with coalition forces, and wounded several others. The boss of Britains biggest budget airline has called for all major European countries to be in the green category when international travel from the UK is permitted. At present holidays abroad are illegal, though that is expected to change from 17 May. After that, nations and possibly individual islands will be assigned to three categories for the purposes of returning to the UK. Arrivals from red and amber countries will be required to quarantine, while those on the green list must take a PCR test within two days of arrival. At a briefing following a pre-close trading statement, Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, was asked by The Independent if he expected the top southern European nations France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to appear on the list of lowest-risk nations. He said quarantine should not be imposed on arrivals from those countries unless something happened. Mr Lundgren said: By the time we get to 17 May and the rollout of the vaccination programme that seems to be picking up everywhere we look around Europe, I would struggle to see that there would be unless something happened between now and then that there would be many countries who wouldnt be in that green category. The easyJet chief executive also called for lateral-flow tests to replace PCR tests for arrivals from green-listed countries. When the government published its second Global Travel Taskforce report on Friday, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said: We cannot allow mass international travel to become a major vector for the introduction into the UK of dangerous Covid-19 variants. The recent surge in infection rates in Europe has highlighted the challenges we continue to face. Even as we seek to re-open international travel, we cannot rule out future restrictions. Separately, the general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) has derided the governments refusal to reveal its plans. Brian Strutton told Sky News: Ive never seen a road map with all the destinations blanked out. People actually want to know when they can go and where they can go, those are the answers we need. Airlines, aviation and the whole travel sector are on their knees, being crippled by the coronavirus crisis. The official cast for the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne was announced on Wednesday, and many fans aren't happy. Long-time viewers have lashed out after learning that original cast members Lydia Schiavello and Gina Liano won't be back. Many flocked to social media to express their outrage, with a handful of fans vowing to boycott the series now that Gina and Lydia are gone. Backlash: Fans are threatening to boycott the new season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne without fan favourites Lydia Schiavello (left) and Gina Liano (right) 'No Gina, No Lydia - why bother?' snapped one, while another wrote: 'Please dont bother releasing it without Gina & Lydia. There, I said it.' 'Why no Gina and Lydia,' raged another. 'This season is gonna be crap.' 'Gina being gone was a gut punch but they took Lydia from us too? Throw it away,' wrote one. Some fans also expressed disappointment that Pettifleur Berenger wasn't back either despite her recent appearance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 'I'm losing my will to live!' Fans were distraught to see Lydia, Gina, and Pettifleur Berenger missing from the new cast 'Jackie's back?!' One fan was furious to see Jackie Gillies return but not Gina and Lydia 'This is a tough one': One fan was struggling with whether or not to watch the new season 'Not the same without Gina and Lydia. Show will be poorer without them,' wrote another 'We need you right now Pettifleur,' wrote one, while another tweeted: 'They should have brought back Pettifleur instead of Jackie.' Both Lydia and Gina addressed their exits in lengthy statement on Instagram on Wednesday afternoon. 'The last four seasons have truly been an extraordinary journey, incredibly entertaining and good fun but with much consideration, I have made the personal decision to step away from RHOMelbourne,' Lydia wrote. 'We need you right now Pettifleur!' Fans also called for Pettifleur to return to the series 'I love the show, I love the girls and all the people involved from Foxtel to the production house Matchbox, however the changes of this world caused me to pause and re-evaluate my life. 'I will miss the camaraderie the interaction with viewers and the challenges that my fellow cast members presented,' she continued. 'I look forward to spending quality time with my husband, family and friends.' 'I look forward to spending quality time with my husband, family and friends,' Lydia said in a statement 'I will miss you all and look forward to watching you in season 5!' Gina wrote, before thanking her fans and producers Meanwhile, Gina wrote: 'A big congratulations to the cast of The Real Housewives of Melbourne season 5!!! How exciting and welcome to the 4 newbies. 'I will miss you all and look forward to watching you in season 5!' she added, before thanking her fans and producers. The Real Housewives of Melbourne will return later this year with Janet Roach, Jackie Gillies, Gamble Breaux, and new cast members Simone Elliott, Anjali Rao, Cherry Dipietrantonio, and Kyla Kirkpatrick. ALBANY The Democratic mayoral primary is down to two candidates, but two write-ins are still running. Common Council candidates have popped up to challenge incumbents and several races are already in court. Welcome to city election season. Just a few months ago, the electoral picture looked much quieter. Mayor Kathy Sheehan didnt have an established Democratic opponent. The 6th Ward council race, with five declared candidates, appeared to be the most highly contested in the city and no opponents had announced plans publicly yet to take on incumbent council members. That has all changed. The only two Democrats on the ballot for mayor on June 22 will be Mayor Kathy Sheehan and the Rev. Valerie Faust. Fausts campaign successfully challenged the petitions submitted by activists Marlon Anderson and Lukee Forbes. Forbes did not respond to a message seeking comment but previously said he would run as a write-in candidate for the general election. Anderson said hes still running as a write-in candidate for the Democratic line. He criticized Fausts campaign for challenging his petitions and then asking him to assist with her campaign to beat Sheehan. Anderson shared messages from the Faust campaign alerting him that he had been knocked off the ballot before he received official notification from the Albany County Board of Elections and urging him to realize that defeating Sheehan was the main goal. Elections should be decided by the vote of the people and the public records of the candidates running for the office, not in the offices of the BOE or by political operatives manipulating archaic rules, to suppress the vote and will of the people, Anderson said. Fausts campaign is being run by two Democratic operatives who have butted heads with Sheehans administration before former city councilman Judd Krasher and Anthony Catalano, Jr. In an email, Krasher said Fausts campaign believed members of Sheehans campaign were quietly trying to help Anderson get on the ballot in order to split the votes against Sheehan. They reached out to Anderson to test that theory, he said. Mr. Andersons doubling down on his vitriol against Rev. Faust further solidified the theory, Krasher wrote in an email. Council rivalries aplenty The council, which has five members stepping down after this year, has nine Democratic primaries as of Wednesday. Two of those are in court over challenges to petitions. In the 11th Ward, Councilman Alfredo Balarin is challenging the petitions of Luis Williams. Balarin said his campaign took Williams to court claiming that when he recently renewed his license, it matched his childhood home in Rensselaer County. Williams later updated that address on file with the county board of elections in March to match the one he used to gather petitions. Under the city charter, residents must live in the city for a year before running for office. Williams, who owns Celebrity Barbershop on Central Avenue, said he hadnt lived at that Rensselaer County address since he was teen and has lived above his shop for over a decade. Williams' campaign also pointed to his continuous voting record in Albany since 2004. Over in the 14th Ward, which is an open race due to Councilman Joseph Igoes retirement, Celia Evers is challenging the petitions of her opponent, Deborah Zamer, in court. Evers campaign believes Zamer illegally modified her petitions after she went to submit them to Albany County Board of Elections. Evers attorney is former congressman John Sweeney, who assisted former president Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Sweeney, one of the few election lawyers in the area, has worked on local races before, including a 2013 case in which he successfully got a Democratic 1st Ward candidate back on the ballot after his own name was misspelled on his petitions. Evers declined to comment before a hearing on the matter Thursday. Zamers campaign called Evers decision to hire Sweeney and try to throw out Zamers petitions intimidation tactics. Using Trump-lawyer John Sweeney to sue me and the 486 voters who signed my nominating petitions, to silence us, is the worst of Albany machine politics. My Democratic opponent has given her blessing to GOP voter suppression tactics, so she doesnt have to face me or the voters, Zamer said in a statement. Also running for an open seat is former county legislator Brian Scavo, who was convicted in 2015 of two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument. Scavo is running in the 7th Ward against Violetta De Rosa and Sergio Adams. Scavo did not return a call for comment. He waged a losing campaign for a legislature seat in 2019. The other Democratic primaries for open seats are the 6th Ward, where there is a contest among Jeff Mayo, Susan Pedo and Gabriella Romero, and the 9th Ward, where the race is between Jolyn Gallagher and Meghan Keegan. A number of challengers to incumbents have popped up as well, helped in part by the lowered number of signatures needed to get on the ballot. In the 1st Ward, Sonia Frederick, who was appointed to the seat in 2020 and won a special election to finish out the term, faces Scott Mannarino. In the 2nd Ward, Councilman Derek Johnson is being challenged by Lovett Branch. In the 3rd Ward, Councilwoman Joyce Love is being challenged by James Davis and Stephen Negron. In the 5th Ward, Councilman Jahmel Robinson faces a challenge from Wilbur Decky Lawson. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 00:04:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close By Tafara Mugwara HARARE, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Dominic Benhura's plans for the year were shattered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Benhura, one of Zimbabwe's most renowned stone sculptors, spoke to Xinhua as he reflected on the past year and his inspirations for 2021. The acclaimed artist said after receiving his Sinovac jab last month, and with Zimbabwe's inoculation drive in full swing, he is confident that he can now focus on his work. Benhura said he is expecting tourists to start flocking into the country as the government has taken concerted measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. At the onset of the pandemic in Zimbabwe last March, Benhura told Xinhua that cancellations of global art exhibitions and travel restrictions had shattered most of his plans for 2020 since the visual arts sector relies on the normal flow of tourists who usually buy his pieces. The sculptor expects demand for art to steadily rise again this year. He said while the pandemic had ruined his travel plans for 2020, particularly attending exhibitions abroad, it did not deter him from continuing his work as he has remained productive throughout the year while working from home. With vaccination in Zimbabwe and other countries under way, he is confident that the tourism industry and the visual arts sector that had been ravaged by the pandemic will soon recover. "So we hope things are going to normalize and tourists will start flocking into the country again and I will also start receiving my Chinese friends who have always been supporting me for some years," he told Xinhua. The artist said he is looking forward to opening a sculpture park in Zimbabwe later this year that will attract artists from across the country as well as abroad. The artist saluted China for availing vaccines to Zimbabwe on time, allowing the country to embark on its inoculation program. "Whenever Zimbabwe is in trouble China always comes to help us," he said. Throughout Benhura's four-decade career, he has received countless awards which makes him one of Zimbabwe's most decorated sculptors. Most of his pieces are crafted out of serpentine stone in traditional and contemporary themes, conveying emotions and the events and everyday struggles. Zimbabwe's tourism industry, which stone sculptors like Benhura largely rely on to drive sales, has been hardest hit by the pandemic, and the government is making concerted efforts to ensure the resumption of the sector. With the country desperate to revive the industry, the government is making sure that all eligible and willing residents of the resort town of Victoria Falls, the country's tourism center, are vaccinated so that the town can be marketed as a COVID-19 free destination to tourists. Zimbabwe launched its nationwide vaccination campaign on Feb. 18 with Sinopharm vaccines donated by China. The country has so far authorized the use of four COVID-19 vaccines -- China's Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, Russia's Sputnik V and Covaxin from India. The country is targeting to inoculate at least 10 million of its 16 million citizens to achieve herd immunity. Enditem God, the nations, and nationalism (pt 1) Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Nationalism and globalism are on a collision course and the future of civilization is at stake. Progressive nationalism ... seeks to impose a highly specific and controversial vision of social order, warned George Washington University Professor Samuel Goldman, as reported March 16 in The Christian Post by Ryan Foley. Meanwhile, Pope Francis proposes a new world order of globalism to counteract all the rising nationalisms.[1] The world will never be the same again (because of the COVID pandemic), said the Pontiff. However, it is precisely within this calamity that we must grasp those signs which may prove to be the cornerstones of reconstruction. Pope Francis lent his stature to the view sweeping many nations that history is in a reset phase. It would seem that the COVID pandemic had the same effect as Noahs Flood the destruction of an old order necessitating the construction of a new world system. The Pope gave chilling detail in a speech to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in May 2019: When a supranational common good is clearly identified, there is need for a special legally constituted authority capable of facilitating its implementation. In the speech, the Pope suggested that what is needed is a globally authoritative body that could counteract the growing nationalism which neglects the common good. There are many others who identity with Christianity, including Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and Charismatics who are disturbed by the Popes apparent favoring of globalism to resist extremes of nationalism. It is naive to be blind to the extremes of globalism. Whose side is God on in the midst of this cacophonous din between intensifying nationalism and looming globalism? This is an important question in a nuclear world where trembling hands are on buttons that, pushed, could wipe out whole civilizations and the nations within them. There is no reassurance that in Trumps waning hours Nancy Pelosi was anxious that Trump not have access to nuclear codes that were about to be turned over to Joe Biden. God is on our side, said Donald Trump in the heady early days of his presidency. The belief of some in the Biden White House suggested that the Democrats were favored by the pandemic creating conditions favorable to his election. God is on our side, said Maxine Waters, as she exhorted her allies to push back if they encountered a Trump cabinet officer. "I believe today that I am acting in the sense of the Almighty Creator, said Adolf Hitler as he contemplated the genocide of the Jewish race marked in the Bible as the Lords chosen people. God is on your side? Joseph Stalin mockingly asked Winston Churchill in 1943 at the Tehran conference. The devils on my side; hes a good Communist, said the Soviet dictator. Many nations and their leaders across history have claimed Gods special support. Recent times have raised the question to new levels of intensity. This, in the view of some critics, has devolved into a nationalism that asserts one worldview and the institutions arising from it as superior to all others, and therefore the right indeed, the mandate, divine or otherwise to bring the rest into conformity. This is why distorted nationalism is a matter of concern. However, the Bible is clear that, while God may not be a nationalist in the current use of the term, He does love nations. In fact, nations are crucial in His great plan for history. The Creators desire for all peoples is that they enjoy the attributes of His Kingdom righteousness-justice, peace, and Spirit-given transcendent joy. (Romans 14:17) Thus, God sees nations ethnologically rather than politically. That is, He sees people rather than national institutions. This Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth for a testimony to the nations, says Jesus in the Greek rendering of Matthew 24:14. And the word used for nations there is ethnesin, from which English gets ethnic. Clearly Gods view of a nation is not focused on geo-politics but humanity. Nations are clusterings of His image-bearers in a shared environment to facilitate proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom. In Athens, the Apostle Paul tells the philosophers that God Himself has made of one blood every nation again, ethnos (another form of ethnesin) to dwell on earth. (Acts 17:26) Nations are important in Gods Kingdom plan because they are crucibles into which the Kingdom message can be poured. The people do not have to be the same racially, but a diverse humanity sharing a common worldview, and a life experience that facilitates community whose members can receive, learn, bear witness, and serve one another in relationship. The New Testament church ideally is at the heart of this dynamic lifestyle because it is the core body that flourishes through the fellowship of the saints and can radiate such loving care into the crucible of the nation. Globalism is not the answer to nationalism, but Gods Kingdom is. And nations play a crucial role in its advance in the world until Christ returns with the fulness of His manifest reign over all the nations. Paul himself said it in his Athenian discourse: (Gods) purpose was for the nations to seek after God... (Acts 17:27 NLT) Let our nationalism be that of the kingdom of God. We explore the vital role of nations in the next article in this series. [1] He surfaced this proposal in a series of interviews with Domenico Agasso that became a recently published book, God and the World to Come. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) A Minnesota prosecutor says he will charge a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said Wednesday that Kim Potter will be charged with second-degree manslaughter. Orput's announcement comes a day after Potter resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department, where she had served for 26 years. It carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The shooting ignited days of protests and unrest. It happened while the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, in the death of George Floyd is progressing. Commentary How Many Mass Killings Are Enough Before the World Helps Myanmar? Funeral goers flash three-finger salutes of defiance as a mother mourns over her son who was killed by the regime's troops in Yangon in March. / The Irrawaddy Last Friday, Myanmars military regime massacred 82 people in Bago Town, just hours before the UN Security Council held one of its informal, so-called Arria formula, meetings. Who on Earth can stop these massacres and daily killings when so many protesters are fearlessly prepared to die? The mass killing in Bago was one of the worst atrocities, and made Friday one of the three bloodiest days, since Feb. 1, when the regime led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup overthrowing the democratically elected government of the National League for Democracy and declaring void the result of the 2020 election, in which the NLD was the landslide victor. At dawn Friday, several hundred of the regimes troops started their attacks on four residential quarters in Bago, about 50 miles north of Yangon. For the whole day and into the night, the troops used automatic weapons and other explosives like rifle grenades to destroy sandbag roadblocks erected by the anti-regime protesters and to kill the protesters and residents in those areas. The huge single-day death toll left the world shocked. Prior to the Bago slaughter, Myanmar had seen two days that were even bloodier. On March 14 and 27, the regimes soldiers and police committed at least two massacres, killing at least 111 people and more than 150 people, mostly in Yangon and in Mandalay, respectively. A number of other days have seen mass killings by the regimes troops, with the daily toll typically amounting to two or three dozen per day. But these massacres wont be the last. The coup leaders have simply ignored all condemnation and requests to halt the killings and oppression from world bodies like the United Nations and from individual countries, as well as from Myanmars own regional grouping, ASEAN. Over the past two and a half months since the Feb. 1 coup, the regimes troops have killed at least 714 protesters and innocent citizens, including about four dozen children, according to the death toll compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) as of April 13. Killing has been the regimes daily job since Feb. 1, at the rate of about 10 people per day over the past 72 days. Undoubtedly, well see many such massacres in the days ahead under this ruthless regime, which has applied relentless brutality, including the use of heavy weapons, to handle the nationwide anti-military dictatorship protests, without once ever pausing to consider any political or other civilized means of dealing with the crisis. Who will stop these killings? Under this regime, life in Myanmar alternates between bloody days and even bloodier days. The world, including Western countries, the United Nations and others, has repeatedly condemned the regime in the strongest terms. After two and a half months, however, their condemnations and diplomatic actions, including sanctions on the coup leaders, have had no impact at allthe juntas atrocities continue unabated. At the UNSCs Arria-formula meeting on Friday night, repeated calls were made for immediate action against the regime over its brutal killings and its air strikes against ethnic armed groups, which attacked the regimes military outposts in response to the crackdowns on civilians in the cities. On April 13, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet also urged the international community to take immediate, decisive and impactful measures to immediately stop the repression and killings by the military regime in Myanmar. There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011. The states brutal, persistent repression of its own people led to some individuals taking up arms, followed by a downward and rapidly expanding spiral of violence all across the country, said Bachelet. I fear the situation in Myanmar is heading towards a full-blown conflict. States must not allow the deadly mistakes of the past in Syria and elsewhere to be repeated. She continued: Statements of condemnation, and limited targeted sanctions, are clearly not enough. States with influence need to urgently apply concerted pressure on the military in Myanmar to halt the commission of grave human rights violations and possible crimes against humanity against the people, Bachelet continued. Even before the Arria-formula meeting, the UN held several meetings in the wake of the coup and called on the regime to stop its violence against protesters and civilians. Obviously, however, these pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The daily killings and frequent massacres continue. In a closed session of the 15-member UNSC on April 1, UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener urged the council to consider all available tools to take collective action and do what is right, what the people of Myanmar deserve, and prevent a multi-dimensional catastrophe in the heart of Asia. She told the council she believed a bloodbath is imminent in Myanmar due to the militarys intensified crackdown on protesters. But the UN hasnt been able to come up with effective collective action because of opposition from China, Russia, India and Vietnam. Though Bachelet, Schraner Burgener and representatives of the Myanmar people have repeatedly urged the world and individual states to act, its highly unlikely we will see any meaningful action emerge from the UNSC or other concerned nations, including the US. Washington, which has repeatedly condemned the Myanmar regime and punished the coup leaders with targeted sanctions since their power grab, has been trying to work with its Asian partners, especially ASEAN (of which Myanmar is a member), to resolve the crisis. If history is any guide, however, that approach is unlikely to work. Due to its political culture and history dating back to 1967, ASEAN and its individual members lack such capacity, or any moral authority. Its traditional non-interference policy is one among numerous built-in weaknesses when it comes to dealing with Myanmars political crisis and the gross human rights violations in the country. Most members of ASEAN themselves are non-democratic countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore. In the decades after Myanmar joined the grouping in 1997, ASEAN served as a diplomatic umbrella shielding Myanmars previous military regimes and their human rights violations from criticism from the international community, led by Western countries. Anyonebe it global superpowers like the US or individual observerswho thinks ASEAN can handle the crisis in Myanmar is fooling themselves. In a commentary in The Bangkok Post on Tuesday, veteran Thai journalist on regional affairs Kavi Chongkittavorn wrote: Today, ASEAN is the only organization that can handle the crisis in Myanmar in a sustainable way. Obviously, the bloc will proceed cautiously so that the level of trust and engagement can incrementally strengthen. The global community must be patient as the bloc is dealing with an unusual situation with the die-hard cruelty of the armed forces. The ugly truth remains that only when the Tatmadaw [Myanmars military] is confident that the domestic situation is under control and the running of day-to-day government tasks has returned to normal, will tangible frameworks for outside engagement be forthcoming. It can take weeks or months. Such an observation ignores ASEANs history and isnt practical at all. How many hundreds of protesters will be killed in massacres like the one that occurred in Bago last Friday while the world waits until the domestic situation is under control, as the columnist put it, so that ASEAN can act? In this kind of crisis, ASEAN is always almost divided and unable to deliver a consensus. Regarding the coup in Myanmar, while Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have demanded that the regime end its violence against protesters and take a number of political steps, Thailand and Vietnam, among others, have stuck firmly to the groupings non-interference policy. Historically, ASEAN has never stepped in to take action against a regime in Myanmar or in any other member country. ASEAN cannot be relied upon by the international community to act on its own initiative, though it might support global action against the brutal coup leaders led by major countries like the US and its ally Japan. How many deaths needed? As things stand now, no country or world body seems prepared to take action that would really and immediately stop the murderous Myanmar regime from continuing with its daily killing. In truth, many people in Myanmar understand this. But they continue to call for meaningful intervention from the international community, like a drowning man who clutches at a straw. There is another grim truth Myanmars people seemed to have graspedthat they will need to die in even greater and more shocking numbers, day in and day out. They are undoubtedly determined to continuing their anti-military dictatorship movement at any cost; they are prepared to die, whether they are killed protesting peacefully on street or while taking up rudimentary arms to fight the regimes powerful forces. Thats why they continue taking to the streets, though they know that each time they do they face death (lets call it by its real name: execution) by the regimes forces. In case youd forgotten, the regime has killed over 700 people over the past two and a half months. Given the peoples determination to keep fighting at any cost, and the regimes willingness to launch ever more intense crackdowns on them, the world should be prepared to see many more deaths every day in Myanmarlikely many hundreds in the coming weeks and months. At the moment, the death toll so far and the degree of brutality shown by the regime dont seem sufficient to elicit from the international community anything stronger than condemnation and limited targeted sanctions. It appears that only a significant increase in the already horrific rate at which people in Myanmar are being slaughtered will prompt meaningful action of the kind that will bring a total halt to the crimes of this murderous regime. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Troops Sustain Heavy Casualties as Kachin Keep Control of Strategic Base Myanmar Junta Charges and Arrests Striking Doctors and Senior Medical Staff UN Official Warns of Syria-Style Conflict in Myanmar, Urges Immediate Intl Action Chennai, April 14 : The Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the Madurai City Police Commissioner on a complaint filed by a homeopathic doctor, Tamilarasan, of Kalaivanan Nagar in Madurai. The Commission has asked the Police Commissioner to give a detailed report on the alleged assault on the doctor, within three weeks of the notice. Tamilarasan, a homeopathic doctor on Covid duty at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, was on his way to work on April 10 on a two-wheeler when he was intercepted by police at the BB Kulam junction. The doctor had shown his identity card and informed the police that he was on his way to work at the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai and that he was on Covid duty. He also informed the policemen that he was on emergency duty at the hospital and was in a hurry. This infuriated the policemen who verbally abused the doctor, entered into an argument with him citing that he had not worn a face mask and reportedly assaulted him. Tamilarasan while speaking to IANS said, "The policemen have abused me and later punched me in the face. They took me to the Tallakulam police station and threatened me. They did not even provide me water and later the Sub-Inspector and his team assaulted me." The doctor later filed a complaint against the local police to Madurai City Police commissioner, Prem Anand Sinha. The State Human Rights Commission has already informed the Madurai Police Commissioner that if there is no response within three weeks, it would take further action. The Madurai Police Commissioner was not available for comment when IANS tried to contact him. The rules say police cant issue a dispersal order unless three or more persons are committing acts of disorderly conduct in the immediate vicinity and those acts are likely to cause substantial harm. The orders must be clearly audible, and should generally be repeated before officers move to break up the crowd. The rules also instruct officers to give clear directions as to where people should go. Protesters complained last year that they didnt hear dispersal orders before police acted. Things are continuing to go from strength to strength for Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly. The rapper is now said to be spending time with Megan's three children, as a source reveals that the pair, who have been dating for nearly a year, 'got serious quickly and have a great relationship.' A source told People on Tuesday that the actress, 34, and the musician, 31, are planning 'a future together' as he spends more time with her three sons, Noah, eight, Bodhi, seven, and Journey, four, who she shares with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, 47. Serious: Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly continue getting more serious. The couple, who have been dating for nearly a year, 'got serious quickly and have a great relationship'; here in 2020 'Colson is getting to know her kids,' the source told the outlet, referring to the star's real name: Richard Colson Baker. 'Megan loves her boys, and they will always be her priority. She is excited that they have accepted Colson,' they added. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles starlet and Kelly went public with their love in May 2020 after they met on the set of their upcoming film Midnight in the Switchgrass. Letting him to her fam: Megan has three sons, Noah, eight, Bodhi, seven, and Journey, four, who she shares with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, 47 (pictured above on Instagram) Future: A source told People on Tuesday that the actress, 34, and the musician, 31, are planning 'a future together' as he spends more time with her three sons: 'Colson is getting to know her kids,' referring to the star's real name: Richard Colson Baker The way they were: Her estranged husband Brian Austin Green announced their split last May and she filed for divorce the day before Thanksgiving; pictured at the 2013 Golden Globes 'Megan is very happy,' the source said, adding that things are also going well for the Transformers performer and her actor ex-husband. 'They are getting along. Brian is busy with his life and dating too,' they revealed. The two filed for divorce in November - the day before Thanksgiving - after splitting in 2019. They were married for more than nine years, and the Beverly Hills, 90210 star has moved on with former Dancing With The Stars pro Sharna Burgess. Very happy: 'Megan loves her boys, and they will always be her priority. She is excited that they have accepted Colson,' they added. 'Megan is very happy'; the couple are seen in March Having a ball: She has been regularly spotted out with her new love, including heading to Las Vegas last month to attend a UFC 260 event She has been regularly spotted out with her new love, including heading to Las Vegas last month to attend a UFC 260 event. A few months prior, they were beset by engagement rumors, but a People insider put the kibosh on the speculation. 'They are very serious and plan on spending the future together. There will be an engagement at some point, but they are not engaged now,' said the source. 'Megan needs her divorce to be finalized before she can fully move on. She is very happy though,' the insider dished to the magazine. Engagement rumors: A couple of months prior they were beset by engagement rumors, but a People insider put the kibosh on the speculation.: 'There will be an engagement at some point, but they are not engaged now'; seen in January How it started: Megan and Machine went public with their love in May 2020 after they met on the set of their upcoming film Midnight in the Switchgrass Megan first filed for divorce from Brian in 2015, citing irreconcilable differences, but she was back with him and pregnant with Journey the following year. Three years after they got back together, Megan took the legal step of filing to dismiss the divorce petition in April 2019. Before the coronavirus lockdowns, Fox and Kelly were in Puerto Rico as co-stars filming their upcoming thriller. Their relationship quickly heated up, with the bombshell even getting a tattoo in his honor that reads: 'el pistolero' which is Spanish for 'the gunman.' Take a free ride on People Driven Credit Union People Driven Credit Union announcement of the Take a Free Ride Sweepstakes Starting April 15, 2021 People Driven Credit Union is looking to help people lock in lower loan rates while they are still available and have some fun while doing it. Starting April 15th, 2021, we will be starting our Take a Free Ride Sweepstakes, where one lucky winner will get to ride for free for one year. We want to help the community by getting them the lowest possible payment with a chance at a free ride. We believe that everyone should be able to have a reliable car at a price they can afford. People Driven Credit Union is coming off one of our best years ever helping members save on financing, and we want to make this year even better. Most people do not understand how easy it is to join a credit union and what the benefits are. It is easy to qualify to become a member based on the community you live in. Individuals who live, work, attend school, or worship within the Southeast Michigan counties of Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne qualify. For a full list of ways you can join please go to: http://www.peopledrivencu.org/about/membership. Some of the benefits include lower rates on borrowing, credit cards, and mortgages. To find out more about the Take a Free Ride Sweepstakes, Please go to http://www.peopledrivencu.org/freeride. About People Driven Credit Union People Driven Credit Union has been helping members and their families with money management since 1928, when it was founded as the Detroit Federal Employees Credit Union. Serving over 23,000 valued members across Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, PDCU offers an appealing array of low-cost financial services. To learn more, visit http://www.peopledrivencu.org. Contacts Renee DeMarco President and CEO People Driven Credit Union Media Contact: Dave Sullivan (248) 263-4122 Daves@peopledrivencu.org The federal government's blockbuster financial aid plan for Air Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic shares similarities and stark differences with its contribution to the bailout of two Detroit automakers during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International airport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on October 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette The federal government's blockbuster financial aid plan for Air Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic shares similarities and stark differences with its contribution to the bailout of two Detroit automakers during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. Here's a comparison of the two multibillion-dollar rescue deals: Pre-crisis standing Canada's largest airline was on a much stronger financial footing ahead of the COVID-19 crisis than the car makers were before the financial meltdown. Air Canada made a profit of $1.5 billion the year before the pandemic, whereas many large automakers regularly posted losses before the recession. "Air Canada was in a great financial position," said Jacques Roy, a professor of transport management at HEC Montreal business school. "They had experienced five years of profits." Yet the automotive sector had suffered from years of slumping sales. Experts say the industry as a whole was in dire need of restructuring, including shrinking its manufacturing footprint, closing dealerships and discontinuing brands. Cost cutting The federal and Ontario governments rejected initial restructuring plans put forward by automakers, suggesting more cost reductions were needed before public dollars would be available. However, Air Canada had already undergone aggressive cost cutting before striking a deal with Ottawa, said Robert Kokonis, president and managing director of Toronto-based aviation consulting firm AirTrav Inc. "They embarked on major cost-cutting to extract not just low hanging fruit but tougher-to-get fruit from their operations," he said. "They went to aircraft leasing companies looking for deferrals, they asked for delayed deliveries, they laid off staff." In contrast, Ottawa turned down the first appeal for aid from the automakers because there had not been enough concessions, Kokonis said. Bailout vs. financial aid Ottawa's pandemic rescue package for Air Canada is "probably as close to commercial terms as you're going to get," said Chris Murray of ATB Capital Markets. As well as low-interest loans, the agreement will see the federal government take an equity stake in the airline but requires Air Canada to refund passengers for cancelled flights, cap executive compensation at $1 million and restore service to regional airports. "You've got a lender that really is engaged in making sure Air Canada can resume service and ... the company is using this as a bridge to get back to normal operations." The structure of the deal contrasts with the bailout offered to automakers, said Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "There are more strings attached with respect to share buybacks and corporate compensation," he said. "Those are probably included because of the lessons learned during the financial crisis." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:AC). US pauses J&J vaccine in blow to global immunisation drive WORLD: US health authorities yesterday (Apr 13) recommended pausing the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID shot over blood clot fears, with the company quickly announcing it would delay its European rollout, in a setback for global immunisation campaigns. CoronavirusCOVID-19VaccinehealthdeathSafety By AFP Wednesday 14 April 2021, 09:43AM The J&J COVID-19 vaccine is on hold. Photo: AFP. Out of nearly seven million Americans who have so far received the single dose vaccine, six women between age 18 and 48 developed a rare type of clot in the brain along with low platelets, officials said. One later died while another is in critical condition. Food and Drug Administration scientist Peter Marks said the disorder might be triggered by a rare immune response to the vaccine similar to that seen among a few hundred recipients of the AstraZeneca jab in Europe. Both vaccines are based on adenovirus vector technology. We have made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe, J&J said, in a fresh blow for the hard-hit continent which passed the threshold of one million coronavirus deaths. The European Union has signed a deal for 200 million shots of the vaccine with an option for 200 million more. US authorities are now carrying out an investigation which could end up leading to tough regulatory choices, such as restricting the J&J shot to older people. People who have received a J&J shot within the past three weeks were asked to report to their doctors if they experienced severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath. But the White House said it was confident there would be no significant impact on the vaccination plan in the worlds hardest-hit country, where almost half of all adults have now received at least one dose. Pfizer said it would deliver its 300 million doses by the middle of July - two weeks early - while Moderna said it was on course to deliver its total of 300 million by the end of July. So happy South Africa followed the United States lead and suspended its rollout of the J&J shot, delaying an already sluggish campaign, which has so far only administered this vaccine. But the European Medicines Agency said it was continuing to carry out its own investigation, and Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters his country still expected its first shipment of the shot by the end of the month. More than 800 million vaccine doses have now been administered globally, according to an AFP tally. India - which is experiencing a record surge in cases - was given a boost as it authorized Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 drug. The total number of virus deaths is approaching three million, as the World Health Organization warned infections are rising exponentially despite efforts aimed at stopping them. Muslims around the world started Ramadan after religious leaders confirmed the month of fasting would begin yesterday, with many countries facing virus restrictions. Mosques in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia, will only be able to host people at a maximum of 50% capacity. Worshippers are required to wear masks and bring their own prayer mats. Saudi Arabia, home to Islams holiest shrines, announced that the month of fasting was to start yesterday, though authorities said only people inoculated against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan. In the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan, coronavirus restrictions irked some worshippers. This year for example we wont have the (large) iftars. And we cant have a lot of people in the mosque. We have to queue and wait, said 30-year-old Toparkhan Bergenov. India gets Sputnik In India health officials have been battling a huge surge in cases in recent weeks that has prompted night curfews and a clampdown on movement and activities. The country of 1.3 billion people on Monday reported more than 161,000 new cases - the seventh-consecutive day that more than 100,000 infections have been recorded. Experts have warned that huge, mostly maskless crowds at political rallies and religious festivals have fueled Indias caseload, and in the Himalayan city Haridwar, maskless Hindu pilgrims have ignored social distancing pleas. In Europe, Germany agreed to controversial changes to a national infections control law, including a night curfew and stricter rules around private gatherings and sports. France has suspended all flights from Brazil to curb the spread of a new variant found there. But Britain said it had met its target to offer a first vaccine dose to all over-50s, the clinically vulnerable and health and social workers by April 15. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead on COVID-19, said the world was now at a critical point of the pandemic as cases once again grow exponentially. The organisation also called for a halt to the sale of live wild mammals in food markets to prevent the emergence of new diseases such as coronavirus. WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, a longtime congressman from The Woodlands and one of the most powerful Republicans in the House, announced Wednesday he won't seek a 14th term in office. Brady, who was first elected in 1996, is the top GOP member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was its chairman as it drafted former President Donald Trump's tax rewrite in 2017. But Brady faces a term limit leading the committee at the end of 2022, which he said in his announcement was a factor in his decision not to return. In the end, Ill leave Congress the way I entered it, with the absolute belief that we are a remarkable nation the greatest in history, Brady said in an address at the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference. RELATED: Texas Republicans lead the charge against Biden on oil, immigration, guns Brady is the second member of the Texas delegation to announce his retirement this year, following U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, a South Texas Democrat. Their announcements come as Republicans are already pushing to take back the House from a slim Democratic majority something Brady said in his announcement he was confident would happen. Bradys departure will leave open a reliably red seat north of Houston as Texas lawmakers work to redraw congressional boundaries. Brady won reelection last year by 47 percentage points and it is unlikely Democrats will be able to gain much ground there in 2022. He struck an optimistic tone in his announcement, saying he has not lost faith in a partisan Congress and the political system as he touted legislative accomplishments, including a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, a ban on surprise medical billing, and perhaps most notably, the GOP tax overhaul that he spearheaded in the House. The tax cuts lifted millions of Americans out of poverty and gave hope to so many the old tax code had left behind, Brady said. America recaptured the title of the most competitive economy in the world, bringing manufacturing jobs and investment back home to America from overseas. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The historic rewrite of the tax code was perhaps Bradys biggest win in Congress and its one he will spend the end of his time there defending as President Joe Biden and Democrats are already targeting key elements of it, including raising taxes on corporations to fund a $2 trillion infrastructure package. And while The Woodlands Republican said Wednesday he still believes Congress can work in a bipartisan manner, Brady expressed frustration over the early days of the Biden administration in a recent interview with Hearst Newspapers, calling the Biden White House the most partisan hed worked with. President Bidens strength of working across the aisle when he was a U.S. senator is nowhere to be found and the promises of unity theres simply not a finger being lifted to do that, Brady said at the time. ben.wermund@chron.com Flash China on Tuesday paid in full all assessed contributions to the UN regular budget and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals for the year 2021, said the Chinese Mission to the United Nations. Prior to this, China had paid the remaining assessments for seven peacekeeping operations during the authorized period of 2020/2021. China has thus paid the annual contributions and various assessments in full at this stage, it said. As the largest developing country, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the second-largest contributor to UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, China has always actively supported the work of the United Nations, firmly safeguarded the international system, and upheld multilateralism with concrete actions, it said. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's legitimate rights in the United Nations. Over the past 50 years, China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order. China has greatly advanced multilateralism. Facing the challenges brought by unilateralism, protectionism and bullying practice in the past few years, China has given firm support to multilateralism and the United Nations, it said. China became the second-largest contributor to the assessments of UN peacekeeping operations in 2016 and the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget in 2019. China has fulfilled its financial obligations in full, on time, and without conditions in accordance with the UN Charter, demonstrating the role it plays as a responsible major country, said the mission. The global economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The liquidity crisis and worrisome financial situation that the United Nations faces have seriously affected its work and the implementation of its mandates. Finance serves as a foundation of and an important element underpinning the United Nations governance. Member states should fulfill their legal obligations, actively respond to the secretary-general's appeal, and pay all assessments as soon as possible to improve the liquidity situation of the United Nations, it said. China will continue to honor its responsibilities, work with all parties to build a community of shared future for mankind, and firmly support multilateralism and the United Nations. Meanwhile, the UN Secretariat should continue to strengthen budget performance management, improve internal control, and ensure that every penny of taxpayers of the member states is put to good use, said the Chinese mission. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. A magnificently restored Supermarine Spitfire MK.XVI has just come up for sale with our sponsors at Platinum Fighter Sales. She is a former RAF example, serial number TE392, and readers might remember our January 2020 article where we reported on TE392s first post-restoration flight, which took place early last year in Australia at Archerfield Airport near Brisbane, Queensland. Built for the RAF, TE392 rolled off the Vickers-Armstrong production line in Castle Bromwich near wars end during the spring of 1945. Too late to see active war-time service, TE392 served with various RAF units until formally retired from her military flying career in September 1952 when the RAF relegated the Spitfire to ground instruction duties at RAF Church Lawford. After serving in this role at various locations for the next few years, the fighter went on display atop a pole at RAF Kemble, in September 1967. The RAF then moved the aircraft to RAF Hereford in February 1970, again for pole-mounted display. Here she stayed until 1984, when the British Ministry of Defense traded her to well-known warbird collector, Doug Arnold in exchange for North American B-25J Mitchell 44-29366. Arnold sent the time capsule TE392 for restoration with Aerofab in Thruxton, Wiltshire for restoration. This work took some time and was incomplete by the time of Doug Arnolds death in 1992. As with many of the other aircraft in his possession at the time of his death, TE392 was shipped to the USA for storage. Following its sale in 1995, the Spitfires restoration recommenced at Harry Stengers shop in Bartow, Florida. Its first post-restoration flight was made on December 24th, 1999, with Elliot Cross at the controls. TE392 now belonged to the Lone Star Flight Museum, then in Galveston, Texas. The aircraft flew on the U.S. air show circuit for the next few years, but then Hurricane Ike struck the Texas coast in September 2008, rendering the aircraft unserviceable. Lone Star sent the fighter to Ezell Aviation for cleaning and preservation treatment following Ike. After nine years in dry storage, the museum sold the fighter via Platinum Fighter Sales in December 2017, and she moved to her new home Australia. Bishopp Aviation completely disassembled the aircraft and completed a 100 point restoration to the highest standard over a two-year period. With eventual G registration in mind, all US hardware was removed with original British hardware reinstalled. The wings were rebuilt with new wing spars. TE392 was placed on the Australian civil registry as VH-RAF on December 2nd, 2019 and on January 13th 2020, undertook its first post-restoration flight with Richard Grace at the controls. TE392 has been painted to represent a Spitfire flown by the legendary Australian Ace, Frederick Anthony Own Gaze, DFC & Two Bars, who is credited with shooting down 13.5 enemy aircraft over Europe including both a Messerschmitt Me 262 and Arado Ar 234! This iconic Spitfire with continuing history is operated by Fighter Pilot, an organization which operates a small fleet of vintage warbirds out of Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Australia. This aircraft is for sale by Platinum Fighter Sales, for more information visit www.platinumfighters.com DUBLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Digital OOH Advertising Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global digital-out-of-home advertising market reached a value of US$ 41.06 Billion in 2020. Digital out-of-home (OOH) advertisement refers to a dynamic communication medium displayed on digital signage. These advertisements are generally installed at airports, railway stations, bus shelters, medical waiting rooms, shopping malls, retail stores, movie theatres, and on major roadways. With the growing internet penetration, advertisers are using virtual screens, projectors, motion graphics and video content for targeting specific demographics. This has led to the expansion of digital and internet-based advertising platforms across the globe. As a result, these ads are increasingly being adopted by manufacturers to promote their products in the market. In recent years, advancements in technology, such as improved IoT connectivity, near field communication, artificial intelligence (AI), and beacons, have encouraged creativity in the DOOH industry. Advertisers can now focus on developing screens that deliver contextually relevant, intelligent and real-time content. With the development of infrastructure and a growing number of shopping complexes and malls, there has been a rise in the number of people who spend time outdoors. As a result, companies are focusing on adopting digital OOH advertising as an advertising platform to help them reach a wider audience. Moreover, the popularity of digital billboards has also been on the rise catalysed by their ability to engage audience effectively. Additionaly, the cost of digital advertisements has also declined over the past few years, increasing their affordability across organisations of all sizes. Looking forward, the publisher expects the global digital-out-of-home advertising market to reach a value of US$ 50.42 Billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.58% during 2021-2026. This latest report provides a deep insight into the global digital OOH (out-of-home) advertising market covering all its essential aspects. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, recent trends, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the digital OOH (out-of-home) advertising market in any manner. Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being APG - SGA, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc., Global Media, JCDecaux, Lamar Advertising Company, oOh!media Limited, Outfront Media Inc., Stroer, etc. Key Questions Answered in This Report: 1. What was the global digital OOH advertising market size in 2020? 2. What is the impact of COVID-19 on the global digital OOH advertising market? 3. What will be the digital OOH advertising market outlook during the forecast period (2021-2026)? 4. What are the major global digital OOH advertising market drivers? 5. What are the major trends in the global digital OOH advertising market? 6. What is the global digital OOH advertising market breakup by format type? 7. What is the global digital OOH advertising market breakup by application? 8. What is the global digital OOH advertising market breakup by end user? 9. What are the major regions in the global digital OOH advertising market? 10. Who are the leading digital OOH advertising industry players? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 2.1 Objectives of the Study 2.2 Stakeholders 2.3 Data Sources 2.3.1 Primary Sources 2.3.2 Secondary Sources 2.4 Market Estimation 2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach 2.4.2 Top-Down Approach 2.5 Forecasting Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Digital OOH Advertising Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Breakup by Format Type 5.5 Market Breakup by Application 5.6 Market Breakup by End-User 5.7 Market Breakup by Region 5.8 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Format Type 6.1 Digital Billboards 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Video Advertising 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Ambient Advertising 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Others 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Application 7.1 Outdoor 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Indoor 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by End-User 8.1 Retail 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Recreation 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Banking 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Transportation 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Education 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Others 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 9.1 Europe 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 North America 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Asia Pacific 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 9.4 Middle East and Africa 9.4.1 Market Trends 9.4.2 Market Forecast 9.5 Latin America 9.5.1 Market Trends 9.5.2 Market Forecast 10 SWOT Analysis 10.1 Overview 10.2 Strengths 10.3 Weaknesses 10.4 Opportunities 10.5 Threats 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 12.1 Overview 12.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers 12.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 12.4 Degree of Competition 12.5 Threat of New Entrants 12.6 Threat of Substitutes 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 APG - SGA 14.3.2 Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. 14.3.3 Global Media 14.3.4 JCDecaux 14.3.5 Lamar Advertising Company 14.3.6 oOh!media Limited 14.3.7 Outfront Media Inc. 14.3.8 Stroer For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jvvbsp Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Brooklyn Center: A prosecutor said that he will charge a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer with second-degree manslaughter for killing 20-year-old black motorist Daunte Wright in a shooting that ignited days of unrest and clashes between protesters and police. The charge against former Brooklyn Center police Officer Kim Potter will be filed on Wednesday, three days after Wright was killed during a traffic stop and as the nearby murder trial progresses for the ex-officer charged with killing George Floyd last May, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said. Second-degree manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Kim Potter, pictured in 2007, quit the Minneapolis Police Department after Sundays fatal shooting. Credit:Star Tribune via AP Potter was arrested on Wednesday morning at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St Paul. An attorney for Potter did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The former Brooklyn Center police chief has said that Potter, a 26-year veteran and training officer, had intended to use her Taser on Wright but fired her handgun instead. However, protesters and Wrights family members say theres no excuse for the shooting and it shows how the justice system is tilted against black people, noting Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead. PORTLAND, Ore., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbird, creators of the world's first educational version of JavaScript, today announced the official launch of the Blackbird education platform. Successfully trialed in middle schools and coding academies throughout the country, Blackbird's offering was built from the ground up to address the middle school gap in coding education in a platform that can be administered by non-technical and technically minded teachers, instructors and parents. Based around Blackbird's proprietary educational version of JavaScript, Blackbird provides students, even those who have not been drawn to STEM or coding, with an understanding and aptitude in one of the most commonly used programming languages on earth. "Before Blackbird there were no tools available to bridge the expanse between elementary school block-based introductions to coding, and high school's more advanced text-based coding, leading to frustration and a well-documented drop-off in computer science when students enter high school," said Ness Blackbird, cofounder of Blackbird. "Based around our unique educational version of JavaScript, Blackbird enables middle school students to learn real-world, applicable coding skills in a platform that can be administered and led by even non-technical teachers and educators." Blackbird's curriculum guides students through coding lessons aligned with standards identified in the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards for Math and English as well as the Computer Science Teachers Association Computer Science standards. Blackbird's integrated LMS enables instructors to easily track student progress, review errors and make direct comments. "Blackbird has been the best thing for my students. Not just because of distance learning but because of the logical step to advance skills from block coding to programming," said Ben Durham , technology teacher for Portland Public Schools. "The lessons make sense and the ability to allow students to work at their own pace allows the teacher to support students according to their unique needs." "At The Girls' Place Chicago, our mission is to help girls ages 7 to 14 build their confidence and self-esteem, as we also strive to spark and nurture their curiosity in STEAM industries. The Blackbird system and curriculum was a perfect fit to our mission," said Endla Thornton, founder and executive director, The Girls' Place Chicago . "As our young participants were introduced to JavaScript coding, during our March 2021 partnership with Blackbird, I witnessed the students confidently ask and answer questions and comfortably navigate the lessons during their weekly instructor lead, distant learning group classes. Blackbird is a user-friendly system that enhances the autonomous learning experience as well as group lessons." Blackbird Education Platform: Addresses the "Middle School Gap" in Computer Science education Aligned to Common Core, Next Generation Science and CSTA Learning Standards Teaches JavaScript through game and animation creation Can be administered by all instructors and parents regardless of technical expertise Integrated Learning Management System (LMS) Certified Pedagogical Quality Simple, affordable pricing structure, includes full, expert support Pricing and Availability: The Blackbird education platform is now open for students, parents and instructors. Blackbird begins with a free, foundational section with additional advanced lessons available through a simple and affordable pricing structure that includes full support and professional development. For more information, visit Blackbird on the web at https://www.BlackbirdCode.com . SOURCE Blackbird Related Links http://www.BlackbirdCode.com Florida Business Analytics Forum Set for May By Keith Morelli TAMPA (April 13, 2021) -- Renowned experts of artificial intelligence and machine learning will speak at the Florida Business Analytics Forum, hosted by the University of South Floridas Muma College of Business in May. Healthcare will be a big focus this year, with speakers addressing the future of AI in medicine and ways of dealing with the potential for racial bias as well as applications in dyslexia. The event is on a virtual platform that likely will draw hundreds of registrants. The field of academic specialists will deliver keynote talks during the three-hour event, discussing cutting-edge topics in business analytics. The forum is a signature event of the Muma College of Business Center for Analytics and Creativity. This is the fourth year we are bringing this event to our community free of cost to attend, said Balaji Padmanabhan, director of the center and coordinator of the event. Our overarching goal has always been to bring cutting-edge ideas within the analytics space for our attendees and each year our choice of topics and speakers has reflected this. Our speakers have been incredible thought leaders in this space and the thing we offer to them each year is the possibility of impact translating their ideas into practice, he said. This years speakers continue this tradition and I urge our attendees to find ways not just to attend this event alone, but also to invite their colleagues so that the ideas can spark discussion within their teams. Ultimately, for us, it is all about facilitating the movement of new ideas and knowledge from thought leaders into teams whose jobs it is every day to make analytics work in organizations, Padmanabhan said. Our event each year has provided a wonderful platform for this and I can assure attendees that this year might even be the best to date. The event takes place from noon until 3 p.m. on May 20. To register, click here. The speakers are: Hugo Aerts, who will discuss artificial intelligence and medicine. Aerts is one of the leaders in this field, serves on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and is the director of the, Program for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. His research focuses on the development and application of novel artificial intelligence approaches deep learning in particular for personalized medicine by integrating and analyzing medical imaging, pathology and genomic data. His interest in the field grew with the technological advances in AI that have the potential to transform the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including relevant solutions that can improve cancer care worldwide. Ziad Obermeyer, whose will talk about racial bias in health. He is the Blue Cross of California Distinguished Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of California Berkeleys School of Health. His research focuses on the intersection of machine learning, medicine and health policy. He previously served as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, where he received the Early Independence Award, the National Institutes of Healths most prestigious award for exceptional junior scientists. Prior to his career in medicine, he worked as a consultant to pharmaceutical and global health clients at McKinsey & Co. in New Jersey, Geneva and Tokyo. Luz Rello, who will discuss artificial intelligence and machine learning in dyslexia. Herself a dyslexic, Rello has done some innovative research to detect dyslexia early in children by using machine learning. She is the founder of Change Dyslexia, a social organization to screen and treat dyslexia, and assistant professor in the Department of Information Systems and Technology at IE Business School at IE University in Spain. Rellos research Interests include e-health, dyslexia, linguistics, human/computer interaction, natural language processing and education. She is the author of Overcome Dyslexia, A Personal Experience through Research. Chip Huyen, who will talk about MLOps, a subset of ModelOps, which is a practice of collaboration between data scientists and operations professionals to manage machine learning in production. She is a graduate of Stanford University where she teaches machine-learning systems designs. She also is a social media star in the field of analytics. Her work brings machine learning into production, working through platforms that include Netflix and Primer. She has helped some of the worlds largest organizations develop and deploy machine-learning systems. LinkedIn recognizes Huyen as being among the Top Voices in Software Development in 2019 and the Top Voices in Data Science & AI in 2020. To register for the event, click here. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 6700 24th Ave. N.W. sold for $2.1 million, according to King County records. The buyer was Gatsby 2 LLC, which is associated with Gatsby Development. Public records indicate a loan from Beaver Capital. . . . Real Madrid's team bus taking the squad to Anfield ahead of their Champions League quarter final second leg duel was attacked by Liverpool supporters. Fans waited Los Blancos with flares and some of the objects thrown at the bus damaged the windows. At least one window is said to have been broken as a result. STAMFORD Matriculating at public schools or universities means getting up to date on your immunizations, from measles to mumps to meningococcal. But could the COVID-19 vaccine be next on the back-to-school list? At Wesleyan University, the answer is yes. The private university in Middletown announced Tuesday that students must be vaccinated against the coronavirus before the start of the fall semester. With all students fully vaccinated before Arrival Day in the fall, our campus community will be closer to achieving much-desired herd immunity. This will also improve our chances of enjoying a more normal semester, said a letter to students from dean of students Rick Culliton and medical director Tom McLarney. Spokespeople from the University of Connecticut and Yale University, however, said neither educational institution will make the vaccine a requirement for students. Meanwhile, both Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield are undecided on whether to mandate the vaccine. Spokespeople from each said they would make a final determination based on input from the state Department of Public Health. UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said thats not expected to change in the near future at the states largest college, with multiple campuses in Connecticut. Like many other colleges and universities, UConn does not require people to receive vaccines of any type that are unlicensed, including those developed for COVID-19, she said. Vaccines against COVID-19 are approved only for emergency purposes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not yet fully licensed. Reitz, who responded in an emailed statement, said, Any changes would only occur in close collaboration with the state Department of Health and local health districts. Karen Peart, director of media relations for Yale, said the COVID vaccine will not be mandated for this spring, but the private university is encouraging students to get it. Yale has capacity to vaccinate our community, but we are limited by the supply we receive, she said, in an emailed statement. We have let our students know that when they become eligible, they should sign up to receive a vaccine at Yale and at state entities. There has been no decision yet about mandating vaccines for next term. More and more universities and colleges across the country have announced they will require students to be vaccinated with one of the COVID-19 vaccines before the beginning of the fall semester. Those institutions include Duke University, University of Notre Dame, Syracuse University, Cornell University and Rutgers University, to name a few. Reitz said that while UConn will not require the vaccine, it is strongly urging employees and students to get vaccinated. Having high vaccination rates will greatly affect UConns ability to successfully reopen for the fall semester with a large variety of in-person classes, higher density in residence halls, and more typical workplace conditions than we currently have, she said. Any enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at the university, including out-of-state and international students, can receive the vaccination, Reitz said. But students will likely have the opportunity to get inoculated by other providers before the fall semester, she said. Public high schools in Connecticut are working to get students 16 years of age and older vaccinated before end-of-year activities such as proms and graduation ceremonies, but younger students are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. Maura Fitzgerald, spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, said there are no current discussions about mandating the COVID-19 vaccine at public schools in the future. Staff writer Amanda Cuda contributed to this report. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct Yales stance on mandating vaccines. They are not required for the current spring term. ignacio.laguarda@hearstmediact.com The Texas Senate backed a potential constitutional amendment Tuesday that would substantially rein in the power of the governor during emergencies like this past years coronavirus pandemic. Texas voters would have to approve the amendment Nov. 2 for it to take effect. And before it could get on a ballot, the Senate action must still be approved by the House. READ MORE: Biden picks Texas-native, first person of color to head Census full-time The amendment would require the governor to call a special session in order to declare a state emergency that lasts more than 30 days. The special session would give lawmakers the chance to terminate or adjust executive actions taken by the governor, or pass new laws related to the disaster or emergency. The Legislature did not meet last year as the pandemic swept the state, so Gov. Greg Abbott addressed the largely unprecedented situation with executive orders and declarations spanning several months, citing the Texas Disaster Act of 1975. Abbott issued what essentially amounted to a statewide shutdown order last year, and he kept in place some level of capacity limitations for businesses until early March of this year. In July, he mandated that Texans wear masks in public. He also used executive authority to lift other state regulations to help businesses struggling during the pandemic, such as allowing restaurants to sell groceries and mixed drinks to go. But many state lawmakers say the Legislature should be the government body to make decisions that affect businesses and livelihood of Texans. Early on, people understood [business closures] because they're like, we don't know what this is, Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, said on the Senate floor. But as the pandemic and business closures wore on, Birdwell said the anger grew as the mandates continued. Birdwell said if the governor believes the situation is dire enough that businesses need to close, then he needs to get the Legislature involved. The resolution now heads to the House, where another proposal to check executive powers received a hearing but has not yet made it out of committee. READ ALSO: Millionaire Texas entrepreneur dazzles mothers with $100,000 PTO fund Birdwell and others have said the law is not intended to be an indictment of Abbotts handling of the pandemic. But both Democrats and Republicans have been critical of how the governor wielded his power throughout the crisis. Over the past year, Democrats and some public health experts have urged the governor to issue tighter restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 or give authority to county officials to impose local measures on top of statewide rules. On Tuesday, some Democratic senators expressed concerns the Legislature would not be able to act quickly enough to take necessary steps to address a disaster. I don't see this Legislature being able to convene fast enough to answer ... in the kind of disasters I have seen and expect the state to see in the future, said Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, who used to serve as Travis County judge. Meanwhile, a priority bill filed in the House would carve out future pandemics from how the state responds to other disasters. That bill, HB 3, has not yet made it out of committee, but would allow the governor to suspend state laws and require local jurisdictions to get approval from the secretary of state before altering voting procedures during a pandemic. Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, previously told the Texas Tribune that the proposal was meant as a starting point to map out responses in the event of another pandemic. HB 3 was trying to set structures, predicting the disaster or the emergency, Birdwell said. What I did was set a baseline...It is impossible to predict the disaster. Abbott lifted the statewide mask mandate and reopened businesses at 100% capacity in late February and has signaled he is aware lawmakers, even within his own party, are interested in curbing his power. In his State of the State speech earlier this year, Abbott promised to continue working with the Legislature to find ways to navigate a pandemic while also allowing businesses to remain open. In media appearances afterward, Abbott signaled openness to reforming the governors emergency powers, telling the Tribune that his office is offering up some legislation ourselves on ways to address this going forward. In response to the bill, an Abbott spokesperson late Tuesday said, We continue to review all legislation as bills make their way through both chambers. Correction, April 13, 2021: A previous version of this article misspelled a Texas senator's first name. He is Brian Birdwell, not Brain Birdwell. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Out of an abundance of caution, positive staff, residents and patients were quarantined for 10 days, Relucio said. Muted presence of coronavirus variants in already-vaccinated people is a phenomenon that will be increasingly studied as vaccinations progress, Relucio said, and she believes eventually there will be new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as to whether infected vaccinated people should quarantine or not. Vaccinations in Napa County appear to be having a real impact on hospitalizations and death rates, Relucio said: those metrics have gone down, and the county has plenty of space in its ICUs. The countys ultimate goal is herd immunity, according to spokesperson Upton meaning around 75% of the general population needs to receive a vaccine. Until then, theres still risk of transmission, Relucio said. I think we are going to see that as more people are vaccinated, we might see more cases, but it wont translate into more hospitalizations. That means you can have an outbreak, but you wont have to close businesses because of it. The Victorian government is wedded to a destructive law and order strategy that it thinks will win it votes but in reality sacrifices Aboriginal lives and makes Victoria less safe, not more, Ms Waight said. Thirty years after the royal commission handed down its report, this is truly shameful. Corrections Minister Natalie Hutchins says the government hears the amplified pain and anger of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We know we can and must do better, Ms Hutchins said. Veronica Marie Nelson Walker died in prison last year. In response to the 2017 Bourke Street massacre, laws were changed to tighten eligibility for bail. The changes meant people who committed an indictable offence which could include minor crimes such as shop theft while on bail or on community corrections orders, were taken back into custody. Antoinette Braybrook, the chief executive of Aboriginal womens service Djirra, supported the call for bail reform. Statistics from June last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, showed about a 30 per cent decrease in the number of women in Victorian prisons. But Ms Braybrook said the number of Indigenous women in Victorian prisons had increased exponentially overall, with figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the number of Indigenous women in custody has gone up 100 per cent over a decade. Djirra chief executive Antoinette Braybrook. So we know its possible to keep our people out of prison and off remand, Ms Braybrook said. And we know that when the numbers continue to rise, this is because the government chooses not to act. Minister Hutchins accepted more needed to be done to tackle the over-representation of Aboriginal Victorians in the justice system. Loading She said the government continued to work with Aboriginal communities and the Aboriginal Justice Caucus to reduce rates and improve outcomes for Aboriginal youths. The government also established the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission in partnership with the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria. The inquiry has the full powers of a royal commission and will investigate historical and ongoing injustices against Aboriginal Victorians. Only by reconciling with our past and committing to doing things differently can we reach a fairer, more just future - for all Victorians, Ms Hutchins said. The Australian Law Council on Wednesday added its support to raising the age of criminal responsibility nationally to 14 years. Though Victorias rate of detention for Indigenous children aged between 10 and 17 is lower than the national average, young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are nine times more likely to be in custody than their non-Indigenous peers, according to a Productivity Commission report from January. The greatest gift that this government could give is to raise the age, to break the cycle of our children, our future generations of getting stuck in the quicksand of the justice system, Ms Axleby said. In July last year, the nations lawmakers, including the then Victorian attorney-general, Jill Hennessy, deferred a decision to raise the age for a year, agreeing more work needed to be done to find alternative ways to deal with young offenders. Since the royal commission handed down its findings in 1991, at least another 455 Indigenous people have died in custody, according to the latest-available statistics from the 2018-19 National Deaths in Custody program. The death rate of Indigenous prisoners is consistently lower than that of non-Indigenous prisoners nationally, though in 2018-19 the rate was slightly higher in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are consistently and significantly more likely to be arrested and imprisoned. Indigenous people make up just 3 per cent of the Australian population, but 28 per cent of the prisoner population. Ravi Zacharias and the third level of truth Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I cant tell you how much my heart aches to type in the URL RZIM.org and view the picked-clean skeleton Ravi Zacharias website that now is vs. the vibrant repository of educational and evangelistic materials that it used to be. As someone who has spent decades supporting the ministry, its devastating to see the scorched-earth effects that Zacharias wrongs have had on everything and everyone around him, including the shutdown of Wellspring International, the charitable arm of the group, which did so much good. Beyond the head shaking, cries of hypocrisy and how-could-this-have-happened questions lies a critical and deeper lesson for all of us who claim to be followers of Christ. Being not the sharpest knife in the drawer, it took me a while to wrap my head around it, but with a little help from a friend, I finally reached the understanding on the matter I was seeking. A lesson in truth When I struggle with something, I do what all of us should do: turn to someone way smarter than me. In this regard, Im a little like John Piper who, referring to getting instruction, said, all my best friends are dead men. In this case, the dead man in question is John Edward Carnell, a forerunner of highly-educated apologists like William Lane Craig who we have with us today. Holding doctorates in both philosophy and theology, Carnell labored to reestablish the place of the mind in Christian circles, while at the same time never losing sight of the practical implications the deep truths of Christianity have in our lives. In his book, A Philosophy of the Christian Religion, Carnell has a section entitled The Loci of Truth, where he describes the three different sources or levels of truth. The first source, Carnell says, is the sum total of reality itself, e.g., the trees in my yard are truly trees. The second source of truth is the systematic consistency or propositional correspondence to reality. In this case I might state that the trees in my yard are really trees, which when tested, proves correct and so we conclude that I have spoken the truth about the matter. It may seem silly to overtly explain the first and second sources of truth, but in todays culture, where postmodernism has given way to the even worse calamity of post-truth, its more relevant than most of us realize. But its the third source or level of truth that gets to the heart of the Zacharias tragedy. Its also the one to which Christ refers in His sweeping claim to self-revelation. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6). Its one thing to know the truth and be able to state the truth, but its another thing entirely to be the truth. The Christian apologist for the third level of truth The Danish philosopher Sren Kierkegaard was the greatest apologist for the third level of truth. Demanding that Christianity be interpreted as living truth rather than just a system of thought, he forged a unique path within the philosophy of religion by saying that no person has a right to claim truth until they first are the truth. He began by stating Let us call the untruth individual sin; being guilty of sins like pride and self-love signified to him that we are untruth in our own persons. To rid oneself of sin in Kierkegaards mind meant that truth had to become subjective to a person, which sounds odd on the surface. What Kierkegaard means is that truth becomes the subjective state of our ethical decisions. Personal Christianity without decision and life change, he believed, was nothing more than head knowledge, a phrase with no meaning. For example, a person may preach and teach persuasively on the evils of divorce, but if they marry and divorce in a repetitive and serial fashion with no conscience on the matter, they have not subjected themselves to the truth they are teaching. While you and I will obviously never be the truth as Jesus ontologically is, we become more like Him the truth when we march down a path of personal holiness and conform to His image. Carnell says, The reason why we are able to trust Christ is that he spoke and lived in a way which is congenial with our axiological [value-based] expectations.[1] The same should be true of us. The danger of a false third level of truth Its one thing for someone to live out this level of truth when they are born again and their life begins the process of matching up with a perfect, immutable, and good God. But what happens when a fallen person creates their own truth without a reality check coming from the Creator? The answer is, something awful. In her critique of existential atheistic philosophy, aptly titled Dreadful Freedom, Marjorie Grene writes these chilling words about a person who creates their own reality and truth: I, and I alone, have, absurdly and without reason, brought order out of chaos; that I alone, crudely and stupidly, without cosmic meaning or rational ground, have made a world out of nothing; and with that awareness my world itself totters on the brink of the nothingness from which it came.[2] The person, Grene says, builds a world with borderless values via their free human agent act and becomes their own point of reference. This is the lesson you and I need to learn from the Zacharias disaster. According to his victims accounts, Ravi actually believed he was owed sexual favors as compensation for his ministry pressures. This thinking and derived fabricated set of values goes far beyond a Christian struggling with sin in a Romans 7 fashion. He seemed to have sadly instantiated his own false, third level of truth, which was diametrically opposed to Gods moral absolutes. Its my prayer that you and I never rationalize sin in a way where we get to that level of self-deception; a place that leads down a sure path to devastation. Instead, we want to have Gods truth become in Kierkegaards words subjective to us so that we eagerly accept it, subject ourselves to it from the heart, and then experience transformation from our untruth to His truth. In other words, let us strive to be the truth. [1] Carnell, John Edward. A Philosophy of the Christian Religion (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing, 1954), 474. [2] Grene, Marjorie. Dreadful Freedom (Chicago: University of Chicago Pres, 1948), 52. Arm-in-arm through tears, Alexander Schuman, Bianca Spender and Allegra Spender have spoken of their mother Carla Zampatti. CZ is what we all called the family business, we referred to it as our other sibling, sometimes the favourite child, Mr Schuman said. But she was a demanding boss and a demanding mother and saw that as a good thing because shed achieved more than she ever dreamed of, and she wanted the same for you. Bianca Spender, a fashion designer herself, said her mother was incredibly warm, affectionate and loved a hug. She had such a captivating presence. She drew you in with her soft voice to present a clear, concise point of view. Her favourite thing on the weekend was to swim and have her family around her. She offered you champagne and croissants at any time of day, with Nutella for the grandchildren, presenting everything on a perfect white cloth. She said the two eldest of nine grandchildren spent time living with Zampatti while others had stayed with her as recently as the Friday before her fall on March 27. Carla Zampatti arriving at the premiere of La Traviata on March 27, 2021. Credit:Don Arnold She was alive to beauty in any form. Dance, visual arts, fashion, architecture. The creativity of others genuinely inspired and uplifted her, Ms Spender said. If she were alive today ... Im sure she would say this is the best-dressed funeral she has ever attended. Allegra Spender, wearing a black outfit with statement ostrich feathers around the neckline, said seeing another woman succeed brought her mother joy. Thank you to so many of you for being here today, she said, noting they have heard stories lately of the way their mother gave and meant so much to others they hadnt known about before. We will miss her warm presence, her perspective, her sense of fun, her love and care of us and the joy she took from the world, she said. We are very proud of you mum. We are committed to continuing your legacy of inspiring, empowering and supporting women. Kym Marsh fondly recalled the time she met the late Duke of Edinburgh during Tuesday's edition of Morning Live. Chatting to her co-host Gethin Jones, Kym recounted Prince Philip's 80th birthday party in 2001, when her former pop group Hear'Say performed. Reminiscing about meeting the Duke - who died last Friday aged 99 - Kym, 44, said: 'Hear'Say played his 80th birthday, can you believe. Rather unlikely! Fond memories: Kym Marsh fondly recalled the time she met the late Duke of Edinburgh during Tuesday's edition of Morning Live 'I'm not sure he even knew who we were to be perfectly honest.' She went on to recount an awkward moment between the Duke and fellow bandmate Myleene Klass. 'We were having a photograph with him and Myleene had her microphone in her hand and she went to put her arm around him and remembered you're not meant to touch a member of the royal family,' Kym told. 'She tried to get the microphone away and poked him with it in a rather unusual place. And he went: "Oh steady on girl!"' 20 years ago: Kym recounted Prince Philip's 80th birthday party in 2001, when her former pop group Hear'Say performed [pictured] "Ah, youre the dancer!" Gethin and Kym share their personal memories of meeting the Duke of Edinburgh... and it turns out he'd been following Gethin's Strictly journey!@GethincJones | @msm4rsh | #MorningLive pic.twitter.com/Kn71hB61rz BBC Morning Live (@BBCMorningLive) April 12, 2021 This follows the news that the Queen stoically returned to royal duties on Tuesday. The monarch, 94, hosted a retirement ceremony for the former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel after her husband's death at Windsor Castle four days ago. As touching tributes flooded in from across the nation for the duke, including flowers left at residences such as Windsor and Buckingham Palace, the family announced a two-week period of royal mourning. Members of the family are 'continuing to undertake engagements appropriate to the circumstances,' a royal official said. Slip of the hand: She went on to recount an awkward moment between the Duke and fellow bandmate Myleene Klass [Myleene is pictured on Tuesday] Duty-bound: The Queen [pictured in March] stoically returned to royal duties this week, four days after the death of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh In a move that typifies the Queen's deep sense of duty, she returned early to bid farewell to Earl Peel - a key royal aide who is retiring after 14 years of service. Earl Peel was the Lord Chamberlain, which is the most senior officer role in the royal household. He had been overseeing arrangements for the duke's funeral - known as Operation Forth Bridge. Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, recently said his mother is bearing up stoically and the family have been rallying round to support her. RIP: Prince Philip [pictured with the Queen in June last year] passed away, aged 99, on Friday, at Windsor Castle Touching: Tributes flooded in from across the nation for the Duke, including flowers left at residences such as Windsor and Buckingham Palace [pictured], as the family announced a two-week period of royal mourning And Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has pledged to uphold his grandfather's wishes and continue to support the Queen and 'get on with the job'. The Princess Royal, Prince Anne, took part in her first official event since the death of her father. She joined, via video-link, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's Spring Conference in her role as the organisation's patron. A new Law on Land is needed, but it could take a good three years for a new itineration. Photo: Le Toan According to previous proposals, the Law on Land 2013 was to be revised at some point after the 13th National Party Congress. A new law was to be considered within the year, with the National Assembly able to discuss the revised draft by the end of 2022. If all goes to plan, the revised law would then need at least three years before being approved. Simultaneously, and with the party congress now in the rear view mirror and a new government in the process of taking the reins, a summary report of the implementation of the 2013 land law is being led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), involving every ministry and local authority. The summary report will be sent to the government and submitted to the National Assembly in the second quarter of 2023 the latest. According to Dang Hung Vo, former deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment, the current Law on Land contains conflicts with many other laws such as those on housing, real estate business, forestry, zoning, and public asset management. The overlap among those laws is the main reason for limiting the new supply for the real estate market as demand continuously increases. This leads to rocketing price increases and speculation which makes the market unstable, Vo said. Meanwhile, the weakness of the current Law on Land has also created struggles for administrative policies and implementation of land issues, especially in compensation. Talking with VIR, Lim Hua Tiong, CEO of Frasers Property Vietnam expressed that a revised land law is necessary to enhance the flow of foreign investment to Vietnam and that means a law with shorter processes, clearer and less complicated regulations, and elimination of conflicts with other laws that would all help investors make faster decisions and open up major chances for their success in Vietnam. It must offer equal opportunities for Vietnamese and foreign investors by enabling and granting overseas investors the right to directly obtain land use rights for the purposes of land bank development for new project establishment, said Lim. He added that any revised land law should clarify the measurement of public land, which can be directly allocated/leased to the investor without public auction. This may shorten the time of the land allocation process and project implementation, respectively, he added. One official from the MoNRE noted that the revision of the land law must clarify details and remove unfairness for related parties in inheriting profits brought about by investment in land. Especially, the financial framework for land use which includes land leasing rents must be more relevant to the realities of the market. Moreover, the current Law on Land fails to mention many new types of real estate products such as condotels, officetels, or shophouses so a revised one is in need to deal with those products, said the official. According to Dang Minh Duc, director of Dong Nai Department of Natural Resources and Environment, a new law must take into account the current land status of localities. The revised Law on Land should clearly regulate the process of appraisal and land use right auction, and the calculation of the value for land compensation. These issues are seriously impacting the implementation of many projects in Dong Nai province, Duc said. The MoNRE has revealed that key issues to be considered in the revised land law include the expansion of quotas for agricultural land use of individuals and households; and management of rice land and especially land collection methods for the development of socio-economy of localities. Also in the frame for a revamp included are taxation policies on agricultural land provided to households and enterprises that are left unused, as well as how to harmonise the rights between foreign enterprises and the government, while avoiding the impacts to the countrys security but ensuring a solid investment environment for overseas investors. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, has said that Diwali has come early for the people of India because of the latest decisions taken by the GST Council. He was addressing a public rally at Dwarka. Highlighting the achievements of his government, he said, We made aviation affordable and within reach of the lesser privileged. There was no aviation policy post-independence. We made those policies and took responsibility to connect smallest of places by air. PM Modi also emphasized setting up of hand-pumps adding that his government has supplied Narmada's water to villages. He announced setting up of an institute for marine security in Dwarka as he said, Marine policing is a sector we are looking at very closely. We are modernising marine security apparatus. He also added that the government had already stated they would have a look at all the aspects of GST for three months and then make necessary changes as per the experience. #WATCH PM Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Gujarat's Rajkot https://t.co/BXysyY9qew ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2017 PM Modi said that the common citizen of India wants development to reach him/her and nobody wants their children to live a life in poverty. PM stressed that the government wants to help the people of India. He also added it is natural for citizens to support the government when policies are made with the best intentions. ''The world's attention is on our country and people are coming to invest here'', Modi asserted. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2021) - Red River Capital Corp. (TSXV: XBT.P) ("Red River " or the "Company"), a capital pool company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV" or the "Exchange") announces that, pursuant to recent changes by the TSXV to its Capital Pool Company program and TSXV Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies ("Policy 2.4"), which came into effect as of January 1, 2021 (the "New CPC Policy"), the Company intends to seek the requisite approvals of the shareholders of Red River (the "Shareholders"), to adopt and align the Company with the New CPC Policy. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meaning ascribed to them in the TSXV Corporate Finance Manual or the New CPC Policy. Pursuant to the New CPC Policy, Red River is required to obtain the approval of its disinterested Shareholder to adopt certain policies that will result in the Company being aligned with the New CPC Policy. Accordingly, Red River is seeking the written approval of not less than a majority of its disinterested Shareholders ("Written Approval") in respect of the following resolutions (the "Resolutions"): to approve the removal of the consequences associated with the Company not completing a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months of its listing date in accordance with the New CPC Policy; and to authorize the Company to make certain amendments to the Company's escrow agreement to effect certain changes contemplated under the New CPC Policy. In the event that the Company is not able to obtain the Written Approval prior to May 10, 2021, the Company will seek the approval of such Resolutions at its upcoming special meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on May 10, 2021 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass the Resolutions by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes cast by disinterested Shareholders who vote in respect thereof, in person or by proxy. The proposed amendments remain subject to the final approval of the TSXV. Additional information regarding each of the Resolutions can be found in the Company's information circular prepared for the purposes of the Meeting, which can be found at www.sedar.com. Removal of the Consequences of Failing to Complete a QT within 24 Months of the Listing Date Under Policy 2.4, if the Company fails to complete a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months of its Listing Date, it faces the consequences of either (i) having its common shares delisted or suspended from the Exchange, or (ii) subject to the approval of the majority of Shareholders, transferring its common shares to list on the NEX and cancelling certain Seed Shares issued to the Company's founders. The New CPC Policy eliminates the requirement for a Capital Pool Company, such as the Company, to complete a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months of the Listing Date and eliminates the associated consequences of not completing such requirement. The Company believes that the removal of the requirement to complete a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months of Listing Date, and the associated consequences of not completing such requirement, as exists under Policy 2.4, will put the Company in a better position to complete a Qualifying Transaction that will be beneficial to the Shareholders and the Company, by allowing increased flexibility to complete such a transaction. Red River shall seek disinterested shareholder approval to remove the consequences of not completing a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months after its Listing Date. In seeking such disinterested approval, the Company shall exclude all votes attached to the Red River common shares held by Non-Arm's Length Parties to the Company who own Seed Shares, as well as their Associates and Affiliates, being an aggregate of 2,000,000 Red River common shares. Amendments to the Escrow Agreement Under the New CPC Policy, securities subject to a CPC escrow agreement are subject to an 18-month escrow period, as opposed to the 36-month period previously required under Policy 2.4. At the Meeting, the Company shall seek disinterested Shareholder approval to amend the terms of the CPC Escrow Agreement to which it is a party, including to reduce the length of the term of any escrow provision to an 18-month escrow term, as permitted by Section 10.2 of the New CPC Policy. In seeking such disinterested approval, Red River shall exclude all votes attached to the Red River common shares held by shareholders who are parties to the CPC Escrow Agreement, as well as their Associates and Affiliates, being an aggregate of 2,500,000 Red River common shares. About Red River Capital Corp. Red River Capital is a CPC that completed its initial public offering and obtained a listing on the Exchange in July 2018 (trading symbol: "XBT.P"). It does not own any assets, other than cash or cash equivalents and its rights under the Agreement. The principal business of Red River is to identify and evaluate opportunities for the acquisition of an interest in assets or businesses and, once identified and evaluated, to negotiate an acquisition or participation subject to acceptance by the Exchange so as to complete a qualifying transaction in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. For further information, please contact: Red River Capital Corp. Julian Klymochko - Director and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (403) 801-2445 Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "is expected", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases; or terms that state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "could occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the approval of disinterested shareholders of the Resolutions, whether by Written Resolution or at the Meeting and the adoption of, and alignment with, certain matters under the New CPC Policy by the Company. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on, a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the timing of obtaining the necessary approvals of the shareholders and the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80374 The vessel has been cleared by AMSA and it should now depart, I suspect it will go back to Manila where we would expect the conditions be that should the ships owner and agent want to bring the vessel back, it would have to be deep cleaned and have a clean, uninfected crew, he said. A spokesman for Rio Tinto said the Aquagenie had remained offshore in Commonwealth waters at all times and the response to the positive case was being handled by the federal government. The health and safety of our people, the community and the ships crew remains our priority and we are continuing to engage with relevant authorities as well as the ships owners, he said. Resource companies like Rio Tinto have been left to chart a course forward alone and ensure seafarers on board charted bulk carriers met stringent quarantine protocols. Teresa Lloyd, chief executive of peak industry body Maritime Industry Australia, said there were no government guidelines regulating quarantine and testing requirements for seafarers in the Philippines, leaving it up to individual shipping companies to create their own protocols. This meant some adhered to very strict criteria aligned with the response of countries like Australia, while others had a more haphazard approach. The industry has set up dedicated quarantine hotels in Manila and the seafarers go into a period of quarantine before they join the ship but not everybody uses that system, she said. We have to understand the Philippines is a different place and the standards are different. Its quite challenging in many regards to hold them to the same standards as what we would expect in Australia and COVID is far more prevalent. If we can have leakage here, imagine over there. It is not yet clear how or when the Aquagenie crewman contracted the disease. Rio Tinto has stringent protocols for Manila crews travelling to Australia on board iron ore carriers and claims it only engages with providers that meet those standards. If you do have some positive COVID case then you end up stuck out there for days, weeks, maybe months, costing a lot of money. We have to understand what that then does down the line. Teresa Lloyd, Maritime Industry Australia chief executive These include ensuring crew members monitor their health and temperature twice a day 16 days before joining operations and 14 days after, spend two weeks quarantining in a facility approved by the Filipino government, and get three negative COVID-19 tests before boarding. Ms Lloyd said the positive case didnt mean Rio Tinto hadnt followed protocol but there was always scope for people to slip through the cracks. She said a single COVID-19 case wasnt enough cause for panic but the state government should rethink its approach to shipping restrictions, which had been nonsensical. Banning seafarers from the Philippines was impractical and Mr Cooks repeated calls for the ship to turn around and sail back to Manila sent the wrong message to the industry, Ms Lloyd said. The signal that sends to the market is if you do a crew change in the Philippines you basically become toxic for the Australian market, she said. The industry had pushed for a quarantine facility to be set up in the North West to allow companies to fly in staff to change over crews but the government had stomped it and killed it off. In Western Australia they make it seem impossible [to change over crews] because the crew that is coming off the ship has to take a charter flight from Port Hedland or Karratha back to Perth with only people from that ship on the flight. So you can imagine how costly that would be, she said. Loading WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Paul Everingham acknowledged crew changes were complex as there was a limited number of jurisdictions in which they could take place. President Joe Biden has announced his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11 -- 20 years to the day after the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on the United States that triggered the conflict. "It is time to end America's longest war, Biden said during a speech at the White House on April 14. "It is time for American troops to come home. Biden said the drawdown of the 2,500 remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan will start on May 1. "Well not conduct a hasty rush to the exit," he said. "We'll do it responsibly, deliberately, and safely, and we will do it in full coordination with our allies and partners." "Our presence in Afghanistan should be focused on the reason we went in the first place: to ensure Afghanistan would not be used as a base from which to attack our homeland again," Biden said, declaring: "We accomplished that objective." The president warned the Taliban that he would "hold them accountable for its commitment not to allow any terrorists to threaten the U.S. or its allies from Afghan soil." He also urged regional powers, including Pakistan, India, China, Russia, and Turkey, to play supportive roles in Afghanistan. Biden pledged continued support for the Afghan government, but not militarily. "While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue," he said. "We will continue to support the government of Afghanistan." Biden also promised to continue providing assistance to the 300,000-strong Afghan Army and police force. The White House said in a separate statement that Biden spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on April 14 and the two expressed continued commitment to a strong bilateral partnership after the departure of U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan. "Biden emphasized that the United States will continue to support the Afghan people, including through continued development, humanitarian, and security assistance," it said. Ghani wrote on Twitter that he had spoken on the telephone with Biden and he respected the U.S. decision. Ghani said that "we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition" and "we will continue to work with our US/NATO partners in the ongoing peace efforts." Ghani insisted after the phone call with Biden that his forces were "fully capable" of controlling the country. In a statement released shortly after Biden's announcement, NATO said that allies agreed to start the withdrawal of its forces in Afghanistan by May 1. "Allies have determined that we will start the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces by May 1," NATO's 30 allies said. "We plan to have the withdrawal of all U.S. and Resolute Support Mission forces completed within a few months." Earlier on April 14, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with officials at NATO headquarters in Brussels. We will work very closely together in the weeks and months ahead on a safe, deliberate and coordinated withdrawal of our forces, Blinken said in a televised statement at NATO headquarters in Brussels ahead of a video conference with the military alliance's foreign and defense ministers. There are also some 7,000 non-U.S. troops from mainly NATO countries -- as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Georgia -- in Afghanistan, outnumbering the 2,500 American soldiers, but still relying on U.S. air support, planning, and leadership for their training mission. "Together, we have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve and now it is time to bring our forces home," said Blinken, who was accompanied in the Belgian capital by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Blinken also spoke by phone with Pakistan's army chief on April 14 and discussed the peace process, according to a statement from the media wing of Pakistan's military. Biden's announcement means a delay by about five months of a U.S. pledge to withdraw by May 1, a deadline agreed with the Taliban under former President Donald Trump. The militant group on April 14 reiterated its call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces by the date stipulated in the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February 2020. A senior U.S. official who briefed reporters on April 13 about Bidens decision on the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan said the withdrawal would begin before May 1 and could be completed well before the September 11 deadline. The withdrawal will not be subject to further conditions, including security or human rights, the official said. "The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever," according to the official. The United States will instead focus its efforts on supporting the ongoing peace process, the official added. But the White House said on April 14 that it was not in the Talbans interest to allow Afghanistan to become a "pariah state" or allow Al-Qaeda to take hold, in reference to the Talibans brutal rule in the 1990s. Meanwhile, Russia said Washington's plan to pull out troops from Afghanistan by September could lead to an escalation in the decades-old conflict. "What is concerning in this context is that the armed conflict in Afghanistan might escalate in the near future, which in turn might undermine efforts to start direct intra-Afghan negotiations," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an April 14 statement. It remains unclear how the move would impact a planned summit scheduled to begin April 24 in Istanbul seeking to revive intra-Afghan peace talks in Doha, Qatar. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid warned: If the agreement [with the United States] is breached and foreign forces fail to exit the country on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those who failed to comply with the agreement will be held responsible. Another Taliban spokesman, Muhammad Naeem, said on April 13 the group would not take part in any summits that would make decisions about Afghanistan until all international troops completely withdraw from our homeland. Meanwhile, CIA Director William Burns warned on April 14 that Washington's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish when the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw from Afghanistan. "There is a significant risk once the U.S. military and the coalition militaries withdraw," Burns told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, although he said the United States would retain "a suite of capabilities." The agreement between the Trump administration and the Taliban called for the Taliban to halt attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government in exchange for a U.S. commitment to a complete withdrawal by May 2021. Biden said last month that the withdrawal deadline would be difficult to meet due to logistical challenges, while the Taliban warned of consequences if it reneged on the May 1 deadline. U.S. commanders have said that the Taliban has failed to meet the conditions of the peace agreement by continuing attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians and failing to totally cut ties with Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups. Bidens decision comes after a review of the February 2020 agreement and amid a growing consensus in Washington that little more can be achieved in the country. The United States has tried before to withdraw from Afghanistan, but concerns about Afghan security forces, corruption, and the resiliency of the Taliban have hampered the plans. A U.S. withdrawal by September 11 would coincide with the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people. After the attacks, the United States led an invasion of Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban regime for harboring Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks. With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, dpa, and BBC (Natural News) In the beginning of the covid-19 scandal, before the lockdowns ever took hold, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was already partnering with the Confucius Institute, a propaganda arm of the Chinese Communist Party. In February of 2020, the Principal Deputy Director for the CDC, Anne Schuchat, publicly announced that the Confucius Institute would be an asset for the American covid-19 response. During the briefing, Schuchat praised the CCP propaganda arm for getting directly involved with the CDCs messaging and community outreach. The language and cultural competence of an organization like yours (the Confucius Institute) can be an asset to this type of response, Schuchat asserted in the briefing. FBI and DOJ linked the Confucius Institute to Chinese state propaganda, undisclosed ties to the CCP The Confucius Institute has been invited into the United States because they promise to break down language and culture barriers. The Institute has set up operations on college campuses around the United States and is considered an education center. Suspiciously, the Institute was quick to collaborate with the CDC to help guide the messaging on Americas totalitarian response to covid-19. According to investigations led by the FBI and Department of Justice, the Confucius institute is disguised as a humanitarian nonprofit. The institute pretends to be a language and cultural initiative, but its mired in undisclosed ties to Chinese institutions, conflicts of interest, and deeply-held loyalties to the CCP. The Institute is linked to Chinese state propaganda and intellectual property theft as well. Chinese government officials have even proclaimed the Institute as an important part of Chinas overseas propaganda set-up. Just one week after the CDC partnered with the Confucius Institute, their Chinese headquarters issued a series of press releases that praised the CCPs comprehensive approach which creates miracles with Chinese speed. The Trump Administration designated the Confucius Institute U.S. Center as a foreign mission of the Chinese Communist Party. This infiltration of the CCP into American institutions helps explain why the US CDC has led an oppressive and tyrannical response to the covid-19 scandal and is unable to adopt a public health strategy that helps people overcome potential infections. This CCP infiltration into the CDC helps explain why Americans are being lied to about virus transmission (asymptomatic cases do not transmit infectious virus). Yet, the CDC continues to teach healthy people to isolate, separate and give up basic human rights. CCPs influence over the CDC is apparent, with totalitarianism and propaganda at the forefront of their response By infiltrating and controlling the messaging surrounding the covid-19 scandal, the Confucius Institute has also blinded and misled American regulatory agencies on the origin of the bio-weapon, weakening Americas defenses. The Confucius Institute continues to put China on a pedestal, teaching US authorities to look up to Chinas totalitarian, communist approach, while ignoring the role China has played in destroying human rights around the globe and covering up the gain-of-function properties of the bio-weapon strain. After the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese side has, in the spirit of being responsible for peoples health and for global public health, taken the most comprehensive and strict prevention and control measures, the Confucius Institute proclaimed. They also praised China for being honest about the origins of the outbreaks and for sharing information of the epidemic and the gene sequence of the novel coronavirus with the relevant parties in a timely, transparent, open and effective manner. The Institute writes that Chinas timely, transparent, open and effective response has been praised by several international bodies and leaders. The measures taken by the Chinese side have effectively prevented the spread of the epidemic worldwide, which has been fully recognized and highly valued by the World Health Organization and many countries. The U.S. CDC is blinded by the CCPs influence, controlled by their propaganda, and being used to facilitate totalitarianism and medical fascism. The CDC is oblivious to the enemy they face and the monster they have become. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Grassley.Senate.gov Nature.com CDC.news The company predicts progress and 'high impact news flow' in the coming months. ( ) said it made significant strides in the first quarter of 2021, with agreements in place for the Thar project in Pakistan and successful exploration in Australia. "Q1 has been a period of increased activity in both of our jurisdictions and has set the pace for a highly productive 2021, chief executive Naheed Memon said in a statement. We look forward to providing updates from Pakistan, where we are awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Energy for construction of new power plants, based on a generation plan the government is currently working on, in addition to further developments relating to our CTG and CTL development strategy. We also expect the next three months to deliver high impact news flow from Western Australia as we expand our work programmes and begin drilling as we look to produce multiple high value development opportunities for the benefit of all stakeholders." Pakistan In Pakistan, the company advanced its project with the progression of a commercialisation framework for its coal-to-gas and coal-to-liquid strategy. According to Memon, this promises to revolutionise the industries. It also marks confirmation of the governments support for the companys plans. In February, Oracle and China National Coal Development Company (CNCDC) submitted the policy proposal to the Ministry of Energy, outlining a commercial framework for fast-tracking development of the industries to address Pakistan's critical gas shortage and continued reliance on imported liquid fuels. Oracle also noted CNCDC began preliminary feasibility work during the quarter. Australia For Australia, the company highlighted an extremely active period, particularly in the Northern Zone and Jundee East projects. Results from each location provided encouragement for the projects. At the Northern Zone, preliminary results showed evidence of large prospectivity and allowed the preparation of a direct target model to inform future drilling efforts. Work on a geological model is also underway. Memon meanwhile highlighted the success to date in the Jundee East area, where results are seen as hugely encouraging. He described Jundee East as the standout in the portfolio and said evidence indicates it may be host to a gold bearing greenstone belt similar to that at the nearby Jundee Gold Mine, which has produced over 7mln ounces of gold. By Lee Kang-seop Lee Kang-seop, minister of government legislation / Courtesy of Ministry of Government Legislation New Delhi, April 14 : In a hard-hitting address to the global Kashmiri Pandit community on the auspicious occasion of Navreh celebrations, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale squarely held the terrorists responsible for the seventh genocide and ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits from their homeland. Saying that to face the militant Islamist threat, one would require 'ekta' (unity), Hosabale recognised that invaders had continuously oppressed the Kashmiri Pandits who had to either lose their homeland, or lose their 'dharma'. Stating that India is at a historic crossroad given the positive change that is sweeping Kashmir, Hosabale said a new staircase could take Kashmir to a new future. "For Kashmiri Pandits, it needed a 'sankalp' or a unified resolve to give direction and specificity to their vision," he added. Hosabale also endorsed the Kashmiri Pandit community's mission to return to the Valley by next Navreh. The final solution should be that no Kashmiri Pandits suffer again, he said. He also hailed Sirya Bhatta and Lalitaditya as two icons of Kashmir, who were exemplary examples of sacrifice and bravery. Sharing the story of ninth Sikh master Guru Tegh Bahadur who fought for the Kashmiri Pandits, Hosabale specifically recognised the pain and suffering of the Kashmiri Pandits, who had to face unremitted violence and lose their lives, land, livelihoods and their way of life to be reduced to 'Internally Displaced People'. He also named Pandit Tikalal Taploo, Justice Ganjoo and Sarla Bhatt, who were murdered heinously and whose only crime was that they were Hindus. Hosabale was scathing in his criticism that Kashmir's 'Sanskritik' civilisation could not be relegated to a museum or into books or Bollywood films. It has to be present in the Kashmiri society, in the households, and in the daily way of life, he said. Hosabale also named the temples of Khir Bhavani, Martand and Avantipura as urgently needing repair and revival. Utpal Kaul, the India coordinator of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, said, "Hosabale's highly motivating speech and commitment to the Kashmiri Pandits' cause is consistent with their long-term support. M.S. Golwalkar played a key role in convincing the Maharaja to accede to India. During the horror of 1990, RSS gave humanitarian aid and support to the beleaguered community." Investors will Make Donations for Blocks of 1x1 Meetings with All Proceeds Donated to Financial Literacy Education RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Issuer Direct Corporation (NYSE American:ISDR), an industry leading communications company, announced today that it has joined Pledge 1%, a global movement to allow companies of all sizes and stages to have a positive social impact through their business. In conjunction with joining Pledge 1%, Issuer Direct is also excited to announce the first annual Access to Giving virtual investor conference July 13th - 15th, 2021. Access to Giving is a first-of-its-kind-virtual investor conference where companies will have the opportunity to present their story and conduct 1x1 meetings with qualified investors for various charities. Investors will make donations for blocks of 1x1's to meet with companies during the three-day event. In the United States, April is designated as National Financial Literacy Month. Congress made this designation in 2004 in an effort to highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach citizens how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. Therefore, it's the perfect time to announce such an exciting new conference for our industry. 100% of monies raised, through donations for 1x1 meetings, will be given to causes that focus on financial literacy and investor education. "We have been planning to join Pledge 1% for some time. Their philosophy similarly aligns with our corporate strategy of finding ways to give back to our employees, customers and communities. Pledge 1% highlights some of the best things we believe we can do for our community, not only geographically but also in our industry," said Brian R. Balbirnie, Founder and CEO at Issuer Direct. "We have been helping companies and investment banks host in-person and virtual investor conferences for a couple of years and it's time to give back to the investment community with a first-of-its-kind conference," said Angie Goertz, Vice President of Marketing at Issuer Direct. "We believe this is a great opportunity to give back to our industry while helping fund investor educational programs." Issuer Direct is proud to join the Pledge 1% community and encourages other companies to take the pledge and leverage their business as a force for good. To learn more and or to register for the Access to Giving virtual investor conference, visit accesstogiving.com. About Issuer Direct Corporation Issuer Direct is an industry-leading communications company focusing on the needs of corporate issuers. Issuer Direct's principal platform, Platform id., empowers users by thoughtfully integrating the most relevant tools, technologies, and services, thus eliminating the complexity associated with producing and distributing financial and business communications. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, Issuer Direct serves thousands of public and private companies globally. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com. ABOUT PLEDGE 1% Pledge 1% is a global movement that inspires, educates, and empowers every entrepreneur, company, and employee to be a force for good. Over 12,000 members in 100+ countries have used Pledge 1%'s flexible framework to ignite half a billion dollars in new philanthropy. To learn more about Pledge 1% and to take the pledge visit www.pledge1percent.org. ### For Further Information: Issuer Direct Corporation Brian R. Balbirnie 919-481-4000 brian.balbirnie@issuerdirect.com Angie Goertz Vice President of Marketing 919-228-6240 angie.goertz@issuerdirect.com SOURCE: Issuer Direct Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640366/Issuer-Direct-Joins-the-Pledge-1-Movement-and-Announces-Access-to-Giving-Virtual-Investor-Conference-July-13-15-2021 BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Covestro AG (CVVTF.PK, COVTY.PK), a German manufacturer of high-tech polymer materials, announced Wednesday a preliminary EBITDA for first quarter of 743 million euros and an expected EBITDA for second quarter between 730 million euros and 870 million euros. Further, the company has raised forecast for fiscal 2021 EBITDA, free operating cash flow or FOCF and return on capital employed or ROCE citing better than previously expected business development. EBITDA is now expected to be between 2.20 billion euros to 2.70 billion euros, higher than previously expected EBITDA between 1.70 billion euros and 2.20 billion euros. The consensus expects the figure to be 2.206 billion euros. The latest outlook exceeds the previously provided forecast as well as current capital market expectations. The company continues to expect core volume growth to be between 10 percent and 15 percent, of which around 6 percentage points are attributable to the acquisition of the Resins & Functional Materials business. FOCF is now expected to be between 1.30 billion euros and 1.80 billion euros, while previous forecast was between 900 million euros and 1.40 billion euros. ROCE is now expected to be between 12 percent and 17 percent, up from previous forecast of bettween 7 percent and 12 percent. The company will release its first-quarter interim statement on April 28. In Germany, Covestro shares were trading at 59.04 euros, up 2.64 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. Shinhan Investment headquarters in Seoul / Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Mirae Asset Securities said Wednesday that it filed a lawsuit against Shinhan Investment last week demanding compensation for the 9.1 billion won ($8.1 million) it had to return to investors of Lime Asset Management's fraudulent trade finance fund. Last August, Mirae Asset Securities accepted the Financial Supervisory Service's (FSS) recommendation to return the entire amount of money that Lime fund investors had paid, along with three other sellers of the troubled fund Shinhan Investment, Hana and Woori banks. Since then, Mirae Asset Securities, Hana and Woori banks have prepared for lawsuits against Shinhan Investment because the company was alleged to have conspired with Lime to conceal problems with the fund, according to an investigation by the FSS. But their lawsuits against Lime have been meaningless because the asset management firm was liquidated last year. Woori recruited clients to invest 65 billion won in Lime's trade fund, while Hana recruited customers to invest 36.4 billion won. They are also expected to sue Shinhan Investment in the near future. Shinhan Investment, however, denied the allegations raised by the FSS, hinting at legal confrontations with other Lime fund sellers over their responsibility for selling the fund through negligent practices. On top of the litigations regarding the Lime fund, Samsung Life Insurance and NH Investment & Securities are also embroiled in a legal dispute, after the former sued the latter late last year over the postponed redemption of derivative-linked securities (DLS) associated with a gold trade fund. Samsung Life decided to file the lawsuit after NH Investment has been unable to fulfill its promise to redeem the DLS until May this year. Among the DLS worth 61 billion won issued by NH Investment, those worth 53 billion won were sold by Samsung Life. The insurer returned half of the principal to investors of the product, after the securities firm delayed the redemption. A man was sentenced Monday to three months in federal prison for shooting, killing and mutilating a protected northern elephant seal on the Central California coast near San Simeon. Prosecutors say that 30-year-old Jordan Gerbich did not kill the seal by accident or on a whim, explaining that Gerbich and a friend brought a handgun to the beach where the animals are known to rest and used a flashlight to find the animal. Gerbich drove to the elephant seal viewing area near the Piedras Blancas Marine Reserve and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Sept. 28, 2019. He fatally shot a seal that was resting on the beach using a .45-caliber pistol, as a kind of grotesque test, after his intoxicated friend encouraged him to kill the marine mammal, said prosecutors. The seal was found on the beach with a bullet hole in its head and its tail fins cut off and cut open, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A Los Angeles federal judge also sentenced Gerbich to a year of supervised release after his prison term, three months of home detention, 120 hours of community service and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Gerbich, who lived in Santa Maria at the time and now lives in Coalville, Utah, pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor count of illegally taking a marine mammal, the U.S. attorney said. Northern elephant seals are massive animals found along North Americas Pacific coast and are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They haul out on beach areas known as rookeries. The species nearly became extinct in the early 1900s due to commercial hunting, with numbers recovering in the decades since. The animals' main threat from human interaction now comes from being struck by ships and getting tangled in fishing gear, according to NOAA. The prosecution sentencing memorandum said the motive remained unclear, but argues Gerbich knew it was wrong. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 23:54:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Protesters clashed with police for a third night on Tuesday night in Brooklyn Center, in the U.S. state Minnesota, in the wake of the police killing of 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright in a traffic stop. The third day of protest began peacefully. By the time the city's 10 p.m. curfew started, hundreds of protesters had dwindled to a few dozen, said a CNN report. Chaos erupted around the Brooklyn Center police station. Officers used pepper spray and fired flash bombs at protesters, who hurled water bottles and other projectiles at officers in riot gear, said the report. Demonstrators were also seen scaling a fence outside the FBI office, holding a banner reading, "Justice for Daunte Wright," said the report. National Guard troops were deployed in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Washington County prosecutor Pete Orput told CNN on Tuesday that he is weighing charges for former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter who shot Wright dead on Sunday in a traffic stop. "I hope to have a charging decision by tomorrow (Wednesday)," said Orput. Potter, a 48-year-old veteran female police officer, resigned on Tuesday, along with the city's police chief Tim Gannon. Gannon told reporters on Monday that Potter mistakenly used her gun instead of her taser at the time and based on his experience and training, the Sunday shooting leading to the death of Wright seemed to be an "accidental discharge." "No conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete," the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement released earlier on Tuesday, calling for protests to be peaceful. Wright's family is not "prepared to say that that was an accident," their attorney Jeffrey Storms told CNN on Tuesday. Brooklyn Center, a city of about 31,000, is just a few miles away from Minneapolis, where the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin over black man George Floyd's death in May 2020 is underway. "We will fight for justice for this family, just like we're fighting for our brother," Philonise Floyd said on Tuesday, extending his family's condolences to the family of Wright. Enditem 2021-04-13 Maeci The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, met with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. They reaffirmed the excellent state of the bilateral partnership between Italy and the United States and the importance of transatlantic ties for promoting peace. Capt Gregory Ball, USAFR, Ph.D. Since the 1960s, the relationship between the United States and Libya was marred by accusations of terrorist activity and charges of weapons smuggling and espionage. Tensions between the two nations came to a head in 1986. In January of that year, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Libya. In March, the U.S. Navy retaliated after Libyan forces launched surface to air missiles at Navy aircraft. On April 2, 1986, the United States government blamed Libya for the deaths of four people who were killed when a bomb exploded on TWA flight 840 over Argos, Greece. Finally, terrorists bombed the La Belle Discotheque in West Berlin on April 5, killing one U.S. soldier and wounding more than 200 people. The United States claimed exact, precise, and irrefutable evidence of Libyan involvement and launched Operation EL DORADO CANYON. Operation EL DORADO CANYON was a long range strike at terrorist centers in Libya developed by planners at the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) in England. The operation started on April 14, 1986, when 24 U.S. Air Force F-111s departed Royal Air Force (RAF) Base Lakenheath along with five EF-111s from RAF Heyford. The F-111s faced a 3,500 mile flight with four aerial refueling each way due to flight restrictions. As the aircraft approached Libya, two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Coral Sea and the USS America, launched 14 A-6E strike aircraft and 12 F/A-18 and A-7 strike support aircraft. At 6:54 pm eastern standard time, the EF-111 aircraft commenced electronic countermeasures against Libyan air defenses, while the Navy support aircraft provided surface to air missile (SAM) suppression. At 7:00 pm, the attacking Navy aircraft struck Benina Airfield and the Benghazi military barracks, while 13 Air Force F-111s struck the Aziziyah barracks in Tripoli and the Sidi Bilal terrorist training camp. The final strike of the mission was conducted by five Air Force F-111s, which attacked the Tripoli military airport. Unfortunately, only four of the F-111s successfully dropped their bombs. Seven others missed their targets, while six encountered mechanical problems or did not drop because of stringent rules of engagement. After leaving the target area, there were reports that one F-111 had been shot down. By 7:53 pm, all Navy aircraft had returned to their carriers. When the F-111s linked up with the tankers for their first return aerial refueling, they confirmed that one F-111 had been lost. Enroute back to England, one F-111 diverted to Rota, Spain, because of an overheated engine. Search and rescue efforts for the missing F-111 lasted throughout April 15, but were terminated that evening with negative results. Both pilots were later confirmed killed. Although the mission was deemed a success, it was not without controversy. The Navy later claimed that the entire operation could have been accomplished using Navy assets. Furthermore, the commander of the 48th TFW believed that the original concept of a small group of F-111s had grown too large, leading him to believe that there was little chance to surprise the Libyan defenses and the number of aircraft would allow air defenses time to concentrate on the second wave of attackers. However, proponents of the larger strike force believed it would do significantly greater damage to the targets and was worth the risk. The attack killed 37 people and left 93 injured. Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi and appeared visibly shaken when he appeared on television 24 hours later to protest the strikes. Operation EL DORADO CANYON showed that the Air Force could successfully make precision strikes against targets thousands of miles away, an early example of the U.S. Air Forces Global Reach capability. Problems encountered during the operation were also addressed, and five years later the F-111s Pave Tack targeting system destroyed more targets than any other aircraft during Operation DESERT STORM. For more information see: Raid on Libya, Operation El Dorado Canyon, by Judy G. Endicott, in Short of War USAF Contingency Operations 1947-1997. This unpublished AFHSO study by William T. YBlood: Libyan Chronology, 1969 to 1986. Read this article in the March 199 Air Force Magazine, by Walter J. Boyne: El Dorado Canyon. A defiant Magda Szubanski fired of a series of angry tweets on Wednesday morning amid growing backlash over her offensive Twitter post about Prime Minister Scott Morrison's wife, Jenny. She defended her post - which compared a conservatively dressed Mrs Morrison to a character from dystopian TV series The Handmaid's Tale - by arguing the PM's wife was fair game for criticism because she had 'opted in' to public life by offering her husband policy advice. Szubanski also suggested the outrage was distracting from ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate's scorching testimony against the PM at a Senate Inquiry - even though this has been covered extensively by every major news outlet. But the 60-year-old comedian didn't stop there, going on to accuse the press of 'fat shaming' her by publishing photos of her taking a walk on her birthday with no commentary whatsoever on her appearance. This is in contrast to her tweet about Mrs Morrison, which compared her to a character from The Handmaid's Tale - about a totalitarian society in which women are treated as property of the state - and implied she's subservient to her husband. A defiant Magda Szubanski fired of a series of angry tweets on Wednesday morning amid growing backlash over her offensive post about Prime Minister Scott Morrison's wife, Jenny Responding to criticism from Liberal MP Nicolle Flint - one of several conservative female politicians who took issue with her Handmaid's Tale tweet - Szubanski wrote: '1) seriously, my comment is "appalling" says Flint. "Appalling"?! '2) I never said a single word about Jenny. 3) why is this headline news when... Christine Holgate is testifying?! Blatant attempt to use "sisterhood" to distract. Now THAT'S appalling.' She then addressed the paparazzi photos of her, taken on Monday, and denied any suggestion she was 'walking back' her initial comments about Mrs Morrison. She defended her Twitter post - which compared a conservatively dressed Mrs Morrison to a character from dystopian TV series The Handmaid's Tale - by arguing the PM's wife had 'opted in' to public life by offering her husband policy advice. Szubanski is pictured in October 2019 Szubanski tried to justify her criticism of Mrs Morrison by saying the PM had 'weaponised' his wife by admitting he speaks to her about policy matters Szubanski tweeted: 'Oh no you don't! I'm not "walking back" from anything! Simply stating facts. Nor will I be forced into an apology for... nothing. 'I see what the "Christian Soldiers" are doing here. They have drawn a "pink line" and I'm the Big Game. Let the fat shaming begin!' She added: 'THIS is what this is really all about. Well, I'm not backing down. The infiltration of the religious far right into Australian politics is... disturbing. 'RE Jenny: the most powerful man in the country wheeled her into the political arena. She is his conscience. 'So I'm going to stop tweeting or talking about this now coz I'm busy and there are some big news issues that should not be distracted from #ChristineHolgate. I salute you!' Ms Holgate was ousted as CEO of Australia Post last year after it was found she used taxpayer funds to buy $5,000 Cartier watches for her staff. Mr Morrison demanded in parliament she stand aside, and this week Ms Holgate has responded by calling that bullying and said she was left suicidal as a result. Szubanski also suggested the outrage was distracting from ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate's scorching testimony against the PM at a Senate Inquiry - even though this has been covered extensively by ever major news outlet Szubanski said of Mrs Morrison in another tweet: 'The PM has weaponised Jenny. He has confirmed she is basically a quasi policy maker. "I spoke to Jenny about this... I spoke to Jenny about that." She doesn't deny this or ask it to stop. 'First Ladies have the right to opt in or out. Therese Rein [Kevin Rudd's wife] opted in; Margie Abbott [Tony Abbott's wife] opted out.' Once again referring to the paparazzi images, she continued: 'One last thing... I will be taking my regular morning constitutional on the beach so paparazzi if you wanna find me, that's where I'll be. Plenty of opps to get more pics of me looking [emojis] or just generally living while being fat.' She concluded by thanking her 'beautiful tweethearts' who'd supported her through the 'orchestrated bit of bulls**t pile-on', adding: 'Now go read about the real news.' Responding to criticism from Liberal MP Nicolle Flint - one of several conservative female politicians who took issue with her Handmaid's Tale tweet - Szubanski wrote: '1) seriously, my comment is "appalling" says Flint. "Appalling"?!' She then addressed the paparazzi photos of her, taken on Monday, and denied any suggestion she was 'walking back' her initial comments about Mrs Morrison In the wake of the Twitter backlash, Szubanski strangely invited the paparazzi to photograph her at the beach or 'just generally living while being fat' A glum-looking Szubanski had celebrated her 60th birthday on Monday by taking a solo stroll in Melbourne, after being criticised by female politicians for comparing Mrs Morrison to a character from The Handmaid's Tale. The comedian, who won fame for her roles on comedy shows Fast Forward, Full Frontal and Kath & Kim before becoming a prominent activist, had retweeted a photo of Mrs Morrison in a high-neck black dress as she watched her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip. Szubanski captioned the image: 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaids Tale meme. But no. Its 21st century Aussie life.' Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, HBO series The Handmaid's Tale is set in a totalitarian society in which women are treated as property of the state. A glum-looking Szubanski had celebrated her 60th birthday on Monday by taking a solo stroll in Melbourne She is facing criticism from female politicians for comparing Jenny Morrison to a character from The Handmaid's Tale in this Twitter post Szubanski had retweeted the photo with a message from a left-wing Twitter account, which read: 'Good morning to everyone else to whom this feels creepy, chilling, terrifying, ominous, enraging, despairing and utterly, completely f**king depressing.' She faced widespread backlash for her commentary, which suggested Ms Morrison was part of the machinery of a misogynist society. The actress - who played loveable misfit Sharon Strzelecki in ABC sitcom Kath & Kim - is now facing backlash from a growing number of conservative female politicians over her controversial tweet. Dystopian: Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, HBO series The Handmaid's Tale is set in a totalitarian society in which women are treated as property of the state. Pictured: actors Yvonne Strahovski and Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid's Tale NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes told The Daily Telegraph: 'Ms Szubanski has herself been the target of obscene trolls, yet the hypocritical nature of the Left is here on display.' Liberal MP Nicolle Flint also launched a scathing attack on Magda, saying her tweet represents a 'double standard' in the way female politicians are perceived. 'I cannot believe the appalling personal attacks on Mrs Morrison, especially by Ms Szubanski, a woman who has received one of our nations highest honours,' she said. 'Ms Szubanski's completely disrespectful comments are yet another example of the double standards demonstrated towards women on the centre-right of politics. 'The sisterhood need to stop picking and choosing which sisters to protect; all women deserve to be treated with respect.' Szubanski had also re-tweeted an image of the Morrison family posing with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, zooming in on Mrs Morrison's hand which showed her forefinger and thumb joined. While it is mostly used as a benign sign for 'OK', a similar signal had been used by the far right, using the digits to create a W and P for White Power. 'What's this little hand signal thingy??' Szubanski tweeted. While her question may have been innocent, it prompted a string of replies suggesting the hand gesture was somehow sinister. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Jenny Morrison's hand gesture was in any way signifying 'white supremacy'. More backlash: Szubanski had also re-tweeted this image of the Morrison family posing with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, zooming in on Mrs Morrison's hand which showed her forefinger and thumb joined. While many understand the symbol to be a benign sign for 'OK', darker corners of the Internet allege it's been appropriated to signify 'white supremacy' On Tuesday afternoon, Szubanski took to her social media platform again to address the backlash against her controversial Handmaid's Tale tweet. 'Let me be clear...' she wrote, 'I'm not actually making a disparaging comment about Jenny. I just genuinely thought it was a meme!' After one follower called her 'bitter and twisted', she replied: 'I know, right?! I'm terrible Muriel. A bitter twisted wreck of a once talented (debatable) funny gal. 'Sigh. So do yourself a favour and spare yourself the awful spectacle and don't follow me or read my tweets. Actually, I'll save you the effort and just block you.' Original Films has ordered a documentary on jazz legend Louis Armstrong from Brian Grazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Documentaries. Titled "Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong", the feature will be directed by Sacha Jenkins. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary will examine Armstrong's life and legacy as a founding father of jazz, the first pop star and a cultural ambassador of the United States. It will also try to remove misconceptions that the trumpet player didn't contribute enough to the Civil Rights Movement. For the research, the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation granted the makers an access to a wide array of the musician's never-before-seen archival materials including hundreds of hours of audio recordings, film footage, photographs and personal diaries. Jenkins, Julie Anderson, Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes will serve as producers on the documentary. The project is part of Apple's first-look agreement with Imagine Documentaries. and Imagine Documentaries previously collaborated on Bryce Dallas Howard's documentary Dads and Morgan Neville's docuseries Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10". (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.) According to the Dearborn-based automaker, this worrying state of affairs may impact the adjusted EBIT by $1.0 billion at the least and $2.5 billion at the most. Automotive News reports yet another production cut for the half-ton workhorse, spanning over the weeks of April 19th and April 26th.The Kansas City Assembly Plant isnt the only factory that will grind to a halt for a couple of weeks. Ford will also shutter the Chicago Assembly Plant and Flat Rock Assembly Plant, while Ohio will manufacture only the Super Duty chassis cab and Medium Duty pickup trucks in the two-week period.Finally, the Kentucky production complex will close in the weeks of April 26th and May 3rd over the insufficient number of chips. A problem that affects many other industries other than automobile manufacturers, the semiconductor crisis has prompted the Biden administration to address the shortage with congressional funds that would support local production.The funding would supplement a $50-billion investment in semiconductor manufacturing and research, which is the right measure to eliminate future shortages. According to Ford chief executive officer and president Jim Farley, the semiconductor crisis could be over by the third quarter. Analysts beg to differ, claiming that it may continue until the end of 2021.In addition to the best-selling pickup truck in America, the Blue Oval is currently sitting on hundreds of thousands of firm orders for the all-new Bronco . The mid-size utility vehicle will enter production at the beginning of May if the chip-supplying companies deliver enough modules.Toyota, meanwhile, thrives during these hard times because it learned its lesson a decade ago from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. The Japanese automaker may have pioneered just-in-time manufacturing, but the nuclear accident prompted Toyota to amass key components to fend off any disruption in the supply chain. More to the point, the business continuity plan (BCP) requires suppliers to stockpile up to six months worth of chips. Opening of the Spoils of War Park takes place in Baku today. It contains warlike equipment of the Armenian occupation forces, which was destroyed or taken under control by the Azerbaijani army during the Second Karabakh War. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was the first visitor of the park. Fighting in Afghanistan continues amid calls for cease-fire in Ramadan Xinhua) 11:18, April 14, 2021 KABUL, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Fighting in Afghanistan has continued with heavy casualties reported since Monday amid repeated calls for observance of cease-fire in Muslims' fasting month of holy Ramadan. In the latest reports of violent incidents, the Taliban militants stormed a security base in Dahna-e-Ghori district of northern Baghlan province on Tuesday, killing six security personnel and injuring nine others, district governor Qasim Khan said. Nearly a dozen militants were also reported to be killed and injured in the firefight lasting six hours. Five Afghan army soldiers and seven militants were killed and six others including two soldiers and four insurgents sustained injuries in the fighting in Balkh's Chamtal district late Monday night, on the eve of Ramadan. Taliban militants executed three captured soldiers in Zibak district of northern Badakhshan province on Tuesday morning, provincial government spokesman Nik Mohammad Nazari said. Two militants, according to an army statement, were killed in eastern Wardak province on Monday. Exchanges of fire between government forces and Taliban militants have been continuing while Ramadan started on Tuesday with calls for observance of a cease-fire during the fasting month. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday repeated the call, urging the Taliban outfit to halt fighting and observe cease-fire during the religious fasting month to bolster the peace process. "Once again I am calling upon the Taliban to give up fighting, enmity and observe permanent ceasefire which is the demand of the people of Afghanistan," Ghani said in his message to mark the start of Ramadan broadcast by local television channels. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Fujitsu Australia joins NVIDIA DGX-Ready Data Centre Program News Facts: Fujitsu Australia joins NVIDIA in its DGX-Ready Data Centre Program to help customers solve bigger, more complex data science problems faster with artificial intelligence (AI). The NVIDIA DGX-Ready Data Centre program is built on NVIDIA DGX systems and delivered by approved partners. AI places massive demands on compute, storage, networking, and facilities, requiring a data centre provider that can accelerate AI. The newly enhanced program connects customers with the best partner for their needs. Fujitsu Australia was chosen for its data centre credentials, experience, and security capabilities. Sydney, April 13, 2021 - Fujitsu Australia joins an elite panel of data centres authorised to deploy NVIDIAs DGX AI compute infrastructure. This new technology aims to help customers leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to solve complex data science problems faster, via the worlds most advanced accelerator.1 However, with increased processing speeds and compute density comes the need for significant power, something that not all data centres can provide. Proudly, Fujitsu is one of only 19 NVIDIA-validated data centre operators globally with the data centre capabilities to support the enormous compute, storage, networking, and facility needs created by AI applications.2 Graeme Beardsell, Chief Executive Officer, Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand, said, This relationship is an extension of Fujitsus participation in NVIDIAs data centre program in Japan, where the Yokohama data centre hosts more than 60 units of NVIDIA DGX infrastructure. Extending this existing relationship to Australia demonstrates Fujitsus exceptional capability in this area. Fujitsu is pleased to be one of the few qualified data centre operators globally that can offer customers a home to run such powerful infrastructure at scale and speed. AI workloads require specialised infrastructure built to enable enterprises to efficiently run AI training, inference and data science workloads, said Sudarshan Ramachandran, Country Manager, Enterprise, NVIDIA Australia and New Zealand. The NVIDIA DGX-Ready data centre program helps customers around the world accelerate their success by creating a simplified path to AI adoption. By joining the NVIDIA DGX-Ready program, Fujitsu Australia will be offering customers one of the best in class infrastructure and data centre solutions available in the market today. Fujitsu Australia was chosen to participate in the NVIDIA DGX-Ready Data Centre program because of its vast data centre experience, having deployed more than 100 data centres throughout the world. Its facilities are JDCC Tier 4 level, with very high security standards and robustness. Online resources Read the Fujitsu blog: Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: Follow us on LinkedIn: Find Fujitsu on Facebook: For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: Read the Fujitsu blog: http://blog.au.fujitsu.com Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FujitsuAU Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fujitsu-australia-limited Find Fujitsu on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FujitsuAustraliaNewZealand For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: https://www.fujitsu.com/au/about/resources About Fujitsu Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com. About Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand is a leading service provider of business, information technology and communications solutions. We partner with our customers to consult, design, build, operate and support business solutions. From strategic consulting to application and infrastructure solutions and services, Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand have earned a reputation as the single supplier of choice for leading corporate and government organisations. Fujitsu Australia Limited and Fujitsu New Zealand Limited are wholly owned subsidiaries of Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702). See www.fujitsu.com/au. Media Contacts Communications team Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand Phone: +61 2 9776 4555 E-mail:marcomms@fujitsu.com Communications teamFujitsu Australia and New Zealand+61 2 9776 4555 All company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice. Russia on Wednesday said it was following developments at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, and is encouraged by India and China focusing on "disengagement efforts" and to promote constructive dialogue. Deputy Chief of the Russian mission Roman Babushkin said Russia encourages both sides to take opportunities in advancing their ties at common multilateral platforms like the BRICS, SCO and RIC trilateral grouping. "We are following developments at the LAC. We are encouraged by India and China to consider disengagement efforts in order to promote constructive and forward looking dialogue which is a very important precondition for regional stability," he said at a media briefing. Both India and China are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Russia-India-China (RIC) grouping and BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa). Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev did not give a direct reply when asked whether China's belligerence in eastern and elsewhere figured in the recent talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. He said the talks were focused on bilateral issues and preparations for the annual India-Russia summit in the second half of the year. The talks were focused on an "unifying agenda", be it bilateral ties as well as multilateral cooperation. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, India and China completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February in line with an agreement on disengagement. The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process in the remaining friction points in the region. Last week, India and Chinese militaries held their 11th round of talks during which they agreed to jointly maintain stability on the ground, avoid any new incidents and resolve the outstanding issues in an "expeditious manner". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You cant cut off everything while your partner is taking daily attacks from an adversary when youve made public statements about being committed to their security, said Kirsten Fontenrose, a director at the Atlantic Council who served as the National Security Councils director for the Persian Gulf region in the Trump White House. The review does not recommend suspending any weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates. That fact emerged on Monday, after the Justice Department formally notified lawyers about the decision, which officials say was made this year as part of a lawsuit opposing the agreement brought by the nonprofit New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs. The Emirates played a big role in the Yemen war but stepped back recently. As part of negotiations last year to try to persuade the Emirates to normalize relations with Israel, the Trump administration told Emirati officials that it would accelerate approval of sales of F-35 fighter jets and drones. U.S. officials said on Wednesday that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken received the report this week from other offices in the State Department, and that he was expected to approve it. The report would then go to the National Security Council for final approval. I and many other House members remain concerned about the proposed sale of $23 billion in arms to the U.A.E., said Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He said he had many questions about any decision by the Biden administration to go forward with the Trump administrations proposed transfers of the fighter jets, drones and munitions to the Emirates. Israeli officials and some members of Congress have expressed concerns that the sales of F-35s would weaken what they called Israels qualitative military edge over other countries in the region, and that Congress requires presidential administrations to maintain it as a matter of law. Israel is currently the only country in the region with F-35s. Other U.S. officials have been concerned about selling the F-35, one of the militarys most advanced pieces of hardware, to the United Arab Emirates when it is developing a closer relationship with China, which is notorious for technological espionage. American officials are worried about the radar and stealth abilities of F-35s and some drone technology, among other things. According to the company, the start of the dewatering process is a major step towards restarting mining in the Morila Superpit. The water extracted will be used for agricultural purposes to benefit the local communities. ( ) (FRA:N9F) has this week started dewatering the Morila Superpit at the Morila Gold Project in Mali, West Africa. Firefinch acquired the Morila Gold Mine less than six months ago and is now implementing the ramp-up strategy to access the Morila mineral resource of 2.2 million ounces. According to the company, starting the dewatering of the Morila Superpit represents a key milestone as it executes on this strategy. Approvals for water use Notably, the water extracted will be used for agricultural purposes to benefit the local communities. The companys team in Mali has done an extensive technical evaluation and broad stakeholder engagement, in particular local community engagement, to secure the approvals required for dewatering and discharge. Mining of the Morila Superpit is scheduled to start in 2022 and in the meantime, satellite pits are being prepared for mining to begin in the coming months. Ramping up production Firefinch has an 80% interest in the Morila Gold Mine which has produced 7.5 million ounces of gold since 2000. The company is ramping up production at the 4.5 million tonnes per annum mill and mine from a current annual production profile of 40,000 ounces of gold from tailings treatment towards a target of 70,000 to 90,000 ounces of gold through mining of small open pits, stocks and tailings from mid-2021. In 2022, the company plans to further increase annual production to target 150,000 to 200,000 ounces of gold by re-commencing mining from the main Morila pit to fully exploit the 2.35 million ounces of gold in the global resource. CRN recognized Corsica Technologies 2021 Managed Services Provider MSP 500 list in the Managed Security 100 category. Tweet this "With the current focus on digital transformation while also managing constantly evolving threats, companies need a provider that can bridge the gap between managed IT and cybersecurity services", says Brian Harmison, Corsica Technologies CEO. "We partner with clients to ensure all facets of their network are not only secure but optimized to help them grow." Corsica Technologies offers a highly skilled, certified IT and cybersecurity team to help organizations create a secure technology foundation so they can thrive, protecting their data, secure their systems and responding to cyber incidents. Using innovation technology, Corsica Technologies' dedicated experts protect clients 24x7x365 from their Security Operations Centers (SOC) , offering full IT security, including security gap auditing, issue remediation, real-time monitoring, incident response and forensics and security awareness training and testing. With cutting-edge approaches, MSPs are integral to the success of businesses worldwide, empowering organizations to leverage complex technologies while focusing on their core business without straining their budgets. CRN's 2021 MSP 500 list identifies the key managed services players who are setting themselves apart with best-of-breed solutions that provide business outcomes. About Corsica Technologies Consistently recognized as one of the top managed IT and cybersecurity providers, Corsica Technologies helps organizations leverage technology as a competitive business advantage. Our integrated IT and cybersecurity services protect companies and enable them to succeed. www.corsicatech.com . 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. www.thechannelcompany.com SOURCE Corsica Technologies Related Links https://www.corsicatech.com EPB and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced Wednesday the completion of their 400th Home Uplift energy renovation and joined homeowner Eleanor Young in sharing the benefits of the program for her and hundreds of other EPB customers.EPB and TVA first partnered in 2015 to provide high-impact home energy upgrades to qualified homeowners with the goal of reducing their energy burden. The result is the Home Uplift program which has been replicated in communities across the Tennessee Valley. Those who qualify receive home improvements at no cost to help them dramatically reduce their power bills. On average, EPBs Home Uplift participants save $500 on their energy costs each year.I had sky high electricity bills because my son and I were using portable space heaters and AC window units, said Ms.Young. My power bill has decreased, the insulation is making a huge difference in helping the house stay warmer, my air quality is better and I have more peace of mind now because I dont have to worry about how Im going to pay a really high power bill.The EPB and TVA team replaced Ms. Youngs HVAC unit, sealed duct work, added attic insulation and installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, air sealing and additional renovations.Other eligible energy efficiency upgrades Home Uplift participants may receive include duct replacement, water heater and pipe insulation, wall insulation, HVAC clean and tune, windows and door replacement and replacing heat pumps, water heaters and refrigerators.TVA believes in uplifting lives and helping our neighbors feel safer and more comfortable in their homes, said Cindy Herron, vice president of TVA EnergyRight. Now more than ever, EPB and TVA are focused on helping families save money by making the necessary upgrades that improve their homes energy efficiency and indoor air quality.According to Elizabeth Hammitt, EPB director of environmental stewardship and residential services, the success of the program rests on a foundation of community engagement and data-driven decisions using smart grid information to determine where the program could have the most impact.We started the process with a series of community input meetings in which we invited nonprofit, government, and underserved neighborhood leaders to help us design the program, said Ms. Hammitt. We leveraged our smart grid data to target the areas of our community with the highest energy usage, and our findings correlated closely with areas of town with high numbers of limited income customers.Using third party analysis on past performance of EPB Uplift homes, Ms. Hammitt estimates that each of the 400 homes will save 5,206 kWh on average each year, for a total of two million kWh each year. This equates to more than $500 per home per year, over $208,000 in total savings annually.Environmentally, the savings translate to 1,472 metric tons of carbon equivalent avoided, the environmental impact equal to 1.6 million pounds of coal not being burned or 24,345 tree seedlings grown over ten years, said Ms. Hammitt.Local foundations Lyndhurst, Benwood and Footprint helped fund the pilot program with EPB. The Empower program, managed by Chattanooga's sustainability nonprofit green|spaces, was funded in partnership concurrently, targeting underserved neighborhoods with higher than average energy usage as identified by EPBs smart grid data. The program has grown from the 14 home pilot to more than 400 homes. The additional Empower workshops, funded in part by EPB, the City of Chattanooga and others, have served thousands. Additionally, in 2018 TVA, greenlspaces, Pinnacle Bank and EPB received funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank to improve 100 homes.The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation provided a $750,000 grant to support the Home Uplift program this year along with ongoing financial support from TVA and EPB.Since 2018, TVA has pledged $13.8 million for Home Uplift projects across seven states.Visit https://epb.com/homeuplift to learn more. EDITORS NOTE: This report was updated with the name of the fatal shooting victim. A 21-year-old man was shot dead and another man was wounded late Tuesday night in Jersey City, authorities said Wednesday morning. The shootings occurred on Wilkinson Avenue near Martin Luther King Drive just after 11 p.m., the Hudson County Prosecutors Office said. The death is the sixth homicide in Jersey City in 2021 and the ninth in Hudson County this year. The prosecutors office said Rodney Wallace was shot in the upper body and transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:44 p.m. The second shooting victim was identified as a 22-year-old man who was treated at the JCMC for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The Hudson County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department are investigating the shootings. No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential. 2021-04-14 Maeci #InsiemepergliSDG is the campaign promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with its partners FAO, the European Commission, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign, CIHEAM Iamb of Bari and Save the Children to raise public awareness on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the commitment of the Italian Development Cooperation and its partners to achieve the sustainable development in a post-Covid 19 world. At the hearth of #InsiemepergliSDG, #2030IsNow & #SDGInAction, the two itinerant and interactive installations inaugurated in Bari on October 2020 and shown on the celebrations for the FAO World Food Day in Rome. The two installations will travel across Prato, Teramo and Cremona starting from September 2021. The interactive installation #2030IsNow is powered by the European Commissions Directorate General for International partnership (DG INTPA) with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It aims at raising public awareness on SDGs and highlights the role that everyone can play in achieving these goals. Through practical examples, the #SDGInAction installation shows how the Italian Cooperation and its international, national, and local partners work to lead progress on the sustainable development. In the frame of #InsiemepergliSDG, activities carried out by Save the Children engage with young, students, and schools through labs dedicated to the SDGs. As part of #InsiemepergliSDG, also #Cities4SDGs initiative that will realize mural works in the cities of Teramo and Cremona in partnership with the UN SDG Action Campaign. This project promotes the role of art as a tool to mobilize, inspire and connect the audience on the SDGs, by involving local artists and starting a path of urban regeneration through street-art. The campaign is an example of how partnership at all level is key for a more equitable, inclusive, and greener world. Creative Director: Antonella Porfido MULTIMEDIA Photo Gallery #InsiemepergliSDG in Bari Photo Gallery #InsiemepergliSDG in Rome Link to video #InsiemepergliSDG #INSIEMEPERGLISDG PARTNERS EUROPEAN COMMISSION / DG FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS European Commission, official website (europa.eu) FAO - Home | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (fao.org) CIHEAM IAMB - CIHEAM IAMB - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari SAVE THE CHILDREN ITALIA - Home | Save the Children Italia UN SDG ACTION CAMPAIGN - Homepage - United Nations SDG Action Campaign [April 14, 2021] KDD 2021 Data Science Conference Will Convene Aug. 14 - 18, 2021 SINGAPORE, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (SIGKDD) today announced KDD 2021, the group's flagship conference, will take place virtually Aug. 14-18. The premier interdisciplinary data science conference, KDD 2021 will bring together researchers and practitioners from data science, machine learning, big data and artificial intelligence to fuel the innovation of tomorrow. Nominations for the annual ACM SIGKDD awards, which will be announced at the conference, are being accepted now through May 1. Based out of Singapore this year, conference organizers are focusing on equity across time zones offering key content twice, on eight-hour intervals, to cover a multitude of attendee locations. "The SIGKDD executive committee is honored to have some Singapore's finest computer science minds leading this year's virtual event," said Michael Zeller, secretary and treasurer of the executive committee of SIGKDD. "Our volunteer organizing committee continues to deliver an excellent conference year after year, overcoming challenges to create an opportunity for our community to gather and learn from each other to inform the future of research and industry applications for data mining." Each year, outstanding data science practitioners are honored during the conference with SIGKDD Innovation, Service and Rising Star Awards. The Innovation and Service Awards recognize an individual or group of collaborators whose technical innovations in the field of knowledge discovery and data mining have had a lasting impact, and an individual or group whose professional services contributions to the field are remarkable. Launched in 2020, the Rising Star Award aims to promote current SIGKDD researches as the build their careers, and the honoree is selected based on their whole body of work in the first five years following completion of the Ph.D. Nominations are being accepted now through May 1. The largest and longest running data mining conference, KDD is managed by a team of volunteers who serve as chairs for the various committees. 2021 general co-chairs are Feida Zhu, associate professor at Singapore Management University; Beng Chin Ooi, distinguished professor in the department of computer science, School of Computing at National University of Singapore; and Miao Chun Yan, chair and professor of the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technology University. Zhu is a founding director of two major data analytics joint labs with industrial giants at the School of Computing and Information Systems at Singapore Management University. His research in data mining, machine learning, blockchain and data asset, with emphasis on their application to business, financial and consumer innovation lends itself well to his leadership role on the KDD 2021 organizing committee. "KDD is one of the only academic conferences of this caliber to also focus on the applications for big data and data science," said Zhu. "I'm excited to apply the lessons we learned at KDD 2020, our first fully virtual conference, to this year's digital gathering as we seek to increase accessibility and engagement for all participants. In particular, this year's KDD will allow registered participants to access accepted papers together with their presentation slides and videos one month before the actual conference, and interact with authors on KDD 2021 virtual platforms. Besides a list of world-renowned keynote speakers and invited industrial talks, KDD 2021 will also feature a variety of theme days, over 40 workshops, tutorials and "Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)" events." The renowned KDD Cup is now open to competitors and includes a multi-dataset time series anomaly detection contest, OGB large-scale graph ML challenge, and the city brain challenge. The winner will be announced June 15. For more information about KDD 2021, visit https://www.kdd.org/kdd2021/. About ACM SIGKDD: ACM is the premier global professional organization for researchers and professionals dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of knowledge discovery and data mining. SIG is ACM's Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. The annual KDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining is the premier interdisciplinary conference for data mining, data science and analytics. For more information on KDD 2021, please visit: https://www.kdd.org/kdd2021/ Follow KDD on: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SIGKDD Twitter https://twitter.com/kdd_news Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/890716/KDD_Logo.jpg SOURCE ACM SIGKDD [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A decade ago, the northern province of Quang Ninh faced bottlenecks in infrastructure development. It took people nearly a day to go to Van Don from Hanoi. The time to travel from Hanoi to Ha Long City was five to six hours, Quang Ninhs Party Secretary Nguyen Xuan Ky told VietNamNet. Van Don today is much different from itself 10 years ago. Nearly 10 years ago, former Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Thanh and Mr. Nguyen Duc Long, chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council, took on an important task: inviting an American billionaire to visit Van Don in order to call for investment in turning this island district into a tourist destination with a casino. After great efforts to contact him, the American billionaire flew to Vietnam on a special flight. As the road to Van Don was inconvenient, the time to travel from Hanoi to the site was nearly a day. Quang Ninhs officials borrowed the aircraft of the boss of the Hoa Phat Group to take the American businessman to Van Don. The reception was carefully prepared by Quang Ninh authorities. When stepping down from the plane, the American billionaire shook hands with Quang Ninhs Party Secretary Mr. Pham Minh Chinh (the current Prime Minister) and said: I know you are a very active leader, but I would like to ask a few questions." "He asked four questions," said Nguyen Van Thanh, former vice chairman of Quang Ninh. The first question was about infrastructure from Hanoi to Van Don, and from other countries to Van Don because at that time no such facilities existed. The second question was about national planning for Van Don. The third question was about a related law because "projects worth tens of billions of US dollars cannot be implemented under decrees". The final question was about the person authorized to act on behalf of the Prime Minister to make decisions on related issues to investment and investors. Former Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Province Nguyen Van Thanh. Photo: Pham Cong Those questions awakened Quang Ninhs leaders, although at that time they could not give sufficient answers to the potential investor from the US. Many years later, Quang Ninh authorities strived to seek the answers. "This story shows that if we want to attract investment, everything comes from what investors need and how we can satisfy them, Mr. Thanh said. At that time, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh and the local Party Committee outlined strategic breakthroughs for Quang Ninhs development. That was changing the growth model from "brown" (coal mining) to "green" (tourism and service development), improving infrastructure, reforming administration, improving human resources, and attracting investment resources. Planning The questions of the US billionaire revealed the state of infrastructure in Quang Ninh 10 years ago. Infrastructure at that time was reviewed by Quang Ninhs Party Secretary Nguyen Xuan Ky with numbers. Quang Ninhs Party chief Nguyen Xuan Ky: Good planning will create good projects. The planning itself is a resource, not common documents. Photo: Pham Cong After 2010, Quang Ninh faced a bottleneck in infrastructure. Those who wanted to go to Van Don could just stand from afar. It took three hours from Dong Trieu to Ha Long and fivr to six hours from Hanoi to Ha Long. It would be almost a day for traveling from Dong Trieu town to Mong Cai border gate, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ky said. According to Mr. Ky, this was the first challenge that former Party Secretary Pham Minh Chinh and Quang Ninhs leaders had to overcome. Improving infrastructure was one of the breakthroughs for Quang Ninh to accelerate its development. But investment in infrastructure was huge. In 2010, Quang Ninhs budget revenue was only VND21.9 trillion, 70 percent of which was from import and export, which was contributed to the state budget. The remaining several trillions of VND was not enough to do anything great. The province, thus, needed to attract investment from outside. To attract investors, investment planning was a must. Under the direction of Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, in 2012, Quang Ninh started developing plans with the assistance of many leading consultants such as Mckinsey, BCG (USA), Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering- NSC, NIPPON KOEI. (Japan). In 2014, Quang Ninh completed seven strategic plans which were the foundation for the province to implement targets on socio-economic development, promote its potential and strengths and attract investment resources, including private investment. Quang Ninhs Party Secretary Pham Minh Chinh at the ceremony to announce the provinces strategic planning in September 2014. Photo: quangninh.gov.vn "They (international consultants) said money would come from this plan," Mr. Thanh recalled. Quang Ninh was also the first province in Vietnam to ask for the Governments permission to hire foreign consultants to undergo planning. Public-private partnership was also an idea originating from international consultants. Quang Ninh asked for and got the Governments approval for pilot implementation of this form of investment. With the motto "public investment leads private investment", the selected forms were: public leadership private management, public investment private management, private investment - public use. On December 5, 2013, the provincial Party Committee issued resolution 10-NQ/TU instructing Party Committees at all levels to pilot the public - private investment forms. Explaining the reason for the issuance of this resolution, Mr. Ky said that the biggest goal at that time was to change perception, because everything must come from the change of thinking. To take the lead, it must start from the leaders of Party Committees. Ha Long - Hai Phong Expressway, Ha Long - Van Don Expressway, Bach Dang Bridge, Van Don International Airport, Hon Gai International Cruise Wharf, and Van Don - Mong Cai Expressway were built in such circumstances. So far, the total investment capital raised from others sources, not the state budget, has reached hundreds of trillion dong. It is estimated that for every VND1 of the state budget invested in technical infrastructure projects, the province attracted VND8-9 from off-budget investment capital. The budget capital was only invested in public works that served cultural purposes, social security, and health care purposes such as hospitals, museums. Only in Quang Ninh did private investors build infrastructure works like airports, ports and highways. Because they believed in our commitments, they believed that in the long term they will get a profit from their investment, although it was not easy," Quang Ninhs Party Secretary said. If they invested in real estate, they would collect money very quickly, while investing in airports and ports is risky, he added. But many doubted Quang Ninhs brave policies. Van Don international airport is an example. Although the date of the groundbreaking was set, the letters of invitation delivered, Quang Ninh had to abruptly cancel the ceremony when a senior official still wondered where to get the money to build it. It took a long time for the project to resume. On the basis of the pilot schemes of Quang Ninh and a number of ministries and central agencies, the Government issued Decree No. 15/2015/ND-CP dated February 14, 2015 on the investment form of public-private partnerships. In 2020, the National Assembly enacted the Law on Investment in the form of public-private partnerships. "The biggest difficulty on the first day was to change the perception of officials, to create consensus among the people, the momentum for the whole political system, to build investors trust", Mr. Ky recalled. "Without trust, no one would spend money because there was no related law at that time." He said that several trillion dong of budget capital attracted capital, to build the Bach Dang bridge, highways, Van Don airport, and an international cruise port. These were owing to seven master plans made in 2012. Planning is a very important guide, which is both an indicator of trust and the local government's strong commitment to investors. The planning itself is a resource, not a common document. Good planning can add value to a fallow area. Great infrastructure works built in the past decade in Quang Ninh. Good planning will create good projects. Having good projects will have good investors, Quang Ninhs Party Secretary said, repeating the familiar saying of Mr. Pham Minh Chinh when he was the provinces Party Chief. Van Don today is different from 10 years ago: There are highways, bridges, an airport. For the entire province, for nearly 10 years, Quang Ninh has been a "star of reform" in Vietnam, the pioneer in piloting new policies, a locality with soaring positions in rankings and with great contributions to the state budget. Nearly 10 years ago, the American billionaire asked four questions and left. That was a problem, a challenge that leaders of Quang Ninh had to try to solve. The most meaningful answer was that the American billionaires corporation planned to return to invest in Quang Ninh. Ten years ago, Quang Ninhs officials had to go everywhere to call for investment, but now it has become an attractive destination and can confidently screen investors according to its strategy. On its 10-year journey, with hurdles and breakthroughs to create pillars for development, Quang Ninh has become a development pole under the criterion of "convergence - spreading". Quang Ninhs former Party Secretary Pham Minh Chinh set a target that by 2020, Quang Ninh would become one of the poles of economic growth in North Vietnam. The current Party Secretary Nguyen Xuan Ky confidently emphasized that the target has been achieved. The achievements are a resource and a valuable driving force for Quang Ninh to continue its journey of exploration and innovation to continue its goals. Luong Bang The activists were members of the Young Free Women movement and the Socialist Women's Assembly. During interrogation they allegedly suffered beatings and abuse. Womens rights activists say the convention is fundamental to counter "fascism" and the daily "massacres" of women. The Sofa-gate case and the question of women in Erdogan's Turkey. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - The Turkish authorities yesterday arrested a small group of women for staging a protest against the government decision (and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan) to withdraw from the Istanbul convention. The demonstration, contained in numbers, took place in front of the headquarters of the Presidential Communications Department in Konak, a district of the province of Smyrna, in the west of the country along the Aegean coast. Four women, who were later arrested, belonging to the Young Free Women movement (OGK) and the Socialist Women's Assembly (SKM) organised the protest. The activists had met in front of the local offices of the Presidency of the Republic to express their dissent on the withdrawal - wanted by Erdogan himself - from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Better known as the Istanbul Convention, the international treaty was signed in the Turkish metropolis of the same name in May 2011. According to reports from the Mezopotamya Agency (Ma), the women opened a banner that read "We will defend the convention, break down fascism." "We do not accept the termination of the convention. While several women are massacred in this land every day, murderers walk on the streets freely. While your male justice puts women and women's struggle on trial, we, as women, have never stayed silent and will not do so," they said. Before being arrested, the women chanted slogans and songs including " "We don't hush, we don't fear" and "Not male justice, but real justice", addressing ironic applause towards the presidential offices. Local witnesses report that the women arrested are Gul Gok, Meryem Yldrm, Gungor Didar Gul and Irem Nur Celikbas. They are currently being held in the maximum security prison and have allegedly suffered beatings and abuse during interrogation. In recent days, Turkey has been the scene of a further story involving a woman in the context of the so-called Sofa-gate. The president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in the official meeting with Erdogan together with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, was left without a chair and, not without embarrassment, had to fall back on a sofa set apart from the two male leaders. In her conversation with Erdogan, Ursula von der Leyen raised the issue of withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and the problem of rights and violence against women in the country. (Newser) Daunte Wright was shot dead roughly 11 miles from where George Floyd was killed, per Newsweek. That's not the only connection the two men share. The Washington Post reports that a more personal link has emerged: It turns out Floyd's former girlfriend, Courteney Ross, was a dean at Edison High School when Wright was a student there. Wright's aunt, Naisha Wright, also shared the link at a Tuesday press conference, per CBS News. "The craziest thing is to find out today that my family has connections to this man, to this family." (Naisha Wright indicated Ross was Daunte's teacher, but that appears to be incorrect.) On Monday Ross said she didn't know Daunte well, but she described him as "a silly boy, as goofy as can be," who "needed a lot of love." story continues below Odder still, her last recollection of seeing him was in the summer of 2019 "being confronted" by Brooklyn Center police, as the Post puts it, while she happened to be walking with Floyd. One tweeted reaction from education/policy organization the Conscious Kid, "Finding out that George Floyds girlfriend was Daunte Wrights teacher reminds us that Fred Hamptons mom babysat Emmett Till. Its devastating to grasp the violence & collective trauma of systemic racism across families, communities & generations& know how little has changed." Daunte's mother, Katie Wright, appeared at a Tuesday news conference outside a Minneapolis courthouse. Ross was there, and "wrapped her arms around Ms. Wright" then "left in tears," reports the New York Times. (Read more Daunte Wright stories.) TORRINGTON The Torrington Historical Society is reopening of the Torrington History Museum on Wednesday, April 14. The museum is home to the award-winning exhibits, No Place Like Home: The History of Torrington and Pursuit of Precision: The Hendey Machine Company 1870-1954. The exhibits will remain open through Oct. 30. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 12-4. Admission is free. According to a statement, No Place Like Home is a self-guided exhibit that takes visitors on a chronological tour of Torringtons history. Visitors will learn how the town grew and developed and the factors that led to its change over time. Objects from the societys collection, as well as reproductions of photographs and maps, are featured throughout the exhibit. Items include: Native American tools; 18th century artifacts; products made in Torrington including brass, clocks, guitars, and bicycles; items brought to Torrington by immigrants; John Brown memorabilia; and a vendors cart that belonged to Sam the Hot Dog Man. Topics addressed in the exhibit include: Geology, Native Americans, 18th century settlement, the Litchfield County Anti-Slavery Society, John Brown, Immigration, the Flood of 1955, and the citys rich industrial history. Pursuit of Precision interprets the history of the Hendey Machine Company, a longtime Torrington manufacturer of machine tools including lathes, shapers and milling machines. A belt-driven machine shop display featuring three Hendey machines is a highlight of this exhibit. For the safety of visitors and staff, COVID-19 protocol will be in effect. Visitors are required to wear face masks and must observe social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be available. Those who have been sick or are not feeling well are asked to remain at home and anyone who is required to self-quarantine should remain at home. To learn more about Torrington history and the Torrington Historical Society, visit www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org Mott & Bow Landing page What makes an effective landing page? First of all, you need to consider the features and goals of the landing page. For example, fill up a form, sign up for a newsletter, download an e-book, make a purchase and et cetera depending on your brands marketing campaign. You also have to consider the tools used to design the landing page and the medium used for promotion along with your brands marketing campaign. You do not need any magic tricks to create successful landing pages, all you need is the right elements. Mott & Bow, a US e-commerce denim company, based in New York City, is one of the great example companies that just launched a new interesting landing page created by Neeta Rajchaiboon, a Thai designer who is currently working for this company. Since they are an e-commerce brand, their marketing campaign aims to drive more conversion rates to their website, thus the goal of their landing page is to maximize purchases. They have done a great job combining all the key elements for their new landing page, which leads to a higher potential to convert. These key elements are: KATY, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Neutra Corp. (OTC PINK:NTRR) has been listed on the Zoovu platform, a online resource that will enable subsidiary VIVIS to better connect with potential customers looking to learn more about the company's hemp-based products. "This is an exciting new way to get ourselves out in front of an entirely new marketplace," said Neutra CEO Sydney Jim. "Shoppers interested in quality, lab-tested CBD can use the Zoovu platform to easily search for products that meet their needs. They'll find VIVIS and be able to learn what makes us better than the competition in satisfying their CBD requirements. It's a great way to spread the word about VIVIS and grow about customer base." Zoovu is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that supports a digital commerce search strategy. It utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to engage in dynamic conversations with searchers to help them identify their needs and suitable products that satisfy them. It does this through needs-based language and a user-friendly experience. VIVIS will be one of the first CBD companies using Zoovu. Several major global corporations are already Zoovu clients, including Microsoft, Amazon, Canon, 3M and Whirlpool. VIVIS and parent Neutra have made tremendous strides since January in getting in front of more customers and creating new markets. Neutra is currently in negotiation with a number of national and regional big box stores. The company is also talking with a Mexican distributor about opening that market for VIVIS. Neutra set a new company sales record in March thanks to its new national sales force. About Neutra Corp. Neutra Corp. (OTC PINK:NTRR) is an early-stage research and development company with a focus on bringing modern healthy living solutions to a multibillion-dollar market. Cutting-edge technologies within the nutraceuticals, food, and drug, and environmental purification sectors are creating a new kind of world culture-one where in which consumers are demanding access to products that promote health and stave off potential health dangers. One of the nutraceutical sub-markets is the new thriving hemp-based CBD market, in which the Company intends to participate. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.NeutraInc.com. NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Neutra Contact: Sydney Jim 888-433-4033 info@neutrainc.com SOURCE: Neutra Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640402/Neutra-Now-on-Zoovu-Platform-Giving-VIVIS-New-Way-to-Reach-Potential-CBD-Customers Chris Flakus, CEO of CSI Companies I have tremendous regard for our history at CSI, as well as our plans for the future. Leading National Staffing Firm, CSI Companies, proudly announces the promotion of Chris Flakus from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer. Chris will continue to serve as a Director on the CSI Companies Board. Chris brings over 25 years of staffing industry experience to the CEO role, sharing 18 of those years with CSI. It is my desire to formally communicate my retirement, and announce my successor, Chris Flakus, as the incoming CEO of CSI Companies, said Rafe Sanson, former CEO of CSI Companies. Chris has served as the Chief of Operations of CSI Companies for the last 8 years with oversight of the companys strategic operations. CSI is fortunate to have an established leader in Chris, who is well equipped to transition into the CEO role so seamlessly. There is no one better suited to drive CSIs strategic vision forward than Chris Flakus. Under Chris leadership, CSI has obtained double-digit growth year-over-year. Chris has successfully started up two new divisions and directed CSIs expansion into the western United States, opening offices in Austin, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix. In 2010, together with Rafe Sanson, they helped facilitate the acquisition of CSI by Japanese recruiting firm RGF Staffing (formerly Recruit Staffing), a part of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. Chris was named Chief Operating Officer in 2013 and drove the companys explosive sales growth over his 8 years in the role. With a focus on building corporate culture, Chris has increased productivity and improved employee retention rates. Recently, he directed and executed the relocation of CSI Companies' national headquarters to a new state-of-the-art building in Jacksonville, Florida. As CEO, Chris will continue to deliver a strategic vision for CSI Companies by focusing on national expansion, optimizing operational performance, and building company culture and values. It is with great confidence and respect that I accept this opportunity, said Chris Flakus. With CSIs continuous growth and evolution, we're set on positively impacting more clients and candidates than we ever have. I have tremendous regard for our history at CSI, as well as our plans for the future. About CSI Companies Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, CSI Companies provides national staffing solutions by placing top talent in technology, financial, accounting, healthcare, and other professional industries across the country. In 2010, CSI Companies became a part of Recruit Global Staffing, active in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. Recruit Global Staffing is a leading global HR service provider, part of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. To learn more about CSI Companies, please visit csicompanies.com. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has revealed that a big new vaccine supply contract that the European Union is seeking from Pfizer-BioNTech from 2022 will be at a significantly increased price. The bloc is seeking the new supply deal with the two companies for up to 1.8 billion vaccines, of which is 900 million optional, to be delivered in 2022 and 2023, Reuters reported on Friday. Borissov, speaking on Sunday, said the EU was negotiating the new contract at a price of 19.5 euros ($23.22) per dose. "The prices are going up quickly," Borissov said during a trip to a village in southern Bulgaria. "Pfizer's (price) was 12 euros, then increased to 15.5 euros. Now for 2022 and 2023 the European Union contracts are being signed for 900 million vaccines, but already at a price of 19.5 euros," he said. That is a significant increase from 15.5 euros per dose the EU has paid for the 600 million Pfizer shots it has so far contracted, according to an EU internal document and officials. An EU official involved in talks with vaccine makers confirmed the price cited by Borissov for the new contract but said negotiations had not been wrapped up yet. The new contract would cover variants, meaning that the companies would offer enhanced shots if mutations of the coronavirus became prevalent, a second EU official said. Borissov said: "Roughly this will cost 18 billion euros, at least ... That means that in the new budgets financial experts should earmark bigger, much bigger buffers for vaccines." Borissov's government was among EU states who initially declined to buy their full share of Pfizer shots secured by the EU because they considered the vaccine too expensive, several EU officials have said. The Balkan country of 7 million people, which has initially bet mainly on the AstraZeneca vaccine, has suffered from delays and decreased deliveries of its vaccines to the EU. At present, Sofia has vaccinated some 7.7% of its population with a first dose, the slowest rate in the EU. Borissov said his centre-right government has secured the deliveries of some 2.7 million Pfizer doses until the middle of June that should speed up rollout and ensure herd immunity for Bulgarians. Also read: COVID-19 vaccination: Japan starts inoculating people aged 65 and above amid fourth wave Also read: India fast-tracks emergency approval for foreign COVID-19 vaccines Megachurch leader who allegedly made sex videos with minors to face trial in September Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Naason Joaquin Garcia, the controversial leader of the 5 million-member Light of the World, who's accused of multiple sex crimes, including making sex videos with minor girls from his flock, will go on trial in Los Angeles on Sept. 27. An attorney from the California attorney generals office, which is prosecuting the case, expects the trial could last about five to seven weeks, the Los Angeles Times reported. Garcias attorney, Alan Jackson, had argued during a hearing Monday that he was not prepared to announce ready for trial due to discovery issues and asked for a little bit more time. Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen set a date for his trial nevertheless and ordered his alleged accomplice, Susana Medina Oaxaca, to also appear in court for trial. The 51-year-old megachurch leader, who is considered by his followers to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, was arrested in the summer of 2019 at the Los Angeles International Airport. In a release that also highlighted the criminal complaint against Garcia, other individuals associated with the church, including Oaxaca, now 26, were named as co-defendants. Alondra Ocampo and Azalea Rangel Melendez round out the list of Garcia's co-defendants. Garcia and his co-defendants were charged with human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies committed between 2015 and 2019. A group of girls were told that if they went against Garcias desires, they were going against God, according to the criminal complaint. Children were allegedly told to perform flirty dances for Garcia while wearing as little clothing as possible. Garcia also once gave a group of children a speech about a king having mistresses and stated that an apostle of God can never be judged for his actions, the complaint adds. State law enforcement officer and forensic examiner Steven Stover testified in 2019 about a video found on an iPad seized from Garcia, which allegedly shows the church leader having a threesome with a woman and an underage male. Stover also testified that he found child pornography on an iPhone taken from Garcia. One video found on the phone shows females of a very young age performing sexual acts. Garcia pleaded not guilty to the charges against him at the time and was slapped with a $50 million bail, believed to be the highest ever imposed in L.A. County. He is now being held in lieu of a $90 million bail, the LA Times reported, even as some of his followers have maintained that he is 100% innocent. In a statement released on the churchs Facebook page Monday, officials noted: To our sisters and brothers around the world: We inform you about the outcome of the hearing this day. We trust that righteousness will prevail, for the truth is this: The [a]postle of Jesus Christ Naason Joaquin Garcia is innocent, his integrity is known to millions of people. Ocampo, who is also being held without bail, pleaded guilty to four counts Oct. 13, 2020. These include three counts of contact with a minor for a sexual offense, involving three Jane Does, and one count of forcible sexual penetration, involving a fourth Jane Doe, the LA Times said. Oaxaca, who claimed to be innocent of the charges against her, has been released on bail. Close New research describes numerous scenarios in which a rocky planet surrounding a sun-like star could evolve to have oxygen within its atmosphere. According to a Phys.org report, in the quest for life on other planets, the existence of oxygen in the atmosphere of a planet is one possible sign of biological activity that future telescopes might be able to detect. The research, Oxygen False Positives on Habitable Zone Planets Around SunLike Stars, published in AGU Advances, underscores the necessity for the next-gen telescopes which have the capabilities of characterizing planetary environments, not to mention looking for multiple lines of proof for life on top of oxygen detection. Joshua Krissansen-Totton, the study's first author who's a Sagan Fellow in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, said, the findings are useful as they're showing there are ways to get oxygen in the atmosphere with no life, although there are other observations one can make to help differentiate these false positives from the real deal For every scenario, the first author explained, they try to say what the telescope would need to be able to do to set this apart from biological oxygen. ALSO READ: Kepler Space Telescope Reveals About 300 Million Habitable Planets Possibly Exist in the Milky Way Future Telescope In the next decades, probably by the latter part of the 2030s, astronomers are hoping to have a telescope that's capable of capturing images and spectra of potentially Earth-like planets that surround sun-like stars. Astronomy and astrophysics professor and co-author Jonathan Fortney, who's also director of Other Worlds Laboratory of UCSC said, the notion would be to target planets similar enough to this planet that life might have occurred on them and characterize their atmosphere. Fortney added, there have been many discussions about whether oxygen detection is enough of a sign of life. He also said this study indeed contends for the need to know the context of detection. More so, what other molecules are found on top of oxygen, or not found, and what that tells about the evolution of Earth. Meaning, astronomers would want a telescope that's sensitive to a wide range of wavelengths to detect various molecule types in the atmosphere of a planet. Oxygen Buildup Oxygen can begin building up in the atmosphere of a planet where nigh-energy ultraviolet light is splitting water molecules in the upper atmosphere into oxygen and hydrogen. More so, the lightweight hydrogen favorably leaks out into space, leaving the oxygen behind. Other processes can eliminate oxygen from the atmosphere. Meanwhile, carbon monoxide and hydrogen emitted by outgassing from molten rock, for instance, will react with oxygen, and rock's weathering also mops oxygen up. There are only a few of the processes they study authors integrated into their model of the rocky planet's geochemical evolution, as explained in ETH Zurich. Krissansen-Totton explained, if one turns the model for Earth with what they think was the first inventory of volatiles, he dependably gets a similar result every time, minus life, one does not get oxygen in the atmosphere. However, he added that they found multiple scenarios where one can get oxygen without life. For instance, a planet that's otherwise akin to Earth but begins with more water will end up with very deep oceans, adding immense pressure on the crust. This shuts down geological activity effectively, including all processes like weathering or melting of rocks that would eliminate oxygen from the atmosphere. Related report is shown on Astro Byte's YouTube video below: ALSO READ: Jupiter's Icy Moon Europa 'Glows in the Dark' Due to Radiation, Scientists Say Check out more news and information on Planets on Science Times. April is the cruelest month, the poet has written. True enough in an existential sense, and yet this year we are inclined to differ. Like bluebonnets springing up along Texas roadsides, signs of glorious post-pandemic life are reemerging. Life is gradually returning to normal. And yet, normal in this nation means routine, incessant unmitigated killing of each other and of ourselves. In a sense, T.S. Eliot was closer to correct than he might have imagined. April this year is as cruel as any other April. Normal the past few weeks includes the following: In a Minneapolis suburb barely 10 miles from where a Minneapolis police officer is on trial for the death of George Floyd a young man trying to elude a traffic stop for a minor offense dies when a veteran police officer fires a bullet into his chest, which she has called an accident, claiming she meant to fire her Taser. In the Dallas suburb of Allen, a young man murders five members of his family and then kills himself with a gun. In Pleasant Grove, another Dallas suburb, a 9-year-old shoots and kills his 11-year-old brother. In Bryan, a gunman kills a person and wounds at least five others four of them critically at a cabinet manufacturer where he apparently worked. In April and beyond in this COVID-worn nation, suicide has become the second-leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This month we learn that right-wing terrorism is at an all-time high in this country. In a nation with more guns than people, the through line linking all these awful incidents is not police reform or mental-health measures or classes in gun safety, as vital as those initiatives are. It is guns. We have vastly more gun deaths, including suicides, than any developed nation in the world because we have more guns, 400 million guns for 330 million people. Each day in the U.S., more than 300 people are shot; more than 100 of them die. No wonder a police officer walking up to an idling car is anxious. In a nation awash in guns, who knows whats inside a glove compartment, underneath a seat? In a nation awash in guns, a person attempting suicide is almost sure to be successful, if a gun is used. In a nation awash in guns, a gun at home is more likely to result in an accidental death (or a suicide) than in repelling an intruder. Compared with Canada, with Great Britain, with Japan, with New Zealand, with Australia, our gun fetish is anything but normal. Guns are on the minds of Texas lawmakers this session. The Republicans in charge are eager to make them more accessible, not less. No permit? No training? No problem. Thats the gist of House Bill 1911 sponsored by state Rep. James White, an East Texas Republican. White insists Second Amendment rights are more important than safety classes, or permits that might weed out those with no business being anywhere near a gun. With the enthusiastic endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott, Whites constitutional carry bill is likely to become law, after near misses in recent sessions. The governor made expanding gun rights a priority this session, the first since mass shootings in Midland-Odessa and El Paso killed dozens of Texans. Never mind that nearly every police association statewide oppose laws making guns even more ubiquitous. In Abbotts view, and in the view of many in his party, our Second Amendment rights trump life itself. We began with muzzle-flashes of death. Well conclude with glimmers of life: President Joe Biden last week unveiled several actions to curb what he called an epidemic of gun violence. They included an effort to regulate so-called ghost guns, made from kits with no serial numbers. He directed the Justice Department to propose a rule for regulating stabilizing braces for AR-style pistols; and to issue annual reports on gun trafficking, something that hasnt been done in 20 years. The White House also will develop a model red-flag law for states that will allow law enforcement and family members to remove firearms from individuals who are at risk to themselves and others. Biden also proposed making changes in several federal grant programs to prioritize funding for community violence intervention efforts. The president acknowledged that his executive orders are modest efforts to address a major national crisis. He insists theyre just a beginning. In Austin, state Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, is expanding on the good work of so-called violence interrupters by sponsoring legislation that would establish the Office of Violence Prevention. His House Bill 1589 would assist groups working to reduce preventable injuries and deaths from all forms of physical violence, including guns. The proposed office would establish violence prevention as a public health issue and would be housed, not in a law enforcement agency, but in the Texas Department of Health Services. Rosenthals effort, like Bidens, is modest and well-intentioned, but it might have a flicker of a chance in the Texas Legislature because of its community-based focus. It has nothing to do with gun control. Here in Texas, bluebonnets are usually gone by May. Guns are not. And across the country the killings continue. In this cruel month and beyond, Rosenthals proposal and Bidens are certainly worth a try. MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) Former Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that he wasnt sure that he and former President Donald Trump would ever see eye to eye over what happened on Jan. 6 but that he would always be proud of what we accomplished for the American people over the last four years. Kane County Joins the Illinois Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information. Kane County announced that it has joined the Illinois Purchasing Group. BidNets Illinois Purchasing Group helps local governments, such as Kane County, post, distribute and manage RFPs, quotes, addendums and awards online. The Illinois Purchasing Group provides notification to registered vendors of new bids related to their industry, and any addenda and award information from participating agencies across Illinois online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/illinois. Kane County joined the Illinois Purchasing Group in February. There was a need for Kane County to automate their purchasing process to save time, increase competition and achieve cost savings over the traditional paper-based bid process. The Illinois Purchasing Group streamlines the creation and issuance of bid requests, supplier response submission and the awarding of bids. By providing a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities, local Illinois government agencies minimize costs and time delays associated with the procurement process. Kane County now has access to an extensive vendor pool, thereby enhancing competition without increasing distribution costs. In addition to the existing vendors on the Illinois Purchasing Group, all vendors looking to do business with local government agencies can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/illinois. Kane County invites all current vendors not already registered on the Illinois Purchasing Group to do so today. Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information. In addition, the Illinois Purchasing Group provides a value-added alert service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their industry and all addenda associated with those bids. We look forward to being able to improve our efficiency by using the Illinois Purchasing Group. In addition to our time savings, our valued vendors can now access not only our open bids, but those from other municipalities, counties, and school districts throughout Illinois. We invite all of our current vendors to register, said John Blomstrand, Director of Purchasing for Kane County. Vendor benefits include: Receive targeted bids Receive bid deadline reminders Notification of term contract expiration Access a single point of entry for all participating agency bids Contact with a dedicated vendor support team Vendors may register on the Illinois Purchasing Group at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/illinois. Vendors may also contact BidNets vendor support team at 800-835-4603 option 2 with any questions regarding registration on the bid system. Other local Illinois government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the Illinois Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution. About Kane County: A place for you to work, live and grow your business. Kane County leaders are committed to helping the community of Kane County grow and prosper. About BidNet Direct: BidNet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. BidNet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Illinois Island Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers Irvine, California--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - UA Multimedia, Inc. (OTC Pink: UAMM), a holding company and solution provider in the area of blockchain, cryptocurrency, fintech and decentralized finance (DeFi), is pleased to provide updates on its crypto exchange and non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace. The Company has reached an agreement to acquire via a stock swap a majority interest in an early stage Hong Kong based specialist crypto exchange. Due to the recent environmental changes in Hong Kong, the exchange entity is in the process of redomiciling. Initial plans to relocate to South Korea has been changed due to the anticipated high cost of compliance as the result of the updated Specific Financial Transactions Act announced there in late March. A new location has been identified and the registration process has been initiated. The Company is actively working with the exchange to get established in the new location as well as expanding its features and service offerings. Additional information will be provided once the entity is settled and the transaction is consummated. The Company is also exploring partnership opportunities with other exchanges as well as launching its own non-custodial or limited custodial exchanges in the future. To capitalize on the burgeoning NFT market, the Company is pressing forward with its NFT initiatives. Effort is on-going with the development of an NFT marketplace which it plans to launch before the end of this quarter. The initial version will be geared towards digital arts with support for other types of collectibles to follow. In addition to the NFT marketplace, the Company will host a platform catering to the NFT community where arts can be featured and connections between artists and collectors can be made. The platform is scheduled to go live sometime next month. The Company is also making a shift in its business model whereby it will place more focus on developing its intellectual properties and supporting its own platforms than developing technology solutions for others. It is still active in listing and raising capital for crypto related projects as well as seeking for complementary businesses for mergers and acquisitions. "The demands for major cryptocurrencies and the number of large companies adopting Bitcoin have been steadily increasing," said Michael Lajtay, CEO of UA Multimedia. "As a result, we are seeing a boom in the crypto related businesses and as a blockchain company, we are well positioned to capitalize on this emerging growth." About UA Multimedia, Inc. UA Multimedia, Inc. is a solution provider specializing in blockchain, cryptocurrency, fintech and decentralized finance (DeFi). It is also a holding company seeking to acquire domestic and foreign entities who are in the same space. Company website: http://www.uammedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uamultimedia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/uamultimedia Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and section 21e of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements include the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management team. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Accomplishing the strategy described herein is significantly dependent upon numerous factors, many that are not in management's control. UA Multimedia, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements. Contact: UA Multimedia, Inc. Investor Relations 949.229.1208 ir@uammedia.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80395 A man who lost all of his limbs after he contracted a life-threatening disease from dirty water says the hardest part is not being able to hug his girlfriend. Andrew Case, 34, a wind turbine technician from Houston, Texas, has suffered all his life after being diagnosed with a rare white blood cell immune deficiency at birth. But last year, his health took a turn for the worst when he contracted necrotising fasciitis - a flesh eating disease - and was told that he needed all his limbs amputated to prevent wet gangrene - which causes tissues in the body to break down and results in death. He was informed that the reason why he became so sick was because his white blood cell count was too low to fight off the infection, and doctors told him that he would have to have his limbs amputated. Andrew Case, 34, a wind turbine technician from Houston, Texas, lost all of his limbs after he contracted a life-threatening disease from dirty water Andrew, says the hardest part of losing his limbs is not being able to hug his girlfriend. They are pictured together before his limbs were amputated 'My body was shutting down fast and I knew that it was a matter of time before this could kill me and there was no doubt in my mind about having my limbs amputated,' said Andrew. 'I'm starting to understand how to move forward smarter, not harder, but it has been tough not being able to hold my girl and throw my arms around her at any point,' he added. At birth, Andrew was diagnosed with Kostmann syndrome, a rare white blood cell immune deficiency. What is Kostmann syndrome? Also known as severe congenital neutropenia, Kostmann syndrome is a rare, severe, congenital white blood cell disorder. It is characterized by a lack of mature white blood cells and is associated with frequent, recurrent bacterial infections such as pneumonia, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, and increased promyelocytes in the bone marrow. Over time, people with the condition can develop osteoporosis, leukemia or other disorders related to the bone marrow. There is no cure for the condition, but medication can be used to increase the blood white cell count. Advertisement When he was six weeks old, medics told Andrew's mother, Tina Case, now 55, that he would be the perfect candidate for a trial drug called Neupogen, which helps the production of synthetic white blood cells through the spine and causes his immune system to improve. Despite taking the drug, Andrew was in and out of hospital up until the age of five, as he suffered constantly with infections which saw his right tear duct partially removed. 'As a child, I was taught to be very independent and to be aware of my disorder and health as there was no guarantee how many days I had left. 'I was taught at just seven-years-old how to administer my medication all by myself, as well as being cautious of crowds which made me feel like I lived in a bubble. 'Despite taking my medication, I was constantly in and out of hospital due to many infections, surgeries and near-death experiences where during my journey, I have had to do so many things just to stay alive. During childhood, he had multiple surgeries which included removing the bottom portion of his lung due to pneumonia, and at the age of 29 he needed all his teeth removed as they were decaying due to vasculitis - an inflammation of the blood vessels. He spent a few weeks in hospital and says it was one of the most painful infections he's ever had. At birth, Andrew was diagnosed with Kostmann syndrome, a rare white blood cell immune deficiency. He is pictured in hospital after having his limbs amputated Andrew is pictured with his girlfriend before losing his limbs. Last year, his health took a turn for the worst when he contracted necrotising fasciitis - a flesh eating disease - and was told that he needed all his limbs amputated to prevent wet gangrene - which causes tissues in the body to break down and results in death. NECROTISING FASCIITIS: THE VICIOUS FLESH-EATING BACTERIA Necrotising fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease', is a rare but extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotising' refers to something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy skin, muscles and fat. The disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Because it is so virulent, the bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body. Symptoms include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin, rapidly-spreading bruising, sweating, chills, fever and nausea. Organ failure and shock are also common complications. Sufferers must be treated immediately to prevent death, and are usually given powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue. Amputation can become necessary if the disease spreads through an arm or leg. Patients may undergo skin grafts after the infection has cleared up, to help the healing process or for aesthetic reasons. There are 500 to 1,500 cases reported a year, but 20 to 25 percent of victims die. Advertisement 'At 5-years-old, I had the bottom portion of my lung and right tear duct removed due to pneumonia and infection. At seven-years-old, I had to have my left ear lobe removed due to another infection and due to countless staph infections, I've had to have multiple wound drainages,' Andrew said. 'At fifteen-years-old, I was told that it was common to have receding gum lines and tooth decay due to my condition, where my dentist told me that I would have to have all of my teeth removed and have dentures instead. 'I wasn't ready to accept this at such a young age, but at 29, I accepted my fate. My whole body hurt afterwards and I later found out that my teeth were very much intact, but they had to do this to prevent any further complications later down the line. Andrew stopped living his life in fear and decided to live for the moment, as he had no idea how many days he would have left on earth and decided to create a life where his condition wouldn't hold him back anymore. 'My family is very blue collar, work with your hands kind of people and I enjoyed doing a job where my condition could be put out of my mind for a moment. 'Although it was pretty labour intensive having to carry equipment and hike up 300 feet tall towers, I was good at it,' added Andrew. But in October 2020, Andrew's condition took a turn for the worst. He began being violently being sick and had excruciating pain throughout his whole body, when his girlfriend Elizabeth Snell, 32, rushed him to hospital. Once there, doctors diagnosed Andrew with severe blood sepsis due to an infection that they believed was caused by dirty water. 'I woke up that morning to go to work in kind of a fog, but nothing too out of the ordinary and although I felt mentally off, it was just like any other day. 'However, within a few hours, I started to experience excruciating pain throughout my entire body and at around 4am, I started being violently sick. 'My girlfriend rushed me to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with severe blood sepsis due to infection, which although it's not certain, medics believe came from dirty water. Over the next 12 days, Andrew was transferred to the intensive care unit where he had four emergency surgeries to remove the infection from his intestine and right hip. In October 2020, Andrew's condition took a turn for the worst. He began being violently being sick and had excruciating pain throughout his whole body, when his girlfriend Elizabeth Snell, 32, rushed him to hospital. He is pictured in hospital following his amputatation Although Andrew misses work, he is now putting all of his time into becoming a motivational speaker After three weeks, Andrew's kidneys and liver started to fail where he developed jaundice and had to have a number of blood transfusions and dialysis to help his organs function properly. He was placed on vasopressors - medication that helps elevate blood pressure in those critically ill - to help centralise the blood to his organs. 'During the first surgery, I went into cardiac arrest where the doctors thought I wouldn't make it and then during my second, they told my family to prepare for the worst,' Andrew added. 'Although the surgeries were successful, my kidneys and liver began to fail shortly after where I developed jaundice. Through a combination of blood transfusions and dialysis, my organs were stabilized'. Andrew thanks his family and friends for being his support throughout his ordeal. In November 2020, this medication resulted in the loss of blood flow to all of Andrew's limbs where his arms and legs turned purple, swollen, cold and eventually black. As Andrew knew that he had to have his limbs amputated to survive, he accepted his tragic reality and had his feet amputated first, moving onto his hands two weeks later where medics even found mould growing in his right hand due to the lack of air and blood flow. After nearly four months, Andrew was allowed home and although he was devastated by how much his life had changed so quickly, he felt a relief knowing that this was one of the last major surgeries he would need and that he could now move forward with his life. After nearly four months, Andrew was allowed home and although he was devastated by how much his life had changed so quickly, he felt a relief knowing that this was one of the last major surgeries he would need and that he could now move forward with his life Andrew believes that the trauma he has experienced throughout his life prepared him for the worst. Andrew believes that his condition shouldn't hold him back and tries to make the most out of each day. He's pictured before his amputation Andrew believes that the trauma he has experienced throughout his life prepared him for the worst. 'I remember waking up after my surgery and being so relieved that my feet were finally gone, as they were like a dead weight holding me back and it was relieving to know that this was one of the last major surgeries needed to keep me moving forward. 'I left hospital in February 2021, where I received my leg prosthetics and have been learning how to use my legs once again which makes me feel like I'm in a baby's body. Andrew is thankful that he has lived to see another day despite his life-long ordeal, he is pictured 'I'm still recovering, but I expect it will be over a year until I'm fully recovered. I guess with everything that has happened during my life, certain things feel natural to me and although this has been life changing, I haven't found it such a big deal. 'I have a very strong support system in my family and girlfriend who bathe me, give me my medication and even lint roll the dog hair from my socks before putting on my prosthetics - I don't know where I would be without them. 'We've all had our fair share of physical, mental and emotional highs and lows - but looking back at it all, if I didn't have the previous experience, I wouldn't be as confident or happy as I am now. 'Besides this, I am taking life in my stride and I believe it's not how difficult the journey is that's the hardest part, it's what you do to change it that matters.' EU throws weight behind Pfizer-BioNTech and new technology View Photo BRUSSELS (AP) In a stinging rebuke to pharma giant AstraZeneca Wednesday, the European Union announced plans to negotiate a massive contract extension for Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine insisting the 27-nation bloc had to go with companies that had shown their value in the pandemic. We need to focus on technologies that have proven their worth, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She also announced that Americas Pfizer and Germanys BioNTech would provide the EU with an extra 50 million doses in the 2nd quarter of this year, making up for faltering deliveries of AstraZeneca. In contrast to the oft-criticized Anglo-Swedish company, von der Leyen said Pfizer-BioNTech has proven to be a reliable partner. It has delivered on its commitments, and it is responsive to our needs. This is to the immediate benefit of EU citizens. Exacerbating the problems for AstraZeneca, Denmark decided Wednesday not to resume use of its vaccine, after putting it on hold last month following reports of rare blood clots in some recipients. The bulk of the shots given in the Scandinavian country so far have been the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson jab, which uses the same base technology as AstraZeneca, hit a snag this week when U.S. regulators recommended a pause in administering Johnson & Johnson shots. Deliveries in the EU have been suspended. AstraZeneca was supposed to be the workhorse of the EUs vaccine drive this year a cheap and easy-to-transport shot to break the pandemics back. Yet, the EU said that out of 120 million doses promised for the 1st quarter, only 30 million were delivered, and, of the 180 million expected, now there are only 70 million set for delivery in the 2nd quarter. Because of that shortfall, the EU has come under crushing pressure as, even though it it is a major producer and exporter of vaccines, it cannot get its vaccinations even close to the levels of the United Kingdom and the United States. The Our World in Data site said 47.5% of people in the U.K. have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 36.6% in the U.S. and 16.4% in the EU. Now, Pfizer-BioNTech could well become the key to beat the pandemic on the continent. With 200 million doses already earmarked for the bloc this quarter from Pfizer-BioNTech. the 50 million additional deliveries will be especially welcomed by EU nations dealing with supply delays and concerns over rare blood clots potentially linked to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Von der Leyen said the EU will start negotiating to buy 1.8 billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through 2023. It will entail that not only the production of the vaccines, but also all essential components, will be based in the EU, von der Leyen said. The European Commission currently has a portfolio of 2.3 billion doses from half a dozen companies and is negotiating more contracts. Von der Leyen expressed full confidence in the technology used for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is different from that behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The active ingredient in the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is messenger RNA, or mRNA, which contains the instructions for human cells to construct a harmless piece of the coronavirus called the spike protein. The human immune system recognizes the spike protein as foreign, allowing it to mount a response against the virus upon infection. Astra Zenecas is made with a cold virus that sneaks the spike protein gene into the body. Its a very different form of manufacturing: Living cells in giant bioreactors grow that cold virus, which is extracted and purified. Von der Leyen said Europe needs to have a technology that can boost immunity, tackle new variants and produce shots quickly and massively. mRNA vaccines are a clear case in point, she said. The planned negotiations with Pfizer left in the middle what the EU would do about any new contracts with AstraZeneca. Other contracts, with other companies, may follow, said von der Leyen. ___ Jan M. Olsen contributed from Copenhagen. ___ Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak By RAF CASERT Associated Press Scientists at PSU convert soybean biomass into batteries Wednesday, April 14, 2021 8:30 AM News, Science and Technology, Milestones, People and Society, Academics Pittsburg, KS Scientists at the Kansas Polymer Research Center have invented a new kind of battery that is more eco-friendly. While thats good news, equally good news is that they invented it by transforming a product that is plentiful in the heartland: soy. Or rather, crop residue after soybeans have been harvested. Were using the stems, the leaves, the shells things that would otherwise have no commercial value to produce activated carbon material and suddenly that has tremendous value, said Associate Professor of Chemistry Ram Gupta, the chief researcher for the project. Soybeans are the number one crop in Missouri, and one of the top 10 crops in Kansas. A grant from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council using soy checkoff dollars funded Guptas research in the labs at the KPRC, located on the campus of Pittsburg State University. Research has long-been a priority for the soy checkoff, and our commitment to innovation is a key driver in partnerships like the one behind this technology, said Kyle Durham, a farmer from Norborne, Missouri, and chairman of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. Soy is an incredibly versatile crop and developing new uses for all parts of the soybean is an exciting opportunity, powering the bright future we know is ahead. Demand for batteries is growing rapidly to the tune of about 10 to 12 percent annually in what has become a $100 billion industry globally. Think about how many batteries we use laptops, phones, computers, automobiles in daily life. Theyre everywhere, Gupta said. His invention is aimed at replacing the more costly conventional activated carbon-based batteries made from fossil fuels. A patent is pending and once its finalized, the new technology will be available for licensing to commercial buyers. This is important to farmers, to jobs, to green energy, Gupta said. It adds value to soybeans and creates a new market. An added bonus: the research was done with the assistance of students majoring in polymer chemistry, giving them a unique opportunity on their path toward a degree and ultimately, a career in what has become a lucrative field. We have this great polymer program and we want more students in it, because there are good paying jobs, jobs that make a difference, and we have a fantastic facility for them to learn in alongside scientists like Dr. Gupta, said Bobby Winters, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at PSU, which includes the Department of Chemistry. Their work isnt finished yet, though, Gupta said. Our ultimate goal is to produce a dual carbon battery, with both electrodes made of biomass instead of just one, and to achieve a more efficient battery that can be used in the automobile industry that charges in just 10 to 15 minutes instead of a few hours, he said. Thats the next step. Learn more PSUs Polymer Chemistry Initiative is a joint project of the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Plastics Engineering, and the KPRC. Learn more: https://www.pittstate.edu/chemistry/polymer-chemistry-program.html The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is a farmer-run organization, with 13 farmer-directors overseeing the investment of 50 percent of Missouris checkoff dollars. The farmer-directors are elected in statewide elections to serve his or her geographic region. MSMC activities are coordinated through a full-time staff in Jefferson City, Missouri. Learn more: https://mosoy.org/missouri-soybean-merchandising-council/ Wisconsin Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid View Photo MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski joined the growing ranks of Democrats running for U.S. Senate on Wednesday, launching her bid for the seat in the battleground state currently held by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson who has yet to say whether he will seek a third term. Godlewski, a native of Eau Claire who was elected treasurer in 2018, announced her candidacy in a video where she also lambastes Johnson as a conspiracy theorist more loyal to former President Donald Trump than the citizens of Wisconsin. She was not made available for interviews. Godlewski said she will help bolster small businesses, fight climate change, raise the minimum wage, lower prescription drug costs, reform the criminal justice system and get rid of the Senate filibuster. Ron Johnson has spent his time covering up for Donald Trump, denying climate change, and catering to the super wealthy, Godlewski said in the video. Instead of conspiracy theories, we can focus on actually helping families. A spokesman for Johnson declined immediate comment. Anna Kelly, spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Republican Party, accused Godlewski of embellishing her accomplishments and failing to deliver anything of substance. Godlewski, 39, joins other Democrats Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson already in the race. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is among others also considering a run. The race is expected to be one of the hardest fought in the country with the evenly divided Senate at play and Wisconsin narrowly split between Democrats and Republicans. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 by less than 23,000 votes and lost the state in November by just over 20,000 votes. Both Godlewski and Lasry have personal wealth they can tap for the race. Godlewski is married to Max Duckworth, a multimillionaire investor from Maryland. She loaned herself $290,000 in her 2018 campaign for treasurer. Lasry, the son of a billionaire hedge fund manager, has not said how much of his familys personal wealth he will invest in the campaign. Lasry loaned his campaign $50,000 at the start. Lasry said he raised more than $1 million in just the first six weeks of the race. Nelson, a former state lawmaker, does not have personal wealth to tap for the race. Instead, he is positioning himself as more of a folksy progressive, cutting a video where he holds a garage sale to help raise money for the race. He called on Godlewski not to spend any of her own money on the race. Nelson made the same request of Lasry, who ignored it. Lasry reacted to Godlewski joining the race by saying on Twitter: We are all here with the same goal, to beat Ron Johnson. Godlewski launched her campaign just two days after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that several publications and websites had said Godlewski had a masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania, even though she does not. She has an undergraduate degree in peace and conflict resolution from George Mason University and has said in the past that she intended to finish her graduate work but has not yet. Godlewski formerly worked on Hillary Clintons campaigns for president in both 2008 and 2016. Before running for treasurer in 2018, Godlewski led a bipartisan coalition that worked against a measure on the ballot that spring that would have eliminated the treasurers office. Voters rejected it, leaving the state treasurers office in place but with few official duties. She chaired a task force on retirement savings that earlier this year released a set of recommendations. Johnson is one of the biggest targets for Democrats nationally as well as in Wisconsin. Johnson emerged as one of Trumps most ardent supporters toward the end of his term. Johnson held a Senate committee hearing on Dec. 16 to look into unfounded election fraud complaints largely perpetuated Trumps baseless claims. And on Jan. 6, just before the U.S. Capitol was stormed, Johnson objected to counting the Electoral College votes from Arizona. Johnson has denied charges recently that hes racist after saying he wasnt worried about predominantly white protesters who stormed the Capitol, but he would have been concerned had they been Black Lives Matter supporters. Johnson received the endorsement of Trump last week, who issued a statement urging Johnson to run again in 2022. He has repeatedly said he does not feel like he needs to make a decision any time soon. By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press Officers are appealing for information following a shooting incident in the Meenan Drive area of Derry last night. A man in his 20s was shot in the leg shortly after 10:30pm and he was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries. A police spokesperson said: Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, we are treating this shooting incident as a paramilitary style assault. "Those responsible for this barbaric act do not represent the interests of this community, nor do they contribute anything to it. "They do it to try and exert influence, or gain control of those they claim to represent. I am appealing for anyone with information to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1976 13/04/21, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/ makeareport/. "You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/. Open Government Under the Biden Administration According to the law, agencies must respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests within 20 business days, barring unusual circumstancesand the pandemic certainly qualifies as unusual. Agencies can deny any access to records if their disclosure would endanger national security, violate personal privacy, reveal privileged communications, or interfere with law enforcement. Freedom of Information Act: Update on Federal Agencies Use of Exemption Statutes , a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on Feb. 11, 2021, notes that the use of exemptions more than doubled from FY2012 to FY2019. In this time period, the number of FOIA requests processed by federal agencies increased 32%, from 666,000 in FY2012 to 878,000 in FY2019. As staffers began working from home last March, federal agencies were expected to use their websites to inform requesters about processing delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the most efficient way to submit requests. According to an initial Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) assessment of federal agency websites between May 15 and June 9, 2020, nearly 60 percent of federal FOIA websites did not provide updates on how the pandemic affected the processing of FOIA requests. Wanting to encourage others to make these adjustments to their websites, OGIS offered language guidance for agencies to use. During the first 2 weeks of October 2020, OGIS conducted a follow-up assessment of 305 cabinet-level departments, their components, and independent agencies, finding a 10% increase in the number of FOIA websites containing an alert. However, that still left half of the sampled departments with no message on their website indicating how COVID was affecting FOIA request submissions and processing. What Happens When FOIA Requests Are Denied People often turn to the courts when their FOIA requests have been denied. According to the FOIA Project, federal judges are increasingly failing to rule in a timely manner. Even after filing suits, FOIA requesters are facing longer and longer delays before their cases are decided. Evidence of these delays is reflected in the number of FOIA cases pending in the federal courts: 1,683 at the end of FY2020 compared with 467 just 10 years ago. A dozen cases have been waiting 10-plus years for a ruling in district court. Delays in processing FOIA requests have consequences. Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) notes that for example, FOIA requesters who sought records about Trump administration policies often will not obtain them until long after President Trump has left office. And unless matters change, the same will be true for FOIA requesters seeking records about the new Biden administrations policies. An Open and Transparent Administration On retiring as executive editor of The Washington Post, Marty Baron said, Its not always in the interest of the administration to tell us what we need to know, and what the public should know and deserves to know. Journalists and advocacy groups will continue to press presidential administrations about their policies and use these exchanges to publish articles and reports for the public to review. For example, President Joe Biden faced scrutiny for waiting 64 days into his administration to hold a formal press conference. USA TODAY notes that former President Barack Obama held a press conference 20 days into office, while former President Donald Trump held a briefing on his 27th day. Fox News points out that even when President Biden has taken questions from the press, they were from preselected reporters. However, President Bidens administration offers journalists background briefings on new measures or even an on-record appearance from someone who had worked on it. Under Trump, it would sometimes take days after an Oval Office signing ceremony for the text of an executive order to become available. Lately, the new administration is being pressed to open the White House virtual visitor logs. The logs would indicate who has the presidents ear, perhaps influencing policy decisions; these individuals would be resources whose views on issues should be explored. While the White House has said that it will release in-person visitor logs, it doesnt plan to divulge the names of attendees of virtual meetings, which are the primary mode of interaction until the coronavirus pandemic eases. Prior to President Trumps inauguration, scientists and librarians archived climate-related material on the U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA) website to preserve valuable and vulnerable information on federal government web servers. At the end of the Trump administration, historical groups sued to ensure that all presidential records would be preserved. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill (HR 1929) to update the Presidential Records Act of 1978 so that electronic messages are preserved and able to be searched easily. Archivists roles have always had the dual purpose of preserving records and making them accessible, particularly to historians who add context to the discussion. In its recently released report, Access Denied: Federal Website Governance Under the Trump Administration, the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI) makes several overarching recommendations to the Biden administration, including [committing] to the importance of web governance by developing and maintaining digital policies and procedures that focus on website structure, content, and access, with special attention to regulatory-related resources; [creating] meaningful resources to expand civic and scientific literacy; and [ensuring] resource accessibility. EDGI advocates, Website information should be available, discoverable, and navigable, and that the Biden administration should share specific notice and explanation requirements for any resource removals, and develop a searchable database that describes changes on webpages. What Budgets Reveal About Priorities Government policies are reflected in budget allocations and how federal agencies spend the money. Posting individual budget requests on agency websites, along with the justifications for the amounts, would allow the public to understand not only how much is being requested, but also how those funds will be used. Aggregating agency budget documents across the government on a single site would increase the publics understanding of how their tax dollars are being used. In February 2021, Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) reintroduced S 2560, the Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2019, requiring that all federal agencies post justifications of their congressional budgets on their websites. According to the bill summary, it also proposes that the Office of Management and Budget make certain details regarding the materials available to the public, including a list of the agencies that submit budget justification materials to Congress, the dates that the materials are submitted to Congress and posted online, and links to the materials. In addition, the bill mandates that the Treasury Department post agencies budget documents on USAspending.gov. Should FOIA Apply to the Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government? FOIA applies only to the executive branch of government. During the OGIS FOIA Advisory Committee meeting on March 3, 2021, Daniel Schuman, policy director at Demand Progress, posited ways in which FOIA-like remedies might proactively disclose information. Progress has been made in recent yearsfor example, the Library of Congress undertaking to publish Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports on a dedicated website. In Schumans view, If you can buy [the info] from a 3rd party, the Legislative branch should proactively disclose it instead. If it is already disclosed in some format, it should be disclosed as data. According to another presentation at the same meeting, this one by Michael Lissner, executive director of Free Law Project, the judicial branch should take a similar approach by opening the following to public scrutiny: Disciplinary actions and complaints for judges and attorneys, whistleblower reports, disbarment proceedings, admission records Financial records and contracts Fines and fees levied Security audits, recovery plans, and incident reports SCOTUS public calendar Judicial Conference committee membership and minutes List of all judges past and present These are just some of Lissners examples. He added to his wish list a FOIA-like process for appealing rejected requests. The Movement to #openpacer Just as the release of CRS reports was the focus of a multiyear battle, the fees people pay to read court documents in the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service are now the cause celebre. And rightly so. Per Fix the Court, PACER fees are $0.10 per page of search results and $0.10 per page of case documents. In addition, PACERs legacy system lacks an intuitive user interface and does not have the range of modalities of modern data retrieval that citizens have come to expect. Also, trial exhibits remain unavailable from within PACER. The current Congress is likely to see additional calls for transparency across each of the three branches of government, although its unclear how many of the bills introduced will wind up enshrined in law. Several bills were introduced during Sunshine Week 2021, including S 807, permitting the televising of Supreme Court proceedings, and an amendment to the Federal Advisory Committee Transparency Act. Sunshine Week also saw a flurry of editorials in local papers calling for greater openness in government workings. How many municipalities will heed those pleas will no doubt become clear by next years Sunshine Week. Conservative MPs were quick to criticise David Cameron during a debate on lobbying and sleaze - but closed ranks over Labour's call to launch a new Parliament-led inquiry into the Greensill scandal. Several Tories distanced the party from the actions of the former prime minister during this afternoon's opposition day debate, amid an onslaught of accusations from opposition MPs that the party had returned to the "Tory sleaze" of the 1990s. Andrew Bowie, the MP for West Aberdeenshire, said: ": "We all condemn the actions that are alleged to have taken place regarding Greensill and the involvement of the former prime minister. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth." Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, said: "The revelations and allegations that have come to light in recent days are clearly concerning and do raise a number of very serious questions. Sir Bob Seely noted the former prime minister "may or may not be flawed", adding: "I hope in some way he can explain himself rather better than he's doing." William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove, said it was "not seemly" of Mr Cameron to have issued his statement during the mourning period for the Duke of Edinburgh, but stressed the focus on him was likely a "red herring". "It is no doubt a tasteless, slapdash and unbecoming episode for any former prime minister, but is it the central issue?" he added. Earlier today Boris Johnson suggested that some of the "boundaries" between civil servants and business have not been "properly understood". The Prime Minister yesterday refused to give his old university pal his backing, saying it was "a matter for the Boardman review". Story continues Follow the latest updates below. 03:14 PM MPs vote against Labour's motion for separate Greensill inquiry MPs have voted against Labours motion on a committee to investigate individuals who have been caught up in the Greensill scandal. Ayes: 262 No: 357 The Nos have it. 03:11 PM Officials carry out surge testing in Barnett While we have been watching the debate this afternoon another area in London has been put into surge testing after a case of the South African variant of coronavirus was detected. Teams of officials will go door-to-door in areas of Barnett with the N3 postcode to deliver PCR test kits and a mobile testing unit will be set up in the car park of Finchley Central Station. A statement on the council's website said: "The South African variant of Covid-19 has been found in Barnet. "From Thursday 15 April we will start testing people for this variant in specific postcode areas affected in N3 or those who shop on the local high street." 03:06 PM Boris Johnson to announce ministerial standards adviser 'shortly' A minister has revealed that the replacement for Sir Alex Allan will be announced "shortly". Sir Alex resigned five months ago as Boris Johnson's adviser on ministerial standards, in the fall-out of his report into the bullying allegations against Priti Patel. This was raised by Labour at the start of this afternoon's debate as proof that the Government was not taking the matter seriously. But Julia Lopez said: "I hope it will be of reassurance to members that the appointment.... is going to have an announcement made on it shortly." Ms Lopez also praised the "unforgiving" select committees that have carried out scrutiny of the Government, as she reiterates the position that there is no need for a new committee. And deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing calls a division for MPs to vote.... 03:02 PM Existing system has been 'tested' by Greensill scandal, minister admits A minister has insisted the system designed to ensure proper behaviour and transparency "worked as it should" but has been "tested" by the Greensill scandal. But Julia Lopez, a junior minister in the Cabinet Office, tells the Commons "it would be disingenuous to suggest this existing framework has not been tested by the extreme circumstances of the pandemic". She notes that the "broader issues raised in recent days about Greensill have posed questions that we are as keen as anyone to probe". The Government "has not been waiting around for the opposition to table a motion", she adds, noting that a consultation into the Lobbying Act is underway, as well as looking to improve Acoba and other areas. 02:56 PM Tory MPs should 'show some backbone', says shadow chancellor Conservative MPs know "their constituents are appalled" by the allegations of sleaze, Anneliese Dodds says. They should consider the impact it will have on their "integrity" when they vote this afternoon, the shadow chancellor adds. "Members should ask themselves why they are being asked to defend these events," she tells the Tory benches. "Show some backbone, vote for a full transparent Parliament-led inquiry to get to the bottom of this scandal once and for all." 02:52 PM Rishi Sunak 'hasn't been seen since Greensill collapsed', says Labour MP Rishi Sunak "hasn't been seen in this House since the day after Greensill collapsed", says Anneliese Dodds. She calls the Chancellor "frit" and says he is "running scared", noting he has "forgotten his enthusiastic communications about his loan schemes". She notes that where once he tweeted proudly with the hashtag "ask Rishi". "We would love to ask Rishi but we have to find him first," she adds. "He must be the first Chancellor in history to go on the record about having no idea about who was getting access to hundreds of millions of pounds f public money and how they were obtaining it." 02:49 PM Conservative sleaze is back, says shadow chancellor "Conservative sleaze is back," the shadow chancellor has said as she wraps up Labour's debate on Greensill. But this time "the difference is scale", says Anneliese Dodds. "This time we are talking about hundreds of millions of pounds of public money put at risk - and thousands of jobs." She attacks the "complacent and cavalier attitude" among the Government, including the "former Conservative prime minister who thought there was nothing wrong with texting the sitting Chancellor and two of his ministers to ask for special treatment for the financial services firm who were paying his wages". She notes that Rishi Sunak "thought there was nothing wrong with pushing his team to see if they could amend a government loan scheme" for Greensill and Matt Hancock "thought there was nothing wrong" with meeting Mr Cameron and Lex Greensill socially. 02:22 PM Downing Street defends vaccine film a month after trailer released Downing Street has defended the production of a film about the UK's "extraordinary" vaccine programme which is yet to be released more than a month after a trailer was posted online. Officials have refused to set out how much A Beacon Of Hope: The UK Vaccine Story has cost, or how much was paid for the dramatic music which accompanied the online teaser. The trailer was released on March 10, with the full version billed as "coming soon" and officials indicating it would have been released later that week. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said "the documentary will be published" and insisted "this was produced entirely in house by No 10 staff as part of their work" and within the existing budget for the digital communications team. Asked whether it was right that taxpayers' money was spent on a promotional film, the spokesman said: "It's important that the public are able to understand this important public health issue about the vaccine rollout." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 02:15 PM David Cameron's lobbying 'leaves a bad taste in the mouth', says Tory MP David Cameron's actions "leave a bad taste in the mouth", a Conservative backbencher has said. His lobbying on behalf of Greensill "does tarnish us all", Andrew Bowie, the MP for West Aberdeenshire added. But Labour's motion is "blatant, tawdry politics," he says. "Even worse than that is the stench of hypocrisy that lingers in the air," he adds, noting that shadow defence secretary John Healy wrote to Nadhim Zahawi asking for him to grant "expand Greensill's access to Government funds". 02:11 PM Biggest issue is hostile states, not 'flawed individuals', says senior Tory A senior Conservative MP has said the focus should not be on "flawed" individuals but on hostile action from states who seek to "manipulate laws and influence public opinion". Sir Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight, told the Commons that a system that is "largely based on trust means that when that system is abused it is easy to do so and often difficult to understand the ways in which it is being corrupted". He added that he was "sorry to hear [David Cameron] has done this as I quite like the guy and hope he can explain himself better than he has done so far". But the "systemic threat... is not necessarily from specific individuals who may or may not be flawed, but from states who used covert influence to try to manipulate laws and influence and public opinion on other people's countries," he added. 01:59 PM Arlene Foster admits using 'clumsy' language in comment about loyalist rioting Arlene Foster has said she used "clumsy" wording in a tweet about last week's loyalist rioting in Northern Ireland. In a tweet condemning the hijack and destruction of a bus during riots on the loyalist Shankill Road last week, Mrs Foster suggested the incident would take the focus off the "real law breakers" in Sinn Fein. The DUP leader has been outspoken in her criticism of those who attended the Bobby Storey funeral last year, in breach of Covid regulations. Appearing before her Assembly scrutiny committee, Mrs Foster was challenged on the remark by SDLP committee chair Colin McGrath. "I hope, chair, that there's not going to be any mischief made today about clumsy wording when I have been unequivocal in my condemnation of violence from all sides during this past week and indeed, can I say, I've always been unequivocal in my condemnation of violence throughout my long time in elected office." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 01:47 PM Camerons Downing Street promoted Greensill to business, leak reveals A senior adviser to David Cameron in Downing Street encouraged an organisation for small businesses to promote the supply chain finance guru Lex Greensill to its members, raising further questions over the Australian financiers political influence. Tim Luke, then a civil servant in the former prime ministers policy unit, attempted to introduce the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to Mr Greensill in March 2013, an email seen by The Telegraph reveals. Using a Downing Street email address, Mr Luke referred to Mr Greensill as Lex the supply chain finance guru and said the FSB members would benefit from connecting with him. My colleague Tom Rees has the full story here. 01:45 PM Labour MP accuses Boris Johnson of 'being up to his eyeballs' over sleaze A Labour MP has raised the Prime Minister's relationship with Jennifer Arcuri, accusing Boris Johnson of "being up to his eyeballs in the murky world of lobbying". Sam Tarry had listed instances such as Robert Jenrick's involvement in the Westferry Development and David Cameron's lobbying for Greensill as he attacked Tory sleaze. The MP for Ilford South said Mr Johnson's "former lover" had received "26,000 of taxpayers money when he was Mayor of London", adding: "Unsurprisingly, that scandal was also whitewashed by this Government". He accuses Tories of being "the Gordon Gekkos of the green benches who believe that green is good", adding: "It is time for that culture to stop." 01:38 PM Ministerial disclosures not fast or clear enough, says PM's anti-corruption champion The Prime Minister's anti-corruption champion has said ministers are not disclosing who they are meeting with "fast enough", or clearly enough, Conservative John Penrose, who is married to Test and Trace boss Baroness Dido Harding, told his colleagues that it is "much too difficult at the moment to link up who ministers have met with, who the lobbyists are working for, with who is donating money to which political party." He added: "All those three things should be immediately understandable, immediately searchable and immediately identifiable in order for the system to work well." Mr Penrose said more officials - such as special advisers and civil servants - should be included in the disclosures. Disclosing what lobbyists raised with ministers, why, and any conclusions reached would also "make a huge difference", Mr Penrose added. 01:32 PM Review launched into compulsory Covid jabs for care homes staff Matt Hancock has launched a review looking at making Covid vaccines compulsory for people working in England's care homes. The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on making Covid vaccination a condition of employment for care home staff. The five-week consultation will seek views on the proposal, any potential impact it could have on staffing and safety, how it could be implemented and who could be exempt. Staff, care providers, residents and their families and other stakeholders are being urged to take part. A decision is expected to be made this summer. 01:28 PM Lobby latest: No 10 defends 'distinguished legal expert' Nigel Boardman Nigel Boardman is to spearhead the review into lobbying - Micha Theiner / eyevine Downing Street has defended Nigel Boardman, who Boris Johnson has tasked with leading a review into Greensill Capital, as being a "distinguished legal expert" after Labour called him a "very good friend of the Conservative Government". The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "I think anyone can see that Nigel Boardman is a distinguished legal expert. "He was asked to lead this review independently, he has been asked to do it thoroughly and promptly and we trust him to do that." Asked whether he was a "friend" of the Tory administration, the No 10 official replied: "He is an independent reviewer." After Labour's fears of "whitewash" following Mr Boardman's earlier review into pandemic procurement was put to him, Mr Johnson's spokesman added: "We would encourage anyone not to prejudge what will be an independent and thorough inquiry into this issue." 01:25 PM Lobby latest: Boris Johnson cuts India visit short over Covid wave fears A new Covid wave is sweeping across India, with experts blaming massive religious events, packed political rallies and crowded public places. - AP Boris Johnson will shorten his trip to India later this month due to the worsening coronavirus situation in the south Asian country, with Number 10 indicating it could be as short as a single day. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We've been in close contact with the Indian government about the PM's upcoming visit in the light of the Covid situation in India. As a result of these discussions, the Prime Minister has made the decision to reduce the length of the visit which is due to take place at the end of this month, so it will be a shorter programme in New Dehli. "This programme will be focused on high-level discussions with the Indian government and Indian business leaders. We will set out more details in due course but the visit will include a bilateral meeting with prime minister Modi." The spokesman said the exact length of the trip would be announced at a later date but that No 10 expected the "bulk of the PM's programme to take place on Monday 26th" April. 01:19 PM Businesses and officials 'should understand one another pretty well', says former minister Sir Oliver Letwin: Business and officials 'should understand one another pretty well' - Stefan Rousseau A former Conservative minister has said it was important that the private and public sector "understand one another pretty well". "I suspect there are millions of people in this country whose lives would be worse off if governments didn't have people working for them as civil servants, who understood a lot about business, and vice versa," Sir Oliver Letwin told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme. "It matters that the two sides, private and public, should understand one another pretty well. "I personally would regret it very much if the upshot of all of this is that civil servants are not able to be seconded, not able to go to business school, that we don't bring people in from industry. "But of course, if you are going to be having that kind of interpenetration of the public and private sectors, you do have to have a very robust system for making sure that there isn't a conflict of interest." 01:16 PM Labour engaged in 'cynical and desperate attempt to pre-judge inquiry', claims MP One of the Chancellor's key allies in the Commons has hit out at Labour's "cynical and desperate" attempt to force a second inquiry. Claire Coutinho, the Conservative MP for East Surrey and Rishi Sunak's former Spad, says Labour is not looking "to secure an independent legally minded expert in procurement to look into this matter". Instead the party is engaged in a "rather cynical and desperate attempt to pre-judge an inquiry that is happening and also take this opportunity to make a party political attack "They don't want to wait for facts here but will continue with rather a contemptible policy of smearing people in public life with scant regard for the truth or their reputation afterwards," she added. Ms Coutinho, who was made a Treasury PPS last year, also highlighted similar attacks made against vaccines taskforce boss Kate Bingham "until it turns out she did an outstanding job securing vaccines for this country" and the race report. 01:10 PM Senior Tory backs David Cameron as 'inspired leader and genuine man' Huw Merriman, chair of the transport select committee, says that during the Duke of Edinburgh tributes the Commons was "at its very best" in paying tribute to a man who was non-partisan. However MPs today "are clearly playing party politics", he adds. The Conservative MP for Bexhill says there is "a very serious point behind this", but says the current select committee process means "we are in very safe hands". He notes that select committees can "now group together" or move members from one to another, meaning that oversight and scrutiny can take place. "To make a select committee more partisan with its sole aim, and poisonous, would actually diminish the role of select committees and the role of scrutiny, which of course I absolutely support having always been a backbencher." Mr Merriman adds that David Cameron was "an inspired leader, a genuine man, someone who really wanted the very best for his country and for his party". 12:53 PM Focus on David Cameron 'a red herring', says Tory MP William Wragg cautioned against believing things that 'appear too neat' William Wragg has said the focus on David Cameron's behaviour within the Greensill scandal might be "somewhat of a red herring". The PACAC chairman and Conservative MP said the former prime minister's behaviour was "no doubt tasteless, slapdash and an unbecoming issue for any former prime minister- but is the central issue?" He noted that MPs were "all institutionalised and deskilled by public life", adding: "What possible qualitfied s former minister or senior official - food for thought." He added that it was "odd that the leaked emails should be from the late Cabinet Secretary [Sir Jeremy Heywood] which cannot be contextualised or challenged by a man who is dead" The MP added: "We must be mindful of scapegoating, especially when it appears too neat but neither should we allow conspiracy theories to abound unchallenged." Colleagues must not "unquestioningly defend the integrity of others if they have doubts". 12:46 PM Senior Tory offers to 'take up as AC-12 of Whitehall' to root out corruption William Wragg, the chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, says he hopes that Labour's motion to create a new committee "is not a no confidence vote in me". He said he has not spoken out during this week of mourning because "I did not think it seemly" - adding he does not think it was seemly of David Cameron to have released his statement on Sunday. "Rest assured the committee is and will be giving these matters proper consideration," he adds, before raising Line of Duty as the Labour leader had done during PMQs. "I am more than happy to take up as the AC-12 of Whitehall but fear the motion proposed today could be taken from the script of Sunday night's episode." Mr Wragg highlights his session with Lord Pickles tomorrow and reveals plans to have the Cabinet Secretary in the next fortnight. "I would ask the House to be assured we will pursue every possible line of inquiry with our witnesses and will conduct ourselves without fear of favour," he adds. 12:39 PM Minister attacks Labour for engaging in party politics during 'period of mourning' A minister has said she is having "engage in politics... during a period of mourning" because of Labour's motion on a public inquiry over Greensill. Chloe Smith said she would have to highlight the opposition party's stance towards lobbying - including the fact their manifesto set out plans to repeal the Lobbying Act - "though it is a shame to do so". The constitution minister said the "official policy is to rip up these lobbying laws", and had opposed them at the time. 12:32 PM Labour motion on Greensill inquiry 'duplicates existing work', says minister Labour's motion "seeks to duplicate work" already taking place by the Government into lobbying, a minister has said. Confirming that the Government would vote against the motion that would create an additional committee, she notes that it would "cost an additional quarter of a million pounds", but much of the work it would carry out was already underway. That includes scrutiny of the "effectiveness of existing legislation", Chloe Smith told the Commons. 12:26 PM Government 'concerned about what has emerged' over Greensill Chloe Smith, the constitution minister, is responding from home as she is receiving treatment for cancer. The Cabinet Office minister praises the work done throughout the pandemic, saying "civil servants across government, working under incredible pressure, have achieved extraordinary things". But she echoes Boris Johnson's comments earlier saying "we are concerned about some of what has emerged in recent weeks". However "most of what this complex motion proposes is already being done". 12:23 PM MPs told they are at 'fork in the road' over sleaze Rachel Reeves calls on Tory MPs to back her motion today Rachel Reeves has said the committee charged with investigating Greensill and lobbying claims can be chaired by a Conservative backbencher as she looks to win support for her motion. "We know how seriously colleagues around the House would take this," she told MPs, as she confirmed that she was willing to make such a "concession as long as there is cross party representation on the committee, as with other select committees." She told MPs they were at a "fork int he road", with MPs able to vote to ensure "a proper investigation can take place, led by team confidence of this House, not someone handpicked from the board of one of the government departments embroiled in this scandal". Voting against the motion will make MPs "part of the government attempt to cover up Tory sleaze", she said, adding the choice is to act for "your constituents and country or narrow party political interests". 12:17 PM Foundations of government are being 'consciously removed', claims Labour MP Rachel Reeves claims the foundations of government are being "consciously removed" by ministers. The Labour frontbencher told MPs that "as well as the lack of an advisers on ministerial interests there has been an absence of ministerial interests being published". These are supposed to be published twice yearly but have been published "only once last year in July and not at all since then". She adds: "These things matter - they are about the foundations on which the standards of government rest and under this Government, those foundations are being consciously removed." 12:13 PM Labour blasts Government for not 'advertising the job' of ministerial adviser The Government has "not even advertised the job" of adviser on ministerial standards five months after the former incumbent quit, a senior Labour MP has said. Sir Alexander Allan resigned after his report into allegations of bullying by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary was seemingly ignored. Rachel Reeves told MPs: "This Goverment hasn't replaced him - they haven't even advertised the job. What does that say about how seriously this Government takes standards?" But challenged by Sir Bernard Jenkin over the fact that the role "isn't advertised because it is a prime ministerial appointment", Ms Reeves held firm to her point. "The point is we are five months later and nobody has been appointed to this role. Whether we advertise this role it has been vacant for five months... five months is an awful long time." 12:04 PM Boardman review 'not remotely fit for purpose', says Labour MP The inquiry ordered by Boris Johnson into Greensill Capital is "not remotely fit for purpose", a Labour frontbencher has said. Rachel Reeves, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, told the Commons what was being proposed is "not an inquiry, it's not independent - it's an insult to us all". The scope "must be bigger - it's got to be about lobbying too". If existing rules were not breached, "that is a big part of the problem", Ms Reeves adds. She notes that Nigel Boardman has been paid more than 20,000 a year as a non-executive director of the Business Department. She claims he has "already whitewashed the Government's handling of public proc urement during the pandemic, and I fear he will do it again". The former Beis committee chairperson also notes that Mr Boardman's law firm made 8m advising Carillion - including 1m on the day before the firm collapsed. "It leaves a terrible taste in my mouth and it should do in the members opposite." 11:48 AM Have your say: Should there be a Parliament-led inquiry into Whitehall sleaze? MPs will vote this afternoon on whether to create a Parliament-led committee charged with carrying out a probe into cronyism, sleaze and lobbying in the wake of the Greensill scandal. Conservative MPs will abstain or vote against - as they tend to do with all opposition day debates - with backbenchers pointing to the existing inquiry announced by Boris Johnson on Monday. Labour has claimed the Boardman review has "all the hallmarks of a Conservative cover up", noting that it would be held behind closed doors with no guarantee of action. Their public inquiry instead would push those named in the Greensill row so far, including Rishi Sunak, Matt Hancock and former Prime Minister David Cameron, to come before Parliament. But Mr Johnson hit back at Sir Keir Starmer for suggesting a system that would see "politicians marking their own homework" - taking the sting out of Labour's own argument. So is this second inquiry needed - and should Tory MPs back it to prove their commitment to transparency? Have your say in the poll below. 11:34 AM PMQs: Boris Johnson hits back at Labour MP's Chancellor and Health Secretary claims Matt Western, the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, says since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister "the sound of Big Ben's bongs has been replaced by the cash tills sounds of big donor bungs". "Now we have a Chancellor and Health Secretary who sought to grease the wheels of involvement with Greensill and David Cameron - what does this say about the Prime Minister's leadership?" But Mr Johnson says he is "simply wrong - particularly what he says about the Chancellor and Health Secretary, and I don't believe he should have spoken in those terms". He reiterates the Government's work on lobbying comparing it to Labour's 2019 manifesto calling for the Lobbying Act to be scrapped. 11:29 AM PMQs: Boris Johnson does he 'not agree with everything' in race report Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, challenges Boris Johnson over the recent race report, which she says "downplays the structural inequalities which still exist". She asks if Downing Street "redrafted the report to change the narrative, and does he agree with me that this report should now be withdrawn?" Mr Johnson says he does "not agree with everything" in the report, and he will be responding in due course. "Nobody should be in any doubt about the realities of racism," he adds, stressing the Government's determination to "stamp it out". 11:25 AM PMQs: Boris Johnson 'I can't remember when I last spoke with Dave' Ruth Cadbury, the Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, asks when the Prime Minister "last spoke to former prime minister David Cameron". Boris Johnson replies: "The honest truth is I cannot remember when I last spoke to Dave but if she wants to know if I have had any contact with him about any matters that have been in the press, the answer is 'no'." 11:19 AM PMQs: Boris Johnson blasts 'complete nonsense' from Ian Blackford Boris Johnson said Ian Blackford was talking 'nonsense' - Reuters Ian Blackford says the Scottish Government has passed "landmark legislation embedding the rights of the child in Scots' Law". He notes that "even the Scots Tories" have supported it and it has been "welcomed everywhere - except Westminster". The SNP's Westminster leader says it now faces a legal challenge because the law "constrains Westminster powers" . Bur Boris Johnson says this is "complete nonsense", adding: "This is nothing to do with the rights of children, which we all protect but it simply an attempt by the SNP to stir up constitutional chaos and create another fictitious bone of contention between them and the rest of the country." 11:15 AM PMQs: Greensill is 'tip of the iceberg', says Keir Starmer Sir Keir Starmer says the Greensill scandal "is just the tip of the iceberg" noting that "this is the return of Tory sleaze". The Labour leader says the more he listens to the Prime Minister, the more he thinks "Ted Hastings and AC-12 are needed to get to the bottom of this one" - a reference to the Line of Duty series that everyone in Westminster is currently obsessing over. He urges "all members to come together" to back the Labour vote. But Boris Johnson says there is an independent review and "we are getting on with rooting out bent coppers". Is the Greensill scandal worthy of Ted Hastings? - Steffan Hill 11:13 AM PMQs: Labour inquiry is 'politicians marking their own homework', claims Boris Johnson Sir Keir Starmer then asks how Greensill got the greenlight to access hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money. Boris Johnson again doesn't answer the question, but turns the table, noting the shadow defence secretary lobbied on behalf of Greensill. The Labour leader laughs, saying "if you think that is a good point, you've got problems". He notes Nigel Boardman worked for "the same law firm that lobbied to loosen lobbying laws - you couldn't make it up". He says the "whole broken system" needs to be overhauled. He asks the Prime Minister to "welcome" Labour's opposition day motion today and asks if he will vote with Labour today. Mr Johnson says "he would have been better off supporting the Lobbying Act", which "toughens up our laws". Labour's proposal is "to have yet again politicians marking their own homework". 11:10 AM PMQs: Sir Keir Starmer rubbishes PM's 'shoplifter's defence' on lobbying Sir Keir Starmer clashes with Boris Johnson during PMQs Sir Keir Starmer then asks if the PM is aware of an other official with links to Greensill while working in the Government. Boris Johnson doesn't answer, instead saying if the Labour leader is aware he should raise it with Nigel Boardman. He then tells Sir Keir to ask Lord Mandelson to disclose some of his clients. But the Labour leader rubbishes this "shoplifters' defence", and says "that line just isn't going to wash with me". 11:08 AM PMQs: Boris Johnson defends Government action on lobbying Sir Keir Starmer acknowledges that the inquiry has been launched but says it is not looking at lobbying "and I am not sure at very much at all". The Labour leader attacks the "sleaze that is now at the heart of this Conservative Government". He lists the Greensill revelations, and the ministers including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Health Secretary Matt Hancock. "Does the Prime Minister accept there is a revolving door - indeed an open door - between his Conservative Government and paid lobbyists?" Boris Johnson says his Government has been "consistently tough" on lobbying, noting that Labour voted to repeal the Lobbying Act "because they thought it was unfair and restricting ability to make representation". 11:05 AM PMQs: Lobbying boundaries not 'properly understood', says Boris Johnson Sir Keir Starmer echoes the Prime Minister in his remarks, adding his own tribute to Ian Gibson who died this week. Shirley Williams was "for many years Labour's loss - now she is Britain's loss" The Labour leader then turns to Greensill scandal, asking Boris Johnson if he believes the lobbying rules are fit for purpose. Mr Johnson says he shares concerns about "some of the stuff we are reading at the moment", as does the Cabinet Secretary. In principle it is a good idea that top civil servants should be able to "engage" with business, but it is "not clear that those boundaries have been properly understood". He highlights the Boardman review, which will report in June. David Cameron-Greensill lobbying scandal explained 11:02 AM PMQs: Boris Johnson pays tribute to three parliamentarians Boris Johnson speaks during PMQs - Reuters Boris Johnson has started PMQs by paying tribute to "our dear friend and colleague" Dame Cheryl Gillam, who died over the Easter recess. The Prime Minister also praised "pioneer" Shirley Williams and former colleague Peter Ainsworth, both of whom have also died in recent days. 11:00 AM Covid cases 'persistently' being underestimated, warns expert Covid-19 case numbers in Scotland are being underestimated by more than half, according to a leading expert in infectious disease. Professor Mark Woolhouse said data from SPI-M, a sub group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), shows there is a "persistent problem in Scotland and indeed the whole of the UK with missing Covid-19 cases". Prof Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, said official figures show Scotland had around 2,000 cases per day in late December and early January. But data from SPI-M and the Office for National Statistics shows the true figure to be 4,000-5,000 daily infections. Prof Woolhouse said: "What those numbers imply is that we're consistently underestimating in Scotland the size of our epidemic terms of case numbers by roughly 50 or 60%. That's quite a large disparity, and it's a problem." Map of UK's seven-day Covid-19 infection rate, by local authority 10:58 AM President Putin has his second Covid jab President Putin urged Russians to 'do the same and follow my example' - Pool Sputnik Kremlin/TASS News Agency Russian President Vladimir Putin has received the second dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus and encouraged Russians to follow his example. "I want to inform you that right now, before entering this room, I also received the second vaccination," he said during a televised meeting. "I assume that you, taking care of yourself and your loved ones, will do the same and follow my example," he added. The 68-year-old received his first dose on March 23 in private, declining to say which of Russia's three vaccines - Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona or CoviVac - he had received. 10:55 AM Boris Johnson heads into Parliament for PMQs Boris Johnson is on his way to PMQs, wearing both a black mask and black suit as part of the ongoing mourning for Prince Philip. He will clash with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer from 12pm. The Prime Minister heads into Parliament for PMQs - AFP 10:54 AM High-risk workers now a priority for Covid jab rollout, say science advisers Men, obese people, high-risk workers and ethnic minorities should be targeted in the next phase of the vaccine rollout, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said. The group has told the NHS to proactively encourage take-up of the jab in these groups, due to their heightened risk from Covid. Despite the increased danger, the committee confirmed it would not prioritise individual groups, but rather continue with an age-based rollout, with people aged 45 to 49 now being invited to come forward. Read the full story here. AstraZeneca vaccine benefits outweigh the risk for most age groups 10:43 AM UK to respond to EU's legal action by mid-May The Government has agreed that it will respond to the EU's legal action over how it has introduced new trading rules for Northern Ireland by mid-May. The EU launched legal action against Britain in March, after the UK unilaterally extended the grace periods around trading arrangements for Northern Ireland. Brussels says they are in breach of the Brexit divorce deal agreed with London last year. "In line with precedent that typically allows two months to respond to proceedings of this kind, we have agreed with the EU that we will respond to the Letter of Formal Notice by mid-May," the spokeswoman said. "We've been clear that the measures we have taken are lawful and part of a progressive and good faith implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol." 10:33 AM Winter Covid grant scheme extended to June A coronavirus grant scheme providing help with food and bills for vulnerable households has been extended until June, with an extra 40 million available. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said the Covid Winter Grant Scheme would be renamed the Covid Local Support Grant and will now run until June 20, in line with England's road map which is expected to see lockdown restrictions finally lifted on June 21. The scheme, which allows English councils to provide support to families and individuals, had originally been due to expire on March 31 but had already been extended to April 16. Budget - The cost of covid 10:24 AM Lobbying rules 'don't work for those who don't want to comply', says former civil servant Current rules and processes for those who lobby after leaving Government "just about work for those who want to comply" but it "doesn't work at all for those who don't", a former civil servant has said. Alex Thomas, who is programme director at the think tank Institute for Government, told Sky News that following last night's revelations that senior official Bill Crothers held a second job with Greensill had prompted Acoba boss Lord Pickles to write "very pointed letters to the Cabinet office - but there is no bite on those rules". He added that "tightening up the lobbying rules - this might be a moment to take action on". "Where money is involved... where people are potentially personally benefitting, those rules do need to be tighter," he said, although noted this should be time-limited, saying there was "a half-life to contacts and knowledge of government". 10:18 AM Some relationships 'difficult to defend', says former civil servant A former civil servant has said some relationships between those in Government and business representatives is "difficult to defend" but stressed he does not believe there is "a deep web of sleaze at the heart of the British Government". Alex Thomas, who is now a programme director at the Institute for Government, told Sky News there was "definitely a gap in the oversight and transparency arrangements" and that lobbying rules were "too narrow." Acoba, the body charged with guarding "against revolving door" is "too weak", Mr Thomas added. "It is pretty unusual for a civil servant to be at the same time employed by a private company," he said, noting that Bill Crothers and those involved in signing off the decision had "lots of questions to answer". 10:07 AM Lord Pickles to get grilling from MPs over watchdog role Lord (Eric) Pickles will appear before MPs from 9:30am tomorrow - Geoff Pugh With impeccable timing, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) has just sent out a reminder email noting that Lord Pickles will be appearing before MPs tomorrow morning. Lord Pickles, the former communities secretary under David Cameron, is the chair of the Advisory Committee on the Business Appointment Rules (ACOBA) and will appear before William Wragg and others from 9:30am. Yesterday it emerged that former senior civil servant Bill Crothers took a second job with Greensill Capital without informing ACOBA, prompting Lord Pickles to demand an explanation. Mr Crothers said that since his role with the lender had been "agreed via the Cabinet Office internal conflicts of interest policy" while he was employed in Whitehall, he was advised the appointment did not require further vetting by Acoba when he left. But Lord Pickles criticised the "lack of transparency" around the arrangements. 09:57 AM Analysis: Enough with the Covid gloom the worst is behind us It is said that politicians, when they see the light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel, writes science editor Sarah Knapton. Certainly, as Britain emerges, blinking, from the darkness of the Covid epidemic, the Government appears intent on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Yesterday, the Department of Health announced that the UK has now offered a vaccination to all the over-50s and vulnerable the groups accounting for 99 per cent of virus deaths. Yet Boris Johnson went to great lengths to warn that the vaccine rollout has not achieved very much at all, insisting that "the bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown". Clearly this cannot be true. Sarah Knapton crunches the numbers to explain why here. 09:49 AM Have your say: Should there be a Parliament-led inquiry into Whitehall sleaze? MPs are expected to vote this afternoon on whether to create a Parliament-led committee charged with carrying out a probe into cronyism, sleaze and lobbying in the wake of the Greensill scandal. It seems highly likely that Conservative MPs will abstain or vote against - as they tend to do with all opposition day debates - with backbenchers pointing to the existing inquiry announced by Boris Johnson on Monday. Labour has claimed the Boardman review has "all the hallmarks of a Conservative cover up", noting that it would be held behind closed doors with no guarantee of action. Their public inquiry instead would push those named in the Greensill row so far, including Rishi Sunak, Matt Hancock and former Prime Minister David Cameron, to come before Parliament. Is this second inquiry needed - and should Tory MPs back it to prove their commitment to transparency? Have your say in the poll below. 09:39 AM Choppers Politics: Boris Johnson could be seen as truly historic figure in 100 years' time Boris Johnson could be seen as a truly historic figure in 100 years time according to the unofficial biographer of 10 Downing Street. Sir Anthony Seldon, who has written biographies of Prime Ministers going back to Winston Churchill, told Chopper's Politics that while "the jury is out," history was beckoning the Prime Minister. He added: "He could very easily be one of those figures who people still in 100 years talk about as a truly historic figure who made the weather. I mean, Boris Johnson is a weather maker. Sir Anthony, widely acknowledged to be a national authority on all matters to do with 10 Downing Street, warned that anyone who writes off Boris Johnson is, I think, letting their prejudice take over". Listen to the interview with Sir Anthony, as well as hearing from Tobias Ellwood MP, chairman of the Defence select committe, and Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, below. Chopper's Politics podcast - Seldon, Ellwood, Nicholls 09:23 AM Ban former ministers from all lobbying for five years, says industry chief Gordon Brown said former prime ministers 'must never be lobbying for commercial purposes', with a ban of at least five years - PA The head of a communications trade body, which represents lobbyists, has said he backs Gordon Brown's call to ban former ministers from lobbying for at least five years. Currently ministers are prevented from lobbying for two years after they leave government. But Francis Ingham, the director general of the PRCA, told Sky News that the Lobbying Act should be "opened up" and expanded to include people who are directly employed by firms to lobby, rather than just external lobbyists as is the case currently. It should also "stop ministers from becoming lobbyists", he said, telling Sky News: "We agree with Gordon Brown that there should be a five-year ban." He added: "We actually think it should be broader than he said - so it applies not just to business. It should cover the whole of the lobbying industry, whether it's charities or trade unions." 09:15 AM Official's second job at Greensill 'completely improper', says industry chief The head of a communications trade body, which represents lobbyists, has said it is "absolutely astonishing" that one of the UK's most senior civil servants was working part-time for Greensill. It emerged last night that Bill Crothers was head of Whitehall procurement, in control of a 15 billion annual purchasing budget, when he took on an external role as part-time adviser to the finance company's board in September 2015. Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, told Sky News it was "completely contrary to our code of conduct". "This is the whole point - the lobbying industry has higher standards than the Government," he added. "It is the Government's standards who are too low - it isn't the industry's. He added: "The Cabinet Office has really serious questions to answer about how on earth they signed this off, who signed it off, who knew about it because it is absolutely astonishing. He was "amazed that anyone in Government thought this was proper - it is clearly completely improper". 09:09 AM Government 'restricting standards' on lobbying, claims trade body chief The Government is "restricting standards" on lobbying and must catch up with what the industry wants, according to the director general of the communications trade body PRCA. Francis Ingham told Sky News the Lobbying Act introduced by David Cameron was "really, really narrow", and must be "expanded to cover all lobbyists -that is what the industry wants". The Government should also be "publishing ministerial diaries so people can see who met with ministers", he added. "David Cameron introduced lobbying act, but he made it really really narrow in terms of who can sign up." said Mr Ingham. "It excludes the majority of lobbying industry. The irony is that industry wants to be on the register - it is the Government that is restrciting standards here. "The Government is behind the curve here and needs to amend the Lobbying Act and take its responsibilities seriously." 09:04 AM Julian Jessop: Was this the week the country finally accepted Brexit? Sentiment towards Brexit has already taken a sharp turn for the better - Getty Brexit is not yet done and there are plenty of problems that still need fixing, especially in Northern Ireland. Nonetheless, public perceptions of Brexit have improved significantly, business concerns are fading, and now we have some hard evidence of a quick rebound in UK-EU trade too, writes Julian Jessop. According to the latest Ipsos MORI poll, more Britons now think the decision to leave the EU has had a positive impact on the UK (39 per cent) than negative (38 per cent). Of course, this is well within the margin of error, but it reflects an eight-point increase in positive sentiment in just one month. In addition, a new poll by JL Partners for Bloomberg suggests that if there were a referendum tomorrow, 56 per cent would vote to stay out of the EU and only 44 per cent to rejoin (excluding 'dont knows' and 'wont says'). This can largely be attributed to the mess that the EU is making of the response to Covid. Some will continue to argue that the UK could have developed, approved, and rolled out the vaccines more quickly even if still subject to the EUs rules. But it is surely no coincidence that Brexit Britain was the only country to go its own way. Read the rest of Julian's column here. 08:55 AM Labour calls on 'any Conservative who wants to stop cronyism' to back lobbying committee Labour is expecting a vote on its opposition day motion to create a cross-party committee to investigate lobbying in the wake of the Greensill row at around 4pm - here are the details. While they are appealing to "any Conservative who wants to stop cronyism rampant in their party and Government", the chatter so far is that most will abstain or vote against. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 08:35 AM Could Britain be poised to withdraw troops from Afghanistan? At its peak, the UK troop deployment in Afghanistan numbered nearly 10,000, - Getty The UK appears to be preparing to follow the United States in pulling its troops out of Afghanistan by September. President Joe Biden plans to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan before this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, finally ending America's longest war despite mounting fears of a Taliban victory, according to US officials. The Times said that Britain would follow suit in withdrawing its roughly 750 troops, citing sources as saying "they would struggle without American support because of a reliance on US bases and infrastructure". "We are working closely with the US, NATO allies and partners to support a secure and stable Afghanistan," a government spokesman told AFP. "Any change to our security presence will be made in agreement with allies and after consultation with our partners." 08:17 AM 'No big panic' over Labour's vote on anti-sleaze committee Labour is hoping to win over MPs from Tory benches to back their call for a Parliament-led inquiry into David Cameron, Greensill and the wider accusations of sleaze and cronyism that have dogged the Government throughout the pandemic. But, as one senior backbencher says, there appears to be "no big panic" from Downing Street. "I've not even heard from my whip on it," the MP says, noting that "they had got into the habit of just abstaining on opposition day motions". But the former minister was critical of Number 10 for "engineering the whole row to be about Cameron - forgetting they'll all be sacked one day." The MP added: "It's a really great way for Boris and his bunch of w*****s to **** over the reputation of anyone who went before - and also to stop them from ever getting any job anywhere." 08:03 AM Lord Frost heads to Brussels to discuss post-Brexit trade tensions in Northern Ireland Lord Frost will travel to Brussels on Thursday - Reuters Brexit minister Lord Frost and the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic will hold talks in Brussels on Thursday as efforts continue to resolve issues around Northern Ireland. The meeting was revealed by The Telegraph, and confirmed by the European Commission, which said the pair will "take stock of ongoing technical work" on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The minister and the commission vice-president will also "provide a political steer for both teams on outstanding issues". Loyalists and unionists are vehemently opposed to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has created new economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. The arrangements, agreed by the UK and EU as a way to keep the land border on the island of Ireland free-flowing, have been cited as one of the key causal factors behind the violence. 07:50 AM Labour urges MPs to back sleaze probe to rebuild 'trust in democracy' Labour has urged MPs across the House to back their vote to publicly investigate "lobbying, sleaze, cronyism and corruption" in the wake of Greensill. Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves told GMB it was "about access to minsters, not because of what you can bring to the table but because if whose telephone number you have got", adding "it is not the way Government should be done". She added: "MPs have a chance today to vote to have a special select committee to take evidence in public, to be able to require and summon witnesses but also documents and get to the bottom of this. "This is much wider than just about what David Cameron has done, this is about what is happening at the heart of Government today." Ms Reeves said the scandal "undermines trust in our democracy", adding: "This really matters, we need answers and MPs have a chance to vote for a proper inquiry today." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 07:40 AM If David Cameron didn't break the rules 'those rules must change' says Labour David Cameron's activities fell outside the scope of the Act he devised because he was employed directly by Greensill - AFP David Cameron's excuse that he "didn't break the rules" suggests "those rules need to change", a senior Labour MP has said. Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "One of the things Labour is recommending, and the Government could do very easily, would be to tighten up the rules about lobbying that former ministers, prime ministers and civil servants can do." She noted that the rules were stricter for those working for "one of the big lobbying companies" than a lobbyist employed in-house, adding: "That is why David Cameron is saying, 'I didn't break the rules'." Ms Reeves said: "Now, if it is the case that Cameron didn't break the rules, then I think it says something about the rules and that those rules need to change so there is proper transparency so we can see what former ministers and prime ministers are doing." 07:30 AM Labour's anti-sleaze vote 'political opportunism', says senior Tory Tobias Ellwood has said MPs should 'slow down' and let the independent inquiry take place - PA A former Conservative minister has said Labour's vote on an anti-sleaze committee was "political opportunism". Tobias Ellwood told Times Radio: "What has happened is the former prime minister (David Cameron) has put up his hand and said I didn't act in the spirit of the rules, you then have No 10 that have come out with their own investigation. "These things should be allowed to take their course. The idea suddenly that we all, with the limited knowledge that we have, can make a judgment on this - it is political opportunism," said the defence select committee chairman. "Let's see what happens with the review, it is being done independently - that is the process that we should do these things, not just jump on this bandwagon and the day after a review has been called say, 'Right let's have a determination by having a vote in the House'. "We simply cannot do that, we don't even have access to all the information, so let's slow down on this but let's get the right answer." 07:29 AM 'Careless' Bill Crothers wrong to suggest dual jobs 'not uncommon', say advisers Government advisers are challenging Bill Crothers' assertion that it is "not uncommon" for civil servants to take second jobs. The former senior official told Eric Pickles, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), that "this advisory role was not seen as contentious, and I believe not uncommon", suggesting other top mandarins had also taken on dual roles in the private sector. But one adviser said he was "careless", adding: "dual jobs not that widespread". Another added: "I was surprised they were allowed to do that. Any Spad [special adviser] with a brain would currently be asking their department if there are any current/recent ones". 07:15 AM Vaccination programme saved 10,000 lives, says expert The vaccination programme has played second fiddle to lockdown in bringing down Covid cases and saving lives, an expert has said. Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a statistician from the University of Cambridge, said Boris Johnson was right that the lockdown had played a "major" part in cutting cases, with the vaccination programme assisting. "We've estimated that the vaccination programme has maybe saved 10,000 lives - a fantastic success," he said. "But that is not what has brought the enormous reduction since earlier in the year - that is lockdown. But now it is keeping in that situation." He told Radio 4's Today programme: "We only have to look over the Channel to mainland Europe to see this huge surge going throughout the continent - case rates are 10 times as high in Germany, 20 times as high in Sweden, death rates 10 times as high in France and Italy and going up." How many people have been vaccinated in the UK? 07:08 AM Roadmap could be "reversed" because of South African variant, says expert The spread of coronavirus variants could see the roadmap "reversed", a scientist advising the Government said. Professor Peter Openshaw said his fellow scientists were "very concerned" after a cluster of cases of the South African coronavirus variant were found in London, saying they could "put the reductions of lockdown into reverse". He told Newsnight: "A lot of we scientists are very concerned about what's happening at the moment. "I think we're all just hoping that the staged reduction in lockdown is going to be ok. It is being done reasonably cautiously but I think this is not good news." 07:06 AM Senior official who worked for Greensill had 'sensitive role', says former civil servant The man embroiled in the latest chapter of the Greensill saga was "not just any civil servant", but had a particularly "sensitive role", a former official has said. Jill Rutter, a senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe, told BBC Radio 4's Today: "Bill Crothers wasn't just any civil servant, he was the head of a thing called the Crown Commercial Service which oversees all that government buying activity. "You'd have thought that if anyone was in a sensitive role, and anyone is looking for them to advise them, he is in a very difficult position to take a role with an external company and manage to avoid the conflicts of interest. "What we haven't seen yet is the Cabinet Office's justification for saying it was OK but I have to say that among other former civil servants that I know, there was an awful lot of eyebrow raising going on last night." Ms Rutter said Mr Crothers seemed to have exploited a "loophole" in the rules which were an "obvious place for tightening up" in that he did not need Cabinet Office approval to take a job with Greensill as he had already been doing work for them while in the Civil Service. 07:00 AM Boris Johnson's Government 'doesn't think it has to abide by the rules', says former civil servant Robert Jenrick was embroiled in a row last year about his involvement in the Westferry Development planning decisions - Reuters Former civil servant Jill Rutter said there was a danger that Boris Johnson's Government appeared to think it did not have to "abide by the rules". Asked whether the current administration was a "sleazy Government", she told the Today programme: "I think it is tracking up a record that might come back to haunt it. "Last summer I was writing stuff about (Communities Secretary) Robert Jenrick - remember that thing with the Westferry development, the planning decisions and some of the other decisions he has made? "I think this is a Government that doesn't think it has to abide by the rules and that gets you into a whole bunch of trouble. "At the moment it doesn't seem to be paying a high price, but who knows?" 06:48 AM Civil servant allowed to join Greensill while working in Whitehall A senior civil servant was granted permission to join the lender Greensill Capital while still working at the highest levels of government, a watchdog has revealed. Bill Crothers was head of Whitehall procurement, in control of a 15 billion annual purchasing budget, when he took on an external role as part-time adviser to the finance company's board in September 2015. Boris Johnson was understood to be personally concerned about the disclosure on Tuesday night, while Labour described it as "extraordinary and shocking", renewing demands for an MP-led inquiry into the lobbying row engulfing Greensill and David Cameron. The lender, which filed for insolvency last month, has been at the centre of controversy over the access its founder Lex Greensill was granted to numerous Whitehall departments during Mr Cameron's administration. The former prime minister then went on to join Greensill in 2018, and has been revealed to have directly lobbied Rishi Sunak and a series of other ministers on the company's behalf. Rebel BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker has vowed to keep his '1970s porn star' lockdown hair even as barber shops reopen. The 42-year-old, who was voted Britain's favourite meteorologist four years ago, has grown his hair out during the coronavirus pandemic - and is now refusing to trim the shaggy mane. Viewers have mocked Schafernaker's wild and windy look, comparing it to a '1970s porn star', while even retired weatherman Bill Giles and presenter Ulrika Jonsson have laughed at his crop. But after he was asked online what he plans to do about his long locks now barbers have reopened, Schafernaker replied: 'Keeping - it'll need a little styling but that's it.' He then added: 'My choice.' Last month Giles warned that 'shaggy sheepdog' weathermen may be less believable when giving their forecasts - because viewers allegedly could not see the whites of their eyes. Rebel BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker may face a storm from viewers after he vowed to keep his wild and windy mane - even though barber shops have now reopened The 42-year-old, who was voted the country's favourite meteorologist in 2017, has grown his hair out during the pandemic, and has refused to get a trim Viewers have likened Schafernaker's shaggy lockdown look to a 1970s porn star Jonsson, who was a TV morning weathergirl in the 1980s, previously poked fun at Polish-born Schafernaker by calling his haircut his 'Jon Bon Jovi look'. Evidently seeing the funny side, Schafernaker promptly reposted the image for his own followers - with many quick to comment on his growing locks. Posting on Twitter, one fan joked: 'I imagine Tomasz Schafernaker is desperate for a hair cut. I thought I was watching Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire for a second there.' One viewer described his wild look as 'a cross between a member of ABBA and a 1970s porn star'. Another said: 'Tomasz Schafernaker's hair is the most beautiful thing to have come out of this lockdown. It's so thick.' Clearly in agreement, another admiring fan commented: 'Tomasz Schafernaker is talking but all I can see is his hair. Hasn't he got lovely hair.' Another less charitable comment read: 'What the feck is going on with Tomasz Schafernaker's hair.' Speaking to You magazine in 2017, Schafernaker admitted he had a clear idea of who should play him in a film based on his life. 'Dermot O'Leary,' he said. 'Because people always think I look like him.' It'll be slippery when wet: Ulrika Jonsson commented on Schafernaker's appearance on Thursday after the shaggy-haired meteorologist gave his latest BBC weather update Here we go: Many fans were quick to comment on the weatherman's growing locks Schafernaker also admitted he has a passion for art, with the presenter regularly filling him Instagram account with watercolors created during his time away from the studio. Born in Gdansk, Schafernaker attended the independent school St. John's College, Southsea, in Portsmouth before the University of Reading where he gained a BSc (Hons) in meteorology. In 2010, Schafernaker was about to do the weather forecast on the BBC News Channel at around 11am, when former BBC news presenter Simon McCoy made a light-hearted remark. 'Now we will have the weather forecast in a minute and or course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide all the detail you can possibly want,' said McCoy. 'I've just seen Tom Schafernaker preparing for it.' In the belief that he was off camera Schafernaker was seen raising his middle finger to McCoy in a gesture. Instantly realising his mistake, Schafernaker moved his hand to his face to disguise it. The clip has received millions of viewes on YouTube. Schafernaker famously had to apologise in 2007 when he referred to the Outer Hebrides and Western Isles as 'nowheresville'. Despite this, in 2017 he was voted the nation's favourite - beating off BBC Breakfast's Carol Kirkwood. Kristie Evans, the wife of the late Pastor David Evans of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in Arkansas, now faces first-degree murder charge following her confession of guilt last month. Evans and her accomplice Kahlil Deamie Square have been formally charged of first-degree murder last week, and that their next appearance in court is scheduled in May, reports The Christian Post. In March, Evans confessed to the Ada Police Department that she plotted her husband's murder and that she colluded with her lover Square to execute the plan. The pastor was shot dead inside his home. His wife, Kristie, then called 911 to report the incident. In the broadcasted portion of Evan's 911 call shared by NBC news, she sounded frantic while describing the scene. "Someone shot my husband. He's in a pool of blood, and I heard a loud pop," Evans told the dispatch. She also denied seeing the shooter in their vicinity in her initial claim of innocence from her husband's murder. Within a week of investigation, Evans soon confessed her crime to the investigators. She told them that she and her husband's killer, Square, were together on March 17, 18 and 19 while the pastor is away on a mission trip to Mexico. She also revealed their secret life as swingers from which they met Square who soon became the couple's lover. The motive for the murder, according to the police's affidavit, is Pastor Evan's demeaning words toward his wife. He reportedly called Kristie a "sl*t, fat, ugly and wh*re." To convince Square to do her bidding, Kristie Evans told him about her husband's tendency to be verbally abusive and an insinuation that she wanted "to have more freedom." These revelations shocked members of the Harmony Free Will Baptist Church where the Evans serve. A spokesperson from the church told KFOR that they were greatly saddened to hear details behind their pastor's death. "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," said the spokesperson. On their pastor and his wife's alleged secret life, the spokesperson said that they are aware how "even pastors can succumb to human frailty." The church's representative asked that their privacy be respected for now while they and the pastor's family "grieve and process all these events." On his last Sunday at the church, Pastor Dave Evans have preached on the final days of Jesus' ministry on earth. He used the several accounts where the Pharisees plotted to kill him and Lazarus whom he raised from the dead as illustration to point out that the devil would always come after believers. "Sometimes, I just stop and think," he told his congregation. "If the devil is not attacking you with everything he's got in trying to destroy and kill you, maybe [it's] because you're not the reason anybody is believing in Jesus. And as a pastor and just as a Christian, what a waste," he said. BISHKEK -- Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kubanychbek Jumaliev, who was charged with corruption, has been released from pretrial detention after he paid the equivalent of almost $12 million in compensatory damages to the state treasury. The Birinchi Mai district court in Bishkek made the decision on April 12 after the State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said it had received from Jumaliev cash and real estate with an estimated value of more than 1 billion soms. Jumaliev was ordered not to leave Bishkek while the investigation against him continues. Jumaliev, who is still a lawmaker in parliament, was arrested in early February on suspicion of abuse of office, money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal enrichment. About a month ago, Jumaliev was transferred to a private hospital for treatment of heart problems and high blood pressure. After four weeks in the hospital, he was returned to pretrial detention. In October, President Sadyr Japarov, who was serving as acting president at the time, announced an "economic amnesty" under which officials who enriched themselves through corruption could be "pardoned" if they agreed to pay the government. If found guilty, the court then takes such payments into account when determining a penalty for the defendant. The court can accept the payment as a sufficient penalty or ask for additional funds. [April 14, 2021] 120+ Speakers including former Nasa Astronaut Scott Parazynski, Bollywood Actor Javed Jaffrey Join Global Digital Transformation openbusinesscouncil citiesabc Summit looking at best ways to cope with Covid-19 business challenges LONDON, April 14, 2021, /PRNewswire/ -- openbusinesscouncil summit offers businesses and governments solutions to the urgency to create awareness for digital transformation, 4IR Tech to empower businesses and SMEs. The openbusinesscouncil Summit and Awards, in partnership with citiesabc and World Smart Cities Forum , is running an online event with the aim to strengthen businesses, startups, and government's strategies post COVID-19. The summit provides access to a unique audience and has indirect digital streaming in social media, that reaches over 10 million people. The experts include, amongst others, high-profile personalities such as: Javed Jaffrey - Bollywood film, TV Actor and Personality - Bollywood film, TV Actor and Personality Dr. Scott Edward Parazynski - Former Nasa Astronaut and CEO of Fluidity Technologies - Former Nasa Astronaut and CEO of Fluidity Technologies Valeriya Ionan - Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine , , Jaewon Peter Chun - President at World Smart Cities Forum. - President at World Smart Cities Forum. Ben Goertzel , Founder of SingularityNET, co-creator Sofia the Robot , Founder of SingularityNET, co-creator the Robot Dimitrios Psarakis - Brussels Council former EU Parliament - Brussels Council former EU Parliament Michael Stanley-Jones - United Nations Environment Programme - United Nations Environment Programme Surina Shukri , CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC); , CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC); Professor Kiran Fernandes , Professor and Associate Dean Durham University , Professor and Associate Dean Durham University Jawad Sardar , Director SUM Global Smart Cities Specialist, Advisor to UK and Governments globally The openbusinesscouncil summit team offers a 3-days event, covering urgent issues trending and disruptive topics, such as the boom of 4IR and AI, DeFi, the always-widening possibilities of blockchain and AI, the impact of leading tech in Finance and Society, the rising importance of NFTs, etc, in more than 50 panels. Dinis Guarda and Hilton Supra founders of the event say: "We all have the poer as stakeholders and our destinies to use the tech of our time, digital literacy and simultaneously using 4IR technology as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 crisis to serve and empower businesses and professionals worldwide #obcsummit." The openbusinesscouncil digital summit will cover how COVID-19 is rapidly transforming Organisations. Businesses and Governments can only survive and ideally thrive, in an environment where new consumer behaviours can accelerate their digital transformation efforts. openbusinesscouncil citiesabc summit will reflect and offer panels and masterclasses on: Creating Smarter Digital Transformation Businesses in a Time of Covid-19 with 4IR, Big Data, IoT and Cybersecurity to Businesses and SMEs; Challenges and Opportunities Digital HealthTech & Wellness Post Covid-19 and Digital Inclusion in Cities and AI How can Tech4All, Tech4Good and AI4Good Support CSR and CDR; Smart Cities and Digital Twins The Future of Collaborative Innovation, Media, IP, Digital Platforms with 4IR & AI; Finding our way Forward with UN SDGs, ESGs in the Post-Covid-19 World; Redesigning Businesses After Covid - ESG - Sustainability - Finance and Digital Transformation Investment Centralised Finance vs Decentralised Finance, Digital Assets - NFTs; Scale-Ups and Venture Capital Accelerator Networks Aiding Growth to the Business Startup Ecosystem? Fintech, GovTech, LegalTech and PropTech, & The WorkPlace of the Future Blockchain, DeFi and CBDC - the Next Fintech Frontier ESG, Carbon Footprint and Energy About the organisers: openbusinesscouncil is a Leading Global Digital Business Directory Certification and Marketplace created by a team of global thought and business leaders with more than 20 years of working with governments, business networks, tech ecosystems and universities. citiesabc.com is a platform for smarter cities and their creative industries - art, music and film NFT marketplace network. citiesabc offers tools to the organisations and the people of the cities. World Smart Cities Forum is a non-profit organisation established to assist local governments and municipalities to solve current urban challenges by building and developing human-centric smart cities around the world. The event will be streamed in the fast-growing Dinis Guarda YouTube Podcast series https://www.youtube.com/c/DinisGuarda/videos Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/openbusinesscouncil-summit-and-awards-tickets-136828817677 For more information https://openbusinesscouncil.org/summit/ Summit & Awards video: https://youtu.be/hb9hnc9NHu0 Media and Contact: Serafima Semkina serafima.semkina@ztudium.com - +44-7771-321-078 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/120-speakers-including-former-nasa-astronaut-scott-parazynski-bollywood-actor-javed-jaffrey-join-global-digital-transformation-openbusinesscouncil-citiesabc-summit-looking-at-best-ways-to-cope-with-covid-19-business-challenges-301269088.html SOURCE openbusinesscouncil [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] RESTON, Va., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced the winners of the 2021 Ellucian Impact Awards. The annual awards celebrate visionaries in higher education who are inspiring others to push the boundaries of technology and innovation. The announcement was made during Ellucian Live, the industry's top global technology conference. The winnersCommunity College of Baltimore County, University of Southampton, Ajman University, University of Hartford, University of the West Indies-Cave Hill and New Jersey Institute of Technologyleveraged technology solutions in novel ways to support students, faculty and staff. Selected for their positive impact across categories of student well-being, innovation and digital transformation, each institution will receive a $25,000 grant. "It has been inspiring to see how these Ellucian customers are using technology to operate more efficiently, overcome challenges, and offer a unique student experience. This year's Impact Award Winners truly exemplify what it means to be a transformational, digitally focused and student-centered institution. I'm honored to recognize them for their remarkable efforts and look forward to continued partnership in navigating the future together," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. More information about the winners is below. Student Well-Being Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD CCBC is located in Baltimore County, MD, with three full-service campuses and three extension centers as well as fully online programs. CCBC has a diverse student body, both in regard to ethnic and socioeconomic representation and in terms of students' life experiences, making it an anchor institution in the community. Of the more than 54,000 students CCBC served last year (close to 25,000 credit and 29,000 noncredit students), approximately 80% received full or partial tuition assistance and 48% worked more than 20 hours per week. When CCBC campuses closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the college launched CCBC Cares, a multi-pronged initiative that made a big impact on access, retention and success for its widely diverse student population, especially vulnerable students who needed technology to pivot easily to remote learning. Initiatives under the CCBC Cares umbrella addressed: academic supports such as changes to instructional methods that made on-campus learning safe and gave students the option to attend classes remotely; technology supports that used student-facing pages and forms to communicate vital information to students; and financial supports to distribute CARES Act funds directly to targeted groups of students impacted by the pandemic, such as those who needed laptops or Wi-Fi to work remotely. The combination of targeted messaging using the Ellucian Banner Student System and knowledgeable staff who knew how to deliver support were critical components to the success of CCBC Cares. The initiative touched close to 10,000 students and resulted in summer and fall enrollment numbers that surpassed the enrollment budget by 108 percent and 104 percent, respectively. University of Southampton Southampton, England Given that much of its student population traditionally resides on campus, the University of Southampton buzzed with activity pre-pandemic. Most students lived on campus and various welcome and registration events happened in person. Once Covid hit, the university intently followed and used Home Office guidance, and worked closely with the City Council and the National Health Service to move critical processes online. To avoid running afoul of social distancing practices, the university developed Banner Action Item Processing and PageBuilder workflows to bring identity checks, international "right to study" checks and graduation applications 100% online. Processing activities could be handled safely and virtually, and the university saved 15,000 in staff time alone by moving these processes online. The university also used a PageBuilder form to give students access to a saliva-based test and tracing system. This proactive testing resulted in the university's experiencing no significant increase in cases while their surrounding community spiked. Innovation Ajman University (AU) United Arab Emirates 2018 was the year of transformation and innovation at Ajman University. Since then, AU is focused on developing strategies for improving work cycles, adopting smart solutions that focus on both digital and "green", and automating manual processes. Some of the key improvement initiatives the university has undertaken include: Digitization of 86% of its processes Conversion of 100% of its documents to electronic archived format, including more than 75,000 student records Adoption of digital signatures for contracts and official documents Integration of the online request system with the digital government application program, UAE Pass The above initiatives helped us in improving our student satisfaction score to an impressive 91%. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Office of IT at AU successfully developed an innovative campus accessibility management system to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty members. The accessibility solution which is integrated with the existing SIS Banner system uses unique QR codes to validate Covid-19 test status of individuals and determines their eligibility for access to the campus. This has proven highly effective in ensuring a safe environment within the campus for students and staff members during the pandemic. At AU, we aim to take innovation to new heights, where a culture of innovation is embedded among students, faculty and staff members, as well as all our stakeholders and partners. AU is ranked among the top 2.5% universities worldwide, #35 in the Arab region as per the 2021 QS Arab Rankings and one of the top 150 young institutions worldwide. University of Hartford Hartford, CT Despite the pandemic, the University of Hartford believed it was imperative to remain on campus to provide all students a safe, flexible, and residential experience. The university created an integrated analytics "workbench" that took data from various sources and applied a predictive analytics model to proactively identify potential areas of infection risk. Data points were supplied from innovative practices like wastewater testing and pooled saliva testingthe first private institution in the region to implement these efforts. They also utilized a daily health survey. The University prioritized hiring an external, professional nursing staff to manage contract tracing, along with student health ambassadors to monitor compliance with social distancing and mask rules. As a result, the university had one of the lowest positivity rates among institutions in the State of Connecticut (.4%). In addition, the university was intentional about providing meaningful student support services, and celebrated one of the highest rates of first-year student retention in the institution's history, including a significant retention increase in students of color. Digital Transformation University of the West Indies Cave Hill Aiming to revolutionise its delivery of educational and other services, The UWI Cave Hill launched its Smart Campus Initiative (SCI) in 2017, seeking to integrate information and communications technology into all aspects of its higher education provisions and related operations. The University made this strategic investment to enhance the student experience, in addition to providing anytime/anywhere access to services; engaging in data-informed decision-making; increasing revenue and cost savings; and increasing both revenue and cost savings. As a result, the University was able to pivot quickly to support their students when the COVID-19 impacted the island. Student-experience focused efforts included: working with local Internet providers to provide "zero-rated" access to students; providing students with laptops and tablets to continue learning uninterrupted; offering its first-ever online new student orientation, which was received favorably by students and which saved the University over $70,000 (Barbadian) (or over US $35,000) at a time when the economy was declining due to lack of tourism; integrating apps to track student movement against the spread of COVID (at the time the award application was submitted, the University had no reported COVID cases on Campus); offering services like psychological and career counselling, health insurance support, and disability services online; and providing students with an online student success hub to teach study skills and prepare them for academic success. New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Prior to the pandemic, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) created a new delivery model for several classrooms to blur the lines between online and in-person learning experiences. When the pandemic hit, this Converged Learning Model (CLM) was immediately expanded to facilitate socially distanced attendance for the Fall 2020 semester. The onset of the pandemic also brought opportunities to improve online service delivery and create a global campus supported by a synchronous experience like that of the CLM. As a result of these innovations, 44% of all classes were offered in the CLM and more than 70% of all undergraduate students had an in-person experience that still provided social distancing for students and faculty. In addition, NJIT was able to minimize the spread of Covid on campus: NJIT's positivity rate never reached 2.5% and was well below 1% for most of the semester, while the surrounding city of Newark had a positivity rate of 19%. NJIT also successfully maintained its enrollment, with the undergraduate population increasing in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, and student academic performance remained comparable to prior semesters. All student support including advising, psychological counseling, and student events is available through online and digital services. NJIT will continue the digital options for students as part of the global campus, whether they are on campus or attending remotely. For more information on the Ellucian Impact Awards, visit: https://www.ellucian.com/impact-award About Ellucian Ellucian is the market leader charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence. Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com. Media Contact: Lindsay Stanley Lindsay.Stanley@Ellucian.com 703.915.7966 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ellucian-celebrates-2021-impact-award-winners-301268912.html SOURCE Ellucian A new scholarship has been founded in memory of Huntsville Hospitals first African American ICU nurse manager. Daisy P. Swinton began her work at Huntsville Hospital in 1957. She worked her way from housekeeping to ICU nurse manager and retired in 1997. Swinton passed away in August of 2020. The scholarship, initiated by her family and founded by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, is fully funded by the community. Applications for the Daisy P. Swinton Scholarship are open to any employee of Huntsville Hospital or to outstanding high school or college students who have been accepted to a Nursing school or program, Wednesdays announcement said. It was a scholarship, much like this one, that empowered my mother to continue her education and receive the training she needed to fulfill her goals, said Dawna Swinton Baker, Daisy P. Swintons daughter. This scholarship will change many lives, just like Daisy did every day. I hope that anyone who has that same drive and passion is inspired to apply. Applications open Thursday, Apr. 15, and submissions will be accepted through July 1. To learn more, click here. Doses of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine are seen in a refrigerator in an April 8, 2021, file photograph. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) CDC Investigates Death of Woman Who Took J&J Vaccine The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday confirmed that it is investigating the death of a woman who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, as part of its investigation into possible adverse events linked to the vaccine. A statement from the Virginia Department of Health said that the Virginia womans death in March was reported to the CDCs Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The case can be found by searching the system for VAERS ID 1114806-1. No additional details will be provided during the investigation, Danny Avula, the vaccination coordinator for the state of Virginia, said in a statement. The Epoch Times has reached out to Johnson & Johnson for comment. Earlier on Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC recommended to put a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six casesone death among themwere reported in the country of a rare and severe blood clot post-vaccination. Similar issues have not been linked to the shots from Moderna and Pfizer. President Joe Biden asserted on Tuesday that the pause will not affect the the supply of vaccines available to Americans. When asked to comment about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause, Biden told reporters, My message to the American people on the vaccine is, I told you all, adding that he made sure we have 600 million doses of other vaccinesPfizer and Modernaavailable. President Joe Biden speaks to the media during a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on April 13, 2021. (Pete Marovich/Pool/Getty Images) So theres enough vaccine that is basically 100 percent unquestionable for every single, solitary American, he said. Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, told reporters that the FDA and CDCs announcement will not have a significant impact on the administrations vaccination plan. The J&J vaccine makes up less than 5 percent of the more than 190 million recorded shots in arms in the United States to date, he said. And thats why the President took action earlier this year, before the J&J vaccine was even authorized, to secure enough Pfizer and Moderna doses for 300 million Americans by the end of July. Jeff Zients, the White Houses Covid-19 response czar, speaks during a press briefing at the White House, in Washington, on April 13, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Zients said the administration has supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to administer about 3 million shots per day. Were now working with our state and federal partners to get anyone scheduled for a J&J vaccine quickly rescheduled for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, he said. And were actually already seeing this happen today at sites across the country where J&J appointments are being adjusted, that were for today, to actually get Moderna and Pfizer today. So thats happening in many places across the country. Former President Donald Trump said in a statement Tuesday that the Biden administration is doing a terrible disservice by allowing the FDA and CDC to call a pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, adding that perhaps all of this was done for politics or perhaps its the FDAs love for Pfizer. The Epoch Times has contacted the CDC and FDA for comment. Johnson & Johnson told The Epoch Times in a recent statement that the company was aware that thromboembolic events including those with thrombocytopenia have been reported with all COVID-19 vaccines. Our close tracking of side effects has revealed a small number of very rare events following vaccination. At present, no clear causal relationship has been established between these rare events and the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Janssen is owned by Johnson & Johnson. The company, in a statement on Tuesday, acknowledged that its number one priority is the safety and well-being of people who use its products. It also said it would pause the rollout of its vaccine in Europe. Johnson & Johnson also maintained that the blood clot events are extremely rare. More than 6.8 million people have received its vaccine in the United States. The FDA and CDC said in a joint statement that those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Creekwood Dental Arts Voted Local Best Dentist in Waco, TX Three Years Running Our team strives to go above and beyond all year long to ensure every patients dental experience is the best it can be in terms of clinical excellence and comfort. Creekwood Dental Arts has been voted the Best Dentist in Waco, TX for the third year in a row by Locals Love Us. This website welcomes members of the community to vote in more than 200 different categories for their favorite local businesses, with a maximum of five winners per category. The Best Dentist in Waco, TX title is one of the most sought-after and competitive categories on the list. Locals cast their votes and the top five practices throughout the region with the most votes are awarded this coveted title. We are pleased Creekwood Dental Arts has received the Best Dentist in Waco, TX for the third year in a row. Our team strives to go above and beyond all year long to ensure every patients dental experience is the best it can be in terms of clinical excellence and comfort, said Dr. Donna Miller. Dr. Miller, Dr. Austin Green, Dr. Michelle Hinds and the entire team at Creekwood Dental Arts focus on building long-lasting, trusting relationships with their patients. The team leverages sophisticated technologies and techniques to provide state-of-the-art family, general, cosmetic and sedation dentistry customized to each patient, including crowns and bridges, porcelain veneers and dental implants in Waco, TX. Dental implants are considered the gold standard tooth replacement solution due to their longevity, functional benefits and natural appearance. The restoration consists of a titanium post that replicates the natural tooth root, covered by a customized crown that resembles a natural tooth. Dental implants fuse with the jawbone, creating a permanent and secure fit which patients can enjoy for decades. The compassionate team of dentists in Waco, TX enjoy seeing the life-changing benefits dental implants afford to patients suffering from the negative side effects of missing teeth. Its incredibly rewarding to witness the transformation that takes place in patients that receive dental implants at Creekwood Dental Arts. Seeing them smile widely and enjoy life again reflects the core reasons why we chose dentistry as a profession, said Dr. Green. To learn more about why Locals Love Us voted Creekwood Dental Arts as the Local Best Dentist in Waco, TX and the comprehensive dental services offered by this experienced team, visit CreekwoodDentalArts.com or call 254-870-9026. About the Dentists Creekwood Dental Arts is a general dental practice offering personalized dental care to patients in Waco, TX. Drs. Donna G. Miller, Austin Green and Michelle Hinds provide an array of services with state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Miller was voted the Texas Dentist of the Year from the Texas Academy of General Dentistry as well as accomplished The Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry, the highest and most respected award in general dentistry. Creekwood Dental Arts is also an award-winning team, over the last two years they have received The Best Dentist Award by Locals Love Us Waco. To learn more about Drs. Miller, Green and Hinds or the services they offer, please visit their website at CreekwoodDentalArts.com or call 254-870-9026 to schedule an appointment. Social distancing, mask mandates, and lockdowns have put civil society on ice. Church congregations either do not meet, meet in socially distancing congregations, or try to fellowship over video conferencing. Many schools are still closed, still trying to replace face-to-face learning with farcical distance learning. Public sporting events have been almost nonexistent. Many small businesses have gone under, and many of the survivors are struggling. Most remaining social interaction has been pushed to social media, which at its best is a weak substitute for face-to-face human interaction. Even ardent supporters of mask-wearing cant deny that they stifle communication, verbal and nonverbal. When was the last time you saw someone smile in public? Some restrictions were perhaps unavoidable, even prudent measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, but the restrictions have clearly harmful side effects. Our government has deliberately fragmented society to protect ourselves from a disease. What are the unintended consequences of allowing government to overwhelm civil society, even for good reasons? The closest parallel in recent history to prolonged social distancing may be the atomization of societies under totalitarian regimes. Totalitarian regimes usually take power during periods of massive social and political upheaval, and they must perpetuate the upheaval through reigns of terror in order to retain power. This completely isolates the individual, subjecting him or her to the full power of the central government to prevent any coherent political opposition from forming. Intervening institution such as families, churches, schools, media, unions, and political parties are co-opted or eliminated. Local and regional governments, the military, and the police are brought under central control. Any legislative and judicial bodies are either dissolved or converted into rubberstamps for the ruler, whether one man (e.g., Hitler) or an oligarchy (e.g., the Soviet and Chinese politburos). The net result is no one can truly trust anyone in a totalitarian state. Against such overwhelming state power, the isolated individual cannot stand. The individual does not matter. He or she must either submit, take a fun-filled vacation to a re-education camp, or die. This contrasts sharply with American democratic society. Aristotle observed, Man is by nature a social animal, and American society demonstrates that truth in spades. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions, constantly form associations. They have not only commercial and manufacturing companies, in which all take part, but associations of a thousand other kinds -- religious, moral, serious, futile, extensive, or restricted, enormous or diminutive. . . Wherever, at the head of some new undertaking, you see the government in France, or a man of rank in England, in the United States you will be sure to find an association. The strength of the United States lies in its people and their voluntary associations, not their government -- regardless of how well organized or well run it may be. The measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 may ultimately prove more harmful in the long term than the disease itself. Marriage rates in the U.S. have dropped between 26% and 44% since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaths from drug overdoses reached a record high. More adults have seriously considered suicide. Preventative medical care has understandably taken a back seat to dealing with the coronavirus, but the payment will come due in reduced health for some, possibly resulting in otherwise avoidable deaths. Educators now routinely refer to the lost year of K12 instruction in which children fell far behind, despite distance learning. Even worse, many abused children are likely suffering in silence because teachers dont see them in school and therefore cant report suspected cases of abuse or neglect. The pandemics indirect toll on physical and mental health may never be known, but we know the devastating results of social fragmentation: Russia is still trying to recover from the effects of Soviet totalitarianism (e.g., rampant alcoholism, declining life expectancy, and a shrinking population). Looking at the collateral damage to society and the individual in the United States, its reasonable to reassess whether our leaders have chosen wisely. The governments response to the pandemic has taken giant steps toward centralizing control of some very basic personal decisions -- an extreme of government intervention into their personal lives that Americans would have considered unimaginable and absolutely intolerable before the pandemic. Once given a power, even temporarily, government rarely surrenders new power willingly. Those in power either find ways to prolong the crisis and their power, or they discover new crises that justify maintaining and expanding their centralized power. With the pandemic apparently waning, would-be benevolent despots are already finding other crises -- such as fighting climate change -- to justify continuing their control. Jon Rodeback in Managing Editor and Director of Content at Capital Research Center in Washington, D.C. Image: PxHere To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Europe's medicines regulator said Wednesday it will make a recommendation on the safety of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus jab next week after US health authorities recommended pausing vaccinations over blood clot fears The Hague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :Europe's medicines regulator said Wednesday it will make a recommendation on the safety of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus jab next week after US health authorities recommended pausing vaccinations over blood clot fears. The "EMA is expediting this evaluation and currently expects to issue a recommendation next week," it said in a statement, after announcing last week a probe had been launched. Broomfield, Colorado, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Derive Systems, today, announced the addition of energy service solutions leader Danos to its portfolio of VQ-Efficiency clients. The new partnership supports Danos goal to increase driver safety while reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions on its fleet of 400 vehicles across seven U.S. locations. The deployment of Derives engine calibration software saves 2.95 tons of carbon dioxide per Danos vehicle, per year. This is equal to removing 1,178 tons of carbon dioxide across its entire fleet on an annual basis. By doing so, Danos is virtually removing the carbon footprint of 28 trucks from the road, or 7% of the total Danos fleet. The VQ platforms core purpose is to deliver advanced mobility solutions to decrease carbon emissions from fleet vehicles. Derives combination of automotive fleet expertise and cutting-edge software technology helps clients achieve lasting sustainability results. On average, the Derive VQ Efficiency solution generates between 6% to 10% immediate fuel savings per vehicle, while simultaneously implementing speed thresholds on the engine itself. With Derive, we have already made immediate progress in reducing our fleet fuel consumption, which in turn lowers our overall carbon footprint, said David Cedro, Danos VP of finance and administration. At Danos, safety is one of our core values, which makes Derives speed-regulating technologies a perfect choice for our fleet. Since 2010, Derive Systems has been dedicated to revolutionizing sustainability and safety for fleet management with more than two million installations of their software. Derive Systems offers a scalable fleet management software platform that allows fleet managers to tailor their vehicles for the best performance. Derives VQ platform calibrates engines for better fuel efficiency, provides enhanced telematics for more significant savings, and shifts safety compliance from the driver to the vehicle. "We take pride in delivering immediate fuel efficiency and vehicle safety to enterprise fleets of all sizes, stated Derive Systems Chief Executive Officer John Oechsle. Partnering with Danos to achieve their fleet management, sustainability, and safety goals is a win for both teams. About Derive Systems As a leading automotive technology company, Derive Systems empowers customers to take control of their vehicles. Derive safely and reliably optimizes vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, safety, and more through over two million software installations. For more information About Derive Systems or its products, please visit derivesystems.com . About Danos Founded in 1947, Danos is a family-owned and managed oilfield service provider. A trusted industry partner, Danos offers the most responsive end-to-end integrated service solutions safe, on time, and on budget. Danos achieves world-class safety results and customer loyalty due to a values-based approach and an unyielding commitment to employee engagement and training. Learn more at Danos.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 08:16:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NIAMEY -- More than 20 Nigerien pupils were killed Tuesday afternoon in a violent fire at their school located on the outskirts of Niamey, the city's fire department confirmed Tuesday evening. According to the commander of the firefighters in Niamey, Colonel Sidi Mohamed, the fire broke out around 4 p.m. local time and quickly spread to all the classrooms built with straw, trapping students inside. (Niger-Pupil Deaths) - - - - CAIRO -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held on Tuesday a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the latest developments of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River. Shoukry explained how Ethiopia's unilateral decision to carry out the second filling of the GERD without reaching a tripartite legally binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan "would impact the stability and the security of the region," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. (Egypt-UN-Ethiopia-Nile-Dam) - - - - DAMASCUS -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday demanded compensation from the United States for the "damage" caused by the U.S. actions in Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. The ministry demanded compensation for the "heavy damage and heavy losses inflicted by the U.S. aggression and occupation against the Syrian people." (Syria-U.S.-Compensation) - - - - WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden will announce the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 on Wednesday, multiple U.S. media outlets reported on Tuesday. The decision would extend U.S. military presence in Afghanistan past a May 1 deadline set in a deal between the previous administration and the Afghan Taliban. (U.S.-Afghanistan) Enditem Registered with the Abu Dhabi Global Market, De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd. provides support and advice to companies seeking to establish a presence and to carry out investment projects in the Europe/Middle-East/Africa region. PARIS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd. is a platform providing support and advice with respect to clients' cross-border activities between the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The firm's lawyers provide clients with assistance from the Abu Dhabi's office, working in synergy with teams based in Paris during the various phases of their projects, from the initial establishment of a presence (public affairs consultancy), assistance in the context of clients' investments (corporate, M&A, financing, PPP, dealing with international tender processes, etc.), to the management of their transactions in strategic sectors (energy, mining, infrastructures, banking, IP/IT, etc.), as well as on issues related to divestment, litigation and international arbitration. The firm's clients can rely on integrated teams, as well as on a network of local correspondents selected independently to deal with legal aspects specific to the target countries. Correspondents are selected according to each project's requirements. De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes has extensive experience in advising key players in the EMEA region (companies, DFIs, investment funds, governments...), with multidisciplinary teams (including an integrated OHADA practice). The firm's lawyers advise Gulf clients on projects in Africa and Europe, pan-African institutions, and international groups regarding their investments in Africa and in the Middle East. "The growth of the economic flows between the Middle East and Africa was a decisive factor in our choice to open this subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates, which is a real hub for international business in the EMEA region", explains Jean-Baptiste Santelli, partner at De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes and director of the Abu Dhabi subsidiary. "It is a way for us to get closer to our clients who are already relying on our recognised full-service expertise for dealing with transactions in this geographical area". Office contact details De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd. 34, Al Maqam Tower, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates +9712-418-7530 emea@dgfla.com About De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes provides support to its clients in France and overseas with: 180 persons available to assist clients based on high standards, responsiveness and creativity. available to assist clients based on high standards, responsiveness and creativity. A full service practice in all areas of corporate law. practice in all areas of corporate law. Expertise that is recognised by the market (lawyers recommended in Chambers, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Leaders League). by the market (lawyers recommended in Chambers, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Leaders League). About twenty languages spoken (German, English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Danish, Dyula, Spanish, Ewe, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Kinyarwanda, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Tamil, Ukrainian). (German, English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Danish, Dyula, Spanish, Ewe, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Kinyarwanda, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Tamil, Ukrainian). Lawyers registered with 13 bars ( England / Wales , Beirut , Brussels , California , Ireland , Israel , Kiev , Luxembourg , New York , Paris , Quebec , Shanghai , Tunisia ). ( / , , , , , , , , , , , , ). A network of correspondents, selected for the quality of their services and the relevance of their expertise, across all continents. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487111/DGFLA_Logo.jpg Megan Gale has listed her Daylesford weekender on Airbnb, less than nine months after purchasing the home. The model and her fiance Shaun Hampson paid $800,000 for the four-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow last September. The Airbnb listing for the property, known as Dollywood Daylesford, shows a per-night price of $880. For rent: Megan Gale has listed her Daylesford weekender on Airbnb, less than nine months after purchasing the home The David Jones ambassador herself is listed as the property's host. The renovated home, which sits on 538 square metres of land 90 minutes outside of Melbourne, features floor-to-ceiling picture windows with spectacular bush views. Furnishings include a gold sofa, an embroidered ottoman and large prints of Californian landmarks. New owners: The model and her fiance Shaun Hampson paid $800,000 for the four-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow last September. Pictured here in November 2019 Location: The renovated home, which sits on 538 square metres of land 90 minutes outside of Melbourne, features floor-to-ceiling picture windows with spectacular bush views Former owners Marcus Baldwin and Eloise Fox described the weekender's aesthetic as 'Palm Springs with a dash of Cali coastline'. Megan announced her plans for Dollywood Daylesford on Instagram in November. 'Over the past few years we have thoroughly enjoyed staying at this beautiful holiday rental property with our little family, creating some magical memories with our kids along the way,' the Mad Max: Fury Road actress wrote. The vibe: Former owners Marcus Baldwin and Eloise Fox described the weekender's aesthetic as 'Palm Springs with a dash of Cali coastline' Ambitions: Megan announced her plans for Dollywood Daylesford in November 'It has become a very special "happy place" for us, so to be able to have the opportunity to now own it, is a true blessing. 'We are not only thrilled at the prospect of creating more special moments with our children, our extended family and friends but we are SUPER happy that we can throw open the doors to YOU!' 'After a very long, tumultuous year for many people, (especially our fellow Victorian residents) to have a place where we can offer a bit of a restful respite to others, is something that we are so pleased to be able to do.' Family: The model has been in a relationship with former Richmond player Shaun since 2011 She signed off 'Megan & Shaun' and included photos of the family during their stays at the property over the years. The Perth-born model has been in a relationship with former Richmond player Shaun since 2011. The couple share two children, River, six, and Rosie, three. The Telangana health department issued a dire warning today, saying the fast-spreading Coronavirus could well be airborne in the state now. AFP. Hyderabad: The Coronavirus pandemic in Telangana is really bad, the government warned Wednesday. The situation is as bad in the state as in Maharashtra, with chances of the Covid-19 virus now being airborne, the hospitals in Hyderabad and elsewhere are unavailable for people and rate of spread is fastest since the pandemic began. The Telangana health department issued a dire warning today, saying the fast-spreading Coronavirus could well be airborne in the state now. If people do not step up to help prevent its spread, then Telangana could well turn into another Maharashtra, which is reporting upwards of 50,000 and 60,000 new Covid-19 cases a day. In a video message evening, Director of Health Services Dr G. Srinivasa Rao said the fast rate of infections among people could also well mean the virus could now be airborne. Presently, the virus is spreading very fast, very very fast. If someone in a family is infected, then it is just taking a few hours, or at most a day or two for others in the family also to get infected by Covid-19, especially in closed settings of homes, he said. It will not be a stretch to say the virus is now airborne, he said. The government has so far advised people to wear masks in public places. From now on, you must wear a mask even at home. Anyone who goes out, there is a chance of catching the virus and infecting others at home. If anyone in the family is vulnerable, then they have to be hospitalized. There could be an increased loss of lives. Please take precautions, Dr Rao said. People must scrupulously follow safety precautions. People must wear face masks properly and adhere to all safety norms. It is the responsibility of each individual to stay safe, he said. Government has no plans for any lockdowns or restrictions. It does not mean the situation is not dangerous. Situation is extremely dangerous. The government is not imposing any restrictions only to ensure the livelihoods are not affected, he said. We have witnessed a surge in Corona cases over the past four weeks. We can expect a similar situation to continue for the next four to six weeks, he said. Dr Rao warned that the situation was serious enough to start worrying about availability of hospital beds for people coming down with Covid-19. Thousands of hospital beds are available. Government is doing all it can. But if the current pace of infections continues, day is not far when hospital beds will become scarce. There are already several reports that some hospitals have run out of beds to treat Covid-19 patients, he said. He said that tens of thousands of healthcare and frontline workers have been working hard over the past one year to protect people from Covid. It is everyones responsibility to keep them safe so everyone else can be taken care of. U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann, the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, and John Katko, the Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, were joined by U.S. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) in writing to Vice President Kamala Harris urging her to visit the U.S.-Mexico border immediately. The full text of the letter is below. Vice President Harris: We write to you today to strongly urge you to visit the U.S.-Mexico border as soon as possible. On March 24, 2021, President Biden announced that he had appointed you to lead "efforts to stem migration across the U.S.-Mexico border." This is a daunting task, and as we personally experienced on our recent trips to Texas, you cannot fully grasp the extent of the crisis until you physically see what is happening at our southern border and the conditions at the Customs and Border Protection stations. There is no substitute for seeing overcrowded migrant facilities in person and speaking directly with our border agents and officers who are dealing with this crisis on the human level every day. Therefore, we feel it is imperative that you and your advisors travel to the region soon as you work to resolve this situation. According to NPR, "The number of migrants encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border in March was the most in at least 15 years, as agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended nearly 172,000 people." This was a 71 percent spike from February, and all indications say the numbers will remain high, if not increase, over the coming months. We are concerned by reports that human traffickers are actively recruiting migrants to make this perilous journey. Every day we are seeing reports on the news or receive notices from the Department of Homeland Security about the individual tragedies: a 10-year-old boy found abandoned near the southern border, tender-age children being dropped from the top of the border wall, and people left by smugglers to die in the desert, all victims of illegal immigration. CBP stated that "Scenes like these are all too common, as smugglers continue to abandon children in desolate areas, with zero regard for their well-being." We also have serious concerns that the record number of apprehensions are overwhelming law enforcement and their ability to secure the border. It was reported that at least two men matching names on the FBI's terrorism watchlist were arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border, indicating foreign bad actors are exploiting this migration surge to enter the country. Further, CBP reports that the workload and workforce demand large migrant groups pose to law enforcement simply creates opportunities for smugglers to bring drugs, guns, persons, and other goods into the country without threat of detection. The national security implications of the ongoing chaos must be addressed. We are greatly concerned about the Biden administration's ability or willingness to respond to this humanitarian crisis when neither the President nor the Vice President has gone to the Southwest border to assess this crisis for themselves. We invite you to make the journey to the southern border and to work with Congress to find solutions to mitigate this humanitarian and national security crisis in order to protect our nation. Photo: The Canadian Press A Minnesota prosecutor said Wednesday that he will charge a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop, igniting days of unrest and clashes between protesters and police. Kim Potter will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The announcement came a day after Potter resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department, where she had served for 26 years. Police Chief Tim Gannon also resigned Tuesday. Gannon had released Potters body camera video the day after the Sunday shooting. It showed her approaching Wright as he stood outside of his car as another officer was arresting him for an outstanding warrant. Police said he was pulled over for having expired registration tags. As Wright struggles with police, Potter is hearing shouting Ill Tase you! Ill Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser! before firing a single shot from her handgun. Gannon has said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser. However, protesters and Wrights family members say theres no excuse for the shooting and it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead. The charging decision was announced as the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin progresses. George Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyds neck. This past August, 82-year-old Daisy Pruitt Swinton died in the Huntsville Hospital Intensive Care Unit after contracting COVID-19. Sadly, but perhaps poetically, she died being cared for in the ICU that shed dedicated her professional life to building and running. Swinton, you see, was the first African-American ICU nurse manager at Huntsville Hospital. During her 40-year career, she was instrumental in helping build the ICU program at north Alabamas largest hospital. She was nurse manager of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit for 18 years until she retired in 1997. No one since has held the position longer, according to Huntsville Hospital. Today, which would have been Swintons 83rd birthday, Huntsville Hospital will dedicate a nursing scholarship in her name and hang her portrait in a place of honor at the SICU. Swinton, born in 1938 in Madison County, was always a caregiver. As one of 11 siblings raised in meager, but loving circumstances, she was responsible for raising several of her younger siblings, said her daughter, Dawna Swinton Baker. To Swinton, raising her siblings was a duty and an honor, not a chore, and caring for others would become her calling, Baker said. Very few people know their purpose in life and can begin to fulfill it before entering their teenage years, but my mother was blessed like that, Baker said. She would be overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion to be honored as a pioneer in the nursing profession, but I think she would also be amazed by all the attention she is getting. While were seeing her as superhuman, for her, what she did, how she lived, and how she cared was simply who she was naturally. Daisy Pruitt Swinton, who began her career in housekeeping at Huntsville Hospital, became the hospital's first African-American ICU nurse manager. When Swinton graduated from Councill High School in 1956, she wanted to enlist in the Womens Air Corps, but her grandmother wouldnt allow it. Instead, she accepted a $100 scholarship from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (then a semesters tuition) to attend Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical College, now Alabama A&M University. In 1957, her second year in college, Swinton started working in housekeeping at Huntsville Hospital, and immediately knew she was destined for more. Despite the obstacles that faced ambitious young Black women in segregated Alabama, Swinton doggedly pursued her medical education, all while raising five children with her husband, Harry Swinton. First she became a nurses aide, then a License Practical Nurse, finally earning her associates degree in nursing and Registered Nurse Certification from Calhoun Community College in 1975. She was pictured in a newspaper photo of her graduating class -- one of only two Black faces among about three dozen nursing graduates -- but the accompanying article didnt mention her name. It didnt matter. She would go on to make a name for herself. Not long after earning her RN certification, she transitioned to caring for the critically ill in Huntsville Hospitals new Intensive Care Units. There, she worked with Dr. Peter Yu, for whom the Surgical Intensive Care Unit is now named, to design and organize the new treatment areas and develop policies and procedures by which they would operate, according to Huntsville Hospital. Last year, the Diversity & Inclusion Committee within the Huntsville Hospital System recognized Swintons contribution as a trailblazer for African-American nurses and leaders by joining with the Swinton family -- Harry Swinton Jr., Jeffrey Swinton, Lorelyn Swinton, Dawna Swinton Baker, and Marsha Swinton -- to create the Daisy P. Swinton Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any Huntsville Hospital System employee or outstanding high school or college student who has been accepted into a nursing school or program. Baker, Swintons daughter, said it was important to the family to help young people who, like her mother so many years ago, dream of pursuing a nursing career. We want to really help people follow the journey that my mom took, she said. Want more? For information, visit huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org/daisyswinton/ or email swintonscholarship@hhsys.org Shelly Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud Infamous Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff dies in prison after spending his final dozen years behind bars | Main | Heard at BOP oversight hearing: "Simply put, our prison system at the federal level is failing." A few weeks ago, as blogged here, Politico spotlighted some case processing realities surrounding the on-going federal prosecutions of persons involved in the insurrection on January 6, 2021. That lengthy piece highlighted reasons why it could turn out, in the words of the headline, that "Many Capitol rioters [are] unlikely to serve jail time." Politico now has this additional interesting piece on the same beat headlined "Leniency for defendants in Portland clashes could affect Capitol riot cases." I also recommend this piece in full, in part because the piece showcases how differing charging policies and practices both at the national level and in individual districts can lead to differing case outcomes: Federal prosecutors show of leniency for some defendants charged in the long-running unrest in the streets of Portland could have an impact on similar criminal cases stemming from the Capitol riot, lawyers say. In recent weeks, prosecutors have approved deals in at least half a dozen federal felony cases arising from clashes between protesters and law enforcement in Oregon last summer. The arrangements known as deferred resolution agreements will leave the defendants with a clean criminal record if they stay out of trouble for a period of time and complete a modest amount of community service, according to defense attorneys and court records. Some lawyers attribute the governments newfound willingness to resolve the Portland protest cases without criminal convictions to the arrival of President Joe Bidens administration in January and to policy and personnel changes at the Justice Department. Those moves seemed to step away from the highly public, throw-the-book-at-them stance that President Donald Trump and then-Attorney General William Barr adopted toward lawbreakers involved in racial justice protests that swept across the country last year following the death of George Floyd during an encounter with Minneapolis police. Obviously there was a change in direction from Washington, and once they changed the U.S. attorney, that seemed to change the tone, said John Kolego, a defense attorney based in Eugene, Ore., who handled one of the Portland cases. They had their marching orders from Barr before, but the tone is definitely changed, Kolego said. Five of the Portland cases in which deals were recently struck involved a felony charge of interfering with police during civil disorder. Some defendants are accused of punching or jumping on police officers during the street battles. One individual was charged after being accused of shining a high-powered green laser into the eyes of officers seeking to disperse a riot outside a police union building. The civil disorder cases are notable because the charge of police interference is also being wielded by prosecutors in dozens of the criminal cases brought over the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 by pro-Trump protesters. In the Washington cases, prosecutors have filed the felony anti-riot charge in tandem with others, like obstructing an official proceeding or assaulting police officers. Some of the assaults described in the Portland cases bear similarities to the Capitol violence. Prosecutors said one of the civil disorder defendants, Alexandra Eutin, used a wooden shield and hoses to strike a Portland police officer in the head while he was trying to make an arrest. Several Capitol riot suspects are accused of using riot shields to shove police or obstruct their efforts to secure the building from the mob.... While Justice Department headquarters in Washington loudly touted the arrests and indictments related to last summers unrest, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Portland said the resolutions it is reaching in those cases were not being approved by officials in Washington. There is no across-the-board standard being used to rule our protest cases in or out of consideration for a deferred prosecution agreement, and our office does not consult with Main Justice on when to use them, said Kevin Sonoff, the spokesperson. However, Sonoff said the Portland prosecutors were acting under the authority that then-Attorney General Eric Holder granted to assistant U.S. attorneys a decade ago to craft resolutions they considered appropriate in criminal cases. Trumps first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, revoked that policy in 2017, but days after Bidens inauguration in January, the Justice Department returned to the Holder standards that Portland prosecutors are now citing. Under the 2010 Holder memo on charging and sentencing, AUSAs have broad discretion on how cases are resolved, the spokesperson said, referring to assistant U.S. attorneys. Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is now a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, said: Undoubtedly, defense lawyers will point to everything they can to get the most favorable resolution for their clients. Now, one thing they can point to will be the deferred prosecutions in Portland. Still, prosecutors in D.C. can argue that what happened there is more serious even if the physical actions of the defendants were comparable. Attacking the Capitol is sui generis its in a category of its own, Levenson said. One is the seat of government and the other is not. One defense attorney in Washington representing Capitol riot defendants said he planned to raise the Portland cases as negotiations begin between the government and defendants over those arising from the Capitol I think theyre very relevant, said the defense lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The individual conduct is actually not all that different: Youre at a protest that turns into a riot. The core conduct is the same, so if people out there are getting deferred prosecution for that conduct, then my guy should be. Nancy Gertner, a former federal judge, said she expected Portland comparisons as defense lawyers and the government jockey over the terms of potential plea deals. Sure, it would be relevant but that feels very different than entering into the Capitol, said Gertner, now a lecturer at Harvard Law School. Gertner said many of the Capitol cases were headed for what she called a no-time resolution, meaning no prison time. But she emphasized that offering a deferred prosecution with no criminal record like the Portland deals was really up to prosecutors, who may be reluctant to agree to them amid lingering outrage over the Jan. 6 takeover. I can see prosecutors not wanting to give them and a judge cant, she said.... The ad hoc resolutions in the Portland cases some of which involve postponing action on the charges for as long as a year are similar to more formal pretrial diversion programs in place at federal courts in Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston. Federal courts have programs to allow people to show they have been rehabilitated, Lisa Hay, the chief federal defender in Oregon, told POLITICO. I think the government should always look at the facts of the case and the individual charges. We are encouraged that the government is doing that in the cases here. The federal District Court in D.C. where the Capitol riot defendants are charged does not have such a program, chiefly because less-serious cases in the nations capital are typically routed to D.C. Superior Court, which does have a diversion program of its own.... Deferred prosecution or resolution agreements are often used in state and local courts, but are more rare in federal courts. The Justice Department has generated controversy in recent years by using such deals to resolve investigations into corporations accused of being involved in criminal activity. That led to calls by some criminal justice reformers to offer such arrangements to individuals more frequently in federal criminal cases, although they have not become widespread. Italys Justice Minister announced the launch of an investigation into Sicilian prosecutors' wiretapping of at least 15 journalists reporting on migration in the central Mediterranean region. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Italian affiliate, the Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana (FNSI) in condemning this serious violation of journalists' fundamental professional rights and supports the forthcoming investigation. On April 2, Italian newspaper Domani revealed that prosecutors in the southern city of Trapani, Sicily, wiretapped hundreds of phone conversations between reporters and charity staff while investigating the potential involvement of NGOs in human smuggling. Prosecutors secretly listened to hundreds of phone conversations between journalists and their sources, in a clear breach of their right to professional confidentiality and protection of sources. Following media reports, the Italian justice minister, Marta Cartabia, formally launched an investigation and sent inspectors to research the alleged serious violations of reporters' rights. Freelance journalist Nancy Porsia had her phone tapped for several days resulting in the personal details and the names of her sources being collected, while also tracking her movements using her mobile phones geolocation facility. IFJ affiliate FNSI joined forces with media freedom campaigners in a letter to the Italian government and European Union officials urging a "swift and systematic investigation" to help to "rebuild trust and ensure that all journalists, sources and legal professionals in Italy are protected". The IFJ has supported the call. The case was also reported to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism. FNSI General Secretary, Raffaelle Lorusso, said: "Thank you to the Minister of Justice, Marta Cartabia, for sending inspectors to the Trapani Public Prosecutor's Office. It is necessary to shed light on a disturbing and unacceptable affair. It is not enough to say that the interceptions will be destroyed, it is necessary to clarify and explain why several journalists not under investigation for any crime have been subjected to interception, trampling on Article 21 of the Constitution and the right to protection of sources". IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "Journalists' right to secrecy of sources is recognised as deserving of protection by the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and no one can simply ignore it for any reason. We stand in solidarity with the affected journalists and urge the Italian authorities to guarantee this does not happen again. The protection of sources is the cornerstone of press freedom". Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 17:41:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea is considering referring Japan to an international tribunal for the decision to release nuclear wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, the presidential Blue House said Wednesday. Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok told a press briefing that President Moon Jae-in instructed secretaries during an internal meeting to actively review referring Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for Tokyo's decision to dump the contaminated water into the ocean. The review would include seeking a provisional injunction from the tribunal, Kang said. The instruction came before Moon met Koichi Aiboshi, Japan's new ambassador to Seoul, at the presidential complex to receive his credentials together with new ambassadors from Dominican Republic and Latvia. During the meeting, Moon told Aiboshi that South Korea has a "very great concern" over Japan's decision to dump the radioactive wastewater into the ocean as the country is geographically closest to and shares the sea with Japan. Moon asked Aiboshi to convey his message and the concerns among the South Korean government and people to the Japanese government. The Blue House spokesman described Moon's remarks, made during the credential ceremony, as "extremely unusual". According to the Blue House, the office of a presidential secretary for legal affairs began to review various options, including the tribunal injunction against the Japanese decision. Japan announced its plan Tuesday to discharge the tritium-laced water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, believed to reach more than 1.25 million tons stored in tanks, into the ocean in about two years. Enditem Rutgers University has tapped former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey to deliver the keynote address at its virtual commencement ceremony next month. Trethewey, a Pulitzer Prize winner, will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree during the virtual ceremony for Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. The university will pay a $35,000 honorarium. I am honored to have been invited to address the Rutgers University graduating class, Trethewey said. In times of uncertainty, our academic rituals and traditions stand to remind us of our history while linking us to the future. The university Board of Governors approved Trethewey as the commencement speaker on Wednesday, along with a series of honorary degrees that will be awarded across its campuses. Actor Wendell Pierce, known for his work on The Wire and Selma, will speak at Rutgers University-Newarks virtual commencement ceremony on May 16. The board also voted to award Pierce an honorary doctor of fine arts degree. Rutgers will award an honorary doctor of laws degree to scientist and politician, Rush D. Holt Jr.; an honorary doctor of science degree to Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Laurie Garrett; and an honorary doctor of letters degree to comics writer, essayist and journalist, G. Willow Wilson. Rutgers-Newark will give an honorary doctor of laws degree to MacArthur Genius Grant winner Robert Parris Moses, a civil rights hero who organized the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer project. An honorary doctor of fine arts degree also will be conferred on rap music pioneer and radio personality Angela Angie Martinez, who was the May 2020 commencement speaker at Rutgers-Newark. Rutgers University-Camden will hold virtual graduation ceremonies in May and June, but is waiting to bestow honorary degrees at an in-person ceremony this fall. It will honor Judith Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, and Nikole Hannah-Jones, architect and lead author of The New York Times landmark 1619 Project. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. Chinese vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are seen at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea, on March 27, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea/Handout via Reuters) Philippines Summons Chinese Ambassador Over Vessels in Disputed Waters MANILAThe Philippines said on Tuesday it had summoned the Chinese ambassador to convey the Southeast Asian countrys utmost displeasure over the continued presence of Chinese vessels in disputed waters around a reef in the South China Sea. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned on Monday and told that China should immediately withdraw all its vessels from the disputed Whitsun reef and other Philippine maritime zones. The Philippines last month described the presence of about 220 boats believed to be manned by militias inside its 200 mile (322 km) exclusive economic zone as swarming and threatening, while the United States, Japan and others have voiced concern about the Chinese regimes intentions. The foreign ministry said on Tuesday it had reminded Huang that the Philippines had won a landmark arbitration case in 2016, which backed its sovereign entitlements amid rival claims by the Chinese regime. It also called on the Chinese Embassy to ensure proper decorum and manners in the conduct of their duties as guests of the Philippines after the embassy had earlier said a call by Manila for a withdrawal of the flotilla was unprofessional. Both sides affirmed the use of peaceful settlement of disputes in addressing their differences in the South China Sea issue, the foreign ministry said. Chinas embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The last time a Chinese envoy was summoned by Manila was in 2019 after a Chinese vessel sunk a Philippine boat. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Tuesday on Twitter that nine ships remained in the area. Since coming to power, President Rodrigo Duterte has criticized U.S. foreign policy and sought to improve ties with Beijing, but the Chinese regimes maritime assertiveness has put him in a difficult spot at times. Philippine and U.S. troops began military exercises on Monday, in a demonstration of what they said was a commitment to the U.S.-Philippines alliance. By Neil Jerome Morales Devon Windsor shared the gender of her baby on her vlog Wednesday that showed her at her gender reveal party at home in Florida. The Vogue supermodel, 27, said she was expecting a daughter with her husband Johnny Barbara. The catwalk queen, who is 18 weeks along with her first pregnancy, teased the reveal the day before as she posed with her first sonogram of Baby Barbara. Baby news: Devon Windsor shared the gender of her baby on her vlog Wednesday that showed her at her gender reveal party at home in Florida with her husband Johnny Barbara Lavish: The pair had a stunning tiered cake that said Baby Barbara on top and plenty of floral arrangements 'It's a girl,' she said on her blog as she shared a video from her gender reveal party held in the back yard of her Florida home. In the clip from the party, it says in pink type 'It's a girl' as she sprays pink powder and hugged her family then kissed her husband. Devon and Johnny then pose behind a sign that says GIRL in all capital letters. 'OK, the secret is out we are having a girl! We are having a little girl this September... I always dreamed of having a daughter because I grew up with just my sister and I,' the star said from home in a video that introduced scenes from her reveal party. Clever: 'We actually did a balloon board and covered it with balloons I want to say we have 16 or 17 balloons and each balloon had either pink or blue in it and you three darts,' she said Cute game: 'The first eight balloons of the same color revealed the gender,' she said She added, 'I am so happy to finally share it!' as she asked fans to not post in the comments box of her Instagram post so as to not ruin the surprise for others. The reveals was held during an outdoor party with passed appetizers cakes and cookies. Her mother and sister were also there. Devon added that they were careful to take precautions for COVID-19 at the fete. In a video from her bedroom she added more information. Pop! 'It was really fun, blue and pink everything, even my dress,' she said of the soiree Happy for pink: The Vogue supermodel, 27, said she was expecting a daughter 'Johnny and I were really excited to find out the gender and we wanted to do it in a fun way... I love the cheesiness and the reactions are great so we actually did a balloon board and covered it with balloons I want to say we have 16 or 17 balloons and each balloon had either pink or blue in it and you three darts,' she said. 'The first eight balloons of the same color revealed the gender.' 'It was really fun, blue and pink everything, even my dress,' she said of the soiree. From home: 'My parents were planning to come to town to visit in Miami, honestly, months ago, and they planned a trip and it all lined up, on the week they were supposed to find the gender they were already here,' she said meaning they did not have to do the reveal on Zoom 'I was convinced it was a boy, Johnny was convinced it was a girl,' she also admitted. She found out at 12 weeks via a blood test that she was having a girl, she said. 'My parents were planning to come to town to visit in Miami, honestly, months ago, and they planned a trip and it all lined up, on the week they were supposed to find the gender they were already here,' she said meaning they did not have to do the reveal on Zoom. This is her parents' first grandchild. She also said her baby is the size of a mango. Sono time:The Missouri native and her husband shared the sonogram earlier this week Earlier this week Windsor shared the first sonogram photos of her baby and teased an imminent gender reveal in a cute picture she posted to her Instagram. The models husband Johnny Dex Barbara wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek as the happy couple held the sonogram photos between them. 'Boy or girl? Final guesses below before our gender reveal tomorrow at 11:30!' the blonde wrote in her caption. She wore a bright pink and blue tie-dye sleeveless maxi-dress in the snap while Johnny looked casual in a white button-down long-sleeved shirt and khaki pants. The good news was shared online: Windsor held up a photo of her pregnancy test On Monday night, the blonde beauty shared a video of herself dancing with the sonogram photos. She added text to the video saying: Everything looked great! Baby was jumping and bouncing around! He/She is getting so big already. The Maxim cover star captioned the video: Today was a good day! Seeing little baby Barbara. Over the weekend, Windsor shared two new photos of her baby bump to Instagram. The runway queen showed off her pregnant tummy as she posed in a black and off white bikini with a sheer black coverup from her own swimwear collection. Starting to show: Her baby bump was on full display as she posed in a black and off white bikini with a sheer black coverup from her own swimwear collection The Missouri native and her husband shared that they were expecting their first child last month. The model posted two black and white snaps of her growing baby bump and ultrasound scan to Instagram. She captioned the photo: 'Mom & Dad. I'm pregnant!! Johnny and I are so excited to finally share the news with you guys!' 'I have dreamt of being a mama my whole life. We are so grateful for this little angel in my belly, and are so excited for this new chapter in our lives!' 'Sending extra love and light to the mamas out there who are trying to conceive. I am hopeful your miracles are around the corner!' Countdown: The mother-to-be revealed that she had hit her 18 week pregnancy milestone by posting a cute video in which she danced to Ryn Weaver's song 'Pierre' and improvised her own lyrics about going into the doctor for a check up Devon was discovered when she was just 14 and her first modeling gigs were for local publications and fashion shows in her hometown of St. Louis, Mo. After graduating from high school in 2021, she modeled in Milan and London. Windsor's career took off after she walked for Prada in September 2013. Her hair was dyed platinum blonde during fittings for the show and this became her signature look. The 5ft 11in beauty married Johnny, co-owner of fashion label Alexis, in a lavish ceremony on November 16 2019 at St Bartholomew's Anglican Church on the Caribbean island of St Barths. According to Harper's Bazaar, the celebration lasted for three days and Georgia Fowler, Shanina Shaik, Olivia Culpo and Cara were in attendance. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Cookies are incredibly useful. A cookie is the name given to a message sent to a website from a web server that allows web owners to identify users (your computer) and used to improve your web browsing experience. Of course, they are also used as a means to track what users are viewing online. Photo by Vilnis Husko from Pexels #TheFutureofMeasurement: Part 1: Apple upsets the advertising cart with iOS 14 changes Steve Jobs once described his views on privacy saying: "Privacy means people know what they're signing up for, in plain English and repeatedly."... #BizTrends2020: End of an era as the 3rd party cookie crumbles An interesting year has just flown by, in which it feels like all things digital are under pressure - the adtech ecosystem is contracting, Facebook is being slammed as usual, Google is in a showdown with French publishers, and cookies are errr... crumbling... What will we do without third party data? Andrew Smit, Head of Data Solutions at Incubeta How online marketing is shifting through data privacy You can get away with delaying a customer's package, cancelling services and delivering a substandard product, but if you compromise a customer's data, you will probably lose the client... South African companies need to follow global compliance Jade Arenstein, Head of Data Strategy and Analytics at Incubeta Cookies are incredibly useful. A cookie is the name given to a message sent to a website from a web server that allows web owners to identify users (your computer) and used to improve your web browsing experience. Of course, they are also used as a means to track what users are viewing online.While first party cookies send data about you to the owner of the website you are currently browsing, third party cookies send data about you back to a different domain to the one you are on and are used to build user profiles - what youve bought, what you are interested in and they often follow from site to site.While useful for ad targeting, there is no doubt that third party cookies are invasive, deny consent, and slow down the browsing experience. For many concerned about their privacy, the faster third party cookies are a thing of the past, the better.For this reason, and in response to a growing privacy-centric regulatory regime, Googles Chrome will be the latest in a list of browsers looking to ditch third party cookies come 2022, taking their lead from Firefox and Safari which began blocking ad trackers back in 2017.The end of the third party cookie has understandably caused some confusion in the both the ad industry, but also amongst global CMOs.The massive growth in online advertising is in large part due to the targeting facilitated by third party cookies. They enable market segmentation and attribution - the cornerstones of agile digital marketing.Unfortunately, even now, there is no consensus about how the market will deal with the end of the cookie.In an effort to give advertisers an alternative means to track user behaviour, Google is setting up a collection of technologies, assembled under its Privacy Sandbox, which digital marketers can turn to.One of the recommended change management tools is durable tagging where Google has broken down different types of cookies based on their durability.Durability tagging defines third party cookies as the least durable, with these disappearing in the next two years.First party client side cookies are described as moderately durable, although impacted by browser restrictions.First party (HTTP) server side cookies, however, are described as the most durable and Google is encouraging organisations to use these for tracking. The company has released a beta version of GTM server-side tagging and are encouraging users to pull data from servers rather than websites. It has also released a consent mode which facilitates the adjustment of tags when users opt out of tracking.Businesses should also invest in and develop additional sources of first party data. Enhancing your websites ability to produce user-safe data will improve modelling capabilities which will be a useful tool going forward.The complexities of the move towards greater privacy - both in terms of cookies as well as the changes from Apple in the iOS 14 updates (discussed in the first part of the series) - will affect local companies sooner or later. Their digital assets including websites and apps as well as their advertising will be impacted and it is essential they get on top of the global moves sooner rather than later.Google has put out a number of advisory blogs outlining what companies can do to stay on top of the changes, but there is no doubt that the complexity of the issues requires a guiding hand and technical insight that few companies have in-house. In this regard the role of the digital marketing specialist becomes all the more important.However, not everything can be left to consultants, and investment in people must be a key focus in the coming months. Building competent data teams as well as bridging the gap between the marketing and data departments will lay the best foundation to handle the changes that we know are coming - as well as the ones that will surely raise their heads in the coming two to three years.It is also worthwhile noting that things are far from settled amongst the big tech players. A fair amount of speculation abounds that the new technologies developed by Google and other players to overcome the demise of the cookie will end up benefiting them going forward. For its part, Google has released a blog pledging that it will not build hidden features allowing Chrome to access data that will give it an advantage when it comes to selling ads, but will rather focus on finding ways to help target ads to groups of anonymous users with common interests.Finally, its clear the lack of certainty necessitates the need for a solid first person digital strategy. This will be the focus of the third part of our series where we will further unpack the implications of Googles latest announcement and discuss just what is possible using only first party data. The Ministry of Health reported two new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday morning, both of whom are imported cases, which makes Wednesday so far the 40th day without any new local transmission detected in Vietnam. The two new cases, dubbed patients No. 2,706 and 2,707, had been quarantined right after their arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Patient 2,706, aged 37, from District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, reached Tan Son Nhat on April 3 after a flight from Qatar. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 while in quarantine and was transferred to the Cu Chi Makeshift Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for treatment. Meanwhile, Patient 2,707, 21, from Son Tay Town of Hanoi, landed at Tan Son Nhat on April 10 on flight OZ735 from Japan, which also dropped in at a South Korean airport. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and is also receiving treatment at the Cu Chi Makeshift Hospital. The two new transmissions brought the total COVID-19 caseload of Vietnam to 2,717, with 910 cases detected since the latest outbreak transpired on January 27. The countrys COVID-19 death toll remains at 35, while 2,445 have recovered from the disease. On Monday, the northern province of Bac Ninh became the first locale to roll out the second phase of Vietnams free vaccination campaign, with more than provinces and cities to follow suit this week. The Southeast Asian country aims to immunize 70 percent of its population and has so far inoculated over 60,000 people since the first vaccine rollout, which started in early March. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Flipkart will acquire embattled travel and booking platform Cleartrip, one of the oldest Indian players in the segment. This will be the latest addition to the list of acquisitions by the Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce major in various sectors. The deal is likely to be a mix of cash and equity and will see Cleartrip valued at $40 million, The Economic Times reported. The daily added that talks over the deal are likely to end soon. Flipkart and Cleartrip, both are yet to confirm the deal. ALSO READ: Flipkart partners with Adani Group; to strengthen logistics, data centre capabilities Hrush Bhatt, Matthew Spacie and Stuart Crighton founded Cleartrip in 2006 as an air travel and hotel booking aggregator. The deep jolt to travel and tourism industry on account of the coronavirus pandemic led to Cleartrip slipping into distress. Before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, Cleartrip faced tough competition after Naspers merged MakeMyTrip and its portfolio firm GoIbibo in 2016. Naspers then sold its stake in the company to China-based Ctrip and exited the challenging market. Cleartrip also came under pressure with other players like EaseMyTrip, Booking.com and Yatra entering the space. ALSO READ: Flipkart adds Gujarati; app now available in eight Indian languages Concur Technologies, an integrated travel and expense management solutions provider, DAG Ventures and Gund Investment are among the investors in Cleartrip. Early backers like Kleiner Perkins, Sherpalo Ventures and DFJ exited the company over the course of time. Cleartrip has reportedly raised $70 million in investor capital in total and was valued at around $300 million back in 2016, when it last raised capital. With Flipkart's backing, Cleartrip will be in a position to weather the turbulent and competitive travel and tourism sector. Flipkart intends to retain Cleartrip's management and staff and continue to run it as a separate entity. The deal also marks a change in Flipkart's strategy as it is moving away from partnerships and turning towards acquiring companies. The homegrown e-commerce platform had joined hands with MakeMyTrip, and then with Ixigo to offer air travel booking services. This acquisition will firmly place it in the segment. ALSO READ: Flipkart partners with Mahindra Logistics to accelerate deployment of EVs (Edited by Vivek Punj) Detroit Farmington Hills Robert Williams October 2018 Jan. 9, 2020 Free Press Detroit Jeremy Shur University of Michigan Law School's Free Press Lawrence Garcia Detroit Police Department The Law Department Mr. Williams' Detroit Police Department Detroit Detention Center Detroit James Craig Detroit Donald Bussa Board of Police Commissioners Mike Duggan ACLU of Michigan Detroit Police Department ADVERTISEMENT The Court of Appeal, Benin Division, on Tuesday, set aside the dissolution of the Edo State Law Review Commission for the past 13 years, over failure to follow due process. The commission was dissolved in 2008 by the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. But the court, in a unanimous judgment, ordered that members of the commission be reinstated and be allowed to complete their tenure, which should now run from March 25, 2021, the day the judgment was given, to August 25, 2025. In the judgment delivered by the three-member panel and read by Justice Biobele Georgewill, with Justices Oyebisi Omoleye and Fredrick Oho as members, the appellate court held that the Adams Oshiomhole-led administration did not follow the laid down procedure in dissolving the commission. The appellants, in the suit No B/375/OS/2009, were identified as: Jonathan Aghimien, T. E. Ogbeide-Ihama and Edward Aigbanbe, while the Governor of Edo State, the Attorney General and the State House of Assembly were the respondents. NAN reports that the appellants challenged the ruling of Justice Nogi Aifuwa Imoukhuede of the state high court in which he dismissed the claims of the appellants for being statute-barred. In his ruling, Justice Georgewill declared that the dissolution of the Edo State Law Review Commission and consequent termination of the appointments of the Appellants on 24/11/2008, without due compliance with the provisions of the Revised Edition Law of Edo state 2001, by the 1st Respondent, the then Executive Governor of Edo state is null, void and of no effect whatsoever. The court set aside the letter issued by the then Secretary to State Government (SSG) on behalf of the state governor, saying it was issued without compliance with the provisions of the Revised Edition Law of Edo State 2001. He said: An order is hereby given reinstating the Appellants to their aforesaid position as Chairman and members of the Edo State Law Review Commission to serve out the remainder of their five-year tenure. He added that and thereafter from the date of this judgment being 25/3/2021 to 25/8/2025 totalling five years in line with Section 7 (1) of the Revised Edition Law 2001 of Edo State, excluding the period from 24/11/2008 to 25/3/2021, unless the Appellants are removed in line with the provision of the Revised Edition law of Edo State of Nigeria 2001. (NAN) Chennai, April 14 : The 65 per cent polling at Chennai suburb Thiruvottiyur assembly constituency, much higher than the votes polled in Kolathur, Harbour or Thousand Lights, has made the members and supporters of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) happy. They are confident that their party leader Seeman would emerge victorious in Thiruvottiyur and enter the Tamil Nadu assembly defeating candidates of bigger parties like the ruling AIADMK and the DMK. "The high polling in Thiruvottiyur is mainly due to the Seeman factor. Look at the polling percentage at Kolathur, Harbour and Thousand Lights where DMK President M.K. Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi Stalin and BJP's Khushbu Sundar (a popular Tamil heroine) contested respectively. Seems Seeman was the vote puller," a political analyst not wanting to be quoted told IANS. The analyst said the polling in Kolathur was about 61 per cent, in Harbour it was about 60 and in Thousand Lights it was about 58 per cent while the overall average was about 59 per cent. The NTK contested alone in all the 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu in the April 6 elections. The party had fielded women in 50 per cent of the seats. Till date no member of the NTK have been elected to the state assembly. "This time we are confident that our leader Seeman would win and enter the Tamil Nadu assembly. The polling percentage shows that people want a total change from AIADMK and DMK," R.K. Sivakumar, State Coordinator, NTK, told IANS. According to Sivakumar, there was good traction for the party at the ground level as the campaign focus was on the impact of the Adani port expansion project. The NTK contested alone in the 2016 assembly polls and got a one per cent vote share. This went up to about four per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. According to the analyst, the voter segment that Seeman appeals to is between 18-40 years of age. Prior to the polls, Seeman had announced that he would contest against Stalin but later backtracked. "If NTK has to sustain as a political force, then Seeman has to win and enter the assembly. The polling percentage in Thiruvottiyur is high. But Seeman's victory is doubtful. The AIADMK and DMK may lose some of their vote share to Seeman. With his fiery speeches Seeman has a good appeal amongst the youth," political analyst Sriram Seshadri told IANS. Seshadri said the NTK leader was not able to retain many of his party officials and those who had contested in the 2016 assembly polls. "Seeman is wearing more or less the same hat that DMK founder late Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and other leaders like late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi wore, talking about Tamil language and Dravidian culture," Seshadri said. While the DMK was able to hold on to its initial support base and grew that, the NTK on the other hand seems to be gaining new supporters without retaining the earlier ones. This may not sustain in the long run, Seshadri added. By spreading itself too thin and contesting in all the 234 assembly seats, the NTK seems to have reduced its strength. "Instead NTK could have focussed on the Southern districts and beefed up its vote share so that major political parties reckon it as a major force," Seshadri said. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) China's relic-rich Shaanxi hosts over 1,000 grotto temples Xinhua) 15:44, April 14, 2021 XI'AN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Shaanxi Province now hosts a total of 1,012 grotto temples, according to the provincial cultural relics bureau. Distributed widely across the province, the 1,012 grotto temples were assessed through an investigation that kicked off last October, following a nationwide survey of the protection status of grotto temples. Local cultural relics authorities dispatched five research teams to thoroughly investigate and register the information of grotto temples and conduct initial damage analysis. Data in 2020 showed that China has a total of 5,198 grotto temples. Among them, 142 are under national-level protection and 345 are under provincial-level protection. Including the Mogao Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes, 10 of the historical relics are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 14 April 2021: The Report Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Process (Tertiary, Primary), By Application (Industrial, Municipal), By Equipment, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028 The global water and wastewater treatment equipment market size is expected to reach USD 84.12 billion by 2028 registering a CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing demand for clean water owing to rapid urbanization and industrialization coupled with infrastructural developments in the water management industry is anticipated to drive the market growth over the forecast period. Wastewater and its discharge sludge contain several valuable resources, including phosphorus, and nitrogen, which can be recovered and reused to preserve threatened resources. Thus, a rising focus on reducing water consumption by reusing wastewater to ensure resource efficiency and support a circular economy is likely to open new avenues for market growth. Rapid technological developments in the global industry are expected to positively influence short- as well as long-term modifications at water & wastewater management facilities. Market players are increasingly focusing on integrating advanced technologies to develop more efficient and effective solutions for water management, thereby driving the product demand. In addition, the rising environmental concerns along with the need to comply with the stringent government regulations regarding water management across the globe are anticipated to propel the product demand. Increasing investments to treat micropollutants and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), majorly in Europe and North America, are likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the global market. Access Research Report of Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/water-and-wastewater-treatment-equipment-market Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Report Highlights The biological product segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 4.0% from 2021 to 2028 on account of the stringent regulations coupled with the increasing demand for high-quality solutions for wastewater management The segment of secondary process accounted for a revenue share of 37% in 2020 owing to the high adoption of advanced wastewater management technologies, such as Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR) and Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) The product demand in the industrial application segment is anticipated to ascend at the fastest CAGR of 4.1% from 2021 to 2028 This growth can be attributed to the rapid industrialization, particularly in developing countries, coupled with stringent regulations pertaining to effluent discharge from industries Major companies have undertaken several business strategies, such as mergers, acquisitions, and R&D, to strengthen their presence in the global market For instance, in February 2020, Veolia Water Technologies, U.K. completed the acquisition of Biochemica Water Ltd. List of Key Players of Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Veolia SUEZ DuPont Pentair plc Xylem, Inc. Aquatech International LLC Ecolab, Inc. Calgon Carbon Corp. Access Press Release of Water And Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-water-and-wastewater-treatment-equipment-market Several advocacy groups across the state are criticizing the Lamont administrations perceived interest in the states former juvenile detention center as a location for housing unaccompanied migrant youth, with one saying it would be a warehousing of children in cages. Gov. Ned Lamont has said a recent visit to the formerly state-run Connecticut Juvenile Training School, at 1225 River Road, Middletown, was made at the request of Vice President Kamala Harris during her March 26 visit to New Haven. The states beleaguered facility for incarcerated male youths under the charge of the Department of Children and Families closed in April 2018. No decision has been made at all, and nothing is imminent, Lamonts Communications Director Max Reiss said April 7, which he reaffirmed Tuesday. But several groups are critical of the idea, as well as the possibility of using the former training school site. We denounce the opening of the Middletown detention center for unaccompanied children/youth that the Lamont administration is doing irresponsibility and without accountability of the immigrant community, Make the Road Connecticut said in a statement. The organization advocates for immigrant and other rights. CJTS was closed for many reasons, one of the most significant being it was not built to care for, support, or heal youth especially youth already going through such significant trauma, Connecticut Justice Alliance Executive Director Christina Quaranta said in a statement. The organizations mission is to end the criminalization of youth. Even if all evidence that CJTS is a maximum security, hardware secure facility is removed, it still remains a large, cinder-block building, with inadequate living space for young people, said Quaranta, asking that many individuals be included in any future discussions. Lamonts team needs to bring together a group of culturally, linguistically, subject matter competent, non-governmental folks to look at this issue. Individuals who have experience working with and caring for children who are refugees or unaccompanied minors must be at the table with decision-making power, Quaranta said. Stop Solitary CT, a program of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, also said in a statement it firmly opposes the idea. At CJTS, youth were forcibly restrained and left alone in solitary, the agency said. Its mission is to end the use of solitary confinement statewide and replace isolation with humane, safe, and effective alternatives, according to its website. Stop Solitary CT firmly opposes warehousing children in cages whether at the border or in Connecticut, the statement said. Since the start of the pandemic, Stop Solitary CT has been advocating for the release of all inmates in Connecticut, saying you couldnt keep them safe in prison and had to let them all go free, Reiss said Tuesday. The Lamont administration is trying to do the right thing, and make sure that kids have an adequate, safe, humane and supported experience in our state in the event the federal government asks for assistance, Reiss said. Lamonts top officials, including DCF Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management Melissa McCaw and Chief of Staff Paul Mounds Jr. toured the facilities, his communications chief said. Reiss paraphrased what Dorantes told reporters last week: People care for kids. Facilities dont care for kids. Its been critical for us from the start to make sure that these kids have access to high-quality education, mental health care, general health care, and proper outdoor space so they can have a comfortable transition in the event of the need arising, Reiss said. The governor said last week that CJTS has capacity for a few hundred kids depending on how the feds would want to arrange the cots and beds, so I think thats a good starting number. Ultimately, there can be no long-term solution until we tackle the underlying issues, Quaranta said. Connecticut must hold the Biden Administration responsible for addressing the policies that force families to make an impossible decision at our border go back to a location that is unsafe or leave their children behind. Liz Ryan, president and CEO of the Youth First Initiative, a program of No Kids in Prison, reacted to the Biden-Harris administrations call to governors to consider placing these children in facilities in their states. Youth prisons and juvenile detention centers are no place for children, and, while we appreciate the Biden/Harris administrations instinct to support migrant kids, incarcerating them is the totally wrong approach and is, in fact, a reckless and inhumane alternative to addressing the challenges at the southern border, Ryan said in a statement. Reopening closed youth prisons or placing migrant children in youth detention or correctional facilities is a step backward, especially as advocates across the country continue the hard work to close youth prisons once and for all, as reports of abuse and negligence persist, Ryan said. The Hartford-based Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice plans a Zoom session on the issue Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. To register, visit bit.ly/3tsmVGA. Tuesday marked the third night of expanding protests over the police murder of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protests began shortly after Wright was killed during a traffic stop Sunday afternoon and spread across the country Monday, from New York City to Portland, Oregon. Wright, a young father, was unarmed when he was shot dead. He was killed by Kimberly Potter, a 26-year-veteran officer and head of the Brooklyn Center Police Union, who fired a single shot into his chest. Wrights mother, Katie Wright, told reporters that her sons body had been left on the ground by the police. Nobody will tell us anything. Nobody will talk to us... I said please take my son off the ground. A demonstrator raises their hand while facing off against a perimeter of police as they defy an order to disperse during a protest against the police shooting of Daunte Wright, late Monday, April 12, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The killing comes amid a renewed upsurge of popular anger over police violence following the release of video of police officers in Virginia assaulting a black Army lieutenant during a traffic stop in December last year and the murder of a 13-year-old boy by Chicago police at the end of March. It also comes during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder almost one year ago, on May 25, 2020, of George Floyd. Floyds killing, caught on bystander video and posted online, sparked mass multiracial protests across the US and internationally demanding an end to racism and police violence. Tensions have remained high in the Minneapolis area since last years protests, with the ruling class extremely nervous over the reaction to the Chauvin trial. In preparation for the Chauvin trial, the government center in downtown Minneapolis was fortified with fencing, concrete barriers and razor wire. The National Guard has been deployed to checkpoints and is on standby for rapid response to protests. Demonstrators who gathered near the site of Wrights shooting and outside the citys police station Sunday were met by riot police who fired tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets. National Guard troops were quickly dispatched to back up the police. Police arrested 40 people during protests Monday night, many for violating a 7 p.m. curfew imposed on the broader Twin Cities region. Brooklyn Center police were quick to declare that the shot fired by Potter into Wrights chest was an accidental discharge after she mistook her gun for her Taser. Potter can be heard screaming Im going to tase you on body camera video before opening fire and exclaiming, Holy shit! I shot him. Potter was placed on paid administrative leave before resigning from the force on Tuesday. Potter, who has a long experience on the force, was serving as a training officer at the time of the shooting, making it unlikely that she would mistake her gun for a Taser. A similar argument of Taser confusion was put forward by police in an effort to justify the 2009 killing of Oscar Grant in Oakland, California. Wright is the sixth person killed by Brooklyn Center police since 2012. The city paid out $490,000 to settle seven police misconduct cases between 2007 and 2017. The state of Minnesota has recorded 207 police killings in the last two decades, for an average of nearly one death per month. Nationally, the epidemic of police violence has maintained its pace in 2021, with nearly three people killed every day. This unending wave of police violence has continued day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year no matter who is in power, Democrats or Republican. Police violence is a feature of the capitalist system, a social and economic order which exploits the labor of the working class to the benefit of a small minority at the top of society. The daily brutalization of working-class communities and youth is not a racial issue but a class issue. The protests that have erupted over Wrights murder must be developed as a class movement. There are already growing expressions of opposition, with the development of strikes for better wages and working conditions by miners at Warrior Met Coal in Alabama, steelworkers at ATI in Pennsylvania and among graduate students at Columbia and New York University in New York City. At the same time, the development of opposition to capitalist exploitation has to be tied to opposition to police violence. Workers must not stand by and allow the police to kill with impunity. The militarized police forces that harass and kill individuals will be turned against the entire working class. Minnesota has a powerful tradition of class struggle, in which bitter experiences were made with the police, from the strikes by iron miners in the early 1900s, to the Minneapolis General Strike of 1934, when workers led by socialist union organizers successfully fought off the police and corporate goons, to the bitter battle by Hormel workers from 1985 to 1986. The police and the National Guard always side with the bosses, operating as strike breakers by protecting scabs while beating and killing workers. Despite the claims of the Democratic Party and Black Lives Matterwhich promote increased racial diversity, civilian oversight and the use of bodycamsthe police have proven themselves impervious to reform. Popular demands to defund the police have been rejected by the Democrats, with President Joe Biden calling for increased funding and funneling $33 million in military equipment to the police in his first few months in office. While Vice President Kamala Harris, the former top cop of California, tweeted Monday that our nation needs justice and healing, the epidemic of police violence continues the same as it did under President Donald Trump. The rhetoric may have changed, but the reign of police violence remains the same. The protests over Wrights murder express genuine outrage over police violence and the daily brutalization of the population. Social tensions have erupted after a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 576,000 Americans and disrupted the lives of millions. Meanwhile American society has only grown more unequal, with the richest increasing their wealth by $4.1 trillion while millions were thrown out of work, forced to subsist on handouts or return to work in factories, warehouses and schools where the virus is spreading. It is this historic level of social inequality that the police are tasked with defending. The Democrats, while supporting the police and implementing crackdowns on protests, as in Minnesota, have promoted the narrative that police violence is fundamentally a race issue, seeking to divide workers, who are the primary victims, against each other. If anything can be drawn from the last period of protests over police violence, it is that they cannot remain isolated or diverted down the path of middle-class racial identity politics. The broadest sections of workers must lend their support to the demonstrations against Wrights killing, and the protests must be infused with an understanding of the class issues involved. The police are an institution that operate to protect the interests of the capitalist class and defend the state from the working class. The lessons of the class struggle must be drawn. Protests are not enough. Opposition to police violence must be linked to the broader issues confronting the working class, from social inequality to the coronavirus pandemic, which is being allowed to ravage workers and their families in the interests of the rich. The fight to end police brutality means taking up the fight to end the capitalist system and establish socialism in the United States and internationally. [April 14, 2021] JK Group Unveils New Initiatives in Sustainability DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- JK Group, part of Dover Digital Printing and Dover (NYSE: DOV), announced a number of new initiatives that support improved sustainability. JK Group has developed a new way of packaging its reactive inks to reduce its environmental footprint, while also releasing an extended shelf life across all of its ink ranges. The company's Kiian brand recently launched a new reactive ink series called Digistar Bellagio, with one of the new departures for this range being its Bag-in-Box (BiB) packaging. Through this environmentally-friendly initiative, all reactive inks will now be packed in flexible, multilayered plastic bags, which are incorporated into a cardboard outer shell. The system has several advantages and represents an 80 percent reduction in the use of plastic compared to traditional high-density polyethylene containers of a similar capacity. Additionally, the reduced packaging creates a reduction in shipping and warehouse space, leading to lower transport and storage costs and less environmental impact across the supply chain. "We are thrilled about these initiatives because not only are they better for the planet, but also for ur customers, who are looking for cost-efficient ways to reduce their environmental impact. This represents a continued effort by all of our companies to improve the sustainability of our products," said Abhi Agrawal, President of Dover Digital Printing. JK Group has also announced a shelf life extension of all of its ink series. Harnessing continuous improvements in performance brought about by research and development activities, the company has conducted an in-depth analysis of its ink formulations, including stress tests, to determine more precisely how long they will last on the shelf. The resulting extension of shelf life means improvements for stock management and order rationalization, enabling efficiency and cost savings. About JK Group: The JK Group is a Dover Digital Printing company. JK Group plays a central role in the digital textile market and it is a point of reference for the development, production and sale of dye-sublimation inks. The endless attention to innovation along with vanguard technologies and capable technical know-how drive our actions in the markets. JK Group operates worldwide through 3 commercial brands, designing advance-printing solutions matching the present and future expectations of the digital printing Industry. About Dover Digital Printing: Dover Digital Printing is comprised of the brands of Caldera, Kiian Digital, J-Teck, MS Printing and Sawgrass Industrial and provides a complete solution of digital printing needs while driving efficiency for customers, and leading to greater speed, accuracy and profitability. About Dover: Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale, operational agility, world-class engineering capability and customer intimacy to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.?? JK Group Contact: Monica Cingolani +39 031 20744.33 monica.cingolani@j-k-group.com Dover?Media?Contact: Adrian?Sakowicz, VP, Communications (630) 743-5039 asakowicz@dovercorp.com ???? Dover Investor Contact: Andrey?Galiuk, VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations??? (630) 743-5131??? agaliuk@dovercorp.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jk-group-unveils-new-initiatives-in-sustainability-301269068.html SOURCE Dover [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - A man lost his appeal of a robbery and kidnapping conviction in Montgomery County. The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down the decision in the case of Christopher Golden. Witnesses identified Golden, 44, as the man who robbed the Magnolia Lodge on Sept. 10, 2016, then kidnapped the clerk and forced them to drive him to another location. A Montgomery County jury convicted Golden of the charges in 2019, and the judge sentenced him as a habitual offender to a total of 60 years in prison. Golden appealed, claiming the judge was wrong not to grant a jury instruction about possible mistaken identity and an alibi he was never at the hotel. He also challenged the violation of his rights to a speedy trial. The Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled the judge did not err when it came to the jury instructions. The appellate court ruled Golden waited nearly 861 days from his arrest and 10 months after his indictment was handed down in May 2018 to challenge how quickly he was brought to trial. The court also pointed to the fact Golden spent nearly 537 days in prison for a prior crime and was not indicted in the Montgomery County case until 10 days before he was released from prison. The Mississippi Department of Corrections website showed Golden is currently serving his sentence in the South Mississippi Correctional Institute. by Silvina Premat Argentina relies on Sinopharm, whose level of effectiveness has yet to be verified. Sinovac used in Chile and Brazil has a success rate just above 50 per cent. For immunologist Guillermo Docena, any vaccine is better than nothing during a pandemic. Chinese vaccines could be enhanced with Russias Sputnik. Buenos Aires (AsiaNews) The effectiveness of Chinese vaccines against COVID-19 is one of the most talked about topics in Argentina at present. A recent statement by Gao Fu, a senior Chinese health official, on the low effectiveness of Chinese anti-coronavirus drugs added to the concern sparked by the death of a famous journalist and television personality. Mauro Viale died last Sunday, four days after receiving the first dose of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine. Argentinian doctors immediately explained that Viale's death was not caused by the vaccine, but by COVID-19, which he had already contracted but had not yet shown any symptoms. In Chile too, anxiety is growing following a surge in cases, this despite the fact that almost 25 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated (63.5 doses per 100 people). Like Brazil, Chile relies on the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, which is 56.4 per cent effective once two doses are administered, this according to Chiles national university. So far 89 per cent of all vaccinations in the South American country were done with the Sinovac vaccine. Argentina has had 2.5 million cases with more than 58,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak. The vaccination campaign, which began on 29 December, is proceeding slowly. According to the Pan-American Health Organisation, as of last Monday, some 4.9 million doses have been administered, covering 10 per cent of the total population. Russias Sputnik V was given to 3.2 million people (65 per cent) with Sinopharm to just over a million (21 per cent). Sinopharm is being used to discredit [China], said immunologist Guillermo Docena, director of the Institute for Immunological and Physio-pathological Studies at the National University of La Plata, speaking to AsiaNews. Docena is one of the authors of the first study outside Russia on Sputnik. Based on a sample of 288 Argentinians, 94 per cent of vaccinated people developed the expected antibodies 21 days after the first jab. The same research is underway for Sinopharm. The only data available are those in Lancet, which reported an effectiveness of 79.6 per cent in the first two phases of experimentation. All I can say so far is that the Chinese vaccine seems to be less powerful than the Russian vaccine, noted Docena. Still, in his view, Sinopharm appears to be more effective than Sinovac, based on the results not only of a Chilean study, but also one done in Brazil, which found that Sinovacs effectiveness was only 50.4 per cent. The researcher added however, that when we talk about effectiveness, we have to distinguish between preventing infection and avoiding a serious disease. In a critical situation like the one we are in now, any vaccine is better than none, Docena said. In the middle of a surge of cases it is no small feat to save half of the people. The Argentinian scientist appreciated Gao Fu's honesty in acknowledging that Chinese vaccines are not effective enough, which raises the question of how to improve them. Gao suggested using different vaccines with the same patient, increasing the number of doses from two to three, and changing the interval between doses. These solutions cold improve any vaccine. In fact to enhance the AstraZeneca vaccine, we are looking at combining it with Sputnik, Docena explained. At first glance this is not bad. We have to study it, produce it and if it doesn't work, correct it. But to do this, you need vaccines. If they don't come, that will be a problem. Warranties on the policies were also sold to smaller insurer that went bust A leading insurer is facing allegations of recklessness and deceit over its work at Wales' tallest building - which has been plagued by damp and fire safety problems. Zurich Insurance is facing a High Court claim from flat owners of Swansea's Meridian Quay development, who have accused it of failing to properly carry out checks before issuing insurance policies for properties and then selling their warranties to a firm that went bust. Lawyers acting for the residents claim that Zurich was either reckless or dishonest in issuing insurance 'cover notes' to certify that the building complied with regulations when no proper final inspection had been carried out. Residents says they suffered serious damp and fire safety problems since buying flats in the 123-apartment Meridian Tower and the neighbouring 168-flat six storey blocks known as Bay and Wharf apartments over a decade ago. They also say they have no one can sell their properties because banks are refusing to give mortgages and they now feel like they are 'living in a prison'. Zurich Insurance is facing a High Court claim from flat owners of Swansea's Meridian Quay development, who have accused it of failing to properly carry out checks before issuing insurance policies for properties The lawyers say that 'as a result of the wrongs perpetrated by Zurich, each of the claimants acquired leasehold interests which were considerably less valuable than they understood them to be and the price they paid for them'. They say that work to repair the damage will take until 2026/27. Zurich said that their checks were carried out solely to decide whether to insure the developments against future faults. It said they were not full statutory building regulations inspections which would have been carried out by Swansea council. The papers filed to the High Court by lawyers Walker Morris claim that Zurich did not employ enough surveyors to allow the 'inspection process to be properly carried out'. Because they were 'massively overburdened', the residents say they were incapable of properly inspecting the building in accordance with surveyor guidelines. Residents have suffered serious damp and fire safety problems since buying flats in the 123-apartment Meridian Tower and the neighbouring 168-flat six storey blocks known as Bay and Wharf apartments over a decade ago Residents have said they have felt trapped, with the outside building covered in scaffolding as work continues to solve some of the safety issues They say site logs show Zurich did not visit the site at all between October 2007 and March 2008, two months before it issued its first cover note. They say the inspectors then bypassed Zurich's computer system to provide manual cover notes not for individual apartments but for groups of them. Zurich is also being accused of selling off 10-year warranties to a smaller insurance company, East West, which was not able to cope with the financial burden and later went bust. Liability was then transferred to the statutory safety net, the Financial Service's Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Angela Curtiss, 52, purchased a property in the Bay as an investment for a family member, but now she believes it is worthless. Angela Curtiss, 52, purchased a property in the Bay as an investment for a family member, but now she believes it is worthless She said: 'I put it on the market 18 months ago by Dawson's Estate Agent in the Marina, and did not have one viewing. I purchased the property on an interest only mortgage and now have a huge debt hanging over my head and unable to sleep at night with the worry of how I am going to pay the Halifax back.' 'Who signed off on this in the first place?' Sian Jones, 63, bought her apartment in the Bay building in 2014 after her husband passed away. She said she rents out the flat and saw it as an investment so she could continue to have money coming in to support her daughter. She said: 'I started to become aware of the various defects in the blocks in around 2016 and, importantly, then about fire safety issues. Sian with daughter Rhiannon 'You realise that you have lots of problems both externally and then internally, like the compartmentation, the wrong materials, the lack of materials being used and the leaking. Then you have to think: "hang on, who signed off on this in the first place?". 'At the moment the internal work on my one-bedroom flat has been completed but the flat is surrounded by scaffolding. They have said it can be lived in again, but that is ridiculous as there is no natural light coming in at all due to the scaffolding. 'At the moment I have been provided alternative accommodation. My main concern is how long this will go on for.' She said that one of her main concerns had been not knowing the full scale of the work needed on the Quay. She said this had caused stressed for owners and residents for a number of years and they they still cannot see an end in sight. Advertisement 'Myself and the residents are terrified, some purchasing rope ladders as an escape route in the event of a fire. What was sold as a luxury sea view apartment now feels like a prison. 'I have been tempted to hand the keys back to the Halifax, however if I did I would still owe what I paid for the apartment. I have found myself in a living nightmare for no fault of my own. 'Initially I thought all would be okay as somehow it would resolve itself, I did not realise the extent of the work. It was when I was given a bill for 27,000 as part of the repair work with more bills to come I thought this is not right and needed to take action.' One elderly resident spoke of excitement as buying her 16th floor apartment in the Meridian Tower 10 years ago, completely unaware of the defects, but said her dream retirement home quickly turned into a living nightmare. 'We bought defective flats unknowingly that we cannot sell, cannot get mortgages on and we are trapped here. I've tried and tried to leave, but I can't sell my flat,' said the 74-year-old who did want to be named. 'I knew nothing about the defects in this building until I actually moved in, then it became apparent that the water ingress was quite bad. I had a survey before I bought it and there was no water ingress brought up.' The woman said the leakage was so bad that she and others like her have had to set up make-shift solutions so they can carry on living in what, for a number of people, is their only home. 'It's not pleasant, it's a health issue and it has been dreadful. It's been running down the walls from above the patio doors and windows and soaking the carpets,' she said. 'The lounge is the worst in my flat, but it also happens in my bedroom. I've had chest infections here, but I try and keep it dry as possible.' The developers of the Quay, construction company Carillion, went into liquidation in 2018 meaning they cannot be held to answer for the way in which the it was built. A group of owners and residents at the Quay believe they should be receiving government support, rather than being the ones picking up the financial burden of what has happened. One of them is Phil Lake, head leaseholder of the entire Meridian Quay development. He said he feels completely let down by every party. The Swansea business owner, 65, has lived in the development he bought in an auction following the collapse of Carillion, and said it was difficult to hear of the suffering of other owners and residents living in the block. He said: 'Nobody can sell on an apartment because no bank will provide a mortgage now. The management fees have doubled and the residents have paid a million pounds more than they should have because the insurance premiums are so high. 'As a result, some people have experienced some serious financial difficulties. People are paying 3500 a year in management fees for a two bedroom apartment - it's crazy.' One elderly resident spoke of excitement as buying her 16th floor apartment in the Meridian Tower 10 years ago, completely unaware of the defects, but said her dream retirement home quickly turned into a living nightmare 'It's not pleasant, it's a health issue and it has been dreadful. It (water) has been running down the walls from above the patio doors and windows and soaking the carpets,' she said. A spokesman for Zurich said: 'We are sorry to hear of the difficulties some leaseholders have faced due to faults that have arisen in their properties at Meridian Quay. 'While we no longer manage these claims, the insurance policies are responding as intended and have paid or are paying out in full for any necessary repairs. 'The allegations about how Zurich ran this business are simply not true and mischaracterise our role. Zurich carried out checks for the sole purpose of deciding whether to insure the building against future faults. 'Zurich did not carry out the detailed full statutory inspections to assess or certify compliance with building regulations, which were conducted by the local authority. To say Zurich's insurance inspections were fraudulent is wrong.' The insurer added that the wording of the policies 'did not confirm or imply that the new home was or would be free of defects or damage'. They added that sale of the warranties to East West had been fully approved by regulators and the Irish High Court, and that the company was 'backed by a multi-billion-dollar insurance group'. They added: 'Zurich agreed in 2016 to sell its building guarantee policies to East West, which was backed by a multi-billion-dollar insurance group and major institutional investors. The sale was fully approved by the Irish High Court and the UK and Irish regulators. 'Prior to this, the transfer was reviewed in detail by an independent actuary who concluded that East West was sufficiently capitalised to pay all valid claims under the policies.' A spokesman from Swansea Council said the local authority is not a party to the High Court proceedings and so could not comment on the matter. The management company at Meridian Quay, CRM Limited, said: 'CRM is working with relevant experts and all stakeholders to implement the necessary repairs required to the development. 'As reported by WalesOnline in January 2020, MQMC and CRM, on behalf of the Leaseholders they represented, secured a significant claim under the Build Warranty Policy where the Insurer confirmed its liability to pay for the repairs relating to the fire safety defects. 'This puts leaseholders at Meridian Quay in a far better position than many other leaseholders across the country who are faced with similar defects at their developments. 'The repair programme, being paid for by the Insurer, commenced 18 months ago and Phase one will be completed this summer. 'CRM and MQMC's remit is restricted to the management, maintenance and repair of the development and cannot therefore provide comment on individual claims for compensation against the original build warranty insurer.' When approached about funding, a spokesman from the Welsh Government said: 'CRM, the Meridian Quay Management Agents, has advised that all works in relation to compartmentation and cladding issues for the whole development (including Meridian Tower) will be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. 'Residents that paid the additional service charges, issued in 2019, have been refunded and additional charges for building safety remediation issues have been dismissed for those who had yet to pay.' Presidente @FSagasti: Hemos tenido un proceso electoral limpio y transparente, donde el Gobierno mantuvo una estricta neutralidad.#PeruVotaSeguro#EleccionesBicentenario pic.twitter.com/YUKjV8YRU5 With the coronavirus pandemic now in its second year in Kenya, most industries, if not all, are feeling the effects of the crisis. One of the sectors currently feeling the pinch is the film industry, with Kenyan actor Ted Kitana among those who have been forced to take drastic measures to survive. Speaking in an online interview, the former Tahidi High actor, famously known as Teacher Kilunda, said he relocated to the village after Citizen TV abruptly halted the show. I can say it proved to be an abrupt decision by the management because we woke up one morning and our services were not needed. So I had to quickly devise ways to survive. The first thing was to relocate to this place (in Kangundo), he said. Kitana said he has since adjusted to life in the village and has no plans of returning to Nairobi. It took some time to adjust but I have come to love the place. My family is still in Nairobi but the village life is best. Food is fresh, with no pressure. I have no plans of going back to the city unless a job opportunity comes up, Kilunda said. To make ends meet, Kilunda has started a youtube channel and some businesses in Kangundo. I have a shop. I am planning to open a barbershop and other services that are not available here. I am also available for an acting job as I have not quit the stage. I am open to listening to offers and opportunities. Kitana, 43, noted that some of his colleagues and friends in the industry are having it rough. Covid-19 is the worst thing that happened to artists because their main source of income was disrupted. Life has changed but I advise them not to give up. Everyone out there was affected and it is only those that leave their chin up that stand a chance at survival. SAN MATEO, Calif., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OneSignal Inc , the leading solution for customer engagement messaging, announced today that it has received a strategic investment from HubSpot , the customer relationship management (CRM) software platform for scaling companies. Together, OneSignal and HubSpot will work to bring advanced omni-channel marketing automation to growing organizations globally. HubSpot's investment offers an opportunity to tap OneSignal's robust developer community of over 1.2 million developers and marketers across the globe. "HubSpot shares OneSignal's commitment to building products for a community of customer-oriented developers. The OneSignal team has developed an impressive customer messaging product that is beloved by this community and we're proud to support them with this investment," said Andrew Lindsay, SVP of Corporate Development and Business Development at HubSpot. The collaboration between OneSignal and HubSpot represents a partnership of two of the most widely used customer engagement platforms for small to medium-sized businesses. The result of the strategic investment in OneSignal includes a powerful new integration built within HubSpot's key messaging infrastructure, which will give HubSpot's growing customer base of over 100,000 users access to mobile and web push notifications, which have become critical channels of expansion. "The future of customer engagement relies on businesses being able to send personalized messages to their customers across many channels. Our partnership and integration with HubSpot is a key step in making it easier for developers and marketers to power modern and effective omni-channel messaging experiences. We're excited to be working closely with HubSpot to bring our market-leading products together to help businesses of all sizes better acquire and engage their users," said George Deglin, CEO of OneSignal. Joint customers of HubSpot and OneSignal can build and send messages across multiple digital channels using minimal lines of code, making it easy to automate messaging campaigns right from the HubSpot dashboard and build a seamless omnichannel user journey. As part of this innovative integration, OneSignal-powered mobile and web push notifications can be triggered directly from HubSpot's Automation Workflow portal. Businesses looking for more advanced functionality like analytics, messaging templates, A/B testing, and more can access even more features in OneSignal. For more information, please visit www.onesignal.com and www.hubspot.com/ecosystem . About OneSignal OneSignal is the market-leading customer messaging and engagement solution, offering mobile and web push notifications, in-app messaging, SMS, and email. OneSignal's powerful multi-channel platform enables one million businesses to deliver over eight billion messages daily. Powered by superior architecture, OneSignal is designed to scale and deliver personalized and engaging messages for businesses of all sizes. By providing an open API, extensive documentation, free accounts, and intuitive personalization and analytics tools, OneSignal helps businesses of all sizes provide a seamless messaging experience to create meaningful customer connections. Ranking #90 of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies in the nation, OneSignal was recently recognized for exceeding 3,696 percent revenue growth over the past three years. OneSignal was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California. Learn more at https://onesignal.com. OneSignal Media Contact Lisa Cravens Lumina Communications [email protected] 408-680-0563 SOURCE OneSignal Related Links https://onesignal.com Indian American health care workers holding H-1B visas have launched an all-out effort to attain green cards by lobbying Congress to eliminate the per-country caps that have placed them in backlogged queues exceeding 195 years. Front-line health workers are beating COVID-19 and we will beat the discrimination causing green cards backlog, tweeted the ad hoc organization Frontline Healthcare Workers in Greencard Backlog. (photo courtesy of Raj Karnatak) Producers are said to be having late-night discussions to see if they can host a satellite ceremony for this year's Academy Awards at London's BFI Southbank. The Academy previously said this year's Oscars, to air on Sunday April 25, will be broadcast live and 'in-person' from multiple locations, after it was postponed two months by the pandemic. According to Variety, producers are having talks with the British Film Institute about holding the event, with its U.K. nominees, at the BFI in Southbank. Oscars: Producers are said to be having late-night discussions to see if they can host a satellite ceremony for this year's Academy Awards at London's BFI Southbank The publication states the Academy is trying to find a solution that will work with current guidelines, if they plan to host the ceremony indoors. The source added to Variety that only nominees will receive an invite to the coveted event, alongside one guest and everyone will have to take two coronavirus tests before the ceremony. Those travelling to the U.K. will need to quarantine for the required 10 days, and take two coronavirus tests. MailOnline has contacted the Academy and BFI Southbank for comment. Talk: According to Variety , producers are having talks with the British Film Institute about holding the event, with its U.K. nominees, at the BFI Southbank British hopes: Sacha Baron Cohen and Carey Mulligan lead the British hopes at this year's Academy Awards Going for it: Daniel Kaluuya will be hoping to replicate his awards season success as he is nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for Judas and the Black Messiah (pictured) Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Kaluuya, Carey Mulligan and Vanessa Kirby lead the British nods for the 93rd Academy Award nominations. Sacha, 49, is recognised in the Best Supporting Actor category for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm while Daniel, 32, will compete against him with his role in Judas and the Black Messiah. Previous Best Actor Oscar winners Gary Oldman, 62, and Anthony Hopkins, 83 will face off against fellow Brit and Emmy winner Riz Ahmed in the Best Actor category for Mank, The Father and Sound of Metal respectively. They join fellow Best Actor nominees, the late Chadwick Boseman for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Steven Yeun for Minari. Oldman previously won the Oscar in 2018 for Darkest Hour while Hopkins won for his iconic role as Hannibal Lector in 1992's Silence of the Lambs. The Crown stars: Vanessa Kirby (left) is nominated in the Best Actress category for Pieces of a Woman while Olivia Colman (right) is hoping for her second Oscar win and first Supporting actress win for The Father The Best Actress category sees Brit actresses Vanessa Kirby, 32, and Carey Mulligan, 35, nominated for Pieces Of A Woman and Promising Young Woman. Carey is fresh off the success of the Critics' Choice Awards - where she picked up the Best Actress gong while Vanessa has also enjoyed multiple nominations across awards season. Emerald Fennell is nominated for Best Director for Promising Young Woman, making Oscars history with Chloe Zhao for Nomadland - the first time ever two women have been nominated in the category. In the Supporting Actress category, previous winner Olivia Colman is recognised for her role in The Father, alongside Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Glenn Close for Hillbilly Elegy, Amanda Seyfried for Mank and Youn Yuh-jung for Minari. A satellite ceremony will also take place in Paris, where seven nominees will attend a local studio from Canal Plus. Due to stricter Covid restrictions, the publications reports nominees will not be allowed to bring a plus one. The film academy has confirmed that the show will be held at both its usual home in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and the city's railway hub, Union Station. The 93rd Academy Awards will be 'an Oscars like none other, while prioritizing the public health and safety of all those who will participate,' a spokesperson said. Titans: Previous Best Actor Oscar winners Gary Oldman (left) and Anthony Hopkins (centre) join Riz Ahmed, 38, (right) in the Best Actor category for their roles in Mank, The Father and Sound of Metal respectively Last month, producer Steven Soderbergh said the Academy is keeping plans for the Oscars under wraps, due to the ever-changing restrictions the pandemic brings. He said: 'We're so sorry for the frustration that our silence has caused. It's not because we don't care. It's not because we aren't listening or that we've been caught off guard by the complexities of the show. 'Every day since the nominations came out, we've had an internal debate whether to release information about what we're doing even though that information is often etched in Jell-O.' History makers: Emerald Fennell is one of two female directors nominated in the Best Director category for Promising Young Woman Tesco has revealed that its profits tumbled by around a fifth over the past year after coronavirus costs of almost 900 million offset surging sales. The supermarket giant said on Wednesday morning that pre-tax profits slid to 825 million for the 12 months to February, compared with 1.03 billion the previous year. It said profits were weighed down by 892 million in Covid-related costs and the companys decision to hand 585 million in business rates relief back to the Government. The bumper bill of pandemic costs was particularly driven by hiring staff to cover workers impacted by Covid-19 and investment in safety in stores. Tesco hired almost 50,000 temporary workers during the pandemic, about 20,000 of whom have joined the retailer permanently. It had benefited from a jump in demand for groceries during the pandemic, with more meals eaten at home amid restrictions on the hospitality sector and changes to working habits. Group sales excluding fuel increased by 7% to 53.4 billion for the year, buoyed by soaring online sales. Online sales jumped by 77% to 6.3 billion in the UK as the company doubled delivery capacity to meet rising demand from housebound customers. The group said it has pumped significant investment into keeping its prices low in a bid to match its discount rivals, with Tesco launching its Aldi Price Match campaign last year. It said it has made progress in the value perception among customers as a result. Tesco CEO Ken Murphy (Ben Stevens/Parsons Media/PA) Chief executive Ken Murphy said: Tesco has shown incredible strength and agility throughout the pandemic. By putting our customers and colleagues first, we have built a stronger business. While the pandemic is not yet over, were well-placed to build on the momentum in our business. We have strengthened our brand, increased customer satisfaction and improved value perception. Donald Brown, senior investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, said: Tescos results reflect the sometimes tricky position that supermarkets found themselves in over the last year. Although they have largely been able to trade through the last 12 months, this has come with significant extra costs. The dividend remaining protected, albeit unchanged from last year, is a positive sign and suggests management are relatively confident in the medium-term outlook. Shares in the company moved 3.1% lower to to 224.9p in early trading. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union is taking Queensland Health to the industrial relations tribunal over concerns frontline nurses are being put at risk of contracting COVID-19 because of ill-fitting masks. The QNMU says it still has not received adequate assurances that the N95 masks being used by nurses who care for COVID-19 patients are being properly fit-tested to ensure they work properly. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union is taking Queensland Health to the industrial relations tribunal over concerns about mask use in the states COVID hospitals. Credit:ACM Union secretary Beth Mohle said that, in the wake of a doctor and three nurses contracting COVID-19 while working with infectious patients at Brisbanes Princess Alexandra Hospital recently, clear guidelines for fit-testing needed to be in place across the state. We still havent got to the bottom of what has happened there, and the investigation is yet to determine why that occurred, Ms Mohle said. A vaccination success story Despite the setback from Johnson & Johnson, theres still some good news in the campaign to vaccinate Americans. Providers are administering nearly 3.4 million doses per day on average, and close to one in every four residents has now been fully vaccinated. Every state is administering shots at a solid pace, and there is one particularly bright spot that may hold lessons. New Mexico despite having one of the highest poverty rates in the country has put in motion one of the most efficient rollouts, and is surging past states with far more resources in the race to reach herd immunity. More than 57 percent of the adult population there has received at least one shot, and nearly 38 percent of adults are fully vaccinated. Only New Hampshire has a higher vaccination rate. Infectious disease experts say New Mexicos success can be attributed to a centralized portal for vaccine appointments and a strong focus by elected officials on combating the virus. Early in the crisis, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat and former state health secretary, adopted significant social distancing measures despite fierce opposition. ADVERTISEMENT The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made it compulsory for players in the real estate sector to be registered under Real Estate Developers Association (REDAN). The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a unit operationally domiciled in EFCC, said the measure is part of efforts to check fraudulent activities in the sector. Real estate in Nigeria has rapidly expanded and recorded significant growth in recent years. But the sector is poorly regulated, and often seen as a magnet for fraudsters and corrupt officials who invest with stolen public funds. Speaking at the launch of the REDAN seal and magazine in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of SCUML, Daniel Isei, said the seal will help identify real members of the association. Mr. Isei said the seal will also enable the easy prosecution, conviction, and confiscation of ill-gotten wealth and fraudsters in the country. The seal will help to classify members with seal and those without seal. The seal will be a requirement for SCUML, the director represented by Enu Mathew, an EFCC official said. On his part, REDAN president, Aliyu Wamakko, said the seal will be issued to members who have agreed to abide by the ethics of the association. As Members, they shall uphold the principle of equity in the conduct of their business affairs with professionalism, honesty, integrity and sound practices that support the principle of Know Your Customer (KYC) and other Financial Regulations, he said. ALSO READ: EFCC pledges support for forensic training at UniAbuja It will give more credibility to businesses of our members and recognition to the associations documentation process. Whereas the seal will advance the practice of real estate and housing development business in Nigeria, the magazine will boost public knowledge of estate development activities, all in line with global best practices. Also speaking, the managing director of FESADEB group, said there should be stiffer penalties against fraudsters in the sector. Lakeland Dairies, the largest cross-border dairy processing co-operative on the island of Ireland, has announced its results for the year ended December 26, 2020, with increased revenues and operating profit, while paying a competitive milk price to milk producers throughout the year. Farmer owned Lakeland Dairies collects 1.9bn litres of milk from 3,200 farm families across 16 counties in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The co-operative has a portfolio of 240 different dairy products made on eight processing sites which it exports to over 80 countries worldwide. Lakeland Dairies Group Revenues: 1.09bn. Lakeland Dairies achieved record revenues which increased by over 5.7% to 1.09bn across its four operating divisions of Food Ingredients, Foodservice, Consumer Foods and Agribusiness, up by 59.3m on the prior year figure of 1.03bn. This yielded an operating profit of 26m, up by 5.6m (+27%) and EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) of 50.5m, which increased by 7.6m. Lakeland Dairies closed the year with a further strengthened balance sheet including Shareholders Funds of 207.7m. Food Ingredients Division Revenues: 691.0m Food Ingredient revenues increased by 18% to 691.0m, based on consistently strong demand for the co-operatives functional and enriched powders, proteins and dairy fats throughout the year. Lakeland Dairies produced over 250,000 tonnes of powders and butter in 2020. Foodservice Division Revenues: 181.7m Foodservice revenues of 181.7m came in higher than expected in a very challenging year, albeit retracting by 24% on the prior year, given the exceptionally difficult market conditions experienced by this sector as a result of the pandemic. Consumer Foods Division Revenues: 145.9m Consumer Foods had a buoyant year in line with an uplift in overall grocery market growth levels, with revenues of 145.9m Agribusiness Division (Lakeland Agri) Revenues: 75.8m Lakeland Agri increased revenues by 4.7% to 75.8m for the year, based on a strong performance with feed sales volumes of 220,000 tonnes (an increase of just over 4.7%) and fertiliser sales steady at 27,000 tonnes, similar to the prior year. Lakeland Dairies Group Chief Executive Michael Hanley said the results are very positive given the global events of 2020. Notwithstanding the major operational, logistical and commercial constraints of the pandemic, both domestically and globally, we continued to make strong progress across all of our operations and this has yielded excellent results. We paid a competitive milk price throughout the year in line with market conditions. Aligned to our business achievements, we further consolidated the benefits of the Lakeland LacPatrick merger of 2019, achieving ongoing organisational, operational and administrative efficiencies and contributing to overall economies of scale, value creation and long term sustainability for our 3,200 milk producers, north and south. This robust performance enabled us to pay a competitive milk price in spite of serious market uncertainties that existed throughout the year. Market returns depend on the dynamic of milk supply and demand that exists between countries, geographies and continents, also including seasonality and force majeure issues such as the pandemic. We expect relatively stable dairy market conditions through 2021 albeit there are still significant challenges in our operating environment as we await the anticipated beneficial effect of worldwide vaccine initiatives. All of our initiatives are focused on serving the long term sustainability of our farm families while working in partnership with our customers throughout the world. We have excellent facilities using advanced systems and technologies. We continue to invest in our innovation capacity, new products and new ways to market. We have long term, loyal and deeply valued customers and we have the scale we require to continue to compete successfully on a global basis. Lakeland Dairies Chairman, Niall Matthews said, The global nature of world trade continues to require scale and efficiency in meeting market demands. On one hand, we are always influenced by global socioeconomic considerations; on the other, we have achieved the economies of scale to enable us to be flexible and to successfully steer our course through often choppy waters. The 1.9bn litres of milk produced by our dairy farmers is manufactured into the highest quality, natural and wholesome dairy products, creating long term value for our overall co-operative enterprise. Our annual report demonstrates resilience and adaptability which is reassuring for our 3,200 farm families, as primary producers, in terms of the sustainability that we require to underpin the current and future success of our dairy farming. I dont think anybodys happy with the decision, Gilmore acknowledged. We held out as long as we could to make a decision, but we cant wait any longer. Were reluctant to commit resources and sign contracts with outside vendors for something that its not clear will be allowed in a couple of months. WILLOWBROOK, Ill., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based in Willowbrook, Illinois, Russell Health is a national marketer and distributor of specialty medical products and services. Russell Health, Inc., was recently awarded as #2 in Global Business Leaders Magazine's "20 Leading Companies of the Year 2021." Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Global Business Leaders Magazine's mission 'focuses on exalting the contribution of leaders who have been the emissary for their respective industries.' Their 2021 Top 20 list features a collection of leaders across industries like medical technology, finance, marketing, blockchain solutions, industrial fabrication, and more. Read more here Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy? Russell Health's full-page feature presents an article titled, "Russell Health: A Mini Amazon for Regenerative Medicine." It discusses the history of Russell Health Inc., ongoing research and benefits of Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy, and well-defined commentary about how Russell Health has redefined the medicine market, even during a global pandemic. Read Russell Health's featured article here About Russell Health: Russell Health and its partners have distributed regenerative therapy products nationwide and achieved profound clinical outcomes in multiple therapeutic areas including cosmetics, wound care, pain management, podiatry, orthopedic, dentistry and gynecology. With their partners and suppliers, they work to provide innovative life-changing and sustaining products and therapies to patients and healthcare providers around the world. Russell Health's Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy products are intended for homologous use to help repair, reconstruct or supplement the patient's joints or soft tissue as well as help to increase mobility while decreasing pain. These responsibly sourced acellular tissue allografts are helping people of all ages to recover from injuries and get their life back. Pull Quotes: "We have built a mini-Amazon for regenerative medicine." (Ryan Salvino, CEO of Russell Health) "Our ultimate goal from the beginning has been to help people by providing safe alternatives to risky procedures and expensive treatments while offering an alternative to synthetic drugs and embracing more holistic and organic products. We want to continue to become the number one supplier of regenerative medicine in the U.S." (Jonathan Benstent, Vice President of Russell Health) "While the pandemic caused major disruption throughout the industry, it managed to pivot patients and physicians toward alternative treatments such as Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy. This demand can help in further enhancing the discovery of new applications for Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy products. As a result, Russell Health is working with some of the top leaders in the regenerative medicine field to continue to grow and provide innovative products to customers and their patients." (Global Business Leaders Magazine) Visit Russell Health online to learn more about Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy. For media inquiries or to contact the Russell Health team directly. Please visit www.russellhealth.com or email [email protected]. Contact: Veronica Bennett Address & Phone: 621 Plainfield Rd., Willowbrook, IL 60527; 844-249-6200 Email: [email protected] Online: www.russellhealth.com Social Media: www.linkedin.com/company/russell-health :: https://www.facebook.com/russellhealthinc :: https://www.instagram.com/russellhealth :: https://twitter.com/health_russell Related Files Ryan Salvino BREAKFILE.pdf Related Images russell-health-leading-companies.jpeg Russell Health - Leading Companies Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy SOURCE Russell Health (Newser) A new report from the Capitol Police force's internal investigator says that even though the force had advance warnings about the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol, officers were told not to use their most powerful tools for crowd-control. The New York Times calls the watchdog report "the most devastating account to date of the lapses and miscalculations" surrounding the attack. The 104-page document from inspector general Michael A. Bolton will be addressed during a House Administration Committee hearing Thursday. It reveals that the Civil Disturbance Unit was instructed not to use tools like stun grenades to disperse the mob. Per NPR, it also reports they received "cumbersome" protective gear and riot shields that shattered upon impact due to having been stored improperly or simply being too old. story continues below This despite the fact that, as the report reveals, the warnings in the lead-up to Jan. 6 were more clear than previously thought. "Unlike previous postelection protests, the targets of the pro-Trump supporters are not necessarily the counterprotesters as they were previously, but rather Congress itself is the target on the 6th," a threat assessment sent three days before the siege read. Yet, the report says, officers were woefully ill-prepared to handle the attack due to intelligence breakdowns and discrepancies and poor leadership decisions. In addition, some members of the CDU had not undergone the mandatory annual training in years, and some critical equipment was in short supply. (Read more Capitol riot stories.) South Africa: District Development Model comes to Mopani Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha will on Friday launch the Mopani District Development Model. At the launch, Mathabatha will be joined by Members of Executive Council; Executive Mayor of Mopani District, Pule Shayi and all the five mayors from the local municipalities. The District Development Model (DDM) is an all of government approach aimed at achieving the constitutional goal of cooperative governance through the strengthening of intergovernmental coordination in the planning, budgeting and implementation of government programmes. This will ensure that all of the provinces five districts have one district plan with one budget, which will promote the Khawuleza (hurry up) way of bringing services to the people. "The DDM has also been adopted as a logical intergovernmental vehicle for integrating and coordinating the implementation of all of governments COVID19 and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) response, as well as the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plans in the 52 district spaces dubbed 'Impact Zones', the Premier's office said in a statement. During his State of the Province Address, Mathabatha reiterated the importance of rebuilding the province from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes provision of quality healthcare, education, water, construction of roads, housing, job creation and more. During the Office of the Premier budget speech, Mathabatha said a district-by-district approach to development is exactly what the country needs, as each district has its unique challenges and competitive advantages. Mopani Districts vision is to be the food basket of Southern Africa and the tourism destination of choice. The district carries some key pillars of the province for the growth of the economy like agriculture, mining, rich tourism destinations (Kruger National Park), and is home to the nutritious mopani worm. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (Natural News) CDMedia spoke the other day with former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne who stated that he believes the world will know within the next two months whether or not Donald Trump is returning to the White House to oust Joe Biden. Byrne has been leading a cyber investigative team that includes numerous well-known patriots who have been fighting to overcome the coup that was perpetrated on the American people by the Biden regime. The 2020 election was clearly stolen and Byrne and his allies believe the truth will come out within the next several months, if not the next several weeks. We have irrefutable proof, Byrne says. It is shocking what happened and who was involved. The information will all come out over the next few weeks. No one will be able to say this is not true. When asked about MyPillow CEO Mike Lindells recent comments about Trump being fully back in office by August, Byrne said that thats Lindell being Lindell. At the same time, Lindells proposed scenario is not necessarily out of the question. This information is so earth-shattering that, yes, it is possible Trump could be back in the White House by the fall, Byrne says. We will reveal the truth. The remedy is up to the American people. Is QAnon behind the hype or is there really something to this? Back in February, Byrne published a book outlining the irrefutable proof of which he speaks. Byrne is selling the book for $4.99 for those interested, otherwise the gist of it all will likely be revealed in the coming weeks. Byrne claims to have spent around $1.5 million gathering the information compiled in the book, hence why he is selling it rather than just giving it away. I started off expecting simply to put it up online for free as a pdf, Byrne explains. A friend convinced me otherwise that it will mean more to more people if it has a price, both domestically and around the world. I accepted his argument. But I priced it as low as a serious book can go. And just so you know, the activities mentioned in this book cost me about $1.5 million, and the 15 year DeepCapture project has cost me about $40 million. Since we have all heard this before and seen nothing come of it, time will tell as to whether there is something to it this time. Many seem to be riding the QAnon wave of hopeful expectations and perhaps this is all just Byrne and Lindell trying to manifest what they hope will happen. The truth is that the American people already seem unwilling to do much about the election fraud evidence that has already been revealed to them. Even if more comes out as Byrne is saying, will anyone care? Will there be any actual remedy if the court systems fail to take it seriously? Your reassurance that a few weeks will show manifests to this reader that your intentions herein are clickbait to increase eyeballs, wrote one skeptical CDMedia commenter. Why you choose to justify your clickbait with more hopium, in a reply to allegations of clickbaiting, is beyond me, other than a Freudian slip exposing your clickbait intent. Why not just admit that you need more eyeballs and this headline will bring more eyeballs than otherwise? On the other hand, another commenter wrote that if it can be proven that foreign interference resulted in Hunters dad stealing the election, then his election can be overturned and everything he signed is null and void. You can keep up with the latest news about the fraudulent 2020 election by visiting Trump.news. Sources for this article include: CreativeDestructionMedia.com NaturalNews.com DeepCapture.com Chennai, April 14 : People across Tamil Nadu welcomed the Tamil New Year or 'Pilava' year on Wednesday with traditional fervour. People greeted each other saying 'Puthaandu Vazhthukkal' or New Year Wishes. The Tamil New Year is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month 'Chithirai' which normally falls on April 13 or 14 annually. Houses are decorated with 'kolam' (rangoli) outside the front door. Mango leaves adorn the door frames. People also visit temples. At home, Tamilians normally feast on dishes like 'vada' and 'payasam' (sweet dish) and other savouries. However, the special dish of the day the 'mango pachidi' made with neem flowers, jaggery, mango, green chilli, salt and tamarind juice representing the six major human emotions was made. Tamils in other countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries also celebrate New Year on this day. Longford constituents are being invited to have their say to shape the future of remote working in an online event this evening. Fine Gael wants to hear the views of people in Longford on remote working in an online event which will be attended by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Senator Micheal Carrigy. Longford Senator Micheal Carrigy is encouraging constituents to register online and take part in a discussion on remote working, which is due to take place on Wednesday, April 14 at 8pm. This is the second meeting in a series of online events taking place under the brand Shape Your Future which is being organised by Fine Gael. The party wishes to hear the views of members of the public on a range of issues and encourage engagement between them and their local representatives. Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Donohoe said, I am delighted to have the opportunity to take part in this Shape your Future event with my colleague, Senator Micheal Carrigy, to discuss remote working. Working from home, or remote working, has been an essential part of our response to the pandemic. The Government has a strategy in place to ensure that remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. It is so important for us to hear the views of people in all parts of the country so that the Government can work to maximise the benefits of a new way of working and to mitigate any side effects. Balanced regional development is an integral part of this change and is a continued priority for Government, as is the creation of new job opportunities for people who want to live in rural Ireland and incentives for businesses located in rural towns and villages to develop and grow. I would encourage people to take part in our online discussion to hear their experiences as we forge ahead with plans to create more flexible working arrangements for people, Minister Donohoe concluded. Senator Micheal Carrigy, who is Fine Gael spokesperson for Art, Media, Sport and Tourism, said, We would like feedback from the public, not only on how remote working has enabled them to achieve a better work/ life balance, but also on the challenges presented by this change, including access to highspeed broadband. Fine Gael has made great strides in committing to making remote working a bigger part of live after Covid. The recent publication of the Remote Work Strategy includes targets and building infrastructure around remote work that will benefit communities. Our Rural Future also contains a welcome blueprint to draw people to work in local communities across the country, with plans to establish a network of 400 remote working hubs nationwide. With this, we need to ensure that there is a coordinated approach in having these hubs in strategic locations in Longford, with ample services and facilities to support people who work there. Longford is an ideal location for people who may wish to relocate for work, we are situated an hour and a half from Dublin, with good quality schools, value for money when it comes to housing, and good infrastructure in place. The policies Government are pursuing are aimed at helping counties like Longford to recover from the impact of COVID-19, enabling long-term development and creating vibrant communities. People can take part in the event, which takes place on Wednesday, April 14 at 8pm, by registering their details through Fine Gaels website at https://www.finegael.ie/ shapeyourfuture/longford/ . A new 1.5 MWth pilot plant is being built at Cranfield University to test an innovative hydrogen production technology that substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The HyPER project (Bulk Hydrogen Production by Sorbent Enhanced Steam Reforming) is an international collaboration led by Cranfield University with 7.4 million funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's (BEIS) 505m Energy Innovation Programme. It is set to examine the potential for low-carbon hydrogen to be the clean fuel of the future. The project also involves US-based research and development organisation GTI and Doosan Babcock, a specialist in delivery of low-carbon technologies. The project centres on a novel hydrogen production technology invented by GTI. Global impact Dr Peter Clough, Lecturer in Energy Engineering at Cranfield University, said: The first pieces of equipment are already on order and construction is beginning, so we're looking forward to the plant being operational in autumn this year. It will be a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the scale-up of the technology and process, and offer a unique teaching and research facility for students." He continued: "In the year of the COP26 climate conference it's significant that the kind of technology we are exploring could have an important impact globally. It will minimise greenhouse gas emissions and make the production, storage and transportation of low-carbon hydrogen a reality. We anticipate great benefits for consumers, industry and the hydrogen sector." "Energy companies have to meet the reliability, cost, and safety needs that their customers demand at the same time they are reducing the impact on the environment. Hydrogen is a great solution for that, and this technology offers great market potential and makes economic sense," said Mike Rutkowski, GTI Senior Vice President, Research and Technology Development. "GTI is developing the technologies for a safe, reliable, affordable pathway to a low-carbon energy future." The pilot plant is designed to demonstrate key components of the process and enable future scale-up and lead to commercially operating facilities. The pilot plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation. Hydrogen could become a widespread resource Hydrogen (H2) is a vital compound that goes into the production of fertilisers and chemicals, as well as an essential reactant for many processes. The demand for low-carbon hydrogen is expected to increase significantly in the future, as H2 is used to decarbonise the gas grid, industry, power generation and transportation. New process could offer lower cost and more efficiency GTI's innovative hydrogen production technology inherently captures the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) during the hydrogen production process and shifts the chemical reactions to favour the production of more hydrogen. The outputs are high purity streams of hydrogen and carbon dioxide which can be then stored, sold or transported to where they are needed. The process for the direct production of hydrogen from natural gas that will be used in the project is compact yet scalable to very large plants. It has the potential to produce high purity hydrogen, typically 25% lower in cost than conventional steam methane reforming methods that require CO2 capture as an additional expensive process step. Conventional technology is also limited in the portion of CO2 emissions that can actually be avoided with reasonable economics. The key benefits of this technology are its significant reduction in capital cost, compact size, and higher efficiency without generating excess steam. With the HyPER project beginning its construction phase, the University and project team is looking forward to the process insights from the research data generated. Bulk quantities of low-carbon hydrogen will be vitally important for the UK, and globally, to meet 2050 decarbonisation targets. ### NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a leading provider of cost-effective renewable energy across North America, announced that the 180 MWac Cove Mountain solar projects in Iron County, Utah have begun commercial operation. "The DESRI team is thrilled to begin commercial operations at our Cove Mountain facilities, which were completed through our strong partnerships with PacifiCorp, Facebook, and First Solar," said David Zwillinger, CEO of DESRI. "These are the first of DESRI's renewable energy projects in Utah to reach commercial operation, representing an important milestone in our mission to expand the production of clean, cost-effective energy in Utah." Cove Mountain and Cove Mountain 2 have long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with PacifiCorp on behalf of Facebook, providing Facebook's data center operations with new solar resources. Swinerton Renewable Energy constructed the projects. The acquisition and construction of the Cove Mountain projects were financed by a syndicate of lenders, including HSBC as Coordinating Lead Arranger, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, National Cooperative Services Corporation, and Fifth Third Bank. Wells Fargo provided tax equity for the projects. "We are proud to provide tax equity financing to DESRI for the Cove Mountain projects. These large solar projects help accelerate the nation's transition to a low carbon economy while providing jobs to the local community," said Sam Buechner, a director with Wells Fargo Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance. "HSBC was delighted to lead the financing for the Cove Mountain 1&2 and Hunter solar projects in the early days of COVID," said James Edmonds, director of HSBC Bank USA. "HSBC remains fully committed to sustainable financing and looks forward to further supporting states' objectives for utilizing the sector as a focus for post-COVID global economic recovery." Cove Mountain and Cove Mountain 2 represent two of DESRI's nine projects that are currently operating, under construction or have signed PPAs in Utah. DESRI's other projects in Utah include Hunter Solar, which began operating this year, and Sigurd Solar, which reached mechanical completion in March. About D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and its affiliates acquire, own, and manage long-term contracted renewable energy assets in North America. DESRI's portfolio of contracted renewable energy projects currently includes 75 wind and solar projects across 32 states with 5,372 MWac of aggregate capacity. DESRI is a member of the D. E. Shaw group, a global investment and technology development firm with more than $55 billion in investment and committed capital as of March 1, 2021, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Please visit www.deshaw.com for more information about the D. E. Shaw group. This press release is provided for the reader's information only and does not constitute investment advice or convey an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or other financial products. Please also note that this press release has not been updated since its dateline for any information contained in it that may have changed, including any beliefs and/or opinions. In addition, no assurances can be given that any aims, assumptions, expectations, and/or goals described in this release will be realized or that the activities or any performance described herein did or will continue at all or in the same manner as at the time of the press release. Contact: Randall Whitestone or Theresa Kim The D. E. Shaw group [email protected] SOURCE D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments Related Links https://www.deshaw.com April 14, 2021 Hamilton, Bermuda Flex LNG, Ltd. ("Flex LNG" or the "Company") (OSE/NYSE: FLNG) announced today it has entered into time charterparty agreements with Cheniere Marketing International ("Cheniere") for four LNG carriers with the option for a fifth LNG carrier. Under the agreements, Flex LNG will employ newbuild Flex Vigilant which will be delivered to Cheniere ex-yard in May 2021. In addition, Flex LNG will deliver two of its existing LNG carriers to Cheniere during the third quarter of 2021, and a third existing LNG carrier during the third quarter of 2022. Cheniere will have the option to add a fifth LNG carrier from Flex LNG's existing fleet during the third quarter of 2022. The firm charter period for each of the four initial LNG carriers is between three and three and a half years, with an option for Cheniere to extend each by up to two additional years. ystein M. Kalleklev, Chief Executive Officer of Flex LNG Management AS, commented: "We are very pleased to enter into these agreements with Cheniere. The agreements secure attractive employment for four, possibly five, of our ships with a first-class charterer. Our large and energy efficient ships are particularly well suited for their long-haul trade and align with Cheniere's efforts to secure required shipping capacity while improving the environmental performance of their overall fleet. Hence, this agreement makes very much sense for both parties, so we look forward to further developing our relationship in the years to come. Lastly, these contracts add substantial revenue backlog to our Company which is in line with our communicated strategy of securing attractive term-employment for our ships when we think the time is right." All existing Flex LNG ships are large LNG carriers with a cargo capacity of approximately 173,400 to 174,000 cubic meters (CBM) and fitted with efficient dual-fuel two-stroke propulsion (MEGI/XDF). This makes the ships particularly ideal for large parcel, long haul transportation with the industry's lowest carbon footprint and unit transportation cost. The Time Charter Party Agreements remain subject to final documentation and certain closing conditions in connection with the delivery and acceptance of the LNG carriers to Cheniere. About FLEX LNG LTD Flex LNG is shipping company focused on the growing market for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Our fleet consists of twelve LNG carriers on the water and one remaining newbuildings for delivery in May 2021. All our vessels are state-of-the-art ships with the latest generation two-stroke propulsion (MEGI and X-DF). These modern ships offers significant improvements in fuel efficiency and thus also carbon footprint compared to the older steam and four-stroke propelled ships. Flex LNG is listed both on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE) under the ticker "FLNG". Medics in the Cypriot mountain village of Kyperounta prepare to inoculate a resident with the AstraZeneca vaccine In a bid to encourage reluctant islanders to take AstraZeneca jabs, members of the Greek Cypriot cabinet are to stage a joint Covid-19 vaccination event on Thursday to try to shore up public trust. Cypriots are wary of choosing the AstraZeneca vaccine after highly publicised deaths linked to rare blood clotting incidents after taking the jab. On Wednesday, government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said cabinet members who have not been vaccinated will together receive the AstraZeneca shot at a centre in Nicosia. "It will send a message of confidence in the vaccine's safety and efficacy," Koushos said in a written statement. Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides is to be vaccinated next Monday as he is abroad on official business. The move comes as vaccinations hit a speed bump following reports of a possible link between the AZ vaccine and rare cases of blood clotting. Cypriots eligible for vaccination have shown a clear preference for Pfizer or Moderna jabs after doubts surrounding AstraZeneca. Reassurances from the European Medicines Agency that the AZ vaccine's benefits outweigh the risks have done little to boost confidence. The island's online vaccination portal opened on Tuesday for people aged 55 and 56 with 20,000 appointments available, the majority for AstraZeneca. But thousands of slots remained open, with people preferring to wait for Pfizer or Moderna, the health ministry said. It was the same last week for those aged 57 and 58, with thousands of AZ jabs not taken up. The Cyprus Mail newspaper reported Wednesday that the vaccination portal has been updated "to combat system crashes as the public manoeuvres to avoid the AstraZeneca shot put pressure on it and doctors alike". "We spend all day either trying to book vaccines for patients or reassuring patients over the phone that AstraZeneca is safe," Andreas Polynikis, chairman of a family physicians group, told the daily. AstraZeneca is the cornerstone of the Cyprus government's vaccination rollout. Cypriots not coming forward for the jab hampers plans to vaccinate 60 percent of the one-million population by the end of June. The official Cyprus News Agency said the country was to receive some 2,400 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Wednesday afternoon but it was "unknown if it will be distributed" due to blood clot cases reported in the United States. Government-controlled southern Cyprus has registered more than 52,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and over 270 deaths since the pandemic reached its shores in February-March 2020. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Appeals Court upholds Ohio's Down syndrome abortion ban; judges debate 'eugenics' comparison Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An appeals court has reversed a lower court decision blocking the enforcement of a law that bans the abortion of babies diagnosed as having Down syndrome. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit released a full-court opinion on Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by abortion providers against Ohio over House Bill 214, also called the "Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act," which was passed in 2017. Circuit Judge Alice M. Batchelder wrote the majority opinion, being joined by eight other circuit judges, concluding in part that the right to an abortion, even before viability, is not absolute. In [Roe v. Wade], the Supreme Court said, we do not agree with the contention that the womans right is absolute and that she is entitled to terminate her pregnancy at whatever time, in whatever way, and for whatever reason she alone chooses, explained Batchelder. Simply put, there is no absolute or per se right to an abortion based on the stage of the pregnancy. The district court erred by so holding, and the plaintiffs cannot succeed on that proposition standing alone or show any likelihood that they could do so. Batchelder also concluded that even if HB 214 is fully enforced, a woman in Ohio who does not want a child with Down syndrome may lawfully obtain an abortion solely for that reason. H.B. 214 does not prohibit her from choosing or obtaining an abortion for that, or any other, reason, she continued. It bars a doctor from aborting a pregnancy when that doctor knows the womans specific reason and that her reason is: the forthcoming child will have Down syndrome and, because of that, she does not want it. Sixth Circuit Judge Bernice Bouie Donald, one of the seven judges to dissent from the majority, argued in a dissent that the law was the long-arm of the statewielding the threat of a class-four felonyforcefully reaching into a profoundly intimate conversation between doctor and patient and telling the patient to be silent about her medical history or worse, purposefully lie about it. The majority adopts that purported interestprotecting the Down syndrome community from the stigma of a Down-syndrome selective abortionas a valid and legitimate state interest, wrote Donald, who rebutted the claim by quoting from the Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down sodomy laws in the United States. When considering moral views which are profound and deep for someas views on abortion certainly arethe power of the state may nonetheless not be used to enforce these views on the whole society through operation of the criminal law. Judge Richard Grifffin, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, added: "Many think that eugenics ended with the horrors of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, it did not. The philosophy and the pure evil that motivated Hitler and Nazi Germany to murder millions of innocent lives continues today." In response, Judge Julia Gibbons, also a Bush appointee, described Griffin's comparison as "inapt" because it "ignores the many complex and very personal reasons that might lead a woman to seek an abortion." She added: "But the American eugenics movement does share a goal of the majority view in this case: both seek to control a womans reproductive decisions. Eugenics certainly lives on... but not in a womans decisions about her reproductive health. The shadow of the eugenics movement materializes when the state wrests those decisions from her." Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said in a statement released Tuesday that he was elated that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with life and ruled against the fatal discrimination of babies with Down syndrome. The eugenic practice of singling out human lives for death because of a Down syndrome diagnosis has no place in our society, stated Gonidakis. This court ruling brings us one step closer to ensuring that vulnerable babies with special needs are not marked for death because of who they are. Every life is worth living and every precious and unique human being is worthy of complete protection under law. Jessie Hill, cooperating attorney for the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said that the pro-choice civil rights group was deeply disappointed that the Sixth Circuit decided to overrule the clearly correct decision from the district court. Patients should have all the information desired about their pregnancy, and be encouraged to ask questions confidentially in order to make the very personal decision to have an abortion freely, without the presence of politicians in the exam room, stated Hill on Tuesday. Its unfortunate that the court gave so little weight to the importance of open and honest communication within the doctor-patient relationship. A bill that would fix a property tax break mistakenly given to public utilities will be considered by the state Senate following passage by the House. A senate committee this week unanimously recommended approval of the bill, sending it to the Senate floor April 13. The proposal would exclude public utilities from tax breaks that were part of the gas-tax legislation passed in 2017 to fix South Carolina's roads. The gas tax and several related fees are expected to raise about $600 million a year once they're fully implemented in 2023. The original legislation included a tax break for manufacturers that haven't already received a tax break under what's known as a fee-in-lieu agreement, in which a business pays a fixed amount that's typically lower than what it would pay through property taxes. Those arrangements are widely used as an incentive to lure industry that might balk at the state's 10.5 percent property tax rate one of the highest rates for manufacturers in the nation. The gas-tax reduces the value of a manufacturer's property including land, buildings and depreciated equipment for tax purposes. The law, however, did not explicitly exclude property owned or leased by regulated public utilities, such as Dominion Energy and Duke Energy. Their industry has been under heavy scrutiny by South Carolina legislators since the failed $9 billion expansion of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant in mid-2017. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! Moncks Corner-based Santee Cooper is not included because it is not regulated by the S.C. Public Service Commission. Murrell Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said during a meeting last month that legal concerns have been raised about whether the gas-tax law includes utilities, "so we're just clarifying the legislative intent without having to go through litigation and have the Supreme Court determine it." The bill that's working its way through the Legislature would be retroactive to tax years beginning in 2020. It would require any regulated utilities that benefited from the original law to pass the savings along to customers through credits or reduced rates. The reduction for manufacturers drew criticism from the S.C.Policy Council, a Columbia-based research group, which called the property tax break "ill-defined, complicated and narrowly targeted." The S.C. Manufacturers Alliance supported the reduction, saying it helped to level the playing field for companies that werent able to take advantage of fee-in-lieu agreements. [April 14, 2021] OpenLoop, the Digital Health Marketplace Connecting Certified Clinicians to Telehealth Opportunities, Closes Oversubscribed $3M Seed Round DES MOINES, Iowa, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenLoop, a virtual health company based in Des Moines, Iowa, today announced their oversubscribed seed round financing of $3 million. The round was led by an angel group of physicians and was joined by Techstars, Next Level Ventures, Panoramic Ventures, and ISA Ventures, along with all existing investors, including Chairman Dr. Richard Ferguson, PhD. This financing enables OpenLoop to expedite the development of their marketplace technology and grow their team of experts. "We're excited to partner with OpenLoop as they work to improve community health by drastically streamlining how clinicians and healthcare organizations connect around locum tenens and telehealth hiring," says Mark Buffington, Managing Partner at Panoramic Ventures. According to a September 2019 study conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 35% of respondents said they had issues finding a clinician over the three prior years. That gap in access to care only continues to widen. More recent data from the AAMC anticipates that the US could experience a shortage of up to 139,000 primary and specialty care physicians by 2033; a staggering number that Telehealth adoption could alleviate. Scaling Sustainable Digital Health Solutions OpenLoop, which first launched i March of 2020, grew their fractional clinician workforce to over 5,500 clinicians in the first ten months of operation. These medical professionals utilize the OpenLoop network to find Telehealth shifts with companies implementing and scaling virtual healthcare services. OpenLoop's clients include Vermeer Corporation, a Fortune 500 manufacturer; Cano Health; and several telemedicine brands increasing their patient visit capacity nationally. "Telehealth has tremendous potential, and we think OpenLoop fits quite nicely in that big opportunity. We are very excited to back Jon, Christian, and the entire OpenLoop team," says Scott Hoekman, Co-Founder and Partner at Next Level Ventures. About OpenLoop OpenLoop was founded by Midwest natives, Dr. Jon Lensing and Christian Williams, with the mission to enable healing anywhere by servicing all 42,000 zip codes nationwide. Growing up in rural Iowa, Lensing's father was the area's only OBGYN. His passion for accessibility to care was sparked at an early age as he witnessed patients driving five hours each way to visit the hospital out of necessity. OpenLoop was created from that same motivation to bridge the care gap and bring healthcare into the home. OpenLoop's investment in applicant tracking and credentialing accelerates the delivery of patient care by connecting certified clinicians and insurance partners with Telehealth companies and rural healthcare facilities. For more information, visit: https://openloophealth.com . Media Contact: Jon Lensing CEO of OpenLoop 307136@email4pr.com 641-780-1114 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/openloop-the-digital-health-marketplace-connecting-certified-clinicians-to-telehealth-opportunities-closes-oversubscribed-3m-seed-round-301268533.html SOURCE OpenLoop [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Unions have requested an urgent meeting with the prime minister to address the vaccine rollout in aged and disability care. Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus has lodged a written request for a meeting with Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Disability Minister Linda Reynolds. Ms McManus wants the national rollout recalibrated to ensure workers and the vulnerable Australians they support are better protected. Unions want frontline workers vaccinated as soon as possible. 'We are concerned that nearly two months after the commencement of the program very few aged care and nearly no disability care workers have been offered their first vaccination,' Ms McManus said. Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus (pictured) has lodged a written request for a meeting with Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Disability Minister Linda Reynolds The unions are also concerned about documented failures of private companies contracted by the federal government to deliver the rollout. 'This leaves unions with little confidence these workers, as well as the people in their care, will be vaccinated before the onset of winter,' Ms McManus said. Unions want greater transparency in relation to the number of aged and disability care workers vaccinated each day. They also want a clearer understanding of the performance of private contractors, and how much they are being paid to administer vaccines. Ms McManus has asked for an explanation of how updated advice on the use of AstraZeneca vaccines will affect the rollout, and an assurance Pfizer jabs will be given to as many workers under 50 as possible. Ms McManus wants the national rollout recalibrated to ensure workers and the vulnerable Australians they support are better protected (stock) She has also requested an urgent boost to resourcing for the states to get the national program back on track. The letter also raises concerns around logistical flaws affecting the rollout in the aged and disability sectors as well as the handling of vaccine hesitancy and immune response reactions. 'These are important issues that need to be handled appropriately,' Ms McManus said. 'The government should be providing clear guidance to the sector on the vaccination program and these matters specifically.' Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 00:05:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows the container terminal of the Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua) "We expect export momentum to remain robust in the second quarter (Q2)," said the report, adding that a strong global economic recovery would underpin China's exports through 2021, despite the likely retreat of pandemic-related demand later this year. LONDON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China's exports and imports are both expected to see strong growth in the rest of 2021 amid positive global and domestic economic recovery, British think tank Oxford Economics said in a report released Tuesday. "We expect export momentum to remain robust in the second quarter (Q2)," said the report, adding that a strong global economic recovery would underpin China's exports through 2021, despite the likely retreat of pandemic-related demand later this year. Given global shipping delays could overshadow the near-term export outlook, China's role in global supply chains "doesn't seem to have diminished," said the think tank. "On the contrary: China's exports have gained global market share since the onset of the pandemic, and the improvement has been broad based across goods categories in recent months," said the think tank. Workers process chestnut kernels for export at a workshop of a foreign trade company in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua) Apart from the exports, the British think tank also said that "looking ahead, goods imports should continue to grow in the rest of the year due to the ongoing domestic recovery." "We expect economic growth momentum to gain pace again after the temporary weakness in Q1 (the first quarter)," said the think tank, noting the fact that domestic travel and logistics "returned to 'normal' in March, and we look for consumption momentum to see a more visible improvement in the second half of the year 2021." The report came as China's official data showed earlier in the day that the country's total imports and exports of goods surged 29.2 percent year on year to 8.47 trillion yuan (about 1.29 trillion U.S. dollars) in Q1 of 2021. In the quarter, exports jumped 38.7 percent from a year earlier and imports climbed 19.3 percent in yuan terms, according to figures released by the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GAC). Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained China's largest trading partner during the period, followed by the European Union and the United States, the GAC data showed. Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows China-produced sedans at Tesla's gigafactory in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) In the first quarter, China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road rose 21.4 percent year on year to reach 2.5 trillion yuan (about 0.38 trillion dollars). The country's imports and exports to Vietnam, Indonesia and Poland achieved relatively rapid growth. "So there's lots of opportunities for foreign companies to succeed in China and succeed right throughout the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative)," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua in a recent interview. The 48 Group Club is a British trade organization that provides policy interpretation, information consultancy, legal assistance and other services for both British and Chinese companies. "I think China is quite clear that its economy will have sizable foreign participation in order to protect the interests of the Chinese people and to help grow the economies of other countries," said Perry. "In the long term, the best opportunities, as I said, are in China and in BRI," said Perry. Aerial photo shows a China-Europe cargo train loaded with containers of electronic products and accessories of household appliances leaving for Russia's Vorsino in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Bo) Beginning July 1, patrons will only be billed for items that are 30 days overdue after the original due date, and no overdue fines will be charged, a City spokeswoman said. Access the Experts: Laura Beal In this installment, Beal answers: "What are some good tips for someone looking to enter the stock market for the first time?" In This Installment of Access the Experts In this installment finance, banking, and real estate lecturer Laura Beal answers the question: What are some good tips for someone looking to enter the stock market for the first time? About Beal A chartered financial analyst who earned an MBA from UNO, Beal is an expert in areas that include the principles of financial management, financial reporting and analysis, business ethics, behavioral finance, and investments. In addition to teaching and research, other areas of involvement include serving as the director of the KEES Financial Literacy Program and director of the Maverick Investment Camp. Access the Experts Access the Experts is an innovative partnership between the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and News Channel Nebraska (NCN), where viewers submit their questions to be answered by UNO faculty members. New segments of Access the Experts air every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:46 A.M. and 6:46 P.M. If youre not sure how to tune in, visit News Channel Nebraskas website to view their coverage areas. View all segments on our Access the Experts page. About the University of Nebraska at Omaha Located in one of Americas best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraskas premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community. Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. A woman living in a lilac coloured home in a hippie town is fighting to save her home after the local Byron Bay council ordered her to repaint it, and then fined her $3,000 when she refused. Nicole Haberecht moved into her Mullumbimby, northern NSW, property in March last year and set about creating a 'purplicious house' to express her personality and brighten up the local neighbourhood. She splashed out $10,000 on the exterior paint job that she says is admired by neighbours and is similar to the home's colour scheme from 'some years ago'. 'I haven't met one person who doesn't like it. People stop me in the street and chat and remark how much they love it, and how it makes everyone feel happy,' Ms Haberecht told the Echo. Nicole Haberecht has been ordered by Byron Shire Council to repaint her lilac-coloured home in Mullumbimby as it is not in keeping with the heritage conservation area it sits within Ms Haberecht (pictured) said she is yet to meet a local resident who disagrees with her choice of house colour but the council has received a complaint But one resident did take offence to the bold choice and lodged a complaint with Byron Shire Council, who demanded Ms Haberecht repaint the home in a colour that is more suitable to the heritage conservation area. Ms Haberecht refused, with the council saying they had no choice but to issue her with a $3,000 infringement notice which she is yet to pay as she claims she 'can't afford to'. 'They gave me the option of submitting a DA for the colour, but said there was no guarantee the order to repaint would be cancelled. So it was just another expense I couldn't afford,' Ms Haberecht said. She has now launched an online petition as she fights to save her home, urging residents to get behind her push to 'Help save the purplicious house'. More than 400 signatures have so far been obtained. 'Please show your support so I can live in peace. I just wanted a beautiful home that lifts everybody's spirit bringing joy to the community. Thank you,' Ms Haberecht wrote on the change.org petition. She questioned why she was being asked to repaint her home as there were 'heavily coloured dwellings' dotted throughout Mullumbimby and demanded to know what 'negative impact' she was having on the area by her colour choice. The Byron Shire Council said Ms Haberecht's lilac home is not in compliance with Non-Indigenous Heritage provisions because of the colour choice Ms Haberecht has resisted calls to repaint the home, with the council issuing her with a $3000 infringement notice Commenting on a local news report about council's decision, Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson said he was in support of Ms Haberecht's striking colour scheme. 'I'm sick of those believing heritage means painting something in dreadful colours because they did it 100 years ago,' Mr Richardson said. 'The most beautiful heritage building in (Mullumbimby) is the light pink one - thank goodness the heritage police didn't hold sway on that.' A council spokesperson said Ms Haberecht had not obtained development consent to paint her home as was required under the Byron LEP 2014. 'The property referred to is in a heritage conservation area and therefore subject to NSW Government and Byron Shire Council controls designed to ensure the heritage values of areas and some properties are retained and not lost. A component of these controls are colours,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'Council received a complaint from a member of the public relating to colour and investigated. 'The Byron LEP 2014 provides that any change to the external appearance of a dwelling in a heritage conservation area requires development consent. Development consent was not obtained or sought before the painting occurred. 'Also, the existing lilac colour does not comply with the Non-Indigenous Heritage provisions of DCP 2014. 'The owner was asked to repaint the building in a suitable heritage colour. Staff encouraged the owner to seek heritage funding to help with the cost of painting. There was no willingness to change the colour and therefore an infringement notice was issued.' Ms Haberecht is currently fighting the fine through Service NSW. Sanjeev Bhaskar has admitted feeling 'some envy' when watching Line of Duty because the show's detectives have 'nicer cars' and 'are allowed guns'. The actor, 57. who plays DI Sunny Khan on ITV's popular cold case show, discussed his love of the series when speaking on Obsessed With Line of Duty's podcast, revealing: 'Having played a detective, I always watch Line of Duty with some envy.' He told former AC-12 actor Craig Parkinson: 'You've got much nicer cars than we do, much flashier, you drive them quicker than we do. You are allowed to have guns, we are not.' Envy: Unforgotten star Sanjeev Bhaskar, 57, has admitted feeling 'some envy' when watching Line Of Duty because the show's detectives have 'nicer cars' and 'are allowed guns' Sanjeev also commented on the hit BBC show's offices, saying: 'Your offices are really spick. The glass box thing is great for drama. To have that viewpoint outside the glass box is brilliant and we don't.' He reiterated: 'So there is a certain amount of envy.' Sanjeev also shared he's a huge fan of the show, saying he's just as gripped by the sixth series as the rest of the nation. 'You certainly sit there trying to put the clues together,' the actor continued. 'What's interesting with this series, I along with most of the nation, the moment a missing freezer was mentioned in unison we went "Laverty" and that's how embedded the series has become.' Candid: Sanjeev also shared he's a huge fan of the show, saying he's just as gripped by the sixth series as the rest of the nation (pictured: Martin Compston in character as Steve Arnott) He added: 'But also particularly with Line of Duty I think you have to view it as there is nothing wasted. Every shot of someone's reaction means something.' It comes after Sanjeev revealed that he too had paused Sunday's night's enthralling episode, in which forensic officers discovered the DNA of DCI Jo Davidson (played by Kelly Macdonald) matched someone's on the police data base. The nail-biting moment prompted Ted Hastings (played by Adrian Dunbar) to exclaim 'Mother of God' when Steve Arnott (played by Martin Compston) revealed the news. The gripping conclusion led many viewers to rewind the moment and pause the scene in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the name on the document Arnott handed to Hastings. Reacting to the cliffhanger on Twitter, Sanjeev wrote on Sunday: 'I wonder quite how many people freeze framed the telly on that folder and then thought 'OMG Jo Davidson is linked by DNA to.... Jo Davidson? Arrrggh.' Meanwhile, a major Line Of Duty spoiler was leaked on Tuesday night by one of the BBC's websites. BBC Maestro inadvertently uploaded a post revealing a brand new character and a key plot twist, which is thought to transpire in the forthcoming next episode of the current season. Funny: Sanjeev revealed he had paused Sunday's night's enthralling episode after forensic officers discovered the DNA of DCI Jo Davidson matched someone's on the police data base The website - which is a hub for budding screenwriters - shared a photo of the new character on a database. Steve Arnott was seen scrutinizing the image. A scene featuring the character was even shown, before it was removed. The Sun contacted creator and writer of Line Of Duty Jed Mercurio, who told them: 'The outstanding detective work of eagle-eyed Line Of Duty fans has been awarded a glowing commendation from the gaffer himself, Supt Ted Hastings. Their call-up papers for AC-12 are in the post!' This jovial response to the incident suggests the leak was nothing too drastic. By Jason Hanna and Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) -- A police officer who authorities say shot and killed a Black man in a Minneapolis suburb after a traffic stop has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, a prosecutor said Wednesday. Brooklyn Center police Officer Kim Potter is charged in Sunday's shooting death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said. In Minnesota, second-degree manslaughter applies when authorities allege a person causes someone's death by "culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another." Someone convicted of this charge would face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $20,000. Wright's death Sunday in Brooklyn Center, which then-Police Chief Tim Gannon said appeared to be the result of Potter mistaking her gun for her Taser as Wright resisted arrest, has roiled a metropolitan area scarred by other police-involved deaths and reignited national conversations about policing and use of force. Developments in the investigation have unfolded daily, including the release of body camera footage and Gannon's statement that the shooting appeared accidental on Monday, and the resignations of Potter and Gannon on Tuesday. Protests, some violent, have taken place each night in and around Brooklyn Center. Wright's family had called for charges against the officer. Demonstrations Tuesday began peacefully, but chaos erupted around the Brooklyn Center police station by evening. Officers used pepper spray and fired flash bombs at protesters, who hurled water bottles and other projectiles at officers in riot gear. The unified law enforcement command in Brooklyn Center made "upwards of 60 arrests" Tuesday night, many of which were for "riot and other criminal behaviors," Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol Matt Langer said. Though Potter has submitted a resignation letter, Mayor Mike Elliott said Tuesday he has not accepted it, adding "we're doing our internal process to make sure that we are being accountable to the steps that we need to take." Earlier, he told CBS he thought Potter should be fired. Orput is the prosecutor in Washington County, near Hennepin County, where Brooklyn Center is. The case was given to Washington County prosecutors to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest in Hennepin County, officials have said. Sunday's killing of Wright is at least the third high-profile death of a Black man during a police encounter in the Minneapolis area in the past five years, after the shooting of Philando Castile in Falcon Heights in 2016 and the death of George Floyd last year. Minneapolis police also were under scrutiny when an officer was convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter for the 2017 fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk, a White woman. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing Floyd, is taking place just 10 miles from Brooklyn Center. Attorney Earl Gray is representing Potter, he told CNN on Tuesday. Gray is also the attorney for Thomas Lane, one of four officers involved in Floyd's death, and one of the defense attorneys for Jeronimo Yanez, the former police officer who was found not guilty in Castile's death. Protesters scale fence outside FBI office In Tuesday's demonstrations, protesters were seen scaling a fence outside the FBI office, holding a banner reading, "Justice for Daunte Wright." Members of the National Guard were in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis and St. Paul. By the time the city's 10 p.m. curfew started, hundreds of protesters had dwindled to a few dozen. With officers and police vehicles forming a line across front yards and the street blocking the police precinct, those remaining draped themselves in blankets and lit a small garbage fire in the falling snow. On the street where protesters were once shoulder to shoulder, the few remaining chanted: "Say his name: Daunte Wright," and "I smell bacon, fry the pig." Speaking at a late-night news conference, Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson said there was recognition of the pain suffered in the community on Sunday night. "The person (Kim Potter) is no longer a police officer, and they'll be held accountable for their actions," he said. "But we can't have people hurting our communities, we can't have people hurting the men and women who are paid to protect them." Two families come together in tragedy Floyd's family left the courthouse during Chauvin's trial Tuesday "because they thought it was important that they give comfort to Daunte Wright's mother" and family, attorney Ben Crump said at a news conference with the two families. "We will stand in support with you. ... The world is traumatized, watching another African American man being slayed," said Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd. "I woke up in the morning with this on my mind. I don't want to see another victim." The losses of both Wright and Floyd were acknowledged in Tuesday's protests. Demonstrators knelt for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, to symbolize the amount of time authorities say Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck. And just as the Floyd family did last year, the Wright family is looking for more answers surrounding their loved one's death. One of the family's attorneys, Jeffrey Storms, told CNN that Gannon's explanation -- that the shooting appeared to be an accident -- "is by no means proper or enough." "There were a number of intentional events that led to (Daunte Wright) being dead, and we need to find out exactly why each one of those intentional events happened," Storms said Tuesday. "Grabbing your sidearm that you've likely deployed thousands, if not tens of thousands, of times is an intentional act," Storms said. "A sidearm feels different than a Taser. It looks different than a Taser. (It) requires different pressure in order to deploy it." Wright's father, Aubrey Wright, told ABC on Tuesday that he couldn't accept Gannon's explanation that Sunday's shooting was accidental. "I can't accept that -- a mistake. That doesn't even sound right," he told ABC's "Good Morning America." He cited the officer's length of service -- authorities said she'd been with Brooklyn Center police for 26 years. Wright's mother, Katie Wright, said she wanted to see the officer "held accountable for everything that she's taken from us." "It should have never, ever escalated the way it did," Katie Wright told ABC. What happened in traffic stop that ended Wright's life Wright was with his girlfriend Sunday afternoon, driving to the house of his older brother, Damik Bryant. Officers pulled him over in Brooklyn Center for an expired tag and learned he had an outstanding warrant, police said. It was not clear what the warrant was for. Wright gave officers his name before calling his mother, Bryant said. His mother, Katie Wright, told reporters that Daunte Wright called her, and she heard a police officer ask him to put down his phone and get out of the car. Daunte told her he'd explain why he was pulled over after he exited, she said. She eventually heard police ask him to hang up, and then scuffling, before the call ended, she said. Body camera footage released Monday shows Wright standing outside his vehicle with his arms behind his back and an officer directly behind him, trying to handcuff him. An officer tells Wright "don't," before Wright twists away and gets back into the driver's seat of the car. The officer whose camera footage was released is heard warning the man she's going to use her Taser on him, before repeatedly shouting, "Taser! Taser! Taser!" Then, the officer is heard screaming, "Holy sh*t! I just shot him." The car's door closes, and Wright drives away. The car crashed several blocks away, police said. Police and medical personnel attempted life-saving measures following the crash, but Wright died at the scene, Gannon said. Gannon said the portion of body-worn camera footage released Monday led him to believe the shooting was accidental and that the officer's actions before the shooting were consistent with the department's training on Tasers. UNIQLO has been focusing on sustainability in order to lure in new customers Immediately after calling for a fervent wave of boycott on social networks of Swedish fashion giant H&M, the Vietnamese online community began to discover other global fashion brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Gucci, Burberry, Saint Laurent, UNIQLO, and Adidas that have all also posted a map showing Chinas illegal nine-dash line on their products and on their Chinese websites. Vietnamese consumers expressed their disappointment online, especially since some of the brands are very popular in the Vietnamese market. UNIQLO in particular was singled out on social media by Vietnamese consumers. The worlds leading fashion brands underestimate the issue of territorial sovereignty of countries, said Facebook user Nga. Another Facebook user called Vu said, UNIQLO should explain to the community here. Nobody wants a boycott, but they should respect the sovereignty of our country. In recent years, UNIQLO together with H&M and Zara have become favourite fashion brands in Vietnam, especially for young people, who are representing the affordable customer segment that such retailers target to expand their business and capture a bigger market share in Vietnam. Fast Retailing Group, which owns UNIQLO, has already opened seven stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City since its first appearance at the end of 2019. VIR contacted UNIQLO to clarify the issue, but was only told that company leaders are meeting to discuss and will provide a response at a later date. Since its foundation, UNIQLO has received support from local consumers thanks to its reputation and sustainable fashion orientation. The brand also uses another approach than its competitors as it focuses on quality rather than design, with an eco-friendly orientation that actively calls for cooperation in the fashion industry and the participation of consumers to minimise chemical pollution and emissions to water sources. In an effort to ensure endorsement from its consumers and follow a sustainable fashion journey, H&M has implemented a Lets Reuse programme, including activities such as collecting second-hand clothes and minimising the use of bags. But the latest wave of boycotts against H&M with viral hashtags on social platforms may hurt this brands efforts. At least one Vietnamese social media user, known as Su, urged calm over the situation after pointing out that the maps used on the Chinese websites of various fashion brands are actually utilising maps created by Chinese tech company Baidu, as the country does not allow the use of Google Maps. Therefore, the user said, the use of the maps is not really the fault of the fashion brands themselves. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Gucci all use Baidu maps on their Chinese company websites. Websites in China cannot access Google services, so its not true to say that UNIQLO endorses the nine-dash line, the user clarified. Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang commented that the country pays special attention to this issue and requires businesses to respect the Vietnams sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos, as well as over the related waters in the East Sea. Asian American comedian Charlyne Yi revealed the "The Disaster Artist" production team bribed her when she tried to leave over sexual misconduct allegations against actor James Franco. In an Instagram post last week, Yi said the production tried to prevent her from leaving by offering her a substantial acting role. She expressed her desire to quit the 2017 movie, stating she did not feel safe working with Franco, according to AV Club. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. They minimized and said Franco being a predator was so last year, and that he changedwhen I literally heard of him abusing new women that week, she said in her post. Predators will perform empathy, gaslight and say they will do better all in order to protect themselves and continue to harm others. Franco, 42, who was the producer and director of The Disaster Artist, was accused by five women of sexually inappropriate behavior at his now-closed acting school Studio 4. He eventually settled a lawsuit in February with two of the women involved, BBC reported. Yi also called out actor Seth Rogen, one of the producers of the film. The actress, who described Rogen as an enabler, said he definitely knows about the bribe and why I quit. Seth also did a sketch on SNL with Franco enabling Franco preying on children, she said, Right after Franco was caught." Franco has a long history of preying on children, Yi said. One of the women who came forward was a 17-year-old Scottish schoolgirl, who leaked the messages between her and the actor in April 2014, The Daily Mirror reported. Franco later confirmed it was him who sent the messages to the teenager. Enablers are just as toxic and are abusers too, she said. Disgusted by white men choosing power over protecting children and women from predators. Educate, organize and dismantle corruption in your circles and in the law. White men saying its not their responsibility when holding Franco accountable, or when holding Seth Rogen and enablers accountable, Yi continued. Feature Image via @charlyne_yi Story continues Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chi-Knees Line in Monster Hunter is Removed From Global Versions After Chinese Backlash Chinese Social Media Stars Shock Internet After Unedited Photos Leaked Online Iconic SEGA Arcade Building in Tokyo is Closing Forever Golden Globe Nominated Chloe Zhao to Direct Sci-fi Western Dracula Film Dhaka: Some people attacked the houses and a temple of several Hindus on Tuesday night in Satkhira, Bangladesh. In Phultala village of Munshiganj in Shyamnagar Upazila, the houses of Hindus were looted and three idols of gods and goddesses kept in the temple were broken. At least 8 to 10 people of the Hindu community were injured in the entire incident. According to the Dhaka Tribune report, the attack took place at 8 pm on Tuesday night due to a dispute between the two parties. Locals have reported that the attackers wanted to kidnap the girl from the victim's Hindu family and exploit her. A victim named Govind Baulia said that the attackers entered her house at night and tried to pick up her niece. 8-10 people, including his brother, were injured in the attack. Locals said that Pallab Mandal of Uttar Kadmatla village used to tease a daughter studying in class VIII of Jatin Bauliya. For this reason, there was an argument between the two sides and they were attacked on Tuesday. Shyamnagar police station office in-charge Najmul Huda said, "The situation is under control." The Assistant Superintendent of Police (Kaliganj) has inspected the scene of the incident. We are trying to apprehend those involved in the attack as soon as possible under the law. Let us tell you that before this incident, another temple was attacked in Bangladesh on 30 March. The incident took place at a temple in Dhunot Upjila in Bagura district, where the idol of Goddess Saraswati was damaged. The attackers wanted to abduct the victims daughter following a dispute between the two parties regarding the harassment of the girl, say localshttps://t.co/1nNMkyAdOI DhakaTribune (@DhakaTribune) April 14, 2021 Also Read: Priyanka expresses happiness over cancellation of 10th exam IPL 2021: Brian Lara's big statement on Rishabh Pant, know here Shocking! sought permission from Court to marry its own children. As temperatures slowly rise this week and no rain is in sight, metro agencies are warning residents about the potential of elevated fire danger. The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement explaining that the mix of warm, dry days, low humidity and winds may cause outdoor fires to burn out of control. Tuesday saw several agencies from Forest Grove to Clackamas and Deschutes counties dealing with brush pile burns that needed emergency responses. This prolonged stretch of dry weather makes for an unusually early fire season. Vegetation is currently much drier than during an average April. Were clearing the scene of a reported brush fire on NW Strohmeyer RD. Fire was started by an out of control burn pile. On site property owner was able to keep the fire from spreading to area trees. pic.twitter.com/B7lkcpCpLj Forest Grove Fire (@ForestGroveFire) April 13, 2021 Although winds should die down some Wednesday, the metro area will still see dry conditions and low humidity. Some jurisdictions have banned burning until further notice, including Clackamas, Marion, Washington and Polk counties, and the Colton Fire District. Check your county offices for any current burn restrictions. #alert NO BACKYARD BURNING. Due to moderate winds, higher temperatures, & low humidity, backyard burning is NOT allowed today, April 13, through Sunday, April 18. Conditions will be reevaluated on Monday, April 19. @clackamascounty @OregonDEQ @Clackamas911 @211info pic.twitter.com/WczUIqifnN Clackamas Fire (@clackamasfire) April 13, 2021 Due to the dry, warm and windy weather expected over the next few days, please don't do any open burning over the next few days. An open burning ban is in place through Sunday, April 18, 2021, throughout the City of Salem. Details: https://t.co/ZgCnfJJEWw pic.twitter.com/sD86FhzA35 City of Salem (@cityofsalem) April 14, 2021 Wednesday will see clear skies and high temperatures near 70 degrees. Average highs during this time of year are in the low 60s. Winds will be calmer, with gusts of up to 20 mph possible during the evening. Sunny and warming weather continues Thursday with highs reaching nearly 76 after a chilly start. Portland could see its first 80-degree day of the year Friday. The weather service expects the high temperature at the airport to reach nearly 79 and many locations could see temps a few degrees above that. By Saturday and Sunday, highs will be in the 80-degree range. According to local meteorologist Matt Zaffino, the average first 80-degree day in Portland is May 10. If Saturdays high exceeds 81 degrees, it will be a record for that date. Not everyone is dipping a toe into summer-like weather. Snow is likely in the Rockies and even in the southeastern corner of Oregon by late Friday. In late March, Google announced to introduce a new web technology- Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), that will eventually replace the practice of browsers and third-party websites storing user data (cookies). Search engine giant believes FLoC will be less intrusive compared to the current practice in terms of user privacy. It also wants other browsers and website hosting companies to embrace new web technology. However, privacy-focused companies such as Brave, DuckDuckGo, Vivaldi, and others rejected Google's call to implement FloC in their respective browsers. What is FLoC? Before deep-diving into FLoC and its features, let us explain to you what 'Cookies' does. When a user visits a website that uses cookies, a cookie file is created and saved in the device (a phone, or tablet, or computer). It is basically a text containing the website's name, and also a unique ID that represents a user such as a device ID, username, password, browsing data, and more. And, if the user returns to a website again, the website knows he/she already been there before and let the user resume where they left before. Brower apps use cookies to understand the preferences (most visited websites) of users and to deliver better search results. Also, if the website is an e-commerce site, it will know that this particular user had previously visited and purchased these items. Using machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm, they would have created a more personal profile with data such as email ID, mobile number, age, purchase history, and more) linked to the user. With such information, it will show targeted ads of products that are likely to appeal to that person and lead to a purchase. This creation of a personally identifiable profile is exactly why user privacy advocates oppose cookies on browsers and websites. Now, Google says FLoC is the best alternative to cookies and wants others to use this web technology. The company claims that FLoC will allow users to remain anonymous as they browse across websites and also improves privacy by allowing publishers to present relevant ads to large groups (called cohorts). Instead of tracking individually, the browsing history will be grouped with others with similar interests. Also, every time there is a change in browsing behaviour, the user is teamed up with other groups. This will help in curbing companies to create individual profiles. It also noted that FLoC will not share browsing history with anyone or even Google. It adds that the company's browser Chrome will go a step ahead to analyse if the user's browsing history needs to be tracked or not in certain sensitive scenarios. For instance, if the user goes to web pages with sensitive topics, such as medical websites or websites with political or religious content, at a high rate, Chrome will neither create individual profiles nor put them in groups (cohorts). However, browsing app developers such as DuckDuck Go and Brave are ready to buy Google's new FLoC technology. They just want Google to just stop tracking the user behaviour. Creating groups to protect individual user is just hogwash, as tracking of users still continues in the new FLoC system. Here's what Brave browser said on Google's FLoC FLoC promotes a false notion of what privacy is, and why privacy is important. Google is aware of some of these concerns but gives them shallow treatment in their proposal. For example, Google notes that some categories (sexual orientation, medical issues, political party, etc.) will be exempt from FLoC, and that they are looking into other ways of preventing sensitive categories from being used in FLoC. Googles approach here is fundamentally wrong. First, Googles approach to determining whether a FLoC cohort is sensitive requires (in most cases) Google to record and collect that sensitive cohort in the first place! A system that determines whether a cohort is sensitive by recording how many people are in that sensitive cohort doesnt pass the laugh test. Here's what DuckDuckGo said on Google removing cookies on Chrome Blocking third-party cookies and related mechanisms do partially restrict cross-site trackers (which is a good thing for sure), but the reality is that as long as a tracker is still being loaded in your browser, it can definitely still track you a bit less easily, but tracking is still tracking, and the most prevalent cross-site trackers (those from Google and Facebook) are certainly still tracking you. In this context, browser privacy tech that just restricts trackers after they have loaded is like using an umbrella in a hurricane: Youre still gonna get wet! DuckDuckGo also pointed that removing all trackers will actually improve the speed of website loading on screen by 46 per cent and also decrease internet data usage up to 34 per cent. "With FLoC, by simply browsing the web, you are automatically placed into a group based on your browsing history (cohort). Websites you visit will immediately be able to access this group FLoC ID and use it to target ads or content at you. It's like walking into a store where they already know all about you! In addition, while FLoC is purported to be more private because it is a group, combined with your IP address (which also gets automatically sent to websites) you can continue to be tracked easily as an individual," DuckDuckGo noted. Must read | DuckDuckGo asks users to ditch Chrome to avoid Google's new tracking method As of now, FLoC is being tested in a small percentage of users in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the US. Google plans to expand the testing in wider regions in the coming weeks. Google has its task cut out in convincing third-party browser app companies and websites to implement FLoC in their systems. Also, it remains to be seen how the users respond to Google's plan to formally release FLoC on Chrome for the public in near future. Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered the keynote address on Tuesday to kick off the summit. (Photo by Daniel Moreno) "We want to make sure that were doing all we can do to bring these groups together to build our nations and our businesses around a set of faith-based principles that will strengthen the economies in African nations." In his keynote address to kick off the Equity for Africa summit, a three-day conference hosted by the Liberty University School of Business and powered by the Standing for Freedom Center, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recognized faith principles as the propellant for economic growth across Africa. The faith-based forum is assembling major government, business, and faith leaders from America and Africa to share visions of making Africa a more prosperous, secure, and flourishing continent. (Go to the event website to watch the livestream and view panel discussions and participants.) Every African, and indeed every human, wants the same basic things, Pompeo said in his address from Liberty Universitys campus on Tuesday night. They want freedom and the ability to take care of their families, and they all understand that theres very little that is more noble than the dignity that comes with a job and opportunity to work and to deliver on behalf of their families and community. And Africans who get the opportunity to do so are obviously better, and their nation more prosperous and secure. We want to make sure that were doing all we can do to bring these groups together to build our nations and our businesses around a set of faith-based principles that will strengthen the economies in African nations, he added. Before becoming the 70th U.S. Secretary of State, Pompeo served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under the Trump Administration. He represented Kansas 4th congressional district from 2011-17. Pompeo recognized the growing threats in Africa, including terrorist regimes and communism. Communism and socialism have failed every place they have been tried, he said. I hope that African nations will see that these failed socialist experiments should be of the past, and we should move forward to a new future based on a set of basic principles. Im supremely confident that together we can make the world better and make America better. And here, we are here to work on ways to make Africa stronger, more prosperous, and secure. In his closing, Pompeo gleaned from the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. Everyone out here has talents. None of us should hide them. We should each use them for their manifest purpose and for the good of both America and for the African people, he said. If we do that, we will find economic growth, we will find security growth, and we will all find spiritual growth. This should always be the ideal for which we strive. Panel participants include former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King Jr., and President of Hobby Lobby and Chairman of the Board of Museum of the Bible Steve and Jackie Green. African panel participants will include President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of Malawi and first female president in Africa Joyce Banda, and Nigerian billionaire Folorunso Alakija. ABOUT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the worlds premier Christian university, one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the nation, and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 700 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 450 programs are offered online. Utilizing its world-class infrastructure and Christian faculty, Libertys mission is to Train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrows world. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 03:09:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Protesters gather outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, the United States, April 13, 2021. (Photo by Matthew McIntosh/Xinhua) Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said he is filing a second-degree manslaughter charge against former police officer Kim Potter, who resigned and was arrested by agents. WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Former police officer Kim Potter, who shot 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright dead in Brooklyn Center, in the U.S. state Minnesota, will be charged with second-degree manslaughter for the killing, a prosecutor said on Wednesday. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said he is filing a second-degree manslaughter charge against Potter, a 48-year-old veteran female police officer who resigned on Tuesday and was arrested by agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) on Wednesday morning. The BCA, which is investigating the fatal shooting, said Potter will be booked into the Hennepin County Jail. The second-degree manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to local media reports. Protesters clashed with police for a third night on Tuesday night in the city following the police killing of Daunte Wright in a traffic stop on Sunday. At a midnight news briefing, the State Patrol said there were more than 60 arrests. One day before stepping down on Tuesday, the city's then police chief Tim Gannon said that Potter mistakenly used her gun instead of her taser in the fatal shooting, which he described as an "accidental discharge." The Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Wright died by a single shot to the chest and ruled the death a homicide. "No conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete," the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement on Tuesday, calling for protests to be peaceful. Wright's family is not "prepared to say that that was an accident," their attorney Jeffrey Storms told CNN on Tuesday. Brooklyn Center, a city of about 31,000, is just a few miles away from Minneapolis, where the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin over black man George Floyd's death in May 2020 is underway. "We will fight for justice for this family, just like we're fighting for our brother," Philonise Floyd said on Tuesday, extending his family's condolences to the family of Wright. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal It brought them together at a time when the pandemic was keeping people apart. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Vibrant collages of student-drawn portraits sit outside Marie M. Hughes Elementary School on the West Side of Albuquerque. While the banners now welcome students coming back to campus for in-person learning, they were created when classes were virtual. What I thought was, Well, if we cant be together, lets make a bunch of faces and put them all together, said Andy Young, a first grade teacher. His students drew individual pictures digitally that he combined into cohesive pieces of art. There are fun ones, such as 6-year-old Olivia Baums avocado face, while others are tributes to favorite colors and former friends. My friend from preschool loved the color blue, Baum said, pointing to the aqua locks on her portrait. Similarly, Lancelin Walker, 7, used her favorite color palette of yellows and reds. Shes happy! Walker said, describing her portrait. Young used the project to augment his math and social studies lessons, as well as some English work. For example, the class sold hoodies, pillows and other merchandise with the artwork printed on it to raise funds for the project and they tracked the donations as part of a math assignment. I do big art projects with my students every year that integrate a lot of curriculum and will culminate in some type of big art project, which was a challenge this year because we were separated from each other, Young said. He also focused on diversity, telling his students to make sure their artwork reflected the different kinds of hair people have or different skin tones. It gave us an opportunity to talk about that. If were going to show people, lets talk about the diversity of people, Young said. The teacher started incorporating the project into lessons around the winter holidays and wrapped up about a month ago. Another goal was to show students that art can send a message. For a first grader, art is about representation. Its about can you draw something accurately? Young said. The idea that art can deliver a message, that it can do something for the community, that it can be embedded in experience is a really new idea for kids this age. The message of the banners outside of Marie M. Hughes Elementary is clear: Its about celebrating togetherness, Young said. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. Capital Alliance Corp. advised I.T.Works Recruitment on its sale to The Planet Group. Tweet this ITWR, originally founded in the United Kingdom in 2004, expanded to the U.S. under the leadership of CEO Gary Dytor in 2013. Since then it has become one of the top niche recruitment rms in North America and one of the fastest growing privately owned companies in the U.S. The firm has earned multiple ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Client and Talent awards, including the Diamond award. In 2018, the firm was named the 250th fastest-growing private company on the Inc. 5000 list one of several other recognitions in recent years. The company sources and places IT professionals nationally into Tier 2 software system assignments and implementations in niche markets, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), human capital management (HCM) and electronic medical records (EMR). ITWR CEO Gary Dytor will remain with the acquired company. "When it came time to explore acquisition partners, Neal helped steer us toward companies aligned with our mission and philosophy," Dytor said. "Ultimately, The Planet Group rose to the top because of our similar cultures and visions," he said. Michael Stomberg, CEO of Planet, said ITWR's niche service offerings and specialized teams were a strategic complement to Planet's technology staffing consultancy growth plans. "Their niche ERP service offerings are a natural complement to the Enterprise practice of our Planet Technology staffing and consulting company," said Stomberg. "We look forward to collaborating with I.T. Works Recruitment to further develop their EMR, ERP, and HCM markets, and bring enhanced services to all our clients across the Planet platform," Stomberg said. About I.T. Works Recruitment Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, I.T. Works Recruitment, Inc. is an industry-leading niche recruitment consultancy firm that places expert technology candidates in contract and permanent positions nationwide. The company specializes in sourcing and recruiting hard-to-find information technology (IT) professionals to place into dynamic Tier 2 enterprise software providers and corporate end-users requiring implementations, upgrades, and integrations. Dominant markets include enterprise resource planning (ERP), human capital management (HCM), and healthcare electronic medical records (EMR) applications. Learn more at https://www.itworksrec.com/. About The Planet Group The Planet Group consists of nine related entities, including five renowned staffing brands, and has been purposefully built to address the professional services needs of leading companies in the Accounting & Finance, Technology, Life Sciences, Human Resources, Diversified Energy & Engineering, and Healthcare areas. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices throughout the US and Europe. Learn more at https://theplanetgroup.com. About Capital Alliance Corp. Capital Alliance Corp. is a global mid-market investment banking firm, providing consulting services for mergers and acquisitions. The company represents client companies in a variety of markets, including human capital management, energy, technology, construction and engineering, and manufacturing. Since its founding in 1976, the privately held firm has completed more than 230 transactions with an aggregate transaction value in excess of $3 billion. For three decades, Capital Alliance has been a member of Oaklins, formerly M&A International, a membership organization of investment banking firms operating in the major economies of the world. Learn more at https://www.cadallas.com/. Capital Alliance Corporation 2777 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 1220 Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 638-8280 www.cadallas.com SOURCE Capital Alliance Corp. Related Links http://www.cadallas.com/ 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 Nearly 30,000 Macs in 153 countries have been infected with a new malware strain that security researchers are calling Silver Sparrow. Discovered by researchers at Red Canary, the malware has been sitting on it hosts waiting for a payload that never arrived. "Though we haven't observed Silver Sparrow delivering additional malicious payloads yet, its forward-looking M1 chip compatibility, global reach, relatively high infection rate, and operational maturity suggest Silver Sparrow is a reasonably serious threat, uniquely positioned to deliver a potentially impactful payload at a moment's notice," Red Canary Intelligence Analyst Tony Lambert wrote in a company blog Thursday. Although researchers at Malwarebytes have identified 29,139 macOS endpoints infected by Silver Sparrow, many more machines could be hit by the malicious software, maintained Tony Anscombe, chief security evangelist at Eset. "Based on what was first seen, the malware may be more widespread than is called out in the disclosure," he told TechNewsWorld. "The 30K number comes from a single security vendor as opposed to the entire macOS environment." However, Malwarebytes Director of Mac and Mobile Thomas Reed maintained the bad app may be coming to light as it's about to go dark. "This may be an infection that's already run its course," he told TechNewsWorld. "There's a file that triggers the malware to self-delete," he explained. "That file is making up most of our detections at the moment. The creator seems to be sending the self-destruct command now." Blocked by Apple In a statement provided to TechNewsWorld, Apple said that upon discovering the malware, it revoked the certificates of the developer accounts used to sign the packages, preventing new machines from being infected. Apple also noted that there is no evidence to suggest the malware identified by the researchers has delivered a malicious payload to infected users. It added that the company has a number of measures in place to provide a safe experience for its users, including technical mechanisms, such as the Apple notary service, to protect users by detecting malware and blocking it so it can't run. That service, though, has been less than perfect in the past, maintained Joshua A. Long, chief security analyst at Intego, maker of security and privacy software for Macs, in Austin, Texas. "It is more significant that, according to our own research at Intego, this is at least the sixth major time that Apple's notarization process has failed to detect malware families that have either been distributed in the wild or uploaded to VirusTotal," he told TechNewsWorld. "Notarization is specifically supposed to identify and block new malware before it can ever infect Macs," he continued, "but Apple's automated notarization process has repeatedly notarized dozens of malware samples that Apple has failed to detect as malicious." Poisoned Searches How the infected machines came into contact with the malware is a mystery at the moment. "Malware researchers have not yet conclusively identified the exact delivery method," Long said. "One theory is that end-users may have encountered the malware via poisoned Google search results -- search results leading to legitimate sites that have been compromised by a threat actor or malicious sites that rank highly for particular searches," he added. Another possibility is malicious browser extensions, Red Canary Director of Intelligence Katie Nickels noted during a live streaming session on Twitter on Monday. Long added that there are two versions of the malware, also known as Slisp. One is compiled for Intel Macs. The other is a universal binary that runs on both Intel and ARM-based M1 machines. "It's worth noting, however, that M1 Macs can often run Mac malware compiled only for Intel, due to Apple's Rosetta technology which enables Intel binaries to run on M1 Macs," he added. "We can expect that virtually all Mac malware from this point forward will be designed to run on both architectures," he predicted. Malware ARMs Race Lambert agreed that Apple's M1 architecture will be a future target of bad actors. "The inclusion of a binary compiled for use on systems running Apple's new M1 ARM processor is important, because it suggests that the developers of Silver Sparrow are thinking ahead rather than simply writing their malware to be compatible with those chipsets that currently have the largest share of the market," he told TechNewsWorld. Christopher Budd, senior global threat communications manager at Avast, of Prague in the Czech Republic, a maker of security software, including antivirus programs for the Mac, explained that malware authors are essentially business people. They adapt based on market trends. "Making this malware functional on new M1 systems shows that these authors believe there is or will be enough of a market for that platform to make it worthwhile to devote resources to it," he told TechNewsWorld. "The fact that macOS malware and adware authors are compiling binaries for M1 was obvious, expected, and does not warrant the recent sensationalism," added Eset Detection Engineer Michal Malik. Novel Install Targeting Apple's ARM architecture isn't the only way Silver Sparrow distinguishes itself from most Mac malware found in the wild. "Most of the malware we observe for macOS systems ultimately delivers adware and related payloads," Lambert explained. "They tend to use preinstall, postinstall, or other shell scripts inside PKG and DMG installers," he continued. "While we've seen legitimate software use the macOS Installer JavaScript API, it's not something we've ever observed with macOS malware." Eset's Anscombe noted that the persistence and unconventional method of installation are notable aspects of Silver Sparrow, but there are more dangerous malware samples already in the wild. "The danger of this malware depends on the actions of the author to deliver a payload and it's intent," he said. "There is also the risk that another bad actor could try and leverage the mechanism and take control of it," he added. Myth of the Invincible Mac What can consumers do to protect themselves from Silver Sparrow? Lambert recommends turning to third-party protection. "As a general rule, we typically recommend that users run third-party antivirus or antimalware products to supplement the existing antimalware protections maintained by operating system manufacturers," he said. "While we're talking specifically about macOS in this case," he continued. "this advice is just as applicable to Windows machines." That advice may be dubious to Mac owners who've been told their machines are immune from infections from malicious software. "It's not that difficult to infect a Mac," Reed observed. "The only thing that has stood in the way in the past has been market share." "Why would you want to invest your time in creating malware for a system that has fairly low market share compared to Windows?" he asked. "But as Macs have increased their market share, they've become an increasingly popular target, especially because a lot of the people who have Macs are people who you would want to target, like CEOs and other well-paid professionals." John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Philippine Ambassador Alfonso Ver welcomed Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) Secretary-General Faisal Fulad at Philippine Embassy in Mahooz. They hailed the strong relations between Bahrain and the Philippines and highlighted cooperation and partnership in human rights, peace and COVID-19 vaccine support. Ambassador Ver praised His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his comprehensive COVID-19 directives to safeguard the health of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also thanked HRH Prince Salman for supporting expatriates to get vaccinated, providing medical assistance, and extending humanitarian support to all the needy. Fulad urged all expatriates in Bahrain to get vaccinated. BHRWS is committed to ensuring the welfare and protection of expatriates rights in the Kingdom. And so they team up, awkwardly at first, until their trust for one another grows as they investigate the case. Does it bug me that this story is told through the prism of law enforcement? Yes. Do I wish there was more time spent with time-igrants when they first arrive and then gradually adapt to their new surroundings? And learn an entirely new way of being? And come to grips with all our modern gadgets and technology and cultural norms? Yes, yes, yes. What is that process like? Is the brain really malleable enough to adapt without shutting down entirely, at least in the early going? Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future has published a Half-Cooked Research Report on the Global Sodium Chlorate Market. Market Synopsis Sodium chlorate is an industrial salt produced from table salt and water in reaction with electricity. Sodium chlorate is largely used in the pulp and paper industry to produce chlorine dioxide, which is an environmentally friendly bleaching agent used to manufacture white paper products. It is also used for the synthesis of potassium chlorates, which are extensively used in explosives. In addition, it acts as a chemical intermediate in processing perchlorates and chlorite, an oxidizing mineral compound, and in the metal finishing sector. Get a Free Sample of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8606 The top five importers of the sodium chlorate, as of 2018, were the US, Japan, Sweden, Russia, and Portugal, whereas the major exporters were China, the US, Canada, Italy, and Spain. The market witnessed a supply-demand gap in the past and trade flow can be seen disrupted as it is a hazardous material. Trade and Regulatory Analysis According to the MRFR analysis, the Sodium Chlorate Market Outlook was valued at more than USD 2.1 Billion in 2018 and is expected to reach over USD 2.8 Billion by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 4.6%. Some of the international associations, e.g., the US Environmental Protection Agency and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), have banned products (herbicides) containing chlorate in the agricultural industry. This has fetched some significant regulations for its use in agricultural and commercial sites, for instance, in 2010, the REACH had set the permissible residue limit of 0.01 mg/kg sodium chlorate in food products. In addition, around 2.8 million pounds of sodium chlorate is used in the residential and commercial sectors annually in the US. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the drinking water standard for chlorate is set for 0.03 mg/kg/day. SEGMENTATION By Grade Crystalline: The crystalline grade segment held the largest share of over 70% in 2018. This is primarily attributed to the extensive demand for crystalline sodium chlorate in the production of chlorine dioxide. Additionally, its use in uranium mining due to increasing focus on the development of nuclear weapons and submarines is projected to boost the demand for crystalline form of sodium chlorate. Moreover, the increasing expenditure in the defense industry in emerging economies such as India, China, South Korea, and Brazil is expected to increase uranium mining activities and consequently favor the growth of the segment. Solution: This segment is expected to witness healthy growth during the forecast period. Sodium chlorate solution is a clear odorless liquid available in 2050% solution. The healthy growth of the segment is mainly attributed to the growing demand for concentrated solution also known as dry salt in explosives and oxidizable materials, which are extensively used in the nuclear and defense industries. By Application Pulp & Paper: The segment accounted for more than 80% share in 2018. The primary factor responsible for the dominance of the pulp and paper segment is the high use of sodium chlorate in the synthesis of chlorine dioxide, an excellent key bleaching agent. The growth of paper board packaging due to the increase in e-commerce and trading activities across the globe is likely to drive the demand for pulp and paper in the coming years. The increase in the demand for tissues, wipes and toilet papers in restaurants, hotels, and office spaces is anticipated to drive the market growth. Chemical Intermediate: Sodium chlorate is preferred intermediate in potassium chlorate and sodium perchlorates due to its high oxidizing property, which allows the ignition at a faster rate. The segment accounted for the second-largest market share in 2018 owing to the high demand for potassium chlorate in the manufacturing of explosives, flares, and pyrotechnics. It is expected to witness significant growth during the review period. Uranium Mining: Sodium chlorate finds substantial application in ore processing particularly uranium mining, an essential material used in nuclear weapons. Nuclear power generation is major contributor to sustainable development as it has low environmental impact and does not generate greenhouse gases. The rapidly increasing demand for fuel in nuclear power plants and increasing environmental concerns related to mining on the backdrop of surging urbanization across globe is likely favor the growth the segment. Also, uranium is widely used as a ballast in aircraft and boats and as gamma sterilization in the medical industry. Water Treatment: Sodium chlorate has high oxidizing potential and functions as a powerful oxidizing agent through its application chlorine dioxide. Widespread use of chlorine dioxide in water treatment as it can oxidize mineral compounds of sulfur, iodide, and bisulfite, which are highly toxic are likely to drive the product demand. Thus, the growing demand for treatment of industrial wastewater is expected to result in an increased demand for sodium chlorate in the coming years. Leather Tanning: The growing demand for sodium chlorate in tanning and finishing leather are likely to drive market growth. Moreover, the rise in standard of living and increase in consumer spending is expected to bolster the growth of the market. Others: Additional uses of sodium chlorate such as surface treatment of metal, manufacturing dyes, pharmaceuticals, herbicide, and vanadium mining are anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period. Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sodium-chlorate-market-8606 By Region North America: The market growth is driven by the well-established paper and paperboard industry and stringent regulations pertaining to greenhouse emission through plastic usage. Canada has one of the largest deposits of uranium, which is expected to create high demand for sodium chlorate. Europe: Germany is the largest contributor to the regional market growth owing to the established leather tanning and finishing sectors. Asia-Pacific: The largest and fastest-growing regional market for sodium chlorate. This is primarily attributed to the high demand for the product in applications such as chlorine dioxide for bleaching pulp, explosives, ore processing, dyes, and leather tanning. Latin America: A small but growing mining and water treatment industry is likely to fuel the demand for sodium chlorate in the coming years. Middle East & Africa: High growth potential of the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries is projected to drive the regional market growth during the forecast period. FLINT, MI -- Flint police have located a missing and endangered 4-year-old girl. Italy Dior Turner, 4, has been found safe by Flint Police Chief Terence Green, according to an updated Flint Police Department news release. She had been last seen with her father in the 1500 block of Avenue A in Flint around 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 13. Police believe Italys father fled with his daughter in a silver Buick Century after he shot his mothers boyfriend, Green told MLive-The Flint Journal earlier in the day. The childs grandmothers boyfriend was taken to a local hospital and listed in good condition, Green said. Police believe Italy witnessed the shooting, Green said. The childs father has been taken into custody. Its believed he was holding her at the time he shot his moms boyfriend, Green said. No additional details have been provided. Read more on MLive: Man who exchanged gunfire with Flint police charged with 18 felonies Man accused of taking upskirt video of 14-year-old girl on Easter Sunday Man dies after truck hits tree in Flint, police say Two suspects being investigated after alleged postal worker assault in Flint Gunman shot after firing assault rifle at Flint officers, police say Saginaw teen killed in Flint I-75 crash loved family, music Teen who took plea in 2018 case involving 2 bodies found in Flint River granted new attorney I have to tell my grandchildren about their father in the past tense: Mother calls for end to gun violence in Flint South Africa: Expropriation Bill hearings kick off in Mpumalanga The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure will on Thursday start a four-day public consultation programme in Mpumalanga to gather public input on the Expropriation Bill. The purpose of the Expropriation Bill is to repeal the existing Expropriation Act of 1975, in order to provide a common framework, in line with the Constitution, to guide the processes and procedures for the expropriation of property by organs of State, and to provide for certain instances where expropriation with no compensation may be appropriate in the public interest. The public hearings will be held in three districts, starting at Bushbuckridge Local Municipality on Thursday, followed by the City of Mbombela Local Municipality on Friday. Both municipalities fall under the Ehlanzeni District. Public hearings will be held at Mkhuhlu Community Hall in Bushbuckridge and Mbombela Civic Centre Hall. On Saturday, the hearings will be held in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality under the Gert Sibande District Municipality. On Sunday, the committee will conclude its programme in the province with public hearings in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, under the Nkangala District Municipality. The venue for the for the Msukaligwa public hearings will be Ella De Bruin Hall in Ermelo, and for Thembisile Hani it will be Kwaggafontein Community Hall in KwaMhlanga, the committee said on Wednesday. The committee has also assured that the hearings will be held under strict COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Southern California pastor pleads for Christians in America to be willing to "pay the price for a national awakening." He said that it's their only hope. A follow up to his early post on the need for a national awakening, Shane Idleman of Westside Christian Fellowship now writes on the four essential steps to a spiritual awakening. He defined spiritual awakening as "God's power meeting God's people who are hungry for more of Him." He also added that a "full surrender" is essential and must not be treated as optional. Halfway through his writing, Idleman said that "although we are totally dependent on God, a spiritual awakening will not come without a fight" to point out that man has a responsibility to act in humble obedience to the Lord. Before discussing the steps, Idleman briefly talked about the reason for his plea and his hope for America's restoration. He sadly noted that it often takes a tragedy or calamity to wake the slumbering "soul of the nation." "But - believe it or not - I am hopeful...In studying various spiritual awakenings (including those in the Bible), I have found that darkness often precedes light," he explained. The steps, according to Idleman, can assuredly ignite the fires of a person's spiritual awakening. They're about preparing the hearts through full surrender in hope of God sending a revival. Step one is about "embracing godly sorrow and confessing sins" that should be done in both personal and corporate level. This was evident in the 1904-1905 Wales Revival from which Evan Roberts documented the four things that contributed to the revival. Confession of sin was the first on the list. "If we don't make changes here, we will not experience all that God has for us," commented Idleman. The next step is the "humbling of self before God does." Learning from the account in Isaiah 58, Idleman said that fasting would not have any bearing if there's harshness and self-centeredness. "Whether it's pastors throwing tirades from the pulpit, carnal Christians mocking God, or proud believers who never look in the mirror, we have not yet humbled ourselves," he observed. The "Reset Your Life" author added that rebellion and pride can prevent spiritual awakenings. He warned that both should not underestimated. Step three is about being a set-apart people before God. Wording it as "holiness is not a suggestion," Idleman quoted 2 Corinthians 7:1 and Romans 12:1 as reminders for Christians to re-examine their lives in light of the Scripture. "Without holiness, no one will see revival," stressed the Westside Fellowship's lead pastor. Last on the list is a "continual hunger and thirst for God." Idleman said that this condition reminds him of Leviticus 6 where God commanded the Israelites to keep the fire on the altar burning, and Matthew 5:6 where Jesus said that only those who hunger and thirst for his righteousness will find satisfaction. "It's not about perfection but direction," he resolved. "What direction are you heading? Will He find you empty, humble, and desperate, or full, arrogant, and satisfied?" According to a Finnish study, the structure and function of the brain areas involved in emotions and their regulation are altered in both psychopathic criminal offenders and otherwise well-functioning individuals who have personality traits associated with psychopathy. Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterised by persistent antisocial behaviour, impaired empathy, and bold, disinhibited and egotistical traits. However, similar antisocial traits are also common, yet less pronounced, with people who are well-off psychologically and socially. It is possible that the characteristics related to psychopathy form a continuum where only the extreme characteristics lead to violent and criminal behaviour. The collaborative study of Turku PET Centre, Karolinska Institutet, and Psychiatric Hospital for Prisoners in Finland examined the brain structure and function in psychopathic prisoners and healthy volunteers. Brain structure was measured with magnetic resonance imaging. The participants also viewed violent and non-violent films while their brain activity was monitored with functional magnetic resonance imaging. -In psychopathic criminal offenders, the density of the brain areas involved in cognitive control and emotion regulation was compromised. When viewing violent films, these areas showed stronger reactions in psychopaths. In a large sample of healthy control participants, psychopathy-related traits were associated in similar changes in brain structure and function: The more psychopathic characteristics a person had, the more their brain resembled the brains of psychopathic criminals, explains Professor Lauri Nummenmaa from Turku PET Centre at the University of Turku, Finland. - Structural and functional changes in the brain were focused in the areas involved in emotions and their regulation. The changes in the activity and structure of these areas can explain the callousness and impulsiveness associated with psychopathy, says Professor Jari Tiihonen from the Karolinska Institutet. - The results show that the degree of psychopathic characteristics varies also in the general population. Having a little bit of psychopathy-related traits does not cause problems, but for about one percent of the population, psychopathy is so strong that it may lead to criminal and violent behaviour, notes Chief Psychiatrist and Docent Hannu Lauerma from the Psychiatric Hospital for Prisoners in Finland. - Studying prisoners is difficult, but provides critical information about the neurobiology of violence and aggression. Conducting this type of a study would not have been possible without the help from the staff at Turku Prison, emphasises Nummenmaa. The findings help to understand the biological mechanisms behind violence, and enable to plan new and more effective treatments to aggression and antisocial behaviour. ### The study was funded by the Academy of Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the European Research Council (ERC), and Valon Vuoksi Foundation. The results have been published in the journal Cerebral Cortex. The drilling rig for the three-well 2021 Canning Basin program has been confirmed as Ensign Rig 963, a sister rig to Ensign 970 that is operating at West Erregulla in the Perth Basin. Spud date of the first well, Kurrajong 1, is on track for early to mid-June with site construction underway. Buru Energy Limited ( ) (OTCMKTS:BRNGF) (FRA:BUD) is gearing up for its 2021 Canning Basin drilling program, with the drill rig confirmed and good progress on pre-spud activity. This field program will kick-off as the northern wet season draws to a close and will include a three-well drilling program as well as an extensive 2D seismic program with more than 1,100 kilometres of data acquisition. The two well exploration drilling program is on conventional oil prospects (Rafael and Kurrajong), targeting large prospective resources and will also include a development well on the Ungani Oilfield (Ungani 8) that is expected to increase production rates and recover additional oil volumes. Very big year for Buru Buru has recruited a very experienced and multi-skilled drilling team that has been working on the project since the beginning of the year. Buru executive chairman Eric Streitberg said: We are very pleased with the way the program is coming together in what will be a very big year for Buru in the Canning. We are drilling two of the largest onshore conventional oil prospects in Australia and success will be transformational for Buru, for the Kimberley and for Western Australia. Ensign 963 drilling rig An Ensign 963 rig has been selected as the preferred rig for the drilling program and the company has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the rig including an initial payment for the commencement of mobilisation. This rig is an ADR 1500 with 1,500 horsepower AC Electric Drawworks, a 750,000 pounds hook capacity, 800,000 pounds rated electric top drive and a nominal depth capacity of 5,500 metres. The ITT requirements were for a fully crewed, high capacity rig, capable of drilling the deep Rafael 1 exploration well and the Ungani 8 horizontal well and there are few rigs in Australia capable of meeting these requirements. The Ensign 963 is available in the timeframe required to meet the program objectives and has a fully craneless design that will enable it to be moved efficiently and economically. Streitberg said: Ensign 963 is a very capable rig and Ensign Energy is a very experienced and capable rig operator. Our drilling team has brought an outstanding level of professionalism to the program and we have received great support from the service companies. On track to start fieldwork The Ensign 963 rig is currently in the Beetaloo Basin where it has most recently been drilling deep and complex wells for ( ) (OTCMKTS:OGFGF) (FRA:ORL), Burus joint venture partner for the Canning Basin exploration program. The timing of the start of the program is partly dependent on the timing of the necessary pre-acceptance maintenance and function checks required to be carried out by Ensign, and also on Burus rig acceptance inspections, with the rig expected to be on the Kurrajong 1 drilling location in late May to early June. Streitberg said: It is a multi-faceted process to get ready to spud the first well, and we are on track and looking forward to starting work in the field and drilling some world-class oil prospects. Long lead items and services including well logging, cementing, drilling fluid supply, drilling bits and other ancillary services for the 2021 well campaign are being finalised. NATO says it will pull out all its troops from Afghanistan, matching a U.S. pledge to do the same. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, after meeting Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, announced at a news conference that about 7,000 NATO troops would be withdrawn. "We will start the withdrawal of NATO Resolute Support forces by May 1," Stoltenberg said. "We plan to complete the withdrawal of all our troops within a few months. "We went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together and we are united in leaving together," he said, adding that any attacks on withdrawing NATO forces would draw a firm and forceful response from the alliance. The U.S. and NATO said troop withdrawal was not an abandonment of Afghanistan. "Bringing our troops home does not mean ending our relationship with Afghanistan or our support for the country," Blinken said. "Our support, our engagement and our determination remain." The Biden administration ended months of speculation about U.S. plans in Afghanistan by saying Tuesday that it would withdraw remaining troops by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the 2001 attacks in which al-Qaida terrorists hijacked passenger planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. That same day, another domestic passenger flight, United Airlines Flight 93, was hijacked by four al-Qaida terrorists and crashed in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. UN rights experts on Tuesday called on the Burundian and Tanzanian governments to respect the rights of people fleeing Burundi, amid reports refugees have faced forced returns, torture and killings Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2021 ) :UN rights experts on Tuesday called on the Burundian and Tanzanian governments to respect the rights of people fleeing Burundi, amid reports refugees have faced forced returns, torture and killings. A group of 11 independent experts warned in a statement that Tanzanian police and intelligence services were allegedly carrying out arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances of refugees and asylum seekers in cooperation with Burundian intelligence services. "Burundian refugees and asylum-seekers now live in fear of being abducted in the middle of the night by Tanzanian security forces and taken to an unknown location or being forcefully returned to Burundi," they said. Burundi was plunged into political crisis in 2015, when then-president Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a disputed third term, sparking violence that claimed at least 1,200 lives and prompted thousands to flee. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates over 330,000 Burundians have left, nearly half taking refuge in Tanzania, many in camps. United Nations investigators said in September that rights abuses have continued since General Evariste Ndayishimiye was elected last May. The UN experts warned that Burundian political opponents were allegedly being tracked among the refugee population in Tanzania. The security situation in the camps in Tanzania appears to be "extremely compromised", warned the experts, who are appointed by the UN but do not speak on behalf of the organisation. They include the UN special rapporteurs on torture and extrajudicial executions, and members of the UN working groups on enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention. They pointed to reports that Burundian intelligence agents had been posing as refugees within the camps to identify individuals who were later arrested by Tanzanian security forces. "The government of Burundi must stop its repression against its citizens, including those seeking international protection in Tanzania," they said. The experts said refugees had confirmed being taken by Tanzanian police and being subjected to enforced disappearance and torture before being illegally sent back to Burundi, or forced to sign a voluntary return form. "We are extremely alarmed by reports that some Burundian refugees have been killed after having been abducted by Tanzanian security forces," the experts said. They cautioned that growing anxiety over safety had driven many refugees who otherwise might not have considered going back to Burundi to return there. The UN group condemned the failure of the Tanzanian government to publish any results since announcing an investigation into refugee disappearances last August. Last month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced 2020 federal income tax filing deadlines for individuals would be extended from April 15 to May 17 in response to the ongoing recovery efforts surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help provide taxpayers some ongoing relief. In the midst of a busy tax season, its important to be reminded that with the flurry of tax deadlines comes the increase of fraud attempts and tax scams. Annually, the IRS shares and emphasizes certain aggressive and evolving schemes that may be at particular risk to taxpayers. This year, schemes related to coronavirus tax relief continue to be a burden that target taxpayers. By raising awareness, credit unions can help inform and protect their members. Since tax scams are a particular threat this time of year, it is especially important that your members know how to protect themselves from these prevalent attacks. Especially as extensions can create some confusion and make members more susceptible to fraud attempts. What do these scams look like? Tax scams continue to evolve as scammers find new, creative ways to defraud taxpayers. Unfortunately, attempts have only increased with COVID-19 recovery and stimulus relief as frausters prey on challenging times to exploit others. The IRS recently listed the following as different tax scams that pose major threats and are important to be aware of in this 2021 tax season. Phishing Scams: Taxpayers should be alert to potential fake emails, texts, phone calls, or websites looking to steal personal information. Taxpayers should be alert to potential fake emails, texts, phone calls, or websites looking to steal personal information. Phone Scams (or vishing): These scam phone calls work hard to instill a sense of urgency, including those threatening arrest, deportation, or some kind of retaliation if a tax bill is left unpaid. These scam phone calls work hard to instill a sense of urgency, including those threatening arrest, deportation, or some kind of retaliation if a tax bill is left unpaid. Charity Scams: These schemes share bogus information about a charity to trick people to send money or provide personal information. This is attempted with a fake website, using names similar to legitimate charities, or unsolicited communication. These schemes share bogus information about a charity to trick people to send money or provide personal information. This is attempted with a fake website, using names similar to legitimate charities, or unsolicited communication. Social Media Scams: Social media scams frequently use events (like COVID-19) to try tricking people to disclose personal information. Typically this involves convincing a potential victim they are dealing with a person they trust via email, text or social media messaging. Social media scams frequently use events (like COVID-19) to try tricking people to disclose personal information. Typically this involves convincing a potential victim they are dealing with a person they trust via email, text or social media messaging. Refund Theft Scams: Refund and Economic Impact Payments (EIP) as provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act have been targeted in recent scams with identity theft and filing false tax returns to divert funds to the wrong address or bank account. Refund and Economic Impact Payments (EIP) as provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act have been targeted in recent scams with identity theft and filing false tax returns to divert funds to the wrong address or bank account. Elder Fraud: Seniors are more likely to be targeted and victimized by scammers than other segments of society due to unfamiliarity or uncertainty on how to respond across digital channels. Seniors are more likely to be targeted and victimized by scammers than other segments of society due to unfamiliarity or uncertainty on how to respond across digital channels. Offer in Compromise (OIC) Scams: Misleading tax debt resolution companies can exaggerate chances to settle tax debts through an Offer in Compromise (OIC) and submit applications for unqualified candidates. OIC offers are available for a bill reduction, but taxpayers must meet very specific criteria under law to qualify. Misleading tax debt resolution companies can exaggerate chances to settle tax debts through an Offer in Compromise (OIC) and submit applications for unqualified candidates. OIC offers are available for a bill reduction, but taxpayers must meet very specific criteria under law to qualify. Payroll and HR Scams: Phishing schemes are designed to steal Form W-2s and other tax information. This has grown with many businesses closed and their employees working from home due to COVID-19. W-2 forms contain a lot of sensitive information and are highly valuable for identity thieves. Phishing schemes are designed to steal Form W-2s and other tax information. This has grown with many businesses closed and their employees working from home due to COVID-19. W-2 forms contain a lot of sensitive information and are highly valuable for identity thieves. Ransomware Scams: This cybercrime targets human and technical weaknesses to infect a potential victims computer, network, or server. Once infected, ransomware looks for and locks critical or sensitive data with its own encryption. Tax Scam and Fraud Prevention Tips Educating your employees and members about these crimes can help reduce the risk of falling victim to these crimes. It is just as important to train staff and members on tax scam warning signs and prevention methods, so they are equipped to detect and report an attack. Consider these preventative tips to keep your employees and members educated on how tax scams can occur and impact them. Be cautious of any communication: Communication requesting personal or financial information tax related or otherwise should be treated with caution. Members should know that the IRS and state tax authorities would never reach out by phone, email, text, or social media. Communication requesting personal or financial information tax related or otherwise should be treated with caution. Members should know that the IRS and state tax authorities would never reach out by phone, email, text, or social media. Pay attention to how money is requested: The IRS never requires that taxes or bills be paid with a prepaid/reloadable debit card, gift card, or money wires through services like Western Union or MoneyGram. The IRS never requires that taxes or bills be paid with a prepaid/reloadable debit card, gift card, or money wires through services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Report threatening or demanding messages: Calls demanding immediate payment or threatening legal action are likely scam attempts. The IRS or State will not call to discuss taxes you owe without first mailing you an official bill. Calls demanding immediate payment or threatening legal action are likely scam attempts. The IRS or State will not call to discuss taxes you owe without first mailing you an official bill. Dont open any attachments or click on any links: Especially, if you have suspicions about the communication source as they may contain a malicious code or virus that will infect your computer. Cybercriminals might use a phishing email to trick a potential victim into opening a link or attachment containing the ransomware. Especially, if you have suspicions about the communication source as they may contain a malicious code or virus that will infect your computer. Cybercriminals might use a phishing email to trick a potential victim into opening a link or attachment containing the ransomware. Be wary of rejected file requests due to duplication: If an e-filed return is rejected because a duplicate EIN/SSN is already on file with the IRS or an unexpected receipt of a tax transcript doesnt correspond to anything previously may be a warning sign of identification theft. If a scam is suspected, report it to your state authorities and/or the Federal Trade Commission here. The IRS also provides resources to consumers to share tax scam education and fraud prevention safety measures. You can find these consumer alerts here. Click here to learn more about how Allied Solutions is helping our industry prevent and manage fraud. The federal government on Tuesday paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports of extremely rare but very serious in one case, fatal side effects emerged. Most health experts largely applauded the government for its decision, saying it showed regulators making vaccine safety their top priority. They said regulators need to strike a balance between addressing small but serious risks while encouraging millions to get inoculated to end the pandemic. The pause is a good decision and shows the public health system is working, said Noel Brewer, a professor in the health behavior department at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. What exactly happened with the J&J single shot? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration recommended Tuesday that health providers and states temporarily stop the use of J&Js covid vaccine after reports emerged that six women in the U.S. who got the single-shot vaccine developed a rare but serious blood clot. One of the women died, and another is in critical condition. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination, FDA and CDC officials said. None of the six cases of blood clots related to the J&J vaccine are believed to be in Pennsylvania, but the state is waiting for confirmation from the CDC, Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said during a news briefing Tuesday. It is not clear exactly how many vaccine appointments throughout Pennsylvania will be postponed as a result, but the state was scheduled to receive about 20,000 doses of the J&J vaccine this week, Beam said. Its the latest in a series of messaging challenges. This pause comes less than a week after three vaccine clinics in Georgia, North Carolina and Colorado temporarily stopped using the vaccine when several people fainted or became dizzy immediately following their shots. Fainting is a known risk from all vaccines, affecting about 1 in 1,000 people, health experts say. In response to these cases, some health experts questioned whether even the short-term halt was necessary. In addition, federal regulators are concerned that the blood clotting seen with the J&J vaccine is the same type as seen globally with AstraZenecas vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine isnt in use in the United States but has been authorized in more than 70 countries. The European Medicines Agency recently concluded that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects on the AstraZeneca vaccine label. While advising the public to look out for signs of clots, the European regulators said the benefits of the shot were still worth the risk. It also comes on the heels of questions faced by J&J regarding its rollout after a Baltimore subcontractor who was making its vaccine accidentally spoiled 15 million doses earlier in April. The problems at the facility were contributing to a drop in J&J doses this month. What does all this mean in terms of my risk? More than 560,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 in the past year or 1 in 586 people. An individuals risk of dying of or being hospitalized with the coronavirus is far higher than the risk of getting a rare blood clot from the J&J vaccine. Meanwhile, the risk of getting a blood clot is also far higher if you have COVID-19. To put the less-than-1-in-a-million risk of getting a severe blood clot from the J&J vaccine in perspective, people face a 1-in-500,000 chance each year of being struck by lightning. Its important to keep these numbers in context, Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist and an associate dean in the College of Health and Sciences at the University of California-Irvine, said of the rare blood clots. While frightening, its a rare event. The risk of blood clots associated with COVID-19 infection is actually greater, he added. What about teachers? In Pennsylvania, the Wolf administration earmarked its initial doses of J&Js vaccine for teachers and other school staff. In addition to the Corrections Department, the state is now providing the vaccine to the Department of Human Services and those in the food and agriculture industries. The vaccine effort for teachers ended about two weeks ago, and no blood clot issues were rpeorted, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the states largest teachers union. More than 112,500 people were vaccinated as part of that effort. We arent aware of any school staff members who have reported these side effects, but we will stay vigilant about this, the statement read. The pause, which FDA officials said they expect will last a few days, will give regulators time to alert doctors to the added risk and show them how to recognize and treat the clots and make reports to the government. The CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices today to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. The committee could recommend adding the blood clot risk to the list of warnings about the vaccine or could recommend that certain populations avoid the vaccine. Why is messaging important? How the concerns about risk are communicated could have a lasting impact on whether some people go ahead and get vaccinated. The messaging is very important because science alone does not get us to the outcomes we need, said Zoe McLaren, associate professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. McLaren said the FDA is known for being risk averse and thats how it developed its reputation for protecting Americans food and drug supply. Part of messaging is communicating to the public what the FDA is doing, said McLaren, who was inoculated with the J&J vaccine. Other vaccines J&Js is one of three COVID-19 vaccines that have been cleared for use under an emergency authorization in the U.S. Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which require two doses, the J&J version requires only one shot. The state is expected to receive about 270,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines this week, Beam said. Some vaccine providers, like UPMC, will be able to proceed with scheduled appointments by replacing the J&J doses with a different vaccine. According to the CDCs vaccine tracker, nearly half of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated, and the numbers have been soaring in recent weeks to an average topping 3 million doses a day. Of the more than 190 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the U.S., about 7 million were J&J. Nonetheless, the number of new coronavirus infections is still rising in many states and there are concerns from CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and others about another surge as a result in part of people hesitating to get vaccinated. How does this play into vaccine hesitancy? The latest surveys show 13% of adults say they wont get a coronavirus vaccine and 15% will get one only if required by their employer or to travel. Experts are torn on whether the J&J pause will increase hesitancy among some people or give them more confidence in how federal regulators are overseeing the vaccination effort. Dr. Amesh Adulja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said he worries the pause will have a lasting effect. We have a lot of vaccine hesitancy that exists, and that is only going to be magnified. But to Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of Florida health system, this is one hurdle in the long vaccination game. He predicts the overall effect from the pause will be minimal within a few weeks as regulators and health providers put the vaccine risks in perspective for the public. He said Americans are used to being told about the health risks of drugs, as they are bombarded with television drug advertising. Meanwhile, UC-Irvines Watanabe said he hopes the pause will lead to more discussions with hesitant Americans about how they have several vaccine options. Watanabe said it was wise of the FDA to show an abundance of caution by pausing use of the J&J vaccine now, particularly because there are two other vaccine options for Americans that can more than fill the gap. By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News. Spotlight PA contributed to this report. Barely a few hours after Apple announced to host the Spring Event 2021 next week, arch-rival Samsung too revealed it has something powerful to showcase later this month. Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked media invite says the company will unveil the most powerful Galaxy device on April 28 at 10:00 am ET (7:30 pm IST). Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the programme will be broadcasted live online on YouTube and the company's official website. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked April 2021: Here's what to expect As per the latest reports, the upcoming Samsung event may see the launch of a new line of Galaxy-branded laptops. It is likely to be a new Galaxy Book Pro series powered by Intel's latest 11th generation iCore chipsets. It is expected to come in two sizes-- 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch. They are likely to sport an OLED-based touch display, support an S-Pen stylus. Also, the special Galaxy Book Pro 360 series is said to come with a special 360-degree hinge so that users can use the laptop also as a tablet. There won't be any new phones this time, as the company is speculated to host another Galaxy Unpacked event in July to unveil Galaxy Z Fold 3. Watch the Samsung Unpacked trailer below: Must read | Apple Spring event 2021 date announced: Here's what to expect Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech. What does comedy and continuing education have in common? Well, they both deal with a lot of change. Keynote Speaker & Comedian Jan McInnis is sharing her keynote "Finding the Funny in Change" at the Texas Administrators of Continuing Education virtual conference tomorrow, April 15, 2021. In this popular keynote, McInnis shares some techniques that she has used in her comedy career to handle change that attendees can put to use in their business and personal lives. Change causes fear, tension, and miscommunications. In her keynote, Jan gives practical and immediately useful tips on, among other things, how to diffuse tension instantly, kick off tough conversations, and enhance communications through using appropriate humor. She also includes tips on humor and health along with a few "rules" for using humor. "A lot of what comedians do to create humor on stage, can be used in the office. Think about it, if you sit down to a staff meeting and have just had some big change, and you're not going to talk about it, then you may have people thinking that you don't "get it" and don't care. But if you can use some well-placed humor to quickly address it, you can acknowledge the situation and move forward," McInnis mentions. McInnis uses examples from her thousands of comedy events to illustrate what she did in a particular situation. "Things happen ahead of you on stage, that make it tough for a comedian to go right into their act. I show people some techniques to deal with these unknowns and keep things rolling," McInnis says. And no, this keynote is not about writing jokes and being a comedian McInnis cautions. It's about responding to a change situation, and changing the stressful energy so you can move through it. There is also plenty of clean, appropriate humor throughout the keynote from her comedy act. McInnis has presented this keynote to thousands of groups in all industries from healthcare to finance, education, technology, and more. About Jan McInnis Jan is a popular keynote speaker, comedian, comedy writer, and author. She's sold comedy material to everyone from Jay Leno for his Tonight Show monologue to guests on the Jerry Springer Show, greeting cards, syndicated cartoon strips, hundreds of radio stations, and more. Her comedy material covers work, family, and day-to-day life. As a keynote speaker McInnis shows people how to use humor in business through her popular keynotes "Finding the Funny in Change" and "Finding the Funny in Communications. She also shares her keynote on resilience titled "Bouncing Back: Handling Setbacks like a Comedian," and she's a sort after Master of Ceremonies who keeps the event rolling whether it's a sales kickoff event or an awards banquet. McInnis is the author of 2 books "Finding the Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds" and "Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GPS Dental LLC ("GPS" or the "Company"), an Arkansas-based dental service organization ("DSO") backed by The Firmament Group ("Firmament"), has partnered with three dental practices during the first quarter of 2021: ADC of Joplin (Joplin, MO), Hermitage Dental Group (Nashville, TN), and Walnut Ranch Dental Spa (Ardmore, OK). These partnerships represent a continuation of GPS's strategy to grow through synergistic relationships in the Southern and Midwestern United States. "GPS Dental is excited to be partnering with ADC of Joplin, Hermitage Dental Group, and Walnut Ranch Dental Spa", said Dr. Hunter Smith. "These new partnerships expand our footprint to Missouri and Oklahoma and will enable us to reach new partners as we continue to expand geographically." GPS is led by experienced dentists and DSO operators Dr. Hunter Smith and Dr. William Little, who co-founded the Company in 2015. Firmament initially invested in GPS in December 2020 and has provided additional capital to support the Company's acquisitions during the past quarter. Firmament's Lauren Steel added, "We are thrilled by the success that Hunter, Will, and the GPS team have had executing on their strategy and were excited to support the team in consummating these three acquisitions. We believe strongly in management's partnership-driven approach to practice management and look forward to continued growth as GPS deepens its footprint in the Southern and Midwestern regions." About GPS Dental, LLC Headquartered in Jonesboro, AR, GPS (https://www.gpsdds.com/ ) is a DSO provider that manages 20 dental practices in Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Oklahoma. GPS offers a variety of management services to its practices, including billing and accounting, patient scheduling assistance, HR functions, marketing, and insurance. About The Firmament Group Firmament (www.thefirmamentgroup.com) provides tailored debt and equity capital solutions to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Firmament is a value-added partner to entrepreneurs, management teams and business owners and curates solutions by deploying versatile capital in a user-friendly way. Firmament concentrates on businesses in the healthcare services, software, health and wellness, food and agriculture, life sciences, and business services industries. With offices across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Firmament is focused on turning small business into big business. CONTACT: Allie Reitman, [email protected] SOURCE The Firmament Group Related Links www.thefirmamentgroup.com Denmark has completely ceased administering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine following its possible link to very rare cases of blood clots. The decision will remove the shot from Denmark's vaccination scheme and could delay the country's vaccine rollout by up to four weeks, based on previous statements by health bodies. 'The Danish Health Authority has decided to continue the vaccination against Covid-19 without the vaccine from AstraZeneca,' it said in a statement, adding that it had not ruled out using the vaccine in the future. Denmark has completely ceased administering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine following its possible link to very rare cases of blood clots. The decision will remove the shot from Denmark's vaccination scheme and could delay the country's vaccine rollout by up to four weeks, based on previous statements by health bodies. Pictured: A man receives a coronavirus vaccine in Frederikshavn, Denmark [File photo] Almost one million Danes have received their first jabs, 77 per cent with Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine, 7.8 per cent with Moderna's shot and 15.3 per cent with AstraZeneca's, before it was suspended. WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE SUSPENDED THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE? NOT SUSPENDED Austria Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czechia Hungary Latvia Luxembourg Malta Poland Romania Slovakia Slovenia SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-30s Greece United Kingdom SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-55s Belgium France SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-60s Estonia Germany Ireland Italy Portugal Spain SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-65s Finland Lithuania Sweden SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-70s Iceland SUSPENDED FOR ALL AGES Denmark The Netherlands Norway Advertisement Denmark was the first country to pause the use of the AstraZeneca jab in March amid concerns about blood clots. Several other countries followed suit though most, including Germany and France, have since resumed the use of the vaccine for older people. Denmark has also put Johnson & Johnson's vaccine on pause pending further investigations into a possible link to rare blood clot cases. The European Union's drug watchdog said last week that it had found a possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and very rare blood clot cases. However it said the risk of dying from Covid-19 was 'much greater' than the risk of mortality from rare side effects. The regulator left it up to individual states to make their own risk assessments and decide how to administer the vaccine based on local conditions that vary widely across the bloc. The AstraZeneca vaccine is significantly cheaper than other vaccines and is easier to store as it does not require to be kept at an extremely low temperature. The concern over clots and mixed messages surrounding the vaccine are expected to affect people's willingness to take it. The European Commission is also engaged in a row with AstraZeneca over missed delivery targets. It accuses the British-Swedish company of breaking its contract and claims it is at fault for the slow start to the EU's vaccination campaign. The Commission has threatened to block exports of jabs out of the EU until the company fulfils its outstanding orders from the bloc. AstraZeneca denies breaking the contract. Denmark's decision on Wednesday came as EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for a major contract extension for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccines stretching to 2023. In a sign of confidence in a company that has been a mainstay of Europe's vaccination drive so far, von der Leyen said the EU will start negotiating to buy 1.8billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through 2023. Von der Leyen expressed full confidence in the technology used for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is different from the technology behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Infection numbers have remained low for months in Denmark, with 563 new cases being reported on Tuesday Deaths have also remained low in Denmark, which has successfully managed the coronavirus pandemic, three people died from the virus on Tuesday, adding to the total of 2,446 since the pandemic began Von der Leyen expressed full confidence in the technology used for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is different from the technology behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. 'We need to focus on the technologies that have proven their worth,' von der Leyen said. Pfizer-BioNTech plans to provide the EU with an extra 50 million dozes in the 2nd quarter of this year, on top of 200 million doses already earmarked for the bloc. The deliveries will be especially welcomed by the EU's 27 member nations considering supply delays and concerns over the AstraZeneca vaccine. AstraZeneca is also embroiled in a dispute with the European Commission over delays and shortages. The Commission accuses the manufacturer of breaking its contract. AstraZeneca denies this [Stock photo] The risk of dying from Covid-19 is significantly higher than the rate of CSVT blood clots, which have not been definitively linked to the vaccines (Based on fatality estimates from Cambridge University and CSVT occurrences in Germany) The European Commission currently has a portfolio of 2.3 billion doses from a half dozen companies and is negotiating more contracts. The planned negotiations with Pfizer left in the middle what the EU would do about any new contracts with AstraZeneca. The European Commission said in a statement, 'We keep all options open to be prepared for the next stages of the pandemic, for 2022 and beyond. We can, however, not comment on contractual issues.' DUBLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Reagents Market by Type (Antibodies, Oligonucleotide, Nucleic Acid Probe), Technology (Immunoassay, Hematology, Microbiology), Use (Research, Analyte Specific Reagent), End User (IVD Manufacturer, Clinical Laboratory) - Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The IVD reagents market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2020 to 2027 to reach $77.6 billion by 2027. The growth in the IVD reagents market is mainly attributed to the factors such as increasing global prevalence of acute and chronic infectious diseases coupled with rising geriatric population, increasing adoption of flow cytometry techniques in research and academia, increase in funding for research activities, and rising proteomics and genomics research studies. Moreover, the growing demand for protein therapeutics and personalized medicines and emerging economies offer significant growth opportunities for the players operating in this market. The global IVD reagents market study presents historical market data in terms of values (2018 and 2019), estimated current data (2020), and forecasts for 2027- by type (oligonucleotide, antibodies, nucleic acid probe), technology (immunoassay, hematology, microbiology), use (research, analyte specific reagent), end user (IVD manufacturer, clinical laboratory), and geography. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the market at regional level. Based on technology, the immunoassay/immunochemistry segment is estimated to dominate the overall IVD reagents market in 2020. The large share of this segment is mainly attributed to the increasing use of immunoassays in infectious disease testing, development of novel tests, and rising demand for immunoassay-based tests. Further, the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease since December 2019 is expected to accelerate the growth of this segment owing to the national emergency declared and requirement of various reagents for the kits and assay preparation. Based on type, the antibodies segment is estimated to hold the largest share of the overall IVD reagents market in 2020. However, the oligonucleotides segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The fast growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the factors such as advancements in the field of genomics research, growing adoption of custom oligonucleotides, and rising strategic developments such as agreements and collaborations to expand oligonucleotides market. Based on end user, the IVD manufacturers segment is estimated to command the largest share of the overall IVD reagents market in 2020. The factors such as rising number of research activities for the development of innovative IVDs, growing public and private funds, and rising demand for advanced disease diagnostics are expected to drive the growth of the IVD reagents market for IVD manufacturing during the forecast period. Moreover, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 is also expected to support the growth of the IVD reagents market for this segment. However, the clinical laboratories segment is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period, due to the rising number of accredited clinical laboratories; growing collaborations, partnerships, and other strategies undertaken by the key players; and outbreak of COVID-19. Market Insights Drivers Increasing Prevalence of Acute and Chronic Infectious Diseases Increasing Funding for Research Activities Increasing Adoption of Flow Cytometry Techniques Rising Proteomics and Genomics Research Studies Restraints Stringent Regulations Antigen-Specific Reagents Opportunities Growing Demand for Protein Therapeutics and Personalized Medicines Emerging Economies Challenges High Cost & Unfavorable Reimbursement Scenario Scope of the Report: IVD Reagents Market, by Technology Immunoassay/Immunochemistry Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (Elisa) Western Blotting Immunofluorescence Immunohistochemistry Functional Assays Immunoprecipitation Other Technologies Biochemistry/Clinical Chemistry Molecular Diagnostics Microbiology Hematology Coagulation/Hemostatis Urinalysis Other Technologies (Other Technologies comprises of hybridization and loop-mediated isothermal amplification among others) IVD Reagents Market, by Type Antibodies Antibodies Market, By Type Monoclonal Polyclonal Antibodies Market, By Target CD TCR EGFR Other Targets Oligonucleotides Nucleic Acid Probes Purified Proteins or Peptides Other Reagents (Other reagents include Blocking Agents, Detergents, Surfactants, Wetting Agents, Buffers, Stabilizers, Purified Water, Dyes, Standards & Controls, Enzymes, Cell Culture Reagents, and Anti-coagulants) IVD Reagents Market, by Use Research Use Only Analyte Specific Reagents Clinical Use IVD Reagents Market, by End User IVD Manufacturers Reference Laboratories Academic and Research Institutes Hospital Laboratories IVD Reagents Market, by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany Italy France U.K. Spain Rest of Europe (RoE) (RoE) Asia-Pacific (APAC) (APAC) Japan China India Rest of Asia Pacific (RoAPAC) (RoAPAC) Latin America Middle East & Africa Company Profiles Abcam plc (U.K.) Agilent Technologies Inc. (U.S.) Beckman Coulter Inc. (U.S.) Becton Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.) Bio-Synthesis Inc. (U.S.) Bio-Techne Corporation (U.S.) BioLegend Inc. (U.S.) Bioline (U.K.) DIACLONE SAS ( France ) ) Dickinson and Company (U.S.) Hologic Inc. (U.S.) InBios International Inc. (U.S.) LGC Biosearch Technologies (U.K.) LakePharma Inc. (U.S.) Merck KGaA ( Germany ) ) RayBiotech Inc. (U.S.) SDIX LLC (U.S.) Sino Biological Inc. ( China ). ). The Binding Site Group Ltd.(U.K.) Thermo Fisher Scientific (U.S.) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ly7905 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 US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 HONG KONG, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a challenging 2020 - where many international businesses around the world focused on operational continuity, crisis management, and transformation issues at home - 2021 beckons with the promise of some new growth opportunities at home and overseas in Asia. Asian countries are demonstrating remarkable attractiveness in 2021, stemming from high GDP growth expectations, burgeoning markets, booming technology sectors, and large new shifts in supply chains - resulting in new opportunities for trade, partnerships, and expansions for international investors. Entering new markets in Asia successfully can be aided by a deeper, practical understanding of the focal country's business and regulatory environment, expert advisory regarding the changes in Asia, identified areas of risk, incentive and opportunity, as well as the advised steps to prepare for and seize opportunities from entry to profit. These and several other areas are covered in this guide series. Designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in ASEAN, China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam and Russia, the Introduction to Doing Business guides are compiled by the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist of foreign direct investment, providing corporate establishment, business intelligence, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and nancial review services to multinationals investing in emerging Asia. Each Introduction to Doing Business 2021 guide is free to download, and discusses: Establishing and running a business Tax, audit, and accounting Human resources and payroll Within the chapters, a range of different topics that affect doing business in the country of interest are discussed - including investment models, intellectual property considerations, key taxes applicable for foreign companies, and several types of employment contracts. Additionally, the guides examine how business practices have changed, such as new requirements and how to open bank accounts. Download the reports free at AsiaBriefing.com: Other ways to access special reports and knowledge about Asia: Download magazines and guides about various aspects of different Asian economies, business, and regulatory environments at www.AsiaBriefing.com/Bookstore, For media enquiries please contact [email protected] or download our Media Kit. or download our Media Kit. Subscription to Asia Briefing is free, and provides you with access to our reports, the Asia Briefing Weekly roundup of latest business and investment news from across the region, and invitations to webinars on in-depth business topics. Subscribe here. Dezan Shira & Associates - Founded in Hong Kong in 1992, Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing market entry, legal, accounting, tax, HR, technology, and operational advisory to international investors. The mission of the firm is to guide foreign companies through Asia's complex regulatory environments and assist with all aspects of establishing, maintaining, and growing their business operations throughout the region. Asia Briefing Limited - Asia Briefing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates, Asia's largest independent foreign direct investment practice. Founded in 1999, Asia Briefing through its stable of titles including the ten ASEAN countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Russia, Vietnam and Silk Road Briefings which focus on the Belt and Road Initiative. These collectively provide business intelligence to foreign investors interested in or operating in these markets, together with regulatory updates, analysis and commentary on today's real issues concerning the foreign investor in Asia. Contact Dezan Shira & Associates / Asia Briefing Limited Rohini Singh Group Media and Content +91 11 4706 8058 Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiabriefing.com Holly McCleery US Desk Marketing & Communications +1 801 833 6645 Email: [email protected] For more information, please visit Dezan Shira & Associates SOURCE Dezan Shira & Associates A woman who said her massage therapist sexually abused her during her visit is suing the business where he worked. Pazetive Aurelius Redwood, 34, has pleaded not guilty to third-degree sexual abuse in connection with the alleged encounter on Dec. 23, 2019. He is accused of masturbating during the massage at Zama Massage in Northeast Portland. An acquaintance of Redwoods told a detective that Redwood had confessed to masturbating during a client session and admitted it wasnt the first time, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Now police are seeking information from people who may have further information on the case or other potential victims. He said he did it because he was aroused by the power differential, Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Todd T. Jackson wrote in the affidavit. He did not think he could trust himself not to do it again. The customer reported hearing excited breathing and learned that Redwood had ejaculated on the sheet used to cover her body, according to the affidavit. Portland police submitted the sheet to the state crime lab, which determined the stain was from semen, according to Jackson. Police obtained a DNA swab from Redwood and his DNA matched the DNA profile from the semen stain, the affidavit said. Redwood, of Portland, has denied wrongdoing. He also uses the name Jeffrey Marc Wilson and is a student at Portland State University with no prior criminal record, according to court documents. The client suing is identified in the lawsuit by a pseudonym. She has accused Zama Massage of sexual battery. The business manager did not return email or phone messages. The suit, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court by Mark McDougal of Kafoury & McDougal law firm, seeks noneconomic damages of up to $1.5 million. Police ask if anyone has information about this case or other cases to contact the Police Bureaus non-emergency line at 503-823-3333. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian We Welcome Beijing With Open Arms: West Papuan Rebel Leader Leader of the West Papuan separatist movement Benny Wenda is laying out the welcome mat for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to step into the ongoing Papua conflict and help achieve independence for the province. Our struggle has been going on for nearly 60 years, the rebel leader said from his home in Oxford near London. My people are not safe in the hands of Indonesia. Almost 500,000 men, women and children have been killed since 1960, he told The Australian. There is basically a slow genocide being committed by Indonesia, and Australia and New Zealand refuse to act on this humanitarian crisis. If China wants to support us, we will welcome them with open arms, Wenda said, adding that the group was open to receiving assistance from any country, even if they did not align ideologically. Hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papuas biggest city of Jayapura on August 29, 2019, where they set fire to a regional assembly building and hurled rocks at shops and hotels. (Cleine/AFP via Getty Images) Wenda is the interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, established in 2014 as a new umbrella group for separatist movements in the region. Wendas comments come just a week after leaders of Malaita Province in the Solomons Islands continued its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, despite the national government switching official relations for Beijing in September 2019. What we have seen with the Peoples Republic of Chinas involvement in other countries in the region is that everything looks quite good at the start, but at the end of the day, the countries eventually find it difficult to handle the problems that come with dealing with China, Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani said. The appeal from Wenda comes as the CCPs soft power push into the South Pacific region continues via propaganda, foreign aid, and infrastructure investment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is Beijings trillion-dollar, global infrastructure funding scheme that has been criticised for leaving developing countries laden with debt. In an interview in October 2020, Wenda told the Lowy Institute that Australia and New Zealand needed to work harder to secure West Papuas independence, claiming the country would provide a bulwark against Chinese influence from the north. Melanesians were warriors in the front line in the Second World War, he said. We are the front-line defence. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Many white collar workers seem to be enthusiastic about the work from home trend, now freed of time-eating commutes, office politics, and hovering bosses. Its hardly a secret that Covid-induced fear of commuter trains, busses and elevators has led CEOs to revamp operations and allow employees who can to work remotely. It has already radically reshaped the residential real estate market, with professionals who have extra cash hoovering up houses in exurbs or other states with lower costs of living but reasonable amenities. But is this shift a lasting development? Remote work is hardly a new concept, as outsourcing and offshoring of lots of tasks, such as coding, call centers, and legal research attests. Despite the press and broker enthusiasm for this shift, its likely to wind up being rolled back significantly post-Covid. Some of the reasons why: CEOs overwhelmingly dislike work from home. A Wall Street Journal survey late last year found that by more than a 2:1 margin, CEOs thought the costs and risks of working from home outweighed the benefit. And the minority camp consisted of CEOs who said theyd made it work, or were willing to have work at home continue post-Covid on a limited basis. Illustrative quotes: Theres sort of an emerging sense behind the scenes of executives saying, This is not going to be sustainable. Laszlo Bock, chief executive of human-resources startup Humu and former HR chief at Google I dont see any positives. Not being able to get together in person, particularly internationally, is a pure negative. Reed Hastings, co-chief executive of Netflix Inc., on working from home We tried itIts just not the same. You just cannot get the same quality of work. Rajat Bhageria, CEO of robotics startup Chef Robotics, on what the company learned in attempting to work remotely The overwhelming majority of academic studies on work from home have found those employees are less productive. The only exception was one in the US from the employees themselves, who have incentives to score themselves well if they enjoy their new freedom.1 But their perception isnt the one that counts. Its that of the higher ups. Productive isnt just the workers perception that he is executing his tasks more efficiently at home; his bosses and co-workers may incur frictions in defining his tasks, coordinating them, and reviewing his output that can considerably or more than offset any perceived increase of his efficiency in isolation. A survey of small and medium-sized US firms found that working from home reduced productivity by 20% on average; a Japanese study found a decline of 30% to 40%. Some of the reasons why: The problems with remote work will become more pronounced over time. Those of you old enough to remember the dot-com era may recall predictions that traditional companies would become largely passe because the Internet make it possible for free-lancers to team up and collaborate and outmaneuver the dinosaurs. That didnt happen, even at the margins. The reason was obvious to me at the time: the considerable cost of negotiating and contracting. At a decently-managed company, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. People learn from each other, not just in the formal sense, but also how to get along with and get the best out of their peers and bosses. That all comes under stress save for roles where the employee regularly works autonomously on well-defined tasks. Zoom meetings are a poor substitute for the much freer give-and-take you have in live sessions (and mind you, I hate meetings). You dont have good approximations of the informal corridor or lunch line or bathroom chat where you exchange some information that might be consequential. And its very difficult to train and acculturate new employees remotely. A colleague argued that a big reason that work at home was viable was that organizations were essentially frozen during Covid. Workers wouldnt be changing jobs due most employers having to get their footing in the new normal and not being in expansion mode, plus the difficulty of getting in-person interviews. The reduction in turnover means that established relationships continue even though the teams and managers have to work out new routines. The longer this continues, the more the interpersonal networks start to fray. Some will retire and need to be replaced or have their duties redistributed. So managers in companies where a fair amount of the tasks require collaboration or close oversight are likely to find work at home performing less well the longer it goes on. Hybrid working is hard to implement. Some CEOs have found that the distribution of tasks in their operation has enabled them to operate efficiently in a work at home framework. Others, either due to wanting to appear worker-friendly or finding some roles can be performed well at a remove, have said they expect to implement a hybrid approach going forward, with some employees working at home and others back at the office full time, and some working part time at home. This is super messy from a managerial standpoint. Even though work at home is popular with employees, except these flexible approaches to be cut way back. As Forbes explains: There are real risks inherent with the leading return-to-work hybrid system. Companies will have to ensure that their employees dont take advantage of the system by collectively deciding to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays, to the disadvantage of other co-workers. It can become a logistical nightmare for managers to have impromptu meetings, as everyone is operating on a different schedule and in varied time zones. A supervisor needs to keep in mind who is working where and when they are available. Wired confirmed this impediment in Remote Work Has Its Perks, Until You Want a Promotion: But adopting remote work has costs less easily tracked on a spreadsheet. One of the biggest is coordinating and managing workers spread across locations and time zones, and able to meet only virtually Darren Murph, head of remote at GitLab, a software startup with more than 1,200 workers in more than 65 countries but not a single office, agrees. He likens combining traditional offices with a large remote workforce to mixing oil and water. Youre going to have to work really hard to make sure remote workers dont feel like a second class, he says. The employee arms race means many will find quickly that working at home comes at a career cost. Even with the societal need for as many employees as possible to stay away from the office, both some Silicon Valley employers and Deutsche Bank proposed paying remote workers less. Tech firms argued that employees should not be able to Californicate their pay to a lower-cost area like Oregon or Utah; Deutsche proposed cutting work at home pay by 5% and giving it to those who had to keep coming in. But theres a big reason why employees themselves may start retreating from work at home: unless all of their competitors are spending as much time away from the office as they are, they are likely to be disadvantaged in pay and promotions. They ones who turn up more often will benefit from more opportunistic interactions, better company intel, and more face time with managers and executives. From The People Space in 2021: In 2020 US payment processor Stripe offered a one-time payment of $20,000 to employees who opted to move out of San Francisco, New York or Seattle. The rub? It came with a salary cut of up to 10%. Stripe is not the only one. California-based VMware has also introduced a similar policy for employees who move to less-expensive cities while other tech giants Facebook, Twitter and ServiceNow have all considered such measures. Now new research from executive research firm Leathwaite finds 45% of HR leaders believe that, if employees who work remotely are based in locations with a lower cost of living and without a commute, it should impact their fixed salary and bonus potential. Meanwhile nearly four in 10 expect the promotion prospects of employees who opt to work remotely on a permanent basis to be impacted. And thats before you get to the fact that pre-Covid, employees who worked remotely some or all of the time were generally at a disadvantage in terms of advancement. For instance, from BBC in 2017: But the problems with working from home begin right from the start. Thats because we think everybody can do all aspects of their job away from the office. Thats what Esther Canonico found in a recently published study of 514 workers. Canonico, a fellow with the London School of Economics Department of Management, says the at-home workers in her study didnt receive any training or guidance in how to pull off the transition. It added up since nearly half of the 514 people she studied either worked from home full-time or had some flexibility in their schedules. If youve done it yourself, you know that working from home is not as simple as opening your laptop and getting down to business. Trainingsomething some of us loathe and others of us cant get enough ofcan make the difference between failure and success away from the office Then there are the everyday pitfalls that can lead to serious career damage or stagnation, Canonico said. For instance, if you arent in the office and your presence isnt felt, youre likely to miss out on new projects and opportunites as theyre doled out to someone the boss sees every day. In fact, new research from the University of Arizona shows 40% of employees who were working from home feel disconnected from the companys strategic direction and one-third feel like they dont get support from bosses, according to Joe Carella, assistant dean of executive education at University of Arizonas Eller College of Management. People working from home become professionally and personally isolated, Canonico says. They say out of sight, out of mind. And CNBC in 2019: But according to bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch, working from the comfort of your home or coffee shop can easily become a career killer. Heres the truth, says Welch. The best work in an organization, the important work, it never gets done on the phone, or over email or on Slack. Instead, she says, it is almost always facilitated by relationships and understandings that only happen when people are together physically. Great teams are built on the banter, the lunches, the late nights, the jokes, the asides, the shared ah-has! That type of bonding, she says, builds layers of trust, and trust is a careers rocket fuel. You can fly without it, but you cant soar. And Wired during the pandemic: That will be challenging if Facebook and other remote-curious tech companies keep most managers and top executives onsite amid the conference rooms, snack stations, and foosball tables. Choudhury says a hybrid of remote and office work is hard to pull off without disadvantaging people offsite who receive less attention from leadership, while onsite workers can more easily cater to executives and win promotions. Thats a recipe for disaster, he says. To do it well you have to have all or the majority remote, and you have to have managers who are remote. In other words, to the extent that particular companies preserve significant work at home populations, it will because theyve figured out how to use it to lower costs. That means not just office space but over time paying employees in lower cost locations less. Big companies know just as well as Rahm Emanuel never to let a crisis go to waste. ____ 1 A widely-reported US survey found that men working at home scored themselves as more productive and women less. While its not hard to see that women with kids would get stuck with minding them while also trying do to their day jobs, as we indicated earlier, the mens self-rating does not factor in the overall organizational perspective. And on top of that, the survey didnt indicate how they found their respondents. If this was entirely or significantly a Web survey, its a garbage-in, garbage out exercise. High demand: Newquay in Cornwall has been named the hottest sellers' market in Britain Newquay in Cornwall has been named the hottest sellers market in Britain, with 82 per cent of properties put up for sale this year already sold subject to contract, Rightmove is reporting. The greatest excess of demand over supply for a decade means almost two-thirds of properties on estate agents books nationwide have sales agreed, the property website said. Cornwall recently overtook London as its most searched-for location. The second hottest market for sellers is Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside, where almost 82 per cent of homes have sales agreed, followed by Plymstock, Devon with 81 per cent. The top ten seller markets have seen asking prices hit record highs since the market reopened last May. But city centres are moving much more slowly, with Birmingham the best market for buyers - as only 18 per cent of listings have had sales agreed. m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk The Morrison government has moved to shut down any legal claim by Christine Holgate over her departure from Australia Post, insisting she resigned as chief executive of her own volition over the Cartier watches saga. Ms Holgate has said she is contemplating taking legal action against Australia Post over her controversial exit in November, after alleging she was unlawfully stood down by the chairman amid pressure from the Prime Minister and his ministers. Former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate says shed love an apology from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Dominic Lorrimer Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday rejected Ms Holgates claims he bullied her out of the job, saying she elected to resign during a government review into her 2018 decision to reward four senior executives with Cartier watches worth a total of $20,000. The position was that Christine Holgate would be able to stand aside while that review took place. She chose not just to do that. She chose while the review was under way to resign from the company, Mr Morrison said. [April 14, 2021] Benefit Advisors Network Launches in Canada Benefit Advisors Network (BAN), the premiere international network of independent employee benefit firms, is pleased to announce that it has launched in Canada, with Owen & Associates and The Leslie Group becoming the first two firms accepted as members of BAN Canada. "We are excited to open up our network to the 'best of the best' employee benefit advisors in Canada and thrilled to have two of the country's most highly-regarded benefits firms as our founding members," says Perry Braun, Executive Director, Benefit Advisors Network. "We see expansion into Canada as an opportunity to provide our neighbors to the north with access to cutting-edge technologies, internationally-recognized experts, and exclusive partnerships that save both time and money while allowing them to strategically grow their businesses," Braun continues. "Demand for BAN to expand into Canada has been high, particularly given the need for firms to be able to work internationally, so I am confident launching our Canadian brand represents a win-win for both our current members and our new alliances in Canada." Both Owen & Associates and The Leslie Group pride themselves on being strategic and innovative problem-solvers, partnering with clients around the globe to develop highly customized, affordable, and flexible solutions for their employee benefit programs. "With a large percent of our clients based internationally, including a significant portion in California's Silicon Valley, we see membership in BAN as an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded firms across Canada and the U.S.," says Michael Owen, President, Owen & Associates. "Affiliation with BAN represents a real value-add for us as well as our partners firms and our rapidly growing client base." "Having worked with BAN members over the past decade and been the Canadian resource officially since 2018, we have successfully supported BAN members in their business growth. Collaboration has been effective in winning against the Aon's and Mercers by having not just another office in another country, but a best-in-practice partner," continues Owen. Owen adds, "In performing our due diligence, we found that BAN stood out among other benefits associations. It is widely regarded as the premier organization in the field. Membership will continue to benefit our partners and our clients." The Leslie Group also evaluated other large international organizations and chose BAN for similar reasons. "We believe the business planning tools and client resources BAN offers will enhance our firm's continued growth and enhance the value proposition for our clients. W appreciate the high-quality resources that BAN membership adds to the arsenal of customer solutions that we already provide to our clients, regardless of their physical location," says Shawn Leslie, President and CEO of The Leslie Group. "There is a big push for the globalization of employee benefits, with over 40% of our clients having operations or the head office outside of Canada. We are finding mid- sized and large, international companies want one employee benefit organization to handle their benefits for their entire enterprise across the globe. To this point, we have already had the opportunity to utilize the BAN model in a recent joint sales presentation. This strategic partnership made a significant difference, as we were able to meet all of this organization's benefits requirement for all their locations in both Canada and the U.S., helping us to be awarded their benefit contract. We were chosen over two large international employee benefit consulting firms due to the combined resources we were able to offer," continues Leslie. BAN intentionally limits membership to top-tier firms only. The organizational philosophy of collaboration while providing world-class resources, such as preferred pricing arrangements and direct access to underwriters, has helped its members continue to grow despite a sluggish economy as a result of the pandemic. The addition of Owen & Associates and The Leslie Group further supports BAN's network, where member agencies work as peers to pool their experience, industry knowledge, and data in order to streamline and maximize their growth. About BAN Founded in 2002, BAN is an exclusive, premier, international network of independent, employee benefit brokerage and consulting companies. BAN delivers industry leading tools, technology, and expertise to member firms so that they can deliver optimum results to their employee benefit customers. BAN intentionally limits membership because of the highly collaborative interactions. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.benefitadvisorsnetwork.com About The Leslie Group The Leslie Group is Canada's fastest-growing independent employee benefits consulting firm with clients located across Canada. The firm has full access to the group benefits marketplace with significant leverage to negotiate effectively with all prospective insurance companies. They work with clients to manage both their existing group insurance benefits and group retirement programs and provide in-house education and communication services. The Leslie Group can implement new or enhanced group benefits programs with competitive and sustainable pricing as well as plan designs that are competitive within clients' benchmark standards, meeting the needs of both the employer and its employees. The Leslie Group is headquartered in Toronto with satellite offices across Canada. To learn more visit www.lesliegroup.com. About Owen & Associates Established more than 40 years ago, Owen & Associates has a presence in not only in North America but also the global marketplace. Owen & Associates is a leading consulting and brokerage firm that helps global companies establish and manage comprehensive employee benefit solutions for their Canadian businesses. The firm was established with a vision of combining industry expertise with a client-centered approach to deliver outstanding service and unique solutions to our clients. The single source approach to group, retirement, third party administration and global access coupled with best-in-practice partners has resulted in significant growth year-over-year, a key differentiator separating Owen & Associates from the competition. We also provide the expertise and resources needed for outstanding technical support, another key differentiator. Our firm supports our clients in every province and territory in Canada. For more information, please visit: https://owenandassoc.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005016/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An 11-month-old baby has died after being discovered unresponsive in a car at Kingsway Christian College by her distraught mother. Emergency crews rushed to the school in Perths north around 5.40pm Wednesday after the girls mother ran inside the building desperately seeking help. Paramedics provided first aid to the baby but she was unable to be resuscitated. The girls 39-year-old mother had driven to the college to pick up another child from the centres after-school care when the tragedy unfolded in front of horrified staff. [April 14, 2021] Deadline Reminder: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against SOS Limited (SOS) Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming June 1, 2021 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased SOS (News - Alert) Limited ("SOS" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOS) American Depositary Shares ("ADSs" or "shares") between July 22, 2020 and February 25, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors suffering losses on their SOS investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com. On February 26, 2021, Hindenburg Research ("Hindenburg") and Culper Research published reports regarding SOS, alleging that the Company was a "pump and dump" scheme that used fake addresses and doctored photos of crypto miners to create an illusion of success. The reports pointed out that SOS lists a hotel room as the company's headquarters and questioned whether SOS purchased mining rigs from HY International Group New York Inc. ("HY"), which appeared to be a shell company. They also claimed that FXK Technology Corporation ("FXK"), which SOS announced it would purchase, was actually "an undisclosed related party shell." Moreover, the reports noted that the photographed SOS "miners" weren't the A1 Pros the company claimed to own but were actually Avalon's A1066 miners. Hindenburg went even further and found the original images from SOS's site belonged to a rival RHY. On this news, the Company's share price fell $1.27, or 21%, to close at $4.77 per share on February 26, 2021. After the end of the Class Period, between February 27 and March 3, 2021, Hindenburg subsequently provided additional information on SOS that further supported its earlier allegations, including pictures, highlighting, inter alia, how SOS had allegedly taken steps to hide the misconduct noted in the February 26, 2021 corrective disclosures. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) SOS had misrepresented the true nature, location, and/or existence of at least one of the principal executive offices listed in its SEC (News - Alert) filings; (2) HY and FXK were either undisclosed related parties and/or entities fabricated by the Company; (3) the Company had misrepresented the type and/or existence of the mining rigs that it claimed to have purchased; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. If you purchased or otherwise acquired SOS ADSs during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than June 1, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005105/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 01:54:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) IAEA chief called for "transparency" in dealing with global concerns over Japan's nuclear wastewater disposal plan. "What we need to do is to make sure that when this starts to be released, there will be no harm to the environment, no harm whatsoever," he said. VIENNA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- As Japan's decision to discharge nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean sparked an international backlash, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief said Wednesday that he took these concerns "seriously" and called for "transparency." "The way to deal with these concerns, for me ... it's very simple. It has one name: transparency," Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the IAEA, told Xinhua in an interview here on Wednesday. Grossi stressed that when the wastewater is released, it should cause no harm to the environment. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that his government has decided to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the Pacific Ocean amid domestic and international opposition. On Wednesday, China strongly urged Japan to reconsider its decision on the disposal of nuclear waste. The international community including the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the European Commission had expressed deep concerns over the issue. Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaks at the board of governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, March 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA) Grossi noted that not only Japan's neighboring countries but also local people in Japan, such as fishermen, were "all very concerned." "The issue at hand is very well known. We all know what is there. We all know the amount of the water. What we need to do is to make sure that when this starts to be released, there will be no harm to the environment, no harm whatsoever," he said. Grossi noted that the IAEA would cooperate with Japan, with professional work organized "before, during and after the controlled release of treated water into the ocean. " "So the work will start now and we will have to make sure that every step of the way ... we observe this cooperation, that this cooperation is unhindered, that we have access to everything we need to have access (to)," he said. File photo taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows huge tanks that store contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua) Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (881) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (897) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (851) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (852) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (942) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (143) Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 17:04:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic roars across Europe, countries in the continent are struggling to push ahead with their vaccination rollouts amid surging infection rates, fresh restrictions and lockdowns, as well as vaccine shortages. Facing criticism for their slow inoculation campaigns, European countries are earnestly trying to fill the vaccine gap. At this crucial moment, Chinese vaccines can be a trustworthy alternative as they are not only available, but their safety has also been approved in several European Union (EU) member states. Noticeably, Hungary and Serbia have spearheaded mass inoculation in Europe with China's COVID-19 vaccines. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has also noted that vaccines from Russia and China are welcome in his country and the EU. Earlier in February, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said that their countries are open to any vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which has so far only given the green light to vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca. The EU's controversial joint vaccine procurement strategy has slowed the continent's inoculation process, constraining the ability of the 27-member state bloc to contain the pandemic. As of April 11, only 15.34 percent of the EU's total population have received at least one jab of COVID-19 vaccines, far less than the front runners -- Israel (61.46 percent) and the United States (35.65 percent), according to official data collected by Our World in Data, a project of the Britain-based Global Change Data Lab. Yet in contrast, some European countries are ahead in the process with the help of Chinese vaccines. Hungary has so far ranked sixth across the globe in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rate, with more than 30 percent of its population having received at least one jab. That is because Hungary did not wait for jab approvals from the EMA and imported vaccines from China and Russia to supplement its supply. Hungarian President Janos Ader and Prime Minister Viktor Orban have both received jabs of Chinese vaccines. Serbia, where over 25 percent of its population have received at least one jab of the vaccines as of April 11, is another model in securing multi-channel vaccine supplies. In addition to the Russian Sputnik V vaccines and those developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca, Serbia has also purchased a large number of the Sinopharm vaccines from China with millions of doses shipped. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a dose of the Chinese vaccine on April 6, saying that he was feeling well. Thanks to the recent large-scale vaccination campaign, Serbian virologists said the country's pandemic has been contained to a considerable extent. Outside Europe, many state leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti, have been inoculated with Chinese vaccines. Since viruses respect no borders, life-saving vaccines should not be limited geographically due to political prejudice or geo-strategic calculations. With their proven efficacy in multiple countries, Chinese vaccines can definitely be taken as a trustworthy alternative if Europe really wants to expedite its vaccination efforts and effectively curb the pandemic for its own sake and that of the whole world. Enditem In online reviews, clients praise personal injury attorney Davis Rice for being a pit bull who refuses to settle for less than he thinks workers deserve for falling off a ladder or otherwise getting hurt at work. None of them, though, mention the quality of his macaroni-and-cheese, topped with buttered breadcrumbs and baked for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Rices recipe was among the breakout hits in the Joye Law Firms cookbook, first issued in 2013 and now undergoing an update. Once completed, the e-book detailing how to prepare partner Mark Joyes ranch dressing, a financial managers cherry cookies and the human resources directors bacon-enhanced Brussels sprouts, among other dishes, will be shared with the 7,000 or so people on the South Carolina firms contact list. According to Joye spokeswoman Nicole Cerullo, We thought this was like a reminder that attorneys are people, too. The original inspiration for the cookbook was the regional reflex to express gratitude with food. Cerullo said clients pleased with the outcomes of their cases are prone to send sweets to the office, and sometimes we pester them until they give us the recipe. Joyes marketing department proposed compiling those rounded-up recipes with staff favorites as a promotional effort. But the cookbook project took on new significance during the pandemic, since the recipes helped connect employees working remotely. Staffers might see each other only on Zoom, but they could recreate at home the potato salad or sweet potato pudding that their colleagues once brought to office potlucks. For that reason, self-published cookbooks surged during the pandemic. Aimee Blauvelt of Morris Press Cookbooks, the nations leading publisher of DIY cookbooks, said the uptick in home cooking may have contributed to the genres growth, but the tremendous spike likely has more to do with a craving for togetherness. Sign up for our food & dining newsletter. We publish our free Food & Dining newsletter every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to keep you informed on everything happening in the Charleston culinary scene. Sign up today! Email Sign Up! Cookbooks are more alive than they were five years ago because people want to be together, Blauvelt said. Over Morris Press 88-year history, churches and charitable groups have been the companys most frequent customers. For instance, Morris Press recently helped a Humane Society chapter assemble recipes for pet treats. Still, corporations have at least dabbled in the community cookbook space. Alison Kelly, who oversees the Library of Congress collection of group-produced cookbooks, found several amateur cookbooks featuring white-collar culinary advice. Among the librarys holdings are "No Fault Cooking," published by the American College of Trial Lawyers, "Beyond Chips: A Collection of Chocolate Recipes from IBMers Around the World" and "The Fannie Mae Legal Department Cookbook: From Torts to Tarts and Suits to Nuts." More poignantly, Blauvelt said many nursing homes have created cookbooks through Morris Press since the start of the pandemic. In almost every case, the recipes werent attributed to residents: Instead, Blauvelt theorizes that registered nurses and other employees wanted to demonstrate their knack for caregiving. She imagines the cookbooks reassured families who werent allowed to visit with their loved ones before COVID-19 vaccinations were available. "The Joye Family Favorites Cookbook" doesnt have quite so high an aim. The PDF is distributed freely as advertising material, not sold for a fundraiser. Even so, Cerullo said it doesnt mean any less to the employees and clients who participated in the project. It was a labor of love, she said. Their pride in their cookbook and the team behind it is so great that Cerullo said Joye hasnt ruled out printing the next edition. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE:HEMO), the biopharmaceutical group developing new therapies and treatments for blood diseases, announces an update on negotiations regarding the future development of its leading product candidate CDX bispecific antibody ("CDX") for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia ("AML") and other potential applications. On 13 January 2021, the Company announced the completion of the development of CDX with a global pharmaceutical company ("GlobalCo"). With the original development phase of the agreement completed, GlobalCo or the Company would exercise an option to license the other party's intellectual property necessary to exploit the CDX antibody. On 1 April 2021, the Company announced that negotiations regarding the licensing and development of CDX had commenced, and that the results of those negotiations will be announced upon their completion. The Company has now received notice from GlobalCo that it will not exercise its option to license the Company's intellectual property. Accordingly, the Company has given notice to GlobalCo of its intention to exercise its own option to license GlobalCo's intellectual property on an exclusive, worldwide basis. The Company continues to work actively with GlobalCo in relation to development of the antibody, and to negotiate with GlobalCo to determine the exact terms of the licence and GlobalCo's continued involvement in the progression of CDX toward clinical trials. Further announcements will be made in due course. Dr Vladislav Sandler, CEO & Co-Founder of Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals, commented: "We are pleased with the progress of our negotiations with GlobalCo and their continued interest in working with Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals. We look forward to advancing our CDX antibody to clinical trials." About AML AML, the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, has poor survival rates (a five-year survival rate of less than 30% in adults) and is currently treated using chemotherapy, rather than the potentially more benign and effective form of therapy being developed by Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals. The successful development of the new therapy for AML would have a major impact on treatment and survival rates for the disease. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement. Enquiries: Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc https://hemogenyx.com Dr Vladislav Sandler, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder headquarters@hemogenyx.com Peter Redmond, Director peter.redmond@hemogenyx.com SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Matthew Johnson, Vadim Alexandre, Adam Cowl Peterhouse Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Lucy Williams, Duncan Vasey, Charles Goodfellow About Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is a publicly traded company (LSE:HEMO) headquartered in London, with its US operating subsidiaries, Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals LLC and Immugenyx LLC, located in New York City at its state-of-the-art research facility. The Company is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical group developing new medicines and treatments to treat blood and autoimmune disease and to bring the curative power of bone marrow transplantation to a greater number of patients suffering from otherwise incurable life-threatening diseases. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is developing several distinct and complementary product candidates, as well as platform technologies that it uses as engines for novel product development. For more than 50 years, bone marrow transplantation has been used to save the lives of patients suffering from blood diseases. The risks of toxicity and death that are associated with bone marrow transplantation, however, have meant that the procedure is restricted to use only as a last resort. The Company's technology has the potential to enable many more patients suffering from devastating blood diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as severe autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, aplastic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus), to benefit from bone marrow transplantation. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640291/Hemogenyx-Pharmaceuticals-PLC-Announces-CDX-Option-Update U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has assured that pastors will not face criminal charges for counseling individuals seeking help with unwanted same-sex attraction as Parliament seeks to ban so-called "conversion therapy." In a March 27 letter responding to concerns raised by the Evangelical Alliance and its 3,500 member churches that clergy might potentially face criminal prosecution, the prime minister said: "As the Government made clear in 2018, when we first made our commitment to end conversion therapy, we will continue to allow adults to receive appropriate pastoral support (including prayer), in churches and other religious settings, in the exploration of their sexual orientation or gender identity." Along with several other religious groups, the Evangelical Alliance has offered its support of the plans to prohibit the practice of conversion therapy that the government is seeking to ban, provided that freedoms remain for individuals who adhere to biblically-based Christian teachings on marriage and sexual ethics. Johnson added in his letter, "Like you, I do not want to see clergy and church members criminalized for normal non-coercive activity." Source:The Christian Post SCRANTON Clutching a bullhorn in her right hand, Nadiyah Rivera led a small assembly of demonstrators in a slow march around Lackawanna County Courthouse Square early Wednesday afternoon. Justice for Daunte Wright, the 21-year-old shouted from behind a face mask, the bullhorn amplifying her voice. No justice. No peace. A crowd of about a dozen some white, some Black followed Riveras lead and echoed her exclamations. They held handmade signs emblazoned with Black Lives Matter, Stop Killing Us and other phrases born of a racial justice movement continuing here and across the nation. Rivera and Savannah Drummond, 22, organized the Justice for Black Lives event in the wake of Sundays police killing of Black man Daunte Wright, 20, in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Officer Kim Potter, who later resigned and was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter, fatally shot Wright after he pulled away from officers attempting his arrest and ducked back into his car, prompting a brief struggle. The deadly incident unfolded during a traffic stop after police discovered Wright had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. Police officials later described the shooting as accidental, saying Potter mistook her handgun for her Taser gun. Wrights death is another example of a police encounter ending in the death of an unarmed Black person. It happened just about 10 miles from where former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for the May killing of George Floyd, whose death prompted a summer of mostly peaceful protests and widespread calls for police reform last year. Wrights killing sparked days of protests in Brooklyn Center. When I say Black lives matter Im not referring to the organization, said Rivera. Im referring to actual Black lives, because our lives matter. ... We are people, and our lives matter. The killings of Wright, Floyd and others by police are traumatizing to many Black Americans who fear they could be next, Drummond said. The fact that I cant leave my house without thinking that Im risking my life is horrible and not OK, she said. It just reached a point where we dont want to hide anymore. We dont want to be afraid anymore. ... Were making sure, by being here today, were going to force you to think about it. Among those who joined the demonstration was Scranton resident Bobby Keller, 36, who wore a knit hat embroidered with the words protect Black women. I just feel as a white male ... this is the very least I can do, Keller said of his presence. There is police brutality and racism in this country and its disgusting and needs to be stopped. As she spoke with reporters, Rivera held a placard bearing the words, no more names. I dont see these names (of those killed) as just those people, she said. I see them as my brothers. I see them as my stepdad. I see them as all the Black men and women in my life. ... So no more names means it could be any of us. Kabir Bedi On Son Siddharths Death: Its A Battle I Lost Because He Chose To Go; The Guilt Is Enormous Kabir Bedi has opened up about his life like never before in his autobiography Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life Of An Actor. Recently, he unveiled the cover of the book and during an interview, he opened up about losing his son Siddharth Bedi in 1997. Kabir Bedis son died by suicide and before his death, he had tried to take his life quite a few times. While talking to Bollywood Hungama, the actor revealed that Siddharth suffered from schizophrenia. He revealed, Siddharth was a very brilliant young man He was exceptional in his abilities, and then suddenly, one day, he couldn't think. We tried so hard to first figure out what was wrong, and for three years, we battled these unknown ghosts, and eventually, he had this extremely violent breakout in the streets of Montreal, and it took eight policemen to nail him down. And then, the doctors in Montreal finally diagnosed him as schizophrenic. It was at the age of 25 that Siddharth ended his life. Kabir Bedi said, We tried our best to battle this. In the end, it is a battle that I lost because he chose to go through suicide. He couldn't bear the world that schizophrenia gave him. He also added that it is important for families dont stop loving the person and lets him//her know that the person is loved! He also said that despite several years passing by, the guilt he lives with is enormous. The guilt one suffers when somebody in your family commits suicide is enormous, no matter how much you try. You always feel you could have done something to save that person's life, he added. Kabir Bedi now has daughter Pooja Bedi and son Adam Bedi with him. The terrorism threat from the Afghan region is not zero, but, at the moment, its less than it is in other parts of the world, Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in an interview on Tuesday. So the question is, can we continue to suppress the terrorism threat from southwest Asia without our troops being on the ground in Afghanistan? If the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, it is not clear whether Al Qaeda could rebuild a base there for carrying out terrorist attacks against the United States, according to senior lawmakers with access to the classified assessments. And even if Al Qaeda could rebound, some officials have asked if the group might choose another lawless region over Afghanistan. What is that threat really going to be? Representative Adam Smith, Democrat of Washington and the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said last month during a virtual conference on Afghanistan. This isnt the 1990s when Al Qaeda set up camps, and they had the Taliban and no one was paying attention to them. But collecting intelligence will become far more difficult once U.S. troops leave, current and former officials acknowledged. While some counterterrorism operations against terrorists inside Afghanistan can be conducted from far-flung bases in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere outside the country, they are risky and difficult to pull off. Mr. Biden or future presidents may be reluctant to approve them. And with a weakened Afghan government facing pressure from the Taliban, conditions would be ripe for Qaeda cells to grow, some counterterrorism officials said. Ungoverned spaces, let alone a known terrorist organization like the Taliban dominating a nation, is altogether an ideal breeding ground for disparate terrorist groups that threaten the United States to find save haven and shelter, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former C.I.A. officer who spent much of his career working on counterterrorism operations, including in Afghanistan. Though the threat from international terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan is low, it might not stay that way, said Michael P. Mulroy, a former Pentagon official and C.I.A. officer who served in Afghanistan. U.S. counterterrorism operations have put continuous pressure on terrorist groups throughout the Afghanistan war. Once the troops leave, he said, that pressure will decline and the ability to collect intelligence in the region will suffer. The important ceremonial functions address the collective emotions of the people at large regarding government. In the 1930s, King Edward VIII generated great controversy when he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an expatriate American. In that different, earlier time, the fact that she was not British generated extensive public attention and debate. She also had been divorced twice. In general, notoriety followed her. By Moses Ndhaye The Ministry of Health has asked Ugandans to embrace emerging new technologies to foster inclusive COVID-19 recovery. Dr. Robert Mutumba, the Principal Medical Officer at the department of reproductive health at the ministry of health says, a number of new innovations that have been fronted to control the spread of coronavirus have proved to be highly effective and therefore should be supported. Dr. Mutumba was officiating at the introduction of a cube disc atomizer machine which is used to decontaminate air to control the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic With the state reeling from a jump in gun-related homicides, lawmakers Wednesday pushed for an increase in funding for violence-prevention programs. While the coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines and government resources, the shooting deaths of a 3-year-old and 16-year-old in Hartford over the weekend were tragic reminders of another public health crisis that has waged on in Connecticut, largely out of focus. The chief medical examiner testified this week that the number of homicides in Connecticut increased by 30% in 2020 - rising to 157 from 120 last year. And last year, a Hearst investigation into gun deaths found that about 10 percent of those killed by guns in the states three largest cities over the past decade were people 25 and younger. The rise in gun violence has been exacerbated by a pandemic that has led to high unemployment rates, threats of eviction, and decreased social and emotional support. Add to that the record spike in gun purchases in the U.S. last year. For too long, the community groups that intervene to prevent this violence in Connecticut have received patchwork and inconsistent funding, said Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, Wednesday. Despite the success of these violence prevention programs, money instead has gone to police departments and government agencies to address the problem. With President Joe Biden eyeing $5 billion for gun violence groups across the country, Moore wants violence prevention organizations to come up with a plan for how to spend the money. At a press conference convened outside the state Capitol, Moore also called for increased state funding for violence prevention programs, including the use of federal stimulus dollars to address the issue. While the funding should come from federal and state coffers, Moore doesnt think government should be involved in how its spent. The people who come from these communities who understand the work that needs to be done should oversee the money, she said. One of those groups is Hartford Communities That Cares. Since 2004, the organizations response team has served more than 1,200 victims of violent crimes and their families, connecting survivors to mental health and medical care, employment training and other support services, said executive director Andrew Woods, who was among represenatives from community organizatiosn that joined Moore at her press conference. A large number of gun shot victims are repeat victims, Woods said. If they dont receive mental health support and other services after becoming victims of gun violence, they are at increased risk for getting reinjured or worse killed, Woods said. In Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven, typically if a gun shot victim is found dead in the streets, a law enforement officer will tell you they had a weapon on them. Why? Because that person is afraid of being revictimized, he said. ....Thats what we see playing out day in and day out. Thats the kind of cycle of violence that we seek to interrupt. Gun violence can be an almost daily occurence in some communities, and the trauma on those impacted often goes untreated, said Leonard Jahad, executive director of the Connecticut Violence Intervention Program. Whats worse than trauma? We have a group of people walking around in this community facing untreated trauma, said Jahad. In the past two years, about $2.7 million in state and federal funds have gone to Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Waterbury for violent crime reduction strategies. The majority of that money, $1.8 million in state funding, went to Project Longevity, a community and law enforcement initiative to reduce serious violence in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford. While the state has dedicated $1.8 million to solving the problem, the economic cost of gun violence is close to $1 billion when you add up the money spent on hospitals, police, loss of services and personal injury, funerals, incarceration, said Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence. Steins group also wants the organizations that are doing this kind of boots on the ground community work that dont involve traditional policing models to have a say in where future funding and resources are spent. The group has pushed the Lamont administration to establish an Office of Community Gun Violence Prevention that would seek out funding and spend it on evidence-based, community-centric programs and strategies to reduce street-level gun violence in Connecticuts larger urban centers. The state responded quickly when faced with the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook, moving to pass some of the most stringent gun control laws in the country, but little movement has been made to combat gun violence in the states major cities, said Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven. What were seeing in our cities is a slow, banal mass killing and this state is doing almost nothing about it he said. The places where this is happening and the people who it is happening to are not a priority. Like the coronavirus pandemic, gun violence disproportionately impacts people of color. Sen. Doug McCrory, D- Hartford, said the violence is occurring in poor neighborhoods with high unemployment rates and underfunded schools. These people that were talking about live in some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in this country, not just in Connecticut, in this country, said McCrory. Hartford is one of the poorest cities in this country, he said. Bridgeport and New Haven are not that far behind. The residents in these cities have less access to resources, attend some of the worst schools in the country, and face barriers in the labor market, McCrory said. Moore underscored how the violence impacts a community, including its younger residents. Do you really think these children whove been exposed to this violence believe there is a future for them? said Moore. Do you believe theres any hope for them? Do you think the conversation they have about a 3-year-old being killed makes them believe in their future? julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com By Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Sumit Khanna MUMBAI/AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) -India's new coronavirus infections hit a record level on Wednesday with Mumbai set to be locked down at midnight, but hundreds of thousands of pilgrims still thronged to a religious festival in the north of the country. The country reported 184,372 cases in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed, taking total infections to 13.9 million. Deaths rose by 1,027, for a toll of 172,085. After reporting less than 10,000 cases per day earlier this year, India has been the world's worst-hit country since April 2. The government blames https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-surge-idUSKBN2BV129 a widespread failure to heed curbs on movement and social interaction among the population of 1.39 billion people. The rise in cases comes as India's richest state, Maharashtra, the epicentre of the national second wave, is due to enter a full lockdown at midnight (1830 GMT) until the end of April to contain the spread of the virus. The state accounts for about a quarter of the country's total coronavirus cases. India's commercial capital Mumbai was bustling with shoppers, stocking up before the lockdown comes into effect. "We don't know if we will be allowed to set up our stalls from tomorrow, so we're asking our customers to stock up as much as possible today," said Susheela, a street vegetable vendor, who goes by only her first name. There were snaking lines outside many grocery stores as residents waited to enter. Elsewhere, over-stretched private hospitals are turning patients away, placing an increasing burden on government facilities. In the western state of Gujurat, a Reuters witness saw a long queue of ambulances waiting outside Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Wednesday, with some patients being treated there while they waited. "My wife tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. We called an ambulance this morning to bring her to hospital as she was facing difficulty in breathing," Becharbhai Waghela, who was accompanying his wife Shantaben, 61, told Reuters. Story continues "We have been waiting in the ambulance outside the hospital campus for the last two hours." A hospital source, who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak publicly, said a lot of private hospitals were short of oxygen and were sending their patients to public hospitals. CROWDS OF PILGRIMS Chhattisgarh state - one of several hinterland regions struggling with a surge in cases - set up a temporary 370-bed hospital in an indoor stadium. "The way COVID-19 cases are rising and people are getting hypoxia or low level of oxygen in the blood, there is a shortage of oxygen supply," said Avinash Chaturvedi, a doctor at the facility. "We have converted this stadium into a COVID care centre to deal with that situation." Despite this, hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus gathered to bathe in the Ganges river in the northern city of Haridwar on Wednesday, the third major bathing day of the weeks-long Kumbh Mela festival. Sanjay Gunjyal, the inspector general of police at the festival, said around 650,000 people had bathed on Wednesday morning. "People are being fined for not following social distancing in non-crowded ghats (bathing areas), but it is very hard to fine people in the main ghats, which are very crowded," he said. There was little evidence of social distancing or mask-wearing, according to a Reuters witness. More than a thousand cases have been reported in Haridwar district in the last two days, according to government data. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar in Mumbai, Anushree Fadnavis in Haridwar, Saurabh Sharma in Lucknow, Amit Dave and Sumit Khanna in Ahmedabad and Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; Writing by Alasdair Pal; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Simon Cameron-Moore and Toby Chopra) Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Cytokines impact every aspect of cancer immunotherapy; however, many important questions are outstanding in our understanding of the impact of cytokines on immune cells, said SITC President Patrick Hwu, MD. Discussing future directions for innovative research will help move the entire field... The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) will host a new workshop Oct. 1112, 2021, in New York, which will focus on providing a deeper understanding of cytokines in immune cell proliferation, differentiation, and function, as they pertain to tumor immunobiology and cancer immunotherapy approaches. The SITC Cytokines in Cancer Immunotherapy Workshop is intended for basic, translational and clinical researchers with an interest in the topic of cytokine immunology and the impact of cytokines in cancer immunotherapy. Organized by prominent members of the immuno-oncology community, including Susan M. Kaech, PhD, from Salk Institute, Anne OGarra, PhD, from The Francis Crick Institute and Aaron Ring, MD, PhD, from Yale University, the workshop will feature oral presentations by leading experts in the field, including keynotes by Warren J. Leonard, MD, from Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, NHLBI and Shannon Turley, PhD, from Genentech, Inc. Cytokines impact every aspect of cancer immunotherapy; however, many important questions are outstanding in our understanding of the impact of cytokines on immune cells, said SITC President Patrick Hwu, MD. Discussing future directions for innovative research will help move the entire field of cancer immunotherapy forward. By featuring young investigators in this program, we will also bring attention to the latest research in the field, while promoting opportunities for our emerging leaders. The workshop will aim to foster renewed exchange and research on the promising topic of cytokines and their interactions in cancer development and therapy, lead to further research and provide a solid scientific foundation for future clinical interventions to modulate anti-tumor immunity with combinations of cytokines and other immunotherapies. The program will also provide an intimate opportunity for attendees to discuss their work with experts in the field, develop collaborations and learn about novel studies of cytokines. Abstract submissions are being accepted April 21July 22, 2021, from investigators working with cytokines in their research, including several oral abstract presentation opportunities for early scientistsencore presentations welcome! These presentations will be judged on scientific merit, and the top presenter from each category will receive an honorarium. Abstract submitters not selected for oral presentation will have the opportunity to present their research as a poster. The SITC Cytokines in Cancer Immunotherapy Workshop will take place on Oct. 1112, 2021, at the Millennium Times Square New York hotel. Registration rates, criteria for abstract submissions and program schedule are available on SITC Cancer Immunotherapy CONNECT. This program is supported, in part, by grants from Amgen Inc., Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Nektar Therapeutics, and Pfizer, Inc. (As of 4/9/2021) About SITC Established in 1984, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is a nonprofit organization of medical professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development, science and application of cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. SITC is comprised of influential basic and translational scientists, practitioners, health care professionals, government leaders and industry professionals around the globe. Through educational initiatives that foster scientific exchange and collaboration among leaders in the field, SITC aims to one day make the word cure a reality for cancer patients everywhere. Learn more about SITC, our educational offerings and other resources at sitcancer.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. CHICAGO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "3D Printing Elastomers Market by Form (Powder, Filament, Liquid), Material (TPE, SBR & SBS), Technology (FDM/FFF, SLA, SLS, DLP),End-use Industry (Automotive, Consumer Goods, Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Dental), Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the 3D Printing Elastomers Market is projected to grow from USD 162 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 583 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 29.1% from 2021-2026. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=267025728 Browse in-depth TOC on "3D Printing Elastomers Market" 211 Tables 53 Figures 256 Pages View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/3d-printing-elastomer-market-267025728.html The growing adoption of home 3D printers in the North American and European regions is one of the major factors augmenting the demand for 3D printing elastomers. By material, TPE is estimated to be the leading segment of 3D printing elastomers market from 2021 to 2026, in terms of value and volume. Based on material, the 3D printing elastomers market has been segmented into thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) & styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), and others. The TPE segment is further sub-segmented into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). Under the TPE segment, TPU dominated the 3D printing elastomers market in 2020 and is estimated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. The high demand for TPU materials is due to their superior properties when compared to TPV and other thermoplastic elastomers. They offer higher strength, flexibility, and durability than TPV. By end-use industry, consumer goods is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment of 3D printing elastomers market The use of 3D printing elastomers in consumer goods is primarily driven by the excellent physical properties, such as low weight, high flexibility, good printability, enormously robust, excellent temperature resistance, high impact strength, high surface quality, easy processing, and boundless design freedom, exhibited by elastomers. Consumer 3D printing (especially home 3D printers) is the main reason for the sudden rise in the demand for 3D printing materials in recent years. Furthermore, with the help of 3D printing, jewelry store owners can design new ornaments; a beverage manufacturer can produce plastic bottles on a huge scale; and mobile users can design new panels and mobile cases. Hence, consumer 3D printing allows customers to design their own products instead of depending on online purchases and brick-and-mortar stores. This, in turn, creates demand for elastomers in 3D printing. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=267025728 North America is the largest and the fastest-growing region in the 3D printing elastomers market North America held the largest share in the 3D printing elastomers market, in terms of value, in 2020. This is mainly due to the high presence of leading 3D printing elastomers manufacturers, such as Carbon Inc. and 3D Printing Systems Inc., in the region. These companies are producing a wide range of elastomeric 3D printing materials and doing business expansions through partnerships and investments. Carbon Inc (US)., Formlabs (US), BASF SE (Germany), 3D Systems Inc. (US), Stratasys Ltd.(Israel), Proto Labs Inc. (US), Henkel (Germany), Materialise NV (Belgium), EOS (Germany), Dow Chemical Company(US) Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Arkema SA (France), Sinterit (Germany), The Lubrizol Corporation (US), ExOne (US), Zortrax (Poland), HP Development Company, L.P. (US), LANXESS (Germany), Voxeljet AG (Germany), Impossible Objects (US), and EnvisionTEC (Germany) are some of the leading players in the 3D printing elastomers market. These players have adopted product launches, collaborations, partnerships, expansions, acquisitions, agreements, joint ventures, and investments as the main strategies for enhancing their business revenues and market shares. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=267025728 Browse Adjacent Markets: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports : 3D Printing Materials Market by Type (Plastic, Metal, Ceramic), End-Use industry (Automotive, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Consumer Goods, Construction), Form (Powder, Filament, Liquid), Technology, Application, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/3d-printing-materials-market-1295.html Elastomers Market by Type (Thermoset (Natural Rubber, Synthetic Rubber (SBR, IIR, PBR, NBR, ACM, EPM)), and Thermoplastic (PEBA, SBC, TPO, TPU, TPV)), Application (Automotive, Consumer Goods, Medical, and Industrial) - Global Forecast to 2021 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/market-reports/elastomers-market-48929183.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/3d-printing-elastomer-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/3d-printing-elastomer.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Panaji, April 14 : In a classic 'we told you so' barb, Goa's Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Wednesday said that had Prime Minister Narendra Modi heeded Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's advice on reshaping the country's vaccination outreach effort, the Covid-19 situation in India may have been less sinister. Kamat's taunt at Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes at a time when Covid-19 cases in India have seen a severe spike across the country. "If @BJP4India Government had listened to the Voice of @INCIndia Leader @RahulGandhi, #Covid situation in India would have been different today," Kamat tweeted. "@PMOIndia must act wisely & accept the 7 demands made by Shri Rahul Gandhi to improve Covid & Economic situation in the Country. @INCGoa," the former Chief Minister also said. Gandhi in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised questions about the manner in which the country's vaccination programme has been rolled out, amid reports of a shortage in vaccine availability in several parts of the country. States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and Rajasthan have complained about the lack of availability of Covid-19 vaccines. Office bearers in the Maharashtra government have openly blamed the central government for not making enough vaccines available to the non-BJP ruled state. Highlighting concerns related to the vaccine roll-out, Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Modi last week, had made several suggestions to enhance the efficacy of the inoculation drive, which includes putting in place an immediate moratorium on vaccine export. "Provide vaccine suppliers with necessary resources to increase manufacturing capacity. Place an immediate moratorium on vaccine export fast track approval of other vaccines as per norms and guidelines open up vaccination to everyone who needs it," Gandhi had said. "Double central allocation for vaccine procurement from the existing Rs. 35,000 crore. Give state governments greater say in vaccine procurement and distribution. Provide direct income support to the vulnerable sections in the disastrous second wave," he added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Apples much-awaited iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 update appears to be just around the corner, as the company released the eight developer betas for iPhones and iPads today. The Cupertino company is set to release the stable build of its operating system before the end of the month. The eighth beta of Apples mobile and tablet operating system is now rolling out to users who are enrolled in the companys beta testing program, according to AppleInsider. If you already have iOS 14.5 beta 7 installed, you can simply hit the update button to download an OTA update to the latest beta. The company had released the seventh beta build last Wednesday, while the first beta was rolled out two months ago. Also read: Tim Cook finally reveals iOS 14.5 update will arrive this month As weve previously reported, the biggest highlight of the update to iOS 14.5 when it is finally released is the arrival of Apples App Tracking Transparency settings, which will force developers to ask users for consent before using their personal data to track them across apps. Users will be able to either allow the app to track, or ask the app not to track them, in which case apps will not be able to access an identifier used to track users across apps on their devices. Other improvements coming to iOS include the support for wireless gaming controllers from the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, plus better FaceID authentication while you have your mask on but only if you also own an Apple Watch. Users will also have access to over 200 new emoji on iOS 14.5 and new and improved Siri voices, which do not default to a female variant by default. Read more: Apple to start enforcing new app privacy notifications in coming weeks While iPad and iPhone users have been patiently waiting for the release of iOS 14.5, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently revealed on the New York Times Sway podcast that the update should hit devices before the end of the month. Perhaps we will know more during Apples recently announced Spring event, which will be held on April 20 at 10:30 PM IST, so dont forget to check our coverage on that date. LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gucci remains the number one most popular luxury brand online with 15.2% of the total search interest for luxury goods, according to a new study by Luxe Digital. Chanel and Hermes follow close behind, with 11.6% and 10.2% of the online search interest respectively. Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Balenciaga see their online popularity declining compared to last year. Gucci claims 15.2% of total search interest online, followed by Chanel and Herm?s. Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Balenciaga decline in 2021. This is the fourth year in a row that Luxe Digital, a magazine that covers the luxury industry's digital transformation, releases its ranking of the most popular luxury brands online. By analysing over 3,000 data points from Google, website traffic, and social media reach, Luxe Digital publishes an annual report on the popularity of the most sought-after luxury brands. This report has proven to be a reliable indicator of future sales. Of particular interest this year is the strong growth seen for Versace and Hermes, gaining 10 and eight points respectively. Balenciaga is losing six points in this year's ranking to end number 12 on the list. This is mostly driven by the declining popularity of the brand's designer sneakers. Adapting to the stay-at-home economy with premium loungewear and home collections is key to success this year. From the renewed interest in Versace's bathrobes worn by Drake and Jennifer Lopez to the Nike-Dior sneakers, luxury brands were quick to embrace a more relaxed style to answer the global demand from working from home customers. Sustainability is non-negotiable for sustainable growth. Every luxury brand that makes up the ranking this year is currently running some form of sustainable efforts. Global luxury brands continue to experiment with ways to engage China's growing affluent consumers online. China is indeed on track to become the world's largest luxury market by 2025. Tmall's Luxury Pavilion and dedicated WeChat boutiques are the most used channels at the moment. Brands also paid more attention to localise their campaigns for the Chinese market, avoiding cultural faux pas. See the complete ranking: https://luxe.digital/business/digital-luxury-ranking/most-popular-luxury-brands/ Ranking methodology: Luxe Digital's luxury ranking aims to provide an insightful analysis of the most popular luxury brands online. The ranking starts with over 3,000 data points from Google Trends, SimilarWeb, RivalIQ, Deloitte, and Forbes to measure the search interest and social media reach of the largest luxury brands online. Each brand receives a score based on its online popularity and is then ranked. About Luxe Digital: Luxe Digital is a publication of reference for business leaders and affluent consumers. The magazine reports on the digital transformation of the luxury industry with smart and sophisticated stories. Luxe Digital's goal is to inspire and empower its readers with clarity and depth of understanding. Contact: Florine Eppe Beauloye, Editor in Chief [email protected] Related Images gucci-remains-1-most-popular.png Gucci Remains #1 Most Popular Luxury Brand Online in 2021, New Study by Luxe Digital Finds Gucci claims 15.2% of total search interest online, followed by Chanel and Hermes. Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Balenciaga decline in 2021. SOURCE Luxe Digital A walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic -- no appointment is necessary -- is scheduled 4 to 7 p.m. Friday in Tatamy. The Northampton County borough announced the clinic Tuesday, in partnership with Wind Gap Family Pharmacy, Llantrisant Retreat and Wellness Center and the Kellyn Foundation. The location is the Llantrisant Retreat and Wellness Center at 336 Bushkill St. in Tatamy. Open to all Pennsylvanians ages 18 and older, the clinic is offering the Moderna two-shot series. Those who receive their first dose will be told when to return for the second vaccine, one month later. It is free, but recipients should bring their insurance card if they have one, Mayor Christopher Moren said. Pennsylvania on Tuesday reported its highest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases since late January, with 6,638 new infections and 66 additional deaths. State health officials acknowledged the rise was due, in part, to backlogged testing data. State officials on Tuesday also advised vaccine providers to pause using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine amid a federal review after six women developed rare blood clots within two weeks of being inoculated. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Marion Piggee, Jr., 68, of Los Angeles, Calif., was arraigned on seven counts of insurance fraud after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance revealed he was allegedly underreporting employee payroll by nearly $6 million to reduce his businesss workers compensation insurance premium by over $1 million. On Nov. 28, 2016, the State Compensation Insurance Fund filed a suspected fraudulent claim with the CDI alleging potential insurance fraud. SCIF reported that Piggee, as owner of Center for Behavioral Change, an adult residential care facility, allegedly underreported employee payroll to reduce the proper rate of insurance premiums owed to SCIF. A routine audit for the policy period of Nov. 1, 2014, to Nov. 1, 2015, reportedly found that Center for Behavioral Change reported one employee and payroll wages of $8,035. However, the audit reportedly revealed wages to be $881,593 for the same policy year. It also showed Piggees business had obtained workers comp insurance for one facility, but failed to disclose they had also acquired eight other facilities. The investigation found that Piggee had allegedly been underreporting company payroll from November 2009 through May 2016. The investigation also revealed Center for Behavioral Change had 60 employees, despite their reporting of only one employee. The business allegedly underreported payroll by $5,982,410, which resulted in a premium loss to SCIF of $1,017,937. Piggee was arraigned at the Los Angeles Superior Court on April 6. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office. Topics California Workers' Compensation Fraud Flag of Taiwan Whether it's a bluff or a genuine threat of invasion, the increase in Chinese military activity in Taiwan over the last few months has caused global concern. At the heart of the divide is that the Chinese government sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will, eventually, be part of the country again. Many Taiwanese people disagree. They feel they in effect have a separate nation - whether or not independence is ever officially declared. What is the history of this tension? Going back to the beginning - the first known settlers in Taiwan were Austronesian tribal people, who are thought to have come from modern day southern China. The island seems to have first appeared in Chinese records in AD239, when an emperor sent an expeditionary force to explore the area - something Beijing uses to back its territorial claim. After a relatively brief spell as a Dutch colony (1624-1661), Taiwan was administered by China's Qing dynasty from 1683 to 1895. Map of Taiwan From the 17th Century, significant numbers of migrants started arriving from China, often fleeing turmoil or hardship. Most were Hoklo Chinese from Fujian (Fukien) province or Hakka Chinese, largely from Guangdong. The descendants of these two migrations are now by far the largest demographic groups on the island. In 1895, Japan won the First Sino-Japanese War, and the Qing government had to cede Taiwan to Japan. After World War Two, Japan surrendered and relinquished control of territory it had taken from China. The Republic of China - one of the victors in the war - began ruling Taiwan with the consent of its allies, the US and UK. But in the next few years a civil war broke out in China, and the then-leader Chiang Kai-shek's troops were beaten back by Mao Zedong's Communist armies. Chiang and the remnants of his Kuomintang (KMT) government fled to Taiwan in 1949. This group, referred to as Mainland Chinese and then making up 1.5m people, dominated Taiwan's politics for many years - even though they only account for 14% of the population. Story continues Having inherited an effective dictatorship, facing resistance from local people resentful of authoritarian rule and under pressure from a growing democracy movement, Chiang's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, began allowing a process of democratisation. President Lee Teng-hui, known as Taiwan's "father of democracy", led constitutional changes towards a more democratic political layout, which eventually led to the election of the island's first non-KMT president, Chen Shui-bian, in 2000. What about recent hostility? Relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s. China put forward a formula, known as "one country, two systems", under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification. This system was established in Hong Kong to be used as something of a showcase to entice Taiwanese people back to the mainland. Taiwan rejected the offer, but it did relax rules on visits to and investment in China. In 1991, it also proclaimed the war with the People's Republic of China on the mainland to be over. There were also limited talks between the two sides' unofficial representatives, though Beijing's insistence that Taiwan's Republic of China (ROC) government is illegitimate meant government-to-government meetings couldn't happen. Chen Shui-bian was a backer of independence for Taiwan from China And in 2000, when Taiwan elected Chen Shui-bian as president, Beijing was alarmed. Mr Chen had openly backed "independence". A year after Mr Chen was re-elected in 2004, China passed a so-called anti-secession law, stating China's right to use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan if it tried to "secede" from China. Mr Chen was succeeded by Ma Ying-jeou, who, after taking office in 2008, sought to improve relations with China through economic agreements. Eight years later, in 2016, Taiwan's current president Tsai Ing-wen was elected. She leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which leans towards eventual official independence from China. Under Ms Tsai, cross-Straits relations soured again After Donald Trump won the 2016 US election, Ms Tsai spoke to him on the phone - a break with US policy set in 1979, when formal relations were cut. Despite the lack of formal ties, the US has pledged to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons and has stressed any attack by China would cause "grave concern". Throughout 2018, China stepped up pressure on international companies, forcing them to list Taiwan as a part of China on their websites and threatening to block them for doing business in China if they failed to comply. Ms Tsai won a second term in 2020. By that time Hong Kong had seen months of unrest, with protesters demonstrating against the mainland's increasing influence - a development many in Taiwan were watching closely. Later that year, China's implementation of a national security law in Hong Kong was widely seen as yet another sign that Beijing was becoming more assertive in the region. At the same time, the US has been intensifying its outreach to Taiwan and reassuring Taipei of its continued support. Last September, Washington sent the highest-level state department official in decades to visit the island. Beijing strongly criticised the meeting, warning the US "not to send any wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' elements to avoid severe damage to China-US relations". During the controversial visit, China conducted a live-fire military exercise in the waterway that separates the island from the mainland. This year, President Joe Biden's administration has said its commitment to Taiwan is "rock solid". In the first few days of Mr Biden's presidency, Taiwan reported a "large incursion" by Chinese warplanes over two days. Then on 12 April, the Taiwanese government said China flew the largest number of military jets into its air defence zone for a year. In response, US Admiral John Aquilino, head of the Pentagon's Indo-Pacific command, warned that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan "is much closer to us than most think". So who recognises Taiwan? There is disagreement and confusion about what Taiwan is. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province which it has vowed to retake, by force if necessary. But Taiwan's leaders say it is clearly much more than a province, arguing that it is a sovereign state. It has its own constitution, democratically-elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces. Chiang Kai-shek's Republic of China (ROC) government, which fled the mainland to Taiwan in 1949, at first claimed to represent the whole of China, which it intended to re-occupy. It held China's seat on the United Nations Security Council and was recognised by many Western nations as the only Chinese government. But in 1971, the UN switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing and the ROC government was forced out. Since then the number of countries that recognise the ROC government diplomatically has fallen drastically to about 15. Given the huge divide between these two positions, most other countries seem happy to accept the current ambiguity, whereby Taiwan has virtually all of the characteristics of an independent state, even if its legal status remains unclear. How much of an issue is independence in Taiwan? While political progress has been slow, links between the two peoples and economies have grown sharply. Taiwanese companies have invested about $60bn (40bn) in China, and up to one million Taiwanese people now live there, many running Taiwanese factories. Some Taiwanese people worry their economy is now dependent on China. Others believe that closer business ties make Chinese military action less likely, because of the cost to China's own economy. A controversial trade agreement sparked the "Sunflower Movement" in 2014, where students and activists occupied Taiwan's parliament protesting against what they called China's growing influence over Taiwan. Recent polls show many Taiwanese support the government's approach in "safeguarding national sovereignty" Officially, the ruling DPP still favours eventual formal independence for Taiwan, while the KMT favours eventual re-unification. A March 2021 opinion poll commissioned by the Taiwanese government shows that currently the majority of Taiwanese support the DPP government's approach in "safeguarding national sovereignty". More and more people also say they feel Taiwanese, rather than Chinese. In the 2020 election Ms Tsai won a record-breaking 8.2 million votes, that was widely seen as a snub to Beijing. (Natural News) Black Lives Matter (BLM) co-founder and radical domestic terrorist Patrisse Khan-Cullors, a black woman, is using her massive profits from the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor false flag events to go on a real estate buying binge. According to property records, Khan-Cullors just purchased her fourth estate, which means she now owns $3.2 million worth of property in the United States alone. Khan-Cullors is also reportedly eyeing a property in the Bahamas at an ultra-exclusive resort where Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake both own homes. Luxury apartments and townhouses at the beachfront Albany resort outside Nassau are priced between $5 million and $20 million, according to a local agent, reports the New York Post about the exotic locale. The proud Marxist most recently purchased a $1.4 million home near Malibu that features soaring ceilings, skylights and plenty of windows, according to the listing. Located in Topanga Canyon, the property features two houses on a quarter acre, and this is in addition to at least three other homes in the Los Angeles area that Khan-Cullors owns. None of the areas where Khan-Cullors now owns luxury properties have any black neighbors, by the way. Khan-Cullors has chosen to embrace whiteness by setting up shop in almost exclusively white areas with high property values, safe neighborhoods, and an upward trajectory. BLM of Greater New York City calls for independent investigation into Khan-Cullors home shopping spree Responding to Khan-Cullors hypocrisy, Hawk Newsome, head of BLMs Greater New York City chapter, is calling for an independent investigation into the use of funds at BLMs global network, which is raking in millions through taxpayer-funded grants and other sources. If you go around calling yourself a socialist, you have to ask how much of her own personal money is going to charitable causes, Newsome stated in criticism. Its really sad because it makes people doubt the validity of the movement and overlook the fact that its the people that carry this movement. Prior to purchasing her L.A. mansion, Khan-Cullors and spouse Janaya Khan obtained a custom ranch on 3.2 rural acres about 30 minutes from Atlanta. The property features a private airplane hangar with a studio apartment above it, as well as a 2,500-foot paved / grass community runway for small airplanes. The three-bedroom, two-bath house also features an indoor swimming pool and a separate RV shop that Khan-Cullors and her wife culturally appropriated from the local community. Khan-Cullors buying spree began back in 2016 when BLM really started to gain worldwide traction. In the years since, Khan-Cullors signed a book deal as well as a multi-platform deal with Warner Bros. Television Group to produce media content for black voices who have been historically marginalized. The couple does own one home in a multi-ethnic neighborhood of South Los Angeles that was purchased for $590,000. It has since appreciated to around $720,000. As for the prospective property that Khan-Cullors is looking at in the exclusive Albany area of the Bahamas, an unidentified resort worker told the Post that anyone who buys there is buying their fourth or fifth home. This is not a second-home residence, this person added. Its extremely high-end, and people are coming here for complete and total privacy. The property that Khan-Cullors reportedly looked at in Albany has 600 oceanside acres. According to the BLM nonprofit co-founded by Khan-Cullors, the group took in $90 million in 2020 alone. Of this, $21.7 million was committed to grand funding for helping 30 black-led groups across the country. At the same time, BLM refuses to reveal how much money it has taken in from prominent donors. More related news about BLM corruption can be found at Evil.news. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com NYPost.com NaturalNews.com Ex-home minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh reached the CBI office on Wednesday morning for questioning into the allegations of corruption levelled by former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh, officials said. Anil Deshmukh's grilling is part of the "preliminary enquiry" by the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) as ordered by the Bombay High Court, which has to be completed within 15 days. The senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader went to the DRDO Guest House in Kalina and is likely to be questioned by two teams of the CBI into Singh's charges against him. Earlier on Monday, the CBI had quizzed and recorded the statements of Anil Deshmukh's two aides Kundan Shinde and Sanjeev Palande. Besides, it has also questioned Singh, the prime accused and suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil and one of the complainants Advocate Jayshri Patil, and some other witnesses. Following his transfer as Commandant-General of Home Guard Singh had sent a 'letter-bomb' to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray triggering a series of developments which ultimately led to the resignation of Deshmukh. As per the high court orders, it will be left to the CBI's discretion whether to file a first information report in the matter after completing its 'preliminary enquiry' into Singh's explosive letter which had accused Deshmukh of ordering Vaze and others to 'collect' Rs 100 crore per month from bars, restaurants and others, sparking off a major political row and shake-up in the police department. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Congress General Secretary Vadra on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with party leaders of to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the state. Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, and other party leaders discussed the deteriorating situation of in the state. Meanwhile, reported 18,021 new COVID-19 cases and 85 deaths Tuesday as India reported the highest-ever one-day spike with over 1.8 lakh COVID-19 cases, 1,027 deaths on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Also, in view of the shortage of Remdesivir in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed the state health department to acquire 25,000 injections of Remdesivir from Gujarat's Ahmedabad on an urgent basis. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the officers of the Health Department left for Ahmedabad to get 25,000 Remdesivir injections at 10.40 am today. Remdesivir is considered a key anti-viral drug to fight against COVID-19. (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.) Italian Senate OKs citizenship for Zaki By 208 votes to nil, FdI abstains (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 14 - The Senate on Wednesday approved a motion to grant Italian citizenship to Patrick Zaki, an Egyptian Bologna University postgraduate student held in Egypt since February 7 last year on charges of "disseminating false news" and "inciting to protest". The motion was approved by 2018 votes to nil with 33 abstentions. The nationalist Brothers of Italy (FdI) party abstained. The motion also urges the government to press Egyptian authorities to free Zaki; to monitor his hearings and detention conditions; and to act on a European level to safeguard human rights in countries where violations persist and to bring initiatives to the G7 with particular attention for cases of repression of political activists. The vote was hailed by Zaki's supporters and human rights activists. Centre-left Democratic Party Senator said it was "important for human rights" while populist 5-Star Movement Senator Nicola Morra said "citizenship is sacrosanct" and hailed the presence at the vote of 90-year-old Holocaust survivor and Life Senator Liliana Segre who "has shown that some battles unite us all". Segre said "I will always be here to speak about freedom". Zaki, a 29-year-old Coptic Christian, is pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Bologna. He also conducts research and advocacy on gender issues and human rights for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a human rights organization based in Cairo. Motions for his release have been rejected on countless occasions, most recently earlier this month. Zaki was arrested on arriving at Cairo International Airport when he returned home from Bologna for a short family visit. The Egyptian National Security Agency reportedly arrested Zaki, interrogated him about his time in Italy and his human rights work, and took him to an undisclosed location. During interrogation, he was allegedly frequently threatened, beaten on his stomach and back and tortured with electric shocks. The European Parliament, Amnesty International and Scholars At Risk have been among the bodies calling for his release, along with the Italian government. (ANSA). Complementary Businesses to Create Greater Scale and Broaden Product Mix Russel Metals to Realize $138 Million of Cash Proceeds and Retain a 50% Equity Interest TORONTO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Russel Metals Inc. (TSX: RUS) announces that it has entered into an agreement with Marubeni-Itochu Tubulars America Inc. ("MITI"), whereby Russel Metals and MITI will combine their respective Canadian OCTG/line pipe businesses. In conjunction with the combination, Russel Metals will receive a substantial portion of its contributed net asset value in cash proceeds, in addition to retaining a 50% equity interest in the combined venture. Currently, Russel Metals operates its Canadian OCTG/line pipe business through its wholly owned subsidiary Triumph Tubular & Supply Ltd. ("Triumph"), and MITI operates its Canadian OCTG/line pipe business through its wholly owned subsidiary Hallmark Tubulars Ltd. ("Hallmark"). The combined business of Triumph and Hallmark will operate under a newly incorporated company, named TriMark Tubulars Ltd. ("TriMark"). Over the past several years, the macro business conditions for the OCTG/line pipe industry have changed substantially as a result of a challenging energy market as well as the disintermediation of distributors by certain direct-to-market manufacturers. As a result, this combination will create a business that has the necessary economies of scale, including a diverse product offering and business platform to efficiently and effectively serve its customers. John Reid, President and CEO of Russel Metals commented, "Over the past nine months, we have been strategically focused on both rationalizing the operations and reducing the capital deployed in our OCTG/line pipe businesses. This transaction provides an opportunity to substantially repatriate capital for deployment in other value enhancing opportunities, but also retain an ongoing interest and participate in the future success of the combined business. We would like to thank the Triumph team for their tremendous efforts in repositioning the business over the past year, and we look forward to working with MITI on a shared vision for TriMark." Transaction Overview Russel Metals will contribute net assets with a book value of approximately $111 million, subject to adjustments, primarily comprised of Triumph's inventories less its accounts payables. As consideration, Russel Metals shall receive: (i) cash of approximately $79 million, subject to closing working capital adjustments; (ii) preferred shares with a face value of $32 million and an annual dividend rate of 7%; and (iii) a 50% equity interest in TriMark. In addition, Russel Metals will retain Triumph's accounts receivables which totaled $59 million at March 31, 2021, which when combined with the closing cash consideration of $79 million will result in a near term cash realization of approximately $138 million. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Triumph generated revenues of $165 million and an operating loss of $3 million. For the three years ended December 31, 2020, Triumph generated average annual revenues of $267 million and an average annual operating profit of $10 million. A $175 million committed bank facility for TriMark has been obtained from a syndicate of banks, jointly led by the Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal. The facility is a 3-year asset based loan with typical borrowing base parameters and financial covenants. The bank facility is non-recourse to Russel Metals and MITI. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and closing conditions and is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2021. About Russel Metals Russel Metals is one of the largest metals distribution companies in North America. It carries on business in three segments: metals service centers, energy products and steel distributors. Its network of metals service centers carries an extensive line of metal products in a wide range of sizes, shapes and specifications, including carbon hot rolled and cold finished steel, pipe and tubular products, stainless steel, aluminum and other non-ferrous specialty metals. Its energy products operations carry a specialized product line focused on the needs of energy industry customers. Its steel distributors operations act as master distributors selling steel in large volumes to other steel service centers and large equipment manufacturers mainly on an "as is" basis. If you would like to unsubscribe from receiving Press Releases, you may do so by emailing [email protected]; or by calling our Investor Relations Line: 905-816-5178. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, the anticipated benefits of the transaction, the timing and anticipated receipt of necessary approvals and satisfaction of conditions to close the transaction and there can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will occur, or that it will occur on the exact terms contemplated in this press release Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expect", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us, inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. While we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and our forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update our forward-looking statements. SOURCE Russel Metals Inc. Related Links http://www.russelmetals.com ROSENBERG, Texas, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "Making it to year FIVE - and being profitable - feels incredible!" said the owner of Northwicks Consulting, Brandon Northwick. "We've seen year over year growth, and our clients have never been happier," he went on to say. Brandon Northwick, CEO Northwicks Consulting Brandon & Sara Northwick first opened the virtual doors to Northwicks Consulting on April 14th of 2016. Initially, they created the company to serve a few specific clients at a very high level and maintain a lifestyle that allowed their three children more opportunities than they had when they were kids. That small dream turned wildly large once Brandon Northwick was called in his heart to form the Army of Angels Foundation. With the larger purpose now at hand, the Northwick family had to decide how big they wanted to go. Since deciding to dedicate his entire life to helping others succeed, Brandon Northwick went full steam ahead with Northwicks Consulting. He chose to use biblical principles and form a Christian-based company to help fund his new mission, The Army of Angels Foundation. Since 2016, Brandon Northwick has personally helped 159 business owners build sales & marketing systems to create a higher level of consistent and predictable growth. Plus, Northwicks Consulting has partnered with colleges in the past, such as McMurray University, to offer Brandon's online sales & marketing academy as graduation credits for all students enrolled in the marketing and entrepreneurship programs. As a business owner, with how many businesses are hurting right now, this is time to look deep down into your own company's systems and operations and see how things are performing. With less than 50% of businesses making it to year five, the number two issues are: They lack systems. Their business model choice. If you don't have a sales and marketing system in place right now or are not positioning yourself correctly, your business is in danger. Don't just celebrate with Northwicks Consulting today by reading this article. Celebrate by getting a sales and marketing system of your own. If you'd like to see what a custom sales and marketing system would look like for you, visit www.northwicksconsulting.com and schedule a call with a sales and marketing specialist. Media Contact: Bruce Malbec Media Contact Number: (832) 271-2302 SOURCE Northwicks Consulting Related Links http://www.northwicksconsulting.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX.V:GMTN)(FRA:5XFA) is pleased to announce gold results from the Company's down-dip portion of its Phase 1 drill program at its 100% owned Elk Gold Project located near Merritt, BC. These high-grade assay results continue to expand known veins down dip indicating a clear path growth of the project. Highlights: Assay results from down-dip drilling confirm the presence of high-grade vein extensions: SND20-029 intercepted 1.42m averaging 37.00 g/t Au (including 0.42m averaging 124.00 g/t Au) SND20-032 intercepted 1.22m averaging 16.23 g/t Au (including 0.30m averaging 62.20 g/t Au) SND20-032 intercepted 1.30m averaging 7.95 g/t Au (including 0.30m averaging 31.30 g/t Au) The assay results of the down-dip drilling continue to demonstrate the potential to expand the current resource at depth. 100% of all drill holes have encountered significant mineralized intercepts. Gold Mountain's CEO, Kevin Smith, commented: "We're thrilled to be sharing these results with the market further confirming our thesis that the veins at the Elk are getting higher grade the deeper we chase them." Kevin Smith further discusses, "All 36 drill holes for which assays have been received to date have encountered significant gold vein intercepts, a testament to our project's scalability. Gold Mountain is confidently going to continue to chase these high-grade veins throughout the property with the focus of adding ounces to our resource and making Elk Gold BC's next million-ounce producing mine." Gold Mountain's technical advisor, Quinton Hennigh, commented: "The Elk Gold Project hosts one of the most predictable vein systems I have seen. Continuity is excellent, and these holes indicate this characteristic persists at depth. Gold Mountain has a well-designed drill program to exploit this predictability, thus allowing high confidence in the ability to progressively grow the deposit." Phase 1 - Drill Program Update Assay Results for the Down Dip Drilling Targeting the 2500 and 1300 Veins The Company received assay results for the nine (9) holes totaling approximately 2,850m of down-dip drilling that targeted the 1300 and 2500 veins. The assay results show the continuity of the two veins below the current resource area. The results show robust grades and thickness at depth which the Company anticipates will be incorporated into an updated resource estimate. Mother Shoot In 1992 previous operators mined a 2,040 tonne bulk sample grading 137g/t Au from a portion of the 1300 vein they named the "Mother Shoot". A focal point and objective for the Company in it's Phase 1 drill program was to revisit this known, high-grade zone and extend the vein associated with the Mother Shoot at depth. The initial assay results support the Company's theory that the Mother Shoot zone extends at depth and maintains its high grade under the resource constraining pit-shell. Drilling complete on Phase 1 The Company has now completed the drilling portion of the Phase 1 exploration program which consisted of 43 drill holes totaling 8,739m of drilling. The Company has received assay results for 36 of those holes, all of which struck gold mineralization. Five of the holes yet to be assayed drilled the 2600 and 2700 veins located in the resource pit shell while the remaining two holes are from geotechnical drilling. Transitioning to Phase 2 Gold Mountain is now transitioning to its Phase 2 exploration program which will consist of both drilling and re-logging of historic core. Based on the predictability of the deposit confirmed by the Phase 1 drill program and initial core re-logging data, the Company is bullish that the Phase 2 exploration program will result in an increase to the resource estimate. To kick off Phase 2, HEG and Associates is focusing on relogging historic core, digitizing historic data and updating the geological interpretation. The Company anticipates the re-logging to continue throughout the spring and summer with drilling to commence in May. Drill Results Below is a table of Selected Core Drill Results. A complete list of all drill results to date have been posted to the Company's website at www.Gold-Mountain.ca : Assay Results Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (g/t) SND20-029 250.0 251.4 1.42 37.00 including 250.0 250.4 0.42 124.00 SND20-032 265.5 266.7 1.22 16.23 including 266.4 266.7 0.30 62.20 SND20-032 302.6 303.9 1.30 7.95 including 302.6 302.9 0.30 31.30 SND20-022 99.5 100.1 0.65 13.77 including 99.8 100.1 0.35 25.50 SND20-027 355.8 358.0 2.18 5.23 including 355.8 356.1 0.30 9.62 and including 357.7 358.0 0.30 24.00 *Reported intervals are downhole thickness only with true widths ranging from 40-100% depending on the orientation of the vein relative to the drill hole. Drill Collar Locations Drill collar locations, azimuths and dips for the drill holes included in this release are provided in the table below and have been posted to the Company's website for all drill holes: Drill Collar Locations Drill Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Depth (m) Azimuth SND20-029 692900.582 5525373.85 1649.844 180.3 -77.8 366 SND20-032 692850.233 5525378.241 1646.398 180 -70.0 366 SND20-022 693176.373 5525653.201 1618.383 359.7 -78 177 SND20-027 693320.782 5525417.809 1624.853 359.9 -70 391.9 Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Measures and Analytical Procedures Gold Mountain adheres to a strict QA/QC monitoring program that includes the insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample stream, as well as the re-submission of select samples for check assays by an independent third-party laboratory. Core samples were analyzed by Actlabs in Kamloops BC using Fire Assay methods with a gravimetric finish for results over 10g/t gold. Qualified Person The foregoing technical information was approved by Grant Carlson, P.Eng., a Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and the Chief Operating Officer for the Company. About Gold Mountain Mining Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver exploration and development company focused on resource expansion at the Elk Gold Project, a past-producing mine located 57 KM from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedar.com or on the Company's new website atwww.gold-mountain.ca. For Further information, please contact: Gold Mountain Mining Corp. Kevin Smith, Director and Chief Executive Officer Phone: 604-309-6340 Email: ks@gold-mountain.ca Website: www.gold-mountain.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward- looking statements include statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. Forward looking statements in the press release include but are not limited to: any increase in the Company's resource estimate, the viability of underground mining at the Elk Gold Project, Elk Gold Project becoming a million ounce mine and the impact that Phase 2 will have on the resource estimate at the Elk Gold. 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; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the price of gold; and the results of current exploration. 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. Gold Mountain 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. For a comprehensive overview of all risks that may impact the Company, please see the Filing Statement filed on Gold Mountain's SEDAR profile on December 15, 2020. SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640250/Gold-Mountain-Encounters-High-Grade-Gold-Intercepts-in-Down-Dip-Drill-Program The United States said it stood by Israel but remained committed to the Iran talks, despite Tehran's enrichment plan. "We are certainly concerned about these provocative announcements," said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. "We believe that the diplomatic path is the only path forward here and that having a discussion, even indirect, is the best way to come to a resolution." Israel, which did not claim responsibility, is strongly opposed to U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to revive the nuclear agreement. The accord between Iran and the UN Security Council's permanent members plus Germany promised Tehran relief from punishing sanctions in return for agreeing to limits on its nuclear program. Israel has vowed it will stop Iran from ever building an atomic bomb, which it considers an existential threat to the Jewish state. The latest news came two days after an explosion knocked out power at Iran's main nuclear facility at Natanz, which the Islamic republic blamed on Israel and labeled an act of "terrorism." The step will bring Iran closer to the 90 percent purity threshold for military use and shorten its potential "breakout time" to build an atomic bomb, a goal it denies. Under the nuclear deal, Iran had committed to keep enrichment to 3.67 percent, though it had stepped this up to 20 percent in January. The announcement cast a shadow over ongoing talks in Vienna aimed at salvaging the tattered 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that former U.S. president Donald Trump abandoned three years ago. Iran said it wrote to the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency to announce "that Iran will start 60 percent enrichment," a move later confirmed by the IAEA. Iran warned Tuesday it would start enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity, two days after an explosion it blamed on archenemy Israel hit its key nuclear facility in Natanz. Israeli-Operated Ship Hit The mysterious blast at Natanz has sharply heightened tensions between two powers already engaged in a shadow war on lands and seas across the Middle East. On Tuesday, an Israeli-operated ship was attacked off the United Arab Emirates, opposite the Iranian coast, Israeli media said, in the latest apparent tit for tat. Security sources, quoted by Israel's Channel 12 television, said the vessel Hyperion Ray was "lightly damaged" near the Emirati port of Fujairah. Iran vowed Monday to take "revenge" for the Natanz attack. "If (Israel) thought that they can stop Iran from following up on lifting sanctions from the Iranian people, then they made a very bad gamble," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned. Iran would make the enrichment plant "more powerful" by using advanced centrifuges, he added. Islamic Republic News Agency said Iran would also add "1,000 centrifuges with 50 percent more capacity to the machines present in Natanz, in addition to replacing" those damaged in the attack. "The preparations (for the implementation of this decision) will begin tonight" in Natanz, said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The 60 percent enriched uranium would be used to "produce molybdenum for use in the manufacture of various radiotherapeutic products," the organization added. Zarif, after talks with his visiting Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, also warned Israel's ally the United States that it would gain no extra leverage in Vienna through "acts of sabotage" and sanctions. The White House has denied all U.S. involvement in the Natanz incident. Unsourced Israeli media reports attributed the blast to Israeli security services. The New York Times, quoting unnamed U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials, also said there had been "an Israeli role" in the attack, in which an explosion had "completely destroyed" the power system that fed the plant's "underground centrifuges". Quoting another unnamed intelligence source on Tuesday, The New York Times said an "explosive device had been smuggled" into the site and "detonated remotely," taking out primary and backup power. Europe 'Bowing to America's Pressure' Lavrov, during his Tehran visit, stressed Russian support for Iran's position. "We are counting on the fact that we will be able to save the agreement and that Washington will finally return to full and complete implementation of the corresponding UN resolution," Lavrov said. Zarif blasted Europe's "inability to implement" its nuclear deal commitments and "bowing to America's pressure." He also condemned the European Union for slapping sanctions on eight Iranian security officials, in response to a crackdown on 2019 street protests, saying the move threatens efforts to restore the deal. Lavrov's remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West over various issues, including Ukraine. Iran President Hassan Rouhani told Lavrov that Iran expects a "return to 2015's agreements and obligations." For now, the agreement remains in limbo, with neither Tehran nor Washington backing down from its position, and each demanding the other make the first move. Russia's ambassador to the UN in Vienna said the talks there have been postponed for a day until Thursday. The United States said it expects the talks to continue. "We expect and we have not been alerted of any change in planned attendance in meetings that will resume later this week," said the White House's Psaki. Tauranga residents have one last chance to have their say on changes to the way council buy and sell property. The change includes the addition of a policy affording mana whenua right of first refusal on council property. At present, council have three policies related to acquisition and disposal of land, the Strategic Acquisitions Fund Policy, the Council Land: Recognition of Tangata Whenua Interests and Aspirations Policy and the Property Acquisition and Divestment Road Stopping; but the new Draft Acquisitions and Disposals Policy will see that streamlined into one. Mana whenua will be given the opportunity to purchase council property through a right of first refusal at market value, before being offered for sale through an open market process. The proposed right of first refusal, recognises the role that mana whenua have in building, protecting and celebrating Tauranga, its environment and its people, and acknowledges the partnership between council and mana whenua, reads a statement from Tauranga City Council. The policy change proposal was made aware to the public last month and submissions close today with residents encouraged to fill in an online submission form or to attend a community drop in session at Hungahungatoroa Club, Matapihi at 5.30pm-7.30pm this evening. A hearing committee will then consider submissions received and provide recommendations to Council in mid-2021 with the final policy due to come into action from mid to late 2021. For more information on the proposed change visit https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/council-documents/policies/draft-acquisitions-and-disposals-policy#what-proposing. A new investigation of stone tools buried in graves provides evidence supporting the existence of a division of different types of labor between people of male and female biological sex at the start of the Neolithic. Alba Masclans of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on April 14, 2021. Previous research has suggested that a sexual division of labor existed in Europe during the transition to the Neolithic period, when farming practices spread across the continent. However, many questions remain as to how different tasks became culturally associated with women, men, and perhaps other genders at this time. To provide further insights, Masclans and colleagues analyzed over 400 stone tools buried in graves in various cemeteries in central Europe about 5,000 years ago during the Early Neolithic. They examined the tools' physical characteristics, including microscopic patterns of wear, in order to determine how the tools were used. Then, they analyzed these clues in the context of isotopic and osteological data from the graves. The analysis showed that people of male biological sex were buried with stone tools that had previously been used for woodwork, butchery, hunting, or interpersonal violence. Meanwhile, those of female biological sex were buried with stone tools used on animal hides or leather. The researchers also found geographic variations in these results, hinting that as agricultural practices spread westwards, sexual division of labor may have shifted. The authors note that the analyzed tools were not necessarily used by the specific people they were buried with, but could have been chosen to represent activities typically carried out by different genders. These findings provide new support for the existence of sexual division of labor in the early Neolithic in Europe. The authors hope their study will contribute to better understanding of the complex factors involved in the rise of gender inequalities in the Neolithic, which may be heavily rooted in the division of labor during the transition to farming. The authors add: "Our study points towards a complex and dynamic gendered social organisation rooted in a sexed division of labour from the earliest Neolithic." ### Citation: Masclans A, Hamon C, Jeunesse C, Bickle P (2021) A sexual division of labour at the start of agriculture? A multi-proxy comparison through grave good stone tool technological and use-wear analysis. PLOS ONE 16(4): e0249130. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pone. 0249130 Funding: Funding was provided by the projects: "The Diffusion of Farming Practices: new technologies, craft innovations and symbolic behaviours in Western and Central Europe" (AM) funded by the Fyssen Foundation grant (http://www. fondationfyssen. fr/ en/ ) with the support of the UMR 8215-Trajectoires (CNRS - Universite Paris 1), and "The Diffusion of Farming Practices in Central Europe through gender studies" (AM) funded by the DAAD- Short-Term Grant (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst https:/ / www. daad. de/ en/ ). We also acknowledge the funding of a Juan de la Cierva Formacion post-doctoral grant (AM) by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (https:/ / www. ciencia. gob. es/ portal/ site/ MICINN/ ) and the Spanish National Research Council (https:/ / www. csic. es/ ). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Haiti - FLASH : Travel warning Do not travel On Monday the US State Department issued a level 4 alert for Haiti "Do not travel", due to kidnappings, crimes, civil unrest and COVID-19. "Kidnapping is widespread and victims regularly include U.S. citizens. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victims families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members. Violent crime, such as armed robbery and carjacking, is common. Travelers are sometimes followed and violently attacked and robbed shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince international airport. Robbers and carjackers also attack private vehicles stuck in heavy traffic congestion and often target lone drivers, particularly women. As a result, the U.S. Embassy requires its personnel to use official transportation to and from the airport. Protests, demonstrations, tire burning, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. The U.S. government is extremely limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Haiti assistance on site is available only from local authorities (Haitian National Police and ambulance services). Local police generally lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. [...] Travelers to Haiti may experience border closures, airport closures, travel prohibitions, stay at home orders, business closures, and other emergency conditions within Haiti due to COVID-19." HL/ HaitiLibre Three years ago, Claudiane Philippe 13, MA14, turned to social media for recommendations on where to find a hip cocktail in Boston. Surprised so few area bloggers were showcasing specialty drinks, she started documenting her own happy-hour discoveries. One day, a friend noticed Philippes colorful manicure complemented the vibrant concoction she was holding and the concept for her Instagram account Nail the Cocktail (@nailthecocktail) was born. Her posts hyping Bostons best boozy beverages (and her latest nail designs) started going viral. Within six months, Philippe had more than 9,000 followers. Sometimes, when people want to go out and have a good drink, they worry they wont like what they order, Philippe says. I try to make all of that less intimidating. Now, with more than 36,000 fans, the 29-year-old is considered one of the citys top influencers, earning feature coverage in Forbes, Eater, The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Last summer, Philippe used her platform to heighten awareness about systemic racism with a powerful photo series of cocktails personally crafted in memory of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland and others lost to police brutality and violence. To commemorate Taylor, for instance, she presented an icy glass of gin blended with St. Germain elderflower liqueur and bright-green Midori alongside a portrait of the aspiring nurse fatally shot by officers last spring in her Louisville, Kentucky, home. Boston magazine named Philippe its Best Virtual Bartender in 2020, praising her efforts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. My followers are from so many different backgrounds, Philippe says, and I wanted them all to realize how deeply racial-justice issues impact me and communities of color who live and work in the same city they do. A Waltham native, Philippe held part-time bartending jobs to make ends meet while at Brandeis, both as an undergraduate studying Health: Science, Society and Policy and anthropology, and as a grad student pursuing a masters in global studies. During the day, Philippe works in the telehealth field as a user-experience designer. Before the coronavirus pandemic began, she sampled local libations four nights a week at bars and restaurants, charging them a fee to promote their creations on her platform. Today, shes doing what she can to drive business to struggling establishments for free. They need as much help as possible, she says. Philippe is also crafting her own signature sips at home, including Tiramisu in a Glass (a mixture of Irish Cream liqueur, vodka, heavy cream and espresso, topped with a Kit Kat garnish) and The Up in Smoke (gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and a homemade cinnamon-chocolate syrup), sharing recipes and how-to videos. Her sponsorships have soared. The We TV channel, Bon & Viv spiked seltzer and Steel Dust Vodka are among the clients with whom shes partnered. Its a lucrative side hustle a single post for a well-known liquor brought in $5,500. Ive tried to create content to adapt to the current climate, and people really responded, she says. Its been a crazy year. Heather Salerno PROSPECT, Maine, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prospect Farms , the premium seed-to-store wellness brand offering full-spectrum CBD products to help people and pets live well, naturally, has announced the launch of their observational study to scientifically evaluate and research the impact of CBD on sleep. In partnership with Radicle Science, led by Dr. Jeffrey Chen MD/MBA, Founder and Former Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative , and Pelin Thorogood, President and Co-founder of the Wholistic Research and Education Foundation , the study will utilize Radicle Science's Real World Evidence (RWE) approach to better understand the impact of Prospect Farms' Dream Tincture when used nightly over the course of a month. Rooted in transparency and authenticity, Prospect Farms products are crafted without chemicals and tested by third party labs to ensure purity and potency in order to create the best possible product to help promote better sleep. With this study, Prospect Farms will look to evaluate the impact of Prospect Farms' Dream Tincture on user reported duration and quality of sleep when taken consistently each night. Crafted from start to finish on their vertically-integrated farm in Prospect, Maine, the Dream Tincture includes full-spectrum hemp extract derived from organically-grown hemp, a blend of naturally derived terpenes, including Linalool (a component of lavender) and Myrcene, and an antioxidant rich blend of carrier oils featuring avocado, olive and grapeseed oils. "Trust and transparency are core values at Prospect Farms. From the hemp seeds to the soil to the formulations, everything happens directly on our farm and we share details about every part of our "seed-to-store" process," says Brad Tipper, CEO of Prospect Farms. "CBD is an emerging category and we understand there is customer confusion and apprehension surrounding many of the products available in the market today. We hope our commitment to education and transparency will set a new, elevated standard for the industry, ensuring brands and products are providing customers with product information and intended benefits in a clear and digestible way. We are thrilled to partner with Radicle Science in this pursuit to advance the industry with real world data, offering transparency on how people are using and experiencing our products in their daily lives. In the end we know that for those of us struggling with sleep, it's the results that matter." According to the National Sleep Foundation, 50-70 million Americans aren't getting enough sleep; however, at this time, there are virtually no CBD products that have gone through studies to assess their impact on sleep. Radicle's scientific team of experts worked directly with Prospect Farms to develop this real world evidence study. RWE studies such as this have the potential to advance much needed natural product research. These next generation studies can finally break barriers and be inclusive of diverse ethnicities, genders, age groups, behavioral habits as well as pre-existing health conditions. They produce the kind of data that can help us get closer to personalized medicine that is both affordable and accessible. Radicle was founded on the idea of bringing evidence-based thinking and medical-grade research to advance natural health products. "I've personally experienced how a data-driven approach can transform entire industries," said Pelin Thorogood, Radicle Science co-founder. "It is about time we embrace that same thinking for natural health products and leverage the power of large scale rigorous health outcome data to inform smarter health and business decisions for all." Radicle's scientific team of experts consist of doctors, researchers, biostatisticians, and data scientists at institutions including UCLA, UC San Diego, Scripps Sleep Center, Johns Hopkins and University of Washington. Radicle is working to create a world where physicians recommend natural health products as often as current western medicines. From the dawn of civilization until the 20th century, all our medicines were naturally occuring and plant based. "Radicle" is the scientific term for the first root to emerge from a plant, and Radicle Science is looking to bring western medicine back to the roots of mankind's original medicines. Dr. Jeffrey Chen MD/MBA, Radicle Science co-founder added, "I spent my whole life becoming a physician so I could heal, only to realize our modern medicines were failing so many folks who were suffering. I co-founded Radicle Science to unlock an entirely new category of effective trusted products that were naturally occuring and affordable and accessible to all. Radicle Science is ushering in a new era of healthcare by validating the effects of natural products for the first time and we are delighted to be partnering with Prospect Farms to advance research in the CBD category." Enrollment for the Sleep Study is open between April 14 and April 28. For more information about the sleep study or to enroll please visit: https://dreamstudy.prospectfarms.com/ . About Prospect Farms: To learn more about Prospect Farms, please visit at www.prospectfarms.com and follow on Instagram , Linkedin and Facebook . About Radicle Science: Radicle Science is a transformative, health tech B-corp offering the first ever path to natural product validation at scale. To learn more, please visit www.radiclescience.com. SOURCE Prospect Farms Related Links https://home.prospectfarms.com/ After she got new legal representation, Horne renewed her court challenge with the help of the Chicago firm and the Harvard attorneys. According to that lawsuit in 2020, Horne saw Officer Gregory Kwiatkowski, who is white, punch the handcuffed suspect, who is Black. Then, as the man was being removed from his home, Kwiatkowski pulled him down and put him in a chokehold, prompting Horne to tell him to stop and to physically remove his arm from the mans neck, the lawsuit alleged. MIDDLETOWN Live music from Southern Connecticut women artists, dance and a talk by Sarah Gallardo of Sarah Speaks Up will be featured at the 14th annual SWAN Day CT, set for 3 p.m. April 17. The theme of this years event is Love Yourself and will take place at the Free Center in Middletown. Artists will perform at the venue and other locations around the globe during the virtual performances. Jennifer Hill, founder of SWAN Day CT, is excited about the gathering. Its a special time for supporting artists to lean on one another and find support, she said. It has been a rough year without in-person performances and we need to have an outlet we can celebrate together, even if it is distanced and streaming instead of with an audience. This years youngest Swan, dancer Madelynn Brown, agreed. As a young feminist, its really special to be part of women sharing what were passionate about, she said. Its like Christmas for us, said burlesque artist Harley Foxx. After a more than a year, artists are starting to emerge to a different world in the arts. Hill said she wanted to make the transition beneficial for the artists. Admission is free, but donations are requested if possible, she said. Make donations to each artist individually while watching them perform, and links will be provided. Music will be performed by Jennifer Hill, Lisa Lawrence of Connecticut, Sunny Gable of Colorado, and Gracie Day of Massachusetts, Lydiah Dola of Kenya, and Nina Martinez and Shellen Lubin, both of New York City. Modern dance will be presented Linalynn Schmelzer of River Valley Dance Project and Madelynn Brown, a GHAA graduate; Burlesque from Vivienne LaFlamme, Mistress Leona Star, and Harley Foxx; Words of self-affirmation from Sarah Gallardo; and live painting by Kerry Kennedy. Linalynn Schmelzer, whos performing an original dance piece on finding hope in a time of vulnerability and conflict, said, Swan Day CT is an important platform for women artists where we can come together, support each other, and feel the impact of our contributions to our art forms. This year will feel different as a virtual performance, yet the impact will be the same; women persevering against the odds to make and share their art, she said. To view SWAN Day CT, go to www.facebook.com/SWANDAYCT/ at 3 p.m. April 17. Donations may be made online at Fractured Atlas https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/support-women-artists-now-swan-day-ct or on PayPal via LAdyblue0916@gmail.com SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day CT is part of an international SWAN Day movement that spans more than 30 countries. Founded in 2007 by Jennifer Hill, SWAN Day CT earned a Super Swan award on its 10th anniversary and has been awarded countless times within the SWAN organization for her efforts to bring recognition to female artists world wide. Citing the uneven impact COVID-19 has had on churches across the country, pastor and author Tim Keller has urged churches largely unaffected by the pandemic to partner with those reeling from death, illness and financial loss. The 70-year-old founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan spoke to CP in April 2020, just weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged New York City. At the time, he said the real test for Christians in the wake of COVID will come several months down the road when presented with opportunities to witness that we cant even envision just yet. For example: What if your community escapes pretty much and in three to four months youre OK, yet some communities you know of are hurt economically and there are tons of unemployed people?" he asked. "Maybe you could lock arms with a Church in a more hurt area. I think in the future, there will be ways to help, but that wont be obvious for a while." Source:The Christian Post Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha and the countrys ruling party clashed Tuesday over the detained CNRP chiefs call for national unity and reconciliation, with a government spokesman saying the country is already unified under the rule of long-serving prime minister Hun Sen. Writing on his Facebook page, Kem Sokhapresident of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Partysaid that only unity and national reconciliation will move Cambodia forward to improve peoples lives, defend national sovereignty, and restore the countrys economynow weakened by shutdowns amid the spread of COVID-19. Now is not time to divide Cambodia to serve [political] ambitions, Kem Sokha wrote on the eve of the April 14-16 observance of the Khmer New Year, adding, Unity brings happiness, division brings sorrow. Unity brings survival, division brings death. Unity brings strength, division brings weakness. Speaking in response to an RFA question, government spokesman Phay Siphan said Cambodia has no need to unite because there is no division or war in the Southeast Asian nation, which has now been ruled by Hun Sen for more than 36 years. I dont see any division [in Cambodia], Phay Siphan said. I only see people who are breaking the law and not respecting the law. Kem Sokha violated the law, and his case is now in the courts, so the courts should be allowed to handle his case, he said. Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November 2017 and barred its members from taking part in political activities, two months after the arrest of party president Kem Sokha for his role in an alleged scheme to topple Hun Sens government. The ban, along with a wider crackdown on NGOs and the independent media, paved the way for Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in the countrys 2018 general election. In a New Years address on April 8, Hun Sen lauded himself for the ban of the widely popular opposition party, saying the group had sought to show chaos in the country. Observers meanwhile urged both sides to pursue political reconciliation for the good of the nation. Also speaking to RFA, social development analyst Meas Ny said there is no sign that Cambodias political divisions will reconcile any time soon. The divisions in Cambodia are real and date back to ancient times, he said. To this day we still quarrel with each other. Were not done yet, he said. Call to accept Chinese vaccine Acting CNRP president Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen meanwhile clashed this week over the opposition leaders call on April 11 for Cambodia's people to accept Chinese-made COVID vaccinesmistrusted by many in Cambodiaas effective in controlling the spread of the disease, with Hun Sen attributing the statement to political motives. He has another agenda, and that is to urge people to flock to get the vaccine all at the same time! Hun Sen said. Speaking to RFA on April 13, Sam Rainsy said he had never told people not to take the Chinese-made vaccine. But I made a comparison of the quality of each vaccine from America, the UK, Russia, and China, based on the studies conducted by international organizations, and I noted that the quality of the Chinese vaccine is lower than that of the Americans and the UK, he said. Nevertheless, in our present circumstances, given that we do not have enough vaccines, we should accept any type of vaccine, even it is only 50 percent or 70 percent effective. This is better than getting nothing. That is why I called on our people not to wait any longer, he said. Cambodia launched a drive to inoculate at least 10 million of its 16 million people in February, and by April 12 1,099,811 Cambodians had been vaccinated with the Chinese-made Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines or the India-based UK AstraZeneca vaccine, according to Cambodias Ministry of Health. As of April 13, Cambodia has seen 4,696 positive cases of COVID-19, among whom 2,252 patients were treated and discharged, 2,406 are currently undergoing medical treatment, and 33 have died, the Ministry of Health said. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum and Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Richard Finney. Philippine police inspect weapons seized during a raid of a suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters hideout in Maguindanao province, while presenting two men and two women who were arrested after the operation, April 14, 2021. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on a violent note in the southern Philippines where authorities mounted a deadly raid on a suspected pro-Islamic State bombers hideout and a family of three was killed in an ambush, officials said Wednesday. Police were dispatched to Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao province to arrest Abu Naim, a member of the IS-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who was implicated in a series of bombings in the region, but officers met with resistance early Wednesday, authorities said. Naim and his companions provoked a gun battle when they opened fire at the arresting officers, said Maj. Esmael Madin, chief of operations for the Philippine National Polices Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. We retaliated and killed a companion, Madin told BenarNews, adding that Abu Naim escaped. Madin identified the dead man as Marcos Manungal, a former village chief who allegedly was involved in illegal drug trafficking and extortion. Police later arrested four suspected militants, including the mother and wife of Abu Naim. They also recovered firearms and homemade bombs from the hideout, Madin said. Naim was involved in various bombing activities in the region. He works as a bomb expert for BIFF under Turaife, Madin said, referring to Abu Turaife, the leader of the BIFF, a fringe militant group in the south. The BIFF is a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which had been the countrys largest Muslim separatist force before it signed a peace pact with the government. The MILF now controls the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Turaifes group and other smaller militant organizations, in the meantime, have continued to stage attacks in the south. Family killed On Tuesday the first full day of Ramadan in the Philippines a Muslim couple and their child died when they were ambushed as they drove in their car before noon in southern Cotabato city. Gunmen in a brown SUV fired shots into the familys car, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported. The couple have been identified as trader Ali Abdulrahim Tamal and his wife, Norma Dalimbang. Police did not release information about the child. They died in an ambush, a police report of the incident said. The case was under investigation, but it could be tied to rido (vendetta killings), a practice prevalent in the region, or was carried out by militants to sow terror. Police said they suspect the attack could have been motivated by a blood feud, but did not rule out the involvement of militants. The attack and raid occurred as millions of Filipino Muslims in the country who are mostly concentrated in the southern Mindanao region started their Ramadan fasting. They fast from sun up to sun down each day. Ramadan will give way on May 13 to Eid al-Fitr, an Arabic term which means festival of breaking the fast. A BenarNews correspondent in Zamboanga, Philippines, contributed to this report. New Delhi: India and European Union on Friday failed to decide a date to relaunch negotiations on the proposed bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). A Joint Statement during 14th India-EU Summit held on Friday in the national capital only said the leaders of both the sides have noted the ongoing efforts ... to re-engage actively towards timely re-launching negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial India-EU BTIA. The two sides met during the 14th summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Council President Donald Franciszek Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. The 13th India-EU Summit was held in Brussels on March 30 last year during Modi's visit. India and the EU reiterated the importance of reconciling economic growth and environment protection and highlighted the importance of moving towards a more circular economic model that reduces primary resource consumption, a joint statement said. Leaders also agreed to further intensify cooperation on addressing environmental challenges, such as water management and air pollution, acknowledged the progress in implementing the India-EU Water Partnership, including an agreed action programme, it said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 : The polls to elect the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly were over on April 6 and though none has a clue of what's in store for them, the two traditional political rivals have started to identify the best 20 state cabinet ministers. For the BJP-led NDA, which opened its account in the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly and won just one seat in the 2016 polls, the entire top brass of the party is hopeful of bettering its performance, while a few pre-poll surveys and the ruling Left have said the account that they opened last time will be closed this time. While the ruling Left led by its captain Pinarayi Vijayan is expecting to rewrite political history in the state by becoming the first to retain power, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala is more than confident that, the days of Vijayan are numbered and its they who will form the next government in Kerala. To start with, while there is no confusion on who will be leading the Left, if it retains power as there was only one captain and that was Pinarayi Vijayan, but in the Congress-led UDF, things are not that easy as Chennithala will have to fight it out with two time former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. A media critic on condition of anonymity said that in the Congress the norm is, if there is a contest, the elected Congress party legislators will select their leader and the final call will be taken by the party high command. "Chandy has always been a winner and if he decides to contest, then Chennithala will definitely lose. Chandy for certain has more acceptability than Chennithala with the allies. Chandy will step in only if he is 100 per cent sure that he has more legislators who will raise their hands for him. If by any chance he does not contest, then it's certain it would be Chennithala," said the media critic. "Then comes the question -- if K. Muraleedharan, a sitting Lok Sabha member who was brought to contest from Nemom seat in the state capital to prevent the BJP from retaining its only seat, wins, and should the UDF form the government, he is definitely going to get the Home Minister portfolio, as Chennithala was later inducted into the Chandy cabinet, as Home Minister during Chandy's second term (2011-16)," added the critic. With regard to the cabinet ministers, already the name of Congress veteran, V.D. Satheeshan as Finance Minister has come up and others include Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, K. Sivadasan Nair and Bindhu Krishna. If Vijayan gets a second term, the CPI-M will have to find replacements for veterans like Thomas Issac, A.K. Balan, G. Sudhakaran, C. Raveendranath, who failed to get a seat. Among the names doing the rounds include former Rajya Sabha members K.N. Balagopal, P. Rajeev and the son-in-law of Vijayan- Mohammed Riyaz. Like in the outgoing government, should the Left return, it's a foregone conclusion that K.K. Shailaja will continue to be the Health Minister. While the Congress-led UDF could find the finalisation of the 20 member cabinet (excluding the Chief Minister) a herculean affair, as never in the recent times has cabinet formation of the UDF been a smooth affair, but if it falls on the head of Vijayan, it would be a simple straight forward exercise for him, as he continues to be the unquestionable leader in the Left. With another four more weeks to go for the votes to be counted, soon the heart beats of the rival fronts' leaders will get louder and it will reach a crescendo on May 2 and the million dollar question now is, who is going to be the eventual winner and whosoever wins, certainly one group who will be in the opposition benches will be crestfallen, as all the dreams woven of becoming a minister will go out of the window. WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden started the clock Wednesday on the long-awaited, long-promised withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, setting the 20th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as the deadline for ending "America's longest war." President Joe Biden speaks during a ceremony to honour slain U.S. Capitol Police officer William "Billy" Evans as he lies in honor at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Biden is to start the clock today on the long-awaited withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/J. Scott Applewhite WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden started the clock Wednesday on the long-awaited, long-promised withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, setting the 20th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as the deadline for ending "America's longest war." From a podium in the White House Treaty Room, where former president George W. Bush launched the so-called war on terror, Biden essentially described a continued U.S. military presence as an exercise in futility. "Our allies and partners have stood beside us, shoulder to shoulder, in Afghanistan for almost 20 years," the president said as he announced the pullout would begin May 1 predecessor Donald Trump's deadline for his own withdrawal. "We're deeply grateful for the contributions they have made to our shared mission and for the sacrifices they have borne." Canada was among those allies and partners almost from the outset, with its 12-year presence including 10 on the front lines of combat costing the lives of some 159 Canadian troops. Four civilians also died in Afghanistan, including Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang, as well as one diplomat: Glyn Berry, who was among the three people killed by a roadside bomb in January 2006. Sgt. Jimmy Collins was in a separate vehicle when he witnessed the roadside blast in December 2009 that killed Lang and four Canadian soldiers: Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, Sgt. George Miok, 28, Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21, and Cpl. Zachery McCormack. For Collins, who lives in Kamloops, B.C., it will be the Afghans themselves "to this day, some of the most wholesome people I have ever met," he said who will bear the brunt of Biden's decision. "They're the ones getting thrown under the bus," he said, adding he would go back to Afghanistan "in a heartbeat" to help the people he met there. "What they went through with the Russians, and then the Taliban, and then through all of this stuff with us and then we throw them back to the Taliban." In Canada, much of the mission has largely faded from the collective memory, admitted Bruce Moncur, who was on the ground for some of the most vicious Canadian fighting in the Panjwaii district at the height of the conflict in 2006. "In trying so hard not to have another Vietnam, they created another Vietnam," Moncur said in an interview. "They just didn't learn." Moncur sustained brain damage during Operation Medusa when a pair of U.S. A-10 Thunderbolts, known as Warthogs, mistakenly unleashed their fearsome 30-mm cannons on a contingent of Canadian soldiers. The husband of NDP MP Niki Ashton, he has since become an outspoken advocate for Canadian veterans of the war, producing YouTube documentaries about their exploits and lobbying for better treatment at the hands of the federal government. Now studying in Manitoba to be a teacher, Moncur said some of the kids in his classes weren't born until 2006, five years after the events in New York and Washington, D.C., that triggered 20 years of bloody Middle East conflict. And while the sacrifices of Canadians in Afghanistan may have helped advance foreign-policy interests and ties with the U.S., he said, the mission's lofty developmental goals instilling democratic values and more rights for Afghan women, for instance have largely gone wanting. "We had 20 years to do it," he said ruefully. "Twenty years is a long time." Biden's decision which Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Tuesday with Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau triggered a matching move from NATO. The alliance has agreed to withdraw its roughly 7,000 troops starting May 1, although NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg didn't commit to completing the effort in time for Sept. 11. "We went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together and we are united in leaving together," Stoltenberg said. While Canada completed its own pullout in 2014, some 9,600 NATO soldiers remain in Afghanistan, about 2,500 of them members of the American contingent. Many will argue, Biden acknowledged, that a diplomatic solution to the challenges in Afghanistan cannot succeed without American troops there to backstop the effort. "We gave that argument a decade. It has never proved effective," he said. "Our diplomacy does not hinge on having boots in harm's way, U.S. boots on the ground. We have to change that thinking." True to form, Republicans like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, were quick to condemn the decision. "Any withdrawal of forces that is not based on conditions on the ground puts American security at risk," Cheney told a news conference. She called Biden's choice of the Sept. 11 deadline "a huge propaganda victory for the Taliban, for al-Qaida the notion that on the day that they attacked us, we are going to mark that anniversary by withdrawing our forces." But in the 10 years since the decade-long U.S. effort to capture and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden finally bore fruit in 2011, the rationale for remaining in Afghanistan has only grown murkier, Biden said. And the terrorist threat once so concentrated in the desolate Panjwaii plains and the caves beneath the Hindu Kush mountains has been "metastasizing around the globe" ever since. "With the terror threat now in many places, keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country, at a cost of billions each year, makes little sense to me and other leaders," Biden said. "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan, hoping to create ideal conditions for the withdrawal and expecting a different result." Following the announcement, Biden paid a visit to Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where the bulk of America's most recent war dead from Afghanistan and Iraq are buried. He wandered among the meticulous rows of modest white marble headstones, pausing occasionally to study a name, at times dabbing at his eyes. "I have trouble these days ever showing up at a veteran's cemetery and not thinking of my son, Beau," he said. Beau Biden served in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Army JAG Corps in 2009 before his death from brain cancer in 2015. "He thought it was the right thing to do," Biden said, before looking around and adding, "Look at them all." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. With files from The Associated Press The ASX200 recovered from an early dive on Thursday as surprisingly robust jobs data helped the market edge closer to the all-time record set 13 months ago. A strong performance by the iron ore giants and a better-than expected March jobs report helped the market claw back losses after an early tumble. The local bourse ended 0.5 per cent higher at 7058.6 and touched a peak of 7071.5 late in the day, its highest point since February 20 last year. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5 per cent to close at 7058.6 on Thursday. Credit:Louie Douvis Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue Metals were solid throughout Thursdays trade - each having their best session in weeks - while energy firms also outperformed on improved oil prices. The markets recovery began when the major banks and biotech CSL joined the party, while the return to pre-CVOVID employment levels also seemed to boost investor confidence. CommSec markets analyst Steven Daghlian said the headline addition of 70,000 jobs for the month and a 5.6 per cent unemployment rate was better than most economists were expecting. The only negative is that all the job gains were part-time positions as opposed to full-time, Mr Daghlian said. The next few months should be interesting too, with the wind-down of Jobkeeper. Mr Daghlian said the uncertainties of COVID - including border closures and changes to the vaccine schedule - meant the markets charge to record highs was not a forgone conclusion. That said, he noted the index had gained in seven of the nine sessions so far this month, and was on track for a seventh straight month of gains. Its hard to tell if (eclipsing the record) is inevitable or not, but there have been quite strong gains lately, with a lot of momentum, Mr Daghlian said. The jobs rebound gathering pace is the kind of thing that can certainly help markets improve. It wasnt all rosy on the ASX on Thursday, with gold miners hit hard by weaker precious metals prices. Regis Resources, Resolute Mining, Evolution, Northern Star, St Barbara and Silver Lake Resources were among the markets worst 10 performers. Whitehaven Coal shares were savaged after it cut production and sales guidance, while Telstra, ResMed, Transurban, and Afterpay were also notable decliners. BROOKFIELD For months, residents have been asking the same question: What grocery store is being built at 14 Candlewood Lake Road? Officials are tight-lipped about the construction, but several hints suggest the new store could be one of the East Coasts first Amazon Fresh grocery stores. Brookfield has just one supermarket, which First Selectman Steve Dunn said gets mobbed, especially on the weekends. But the town is building two new stores. Officials confirmed that one is a Food Emporium, but the identity of the other remains a mystery. I think it is highly anticipated, Dunn said, adding some residents are concerned about increased traffic with its opening. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Since September, four Amazon Fresh stores have opened in Illinois and eight in California, but speculation over construction in other states has increased. Last month, Bloomberg reported that Amazon is working on more than two dozen stores around the nation. The towns new supermarket at the Candlewood Plaza Shopping Center is expected to open around September, according to officials, and construction is already underway. Construction costs for renovations are listed in town building permit documents at a projected $1.2 million. The concept has been debated since the fall of 2019 when the Wall Street Journal reported Amazon was scouting locations for a new grocery store concept in Connecticut. Its still the topic of debate in several local Brookfield Facebook groups and Reddit threads. The architect, Norr, LLC., declined to comment for this story, citing legal reasons and confidentiality, as did a representative for Raymour & Flanigan, which owns the plaza. A few clues From zoning commission meetings to renderings of the building, a few key clues lead to why Brookfield residents have been debating whether this will be Connecticut's first Amazon Fresh. Francis Lollie, Brookfields assistant land use manager and zoning enforcement officer, said his office gets at least a half-dozen phone calls a week asking about the construction and which store is going there. He tells them all the same thing: I dont know. If you look at the designs and you look at the other stores that are out there, its not hard to figure out who it is, its not, but theyve asked us to keep quiet, and we have, Dunn said. Zoning commission meeting minutes from October state Trevor Edkin, Raymour and Flanigans leasing director for the site said that, the proposed grocery store client is extremely secretive, as a product of the company's foundation as a technology company. Meeting minutes show Edkin said, When this store opens, if they are able to meet the client's deadlines, there will be about 50-60 locations open nationwide. Photo courtesy of the Town of Brookfield The architectural renderings from the Zoning Commission bear a resemblance to existing Amazon Fresh stores. From the wall paneling behind the store signage, to the specially placed wall sconces and the specific color scheme that aligns with existing stores, the similarities continue. Most notable is the prefabricated aluminum canopy fins directly underneath the store signage, which can be seen on other Amazon Fresh stores. As construction continues, the identity of the tenant may become clear. In an interview, Dunn hinted the new store would have an innovative type of technology available, allowing customers to skip the checkout line. Existing stores are known for use of the Dash Cart, a futuristic shopping cart that uses sensors and algorithms to sense whats being placed in the cart and charge it to your existing Amazon account, ultimately helping you skip the checkout line. You put the groceries that youre shopping for in your shopping cart and then you just leave. Its worked so far at other locations, he said. I think people are going to go there just to see what the experience is like. Still, without official confirmation, the stores identity remains a mystery. Well have to wait and find out, Lollie said. LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- STL (NSE: STLTECH), an industry-leading integrator of digital networks, today announced a strategic collaboration with Openreach, the UK's largest digital network business. Openreach has chosen STL as a key partner to provide optical cable solutions for its new, ultra-fast, ultra-reliable 'Full Fibre' broadband network. Under the partnership, STL will be responsible for delivering millions of kilometres of optical fibre cable to support the build over the next three years. Openreach has plans to use STL's expertise and innovation to help accelerate its Full Fibre build programme and drive efficiency. This collaboration with Openreach strengthens a 14-year-old technology and supply relationship between the two companies and further reinforces STL's commitment to the UK market. Openreach plans to take advantage of STL's cutting-edge Opticonn solution - a specialised set of fibre, cable and interconnect offerings designed to drive significant performance improvements, including up to 30 per cent faster installation. It will also have access to STL's Celesta - a high-density optical fibre cable with a capacity of up to 6,912 optical fibres. This compact design is 26 per cent slimmer compared to traditional loose tube cables, allowing 2000 metres of cable to be installed in under an hour. The high density super-slim cable will also help minimise the use of plastic across Openreach's new network. Kevin Murphy, MD for Fibre and Network Delivery at Openreach, said: "Our Full Fibre network build is going faster than ever. We need partners like STL on board to not only help sustain that momentum, but also to provide the skills and innovation to help us go even further. We know the network we're building can deliver a host of social and economic benefits - from boosting UK productivity to enabling more home working and fewer commuting trips - but we're also trying to make this one of the greenest network builds in the world. So, it's good to know that STL's compact and efficient designs will contribute to this in a significant way." Commenting on the collaboration, Ankit Agarwal, CEO Connectivity Solutions Business, STL, said: "We are extremely excited to join hands with Openreach as a key optical solutions partner to build Full Fibre broadband networks for millions in the UK. Our customised, 5G-ready optical solutions are ideally suited for Openreach's future-proof network requirements and we believe they will enable next-gen digital experiences for homes and businesses across UK. This partnership will be a major step towards our mission of transforming billions of lives through digital networks." The announcement comes as Openreach continues to ramp up the build rate for its Full Fibre broadband programme - which aims to reach 20 million homes and businesses by the mid-to-late 2020s. Openreach engineers are now delivering faster, more reliable connectivity to another 42,000 homes and businesses every week, or the equivalent of a home every 15 seconds. 4.5 million premises can now order a gigabit capable Full Fibre broadband service from a range of competing service providers using Openreach's new network. About STL - Sterlite Technologies Ltd STL is an industry-leading integrator of digital networks. Our fully 5G ready digital network solutions help telcos, cloud companies, citizen networks, and large enterprises deliver enhanced experiences to their customers. STL provides integrated 5G ready end-to-end solutions range from wired to wireless, design to deployment, and connectivity to compute. Our core capabilities lie in Optical Interconnect, Virtualised Access Solutions, Network Software, and System Integration. We believe in harnessing technology to create a world with next-generation connected experiences that transform everyday living. With a global patent portfolio of 462 to our credit, we conduct fundamental research in next-generation network applications at our Centre of Excellence. STL has a strong global presence with next-gen optical preform, fibre, cable, and interconnect subsystem manufacturing facilities in India, Italy, China, and Brazil, along with two software-development centers across India and a data centre design facility in the UK. For more details, visit: www.stl.tech | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube About Openreach Openreach Limited is the UK's digital network business. We're 35,000 people, working in every community to connect homes, schools, shops, banks, hospitals, libraries, mobile phone masts, broadcasters, governments and businesses - large and small - to the world. Our mission is to build the best possible network, with the highest quality service, making sure that everyone in the UK can be connected. We work on behalf of more than 660 communications providers like SKY, TalkTalk, Vodafone, BT and Zen, and our broadband network is the biggest in the UK, passing more than 31.8m UK premises. Over the last decade we've invested more than 14 billion into our network and, at more than 185 million kilometers, it's now long enough to wrap around the world 4,617 times. Today we're building an even faster, more reliable and future-proof broadband network which will be the UK's digital platform for decades to come. We're making progress towards our FTTP target to reach 20m premises by mid-to-late 2020s. We've also hired more than 3,000 trainee engineers this past financial year to help us build that network and deliver better service across the country. Openreach is a highly regulated, wholly owned, and independently governed unit of the BT Group. More than 90 per cent of our revenues come from services that are regulated by Ofcom and any company can access our products under equivalent prices, terms and conditions. For the year ended 31 March 2020, we reported revenue of 5bn. For more information, visit www.openreach.co.uk Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487634/Celesta_Openreach_STL.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487635/Openreach_STL_Network.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487636/STL_Logo.jpg Scientists have discovered yet another layer deep inside the core of the Earth, a new study suggests. "Traditionally we've been taught the Earth has four main layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core," said Australian National University geophysicist and study lead author Joanne Stephenson. Now a team of researchers from the university has confirmed the existence of what it's calling the Earth's "innermost inner core." To study Earth's core, the team used a search algorithm to trawl through and match thousands of models of the inner core with observed data across many decades about how long seismic waves take to travel through the Earth, ScienceAlert reported. By analyzing how the different layers cause the sound waves to slow, scientists can catch a glimpse of what lies below, Discover magazine said. Researchers from the Australian National University have confirmed the existence of the Earth's "innermost inner core." Though this new layer is difficult to observe, its existence may point to an unknown, dramatic event in Earth's history, according to the study. Volcano erupts: La Soufriere volcano eruption sends thousands fleeing on Caribbean island of St. Vincent "We found evidence that may indicate a change in the structure of iron, which suggests perhaps two separate cooling events in Earth's history," Stephenson said in a statement. "The details of this big event are still a bit of a mystery, but we've added another piece of the puzzle when it comes to our knowledge of the Earth's inner core." The idea of another distinct layer in the core has been around for a couple of decades, but the data has been unclear until now. "We got around this by using a very clever search algorithm to trawl through thousands of the models of the inner core," Stephenson said. She added that investigating the structure of the inner core can help us understand more about Earth's history and evolution. "It's very exciting and might mean we have to rewrite the textbooks!," she said. The study was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, a publication of the American Geophysical Union. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Earth's core has another layer inside, scientists discover YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he seeks to make the de-occupation of the territory of the former NKAO an item of negotiations in the NK conflict resolution process. Id like to draw everyones attention on the fact that we must speak about the future. The most important part of this conversation about the future is the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. Id like to underscore that we must bring forward as a political issue, as an issue of negotiations the issue of the de-occupation of the territory of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. But I say again, we must term this not as a military issue, but as a negotiations, political issue, Pashinyan told lawmakers in parliament. He said they must continue the realization of the Remedial Secession formula for Nagorno Karabakh. Pashinyan stressed that they must draw the attention of the international community on the Armenophobia and hate in Azerbaijan, mentioning the recently opened museum in Azerbaijan where, among others, helmets of dead Armenian soldiers were displayed as trophies. Pashinyan called the museum simply unthinkable, and the biggest manifestation of hatred and anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan. He said the international community must see this and that the remedial secession is applicable here. He said it should become the core of the future negotiations process. PM Pashinyan said he and his government will continue the selfless and devoted struggle for a free, strong and happy Armenia. And right now we say to the people of the Republic of Armenia in Armenia, Artsakh and in the Diaspora dear people, do not fall into despair, do not lose hope, keep your head up, because yes there is a future in Armenia, there is a future in Artsakh, the Armenian people have a future, and together we will build this free, happy and strong future, Pashinyan said. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan SCHIPHOL-RIJK (dpa-AFX) - Airbus' (EADSF.PK, EADSY.PK) Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury said that the company is focus on earnings and cash growth trajectory beyond 2021. At the annual general meeting, Faury said that the company did not propose dividend for 2020. The European plane maker targets to at least achieve in 2021; same number of commercial aircraft deliveries as in 2020; EBIT Adjusted of 2 billion euros; Breakeven Free Cash Flow before M&A and Customer Financing. The company assumes no further disruptions to the world economy, air traffic, the company's internal operations, and its ability to deliver products and services. 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. Kang Daniel is the celebrity chosen by Koreans on who they want to be comforted by on "Black Day." From March 20 to April 12, Seven Edu, an online math education company for elementary, midde school and high schools, conducted a poll asking netizens who they want to spend "Black Day" with, and was answered by 5,744 people. Out of the 5,744 people who answered, 3,235 people - or 56.3 percent, chose Kang Daniel as the celebrity who they want to be comforted by on "Black Day." Following Kang Daniel is actor Park Bo Gum, who garnered 40.7 percent of the votes and was voted by 2,337 people in the poll. After Park Bo Gum is Yoo Jae Suk, with 1.1 percent of the votes and was voted by 63 people. Ranking fourth is Lee Seung Gi with 0.5 percent and 31 votes. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: H1GHR MUSIC Denies Reports That GOT7 Jay B Already Signed an Exclusive Contract With Them Along With ffshore Crew Regarding the reason as to why Kang Daniel was chosen as the no.1 celebrity who people want to be comforted by on "Black Day," the CEO of Seven Edu and the math division, Cha Gil Young said, "Kang Daniel is not only beautiful on the inside and outside, but has also captivated fans with his warm personality." Meanwhile, Kang Daniel recently made a comeback with his new album "YELLOW" that was released on April 13. What is "Black Day"? "Black Day" is celebrated on April 14, just like Valentine's Day on Feb. 14 and White Day on Mar. 14. On "Black Day," people who did not receive gifts on Valentine's Day and White Day spend time together and eat jjajangmyeon. In addition, "Black Day" is also called "jjajangmyeon day" because it is a day when single people wear black clothing and eat jjajangmyeon. There is a theory that "Black Day" originated from black being the opposite color of White Day's "white," so people without lovers wear black clothes and eat food with a black or dark color. Additionally, there is a theory that "Black Day" can be compared to the color of the heart that was burnt black because one didn't receive a gift on Valentine's Day and White Day. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: ASTRO Cha Eun Woo Relationship Status 2021: Truth About His Alleged Romance with TWICE's Dahyun and G-Friend's Sowon On the other hand, jjajangmeyon is a food that was originally eaten in Shandong, China, which means fried noodles. Jjajangmyeon became known in Korea, beginning with Incheon, as taught by Korean Chinese people. Since then, it has become a representative food of Korea and is usually eaten when one moves homes or graduates. For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan Four male platoons graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina as part of a battalion that -- until now -- has trained only women. Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, completed boot camp with four male and two female platoons, the Marine Corps announced Wednesday. Coed companies have been training at Parris Island since 2019, but this was the first time men have been assigned to 4th Recruit Training Battalion. It was also the first time male drill instructors were assigned to the historically all-female battalion. Read Next: 500 Marines Will Begin Testing These New PT Uniforms this Summer Marine recruits training at Parris Island were for decades segregated by gender, with women traditionally assigned solely to 4th Recruit Training Battalion. Papa Company completed their training and graduated from boot camp March 26. The Marine Corps has since begun training Parris Island's 15th coed company, said Capt. Bryan McDonnell, a spokesman at the depot. Capt. Adan Rivera, the company commander, said in a Marine Corps news release that assigning men to 4th Battalion demonstrates that recruits are held to the same standards, regardless of gender. When a male recruit was told he'd be making history after being assigned to 4th Battalion, he said he didn't think "anybody grasped what was going on." "We're here to train, let's train," he said in the release. Both female and male recruits have now been assigned to all four of Parris Island's recruit training battalions. McDonnell said the 4th Recruit Training Battalion squad bay is smaller than some of the newer living facilities at Parris Island. The Marine Corps tends to see more recruits reporting to boot camp in the summer months following high school graduations. With fewer arriving in the winter months, McDonnell said they had the right number of male and female trainees to assign them to that battalion. Men and women training in coed companies live in the same barracks, but have separate squad bays with different sleeping and bathing facilities. Training that occurs outside the squad bays is done together. Platoons are still assigned drill instructors of the same gender as their recruits. The men with 4th Battalion aren't the only Marine recruits to make history at boot camp this year. Women are currently training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in coed companies for the first time in that base's 100-year history. The 2020 defense authorization bill directed the Marine Corps to make both of its entry-level training sites coed. The service was given five years to make training coed at Parris Island and eight years at San Diego. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: Female Marine Recruits Arrive at San Diego Boot Camp for Historic Coed Training Vancouver, British Columbia and Johannesburg, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (TSX: PTM) (NYSE American: PLG) ("Platinum Group" or the "Company") reports that a further notice to appeal the decision granting Waterberg JV Resources (Pty) Ltd. a mining right was received by the Company on April 14, 2021. The notice is reported to be filed by a local community in the area of the proposed mine infrastructure. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy ("DMRE") granted the mining right on January 28, 2021. The Company believes that all requirements specified under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act ("MPRDA") have been complied with and that Minister Gwede Mantashe's office correctly issued the notice of the granting of the mining right. Waterberg JV Resources (Pty) Ltd is accordingly opposing the appeal. According to the MPRDA, an appeal can be considered by the Minister for determination within a 130-business day timeframe. The mining right currently remains active and was notarially executed by the DMRE on April 13, 2021. Platinum Group has completed well-documented, extensive and meaningful consultations with recognized representatives in local communities, the DMRE and government. The consultation includes the group claiming an appeal. The Waterberg Project is projected to be a large palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold mine and the Company anticipates that its development will result in significant positive spin-offs in terms of investments, exports, jobs and skills development. The Company intends to continue our consultation with the DMRE and recognized local authorities and community representatives on our plans for the Waterberg site. About Platinum Group Metals Ltd. and Waterberg Project Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is the operator and majority owner of the Waterberg Project, a bulk underground palladium, platinum, gold and rhodium deposit located in South Africa. The Waterberg Project was discovered by Platinum Group and is being jointly advanced with the shareholders of Waterberg JV Resources (Pty) Ltd. ("Waterberg JV Co."), being Platinum Group, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Hanwa Co. Ltd. and Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. ("Mnombo"). In 2019, the Company founded Lion Battery Technologies Inc. in partnership with Anglo American Platinum Limited to support the use of palladium and platinum in lithium battery applications. On behalf of the Board of Platinum Group Metals Ltd. R. Michael Jones President and CEO For further information contact: R. Michael Jones, President or Kris Begic, VP, Corporate Development Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver Tel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450 www.platinumgroupmetals.net Disclosure The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by management. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and related measures taken by government create uncertainty and have had, and may continue to have, an adverse impact on many aspects of the Company's business, including employee health, workforce productivity and availability, travel restrictions, contractor availability, supply availability, the Company's ability to maintain its controls and procedures regarding financial and disclosure matters and the availability of capital and insurance and the costs thereof, some of which, individually or when aggregated with other impacts, may be material to the Company. This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"), including statements regarding the appeal of the mining right; the applicable procedures, timeline and potential results of such appeal; the development of the Waterberg project and the potential benefits and results thereof; the Company's intentions for future consultations; the potential use of palladium and platinum in lithium battery applications; and the Company's other future plans and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes any forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. 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 possible adverse impacts due the global outbreak of COVID-19 (as described above), the Company's inability to generate sufficient cash flow or raise sufficient additional capital to make payment on its indebtedness, and to comply with the terms of such indebtedness; additional financing requirements; the US $20 million senior secured facility with the Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector), LP ("Sprott") entered into August 21, 2019 (the "2019 Sprott Facility") is, and any new indebtedness may be, secured and the Company has pledged its shares of PTM RSA, and PTM RSA has pledged its shares of Waterberg JV Co. to Sprott, under the 2019 Sprott Facility, which potentially could result in the loss of the Company's interest in PTM RSA and the Waterberg Project in the event of a default under the 2019 Sprott Facility or any new secured indebtedness; the Company's history of losses and negative cash flow; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's properties may not be brought into a state of commercial production; uncertainty of estimated production, development plans and cost estimates for the Waterberg Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs, between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries and between estimated and actual production; fluctuations in the relative values of the U.S. Dollar, the Rand and the Canadian Dollar; volatility in metals prices; the uncertainty of alternative funding sources for Waterberg JV Co.; the Company may become subject to the U.S. Investment Company Act; the failure of the Company or the other shareholders to fund their pro rata share of funding obligations for the Waterberg Project; any disputes or disagreements with the other shareholders of Waterberg JV Co. or Mnombo; the ability of the Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel; conflicts of interest; litigation or other administrative proceedings brought against the Company, including the appeal of the mining right; an adverse decision on the appeal on the Mining Right could delay or prevent the Company from having the mining right reinstated and developing the Waterberg Project; actual or alleged breaches of governance processes or instances of fraud, bribery or corruption; exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to mineral claims or property; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and South Africa; equipment shortages and the ability of the Company to acquire necessary access rights and infrastructure for its mineral properties; environmental regulations and the ability to obtain and maintain necessary permits, including environmental authorizations and water use licences; extreme competition in the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining, or a failure to obtain, permits necessary for current or future operations or failures to comply with the terms of such permits; risks of doing business in South Africa, including but not limited to, labour, economic and political instability and potential changes to and failures to comply with legislation; the Company's common shares may be delisted from the NYSE American or the Toronto Stock Exchange if it cannot maintain compliance with the applicable listing requirements; and the other risk factors described in the Company's Form 20-F annual report, annual information form and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80468 14/04/2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought social and economic disruption worldwide, but is also providing governments with the opportunity to put economies on a more sustainable and inclusive growth path while addressing the underlying challenges, according to the OECDs Going for Growth policy report. Going for Growth 2021: Shaping a Vibrant Recovery analyses pre-existing weaknesses as well as those brought on by the pandemic, and offers policy makers country-specific advice to seize the opportunity for a fundamental reset. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria and Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Daniele Franco launched the report shortly after the second meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors under the Italian Presidency on 7 April. Its recommendations provide a basis for G20 discussions on strategies to push forward a vibrant economic recovery and promote higher-quality growth. The pandemic is a painful reminder that the nature of our past growth was often unsustainable and left many people behind, Mr Gurria said. The recovery is an opportunity to set our policies right, to achieve growth that is stronger, equitable, sustainable and more resilient. And for this to happen, governments have to act now. Going for Growth 2021: Shaping a Vibrant Recovery provides a framework for policy reform covering three key dimensions: Building resilience and sustainability: Structural policies can improve the first line of defence to shocks (health care and social safety nets, critical infrastructure), improve public governance, and strengthen firms incentives to better take longer-term sustainability considerations into account. Facilitating reallocation and boosting productivity growth. Steering growth in a more durable, resilient and inclusive direction requires structural policy action to increase job dynamism and support firms becoming more dynamic, more innovative and greener. Supporting people through transitions. Policies should ensure that people are not left behind in transitions, so that reallocation is socially productive and builds resilience. This requires investments in skills, training and a big push for accessing quality jobs particularly amongst vulnerable groups as well as broad-based social safety nets, and better learning and support to access jobs. Going for Growth policy advice includes short country notes for OECD members and a number of Partner countries (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa). The report also highlights the crucial importance of countries acting together in particular in the case of challenges that span borders. Going for Growth identifies a number of areas where international co-operation is needed to enhance the effectiveness of domestic policies and underpin the shift to more sustainable, resilient and equitable globalisation: healthcare, climate change, international trade and the taxation of multinational enterprises. Key recommendations and individual country notes on OECD and key non-member countries are accessible at: https://www.oecd.org/economy/going-for-growth/. You are invited to include this link in media coverage of the report. For further information on Going for Growth 2021 or to arrange interviews, journalists should contact Lawrence Speer (+33 1 4524 7970) or the OECD Media Office (+33 1 4524 9700). Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called George Floyd's death a 'public assassination,' speaking about officer Derek Chauvin's trial from Capitol Hill Tuesday. Pelosi told USA Today she hasn't watched the full trial, but has kept up with developments via news accounts. 'I feel sad about the spectators, and that that young woman who said she's up all night because she wonders what she could have done differently,' Pelosi said. 'I think if any of us was there, we would have gone up and just pulled him off,' she said of Chauvin, who is facing both murder and manslaughter charges. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called George Floyd's death a 'public assassination' in an interview conducted Tuesday by USA Today 'I think if any of us was there, we would have gone up and just pulled him off,' Pelosi said of Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes She added, 'But we might have gotten shot, and that's probably why somebody didn't pull him off.' Throughout the sit-down with USA Today's Susan Page - who has written a biography about Pelosi that comes out later this month - and Ledyard King, the House speaker talked about how she has deep respect for law enforcement. She added, however, 'that isn't a license to kill. And that's what happened.' 'That was a public assassination of George Floyd,' she said. Pelosi, like President Joe Biden, has backed the House-passed George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which implements some federal policing reforms. 'I was raised in a family where, be true to the men in blue police and fire. They save our lives. They risk their lives. They leave home. They don't know if they're coming home. Their families make sacrifices for our safety,' she said. 'So I have a respect for that as I do for our people here.' Pelosi argued that officers could benefit from better training, something the George Floyd act would provide. She pointed to the Sunday police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright outside of Minneapolis. 'How could it be that violence of that kind is such an early resort for some of these police officers?' she said. 'There just has to be some better training.' Pelosi's interview with USA Today came the same day that she attended a memorial service for Capitol Police officer Billy Evans, who was killed on April 2 when a man rammed him before slamming a car into a Capitol barricade. Pelosi said Evans was a 'martyr for our democracy.' She doesn't back the progressive wing of her party's cry to 'defund the police.' 'Forget that. That has no place,' the speaker said. 'Safety is essential to everyone's life. But I find the [Chauvin] trial so disappointing,' she continued. 'And maybe my disappointment springs from my expectation that these are our protectors.' The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is currently sitting in the Senate without enough votes to pass. Negotiations are ongoing, as White House press secretary Jen Psaski said Tuesday, between lawmakers like Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, and Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican who introduced his own police reform bill after Floyd's Memorial Day death. Agthia Group PJSC revealed its long-term strategy to become an F&B leader in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) region and beyond by 2025. The strategy is built on three strategic pillars (growth, efficiency and capability) and is designed to extend the Groups market leadership, provide significant value for all stakeholders and continue to drive profitability growth with a consumer-centric approach. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005841/en/ Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi - Chairman - Agthia Group (Photo: AETOSWire) The Abu Dhabi-based organisation is engaged in manufacturing, distribution and marketing of a wide range of F&B products, including popular regional brands such as Al Ain (water), Al Foah (dates), Al Faysal Bakery & Sweets (bakery) and Grand Mills (flour and bakery) among others. Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, Chairman, Agthia Group, said: The strategy will unleash the full potential of the exceptional capabilities we have built, create greater opportunities for our people, and act as a catalyst for us to again set new benchmarks in the F&B industry. Alan Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Agthia Group, said: Our strategy stems from an in-depth assessment of the business and a clear vision of where we want to go. We will continue to get leaner, protect our core business and ensure that our progress is agile and deliberately paced. Growth Agthia will deliver on growth by upscaling in priority markets, expanding into value-add categories and driving margin improvement by 2025. This will be made possible by strengthening the core base, including strengthening the water category, protecting flour and feed categories as well as shifting the portfolio mix towards higher margin categories. In addition, Agthia has embarked upon a robust inorganic growth strategy that is focussed on acquisition of companies with strong consumer brands that are market leaders in their respective categories. The strategy will generate cost and revenue synergies through cross-selling opportunities and enhancing the Groups regional brand portfolio, explained Smith. Efficiency Agthia is targeting a savings of AED200 million through synergy extraction as well as simplification of its existing and acquired businesses. Along with strategic partnerships for distribution and marketing, the organisation will enhance commercial and working capital excellence, operational optimisation, lean procurement as well as manufacturing and supply chain management. Non-scalable assets will be divested while suppliers and specifications will be streamlined. Capability Agthia will continue to develop its human capital and acquire additional talent with a clear attention to category management expertise, to align its capabilities with the expected demands of a growing organisation. Their key focus for the next five years includes digitalising performance management systems and implementing change initiatives across the board with a continued emphasis on sustainability and innovation. The Group will continue to drive efficiencies in its operations, optimise product portfolio, maintain a principled allocation framework and adopting a best-in-class Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) agenda to enhance consumer experience and deliver shareholder returns in line with global standards. For more information: www.agthia.com *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005841/en/ 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 City of San Antonio wants to know how residents think the police force should be serving the community. Now through the end of May, city officials will hold nearly two dozen virtual community meetings to better understand how locals feel about the San Antonio Police Department; their expectations of the roles officers should play in regards to public safety; and ideas for response alternatives to non-emergency 9-1-1 calls, such animal-related issues, enforcement of public health orders, parking violations, fireworks, and graffiti. Through this process we will better understand what our residents expect when interacting with police, how certain calls for service should be addressed and mitigate hazards for officers responding to certain calls for service, said City Manager Erik Walsh of the citys SAPD & Me Services Review. The community meetings are designed to be a more inclusive and direct way of getting feedback from residents, and will be held for each of San Antonio's 10 districts. Earlier this year, the city tapped national research firm ETC Institute to conduct a survey to find out how locals felt about SAPD and the forces role, which was sent to a random selection of 5,650 residents. When Mayor Ron Nirenberg shared the results of the survey online, some San Antonians felt their own thoughts and feelings werent represented. While the results from the survey serve as a foundation of sorts for the community meetings, residents are encouraged to attend the virtual discussions to let their own thoughts be known. The meetings, which will be held virtually, are separated into the city's 10 districts. City-wide conversations will take place on Tuesday, April 20; Saturday, May 1; Tuesday, May 11; and Tuesday, May 18. Meanwhile, telephone town halls will be held on Thursday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 26. There will also be a dedicated Spanish-language platica on Saturday, May 22. As for the district meetings, District 2's meeting has passed. District 1 will meet on Saturday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 21. District 3 will hold a meeting on Wednesday, April 14, and Tuesday, May 4. District 4s meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 12. Meetings for District 5 will take place on Tuesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 29. District 6 meetings are scheduled for Saturday, April 17 and Saturday, May 15. There will be two District 7 meetings, one on Thursday, April 22 and another on Saturday, April 24. District 8 will have just one meeting on Thursday, May 13. District 9s meeting is set for Monday, May 17 and District 10 will meet on Saturday, May 22. More information about the meetings can be found here. Megan E. Hall is scheduled to go on trial in late September for allegedly killing Pottsville businessman and civic leader Patrick J. Murphy in February 2019 in New Orleans. At a pre-trial conference today, the court set a tentative trial date of Sept. 27 for Hall, 27, of New Orleans. Hall and her lawyer, John Fuller, appeared at the conference by Virtual Courtroom. "State/defense noted that this matter is in a trial posture," reads the docket master, which is maintained by Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman. The court also has scheduled another pre-trial conference for Sept. 20. Hall, formerly of Tennessee, faces charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery and obstruction of justice. She remains in prison in lieu of a $750,000 bond pending trial. New Orleans police allege Hall stabbed Murphy, 62, three times in the early morning hours of Feb. 28, 2019, in a room at the Empress Hotel in the city's Treme section. Hall stabbed Murphy once in the neck and twice in the abdomen, according to prosecutors. A housekeeper discovered Murphy's body at 11:41 a.m. in a room registered to Hall, prosecutors allege. Video surveillance footage showed Murphy and Hall arriving at the hotel together at 2:10 a.m., according to prosecutors. Hall was seen leaving the hotel room alone and briskly walking out the front door at 3:42 a.m., prosecutors allege. Police said they believe Hall left the hotel with some of Murphy's possessions. No one else was seen entering or leaving the room until the housekeeper eight hours later, according to prosecutors. Murphy and his family have operated Murphy Jewelers in downtown Pottsville since 1913. The business also has locations near Hamburg, Berks County, and in the Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall, Lehigh County. Murphy's civic involvement included service on the Pottsville Parking Authority and Pottsville Area school board. Hall faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder. As is the case in Pennsylvania, a life sentence in Louisiana carries no chance of parole. She also faces maximum prison sentences of 99 years and 40 years, respectively, for armed robbery and obstruction of justice. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 06:11:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the international community to adopt an integrated approach to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts and terrorist activities do not press the pause button, while humanitarian and security crises continue unabated. Sexual violence is still used as a means of war and terrorism, with women in conflict bearing the brunt and suffering the most, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. China firmly opposes the use of sexual violence as a means of war, and strongly condemns any acts of sexual violence against women and girls. China calls on the international community to attach great importance to this issue and implement integrated policies to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence, and advance the women, peace and security agenda, he told the Security Council. Zhang stressed the need to focus on tackling the root causes and increase inputs into conflict prevention and maintaining peace. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once emphasized in his report that the ultimate goal of the agenda to combat conflict-related sexual violence is not to make conflicts free of sexual violence, but rather to make the world free of wars, he said. "As long as conflicts and wars continue, there will be the possibility of sexual violence being used as a means of war and terrorism." The international community should focus on resolving the root causes to eradicate the breeding grounds for conflict-related sexual violence, follow such principles as non-interference in internal affairs, and non-use of force, and stay committed to settling disputes through peaceful means, Zhang said. The Security Council should actively promote political settlements of hot-spot issues and play a greater role in conflict prevention and peacekeeping. Parties to conflict should earnestly follow and effectively implement the secretary-general's global cease-fire appeal and resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation, he said. Zhang called for efforts to promote gender equality and women's empowerment and support women in playing a greater role in economic and social development and peace and security. The problem of conflict-related sexual violence does not occur in a vacuum. It often reflects deep-seated frictions due to gender inequality and insufficient development, among others. Under the framework of women's empowerment and development, the international community must respond to the issue of conflict-related sexual violence in an integrated manner, endeavor to eliminate gender-based discrimination and differential treatment, advance women's development and overall socio-economic development simultaneously, he said. It is necessary to continue to support women's broader and deeper participation in peace processes and in carrying out mediation, while giving women more opportunities to participate in decision-making with enhanced capacity and voice, he added. The countries concerned bear the primary responsibility for preventing and combating conflict-related sexual violence and protecting women and children in their respective countries. The international community should encourage and support the countries concerned in advancing the women, peace and security agenda according to their national conditions, and in taking strong actions to combat conflict-related sexual violence, said Zhang. On the basis of respect for the sovereignty and jurisdiction of all countries, the international community should help the countries concerned strengthen security and judicial capacity-building, among other aspects. Relevant UN entities should carry out their work based on their respective mandates and expertise, do their best with existing resources, strengthen coordination, and forge synergy. It is necessary to support regional and sub-regional organizations to leverage their unique advantages and encourage them to explore programs and practices based on the actual conditions of their regions. Women's groups and civil society need to be guided to play a constructive role, he said. Women and armed conflict is one of the 12 key areas listed in the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action. As the host country of the Fourth World Conference on Women and an advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment, China will continue to work with the international community to make greater contributions to the elimination of conflict-related sexual violence and the advancement of global women's development, the Chinese envoy said. Enditem Thomas Selected as John P. Jack Ellbogen Dean of UW College of Education Scott Thomas An experienced educator and administrator who has held multiple academic dean positions at other institutions has been selected to lead the University of Wyomings College of Education. Scott Thomas, most recently the dean of the University of Vermonts College of Education and Social Services, will be UWs first John P. Jack Ellbogen Dean of the College of Education. The appointment, effective July 1, was approved today (Wednesday) by the UW Board of Trustees. Were excited that an administrator and scholar of Dr. Thomas stature and experience has agreed to lead a very important academic college at UW, says UW Interim Provost Anne Alexander. We had a strong group of candidates for this position, and its great to see that the universitys first-ever endowed deanship will be filled by such an outstanding individual. Dean Thomas extensive experience, his eloquence, his enthusiasm and his demeanor made him a clear choice among a group of excellent finalists. His passion for rural education will serve Wyoming well, says incoming Provost and Senior Vice President Kevin Carman. Im confident that Dean Thomas also will be an excellent member of the UW leadership team, and I look forward to working with him. I am excited to welcome Dean Thomas to Wyoming and the university. We have much to look forward to as he builds on the existing assets of the college and seeks innovative opportunities for the future, says Mary Garland, president of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, which last year provided the gift to establish the endowed deanship. I know John P. Jack Ellbogen would be pleased with the leadership Dean Thomas brings for the benefit of education throughout Wyoming. Thomas has held his current position since 2016 at the University of Vermont, where he also served as interim dean of the universitys College of Nursing and Health Sciences for almost two years. Before that, he was dean of the School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University, where he also served as vice president of strategy and academic planning. It is a tremendous honor and privilege for me to be named the John P. Jack Ellbogen Endowed Dean of the College of Education, Thomas says. The colleges long-standing commitment to excellence in education catalyzes its prominent role in developing the human capital that will fuel Wyomings future growth and prosperity. This, along with the colleges forward-looking commitments to action with the Trustees Education Initiative and Wyoming School-University Partnership, is what drew me to the College of Education. It is an exciting time to be in Wyoming. Thomas holds a Ph.D. in education policy, leadership and research methods from the University of California-Santa Barbara, where he also received his bachelors degree in sociology. His areas of expertise include higher education finance, policy and organizations; the sociology of education; and statistical modeling. His career also has included faculty positions at the University of Arizona, the University of Hawaii-Manoa and the University of Georgia. He has been editor-in-chief of the Journal of Higher Education and president of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. Dr. Thomas is deeply committed to student and faculty success, says University of Vermont Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Prelock. His strategic thinking and ability to advance enrollment initiatives have been tremendous assets to the University of Vermont. While we are sad to see him move to another institution, I have no doubt he will bring great energy and insight to this exciting deanship. We look forward to his future success. The John P. Jack Ellbogen Deanship for the College of Education is the most recent gift from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation to UW and was made possible through a long-standing relationship between the two institutions. The generous support of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation has enhanced the trajectory of the College of Education. Endowed faculty positions empower UW to attract a diverse candidate pool and retain strong educators. The John P. Jack Ellbogen Deanship for the College of Education will fund the initiatives led by Thomas and help the College of Education secure a sustainable future for present programs and future innovations that foster excellence and address critical needs and priorities. John P. Jack Ellbogen was a Wyoming native, born in Worland. He attended UW and earned a bachelors degree in history, a law degree and an honorary doctorate from the College of Business. Ellbogen became an independent oil producer, forming several oil and gas companies. Ellbogen attributed his success in business to the education he received at UW and was inspired by the outstanding teachers who encouraged him to work to his full potential. He believed in the importance of a quality education and was a strong advocate for teachers. In March of last year, Classic Stage Company announced that its revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins was postponed. The production was to begin performances on April 2, the email said. C.S.C. intends to resume rehearsals and present Assassins in the coming months. Fast forward 13 months, and the theater company is indeed presenting Assassins, or at least a stopgap event until the director, John Doyle, can fully proceed. Still, fans will enjoy Tell the Story: Celebrating Stephen Sondheim and John Weidmans Assassins, a tribute to the show which is told from the perspective of people who have tried, successfully and not, to kill an American president featuring chats (including with Sondheim and Weidman), performances and testimonies, with actors from the 1990 premiere and the 2004 Broadway production joining the Classic Stage Company cast. This is a rare opportunity to hear, for example, three John Wilkes Booths (Victor Garber, Michael Cerveris and Steven Pasquale) talk about their craft and killing Lincoln. Among Doyles most alluring casting moves: Tavi Gevinson as Lynette Squeaky Fromme and Judy Kuhn as Sara Jane Moore. Even the theater superfan Hillary Clinton will weigh in on the shows impact. Thursday through Monday; classicstage.org West Australian communities battered by Cyclone Seroja could be without power for weeks as Premier Mark McGowan likened the damage to a 'war zone'. Power is yet to be restored to about 29,500 homes and businesses late on Tuesday as authorities continue to assess the damage from the devastating storm. Western Power said there were outages across the Midwest and Central Wheatbelt in an area spanning more than 700km long and 150km wide - with about 130 damaged poles on the transmission side of the network alone. 'We're working steadily to restore power but anticipate that some affected areas will be without power for weeks,' the utility said. The tourist town of Kalbarri on Western Australia's mid-west coast was hit by cyclone Seroja on Sunday 11 April (pictured: aftermath of cyclone Seroja) Cyclone Seroja caused extensive storm water damage at Chairman's Beach in Kalbarri, Western Australia on Tuesday 'We're working alongside emergency services and other state government agencies to ensure the community has safe access to power as soon as possible.' The transmission line that feeds Geraldton is expected to be energised on Wednesday, allowing the utility to restore power to about 20,000 homes and businesses in that area. But 'significant' repair work is needed in towns north of Geraldton including Kalbarri, Northampton, Horrocks and Port Gregory before power can be restored there. The premier and key emergency services personnel toured affected regions on Tuesday, including the epicentre of Kalbarri. Up to 70 per cent of properties in the popular coastal tourist town, 580 kilometres north of Perth, are thought to have been damaged by the cyclone which hit about 8pm on Sunday as a category three storm with winds up to 170km/h. Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) described the one in 50-year even as 'an extraordinary cyclone which caused massive amounts of damage throughout this community' Homes were left in ruins with walls destroyed and roofs ripped off after Cyclone Seroja (pictured) 70 percent of Kalbarri's buildings were damaged with fences torn down as winds reached up to 170km per hour (pictured) The devastation of Cyclone Seroja was readily visible from the air, with buildings, businesses and farms damaged and power poles snapped off Mr McGowan said the devastation was readily visible from the air, with buildings, businesses and farms damaged. Beaches were affected by extensive storm water damage and power poles snapped off. 'It shows the enormous power of the cyclone,' he said. 'This was the one in 50-year event, an extraordinary cyclone which caused massive amounts of damage throughout this community and throughout this region.' 'We are very fortunate that in the course of this cyclone, there was no serious injury or death.' Thousands of homes in Kalbarri were left in ruins, as roofs and walls were torn from buildings and solar panels strewn across the road in the aftermath of the devastation. Businesses were also destroyed with windows smashed and rooms flooded as the storm continued to rip through buildings. Hundreds of businesses were left with extensive damage after the cyclone ripped through Kalbarri on Sunday (pictured: Pelican Shore Villas damaged after storm) Debris including roofs and solar panels were torn off from roofs and thrown across the Kalbarri region following the horror storm (pictured) An Emergency Services vehicle is seen on a Kalbarri street as officers check on residents in Kalbarri, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan on Monday said up to 70 per cent of properties in Kalbarri had some damage. 'This is heartbreaking,' Mr McGowan told reporters. 'All West Australians are thinking of those people who have been affected.' About 40 per cent of those properties are believed to have sustained major damage including total loss. 'The next few days will be very tough and difficult but we will get through this together,' he said. Mr McGowan said the clean-up would take a 'massive effort' but the people of the region were extremely resilient and were dealing with the disaster in good spirits. Roofs of houses in the Kabarri region in Western Australia were left without roofs after Cyclone Seroja tore through the community (pictured) Storm damage is seen at Blue Holes beach in Kalbarri as winds reached up to 170km per hour (pictured) An emergency services worker surveys the damage at his own property in Kalbarri (pictured) 'Clearly it has been a very difficult and devastating experience for many people,' he said. 'Obviously the reconstruction will take some time, we will work with the commonwealth government, the local government, the emergency funding that will need to be provided to restore particular public assets. 'I ask people to be patient, it will take some time, the devastation is quite extraordinary.' The cyclone has now been downgraded to a tropical low and moved offshore near Esperance on WA's south coast. A red alert has been lifted for Kalbarri but remains in place in nearby Northampton, where residents are urged to stay home. Premier Mark McGowan will also use the prime minister's visit to Western Australia to discuss financial assistance for people affected by Tropical Cyclone Seroja. Scott Morrison was due to arrive on Tuesday night for his first trip to WA in 18 months. Families were left with extensive damage to their properties and many without power (pictured) Thousands of Kalbarri's buildings damaged and more than 25,000 left without power after the horror storm ripped through the region (pictured) Much of the carnage was concentrated in popular tourist spot Kalbarri, 580km north of Perth and home to about 1,400 people (pictured on Monday) Cyclone Seroja caused extensive storm damage at Chinaman's Beach in Kalbarri, South Australia (pictured) It is expected to span several days and include a visit to the regions after Mr Morrison addresses business leaders in Perth on Wednesday. A combined state and federal disaster relief package for communities battered by Seroja is yet to be finalised but is expected to exceed the $18million spent on the Wooroloo bushfires which destroyed 86 homes near Perth in February. Mr McGowan said he had been in regular contact with the prime minister as authorities continued to assess the damage. 'I want to work constructively. I want to make sure we maximise the support for these communities,' the premier said. 'It's not a time for politics.' Evacuation centres have opened in Shark Bay and Dongara and a third centre will open in Geraldton later on Monday. More than 31,500 homes remained without power in Kalbarri, Geraldton, Northampton, Dongara, Port Denison and Mullewa as of Monday afternoon (pictured, the aftermath in Kalbarri) Homes in Kalbarri, Western Australia were flattened after the town was hit by cyclone Seroja Food, clothing and personal items are being provided. State Emergency Service personnel are set to be assisted by volunteers flying in from other states. The Australian Defence Force will provide a C-130J Hercules aircraft for medical evacuations and to transport emergency workers and supplies. 'Defence is also considering a request from WA for boots on the ground to assist with clean up and damage assessment,' Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said. 'These communities need assistance now and we are acting immediately.' Fallen trees, damaged homes and wrecked fences could be spotted amid the howling wind and rain in social media footage (pictured, a destroyed house in Kalbarri) City Manager Fired After Calling for Due Process for Minnesota Officer Speaks Out The now-former city manager who was fired this week over his saying that the police officer who shot Daunte Wright deserved due process said he meant that people needed to examine the facts of the case. What I was simply saying is that everyone is entitled to an examination of the facts before making a determination. Sometimes that can be in a relatively short order, Curt Boganey, the former manager of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, told National Review. I wasnt even arguing that the information that we have is insufficient. I was just simply saying that every officer is entitled to due process. During an April 12 press conference the day after Wright was shot by officer Kim Potter, who has since resigned, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said he supported firing Potter. Boganey then told reporters that all employees working for the city of Brooklyn Center are entitled to due process. With respect to discipline, this employee will receive due process, he said. When a reporter in the room urged Boganey to support Potters firing, he said he couldnt delve into the matter further. After due process, he added, discipline will be determined. If I were to say anything else, I would actually be contradictory [sic] the idea of due process, he told reporters. Folks that were in the room, they were asking me to make a judgement at the moment, Boganey told National Review. In my mind, that would not have been appropriate, because even with the facts that we have, we dont have all the facts. Boganey could not be reached for further comment. Hours later, the citys City Council voted to remove Boganey from his post and make Elliott responsible for overseeing the police department. At such a tough time, this will streamline things and establish a chain of command and leadership, Elliott wrote on Twitter. Councilman Dan Ryan is the only member who voted against the firing. One of the votes for the termination, Councilwoman Kris Lawrence-Anderson, said she voted to remove Boganey because she feared retaliation from activists if she did not, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. He was doing a great job. I respect him dearly, she said. I didnt want repercussions at a personal level. The members did not respond to requests for comment. Daniel Garodnick was the former New York City Council member who helped organize tenants in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, the 80-acre complex of 110 apartment buildings in Manhattan, when the post-World War II developments original owner MetLife put the entire property up for sale in 2006. Garodnick, 48, wasnt just the local council member at the time; he also had been a resident for almost his entire life. That explains his personal involvement in helping a grassroots effort face off against developers and big corporate investors to protect the rights of middle-income residents in StuyTown and Peter Cooper, as both are fondly known. Garodnick now writes about the experience in his new book Saving Stuyvesant Town: How One Community Defeated the Worst Real Estate Deal in History, which releases April 15. The book includes how StuyTown and Peter Cooper, between First Avenue and the East River, and running from 14th Street to 23rd Street, were first built in 1947 for returning war veterans. Garodnick writes how residents from the beginning organized, seeing an end to a white tenant only policy and later resisting the impacts of an immediate rent increase that would have resulted from the expiration of a 25-year tax abatement. Garodnick in an interview with City & State discussed how his book details the events that unfolded once MetLife sold the development to Tishman Speyer. Residents in their fight for rent protections saw the real estate investment company default on its loans in 2010, leaving real estate services firm CWCapital to take over as owner from 2010 to 2015. The property is now under the control of investment manager Blackstone and Ivanhoe Cambridge, a Canadian real estate company. Garodnick also talks about his upbringing in the apartment complex, how longtime residents compare to the younger, more transient residents of recent years, and a warning against losing a development thats home to more than 30,000 residents. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Tell me about your background and interest in writing about Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. Im a lifelong New Yorker and grew up the first four years of my life in Stuyvesant Town. Then my parents made the big move across the street to Peter Cooper Village, where we had a little more space and the benefit of air conditioning. For 48 years, I was a resident of StuyTown and Peter Cooper Village. To be honest, I dont think I ever, ever really thought about leaving. It was home. But almost three months ago, my wife and I moved to be closer to our kids school. At the time it was built, StuyTown and Peter Cooper were intended to be affordable housing for veterans returning from World War II. I think most people recognize it as a place that is different. It was representative of the middle class in New York, and something worth protecting. My book covers the history of Stuyvesant Town tenant activism, from housing policies in the early 1950s, to delivering rent protections in the 1970s and then defeating the worst real estate deal in history in the 2000s. Both StuyTown and Peter Cooper are among the last bastions of middle-class housing in New York City. I thought it was important to tell the story of this committed group of residents who came together against big real estate to preserve a middle-class community. Who should pay attention most to the StuyTown and Peter Cooper story? Any community that is seeing its rent protections expiring or being challenged for one reason or another. And that happens frequently. In the years just before the collapse of the housing market in 2008, there was a prevalence of investors who were looking to get rich by pushing rent-stabilized tenants out of their apartments as quickly as possible. State law has changed to make that much more difficult today, but there are frequently tax abatements and other programs that are on the verge of expiring too. This book is a template for how to organize when your community is on the brink. How does todays StuyTown and Peter Cooper Village differ from the past? Its much younger. Its more transient. Historically, it had been a place where everybody became a resident for as long as they possibly could. Today, it could be a short-term rental with roommates right out of college or graduate school. But its still a mix between shorter-term residents and those who are longer-term. The latter are people who came in and got a rent-stabilized apartment and continue to occupy it. Todays new tenants go in there and dont have the same protections. The new people moving in are paying market rates, correct? Well, it depends on how they get in. They may be if they walk in off the street into the leasing office. And in many cases, rent is being shared by several roommates because it gets expensive. Please talk about the current landlords and their commitment. How long are the current landlords going to stick around being landlords, thats the question. They expressed a desire to be long-term owners of the property, much like MetLife. They also used an investment fund to buy Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village that was built on longer term, more patient returns. How did StuyTown and Peter Cooper Village survive the test of time so well, and what have the new owners done to make it more competitive in todays market? MetLife had an interest in keeping the community well-maintained and protected. And it had the resources to invest into fixing things when they broke down. In contrast, that is not the case in many communities and many buildings around the city. One of the observations I make in the book is that in predatory investing, you frequently have people coming in buying buildings, then letting them fall apart, taking out every dollar they possibly can and moving on. They made a different move with StuyTown and Peter Cooper. They actually made it even more beautiful and provided even more amenities to attract newer, more affluent residents. Your book is trying to point out the dangers of possibly losing what became a much-needed community development in Manhattan. How does this serve as a warning to other apartment complexes? Well, StuyTown and Peter Cooper were on a path to becoming totally unrecognizable as a middle-class community. They hung luxury rental banners from the sides of the buildings and started making changes that were designed to appeal to newer, more affluent residents, like getting rid of a supermarket and replacing it with a gym. That was the path we were on for a while. Without the tenants association, the support of elected officials and housing advocates, that would have been the future. It would have become a fully market rate luxury product unaffordable to nearly everyone. But instead, we were able to significantly stop the bleeding and to deliver an extraordinary outcome at a moment when we had very little leverage. When I was growing up, I counted firefighters, nurses, construction workers, teachers and small-business owners as my neighbors. To a large degree, that same middle-class demographic exists today. But many people are quietly struggling to hold it all together. So this is a cautionary tale, and its also a reminder that affordable housing at all levels of the income spectrum should be at the forefront for policymakers. Las Vegas: Five days after the deadliest mass shooting occurred in recent US history, authorities acknowledged that they could not uncover a clear motive for the gunman. We still do not have a clear motive or reason why, Undersheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters. At this time Ill tell you we have no credible information to report to you as to motivation. Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and left hundreds injured in Las Vegas after raining bullets on a crowd at an open-air country music concert while perched in a 32nd-floor hotel room. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Lady Louise Windsor has picked up the reins from her late grandfather Prince Philip after his death last Friday. Lady Louise, 17, was spotted driving her carriage in the Dressage Arena at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The hobby is one which she shared with her grandfather, who was instrumental in helping to establish carriage driving as a sport in Britain. The teenage royal is the eldest child of Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Lady Louise, 17, was spotted driving her carriage in the Dressage Arena at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, five days after her grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh's passing Lady Louise wore dark clothing and was joined by an aide, as she donned a blue face covering and a protective helmet. Her Majesty announced Prince Philip's death at midday on Friday as the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace and on public buildings across the UK and Commonwealth. The Royal Family said in a statement: 'It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 'His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss'. Proud mother Sophie Wessex, 56, looked somber and reflective as she left Windsor castle this morning Just like her grandfather and mother, Lady Louise, pictured, is an avid carriage and horse rider who has been training regularly throughout the years A trainer directed Lady Louise, pictured, during her outing, but the teenager is already a skilled carriage driver While Lady Louise was spotted riding her carriage, her mother Sophie Wessex was also seen leaving Windsor Castle this morning Lady Louise, along with her mother the Countess of Wessex, is an avid carriage driver and competed in the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society in Berkshire in May last year. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was also seen leaving Windsor Castle in her blue Land Rover discovery. The countess wore her locks in a low bun and wore black glasses as she was pictured driving. It comes as royal sources said she has been a 'tremendous source of comfort' to the Queen after her husband's death. The teenager applied herself to her training today in Windsor, pictured. She competed in the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society in Berkshire in May last year They told the Mirror: 'The Countess has been a tremendous source of comfort to the Queen. 'The Queen is very practical in making sure everyone is okay and despite her tremendous grief at the passing she is no different. 'Sophie cherishes her relationship with the Queen and not only appreciates her guidance and wisdom throughout her own life, she is very protective of her. The Queen has shared a close relationship with her daughter-in-law for many years. Taking advantage of the sunny morning, Louise was seen training. Her mother Sophie has been a comfort to the Queen after Prince Philip's passing on Friday Last week, Sophie led royal tributes to Prince Philip as she movingly described his death on Friday as 'so gentle' and said how his passing was 'just like someone took him by the hand and off he went'. Sophie was speaking to mourners outside the chapel at a Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor. She said: 'You know it's going to happen but when it happens it's just this massive, massive hole. It was so gentle, it was just like someone took him by the hand and off he went. 'Very, very peaceful and that's all you want with somebody isn't it? I think it's so much easier for the person that goes than the people left behind, we're all sitting here looking at each other going 'This is awful'.' Wearing her hair in a ponytail, Sophiw looked pensive this morning. On Sunday, she spoke to mourners outside the chapel at a Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor The Queen was married to the World War II hero for 73 years, before he died just two months before his 100th birthday. Prince Philip's ceremonial royal funeral will take place on April 17 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, and a national minute's silence will be observed as it begins at 3pm. The duke will be carried on a specially-modified Land Rover he helped design which Army engineers reportedly prepared after he was admitted to hospital in February with an infection and pre-existing heart condition. Just 30 people, expected to be the duke's children, grandchildren and other close family, will attend his funeral while wearing face masks and socially distancing, due to Covid-19 restrictions. Boris Johnson will not attend the service, while individual royals who are unable to attend will watch it on a live stream instead. Kriti Sanon is currently busy juggling different projects. She has Bhediya alongside Varun Dhawan, Adipurush with Prabhas, Ganpath with Tiger Shroff and Bachchan Pandey with Akshay Kumar in her kitty. It is rather obvious that she is on cloud nine with all these big films being offered to her. More so, the actress recently got candid about playing starkly different characters in all these films. She said, "My work is so exciting because no set, no film is like the other. Doing such varied genres is helping me explore different shades of myself as an actor. From Bhediya being a horror comedy to action in Ganpath, mythology in Adipurush and an entertainer like Bachchan Pandey - I have many genres that I am working on right now which makes all the work even more exciting and interesting. It does also keep me on my toes." Awesome, isnt it? The report features an in depth analysis of the Chicago and other Midwest markets, plus additional articles and insights from industry changemakers and Walker & Dunlop partners -- who are altering the fabric of our communities. The topics and leaders include: Suzanne Hillman , President & CEO of Southern Management Companies, shares how building a $5 billion commercial real estate portfolio began with mastering the art of drywallingand a distinctive approach to finding opportunities and realizing potential , President & CEO of Southern Management Companies, shares how building a commercial real estate portfolio began with mastering the art of drywallingand a distinctive approach to finding opportunities and realizing potential John Rice , Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) and creator of the new Black Equity at Work Certification, outlines how his organization is creating a new reference standard for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the business community , Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) and creator of the new Black Equity at Work Certification, outlines how his organization is creating a new reference standard for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the business community Katy Sherratt , CEO of Back On My Feet, discusses her work to end chronic homelessness and the transformative power of 5:30 AM runs Download the full report here. As the #1 provider of capital to the multifamily market, Walker & Dunlop sees many reasons to remain optimistic about the health of the commercial real estate market, with a number of trends indicating that the multifamily asset class in particular will remain strong. As we track recovery from the pandemic, we are keeping a close eye on economic indicators and industry leaders impacting the multifamily industry. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 1,000+ professionals in 38 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction. SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Related Links http://www.walkerdunlop.com Fastmarkets monthly price assessment for steel structural pipe, export, S235JR grade, EN10219, 2mm wall thickness, fob main port Turkey , was $950-960 per tonne on Wednesday, up from $840-850 per tonne on March 10. Although the pipemakers have increased... A new book, based on interviews with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, claims she mocked rising liberal star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and was furious at The Squad. Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power, written by USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page, features ten interviews with Pelosi as well as interviews with over 150 friends, family members, and politicians. Page recalled a July 2019 interview with the Speaker, according a preview of the book in Axios, where she said: 'Pelosi unloads on the Squad, at one point adopting a child-like voice when discussing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.' Ocasio-Cortez is relatively young for a member of the House of Representatives at 31 years old. 'You're not a one-person show,' Pelosi says in regards to The Squad - which is made up of Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib. 'This is the Congress of the United States.' Nancy Pelosi is slamming 'The Squad' in a new book (Pictured on April 13 in Washington, DC) In a new excerpt, Pelosi mocks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez using a 'child-like voice' The clashes between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez have become legendary as both battle to shape the future of the Democratic Party. In February 2019, Pelosi appeared to shrug off the 'Green New Deal' in an interview with Politico, one of the flagship issues for 'The Squad.' 'It will be one of several or maybe many suggestions that we receive,' Pelosi said at the time. 'The green dream or whatever they call it, nobody knows what it is, but they're for it right?' 'Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power' will be released April 20 'All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world,' Pelosi said in July 2019 to the New York Times, responding to 'The Squad' voting against a border funding bill. 'But they didn't have any following. They're four people and that's how many votes they got.' Ocasio-Cortez called out Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer a few months ago in a podcast with The Intercept. 'I do think that we need new leadership in the Democratic Party,' Ocasio-Cortez said, dissing the current party leaders. Ocasio-Cortez did initially abstain from voting for Pelosi as House Speaker back in January, before ultimately changing her vote in favor of Pelosi. Pelosi has previously stated that she will be departing from her role as Speaker following her current term. Pelosi also slammed her adversary in the other hall of Congress, Mitch McConnell, in the recent excerpts reviewed by Axios. Of 'The Squad,' Pelosi says 'You're not a one-person show.' Pictured L-R: U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pictured: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's swearing-in ceremony with Pelosi on January 3, 2019 'Mitch McConnell is not a force for good in the country, Pelosi said. 'He is an enabler of some of the worst stuff, and an instigator of some of it on his own.' An excerpt previously released in USA Today also featured Pelosi's reaction to Donald Trump winning the presidency over Hillary Clinton in 2016. 'Like a mule kicking you in the back over and over again,' Pelosi said in regards to realizing Trump had won the election. 'I was like, 'How could it be that person is going to be president of the United States?' Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power is available from April 20. In an industry first, Kate Moss was shot for the first time in her career by legendary British photographer Nigel Shafran for this campaign. The images, shot in Gloucestershire, capture the mood of the moment, and the hopeful anticipation for our impending emergence back into the world. The campaign is a document of Kate Moss at her most natural, reflecting honest moments captured by Nigel throughout their day together. Connected by their joyful spirit and British irreverence, Self-Portrait and Kate Moss unite for the first time, bringing the uplifting attitude of the brand and its collections to life. The launch of the campaign coincides with the arrival of the brand's Autumn Winter 2021 Pre-Collection both online at self-portrait-studio.com, and in stores including Self-Portrait's flagship store in London which re-opened its doors at the beginning of this week. Han Chong, said: "If you ask me who optimises the Self-Portrait spirit and woman, it is, and always has been, Kate Moss. Her enormous appetite for life and her infectious sense of fun are what characterise the women I think about when I'm designing my collections - there is this sense of freedom, of effortlessness, of embracing life. It's this attitude that inspires my work now more than ever, as the world readies itself to emerge from confinement, with a revived purpose. Working with Kate was a complete joy - I haven't laughed as much all year as I did on set! She is a complete professional, and makes the designs feel so easy and so instinctive. It was an honour to partner with her, and a dream come true." Kate Moss said: "What I love about Self-Portrait is their unique style and versatility which appeals to many different women. Han designs for the modern woman and I love his approach to the creative process. When they approached me to work together on this campaign I was excited - I really love the images we created together." The Autumn Winter 2021 Pre-Collection features refined pieces for day and night, centring around soft fabrics and effortless silhouettes. The collection is now available to purchase immediately online at self-portrait-studio.com, in Self-Portrait's stores around the world and across its global network of partner retailers. From British ingenue to British icon, Kate Moss follows the previous Self-Portrait campaign which starred actress Phoebe Dynevor in her first ever fashion campaign, where she modelled the brand's Autumn Winter collection. Established in London in 2013 by Han Chong, Self-Portrait has become synonymous with empowering the modern woman through functional dressing for day and night. The brand is also strongly committed to supporting creative British talent through a number of initiatives including a scholarship program with Central Saint Martins. NOTES TO EDITORS About the campaign Creative Director: Han Chong Photographer: Nigel Shafran Stylist: Marie Chaix Makeup: Isamaya Ffrench Hair: Gary Gil Art Director: Ben Reardon Celebrating the AW21 Pre-Collection Styles: Maxi dresses, midi dresses, mini dresses, A-line mini skirts, midi skirts, knit jumpers, ribbed jumpers, knit cardigans, knitted joggers, knitted dresses, wide leg trousers, quilted shorts, embroidered shorts, sheer blouses, cardigan dresses Maxi dresses, midi dresses, mini dresses, A-line mini skirts, midi skirts, knit jumpers, ribbed jumpers, knit cardigans, knitted joggers, knitted dresses, wide leg trousers, quilted shorts, embroidered shorts, sheer blouses, cardigan dresses Fabrics: Organic cotton poplin, stretch cotton, stretch crepe, embroidered canvas, light canvas, taffeta, broderie anglaise, guipure lace, fine lace, metallic plisse, chiffon, viscose, jersey, jacquard, rib knit, lurex knit, melange knit, wool, vegan leather Self-Portrait iconic styles included in the campaign Styles: Black Azaelea Mini Dress, Cream Embellished Cord Lace Midi Dress and Double Breasted Tailored Blazer About Han Chong Born in Penang, Malaysia , Han studied Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins in London About Self-Portrait Established in the UK in 2013 by Han Chong , Self-Portrait is a modern fashion house based in London and has become synonymous with modern occasionwear for day and night and prides itself on its deep understanding of structure and materials , Self-Portrait is a modern fashion house based in and has become synonymous with modern occasionwear for day and night and prides itself on its deep understanding of structure and materials Earlier this year, Self-Portrait revealed it's Autumn Winter 2021 collection through a series of portraits featuring British actress Phoebe Dynevor, marking her first ever fashion advertising campaign Self Portrait is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact by using responsibly sourced fibres and in 2019 started to introduce organic cotton and recycled chiffon and polyester across its collections. In 2020, the brand introduced recycled viscose. Please see here for actions we are taking regarding our sustainability initiatives and our ethics. Self-Portrait are also committed to being a sustainable and low waste business, and this starts right from the beginning of their design process, through to controlling the availability of their final pieces. Self-Portrait do not destroy any unsaleable finished products Self-Portrait is available online at self-portrait-studio.com and in stores globally including its flagships in London , New York , Bangkok , Beijing , Shanghai , Chengdu , Shenzhen and Taipei . Self-Portrait is also sold through a network of select retailers around the world Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486658/Kate_Moss_for_Self_Portrait.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486207/Self_Portrait_Kate_Moss_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486208/Self_Portrait_Kate_Moss_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486209/Self_Portrait_Kate_Moss_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486210/Self_Portrait_Kate_Moss_4.jpg SOURCE Self Portrait The year 2020 saw an exponential increase in cyber attacks. Reports in the past have detailed the scope of the cyber attacks in the era of the pandemic. Now, a new report says that most of the organisations around the globe faced mobile malware attacks in 2020. Cybersecurity firm Checkpoint Technologies, today published its 2021 Mobile Security Report, which is based on data that was collected from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, from 1,800 organisations around the globe. As per the report 97% of organizations facing mobile threats from several attack vectors in the past year. The report also said that almost every organisation experienced at least one mobile malware attack in 2020. 93% of these attacks originated in a device network, which attempts to trick users into installing a malicious payload via infected websites or URLs, or to steal users credentials. The report also said that nearly 46% of the organisations had at least one employee download a malicious mobile application that threatened their organisations networks and data in 2020. The report also showed that at least 40% of the worlds mobile devices are inherently vulnerable to cyberattacks due to flaws in their chipsets, and need urgent patching. If those numbers havent scared you enough, theres more. In 2020, Check Point found a 15% increase in banking Trojan activity, where users mobile banking credentials are at risk of being stolen. Threat actors have been spreading mobile malware, including Mobile Remote Access Trojans (MRATs), banking trojans, and premium dialers, often hiding the malware in apps that claim to offer COVID-19 related information. The report also found out that Individuals mobiles are a very attractive target for various APT groups, such as Irans Rampant Kitten to spy on users and steal sensitive data In the same year, CheckPoint also discovered a new and highly significant attack, in which threat actors used a large international corporations Mobile Device Management (MDM) system to distribute malware to more than 75% of its managed mobile devices exploiting the solution, which is intended to control how mobiles are used within the enterprise. ...there are more complex threats on the horizon. Cybercriminals are continuing to evolve and adapt their techniques to exploit our growing reliance on mobiles. Enterprises need to adopt mobile security solutions which seamlessly protect devices from todays advanced cyber threats, and users should be careful to use only apps from official app stores to minimize their risk, Neatsun Ziv, VP Threat Prevention at Check Point Software said on the occasion. DUNEDIN, Fla. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he had an entirely different lineup early Wednesday morning than he one he eventually unveiled. The changes, he said, came from the Blue Jays scratching starting pitcher Ross Stripling in favor of T.J. Zeuch. Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters Stripling was dealing with forearm tightness. Brett Gardner was in the new batting order, starting in left field and hitting third. Clint Frazier was sitting. With Zeuch pitching now for them, I just wanted to get another lefty in there, Boone said. When it was Stripling, it was more of a righty lineup. But just wanting to get another lefty bat in there with Zeuch going and that sinker and stuff. Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers The Yankees also sat Frazier in favor of Gardner on Saturday and Sunday. Zeuch and Stripling are both righties but with different strengths. Zeuch dominates righties, holding them to a .180 batting average with a .576 OPS. Righties have hit .286 off Stripling with a .807 OPS for his career. The Yankees havent lost faith in Frazier, who was 0 for his last 16 until he broke through with a single Tuesday night. Gardner, a lefty hitter, had a .333 average with a .899 OPS through eight games. Frazier, meanwhile, was hitting .200 with a .561 OPS. Frazier rakes, and hes going to rake, Boone said. But weve got a really good player in Gardy, too. Lets make more judgements on these things when we have a month or two of body of work. This was a case of today was a little bit unique in that I had a lineup an hour ago that looked different. Sometimes, I decide lineups a lot the night before. But a lot of times, youre looking ahead to who youre facing so when youre going to give a guy rest or when youre going to get a guy into a lineup. Buy Yankees tickets: StubHub, TicketSmarter Boone said that the plan is for Gardner to play a lot though he named Frazier the starting left fielder at the beginning of spring training. I like the way (Gardner is) playing as well, Boone said. Both are going to play a lot. (Frazier), as I tell him, hes going to rake and hes going to be a really good player for us. So, lets judge these things out a little bit. Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. YEREVAN. In terms of the share of critical developments, Armenia lost to Azerbaijan 10 to 1 by conventional points. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020, noting that the aforesaid was noted in an analysis made in 2017, which was funded by the Armenian government at the time. "This calculation does not take into account the electricity system, transport, and armaments. If they were included, that ratio would have been 20 to 1," he added. Pashinyan again quoted from that analysis, noting: "The military-industry system in Armenia began to take shape only since April 2016; eleven years behind Azerbaijan. The sphere of information technology in structural terms was formed in Armenia at the ministerial level only in 2016; twelve years behind Azerbaijan. The sphere of high technology, unlike the ministerial level of Azerbaijan, was not yet formed in 2017, whereas in Azerbaijan a ministry was formed in that sphere thirteen years ago. In 2017, Azerbaijan had three satellites in orbit around the country, one of which was intelligencewhich it had bought. Yes, Azerbaijan was buying a reconnaissance satellite, whereas the Armenian authorities [at the time] were buying land in the Greek islands. It should be noted that, yes, they have lost the issue of institutional establishment of the state, turning the state into a mafia structure that wastes the living resources of the Republic of Armenia. Those structures still have their tentacles everywherefrom the judiciary to, unfortunately, we have seen its concrete phenomena in the armed forces," Pashinyan stated. He emphasized that the incumbent Armenian authorities had fought against this 20-year treachery, 20-year capitulation. "But during the [recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war itself, they [the former authorities] defended their defeat by shouting at us traitor as loudly as possible, to cover up their treachery. Shouting at us capitulator as loudly as possible, to divert attention from their capitulation. You are the capitulator, especially the traitor. I say [this] to the elite who have plundered, ruled Armenia for 20 years. Whereas we, every day, sometimes fought to the death against your capitulation and treachery. I want to announce from this high tribune that we will continue our fight for a free, strong, and happy Armenia," PM Pashinyan stated. In this file photo taken on November 8, 2018 Toshiba chairman and CEO Nobuaki Kurumatani attends a press conference in Tokyo. Kurumatani will resign on April 14, 2021, reports said, as a buyout offer from a private equity firm stirs turmoil inside the Japanese firm.(Martin BUREAU / AFP) The resignation came as reports said two other funds were considering their own offers for the Japanese household name, potentially setting up a bidding war. In a statement, Toshiba said the board had accepted Kurumatani's resignation, without giving details on why he had asked to step down. He will be replaced by chairman Satoshi Tsunakawa, the firm said. The move comes as board members raise questions about the buyout offer from CVC Capital Partners, where Kurumatani formerly headed Japanese operations. The private equity firm is reportedly offering a deal in excess of $20 billion, though there are reports that some in Toshiba see that sum as too small. The Financial Times said Wednesday that another private equity fund, KKR, is planning to offer its own larger buyout proposal. And Bloomberg News reported that a third, Canadian Brookfield Asset Management, was also exploring a possible offer. Toshiba last week confirmed it had received an offer from CVC Capital Partners which would take Toshiba private. Delisting the firm could produce faster decision-making by Toshiba's management, which has clashed with shareholders recently. It could also allow Toshiba to concentrate resources on renewable energies and other core businesses. - 'Sticky situation' - CVC and Toshiba have close ties. Kurumatani worked for the fund between 2017 and 2018, and a senior executive at CVC Japan currently serves as an outside director on Toshiba's board. That closeness has reportedly sparked concern, and Justin Tang, head of Asian research at United First Partners, said Kurumatani's departure would "remove uncertainty over potential conflicts of interest". It will also "force the board to seek other offers that are in the best interests of shareholders", he told AFP. "It is a very sticky situation at present." The turmoil inside Toshiba is a fresh blow for the firm, which has been trying to improve its governance after an accounting scandal in 2015 and the 2017 bankruptcy of its US nuclear subsidiary. After sweeping restructuring, its earnings rebounded and it returned to the prestigious first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in January. Any buyout offer is likely to face significant challenges, including securing financing and regulatory approval. Last week Toshiba warned the financing assistance CVC is expected to seek was likely to involve "a substantial amount of time and considerable complexity". Toshiba shares jumped 4.46 percent to 4,800 yen shortly after markets opened in Tokyo. The CVC offer is reportedly around 5,000 yen a share, but Tang said he believes "a price north of 6,000 yen is necessary to get shareholders over the line". AWD Converted at the current exchange rates, $40,560 isnt a lot for the Standard Range battery, Base trim level, and rear-wheel drive. The lineup further consists of the Extended Range Premium RWD at 309,900 yuan ($47,450) as well as the Extended Range Premiumat 339,900 yuan ($52,050).At the very top of the spectrum, the GT First Edition comes exclusively with Grabber Blue exterior paint, 20-inch aluminum wheels, the dual-motor layout with 481 horsepower on tap, and a driving range of 480 kilometers (298 miles) for 379,900 yuan ($58,175). This variant of the Mustang Mach-E reaches 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in three-ish seconds.According to the online configurator for the Chinese market, the e-crossover rocks the SYNC+ 2.0 Smart Connected system that integrates cloud, data, maps, and voice interaction with the Baidu ecosystem. Over-the-air firmware updates and Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features are standard, too, while Ford Co-Pilot360 driver assistance is an optional extra.Manufactured in the Chongqing municipality, the Chinese model has a 0.5-inch longer wheelbase than the American and European versions made in Mexico at the Cuautitlan Stamping and Assembly Plant. Customers in the Middle Kingdom are further treated to cellular vehicle-to-everything technology to help drivers anticipate potential driving hazards.In related news, the Ford Motor Company is currently developing a smaller brother for the Mustang Mach-E with Volkswagen underpinnings. Recently photographed as a clay model , the yet-to-be-named electric crossover will sell exclusively in Europe with hardware and software from the ID.4. The Blue Oval will manufacture this fellow at its facility in Cologne, Germany. China lifts 770 million rural people out of poverty: white paper 09:18, April 14, 2021 By Chang Qin ( People's Daily More than 770 million of China's rural population living below the current poverty line have been raised from poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period according to the World Bank's international poverty standard, says a white paper recently released by the State Council Information Office of China. A man checks the cows at a breeding base in Jinxi County, Fuzhou, east China's Jiangxi Province, Nov. 3, 2020. The county has vigorously developed cattle farming to lift local people out of poverty. (People's Daily Online/Deng Xingdong) Through China's poverty eradication practices, the country has embarked on a path of poverty alleviation and designed an approach with Chinese characteristics, which offers enlightenment to the international community in its battle to reduce poverty, said Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office of China at a press conference to mark the launch of the white paper titled "Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution." China's fight against poverty entered a critical stage after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. At the end of 2020, through eight years of hard work, China achieved the goal of eliminating extreme poverty a key goal for the new era of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold all shook off poverty; all the 128,000 impoverished villages and 832 designated poor counties got rid of poverty. China has eliminated poverty over entire regions in 14 contiguous poor areas across the country. Photo taken on Dec. 26, 2020 shows a hardened road built in Gaowu village, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changhua) The incomes of the impoverished are increasing. The per capita disposable income of the rural poor increased from 6,079 yuan ($928) in 2013 to 12,588 yuan in 2020, up by 11.6% per annum on average. China's poverty-stricken areas have got rid of backwardness. The lack of access to transport, electricity, drinking water and communications, which hindered the development of these areas for years, has been put to an end for good. Targeted measures are a golden key to winning the fight against poverty, as well as the most symbolic innovation in this round of poverty alleviation efforts, said Xia Gengsheng, deputy head of the national administration for rural vitalization. China started creating a national database of impoverished households in 2014, and reviewed it between Aug. 2015 and June 2016, during which it removed those unqualified from the database and added those who newly became eligible. Since 2017, the database has been renewed annually for more targeted poverty alleviation. China's standards for deregistering those who have emerged from poverty are comprehensive, including income, and the extent to which they are assured the rights to subsistence and development. In general, these standards are higher than those defined in the World Bank extreme poverty line, as well as those in The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development released by the United Nations in 2015. Villagers pick tea leaves at a poverty alleviation plantation in Shuangshi village, Zhongtang Township, Qianjiang District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 11, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Yang Min) According to statistics, the per capita net income of China's registered poor residents reached 10,740 yuan at the end of the last year, which was much more than the international extreme poverty line. Following the victory in the final battle against extreme poverty, China will continue to consolidate the results of poverty elimination, and dovetail new measures with rural revitalization, the white paper says. Next, China will work to ensure food security, said Tang Renjian, director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The country will ensure that its annual grain output is maintained at over 650 billion kilograms in the next five years, and strive for steady growth. It will maintain steady supportive policies in areas that have emerged from poverty, and offer supports to a range of counties in western regions. An annual apricot blossom festival kicks off in Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 10, 2021. (Photo/Zhou Gen) Relying on the different functions of agriculture and countryside, the country will develop new business forms and industries that involve a wider range of farmers and bring them more benefits. More villages and rural households in China will be covered by public infrastructure facilities, and roads will be built for better development of industries, resources, and tourism. The warehousing and cold-chain logistics will also be enhanced. Meanwhile, China will improve public service in rural areas and enhance rural governance, so as to bring more changes to the countryside. "Employment is an important channel for income growth. Steady employment guarantees stable income for those who have been raised from poverty," said Xia. This year, China has set a target to create at least 30 million jobs for this group, and now the target is in smooth progress given what has been done to encourage working out-of-town and in the creation of local jobs, he introduced. The white paper says that by 2035, China will have achieved basic socialist modernization. With decisive progress in rural revitalization by that time, agriculture and rural areas will be modernized and fundamentally restructured. Farmers will benefit from the quality employment which comes with better jobs, and relative poverty will be further alleviated. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) She welcomed her first child, son Sylvester Apollo with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard on March 8. And on Wednesday, Emily Ratajkowski sweetly snuggled her son in a brief clip she shared to Instagram. The 29-year-old model planted a kiss on his forehead as he napped on her chest. So sweet: She welcomed her first child, son Sylvester Apollo with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard on March 8. And on Wednesday, Emily Ratajkowski sweetly snuggled her son in a brief clip she shared to Instagram Emily donned a black bra with her hair loose around her, adding her personalized Sylvester necklace. Her son wore a simple onesie from Saint Haven as he sweetly slept on his mother's chest; She gave him a kiss and put her chin softly on his head. The star used an Instagram filter to give the paper style texture to the video. Hours later, Emily was spotted stepping out in a white ruched skirt from one of her favorite brands, Zara, with a silky button down top that showcased her slim frame. Doting mom: The 29-year-old model planted a kiss on his forehead as he napped on her chest Happiness: Emily donned a black bra with her hair loose around her, adding her personalized Sylvester necklace She carried a cream jacket in one hand as she headed to lunch in New York City with a pal. One day prior, Emily showcased her incredible post-baby body in a tiny thong bikini - five weeks after giving birth. Emily donned a bikini from her fashion label Inamorata as she shared a mirror video of herself to her Instagram page Tuesday. The brunette beauty wore an abstract black and gray bikini top that showcased her ample cleavage. She put her flat midriff and her pert derriere on full display in the tiny thong string bottoms. Gorgeous: Hours later, Emily was spotted stepping out in a white ruched Zara skirt with a silky button down top that showcased her slim frame Wow factor: She carried a cream jacket in one hand as she headed to lunch in New York City with a pal Wow: One day prior, Emily showcased her incredible post baby body in a tiny thong bikini - five weeks after giving birth Looking amazing! Emily donned a bikini from her fashion label Inamorata as she shared a mirror video of herself to her Instagram page Tuesday Emily and husband Sebastian welcomed Sylvester Apollo on March 8, announcing the news on her social media with a snap of Emily breastfeeding their son. The actress wrote: 'Sylvester Apollo Bear has joined us earth side. Sly arrived 3/8/21 on the most surreal, beautiful, and love-filled morning of my life.' Emily also posted a collage of snapshots from the delivery room; she captioned it: 'In between pushes/first moments with Sly. Life!' Blessing: Emily and husband Sebastian welcomed Sylvester Apollo on March 8, announcing the news on her social media with a snap of Emily breastfeeding their son Last week, the star gave a closer look at her two new necklaces - one which said 'mama' and the second a chain with Sylvester in cursive handwriting. She also shared a snap of herself as she breastfed her son in the red and white plaid jacket. Emily has been documenting her outings with her baby boy on her social media as well. Details: Last week, the star gave a closer look at her two new necklaces - one which said 'mama' and the second a chain with Sylvester in cursive handwriting Mama: She also shared a snap of herself as she breastfed her son. Emily has been documenting her outings with her baby boy on her social media as well Emily announced her pregnancy in October via Vogue magazine. She married actor and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard in 2018 on February 23, 2018 in a New York City courthouse. The model and actress launched her brand Inamorata Swim in 2017 with a daring swimsuit collection. In February 2019, she revealed she is expanding with a lingerie and bodywear line - Body - under the umbrella of her label, which she now calls Inamorata Woman. On a February 6, 2019 post, Emily shared a snap of herself in a lace bra and underwear while at a convenience store with the caption: 'A little over a year of @inamoratawoman and I'm so thrilled to finally share what I've been working on for you guys. Introducing BODY, a category that is so much more than lingerie. I hope you guys love it as much as I do.' Family: Emily married actor and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard on February 23, 2018 in a New York City courthouse; seen out with husband Sebastian, their son and their dog in New York City on March 20, 2021 "Today, advancements in natural language processing mean that businesses have far better and more powerful options than outdated keyword search, which is stuck in the late '90s," said Marc Ferrentino, Chief Strategy Officer of Yext. "Yext's modern, answers-led search platform, enhanced by our innovative Spring Release features, is making it easier than ever for businesses to bring their search experiences with them into the 21st century and deliver the direct answers that their customers expect." Yext's Spring '21 Release includes the following features, which are available for general access: Document Search powered by Extractive Question Answering (QA): Unlike traditional keyword search, Yext's platform leverages multiple advanced NLP algorithms to deliver a modern, exceptional search experience drawing from structured and semi-structured data. Its latest addition, extractive QA, adds a powerful dimension to the platform by answering complex questions against unstructured, long-form documents. When someone asks a specific question, whether it's the difference between a 401(k) and a Roth IRA on a bank's website or how to assemble a product on a retailer's site, extractive QA looks at the unstructured data from a business's webpages, blog posts, help articles, and product manuals in their unique knowledge graph (a brain-like database of facts) to find the most relevant word, sentence, or paragraph, and then delivers a direct answer in the form of a rich snippet at the top of the results page. Unlike traditional keyword search, Yext's platform leverages multiple advanced NLP algorithms to deliver a modern, exceptional search experience drawing from structured and semi-structured data. Its latest addition, extractive QA, adds a powerful dimension to the platform by answering complex questions against unstructured, long-form documents. When someone asks a specific question, whether it's the difference between a 401(k) and a Roth IRA on a bank's website or how to assemble a product on a retailer's site, extractive QA looks at the unstructured data from a business's webpages, blog posts, help articles, and product manuals in their unique knowledge graph (a brain-like database of facts) to find the most relevant word, sentence, or paragraph, and then delivers a direct answer in the form of a rich snippet at the top of the results page. Data Connectors, Including Website Crawler: It can be a challenge for brands to centralize the data they need to populate their knowledge graphs whether it's support articles, product information, professional records, or another source to answer their customers' complex questions. Yext's new data connectors streamline this process by offering a low-code, point-and-click way to add data sources and transform them into structured facts. This includes a website crawler that can scan a business's website and extract data to be loaded into their knowledge graph. It can be a challenge for brands to centralize the data they need to populate their knowledge graphs whether it's support articles, product information, professional records, or another source to answer their customers' complex questions. Yext's new data connectors streamline this process by offering a low-code, point-and-click way to add data sources and transform them into structured facts. This includes a website crawler that can scan a business's website and extract data to be loaded into their knowledge graph. Developer Tools: Developers now have everything they need to interact with the Yext platform and build custom solutions on their own. Users can manage their account configuration without logging into the Yext platform using the new Yext Command Line Interface (CLI), and build a completely custom Answers front end with two new Answers SDKs and a direct Answers API. Developers now have everything they need to interact with the Yext platform and build custom solutions on their own. Users can manage their account configuration without logging into the Yext platform using the new Yext Command Line Interface (CLI), and build a completely custom Answers front end with two new Answers SDKs and a direct Answers API. Authenticated Use Cases: To meet strong demand for search experiences that live behind a firewall, Yext has introduced new security measures that allow businesses to deploy Answers for authenticated, employee-facing use cases, from company intranet search for employees to support search for agents. Yext's new security page outlines all of the details of the company's related best practices, certifications, and protocols. Read about these features and more in Yext's Spring '21 Release Notes. About Yext The ultimate source for official answers about a business online should be the business itself. However, when consumers ask questions on company websites, too often they are left in the dark with wrong answers. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud, solves this problem by organizing a business's facts so it can provide official answers to consumer questions wherever people search. Starting with the company website, then extending across search engines and voice assistants, businesses around the world, like T-Mobile, Jaguar Land Rover, BBVA USA, and Kiehl's as well as organizations like the U.S. State Department and World Health Organization trust Yext to radically improve the search experience on their websites and across the entire search ecosystem. Yext's mission is to help businesses and organizations around the world deliver official answers everywhere people search. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area. CONTACT: Amanda Kontor, [email protected] SOURCE Yext, Inc. Related Links http://www.yext.com Audio brand Urbanista is looking to bring an end to the problem of wireless active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones running out of power. The company claims the Powerfoyle solar cell material used on the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones can charge the battery with any kind of light, not just solar. The idea is that you'll get "virtually infinite playtime." If you're outside for an hour when the sun's shining, the solar cell tech will add up to three hours of listening time to the battery, according to Wired. Even if it's a cloudy day, you'll seemingly get an extra two hours of additional battery life for each hour you spend outside. Ambient light will recharge Urbanista Los Angeles as well, but you'll top up the battery faster even if you leave the set next to a window. Otherwise, you can charge the battery using a USB-C cable. Powerfoyle is the brainchild of a Swedish company named Exeger. The material can apparently be used in any design. Urbanista says this marks the first time the tech has been integrated into headphones. However, JBL has tried to use the tech as well. The company started a crowdfunding project in 2019 with a similar aim of offering almost unlimited playback with its Reflect Eternal headphones. Partly due to travel complications arising from the onset of COVID-19, JBL canceled the project, and is offering refunds to all backers through the end of this month. Elsewhere, Urbanista Los Angeles have full compatibility with iOS, Android and Windows systems, according to the company, along with Siri and Google Assistant support. You can toggle between ANC and ambient sound modes with the press of a button. Through an on-ear detection feature, the headphones will pause audio when you remove them and continue playback when you place them back over your ears. There will be two color options, including a midnight black variant. Whether the company's charging claims hold up remains to be seen. Urbanista Los Angeles will cost 169 (around $200), though the company has yet to open pre-orders. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... BARCELONA, Spain European countries diverged Wednesday on whether they would push ahead with giving their residents Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine after reports of very rare blood clots in a handful of recipients in the United States. While some European Union members put the vaccine on hold as recommended by the American company, Poland, France and Hungary said they would go ahead and administer the doses that had arrived as the EUs 27 nations face continuing pressure to speed up their immunization drives. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, distributed in Europe by its subsidiary Janssen, is a key part of Europes vaccination campaign, which has been criticized as sluggish. Of the four vaccines currently approved for use in the EU, J&Js is the only one that requires a single dose to be fully effective. That makes it ideal for hard-to-reach, vulnerable groups, such as those who are homeless or migrant workers. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ But the drugmaker decided Tuesday to delay deliveries to Europe after the Food and Drug Administration recommended a pause in the vaccines use in the U.S. while the rare clot cases are examined. The decision was the latest blow to the vaccine rollout in Europe, which already experienced a similar clot scare with the vaccine developed by British-Swedish company AstraZeneca. The European Medicines Agency, the EUs regulatory agency for pharmaceutical products, has not advised EU members to put the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on hold. It said Wednesday: The company (J&J) is in contact with national authorities, recommending to store the doses already received until the PRAC (EMAs safety committee) issues an expedited recommendation. Its not clear if the exceedingly rare reports in the U.S. so far, six cases out of about 7 million inoculations are linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But European regulators already have declared that the unusual type of clots are possibly linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is made with technology similar to Johnson & Johnsons product. The AstraZeneca vaccine is in wide use around the globe, though not yet in the U.S. Several countries have imposed age restrictions on its use because of the clot concerns. Denmark, which put the vaccine on hold last month, decided Wednesday not to resume using the shots it had on hand, saying that citizens who had received a first dose would be offered a second dose of a different vaccine. Still, experts agree COVID-19 poses a much larger risk of death and hospitalization than the potential threat of atypical clots. But the concerns could still undermine public confidence in these vaccines and in the entire vaccination effort. On Wednesday, advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to debate how to handle the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The EMA, which approved the vaccine last month, said Wednesday that it will make a recommendation likely next week on how to proceed with the vaccine. Until then, the regulator said that it remains of the view that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects. For Poland, that meant there was no reason to wait. In line with these recommendations (by the EMA), we will want to use it in inoculations, Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. France, which received 200,000 doses, said it is also sticking to its plan to start administering the vaccine in the middle of next week to people age 55 and over. Hungary also said it would move ahead with the doses it received. It plans to distribute them using buses that bring vaccines to rural areas. Other countries, however, decided to hold up. Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said his government was waiting for further information from the FDA and the EMA to decide how to proceed with the initial 180,000 doses that arrived in Italy Tuesday. But I think this vaccine must be used because its an important vaccine, and the U.S. decision was a precautionary one, and the choice of Johnson & Johnson to not immediately put it on the market in Europe was also a precautionary choice, Speranza said. Our hope is that these knots can be resolved as soon as possible so we can use this vaccine, which would be the fourth one and is particularly useful for us, he said. The Netherlands also put the 80,000 Johnson & Johnson doses it received into storage, as did Denmark, Croatia and Romania with their batches. South Africa suspended the shot as a precautionary measure. The European Union has for weeks been looking at Britain with envy as the vaccination program of its former member outpaced its own. The J&J shot was supposed to help it play catch-up. Under a contract with the European Commission, 200 million doses were supposed to arrive in the second quarter of this year. That deal allowed for the purchase of an additional 200 million doses. Despite this weeks delay, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the EU was still on track to vaccinate 70% of adults by the end of the summer. Spain which received an initial shipment of 146,000 doses that are now on hold planned to use the shots to target groups that have been missed so far, including homeless people and migrant workers. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also downplayed the impact of the delay that came hours after the first doses were delivered to his country. I can only tell you that, with the more than 8 million doses we will have delivered by the summer we will be able to able to offer everyone a first dose. I said at Easter within 100 days, and from todays point of view I would stick to that, Kurz said. The trouble with Johnson & Johnson comes after various delays in shipments of other vaccines to Europe and the concerns with the AstraZeneca-BioNTech vaccine that first led countries to suspend its use and then impose a dizzying array of age restrictions on it. Spain, for instance, went from using AstraZeneca on young people at first, to now only giving it people ages 60-69. In a sign of the blocs current thinking, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday that the bloc will start negotiating to buy 1.8 billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through 2023. ___ This version has been updated to show that the Pfizer, not AstraZeneca, developed a vaccine with BioNTech. ___ Associated Press writers from around Europe contributed to this report. ___ Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak In this screenshot of a Weibo video from March 29, a man who appears to be naked wades in a pool of cabbage and grabs some of the vegetables soaked in a murky liquid while an excavator stirs them at a kimchi factory in China. Korea Times file By Ko Dong-hwan Police on Tuesday said they are investigating a Chinese man who allegedly displayed violent behavior in a restaurant in Seoul after hearing other people talking about "dirty Chinese kimchi." At a hotpot restaurant in the Sillim area of Gwanak District around 3 p.m., the Chinese man in his 50s, whose name is being withheld, heard a conversation from three men in their 70s sitting next to his table. The Chinese man, who was intoxicated at the time, started shouting at them after they said they had been reluctant to eat kimchi after watching a video of kimchi being made in China. The men were talking about a Weibo video from March that went viral in Korea after being shared on YouTube and Korean news outlets under the title, "China's obnoxious kimchi factory." The video shows a naked man waist deep in a pool of brownish liquid that was filled with cabbages and tossing the vegetables into the bucket of an excavator arm that was mixing the produce in the mysterious liquid. The footage shows the process of salting the cabbage before mixing it with various ingredients. But the process environment and foodstuffs appear to be both unclean and unsafe. There is also no way of knowing for certain if the man was wearing anything beneath the surface. In addition, the machinery appears partly rusted. The infuriated Chinese national raised his voice at the men next to him, asking them why they were insulting Chinese kimchi. His verbal assault only grew harsher although the men apologized to him. After his fit of fury lasted for about 20 minutes, the restaurant owner stepped in and tried to calm him down. But the Chinese threw insults at the owner as well. The owner then called the police, who later apprehended the man at the scene. Kimchi making in China has stirred concerns in Korea due to an apparently loose adherence to hygiene standards. In shared online videos, people can be seen moving cabbages to a loader while stepping on the vegetables with their work shoes on. A loader is shown brimming with uncovered cabbages, allowing rain, dust or other contaminants to come into contact with the vegetables. Another video showed a heap of hot peppers infested with vermin. GOP Whip Steve Scalise created a milk carton with a 'Missing at the border' notice along with Vice President Kamala Harris' face Republicans took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris with a mock missing persons milk carton notice during a briefing Wednesday where they lamented she has yet to visit the southern border. During a GOP press conference, Republican Whip Steve Scalise brought along the milk carton prop that read 'Missing at the border' with an image of Harris' White House portrait. 'It's a national disgrace,' Scalise said during the briefing Wednesday. 'President Biden puts Kamala Harris in charge of it and she refuses to go down, maybe because she doesn't want to be associated with this disgraceful policy.' 'But if she's the Vice President of the United States and the president put her in charge of this, Vice President Harris needs to go down to the border and see this for herself,' the Louisiana representative continued. 'Because maybe she would then encourage President Biden to reverse his policies, which have failed.' Harris revealed Wednesday that she will visit Guatemala and Mexico but won't go to the southern border to address the mass migration and overflowing border facility crisis there. Specifically the federal government now as 21,000 unaccompanied minors in its custody. The vice president defended the move by telling the press before a zoom meeting with outside experts 21 days after being named border czar that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is in charge of the border crisis. 'The President has asked Secretary Mayorkas to address what is going on at the border,' she clarified to the press before kicking off the closed-door meeting. 'I have been asked to address the root causes.' Scalise told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Harris deciding to forego a border trip is 'despicable.' At a briefing Wednesday April 14 he hammered Harris and President Joe Biden for not yet visiting the southern border. He told DailyMail.com that it's a 'despicable' that she won't visit Scalise trolled Harris by bringing the milk carton with her face on it to the briefing Wednesday Harris held a virtual meeting Wednesday with outside experts on assessing the issues in the Northern Triangle leading to mass migrations. This was the first event she held related to the crisis in her 21 days as border czar 'President Biden and Vice President Harris are directly responsible for this humanitarian, health, and national security crisis they've created at the border and the horrific conditions these children face in the detention facilities their administration runs and won't even bother to go see them, or the thousands of border patrol agents who risk their lives dealing with the consequences, in person,' Scalise wrote in a statement. 'Shame on them,' he added. Scalise, who led a group of GOP lawmakers to the border last week, slammed the Biden administration for creating the border crisis by undoing several Trump-era policies related to immigration on Day One. 'He needs to go see for himself the damage that he's doing and stop this madness,' Scalise said during a GOP briefing. At the briefing, Scalise brought along a milk carton prop with Vice President Harris' face on it and the words: 'Missing at the border'. In the three weeks since Kamala Harris was named 'border czar', she hasn't visited or held a press conference Before the meeting Harris said she would visit Guatemala and Mexico soon, but not the border. 'The President has asked Secretary Mayorkas to address what is going on at the border,' she said. 'I have been asked to address the root causes' Thousands of migrants continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. Here Romanian immigrants were taken into Border Patrol custody at the La Joya, Texas border after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico on April 13 Biden put Harris in charge of the crisis last month and she finally took on her role Wednesday by speaking virtually with outside experts on assessing the situations in Northern Triangle countries leading to migrants fleeing to the southern border. New data obtained by The Washington Times shows Immigration and Customs enforcement had a 75% drop in arrests in the first seven weeks of Bidens administration compared to the same period in 2020. The significant drop comes as illegal crossings soar and many agents are tasked with taking care of the more than 21,000 unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody rather than patrolling the border. Some lawmakers who have visited Texas and its holding facilities have detailed seeing agents on diaper duty in the middle of the night instead of patrolling the border. Non-priority arrests have dropped more than 80% from 17,810 last year to 3,306. Ahead of the meeting, the vice president's office said they would cover 'root causes of migration, humanitarian assistance, economic development, climate resilience, transparency, and good governance.' The office emphasized Harris held the meeting 'in her role overseeing diplomacy towards Mexico and Northern Triangle nations.' Biden announced last month that Harris would lead the White House response to the immigration crisis. Since taking on that position, the White House has swiftly walked back on the capacity of her role including pushing her focus on 'root causes' in Central America rather than addressing the massive border crisis the U.S. is facing. Critics have slammed the vice president for not doing much in the 21 days since she was named border czar. Harris has not visited the border or Central American countries. She did hold at least one call with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei. The virtual event Wednesday is the first time Harris has done any public work related to the immigration crisis. CBP agents register immigrants before bussing them to processing centers near the La Joya, Texas border with Mexico on April 13 More than 21,000 unaccompanied migrant children are in federal government custody. Republicans who visited these centers last week shared images during a press conference Wednesday, April 14 of the massively overcrowded facilities While Harris will hear from outside national security experts on immigration and the Northern Triangle, no immigration or border officials are joining the conversation to give their perspective on the issue. The Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Dan Restrepo, who served as a principal advisor to Barack Obama, joined the virtual meeting. Other participants include Senior Policy Advisor for Central America at Oxfam Vicki Gass; President of the Migration Policy Institute Andrew Selee; Co-director of the Latin America Working Group Lisa Haugaard; President at the Washington Office on Latin America Geoff Thale; Natural Resources Defense Council Manager of Green Finance and Climate Change Carolina Herrera; and Director of the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Jason Marcza. In another sign or advancement in addressing the crisis, the White House announced Monday it struck a deal with Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras to send more of their troops to secure borders and stop migrants before arriving illegally in the U.S. 'The objective is to make it more difficult to make the journey, and make crossing the borders more more difficult,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing Monday. 'We worked with them to increase law enforcement at the border to deter the travel, which is a treacherous journey.' 'Guatemala surged 1,500 police and military personnel to its southern border with Honduras and agreed to set up 12 checkpoints along the migratory routes,' she added. The Guatemalan government, however, says this claim is not true. It released a statement Tuesday saying there is no 'signed document' between Guatemala and the U.S. relating to border security. The statement continues that Guatemala did send 1,500 troops to its border in January to address migrant caravans and claims the influx is unrelated to any new deal. 'President Alejandro Guimmattei has committed, since the beginning of his term in January 2020, to strengthen border security as a strategy to battle transnational threats like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and as a preventive measure in the face of the pandemic,' the statement reads. A Texas nonprofit, Family Endeavors, was awarded a $530 million no-bid contract from the government in further effort to mitigate the massive influx of migrant children arriving at the southern border. Texas non-profit Family Endeavors was awarded a $530 million grant to curb the child migrant crisis after it hired Biden transition official Andrew Lorenzen-Strait This is the largest-ever contract the Texas-based non-profit has received, and it was awarded a few months after Family Endeavors hired Biden transition official Andrew Lorenzen-Strait, Axios reported. The nonprofit is aimed at helping vulnerable communities through crises. The group announced its hiring of Lorenzen-Strait on January 20 the same day as Biden's inauguration and he took on the role of senior director for migrant services and federal affairs. Lorenzen-Strait is a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official. He also advised the Biden-Harris transition team on Homeland Security policy and staffing. President Joe Biden's administration is scrambling to address the growing immigration crisis as recent numbers show more than 21,000 unaccompanied minors are in federal government custody. Family Endeavors is part of that effort. The faith-based organization was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Last month, Biden appointed Vice President Kamala Harris as border czar, but she has since held no events related to the crisis or even taken the time to visit the border or Northern Triangle countries. On Wednesday morning, Harris is expected to hold a virtual roundtable in her new role. Recent data shows there are currently more than 21,000 unaccompanied migrant children in federal government custody An unaccompanied minor (right) hugs a fellow teen in La Joya, Texas on Tuesday. The two met during their journey from El Salvador to the U.S. southern border More migrants arrive daily. Here a 26-year-old father walks with his 5-year-old daughter after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico into Roma, Texas on April 13 and seeking asylum Border Patrol agents search illegal immigrants in La Joya, Texas before transporting them to a processing center on April 13 She will speak with experts on their assessments of the Northern Triangle region, which includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The vast majority of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are from these countries. Notably, the vice president is not meeting with any border or immigration agents or officials on the matter, just a panel of 'experts.' Former Homeland Security officials who served under Trump say they are relieved Harris has taken a hands off approach at the border. 'I'm glad she's nowhere near the border,' Trump-era acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner Mark Morgan told DailyMail.com during a panel discussion with the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday. 'Quite frankly,' he continued, 'I think if she does do what she should do as the anointed border czar, she's just going to make the crisis even worse.' Along with Morgan, former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli and former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf joined the discussion with the conservative think tank where all three are visiting fellows. Vice President Harris has received a slew of criticism for not yet visiting the southern border despite being put in charge of the crisis 21 days ago. President Biden has also not gone to the U.S.-Mexico border as he nears his third month in office. Morgan pointed to Harris' lax immigration policies as a reason why it's better she remain as uninvolved as possible. He noted she helped make California a so-called 'sanctuary state' when she was attorney general by refusing to work with federal authorities to turn over illegal immigrants in the state. 'This is a former Senator Harris who during a congressional testimony referred to ICE as the KKK, she basically called ICE agents racists,' Morgan bashed the vice president. 'She's gone further to say that ICE should be dismantled and start from scratch.' The Heritage Foundation hosted a panel with with former Trump's Homeland Security officials on Tuesday. Former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf (upper right), Former acting DHS deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli (bottom left) and former Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan (bottom right) Morgan said of Vice President Kamala Harris not yet visiting the border: 'I'm glad she's nowhere near the border.... Quite frankly, I think if she does do what she should do as the anointed border czar, she's just going to make the crisis even worse' Thousands of migrants are arriving at the border as the Biden administration sees a record- breaking number of illegal arrivals. Here a Guatemalan family waits on the ground in La Joya, Texas with other immigrants to board a bus for a processing center on April 13 Cuccinelli told DailyMail.com during the panel talk that no one in the administration wants to take ownership of the massive failure at the southern border. 'This is a political hot potato within the administration,' Cuccinelli said. 'None of them want it,' he added. 'That's why the president tossed it to the vice president, that's why he hasn't visited the border even though he has caused the problem. That's why she won't touch it, she won't talk about it, she won't go to the border, she won't go anywhere near it. Cuccinelli said those in the White House are 'all more afraid of the radical left base than they are committed to solving the problem.' 'By a longshot it's not even close,' he insisted. Biden has taken on a much more lax immigration approach than his predecessor evident by a slew of Trump-critic DHS nominees the president announced Monday. These policies, however, have quickly led to a humanitarian crisis as a record number of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador arrive at the border every day this includes nearly 20,000 unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody. 'We told you so,' Morgan said. Wolf added that although Harris was put in charge of the border, the White House's messaging as been all wrong, leading to concussion among the public and DHS and border officials and agents. 'The administration needs to clear up who's in charge,' Wolf insisted. 'Is it the DHS secretary, is it the White House, is it the vice president? Because I can tell you that the men and women in the field are also confused.' 'I can't tell you how many people that I've talked to at the department that has no idea who's in charge,' he said. 'Who should they be listening to, who should they be taking direction from? They don't know and if they don't know that is a problem.' Biden announced he is nominating anti-Trump Tucson, Arizona police chief Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection. Magnus pictured here in December 2014 holding a 'Black Lives Matter' sign at a BLM protest Biden announced Monday a series of new nominees who will lead the border and immigration effort. This includes tapping Tucson, Arizona police chief Chris Magnus to lead the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP). Magnus has been vocal in his criticism of Trump and how he and one-time Attorney General Jeff Sessions handled immigration. 'The harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and Mr. Sessions's reckless policies ignore a basic reality known by most good cops and prosecutors,' Magnus wrote in a 2017 op/ed. 'If people are afraid of the police, if they fear they may become separated from their families or harshly interrogated based on their immigration status, they won't report crimes or come forward as witnesses.' Another appointee includes fellow anti-Trumper Ur Jaddou to head up the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. President Joe Biden released a sudden tweet on Monday defending Harris amid mounting criticism over her failure to visit the border and after GOP Senator John Cornyn questioned who was in charge in the White House. 'When I served as Vice President, I asked to be the last person with the President before big decisions were made and @VP is providing the same counsel to me,' Biden wrote. 'She's the last voice in the room and never fails to speak the truth as we work to build our nation back better.' He included a picture of the pair in discussion inside the Oval Office. Advertisement The world's largest photography competition CEWE has showcased the best photos taken by British photographers from a global photo contest - ranging from nature and animals, to food and life in lockdown. From aerial shots and animals to landscapes, travel and culture, the stunning images have been submitted as entries to a variety of categories in this year's CEWE Photo Awards competition, which aims to celebrate the best photography from across the globe. The competition, now in its fourth edition, launched for entries in May 2020 and is open to everyone from keen amateur photographers to established professionals. Entrants are asked to submit photos which celebrate the competition's 'Our world is beautiful' theme. There are 10 categories for budding photographers to enter from aerial shots and animals to landscapes, travel and culture - and entrants have until May 31st to submit their photos. Clare Moreton, photo expert at CEWE UK, said: 'We've loved seeing so many unique and interesting perspectives from the photos that have been submitted to this year's CEWE Photo Award. There has been such a fascinating variety across all categories. Here we wanted to celebrate the British photographers who have submitted eye-catching and stunning images. 'We've really enjoyed seeing people's entries to the CEWE Photo Award 2021 and are looking forward to seeing many more entries before the competition closes in May.' Here, FEMAIL shares some of the top images from this year's competition. An important meeting taking place between wild rabbits in the sunshine captured by Stuart Lilley Warren-Pearce The sun captures two bucking stags as they lock horns in this photograph captured by Kieron Trufitt This photograph captures the mirror image of a gracious giraffe and was taken by Scott Price Bob Riach-Tromso managed to perfectly time this snap to capture an inter-galactic looking landscape A stunning rainbow-coloured sunset marks the end of another day in this picturesque photo taken by Hari Kumar Photographer Jim Brinsley captured this adorable snap of a squirrel enjoying its breakfast in the morning sun An artistic perspective of a musician practising their talent at home taken by Russ Tierney Sarah Milne perfectly captured the beautiful pink blossom in the clear blue skies A crisp and icy landscape as dawn appears to be breaking photographed was captured by John Cuthbert A mum home-schools her children throughout the lockdown period captured by Catherine Falls Johnathan Gatzer took this breathtaking snap of an early morning safari across the dessert in Zambia A vibrant dancer can be seen in traditional red and gold dress in this snap taken by Marta Kogol Love birds intertwine as the sun sets in this beautiful photograph captured by Matthew Sands A beacon of light shines through the dark night sky in this stunning photograph taken by Joshua Mann An insect shows of its dance moves as it stands on the end of a plan as photographed by Angi Wallace It is an all too familiar story for a majority of Kenyans; whenever it rains, power outages usually follow. So common is the phenomenon that Kenyans have come up with a popular joke that the countrys electricity distributor, Kenya Power, unhangs its power lines to stop them from being rained on. So, what exactly is the relationship between rain and power outages? Kenya Power has finally come out to explain what causes power outages when it rains. The rainy season is here with us again and whilst its usually a blessing, rains do sometime cause a few inconveniences e.g. power outages which some of our customers jokingly refer to as kuanua stima, Kenya Power observed. According to the power distributor, rains are mostly accompanied by strong winds and as the storms rage, they sometimes snap tree branches or uproot whole trees causing them to fall on power lines disrupting power supply. In other instances, wet tree branches touching power lines create a pathway for electric charge to flow between power conductors and the ground leading to a short circuit which in turn causes an outage, added Kenya Power. As a result, Kenya Power urged Kenyans to avoid planting trees below or very near power lines and to allow its personnel to prune them. Local featured Sick vacation cap increase requested by city workers Letter asks for changes akin to city manager request (C)Jason Hoegle Veliz An unsigned letter reportedly written by City of Key West employees is requesting city commissioners approve sick and vacation time buyouts equal to the deal recently approved for outgoing City Manager Greg Veliz. Veliz, who is leaving April 16 to take a position at the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, was paid approximately $19,000 above contract limits on unused vacation and sick time hours he had accumulated. City policy allows a departing employee to be paid for up to 720 hours of sick time and 240 hours of unused vacation time. Veliz submitted a request for payment of 440 hours above those limits. The unsigned letter was dated April 1 and was sent to each of the seven Key West City Commissioners, including Mayor Teri Johnston. In it, the letter asked each commissioner to sponsor a change to the City of Key Wests employee benefit package to increase sick/vacation time buyout when leaving city employment equal to or greater than the buyout provided to City Manager Greg Veliz. There is such a difference in pay and benefits between the people sitting in commission meetings and the employees that work hard for the city every day. We feel we deserve this. We heard nothing in the recorded meeting that would separate us from the request the commission granted to Mr. Veliz, the letter said. It is unclear whether the letter writer was representing himself or herself or a group of city hall staffers. Mayor Johnston and Commissioner Sam Kaufman were the only two to vote against paying Veliz for hours above the contract cap. Veliz initially requested $38,000 for all 440 of the unused hours above cap but agreed to reduce it by 50% after Johnston raised objections. That was one of my concerns and the reason I voted no, because of the implications to all employees, she said after receiving the letter. Johnston said her research showed there are 77 other city employees who are over the hourly caps and if they all had to be paid out, would cost the city approximately $1 million. Key West Human Resources Director Samantha Farist said she had seen the letter sent to the mayor and will be discussing next steps, if any, with new interim City Manager Patti McLaughlin. The cap limits are included in municipal union contracts and would need to be renegotiated if city officials want to reconsider the policy. Well just have to see. Its a policy. The caps are in our three bargaining units, Farist said. The letter also spelled out why it was not signed. We are asking, just as Mr. Veliz asked, for this additional benefit. We are becoming disgruntled so you will understand why we did not sign our individual names, according to the letter writer. City employees did not receive a raise in the last year because of revenue shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Full contract negotiations with two of the three unions, the Teamsters and the police, are currently underway. Veliz pointed out that his two city manager predecessors, Jim Scholl and Julio Avael Jr., both received unused hour payouts above capped limits when they retired. But Kaufman said those two incidents were different from Velizs situation. Jim Scholl completed the contractual terms. Mr. Veliz didnt. Thats a distinction that is important, he said, referring to Veliz resignation with 16 months remaining on his three-year contract. Kaufman said he is taking the letter seriously. I think theres some merit to that request in regards to compensation of the city manager, he said. However, some other commissioners were not receptive. If they cant sign it, I cant support it, said Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, adding, A lot of that depends on union contracts. This could be part of negotiations with the labor unions. Commissioner Greg Davila said the letter may not have even been written by a city employee, but instead by a resident angered by Veliz buyout. What we control is our three hires, Davila said, referring to the three positions city commissioners have authority over, including city manager, city attorney and city clerk. Everyone else deals through the city manager. Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover agreed that cap limits come under the purview of the city manager, not the commission. I just passed it along, she said about the letter that was sent to her. Veliz said that he didnt put a lot of credence in unsigned letters. However, he agreed in principal that employees should be paid for all unused time. Thats time you earned. If you earned something, I dont believe if you havent used it, people can take if from you. We are telling people they earned something, then were taking it from them, he said. The city contracts do allow for unused vacation and sick time to be accumulated and rolled over into the next year. However, the contracts also say that vacation time can only be rolled over if a staffers department head has denied their request for vacation leave three times within a fiscal year or if the city manager approves. The contract also says any rollover is an exception and will not be extended to the same employee on a repetitive basis. psowers@keysnews.com 04/14/2021 Photo (c) Evgenia Parajanian - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 31,350,848 (31,280,880) Total U.S. deaths: 563,520 (562,655) Total global cases: 137,603,448 (136,857,385) Total global deaths: 2,962,611 (2,949,096) Moderna vaccine still effective after six months Moderna says its vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been shown to be 90 percent effective against all variants of the disease after six months. Results show that it also protects 95 percent of patients against severe forms of COVID-19. The efficacy rate, while still quite high, is slightly less than the 94 percent rate reported when the vaccine began to roll out in December. Health experts say the spread of new variants could have caused a slight decrease in efficacy. The companys announcement was the result of its ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial involving more than 30,000 people across the U.S. The new preclinical data on our variant-specific vaccine candidates give us confidence that we can proactively address emerging variants, said Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. Moderna will make as many updates to our COVID-19 vaccine as necessary until the pandemic is under control. Advisory panel to review Johnson & Johnson vaccine An advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is meeting today to discuss Johnson & Johnsons vaccine after six women who received it had severe cases of blood clotting. One woman died and another is in critical condition. While use of the vaccine is on pause, scientists will review data and try to confirm its safety. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has said the blood clotting threat appears to be extremely rare. In all six cases under review, the patients developed symptoms one to three weeks after receiving the vaccine. The symptoms included headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, and neurological symptoms. A year later, a glut of face masks After over a year of pandemic conditions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking additional steps to beef up the market for new N95 masks for health care workers and to expand their use in other industries. The move comes after scientists argued that the highly protective masks are essential to keep workers safe from the virus. The move is welcome news to the industry that produces face masks. There was a severe shortage a year ago when the pandemic hit. Now, there is a supply glut that threatens the financial health of some companies. To spur demand, the FDA is considering a move to revoke its approval of the widespread crisis-era practice of decontaminating N95 respirators and returning them to front-line workers to use again. Post-pandemic housing market may be more stable The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the housing market. With most people working from home for the last 12 months, millions of Americans started looking for more space and, as a result, have driven home prices to record highs. But what happens after the pandemic? In a new report, real estate marketplace Zillow says housing economists expect remote work to remain a factor in the market for years to come, with homeowners in one state working for a company located in another. They also expect sellers to return to the market in larger numbers. "That increased inventory would ease buyer competition that has driven prices higher during the pandemic, but expect a steady pace of home value growth to persist into the near future, said Zillow economist Arpita Chakravorty. Mortgage rates have risen some but are still low by historical standards, adding to people's purchasing power and helping to keep competition for homes revved up." Scientists promote plasma device as new way to disinfect surfaces Still cant find disinfectant wipes at the supermarket? Not to worry -- scientists at the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) say they have an alternative. They say theyve demonstrated the first flexible, hand-held, device based on low-temperature plasma a gas that consists of atoms, molecules, and free-floating electrons and ions that consumers can quickly and easily use to disinfect surfaces without special training. Recent experiments show that the prototype, which operates at room temperature under normal atmospheric pressure, can eliminate 99.99 percent of the bacteria on surfaces, including textiles and metals, in just 90 seconds. Scientists think it will be similarly effective against viruses. Were testing it right now with human viruses, said PPPL physicist Sophia Gershman, first author of a paper in Scientific Reports that describes the device and the research behind it. Around the nation Taiwan Charges Alleged Chinese Spies With Money Laundering A Hong Kong couple was recently indicted for allegedly violating the Money Laundering Control Act in Taiwan, after being accused as Chinese spies by a defected Chinese military intelligence agent in 2019. Xiang Xin, CEO of the Hong Kong-based China Innovation Investment Ltd. (CIIL) and China Trends Holdings Ltd., and his wife, Kung Ching as the alternate director, were charged with money laundering by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) on April 8, being suspected of remitting illicit money to banks in Taiwan to purchase luxury homes. These are the first charges against the couple since November 2019, when self-claimed Chinese spy Wang William Liqiang who defected to Australia, claimed that Xiang and Kung were his former bosses who hired him to interfere with Taiwan and Hong Kong affairs. According to a press release (pdf) of the TDPO, Xiang and Kung received HK$203 million (about $26 million) in illegal funds in February 2016 from Shanghai-based company Guotai Investment Holding (Group) Co. Ltd. Both parties agreed that CIIL and China Trends Holdings would later invest in Guotais subsidiaries, attaining the goal of laundering funds. The agreement with Xiang cost Guotai HK$60 million ($7.7 million). From the end of 2011 to April 2016, Guotai raised 40 billion yuan (about $6.1 billion) in China by soliciting gold leasing and other schemes through false advertising and fake financial statements, Taiwanese prosecutors alleged. However, Shanghai authorities launched an investigation against Guotais fraudulent fundraising on April 5, 2016, and its executive, Xu Qin, was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Xiang and Kung then transferred the money to their bank accounts in Hong Kong and Taipei, before spending it on three luxury apartments in Taipeis high-end Xinyi district. Taiwan prosecutors requested the court to confiscate the properties in accordance with the Money Laundering Control Act, given their intention to conceal Guotais fraud money by diverting it into the listed companies in Hong Kong. CIIL and China Trends Holdings issued a joint statement on April 8, claiming that Xiang and Kung had nothing to do with Guotais crime. The two indictees are also under investigation for allegedly breaching Taiwans National Security Act, according to the indictment. Spying Allegations Following Wang Liqiangs spying allegations against the Hong Kong couple, Xiang and Kung were stopped at Taiwans Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei on Nov. 24 as the two tried to leave the country. In 2019, Wang confessed to the Australian counterintelligence agency in a sworn statement, alleging that Xiang and Kung were both intelligence officials with close ties to Chinas military. In a detailed statement previously provided to The Epoch Times, Wang said that CIIL functioned as a major front for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s overseas espionage, including sabotage of the ongoing pro-democracy and anti-CCP protests in Hong Kong and election meddling in Taiwan. Wang majored in oil painting and after his education, he began working for CIIL in 2014. Wang earned Xiangs trust and entered the inner sanctum of the company by giving Kung painting lessons, which granted Wang wide access to insider knowledge about Chinese intelligence operations, according to Nine Network. According to Wang, Xiang had changed his name from Xiang Nianxin to Xiang Xin before being sent by Chinese military officials to Hong Kong to acquire CIIL and investment company China Trends Holdings. Chinese media reports from 2008 revealed that CIIL entered into several contracts with Norinco, a state-owned defense company sanctioned by the United States for allegedly selling missile technology to Iran. Kung also worked for the China Defense Science and Technology Information Center, which is under the science and technology committee for the Central Military Commission. Xiang and Kung denied ever meeting with Wang as well as the espionage allegations. CIIL also issued a statement on Nov. 24, 2019, renouncing Wangs claim as a former employee of the company. The police in the Bono Region have arrested two men for allegedly transporting 260 packets of compressed dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. The two are, Awudu Yakubu, 32, a driver and Ibrahim Haruna, 37, the alleged owner of the banned substance. According to The police in the Bono Region have arrested two men for allegedly transporting 260 packets of compressed dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.the police, Haruna hired the bus with registration number GC 5118-Z to transport the substance from Alaba in Kumasi to Niger, but luck eluded the two when they were arrested at Techiman in the Bono East Region. The suspect driver, who was carrying about 20 passengers in the 60-seater bus, had removed the air conditioner and speaker compartments as well as back seats and had hidden the compressed packets of the suspected cannabis in there. According to the police, the 260 packets weighed about 520 kilogrammes. Police briefing The Deputy Bono Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Baba Saanid Adamu, told the media that personnel from the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) had a tip-off that the Niger-bound bus was loaded with cannabis and was heading towards Techiman en route to Niger. According to him, police officers from the regional crime team and DLEU received the intelligence on the movement of the bus last Saturday. ACP Adamu said the police kept surveillance on the vehicle till it set off last Monday, April 12, on its way to Niger. He said the police inspected the vehicle when it got to Techiman at about 2 a.m. and found the suspected cannabis. He said the suspects upon interrogation admitted that they were transporting the substances to Niger. The police thus escorted the vehicle to the Sunyani Police Headquarters for further interrogation. ACP Adamu said the police found the compressed substance in yellow and blue plastic bags, cellotaped and kept in the air conditioner and speaker compartments and back seats of the bus. He said the passengers in the bus were freed but were being monitored. Investigations ACP Adamu said the police had began investigations to arrest the people who contracted the suspects to transport the substance to Niger. We will do further investigations to get to the source of the matter. Normally we engage with our international partners through the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), so we are still in that process. For now, I wont disclose much except to say that we are still in the process of gathering more information, he said. The Deputy Bono Regional Police Commander said the suspects would be arraigned before court in the coming days and would be charged for possessing narcotic drugs without authority. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video | By Jena Frick On Wednesday, April 7, Caprese Wilson was working her regular job as a construction worker in the Poppleton neighborhood of West Baltimore. Just as she was taking off her hard hat for a break, a group of women wearing colorful scrubs and carrying clipboards rounded the corner and asked if she would like to get signed up for the COVID-19 vaccine. After weeks of trying to get an appointment at one of the mass vaccination clinics, Wilson was overjoyed to talk to a live person and get an appointment for the vaccine. This is so great! she said after confirming her vaccine appointment. It has been so difficult finding a time slot and they came right up to me on my lunch break and just handed one to me. This is something that everybody needs. Maddie Boyes, RN (right), and Hayley Carper, RN (center), two students at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, help William Lipmann, a West Baltimore community member, get registered for a vaccine appointment. Wilson has seen firsthand how essential the vaccine is to fighting the pandemic. Early this year, her father nearly died after being diagnosed with COVID-19. This vaccine is so important for everyone to protect not only themselves, but everybody else around, she said. Not just essential workers or older people, but everybody. People need to stay safe because it is not a joke. The group of women who signed up Wilson are students at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). Led by Kelly Doran, PhD, RN, an associate professor at UMSON, this group has been working with members of the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) Community Engagement Center (CEC) to canvass the surrounding neighborhoods and get every Baltimore community member they meet an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. Were finding that its not that people in West Baltimore dont want to get vaccinated, its that the process of getting signed up is confusing, says Doran, who also is the director of health and wellness at UMBs CEC. There are multiple websites you can sign up on, some people dont have internet access, they dont know what number to call, or they just need somebody to sit with them and answer their question. I think its really important to make that human connection to help people get vaccinated so we can keep everybody safe. Using tablets and a mobile hotspot, the nursing students are able to directly sign community members up for an appointment at the UMB vaccination clinic in UMBs SMC Campus Center. The appointments can be scheduled for as early as the next day. This also provides an opportunity for community members to get one-on-one time with a health care professional so they can ask questions and learn more about the vaccine. There's no better way to reach people than contact with a living and breathing human, says Nneka Mitchell, RN, one of the UMSON students. They know that were part of the university community, so they know that were giving them good information and that establishes trust, which can't always be done through other means. This group of nursing students has been walking through the community every Wednesday for the last four weeks. There also are several other canvassing groups made up of faculty and staff from the CEC and volunteer community members, who are hitting the pavement to get neighbors a vaccination appointment. So far, they have collectively signed up nearly 150 people from all over West Baltimore. This is amazing having these guys out here doing something for us, William Lipmann said after signing up himself and his elderly mother for vaccination appointments. Theyre out here trying to make sure that we save our own lives because a lot of us have just given up. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Hayley Carper, RN, one of the UMSON students, says that their efforts in the community have spread through word of mouth. They have even had neighbors flagging them down to ask them about the vaccine. We have people seeing us on the street, and they pull their cars over to talk to us, she says. There was one time when we walked over to somebody and started getting them registered and then we turned around and theres a line of five other cars behind them waiting to get signed up for the vaccine. Carper has been working in a long-term care facility since the start of the pandemic, and the canvassing effort has brought her a huge sense of relief. I was working in the darkest of dark when COVID started, she says. I was dealing with a lot of deaths and sickness. Employees were sick, managers were sick, and patients were sick and dying every day. Now that this vaccine is really rolling out and more and more people are getting vaccinated, it feels like there truly is light at the end of the tunnel. In addition to signing up neighbors for vaccination appointments, the nursing students are handing out bags of supplies that include a face mask, hand sanitizer, and an information packet about COVID-19 and the vaccine. This makes me feel really proud to be a nurse, Doran says. I'm really proud to be part of UMB where people are really working to continue to help serve the community and serve the neighbors close to our university. At the end of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a woman close to the proceedings asked Benjamin Franklin, What do we have, a republic or a monarchy? Franklin replied, A republic, if you can keep it. The conservative columnist and author William Kristol wrote on March 1, 2021, So we are at the edge of crisis, having repulsed one attempted authoritarian power grab and bracing for another. The most serious and costly conflict in our republics history was the secession by southern states and the ensuing Civil War. We believe the republic is in as grave a danger today as existed in the period prior to the Civil War. Our republic is securely based on the right of the citizens to vote. We need to promote and protect the voting process. Two bills in Congress, H. R. 1, For the People Act, and H. R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, address reforms needed to preserve our election process. H. R. 1 passed the House and is awaiting Senate debate and approval. H. R. 4 is still in the House. It is named for John Lewis who risked his life for the right to vote in the 1960s and was a U. S. representative from Georgia for over 30 years. H. R. 1 includes automatic voter registration of eligible voters across the country. It requires paper ballots in case of computer failure, something that had been left out of previous voting laws. It requires that early voting be made available and expands mail-in voting. It does not require ballots be mailed automatically to all registered voters nor does it allow non-citizens to vote, as some have claimed. It authorizes $1 billion for upgrades to state voting systems. It also calls for independent commissions to redistrict states and limits money in politics. There are also provisions to limit foreign influence in our elections. Public opinion polls show wide support for the bill and its various provisions among Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 included a provision called pre-clearance, which required states with a record of racial discrimination and voter suppression to submit any change in election procedures for approval in advance before any changes could take place. In 2013, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court gutted this provision in Shelby County v. Holder. Within five years of that ruling, more than 1,600 polling places closed, disproportionately in minority communities as well as increased purging of voter rolls. H.R. 4 restores the pre-clearance provision and expands it to areas where similar discrimination now occurs. These bills are important and necessary because, as Doug Smith at the Brennan Center wrote, Over the last 20 years, states have put barriers in front of the ballot box imposing strict voter ID laws, cutting voting times, restricting registration, and purging voter rolls. While these efforts may not appear on the surface to be harmful, they placed special burdens on racial minorities, poor people, and young and old voters. After the November 2020 election, states have ramped up their efforts to suppress voting rights. Since Jan. 1, Republican state legislatures in 43 states have proposed 253 bills to to cut back early voting and restrict mail-in voting, limit citizen-led ballot initiatives, and continue to gerrymander congressional districts. On March 24, Michigan legislators introduced 39 bills to restrict voting, several of them affect voting by mail. The Michigan Center for Progressive Public Policy urges the passage of both H. R. 1 and H. R. 4 to preserve and protect our republic by making sure that the election process is fair, secure, and available to all citizens. Norbert Bufka, of Midland, chairs the Michigan Center for Progressive Public Policy and has authored more than 20 books. The vast majority of Democrats are anxious to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Not so with Republicans, according to a poll released Wednesday. A Monmouth University Poll found 43% of Republicans said they wont take a shot in the arm, compared with just 5% of Democrats. Overall, 1 in 5 Americans, 21%, said they had no plans to be vaccinated, even as the virus continues to spread and new variants are discovered. That was statistically about the same as the 24% who said last month that they would not take the vaccine. The survey was conducted before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after potentially dangerous blood clots were found in six women after they received the single-shot dose. The number of people who have been skittish about the vaccine has dropped as more Americans line up for the shot, but the hard core group who want to avoid it at all costs has barely budged, said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. The recent news about J&J vaccines is probably not going to help that situation. On the other hand, it might not make it all that much worse since much of this reluctance is really ingrained in partisan identity. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage A slight majority, 51%, said they had received at least one shot and 14% said they would be vaccinated as soon as they were eligible to do so. A majority of whites, 54%, said they had received a shot, compared with 45% of people of color. New Jersey health facilities and other sites have given more than 5.5 million doses, including more than 3.5 million people with at least one shot and more than 2.2 million nearly 1 in 3 adults considered fully vaccinated, according to state data. The poll gave President Joe Biden high marks for his handling of the coronavirus, with 62% saying he was doing a good job, including 20% of Republicans and 61% of independents, and 31% saying he was doing a bad job. Thats up from 57% positive and 31% negative in March. His overall job approval rating stood at 54% with 41% disapproving. Goodwill for the president remains high, particularly for his response to the pandemic, Murray said. The poll of 800 adults was conducted April 8-12 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Sign up here to get the latest stories on COVID in New Jersey, straight to your inbox. It is chilling. The police members had no hope, the judge said. He then told Singh, Their deaths are entirely unnecessary and should have been avoided. Their deaths were caused by you. The families of the police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway were in court to hear the sentence read out. Credit:Jason South Singh was an ice user who, investigators estimate, had rested only five of the 72 hours before the crash and spent much of those three days dealing and using drugs with associates when not driving. His plea hearing last month was told he appeared so drug-affected and tired to other users that they urged him to sleep. However, Singhs habit was so relentless that at the start of his fatal drive he stopped at the side of the freeway for a drug deal. About 40 minutes after leaving his Lyndhurst depot, Singhs driving alarmed other motorists as his truck veered across lanes on the freeway, and he made no attempt to brake as the truck moved into the emergency lane and caused carnage. Prosecutors said Singh was so impaired by fatigue that a sleep expert likened the effect to a driver with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.3 six times the legal limit. Singhs plea hearing was also told staff at Connect Logistics, the company that employed him to drive chicken produce across Melbourne, had concerns about his fitness to drive, as he was twice seen reversing into the wrong loading bay on the morning of April 22, and he had raised personal problems with colleagues. But, his lawyer said last month, Singh was under sustained pressure from his boss, Simiona Tuteru, to work that afternoon, although the supervisor was unaware of the truckies drug use. Justice Coghlan said Singh was unfit to drive and his decision to do so to keep his job was selfish. The decision to drive was nonetheless yours, he said. Mr Tuteru is charged with four counts of manslaughter and police allege he knew Singh shouldnt have been driving. Mr Tuteru is set to fight his charges at a hearing next month. Mohinder Singh arrives at the Supreme Court for his plea hearing last month. Credit:Jason South Singh was a believer in the supernatural, the court heard, who thought he was cursed by a witch named Glenys who wouldnt get out of his passenger seat. Justice Coghlan said Singh claimed he saw ghosts and spirits in recent years, while his family reported a decline in his mental health. A forensic psychiatrist found Singh was impulsive in decision-making, lacked insight into his drug use and tended to adopt supernatural reasoning over rational explanations. But although Singh was actively psychotic that day, he knew he shouldnt have driven. Justice Coghlan said the crash and its devastating impact would long be remembered by the community. There are events which shock the public consciousness. This has been such an event, he said. One of the police cars being removed from the scene of the Eastern Freeway crash. Credit:Eddie Jim The unnecessary loss of four serving police officers going about their duties is a matter of huge community sorrow and regret. Singh, who has past convictions for drink-driving, last month apologised to the officers families and was remorseful, the court heard. Outside court, Constable Prestneys father, Andrew, read a statement on behalf of the four families, in which they thanked those who had helped the four officers, the investigators and supporters from around the world. Even though justice has now been served in relation to the actual collision, no amount of punishment can replace the loss of our loved ones and the missing place at our tables that will be felt by us for the rest of our lives, Mr Prestney said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video We are consoled by the fact that our four will not be forgotten as we continue to carry them in our hearts. Singhs sentence is the longest imposed for culpable driving in at least the past two decades, and Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said it was a reflection on one of the most extreme and catastrophic outcomes of that type of offending. However, Mr Gatt said the sentence would not bring any closure for the families. Theyll have to carry that loss forever, so we can only continue to try to support them, he said. Richard Pusey (right) when arrested last year. Credit:Nine News Our hope is that in doing this we can hopefully put to bed one part of this horrible chapter and help them through this. Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police would commemorate the anniversary in services next week and one later this year that would be open to the public given the overwhelming support shown to the force from the community. A man has recalled the moment he escaped the clutches of the I-95 serial killer who brutally murdered six gay men and shoved leaves, socks and sex toys in their mouths during a string of slayings in 1994. Jackie Strickland was friends with Albert Morris, 37, who was shot, beaten, and strangled by Gary Ray Bowles on June 13, 1994. Investigators also said there was an item shoved down his throat. Bowles was using the alias, Joey Pearson, when Morris, who frequented gay bars in Jacksonville, brought him home. Morris had agreed to let Pearson live with him temporarily in exchange for helping out around the house. While living together, Morris had asked his friend Strickland to give Pearson 'a ride'. As part of the Oxygen series, Mark of a Serial Killer, Strickland revealed how driving Pearson along I-95 nearly cost him his life. In the clip, Strickland said he was nervously making small talk with Pearson, who was looking at the landscape as they drove. Jackie Strickland (pictured) has recalled the moment he escaped the clutches of I-95 serial killer, Gary Ray Bowles, who brutally murdered six gay men in 1994 Strickland was friends with Albert Morris (pictured), 37, who asked him to give Gary Ray Bowles, who was under the alias Joey Pearson, a ride 'I said, "You gone stay with Al and do work around there? And he goes, "Well I'm gonna do a little bit of construction, and then I think I'll move on,"' Strickland recalled. Crime journalist, Pat Lalama, is also featured in the clip detailing how Pearson 'out of nowhere' tells Strickland to 'stop the car' and 'pull over'. Strickland said he stopped the vehicle and watched Pearson jump out of the car. 'There's nothing around us. He's running out of the car pointing his finger towards the woods,' Strickland said. According to Lalama, Pearson tried to get Strickland out of the vehicle and into the woods by asking him to 'come look at this'. 'All of a sudden, from up above I guess the voice of God come into my head and told me not to get out of the car and I heard this two times in my head. I immediately felt that I just couldn't trust him. 'He was trying to convince me; to lure me into the woods. I'm sitting there thinking that I'm not gonna get out of this car,' Strickland said. Pearson eventually got back into the car, lit a cigarette and claimed that he had seen 'a tent' in the pasture that he wanted to show Strickland. 'To know that I was so close to becoming a victim. This guy was looking to probably kill me and run off with my car and the money that I had,' Strickland said. Strickland said that they didn't find out until later that Pearson was actually Bowles. Later on, Strickland was contacted by America's Most Wanted and explained to them that Pearson had a fascination with Jacksonville Beach, a place where Pearson wanted to spend more time. Strickland's friend, Morris, was among six gay men who were brutally killed by Bowles in 1994. It began in Daytona Beach with the murder of 59-year-old John Hardy Roberts. In between, there were victims in Rockville, Maryland; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta; and Nassau County, Florida. Strickland's friend, Morris, was among six gay men who were brutally killed by Gary Ray Bowles (pictured during his November 1994 arrest) In each case, Bowles had a signature: He stuffed the victims throats with objects towels, rags, toilet paper, dirt, leaves and even a sex toy. Among those killed were John Hardy Roberts (left) and Walter Hinton (right) Bowles (pictured) was executed by lethal injection in August 2019 at Florida State Prison In each case, Bowles had a signature: He stuffed the victims throats with objects towels, rags, toilet paper, dirt, leaves and even a sex toy. Roberts, who was his roommate at the time, was beaten and strangled to death in March 1994. It wasnt hard for Daytona Beach police to figure out who killed Roberts. Bowles left a probation document at the scene and also was caught on an ATM camera trying to withdraw money from Roberts account. What proved more difficult was capturing him, something they were unable to do until after five other men in three states had been slain. The second murder took place in Maryland, on April 14, 1994. On that day authorities said Bowles strangled David Jarman and stole his credit cards, his money and his car. Milton Bradley was a 72-year-old World War II Navy veteran living in Savannah, Georgia, in May 1994 when he met Bowles. Also in May, 47-year-old Alverson Carter Jr's body was discovered at his home in Atlanta, Georgia. The crime was similar to the others and forensic evidence linked Bowles to the crime. Morris became his fifth victim when he was killed in June 1994 in Hilliard, Florida. In November 1994, Walter Hinton was murdered in Jacksonville Beach. Hinton was Bowles' sixth and final known victim in a series of killings in an eight-month span that terrorized the Interstate 95 corridor and won him the nickname the 'I-95 killer'. Bowles was arrested after killing Hinton and confessed to killing the other five men. He received the death penalty for Hinton's murder. Bowles, 57, was raised in West Virginia, where he experienced drugs and violence at a young age. His father was a coal miner who died of black lung before he was born. His mother remarried multiple times, and his first two stepfathers were abusive, according to court records. His mother and brother testified that Bowles began drinking, smoking marijuana and huffing glue when he was 11 years old. When he was 13, he fought back against his second stepfather, smashing a rock in his head and nearly killing him, according to court records. Thats when Bowles left home. Investigators say Bowles survived by letting gay men perform sex acts on him for money, though he maintained he was straight. Bowles was executed by lethal injection in August 2019 at Florida State Prison. Bowles did not say anything before his execution, but said in a handwritten statement that he was sorry for his actions. 'Im sorry for all the pain and suffering I have caused. I hope my death eases your pain, Bowles wrote. 'I want to tell my mother that I am also sorry for my actions. Having to deal with your son being called a monster is terrible. Im so very sorry. I never wanted this to be my life. You dont wake up one day and decide to become a serial killer,' the note reads. 404 Net leasing of office space fell 48 per cent during January-March across seven cities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but demand for the flexible space from corporates has increased, according to Cushman & Wakefield. In its latest quarterly report, consultant Cushman & Wakefield said the net leasing of office space declined to 35,78,585 sq ft in January-March 2021 from 69,31,922 sq ft in the corresponding period of the previous year across seven major cities. The flexible space leased by corporate clients increased to 15,523 seats during the first quarter of this calendar year from 10,690 seats in the year-ago period. "A sharp jump indicates that occupiers are relying on managed space as a smart alternative in the current situation," it said. According to the data, the net leasing of office space in Mumbai plunged to 2,01,642 sq ft during January-March 2021, from 8,82,693 sq ft in the corresponding period last year. In Delhi-NCR, the net office absorption fell to 4,28,469 sq from 15,97,003 sq ft. The net leasing dropped to 17,24,456 sq ft in Bengaluru from 26,54,939 sq ft. In Chennai, the demand for office space declined to 1,44,309 sq ft from 2,55,010 sq ft. The net leasing in Pune, however, increased to 2,76,531 sq ft from 1,73,026 sq ft. In Hyderabad, the net absorption went down to 6,24,321 sq ft from 8,91,613 sq ft, while Kolkata saw a fall to 1,78,857 sq ft from 4,77,638 sq ft. Anshul Jain, managing director (SE Asia and India) of Cushman & Wakefield, said, "Since Q4 closed on a positive note for commercial leasing business, the market was hopeful of a gradual return to business as usual. And, the immunisation drive carried out by the government added much-needed confidence." Unfortunately, the sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases paused the momentum the market had picked up, he said. "Unless the government rolls out the vaccination drive for one and all, occupiers will continue to remain cautious and market activity is likely to remain muted till the beginning of the second half of 2021," Jain added. DOVER, Del. (AP) Attorneys for the Boy Scouts of America told a Delaware bankruptcy judge Monday that they plan to file a new reorganization plan after gaining little support for a previous proposal that has been roundly criticized by attorneys for child sex abuse victims. Jessica Lauria, an attorney for the BSA, told Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein that an amended plan would be filed Tuesday unless the stars align and the Boy Scouts reach a meaningful resolution with one or more other parties Monday night. Lauria said the new plan is designed to continue momentum from a three-day mediation session that ended April 1 in Miami. She acknowledged, however, that differences remain among attorneys representing abuse victims, insurers and other parties. There are some issues that will have to be litigated in connection with the plan, Lauria said. The revised proposal will include a default plan, or Plan A, similar to what the BSA proposed in March. It calls for a global resolution of abuse claims that includes a substantial contribution to a victims trust fund by the BSAs local councils in return for a release from further liability. Local sponsoring organizations of Boy Scout troops that contribute to the victims trust also would be released from further liability under the amended plan, which, like the previous plan, also would provide a framework for settlements with BSA insurers. Unlike the previous plan, however, the new plan will include an estimation of the Boy Scouts abuse liabilities, something that attorneys for abuse victims have said is critical in determining whether any reorganization plan adequately compensates victims. Weve heard the parties loud and clear, Lauria said, referring to court filings by victims attorneys seeking an estimation proceeding in federal district court in Delaware. The BSA, which argues that the estimation process should be overseen by the bankruptcy court, plans to object to those filings by Thursdays deadline, Lauria said. The Boy Scouts of America, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection last February in an effort to halt hundreds of lawsuits and create a compensation fund for men who were molested as youngsters decades ago by scoutmasters or other leaders. Attorneys for abuse victims made clear from the onset that they would go after campsites and other properties and assets owned by local councils to contribute to a settlement fund. The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for local troops, are not debtors in the bankruptcy and are considered by the Boy Scouts to be legally separate entities, even though they share insurance policies and are considered related parties in the bankruptcy case. The bankruptcy case has been bogged down by disputes over the provision of information by local councils about their financial assets, claims by the BSA that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of its own assets are restricted and unavailable to abuse victims, and concerns by BSA insurers that attorneys for abuse victims have submitted tens of thousands of claims without ensuring their validity. The BSAs previous plan proposed a $300 million contribution by local councils to a victims trust, about $115 million in cash and noninsurance assets from the BSA, and the assignment of BSA and local council insurance policies. In return, the 253 local councils and thousands of sponsoring organizations would be released from further liability. The official tort claimants committee, or TCC, which is charged with acting as a fiduciary for all abuse victims in bankruptcy, has estimated the value of the roughly 84,000 sexual abuse claims at about $103 billion, describing those estimates were extremely conservative. Richard Mason, an attorney for an ad hoc committee representing local Boy Scouts councils, said Monday that if the case proceeds to finalizing financial contributions from local councils, the committee needs to be much more involved than what we recently have been asked to be. Mason also said that, while the councils are willing to contribute cash, property and insurance rights to a victims trust, the amount and other terms, in our view, need to be realistic. Meanwhile, in the event that Plan A fails to win support from abuse victims, the BSA is also proposing a Plan B that would not involve contributions from, or liability releases for, local councils and sponsoring organizations. Lauria said such a plan would be suboptimal and would complicate any insurance settlements, given that BSA and its local councils have shared policies. She noted that the BSA-only plan is similar to what has been proposed by the tort claimants committee. The committee has called for a plan that allows BSA to emerge from bankruptcy and continue its operations while leaving liability releases for local councils and sponsoring organizations to be negotiated later by the committee or the settlement trust, but not for the relatively paltry sum offered by the local councils. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Eritrean soldiers killed three people when they opened fire on civilians this week in Ethiopias northern Tigray region, Amnesty International said Wednesday. The incident took place in the town of Adwa early Monday, more than two weeks after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vowed Eritrean troops would leave Tigray amid a growing international outcry over human rights abuses. AFP reported on the incident Tuesday, citing doctors and medical workers who said 19 people were injured, but had not confirmed the deaths. Three people lost their lives and at least 19 others are in hospital from yet another unlawful attack by Eritrean troops on civilians in Tigray. Deliberate attacks on civilians are prohibited by international humanitarian law and must stop, Amnesty East Africa deputy director Sarah Jackson said in a statement. Jackson reiterated Amnestys call for an international investigation of human rights abuses in Tigray, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Eritrea has not responded to requests for comment about the Adwa shootings. It has previously denied reports Eritreans have committed mass killings and rapes in the five-month-old conflict. Abiy, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, sent federal troops into Tigray in November to detain and disarm leaders of the once dominant regional ruling party, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). He said the move came in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on army camps. Abiy declared victory within weeks, but combat has continued and analysts warn of a prolonged stalemate. Addis Ababa and Asmara long denied Eritreans were involved in the war, contradicting testimony from residents, rights groups, aid workers, diplomats and even some Ethiopian civilian and military officials. Abiy finally acknowledged their presence in March while speaking to lawmakers. It is unclear how many Eritrean soldiers are in the region or whether any have left in recent weeks. Amnestys statement Wednesday cited six witnesses who described how Eritrean soldiers drove through the centre of Adwa shooting at random. We scattered in different directions. I hid in the drainage They were shooting from the backs of the moving trucks, said one witness, identified by the pseudonym Teklu for security reasons. Like witnesses interviewed by AFP, Teklu said the Eritreans were easily identifiable because they spoke Tigrinya the main language in Tigray and Eritrea rode in vehicles with Eritrean number plates and wore Eritrean defence force camouflages. [April 14, 2021] Girls Nite Live Uplifts Women in Comedy with Virtual Stand-Up Comedy Night PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Girls Nite Live (GNL), the multiple platform, feel-good channel, was conceptualized and launched in 2020, with a founding purpose to provide an earning platform for women whose income was compromised due to the pandemic. Thursday night at 7:30pm ET, GNL will provide an opportunity for female comedians to reach its audience of 700,000+ fans and share original material in its first-ever, virtual stand-up Comedy Night. The lineup of comics includes Charlie George, award-winning stand-up comedian and writer, as seen on BBC Asian Network Comedy and Chloe Radcliffe, a NYC-based comic and writer for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Registration for the non-recorded event can be found at www.GirlsNiteLive.com. Women tune into GNL's 450+ programs to learn new skills, try new recipes, connect with field experts and participate in live women-owned business shopping segments, all within a positive and inclusive community. Speakers have all expanded their audiences, while many work with the GNL team to pivot their businesses to an online model. As the need for connections and community continue to grow, so does GNLs unique ability to build a positive and supportive community in a safe space around common experiences. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: Annabeth Mann amann@girlsnitelive.com About PIF Group: The PIF (Pay it Forward) Group is built on a model of support and giving back. Whether through online platforms, social media communities, or in person events, PIF Group strives to create and support a positive sense of community. Other initiatives include the Herb it Forward Foundation, (www.Herbie.com). She Knew She Could (SheKnewSheCould.com), and www.Positivities.com. Shelly Fisher, CEO of PIF Group, also co-authored with Jen Jones the award winning book Breaking Sad:What to Say After Loss, What Not to Say, and When to Just Show Up. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/girls-nite-live-uplifts-women-in-comedy-with-virtual-stand-up-comedy-night-301268486.html SOURCE Girls Nite Live [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Margo Kissell and Susan Meikle, university news and communications Miami University Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to professors John Jeep of German, Russian, Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (GRAMELAC); Rose Marie Ward of kinesiology and health; and Ellen Yezierski of chemistry and biochemistry. University Faculty Scholar Awards (formerly called the Distinguished Scholar Awards) honor faculty whose sustained excellence in research or other creative activity has brought them prominence in their fields. John Jeep received the University Faculty Scholar Award for a faculty member in the humanities and creative arts Jeep is an international expert on medieval German literature, culture, history and language. His systematic research in the area of Old High German to Early New German and his original findings have been documented in three monographs, a nominator wrote. During his tenure at Miami, Jeep has produced more than 25 refereed articles appearing in some of the most prestigious journals in the field of German and medieval studies. The encyclopedia Medieval Germany, edited by Jeep in 2001 and reissued in 2017, offers a wealth of entries on the medieval period in the German and Dutch-speaking region. As the single editor of this massive volume (928 pages), John has delivered a wonderful, indispensable reference source for medievalists, generalists, linguists as well as literary scholars in a large number of disciplines (German, French, English, Italian, Spanish and Scandinavian Studies), a nominator wrote. In addition to Jeeps impressive publication record, he has served as distinguished bibliographer for the Modern Languages Associations International Bibliography for nearly three decades, a nominator said. This is a resource that, to modern literature scholars, is what Google is to a general audience an indispensable tool that places scholarship at our digital fingertips, a nominator wrote. Jeep served as chief departmental advisor and director of the linguistics program from 2010-2015, interim director of the University Studies Program from 2010-2011, and associate university director of liberal education from 2007-2009. Rose Marie Ward received the University Faculty Scholar Award for a faculty member in business, education and social sciences Addictive behavior, namely substance abuse and eating disorders, is a prominent feature of Wards research. Dr. Ward has made an indelible mark in the field of college student mental health, sexual assault, substance use, and eating disorders, a nominator wrote. Her recently completed research examined the occurrence of alcohol-induced blackouts among college women and their drinking motives. She also examined Thursday drinking, one aspect of risky alcohol consumption, and Drunkorexia, weight-conscious drinking or restricting food intakes on days they intend to drink alcohol. Wards alcohol research is on the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholisms AIM matrix as an example of research from which officials and universities can build effective interventions, a nominator said. She has authored and co-authored 74 peer reviewed journal articles in high-impact journals such as the International Journal of Drug Policy and Drug and Alcohol Review. Many of her research articles and book chapters have been written with undergraduate and graduate student contributors. Her research has been supported by more than $550,000 in grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services, Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation, and the Society of Health and Physical Educators. She has also received more than and $100,000 internal and external funds for undergraduate students to conduct research and present at national conferences. She has been invited to present her research at many prestigious institutions, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine to speak about sexual assault and harassment of female college students. Ward is associate dean of the Graduate School and professor of kinesiology and health. She also is a faculty affiliate in the departments of educational leadership, statistics and psychology. She has won numerous teaching awards, including Miamis Knox Excellence in Teaching Award (2012), the Miami University Alumni Effective Educator Award (2015), the Psi Chi Psychology Professor of the Year Award (2005) and Excellence in Teaching Award of The National Society of Leadership and Success (2011). Ellen Yezierski received the University Faculty Scholar Award for a faculty member in applied and natural sciences Yezierski is widely considered to be the premiere scholar on the professional development of high school chemistry teachers in the United States. Her research is not just voluminous, but also exceptional in that she has been able to design interventions to achieve the most precious and highly valuable outcome, a nominator said. Yezierski is one of just a few scholars to publish data that demonstrates her model for teacher change not only improves the quality of instruction but also results in increased learning for the students of these high school chemistry teachers. Her expertise is highly sought after by professional organizations in chemistry education research. This year she was elected chair of the 2021 Gordon Research Conference on Chemistry Education Research & Practice. She was appointed to the American Chemical Societys (the worlds largest scientific society) Committee on Education and was recently elected chair. She has also been chair of the board of publication for the American Chemical Societys Journal of Chemical Education. Yezierskis research program has been funded with more than $5.8 million by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 2006. Since joining Miami in 2010, she has received more than $3.2 million as the primary investigator on grants from the NSF. She has been a co-principal investigator on three additional NSF-funded grants of more than $1.69 million, for STEM teacher preparation, undergraduate STEM teacher scholarships and graduate student professional development. Within the past eight years, Yezierski has published 41 peer-reviewed journal articles and six book chapters impressive productivity in her field, according to her nominators. In 2016 she was designated a Fellow by the American Chemical Society. She is one of only two chemists at Miami to receive this honor. Yezierski is a highly regarded teacher at Miami, and was recognized with both the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015 and the Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate Instruction and Mentoring in 2018. An experienced high school chemistry teacher, she taught chemistry for seven years before earning her doctorate from Arizona State University in 2003. She previously taught at Grand Valley State University before joining Miami in 2010. A woman who survived a terror attack has said she begged the knifeman not to hurt her and then played dead after being stabbed. Isobel Rowbotham worked for Cambridge Universitys Learning Together programme, which was holding an anniversary celebration at Fishmongers Hall in London. One of the attendees was Usman Khan, a 28-year-old terror offender who murdered two people at the event on 29 November 2019. Ms Rowbotham was in the reception area of the venue when he launched his attack shortly before 2pm, stabbing victim Jack Merritt in the mens toilets and then attacking Saskia Jones in an adjoining cloakroom. Giving evidence to the inquests into their deaths on Wednesday, she said she first saw Merritt emerge into reception shouting that he had been stabbed and covered in blood. Read more: He was holding his stomach, obviously injured. There was a lot of blood everywhere, Ms Rowbotham added. I looked to my left and saw Khan coming towards me with knives in his hands. She recalled the attacker moving fast and with purpose towards her, adding: I was saying no, Usman, please but when it became obvious he wouldnt stop I turned to my left and tried to hunch and protect myself. I felt him stabbing me, it felt more like punches I guess, a lot of repeated punches. Ms Rowbotham said that when she was lying on the floor, she felt Khan striking his final blows to her neck. It felt like he thought they were the final stabs. They were intended to finish me, she told the hearing at Londons Guildhall. I decided to lie on the floor and play dead in case he came back again. Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were murdered during the 2019 Fishmongers Hall terror attack (Metropolitan Police) Ms Rowbotham was treated by police and paramedics, and was among several stabbed victims who survived their injuries. The inquests also heard evidence from a receptionist working at Fishmongers Hall who witnessed the attack and called 999. Dawn Batchelor told how Merritt staggered into her office, adjoining the reception area, saying he had been stabbed and bleeding. Ms Batchelor said that after he collapsed, she initially hoped she was witnessing some sort of re-enactment or film, but then a friend followed Mr Merritt inside and Khan appeared at the door. She told how Khan was holding a knife at head height and she shouted to a security officer to shut the office door, before calling the police. The hearing was shown a transcript of the 999 call, where Ms Batchelor told an operator: Somebody has been stabbing, he is running amok, he is running amok, I am deadly serious. He stabbed someone, the person is bleeding right now. The receptionist told how Merritt was bleeding really badly and repeatedly asked for an ambulance or first aid to arrive quickly. She could be heard saying this cant be real before telling the operator that Khan had run out of Fishmongers Hall onto London Bridge armed with a knife. Really hurry, it looks like a terrorist attack, Ms Batchelor said. The ambulance needs to be here really quickly. She told Merritt to stay with us before police officers and doctors arrived to give first aid. The inquests heard that the 25-year-old was taken to an emergency services rendezvous point for treatment on a stretcher, but died of his injuries. Jones died at the scene, after being stabbed in the neck. The inquests continue. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) As COVID-19 cases in the country continue to surge, so does the amount of medical waste, bringing to light another challenge in the Philippines' battle against the pandemic. There is a surge in hospital waste and solid waste, Environment Undersecretary for Climate Change Analiza Teh told CNN Philippines New Day on Wednesday. Around 52,000 metric tons of hospital waste have so far been generated amid the health crisis, Teh said. To put things in perspective, she likened that to over 2 million sacks of rice, with one sack containing 25 kilograms. Of the total figure, only 14,000 metric tons were treated, she added. The number was based on the special permit to transport, treat and dispose waste, she noted. Proper disposal Teh underscored the need to properly dispose medical wastes, which pose a threat to human health and the environment if improperly handled. Hazardous waste should be brought to a facility where it will be treated before being sent to a disposal plant, the environment official pointed out. She also asked local government officials to be more conscientious in addressing the hazardous waste issue at the household level with people now caring for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 at home, as patients quickly fill up isolation facilities and hospitals. She said masks and other hazardous wastes must be separated from other household trash and put in a black garbage bag. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 states that: These [household hazardous] wastes are usually handled separately from other residential and commercial wastes. A satellite image from March 2021 shows Scarborough Shoal, one of the features trademarked by the Chinese government. Not content with claiming sovereignty over nearly every crag of rock and spit of sand in the South China Sea, China has taken the unusual step of registering trademarks over hundreds of land features scattered throughout those disputed waters, a BenarNews investigation has found. That action is meeting with disapproval from other South China Sea claimants. Taiwan and Vietnam have rejected the legitimacy of the trademarks, which experts described as a possible attempt by the Peoples Republic of China to control how domestic and even foreign companies use South China Sea branding. Unlike most of Chinas assertive behavior in the South China Sea, the trademark registrations largely slipped under the radar when they were initiated seven years ago. But now a review of Chinese government records from 2014 by BenarNews has revealed that Sansha City which is responsible for administering Chinas claims in the South China Sea filed thousands of domestic trademark applications covering 281 specific rocks, reefs, shoals and other contested features as well as entire regions of the South China Sea. Each of these trademarks is composed of the features name in stylized Chinese calligraphy and is categorized under one of 45 international trademark classes, which cover everything from musical instruments to legal services. Many also include an English transliteration of the features name and an illustrated logo that offers a colorful view of the feature as seen from above. The depiction of features appears to predate Chinas massive campaign of land reclamation in the Paracel and Spratly islands which kicked off in 2014. Trademarked names and logos of Mischief Reef (Meiji Reef), Fiery Cross Reef (Yongshu Reef), Subi Reef (Zhubi Reef), and the entire Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands). [Images: Trademarks held by the Sansha City Yongxing Affairs Management Bureau; Analysis: BenarNews] Declaring sovereignty Julian Ku, a professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, said these trademarks could potentially help the Chinese government wield lawsuits to control how Chinese and foreign companies use South China Sea branding. He said that this would be a form of lawfare Chinas use of domestic and international law to advance its position in the disputes. China contends that it holds sovereignty over hundreds of features across the entire South China Sea as well as extensive rights to its waters, a position not supported by international law. Its claims are contested by several neighboring countries, though it does not appear that those countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have registered comparable trademarks. In response to a request for comment on Chinas trademarks, an official at the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington told BenarNews that every way to spread information that is against international law and historical truth is valueless and unlawful, as well as will not be able to change the truth about Viet Nams sovereignty over Hoang Sa [Paracels] and Truong Sa [Spratlys]. The commercial use of South China Sea imagery particularly maps has long been a source of tension between the rival claimants. The inclusion of Chinas controversial nine-dash line on a map in DreamWorks 2019 film Abominable, for example, caused authorities in the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia to ban the film. And just last week, Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said that companies operating in Vietnam must respect and strictly comply with the laws of Vietnam, criticizing foreign brands that include Chinas nine-dash line in maps on their products. It is clear from official commentary on the issue that China sees intrinsic value in asserting commercial rights over what are disputed territories. Quoting a Sansha City official, state-run China Industry and Commerce News reported in 2016 that applying to register trademarks for the names of Sansha Citys islands and reefs in accordance with Chinas Trademark Law was the most direct embodiment of declaring sovereignty. Sansha City also registered these trademarks to protect the geographical name ownership of each island, reef, shoal and island and prevent trademark squatting, China Industry and Commerce News said, referring to when one entity preemptively registers another entitys trademark, effectively stealing it. Claiming every last rock and reef The 281 features trademarked by Sansha City largely match the list of 287 features that China named and claimed in 1983, which was expanded in April 2020. For example, the city trademarked the Paracel Islands, an archipelago also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Crescent Group and Amphitrite Group, which form the two main halves of the Paracel Islands; the Qilian Islets, which is a sub-region within the Amphitrite Group; and Tree Island, which is part of the Qilian Islets. It trademarked rocks and reefs in the Spratly Islands too, including features controlled by other claimant states like Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba, Philippines-occupied Thitu Island, and Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island. Trademarked names and logos of Itu Aba (Taiping Island), Thitu Island (Zhongye Island), and Sin Cowe Island (Jinghong Island). [Images: Trademarks held by the Sansha City Yongxing Affairs Management Bureau; Analysis: BenarNews] Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council said this week that it has unquestionable sovereignty over Itu Aba as well as long-term effective governance over the island. The council said that Chinas trademarks are inconsistent with international standards and criticized them as a deliberate attempt to create a false image of Chinese jurisdiction over Itu Aba. Tensions between Taiwan and the China over their competing South China Sea claims have been increasingly high in recent weeks as China has operated drones and military aircraft near Taiwan-occupied Pratas Island. Sansha City has not in fact registered a trademark for Pratas, but it has for other disputed features that have been in the news lately. Among them are Scarborough Shoal and Whitsun Reef each the location of a standoff between China and the Philippines, the first at Scarborough in 2012 and the second at Whitsun in March 2021. The presence of hundreds of Chinese fishing or militia ships at Whitsun Reef generated significant diplomatic pushback from Manila in late March and on Tuesday prompted Manila to summon Chinas ambassador to the Philippines. It has also drawn statements of concern and condemnation from Washington, Hanoi, Canberra, London, and other capitals. Authorities in the Philippines did say last week that they are aware of Chinas trademarks but they declined to comment. Malaysian officials also declined to comment. Questionable legal strength Chinese government records show that Sansha City has applied for at least 2,675 trademarks, with all but a handful of applications submitted in 2014. Most but not all of these applications appear to have been successfully approved. In 82 instances, Sansha City trademarked a feature more than once, sometimes filing trademarks under each of the 45 international trademark classes for a single feature. It also trademarked Scarborough Shoal under two separate names, submitting 45 trademark applications for Huangyan Island and 45 for Minzhu Reef. Despite China registering the trademarks seven years ago, they do not appear to have been used widely with one exception. The Sansha logo that the city trademarked can be spotted on the citys supply ships, its website and podiums used by the municipal government. Sansha refers to the Xisha Islands, Nansha Islands and Zhongsha Islands, which are Chinas names for the Paracel and Spratly islands, Scarborough Shoal, and Macclesfield Bank. The citys trademarked Sansha logo is visible on its two main supply ships, the Sansha 1 (top) and the Sansha 2 (bottom). [Images: Sansha City Peoples Government, Xinhua News, Trademark held by the Sansha City Yongxing Affairs Management Bureau; Analysis: BenarNews] Ku said the legal implications of these trademarks are not entirely clear. Trademarks are legal protections for the use of names or logos for commercial purposes, which means that trademarks would not generally be understood to bolster a countrys sovereignty claims under international law, he said. Moreover, Ku said that trademarks are generally recognized first under domestic law and you have to register for a trademark country-by-country and each country still has the right to reject the trademark registration for domestic legal reasons. Ku also questioned whether such geographical locations can even be trademarked. Trademarked names and logos of the Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands), Crescent Group (Yongle Islands), and the Amphitrite Group (Xuande Islands). [Images: Trademarks held by the Sansha City Yongxing Affairs Management Bureau; Analysis: BenarNews] There are protections in U.S. and in international law for geographical indications when associated with (typically) food products such as Champagne but trademarking the land feature without any particular product is new to me and I think somewhat uncertain under most countries trademark laws, he said. Despite these limitations, these trademarks could still be useful for the Chinese government. For example, these trademarks may have allowed the Chinese government to block unapproved commercial use of South China Sea branding by Chinese companies. Ku said that these trademarks could also be intended to deter foreign companies from using South China Sea branding. He said if any company tried to market a product with a land feature name associated with it, in theory, a Chinese trademark holder would be able to sue. But since I think it is unlikely that other countries would recognize these trademark claims by China, I am not as worried, Ku said. He also noted that the Chinese government only trademarked the Chinese names of these features as well as English transliterations rather than their widely recognized names in other languages, likely further limiting the international impact of these trademarks. Still, even the potential of harassing litigation could be a meaningful deterrent, Ku said. Imran Vittachi in Washington, Jason Gutierrez in Manila and Hwang Chun-Mei in Taipei contributed to this report. "Our partnership with policyholders in protecting their businesses is paramount, and our investment in fraud prevention is critical to ensuring their success," said Paul Kearney, chief claims officer at AF Group. "Nina is the quintessential model of leadership, and with her rich portfolio of experience and strategic learnings, I am confident that she will build on the excellence of our Investigative Services Unit as we continue developing new and innovative strategies designed to fight fraud in our industry. I am honored to have Nina as part of our team." Burnett has more than 20 years of experience in investigating health care fraud and other complex fraud schemes. Most recently, she was director of Health Care Investigations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). Prior to her time at BCBSM, Burnett worked for 10 years as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where she specialized in the investigation of health care fraud. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Columbia University and Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University School of Law. She holds several professional designations including Accredited Health Care Fraud Investigator (AHFI) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC). About AF Group AF Group (Lansing, Mich.) and its subsidiaries are a premier provider of innovative insurance solutions. 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 Tel: 517-331-4890 312-443-9819 [email protected] AFGroup.com SOURCE AF Group Related Links http://www.afgroup.com Four candidates were vying for three seats. Of the votes counted in the race as of the day after the election, Engle had the most, with about 30.2% of the vote. Polen was behind him with 28.5% and Borchers was the third highest vote-getter with about 27.9%, according to the unofficial results. A crew member was found dead and 12 were still missing off the Louisiana coast Wednesday as the U.S. Coast Guard continued its search of the Gulf of Mexico waters where a vessel capsized in rough seas Tuesday afternoon. The Seacor Power, a lift boat that services oil platforms, left Port Fourchon on Tuesday afternoon and was soon overcome by hurricane-force winds and 7-to-9 foot seas generated by a strong line of thunderstorms that sliced through the region. On Wednesday, Coast Guard rescuers were focused on an area seven miles off the coast where the 129-foot vessel lay crippled, but visible. They recovered the body of one crew member, rescued six others and were still searching for the remaining members of the 19-person crew, said Coast Guard Capt. Will Watson, who is overseeing the rescue operation. Rough seas and rain made search efforts difficult for the boat and helicopter teams that were saturating the area, said Watson, who added that they were still hopeful more crew members would be rescued, and that some could still be trapped on the vessel. We are giving it everything we have, Watson said. The accident sent a chill through southeast Louisiana and its tight-knit coastal communities as residents anxiously sought word about who was on board and who had been found safe. Power had been knocked out across much of the area and was still out Wednesday morning in parts of Port Fourchon, a major hub for the oil and gas industry that supports most of Louisianas offshore drilling platforms. At the Kajun Truck Plaza, manager Tammy Hamilton was searching social media for clues about the tragedy, which she said reminded her of the Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people a little more than a decade ago. Its horrible. Its horrible, said Hamilton, who said Tuesdays storm came upon the area fast and was one of the worst she had seen. We wasnt expecting what we got. According to the Coast Guard, the Seacor Power departed from Port Fourchon about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday after a line of thunderstorms packing winds greater than 39 miles per hour had moved through the region. The vessel was headed east to the Main Pass oil exploration area near the mouth of the Mississippi River, to an oil platform owned by Talos Energy, according to WWL-TV, citing a source familiar with the vessel. Forecasters had issued a marine warning earlier in the day about the line of storms, and just before 2:30 p.m., as the Seacor Power motored off the coast, forecasters from the National Weather Service issued another alert. They warned of potentially catastrophic waves and tropical storm-force winds, this time for the area into which the vessel was headed. The forecasters asked sailors to head to safe harbor if possible, because vessels could sustain damage or capsize. The line of thunderstorms that arrived ultimately produced wind gusts of 80 to 90 mph and high seas that exceeded the expectations of the Coast Guard, Watson said. Meteorologists said an unusual weather event, known as a "wake low," which formed behind the line of storms, contributed to the brutal conditions. Disaster had struck by about 4:30 p.m., when another vessel passing nearby reported that the Seacor Power had taken on water and capsized. Simon Bruce, 30, of Cut Off, was on board the Poppa P crew boat about 15 miles south of Port Fourchon when the storm hit. He said it was much stronger than his crew had expected. As the Poppa P rocked violently through the waves, he heard at least 15 distress calls over the radio, including a call that a shrimp boat had overturned and another vessel was taking on water. The most frightening calls came from vessels near the Seacor Power, he said. They were screaming Seacor Power just flipped,' Bruce said. It was terrifying to hear. The Seacor Power is what is known as a lift boat or "jack barge," a service boat often employed by the offshore energy industry. It has three massive legs, each about 250 feet long, that can be jacked down into the water to create a standing platform, and a 120-foot crane to handle tasks such as offshore construction. 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 Dale Mitchell, owner of Mitchell Lift Boats in New Iberia, said they are reliable equipment for the offshore oil industry, but are not built to be sailing in the conditions the Seacor Power encountered Tuesday. Their massive legs rise high in the air and their flat decks are designed to serve as a sturdy platform, not to cut through stormy seas. "These boats are just not designed to take that kind of severe weather; not a lot of boats are," said Mitchell. "If you knew beforehand, that boat would have never left the port." As the families of crew members waited for reports on their loved ones, some questioned why the boat set sail with so much bad weather in the area. I cant for the life of me understand whoever authorized that vessel to leave that port, knowing it moves so slow, said Slidell resident Darra Morales, whose son, Chaz Morales, is one of the missing Seacor Power crew members. She said the photo that the Coast Guard released of the capsized vessel makes her think the vessel was in the run position with its legs raised rather than in its standing position, where it wouldve been elevated above the waves. I know that boat, she said. Watson of the Coast Guard didnt provide details on exactly how the Seacor Power capsized or came to rest on its starboard side. The vessel is owned by Seacor Marine Holdings Inc., a Houston-based offshore transportation company that serves the oil and gas industry. In a prepared statement, a Seacor Marine spokesperson Kendell Moore said the company is "deeply saddened by the news of the vessel capsizing" and is working with the Coast Guard and other authorities. "We would like to thank the U.S. Coast Guard and good Samaritan vessels for their immediate response as well as the brave individuals who have further supported our search and rescue efforts. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone involved," the statement said. Flooding risks, more severe storms for Wednesday in New Orleans, Baton Rouge; see forecast Areas with the biggest risk for flooding are Baton Rouge, areas west of Interstate 55 and areas north of Interstate 10/12. Watson said Wednesday that rescue efforts were focused on an area surrounding the vessel, which appeared grounded. He didnt discuss particulars about how long the search and rescue efforts would go on. He said safety was a priority and that rescuers were clinging to optimism that they would find the missing crew members, and that Seacor Marine was keeping in contact with the families. While the Coast Guard led the search-and-rescue effort, Lafourche Parish deputies, harbor patrol officers and parish employees broke up in teams Wednesday to patrol the coastline from Port Fourchon to Grand Isle. Katelyn Umholtz, Anthony McAuley and Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this report. Education advocates said they are encouraged to see that Massachusetts education officials are proposing changes to an admissions policy for career/vocational high school admission, but say more clarity is needed to ensure equitable access. Currently, vocational schools admit students based on criteria of grades, attendance, discipline record and counselor recommendation. Those criteria have been viewed as discriminatory, as advocates say it leads to the exclusion of students of color, English language learners, special needs students and economically disadvantaged. Vocational schools are public schools, but they have been allowed to admit students by ranking them. Ranking them by their grades, attendance, discipline and guidance counselor records, Jack Livramento, of the United Interfaith Action of New Bedford and Fall River and of Massachusetts Communities Action Network, said during a virtual press conference Wednesday. All these factors have been found to be discriminatory and together they violate state and federal law. Chelsea sophomore Emily Menjivar said she does see the vocational admission policy as discriminatory. What happens when just because of my skin color I get sent to the office by a white teacher whose been biased about my behavior, Menjivar said, citing a study that indicated even preschool students of color are watched more closely and perceived as more troublesome than white preschoolers. With this admission policy, the opportunity to get into vocational school, which could highly impact my future, would go down the drain and all because I was labeled misbehaving one time when I was 5 years old. Anna Hadingham of La Colaborativa in Chelsea said that the areas regional vocational school accepted just 44% of students of color who applied compared to more than 80% of white students who apply. Hadingham said its clear that theres a barrier to admission for students of color. Groups pushing for a change in the admissions policy in recent months have said a lottery system would be better in offering equitable access to career education. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is suggesting proposed changes to admission policy including getting rid of the requirement that vocational schools use four criteria (grades, attendance, discipline record, and counselor recommendation) and prohibiting the consideration of excused absences and minor behavior or disciplinary infractions, as well as removing language that schools may condition admission on a student having passed courses in English Language Arts or its equivalent and mathematics for the school year immediately preceding their enrollment. DESE is seeking to clarify its authority to intervene in cases of non-compliance, and in such cases, to order changes to admissions policies that may include requiring a lottery. The proposed changes are slated to go before the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday. In a memo to BESE members, DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley wrote that more than a year of conversations with stakeholders has shown that a single set of state-prescribed admissions criteria is not in the best interests of students, families, and vocational schools and programs. If the board approves the proposed changes on April 20, DESE will solicit public comment and seek to bring the topic back to the board for a final vote in June. Other proposed changes include that vocational schools and programs using selective criteria will not use criteria that have the effect of disproportionately excluding persons in protected classes; that admission policies using selective criteria may be used only when there are more applicants than available seats; that each vocational school and program annually submit its admissions policy to DESE by August 15; a requirement that admission policies include strategies to promote equal educational opportunities and attract, enroll, and retain a student population that, when compared to students in similar grades in sending districts, has a comparable academic and demographic profile; and that the admission policy must be approved annually by the schools board of trustees or school committee, among other changes. This should lead to significant numbers of students who have been omitted of being admitted, mainly students of color, English language learners, special needs students and economically disadvantaged students, Livramento said. However, and this is a big however, this will require ongoing, proactive review by the DESE and action against any newly submitted admissions policies by individual schools if it tries to keep aspects of current discriminatory ranking system by alleging they are needed for a student to be eligible to participate in vocational education. Maureen Lynch, the president-elect of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators and Whittier Tech Superintendent, said equity, access and diversity are values closely linked to the MAVA and its membership. As educators and administrators in career and technical education (CTE) we know the value of vocational education, Lynch said. Our members have worked hard to share and discuss best practices for admissions policies that are equitable and that promote diversity and inclusion. We have also valued the opportunity to have a dialogue regarding these matters with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. While advocates said they are encouraged by the proposed changes, there are some points they want to clarify. Dan French, of the Center for Collaborative Education and Citizens for Public Schools, said that an analysis of DESE data shows that 19 of 24 vocational schools had at least one comparison point in which the percent of students from historically marginalized groups were offered seats at a rate that was more than 20 percentage points lower than their more privileged peers. While were very pleased that the department has put forth revised policy changes to an existing discriminatory state policy, there is still work to be done to further strengthen the proposed revisions and to ensure the department faithfully implements them according to law and civil rights standards, French said. French said the Vocational Education Justice Coalition still believes a lottery should be used when there are more applicants than seats. When it comes to retaining a comparable demographic enrollment, French said the coalition would like DESE to amended its language to state that admissions policies should strive to include strategies that promote equal educational opportunities and attract, enroll, and retain students from historically marginalized groups. And though the coalition supports the proposed language that prohibits the consideration of excused absences and minor behavior or disciplinary infractions, French said the term minor for behavior or disciplinary infractions needs to be clearly defined. Related Content: We are excited to welcome Magic Pure to the Quench family. This acquisition is our sixth already in 2021, a record pace with over 4,100 customers added across such strategic markets as Texas, Southern California, Phoenix, Montreal, and now Chicago. Quench, a leading provider of filtered water solutions for businesses and dealer partners across the United States and Canada, announced today that it has acquired Magic Pure, a provider of point-of-use drinking water systems in Chicago, IL. Magic Pure is a significant player within the hospitality industry, focusing on high-value sparkling water and other specialized solutions. We are excited to welcome Magic Pure to the Quench family, said Todd Peterson, COO of Quench. This acquisition is our sixth already in 2021, a record pace with over 4,100 customers added across such strategic markets as Texas, Southern California, Phoenix, Montreal, and now Chicago. Were thrilled to join forces with Quench, said owners of Magic Pure. Quench offers the broadest product line in the industry and is known for their outstanding customer service, so it was an easy choice to work with them. The Quench team was great to work with throughout the process. More on Quenchs acquisition process can be found at https://quenchwater.com/acquisitions/ or by contacting our acquisition team directly by email at acquisitions@quenchonline.com. About Quench Quench USA, Inc. offers bottle-free filtered drinking water solutions for healthy and environmentally conscious consumers outside the home, through direct sales and independent dealers across North America. Our bottle-free water coolers, ice machines, sparkling water dispensers and coffee brewers, purify a users existing water supply to provide reliable and convenient filtered water to a broad mix of businesses, including government, education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and other large commercial customers, including more than half of the Fortune 500. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Quench has sales and service operations across North America to serve our 60,000+ customers, and a network of over 250 independent dealers selling products under the brand names Pure Water Technology, Wellsys and Bluline. Quench is a Culligan Company. For more information, please visit https://quenchwater.com. About Culligan Founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan, Culligan is a world leader in delivering water solutions that will improve the lives of its customers. The company offers some of the most technologically advanced, state-of-the-art water filtration and treatment products. Culligan's products include water softeners, drinking water systems, whole-house systems and solutions for businesses. Culligan's network of franchise dealers is the largest in the world, with over 900 dealers in 90 countries. For more information visit: http://www.culligan.com. TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. -- Love Northern Michigans great outdoors and want to keep it pristine? You might be just the kind of volunteer that a Traverse City-based conservation organization is seeking. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is putting out a call for volunteers to pitch in on upcoming and ongoing work, including multiple trail building projects, invasive species removal efforts, the opening of new nature preserves, and maintaining the care for more than 10,000 acres of land. The conservancys ongoing Campaign for Generations, which encompasses dozens of natural landscape and farmland protection and stewardship projects across Northwest Lower Michigan, has created a greater need for volunteers than ever before, GTRLC Executive Director Glen Chown said in a statement. Volunteers are and have been the lifeblood of our organization, and we have been so fortunate that so many have shared their time and talents with us, Chown said. Weve perhaps never been busier, so we are hoping to meet some new faces. Some of the volunteer projects include trail building at a few of the conservancys established preserves as well as three preserves set to open later this year, allowing volunteers a sneak peek before these new places open to the public. Volunteer opportunities also include tree planting and invasive species control, such as removing garlic mustard and babys breath at the conservancys Arcadia Dunes preserve in Benzie County. According to the conservancy, volunteer opportunities are flexible, ranging from single events to recurring events and spanning a range of physical demands. A series of COVID-19 protocols are in place to protect both volunteers and GTRLC staff. For more information, and to sign up to volunteer, visit gtrlc.org/volunteer, then sign up for two remaining available virtual volunteer orientations on Tuesday, April 20 and Wednesday, April 21 at 10 a.m. at gtrlc.org/volunteer/calendar. More information about the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is at gtrlc.org. RELATED: New nature preserve, public trails planned for scenic Torch River spot Volunteers needed to adopt Michigan osprey nests this spring Michigan coastal wetlands targeted in ambitious new Great Lakes restoration plan Photo: BC gov. Flickr Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson UPDATE: 11:10 a.m. It's been nine months since Premier John Horgan wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to decriminalize the possession of personal amounts of drugs, to help reduce the skyrocketing number of overdose deaths in recent years. And while fast-tracking decriminalization was a key part of the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions mandate letter last fall, she announced Wednesday that the province is still working to formalize its request to Health Canada for an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. During a press conference Wednesday that marked five years since the overdose public health emergency was declared, Sheila Malcolmson said her ministry has been working with the federal government on the formal application that would see possession of small amounts of drugs in B.C. exempt from criminal sanctions. Today is our signal to those who have been working on the front lines, to the people with living experience, that we're going to be drawing on their work and their advice to fulfill the detail of the application, Malcolmson said. To do that with a view of the diversity of the needs across the province, both the large urban centres and rural and remote northern regions. This is a provincewide problem, and we're going to take that time to submit an application that reflects the diversity of our province. Since the public health crisis was declared in 2016, more than 7,000 British Columbians have died from illicit drug overdoses, with a record high 1,724 deaths coming in 2020 alone. While acknowledging the urgency needed in finding solutions to the overdose crisis, Malcolmson would not disclose any estimated timeline of when the application would be submitted. We've mapped some work out with Health Canada on timeline, she said. We feel the urgency of the situation, we're working as fast we can, and we have been since I became minister, and we'll have some more news on timeline when it's nailed down with Health Canada. She also announced an additional $45 million in funding over the next three years for additional supports for drug users, including expanding overdose prevention sites across the province and hiring nurses, social workers and support workers for outreach teams. Last year alone, close to 3,000 overdoses occurred at overdose prevention sites in B.C., but not one person died at these sites. ORIGINAL: 10 a.m. The B.C. government announced Wednesday that it will officially request an exemption from the federal government to allow for the decriminalization of possessing personal amounts of drugs. During a press conference Wednesday morning on the five-year anniversary of B.C.'s declaration of the overdose public health emergency, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson said the B.C. government is formalizing its request to Health Canada to seek a Section 56 exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, to decriminalize personal possession of drugs in B.C. This section of the act allows the federal Health Minister to make an exemption if it's necessary for a medical or scientific purpose or is otherwise in the public interest. Malcolmson said her ministry has been working with the federal government for months on the request, but she could not give an estimated timeline on when the formal application would be delivered. She said decriminalization would help reduce the harmful stigma drug users face, while framing the overdose crisis as a health issue rather than a criminal one. Wednesday's announcement comes after Malcolmson wrote to federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu in February asking for the exemption, but Malcolmson says now the process is being formalized. Last summer, Premier John Horgan asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to decriminalize personal possession of drugs. Oregon state became the first American state to make the move earlier this year. Overdose deaths across the country, but particularly in B.C., have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the illicit drug supply has become more toxic due to the U.S.-Canada border closure, and people are using drug alone more frequently. Since the crisis was declared in 2016, more than 7,000 British Columbians have died from illicit drug overdoses. Malcolmson also announced a new $45 million investment over the next three years that will help fund new overdose prevention sites across the province, while adding outreach teams to help those struggling with addiction. More to come. The (EU) Commission has decided not to renew Covid-19 vaccine contracts next year with and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Italian daily La Stampa reported on Wednesday, citing a source from the Italian health ministry. The European Commission, in agreement with the leaders of many (EU) countries, has decided that the contracts with the that produce (viral vector) vaccines that are valid for the current year will not be renewed at their expiry, the newspaper reported. It added that Brussels would rather focus on Covid-19 vaccines using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, such as Pfizer's and Modernas. A spokesman for the EU Commission said it was keeping all options open to be prepared for the next stages of the pandemic, for 2022 and beyond. We cannot, however, comment on contractual issues, the spokesman added. Later on Wednesday the President of the European Commission said the EU was in talks with Pfizer and BionTech for a new contract for 1.8 billion doses, confirming a Reuters report from last week. We need to focus on technologies that have proven their worth. mRNA vaccines are a clear case in point, she added. Denmark drops Astra jab Denmark has become the first country in the to drop AstraZenecas vaccine from its Covid-19 inoculation program, according to local media reports. The countrys health authorities are due to brief reporters at 2 pm in Copenhagen. State broadcaster DR was among media outlets to report the decision, without saying how it obtained the information. S. Africa accuses J&J of unreasonable demands South Africa is facing delays to vaccine supplies because of unreasonable terms being demanded by manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson in return for delivering millions of much-needed doses, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said. EU speeds up J&J jab review EUs drug regulator is accelerating its review of blood-clot reports with Johnson & Johnsons vaccine and said it expects to issue a recommendation next week. Member states should store doses as they await guidance and EMA will decide whether regulatory action is necessary. France says to administer J&J jab as planned France will use Johnson & Johnsons vaccine as planned despite its suspension in the US, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, adding France had received a first shipment of 200,000 doses. After a slow start, authorities are aiming to speed up France's drive with the target of 30 million people having received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by mid-June. ORWIGSBURG The road rage homicide incident on Route 61 Monday afternoon shocked people in the community. Tamiir Ion Whitted, 29, of Pottsville, has been charged with first- and third-degree murder after allegedly stabbing George Marcincin, 38, of Orwigsburg, along Route 61 south of Orwigsburg. Leo Thompson, of Orwigsburg, said Tuesday he was taken aback when he heard about the incident. Its just not something you really see around here, Thompson said. Thompson said he tries to drive safely, especially on Route 61, and would try to avoid a road rage situation. If I was driving and something happened, I wouldnt stop, Thompson said. Jim Bohrman, of Schuylkill Haven, said he was not as shocked by the incident because of the nature of Route 61. Its a dangerous section of highway, Bohrman said. You have to take extra precautions. Heather Chodur, an employee at Jennifers Hair on The Square on Market Street, however, said it was terrifying to think of someone committing such a violent act so close to town. Its a little town, Chodur said. You dont think something like that would happen around here. Chodur said she was also saddened by the incident, especially thinking about the victims family. I just hope and pray nothing like this ever happens again, Chodur said. Avoiding road rage Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Troop L, Reading, said while road rage incidents do not always become violent, tense encounters between motorists can be common. I dont know that they all go reported, but I think they happen more than we think, Beohm said. In some cases, an individual might cut another car off, even by accident, which could cause the other driver to become enraged. Beohm said the best strategy would be to let the car pass and do not feed in to the other drivers anger. You never know whos in that other car, Beohm said. If you get caught up in that, just let it go. It can happen, but it doesnt have to happen. Beohm recommended pulling over safely or driving into a parking lot to get away from an angry driver, but remain in the car. If youre ever involved and youre not the aggressor, stay in your car, windows up, doors locked, Beohm said. Coping with trauma, rage Beohm said there were witnesses to the homicide who may struggle with their mental health afterward. Kimberly Ernest, Ph.D., licensed psychologist and executive vice president of Pennsylvania Counseling Services, said there are mental health solutions for people who witness traumatic events such as this incident. For those who have witnessed a traumatic event, Ernest said they may seek evidence-based trauma treatments, such as cognitive processing therapy for adults or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children. Ernest said people should not try to bottle up the feelings they may experience after a traumatic event. With any traumatic event that somebody is navigating, one of the best strategies is to engage with your feelings, Ernest said. Oftentimes people will either proactively or unintentionally seek to avoid those negative feelings. Ernest said there are also mental health solutions that could help prevent road rage, which is an example of impulsive behavior. Road rage incidents are fights, incidents that are between strangers and something went terribly wrong, Ernest said. Ernest said one tool individuals can use to reduce their anger in the moment is the rule of tens, where an individual asks whether the situation will matter in 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days, 10 weeks, 10 months or 10 years. Its an intentional practice of perspective taking, Ernest said. Its interesting when you take that very intentional path to get you there, how much youre willing to react and make a situation worse for something that we truly wouldnt care about 10 minutes from now. Its been roughly four years since Skoda launched the first model in its SUV campaign worldwide, and now, the carmaker has upgraded its Kodiaq which will be available globally from July 2021. While the Czech brand has tweaked the Kodiaqs design with improved aerodynamics, this SUV can now also be ordered as a seven-seater. It also benefits from a range of options like full-LED matrix headlights, and the sporty range-topping Kodiaq RS has also been given a new, more powerful TSI engine. In addition to the full LED matrix headlamps, the Active, Ambition, and Style trims will come with an aluminium-effect detail on the front and rear apron, which combined with the restyled elevated bonnet and more upright grille reinforces its bold, off-road centric stance. On the inside, the Kodiaq gets new decorative strips, additional contrast stitching, and enhanced LED ambient lighting functions. The range of options includes perforated leather seats with multi-way electric-seat adjustment, ventilation and massage function. Theres also the Canton sound system with ten speakers, a Virtual Cockpit with a 10.25-inch display with four different layouts (standard on Kodiaq RS). The range of assistance systems now also features an enhanced version of Crew Protect Assist. This new variant has additional radar sensors at the rear to respond to vehicles that pose a risk for a rear-end collision. Meanwhile, the sporty top-of-the-line Kodiaq RS gets a new 245bhp 2.0 TSI petrol engine with the new seven-speed DSG gearbox. The other engines include a 150bhp 1.5 TSI, the 190bhp 2.0 TSI, plus two iterations of the 2.0 TDI; one that delivers 150bhp while the other makes 200bhp. Skoda Kodiaq N/A Onwards Skoda | Skoda Kodiaq | Kodiaq A group of illegal immigrants with Border Patrol after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in La Joya, Texas, on April 10, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Arizona AG Urges Governor to Declare a State of Emergency Over Border Crisis Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich on Tuesday urged Gov. Doug Ducey to take swift action in response to the burgeoning crisis at the U.S. southern border, including declaring a state of emergency in the Grand Canyon State. Brnovich made the request in a letter to Ducey, arguing that the state should do more to help curb the flow of illegal immigration and assist federal law enforcement agents who have been overwhelmed by the surge. Reversing the devastating trends at the border will require enforcing the rule of law and holding the federal government accountable, Brnovich wrote in the letter. A copy was obtained by The Epoch Times. He called on Ducey to declare a state of emergency and convene an emergency council, as well as activate the National Guard to augment federal border agents efforts. While youve recently requested assistance from the federal government to fund this type of action, time is of the essence. Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement officials are overwhelmed and demoralized by this unprecedented surge of illegal immigration, Brnovich wrote. They require reinforcements as soon as possible, even if it means we have to act now and fight for the federal dollars later. It comes a day after Brnovich announced that he had filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration alleging that it violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to weigh environmental considerations before making major decisions on immigration. The lawsuit claims the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other agencies did not provide environmental impact statements or environmental assessments when it halted border wall construction and terminated the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy, which the state claims resulted in immigrants being released. While the courts have repeatedly recognized that the environmental impacts of such policies must be analyzed prior to their implementation under NEPA, DHS has never attempted to do so, the Arizona attorney generals office said in a statement. Brnovichs letter also asks Ducey to consider providing financial assistance to cities and towns that are dealing with the surge of illegal immigration. One such town, Gila Bend Town Council, recently declared a state of emergency after Border Patrol dropped dozens of illegal immigrants at a town park, the attorney general wrote. These cities and towns will soon hit their breaking point if we do not provide additional resources, he said. Ducey and Brnovichs offices did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment on the letter. For the month of March, Customs and Border Protection agents encountered over 172,000 illegal immigrants, according to statistics released on April 8. This is up from just over 101,000 individuals encountered in February. Among those who crossed illegally into the United States last month were over 18,800 unaccompanied minors, which is double the number of minors who illegally arrived in the United States in February at over 9,300 encounters. This is compared to 5,585 unaccompanied minors in January, and 4,993 unaccompanied minors in December 2020. The stock market debut of Coinbase, a start-up that allows people to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, is a watershed moment for digital money. It also threatens to lock in a technology with an astonishing environmental footprint. Cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology, which relies on specialized computers racing to solve complex equations, making quintillions of attempts a second to verify transactions. Its that practice, called cryptomining, that makes the currencies so energy-intensive. Researchers at Cambridge University estimate that mining Bitcoin, the most popular blockchain-based currency, uses more electricity than entire countries like Argentina do. All this accounts for so little of the worlds total transactions, yet has the carbon footprint of entire countries. So imagine it taking off itll ruin the planet, said Camilo Mora, a climate scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Accused war criminal and Seven executive Ben Roberts-Smith has apologised to staff and thanked the media company for its support after his disdain for colleagues and the business was revealed in a series of audio recordings. Mr Roberts-Smith told employees in an email on Wednesday that he had a lot of respect for the executives leading Seven West Media and that he was privileged to be in his role, despite comments revealed on the recordings where he described the company as dysfunctional. Ben Roberts-Smith, who has been employed by Seven West Media since 2014, has apologised for comments made about his colleagues on a series of audio recordings. Credit:Fairfax Media While born out of frustration, that is no excuse and I take full responsibility for my comments, which I deeply regret, Mr Roberts-Smith said in the email, obtained by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Over the past few years, the [Seven West Media] staff and executive team have worked incredibly hard through extremely challenging circumstances to transform the business and enact a robust sustainable strategy, he said. I have the utmost respects for the executives and staff at SWM and feel privileged to be able to lead our Queensland operations. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Amanda Eyeam is prevention education administrator at Vera House. George Kilpatrick is Project Coordinator/Mens Outreach at Vera House. Eli Plvan-Franke and Salat Ali are prevention educators at Vera House. Vera House prevents, responds to and partners to end domestic and sexual violence and other forms of abuse. Yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did, said Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Capt. Jay Baker about the gunman who killed eight people, most of them Asian women, on March 16 in Atlanta. Imagine being a victim of a violent crime. Imagine needing to call on law enforcement for help and hearing their representative justify, excuse and defend someone who just murdered eight people. And yet society continues to ask, why dont victims report? He had a bad day. The majority of mass shooters are white men, according to research. Yet a dangerous theme to their killing has emerged: that they are the victims. Victims to feminism, victims to the fight for racial justice and equality, and victims to the changing of social norms, which have both upheld their dominant status in society since colonialism and fuel gender-based violence. These are the social norms we must continue to challenge: the belief that violence is sometimes OK to get what you want; the belief in upholding rigid gender norms; the belief that men are dominant and women are subordinate; and the belief in a right to sex. Baker said the mass shooting suspect had a bad day because of a self-diagnosed sex addiction. In doing so, Baker perpetuated a myth about violence. Sexual assault and physical violence are not heat-of-moment crimes of passion. They are crimes based on power and control. The shooter in Atlanta did not commit this massacre in the heat of the moment because of his sexual desires. He planned the attacks and specifically targeted Asian women. This was a hate crime against the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and a hate crime against women. He had a bad day. Hate crimes are largely committed by white men. They are committed against those who are not male, not white, not Christian and not heterosexual. But society continues to excuse their heinous crimes by saying they are just a couple bad apples out of the bunch or they were at the end of their rope or they were bullied and pushed too far or they have a mental illness or they just had a bad day. This is not accountability. This is a continuous cycle of excusing white male violence, which minimizes and erases the experiences of marginalized communities. To say the Atlanta massacre is not a hate crime is to erase the reality of thousands of AAPI people across the nation who are experiencing a rise in violent hate crimes. He had a bad day. When dominant white masculinity is rejected, when those privileges are increasingly useless, and when men realize they cant just do or say whatever they want without consequence, acts of violence are often committed, including hate crimes. The issue of white masculine culture traces back to the foundation of our country: using violence and force to take and colonize. This is a deep-rooted social norm. Xenophobia, misogyny and other forms of violence all tie back to white masculine culture. This is an issue of entitlement. Using excuses like mental illness and a bad day completely shift the blame from a cultural problem to an individual, bad seed problem. As facilitators of the Vera House 12 Men Model, we believe that men have the capacity to prevent gender-based violence. Many of the tactics that we teach men are the same tactics that intersect with preventing other forms of violence like racism, xenophobia and homophobia. We call on men to learn more about how gender-based violence, racism, homophobia, community violence and other forms of oppression intersect with one another and learn how to identify red flags for violence. We call on the men in our community to find the courage and strength to interrupt racist and misogynistic comments within your social circles that are too often passed up as just joking around. We call on the men in our community to discuss the impact of violence on women and girls with one another, even when women arent present. We call on the men in our community to check in on other men in your lives. We all need connection. Racist and misogynistic attitudes and beliefs that are left unchecked by well-meaning men can and do evolve into violent actions and behaviors, including rape and murder. The work begins now. To learn more about Vera Houses 12 Men Model training, please call (315) 425-0818 x2254 or email Project Coordinator/Mens Outreach George Kilpatrick at gkilpatrick@verahouse.org Related: #StopAsianHate: Asian Americans grieve, organize in wake of Atlanta shootings WASHINGTON President Bidens decision to pull all American troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 was rooted in his belief that there is no room for continuing 20 years of failed efforts to remake that country, especially at a moment when he wants the United States focused on a transformational economic and social agenda at home and other fast-evolving threats from abroad. Though Mr. Biden would never use the term, getting out of Afghanistan is part of his own version of America First, one that differs drastically from how his predecessor, Donald J. Trump, used the phrase. His years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as vice president convinced him that the United States-led effort in Afghanistan was destined to collapse of its own weight. Time and again during the Obama administration, Mr. Biden lost arguments to reduce the American presence to a minimal counterterrorism force. But after less than three months as president, Mr. Biden came to the determination that only a full withdrawal with no link to political conditions on the ground would wrench Americas attention away from the conflict of the past two decades in favor of the very different kinds he expects in the next two. He has defined his presidencys goals as releasing the country from the grip of a virus that is morphing into new variants, seizing an opportunity to bolster economic competitiveness against China and proving to the world that American democracy can still rise to great challenges. QINGDAO, China, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS Limited (NYSE: SOS) (the "Company" or "SOS") announced the receipt of the previously announced, third batch of 5464 cryptocurrency mining rigs. Immediately upon delivery of the mining rigs, the SOS team kicked off inspection, configuration and installation procedures. Once this batch of mining rigs go live, the Company expects that the pool of rigs will be able to generate about 177 Peta-Hashes per second (PH/s) for mining Bitcoin and 356 Giga-Hashes per second (GH/s) for mining Ethereum (ETH). If the machines operate as expected, the long-term ROI (return on investment) is projected to be promising. These hash rates are subject to numerous factors, including down time for maintenance, reconfiguration and other variable factors that may materially impact computing performance in the future. The Company confirms mining operations in Q1 2021, have generated 42 Bitcoins and 916 ETH. This is for a partial quarter of operation. SOS Chief Financial Officer Steven Li elaborated, "These mining results reflect the first quarter of operations, and the number of Bitcoins and Ethereum are higher than what we originally anticipated. We expect our output to grow in future quarters as we complete the installation of our third batch of mining rigs and have full quarters of operation." These mining results do not include any financial results for the Company and do not address the Company's other, non-mining operations, such as the Company's marketing data, technology and solutions for emergency rescue services. United States generally accepted accounting principles for cryptocurrency mining are complex, emerging and uncertain. Cryptocurrencies may not be recognized as cash or cash equivalents, and mining activities may not qualify for revenue recognition. Cryptocurrencies have no inherent value, are not legal tender recognized by any governmental entity, and might not be able to be converted into fiat currencies. Investors are advised not to place undue reliance on mining results alone, without considering other financial and non-financial metrics. Mr. Yandai Wang, Chairman of SOS, commented, "We believe that the general trend for cryptocurrencies will be bullish. We have completed the set-up of the cryptocurrency business in China at this stage. With the anticipated development of our cryptocurrency mining operation in the U.S., we believe that SOS' cryptocurrency business will achieve significant results. We remain confident in our strategy to invest in crypto-currency operations. About SOS Limited SOS is an emerging blockchain-based and big data-driven marketing and solution provider, with a nationwide membership base of approximately 20 million in China. Recently, SOS has outlined its strategy in blockchain and cryptocurrencies, which include a series of initiatives to expand its business into cryptocurrency mining as well as cryptocurrency security and insurance. The core infrastructure of SOS' marketing data, technology and solutions to insurance and emergency rescue services is built on big data, blockchain-based technology, cloud computing, AI, satellite, and 5G network, etc. SOS has created a cloud "software as a service (SaaS)" platform for emergency rescue services, with three major product categories: basic cloud, cooperative cloud, and information cloud. This system provides innovative marketing solutions to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers, and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry. SOS has obtained a national high-tech enterprise certification and the title of "Big Data Star Enterprise," awarded by Gui'an New District Government. Staying on the forefront of digital technology innovation, the Company has registered 99 software copyrights and 2 patents. For more information, please visit: http://www.sosyun.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, our expectations for future financial performance, business strategies or expectations for our business. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. SOS cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Words such as "may," "can," "should," "will," "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target," "look" or similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include statements relating to the Company's: expected hash rate for its mining rigs; expected mining results for the second quarter of 2021; intention to grow and install more mining rigs; ability to execute its business plan; changes in the market for SOS' products and services; and expansion plans and opportunities. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and our management's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but not are limited to, the risk factors described by SOS in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These risk factors and those identified elsewhere in this press release, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from historical performance and include, but are not limited to: SOS's cryptocurrency mining, security and insurance businesses are still under development, with many uncertainties in research of relevant technologies; failure to access a large quantity of power at reasonable costs could significantly increase SOS operating expenses and adversely affect our demand for SOS's mining machines; shortages in, or rises in the prices of mining machines may adversely affect the Company's business; any significant or prolonged failure in the data warehouse facilities and data mining facilities that SOS operates or services it provides, including events beyond its control, would lead to significant costs and disruptions and would reduce the attractiveness of its facilities, harm its business reputation and have a material adverse effect on its results of operation; security breaches or alleged security breaches of our data warehouses could disrupt SOS operations and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operation; and Chinese government's policies and regulatory oversight of crypto currency mining operation; other risks and uncertainties indicated in SOS's SEC reports or documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by SOS. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in deciding whether to invest in our securities. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. SOURCE SOS Limited Related Links http://www.sosyun.com Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH The "Brazil variant"a more contagious mutation of the coronavirus that emerged in the Amazon late last yearis fueling fears the pandemic could flare anew, leading several countries to suspend flights from Brazil. Here is a rundown of what we knowand don'tabout the variant known as P1. Why is it worrying? There are still a lot of unknowns about P1. Two certainties, though: it is more contagious than the initial strain of the novel coronavirus, and it can re-infect people who have had the original. "The fear is justified. P1 is a more contagious variant, and it has spread rapidly across Brazil, which is an enormous country. The pandemic is out of control in Brazil right now," said microbiologist Natalia Pasternak. COVID-19 claimed 66,500 lives in Brazil last monthmore than double what had previously been the country's deadliest month in the pandemic, July 2020. With Brazil's total death toll now at 358,000second only to the United StatesApril is on track to be even worse. It is unclear to what extent P1 is causing the surging death toll. Experts suspect it is more virulent than the original strain but say more research is needed. When did it start? Researchers say P1 emerged in December last year in or around the northern city of Manaus. But it was first identified as a new variant in Japan, where it was found in travelers returning from Brazil. It has now been detected in more than 35 countries, though many have managed to limit infections. Several countries have suspended flights to and from Brazil over the outbreak, most recently France on Tuesday. Why is it more contagious? Like the South Africa variant, P1 has a mutation known as E484K, dubbed an "escape mutation" because it helps the virus dodge our antibodies. The mutation alters the virus' "spike protein," helping it invade cells more easily. "It's like a master key that can open various doors," said Jesem Orellana, a researcher at Brazilian public health institute Fiocruz. P1 has thrived in part because of limited capacity to contain the virus, including in Manaus, whose health system collapsed so badly in January its hospitals ran out of oxygen. "If the Brazilian authorities had been responsible, they would have closed Manaus like China closed Wuhan," Orellana told AFP. "Instead, they sent overflow patients to other regions, with people accompanying them, some of whom were also infected with P1"accelerating the variant's spread. Is it deadlier? Researchers have not definitively established whether P1 is more virulent. In preliminary studies, Orellana observed that the variant did not cause a significantly higher mortality rate among hospitalized patients in Manaus than during the first wave of the pandemic. He thinks Brazil's soaring death toll is more likely caused by hospitals being overwhelmed. Other studies, however, indicate P1 is in fact more lethal. Do vaccines work against it? Experts say more research is also needed on the extent to which different vaccines are effective against P1. One piece of good news: preliminary studies show Chinese-developed CoronaVac, the most widely used COVID-19 vaccine in Brazil, as well as the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, are at least partly effective against the variantthough definitive, real-world results are still needed. But there is bad news, too. The unchecked spread of the virus in Brazil has given rise to more mutations, including P2notably detected in Rio de Janeiroand P4, recently identified in neighboring Minas Gerais state. "Brazil has become an open-air variant laboratory," said Orellana. More may already be out there. "Brazil is one of the worst countries in the world on genetic sequencing. It's no coincidence we discovered P1 some 60 days latein Japan," he said. Microbiologist Pasternak said in an ideal world, Brazil should combine a lockdown with mass vaccination. "Instead, we have neither," she said. "We lack the political will for a lockdown, and the doses to vaccinate," she said, criticizing a "lack of coordination" at the national level under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has minimized the pandemic. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ambrx, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using an expanded genetic code technology platform to create Engineered Precision Biologics, today announced the appointments of Olivia C. Ware and Katrin Rupalla, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. We are thrilled to have both Olivia and Katrin join the Ambrx team at a such a pivotal time in the companys history, said Feng Tian, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Ambrx. Olivia brings invaluable experience across all stages of the product development cycle, from pharmaceutical drug development and commercialization to healthcare management. Katrin has extensive experience in global regulatory strategy and drug candidate development. I look forward to benefiting from Olivia and Katrins counsel in the months and years to come, as we advance our clinical development pipeline, including our lead asset ARX788. I am delighted to be appointed to Ambrxs Board and joining what I believe to be a very talented and highly capable team, said Ms. Ware. I hope to leverage my clinical and commercial experience as we collectively seek to advance an innovative pipeline of drugs from Ambrxs technology platform. Ms. Ware joins Ambrx with more than 20 years of pharmaceutical drug development, commercialization and healthcare management experience, with a history of successful commercial drug launches including Rituxan, Herceptin, Avastin and Lucentis. In addition to drug development, Ms. Ware also has experience in developing managed care, pricing and contract strategy, developing marketing programs for field-based sales teams, and establishing, growing and optimizing organizations for long-term success. Previously, Ms. Ware was the Senior Vice President, BTK Franchise Head at Principia Biopharma Inc., where she was responsible for developing portfolio strategy for the companys three BTKi molecules. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President, U.S. Market and Franchise Development at Proteus Digital Health, Inc., was Chief Commercial Officer at CytRx, Inc., and held various leadership roles at Genentech, Inc. Ms. Ware graduated from Davidson College and received her MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is now President of Davidson College Board of Visitors and member of the Davidson Board of Trustees. Im excited to be joining Ambrx, especially given the recent clinical progress the company has made in both China and the United States, said Dr. Rupalla. I look forward to assisting the companys regulatory affairs and drug development efforts in both countries, so that we can together progress Ambrxs innovative Engineered Precision Biologics to create more precise therapeutic treatments to address significant unmet needs. Dr. Rupalla has more than 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry at a global scale serving the United States, Europe and China. Currently, Dr. Rupalla serves as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, R&D Quality and Medical Information at Lundbeck. Prior to joining Lundbeck, she spent several years at Bristol Myers Squibb in various roles in drug development and regulatory affairs including as Head Development BMS in China, Vice President of European Union Regulatory Sciences, and Vice President of Oncology Global Regulatory Sciences. Dr. Rupalla has spent her career as an executive in global regulatory affairs at various other companies including Celgene, Roche, and Merck. Presently, she is a non-executive independent director at 4D Pharma PLC and iQure Pharma Inc. Dr. Rupalla received a Master of Science in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in CNS pharmacology from Philipps University of Marburg, Germany. She also has an MBA from Jones International University, CO, USA. About Ambrx Ambrx is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using an expanded genetic code technology platform to create Engineered Precision Biologics. These include next generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecifics, targeted immuno-oncology therapies, novel cytokines to modulate the immune system, and long-acting therapeutic peptides for metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Ambrx is advancing a robust portfolio of clinical and preclinical programs optimized for efficacy, safety and ease of use, in multiple therapeutic areas, including its lead product candidate ARX788. In addition, the company has clinical collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb, Astellas, BeiGene, Sino Biopharma, Elanco and NovoCodex, for drug candidates generated using Ambrx technology. For additional information, please visit www.ambrx.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005269/en/ INVESTORS Laurence Watts Managing Director Gilmartin Group, LLC. 619-916-7620 laurence@gilmartinir.com MEDIA Ian Stone Managing Director Canale Communications (619) 849-5388 ian@canalecomm.com Source: Ambrx Denton, TX (76205) Today Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving for the afternoon. High 77F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday approved a $10 million settlement of a lawsuit against a husband who shot and killed his wife with the pistol he claimed he had bought her for her birthday. The order by Erie County Judge Stephanic Domitrovich means John Grazioli, the wealthy owner of an asset management company, must pay that money to the estate of his late wife Amanda. John Grazioli is serving a life prison sentence for killing his 31-year-old wife at their home in Mill Creek Township on March 8, 2018. John Grazioli Domitrovichs decision in the civil case comes a little more than a year after a state Superior Court panel denied John Graziolis appeal of his first-degree murder conviction. Grazioli claimed in that failed appeal that he was drunk and didnt know what he was doing when he fired the fatal shot. Adam S. Barrist, the attorney for Amanda Graziolis estate, called her slaying brutal and unconscionable. He said video footage showed John Grazioli eating lunch and drinking a beer at a bar right after he shot his wife. This landmark result was worth the wait. Barrist said immediately after the settlement of the wrongful death suit was approved. No amount of money will ever bring Amanda back. But, with the widespread publicity that this uncommonly large, almost unprecedented pre-trial settlement will garner, the very real possibility exists that the next wealthy asset manager who has an issue with his wife will think twice before brutally murdering her. Perhaps the publicity associated with this extraordinary settlement will save a life in the future. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 05:56:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the international community to adopt an integrated approach to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts and terrorist activities do not press the pause button, while humanitarian and security crises continue unabated. Sexual violence is still used as a means of war and terrorism, with women in conflict bearing the brunt and suffering the most, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. China firmly opposes the use of sexual violence as a means of war, and strongly condemns any acts of sexual violence against women and girls. China calls on the international community to attach great importance to this issue and implement integrated policies to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence, and advance the women, peace and security agenda, he told the Security Council. Zhang stressed the need to focus on tackling the root causes and increase inputs into conflict prevention and maintaining peace. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once emphasized in his report that the ultimate goal of the agenda to combat conflict-related sexual violence is not to make conflicts free of sexual violence, but rather to make the world free of wars, he said. "As long as conflicts and wars continue, there will be the possibility of sexual violence being used as a means of war and terrorism." The international community should focus on resolving the root causes to eradicate the breeding grounds for conflict-related sexual violence, follow such principles as non-interference in internal affairs, and non-use of force, and stay committed to settling disputes through peaceful means, he said. The Security Council should actively promote political settlements of hot-spot issues and play a greater role in conflict prevention and peacekeeping. Parties to conflict should earnestly follow and effectively implement the secretary-general's global cease-fire appeal and resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation, he said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 12:51:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported one more confirmed case of COVID-19, bringing its total tally to 53, including 49 recoveries. Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under the Lao Ministry of Health, Phonepaserd Sayamoungkhoun, told a press conference held in the Lao capital Vientiane that the new case is a 25-year-old woman, who returned to the country from Thailand. The patient, a Lao national, travelled from Thailand on April 7 and arrived in Laos' southwestern Champasak province on April 8. The patient is being treated in a designated hospital in Champasak province. Laos reported its first two COVID-19 cases on March 24 last year. Enditem When the D.C. Burmese restaurant Thamee closed in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, its owners didnt know if theyd ever open their 1-year-old business again. They had just had their first five straight weeks of profitability when D.C. shut down in-person dining for the first time, and though they had a lot of momentum behind themthe restaurant had recently been named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurantthey didnt feel equipped to transform their upscale dine-in business into a carryout and delivery joint. At the time, co-owner Eric Wang told me that if Thamee was still shut down by June, hed place the restaurants chances of survival around 50 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But June came and went, and Thamee stuck around. Eventually, the restaurant reopened for takeout and delivery, with a pared-down menu designed to be more accessible for casual app users. More than a year into the health risks, government restrictions, and changes in consumer behavior that have wreaked havoc on the global hospitality industry, Thamee remains well-positioned to ride out what we all hope will be the last phase of the pandemic as we know it. It hasnt been easy: As recently as a month ago, general manager Jordan Lee told me, the Monday staff meeting could turn into a discussion about whether that would be the week the restaurant had to close for good. A look at the previous weeks sales could be enough to steer that conversation in the direction of hope, or anxiety. Advertisement Advertisement There wasnt one catch-all solution that saved the restaurant, which is also run by co-owner Simone Jacobson and her mother, Burma-born executive chef Jocelyn Law-Yone. Instead, the group cobbled together a list of special offerings, virtual events, partnerships, and outside assistance. It became clear to us very early on that doing just delivery and carryout wasnt enough to sustain our business, Wang said. Without any one component of its survival strategysuch as the six-figure Paycheck Protection Program loan Thamee received early on, the two grants it got from the D.C. government, or the 40 percent rent reduction offered by the restaurants landlordthe whole enterprise could have crumbled. Our biggest accomplishment so far during the pandemic is that were still here and ticking, Wang said. I cant say the same about a lot of other more established and well-funded restaurants in D.C. Advertisement Thamee even managed to spend May and June making meals for front-line workers through a local initiative and for D.C. Jail health care workers through World Central Kitchen, Jose Andres food-relief organization, which reimbursed the restaurant a set amount of money for each meal. But later in June, when compliance with mask regulations rose and Wang and the other members of management had more information about how to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the restaurant began offering once-a-week prix fixe packages that customers would pick up at the restaurant and eat at home: a few courses, two servings of each, for $50 to $65. To the chefs and managers, it seemed like a natural midpoint between the elevated menu of their pre-pandemic business and mass-market takeout fare. Advertisement Advertisement But in time, it became clear that developing a new prix fixe menu every two weeks was unsustainable, and Thamees shrinking sales numbers couldnt justify the time it took to execute the concept. In normal times, Thamee had its regularsbut for many customers, it was a special-occasion restaurant, and Burmese was an unfamiliar cuisine, too far outside most peoples weekly dinner rotation. The prix fixe packages were a better approximation of the in-person Thamee experience, but they came at a price point and level of complexity that didnt make sense for at-home pandemic diners, either. A few other summer 2020 initiatives fell short of managements expectations. For a while, Thamee offered meal-prep kits called Burma Boxes, which came with recipe cards and prepared ingredients for making Thamee dishes at home. I thought it was this amazing idea, because my girlfriends not the greatest cook but she made one of these Burma Boxes, and it tasted just like Chef Jojos mohinga, Lee said, referring to the catfish stew some call the national dish of Burma. I was like, this is so crazy, because she did this in 25 minutes. The soup, including the stock that came premade in the Burma Box, would normally take around 12 hours to make from scratch. Lee had been concerned about the lapse in quality when food cooked in the restaurant had to be packaged, bagged, driven around, and possibly reheated in a microwave at a customers home, rather than plated and served immediately. The Burma Boxes would seem to eliminate some of the gap between the two dining experiences. Advertisement They were extremely labor-intensive to prepare, though. With 10 to 15 components per meal and two meals per box, 10 boxes turns into this 300-piece set of things you have to do, Lee said. If demand had been great enough to make the boxes Thamees main source of income, they might have been able to figure out a staffing plan that made the project worth the labor hours that went into it. But they werent in the meal prep businessthey were a restaurant. In the fall, they abandoned the concept. Events have been more lucrative for the restaurant, in part because fewer staff members have to work to make them happen. At the beginning of the pandemic, when virtual happy hours were still a novelty, Thamee partnered with Happied, a local virtual-event planner, to host a series of Zoom cocktail hours. Customers bought their own liquor from provided shopping lists, and Thamee bar manager Richard Sterling led them through a couple of cocktails. When we first started doing them, they were the hottest things, Wang said. At first, we did anywhere between $2,000 to $3,000 for one event. That was basically what we were making on a slow Monday before, but it was half of our weekly take during the pandemic. More recently, the restaurant has enlisted D.C. sommelier and sherry expert Chantal Tseng to host a monthly virtual version of her popular pre-pandemic cocktail series, which she used to run at a local bar. Each month, Tseng chooses a novel for attendees to read and devises three cocktails to go along with it. Customers pick up the premade drinks, along with bar snacks, at Thamee, then chat about the drinks and book on a Zoom call. (Last month, the author of the chosen book joined the Zoom, too.) Thamee turns a 10 to 15 percent profit on every cocktail kit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thamee also had to figure out how to broaden its customer base beyond those whod already gotten to know the restaurant before the pandemic in its first year of operation. Joining up with Tseng, who had a following from her in-person events, seemed like an opportunity for both parties to introduce themselves to a new clientele. Thats the strategy behind the several pop-ups Thamee has hosted in its kitchen over the past year. La Tejana sold breakfast tacos out of the restaurant, local zaatar company Z&Z sold lavash roll-ups, and SoKa-DC, a Korean-Guatemalan concept, offered a full tasting menu. Thamee charges pop-ups a 5 to 10 percent fee for the use of its space, but it doesnt amount to much more than it takes to cover costs. Were not here trying to make money off other businessesthats not our business model, Wang said. But when they bring their customers into our restaurant, a lot of times physically, a lot of these customers are like, I didnt know you guys were here! And then a week later, Id often see those same customers pop up on a ticket for delivery or carryout. Advertisement I know you guys might be tired of making the same five to six dishes, but its whats paying all of us. Its whats keeping the restaurant open. Thamee co-owner Eric Wang Not all of Thamees pandemic-era projects were intended to be big moneymakers. Over the summer, as racial justice protests erupted in D.C. and across the country, Thamee introduced the Black Farm Bag, a weekly CSA package with groceries sourced by a local food-equity nonprofit. The restaurant also opened its BIPOC Pantry, a collection of nonperishables and beverages made by small producers of color, on sale in the restaurant and through delivery apps. This was a natural pivot for the restaurants owners, who ran a small Burmese bodega called Toli Moli before opening Thamee in 2019. Its a low-effort revenue generating thing, Wang said. Youre getting stuff wholesale, unpack, display, and thats it. But according to Lee, the profit margin on pantry items, which include coffee from Brooklyns Nguyen Coffee Supply and hot sauces from local producer Pepperly Love, is still thin: No ones going to buy a $25 bag of coffee, so the Thamee markup is just a couple of dollars. And if a customer really likes the product she bought from Thamee, she may be able to buy it cheaper directly from the producer when she wants a refill. Advertisement Advertisement So while the Black Farm Bag and BIPOC Pantry were important to Thamees owners, who have long seen the restaurant as an instrument for social change, they werent going to keep the business afloat. Once the Burma Box didnt work and we were heading into the winter of the pandemic, it was like, OK, we have a choice now. Were gonna have to do something sustainable, or were gonna have to close, Lee said. The sustainable thing happened to be the very last thing anyone at Thamee wanted to do: Get on all the delivery apps with a scaled-back, low-concept menu tailored to the tastes and price points of a mass-market takeout consumer, the kind of person who might not be familiar with Burmese food but is ready to order a comforting bowl of curry multiple times a week. In October, when Thamee registered with the apps, they went big on noodle and rice dishes, which were cheaper to source, quicker to make, and more legible to a wide variety of diners than some of the restaurants funkier or fermented fare. Out went the large-format dishes, like the steamed branzino, which were made for communal dining and whose dramatic presentation wouldnt travel well. The uncertainty of delivery and carryoutas opposed to a week of dinner reservationswas prohibitive for expensive ingredients like duck, too, which Thamee had to buy in quantities of 12 and didnt want to waste. And items that took a long time to make, such as the three-day aged duck and a chickpea dish that required multiple days of soaking and sprouting, werent cost-effective enough to make it to the pandemic menu. Advertisement Advertisement At first, our chefs were like, This is kind of boring. Were not doing anything new, Wang said. But we reinforced to each other, Yes, its not the most exciting food that were making, but it is still damn good food. I know you guys might be tired of making the same five to six dishes, but its whats paying all of us. Its whats keeping the restaurant open. Each of Thamees three delivery appsUber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDashtakes a 15 percent cut of sales, the most allowed under D.C. law, so employees try to promote Toast, Thamees less-costly pickup ordering platform, whenever they post the menu on the restaurants social media accounts. Wang has noticed that Thamee regulars tend to use Toast because they know the restaurant will get to keep more of their money, and customers who order food for pickup tend to spend more per order. Delivery sales currently make up 35 percent of the restaurants orders and 30 percent of its revenue; the rest is pickup. Advertisement Thamee had to keep its staff small to make these numbers work, especially because of its pay-equity initiative, which eliminated tipping in favor of an across-the-board living wage and a 30 percent surcharge that goes toward employee health benefits and profit-sharing. To make ends meet in Thamees delivery-and-carryout-only phase, management cut the restaurants cocktail and wine curation programs, which meant they no longer employed a full-time bartender or beverage director. The streamlined menu also meant less time needed for food prep and specialized skills, so they couldnt keep on their sous chef or dishwasher. But in this iteration, none of Thamees current employees had to work more than 40 hours to make the business run five days a week. The new, simpler menu boosted sales revenue by about 5 to 8 percent, but with the cost savings on ingredients and labor, Thamees profits increased by 55 percent, making it possible for the restaurant to survive the winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every Thamee employee but one is an immigrant or a child of immigrants, which Wang credits with their willingness to soldier through this period of relative stagnation and belt-tightening. They know that hunker-down need. People get that right now is not the time to be creative and supercute with our menu, he said. But one of the restaurants most lucrative endeavors was also one of its most creative. In December, Thamee participated in Resys At Home Specials series, which was co-sponsored by American Express. The restaurant devised a week of prix fixe dinners, with each days menu made up of dishes that had never been served at Thamee before. Customers paid $75 to $100 for the meal, and Resy paid Thamee a participation fee that was actually quite hefty, according to Wang. Law-Yone built the menus around a Sino-Burmese theme, inspired by her fathers Chinese ancestry and roots in the Chinese border region of Burma. A former Thamee server whod been tapped as the restaurants music director made playlists that were packaged with each meal, which also came with place mats that mimicked the vibrant designs of Thamees tabletops. When people got home, they put those placemats in, they took pictures, and looked like they were at our restaurant. It was fantastic, Wang said. Advertisement And it turned out that the restaurants most loyal customers were just as happy to frequent Thamee in its new, casual form as they were to shell out for a special event or more gourmet fare, to Wangs great relief. Some even volunteered to donate the remainder of their gift cards or house accounts to help ensure that restaurant is there when the pandemic subsides. Thamees owners maintain that restaurants shouldnt open for dine-in service until their employees are vaccinatedbut now that most of their staff members have gotten a shot or an appointment, theyre making plans to reopen in-person dining, ideally once D.C. increases indoor restaurant capacity to 50 percent. The in-house menu will be slightly more elevated than Thamees delivery offerings, but it will remain somewhat scaled down from the pre-COVID menu; Wang hopes to keep the labor and ingredient cost savings going for a while longer and maximize table turnover to seat as many customers as possible each day. Thamee will keep its carryout and delivery programs going, too, because Wang suspects that some customers will take time to feel comfortable in public spaces. Advertisement Thats no longer such a disappointing prospect to Lee, who has come to enjoy finding ways to translate the in-person Thamee experience to at-home diners. Hes proud of the thoughtful touches theyve incorporated into their delivery program, like labeling every container, printing out directions, and separating noodles from broth so they keep their texture. Every now and then, theyll throw in something a customer didnt order, along with a note explaining what it islike Thamees house-made balachaung, a Burmese condiment made from dried shrimp, garlic, and chilies. You dont know until you try it that it goes with everything, Lee said. Whats really stuck with me, and kept me going, is that hospitality is not just a warm greeting or a suggestion for a dish or a kind of music or chairs. Just because guests arent coming in through the door doesnt mean hospitality has to stop. TURNERS FALLS Farren Care Center will discharge the last of its residents by Friday, bringing to a close a ministry established by the Sisters of Providence of caring for hard-to-place individuals with both chronic medical and behavioral health conditions. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health gave approval in November 2020 to owner Trinity Health to close the aging, 122-bed skilled nursing and long-term rehabilitative services facility located in the Turners Falls section of Montague. On Friday, April 16, 2021, all residents will have been safely discharged from the Farren Care Center to MissionCare (in Holyoke) and/or other locations, said Christine M. Looby, national communications manager for Trinity Health Senior Communities. Beginning in May, Trinity Healths real estate team will begin exploring all options pertaining to the closure of the building, including sale, demolition, redevelopment. Trinity Health will coordinate any and all discussions with Town Manager Steven Ellis and other state and local officials as appropriate, Looby said. Some 61 staff and workers will remain for a period of time at the center, which is located in a former municipal hospital whose oldest part dates to 1900 and which once included other tenants. Looby said the number of team members to continue includes the direct care staff who will remain until all of the residents have exited and all clinical documentation is completed and properly stored. Other environmental services workers, such as maintenance and housekeeping, will remain to complete all processes related to closing and securing a building of this size and nature, Looby said. The official closing date is June 30. Trinity had notified the state in August of its intent to close Farren by the close of 2020, citing the age of the facility and what it called workforce challenges. The proposal drew much criticism in public hearings from family and legal guardians of residents who said Farrens care for its specialized population was unique and discharges to other facilities would be taking placing during a pandemic. Many of those concerns were repeated during a similar hearing on the proposed sale to iCare Health Network of Mount Saint Vincent, a 125-bed skilled nursing facility for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care in Holyoke that was operated by Trinity. At the beginning of December, the state approved iCare as the licensed operator of Mount Saint Vincent. The Connecticut-based network renamed the facility MissionCare and has designated it primarily for individuals with a chronic medical as well as mental illness. It purchased the property for $2 million from the Sisters of Providence at the end of 2020. The state extended the time period during which Farren could take to discharge residents after being vaccinated against the virus that has caused the pandemic. Last week, iCare said it expected a total of some 64 Farren residents to have transferred to its Holyoke at the conclusion of Farrens discharge process, and that 45 Mount Saint Vincent patients have remained for the change to MissionCare. Michigan-based Trinity Health, one of the largest Catholic health care delivery systems in the country, includes Hartford-based Trinity Health Of New England whose Massachusetts component is Mercy Medical Center, a Springfield-based hospital founded by the Sisters of Providence. Related content: Brooklyn Centre, Apr 14 (UNI) Police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse protesters after the murder of an African American. Earlier, the Minnesota police said that a police officer confused her handgun for a Taser and shot dead Daunte Wright, who escaped from the hands of law enforcement officers during his arrest. The death of the African American sparked protests, a Sputnik correspondent reported. For a third evening in a row, protesters go out to the streets of the city. Law enforcement officers used megaphones to urge protesters to clear the area and gradually pushed them back. Police officers managed to clear the space in front of the police station. The Sputnik correspondent saw a protester being arrested. Brooklyn Center, like Minneapolis, has a curfew. UNI XC-RHK0920 [April 14, 2021] Algolia Announces General Availability of AI-Powered Search Products SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algolia , the leading provider of an API Platform for Dynamic Experiences, today announced the general availability of two key products in its Algolia Search portfolio: Dynamic Synonym Suggestions , and Dynamic Re-Ranking . Launched into beta in Fall 2020 , these AI-powered products are designed to surface relevant content and products irrespective of how a person navigates the site or describes the item they are searching for, serves up results based on the persons actions on the site, and provides the ability to personalize the experience. As consumers expect frictionless and personalized digital experiences, AI can help organizations meet this need. However, applying AI to search can be complex, as many companies lack the budget for a data science or development team to focus on this solution. Even if they are able to get their AI-powered search experiences up-and-running, it is difficult to manage on a day-to-day basis for those with a non-technical background. Bringing AI into search is incredibly difficult. In order for it to be applied successfully, developers must have a base of clean and structured data, construct the system to detect user intention, and understand how each layer of AI works with one another, said Julien Lemoine, co-founder and CTO of Algolia . Historically, this has meant businesses could only turn to out-of-the-box solutions offering little transparency, cntrol, or any form of flexibility or open source solutions that can introduce an added level of complexity. That is why Algolia has been laser-focused on extending its AI capabilities, and were excited for these AI models to now be available for enterprises. Only Algolia has made it possible to turn on a family of powerful AI models in a matter of clicks, while still allowing the business to use their market knowledge to manage and tune the entire search experience. Algolia introduces the full power of AI to generate dynamic experiences, and the products now generally available include: Dynamic Synonym Suggestions : Provides the automatic analysis of search patterns and recommends synonyms that deliver the most relevant results. For example, if a record contains the keyword pants, but a user searches for trousers, adding the correct synonyms ensures that the user is served relevant search results. : Provides the automatic analysis of search patterns and recommends synonyms that deliver the most relevant results. For example, if a record contains the keyword pants, but a user searches for trousers, adding the correct synonyms ensures that the user is served relevant search results. Dynamic Re-Ranking: Leverages AI to analyze all visitors search and navigation actions to learn and then present the highest-performing content for the most popular queries and category pages. Dynamic Re-Ranking provides granular control to the business user and optimizes search relevance and maximizes business results. Todays announcement follows on the heels of Algolias recent acquisition of MorphL, a Google Digital News Initiative-funded startup. Its suite of API-based AI and machine learning models both enhances Algolias search products, and adds new predictive and recommendation solutions that enable developers, data scientists, and marketers to predict users intent, personalize online experiences, and create highly-targeted offers. This also aligns with Algolias new corporate vision advancing beyond search, and powering the holy grail of dynamic experiences with ability to predict user intent and build consumer trust in an instant. Dynamic Synonym Suggestions and Dynamic Re-Ranking are all generally available today. To learn more, visit www.algolia.com . Helpful Links Blog: https://blog.algolia.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/algolia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/algolia/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/algolia/ Careers: https://www.algolia.com/careers About Algolia Algolia provides an API-platform for dynamic experiences enabling organizations to predict intent and deliver results. Algolia achieves this with an API-first approach that allows developers and business teams to surface relevant content when wanted satisfying the demand for instant gratification and building and optimizing online experiences that enhance online engagement, increase conversion rates, and enrich lifetime value to generate profitable growth. More than 10,000 companies including Under Armour, Lacoste, Birchbox, Stripe, Slack, Medium, and Zendesk rely on Algolia to manage over 1.5 trillion search queries a year. Algolia is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Paris, London, Tokyo, New York, and Atlanta. To learn more, visit www.algolia.com . Contact: Shannon Campbell Offleash for Algolia algolia@offleashpr.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "La Presse has completely transformed its products and operations over the past few years, enabling it to achieve accelerated growth in advertising revenues," Mr. Levasseur explains. "Today, La Presse is a 100% digital company with modern advertising solutions adapted to the needs of its customers." Mr. Levasseur continues: "Patrick's mission will be to lead a high-performance team and to work with Executive Committee members to continue to advance our products and operations. He will also be responsible for clarifying the use of technology, particularly as it relates to advertising data." Prior to joining La Presse, Patrick was CEO and Chief Strategist at Necando Solutions, a company he co-founded in 2012. Necando Solutions advises and supports several Canadian organizations with technology solutions that optimize the use of data. He served previously as Partner and Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Nashen Technologies. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Universite de Sherbrooke. "Patrick's in-depth knowledge of new technologies and digital-data management, his leadership skills and his entrepreneurial spirit will enable our teams to continue to innovate so that we remain at the forefront of market practices," Mr. Levasseur concludes. For his part, Patrick Salois states: "I am proud to join the La Presse team. Quality journalism is essential to our society's growth and I look forward to contributing to the pursuit of the organization's mission and the enhancement of our products." He will assume his new duties on May 10. About La Presse La Presse is the French-language media outlet of choice for Canadians and is an independent Quebec institution operating in a not-for-profit structure. Its mission is to produce quality information accessible free of charge to the largest possible audience. Its content is distributed on several platforms including, tablet app, mobile app and website available across all digital platforms. Recipient of numerous awards for the quality of its content and design, La Presse is known for its distinctive, rich and diversified coverage of news and current events. La Presse is also known for its in-depth investigative series, special reports, as well as the voice it lends to important discussions within the Opinions section (Debats) across all its apps and platforms. SOURCE La Presse For further information: Florence Turpault-Desroches, Vice-President Communications, and General Manager of the La Presse Foundation, 514 285-7000, ext. 6562, [email protected] Related Links http://www.lapresse.ca Beginning last June with the George Floyd riots across America, and resuming now, with the Daunte Wright riots, I've had a continuing feeling of deja vu. It seems to me that I've seen all this before. Then, it suddenly hit me, what is happening in America: the Arab street has come to town. It's important to note that riots happen constantly. If you type the word "riot" into YouTube, you get videos from every corner of the world. Many of the riots in the Arab world were part of the Muslim spring, when liberty-seekers and Muslim Brotherhood despots alike took to the streets, anxious to unseat the governments then in charge. In the West, riots tended to be focused on a specific political goal, complete with signs and the usual leftist street theater. However, the notion of the "Arab street" connotes a specific type of riot, one in which imams and other activists stir up a mob to take to the streets in a blind rage. We started hearing about these riots after the Iraq War started. The media turned their cameras to the Middle East, and we started hearing routine stories about "the Arab street." This almost invariably meant a sudden, spontaneous riot by people driven to a frenzy, usually by their imams. If you check out the phrase Arab spring at Wikipedia, you get a scholarly statement saying it refers "to the spectrum of public opinion in the Arab world, often as opposed [to] or contrasted [with] the opinions of Arab governments." In other words, it's just the marketplace of ideas where people gather to meet and talk. Read farther down, though, and you discover the definition to which I'm referring and the one that was supported by the images flooding television screens for the first two decades of the 21st century (emphasis added; footnote omitted): While sometimes the American media used "Arab street" as to be interchangeable with "Arab public opinion," suggesting rationality and calm, [Terry] Regier and [Muhammad Ali] Khalidi found that most uses carried the connotations of incipient unrest. "We propose that a central association of the Arab street is indeed that of a volatile potential mob, dangerous to the established order of Arab states, and thus to any agreements Western powers may have with those states." While users may not always have intended it that way, in many cases they did. It's fine to say we in America were just misunderstanding what was going on, but we certainly got an eyeful of volatile mob behavior whenever the imams stirred up the ordinary people: As many will remember, in October 2012, so as not to affect Obama's re-election, the administration used the idea of an "Arab street" riot over a silly video as a cover for the fact that al-Qaeda had spearheaded the Benghazi consulate assault and that the administration dropped the ball by not being prepared. Certainly, those riots about the video were occurring across the Muslim world, with this video as just one example: If we're not on the same page by now when it comes to what I mean about the Arab street, I doubt we ever will be. However, if you're still with me, you understand that I'm talking about a volatile mob of usually aimless people who can be demagogued into a rage that they take to the streets. Although these mobs are small in number, their destructive rage frightens politicians, who respond with pandering and retreat. The initial George Floyd protests, while they were built on a lie, had the indicia of a traditional protest: people focused on an issue gathered together with signs and slogans to impress politicians with their numbers and, often, marched down the streets. However, once those protests devolved into riots and looting, they took on the patina of the Arab street. And when the people skipped the formal protest part entirely, as they did in Kenosha and are now doing in Brooklyn Center (and will certainly do in Minneapolis after the Chauvin verdict), we are witnessing pure Arab street theater: demagogues are whipping volatile crowds into frenzies that do not result in formal protest, but simply lead to anarchic street violence. As a reminder, in Brooklyn Center, the mob hit the streets before the facts were known about Daunte's death. They continued to hit the streets (and loot the stores) when body cam video showed that Daunte violently fought arrest and that the police officer, for whatever reason, actually thought she was tasering him, not shooting him. (Tasers should be fluorescent colors so this can't happen again.) The facts didn't stop the mob: This is what the back and forth between the rioters and police looks like in Brooklyn Center, MN. pic.twitter.com/yb6e5TMG4m Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 13, 2021 Some Brooklyn Center stores are being protected by civilians with firearms. The looters have stayed away from these places. pic.twitter.com/fAcmYFxLG6 Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 13, 2021 MN State Troopers used crowd control munitions after getting into a scuffle while trying to arrest some rioters. pic.twitter.com/LnhHh4RjNR Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 13, 2021 Smoked poured out of the ransacked Dollar Tree while police move in to clear the crowd from the parking lot. pic.twitter.com/tM5yum8oOc Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 13, 2021 If Daunte dont get it, shut it down! chants from the crowd of hundreds outside the Brooklyn Center Police station #BrooklynCenter #DaunteWright #BrooklynCenterMN pic.twitter.com/vouhzvWx2C Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 13, 2021 America was never supposed to be this way. Free speech, a free press, a democratic voting process, and public education were supposed to prevent a mindless mob action. The fact that our nation now offers the worst excesses of the Arab world is deeply disheartening. Even worse is the fact that our politicians cower in the face of this. Image: Dollar Tree store looted. Twitter screen grab. Business Tech conference will highlight latest innovations in process management and automation software with 90-minute virtual keynote and on-demand access to business, technical and partner best practices LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation, today announced that registration is open for the company's annual conference, Nintex ProcessFest 2021. Everyone seeking to reimagine, transform and optimise the way people work through process management and automation is encouraged to register for the 90-minute virtual keynote taking place on Thursday, 20 May 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. BST. Register for Nintex ProcessFest 2021 at https://www.nintex.com/processfest. Registration is free and every attendee will receive access to hours of valuable business, technical and partner content following the keynote. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across nearly every industry are accelerating their digital transformation initiatives with powerful and easy-to-use process mapping, workflow automation, robotic process automation (RPA) and document automation software from Nintex. Customers speaking at this year's Nintex ProcessFest event include Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Hernando County Schools, and more. "The challenges of remote work during the last year have significantly reinforced the need for all of us to work smarter, faster, and with the support of better digital processes," said Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. "We look forward to sharing our unwavering commitment to every Nintex customer and partner by sharing the latest best practices and innovations delivered through our leading process management and automation platform during virtual Nintex ProcessFest 2021." This year's digital experience includes a 90-minute, highly interactive keynote with Nintex leaders and customers from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. BST. Following the keynote, attendees will receive access to valuable on-demand content featuring business and technical product deep dives, solution scenarios, tours of Nintex customer success resources, and more. Additionally, every active current Nintex customer that attends our 20 May live broadcast will receive 12-months of free access to Nintex University, to continue to refine their workflow automation, RPA and app dev knowledge and skills. Nintex CEO Eric Johnson will kick off the event by sharing updates on company strategy and process capabilities. He will be followed by Nintex Chief Product Officer Neal Gottsacker and members of the Nintex product team who will provide more details on the company's technology vision and product roadmap including a preview of soon-to-be-released innovations that deliver an unrivalled experience for every organisation leveraging the Nintex Process Platform. Highlights include: Showcasing the next generation of Nintex Workflow Cloud Experience everything that is new with Nintex Workflow Cloud including unification, integrations with K2 Software, actionable process intelligence with Nintex Analytics, innovation in digital forms featuring AI capabilities and support for cloud migration. Experience everything that is new with Nintex Workflow Cloud including unification, integrations with K2 Software, actionable process intelligence with Nintex Analytics, innovation in digital forms featuring AI capabilities and support for cloud migration. Extending digital workflows across applications Learn how to extend the power of Nintex Workflow across existing organisational tools by leveraging 100 connectors and the Nintex Xtensions framework to build unique connectors. Learn how to extend the power of Nintex Workflow across existing organisational tools by leveraging 100 connectors and the Nintex Xtensions framework to build unique connectors. Achieving FedRAMP authorisation Learn about Nintex's journey to achieve FedRAMP authorisation for Nintex Workflow Cloud in 2021 and what this milestone means for government agencies. Throughout the keynote Nintex Chief Customer Officer Josh Waldo will introduce Nintex customers who will share their best practices in process mapping, management and automation - and highlight key customer success resources available through the Nintex Community, Nintex University, and Nintex Solution Accelerator Gallery which provides hundreds of downloadable process maps, workflows, RPA Botflows, and Nintex K2 Cloud templates by solution, industry and department. Media Contact Kristin Treat Nintex kristin.treat@nintex.com cell: (215) 317-9091 About Nintex Nintex is the global standard for process management and automation. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487454/Nintex_ProcessFest_2021.jpg India recorded the highest ever daily case rise at 1,84,372 and 1,027 deaths as the second coronavirus wave continues to wreak havoc across the country. A total of 82,339 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours. As of April 14, the total case tally stands at 1.38 crore; total recoveries 1.2 crore; active cases 13.6 lakh; and 1.72 lakh patients have died. Vaccination conducted across the country stands at 11.1 crore.This includes 90,48,079 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 55,80,569 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 1,01,33,706 frontline Workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose and 50,09,457 FLWs who have taken the second dose. Besides, 3,55,65,610 and 8,17,955 beneficiaries aged between 45 and 60 have been administered the first and second dose respectively, while 4,24,18,287 and 24,60,262 individuals aged above 60 have taken the first and second dose respectively. #IndiaFightsCorona:#COVID19Vaccination - Day 88 On Day-3 of #TeekaUtsav India's total vaccination coverage crosses 11 crore doses More than 25 lakh doses administered across country till 8 PM today Details: https://t.co/3vQWKnhyvW#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccinationDrivepic.twitter.com/fdXa6qK4xY a #IndiaFightsCorona (@COVIDNewsByMIB) April 13, 2021 India is the second most affected country due to coronavirus in the world. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data suggests India has tested 26,06,18,866 Covid-19 samples so far, including 14,11,758 tests conducted on Tuesday. Maharashtra remains the most affected state, followed by UP, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi. Maharashtra not only has the highest cases and deaths in the country but also has one of the highest test positivity rates in the world. Also read: Sputnik V in India: Dr Reddy's to begin supply of COVID-19 vaccine imported from Russia in May India's drug regulator on Tuesday granted permission for restricted emergency use of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V with certain conditions while stating that Dr Reddy's Laboratories will import the vaccine for use in the country. With this, India has approved three vaccines to be administered to people, including Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum Institute's Covishield. Covaxin and Covishield of Oxford-AstraZeneca were given the emergency use authorisation for two COVID-19 vaccines in January. India has also fast-tracked emergency use approval for eligible foreign-produced shots against COVID-19, in a move to expand its basket of vaccines amid the "highest" surge in infections in the country and speed up the inoculation drive. Also read: Maharashtra's 'lockdown like' curbs to start from tonight: Whats open, whats closed New Jerseys secretary of state is asking the attorney generals office to investigate possible fraudulent petitions a Democratic hopeful filed in an attempt to run against Gov. Phil Murphy in the upcoming primary. The move comes a day after an administrative judge ruled Lisa McCormick didnt have a single valid signature from all of the 1,951 she submitted to enter the Democratic primary. The state requires a minimum of 1,000 signatures to get on the gubernatorial ballot. The Democratic State Committee charged that McCormicks campaign used voter data to automatically fill petitions without the voters knowledge. There were at least two petitioners who were dead when they allegedly signed their support for McCormicks campaign, some names were misspelled and others had moved out of the state, Rajiv Parikh, attorney for the Democratic State Committee argued. Administrative Law Judge Jeffrey Rabin agreed, saying in his ruling it appears McCormick had, at the last minute, simply created a template for completing individual single signature petition forms and merely inserted the names of addresses of miscellaneous registered Democrats into the forms. Secretary of State Tahesha Way on Wednesday said she is asking the states Division of Elections to refer the matter to the attorney general for fraud investigations. ... Given the allegations of fraud and violations of criminal law asserted in the challenge to the petition, I hereby order the director of the Division of Elections to refer this matter ... for investigation into fraud allegations, as well as ... criminal law, Way wrote in her letter. Way also concurred with the administrative judges ruling, meaning McCormick will not be on the ballot in June. McCormick has run failed campaigns to get on a city council or become a county clerk. She also lost a Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Her best showing in a political race was when she took nearly 4 out of 10 votes in the 2018 primary race against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, in the wake of his Senate Ethics Committee admonishment and a criminal corruption trial that ended in a hung jury before the charges were dropped. McCormick didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. (LON:APF, ), a natural resources royalty and streaming company, said all of the producing assets in its portfolio are now back in operation, following the resumption of activities at the McClean Lake Mill after a period of COVID-19 related care and maintenance. The company saw its first-quarter total portfolio contribution drop 40% from the preceding quarter to 6.8mln mainly due to the previously announced disposal of about 75% of its holding in LIORC to partially finance a transformational Voisey's Bay acquisition. The group has received its first deliveries under the cobalt stream from Voisey's Bay and will record its first revenue in the second quarter, it said in a trading update. "The first quarter of 2021 has started satisfactorily for Anglo Pacific with the completion of the transformational acquisition of the Voisey's Bay cobalt stream and the resumption of activity at McClean Lake returning the group's portfolio of producing assets to full operation, said chief executive Julian Treger. A dozen people were missing at sea off the US state of Louisiana on Wednesday after a commercial ship capsized in the Gulf of Mexico, sparking a rescue operation that saved six others Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :A dozen people were missing at sea off the US state of Louisiana on Wednesday after a commercial ship capsized in the Gulf of Mexico, sparking a rescue operation that saved six others. The United States Coastguard and a fleet of volunteers were deployed to search for the 18 crew on board after the vessel capsized in a storm near Port Fourchon, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of New Orleans. The ship was a 129-foot (39.3 meters) lift vessel, the coastguard said, adding that the search for the remaining crew was ongoing. "We're still looking for others right now," Petty Officer Jonathan Lally, a spokesman for the coastguard, told The Washington Post early on Wednesday. The operation came as an unexpectedly strong storm hit the area, creating dangerous conditions for boats in the Gulf. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported gusts up to 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour) on Louisiana's southern coast, according to local media. Reform of the police is no longer enough, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Tuesday, as she joined fellow 'squad' member Rashida Tlaib in calling for the police to be abolished. The New York congresswoman responded on Tuesday to the killing of another black man, Daunte Wright, 20, in a Minneapolis suburb Sunday. He was killed by a white policewoman, Kimberly Potter, who shot him in the chest at a traffic stop in what the Brooklyn Center police chief said was an accident, when she meant to reach for her Taser. 'Daunte Wright's killing was not a random, disconnected 'accident' - it was the repeated outcome of an indefensible system that grants impunity for state violence, rewards it w/ endlessly growing budgets at the cost of community investment, & targets those who question that order,' said Ocasio-Cortez. 'Cameras, chokehold bans, 'retraining' funds, and similar reform measures do not ultimately solve what is a systemic problem. 'That system will find a way - killings happen on camera, people are killed in other ways, retraining grows $ while often substituting for deeper measures.' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, pictured on Monday, has called for a drastic rethinking of policing Daunte Wright, 20, was shot by a Brooklyn Center police officer on Sunday during a traffic stop Her comments mark her strongest support yet for a movement to abolish the police. She has previously backed calls to defund police departments, but has not until now spoken in favor of a total scrapping of the forces, and starting again. The analyst group Public Citizen counted 991 people killed by police in the U.S. last year. They tweeted that there were only 18 days where the police did not kill someone in 2020. Ocasio-Cortez's fellow Democrat progressive, Tlaib, who represents the area around Detroit, had earlier called for the abolition of police. Ocasio-Cortez is pictured with fellow 'squad' members Tlaib (far left), Ilhan Omar (second left) and Ayanna Pressley (right) in July 2019 A memorial for Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, where he was shot and killed on Sunday Protesters are seen in Brooklyn Center on Sunday, after Wright was killed at a traffic stop Kimberly Potter, 48, shot and killed Wright. She resigned from Brooklyn Center police Tuesday 'It wasn't an accident,' she tweeted on Monday. 'Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. 'No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed.' Ocasio-Cortez has been a vocal supporter of calls to defund the police, arguing that the money is better spent on mental health and social issues. Asked in June what an America with defunded police would look like, she replied: 'It looks like a suburb.' She continued: 'Affluent white communities already live in a world where they choose to fund youth, health, housing etc more than they fund police. 'When a teenager or preteen does something harmful in a suburb (I say teen bc this is often where lifelong carceral cycles begin for Black and Brown communities), White communities bend over backwards to find alternatives to incarceration for their loved ones to 'protect their future,' like community service or rehab or restorative measures. 'Why don't we treat Black and Brown people the same way?' During a primary debate in June, Ocasio-Cortez also called for the demilitarization of police forces by reducing the amount of military equipment departments can obtain and for ending qualified immunity for officers that protects them for prosecution of crimes committed in the course of their work. She also called for a ban on chokeholds, such as the one that killed George Floyd. She tied the US's expansive military budget to issues with US law enforcement, suggesting it needed cut as well as police funding. 'We would not be giving local police departments who are undertrained a tank if we didn't give the military too much money to have extra damn tanks lying around to begin with,' she said. That kind of collaboration is sure to continue. Hernandez remained moved by it. There was already a camaraderie that existed among this unique world of people who go to film festivals, he said. But as someone whos been going for almost 30 years now, I never felt it as close to the heart as I did this past year. Hernandez discussed ideas with Torontos co-heads, Cameron Bailey and Joana Vicente, whose festival also took a different turn last year. (Bailey and Vicente couldnt speak by press time because of family vacations.) The informal support group made bumps in the road less scary, but there were still surprises, some which havent fully played out. The Berlinale, celebrating its 71st edition, opted for a two-part structure, sharing its virtual screenings with the press and distributors in February, but saving potential in-person audience screenings for June. Carlo Chatrian, Berlins artistic director, is still waiting to understand how his program will play with a crowd. On Twitter, the comments are always overwhelmingly positive, which is good, he jokes. But at the same time, you ask: What is the truth? A Sundance series of Los Angeles-based drive-in screenings had to be abandoned at the last minute (along with untold hours of spent labor), a casualty of the unpredictable coronavirus in transit. That was a time when I could almost shake my fist at the gods, Jackson said, fuming. And even when the drive-ins did happen, like New Yorks sublime Queens evening with Wong Kar-wais In the Mood for Love, flat parking lots were unconducive to reading subtitles. It was a beautiful experience, Hernandez confirmed. That said, I had to move my car twice to reposition. There was a little slope, a hill, at the back. We started calling it the balcony. If you were parked up on that hill, youd get an even better vantage point. Still, having survived their annus horribilis, the film festivals appear transformed for good. Being in the Bronx and Queens and Brooklyn last year was the beginning of something, not an interim solution, Hernandez said. If the biggest outcome of 2020 was that, in 2021, we went back to the way things were, that would feel like a failure to me. Now we have a little more confidence because weve done it once. We have the battle scars, too. Things evolve, Pierson says. Things dont go back. Every year, we approach our work with: What makes sense now? What I personally liked best was that we were able to deliver on the South-by-Southwest-ness of it all. Somehow, we were able to deliver that on one screen, through one portal. KCR was addressing a huge public meeting at Halia to campaign for the TRS partys candidate Nomula Bhagat, son of deceased MLA. (Photo: Twitter @trspartyonline) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday vowed to visit Nagarjunasagar within a fortnight after a TRS victory in the upcoming assembly bypoll on April 17, to fast track projects and show people what development of a constituency means. The Chief Minister, who also heads the ruling TRS party, resolved that his party will not seek votes in the 2023 Assembly polls if it failed to complete the Nellikal lift irrigation project in Nagarjunasagar within a span of 18 months. He promised to complete this project even by seeking alms, not just funds, if required. KCR was addressing a huge public meeting at Halia to campaign for the TRS partys candidate Nomula Bhagat, son of deceased MLA. In his 25-minute speech, the chief minister targeted the Congress while avoiding any reference to the BJP. Rao lashed out at Opposition parties over their attempts to block his public meeting by approaching the high court and the election commission citing the Covid restrictions. Ensure victory for Nomula Bhagat. I will again come to Nagarjunasagar within 15 days. I will put projects on the fast-track and show people the taste of development and also show what real development means," Rao remarked amid huge applause from the people. He added, "Don't get confused during the elections. Think wisely before casting your vote. Everything is in front of your eyes. You all know what the TRS government has done for the states development and peoples welfare all these years. If you give victory to a party that works with sincerity and conviction, that will boost its morale and encourage us to deliver even more," Rao said. The CM promised to sanction one more degree college in Nagarjunasagar apart from the recently sanctioned degree college at Halia. KCR promised to provide new Aasara pensions and ration cards besides giving ownership rights to people who constructed houses on irrigation department lands in Nagarjunasagar. He also promised to hold a praja darbar in Nagarjunasagar first to resolve the podu land issues of tribals across the state by hectoring the entire state government machinery to the constituency. Reacting to the statements of some Congress leaders during the campaign that the CM's post to KCR was Jana Reddy's 'biksha', Rao said: "If Jana has that capacity, will he ever give the CM post to me? My CM post is not Jana's biksha, its the Telangana people's biksha. Congress leaders like Jana Reddy acted like beggars before the Andhra rulers for posts and to promote their selfish political interests. The TRS never compromised the states interests with anyone for any post. We rather resigned our posts several times and fought bypolls demanding statehood for Telangana." KCR said Jana who boasted of serving as MLA for 30 years failed to provide even drinking water to the people of Nagarjunasagar. It was the TRS government that found a permanent solution to the fluoride problem in Nalgonda district by providing treated drinking water to every household through taps under the Mission Bhagiratha scheme. The CM asked voters to think about the TRS government's schemes of Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Aasara pensions, 24x7 free power supply to agriculture, uninterrupted power supply to all sectors, Mission Bhagiratha etc before casting their vote. KCR promised to make local party leader Koti Reddy an MLC soon after Bhagat wins, saying they both will ensure further development of Nagarjunasagar as elected representatives of the TRS. [April 14, 2021] UKG Named a Best Workplace in Canada 2021 UKG (Ultimate Kronos (News - Alert) Group), a leading global provider of HCM, payroll, HR service delivery, and workforce management solutions, has been recognized by Great Place to Work as the No. 12 Best Workplace in Canada 2021 among the 50 best large and multinational workplaces. "Being named a Best Workplace in Canada is just a bit sweeter this year, having celebrated our one-year anniversary as a combined company under UKG, and reflecting on the unprecedented challenges all organizations faced as a result of the global pandemic," said Aron Ain, chairman and CEO of UKG. "We've worked tirelessly, in partnership with all employees around the globe, to build upon the great cultures of the past and to solidify a best-in-class culture for UKG, rooted in its passion for people and the desire to innovate. Today, we celebrate this honor with our Canadian employees and continue to look to the future." Celebrating this achievement just one year after its merger, UKG and its employees are closely connected to a globally aligned framework of carefully selected values and behaviors that shape every component of its evolving culture - from benefits to performance to the tagline: Our purpose is people. During a tumultuous year for all organizations, UKG kept true to its values by establishing an Employee Relief Fund at the onset of the pandemic to support employees whose immediate family members have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 and other unforeseen disasters. Moreover, the company's recently expanded benefits package for all U.S. and Canadian employees represents a $35 million increase in spending for 2021, and includes 100%-company-paid healthcare premiums and a 45% dollar-for-dollar match on all employee 401(k)/RRSP contributions, with no annual cap, up to fderal limits. The 2021 Best Workplaces in Canada list is compiled by the Great Place to Work Institute. The competition process to be ranked on this list is employee driven, based on two criteria: two-thirds of the total score comes from confidential employee survey results and the remaining one-third from an in-depth review of the organization's culture. This offers a rigorous representation of the organization from an employee perspective, and an overall portrait of the workplace culture. Together, they provide crucial data relative to five trust-building dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. According to Great Place to Work, this year's list captured the experience and sentiment of over 82,000 employees, rolling out to impact over 300,000 Canadian employees. Supporting Resources At UKG, our purpose is people. Learn more about our vision. UKG CEO Aron Ain shares how to transform employee engagement into a growth strategy in his book, "WorkInspired: How to Build an Organization Where Everyone Loves to Work." 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 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. Copyright 2021 UKG Inc. All rights reserved. For a full list of UKG trademarks, please visit 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/20210414005159/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Galveston, TX (77553) Today Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High 83F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 77F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. United Nations agencies have raised concern over the condition of the people of Northern Mozambique. As per the reports, they have warned that the displaced people have been starving and they are having health issues due to the conflict and protection crisis. Thousands of people have been displaced by the rebel attack in northern Mozambique. Refugees traumatised by the attack The people have now sought refuge in the Pemba town and some of the people have also been separated from their families. The refugees who have fled to Palma in Cabo Delgado have shared stories of horrific attacks by militants who reportedly killed dozens of people. The head of the UN refugee Agency Margarida Loureiro said that the people arriving in the shelter had been "exhausted" by their experiences. They are highly traumatised by what they have seen, by what they have experienced, seeing their families, their friends being killed, seeing their houses being completely destroyed. The director of emergencies for the UN Children's fund Manual Fontaine said that the people have been traumatised by the violence. As per reports, they were forced to flee in the middle of the night and some of them have also separated from their families. He also shared an incident about how a husband of a young pregnant woman was killed in front of her. He added that there have been stories of kidnapping and gender-based violence reported in the region. UN agencies seek help UNICEF has also raised alarm over malnutrition among displaced children in Cabo Delgado. As per reports, the agency has appealed for $52.8 million for Mozambique this year. Also, $30 million of that amount targeted for Cabo Delgado. They have further mentioned that only 37 percent of the appeal is funded and they have asked for international support for humanitarian work. The World Food Program is seeking $82 million for food aid in northern Mozambique. (Image and Inputs Credit: The Associated Press) An inspector general report into the US Capitol Police response to the deadly insurrection has revealed that agency officials ignored or overlooked intelligence warnings and ordered against deploying heavier crowd-control equipment against rioters. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Boltons 104-page review following the siege on 6 January was completed in March and has not yet been released to the public. The House Committee on Administration will discuss its findings during a hearing on 15 April. The watchdog found that department officials received warnings three days before the assault that now-former president Donald Trumps supporters fuelled by his false narrative of a stolen presidential election in an attempt to threaten and derail a joint session of Congress to certify the results could bring violence to the Capitol. One intelligence report from 3 January specifically mentions the Stop the Steal campaign embraced by several of Mr Trumps allies in Congress and its proximity to white supremacists, militia members and other groups who actively promote violence and could create a significantly dangerous situation for law enforcement and the general public. Supporters of the current president see [6 January, 2021] as the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election, one intelligence analysis said, according to Mr Boltons report. This sense of desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive to become violent. Congress itself is the target, it adds. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBIs field office in Norfolk, Virginia also signalled to law enforcement that similar groups could pose a threat in Washington DC. But the day before the assault, police officials reported no specific known threats related to the joint session of Congress. Mr Bolton pointed to dysfunction within the agency and has recommended clear means of efficiently and effectively disseminating intelligence information to all of its personnel. The inspector general also assessed that officers with the Capitol Police Civil Disturbance Unit operated at a decreased level of readiness that day as a result of a lack of adequate policies and procedures for the unit, including sufficient equipment and training. Officials directed officers against using less-lethal crowd-control weapons to push back against rioters. Some riot shields shattered upon impact because they had been improperly stored, according to the report, and officers were stranded without other shields because they were locked on a bus during the attack. A group of officers were consequently required to respond to the crowd without the protection of their riot shields, the report says. The New York Times obtained a draft of the report, which also was previewed by CNN earlier this month. In the wake of the attack, top security officials at the Capitol resigned, as members of Congress investigate what went wrong. Administration Committee chair Zoe Lofgren said last month that she has been briefed on the detailed and disturbing findings and important recommendations in the report. US Reps Tim Ryan and Jaime Herrera Beutler have called on the Capitol Police Board to release the report and hold regular briefings on threats to Congress and other findings. The Department of Justice has filed dozens of charges against rioters. Five people died during or after the event, including two rioters, a Capitol Police officer, and a rioter who was fatally shot by police. More than a dozen officers were hospitalised. Two police officers who responded to the attack died by suicide in the days after the event. Russias Navy began drills in the Black Sea on Wednesday amid growing tensions with Ukraine and ahead of the expected arrival of two U.S. warships in the area. In recent weeks, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated and so have those between Russia and NATO and the United States over the build-up of Russian troops in Crimea and along its border with Ukraine. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, raising the tensions between Russia and Ukraine and Russia and the West. The annexation led to the United States and the European Union imposing sanctions on Russia, including on some aspects and some firms in its oil and gas industry. Now tensions are rising again, with another geopolitical heat-up not so far away from the perennial focal point of conflicts, the Middle East, which often moves oil prices up when tensions escalate. Russias Black Sea fleet, based in Crimea, is now out on drills in the Black Sea, rehearsing firing at surface and air targets, Russian news agency TASS reported. The drills begin days after NATO allies said two U.S. warships are due to arrive in the region and a day after U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. In the call with Putin, President Biden emphasized the United States unwavering commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. The President voiced our concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraines borders, and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions, the White House said. Secretary Blinken said that We continue to support Ukraines Euro-Atlantic integration in the face of Russias ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea. Today, Germany said that Russia was seeking to provoke a reaction with the build-up of troops along the border with Ukraine and in Crimea. My impression is that the Russian side is trying everything to provoke a reaction, media quoted German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as telling German public broadcaster ARD. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close OTTAWA, ON, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), announced $40 million in funding for "Getting Started", the second round of the Housing Supply Challenge (HSC), which will be launched on June 9, 2021. The Housing Supply Challenge invites local solutions from across Canada that improve affordable housing pre-development processes from idea to shovel, and everything in between! For the "Getting Started" round, the following organizations are encouraged to apply: For-profit and not-for-profit organizations Indigenous organizations and groups Canadian post secondary institutions Government (provincial, territorial, Indigenous, municipal, local and regional) Teams composed of a variety of participants *All applicants must be affiliated with a legally incorporated organization The Housing Supply Challenge is being delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Future rounds of the five-year challenge will tackle additional issues related to housing supply, including Northern Housing, Construction Technology, Scaling Solutions, and Public Perception of New Development. More information about the Housing Supply Challenge is available on our website. Quotes "Every Canadian deserves a home that meets their needs and they can afford. Increasing the supply of housing requires innovative and disruptive thinking. The Housing Supply Challenge will bring forward the best new ideas and turn them into realities that can address housing supply issues in Canada." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development "Our government believes everyone in Canada deserves the dignity of a place to call home. We know that local barriers call for local solutions. The Housing Supply Challenge will help communities to find the solution that works for them." The Honourable Catherine Mckenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "Hard working Canadians need homes that meet their needs and that they can afford. Building housing that's more affordable takes time, and navigating the approval process and construction takes time and costs money too. This $40 million in Government of Canada funding will enable local solutions from across Canada address this challenge. Solutions that improve and reduce pre-development processing time will help proponents move from idea to shovel quicker. Every dollar saved makes housing more affordable." Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Quick facts The COVID-19 crisis means that communities across the country are dealing with the devastating impacts of rising levels of homelessness and housing need. Canada needs more housing supply, but there is no single solution to address this need. needs more housing supply, but there is no single solution to address this need. To help municipalities grow their housing supply, Budget 2019 provided $300 million in funding over five years to launch a Housing Supply Challenge and unlock new solutions for Canadians searching for an affordable place to call home. in funding over five years to launch a Housing Supply Challenge and unlock new solutions for Canadians searching for an affordable place to call home. The Challenge aims to provide new resources and find solutions to enhance housing supply and provide a platform to share these models with communities across Canada . . The Challenge will also help address barriers to housing supply and affordability, showcase new ideas and solutions, and cultivate collaboration and partnerships. The Challenge is a component of Impact Canada , a Government of Canada -wide initiative to help departments accelerate the adoption of innovative funding approaches to deliver meaningful results to Canadians. , a Government of -wide initiative to help departments accelerate the adoption of innovative funding approaches to deliver meaningful results to Canadians. The Housing Supply Challenge is being delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The first round, Data Driven , has shortlisted 21 applicants who have proposed innovative solutions to address gaps in housing data (see attached backgrounder). , has shortlisted 21 applicants who have proposed innovative solutions to address gaps in housing data (see attached backgrounder). These participants will create technology or methodology-based solutions to improve data collection, sharing, analysis and integration, thus improving decision-making on housing supply. The first round will disburse up to $25 million to fund a variety of new solutions. to fund a variety of new solutions. The second round, Getting Started , will: , will: Identify, develop and implement solutions to barriers in the development of housing that is affordable Empower local stakeholders to identify and solve the unique housing development challenges in their area Stimulate collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnerships to influence housing development at the local, provincial/ territorial, and federal level Future rounds of the five-year challenge will tackle additional issues related to housing supply including: Northern Housing (Fall 2021) Construction Technology (2022) Scaling Solutions (2022) Public Perception of New Development (2023) CMHC has partnered with Evergreen on a support program to help applicants develop the most impactful solutions. The Challenge aligns with the National Housing Strategy and CMHC's goal, that by 2030 everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. 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. Backgrounder Shortlisted Applicants, First Round, Data Driven Find further details on these solutions. Applicant Solution Title Jurisdiction ArchTech Inc. Qammaq - Net Zero Inuit Housing Nunavut Purpose Analytics Low-end of Market Rental Housing Monitor Ontario University of British Columbia Needs Assessment and Well-Located Land: A Data-Driven Solution to Balanced Supply of Housing British Columbia McMaster University CHEC Administrative Data Centre Ontario McGill University Data Homebase: A prototype visualizing Canada's housing characteristics to foster a circular economy Quebec The Metis Nation of Ontario Using Strategic Data to Shape Regional Allocation of Affordable Housing Investments for Metis citizens in Ontario Ontario MapYourProperty Inc. Single Data Intelligence Platform for Affordable Housing Development Ontario Ontario First Nations Technical Services Ontario First Nation Housing Needs Ontario Pewapun Construction Limited RealNorth - Real Time Data Driven Housing Management for Northern Canadian First Nations Reserves Manitoba Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) Filling the Housing Information Gap in Rural Eastern Ontario Ontario Happipad Technologies Inc. Analysis of Shared Housing in BC British Columbia Abode Atlas Technologies Inc. Leveraging Zoning Bylaw Data for Gentle Densification Ontario Data for Good Canada Collecting Traditional & Non-Traditional Variables to Identify Rising Demand in Undersupplied Census Ontario Rick Hansen Foundation Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Rating System for Accessible Housing Registry British Columbia Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services Digital database and software tool to support housing needs for Indigenous CFS youth transitioning Manitoba OPEN Technologies Net-zero Navigator Extension for Affordable Housing British Columbia Family Services Windsor-Essex Maintaining Affordability through ADUs: A Tracking and Analysis Model Ontario DAKOTA OJIBWAY TRIBAL COUNCIL ASSET-MAPPING APPROACH (resource assessments) FOR FIRST NATIONS RESERVES Manitoba Vivre en Ville Residential Lease Registry: Open Data for Maintaining the Supply of Affordable Housing Quebec Universite Laval Mapping of population vulnerability and exposure to extreme heat waves Quebec First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba eHealth Housing Database Manitoba SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation For further information: Mikaela Harrison, Office of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, P.C., M.P., Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), [email protected] Related Links www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the launch of an antitrust investigation into large tech companies outside of the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 9, 2019.(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Texas, Missouri Sue Biden Administration to Reinstate Trumps Remain in Mexico Policy The attorneys general from Texas and Missouri filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration on April 13, seeking to reinstate former President Donald Trumps Remain in Mexico policy to curb the surge of illegal immigrants at the border. President [Joe] Biden could immediately remedy the influx of crime pouring across our border by reinstating the Migrant Protection Protocols, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. Dangerous criminals are taking advantage of the lapse in law enforcement, and its resulting in human trafficking, smuggling, a plethora of violent crimes, and a massive, unprecedented burden on state and federal programs for which taxpayers must foot the bill. The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), created by the Trump administration in January 2019 and commonly referred to as the Remain in Mexico policy, require aliens to wait in Mexico for the duration of their immigration proceedings. Before its implementation, thousands of illegal immigrants were released into the United States to await their cases, often disappearing in the country, never to be seen again. Hours after Bidens inauguration, his administration announced that beginning Jan. 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would cease adding individuals into the [MPP] program. The blame for the current crisis at the Southern border should be laid squarely at the feet of President Biden and his administration, said Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. With border enforcement agencies stretched thin, its time that President Biden reinstate President Trumps Migrant Protection Protocols, quell the crisis at the border, and ensure that Missouri and the United States are able to effectively combat human trafficking. A group of illegal immigrants wait to be processed by Border Patrol after crossing the U.S.Mexico border in La Joya, Texas, on April 10, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) The two attorneys general claimed in the lawsuit (pdf) that MPP played a critical role in addressing the border crisis, and by suspending the program, the Biden administration ignored the governing legal authority and basic requirements set forth in the Administrative Procedure Act. The attorneys general claimed that both Texas and Missouri have been forced to spend significantly more resources to combat human trafficking by drug cartels as a result of the move. These crimes directly affect Texas and its border communities, especially given Texass strong focus on combating human trafficking both at the border and throughout the State. The additional costs of housing, educating, and providing healthcare and other social services for trafficking victims or illegal aliens further burden Texas and its taxpayers, the lawsuit states. Thus, the Biden Administrations unlawful suspension of the MPP will cause both States immediate and irreparable harm if it is not enjoined. We cannot allow this lawlessness to destroy our communities any longer. President Biden must act, Paxton said in the announcement. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request from The Epoch Times for comment. Last week, Texas and Louisiana sued the Biden administration for its alleged refusal to take custody of criminal illegal immigrants. The Biden administration faces growing pressure to address the border crisis as the number of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border reaches record highs. Last month, Border Patrol apprehended 172,000 illegal immigrants, according to Customs and Border Protection data. Among those, 18,600 were unaccompanied minorsthe largest monthly number ever recorded. An additional 1,000 per day are estimated to have evaded capture. Janita Kan and Isabel Van Brugen contributed to this report. YEREVAN. The people who ruled Armenia in the past in the post-war period have made statements that need to be clarified. Pashinyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020, referring to the matter of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. "In our scene, an understanding has been created that the side that shows a non-constructive approach in the negotiations, the international community puts pressure on that side to bring it to a constructive field. This is just a simple delusion because at least since 2011, when Azerbaijan adopted a destructive approach, the international community did not persuade Azerbaijan to come to a constructive field, but set a task for the Armenian side that, You know, to make more concessions so that will be possible to bring Azerbaijan to a constructive field. The claims that there are agreements on the referendum are also an attempt to mislead our people. Yes, there was a referendum provision in the negotiations, including those discussed after 2015-2016, and it was said that it should express the free will of the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh. But there is no emphasis on where the referendum will take place; the areal is not described. Azerbaijan had a position that according to its constitution, its logic, the issue of any part of its territory can be clarified only by a referendum which should take place in the entire territory of Azerbaijan; this was Azerbaijan's position in the talks. When the question arose as to how we would interpret this provision, the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs' response was: 'The interpretation that Armenia and Azerbaijan will agree on; this interpretation is acceptable to us," Pashinyan said. He also raised the question of what the phrase "the whole population of Nagorno-Karabakh" means. According to Azerbaijan, this means internally displaced persons, including family members born after deportation. Let us note that according to the available data, due to the well-known events, about 40,000 Azerbaijanis left the NKAO in the context of the first Artsakh war. And what specific question will be put to the referendum? Who will formulate that question? There were no clear answers to this question either. A principled nuance that has been hidden from the Armenian society for a long time is very important. When [ex-President] Serzh Sargsyan says that Azerbaijan rejects the Madrid version of the solution to the problem, it is necessary to understand what this means. In the Madrid version, there is a concept of intermediate status. Azerbaijan, in fact, has been refusing to discuss interim status since 2011. It seems that in these conditions, as a result of negotiation skills, the Armenian side could achieve that the mediators persuaded Azerbaijan to, Come, accept this interim status. But the fact is that this position of Azerbaijan has been supported by the mediators since 2014-2015, and the war of April 2016 started after the mediators proposed to the Armenian side to renounce the demand for recording the interim status. I want to clearly note that two months before April 2016, there was a clear proposal from the mediators that the Armenian side renounce [its] aspirations for recording the interim status. The Armenian side refused and two months later the April war started, which, due to its cessation after territorial losses, in fact, becomes, should have become an imposition of the agenda I mentioned; that is, the renunciation of the interim status," said Nikol Pashinyan. If you were to visit the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau a thousand years ago, you'd find conditions remarkably familiar to the present. The climate was warm, but drier than today. There were large populations of Indigenous people known as the Fremont, a who hunted and grew crops in the area. With similar climate and moderate human activity, you might expect to see the types of wildfires that are now common to the American West: infrequent, gigantic and devastating. But you'd be wrong. In a new study led by the University of Utah, researchers found that the Fremont used small, frequent fires, a practice known as cultural burning, which reduced the risk for large-scale wildfire activity in mountain environments on the Fish Lake Plateau--even during periods of drought more extreme and prolonged than today. The researchers compared lake sediment, tree ring data and archaeological evidence to reconstruct a 1,200 history of fire, climate, and human activity of the Fish Lake Plateau, a high-elevation forest in central Utah in the United States. They found that frequent fires occurred between the years 900 and 1400, a period of intense farming activity in the region. Prehistoric cooking hearths and pollen preserved in lake sediment show that edible plant species dominated the landscape during this period, indicating that Fremont people practiced cultural burning to support edible wild plants, including sunflowers, and other crops. Large-scale farming ceased after the year 1400. Hunters and foragers, ancestors of the Ute and Paiute, continued to burn, although less frequently than during the farming period. After Europeans made cultural burning illegal, the ecosystem returned to be dominated by a thick forest of trees. "When you have people burning frequently, they're reducing the amount of surface fuels present on the landscape. It makes it much more difficult for a lightning fire to reach up to the canopy and burn down the entire forest," said Vachel Carter, postdoctoral research assistant at the U and lead author of the study. "Now we have an environment dominated by trees in a very dry environment, which are conditions prime for megafires. Is this a result of climate change? Definitely. But in the case at Fish Lake, it could also be attributed to a lack of cultural burning." For millennia through the present, Indigenous people across North America have used cultural burning to drive game, ease travel, clear vegetation for fields and enhance regrowth of edible plants. European settlers banned the practice in favor of fire suppression, the strategy that's dominated forest management since the turn of the 20th century. "All over North America, humans have always modified fire regimes to benefit themselves and their families," said Brian Codding, associate professor of anthropology at the U and senior author of the paper. "Cultural burning is something that needs to be considered when people are talking about how to manage forests, just like in the Fish Lake National Forest." The paper published April 14, 2021 in the Nature journal Communications Earth and Environment. It takes a village The study is the first in the region to combine charcoal, pollen, tree ring and archeological site data together to assess human influence on prehistoric wildfires. The multiple disciplines allowed the researchers to make connections that would otherwise have been impossible. "This is really showing us something that's kind of invisible otherwise," said Codding. "People have been trying to look at human impacts on fire regimes all over the place, and it's really hard. Because the changes might be really subtle, or our records just aren't fine-grained enough to record the types of changes that can reveal it." Colleagues from Utah State University and Brigham Young University contributed tree ring data that document how the climate has shifted over time. Thick rings mean that the tree grew rapidly, indicating there was more moisture available. Narrow rings represent a slow growth year due to less moisture, a signature that can record periods of drought. For this study, they established a climatological timeline for the Fish Lake area. Carter analyzed the contents of ancient sediments to reconstruct past worlds. Detritus from the local environment blows over the lake and settles at the bottom, building up layers as time passes. Each layer provides a snapshot of what the surrounding area was like at a particular time. She used charcoal as a proxy for fire abundance--more charcoal means more frequent fire--and analyzed pollen grains to determine what plant species dominated and compared how those changed over the last 1,200 years. Codding and colleagues counted the number of sites that were occupied, using radiocarbon dates on items found at dwelling sites to establish when people were there. They also used food remnants in cooking hearths to establish the types of food people were eating. They analyzed sites within modern day Sevier County, the area around and including Fish Lake, the ancestral lands of the Ute and Paiute Tribes. "From the cooking hearths found at Fish Lake, we got an indication of what people were eating, and when they were eating it. We knew that they were eating food in the sunflower family, the grass family, and the sedge family, all these plants that don't naturally dominate a high elevation forest," said Carter. "I counted the pollen from those species in the sediment cores and, sure enough, when the Fremont were present, those same plant species were present in much higher abundances than when the Fremont were absent." "This piece really pulls the study together for linking how people living at this area, at higher densities, were actually modifying the environment to increase the resources that were available to them," Codding said. Cultural burning for Pando In Utah, many forests could benefit from frequent, smaller fires to mitigate wildfire risk. Perhaps one of the most urgent is in the Fish Lake National Forest that guards Pando, a stand of 47,000 aspen tree clones and the most massive organism on Earth. Pando has sat at the south end of Fish Lake for thousands of years, at least--some say the organism is a million years old. In recent years, the beloved grove has been shrinking. Low severity fires may help Pando, and other Utah forests, stay healthy. "Fuels on the Fish Lake landscape are at the highest that they've been in the last 1,200 years. The climate is much warmer than it was in the past. Our droughts have not been as intense as we've seen in the past, but they're on their way," Carter said. "The Fremont likely created long-lasting legacies on the Fish Lake Plateau through their cultural burning. Moving forward, 'good fire,' like prescribed fire, will be needed to mitigate against wildfire risk." ### Other authors of the study include the following researchers from the University of Utah: Andrea Brunelle, Department of Geography and the Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC); Mitchell J. Power, Natural History Museum of Utah and the GCSC; Isaac Hart, Department of Geography and the Archaeological Center; and Simon Brewer, Department of Geography. Authors from other institutions include R. Justin DeRose and Erick Robinson, Utah State University; Matthew F. Bekker, Brigham Young University; Jerry Spangler, Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance; Mark Abbott, University of Pittsburg; and S. Yoshi Maezumi, The University of Amsterdam. Berlin, April 15 : German coronavirus infections appear to be on the rise once more, but a possible lack of testing over the Easter holiday week means the exact situation is unclear. On Wednesday, the number of new infections per 100,000 people over seven days rose to 153.2, similar to levels in January during the second wave of the pandemic, but still short of 197.6, the country's record from December, DPA news agency reported. Case numbers are rising less steeply than experts had feared, but this may change as fewer people were likely tested during the Easter period, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control said. School holidays also helped to ease the situation, Christian Drosten, a leading German virologist, told broadcaster NDR-Info. Health authorities have reported 21,693 new infections during the past 24 hours and 342 deaths. Deaths are also increasing at a lower rate as the most vulnerable groups of people have been vaccinated against Covid-19. However, only 5.2 per cent of Germans have been fully vaccinated to date, while 16.6 per cent have received their first jab. The situation is more critical in Germany's intensive care units, where the number of patients with Covid-19 has been on the rise since mid-March. Divi, an association of intensive care medicine, predicted that a previous record of 6,000 patients will be reached again this month. New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) India and Kazakhstan on Friday agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, including through training, defence exercises and capacity building. During the bilateral talks here, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while interacting with the Kazakhstani delegation led by the Lieutenant General Nurlan Yermekbayev, underscored the need to look at the possibility of defence industrial collaboration of mutual interest. The Defence Minister of Kazakhstan thanked Mr Singh for the opportunity given to the Kazakh troops for deployment as part of the Indian battalion in United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Both Ministers also positively assessed the annual KAZIND Exercise. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, Raj Kumar and other senior civil and military officials of Ministry of Defence were also present on the occasion. Lieutenant General Nurlan Yermekbayev has been on an official visit to India from April 7-10, 2021 on the invitation of Mr Singh. On Thursday, the Kazakh delegation visited HQs 12 Corps at Jodhpur and the Longewala sector in Jaisalmer. UNI AKS SV 1626 Cold and calculating Re: Abbott: Close facility at coliseum, Metro, April 6: Thank you, reporter Liz Hardaway and the San Antonio Express-News, for highlighting Gov. Greg Abbotts uninformed demands to close the facilities at Freeman Coliseum and showing his demands for what they are: a publicity stunt. When are Texans going to wake up to Abbotts attempt to cover up his inability to handle the big freeze in February? The only things frozen in Texas anymore are the compassion of our top elected officials, who have no desire to assist people escaping horrendous situations in Central and South America, and Texans who were without power for days in February. Mike Horridge Faces of courage Re: Teachable moments and trauma, Other Views, Sunday: Thank you, Maria Anglin, for your column on teachable moments in the Derek Chauvin trial. The young people who saw the killing of George Floyd and testified about a national tragedy are heroes; they have taught us that violence and racism are always wrong. Janice Clayton Pointing to danger The Biden administration will face another hurdle soon: As we try to disengage in Afghanistan, Russia is threatening an invasion of Ukraine. China is threatening an invasion of Taiwan. How will the administration answer these challenges? As world economies become more dependent on each other, any action by one of the three superpowers has an adverse effect worldwide. The Biden administration must step up the pressure on Russian and China now before it is too late. Doing nothing will have dire consequences. Oh, did I mention Iran and its nuclear program? This is the time for more bipartisanship in Congress. As the old biblical saying goes, the writing is on the wall. Burt Jones Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Philippine government on Wednesday sent two more diplomatic protests to China for the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Theres one protest for the Chinese vessels that remained moored at Julian Felipe Reef, while the other is for the dispatch of more ships in the Philippine exclusive economic zone, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The agency earlier warned it would lodge a diplomatic protest each day until the Chinese vessels leave Julian Felipe Reef, also known as Whitsun Reef, 175 nautical miles of Bataraza, Palawan. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea on March 20 reported the presence of around 200 vessels in the area. The Chinese government said these were not militia but fishing vessels seeking shelter from bad weather. However, the vessels lingered for weeks despite the Philippines repeated demands for them to leave. On Tuesday night, the government task force reported that 240 Chinese ships were spotted around Pagkakaisa Banks and Pag-asa Islands, including the nine vessels that were still at Julian Felipe Reef. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. announced on Twitter the swarming of Chinese vessels warrants another diplomatic protest. Fired it off, Locsin said. Beautifully written but you will never see it because Im like that Only Senate and House foreign relations." Earlier on Tuesday, Locsin, citing information from the government task force, said in a tweet that there were only nine ships left in the countrys waters. But authorities who patrolled the area over the weekend later reported there were hundreds of Chinese ships still roaming around Philippine waters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command said it saw about 136 Chinese maritime militia vessels at Burgos Reef. Another 65 vessels were spotted at Chigua Reef, 11 at Ayungin Shoal, nine at Julian Felipe Reef, six at Panganiban Reef, five at Kota Island, four at Pag-Asa Islands, and one at Likas Island. These areas all fall within the Philippines' EEZ. The task force also pointed out the presence of Chinese Navy vessels two Houbei class missile warships at Panganiban Reef, one Corvette class warship at Kagitingan Reef, and one Navy Tugboat at Zamora Reef. Two Chinese Coast Guard vessels were at Pag-asa Island. At Scarborough Shoal, there were two other vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy, three Chinese Coast Guard ships, and 10 militia vessels. "All these warships of the PLA Navy contribute to the militarization of the area," the task force said. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea in rejection of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its historic nine-dash line claim to the global waterway. The landmark decision recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights to areas within its EEZ that China contests. The DFA said it reaffirmed the country's arbitral win when it summoned China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday over the "illegal lingering presence" of Chinese vessels in Philippine EEZ. Iconik Delivers New Updates to Enable More Efficient Content Collaboration for Remote Teams iconik has launched new updates to its media management tool, which will allow remote users to collaborate more effectively. Iconik is built for any organization creating, managing and distributing any type of media files. The latest version of iconik of Stockholm, Sweden( ) Iconik allows professionals working remotely to share, edit, review and approve media content together, wherever they are based. Teams remain in complete control of access rights and the iconik interface enables users to restrict or permit access to content as needed. Each area of iconik is assigned its own rights and new updates help users to manage access more efficiently. Parham Azimi, CEO, iconik, commented: Video has become more important than ever before. Companies of all types and sizes are using it to engage with their consumers in a meaningful way while social distancing and work from home regulations remain in place. At the same time, creating, editing, and distributing videos with remote teams can be challenging. Iconik makes that simple and the latest updates make that even easier still. The latest version delivers: Easy-to-manage access rights: o Change the access rights for specific media files at any time. o Enable your media to inherit access rights from parent collections. More storage functionality: o Choose how to scan storage, especially important for companies managing multiple cloud and on-premises storages. o Set priorities for transfers and transcodes in the iconik Storage Gateway. Clear overview of different file formats: o Files panel that shows all the files and formats for an asset in one easy-to-understand overview. Improved transcription: o Added support for Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese o Ability to manually divide and attribute AI generated transcriptions as required. Iconik is used by a wide range of companies to better manage their media, from small teams of freelancers to large broadcasters. A bipartisan U.S. task force has published a road map for a foreign policy and national-security strategy prioritizing the advancement of democracy and the fight against authoritarianism in China, Russia, and elsewhere. In a report published on April 14, the task force convened last year by Freedom House, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and the McCain Institute said that "the rise of authoritarianism, coupled with the erosion of democracy, threatens global stability, Americas economic and security alliances, and respect for human dignity. This alarming confluence requires an urgent, bold, generational response, the task force -- comprising leaders, experts, and former policy makers -- insisted, saying increasingly repressive and aggressive China is using economic, military, and diplomatic coercion to undermine democratic governance and advance its influence in Asia and beyond. Meanwhile, Russia foments division and insecurity in established and struggling democracies, especially those close to its borders, viewing the spread of democracy as an existential threat, according to the report. Both Beijing and Moscow seek to advance their interests by undermining the rules-based liberal international order that the United States and its allies have superintended for three-quarters of a century, and which constrains their ambitions, it said. We are living through a historically unprecedented rate of technological, economic, demographic, and geopolitical change, and that instability has created space for authoritarians around the world to flourish, said Freedom House President Michael J. Abramowitz, who urged the U.S. administration to reverse this frightening trend before its too late. In its annual report released in March, Freedom House said that the coronavirus pandemic, economic uncertainty, and conflicts across the world contributed to the decline of global freedom in 2020. The Washington-based human rights watchdog said that the number of countries designated "not free" was at its highest level in 15 years. In its inaugural report, the Task Force on U.S. Strategy to Support Democracy and Counter Authoritarianism recommended seven interrelated strategies to reverse the rising tide against freedom that would include making democracy and countering authoritarianism a priority for U.S. diplomatic engagement by galvanizing an international coalition to push back against authoritarian threats and reinforce democratic governance. The United States and its democratic partners should make clear that authoritarian governments in China, Russia, and elsewhere seek to divide and undermine democracies while denying their own citizens fundamental rights, the task force said. Viewing democracy as a threat to their authoritarian model, China and Russia seek to prop up like-minded autocrats in other countries, especially those facing popular pushback. The report called on the United States and its partners to dramatically increase investment in the pillars of open, accountable, inclusive, democratic society: free and fair elections; independent media; and a vibrant, active civil society. That would include investing in a large-scale Enterprise Fund for Independent Media to promote free expression and quality journalism internationally. The United States should also develop a strategy to counter intentional disinformation, state-sponsored propaganda, unintended misinformation, online hate, and harassment whose rampant spread is interfering with basic democratic processes. State actors like Russia and China have been using disinformation globally for years as part of a broader malign influence strategy to sow chaos, amplify internal divisions, discredit critics, and decrease trust in the democratic process, according to the report. For instance, the Russian government uses traditional outlets such as the state-owned multilingual news services RT and Sputnik, as well as social media, to exploit divisions in Europe -- especially the Balkans -- and in Africa, Latin America, and the Asia- Pacific region. The task force called the fight against corruption and kleptocracy a fundamental pillar of the U.S. national security strategy. Foreign aid and security assistance should be distributed in ways that help reduce corruption and promote private investment in countries showing progress in countering corruption, which harms effective governance, undermines economic growth, and weakens the rule of law. The report noted that corruption in Russia plays an increasingly large role in regime stability, with President Vladimir Putin being able to consolidate his power by allowing key political elites to benefit from graft. The Kremlin also uses corruption to undermine democracy in Europe and counter U.S. influence in the world. Washington should also negotiate economic agreements that set high standards for governance and democracy, as well as use development finance and U.S. leadership in multilateral development banks to boost inclusive growth and a sustainable recovery; incentivize democratic governance; and avoid debt traps, while demonstrating that democracy can deliver, the report concluded. When I signed up for the Marine Corps, I really believed in the mission. I believed that it was bringing something like democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan. But now, I don t see how you can be a killer and be a nation builder at the same time. Theres a concept that if you kill the wrong person you just create more insurgents. How do I win the hearts and minds of the local populace by walking around with a machine gun in their neighborhood and shooting at people? Democracy doesnt come in a box. Its not something that fits every country. And its an ideal that America has never been willing to let go. The fact that weve gotten to this place now, in 2019, where poll after poll has shown that nearly two-thirds of Afghan and Iraq veterans have said, quote, The wars were not worth fighting, is remarkable, because thats a higher rate than the American people at large who didnt serve. The United States does not possess the capability to ultimately alter the outcomes meaningfully in Afghanistan. I consider myself a conservative, a Republican. In 2011, I had read that things were on the way to getting better. But when I was deployed to Afghanistan, I can tell you, I saw violence was going up the civilians were getting killed, the Afghan military were not being effectively trained. Our leadership had been lying to us. You cannot accomplish with military power a political outcome. The bad news if we leave this place itll to go to shit in a year. Seriously? If we pull out, this place will fall apart very, very quickly. In terms of our security, you need to maintain some footprint or some guarantee that Al Qaeda wont resurge in the area. Theres this line of thinking that if we withdraw from Afghanistan, there will be a new civil war thats going to start. O.K., there is a civil war going on in Afghanistan right now. The Afghans were having a civil war in 2001 when we first went in there. They had been fighting for years. And our presence there does not stop it. Were keeping our troops there indefinitely because of this idea that if we leave theres going to be this vacuum. This idea really needs to be questioned. Its really not an idea of safety. Its really keep our troops on the ground to control the Muslims and the brown people of Afghanistan. I dont think the American people have actually really refreshed their browser on the Afghan war since 2001 or two. All the guys who are responsible for 9/11 are dead. The primary enemy in Afghanistan is the Taliban. Its crucial for Americans to understand that the Taliban is not Al Qaeda. Whereas Al Qaeda is centered on going to war with the United States, the Taliban rejects that entire idea. Their concern is not to make the world Islamic. Its to make Afghanistan an Islamic emirate. The fact is right now that tactically on the ground in Afghanistan, the Taliban are in a very strong position. Southwest Afghanistan is just a free-fire zone. Everybody is getting shot at regularly. The Taliban own the area outside of us and they would just bombard our towers all day and wed fight back and forth. And then wed have to go out on patrol, even though patrolling was stupid because as soon as you leave the walls you have no protection. I remember hearing the first explosion when the first Marine landed on an I.E.D. and it seemed entirely meaningless to me. There seemed to be no redemptive meaning behind this death. I was there when we had 140,000 troops on the ground. And I can tell you there was vast areas of the country that we didnt even have influence. Now imagine the 14,000 troops we have there right now. Theyre not protecting anything back home. Were creating war zones and were creating refugees. People are going to get mad. Theyre going to get upset and theyre going to get tired of it. Theyre going to want revenge and theyre going to figure it out. Its a war that weve spent $1 trillion on now. Its a war where thousands of people have died, where children are growing up and all theyve ever grown up in is a war zone. Thats the big lesson we need to learn. Diplomacy and targeted military deterrence is what will keep you safe. Whether we leave tomorrow or whether we leave 10 years from now, the outcome is the same, which is a brutal civil war and half the country is going to fall under Taliban rule again and women are going to live in a medieval situation until the Afghan people as a whole come up with an Afghan solution to an Afghan problem. It hurts like hell to say we should leave. But the argument that we should stay there because we are protecting womens rights is not good enough anymore. Whatever we do is never going to ensure that the most disenfranchised people in Afghanistan are going to be protected, that women are going to have their rights protected. That is a burden that America will have to bear on its soul. Ive seen firsthand men that Ive known that end up getting blown up there, and Ive questioned what do they sacrifice themselves for. But Ill tell you what Im worried about even war is that is the ones who havent died yet. Kids are joining the Army today today who were born after 9/11. Within six months, theyll be in Afghanistan. My dad was in the military. My grandpa was in the Marine Corps and my daughters 4 now shes about to be 5. And I want the war to be over. Because 12 to 15 years from now, I dont want my kid to die in the war that I went to. New Delhi: Even as India and France strengthen ties, Paris has agreed to join New Delhi's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). IPOI was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit in November 2019. The development comes even as French Foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is on an India visit. Earlier in the day, he met India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He will also be going to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru. Increasing trade connectivity, maritime transport and maritime security are among the seven key pillars of the initiative. Other five are maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction and management, science, technology and academic cooperation. India has been engaging with countries under IPOI. Many countries in the region have been invited for it. Both India and France are increasing engagement, especially in defence and maritime domain. French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will take part in India-France Varuna naval exercise. Charles de Gaulle is the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel. The exercises will start from April 26th and take place off the coast of Oman (Western Indian Ocean). The last edition of Varuna Exercises took place along the Goa coast in May 2019. That was the 17th edition of this exercise. Earlier this month, India for the first time joined France-initiated La Perouse exercises. The exercises saw coming together of naval ships of France and all four Quad countries- India, US, Australia and Japan. Live TV Travellers can now visit StayBeyondGreen.com for thoughtful resources to book sustainable luxury getaways, including informational content of each member property, along with travel stories through its Good Stories blog. The brand also invites travellers to engage in daily dialogues about sustainable tourism on social media by following its newly launched Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels and #StayBeyondGreen and #TravelGently online conversations. I Prefer Hotel Rewards Member Benefits As part of the Preferred Hotel Group family of brands, Beyond Green invites travellers to enrol in I Prefer to access rewards at more than 650 participating properties worldwide. In addition to receiving standard benefits such as points for every eligible stay and early check-in and late check-out privileges, I Prefer members who book stays at participating Beyond Green hotels receive access to bonus points-earning opportunities that are tied to participation in on-property enrichment activities. I Prefer members with Elite-tier status also receive a welcome amenity or community giving opportunity, in addition to earning 50 percent more bonus points during every eligible stay. Celebratory Launch Offer Travellers can now take advantage of a limited-time only Journeyer's Pick Package, featuring the best available rate plus a unique local experience or memento and 5,000 I Prefer bonus points, at 15 participating properties. Highlights include a forest therapy session at andBeyond Vira Vira, a guided walking tour of the Monastery of Panagia Spileotissa, and a wellness experience at Borgo Pignano, to name a few. Bookings must be made by September 30, 2021 for travel through December 31, 2021. Learn more about Beyond Green, Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of both Beyond Green and its parent company, Preferred Hotel Group, and Costas Christ, Brand Leader of Beyond Green and President of Beyond Green Travel, by reading the full press release via StayBeyondGreen.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1486679/Beyond_Green_Wilderness_Safaris_Bisate_Lodge.jpg Contact: Antonia Robinson Senior Manager, Public Relations & Social Media EMEA [email protected] +44 (0)20 7440 0327 SOURCE Preferred Hotel Group Related Links https://staybeyondgreen.com South Carolina taxpayers might not have to borrow $550 million to pay for improvements at the Port of Charleston under a proposal floated by Gov. Henry McMaster. The S.C. Board of Economic Advisors told legislators last week they'll have an unexpected $1.7 billion in extra tax revenue to spend in this year's budget, and McMaster said some of it could be used to pay for a rail yard and barge program at the port. He added some of the money also could come from federal COVID-19 aid that will arrive later this year. "I would not want to borrow money for that," McMaster said of the port improvements. "Im hoping with the good news from the Board of Economic Advisors and the coming $2 billion from the federal government, Im hoping theres a better way to do that." McMaster said rules for how the federal dollars can be spent have not been finalized, but "I'm hoping there's enough flexibility we can use some of that for that project, which is a tremendous project. Our port is a great asset for the people of our state." The state Senate in February approved a resolution to issue $550 million in bond debt to build a rail yard adjacent to the new Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston. The proceeds would also pay for a barge operation that would move containers by water from the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant to the Leatherman Terminal site to cut down on the number of trucks on local highways. The debt plan still needs approval from the State House, where it has stalled in the Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, has said he is not opposed to the port's plan but first wants to see if it can be funded outright from state revenues. "Im not ready to forgo any option," Smith told the Associated Press. Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the State Ports Authority, said he'll leave it up to the General Assembly and McMaster "to decide the best way to fund the projects." Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! "South Carolina Ports identified the need for these vital infrastructure projects to ensure port competitiveness for decades to come," Newsome said, adding "we continue to be grateful for the support we have received for these critical infrastructure initiatives." Regardless of how the projects are funded, the SPA plans to go ahead with transferring its role in a new terminal along the Savannah River to Jasper County officials. Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, required the transfer in exchange for agreeing not to block the port's debt plan. Davis has been critical of what he terms the maritime agency's slow movement toward developing the Jasper port in partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority. While the SPA and Jasper County Council have approved transferring the SPA's share of the 50-50 partnership, Peach State port officials have not. All sides have until Sept. 1 to finalize the agreement. The House approved a $10 billion budget plan for the coming year, but that spending was based on what Smith termed "a pandemic worst-case scenario" and didn't include the extra $1.7 billion from economic growth and unspent reserves and surplus funds. In addition to the extra state funds and federal COVID-19 relief, South Carolina is set to get $525 million in a settlement with the federal government over plutonium stored at a former nuclear weapons site near Aiken. The Senates budget-writing committee is putting together its plan and a debate by the full Senate is scheduled to start April 26. Newsome has said the rail yard and barge operation are needed for the Port of Charleston to remain competitive with other ports in the Southeast and Gulf Coast. Construction of the rail yard and barge project would take about two years and would cost taxpayers an additional $6.3 million a year in interest payments over 15 years if the money is borrowed. Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence and the new terminal's namesake, first proposed the bond deal in January. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). An Bord Pleanala will not appeal a successful High Court challenge against the granting of planning permission over the 160m incinerator in Ringaskiddy, Cork Harbour. Mr Justice David Barniville was told today the board does not intend to appeal but sought more time to consider its attitude over whether to agree to a simple quashing of the permission order or have it returned to the board for reconsideration. The judge adjourned the case for two weeks to give the board time. The environmental group, Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE), wants the permission quashed with no remittal, with the effect a fresh planning application would have to be made. The incinerator developers, Indaver Ireland, want it sent back to the board for reconsideration. Mr Justice Barniville said that before making any final orders he believes the board should be given a chance to say what its attitude is. He will then determine whether there should be a further hearing. He set a timetable for the parties to engage before the case returns in two weeks. In his decision, last month the judge said he would need a lot of persuasion to quash the permission without returning the matter to the board for reconsideration. The main ground for his ruling CHASE was entitled to succeed related to the fact that the boards decision was tainted by objective bias because board member Conall Boland had previously worked for a firm of consulting engineers who were engaged by Indaver to make submissions for reviews of the Cork County Council and Cork City Council waste management plans. Scores of abandoned British Gas customers say they have paid the price of blind loyalty to costly boiler cover plans. Money Mail has now received around 100 letters and emails from fed-up policyholders who are spending hundreds of pounds a year on boiler and heating insurance but still can't get an appointment for repairs in good time. We have compiled a dossier of your letters and today sent them to British Gas boss Chris O'Shea, asking that he investigates and pays refunds where necessary. The stories include that of a 97-year-old woman who was told to wait three weeks for her boiler to be fixed; and a pensioner who was left without heating in winter. Fuming: We have now received around 100 letters and emails from fed-up policyholders who are paying for boiler and heating insurance but still can't get an appointment for repairs Last week, we told how 170,000 HomeCare customers were facing long delays for routine services and repairs. Today we reveal that: British Gas's services arm which includes HomeCare made a 256million profit last year. The bumper profit came despite this section of the business losing 122,000 customers in the same year. Loyal customers are also being hit with spiralling premiums, with new policyholders paying as little as a quarter of the amount paid by those who have been with British Gas for more than a decade. Boiler cover might not be worth the money for nine in ten households. HomeCare customers who can only afford to pay monthly are charged more than those who pay for a year upfront. Complaints about British Gas services soared by 64 per cent in 12 months. British Gas has more than 3.5million HomeCare customers, who pay for insurance to cover the cost of boiler repairs and annual services. They can also choose to spend more to cover extras such as home electrics, drains and plumbing. Yet lockdown restrictions and recent strike action by engineers have meant many customers are being told they must wait weeks for an appointment, leaving some elderly and vulnerable people without hot water or heating for days. Money Mail has heard from scores of fed-up customers who cannot get through to the utility giant on the phone, or who have been let down by engineers failing to show up. Some have even had to wait two years for their annual boiler service. British Gas, which disputes union GMB's claim that more than 170,000 homes are waiting for repairs, says it hopes to clear its backlog of service delays shortly, now that it has resumed non-essential jobs. Trust: British Gas has more than 3.5million HomeCare customers, who pay for insurance to cover the cost of boiler repairs and annual services I was left talking to a robot Elizabeth Douton with husband Carlos Elizabeth Douton, 79, says it is almost impossible to speak to a fellow human being when she telephones British Gas. The retired receptionist and her husband, Carlos, 82, recently spent two months trying to have their faulty boiler repaired. They have been HomeCare customers for more than three decades and paid 273 when they renewed for this year's cover. But it took three visits by engineers to fix the problem and each time, Elizabeth had to do battle with British Gas's dreaded automated phone system. Elizabeth, who lives in Birmingham, submitted a formal complaint to British Gas but was told that it would take eight weeks before she would receive a reply. 'I have had to ring up HomeCare on multiple occasions but most of the time it is impossible to speak to someone,' says Elizabeth, a great-grandmother of seven. 'You just don't feel you are getting the service you deserve.' Cost does not always add up Recent research from consumer group Which? found that nine out of ten households would be better off if they ditched boiler cover and instead paid for repairs and services as and when they needed them. Half of the customers surveyed said they had needed their boiler fixed at some point in the past five years, paying an average of 107. But with a typical annual service costing about 80, the combined cost was still 101 cheaper than the average boiler cover premium of 288. More than a third said their boiler hadn't broken down at all in the past five years meaning they could save a total of 3,000 if it survived for a further five. The basic HomeCare One package, which includes an annual boiler service and repairs, now costs a new customer 14 a month if they are willing to pay a 60 excess on claims. The full HomeCare Four deal, which includes cover for drains, heating and plumbing, costs 23 a month or 38 if you want to avoid excess charges. But if you can afford to pay for the whole year upfront, the overall cost is cheaper by 12. Some HomeCare customers have also told Money Mail that delays and problems in booking an appointment mean they cannot get an annual service every year. Told to wait in the cold at 97 Three week wait: Beryl Farnsworth with her son Graham and family Beryl Farnsworth, 97, lives on her own and has a heart condition. When her boiler broke down, British Gas said she would have to wait three weeks for an engineer. Beryl's son, Graham, had signed the widow up to HomeCare 15 years ago and she pays 360 a year for cover. However, when Graham, 75, called the British Gas helpline, an automated message could only offer an appointment for April 22. He waited for 15 minutes to speak to an adviser, who at first said the visit could not be pushed forward. But eventually the employee spoke to his manager, and an appointment was arranged for the next day. Graham, who lives near Beryl in Lincoln, believes his vulnerable mother would not have been able to argue her own case without his help. Last week, British Gas informed the great-great-grandmother that it would be hiking her fees by 20 but she will not be renewing her cover. 'I just couldn't believe that they thought it was acceptable to leave a 97-year-old for three weeks in a cold home,' says Graham. The 'loyalty penalty' trap And while new customers can pay as little as 264 for the HomeCare Four package, Money Mail has spoken to some households now paying more than 1,100. New customers are also currently being offered gift cards worth up to 75 if they sign up before May 10. City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority wants to put a stop to the so-called 'loyalty penalty' that means long-term customers pay far more than new ones. Under the regulator's proposals, firms will be free to set prices for new customers but banned from raising fees over time other than in line with changes to a customer's risk. However, these changes are largely aimed at the car and home insurance markets, and it is understood that boiler cover policies will not be affected. It took 15 months to fix radiators Abandoned: Jill Attfield has been a Homecare customer for 20 years When faulty radiators left the first floor of her guesthouse without heating in January last year, Jill Attfield called British Gas. The widow, 74, from Dorking, pays the firm 1,111 a year for its most expensive HomeCare plan. But it would be 15 months before British Gas resolved the radiator blockage. In that time, four appointments were cancelled and rescheduled, while on other occasions engineers would arrive with the wrong equipment. Her floorboards have been pulled up seven times and she has spent 1,000 on fan heaters for her guests. Jill, who has had HomeCare for 20 years, says: 'I feel totally let down. 'I just couldn't believe it when I saw the HomeCare adverts on television. Why are they trying to get more customers when they can't look after the ones they already have?' But firms enjoy bumper profits Accounts for Centrica, which owns British Gas, show that services such as HomeCare made the company a 256million profit last year up 4million on 2019. The report reveals that British Gas lost 122,000 services customers in 2020 3 per cent of its total. In the past decade, the firm has lost a million customers. Mr O'Shea, the chief executive of Centrica, earned 659,000 last year, up from 620,000. Company accounts say his salary is 250,000 less than his predecessor's, though and Mr O'Shea also waived 100,000 of his annual salary in 2020 'in the context of the difficult choices he made to safeguard the business and colleagues'. The report also claimed the company managed to fulfil more than 97 per cent of essential breakdown appointments, 'despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic'. The energy giant said it had to cancel all but essential jobs in the third national lockdown, including most boiler services. A message on the HomeCare website now reads: 'As restrictions start to ease, we're able to help customers with non-essential jobs again. 'However, please bear with us whilst we get back to normal - we're also working really hard to catch up on appointments we had to cancel over the winter due to the pandemic.' But homeowners turning their backs on British Gas have told Money Mail they are tired of the pandemic being used as an excuse for delays. Ongoing strike action from engineers over pay and conditions is also understood to have played a part in the chaos. You have YOUR say We have had a HomeCare plan since 1986 and until two years ago, we were very happy with it. However, our boiler now hasn't been serviced since June 2019. We had an appointment booked for October 2020, but it was cancelled. K. H., by email. Thank you for highlighting the inefficiency of British Gas's HomeCare cover. The energy giant should pay compensation to customers it has been taking money from over the past year. C. N., Radstock, Somerset. I took out HomeCare in 2010 when my husband died. In 11 years, I've only had to call British Gas once - in January this year. I was plunged into such chaos and inefficiency, I wish I hadn't. R.W., by email. My aunt, 99, pays 28 a month for the service, but when her boiler failed on Easter Sunday she was told she'd have to wait until Tuesday for an appointment. Eventually, British Gas said we could book a local engineer and it would pay the bill. P. B., Lincolnshire. We normally have to wait 15 months for our boiler to be serviced through HomeCare. This means that over a four-year period, we lose one service. If this is the case with all customers, it must amount to a large saving for British Gas. M. C., Aylesbury, Bucks. The firm blames Covid-19 for delays. But I have had to fight for an engineer to visit me for several years now. G. B., Romsey, Hants. I pay about 90 a month for HomeCare. My boiler was last serviced in 2019, but when I rang to book an appointment last week, I was told non-essential services were not available. O. F., Newport. My husband and I are pensioners. When we needed an engineer, we were told we would have to wait three weeks for an appointment. P. K., by email. British Gas takes 35 a month from my account, even though it does not provide the promised service. I first contacted the firm in February when a radiator wasn't working. In the end I phoned a local company yesterday, and they came out today. M. D., Solihull. Complaints are mounting Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service about British Gas Services Ltd have risen by 64 per cent in a year, from 263 in the 2019/20 financial year to 432 in 2020/21. One couple took British Gas to the ombudsman last year after the firm took 36 days to fix their fridge and 78 days to repair their dishwasher. The ombudsman ruled in the customers' favour and ordered the energy firm to pay them 150 in compensation. British Gas was also ordered to pay 100 compensation to one customer who had no heating or hot water but was told to wait nine days for a repair. The homeowner, who had been paying 340 a year for HomeCare cover, cancelled his policy and hired a local tradesman - yet British Gas only offered him a 16 refund. British Gas says it has now carried out appointments for all customers featured in our case studies in the panel to the right. A spokesman adds: 'We're sorry we've had to rearrange some appointments, such as annual service visits, primarily driven by our response to the Covid-19 lockdown this is in order to safeguard the health and safety of our staff and customers but we aim to do these as soon as we can. 'During the lockdown we have focused on emergencies with immediate threat to health, life or safety, including heating breakdowns and uncontrollable water leaks.' moneymail@dailymail.co.uk If youre an avid tennis fan like me, then you would not have missed one of the biggest stories to rock the sport. If youre not a tennis fan and could not care less whether Rafael Nadal breaks the record for most Grand Slam titles, you should still be aware of what Im about to discuss because it concerns your life. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams for Class 10 have been cancelled and the exams for Class 12 postponed in view of the exponential spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced on Wednesday. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here amid demand from students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to cancel it. The CBSE Board exams were scheduled to be held from May 4 to June 7 and the results were to be announced by July 15. "The Board Exams for Class Xth to be held from 4th May to June 14th, 2021 are hereby cancelled. The results of Class Xth Board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the Board," Nishank tweeted. "Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him or her on this basis, will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams," the Minister said. Nishank further said that the Class 12 exams will be held later and the situation reviewed on June 1 by the CBSE, and the details will be shared subsequently. "A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations." The Minister mentioned that the decision was taken after Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the examinations to be held at various levels in view of the developing Corona situation. The chorus for cancellation of upcoming board exams for class 10 and 12 grew louder on Tuesday in the wake of the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases. - Vietnams competitive edge in agricultural exports is lower than those of China, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines because of its costly logistics costs, a logistics expert said during a panel discussion last week. Such expenses accounts for 30 percent of the production cost in Vietnam in comparison to 12.5 percent in Thailand and 14 percent in the world, Pham Tien Hoai, general director of Hanh Nguyen Logistics, said at the panel discussion on leveraging logistics for farm produce in the Mekong Delta held in Hau Giang Province on April 9. As part of the total logistics cost, air freight for fresh fruits exported from Vietnam to the U.S. currently amounts to US$6.62 per kilogram, far higher than $3-3.5 per kilogram previously, Ngo Tuong Vy, deputy director of the Chanh Thu Fruit Import & Export Co. Ltd., said at the event. Logistics costs for shipments to many key markets such as the U.S. or Europe have doubled, lessening the competitive edge of Vietnams fresh fruit products and creating a bottleneck for export, the panel discussion heard. On the other hand, a number of fruit items have to be exported by air instead of by sea owing to the lack of advanced storage technologies that help maintain fruit quality during time-consuming sea transport. A part of the kumquat juice production line at Tien Thinh Agricultural Product Processing Co. Ltd. in Vietnam. Photo: Le Dan / Tuoi Tre Air fruit exports have increasingly decreased because of unaffordable air freight that is much higher than sea freight. With the perspective of an export fruit processor, Vy laid emphasis on improving post-harvest storage technologies as a solution for enhancing the exported fruit quality and thereby making them qualified for sea transport. Sea transport helps reduce the overall logistics cost greatly, as air freight is 15 times costlier than sea freight. The sea freight for lychees exported to Japan is $3.8-4.2 per kilogram, which, together with many other costs, pushes up the price of this commodity, Vy said, adding that such a high price makes Vietnams lychee less competitive than that of Thailand. Meanwhile, Le Thi Thu Truc, deputy general director of Phu Thinh Food Processing Export JSC, based in Hau Giang Province, pointed out that many enterprises build warehouses only when they win contracts to export fruits. As fruits are seasonally harvested, Phu Thinh faces difficulty in ensuring enough fruit volume for export contracts, Truc said. Sometimes, the company obtains contracts but it does not have enough fruits and vice versa. Enterprises should have enough storage for fruit preservation," she advised. "Finished products may be stored at deep cold temperatures." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A woman who delayed her chemotherapy and radiotherapy to travel the world fell pregnant naturally just months before her treatment would have made it impossible. Carly Beasley, 33, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, delayed her chemotherapy to travel the world with her husband Kris, 34, after her slow-growing, incurable brain tumour, called a oligodendroglioma, was removed. And just months before starting chemotherapy, which would have seen Carly get her eggs harvested to be able to have a child, she unbelievably fell pregnant naturally. Carly, who was told she might only have 14 years left to live, said she wanted to try for a baby before the drugs would have made it impossible, adding that if she had waited a few months longer, she would have had to undergo IVF in the future. Carly Beasley, from Wiltshire, (pictured with husband Kris) delayed her chemotherapy to 'life life to the full' and fell pregnant naturally months before the drugs would make it impossible The expectant mother is due to give birth in September and is currently waiting on an MRI scan to see if her second round of surgery and chemotherapy can wait until after her child is born. She continued: 'I can't put into words how much it means to me that I'm able to have my child. 'I feel strangely honoured that it can happen naturally. 'Just a few months more and I would have started chemotherapy, which would have left me needing IVF to conceive. 'It's the only chance I had and I just thought, "If it happens, it happens". I feel so lucky.' The high flyer tied the knot with Kris in July 2017 but suffered a terrifying seizure just two months later and was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour. She explained that she woke up in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom, but doesn't remember anything that followed when she suffered from a seizure. She said: 'I woke up at about 1.30am and felt like I'd just had a horrific nightmare, I was so scared. Carly delayed her chemotherapy after her slow-growing, incurable brain tumour, called a oligodendroglioma, was removed so she could travel the world with her husband Kris, 34 Just months before starting chemotherapy, which would have meant she her eggs would be harvested for IVF, Carly unbelievably fell pregnant naturally (pictured 18 weeks pregnant) 'So, I decided to get up and go to the bathroom, by which time I felt ready to go back to sleep - but that is the last thing I remember. 'Kris has since told me I walked back in and slammed into the bed frame, which woke him up. He thought I was sleepwalking. 'Then I screamed really loudly and fell to the floor, foaming at the mouth and my body was shaking.' Kris, who is first-aid trained, put Carly into the recovery position and called 999, who quickly took her to A&E, where she was given blood tests. WHAT IS AN OLIGODENDROGLIOMA BRAIN TUMOUR? Oligodendrogliomas are a rare type of brain tumour that develops from glial cells called oligodendrocytes. They are more common in adults than in children. Symptoms of oligodendroglioma depend on where the tumour is in the brain. Common symptoms include headaches and seizures (fits). Oligodendrogliomas develop from glial cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells make a fatty white substance (myelin) that covers the nerves. Myelin helps signals (impulses) to travel along the nerves more quickly. Oligodendrogliomas are mostly found in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum. They can also start in the spinal cord, but this is rare. Source: Cancer Research Advertisement The blood tests did not show any problems and Carly was sent home by 5am, but she had also been booked in for an MRI scan, which is routine for people who have a one-off seizure. The MRI scan tragically revealed in October 2017 that Carly had a large brain tumour which came as a 'massive shock' to the couple. Carly explained: 'When I was having the scan, I just sensed something was wrong. Even so, it was a massive shock. 'Prior to the seizure I had absolutely no other symptoms, I felt completely fine.' Carly's tumour was pressing on the part of her brain responsible for speech, movement and emotion, which explained why she woke up with a sense of dread before the seizure. She was told she had to have an operation to remove the tumour, which she had to be awake for so surgeons could test her speech and reflexes to ensure healthy brain tissue was not damaged. Before Carly's diagnosis, the couple had planned to go on their honeymoon to South Africa followed by a retreat to Mauritius in November. Carly was thankfully still allowed to travel for their honeymoon as the earliest date for operation was in January 2018, but the couple instead went to Dubai rather than South Africa as they were worried about Carly having a seizure while on safari. Carly said: 'It was just what we needed at that point, being able to relax and unwind. The tumour and operation were playing on my mind, but I was still able to have a wonderful time with my husband and make some incredible memories.' In January 2018, Carly went under the knife at Bristol's Southmead Hospital, where 90 per cent of her tumour was removed in a gruelling 14-hour operation. Carly explained: 'I was daunted before going in, but I was determined to get rid of the tumour. 'My surgeon said it was one of the longest awake brain surgeries he had ever performed. 'Once they opened me up and started operating, they realised that the tumour went much further than they thought. It extended down to behind my left ear and because it wasn't one solid mass, it was much harder to operate on.' Medics removed as much as they could, but stopped after 14 hours for fear of doing lasting damage to Carly's brain. Carly (pictured in hospital), who might only has 14 years to live, said that if she had waited a few months more to try for a baby, she would have had to undergo IVF Carly (above, with Kris) is due to give birth in September and is waiting on an MRI scan to see if her second round of surgery and chemotherapy can wait until after her first child is born Carly pictured on holiday in Sri Lanka in 2019. After 90 per cent of Carly's brain tumour was removed in 2018, she was told she could delay her treatment if she wanted because it was a slow-growing variety that had not spread Carly said she doesn't remember much of the operation but she started failing speech tests towards the end of the operation, leading the medics to end the surgery. She continued: 'I don't remember a lot of what happened now, probably because it went on for so long. 'But towards the end I started failing the speech tests, so they thought it was for the best.' For the first few days, Carly was unable to speak at all and continued to get words muddled as she regained her speech, but quickly bounced back after surgery. She explained: 'At first, I couldn't speak at all - and then all I could say was yes or no, I couldn't form full sentences. 'I was getting things muddled - like when I was asked which hospital I was in, I'd say 'Southampton' rather than 'Southmead'. 'But I wasn't worried or scared at all - I was just so happy the surgery had been a success.' Doctors tested the tumour and discovered it was a rare and slow-growing variety called an oligodendroglioma, which had thankfully not spread anywhere else in her body. About three out of every 100 brain tumours diagnosed in England between 2006 and 2010 were oligodendrogliomas, according to Cancer Research UK. Carly said: 'My doctors didn't describe my tumour as malignant or benign, but they graded it as grade 2, which means it is very slow growing at the moment; but it could change grade in future.' Cancer Research UK say a grade 2 brain tumour is 'usually slow growing but can grow into the nearby brain tissue,' adding that they are 'more likely to come back after surgery and some can develop into a malignant tumour'. In March 2018, doctors gave Carly the devastating prognosis that she may only have another 14 years to live - even with further treatment and despite the team's best efforts. Carly said she only had three options of treatment - surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy - for her incurable tumour and said she is trying to 'focus on the positives'. She explained: 'Treatments will help stop the tumour growing and zap any dodgy cells that can't be removed - but, ultimately, it is incurable and could start growing more quickly or spread at any time. 'I only have three options of treatment open to me - more surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. And, because radiotherapy is so intense on the brain, I'll only be able to have one strong dose of it, even if the tumour becomes more aggressive in the future. Carly (pictured on wedding day with Kris) decided to delay treatment, saying she wanted to live her life to 'the full' and describes it as the 'best decision' she could have made Carly and Kris decided to travel the world, visiting Barbados (right), the Maldives and Sri Lanka, during which time check-up scans showed minimal growth to the tumour In January 2020, the couple were finally able to fulfill their honeymoon dream of visiting South Africa, spotting lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and zebras on safari (pictured) 'My doctors said it was the best possible type of brain tumour to have and the prognosis is based on data for more aggressive forms of the tumour than I had. 'So, 14 years is only an average and is the most accurate figure they can give me based on the data available, which I completely understand. 'I'm trying to focus on the positives and the care I've received throughout has been amazing.' Carly's next step was radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but she was given the option of delaying the treatment if she wanted to because her cancer was slow-growing. Carly explained that she wanted to live her life to 'the full' while she still felt 'great' and describes it as the 'best decision' she could have made. Carly and Kris decided to travel the world across the next few years, visiting Barbados, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, during which time check-up scans showed minimal growth to the tumour. She said: 'I just thought, "I know I'll need it eventually, but for now I feel great and I want to live my life to the full". So, I decided to delay it, which was the best decision I could have made.' In January 2020, the couple were finally able to fulfill their honeymoon dream of visiting South Africa, spotting lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and zebras on safari. But, by August that year, not only had the world gone into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but her doctors said it was time for her to begin her treatment. Carly said: 'There still wasn't any major growth, but they felt that because it had been three years since my operation, they did not know how long it would remain stable for. 'They also felt happy that enough time had passed for them to perform another awake operation to remove what was left of the tumour, which was a 'yes' from me.' Carly was told she would need radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery, which would leave her unable to conceive naturally - so she would need to have her eggs harvested and IVF treatment to get pregnant. She explained she and Kris had been trying for a baby after they got married but it hadn't happened, but now she didn't want to 'wait any more'. She said: 'All the way through the process, doctors asked me if I wanted to start a family. 'When I was first diagnosed I knew I did, but I just didn't feel ready straight away and did not want to rush into it. But, by August that year, not only had the world gone into lockdown due to the Covid crisis, but her doctors said it was time for her to begin her treatment (pictured in hospital) Carly was told she would need radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery, which would leave her unable to conceive - so she would need to have her eggs harvested and IVF But Carly and Kris (pictured in the Maldives) incredibly found out they were expecting a child on New Year's Eve 2020 - just weeks before her surgery, which was scheduled for February Carly and Kris (pictured at wedding) are already beginning to think about how they will explain to their child about Carly's incurable condition, but she continues to remain positive 'We had been trying for a baby last year but it hadn't happened - so in November, I decided to go ahead with the surgery. I didn't want to wait any more and if I was meant to have a child naturally, it would happen.' Carly and Kris incredibly found out they were expecting their first child on New Year's Eve 2020 - just weeks before her surgery, which was scheduled for February. She gushed: 'It was the best way to start 2021. When I saw the pregnancy test result, I was so happy and overjoyed - it didn't quite feel real.' Doctors said it was possible for them to operate on her while she was awake despite her pregnancy but Carly is waiting for an MRI scan in July to see if surgery can wait until after her child's due date on September 4. Not only are the mum-to-be and her unborn baby doing well, but Carly is planning to take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at Home, which will take place this month. It will see people up and down the country running, walking or jogging 5km wherever they are to raise money for life-saving research, which has been decimated by the pandemic. Carly and Kris are already beginning to think about how they will explain to their child about Carly's incurable condition, but she continues to remain positive. She said: 'What I have learned going through this whole process is that the best way to deal with things is to jump one hurdle at a time. 'I've got such a positive view of life and that has made a massive difference over the last three years. I've learned so much about myself already and can't wait to discover even more when I start this next chapter as a mum.' Carly is supporting Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at Home, in partnership with Tesco. Run, walk or jog 5k wherever you are this April and raise money for life-saving cancer research. Sign up at raceforlife.org. Most of the 34,000 Syrians who have obtained residence permits in Denmark since the war began in their country in 2011 have not had their residency reviewed. Yet the move to strip hundreds of their legal status is the latest in a series of measures by Denmark that rights groups say have targeted migrants and minorities. The authorities have imposed mandatory instruction in Danish values for children in low-income and heavily Muslim neighborhoods that the government labeled ghettos, and doubled punishments for certain crimes in these areas. They have also overhauled the countrys legal apparatus on immigration, shifting it from integration to the accelerated return of refugees to their native countries. Hundreds of Somali refugees have also lost their residence permits after Denmark deemed Somalia safe to return to. Per Mouritsen, an associate professor of political science at Aarhus University, said the government had toughened its stance on immigration in recent years to avoid losing votes to the right wing, a dilemma that several center-left parties across Europe have faced. The only way to beat the right-wing in Denmark is to sell your soul to the devil and be as tough on immigration in order to have support for social welfare policies in return, Mr. Mouritsen said. Last year, the number of refugees leaving Denmark exceeded the number of arrivals. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has vowed to go further, saying that Denmark will aim to have zero asylum seekers. In a big development on Wednesday, the ED summoned senior TMC leader and West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee in connection with the I-Core chit fund case next week. Earlier, Chatterjee had refused to appear before the CBI in this case despite between summoned twice citing that he is busy in the election campaign for the WB Assembly polls. Apart from him, the ED will also quiz TMC's former councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta. Chatterjee was allegedly seen in some of the public functions arranged by the now-defunct chit fund company which was charged with duping investors by offering them abnormally high returns on investments. Candidate from Behala Paschim Partha Chatterjee currently holds the portfolios of Higher Education, School Education and Parliamentary Affairs in the West Bengal Cabinet. He is hoping for re-election from the Behala Paschim seat which falls under the Kolkata Dakshin Lok Sabha constituency. The WB TMC Secretary General beat Kaustav Chatterjee of the CPI(M) in 2016 garnering 1,02,114 votes. While CPI(M) nominated Nihar Bhakta, BJP gave the ticket to actor Srabanti Chatterjee who has appeared in multiple Bengali-language films since 1997. In the fourth phase of the Assembly polls, Behala Paschim registered a voter turnout of 73.49%. West Bengal Assembly polls Mamata Banerjee-led TMC had swept the 2016 Assembly polls by bagging 211 seats in the 294-member Assembly. In West Bengal, 294 seats are up for grabs and people will be able to cast their votes at 1,01,916 polling stations. Buoyed by its stupendous 2019 Lok Sabha performance, BJP is looking to oust TMC and is aiming at winning over 200 seats this time. While Congress was the second-largest party in 2016, it has tied with the Left and the Indian Secular Front founded by influential Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddiqui. The voter turnout for the seats that went to the polls in the first, second, third and fourth phases was 84.63 per cent, 86.11 per cent, 84.61 per cent and 79.90 per cent respectively. The polling for the remaining phases will take place on April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29. Meanwhile, the election results will be declared on May 2. China in Focus (April 13): Epoch Times Conference: Attack on Free Press American and European politicians condemn attacks against The Epoch Times printing house in Hong Kong, after masked men smashed computers and printing machinery. The Epoch Times hosts a press conference on the attack. Beijing is boosting pressure on Taiwan. It sent a record number of warplanes flying near the island, the largest incursion to date. A bold photo message from the United States to communist China warns the countrys navy not to step out of line. It was taken in the South China Sea. Chinese authorities make over $800 in three minutes, thanks to a traffic camera and the regimes administrative power. Australias new defense minister is taking a hard line against Beijing. Hes calling out the regime for cyberattacks against Australia. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. David McGuinty, chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parlmentarians, holds a news conference to release committee's annual report, in Ottawa on March 12, 2020. (Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press) China, Russia Primary Culprits in Conducting Espionage and Foreign Interference in Canada: Parliamentary Report COVID-19 research among top targets for espionage operations China and Russia remain the primary culprits when it comes to espionage and foreign interference that threaten Canadas sovereignty, a committee that oversees national security and intelligence activities says in its annual report. The threat from espionage and foreign interference is significant and continues to grow. Several states are responsible for conducting such activities in Canada, but intelligence shows that China and Russia remain the primary culprits, reads the report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. Tabled in the House of Commons on April 12, the report updates the threats Canada faces since the committees last assessment in 2018. It takes into account the shift in domestic and international security environments, including the challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic. The committee says the pandemic has given foreign states a new impetus to conduct espionage activities against Canadas health sector and science and technology sector, particularly research on COVID-19 and vaccines. The report warns that foreign states are increasingly targeting those sectors using a combination of traditional and non-traditional intelligence collection methods to access expertise, data, and organizations. The pandemic put these threats into stark relief, in particular the threats posed to Canadas health sector, the report says. In the case of China, the communist regime uses its talent programs and academic exchanges to exploit Canadian expertise, the report said. Beijings Thousand Talents Program encourages Chinese scientists in Canada to transfer their research to China so that the regime can steal hard-won research and proprietary data created by Canadian companies. Russia, on the other hand, mainly engages in clandestine cyber operations to steal proprietary data, as noted by the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canadas cryptologic agency, the report says. The committee said new technologies in Canadas knowledge-based economy such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, 5G, and biopharma are actively targeted by foreign states, a situation also reported on by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). CSISs 2018 public report also characterized economic espionage as a threat of importance that has serious consequences for Canadas economy, including lost jobs, lost tax revenues and diminished competitive advantage, the report reads. As for foreign interference, the committee warns that foreign state actors seek to exploit the openness of Canadian society and penetrate the countrys fundamental institutions to meet their goals. They target ethnocultural communities, corrupt the political process, manipulate the media, and attempt to curate debate on postsecondary campuses, the report says. Each of these activities poses a significant risk to the rights and freedoms of Canadians and to the countrys sovereignty, and the Committee concluded that they are a clear threat to the security of Canada. The report lists cases of foreign interference by China, Russia, and other states, including Russias ongoing exploitation of diaspora and compatriot groups in Canada, and CSIS investigation of activities by the Chinese regime, but the details are redacted. Cyber Threats Another area of concern identified by the committee is cyberattacks, with China and Russia being the most sophisticated state-sponsored actors targeting Canadian government systems. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee heard from the CSE that state-sponsored actors have targeted the health sector to obtain information related to vaccine research and development, medical equipment, and response co-ordination, and the threat will likely continue throughout the pandemic. Among the cyber threats most concerning to national security and intelligence are: information theft for espionage purposes; the compromise of critical infrastructure networks; online foreign influence campaigns through coordinated manipulation of social media and opinions; and the cyber-enabled tracking and surveillance of dissidents and individuals. According to the report, China uses its cyber capabilities to conduct espionage operations on the Canadian governments and its allies, companies, and academic institutions worldwide to gather commercial, diplomatic, and military intelligence. Russia has likewise employed advanced cyber espionage tactics to achieve its objectives. The report also says China, Russia, and Iran have demonstrated their intent to build up cyber attack capabilities against industrial control systems linked to critical infrastructure, which if successful can compromise critical services such as hospitals, health networks, electricity, energy, transportation, and food distribution systems. Canada and its closest security and intelligence partners have reported on cyber attacks and network compromises of energy utilities, banks, and telecommunications and communications infrastructure, as well as the networks of cloud-based service providers, the report reads. When it comes to online foreign influence, the CSE found that cyber threat actors conduct disinformation campaigns, sow discord, and undermine public trust in government institutions. One case involved Twitter accounts connected to a Russian troll farm tweeting about high-profile events in Canada, such as the Quebec City mosque shooting in January 2017 and the increase in asylum-seeker border-crossings the same year. The committee also noted that state-sponsored actors have developed advanced technology to target political opponents or dissidents through eavesdropping, geolocation, or changing content of the targeted users mobile device. Nuclear Threats According to the report, nuclear weapons states continue to modernize their weapons systems. China, for example, has remained at the forefront of testing and developing its ballistic missiles, the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces found (DND/CAF). Similarly, Russia, North Korea, and Iran also carry out missile testing. The threat to Canada from the use of nuclear weapons is limited to Russia and China, who would likely consider striking Canadian targets during a nuclear conflict with the United States. DND/CAF assesses that while both states continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals, their primary strategic objectives remain deterring a major conventional or nuclear attack, the report reads. The committee also found that the terrorist threat to Canada has shifted since its last assessment in 2018. It suggests the threat posed by Islamic terrorist groups such as ISIS has declined while other ideologically motivated violent extremist groups are on the rise. With files from the Canadian Press The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it will not enforce the requirement that abortion pills be administered in person, easing restrictions on mailing abortion pills for the coronavirus pandemics duration. In a letter Monday, Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Janet Woodcock responded to two doctors who had expressed concerns about the in-person dispensing requirements for certain prescription drugs during the public health emergency. The in-person dispensing requirements are part of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies implemented to protect women from the adverse effects that the abortion pill, referred to as mifepristone in the letter, may cause. Woodcock told the doctors that the Food and Drug Administrations Center for Drug Evaluation and Research was evaluating the issues you raised by analyzing studies pertinent to the in-person dispensing requirement in the Mifepristone REMS program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Source:The Christian Post NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Healthcare Finance business served as sole lead arranger on a $15.9 million financing for two medical office buildings in Littleton, Colorado. The buildings, known as Arapahoe Medical Plaza I and II, are located on the campus of Littleton Adventist Hospital and comprise more than 98,700 square feet of space. The borrower is a venture led by an affiliate of Seavest Healthcare Properties. "Our adjoining medical office buildings provide convenient, modern space for medical practices providing a wide range of healthcare services," said John Winer, Senior Managing Director & CIO of Seavest Healthcare Properties. "CIT's expertise was evident and helpful as we looked to finance these properties." "Seavest Healthcare Properties is recognized throughout the industry as a deeply experienced investor in high-quality medical office buildings," said William Douglass, managing director and group head for CIT's Healthcare Finance business. "We were pleased to work with Seavest once again to support their financing needs for these properties." CIT's Healthcare Finance unit, part of the Commercial Finance division, provides comprehensive financing and banking solutions to middle market healthcare companies across the U.S. By using a client-focused and industry-centric model, the Healthcare Finance team can tailor its products and services to help clients meet their needs for growth capital. About CIT CIT is a leading national bank focused on empowering businesses and personal savers with the financial agility to navigate their goals. CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with over a century of experience and operates a principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender). The company's commercial banking segment includes commercial financing, community association banking, middle market banking, equipment and vendor financing, factoring, railcar financing, treasury and payments services, and capital markets and asset management. CIT's consumer banking segment includes a national direct bank and regional branch network. Discover more at cit.com/about. MEDIA RELATIONS: John M. Moran 212-461-5507 [email protected] SOURCE CIT Group Inc. Related Links www.cit.com Libya to lift visas for Turks to foster investment PM vows to do 'whatever necessary' to facilitate business (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, APRIL 14 - Libya intends to lift visa requirements for Turkish citizens to foster the presence of Turkish companies in the country and encourage their investment in its reconstruction. The announcement was made by Libya prime minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah before leaving Turkey following a two-day visit with 14 members of his government and numerous high-ranking officials from the armed forces. "We will immediately begin procedures for a complete lifting of visas and for necessary initiatives to set up a Turkish consulate in Benghazi. We want the Turkish and Libyan private sectors to interact and collaborate and we will do whatever is necessary to facilitate this," the head of the Libyan national unity government said in meeting with a group of Turkish businessmen. (ANSAmed). People are silhouetted as they pose with laptops in front of a screen projected with a Facebook logo, in this picture illustration taken in Zenica (Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo) Facebook users will now be able to ask the company's independent oversight board to rule on content that has been left up on the platform, not just content that has been taken down, in a key expansion of the panel's scope. Facebook Inc created the board in response to criticism of its handling of problematic content, but researchers and civil rights groups have faulted it for its limited remit. Advertisement Before this change, Facebook and Instagram users who had exhausted the appeals process could send cases of removed content to the board - but only the company itself could ask the board to review content left up on the platforms. The move will open the process up for any user, including Facebook employees, to refer another's content, the board's administrative director, Thomas Hughes, said in a phone interview. In a Tuesday blog post, the oversight board said it would only include details in its decisions that could easily identify the person who reported the content if they gave permission. In the coming weeks, the board is also expected to decide whether to uphold Facebook's indefinite suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trump, imposed after the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. The board's rulings, which are binding and can overturn decisions by the world's largest social media company and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, deal with only a small slice of Facebook's content decisions. It can also recommend policy changes, but Facebook does not have to enact these https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-content/facebook-oversight-board-wont-have-mandate-to-change-policy-idUSKBN1W22I4. The board said the new option was being rolled out beginning on Tuesday and would be available to all users in coming weeks. Hughes said he expected a significant increase in the number of appeals due to the change. The board said it had received more than 300,000 user appeals since opening its doors in October. It has ruled on seven cases. Social media researchers and rights groups have argued for this expansion of the board's scope, saying it was necessary for the board to address misinformation and other controversial or harmful content allowed to remain on Facebook and Instagram. Some critics, including a rival group dubbed "The Real Facebook Oversight Board," have argued that Facebook needs more real-time and wholesale scrutiny of its systems and power than the board provides. The company and the board have said the panel is an independent body. Facebook has committed an initial $130 million to an irrevocable trust to fund it for about six years. The board has 19 members, including former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and several law experts and rights advocates. Hughes said a replacement member for law professor Pamela Karlan, who left to join the Biden administration, is being chosen. The board's remit is expected to widen further. Hughes said the board had discussed more complex cases such as appeals over ads or account suspensions, but declined to give a time frame. The company has said the board will eventually also review Facebook Groups and Pages. President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several U.S. officials said. Biden will lay out his vision for the way forward in Afghanistan and the timeline for the withdrawal in remarks Wednesday afternoon, The White House said. Punctuating the nearly two decades U.S. troops have fought and died in Afghanistan, the president will then visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. The decision to withdraw troops by fall defies a May 1 deadline for full withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump administration reached with the Taliban last year, but leaves no room for additional extensions. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that won't be affected by security conditions in the country. While Biden's decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al-Qaida and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, women's rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al-Qaida's haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Biden has been hinting for weeks that he was going to let the May deadline lapse, and as the days went by it became clear that an orderly withdrawal of the roughly 2,500 remaining troops would be difficult and was unlikely. The administration official said the drawdown would begin by May 1. Biden's choice of the 9/11 date underscores the reason that American troops were in Afghanistan to begin with to prevent extremist groups like al-Qaida from establishing a foothold again that could be used to launch attacks against the U.S. The administration official said Biden decided that the withdrawal deadline had to be absolute, rather than based on conditions on the ground. Were committing today to going to zero U.S. forces by Sept. 11, and possibly well before, the official said, adding that Biden concluded that a conditioned withdrawal would be a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever. Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. White House press secretary Jen Psaki didn't provide details of Biden's remarks planned for Wednesday, but she said during a White House briefing that Biden "has been consistent in his view that there is not a military solution to Afghanistan, that we have been there for far too long. Psaki tweeted later Tuesday that Biden's visit to Arlington National Cemetery was to pay his respects to the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. Several U.S. officials confirmed Bidens withdrawal decision to The Associated Press, and an administration official provided details to reporters on condition of anonymity, speaking ahead of the announcement. According to the administration official, the only U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan will be those needed to protect diplomats there. No exact number was provided, but American troop totals in Afghanistan have been understated by U.S. administrations for years. Officials have quietly acknowledged that there are hundreds more in Afghanistan than the official 2,500 number, and likely would include special operations forces conducting covert or counterterrorism missions, often working with intelligence agency personnel. Biden's new, extended timeline will allow a safe and orderly withdrawal of American troops in coordination with NATO allies, the administration official added. The president's decision, however, risks retaliation by the Taliban on U.S. and Afghan forces, possibly escalating the 20-year war. And it will reignite political division over Americas involvement in what many have called the endless war. An intelligence community report issued Tuesday about global challenges for the next year said prospects for a peace deal in Afghanistan are low and warned that the Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield. If the coalition withdraws support, the report says, the Afghan government will struggle to control the Taliban. Congressional reaction to the new deadline was mixed. Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed it as a reckless and dangerous decision. He said any withdrawal should be conditions-based, adding that arbitrary deadlines could put troops in danger, create a breeding ground for terrorists and lead to civil war in Afghanistan. Democrats were generally more supportive. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said President Donald Trumps May 1 deadline limited Bidens options. We still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that part of the world, but there are other areas, too, we have to be conscious of, Reed said. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said troops should come home, and the U.S. must refocus American national security on more pressing challenges. But at least one senior Democrat expressed disappointment. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said in a tweet that the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave w/o verifiable assurances of a secure future. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told the AP that the religious militia is waiting for a formal announcement to issue its reaction. The Taliban previously warned the U.S. of consequences if it reneged on the May 1 deadline. In a February 2020 agreement with the Trump administration, the Taliban agreed to halt attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for a U.S. commitment to a complete withdrawal by May 2021. Over the past year, U.S. military commanders and defense officials have said that attacks on U.S. troops have largely paused, but that Taliban attacks on the Afghans increased. Commanders have argued that the Taliban have failed to meet the conditions of the peace agreement by continuing attacks on the Afghans and failing to totally cut ties with al-Qaida and other extremist groups. When Biden entered the White House in January, he was keenly aware of the looming deadline and had time to meet it if he had chosen to do so. He began a review of the February 2020 agreement shortly after taking office, and has been consulting at length with his defense advisers and allies. In recent weeks, it became increasingly clear that he was leaning toward defying the deadline. Its going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline, Biden said in March. Just in terms of tactical reasons, its hard to get those troops out. He added, And if we leave, were going to do so in a safe and orderly way. ___ Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Islamabad and Eric Tucker in Washington and broadcast correspondent Sagar Meghani contributed to this report. OKLAHOMA CITY, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 14, 2021 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published the first of two proposed range-wide habitat conservation plans (HCP) for public comment for the lesser prairie-chicken ("LPC"). This first HCP will provide range-wide regulatory assurances for wind, solar, electric transmission & distribution lines and communication towers for industry participants who wish to responsibly develop projects under any scenario that may occur once the USFWS releases its court-ordered review of the Endangered Species Act listing status on May 26th. The HCP will enable a strategic, market-based connection with existing conservation banks as well as other mitigation options that meet the standards for performance detailed in the plan and mitigation standards recommended by the USFWS for the LPC. The HCP will be administered by LPC Conservation, LLC, a special purpose entity owned by Common Ground Capital, LLC of Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Restoration Systems of Raleigh North Carolina and a major equity investor that is active in the energy and real estate space across the country. Wayne Walker, CEO of LPC Conservation stated: "Our team is excited to provide a best-in-class conservation plan that will deliver desperately needed strategic conservation strongholds and restoration for the LPC. We are using market-based business models employed every day by the vast majority of renewable energy and traditional energy and infrastructure developers who operate in and around the remaining landscapes of the LPC, a species that is a key indicator of health of these Southern Plains Ecosystems. "We are grateful to the USFWS for the leadership and team execution to achieve this milestone. We would not be here without our private landowner partners in Kansas and in Texas and New Mexico through our partnership with RiverBank Conservation (Austin, Texas) whose ranches can deliver what this bird needs most-strategic and durable Strongholds of conservation in the right places. We are confident this plan will deliver the conservation guidance and potential compliance option that both industry project developers and the LPC need. At present, the species and industry lack a range-wide defensible program demonstrating both regulatory compliance and conservation benefits. In addition to meeting this need, we look forward to working with entities such as North American Grouse Partnership, USFWS, the states, NRCS, industry, private landowners, and other leading NGOs in a transparent and collaborative manner moving forward." The programmatic HCP design will encompass the following key attributes: *A qualified program administrator and team that has a combined over 100 years of business experience in the energy and environmental preservation and restoration market space. *Availability of approximately 50,000 acres of advance mitigation credits, strategically located in areas that meet the USFWS stronghold criteria and are already approved by USFWS, with existing contracts with private landowner partners across multiple LPC ecosystems. Any mitigation purchased within these areas will immediately contribute to the USFWS stronghold goal also identified in the Range-Wide Plan. *A straightforward, clearly defined impact analysis approach for calculating impact mitigation needs for a proposed project. In addition, LPC Conservation will be launching a secure, web-enabled management dash board that allows program participants to quickly estimate their specific mitigation needs prior to formal enrollment in the program, and then track compliance metrics for any enrolled projects over time. *Up to 500,000 acres of project impacts can be enrolled and covered under the HCP/ITP during a 30-year ITP term. *A clearly-defined but simple monitoring program that relieves industry from managing ongoing day-to-day compliance efforts. *USFWS and 3rd party audit requirements provide transparency and ongoing collaboration in HCP implementation. *An adaptive management program and description of circumstances under which minimization and mitigation measures can respond to changes that may occur over the ITP term, including those which may reduce these measures. For more information, please view the Federal Register website at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/14/2021-07475/application-for-an-incidental-take-permit-renewable-wind-and-solar-energy-power-line-and Contact: Mike Smith, LPC Conservation [email protected] 703-623-3834 SOURCE LPC Conservation Active COVID infections in Massachusetts declined to 35,857 on Tuesday, down from 36,775 on Monday, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. It was the first dip down in more than a week of rising infections. State health officials confirmed another 1,401 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. Thats based on 57,829 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 7 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 17,068. The seven-day average of positive tests is 2.42% on Tuesday, up from 2.3% the day before. Since the pandemic began, officials have confirmed 622,662 total COVID-19 cases across the state. The number of COVID patients currently hospitalized on Tuesday is 714, up from 699 the day before. Of them, 165 are in intensive care, and 100 are intubated, data shows. Hospitalizations have hovered around 700 for the past week. The Department of Public Health added new data showing the number of infections confirmed among children younger than 15. Over the last two weeks, 1,116 cases were confirmed in children younger than 4; 1,396 infections were confirmed in children between the ages of 5 and 9; and 1,722 infections were confirmed in children between the ages of 10 and 14, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. Roughly 2,748 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 came down with COVID over the last two weeks. And 7,205 cases were confirmed among 20-somethings, according to DPH. There have been a total of 4,647,139 COVID vaccine doses administered in Massachusetts to date, and 1,833,085 residents are now fully vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced that they have paused the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to review reports of rare blood clotting in a small group of women who were vaccinated. Federal regulators paused administration of the J&J vaccine out of an abundance of caution due to reports of six cases of a rare and severe blood clot, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Next week, on April 19, vaccine eligibility will expand to include all Massachusetts residents. Total COVID cases by county: Barnstable County: 12,977 Berkshire County: 5,925 Bristol County: 62,204 Dukes County: 1,113 Essex County: 92,374 Franklin County: 2,333 Hampden County: 48,136 Hampshire County: 8,661 Middlesex County: 127,550 Nantucket County: 1,402 Norfolk County: 51,865 Plymouth County: 46,001 Suffolk County: 88,116 Worcester County: 72,811 Related Content: This $20 a month donation gives you full online access to all four of our local papers - Sonoma West, The Healdsburg Tribune, Windsor Times and Cloverdale Reveille - and will help the paper survive. This renews automatically, and we will charge your card monthly until you tell us to stop. Thanks for going above and beyond! KYIV. April 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) Long before the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, Russian intelligence services used to undermine the capabilities of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Minister for Veterans Affairs Yulia Laputina, who since 1994 served at the Alpha antiterrorist center, said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to her, this work became especially active after 2008. In particular, Laputina said, "one of the unspoken conditions of the Kharkiv agreements was the reduction of units in the structure of the Ukrainian counterintelligence, which counteracted the intelligence and subversive activities of the security services of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as the dismissal of their leaders, the transfer of personnel to positions wherever they had the opportunity to make certain decisions." "People who held leadership positions began to bring us under the auspices of cooperation with the 'fraternal' Russian security services to meetings and to instructor units, respectively, to training grounds for FSB officers," the minister also said, noting that "among them was a well-known employee of Russian intelligence services Igor Yegorov, who is involved in the case of the SBU General Valeriy Shaitanov." "I have repeatedly declared to the leadership of the SBU that this should not be done. Moreover, such international cooperation of any intelligence service is regulated by certain procedures. Bypassing all these procedures, some leaders in the SBU lobbied for the arrival of the Russian special services," Laputina noted. "I remember one very illustrative competition when our snipers defeated the Russians. The head of the FSB, presenting the award to our employee, said: 'You taught us a lot, thank you.' And already in the changing room, the Russian team of snipers told ours literally: there won't be your unit soon," she said. According to the minister, "then no one wanted to believe, but new trends were not long in coming." "The Alpha leadership really began to limit the number of training of Ukrainian fighters, shooting, ammunition. It became obvious to the enemy even then that through security forces it was possible to influence the security policy in the structure of the Ukrainian security service," the Minister for Veterans Affairs emphasized. According to Laputina, the definite point for her was October 2013, before the Maidan. "Walking along the corridor of 33 Volodymyrska Street, I met one of the generals of the SBU. In a conversation with colleagues, he said: "I told you that this country has never existed and won't exist," she said. Laputina expressed confidence that "many of those who in the 2000s worked in the area of intelligence and counteraction to the Russian security services can say that then we would like more attention and reaction from the leadership of the SBU and the state to these issues, to all analytics and forecasts that we provided, because we directly encountered the cynical 'face' of representatives of the Russian intelligence services." (Newser) One woman carried a ruler at FBI headquarters so she could smack James Hendricks' hands when he reached for her legs and breasts. Another went home shaken after he tugged on her ear and kissed her cheek during a closed-door meeting. And when Hendricks went on to lead the FBI's field office in Albany, New York, in 2018, colleagues described him as a "skilled predator" who leered at women in the workplace, touched them inappropriately and asked one to have sex in a conference room, according to a newly released federal report. Hendricks retired last year as a special agent in charge after the Office of Inspector Generalthe Justice Department's internal watchdogconcluded he sexually harassed eight female subordinates in one of the FBI's most egregious known cases of sexual misconduct, the AP reports. Hendricks was among several senior FBI officials highlighted in an AP investigation last year that found a pattern of supervisors avoiding disciplineand retiring with full benefitseven after claims of sexual misconduct against them were substantiated. story continues below The FBI said that it could not discuss Hendricks' case but that it "maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment." Hendricks, 50, who now writes a law enforcement blog, did not respond to requests for comment. He told investigators that his accusers had either misinterpreted his actions or exaggerated his behavior, and that he was not sexually attracted to them. The details of Hendricks' sexual harassmentoutlined in a 52-page report obtained under the Freedom of Information Acthave not previously been reported. Co-workers told investigators he surrounded himself with attractive women, was fixated on high heels and breasts, and was known for gawking at female agents as they walked down the hallway. Hendricks' male colleagues also considered him "creepy" and one described how he simulated masturbation once when a woman left the room. But like many female agents, they did not report him for fear of retaliation. One woman told investigators that Hendricks pressured her into having a sexual relationship, and that he had been known to "push out" people who crossed him. (Read more FBI stories.) A logo of the Chinese multinational e-commerce, retail, internet, and technology conglomerate, Alibaba group, is pictured on a window of a stand during the Vivatec trade fair (Viva Technology) in Paris, France, on May 24, 2018. (Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images) Heed Lessons From Alibaba Case, Chinese Regime Warns 34 Tech Giants Thirty-four of Chinas tech giants were summoned to a meeting in Beijing on April 13 with the Chinese regimes top regulators, days after it imposed a record $2.8 billion fine on e-commence giant Alibaba. During the meeting hosted by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and the State Taxation Administration, the major technology companies were told they had one month to rectify any monopolistic practices. According to a statement, the SAMR told the technology companies to heed warnings from Alibabas case and be fearful and respectful of the rules and discipline themselves. The 34 companies listed in the statement include search giant Baidu, prominent social media and video game company Tencent, TikTok owner ByteDance, food delivery app Meituan, and online shopping site JD.com. Shares of Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Meituan recorded extensive losses after the statement, according to Bloomberg. On April 10, the regimes antitrust regulators fined Alibaba 18.3 billion yuan ($2.8 billion), claiming the e-commerce giant abused its dominant position to limit competition by retailers that use its platforms and hindering free circulation of goods, the SAMR said. The practice was called choose one out of two in the statement. Two days later, the Chinese regime imposed a sweeping restructuring on Alibaba affiliate Ant Group, turning it into a financial holding company subjected to stricter regulatory oversight and capital requirements like other state-owned banks. That same day, Alibabas shares jumped 6.5 percent, with investors likely hoping that the penalty concludes the regimes crackdown on the e-commerce giant. Alibaba accepts the penalty with sincerity and will ensure its compliance with determination, the company said in a statement. It promised to operate in accordance with the law with utmost diligence. Ant Group has undergone regulatory pressure from the regime since its planned $37 billion initial public offerings was held shortly before its market debut last November. The SAMR said inspections will continue and severe punishment will be administered if any rule violations are found in the future. Reuters contributed to this report The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the medical fraternity and the pharmaceutical industry frantically searching for effective antivirals. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development moves forward at an unparalleled speed, advances in new therapeutics to treat COVID-19 are unsuccessful, and only a handful of repurposed therapeutics have been approved to treat the disease. Most of the mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infections are easily recovered; however, with severe COVID-19, the associated risks of hospitalization and mortality are high. To date, SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for 137 million infections and over 2.95 million deaths the world over. Yet, curative solutions for COVID-19 disease are unavailable. To address this issue, a team of researchers led by Professor Mohamed El Raey of the National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt, looked at phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals as potential antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. In this work, the researchers studied several phytopharmaceutical phenolic compounds from commonly used medicinal plants and foods (nutraceuticals) in silico to explore the antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Then, the researchers experimentally tested the highest docking score compound with its mediated ZnO nanoparticles against the Hepatitis A virus (HAV), an RNA virus similar to SARSCOV-2. Publishing their recent work in the journal, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, the researchers showed that all the tested compounds exhibited the predicted anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. In the research paper, the researchers have tabulated the binding mode, type of interaction, and binding energy of phenolic compounds under study. They also isolated an active metabolite - Hesperidin - from natural sources (such as orange peels) and used it as a reducing agent to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in a green synthesis process. Natural products are untapped sources for compounds that can be used in the prevention and treatment of different diseases. Using spectroscopic analysis, the researchers confirmed the structure of hesperidin and characterized the hesperidin zinc oxide nanoparticles. With hepatitis A virus (HAV) as an example of RNA viruses, they evaluated the in vitro antiviral activity of hesperidin and ZnO NPs. While both showed antiviral activity against HAV, they observed higher activity in ZnO NPs. In the last decade, the discovery of antiviral medicines extracted from natural sources, either directly or indirectly, has increased significantly. The researchers in this study screened natural compound libraries by computational screening methods as molecular docking. This method saves considerable time and money in the drug development process. The researchers selected the ten nutraceuticals phenolic compounds according to their availability and spreading as pharmaceutical dosage forms derived from natural edible food sources. These nutraceuticals in this study were diosmin, rutin, naringenin, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, myricetin 3-O-xylosyl-(12)-rhamnoside, myricetin, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, corilagin, and lyoniresinol. Also, zinc (Zn) is an essential element in our body and physiology, with antiviral properties. Zn-containing compounds are recently reported to display anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Because ZnO NPs are more easily absorbed by the body than zinc, ZnO NPs are used in this study. Hesperidin from citrus peels has been reported in previous studies to have antiviral activity. Here, based on in silico screening, the researchers predicted hesperidin to target the interaction site between SARS-CoV-2 Spike and ACE2 receptors - thus blocking the entry of the virus into the human lung cells. Therefore, hesperidin could be a promising prophylactic drug against COVID-19, the researchers noted. This study elucidated the binding mode of the phenolic compounds to the crystal structure of Covid-19 main protease 6lu7 using molecular docking. While interpreting the inhibition mechanism of the main protease COVID-19, the docking study confirmed that hesperidin forms electrostatic interactions and pi-stacking interaction. The researchers discussed the binding and the inhibition activity of the phenolic compounds in the paper. They reported that hesperidin showed the highest docking score. The highlights of this study are: 1) in silico docking comparison study of antiviral nutraceutical phenolics against SARS-CoV-2 main protease, 2)isolation and identification of hesperidin from orange peels, 3) green synthesis of ZnO NPs using hesperidin, and 4) evaluation of hesperidin and ZnO NPs against hepatitis A virus. Rediscovering and repurposing existing compounds from natural sources and evaluating these compounds against the SARS-CoV-2 could be an effective strategy to accelerate the drug discovery process. In this study, the researchers presented hesperidin and its mediated ZnO nanoparticles as possible antiviral agents. Thus, further experimental investigation of these compounds against SARS-CoV-2 as a potential treatment is recommended. [April 14, 2021] PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Announces Date for 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: PMT) today announced that it will hold its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 virtually by means of a live webcast. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 30, 2021 are entitled to receive notice of, to attend, and to vote at the virtual annual meeting. Shareholders who wish to participate can visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PMT2021 and enter the 16-digit control number included on the proxy card,voting instruction form, notice of internet availability of proxy materials or previously received email. Shareholders also will have the ability to submit questions in advance of the virtual annual meeting as described in our definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC (News - Alert) on April 14, 2021. Whether or not shareholders plan to attend the virtual annual meeting, we strongly encourage you to select one of the methods described in the proxy materials to vote and submit your proxies in advance of the virtual annual meeting. About PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets. PMT is externally managed by PNMAC Capital Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: PFSI). Additional information about PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is available at www.PennyMac-REIT.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005935/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NASA to provide live coverage of space station crew landing Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Kate Rubins, KG5FYJ of NASA and two Roscosmos cosmonauts are scheduled to end their mission on the International Space Station Friday, April 16. Coverage of departure from the station and landing on Earth will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agencys website. Rubins, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, will close the hatch to the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft at 6:10 p.m. EDT to begin the journey back to Earth. The trio will undock from the space-facing port of the stations Poisk module at 9:34 p.m., heading for a parachute-assisted landing at 12:56 a.m. (10:56 a.m. Kazakhstan time) Saturday, April 17, on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan. The three crew members will wrap up a 185-day mission spanning 2,960 orbits of Earth and 78.4 million miles. Rubins is completing her second flight, with 300 cumulative days in space. Ryzhikov is completing his second spaceflight, with 358 cumulative days. This was Kud-Sverchkovs first spaceflight. In advance of Soyuz departure coverage, station commander Ryzhikov will hand over command of the station to NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, KD5DXB during a change of command ceremony. The event will air live on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agencys website beginning at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, April 15. On Friday, April 16, coverage of the farewells and hatch closure for the departing crew members will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by undocking coverage at 9:15 p.m., with coverage of the Soyuz deorbit burn and landing beginning at 11:30 p.m. The Ukrainian capital Kyiv will remain on lockdown until April 30 as the daily number of new coronavirus cases and coronavirus-related deaths continues to climb. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the decision in a televised briefing on April 14, saying there was "no other choice, otherwise the medical system would not be able to cope with a further rise in the number of patients, otherwise there will be even more deaths." Last month, city authorities closed schools and kindergartens, theaters, and shopping centers, while cafes and restaurants were only allowed to provide takeaway food. Kyiv public transport is now operating on special passenger passes for those working for critical infrastructure enterprises. Klitschko recommended that companies keep employees working remotely, or, have them take vacation. No time to be frivolous. Today, our main task is to preserve the health and life of Kyiv residents, to help our doctors cope with this wave, he said. The mayor said the capital reported 1,457 new coronavirus cases on April 13 and some 47 related deaths. Ukraine has registered a total of nearly 1.9 million coronavirus infections and over 38,220 related deaths since the start of the pandemic. DENVER, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boom Supersonic , the aerospace company building the world's fastest and most sustainable commercial airliner, today announced that Barb Bidan has joined as the company's Chief People Officer. Bidan will be responsible for helping Boom attract highly skilled talent and shape its progressive culture as the company develops Overture, its flagship commercial supersonic airliner. Overture is built upon industry-leading principles of speed, safety and sustainability. Barb Bidan has joined Boom Supersonic as Chief People Officer. Bidan has held senior HR leadership roles with several top technology and consumer brand names including Peloton, BlackBerry, Yahoo, Indeed.com, and InVision. She comes to Boom having made significant contributions to the HR practices of rapidly scaling organizationsunder her leadership, Peloton, Indeed, and BlackBerry grew their teams by thousands of employees. Leveraging Bidan's nearly 20 years of expertise in scaling companies while fostering strong corporate culture, Boom will soon expand its team to enter the production phase for Overture as soon as 2023. "Boom is completely rethinking commercial air travel in a way that will transform the aviation industry," said Barb Bidan, Boom's Chief People Officer. "This vision will continue to help Boom attract a diverse and talented team. I'm excited for the unique opportunity to foster a culture that rewards innovation, motivates us to achieve our long-term vision, and positions Boom for our next phase of growth." Today Boom also announced a new, $45 million investment from Prime Movers Lab, and the company welcomed Zia Huque to its board of directors. Huque is a general partner at Prime Movers Lab and brings a wealth of experience in later-stage financing, having spent the vast majority of his career on Wall Street in capital markets financing. Huque previously served as President and CEO of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and held a number of other executive roles at Deutsche Bank. "I am passionate about bringing breakthrough technology to market, and I'm thrilled to be working with Blake and the rest of the Boom board and team to deliver a sustainable supersonic renaissance," said Huque. "Our goal is to make Boom a place where the most talented people on the planet are inspired and enabled to do the best work of their careers," said Blake Scholl, Boom Founder & CEO. "Both Barb and Zia are truly world-class leaders, and I'm excited to work with them as we make supersonic travel a reality and build a generational company." Connect with Boom Supersonic on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram, YouTube, Medium About Boom Supersonic Boom Supersonic is redefining commercial air travel by bringing supersonic flight back to the skies with Overture. This historic commercial airliner is designed and committed to industry-leading standards of speed, safety, and sustainability. Boom's vision is to bring families, businesses, and cultures closer together through supersonic travel and make the world dramatically more accessible. Boom is the first commercial airplane manufacturer to commit to a carbon-neutral flight test program and to build sustainability into its entire aircraft program. XB-1, Boom's supersonic demonstrator aircraft for Overture, rolled out in 2020 and its flight test program is underway. The company is backed by world-class investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Prime Movers Lab and American Express Ventures and has 30 aircraft on pre-order. Founded in 2014, Boom has assembled a team of over 150 full-time employees who have made contributions to over 220 air and spacecraft programs. For more information, please visit https://boomsupersonic.com. About Prime Movers Lab Prime Movers Lab invests in breakthrough scientific startups founded by Prime Movers, the inventors who transform billions of lives. We invest in early-stage companies reinventing human augmentation, energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, and agriculture. Our team is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in their mission to commercialize breakthrough science and serve humanity. For more information, visit: www.primemoverslab.com. SOURCE Boom Supersonic Related Links www.boomsupersonic.com Apple has announced that it will be hosting a special Spring Loaded event on April 20. The Cupertino giant is sending out invites to the media for an event where it is expected to unveil the next generation of the iPad Pro and more. This special Apple event precedes the WWDC 2021, which is expected to be held sometime in June. Apples invite for the event on April 20 says Spring loaded without shedding any light on the exact details of the announcement. Having said that, there are rumours that Apple could be preparing to unveil a new iPad Pro with a mini-LED display along with a bunch of products. Apple Spring Loaded event on April 20: How to watch it online? Apple is hosting its Spring Loaded event on April 20 which is slated to kick off from 10:30 PM IST (10 AM PDT). The event is expected to be a virtual affair due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. However, just like the past events, the upcoming Spring event will be live-streamed on YouTube and the Apple website. We have embedded the live stream link below and you can enable the reminder to send you an alert for when the show begins. What to expect from Apples April 20 event? Apple is expected to announce the next generation of its iPad Pro tablet with a mini-LED display as has been rumoured for the longest time now. Apart from that, the company is also expected to announce the much-awaited tracker which may or may not be called AirTags. As per the latest report, Apples mini-LED suppliers in Taiwan have run into production issues that could impact the availability of the new iPad and iPad Pro with a mini-LED display. However, the latest piece of information says that Apple is on track to launch two new iPads sometime in the second half of April. The mini-LED display on the next-generation iPads is expected to offer better colours, contrast ratio and overall brighter images. The top-end 12.9-inch model of the iPad Pro is the one expected to receive an upgrade to the mini-LED display while the standard variant could be an incremental update. More details will be revealed on the day of the Apple event which is slated to begin from 10:30 PM IST on April 20. She shares two children with husband of 20 years Michael Douglas. And on Tuesday, Catherine Zeta-Jones revealed that both son Dylan, 20, and daughter Carys, 17, are keen to follow in their famous parents footsteps in Hollywood. The Welsh actress, 51, said in an interview on the third hour of Today that her kids are 'extremely bright' and are 'passionate' about acting. Proud mom: Catherine Zeta-Jones revealed on the 3rd hour of Today Tuesday she's excited that both her children with Michael Douglas want to follow their famous parents into acting 'Michael and I would be the first parents to say, 'You know, maybe you should think of another career,' but we've seen how passionate they are about the craft,' Catherine explained. 'They know what celebritydom is. They know the good, the bad, warts and all of that.' She added: 'My kids went off to summer camp every year, to theater camp with all the Broadway kids, and held their own very, very well, I have to say.' Excited: 'I just presume that it's in the cards and I'm very excited to see whatever journey they happen to go on,' Catherine, 51, explained. 'They know what celebritydom is. They know the good, the bad, warts and all of that' Her kids: Catherine shared son Dylan, 20, and daughter Carys, 17, are 'extremely bright' and are 'passionate' about acting (pictured in March 2019) The Chicago Oscar winner said both she and Hollywood star Michael, 76, do have concerns about how much Dylan and Carys would have to prove themselves because of who they are. 'Michael's experience was, it's a hard act to follow when your dad's Spartacus,' she said. Catherine shared on Today that her children remain undeterred and look set to embark on acting careers. 'I just presume that it's in the cards and I'm very excited to see whatever journey they happen to go on,' she said. Stars: The Chicago Oscar winner said both she and Michael, 76, have concerns about how much Dylan and Carys would have to prove themselves because of who they are In the genes: 'Michael's experience was, it's a hard act to follow when your dad's Spartacus,' Catherine shared (Michael is pictured with Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas in 1977) Family: Catherine shared on Today that her children remain undeterred. 'I just presume that it's in the cards and I'm very excited to see whatever journey they happen to go on,' she said Catherine and Michael, son of legendary star Kirk Douglas, married in 2000. He already had a son Cameron from his first marriage to Diandra Luker. Cameron was seen on screen with his mother, father and grandfather in 2003's It Runs In The Family. In 2010, Cameron was sentenced to prison on drugs charges and was released in 2016. he has since gone on to marry and is the father of two young children. The federal government is looking to states and territories to set up mass vaccination centres and may need to use state hospital hubs to help vaccinate aged care and disability workers as it goes back to the drawing board to work out how to complete its COVID-19 vaccination program. Many of the 318,000 workers in the aged care and disability sector who were in line to get the AstraZeneca vaccine would now need to get the Pfizer vaccine after the Australian Technical Group on Immunisation recommended it should become the preferred vaccine for people aged under 50. Health Minister Greg Hunt and Prime Minister Scott Morrison are going back to the drawing board to work out how complete its COVID-19 vaccination program. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The sector said state hospital hubs should be used to ensure those workers could receive a Pfizer vaccine. The approach raises urgent questions about costs because the states carry the burden of the mass vaccination sites, while the federal government pays for doses given by general practitioners, and Labor has accused the government of passing the buck after bungling its rollout. Advertisement He's one of the most renowned and richest rappers in the world. And so it was little wonder Drake opted to travel in luxury on Tuesday as he climbed out of his $1.8 million Mercedes Maybach G650 Landaulet truck before boarding his private Boeing 767 Jet as he jetted out of LA. The rapper, 34, cut a casual figure in a green jacket and navy joggers as he stepped out on the tarmac before heading off in his aircraft dubbed 'Air Drake', which was customised by Off-White chief executive Virgil Abloh, 40. Flash: Drake opted to travel in luxury on Tuesday as he climbed out of his $1.8 million Mercedes Maybach G650 Landaulet truck before boarding his private Boeing 767 Jet as he jetted out of LA Sporting chunky white trainers and carrying a bottle of water Drake made his way onto the luxurious aircraft which he acquired in 2019 - gifted to him by CargoJet's President and CEO Ajay Virmani. The stunning aircraft is reportedly a 767-300F Boeing plane mode which is estimated to cost around 200 million (145,761,971). Meanwhile, Drake's extremely rare Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet - one of only 99 ever made - carries the hefty price tag of $1.8 million (1,308,312.00) and at the time of its 2017 creation, was branded the most expensive SUV ever made. The truck, which the God's Plan rapper purchased in 2019, features a convertible roof, thermally controlled cup holders and a glass centre divider, and was said at the time to be the only one in North America. Ensuring that he always travelled in style, last year Drake had his private plane customised by none other than Virgil Abloh. Wow: The rapper, 34, cut a casual figure in a green jacket and navy joggers as he stepped out on the tarmac before heading off in his aircraft dubbed 'Air Drake', which was customised by Off-White chief executive Virgil Abloh, 40 The American designer remodelled the jet with a blue sky background dotted with fluffy white clouds, with the design a nod to the cover art of Drake's 2013 album Nothing Was The Same. And while Virgil is known for his work in fashion, as well as being a DJ and entrepreneur, he also has a a civil engineering degree, which no doubt came in handy when redesigning the plane's look. While the outside of the aircraft was emblazoned with the OVO owl symbol and 'ABLOH ENGINEERING', along with the moniker 'Air Drake'. OVO stands for Drake's company - October's Very Own - and for his record label OVO sound. Pricey: The stunning aircraft is reportedly a 767-300F Boeing plane mode which is estimated to cost around 200 million (145,761,971) Makeover: Ensuring that he always travelled in style, last year Drake had the plane customised by none other than Virgil Abloh What a present! The luxurious aircraft which he acquired in 2019, was gifted to him by CargoJet's President and CEO Ajay Virmani Meanwhile, the belly of the plane featured the hilarious slogan: 'If you're reading this we left'. Ahead of the makeover, the Hotline Bling hitmaker previously gave fans a tour of his jet on Instagram, showing off the plane's plush interior featuring luxury gold and brown sofas adorned with gold walls. During his tour, the Canadian native proudly boasted: 'No rental, no timeshare, no co-owners' as he assured fans that the aircraft was his. Design: The american designer remodelled the jet with a blue sky background dotted with fluffy white clouds, with the design a nod to the cover art of Drake's 2013 album Nothing Was the Same Making his mark: While the outside of the aircraft was emblazoned with the OVO owl symbol and 'ABLOH ENGINEERING', along with the moniker 'Air Drake' But he didn't forget to thank Canadian airline CargoJet for the gift, acknowledging the company's CEO Ajay Virmani as he added: 'That guy made it happen right there, that's the man.' In a statement at the time, Ajay said: 'We are very excited to partner with Drake as our ambassador and assisting him with his logistical needs and requirements. 'We have had a lengthy relationship with Drake and this partnership has grown organically between both parties. Cargojet and Drake are both great Canadian successes, we are thrilled to be partnering together.' Luxury: the Hotline Bling hitmaker previously gave fans a tour of his jet on Instagram, showing off the plane's plush interior featuring luxury gold and brown sofas adorned with gold walls Perks: he didn't forget to thank Canadian airline CargoJet for the gift, acknowledging the company's CEO Ajay Virmani as he added: 'That guy made it happen right there, that's the man' Meanwhile, while Drake's travel arrangements are in order, he appears to be set to sort out his love life as he's reportedly set his sights on Kim Kardashian, who has become newly-single after filing for divorce from husband Kanye West in February. He is said to have started messaging the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star when it was clear her marriage with Kanye was ending. It comes after Drake cryptically mentioned Kanye on his new song Wants and Needs, which sparked fans to question whether the Hotline Bling hitmaker and Kim, 40, had a fling previously. Boast: During his tour, the Canadian native proudly boasted: 'No rental, no timeshare, no co-owners' as he assured fans that the aircraft was his (pictured last month) A source told Heat: 'Drake could never understand what Kim saw in Kanye - he was saying for years how he wasn't the right guy for Kim and it would all end in tears. 'He was surprised it took her so long to realise, and started messaging her the moment it became clear that the divorce was inevitable, he's ready to see her whenever she says the word, basically, and he's confident that will happen fairly soon.' However the insider told the publication, Kim isn't interested in pursuing a relationship with anyone just yet. They said: 'Kim's wary about getting involved with someone else too fast before the divorce is settled.' SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mapp, the international provider of insight-led customer engagement, today released the results of a study on current customer experience strategies. The findings reveal that, while 89% of respondents think a CX strategy is important or very important to business success, less than half (47%) review and evaluate their CX strategy annually or even less frequently. Nearly the same amount (88%) agree that it is important to understand changing customer needs using customer analytics to improve CX. Yet only half (55%) of CX and marketing decision-makers plan to implement customer analytics in 2021. Customer experience is paramount but implementation is still lacking Those companies that do plan to implement customer analytics tools expect to use it to facilitate improved customer insight (75%), gain a better understanding of customer intent (55%) and improve their ability to update their CX strategy (55%) in an agile manner. A full 80% of marketers expect enhanced personalization. Despite the clear benefits, companies face major hurdles when it comes to updating their CX strategy. Respondents cite the difficulty of linking business outcomes to real customer needs (83%), insufficient technology platforms (77%), and a lack of vision and alignment among leaders, teams, and employees (72%). Lack of insights as the biggest challenge to improved CX Although customer experience (CX) and customer insights are not new to the marketing industry, many marketers still face the challenge of gaining truly relevant customer insights to keep pace with end-user expectations. Over half (53%) of marketers say they are unable to identify customers on their website, even though this is the foundation for gaining insights and driving CX. Following Google's announcement that it will no longer support third-party cookies, first-party data will play an even more important role, as valid data collection and the identification of the right insights are more important than ever. For 54% of respondents, the lack of customer insights is by far the biggest challenge when it comes to enabling better brand experiences. 57% of marketers surveyed consider lack of skilled talent being their primary challenge in delivering better CX. At the same time, however, only a quarter attribute their success in recent years to talent improvement. This proves that while hiring and developing qualified staff is important, using the right tools for insight-driven marketing offers the greatest economic success. 65% of respondents expect that new technology leads to improved customer insights. More know-how and sales through customer insights To better understand their customers' needs, companies are already investing in their MarTech stacks. For improved customer understanding, the marketers surveyed cite customer analytics (56%), customer data management (52%) and marketing automation (49%) as top investments in the last two years. In addition, 51% of decision-makers have also already achieved greater performance using customer insights. Companies that have implemented AI or ML tools also report improved ability to update their strategy (62%), greater understanding of customer intent (58%) and improved customer insights (57%). Ricardas Montvila, VP Global Strategy at Mapp comments, "Our study shows that targeted improvement of the customer experience leads to significantly faster growth and more revenue and should, therefore, be a top priority for every marketer. Given the focus on online business models, marketing must be aligned even more efficiently to achieve this. After all, understanding customers is the basis for brand experiences that work, and investing in customer analytics is a prerequisite for a marketing ecosystem that enables this understanding. Technology helps to identify actionable insights and user segments for highly personalized customer experiences and to place brand messages across channels." About the study The commissioned study was conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Mapp in December 2020 with 203 marketing decision-makers from multi-channel retail, eCommerce, CPG/D2C and financial services in the US, Canada, and Europe. Download the study here: https://mapp.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-improving-your-customer-experience-in-2021/ About Mapp Marketers and data specialists should be able to focus on what will make a difference for their business, instead of spending all their time taming the technology behind it. With the insight-led customer engagement platform Mapp Cloud, they can focus on what really counts and the exciting insights that come with it. Thanks to customer intelligence and marketing analytics, companies can easily and effectively gain data-driven customer insights across all channels in order to trigger highly personalized marketing activities. Customers benefit from AI-supported forecasting models that enable targeted and self-optimizing cross-channel campaigns. Automated messages are sent via the most suitable marketing channel, at the right time, with the optimal contact frequency. Thanks to advanced one-to-one personalization, the highest levels of engagement and long-term customer loyalty are achieved. Mapp has global offices in seven countries. Mapp's digital marketing platform helps more than 3,000 companies break away from the pack by uncovering missed opportunities, including Argos, Ella's Kitchen, Expert, Freesat, Lloyds Banking Group, MyToys, Pepsico, Quint and The Entertainer. Press contact: PR Agency: The PR Network Jonathan Lenz +44 (0)77953 74423 [email protected] www.thepr.network Mapp Digital Harald Oberhofer +49 30 755 415 120 [email protected] www.mapp.com SOURCE Mapp Related Links mapp.com MECOSTA COUNTY More than 200 people in Mecosta County tested positive for COVID-19 last week, according to data recently posted by District Health Department No. 10. DHD No. 10 confirmed 203 cases in Mecosta County between Sunday, April 4, and Saturday, April 10, with the highest one-day total occurring Wednesday, April 7, (51). Cases during this time period included "care worker, worksite exposure, sports, recent travel, college, school, community contact and household contact." Over the weekend (Saturday-Monday), DHD No. 10 identified 77 new cases and one death, for a total of 2,471 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. Of those cases, 1,930 individuals have recovered, 26 have died and 515 are considered still active. Since the beginning of April, there have been 319 new cases, with double digit numbers every day except Easter. In comparison, DHD No. 10 reported 234 cases in the entire month of March. Newaygo County leads neighboring counties with 3,500 total cases, 53 resulting in death. Lake County has had 464 cases with 11 deaths overall. Central Michigan District Health Department reports 1,339 cases with 21 deaths in Osceola County between March 2020 and Monday, April 12. In the same time period, Isabella County had 4,415 cases with 66 deaths. DHD NO. 10 URGES SELF-ISOLATION IF EXPOSED With the increase in COVID-19 cases across the state of Michigan, including northern Michigan, District Health Department No. 10 said individuals might not receive a call from right away. To help stop the spread of the virus, health department is asking residents to initiate quarantine and isolation on their own. DHD No. 10 said in a news release Tuesday that if an individual has been notified by a lab or any other provider that they have tested positive for COVID-19, they need to take the following action: Isolate right away for 10 days from the start of symptoms, or if no symptoms, from the positive test date. Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home. Positive individuals should notify all close contacts so they can begin quarantine. Close contacts are people who have been within 6 feet or less of the infected individual for a cumulative 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period; these 15 minutes do not need to be consecutive minutes. The timeline for close contacts begins two days (48 hours) prior to symptoms starting, or from the positive test date. Individuals may resume normal activities when it has been 10 days since symptoms began, or if no symptoms, 10 days from the positive test date, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications, and other symptoms like cough or shortness of breath have improved. Individuals can be vaccinated after the completion of the isolation period as long as they feel better. To schedule a vaccination appointment with DHD No. 10, visit dhd10.org/schedule. According to the health department, if an individual has been notified that they are a close contact to a positive COVID-19 individual, they need to take the following action: Quarantine right away for 14 days from the last close contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Individuals may resume normal activities 14 days from last exposure AND as long as they have not begun displaying COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals can be vaccinated after the completion of the quarantine period as long as no symptoms are displayed. For questions, email covid@dhd10.org. For more COVID-19 vaccine information, visit dhd10.org/covid-19-vaccine. To stay informed, sign up for Public Health Alerts at dhd10.org/subscribe. Senegalese regulator ARTP (LAutorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes) has issued formal notices to two of the countrys operators for failing to comply with mobile number portability (MNP) regulations. Saga Africa Holdings and Sonatel, which respectively provide services under the Free and Orange brands, received the notices on 9th April and have been given 30 days to bring their operations in line, on pain of sanctions. TeleGeography reports that an investigation into the activities of the two firms found evidence of misconduct, with both firms found to have unfairly rejected legitimate MNP claims and delayed claims without due cause. The investigation also alleged that Free had engaged in fraudulent practices. Christchurch: Christchurch mosque killer Brenton Tarrant has launched a high court appeal to have his designation as a terrorist revoked. The Australian white supremacist wants the court to review decisions made by the NZ Department of Corrections about his prison conditions, and his designation as a terrorist entity under the countrys Terrorism Suppression Act. The judicial review will be heard at the High Court in Auckland on Thursday. He will be representing himself. Tarrant has appealed his official status as a terrorist in New Zealands High Court. Credit:AAP Tarrant was in August jailed for life without parole for the murder of 51 people and attempted murder of 40 at Masjid An Nur and Linwood mosque on March 15, 2019. Islamabad, April 14 : The Pakistan government has decided to impose a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan under the anti-terrorism law. Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed announced on Wednesday that the file will be taken to the Federal Cabinet for approval, adding that the decision was taken on the request of the Punjab government. "They (the protesters) were well-prepared. TLP leaders used to come to all talks with the government but after issuing instructions to their workers regarding road closures," he said, reported Samaa TV. Supporters of the religious party took to the streets Monday afternoon after TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested by the Lahore police. The report said that main roads in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and other cities were blocked following this, and people were stuck in traffic for hours. Sheikh Rasheed said all highways, motorways, and roads in Punjab have now been cleared. "The protesters created a lot of problems for the government and the public." Before the TLP, Pakistan had two Barelvi political groups: the Sunni Tehreek and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan. None of them was mainstream, explains Sabookh Syed, an Islamabad-based analyst who monitors such groups. "The JUP and Sunni Tehreek never fielded candidates all over the country but the TLP did in the last election." There is only one man who deserves credit for making TLP mainstream and that was Allama Rizvi, said Syed, as per Samaa TV. Of course, every religious group tried to erect Mumtaz Qadri, the executed assassin of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, as their symbol but they all failed where Rizvi succeeded. "He had a charismatic personality and an aggressive unique style of delivering sermons that made him the centre of attraction." Syed said in his opinion it would be an uphill task for his son to mimic such style and aggression and the party could lose support in the next elections. Saad Rizvi, Allama Rizvi's 26-year-old son, was chosen to lead the party by its 18-member shura. He has been active in the party for the past few years, serving as its Deputy Secretary General. He used to stay in touch with reporters and made the party presence felt on social media, the report said. According to his friend Salman, Saad is a student of Darja-e-Aaliya of Dars-e-Nizami. He is studying at his father's Abuzar Ghaffari seminary. "He is a smart man with a deep interest in books," said Salman. "Unlike other madrassa students, Saad knows the importance of social media and used it to spread his father's message." The TLP and its members had accounts on Facebook but they knew nothing about Twitter, said Salman. Saad knew that the microblogging site was a very important platform and believed that the party should have a presence on it because the mainstream media wasn't giving them coverage, the report added. "He visited several madrassas and explained Twitter and its use to the students," his friend said. "Now, you can see TLP trends on Twitter." The report said Saad is popular among young party workers and also worked as a bridge between them and Allama Rizvi, according to his friend. A delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs will meet officials in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, the party said. The delegation will include parliamentarians Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Pratima Mondal and Santanu Sen. They are scheduled to reach the of India (ECI) office at 3.30 pm. The meeting will happen days after the poll body barred TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours. She had on Tuesday sat on a 3.5-hour-long dharna against the poll panel's decision. On Monday, shortly after the barred Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours, her party alleged the poll panel was behaving like a "wing of the BJP" and its decision smacks of authoritarianism. (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.) Florida TV reporter Jay OBrien was midway through a Facebook Live broadcast on Monday night about a senior housing complex when a meteor suddenly shot across the sky. Oh my gosh, what is that in the sky? Woah! Okay. Big piece of flash in the sky just then, he said. I dont know if you saw that. Possibly a piece of space junk burning up in orbit? Sometimes they look like that. Ill ask around and figure out what that was. That was startling," the CBS12 reporter added during the broadcast before carrying with his initial story. The meteor rocketed towards earth around 10pm on Monday night. What looked like a fireball streaking across the sky was captured by dashcam and security cameras which were later shared on social media by residents from West Palm Beach to Miami. Nasa describes asteroids as "small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. A meteor takes shape when a meteoroid, which is a smaller chunk of an asteroid or comet, burns up as it enters the atmosphere of the Earth. This is the fireball seen in the sky. Some speculated that the glowing ball of fire seen on Monday night was an asteroid called 2021 GW4, which was expected to pass close to Earth around that same time. EarthSky.org wrote on Sunday that 2021 GW4 would "pass extremely close to Earth" on Monday. They added that it would pass just 12,313 miles from Earth and that it was travelling at a speed of 18,706 miles per hour or 8.36 kilometres per second relative to Earth. Florida meteorologist Zach Covey noted on Twitter that if the fireball in the sky on Monday was 2021 GW4, it passed much closer to our planet than was originally estimated. He tweeted that the space rock made its closest approach of 9,300 miles, much closer than the expected 16,000-mile approach forecast. This explains the fireball. To put this in perspective, most close approach asteroids are between 1 and 3 millions million from Earth. 16,000 is an extreme approach. Earth's atmosphere runs roughly 6,200 miles up. Its possible that this asteroid survived a brush by and didnt break up upon close entry, Mr Covey wrote. San Clemente Moves Toward Leaving Toll Road Agency San Clemente is preparing to withdraw from the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) in the midst of an ongoing three year-lawsuit over disagreements about a toll road built in the city. City council took its first step April 6, voting 4-1 to leave the joint powers authority (JPA) that forms the TCA. The split could come as a result of a perceived lack of representation on the board, and disagreements about building a toll road in San Clemente. Its time for someone to say that this is over, Mayor Kathleen Ward said during the meeting. Council also moved to confirm with the TCA that the city has no financial commitment to the collection of TCA fees and to waive a 120-day requirement of notice for San Clementes withdrawal during its council meeting. This would allow them to leave the board as early as July 1. Were treated as second class citizens on the TCA board, Mayor Pro Tem Gene James told council during the meeting. James said that the city has contributed $55 million to TCA, while Rancho Santa Margarita has contributed $1.4 million, and that both him and Ward have been prevented from sitting on a committee. The grand jury last year reported that really the TCA board doesnt make decisions, he said. Decisions are made in committee. An Orange County Grand Jury report published last June said the TCAs missions leading to their founding have essentially been accomplished and said the agencies should focus on paying off their debts and disbanding. They havent built a road in more than 20 years. That sounds like theyve completed their mandate, James told The Epoch Times in December. It needs to pay off its debt, take the tolls off the roads, and go out of business. The TCAs board of directors is composed of elected officials from 18 local cities and the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The two agencies in the TCA are comprised of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency. James and Ward sit on the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency board, which James said is in name only, as the citys voices havent been enough to influence the TCAs actions. He said in some cases San Clementes representatives are outvoted 20 to 2 on the TCA board. I enthusiastically think that withdrawing from the TCA, beginning that process tonight, is a great thing for the city. Ward said San Clemente doesnt need a toll road, and thus doesnt need to be part of the TCA. If we do stay in, its pretty much agreeing that theres still more to be done, and that were a willing participant in their decisions, she said. I think that what has happened in the last seven years, certainly, we have not been a willing participant in what has happened. Im not concerned about not having a seat at the table, because I feel like San Clemente just doesnt have one. One concern from the council was TCAs general fiscal management, as the agencies are $4.5 billion in debt. TCA chief executive Samuel Johnson told The Epoch Times in December that although the agencies are in debt, its like borrowing money to purchase a houseits a normal and expected part of building the toll roads. Its like having a mortgage on your house and making every payment on time; it doesnt show fiscal irresponsibility, he said. TCA is financially strong, and this is indicated by the credit ratings we get from three nationally acclaimed firms from Wall Street that do this work, he said. I know San Clemente has some heartburn, but if they look at their neighbors, in neighboring cities, who all sit on this board, I think there are some perspectives to be had here. Im big on consensus-building. Were just figuring out how to have, I guess, civil discourse. As you can imagine, weve got different policymakers, elected officials, and sometimes theres going to be disagreements, and thats fine. But working through those disagreements is where the strength of an agency really shows. With a board as diverse as ours, in terms of 18 member cities and three county supervisory districts, you can imagine that personalities play a role in that as well. Another concern were the development fees imposed by the TCA on San Clementes taxpayers following its decision not to build a toll road. Councilmember Chris Duncan told The Epoch Times in December, I think it would be best for taxpayers and South Orange County if it wound down and went away, because while it still exists, we still continue to have our property taxes affected by the development impact fees. San Clementes departure from the TCA would mean the TCA would not be able to collect developer fees for future construction from the citys residents. The dispute started in 2016 when the TCA looked for ways to resolve traffic congestion in southern Orange County and decided upon a SR241 extension, called Alignment 14, which would extend through San Clemente. The city previously opposed the project because the road would be built on protected conservancy areas. The TCA agreed to disband the project. However, San Clemente officials say the TCA left a loophole that could allow the TCA to resume the project in the future. City officials wanted a written guarantee that the project would be disbanded, not just TCAs word, and launched a lawsuit against the TCA in 2017. Senate Bill 1373, proposed by Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) would have guaranteed Alignment 14s death. However, the TCA opposed the bill. Councilmember Laura Ferguson, the only dissenting vote, said she was concerned that the city should maintain their current relationship with the TCA in order to monitor and protect our community, open space, businesses, and the residents. We need a voice, Ferguson said. Without a voice, were silenced. Phuket infections rise, but symptoms only mild, as tourism takes a hit PHUKET: As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections in Phuket continues to rise, provincial health officials have pointed out that so far all of the people infected in the latest outbreak are experiencing only light symptoms of infection. COVID-19Coronavirushealthtourismeconomics By The Phuket News Wednesday 14 April 2021, 01:13PM The PPHO map sowing the infection locations of 82 cases on the island. Image: PPHO The PPHO issued a warning for people on an Asia flight to Phuket on Apr 7. Image: PPHO During a live video broadcast led by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew this morning (Apr 14), Patong Hospital Director Dr Muenphrae Boonlom confirmed that the current number of confirmed cases stood at 98 people infected. At this stage, 98 cases have been confirmed as infected, but they all have only light symptoms, said Dr Muenphrae, was Acting Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) until the new PPHO Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon arrived in Phuket on Mar 8. For those who are high-risk by having close contact with the cases, please give good cooperation with medical staff. If they ask you to quarantine, please do so, she added. Those who want to be tested must really have been involved in risk activities with those who have been confirmed positive. You can come to take a test at every hospital on the island. All tests are free at government hospitals, but there may be some cost at the private hospitals, Dr Muenphrae said. Dr Chalermpong Sakontapol, Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, the main government hospital on the island, this morning repeated that more vaccine doses were on their way to resume the mass-vaccination efforts in the hope of reopening the island to international tourists on July 1. I expect that this month we will receive 100,000 more doses of the Sinovac vaccine, which will be provided as the second jab for the first 100,000 people vaccinated, he said. In May, we will receive 200,000 doses of Sinovac for the second 100,000 people. In June, we will receive 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the third 100,000 people, he added. For now, we have about 6,000 doses in store, which will be provided to monks and those who are sensitive with chronic diseases, he noted. More vaccine doses will come later for us to vaccinate 70% of the people on the island, Dr Chalermpong added. TOP 5 THINGS TO KNOW Governor Narong explained he saw a post on Facebook presenting a summary by Dr Prasit Watanapa, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, which he believed highlighted the top five things people should know about the current outbreak. First, for this outbreak, it is easy to be infected and not show any symptoms, and the virus can spread far, Governor Narong said. Governor Narong noted that the post marked, There is no need to think about which type of virus or stain. Dr Chalermpong disagreed. I think we need to think about the type of virus. As right now we are facing the English type [B117], which can spread faster than the previous Chinese one, he said. Of note, one report by the PPHO confirmed that one Thai man (Case 79) had become infected after sitting down to eat with one person who had contracted the virus in Bangkok. Caes 79 was confirmed as infected six days later. Noting Dr Chalermpongs response, Governor Narong continued, Vaccine cant protect you from infection, but lighten the symptoms." Dr Chalermpong responded, This is kind of true. For the Sinovac vaccine, it can only provide 50-60% protection from the virus, but it is 80% for alleviating serious symptoms, and is 100% effective in preventing death from the virus." Governor Narong continued, "4. Those who are infected can get well by themselves if they are healthy. Dr Chalermpong again responded: This is partly true. You can get well by yourselves, but if you are heavily infected, you may need medication to assist your respiratory system. Concluding with the posts fifth point, Governor Narong noted, 5. Wear a face mask, keep social distancing and regularly cleanse your hands, because most people who are infected are unaware that they are presenting the risk of infecting other people. Thats certainly true, Dr Chalermpong agreed. TOURISM TAKES A HIT Calling in to join the broadcast press conference this morning was Phuket Tourist Association President Bhummikitti Raktaengam, who reported the effect the current outbreak has had on Phukets tourism industry so far. From our research [by the PTA], 15% of tourists had cancelled their trip to Phuket, while 30% of tourists only postponed their trip to June or July, Mr Bhummikitti said. "Compared with April last year, this year is much better than last year," he added. Of note, Phuket went into a two-week tambon lockdown on Apr 13 last year, under which people were not permitted to leave their subdistrict without express, urgent matters to attend to. Phuket was the only province in the country where a tambon lockdown was enforced, though people on Koh Lanta were also not permitted to leave their district during their lockdown. "Yesterday, I went to investigate areas on the island and found that it was quiet in the city but crowded at tourist attractions like Promthep Cape," Mr Bhummikitti said. However, Dr Chayanon Pucharoen, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at PSU Phukets Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, pointed out the drastic impact the current outbreak has had on the islands ability to generate income for the resident population. in the best case, we expect that B23 billion in income will be generated in April. The income can be considered as B5,162 per registered capita, he said. But as a result of the outbreak, we have to calculate the new number, as 45% of tourists have changed their trips. So its only B2,800 per registered capita. The number is nearer the poverty line, he added. FLIGHT ALERT Meanwhile, the PPHO has issued a warning for all people who were on AirAsia flight FD 3011, from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok to Phuket on Apr 7 that they may be at risk of being infected. The warning noted that people seated in the vicinity of seats 8-12 might be at high risk, the warning noted. The warning also noted that people near seats 4-8 on AirAsia flight FD 3446, from Chiang Mai to Don Mueang International Airport, on Apr 3, may also be at risk of infection. May you take a risk assessment at a convenient public service near your home, the warning said. The PPHO today released a revised map showing the spread of 98 infections across the island. According to the report, Cherng Talay is the only subdistricts on the island that remain free from any COVID-19 infections. The map shows the number of infections in each subdistrict in Phuket as follows: Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global hard seltzer market size is expected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 16.2%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to experience substantial growth during the forecast period owing to the growing popularity of low content alcoholic beverages among the millennials in the developed economies including the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Furthermore, strong marketing campaigns by alcoholic drinks companies on such products is expected to have a positive impact on the industry. Products launched have played a crucial role in the growing penetration of hard seltzer. In June 2020, Tesco announced to launch dedicated hard seltzer. It will be distributed by Mark Anthony Brands. The launch makes a significant milestone for the category in the U.K. that has been turning into a hotspot for hard seltzer manufacturers. In November 2019, AB InBevs launched Mikes Hard Sparkling Water in the U.K. The increasing demand for the product in the country is attributed to the increasing demand for healthier products with low calorie and sugar and clean labels which are still luxurious. Similarly, in June 2020, Smirnoff Seltzer also entered the U.K. through various off-trade channels. The product is available in two flavors in the country including Smirnoff Seltzer Orange and Grapefruit, and Smirnoff Seltzer Raspberry and Rhubarb. The product is available in 250ml cans with ABV content of 4.7% and is priced at GBP 1.8 per can. Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/hard-seltzer-market Australia has been evolving as another major center for the industry. Along with White Claw, Carlton and United Breweries launched Actual Vodka Seltzer in the country in May 2020, in two flavors including pure and lime. The drink contains 4.2% ABV and 100.0% natural ingredients. Hard Seltzer Market Report Highlights Hard seltzer with 1.0% to 4.9% ABV content is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast years with a CAGR of 16.6% from 2020 to 2027. Low ABV content of such products is expected to attract health-conscious consumers over the next few years On-trade is expected to register the fastest growth during forecast years with a CAGR of 16.5% from 2020 to 2027. An increasing number of consumers drinking hard seltzers in bars and restaurants is creating the rising opportunity Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth during forecast years with a CAGR of 17.0% from 2020 to 2027. A large number of manufacturers focusing on the Australian market is playing a crucial role in the growth of the market North America dominated the market by contributing over 70.0% in the global revenue in 2019. The wide penetration of the product in the U.S., Canada, and Brazil is acting as a catalyst in creating dominance. Hard Seltzer Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global hard seltzer market on the basis of ABV content, distribution channel, and region: Hard Seltzer ABV Content Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) 1.0% to 4.9% 5.0% to 6.9% Others Hard Seltzer Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) On-trade Off-trade His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has ordered the payment of bonuses totalling over AED14 million ($3.81 million) to citizens whose taxi number plates are used by the Dubai Taxi Corporation and Taxi Franchise Companies. Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will begin distributing the 2020 bonuses to owners of 2,833 taxi number plates in addition to their annual dues during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, thanked Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, for his generous gesture, a WAM report said. "This bonus is one of several of His Highnesss gestures during Ramadan to enhance the welfare of citizens. The payments particularly reflect his keenness to support fixed income earners and disadvantaged families. Apart from enhancing their wellbeing and happiness, the initiative also contributes to boosting social solidarity," Al Tayer said.-- Tradearabia News Service A Taiwanese man came up with an ingenious of getting extended paid leave from work: he got married four times and divorced three times in just 37 days. According to Taiwanese law, a person has the right to 8 days paid work leave when they get married, which is exactly what one unnamed clerk received when he got married last year, on April 6th. Only that was only meant as the beginning of an extended paid leave, for which the hero of our story had prepared in advance. On the last day of his 8-day leave, the man divorced his wife, only to marry her again the next day and ask for another paid leave, to which he felt he was entitled to, by law. He went on to marry the same woman four times, and divorce her three times in 37 days, for a total of 32 days of paid leave. Photo: Olivia Bauso/Unsplash But before you even thinking off pulling off a similar stunt, you should know that things didnt go as smoothly as the protagonist of this story had hoped. Because he divorced and then married the same woman the next day, the bank he worked at figured out what he was trying to do, so it refused to grant him another eight days of paid leave. That didnt sit too well with our hero After going ahead with his original plan, the bank clerk filed a complaint against his employer at the Taipei City Labor Bureau, accusing the bank of breaking the law by not abiding Article 2 of the Labor Leave Rules. It states that employees are entitled to 8 days of paid leave when they get married, and since he had gotten married 4 times, he should have received 32 days of paid leave. The Labor Bureau launched an investigation into the matter reported by the clerk, and ruled that the bank had indeed violated the Labor Law. The employer was fined NT$20,000 ($700) in October of last year, but an appeal was launched, in which it claimed that its employees malicious abuse of marriage leave was not a legitimate cause of leave under the Labor Leave Rules. Photo: Bill Oxford/Unsplash On April 10, the Beishi Labor Bureau reluctantly upheld the previous ruling, arguing that while the bank clerks conduct was unethical, he had not broken the law. The bank, on the other hand, had violated Article 2 of the Labor Leave Rules The case went viral on social media, sparking a heated debate between people who couldnt believe such a loop hole existed in Taiwanese labor legislation, and those who accused the clerk of being unreasonable. Some actually confirmed that the law does allow anyone to pull of the same stunt as detailed above, but until last year, no one had actually done it. Hungarian airline Wizz Air and Kazakh airline FlyArystan will carry out regular flights from Georgia's western Kutaisi airport starting April and May, the Georgian Ministry of Economy said. Wizz Air will carry out the first flight on April 18 from Kutaisi to Warsaw and Vilnius, while from May it will add Riga and Dortmund flights as well. "From June 13 Wizz Air will gradually resume flights to 13 destination of the Europe," Agenda.ge cited the ministry as saying. In addition, from May Kazakhstan's low-cost airline company FlyArystan will start operations on the Georgian market. Aktau, Atyrau and Nur-Sultan are the three new flight destinations that FlyArystan will perform from Kutaisi airport. The flights per each direction will be carried out from May 2 two times a week. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-13 02:50:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A medical worker administers a dose of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to a resident in Mohammedia, Morocco, on April 13, 2021. Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 502,277 on Monday as 175 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. (Photo by Chadi/Xinhua) RABAT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 502,277 on Monday as 175 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, the death toll rose to 8,909 with nine new fatalities during the last 24 hours, while 424 people are in intensive care units. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 488,632 after 271 new ones were added, the statement said. The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 percent while the recovery rate is 97.3 percent. Meanwhile, 4,486,628 people have received so far the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, and 4,148,610 people have received the second dose. The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Enditem Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG) (TSX: FR) (FSE: FMV) ("First Majestic" or the "Company") announces that total production in the first quarter of 2021 from the Company's three producing operations in Mexico, the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine and the La Encantada Silver Mine, reached 4.5 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 2.9 million ounces of silver and 23,873 ounces of gold. The Company's financial results for the first quarter of 2021 are scheduled to be released on Thursday, May 6, 2021. FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS Total production: The Company produced 4.5 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 2.9 million ounces of silver and 23,873 ounces of gold, representing a decrease of 16% and 9%, respectively, compared to the Company's record setting production in the previous quarter. LNG power starts on-schedule: The Liquid Natural Gas ("LNG") facility at Santa Elena successfully completed all commissioning activities during the quarter. At quarter end, the LNG power plant was supplying approximately 85% of power requirements to the Santa Elena operation. Ermitano activities advance: Underground development activities at the Ermitano project near Santa Elena advanced another 1,453 metres during the quarter. The Company plans to start test stope mining in June and expects to extract between 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of material over the next six months. On surface, initial construction activities commenced for the access road which will connect the Santa Elena processing plant to the Ermitano portal area. Strong underground production at Santa Elena: Underground ore production and plant throughput rates at Santa Elena increased throughout the quarter and in the month of March exceeded budgeted levels for the first time in over a year. The strong production was achieved following multiple improvement initiatives enacted at the mine over the last nine months. In the month of March, underground mining produced 55,266 tonnes of ore, or approximately 1,783 tonnes per day, accounting for 41% of Santa Elena's total underground production in the entire quarter. 19 drill rigs active: The Company completed a total of 39,552 metres in exploration drilling, or approximately 21% of the 2021 exploration budget, across the Company's mines and projects during the quarter. At the end of the first quarter, a total of 19 exploration drill rigs were active consisting of 10 rigs at San Dimas, seven rigs at Santa Elena and two rigs at La Encantada. Accretive M&A transaction: As previously announced in a news release on March 12th, the Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Jerritt Canyon Mine located in Nevada, USA from Sprott Mining. The transaction is expected to close by the end of April, subject to meeting all applicable closing conditions. "After a record-setting previous quarter, silver production in the first quarter came in slightly below budget primarily due to lower average silver grades and an extreme cold weather event in the month of February which reduced milling rates at La Encantada," said Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO. "While the quarter was impacted by some uncontrollable factors, site operations made some significant achievements during the quarter. At Santa Elena, underground ore production reached the highest quarterly rate in over a year following numerous operational improvements over the past nine months and resulted in an 8% increase in silver production compared to the previous quarter. In addition, Santa Elena's new 12.4MW LNG power plant was successfully commissioned at the end of the quarter and began feeding low-cost, clean energy into the Santa Elena electrical power grid. Finally, San Dimas continues to benefit from strong mine development rates and produced over 2.9 million silver equivalent ounces." PRODUCTION TABLE Q1 Q1 Y/Y Q4 Q/Q 2021 2020 Change 2020 Change Ore processed/tonnes milled 614,245 599,142 3% 625,332 -2% Silver ounces produced 2,908,024 3,151,980 -8% 3,452,959 -16% Gold ounces produced 23,873 32,202 -26% 26,343 -9% Silver equivalent ounces produced 4,540,296 6,195,057 -27% 5,477,492 -17% QUARTERLY REVIEW Total ore processed during the quarter at the Company's mines amounted to 614,245 tonnes, representing a 2% decrease compared to the previous quarter. The decrease in tonnes processed was primarily due to a severe winter ice storm in the month of February which temporarily reduced plant throughput rates at La Encantada offset by improved underground ore deliveries and plant production rates at Santa Elena. Consolidated silver and gold grades in the quarter averaged 166 g/t and 1.26 g/t, respectively, compared to 194 g/t and 1.37 g/t, respectively, in the previous quarter. The decrease in consolidated grades was primarily due to lower ore grades at the La Encantada and San Dimas mines. Consolidated silver and gold recoveries were consistent averaging 89% and 96%, respectively, during the quarter. MINE BY MINE PRODUCTION TABLE To view an enhanced version of this table, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1475/80372_fmtable2enhanced.jpg *Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences. *The following prices were used in the calculation of silver equivalent ounces: Silver: $26.26 per ounce, Gold: $1,794 per ounce. At the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine: San Dimas produced 1,716,143 ounces of silver and 17,448 ounces of gold representing a decrease of 12% and 13%, respectively, compared to the prior quarter for total production of 2,910,946 silver equivalent ounces. The mill processed a total of 199,466 tonnes with average silver and gold grades of 285 g/t and 2.83 g/t, respectively. Increased ore development rates and lower ore grade from development activities resulted in lower average ore grades processed in the plant. Silver and gold recoveries during the quarter averaged 94% and 96%, respectively. The Central Block and Sinaloa Graben areas contributed approximately 79% and 16%, respectively, of the total production during the quarter. In addition, the Tayoltita and El Cristo areas contributed approximately 4% of total production in the quarter as these additional areas are being brought into production. A total of 10 underground drill rigs were active at the end of the quarter. At the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine: During the quarter, Santa Elena produced 453,528 ounces of silver and 6,327 ounces of gold representing an increase of 8% and 1%, respectively, compared to the prior quarter for total production of 884,332 silver equivalent ounces. The mill processed a total of 185,358 tonnes consisting of 122,401 tonnes of underground ore and 62,957 tonnes from the above ground heap leach pad. Production rates returned to higher operating levels following multiple improvements made in mining methods and increased production at the Main, Alejandra Bajo and America veins. At the end of the quarter, mining and milling rates were above budget levels for the first time in over a year as a result of progress made in improving underground infrastructure, development and haulage rates compared to the previous nine months. Underground ore production in March totaled 55,266 tonnes compared to 34,379 tonnes in January and 43,809 tonnes in February. Silver and gold grades from underground ore averaged 106 g/t and 1.37 g/t, respectively, while silver and gold grades from the above ground heap leach pad averaged 35 g/t and 0.61 g/t, respectively. Silver and gold recoveries were consistent and averaged 93% and 96%, respectively, during the quarter. Final commissioning procedures of Santa Elena's new LNG power plant were completed in February with all seven LNG generators pre-commissioned and achieving designed power capacity. At the end of the quarter, the LNG power plant was supplying approximately 85% of the power requirements to the Santa Elena operation. In the weeks ahead, the LNG plant is expected to ramp-up to full capacity. At the Ermitano project near Santa Elena, the Company completed approximately 1,453 metres of underground development during the quarter. Procurement activities for Ermitano's underground mining and drilling fleet continued in March with the purchase order of a scoop tram, low-profile truck and underground drilling machine. This equipment is expected to be delivered by the end of the third quarter in advance of planned production ramp-up. On surface, fauna and flora clearance in preparation for constructing the main access roadway between the processing plant and the portal area was approximately 70% complete at the end of the quarter. Furthermore, contractor selection and major earthmoving actions are expected to commence in the second quarter. The Company is also expected to begin underground test stope mining in the second quarter and plans to extract between 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of material over the next six months. A total of seven drill rigs, consisting of four surface rigs and three underground rigs, were active at the end of the quarter. At the La Encantada Silver Mine : During the quarter, La Encantada processed 229,421 tonnes of ore and produced 738,354 ounces of silver, representing a 32% decrease in ounces compared to the prior quarter. During the month of February, the operation experienced a severe winter ice storm which elevated maintenance levels and temporarily reduced plant throughput rates. Silver grades and recoveries during the quarter averaged 131 g/t and 77%, respectively. During the quarter, the Company transitioned underground mine production from the high-grade portion of the La Prieta caving area into the 660 orebody, Milagros and La Fe areas. Additional draw points were completed in these areas towards the end of March which are expected to allow ore grades to return to budget levels in the second quarter. The mill modernization project advanced during the quarter with the completion of the factory acceptance test for the new scrubber. In addition, two thickener mechanisms are expected to be ready for installation by the end of the second quarter. Two underground drill rigs were active at the end of the quarter. Q1 EARNINGS AND DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT The Company is planning to release its first quarter 2021 unaudited financial results, and to announce its first quarter dividend payment, and shareholder record and payable dates on Thursday, May 6, 2021. ABOUT THE COMPANY First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver production in Mexico and is aggressively pursuing the development of its existing mineral property assets. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine and the La Encantada Silver Mine. Production from these mines are projected to be between 12.5 to 13.9 million silver ounces or 20.6 to 22.9 million silver equivalent ounces in 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact info@firstmajestic.com, visit our website at www.firstmajestic.com or call our toll-free number 1.866.529.2807. FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. "signed" Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; commercial mining operations; cash flow; budgets; the timing and amount of estimated future production; ore grades; recovery rates; mine plans and mine life; the future price of silver and other metals; costs of production; costs and timing of development at the Company's projects; closing of the acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon Mine and the timing thereof; equipment delivery; ramping up of the Company's LNG plant; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, guidance cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon guidance and forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as and if the property is developed, and in the case of measured and indicated mineral resources or proven and probable mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon Mine, including failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19, and any other pandemics on our operations and workforce, and the effects on global economies and society, risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business - Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, available on www.sedar.com, and Form 40-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although First Majestic 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. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80372 To understand President Joe Biden's challenge in taming a semiconductor shortage bedeviling automakers and other industries, consider a chip supplied by a U.S. firm for Hyundai Motor Co's new electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5. Production of the chip, a camera image sensor designed by On Semiconductor, begins at a factory in Italy, where raw silicon wafers are imprinted with complex circuitry. The wafers are then sent first to Taiwan for packaging and testing, then to Singapore for storage, then on to China for assembly into a camera unit, and finally to a Hyundai component supplier in Korea before reaching Hyundai's auto factories. ALSO READ: As Biden works to fix chips shortage, Intel promises help for automakers A shortage of that image sensor has led to the idling of Hyundai Motor's plant in South Korea, making it the latest automaker to suffer from global supply woes that crippled production at most automakers including General Motors Co and Ford Motors Co and Volkswagen. And the winding journey of the image sensor shows just how complicated it will be for the chip industry to both ramp up capacity to address the current shortage and re-invigorate U.S. chip manufacturing. U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday convened semiconductor industry executives in Washington to discuss solutions to the chip crisis, the latest move in a broader effort to bolster the domestic chip industry. Much of that money will likely go towards the construction of multi-billion-dollar advanced chip plants by Intel, Samsung and TSMC. But industry executives say addressing the broader supply chain is crucial, and the Biden administration faces complicated choices on which elements of it to subsidize. Trying to reconstruct an entire supply chain from upstream to downstream in a single given location just isnt a possibility," David Somo, senior vice president at ON Semiconductor, told Reuters. "It would be prohibitively expensive." The United States now only accounts for about 12% of worldwide semiconductor manufacturing capacity, down from 37% in 1990. More than 80% of global chip production now happens in Asia, according to industry data. ALSO READ: Apple facing supply shortage of upcoming high-end iPad displays 1,000 STEPS, 70 BORDERS Producing a single computer chip can involve more than 1,000 steps, 70 separate border crossings and a host of specialized companies, most of them in Asia and largely unknown to the public. The process starts with plate-size discs of raw silicon. At chip factories known as 'fabs,' circuits are etched into the silicon and built up on its surface through a series of complicated chemical processes. The next step - packaging - offers a good illustration of the supply chain challenges. Wafers emerge from fabs with hundreds or even thousands of fingernail-sized chips on each disc. They must be cut up into individual chips and put into a package. Traditionally that meant placing each chip onto a lead frame and soldering it to a circuit board. The entire assembly would then be packaged in a resin case to protect it. That process is very labor intensive, leading chip companies to outsource it decades ago to countries including Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and China. The packaging step itself has its own supply chain: South Korea's Haesung DS, for example, makes packaging components for automotive chips, exporting them to Malaysia or Thailand for customers including Infineon and NXP. These companies, or in some cases a sub-contractor, then assemble and package chips for automotive suppliers like Bosch and Continental, which in turn supply final products to automakers. ALSO READ: Acer sees global chip shortage gradually easing If they (the Biden administration) are going to be successful with this, they are going to have to help rebuild the package industry here in the United States," said Dick Otte, CEO of Promex, a California-based chip packaging firm. "Otherwise it is a waste of time. It is like building a car and not having a body to put on it." But newer chip packaging processes are far less labor intensive, leading some U.S. chipmakers to believe they can be brought back from abroad. In October, Minnesota-based chip foundry, SkyWater Technology took over a facility in Florida where it plans to build out advanced packaging lines. There's kind of an industry-wide agreement that all this needs to happen here, Thomas Sonderman, chief executive, SkyWater Technology, said. FASTER TURNAROUND Rebuilding the U.S. packaging industry would not only insulate chip companies and their customers from political risk, it could also help them break free of the long cycles involved in creating new chips, said Tony Levi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California. By doing more work locally, U.S. chip firms could create smaller manufacturing runs of chips more frequently, speeding innovation and potentially creating the capability to more quickly adjust to demand. Levi said that Arizona, Texas and New York where Intel, TSMC, Samsung and GlobalFoundries all have existing or planned facilities would be suited to cluster supply chain elements like packaging. What the U.S. is very good at is close collaboration between system design, product design and the manufacturing itself, Levi said. Still, it remains to be seen how the Biden Administration will balance the demands of the many sub-sectors of the chip industry. On top of that, some in the industry argue that the U.S. needs to support not only new cutting-edge fabs, but older technology too. It's the more mature chips that are in severe shortage, noted Tyson Tuttle, CEO of Austin-based silicon design firm, Silicon Labs. "We have a mismatch of capital in the semiconductor industry," he said, with too much of the money going to the most advanced technologies. E. Jan Vardaman, President at TechSearch International Inc, said the chip packaging industry has been under severe price pressure, leading to smaller margins than chip factories and chip design firms. "From a financial and economics point of view, it does not make sense for them to make a big investment." "Simply throwing money at this does not solve the problem. It is a more complex problem." On Monday, while I waited to appear at the Senate inquiry into media diversity in Parliament House, Canberra, Malcolm Turnbull was skewering News Corp with all the skills hes acquired in courts of law and houses of parliament. He was a tough act to follow. The former PM accused News Corp of everything from intimidation to terrorism and said theyd gone from being a traditional news organisation to a political party, adding: But a party with only one member. Former PM Malcolm Turnbull gives evidence at a Senate inquiry into media diversity, chaired by Sarah Hanson-Young. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen He was right, of course. But News Corps chilling effect on our public discourse and polity is only half the story. As I told the inquiry just hours later, another confronting issue, certainly for would-be publishers, is the duopoly that now dominates the news landscape in Australia. News Corp (59 per cent) and Nine Entertainment (23 per cent), owner of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, together own more than 80 per cent of the national print readership market. New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, lead author of the Timess 1619 Project, was paid $25,000 for an online Zoom lecture given to the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. Through a Freedom of Information request, the right-wing news outlet Campus Reform obtained documentation detailing Hannah-Joness terms of compensation for the February 19 lecture. Additionally, the documents revealed that Hannah-Jones was partnered with the Lavin Agency, a talent agency that is the worlds largest intellectual talent agency, representing leading thinkers for speaking engagements personal appearances, consulting, and endorsements, according to its website. Hannah-Joness relationship with the agency suggests she regularly schedules events and is paid for them. Nikole Hannah-Jones (Associacao Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo/Wikimedia Commons) Part of the agreement between Hannah-Jones and the University of Oregon dictated that the lecture, titled 1619 and the Legacy That Built a Nation, could not be recorded and redistributed. However, a promotional flyer advertised a discussion on the lasting legacy of Black enslavement on the nationspecifically, how Black Americans pushed for the democracy we have today. News of the lecture came days after Hulu announced that it partnered with production studio Lionsgate and billionaire Oprah Winfrey to create a docuseries based on the 1619 Project. In a statement, Hulu said the project was a landmark undertakingof the brutal racism that endures in so many aspects of American life today. When the 1619 Project was initially released in August 2019, Hannah-Joness lead essay declared that race was the primary division in society and black people were the sole progressive force in US history. She denounced the countrys revolutionary founding in 1776 and claimed that the United States truly began when the first African slaves were sold to English colonists in 1619. Racism, she said, runs in the very DNA of this country. Soon after the projects launch, the Times had turned 1619 into a marketable brand, and schools planned to adopt its lead arguments in their curriculums. The World Socialist Web Site intervened against the 1619 Project and exposed its reactionary politics and predication in historical falsification. However, the project remains a profitable venture for Hannah-Jones and the Times . Hannah Jones argues that the overriding social category in the world is race. But being paid $25,000 for a lecture she did not even physically attend is a privilege that separates her from the majority of African Americans in the United States, who are overwhelmingly members of the working class. What Hannah-Jones can make in one lecture is almost the same as a worker making $15 an hour takes home in a year after taxes. In a related development, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLM) co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors purchased four high-end properties in the US worth $3.2 million, according to a recent report in the New York Post. She was also seen with her spouse in the Bahamas, viewing property at an exclusive resort where celebrities such as Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake own homes. In 2016, Cullors married Janaya Khan, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, and purchased a $510,000 home in a Los Angeles suburb. Two years later, Cullors purchased a four-bedroom home for $590,000 in southern Los Angeles. Last year, Cullors and her spouse acquired a custom ranch in Georgia featuring a private hangar and community runway for small airplanes. In January, the pair got their hands on a $1.4 million homestead a short drive from Malibu, one of the most affluent communities in the US. The property was advertised as featuring bamboo floors and soaring ceilings, skylights and plenty of windows with canyon views. The 2,400-square-foot property includes a three-bedroom and two-bath main house and a separate one-bed/one-bath apartment for long-term guests. Just three weeks ago, Samaria Rice and Lisa Simpson, respective mothers of Tamir Rice and Richard Rishner, accused Cullors of profiting from the deaths of their children and other black people murdered by police. The pair criticized BLM for raising over $90 million in 2020 but doing little to help families impacted by police violence. Khan and Cullors created the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag in 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted for the killing of Trayvon Martin. Since then, BLM has promoted racialist politics and raised substantial sums of money from large corporations like Google, Amazon, and Facebook. After BLMs 2020 financial report was released, Cullors was accused of misappropriating funds by grassroots members of her organization. In response to the allegations, she claimed that there were misunderstandings about BLMs finances and that the organization was scraping for money in the past few years. If BLM truly was low on funds, Cullors purchasing luxury properties certainly did not help. The wealth and privilege of the leading proponents of racialism demonstrate the reactionary character of identity politics. It is entirely divorced from the real concerns and experiences of the working class. Fearful of a unified workers movement, the ruling class seeks to sow artificial racial divisions among workers through the promotion of identity politics. Additionally, middle class layers seeking a bigger slice of the pie see identity as a means of advancing their own wealth and social position. The American ruling class is terrified of the growth of a working-class movement. The fight against police violence, racism, and poverty can only be waged through the building of a socialist movement, independent of the capitalist parties, that unifies workers on their common class interests. The quiet crisis among African Americans: Pregnancy and childbirth are killing women at inexplicable rates Journii Perkins yawns as her grandmother Cheryl Givens-Perkins brushes sister Camille's hair as they get ready for church. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Three weeks after Cassaundra Lynn Perkins gave birth to premature twins, she returned to the hospital, feeling unwell. She phoned her mother from her hospital bed at 3:30 in the morning. Im just not feeling good, she said. Surely it was just another bout of the mysterious illness her daughter had been suffering from for most of her pregnancy, Cheryl Givens-Perkins thought as she rushed over to San Antonios North Central Baptist Hospital. When Givens-Perkins walked into the room, her 21-year-old daughter looked exhausted. She begged her mother to comb her hair. I need to get ready, she said. Please get my hair in order. She may have known she was dying, Givens-Perkins said. Cheryl Givens-Perkins prepares a breathing treatment for her grandson, Catreyal. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Givens-Perkins cares for her three grandchildren after her daughter Cassaundra Lynn Perkins died of an infection. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Left: Cheryl Givens-Perkins prepares a breathing treatment for her grandson, Catreyal. Right: Givens-Perkins is caring for three grandchildren after daughter Cassaundra Lynn Perkins died of an infection after childbirth. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Every year, around 700 women in the United States die as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications. As many as 60,000 expectant mothers suffer problems that come close to costing them their lives. America is one of the most developed nations in the world. Average life expectancy has been generally increasing over at least the last five decades, and deaths from illnesses that were once widely fatal, including polio, smallpox, tuberculosis and AIDS, are sharply falling. Yet when it comes to the natural process of childbearing, women in the U.S. die in much higher numbers than those in most developed nations, where maternal deaths are generally declining. A woman in the U.S., where the maternal death rate more than doubled between 1987 and 2013, is more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than in any country but Mexico among the 31 industrialized countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that reported data. There are various theories why persistent poverty, large numbers of women without adequate health insurance, risk factors related to stress and discrimination. All come together here in Texas, with a twist that has become one of Americas most confounding public health problems: African American women are dying of pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes here at stunningly high rates. The maternal death rate in Texas after 2010 reached levels not seen in other U.S. states, according to a report compiled for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, based on figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black women in Texas are dying at the highest rates of all. A 2016 joint report by the Texas Department of State Health Services Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force found that black mothers accounted for 11.4% of Texas births in 2011 and 2012, but 28.8% of pregnancy-related deaths. This is a crisis, said Marsha Jones, executive director of the Afiya Center, a Dallas-based nonprofit that has taken on the issue. In May, the center published its first report: We Cant Watch Black Women Die. Framed photos of Cassaundra in the family's living room. Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times Perkins, who already had a 2-year-old, worked at Great Clips salon and hoped to one day open her own salon. Her pregnancy with twins in 2014 was challenging. She was sick to where she could not keep anything down, Givens-Perkins said. Doctors said it was an infection. Then six months into her pregnancy, Perkins liver started to fail, and doctors decided to induce labor. The babies arrived on Aug. 13, 2014, each weighing about 2 pounds. They were rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit. Perkins was discharged from the hospital after three or four days. But something seemed wrong, her mother recalled: She was never 100%. Cheryl Givens-Perkins talks to her grandchildren before driving to church. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) With the help of one of her daughters, Cheryl Givens-Perkins takes her grandchildren to church. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Left: Cheryl Givens-Perkins talks to her grandchildren after loading them all in the car. Right: Cheryl Givens-Perkins takes her grandchildren to church. Cheryl Givens-Perkins prays at church. She cares for her three grandchildren after her daughter died of an infection just over a week after giving birth to twins. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Doctors and researchers are struggling to make sense of the rise in maternal mortality in Texas. There isnt a single thing that explains it, said Lisa Hollier, an obstetrician-gynecologist who heads the state-appointed Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force. There are so many different factors. The task force compared the health of a group of women who died during pregnancy, childbirth or in the immediate aftermath to those who survived in 2011 and 2012. Cardiac events, drug overdoses and disorders associated with hypertension were the leading causes of those maternal deaths, the task force found. Nationally, problems such as obesity, diabetes , caesarean births and delayed prenatal care are among the risk factors commonly seen, Hollier said. Such factors are particularly prevalent among black women. So we have a population of women that is less healthy when they are entering pregnancy, Hollier said. Black women also had the highest rate of being hospitalized for hemorrhaging and blood transfusions, which are commonly seen in maternal deaths in Texas. Texas has the largest number of uninsured people in the U.S., and there have been substantial cuts to womens health programs that offer family planning and other routine services to low-income women, including screening for diabetes, hypertension and cervical cancer, which if left untreated could play a role in maternal deaths. Many of the dozens of clinics shuttered in recent years due to slashed state funding also offered prenatal care. In an ideal world, a woman would have the opportunity to have a visit with a physician before she becomes pregnant to identify any potential risk factors before she gets pregnant, said Hollier. Then a woman would enter prenatal in her first trimester. Unfortunately, African American women are the least likely to have that first trimester of prenatal care. Texas public health officials say they are concerned about the states high maternal mortality rate but they dont believe cuts to womens health clinics are to blame, noting that the decrease in funding did not take effect until after the increase in maternal mortality had been reported. Theres not any evidence that suggests a link, said Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Department of State Health Services. The timing doesnt really match up to demonstrate that theres any connection. Manda Hall, associate commissioner for community health improvement at the agency, said several initiatives are underway to address the maternal mortality crisis. They include a program that encourages women planning to become pregnant to make wholesome lifestyle choices and another targeting historically black academic institutions that offers training focused on preconception health, the importance of fathers, health disparities and reproductive life planning. Researchers say such programs might have an effect, but given that low-income white women fare better than black women, the causes may run deeper. Marsha Jones, founder and executive director of the Afiya Center in Dallas. Cooper Neill / For The Times Just being a black woman in America comes with its own level of stress, said Jones, the Afiya Center executive director. Some studies have shown that chronic stress triggered by racism and discrimination can lead to health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and these in turn can lead to preterm births, low birth weights and life-threatening complications. A 2009 study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine by researchers from USC and Harvard examined the differences in the self-reported racism experiences of U.S.-born and foreign-born black pregnant women, and found that chronic exposure to racial prejudice and discrimination could ... contribute to physiological wear and tear, thereby increasing health risk. African American women also say that healthcare professionals are often dismissive of their concerns if they are poor, have health problems or already have several children, said Deneen Robinson, a researcher and program director for the Afiya Center. We go into facilities and they speak condescendingly to us, Jones said. They rush us through the process. They downplay when we talk about what our symptoms are. In Perkins case, her mother recalls that health providers seemed to disapprove when her daughter got pregnant with the twins and was feeling sick. Oh, youre pregnant again, was the reaction of the first doctor they consulted, Givens-Perkins recalled. They think that were all just trying to get on the system and get what we can get. Shawn Thierry, a Democrat who represents Houstons 146th District in the Texas House of Representatives, says this is a common experience for African American women. A Caltrans contractor set up units to monitor ground movement along Highway 1. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Camille, 2, checks her hair in the mirror. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Catreyal gets around with the help of a wheeled walker. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) Top: Cheryl Givens-Perkins kisses her granddaughter Camille. Bottom left: Camille, 2, checks her hair in the mirror. Right: Catreyal gets around with the help of a wheeled walker. (Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times) We know there are instances where [African American mothers] are not given the proper level of attention and care because of assumptions that doctors and hospitals are making about them, she said. The bias we see it on all sides. Thierry has introduced legislation that would require an investigation into whether socioeconomic and educational backgrounds play a role when African American mothers die during pregnancy and childbirth. A little more than four years ago, Thierry almost died giving birth to her daughter after a routine epidural triggered a violent reaction. She felt excruciating pain, her heart began to race, and she was fighting for every breath, she said. Doctors performed an emergency C-section. Unlike many poor and minority women, she says, she had good health insurance that allowed her to remain in the hospital several days after giving birth. As for Perkins, who died three days after being readmitted to the hospital, doctors told her mother that an infection had killed her daughter. A preliminary autopsy report cited an accumulation of fluid in Perkins abdominal cavity and around her lungs and heart. It also said placental tissue had been retained in her uterus. One of her daughters helps Cheryl Givens-Perkins cares for her grandchildren. Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times Givens-Perkins was plagued with questions. Was that what proved fatal? Did it have anything to do with the illness she suffered during her pregnancy? Why was her daughter most often seen during her pregnancy by low-level medical practitioners, even when she was so frequently sick? (Hospital officials declined to comment for this article, citing patient privacy laws.) Baby Camille came home in time for Christmas 2014, almost four months after her birth. Her brother Catreyal was released the following month after several surgeries and near-death episodes. He remains physically and mentally impaired. While his sister is running and trying to form words, he cant walk or talk. Givens-Perkins is left to start another generation of child-rearing, this one much harder than the first. That first year was a year from pure hell, Givens-Perkins said. I didnt know what to do. I was calling people. Do they still boil bottles? I was sure a lot had changed. It was 20 years since I had had a baby. I had to relearn how to do this. Cheryl Givens-Perkins with granddaughters Journii, 4, and Camille, 2. Ilana Panich-Linsman / For The Times This story was reported with a grant from the United Nations Foundation. ann.simmons@latimes.com For more on global development news, see our Global Development Watch page, and follow me @AMSimmons1 on Twitter ALSO Black doulas, midwives and reproductive health advocates step up in response to rising black maternal deaths Looking for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl carried a heavy price, troops testify at his sentencing As monuments to the Confederacy are removed from public squares, new ones are quietly being erected Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 03:18:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy in Kosovo, Zahir Tanin, on Tuesday saw a strong desire for change in Kosovo expressed in the Feb. 14 elections. Against the challenges of COVID-19, early legislative elections were successfully held across Kosovo on Feb. 14. The winning party, Vetevendosje, received more than half of all votes cast, said Tanin, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. "Prior to the elections, during less than one year and a half, three separate governments held power in Kosovo. This fact alone helps to illustrate the amount of political turbulence which prevailed, and which made the results of February's vote all the more significant for the population," he told the Security Council in a briefing. An examination of the demographics of the vote revealed a strong desire for change across Kosovo society. The expectations expressed were for a shift in the responsiveness of a government to the real hopes and needs of its voters, for greater equality of opportunity, accountability, and the rule of law, he said. Kosovo's new government faces great opportunities, alongside great challenges. New Prime Minister Albin Kurti leads a strong majority government. He has foreshadowed a people-centered approach to governance, stressing the advancement of justice, addressing endemic corruption, and improving the social and economic outlook of all, said Tanin. "No less, this equates to an important opportunity to transform public narratives which have held hostage the aspirations of a new generation. Opening the door to the future, of course, requires a transformation, and changing the priorities which are reflected in both words and in deeds. Reducing tension also requires that ruling and opposition parties alike prove their capacity to cohere on wider interests," he said. At the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, Kosovo, a Serbian province dominated by ethnic Albanians, was placed under transitional UN administration by the Security Council. It declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Kosovo's independence is partially recognized by the international community. Enditem Police are on the hunt for a man who is reported to have performed sexual acts in front of passengers on inner-city Sydney buses. The man is believed to be linked to four separate incidents of sex acts on public transport since February. NSW Police have released CCTV footage of a man they would like to speak to. Credit:NSW Police Just after 2pm on February 5, the man performed a lewd act on a bus between Enmore and Redfern in front of a passenger before getting off on Cleveland Street, Redfern, police said. The matter was reported to police and officers from the police transport command started an investigation. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Albuquerque-based Hospice de la Luz has been acquired by the Texas-based medical company Jet Health Inc. Hospice de la Luz, 3812 Academy Parkway North NE, was founded in Albuquerque in 2005, according to the company website. In a prepared statement, majority owner Robert Metz said the company chose to join Jet Health because of its reputation for excellent clinical care and service under the Klarus brand. We wanted to join forces with a home health provider to expand our services and have an opportunity to grow, Metz said. Jet Health, which currently operates in four Western states including New Mexico, specializes in nursing care, medical social services, hospice and personal care services and physical, speech and occupational therapy, according to a news release from the company. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Hospice de la Luz is Jet Healths third hospice-related acquisition, and it furthers the companys strategy of adding hospice care in the markets it operates in, according to the release. By offering our home health patients a choice to remain in our care as they transition to hospice, we believe we can improve their continuity of care, comfort and overall satisfaction, said Jet Health CEO Stacie Bratcher. We are excited by the opportunity to better service our patients and referral sources throughout the Albuquerque marketplace. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Funding for the transaction was provided by SV Health Investors and Health Enterprise Partners, according to the release. LANSING, MI A former state of Michigan employee has been charged with embezzling more than $850,000 from an oil and gas drilling bond program. Joseph Pettit, 49, a former environmental quality analyst at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), is being charged with multiple counts related to a scheme to divert oil and gas bond funds, say prosecutors. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office announced charges against Pettit in Lansing District Court 54-A on Wednesday, April 14. This case is a reminder that my office treats it very seriously when anyone abuses the system for their own gain, Nessel said in a statement. I am grateful to EGLE for their cooperation and diligence in ensuring those who violate the public trust are held accountable and in working to ensure something like this never happens again. According to Nessels office, Pettit was responsible for releasing conformance bonds required for a fossil fuel drilling permit back to companies after a well changed hands. Pettit allegedly created fake vendors and diverted bond monies into his personal bank account. The Michigan State Police began investigating Pettit in September 2020 after EGLE leadership became aware of potential program discrepancies. Nessels office said Pettit embezzled more than $850,000 between 2018 and 2020, but suspected embezzlements between 2013 and 2016 cant be prosecuted because of the statute of limitations. Pettit worked at EGLE from 1996 until January of 2020. According to the Lansing State Journal, which reviewed the charging affidavit, Petitt is also accused of forging voucher requests to receive payment from the state treasury. He is charged with three counts of embezzlement $100,000 or more, four counts of a forgery-related crime called uttering and publishing, and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. Each embezzlement charge carries a potential 20-year prison sentence. Pettit is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, April 16. Our discovery of potential crimes was immediately referred to law enforcement, and we continue to provide them everything they need to ensure justice is done on behalf of the State of Michigan, said Liesl Clark, EGLE director. We are also doing everything we can to prevent this from occurring again, including strengthening internal financial controls to provide even greater checks and balances against fraud. Related stories: Nessel says office needs help with domestic terror cases Nessel charges man with running unlicensed foster care Trooper shoots armed man wanted for car theft Nessel: GOP witches remark could have consequences Lawyer accused of stealing $262K left for humane society International students learn Chinese history in English By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-04-14 16:47 International students from Shanghai University listened to a special Chinese history lecture with the content being taught in English. Themed around the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Peoples Republic of China, the lecture was hosted by Tao Feiya, a professor from the Department of History of Shanghai University. Tao lectured in fluent English, spurring sound interactions with the international youths. Celi Reyna Maria Fe and Ayesha Khan, who are pursuing doctoral degrees in the university, were among the listeners. This was not the first time they had learned about Chinese history. But they said this time they were clearer about the founding background of the party and the hardships the Chinese people paid in the revolution. Since they major in Global Studies, they believe the knowledge will help their study of world history. Ksenlla Svistunova, an undergraduate from Russia, is particularly interested in the influence of Russia in the founding of the CPC and New China. He had learned about the Russian version of Chinas history in Russia before, but this lecture in China allowed him to understand the relationship between the two from a different angle. New Delhi, April 14 : National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) on Wednesday said NSEL Investors' Forum (NIF) and its chief Sharad Saraf have tendered an unconditional apology in the Delhi High Court to 63 moons technologies and its founder Jignesh Shah and also agreed to withdraw the defamatory tweet and document maligning them. NIF and Saraf had published a defamatory tweet and document with the intention of smearing the name of Jignesh Shah and 63 moons, NSEL said in a statement. "Against this untrue propaganda and blatant lies, Jignesh Shah had filed a civil suit against Sharad Saraf seeking declaratory and injunctive relief." While the matter was pending, NSEL said that Saraf and NIF requested Shah to settle the matter. Insisting that the truth should be on the record, Shah demanded an unconditional apology and withdrawal of tweets and maligning documents, which was accepted by both NIF and Saraf. The NIF chief was also asked to apologise on a public forum, which he did through Twitter. Earlier this month, Ketan Shah, who heads NSEL Investors Action Group (NIAG) stood exposed when his petition got dismissed both in Bombay High Court and subsequently in the Supreme Court where he wanted to block payment to 6,445 small traders out of the 13,000 "questionable" traders of NSEL, the statement said. NSEL said the recent developments clearly established that truth cannot be suppressed perpetually. The NSEL payment default crisis was created, fuelled, and kept unsolved for eight years, while it was solvable in eight days, it said. "The trio of Ramesh Abhishek, K.P. Krishnan and P. Chidambaram engineered this crisis to eliminate 63 moons group from exchange space and thereby protect the monopoly of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The biggest ever stock exchange scam of co-location with Algo-trading, was going on in NSE since 2008 with the blessings of this trio and their cartel of brokers," NSEL alleged. The company said "the aggressor groups of NSEL Aggrieved and Recovery Association (NAARA), NIAG and NIF have misled the traders by promising them recovery by illegally attacking 63 moons and Jignesh Shah, instead of defaulters and brokers, where the legal rights of traders for recovery lie under the client-broker agreement". "These groups have misled investigations by the EOW, ED, CBI and SFIO to gratify P. Chidambaram, Ramesh Abhishek, and K.P. Krishnan and their cartel of brokers and defaulters, where the money trail is 100 per cent established, and who are the actual beneficiaries of crime," it added. NSEL said the barter taken for this can be unearthed if a detailed income tax (IT) and money laundering (PMLA) probe is done on Ketan Shah's and NIAG's accounts. "The exponential rise in the income of Ketan Shah post-2014 from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 16 crore coincides exactly with the time when he started trading the 'pain of traders' and masquerading as the messiah of traders. However, the naked truth is that he is the only one who opposed payment to small traders by filing a writ petition, which eventually Bombay High Court and also the Supreme Court dismissed," it pointed out. NSEL urged all genuine trader claimants and bonafide traders' groups to join hands with it to pursue recovery. "We also invite Sharad Saraf and NIF to join the recovery efforts of the Exchange and now do a truthful service to genuine traders, unlike NIAG and NAARA." NSEL has been striving to recover the default amount from the 22 defaulting entities, which has resulted in obtaining the decree of Rs 3,365 crore and crystallisation of liability by the High Court Committee to the tune of over Rs 900 crore, which is pending confirmation by the Bombay HC, and an injunction of Rs 4,515 crore. The company said it is confident that after eight years, the truth is getting firmly established and will finally be victorious also. Digital currency exchange Coinbase saw its value top 80billion on its stock market debut in New York last night. In one of the most exciting flotations for a decade, Coinbase shares were expected to open at $250 but instead started trading at $381 before reaching $429. That valued the company at 81billion, making it more valuable than all but four companies listed on the stock market in London and almost as big as Goldman Sachs. Cashing in: Coinbase Employees celebrate on Wall St as the digital currency exchange's value soars Shares drifted lower in later trading, closing at $328. The float has made its founders former Airbnb engineer Brian Armstrong and ex- Goldman Sachs trader Fred Ehrsam two of the world's richest men. It is understood Armstrong's stake is worth almost 11billion. Founded in 2012, Coinbase is the biggest company of its kind in the US and makes money by taking a small cut of the crypto-currencies traded on the platform by individuals and institutions. Armstrong, who is also chief executive, said: 'Hopefully Coinbase going public and having this direct listing is going to be viewed as kind of a landmark moment for the crypto space.' The exchange was used by Tesla in February when Elon Musk's firm snapped up 1billion in bitcoin. The float proves that crypto-currencies are now mainstream as bitcoin prices hit a record high of $64,800. Coinbase officially had 43m customers in 2020, with 2.8m making transactions monthly. Revenue more than doubled to 820million last year and it swung to a profit of 233million after losing tens of millions in 2019.But not everyone is convinced. David Trainer, chief executive at research firm New Constructs, said Coinbase has 'little-to-no-chance of meeting the future profit expectations that are baked into its ridiculously high valuation'. Some fear that the bitcoin volatility may affect crypto-currency business and that there could be a crackdown by regulators. Armstrong said regulation was 'right up there with cybersecurity' in posing a threat to the crypto-economy He said: 'We're very excited and happy to play by the rules. And basically, we just ask that, hey, we want to be treated on those level playing fields with traditional financial services at the very least, and not have any kind of punishment for being in the crypto space.' There are several lessons to be learned from the governments abysmal handling of Christine Holgate, the former chief executive officer of Australia Post. Perhaps the most important is that we have a Prime Minister who acts as if his government is not bound by laws and conventions. What is worse, the wider government increasingly acts as if the Prime Minister really is presidential. Former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate says shed love an apology from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Cartier watch affair erupted on October 22 last year when Morrison told Parliament he was appalled and shocked to learn of the disgraceful awarding of four watches to executives of Australia Post. He advised that there was to be an independent investigation and the chief executive has been instructed to stand aside and, if she doesnt wish to do that, she can go. As it turns out, the Prime Minister misled Parliament. Evidence provided this week to the Senate Estimates Committee both by the chairman of Australia Post, Lucio Di Bartolomeo, and by Holgate agreed on one matter: she was never stood aside. And the Prime Minister was wrong to think that a mere ministerial instruction was sufficient to effect this. Yes, the Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher, may issue instructions or directions to the Australian Post Board that are necessary in the public interest, but they have to be in writing, and they have to be tabled in each chamber of Parliament. Fletcher was never going to issue such a direction, especially because it might run afoul of employment laws. Overview April 27 10AM PT, 1PM ET Watch Now The U.S. has lost over $36B to benefits fraud since the start of the COVID crisis. Reliance on outdated benefit systems with understaffed agencies has created a perfect storm for fraud, waste and abuse. The American Rescue Plan Act was authorized in March 2021, providing $1.9T in state and federal spending to address the unprecedented number of state residents needing help with unemployment, food stamps, home energy and child care. Join Government Technology on April 27th at 10am PT/1pm ET, as we bring together thought leaders to discuss how technology can help state agencies address this crisis while improving the delivery of constituents benefits. Hear how technology can: Automate application reviews to allow staff to focus on the most suspect requests Make it easier for government systems to deliver benefit funds Improve program integrity so funds are delivered to those in need (Natural News) A volcano has erupted on the small Caribbean island of St. Vincent and is expected to continue erupting for weeks and months to come. The National Emergency Management Organization warns that the volcanic activity presents a substantial prospect of disaster. The volcano hasnt erupted since 1979. The Prime Minister of the island, Ralph Gonsalves, has ordered at least 20,000 island residents to evacuate from La Soufriere and all areas near the volcano. Thousands of people have no choice but to flee their homes as the volcanic activity worsens. Many refugees are heading to temporary shelters on the island, but not everyone will be rescued from the island Government officials from surrounding islands are refusing to take filthy undesirable refugees unless they can prove they were previously inoculated with the full series of experimental Covid-19 vaccines. The Prime Minister is warning the island refugees that they will not be allowed to board the rescue boats if they are unvaccinated. The total destruction of human dignity is now on full display, as government authorities conspire against the people in their most desperate time of need. The unvaccinated are being given a DEATH SENTENCE by democidal government authorities. Only the fully vaccinated will be rescued by the government Only the vaccinated will be allowed to board the governments rescue ships. Only the vaccinated will be officially allowed to enter the neighboring islands. The unvaccinated are being LEFT TO DIE on an island that is being overrun by lava and volcanic ash! Many refugees are seeking shelters on the island and will be vulnerable to the governments demands. This is a dark time in the history of the world, as democidal government authorities intentionally conspire against innocent people, forcing them to die in waves of volcanic ash all because they wont give their bodies over to medical experiments and vaccine industry coercion. Gonsalves reiterated the governments democidal position in an interview on NBC Radio. Approximately 10,805 residents of the island have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Because many of these people are not in full compliance with the current series of Covid-19 vaccines, they too will be barred from rescue. Only the fully vaccinated will be ferried off the island. Vaccine makers are currently developing booster shots for coronaviruses; the current two dose series will not be enough, as authorities continue to move the goalposts. Soon, the vaccine-compliant will be required to get seasonal mRNA vaccine updates in order to be considered fully vaccinated and accepted by society. This form of human slavery and mind control knows no boundaries, as populations are trained to perpetually submit to vaccine companies and beg tyrannical governments for their freedom. American cruise ships have been deployed As the governments of the Caribbean islands conspire against the unvaccinated, American cruise lines are allegedly sending ships to the island to rescue anyone they can, without inflicting human rights abuses, medical discrimination, and segregation that is quickly morphing into genocide. Carnival Legend and Carnival Paradise have been deployed to St. Vincent to rescue anyone, including all the unvaccinated people who have been wrongfully discriminated against. The Royal Caribbean deployed their Serenade of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises sent out their Celebrity Reflection to help out as well. There are conflicting reports at the moment, and some say that the unvaccinated arent being allowed on the cruise ships either. This current atrocity offers a glimpse to a genocidal medical apartheid, where innocent people are singled out, ostracized, and left to die if they do not obey authorities. This same dark precedent of segregation could also be used to deny the unvaccinated equal and adequate healthcare in a life-or-death situation. A two-tiered system of surveillance and discrimination is slowly being created to deny innocent people their basic human rights and dignity, while physically enslaving and mentally abusing those who do comply. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com Facebook.com WHO.int NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has turned to social media websites like Facebook to spread misinformation and propaganda regarding its genocidal campaign against the Muslim Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. According to a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), this campaign is being run by CCP officials with the help of state-owned media and pro-communist individuals. The ASPIs report showed that there has been a massive increase in accounts linked to Chinese state media and government officials on social media networks that push alternative narratives regarding the situation in Xinjiang. These accounts have found the most success in Facebook, where they can engage and reach an international audience. (Related: China imprisoning citizens for critical Twitter posts even though the website is banned in the Mainland.) The main tactic of the CCP and its social media accounts is to criticize and smear journalists and researchers working on topics related to Xinjiang. These accounts have even gone so far as to attack victims of the genocide against Uyghurs. The accounts have also focused on labeling Western media outlets and human rights organizations that talk about Xinjiang as not being independent, being led by anti-Chinese or Sinophobic actors or carrying out a smear campaign against the CCP. The content also emphasizes how Xinjiangs Uyghurs support the CCPs policies in the region. Pro-CCP accounts on social media are growing The ASPI analyzed 272,875 public Facebook posts between Jan. 2014 and Feb. 2021. The report also analyzed content on other social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok for hashtags related to Xinjiang. On Facebook, the pages of state-run media accounts such as CGTN, China Daily, the Global Times and the Peoples Daily were very successful. Their accounts were consistently in the top 10 accounts having the most likes regarding topics related to Xinjiang from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, CGTNs posts on Facebook that mentioned Xinjiang garnered more than 5.78 million likes. CGTN has been quickly expanding the number of reactions it receives for Xinjiang-related content. In 2018 its posts got 414,067 total likes, which ballooned to 2.9 million likes in 2019. The Peoples Dailys Facebook page garnered 183,040 likes total for all of its Facebook posts that mentioned Xinjiang in 2018. The pages likes on Xinjiang content increased to nearly 1.7 million in 2020. The report also found that, before 2019, the accounts of Chinese diplomats and state media only mentioned Xinjiang on Twitter and Facebook about 250 times or less. That number has grown rapidly since then. In 2020 these accounts mentioned the region more than 750 times a month. The ASPI believes the CCPs efforts to push its narrative online will escalate in 2021. Facebook says pro-CCP ads will stay, despite employee concerns Pro-CCP content denying the human rights abuses in Xinjiang has caught the attention of those working in these platforms. On Facebook, the companys employees have expressed their uneasiness regarding ads that platform the CCPs message regarding the unstable region. The concerns regarding the ads were first raised by an internal forum of employees who are also practicing Muslims. The staffers were concerned that the Facebook ads were helping Chinas global propaganda machine deny its human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The ads the employees have complained about show people saying their lives in Xinjiang have improved thanks to the CCP, and that Western nations are spreading propaganda to destabilize China. Its time our platform takes action to fight misinformation on the Uyghur genocide, wrote one employee, who tagged Facebooks Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. A Facebook spokesman told Insider that the company will not be taking down the ads. These ads do not violate our current policies, said the spokesman. Were monitoring reports of the situation in Xinjiang to help inform our approach and due diligence on this issue. Were committed to respecting human rights principles. Learn more about how the CCP uses social media websites to spread disinformation by reading the latest articles at Propaganda.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ASPI.org.au BusinessInsider.com.au FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Infusion Nurses Society has included the international Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) framework as a dedicated standard in its recently published 2021 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice . According to Parker Laboratories, this standardized approach for application of aseptic practices during vascular access procedures will reduce variability and improve patient safety, particularly when visualization technology like ultrasound is required to facilitate catheter placement. "The inclusion of ANTT shows that INS recognizes this approach to aseptic technique should be the basis for all clinical education regarding intravenous devices," said Neal Buchalter, president of Parker Laboratories, a worldwide leader in ultrasound products for more than 60 years. "As a company, we share this commitment. It's reflected in our development of products that make it easier for clinicians to adhere to proper aseptic technique, as well as partnerships with clinical leaders to raise awareness about the importance of ANTT." Parker Laboratories manufactures the UltraDrape Barrier and Securement Dressing, the first dressing designed specifically for use during ultrasound-guided peripheral IV (UGPIV) insertions. The company is currently sponsoring a continuing education course from PICC Excellence on the basics of ANTT. ANTT: Key Concepts (1 CE credit) will be available to clinicians for free until June 30, 2021. Read Back to the Basics with ANTT Best Practices by Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD in the latest issue of Healthcare Hygiene Magazine. ANTT is a unique, standardized approach to aseptic practice that has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce the incidence of healthcare acquired infections. The ANTT Clinical Practice Framework teaches clinicians a uniform process for infection prevention and is designed for use with all invasive proceduresfrom simple dressing changes to the insertion of vascular access devices, and even major surgery. "Aseptic technique is a critical clinical competency, and yet for so long there was not a universal, standardized way to apply it, or even teach it. This led to a lot of ambiguity and variability in clinical practice, which ultimately places patients at a greater risk of infection," said Stephen Rowley, MSc, BSc, RGN, RSCN, Clinical Director of the Association for Safe Aseptic Practice (ASAP) and co-author of the 2021 INS Standards. "It's not that ANTT is a radically different technique; what it does is better explain the principles, rules and process making it easier for clinicians to implement them into clinical practice more effectively," Rowley added. "For such an important clinical competency, the benefits of having a single standard frameworkand especially a common practice language used internationally are perhaps as profound as they are obvious." Rowley, who developed the ANTT Practice Framework in the mid-1990s, believes its inclusion in the INS Standards will "encourage an even broader adoption of ANTT and ultimately help improve the safety of all invasive medical procedures." The updated INS Standards also support the use of visualization technology to increase vascular access insertion success. For instance, ultrasound guidance is recommended for peripheral IV insertions in adults with difficult vascular access. This recommendation is supported by Level I evidence showing fewer insertion attempts and less reliance on more invasive central vascular access devices. Despite its benefits, the use of visualization technology may also carry some patient safety risks. For peripheral IVs, the presence of the ultrasound probe and gel at the sterile insertion site can lead to an increased risk of contamination if clinicians do not follow safety guidelines for the use of appropriate supplies (i.e. gel and probe protection). Proper aseptic technique is critical to reducing contamination that leads to a greater risk of infection during UGPIV procedures. To mitigate risks like these, the INS Standards recommend making ANTT awareness a key part of assessing clinician competency in the use of visualization technology for inserting vascular access devices. Unfortunately, research indicates that relatively few healthcare facilities in the United States have established a standardized process for maintaining ANTT during UGPIV procedures, according to Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, an internationally recognized expert in vascular access and CEO of PICC Excellence . A survey of vascular access and emergency department clinicians revealed significant levels of variation in UGPIV procedures and application of proper aseptic technique, even between departments within the same hospital. To standardize UGPIV practices, Dr. Moureau recommends the use of sterile protection products like the UltraDrape barrier dressing. This sterile barrier dressing facilitates aseptic technique for UGPIV insertions by separating the ultrasound probe and gel from the skin, resulting in a safer, gel-free insertion. "To increase adoption and standardization, ANTT and the procedure of UGPIV must be efficient, safe and cost-effective, and that is precisely what the UltraDrape dressing achieves," said Dr. Moureau. "By separating the gel and probe from the insertion site, UltraDrape standardizes the procedure in a way that makes it easier for clinicians to adhere to the principles of ANTT. This also eliminates the time-consuming post-procedure clean up, making UGPIV procedures safer, faster and less expensive." As INS's most recognized publication, the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice are revised and released every five years to provide clinicians with an evidence-based framework to develop infusion-based policies and procedures for all practice settings. A summary of the key changes in the 2021 Standards can be found here . About Parker Laboratories Parker Laboratories is a leading global medical products company that develops, manufactures and sells ultrasound and electromedical contact media, as well as leading lines of institutional cleaner and disinfectants. A worldwide leader in ultrasound medical products for the past 60 years, Parker Laboratories has been consistently at the forefront of technological advances in the industry. Its flagship product, Aquasonic 100 Ultrasound Transmission Gel, is the world standard for medical ultrasound. UltraDrape UGPIV Barrier and Securement is available through medical supply distributors or by contacting Parker Laboratories at (973) 276-9500 or visiting parkerlabs.com . Contact: Liz Dowling Dowling & Dennis PR 415-388-2794 [email protected] SOURCE Parker Laboratories Related Links http://www.parkerlabs.com New April 14 : Owing to the surge in Covid cases, Congress is likely to postpone elections for the post of party president, scheduled to be held after the results of elections in five states. The party leaders privately admitted that the time is not good for any congregation since the party has been critical of the BJP on the issue. Sources say the final decision may be taken during the CWC meet on Saturday which has been called for a discussion on the Covid situation in the country. The Congress Working Committee in January had decided that the party will go for organisational polls after elections in five states are over. It is not yet clear how the group of dissenters that pressed for elections in the party will react to the issue, but sources say that the infection rate is soaring and this cannot be ignored. The country witnessed more than 1,84000 new cases on Wednesday. General Secretary (Organisations) K.C. Venugopal had said on January 22 after a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting that the Congress will have an 'elected' party President by June. Venugopal had said then: "The CWC discussed the organisational elections slated to be held in May. But CWC members unanimously requested interim chief Sonia Gandhi that the party elections should not interfere with Assembly polls in several states in the coming months." The decision to hold the elections for the party presidentship was taken after group of leaders wrote to Sonia Gandhi and demanded for a more visible and permanent president for the party after Rahul Gandhi stepped down as president following the party's defeat in the 2019 general elections. The rift in the Congress between the dissenting leaders (G-23) and Team Rahul Gandhi was out in the open since the leaders met in solidarity with Ghulam Nabi Azad in February and the exclusion of these leaders from the Congress campaigners list in the five state elections. Though Manish Tewari was accommodated in the campaigning list, Azad, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal and Bhupinder Singh Hooda were left out. Ahead of the assembly polls in March, Anand Sharma made a statement after P.C. Chacko quit the party: "The Congress Party historically stood for internal discussion. Issues are debated in the long history of the Indian National Congress. Those who are aware during the freedom struggle know that there was many key leaders at the same time -- Mahatma Gandhi was there, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was there, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose...That tradition has continued. "In the Indian National Congress there are no two groups...in the Congress it is one Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi," Sharma had said. The Tri-States TRUSTED news source. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to Herald-Dispatch. Click #isupportlocal for more information on supporting our local journalists. Learn more about HD Media The United States Department of the Treasury is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo) Market participants this week staked out their positions on how to fix systemic risks in the $4.9 trillion U.S. money market fund industry, in what is shaping up to be the first big fight for U.S. President Joe Biden's financial regulators. After taxpayers bailed them out for the second time in 12 years during the pandemic-induced turmoil in March 2020, money market funds - a key source of short-term corporate and municipal funding - are facing a regulatory reckoning which could potentially change the industry beyond all recognition. Advertisement Monday was the deadline for submitting feedback to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on ideas the Treasury Department floated in December on ways to boost money market fund resilience amid market stress. [L1N2KA2BD] The industry on Monday disputed that money market funds were to blame for last year's turmoil in short-term funding markets, citing its own analysis, while conceding some changes were warranted. Advocacy groups, meanwhile, called for major reforms. "Without fundamental repairs, disorder will happen again," wrote http://4atmuz3ab8k0glu2m35oem99-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Systemic-Risk-Council-Comment-Letter-File-No.-S7-01-21.pdf the Systemic Risk Council, a think tank comprising former regulators, warning the implicit government guarantee the sector now enjoyed would drive "even bigger problems down the road." The Investment Company Institute (ICI), which represents the asset management industry, cautioned against hasty changes and said policymakers "should prioritize the examination of the activities and behavior of all market participants." An SEC spokeswoman did not immediately provide comment on the review. Because money market funds invest in high-quality short-term debt instruments and offer daily redemptions, investors generally expect immediate liquidity with little price volatility, and are easily spooked when those expectations are not met during market stress, according to the Treasury. As the pandemic shut down the economy in March 2020, investors pulled more than $130 billion from institutional investor "prime" and tax-exempt money market funds, contributing to stress in the short-term funding markets, it said. To calm fleeing investors and stem a broader crisis, the Treasury and Federal Reserve launched emergency liquidity facilities to backstop the market. The panic was reminiscent of 2008, when a run on money market funds threatened to freeze up global markets and prompted the government to backstop the sector. That bailout led the SEC in 2010 and 2014 to introduce rules aimed at reducing the risk of investor runs. But last March showed those changes were inadequate, said regulatory experts. Among the additional reforms floated by the Treasury were new liquidity and capital requirements, allowing fund boards more flexibility to charge for or suspend redemptions, and adjusting the fund's value in line with dealing activity to transfer costs to redeeming investors, known as "swing pricing." The ICI did endorse two measures: scrapping fixed thresholds for imposing redemption fees and suspensions, which it said intensified investor flight, and raising the proportion of a fund's weekly assets which must be liquid, currently 30%. The group said the Treasury's other ideas, many of which were dismissed during the SEC's previous review, would not help improve financial system resilience. Better Markets, a Washington-based advocacy group, however, warned policymakers not to again bow to industry resistance and to instead implement a combination of the Treasury's proposals. The group's legal director Stephen Hall said finishing the job of regulating the industry was "long overdue" and that he expected the SEC to issue proposed new rules soon. New Jersey health officials on Wednesday reported another 2,828 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and an additional 43 confirmed deaths a day after the state shelved the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine based on federal recommendations over rare blood clot concerns. In New Jersey, where we had administered just over 244,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine prior to hitting pause, no similar adverse effects have been reported, Gov. Phil Murphy said. Nor have there been from either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. He said the J&J pause has not caused the state to change its plan to open vaccination eligibility to all residents 16 and older on Monday. The states seven-day average for confirmed positive tests is now 3,078, down 14% from a week ago and roughly the same as a month ago. New Jerseys 71 hospitals reported 2,281 patients as of Tuesday night, 38 fewer people from a day earlier. Hospitalizations remain well below the recent high of 3,873 on Dec. 22. The states rate of transmission on Wednesday decreased again to 0.92 from 0.93 on Tuesday and 0.94 on Monday. It has dropped steadily from 1.07 on April 5. Any number over 1 indicates that the outbreak is growing, with each new case leading to at least one other case. A declining transmission rate means the spread is slowing. The positivity rate for tests conducted on Saturday, the most recent day available, was 11%. Positivity rates tend to be higher on weekends when fewer tests are conducted. The positivity rate for weekdays last week was just above 8%. In all, New Jersey has now reported 845,201 confirmed coronavirus cases out of more than 12.6 million PCR tests since the state reported its first case on March 4, 2020. There have also been more than 118,283 positive antigen tests. 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 million people has reported 25,006 have died from complications related to COVID-19 including 22,414 confirmed deaths and 2,592 fatalities considered probable. The probable deaths, which are revised weekly, increased by 19 on Wednesday. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause came after six women between the ages of 18 and 48 had potentially serious blood clots 6 to 13 days after vaccination. But Murphy said Tuesday people who already received the shot shouldnt panic and that there were no reports of serious side-effects from the more than 235,000 people in the state who have already received it. Murphy has counted on the Johnson & Johnson vaccines as being critical to hit his administrations goal of vaccinating 70% of the states eligible population by the end of June. Nearly 2.3 million people in New Jersey have been fully vaccinated. More than half of New Jerseys adults have received at least one vaccine dose. Murphy said he still believes the state will meet its vaccination goal despite the pause in J&J vaccinations. Even with this pause, our overall goal of vaccinating 4.7 million adult New Jerseyans by the end of June remains not only in place but also entirely achievable, Murphy said. As of today, doses of Johnson & Johnson have accounted for only about 4% of the more than 5.6 million total vaccine doses we have administered. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage VACCINATIONS BY COUNTY ATLANTIC COUNTY- 180,881 doses administered BERGEN COUNTY - 633,350 doses administered BURLINGTON COUNTY - 297,132 doses administered CAMDEN COUNTY - 333,355 doses administered CAPE MAY COUNTY - 73,741 doses administered CUMBERLAND COUNTY - 77,151 doses administered ESSEX COUNTY - 434,198 doses administered GLOUCESTER COUNTY - 201,156 doses administered HUDSON COUNTY - 337,906 doses administered HUNTERDON COUNTY - 80,202 doses administered MERCER COUNTY - 223,938 doses administered MIDDLESEX COUNTY - 489,022 doses administered MONMOUTH COUNTY - 414,947 doses administered MORRIS COUNTY - 395,037 doses administered OCEAN COUNTY - 337,628 doses administered PASSAIC COUNTY - 257,502 doses administered SALEM COUNTY - 34,912 doses administered SOMERSET COUNTY - 230,482 doses administered SUSSEX COUNTY - 86,898 doses administered UNKNOWN COUNTY - 20,821 doses administered WARREN COUNTY - 55,942 doses administered UNION COUNTY - 306,368 doses administered OUT OF STATE - 138,546 doses administered COUNTY-BY-COUNTY NUMBERS (sorted by most new cases) Essex County: 82,178 confirmed cases (322 new), 2,541 confirmed deaths (291 probable) Middlesex County: 81,654 confirmed cases (310 new), 2,006 confirmed deaths (245 probable) Bergen County: 84,796 confirmed cases (298 new), 2,480 confirmed deaths (294 probable) Monmouth County: 64,517 confirmed cases (242 new), 1,398 confirmed deaths (137 probable) Hudson County: 75,836 confirmed cases (231 new), 1,966 confirmed deaths (206 probable) Passaic County: 61,355 confirmed cases (207 new), 1,634 confirmed deaths (195 probable) Ocean County: 62,913 confirmed cases (174 new), 1,893 confirmed deaths (155 probable) Union County: 57,415 confirmed cases (165 new), 1,671 confirmed deaths (220 probable) Camden County: 45,534 confirmed cases (135 new), 1,142 confirmed deaths (98 probable) Morris County: 40,257 confirmed cases (109 new), 950 confirmed deaths (246 probable) Atlantic County: 23,587 confirmed cases (97 new), 601 confirmed deaths (35 probable) Burlington County: 36,230 confirmed cases (95 new), 749 confirmed deaths (67 probable) Somerset County: 22,971 confirmed cases (93 new), 708 confirmed deaths (105 probable) Gloucester County: 24,757 confirmed cases (85 new), 557 confirmed deaths (30 probable) Mercer County: 30,185 confirmed cases (57 new), 872 confirmed deaths (43 probable) Sussex County: 10,783 confirmed cases (51 new), 222 confirmed deaths (67 probable) Warren County: 8,197 confirmed cases (41 new), 204 confirmed deaths (25 probable) Hunterdon County: 8,254 confirmed cases (37 new), 117 confirmed deaths (54 probable) Cumberland County: 13,691 confirmed cases (25 new), 376 confirmed deaths (36 probable) Cape May County: 4,313 confirmed cases (19 new), 169 confirmed deaths (30 probable) Salem County: 5,017 confirmed cases (11 new), 158 confirmed deaths (13 probable) HOSPITALIZATIONS There were 2,281 patients hospitalized with confirmed (2,140) or suspected (141) COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys 71 hospitals as of Tuesday night 38 fewer than the previous night. That included 457 in critical or intensive care (two fewer than the night before), with 354 on ventilators (15 more). There were also 297 COVID-19 patients discharged Tuesday. By comparison, hospitalizations peaked at more than 8,300 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in April. SCHOOL CASES New Jersey has reported 240 in-school coronavirus outbreaks, which have resulted in 1,070 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 recently 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. But Murphy clarified that students and teachers who have health issues that could put them at greater risk of a serious coronavirus case will have a virtual option. 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 (22.9%), 18-29 (19.8%), 65-79 (10.4%), 5-17 (9.4%), 80 and older (4.6%) and 0-4 (1.9%). 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 (46.87%), followed by those 65-79 (32.89%), 50-64 (15.78%), 30-49 (4.05%), 18-29 (0.39%), 5-17 (0%) and 0-4 (0.03%). At least 7,989 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 225 facilities, resulting in 3,676 active cases among residents and 4,366 among staffers. Those numbers have been slowing as vaccinations continue at the facilities. GLOBAL NUMBERS As of Wednesday, there have been more than 137.6 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 2.9 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications. The U.S. has reported the most cases, at more than 31.3 million, and the most deaths, at more than 563,500. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 23:38:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and three others sustained injuries following an accident involving two trucks and a motorcycle in Nigeria's southwest region on Wednesday, a local official said. The two trucks had a head-on collision while the motorcycle was trapped in between them along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway linking the southern state of Ogun, said Olusola Ojuoro, a divisional head of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps. One of the trucks was on top speed, thereby losing control and hitting a moving motorcycle before having a head-on collision with the other, Olusola said. The two dead victims were trapped at the scene of the accident while the three injured victims were quickly rescued and taken to a hospital, he said. The police have launched further investigation into the incident, he added. Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads, and reckless driving. Enditem Apple has had a pretty good start to 2021. Back in January 2021, the company announced its first-ever $100 billion quarter. Apple has not announced a new product so far in 2021, but the drought is finally coming to an end as Apple has finally announced its April 20th Spring Loaded event. Below are all the products Apple could announce at its April 20 Spring Loaded event. When is the Spring Loaded event? Apples Spring Loaded event will kick-off at 10:00 AM PT, next Tuesday. It will be live-streamed from Apple Park. In case youre wondering how you can live-stream the event on your device, head over to this excellent guide where weve listed all the websites Apple will be live streaming the event to. So What Happened to the Rumored March Event? Apple was earlier expected to reveal its new products at an event on March 23rd. However, that did not happen, with Apple tipster Jon Prosser saying that the whole March 23 event rumor was a hoax. At that point, it seemed as if Apple had completely scrapped off the event and would announce new products via a press release. But now, the event has been confirmed, and the company has a whole list of products ready to be rolled out. These are the products and services Apple could announce at the April 20 event. What to Expect From Apples Spring Loaded April event 1. Mini-LED iPad Pro Apple is expected to announce its new iPad Pro with 12.9-inch mini-LED display and 5G connectivity. The new iPad Pro is expected to come with a thicker design to make space for the mini-LED display. It is also expected to feature a redesigned camera setup, similar to iPhone 12 Pro with a LiDAR sensor. Thanks to the increased thickness, the camera module may not protrude from the devices body this time. The new iPad Pro is also expected to feature an improved version of the already fast A14 Bionic chip reportedly the A14X Bionic. Interestingly, only the 12.9-inch variant is getting a display upgrade, according to the leaks, with rumors pointing that the 11-inch variant will still stick to the regular ProMotion LCD. The company is reportedly facing a shortage in supplies of the new iPad Pro, and it will be available in a limited supply after the launch. 2. AirTags After almost two years of speculation, Apple is finally expected to introduce its long due Tile-like competitor this month. The object tracker has leaked several times in the past year, from its pairing animation to even its third-party accessories. Apple was expected to roll out the device last year but was apparently delayed due to a lack of its first-party accessories. AirTags will enable users to track objects like wallets and keys through the Find My app on iOS and macOS. 3. Apple TV The last time Apple updated Apple TV was way back in 2017. To give a context of how long its been, it was the first time Apple introduced its new iPhone design with iPhone X. Apple TV is due for an update for a very long time, and an Apple TV with A12 Bionic, and even an A14X Bionic, is tipped to be in the making. Apple TV already supports 4K HDR content, but with a new TV, Apple is supposedly increasing its focus on Apple Arcade for Apple TV, adding controller support to the device. A new Apple TV might make its way to us this month. 4. Apple Silicon iMacs Apple discontinued its Intel iMac Pro last month. The company is known to be working on an Apple Silicon-based iMac with a refreshed design. The new iMacs are expected to have a sleeker design and iPad Pro-inspired rounded screen edges with slimmer bezels. Many leaks claim that the new design will be similar to Apples Pro XDR Display and feature a flat back. Apple Silicon iMacs will be available in two versions, with one possibly having a 23-24 inch display and one having Apples biggest display yet, possibly extending to 32-inches. With Intel iMac Pro no longer available, Apple might announce new iMacs next week. 5. No AirPods 3 Apple was first expected to announce its new AirPods 3 at the April event. Several leaks were pointing Spring 201 release, but renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo dropped a tip last month, hinting that we wont see AirPods 3 up until Q3 2021. Barring the over-the-year headphones AirPods Max we got last year, Apple hasnt really updated the AirPods since its initial release. Leaks and rumors point to a major overhaul this time, with AirPods 3 getting the AirPods Pro treatment. New AirPods are expected to feature a smaller stem, a wireless charging case similar to AirPods Pro with charging LED in the front, and might also feature silicone ear tips (though we havent really heard anything concrete about it yet). 6. New 10.2-inch iPad and iPad Mini? Apple could announce refreshed versions of the 10.2-inch iPad and iPad mini. Both of the iPads were last updated in 2019 and are due for a refresh. Even though Apple might announce a new 10.2-inch iPad and iPad mini 6 this month, they are not expected to get any radical new design or changes. A few days ago, a leak showed off the design of the upcoming iPad mini 6. But, disappointingly, it is still expected to host a Touch ID home button with thick bezels. The 10.2-inch iPad is also not getting a major overhaul, though it is expected to get slimmer, lighter, and come with a faster A13 Bionic chipset. 7. iOS 14.5, macOS Big Sur 11.3, and watchOS 7.4 Release Date iOS 14.5 is turning out to be a major update to the operating system since its initial release. Features like unlocking iPhone with Apple Watch, app tracking transparency, sharing lyrics from Apple Music, and changing the default music player have impressed the users. With Apple releasing eight iOS 14.5 betas, it sure seems like Apple wants to polish the software as much as possible before its release later this month. App tracking transparency will block advertisers from tracking your app usage and stop them from displaying ads of your interest. iOS 14.5 will also enable a safer browsing experience on your iPhone by masking your IP address and introducing a server between your iPhone and the request resolver. iOS 14.5 is surely going to be a major update and is expected to be rolled out as soon as the April 20 event finishes. What are your expectations from Apples April 20th event? Which product announcement are you looking for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow was sworn into the House on Wednesday, claiming the seat her late husband Luke never got to fill after dying of COVID in late December. The mother-of-two was joined by one-year-old daughter Jacqueline and son Jeremiah, three, as Nancy Pelosi welcomed her to Congress. Her late husband's father Johnny held the bible as she recounted the oath of office to take her seat and reduce the Democrats' majority in the House to two. Letlow easily won a special election last month to represent the heavily Republican district in northeastern Louisiana after her husband, 41, passed away just days before entering office. A university administrator making her first run for public office, she won the backing of former President Donald Trump and decisively outraised her opponents. Luke Letlow was a top aide to Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-La., who had retired and whose seat Letlow had won. Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow was sworn into the House on Wednesday, claiming the seat her late husband was elected to but never filled after dying of COVID-19 in late December, days before taking office Letlow holds her children Jacqueline (left) and Jeremiah (right) at her swearing-in ceremony Luke Letlow, 41, died on Dec. 29, five days before the new Congress convened. He was a top aide to Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-La., who had retired and whose seat Letlow had won 'I want to thank him for paving the way for me,' Julia Letlow said of her late husband Luke on the House floor after taking the oath of office from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. 'Too many families like mine have experienced tragedy because of this pandemic,' Letlow said. 'To those families: I see you, I hear you. And most importantly, I pray with you.' Letlow, 40, is the first female Republican elected to Congress from Louisiana. She will be on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee. Her arrival trims the Democrats' House majority to 218-212, with five vacant seats. That slim margin has helped fan GOP hopes of capturing control of the chamber in next year's elections. 'I want to thank him for paving the way for me,' Julia Letlow said of her husband on the House floor after taking the oath of office from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif Letlow, 40, is the first female Republican elected to Congress from Louisiana. She will be on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee The narrow House majority and the 50-50 Senate, which Democrats control with Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote, have forced leaders to attain near-unanimous support from the party's lawmakers to advance legislation. A second vacant Louisiana seat will be filled soon by one of two Democrats in an April 24 runoff election. That New Orleans district was represented by Democrat Cedric Richmond, now a senior White House adviser to President Joe Biden. Three of the remaining vacant seats had been held by Democrats and one by a Republican. No party turnover is expected when special elections are held to fill those vacancies. Letlow is the 48th woman to be elected or appointed to fill congressional vacancies after their husbands died, according to figures from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. One of the best known of those was Democratic Rep. Corinne Boggs, known as Lindy, also from Louisiana. Boggs was elected to replace her husband, House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., who died when the airplane he was aboard disappeared over Alaska in 1972. Lindy Boggs, long her husband's political adviser, served 18 years in the House and was known as a champion of women's issues. She died in 2013. Letlow's two children stood by as Letlow recounted the oath of office while her latre husband's father Johnny held the bible CHICO, Calif. - "I know my mom got the same shot and she seems to be doing just fine," Coleman Benton, a Chico resident said. Benton is just finding out that health leaders suggested the Johnson & Johnson shot be put on hold over blood clot concerns. Benton was scheduled to get his Johnson & Johnson vaccine shot Thursday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, but now it's looking unlikely. Benton said the motivation to get inoculated was due in part to his parents. "Just to be able to hang out with my family again," Benton said. "I know a lot of them would prefer to me to be vaccinated." "We are going to pause using Johnson & Johnson as recommended," Kerri Schuette, spokeswoman for Shasta County Public Health said. Action News Now reached out to every public health agency in our viewing area. Shasta County health officials said one of its Johnson & Johnson clinics originally set this weekend in Lakehead is now up in the air. "We are not certain whether we're going to postpone that clinic or have a clinic that offers other vaccines were still working on those details," Schuette said. The CDC said six people developed those blood clots after receiving the shot. That's six out of nearly seven million that received that shot, which translates to roughly less than 1 in 1.1 million. "This is a very small percentage of people," Schuette said. "This is exactly why the system is designed this way. When the scientists start to see an area of concern, that we stop and reassess the safety of the vaccine." "If a big agency that has a lot of respect for it. Then I definitely say it's better safe than sorry," said Joseph Esparza, a resident of Chico. Butte, Tehama, Trinity and Glenn counties health officials said they will pause Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses as well. Related COVID-19 news: A 300-metre yacht with green technology, designed for environmental exploration, will also carry activists and billionaires on luxury trips. The ship, called Earth 300, was designed by superyacht specialist Ivan Salas Jefferson and his company Iddes Yachts and is almost 300 meters long and 60 meters high and can accommodate 425 people. Earth 300 is described as a vessel that will unite science and exploration to confront earths greatest challenges," by Iddes Yacht founder Ivan Salas Jefferson. The yacht, equipped with 22 state-of-the-art laboratories and a science sphere on the aft deck, intends to carry scientists and students for environmental exploration for free. However, it also wants to open some of its luxury suites for wealthy tourists who can rent it for $3 million each for a 10-day journeyhelping to make the venture profitable. Earth 300 claims to be one hundred per cent carbon-free. Entrepreneur Aaron Olivera, CEO of Earth 300 says he believes the vessel will help raise environmental awareness. We wanted the sphere to inspire whoever looks at it to save the planet, Mr Olivera was quoted by Bloomberg as saying. Imagine if we could build an object that would galvanize people around the planet. He calls the ship The Eiffel Tower of our generation. The vessel took six years to build and preapre. It was designed for emissions-free sailing and will be powered by nuclear technology known as molten salt reactors (MSRs), however, it will at first run on synthetic green fuels until the reactors receive certification. While the founders intend to provide spacious cabins, balcony and accommodation for staff to the rich, they alo want to provide scientists and explorers with modern technologies to carry out research and gather data using the ships equipment. It is unclear exactly when the incident took place, but local news outlets said the woman filed a police report last week accusing Wang of harassment, and the video began circulating widely online this week. It has been viewed millions of times, with many social media users relishing what they saw as an uncommon display of resistance against an authority figure in a country with limited workplace protections against sexual harassment. Many users sided with the woman, lauding her for flipping the balance of power and calling her a defender of justice and a martial arts warrior. President Joe Biden speaks about jobs and the economy at the White House in Washington on April 7, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Biden to Address Congress on April 28 President Joe Biden on April 13 accepted an invitation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to address a joint session of Congress on April 28, the night before his 100th day in office. Pelosi had publicized her invitation to Biden hours earlier. Nearly 100 days ago, when you took the oath of office, you pledged in a spirit of great hope that Help Is On The Way. Now, because of your historic and transformative leadership, Help Is Here! Pelosi wrote in a letter to Biden. In that spirit, I am writing to invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, April 28, to share your vision for addressing the challenges and opportunities of this historic moment. Biden has faced criticism for delaying his first address, in contrast to his predecessors. President Donald Trump delivered his first speech to Congress on Feb. 28, roughly two months earlier than Biden. Presidents usually use their first address to celebrate their early accomplishments and chart a course for their administration for the years ahead. Biden is likely to celebrate the passage of the pandemic stimulus bill, which cleared the Senate without the support of a single Republican. The president will also likely speak about the torrent of executive actions he took in the early days of his term. The early actions included the reversal of more than a dozen key border and immigration policies of the Trump administration. The reversals triggered a flood of illegal immigrants at a pace unseen in decades. Biden will also promote the $2.3 trillion infrastructure package he unveiled earlier this month. Republicans have blasted both the pandemic relief bill and the infrastructure proposal as having little to do with the pandemic or infrastructure. Traditionally, all members of Congress and guests gather for a joint session in the House, the larger of the two chambers. However, the address is likely to look different this year due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. Social distancing restrictions have been in place during the pandemic that require House lawmakers to conduct floor votes and other business in smaller groups, rather than convening hundreds in the chamber at once. Masks are required, and the public visitors galleries, usually filled for such an event, have been closed during most of the pandemic. Presidents dont deliver a State of the Union address to Congress until their second year in office. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The United States is currently expecting another summer of wildfires as several parts of the Western side of the country emerged from one of the driest winter seasons ever recorded, and the possibility of entering a 'mega-drought.' The possible mega-drought could be triggered by a combination of a natural dry cycle and climate change, which is caused by humans. According to the Independent, scientists have issued warnings of an increased risk of wildfires in places such as California and other areas of the Western U.S. They cited that a region where wildfires are common is definitely at risk, especially following a winter with extremely dry conditions. Scientists described the possible mega-drought as the second-worst drought for 1,200 years. Moreover, following the analysis of the U.S. Drought Monitor and warnings, CBS News reported that the Western U.S. will be at the front of the world in battling against climate change. The region was placed on top of the list of regions fighting against climate change as it is on the verge of experiencing 'mega-drought.' The consequences of climate change are thought to have started in 2000, when severe droughts and wildfires were also recorded. In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed figures that were responsible for the two worst droughts in 2003 and 2013. However, the figures for 2020-2021 are more alarming due to the scope of the area that will experience drought. It is estimated 20% wider, which is a huge addition in just a span of 20 years. ALSO READ: Pres. Biden Talks to Putin About Russian Military Build-up Near Ukraine Meanwhile, a professor at the only wildfire research center in the state, Craig Clements, shared that the lack of rain this season has severely impacted the moisture of the ground and its ability to catch alight. Based on the U.S. Drought Monitor, around 60% of Western states are currently under severe, extreme, or exceptional drought. Even reservoirs in the regions are already at half of their operating capacity. Clements also added that the current conditions could be worsened if there will be a lightning event. Also, scientists argue that it could end with permanent drought in the Western U.S. region. It could soon become a place that cannot recover from the recurring dry winters and summers. Letter to Biden U.S. President Joe Biden is currently urged by hundreds of companies to cut the greenhouse gas emissions of the country by not less than 50% by end of the decade, compared to 2005 levels. In an open letter, powerhouse companies which include Apple, General Electric, Google, Lyft, Facebook, Microsoft, National Grid, Starbucks, Verizon, and Unilever, made a rare public stance, asking to restore the standing of the U.S. as a global leader battling against climate crisis. The letter emphasized that millions of Americans are already feeling the impacts of climate change. The recent extreme weather and the deadly wildfires are just some of the profound effects of the climate crisis, which caused economic losses as well. The letter also cited that the most affected individuals are those who belong in the marginalized and low-income communities, the Associated Press reported. RELATED ARTICLE: Mexican Migrants Death Toll in the US Rises Amid COVID-19 Pandemic WATCH: Scientists predicting historic dry summer for much of the U.S. - CBS News The X9041 train leaves Xi'an International Port for Kazakhstan in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 13, 2021. Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday saw the 1,000th China-Europe freight train trip this year. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) XI'AN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday saw the 1,000th China-Europe freight train trip this year. The X9041 train with 50 carriages loaded with bikes, toys, dishwashers and other goods left the station of Xi'an International Port for Kazakhstan as part of the China-Europe cargo train service between China and the continent, as well as Central Asia, according to the China Railway Xi'an Group Co. Ltd. Since the beginning of this year, the company has prioritized the China-Europe freight train service to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international industrial chains and supply chains, said a manager of the company. As of Monday, the city had handled 41,286 cargo carriages via the China-Europe freight train service, up 26.76 percent year on year. As the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected sea and air transport capacity, the China-Europe freight train service has played a significant role in stabilizing international railway logistics. The service has ensured the smooth transportation of goods including epidemic control materials, given its stability and all-weather features. Enditem 8 1 [ Editor: JYZ ] Yangon: Rohingya militants whose attacks triggered an army crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state unleashing a huge wave of refugees said today their one-month ceasefire would end in two days, but added they were open to peace if the government reciprocated. In a statement released through its Twitter account, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) said its unilateral truce would end at midnight on October 9. "The humanitarian pause was conducted in order to enable humanitarian actors to assess and respond to the humanitarian crisis in Arakan (Rakhine)," the statement said. "If at any stage, the Burmese government is inclined to peace, then ARSA will welcome that inclination and reciprocate," it said, using the former name for Myanmar. It did not include any direct threats of new violence. The armed group tipped northern Rakhine into crisis when it ambushed police posts on August 25. The army's reprisal has been so sweeping and savage that the UN says it likely amounts to ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority, who have faced decades of persecution. More than half a million Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh in six weeks, an exodus that has spiralled into one of the world's most urgent refugee crises. In its statement, ARSA said it had helped provide "safe passage" to refugees fleeing to Bangladesh. While the worst of the bloodshed appears to have abated in recent weeks, tens of thousands of Rohingya continue to stream over to Bangladesh, passing through a violence-scarred region where hundreds of villages have been reduced to smouldering ash. Rohingya refugees and rights groups have accused the army of setting the fires with the help of Buddhist vigilante mobs. But the military has denied the charge, instead accusing militants of razing their own homes to drum up global support. Myanmar authorities have cut off access to the conflict zone, making it difficult to verify claims over who is driving the communal bloodshed that has intensified already bitter ethnic hatreds in Myanmar. Aid groups have also been unable to reach vulnerable communities of Muslim Rohingya still living in the region, where tensions with Rakhine Buddhist neighbours are sky-high. It is difficult to measure the fighting capacity of ARSA, a shadowy, poorly-armed group that claims to defend the Rohingya's political rights. In the squalid refugee settlements sprouting up in Bangladesh, alleged ARSA recruiters have told AFP that they have enlisted hundreds who are willing to go back to Myanmar to fight. Those claims could not be independently verified. The Rohingya have faced decades of systematic repression in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, with many relegated to apartheid- like restrictions that analysts have long warned could breed extremism. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The European Union wants to provide 700 billion through its post-pandemic reconstruction program, but the European Solar Manufacturing Council says that 20 billion of the total should be used to shore up the European PV industry.From pv magazine Germany Europe was once the heart of the solar industry, but those times are long gone. Asian countries, particularly China, have since pulled ahead with gigawatt-scale production of PV products. The European solar industry has survived, thanks to small manufacturers, but there are also plans afoot for large-scale production on the continent. The European ... 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed the need for united global efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis, saying mankind will not be able to defeat it unless everyone comes out of it. In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, the Prime Minister said India tried to protect its 1.3 billion nationals from COVID-19, and, at the same time, tried to support pandemic response efforts of others. 'We understand fully, that mankind will not defeat the pandemic unless all of us, everywhere, regardless of the colour of our passports, come out of it. That is why, this year, despite many constraints, we have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries,' he said at the conference, held virtually. The Prime Minister further said, 'We will continue to share our experiences, our expertise and also our resources with humanity in the fight against the pandemic.' While we may be used to having 'Plan A' and 'Plan B' but there is no Planet B and only Planet Earth, he said and added so, we must remember that we hold this planet merely as trustees for our future generations. The Prime Minister also said that during this pandemic, in our own humble way, within our own limited resources, we in India have tried to walk the talk. Organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think-tank, in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Raisina Dialogue is India's premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, and its sixth edition is being held from April 13 to 16. Also read: Coronavirus patients with sedentary lifestyle more vulnerable, claims study Also read: Dead bodies of Covid-19 patients pile up in Raipur govt hospital Social Democratic Praty (PSD) floor leader in the Chamber of Deputies Alfred Simonis said told a plenary session on Wednesday of the Chamber of Deputies that the party was dropping its simple motion filed against Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu, because the motion produced its effects and the minister was dismissed. "I am pleased to announce that the simple motion tabled by PSD against Minister Voiculescu has produced its effects. Mr Vlad Voiculescu is now the former health minister. I will therefore ask the Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies to drop it from the agenda. The motion produced its effects as the minister was fired, so it has no purpose," Simonis said. Meeting chairman Laurentiu Leoreanu of the National Liberal Party (PNL) argued that the motion could not produce its effects as it had not been considered.On Monday, PSD tabled a simple motion called "For Romanians to live, Vlad Voiculescu must leave," which was to be taken up and voted on next week.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Florin Citu fired Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu, announcing that Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna will be the acting leader of the ministry. KONNOR PERRIN, Chariho boys lacrosse, freshman: Perrin established a school record for assists in a game with nine in the Chargers 22-0 win over Ponaganset. Perrin leads the team with 21 assists to go with 14 goals. LILA RICH, Stonington girls track, senior: Rich won two events at the ECC Division I track meet. Rich was first in the high jump (5-0) and the pole vault (10-0) as the Bears finished third at the meet. MADIGAN HILTZ, Westerly boys lacrosse, senior: Hiltz scored seven goals and had three assists in pair of victories for the Bulldogs. Hiltz has 17 goals and seven assists for the season. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler softball, junior: Hauptmann was 4 for 9 with a home run and six RBIs in two games. For the season, Hauptmann is hitting .617 with eight homers and 42 RBIs. She has 50 hits. Vote View Results Damascus condemns and denies a report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that claimed that the Syrian military used chlorine in the town of Saraqib, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said BEIRUT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th April, 2021) Damascus condemns and denies a report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that claimed that the Syrian military used chlorine in the town of Saraqib, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said. Earlier this week, the OPCW's newly-formed Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) released a report saying that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that the Syrian Air Force dropped a chlorine bomb on the city of Saraqib in northwestern Idlib province in February 2018. "Syria strongly condemns the content of the (OPCW) report and completely denies the use of poisonous substances in the city of Saraqib or in any other city or settlement in Syria," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said that the report contains "fabricated data" that resembles the "scandalous" OPCW report on an investigation into the use of chemical weapons in the city of Duma near Damascus in 2018. Sudans prime minister has invited his Egyptian and Ethiopian counterparts to a closed-door meeting to discuss the long-running dispute over Addis Ababas mega-dam on the Blue Nile, his office said. Last week, talks involving the three countries hosted by the African Union chair, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), failed to reach a binding agreement over the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the filling of its vast reservoir. Ever since the construction began on the $4.6 billion dam in 2011, Egypt which depends on the Nile for some 97 percent of its irrigation and drinking water has regarded the dam as an existential threat to its water supplies, while Khartoum fears its own dams would be harmed if Ethiopia fills the reservoir without a deal. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok invited his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouli and Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed to a summit within 10 days to evaluate the negotiations regarding GERD, the prime ministers office said in a statement late on Tuesday. 'Fallacies' It said Hamdok expressed concern the dams construction had reached an advanced stage, making reaching a deal before the start of operation an urgent and pressing matter. The statement said the planned summit will be held by videoconference. Last week, Ethiopia offered to share data with Egypt and Sudan, but the proposal was rejected by Khartoum and Cairo which complained of fallacies in the figures and an unacceptable tendency by Addis Ababa to take unilateral steps. Ethiopia insists the power produced by the huge hydroelectric project is indispensable for its development. But Egypt and Sudan have been pushing for a binding agreement before Ethiopia completes the filling of the dams vast reservoir which it began last year. The tensions over the dam come as Sudans relations with Egypt warm while its relations with Ethiopia have been hit by a dispute over the use of farmland near the common border. (with AFP) Hazel Technologies, Inc., a Chicago, IL-based USDA-funded agricultural technology company delivering new solutions to combat food waste, raised $70m in Series C financing. The round, which brought cumulative total raised to over $87m, was co-led by Pontifax Global Food and Agriculture Technology Fund (Pontifax AgTech), and Temasek, a global investment company headquartered in Singapore, with participation from S2G Ventures, Pangaea Ventures, Rhapsody Venture Partners, Asahi Kasai Ventures, Jordan Park Group, and the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. The company intends to use the funds to build global operations in major agricultural production areas, expanding into new markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa, the EU, and beyond. Founded in 2015 and led by Aidan Mouat, CEO, Hazel Technologies is a USDA-funded startup company that develops new solutions to extend the quality shelf life of fresh produce and reduce food waste. The companys flagship products deliver a controlled release of shelf-life enhancing vapor from packaging inserts called sachets. The sachets are placed in boxes of bulk produce by commercial growers at the time of harvest, extending the shelf-life of produce by slowing aging in produce and preventing decay. Currently, Hazel is working with more than 160 companies across 12 countries. Customers include Mission Avocado, a large distributor of fresh avocados; Zespri, a kiwifruit distributor; and Oppy, Canadas largest produce distributor. FinSMEs 14/04/2021 Six weeks after cutting short its deployment to return to Norfolk for repairs, USS Vella Gulf sailors making final check before heading out to sea again found welding slag and bits of metal in a strainer on the cruisers lube oil system. It was more bad news for a crew thats already been away from home for 100 days. Theyll have to stay in port and remain on board in a COVID-19 bubble while contractors come in and flush the ships entire lubrication oil system, Capt. Michael Desmond said in a broadcast to the crew last week, a recording of which was obtained by the Daily Press. Had these shown up elsewhere in our main reduction gear system we would have been in quite a pickle, a bigger pickle than were in now, he told the crew, referring to the gears that connect the ships engines to its two propeller shafts. Weve got to get that stuff out of our system, he said, The Vella Gulf had to return to Norfolk on Feb 26, shortly after leaving on deployment with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group, when crew members found a fuel oil leak while operating in heavy seas. It headed out in mid-March to test repairs to the fuel oil system, but had to return to Norfolk again for more work on a fuel tank. Leadership continues to work with technical experts, who have been onboard 24/7, to evaluate and assess the best course of action for both ship material readiness and crew well-being, said Lt. Marycate Walsh, of US Second Fleet. She said Navy leaders are focused on the well-being of the crew, organizing a series of special services, ranging from two Beer on the Pier events to four separate drop-offs for families to leave care-packages. The Navy has hooked up the ship to cable TV, sent additional laundry machines and exercise equipment, eased some uniform requirements and arranged three catering events; two from Chick-Fila and one from Mission BBQ. Desmond told the crew that their time away from the strike group would still be counted as deployment service, with no intention to add time at sea as the groups deployment ends. This is the second deployment in less than a year for the Vella Gulf, which returned to Norfolk along with the Eisenhower in August 2020. In service since 1993, the Vella Gulf is the type of cruiser that the Navy has proposed retiring - a proposal opposed by some members of Congress, including Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Norfolk. Luria said the Vella Gulfs problems show that the ships should be evaluated hull-by-hull based on what mechanical and combat systems upgrades have already been accomplished as well as other current material condition problems. She said it is not acceptable To wholesale say that we are going to decommission 10 cruisers because the Navy needs to be a larger presence around the world and specifically in response to Chinas growing aggression. This article is written by Dave Ress from Daily Press (Newport News, Va.) and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. Brazilian consumers have shown greater interest in frozen food over the last year and demand for healthier options has grown, write Mauro Fernandes and Luisa Belchior. It takes minutes for any Brazilian on Instagram to be bombarded with ads from companies selling items from tofu tikka masala stew to cauliflower risotto. But the posts are not from restaurants heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and using social media to survive. Rather, they are from manufacturers in Brazils frozen-food market, a sector that has grown during the Covid-19 pandemic and one expected to continue to do so when the worst of the virus is behind the country. As Covid-19 has hit Latin Americas biggest economy, interest in healthier frozen foods has increased. In general, frozen-food sales have risen, with consumers seeking convenient products helping them to reduce store visits but the appetite for products perceived to be healthier is also on the rise. A consumer survey carried out in the first quarter of 2021 by UK-based data and analytics organisation GlobalData shows almost a third (29%) of Brazilians say the greatest benefit to frozen foods is good quality, while a further quarter (25%) cited good value for money, indicating past concerns about low-quality frozen products is easing. Market researcher Kantar says the proportion of Brazilians considering frozen food as healthy has risen. In a Kantar poll of consumers in the second semester of 2020, 4.4% of Brazilians bought frozen food because they thought it was healthy for them. In the first semester of the same year, that figure was 2.3%. In the city of Sao Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest in Brazil, and one regarded as leading market trends in the country, 7.2% of polled consumers in the second semester of 2020 said they were buying frozen food because it was healthy, against 3.9% in the first semester. Brazil's frozen-food market contains some of the country's major names in packaged food, including BRF and JBS, but the sector is also being served by up-and-coming businesses, including those operating in the nascent direct-to-consumer market. 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 Three companies based in Sao Paulo Liv Up, Beleaf and Free Soul Food are web-only businesses selling directly to shoppers online. Most of their products cost between US$1 and $5, but a full meal could be as expensive as $15, more than a meal from many Brazilian fast-food restaurants. However, despite Brazil's struggling economy (the country's GDP fell 4.1% year-on-year in 2020, according to government data), Covid-19 lockdowns have meant middle-class consumers who have maintained their jobs have more disposable income having not spent much on trips and restaurants and are looking for quick options to eat good food without having to cook. Liv Up is one company looking to capitalise on the purchasing power of those Brazilian consumers. It was founded in 2016 with only eight staffers and initially expanded slowly. However, investment in areas from delivery infrastructure and staff (Liv Up hired more than 450 workers last year), through to improved packaging, helped the company take advantage of growing consumer interest in frozen food and in shopping online last year. In the wake of the pandemic hitting Brazil, Liv Up has seen demand more than double, a company spokesperson says, although the firm would not disclose its sales. Liv Up sells via an app and its website, offering individual frozen portions of products including salmon and falafel to appeal to conservative clients buying ingredients that are popular nationwide. The company uses a flash-freezing process, which it says helps the food retain its nutrition, while it packs products in plastic bags that can be heated in a microwave or in boiling water. Higher demand has not been without its challenges. Livia Malouf, the company's director for strategy and innovation, says as demand grew, Liv Up focused on manufacturing its best-selling items to maintain product quality and not over-stretch capacity. The company is once again broadening its offerings with new items. One of them is frozen pizza, not an obvious healthy frozen-food item, but one Liv Up says uses natural ingredients. The pandemic has had other benefits. Malouf says Liv Up's farmer suppliers "had an excess in their production because schools and restaurants cancelled their requests due to the pandemic", so the company found its ingredient supplies were available in good volumes and at competitive prices. "From 2019 to 2020, the company doubled in size. This year, we must follow that pace again," Malouf adds. Like in many markets, Covid-19 has also provided a boost to one particular product segment in the healthy frozen-food area plant-based meat. In December, local polling organisation IBOPE (Instituto Brasileiro de Opiniao Publica e Estatistica), in a survey commissioned by The Good Food Institute, said half of the 2,000 Brazilians it polled had reduced their consumption of meat during the pandemic. The Good Food Institute, a US-based non-profit that promotes the alternative-protein sector, said its survey shows "Brazilians are seeking to incorporate healthier options into their daily lives". Ricardo Laurino, the president of the Brazilian Vegetarian Society (Sociedade Vegetariana Brasileira), says one key growth area in 2020 was increased sales of higher-end plant-based frozen hamburgers from companies such as US business Beyond Meat. "Some people discovered that the amount of beef that we eat could have a link to the next pandemic, and that also stimulated this market," Laurino says. One Brazil-based supplier of plant-based meat products that has seen increased demand over the last 12 months is The New, a business set up in 2019 but one already selling products in retailers including the country's two largest retail chains, Pao de Acucar and Carrefour. Bruno Fonesca, one of the company's co-founders, says demand has been driven by increased consumer interest in health and the impact some believe meat production can have on the environment. "Definitely, the pandemic was an important catalyst for a switch in consumption behaviour," he argues. "We [saw] an increase in the search for healthier foods. Because of the pandemic, people also have a wider perception of what an irresponsible meat market can cause, animals crammed and be subject to disease, and how that can spread quickly." The pandemic has not been without its trials for businesses in the sector. Some frozen-food companies were forced to react after losing foodservice business. Free Soul Food had had a solid 2019, extending its services to catering events, scoring around 12 contracts a month that year. It expected a busy 2020, focusing on that side of the market but, from February 2020, the company was forced to change its plans. Free Soul Food closed for four months while it re-calibrated. "Our good performance in 2019 allowed us to keep our staff and the expense of our office," CEO Maira da Costa says. Sales plummeted 70% but, without shifting focus, it would have been worse. "We started to offer online courses for clients and companies that wanted to give their employees a useful gift," da Costa said, using that channel to create new products for delivery, including a basket of pre-baked frozen items, such as braised rice, chopped vegetable mix and jackfruit-based veggie beef. The company expects sales to recover some ground, rising 20% in 2021. "In 2020, we learned how the market is now operating under a new logic," da Costa says. "Our clients were good partners in understanding. Now we are much more ready." CLAIM 1: On April 12, a news site, Independent Newspaper, ran a story with the headline Disquiet As America Places Nigerian Minister On Watch List. The piece claimed that communication minister, Isa Pantami, was on the watch list of the Americas Intelligence Service. CLAIM 2: A video shared by another news site, Newswire, alongside a freelance journalist, David Hundeyin, suggested that a 2006 debate between Mr Pantami and Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, links him to the terror group. VERDICT: There is no evidence that Mr Pantami is on the U.S. watch list for terrorism. The U.S. does not disclose those on the list. The source quoted by the platforms that published the report also does not exist. Meanwhile, the newspapers have now deleted their posts. Also, it is FALSE to claim that the debate between Mr Pantami and the late Yusuf was a friendly chat. It was a heated debate which has now formed the basis for scholarly research on the ideology of Boko Haram. FULL TEXT: Citing western intelligence, which it said was corroborated by Middle Eastern Intelligence, Independent Newspaper claimed that the minister had ties with Abu Quatada al Falasimi and other Al-Qaeda leaders that he revered and spoke glowingly of in several of his videos on YouTube. The report was latched on by other platforms, including Newswire, whose version of the claim went viral on Twitter. The paper accompanied its publication with a video of Mr Pantami engaged in a discussion with former Boko Haram leader, Yusuf Muhammad. It insinuated that the video suggested a link between the minister and the terror group. A freelance journalist who writes for the paper, David Hundeyin, also reshared the video on Twitter, claiming Mr Pantami was having a friendly conversation with a nice bloke called Mohammed Yusuf who founded Boko Haram. Just a nice video of Nigeria's Minister of Communication and Digital Technology @DrIsaPantami having a friendly conversation with a nice chap you may have heard of. Nice bloke called Mohammed Yusuf who founded Boko Haram.https://t.co/hFT4H2YeU4 David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) April 12, 2021 The paper would later apologise and retract the report, saying after it launched an independent audit to evaluate the story, it found that there was no direct attribution by the said United States Government agency. Following the retraction, Mr Pantami also disclaimed having any link with the Boko Haram insurgent group as alleged in the viral reports. He threatened to press charges. 1) @NewsWireNGR your RETRACTION through your independent investigation,has been noted. However, investigative journalism requires the investigation before publishing, not after. Further, major publishers will meet my lawyers in the court on this defamation of character. https://t.co/08W3dP4tlf Isa Ali Pantami, PhD (@DrIsaPantami) April 12, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT Investigative journalism requires the investigation before publishing, not after. Further, major publishers will meet my lawyers in the court on this defamation of character, the minister wrote VERIFICATION: PREMIUM TIMES asked Independent Newspapers editor, Don Okere, for the source to the report his platform ran Monday on the subject. He promised to get back to us but did not. A follow-up email sent to him was not replied to. Likewise, the papers managing director and editor-in-chief, Steve Omanufeme, did not reply to an email sent to him. Shortly after contact was made with them, the platform pulled down the report (which has been archived here). An official who simply identified himself as Meridez at the FBI office of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria public affairs unit told PREMIUM TIMES he could neither deny nor confirm the claim. The Central Intelligence Agency, whose role includes preventing attacks against U.S. interest abroad, is yet to respond to our email seeking comments. The U.S. Department of State directed us to its African Affairs Bureau, which has not responded to our request. (This report will be updated once they respond). Unknown source PREMIUM TIMES checks on the list of the intelligence agencies in the U.S. show that there is no such agency as American Intelligence Service as claimed in the piece. Meanwhile, in 2003, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government established the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), a multi-agency centre administered by the FBI, to manage a harmonised database called the watchlist which contains the identities of those who are known or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. The TSC uses the watchlist to support front-line screening agencies in positively identifying known or suspected terrorists who are attempting to obtain visas, enter the country, board an aircraft, or engage in other activities, the FBI wrote. Because the TSC is derived from classified intelligence, the FBI said the centre does not confirm or deny whether any individual may be included in the watchlist. Doing so would significantly impair the governments ability to investigate and mitigate terrorism, and expose sensitive national security information. The bureau, however, publicises its list of most-wanted terrorists. By implication, even if the minister was on the watch list, the information would remain discreet. Ties with Boko Haram? As against what Mr Hundeyin claimed, the video he shared a snippet of about an hour from the six hours video recorded by Darul Islam Foundation in Bauchi on June 25, 2006 was not a friendly chat between Messrs Pantami and Yusuf. Conversation in the video was largely done in Hausa. It was a heated debate between Sheikh Pantami and late Mohammed Yusuf, PREMIUM TIMES head of Hausa desk, Muhammad Lere, said after analysing the transcript of the video. The debate was held upon an invitation sent to Mr Yusuf by Mr Pantami, wherein they debated Boko Harams extremist anti-Western education ideology. Mr Muhammad explained that Mr Pantami was educating Mr Yusuf, to whom he mentioned the names of over 200 renowned clerics with similar views, on why it was permissible to seek Western education and serve under a non-Islamic state. It was very clear in the video that Mr Pantami was providing Islamic proofs from various Islamic clerics around the world who have not only approved of (Western education) but have given written evidence from the scriptures and teachings of the prophet that approve of it, Mr Muhammad noted. Debate now source of research Since the debate was held, it had become a reference point for understanding the extremist doctrines of terror groups. A research paper was, in fact, written on the debate by Islamic scholars, one that has now become a useful resource when studying religious extremism. Meanwhile, last February, the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a nine-minute video where he threatened Mr Pantami and some journalists, saying they should be cautious about what they report or write about his group. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence that Mr Pantami is on the U.S. watch list for terrorism. The source quoted by the newspapers that published the report does not exist. Meanwhile, the newspapers have now deleted their posts. False. Also, the debate between Mr Pantami and the late Yusuf was not a friendly chat as claimed. It was a heated debate that has now formed the basis for scholarly research on the ideology of Boko Haram. It was clear that HighWire was the right choice to ensure that we remain on a highly flexible and efficient platform, while sitting at the cutting edge of innovation, search engine optimization and third-party integration. Scholarly publishing technology provider, HighWire, is proud to announce that the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) has chosen to renew its hosting with HighWire. ASN and HighWire have had a long partnership approaching two decades, working together to meet ASNs mission of transforming kidney research through discovery and innovation. HighWire will continue to host all three of ASNs journals: JASN, CJASN, and Kidney360, which incorporate content types spanning across editorials, reviews, podcasts, visual abstracts, eletters, figures and graphs. HighWire was acquired by MPS Limited (MPS) in July 2020, further deepening its commitment to the Academic and STM publishing community and presenting a significant opportunity for MPS and Highwire customers. Increased resources, more comprehensive platform offerings, and a broader partner and distribution network are just some of the benefits. We are delighted that ASN recognizes that the MPS-HighWire combination brings stability, investment, and growth focus to HighWire. We now have renewed focus on Innovation and Community, and expanded teams to deliver to customer requirements, said Rahul Arora, CEO of HighWire and MPS, HighWire appreciates the confidence that ASN has extended, amidst a wonderful period of growth once again for the HighWire business. ASN carried out a competitive comparison of the current content hosting landscape, which has changed considerably since we became HighWire customers almost two decades ago, said Bob Henkel, Senior Director of Publishing, It was clear that HighWire was the right choice to ensure that we remain on a highly flexible and efficient platform, while sitting at the cutting edge of innovation, search engine optimization and third-party integration. About ASN ASN leads the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. About HighWire HighWire provides industry-leading digital publishing tools and platforms across all aspects of the publishing lifecycle. Founded in 1995 by Stanford University, HighWires mission is innovation in the service of the scholarly community. Supporting publishers and researchers via millions of articles, issues, and publications since our founding, HighWire has thrived largely as a result of its highly proven, modular, and scalable technology, coupled with strong relationships with industry partners. HighWire is powered by MPS Limited, a leading global provider of content platforms and learning solutions. SW China's Yunnan makes great efforts to protect wildlife species People's Daily Online) 13:25, April 14, 2021 As one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, southwest China's Yunnan province has made major efforts to protect its vast diversity of wildlife species. Yunnan boasts all manner of ecosystem types apart from oceans and deserts and is home to 2,242 species of vertebrates, accounting for 51.4 percent of the country's total, and 19,333 species of already known higher plants, or 50.1 percent of the country's total. Photo shows a golden monkey in the Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park located in Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan province. (Photo/Chinanews.com) Over the past two years, new species have been discovered almost every one or two weeks in Yunnan. Meanwhile, more than 100 species have been discovered in the Gaoligong Mountains located in the western part of the province over the past 10 years. In a bid to protect these diverse species, Zhang Ting, a seed collector with the Kunming Institute of Botany of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his colleagues spend about a third of their time each year in the wild, collecting a total of 10,601 species and preserving 85,046 specimens for the Chinese germplasm bank of wild species. Zhang calls his work "offering insurance" for wild plants. "We deposit seeds in a 'bank', so that if they are needed, these seeds can be returned to the wild, which also gives species conservation an additional safeguard," he explained. Yunnan is also committing itself to protecting Germplasm resources for rare species of animals such as black snub-nosed monkeys and black-necked cranes. The green peacock, a critically endangered species with a total population of less than 600 and found only in Yunnan, maintains normal brooding activities in all the main distribution areas, with the distribution range of the species in some areas expanding prominently. Monitoring of the green peacock population in a nature reserve in Shuangbai county, Yunnan province carried out by Yang Xiaojun, a researcher with the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, shows that thanks to enhanced patrolling efforts in recent years, the population of green peacocks in the reserve and its surrounding areas has expanded from 52 in 2015 to nearly 100. Apart from green peacocks, the population of black snub-nosed monkeys in the province has also increased from more than 1,400 in 2000 to more than 3,000, and the number of black-necked cranes overwintering in Yunnan has soared from more than 1,600 in 1996 to over 3,000. In a bid to restore the habitat space of rare species, Yunnan has contributed one seventh of its territorial area to nature reserves. According to statistics, today, Yunnan has approved the establishment of a total of 362 nature reserves. In addition, 90 percent of the province's important ecosystems, more than 90 percent of national key protected plants and about 80 percent of national key protected animals have been listed as the main protected targets under effective protection in the nature reserves. Outside the nature reserves, Yunnan has created 30 special protection sites for wild plants with very small populations in the province, including Nyssa yunnanensis, Cyclobalanopsis sichourensis and Manglietiastrum sinicum, effectively refining the in situ conservation system. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Prosecutor urges community service for Sobol in case over illegal entry into dwelling RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 17:17 14/04/2021 MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) Moscows Perovsky District Court on Wednesday was asked to sentence opposition figure Lyubov Sobol to the one-year community service in a case over forcible violation of inviolability of dwelling, the courts press service told RAPSI. Prosecutor demanded such sentence for her with the 20% pay deduction in favor of the state. Investigation into Sobol was completed in February. Investigators allege that on December 21 a group of persons, among them Lyubov Sobol, repeatedly attempted to entry into an apartment, where an old woman resided, of a house situated in the Eastern District of Moscow. Those involved illegally used uniforms of Russias consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. After two attempts to enter the house had failed, Sobol deceived a delivery man saying she was a abandoned wife with a baby, could enter the building and as the old woman opened the door of her apartment Sobol pushed her back, entered the apartment, took a video of the premises on her phone, and left the place, according to the Investigative Committee. The legislation sets the punishment for such a crime as imprisonment for up to 2 years. It is the hottest Oscar party in town, with only A-listers invited to party the night away after the Academy Awards are dished out. But with the pandemic transforming awards season, the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party is going virtual and is now a multi-day event open to everyone, with tickets ranging from $20 for one day to $50 for all three days. Vanity Fair Cocktail Hour Live! is a three-day extravaganza starting Tuesday, April 13 to Thursday April 15 and will feature a host of stars taking part in tours, interviews, quizzes and even drinking games. Changing it up: The annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party is going virtual. Vanity Fair Cocktail Hour Live! will be a three-day charity extravaganza from April 13 to 15 A portion of the proceeds will be benefiting the Motion Picture & Television Funds coronavirus relief efforts. Day one will feature interviews with Michael B. Jordan, Serena Williams, Gal Gadot, Andra Day and Kathryn Hahn along with a performance from Jon Batiste. On day two, guests will be treated to interviews with Laura Dern and Shaka King, along with a closet tour with Glenn Close. As the night progresses there will be a game of Never Have I Ever featuring Jessica Alba, Emma Corrin, Kelly Sawyer, Kelly Rowland and Cecily Strong. Fun: The event will feature a host of stars taking part in tours, interviews, quizzes and even drinking games Game night: Amanda Seyfried will sit down for a conversation with Julianne Moore, kicking off day three's events Hollywood stars: On day two, guests will be treated to interviews with Laura Dern and Shaka King, along with a closet tour with Glenn Close The evening's events will end with a cocktail experience sponsored by Grey Goose. Amanda Seyfried will sit down for a conversation with Julianne Moore, kicking off day three's events. Then, Sacha Baron Cohen will take viewers on an Anatomy of Scene for his Oscar-nominated 2020 films, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. After that there will be an interview with Paris Hilton followed by a trivia night with comedian Maya Rudolph and musicians Alana and Este Haim battling Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone in a quiz. Lineup: Michael B. Jordan and Julianne Moore will be interviewed while Maya Rudolph will take part in a trivia challenge with Andy Samberg Experiences: Sacha Baron Cohen will take viewers on an Anatomy of Scene for his Oscar-nominated 2020 films and Glenn Close will be talking costumes and giving a closet tour Tickets can be purchased on the cocktail hour website, with more events to be announced. Each day's events will go live from 7-10 pm ET and will be available for on-demand replay until April 22 at 12am ET. VF editor-in-chief, Radhika Jones, decided to take the event virtual amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She told The Hollywood Reporter: 'We wanted to focus on the industry, and in particular, on the factions of the industry that might not necessarily have been able to work steadily over the past year. 'That has been heavily on my mind, especially at this time last year when everything shut down.' Next year, Jones promised, 'We will be back with bells on. We cannot wait to celebrate in person,' Paleoanthropologists have uncovered two new specimens of Homo erectus at the East Turkana site in Kenya. Theyve also verified the age of a skull fragment of Homo erectus one of the oldest specimens attributable to this species found earlier at the same site. Homo erectus is the first hominin that we know about that has a body plan more like our own and seemed to be on its way to being more human-like, said Dr. Ashley Hammond, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History. It had longer lower limbs than upper limbs, a torso shaped more like ours, a larger cranial capacity than earlier hominins, and is associated with a tool industry its a faster, smarter hominin than Australopithecus and earliest Homo. In 1974, scientists at the East Turkana site in Kenya found one of the oldest specimens of Homo erectus: a 1.9-million-year-old skull fragment. The specimen is only surpassed in age by a 2-million-year-old skull specimen in South Africa. But there was pushback within the field, with some paleoanthropologists arguing that the East Turkana specimen could have come from a younger fossil deposit and was possibly moved by water or wind to the spot where it was found. To pinpoint the locality, Dr. Hammond and colleagues relied on archival materials and geological surveys. We had to go through hundreds of pages from old reports and published research, reassessing the initial evidence and searching for new clues, said Dr. Dan Palcu, a geoscientist at the University of Sao Paulo and Utrecht University. We also had to use satellite data and aerial imagery to find out where the fossils were discovered, recreate the scene, and place it in a larger context to find the right clues for determining the age of the fossils. Although located in a different East Turkana collection area than initially reported, the skull specimen was found in a location that had no evidence of a younger fossil outcrop that may have washed there. This supports the original age given to the fossil. Within 50 m of the reconstructed location, the researchers found two new specimens: a partial pelvis and a foot bone. Although they could be from the same individual, theres no way to prove that after the fossils have been separated for so long, they said. But they might be the earliest postcrania specimens yet discovered for Homo erectus. Our work also suggests that this early Homo erectus was found in a paleoenvironment that included primarily grazers that prefer open environments to forest areas and was near a stable body of water, as documented by freshwater sponges preserved in the rocks. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. _____ A.S. Hammond et al. 2021. New hominin remains and revised context from the earliest Homo erectus locality in East Turkana, Kenya. Nat Commun 12, 1939; doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22208-x TOKYO (AP) Japans government announced Tuesday it would start releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in two years. Its a move thats fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japans neighbors. The decision, long speculated at but delayed for years because of safety worries and protests, came during a meeting of Cabinet ministers who endorsed the ocean release as the best option. The accumulating water has been stored in tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant since 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged its reactors and their cooling water became contaminated and began leaking. The plants storage capacity will be full late next year. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the ocean release was the most realistic option and that disposing the water is needed to complete the decades-long decommissioning of the Fukushima plant. He said the government would work to make sure the water is safe and to help local agriculture, fisheries and tourism. The plants operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, cannot be removed from the water, but all other selected radionuclides can be reduced to releasable levels. Some scientists say the long-term impact on marine life from low-dose exposure to such large volumes of water is unknown. The government stresses the waters safety, calling it treated not radioactive, even though radionuclides can only be reduced to disposable levels, not to zero. The amount of radioactive material that would remain in the water is unknown. Releasing the water into the ocean was described as the most realistic solution by a government panel that for nearly seven years had discussed how to dispose of the water. The report last year mentioned evaporation as a less desirable option. Under the basic plan adopted Tuesday by the ministers, TEPCO will start releasing the water in about two years after building a facility and compiling release plans that follow safety requirements. It said the disposal of the water cannot be postponed further and is necessary to improve the environment surrounding the plant so residents can live there safely. Residents, fisheries officials and environmental groups issued statements denouncing the decision as ignoring environmental safety and health, and further hurting Fukushimas image and economy. Japan Fisheries Cooperatives chairman Hiroshi Kishi said the decision less than a week after he met with Suga trampled on all Japanese fisheries operators. Local fisheries have just returned to full operation after a decade in which their catch was only for testing purposes, and they are struggling because of dwindling demand. Protestors gathered outside the Prime Ministers Office to demand the plan be scrapped. TEPCO says its water storage capacity of 1.37 million tons will be full around fall of 2022. Also, the area now filled with storage tanks needs to be used for new buildings needed for removing melted fuel debris from inside the reactors and for other decommissioning work in coming years. In the decade since the tsunami disaster, water meant to cool the nuclear material has constantly escaped from the damaged primary containment vessels into the basements of the reactor buildings. To make up for the loss, more water has been pumped into the reactors to continue to cool the melted fuel. Water is also pumped out and treated, part of which is recycled as cooling water, and the remainder stored in 1,020 tanks now holding 1.25 million tons of radioactive water. Those tanks, which occupy a large space at the plant, interfere with the safe and steady progress of the decommissioning, Economy and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said. The tanks also could be damaged and leak in case of another powerful earthquake or tsunami, the report said. About 70% of the water in the tanks is contaminated beyond discharge limits but will be filtered again and diluted with seawater before it is released, the report says. According to a preliminary estimate, gradual release of the water will take nearly 40 years but will be completed before the plant is fully decommissioned. Japans Nuclear Regulation Authority chairman Toyoshi Fuketa has repeatedly called for a ocean discharge, saying a controlled release of the adequately treated water would pose no human or environmental harm. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a video message, said the ocean discharge was in line with international practice, though the large amount of water at the Fukushima plant makes it a unique and complex case. He said IAEA will fully support Japan in environmental monitoring to ensure the safety of the water release, its transparency and confidence in and outside the country. China and South Korea reacted strongly to Tuesdays decision. Koo Yun-cheol, minister of South Koreas Office for Government Policy Coordination, said the plan was absolutely unacceptable and urged Japan to disclose how the water is treated and its safety is verified. South Korea has banned seafood imports from parts of Japan since 2013 and could increase those steps. China criticized Japans decision as extremely irresponsible, saying it had not considered the health concerns of neighboring countries. Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report. About the photo: An aerial photo shows Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima Prefecture in January, 2021. The Japanese government has decided to get rid of the massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant by releasing it into the Pacific ocean, a conclusion widely expected but delayed for years amid protests and safety concerns. (Kota Endo/Kyodo News via AP) Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The latest industry survey from the Irish Hotels Federation shows early signs that hotels in certain parts of the country are beginning to see an uplift in bookings for July and August. This follows the Governments recent announcement that it will look at the reopening of hotels and guesthouses in June. With booking levels nationally averaging 23% for July and 21% for August - the key summer months Michael Yates, Chair of the Sligo/Leitrim/ Roscommon branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, is encouraging people to plan their holidays and breaks early while there is plenty of choice and availability around. Mr Yates says the positive developments around the vaccine roll-out coupled with the Taoiseachs announcement around the reopening of hotels have allowed hotels in Sligo, Leitrim and across the country to start planning towards reopening. However, as the latest IHF survey shows, there is still a long way to go before hotel occupancy reaches even last summers levels. Recovery will be a challenge for the hotel sector this year, requiring continued Government support through to 2022, when the tourism industry should start to recover in earnest. Staycations were a real positive last summer and we expect booking levels to continue to rise over the coming weeks. Not surprisingly, as indicated by our latest survey, we would expect to see stronger demand in coastal areas, popular tourism destinations and hotels offering packages and facilities for families. However, we would encourage people to explore all parts across the country, as they did last year. There is excellent value available. Guests should contact hotels directly to find out what special offers are available and shop around. Tourism supported some 4,900 livelihoods in Sligo and Leitrim before Covid-19 restrictions, contributing 178 million to the local economy. Hotels are focussed on restoring employment levels as quickly as possible. While employment and business supports to date have been very welcome, it is essential that the Government now provides greater clarity and certainty now around supports into 2022 and beyond. Mr Yates said hotels also require a clear commitment from the Government to retain the 9% tourism VAT rate to assist recovery and secure a viable and sustainable future for the industry. Wait and see is not a sustainable business strategy. Mr Yates added. Breakdown of occupancy results for July / August/ September 2021 National room occupancy: 23 % July/ 21% Aug / 18% Sept Dublin City and County: 11 % July/ 12% Aug / 15% Sept Other Cities: 18 % July/ 17% Aug / 11% Sept Border region: 30% July/ 28% Aug / 20% Sept * Mid-West: 21 % July/ 18% Aug / 16% Sept Midlands / Mid East: 21% July/ 20% Aug / 21% Sept South East: 38 % July/ 33% Aug / 26% Sept South West: 35 % July/ 33% Aug / 23% Sept West: 29 % July/ 22% Aug / 16% Sept Border region includes Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal Also read: Sarahs amazing journey marked one year on with special fundraising SPRINGFIELD Saying it would be a historic economic development opportunity, City Councilor at Large Sean Curran has urged Gov. Charlie Baker to locate a state agency in downtown Springfield. The proposal drew immediate praise from Springfield legislators, who said it would help to bring equity, investment and jobs to the region. Currans request was emailed to Baker on Wednesday. It follows news that the Baker administration has hired McKinsey & Co. for a future of work study. The study will examine the shift to remote and hybrid workforce models once the coronavirus pandemic is over, and what it could mean for state policy decisions. It might be an historic opportunity to reimagine Downtown Springfield as well, Curran said. Relocating the Division of Insurance, Division of Professional Licensure or the Department of Transportation would be a game changer for Springfield. The Springfield State Office Building at 436 Dwight St. downtown, sometimes called the little Statehouse, has multiple regional offices for state agencies, according to a Baker administration spokesman. The building was occupied by approximately 450 employees prior to the pandemic. The Springfield State Office Building on Dwight Street was occupied by about 450 state employees from multiple agencies before the coronavirus pandemic. (Patrick Johnson / The Republican file photo) Curran, however, wants a state agency, department or division headquarters downtown. Such a move would help ensure a vibrant downtown for years to come, he said. Springfield is facing the fight of its life in a post Covid-19 era, Curran said. Restaurants and shops are struggling, and many depend on downtown employees for business, Curran said. Plans to hold jury trials at the Eastfield Mall will take away foot traffic that used to be generated by the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse at 50 State St., he said. There are 44,000 state employees in Massachusetts, with many of them working in and around Boston, Curran said. Massachusetts State employees are now in the era of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and I phone facetime, Curran said. Clustering all of our state agencies in Boston is no longer necessary in the era of modern communication. Springfield has much to offer, Curran said, including affordable office space, more available home ownership and a skilled workforce of thousands of students from the region. As part of the state efforts, I respectfully request that as you reorganize state agencies, use this opportunity to help solve other modern issues such as the states responsibility to expand regional equity and economic mobility to communities of color, Curran said. State Rep. Bud L. Williams and state Sen. Adam Gomez, pictured in 2016, said they have long advocated for more state investment in Springfield. (The Republican file photo)Staff-Shot State Sen. Adam Gomez and state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez and Bud Williams, all Springfield Democrats, said they support the idea and have long lobbied for the state to provide more equity to the Springfield area. Its music to my ears, and excellent, Williams said. It would spur economic development because its like the old saying, If you build it, people will come. So if you have a state agency downtown, or in one of our communities, then other investors look at that and they see people, and it just permeates a kind of synergy. There is a need to have geographic equity, Gomez said. We know that Western Massachusetts, anything west of (Interstate) 495, has been a stretch. My office is actively working with local officials and his call is heard. Gomez said he looks forward to speaking with Curran about the details and will bring the proposal to the governors office to see how it could work. Having a state agency headquartered in Springfield would also address the great challenge of workers who commute from the far western region of Massachusetts to Boston, Gomez said. Gonzalez said that, even before being a legislator, he lobbied as president of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce for the state to bring more agencies to the city. I think any time you bring the workforce to downtown Springfield would be beneficial, Gonzalez said. Scattering state agencies across the state would provide regional equity. Curran said he hopes that in coming months, the Springfield business community can successfully lobby the Baker administration to re-imagine not only a new mode for the state workforce, but a new downtown Springfield as well. The state building on Dwight Street includes regional offices for the following departments: governor, secretary of state, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, Department of Revenue, Department of Industrial Accidents, Division of Banks, Parole Board, Commission for the Blind, State Retirement Board, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Department of Developmental Services, Division of Professional Licensure and Department of Labor Relations. Related content: Examine, a weekly science newsletter written by national science reporter Liam Mannix, is sent every Tuesday. The 10th instalment is below. You can sign up to receive it from The Age here and from The Sydney Morning Herald here. The almost-total absence of criticism for Australias decision to preference Pfizers vaccine over AstraZenecas for people under 50 is remarkable. In a single stroke, it throws Australias vaccine strategy into chaos. That sense of chaos will probably harm our vaccine confidence. And the decision seems to prioritise individual risks over risks to public health. And yet, in public comments, there has been almost universal support for this decision from vaccine experts. TRIESTE, Italy, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- illycaffe has become the first Italian coffee company to obtain the B Corp certification, awarded to companies that meet the highest standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and responsibility. B-Corp certified companies operate to optimize their positive impact on employees, their communities, and the environment. While many corporations are making it a priority to be a positive force in the world, B Corps are leaders in translating this concept into practice, based on their adherence to strict overall measurement protocols for the value they create and their commitment to continuous improvement. Ethics and sustainability are part of illycaffe's DNA: since its founding in 1933, it has set itself the goal of improving people's quality of life. In 2019, illy strengthened its commitment to operating as a stakeholder company when it adopted Benefit Company status. In doing so, illycaffe reaffirmed its choice to seek continued growth by operating in a sustainable way for the communities with which it interacts, formally integrating this commitment within company bylaws. Sustainability has always been an operating principle at illycaffe. It is applied to the company's entire supply chain, which is built on a system of direct relations with suppliers on the basis of four pillars: selecting and working directly with the best Arabica growers; transferring knowledge and expertise to the growers, training them at illycaffe's University of Coffee (UdC); and through direct, hands-on work in coffee fields with specialized agronomists to achieve sustained, high-quality production while also respecting the environment. illycaffe combines these actions with rewarding growers for the quality they achieve by paying premium prices, higher than the market average, while fostering continuous improvement to create sustainable coffee and a community of growers: a community in every sense, capable of meeting not only in-person but virtually thanks to the platform created by illy known as Circolo illy. These, and numerous other initiatives, contributed to illy's B Corp certification. "We work every day to implement our principles and reconcile economics with ethics" said Massimiliano Pogliani, illycaffe CEO. "We launched the B Corp certification procedure to underline our commitment to keep generating a positive impact on society and on the planet, joining a network of like-minded companies that promote business models based on a strategy to create sustainable value in the long term." illy achieved its B Corp certification with the support of Nativa Regenerative Innovation Company, who supports businesses in their evolution toward a regenerative and sustainable economic paradigm. With its new status, illy confirms its commitment to reaching its established targets for sustainability to create a durable and shared value. Overall, this is a noteworthy achievement for the company, considering that to date, only 3% of the 100,000 companies that have applied for B Corp certification have met the excellence criteria established by B Lab, the international certifying entity for B Corp status. "This outstanding achievement by illycaffe shows that in the coffee sector too we can act generatively," said Eric Ezechieli, co-founder of Nativa, Regenerative Innovation Company, and country partner for Italy of B Lab. "Today all companies must necessarily evolve in this direction, and we believe that illy's success will inspire many others, in Italy and globally, to accelerate along this path." illycaffeillycaffe is an Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933. Its mission has always been to offer the best coffee to the world. illycaffe produces a unique 100% Arabica blend, combining 9 of the best varieties in the world, selected by illycaffe: every day 8 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the best cafes, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafes and shops, at home. As a result of its innovations, illycaffe contributes to the coffee technology progress at global level. In 1991, the "Ernesto Illy Award" was launched in Brazil for quality espresso coffee. illycaffe has contributed to the sharing of the know-how, paying growers a premium price for the best quality selected by illycaffe. Since 2016, with the "Ernesto Illy Award for quality espresso coffee", the company has celebrated coffee growers all over the world that, according to illy, have produced the best sustainable coffee. Since 2013, the company has been in the list of the World Most Ethical Companies. In 2019, it enhanced its commitment to pursue a sustainable business model integrating the interest of people with the environment, adopting the status of Societa Benefit (Benefit Company) and adding this commitment into its own bylaw. In 2021, illycaffe was the first Italian company in the coffee sector to obtain the international certification as B Corp as a result of its commitment to comply with the highest standards of social and environmental performance. The company also founded the University of Coffee, which has the objective of sharing culture at all levels, offering a comprehensive and practical training to growers, baristas and coffee lovers. Everything that is "made in illy" is about beauty and art, the founding principles of the brand, starting from its logo, designed by artist James Rosenquist, up to illy Art Collection cups, decorated by over 100 international artists. In 2019, the company had 1405 employees and a turnover of 520,5 million. There are 269 illy single-brand shops in over 40 countries all over the world. In 2021, Rhone Capital became a shareholder of illycaffe with a minority share to support the company in its international growth. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illycaffe-earns-b-corp-certification-301268984.html SOURCE illy On Tuesday morning, US federal health regulators recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnsons Covid-19 vaccine while they investigated six reports of blood clots in women ages 18 to 48. One has died, and a second is hospitalised in critical condition. As of Monday, 6.8 million people in the United States had received the vaccine without any other serious adverse reactions reported. Read | US recommends 'pause' for Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine over blood clot reports Experts have yet to determine to what extent, if any, the vaccine is responsible for the clots. But the investigation follows actions by European regulators who concluded that a vaccine made by AstraZeneca may also be the cause of a similar, extremely rare clotting disorder. US and European public health experts have emphasized that for most people, the benefits of the Covid vaccines far outweigh the risks. Several countries in Europe last week restricted use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine to older adults because rare cases of the blood disorder were occurring in younger people. The AstraZeneca vaccine has not been authorised in the United States. What does this mean for people who have recently received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? Fewer than 1 in 1 million J&J vaccinations are now under investigation. If there is indeed a risk of blood clots from the vaccine which has yet to be determined that risk is extremely low. The risk of getting Covid-19 in the United States is far higher. The FDA recommends that people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the past three weeks should contact their doctors if they experience severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath. People should not be concerned about mild headaches and flu-like symptoms in the first few days after vaccination. Those are common, harmless side effects brought on by the immune systems production of a defense against the coronavirus. What is a pause? During clinical trials and after vaccines go into wide use, experts keep track of any medical problems experienced by people who receive them. If an unusually large cluster of cases turns up, regulators may decide to pause a trial or stop the use of a vaccine to investigate further. Read | J&J Covid-19 vaccine delay won't impact US vaccination plan: White House Pauses are common, and typically the investigations reveal that the medical problems were a matter of coincidence. If the investigation reveals that a vaccine does pose a risk, regulators may write new guidance about who should or should not receive it. In this instance, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending a pause, and several states have already heeded the agencies advice. Among those temporarily stopping use of the vaccine are a growing number of states including New York, Virginia and Ohio, as well as CVS Health and Walgreens. In a news conference on Tuesday, federal officials said that the governments review would likely take only a matter of days. A CDC panel is expected to discuss the issue at a meeting Wednesday. What is the problem that led to the pause? Six women in the United States who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination. In the condition, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, clots form in veins that drain blood from the brain. The results are stroke-like, Dr Anne Schuchat of the CDC said. Researchers studying a very similar disorder in AstraZeneca recipients in Europe say it appears to be caused by an intense reaction to the vaccine by the immune system, which generates antibodies that activate platelets, a blood component that helps form normal clots to repair wounds. In addition to clots, abnormal bleeding occurs. European researchers have called the disorder identified there vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Read | After US, South Africa halts J&J vaccine jabs; Europe rollout delayed Dr Peter Marks of the FDA said it was the unusual combination of clotting and bleeding that set up a red flag for regulators as a possible safety signal. So far, researchers have not found a way to predict who will develop the disorder and have not identified any underlying condition that might indicate susceptibility. What is a blood clot? A blood clot is a thickened, gelatinous blob of blood that can block circulation. Clots form in response to injuries and can also be caused by many illnesses, including cancer and genetic disorders, certain drugs and prolonged sitting or bed rest. Covid itself can trigger serious clotting problems. Clots that form in the legs sometimes break off and travel to the lungs or, rarely, to the brain, where they can be deadly. How common are blood clots? In the United States, 300,000 to 600,000 people a year develop blood clots in their lungs or in leg veins or other parts of the body, according to the CDC. Based on that data, about 1,000 to 2,000 blood clots occur in the US population every day. With several million people a day now getting vaccinated, some of those clots will occur in those receiving the shots just by coincidence, unrelated to the vaccine. In Britain, regulators have said, roughly one in 1,000 people are affected by a blood clot in a vein every year. But the clotting disorder of concern in the vaccine recipients is much rarer and different from typical blood clots. In addition to clotting in the brain called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, or CVST for short the patients all had a notably low level of platelets, which left them prone to abnormal bleeding. What does Johnson & Johnson say about the new cases? On Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson said the company was aware of an extremely rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets in a small number of individuals who have received its Covid vaccine. In addition, we have been reviewing these cases with European health authorities, the company said in its statement. We have made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe. Is this the same problem linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe? At the news conference on Tuesday, Marks of the FDA said the cases were very, very similar. Both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca use adenoviruses to carry DNA into human cells to begin the process of generating immunity to the coronavirus. It is not yet known whether that technology causes the problem. German researchers have speculated that DNA from the vaccine may set off the immune reaction in some people. But the condition is so rare that the researchers say patients likely also have some individual biological trait as yet unknown that predisposes them to the immune overreaction. Last month, European regulators began investigating similar cases of cerebral venous thrombosis linked to low platelets. They concluded that the disorder was a very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Its too early yet to know if Johnson & Johnsons vaccine is responsible for the same type of rare blood clot. What are the symptoms of the AZ-linked clotting disorder? European regulators had recommended that recipients of the vaccine seek medical assistance for a number of possible symptoms, including swelling in the leg, persistent abdominal pain, severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision, and tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the area where the injection was given. But that set of symptoms was so vague that almost immediately, British emergency rooms experienced a surge in patients who were worried that they fit the description. Nonetheless, German researchers say that such symptoms in vaccine recipients must be followed up. Blood tests can detect the antibodies. Can the disorder be treated? Doctors in Germany and Norway have treated patients with blood-thinning drugs to try to stop the growth of the clots, and with intravenous immune globulin, which can help eliminate the misguided antibodies that are causing the problem. Researchers there and US federal health officials on Tuesday advised against using a common blood thinner, heparin, and choosing alternative medicines instead. The reason is that the disorder closely resembles a rare syndrome caused by heparin, and it is possible that heparin could make things worse in these patients. Heparin could cause tremendous harm, Marks said. German researchers have emphasised that treatment should begin as soon as possible, because the condition can worsen rapidly. Does this risk mainly affect women? We dont know yet. The six cases being investigated among people who got the J&J vaccine all involve women. However, that number is so small that its impossible to draw firm conclusions from it. In Europe, it initially appeared that women were at greater risk of blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, although some cases involved men who had received the vaccine. On closer investigation, it turned out that more women were getting the vaccine overall in some countries, because theyre overrepresented among health care workers. British regulators now say that they dont have evidence to say whether men or women are more likely to be affected by blood clots. Are rare blood clots associated with the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines? The FDA has not found any similar cases in people who have received the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. Lowered platelet levels, however, have been reported in small numbers of patients who received the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines. One recipient, a physician in Florida, died from a brain hemorrhage when his platelet levels could not be restored, and others have been hospitalized. US health officials have said that the cases are being investigated, but they have not reported the findings of those reviews and have yet to indicate that there is any link to the vaccines. Bryan Davis, MBA Physician Partners of America (PPOA) is pleased to announce that Bryan Davis has joined the company as SVP of Anesthesia and ASC Operations at its corporate office in Tampa, Florida at: 504 N Reo Street Tampa, FL 33609. In his position, Bryan is responsible for the daily management and direction of the anesthesia services for the ASC facilities and procedure suites, along with driving strategy for all PPOA outpatient surgical facilities. Bryan Davis is a strategic executive with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry, skilled in operations management, medical devices, team building, and Six Sigma. Bryan provides the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that PPOA continues to thrive, said Josh Helms, PPOA Chief Operating Officer. He combines pragmatic thinking based early on by his military training with the critical and analytical perspectives of a well experienced healthcare business executive. Previous to joining Physician Partners of America, Bryan served in several different capacities handling operations for large health care organizations and served in such positions as COO, VP of Operations, and Regional VP. Bryan worked as a mechanical engineer before moving to the health care industry. Previous to that, he served the United States Army as a Company Commander and was the recipient of the Army's Albry "Red" Newman Award for excellence in leadership. Bryan earned his MBA from Northwestern University, the Kellogg School of Management, and his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. About PPOA: Physician Partners of America (PPOA) is a national healthcare organization focused on strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and improving patient outcomes. PPOA and its affiliates share a common vision to ensure the well-being of patients and provide its physician partners the opportunity to focus on the practice of medicine. This model allows physicians to be physicians, caring about patients and their needs versus the ever-complex administrative requirements. For more information about Physician Partners of America, visit ppoamedical.com. Join the fight! The WSWS is assisting workers at Sterling Heights and other auto plants in organizing rank-and-file committees to oppose unsafe working conditions and the betrayals of the United Auto Workers. For more information, write to us at autoworkers@wsws.org . After last weeks beginning of mandatory 12-hour, seven-day work schedules without overtime for skilled trades, workers have reported overwork and manpower shortages at Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP). While so-called alternative work schedules (AWS) have been used for production workers since the bailout of the auto industry under Obama in 2009, this is the first instance of it being applied to skilled trades, making it an important test case for the auto companies. A worker at FCAs Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan (Credit: FCA) The imposition of the brutal 12/7 schedule has the full support of the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has maintained a total information blackout as problems mount at the plant that builds the highly profitable Dodge Ram 1500. The start of the new work schedule that includes four rotating shifts working seven days on and seven days off takes place as COVID-19 cases are exploding across the state of Michigan. Area auto plants have seen an up spike in cases as well, including at nearby Sterling Stamping . Both Stellantis and the UAW claim that the schedule is allowable under the terms of the deliberately vague language on AWS slipped into the 2019 national contract. Not only are the hours unbearable, but under the AWS, overtime for Saturday as well as work after eight hours have been abolished. The AWS is also a violation of the UAW constitution, which requires that rank-and-file workers be permitted to vote on regressive changes to their local agreements. Instead, UAW Local 1700 forced skilled tradespeople to vote on which regressive AWS they found the least objectionable. A SHAP skilled trades worker who wished to remain anonymous spoke to the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter about the impact of the 12/7 schedule. So far its been a cluster f--k. New people in areas without training and breakdowns taking longer to repair. Morale is low. Many guys had the flu the first day, but it wasnt organized. Most guys are saying they will not do overtime to cover when guys are missing. Management has already had to call and ask guys to come in and help, but all the ones Ive talked to didnt answer the call. He explained that lower-level managers were being adversely impacted by the shift to 12-hour shifts as well as production workers. Stellantis management and the UAW are imposing a team concept on skilled trades, forcing workers to cover multiple job assignments, often without adequate training. While double-time pay on Sunday still applies for production workers, it is not being paid to supervisors, who are increasingly restive. The skilled trades worker reported: Floor supervisors are all looking for the next job. Ive had a couple tell me about other positions they are applying for. Production workers are also very upset about their situation and lack of union backbone. This is the perfect time to take a stand, but its not happening. The SHAP paint shop was down for over 10 hours [Saturday] from 9 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. because of not having critical parts, costing the company millions, but the maintenance manager is more concerned with the arrangement of trades toolboxes and types of chairs they have in their work areas. He continued, [Top management] is directing a campaign of harassment against the skilled trades, and the UAW is doing absolutely nothing about it. Floor-level supervisors have discreetly informed trades that [a particular manager] is directly targeting trades because in his opinion we are overpaid and dont provide value to the production of the final product. He, as we have been told, has directed his supervisors to make it hard on us. ... In the last two months, there have been many significantly long breakdowns that under the proper management of material and manpower would not have occurred. Yet their main focus has been to straighten out the skilled trades. He said that while there was a total blackout on information on the spread of COVID-19 at the plant, there were a couple cases of COVID reported today, but not from management or union. There are two guys out in my area today with possibly more coming. Michigan is experiencing near-record levels of infections, and nearby Sterling Stamping Plant recorded its biggest month ever for new infections in March. The SHAP skilled trades worker said he supported a unified fight by production and maintenance staff against the increasingly intolerable conditions being created at SHAP. The production workers I have talked to are very unhappy with the situation...forced Saturdays, no opt-outs and a few other things. I had a conversation with a veteran worker who was very disappointed. While production workers in the plant are currently working traditional eight-hour days, they have been working forced overtime for months, working at least six days a week with 10-hour shifts on Fridays and Saturdays. A production worker told the WSWS, People in production know this will trickle down to us eventually. I keep telling people they will move us to 12-hour shifts as well, because otherwise it doesnt make sense to have skilled trades on 12 and production on 8 or 10. The company can do what they want. Theres no real union present. They are cutting jobs in my department, even though we are working overtime. And they have even people here from Warren Truck [which is currently idled due to the global semiconductor shortage]. They are cutting jobs and constantly bringing in new hires. All they want is trucks, and they put Band-Aids on everything else. Autoworker Newsletter articles reporting on the start of the 12/7 schedule at SHAP have evoked a strong response from autoworkers, and have been shared thousands of times on Facebook. A SHAP worker posted, I used to work 12 hours six days a weekour bodies [werent] built for that. Those who want to be able to start a lot of things in life cant get [it]back such as time spent with children. ... I would rather I got that time. I missed post office working same hours, life is short; the company doesnt care. A Ford worker wrote, Wasnt one of first things the UAW fought for straight 8s and weekends off? I want to get at least some glimpse of life every day, not be a prisoner of the auto industry suffering for whatever days off I might get. A former Stellantis Jefferson North (JNAP) worker wrote, And thats why I quit after 7 years in 2019 at JANP. ... That job is slavery 12 hrs 7 days; yeah thats total BS, making someone else rich. Others posted: I cant believe its legal! and Who the hell wants to work seven days 12 hours!!!! They can go on with that they NOT gonna kill me !! Also I WILL choose my children over a schedule like this. Hard pass. One worker said there appeared to be a deliberate attempt to drive out older workers. This is an intentional culling of the old culture legacy cost. I strongly believe this. It will happen at other plants. I wonder why Stellantis cant hire tradesmen? he asked ironically. No retirement, medical cost. Wage inferior, corporate culture? ... What do you think? If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Friday urged Chad and Benin to respect civil rights and free speech as the two African nations hold elections this weekend. Both countries have seen a succession of coups and rebellions since winning independence in 1960, and have been mired more recently in political crises sparked by disputed polls and opposition leaders being detained or sidelined. In the latest violence Benin troops shot dead two protesters on Thursday as they cleared a blockade in the central city of Save, while activists accuse security forces in Chad of brutally stifling dissent by banning demonstrations, beating up activists and carrying out arbitrary arrests. In Chad, where Sunday's vote appears set to hand 30-year leader Idriss Deby Itno a sixth term after his most prominent rivals were sidelined, Guterres stressed "the need to respect civil and political rights, including the rights to freedom of assembly and expression." Guterres said in a statement that he hoped all parties involved in the process would "work towards a peaceful and credible electoral process." The secretary-general "urges all stakeholders to resolve any disputes that may arise from the electoral process through dialogue and legal channels," the UN statement said. Guterres issued a similar appeal to the various parties in Benin, which also holds its elections on Sunday. "The secretary-general calls on all national stakeholders to ensure that the poll is conducted in a transparent, credible and peaceful manner," the UN said in a statement. He said the organization stood ready to help the "country's efforts to consolidate democratic gains and social cohesion." Benin's President Patrice Talon promised earlier Friday a "KO" first-round victory in an election that opponents say is already rigged after his main rivals were disqualified from running. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- The year was 19-60, across the bridge in West Vigo, a brand new high school was opening it's doors for the first time. Just 10 years later, 2 more new high schools started operation, Terre Haute North and South. "North and South when they came were just the absolute end of the world for us. We thought it can't get any better than this," Dave Heath, a former teacher said. Now, 50 years later, the corporation said it's time for an upgrade. "It needed repair all 3 of them. Lots of buckets, rain buckets even years ago," Donna Williams, a former teacher said. That's why the Vigo County School Corporation is hosting community meetings. They want to hear from you about what should be done with and at the high schools. "This is really a critical time and a critical issue for the community," Heath said. Heath and Williams were both at the community meeting Tuesday night. They said even though they may not work or have kids in the school system right now it's still important to them to have a say in what happens. "I think it's so important for our community economically and academically," Williams said. "You can't complain if you don't participate and they're giving you plenty of opportunities to participate," Heath said. If you missed Tuesday nights meeting, don't worry, there are more planned. You can give your thoughts at the upcoming meetings. There's one Wednesday at Devaney and one on Thursday at Rio Grande. Plus, there are more meetings scheduled later this month. They will all start at 6:30 in the evening. LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equality California, the nations largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, and Equality California Institute announced Wednesday that Managing Director Tony Hoang will lead the organization as the next Executive Director when Rick Chavez Zbur steps down at the end of 2021. The organizations boards of directors unanimously selected Hoang after an extensive year-long succession process. Hoang will serve as Executive Director-designate through the end of 2021 and will continue to lead Equality Californias day-to-day operations. During this time of transition, Zbur will continue to provide strategic guidance and leadership at the organization. We cannot think of a more qualified, dynamic and visionary leader to succeed Rick and carry Equality California into its next chapter than Tony Hoang, said Equality California Board President Joe Gregorich and Equality California Institute Board President Jackie Thomas. The son of Vietnam War refugees and the first person in his family to attend college, Tony is a proud first-generation immigrant who grew up understanding the marginalized intersections of sexual orientation, gender, race, immigration status and class. Tony is the perfect leader to take the helm at this critical time for our community and the nation, and we look forward to working with him as he takes on this new endeavor. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead such a diverse, dynamic organization that has been at the vanguard of the LGBTQ+ movement for the last two decades, said Hoang. Our community is at an inflection point recovering from a global pandemic and economic crisis, facing a reckoning with centuries of structural racism and fighting back against a coordinated assault on transgender children. Equality California has both an opportunity and a responsibility to create a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people, and Im ready to get to work. Born and raised outside of Houston, Texas, Hoang first moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. During college, he served as a field intern at Equality California in 2009, beginning his 12-year career at the organization. As the movement for LGBTQ+ civil rights in California grew, so did Tonys passion for Equality California and its mission, serving as Database and Volunteer Manager, Director of Operations, Chief of Staff and Managing Director prior to his selection as Executive Director-designate in 2021. During my time as executive director, Tony Hoang has been an invaluable partner in leading Equality Californias fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice, said Rick Chavez Zbur. There is no person better equipped to honor the organizations legacy and continue building for the future than Tony, and I am so excited to see him step into this role. Our community and the movement are in great hands. Over the last 12 years, Hoang has played a pivotal role in the passage of groundbreaking civil rights legislation in California, Nevada and Washington, DC, implementation of statewide public education campaigns and the election of hundreds of openly LGBTQ+ and pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot. "I want to congratulate Tony Hoang on his selection as Equality California's next executive director and thank Rick Chavez Zbur for his years of service to the organization, the LGBTQ community, and our state, said California Governor Gavin Newsom. Tony's life reflects the California spirit: a son of refugees, the first in his family to graduate from college and a tireless advocate for equality and justice. I am confident that the LGBTQ community will be well-served by his leadership, and I look forward to working with him to advance our collective vision of a California for all." As Executive Director, Hoang hopes to expand the organizations physical presence across California, with a particular focus on the Central Valley, Orange County and the Inland Empire. He also plans to focus on advancing racial justice and reforming the nations immigration system as key priorities critical to achieving full, lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people. And building on key victories in recent elections, he plans to deepen Equality California and the LGBTQ+ communitys political power across the state. "As a longtime supporter of Equality California and a former Equality California Institute board member, I am excited about Tony's leadership and service as its incoming Executive Director, said California State Controller Betty Yee, who serves on the Executive Directors Council of Equality California. From his early internship performing canvassing activities to his hands-on management of the organization's complex operations and policy and strategic initiatives, Tony has earned the trust and confidence of all of Equality Californias stakeholders. He will be an effective intersectional leader of Equality California." Anyone who follows someone as passionate and talented as Rick Chavez Zbur would have enormous shoes to fill, but Equality California identified an excellent successor in Tony Hoang, said Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), who serves as Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. With his extensive record of grassroots organizing and activism on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, I have no doubt that Tony will help usher in a new era of equality and racial justice in California. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, his lived experience will also play a pivotal role as we seek greater representation from our leaders and continue our efforts to stop anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes. "Tony Hoang is the right person at the right time as our country is awakening to the many 'wrongs' that people of color, women and our LGBTQ community have suffered," said civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, who also serves on Equality California's Executive Director's Council. "He has the experience, intelligence, charisma and 'people skills' to take Equality California to new heights. He is also a very hard worker. Tony has proven his dedication to Equality California and social justice issues with his life's work. We are so lucky to have him direct this great organization." In addition to his work at Equality California, Hoang serves the City of Los Angeles as a Commissioner on the Innovation and Performance Commission, which is dedicated to improving the responsiveness, efficiency, and quality of LA City services. He sits on the boards of Equality Federation, the national movement builder and strategic partner to state-based organizations advocating for LGBTQ people, and DTLA Proud, a nonprofit organization that strengthens and empowers the local LGBTQ+ & ally community in Downtown Los Angeles. Tony received a BA in International Relations at the University of Southern California with minors in Political Science and Natural Sciences. An avid concert-goer, cook, cyclist and traveler, Tony lives in Downtown Los Angeles with his fiance Ian Grady, an attorney. Attachment The company is finalizing an agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for EDGE incentives, department spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said. The tax incentives will be worth $9.5 million to $19 million over 10 years, depending on how many jobs are involved, she said. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. In the movies, birth is usually an emergency. It begins with the womans water breaking, at the worst possible moment. She appears to be barely in labor, and yet she is rushed, through gridlock traffic, to the hospital. There she becomes angry, and the pain is her husbands fault. She yells at him, perhaps even injures him, and orders him to get a vasectomy. Then she begs for an epidural, but for some reason, she cant have it. After four minutes of intense screaming, shes handed something that looks like the Gerber baby. The recent Netflix film Pieces of a Woman, featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Vanessa Kirby, tries to subvert this narrative, with a naturalistic home birth scene that occupies nearly a fifth of the movie. The extended sequence, which ultimately has a tragic outcome, has gotten midwives talking, especially because film and television can deeply influence the expectations of couples who have never had a baby. In a handful of interviews, midwives across the country applauded the naturalistic birth as a new frontier in screen depictions, even as they argued that several details fell short of a fully empowered experience. As the labor scene begins, Martha (Kirby) is leaning against a stove, her contractions intensifying. Her partner, Sean, played by Shia LaBeouf, rushes around her, asking repeatedly if she wants water. They eventually move to the living room, where he cradles her in his lap. I think I might throw up, she says, burping and gagging. Hannah Epstein, a midwife nurse practitioner in San Francisco, said that what struck her about the scene is what many other movies leave out: You never see labor, only birth. She said that some patients worry they might not know when theyre in labor, and others think labor is entirely pushing. Pieces of a Woman helped correct those misconceptions. It was a good early-labor depiction of that uncomfortable, icky feeling, she said, noting that nausea and vomiting in labor are also extremely common. By Benjamin Jumbe Members of Parliament have this afternoon paid tribute to the late Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. The motion to pay tribute to the late Lwanga was moved by Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda. The motion was seconded by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Betty Aol Ocan and State minister for Youth and Children Affairs Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, all whom hailed the late Lwanga for his great contribution to the Catholic Church and country and advocating for the voiceless. Several Members of Parliament have described the late Lwanga as a person who loved his country and defended the voiceless. Dr Lwanga was found dead in his house on April 3rd,, hours after he appeared in public during the way of the cross ahead of Easter. A post-mortem report read during his requiem mass at Rubaga cathedral indicated that he died from a heart attack. The company has also strengthened its balance sheet with the sale of Bronchitol Russian distribution rights for A$2 million with annual A$1 million cost savings. Bell Potter Securities Limited acted as the sole lead manager and bookrunner to the placement. ( ) (FRA:UUD) has received commitments from sophisticated and institutional investors to subscribe for 54.6 million fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.08 per share to raise around A$4.4 million. New shareholder Karst Peak has invested A$3.2 million for an 8.9% holding in the company and existing shareholder BVF Partners LP invested A$800,000 to maintain its holding at 19.5%. Funds raised will be used to strengthen the balance sheet as the company conducts a phase 1/2 study in myelofibrosis with its lead drug PXS-5505 (which is already recruiting) and a phase 1c study in patients with problematic skin scarring with its topical drug PXS-6302. The company will have a A$20 million pro-forma cash balance (as of March 31, 2021) post raising. Major shareholder recognises pipeline potential New major shareholder Karst Peak is based in Hong Kong and Sydney focusing on equity investments in listed companies in the consumer, healthcare, and technology sectors in Asia and Australasia. Pharmaxis chief executive officer Gary Phillips said: We are delighted to welcome Karst Peak as a major shareholder as we commence clinical studies that will deliver results that will have significant value to both patients and shareholders. This recognition of the potential in our pipeline from an institutional fund that is renowned for its extensive due diligence prior to investing is very encouraging at a time when we are focusing our resources on clinical trials and looking to deliver non-dilutive cash and cost savings from other parts of our business. In addition, existing shareholder BVF Partners LP has committed to invest a further A$800,000 to maintain its shareholding in the company to 19.5%. Russian deal boosts financial footing Further strengthening the balance sheet, Pharmaxis also announced today the sale of the distribution rights in Russia for its cystic fibrosis product Bronchitol. Regional pharma specialty company GEN Ilac ve Saglk Urunleri San. ve Tic. A.S. (GEN) has purchased the rights for A$2 million - effective May 1, 2021. Phillips said the company was delighted that key functions would now be handled by GEN, a trusted business partner in other territories for more than seven years. Pharmaxis steered Bronchitol to approval as the first orphan drug approved in Russia following a change in legislation, listing on the Essential Drugs List and subsequently established a fast-growing business that brought a new drug to cystic fibrosis patients in Russia. We have had a long and productive collaboration with GEN who have been our distributors in the Turkish market for many years. Extending this relationship to encompass Russia and other related territories at this time will ensure that Bronchitol will be well supported by an experienced partner with a leading position in cystic fibrosis care. Cost savings strengthen balance sheet Seventy per cent of the distributor appointment fee is now payable to Pharmaxis with the remaining 30 per cent due in 12 months. In addition to the sale price, the company has secured ongoing annual savings of A$1 million in marketing and regulatory expenses. Phillips said: The upfront payments and the annual cost savings realised by the company along with today's placement strengthen our balance sheet as we commence clinical proof of concept studies in myelofibrosis and skin scarring. Further initiatives currently underway to generate non-dilutive cash and reduce operating expenses will be announced as they are completed. Pharmaxis will continue to manufacture and export Bronchitol to Russia from its factory in Sydney that also supplies the US, European and Australian markets. Cities and counties across Texas would be barred from shrinking their police budgets without voter approval under a bill that passed the state Senate on Tuesday. The measure is an attempt to make good on promises by Republican leaders to crack down on Austin and other progressive cities that have pushed for law enforcement reforms amid scrutiny over police brutality. The bill, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, doesnt go as far as some conservatives had hoped in punishing Austin, but would add a significant impediment to future budget cycles. I think this is important legislation that sends a message to citizens that we are going to back the blue, Huffman said, echoing a common rallying cry among conservatives. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Democrats in the Senate called the legislation a political ploy, though most of them voted in favor. Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, said it essentially backed him into a corner by making him choose between his longstanding support for the police and his loyalty for local government having control to make its own budgetary decisions. Some things we do here were trying to fix things that arent broken, that arent genuine, he said, noting the chamber still has not taken up legislation to improve policing and make officers more accountable. We've got to have a discussion before this session ends about the criminal justice and police brutality issues that we're dealing with across this country, Miles said. Republicans including Gov. Greg Abbott, who is leading the push against defund the police efforts, had vowed to back some police reform measures last summer after the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer. Huffmans bill is one of several targeting the defund movement that is pending in the Legislature, and it is the first to pass out of either chamber. A measure that passed out of committee earlier this week in the House proposes stripping annexation powers from cities that decrease funding for police. While the term defund the police has become hyperpoliticized since Floyds death, it can refer to a range of reforms, from moving some traditional police functions to other agencies to completely abolishing law enforcement. In Austin, the City Council moved last year to shift more duties to civilian positions, including mental health counselors. It also moved the citys crime lab out of the police department, a move made by other large cities including Houston. The bill still has a long way to go in order to become law. An identical version of it would have to be approved by the Texas House and then signed into law by Abbott. Political writer Jeremy Wallace contributed to this report. jeremy.blackman@chron.com The death has occurred of William (Willie Fitz) Fitzgerald, Stoney Creek, Newtown, Pallasgreen, Limerick late of Fitzgerald Skip Hire, Timaru, Rathbane North, Limerick. William, passed away at University Hospital, Limerick Husband of the recently deceased Mary (Nee Moore) and father of the late Anthony, Liam and Johnny. Very deeply regretted by his sons Charlie and Tommy, daughters Barbara, Carmel and Kathryn, thirteen grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, other relatives and large circle of friends. May He Rest in Peace A private Requiem Mass, for family only, will take place on Saturday (April 17th) at 10.00am in St. John's Cathedral Mass will be streamed live. Funeral afterwards to Mount St. Lawrence (old) Cemetery. In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. Please ensure social distancing and public health advice is adhered. Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the condolence section below or cards and letters of sympathy can be sent to Cross' Funeral Directors, Lower Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The death has occurred of Thomas O'Halloran School House Lane, off St. Josephs Street, Limerick City, Limerick. Thomas OHalloran (School House Lane, off St. Josephs Street, Limerick. Formerly of Treaty Distributors). April 13th 2021 peacefully at Limerick University Hospital. Sadly missed by loving nieces Mary, Ann and Philomena, nephews, Patsy, Johnny and Paul, grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family and friends. May he rest in peace. A private Requiem Mass for family will be held in St. Josephs Church, OConnell Avenue, this Friday (16th April) at 11.30am followed by burial in Mount St. Lawrence Cemetery. In the interests of public health, attendance at Requiem Mass will be restricted to accord with government guidelines and in line with social distancing protocols. Mass cards and messages of sympathy can be sent to Thompsons, Thomas Street, Limerick. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The death has occurred of Mary (Maeve) O'Neill (nee Flanagan) Fairview Terrace, Greenhill Road, Garryowen, Limerick and formerly of O'Donoghue Avenue, Janesboro. Mary (Maeve) died (peacefully) at St. John's Hospital. Wife of the late Michael O'Neill. Regretted by her sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother Kevin, other relatives and friends. May She Rest in Peace. A private Requiem Mass, for family only, will take place on Saturday (April 17th) at 11.30am in St. John's Cathedral. Mass will be streamed live. The funeral cortege will depart the Church at 12.30pm approx. and will then travel pass the family home in Fairview Terrace, Greenhill Road, en route to Mount St. Lawrence (Extension) Cemetery. In compliance with the current HSE guidelines, the funeral will be limited to 10 people. Please ensure social distancing and public health advice is adhered. Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the condolence section below or cards and letters of sympathy can be sent to Cross' Funeral Directors, Lower Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The death has occurred of Paddy CAHILL. Townsend Street, Dublin 2, Dublin. CAHILL Paddy (Townsend Street, Dublin), April 9th 2021, peacefully, surrounded by family, in the wonderful care of the staff at the Mater Hospital. Beloved husband of Jonia and son of Tony and Catriona, brother of Pamela and Conor, and uncle to Patrick, Kate and Conor. Also remembered and cherished by his extended family and a wide circle of friends and the film and architecture community. In accordance with government guidelines, the funeral will be private. You may view the ceremony on Monday, April 12th at 2.40 pm here: https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/glasnevin-cemetery. A personal message for the family can be placed in the Condolences section below. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BackIntoDaylight.com For more see here ------------------------------------------------------------------ Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Last month's Suez canal blockage caused by the grounding of the Ever Given super tanker led to a spike in sulphur dioxide emissions, according to satellite data. The pollutant is a greenhouse gas which is spewed out by the burning of the type of fuel oil used in ship engines. Evidence from the Tropomi apparatus on the the EU's Sentinel-5P satellites revealed the gas was being pumped out by boats in 'hotelling mode' which were left idling after getting caught up in the Ever Given-induced traffic jam. This is where boats are anchored with the main engine turned off but many of their power generators and on-board boilers are still in use. The large number of ships stuck in one place at the northern end of the Suez Canal in the Mediterranean Sea caused sulphur emissions to spike in the region. Scroll down for video Pictured, the increase in sulphur dioxide emissions between March 23 and March 29 when the Suez canal was blocked by the Ever Given. Red areas are increases in sulphur dioxide levels caused by ships 'hotelling' while waiting for the Ever Given to be cleared The Ever Given megaship blocked Egypt's Suez Canal and crippled world trade for nearly a week and has now been 'seized' on court orders until the vessel's owners pay $900 million in compensation for lost trade, canal authorities said Tuesday The Suez Canal is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world as it creates the shortest distance for vessels to cross from the Indian Oceans into the Atlantic Dr Maryam Pourshamsi, an Earth Observation specialist with Airbus Defence and Space, told BBC News: 'When the ships are moving, when they're actually cruising, they are emitting more sulphur dioxide than when they're just hotelling. 'But it's the fact that we have so many ships collected together, all parked, that we get to see this signal in the Sentinel-5P satellite data.' Ever Given's saga saw the crucial maritime artery blockaded for almost a week and more than 350 ships were stuck behind the gargantuan vessel as a result. Some opted to complete their journeys via other, much longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, while some ships waited for the boat to be freed. The ship was yesterday seized by Egyptian authorities on court orders until the vessel's owners pay $900 million in compensation. The MV Ever Given was seized yesterday due to its failure to pay $900 million in compensation. It got stuck diagonally, holding up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day The Ever Given ship was trapped for six days before authorities finally managed to set it free in an operation involving tug boats and diggers What is sulphur dioxide? Sulphur is a small molecule which is a gas at room temperature and contains one atom of sulphur bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is a greenhouse gas which is emitted from ships, volcanoes and industry. The UK Government's Health Protection Agency considers it to be a toxic and corrosive chemical. In gaseous form it is highly irritating to eyes and skin and the lungs if inhaled and can cause nausea, vomiting and corrosion of the airways in high concentrations. It is a colourless gas with an irritating pungent odour and it also readily dissolves in water. As a result, sulphur dioxide is the chemical responsible for acid rain. 'One of the main uses of sulphur dioxide is as a chemical intermediate in the production of sulphuric acid,' the HPA says. 'It is also used as a fumigant, a food preservative and as a bleaching agent. 'Sulphur dioxide has also been used in the purification of petroleum products.' Advertisement Ever Given is a Japanese-owned, Taiwanese operated, and Panama flagged vessel which got diagonally stuck in the canal on March 23. A mammoth six-day-long effort by Egyptian personnel and international salvage specialists eventually manage to dislodge it. Maritime data company Lloyd's List said the blockage had held up an estimated $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day between Asia and Europe. The canal is economically vital to Egypt, which lost between $12 and $15 million in revenues for each day the waterway was closed, according to the canal authority. After the Ever Given was freed, the data shows sulphur levels soon returned to normal. Recently there have been efforts made by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to curb the industry's atrocious emissions record. Some of the world's biggest vessels have enormous engines which are four stories high and run on oil-based products which are more polluting than their like-for-like equivalents used in road and air travel. According to the European Commission, international shipping emits around 940 million tonnes of CO2 a year, and is responsible for about 2.5 per cent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. The IMO is working on ways to improve the maritime industry's reputation as an environmentally ravaging sector and last year introduced a new rule which forces ships to use cleaner fuel oils. It hopes to halve total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. The Mediterranean Sea, which is connected to the Red Sea via the Suez canal, is one of the world's busiest shipping channels. A proposal is in consideration which would further limit emissions in the Mediterranean and curb sulphur emissions to a fifth of their new lower level. The ship blocked the Suez canal for almost a week and was eventually refloated and moved Ever Given's saga saw the pivotal maritime artery blockaded for almost a week and more than 350 ships were stuck behind the gargantuan vessel as a result. Some opted to complete their journeys via other, much longer routes, while some ships sat idling in the water waiting for the boat to be moved Advertisement Hunter Biden was spotted out with wife Melissa Cohen on their way to get their Covid-19 vaccines in Los Angeles amid controversy surrounding the racy findings on his laptop. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the pair putting on a loved up display with Hunter's arm wrapped around Melissa as they walked into a CVS Pharmacy, accompanied by three Secret Service agents, to get their shots Tuesday. Tuesday was the first day Los Angeles opened up their vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and over and the Bidens took full advantage, spending 45 minutes inside getting the jab and doing some light shopping. Melissa wore a black top tucked into ripped blue jeans and open-toed sandals. Her blond locks were pulled back and she wore trendy dark sunglasses. Hunter, who wore a black cap, blue button up, jeans and a face mask adorned with a four-leaf clover, got back into his motorcade to return home with his wife. The sighting comes as the President's son had a drama-filled week with the release of his tell-all memoir as well as having photos, texts and emails from his abandoned laptop published by DailyMail.com. Hunter Biden was seen with wife Melissa Cohen on their way to get their Covid-19 vaccines in Los Angeles on Tuesday Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the couple with their arms around each other as they walked into a CVS Pharmacy, accompanied by three Secret Service agents They spent about 45 minutes inside the CVS to get their shots and did some light shopping before returning to their motorcade Melissa wore a black turtle neck tucked into ripped blue jeans and open-toed sandals. Her blond locks were pulled back and she wore trendy dark sunglasses Hunter, who wore a black cap, blue button up, jeans and a face mask adorned a four leaf clover got back into a motorcade to return home with his wife It's been a week full of bombshells for Hunter after the release of his new memoir Beautiful Things delved into his excessive drug use, deranged sex life and infidelities. Tuesday was the first day Los Angeles opened up their vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and over and the Bidens took full advantage, spending 45 minutes inside getting the jab and doing some light shopping At the same time, DailyMail.com authenticated the contents of Hunter's laptop that he left abandoned at a repair shop. The bombshell cache of 103,000 text messages, 154,000 emails, more than 2,000 photos and dozens of videos are packed with revelations missing from the memoir. The pictures, documents, emails and texts reveal that despite reporting more than $6 million of income from 2013 to 2016, Hunter's bacchanalian expenses left him with huge debts to credit card companies and the tax man. The documents show that as well as keeping luxury cars including a 2014 Porsche, an Audi, a 2018 Ford Raptor Truck, an $80,000 boat, a Range Rover, Land Rover, BMW and Chevrolet Truck, Hunter also spent thousands of dollars on strippers and suspected prostitutes. Pictures found on the laptop show Hunter naked using a laptop and another shows him on a bed straddled by two naked women with a small dog nearby. Another photo shows what appears to be thousands of dollars worth of crack bagged up on a 'Cheech and Chong' branded scale, and Hunter with a crack pipe in his mouth. The numerous expenses left him strapped for cash when it came to supporting his new family. Emails leaked from the computer sparked a scandal before the 2020 presidential election in October, but were dismissed as Russian disinformation by the Bidens and other senior Democrats, social media giants Twitter and Facebook, and several major media organizations. After obtaining a copy of the hard drive, DailyMail.com commissioned top cyber forensics experts Maryman & Associates to analyze its data and determine whether the laptop's contents were real. It's been a week full of bombshells for Hunter after the release of his new memoir Beautiful Things delved into his excessive drug use, deranged sex life and infidelities Hunter ends the book where he currently is in life: sober, living in California with his second wife Melissa and their baby son, Beau Despite finding his love in Melissa, Hunter Biden joked in a previous Jimmy Kimmel interview that 'pants were the problem' while he was on crack The sighting comes as the President's son had a drama-filled week with the release of his tell-all memoir and photos, texts and emails from his abandoned laptop were published by DailyMail.com President Biden's son was seen getting back into the motorcade to be driven back to their Los Angeles home The firm's founder, Brad Maryman, is a 29-year FBI veteran Supervisory Special Agent who served as an Information Security Officer and founded its first computer forensics lab. Maryman and his business partner Dr. Joseph Greenfield used the same forensic tools to pick apart the drive as federal and state law enforcement use in criminal investigations, and prepared a report for DailyMail.com. Hunter's new memoir, Beautiful Things, came out last week and promised to give a candid account of the president's son's addiction The report said the data on the drive 'appear to be authentic', and that after an extensive search of its contents for any tell-tale signs of tampering, Maryman and Greenfield found 'no evidence' of fabrication by Russians or anyone else. 'The data on the system before April 2019 appears to be related to Mr. Biden, with timestamps appearing to be between 2016 and 2019,' the Maryman and Associates report said. 'The operating system timestamps appear to be authentic, and no evidence was found to suggest that the timestamps or data were altered or manufactured. No indications were found that would indicate the data was manufactured. Among the 103,199 text messages on the hard drive dating from 2016 to March 2019 are fraught conversations between President Joe Biden and his son. The texts reveal how Joe was sucked into his son's torrid love life, became a punching bag for Hunter's drug-fueled rants, and paid his grandchildren's bills when Hunter had drained his bank accounts from his spending on prostitutes and crack cocaine. When the former Delaware senator was elected Vice President in 2008, it put an end to Hunter's lucrative career as a lobbyist to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest. Hunter then embarked on a series of controversial business ventures and fell into a cycle of crack and prostitute binges, scandal and rehab. By 2019 his texts appeared to be seething with resentment. When Joe texted him a typically doting message 'Good morning my beautiful son. I miss you and love you. Dad' on February 24 that year, Hunter raged at his father for 'having made clear to the world that the only reason for not [running for president is your] family problems im glad to be the f***ing bullseye you painted on my back.' Hunter complained that his father's advice to not defend himself in the media over stories about his expensive divorce from his ex-wife Kathleen Biden or his affair with his brother's widow Hallie had backfired, and added sarcastically: 'Oh good morning from f***ing rehab.' 'Your team just made me the uncontrollable troubled tax cheat philanderer sex and drug addict that you tried so hard to fix but couldn't yt. They just totally wrote my life away,' he wrote. 'If you dont run ill never have a chance at redemption.' This photo of him grabbing a woman's hair was recovered from his laptop which was authenticated by DailyMail.com Hunter left his MacBook Pro laptop at a Wilmington, Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 and never returned for it. The report said the data on the drive 'appear to be authentic', and that after an extensive search of its contents for any tell-tale signs of tampering, Maryman and Greenfield found 'no evidence' of fabrication by Russians or anyone else Joe replied, promising his son he would run for President but adding that he was worried his texts were 'a target' for hacking. 'I'll run but I need you,' he wrote. 'H[allie] is wrong. Only focus is recovery. Nothing else... When you can and feel like it call. Positive my text etc a target. Love.' He declared his candidacy two months later. In his book, Hunter writes that he found Hallie Biden 'hypnotic' and 'incredibly alluring', even though she was his grieving sister-in-law. In a queasy passage, Hunter admits that he 'could see why my brother fell for her'. The 51-year-old claims their affair, which he claims began in the wake of Beau's death from brain cancer in 2015, was 'built on need, hope, frailty and doom'. The relationship was made public in 2017 after Hunter's estranged wife Kathleen found text messages from Hallie on his iPad and filed for divorce. DailyMail.com previously revealed Kathleen had emailed Hunter saying she was leaving him 'because you are having an affair and you have been emotionally abusive'. PSD (Social Democratic Party) leader Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday that the removal of Vlad Voiculescu from the office of Minister of Health comes "much too late for many Romanians who lost their lives or destroyed their health." "We had 4 months in which hospitals burned down, in which the people who died of COVID were mocked, in which the seriously ill were evacuated from the hospital in the middle of the night, in which patients who could have lived for many more days died due to misfunctioning oxygen facilities, 4 months in which Iohannis remained silent, and Citu and the entire Coalition of Austerity protected this catastrophic minister! PNL (National Liberal Party), USR (Save Romania Union) and UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania) must never again dare to bring such calamities as Voiculescu or Tataru at the Ministry of Health. It's time to bring in a professional who knows what to do in this health crisis," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Florin Citu dismissed the Minister of Health, Vlad Voiculescu. Fears are growing for British-Mexican Claudia Uruchurtu Cruz who was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint after she challenging a corrupt Mexican mayor Fears are growing for a British-Mexican woman allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint after she challenging a corrupt Mexican mayor. Claudia Uruchurtu Cruz was allegedly dragged by kidnappers into the back of a red truck that drove off with her in the boot during an anti-corruption protest in Mexico on March 26. Authorities have been slow to probe Cruz's alleged kidnapping and only opened an investigation after facing pressure from the UN and the British government. The 48-year-old activist was attending a protest against Asuncion Nochixtlan municipality Mayor Lizbeth Huerta, in the south-western Mexican state of Oaxaca when she went missing. Huerta, who is running for election in June, is currently under investigation by the Mexican Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office for the alleged misappropriation of public funds. The 48-year-old activist (pictured) was attending a protest against Asuncion Nochixtlan municipality Mayor Lizbeth Huerta in the south-western Mexican state of Oaxaca when she went missing Protests began after Huerta allegedly ordered her bodyguards to beat a businesswoman to near death after she asked the president to pay back a MXN 500,000 (18,150) loan, local media outlet Didxha reporte. Cruz's sisters, Elizabeth and Sara, said Claudia was last seen in the town's central square where she was mobbed by a group of people who bundled her into the back of a red pick-up truck and drove off. The Mexican Ombudsman's Office for Human Rights heard testimonies from witnesses who corroborated the account given by the sisters. Elizabeth and Sara added that Claudia had been subjected to constant threats because of her political activism. They went on to directly accuse the municipal government of orchestrating their sister's disappearance. Cruz's sisters, Elizabeth and Sara, said Claudia was last seen in the town's central square where she was mobbed by a group of people who bundled her into the back of a red pick-up truck and drove off. She had been subjected to constant threats because of her political activism Authorities had refused to look into the case until pressure from the federal Mexican government forced their hand, local news outlet Sinembargo reported. The Mexican government faced pressure to act from the United Nations (UN) and the British government. The UN Committee Against Forced Disappearance signed an open letter addressed to the Mexican government pressuring them to locate the missing woman. The victim's sisters, who live in Sheffield, wrote to the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab asking him to work with the Mexican government to find Claudia. Several MPs from Sheffield have also written to the foreign secretary on behalf of the victims family raising their concerns about the situation. The Attorney General's Office issued a statement on Twitter announcing they had issued a 'Pink alert' which is applied if a woman in the state is missing. The Attorney General is currently treating this as a missing person case, not a kidnapping, because no demands have been issued for her release. Huerta has denied involvement in the case and said that she is willing to collaborate in the investigation. The Attorney General's Office is yet to release any information regarding potential suspects or leads in the case. Authorities have been slow to probe Cruz's alleged kidnapping and only opened an investigation after facing pressure from the UN and the British government (pictured, police prepare to face protesters in Mexico City in 2019) Vaccines work and the CDC's announcement allowing those who are vaccinated to forgo masks indoors is backed by science, writes Wendy Hasson, a pediatric intensive care physician. But as a doctor who follows the science, the mother of an ineligible toddler, the daughter of an immunocompromised parent, and a community member who wants to show solidarity with those who are vulnerable, she plans to continue to mask when indoors in public and urges Oregonians to do the same. Two new studies, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet Public Health, found no evidence that people with the B.1.1.7. variant experience worse symptoms or a heightened risk of developing long COVID compared with those infected with a different COVID-19 strain. However, viral load and R number were higher for B.1.1.7., adding to growing evidence that it is more transmissible than the first strain detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The emergence of variants has raised concerns that they could spread more easily and be more deadly, and that vaccines developed based on the original strain might be less effective against them. Preliminary data on B.1.1.7. indicates that it is more transmissible, with some evidence suggesting it could also be associated with increased hospitalisations and deaths. However, because the variant was identified only recently, these studies were limited by the amount of data available. Findings from the new studies, which spanned the period between September and December 2020, when B.1.1.7. emerged and began to spread across parts of England, provide important insights into its characteristics that will help inform public health, clinical, and research responses to this and other COVID-19 variants. Increased viral load but no association with increased severity and death The Article in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal is a whole-genome sequencing and cohort study involving COVID-19 patients admitted to University College London Hospital and North Middlesex University Hospital, UK, between November 9 and December 20, 2020. This was a critical time point when both the original and B.1.1.7. variants were circulating in London, the vaccination programme was just starting, and before a significant surge in cases in early 2021 caused a strain on the NHS. The authors compared illness severity in people with and without B.1.1.7 and calculated viral load. Among 341 patients who had their COVID-19 test swabs sequenced, 58% (198/341) had B.1.1.7 and 42% (143/341) had a non-B.1.1.7. infection (two patients' data were excluded from further analysis). No evidence of an association between the variant and increased disease severity was detected, with 36% (72/198) of B.1.1.7. patients becoming severely ill or dying, compared with 38% (53/141) of those with a non-B.1.1.7 strain. Patients with the variant tended to be younger, with 55% (109/198) of infections in people under 60 compared with 40% (57/141) for those who did not have B.1.1.7. Infections with B.1.1.7. occurred more frequently in ethnic minority groups, accounting for 50% (86/172) of cases that included ethnicity data, compared with 29% (35/120) for non-B.1.1.7 strains. In a regression analysis that included 289 patients, those with B.1.1.7 were no more likely to experience severe disease after accounting for hospital, sex, age, ethnicity, and underlying conditions. Those with B.1.1.7. were no more likely to die than patients with a different strain, with 16% (31/198) of B.1.1.7. patients dying within 28 days compared with 17% (24/141) for those with a non-B.1.1.7. infection. More patients with B.1.1.7 were given oxygen by mask or nasal cannula than those with a non-B.1.1.7. strain (44%, 88/198 vs 30%, 42/141, respectively). However, the authors say this is not a clear measure of disease severity, as patients may have received nasal prong oxygen for reasons unrelated to COVID-19, or as a consequence of underlying conditions. To gain insights into the transmissibility of B.1.1.7., the authors used data generated by PCR testing of patient swabs to predict their viral load - the amount of virus in a person's nose and throat. The data analysed - known as PCR Ct values and genomic read depth - indicated that B.1.1.7. samples tended to contain greater quantities of virus than non-B.1.1.7. swabs. Dr Eleni Nastouli, from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK, said: "One of the real strengths of our study is that it ran at the same time that B.1.1.7. was emerging and spreading throughout London and the south of England. Analysing the variant before the peak of hospital admissions and any associated strains on the health service gave us a crucial window of time to gain vital insights into how B.1.1.7. differs in severity or death in hospitalised patients from the strain of the first wave. Our study is the first in the UK to utilise whole-genome sequencing data generated in real-time and embedded in an NHS clinical service and integrated granular clinical data. "We hope that this study provides an example of how such studies can be done for the benefit of patients throughout the NHS. As more variants continue to emerge, using this approach could help us better understand their key characteristics and any additional challenges that they may pose to public health." The authors acknowledge some limitations to their study. Disease severity was captured within 14 days of a positive COVID-19 test, so patients who may have deteriorated after 14 days may have been missed in the analysis, though the authors sought to mitigate this by capturing deaths at 28 days. The analyses also did not take account of any other treatments that patients were receiving - such as steroids, antiviral medications, or convalescent plasma - or the possibility that some patients may have received ventilation for reasons other than COVID-19. Writing in a linked comment, Sean Wei Xiang Ong, Barnaby Edward Young, and David Chien Lye, from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, who were not involved in the study, said, "[The authors'] observation that B.1.1.7 infections were associated with increased viral loads corroborates findings from two other studies and provides a mechanistic hypothesis that increased transmissibility is via increased respiratory shedding. Yet, disease severity and clinical outcomes between patients with B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 infections were similar after adjusting for differences in age, sex, ethnicity, and comorbidities. Importantly, this study was done from Nov 9 to Dec 20, 2020, before the late- December peak in UK COVID-19 infections, avoiding any confounding effect of the availability of health-care resources on mortality. This finding is in contrast with three studies that reported increased mortality associated with lineage B.1.1.7." They continue, "Thus, although limited by a much smaller dataset, the study by Frampton and colleagues has important advantages over the three community studies. These advantages include the use of whole-genome sequencing, recruitment of hospitalised patients, and a population reflective of the spectrum of severity in whom increased virulence will have the greatest effect on outcomes. The finding that lineage B.1.1.7 infection did not confer increased risk of severe disease and mortality in this high-risk cohort is reassuring but requires further confirmation in larger studies." Effective control measures The Article in The Lancet Public Health journal is an ecological study that analysed self-reported data from 36,920 UK users of the COVID Symptom Study app who tested positive for COVID-19 between 28 September and 27 December 2020. Test results and symptom reports submitted through the app were combined with surveillance data from the COVID-19 UK Genetics Consortium and Public Health England to examine associations between the regional proportion of B.1.1.7. infections and symptoms, disease duration, reinfection rates, and transmissibility. The analysis covered 13 full weeks over the period when the proportion of B.1.1.7. grew most notably in London, South East and East of England. Users were included in a week if they had reported a positive test during the 14 days before or after that week. For each week in every region in the analysis (Scotland, Wales, and the seven NHS England regions), authors calculated the proportion of users reporting any of 14 COVID-19 symptoms. Dr Claire Steves, Reader and Honorary Consultant Physician, King's College London, UK, who co-led the study, said "We could only do this by aggregating two large sources of data: the extensive genetic sequencing of viral strains performed in the UK, and symptom and testing logs from millions of users on the COVID-symptom Study App. Thanks to them, we confirmed the increased transmissibility but also showed that B.1.1.7. clearly responded to lockdown measures and doesn't appear to escape immunity gained by exposure to the original virus. If further new variants emerge, we will be scanning for changes in symptom reporting and reinfection rates, and sharing this information with health policymakers." For each region and symptom, a linear regression was done to examine the association between the proportion of B.1.1.7. in that region and the proportion of users reporting the symptom during the study period. The analysis adjusted for age, sex, and seasonal factors (regional temperature and humidity) that could affect reporting of some symptoms. The analysis revealed no statistically significant associations between the proportion of B.1.1.7. within regions and the type of symptoms people experienced. There was also no evidence of any change in the total number of symptoms experienced by people with B.1.1.7: in the South East region, which experienced the earliest rise in B.1.1.7, the correlation coefficient was -0.021. The proportion of people who experienced long COVID (here defined as symptoms persisting for more than 28 days without a break of more than 7 days) was also not altered by B.1.1.7., with a correlation coefficient of -0.003. The reinfection rate was low, with 0.7% (249/36,509) of those who reported a positive test before October 1, 2020, testing positive again more than 90 days later. The analysis found no evidence that reinfection rate was altered by B.1.1.7: for all regions except Scotland (where less data was available due to fewer users of the app), reinfections were more positively correlated with the overall regional rise in cases than the regional rise in the proportion of B.1.1.7. infections. No difference in reinfection rates was reported across study regions. However, the authors found that B.1.1.7. increased the overall reproduction number, or R number, by 1.35 times compared with the original strain. This estimate is similar to those from other studies investigating the variant's transmissibility. Despite this increase, the analysis indicates that the R number was below 1 - indicating falling transmission - during local and national lockdowns, even in the three regions (London, South East, and East of England) with the highest proportions of B.1.1.7., which accounted for 80% of infections. Dr Mark Graham, from King's College London, UK, said: "The wealth of data captured by the COVID Symptom Study app provided a unique opportunity to look for potential changes in symptoms and length of illness associated with the B.1.1.7. variant. Reassuringly, our findings suggest that, despite being more easily spread, the variant does not alter the type or duration of symptoms experienced and we believe current vaccines and public health measures are likely to remain effective against it." The authors acknowledge some limitations to their study. It was not possible to assess causal effects of B.1.1.7. due to the lack of information on the disease strain of individual positive cases reported through the app. Users may also have made errors when inputting their information through the app. People who sign up to the app are likely to be more interested in health and COVID-19 than the wider population and may exhibit different behaviour to other members of the population. Writing in a linked comment, Dr Britta Jewell, from Imperial College London, UK, who was not involved in the study, said: "This study adds to the consensus that B.1.1.7 has increased transmissibility, which has contributed in large part to the sharp rise in cases in the UK over the study period and beyond, as well as ongoing third waves in European countries with growing burdens of B.1.1.7 cases. However, Graham and colleagues reach somewhat different conclusions about differences in symptoms than those of the UK Office for National Statistics, which reported that a higher proportion of individuals who tested positive for the B.1.1.7 variant had at least one symptom compared with those without the variant...Graham and colleagues acknowledge the limitations of using self-reported digital data for this type of analysis, including the inherent selection bias of app-based data, which could cause confounding that might explain some of the differences in findings. However, Jewell continues: "The data suggest that, despite important changes in transmissibility and mortality, B.1.1.7 is similar enough to non-VOC lineages for current testing infrastructure and symptom profiles to identify new cases. Additionally, existing non-pharmaceutical interventions can reduce the Rt of B.1.1.7 to below 1, given adequate governmental planning. Fortunately, B.1.1.7 also appears to be quite effectively combatted by existing vaccines." Data science is the field of study that combines domain expertise, programming skills, and knowledge of mathematics and statistics to extract meaningful insights from data. Today, from multinational companies to small startups, every organization requires a Data Scientist for proper usage of the huge amount of data it generates and stores. As India steps into the era of online businesses and organizations, it is the second-highest country next to the US to have generated the demand to recruit about 50,000 Data Scientists for 2020 and 2021. Analysts have predicted that there will be more than 11 million job openings by 2026. The rising demand for data science professionals presses on the need to have some significant courses and curriculum to skill-up the budding leaders. Here is this list of Indias Top 5 institutes offering comprehensive and advanced data science Online Courses that can definitely help learners become the right skill set as per industry-demand and land with their dream job. Henry Harvin: The Data Science Course from Henry Harvin equips students and Data Analysts with the most essential skills needed to apply data science in any number of real-world contexts. It blends theory, computation, and application in a most easy-to-understand and practical way. The training duration is 40-hrs with 12 month free Brush Up sessions and 50hrs E-Learning Access. The course fee starts from Rs.13,500/- onwards. On Successful completion all students are awarded the Henry Harvin Data Science Course Certification with a CDS certification and earn the Prestigious Henry Harvin Alumni status and become one of the reputed 18000+Alumni across the globe. IntelliPaat: IntelliPaats Data Science training program offered in collaboration with IBM lets learners gain proficiency in Data Science with Python, Machine Learning, AI, Deep Learning, Big Data Hadoop, Spark, Tableau Desktop, etc with 24*7 support. This program comprises 10+ courses, 53+ industry-specific projects, and 232 Hours of online instructor-led training with a CAPSTONE project. Learners will get access to the IBM course and earn a certificate from IBM. The best part of this course is that learners have lifetime access to attend multiple batches and keep themselves abreast with technology updates. This course also provides career assistance which includes resume preparation, mock interviews. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode: IIM Kozhikode has launched the Certificate Programme in Data Science, designed to give you a detailed insight into modern data science practices. The course helps participants to understand the differences between small data and big data, explore Python and learn to import Python libraries such as NumPy and Pandas amongst other skills. The 3 months programme is conducted online through session of 4/5 hours per week. Graduate or Diploma Holders in any discipline with minimum 1 year of work experience can apply. The Cost of the programme is Rs.71,750 excluding taxes. Participants will be awarded a Certificate from IIM Kozhikode on the successful completion of the programme with a 70% of score. Simplilearn: Simplilearn's Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Data Science in partnership with Purdue University is a comprehensive Data Science bootcamp program leveraging Purdues academic excellence in Data Science and Simplilearns partnership with IBM. This Data Science Bootcamp program is ideal for all working professionals, covering job-critical topics like R, Python programming, and machine learning algorithms, and NLP concepts, data visualization with Tableau in great detail via our interactive learning model with live sessions by global practitioners, practical labs, IBM Hackathons, and industry projects. The Program duration is 12 months where classes are conducted online 4-5 Hours per week. The admission fee for this program is Rs.2,15,000 (Excluding GST) . Upon successful completion of the bootcamp, you will be awarded a Post Graduate Program in Data Science joint certification by Simplilearn and Purdue University. Upgrad: Upgrad offers India's 1st NASSCOM certified Executive PGP in Data Science from IIITB. Participants are given an option to Choose from 6 viz. Data Science Generalist, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, Business Analytics and Data Engineering. The duration of the course is 12 months and classes are conducted online 12-15 hours per week. The eligibility for the course is to have a Bachelors Degree with minimum 50% or equivalent passing marks. No coding experience required through. The program is priced at INR 2,85,000 inclusive of taxes. Post successful completion of the program, an Executive PGP in Data Science would be granted from IIIT Bangalore. A 69-year-old Manchester man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver who came to his house to pick up free furniture on Tuesday, authorities said. Kevin Noonan, of Manchester, was arrested later in Lacey and charged with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said in a statement Wednesday. The man he hit Jack Gotfried was flown to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune where he was pronounced dead. Gotfried and Noonan didnt know each other, a prosecutors office spokesman said. The bizarre incident unfolded just before 3:45 p.m. when Noonan arrived at Gottfrieds house on Yorketown Parkway in the Whiting section of town to claim items that Gotfried was giving away, officials said. Noonan struck Gotfried as he backed up his car at a high rate of speed, pinning the older man between the rear of the vehicle and a truck parked in front of the house, prosecutors said. Noonan then drove away, leaving Gotfried on the ground, authorities said. Prosecutors office detectives later found Noonan walking along Western Boulevard in Lacey and took him into custody. Noonan, who was also charged with driving with a suspended license during an accident that resulted in death, is being held at the Ocean County jail. Investigators are also testing Noonans blood to see if he was impaired. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. MONTREAL, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The government of Quebec has given the green light to the AppalachesMaine Interconnection Line project. This decision follows a 20-month environmental assessment process and a sustained collaborative effort between Hydro-Quebec and local communities. The interconnection line will link to the future New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, whose construction began in Maine last February. "Today, we have reached a major milestone in this project, which will have a significant impact in the fight against climate change and generate economic benefits for both Quebecers and our neighbors to the south," said Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Hydro-Quebec. This project was the focus of a provincial environmental assessment and review procedure, which includes a review by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE), Quebec's office for public hearings on the environment. In its report, made public on December 4, 2020, the BAPE concluded that the proposed line route is acceptable from the standpoint of the biophysical and human environment thanks to Hydro-Quebec's optimization efforts and planned mitigation measures. The BAPE also determined that the electricity transmitted via the interconnection will contribute to the decarbonization of the economies of Maine and Massachusetts. The project was also approved by the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Quebec in December 2020 and by the Regie de l'energie du Quebec in July 2020. Canada Energy Regulator Because the power line is part of a transborder initiative, the project must also be assessed by the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). This is the last approval to be obtained before construction can begin. According to the CER's procedural timetable, the ruling is expected in spring 2021. Work could begin thereafter, with commissioning scheduled for 2023. Story continues Here's an overview of the AppalachesMaine/New England Clean Energy Connect Project: Once completed, the new interconnection will increase the exchange capacity between Quebec and New England by 1,200 megawatts (MW). The interconnection will supply Massachusetts with 9.45 terawatthours (TWh) of clean Quebec hydropower annually for 20 years. In addition, through an agreement signed with Maine last summer, Maine will receive 0.5 TWh annually for 20 years. The clean and renewable energy provided to Maine and Massachusetts will help avoid over 3 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annuallythe equivalent of taking 700,000 vehicles off the roads. Over 275 workers will be on site. At the peak of construction, this figure is expected to rise to 400 . The project will generate regional economic spinoffs between $50 and $80 million . The line route selected in Quebec extends 103 km between Appalaches substation in Saint-Adrien-d'Irlande (near Thetford Mines) and a connection point in the municipality of Frontenac in Estrie on the QuebecMaine border. The length of the line route in Maine is 233 km. Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clean-energy-exports-to-new-england-quebec-approves-the-appalaches-maine-interconnection-line-project-301268720.html SOURCE Hydro-Quebec An overwhelming majority of respondents to a city survey are happy with the San Antonio Police Department and more than half want to see more officers on the street, prompting city officials to consider moving some duties outside the department to make that happen. This is not a plan to defund the police, City Manager Erik Walsh said. This is a plan to align our foundational issues, get input from the community make sure were lined up with their expectations and that were being thoughtful about things we are doing right now with police officers that maybe we can do with someone else in order to limit those encounters that can become deadly or not good in terms of interaction with the public. Before a plan is finalized, more community input will be gathered, he said. Various virtual meetings will be held this month and in May; the next community-wide one is set for April 20. Among the possible changes under discussion is having calls involving mental health issues not involving a weapon routed to another agency rather than to a regular police officer, city officials said. About 72 percent of respondents to the survey, conducted in February, were either satisfied or very satisfied with the work of SAPD, with 20 percent answering neutral and 8 percent saying they were dissatisfied. The lowest ratings came in Districts 2 and 3 on the East and Southeast sides, but even they were well above the halfway point, with 63 percent satisfied or very satisfied. Citywide, 59 percent of respondents said they feel safe at night in their neighborhoods. Respondents in District 3 reported feeling the least safe, at 41 percent. In District 9, on the citys Northwest Side, 100 percent reported feeling safe in their neighborhoods. The survey was part of Walshs response to demands for police reforms made last summer by thousands of demonstrators who filled downtown San Antonio for protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer now on trial for murder. Leaders of the local Black Lives Matter movement called for spending less money on the San Antonio Police Department and moving those funds into other departments for more social services. At the time, Walsh cautioned against making any immediate sweeping cuts and instead said he was going to undertake a deep review of the department, police accountability and officer discipline, including getting public input. He said he would offer a reform plan to the City Council in April. On ExpressNews.com: In San Antonio municipal races, police reform is a touchy topic Fix SAPD member EJ Pinnock is skeptical of the process. Going out and talking to the community is great, he said. Whats even better is if they would move to a system in which the citizens would have direct access to vote on an actual contract. ... If I dont let you actually make decisions, then it can become rather just window dressing. Fix SAPD is the prime group behind Proposition B, an initiative on the May 1 ballot that would strip the San Antonio police union of the ability to negotiate with the city for a contract. At a news conference Tuesday to discuss the survey and promote a series of public meetings to gather more public input, city officials noted that more than half of the 1,150 respondents thought other departments should handle issues such as fireworks and parking violations, substance abuse issues not involving a weapon and graffiti, among others. Nearly 60 percent indicated police officers shouldnt be involved in animal-related calls or should serve only as backup when needed on those calls. The city is trying to determine the top two areas where another department or agency could provide the primary response and police would provide backup as needed, Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger said. We have to start somewhere, Bridger said. Walsh said the city has to be thoughtful in its approach to shifting responsibilities, however, as some residents may want police presence as a deterrent in cases of graffiti or even parking violations. I think we want to be realistic (in) making permanent changes to service delivery, Walsh said. Walsh said a majority of the changes under discussion could be made internally and wouldnt require changes to the citys contract with police. The initiatives could affect the police budget, Walsh said, but would not reduce the number of officers. On ExpressNews.com: Talks begin over new contract for San Antonio police amid calls for reform, upcoming vote on bargaining rights The city contracted with ETC Institute, a national research firm, to conduct the survey. The institute sent out 5,650 surveys via U.S. mail to random households. They followed up with emails and phone calls, where email addresses and phone numbers were available. They received 1,150 surveys back. Comments from respondents were generally positive; others made suggestions for improving the police-community relationship. I think they respond the best they can with the tools they have, wrote one person from District 9. I do not think they receive enough support from the city. A respondent from District 3 wrote: Most of them are professionals, doing the job they have been trained to do. If they want respect from citizens, then they need to give respect, too. Overall, I appreciate these officers for I know they have a stressful job. Some respondents made specific suggestions. Get them therapy so they have less power issues and as a result be able to treat the community with respect and partner with the citizens to make SA a great city, wrote one respondent from District 7. Many of them will not even smile at people. Another from District 6 wrote: Just all-around visibility and interaction with the community. (Be) friendlier and more approachable. And a respondent from District 1 suggested officers: Live in the communities they serve. Not carry guns on their person. Aggressively discipline officers who have abused their position. One person from District 9 agreed: Have officers that live in their neighborhoods, patrol the same neighborhood. This respondent also wrote, Be transparent. Hold bad officers accountable. Allow citizens to take legal actions against bad officers. The virtual meetings for more public input are being held for individual council districts as well as citywide. There also will be telephone town hall meetings, a discussion in Spanish and several meetings with local stakeholder groups. Officials are seeking more thorough answers than what can be provided on a survey, Bridger said. On ExpressNews.com: Hold these officers accountable - organizations rally for Prop B So far, community meetings have been conducted in Districts 2, 3 and 10, and about 35 people attended each session, according to Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez. Once the results of the meetings are collected, the city will talk to police officers regarding the responses. City staff will present the results to the City Councils Public Safety Committee in June, Villagomez said. The first citywide community conversation is set for April 20, 6-7:30 p.m. Go to sanantonio.gov/SAPDandme for the link the day of the event. To find more community meetings and view complete results of the survey, go to www.SanAntonio.gov/SAPDandMe. For those who cant attend a meeting, a form is available at that website to provide comment. liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway People arrive at a mobile Covid-19 vaccine site in Wilmington district of Los Angeles, California on April 13, 2021, where the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine was due to be administered but changed to the Pfizer vaccine following a recommendation from federal health officials. The US is calling for a pause on April 13, 2021 on administering the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine due to blood clotting concerns.(Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control recommended a "pause" on the one-jab Covid-19 inoculation on worries over six reported cases of a rare type of blood clot in the United States. "We have made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe," J&J said, adding that it was reviewing the cases with European health authorities. "We have been working closely with medical experts and health authorities, and we strongly support the open communication of this information to healthcare professionals and the public," J&J said. US health authorities took the action "out of an abundance of caution" over a disorder that appears similar to that observed in rare cases of people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe -- and the shots by both companies are based on adenovirus vector technology. All the cases involved women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred six to 14 days after vaccination. The pause deals a blow to the US Covid vaccination campaign, which has so far administered 45 percent of the adult population at least one dose -- among the most rapid rates in the world. The J&J vaccine was celebrated for the fact it can be stored at fridge temperature and requires just one dose -- unlike Pfizer and Moderna that need two and require freezing. New Delhi: Great opportunity for Uttar Pradesh youth who aspire to join Indian Army. The Indian Army is holding recruitment rally for numerous posts. These posts include Soldier General Duty, Soldier Clerk, Soldier Nursing Assistant and Soldier Tradesman and Soldier Technical in many departments. The interested candidates can apply on the official website of Indian Army- http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/Authentication.aspx. Who can apply? This Army recruitment rally is going to be conducted for youths of 12 districts of UP. Even class 8th, 10th, 12th pass will be able to attend this recruitment rally. This recruitment will be for the candidates of Badaun, Lakhimpurkheri / Lakhimpur, Pilibhit, Farrukhabad, Bahraich, Balrampur, Bareilly, Hardoi, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur, Shravasti and Sitapur districts of UP. ALSO READ: PNB Recruitment 2021: Interview for Manager position starts, detailed scheduled released on pnbindia.in Where and when will it be held? Army rally recruitment will be held at Rajput Regiment Center in Fatehgarh (UP) between June 7 and June 30, 2021. What is the last date of applying? The deadline for the interested candidates to apply for this recruitment rally is May 22. The candidates will receive their admit cards on May 23 on their email IDs. What is the selection procedure? The individuals will be selected on the basis of Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and written test, which will also have provision for negative marking. ALSO READ: UPSC Recruitment 2021: Last date inching closer, apply for these posts at upsc.gov.in What are the required documents? The candidates will be required to carry 20 copies of photos, original caste certificate, educational certificates. Additionally, the candidates applying for the recruitment rally will need to carry a negative COVID-19 report (and it should not be more than 48 hours old). Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has declared summer holidays for two months for students of Classes 1 to 8 in the state in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the safety and health of students, state School Education Minister Indar Singh Parmar said on Wednesday. However, all government teachers of Classes 1 to 8 shall not leave the headquarters (of their posting) during the summer holidays till the completion of board exams as they may be required for duty and other related works, he said. As per an order issued on Tuesday, students of Classes 1 to 8 of schools run and aided by the government will have holidays from April 15 to June 13, 2021, he said, adding that online teaching can be conducted for these classes till April 30. The minister said all government and non-government hostels in the state have been closed with immediate effect. COVID-19 guidelines have been issued by the school education department to all district collectors, education officers, district project coordinators and principals in this regard. As per the order, the board exams of Classes 10 and 12 will be conducted as per the instructions of the MP Board of Secondary Education, CBSE, ICSE and other boards concerned. On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh recorded 8,998 new cases of coronavirus, the biggest single-day spike in the state since outbreak of COVID-19 in March last year, pushing the infection count to 3,53,632. The COVID-19 fatality count rose to 4,261 with 40 more deaths reported on Tuesday. This month, the state has so far reported 58,121 new cases of COVID-19 and 275 deaths due to the disease, as per official data. Live TV The Alabama Senate has approved legislation to allow voters to decide whether to have a lottery and casinos. The main bill, a constitutional amendment by Sen. Jim McClendon, a Republican from Springville, passed by a vote of 23-9. Tonights votes came five weeks after the Senate rejected a similar plan. The legislation goes to the House. If it passes the House and legislators give final approval, it would go on the ballot for the November 2022 general election. McClendons original bill proposed a constitutional amendment to allow voters to decide whether to have a lottery but did not include casinos. But the Senate tonight adopted a substitute bill by McClendon that added six new casinos to the plan. McClendon said he did not have enough support to pass the bill if it only included the lottery. Four of the casinos would be at the states greyhound tracks in Birmingham, Mobile, Greene County, and Macon County. One would be in Houston County, at the Crossing at Big Creek bingo hall. The sixth would be in either DeKalb or Jackson County in northeast Alabama. The bill would create an Alabama Gaming Commission that would issue licenses for the casinos through a competitive bidding process. But the current operators in Birmingham, Mobile, Greene County, Macon County, and Houston County would have the right to make a final bid exceeding the highest bidder. For the casino in DeKalb or Jackson County, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians would have the right to make the final bid. The bill would require the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. That could allow the Poarch Creeks to offer the full range of casino games at their resorts in Atmore, Montgomery, and Wetumpka, which now offer only electronic bingo. The bill would also authorize sports betting. The plan has similarities to one proposed earlier by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston. That bill fell two votes shy of the 21 votes needed in the 34-member Senate on March 9. Tonight, the Senate passed three bills by Marsh that would spell out some of the details about how the lottery and casinos would operate if the constitutional amendment passes. The Senate then turned to the constitutional amendment, the key bill in the package. Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, proposed an amendment to add a casino in Lowndes County. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 18-11. Soon after that, the Senate passed McClendons proposed constitutional amendment, sending it to the House. McClendon is optimistic about the legislations chances in the House. He said House members have been involved in meetings with senators and Gov. Kay Ivey and her staff over the last week or so. They should be ready in the House to deal with this, McClendon said. I know they have been tracking it. Theyve been in constant contact with me, wanting to know the status. Forty-five states have lotteries, including the four that border Alabama. McClendon had said his main goal was to get a lottery proposal on the ballot for voters. But he said there were not enough votes to get a lottery-only bill through the Senate. I have confidence that the House is going to take this opportunity, McClendon said. Weve been waiting for it for a long time. Weve been haunted by this issue of gambling in Alabama. Ever since Ive been here, its been an issue. Well, its time we got it resolved. And I think the Senate has certainly made a major first step in doing so. Marsh was also optimistic about the legislations chances in the House. There have been great meetings with the House members and the governors staff, the governor, Marsh said. I really believe everybody sees the light in a comprehensive plan. And I believe that the leadership of the House will take this piece of legislation and move it forward and make sure the members understand it. Yeah, itll have changes. The House will put its imprint on it. And well probably see it up here (in the Senate) again. But I think everybody sees the need and the timing to get this done in this session. Voters would have the final say on whether to allow an expansion of gambling in the state. Net revenue from the lottery would be used for college scholarships based on merit, need, and workforce demands. Net revenue from the casinos and sports betting would support expanding access to high-speed internet, rural health care, mental health care, and other programs. Marsh said the legislation was an important step for two main reasons. One, giving people the right to vote, which they have wanted for a long time, he said. And then taking those dollars and putting them into the programs that people want to see in the state of Alabama. Its just a really good day, and were talking significant dollars, probably in the neighborhood of seven hundred million dollars when these are fully implemented. A study commission appointed by Gov. Ivey issued a report in December saying the state could benefit from uniform regulation of gambling and could gain net revenue of up to about $700 million a year from a lottery, casinos, and sports betting. Ivey supports sending a comprehensive gambling proposal to voters. Governor Ivey remains firmly convinced there is a way where, if done right, the people of Alabama can eventually have the final say on a comprehensive gambling package that will be transparent and transformative, Ivey Press Secretary Gina Maiola said in an email tonight. That remains her goal, and she intends to continue to be fully engaged in the legislative process. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said the legislation that passed tonight was the result of weeks of negotiations and work. Its our job to look at issues deep and wide, Reed said. And I think what we saw was an enormous amount of participation. But it wasnt just today. This has been a process thats been going on even before the session started. Weve had a lot of involvement, a lot of engagement. Reed said he though a key to approval of the constitutional amendment was that the Senate first passed the three enabling bills, the ones that spell out specifics about how the lottery and casinos would operate, how the funds will be used, and other details. This story was edited at 7:50 p.m. to say that McClendons substitute bill added the six casinos to the lottery proposal. Updated several times later to add more quotes and information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday released a joint statement on reports that the Johnson&Johnson vaccine can provoke cerebral venous sinus thrombosisa rare blood clotting condition that can be deadly. According to their statement there have been a total of six cases, occurring among women between the ages of 18 and 48, with symptoms arising 6 to 13 days after vaccination. "I know there are people who have gotten the vaccine who are probably very concerned," they addressed at a media briefing later in the day. "For people who've got the vaccine more than a month ago, the risk to them is very low at this time." However, "for people who recently got the vaccine within the last couple of weeks, they should be aware to look for any symptoms." Read on to learn about the symptoms you should look out for if you have received the Johnson&Johnson vaccineand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Signs Your Illness is Actually Coronavirus in Disguise. 1 You May Have a Severe Headache Sick woman suffering from head ache The Michigan Comprehensive Stroke Center explains that the most common symptom of Sinus Vein Thrombosis is a severe headache, "often the worst headache that a patient has ever had," they point out. "It can be of sudden onset, develop over a few hours, or develop over a few days." 2 You May Have Abdominal Pain woman suffering from abdominal pain while sitting on bed at home. Young woman suffering from abdominal pain at home. Gynecology concept. Young woman in pain lying on couch at home According to the FDA, pain in the abdominal region is one of the main symptoms to watch out for. 3 You May Have Leg Pain Thigh pain or muscle twitching or muscle cramp. Michigan Comprehensive Stroke Center explains that another symptom can be experienced in the leg or arm, which they describe as "numbness or weakness" of either or both limbs. 4 You May Have Shortness of Breath Young man having asthma attack at home Shortness of breath or a difficulty breathing can be a sign you have a blood clot. 5 What Symptoms You Should Worry About Most man in white casual t-shirt, holding head with both hands, suffering from severe headache The blood clots "have usually occurred at least about a week after vaccination and not longer than three weeks after vaccination, with a median of about nine days after vaccination," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director, CDC. "We know that for these vaccines, for the first several days after vaccination, there are flu like symptoms which can include headache. So I think for the internist out there and the primary care providers, who are caring for patients, if they're seeing a flu like symptoms and the headache for the first few days after my vaccination," that's fine but "it would be more important that if somebody presented to an emergency room with a very severe headache or with blood clots thata history of prior vaccination be elicited and then appropriate management be instituted. So if someone ends up with a very severe headaches, any types of shortness of breath, pain in their legs, pain in their abdomen, that's so severe that they would want to seek medical attention, and if there are low platelets at that timeone needs to consider this entity." Story continues 6 What To Do If You Experience Any Symptoms Like These Health visitor and a senior man during home visit "You should contact your healthcare provider and seek medical treatment," if you experience the above symptoms. However, they point out that "these symptoms are different from a mild flu like symptoms, fever and so forth that many people experience in a couple of days after receipt of the vaccine." They also urge the importance of getting vaccinated with the other two vaccinesPfizer and Moderna. "We are not seeing these clotting events with low platelet counts with the other two vaccines. People who have vaccine appointments with the other two vaccines should continue with their appointments," they stated. 7 Keep Protecting Yourself and Others Woman put on medical protective mask for protection against coronavirus. Finally, keep following Dr. Anthony Fauci's fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you livewear a face mask that fits snugly and is double layered, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID. Plenty of tenants have issues with their landlords - but these homeowners from hell might just be the worst of the bunch. Their bad behaviour has been captured in viral social media posts by their long-suffering tenants and collated in an online gallery by Ruin My Week. Among the most shocking posts is a tenant that spotted their landlord had spray painted a nest of spiders instead of hiring a professional to sort out the infestation. Elsewhere, one person showed how their landlord penned a lengthy sarcastic text message after they complained about the internet not working. Here, FEMAIL picks out some of the worst encounters with landlords... Caught out: Ruin My Week has rounded up a selection of images that have gone viral on social media because of their bad landlords - including one who tried to disguise a spider's nest by spray painting it A simple 'no' would do! Another image shows a tenant who received a very lengthy sarcastic text message after complaining about the internet not working 'Every little helps!' A tenant took to social media to reveal that their landlord sent a pre-paid postage envelope to ensure they still receive rent during the pandemic Not getting the message... One New Yorker was told to get rid of their pets after informing their landlord about the rats in their bathroom Out of their hands: One London renter took to Twitter to blast their landlord for using a cage to stop them from adjusting the heating Think I can see your work... A tenant in a new property was left amused by their landlord's attempt to hide a patch in the carpet You asked for it! Another tenant made a sign to warn their landlord that they might be naked upon arrival because they refused to give notice before visiting Look closely! A tenant who contacted their landlord about issues with their hot water was left speechless after being asked to send photos A real DIY job: Another individual revealed how their landlord made a gadget to empty water leaking from their ceiling outside What are you meant to do with this? One person admitted they were baffled by the hose left by their landlord to water the lawn at their new home New Delhi : The president of EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker today said that a growth rate of 5.7 per cent is termed as a major growth than what many in India are calling a slowdown. The statement comes as a breather to many who wants to see India as an economic powerhouse. Several financial institutions like the ADB, the World Bank (IBRD) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have pegged India's GDP growth rate to be at 5.7 per cent. The EU Commission and its leaders visited India and met Prime Minister (PM) Modi in New Delhi on Friday. India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The EU was represented by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission. "The EU closely follows Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's economic reforms, including the historic introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which can facilitate ease of doing business and promotes market integration in India by realising a simple, efficient and nation-wide indirect tax system," said India EU Joint Statement issued during India- EU Summit. Jean-Claude Juncker today expressed hope that talks on free trade agreement (FTA) between EU and India will move forward in the next few days. In talks with @eucopresident & @JunckerEU we agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, clean energy, climate change & other areas. pic.twitter.com/QOaBIrGsCx Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 6, 2017 "I believe today's summit has given a fresh impetus to our negotiations and I am confident our negotiations will establish the way forward in next coming days because your Trade Minister and my Trade Commissioners are meeting few days from now," he said while addressing India European Union Business Forum here. "We want to conclude that (FTA) once the conditions aren right, when the circumstances are right. Once the circumstances are right, we will resume with good faith. I'm confident we can move forward," he said. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai, April 14 : Actor Sachin Khedekar on Wednesday shared a video to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Marathi film "Taryanche Bait", which was released on this day in 2011. "I was privileged to be a part of a film called Taryanche Bait. It's been 10 years. It's a very sweet film and I was happy to play that role. The subject has a great rural naivety to it and positivity to it which I think is more important in films right now than ever," he says. Sachin also touches upon the values the film imparts. He says: "We've always felt that the parents pass on their moral duties and every responsibility to their kids and try and teach them. But seldom does one understand that it's the kids that train you more as a parent always." The film revolves around Shridhar, a simple clerk from Konkan, who takes his family on an official tour to Mumbai. Dazzled by the cityscape, his son insists on experiencing a five-star hotel visit, and thus begins Shridhar's bittersweet journey to fulfil his family's wish. He adds: "I think it's a sweet story, Kiran Yadnyopavit, who wrote and directed this film, and the creative producer, Neeraj Pandey, was a great help. I think Neeraj supported a subject like this and we could make this film and could get a National award for it too. Friday Filmworks, congratulations for producing this beautiful film and giving me that role." The film also starred the late Vinay Apte, Ashwini Giri, Ashmita Joglekar, Kishore Kadam, Shashank Shende and Ishaan Tambe. It was co-produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, and Nitin Chandrachud. Photo: Colin Dacre Public health orders restricting indoor dining could be extended to May, according to a statement from the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association. The BCRFA sent an email notification to their restaurant industry community, saying the association had met Tuesday afternoon with Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and Dr. Brian Emerson, deputy provincial health officer. Our conversation has indicated that the current PHO order restricting in-restaurant dining will be extended beyond April 19 through to May, the BCRFA said in the email. This is a result of the continued high number of daily cases, and the provinces goal to have restrictions in place that avoid socialization and gathering indoors, for now. The BCRFA said they will also be working with Henry and Emerson on a patio guidelines document which will provide clarity around the requirements for restaurant patios. Another notification, sent from B.C.'s Alliance of Beverage Licensees, said it is likely the indoor dining ban will be extended until late May. Our executive director Jeff Guignard spoke directly with Dr. Henry this afternoon, ABLE BC's statement said. Although nothing has been finalized, it is highly likely that the current ban on indoor dining will be extended at least until after the May long weekend. NCR Announces First Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) will release its first quarter 2021 financial results after the market close on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. A conference call is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day. Participants should plan to access the call 15 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a smooth connection. Details are as follows: Dial in Number Passcode Time/Date Conference call 888-820-9413 (Tollfree) +1 786-460-7169 (Local) 9807660 4:30 p.m. Eastern, April 27, 2021 The live conference call and related presentation materials will also be available at http://investor.ncr.com/. The conference call will be archived and available at the same site shortly after the conference call is complete. For any difficulties accessing the conference call, please contact Candice Wilson from NCR at 470-372-4394. About NCR Corporation NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading software- and services-led enterprise provider in the financial, retail and hospitality industries. NCR is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with 36,000 employees globally. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. Website: www.ncr.com Twitter (News - Alert) : @NCRCorporation Facebook (News - Alert) : www.facebook.com/ncrcorp LinkedIn (News - Alert) : www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation YouTube (News - Alert) : www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005775/en/ ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2021 / PohlmanUSA, a nationally recognized court reporting, records retrieval, and litigation services organization is pleased to expand their MyDocFileServe service to attorneys filing and serving in asbestos cases in Cook County, IL. Recognizing the growing need to continuously adapt to an increasingly digital world, the firm has been hard at work making this service available to more parties, in more venues. "Now that MyDocFileServe is available in Cook County, attorneys can easily and simultaneously eFile and eServe documents to asbestos cases via our online docket management system," says Debbie Walters, CEO of PohlmanUSA. "In turn, this will enable them to save time and money by using one transaction to both file and serve, among a host of other benefits that have already proven invaluable in other Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois." According to Walters, clients had expressed the need for this secure and reliable service to be available in Cook County, IL for some time now, but that need was exacerbated by the onset of the pandemic. As such, the firm focused their efforts on expanding its availability. Clients will find that the service offers immediate advantages such as, a user-friendly interface created to minimize errors and guide clients through a 4-step process, reducing the risk of missing a detail on a complicated form. Additionally, users can greatly reduce the amount of time they spend using multiple systems to eFile and eServe documents. By utilizing MyDocFileServe clients may eFile and eServe to multiple parties in a minute or less if they so wish. Other features interesting to clients, include free eFiling, free custom alerts, free daily docket and a simple, user-friendly platform that is capable of robust searching, sorting, filtering and reporting. Those interested in exploring the platform's full list of capabilities may contact PohlmanUSA to learn more. Walters adds that MyDocFileServe is perfect for those who are frustrated with receiving voluminous e-service notifications for a client they no longer represent. She states, "PohlmanUSA is committed to compiling the most accurate asbestos service list for Cook County, Illinois. Not only that, but we are also committed to updating it in real-time." PohlmanUSA Court Reporting and Litigation Services is recognized nationwide as the leading provider of technology-driven records retrieval, court reporting, and litigation services. For over 30 years, Pohlman has specialized in complex multiparty litigation by creating innovative products and customized solutions for clients. Pohlman is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and anticipating clients' needs. Interested parties may contact PohlmanUSA at 877.421.0099 or visit their LinkedIn page. For more information about PohlmanUSA, contact the company here: PohlmanUSA Cherie Kleemann - PohlmanUSA Strategic Initiatives Manager (314) 450-5508 cheriek@pohlmanusa.com 10 South Broadway, Suite 1400 St. Louis, MO 63102 SOURCE: PohlmanUSA View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640288/All-in-One-eFile-and-eService-Expands-to-Cook-County-IL Diplomats from the three world powers co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group expressed readiness late on Tuesday to facilitate such talks, including with renewed visits to the conflict zone. In a joint statement, they noted with satisfaction the conflicting sides compliance with the Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped last years Armenian-Azerbaijani war while calling for additional efforts to stabilize the situation. They said that includes the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians still held in Azerbaijani custody. The Co-Chairs stress that special attention should be paid to the achievement of a final comprehensive and sustainable settlement on the basis of the elements and principles well-known to the sides, says the statement. In this respect, the Co-Chairs call on the parties to resume high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity. They reiterate their proposal to organize direct bilateral consultations under their auspices, in order for the sides to review and agree jointly upon a structured agenda, reflecting their priorities, without preconditions. The Co-Chairs underscore their readiness to resume working visits to the region, including Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, to carry out their assessment and mediation roles, added the mediators. Their joint statement came just hours after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again said that Baku resolved the conflict by winning the six-week war. Aliyev said the Minsk Group co-chairs should therefore deal now not with a Karabakh settlement but other issues such as the post-war demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. By contrast, Armenia has repeatedly stated that the conflict remains unresolved and that the Minsk Group should continue its mediation efforts. The groups U.S. and French co-chairs, Andrew Schofer and Stephane Visconti, most recently toured the region and met with Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in December. Their Russian colleague, Igor Popov, missed the trip because of a coronavirus infection. Aliyev and Pashinian met in Moscow in January for trilateral talks hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tanzania is richly endowed with mineral resources of all kinds Its barely been a month since Samia Suluhu Hassan took office as the new President of Tanzania, but already the air of change is palpable. First things first, shes hit the ground running with a very proactive approach to tackling the countrys coronavirus crisis - in marked contrast to her predecessor John Magafuli, who had taken a more laissez-faire attitude. But its not just her approach to health thats different. Its also her approach to wealth. In a wide-ranging televised address she spoke of a need to revitalize Tanzanias connections with the wider world, citing in particular the need to make the country a hospitable place for foreign investment. We need investors more than they need us, she said, midway through the speech, as she mandated her newly-appointed foreign affairs minister to mend relationships with the international community. Tanzanias had a mixed record in recent years when it comes to foreign investment. The countrys dispute with was well publicized, and although most neutral observers felt that Acacia was at least as at fault, if not more so, than the government, sentiment nevertheless took a dive. Now that Acacia has been subsumed by Barrick, much of the antagonism has dissipated, but the dispute itself hasnt been settled. A settlement will now be a priority, said President Hassan, not just of the Acacia dispute, but of all outstanding tax and other issues with mining companies. So, it looks as if Tanzania is once again wide open for business, and that the President is keen to get things moving as fast as possible. And its not all vague generalities and big promises either. President Hassan was quite specific about some of the areas in which she wished to smooth the investment process and encourage growth, namely helium, nickel and gold. Tanzania was first opened up to mining in a significant way in the late 1980s, when pioneers like John Park and Algy Cluff worked their way across the Lake Victoria Goldfields region which now hosts some of Barricks biggest mines. But its not only gold that the country is endowed with. There are also significant graphite, nickel, uranium, coal and gemstone deposits and projects, some of which have a long track record of production, and others of which are comparatively new. But for the next generation of Tanzanians, it may well be helium thats the real game-changer. President Hassan is probably one of the few world leaders in history to name-check helium in what amounted to her inaugural address to the nation. Why did she do it? Because the Rukwa helium project in the south west of the country looks as though its going to the be the worlds largest primary producer of helium, bar none. And if primary helium production has been an obscure topic to the worlds investors up till now, it looks very much as though thats about to change. With the clear support of President Hassan, the projects owner, Helium One ( ), is keen to get cracking with the next stage of development work as quickly as possible. The thinking is that once up and running, Rukwa could supply between 10% and 15% of the worlds helium needs for the next hundred years. And given that helium is essential in the manufacture of MRI scanners, fibre-optics, rocketry, aerospace products and semiconductors, what we are talking about here is a raw material for the high end of the high-tech industry. In that context its no wonder President Hassan wants to create a safe and secure investment environment - some pundits indeed, have drawn an analogy between Tanzanias helium reserves and Saudi Arabias oil reserves. Both Tanzania and Helium One have work to do. But companies like Shanta Gold ( ) have already shown that its possible to make a success of working in Tanzania, even when there are some headwinds. Now that theres new impetus, desire and a willingness to make things happen at the top of government, anythings possible. But Eric Peterson did testify during a 2010 pretrial court hearing in which he described seeing his father once drag Savio into their home by her hair and arm in 1993. Under oath, he twice answered no when asked if he loved his father and if he considered him a good dad, the Tribune has reported. News_release The UC San Diego Autism Center for Excellence has received a $1.5 million gift from Kristin Farmer, founder and chief executive officer of ACES, a San Diego-headquartered company that provides services to children with autism and their families, to support the work of Karen Pierce, PhD, co-director of the Autism Center for Excellence, and colleagues. Pierce, who is also a professor in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, has studied autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for more than 25 years, focusing on developing neural and clinical markers for earlier identification of the neurological condition that affects an estimated one in 54 children. The gift specifically targets three aspects of Pierces research: Translating into standard clinical practice Pierces method for automatic eye tracking as a tool for the early detection of ASD, and as a way to understand prognoses and outcomes. For more than a decade, Pierce and colleagues have been using eye tracking to understand what social and nonsocial stimuli capture the attention of toddlers for example, videos of children playing versus moving geometric shapes to assess ASD risk. Pierce and her team discovered that infants and toddlers who prefer to look and attend to geometric images rather than to social images have more than a 90 percent risk of having ASD. Refining the Get SET Early program, which has been used to screen more than 100,000 infants and toddlers. Created by Pierce and introduced in 2011, the Get SET Early program has been shown able to identify risk for ASD and other developmental disorders at 12-, 18- and 24-month well baby checkups. It is based on questionnaires conducted by parents and pediatricians, and systematically identifies telltale clues for ASD. The Get SET Early Program has been replicated in multiple studies and is expanding nationwide. Establishing an excellence fund that will provide discretionary support to pursue novel biological and behavioral methods to make diagnoses and prognoses even earlier, more rapid and linked to specific treatments. These are all critical areas of our work, said Pierce. They represent initiatives intended to be transformative in our ability to understand and treat autism and, most importantly, maximize the potential of every child with autism. Kristin and I have known and worked together for decades. We share the same dream: To change the world for the better for children living with ASD. Ive pursued that dream through research; and Kristin through therapies that improve childrens daily lives. This gift represents a moment of really coming together. After working as a teacher, Farmer founded ACES in 1996 with the mission to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families impacted with autism or other special needs. Services at ACES include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatments, school and occupational assistance, workshops for parents and siblings, speech therapy and programs for adults. ACES oversees more than 40 locations in seven states (California, Arizona, Washington, Hawaii, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas), providing services to more than 10,000 individuals each year. I met Dr. Pierce more than 25 years ago when I was a teacher. We both shared the same dream: To make the world better and more inclusive for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. The work of ACES is to translate and apply the tools of science to effectively help people with autism in clinical and educational environments. We value innovation and clinical excellence. This year is the 25th anniversary of ACES. I celebrated by supporting Dr. Pierces work that will redefine diagnoses of autism and enable us to elevate standards in the treatment of autism. My dream is that the work funded by this gift, and the achievements made, will translate into real-world benefits for children not just in San Diego, but well beyond. This gift represents Dr. Pierce and me uniting our lifes work to innovate the field of autism, spread hope and enable a future full of possibilities. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page The Queen has formally welcomed her new Lord Chamberlain to his post as she carried out her second official engagement after the Duke of Edinburgh's death. The monarch, 94, stoically returned to royal duties on Tuesday, just four days after Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle, hosting a retirement ceremony for her right-hand man of 14 years, the Earl Peel. On Wednesday, she met with his successor former MI5 spy chief, Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, who took over from Earl Peel at the start of the month. Baron Parker, who served as head of the security service until last year, has taken charge of funeral arrangements for Prince Philip, known as Operation Forth Bridge. Baron Parker hosted the Queen's first visit to MI5's headquarters in February last year, he left the post in April 2020 The monarch, 94, stoically returned to royal duties on Tuesday, just four days after Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle, hosting a retirement ceremony for her right-hand man of 14 years, the Earl Peel (pictured last month, left; and with the Earl Peel in 2013, right) The Lord Chamberlain's Office, led by the Queen's Comptroller Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon, is tasked with the practical side of the day. But in overall charge is Andrew Parker (pictured), Baron Parker of Minsmere, who took up his new role on April 1, following the Earl Peel's (pictured left) retirement after more than 14 years in the post It comes after her husband Prince Philip (pictured with the Queen in June last year) died peacefully at Windsor Castle, aged 99, on Friday The Court Circular said: 'The Lord Parker of Minsmere had an audience of the Queen today, kissed hands upon his appointment as Lord Chamberlain and received from Her Majesty the Wand and Insignia of Office and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order, when the Queen invested him with the Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.' Baron Parker officially took up his new role on April 1, following the Earl Peel's retirement after more than 14 years in the post. Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere During his MI5 career Baron Parker, above, led the intelligence agency's response to the July 7 London terrorist attacks in 2005 Baron Parker served as director general of the MI5 from April 2013 until last year and was a career intelligence officer having joined the MI5 in 1983. He hosted the Queen's first visit to MI5's headquarters in central London in February last year, when she praised the intelligence agency's officers for the 'tireless work you do to keep our country safe'. During his MI5 career Baron Parker, born in 1962, led the intelligence agency's response to the July 7 London terrorist attacks in 2005. The following year his teams played the lead role in the disruption of al Qaeda's attempt to attack multiple airliners with bombs hidden in drinks bottles. He was later promoted to deputy director general of MI5 in 2007 before becoming head of the security service in 2013. He retired from the post in April last year and in an interview that month said the pandemic could force ministers to 'adjust the dials' on public spending, potentially taking cash away from areas such as the intelligence agencies in the future. Advertisement The Earl Peel had earlier announced his intention to retire but delayed handing the role over due to the pandemic. Baron Parker, who hosted a visit to MI5 headquarters by the Queen in February last year, served as director general of the security service since April 2013. During his MI5 career Baron Parker led the intelligence agency's response to the July 7 London terrorist attacks in 2005, and the following year his teams played the lead role in the disruption of al Qaeda's attempt to attack multiple airliners with bombs hidden in drinks bottles. He was later promoted to deputy director general of MI5 in 2007 before becoming head of the security service in 2013. He retired from the post in April last year and in an interview that month said the pandemic could force ministers to 'adjust the dials' on public spending, potentially taking cash away from areas such as the intelligence agencies in the future. But he insisted that MI5 was able to continue its work during the lockdown, adding that potential threats to the country were also subject to the restrictions. Baron Parker will head the Queen's working household and it will be his job to ensure the smooth running of all the different departments. The post of Lord Chamberlain, which pays around 90,000 a year, is a part-time one and includes chairing regular meetings of all heads of department. The Lord Chamberlain oversees all senior appointments in the household, is the channel of communication between the sovereign and the House of Lords and ensures co-ordination between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. The position dates from the Middle Ages, when the King's Chamberlain often acted as the king's spokesman in council and parliament. On ceremonial occasions, the Lord Chamberlain carries a white staff and a gold key, the symbols of his office. The position also ensures co-ordination between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. During a ceremony held at Windsor Castle, the Queen accepted her former royal aide's wand and insignia of office. Tuesday's engagement was also recorded in the Court Circular - a daily list of the events attended by the Queen and her family. It said: 'The Earl Peel had an audience of The Queen today, delivered up his Wand and Insignia of Office as Lord Chamberlain and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chamberlain, when Her Majesty invested him with the Royal Victorian Chain.' The Queen recently conferred a prestigious honour on the Earl Peel, making him a Permanent Lord in Waiting. The Queen pictured alongside Earl Peel, 73, who had delayed his retirement amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis while the search for his successor took place (file photo) It comes as the Armed Forces are stepping up preparations for the duke's funeral which will feature servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF - alongside top military brass. William Peel, great-great-grandson of founder of the modern Tory party William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel, is a great-great-grandson of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, one of the founders of the modern Conservative party. The businessman served as a hereditary Tory peer from 1973 to 2006 when, on appointment to Lord Chamberlain, he became a crossbench member of the Lords. He attended Ampleforth College in Yorkshire before the University of Tours in France and the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester. He was a member of the Prince's Council, which advises the Duchy of Cornwall, from 1993 to 2006. Lord Peel was also a member of the Nature Conservancy Council, a since dissolved Government conservation agency, from 1991 to 1996. He married Veronica Thompson in 1973 and they had two children together before they divorced in 1987. Two years later, Lord Peel married Charlotte Soames, daughter of Lord Soames and his wife, Mary Churchill, daughter of Sir Winston Churchill. They have one child, Lady Antonia Peel, born in 1991. Advertisement Soldiers from the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) are reportedly working to prepare the special Land Rover - that the duke helped design - which will carry his coffin on Saturday. Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, who served with REME, said about the duke, his unit's former colonel-in-chief: 'He was engaged with us and used to visit us probably once or twice every single year since 1969. 'And he had an enormous passion for all things engineering. In his own words 'If it wasn't invented by God, it was invented by an engineer'. It comes amid reports that the Queen may have to sit apart from family members at her husband's funeral - due to strict Covid rules. Current guidelines mean anyone attending a funeral must stay at least two meters apart from those outside their household, except when in a support bubble. However the Queen is not eligible to be in a support bubble, because she technically does not live on her own - and is supported by a team of royal aides dubbed 'HMS Bubble'. As other members of the Royal Family are living in other royal residences, it means the Queen will likely have to sit at least two metres away from relatives at the funeral, according to the Telegraph. Royal sources confirmed to the paper that the Queen would be alone at the funeral service, unless a member of the Windsor bubble joins her. Meanwhile, the Queen will likely have to wear a mask at the funeral, while royals could be banned from singing hymns due to Covid restrictions, reports the Sun. Updated national guidance, issued by the Government, said communal singing should not go ahead at funerals to prevent the spread of Covid. Choirs are still allowed, but members must be kept to as few as possible and should remain socially distanced. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said tonight: 'We have made it very clear that the service will be Covid compliant.' More details of the funeral, set to take place at George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday, are to be announced on Thursday. Roach Howard Smith & Barton Dallas-based independent insurance broker Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB) has promoted Shellie Croy to vice president of Property and Casualty Operations. She has been with RHSB since 2016, serving as VP of Personal Client Services. In this new position Croy will provide leadership, operational direction, and supervision of the Commercial and Personal Property and Casualty departments and service teams. She is also a liaison with insurance carriers to maintain and further develop these relationships. Croy has an extensive background in personal and commercial property/casualty insurance. Prior to joining RHSB she oversaw a significant book of commercial business and a team of 17 located in multiple offices for Insureon. She is from the Chicago area and relocated to Texas in 2015. Topics Property Property Casualty Casualty The building company behind a bungled duplex has refused to take responsibility and blamed the council for the situation - despite the homeowner being left with 'half a house'. Mortgage broker Bishnu Aryal moved to Australia from Nepal for a new life and saved diligently for a decade to buy a plot of land in Edmondson Park, south-west Sydney, for $398,000. The father-of-two signed a building agreement with construction company ZAC Homes in 2016 for a custom off-plan build, which set him back a further $322,000. Mr Aryal and his family were left horrified after learning that rather than contractors building their $700,000 dream home they instead built half a duplex down the middle of the block - with a huge windowless grey wall erected down the middle. The building company behind a bungled duplex have taken to social media refusing to take responbility and blaming the council for the situation - despite the homeowner being left with 'half a house' ZAC Homes addressed the situation through their Facebook page on Tuesday, saying the situation 'hasn't been caused by us' and blaming Liverpool City Council. 'The disagreement that's causing the hold-up is between the certifier and Liverpool City Council and we're working hard with them both to try and rectify the situation as quickly as possible,' ZAC Homes said. 'It's a mess. We know that. Even though this situation hasn't been caused by us, we are doing what we can to ensure that the right thing is done by Mr Aryal and his family. 'We feel for them.' The agreement was for a free-standing home but, three years later, Mr Aryal was horrified when he checked the progress and realised contractors had built a duplex on half the block - with a huge windowless grey wall erected down the middle. Rather than having another building attached to the side, like with a regular duplex, the lot sits empty - giving the Aryal family home an unfinished look, with startled passersby even stopping to take pictures of it. 'I called the supervisor and asked him what's going on, why is the house like this? And he said 'it's a duplex, semi-duplex', and I nearly fainted that day,' Mr Aryal told A Current Affair on Monday night. ZAC Homes claim the dispute is the result of a conflict between Liverpool City Council, the certifier and the neighbour's refusing to proceed with building their own home. 'The fact is the owners of the lot next door have failed to proceed with building their home and that's why the certifier has continued to refuse to issue an Occupation Certificate,' the building company said. They also say they've waived a large fee for Mr Aryal as an offering of good faith. 'We've done all we can. We are conducting on-site meetings with the Certifier, making representations to Council, and we've lodged a complaint to Fair Trading NSW,' ZAC Homes posted on Facebook. 'To help alleviate some of their stress we're deferring the final payment and we've waived a fee of 23 thousand dollars.' Mr Aryal's home standing among a range of free-standing homes. He says he did not know the building plans changed Bishnu Aryal (pictured) standing outside his unusual property in Edmondson Park, south-west Sydney Mr Aryal said although his English isn't perfect, he definitely did not sign up to have half a house. One side of the house is a grey and windowless wall where the other half of the building looks like it should be. 'Where's my house?' he asked A Current Affair on Monday night. 'I want the rest of my house.' 'It's not a free-standing house, it's not a duplex, it's half a house. And it looks embarrassing.' Construction company Zac Homes told the program the the plan when construction began was to build a free-standing home on the block, but claimed Liverpool Council later said Mr Aryal's block had to be an attached dwelling. Bishnu Aryal and his wife (pictured). Mr Aryal moved to Australia from Nepal for a new life The construction company also said he had multiple opportunities to pull out of the agreement. But Mr Aryal claimed he trusted the process and did not look at the new plans for half a duplex when they were sent over, and instead forwarded them to the bank. Neighbour Muhammad described the home as a 'pretty ugly'. 'A lot of people are always taking photos on the street. They think it looks pretty ugly.' Mr Aryal had to move in during Covid because his wife was pregnant and they had nowhere to go after he began losing work, but says he's been waiting nine months for an occupation certificate - which authorises the use of a new building. A spokesman for Zac Homes told the program it had done everything it could to secure an occupation certificate and has been trying for months to get it signed off. Mr Aryal (pictured) had to move in during Covid because his wife was pregnant and they had nowhere to go and he was losing work A Current Affair said the estate had a lot of duplexes built on half-blocks of land, but many seemed to be unoccupied It said the certifier and the council are at a crossroads because the council wants the other half of the duplex built. A spokesman said the company 'appreciates the frustrations of Mr and Mrs Aryal surrounding the delay in the issue of the Occupation Certificate, these delays are not caused by Zac Homes.' 'Instead, Zac Homes has worked diligently and at its own cost to attempt to remedy the outstanding matters so that the Occupation Certificate can issue,' it said. Property expert Michael Pallier said the land will go up in value, but the building itself is likely to depreciate. 'It might actually get the point where the house is a liability and it'll cost money to take the house down for someone to buy the land and build a free-standing home with doors and windows,' he said. He urged anyone buying a home to ensure a solicitor looks at the documentation before they sign. Mr Aryal said he wants to raise awareness to make sure no one has to deal with the same thing. Cybersecurity Nakasone deflects senators' invitations to seek domestic spying powers Senate lawmakers on Wednesday continued to press Army Gen. Paul Nakasone for solutions that might prevent another massive cybersecurity intrusion into federal networks, but the director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command insisted the answer cannot be boiled down to a single authority or investment. Senator, Im not seeking legal authorities either for NSA or for U.S. Cyber Command, Nakasone told Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) during a hearing with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Nakasone was testifying along with several other intelligence agency chiefs about the ICs new worldwide threat assessment report, which, among other things, notes that all of the United States primary adversaries are ramping up their activities and capabilities in cyberspace. The general has been a fixture at most congressional hearings where the breach into nine federal networks involving SolarWinds has been either a primary or tangential topic of discussion. During previous hearings and the one today, lawmakers have repeatedly offered Nakasone a chance to make his case for expanded surveillance powers. Despite several senators extending that invitation, Nakasone declined. Instead, he re-iterated that foreign actors are exploiting the well-known blind spot in the United States laws. Hostile actors can use U.S. digital infrastructure to conduct operations because they know it will take time before law enforcement can obtain a warrant to surveil domestic networks, Nakasone explained. He also noted that those in the intelligence community has struggled to gain visibility over the full scope and scale of the problem because the laws in place have created an environment in which the private sector does not always choose to share information. While there is no one solution to whats going on, I think we have to understand the program in totality, Nakasone said. The generals comments seemed to frustrate lawmakers, who for months have pressed law enforcement and cybersecurity officials for direct and expedient answers on how to prevent another intrusion similar to the one discovered in December. I dont like hearing that we have blind spots, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said before asking Nakasone what new authorities he needs. She acknowledged his previous remarks to Burr, but added, I am not willing to accept that we are going to have blind spots. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) took exception to Nakasones suggestion that the need for a warrant hampered the governments ability to detect and stop the intrusion involving SolarWinds. My understanding is that the government has the ability now to watch every bit of data going in and out of a federal network, including the SolarWinds malware, and yet the hacking of nine federal agencies somehow went unnoticed, said Wyden -- an apparent reference to the Department of Homeland Securitys Einstein program. Before seeking new powers to surveil the domestic internet, we all ought to be working together so that more can be done to detect hacking thats going on in our own network, Wyden continued. Einstein, managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, is one of the governments foundational cybersecurity programs and is designed to monitor the data flowing in and out of federal networks. However, CISAs leadership has made clear at public events and during congressional hearings that Einsteins capabilities were never intended to prevent the techniques used in the campaign against SolarWinds. That admission has spurred some lawmakers to seek significant changes to the program when it comes up for reauthorization in December 2022. New Delhi, April 14 : On Ambedkar Jayanti, the Congress has unveiled the vision of its own digital media channel, 'INC TV'. The YouTube channel was unveiled by party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi. The You Tube channel would be formally launched on April 24. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala said "in the era of muzzling of independent voices in the country, the 'INC TV' will start a small initiative for the freedom of speech and also in the era of "andh bhakti' (blind faith), this channel will try to put things in right perspective". The Congress unveiled the vision of the 'INC TV' which according to the party would adhere to the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and would do journalism for service and not propaganda. 'INC TV' would be the party's media channel to disseminate news and also combat the propaganda against the Congress, said party sources. The party believes that their side of the story is not presented properly, alleging a bias against it. The Congress has been contemplating the launch of this YouTube channel for quite some time as the party in Kerala runs a TV channel which the party says has got immense response -- 'Jaihind TV' which was launched in 2007 by interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Congress insiders say that they have been at the receiving end from the media, especially from the electronic media and often the party is being criticised without any reason like the one when Palghar sadhus lynching took place where some TV channels tried to drag Sonia Gandhi into the controversy. Though the party runs the 'National Herald' and 'Navjivan', they are operated by a trust called the Associated Journals Limited (AJL). Chinese experts call for efforts to accelerate vaccination Xinhua) 11:13, April 14, 2021 A health worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a mobile COVID-19 vaccination vehicle near Xidan business area in downtown Beijing, capital of China, April 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China's disease control experts have called for efforts to guide and encourage the public to get inoculated voluntarily and ensure all people eligible for vaccination have access to it. Recent new cases in Yunnan's Ruili City are a reminder that the pressure of imported cases has not subsided, and the risk of the epidemic spreading in individual regions due to new imported cases remains, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination is an important strategy to prevent and control COVID-19, and herd immunity can only occur when the vaccination rate reaches around 70 to 80 percent among the whole population, Wu added. Anything below that can only bring about individual immunity, and that can not block the spread of a possible epidemic resurgence once new sources appear, he said. COVID-19 vaccines not only shield one's own health but also that of younger and older family members, said Wu Liangyou, an official with the National Health Commission. China is currently rolling out its vaccination in priority regions, including port and border cities with high risks of imported infection, big and medium-sized cities, and regions with a history of cluster infections. Priority populations, including cold chain, medical, and public sector staff, are also receiving the vaccines, he added. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) When the FDA on Tuesday announced that it was advising suspension, at least temporarily, of administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 because of rare blood clots that had turned up, the news created two completely divergent reactions: On one side were the people who downplayed the numbers that prompted the FDAs move. What these folks were saying, in effect: The FDA was wildly overreacting. After all, the argument went, there had been nearly seven million J&J vaccines given, with just six reported blood clots and a single death. Well, thats one way to look at it. Others, however, werent so sanguine. The opposing view went something like this: Though its true that there were but six reported blood clots, its entirely likely that there are many more that have yet to be recorded. Also, and perhaps more important, a vaccine from AstraZeneca, which, while not approved for use in the United States, has had significant problems in Europe, where its been offered. That vaccine, in fact, is very similar in design to the J&J jab, making it entirely reasonable to wonder if whats been happening to some who get the Johnson & Johnson shot is only the beginning of much more bad news ahead. What to do? A not-so-radical idea: Hit the pause button and take some time to assess. Thankfully, thats exactly what the FDA is doing. This may not be terribly popular, but its the right move in such a situation. There are lots and lots of people, many of them white men who support former President Donald Trump, who are wary about getting a COVID vaccine. Any COVID vaccine. No one in public health is unaware of that fact. And no one wants to do anything to encourage those in that camp to dig in their anti-vaccine heels even deeper. That said, the facts are the facts, and they surely appear to warrant, at a minimum, further study. Also, because there are vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that are widely available -- vaccines that employ a different technology from whats used by J&J -- the FDAs latest move shouldnt slow the pace of vaccination. The FDA is being transparent, perhaps even to a fault. But there can be no doubt that openness is a much better position than the alternative -- hiding the facts known to the regulators. Related: Democrats Call on Congress to Pass Legislation Addressing Hate Crimes Targeting Asians Democrats are calling on Congress to pass hate crime bill that aims to combat crimes that have targeted Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since the pandemic began. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Reps. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) held a press conference on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act on Tuesday. This week Im using my power as Majority Leader to make sure the Senate will vote on Senator Hironos COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which my fellow New Yorker representative Meng has sponsored in the House, said Schumer. This common-sense legislation will give the Justice Department crucial tools to crack down on the wave of racist violence we have seen against the AAPI community, he said, using an acronym for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Schumer said hes open to amendments and hopes the bill receives bipartisan support. I hope it will be many more than 60, who would oppose this very simple, but necessary legislation, said Schumer. Hirono said that hate crimes against Asians have increased in every state. The senators legislation requires the Department of Justice to expedite a review of COVID-19 hate crimes and reports of COVID-19 hate crimes. The legislation defines hate crime as a violent crime that is motivated by two things: (1) the actual or perceived characteristic (e.g., race) of any person, and (2) the actual or perceived relationship to the spread of COVID-19 of any person because of that characteristic. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Oct. 14, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) both told reporters on Tuesday that members in their caucus are eager to consider the bill and would like to have a chance to make amendments. We hope we get a chance to amend it, said Grassley. Other Republicans have come out in support of the legislation. As a proud husband of an Asian American woman, I think this discrimination against Asian Americans is a real problem, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday. Im hoping we will work out an agreement to get on the bill in a normal way, have some amendments and move to final passage. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she hopes Republicans will join her in supporting the bill. I think its an important issue and one thats worthy of our consideration, she said. Although Democrats have linked the violence against Asians as racially motivated hate crimes, Wilfred Reilly, assistant professor at Kentucky State University, said the crimes are not all carried out by white supremacists and not all are racially motivated. He cited publicly available information on about 100 attacks on Asians reported in the media in the past 14 months. 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, referring to the right-wing group that has engaged in street fights with members of the anarcho-communist Antifa network. Reilly characterized the attackers 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. Similar to the black suspects, the white suspects fit the profile of an urban thug, he said. Petr Svab contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 03:56:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANTIAGO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chile's Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 5,497 new COVID-19 infections and 30 more deaths in the last 24 hours, for a total of 1,094,267 cases and 24,548 deaths. Health Minister Enrique Paris noted in a communique that confirmed cases have increased nationally by 8 percent in the last seven days and only three regions out of the country's 13 have seen a decline in cases. Paris explained that the Maule region registered the highest national incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants, while the regions with the greatest increase in new cases in the last seven days were Magallanes, Atacama, Nuble and Maule. Chile has faced a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in recent weeks after the relaxation of restrictive measures during the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere and the resumption of in-person classes and other activities in March. Due to the surge, the government decreed quarantines for over 80 percent of the country's population, including the entire Santiago Metropolitan Region, two weeks ago. The country also closed its border and restricted trade of non-essential goods and services. Enditem Half a century had passed, but UC Santa Barbara Professor Armand Kuris was sure he'd been here before. In fact, he was completely certain. After all, he had detailed notes of the location, written carefully in India ink when he was still a graduate student. This time, though, Kuris served as a seasoned mentor for several young researchers who hadn't even been born when he first visited the site. Truth be told, many of their parents hadn't yet been born. This was just one of many shorelines along the coast of the Pacific Northwest where the group was repeating ecological field work Kuris conducted in 1969 and 70. He teamed up with Assistant Professor Chelsea Wood of the University of Washington and her lab -- all parasite ecologists eager to know the fate of the organisms Kuris had studied so long ago. Wood is interested in the historical ecology of parasitism -- that is, in understanding how the abundance of parasites has ebbed and flowed through time. Over coffee with Kuris during a break from a workshop at UC Santa Barbara, Wood lamented the dearth of quality historical datasets. "Armand said, 'well, surely you know I've got notebooks full of data on shore crab parasites from the late '60s?'" Wood recalled, "and my jaw dropped." "You see, a lot of times older studies have a narrow focus, or it's really hard to access the data in detail, as opposed to a summary," explained Kuris. But with reams of notes, and the benefit of access to the man who took them, it was possible to repeat the old experiments to a T. "And from that moment we were set on it," Wood said. Results from the new survey, led by undergraduate students, appear in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and reveal that the abundance of parasites among shore crabs hasn't followed a simple trajectory over the last half-century. "There's a widespread perception that humans are messing with ecosystems, and only bad things can come of that," Wood said. "Folks assume that means we're going to see an explosion in infectious disease into the future. But our data suggest there are other trajectories that parasites can take." A whirlwind adventure The year is 1969, and a young Armand Kuris is finishing up his graduate studies at UC Berkeley. He is polishing his thesis on the green shore crab and its parasites -- particularly the isopod Portunion conformis -- with considerable data from Bodega Harbor and San Francisco Bay. But a study at Tacoma Narrows, Washington grabs his attention. The author claimed that 100% of these crabs carried eggs in winter. To Kuris, this meant that none of them could be infected with the isopod, which castrates its hosts. If true, this absence of parasites would have been quite surprising. He had to find out for himself. Kuris contacted various labs along the western seaboard and arranged an ambitious field expedition for May of that year. In the span of one month, he and two friends drove from the start of the coastal road at Bahia San Quintin, five hours south of the U.S.-Mexico border, to Ucluelet on the outer coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, where the pavement finally ended. "The aim was to start as far south as the graded road began in Mexico and stop as far north as it ended up," Kuris recalled. All along the way, he and his comrades collected crabs and analyzed their anatomy and parasites. The trip was extensively planned. "I knew what I was going to be doing plus-or-minus 1 hour for all 30 days," he said. As a bright-eyed young scientist, Kuris felt his work was the pinnacle of human investigation. Imbued with this sense of consequence, the budding researcher made sure his work was perfect. He kept meticulous notes and took pains to ensure his methodology was consistent at every site. He wasted no materials, identified and quantified all the parasites he found, and recorded his observations in comprehensive data sheets. Then, the following winter, he did the whole thing again, just for completeness. Kuris' diligence proved crucial five decades on. "If that spirit of perfectionism hadn't taken hold, the dataset would not have been useful in the way that it was 50 years later," said Wood. Incidentally, that researcher who studied the crabs of Tacoma Narrows was nearly correct. According to Kuris, 98% of the local crabs were parasite-free, just shy of the 100% figure the other scientist had claimed. Parasite ecology Kuris' approach to parasitology in '69 and '70 was relatively unusual. The field had arisen from medical sciences, not ecology, and so an ecological perspective was uncommon among his colleagues at the time. "Parasites are invisible," he said. "And if you don't see it, you don't think about it." A notable exception to this was UC Santa Barbara's own Elmer Noble, namesake of Noble Hall, Kuris noted. What's more, parasitology is not incorporated into standard biology curricula, Wood pointed out. It certainly isn't present in K-12 curricula, and students can earn a bachelor's degree in ecology without ever learning about these organisms. "Parasites are just not something that's on the radar of most biologists," she said, "And while that's changing now, it has been true for the last couple of decades." But studying parasites can reveal valuable information about an entire ecosystem, due to their often complex lifecycles. For instance, all of the parasites Kuris sampled require multiple different hosts to complete their lifecycle. So their population dynamics relate to the wellbeing of many different groups of animals and a variety of environmental conditions. Wood had been searching for detailed historical datasets for over 10 years, and Kuris' was only the second one she'd found. There simply weren't many folks working decades ago who took thorough records of data like the number of parasites in each host and the body size of each host -- two pieces of information crucial for comparing historical and contemporary ecosystems, she explained. "It's almost impossible to get any time depth on trajectories of parasite change for this reason," Wood said. "We have no idea how parasites have been changing for the past couple of decades. We're just flying blind." Retracing old footsteps Kuris' detailed records offered an unprecedented opportunity to carry out the same study and compare results after half a century of ecological change. "And fortunately, the guy who did that first study is still alive and sentient," Kuris said, referring to himself. "He can tell you what was going on in his mind back then." This boon was not lost on Wood. "It's one of the coolest things, to be able to have a half-century-old dataset and to have the original data collector hold the hands of the contemporary data collectors and show them exactly how it was done," she said. "I'm not aware of any other historical ecology project that's been able to achieve that level of comparability between past and present." First author Jessica Quinn was a junior when she took over the project upon the graduation of her classmate Duncan Greeley, who had conducted the first year's worth of field collection and dissection. Kuris personally trained both of them so they could replicate exactly how and where he conducted his research so many years before. "When we went to the shore at Neah Bay on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula, my field notes said 'nine miles before the entrance to the Makah Indian Reservation,'" Kuris said. "Duncan and I reached that point, and I realized I was walking the same cut through the brush." Others had obviously used the path in the intervening decades, maintaining the trail up to the present day. "That's why I went that way 50 years ago," Kuris remarked, "because there was a path." The team hunted for shore crabs, with a special interest in the three taxa of parasites Kuris had documented in his study. There was the isopod P. conformis; larval trematodes, or flukes, in the family Microphallidae; and larval acanthocephalans, or thorny-headed worms. The team collected hundreds of shore crabs, counting parasite loads and identifying each parasite. True to their task of repeating Kuris' work, they recorded plenty of other data as well. The scientists measured the crabs, documented their reproductive maturity, molt stage, number of missing limbs and more. This time, though, the team limited their study to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia -- locations within striking distance of Seattle. Many sites in the south have yet to be resampled. The researchers uploaded the raw datasets, including Kuris' original work, to the internet, in the hope that another team might take up the task of completing it. Kuris and Wood stand ready to help. Trajectories The team studied both the prevalence of parasites -- the proportion of the host population that was infected -- and the intensity of infections, or the number of parasites per host. As in Kuris' first study, there was considerable variation between sites. Local conditions seemed to exert a strong influence on parasite populations. Overall, they found that populations of spiny-headed worms were virtually unchanged since the initial study. Similarly, the abundance of the isopod had remained relatively stable, despite high variability from year to year. On the other hand, the population of trematodes exploded in abundance between the late 1960s and today. Prevalence surged from 8% to 62%, and the intensity of infections increased as well. Although the authors aren't certain what led to the proliferation in trematode infections, Kuris and Wood suspect it reflects a rise in the number of shorebirds in the Pacific Northwest, as birds are an important host for part of the parasite's lifecycle. Kuris remembers Tacoma Narrows as a semi-industrial wasteland when he sampled the area in 1969. Returning some 50 years later, the site was completely transformed, and a park now protects that area of the shore. Restoration and conservation efforts may have benefitted certain parasites, like the trematode, he suggested. But it wasn't the rising number of flukes that most caught the researchers' attention. "I think the most surprising part of these results is the stasis in two of those taxa," said Wood. "So much has changed about the Pacific Northwest in the past 50 years and yet these two parasites are still trucking along the way that they were in the late '60s." The stability suggests that conditions are relatively consistent, at least the ones that matter to the lifecycles of those organisms. It's important to understand how parasite abundance has changed over the past decades. "There's ample reason for us to be concerned about infectious disease processes these days," Wood said. "Understanding how things have changed gives us a sense of what we need to worry about and what we don't need to worry about from a wildlife disease perspective." "Studies like this one really help contextualize contemporary disease problems in a way that's useful for management," she added. Kuris agreed, and offered a more philosophical take on the enterprise as a whole. "The past is never dead," he said, quoting William Faulkner's novel "Requiem for a Nun." "It's not even past." ### ADVERTISEMENT The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it discovered eight decomposed bodies on the outskirts of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigerias South-south, on Tuesday. Solomon Eremi, the civil defence spokesperson, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar. Mr Eremi said that the stench from the decomposing bodies attracted the attention of passersby who traced the location of the valley and raised alarm. We sent out a Disaster Management and Recovery team to the area. They went there with armed men. They went round the entire place and saw eight decomposed corpses made up of a female and seven males. One was still very fresh. We dont really know what happened. We got the information from passersby due to the stench that came from the area. As we speak, we cannot really tell what happened, whether they killed them and dumped them there, whether it was kidnappers or what, we cant really tell for now until investigation is completed, Mr Eremi said. Cross River, like other states within Nigerias South-south and South-east regions, has been grappling with some security challenges, including kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, and cult-related violence and killings. The security challenges in the state have been complicated by a spate of deadly attacks on police officers lately. Some unidentified gunmen on March 3 shot and killed two police officers in Obubra, central part of Cross River. Earlier in February, four police officers were shot dead along the road in Calabar by some unidentified gunmen. In a move to rid the state of crimes, the Cross River State Government recently set up a security outfit called Operation Akpakwu which is made up of the Nigerian Army, the police, and other security agencies. The security outfit has been pulling down buildings, including hotels, linked to crimes in the state (NAN) Austrian Health Minister Steps Down, Exhausted by Pandemic VIENNAAustrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober of the Greens, the junior partner in the conservative-led coalition, said on Tuesday he is stepping down, exhausted and sick from battling the COVID-19 pandemic and occasionally other officials. I do not want to break myself, Anschober said in a short-notice statement to the media, describing blood-pressure problems that have caused him to take sick leave twice recently. Anschober, a 60-year-old former journalist and schoolteacher, is one of the countrys most popular politicians, known for his long, patient explanations of the pandemics challenges, often while holding up large print-outs of charts. He has often been a lone voice in the Austrian government calling for stricter lockdown measures while clashing with opposition from Chancellor Sebastian Kurzs conservatives, who have been keen to loosen restrictions. Anschober said that he hasnt had a single full day off in more than a year, which has damaged his health. I took on a very nice and challenging job 15 months ago. It feels like it has not been 15 months but 15 years, Anschober said. He started when the coalition was formed in January 2020, before the pandemic hit Austria. Austrian Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler and designated Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein attend a news conference in Vienna, Austria, on April 13, 2021. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters) Shortly after Anschobers announcement, the leader of the Greens, Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, presented medical doctor Wolfgang Mueckstein as Anschobers successor, adding that he would be sworn in Monday. I would like to help make sure that we all get through the pandemic together as well as possible, Mueckstein, a general practitioner and relative unknown who has been active in the Vienna Medical Association, told a news conference. Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a 25.55 line km 3D induced polarization ("IP") and magnetometer survey on its Janes PGM-Cu-Ni Property (the "Property"). The survey was completed by Canadian Exploration Services Ltd. using a 3D induced polarization survey. The survey targeted the northern portion of the Property and included the area around Trenches 1 and 4 where recent channel sample results returned values up to 2.25 g/t Pd, 0.41 g/t Pt, 0.43 g/t Au, 1.09 % Cu and 0.50 % Ni over a continuous length of 22.0 m (see press release, March 22, 2021). Commenting on the results, SPC's CEO, Grant Mourre stated, "It is extremely exciting to see so many high priority IP targets generated from this initial survey. The results clearly show chargeability responses associated with the known mineralization at Trenches 1 and 4 (Target A) and newly identified anomalies at Targets B and C that have seen little to no exploration in the past. We look forward to the upcoming field program where we will focus our efforts on further evaluating these targets." Target Areas: (see Figure 1) Target A: Survey results show a NE-SW trending linear chargeability anomaly spanning 125 m wide by 600 m long in horizontal plan view (100 m below the MSL) that correlates well with the known mineralization in and around Trenches 1 and 4. Geologically, this area is interpreted to represent the eastern limb of a folded (anticline) mafic Nipissing sill where sulphide mineralization occurs near the SE dipping basal contact of the sill. All historic work completed to date on the Janes Property has focused on this area. In 1999, Pacific North West Capital Corp. ("PFN") completed two shallow holes beneath historic Trench 1. Hole JR99-01 drilled by PFN intersected 2.28 g/t Pd, 0.33 g/t Pt, 0.20 g/t Au, 1.01 % Cu and 0.27 % Ni over 18.05 m from 32.0 - 50.05 m1. Hole JR99-06 drilled by PFN intersected 2.08 g/t Pd, 0.33 g/t Pt, 0.30 g/t Au, 0.84 % Cu and 0.27 % Ni over 14.01 m from 9.90 - 23.91 m1. Target B: Survey results show a large 300 m by 450 m chargeability anomaly in an area that has seen no previous exploration activities. The current geological model suggest that this area may be like the Target A area except on the opposite NW dipping limb of the folded Nipissing sill. It is also important to note that the anomaly appears to be open to the NW. Target C: Survey results show a broad zone of NW-SE trending chargeability anomalies that are proximal to an extensive NW-SE trending mafic dyke. It is unclear at this point how many of these discreet anomalies are related to the cross-cutting dyke, but it is interesting that some of the anomalies occur along the interpreted contact between the Nipissing sill and the regional sediments. Note: The reader is cautioned that the mineralization encountered in Trench 1 may not be representative of mineralization across the entire Janes Property. The length reported in both channel sample and drill hole lengths represents the sample length and is not necessarily the true width of the mineralized zone. Diamond Drilling Program, Janes Property, Pacific North West Capital Corporation, Assessment Report 2.19887, Scott Jobin-Bevans June 25, 1999. Figure 1: 3D Distributed IP Array Chargeability Inversion Slice (200 m) of the Janes Property with interpretations and target areas. Note: For the survey, an average sea level (Mean Sea Level - MSL) of 300 m was used. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6510/80380_fd264a6a14a46831_002full.jpg Project Update In summer of 2021, SPC plans to complete detailed geological mapping of the property, followed by a diamond drill program aimed at further expanding and defining the known zones of mineralization and testing many of the newly identified geophysical anomalies. Stock Options The Company also announces that it has granted an aggregate of 340,000 stock options to certain Directors and Employees of the Company in accordance with its Stock Option Plan. The Options are exercisable at a price of $0.32 per share and expire five years from the date of grant. Stock Options were issued on April 13, 2021. Qualified Person The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo., CEO & President of SPC Metals and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. About SPC Nickel Corp. SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation that is focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. The Company is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration projects Aer-Kidd and Lockerby East both located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp and holds an option to acquire 100% interest in the Janes project located approximately 50 km NE of Sudbury. The Company's flagship project, Aer-Kidd, is strategically located between two world class assets in the producing Totten Mine (Vale) and the large, high-grade Victoria development project (KGHM). The Company will initially focus on advancing its key Sudbury assets with a vision of growing to a pre-eminent North American nickel exploration company. Additional information regarding the Company and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, 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. Further information is available at www.spcnickel.com by contacting: Grant Mourre Chief Executive Officer SPC Nickel Corp. Tel: (705) 669-1777 Email: gmourre@spcnickel.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80380 Bixby on College, Clemson, SC We are thrilled to bring this exciting new student community to the students at Clemson University, noted Gilbane Development Company senior vice president Russell Broderick. Gilbane Development Company has opened a leasing office for Bixby on College a 383-bed student apartment community located less than a half mile from Clemson University at 405 College Avenue and just a few blocks from downtown Clemson, SC. The project is currently under construction. Bixby on College is scheduled to open for student occupancy in August 2022. A leasing office is now open at 384 College Avenue. Community amenities include a clubhouse with pool table and gaming area which opens to a courtyard featuring a heated pool with infinity edge, fire pit, hammock lounge, outdoor kitchen, and grilling areas; a fitness center with cardio and strength training equipment; study rooms; and, a computer lab. Bixby will be pet-friendly and have plenty of car and bicycle parking. 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom apartments are fully furnished with modern furniture and finishes, and include in-unit washer and dryer, walk-in closets, private bathrooms, optional balconies, a fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, high-speed internet and a flat screen TV. Leasing is by the bed, and Bixby on College will be professionally managed, with a diverse offering of activities to promote and a strong sense of community among students. We are thrilled to bring this exciting new student community to the students at Clemson University, noted Gilbane Development Company senior vice president Russell Broderick. The outstanding location combined with unrivaled amenities and unit design will provide Clemson students with a truly superior community in which to live, learn, and thrive. There will be approximately 11,800 square feet of commercial space located on the first floor of the building fronting College Avenue and Keowee Trail. Gilbane is currently in discussions with a variety of exciting potential restaurant and retail tenants. Please contact Tommy Molin and Brian Scurlock at CBRE for available commercial opportunities by calling 864-242-6169. To explore all that Bixby has to offer and be alerted to the start of leasing, please join our VIP interest list at http://www.bixbyclemson.com. About Gilbane Development Company Gilbane Development Company is the project development, financing and ownership arm of Gilbane, Inc., a private holding company in its fifth and sixth generation of family ownership and management. Gilbane Development Company provides a full slate of real estate development, project management, and asset management services. Completed projects include over 16,000 beds of student housing, academic facilities, multifamily, affordable housing, residential communities, mixed-use, corporate headquarters, K-12 schools, healthcare facilities, operational | data | distribution centers, R&D | manufacturing facilities, and many types of facilities delivered through public-private partnerships. To learn more, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com/development or call 1-800-GILBANE. Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Romain Taofifenua (R) has scored two Test tries since his France debut in 2012 France second-row Romain Taofifenua will join Lyon next season on a three-year deal, the Top 14 club said on Wednesday. Taofifenua, 30, who made the last of his 25 Test appearances during this year's Six Nations, will leave current side Toulon, where he won the European Cup in 2015, at the end of the ongoing campaign. The lock forward, who made his Test debut nine years ago, had announced his departure from Stade Mayol on Tuesday. "I wanted to change environment, to give my career new impetus," Toafifenua told the Rugbyrama website. "I really have the intention to finish my Toulon adventure well. I dream of leaving Toulon on a good note, with another title," he added. Lyon also said once-capped France prop Mohamed Boughanmi will arrive from Pau while Toulouse hooker Guillaume Marchand, younger brother of France front-rower Julien, has signed on loan. They also confirmed the arrival of former New Zealand fly-half Lima Sopoaga from Wasps, after the English outfit's announcement on Tuesday. Two players who arrived on temporary deals as injury cover earlier in the term, in Fiji lock Temo Mayanavanua and ex-New Zealand U20s flanker Jordan Taufua, have signed permanent contracts. Lyon are sixth in the table and head to second-placed La Rochelle this Saturday with six games of the regular campaign remaining. Earlier, South African franchise the Blue Bulls said Springbok prop Marcel van der Merwe will join La Rochelle as a injury cover. "We wish him well with his short stint in France," the Bulls tweeted. The European Champions Cup semi-finalists are without Argentina tight-head Ramiro Herrera after he underwent shoulder surgery. fjt/iwd/lp RTHK: Biden sends 'unofficial delegation' to Taiwan Former US senator Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State, Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, headed to Taiwan on Tuesday at President Joe Biden's request, in what a White House official called a "personal signal" of the president's commitment to the Chinese-claimed island and its democracy. A senior Biden administration official told Reuters the dispatch of the "unofficial" delegation comes as the United States and Taiwan mark the 42nd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, for which Biden voted when he was a senator. The delegation will meet with senior Taiwanese officials and followed "a long-standing bipartisan tradition of US administrations sending high-level, unofficial delegations to Taiwan," the official said. The official called it "a personal signal" from the president, who took office in January. "The selection of these three individuals senior statesmen who are longtime friends of Taiwan and personally close with President Biden sends an important signal about the US commitment to Taiwan and its democracy." Taiwan's presidential office said President Tsai Ing-wen would meet with the delegation on Thursday morning. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the group would arrive at Taipei's downtown Songshan airport mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The State Department said on Friday it was issuing new guidelines to enable US officials to meet more freely with officials from Taiwan, a move that deepens relations with Taipei amid stepped-up Chinese military activity around the island, which China claims as its own. Former President Donald Trump angered China by sending several senior officials to Taiwan, and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, announced days before the Trump presidency ended in January that he was lifting restrictions on contacts between US officials and their Taiwanese counterparts. Taiwan is China's most sensitive territorial issue and a major bone of contention with Washington, which is required by US law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. "The United States is committed to engaging Taiwan and deepening our cooperation on shared interests in line with the US 'one-China' policy," the Biden administration official said, referring to the long-standing US policy under which Washington officially recognises Beijing rather than Taipei. The official waved off a question as to whether dispatch of the delegation might have been coordinated to coincide with US climate envoy John Kerry's visit to Shanghai this week, saying climate talks with Beijing "shouldn't be linked with other areas of the relationship." "And it's certainly not to the diminishment of any of our concerns about Beijing's behavior," the official said. "Our unofficial engagement with Taiwan ... should stand on its own." Asked about future official-level contacts with Taiwan after the State Department announcement, the official replied: "We don't have specific plans at this time, for particular travel, but... I certainly do expect for us to be having engagements and travel consistent with our one-China policy." The official said Taiwan and preserving the status quo across the Taiwan Strait would be part of talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga when he visits Washington for talks with Biden later this week. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Reuters Staff WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said on Wednesday that U.S. intelligence agencies do not know exactly when or how COVID-19 was initially transmitted. "The intelligence community does not know exactly where, when or how the COVID-19 virus was transmitted initially," Haines told a Senate hearing. She noted two theories, that it emerged from human contact with infected animals or the result of a laboratory accident. "We're continuing to work on this issue and collect information," Haines said in response to questioning by Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate intelligence panel, about the virus's early spread in China. Many U.S. lawmakers have denounced China for failing to be more transparent about the early threat from the coronavirus. Former Republican President Donald Trump was criticized for calling it the "China virus," amid a rise in anti-Asian violence in the United States. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in March that data was withheld from WHO investigators who travelled to China to research the origins of the coronavirus. U.S. intelligence agency directors at the hearing were asked how much of their workforces had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns said 80 percent of his agency had received at least one vaccine, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Scott Berrier said 40-50 percent, but that was expanding quickly. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said he could not provide the committee with an approximate percentage because its workforce is spread across so many U.S. states. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. NORWALK A crowd of about 20 people gathered outside a local auto body shop Tuesday to protest the owners alleged racially charged remarks toward a tenant in a building he manages. The tenant, 29-year-old Norwalk resident Laura Garcia, said she moved with her husband and two children in November 2019 into a multifamily home on Flax Hill Road, of which Fedor Auto Body Works owner Allen Fedor is the landlord. But in March, when Garcia and her family left the home, a dispute allegedly ensued when Fedor said he planned to retain some of the security deposit to fix hole in a wall that Garcia said was not caused by her family. The argument led to remarks via text from Fedor regarding Garcias Latin American background, Garcia claims. Garcia is originally from Guatemala and moved to the U.S. seven years ago. During the text exchanges regarding the wall repairs, Garcia listed the issues the family previously had with the apartment including a faulty smoke alarm and mice, to which Fedor responded, Its ok, I guess you illegals are just dirty like in Mexico. On Tuesday, Fedor confirmed he made the comments. They were screaming at me that white people are landlords because theyre money hungry and Im like, well that has nothing to do with it this, he told Hearst Connecticut Media. I apologize for calling them that but again I kind of feel discriminated against because I happen to be white and a landlord. The comments prompted Garcia to seek help in her dispute with Fedor and led to the first protest outside the auto body shop on March 31. The second protest was organized in part by community activism groups Chapinas Manos Unidas, Unidad Latina en Accion, and Black & Brown United in Action. The shop closed early in preparation for the protest, Fedor said. Norwalk is home to a significant number of migrants and people of color, the protest description read. Diversity and respect are essential for this vibrant community. Migrants and activists denounced Fedor for the comments and his attacks on the Norwalk migrant community. Garcia said she reached out to local housing officials and intends to file a lawsuit against Fedor for the security deposit if he does not return the funds. Fedor said he will return the funds, but has 30 days from the familys departure from the home to do so. Norwalk Fair Housing Officer Margaret K. Suib did not respond to request for comment on the status of Garcias complaint. People are afraid and dont speak out until someone else does, Garcia said. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a man convicted in the 2000 killing of an Indiana University student, rejecting it months after a federal appeals court reversed a judges order that called for his release from prison. The high court recently denied a petition that attorneys filed on behalf of John Myers II asking the court to consider the Ellettsville mans case, The Herald-Times reported. The courts decision means Myers, 45, will remain incarcerated at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. State records show that his earliest possible release date would be June 2037. A Morgan County jury convicted Myers in 2006 in the killing of 19-year-old Jill Behrman and sentenced him to 65 years in prison. Indiana law at the time would allow him to be released after serving half of his time if he maintains good behavior. Behrman was an IU sophomore when she disappeared on May 31, 2000, while riding her bicycle near Bloomington. Her fate was a mystery until hunters found her remains in 2003 in Morgan County, north of Bloomington. She had been shot in the back of the head. In September 2019, U.S. District Judge James Sweeney vacated Myers conviction and ordered his release from prison. He ruled that Myers legal representation during his murder trial was so ineffective that his Sixth Amendment rights had been violated. But in August 2020, a three-judge panel of the Chicago-based U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Sweeneys order, ruling that jurors still would have convicted Myers even without the errors by his counsel. Because of the strength of the evidence presented at trial, our confidence in the jurys decision is not undermined, that ruling states. The second part of the bill allows for automatic expungement of juvenile records, unless the child commits a felony, and a court has discretion in determining if the record should be expunged. Under this portion of the bill, the record would be expunged within a year a juvenile is released or when they are 19 years old, Tallian previously said. Gurugram, April 14 : The Haryana Chief Minister's flying squad on Wednesday busted an illegal call centre operating at Ansal Corporate Plaza, near Sector-3 Palam Vihar, in Gurugram. The police have arrested seven persons in connection with the matter. This call centre was cheating American nationals on the pretext of providing Social Security Number (SSN) and charge in dollars for service via e-check, popal and gift cards, said the Gurugram police. The accused had also paid Rs 2.6 lakh as building rent for four months. According to the police, an SSN is a nine-digit number that the U.S government issues to all its citizens to keep track of the resident's lifetime earnings and the number of years worked. The police have also seized Rs 1.9 lakh, one laptop and a hard-disk and other electronic gadgets from the spot. The owner of the alleged fake call centre has been identified as 32-year-old Akshay Dalal, who is a B.Com graduate from Madhya Pradesh, currently residing in Gurugram's Sohna Road area. The remaining six accused hail from Manipur. The fake call centre operated under the name 'Medicine Global Infotech Pvt. Ltd'. According to the police, a team from the Haryana Chief Minister's flying squad led by Gurugram Assistant Commissioner Of Police (ACP), Inderjeet Singh, raided the call centre following a tip-off . During the raid, the police spotted six boys and three girls who were communicating with the American nationals in English. "The youths were employed at the call centre which was being operated without permission. The call centre did not have any licence issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DOT)," the Gurugram ACP said. "The main accused used to work in a Gurugram-based call centre in 2019 from where he got the idea to cheat American citizens," he added. "The matter is under investigation. How the accused was operating the fake call centre is part of the investigation. The involvement of other people cannot be ruled out," he said. An FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including the IT Act, has been registered at the Cyber Crime police station for further investigation. Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck's Electronics business, appears onscreen on the right, during a video conference with Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Lee Jae-myung, left screen, at Gyeonggi Provincial Office, Tuesday. During the meeting, the CEO said Merck plans to invest over 250 billion won in semiconductors and OLEDs through its business sites in the province for the next five years. Courtesy of Merck Korea GEORGETOWN With a voter turnout of just more than 26 percent, Republican Jonathan Angner won the Georgetown City Council seat over Democrat Ronald McInnis during the special election on April 13. This is Angners political debut, though he owns two local businesses, Omni Services and AHSC. His business mindset and background sets him apart from other council members, Angner said. Citing rising taxes and expenses in areas such as utilities and roads, Angner said he wants to find creative ways to push down the forces that are causing these rising costs. If we are not (finding creative ways), then were either oblivious to it, were ignoring it or were not qualified to have these conversations, Angner said. Angner said in a previous interview with The Post and Courier Myrtle Beach that, if elected, he would be pragmatic in deciding how and where to spend voter's tax dollars. Sign up for our Myrtle Beach weekly update newsletter. Sign up for weekly roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Myrtle Beach area. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Myrtle Beach news staff. Email Sign Up! "The city of Georgetown is facing over a $2.1M shortfall, and the stark reality is hard discussions and decisions will need to be had and made," Angner said on March 26. Angner's seat is up for reelection in the primary in June and he plans to rerun to maintain his seat. McInnis congratulated Angner on his win, and also plans on rerunning in June for Angner's seat. "I am not going anywhere, and very soon I will return and continue the good work in our communities," McInnis said. The final vote tally was 854-588. Angner wasn't immediately available for comment after the tally was complete. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. Prosecutors expect to decide today whether to charge the white former police officer who fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb, sparking nights of protests and raising tensions amid the nearby murder trial of the ex-officer charged with killing George Floyd. Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned Tuesday, two days after Potter shot 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Gannon has said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her pistol when she was trying to pull out her Taser. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said at a news conference that the city had been moving toward firing Potter, a 26-year veteran, when she resigned. Elliott said he hoped her resignation would bring some calm to the community, but that he would keep working toward full accountability under the law. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput told WCCO-AM that he had received information on the case from state investigators and hoped to have a charging decision today. Orput did not respond to a message from The Associated Press. While the shooting happened in Hennepin County, prosecutors referred the case to nearby Washington County a practice county attorneys in the Minneapolis area adopted last year in handling police deadly force cases. We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that. His family deserves that, Elliott said. But police and protesters faced off once again after nightfall Tuesday, with hundreds of protesters gathering again at Brooklyn Centers heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch. About 90 minutes before a 10 p.m. curfew, state police announced over a loudspeaker that the gathering had been declared unlawful and ordered the crowds to disperse. That quickly set off confrontations, with protesters launching fireworks toward the station and throwing objects at police, who launched flashbangs and gas grenades, and then marched in a line to force back the crowd. Demonstrators take cover from crowd-dispersal munitions from police Tuesday night outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department while protesting the shooting death of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (John Minchillo, Associated Press) You are hereby ordered to disperse, authorities announced, warning that anyone not leaving would be arrested. The state police said the dispersal order came before the curfew because protesters were trying to take down the fencing and throwing rocks at police. The number of protesters dropped rapidly over the next hour, until only a few remained. Police also ordered all media to leave the scene. Gannon has said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser. But protesters and Wrights family members say the shooting shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for an expired car registration and ended up dead. Brooklyn Center, a suburb just north of Minneapolis, has seen its racial demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70% of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Hispanic. Elliott said he didnt have information on the police departments racial diversity at hand but that we have very few people of color in our department. Katie Wright, center, mother of Daunte Wright, arrives Tuesday to speak during a news conference in Minneapolis. Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by police Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (John Minchillo, Associated Press) After stopping Wright for the expired license plates, police tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for his failure to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. Body camera footage released Monday shows Wright struggling with police when Potter shouts, Ill Tase you! Ill Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser! She draws her weapon after the man breaks free from police and gets back into the car. After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and Potter says, Holy (expletive)! I shot him. Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the medical examiner. Protests began within hours. In her one-paragraph letter of resignation, Potter said, I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately. Wrights father, Aubrey Wright, told ABCs Good Morning America that he rejects the explanation that Potter mistook her gun for her Taser. I lost my son. Hes never coming back. I cant accept that. A mistake? That doesnt even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I cant accept that, he said. Ben Crump, the Wright familys attorney, spoke outside the Minneapolis courthouse where fired police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial in Floyds death. Crump compared Wrights death to that of Floyd, who was pinned down by police when they tried to arrest him for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 at a neighborhood market last May. Daunte Wright was not a threat to them, Crump said. Was it the best decision? No. But young people dont always make the best decisions. As his mother said, he was scared. Auto body on Wednesday termed the government's move to extend the FAME II certification validity by one year as a step in the right direction. The measure will enable FAME II eligibility certificate valid for one year from the last date of certification instead of the financial year norm earlier, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in a statement. "We appreciate and thank the Department of Heavy (DHI) to accept this recommendation of the Such progressive measures would help bolster the industry's confidence to introduce more and more electric models with time," it added. noted that the scheme is largely on the right track and would result in desirable outcomes in the coming few years. The DHI on Monday extended by one year the eligibility certificates issued by testing agencies and approvals for electric vehicles given by the National Automotive Board (NAB) and DHI that were valid till March 31, 2021. Originally, manufacturers were required to submit re-validation certificates for availing of demand incentives under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme. In 2019, the government had announced an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore for the FAME II scheme for three years till 2022. The scheme had envisaged supporting 10 lakh electric two-wheelers, 5 lakh three-wheelers, 55,000 four-wheelers and 7,000 buses. (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.) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks as he visits a naval base in Gadzhiyevo, Russia on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Russia Says Troop Buildup Near Ukraine Is a Response to NATO MOSCOWRussias defense minister said Tuesday that the countrys massive military buildup in the west was part of readiness drills amid what he described as threats from NATO. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the maneuvers in western Russia that have worried neighboring Ukraine and brought warnings from NATO would last for another two weeks. Speaking at a meeting with the top military brass, Shoigu said the ongoing exercise was a response to what he claimed were continuous efforts by the United States and its NATO allies to beef up their forces near Russias borders. In the past three weeks, the Russian military has deployed two armies and three airborne formations to western regions as a response to the alliances military activities threatening Russia, the defense minister said. The troops have shown their full readiness to fulfill tasks to ensure the countrys security, he said. The United States and its allies have sounded alarm about the concentration of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine and increasing violations of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-baked separatists and Ukrainian forces have been locked in a conflict since Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. More than 14,000 people have died in fighting in eastern Ukraine, and efforts to negotiate a political settlement have stalled. The chief of NATO on Tuesday called the recent Russian deployment the largest concentration of troops near the Ukraine border since 2014. The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden voiced concern over the Russian buildup and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions, during a phone call Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In separate meetings with Ukraines foreign minister, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg strong support for Ukraine and warned Russia against pressing ahead with its troop buildup along the former Soviet republics eastern border. Amid the recent tensions, the United States notified Turkey that two U.S. warships would sail to the Black Sea on April 14 and April 15 and stay there until May 4 and May 5. The U.S. Navy ships have made regular visits to the Black Sea in past years, vexing Moscow. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov denounced the latest deployment as openly provocative, adding that American ships have absolutely nothing to do near our shores. They are testing our strength and playing on our nerves, Ryabkov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. Seeing itself as the Queen of the Seas, the U.S. should realize that the risks of various incidents are very high. We warn the U.S. that it should stay away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast for their own benefit. NATO chief Stoltenberg expressed the Western military alliances unwavering support for Ukraine during a news conference on Tuesday with Ukraines foreign minister, calling the Russian movements unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning. The Kremlin has argued that Russia is free to deploy its troops wherever it wants on its territory and has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian military of provocative actions along the line of control in the east and of planning to retake control of the rebel regions by force. Ryabkov reaffirmed Tuesday that if there is any escalation, we will do everything to ensure our own security and the security of our citizens whenever they are, adding that Kyiv and its Western curators will bear all the responsibility for the consequences of that hypothetical escalation. By Vladimir Isachenkov A Delaware judge on Monday gave final approval to a $65 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit involving thousands of residents of a southern Delaware community affected by groundwater contamination from a local poultry processing facility. Approval of the settlement by a Superior Court Judge Craig Karsnitz coincided with a federal magistrate judge signing off Monday on a consent decree between state environmental regulators and Mountaire Farms. The consent decree was submitted more than two years ago but was held up by the legal dispute between Mountaire and area residents in state court. The approvals bring an end to lengthy and convoluted litigation in state and federal courts stemming from a wastewater treatment system failure at Mountaires Millsboro facility in 2017. In addition to settling the class-action lawsuit, Mountaire is expected to spend at least $120 million as part of the consent decree to upgrade its wastewater treatment system. In settling the lawsuit, Mountaire denied any liability for nitrate contamination in residential supply wells, excessive air emissions of hydrogen sulfide, or any health problems experienced by residents. While Mountaire does not believe that it caused any damage to any of the plaintiffs, it chose to settle the case in order to achieve a final resolution and to allow construction of a new wastewater treatment plant to proceed, the company said in a statement. Mountaire has been the subject of several lawsuits involving its handling of wastewater and sludge from poultry processing operations. The company agreed in December 2019 to pay a $420,000 civil penalty and upgrade its wastewater system as part of the proposed consent decree with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The agreement was aimed at resolving spray irrigation and land application permit violations cited by DNREC in 2017. In addition to the civil penalty, Mountaire agreed to offer residents living near its Millsboro plant options for an alternative water supply, including whole-house filtration systems, deeper wells or connections to a public water supply system. The company also agreed to pay a $230,000 administrative penalty regarding violations at its Selbyville facility and other violations in Millsboro that were not related to the 2017 wastewater treatment system failure. The company was allowed to offset up to $115,000 of that administrative penalty through a wetlands restoration or enhancement project. In January, DNREC issued two permits enabling Mountaire to move forward with the required facility upgrade and remediation efforts. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Pollution Meat Processing BANGALORE, India, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Residential Energy Storage Market is Segmented by Connectivity (On-Grid & Off-Grid), by Technology (LeadAcid Battery Energy Storage & Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecast from 2022 to 2027. It is published on Valuates Reports in the Renewable & Alternative Energy Category. The Residential Energy Storage market size is projected to reach USD 13,910 Million by 2027, from USD 6,716.5 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 12.9% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Major factors driving the growth of residential energy storage market size are: Increase in demand for uninterrupted and reliable power supply and the rise in adoption of solar rooftop systems by the residential sector. Sharp decline in price of Li-ion batteries along with the demand for solar energy generation and initiatives by governments for eliminating dependence on fossil fuels. View Report Details Before Purchasing: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-3I410/residential-energy-storage TRENDS INFLUENCING THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY STORAGE MARKET SIZE The necessity of grid resilience during mass-grid outages emerged as a primary reason for the adoption of the residential energy storage market. With increasing vulnerabilities to natural disasters, homeowners are forced to look at adding residential storage for emergency backup when the grid is down. This, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the residential energy storage market size. National policies and government financial initiatives are expected to increase the residential energy storage market size. Many countries are implementing hybrid energy systems, such as renewables plus storage, to reduce their reliance on imported energy, achieve environmental goals, meet de-carbonization targets, and improve system efficiency and resiliency. Furthermore, large policy mandates linked to quality-of-life goals and urbanization in developed countries would support the growth of residential energy storage. The continued improvements in production and supply chain efficiencies, as well as gradual improvements in energy density, are expected to lower lithium-ion battery costs during the forecast period. This sharp cost reduction in Li-ion batteries is expected to further fuel the growth of residential energy storage market size. Furthermore, the increase in smart infrastructure projects and increased investments for the use of renewable energy in emerging nations is also expected to drive the market growth. Request a Sample Copy of the Report For Growth & Trends Analysis on Residential Energy Storage Market : https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-3I410/Residential_Energy_Storage_Market RESIDENTIAL ENERGY STORAGE MARKET SHARE Lithium-ion-based energy storage systems are expected to be the most lucrative. Li-ion batteries. Furthermore, Li-ion batteries are becoming more common due to their technical advantage as the most energetic rechargeable batteries available. Furthermore, the use of Li-ion batteries has increased globally as a result of their technological and economic advantages over traditional batteries. Europe is expected to be one of the most lucrative regions in the residential energy storage market. The demand for RESS in the region is witnessing high growth, owing to the rapid adoption of rooftop solar power. On the other hand, due to its rising demand for renewables, rapid economic growth, and increasing demand for self-sufficient electricity, the Asia Pacific region is expected to have the fastest-growing market for residential energy storage. RESIDENTIAL ENERGY STORAGE MARKET SEGMENTS Residential Energy Storage Market by Type Li-ion Battery Energy Storage Lead Acid Battery Energy Storage Others Residential Energy Storage Market by Application On-grid Off-grid The major players that are operating in the global Residential Energy Storage market are Samsung SDI LG Chem Hitachi Kokam Fluence Energy LSIS SMA Solar Technology NGK General Electric Primus Panasonic BYD Younicos ABB Saft Batteries Lockheed Martin Energy Eos Energy Storage Con Edison Solutions Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-3I410&lic=single-user Buy Now for Enterprise License + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-3I410&lic=enterprise-license SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS : - Residential Solar Energy Storage System Market contains segmentation By Type (Lead-acid Battery, Li-ion Battery), By Application (Collective House, Detached House, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast. - Thermal Energy Storage Market Report contains segmentation By Type (Sensible Heat Regenerative, Latent Heat Storage, Thermochemical Mode), By Application (Residential, Industrial) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast. - The hydrogen energy storage market size was valued at USD 15.4 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 25.4 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2020 to 2027. - The Energy Storage Systems market size is projected to reach USD 31470 Million by 2027, from USD 7536 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 26.9% during the forecast period 2022-2027. - The Mobile Energy Storage System Market contains segmentation By Type (Li-ion battery, Sodium-based battery, Lead-acid battery, Others), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast. - The Solid State Battery Market size is projected to reach USD 13680 Million by 2026, from USD 1172.4 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 50.6% during the forecast period 2021-2026. - The lead acid battery market size was valued at USD 39.7 Billion in 2018, and is projected to reach USD 59.7 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.24% from 2019 to 2026. - The lithium-ion battery market size was valued at USD 36.7 Billion in 2019, and is projected to hit USD 129.3 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 18.0% from 2020 to 2027. - The global Battery Materials market size is projected to reach USD 53980 Million by 2026, from USD 40540 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period 2021-2026 - The Energy Storage Market size to grow from USD 71831.56 Millions in 2018 to USD 164704.67 Millions by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.58% during the forecast period. - The Battery Energy Storage System Market size is expected to grow from USD 2,194.70 Million in 2019 to USD 6,905.64 Million by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 21.05%. - The Battery Monitoring System Market size is expected to grow from USD 2,995.53 Million in 2019 to USD 5,178.49 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.55%. To see the full list of related reports on the Energy Storage ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains detail research methodology employed to generate the report, Please also reach to our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Follow on Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Follow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports SOURCE Valuates Reports Prior to the United Supreme Court decision in Baker v. Carr 369 U.S.186 (1962), which loosened the stronghold that rural communities held over the urban large cities, one of the most powerful politicians in Georgia would be Eugene Talmadge. Talmadge was born in 1884 in Forsyth, Georgia. He came from an upper class family but he always claimed to be the champion of the lower class rural white citizens. He actively promoted segregation and white supremacy and was an avid opponent of President Franklin Delano Roosevelts New Deal as a Southern conservative Democrat. He and his successor, Marvin Griffin, were the darlings of the wool hat boys who primarily consisted of Southern white men who after the Civil War had returned home to find that after the freeing of their slaves they had to do their own plowing, hoeing and picking. The Confederate veterans stubbornly refused to wear the cool, wide-brim straw-field hats favored by the former slaves. Instead the white farmers wore sweaty, narrow-brim wool hats that the boiling Southern sun would turn their necks red when they bent over. Gene Talmadge was a master at playing to the poor, rural voters. In spite of his family wealth he would arrive for courthouse rallies in worn-out cars, pushed by a gang of supporters because he didnt have enough money to buy gas to get into town. He always wore a rumpled suit and his black hair would be lying lank across his forehead in an unruly fashion. Gene on the speaking platform would point his fist stirring up the crowd with his anti-city and segregation rhetoric and would close by taking off his coat and reveal his trademark, a pair of flame red galluses holding up his britches. He cultivated the image of the wild man from Sugar Creek. On one occasion when he boasted about being a country man it possibly cost him the election in 1948. Talmadge, for some reason, liked to boast about having to answer a call from Mother Nature by relieving himself in the woods. On the way to give an important campaign speech in Moultrie, Georgia, Gene told his driver to stop the car so he could relieve himself in the bushes. While he was performing the necessary act a black widow spider bit him on his privates and almost killed him. Gene became so weak that he couldnt give his usual fiery speech and had to let someone else give his speech. He later would claim that it cost him the governorship. Ellis Arnall won the race and Gene like any politician had an explanation for his loss. In a post-election interview with his political nemesis, Atlanta Constitution Editor Ralph McGill (of Soddy), said that Arnall would not have been him if that black widow spider hadnt bitten him on the b_ _ _ _. Are modern day Georgia politics as interesting? * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com) LEONARDTOWN, Md. A Maryland State Police trooper responding to a pair of 911 calls shot and killed a teenager who was pointing what investigators determined was an airsoft gun at him, authorities said Tuesday. The shooting occurred after state police received two 911 calls about someone acting suspicious, Superintendent Woodrow Jones II told a news conference. The first caller said he thought the person had a gun, left a telephone number but didnt give an address before hanging up, Jones said. A second caller gave a street address for the suspicious person that was a short distance from the Leonardtown barracks, but the caller hung up before identifying themselves, Jones said. Jones said the trooper, who responded alone, encountered Peyton Ham, 16, who he said had a gun and a knife. According to the superintendent, a witness said they saw Ham in the driveway of the home in a shooting stance and pointing a weapon at the trooper. The trooper fired at the male, wounding him, Jones said. According to another witness, Ham then pulled out a knife and tried to get up. The trooper ordered him to drop the knife before he fired again, Jones said, adding that the trooper reported the shooting and called for emergency personnel while other troopers gave first aid. Ham was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Jones said. An investigation revealed that the weapon Ham wielded was an airsoft gun, which is commonly used to shoot BBs and which Jones called a close representation of an actual handgun. The teenager was white, as is the trooper who shot him, according to Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley. The trooper, who has been with the state police for two years and seven months, has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, Jones said. The trooper was not hurt, he added. Maryland State Police troopers dont wear body cameras, and Jones said investigators will look for video from the surrounding area. He said dashcam video didnt capture the incident. Leonardtown is about 60 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. ALSO READ: Missing central Pa. woman was victim of shooting last year: police New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a plea seeking direction to the Centre and AAP government to relax the age criterion and allow door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination. The plea also called for allowing more private sector participation in the drive. A bench of Justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Amit Bansal said it appeared that the public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed for publicity rather than doing any good to the society. We are prima facie of the view that the court does not have the wherewithal to deal with such matters which require empirical data.., the high court said. It said since the petitioner is withdrawing the plea and has understood the consequences and in future will not indulge in such litigation, it was refraining from imposing costs. The high court was hearing a petition, filed by a final year law student of Delhi University, seeking direction to the authorities to formulate a policy to provide the benefits of vaccination drive to senior citizens, differently-abled persons and poor sections of the society by initiating door-to-door vaccination services in the national capital. The petitioner Mrigank Mishra, represented through senior advocate Ashish Mohan, said that in the light of the alarming situation of rising coronavirus cases and the second wave which is more severe than the first one, it is pertinent to boost the vaccination drive for which widening of involvement of private sector entities is necessary as it will facilitate rapid and mass vaccination and allow door-to-door vaccination of the citizens. During the hearing, the court inquired from the petitioner's counsel as to how many vaccinations are being administered in government and private centres in Delhi and also about the availability of vaccines in the city. The bench said it appears that unless the availability of vaccines is more than what can be administered, there is no need for the petitioner to even seek relief of widening of the vaccination drive. The court said it appeared that the petitioner has not done proper homework and that it showed the shallowness with which the petition has been filed for the sake of publicity. The plea said the current system of vaccination drive involves visitation to centres after securing an appointment on the Co-Win portal and the on-the-spot registrations are very limited in number and often lead to long queues. Certain classes of citizens including bed-ridden senior citizens, differently-abled persons, poor sections of the society are at disadvantage owing to the present system of vaccination drive, it said. It is also necessary to remove/ relax the age restrictions in relation to the beneficiaries of vaccination drive since the increasing number of coronavirus cases are a concern for health and safety of every citizen, said the plea, filed through advocates Kushal Kumar, Harsh Ahuja, Aadtya Kapoor and Akash Deep Gupta. The petition arrayed the Union Ministries of Home Affairs and Health and Family Welfare and Delhi government as parties. It said currently people above the age of 45 years are eligible for vaccines by visiting the designated COVID-19 vaccination centres. However, considering the ever-rising number of coronavirus cases, availability of infrastructure and resources and in a situation where the governments have ruled out the possibilities of lockdown, expanding the reach of vaccination drive is the only solution to meet the ends. Delhi recorded over 13,500 cases of COVID-19 in last 24 hours, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday. Live TV Student Emma Low takes part in a pooled COVID-19 testing program in February at the Nock-Molin Middle School in Newburyport. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It was good to see the Supreme Court rule yet again in favor of religious liberty in the latest California case to reach the nations highest court. Yet the fact that the ruling was only 5-4, not to mention some of the reasoning in the dissenting opinion, gives real cause for concern. This should not have been a close vote at all. Instead, it should have been a slam dunk for religious freedoms. As reported on Forbes, The Supreme Court ruled by a 5-4 margin late Friday that California's coronavirus-related restrictions on gathering in private homes violated constitutional rights on the free exercise of religion, the latest ruling from the high court that prohibits authorities from enforcing limits on religious services. Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the three liberal justices, and the dissenting opinion was written by Justice Elena Kagan. As for the majority opinion, the reasoning was as follows. First, California treats some comparable secular activities more favorably than at-home religious exercise, permitting hair salons, retail stores, personal care services, movie theaters, private suites at sporting events and concerts, and indoor restaurants to bring together more than three households at a time. If these kinds of activities are permitted, why on earth would religious gatherings in the privacy of ones home not be permitted? Based on what standard? Second, the Ninth Circuit did not conclude that those activities pose a lesser risk of transmission than applicants proposed religious exercise at home. The Ninth Circuit erroneously rejected these comparators simply because this Courts previous decisions involved public buildings as opposed to private buildings. So, since the Supreme Courts overturning the Ninth Circuits oppressive rulings against church gatherings only pertained to public buildings, they wrongly thought they could restrict the rights of Christians meeting in private homes. Not so, SCOTUS ruled. Are you getting the message over there in the Ninth Circuit? Third, instead of requiring the State to explain why it could not safely permit at-home worshipers to gather in larger numbers while using precautions used in secular activities, the Ninth Circuit erroneously declared that such measures might not translate readily to the home. Was there no hint of anti-religious bias in the Ninth Circuit ruling? Was it truly dispassionate and even-handed, just based on faulty logic? Call me a little skeptical here. And fourth, although California officials changed the challenged policy shortly after this application was filed, the previous restrictions remain in place until April 15th, and officials with a track record of moving the goalposts retain authority to reinstate those heightened restrictions at any time. Moving the goalposts indeed, which is why so many people of good conscience in California have been fighting back. Indeed, This is the fifth time the Court has summarily rejected the Ninth Circuits analysis of Californias COVID restrictions on religious exercise. Kudos to the Supreme Court for getting this right. But serious concerns for the slim majority victory and even more for the dissenting viewpoint. In short, Justice Kagan wrote, California need not, as the [majority] insists, treat at-home religious gatherings the same as hardware stores and hair salons and thus unlike at-home secular gatherings, the obvious comparator here adding, the law does not require that the State equally treat apples and watermelons. Put another way, California can discriminate against religious gatherings if it so chooses, since not all gatherings are created equal. But, as noted in an op-ed on the Jewish Hamodia website, The apples-watermelons analogy is only tenable if you are willing, like Californias experts, to ignore the plain facts, and if you are inclined to put aside freedom of religion during a pandemic. The editorial also cited the arguments of attorney Charles Limandri, on behalf of one of the aggrieved California churches: Indeed, in rebuttal, LiMandri asserted that there is no scientific data showing churches are more risky when they practice the protocols. LiMandri said his clients church has not had any COVID-19 cases traced to exposure via its worship services. And he adduced a study showing indoor religious services have been held safely across the country without contributing to the spread of the virus, according to a report in Courthouse News Service. Back in February, Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined by Justices Alito and Thomas, issued a strong rebuke to these California courts, writing, once more, we appear to have a state playing favorites during a pandemic, expending considerable effort to protect lucrative industries (casinos in Nevada; movie studios in California) while denying similar largesse to its faithful. It is high time that the state of California, with its courts, along with other states and courts that are ruling against our religious liberties, get this right. And it is quite scary that the matter is even one of debate. This new publicly traded acquisition vehicle addresses the needs of earlier-stage and mid-market companies aspiring to list on a senior stock exchange in Canada Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - WD Growth I Corp. ("WD Growth") has filed a preliminary prospectus for an initial public offering (the "Offering") of a newly-organized Growth Acquisition Corporation ("G-Corp") formed for the purpose of effecting an acquisition of one or more businesses within 24 months from the closing of the Offering. Developed by WD Growth and its sponsor, WDC Investments I Inc. ("WDCI"), in concert with the NEO Exchange Inc. ("NEO"), the G-Corp is a publicly traded acquisition vehicle permitted to raise up to $30 million pursuant to an initial public offering. "Evolving markets have created an opportunity to list acquisition vehicles designed to meet the needs of earlier stage and mid-market companies," stated Robert Munro, CEO of WD Growth. "The novel structure of the G-Corp provides the market with an option to other listing vehicles that tend to focus on either micro or mega-cap companies." The preliminary prospectus has been filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada other than Quebec. The Offering is for Class A restricted voting units of WD Growth (the "Class A Restricted Voting Units") at an offering price of $3.00 per Class A Restricted Voting Unit, the aggregate proceeds of which will be placed in escrow pending completion of a qualifying transaction by WD Growth and will only be released upon certain prescribed conditions. Each Class A Restricted Voting Unit is comprised of a Class A Restricted Voting Share and one-half of one share purchase warrant (each whole share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of WD Growth for a purchase price of $3.45, commencing 30 days after the completion of our qualifying transaction and will expire on the day that is five years after the closing date of our qualifying transaction, or earlier. Mr. Munro added, "The G-Corp differs from a conventional SPAC. The holders of the Class A Restricted Voting Shares will not have a right to redeem their shares but rather the completion of the qualifying transaction will be subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of the Class A Restricted Voting Shares." The acquisition target of WD Growth is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of completing its qualifying transaction. The acquisition target is expected to be an operating business with an enterprise value between $30 million and $150 million; however, it is possible that the enterprise value of the qualifying acquisition will be higher or lower than indicated. The Offering is being distributed by Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the "Underwriter"). WD Growth has granted the Underwriter an over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase up to an additional 15% of the Class A Restricted Voting Units issued on the closing of the Offering on the same terms and conditions, exercisable in whole or in part by the Underwriter up to 30 days following closing of the Offering. Prior to the qualifying transaction, the Class A Restricted Voting Units will trade as a unit and may only be redeemed as a unit upon certain events. Each Class A Restricted Voting Unit will separate following the closing of the qualifying transaction into one common share of WD Growth and one-half of one Warrant. WDCI, together with certain other persons and directors of WD Growth, intend to purchase Class B units of WD Growth ("Class B Units") at an offering price of $3.00 per unit for aggregate sufficient to fund our working capital through to the completion of its qualifying transaction, concurrently with the closing of the Offering. Each Class B Unit will consist of one Class B share in the capital of WD Growth and one-half of one Warrant. The WD Growth Founders, management team, and board of directors include: Robert Munro Chief Executive Officer and Director Chief Executive Officer, The Chrysalis Capital Group Inc. Tyler Lang President and Chief Financial Officer Senior Managing Director, WD Capital Markets Inc. Perry Dellelce Chairman Managing Partner, Wildeboer Dellelce LLP Paul Dinelle Director Chief Executive Officer, Verge Asset Management Inc. and Managing Director, Blindspot Inc. Kevin Dane Director Chief Operating Officer, Wildeboer Dellelce LLP Michael Rennie Corporate Secretary Partner, Wildeboer Dellelce LLP Wildeboer Dellelce LLP is acting as legal counsel to WD Growth. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is acting as legal counsel to the Underwriter. A preliminary prospectus containing important information relating to these securities has been filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada other than Quebec. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment. Copies of the preliminary prospectus may be obtained from the Underwriter listed above. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the securities until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued. The preliminary prospectus has not yet become final for the purpose of a distribution of securities to the public. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale or acceptance of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the time a receipt for the final prospectus or other authorization is obtained from the securities commission or similar authority in such jurisdiction. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933. Copies of the preliminary prospectus will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Completion of the Offering is subject to the receipt of customary approvals, including regulatory approvals and the approval of the NEO. About WD Growth I Corp. WD Growth I Corp. is a newly organized growth-focused special purpose acquisition corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario for the purpose of effecting a qualifying transaction within a specified period of time. About WDC Investments I Inc. WDC Investments I Inc. is the sponsor of WD Growth. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects WDCI's and WD Growth's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond WDCI's or WD Growth's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to complete the Offering and related transactions, and the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the preliminary prospectus of WD Growth dated April 13, 2021. Neither WDCI nor WD Growth undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: WD Growth I Corp. Robert Munro Chief Executive Officer (416) 272-1140 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80458 Tran Nguyen Kim Thi is a postdoc majoring in AI usage in medicine at the Huge Kaul Precision Medicine Institute at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) in the US. She obtained a doctorate in immunology in 2020 with research work on the factors of the immune system that affect chronic lung diseases. Her research found that in patients suffering from uncommon pulmonary fibrosis of unknown origin, their immune systems have a variety of disorders that lead to immune cells attacking their lungs. The damages that accumulate over time turn into hard scarring that replaces normal lung tissue, impairing the lung's air exchange function. The result of the research has been used by Prof Steven Duncan, my teacher, to apply therapies or drugs that eliminate or inhibit the production of new antibodies to treat patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis, she said. Clinical experiments show very satisfactory results. About 50 percent of serious patients under the treatment of the professor have shown improvements. Some people who seem to be dying can get up and walk, she said. However, Thi did not continue the project for her postdoc research. She decided to shift to do research on the application of AI in biomedicine. She no longer carries out experiments at biochemical laboratories, but does mostly programming at the computer. There is a bitter truth that the percentage of successful research in biomedicine laboratories, as well as other experimental sciences, is very modest. About 90 percent of projects of new researchers fail. There are researchers who still cannot gain achievements after five years to complete their doctoral course, Thi said, explaining her decision. Another reason that led to her shift was that she believed she could help many people more directly and quickly with her current work using AI in medicine to treat patients suffering from uncommon diseases, than by implementing biomedical projects as she did in the past. Previously, her research was in severe and uncommon chronic lung diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis of unknown origin which has the rate of 1/10,000 people a year. Now her research is applied to very rare diseases, with only few individuals in the world have, mostly because of genetic causes. The symptoms of the diseases show very early. Patients relatives come to precision medicine institutes to find the answers why their children have the disease. Liberal education I believed that studying at the (liberal arts) school would promote my abilities. If I had studied at a normal school, I would not have followed the path of doing scientific research that I am doing now because of the common thought that women should study economics, trade or finance," Tran Nguyen Kim Thi Fifteen years ago, Thi, who was a ninth grader at a small school in Di Linh, Lam Dong province, decided to leave her hometown for Da Lat City to study at the citys school for the gifted. After finishing high school, she passed the entrance exam to the Foreign Trade University, a prestigious school. However, she left the school after one semester, which was a shocking decision in the eyes of her friends and relatives. She then spent time on learning English, attended standardized tests, prepared essays and searched for information to apply for full scholarships. Thi chose St Johns College, a liberal arts school, which offered a scholarship of $200,000 for four-year study. I believed that studying at the school would promote my abilities. If I had studied at a normal school, I would not have followed the path of doing scientific research that I am doing now because of the common thought that women should study economics, trade or finance, she said. When following tertiary education, Thi spent her internship at a lab on immunology because she once suffered from an autoimmune disease. When learning about my disease, I read a lot of documents and found it very interesting, so I decided to study immunology in the second year at school, she recalled. Thi got a letter of introduction from a teacher, which helped her obtain a scholarship. When asked if it was hectic doing and studying many things, she admitted that she sometimes felt giddy. However, modern society needs people with specialized knowledge and broad knowledge. It would be better if you have deep and broad knowledge. For me, broad understanding both helps society and makes my life more interesting, she said. This life can be seen in her images of a young, healthy woman on her personal page. She travels, does physical exercise, participates in festivals, and has a special passion for dancing. Because of her appearance and personality, she sometimes has trouble because she "does not look like a researcher". Asian people are thought to study well, work hard, have few opinions, and be reserved. But I dont look like this, she explained. Thi is now striving for a balanced life and doesnt spend all her time on her career. I believe that I will learn all my life. I realize that what I like to do is to learn. But this doesnt mean that I have to study at school, because there are many ways to learn. You can learn something from an article in a fashion journal, she said. Ngan Anh - Phuong Thu Female scientist pursues in-depth study about tertiary education Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, 43, resigned from her post as a dean to which she was appointed at aged 27 to begin a new path of research about tertiary education. One of the things that saddened and worried the Queen and Prince Philip about Princess Diana was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head. It certainly came as no surprise to them when the radiant young princess quickly became the centre of attention. Once upon a time, Philip and Elizabeth themselves had been viewed as characters from a fairy tale. The difference between them and Diana was that they didnt take it personally. For the Queen and Prince Philip, royalty was never about hysterical crowds, newspaper column inches, celebrity or star quality. It was simply about duty and service. When I discussed this with the Duke of Edinburgh in his library at Buckingham Palace, he said to me: You wont remember this, but in the first years of the Queens reign, the level of adulation you wouldnt believe it! You really wouldnt. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, signs the visitors book at Hillsborough castle in June 2014 Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, at the Red Cross Headquarters, London, in 1991 The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a welcome ceremony in Toronto at the beginning of their Canadian tour in October 1991 It could have been corroding. It would have been very easy to play to the gallery, but I took a conscious decision not to do that. Safer not to be too popular. You cant fall too far. The truth about the Prince and showgirls Over the years, there have been reports of Prince Philip appreciatively eyeing up shapely women and making suggestive remarks. In my experience, however, while he evidently enjoyed the company of good-looking women, his manners were impeccable. During the 1980s, when I was Appeals Chairman of the National Playing Fields Association, I helped organise a number of royal charity fundraisers. Backstage after the show, I would escort Philip along the line-up of charmingly shapely and scantily clad chorus girls. The Prince shook them firmly by the hand and looked them only in the eye. More recently, at a Royal Variety Performance, while the Queens equerry and I nudged each other knowingly and agreed that Jennifer Lopez was indeed a fine figure of a woman (petite but perfectly formed), the Duke of Edinburgh directed his small talk entirely at J-Los forehead. He was careful. He was no fool. And he was not interested in showgirls, actresses and starlets. Advertisement Diana, of course, had proved to be a master at playing to the gallery. Yet when Philip first met her as a shy 19-year-old, shed brought out his protective instincts. With Press speculation at fever pitch in early 1981 about a possible wedding, the duke decided it was time to interfere. In a letter to his 32-year-old son, he pointed out that the girl was young and vulnerable, and it was time for Charles to put up or shut up. He should either propose to Diana, counselled his father, so pleasing his family and the country, or release her. But he really shouldnt let her go on dangling in the wind. Was it the kind of letter a father in Philips position should send to his son? Earl Mountbattens daughter, Patricia (also Charless godmother), had no doubts. When I went to see her, she said: I take it youve seen the letter? It wasnt a bullying letter at all. It was very reasonable. It was fair. It was sensible. But that wasnt at all how it seemed to Prince Charles at the time. His fathers letter, he said privately, made him feel ill-used and impotent. Faced with what he regarded as a parental ultimatum, he felt emasculated, cornered, almost compelled to propose. There are certainly two sides to the sorry story of the marriage of Charles and Diana and as I had friends who were good friends of each of them, Ive heard both sides. At great length. Charles, according to Dianas camp, was selfish, self-indulgent, thoughtless, uncaring and cruel. He was jealous of her popularity with the public and made no effort to share her interests. Faced with her frailty her post-natal depression, her mood swings hed been unable to cope. And instead of responding to her cries for help her bulimia, her attempts at self-injury hed sought solace in the arms of Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, together at a polo match in 1987 Charles friends were equally entrenched. Diana, according to them, had been in love with the position, not the prince, and had never tried to understand her man. Self-regarding and self-absorbed, she resented her husbands range of interests and demanded a cull of some of his closest friends. Plus, shed become difficult and manipulative. She made up stories, told lies and had affairs. Really, Diana was beyond the pale. But where did the Queen and Prince Philip stand? What has finally become clear though it wasnt at the time is that throughout the whole unhappy saga, Charless parents meant well and did their best, too. Theyd been full of hope for the success of the marriage. When it began to go wrong and others said I told you so among them, Charless friend Nicholas Soames, Philips friend Penny Romsey, the Queen Mothers friend Lady Fermoy (Dianas maternal grandmother) Elizabeth and Philip said nothing. Princess Diana at the Royal Anthropological Institute in London in 1990 They kept their own counsel. They looked on, silent and dismayed. Unlike almost everybody else involved in the drama, Philip and Elizabeth could see both sides of the story and had some sympathy with both sides, too. The duke, in particular, was always a shrewd judge of character but contrary to his public image, he was also capable of genuine kindness and understanding. And he wanted to help, if he could. By the summer of 1992, the Queen agreed with him that something must be done. That June, the Sunday Times had begun to serialise Andrew Mortons book, Diana: Her True Story, which portrayed the princess as a wronged woman, locked in a loveless union and psychologically battered by an unfeeling husband. Mortons sources were acknowledged to be Dianas friends but at Buckingham Palace, they suspected Diana herself. They were right, of course. Diana hadnt met Morton, but, through an intermediary, shed recorded tapes for him in which she told her dramatic story. Yet even when Prince Philip challenged her directly, saying many feared shed cooperated in some way, she told him, equally directly, that she hadnt. She lied. That June, the Queen and Prince Philip sat down with Charles and Diana at Windsor, to listen to their woes and talk about the way ahead. Charles said little, but Diana insisted that the time had come for a trial separation. The Queen and Prince Philip were totally as one. They counselled the unhappy couple to search for a compromise, to think less of themselves and more of others, to try to work together to revive their marriage for their own sakes, for the sake of their boys, for the sake of Crown and country. The Queen and Prince Philip at the Royal Military College Duntroon where the Queen presented new colours in 2011 Before they all parted, the Queen proposed a second meeting on the following day. But Diana failed to turn up, returning to Kensington Palace instead. It was around then that Philip decided to act. I try to keep out of these things as much as possible was his line unless he thought he had something useful to contribute. In this case, he felt he did so he started typing the first in a series of extraordinary letters to his troubled daughter-in-law. Philip cared for the sick too... While Diana did much that was worthwhile, Philip told me, what she did was not unique. For example, early in 1956, in Nigeria, the Queen and Prince Philip, aged 29 and 34, young and oh-so-glamorous, visited a leper colony. They did so not simply to visit Commonwealth citizens suffering from leprosy, but more significantly, to allay the widespread, irrational fear that was attached then to any physical contact with the disease. This was a lifetime before Princess Diana with the same good intentions got stuck into Aids. Advertisement Letters had always been the dukes most effective means of personal communication. In conversation, he could be hectoring and difficult to read; on paper, he was calmer, more considered, more considerate. He used letters to show he cared. He used them, too, to think out loud, to explore, to question, to offer ideas and advice, and to say those things that, within a family, are sometimes more comfortably written down than spoken out loud. The existence of his very personal letters to Diana are no state secret, but theyve been the subject of much misunderstanding. According to some reports at the time, Philip wrote merely to scold and upbraid her. He was even accused of calling her a trollop and a harlot which left him distinctly unamused. In fact, Philips letters to Diana were typical of his correspondence overall. They were sympathetic, but unsentimental; direct, but to a purpose. Each seemed to say: heres a problem lets unravel it, separate the strands, see if we cant make sense of them, come closer to a proper understanding of whats wrong in the hope of being able to do something towards putting it right. Did he criticise Diana? Well, he certainly upbraided her for failing to come to the second meeting with him and the Queen, when theyd set aside time for the purpose. He also asked her to examine her own behaviour and acknowledge thered been faults on both sides; and he reminded her that, while Charles was sometimes difficult, she wasnt always easy herself. No sensitive issues were dodged: he talked about the canker of jealousy, and the problem of Camilla. He certainly didnt condone his sons on-going relationship with Camilla not for a moment but he did want Diana at least to try to see the situation from Charless point of view. Prince Charles And Princess Diana waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, accompanied by Prince Philip in 1981 Her post-natal depression and her irrational behaviour after Prince Williams birth had not made her easy to live with, he said. Her constant suspicion of her husband was wearing. In short, Philip confronted his daughter-in-law with home truths, and invited her to think about her marriage, long and hard. Unfortunately, when Diana received Philips letters, she was at her most vulnerable and volatile. As soon as one arrived, she opened it, scanned it, usually burst into tears; then she shared it, as soon as possible, with her closest friends. Rosa Monckton, then managing director of Tiffanys in London, and Lucia Flecha de Lima, wife of the Brazilian ambassador, were probably Dianas two closest girlfriends at the time of her death. In the aftermath, I had lunch with them and they described to me the ritual of receiving, reading and replying to the Duke of Edinburghs correspondence. When the letters came, explained Rosa, they caused excitement and alarm at the same time. Diana was very up and down. Something he said might make her cry, something might make her laugh. She very often got the wrong end of the stick, misinterpreting what he meant. Lucia recalled: We went through each letter so carefully, thinking about what he said, talking about it, explaining it to her. Wed get into the car and all go to the [Brazilian] embassy and sit together and read the letters, line by line. Then, said Rosa, we helped her draft her replies. She took the correspondence very seriously. The exchange between Philip and his daughter-in-law continued for more than a year. For a while, Philips letters, carefully tied together with ribbon, were stored for safe-keeping in a box in the Brazilian ambassadors safe. They were good letters, said Lucia, emphatically, Hes a good man. Rosa Monckton agreed. Actually, he was pretty wonderful, she said. All he was trying to do was help. And Diana knew that. Not according to the Princesss former butler, Paul Burrell, however. He claims Diana found many of Philips letters brutal, and that hed plainly never understood her. But Im convinced that Burrell is wrong. Philip did understand his daughter-in-law. Acting in loco parentis, he was offering her what she needed: tough love. Far from heaping on the blame, he accepted that her bulimia was an illness and that consequently she couldnt always be answerable for her behaviour. He acknowledged, too, that Charles was wrong to have returned to Camilla but he told Diana that she, too, was wrong to have taken other lovers, and he asked her to reflect on why her husband had sought out his old flame. Finally, he praised Dianas achievements, while at the same time inviting her to consider where and when she might have got things wrong. Being consort to the Prince of Wales, he reminded her, involved much more than being a hero with the British people. Some of his remarks were undeniably negative, but his underlying message was always positive. As for his purpose, it was characteristically practical: to guide her towards the possibility of a reconciliation with Charles. In one letter, he even drew up a numbered list of things activities, interests, people that the pair of them had in common. I doubt that the trained marriage counsellors could have done very much more. To be fair, acknowledges Burrell, Prince Philip did more to save the marriage than Prince Charles. Princess Diana and her butler Paul Burrell visiting Sarajevo to promote the landmine survivors network in 1997 In 2004, the former butler claimed that Charles had struck a deal with Philip to dump Diana five years after the wedding. According to Burrell, Diana also suspected that her father-in-law had been a collaborating architect in the marriages downfall, and that hed given Charles his blessing, with a nudge and a wink, to renew his liaison with Camilla. Furthermore, Burrell maintained that the princess had been told by Charles himself that hed always had his fathers blessing from the outset of the marriage to return to Camilla if the princess didnt make him happy. Diana, of course, was capable of saying many things and different things on different days. But her friends Rosa Monckton and Lucia Flecha de Lima are quite clear on this: she had great respect and affection for her father-in-law; she trusted him and knew he wanted only to help. The idea that the duke could have arranged a five-year get-out clause on his sons marriage is simply not credible. Indeed, in one of his letters, Philip had actually written to Diana: I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla. Along with the Queen, however, he also found some of her behaviour frustrating, bewildering and troublesome. In the autumn of 1995, they were both appalled when she gave an interview to Martin Bashir for Panorama, in which she expressed her opinion that Charles would never become king and declared: I would like to be queen of peoples hearts. The Queen declared: Enough is enough. After consulting with Philip, she wrote to both Charles and Diana, telling them that an early divorce was now desirable. In the event, the Waless divorce settlement took many months to negotiate. Meanwhile, Prince Philip was alarmed by reports that Dianas demands included the suggestion that any future children she might have by another husband should bear hereditary titles. His own view was that, as well as losing her rank as a Royal Highness, she should have her title downgraded from the Princess of Wales to Duchess of Cornwall on the basis, as he put it, that when its over its over. Princess Diana at a polo match at Windsor in 1987 In the end, Diana surrendered her royal status, and agreed to be known as Diana, Princess of Wales, in return for a lump-sum sweetener of 17 million and an annual staff and office allowance of 400,000. And that was that. Except, of course, the worst was yet to come: in the early hours of Sunday August 31, 1997, the chauffeur-driven Mercedes in which Diana and her then lover, Dodi Fayed, were travelling across Paris crashed into a concrete pillar. Her funeral was not a comfortable experience for Prince Philip. For one thing, Elton John had never been one of his favourite performers. For another, he found Tony Blairs over-emotional reading of the Lesson embarrassing. And both he and the Queen felt that Charles Spencers impassioned address was illogical and insulting. In the course of it, Earl Spencer had spoken directly to Dianas sons and solemnly vowed that we, your blood family, will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering these two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition, but can sing openly as you planned. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh did not join in the general applause. Later, privately, Her Majesty said that what had disappointed her about Charles Spencers address was that it failed to do justice to his sisters memory. Hed devoted so much of it to castigating the media and disparaging the Royal Family that hed left himself no time to pay proper tribute to Dianas many gifts and achievements. The Queen was especially saddened by the fact hed failed to acknowledge the importance to Diana of her personal faith. When I spoke to Charles Spencer some years later about his sisters funeral, he told me hed had no intention of upsetting the Royal Family. I asked him how much hands-on involvement the blood family had had with the boys and their upbringing, and he admitted: Not a lot. Prince Charles is obviously a good father, he said, and the boys are doing really well. I think Diana would be very happy about the way theyve grown up. I asked how he felt about Camilla. He said, Its none of my business. I wish Charles every happiness. As for Prince Philip, although hed never approved of his sons affair with Camilla, nor of his handling of it, he could see no objection to Charles eventually marrying his mistress. Being a pragmatist, he was pleased to see the situation regularised. You cant argue with the inevitable, he told me. When I asked what he made of Camilla, he was circumspect but agreed that she was a good sort, adding: Shes good with the boys. The Queen, for her part, discovered quite quickly that Camilla is very much her sort of woman. Prince Philip, the Queen and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall attend a banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2005 It certainly helps that her daughter-in-law can talk easily (and amusingly) about dogs and horses. In addition, Camilla is comfortable with the Queens view of life; shes politically incorrect (in a good way), funny, self-deprecating, realistic; and, like the Queen, shes a mother and a grandmother whos been a bit tempest-tossed but has managed to weather the storms. Im even told that the Queen understands Camillas weakness for cigarettes, and smokes one herself from time to time. At the wedding in 2005, Her Majesty made a witty speech in which she welcomed her son and his bride to the winners enclosure. They have overcome Bechers Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles, she said. They have come through, and Im very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves. Just a few days before the wedding, Id met Prince Philip in the company of his Norfolk neighbour, Lord Howard of Rising. Daringly, Lord Howard reminded him of the saying: When a man marries his mistress, it creates a vacancy. The duke chuckled obligingly. Dont, please! he muttered. The February 2021 freeze the infamous Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc across Texas, but the impacts of the storm were more severe in Harris County, according to a report by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston. More than nine out of every 10 (91%) Harris County residents lost electrical power at some point as the winter storm rolled through on Feb. 14-20, significantly higher than residents in the other 212 counties within the Texas electrical grid that lost electricity (64%). The average outage for Harris County residents was reported to be 49 hours, a time span that suggests plans for rotating power outages did not work. Almost two-thirds (65%) of Harris County residents lost running water (for 56 hours, on average), 21 percentage points higher than that experienced by Texans outside of Harris County. But water problems went even further: When and where running water was available, household taps for significant periods of time might produce water that was unsafe to drink. These survey results point to significant ways we can respond more effectively, should a similar disaster threaten in the future. Local authorities can make use of this information to help maximize investments in weatherizing utility infrastructure that can protect Harris County residents, said Kirk P. Watson, founding dean of the Hobby School. The insights are among results of an online survey of adults in the 213 Texas counties (out of Texas total of 254 counties), including an oversample of Harris County residents (513 total), that are served by the Texas Electrical Grid, which is managed by the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The survey asked about personal experiences during the storm and opinions on future policy and preparedness. When it comes to supporting proposed policy changes aimed at protecting people and infrastructure from severe weather, an overwhelming majority of Harris County residents think its a good idea, but the challenge comes with how to fund those improvements, said Renee Cross, senior director of the Hobby School. Less than one-third were in favor of passing costs on to consumers. The entire report, The Effects of the Winter Storm of 2021 in Harris County, is available here. Comparisons of storm experiences in Harris County and the rest of Texas can be found here. Other notable findings: Harris County residents were significantly more likely than other Texans to lose cell phone service, suffer food spoilage and have difficulty finding a plumber. Financial loss, too, was more common than elsewhere in Texas. Two of every five Harris County respondents suffered water damage from pipes that burst because of the freeze. About three-quarters of Harris County respondents believe developing alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar, is the biggest priority in protecting the countrys energy supply. By contrast, just 27% of participants believe the current main priority should be oil and natural gas exploration and production. Mark P. Jones, a fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute and a Hobby School senior research associate, notes Harris County residents were also significantly more likely than other Texans to rely, at least a little, on text alerts from local and county government during the storm. This suggests the text-alert systems of Harris County, the city of Houston and other area municipalities might serve as an example for other governments, said Jones. The survey was fielded by YouGov between March 9-19, 2021, with 1,500 YouGov respondents, resulting in a confidence interval of +/-2.5. The respondents were matched to a sampling frame on gender, age, ethnicity/race, and education and are representative of the adult population in these 213 Texas counties. NEW BRUNSWICK (dpa-AFX) - The European Medicines Agency Wednesday said that it believes the benefits of Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks of side effects. The regulator issued the statement following a temporary halt of the vaccine in the US after reports of extremely rare blood clotting. The other day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a temporarily halt on the usage of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine after six recipients developed a rare blood clotting disorder. 'Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,' the FDA said in a joint statement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously.' All six recipients who developed the rare blood clotting disorder were women aged between 18 and 48. All of them developed the symptoms within one to three weeks of vaccination. One woman died and a second woman in Nebraska is in critical condition. More than 6.8 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the US. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency said it is currently investigating all the reported cases and will decide whether regulatory action is required. 'EMA is expediting this evaluation and currently expects to issue a recommendation next week,' the regulator said in a statement. 'While its review is ongoing, EMA remains of the view that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects.' Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine was authorized in the EU on March 11, but the widespread use of the shot has not yet started. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX JOHNSON & JOHNSON-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-13 22:54:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Health workers wearing protective suits treat COVID-19 patients inside an isolation ward in Shehnai Banquet Hall near government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) hospital, in New Delhi, India, on April 13, 2021. (Photo by Partha Sarkar/Xinhua) NEW DELHI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior Indian health official Tuesday said the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 has crossed the previous highest spike, and the upward trend of the infections was a cause of concern. A senior federal health ministry official Rajesh Bhushan said that the trend in India's COVID-19 cases trajectory in the second wave was "worrying." "Previous highest surge has already been crossed and the trend is going upward, so that is a cause for worry and that is something we continuously share with states," Bhushan said. Bhushan said 53 federal government teams were helping the district administration in states which are showing a surge in cases in tackling the pandemic. India on Tuesday morning reported 161,736 new cases and 879 more deaths, taking the total to 13,689,453 and the death toll to 171,058. According to the ministry, five states, namely Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala cumulatively account for 68.85 percent of India's total active cases. "Maharashtra alone accounts for 44.78 percent of the total active caseload of the country," the ministry said. Enditem Kevin Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of GR0 Do not be afraid to offer questions or tips of your own, or to prompt a discussion between the two of you about the topic; any reporter will understand that questions and challenges to their stories will result in making them better. Building backlinks to bolster your SEO can be an incredibly difficult and hard-to-navigate process, often requiring a lot of time, close attention, and even a bit of luck. Kevin Miller, founder of digital marketing agency GR0, has encountered this hardship numerous times, and has had to come up with strategies for navigating it. Luckily, Miller is willing to sound off with his advice, helping you to build quality SEO without breaking the bank through an innovative new business model known as Performance PR. Performance PR is public relations measured under a different method, in which agencies only pay for how many placements and news stories they actually receive, as opposed to paying a lump sum to a PR firm. This strategy is particularly valuable for smaller marketing agencies who might have lesser budgets and therefore cant afford to be throwing cash around at just anyone. Better than that, the digital marketplace allows you to be connected directly with a reporter or journalist who covers your industry, enabling you some say in how your message is crafted. However, its important that you understand what youre getting yourself into when you choose these options, and moreover you need to be more careful with your approach than you would with a PR firm. A journalist isnt interested in your money, but rather wants to talk to the right person who has the information for whatever story they might be working on. Here, you form an agreement with them so that you might lend them your insight and in turn they might post a hyperlink back to your own website, both spreading awareness and improving your SEO. But lets step back a moment; how can you approach a journalist, and what are you supposed to say? There are several great services that offer Performance PR, including Qwoted, Link Sourcery, and Cisions HARO (Help a Reporter Out), all of which act as liaisons between reporters and industry experts. These services are invaluable mediators and each work a bit differently from one another, so its important to do your research before committing to one. Cision is committed to the highest standards of journalism and wont guarantee backlinks, while Link Sourcery is aimed at offering advertisers deeper data and insights. These are all premium, paid-for services, but offer reasonable rates for whats included and eliminate most of the hassle involved. That being said, there is still a lot of hassle for the journalist involved, as they now have several people offering to be their source of information. There are some key ways that you can make your response to their query optimal for them, and help yourself get selected for a bit of news. Journalist queries in HARO will be a few keywords that are the essence of what theyre looking for, like Cheap, healthy holiday fare or How to keep employee morale up. When youre responding to these queries, it is actually best to keep these keywords in the subject line of your email response, as it can help a journalist keep track of responses. This is especially important since some may be working on multiple stories at the same time, and dont want to get the right source for the wrong story. Secondly, it is important to provide a credential that proves to them and their readers that you are qualified to provide this information. A sentence or two summarizing your relevant experiences is great, and having a link to a bio on your website can be even better, as journalists are going to do their homework every time. If you cant show them why you arent the right person, then youre not going to hear back from them. Third, its important to provide a bit of perspective on the topic at hand, and one that is unique to yourself. An opinion, an obscure bit of information, or even a counter-intuitive thought can all help to engage both the reporter and the narrative. Do not be afraid to offer questions or tips of your own, or to prompt a discussion between the two of you about the topic; any reporter will understand that questions and challenges to their stories will result in making them better. Fourth, if a journalist specifically requests it, you should provide a brief anecdote. This is a bite-sized quote that can be injected into a story, so it needs to be relevant, to-the-point, and brief. These might seem small, but can offer you a lot of value, as a direct quote allows you to be a character in the story and is great for building authority on a subject matter. Finally, you need to make sure to include your contact information in there, and as much of it as you have. A journalist is going to keep a record of who theyre speaking to in the event they need to follow up, so providing them with your name, email, phone number, URL, company name, title, or even things like a book title or the name of an award youve won will help them quickly identify you. You may have to respond to several queries before hearing back from anyone, but its important to continue to try, and to make sure your personal presentation is as clean as it can be. These mentions are going to be crucial to any SEO strategy, as they not only broaden awareness, but they get you into the exclusive News category within Google. This category is the embodiment of everything that Google prioritizes in generating search results, as it is a category based on timeliness and authority, with incredibly high accuracy to boot. Kevin Miller and his team have spent a lot of time working with performance PR to have seen the benefits of it, and worked to get past some of the awkward hurdles in approaching it. With this information you can have a great head start in approaching the burgeoning space, and improving your SEO with trustworthy news mentions. Founded in 2020, GR0 is a digital marketing agency in Los Angeles that specializes in helping brands rank #1 on Google. With over 30 talented employees, the firm utilizes content creation, influencer relations, and even performance PR to help your brand rise above the pack. Those interested in elevating their online presence can visit https://gr0.com/ and follow them on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. Lucknow, April 14 : UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have appealed to religious leaders to motivate the eligible people to take the vaccine against Corona virus, in view of the second wave of the pandemic. Addressing a virtual meeting with the religious leaders from the Raj Bhavan, the Governor said that everyone contributed towards checking the first wave of Coronavirus. "Now, this second wave is more dangerous, the infection is spreading faster and a lots of cases have come in a short period of time. In such a situation, there is an appeal to all religious leaders to motivate everyone to take the Covid-19 vaccine," the Governor said, according to a statement released later on Tuesday night. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also asked religious leaders to ensure that the safety protocols were followed in the ongoing festive season. The Muslim clerics, meanwhile, said that the night curfew should be imposed from 10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. so as to enable Muslims to make purchases in the month of Ramzan. The Governor asked the religious leaders to quell the rumours being spread about the vaccine. Dharmaguru Ram Kamal Das Vedanti from Mathura, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali and Maulana Kalbe Jawwad and Baudh guru Bhanteji were among those present at the meeting. seized a giant container vessel that closed off the Suez Canal last month as it sought compensation of over $900 million for the blockage. A court in the city of Ismailia granted the request regarding the Ever Given vessel at the behest of the Suez Canal Authority, state-run Ahram Gate reported on its website. It did not say who the SCA wants compensation from. The ships insurer for third-party losses, the U. K. P&I Club, said in a statement that the owner received a claim for $916 million, the size of which is largely unsupported. It said it was disappointed that the vessel was arrested on Tuesday. Egypts move underscores the legal complications following the container vessels grounding on March 23, which closed the canal for almost a week and roiled shipping markets. Logjams are expected to continue in the coming weeks at major ports such as Singapore and Rotterdam because of disruptions to schedules, according to supply-chain data provider project44. The SCA has said compensation is needed to cover losses of transit fees, damage to the waterway during the dredging and salvage efforts, and the cost of equipment and labor. It has calculated that it missed out on about $15 million of transit fees each day. The U. K. P&I Club said the claim included a $300 million salvage bonus and another $300 million for loss of reputation, but not the professional salvors claim for its services. It said a generous offer was made to settle the claim and that negotiations will continue. Calls to the SCA werent answered. A spokesman for the Ever Givens owner, Japan-based Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., declined to comment on compensation while discussions with the SCA are underway. The company said the crew is still on board the ship, which is now in the Great Bitter Lake, about halfway along the canal. The charterer, Taiwans Evergreen Marine Corp., said in an email it hadnt received any information from the ships owner about a court order. McCracken Traffic Stop Leads to Two Meth Arrests By West Kentucky Star Staff MCCRACKEN COUNTY - A traffic stop Tuesday night in McCracken County led to two drug arrests.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office said a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Virginia Street in the Farley Area at around 9:15 pm. During the course of the investigation, deputies located illegal drug paraphernalia and approximately 5 grams of methamphetamine. The driver, 41-year-old Ryan Cothran of Murray and the passenger, 48-year-old Grady R Ppool of Hopkinsville, were both arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail. Cothran is charged with driving on a DUI suspended license, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, disregarding a stop sign and one headlight. Ppool is charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence. A developer wants to raze a closed-down pigment plant and put in a warehouse and business center, according to the Wilson Borough solicitor. Borough solicitor Stan Margle said a sketch plan for the site off Route 22 at the 13th Street interchange was submitted to the borough about three weeks ago from NorthPoint Development of Kansas City, Missouri. Margle said the plan wont have the level of truck traffic one might expect from a 1 million-square-foot warehouse development. Its going to be one or two large tenants that will be in part distribution or logistics and the other part a business center with a modest number of offices, Margle said. Its going to be a good project, Margle added. An email message sent to the NorthPoint corporate office wasnt answered. Nor was an email sent to the project attorney, Brian Stahl of Scranton. NorthPoint will be responsible for extensive environmental remediation at the site, where rust-colored pigment was manufactured until 2017. NorthPoint also needs to address traffic at the 13th Street interchange. They know the biggest hurdle they have to deal with is that mess of an intersection, Margle said. Discussions are in the works for a LERTA, a tax abatement program that could help fund the project, Margle said. Margle said NorthPoints willingness to improve the congested and inefficient interchange means a diverging diamond proposal floated about five years ago could be back on the table. Easton officials asked for the interchange redesign to update traffic flow, but the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation deemed it too expensive, back-burnered it and funded modest improvements for the interchange. More explanation about how a diverging diamond works can be found online. Also, PennDOT has an explanatory video on YouTube. A request for proposals from the City of Easton to redevelop the nearby Easton Iron and Metal scrapyard mentions the pigment plant redevelopment could create 300 jobs. The number of jobs depends on the tenants, Margle said. There could be 10 employees. There could be 100. Its very early to tell, Margle said. At this point the developers have yet to appear at a public meeting before borough council. Margle said hes met with the developers at least three times over the past six months. In the meantime, borough officials vetted the developers. They are successful. They are trustworthy, Margle said. Municipalities where they have developed property have commented very positively on their experiences with this company. Site history C.K. Williams started the pigment plant in the late 1800s, according to The Express-Times archives. Pfizer Corp. bought it in 1962 and sold it in 1990 to Harrisons & Crosfield. It became known as Harcros Pigments, then became known as Elementis Pigments. It eventually became part of Rockwood Holdings and was sold to Huntsman Corp. of Texas in 2014. Venator Materials spun off of Hunstman and closed the plant in 2017. Venator Materials is closing its Wilson Borough pigment-making plant by the end of 2017. EXTEXT Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Ascott Limited (Ascott) is offering guests loyalty point bonuses and complimentary tier upgrades as part of Celebrate The Little Joys to mark the second anniversary of its loyalty programme Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), that also coincides with the holy season in the region. Members can avail the anniversary promotion across properties in the Middle East and Turkey. The offer is valid on bookings made until April 30 and stay period until May 31. The Ascott Star Rewards programme has experienced resounding success since its launch in 2019, with its membership growing to over 400 per cent and 90 per cent of online bookings coming directly from ASR members. Ascott has retained over 60 per cent of its loyalty members as repeat guests with 36 per cent spending more with Ascott in comparison to non-members. The launch of the Discover ASR mobile has supplemented this success, offering guests greater convenience and flexibility, resulting in 130,000 downloads since its launch in October 2020. Celebrate The Little Joys offers members the following ASR points and complimentary tier upgrades: Bookings and stays completed from April 1 May 31 will receive bonus points. Bookings from April 1 -15 can earn double bonus ASR points Bookings from April 16 30 will receive 2,000 bonus ASR points As an added value, ASR members can also purchase ASR points directly which will be attributed towards their next stay with Ascott. Members can purchase as little as $100 worth of ASR points to start earning bonus points, receiving up to 50 per cent bonus points. A year long upgrade for ASR members from Classic to Silver tier on bookings made before April 30 and completion of stay between April 1 May 31. Existing Silver, Gold and Platinum tier members will receive 5,000 ASR points when they book their stay from April 1 May 31. Bookings can be made at www.the-ascott.com or via the Discover ASR mobile application. Residents and guests interested in becoming ASR members can sign up for free through the website: https://www.the-ascott.com/en/sign-up.html Furthermore, in order to enhance ASR members stay in the region, the international lodging owner-operator has also launched the Ascott Star Rewards Triple Points Purchase offer, enabling members to earn triple the ASR loyalty points on every nights booking across properties in the Middle East and Turkey. New and existing members can indulge in a plethora of benefits including complimentary stays and room upgrades. Business professionals looking for the ideal home away from home workspace in the UAE can avail the celebratory offer at the luxurious Ascott Park Place Dubai, centrally located in the business district of Dubai, in close proximity to the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre. Guests and residents looking for the perfect sanctuary to unwind and relax can avail the offer at Citadines Metro Central Dubai, conveniently located opposite Dubai Internet City Metro station with easy access to the citys major attractions. In Saudi Arabia, visitors and residents can indulge in the promotion with sophisticated and elegant living options at Ascott Corniche Al Khobar, offering beautiful waterfront views of the sea. Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh provides residents the perfect balance of contemporary and modern lifestyles, with lavish apartments that flaunt views of the capitals cultural heritage and state-of-the-art architectural designs. For escape-seekers, Ascott Tahlia Jeddah boasts city living in style, while boutique-sized Ascott Sari Jeddah exudes elegant living with its spacious rooms. Citadines Al Salamah Jeddahs fully-furnished apartments are beautifully decorated with separate living and dining areas, offering guests a tranquil getaway in the heart of the city. For those looking for a change in scenery in Oman, Ascott provides a chic getaway at Somerset Panorama Muscat, ensuring each stay is met with tasteful Omani hospitality. In Turkey, Somerset Maslak Istanbul, situated in Europes largest lifestyle development, Maslak 1453, offers an oasis of calm within the bustling city. Welcoming guests with stunning views and graceful interiors, the property is a perfect sanctuary for business and leisure travellers. - TradeArabia News Service China's ambassador to Canada warns that "decoupling" the economies of the two countries would lead to lost business opportunities and disrupt the global supply chain Beijing's ambassador to Canada on Tuesday pushed back at growing calls in the West to disengage from China, saying this would risk unravelling globalization. Ambassador Cong Peiwu, speaking at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations, also pitched closer cooperation with Canada -- ostensibly an olive branch after two years of frayed diplomatic relations over tit-for-tat arrests of a Huawei executive and two Canadian nationals, or an attempt to hammer a wedge in a US-led alliance taking on Beijing. "We are worried that because some people here in Western countries are preaching the idea of decoupling (with China)," the ambassador said. "This is dangerous, because for us, we believe this is the age of globalization, and for us, we will continue to open up for the outside." China, now the world's second-largest economy, and the West have grown increasing at odds over a wide array of issues, from trade and intellectual property to Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Canada in particular has drummed up support from allies to pressure China into releasing its two citizens, former diplomatic Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the two were "arbitrarily detained" and tried on "trumped-up" espionage charges. Cong warned that "decoupling" from China would lead to lost business opportunities and disrupt global supply chains. "We should be united in fighting against this kind of protectionism, and also for free trade, and I think that's another area where China and Canada share at least similar language, so let's hope that we can (act) together in this regard," he said. Cong specifically proposed greater Sino-Canadian cooperation at global forums such as the G20 and on likeminded international issues including climate change. "I think China and Canada can do a lot of things together," he said, adding: "We have a lot of common interests." Story continues Pressed about Kovrig and Spavor, who were tried in secret last month, Cong dismissed reports that they'd been mistreated in Chinese jails, saying: "There's been nothing like that." Meanwhile, he renewed calls for Canada to release Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, saying Canada must "right this wrong." Meng, whose father is Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, was arrested in December 2018 on a US warrant during a stopover in Vancouver. She has been fighting extradition to the United States to face charges of bank fraud linked to US sanctions against Iran, with hearings scheduled to wrap up in May. amc/ch The first dust-up I ever experienced over gender roles within the church as a woman left me feeling insignificant and second class. Apparently, it was okay for me to teach Sunday School but not lead a Bible study class filled with women and men. Situations like this have happened on more than one occasion and in light of Beth Moores recent tweets, shes making the world question, Have Christians had gender roles wrong all this time? Last week, Beth asked Christians for forgiveness via Twitter because she had been too complicit in making complementarianism a litmus test for faith. On the heels of Beths split with the Southern Baptist Convention, she apologized for supporting theology that restricts women. As one of the most well-known preachers in the world, she has rankled the feathers of many who believe women are not allowed to preach, which is why Beth has made the declaration for years that she is a teacher, not a preacher. Let me be blunt. When you functionally treat complementarianisma doctrine of MANas if it belongs among the matters of 1st importance, yea, as a litmus test for where one stands on inerrancy & authority of Scripture, you are the ones who have misused Scripture. You went too far. Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) April 7, 2021 She followed that tweet with the one that has the world questioning gender roles and gnashing their teeth: I beg your forgiveness where I was complicit. I could not see it for what it was until 2016. I plead your forgiveness for how I just submitted to it and supported it and taught it. I trusted that the motives were godly. I have not lost my mind. Nor my doctrine. Just my naivety. April 7, 2021 The Gender Role Debate Beths tweet took aim at gender roles that are the foundation of several doctrines within the realm of Christianity. For those who question complementarianism, its seen as undermining the entire Bible and Gods natural order thats reinforced via 1 Timothy: Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet, (1 Timothy 2:11-12). But why would Paul include this passage as well as several other passages, when clearly women had a role in supporting the church? In the Old Testament: Esther saved a nation. Deborah was a military heroine and the only female, judge of Israel in the Old Testament. Jael took down Sisera, the Canaanite general of King Jabin. Anna the Prophetess was a Jewish prophetess who prophesied about Jesus at the Temple of Jerusalem. Athaliah was the Queen of Judah during the reign of King Jehoram, and later became sole ruler of Judah for five years. Priscilla was a powerful church leader in the book of Acts. Phoebe was a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. Mary Magdalene was the first evangelist sent back to the disciples to tell them Christ had risen. As with every Scripture in the Bible, all of it is useful for teaching and God-breathed. As believers, we are to take every word within context, context, and yescontext. 1 Timothy was written during a crisis of false teaching. In 1 Timothy 1:3, it says that Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to command certain people not to teach falsely or continue teaching myths and endless genealogies. At the time the people believed Artemis (see Acts 19) was the goddess who kept women safe during childbirth (2:15). Women believed that if Artemis wasnt appeased, both the mother and child would die. Artemis was worshiped everywhere, and her cult was so deep in the Ephesian worldview that women were terrified to birth without offering sacrifices. Like many would believe in superstitions today about lucky charms, rituals, or the curse of a broken mirror, these women eased their fears by offering sacrifices to Artemis on the side while also worshipping Jesus. This context is crucial to interpreting 1 Timothy as modern believers. Knowing that the Ephesian Christians were receiving false teaching helps to explain why Paul was concerned about how women were leading and teaching in the church. In verse 2:12, Paul was addressing these false teachings when he instructed, I do not permit women to teach or dominate a man. The word authentein is usually translated as to exercise authority. However, in later Greek writing, authentein is a harsh word that articulates dominance: taking advantage of someone or a business deal, violence, and sometimes murder. But when Paul speaks of authority in the church he uses the term, exousia meaning, the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises the power of authority (influence). The reason for the letter to the church at Ephesus may have been because some women might have been dominating men through false teachings and beliefs about Artemis in the church. However, the situation in Ephesus is no reason for faithful women of today not to teach elsewhere. In fact, Paul tells Titus that the elder women of the church in Crete should be teachers of good. But where does this leave us today in the wake of gender roles and the debate between complementarianism versus egalitarianism? Complementarianism versus Egalitarianism For those who question or disagree with complementarianism, its seen as undermining the whole Bible. Is complementarianism better than egalitarianism? What is the difference? Complementarian theology considers men and women as being of equal worth in the sight of God but having different roles in marriage and church leadership. It is contrary to egalitarianism which believes men and women can serve the church in the same manner. Complementarianism is a label defined by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Among the distinctions in roles is the claim that God intends only men to be leaders in the church and home, with specific bans on women serving as pastors. Some complementarians go so far as to prohibit women from teaching any male, whether hes a grown man or a young boy. Outside the church, women are to be in submission to men. Biblical Support for Complementarianism (for further reading, visit Bible Study Tools): Genesis 2:18 Ephesians 5:21-33 Titus 2:3-5 1 Corinthians 14:34 1 Timothy 2:9-15 Egalitarianism is defined as a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs or a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among people by Merriam-Webster. In the church body, its believed women and men have no gender role restrictions whatsoever. Women can pastor a church right alongside men. Outside of church, roles are ability-based rather than gender-based. They also believe both are equally responsible in the care of their family and both spouses are to submit to each other (Ephesians 5:22-25). One of the most pivotal scriptures in support of this view is Galatians 3:28. Paul writes, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Biblical Support for Egalitarianism (for further reading, visit Bible Study Tools): Ephesians 5:22-25 Romans 16:1-7 Colossians 4:15 2 John 1:1,13 Acts 16:13-15 Galatians 3:26-29 Which of These Should Christians Practice? Both gender roles have morphed since the days of Eve. Women have gone from being the property of men to winning the rights to vote, obtain an education, and work outside the home. Today, more and more women hold positions in the workforce, and more men are changing diapers, taking active roles in parenting, and assisting women in their businesses. It does make one wonder what Paul would preach to todays generation. Perhaps there isnt a name for what it would be calleda blend of both complementarianism and egalitarianism. Families are strong when women are educated and follow their callings, as well as when both parents take active roles in child-rearing, as well as following the principle of the male headship (1 Timothy 3:15, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 3:6). There is a distinct ebb and flow woven into Scripture from beginning to end between complementarianism and egalitarianism. Perhaps we are putting man-made definitions onto something that God alone created and defined. After all, His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Perhaps, we as Christians arent called to support one definition over the other. Our calling is to put the work in and seek God. It will require the work of the Holy Spirit, meaningful conversations, submitting to one another, and believing in faith that God will show us the way. Photo Credit: GettyImages/fizkes Heather Riggleman is an award-winning journalist and a regular contributor for Crosswalk. She calls Nebraska home with her three kids and a husband of 22 years. She believes Jazzercise, Jesus, and tacos can fix anything and not necessarily in that order! She is author of I Call Him By Name Bible Study, the Bold Truths Prayer Journal, Mama Needs a Time Out, and a contributor to several books. You can find her at www.heatherriggleman.com or on Facebook. Amid surging pandemic cases forcing many states to curb mobility and businesses, a report has said these localised lockdowns in key economic hubs can cost the economy an average of $1.25 billion each week and may shave off 140 bps from the Q1 nominal GDP. If the current restrictions remain in place until May-end, the cumulative loss of economic and commercial activity could be around$ 10.5 billion or around 34 bps of nominal GDP, British brokerage Barclays said. The country leads the whole world in fresh virus caseload now, higher than the second and third most hit nations of the US and Brazil with a daily infection of over 1.62 lakh cases on Tuesday and 879 deaths. These numbers pushed the total caseload to 1.37 crore so far, and the death toll at 1,71,058, according to the official data from the Union health ministry this morning. As cases mount each day, a number of states, including that of Maharashtra that accounts for close 48 per cent of total infections and Delhi, have announced mobility curbs. Maharashtra is even toying with the idea of a two-week complete lockdown. Over 81 per cent of these cases are concentrated in just eight states, but most of them are also the most economically active states, and therefore the impact on the economy. The increasing lockdowns/mobility restrictions and night curfews across key economic hubs in the past few days are likely to cost the economy $ 1.25 billion a week, up from $ 0.52 billion a week earlier. On a quarterly basis, the impact will be much higher -- a 140 bps loss of nominal GDP in the first quarter, Barclays said in the report. Taking into account rolling COVID-19 curbs, if the current restrictions remain in place until May-end, we estimate that the cumulative loss of activity can amount to around$ 10.5 billion, or around 0.34 percentage points of nominal GDP, Rahul Bajoria, the chief economist at Barclays India, said in the report - coauthored with Shreya Sodhani. However, the impact on the Q1 nominal GDP is likely to be higher, shaving around 140 bps from the quarterly nominal GDP, Bajoria added. If the current restrictions remain in place for two more months, we estimate this will reduce nominal GDP by 34 bps and real GDP by around 20 bps -- this is almost twice the impact we had calculated previously, the report said. Last month, the brokerage had estimated that mobility restrictions for two months could cost the economy$ 5.2 billion in lost output, or 17 bps of nominal GDP. Around 60 per cent of the economy is subject to some mobility restrictions now, the report said, with key economic hubs of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan seeing rising cases and falling mobility. Among all the major infection hotspots, the worst hit are Mumbai and Pune. As regards Maharashtra, which contributes over 16 per cent to the national GDP, the mobility curbs put in place in the wake of rising cases will take a dip in gross value added growth by 0.32 per cent at the national economy level this fiscal, a recent Care Ratings report said. The new mobility curbs will lead to around Rs 40,000 crore of GVA loss in a month and any extension will result in higher output loss, it added. However, Barclays economists have maintained their previous forecast of 11 per cent growth in FY22, but cautioned against the downside risks if the curbs are tightened further or are imposed across economic hubs. They believe that the number of new active cases is likely to stabilise by May as recoveries catch up. Also read: CBSE Board exams to be postponed? PM Modi to meet Education Minister, top officials at 12 pm I phoned Michael Joseph Rusyn on Tuesday. When he answered, I addressed him by the name the U.S. Department of Justice cited in his arrest warrant. Rusyn didnt sound seditious. He said hello and politely offered that he goes by Mike. Good morning, Mike, I said. This is Chris Kelly from The Times-Tribune. How are you today? Mike hung up. I dont blame him. Assistant Federal Public Defender Elliot Smith likely advised his client to lay low while his case plays out. I left a detailed message for Smith on Tuesday. Hes not talking, either. I get it. Its not in Mikes interest for either to talk with me or any other member of the press. It would force the defense to defend the indefensible in the court of public opinion the same peril they face in a court of law. Their dilemma is akin to the one facing the defense in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. The whole world watched the since-fired Minneapolis police officer use his knee to grind the life out of George Floyd. No amount of rationalizing, obfuscation or demonizing the victim can erase video documentation of the 9 minutes and 29 seconds Chauvin kept pressing the neck of a handcuffed man who begged for his life. Ive watched George Floyd die many times. Every time, Im a witness to murder. Same goes for footage of the Jan. 6 insurrection. The foaming goons who ransacked the Capitol, brutalized police and hunted down elected officials were not patriots, but traitorous pawns in an attempted coup incited by a lying, self-obsessed demagogue who would rather see the country burn than admit he lost a free and fair election. I know what I saw and heard on Jan. 6. I want to know what Michael Joseph Rusyn did. Times-Tribune reporters made several requests for the statement of facts, in which the DOJ presents supporting evidence for charges. As of Tuesday, it remained sealed, keeping the specifics of Mikes alleged crimes hidden from a public that deserves to know the details. From the charges against Mike which mirror many laid on hundreds of accused participants in the domestic terrorist attack we can infer that at the very least, prosecutors have evidence that he breached the Capitol. Mike is charged with: Entering and Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; and Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. These are essentially the same federal misdemeanors Old Forge insurrectionist Frank Scavo faces for his top secret on-camera adventure in the Capitol. Frank led five busloads of Pennsylvania patriots to D.C. on Jan. 6, breached the Capitol and then lied about it to every media outlet that would listen. The truth and local journalism caught up with Frank, who was easily picked out in pictures captured by photojournalists. He also recorded himself on his own cellphone guiding Your own personal tour of the freaking Capitol, and saying, We ... took it back. Took it back, according to the Feds. Frank surrendered to the FBI on March 25 and stopped talking to reporters after a final pompous pirouette for the cameras. Mike, 35, of Olyphant, surrendered last Thursday, becoming another of the nearly 40 Pennsylvania patriots charged in the Capitol riot to date. The two defendants silence invites compelling questions. Was Mike a paying passenger on one of Franks buses? Is there any significance in Mike being charged after Frank? Will more riders in Franks convoy of cranks be charged? Until the DOJ divulges the details, all we know for sure is that the FBI found enough evidence against Mike to charge him with joining a seditious mob in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election. A remote hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey on Friday should fill in some of the blanks. Meanwhile, Michael Joseph Rusyn is innocent until proven guilty. But when your full, legal name is called by anyone other than your mother, it usually means trouble. Kim Kardashian shared a new image of herself sporting a dazzling custom made diamond necklace on her Instagram page on Tuesday evening. The post comes after the reality personality, 40, previously reportedly vowed not to post her jewels on social media after she was targeted by robbers in Paris in 2016. Mother-of-four Kim was held at gunpoint in her hotel room during a heist which saw thieves steal $10.5million worth of jewellery from her. In the new image, Kim was wearing a low-cut grey vest top and the chunky diamond-encrusted chain around her neck as she posed for the camera. Wow: Kim Kardashian shared a new image of herself sporting a dazzling custom made diamond necklace on her Instagram page on Tuesday evening She captioned the photograph: 'Loving my new custom necklace by @jayfederjewelers [fire emoji]' She captioned the photograph: 'Loving my new custom necklace by @jayfederjewelers [fire emoji].' In September 2020 it was reported in legal documents that the alleged mastermind, Aomar Ait Khedache, said Kim was an 'easy target' because she kept divulging details about her possessions and their whereabouts. Prior to this, Kim is believed to have said she would stop flaunting her wealth after she was robbed, tied up and dumped in her marble bath tub. She was forced to hand over her 20-carat Lorraine Schwartz ring, worth $4.5million (4 million/3.5 million), along with her jewellery box containing gems worth $6.7 million (6 million/5.24 million) when five masked men stormed apartment. The ring - gifted to her by her now-estranged husband Kanye West - was last seen sparkling on Kim's finger in a Snapchat post earlier that same night. According to TMZ, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star agreed with critics who said she made herself a robbery target by posting online. At the time Kim reportedly decided to take a month off work and change the way she displays her fortune. Sharing the wealth: In September 2020 it was reported in legal documents that the alleged mastermind, Aomar Ait Khedache, said Kim was an 'easy target' A source told the publication that after the attack, Kim said: 'Material things mean nothing. It's not all about the money. It's not worth it. Details of Kim's slip-ups emerged in legal papers filed in Paris last year, where the reality TV star was attacked during Fashion Week in 2016. Referring to Kim solely as 'the rapper's wife', Ait Khedache, 64, said the job was an 'internet giveaway' thanks to her non-stop postings on sites such as Instagram. 'The jewels were shown on the internet, explaining that she did not wear fake jewels,' Ait Khedache is reported as saying in prosecuting papers leaked to Les Echos newspaper in the French capital. Ait Khedache said 'the timing of her arrival in France' was posted, and that 'you just needed to look at the internet to know everything.' The career criminal, who has served time for previous robberies, is still awaiting trial for the raid, along with 10 other presumed gang members. Nicknamed 'Omar the Elder', Ait Khedache has confessed to his involvement in the Kardashian attack but denies prosecution claims that he was the ringleader. The gang posed as police officers before threatening the concierge of a short-term luxury apartment rental building close to the British Embassy known as the Hotel de Pourtales. Kardashian had been left alone in the suite while her bodyguard went to a nightclub on the Champs-Elysees with her sisters, Kourtney and Kendall Jenner. While Kardashian was not seriously hurt, she was said to be 'badly shaken' and later said she had developed a 'phobia' of going out after the robbery. On film: The ring - gifted to her by her now-estranged husband Kanye West - was last seen sparkling on Kim's finger in a Snapchat post earlier that same night (pictured) Colour close-ups of the gang caught on CCTV later emerged including one of Ait Khedache wheeling a getaway hire bike away. His DNA was found on plastic cuffs used to tie the victims including Kardashian up, and it was cross-referenced with samples linked to his earlier crimes. After being identified, police studied CCTV footage in which Khedache was seen getting out of a car near St Lazare station on the night of the Kardashian job. It was just around the corner from the crime scene, and the driver was his then 29-year-old son, Harminy Ait Khedache. Khedache junior, now 33, has now been charged with being the getaway driver of the gang. Ait Khedache has told police the gang melted down and sold off most of the stolen jewellery, but managed to sell Kardashian's engagement ring, which has never been recovered. Kim briefly fell silent on social media after the heist, and stopped posting in real time. U.S. service members walk off a helicopter on the runway at Camp Bost in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, September 11, 2017. /Getty The United States will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, multiple U.S. media outlets reported on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a daily briefing that Biden is expected to make a formal announcement of the decision on Wednesday without getting into details. Donald Trump's administration had previously set a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal in negotiations with the Taliban. A senior U.S. official told media outlets that Biden made the decision after consultations with NATO allies and partners in Afghanistan, adding that NATO troops would also leave the country by September 11. The official said the new deadline was not conditions-based. "The President has judged that a conditions-based approach, which is then the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever," the official said. The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in late February 2020 that called for a full withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan by May 2021 if the Taliban meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with terrorist groups. The disclosure of the plan came on the same day that the U.S. intelligence community released a gloomy outlook for Afghanistan, forecasting "low" chances of a peace deal this year and warning that its government would struggle to hold the Taliban insurgency at bay if the U.S.-led coalition withdraws support. Meanwhile, Turkey announced Tuesday the Afghan meeting would go ahead on April 24, Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban political office, said in a tweet Tuesday that "until all foreign forces completely withdraw from our homeland," the group would "not participate in any conference that shall make decisions about Afghanistan." The September 11, 2001 attacks were staged by members of terror group Al-Qaeda, who hijacked four airplanes and crashed three of them into New York and Washington, leaving nearly 3,000 people dead and others missing. Refusing to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the head of the terror group, who was quickly identified as the man responsible, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, marking the start of the Afghanistan war against the Taliban. The Pentagon said there are roughly 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but U.S. media recently said the number did not include 1,000 more U.S. special forces in the country. Also, about 7,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan rely on U.S. logistics and security support. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin are in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday to inform their NATO counterparts. Germany has the second-largest force in Afghanistan, numbering over 1,000. LINCOLN TWP, MI A Harrison man is facing several drug charges in connection with a baby having tested positive for methamphetamine. On Sunday, April 11, Clare County Sheriffs deputies were notified by Child Protective Services in the Bertha Lake area of Lincoln Township of a 9-month-old female having tested positive for meth at a Mount Pleasant hospital. Deputies subsequently obtained search warrants for two residences. They recovered large amounts of crystal meth from both homes, as well as packing materials and firearms. Deputies arrested 47-year-old Jason A. Jones, who on Tuesday, April 13, appeared before Clare County District Magistrate Steven Worpell on two counts of delivering or manufacturing methamphetamine and one count of maintaining a drug house. Worpell set Jones bond at $90,000 cash or 10%. Clare County Undersheriff Dwayne Miedzianowski said the baby wasnt necessarily related to Jones. Multiple people live at one of the homes and somehow the child came into contact with (meth), Miedzianowski said. How that came about, well wait for the doctors to say how it could have happened. Miedzianowski added that Child Protective Services has taken guardianship of the baby girl and that she is progressing well. Miedzianowski said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be forthcoming. Methamphetamine use in Michigan has been increasing in the last few months, police have said. For example, the Strike Team Investigative Narcotics Team, or STING, seized more meth in January 2021 than it did in the last three years combined. STING is a multijurisdictional task force covering Crawford, Roscommon, Iosco, Arenac, Ogemaw, and Oscoda counties and is run by the Michigan State Police. STING saw the illicit stimulant become more popular from 2010 to 2014, though it was uncommon to see amounts greater than five grams, commander Detective Lt. Matthew Jordan previously said. In January 2021, STING seized 459.5 grams in eight separate cases. The quantities seized in 2018, 2019, and 2020 all added up to 442.2 grams in 118 cases, Jordan has said. The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, or BAYANET, in 2019 seized 408 grams of crystal meth and 182 grams of meth. Comparatively, BAYANET in 2020 seized 4,843 grams of crystal meth (a 1,087% increase) and 3,375 grams of meth (a 1,747% increase). The amount of crystal meth seized by BAYANET in 2020 has a street value of about $500,000, said BAYANET section commander Detective 1st Lt. Patrick Darrow. The amount of trafficking has increased in crystal meth because of the ease of availability and the price is cheaper, Darrow has said. Cocaine use still has a solid base, but meth is a different high than cocaine or other opioids, more of an upper that people are seeking. Its extremely addictive, so easy to get and cheap. Darrow said meth is often used as a replacement for cocaine and/or heroin, only for users to then get addicted to the illicit psychostimulant that affects the central nervous system. That meth is easier to obtain than heroin or cocaine has also increased its use, he said. Crystal meth comes in clear crystal chunks or shiny blue-white rocks. Also known by the slang terms ice or glass, it is a popular party drug, police said. Users typically smoke crystal meth with a small glass pipe, but they may also swallow it, snort it, or inject it into a vein. Making meth is dangerous due to the volatile chemicals involved, being toxic and prone to explosions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that meth use has been increasing across the country in recent years. From 2015-2018, an estimated 1.6 million U.S. adults reported past-year meth use, the CDC reports. In 2019, two million Americans age 12 or older reported having used meth, the CDC reports. Those more likely to use meth include adults with limited income, those on Medicaid, the uninsured, those with lower education status, males, middle-aged adults, and people who live in rural areas, the CDC reports. However, meth in Michigan is moving out from rural locales and into more urban centers, Darrow has said. Prior to the crystal meth coming from Mexico, coming in from Superlabs, people were making and creating their own meth but the quantity wasnt there and now the components are limited for purchase, Darrow has said. It quickly made its way into urban areas, and now is taking over. As early as three years ago, the teams never saw meth but now they see it every day. BAYANET has provided the following warning signs of meth use: Not caring about personal appearance or grooming Obsessively picking at hair or skin Loss of appetite and weight loss Dilated pupils and rapid eye movement Strange sleeping patterns -- staying up for days or even weeks at a time Jerky, erratic movements; twitching; facial tics; animated or exaggerated mannerisms; and constant talking Borrowing money often, selling possessions, or stealing Angry outbursts or mood swings Psychotic behavior, such as paranoia and hallucinations Police are urging anyone with information on the use of or distribution of illegal drugs in Saginaw, Bay, Midland or Gladwin counties to make an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers of Michigan 800-733-2587 or call BAYANET at 989-790-6581. Those seeking help in dealing with a dependency on meth may call 1-800-662-4357 for more information. Read more: Crystal meth surging in Great Lakes Bay Region as its so easy to get and cheap, police say Meth use rising in northern Michigan, police say Louisiana man arrested in Saginaw County with 4 pounds of meth faces federal drug charge Excellent High Grade Drill Results From Penny's Find Project ASX:ONX Perth, April 14, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to announce excellent initial high grade drilling results from the Penny's Find joint venture project located 50km northeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the heart of the Western Australian goldfields (Figure 1*).HIGHLIGHTS- Resource definition and extension drilling completed at the Penny's Find gold project, 50km northeast of Kalgoorlie in the Western Australian goldfields- The project is a 50:50 joint venture with Orminex Ltd (- Drilling comprised 2,013m of RC and 2,765m of diamond for 4,778m to a maximum depth of 282m testing the continuity of mineralisation below and to the north of the historic open pit- First batch of assays now received with high-grade intercepts including:o 3.7m @ 7.46g/t Au from 215.3m (P1_005)o 2.7m @ 8.64g/t Au from 171.4mand 1.7m @ 17.91g/t Au from 178.9m (P1_007)o 1.9m @ 13.95g/t Au from 251m (P1_009)o 5.0m @ 5.27g/t Au from 180.3m (P1_010)o 0.9m @ 23.56g/t Au from 216.7m (P1_006)o 2.0m @ 8.47 g/t Au from 227m (P1_008)- Results demonstrate excellent width and grade and improved geological confidence in the underground ore body with mineralisation open to the north and at depth- Further assays are pending and expected in the current June Quarter 2021 enabling the compilation of an updated underground Mineral Resource estimate- Mine optimisation, design and economic analysis will then be completed for Ore Reserve generation and a development decision in the September Quarter 2021- All statutory approvals in place and a toll milling agreement executed for ore processing in the second half of 2021Commenting on the drilling results, Horizon Minerals Managing Director Mr Jon Price said:"These initial drilling results have improved our confidence in the scale and quality of the underground mineralisation, and we look forward to the receipt of all remaining results and the updated Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve in coming months. Our aim is to rapidly advance the project with our JV partners to a development decision in the September Quarter with approvals in place and a toll milling agreement executed for ore processing in 2021."The Company acquired a 50% interest in the project from joint venture partner Orminex Ltd ( ASX:ONX ) for $1.5m and agreed to sole fund the first $1m in pre-development expenditure with the joint venture partners funding the project on a 50:50 basis thereafter. For further information on the project, please refer to the ASX announcement titled "Horizon enters high grade underground development JV" dated 30 November 2020.In the March Quarter 2021, the Company completed 2,013m of Reverse Circulation ("RC") and 2,765m of diamond drilling (HQ3) for 4,778m to a maximum depth of 282m. The aim of the drilling was to:- Infill a number of areas within the current mineralised envelope to improve JORC classification to the Measured and Indicated Categories for Ore Reserve generation- Test extensions to the north of the current mineralised envelope- Provide diamond core for additional geotechnical assessment and confirmatory metallurgical test work for mine optimisation, design and economic analysisProject GeologyThe high-grade gold mineralisation at Penny's Find is hosted in quartz veins at the contact between sediments and basalt. Open cut mining to 85m was completed by Empire Resources in 2018 with toll treatment processing at Lakewood (Kalgoorlie) and Burbanks (Coolgardie). Production from the open pit totalled 18,300oz at 4.47g/t Au (As announced to the ASX by Empire ( ASX:ERL ) on 25 July 2018). Metallurgical test work and toll milling data has shown fresh mineralisation to be free milling with a high gravity recoverable gold component and a total gold recovery which has exceeded 92%.Summary of ResultsThirteen of the 21 diamond holes drilled have now been assayed with all geotechnical, structural, and geological logging complete. Further assays are expected in the coming weeks. The drilling was mostly on 20m line spacings and designed to improve geological confidence and JORC Category for underground mine design and economic analysis.Samples were assayed by screen fire in the ore zone. This was deemed the appropriate method given the visible gold observed in the core.The results are consistent with previous drilling conducted at the project with the ore comprising visual high-grade, narrow quartz veins which dip about 60deg to the north east (Figures 2 and 3*).Hole P1_010 (5m @ 5.27 g/t Au from 180m) is of particular interest as it tested the northern extension potential outside the current mineralised envelope and intercepted significant widths and grade. Limited drilling has been conducted north of this drill hole and will be followed up in the next program to test the projected ore plunge and northern strike extent.On receipt of all data, an updated underground Mineral Resource estimate will be compiled in accordance with the JORC Code 2012.Underground mine optimisation, design and updated economic analysis will then be completed to support Ore Reserve generation and a development decision in the September Quarter 2021.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Gladys Berejiklian was not even a minute into her victory speech on election night in 2019 when she singled out three MPs who were going to be crucial to her government. After the Gladys! Gladys! chants died down and the Premier stood up to address Liberal Party faithful, Berejiklian followed tradition and acknowledged that then Labor leader Michael Daley had called her to concede defeat. The numbers are set to favour NSW MPs who support assisted dying. Credit:Alamy But before she thanked the voters, her campaign staff or her jubilant party, the Premier said: Whether or not my government is a majority or minority government, we will work closely with the three independents that are elected in the NSW Parliament and that is so important for stability and strength in NSW. Two years later, her government is in minority, and those three independents Alex Greenwich in Sydney, Greg Piper in Lake Macquarie and Joe McGirr in Wagga Wagga hold the stability of her government in their hands. And if the Coalition loses its 90-year grip on the seat of Upper Hunter at a byelection next month, the role of those three will be even more crucial to Berejiklians ability to govern. She feared it two years ago but now it is a reality. American health officials called for a pause in the use of the COVID-19 vaccine made by drug maker Johnson & Johnson, known as J&J. They said six people developed rare cases of blood system blockages, known as blood clots, after receiving the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a joint statement Tuesday saying they are studying the cases. The agencies said six women, between the ages of 18 and 48, had blood clots from six to 13 days after vaccination. The FDA had approved the J&J vaccine for emergency use in late February. So far, nearly 7 million shots have been given out, most with few or no side effects. Health officials said anyone who has pain in their head, legs, in the middle part of their body or trouble breathing after receiving the J&J shot should contact their doctor. They also warned that a usual treatment for blood clots, the drug heparin, might be dangerous. They advised that healthcare workers should use different treatments for side effects from the vaccine. Id like to stress these events appear to be extremely rare. However, COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, said FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock at a news conference on Tuesday. She expected the pause to last for a few days. The U.S. health agencies said their action was not an order to stop using the J&J vaccine. They said healthcare providers and patients could decide whether or not to receive the vaccine. However, several American states, including New York and Minnesota, said they would immediately stop using the vaccine until further study is completed. Similar to AstraZeneca cases Until now, concern about rare blood clots has centered on the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Britains University of Oxford. Last week, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it has found a possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare cases of blood clots among women under the age of 60. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for emergency use in over 100 countries including Britain and the European Union, but not in the U.S. In a news release, Johnson & Johnson said it was aware of the reports of blood clots, but that no link to its vaccine had been established. The company added it would delay the rollout of its vaccine in Europe. Both the J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines are made using a modified cold virus to help the human body develop proteins to fight the coronavirus. Two other vaccines, Sputnik V from Russias Gamaleya Research Institute and Chinas shot from CanSino Biologics use the same technology. These vaccines do not require cold storage, making them easier to use in areas with limited resources. The reports of blood clots are a second incident of bad news for Johnson & Johnson. In late March, millions of shots had to be thrown out after a manufacturing mistake was found at a factory in Baltimore, Maryland. Johnson & Johnson then took over the production in hopes of meeting its commitment to provide the United States with about 100 million shots by the end of May. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell and Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. Would you refuse the Johnson & Johnson vaccine based on this news? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pause n. a temporary stop : a period of time in which something is stopped before it is started again priority n. something that is more important than other things rollout n. a time when a new product or service is first offered for sale or use blood clot n. a thick and sticky clump of dried blood that stops blood from flowing through a blood vessel storage n. space where you put things when they are not being used Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Angkor Resources Corp. (TSXV: ANK) (OTC Pink: ANKOF) ("Angkor" or "the Company") CEO Stephen Burega is pleased to announce the expansion of the previously defined Wild Boar prospect area on the 100%-owned Andong Meas license to over 2km x 1km. The Company's recent surface mapping and geophysical work programs have resulted in a significant increase to the overall area of the Wild Boar prospect. Mineralized quartz vein float samples have been collected over a North/South strike length of more than one kilometre. And Artisanal alluvial pits have been noted for an additional kilometre to the north beyond the previously defined limits of the prospect area. "The rediscovery of quartz float samples first discovered in 2014 has resulted in the collection of additional surface samples and a revision of the ongoing Induced Polarization (IP) surveys to ensure these showings are covered by the program," stated Dennis Ouellette, VP of Exploration. The new area adds approximately 700 metres on the northwest portion of the primary grid area. Three recent surface samples from the site returned values as follows: Number Location Au ppm Description V036447 Float 0.873 Breccia vein, angular , pitted, comb texture V036448 Float 2.32 Quartz vein, massive, comb texture, limonitic V036449 Float 0.485 Quartz vein, massive, comb texture, hematitic Ouellette continued, "The gold values are very encouraging especially as they are random surface samples. An historical surface sample collected from the same general area in 2014 returned 6.02 ppm Au. This widens the exploration area by 650 metres to a total of more than one kilometre east to west." While the IP program continues, additional surface mapping and sampling of the altered dacite is required for further analysis. The veins appear to be part of a stockwork discovered during an earlier pit excavation exercise revealing cross cutting, shallow dipping veins over a width of at least 70 metres east to west and 100 metres north to south. It is believed to be open in all directions. Drilling operations are anticipated to commence in early May 2021 after geological and geophysical interpretations are completed. ANK staff use local longboats to transfer IP team and supplies to WB field camp To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7648/80387_d6549070f4551801_001full.jpg Team members prepare wire for upcoming IP work. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7648/80387_d6549070f4551801_002full.jpg Excited IP team at field camp ready to go. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7648/80387_d6549070f4551801_003full.jpg QUALIFIED PERSON Dennis Ouellette, B.Sc, P.Geo., is a member of The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA #104257) and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). He is the Company's VP Exploration on site and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this document. ABOUT ANGKOR RESOURCES CORP. Angkor Resources Corp. is a public company, listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange, and is a leading mineral explorer in Cambodia with a large land package across four 100%-owned licenses and a fifth license under an earn-in agreement with a third party. In 2019, the company received approval to negotiate Production Sharing Contract (PSC) terms for Block VIII, a 7,300 square kilometre oil and gas license in Cambodia. CONTACT: Stephen Burega, CEO Telephone: +1 (647) 515-3734 Email: sb@angkorgold.ca Website: http://www.angkorgold.ca or follow us on Twitter @AngkorGold. 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. Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to the potential for gold and/or other minerals at any of the Company's properties, the prospective nature of any claims comprising the Company's property interests, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, uncertainty of sample results, timing and results of future exploration, and the availability of financing. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80387 Offering a respite from processed foods for the richest 20% of Americans, Simple Feast has landed on U.S. shores with a mission to expand its presence on the back of $45 million in financing from investors. The European startup is looking to take a page from the shouty LIVEKINDLY Collective playbook and take on the U.S. market with gourmet prepared meals that come with a gourmet price tag and a mission to make Americans eat less meat by proffering more tasty and delicious vegetarian options. It's a strategy that netted LIVEKINDLY Collective's business $335 million in a recent round of funding, making it one of the most well-capitalized new entrants in the vegetarian food brand category. "There's a general health problem that's coming mostly from what we put in our mouth," said Jakob Jnck, the company's co-founder and chief executive. For folks in the U.S. who can afford it, Simple Feast is offering packaged meal kits with menus developed by chefs from some of the world's highest-end restaurants -- places like French Laundry in California or Noma in Norway, where meals can run roughly $350 per person. A selection of three prepared meals for two-to-three people will run customers around $98 per week; for a family of four or five, that number jumps to $159 per week. Simple Feast's foray into the U.S. market represents just a small portion of the company's total offerings. In the Nordic region the company offers about 30 products, all targeting people who want to reduce the amount of meat they eat. Investors certainly love the company's offering, because, as Jnck says, the products probably represent the highest margin in the meal kit category. Those financiers include firms like the European venture capitalists Balderton Capital and Kinnevik, and New York-based 14W. As for the company's customers, they're mostly moms with kids whose income puts them in the top 20% of the population. While they may be far more wealthy than the hoi polloi, Jnck said they still suffer from exposure to the worst aspects of America's industrial food machine -- highly processed foods that are causing an explosion in chronic health conditions like diabetes and obesity. Story continues Data from places like the Rand Institute indicate that in America, the burden of insufficient nutrition and the chronic conditions that stem from that are disproportionately affecting low-income and middle-income families. Health is a problem in the U.S., with $794 billion per year estimated to be lost in productivity between 2016 and 2030. An article from Health Affairs cited research from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies estimates that health inequities and premature death cost the U.S. economy $309.3 billion a year. However, these costs are primarily borne by the poorest Americans, particularly minorities. "People of color face higher rates of diabetes, obesity, stroke, heart disease, and cancer than whites," the Health Affairs article says. Simple Feast is working to correct that, says Jnck. The company's European packaged prepared meals available in retail stores cost around $15, he said, and the company will offer salaries far above the minimum wage in the U.S. to do its part in ameliorating some of the wealth disparity in the country. "This is a general play on an industry that needs to change from the ground up. This system needs to change," Jnck said. The daily schedule in Oregons largest district this fall should look much as it did pre-pandemic, or so Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero hopes. The districts top administrator told the school board Tuesday evening that he and other decision-makers expect students to be in the classroom for a full day five days per week when the next academic year begins Sept. 1. Its our expectation that we will fully reopen for five days a week of in-person instruction, Guerrero said. The caveat, as other district leaders have said in recent weeks, is that a mass return to classrooms hinges on coronavirus transmission remaining low and vaccination rates to be high enough to provide protection to the community at large. Unless health conditions and guidance from public health and Department of Education officials do not yet permit it, we expect and intend to welcome all students back to school, Guerrero said. The announcement comes after similar ones in the Tigard-Tualatin and Salem-Keizer districts. Portland Public Schools will be among the last of the states largest districts to reopen for in-person instruction in all grades. Its elementary schools opened for hybrid instruction nearly two weeks ago. The states largest district had more than 15,000 students attending classes in-person last week, nearly 10 times as many as it did the week before spring break, according to state figures. Portland Public Schools enrolls about 47,000 students. The district will begin phasing middle- and high-schoolers into hybrid instruction next week. But its unlikely Portland Public Schools will ease its pandemic-era classroom structure, which includes physical distancing at four times the rate federal public health officials say is necessary when students wear masks. The working agreement between the district and its teachers union codifies spacing and virtual learning protocols and requires students to remain 6 feet apart in classrooms, despite state and federal guidelines that allow for 3 feet of spacing in such environments. --Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com. Rep. Matt Gaetz's alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, in which he is said to have paid to have her travel with him across state lines, is being investigated by the Justice Department. News outlets are focusing on how this scandal could affect a member of Congress. But there's another urgent question: How often are teenage girls caught in such relationships, consensual or otherwise - and how well does the United States protect them from exploitation? Advocacy groups would argue: Not very well. State laws attempt to halt egregious cases of statutory rape. But most stop short of enacting other protections, such as preventing teenage girls from marrying their rapists or abusers, my research on child marriage finds. - The U.S. patchwork of protections States, not the federal government, set the age of consent. In Gaetz's home state of Florida, the age of sexual consent is 18, making any sexual conduct between an adult and a minor statutory rape. In many other states, the age is 16, although that varies by how close the two people are in age, what the circumstances may be and what type of sexual act is involved. State laws vary even more dramatically on allowing minors to wed. Forty-six states allow child marriage under certain circumstances. Some states have no minimum age for marriage, as long as the minor has a parent's written permission or a judge's approval. Girls are far more likely to marry before age 18 than boys. Most of those marriages are to adult men, with the average age difference being four years. Adult men can bypass statutory rape charges through marriage. - Where states fail to act, girls are at risk When state statutes allow children to marry, the underage partner often has negative life outcomes. Public health research finds that girls who marry young are more likely to endure more physical and sexual violence than those who marry as adults. Child marriage has lifelong effects on mental health, including higher instances of major depressive disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and alcohol or drug disorders than those married as adults. Women who married under age 19 are more likely to develop serious medical conditions such as diabetes, heart attack or stroke. While children can marry under age 18 in most states, they are still considered minors under the law and cannot access the legal system as an adult could until they are 18. Thus, while teen brides are disproportionately likely to be abused by their husbands, because they are minors, they may not be able to hire a lawyer or access a domestic violence shelter without an adult, or otherwise turn to legal or social services, according to my interviews with legislators and advocacy groups. - When do states take action to protect teen girls from predatory adults? To answer that question regarding child marriage, I have collected state legislative data on a variety of measures, such as roll-call votes, bill co-sponsorship and legislator demographics; interviewed state lawmakers and representatives of advocacy groups; analyzed media coverage from national newspapers and state capital newspapers in key states such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Minnesota from 2015 to 2020; and collected evidence of advocacy groups' campaigns. Here's what I find: When legislators consider child marriage and other forms of sexual exploitation of minors, it's not because there's been sustained media attention or widespread public outcry. Rather, legislators are responding to key advocacy groups. That matters because teenage victims of sexual predation - unlike their higher-profile abusers - do not have a voice in the news media, which protect their identities, or an organized presence in the legislature. Compared with high-profile women's issues like reproductive rights, equal pay and sexual harassment, child marriage never appears on lists of what the public considers to be the "most important issues," never garners a high volume of Google searches, nor has a sustained spike in media attention. Only in the past five years - during which advocacy groups have begun campaigns for action - have state legislatures taken up this issue. Many Americans are apparently unaware of or lack information on child marriages and their elevated risk of abuse. - Survivors have been lobbying state legislatures Child marriage advocacy groups have begun to organize and appeal to state legislatures to change this situation. Since 2018, four states - Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Minnesota - have completely banned marriage before age 18. In New Jersey, then-Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, vetoed the legislation in 2017. However, the legislature again passed the bill in 2018 and it was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat. In 2020, during the pandemic, the Pennsylvania legislature unanimously passed a ban on underage marriage. When I interviewed Pennsylvania legislators, they explained that advocacy groups dedicated to ending child marriage, including Unchained at Last and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), persuaded them to pass the bill. In social media and other online campaigns, these groups featured child marriage survivors' stories and advocated protecting girls from potential abuse. When the Gaetz story drops from public attention, most states' laws will still offer loopholes through which adult men can exploit teenage girls. Teenage girls across the country are not fully protected by state law. But state legislators are responding to advocacy groups' new argument that they should protect teenage girls at risk for this specific abuse. - - - Amber Lusvardi (@psproff) is a PhD candidate at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., specializing in gender issues in U.S. policy development. For other analysis and commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage. Supplier News 14 April 2021 IDeaS, a SAS company, the world's leading provider of hotel revenue management software and services, announced today its partnership with Cora Cora Maldives to implement IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) at the Maldives' most anticipated new resort opening of 2021. Powered by advanced analytics, IDeaS G3 RMS offers Cora Cora Maldives the industry's most comprehensive pricing decisions, interactive dashboards and reporting tools to elevate revenue and occupancy performance. IDeaS' unrivalled reputation and a long history of supporting resorts in the Maldives were key factors in the decision to adopt G3 RMS, along with: Direction in an uncertain market As a new resort opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cora Cora Maldives identified the need for a robust system that automatically evaluates demand fluctuations and competitive changes to deploy optimal pricing and inventory-control decisions. As a new resort opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cora Cora Maldives identified the need for a robust system that automatically evaluates demand fluctuations and competitive changes to deploy optimal pricing and inventory-control decisions. Enhanced visibility With IDeaS G3 RMS' Pricing Investigator feature, Cora Cora Maldives is empowered to examine and understand the data points the system considers when setting prices. Investigator's charts, tables and descriptions quickly inform factors that influence prices, providing clarity around (and confidence in) the key drivers behind pricing decisions. With IDeaS G3 RMS' Pricing Investigator feature, Cora Cora Maldives is empowered to examine and understand the data points the system considers when setting prices. Investigator's charts, tables and descriptions quickly inform factors that influence prices, providing clarity around (and confidence in) the key drivers behind pricing decisions. Ongoing Support IDeaS will offer ongoing, strategic revenue management support to Cora Cora Maldives, enabling the resort to grow its business as a new entrant in a competitive market. IDeaS will offer ongoing, strategic revenue management support to Cora Cora Maldives, enabling the resort to grow its business as a new entrant in a competitive market. Big data made easy IDeaS G3 RMS provides many sources of granular data such as market, competitor and historical pricing comparisons, price sensitivity of demand, room-class price and upgrade paths, making it easier than ever to understand market activity and pricing opportunities. Vishen Mootoo, director of sales and marketing, Cora Cora Maldives , said: "As a new market entrant, it is critical Cora Cora Maldives grows demand and maximises our revenue opportunities. We chose to partner with IDeaS because we require a solution that will not only collate and analyse key data to drive hotel revenue, but one that would provide pricing clarity, actionable recommendations and enable us to optimise performance." Rachel Grier, area vice president, Asia-Pacific, IDeaS, said: "IDeaS is excited to partner with Cora Cora Maldives and support the new resort on its growth path. In using IDeaS G3 RMS, Cora Cora Maldives will be able to leverage sophisticated forecasting analytics and reporting tools, enabling the hotel to make strategic decisions across their business and enhance profitability." About Cora Cora Maldives Set on the pristine island of Raa Maamigili in the Raa Atoll, the Cora Cora Maldives resort features 100 contemporary style villas overlooking the Indian Ocean, four restaurants, two bars, seven wellness treatment rooms and is the first resort in the Maldives to showcase a licensed art gallery and outdoor museum. Cora Cora Maldives is set to open on 1 October 2021. Ecobank Ghana last week handed over a new and fully equipped computer laboratory to the Christian Methodist Senior High School (CHRIMESCO) in Accra. Estimated at about GHS160,000, the project involved, the provision of tables, chairs, air conditioners, a projector, projector screen, associated accessories and 30 networked computers. Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Mr Dan Sackey, indicated that; education is one of the three critical focus areas for Ecobanks corporate social responsibility programmes. Additionally, Ecobank is interested in empowering young people who form a growing segment of the Ghanaian population. Mr Sackey emphasized that; the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the world, requiring almost everyone to be tech-savvy and digitally proficient. The importance of acquiring the right skill set within the digital and technological space cannot be overemphasized, as the use of technology has taken centre stage with rapid global adoption. He said ICT is currently a key enabler to efficient work delivery, permitting complex analysis, and creating new ways to share, learn and engage. Indeed, he also pointed out that it is becoming increasingly obvious that ICT will continue to be the basis for economic and social transformation for individuals and communities. He, therefore, advised students and faculty to put the computer laboratory to good use and maintain it to ensure sustainable usage. Receiving the newly commissioned laboratory on behalf of the school, was Mr Kweku Acquah, Headmaster of Christian Methodist School, who affirmed that; the school for some years now has been without a modern ICT laboratory. He said that, with the newly installed laboratory, students would now be able to have access to various e-books, online articles, as well as various educational apps which would enhance teaching and learning. This he believes would assist both students, and teachers build capacity in ICT. He thanked Mr Sackey and the Management of Ecobank while promising that the school authorities will ensure regular maintenance to extend the life span of the facility. Representing the Old Student Association of the school was Air Commodore Jacob Ashrifie, who also thanked Ecobank for the donation. He indicated that the association will be contacting various stakeholders and year-groups to solicit their support to enhance school infrastructure. The Municipal Director of Education for Ga-South, Mr Henry Ayetse was full of praise for Ecobank and urged other corporate institutions to emulate their example. Additionally, he appealed to old students in the country to occasionally visit their alma mater to assess its educational needs in order to provide support to complement the governments efforts. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] 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 (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd - rare earth metals projects in Burundi and South Africa - Notes suspension order from Burundi government on the export of concentrate produced from trial mining and processing operations at its Gakara project in Burundi, which is focues on bastnaesite and monazite. Says development does not impact on Rainbow's ongoing exploration, trial mining and processing operations. "Whilst we are currently uncertain of the origins of this development in Burundi, I am in Burundi, undertaking ongoing, constructive discussions with the Ministry and other stakeholders to resolve this issue and allow exports to recommence. Whilst we have suspended the shipment of concentrate from Gakara, we plan to continue to conduct exploration, trial mining and processing activities at the project and remain committed to a swift resolution to this issue, in cooperation with the hovernment and other related stakeholders," says Chief Executive George Bennet. S&U PLC - Birmingham-based motor finance firm - Says Chair Fiann Coombs will be stepping down at the upcoming AGM on May 20. Appoints Jack Coombs, Fiann Coombs' brother, as an executive director, effective immediately. Jack Coombs owns a 14% stake in the company and currently works for property bridging subsidiary Aspen Bridging Ltd. Eleco PLC - London-based construction software developer - Announces appointment of Fredrik Pantze as chief product officer. Pantze has been the head of development at Eleco's Swedish business since 2018. Iomart Group PLC - Glasgow-based operator of data centres - Appoints the head of the Infrastructure-as-a-Service arm, Neil Christie, as chief operating officer. Renalytix AI PLC - Cardiff, Wales-based clinical diagnostics company - Announces that it has entered into an exclusive option agreement with Joslin Diabetes Center for patent filings on some additional novel biomarkers in kidney disease for development and deployment in the KidneyIntelX in vitro prognostic platform. "These proprietary blood biomarkers have the potential to significantly expand the utility of the KidneyIntelX platform, particularly in understanding how to efficiently enrol and characterize appropriate participants in new drug validation trials," said RenalytixAI Chief Technology Officer Fergus Fleming. Tlou Energy Ltd - seeking to use gas and solar to alleviate some of the chronic power shortage in Botswana and southern Africa - Says tenders awarded to Zismo Engineering Pty Ltd for construction of overhead lines and to South African-based OptiPower for construction of substations at Lesedi and Serowe in Botswana. "We are delighted with the response to our tender and look forward to working with our new local contractor Zismo and OptiPower, to connect our Lesedi power project to the grid at Serowe. The proposed transmission line is the key to unlocking our independently certified gas reserves and contingent resources as well as our solar potential," says Managing Director Tony Gilby. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC - London-based biotechnology company - Gets notice from "a global pharmaceutical company" that it will not exercise option for intellectual property. Gives notice that it intends to exercise its own option to license GlobalCo's intellectual property on an exclusive, worldwide basis. "The company continues to work actively with GlobalCo in relation to development of the antibody, and to negotiate with GlobalCo to determine the exact terms of the licence and GlobalCo's continued involvement in the progression of CDX toward clinical trials," says Hemogenyx. This pertains to the future development of the company's product candidate CDX bispecific antibody for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Napster Group PLC - London-based operator of MelodyVR and Napster music streaming platforms - Secures increased funding commitment from Swiss investor Nice & Green SA to a total of GBP8 million to help launch app. "We are excited to have secured this increased support from Nice & Green. This incremental funding allows us to further strengthen our balance sheet, bolster cash reserves and leverage our status as a public company in terms of access to funding," says CEO Anthony Matchett. Kistos PLC - London-based energy sector investor - Announces share subscription offer to fund acquisition of Tulip Oil via PrimaryBid. Says the price at which the shares will be placed will be determined at the end of the bookbuild. By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. An exotic lizard with a fearsome sneer was discovered wandering through a Columbia neighborhood this week, startling neighbors and sparking questions about where the strange creature came from. Patrick Saucier ran across the foot-long reptile while walking his dog along Tugaloo Avenue in the Hollywood Rose Hill community. A neighbor who spotted the lizard was trying to figure out what to make of it when Saucier strolled by. It was an unusual finding, thats for sure, Saucier said, explaining that he scooped the lizard into a box in hopes of finding someone to take the animal. The lizard appeared to be a pet, he said. So what was it? The creature looks like a bearded dragon, an animal native to the rural Australian desert that is often sold at traveling reptile shows, said Will Dillman, a biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources who examined a photograph of the lizard. Bearded dragons arent particularly dangerous, Dillman said, but they can give that appearance. If they are threatened, a bearded dragon will hiss and puff out a scaly beard on the side of its head to look bigger, according to National Geographic. Dillman said its unlikely that bearded dragons would establish themselves in the countryside of South Carolina, as other species like the destructive and much larger tegu lizard, appear to have done. Its generally too chilly in the winter for bearded dragons, he said. Still, Dillman said its possible the animals could survive in cities because there are buildings to hide beneath during the winter. Bearded dragons could carry diseases that could spread to other animals, he said. That s why Dillman said people should not release exotic animals like the bearded dragon, either in the country or in cities like Columbia, the state capitol with more than 130,000 residents. The neighborhood where the bearded dragon was found is near the University of South Carolina campus. If people are letting things go, that is not ideal, Dillman said. Story continues Saucier, a sociology instructor at the University of South Carolina, said he never found anyone who claimed to own the bearded dragon, but the animals fate may have been resolved. A Columbia-area high school teacher offered to take the scaly reptile in hopes of using it for educational purposes, Saucier said. The teacher, who asked The State not to be identified, said he picked up the dragon Tuesday night, put it in a cat carrier and took it to his house. Saucier said he wanted to help the lizard, but was glad someone more knowledgeable about bearded dragons was interested in the creature. Its an exotic animal, he said. I just didnt know how to take care of it. The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Lakhs and lakhs of devotees attend it but this year, a time of a highly-infectious pandemic, we could have done without it. At a time such as this, any large gathering poses a huge risk. However, it happened and while we sanitise our hands every time we touch literally anything outside of our homes, as many as 21,07,000 people took 'snan' in the Ganges on the first day of the festival. Another 'large' thing that took place at the mela was that the world's largest Diya (oil lamp) was inaugurated on Aastha Path in Haridwar, Uttarakhand on Tuesday. Also read: Kumbh Mela Reports 1,086 COVID Cases In Last 4 Days As Millions Gather For 'Shahi Snan' Kumbh Mela Officer Deepak Rawat inaugurated the oil lamp in presence of other officials and devotees on Tuesday evening. The lamp has a capacity of 2,247 litres and it is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, the official Twitter handle of Haridwar Mahakumbh 2021 posted on Twitter. Compared to 1.60 crore people who arrived here in 2010, as captured by satellite image, around 6 lakh people arrived this year for Baisakhi snan, Inspector-general of Police, Haridwar Kumbh Mela, Sanjay Gunjyal was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Also read: Government Fears Kumbh Mela Could Become COVID Super Spreader. Should It End Before Time? Twitter These snans (bath) are a part of the rituals of Kumbh Mela that started in Haridwar from April 1 and will be continued till April 30. Uttarakhand: People take a holy dip in Ganga river at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar. Kumbh Mela IG Sanjay Gunjyal says, "General public will be allowed here till 7 am. After that, this area will be reserved for akharas". pic.twitter.com/9PtcP9WwwG ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2021 Kumbh Mela is held at four different locations including Nashik, Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Ujjain. It continues for almost three months but due to the coronavirus-induced pandemic, it has been cut down to 30 days. Sensibly speaking, it should have been zero days. President Joe Biden is slated to withdraw all remaining United States troops from Afghanistan by September 11. This date would be the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that prompted the US' involvement in its longest war. Biden: We Will Withdraw US Troops From Afghanistan An estimated 2,500 US troops remain in Afghanistan. Around 1,000 more special operations forces are also reportedly in the country. There were over 100,000 at the war's peak in 2011. Having concluded that there is no military solution to the security and political problems threatening Afghanistan and set on focusing on more pressing national security challenges, Biden's administration will formally declare on Wednesday that US troops will withdraw from the country before the 20th anniversary, according to a senior administration official. The withdrawal extends the United States troop presence past the May 1 deadline scheduled by former President Donald Trump's administration in a negotiation with the Taliban. This will only be heald in a matter of months. Biden is slated to formally make an announcement on Wednesday. There are currently an estimated 2,500 US troops in the country. They serve alongside 7,000 other foreign troops in union with a Nato coalition. The majority of the Nato allies are potentially to withdraw in coordination with the United States, reported The Guardian. The troop reduction will commence before May 1. The deadline is for complete withdrawal as outlined in a negotiation the Trump administration reached with the Taliban. Biden's decision comes after three months of Afghanistan policy review. The decision is reportedly significant. Biden is the fourth president to supervise the war. However, if all goes to plan, he will be the first to end the war, reported Vox. Joe Biden Weighs US Troops Extension in Afghanistan Weeks Before the May 1 Deadline The official spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to the official, "We will reposition our counterterrorism capabilities retaining significant assets in the region to counter the potential reemergence of a terrorist threat to the homeland from Afghanistan and to hold the Taliban to its commitment to ensure Al Qaeda does not once again threaten the United States or our interests or our allies," reported CNBC. The withdrawal would miss a deadline of May 1 that the Trump administration had negotiation in 2020 with the Taliban. It involved provisions for peace talks between Taliban and Afghanistan's government that have since faltered. Also, according to the official, the president had arrived at that determination following a thorough policy review. He thinks that the threat to the United States emanating from Afghanistan is at a level that could be addressed without a persistent military footprint in the nation. The president has been pondering over the decision for months with his advisers. He signaled that he did not think US troops must remain in the nation long past the deadline. NATO troops would also adhere in accordance with the same withdrawal timeline. It is probable that US troops will be withdrawn prior to September 11. The date was the final possible time when the remaining personnel would leave. The US had reportedly communicated to the Taliban "in no uncertain terms" that attacks on US troops amid the withdrawal process would be retaliated. UN Report Says ISIS Has Presence In 25 Afghan Provinces @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the DFA summoning the Chinese Ambassador I laud the Department of Foreign Affairs for summoning Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and taking him to task with regard to the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea. I thank the DFA for stressing our 2016 Hague victory and for making it clear, directly to the Ambassador, that China's sweeping territorial claims are without legal basis. The Chinese Embassy's recent statements have often been flagrant lies. It denied the presence of maritime militia in Julian Felipe Reef, saying that fishing vessels were just taking shelter due to the bad weather. It claimed that Julian Felipe Reef is part of China's Nansha Qundao, a name it gave our Spratly Islands. Beyond these lies, however, the Chinese Embassy arrogantly and shamelessly sought to paint the Philippines as irrational and unreasonable. Instead of acknowledging the mere presence of its ships or at least recognizing our concerns as valid, it went on to bend the truth and even went so far as to demean our own officials. These acts of wanton disrespect have no place in our country. I can only hope that the Chinese Ambassador left that conversation with a fuller understanding of the Philippines' point of view and a broader appreciation of our country's pride and dignity. A former classmate has been arrested in connection with the murder and disappearance of Kristin Smart in 1996. Paul Flores was previously named the "prime suspect." He was reported to have walked Smart home from the party, according to authorities. Smart was a 19-year-old freshman at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She disappeared on May 25, 1996 after attending a party near school, according to an ABC News Go. Flores was arrested after almost 25 years of the case being unsolved. He is currently being held without bail, according to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson. Flores' father, Ruben Flores, was also arrested. Sheriff's deputies searched his home. However, he said that the search warrants were sealed and that he could not publicly discuss what evidence was found. "We have not recovered Kristin. We will continue to focus on finding her remains," Parkinson was quoted in The New York Times report. READ MORE: 'Unsolved Mysteries' Volume 2: Who Was Jennifer Fairgate? The Suspects Flores was a Cal Poly student at the time of Smart's disappearance. He denied being involved in her disappearance. After previously dubbing Flores as a person of interest in their investigation, the police started to refer to him in recent months as a "prime suspect." The Sheriff's Office said they had obtained a warrant to search Ruben Flores' residence in March. Police had used cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar to search the property. The lawyer for the older Flores, Robert Sanger, had declined to comment on Tuesday. The authorities had earlier searched both the homes of Ruben and Paul. Last February, investigators recovered "some items of interest" after conducting search warrants at four locations in California and Washington State. The authorities also recovered two trucks that belonged to Flores family members in 1996 and 36 pieces of evidence collected after Smart's disappearance. The younger Flores was earlier arrested by the police in Los Angeles on a charge of firearms possession by a felon. He was also earlier arrested for driving under the influence. Meanwhile, the Smart family said they had waited for this day, adding that they pray this will be the first step in bringing their daughter home. President of the university, Jeffrey D. Armstrong, said that the news brings sadness, relief, and hope for the end of the situation. The Case Parkinson revealed that his office had managed to interview more people in 2019, expressing his gratitude to the podcast that covered the cold case, according to an NBC News report. Smart was never found and was declared legally dead by her family in 2002. Her disappearance has drawn national attention for decades after she was last seen alive. Flores was named a key witness by police in July 1996 but was never officially been charged in connection with Smart's disappearance until recently, according to another NBC News report. The suspect has been the subject of many police inquiries and searches. Parkinson said that he hopes they are able to take the first steps for justice for the Smart family, as well as peace for the community. Smart would have been 37 last February. READ NEXT: Alonzo Brooks' Death 16 Years Ago Ruled as Homicide by FBI WATCH: Person of interest arrested in 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart - from CBS 8 San Diego DALLAS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accomplished intellectual property and business litigation lawyer Brad Caldwell from Dallas' Caldwell Cassady & Curry once again has been named one of the country's top trial lawyers in the Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar series from the national legal publication Law360. Mr. Caldwell is the only attorney in Texas to earn two selections in the exclusive listing after previously being recognized in 2019. He is one of only 11 lawyers nationwide to be named in the 2021 Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar series. "The results Brad achieves for our clients are amazing, so it's no surprise to see him recognized again," says fellow Caldwell Cassady & Curry principal Austin Curry. "Brad is one of the best if not the very best trial lawyers in the country." Last year, Mr. Caldwell led the winning trial team on behalf of VirnetX Inc. in the company's latest patent infringement action against technology giant Apple Inc. Mr. Caldwell told jurors in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas how Apple infringed two VirnetX patents to enable key features on the iPhone and other Apple devices. The jury's $502.8 million verdict in favor of VirnetX stands as the 4th largest verdict in the nation during 2021. Less than a month after the victory for VirnetX, Mr. Caldwell helped secure a complete defense win for UK-based World Programming Limited against copyright and patent infringement claims filed by SAS Institute Inc. The lawsuit against World Programming Limited was dismissed with prejudice in a separate Eastern District court. In a profile story about his selection, Mr. Caldwell explained why jury trials are critically important to him and his clients. "I really like the way that the jury is a great equalizer," Mr. Caldwell told the publication. "At this point, it doesn't matter which party has the most resources and whatnot. Everybody's going to get a fair look, and we're going to take a close look at who's really telling the truth." Caldwell Cassady & Curry represents companies and individuals in high-stakes civil litigation, including patent infringement cases, trade secrets claims, fiduciary duty cases, class actions, and disputes involving company founders. The firm has tried and won some of the nation's top verdicts against the largest companies in the world. Learn more about the firm at www.caldwellcc.com. For more information, contact Bruce Vincent at 214-763-6226 or [email protected]. SOURCE Caldwell Cassady & Curry Related Links www.caldwellcc.com A Form Four student sitting the KCSE exams at Moi Kapcherop Girls Secondary School in Elgeyo-Marakwet County was Monday arrested for alleged exam-cheating. The student is said to have tried to attack a police officer who caught her with short answer notes, locally known as mwakenya, during CRE Paper 2 examination. The students unbecoming behaviour forced the security officer to call for reinforcement, a cop privy to the incident told Standard Digital. The student was contained and arrested alongside three other candidates who were also found in possession of mwakenya. Authorities also conducted a mass search in the dormitories, recovering several mobile phones, mwakenya notes, and other material used in exam malpractice. The schools principal, exam supervisor and eight invigilators were also arrested for alleged conspiracy to aid exam cheating. We are investigating whether the principal, supervisor and invigilators colluded with the students to engage in exam malpractice, said Elgeyo-Marakwet County Commissioner, Dr. Omar Ahmed. The arrested exam officials were released on free bond on Tuesday, April 13. They were also replaced by a new team, with the arrested students writing their remaining exams under police supervision. I want to warn exam officials planning to allow cheating that they will be smoked out, said Ahmed. Dr. Pope earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine followed by an anesthesiology residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He went on to receive a fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in pain management in Cleveland, Ohio. He is board-certified in pain medicine and anesthesiology. Dr. Pope has more than a decade of experience serving Sonoma and Lake Counties at Evolve Restorative Center. We are excited to partner with Adventist Health to bring pain management services to the community, said Pope. Dr. Pope is accepting new patients. His office is located at 1100 Trancas St., Suite 250 in Napa. Redwood Credit Union celebrates Credit Union Youth Month with giveaways and contests Redwood Credit Union (RCU) is celebrating Credit Union Youth Month in April with giveaways and two contests that promote good savings habits for children and teenagers, said a news release. Advertisement The number of migrants attempting the dangerous journey across the English Channel to reach British shores in March this year was more than four times as many as tried during the same month last year. Statistics showing the number of migrants that were picked up in the Channel by Border Force agents show that 187 attempted the journey in small boats in March 2020. However, this monthly total had risen four-fold to 831 by March 2021, which saw a continued trend of increasing numbers month-on-month this year. Ruthless people smugglers are using the poorest migrants travelling in the cheapest boats as decoys to give people paying 'premium' rates a better chance of crossing The Channel, it has been claimed. This morning, 42 migrants, including four toddlers and a baby, arrived at Dover today after being picked up by Border Force officials attempting to cross the Channel in three separate incidents. French authorities also prevented three attempted crossings overnight and into the morning involving 45 people. A source working with British and French police officers who have infiltrated the supply chain of small vessels claim that the cheapest crossings are being used by people smugglers to distract patrol boats in The Channel. Pictured: A child is brought to shore in Dover, Kent, this morning after Border Force agents picked up 42 migrants in three separate incidents A toddler wearing a bright orange life jacket is seen lying on the floor at Dover Marina this morning after having been picked up as part of a larger group of migrants attempting to cross the Channel Four toddlers and a baby were among 42 migrants that were picked up this morning by Border Force agents and brought ashore at Dover in three separate incidents One migrant is seen raising a hand in the air as they lie on their back in a boat while being brought into Dover Marina this morning after having attempted to cross the Channel Two border force agents help lift a small child out of their vessel an on to dry land at Dover Marina this morning. The child was among 42 migrants who were picked up trying to cross the Channel How many migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since January 2020? January 2020 - 87 February 2020 - 192 March 2020 - 187 April 2020 - 530 May 2020 - 741 June 2020 - 702 July 2020 - 1118 August 2020 - 1,468 September 2020 - 1,954 October 2020 - 463 November 2020 - 757 December 2020 - 211 January 2021 - 223 February 2021 - 308 March 2021 - 831 April 2021 (so far) - 102 Advertisement Many young children including a sleeping baby just a few months old were on board at least two boats intercepted by Border Force. The baby, wearing a navy padded overall, was wrapped in a foil blanket and handed off the boat to Immigration Enforcement officers. She disembarked at Dover Marina, Kent, along with a man, woman and two children thought to be her parents and siblings. As many as five children were on the first boat brought into the harbour at around 8am. They were followed shortly afterwards by a group of around six men wearing red lifejackets, winter coats and beanie hats for warmth. Border Force cutter Speedwell brought a further five men into harbour at around 10am with their tiny red dinghy also on board. One barefooted man, in his 20s, appeared unable to walk properly and was put in a wheelchair to be pushed up the gangway for processing. It comes after 42 migrants reached Britain's shores in three boats yesterday, meaning nearly 1,500 have successfully made the crossing so far this year, while French patrols picked 106 on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Last year it was revealed migrants were charging up to 10,000 for refugees to cross into Britain in three 'gold, silver and bronze' packages. A source working with British and French police officers who have infiltrated the supply chain of small vessels now claims that the cheapest crossings are used to distract patrol boats in The Channel. They told The Times: 'They might put 35 boats out from a range of 150 miles across northern France and some of them will be with top-end engines and dinghies and some will be ones that break down as soon as they leave the shore. 'And so the authorities will be diverted to the ones that have broken down after leaving the shore but they'll still get 15, 20 boats through.' The most expensive package, gold, costs 10,000 and means you get a larger boat with better conditions, less other people and lifejackets, as reported by The Sun last August. But the cheapest crossings can be organised for between 200 and 500. The number of migrants who have reached the UK by illegally crossing the Channel has risen 192 per cent year-on-year, with 1,362 people making the perilous journey from France between January 1 and the end of March. This is compared with just 466 over the same period last year. A group of migrants are brought into Dover this morning, wrapped in blankets for warmth and wearing bright orange life-vests A Border Force agent leans down into a boat to pick up a child and carry them onto dry land at Dover Marina, in Kent, this morning Two small children are led up a ramp by a Border Force official as two adult migrants, one using a walking stick, follow This morning, as many as 42 migrants were picked up while trying to travel across the English Channel. Pictured: Two children are sat at Dover Marina while a grown up leans down to assist other people After being brought to shore by Border Force officials this morning, two children and two accompanying adults walk along a narrow strip at Dover Marina A number of migrants sit at the front of a Border Force boat this morning as they are brought to dry land following an attempt to cross the English Channel If the increase is replicated across the whole year, almost 25,000 would traverse the Channel in small boats smashing last years record of 8,410. The total number for March was 831 more than four times the 187 seen in the same month last year. Home Secretary Priti Patel has unveiled a series of reforms to stop smuggling gangs sending migrants across the water. Overall numbers of asylum seekers making new claims in the UK fell to 29,456 last year, excluding dependants, down 18 per cent on the previous year. According to The Times, police are now looking at how to break up the supply chain of these vessels, which are bought and sold legally, but with the full knowledge that they will be used to illegally ferry people from France to Britain. A Home Office spokesman told The Times: 'People smugglers are putting lives at risk by facilitating these dangerous journeys. 'We are working closely with our partners in France to stop migrants from leaving French beaches and attempted crossings involving more than 100 people were stopped overnight and this morning. 'The government's new plan for immigration will break the business model of people smugglers and overhaul the broken asylum system.' One migrant is pictured holding up a peace sign with their hand as they are brought into Dover by the Border Force this morning Another child is helped up out of a boat by Border Force agents this morning after 42 migrants across three separate incidents were found trying to make the perilous journey across the English Channel Two migrants stare up at Dover Marina this morning as they await their turn to get out of their boat and up onto dry land Two children are seen making their way up a ramp at Dover Marina this morning after being picked up by Border Force agents. A man using a walking stick is also seen walking up the ramp Last month Miss Patel announced that border guards patrolling the Channel will be given powers to turn back migrant boats. The crackdown will be dependent on France and other countries accepting the return of migrants. The planned shake-up includes other controversial steps such as stripping failed asylum seekers of support and accommodation. As many as 8,410 migrants made the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats last year. Foreign nationals could also be refused UK visas if their governments do not accept deportations of their own immigration rule-breakers from Britain. France struck a deal with the UK in November to tackle illegal Channel crossings but has so far resisted the idea of having dinghies sent back to its northern beaches. The Governments new plan for immigration, published in full on March 24, revealed the bill for the asylum system is set to rise to more than 1.3billion this year, from just under 1billion in 2019-20. Yesterday 43 migrants were picked up off the coast of Britain, as it was revealed migrants use migrants crossing in the cheapest vessels as a distraction to allow others to cross. File image of people thought to be migrants crossing the Channel on August 10, 2020 People smugglers can charge up to 10,000 for people to cross illegally from France to Britain, but also as little as 200 On March 31, the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation launched a new strategy. When I saw the announcement, strategery was the first word that came to mind. Remember that Saturday Night Live skit in which Will Ferrell portrayed then-presidential candidate George W. Bush calling strategy strategery? The act jabbed at Bushs mispronunciation of words, and it also took a swipe at how politicians often refer to strategy without having one, as if the word itself is the plan. That was back in 2000, and since then, strategery has burrowed into the lexicon to the point that its almost an instant retort when someone mentions strategy. So I clicked the link in EDFs announcement thinking it would take me to a document detailing the new strategy. Instead, it took me to a commercial. 3 1 of 3 Buy Photo Josie Norris, Staff Photographer / The San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Kin Man Hui, Staff photographer / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The video showed curated images of people and places from across the San Antonio region set against upbeat instrumental music and messaging about the bold plan and how momentum is on our side. On ExpressNews.com: Accelerator: Tech Bloc CEO fires first salvo in 2022 battle of the bonds It also proclaimed that by 2025 the strategy would create 140,000 new jobs, spawn $8 billion in new wages and award 200,000 new degrees and certifications. This sounded amazing, and I waited for the how. Then the video told me, Together We will raise $38.5 million To grow jobs Develop people And elevate our place Were all in on our future Are you? Play together. Play to win. The marketing went all-in on the all in tag line. The phrase, from Texas Hold Em poker, comes from the idea that the player is so confident in their cards, or their bluff, that theyre betting all their chips. Its a win-big or lose-everything bet. And a gang of influential Texans Gov. Greg Abbott, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, EDF chairman and H-E-B President Craig Boyan, as well as local university presidents and other community and business leaders proclaimed how theyre all in on the area and the plan. Kin Man Hui / Staff file photo Beyond its focus on jobs, people and place, the crux of the new strategy is a regional approach, said EDF chief executive Jenna Saucedo-Herrera. On ExpressNews.com: Accelerator: Starbase, Texas? Really? Its certainly not a new or novel idea, but San Antonio has just never operated that way, she said. We just never had a formal approach to marketing and deal sharing and thats a significant change for the way that we run our operation. She said the regional approach mirroring the approach of Austin, Denver, Dallas and Charlotte, N.C., to economic development is more than just talk. SAEDF will focus on the eight counties within the San Antonio metropolitan statistical area: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson. The next step is to actually move forward into executing regional partnership agreements, she said. We already have communities like Cibolo and New Braunfels and Converse on board, and were going to others to figure out what does this partnership looks like. The second thrust of the new strategy is increased participation by the private sector. Were really hoping to get much more involvement from the business community by way of their financial resources, but also, of course, their time and energy, which I think is even more valuable, she said. Fundraising is a central part of the new strategy, and the EDF has raised $1 million for the plan from regional businesses so far. Saucedo-Herrera said the goal is to raise $38.5 million over five years. Thats roughly $7.7 million a year, nearly double the EDFs current annual budget of about $4 million. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios cybersecurity industry 30 years after Michelangelo Not only are we nowhere near competing with Nashville, Denver and Austins budgets, were not even competing with Tupelo or Kalamazoo because their (EDFs) budgets are larger, she said. We talk about being the seventh-largest city in the nation, but our economic development budget doesnt reflect that. Some of the funds, approximately $7 million over five years, will go toward marketing and rebranding the region. Thats a big bump considering last years annual marketing budget was $300,000. Saucedo-Herrera also plans to rebrand the EDF. She said the EDF plans to change its name this year but declined to elaborate. I guarantee that youll see some of the elements of our All In campaign reflected in both the organizational rebrand and the regional brand because all the work is going on simultaneously, she said. Local economist and St. Marys University professor Steve Nivin said the regional approach makes sense. Were very much a regional economy, he said. Including the larger area helps everybody within the region. Nivin said that in his 20 years of involvement in San Antonio economic development, hes seen the EDF expand its focus from solely attracting firms and developing incentive packages to broader efforts business retention and growth, entrepreneurial activity, early-stage funding and workforce development. I think those efforts have certainly expanded and widened, he said. Its become more collaborative. And like so much else in our world today, the pandemic delayed the strategys launch by a year. But Nivin sees the timing as good. Hopefully, the pandemic is starting to wane, and economic growth projections continue to really accelerate this year and then continue to grow into 2022 and 2023, and so its really catching, hopefully, the beginnings of a growth period in the business cycle, he said. He also said a regional approach can help the area recover from some pandemic-induced structural changes to industries such as retail and hospitality. Those are the types of impacts that take a longer time for the economy to work through, he said. Those folks may have to have to be retrained and look for jobs in other industries, and that just takes time. So the EDF has a new strategy and while details are still fuzzy, we know everyone is all-in. The approach sounds inclusive, and the timing is right as were starting to see light on the horizon of the COVID-19 storm. Now, we need to guard against the vague language of strategy writers to ensure the plan produces clear steps for a path forward. 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 King Abdullah II of Jordan gives a speech in Amman in December. (Yousef Allan / Royal Hashemite Court) It all began with cake. Sakher Fayez, a Jordanian activist, was celebrating his birthday with friends and relatives April 3 at his familys apartment building in Ammans upscale Khaldah district. Around 4 p.m., a deliveryman came by with a cake no one had ordered. When Fayezs 16-year-old son opened the door, more than a dozen masked gunmen dressed in black and bristling with machine guns burst in, grabbing everyone in their path as they fanned out through the house. I cant describe the screaming, the women and kids shouting. They pushed us into the bedroom as they searched the house. They got our passports, took our mobiles, said Sahar, Fayezs sister. They cornered my nephew and threatened to shoot him when he tried to run away. This isnt the sort of thing were used to in Jordan. The assault on Fayezs house was part of a synchronized government operation, with teams blitzing across different parts of the kingdom in blacked-out SUVs to capture some 18 associates of Prince Hamzah, who officials said were all part of a foreign-backed plot to destabilize Jordans security and stability. One strike force overran the home of Yasser Majali, the former crown prince's head of office, near the city of Karak, about 55 miles south of Amman. As with Fayez, the gunmen handcuffed and manhandled Majali into a car in front of horrified family members. A relative, Samir Majali, was out shopping on the areas main thoroughfare when four vehicles surrounded his car. Someone called me from the market, told me Samir had been taken and his car was in the middle of the street, said Mohammad Majali, Samirs brother. They didnt even let him park. As the names of some those captured seeped out many are still unknown Jordanians were shocked. Most of those arrested hailed from the countrys so-called East Bank tribes, the powerful clans that for decades had been the monarchys sword and shield, its soldiers and statesmen. East Bankers consider themselves the countrys Indigenous inhabitants, rather than the Jordanians of Palestinian origin who came from areas west of the Jordan River. Story continues The arrests, officials say, were the result of a year-long surveillance operation by the army, police and intelligence service. In their telling, they struck just before the zero hour, averting a wave of chaos and discontent that Prince Hamzah hoped to unleash and ride into the palace to replace his half brother, King Abdullah II. But more than a week after the raids, the government has released no details of the purported sedition. A gag order on the media, leaked recordings of Hamzah's fightback against the officials who came to confront him and his near-disappearance from public view have fueled widespread skepticism of the official palace line. The government insists the plot has been contained, with King Abdullah and other royal family members displaying a united front Sunday during Jordans centennial celebration. That included the only appearance so far by Hamzah, who had acquiesced to mediation of the crisis by an uncle to both himself and Abdullah and issued a declaration of loyalty to his half brother. As days pass with no word of their kinsmen and scant information on why they were taken, the tribes now find themselves on a collision course with the monarchy they have always supported. For the government to kidnap them, and we dont know if theyre inside or outside the country we have legal avenues, but if we expend them, of course were going to escalate, said Nasser Majali, one of Yassers brothers. We wont abandon our sons. Matters will go on a trajectory we do not want, and you know what escalation means. The families of the detained have amassed significant legal firepower, enlisting some 85 lawyers in the country as well as consulting with rights organizations abroad. Jordan's King Abdullah II laughs with his half brother Prince Hamzah, right, in 2001. (Yousef Allan / Associated Press) But the arrests have reverberated beyond the tribes, stirring alarm among legal groups and activists who say they form a worrying precedent at odds with Jordans usual image as a kingdom on the path to democracy, headed by a much-loved, benevolent ruler. Normally, if someone is detained you know where they are and theyre allowed to meet with their lawyers. Authorities have always respected this, said Alaa Din Armouti, who heads Jordans National Center for Human Rights. Other countries in the region dont have the high legal standards we do. This is new for us here. Jordan, a boot-shaped puzzle piece of mostly desert land wedged between Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Palestinian territories, has long relied on Western powers largesse to support its more than 10 million people. Washington, which counts King Abdullah as a top regional ally, gave Jordan a $6-billion aid package in 2018 to be disbursed over five years. So far, there has been no lack of diplomatic support for Abdullah amid the shocking royal rupture. But the crisis has nevertheless shaken faith in the countrys institutions, critics say. That faith took another hit Monday, when Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh said the accused would have their cases referred to the public prosecutor as part of a state security trial except for Prince Hamzah, who, according to the king's edict, would be dealt with within the framework of the ruling Hashemite family. That has only added to tribal and popular anger. The Jordanian constitution is clear. Only the king is immune from legal examination no one else, said Mohammad Abdul Majid Majali, a member of the tribe and head of its legal team. If theres a trial, then it should be applied to everyone. The apparent feud between Prince Hamzah and his half brother is emblematic of what the tribes say is the erosion of their role during the current king's reign. Abdullah took power in 1999 and, five years later, named his own son as crown prince, taking away the title that had been bestowed on Hamzah by their father, the beloved King Hussein. The tribes' crucial role in the kingdom began during World War I when the Hashemites, along with Lawrence of Arabia, cajoled the tribes to rebel against their Ottoman overseers. In 1921, the British created Jordan (then called Transjordan) with the Hashemites as its rulers. The tribes' continued loyalty earned them a privileged status within the state, including access to jobs and special assistance. King Hussein continued that tradition, maintaining close ties with the hitherto-nomadic tribes in the kingdom and relying on them as the state's guardians. "In the time of King Hussein, the tribes were respected," said Nasser Majali. "In this current regime, not at all. He oppresses everyone." Nasser Majali complained of exclusion of the tribes from positions of power, unequal distribution in official appointments and the cancellation of many of the perks the tribes had enjoyed in the past. Instead, the government is now staffed with what he and others derisively call "the digital crowd," a reference to the technocratically minded officials whom Abdullah has championed, and who spearheaded economic liberalization policies that have left many Jordanians feeling poorer. Hamzah, with a voice and visage strikingly similar to his father's, had maintained close ties to the tribes, happily conducting regular visits in which he would sip tea with tribal elders and revel in the minutiae of their desert-inspired traditions. That relationship appears to have irked Abdullah, whose foreign upbringing and marriage to a Palestinian wife had done little to endear him to Jordan's East Banker elite. Publicly, the tribes insist that they remain loyal to the Hashemites, and that they would readily accept for their family members to be investigated, tried and imprisoned if proven guilty as long as due process is given. "Our problem is the government's violation of the law, entering into people's homes and treating them like criminals. Then you want to try people with one law and the ruling family with another?" said Hisham Majali, a clan member and one of the organizers of his relatives' legal defense. "And it's strange they would do this around the country's centennial. With this move, they've taken us 100 years back." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Prosecutors said Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber. The officers used furniture to try to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway from the Speakers Lobby to try to stave off the rioters, who kept trying to break through those doors, smashing the glass with flagpoles, helmets and other objects. WOODSIDE, Calif., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. (the "Fund" or "Runway Growth"), a leading provider of growth loans to both venture and non-venture backed companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, provided an operational and portfolio update for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. "Investment activity continued at pace during the first quarter. We completed $53.3 million in loans to and other investments in new and existing portfolio companies during the first quarter. We are seeing strong interest in our life sciences vertical and demand for growth loans in the technology sector is increasing," said Runway Growth CEO, David Spreng. "In a year challenged by economic uncertainty, market volatility, and financial hardship, we are pleased with the level of investment activity during the first quarter and our continuing support of entrepreneurs and sponsors. We continue to diversify and, during the first quarter, we expanded our portfolio with $546.6 million in loan principal outstanding to 22 companies across multiple technology and life sciences sectors in North America and the United Kingdom." Originations Runway Growth funded seven loans during the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, including two investments in new portfolio companies and five follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies, as follows: $25 million senior secured term loan commitment to Allurion Technologies, Inc. ("Allurion"), $15 million of which was funded at close. Founded in 2009, Allurion is a medical device company that has developed and sells an intragastric balloon and 360-degree weight loss platform: the Elipse Program; $20 million senior secured term loan commitment to Bombora, Inc. ("Bombora"), the entirety of which was funded at close. Founded in 2014 and based in New York, NY , Bombora is a marketing technology and data company that aggregates and provides purchase intent data to B2B (business to business) marketers. Bombora has created a data co-operative with 4,300+ publishers to aggregate proprietary audience data; $15 million additional funding to existing portfolio company Vero Biotech LLC; and $3.3 million advance to four existing portfolio companies. Liquidity Events During the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, Runway Growth experienced the following partial liquidity events totaling $15.5 million, including: In March, 3DNA Corp. d/b/a NationBuilder prepaid its outstanding principal balance of $8.1 million including interest and fees; and In March, in conjunction with the Ouster, Inc. ("Ouster") merger into special purpose acquisition company, Colonnade Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: OUST), the Fund exercised its warrant in Ouster and received approximately 1.2 million shares of OUST common stock. During the quarter, Ouster repaid its outstanding principal balance of $7.4 million including interest and fees. Further reflecting on the first quarter, Spreng added: "We are gradually seeing a return to normalcy in our markets. We expect loan demand to continue to grow throughout the year. During 2021, we expect that the Fund's loan commitments originated since beginning operations in December 2016 will continue to increase. We are actively seeking new investment opportunities and are engaging with entrepreneurs and sponsors to deliver new capital to support growth and help them achieve their goals." About Runway Growth Capital LLC and Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc. Runway Growth Capital LLC is the investment advisor to Runway Growth Credit Fund Inc., a provider of growth loans to companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Led by industry veteran David Spreng, the Fund provides senior term loans of $10 million to $50 million to fast-growing companies primarily based in the United States and Canada. The Fund is a closed-end investment fund that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. For more on the Fund and its manager, Runway Growth Capital LLC, please visit our website at www.runwaygrowth.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the impact of COVID-19 and related changes in base interest rates and significant market volatility on our business, our portfolio companies, our industry and the global economy. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Runway Growth's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Runway Growth undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. SOURCE Runway Growth Capital LLC Related Links https://runwaygrowth.com/ As part of President Joe Biden's American Jobs Plan, states will be looking at funding different infrastructure projects and initiatives. While the plan is targeted for passage this summer, Connecticut and other states are already examining areas where they can improve, including public transportation, manufacturing and housing. In anticipation of the passage of the plan, the Biden administration released report cards for every state's current infrastructure. Connecticut earned a C-. Despite the lackluster grade, most states received either a C or C-. Areas evaluated in the report card include roads and bridges, public transportation, resilient infrastructure, drinking water, housing, broadband, caregiving, child care, manufacturing, home energy, clean energy jobs and the health of veterans. Scroll below to see which areas of infrastructure need improvement in Connecticut and how the Biden plan aims to address the issues. Rescue teams are searching for 12 missing people after a sudden 'microburst' storm with up to 112mph winds capsized a boat off the coast of Louisiana Tuesday. Six crew members have already been rescued by Good Samaritans and the Coast Guard after the 129 foot Seacor Power took on water during the bad weather. The U.S. Coast Guard had tweeted Tuesday evening to say it was assisting in the search for survivors. USCG Petty Officer Jonathan Lally later told Fox8 six people had so far been rescued; two by the coast guard and four by Good Samaritans. It is believed 18 people were on board on the boat and rescue teams are continuing to search for the 12 missing. Earlier reports said 'multiple people' were in the water. A 'microburst' storm may have hit the lift boat causing it to sink, coast guard spokesman Lally said. He later added: 'As of now, we are trying to find out how many people are missing but we are still continuing to search.' Lift boats are used to service offshore drilling platforms, playing an important role in the oil and gas industry. Bruce Simon said in a Facebook post Tuesday evening that he was out on the water. He wrote: 'I'm on the boat and we doing 4 knots keeping the bow in the wind. Waves are breaking over the bow. Please pray for the lost.' Rescuers are searching for 12 missing people after sudden 'microburst' storm with up to 112mph winds capsized their boat off the coast of Louisiana Tuesday, pictured USCG Petty Officer Jonathan Lally later told Fox8 six people had so far been rescued, pictured; two by the coast guard and four by Good Samaritans Lift boats are used to service offshore drilling platforms. The Seacor Power was built in 2002 and carries almost 40,500 gallons of fuel oil. It is an offshore construction jack-up A large boat capsized off the coast of Louisiana Tuesday leaving 'multiple people' in the water, according to reports. Bruce Simon said he was out on the water and took these pictures Simon wrote: 'I'm on the boat and we doing 4 knots keeping the bow in the wind. Waves are breaking over the bow. Please pray for the lost' What is a lift boat? Lift boats are used to service offshore drilling platforms. The 129ft Seacor Power was built in 2002 and carries almost 40,500 gallons of fuel oil. It is an offshore construction jack-up. They have been described as the 'trucks' of the offshore fleet, able to carry equipment and supplies. Advertisement Lally added: 'We don't have good clarification of exactly how many people we are still searching for and we don't know the exact cause of the incident but we do know at the time of the report and incident there was inclement weather in the area but the focus is to find the missing people.' 'The Coast Guard and Good Samaritan vessel has actually been able to rescue 6 people so far, we've had pre-commissioned Coast Guard cutter Glen Harris rescue one person, one of our station Grand Isle boats rescued another and four other people were rescued by Good Samaritan vessels.' According to the National Weather Service, microbursts happen when a thunderstorm begins to suspend water droplets and hail in its updraft. Sometimes, if the updraft is strong enough, large amounts of precipitation get caught in the upper portion of the storm. As the draft dissipates and the storm shifts, however, the droplets and hail are released, unleashing a deluge of rain and ice particles onto the ground. In some cases, these types of storms can lead to extreme damage on the areas in which they fall. The Coast Guard had said Tuesday a search plane was flying in to assist the rescue effort. The agency had also warned in a Facebook post that there were 'significant hazards to life and property' following flooding and storms that passed through the area earlier Tuesday, causing damage in New Orleans and surrounding communities. Following news of the storm Tuesday, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy tweeted: 'Praying for everyone around Grand Isle and all the communities in South Louisiana. 'You can report marine distress to the Coast Guard at 504 365 2209. Please stay safe in the storm.' Officials say the boat is a 129ft commercial lift vessel; the incident happened around eight miles south of Grand Isle, pictured Senator John Kennedy tweeted Tuesday: 'Praying for everyone around Grand Isle and all the communities in South Louisiana. Please stay safe in the storm' On top of powerful precipitation, microburst storms can also unleash winds up to 100 mph which is why the National Weather Service says the storm should be taken as seriously as tornado warnings. Microbursts are typically generated by the confluence of several weather conditions including strong winds and dry air mixing and high precipitable water. They also often occur in hot and humid summer months. Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet said: 'We expected some winds and possible rains, but nothing as extensive as what took place on the coastal areas of Jefferson Parish.' On top of powerful precipitation, microburst storms, like the one pictured here Tuesday, can also unleash winds up to 100 mph which is why the National Weather Service says the storm should be taken as seriously as tornado warnings It is understood a 'microburst' storm hit the vessel with winds of up to 112mph Microbursts are typically generated by the confluence of several weather conditions including strong winds and dry air mixing and high precipitable water. Tuesday's water levels pictured Adding to their potential danger, the furious storms are often difficult to predict as they form quickly and can be very fleeting, often lasting between five and 10 minutes. 'Unfortunately, Severe Thunderstorm Warning lead times for microbursts can be very short, or there may be no warning at all,' says the National Weather Service. If you were to gaze skyward in the late Cretaceous, you might catch a glimpse of surreal flying giants with wingspans that rival small planes. This supersized group of pterosaurs, known as azhdarchids, included species that measured 33 feet between wingtips, which made them the largest animals that ever took to the air. The extreme dimensions of azhdarchids raise tantalizing questions, such as how they carried large prey without breaking their long necks, or how animals the size of giraffes effortlessly soared above their dinosaur relatives on the ground. Cariad Williams, a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was hoping to shed some light on these questions with the help of an azhdarchid specimen from the Kem Kem fossil beds of Morocco. She used a CT scan to study fossils from the animals neck. We just couldnt believe the structure that we found inside, Ms. Williams said. The results, published on Wednesday in the journal iScience, stunned Ms. Williams and her colleagues. The animals neck was revealed to be scaffolded by a unique and complex network of helical struts connecting a central neural tube to the vertebra wall like the spokes of a bicycle. It was a structure that has no parallel elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Cyber IC warns that U.S. adversaries are ramping up cyber attacks In its first publicly available worldwide threat assessment report since 2019, the intelligence community is warning that the United States adversaries are increasingly using cyberspace to attack the country and that activities of foreign militaries will be more likely to impact civilian society. States increasing use of cyber operations as a tool of national power, including increasing use by militaries around the world, raises the prospect of more destructive and disruptive cyber activity, according to the new report released on Tuesday. As states attempt more aggressive cyber operations, they are more likely to affect civilian populations and to embolden other states that seek similar outcomes. The reports publication, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, comes one day before the heads of ODNI, FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency are scheduled to testify to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about their findings in both open and closed hearings. The report and associated hearings with lawmakers in recent years have historically been closed as a result of lobbying by the intelligence community. The ICs assessment notes the hacking campaign against SolarWinds Orion and describes it as a demonstration that Russia has the capability and intent to target and potentially disrupt public and private organizations in the United States. The assessment also says China poses a prolific and effective cyber-espionage threat and possesses substantial cyber-attack capabilities. Chinas cyber pursuits and proliferation of related technologies increase the threats of cyber attacks against the US homeland, suppression of US web content that Beijing views as threatening to its internal ideological control, and the expansion of technology-driven authoritarianism around the world, according to the IC. Iran is increasingly conducting influence operations in cyberspace and will likely continue to do so by spreading disinformation online about U.S. elections, according to the report. The ICs assessment notes North Korea has committed crimes against financial institutions and cryptocurrency fraud, likely to fund government programs such as its nuclear and missile programs. North Korea probably possesses the expertise to cause temporary, limited disruptions of some critical infrastructure networks and disrupt business in the U.S., according to the report. This article first appeared on FCW, a Defense Systems partner site. Ukraine is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijani experts in solving the problems of internally displaced persons, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksii Reznikov has said. This was reported by the press service of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan. During Reznikovs meeting with the chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Rovsen Rzayev, the parties noted the urgency of the problem of IDPs both for Ukraine and Azerbaijan. The parties emphasized that the exchange of practical experience in the issue of reintegration of the liberated territories will be the key to effective development of a consistent action plan for the implementation of a wide range of tasks in this area. Reznikov noted that Ukraine was ready for active interaction of Ukrainian and Azerbaijani experts in order to promptly resolve the problems of internally displaced persons. As Ukrinform reported, during an online speech at a meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 13, Reznikov called on the European Union to strengthen sanctions against Russia in order to act proactively to avoid escalation in eastern Ukraine by the Russian Federation. ish Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:25:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri intends to ask Russia for support in solving the country's political and economic crisis during his visit to Moscow, Hariri's advisor on Russian affairs told Xinhua on Wednesday. "We believe that Russia can help in solving the political deadlock in Lebanon since Moscow has good ties with all political parties in Lebanon, and with the regional countries that have an influence on the situation in our country," George Chaaban said in a phone interview from Moscow. Hariri will also ask for economic help, as "Lebanon is in need for support in economy and trade in addition to social and humanitarian help," Chaaban added. The advisor noted Russia is in favor of a government of specialists headed by Hariri without giving a veto power to any party. Hariri is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday to discuss with Russian officials Lebanon's situation and the potential of receiving support from Russia. It is the third time that Hariri has been designated as the Lebanese prime minister. He resigned in 2019 after nationwide protests that blame the ruling class for causing the country's collapse. Hariri was appointed prime minister for the third time in October 2020, but has been unable to form a cabinet since then in the light of his differences with President Michel Aoun on the form and nature of his cabinet. Enditem The Spanish state weather agency, Aemet, has forecast rain across much of Malaga province until at least this Saturday, although it has not issued any weather warnings for the moment. According to weather expert Jose Luis Escudero, writing on his SUR Thunder and Lightning blog, the cause is a waterbody that has been constricted, forming a pocket of cold air in the Gulf of Cadiz. Aemet has placed the probability of rain for this Wednesday (14 April) and Thursday at 100 per cent across almost the entire province. It will reduce on Friday, especially in the afternoon when it is possible that the rain will ease off considerably, before lifting on Saturday. Cloudy skies are forecast from Sunday, but no showers are expected in Malaga. Click here to read the full article. WASHINGTON The Forever War might at last be coming to an end. On Wednesday, the news leaked out that President Biden planned to announce that American troops would fully withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. To hear the Biden administration tell it, this will not be a partial exit from the Afghan theater. This is not conditions-based, an anonymous administration source told the Washington Post. In other words, there wont be any criteria that, if not met by September, could give Biden the ability to renege on his withdrawal plans. So: Is this good news? Is the longest war in American history, one that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of U.S. service members and tens of thousands more Afghan soldiers and civilians not to mention the spending of trillions of taxpayer dollars, finally coming to an end? The early reviews even from Bidens critics are cautiously optimistic. Its tremendously encouraging, says Stephen Wertheim, director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a think tank that opposes forever wars and militarization of U.S. foreign policy. If what weve heard reported is indeed the administrations position, then the administration has broken with the logic of endless war. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) praised Bidens forthcoming announcement, calling it the the brave and right decision. Still, the forthcoming announcement raises as many questions as it answers about the Biden administrations foreign policy, the peace deal negotiated by former President Trump and the Taliban, and the future of Afghanistan. Here are four of the most pressing questions. What might happen between now and Bidens withdrawal date? Under the deal negotiated by the Trump administration, U.S. forces had a deadline of May 1st to get out of Afghanistan. President Biden has now pushed back that deadline by four months. The Trump-era deal, reached in 2020, was the product of lengthy negotiations between U.S. and Taliban officials stemming from Trumps promise to end Americas longest-running conflict. At the same time, the Taliban and the Afghan government continue to hash out a power-sharing agreement of their own thats intended to allow the two sides to coexist in a future government. Benjamin Friedman, policy director of the anti-interventionist group Defense Priorities, says the delayed withdrawal could provoke the Taliban, which negotiated the original deadline. If the Taliban takes a more aggressive posture and says the U.S. military is noncompliant, the Taliban could launch attacks on American troops still in the country. Taliban officials could also back out of their ongoing and fitful peace negotiations with the hobbled Afghan government. Stephen Wertheim of the Quincy Institute says: Theres a very real possibility of escalation of violence in Afghanistan as we move into the summer, and it will require a great deal of resolve on the administrations part, especially if U.S. troops are targeted, to stick with the withdrawal. The extra four months between Trumps withdrawal date and Bidens could also give domestic war hawks more time to undermine the end of the Afghan war. Will Ruger, a Afghan war veteran and vice president and foreign-policy expert at the Charles Koch Institute, which has long opposed forever wars, says the resistance to non-interventionist foreign policy by certain members of the Trump administration should be a warning to Biden administration officials. Will this time be used by spoilers both foreign and domestic to make the policy of withdrawal more difficult for the Biden administration? he says. And will people inside the administration or the bureaucracy make implementation more difficult? Chris Hondros/Getty Images Chris Hondros/Getty Images Does the Afghan withdrawal signal a bigger shift in American military policy? The U.S. has used military force more frequently in the decades since the end of the Cold War than it did during the Cold War itself. American foreign policy has existed in a state of autopilot, holding fast to the belief that, despite decades of evidence to the contrary, it could use military force to build nations, spread democracy, and defeat terrorism. What weve done without a larger enemy is create a whole world of smaller enemies for ourselves, Stephen Wertheim of the Quincy Institute says, including by pursuing grandiose and unachievable objectives in a number of military campaigns especially after 9/11. The invasion of Afghanistan was the opening salvo of the endless conflict formerly known as the Global War of Terrorism. And a complete withdrawal could be taken as an admission that endless war, military bases scattered across the planet, and an intervention-first mentality have failed. Will the close of the longest American war prompt a true rethinking of this countrys place in the world? Could it be the beginning of the end of this era of nation-building abroad? Should American military power be one of the first tools out of the toolkit? Does the U.S. really need to be as enmeshed in the Greater Middle East as it has been for the last 20 years? The Afghan withdrawal could and should, some would argue lead to a reckoning over these questions, and a consideration over what a new, more modest and realistic U.S. foreign policy should look like. Its a welcome sign and certainly there would be people who argue, Why stop here? says Ruger. Is a new, right-meets-left, anti-war coalition rising in Washington? President Biden arrived in office with a plan already in place to get out of Afghanistan. From the earliest days of his 2016 campaign to the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump spoke out against Americas endless wars and vowed to end them on his watch. His eagerness to shovel billions of dollars more into the Pentagon budget cut against his anti-war pledges, but nonetheless Trump left his successor with a roadmap for leaving Afghanistan. One question that hovers over the withdrawal is: Will the Biden administration, and Democrats broadly, take up the anti-war mantle? Poll after poll showed that part of Donald Trumps appeal to Republican voters was his pledge to end Americas wars. And now, Will Ruger points to polling by the Charles Koch Institute that still finds large majorities on the left and right who support ending forever wars, just as the anti-war cause has created some odd bedfellows in recent years, with Sen. Bernie Sanders and, yes, Charles Koch singing from the same hymnal about stopping Americas interventionist foreign policy. America continuing to fight wars in the Middle East is not something that is supported widely in the American public outside of a very small coalition, Ruger says. The Beltway foreign-policy establishment is much more supportive of these things than the American public. Its smart politics on the left and right to be in favor of [ending wars and non-intervention]. If the Democrats as a party do move in an anti-war and less interventionist direction, how will Republicans react? The party of George W. Bush and the neoconservatives is now divided between a newer generation thats critical of Americas invade-first-ask-questions-later approach and the last of the neoconservatives, people like Rep. Liz Cheney, the daughter of Bushs vice president, Dick Cheney, who was an architect of the Global War on Terrorism. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for instance has lauded the possible withdrawal from Afghanistan, while Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has slammed it. To be clear, Biden has sent mixed signals about his larger foreign-policy philosophy. Military strikes in Syria and proposed increases to the Pentagon budget suggest he still clings to a belief in a military-first approach. But if he tried to court supporters of Trumps who were drawn to the former presidents criticism of the Iraq and Afghan wars, such a move could isolate both the neocons in the GOP and the liberal interventionists in the Democratic Party (who used to count Biden as a member). It would begin to create a bipartisan coalition, Ruger says, of the likes not seen in this country in a generation. What happens to Afghanistan in the long term? The outlook is bleak. The Taliban control huge swaths of the country; by some measures more territory is under Taliban rule now than at any point since 2001. The Afghan government, on the other hand, is weak, riddled with corruption, and capable of exerting little control outside of Kabul, the capital. The U.S. has poured more than $2 trillion into Afghanistan in the past 20 years to fund the war, keep the Afghan government from disintegrating, fighting the drug trade, and supporting aid efforts. So what happens when the Americans leave? Ben Friedman of Defense Priorities says its quite likely the U.S. will continue to funnel money into Afghanistan via aid efforts and other ways of bolstering the government. But he adds that he sees little evidence that continued funding, just like an ongoing military presence, will ever lead to a self-sustaining and functional government in Afghanistan. Nor will endless American taxpayer dollars somehow keep the Taliban at bay going forward, given how little effect all of that money has had on the Talibans resurgence in recent years. I dont think that staying another six months or two yrs or 10 years will change the balance of power between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban, which is that Afghanistan forces are dangerously weakened by corruption and failure for years to provide basic security, he says. I dont think theres much the U.S. can do about that. For all the talk about preserving womens rights and human rights in Afghanistan, I think sooner or later you have to accept that the Afghanistan government has to sink or swim on its own. Stephen Wertheim of the Quincy Institute says hes similarly at a loss about what the future holds for Afghanistan once U.S. troops leave for good. Its a known unknown, to quote someone Im not fond of, he says. I expect the Biden administration will be engaged diplomatically to act as good of a broker as we can. He continues, But I hope what weve learned over two decades is that the presence of U.S. troops in a conflict very often makes a sustainable peace harder to achieve, not easier. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 20:56:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- In a grim landmark, Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 96 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily spike, bringing the death toll to 9,987. The country's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) also reported 5,185 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising its total tally to 703,170. The official data showed that 24,825 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh. The total number of recovered patients rose to 591,299 including 5,333 new recoveries reported on Wednesday, said the DGHS. According to the data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is currently 1.42 percent and the recovery rate is 84.09 percent. Bangladesh recorded the highest number of daily cases of 7,626 on April 7. Enditem KYODO NEWS - Apr 14, 2021 - 23:05 | All, Japan A mascot launched by the Japanese government to coincide with its decision to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean has become the target of criticism by local residents, with many saying it is out of sync with the harsh reality of the situation. The Reconstruction Agency on Tuesday released a flyer and video on its website featuring the radioactive substance tritium as a cute character to dispel concerns about the government's decision, but they were removed Wednesday night following the criticism. "Nuclear power plants are highly specialized and difficult to understand. We want many people to take an interest in them," said an agency official, adding the mascot would be redesigned in line with the views of the public. According to the official, advertising giant Dentsu Inc., which was contracted by the agency for the campaign, commissioned an illustrator to create the mascot. The Japanese government decided Tuesday to release treated radioactive water from Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s crippled Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean from 2023. The water is being treated using an advanced liquid processing system, or ALPS, which removes most radioactive materials including strontium and cesium but leaves behind tritium, an isotope of hydrogen said to pose little health risk in low concentrations. In the flyers and video, the character explains that ocean release of water containing tritium is standard practice at nuclear power plants around the world. "It seems the government's desire to release the water into the sea takes priority over everything. We fishermen can't understand it," said Katsuo Watanabe, an 82-year-old fisherman from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. Riken Komatsu, 41, a writer involved in reconstruction activities in Iwaki, tweeted, "If (the government) thinks it can get the general public to understand just by creating a cute character, it is making a mockery of risk communication." Komatsu told Kyodo News that local fishermen are doing all they can to fight against the release of the water containing tritium into the sea, with many Fukushima residents trying their best to suppress their anger. "The gap between the gravity of the problems we face and the levity of the character is huge," he said. Related coverage: Q&A: Release of Fukushima nuclear plant treated water into sea FOCUS: Fukushima plant water release to prolong seafood safety woes Japan decides to release water from Fukushima nuclear plant into sea On Monday evening, a suburban Minneapolis city appears to have refashioned its leadership after a local police officer shot and killed a Black man during a traffic stop the day before. Brooklyn Center, Minn., which erupted in protest Sunday as word of 20-year-old Daunte Wright's death spread, now has a new city manager and - at least temporarily - a new de facto leader of the police department after a City Council vote that granted the mayor "command authority" over the agency. The change probably gives Mayor Mike Elliott the power to fire the police chief and police officers, one legal expert told The Washington Post. "At such a tough time, this will streamline things and establish a chain of command and leadership," Elliott wrote after the motion passed by a 3 to 2 vote. Elliott, who serves on the council, and two other members voted in the affirmative. An hour later, Elliott announced that Brooklyn Center had fired its city manager, Curt Boganey and replaced him with the city's deputy manager, Reggie Edwards. "I will continue to work my hardest to ensure good leadership at all levels of our city government," Elliott said in a tweet about the change. Boganey had worked as Brooklyn Center's City Manager since 2003, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to his hiring, he worked as the Port Arthur City Manager from 1990-1995. According to Beaumont Enterprise archives, Boganey was fired from Port Arthur as the result of "poor job performance." However, even then, Boganey's employment was wrapped up in conversations about race. At the time, the Boganey decision ignited protest from several Black residents. When the council voted in 1995 to fire Boganey, a crowd of about 75 Black residents gave him a 5-minute standing ovation and sang the anthem "We Shall Overcome," Enterprise archives say. At the following council meeting, more than 175 Black residents crowded the chamber. One speaker compared those who fired Boganey to apartheid leaders in South Africa, while another accused council of having "a lily-white attitude that wants to run over the black citizens of Port Arthur," according to newspaper archives. But in Brooklyn Center on Monday morning, Elliott and Boganey had publicly split over the discipline of the officer involved, who was identified as Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police Department. Authorities said Potter fired her gun at Wright when she meant to use a stun gun. "All employees working for the city of Brooklyn Center are entitled to due process with respect to discipline," Boganey told reporters. "This employee will receive due process, and that's really all I can say today." Elliott said the officer should be dismissed. "Let me be very clear: My position is that we cannot afford to make mistakes that lead to the loss of life of other people in our profession," he said at a news conference. "So I do fully support releasing the officer of her duties." In Brooklyn Center, the city manager - who has administrative power over municipal employees - is hired and fired by the City Council. Monday's council meeting was not streamed or broadcast as usual, so the results of the council's vote on Boganey's dismissal were not immediately clear. Elliott, Edwards and city attorney Troy Gilchrist did not respond to requests for comment. About 30,000 people live in Brooklyn Center, 10 miles north of the courtroom where former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial in the May 25 death of George Floyd. In the 24 hours after Wright's death, pressure on local leaders mounted quickly as residents - still mourning Floyd - grieved anew and demanded change. Police Chief Tim Gannon played an unedited clip of the fatal encounter for media and community members gathered at Brooklyn Center City Hall on Monday. One attendee asked: "Why is it that police officers in the United States keep killing young Black men and young Black women at a far, far, far higher rate than they do White people?" "I don't have an answer to that question," replied Gannon, who said he wanted to hear from the officer before she is disciplined. Brooklyn Center is what's known as a charter city, giving it "incredibly broad authority to act," said David Schultz, a Minnesota legal scholar and expert on state and local law. Monday's unusual moves put the city in uncharted territory, he said. "We're looking at something incredibly unique, what's going on here." The city's charter - its governing document - includes a provision allowing the council to hand power of the police to the mayor in times of crisis. It reads: "In time of public danger or emergency the Mayor may, with the consent of the Council, take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law." "The ordinance's purpose is to replace the chain of command so that the mayor, rather than the police chief, becomes the [authority] for directing the police department," Schultz said. Schultz said that he's not aware of any state statutes that would prevent the council from delegating this authority and that it appears to be a constitutional provision. This would, he added, allow Elliott to fire police officers, depending on potential stipulations against such action in the city's collective bargaining agreement with the department or in state labor law. Even then, the mayor could fire an officer, Schultz said, but the officer may be able to successfully sue and force the city into a settlement payment. There is also a notable omission in the charter clause, he said: It does not specify the duration of Elliott's new authority, potentially leaving it "to the discretion of the mayor." "We don't have a black letter or a four square answer to this one," Schultz said. Beaumont Enterprise archives were used in this report. (Newser) President Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to "de-escalate tensions" following a Russian military buildup on Ukraine's border in their second tense call of Biden's presidency. Biden also told Putin the US would "act firmly in defense of its national interests| regarding Russian cyber intrusions and election interference, according to the White House. Biden proposed a summit in a third country "in the coming months to discuss the full range of US-Russia issues, the White House said. There is growing concern in the West about a surge of cease-fire violations in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces have been locked in a conflict since Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. story continues below Biden's call with Putin came as the top US diplomat and the leader of NATO condemned the recent massing of thousands of Russian troops, the AP reports. Biden "emphasized the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity," the White House said in a statement. Ukraine has said Russia has 41,000 troops at its border with eastern Ukraine and 42,000 more in Crimea. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday the military buildup of the past three weeks was part of readiness drills in response to what he described as threats from NATO. The White House provided no details on the timing or location of Biden's proposed summit. (Read more Ukraine stories.) South Africa has faced blow after blow to its pandemic-control efforts: A worrisome variant swept across the country, driving a devastating second wave of coronavirus cases. Then officials had to scramble for an alternative when the vaccine it had bet on, from AstraZeneca, proved ineffective against the variant, which can partially dodge the bodys immune system response. Now the alternative Johnson & Johnsons single-dose vaccine, the only one now in use in South Africa has run into trouble as well, over concerns of rare blood clots that emerged in a handful of people in the United States who had received the shot. It is unclear whether the vaccine is responsible. South Africas health minister, Dr. Zwelini Mkhize, announced on Tuesday that the country would temporarily halt its vaccine program for medical workers, which has inoculated around 290,000 people so far. Dr. Mkhize said he expected the program a clinical trial to resume in a few days, after the authorities have had a chance to look into the blood clot cases in the United States. Science must be respected at all times, although this may mean a disruption in our plans, Dr. Mkhize said on Tuesday. New Delhi: As the second wave of Covid-19 hit India and public movement is being restricted across states, airline companies are once again demanding financial assistance package from the central government. In an important meeting of airline companies with the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Monday, most flight operators demanded financial assistance package from the government to deal with the second Covid wave." Senior executives of all the airlines met with MoCA secretary yesterday and presented the precarious situation of the aviation sector and asked for financial assistance to come out with the situation, as the second wave of covid reported," an airline`s official told ANILast year, airline companies sought financial help from the government, but the government had refused. The Covid-19 pandemic is having an enormous impact on the Indian aviation industry, affecting passenger load factor, cargo demand, airport workforce, and revenues.In the meeting, airlines also expressed their concern about the fare cap which was imposed by the regulator. "Strict enforcement by the DGCA of the lower fare limit fixed by the government was also discussed as there are many instances of tickets being sold at much cheaper fares," a source said. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on airline companies due to travel restrictions and a decrease in demand among travelers. "Reducing capacity from 80 per cent to 60 per cent as bookings have fallen by as much as 50 per cent. No airline was in favour of increasing capacity from 80 per cent to 100 per cent in the pandemic," a private airline company said. One low-cost airline has asked the govt to acknowledge the old demand for reduction in Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) and excise tax at least during the pandemic.The government has not yet reached any concrete decision on the said demands. Live TV #mute Sanctions, sabotage not to help U.S. as negotiating tools: Iranian FM Xinhua) 16:07, April 14, 2021 TEHRAN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. officials should understand that neither sanctions nor acts of sabotage on Iran's nuclear facility will work in their favor at the ongoing nuclear talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday. "We have no problem with returning to nuclear deal commitments ... but the Americans should know that neither sanctions nor sabotage will give them the means to negotiate, and that these actions will only make the situation more difficult for them," Zarif said at a joint press conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. A blackout struck the Natanz enrichment facility in central Iran on Sunday morning. Israeli media widely reported that Israel's Mossad intelligence agency was behind a cyberattack that caused the incident. The White House said on Monday that the United States was not involved in the attack. Zarif noted despite the sabotage, Iran will run even more advanced centrifuges for enrichment at the Natanz facility. He was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency that when former U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office, Iran used only the IR-1 centrifuge, while today the IR-6 chains are working. Sunday's development has complicated efforts to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Nuclear talks were held in Vienna this month, with the lifting of sanctions on Iran and nuclear implementation measures on top of the agenda. Iran has gradually stopped implementing its commitments since May 2019, one year after the Trump administration unilaterally abandoned the agreement and re-imposed sanctions on Iran. If the United States wants to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, it must remove all the sanctions against Iran, Zarif said. It is also necessary for the United States to return to its commitments, he added. The Iranian foreign minister also lauded Russia's stance against the recent sabotage against the Natanz nuclear site, stressing the need for continued cooperation between the two countries. For his part, Lavrov said Russia's position is clear and all sanctions against Iran should be lifted unconditionally. "I hope that by lifting sanctions on Iran, more cooperation environment will be created," Lavrov was quoted by IRNA as saying. The only way to revive the JCPOA is Washington's full implementation of its commitments and acting in accordance with the UN Security Council and UN resolutions, he said, warning if Washington fails to do so, it might be a dangerous act with dire consequences. "We are trying to help the Americans and the Iranians return to their commitments," Lavrov said. Also on Tuesday, Iran and Russia signed an agreement for the establishment of cultural centers between the two countries, IRNA reported. Lavrov, who arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday, discussed regional and international, and economic cooperation with Zarif. The Russian foreign minister also met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) By Nick Pfosi and Gabriella Borter MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) -The white suburban police officer who fatally shot a young Black motorist during a traffic stop in Minnesota, igniting several nights of civil unrest, was charged with manslaughter on Wednesday, a day after the officer turned in her badge. Daunte Wright, 20, was pulled over Sunday in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center for what police said was an expired vehicle registration, then struggled with police and was shot dead by officer Kimberly Potter, 48, who had threatened to stun him with a Taser but fired her handgun instead. The shooting escalated tensions in a region already on edge over the ongoing trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the use of deadly force last May against George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who was suspected of passing a bogus $20 bill. Potter, a 26-year department veteran, was taken into custody by agents of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at its office in nearby St. Paul, authorities said. She was jailed on a charge of second-degree manslaughter but released hours later after posting $100,000 bond, according to jail records. Her first court appearance was set for Thursday at 1:30 p.m. (1830 GMT). 4TH NIGHT OF CLASHES Hundreds of protesters massed outside Brooklyn Center police headquarters for a fourth night on Wednesday, attending a rally that was mostly peaceful as darkness fell, with organizers urging the crowd to remain orderly. Groups of demonstrators, however, persisted in taunting sheriff's deputies lined up behind a chain-link fence in front of the building, throwing objects over the barrier. The officers in turn periodically approached the fence to douse those on the other side with pepper spray. Similar activity on Tuesday night ended with deputies abruptly advancing on protesters with volleys of tear-gas, non-lethal rounds and flash-bang devices to disperse the crowd, two hours before a 10 p.m. curfew went into effect. Story continues Responding to criticism that officers used heavy-handed tactics unnecessarily, Mayor Mike Elliott said on Wednesday that the county sheriff's office, rather than city police, was handling crowd control. "Gassing, in my opinion, is not a humane way of policing," Elliott told reporters. He also urged demonstrators to remain peaceful, saying: "The eyes of the world are on Brooklyn Center." As a curfew took effect on Wednesday night, law enforcement backed by National Guard troops moved again to break up the crowds with pepper spray and flash-bangs, though no tear gas appeared to have been immediately used. About two dozen people were arrested on Wednesday night on charges including curfew violations. The police said the protests remained smaller and more peaceful than Tuesday night, when 72 people were arrested. Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer told a late media briefing that after the curfew was imposed the group protesting "largely scattered and it was almost uneventful." GUN VS. TASER To convict Potter of second-degree manslaughter under Minnesota law, prosecutors must show that she was "culpably negligent" and took an "unreasonable risk" in her actions against Wright. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. In a police video of the shooting, Potter shouts: "Taser, Taser, Taser!" as she draws her weapon and opens fire on Wright in his car after he had just pulled away from a fellow officer, then she is heard to say: "Holy shit, I just shot him." City Police Chief Jim Gannon, who also resigned on Tuesday, has said the shooting appeared to have been accidental. The Washington County Attorney's Office, which brought the case, said Potter was acting as her partner's field training officer at the time of the shooting. "Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police officer," Imran Ali, head of the county attorney's major crimes unit, said in a statement. Prosecutors will seek to prove that Potter "abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her Taser," he said. "Her action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright, and she must be held accountable." Potter's handgun and Taser were holstered on opposite sides of her belt in such a way that she would have had to use her left hand to draw the electric-stun device, the county attorney's office said. Instead, she pulled her Glock 9mm pistol with her right hand. The prosecutors also said Potter's partner officer, Anthony Luckey, had determined after stopping Wright that he had an outstanding warrant for a "gross misdemeanor weapons charge." 'THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT' Wright died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, the coroner concluded in an autopsy that ruled the case a homicide. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, representing Wright's family, said the case brought against Potter fell short of fulfilling a greater need for police reform in the United States. "This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force," Crump said in a statement. "Driving while Black continues to result in a death sentence." Potter is at least the third U.S. law enforcement officer to face charges after claiming they mistakenly killed someone with a gun when they meant to use a Taser. Wright was shot just miles from the Minneapolis courthouse where the trial of Derek Chauvin, the ex-policeman charged with murdering Floyd, is taking place. Floyd, who died in handcuffs with his neck pinned to the street under Chauvin's knee, became the face of a national movement against racial injustice and police brutality as protests against his killing swept the United States last year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. (Reporting by Nick Pfosi in Minneapolis, Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, Peter Szekely in New York, Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey, and Tim Reid and Gabriella Borter in Washington; Additional reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Writing by Gabriella Borter and Steve Gorman; Editing by Howard Goller, Peter Cooney, Michael Perry and Simon Cameron-Moore) You are the owner of this article. Prince Harry with his grandfather, Prince Philip, in 2015. Phil Walter/Getty Images Prince Philip died on Friday at the age of 99. In the wake of his death, royal family members have paid tribute to Philip. Royals from other countries have also publicly honored the late Duke of Edinburgh. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Prince Charles was the first member of the royal family to speak about Prince Philip's death. Prince Philip and Prince Charles in 2016. Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Charles released a statement about his father's death "on behalf of the royal family" on April 10, speaking of Philip's service to the Commonwealth. "I particularly wanted to say that my father, for I suppose the last 70 years, has given the most remarkable, devoted service to The Queen, to my family and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth," Charles said. "As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously," he went on to say. "He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow." "My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that," Prince Charles continued. "It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you," he said. You can watch a video of Prince Charles' statement here. Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a never-before-seen photo of Philip with Prince George following his death. Prince Philip and Prince George in 2015. The Duchess of Cambridge The 2015 picture featured a then 2-year-old Prince George and Prince Philip on a carriage together in Norfolk. Middleton took the picture of Philip with his great-grandson. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge captioned the photo, which they shared on April 12, with a message from Prince William. Story continues "My grandfather's century of life was defined by service to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family," William wrote. "I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life both through good times and the hardest days," he continued. "I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her." William went on to write about his children's relationship with Philip. "I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour," he added. "My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead," William wrote. "I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job." The couple also honored Philip on their website with a black-and-white photo of him. Prince Harry spoke of his grandfather's "cheeky" side. Prince Harry with his grandfather, Prince Philip, in 2015. Phil Walter/Getty Images Prince Harry released a statement about his grandfather's death, which Insider was able to review. The statement spoke to Prince Philip's playful personality and his life of service. "My grandfather was a man of service, honor and great humor," Harry said. "He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm and also because you never knew what he might say next." "He will be remembered as the longest-reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end," he continued. "He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'" "So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself," Harry added. "You will be sorely missed, but always rememberedby the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts." Harry ended the statement with "'Per Mare, Per Terram,'" which is the Royal Navy's motto. He and his grandfather shared a devotion to service. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also paid tribute to Philip on their Archewell website, writing: "You will be greatly missed." The royal family Instagram account has shared photos of Philip's life with the Queen in the wake of his death. Newly coronated Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip wave from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. AP/Leslie Priest The official royal family Instagram account has shared multiple photos of Prince Philip since his death. Some of the pictures highlight his life of service, while others spotlight his relationship with the Queen. One photo, taken by celebrated American photographer Annie Liebovitz, was captioned with a quote from the Queen about her husband from 1997. "He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know," she said. Princess Eugenie shared two photos of her grandfather on Instagram. Princess Eugenie and Prince Philip. Max Mumby / Indigo / Contributor / Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images Princess Eugenie, who named her son after Prince Philip in February, shared two photos of her grandfather on Instagram, along with a letter to him. "People remember sitting next to you at a dinner, or shaking your hand once, who remember you saying hello in passing, or remember how much their DofE award meant to them," she wrote. "I remember learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read," she continued. "I remember laughing at your jokes and asking about your spectacular life and service in the navy. I remember incinerating the sausages and you swooping in to save the day." "I remember your hands and your laugh and your favourite beer," she said. "I will remember you in your children, your grandchildren, and great-grandchildren." Eugenie finished her tribute with a comment on her grandfather's love for the Queen. "Thank you for your dedication and love for us all and especially Granny, who we will look after for you," she wrote. Princess Anne said she wants to "emulate" her father's life of service after he died. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne, Princess Royal watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Parade on June 16, 2007 in London, England. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Princess Anne, the Queen and Philip's only daughter, released a statement about her father's death on Sunday. "You know it's going to happen but you are never fully ready," she wrote. "My father has been my teacher, my supporter, and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well-lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate." "His ability to treat every person as an individual in their own right with their own skills comes through all the organisations with which he was involved," Princess Anne went on to say. "I regard it as an honour and a privilege to have been asked to follow in his footsteps and it has been a pleasure to have kept him in touch with their activities. I know how much he meant to them." "I would like to emphasize how much the family appreciate the messages and memories of so many people whose lives he also touched," Princess Anne wrote. "We will miss him but he leaves a legacy which can inspire us all." Prince Andrew spoke to reporters about his father's death after a church service on Sunday. Prince Andrew at the Royal Ascot on June 20, 2019. Toby Melville/Reuters Speaking to reporters about the Queen, Prince Andrew said that his father's death had "left a huge void in her life." "But we the family the ones that are closer are rallying round to make sure we're there," he said. Prince Andrew also shared advice his father gave to him during the pandemic with the press. "My father said to me on the telephone a few months ago that we're all in the same boat, and we must all remember that," Prince Andrew said. "But occasionally we, the family, are asked to stand up and show compassion and leadership." "And unfortunately, with my father's death, it has brought it home to me not just our loss but actually the loss that everybody else has felt for so many people who've lost loved ones during the pandemic," he added. Prince Edward discussed his father's death at the same service. Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor - a granddaughter of the Queen - on Sunday. STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Prince Edward spoke of the global impact of Prince Philip's death. "It just goes to show: he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people," he said. "He means so much to so many people here, and it's the same for those who lived and worked at Balmoral and Sandringham. For all those past and present," Prince Edward added. Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, spoke about her father-in-law's final moments. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Philip. Steve Parsons/AFP/Getty Images, Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Edward's wife said that her late father-in-law's final moments were "so gentle" and "very peaceful." "It was right for him. It was so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went," Sophie said in a video obtained by Sky News. "Very, very peaceful," she added. "And that's all you want for somebody isn't it?" She also said that she thinks members of the royal staff likely have positive memories of Prince Philip. "They all have got stories to tell, and most of them are quite funny," she said. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia wrote the Queen a letter after Philip's death. Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia with the Queen and Prince Philip in July 2017. Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images The Spanish king and Prince Philip are distantly related, so they addressed the letter to the Queen to "Aunt Lilibet," which is a familial nickname for Queen Elizabeth, according to Hola magazine. "We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our dear Uncle Philip," the letter said, according to Hola. "We will never forget the occasions we were able to share with him and the legacy of service and dedication to the Crown and the United Kingdom that he always carried out at your side. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Your Majesty and the whole family," the note went on to say. Queen Rania of Jordan spoke of Prince Philip's support for the Queen in an ITV special. Queen Rania of Jordan and Prince Philip. REUTERS/Russell Boyce Queen Rania, who has been married to King Abdullah of Jordan since 1993, was featured on ITV's "A Royal Salute." She praised Philip's life of public service in the special. "I'm sure there were times when it couldn't have been easy for him," she said. "Of course, he's human at the end of the day and he has his passions and his interests but he managed to find a way to pursue those things and at the same time just be there, a constant anchor for her majesty." "I think she probably wouldn't have been able to carry on her journey the way she did without him by her side," the Queen added, speaking of Queen Elizabeth. The Dutch royal family said Prince Philip left an "unforgettable impression." King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. Reuters King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and Princess Beatrix released a statement about Prince Philip's passing on April 9. "It is with great respect that we remember His Royal Highness Prince Philip," the statement read. "Throughout his long life, he committed himself with dedication to the British people and to his many duties and responsibilities. His lively personality never ceased to leave an unforgettable impression." "Our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy goes out to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and all the members of the Royal Family," the family said. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium said they were "deeply saddened" by Prince Philip's death. Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, and King Philippe. WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images The Belgian monarchs released a statement about the prince's passing on April 9. "Deeply saddened by the passing away of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," they wrote. "We wish to express our deepest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen, the British Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom." King Harald of Norway, the Queen's second cousin, also sent condolences to the British royal family. King Harald of Norway. John Thys/ Belga/ AFP/ Getty. The King released a statement through the royal family's website. "Our thoughts are with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of her family," the statement read. "We also send our condolences to the British people." Read the original article on Insider President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed decree No.160/2021 On Priority Areas of Activities of the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which approved the strategy of this body, Ukrinform reports with reference to the presidents press service. The strategy identifies priority areas of work of the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in Crimea in connection with the temporary occupation by the Russian Federation of integral parts of the territory of Ukraine - the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. According to the Strategy, the Presidents Representative Office in Crimea will participate in the development of proposals for forming and implementing state policy on de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, protecting and supporting citizens living on the peninsula, internally displaced persons and persons deprived of personal rights to freedom in connection with the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. The Representative Office will also work on the development of effective cooperation with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, public associations and initiative groups representing the interests of Ukrainian citizens living in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and internally displaced persons. The strategy envisages the participation of the Representative Office in the implementation of measures to consolidate international efforts to facilitate the process of de-occupation of Crimea, increasing pressure on the Russian Federation to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine. iy Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:35:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and the UN children's fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday launched a cash transfer and nutrition program to reduce child poverty in arid regions. Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary in the ministry of health said that the program targets vulnerable families including children under two years, pregnant and breastfeeding women. "We are aiming to improve the wellbeing of children, from conception up until their second birthday - a period which is crucial for human development," Kagwe said during a virtual launch in Nairobi. He said that children with malnutrition are often from families that face a range of economic and health problems, noting that integrated response is important to securing positive behavior change in the long and the short term. Maniza Zaman, UNICEF Representative to Kenya said the cash transfer programs, with the added components of family and community empowerment on improvement of nutrition, health and well-being of children, are known to be impactful. Zaman said that UNICEF is excited to lend technical expertise to the program and look forward to results at the individual child and community level. "Every child in Kenya has the right to grow up healthy and free from violence and poverty," she said. The program aims to reach 23,500 families across arid counties of Kitui, Kilifi, Marsabit, Turkana and West Pokot in five years to improve nutrition, protect children and reduce poverty. It will provide cash top-ups, which are known to effectively alleviate poverty by allowing parents to decide what their children need most, such as food, medicine, or clothes. The program will also include intensive counseling on nutrition and health through an existing network of community health volunteers. Enditem Michigan Police Shocked by Convicted Murderers Release DETROITA Detroit-area man who was convicted of killing his first wife and whose second wife died under suspicious circumstances was granted an early release from prison after he argued that the risk of catching COVID-19 behind bars endangered his life. Federal prosecutors fought to keep Roger Sweet locked up and were surprised by U.S. District Judge Victoria Robertss decision Friday. Police said Sweet is considered a person of interest in the death of his second wife, whose remains were found in 2013, years after she disappeared. All along we believed we were looking at the right person here. Were going to assign this to a new staff of detectives to get a fresh set of eyes on the case, Brownstown Township Chief Jeff Watson said Tuesday, referring to the death of Lizzie Mae Collier-Sweet. Roberts ordered Sweets release even though hes received a COVID-19 vaccine dose and survived a virus infection last year. She acknowledged that his crimes were abhorrent but said chronic health conditions, especially kidney disease, make him vulnerable. Without a single disciplinary action in 14 years of incarceration, Sweets behavior demonstrates a respect for the law and indicates how he may perform on supervised release, Roberts said. In 2008, Sweet was convicted in two Detroit-area courts and federal court. Those crimes included second-degree murder in the 1990 death of his first wife, the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl, and the sexual exploitation of children. His federal prison sentence21 yearswas the longest and still had seven years remaining, prosecutors said. In 2007, Sweets second wife disappeared after a fire at their Brownstown Township home, south of Detroit, a blaze that triggered the criminal investigations. While Sweet was in prison, Collier-Sweets remains were found in 2013 in a secluded area less than a mile away from their former home. Her cause of death was listed as indeterminate, but police believe it was a homicide, Watson said. No one has been charged. Investigators said Collier-Sweet wrote in a diary that she feared her husband and slept on a couch with a hammer and shotgun, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mulcahy said in a court filing, citing news reports. Nothing about Sweets history and characteristics, which include rape, murder and the suspicious circumstances surrounding Lizzie Maes death, support releasing him early, Mulcahy said. Sweet will be confined to his home on electronic tether for 12 months with exceptions for work, religious services, medical appointments, and court-ordered obligations, the judge said. (@FahadShabbir) In compliance of directions of Ministry of energy (Power Division), National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) has setup Central Control Center at 220 kV grid station New Kotlakhpat Lahore to monitor and keep a close liaison with NPCC & all DISCOs during Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :In compliance of directions of Ministry of energy (Power Division), National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) has setup Central Control Center at 220 kV grid station New Kotlakhpat Lahore to monitor and keep a close liaison with NPCC & all DISCOs during Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh. The Central Control Center will monitor stability of the Power System, said a press release issued on Wednesday. MD NTDC Engr. Dr. Khawaja Riffat Hassan visited the control center and checked the arrangements. He said that the Central Control Center will work round the clock under the supervision of GM (Asset Management) North and dedicated team will look after continuous and uninterrupted power supply to all distribution companies throughout the country. He said that in order to meet any emergency Regional Control Centers of Asset Management at Islamabad, Multan, Hyderabad & Quetta have also been established. MD NTDC further said that in case of a fault at any Grid Station or Transmission Line of NTDC across Pakistan, the control center will monitor the team mobilisation and material directly and latest information will be shared with the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) and respective DISCOs. Wideout AQA to Service Enhanced Service Delivery for Long Term Scalability, Operational Efficiency and Accelerated Growth New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - DGTL Holdings Inc. (TSXV: DGTL) (OTCQB: DGTHF) (FSE: A2QB0L) ("DGTL" or the "Company") reports that its wholly owned subsidiary, Hashoff LLC, has partnered with Wideout AQA to accelerate the delivery of Hashoff's leading content marketing technology and services to leading Fortune 100 level brands. As a result of brands' increasing desire for strategically driven content, produced faster and more efficiently, Hashoff has engaged Wideout to lead the management of creator sourcing and administration. Using Hashoff's leading AI-driven creator sourcing platform, Wideout will support Hashoff's existing Account Management team. This new division of labor enables Hashoff's existing Account Management team to deliver more strategic and business-oriented services, while increasing the speed and efficiency needed to deliver creators at scale and meet brands evolving requirements. With corporate offices in Santa Monica CA and Austin TX, and regional support services in the south pacific, Wideout AQA has designed bespoke operational management programs for enterprise companies such as Google, VSP and Zeta Global. AQA Wideout specializes in enhancing efficiency and scalability of digital marketing partners by leveraging established infrastructure and distributed workflow management teams. Mark Macapagal, Chief Sales and Customer Success Officer at Wideout said: "We are thrilled about our partnership with Hashoff and DGTL. Their AI-driven content management technology has proved impressive, and our team is excited to be a partner in delivering world-class creator services to leading brands. We look forward to providing the highest quality of service for heightened operational efficiency and long-term scalability and profitability while Hashoff continues to accelerate revenue growth." For more information visit our Investor Resource Center at www.dgtlinc.com/investors. Investor Relations John Belfontaine, Director Email: IR@dgtlinc.com Phone: +1 (877) 879-3485 Investor Factsheet Corporate Presentation DGTL HOLDINGS INC. DGTL Holdings Inc. acquires and accelerates transformative digital media, marketing and advertising software technologies, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). DGTL (i.e. Digital Growth Technologies and Licensing) specializes in accelerating commercialized enterprise level SaaS (software-as-a-service) companies in the sectors of content, analytics and distribution, via a blend of unique capitalization structures. DGTL Holdings Inc. is traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange as " DGTL ", the OTCQB exchange as " DGTHF ", and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as " A2QB0L ". HASHOFF LLC As a wholly owned subsidiary of DGTL Holdings Inc., Hashoff is an enterprise level self-service CaaS (content-as-a-service) built on proprietary Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) technology. Hashoff's AI-ML platform functions as a full-service content management system, designed to empower global brands by identifying, optimizing, engaging, managing, and tracking top-ranked digital content publishers for localized brand marketing campaigns. Hashoff is fully commercialized and currently serves numerous global brands by providing direct access to the global gig-economy of over 150 million freelance content creators. Hashoff's customer portfolio includes global brands in a range of key growth categories, including Anheuser Busch-InBev, Nestle, Post Holdings, Danone and Keurig-Dr. Pepper, Dunkin Brands, The Container Store, TJ Maxx, Ulta Beauty and Pizza Hut Live Nation, The CW, Scribd, Syneos Health and Novartis, etc.[i] Learn more by visiting; https://dgtlinc.com/technology 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. [i] Current and past customers To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80416 A major Line of Duty spoiler was leaked on Tuesday night by one of the BBC's websites. BBC Maestro inadvertently uploaded a post revealing a brand new character and a key plot twist, which is thought to transpire in the forthcoming next episode of the current sixth season. The website - which is a hub for budding screenwriters - shared a photo of the new character on a database. Slip! A major Line Of Duty spoiler was leaked on Tuesday night by one of the BBC's websites AC-12's Det Insp Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, was seen scrutinizing the image. A scene featuring the character was even shown, before it was removed. The Sun contacted creator and writer of Line Of Duty Jed Mercurio, who told them: 'The outstanding detective work of eagle-eyed Line Of Duty fans has been awarded a glowing commendation from the gaffer himself, Supt Ted Hastings. Their call-up papers for AC-12 are in the post!' This jovial response to the incident suggests the leak was nothing too drastic. Error: BBC Maestro inadvertently uploaded a post revealing a brand new character and a key plot twist, which is thought to transpire in the forthcoming next episode of the current sixth season Who is it? The leak has sparked a sea of speculation about who could be playing the new character, after hinting that another top actor could be joining the series Upload: The website - which is a hub for budding screenwriters - shared a photo of the new character on a database [not pictured] But a source also told The Sun: 'This is an embarrassing and humiliating blunder. A lot of time and effort had gone into keeping the star's role a secret. 'Line of Duty goes to a lot of trouble making sure nothing gets out to ruin the surprise for viewers but the BBC has shot itself in the foot on this and broken its own embargo.' This follows the news that another star will return to the show this weekend, in the form of series five scene-stealer DCS Patricia Carmichael. DCS Carmichael, played by BAFTA award winner Anna Maxwell Martin, will appear from Sundays episode of the police show. Fans will remember the experienced anti-corruption officer from the previous series, when she was brought in as an independent investigator from AC-3 after suspicions mounted over the integrity of Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar). One to watch: Line Of Duty's series five scene-stealer DCS Patricia Carmichael (played by BAFTA award winner Anna Maxwell Martin) is set to return to the BBC drama on Sunday What's going on? DCI Jo Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) takes on an intense investigation with DI Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) on Sunday's upcoming edition of Line Of Duty Little is known about her return to the show, but it coincides with Superintendent Hastings' forced retirement, suggesting she is looking to oversee the new restructure of the anti-corruption units. Although she works in anti-corruption, there has also been speculation that DCS Carmichael could be the elusive fourth 'H'. While she appeared excellent at her job interrogating Superintendent Hastings last season, some fans have suggested this was merely to steer any focus away from herself. Off he goes: In teaser images, the controversial police officer looks pensive as she gazes at her colleague, who sprints across the crime scene Worried? At one point, the detective appears stressed as Steve radios in about a specific situation - due to be revealed on the show Drama: The pair engage in what appears to be a heated conversation before continuing their duties Keeping tight-lipped on any details, Anna said of her character's return: 'Pats back, I cant remember what shes doing there, nor would I be allowed to blab, but suffice to say shes got some new clobber and shes ready to bust some balls.' This follows further news ahead of Sunday's show - that DCI Jo Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) takes on an intense investigation with DI Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) amid the mystery surrounding her DNA match. In teaser images, the controversial police officer looks pensive as she gazes at her colleague, who sprints across the crime scene. In good company: The duo are also joined by DS Chris Lomax (Perry Fitzpatrick), who stands by Jo before they enter what appears to be a garage Working hard: Steve proves there's nothing stopping his grind as he runs to the scene Lots on her mind: Last week's episode left viewers gobsmacked as they scrambled to guess who her mystery blood relative is Not what they expected? When they discover what's inside the room, they all look shocked At one point, the detective appears stressed as Steve radios in about a specific situation - due to be revealed on the show. The duo are also joined by DS Chris Lomax (Perry Fitzpatrick), who stands by Jo before they enter what appears to be a garage. Steve holds onto his gun as he guards the door and warns occupants of his intentions, before breaking into the premises. Helping out: Constable Ryan Pilkington (Gregory Piper) joins Jo in another scene at night Tough times: Jo seems to be having a demanding few weeks as she looks distressed alongside Ryan Ivory Coast prosecutors on Wednesday urged a guilty verdict and life in prison for a former warlord on trial for crimes against humanity over 2011 massacres during a post-election crisis. Amade Oueremi has been on trial in Abidjan on 24 counts including mass killings, rape and inhumane and degrading treatment in the western Ivory Coast city of Duekoue, which saw a series of massacres on March 28-29, 2011. The Red Cross says 817 people were killed in one day in Duekoue while the UN puts the toll at 300, figures that were part of the trial. The verdict is expected on Thursday. Oueremis lawyer said he did not deny the massacres, but that he was under the command of rebel chiefs. The lawyer, Roseline Aka Serikpa, called the trial a sorry spectacle at a court that wants to put the blame on one man only. Ivory Coasts cocoa-producing western region was the worst-hit during the 2010-11 post-election crisis. Then president Laurent Gbagbo was eventually forced out of office after refusing to accept defeat by the current president, Alassane Ouattara. The months-long conflict claimed some 3,000 lives and split the country along north-south lines. Oueremi, 57, was head of a militia that fought alongside pro-Ouattara rebels against rival groups and forces loyal to Gbagbo, which have also been accused of atrocities. According to the UN and other international organisations, the capture of Duekoue in March 2011 by pro-Ouattara fighters was accompanied by large-scale massacres. The trial began on March 24 and has notably featured testimony from women who spoke of their husbands and other relatives being brutally killed in front of them. HOLYOKE A law enforcement task force raided a city home Monday and arrested a 28-year-old woman after finding heroin, cocaine and ammunition. Yaileen Santiago-Cosme was arrested after the 10 a.m. raid and charged with trafficking in heroin and cocaine and possession of ammunition without a permit, State Police said. The raid was conducted after a months-long investigation into a suspected heroin distribution operation by the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement West Team, police said. During the course of the investigation (the team) identified a Holyoke residence as the point of distribution, police said. Law enforcement confiscated 29 packages of heroin that weighed a total of 58 grams and powder and crack cocaine weighing about 26 grams. Two loaded magazines and other rounds of ammunition were also found during the raid, police said. The team was joined by the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force, FBI Gang Task Force, Homeland Security of Springfield, the Drug Enforcement Agency Springfield unit, the Hampden Sheriffs Department and police from Holyoke, Springfield, Easthampton and Westfield, police said. Police did not reveal the address where the raid took place and said the investigation is ongoing. This is the third time in two weeks that city residents were arrested after a multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking. Officials did not say if any of the arrests are connected. On Thursday Holyoke police and police, FBI and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided a home and arrested Josue Rivera Rodriguez, 44, on multiple drug and gun charges. He is suspected to be an associate of a Mexican drug cartel, police said. The arrest came after law enforcement found a large quantity of fentanyl and at least three guns at the home. The address where the raid took place was not released. On March 31, Harrys Issac, 31, and Reynaldo Pagan-Cruz, 34, were each arrested on default warrants and firearms charges after an FBI and Holyoke police raid of a home on 82 Newton St. Related content: [April 14, 2021] All-New MX-30 BEV Features Mazda's Great Driving Dynamics, Electrified Beautifully Designed EV is the First in Mazda's Electrification Lineup New electric powertrain technology will provide an output of 107 kW (144 horsepower) and a maximum torque of 271 Nm (200 lb-ft) The 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged to 80% within approximately 36 minutes using DC fast charging 1 Mazda MX-30 will be available at select dealers in Canada this fall RICHMOND HILL, ON, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) today announces the introduction of the all-new Mazda MX-30, the brand's first battery-electric vehicle, to the Canadian market beginning in Fall 2021 with dealerships in Quebec and British Columbia. This stylish vehicle will mark the first step in Mazda's multi-solution electrification strategy. The MX-30 is a welcome addition to Mazda's vehicle line up and offers the same signature driving dynamics and thoughtful design expected from Mazda, but through a new electric powertrain. "Mazda has always challenged convention with our approach to our products, manufacturing processes, and now, our environmental strategy," said David Klan, President & CEO, Mazda Canada. "The MX-30 is the first step in our multi-solution approach to electrification, which considers many factors and will allow us to continue providing the right products for our customers as market demands continue to change. The introduction of the MX-30 BEV will begin a shift to more electrified models, including a series plug-in hybrid with a rotary generator for MX-30, a plug-in hybrid for our new large vehicle platform, and a traditional hybrid for our upcoming new crossover that will be built in the U.S." ________________________________________ 1 Level3: DC max output at 50 kW charging. General conditions: State of charge (SOC) in the meter from 20% to 80%, battery temperature at 25 C. Mazda's all-new electrification technology uses an electric motor and a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. This new powertrain, along with enhancements to the Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture, help the electric crossover provide great driving dynamics. The front-wheel drive electric motor will deliver an output of 107 kW (144 horsepower) and a maximum torque of 271 Nm (200 lb-ft), providing a smooth and connected feeling that helps enhance confidence for the driver. The 35.5 kWh battery can be charged to 80% within approximately 36 minutes using DC fast charging2. MCI will partner with ChargePoint to offer convenient charging solutions for MX-30 owners in Canada. Additional details on this partnership will be shared closer to the vehicles arriving in dealerships. MX-30's contemporary design makes this electric vehicle distinctly a Mazda. The Kodo design philosophy continues to evolve with every new addition to the lineup of next-generation vehicles. Inside and out, MX-30 emphasizes a new "Human Modern" concept that combines the appeal of futuristic design with a sense of familiarity. The exterior proportions give the crossover a feeling of strength and beauty, while the minimalist style offers a sense of sophistication similar to other Mazda vehicles. Opening the new freestyle doors provides a unique view and a wide range of possibilities for experiencing the vehicle. The interior continues the minimalist design language with feelings of lightness and openness. The driver-centric approach lays out the latest technologies and controls in a way that is welcoming and helps provide a sense of confidence while driving. Mazda prides itself on craftsmanship and blending complex, quality materials to develop an elegant interior. In the MX-30, a new floating center console and the door grips use cork, one of the most highly renewable and eco-friendly resources that also pays homage to Mazda's origin as a cork manufacturing company more than 100 years ago. ______________________________ 2 Level3: DC max output at 50 kW charging. General conditions: State of charge (SOC) in the meter from 20% to 80%, battery temperature at 25 C. The floating center console features an electronic shifter, a familiar multi-function commander knob, and shortcut buttons that will allow occupants to safely operate the Mazda Connect infotainment system. In front of this layout is a new seven-inch touchscreen that will display the climate control panel. The touchscreen is flanked on each side by tactile push buttons that also operate the climate control. The electric ownership experience is enhanced with Mazda Connected Services that will allow users to monitor and control the state of the MX-30 remotely through the MyMazda App. This includes locking the doors and adjusting the climate control to checking the battery status and charging process through the app. The latest technologies also help provide peace of mind. Enhanced i-Activsense safety features help cover a wider range of safety scenarios while its high strength body helps protect the space-saving battery and most importantly the MX-30's occupants. Following the introduction of the MX-30 BEV, the series plug-in hybrid model will mark the return of Mazda's unique rotary engine technology following a nearly 10-year hiatus. This new iteration is being engineered for near-silent operation and will replenish the battery rather than drive the wheels. As a result, the MX-30 series plug-in hybrid will always drive like an engaging EV, but with the ability to charge from the wall or on the go. To stay up to date with the latest information about the Mazda MX-30, please visit: Mazda.ca. 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. SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lawsuit seeks to overturn New York incest laws as parent wants to marry adult child Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A lawsuit that has been filed anonymously in New York is seeking to overturn the states prohibition on incest as one parent is seeking to marry a descendant. The parent behind the legal action seeks to legally marry their own adult child and argues that banning marriage of this kind would diminish their humanity. According to The New York Post, the lawsuit was filed anonymously because the plaintiff is seeking an action that a large segment of society views as morally, socially and biologically repugnant. The sex of the parent and the child is also not disclosed. They are referred to as proposed spouses in the lawsuit, which also notes that they cannot procreate. The legal filing asserts that marriage is a matter of individual autonomy. Parent-and-adult-child couples for whom procreation is either virtually or literally impossible can aspire to the transcendent purposes of marriage and seek fulfillment in its highest meaning, the lawsuit reads. The filing asks a New York state judge to declare the states incest laws unconstitutional and unenforceable in their situation. The suit calls the plaintiffs PAACNP, which stands for Parent and Adult Child Non-Procreationable couple. Under current New York law, incest is punishable by up to four years in prison and is a third-degree felony. Incestuous marriages are considered null and participants also face jail time. A person is guilty of incest in the third degree when he or she marries or engages in sexual conduct with a person whom he or she knows to be related to him or her, whether through marriage or not, as an ancestor, descendant, brother or sister of either the whole or the half blood, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece, the statute states. Incest in the third degree is a class E felony. Legal experts believe the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed. I dont think theres a big popular movement, but I do think as long as weve kept records, there have been cases, said New York University Law School professor Sylvia Law in a Saturday interview with The New York Post. Its an area where I think most people would say the government has a right to make the rules, even if they dont apply to every situation. Commenting Tuesday on Twitter about the lawsuit, conservative Christian radio host Bryan Fischer noted that [o]nce the barrier to the pagan sin of incest is torn down, the only thing left is to destroy the barrier to the pagan sin of pedophilia. We're getting close to the bottom of the abyss here. In an opinion piece Tuesday, Messianic Jewish scholar Michael Brown observed that the lawsuit comes in the wake of a 2010 case in which a Columbia University professor David Epstein was arrested for a three-year, consensual affair with his adult daughter. Epsteins lawyer noted at the time that it was OK for homosexuals to do whatever they want in their own home. How is this so different? We have to figure out why some behavior is tolerated and some is not. Brown commented that under the prevailing logic of love is love, there are no grounds to ban something that is consensual. After all, who are we to tell people who they can and cannot love? Havent we been told that love is love? That love wins? That we have the right to marry the one (or ones) we love? Why draw the line here? he wrote, noting that the slippery slope is very real. Obviously, a strong argument against any lawful sexual or romantic connection between family members is that it opens the door to further abuses. In other words, the moral, legal, and societal wall against incestuous relationships helps remove the possibility of such relationships (and sexual unions). They are off limits. They are taboo. They are forbidden. Take down that wall, and anything can happen. Thats why challenges to incest remain more marginal than mainstream. Manhattan family and matrimonial law attorney Eric Wrubel told The New York Post that the legal effort is premature since the couple has not formally sought to obtain a marriage license nor have they been denied any rights thus far. Ukrainian servicemen with their tank close to the front line of clashes with Russian-backed separatists near Lysychansk, Ukraine, on April 7, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Russias Military Buildup on Ukraine Border: Entirely Possible Putin Is Preparing to Invade News Analysis There are a few ways to interpret the recent escalation of Russias military buildup in the border region with Ukraine, says Marcus Kolga, a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. In the best-case scenario, Putins aggressive military buildup in Ukraines eastern border is an attempt to intimidate the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky and send a message to [U.S.] President Biden, Kolga said in an interview. However, given the steep intensification of war propaganda in Russian state media, the multiple ceasefire violations along with the military buildup, it is entirely possible that Putin is preparing to invade and annex Donbas under the pretext of protecting Russian speakers in the region. As such, he will claim it is an internal Russian issue. In 2014, in a process that led to Putins controversial annexation of Crimea, Russia sent troops to the Ukrainian border under the guise of testing their military readiness. This sparked a conflict between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian military, which has to date left 14,000 people dead. Some in Ukraine are seeing parallels between this and the recent military buildup, The Globe and Mail reports, since the amassing of 85,000 at the border has been rationalized by the Kremlin as preparation for a training exercise. The military escalation comes at a time of political turmoil within Russia. The poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexey Navalny was followed by large protests by Russian citizens and a crackdown by the Kremlin on Navalnys allies. This coincides with a gradual decrease in the Kremlins popularity among Russians, which has also been cited as a reason for the protests. According to recent polls, approval of Putin has been on the wane, with his approval rating dropping to 59 percent last April, the lowest in a decade. Kolga says that although Putins geopolitical objectives are a big part of his actions in Ukraine, the military escalation along the border should be also looked at through the domestic Russian political lens. Putin recently passed a constitutional amendment that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, yet his popularity in Russian polls is very low, he says. In 2014, when Putin had similar low ratings, he attacked and annexed Crimea and his popularity rebounded. Putin may now be looking for a similar distraction ahead of what promises to be a busy spring protest season in Russia, with outrage about the poisoning and imprisonment of Navalny growing. The military buildup at the border has elicited condemnation from members of the Western alliance, including the United States and Germany, both of which have urged Putin to reduce the military presence. In an NBC interview on April 11, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Moscow of consequences if it acts aggressively and recklessly in Ukraine. In a call with Zelensky last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern over what he called Putins destabilizing actions on the border and reaffirmed Canadas unwavering commitment to support Ukraines sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. Zelensky has requested a talk with Putin about the situation, which has been ignored, according to news reports. Dimitry Kozak, a top official in the Kremlin, has made statements to the effect that Russia may intervene on behalf of Russian-speaking residents in eastern Ukraine, amid the ongoing clashes between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. According to the BBC, Kozak described the situation the separatists face as possibly akin to the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslims that took place in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, saying, If, as our president says, there is a Srebrenica there, we shall probably have to come to their defence. He also warned that if the situation escalated it could be the beginning of the end for Ukraine not a shot in the leg, but in the face. Putins assertiveness has also extended to Canadas own backyard in the Arctic. Russia recently filed a submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shift to expand its claim to the Arctic Ocean seabed. If approved, Russias claim would extend to an area over which Canada has exclusive economic rights to fish, drill, and undertake other activities. Russia has also grown its military presence in the Arctic in recent years, as the Kremlin increasingly sees the region as central to its foreign policy, with a new document on Arctic development ordered by Putin in March expected to be presented soon, according to Defense News. Kolga notes that Russias co-ordination with communist China also poses a threat to Canadian interests in the Arctic. Over the past few years we have witnessed a massive militarization of the Russian Arctic, and a declaration last year that Russia would aggressively expand its Arctic claims, he says. Russian co-ordination with China is also a growing threat, as China ramps up its aggressive posturing towards Taiwan and seeks to expand into the Arctic region itself. Honduran migrant families trying to reach the United States cross the Usumacinta river on a boat, at La Tecnica in Lacandon jungle, Guatemala, on March 6, 2021. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters) Guatemala: No Deal With US on Increased Border Security Guatemalas government on Tuesday challenged an assertion from U.S. President Joe Bidens administration that it agreed to surge troops to its borders to make migration to the United States more difficult. There is no document signed regarding border security, the government said in a Spanish language statement. White House press secretary Jen Psaki claimed Monday that Guatemala surged 1,500 police officers and military members to its southern border and agreed to set up 12 checkpoints along the migratory route. There have been a series of bilateral discussions between our leadership and the regional governments of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Through those discussions, there was a commitment to increase border security, she told reporters in Washington. I think the objective is to make it more difficult to make the journey and make crossing the borders more difficult. Guatemalan officials, though, said the 1,500 law enforcement and military personnel were already deployed to the border in January. President Alejandro Giammattei assumed, since the beginning of his administration in January 2020, the commitment to strengthen border security as a strategy to face transnational threats such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and as a preventive measure against the pandemic, officials added. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Guatamelas statement. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Giammattei over the phone on March 30. According to a White House readout, they agreed to collaborate on promoting economic development, leveraging technology, strengthening climate resilience, and creating the conditions to expand opportunity for people in their home countries in order to address the root causes of migration to the United States. The U.S. has seen a spike in illegal border crossings this year, after Biden rolled back or reversed a number of immigration enforcement policies such as the Remain in Mexico program. Soldiers march during the announcement of the new measures by the Mexican government to deter illegal crossings at the southern border with Guatemala, in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, on March 19, 2021. (Jacob Garcia/Reuters) The number of children arriving at the border without a parent or guardian more than doubled from February to March, from 9,271 to 18,663. Statistics from the previous fiscal year show about one in two unaccompanied minors are from Guatemala. During an appearance on MSNBC on Monday, White House Domestic Policy Council aide Tyler Moran had described the supposed agreements with Guatemala and the other countries as a way to protect children migrating to the United States. Weve secured agreements for them to put more troops on their own border. Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala have all agreed to do this. That not only is going to prevent the traffickers and the smugglers and cartels that take advantage of the kids on their way here, but also to protect those children, he said. The deals with Mexico and Honduras include the former maintaining 10,000 troops at its southern border, which has doubled detentions, and Honduras sending 7,000 police and military personnel to disperse a large contingent of migrants, according to the White House. Mexico said on March 22 that it had close to 9,000 troops from the defense ministry, Navy, and National Guard on its northern and southern borders, Reuters reported. Mexicos government said in a statement on Monday that it would maintain the troops it has at the border. Honduras Foreign Affairs Minister Lisandro Rosales said Monday that there was no commitment on the part of the Honduran delegation to put soldiers on the border, even though there is a clear commitment by the Honduran government to avoid this kind of migration that generates death and mourning for Honduran families, according to The Associated Press. Later in the day, Honduran defense minister Fredy Santiago Diaz said the country was considering increasing troops at the border. The pharma company is eyeing a global rollout after receiving the CE mark in Europe ( ) said it is well-positioned to deliver further positive news on its erectile dysfunction (ED) gel MED3000 through 2021. The pharma developer expects the final certificate of European CE mark approval for the medical device by the end of May, while it is focused on the confirmatory clinical study and non-clinical studies to finalise an OTC label in the US, which it aims to achieve in 2022. The AIM-listed firm said there is potential for quick medical device registrations in most Middle East, Far East, African and Latin American countries based on the CE mark, so it is looking forward to a global rollout. Futura said the 2mln cash investment arising from the MED3000 collaboration agreement for China and South East Asia secured in March and April added to a year-end cash balance of 1.02mln. These and a refund of R&D tax credits of 500,000 will provide funding until the first quarter of 2022. It will focus on formalising further MED3000 partnering and license agreements in additional regions, particularly where marketing approval is near-to-medium term. Looking at other projects, the drug developer recently appointed advisors to explore commercial opportunities for CBD100, which uses its proprietary transdermal technology DermaSys to deliver Cannabidiol through the skin. It is also exploring the feasibility of a clinical study that would satisfy the Phase 3 requirements for both UK and US marketing approval for TPR100, which uses DermaSys to deliver diclofenac for the pain and inflammation associated with sprains, strains and bruises and soft tissue rheumatism. In the year to December 31, net loss came in at 2.41mln against a loss of 8.92mln in 2019. "Futura has achieved major milestones in terms of securing partnering for the development and commercialisation of MED3000 in China and South East Asia in a deal structured to capture significant long-term value, as well as the EU Notified Body's recommendation to certificate MED3000 for Class 2B approval as a medical device for ED treatment under the European Medical Device Regulations, said chief executive James Barder in a release. Analysts at house broker Liberum said they expect the shares to further re-rate as management crystallises the value of MED3000 over the coming 6-18 months. "The shares have responded, up 261% year to date. However, we believe there are further significant catalysts to come including potential EU and RoW licensing deals, regulatory approval in smaller Asian markets and the start of the all-important US confirmatory study in the second half," they commented. --Adds broker comment-- Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Food and Drug Administration said it does not recommend the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients due to lack of evidence on its efficacy against the virus. However, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said hospitals may still apply for a compassionate special permit of the anti-parasitic drug if they think it could help their patients. Hindi pa natin ito mare-rekomenda sa ngayon pero open naman po iyong option sa mga hospitals na kung sakaling palagay nila ay wala silang ibang gamot na maibibigay na at naniniwala silang makakatulong ito sa pasyente nila, then they can get a compassionate special permit for this drug, he explained during the Laging Handa briefing Wednesday. [Translation: We currently do not recommend its use but the option is open for hospitals in case they cannot prescribe any other medication and they believe that this can help their patients, then they can get a compassionate special permit for this drug.] He also reiterated that the hospital or doctor that requested for the permit may use the drug and the outcome of its use shall be reported to health authorities. Last week, the regulator said it granted a hospitals request for a CSP to use ivermectin against COVID-19, but it did not specify other details. It also dismissed claims that it was pressured to grant the permit, saying all rules and regulations were followed in its issuance. RELATED: 'Pressured FDA can be liable for granting compassionate permit to use ivermectin vs. COVID-19 ex-DOH chief The FDA earlier said oral ivermectin products are only approved for use on animals to prevent heartworm disease and treat infections due to parasites. Doctors can prescribe topical ivermectin to treat parasitic infestations such as head lice and other skin conditions for humans. Health experts already raised their concerns on the lack of evidence on the efficacy of the drug against the coronavirus. Some have pointed out that existing studies do not have solid proof due to factors like using ivermectin with other interventions, thus it is difficult to conclude that the outcome was solely due to it. Despite this, several lawmakers are also pushing for the use of ivermectin against the coronavirus. The government said it has no plans to conduct clinical trials for the drug to assess its efficacy since similar studies are ongoing in other countries. Christians should 'reveal character of Christ' in workplace despite societal hostility, author says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Although there is more opposition to Christian beliefs in today's mainstream society, one author argues that Christians can still be witnesses for Christ in the workplace and be assets to their companies. Os Hillman, the author of the recently released 31 Decrees of Blessing for Your Work Life and founder of the Marketplace Leaders ministry, discussed how Christians can live out their faith at work and support others who seek to do the same in an interview with The Christian Post. An author and founder of a ministry advising people on how to live out their faith at work, Hillman stresses the importance of Christians serving as both "witnesses" and "problem solvers" in their workplaces. Considering many Christians hold secular jobs outside of ministry, Hillman believes how Christs followers conduct themselves in the workplace will "reveal the character of Christ since most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work. In his new book, Hillman encourages believers to bring the power of God to their workplace. Hillman frequently referenced "cancel culture" throughout the interview, referring to the phenomenon in which influential voices in American culture seek to silence or punish those with unfashionable views, including Christians. Hillman offered some advice on how Christians can live out their faith at work while ensuring that they "don't become victims to this whole cultural attack on believers." "The first thing we need to understand is that you as a follower of Christ are the witness, whether you say anything or not, it's ... how you conduct yourself in your workplace that's going to reveal the character of Christ," Hillman said. "The second thing is that we need to be praying for our co-workers and those above us so that God can work through ... you in their lives." Hillman urged believers to not only be problem solvers but to be "a valuable employee to your company." "That's what Jesus did. He was a problem solver," the author stated. "Every time he met somebody, he solved a problem first. And when we solve problems, we have influence." He said Christians should "stand firm" and use the "legal rights" to ensure that they are "free to be able to exercise" their voice. "[D]on't use company time to discuss faith issues," he advised. "[Use] your coffee breaks or [free time] before or after work so that you're not accused of stealing time from your employer. And you ... want to honor the company that you work for." Hillman told CP that he began Marketplace Leaders in the mid-1990s. At the time, he began to see that many Christians had a difficult time understanding how to integrate their faith life in their work life. So I realized that there wasn't a lot of training for that, and I began sharing through ... a devotional called TGIF Today God is First that helps people understand how to integrate their faith life into their work life. And it caught along, he said. Certainly, in the last 15 years, we've had much more awareness among believers to understand the value of ... bringing Christ to our work [and] life call. Hillman believes that many Christians remain unaware of their rights to share their faith with colleagues. "We're entering a time of great persecution for those in the faith. We need to stand and understand our Second ... Amendment Rights and we also need to understand our religious liberties, he added. We are protected by that free speech. But many believers are ignorant about what their protections are. And so we try to help them understand that as well." Should Christians find themselves in a hostile work environment where they frequently face pushback for trying to live out their faith on the job, Hillman advises they stand their ground as much as possible. [B]ut if the situation becomes untenable to where you are unable to function or to do your job and you're constantly being derided by people for ... your values and your belief system, you could be forced into ... making a stand legally for that, he argued. Or if you're not a person willing to do that, then you're forced to leave." "Sometimes, I'll have people say to me, you just don't know what kind of boss I have. And I say, Well, I can't imagine that your boss is more difficult than Joseph's boss or Daniel's boss or Nehemiah's boss, he added. "I mean, they lived ... under some very difficult circumstances where they were persecuted for their faith and persecuted for what they believed in ... at the cost of the potential loss of life had God not intervened and done a miracle in those cases." When asked how Christians can support faith-based and Christian-owned businesses that frequently become the target of criticism in "cancel culture," Hillman maintained that the Body of Christ must rally around those who are taking a stand." He specifically cited Christians flocking to the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A as an example. He recalled the time LGBT advocates were pushing a boycott against Chick-fil-A over their objection to CEO Dan Cathys biblical beliefs on sexuality. But instead, the Christian community came out and supported them in incredible ways, and it was one of the largest sales ... days they've ever had in the history of their company," he stated. Hillman also praised Hobby Lobby for taking a stand against an Obamacare Health and Human Services mandate requiring businesses to provide employee healthcare plans that cover abortion-inducing drugs. According to Hillman, believers need to remove their support from companies that stand for unrighteousness." He urged the faithful to "vote with our pocketbook to be able to influence the activities of companies." Like many other Christians, Hillman expressed concerns about the implications that the Equality Act will have for Christians seeking to live out their faith at work or business owners who incorporate their religious beliefs in their business practices. The Equality Act would codify discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity into federal law. "This legislation certainly will remove some of the protections Christians have to be able to refuse employment to those that may be ... involved in a lifestyle that would be contrary to the Christian value system, he said. Describing the Equality Act as "one of the biggest things that's going to impact Christians," he warned that it "could ultimately lead to the removal of tax deductions to churches that don't embrace same-sex marriage. The UFC intends to welcome a capacity crowd at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on July 10 when Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor fight for the third time. FILE - Conor McGregor poses during a ceremonial weigh-in for the UFC 246 mixed martial arts bout in Las Vegas, in this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, file photo. The UFC intends to welcome a capacity crowd at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021, when Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor fight for the third time. UFC President Dana White announced his plan Wednesday, April 14, 2021, for the promotion's first sellout show in its hometown since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.(AP Photo/John Locher, File) The UFC intends to welcome a capacity crowd at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on July 10 when Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor fight for the third time. UFC President Dana White announced his plan Wednesday for the promotion's first sellout show in its hometown since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. "I am so happy to finally be able to say Vegas is back," White said. The world's biggest mixed martial arts organization hasn't fought in front of more than a few dozen fans in Las Vegas since the start of the pandemic. For the past 11 months, the UFC has held its near-weekly shows in its empty gym on its corporate campus in Vegas or at Abu Dhabi's Fight Island, where limited crowds were allowed in January. Earlier this week, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said the state aims to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in the next few weeks with a goal of fully reopening by June 1. White said the UFC wouldn't fight again in front of fans until the promotion could have full-capacity crowds in the stands, and that move is happening soon. The UFC's next two pay-per-view shows will be held in front of full arenas in Florida and Texas. UFC 261 in Jacksonville on April 24 will be the promotion's first show before a full crowd since March 2020. The card is headlined by three title fights, including welterweight champion Kamaru Usman's rematch with Jorge Masvidal. The promotion likely will continue to hold its smaller weekly shows at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker fights Kelvin Gastelum in the main event of the Apex's next show on Saturday night. UFC 264 will be headlined by the completion of the trilogy for Poirier and McGregor, the most popular fighter in MMA. McGregor won their first meeting in 2014, but Poirier stopped McGregor in the second round at UFC 257 in January. More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/Sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was arrested Tuesday in Dallas on an assault charge, apparently the third time the former lawmaker has been involved in an incident of domestic violence in the past year. Last May, his then-40-year-old girlfriend, Leslie Caron, was accused of injuring the 75-year-old Dewhurst when she kicked him in the ribs while he sat on a couch in their Houston apartment, prosecutors said. Caron denied the attack and accused Dewhurst of having assaulted her in the past. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Boxes of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine are seen at the McKesson Corporation, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Shepherdsville, Ky., March 1, 2021. REUTERS Since the pandemic made every event virtual, it might have become too easy for Samsung to just keep hosting them. The company has sent out invites to another Galaxy Unpacked this month, making it the second one in Spring and the fourth Samsung event this year. This event will be streamed live on Samsung.com on April 28th at 10am Eastern, and the invite teases that "the most powerful Galaxy is coming." Given Samsung has already launched a slew of phones and a pair of earbuds this year, it's hard to imagine what this launch might unveil. Observers of the company's portfolio might notice that we still haven't seen a foldable phone this year (by this time in 2020, we'd already seen the Galaxy Z Flip) or new smartwatch. Rumors also suggest Samsung is readying its first laptops powered by its own Exynos chips, which could be what we're seeing this month. We'll be streaming Samsung's event live on our YouTube channel, where we'll host a pre-show and a Q&A after the company is done. Come join the fun, react with us live and get any burning questions answered as quickly as possible. Acting Health Minister, Prime Minister Florin Citu ordered today the repeal of Health Minister's Order No. 506/2021 setting out new rules for instructing a lockdown. The order of the acting Health Minister was published on Wednesday evening in the Official Journal, agerpres.ro confirms. The Minister's Order No. 506/2021, amending and supplementing the Health Minister's Order No. 1.309/2020 on the application of measures to prevent and contain SARS-CoV-2 illness was published in the Official Journal on Tuesday. The repealed order said that a local lockdown can be ordered for towns or cities/metropolitan areas with over 100,000 inhabitants that score at least 60 points awarded according to a series of indicators such as: the number of Covid tests performed in the last seven days, the 14-day cumulative case rate, the 14-day cumulative positivity rate and its trend, the number of outbreaks/total cases in the administrative areas, the occupancy rate of intensive care beds in the county, the occupancy rate of beds intended for COVID-19 patients in the county. Deputy Prime Minister and USR Chairman Dan Barna said on Tuesday evening that this order, which establishes the criteria to be used in assessing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection with a view to instating a local lockdown, is necessary given that the previous regulation contained "very vague indicators". "This order came naturally, without doubt, because the previous regulation that established the criteria for taking these restrictive measures in a locality or another contained only some very vague indicators: the quality of medical care, patient resilience, these were all completely arbitrary criteria which made possible the situation in Timisoara City. You know what happened in Timisoara, where they flip-flopped on the lockdown, where infection numbers were self-styled as lower, despite being high. There was a build-up of emotion there, with a public fight. (...) The changes operated now establish very clear indicators related to the number of tests, the number of ICU cases, the number of deaths, and they also encourage testing," the USR leader said. The United States plans to withdraw the remaining American troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. U.S. officials noted that the withdrawal would be 20 years to the day after the terrorist group al Qaeda launched attacks on the United States. The decision extends an earlier time limit set last year. A peace deal between the administration of former President Donald Trump and Afghanistans Taliban called for a full withdrawal by May 1. Negotiations between Afghanistans government and the Taliban continue. The Taliban has threated to restart fighting if foreign troops do not leave. An official with President Joe Bidens administration said the date in September is firm and will not be affected by conditions in the country. The official, who spoke to reporters, did not wish to be identified. The official said: "We are ending our military operations while we focus our efforts on supporting diplomatically the ongoing peace process." The withdrawal would end nearly 20 years of war that have claimed the lives of 2,200 U.S. troops, injured 20,000 and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. The conflict drove the Taliban, Afghanistans rulers at the time, from power. It also led to the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. However, some groups say the withdrawal risks gains in democracy, womens rights and governance made in the country. The administration said Biden will likely announce his decision Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the move with NATO allies also on Wednesday. The reports of the Biden decision come on the same day that a U.S. intelligence report predicted a difficult path for Afghan peace talks. It said that the Afghan government would struggle to hold back the Taliban without support from the U.S.-led coalition. It is unclear how the announcement might affect an Afghanistan Peace Summit that Turkey plans to hold in Istanbul in late April. Turkeys foreign ministry said Afghan and Taliban negotiators would attend. However, the Taliban has not confirmed the suggested dates. Michael OHanlon is with the Brookings Institutions foreign policy program. He told VOA that Afghanistan could become one of the great No Mans lands for international terrorists to hide out in the future. Hussain Haqqani is a former ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S. He said, The real question now is whether after withdrawing its troops, the U.S. will continue to help the Kabul government and the Afghan people keep the Taliban at bay. U.S. officials have blamed the Taliban for not fulfilling its promises to reduce violence. Some have warned of the groups ties to al-Qaeda. Those ties led to the U.S. military intervention in 2001 following the September 11 attacks on the U.S. that took nearly 3,000 lives. That was when hijackers crashed passenger jets into the World Trade Center in New York City, the U.S. Defense Department outside of Washington and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Im Mario Ritter,Jr. Steve Herman reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English with additions from Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story focus v. to cause attention to be directed on something at bay idiom in a position of being unable to move closer while attacking or approaching someone else We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. SPRINGFIELD The city has set aside $50,000 to hire a group of artists or an organization to create multiple outdoor murals in a continuation of a project intended to inspire and increase foot traffic. The mural project was created in 2017 and funded through the citys federal Community Development Block Grant program. It is returning after a one-year absence during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno praised the return of the program. Arts and culture are very big to me, and we are going to continue this trend, Sarno said. The murals that have gone up have really livened up all parts of the city. Such a program makes people want to visit and spend money locally and in turn thats good for our businesses too, Sarno said. In the past, the city allocated $25,000 each year for the mural program. Proposals from groups willing to administer and create the mural program are due by April 28, at 2 p.m., at the Office of Procurement at City Hall. The program does not specify the number of murals, which will be done by June 30. The goal of the project is to make a memorable, positive statement about Springfield and increase foot traffic within these areas, the city said in advertising for proposals. Proposals should consider maximum visibility, beautification of its immediate surroundings, excite public interest in Springfield, and to inspire City pride in Springfield. The organization must submit a budget and plan for the use of the funds, such as administrative costs, artist fees, installation costs, materials, and design if needed. Proposals that include other funding sources will be considered favorably the city said. The theme of the murals should be inspirational and positive in nature, the city stated. The proposals should be public art that becomes a placemaker, pieces that are easily identifiable and create a sense of place. A selection committee that includes local stakeholders will review all proposals, and forward any recommendation to the mayor, the city said. Sarno will have final approval. Related content: Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Kesselrun Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KES) (OTC Pink: KSSRF) ("Kesselrun" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following update on its Huronian Gold Project. The Company continues to receive further results from the 2021 drill program. The initial set of holes drilled on the Fisher Zone has been successful in extending the high-grade shoot to over 100 metres vertical depth as well as extending the overall strike length of the zone by over 150 metres. Highlights Fisher Zone high-grade shoot extended to over 100 metres vertical depth 21HUR037 intercepted 99.0 g/t Au over 0.5 m within a 3.5 m wide zone which assayed 15.6 g/t Au; 21HUR044 intercepted 1.1 g/t Au over 16.1 m Figure 1: Schematic Longsection - Fisher Zone To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4206/80370_7bf7d960c4dd9b3d_001full.jpg Michael Thompson, P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, commented, "The results from the main high-grade shoot at Fisher continue to impress. Now that we have traced the zone down to just over 100 metres vertical depth we are well prepared to begin aggressively extending it to greater depths in upcoming drilling." The 2021 Huronian drill program is budgeted at 20,000 metres targeting the Fisher, Fisher North, McKellar and Huronian zones, all in close proximity along an approximate 1500 m strike length in the area of the historic Huronian Mine. The area also has tremendous potential for discovery of new zones in light of the new revised mineralization model. Figure 2: Schematic Plan Map - Huronian Project To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4206/80370_7bf7d960c4dd9b3d_002full.jpg Table 1: Summary of Significant Drill Intercepts - Current News Release (1) Hole ID Zone From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) 21HUR037 Fisher 114.0 117.5 3.5 15.6 including 117.0 117.5 0.5 99.0 21HUR038 Fisher 91.3 92.2 0.9 2.5 21HUR043 nsv 21HUR044 Fisher 92.4 108.5 16.1 1.1 including 103.0 104.0 1.0 5.8 21HUR045 Fisher 90.4 91.0 0.6 5.9 21HUR046 Fisher 70.4 71.4 1.0 2.9 Table 2: Summary of Significant Drill Intercepts - 2021 Huronian Project (1) Hole ID Zone From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) 21HUR030 Fisher 10.6 51.8 41.2 1.4 including 33.0 43.3 10.3 4.7 and including 33.0 34.0 1.0 14.8 21HUR031 Fisher 21.5 44.2 22.7 2.1 including 28.0 33.8 5.8 6.8 and including 30.0 31.0 1.0 30.4 21HUR032 Fisher 25.1 56.6 31.5 1.9 including 25.1 29.7 4.6 5.6 and including 25.4 28.7 3.3 6.2 including 46.2 50.1 3.9 4.5 and including 49.2 50.1 0.9 14.3 21HUR033 Fisher 22.6 30.2 7.6 1.4 21HUR034 Fisher 23.8 65.9 42.1 1.9 including 23.8 27.6 3.8 5.8 and including 23.8 24.6 0.8 16.7 including 52.6 56.5 3.9 7.0 and including 52.6 54.0 1.4 13.3 21HUR035 Fisher 25.0 66.9 41.9 0.7 including 27.9 29.9 2.0 4.4 21HUR036 Fisher 46.7 62.0 15.3 0.7 including 49.4 50.4 1.0 3.8 21HUR039 Fisher 2.3 23.3 21.0 0.9 including 7.2 8.9 1.7 5.4 21HUR040 Fisher 34.4 34.8 0.4 8.0 Huronian 262.8 263.4 0.6 stope Huronian 263.4 266.3 2.9 7.3 including 263.4 263.9 0.5 34.2 21HUR041 lost hole 21HUR042 Fisher 14.5 17.8 3.3 5.3 including 16.9 17.8 0.9 17.0 21HUR047 to 053 results pending 21HUR054 Huronian 115.4 119.5 4.1 16.2 including 115.4 116.0 0.6 81.5 (1)Widths are drill indicated core length as insufficient drilling has been undertaken to determine true widths at this time. Average grades are calculated with un-capped gold assays as insufficient drilling has been completed to determine capping levels for higher grade gold intercepts. About the Huronian Gold Project The 100% owned Huronian Gold Project hosts the past producing Huronian Mine, Northwestern Ontario's first gold mine with an historic resource estimate of 44,592 oz Au at an average grade of 15.3 g/t Au in the indicated category and 501,377 oz Au at an average grade of 14.4 g/t Au in the inferred category. The resource estimate presented for the Huronian Project is historic in nature. Kesselrun Resources' qualified person has not completed sufficient work to confirm the results of the historical resource. Kesselrun Resources is not treating this as a current mineral resource but is considering it relevant as a guide to future exploration and is included for reference purposes only. The historic resource was estimated by Minescape Exploration Inc. in 1998. Further drilling will be required by Kesselrun Resources to verify the historic estimate as current mineral resources. As well, the Huronian Gold Project hosts the same lithological package of rocks, as interpreted from both Government of Ontario and Kesselrun Resources mapping, compilation and modelling, on strike from Wesdome Gold's adjacent Moss Lake Gold Deposit with a resource estimate of 1,377,300 oz Au at an average grade of 1.1 g/t Au in the indicated category and 1,751,600 oz Au at an average grade of 1.1 g/t Au in the inferred category as outlined in their 2013 PEA2. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicitave of mineralization hosted on Kesselrun Resources' property. (2)Moss Lake Gold Mines (currently wholly owned subsidiary of Wesdome Gold) news releases February 20, 2013 and September 9, 2013. On January 26, 2021 Wesdome announced that the Moss Lake Project would be purchased by Goldshore Resources Inc. (see Wesdome and Goldshore news releases dated January 26, 2021). Qualified Person Michael Thompson, P.Geo., President and CEO of Kesselrun, is the Qualified Person responsible for the project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical information in this news release. QAQC Kesselrun has implemented a quality control program to comply with industry best practices for sampling, chain of custody and analyses. Certified gold reference standards, blanks and duplicates are inserted at the core processing site as part of the QA/QC program in addition to the control samples inserted by the lab. Samples are prepared and analyzed by Activation Laboratories in Thunder Bay. Samples are analyzed for gold using Fire Assay-AA techniques. Samples returning over 10 g/t gold are analyzed using Fire Assay-Gravimetric methods. Selected samples are also analyzed with a standard 1 kg metallic screen fire assay. All results reported herein have passed QA/QC protocols. Health and Safety The health and safety of our personnel and contractors is always top priority to Kesselrun. The current situation presents new challenges above and beyond what we normally face while working in the field. Kesselrun has implemented further measures to ensure the health and safety of all working on the Company's projects. Marketing and Investor Relations Kesselrun is pleased to announce it has engaged Larry Heuchert to provide investor relations services to the Company on a month-to-month basis for US$2,500 per month. The Company has also agreed to engage Aktiencheck.de AG, owned by Stefan Lindam (collectively, "Aktiencheck"), for 50,000 for a European marketing and news dissemination program. The length of such program depends upon the volume of the Company's future news flow. About Kesselrun Resources Ltd. Kesselrun Resources is a Thunder Bay, Ontario-based mineral exploration company focused on growth through property acquisitions and discoveries. Kesselrun's management team possesses strong geological and exploration expertise in Northwest Ontario. For more information about Kesselrun Resources, please visit www.kesselrunresources.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 news release. For additional information please contact: Kesselrun Resources Ltd. Michael Thompson, P.Geo., President & CEO 807.285.3323 michaelt@kesselrunresources.com Corporate Communications 1.866.416.7941 information@kesselrunresources.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. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Kesselrun, including, but not limited to the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, dependence upon regulatory approvals, the execution of definitive documentation, the availability of financing and exploration risk. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80370 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. On Tuesday, April 13, ShopRite of Hylan Plaza unveiled the special-edition Cheerios box featuring the winners of the annual ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios Contest fundraiser. ShopRite Partners in Caring is a year-round, community-based, hunger-fighting initiative that has donated over $46 million to more than 2,200 charities since 1999. An in-house made cake is served at the unveiling ceremony for the special-edition Cheerios box at the ShopRite of Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp April 13, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/Giavanni Alves) Every Fall, ShopRite Supermarkets holds the ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios contest in partnership with General Mills. The donations, which ShopRite store associates collect at check-out, go to local and regional food banks in the Northeast (where ShopRite stores are located). The top 45 fundraising store locations each choose two of their associates to be featured on the special-edition Cheerios box that is then unveiled in the Spring. The theme for the contest this year was Ending Hunger Together. Associates from ShopRites various locations raised a total of $1,000,000 in September 2020. ShopRite store associates Helene Lando and Binita Patel unveil the poster with their photos along with other ShopRite associates featured on the special-edition Cheerios box for winning the ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios Contest April 13, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/Giavanni Alves) The team at ShopRite of Hylan Plaza selected Helene Lando and Binita Patel to be featured on the box, which will be exclusively sold at ShopRite stores. At the unveiling ceremony, Lando and Patel were each presented with the special-edition Cheerios box and a congressional certificate signed by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. Steve Hildner, community relations administrator for Wakefern Food Corp. presents special-edition Cheerios boxes to ShopRite associates Helene Lando and Binita Patel, who won the ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios Contest, and ShopRite of Hylan Boulevard Store Manager Erin Duffy April 13, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/Giavanni Alves) Both Lando and Patel told the Advance that they found customers to be very generous with donations. Patel, who participated in the contest for the first time last year, noted that there were numerous people who offered to donate when they noticed the sign about the contest, rather than waiting to be asked. Lando concurred, adding that it can be awkward at times to ask people for donations. Sometimes you feel funny asking because everyone has different circumstances going on in their lives especially with COVID,' Lando said. People were out of work, but people still volunteer to help whether its a dollar or more. Lando expressed her gratitude for being able to contribute to such an important cause. It was a real honor to be a part of this,' she said. And its so nice to help people in need. It really is touching. Its a beautiful thing to help people. Thats what its all about in life. ShopRite store associates Helene Lando and Binita Patel signed the poster featuring their photos with the other winners of the ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios Contest, at ShopRite of Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp on April 13, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Giavanni Alves) The contest winners are from all over the region, including Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, other parts of New York state and Pennsylvania. Associates from two other ShopRite locations on Staten Island (ShopRite of Forest and Richmond; ShopRite of Veterans Road) are also among the winners being recognized for their successful fundraising. The top winning stores will each receive prize money $3,000 for the top five winners and $500 for the other 40 winners to donate to local food pantries of their choice. Russell Gordon, institutional giving manager for Food Bank For New York City, speaks at the unveiling ceremony for the special-edition Cheerios box at ShopRite of Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp on April 13, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Giavanni Alves) Representatives from various local organizations were present at the unveiling, including Christian Pentecostal Church; Our Lady of Good Counsel; Oakwood Heights Church; The Salvation Army and Project Hospitality. Timothy Mannix of Mannix Supermarkets, which owns and operates three ShopRite stores on Staten Island, speaks at the unveiling ceremony for the special-edition Cheerios box at ShopRite of Hylan Boulevard on April 13, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Giavanni Alves) Ceremony speakers included Timothy Mannix of Mannix Supermarkets, which owns three ShopRite stores on Staten Island; Steve Hildner, community relations administrator at ShopRite Supermarkets parent company, Wakefern Food Corp.; Russell Gordon, institutional giving manager, Food Bank for New York City. Representatives from the offices of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Councilman Steven Matteo were also in attendance. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) ("Forum" or "Company") is pleased to announce that Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (RTEC) has completed winter drilling on Forum's 100% owned Janice Lake copper/silver project in Saskatchewan. The first set of assay results are expected in May. Nine holes for a total of 2,330 metres were drilled on the Rafuse target, a 2.8 kilometre long priority target of surface copper mineralization that was developed during RTEC's mapping, prospecting and geophysical program this past summer (News Release dated September 29, 2020). Due to winter in northern Saskatchewan having a late start and an early spring, the drill program was cut short. The two drills were left at the 80-person camp in preparation for a potential resumption of the drill program in June. The scope of the drill program and the planned geological, geophysical and geochemical surface exploration program will be finalized once assay results are received. Three drill fences at 200 metre spacings for a total strike length of 650 metres were tested on the Rafuse target (Figure 1). Historic drilling of nine holes in 1969 at Rafuse only tested to a maximum depth of 62 metres ; these returned up to 17 metres of 0.68% copper. Two holes drilled by Noranda (1993) to a maximum depth of 128 metres returned 21.7 metres of 0.19% copper. The nine holes drilled by Rio Tinto went to an average depth of 259 metres, investigating the down-dip extent of the surface mineralization. Ken Wheatley, P.Geo., Forum's VP, Exploration and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. About Forum Energy Metals Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) has three 100% owned energy metal projects being drilled in 2021 by the Company and its major mining company partners Rio Tinto and Orano for copper/silver, uranium and nickel/platinum/palladium in Saskatchewan, Canada's Number One Rated mining province for exploration and development. In addition, Forum has a portfolio of seven drill ready uranium projects and a strategic land position in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. For further information: www.forumenergymetals.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard J. Mazur, P.Geo. President & CEO 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. For further information contact: NORTH AMERICA Rick Mazur, P.Geo., President & CEO mazur@forumenergymetals.com Tel: 778-772-3100 UNITED KINGDOM Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi, Director burnsstb@forumenergymetals.com Tel: 074-0316-3185 Figure 1: Location of Drillholes on the Rafuse Target. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4908/80382_aa61245fa4c7e9f4_003full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80382 HTL, the worldwide leader in biotechnology solutions using hyaluronic acid (HA) and other biopolymers, and Echelon Biosciences Inc., a U.S.-based global supplier of biochemical reagents, assays, and services to research and development laboratories, announced today their new distribution and product development partnership. The partnership will enable distribution of high-quality HA and glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and the co-development of novel GAG products. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005119/en/ HTL's campus is located in Paris, France. HTL, the worldwide leader in biotechnology solutions using hyaluronic acid (HA) and other biopolymers, and Echelon Biosciences Inc., a U.S.-based global supplier of biochemical reagents, assays, and services to research and development laboratories, announced today their new distribution and product development partnership. The partnership will enable distribution of high-quality HA and glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and the co-development of novel GAG products. https://htlbiotech.com/ The partnership provides academic research and pharmaceutical development laboratories' expanded access to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-grade, kit-packaged hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) products. By offering premium, clinical grade products to early-stage research investigators, the partnership seeks to bridge the gap between lab-based research, development and commercialization, and accelerate innovation worldwide. "Innovation is at the heart of HTL's DNA," said HTL CEO Yvon Bastard. "This growth opportunity reinforces our mission and vision to apply science for increased bio-compatibility and improved health outcomes around the world." "This new partnership offers scientists and researchers the key technologies to develop innovative biopolymer solutions for new medical applications in aesthetics, ophthalmology, rheumatology, tissue engineering and drug delivery," said Charles Ruban, HTL deputy CEO. "This is the true meaning of HTL's tagline of 'Beyond, together.' HTL's ambition is not only to grow its lead position in producing and distributing hyaluronic acid worldwide, but also to build tomorrow's glycosaminoglycan-based solutions." "Echelon has been granted the opportunity to expand its market-leading HA assays and extra cellular matrix product line with the supply of HTL's hyaluronic acid and other GAG-derived products. HTL is recognized internationally for producing biopolymers of premium quality," says Bert Israelsen, president of Echelon Biosciences. "Echelon offers our customers access to the latest innovative tools with unparalleled technical support, thereby fully enabling maximized creativity in basic and applied research. With its fermentation and organic synthesis platforms, HTL creates functionality and added value by developing chemically modified biopolymers tailored to specific needs." "This new partnership is a milestone in HTL's expanding footprint in the North American market and with the U.S. medical community," said Glenn Prestwich, Ph.D., one of Echelon's founders and now HTL's exclusive science and innovation advisor for this market. By entrusting Echelon with the distribution of HTL's hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycan products for research use, HTL aims to significantly increase its support and involvement in biopolymer research in the U.S. and worldwide, but also its research and development capacity. "This new initiative demonstrates HTL's commitment to invest in innovation in healthcare," said Humberto C. Antunes, strategic advisor to HTL and former CEO of Galderma. "In the fields of health and wellness, the biotechnology ecosystem of innovation, incubators, and established and emerging companies are incredibly dynamic in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It means a huge growth potential for HTL products," added Antunes. About HTL HTL is a biotechnology company, leading the way in the design and production of pharmaceutical grade hyaluronic acid and other innovative functional biopolymers for premium medical products. HTL serves the pharmaceutical and medical device industries worldwide, enabling them to transform lives of patients. HTL's unsurpassed commitment to client partnership has been consistently proven in the marketplace. The company is recognized for supplying the highest quality products and continually investing in driving and supporting market growth. For over 25 years, its cutting-edge research and development has allowed to develop unique value-driven solutions to meet the innovation needs of its clients. www.htlbiotech.com About Echelon Biosciences, Inc. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Echelon Biosciences, was established in 1997 to supply synthetic lipid reagents for research and development. Since then, Echelon has successfully grown in scale and scope to include custom chemistry, peptides, and biological assays with over 700 catalog items in the fields of cell signaling, extracellular matrix, cancer drug discovery, and disease biomarkers. www.echelon-inc.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005119/en/ Contacts: HTL Dianne Danowski Smith, APR Publix Northwest PR PA +1.503.201.7019 dianne@publixnw.com Echelon Biosciences, Inc. Mark Nelson, PhD Vice President Business and Science Development +1 801-588-0455 mnelson@echelon-inc.com The five soldiers accused of being part of a plot to destabilise the country on Tuesday, April 13, asked the Accra High Court to stop the Ghana Armed Forces(GAF) from sending soldiers to always follow them to court. The soldiers are Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon and Warrant Officer (II) Esther Saan Dekuwine. Their lawyers told the court that the practice of soldiers following their clients to court was intimidating. According to the lawyers, their clients were currently on bail and therefore the GAF had no business following them to court. Morale support Following the complaints from the accused persons, a lawyer from GAF, Squadron Leader Adusa- Nana Agyemang, who was sitting in the public gallery, stood up as an amicus curie and explained the rationale behind the act. She said soldiers following the accused persons to court was part of the protocols of GAF. Soldiers, she said, always followed soldiers who were facing legal issues even in civil related cases to court. The presiding judge, Justice Samuel Asiedu, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, siting is a High Court judge, asked Squadron Leader Agyemang the purpose of that practice. The purpose is to provide morale support for the soldiers, Squadron Leader Agyemang said. Lawyers for accused persons - Messers Eric Pongo and Ziyerley Agbambila, said their clients were not asking for any morale support. This is a situation where we dont need any morale support, they said. Justice Asiedu, however, said there was nothing wrong with the practice, and rather he believed it was out of respect for the soldiers who were standing trial. He said so far as the soldiers were not following the accused persons out of court to curtail their personal liberties, there was nothing wrong with the practice. The trial of the accused persons will commence on May 4, this year. Not guilty The five soldiers, a senior police officer - Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo, and four others - Dr Frederick Mac-Palm, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu and Johannes Zikpi have been accused of plotting to destabilise the country. They are accused of being part of Take Action Ghana (TAG) - a group the prosecution claims was planning to destabilise the country. Dr Mac-Palm, Kafui, Debrah, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Cpl Akanpewon and Zikpi have been charged with conspiracy to commit treason felony and treason felony, while Dr Mac-Palm and Kafui have been separately charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse. Col Gameli and ACP Dr Agordzo have been charged with abetment to treason felony. All the 10 accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutions facts The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor Ms Hilda Craig, a Senior State Attorney, were that TAG plotted to destabilise the country and overthrow the government. She claimed that, as part of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm, who is accused of being the mastermind of the plot, Kafui and Debrah planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff and force the President to announce his overthrow. Again, there were discussions on whether or not to kill the President in the process of overthrowing the government, she said. The prosecutor added that in June 2018, the security agencies picked up intelligence that the accused persons, under the auspices of TAG, had planned to overthrow and take over the government. According to her, as part of the plan, Col. Gameli recruited Zikpi, who was a signal specialist with the GAF, to help jam the radio signals of the National Communications Authority. TAG, she said, planned to jam all radio stations, with the exception of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The prosecutor said in furtherance of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm invited Kafui, who was a blacksmith at Alavanyo, to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for the group. With regard to ACP Dr Agordzo,Ms Craig said he donated GH2,000 to TAG to aid its cause and also drafted a speech for Dr Mac-Palm to be read at the planned demonstration by TAG. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Phasex Corporation is a 40-year-old company principally practicing supercritical fluid CO 2 extraction in North Andover, MA. 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SOURCE PHCO2 Related Links https://www.thephco2.com Ursula Kuczynski, alias Ruth Werner, alias Agent Sonya, was a Red Army officer and an expert in radio communication, a saboteur, a first-rate spy and a successful writer. She achieved all of these things while raising a family, which was both a perfect alibi and a fateful trap. If her story is not well-known, it is because until now it has not been written about. Historian Ben Macintyre, the author of several books on the shadowy world of espionage and who has recently published the Spanish-language edition of his 2020 book Agent Sonya: Moscows Most Daring Wartime Spy, explains over the phone from the UK: Today people talk a lot about how to balance work and family life, but in Ursula Kuczynskis case it took place on a completely different level. Her work was lethal. If she failed, she would die and her family as well. She had a remarkable capacity for compartmentalizing, something that all great spies are able to do, but she admitted that if it had come down to a conflict between her family and the revolution, she would have chosen the revolution. In many ways she was a fanatical communist. That she was a woman was her best disguise, but it is also the reason we didnt know anything about her. The second of six children in a well-to-do Jewish family, Kuczynski was born in Berlin in 1907 and grew up in a Germany mired in the ideological struggle between the far right and the left. At the age of 19 she joined the German Communist Party and allied herself to a cause she would never abandon. In 1930 she fled the growing reach of the Sturmabteilung, the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, and moved to a convulsive Shanghai with her first husband, the architect Rudi Hamburger. There Kuczynski met the spy Richard Sorge, embarking on a brief and intense romance and thereafter always carrying a photo of him with her. It was Sorge who gave Kuczynski her nom de guerre, and got her hooked on a clandestine existence of secrets and loyalties. When Sorge was arrested and executed in Japan at the end of one of the most impressive careers in the history of espionage, he never revealed Ursulas identity. All spies are convinced they are working for the most unimpeachable ideals, but it is always much more complicated than that. Espionage is both complex and addictive. Secrets are a very potent drug. Once you become a part of this elite it is very difficult to leave it and she was, furthermore, very ambitious. And of course, if you are working for the Soviets there is a practical element to consider: if you try to leave, theyll probably kill you, says Macintyre. Kuczynski with Stasi officers at the GDR Ministry for State Security after her retirement. BArch, Bild Macintyre, born in Oxford in 1963, is one of the most accomplished narrators of the history of espionage but he admits he had never encountered a case like Kuczynskis previously. What sets her apart from any other spy I have come across is that she was a professional, the author explains. She chose to work in the world of intelligence as a career, as a vocation. The majority of female spies worked for men on subsidiary missions or as informants. There are really very few who rose to be officers and I dont know of any who were colonels in the Red Army. And nobody ever made it as far as she did in any intelligence service. Extremely adept at covering her tracks, during her lengthy career Agent Sonya evaded capture by the Gestapo, the Chinese secret police and Japans Kenpeitai and, during her time as a refugee in England in World War II, she also flew under the radar of British counter-intelligence. The MI5 reports are hugely entertaining, says Macintyre with a chuckle. She was systematically underestimated by men and they failed time and time again to identify this woman who was looking after her children, wearing an apron and baking a birthday cake when they turned up to interrogate her, as someone who potentially could be the perfect spy. And she exploited that advantage as much as she could. In MI5s defense, despite the incompetence and chauvinism of many of its members, the agent Milicent Bagot insisted on several occasions that Kuczynski and the rest of her family who were living with her (above all her father and brother) were Soviet spies. She was correct, but she was a woman and so nobody paid her suspicions any heed. However, Kuczynski had more formidable enemies: her own employers. Agent Sonya survived the Stalinist terror that swept away most of the structure of Soviet espionage, including many of her colleagues and friends, a danse macabre of denunciation and death that resulted in the arrest of 1.5 million people and the execution of more than 680,000 over two years. Macintyre believes there are two reasons for this: her enormous capacity for inspiring loyalty an essential part of the work of a spy, gaining the trust of others and convincing them that their future depends on their personal loyalty to you and a most extraordinary run of luck: She was spared when so many others perished. For a variety of reasons, she could very easily have ended up with a bullet in the back of the neck in the basements of Lubyanka. Kuczynski with her first husband, Rudi Hamburger, in Shanghai in 1934. Archivo de la familia Hamburger Among Agent Sonyas numerous achievements in Switzerland, China, Japanese-occupied Manchuria and Britain, one stands above all the rest: her handling of Klaus Fuchs, a German nuclear physicist, member of the Manhattan Project and Soviet spy who also worked on British research into the construction of an atomic bomb. In line with her commitment to the double life she led, Kuczynski gave birth to her third child in 1943, days after arranging for the final instalment of a 570-page document containing key information from the British atomic project to be delivered to Moscow from her home in the English countryside. It was a triumph of espionage that advanced Soviet nuclear ambitions by several years, leading to equilibrium between the WWII allied powers and paving the way for the Cold War. In 1950, after Fuchs confessed to his wartime activities as a spy, MI5 admitted Kuczynski ran a network of agents on British soil but attempted to play down the magnitude of the security breach. However, British intelligence still refuses to acknowledge that this woman so busy with domestic tasks who loved to go on long bicycle rides (during which she would meet with her informants) was the master spy she is now known to have been. In 1949, Kuczynski had returned to her native Germany and the nascent GDR, which she viewed as a communist paradise, to settle with her second husband, Len, and her three children. Leaving behind her life as a spy, from 1956 onward she found fame as a writer under the name Ruth Werner. In 1969 she was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. She harbored doubts and fears and lived a life of pain and loss, committed to a single cause, but she never regretted what she had done. Ursulas children idolized her, but they didnt fully trust her and they wondered how well they knew her, writes Macintyre in his book. Peter, Michael and Nina were the fruit of three separate relationships and always felt loved and cared for, even if they were unaware of their mothers work for a period of time during their lives: much like the rest of the world, who only now are becoming aware of the story of perhaps the greatest spy in history. A career unveiling the lives of famous spies During his long career, Ben Macintyre has told the stories of the lives of some of the most famous figures in espionage like Kim Philby and Oleg Gordievski in books that combine meticulous research with narrative fiction techniques. Part of the strength of his books comes from the treatment he gives to the personalities whose stories he tells, including the secondary actors. Among these, MI5 agent Roger Hollis stands out in his latest book. Hollis is still under suspicion of having been a Soviet spy, with some writers attributing his incompetence in failing to unmask Kuczynski or the members of the Cambridge Five spy ring, in which Philby was a key player, to ulterior motives. I dont believe that. Id love it to be the case, but I find it difficult to imagine that Putin would have passed up the opportunity to boast about something like that, Macintyre says with a laugh. English version by Rob Train. The Catholic Lay Apostolate Council of Seoul and the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation have joined the campaign launched by the Bishops Conference. To this end, they will raise funds by phone and make a video to inform and inspire people throughout the country. Seoul (AsiaNews) The Archdiocese of Seoul is taking part in the Vaccine-Sharing Campaign launched by Pope Francis. Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Archbishop of Seoul, announced the decision during Easter Mass. In it, he urged the faithful to participate (manifesto pictured), noting that the Pope called several times for universal access to vaccines against the pandemic. The prelate explained that the pontiff urged the entire international community, in a spirit of global responsibility, to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries. In solidarity with the Holy Father, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) decided to launch a 'Vaccine Sharing Campaign' to support the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the worlds poor countries. To this end, the Catholic Lay Apostolate Council of Seoul and the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation have joined the initiative and plan to run a telephone fundraiser and make a video to inform and inspire people across the country The campaign, which is open to everyone, will last until 27 November, the last jubilee day for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Korea's first native Catholic priest. As reports suggest, reduced vaccine and antibody therapeutic efficacy and higher transmissibility and in these strains, mutations in the RBD have become a cause of concern. Random mutations of the viral genome are inevitable as SARS-CoV-2 spreads around the world. Mutations in and outside the RBD domain can alter the conformation of S protein significantly. This must be continuously monitored for effect in transmissibility and severity of COVID-19. In the course of this pandemic, GISAID is tracking new mutation/clades of SARS-CoV-2. Figure 14. Phylogenetic clades of SARS-CoV-2 mutations with key variants around the world highlighted. Image Credit: ACROBiosystems Next strain visualization of the SARS-CoV-2 mutation exhibits numerous clades of mutants emerging in 2019 and 2020, seen in Figure 14. Yet, mutations which result in a gain of functions are particularly dangerous as they could increase disease severity and viral transmissibility. The D614G variant is the dominant mutation found in almost all SARS-CoV-2 infections and has been attributed to the growth in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Numerous explanations for high transmissibility of the D614G variant have been demonstrated and include improvement in the assembly of functional S protein on virion19 and equilibrium shift of RBD from 47% open to 95% open conformation in the mutant20. Three new variants have recently emerged: 501Y.V1/B.1.1.7 from the UK, 501Y.V2/P.1 from Brazil, and 501Y.V2/B.1.351 variant from South Africa. A US variant originating on the west coast (B.1.429) has been more recently identified and suspected in a quick rise of cases.21 Figure 15. Tracking of variant percentages in SARS-CoV-2 samples as of Jan 28. Image Credit: ACROBiosystems Due to the potential resistance to vaccine-induced/therapeutic neutralizing antibodies and suspected rise in transmissibility, the spread of these strains globally, seen in Figure 15, has been alarming. Table 3 shows the mutation details for the variants. Table 3. Major SARS-CoV-2 variants in circulation worldwide21-23. Bold mutations are in the RBD and red-colored mutations lie within the RBM. Source: ACROBiosystems As reports indicate reduced vaccine and antibody therapeutic efficacy and higher transmissibility in these strains, mutations in the RBD have become a cause of concern. Recent reports indicate that the B.1.1.7 variant is resistant to neutralization by antibodies targeting NTD of S protein and partially resistant to RBD mutants while showing modest resistance in convalescent plasma and vaccinated sera.22 The B.1.351 has exhibited higher resistance to both NTD and RBD antibodies and significant resistance (11-33 fold) in convalescent plasma and vaccine sera (6.5-8.6). In results with Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Novavax vaccines, the antibody titer exhibits no difference against B.1.1.7 variant while lowered efficacy has been seen against B.1.351 variant 24, 25. Table 4. Vaccine efficacy analysis against emerging strains24-26. Source: ACROBiosystems The E484K mutation, which is present in both S. Africa and Brazil variants, is thought to contribute to resistance where neutralization decrease >10 fold was seen in some convalescent serum antibodies.27 Another mutant, N501Y, found in the UK, S African, and Brazil variants is thought to enhance the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 via strengthening ACE2 binding.28 Further to effect in vaccination, these emerging variants have been discovered to lower the potency of current antibody therapies against COVID-19. Two monoclonal antibody cocktails have been tested against these variants and have received emergency use authorization from the FDA. They are from Eli Lilly (bamlanivimab/estesevimab) and Regeneron (Casirivimab/imdevimab). For Eli Lillys antibodies, bamlanivimab was susceptible to the E484K mutation in RBD, which resulted in an over 100-fold reduction in neutralizing activity while estesevimab retained activity with only a 4.4-fold decrease in neutralizing ability.29 Regenerons casirivimab and bamlanivimab both exhibited little to no change in potency against the B.1.1.7 variant whilst exhibiting complete or extremely abolished activity against B.1.347 variants.22 For these variants, ACROBiosystems is working to develop a collection of recombinant antigens. The reagents can be utilized to assess the efficacy of the vaccination and antibodies. Newly launched product: Neutralizing antibody titer kit accelerating vaccines and diagnostics development A number of serological tests have been developed by ACROBiosystems to track and fight the surging COVID-19 spread. To establish the efficacy of vaccines and for a diagnostic measure of past infections, testing the levels of neutralizing antibodies against S protein in serum samples is vital. With the rise of mutant variants and the start of large-scale immunization with multiple vaccines, close monitoring of neutralizing antibodies in the population and the effect of virus mutation is needed for effective immunization campaigns. ACROBiosystems provides neutralization kits and IgG, IgM titer detection kits. The neutralization kit from ACROBiosystems demonstrated consistent detection of neutralizing antibodies against numerous dilutions of COVID-19 convalescent serum. ACROBiosystems serology kits provide a better understanding of neutralizing antibody mechanisms and help researchers develop strategies to improve vaccines and diagnostics, particularly against emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutant strains. References B, H. H, G.; P, Z.; ZL, S., Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Nature reviews. 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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2004, 101 (26). Traggia, i. E. Becker, S.; Subbarao, K. Kolesnikova, L. Uematsu, Y. Gismondo, M.; Murphy, B. Rappuoli, R. Lanzavecchia, A., An efficient method to make human monoclonal antibodies from memory B cells: potent neutralization of SARS coronavirus. Nature medicine 2004, 10 (8). J, S. Y, W.; C, L. G, Y. Q, G.; A, A.; F, L., Cell entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2020, 117 (21). DJ, B. AG, W.; P, X. C, R. SR, M.; PB, R. JJ, S.; SJ, G., Receptor binding and priming of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 for membrane fusion. Nature 2020, 588 (7837). R, H. RJ, E. K, M.; K, J. V, S. SMC, G.; M, K. D, L. R, P.; AL, H. MJ, B. BF, H.; P, A., Controlling the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein conformation. Nature structural & molecular biology 2020, 27 (10). CL, H. JA, G. JM, S.; AM, D. HC, K. K, J.; KC, L. D, W. AG, L.; Y, L. CW, C. PO, B.; CK, H. NV, J. J, L.-M.; AW, N. J, P. N, W.; D, A. JJ, L. GC, I.; JA, M. IJ, F.; JS, M., Structure-based design of prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spikes. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2020, 369 (6510). D, W. N, W. KS, C. JA, G.; CL, H. O, A. BS, G.; JS, M., Cryo-EM structure of the 2019-nCoV spike in the prefusion conformation. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2020, 367 (6483). R, Y. Y, Z. Y, L.; L, X. Y, G.; Q, Z., Structural basis for the recognition of SARS-CoV-2 by full-length human ACE2. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2020, 367 (6485). J, L. J, G. J, Y.; S, S. H, Z. S, F.; Q, Z. X, S. Q, W.; L, Z.; X, W., Structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain bound to the ACE2 receptor. Nature 2020, 581 (7807). Cantuti-Castelvetri, L.; Ojha, R. Pedro, L. D. Djannatian, M. Franz, J.; Kuivanen, S. Meer, F. v. d. Kallio, K. Kaya, T.; Anastasina, M. Smura, T. Levanov, L.; Szirovicza, L. Tobi, A. Kallio-Kokko, H. Osterlund, P. Joensuu, M.; Meunier, F. A. Butcher, S. J. Winkler, M. S. Mollenhauer, B. Helenius, A.; Gokce, O. Teesalu, T. Hepojoki, J.; Vapalahti, O. Stadelmann, C. Balistreri, G.; Simons, M., Neuropilin-1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 cell entry and infectivity. Science 2020, 370 (6518), 856-860. C, W. L, W. Q, Y.; X, W. J, Z. X, Y.; Y, Z. C, F. D, L.; Y, D. J, S. J, G.; X, Y. Y, W. X, W.; J, L. H, Y. H, L.; Z, Z. R, W. P, D.; Y, Z. F, Y. W, Z.; N, W. Y, P. H, L.; J, F. C, Q. W, C.; Q, G. R, Z. Y, C.; H, Z., HDL-scavenger receptor B type 1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry. Nature metabolism 2020, 2 (12). Gu, Y. Cao, J. Zhang, X.; Gao, H. Wang, Y. Wang, J.; Zhang, J. Shen, G. Jiang, X.; Yang, J. Zheng, X. Xu, J.; Zhang, C. C. Lan, F. Qu, D.; Zhao, Y. Xu, G. Xie, Y.; Luo, M.; Lu, Z., Interaction network of SARS-CoV-2 with host receptome through spike protein. bioRxiv 2020. Wang, S., Qiu, Z., Hou, Y. et al. AXL is a candidate receptor for SARS-CoV-2 that promotes infection of pulmonary and bronchial epithelial cells. Cell Res 31, 126140 (2021). L, Z. CB, J. 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PANGO lineages. https://cov-lineages.org/global_report.html. Wu, K. Werner, A. P. Moliva, J. I. Koch, M.; Choi, A. Stewart-Jones, G. B. E. Bennett, H. Boyoglu-Barnum, S. Shi, W.; Graham, B. S. Carfi, A. Corbett, K. S. Seder, R. A.; Edwards, D. K., mRNA-1273 vaccine induces neutralizing antibodies against spike mutants from global SARS-CoV-2 variants. bioRxiv 2021. Xie, X. Zou, J. Fontes-Garfias, C. R. Xia, H.; Swanson, K. A. Cutler, M. Cooper, D.; Menachery, V. D. Weaver, S. Dormitzer, P. R.; Shi, P.-Y., Neutralization of N501Y mutant SARS-CoV-2 by BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited sera. bioRxiv 2021. Novavax, Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 89.3% Efficacy in UK Phase 3 Trial. 2021. Greaney, A. J. Loes, A. N. Crawford, K. H. D. Starr, T. N.; Malone, K. D. Chu, H. Y.; Bloom, J. D., Comprehensive mapping of mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain that affect recognition by polyclonal human serum antibodies. 2021. Luan, B. Wang, H.; Huynh, T., Molecular Mechanism of the N501Y Mutation for Enhanced Binding between SARS-CoV-2s Spike Protein and Human ACE2 Receptor. bioRxiv 2021. RL, G. A, N.; P, C. J, B. B, H.; J, M. G, H. J, C.; B, M. V, S. I, S.; P, K. AC, A. J, V. N.; KL, C. M, D. G, O.; AE, S. TR, H. PJ, E.; RE, H. NL, K. J, S.; DR, P. P, K. L, S.; DM, S., Effect of Bamlanivimab as Monotherapy or in Combination With Etesevimab on Viral Load in Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2021. About ACROBiosystems ACROBiosystems is a leading manufacturer of recombinant proteins and other critical reagents to support the development of target therapeutics. The company employs an application-oriented development strategy, with a particular focus on product design, quality control, and solution-based support. Our products and services enable anyone in the field of drug development to have a more intuitive and streamlined process. To respond to the coronavirus pandemic, ACROBiosystems has developed SARS-CoV-2 antigens specifically designed and optimized for serological test kits, including Spike-derived antigen S1, RBD, and Nucleocapsid protein. Proteins have been supplied to diagnostic companies in large quantities. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Vice President Joe Biden (Center L) arrives for a meeting with President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon in the Oval Office in Washington on July 18, 2012. (Pete Souza/White House Photo via Getty Images) Joe Bidens Hidden Handler Commentary In his March 25 White House press conference, President Joe Biden said Chinas goal of becoming the leading country in the world was not going to happen on my watch. Reporters seemed unaware that China had already made great strides in that direction on Bidens watch, which began in 2012. That year, as Steve Clemons of The Atlantic reported, Biden Gets China, and with Xi Jinping as Chinas president-in-waiting, the White House will move Vice President Joe Biden to the helm of the Obama administrations U.S.China policy. That move had been orchestrated by Tom Donilon, once described by James Mann in Foreign Policy as Obamas Gray Man, seldom mentioned in the press but wielding enormous power behind the scenes. Donilon served as a campaign staffer for Walter Mondale in 1984 and in 1988, advised then-Sen. Biden in his first run for the presidency. From 1999 to 2005, Donilon was chief lobbyist for the Federal National Mortgage Association, commonly known as Fannie Mae, where he presided over massive misconduct that drew a fine of $400 million. That prompted Robert Scheer of Truthdig to brand Donilon a top hustler and wonder why President Barack Obama would tap Donilon for the sensitive post of national security adviser. As it happened, Donilon also was a crony of Vice President Biden. Donilons brother Michael also advised Biden, and Donilons wife, Cathy, served as chief of staff to Jill Biden. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates allegedly predicted that Donilon would be a disaster as national security adviser. In Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, Gates wrote that Donilon characterized the U.S. military as in revolt and insubordinate. Donilon bridled when Gen. Stanley McChrystal announced a counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. While hard on the U.S. military, Donilon was soft on China. In a June 2013 speech to the Asia Society, Donilon said, I disagree with the premise put forward by some historians and theorists that a rising power and an established power are somehow destined for conflict. Donilon didnt clarify that the rising power was a genocidal communist dictatorship and the established power a constitutional democracy. As Donilon saw it, a deeper U.S.China military-to-military dialogue is central to addressing many of the sources of insecurity and potential competition between us. Biden held similar views. Biden voted against strong sanctions on communist China as a response to the Tiananmen Square massacre. In 1998, the United States again proposed sanctions on the Peoples Republic of China, including visa restrictions, and Biden was part of a group of 10 senators who opposed the measures. In 2001, Biden, then head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, supported Chinas entry to the World Trade Organization. As he explained, The United States welcomes the emergence of a prosperous, integrated China on the global stage, because we expect this is going to be a China that plays by the rules. In May 2011, Biden said he believed that protecting fundamental rights and freedoms such as those enshrined in Chinas international commitments as well as in Chinas own constitution is the best way to promote long term stability and prosperityof any society. The U.S. vice president didnt specify the fundamental rights and freedoms in Chinas constitution, and his statement offered no criticism of the communist regime. That marks a contrast with President Bill Clinton, who, in 1992, referred to the butchers of Beijing. On Bidens watch as vice president, China ramped up internal repressions and became more aggressive, modernizing its military and creating island bases that put key U.S. allies and interests at risk. In 2020, on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, Biden called for recommitting to the universal struggle for human dignity but offered no direct criticism of Chinas communist regime. During the 2020 election campaign, Biden described the Chinese regime as not bad folks, and not competition for the United States. That has been his position all along, the same as Biden crony Tom Donilon, who orchestrated the move for Biden to get China in 2012. In November 2020, CNN reported that Donilon was one of Bidens leading contenders for director of the CIA. Donilon reportedly turned it down, but the family influence remains strong. Donilons wife Cathy served on Bidens transition advisory board and was appointed director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. Mike Donilon, Bidens chief strategist during the 2020 campaign, is now a senior adviser and, as The New York Times reported, the defender of the Biden brand. In that brand, the communist Chinese are not bad folks, and not competition for us. Biden has also addressed the symmetry between the rising power and the established power. In a Feb. 17 interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper, Biden said, Culturally, there are different norms that each country and theytheir leadersare expected to follow. Biden is OK with Chinas norms, so on his current watch, Xi Jinping can do as he pleases with the Uyghurs, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. That deeper U.S.China military-to-military dialogue may not be long delayed. Lloyd Billingsley is the author of Yes I Con: United Fakes of America, Barack em Up: A Literary Investigation, Hollywood Party, and other books. His articles have appeared in many publications, including Frontpage Magazine, City Journal, The Wall Street Journal, and American Greatness. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. SANTA CRUZ, Calif., April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (OTC: SCZC), with assets over $1.4 billion, is a top rated community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County. Today the Bank announced the retirement of founding Director Tila Banuelos and founding Chairman, George Gallucci from its Board of Directors, effective as of the date of the Bank's Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 26, 2021. Chairman William J. Hansen stated, "Today we announce the upcoming retirement of Tila Banuelos and George Gallucci from our Board of Directors. On May 26, 2021, Tila and George will retire from our Board after serving as founding Directors since the Bank's inception. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors of Santa Cruz County Bank, we thank both Tila and George for their service, business referrals and lasting contributions to Santa Cruz County Bank. Their involvement from the beginning has been instrumental in the success of Santa Cruz County Bank. We wish the very best for both Tila and George in the next chapter of their lives!" Tila Banuelos is President and CEO of Mas Mac, Inc., which owns 3 MacDonald's franchises in Watsonville, California. Ms. Banuelos' banking background includes a 32-year career at Bank of America where she accelerated to Vice President and Manager. Tila has a teaching degree in Banking and Finance, and taught at Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA from 1979-1989. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Relations, Organizational Behavior from University of San Francisco. An avid community supporter and volunteer, Tila has been honored by numerous community and national organizations in recognition of her vast business leadership experience and community engagement. Founding Director Tila Banuelos commented, "It is a great honor to be a founding board member of Santa Cruz County Bank. I am proud of our work over the years in hiring the folks that joined us to build a new community bank from the ground up. Meeting with, and obtaining approval, from state and federal bank regulators was an awesome experience. I am so proud of our employees, the great success of our Bank, and how we've worked together in meeting the challenges of growth and current times. Now it's time for the next chapter of my life: family, church, and good friends." George Gallucci is a retired Registered Investment Advisor and banker. George worked at County Bank and Trust in Santa Cruz, California, and its successor, Pacific Western Bank, from 1968-1990. He became a Registered Investment Advisor at Scharf Investments, a private investment advisory firm, in 1991. He left his role as Director of Client Relations at Scharf Investments in 2013. Former Founding Chairman George Gallucci remarked, "It has been extremely gratifying to be part of the group that launched Santa Cruz County Bank. The success enjoyed by the Bank is largely the result of the management team and their commitment to the Bank and the community. I thank each and every one for their contributions. I leave the Board of Directors with the confidence that it is in good hands to perpetuate the success we have established as part of our goals and objectives." ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK Santa Cruz County Bank was founded in 2004. It is a top-rated, locally-owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The bank has eight branchesAptos, Capitola, Cupertino, Monterey, Santa Cruz (2), Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus and direct access to decision makers. The bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations. Santa Cruz County Bank stock is publicly traded on the OTC marketplace under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank, visit www.sccountybank.com. NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RATINGS AND AWARDS S&P Global Top 100 Community Banks: Santa Cruz County Bank has ranked in the Top 100 Community Banks by S&P Global for 6 consecutive years. Financial Management Consulting (FMC) Group: Santa Cruz County Bank has ranked in FMC's top ten banks in California for the past 6 years. The Findley Reports, Inc.: The Bank has received the top ranking of Super Premier by Findley for 11 consecutive years. Bauer Financial Reports, Inc.: Santa Cruz County Bank is rated 5-star "Superior" based upon its financial performance for every quarter in 2020. The Bank ranks 11th in the Silicon Valley, for the number of SBA loans lent to Silicon Valley businesses for the SBA's 2020 fiscal year, inclusive of the counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey. COMMUNITY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Second Harvest Food Bank, Platinum Award for 2020 Holiday Food & Fund Drive. Santa Cruz Sentinel, 2020 Reader's Choice Award, Voted "Best Bank" in Santa Cruz County. Good Times, 2020 Best of Santa Cruz County Award, Voted "Best Bank" for 9 consecutive years. Santa Cruz Waves Magazine, 2020 Swellies Awards, Voted "Favorite Bank" in Santa Cruz County. This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank Related Links http://www.sccountybank.com Not far away in Minnesota, and mere days later, a Black man was killed during a traffic stop, allegedly because a police officer intended to utilize her taser but instead used her gun to shoot him dead. Where we not all inured to these occurrences, it would be impossible to believe, especially at this moment. Whatever may now ensue, there is no way to bring back Daunte Wright. His death, too, hangs heavy in the firmament. DETROIT Detroit police chief James Craig didnt hold back in criticizing U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaibs tweets about police. Tlaib, a Detroit Democrat, took to Twitter to suggest that the shooting of a young Black man by police near Minneapolis wasnt an accident and is proof of racism. Craig, who also recently spoke with Fox Business about policing in modern America, called the comments a disgusting knee-jerk response, according to the Associated Press. This was a tragic incident, and it shouldve never happened, Craig, who is Black, said. But when these tragedies happen, you shouldnt just broad-brush the entire profession. On Monday, Tlaib expressed her thoughts on Twitter about the shooting of Daunte Wright, 20, in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Police said a white officer mistakenly fired her gun instead of a Taser. The incident has led to unrest and rioting in the Minneapolis suburb, an area already on edge due to the death of George Floyd in May 2020. It wasnt an accident, Tlaib wrote. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It cant be reformed. It wasn't an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed. Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 12, 2021 The tweet has generated thousands of passionate responses, with some supporting the rhetoric and others condemning it. Count Craig among those offended by the idea. To say policing should be abolished gives no consideration to the people who live in our neighborhoods who rely on police to provide service, Craig told The Detroit News. What happens to those folks? What about the victims? The people who live in our city dont want to abolish the police, so the million-dollar question is: Who does (Tlaib) represent? Detroits population is about 80% Black. Utility ratepayers in Ohio are still waiting for full repeal of the fatally compromised House Bill 6 energy law and for a less utility-skewed Public Utilities Commission of Ohio -- although progress is being made on the former with elimination of HB 6s nuclear bailout and decoupling provisions. Now, a reform-minded Columbus-area lawmaker seeks to strike another blow for utility ratepayers, via proposed Senate Bill 95. The bill, introduced Feb. 24 by Democratic state Sen. Tina Maharath of Canal Winchester, is likely going nowhere fast, with only three co-sponsors, all Democrats, including Kenny Yuko of Richmond Heights, in a legislature that is overwhelmingly Republican. But if influential GOP senators like Mark Romanchuk of Richland County, who has supported similar language in the past, climb aboard, Ohio ratepayers will be the winners. The bill seeks to close a ridiculous pro-utility loophole in Ohio regulation and legal precedent that our editorial board has long editorialized against, and which has led the Ohio Supreme Court to rule, repeatedly and, in our view, wrongly, that utilities cant be made to reimburse consumers for improperly charged rates. SB 95 would require the prompt refund of all public utility charges paid by customers that are found to be unreasonable, unlawful, imprudent, or otherwise improper. For many years, the state Supreme Court, citing a 1950s precedent, has determined that consumers are out of luck and utilities can keep the money if the high court finds a PUCO rate award unlawful. The Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel calculates this has cost Ohio ratepayers -- and benefited the states electric utilities -- to the tune of $1.5 billion since 2009. There is an easy way for Ohio to fix this problem: Enact SB 95. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. [April 14, 2021] Design of Robust Time of Use (ToU) Framework for Electricity Tariff in Gujarat and Launch of ToU Tool for Utilities and Regulators by ISGF NEW DELHI, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pricing of electricity is one of the key challenges in the efficient functioning of the power sector. Electricity tariffs typically do not reflect the true costs of generation, transmission and distribution in India. Knowledge about the demand-price relationship, consumers' willingness-to-pay for electricity, and demand forecasts are necessary to plan the supply and design of tariff structures. Increase in distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and electric vehicles (EVs) will result in unanticipated peaks in demand-generation balance leading to huge stress on the power system equipment and networks. Typically, in most cities, the last 100 MW of the peak demand is experienced for about 100 hours or less in a year; and creating an entire infrastructure to meet this load makes the whole system uneconomical. India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), a PPP initiative of Government of India, with support from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF) embarked on the project "Design of Robust Time of Use Framework for Electricity Tariff in Gujarat", a first of its kind study in India. The study examined the detailed feasibility on the possible impacts of the Time of Use (To) tariff policy in the state of Gujarat. As part of this project, ISGF developed a ToU Tool that utilities and regulators can use for analyzing different "what-if" scenarios on how much peak load can be shifted and what impact it would have on the utility revenue, reduction in peak power purchase cost and impact on the customer's bills. An implementation framework and practical roadmap is also given in the ToU report. The study also assessed the use and the impact of the policy on peaking power plants and reduction in the use of DG sets that are used to meet peak loads. It was recommended that the ToU tariff may be implemented on pilot basis in Naroda area in UGVCL in 2021. In the initial phase (6 months to 1 year) there should not be any financial implications of ToU - the customers opting for ToU may be presented two bills: one regular bill that they will pay; and another bill which will show the charges if they had opted for ToU scheme and shifted part of their load. This Shadow Bills should show how much they would have saved if they shifted their load by 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% etc during peak hours during the billing cycle. This experiment will give enough time for utilities to fine-tune their billing system for ToU regime. ToU has the potential to flatten demand profiles and thus help power suppliers to reduce expenditure on capacity addition and efficiently plan electricity generation, transmission and distribution assets. This real-time dynamic tariff enables demand flexibility in response to real-time price signals that will help flatten the load curve and improve the asset utilization while reducing emissions. Access the ToU Report by ISGF at following link: https://indiasmartgrid.org/report_register.php?report_id=239 About India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) ISGF is a public private partnership initiative of Govt. of India with the mandate of accelerating smart grid deployments across the country. With 170+ members comprising of ministries, utilities, technology providers, academia and research, ISGF has evolved as a Think-Tank of global repute on Smart Energy and Smart Cities. Mandate of ISGF is to accelerate energy transition through clean energy, electric grid modernization and electric mobility; work with national and international agencies in standards development and help utilities, regulators and the Industry in technology selection, training and capacity building. Website: https://indiasmartgrid.org/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1096933/ISGF_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement Ukraine has accused Moscow of preparing to store nuclear weapons in Crimea amid soaring tensions in the region as the first of two US warships is expected to arrive during live-fire drills from the Russian navy. Ukraine's defence minister Andrii Taran warned that Moscow could attack to ensure water supplies for the annexed peninsula and said he could not rule out a possibility that Russian forces in Crimea could 'undertake substantive military provocations' this year. 'Crimea's infrastructure is being prepared for potentially storing nuclear weapons,' Taran told the European Parliament's sub-committee on defence. 'The very presence of nuclear munitions in the peninsula may spark a whole array of complex political, legal and moral problems.' Taran provided no evidence for his assertion but said Russia was massing 110,000 troops on Ukraine's border in 56 battalion-sized tactical groups, citing the latest Ukrainian intelligence. His comments, ahead of an emergency NATO meeting with allied defence and foreign ministers, came as the Russian navy held snap live-fire drills in the Black Sea. Two missile ships - the Graivoron and Vyshny Volochek - are taking part in sea-level and aerial target practice alongside the missile hovercraft Samum while accompanied by frigate Admiral Makarov and mine-sweeping ship Ivan Golubets, the Russian navy's Black Sea fleet command said. Meanwhile the first of two US warships - thought to be destroyers USS Donald Cook and USS Roosevelt - are expected to arrive in the Black Sea today, despite Russian warnings to keep them away 'for their own good'. Ukraine announced it was also holding its own land-based drills with infantry and tank units rehearsing their defence against a tank and troop attack along the border with annexed Ukraine. Tensions between the two countries remained high today as Moscow showed no sign of abating its military build-up with gunboats, artillery and armoured vehicles filmed heading towards the border - despite Joe Biden calling for Putin to 'de-escalate' during a phone call yesterday. Putin's spokesman Dimitry Peskov said that Russia is today 'studying' a proposal by Biden for the two leaders to hold a summit, but it is 'too early to talk about this meeting in terms of specifics.' There are tens of thousands of Russian troops stationed along the Ukrainian border alongside an array of hardware including tanks and anti-aircraft missiles, which Russia claims is being deployed for two weeks of training exercises in response to a NATO build-up - which the alliance says does not exist. Instead, western observers believe the build-up is designed to test Joe Biden's response - with German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer saying today that Moscow is trying 'to provoke a reaction'. 'Together with Ukraine, we won't be drawn into this game,' she said. Separately, Margarita Simonyan - editor-in-chief of Russian state-run outlets RT and Sputnik and staunchly pro-Kremlin mouthpiece - warned that war between the two nuclear-armed superpowers is 'inevitable' and encouraged Moscow to prepare itself. Three Russian missile ships, a frigate and a mine-sweeping vessel will take part in snap live-fire drills in the Black Sea today amid soaring tensions around the border with Ukraine Mine-sweeping vessel Ivan Golubets (pictured right during previous live-fire drills) is one of five vessels from Russia's Black Sea fleet taking part in exercises today, the nbay has confirmed Russia's Black Sea fleet, based out of Sevastopol (centre) is holding today's drills while more ships are being transferred over from the Caspian Sea fleet via the Don River (top right). In response, America has sent two destroyers due to arrive today Ukrainian tanks take part in military drills near the border with Crimea as tensions continue to rise along the border Ukraine said armour and infantry units took part in a drill designed to simulate repelling a troop and tank attack Ukraine has said it will not hesitate to defend its territorial integrity if Russia decides to move its forces into the country Simonyan theorised that the war would not be a conventional one , but will instead be fought over information networks - with all-out cyberwarfare, nationwide blackouts, and the targeted disruption of internet services deployed as weapons. 'In conventional war, we could defeat Ukraine in two days,' Simonyan said, 'but it will be another kind of war. We'll do it, and then [the U.S.] will respond by turning off power to [the Russian city] Voronezh.' Simonyan encouraged Putin to shore up Russia's 'vulnerabilities' to cyber warfare while exploiting the US's 'catastrophic' educational standards in order to achieve victory. Won by conquest, given away as a 'gift', now occupied by force: Russia's history in Crimea and the Black Sea Prince Grigory Potemkin, who established the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea in 1783 The Black Sea - and the Crimean peninsula which juts into it - are a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and Asia which has been contested by Empires and nations for centuries. The sea itself contains vital trading routes, is bordered by five of Russia's near-neighbours, and today hosts vital energy pipelines and fibre optic cables. For Russia to assert power in the waters, control of Crimea - which contains its main Black Sea port at Sevastopol and controls the Kerch Strait leading to the nearby Sea of Azov - is essential. Crimea has, at one time or another, come under the control of the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans. It was not until 1783 that it fell fully under the control of the Russian Empire when Russian generals Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky led a force of 8,000 men to victory against an Ottoman army of 40,000 at the the Battle of Kozludzha. Russia's Prince Grigory Potemkin quickly established the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the port of Sevastopol, from where he asserted naval power over the Black Sea, it neighbours including Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey, and projected power further into the Mediterranean. Crimea also turned into a key trading post. On the eve of World War 1 in 1914 - some 50 per cent of all Russia's exports and a full 90 per cent of its agricultural exports passed through Bosphorus Strait which leads out of the Black Sea. In 1954 Crimea was given as a 'gift' by Nikita Khrushchev to Ukraine, ostensibly to mark the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's merger with Tsarist Russia, but more likely to secure Ukraine's support for Khrushchev's leadership and to cement Ukraine as part of the Soviet Union. Because Ukraine was then part of the Union, Moscow maintained control over Crimea and its vital ports - at least until 1991 when the union collapsed and Ukraine became and independent county. Following Ukraine's independence, access to the peninsula became a bargaining chip between the two nations, with Ukraine recognising Russia's right to the port at Sevastopol in return for concessions such as writing off debts and taking control of part of the Black Sea fleet. But in 2014, the pro-Moscow government of Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown in a popular uprising that wanted to draw the country closer to Europe. Fearing the loss of the port at Sevastopol, Putin marched troops into Crimea and seized control of it - later holding a 'referendum' which showed majority support for the region to become part of Russia, though the result is viewed as far from credible. Today, Moscow is in control of the peninsula and refers to it as part of its territory, though most world bodies refer to the region as 'occupied Crimea'. The Black Sea Fleet remains one of Russia's largest and most formidable, thought to comprise a total of 47 ships, seven submarines and 25,000 troops, mostly marines. Advertisement Speaking about today's exercises, the Russian navy said: 'In the sea, the crews of the ships will conduct single and joint test artillery fires at surface and air targets. 'The role of a simulated enemy will be played by naval target shields. In addition to ships, airplanes and helicopters of naval aviation and air defense of the fleet will be involved in the check.' As the two militaries rattled sabres, diplomatic machines also sprung into action with British foreign secretary Dominic Raab due in Brussels today for NATO talks. He will be among NATO foreign and defence ministers holding a video meeting which will be chaired by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and with U.S. defence and foreign ministers at NATO headquarters. The office of Ukrainian president Vlodomyr Zelensky also said that he had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga today who had expressed his support for Kiev amid the standoff. Meanwhile in Moscow, Biden's offer of a summit was being hailed as evidence that he blinked first during the standoff - with one politician saying Russia is now 'getting the respect it deserves'. 'It was a very important step forward... news on a global scale,' said Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian parliament's upper house. Separately, Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov invited John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, to talks on Wednesday, the Russian foreign ministry said, according to the RIA and TASS news agencies. Ushakov told the ambassador that Moscow would act decisively if the United States undertook any new 'unfriendly steps' such as imposing sanctions, RIA reported. The U.S. embassy in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request for comment about those talks. Russia has been preparing to be hit by new sanctions since Biden said last month that Putin would pay a price for alleged Russian meddling in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election. Moscow denies interfering. Elsewhere, Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer claimed that Putin may have ordered as many as half a million troops to the border, which would mark the largest massing of Russian arms in decades. 'The exact number of people participating is not officially indicated,' he said, before adding: 'Apparently more than half a million.' It comes after Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defence minister, said yesterday that Russian forces massing on the border are merely there to carry out training exercises in response to NATO drills. 'Over three weeks, two armies and three airborne units were successfully deployed to the western borders of the Russian Federation in areas for performing combat training exercises,' he said. He added that the 'troops have shown full readiness and ability to carry out tasks to ensure the country's military security' and that the exercises would be completed 'within two weeks'. In a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, NATO leader Stoltenberg said it was actually Russia which had built up arms in the region, calling its latest military movements 'unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning.' 'NATO stands with Ukraine,' he added. Stationed alongside the Russian troops are tanks, artillery, armoured personnel carriers, anti-aircraft missile systems, landing craft and artillery boats. In response, the Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that troop withdrawals from Germany approved under Trump will be cancelled and an additional 500 soldiers will be sent to the country. The build-up has been matched by an uptick in violence between Ukrainian government forces fighting Russian-backed rebel groups in the country's east, with another Ukrainian soldier killed on Tuesday. Alexey Mamchiy, 40, was killed by shrapnel from an enemy grenade which was dropped on him by a drone, according to Ukrainian media. It brings the total number of Ukrainian troops killed in the region this year to 29. Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov, speaking in Moscow on Tuesday, warned the US to keep its distance from Russian forces in the Black Sea, saying the risk of unspecified 'incidents' is very high. Black Sea standoff: How Russian and American naval forces compare Black Sea fleet The Black Sea Fleet is one of Russia's largest and most formidable, thought to comprise a total of 47 ships, seven submarines and some 25,000 troops - mostly Marines. Today, five of those vessels are taking part in live-fire drills in the Black Sea, as Moscow warns Washington to stay away 'for your own good'. The Vyshny Volochek is a 900-tonne, 240ft corvette with a state-of-the-art missile system. It performs anti-surface warfare combat missions with secondary air defense capability thanks to its surface-to-air missiles. The ship protects Russia's offshore economic zones and engages enemy warships. It has 52 crew and was launched in 2017. The Graivoron is the fourth 'small missile ship' of the Black Sea Fleet and was launched in 2020. It is armed with the land attack cruise missile 'Kalibr-NK' and has 52 crew members on board. It has four surface-to-air missiles and is also armed with 14.5mm and 7.62mm machine guns. The Admiral Makarov is a third frigate of the Admiral Grigorovich class of the navy in the Black Sea Fleet. Launched in 2015, the vessel is 409ft long, weighing 4,035 tonnes and has 200 crew on board. It is armed with a 100mm naval cannon, Kalibur anti-cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and a rocket launcher. The Samum is a guided missile corvette used for coast defense operations. The hovercraft carries out missile attacks on ships and claims to be the largest military hovercraft in the world. It has a displacement of 1,000 tonnes and a top speed of 100kmh. The vessel is armed with eight Mosquito missiles and 20 anti-aircraft missiles, an artillery complex, a machine-gun and an interference creating device. The 210ft Samum has 68 people on board and was launched in 1992. The Ivan Golubets is a minesweeper that was launched in 1973 that was originally built for the Soviet navy. With 68 crew on board, the 200ft vessel has 32 depth charges and underwater mine-detector radar systems. US Navy Washington is thought to have deployed two destroyers to the Black Sea as a warning to Moscow that it is watching events on the Ukraine border and stands ready to respond. Turkey's foreign ministry says the US Navy requested permission for two destroyers to pass through the straits which enter the ocean. The Donald Cook is an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer which was launched in 1997. The 505ft vessel has 281 crew members and claims to be equipped with one of the most advanced naval weapons systems in the world. It possesses a quick reaction air and ballistic missile defense system that automatically detects and tracks virtually everything in the air. The USS Donald Cook also has an advanced underwater surveillance system and a helicopter landing pad. Its vertical launching system can launch long-range surface-to-surface Tomahawk cruise missiles, surface-to-air Standard missile variants, and anti-ballistic missile Standard missile variants. It is also armed with a five-inch gun mount, 20mm Phalanz mounts and hull mounted crew-served weaons. The Roosevelt is also an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer which was launched in 1999. The 510ft ship has 380 crew members and an integrated radar and missile system that can defend against advanced air, surface, and subsurface threats. It is armed with the same weaponry as the USS Donald Cook. Advertisement Meanwhile Russia has continued to build up its forces along the Ukrainian border despite US calls for 'de-escalation', with more artillery units filmed arriving Russian gunboats were filmed sailing towards the Black Sea along the Don River from the Caspian Sea (left) while armoured vehicles continued to arrive at the front by train (right) 'There is absolutely nothing for American ships to be doing near our shores, this is purely a provocative action,' he said. 'Provocative in the direct sense of the word: they are testing our strength... They will not succeed. 'We warn the United States that it will be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast. It will be for their own good.' He added: 'The United States is our adversary and does everything it can to undermine Russia's position on the world stage. We do not see any other elements in their approach. Those are our conclusions.' 'If there is any aggravation, we of course will do everything to ensure our security and the safety of our citizens, wherever they are,' Ryabkov added. 'But Kiev and its allies in the West will be entirely responsible for the consequences of a hypothetical exacerbation.' Meanwhile the US State Department confirmed that Blinken had met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela in Brussels, saying he 'affirmed the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression.' 'The Secretary expressed concern about Russia's deliberate actions to escalate tensions with Ukraine, including through its aggressive rhetoric and disinformation, increasing ceasefire violations, and movement of troops in occupied Crimes and near Ukraine's borders,' a statement added. 'Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed the importance of advancing rule of law and economic reforms to strengthen Ukraine's institutions, support anti-corruption efforts, and further its Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations.' Ukraine says Russia has accumulated 41,000 troops at its border with eastern Ukraine and 42,000 more in Crimea. The numbers are likely to grow as the troops keep arriving. The Kremlin argues that Russia is free to deploy its troops wherever it wants on its territory and has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian military of 'provocative actions' along the line of control and of planning to retake control of the rebel regions by force. Kremlin officials charged that Kyiv's actions have threatened Russia's security, warning that Russia may intervene to protect Russian speakers in the east. A machinegunner of the pro-Russian Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) points a weapon at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, on Tuesday Snipers of the Ukrainian armed forces aim their rifles during training at a firing range near the town of Marink, Donetsk region, on Tuesday A soldier from the pro-Russian Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) is reflected in a mirror at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk on Tuesday Ukrainian servicemen hold a position on the frontline with Russia backed separatists near small city of Marinka, Donetsk Ukrainian soldiers are seen near a region occupied by Russian-backed separatist groups where fighting has increased in recent weeks, with at least 28 of Kiev's men killed so far this year US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (right) meets with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) in Brussels Tuesday as Washington threw its full backing behind its eastern European ally Underlying Tuesday's meeting is also Ukraine's wish to become a member of NATO over the vehement objections of Moscow. Stoltenberg insisted it was up to the alliance's 30 members to decide who could join the group, 'and no one else has any right to try to meddle or to interfere in that process. 'It's a sovereign right of every nation like Ukraine to apply for membership. 'This is an important principle, because Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbors can do. 'And that is a world we are really trying to leave behind,' the NATO chief said. 'Russia must end this military buildup in and around Ukraine, stop its provocations and de-escalate immediately,' Stoltenberg added. The latest warnings come after Russian state TV new anchor Dmitry Kiselyov warned that Russia is 'one step away from war' in Ukraine during a primetime broadcast in Russia on Sunday. He branded Ukraine a 'Nazi' state, saying that Russia may be forced to 'de-Nazify' it buy force - a process he said would bring about its 'economic and military collapse'. A news report on Russia's Channel One also likened Zelensky - a former actor - to Napoleon after digging up images of him playing the part in an old TV comedy. The Ukrainian leader was dreaming of 'Napoleonic ambitions' by hoping NATO would come to his aid against Russia, the report said. But it was clear Zelensky was not evaluating himself 'sensibly'. Portraying Napoleon on screen 'is not the same as doing it,' the report added. Another report labelled the ex-TV comedian Zelensky a 'commander-in-chief comic', a 'president of war' who was 'inciting' conflict. Viewers were told that Ukraine with NATO support, rather than Russia, was building up military firepower close to Donetsk and Luhansk, which are controlled by pro-Moscow rebels following a civil war in 2014 that has led to more than 14,000 deaths. 'Never before has there been so much Nato military hardware in Ukraine,' claimed the report. It also highlighted alleged arrivals of US transport planes and Pentagon-leased cargo vessels in strategic Ukrainian port Odessa. These claims could not be immediately corroborated. Videos have also shown tanks, mobile artillery, howitzers, armoured personnel carriers and support vehicles being ferried to the front - many of which are being massed at a camp near the city of Voronezh, around 115 miles from the border. Russia has continued to move artillery pieces (left), armoured vehicles (right) and troops to its border with Ukraine amid warnings the build-up could spark war in Europe Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Moscow, said the build-up - which is being carriedo out in full view of cameras (above ) - is 'definitely' designed to test Joe Biden New Strategic Relationship Employs Aparavi's Data Intelligence and Automation Platform within Lineal's AI-Enabled eDiscovery, Information Governance and Cyber Incident Response Offerings SANTA MONICA, CA and LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / APARAVI Software Corporation, the trusted disruptor in unstructured data management and Lineal Services, an AI-enabled legal technology services company today, announced a strategic partnership to transform the legal data services market. Lineal, the pioneering global leader in AI-enabled legal services, will integrate Aparavi with its best-in-breed data solutions, offering Lineal's corporate and law firm clients advanced resources around information governance, compliance, cybersecurity and eDiscovery. Lineal has worked closely with Aparavi, the Platform, over recent months to forge a go-to-market collaboration to reduce the cost and complexity of managing large unstructured data volumes. Aparavi's Platform enables data discovery with automated classification, data optimization (including defensible deletion), and easy migration to alternative data stores such as on-premises storage or major clouds. It gives users visibility and insight into data, even across diverse systems and locations (core data center, cloud, edge, and endpoint). As legacy companies rely on data, many don't have the cutting-edge tools Aparavi provides to exploit what they store. Aparavi users found that 15-40% of data is trash, specifically redundant, obsolete, or trivial (ROT), and intelligently reducing this data streamlines the data infrastructure - and reduces IT costs significantly. ROT data and dark data - whose contents and importance are unknown - also pose a risk that needs to be mitigated. Data privacy regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grant residents the right to request access to their personal information in the form of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs). Aparavi empowers Lineal to assist clients with expedited DSAR requests and data governance driven by automated classification. Without automated classification, companies risk data compliance with manual classification and human error. Aparavi's automated classification tools reduce risk by offering custom or premade tags for data privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA; overlapping classifications for advanced management; and automatically classifying new files entering the client's system. "One of my first objectives at Lineal was to design a data governance offering that would help our clients truly understand their information, mitigate their risks, and better prepare them for information governance, compliance, investigations, M&A deals, and litigation. After months of carefully analyzing the market and vetting countless technologies, it became evident that there was no better platform solution or company to partner with than Aparavi," stated Marco Nasca, Chief Innovation Officer of Lineal. "Over the past six months, our operations groups have worked closely with Aparavi to construct a solution that combines Aparavi's world-class technology while leveraging the fullest extent of our expansive AI solutions and global professional services team." "Lineal is a powerful force in legal technology services and by collaborating through the Aparavi Advantage Program we have a common mission to enhance data management services for the vast amount of customers with data-intensive businesses," says Adrian Knapp, CEO & Chairman of Aparavi Software Corporation. "Aparavi's SaaS platform helps partners create new data services and solution offerings for their customers to find and unlock the value of distributed unstructured-data not matter where it lives while mitigating risk, reducing costs and creating new value from their data". Aparavi's strategic Platform alliances include Microsoft, PureStorage, RStor, Qumulo, and validated cloud partners include Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Wasabi, and Oracle Cloud. For more information about the Aparavi Advantage Program, please visit aparavi.com/partners. To learn more about Aparavi, visit Aparavi.com. To learn about Lineal, please visit LinealServices.com. About Lineal Lineal Services is a global legal data services organization leveraging AI and process-driven workflows to solve information governance, discovery, privacy, compliance, DSAR, conversion, and cybersecurity issues for corporations and law firms. Headquartered in London, and with offices throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia, Lineal has been delivering pioneering solutions since 2009. Learn more about us or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Aparavi Software Corporation Aparavi is the Data Intelligence and Automation Platform helping organizations find and unlock the value of data, no matter where it lives. Aparavi cloud-based platform with deep intelligence finds, automates, governs, and consolidates distributed data easily. Aparavi ensures secure access for modern data demands of analytics, machine learning, and collaboration, connecting business and IT to transform data into a competitive asset. Aparavi is a privately funded company headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. For more information, visit aparavi.com, and stay informed by following Aparavi on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact: Tyler Bryant tbryant@interdependence.com (813) 951-4169 SOURCE: Aparavi View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640180/Lineal-Powered-by-Aparavi-Plans-to-Transform-the-Legal-Data-Services-Market Dr Anthony Fauci has warned women who have had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be alert for symptoms of an adverse reaction, as U.S. health agencies advise against the vaccine's usage until more research can be done. On Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a halt in the use of J&J's jab. Their recommendation was made after six people, out of the 6.8 million to receive the jab so far, reported blood clots. All were women aged 18-48. J&J announced that they were also delaying the rollout of their vaccine in Europe, and pausing clinical trials. Fauci appeared on CBS News on Tuesday night and said that people who had received the J&J jab in the last 13 days should be alert to warning signs. Anthony Fauci, Joe Biden's top medical advisor, discussed the J&J vaccine on Tuesday night Fauci said that women who have had the J&J jab in the last 13 days should be alert for signs A woman receives a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Chicago on April 6 'If you've had it a month or two ago, I think you really don't need to worry about anything,' he said. 'If you are in the time frame of within a week or two of having gotten vaccinated, remember one thing: This is a very rare event. It's less than one in a million. 'Having said that, you still wanna be alert to some symptoms, such as severe headache, some difficulty in movement, or some chest discomfort and difficulty breathing.' Asked by Norah O'Donnell whether women should be particularly aware, he said yes, adding that they were now investigating whether the reaction was hormonal. 'There have been similar types of phenomena that have occurred during pregnancy,' he explained. 'Clotting abnormalities are known in women who take birth control pills, so certainly there could be a hormonal aspect to this.' Scientists will be looking at whether birth control pills could have played a part in causing blood clots in the women who received the J&J vaccine, and fell ill. One patient, a 45-year-old woman in Virginia, died following her J&J vaccination in March. The CDC is investigating the woman's death, Virginian health authorities announced on Tuesday. The CDC's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) system notes the woman who died began having headaches six days following vaccination, then was hospitalized once the headache worsened and she had started dry heaving. A head CT scan showed hemorrhaging expanding up to 1.6 centimeters and eventually, cortical vein thrombosis, as listed in the six other cases. She died on March 18, Richmond.com reported - 12 days after receiving a dose administered by a school. VAERS does not list any known allergies or underlying medical conditions other than depression. A woman in Virginia has died after receiving in March the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved in the United States on March 1 The patients were all women aged 18-48, who suffered a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) six to 13 days after receiving the jab. It is still too early to tell whether or not the vaccine even caused the blood clots and it is a one in a million side effect. Five times as many people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. as they do from blood clots ever year. The agencies, however, say they want to do more tests and studies and that it could take days for them decide on whether or not to resume it. They may impose a restriction on the vaccine based on the demographic of people who have developed blood clots - all of them are women under 50. These are the vaccines being used around the world to treat COVID-19. Not all of them have been approved in every country. J&J and AstraZeneca have been linked to blood clotting President Biden said in the Oval Office on Tuesday that the U.S. had enough vaccine available US VACCINE SPLIT Pfizer (available from December 14) 5.7million per week Moderna (available December 21) 5million per week J&J (available March 1) 1million per week *Numbers given for how many doses of each vaccine have been administered since they became available Advertisement The White House on Tuesday tried to smooth over the sudden halt of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, claiming it would not affect their goals to vaccinate the U.S. - despite health experts saying it clearly sets back the country's rollout. President Joe Biden said in the Oval Office on Tuesday: 'I made sure we have 600 million doses of the mRNA - not of either Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca. 'So, there is enough vaccine that is basically 100 per cent unquestionable for every single solitary American,' he said. Now, everyone who had a J&J appointment has been told they'll get one of the other doses instead - which suddenly eats into the country's stock pile of each, and sets future appointments back even further. Pfizer said it was ramping up production by 10 per cent in light of the J&J halt. Now, it says it will deliver 220 million doses by the end of May. The U.S. has only fully vaccinated 28 per cent of its population. It is behind Israel, Bahrain and Chile, all of which have considerably smaller economies and populations. When counting just how many first vaccine doses have been given out, the UK is third in the world after Israel and Chile and the U.S. is fifth rather than fourth. Around one million people a week (142,857 a day) are receiving the J&J vaccine. This is how the vaccine effort in the US is ramping up. Around 20 percent of the population has now been vaccinated A DOCTOR SAYS RISK OF BLOOD CLOTS FROM COVID IS HIGHER THAN RISK FROM VACCINE A doctor who worked on the J&J clinical trial said on Tuesday that people have a higher risk of developing a blood clot from COVID-19 than the do from getting the J&J vaccine. 'For now, I would be careful with any of these conspiracy theories and again with the panic. 'Youre much more likely to clot from the real Covid-19 virus, which is about 1 in 20 people hospitalized or even 1 in 100 recovering at home. 'Thats far more likely,' Dr. Purvi Parikh told CNBC. BLOOD CLOTS 900,000 Americans a year suffer blood clots 100,000 die (0.03% of US population) 6 women out of 7million vaccine recipients have developed them after J&J vaccine (0.00008%) 1 of those women has died (a death rate of 0.00001%) COVID 31.3million Americans have had COVID 562,000 COVID deaths (0.16% of US population) Advertisement It is considerably less than the number receiving Pfizer and Moderna doses (5million a week, 714,285 a day). The announcement sent Johnson and Johnson shares plummeting by three percent and prompted health industry experts to ask what will now be done to keep the vaccine plan on course. Experts said that the delay will inevitably set the vaccine effort back. 'This will delay our vaccination efforts,' Dr. Kavita Patel told CNBC, saying Pfizer and Moderna could not be expected to just 'pick up the slack' as the FDA and CDC says they will. 'This is a devastating blow to this J&J vaccine effort in the United States. 'Johnson and Johnson was incredibly useful for mobile vaccination. You could just do one shot. 'This is definitely going to cause a ripple effect in our attempt in the United States. In the next one to three weeks, we just cant substitute it.' While it has a lower efficacy rate than the other two vaccines, the J&J vaccine was considerably more efficient because it required just one dose, instead of two over 21 days. It became available much later than Pfizer and Moderna, but 6.8million have had it since it March 1, when it was first dished out. The US has ten million doses of it currently that have not yet been administered, and it ordered a total stockpile of 200million. Former president Donald Trump led criticism of the announcement, which he said was hasty and unnecessary, and would send people 'up in arms'. The FDA and CDC says people who received the vaccine more than a month ago do not need to worry. People who received it within the last 'few weeks' should 'look for symptoms including sudden pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath, should seek medical treatment.' Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo is now a Senior Presidential Advisor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Mr Osafo-Maafo who served as a Senior Minister in President Akufo-Addo's first tenure but retired and chose to remain in the background in the second term disclosed his new role on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. He was addressing the Birim Central Municipal Assembly at Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, when he made the disclosure, reports Graphic Online's Samuel Kyei-Boateng. Mr Osafo-Maafo said President Akufo-Addo made the appointment last week. The experienced politician served as a Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda for three terms from 1997 to 2009. He also served as a Minister of Finance and Education under President J.A.Kufuor between 2001 and 2007. He served as Senior Minister in President Akufo-Addo's first term but before the President recomposed his cabinet for his second term, he reportedly informed the president about his decision to retire and stay in the background in the second term. Under his tutelage, the National Public Sector Reform Strategy, which is to be implemented between 2018 and 2023 was prepared. His office as Senior Minister was instrumental in the implementation of the government's Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. Whilst addressing the Birim Central Municipal Assembly on Tuesday, he also donated GHc25,000 and a quantity of roofing sheets to victims of last weeks rainstorm disaster at Akyem Oda. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: The CBI on Friday grilled Tejashwi Yadav, son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for nearly seven hours in connection with alleged corruption in the award of the contract to maintain two IRCTC hotels in 2006. Sources in CBI said the 27-year-old former deputy chief minister of Bihar appeared before the agency after evading three notices for questioning in the case. They said Tejashwi arrived at the CBI headquarters at 11 am and his questioning ended around 6 pm. The agency had quizzed Prasad for seven hours on Thursday. He had alleged the government was pursuing political vendetta against him and his family. The case pertains to allegations that Prasad, as railway minister, handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company. Tejashwi Yadav leaves from CBI office in Delhi after appearing in connection with Railway hotel tender case pic.twitter.com/vcLHUoVghL ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2017 The FIR alleged the RJD chief abused his official position for extending undue favours to the Kochhars and acquired a piece of "high value premium land" through the benami firm Delight Marketing Company. Also Read: Lalu attacks PM Modi, Shah, says BJP leaders want to ruin his family For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Liam Cooper brutally dumped Georgia Fairweather during Tuesday night's dramatic final commitment ceremony on Married AT First Sight. And after breaking her heart, the 29-year-old refused to acknowledge his ex-wife at the reunion dinner party on Wednesday. Fans have now turned on Liam, with many saying his behaviour towards Georgia, 25, is 'mean and cruel'. 'She doesn't deserve that treatment!' Married At First Sight fans have turned on Liam Cooper (pictured) after he refused to acknowledge Georgia Fairweather at the final dinner party on Wednesday night 'Georgia you deserve better. There's someone out there who won't be threatened by a pink queen setting boundaries and speaking their mind,' one person Tweeted. Another said: 'Liam showed his true colours at the last dinner park and Georgia you dodged a destructive one here.' 'Georgia had the courage to be a strong woman, stand up for herself and let you know your actions weren't acceptable... you can't handle that and took it as rejection so you have become spiteful, not cool,' another person wrote. Snubbed: After arriving to Wednesday's dinner party, Liam greeted all the participants but he ignored his wife Georgia (pictured) One person added: 'Poor Georgia...she doesn't deserve that treatment from that little drama queen. He calls her fake but have you looked at yourself in the mirror!' After arriving to Wednesday's final dinner party, Liam greeted all the participants. Georgia then made her way towards Liam but he walked right past her and hugged Coco Stedman. 'That's not cool!' Fans have now turned on Liam, with many saying his behaviour towards Georgia is 'mean and cruel' Shocked relationship expert Mel Schillings said: 'That's not ok!' 'Oh, how rude! That is not ok. Oh! Total disrespect. He rejected her. Made a point to publicly reject her,' Alessandra Rampolla agreed. Liam then sat alongside Patrick Dwyer and explained: 'Mate, I don't do fake people.' 'I knew I wasn't going to say hello to Georgia. She's fake. Because obviously I'm mad at what happened between us. I'm not doing fake people,' he said. Posted Tuesday, April 13, 2021 8:40 am Formerly incarcerated people will immediately regain the right to vote after Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law this automatic right, marking passage for one of the first criminal justice reform bills this session. The right to vote we know is a key component to a successful reentry into society following incarceration, Inslee said as he signed House Bill 1078 April 7. This might seem a small thing to some people, but its a giant step for civil rights, Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, said in a statement as the bills primary sponsor. Simmons advocated for the bill as a formerly incarcerated person herself. Washington joins 19 other states in immediate restoration of voting rights after completing a prison sentence, according to 2020 data from The Sentencing Project. This law will restore the right to vote for more than 45,000 disenfranchised people in the state, according to data on Washington state from The Sentencing Project. Nationally, Maine and Vermont remain the only two states that allow those still in prison to vote and have no voting restrictions based on felony convictions. Eleven states still deny the right to vote to anyone who was in the prison system, even after they finish confinement and parole. While there were states restricting the right to vote, Im glad that in Washington, here were expanding our access to democracy, Inslee said. The bill did not have much bipartisan support, with some Republican lawmakers saying people convicted of felonies should finish their entire sentence before the right to vote is restored. It should be restored, absolutely. But it should be restored after 100 percent of their fine or debt to their society is paid, Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, told the Senate during its floor vote March 24. Also in criminal justice reform, Inslee signed a bill to change the arbitrator selection process when a law enforcement officer faces disciplinary action. SB 5055 creates a rotating pool of qualified and independent arbitrators from which the Public Relations Employment Commission can choose. The law also requires agencies to collect data on disciplinary action hearings. This bill improves the approach we use when a law enforcement officer faces a disciplinary action, Inslee said. A study on police arbitration found that 46 percent of the time, the arbitrators would force agencies to rehire officers even if a disciplinary hearing found they had engaged in misconduct on the job. Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-West Seattle, the bills primary sponsor, said in a statement the bill took another step toward more transparent law enforcement. It may not be a silver bullet to fixing our criminal justice and policing systems, but this is a massive step toward comprehensive reform and a fairer process, Nguyen said. Nguyens bill garnered some support from Republicans as it passed the House in a 60-38 vote March 24. Some who opposed it said certain parts of the bill would actually increase bias in the arbitrator process. The intent of the bill is to avoid those, so I would have preferred to see more of an open slate for the arbitrator pool that we develop, Rep. Larry Hoff, R-Vancouver, said during the debate. The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org. On April 13, 2021, Huma Qureshi took to her official Instagram handle and dropped the trailer of her Hollywood debut film, Army of the Dead by Zack Synder. The trailer of the highly anticipated zombie-heist flick features a glimpse of Huma. Alongside Huma, the trailer also shows Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Hiroyuki Sanada among other Army of the Dead cast. Sharing the trailer, the Bollywood actor said that she is super proud to be a small part of Zack Synders film. Huma Qureshi drops Army of the Dead trailer The trailer shows a casino boss, Bly Tanaka, which is played by Hiroyuki, approaching Scott Ward (played by Dave Bautista), who is a former zombie war hero. The duo comes together to break into the zombie-infested quarantined zone and further retrieve $200 million which is resting in Las Vegas. Scott accepts the challenge and creates an expertise team for the heist. The trailer further shows the Alpha zombies and the team surviving the attacks. The trailer also shows a glimpse of Humas character, who is one of the survivors. Sharing the trailer of Zack Synders much-awaited film, Huma wrote, Army of the Dead- select theatres 14th May and Netflix 21st May. The actor further added, Super proud to be a small part of this genius mans vision #ZackSynder Fan and now friend forever @netflix @netflixfilm @nxonnetflix with a red heart. As soon as the trailer was uploaded by her, many of her fans and followers expressed their excitement for the release of her Hollywood debut film. Many celebrities, too, took the opportunity to congratulate the actor. Bhumi Pednekar wrote, Oh yasssss huma with a red heart. Rick Roy commented, omg this is fabulousness @iamhumaq u killing it dd with a string of emoticons. A fan commented, Go huma go. Another one wrote, Huma on fire. A user commented, Can't wait Huma with a heart-eyed face emoji. Another one wrote, Congratulations with a red heart. Take a look at a few of the comments in her post. 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. LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional network, today launched the first edition of the Future of Talent report that looked at the evolving role of HR in India, and how talent is hired, engaged with, and developed in the new business environment. According to the report, upskilling will be core to the talent strategy, and trends such as internal mobility, data-led hiring decisions, and improving employee experience will be in focus for employers in 2021. In 2020, the rate of attrition increased 1.5 times in India as employees battled long shifts while working remotely. As signals of a second wave accentuate Indias remote working needs, the report shows that HR will play an even bigger role in determining the future of talent as 9 in 10 companies agree that HR will now play a key role in helping organizations streamline their business, shape their strategy, and hire more efficiently, even beyond COVID-19. Internal mobility, upskilling, and data-led hiring become workforce priorities in India for 2021 The pandemic has introduced significant internal shifts within companies. This, coupled with Indias historically competitive talent market, is fuelling the rise of internal mobility across companies today. According to LinkedIns Future of Talent report, more than 9 in 10 (93%) companies in India are looking to fill open roles internally in the post-covid era. Diving deeper into the reasons for this surge in internal hiring, the report shows that 7 in 10 companies in India hire internally to gain an insiders perspective or a sense of progress. The report also states that when hiring internally, the top 3 skills that companies in India look for are good communication, problem solving skills, and time management. To keep pace with todays rapidly digitising business needs, companies are also keen to upgrade the capabilities of their workforce. Taking cue, 95% of companies in India have dedicated L&D programs to help employees learn new skills and prepare for the future, according to the Future of Talent 2021 report. While skills take the centrestage, many companies in India are also leaning on data analytics to tap into relevant talent pools when hiring today. LinkedIns research shows that 91% companies in India use data to make informed talent-hiring decisions while 53% frequently use data to map skills with open position requirements. To make remote hiring even more efficient, 9 in 10 companies are also merging roles to reduce talent acquisition costs today. As remote work continues to disrupt the way we work, HR will play a greater role in helping companies absorb new hiring trends to build the future of talent. In 2021, India will see more companies merge roles, upskill their employees, and hire internally to maximize business growth without expanding operational costs. Data-led hiring practices will also play a critical role in helping companies engage with their employees, attract the right talent, and hire more effectively in 2021. Its evident that companies today are realizing that businesses succeed when their people succeed, says Ruchee Anand, Director - Talent and Learning Solutions, India at Linkedin. Top skills for HR professionals during COVID-19 Good communication skills HRIS Knowledge Time Management Teamwork & collaboration skills Ability to empathize with staff Top skills looked in employees while hiring internally Good communications skills Problem solving skills Time Management Strategic Thinker Leadership skills HR professionals will help companies put the employee first in 2021 As remote work becomes a continuing workforce trend, HR professionals are encouraging companies to prioritize employee experience and keep their remote staff engaged today. In fact, more than 8 in 10 (85%) companies in India are already holding more engagement activities to keep employees inspired and connected with their teams despite working in isolation. The report also shows that companies in India are significantly more open to hiring remote staff when compared to other APAC countries. Given Indias greater preference for remote staff, more than 9 in 10 (94%) companies are building a good employer brand by having an active social media presence, and sharing more about their vision and focus on innovation. In fact, 4 in 5 (80%) companies have already experienced an increased pool of qualified candidates because of their efforts in employer branding. Check out the full Future of Talent APAC report here. MONTREAL - A Quebec teachers strike was marred on Wednesday after a teacher picketing with her colleagues in Sherbrooke, Que., was struck by a car in what police described as a deliberate gesture. Josee Scalabrini, president of the Federation des syndicats de l'enseignement, responds to a question during a news conference in Montreal, on August 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - A Quebec teachers strike was marred on Wednesday after a teacher picketing with her colleagues in Sherbrooke, Que., was struck by a car in what police described as a deliberate gesture. Sherbrooke police spokesman Martin Carrier said the woman was participating in a strike outside her high school around 9:30 a.m. when she was struck by a driver who allegedly drove into the picket line. Carrier said the woman escaped with minor injuries. The 54-year-old suspect left the scene but was later arrested at his home for assault with a weapon. Carrier said witnesses indicated the suspect has a connection to the school and was possibly the father of a student, but said his identity had yet to be confirmed as of Wednesday afternoon. Teachers demonstrate outside a school during a morning walk-out in Longueuil, Que. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Teachers are striking to express dissatisfaction with negotiations with the Quebec government that have gone on for more than a year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson The teachers union, called Centrale des syndicats du Quebec, wrote on its Facebook page that the incident was "unacceptable." Florent Tanlet, a spokesman for Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel, said the act, if deliberate, "has no place in a civil society." The victim was one of tens of thousands of Quebec teachers who held an early morning strike on Wednesday that began just after midnight and lasted until 9:30 a.m. The teachers have been without a contract since March 2020. In Montreal, teachers could be seen grouped outside schools waving signs and demanding better working conditions as they protested the stalled talks. Robert Pigas, who teaches grades 5 and 6 at St. Patrick Elementary in Pincourt, Que., west of Montreal, said in a phone interview that the strike is not just about salaries even though he adds that Quebec teachers are the lowest-paid in the country. He said teachers are also fighting for better working conditions, smaller class sizes and more resources for special needs students, such as integration aides in the classroom who can offer extra help. We have more kids that require more time, and were still split up between all our students, he said. He said teachers have been encouraged by the support they've received from parents, some of whom he said joined them on the picket lines or kept their children out of online classes for the day out of solidarity. He said hed personally received emails from about 10 parents who expressed their support for the teachers and the work theyve done in keeping students safe and in school during the pandemic something he accused the government of failing to recognize. The teachers union had said the timing of the strike was designed to put pressure on management without affecting students' learning. In an email, LeBel's spokesman said the offer the government has made to the public sector unions is a fair one. "We believe that there is everything on the table right now to reach agreements with the various unions," Tanlet wrote. Several school boards announced classes would move online for the day because the strike affected school buses and early morning supervision. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. Russias presence in Latin America has been limited since the 1990s, and in recent years primarily entailed an alliance with Venezuela for provision of arms and energy projects, as well as Nicaragua for arms and building emergency response capabilities. But Latin Americas arms purchases plunged as its commodities boom ended and Venezuelas economy melted down. Russian ties were also strong with the government of Argentinas Cristina Fernandez Kirchner from 2007 to 2015 and appear to be reviving. As current Vice-President, Kirchner spearheaded negotiations to buy Sputnik V even when local scientists initially were skeptical of the early experimental data reported by the Gamaleya Institute that developed the vaccine. Argentinas embrace of the vaccine helped convince Mexico which had struggled to get vaccines from American companies to sign an agreement for 24 million doses, though they have been slow to arrive. A container carrying some of the first batch of 300,000 Sputnik vaccines arrives in Ezeiza, Argentina, in December. Credit:Getty Images Bolivias previously tight relations with Russia were reversed under President Luis Arces right-wing predecessor, but Arce, who took office in November, agreed to buy millions of doses. After speaking with Putin by phone, he also announced reactivation of a Russian-led project to build a nuclear research and technology centre. US vaccine outreach, meantime, has been almost entirely indirect, with a pledge of $US4 billion to the World Health Organisations COVAX program to provide shots to low and middle-income countries. Recently, such shipments have been delayed. The US has snatched up more doses than it will eventually need, and Biden has repeatedly said his focus is vaccinating all Americans before sharing vaccines abroad. The US has had almost three times as many COVID-19 deaths per capita as Russia and, even with one of the worlds fastest immunisation rollouts, Americans have complained about the pace. Loading By contrast, Russias own vaccination program has lagged because of widespread scepticism of the vaccine a February poll showed only 30 per cent of Russians were willing to get the shot and drugmakers being slow to ramp up production. Only recently did Bidens administration agree to provide 2.7 million surplus AstraZeneca doses to Mexico. Brazil has been trying to negotiate the same for itself, according to its Foreign Ministry. Although I truly think that the US and European countries are the preferred partners in the region, if there is a vacuum, there isnt the slightest doubt that China and Russia will seek a way to take advantage, said Mauricio Claver-Carone, the head of the Inter-American Development Bank. Loading The US Department of Health and Human Services 2020 annual report said in a section titled Combatting malign influences in the Americas that it had convinced Brazil to not buy the Russian shot. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said other countries faced similar coercion, without naming them. The pressure has been unprecedented, tough and devoid of any diplomatic niceties, Peskov said last month. We are categorically against politicising the situation with vaccines. Fabiano Mielniczuk, a professor who specialises in Russian international politics at Brazils Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, said suspicion of Russia represents an outdated Cold War mentality. He sees its moves to introduce the shot much more as a market-oriented action than as geopolitical action. Despite the assertion in the malign influences section, its unclear what action the US took. The US embassy denied exerting any pressure regarding vaccines approved by Brazils health regulator, which has not yet signed off on Sputnik V. The Brazilian government denied even being consulted. Frustrated by the speed and bureaucracy of health regulator Anvisa, the Russians conducted phase-three trials of its vaccine elsewhere, according to Bahia states Governor Rui Costa, who had worked closely with the fund. At the time, Brazil still required local phase-three trials for regulatory approval. Loading In a last-ditch effort, RDIFs director Kirill Dmitriev reached out to former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to Alexandre Padilha, an MP and former health minister who joined their subsequent meeting. That led to the nine states eventual deal for 37 million doses. RDIF declined to comment for this story. The north-eastern governments already have various investment partnerships with the Chinese, Padilha said. I think without a doubt this can open doors for north-east governors to establish other partnerships and technology investments with the Russians. Putin meantime heaped flattery on Bolsonaro at a multinational summit in November, saying the Brazilian had expressed the best qualities of masculinity and determination by putting citizens interests before his own health. Bolsonaro posted video of the praise to social media. Courting the rival former and current presidents simultaneously reflects Putins pragmatism, said Mielniczuk, the political science professor. Brazils federal government agreed to buy 10 million doses of Sputnik V. Even after Anvisa dropped its demand for local phase-tree trials, the Brazilian lab that would produce Sputnik V locally Uniao Quimica struggled to clear hurdles. RDIFs Dmitriev told Brazilian magazine Veja in mid-March that he felt his vaccine was still facing political bias. But Anvisa said delays were technical, caused by lacking documentation. On March 23 it held a five-hour meeting with Uniao Quimica and Gamaleya to iron out problems. A week later, Anvisa certified Uniao Quimicas manufacturing practices. GBP/EUR Exchange Rate Rises as Europes Covid-19 Situation Dampens Confidence in Eurozone Economy The British Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate rose to test 1.154 levels on Wednesday as Europes Covid-19 situation has hit a critical point, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The pairing is currently fluctuating around 1.15. As a result, Euro (EUR) traders are becoming more concerned about Europes Covid-19 situation, which could severely impede the Eurozones economic recovery over the next few months. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead on the coronavirus, commented: The trajectory of this pandemic is growing. It is growing exponentially. This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic, when we have proven control measures. In Eurozone economic data, today saw the release of Februarys Industrial Production figure, which fell by -1%. Analysts at Reuters commented on the figure: Euro zone industrial output declined as expected in February after expansion in January, dampening prospects for economic growth in the first quarter after a solid end to 2020 for manufacturers. In a rare positive message: Commission President von der Leyen announces talks for another 1.8M doses** from BioNTech/Pfizer, and 50M doses arriving early in April. **VDL misspoke and these will be delivered 2021-2023, not 2022-2023. https://t.co/BTArwKSBa3 Jillian Deutsch (@DeutschJill) April 14, 2021 Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Edge Higher as UK Productivity Rises Despite Covid-19 Lockdowns The Pound (GBP) rose today following news about the UKs productivity from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). According to the ONS the nations economic output per hour rose by 0.4% last year, but slumped by a whopping 10% because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ONS commented: Although there was substantial volatility during the year, this contrasts with a slow and steady decline in productivity during the 2008-09 economic downturn. Yesterday saw the release of Februarys UK GDP data which showed a return to growth despite the nations Covid-19 restrictions. Suren Thiru, the head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, was more cautious, saying: [H]ope of a sustained consumer-led revival may prove too optimistic as the economic scarring caused by Covid may trigger a renewed reluctance to spend as government support winds down. Pound Euro Forecast Euro (EUR) traders will be eyeing tomorrows release of the latest German Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices. Any indications that the Eurozones largest economy is struggling, however, would be EUR-negative. Eurozone markets will also be monitoring Europes Covid-19 situation. If infection rates continue to rise, then the Euro to Pound exchange rate would suffer. The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate could continue to head higher this week as the outlook for the UKs economy continues to improve. 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. Japan's decision to dump Fukushima water into sea sparks domestic, int'l opposition Xinhua) 09:02, April 14, 2021 -- The water has been treated using an advanced liquid processing system to remove most contaminants. However, things like tritium -- a radioactive byproduct of nuclear reactors -- are hard to filter out. -- Japan had considered evaporating or storing underground the tritium-laced water from the plant as an alternative. However, the Japanese government decided to dilute the contaminated water and discharge it into the sea because it was more technically feasible and would save on costs -- "The situation will continue to deteriorate further" as the nuclear wastewater, dumped from Fukushima prefecture, will circle around the entire Pacific Ocean in the long run, the environmentalist noted. TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that his government has decided to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea amid domestic and international opposition. Suga made the announcement after convening a meeting of relevant ministers to formalize plans to release the radioactive water accumulated at the plant into the Pacific Ocean. DECADE-LONG PROBLEM Struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011, the No. 1-3 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns. The plant has been generating massive amount of radiation-tainted water since the accident happened as it needs water to cool the reactors. The plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said it will take around two years for the release to start. File photo taken on Nov. 12, 2011 shows the exterior of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua) The water has been treated using an advanced liquid processing system to remove most contaminants. However, things like tritium -- a radioactive byproduct of nuclear reactors -- are hard to filter out. According to some marine experts, traces of ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium isotopes in the wastewater also raise concerns. The plant has struggled to store the contaminated water in tanks at the plant where more than 1.25 million tons of contaminated water are currently stored, with the plant expected to reach capacity next year. The operator claimed that the whole decommissioning process will be hampered if it needs to keep building storage tanks within the plant's premises. Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, said the government should build more tanks to hold the water outside the plant instead of choosing the cheaper option of ocean release. Japan had considered evaporating or storing underground the tritium-laced water from the plant as an alternative. However, the Japanese government decided to dilute the contaminated water and discharge it into the sea because it was more technically feasible and would save on costs. Tritium is light and could reach as far afield as the U.S. west coast within two years, according to Ken Buesseler at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts. A more serious matter lies in potentially more dangerous radionuclide in the water, including strontium-90 and iodine-129. While filtering has reduced their concentrations, around 70 percent of the water has yet to go through a secondary filtering process. "There are major questions as to whether it will work as planned," said Shaun Burnie at Greenpeace. "Japan already contaminated and did damage to the ocean with the Fukushima power plant accident," Ahn Jae-hun, energy and climate change director at the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, a green advocacy group in Seoul, told Xinhua over phone. Citing government data from Japan, Ahn said a far higher level of radioactive isotope has been detected at the fishery products coming from Fukushima Prefecture than other areas in Japan. "The situation will continue to deteriorate further" as the nuclear wastewater, dumped from Fukushima prefecture, will circle around the entire Pacific Ocean in the long run, the environmentalist noted. Ahn urged Japan to disclose relevant information to neighboring countries, including China and South Korea, given that Tokyo's opacity fueled uncertainty and anxiety over the contamination. Calling the irradiated sewage discharge "irresponsible," he warned that once the contaminated water flows into the ocean and the marine ecosystem is destroyed, it can never be restored. LINGERING EROSION ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY For a decade, the specter of nuclear contamination has emerged as an invisible obstacle to economic reconstruction in the disaster-stricken areas. At first, people feared that agricultural products, aquatic products including vegetables and seafood, and even industrial products from the disaster areas were contaminated, which kept consumers away, leading to a further blow to the local economy. Because of the cleanup efforts of residents in the disaster areas, the indicators of the vast majority of products have been restored to the normal range, yet there are still many people in Japan who are suspicious and distrust the products. According to a survey conducted by the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at the begining of the year, only 49 percent of aquatic products processing enterprises in Fukushima and its surrounding five prefectures saw their sales recover to more than 80 percent. Fukushima prefecture remains the slowest among the six affected prefectures to recover, with only 21 percent of sales and 41 percent of production capacity back to their original levels. At a previous government hearing on the release of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, some representatives said the government's move could undermine efforts to revive the disaster areas. People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) The release of radioactive water into the sea will not only impact fishermen production and the price of aquatic products, it may also hit the tourism industry of the surrounding areas, the representatives said, adding that the government should introduce specific and clear compensation measures. Hiroshi Kishi, head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, said he once again expressed his "absolute opposition to the discharge of nuclear sewage into the sea" in a recent meeting with Suga and asked the government to take clear measures to solve any subsequent "reputation damage." STRONG CRITICISM The decision has faced strong opposition from the Japanese fish industry and the public, with fishery industry representatives saying it would undo years of work to restore their reputation. People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) "We are dead against a release of contaminated water to the ocean as it could have a catastrophic impact on the future of Japan's fishing industry," Kishi told a meeting with government officials last October. According to Kishi, the release of radioactive water could trigger other countries to tighten restrictions on imports of Japanese fishery products, reversing a recent trend toward policy loosening. Currently, a number of countries and regions continue to impose restrictions on Japanese agricultural and fishery products as a result of the Fukushima crisis amid continued concerns about produce safety. "It is inevitable that there would be reputational damage regardless of how the water will be disposed of, whether into the sea or into the air," Kishi said. "I want the government to clarify how it intends to respond to such reputational damage." Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said that while addressing the concerns of the fisheries industry, the government hopes to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other global organizations while maintaining transparency over the matter. A poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun newspaper in January showed that 55 percent of respondents are against the government's plan to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the sea, while 32 percent said they support it. Yukio Edano, the leader of the country's main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, strongly condemned the plan on Saturday, saying the government's decision is unacceptable and a complete disregard for the voices of the people of Fukushima. Some environmental groups including Friends of the Earth Japan and The Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy said on Monday they have collected more than 64,000 signatures from 88 countries and regions in a petition to the government. People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) The environmental groups called the government's decision a "crude way of deciding" without adequate discussion and called for it to be withdrawn. The plan also raised concerns from neighboring countries about a possible impact on human health and fishery businesses. China has expressed serious concerns about Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear station, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian saying that China urged the Japanese side to take a responsible attitude and treat the issue of nuclear waste disposal with caution. Zhao stressed that proper disposal of nuclear waste is related to international public interests and the vital interests of neighboring countries. It should be handled carefully and properly to avoid further damaging the marine environment, food safety and human health. Meanwhile, South Korea has also voiced its "grave concerns," with Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam saying "it will be difficult to accept if the Japanese side decides to release the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant without sufficient consultations." "Our government expresses grave concerns as the decision can have a direct and indirect impact on the safety of our people and the surrounding environment," he added. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) WINDSOR LOCKS Investigators determined the deadly World War II-era B-17 bomber crash at Bradley Airport in 2019 was caused by the pilots actions, but maintenance issues, a lack of oversight and an ineffective safety management system were also contributing factors, a newly released National Transportation Safety Board report said. The NTSB released its findings Tuesday in a report that indicated the investigation into the Oct. 2, 2019, crash that killed seven people and hurt seven others revealed the need for increased Federal Aviation Administration oversight and regulatory framework of living history flight experiences operations that allow planes like this to carry passengers. In its 24-page report, the board said it found the cause of the fatal crash of the Boeing B-17 bomber to be the pilots failure to properly manage the airplanes configuration and airspeed after he shut down the No. 4 engine following its partial loss of power during the initial climb. Further contributing factors were the pilots inadequate maintenance while the airplane was on tour, which resulted in the partial loss of power to the Nos. 3 and 4 engines, the Collings Foundations ineffective safety management system, which failed to mitigate safety risks and the Federal Aviation Administrations inadequate oversight of the Collings Foundations safety management systems, the report said. In a statement Tuesday, the Foundation said it is reviewing the NTSBs findings. We knew Ernest Mac McCauley to be the most experienced B-17 pilot in the world who was passionate about the care and condition of all aircraft, the statement said. Responsible flight and maintenance operations have always been a top priority of the Collings Foundation, reflected by over 30 years worth of a safe operating record, and always will be. McCauley, 75, of Long Beach, Calif., and his co-pilot, 71-year-old Michael Foster, of Jacksonville, Fla., were killed in the crash that day. The others killed were passengers on the flight: David Broderick, 56, of West Springfield, Mass.; Robert Riddell, 59, of East Granby; Gary Mazzone, 66, of East Windsor; James Roberts, 48, of Ludlow, Mass.; and Robert Rubner, 64, of Tolland. A statement issued by two law firms that represent nine of the 10 plaintiffs in a wrongful death lawsuit, filed against the Collings Foundation in 2020, indicated the report is one more step in what will likely be a lengthy legal process. The NTSB report and findings will help our clients get some closure after this terrible tragedy and will offer protection to other families going forward, the statement said. The day of the fatal crash, the vintage aircraft was on a tour that took off with passengers from the Bradley airport through the living history flight experiences offered by the Collings Foundation. It was the aircrafts first flight of the day. During the initial climb, passengers were told they could leave their seats and walk around the aircraft, the report said. Soon after, a pilot got on the radio and told air traffic control the airplane had to return to the airport. Passengers were ushered back to their seats and told to buckle up. The pilot recognized an issue with engine four and shut down power to that engine, the report said. Witness video showed that the landing gear had already been extended by that time, even though the airplane still had about 2.7 nautical miles to fly in the traffic pattern before reaching the runway 6 threshold, the report said. When investigators later examined engine four, the report said they found a short in the system that would have caused rough engine operation and a partial loss of engine power that would have been exacerbated by the weak right magneto, which is likely what prompted the pilot to shut down the No. 4 engine and return to the airport. An examination of engine three led investigators to find evidence of detonation on four of the nine cylinders. Investigators also discovered that the spark plugs were worn and had gaps between the electrodes beyond manufacturer specifications. The pilot likely did not recognize, or recognized too late, the extent of the loss of engine power on the airplanes right side, the report said. Investigators said if the pilots had been required to perform the engine ground test check at a higher rpm, they may have noticed the problems and taken action before the flight to resolve the issues, the report said. As the pilot returned to the airport, he flew at 100 mph and below and he allowed the airspeed to decay far below that required to minimize the loss of altitude over a given distance flown, the report said. It also indicated that the aircraft likely wasnt able to maintain altitude at the lower airspeeds because the pilot could apply only a limited amount of power to the left-wing engines. The report also said the pilot should not have extended the landing gear early because it created additional drag. (T)he pilot did not appropriately manage the airplanes configuration and airspeed after he shut down the No. 4 engine, the report said. The accident pilot was also the Collings Foundations director of maintenance and was responsible for performing the airplanes maintenance while it was on tour. However, the teardown examinations of the Nos. 3 and 4 engines revealed maintenance issues that were not addressed during the airplanes current tour. During its final approach, the aircraft hit approach lights about 1,000 feet before the runway, then hit the ground about 500 feet before the runway before traveling along the right edge of the runway and veering to the right, colliding with vehicles and a deicing fluid station. The aircraft caught fire after the crash. The report said engine four had a 25-hour inspection nine days before the fatal accident, but that the check was either not performed or was improperly performed. Launching Digital Sales Platform Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Global Wellness Strategies Inc. (CSE: LOAN) (FSE: O3X4) (OTCQB: PNNRD) (formerly Redfund Capital Corp.) ("Global" or the "Company") announces KaleidoMyco agreement with digital marketing firm The Wolf of Marketing to launch digital sales platform. KaleidoMyco is about the creation of a strong bond with online consumers and bucking the trend of having to go to stores during the new wave of Covid 19. Building a robust digital sales platform to immediately roll out new hemp extract infused functional mushroom SKUs is the first stage of building a trailblazer in myco wellness products. The Wolf of Marketing was founded by Adam Stamatis, a full-service marketing agency that helps companies build an online presence and drive growth and sales. Within 20+ years, The Wolf of Marketing has become the industry's leader for building user-friendly custom websites with time-tested digital strategies that focus on customer acquisition and retention. Adam Stamatis and The Wolf of Marketing team are excited to partner with KaleidoMyco and help identify gaps, create a better web platform, and build a customized strategy that aligns with our unique business needs. "Creating the #1 global brand of hemp extract infused myco products is foremost to KaleidoMyco. This signing represents a major collaboration for KaleidoMyco, working together closely with Adam and his team to help build the revenues of the company. The Wolf of Marketing has the experience we've been looking for because they worked with top-hemp companies and increased their ROI." Stated Meris Kott, CEO, Global Wellness Strategies Inc. About KaleidoMyco KaleidoMyco is the world's first company combining hemp extract, adaptogens and myco based ingredients to produce world-class, data-driven, science-based wellness products. It is dedicated to driving ground-breaking innovations in the production and delivery of myco derived formulations. KaleidoMyco has a team of experts who are actively working to lay the foundation in the psilocybin space as more developments in regulation become available. About Global Wellness Strategies Global Wellness Strategies is a prospect generator that provides high growth companies with financial, operational, and management assistance in the fast-growing market for wellness consumer products. The focus of the Company is on global wellness, hemp and CBD, healthcare-related target companies. For further information please visit out website: www.globalwellnessstrategies.com Or Contact Meris Kott CEO 604.484.0355 or email to info@globalwellnessstrategies.com Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile. 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. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, its financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company 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. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80391 New Delhi: In view of the rising number of coronavirus epidemic, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to cancel board examinations for Class 10. The move has not left students the perplexed with what would be the criteria for getting a general promotion. CBSE board will decide the basis of general promotion The CBSE board will decide the critria for the general promotion for the students of Class 10. So far, the board has not shared any details about this. However, Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal has indicated that the students will be promoted on the basis of 'Internal Assesment'. Here's what could be the basis of general promotion When the exams were cancelled in 2020, the students had to give two or three examinations which were made the basis for giving the marks for the remaining subjects. In fact last year, the average numbers were calculated and the students were promoted on the basis of the one subject in which they got the highest number. The numbers acquired by the student in the practical exam for the year were also made the basis of the performance of the students. Notably, the practical examinations have been conducted this year. In such a situation, students can be promoted only on the basis of the above mentioned things. Building off the success of their popular Dragons Milk barrel aged stout beer, New Holland Brewing Company is introducing a unique new product onto the Michigan beverage scene. Dragons Share hard seltzer is about to hit the market, and it is unlike any other seltzer out there. We are so proud of the entire team that brought Dragons Share to life, said Dominick Berquist, brand manager for New Holland Brewing Company. This project started as the ultimate what if..?, and as we tasted trial after trial, we knew we were on to something special. Dragons Share features brewed hard seltzer that is then aged in freshly dumped bourbon barrels. The resulting liquid picks up both the char of the American oak of the barrel, as well as the warm flavor of the bourbon that previously occupied the wood. New Hollands Dragons Milk stout is by far their most popular product. Its a deep, dark wonder of a beer, with big notes of chocolate, subtle vanilla, and a hot punch of bourbon from the three months that the beer rests in the barrel. Its a pleasantly warming beer that clocks in at 11% ABV. Dragons Share is taking this popular model, and twisting it by embracing the seltzer craze. The original Dragons Milk stout was brewed for the barrel and designed to completely transform during the time it spends in oak, and Dragons Share Bourbon Barrel Seltzer is no different, Berquist said. It would absolutely be easier to just add bourbon to water, but we really believe that the time in those barrels gives the seltzer such a unique and delicious flavor profile that we wouldnt do it any other way. The new hard seltzers are available in four flavors: original, cherry, orange and cherry. There is also a variety pack featuring all four flavors. The seltzer has just 90 calories, and is 4.6% ABV. RELATED: New Holland Brewing returns to full production following February fire. Looking for something light in calories, refreshing, but with the deep flavor and complexity of a spirit? Whether you are a seltzer fan, or a bourbon lover, the Dragons Share series from New Holland just might be your new jam. There are 4 flavors of Dragon's Share seltzer: original, cherry, orange, blackberry.Photo provided by New Holland Brewing, used with permission Youll find Dragons Share hard seltzer in distribution throughout Michigan. Or you can try it on tap at any of New Hollands pubs. If you go: New Holland Brewing Pub on 8th 66 E 8th St, Holland, MI 49423 (616) 355-6422 More info: https://www.newhollandbrew.com/location/holland/ The Knickerbocker 417 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (616) 345-5642 More info: https://www.newhollandbrew.com/location/grand-rapids/ Saugatuck Tasting Room 201 Culver St, Saugatuck, MI 49453 (616) 294-3436 More info: https://www.newhollandbrew.com/location/saugatuck-tasting-room/ Dragon's Share, New Holland Brewing's new barrel aged seltzer can also be found in a variety pack.Photo provided by New Holland Brewing, used with permission More Michigans Best: Michigans first dedicated gluten-free brewery to open this summer One of the top rated breweries in Indianapolis comes from Michigan How to get a Dragons Milk Boot from Wolverine Shorts Brewing brings its annual Anni party to you New Michigan cider, Those women from Michigan to be released Third Nature Brewing built for outdoor dining, and a pandemic Michigans largest winery celebrates a century of winemaking Amys Top Ten beers of 2020 Gonzos Top Ten beers of 2020 A beer trifecta for Grand Rapids A new DNA analysis of more than 400 types of lettuce reveals the food's humble beginnings as a wild plant grown by ancient Egyptians to the common vegetable we know today. Researchers from Wageningen University & Research and the Chinese BGI found modern varieties of lettuce mostly resemble their weed-like predecessors grown only for their seed oil some 6,000 years ago. The ancient Romans and Greeks then took the plants from Caucasus to Europe where they were bred and turned into leafy vegetables on plates. The DNA story continues to the Americas where soft, smooth butter lettuce was transformed into harder, crisp iceberg lettuce. Although the study revels the interesting history of lettuce, the team says it could help indicate certain genes that are resistant against droughts and certain diseases, allowing farmers to breed better plants. Scroll down for video Researchers found modern varieties of lettuce mostly resemble their weed-like predecessors grown only for their seed oil some 6,000 years ago. Many of the Egyptian murals with lettuce include Min (pictured), the god of fertility, which was said to consume the plant for sexual stamina There are 2,500 different types of lettuce, 1,500 varieties are grown by farmers and there are some 1,000 wild lettuce plants that pop up along the roadside and on nature reserves, according to the study published in Nature. The new analysis was conducted to determine the DNA order for all 2,500 types, including an analysis of genetic variants and the differences and similarities between these variants. However, the team is doing a few hundred at a time, starting with the first 445 types of lettuce. 'As it turns out, the modern varieties of cultivated lettuces mostly resemble their wild predecessor Lactuca serriola from the Caucasus and the first cultivated lettuces must have been grown for seed and used for oil,' scientists shared in a statement. From Egypt, Romans brought lettuce seeds to Europe where they were bred to be consumed and then as the plant traveled it also changed to different varieties including butterhead. However, it was changed into crisp iceberg when seeds were brought to the Americas by Christopher Columbus The new analysis was conducted to determine the DNA order for all 2,500 types, including an analysis of genetic variants and the differences and similarities between these variants Ancient Egyptian murals depict the cultivation in lettuce, with some dating back to 2700BC, but show a much different plant than what we can easily grab at the grocery store. The ancient lettuce is drawn as an erect plant attached to a long stem, along with leaf protruding from a center base far from the heads seen today. Many of the Egyptian murals with lettuce include Min, the god of fertility, which was said to consume the plant for sexual stamina. The lettuce drawn by ancient Egyptians was called Lactuca serriola, which has as an erect plant attached to a long stem, along with leaf protruding from a center base. Pictured is a modern version of the weed grown some 6,000 years ago And people of the time harvested oil from the wild seeds for medicine, cooking and mummification. Overtime, the weed was bred to grow leaves less bitter for consumption. When Romans made their way down to Egypt, they saw lettuce for the first time and brought seeds back to Europe where they bred them to be more palpable. Along with finding its ancient roots, the study found how the most recent iceberg lettuce diverged from 'ancient' butterhead lettuce in the genetic material of the wild Lactuca virosa, a fact that had long been suspected based on the genealogical data of these lettuce varieties. 'Analysis of the relationship between the DNA information and traits of the cultivated lettuces shows that rigorous selection took place for traits that were desirable for production and consumption, the 'domestication traits' like the absence of spines and thorns, which resulted in reduced diversity in the regions of the DNA where the genes for these traits are located,' according to researchers. It also appears that determining the location of several genes in the DNA is possible by analyzing the relationship between DNA variation and traits through so-called Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Along with finding its ancient roots, the study found how the most recent iceberg lettuce diverged from 'ancient' butterhead lettuce in the genetic material of the wild Lactuca virosa, a fact that had long been suspected based on the genealogical data of these lettuce varieties According to Rob van Treuren and Theo van Hintum, the two Wageningen co-authors of the publication, the research demonstrates how much information can be collected from DNA information in a genebank collection. It also shows how important the preservation and protection of biodiversity and genetic sources are for a sustainable food supply in times of climate change and a growing global population. 'Determining the DNA order of the material, in our collections and others, enables science to trace the traits hidden until now, in thousands of varieties and wild populations of lettuce and other crops,' researchers shared in a statement. 'In doing so, we have obtained the key to an enormous treasure chest. For instance, imagine that research indicates that certain genes are important for resistance against drought or a certain disease. 'Then you would be able to search in the DNA data for genetic resources that have genes that look very similar and, using those resources, you could breed plants much quicker and more effective than what was previously possible. That is nothing short of revolutionary.' The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is upon us, and if you're fasting, you may be looking to take advantage of local iftar deals to celebrate its coming. Heres a roundup of establishments to help you wish your loved ones a hearty Ramadan Mubarak: TO THE FUTURE: Robots are now delivering pizza in Houston Nazifs, one of Houstons premier Turkish restaurants, is offering a colorful, healthy iftar buffet every day during Ramadan. The line-up features various hot and cold appetizers such as tabbouleh, ezme, falafel and shepherd salad as well as succulent kebabs and vegetarian entrees. Tune into Nazifs Facebook and Instagram pages for updates and special additional offerings. Fans of Indian and Pakistani fare should head to Do Darya following their daily fast for iftar nibbles like fruit chaat, french fries, spring rolls and chocolate khajoor. After whetting your appetite with those snacks, stay on for the dinner buffet with options such as prawn tempura, beef biryani, mutton korma, dahl, naan and rice pudding. The restaurant is also offering patrons a designated namaz area and wudu facilities. If at the end of a long day of not eating, the only thing youre craving is meat, more meat and a side of meat, Tourao has you covered. Its deceptively titled three-course Ramadan menu begins with a trip to the salad bar, which itself is composed of more than 50 hot and cold items. In round two, diners are given the choice of 11 different types of meat shaved tableside (shrimp, chicken parmesan, lamb chops, leg of lamb, filet mignon, top and bottom sirloin, ribeye, garlic beef, picanha and ribs). Finally, for the sweet coda to this sumptuous feast, tuck into some chocolate mousse or a slice of cheesecake. Courtesy of Omar Yousafzi Chef Omar Yousafzi has curated an all-you-can-eat iftar spread that has all you would want after eight-plus hours sans food. Standout options include juicy skewered proteins, fluffy rice studded with nuts and dried fruit and savory botanical stews. Round out your repast with one of Afghan Villages lovely fresh fruit juices or soothing green tea. Despite offering one of the most reasonably-priced iftar buffets in town ($11/head), Bar BQ Village doesnt skimp on the selection. Get the digestive juices flowing with a soothing glass of sharbat (a sweet, flowery elixir served chilled), and some pakoras and chaat before moving on to richer mains such as chicken tikka, beef korma, chicken or beef bihari, kabobs and biryani. Lastly, settle your stomach with a steaming cup of chai and some sooji halwa (semolina pudding). Dandanah Cafe invites you to break fast with a buffet showcasing Egyptian and Mediterranean starters and mains including hummus, lamb stew and macaroni bashamel (pasta baked with ground beef in a bechamel sauce). Whats also on the buffet menu? Pizza. Reservations are suggested. As its name suggests, this halal Afghani eaterys iftar buffet most definitely involves its signature kabobs, but dont overlook the mast ekhiar, a refreshing yogurt dip made with cucumber and mint leaves, or the lamb shank with brown basmati rice. Check social media for other celebratory Ramadan offerings, e.g., kids nights and live music. Yelp While there may be no such thing as a free lunch, at the Savoy there is free iftar (while supplies last). In addition to this gratis perk, the restaurant is also preparing party trays for Ramadan as well as three single-serve and three family combination dinner deals featuring six different dishes (e.g., beef nihari, karahi goat, zeera rice, etc.), respectively. If you do the math (and we did), that amounts to 324 ways to enjoy iftar. At Titos you can enjoy a triptych of Ramadan specials in the form of three dinner sets available Monday through Thursday evenings. The chicken set comprises grilled chicken and melokhaiya soup; the lamb set, lamb shank and ades soup; and the bechamel set, grilled chicken, bechamel and harira soup. Still hungry? All dinner sets also come with rice, stuffed grape leaves, a side salad, stuffed zucchini and dessert. This Ramadan, think inside the box with Rannaghors iftar deal. For just under a dozen bucks, you receive a box of Bengali treats with a beef samosa, a chicken spring roll, piaju (onion fritters), chola, beguni (breaded fried eggplant), dates and other fruits. Call the restaurant in advance to place your order. Party Pakistani-style at the conclusion of the days fast at Sugar Lands Mai Colachi, which is hosting a grand buffet with items like channa chat, pakora, samosas, mutton biryani, beef kabobs, chicken makhani handi, naan and rice. Accompanying these crave-worthy items and included in the price of the buffet are drinks such as fruit punch, shikanjabeen (lemonade made with mint and vinegar) and rooh afza (a staple Ramadan drink made of syrupy squash juice mixed with milk). Those seeking to honor iftar at home should consider picking up one of Pakwans handy Ramadan to-go packages, which are available in variations to fit every size household. The simplest iftar package ($6) includes channa chat, samosas, pakoras and dates, while the family package ($30) with all of the aforementioned plus four pieces of tandoori chicken, four pieces of malai boti, four kebabs and biryani rice, is perfect for the multigenerational clan. New Delhi, April 14 : The Indian Navy deployed its surface and air assets for the Search and Rescue (SAR) of missing fishermen at sea off the coast of Mangalore. "It was reported that an Indian Fishing Boat 'IFB Rabah' with 14 fishermen embarked had suffered a collision with a Singapore flag merchant ship 'MV APL Le Havre', 40 nautical miles west of Mangaluru at about 2 am on April 13, 2021," the Indian navy said. The boat IFB Rabah had set off from Beypore in the Kozhikode district of Kerala on Sunday evening. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) confirmed rescue of two crew members after an operation that began on Tuesday. The search for others continued till late night and is scheduled to continue on Wednesday as well. Thereafter, the Indian Navy was roped in for search and rescue operations. Indian Naval Ships Tillanchang and Kalpeni, along with naval aircraft from Goa, were deployed in the area to augment SAR efforts of Coast Guard vessels. While two rescued fishermen have been shifted to safety ashore, three bodies have been recovered thus far. The search is on for the remaining nine fishermen. To assist in the rescue efforts INS Subhadra, a patrol vessel, was sailed from Karwar with a Diving Team embarked. The ship arrived on scene in the early hours of April 14, 2021. "Two specialist diving teams are undertaking snagline search in the area in an effort to locate the sunk fishing craft," the Indian Navy said. The last round of $1,400 third stimulus checks will be sent out to Veterans Affairs benefit recipients on Wednesday, April 14. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the latest payout round is for "veterans and their beneficiaries who collect Compensation and Pension (C&P) insurance payments. But those who do not usually file a tax return." And the bulk of these payments will be made electronically. The IRS said on April 7 that it planned to start processing VA payment files at the end of last week "if no additional problems occur." The IRS sent the last batch of stimulus checks The IRS has not stated when stimulus checks will be mailed to recipients of VA benefits. Those awaiting stimulus funds should use the IRS's "Get My Payment tool" to verify their payment status, as per Newsweek. Third Stimulus Check: Why Do You Need to Track It? According to a spokesperson for Nacha (National Automated Clearing House Association), banks and credit unions are expected to make funds available to account holders by 9 A.M. local time on the settlement day. This current payment batch is April 14, as with previous payment rounds. The IRS stated on March 30 that most federal benefit recipients would "generally receive this third stimulus payment in the same manner as their regular benefits." If you do not receive your stimulus payment on Wednesday, you will receive a paper check instead. The IRS announced on March 30 that "the third round of Economic Impact Payments will be sent to the account where your federal benefits are provided." Payments would be sent as a direct deposit to the bank account given on the tax report for anyone who submitted a 2020 or 2019 tax return. It may also be mailed to the address the IRS has on file whether their tax refund was mailed if there was no refund on their tax return, noted the federal body. What Does It Take To Get the Stimulus Check of up To $1,400? When to request payment trace to track your stimulus check? Start by looking at your third payment to see if something is holding it up. However, if you believe there is a greater problem with your payment and it is missing or lost, you can ask the IRS to track your stimulus check. If you did not get any or half of the first and second stimulus checks, the same applies. Depending on the case, there are a few options for tracking payments. For those who do not usually file returns, specific individuals must file a Recovery Rebate Credit. Others would need to submit a request for an IRS payment trace, CNET via MSN reported. The IRS has now sent out the third stimulus check to millions of people, but if you have not seen yours yet, it is likely on its way. "Get My Payment," a free IRS tracking service can be used to verify the status of your third check. You will need to enter your Social Security number, also known as Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as your date of birth, street address, and ZIP or postal code. The portal will display your payment status, whether or not your funds have been scheduled to be sent out, and the payment method and date. You can also get a new message or encounter an error. "If the Get My Payment" portal reveals your payment was released, but you did not get it within the following periods, you will need to request an IRS payment trace. Third Stimulus Check: Crucial Facts, Myths To Know if You're Looking for Deeper Details @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Berlin, April 14 : People below 60 years of age in Germany who were given the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose will switch to a different vaccine for the second dose, German federal and state health ministers have decided. The decision follows a recommendation by Germany's top vaccine authority, Stiko, at the beginning of the month, DPA news agency reported. "The solution that has now been found offers good protection for people," Bavarian lawmaker Klaus Holetschek, who chaired the Tuesday evening meeting, told DPA. The second jab would be with either the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine or the Moderna vaccine, which were a good alternative, "especially in the third wave" of the pandemic, Holetschek said. Stiko head Thomas Mertens also joined the ministers' session. Only in individual cases and after an individual risk analysis with a doctor could AstraZeneca also be used for the second vaccination. The decision comes after a few cases of blood clots arose after vaccination with AstraZeneca that had led to a complete halt, or in some cases just a pause, in the use of AstraZeneca in some countries for some age groups. Experts suspect that the very low risk of thrombosis mainly affects younger people. AstraZeneca is being used in Germany only for people over 60, who are at a higher risk of dying due to Covid-19. Official figures suggest about 2.2 million Germans under 60 have already received a first vaccination with AstraZeneca. On Tuesday, federal health agencies in the US recommended a pause in the administration of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine and its roll-out in Europe and in South Africa was delayed as health authorities investigate a potential link to rare blood clots. Teen Shot Dead After Aiming Toy Gun at Maryland State Police Trooper A Maryland State Police trooper shot a 16-year-old boy dead after the teenager aimed what investigators later learned was a toy gun at the officer before pulling a knife on him, police said. Police on Wednesday were investigating the shooting, which occurred a day earlier at about 1:30 p.m. in Leonardtown in southern Maryland. There are many questions we do not have the answers to at this point, State Police Superintendent Woodrow Jones told a news conference on Tuesday. The trooper, whose name was not immediately released, was responding to two 911 emergency calls about a guy acting suspicious and possibly armed with a gun in a residential neighborhood. He arrived to find the teen in a homes driveway in a shooting stance, pointing a gun at the trooper, Jones said. The trooper fired at the male, wounding him, Jones said. The teen, who was identified as Peyton Ham, 16, and who lived a few houses away, then pulled a knife, Jones said. The trooper ordered him to drop the knife before he fired again, Jones said. The teen was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, he said. Investigators later determined the teen was carrying an airsoft gun, a toy that is a close copy of an actual weapon and used to shoot BBs, which Jones described as a replica gun that represented a real weapon. Police recovered both the airsoft gun and the knife from the scene, he said. Following police protocol, a criminal investigation into the incident is underway and results will be turned over to the St. Marys County states attorney to determine whether charges are warranted. The trooper, who has been on the force for two years and 7 months, was placed on administrative leave, Jones said. He extended condolences to the teens family. Any loss of life is a tragedy. I cant even comprehend how sad this can be, Jones said. By Barbara Goldberg Business groups are looking for Illinois lawmakers to provide limited liability from COVID-19 lawsuits, but efforts to bring about such protections have stalled in committee. Many states across the country have measures in place that limit the liability for a business to be sued if someone alleges they contracted COVID-19 at that business. The American Tort Reform Association indicates across the country 9,594 complaints related to COVID-19 have been filed. Through most of 2020, the group also tracked 176,053 television advertisements in the United States for legal claims or services mentioning COVID-19. More than $1 million of the $3.1 million spent was in Illinois, according to the group. Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association President Michael Jacobson said Illinois needs to join other states and offer liability protection, or the state will lose business to other states. Businesses who follow government guidelines for safe operations and implement best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 should be protected from legal liability, Jacobson told a House committee. The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association said there shouldnt be blanket liability protections, and workers and consumers should be protected from bad actors. If businesses are taking the proper precautions to protect employees and customers, they wont have to worry about potential lawsuits because negligence claims are governed by a reasonableness standard, said Larry R. Rogers Jr., president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Consumers dont want to shop or dine in establishments that cut corners on safety, nor do the men and women who staff these businesses want to work without the confidence that everything reasonably possible has been done to keep everyone safe and healthy. Illinois Manufacturers Association President Mark Denzler said in an interview theyre not seeking blanket immunity. They are looking to stem frivolous lawsuits. They could be completely innocent and have followed all protocols and they may spend tens of thousands of dollars defending themselves from frivolous claims, Denzler said. Bills filed by Republicans in the House and Senate to offer limited liability protections for businesses that may be hit with COVID-19 lawsuits have stalled in committee. . Total cases in west-central Illinois counties as of Tuesday, according to individual county health departments, and vaccination rates, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, were: Brown County 684 total, 673 recovered, seven deaths Fully vaccinated: 19.02%; 65 or older: 68.24% Cass County 1,951 total, 1,907 recovered, 33 deaths One new case. Fully vaccinated: 29.68%; 65 or older: 69.74% Greene County 1,403 total, 1,337 recovered, 48 deaths Fully vaccinated: 22.23%; 65 or older: 55.78% Jersey County 2,585 total, 2,513 recovered, 48 deaths Fully vaccinated: 26.64%; 65 or older: 74.72% Macoupin County 4,720 total, 4,394 recovered, 110 deaths Seven new cases. Fully vaccinated: 25.51%; 65 or older: 72.53% Morgan County 3,821 total, 3,683 released from restrictions, 101 deaths Four new cases. Fully vaccinated: 26.77%; 65 or older: 73% Pike County 1,725 total, 1,670 recovered, 47 deaths Fully vaccinated: 23.02%; 65 or older: 62.37% Sangamon County 17,479 total, 228 deaths 48 new cases. Fully vaccinated: 31.07%; 65 or older: 79.94% Schuyler County 667 total, 650 recovered, 16 deaths One new case. Fully vaccinated: 27.2%; 65 or older: 65.5% Scott County 468 total, 460 recovered, one death Three new cases. Fully vaccinated: 22.03%; 65 or older: 60.98% Statewide, 3,193 new cases of coronavirus disease and 17 deaths were reported Tuesday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 1,285,398 cases and 21,540 deaths in Illinois. 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. As part of its work delivering the United Kingdom Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF) in Spain, Age in Spain is reaching out to Armed Forces veterans and their families, dependents and carers to offer free help with the residency process. Veterans or their family members living anywhere in Spain (and whatever their age) can contact Age in Spain for information and varying levels of support according to their needs. Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said: As Patron of the Royal British Legion in Spain, I am committed to making sure that veterans living here get the support they deserve. Therefore, if any veterans of the UKs Armed Forces, or their family members, living in Spain are struggling with the residency process, I encourage them to access the free support available from Age in Spain, Babelia and IOM who the British government has helped fund so that they can provide the help to those who need it most, supporting them to continue their lives in Spain. It is important to remember that, as with other UK Nationals, Veterans who were legally living in Spain before 31 December 2020 can apply for residency under the conditions of the Withdrawal Agreement, even if they have not yet started the process. Theres still time. Veterans and their families can contact the Age in Spain Residency Helpline on: +34 932 20 97 41 or email veterans@ageinspain.org Commenting on the importance of reaching Armed Forces veterans, Age in Spain Director, Helen Weir, said: There is a special sense of achievement when we help someone who is a veteran of the UKs Armed Forces. Partly thats because of Age in Spains longstanding relationship with the network of great services organisations and with individual veterans in Spain and in the UK. But theres also the sense of privilege when its our turn to serve, sometimes in very little ways, people who served us sometimes in unimaginably important ways. Illustrative case study: One example of how the Age in Spain residency helpline recently helped an Armed Forces veteran's family: "Jonny" (name changed) phoned the Age in Spain Residency Helpline to ask for help as he was the full-time carer for his disabled mother, who had been resident in Spain for 20 years but Jonny needed to start his own residency process. He had previously not seen himself as resident but only his mums carer but the end of the transition process made it clear that he needed to act to secure his rights. He was worried as he did not seem to meet the criteria as he was an informal unpaid carer with no salary. Age in Spain discussed Jonnys options for residencywith him and he has now requested all his documentation, opened a bank account and is progressing with his residency application with confidence on how to meet the criteria. Background: Age in Spain is one of three organisations delivering the United Kingdom Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF) in Spain. The UK Government recently announced it was extending its support for potentially at-risk groups including pensioners, disabled people and those with language difficulties who live in Spain by continuing the activity of the UK Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF) and supplementing it with an additional 1 million. In Spain, the UKNSF is delivered by Age in Spain, Babelia and IOM. Their contact details are: Age in Spain is the acting as the point of contact for Armed Forces veterans who need help with residency from anywhere in Spain. For the general UK National population , Age in Spain supports people living in Aragon, Asturias, Balearics, Basque Country (Pais Vasco), Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Galicia, La Rioja, Navarra) Age in Spain website email: residency@ageinspain.org/veterans@ageinspain.org Age in Spain contact form helpline: +34 932 20 97 41 available Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm By Sanjeev Miglani and Asif Shahzad NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, people with close knowledge of the matter told Reuters in Delhi. Ties between the nuclear-armed rivals have been on ice since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019 traced to Pakistan-based militants that led to India sending warplanes to Pakistan. Later that year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir's autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade. But the two governments have re-opened a back channel of diplomacy aimed at a modest roadmap to normalising ties over the next several months, the people said. Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, both of which claim all of the region but rule only in part. Officials from India's Research and Analysis Wing, the external spy agency, and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence travelled to Dubai for a meeting facilitated by the United Arab Emirates government, two people said. The Indian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Pakistan's military, which controls the ISI, also did not respond. But Ayesha Siddiqa, a top Pakistani defence analyst, said she believed Indian and Pakistan intelligence officials had been meeting for several months in third countries. "I think there have been meetings in Thailand, in Dubai, in London between the highest level people," she said. 'IT IS FRAUGHT' Such meetings have taken place in the past too, especially during times of crises but never been publicly acknowledged. "There is a lot that can still go wrong, it is fraught," said one of the people in Delhi. "That is why nobody is talking it up in public, we don't even have a name for this, it's not a peace process. You can call it a re-engagement," one of them said. Story continues Both countries have reasons to seek a rapprochement. India has been locked in a border stand-off with China since last year and does not want the military stretched on the Pakistan front. China-ally Pakistan, mired in economic difficulties and on an IMF bailout programme, can ill-afford heightened tensions on the Kashmir border for a prolonged period, experts say. It also has to stabilise the Afghan border on its west as the United States withdraws. "Its better for India and Pakistan to talk than not talk, and even better that it should be done quietly than in a glare of publicity," said Myra MacDonald, a former Reuters journalist who has just published a book on India, Pakistan and war on the frontiers of Kashmir. "...But I don't see it going very far beyond a basic management of tensions, possibly to tide both countries over a difficult period - Pakistan needs to address the fall-out of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, while India has to confront a far more volatile situation on its disputed frontier with China." DIALLING DOWN THE RHETORIC Following the January meeting, India and Pakistan announced they would stop cross-border shooting along the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir which has left dozens of civilians dead and many others maimed. That ceasefire is holding, military officials in both countries said. Both sides have also signalled plans to hold elections on their sides of Kashmir this year as part of efforts to bring normalcy to a region riven by decades of bloodshed. The two have also agreed to dial down their rhetoric, the people Reuters spoke to said. This would include Pakistan dropping its loud objections to Modi abrogating Kashmir's autonomy in August 2019, while Delhi in turn would refrain from blaming Pakistan for all violence on its side of the Line of Control. These details have not been previously reported. India has long blamed Pakistan for the revolt in Kashmir, an allegation denied by Pakistan. "There is a recognition there will be attacks inside Kashmir, there has been discussions as to how to deal with it and not let this effort derailed by the next attack," one of the people said. There is as yet, however, no grand plan to resolve the 74-year-old Kashmir dispute. Rather both sides are trying to reduce tensions to pave the way for a broad engagement, all the people Reuters spoke to said. Pakistan is transiting from a geo-strategic domain to a geo-economic domain," Raoof Hasan, special assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, told Reuters. "Peace, both within and around with its neighbours, is a key constituent to facilitate that." (Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi and Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Nick Macfie) Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Lucknow, April 14 : A 'fatwa' issued by a prominent Sunni cleric here has said that those observing fast during the month of Ramzan can get vaccinated for Covid-19. Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, in a fatwa, said, "At a time when vaccination has become a necessity to stay safe from Covid-19 pandemic, devotees can go for vaccination while fasting for Ramzan." "Roza observed by devotees does not break due to Covid vaccination, which means that those who wish to and are allowed to get vaccination, should do so. Vaccination is an intramuscular injection, hence not digested. Therefore, it will not break your fast. We are encouraging Muslims to go for vaccination as a part of their commitment to their well-being," said Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali. To help fasting Muslims during Ramzan, helplines are run by both Shia and Sunni clerics and these are flooded with questions related to vaccination. There are women centric helplines too where questions are being answered by women educated in Islamic laws. Among other queries that callers have put forth recently ahead of Ramzan include if a devotee is experiencing Covid symptoms, how should he observe the fasting month, and what is the code of law to avoid Covid-19 or any other infection or disease. "Those who are experiencing Covid symptoms should immediately get themselves tested and not observe roza this time. For the ones who are not well, the instructions of the Prophet for the devotee is to first visit a doctor and take their suggestions. It is also mentioned in the Hadith Shareef that 'kalonji' (nigella seed) keeps every illness at bay. Therefore, it should be taken during sehri and iftar," the cleric said. A caller asked if a person could recite 'ayats' (verses) and read 'tasbeeh' (rosary) without cleaning himself, to which it was suggested that people could do so without cleaning their hands but they should not touch the Holy Quran. Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, recently got himself vaccinated and asked Muslims to shed hesitancy and get themselves vaccinated. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Newser) Jessie Hamilton says she's worked at least two jobs, and sometimes four, ever since she was 14. She's now 74 and finally ready to retire, thanks to a generous act from some of the people she's served throughout her career. Fourteen of those years, from 1982 to 1996, were spent as a cook at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house at Louisiana State University, where Hamilton served up to 100 young men at a time. "They'd come in the kitchen and sit on top of the counter and tell me their problems," Hamilton tells the Washington Post. "She was truly like a mother to us," adds Andrew Fusaiotti, 52. He was one of several fraternity brothers to surprise Hamilton with an outdoor celebration for her birthday on April 3. But there was another surprise in store: The brothers had pooled $51,765enough money to pay off the mortgage on Hamilton's Baton Rouge home. story continues below "If I hadn't been sitting, I would have fell down," Hamilton, a single mother, tells the Post. "I was hollering and crying," she adds, noting there were times she struggled to put food on her own table. She was able to buy her own home in 2006, but with a 30-year mortgage, assumed she'd have to work multiple jobs for the rest of her life to afford it. Fusaiotti had other ideas. After touching base with Hamilton at the start of the pandemic, he reached out to brothers across the country, requesting donations for "the most giving person you've ever met," per the Advocate. Ninety-one people donated an average of $560, per the Post. At the celebration, the group stunned Hamilton with $6,675 to spend on herself, then another $45,000 to cover the mortgage. Now a cook and a cleaner, Hamilton has already told her bosses that she's quitting. "Andrew answered my prayers," she tells the Advocate, teasing a future trip to Hawaii. (Read more uplifting news stories.) By Sarah D. Wire, The Los Angeles Times (TNS) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has asked the Department of Education to study whether he can unilaterally forgive federally held student loan debt, raising hopes for roughly 45 million Americans who collectively owe $1.7 trillion. But whether relief will come is still unclear. Last year, both the Trump administration and Congress temporarily halted collection from certain student loan borrowers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden instructed the Education Department to extend that relief. It has prompted renewed calls from some progressives to have the federal government forgive student loan debt. Backed by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., they want Congress or the president to forgive up to $50,000 in student loan debt per borrower. Biden indicated during the presidential campaign that he is open to the idea, though at a much lower amount. Where do things stand right now? At a CNN town hall in February, Biden questioned whether he has the legal authority to write off the level of debt Congress is pushing for. He has stressed that he prefers Congress pass legislation. Im prepared to write off a $10,000 debt, but not 50 thousand, Biden said. Because I dont think I have the authority to do it by signing the pen. Still, on April 1, he asked Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to research and draft a legal memo examining whether its within the presidents powers to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. Theres no deadline for Cardona to present his findings. If the department says Biden can act alone, he could sign an executive order instructing the Education Department to forgive the debt. If the department says Biden cannot act alone, Congress could pass legislation forgiving student loan debt, and the White House has said Biden would gladly sign it. But Democrats hold slim margins in the House and Senate, and the issue tends to be politically unpopular with Republican lawmakers. So unless 10 Republican senators are willing to jump in to help Democrats defeat a potential filibuster, its unlikely this Congress can successfully forgive student loan debt. Under what authority would Biden forgive this debt? Thats what the president is waiting for Cardona to answer. Advocates point to a provision in the Higher Education Act of 1965 that, they argue, provides broad authority to the president, through the secretary of education, to modify, compromise, waive, or release student loans. Others point to the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students, or HEROES, Act of 2003, which allows the secretary to waive or modify certain loan programs to ensure that people harmed during a presidentially declared national emergency are not placed in a worse position financially. The Trump administration relied on that act to justify reducing student loan interest to 0% and deferring payments for the weeks before Congress passed the CARES Act, which explicitly told the Education Department to stop collecting payments on certain federally held student loans through September, to not charge interest during that time and to stop trying to collect payments from people already behind on their loans. The administration again pointed to the HEROES Act to continue not collecting payments once the authority from Congress ended. In the past, the HEROES Act has been used narrowly and applied to active-duty service members or to people affected by a natural disaster like a fire or flood, rather than broadly to the entire population. Two days before Trump left office in January, Department of Education attorneys issued a legal memo to former Secretary Betsy DeVos arguing that mass student loan forgiveness would exceed what Congress intended when it enacted the Higher Education Act and the HEROES Act. What would forgiving student loan debt mean for the economy? About 45 million Americans hold student loan debt, worth a combined $1.7 trillion. Most is federal student loans. Just under $200 billion is private student loans. Borrowers typically hold between $20,000 and $24,999, according to the Federal Reserves 2020 U.S. households report. And they usually pay about $200 to $299 per month, according to the report. Student loan debt is the second largest source of individual debt in the U.S., second only to mortgage debt. Roughly one-sixth of the U.S. population older than age 18 holds federal student loan debt. For those under 35, about one-third of the population has federal student loan debt. Advocates argue that is keeping young people from buying homes and starting families until later in life. What would it mean for me? If Biden forgave $10,000, that means 15.3 million Americans 33.6% of all borrowers would have their debt entirely wiped out, according to the Department of Educations office of Federal Student Aid data from the last quarter of the 2020 federal fiscal year. In total, $75 billion in debt would be forgiven. More than 38 million Americans owe $60,000 or more and would have all or nearly all of their debt wiped out if Biden forgave $50,000. In total, as much as $686.5 billion would be forgiven. Data show that those most likely to default are people who took out money for college, usually less than $10,000, and then werent able to complete a degree but still must pay the money back without a higher-earning job. This could be why Biden jumped at the $10,000 figure. According to the Federal Reserve, 37% of adults with outstanding college student loans who did not complete an associate degree are behind on their payments and are most likely to default. It seems counterintuitive, but the default rate actually drops as borrowing increases, because those who borrow the most from the federal government tend to be working on graduate degrees and go on to land higher-paying jobs. If Biden does forgive student loan debt, you wont have to worry about next years tax bill. Congress preemptively made student loan forgiveness tax free in the most recent COVID-19 economic stimulus bill. Would it apply to just federal student loans or private student loans? The government doesnt have authority over private student loans. That estimated $119 billion in debt could not be forgiven by Congress or by an executive order. More: Democrats put pressure on President Biden for more stimulus checks, recurring payments Parents could start receiving monthly checks from the IRS: When, why and how much? Tax-break alert: If you received unemployment compensation in 2020, it might not be taxable after all South Carolina school districts may soon have to provide parents the option of sending their children back to school in person five days a week under legislation that is close to becoming law. The House voted 106-7 on Wednesday requiring every district return in person all five days week by April 26. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, pushed the measure which passed the Senate, hoping to get all schools open five days a week by April 12. The changes made by the House requires the legislation to go back to the Senate. Currently, 72 districts already offer full five day face-to-face instruction for all students, and four districts plan to move to full five day face-to-face instruction on Monday. Hampton 2 plans to go to five days in-person on April 26, and Colleton on May 3, according to the state Department of Education. Greenville County School District does not have a date of when it plans to return its high school students five days a week. Its kindergarten through eighth grade students are back five days a week. We feel very strongly about getting our students back face-to-face safely, and we have schools in districts that havent been offering any face-to-face, so at least this would emphasize they would need to offer face-to-face and for those (students) who choose to stay virtual, then theres that opportunity, too, said state Rep. Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg, who chairs the House Education and Public Works Committee. In March of last year, the governor closed schools to slow the spread of COVID-19. As the new school year began, Gov. Henry McMaster called on schools to reopen and offer five day, in-person instruction. He has repeated the call for many months, arguing the virus does not spread rapidly in schools and adequate personal protective equipment and funding is available to keep the learning environment safe. Now, the House is pushing to have the requirement in place by April 26, giving school districts time to prepare. Story continues But how to make the in-person option available still needs to be reconciled. The House on Wednesday removed a $50,000 earnings limitation on retired teachers included in the Senate version of the bill to further entice retired teachers to come back to work in classrooms to help students catch up after a year of learning during the pandemic. The $50,000 cap would have conflicted with a provision in the budget passed by the House, which did not have an earnings limit on retirees coming back to the workplace as part of the states COVID-19 response. Another change came over proposed prohibitions on teachers instructing students virtually and in-person simultaneously. State Rep. Raye Felder, R-York, said the House stripped out the provision because of confusion over the how to define dual modality, situations where teachers instruct students both virtually and in-person and whether it happens at same time. Some districts were concerned the provision would prohibit students observing a class online, but not actively participating or interacting with the class, Felder said. It also needs to be clear whether it would have affected teachers who teach one section of students virtually and another section in-person. I think we have to be careful in how we define that, and I think we have to give districts every opportunity to plan accordingly, Felder said. What I dont want to see happen is districts that are very tight with their (student) enrollment to have situations where classes have to be canceled because they cant accommodate these mandates. Patrick Kelly, director of governmental affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, said lawmakers need to develop a common vocabulary on how dual modality is defined. He argued dual modality is when teachers have to instruct and monitor behavior of students in person and those learning remotely at the same time, dividing their attention. That is fundamentally different from a livestream classroom where students from (a) distance can view what his happening somewhere else, Kelly said. Dual modality is a unique response to the pandemic and we know from talking to our members across the state that it is burning out teachers and most importantly it is detrimental to student learning. The Palmetto State Teachers Association is less concerned with situations where teachers may have a virtual class one hour and an in-person class another hour. Its still highly demanding on a teacher because what works in person doesnt work online and vice versa, Kelly said. But as long as a teacher is not being asked to do both in person and online at the same time, then the teacher can at least plan accordingly in their lesson design. Mandate has critics Opponents of the bill, including the S.C. School Boards Association, worry it eliminates school districts ability to be flexible during the pandemic. Schools also are concerned about whether buildings have enough space for students to adequately spread out. Greenville County Schools, the states largest school district, has kindergarten through eighth grade students attending five days in person. However, students in the districts high schools only attend in person three to four days a week in order to cap occupancy at 75% to maintain proper social distancing, under guidelines from the Centers of Disease Control and Department of Health and Environmental Control. Under the CDCs newest guidelines, GCS is not currently eligible to return 100% of high school students to full-time in-person school because our communitys COVID incidence rate remains high, where it has been since Oct. 15, 2020, Greenville School District Superintendent Burke Royster said in memo to school board members. This bill does not acknowledge that conflict or provide alternative solutions. Greenville County Schools spokesman Tim Waller said the district wants all students back in person full time as soon as its safe to do so. Senate Majority Leader Massey, who has now pushed two pieces of legislation to require schools to re-open to five days, said he was disappointed with the delay in the House. Massey said he is disappointed the House didnt move the bill more quickly through the chamber. To some extent you have to give districts notice of when this has to happen, Massey said. Weve been talking about it a couple of weeks, so they all knew the week of the 12th would be a possibility. If you start changing it up on them, you cant do it at the last moment, and say Hey, we want you to go back tomorrow. Pushing to get schools open five days a week comes as vaccine administration ramped up with people 16 and older eligible. Money also has been distributed to schools for personal protective equipment to slow the spread of the coronavirus. State Rep. Wendy Brawley, D-Richland, who initially objected to the bill moving quickly in the House, wanted to make sure parents still have the choice on whether to send their children to school every day. I think the responsibility on whether or not to do things rests with the parents and the school board, Brawley said. Im very sensitive to what school boards are faced with particularly now trying to make these decisions and their ability to comply with CDC guidelines. Some school districts like Greenville dont feel quite as ready for their high schools. I just want us to not take the position that we know it all here and to allow those school districts some degree of flexibility to base upon what theyre able to do staffing wise, transportation wise, as well CDC guidelines once students are in place, Brawley said. Amid the current surge in the number of coronavirus cases, several states have reported a shortage of anti-viral drug Remdesivir. The Health Ministry urged hospitals to use the drug judiciously and rationally. The ministry said that Remdesivir should be supplied only to hospitals and not to chemists or patients. The ministry said that the drug must be given only to hospitalised patients who are low on oxygen. "It is an investigational drug. Its role has been clearly defined in the clinical management protocol. There is no question of the use of Remdesivir in home settings. That is unethical. It is only required for those hospitalised patients who are on oxygen. That is the pre-condition," said NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul. "There have been reports of shortages but there have been improvements. It can only be supplied to a hospital, not a chemist shop to be procured by a patient. The lines for procurement are a distortion... We request rationale and judicious use of Remdesivir," he said. Also read: Ahmedabad-based Zydus Hospitals introduces rules for buying Remdesivir The ministry has recommended the use of Remdesivir in patients in moderate stages of illness in its 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19'. The drug has been restricted for emergency use purposes. The second wave of coronavirus has witnessed an unprecedented demand for Remdesivir injection. The Indian Medical Association said that this is leading to a situation of artificial panic. "This is resulting because of the non-judicious use of this drug in many places beyond the scope of its evidenced-based benefits. The public as well the medical community must be aware of the absolute indication of the drug and needs to use it judiciously so that the drug is used for those patients who will be benefitted," said the association in a statement. India has banned the export of Remdesivir injection and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in view of the sudden spike in cases. Meanwhile, several states have flagged the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines as well. The government said that there is no shortage and called for better management of cold chain points. Also read: India bans Remdesivir exports till COVID surge abates Also read: Covid-19 update: Two arrested for Remdesivir black marketing in Mumbai Midway Car Rental, the privately-owned car rental company in Southern California, caters to both an exclusive and expansive clientele, including VIPs, high-end hotels, and replacement vendors like dealerships and body shops. The company currently owns and operates 15 locations and has aggressive plans for expansion, with 6 or 7 more sites planned for this calendar year. The challenge With a portfolio that includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Jaguars, Midway can have up to a million dollars of assets parked on any of its lots. Some of the companys newest locations lack secure perimeter fencing. Sean Perez, Midways General Manager, says, We needed to protect our vehicles, but even more importantly, we had to ensure the safety of our employees and clients. The problem became acute when Midway opened a new location to provide loaner and replacement vehicles for an adjacent dealership partner. Prior to Midways arrival, the lot had been populated by vagrants and the homeless who would sleep in and around the cars parked there. When we took over the property, we needed to provide a safe and secure environment where we could conduct business, Perez explains. There were issues with vandalism and graffiti. Some of the displaced homeless would get aggressive. We needed a proactive solution a way to stop these incidents from happening rather than trying to prosecute the individuals after the damage was done. Traditionally, Midways properties have been less exposed, with electronically secure gates or fences that restrict access. However, as Midways expansion plans include growing alignment with business partners like dealerships, many future sites will likely face similar security challenges. To address this situation, the company sought: A scalable system that could grow incrementally with Midways expansion Flexible technology that could be moved to new sites with minimal effort A technology partner capable of servicing and supporting a long-term solution The ability to outsource monitoring services in the near future The solution I tend to be conservative, says Perez. I wanted to start off slow and then, when comfortable that wed found both the right partner and technology, have the ability to really scale up. Midway Car Rental deployed ROSA units, Responsive Observation Security Agents, manufactured by Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD). I have to tell you, I was a bit skeptical at first about these ROSA units, says Perez. You can stick an armed guard out there, but the idea that a technology device could provide both consistent monitoring and serve as a deterrent system seemed like a stretch. However, our two ROSAs are really helping us protect our assets. In very short order, our problem decreased and our situation has improved dramatically. About ROSA ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes. Its AI-driven security systems include human and vehicle detection, license plate recognition, responsive digital signage and audio messaging, and complete integration with RADs software suite notification and response library. Two-way communication is optimised for cellular, including live video from ROSAs dual high-resolution, full-color, always-on cameras. The folks from RAD sent out an engineer to help us determine where to mount the ROSA units by identifying areas on our site that are most exposed to potential vandalism or other threats, says Perez. The devices are highly visible, featuring scrolling LED text, colorful neon ribbons, and two video cameras. ROSA may be programmed to display welcome messages or marketing messages during business hours, along with a reminder to visitors that the property is under surveillance. When it detects the motion of humans or vehicles on the lot, it sends an alert to Perez and his team along with an associated video clip, keeping them well informed of activity happening in real-time. Functions During off-hours, ROSA's automated response kicks in. Its friendly daytime messaging is replaced with a more stern warning to trespassers. Upon detecting a human or moving vehicle, ROSA responds with flashing red lights and a visual warning to vacate the property immediately. If ROSA continues to detect a presence, more lights, sirens, and a pre-recorded audio message add a sense of urgency. Monitoring personnel, who have been alerted of the event and have access to live video, can also issue pointed commands over ROSA's loudspeaker. Ultimately, if the police must be summoned, the encounter has been thoroughly documented and recorded. Perez describes ROSA's effectiveness as a deterrent. "I've watched when people encounter the system. Initially, their reaction is one of shock and awe. When the unit goes off with its lights flashing and they hear those verbal commands, theyre terrified. They look like they've seen a ghost. Literally, in less than ten days after we put those things out, the word had spread to stay away. The vagrants were gone. It was like night and day." Intuitive and customer-friendly Currently, Midway's management has chosen to monitor the system themselves. Perez explains, "Initially, I was getting alerts somewhat often, but they quickly tapered off. At this point, they're infrequent. With just these two units in place, plus two more scheduled to go up in Newport Beach in the coming weeks, we can handle the monitoring independently. Within the next year or two, as we open new locations and add more units, we'll take advantage of RAD's monitoring services. We had that in mind when we went this route that with our continued growth, we would eventually leverage that option." "The system is very intuitive and customer-friendly," adds Perez. "I've used other systems that are really cumbersome. The RAD SOC dashboard is nothing like that. The ease-of-use is amazing." So is the deployment process. As ROSA requires nothing more than power to operate, it is truly plug and play. "We had them installed and received training all within a few hours on one day," says Perez. "We haven't run into any issues, but if we do, the relationship we've built with the RAD team is so good that I can call on them at any time for assistance. They are very, very customer-centric." Evaluating ROI Midway Car Rental quantifies the value ROSA delivers in several ways, including monetarily, a reduction in crime, and improved peace of mind. Perez elaborates, "Thanks to the ROSA units, we've addressed all sorts of issues. Damage to vehicles, graffiti on the exterior of the building, the homeless tampering with our electrical outlets to charge their phones, trash left around the property thats all gone since we put the ROSAs in. There are also important intangibles that you really can't put a price tag on, like an improvement in employee well-being and productivity because our staff now feels safe at work." RAD's cloud-based software simplifies the management of multi-site systems The system's scalability and flexibility ensure that Midway's investment will continue to pay dividends. Perez says, "We're growing so fast, we're trying to put flagpoles in the markets where we identify a need, but that doesn't mean we're locking ourselves into long-term leases. Down the road, if we decide to move locations, our ROSAs move with us. We heavily factored their ability to easily install, uninstall, and re-install when deciding to go with this technology." Consistent with Midway's plans, RAD's cloud-based software simplifies the management of multi-site systems. As new Midway locations open and ROSA units are installed, management and monitoring of all devices can occur through one login to the centralised RAD SOC dashboard. Alert notifications include the location of the activated unit. RADs suite of products In addition to ROSA, RAD offers a suite of other products that share the same platform for delivering automated remote services, including some that are more appropriate for indoor use. Should Midway encounter new security challenges in the future, they can expand their system with other RAD devices. "For now, ROSA is what fits our needs best, but I've seen some of those other units, and they look pretty cool," says Perez." Midway uses the ROSA units through RAD's subscription model. The company pays a low monthly fee that covers unlimited use of the devices, software and software updates, maintenance, and technical support. Their out-of-pocket equals a small fraction of what hiring a security guard would cost. When asked whether Perez recommends the system to others, his answer is concise. "It's a no-brainer!" he laughs. "Knock-on-wood, we've been nearly without incident for the four months since the ROSAs went up. I attribute that to the units' effectiveness." Michigan has agreed to pause use of the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson while federal regulators further investigate a handful of rare but severe cases of blood clotting post-inoculation. On Tuesday, April 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the temporary pause after becoming aware of six concerning reactions out of more than 6.8 million doses administered across the country. While the cases are not common, federal health officials said theyre worth a second look -- even if just to better prepare hospital systems on how to treat those who develop these rare blood clots. Heres what we know so far: The cases Six women between the ages of 18 and 48 have reported unusual blood clots after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. One of the individuals died. None of the cases were known to be from Michigan, according to the states health department. Each case happened between six and 13 days after getting the shot. The condition involves clotting in the veins that draw blood from the brain, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Additionally, these cases involved individuals with low blood platelet counts, or thrombocytopenia. Health experts said six cases is too few to determine if there are any groups who are more susceptible to this rare reaction to the shot. What if I already got a J&J vaccine? Health officials note that most people who have gotten the single-dose vaccine will not have a serious adverse reaction like the one involving unusual blood clotting. But federal agencies recommend contacting your doctor if you experience severe headache, changes in vision, abdominal or leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of being vaccinated, and notify them which vaccine you received and when. Dr. Geoffrey Barnes, a vascular cardiologist at the University of Michigan, said the symptoms are more severe than those flu-like symptoms one can expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, and they would likely appear more than five days after vaccination. Most, if not all, health systems have imaging technology to locate these blood clots, Barnes said. What if Im scheduled to get a J&J vaccine? Michigan has agreed to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until federal agencies give them the green light to resume. If you have an appointment to get the single-dose vaccine today or in the coming days, contact the site to ensure that your appointment hasnt been moved. In several cases, health departments and clinics have said they have enough Pfizer and Moderna doses to maintain appointments that were supposed to get the Johnson & Johnson shot. If you get one of those, youll have a second appointment scheduled three to four weeks later to get your second dose. Michigan State University and other colleges and universities across the state were forced to adjust their vaccination supplies and plans. In some cases, they canceled clinics, but others were able to use alternate vaccines. The message from the FDA and CDC is that the pause is a recommendation, not a mandate. Dr. Peter Marks, director for the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said an individual can receive the shot still, however, if their health care provider determines its benefit-risk is appropriate. What about the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines? No such reports of this rare blood clotting condition combined with low platelet counts have been reported in individuals who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, according to the FDA. Both of the two-dose shots available in the U.S. are mRNA vaccines, which are in a different class of vaccine from the Johnson & Johnsons shot -- a viral vector vaccine. Officials have noted similarities between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and another viral vector vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which has also undergone pauses in different parts of the world following rare adverse reactions. Its very similar to what was seen in Europe with another vaccine, said Dr. Peter Marks, director for the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. So we have to take the time to understand this complication and address it properly. The state health department continues to encourage residents to sign up for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which have been administered to more than 3.1 million residents to date. So the J&J vaccine has been paused. What next? The CDCs independent advisory committee -- the same group of health experts who recommended emergency use authorization of each vaccine before it became available to Americans -- will meet virtually at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to review the latest data regarding adverse reactions to Johnson & Johnsons vaccine. At the meetings conclusion, the group is expected to vote on a recommendation to federal regulators on how to proceed. You can watch it through the CDCs webcast, here. There will be a period for public comment before the vote. Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner for the FDA, said the timeline will depend on what we learn in the next few days, however we expect it to be a matter of days for this pause. Will the pause shake trust in the vaccination process? It remains to be seen what effect the recent news about adverse reactions -- even rare -- will have on people who were already hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials hope the transparency shown by the FDA and CDC by pausing after six blood clotting episodes out of more than 6.8 million shots in arms will have a positive impact. The FDA and the CDC have been very scrutinizing as far as the safety of the vaccines, and I think its good to see theyre looking at this very closely and theyre airing on the side of safety, said Dr. Liam Sullivan, an infectious disease physician at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. I think thats a good thing. I dont think it should be taken as an alarming development. Theyre doing their job, and we should be happy that theyre doing their job. But some residents have noted concern amid Tuesdays halt. I know its only six people and I know thousands of people are dying from COVID but.... you know, we did this intentionally to ourselves, getting a vaccine, trying to be safe, said Kate Cadieux, 45, who got the Pfizer vaccine but her adult children got the Johnson & Johnson shot. Its just so damaging to me because I do think all the vaccines came out very quickly. Will it slow down progress? Michigan has administered more than 5.4 million doses of the three available vaccines. About 41.3% of the 16 and older population has gotten a first shot, and about 27% of that population is fully vaccinated. Looking specifically at Johnson & Johnsons vaccine, it makes up less than 4% of total doses administered. Michigan has been allocated 328,900 doses of the single-dose shot, and have administered 209,218. Because local health departments have gotten such a limited supply of the single-dose vaccines, they dont expect the pause to severely slow down the states vaccination rate. Michigan averaged 89,033 shots per day last week, up from 75,175 per day two weeks earlier. At the federal level, the U.S. has administered more than 192 million doses of vaccine. Among those shots, less than 4% were Johnson & Johnsons. Federal officials dont believe the pause in use of Johnson & Johnsons vaccine will have a significant impact on the large-scale vaccination plan, according to a statement from the White House. We are working now with our state and federal partners to get anyone scheduled for a J&J vaccine quickly rescheduled for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, said Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 response coordinator on Johnson & Johnson vaccine, in a prepared statement. Read more on MLive: No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA Michigan coronavirus data for Wednesday, April 14: Closing in on new daily case record A mask shouldnt have a political party, says GOP leader who thinks he caught COVID-19 at Republican meeting Whitmer carves out priorities for Michigans $18.8 billion in stimulus funds Long Covid continues to stump doctors and exhaust those fighting months-long battles Indigenous land-use reduced catastrophic wildfires on the Fish Lake Plateau If you were to visit the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau a thousand years ago, you'd find conditions remarkably familiar to the present. The climate was warm, but drier than today. There were large populations of Indigenous people known as the Fremont, a who hunted and grew crops in the area. With similar climate and moderate human activity, you might expect to see the types of wildfires that are now common to the American West: infrequent, gigantic and devastating. But you'd be wrong. In a new study led by the University of Utah, researchers found that the Fremont used small, frequent fires, a practice known as cultural burning, which reduced the risk for large-scale wildfire activity in mountain environments on the Fish Lake Plateau--even during periods of drought more extreme and prolonged than today. The researchers compared lake sediment, tree ring data and archaeological evidence to reconstruct a 1,200 history of fire, climate, and human activity of the Fish Lake Plateau, a high-elevation forest in central Utah in the United States. They found that frequent fires occurred between the years 900 and 1400, a period of intense farming activity in the region. Prehistoric cooking hearths and pollen preserved in lake sediment show that edible plant species dominated the landscape during this period, indicating that Fremont people practiced cultural burning to support edible wild plants, including sunflowers, and other crops. Large-scale farming ceased after the year 1400. Hunters and foragers, ancestors of the Ute and Paiute, continued to burn, although less frequently than during the farming period. After Europeans made cultural burning illegal, the ecosystem returned to be dominated by a thick forest of trees. "When you have people burning frequently, they're reducing the amount of surface fuels present on the landscape. It makes it much more difficult for a lightning fire to reach up to the canopy and burn down the entire forest," said Vachel Carter, postdoctoral research assistant at the U and lead author of the study. "Now we have an environment dominated by trees in a very dry environment, which are conditions prime for megafires. Is this a result of climate change? Definitely. But in the case at Fish Lake, it could also be attributed to a lack of cultural burning." For millennia through the present, Indigenous people across North America have used cultural burning to drive game, ease travel, clear vegetation for fields and enhance regrowth of edible plants. European settlers banned the practice in favor of fire suppression, the strategy that's dominated forest management since the turn of the 20th century. "All over North America, humans have always modified fire regimes to benefit themselves and their families," said Brian Codding, associate professor of anthropology at the U and senior author of the paper. "Cultural burning is something that needs to be considered when people are talking about how to manage forests, just like in the Fish Lake National Forest." The paper published April 14, 2021 in the Nature journal Communications Earth and Environment. It takes a village The study is the first in the region to combine charcoal, pollen, tree ring and archeological site data together to assess human influence on prehistoric wildfires. The multiple disciplines allowed the researchers to make connections that would otherwise have been impossible. "This is really showing us something that's kind of invisible otherwise," said Codding. "People have been trying to look at human impacts on fire regimes all over the place, and it's really hard. Because the changes might be really subtle, or our records just aren't fine-grained enough to record the types of changes that can reveal it." Colleagues from Utah State University and Brigham Young University contributed tree ring data that document how the climate has shifted over time. Thick rings mean that the tree grew rapidly, indicating there was more moisture available. Narrow rings represent a slow growth year due to less moisture, a signature that can record periods of drought. For this study, they established a climatological timeline for the Fish Lake area. Carter analyzed the contents of ancient sediments to reconstruct past worlds. Detritus from the local environment blows over the lake and settles at the bottom, building up layers as time passes. Each layer provides a snapshot of what the surrounding area was like at a particular time. She used charcoal as a proxy for fire abundance--more charcoal means more frequent fire--and analyzed pollen grains to determine what plant species dominated and compared how those changed over the last 1,200 years. Codding and colleagues counted the number of sites that were occupied, using radiocarbon dates on items found at dwelling sites to establish when people were there. They also used food remnants in cooking hearths to establish the types of food people were eating. They analyzed sites within modern day Sevier County, the area around and including Fish Lake, the ancestral lands of the Ute and Paiute Tribes. "From the cooking hearths found at Fish Lake, we got an indication of what people were eating, and when they were eating it. We knew that they were eating food in the sunflower family, the grass family, and the sedge family, all these plants that don't naturally dominate a high elevation forest," said Carter. "I counted the pollen from those species in the sediment cores and, sure enough, when the Fremont were present, those same plant species were present in much higher abundances than when the Fremont were absent." "This piece really pulls the study together for linking how people living at this area, at higher densities, were actually modifying the environment to increase the resources that were available to them," Codding said. Cultural burning for Pando In Utah, many forests could benefit from frequent, smaller fires to mitigate wildfire risk. Perhaps one of the most urgent is in the Fish Lake National Forest that guards Pando, a stand of 47,000 aspen tree clones and the most massive organism on Earth. Pando has sat at the south end of Fish Lake for thousands of years, at least--some say the organism is a million years old. In recent years, the beloved grove has been shrinking. Low severity fires may help Pando, and other Utah forests, stay healthy. "Fuels on the Fish Lake landscape are at the highest that they've been in the last 1,200 years. The climate is much warmer than it was in the past. Our droughts have not been as intense as we've seen in the past, but they're on their way," Carter said. "The Fremont likely created long-lasting legacies on the Fish Lake Plateau through their cultural burning. Moving forward, 'good fire,' like prescribed fire, will be needed to mitigate against wildfire risk." ### Other authors of the study include the following researchers from the University of Utah: Andrea Brunelle, Department of Geography and the Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC); Mitchell J. Power, Natural History Museum of Utah and the GCSC; Isaac Hart, Department of Geography and the Archaeological Center; and Simon Brewer, Department of Geography. Authors from other institutions include R. Justin DeRose and Erick Robinson, Utah State University; Matthew F. Bekker, Brigham Young University; Jerry Spangler, Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance; Mark Abbott, University of Pittsburg; and S. Yoshi Maezumi, The University of Amsterdam. This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. DGAP-News: Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.: Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. Reschedules the Reporting of the Full Year 2020 Financial Results to April 30, 2021 14.04.2021 / 07:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. Reschedules the Reporting of the Full Year 2020 Financial Results to April 30, 2021 HALLE (SAALE) / MUNICH, GERMANY, 14 April 2021 - Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: VVY; NL00150002Q7) announced today that the publication of the Full Year 2020 financial results, which had been scheduled for April 20th, 2021, will be postponed until April 30th, 2021. The postponement is due to unexpected delays in the finalization of Vivoryon's financial statements related to its transition into a Dutch N.V. corporation. The Company's Board of Directors made the decision to move the reporting date to ensure completeness of the filing and in compliance with the laws of the Netherlands. ### For more information, please contact: Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. Dr. Ulrich Dauer, CEO Email: contact@vivoryon.com Trophic Communications Gretchen Schweitzer / Valeria Fisher Tel: +49 172 861 8540 or +49 175 8041816 Email: vivoryon@trophic.eu About Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. With 20+ years of unmatched understanding in identifying post-translational modifying enzymes that play critical roles in disease initiation and progression, Vivoryon's scientific expertise has facilitated the creation of a discovery and development engine for small molecule therapeutics. This platform has demonstrated success by developing a novel therapeutic in type 2 diabetes. In its current programs Vivoryon is advancing its lead product, varoglutamstat (PQ912), in Alzheimer's disease and its entire portfolio of QPCT and QPCTL inhibitors in oncology and other indications. In addition, the company pursues a development program for Meprin protease inhibitors with potential therapeutic use in fibrotic diseases, cancer and acute kidney injury. www.vivoryon.com Forward Looking Statements Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Cabinet discussed at its April 14 session the Sputnik V vaccines, among other things. (Source: TASR) This is the Wednesday, April 14, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia. Learn about politics, business, and other notable events of the day in Slovakia in less than five minutes. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. Sputnik V contract to be analysed The Health Ministry will send the contract on the purchase of Russian Sputnik V vaccines for legal analysis to find out whether it could possibly be published. The agreement remains undisclosed for now, as its potential publication is conditioned with the consent of the second contract party. Justice Minister Maria Kolikova (Za Ludi) and Deputy PM for Legislation Stefan Holy (Sme Rodina) are expected to help with the analysis, Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky (OLaNO nominee) said after the April 14 cabinet session. The ministers discussed the recent trips of Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) to Moscow and Budapest, about which he had not notified the cabinet. In this respect, Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) plans to submit a manual for preparing and approving the foreign trips of cabinet members. He also called on his colleagues to respect the rules and asked them to trust Slovak diplomacy. In the future, only Health Minister Lengvarsky should negotiate about vaccines in the future, as he told journalists. Another cabinet member, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) reported that Russia has asked Slovakia to take another batch of the Sputnik V vaccines it had contracted. Russia has reportedly asked Slovakia to accept another delivery of Sputnik V Read more Vaccination for foreigners specified The Health Ministry has specified who will be entitled to the Covid vaccine. Apart from people who do not pay for their health insurance, like the homeless, and those with debts on their health insurance payments, the vaccination will be available for several groups of foreigners. This includes foreigners with subsidiary protection, foreigners studying medicine in Slovakia, foreigners who pay public health insurance in Slovakia, and the citizens of other EU countries without any residence in Slovakia who will have their S1 form registered. The amendment, which came into force this week, still excludes third-country nationals who do not have public health insurance in Slovakia, though. Health Ministry makes vaccination against Covid-19 accessible to some groups of foreigners Read more Coronavirus and vaccination-related developments 1,069 PCR tests out of 8,593 carried out on April 14 were positive, which represents 12.44 percent. Also, 627 out of 145,553 antigen tests were positive, representing 0.43 percent. out of 8,593 carried out on April 14 were positive, which represents 12.44 percent. Also, out of 145,553 antigen tests were positive, representing 0.43 percent. The British variant is still prevalent in Slovakia; it was confirmed in 94.9 percent of the samples sequenced in March 2021. This represents 1,240 people of 1,307 who tested positive for Covid. The South African variant was confirmed in the case of 12 people , while there has not been any Brazilian strain confirmed yet, the data from the Public Health Authority showed. is still prevalent in Slovakia; it was confirmed in of the samples sequenced in March 2021. This represents 1,240 people of 1,307 who tested positive for Covid. was confirmed in the case of , while there has not been any Brazilian strain confirmed yet, the data from the Public Health Authority showed. Changes to curfew rules related to the upcoming lifting of measures on April 19 will be discussed on Friday, April 16 , said Defence Minister Nad. related to the upcoming lifting of measures on April 19 will be discussed on , said Defence Minister Nad. Pfizer will speed up the delivery of its vaccines to the EU, with an additional 50 million doses being delivered in the second quarter of the year. Slovakia should receive 610,000 doses from the package. of its vaccines to the EU, with an additional 50 million doses being delivered in the second quarter of the year. Slovakia should receive from the package. The delivery of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Europe will be postponed due to the reported cases of blood clots that occurred after the vaccination in the US, the vaccine producer announced. to Europe will be due to the reported cases of blood clots that occurred after the vaccination in the US, the vaccine producer announced. People in Slovakia tend to limit their social contact, as stems from the recent poll of MNFORCE, Seesame and the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The group of people who do not limit their contact is much lower than the one in the Czech Republic. Gallery of the day The beloved ground squirrels from the Biele Vody locality in the National Park Muranska Planina are gradually waking up and ready to mate. Still, the cool start of spring is slowing down their awakening. Feature story for today Until now its been smouldering, and Ive been waiting for the eruption to come. Now it has. One year after the first restrictions, the lockdown honeymoon is over, psychiatrist Michal Patarak wrote in a Facebook post in mid-March, referring to what his patients have been through in the pandemic. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Patarak reveals the effect the global coronavirus outbreak has had on the lives of people suffering from severe psychiatric illnesses, and exactly when society as a whole reached breaking point and lost what unity it had to fight the spread of the virus. We are serving fiction to children as if it was the real world Read more In other news Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) will take over several posts after his predecessor, Eduard Heger. He will represent Slovakia on the boards of governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, and the International Investment Bank, following cabinet approval on April 14. after his predecessor, Eduard Heger. He will represent Slovakia on the boards of governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, and the International Investment Bank, following cabinet approval on April 14. The system of financing and managing schools should change. While it is currently split between the two ministries (education and interior), it should soon belong only to the education department , as stems from a proposal approved by the cabinet. should change. While it is currently split between the two ministries (education and interior), it should soon belong only to the , as stems from a proposal approved by the cabinet. The boss of the Takacovci organised crime group, Lubomir Kudlicka, will spend 25 years in prison after the Supreme Court turned down his complaint. The original verdict was issued by the Specialised Criminal Court last November. after the Supreme Court turned down his complaint. The original verdict was issued by the Specialised Criminal Court last November. The annual inflation rate increased to 1.4 percent , impacted mainly by the fuels and tobacco products that have become more expensive after the increase in excise tax. (Statistics Office) , impacted mainly by the fuels and tobacco products that have become more expensive after the increase in excise tax. (Statistics Office) Slovak astrobiologist Michaela Musilova has made it to the shortlist of the dearMoon project with the aim to circle around the Moon. Financed by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the mission with an eight-member crew is scheduled for 2023. Do not miss on Spectator.sk German architects design the new look of Bratislava's three central squares Read more The number of deaths continues breaking long-term averages Read more Shops will reopen after four months and should not be in need of customers Read more If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. As many as 93% companies in India are looking to hire internally for vacancies, according to a study by professional networking and job search firm LinkedIn, with an almost equal number merging roles to reduce talent acquisition costs. The inaugural Future of Talent study conducted across 3,500 respondents in January 2021 includes HR personnel, senior-level hiring managers and top management from 500 Indian companies. The findings come at a time when companies are looking to optimise costs but keep businesses functioning after a year of wreckage across sectors due to the coronavirus pandemic that has left the workforce burned out. "In 2021, India will see more companies merge roles, upskill their employees, and hire internally to maximise business growth without expanding operational costs," said LinkedIn's India director (talent and learning solutions) Ruchee Anand. ALSO READ: HR challenge! Justifying expenditure on reskilling employees Data-led hiring practices will also play a critical role in helping companies engage with their employees, attract the right talent, and hire more effectively in 2021, she added. The Microsoft-owned company's report shows that 7 in 10 companies in India hire internally to gain an insider's perspective or a sense of progress. The benefits of reduced costs and increased speed in on-boarding an internal hire make it a preferred choice for HRs. For employees, too, a change of role can be rewarding as it allows them a chance to enhance their skills, develop new interests, and gain a more holistic understanding of the organisation, the report said. The report also states that when hiring internally, the top three skills that companies in India look for are good communication, problem solving skills, and time management. Further, in 2020, the rate of attrition increased 1.5 times in India as employees battled long shifts while working remotely, the study said. As remote work continues to be a big trend, the study found that 85 per cent of companies in India are already holding more engagement activities to keep employees inspired and connected with their teams despite working in isolation. ALSO READ: Flipkart ties up with Adani Logistics to boost supply chain; Adani promises 'thousands of new jobs' The past year saw employees battle burnout, Zoom fatigue, disappearing boundaries between work and life, an increased burden of household chores, extended periods without social connection along with the fear of job loss. LinkedIn commissioned independent market research firm, GfK, to conduct this research across the Asia Pacific region including Australia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. A quantitative 20-minute online survey was conducted with over 3,500 respondents from small, medium and large enterprises across software and IT services, corporate services, manufacturing, consumer goods, construction, finance, education, retail, healthcare, transportation and logistics, agriculture, recreation and travel, public administration, and hardware and networking. ALSO READ: MUDRA Yojana created 1.12 cr jobs in 3 years; loans worth Rs 14.9 lakh cr disbursed: FinMin IRCC introducing pathways for 90,000 international student graduates and essential workers in Canada to become permanent residents, plus an unlimited number of French-speaking applicants. IRCC has also held an Express Entry draw today. Canada launching 6 new immigration programs for international graduates, essential workers and French speakers IRCC introducing pathways for 90,000 international student graduates and essential workers in Canada to become permanent residents, plus an unlimited number of French-speaking applicants. IRCC has also held an Express Entry draw today. Canada launching 6 new immigration programs for international graduates, essential workers and French speakers IRCC introducing pathways for 90,000 international student graduates and essential workers in Canada to become permanent residents, plus an unlimited number of French-speaking applicants. IRCC has also held an Express Entry draw today. Canada launching 6 new immigration programs for international graduates, essential workers and French speakers IRCC introducing pathways for 90,000 international student graduates and essential workers in Canada to become permanent residents, plus an unlimited number of French-speaking applicants. IRCC has also held an Express Entry draw today. Shelby Thevenot Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Essential workers, international student graduates and French speakers in Canada will have six new pathways to permanent residency this May. Canadas immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, announced the new programs on April 14. Three of the new programs will pave the way for 90,000 new immigrants to get permanent status this year. The other three streams for French-speaking immigrants will have no intake cap. Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these news pathways! The new programs will be for temporary workers employed in hospitals and long-term care homes, and those on the frontlines of other essential sectors, as well as international student graduates from Canadian educational institutions. As of May 6, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin accepting applications under the following three streams: 20,000 applications for temporary workers in health care 30,000 applications for temporary workers in other selected essential occupations 40,000 applications for international students who graduated from a Canadian educational institution The streams will remain open until November 5, 2021, or until they have reached their limit. These new public policies apply to workers in 40 healthcare occupations, as well as 95 other essential jobs across a range of fields, like caregiving and food production and distribution. To be eligible, workers need at least one year of Canadian work experience in a healthcare profession or another pre-approved essential occupation. International graduates must have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary program within the last four years, and no earlier than January 2017. Graduates and workers must have proficiency in one of Canadas official languages; meet general admissibility requirements; and be present, authorized to work and working in Canada at the time of their application to qualify. They also must be residing in any Canadian province other than Quebec. These new policies will help those with a temporary status to plan their future in Canada, play a key role in our economic recovery and help us build back better, Mendicino said in a media release. Our message to them is simple: your status may be temporary, but your contributions are lastingand we want you to stay. Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these pathways A long time coming The immigration minister had been hinting at the idea of facilitating immigration for temporary residents since the fall, after announcing the highest immigration targets Canada has ever seen. Mendicino said the move would be necessary in order to bounce back from a year of reduced immigration. Canada did not admit enough immigrants in 2020, and as a result, population growth fell to WWI levels. Over the next three years, Canada is aiming to welcome about 1.2 million new immigrants. About 401,000 are supposed to become permanent residents in 2021 alone, yet the coronavirus-related travel restrictions are still in effect, hindering many from immigrating to Canada. Canadas immigration system already aims to facilitate transitions to permanent residence to those already residing in the country. Many of Canadas over 100 different economic class programs award extra points to those with Canadian experience or exist specifically to facilitate such transitions. This is largely a function of Statistics Canada research showing that pre-landing Canadian experience supports integration into the countrys labour market. Moreover, facilitating such transitions has been key to Canada promoting a broader distribution of immigration across Canada. This approach helps smaller cities and communities retain the temporary foreign workers and international students that have established roots locally. Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these new pathways! Express Entry draws targeting domestic candidates One of the ways Canada has been working toward achieving the 2021 target is by inviting very large numbers of immigration candidates to apply for permanent residence, who are living in Canada during a pandemic. About every two weeks since the start of the year, Canada has held Express Entry draws that only target candidates who are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or who have previously been nominated through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes economic class immigrants as it comprises over one-quarter of Canadas annual newcomer admissions. On February 13, Canada invited every CEC-eligible candidate from the Express Entry pool, a total of 27,332 candidates. This was by far the largest and most historic draw since Express Entry launched in January 2015. Before this draw, the most Express Entry candidates IRCC ever invited at one time was 5,000. The immigration department said the reason for the draw was part of an effort to help more immigration candidates who were working in Canada to stay in Canada. About 90 per cent of CEC candidates are already in Canada, meaning they will not be affected by travel restrictions, and they might not have the same difficulties in getting all their documents together compared to overseas applicants. Other ways Canada is seeking to achieve its 401,000 newcomer goal Canada is also relying on other economic class streams to transition those here to permanent residence this year to support its 401,000 immigration target. In addition to the aforementioned Express Entry system and PNP, programs such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and other federal streams will enable more individuals to gain permanent residence this year. IRCC and the province of Quebec have already shown they are not averse to coming up with new ways to help those in Canada remain here permanently well beyond the pandemic. So-called Guardian Angels have won the hearts and minds of Canadians over the past year. These are asylum claimants that have been working on the front lines of Canadas health care system helping to combat the pandemic. Beginning in December 2020, both IRCC and Quebec began to accept permanent residence applications from such individuals as a token of appreciation for their contributions to Canada during the pandemic. Family class immigration is also contributing to Canadas 401,000 target. Family class immigrants are exempt from Canadas travel restrictions and are able to enter the country to complete their permanent residence landings. They comprise over one-quarter of the newcomer admissions Canada is seeking under its Immigration Levels Plan. Why high immigration levels are said to be key to economic recovery Long before the pandemic, Canadians have looked to immigration to help mitigate its demographic challenges, caused by an aging population and a low fertility rate. Ever since 1971, Canadas fertility rate has been below the replacement level of 2.1 babies per woman. This period of low fertility came after the baby boomer generation, when the birth rate was more than three children per woman between 1946 and 1965. Canadas 9 million baby boomers are reaching retirement age this decade. Without enough new workers to fill the gaps in the labour market, Canada will not be able to sustain a competitive economy. Furthermore, the younger generation will shoulder the pressures of caring for an older generation that outnumbers it, and in turn, the older generation may not receive adequate care. As such, Canada has been seeking higher immigration to support the population and labour force growth it needs to maintain its high living standards. Although it is still early, Canada already looks set to achieve its 401,000 newcomer target this year, thanks largely to its effort to facilitate permanent residence transitions for those already here. IRCC data shows Canada has welcomed nearly 50,000 new permanent residents through the first two months of 2021. Update: Click here to learn more about todays Express Entry draw. Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these new pathways! CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 22:17:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUCHAREST, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The first shipment of 60,000 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived in Romania on Wednesday. Pending the conclusion of an investigation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for possible blood clot risk, the vaccines will be stored in a warehouse, the National Coordinating Committee for Vaccination Activities against COVID-19 (CNCAV) said. In the U.S., six blood clot cases have been reported among more than seven million people who received the shot. This batch entered Romania via its land border with Hungary one day after the American pharmaceutical company said on Tuesday it had suspended the rollout of its vaccine in the European Union (EU). Under its contract, Johnson & Johnson had committed to delivering 55 million vaccine doses to the EU by the end of June. The first vaccine shipments reached the EU states on Monday, but the U.S. company has since suspended further deliveries. Under the initial contract, Romania is to receive another 100,000 doses this month, 518,400 doses in May and 1.6 million in June. CNCAV chief Valeriu Gheorghita said on Tuesday that, once the EMA green-lights it, the easy-to-store, single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will first be used to vaccinate inmates in Romania's prisons. Romania is stepping up its vaccination campaign launched on Dec. 27, 2020, to combat a new wave of the pandemic. In the past seven days, the daily number of vaccinations in the country has increased from 55,339 to 76,590. To date, more than 2.37 million Romanians have been vaccinated, 1.46 million of them with two doses. The government's objective is to vaccinate ten million people -- about half of the country's population -- as soon as possible: five million by June 1, and all ten million by Aug. 1. Currently, three vaccines - those produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca -- are approved for use in Romania. Globally, 272 candidate vaccines are still being developed -- 88 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to the World Health Organization. Enditem Hyundai Motor Group, led by Chairman Chung Euisun, is believed to be moving toward streamlining its governance structure, after a previous attempt in 2018 was blocked by U.S. hedge fund shareholder Elliott Management. Korea Times file By Yi Whan-woo Hyundai Motor Group appears to be geared toward streamlining its governance structure, starting with an initial public offering (IPO) of its plant engineering affiliate Hyundai Engineering. On Wednesday, Hyundai Engineering confirmed that it sent major brokerage firms proposals for an IPO on the country's main KOSPI bourse. "The requests were sent on April 9," a public relations officer of the firm said, referring to reports circulating within the investment banking industry that the IPO will be finalized by the third quarter at the earliest. Hyundai Engineering posted 7.18 trillion won ($6.43 billion) in sales in 2020, up from 6.8 trillion won in 2019. Its operating profit, however, fell from 408 billion won to 258.7 billion won during the same time period. The firm's IPO price will depend on its performance in the first half of 2021. This will be the first time in two years that a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate will go public. The previous one was Hyundai Autoever. The planned IPO would clearly be a substantial plus for Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, who needs to reach the top of the governance hierarchy after succeeding his father, honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo, in October 2020. The monetary value of Hyundai Engineering unlisted is estimated at more than 10 trillion won in the over-the-counter market. The junior Chung holds an 11.7 percent stake in the company, making him the second-largest shareholder after the group's construction arm Hyundai E&C which owns a 38.6 percent stake. This means the Hyundai Motor Group chairman will be able to secure more than 800 billion won by selling off his stake after the IPO. He would be positioned to secure at least 1.2 trillion won if his father's stake of 4.7 percent is sold off as well. The cash could enable him to secure Hyundai Mobis shares, which market observers view as essential to further solidify his management control over the conglomerate, while addressing the issue of cross-shareholding that is restricted by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). A rash of op-ed comments, reports and warnings in Washington over the past month have raised the danger of a catastrophic war between the United States and China over Taiwan in the not-too-distant future. All the increasingly bellicose anti-China propagandaaccusing Beijing of planning to invade Taiwanignores Washingtons provocative actions in deliberately stoking potentially the most explosive flashpoint in Asia. The US is accelerating its confrontation with China, which began with the Obama administrations pivot to Asia and was intensified on all fronts under Trump. Any suggestion that Biden, who played an active role as vice-president in Obamas pivot against China, would ease tensions has been rapidly dispelled. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, center, walks to her inauguration ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, May 20, 2020 (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP) Biden has elevated the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quada quasi-military alliance involving the US, Japan, Australia and Indiaby holding the first ever leaders meeting on March 12. The Quad summit was followed by an extraordinary altercation at a top-level meeting between US and Chinese officials in Alaska, provoked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens castigation of China across a range of concocted issues. Taiwan, however, has rapidly emerged as the focus of war tensions, eclipsing the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. In testimony to the US Congress last month, the outgoing head of the Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Phil Davidson warned of a US war with China over Taiwan in the next six years. His replacement Admiral John Aquilino told his confirmation hearing that such a war was much closer than most think. While Davidson and Aquilino warned of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, it is the US that is upsetting the fragile balance in the Taiwan Strait established in 1979 when Washington ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of relations with Beijing, which it recognised under the One China policy as the legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan. The US is building ties with Taiwan that fly in the face of the One China policyprevious restrictions on contact between US and Taiwanese officials have been junked and moves are being made for closer military collaboration. Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the US is committed to supplying Taiwan with supposedly defensive weaponry, and a major expansion of sales took place under Trump. The Act also contained an ambiguous commitment by the US to support Taiwan militarily in a conflict with China. Anti-China hawks are pressing for the US to end this strategic ambiguity in favour of strategic claritythat is, a guarantee akin to a military alliance to go to war with China over Taiwan. All this poses a direct threat to China. Taiwan is just 130 kilometres from the Chinese mainland at its narrowest point. Small, heavily fortified, Taiwanese-controlled islets lie just kilometres from major Chinese cities. Beijing has repeatedly warned that it would use military force to reunify Taiwan if the government in Taipei ever declared formal independence from Chinaa step that could be encouraged by US guarantees of military and diplomatic support. While the strategic and military importance of Taiwan in any conflict between the US and China is evident, not so obvious is the crucial role that the relatively small country of just 24 million people plays in the global economy through the manufacture of semiconductor chips. The mass production of computer chips is essential to everything from smart phones, laptops and vehicles to cutting-edge applications, such as artificial intelligence, supercomputers and quantum computing, that augur what some have termed the fourth industrial revolution. One giant corporationthe Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) accounts for about 55 percent of international chip production, but its dominance rises to 90 percent when it comes to the most advanced chips. US companies such as Apple and Qualcomm and their counterparts in Japan, Europe and other countries continue to design chips but have outsourced their production to TSMC fabrication facilities or foundries. The huge costs of chip production have accelerated, resulting in companies contracting TSMC to manufacture their chips. TSMC is now building an enormous new foundry in southern Taiwan at an estimated cost of $US20 billion to produce the next generation of 3 nanometre (nm) chips, which are predicted to be 70 percent faster in computing and more power-efficient than the current most advanced 5 nm chips. The smaller the componentsa nanometre is one millionth of a millimetrethe more can be packed onto a chip. TSMCs stranglehold is considered virtually unassailable. A Financial Times (FT) article entitled Geopolitical supremacy will increasingly depend on computer chips published in February commented: Most other semiconductor companies have dropped out of the race to manufacture 3nm chips due to the stratospheric costs. It will now be hard for any rival to catch up with TSMC because of its vast capital spending, its technological expertise, its network of suppliers and its support from the Taiwanese government. Only Samsung of South Korea is visible in its rear-view mirror. TSMCs virtual monopoly of advanced chip production has obvious military implications. The FT article noted: If military capability in previous centuries was built on breech-loading rifles, warships or atomic bombs, it may well depend in the 21st century on the smartest use of advanced chips. Such chips are essential for everything from the artificial intelligence built into the latest generation of warplanes to missile guidance systems and computer modelling of trajectories. The Pentagon has long pressed from the establishment of comparable chip foundries in the US to ensure supplies of these vital components in the event of war. Similar military calculations are being made in other capitals as the US-led war drive against China intensifies the danger of conflict. The Trump administrations decision to cut off supplies of chips to the Chinese technology giant Huawei, which included pressure on TSMC to do the same, undoubtedly triggered shockwaves in Beijing. China imports all but 15 percent of its chips, especially of the most advanced chips. It spends more on imported semiconductors than oil. US economic warfare against Huawei will only spur Beijing to spend even more to build domestic capacity. Restrictions have also been placed on one of Chinas largest chip makers, the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, and more recently, by the Biden administration, on three Chinese companies associated with the production of supercomputers as well as four branches of Chinas National Supercomputing Centre. Ironically, the ban on Huawei played a significant role in the current acute global shortage of chips because Huawei spent billions stockpiling before it came into effect. The strategic significance of chip manufacture was underscored yesterday when the Biden administration convened a virtual meeting of key companies over chip shortages and the need for domestic US chip production. Biden touted his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, as well as congressional moves to provide $50 billion in funding for chip production, as incentives to expand manufacture in the US. TSMC had a seat at the virtual table. It is already establishing a $12 billion chip foundry in Arizona and facilities in Japan, which is concerned about its own lack of domestic chip manufacture. However, the Arizona facility is being geared up to produce 5nm chips, which will already be dated when the new TSMC plant in southern Taiwan starts making 3nm chips in 2023. Intel is planning to expand its chip production in the US. But the difficulties of attempting to catch up with TSMC are highlighted by the fact that Intel, currently the main US chip manufacturer, is also planning to outsource some of its chip production to TSMC for the first time. Bidens infrastructure plans face opposition in the US Congress, threatening to dilute chip manufacture funding. Moreover, even if the $50 billion in funding is passed, this may well fall far short of what is required. TSMC recently announced plans to spend more than $100 billion to maintain its dominant position. As cited in a Politico article on the White House meeting, James Lewis, director of the strategic technologies program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented: I think people are still hoping we can stay ahead of China without spending any money, and its just not going to work. If the US intends to compete with China and other countries on infrastructure and semiconductor research and production, Lewis continued, then you need to spend money and Congress has not quite shifted out of a peacetime mode of thinking. Lewis reflects the wartime thinking that now dominates military and strategic circles in Washington as it prepares for war with China, which is viewed as the chief threat to the global domination of US imperialism. Admiral Davidson in his congressional testimony last month emphasised the need for a massive expansion of military spending in the Indo-Pacific and in particular for the installation of ground-based intermediate range missiles. Supply chains of strategic items such as chips were the subject of discussion at the Quad meeting last month. TSMCs role in chip manufacture is by no means the only factor that has rapidly brought Taiwan into sharp relief in US strategic planning, but it is certainly an important one. The US is determined to maintain a predominance over a critical choke point in the supply of semi-conductors for its military and economy. Its moves to strengthen ties with Taiwan will only further fuel tensions with China, heightening the danger of war between the two nuclear-armed powers. A coffee entrepreneur was killed in a freak accident on his ride-on lawnmower after an afternoon drinking session, an inquest has heard. Simon Theaker, 44, was four times over the drink-drive limit when he was found dead under the lawnmower at his country home in Cusop, near Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales. An inquest heard had he driven the 250kg Honda lawnmower from his family farm to his nearby cottage after drinking alcohol. He was discovered by his fiancee Karen Divito hours later as he lay 'face down in the river' with the mower on top of him. Simon Theaker, 44, (pictured) co-founder of Black Mountain Roast coffee company was found dead in May 2020 beneath his ride-on lawnmower at his home in Cusop, near Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales Police and an air ambulance rushed to the scene but Simon was pronounced dead in May last year. In a written statement, Ms Divito said: 'I went round the back of it and then saw the lawnmower in the stream. 'My initial thought was: "What an idiot - what has he done?". 'I thought that he had gone to get the Land Rover with the winch to get it out. 'At some point I realised I could see legs under the mower. After a few seconds it registered that Simon was under the mower. 'I then ran down into the stream and into the water. He was on his front with the mower on his back. Theaker was discovered by his fiancee Karen Divito hours later as he lay 'face down in the river' with the mower on top of him. Pictured: Theaker (left) and his business partner Edward Mungo Leir (right) 'His head was facing upstream and his right hand out in front of him.' Toxicology reports found he had 336mg of alcohol per decilitre of blood - the legal driving limit is 80mg. Ms Divito added: 'When I spoke to him on the day he was happy in himself and was in a good mood. He did not sound intoxicated or slur words.' The inquest in Pontypridd, South Wales, heard Simon had been out on a two-hour walk with his father John earlier in the day. His father John described him as having a 'dependency' on alcohol but said he seemed 'better than his normal self' during the walk. John said: 'On the day of the collision he was in a good place. I had no suspicion he had been drinking - I did not smell any alcohol upon him and he was steady on his feet. 'His behaviour on the day of the accident was normal and he was in a good mood. He could hold a conversation and his words were not slurred.' Simon's mother Ailsa added that her son would not normally have volunteered to mow the lawn if he had been drinking. Simon's death came four years after he set up his Black Mountain Roast company with business partner Edward Mungo Leir, 44. Pictured: Some of the products sold by the company A post mortem examination found the cause of death to be alcohol toxicity and positional asphyxia. The inquest heard Simon would drink red wine most evenings and had done for a number of years. Coroner Thomas Atherton recorded a conclusion of accidental death contributed to by alcohol. He said: 'It is more than likely, in my opinion, that because of the amount of alcohol he had taken his judgement in controlling the sit-on lawnmower at the critical point at the edge of the lawn and the slope caused the accident. Edward (pictured) died of a heart attack at the age of 48 in 2017 and Simon went on to continue running the business using beans grown in mountainous regions in the Southern Hemisphere 'It is more than likely he misjudged the situation and went over the edge of the lawn with the consequences that he tumbled into the river, the lawnmower also tumbled with him and pinned him down in the water. Simon's death came four years after he set up his Black Mountain Roast company with business partner Edward Mungo Leir, 44. Edward died of a heart attack at the age of 48 in 2017 and Simon went on to continue running the business using beans grown in mountainous regions in the Southern Hemisphere. An invasive frog with sharp claws has been confirmed in parts of southern Florida that could outcompete native species. Formally known as Tropical clawed frog, the small amphibian has protruding eyes, a flattened body and short talons attached to each limb. Although a frog with claws may sound startling, scientists at the University of Florida say 'people need not fret over them,' as the creature uses them to shred and break apart prey insects and other aquatic vertebras. However, the invasive frog may have the potential to spread diseases that could impact Florida's native amphibians. Tropical clawed frogs is associated with tropical regions along the rain forest belt in sub-Saharan Africa, but how they arrived in the US remains a mystery. An invasive frog with sharp claws has been confirmed in parts of southern Florida that could outcompete native species. Formally known as Tropical clawed frog, the small amphibian has protruding eyes, a flattened body and short talons attached to each limb DailyMail.com has reached out to the University of Florida for comment and has yet to receive a response. Christina Romagosa, a University of Florida (UF) research associate professor of wildlife ecology and conservation, said: 'The Tropical clawed frog invasion represents yet another disturbance to Florida's aquatic ecosystems, particularly those in southern Florida, which are already vulnerable due to habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species and disease.' Romagosa and her team sampled 43 bodies of water in the Tampa Bay area, which turned up just 22 clawed frogs. But this sent them on a hunt to determine what type of clawed frogs were spotted in the region. Scientists conducted CT scans and DNA analysis on the clawed frogs to determine if they were Tropical clawed frogs (left) or African clawed frogs (right) In 2014, a resident of Riverview, just outside Tampa, found nonnative frogs on her property. In response, Jeff Hill, a professor of fisheries and aquatic sciences at the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab (TAL) in nearby Ruskin, surveyed a bunch of ponds near the frogs and identified a breeding sight at a small stormwater runoff pond. Hill thought the species was the African clawed frog, but Ramogosa conducted CT scans and DNA testing on the recently seen frogs. David Blackburn, with the Florida Museum of Natural History, were able to identify the specimens as the Tropical clawed frog, or Western clawed frog. Tropical clawed frogs are a generalist predator, and while it primarily eats aquatic invertebrates namely insects it will often eat other frogs' eggs or tadpoles. These two species look strikingly similar, with a slight difference in body size,' said Blackburn, curator of herpetology at the Florida Museum. 'It can be difficult to distinguish them without the help of genetics or CT scans. 'This is an excellent example of how collaborations between different UF biologists can turn up surprising things.' Scientists have shared several concerns now that the clawed frog has made its way into Florida, mainly that it could spread deeper into the state and do so quickly. If it does multiply, the frogs could deplete food sources of native frogs. And this species is also a generalist predator, and while it primarily eats aquatic invertebrates it has been found to consume other frogs' eggs or tadpoles. Colin Goodman, a doctoral student at the University of South Florida, said: 'We know that the species we initially thought this was the African clawed frog has invaded many other areas, including France, Portugal, California, Chile, Italy and China, among others.' Goodman also said that although the claws are sharp, they are too small to harm a human, which are also not only the frog's list of prey. However, what is concerning is the creatures could spread disease to native Florida species. Many fungal and viral pathogens negatively impact amphibians in the US. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 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 that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement through the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. ("DTCC") that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies in the United States. Psyched common shares are now fully DTC eligible and will continue to trade under the ticker symbol "PSYCF" on the OTCQB. Through an electronic method of clearing securities, DTC eligibility simplifies the process of trading and transferring the Company's common shares between brokerages in the United States. Jeff Stevens, CEO, comments, "By achieving DTC eligibility, Psyched shares become more accessible to an even broader range of investors. This important milestone will strengthen our U.S. and global shareholder base and increase the liquidity of our common shares to the benefit of all investors. Psyched stock is now traded in Canada (PSYC), Germany (5U9) and the United States (PSYCF) positioning the Company in both domestic and international markets to continue to grow a global investor base." 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/80437 Police have arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly wielding an axe while walking along Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom. Accordin... Police have arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly wielding an axe while walking along Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom. According to Metro UK, an eyewitness saw the man carrying the weapon on The Mall, in London and he was arrested at around 6.30 pm. He was apprehended by six armed policemen while walking down the Mall in the direction of Buckingham Palace. He was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon, according to a spokesperson for the Met Police. The Spokesperson said the suspect has since been taken to Charing Cross Police Station for questioning, adding that There are no reports of any injuries. The Police said investigations are ongoing while appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Following the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace attracted large crowds over the weekend. A firefighter helps put out a fire set at the Portland Police Association's headquarters in Portland, Ore., overnight April 14, 2021. (Portland Police Bureau) Rioters in Portland Set Fires, Clash With Law Enforcement Rioters in Portland on Tuesday night marched to the headquarters of a police union and set fire to the building. About 100 people marched from Kenton Park to the Portland Police Association headquarters and lit multiple fires at and around the structure, video footage and photographs from the scene showed. People in the crowd used spray paint to graffiti ACAB, an anti-police acronym favored by the far-left, anarcho-communist Antifa network, an Antifa symbol next to [Expletive] PPA, and Daunte Wright onto the building. Wright was a 20-year-old man shot by a police officer in Minnesota on Sunday after resisting arrest and trying to flee in his car. People in the crowd were chanting Say his name! and Daunte Wright. Because the fires posed a danger to the neighborhood, which includes both residences and businesses, the Portland Police Bureau declared a riot and ordered the crowd to disperse. Police made a single arrest of 19-year-old Alma Raven-Guido for arson. Firefighters rushed to the scene and put out the fire. The crowd dispersed and no crowd control munitions were used. The Portland Police Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Portland police officers chase demonstrators after a riot was declared during civil unrest over the shooting in Minnesota of Daunte Wright, in Portland, Ore., on April 12, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Earlier in the day, police had urged people planning a so-called direct action eventin Antifa parlance, direct action means conducting actions such as setting fires or lootingthat people were planning. Such events have historically included wanton destruction of public and private property, violence and the active threat of harm by thrown or propelled objects, fire, and impact weapons. Similarly advertised events promoted and then engaged in arson and riots, the bureau said. Community members who wish to demonstrate are always encouraged to do so, lawfully. The Portland Police Bureau is dedicated to supporting peoples right to lawfully assemble. Plans are underway for a police response to any violence or criminal activity that threatens the safety of community members or public employees or public or private property. People who engage in criminal activity are subject to the use of force and arrest, it added. Riots also took place in other areas on Tuesday night, including in Brooklyn Center, where Wright was fatally shot. Monday night saw rioters in Portland hurl projectiles at officers and inflict significant damage to the Penumbra Kelly building, which houses a sheriffs office, police said. No arrests were made, but officials said investigations could lead to arrests down the line. Rioting is a felony in Oregon. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has declined to prosecute some riot charges, along with other charges, in recent months. Riots have taken place on a regular basis in Portland since March 2020. Khag, April 14 : Today, a mere shadow remains of what was once the beautiful meadow of Tosamaidan that featured an array of flora and fauna. For 50 years, since the government of Jammu & Kashmir in 1964, leased the land to the Indian Army to conduct artillery drills, Tosamaidan's ecological condition has deteriorated drastically. Not to mention the civilian and wildlife casualties the villages have witnessed over the years. Mukhtar Dar/101Reporters Khag, April 14 (101Reporters) Today, a mere shadow remains of what was once the beautiful meadow of Tosamaidan that featured an array of flora and fauna. For 50 years, since the government of Jammu & Kashmir in 1964, leased the land to the Indian Army to conduct artillery drills, Tosamaidan's ecological condition has deteriorated drastically. Not to mention the civilian and wildlife casualties the villages have witnessed over the years. Tosamaidan is located in Khag tehsil of Budgam district. For centuries, this high-altitude landscape served as grazing land for the livestock of local villagers. While it has been seven years since the guns fell silent - the government did not renew the lease to the army after it expired in 2014-the repercussions of the army's drills remain to this day. "The lease was granted without the consent of local communities," says Nazir Ahmad, founding member and coordinator of Tosamaidan Bachao Front (TBF). "Its potential dangers, as well as the ecological sensitivity of the area, were ignored. In the subsequent decades, the pastures were bombed continuously, and the consequences were gruesome. There were human, livestock and ecological casualties." Degradation of Tosamaidan and resulting casualties A few local activists established TBF after the region witnessed a number of deaths and massive deforestation. In 2011, these activists collected data through the Right to Information Act, through which they learnt of the lease expiring in 2014. Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, the current chairman of TBF, along with Ahmad and other members mobilised the local community against the renewal of the agreement and discussed ways forward. TBF, which was formed in August 2013, has been active in ensuring that the lease is not renewed. Today, it has members from around 28 nearby villages, including sarpanches of 64 panchayats, activists, environmentalists and other concerned citizens. In 2014, the army vacated the 11,200-hectare area in Tosamaidan after the Omar Abdullah government decided against extending the lease. But the damage was done. Manzoor Ahmad Rather, sarpanch of Drang village, says the historic pastures of Tosamaidan are contaminated because of the deaths and injuries that local communities faced there and the steep ecological price they had to pay. Official records state that 67 people were killed and more than 50 were injured due to misfired shells or by coming in contact with unexploded shells that were left behind in the meadows or carried down by streams. Ahmad, however, claims that the figures are higher. The total number of people directly affected by the firing range is believed to be around 50,000 across 18 villages. There is no record of how much livestock was lost. Ahmad also claims that thousands of trees were engulfed in fires due to army shelling, though the sarpanch says that much of the deforestation was carried out by local timber smugglers. In 1992, Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh, a 65-year-old resident of the nearby Khanka village, lost two children and their cousin due to the military activities in Tosamaidan. They were killed when they came in contact with unexploded shells in the area where they were grazing their sheep. Sheikh claims that poisonous substances had also contaminated the water due to which thousands of fish had died over the years. "The continuous bangs and deforestation activities forced wild animals to venture out to residential areas here," he adds. Tourism development plans On 23 February this year, the government earmarked a plan to spend Rs 100 crore for the overall development of Tosamaidan, along with the tourist spots of Doodhpathri and Yusmarg, also in Budgam. The beautification plans include setting up of tourist resorts, an official statement reads. "Apart from the development of these tourist resorts on advanced parameters, development of ecotourism facilities will be given special focus, so tourists visiting these places shall prefer to stay during nights. It's also to avoid a polluted atmosphere of congested areas/cities," Tourism Director of Kashmir Dr G.N. Itoo was quoted as having said in the statement. "We are preparing detailed project reports on eco-friendly tourism. Funding can be made available only after these reports are approved," Itoo tells 101Reporters. "The minimum requirement can be ascertained through proper consultation with local stakeholders, and infrastructure will be installed in the meadows of Tosamaidan." Earlier, TBF had launched an initiative named Community-Driven Adventure Rural Tourism (CDART) to restore Tosamaidan to its earlier state. "We submitted a proposal to the government to promote a kind of tourism in Tosamaidan that was based on conservation and environmental consciousness," says TBF chairman Rasool, who was also formerly a government medical practitioner. "The vision of the CDART model was to restore and conserve the meadows of Tosamaidan and also make it a source of sustainable livelihood for locals who could explore the local cuisine," Rasool adds. "The CDART model of tourism would boost the local economy, and the community would have control over the natural resources to ensure conservation and protection of the environment." In 2015, it was on this model that the then Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti inaugurated Tosamaidan as a tourist destination. The town was officially thrown open to the public, with Mufti assuring the people that Tosamaidan would be brought to the tourist map of Jammu & Kashmir without any harm being done to its fragile environment. However, Rasool claims that two years ago, the government sanctioned Rs 43.5 crore to build infrastructure and tourist facilities in the nearby villages, but the amount is still unspent. "We planted around 2 lakh trees in the affected areas of Tosamaidan after it was thrown open to the public," the TBF chairman says. "The forest department has also been doing its duty. The process of regaining the loss is on. Wildlife and birds are starting to return. But if the government builds infrastructure and allows the use of plastics in Tosamaidan, it will do more harm than the firing range." Unsustainable tourism model The 50-year lease to the army took a heavy toll on the ecology of the region. After the agreement expired in 2014, Tosamaidan began to return to its earlier state, but any kind of development to boost tourism will halt the process all over again. "A large chunk of forest was already razed. Any further construction of buildings or roads means further deforestation and degradation of the fragile ecology of Tosamaidan," says Ajaz Ahmad, a professor of environmental science at Government Degree College Beerwah in Budgam. "In addition to disturbing the wildlife, any such activity will also cause the adjacent glacier to melt more rapidly." The situation took a turn for the worse after Jammu & Kashmir lost its statehood and was declared a union territory in 2019. Government policies now promote corporate tourism more extensively here, which has destroyed the ecosystem of tourist spots like Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and now Doodhpathri. "The lack of management, reckless construction and ignorance of the region's carrying capacity have wrecked these fragile tourist resorts," Rasool says. "The introduction of a single-window clearance policy and granting No Objection Certificates without any environmental impact assessments make the intention of the current government clear." The TBF chairman asserts that they will vehemently oppose any such tourism development in the meadows of Tosamaidan. "Infrastructure should be established in the nearby villages we already proposed in the CDAT model," he adds. (The author is a Srinagar-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) NEW ORLEANS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM) announces the expansion of its collaboration with Noodle , the nation's fastest growing online learning network, to include a Master of Public Health in Disaster Management and a Master of Science in Public Health in Industrial Hygiene . In addition, Tulane University is offering a Master Class on Disaster Preparation that encompasses a taste of all three of the university's disaster preparedness programs. While the Disaster Management and Industrial Hygiene programs are not new to Tulane SPHTM, they will now benefit from the university's partnership with Noodle, their online innovation partner since 2017. These programs join five existing online programs in the Noodle collaboration: the Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences and the Master of Health Administration with SPHTM, and the Master of Social Work, Doctor of Social Work, and a dual degree Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership with the Tulane School of Social Work. Today, every community in the world is vulnerable to disaster, from weather-related events like hurricanes and floods, to pandemics like Ebola and COVID-19, to the outcomes of war and terrorism. Even tragic personal trauma can be defined as a disaster. The MPH in Disaster Management program prepares professionals to apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, and mitigate environmental public health problems and threats associated with natural and technological disasters- locally to globally. Students in this program gain skills to implement population-based interventions to protect communities, particularly vulnerable populations, from natural, accidental, and intentional disasters. To introduce students to various interdisciplinary approaches to disaster management and preparedness, the university has also developed a master class that outlines the strengths of programs in three Tulane schools (SPHTM, the School of Professional Advancement, and School of Social Work). This introductory class shows how the classroom experience translates to the real world and includes interviews with program directors as well as alumni who have gone on to leadership roles with organizations such as the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Nike. A key theme of each unit focuses on how the programs at Tulane provide students with hands-on experiences like practicums, field visits, and interaction with working professionals in disaster response and mitigation that makes them stand out in the career marketplace. "Tulane University has a deep well of experience in disaster management," says Dr. Thomas LaVeist , dean of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the host of the master class. "Some of it comes first-hand from local experiences in addressing the threat of hurricanes and flooding, but across the three schools, the professionals teaching in this area cover nearly every aspect of preparedness, response, and mitigation of disasters gained from experiences in the military, local, state, and federal governments, and non-profit agencies." Another aspect central to each unit is the importance of preparedness and response measures targeted at vulnerable populations. "Issues of health equity are critical across disaster management," says LaVeist, who also serves as the Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity. "As the master class demonstrates, education in this field must take all populations into consideration. The programs at each school do just that." The MSPH in Industrial Hygiene provides the knowledge, expertise, and skills to identify workplace hazards, comply with government regulations, and manage occupational exposures and risk. The program is ABET-accredited, and graduates receive one year of credit towards the experience requirement for the exam to become a board-certified industrial hygienist (CIH, American Board of Industrial Hygiene). Registration for both master's programs is available now. "It is a privilege to partner with Tulane's SPHTM, a globally-recognized leader in the world-wide campaign to fight infectious diseases," says Noodle CEO John Katzman. "Together, we can arm Tulane graduates with state-of-the-art healthcare and medical policy training." "Noodle's agile and accessible online programs allow Tulane's SPHTM students to complete their degree programs remotely, efficiently and safely," says Noodle Regional General Manager Lauren Davis. Tulane University offers both master's degrees and certificates in both on-campus and online formats in content areas including emergency management studies, disaster management, disaster resilience, homeland security, and several other areas. Tulane University also plans to offer more short courses that will be broadly accessible. To access the master class and learn more about the programs offered at Tulane, visit https://tulane.edu/disastermanagement . Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: As stewards of the first school of public health in the United States, the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine cultivates independent thinkers, innovative leaders, fierce advocates, and accomplished scholars. From the neighborhoods of New Orleans to communities worldwide, we conduct research and collaborate with our partners to ensure that all of humanity has an equitable opportunity to be healthy and pursue optimal well-being. We train the problem solvers. About Noodle: Noodle is a certified B-corp that creates excellent online and agile programs that elevate campus-wide teaching and technology. Since January 2019, Noodle has launched as many online programs with elite US universities as have all of our competitors combined. Our network of universities, higher education leaders, providers and students fuel innovation and efficiency in learning design, marketing, recruitment, technology, student and faculty support, and clinical placement. For more information, visit partners.noodle.com and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/noodleeducation and Twitter @NoodleEducation. MEDIA CONTACT: Renee Young Noodle 914-523-5320 [email protected] SOURCE Noodle Related Links https://www.noodlepartners.com/ Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 88F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Medical workers in booths take nasal samples from Army soldiers at a coronavirus testing site in Seoul, April 12. AP South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rebounded to over 700 on Wednesday, the most in over three months, as cluster infections across the country continued to pop up sparking concerns over another wave of the pandemic. The country reported 731 more COVID-19 cases, including 714 local infections, raising the total caseload to 111,419, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Wednesday's daily caseload was the highest since Jan. 7, when 869 new cases were confirmed. The number of new cases remained in the 500s over the last two days due largely to fewer tests conducted over the weekend. The country added seven more deaths, raising the total to 1,782. Health authorities have expressed concerns over a fourth wave of the pandemic in spring as people let their guard down and increase activities. They warned of stronger restrictions on multiuse facilities if the virus transmissions show no signs of letup. The number of locally transmitted cases surpassed 600 over the past week for the first time in three months, and the proportion of untraceable virus cases stood at 28.2 percent during the period, the KDCA said. Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol vowed to expand preemptive testing to detect patients at an early stage and explore ways to effectively use self-testing kits to further step up the testing capacity. The Seoul metropolitan government is pushing to introduce rapid COVID-19 self-testing kits in schools, universities and religious facilities as part of its new campaign to safely reopen the city. Under new Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the city government has been working on a coronavirus response scheme tailored to the needs of individual businesses, raising concerns about potential inconsistencies with the policies of the central government. Since the country started its vaccination program on Feb. 26, a total of 1,239,065 people have been given COVID-19 vaccine shots, including 43,489 the previous day. AstraZeneca's vaccine has been given to 936,448 people, while 302,618 received that of Pfizer. The KDCA said 60,567 people have received two doses. A total of 11,799 cases of side effects after vaccinations have been reported, up 64 from a day earlier, but 98.4 percent were mild symptoms, including muscle pain and fever. Another death after vaccinations was reported, raising the total to 49, according to the KDCA. Authorities, however, said most cases were not related to the vaccination. South Korea plans to vaccinate 12 million people by the end of June, with a goal of achieving herd immunity by November. Health authorities resumed administering AstraZeneca vaccines to eligible recipients aged over 30 on Monday, days after putting the program on hold amid growing concerns over its safety. With only two types of vaccines currently available here, the health ministry said it expects to secure Novavax vaccines as early as June, and 20 million doses will be ready by the third quarter. Novavax vaccines require two shots for immunization. Of the newly confirmed locally transmitted cases, 245 came from Seoul, with Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city accounting for 238. The southeastern port city of Busan reported 48 new cases. There were 17 additional imported cases, adding three from the previous day. The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients was 100, down one from Tuesday The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries was 101,938, up 651 from a day earlier. (Yonhap) By Kang Seung-woo Korea has chosen the slogan for next month's P4G Seoul Summit, "Green We Go, Change We Make," according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday. The P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, which is a network of global leaders and innovators seeking breakthrough solutions for green economic growth and collaborative partnerships. Launched in 2017, it is comprised of 12 countries: Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Vietnam and Korea. In 2019, Korea was selected as the host for the biennial climate summit that was initially slated for 2020, but the event was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The preparatory office has selected 'Green We Go, Change We Make' as the slogan to highlight the importance of action by all people here and abroad to contribute to the efforts to combat climate change," the foreign ministry said. Also, the ministry said the office has adopted two symbols. One visualizes five themes of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) food and agriculture, water, energy, cities and circular economy while the other carries "Inwangjesaekdo" (Clearing After Rain on Mount Inwang) (1751), a painting of Mount Inwang in Seoul by Jeong Seon, a legendary landscape painter of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, in order to express Korea's dynamic and cooperative spirit that is symbolic of the P4G. The summit's theme is Green Recovery and 2050 Carbon Neutrality. "Along with the slogan and key visuals, the committee has launched its official website and various social media platforms," said Yoo Yeon-chul, the executive director of the summit's preparatory office. Aldi is to trial selling pasta and rice from dispensers to cut down on plastic and packaging. Shoppers at the discount supermarket will be able to buy refills for basmati rice, brown rice, penne pasta and wholewheat fusilli, and pay according to weight. Customers at the store in Ulverston, Cumbria will be provided with free paper bags that are fully recyclable, and if successful the German-brand could launch it in all their branches across the UK, removing 21million piece of plastic from stores each year - weighing more than 130 tonnes Aldi is to trial selling pasta and rice from dispensers to cut down on plastic and packaging. Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi, Richard Gorman, said: 'We're always looking for new ways to reduce waste plastic and limit packaging, as many of our shoppers are increasingly conscious of the environment and their impact on it. 'We hope local customers embrace the trial and we will use their feedback to inform any future plans around refillable products. Aldi is the latest in British high street retailers to make moves to curb the use of single use plastic in their products. Last year, they revealed they plan to halve the volume of plastic packaging they used by 2025. Shoppers at the discount supermarket will be able to buy refills for basmati rice, brown rice, penne pasta and wholewheat fusilli, and pay according to weight. In 2019, Waitrose scrapped it's single-use plastic from millions of cans of baked beans and chopped tomatoes, while earlier this year they stopped selling children's magazines that came with single use toys following a letter from a 10-year-old girl. Earlier this week, Morrisons announced it will become the first UK supermarket to completely remove plastic carrier bags from its stores. The Bradford-based grocer plans to scrap its 'bags for life' with customers instead being able to purchase reusable paper bags. The move, which comes after a trial using just paper bags in eight of its supermarkets, will see Morrisons save 3,200 tonnes of plastic every year. The spark of life doctrine in Minnesota isnt a rule that any civil liberties group or organizations of defense attorneys should approve of, said Stanley Goldman, a former public defender and prosecutor who teaches criminal procedure and evidence at Loyola Marymount University Law School in Los Angeles. You dont want the jury to convict someone because they think the victim was a great person and you dont want them to say who the hell cares? and acquit if they think the victim wasnt a great person. What is the best way to finally address the cyclical nature of the migrant crisis? At a time when the U.S. government estimates a record 2 million migrants could reach the border this fiscal year, we should re-focus attention on the root causes of migration, not pedaling false promises of an invincible border. There is, indeed, a crisis but it starts over 2,000 miles south in Central Americas Northern Triangle. And this crisis is not new. It has been decades in the making in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and even Nicaragua. It dates back to systemic challenges, among which are civil wars and the failure to see through the society-wide changes that many hoped peace would bring. Migrants will keep coming until we can advance a long-term plan that improves daily lives so people do not have to migrate. We started doing so in 2014 when, as vice president, Joe Biden led the creation of a regional plan to address the interconnected pillars that cause economic despair and the security and governance challenges that force people to leave. He pushed for regional governments to do their part and Congress approved a significant ramp-up in complementary U.S. support. But real solutions will take years, more likely a decade of investment. So, in redirecting assistance away from the Northern Triangle, the Trump administration undid progress made, effectively handing President Biden a blank slate to again put forward what is needed: a long-term plan that wont be undone by political winds. To truly understand the driving factors of migration, we must understand the context in Central America. In addition to the gang violence, lack of economic opportunities and poverty, government corruption and weak governance, the countries political contexts are worrisome. In El Salvador, legislative elections this past February consolidated the popular Nayib Bukeles hold on power. Just a year before, in a sign of deep divisions, President Bukele used the military to seize Congress and sat down in the Speakers chair to intimidate lawmakers for not approving an international loan requested by his administration. In Honduras, President Juan Orlando Hernandez whose 2017 re-election was contested by the international community but recognized by the Trump administration is accused of involvement in drug trafficking to the United States. Several smugglers have testified in U.S. courts to bribing the president, and his brother and former congressman Tony Hernandez, was sentenced at the end of March, to life in prison. In Guatemala, the Congress went up in flames in November of last year over a proposed budget that sought to cut health spending (in the middle of a pandemic) and favored infrastructure projects with the Ministry for Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing, known for its alleged involvement in a series of high-profile corruption cases. Beyond political challenges, the region has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and two deadly back-to-back hurricanes. In announcing Vice President Harris new position to oversee diplomatic efforts with this region, President Biden rightfully called attention to the phenomenon of climate migrants. Meanwhile, corruption ravages countries, disincentivizing domestic and foreign investment. The situation in the Northern Triangle has become untenable. President Bidens history in the region 16 trips to Latin America as Vice President and his understanding of the history and issues in Central America brings hope. As these nations begin to think about a post-pandemic recovery plan, the timing may work to trace the contours of a new Central America. The recent trip to Mexico by a high-level U.S. delegation and the conversation between Vice President Kamala Harris and Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei and Special Envoy Ricardo Zunigas follow-up trip to Guatemala and El Salvador last week, are welcome signs that the involved parties are committed to finding a long-term fix to these issues. Importantly, one of President Bidens first executive orders was focused on addressing the root cause of migration. A central pillar of the United States strategy must be to insist that Northern Triangle governments commit to a long-term plan that improves the rule of law and stamps out the many bureaucratic practices that foster corruption. And the Northern Triangles private sector must play its part as well in being good corporate citizens that pay taxes and commit to fostering opportunities for workers. Anti-corruption, violence reduction, citizen security are all equally important, but bringing economic prosperity in a region ravaged by the pandemic and climate disasters must be the number one priority. With the Biden administrations commitment to the region, this migration crisis has the potential to finally incentivize a long-term solution. But all parties must be on board first. Marczak is director of the Atlantic Councils Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Bozmoski is the deputy director of programs. China-India border tensions "remain high" despite some force pullbacks this year, the US intelligence community has told Congress, asserting that Beijing seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to its preferences, including its claims over disputed territory. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in its latest annual threat assessment report to the US Congress that Beijing will continue to promote the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand its economic, political and military presence abroad, while trying to reduce waste and exploitative practices, which have led to international criticism. The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came into power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. "China-India border tensions remain high, despite some force pullbacks this year. Chinas occupation since May 2020 of contested border areas is the most serious escalation in decades and led to the first lethal border clash between the two countries since 1975, the report said. "As of mid-February, after multiple rounds of talks, both sides were pulling back forces and equipment from some sites along the disputed border, it said. The border standoff between the armies of India and China erupted on May 5 last following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February in line with an agreement on disengagement. India has been insisting that a resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra is essential for overall ties between the two countries. According to the report, China seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to Beijings preferences, including its claims over disputed territory and assertions of sovereignty over Taiwan. In the South China Sea, Beijing will continue to intimidate rival claimants and will use growing numbers of air, naval, and maritime law enforcement platforms to signal to Southeast Asian countries that China has effective control over contested areas. China is similarly pressuring Japan over contested areas in the East China Sea. China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond. It is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are vital to global trade. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the strategically vital area. Beijing will press Taiwan authorities to move toward unification and will condemn what it views as increased US-Taiwan engagement, the report said. China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified, even by force. "We expect that friction will grow as Beijing steps up attempts to portray Taipei as internationally isolated and dependent on the mainland for economic prosperity, and as China continues to increase military activity around the island, it said. Chinas increasing cooperation with Russia on areas of complementary interest includes defence and economic cooperation, it added. China will try to increase its influence using vaccine diplomacy, giving countries favored access to the COVID-19 vaccines it is developing. It will also promote new international norms for technology and human rights, emphasising state sovereignty and political stability over individual rights, the ODNI said. China will remain the top threat to US technological competitiveness as the Chinese Communist Party targets key technology sectors and proprietary commercial and military technology from US and allied companies and research institutions associated with defence, energy, finance, and other sectors. Beijing uses a variety of tools, from public investment to espionage and theft, to advance its technological capabilities, it said. According to the report, China will continue expanding its global intelligence footprint to better support its growing political, economic, and security interests around the world, increasingly challenging the United States' alliances and partnerships. Across East Asia and the western Pacific, which Beijing views as its natural sphere of influence, China is attempting to exploit doubts about the US commitment to the region, undermine Taiwans democracy, and extend Beijings influence, it said. Beijing has been intensifying efforts to shape the political environment in the United States to promote its policy preferences, mold public discourse, pressure political figures whom Beijing believes oppose its interests, and muffle criticism of China on such issues as religious freedom and the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong, it said. Image Credits: PTI/AP (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Having good information, having solid data and really respectfully staying on top of agencies to make sure they are being transparent leads to better accountability, and hopefully better policy, said Mitch Smith, a National desk correspondent who covers the Midwest and was one of the journalists who reported on the racial inequity story. Filing a FOIA request is, for the most part, as straightforward as writing an email. A reporter can submit a form on the federal FOIA website or a state equivalent, detailing the information sought. FOIA officers will then approve or deny the request, though at times they dont make a determination for an extended period weeks, months, sometimes years. Journalists can appeal after a denial or after a deadline to decide or respond to a request has passed, but if the appeal fails or if an agency doesnt respond, journalists can sue to receive the information, as The Times did to obtain the C.D.C. data underpinning its report on racial inequity. Sometimes, governments try to put up roadblocks in the form of charging exorbitant fees to conduct a records search or requiring a reporter to be a resident of the state where the request is filed, or simply requiring that a form be delivered by hand to a post office. In some of those cases, the courts can again be a recourse. Danielle Ivory, an investigative reporter for The Times, began filing FOIA and open-records requests soon after joining the Covid tracking team a year ago. Early on, she and her colleagues filed requests in almost every state to obtain lists of nursing homes with coronavirus cases and deaths. Ms. Ivory estimated that later, when reporting on coronavirus clusters at universities, they had sent over 200 requests to at least 150 colleges alone for case data, which helped them trace more than 400,000 Covid cases back to the universities in 2020. Press Release April 14, 2021 Cooperatives Development Officer Act Signed into Law On Tuesday, the Palace signed into law Republic Act 11535 or the Cooperatives Development Officer Act, which amends the Local Government Code of 1991 to authorize the creation of the Cooperatives Development Officer (CDO) as a mandatory position in all local government units. "This has been such a long-awaited bill by our cooperative sector, so I thank the President for signing it into law," said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal sponsor of the measure, and also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives. This law will see to the establishment of a CDO in every province, city, and municipality across the nation, to provide on-the-ground government support to the cooperative sector. Local governments will be given a choice between appointing a full-fledged CDO, or merging the responsibilities of a CDO with an existing position, if this is more feasible with respect to the size of the local cooperative sector, or the capability of the local government to provide the proper emoluments from its budget. "It's timely for us to establish CDOs as we emerge from the pandemic. Our cooperatives will really need focused, particularized assistance during this crucial period of recovery," Zubiri said. "Through our CDOs, we will really be able to reach out to every single cooperative in the nation, and we'll be better positioned to help Filipinos help themselves." HSBC has doubled down on its shift to Asia, sending yet another of its top executives from London to Hong Kong. Nicolas Moreau, the banks head of asset management, will now join three other bosses in the former British territory later this year. HSBC, which was founded in Hong Kong by Scotsman Thomas Sutherland in 1865, has been ramping up its business in Asia as it cuts back its less profitable divisions in Europe and the US. HSBC, which was founded in Hong Kong by Scotsman Thomas Sutherland in 1865, has been ramping up its business in Asia as it cuts back its less profitable divisions in Europe and the US Earlier this year it was reported that Greg Guyett, co-head of global banking and markets, Nuno Matos, chief executive of wealth and personal banking, and Barry OByrne, chief executive of global commercial banking, would move to the lenders historic home. But in an internal email, chief executive Noel Quinn confirmed Moreau would be joining them. HSBC makes the vast majority of its profits in Asia, but now almost all of the banks global revenue will be run out of Hong Kong. In the email, Quinn said the moves underscore the importance of the Asia-Pacific region. He added: An important part of our global strategy is to base more of our leadership in Asia. Quinn was careful to give a nod to Britain, saying: We remain fully committed to the UK, both in terms of our domicile and our significant businesses and client base in the country. The shift may raise questions about how much power remains in London. For British politicians, who have slammed HSBC for failing to stand up for Hong Kongers in the face of increased Chinese bullying, the departures may be seen as another step to sever ties with the UK. Earlier this year, MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee accused HSBC of aiding and abetting one of the biggest crackdowns on democracy in the world. The books go everywhere with me and that is not negotiable: college dorms, apartments around Albany, an old stone carriage house in the mid-Hudson, our first house in Glenmont. Now, most of them are in the parlor in our 100-year-old place in Delmar. Each time I moved, youd think Id shed some books. But, no, thats not how I operate. We were library people when I was growing up and I rarely bought books. Once I got to college and majored in English, I raided the old Bryn Mawr Book Shop in Albany for my literature classes. And during the pandemic, my self-soothing protocol was to acquire books: online, bookstores (used and not), Little Free Libraries, review copies. I read many of them, but bought more than my current book shelves can handle. The shelves were built by my husband when we first bought the house in the late 1990s. I didnt know that sorting them would also bring the same sort of comfort as reading them. I took my time because, really, waiting is vital these days. A pile of new books next to the shelves was getting so high, it had toppled over a couple of times. Since I have small animals, I figured it was time. Weeding books is not my favorite thing. I am book greedy. I do not like to part with books, but shelf space was dwindling. The books on the shelves were also all out of order. I alphabetize my fiction and categorize my nonfiction, but over the last year theyve migrated and mixed themselves up. I needed order, but just looking at those Instagram-friendly books arranged in rainbow order makes me cringe. How do you find anything? No. Spring cleaning for me means taking out all the books, dusting them and the shelves, then replacing the books. Ideally, Id do it every year. Some books I can easily let go of: Little Free Library books go back out to the four (yes four) that are in my neighborhood. I also decided to ditch some self-help books; Im in a place where I cannot take that kind of pressure. This year, my books even the ones I didnt read gave me comfort. These books had gotten me through, but I realized as I pulled some out that these books acquired over the years are my history, and, in a large part, my identity. I write in my books and the notes are just as illuminating as the book sometimes. This book is about me! I wrote in The Awakening by Kate Chopin, a book that helped me become a feminist. Then I spotted Gloria Steinems Revolution from Within, and vowed to re-read. There were also unread books, like the beautiful set of Willa Cather books I got from the Book-of-the-Month club in the early 1990s. There are books by authors Ive had the privilege of interviewing over the years: Kazuo Ishiguro, Amy Hempel and William Kennedy. I could never toss the books I read over and over, like Nancy Clarks Hills at Home, which is a spot-on book for right now; the incredible Ruth Ozekis A Tale for the Time Being, Maria Semples hysterical Whered You Go, Bernadette and Henry David Thoreaus Walden. And anything by Anne Tyler, Patti Smith, Toni Morrison or Annie Dillard will never be given up. Other new books are welcome addition to my shelves. Ive recently discovered Natalia Ginzburg and am devouring The Little Virtues. Bryan Washingtons Memorial blew me away and made me want to learn how to cook Japanese food. George Saunders A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is teaching me how to slow down and really focus as he moves through Russian short stories, based on his MFA class at Syracuse University. After all these years, the texts feel like old friends, friends I get to introduce to a new group of brilliant young writers every time I teach the class, he writes. I learned practical things while I cleaned out the book shelves, like its better to push the books all the way back against the wall. I hadnt done that and a terrible layer of dust had settled behind the books. It so much easier to clean and theres some bonus space for photos and mementos. I moved two tiny twig chairs made by the legendary late Paul Weinman, a former co-worker at the State Museum, to a more prominent place to hold my red book collection. My cat decided to get in on the action at one point and staked out a small lower empty shelf as a new place to nap. The couch blocks it from view, so Im going to let her have that. At the end of my book spring cleaning, I had a new tower threatening to topple over. I returned some to Little Free Libraries and boxed up the rest to put out front when the weather warms to watch my neighbors score a little happiness to get them through the rest of this. By Ruth Anderah City lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi has run to the East African Court of Justice challenging the decision by the Supreme Court to declare Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the duly elected President of Uganda. In his petition, Mabirizi contends that the said decision amounted to Supreme Court usurping powers not granted to it under the laws of Uganda. He argues that Presidential Elections Act does not give powers to the Supreme Court to declare a person duly elected upon withdrawal of the Petition. But instead, such a declaration can only be made once the petition has been heard up to its conclusion which was not the case with the election petition filed by former NUPs presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi. According to Mabirizi, it doesnt mean that when there is no one else still challenging Musevenis victory, the court makes a declaration that he was duly elected when it did not investigate the allegations that were brought before it by Kyagulanyi in his petition which he withdrew before its logical conclusion. He added that without hearing the case up to its logical conclusion, there is no way how the court should have validated Musevenis victory and he, therefore, wants the decision nullified. The magnitude of being involved in the Duke of Edinburghs funeral has not quite sunk in for members of the military, a Royal Navy commander has said. Philips close association with the military will be on show at his ceremonial funeral this weekend, with elements of the Royal Navy, RAF and Army present during an eight-minute procession in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The duke had a distinguished career in the Navy, and while he gave up active service in 1951 he remained closely connected to the Navy and other military organisations throughout his public life. Lieutenant Commander Hywell Morgan, commanding officer on HMS Magpie, is among hundreds of military personnel rehearsing this week for the funeral at Army Training Centre Pirbright, near Woking, Surrey. Looking ahead to Saturday, he told the PA news agency: Its a slightly nerve-racking experience really. I dont think the magnitude of it has quite sunk in. Its an incredible privilege to be involved given the connection between the unit I currently command and the Duke of Edinburghs own command back in the early 1950s. In July 1950, Philip was promoted to lieutenant commander and given his first command of HMS Magpie a name that lives on in the current Navy fleet. Soldiers from the Household Calvary Life Guards prepare their uniform (Victoria Jones/PA) Lt Cmdr Morgan, from the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, said: Theres definitely a sense of following in the footsteps of greats, even though our vessels are considerably different in scope and size. He described the last few days as a baptism of fire, adding: I dont think the magnitude has quite sunk in for me personally, I think for some of the others as well. But as we line up ready to march off on Saturday Im sure it will sink in, and the true impact of just the scale of that event will sink in. Pirbright was chosen for rehearsals due to its proximity to Windsor and the infrastructure that allows for regular Covid-19 testing and accommodation. The Royal Regiment of Scotland 4 Scots (the Highlanders) rehearse for Saturday (Victoria Jones/PA) The majority of the personnel gathered on Wednesday were in their barrack dress as they practised parading and bands rehearsed music in a large space on the site. Captain Gemma Darrington, operations officer for 27th Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, spoke of the importance of the rehearsals being Covid compliant. She said organisers are making sure we were doing everything that society would do and making sure our people are as safe as possible, adding that personnel have been subject to Covid tests and social distancing is enforced. Everything is made more difficult by Covid. Simple things normally you can accommodate 1,000 people here, but thats been reduced to 500 people, and so key for us is keeping bubbles as small as possible, so if anyone does contract it its affecting as few people as possible. (PA Graphics) Again, you want to reduce that spread. It is just that detailed planning of how you get everyone in here in that Covid-compliant manner and safely. Its a huge honour. I dont think weve really had time to think about it, and the magnitude of the event that were supporting, because we have been very busy. But I very much look forward to taking that time on Saturday when the service is going ahead and take the time to think about the royal family, and what theyre going through, and really paying our respects in that way. But absolutely, we know were playing a part in history here and we do feel very privileged to be in that role. 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Our engineers work closely with the security community in numerous ways, he said. When contacted by The Post, the FBI, Azimuth, Wang and Dowd declined to provide a comment for this story. The shooting In September, 2015, Apple released its new operating system, iOS 9, which it billed as having enhanced security to protect customer data. The new iOS was running on the iPhone 5C used by Syed Rizwan Farook, a public health inspector for San Bernardino County. The FBI suspected the iPhone 5C might have valuable clues about why Farook and Tashfeen Malik opened fire on a holiday party at Farooks office. Both Farook and Malik were killed in a shootout with police. Before the attack, Malik had posted a message on her Facebook page, pledging loyalty to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. (Baghdadi died in a US Special Forces raid in Syria in 2019.) The FBI had few leads on whether the couple had accomplices or whether it was directed by the Islamic State, which was directing similar attacks around the world at the time. The FBI thought the contents of Farooks iPhone 5C might provide useful information, such as who he had been communicating with in the lead-up to the attack. Tashfeen Malik and Syed Farook, as they passed through OHare International Airport in Chicago, in 2014. Credit:AP But the phone, which belonged to Farooks employer, was locked with Apples new security. In the past, the FBI could use software to quickly guess every possible combination of numbers for the four-digit passcode, a brute force effort that would normally take about 25 minutes. But the 5C included a feature that erased itself if the wrong password was entered more than 10 times. Months of effort to find a way to unlock the phone were unsuccessful. But Justice Department and FBI leaders, including then director James Comey, believed Apple could help and should be legally compelled to try. And Justice Department officials felt this case in which a dead terrorists phone might have clues to prevent another attack provided the most compelling grounds to date to win a favourable court precedent. In February 2016, the Justice Department obtained a court order directing Apple to write software to bypass the security feature. Apple said it would fight the order. Its argument: the government was seeking to force the company to break its own security, which could pose a threat to customer privacy. The US government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create, Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in a statement at the time. The government could extend this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phones microphone or camera without your knowledge. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video All sophisticated software contains bugs or flaws that cause computer programs to act in unexpected ways. Not all bugs are significant, and on their own they dont pose a security risk. But hackers can seek to take advantage of certain bugs by writing programs called exploits. Sometimes they combine a series into an exploit chain that can knock down the defences of a device like the iPhone one-by-one. Azimuth specialised in finding significant vulnerabilities. Dowd, a former IBM X-Force researcher whom one peer called the Mozart of exploit design, had found one in open-source code from Mozilla that Apple used to permit accessories to be plugged into an iPhones lightning port, according to the person. He found it even before Farook and his wife opened fire at the Inland Regional Centre, and thought it might be useful at some point to develop into a hacking tool. But Azimuth was busy at the time with other projects. Mozilla declined to comment. The FBI contacts Dowd in Sydney Two months after the attack, Comey testified to Congress that investigators were still unable to unlock the terrorists iPhone. Seeing the media reports, Dowd realised he might have a way to help. Around that time, the FBI contacted him in Sydney. He turned to 30-year-old Wang, who specialised in exploits on iOS, the people said. Azimuth demonstrated the solution at FBI headquarters to James Comey, pictured. Credit:AP Using the flaw Dowd found, Wang created an exploit that enabled initial access to the phone a foot in the door. Then he hitched it to another exploit that permitted greater manoeuvreability, according to the people. And then he linked that to a final exploit that another Azimuth researcher had already created for iPhones, giving him full control over the phones core processor the brains of the device. From there, he wrote software that rapidly tried all combinations of the passcode, bypassing other features, such as the one that erased data after 10 incorrect tries. Wang and Dowd tested the solution on about a dozen iPhone 5Cs, including some bought on eBay, the people said. It worked. Wang dubbed the exploit chain Condor. In mid-March, Azimuth demonstrated the solution at FBI headquarters, showing Comey and other leaders how Condor could unlock an iPhone 5C. Then, one weekend, the FBI lab did a series of forensic tests to be sure it would work without destroying data. The tests were all successful, according to the people. The FBI paid the vendor $US900,000 ($1.16 million), according to remarks by Senator Dianne Feinstein in May 2017. FBI officials were relieved but also somewhat disappointed, according to people familiar with the matter. They knew they were losing an opportunity to have a judge bring legal clarity to a long-running debate over whether the government may compel a company to break its own encryption for law enforcement purposes. On March 21, 2016, the government cancelled a hearing scheduled for the following day on the legal case in California. Soon after, the FBI unlocked the phone. Nothing of real significance no links to foreign terrorists was found. The government subsequently abandoned its legal bid to force Apple to unlock the phone. Apple turns to the courts Apple sought to recruit Wang to work on security research, according to the people. Instead, in 2017 he co-founded Corellium, a company based in South Florida whose tools help security researchers. The tools allow researchers to run tests on Apples mobile operating system using virtual iPhones. The virtual phones run on a server and display on a desktop computer. Loading In 2019, Apple sued Corellium for copyright violation. As part of the lawsuit, Apple pressed Corellium and Wang to divulge information about hacking techniques that may have aided governments and agencies like the FBI. Apple subpoenaed Azimuth, Corelliums first customer, according to court documents. Apple wanted client lists from Azimuth, which is now owned by L3 Harris, a major US government contractor, that might show malign entities. L3 and Azimuth said they were highly sensitive and a matter of national security, according to court documents. Last April, Apple also made a document request in the lawsuit for [a]ll documents concerning, evidencing, referring to, or relating to any bugs, exploits, vulnerabilities, or other software flaws in iOS of which Corellium or its employees currently are, or have ever been, aware. Those employees included Wang. The request would have turned up Condor. The judge denied the request in part. During a deposition, Apple questioned Wang about the morality of selling exploits to governments, according to court records. A lawyer pressed him during the deposition on whether he was aware of any bugs that were not reported to Apple but were later found by malicious hackers. Apple is trying to use a trick door to get [classified information] out of him, Corellium attorney Justin Levine said, according to a transcript. Corellium declined to comment for this story. In its statement, Apple said the case is about Corellium attempting to profit by selling access to Apples copyrighted works. In its lawsuit, Apple argued that Corellium has no plausible defence for infringing on Apples copyright, in part because it indiscriminately markets its iPhone replicas to any customer, including foreign governments and commercial enterprises. Loading Corellium has denied the allegation. It has countered that the lawsuit is an attempt to put it out of business following a failed effort by Apple in 2018 to purchase the company. If Apple wants to make their phones more secure against these government-affiliated bug hunters, then they should make their phones more secure, said Matthew Green, a computer scientist at Johns Hopkins University, who has led research that found holes in Apples encryption. They shouldnt be going after people in a courtroom. In December, US District Judge Rodney Smith in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, dismissed Apples copyright claims against Corellium. He ruled Corelliums virtual iPhones do not violate Apples copyright because they are used to find security vulnerabilities, not compete with Apple sales. He deemed puzzling Apples allegation that Corelliums products are sold indiscriminately. The legal fight is far from over. Apple can appeal Smiths ruling. And Apple has lodged another claim: that Corelliums tools illegally bypass Apples security measures. That trial, which will be closely watched by security researchers, is set for the summer. Meanwhile, Corellium can keep selling tools that help researchers find iOS bugs. But all exploits have a shelf-life. A month or two after the FBI unlocked the terrorists iPhone, Mozilla discovered the flaw in its software and patched it in a routine update. So did vendors that relied on the software, including Apple. Ask the Vet: Develop a Backup Pet Care Plan Q: I walk my dog, Buster, several times a day. Im worried about how to care for him if I contract COVID-19 and cant walk him. Im even more worried about what would happen to him if I were to die from the virus. Whats your advice? A: It seems to me that you need to consider three situations: 1) What happens if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and unable to leave home to walk Buster and shop for his food and yours? 2) If you are hospitalized, who will care for Buster? 3) If the worst happens and you die, where will Buster live? If you plan for each eventuality, youll feel more secure knowing Buster will continue to receive care. First, lets say you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and remain strong enough to feed yourself and Buster, but youre quarantined indoors. This week, contact two or three neighbors or nearby friends willing to walk Buster and shop for both of you if the need arises. Ask these friends if they will take care of Buster if you need to be hospitalized. Make sure each of your helpers has everyone elses contact information, in case the initial caregiver has an emergency and Buster must stay with someone else. Advise your veterinarian in writing that you authorize these friends to stand in for you. Invite the people in the caregiver group to walk with you on occasion so Buster gets comfortable with them. Show them how to get into your home in an emergency and where you store Busters food and medication. Keep a three-week supply on hand, along with your veterinarians contact information. Heres the tough part: thinking about what will happen to Buster if you die or are otherwise unable to care for him. This difficult question is worth confronting, even without the threat of COVID-19, because its part of loving Buster. Designate more than one person to adopt Buster so he will have a backup guardian if the first persons life circumstances change. Reaffirm with each person annually that they still want Buster if you become permanently incapacitated or die. Talk about whether Busters new family will assume financial responsibility for him or if youll set aside funds to care for him, perhaps through life insurance. Then put it all in writing. Attorney Amanda Schwoerke, who teaches animal law at Duke Law School, recommends you consult your lawyer to ensure your wishes are carried out. Ask about setting up a pet trust, living trust, or power of attorney specifically addressing Busters care. While pets are legally considered property, you shouldnt simply add a provision to your will transferring Buster to someone else like hes a piece of furniture. The person who receives Buster through your will has no obligation to actually take care of him or to use any inherited money for his upkeep. If you cant find a friend or family member who wishes to adopt Buster, select a rescue organization or shelter that will choose the right adoptive home for him. Whatever you decide about Busters care, let the important people in your life know, and designate your wishes on a wallet card and in a prominent location in your home. Q: I want to use a Febreze plug-in near the litter box in my small bathroom. Is Febreze safe for cats? A: Yes, Febreze is safe to use around cats. Remember that litter box odors are easier to control if you scoop the box daily and empty and scrub it every week or so. Lee Pickett, VMD, practices companion animal medicine in North Carolina. Contact her at AskTheVet.pet. Copyright 2021 Lee Pickett, VMD. Distributed by Creators.com The OECD Advisory Group on Privatisation (AGP) met in Hungary, on 19-20 September 2000 to discuss "Managing Commercial Assets under State Ownership". The meeting brought high-level privatisation officials and policy makers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, India, Malta, Russian Federation, Slovenia and experts from international organisations together with senior privatisation officials from 18 OECD member countries. It was co-hosted by the Hungarian Privatisation and State Holding Company (APV Rt.), and explored the changing pattern of state asset management by comparing policies across a large number of countries. Meeting Documents Two former soldiers have been indicted on charges in the stabbing death of another soldier on a Georgia military base, according to court documents unsealed Monday. Byron Booker, 28, of Ludowici and Jordan Brown, 21, of St. Marys are charged in the death of Specialist Austin J. Hawke, 24, at Fort Stewart. Booker is charged with premeditated murder and murder of an armed services member. Booker and Brown are charged with felony murder; assault on an armed services member; burglary; and conspiracy to retaliate and retaliation against a witness. If convicted, both men could face the death penalty. The 21-page indictment alleges Booker and Brown conspired to commit the offenses against Hawke in retaliation for Hawke reporting Booker to Army leadership for "poor leadership, poor military performance, and maltreatment of subordinates" prior to Booker's Army discharge, and in retaliation for Hawke reporting Brown for drug use during his service. The indictment said Booker and Brown discussed "silencing" Hawke, and discussed Brown providing Booker with a key to access Hawke's room. The indictment alleges Booker drove from his home on June 17, 2020, to Fort Stewart and entered the base on foot before walking to Hawke's barracks. The indictment then alleges Booker killed Hawke by "stabbing, cutting, and slashing" him with an edged weapon, and afterward Booker disposed of the clothing and shoes he was wearing at the time. Booker has been in custody since June 18, 2020. Brown was taken into custody after a U.S. District Court grand jury returned the indictment during its April 2021 term. Both defendants await further legal proceedings. "It is a high priority for our office to pursue justice for members of the military who are victims of violent crime," said David Estes, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. This article is written by Tim Darnell from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. Zack Snyder is back again after the March release of his director's cut of Justice League with the first full-length trailer for his upcoming zombie-heist film Army Of The Dead. Guardians Of The Galaxy star Dave Bautista leads an enormous ensemble cast featuring comedian Tig Notaro and Power star Omari Hardwick as he accepts a death-defying mission steal the riches of Las Vegas, which haws been overrunning by flesh-eating zombies. The trailer suggests Netflix's Army Of The Dead will be comfortable territory for Snyder, who first made a name for himself with his critically acclaimed Dawn Of The Dead remake in 2004. The dead walk: Dave Bautista stars as Scott Ward in the new full-length trailer for Zach Snyder's zombie-heist film Army Of The Dead, released Tuesday The trailer opens to reveal that Scott Ward (Bautista) is a cook at a dusty roadside diner out west. He gets an unexpected visit from Hunter Bly (Hiroyuki Sanada), who seems to know him. 'Mr. Ward, how would you like to make $50 million?' he asks as they take a break at a table. A quick montage shows Ward debating taking the mission as he looks over his old medals from his military service and sheds a few tears. But he doesn't hesitate too long and starts flipping through blueprints and getting his guns out of storage to prepare for a heist. Toiling in solitude: The trailer opens to reveal that Ward is a cook at a dusty roadside diner out west Surprise visitor: He gets an unexpected visit from Hunter Bly (Hiroyuki Sanada), who seems to know him One last job: 'Mr. Ward, how would you like to make $50 million?' he asks, before Ward starts planning out a major heist in Las Vegas Ward begins to assemble a team of former colleagues, including Vanderohe (Hardwick) and Marianne Peters (Notaro). He's seen having a heart-to-heart with his old friends, talking about all the sacrifices they made in the military. 'But what if, just once, we did something for us?' he suggests. According to Bly, the team have a 32-hour window to steal $200 million from the vault of one of the casinos on the Strip. 'This should be a simple in-and-out,' he says reassuringly. Getting the gang back together: Ward begins to assemble a team of former colleagues from his old military days New faces: Among those recruited are Vanderohe (Hardwick) and Marianne Peters (Notaro) Nothing to it: According to Bly, the team have a 32-hour window to steal $200 million from the vault of one of the casinos on the Strip. 'This should be a simple in-and-out,' he says It turns out Bly has been underselling the danger, as Vegas is overrun by a horde of zombified residents. Like Snyder's Dawn Of The Dead, these are fast and capable zombies, not the slow-walking undead of the original Night Of The Living Dead. 'They're not what you think they are,' says Lily (Laura Arnezeder). 'They're smarter. They're faster. They're organized,' she says over a montage of the zombies working together, with one couple even kissing, suggesting they haven't completely left their humanity behind. Creepy: It turns out Bly has been underselling the danger, as Vegas is overrun by a horde of zombified residents Even worse: Like Snyder's Dawn Of The Dead, these are fast and capable zombies, not the slow-walking undead of the original Night Of The Living Dead Bloody: The trailer climaxes with an intense firefight between the soldiers and the seemingly unarmed army of the dead The trailer climaxes with an intense firefight between the soldiers and the seemingly unarmed army of the dead. The soldiers use everything from guns to a handheld concrete saw to blowup and hack at the zombies, even though seemingly the entire population of Las Vegas is against them. Things seem even worse for the stranded thieves when a rotting zombie tiger jumps on a car and lets out a cinematic roar. 'That's crossing the line,' jokes Garret Dillahunt's character character Frank Peters. Army Of The Dead will be released in select theaters starting in May and on Netflix starting May 21. Overwhelming: The soldiers use everything from guns to a handheld concrete saw to blowup and hack at the zombies, even though the entire population of Las Vegas is against them Not good: Things seem even worse for the stranded thieves when a rotting zombie tiger jumps on a car and lets out a cinematic roar. 'That's crossing the line,' Garret Dillahunt jokes Construction of New Facility Under Way Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of commercial farming and construction expert, Josh Baker, to its Board of Directors today. The appointment comes in conjunction with the Company's first draw down of its recently secured $2M construction loan. Mr. Baker is the US-based lender's nominee to the Board, who will provide guidance and stewardship while the loan is deployed to increase production capacity at the Company's Daly Facility in Modesto, California. Mr. Baker brings a wealth of relevant experience to the Board. He is a 6th generation farmer local to the Central Valley, with decades of experience building and operating commercial and residential family farms, giving him an intimate understanding of everything that goes into agricultural construction and how to optimally and efficiently grow and market crops. As the Board Member representing the lender's interests, Mr. Baker will monitor the construction project and confirm when each phase is complete. Phase One, currently underway, includes the construction of a 6,000 sq ft vegetative room, and five new cultivation rooms that can produce up to 200 lbs of harvest every two weeks. "I'm extremely excited to join TransCanna, and would not have joined if I didn't see the tremendous potential here," said Mr. Baker. "The $2M construction loan will help bring it to profitability, and I really see it becoming one of the greatest cannabis companies in California in the next three years." Bob Blink, Company CEO, said, "Everyone has hit the ground running with this new loan. As of today, we already have new construction workers at the facility, and expect to have plants in the new cultivation rooms within the next three weeks." MCTO Update The Company wishes to provide an update with respect to the previously announced Management Cease Trade Order (the "MCTO") issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission on March 31, 2021. The MCTO was issued in connection with the delay by the Company in filing its annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and related officer certifications for the financial year ended November 30, 2020 (collectively, the "Required Filings") before the prescribed deadline of March 30, 2021. The Company continues to work closely with its auditor and expects to file the Required Filings on or before May 31, 2021. The Company is providing this status update in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). The Company intends to follow the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in NP 12-203, including the issuance of bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases. The Company confirms as of the date of this news release that there has been no material change in the information contained in the announcement issued on April 1, 2021, and there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. About TransCanna TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California-based, Canadian-listed company building cannabis-focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries. TransCanna's wholly owned subsidiary Lyfted Farms is California's authentic cannabis brand whose pioneering spirit has been continuously providing the finest cannabis flower genetics and cultivation methods since 1984. The Lyfted Farms brand of exclusive cannabis flower is sold at premium retailers throughout the state. With its new cultivation facility in Daly, California, the company is now poised to become one of the largest and most efficient vertically integrated cannabis companies in the California market. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Bob Blink, CEO Corporate Communications: irteam@transcanna.com 604-800-3589 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: Certain information in this release may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding future expansions and cost savings and plans regarding production increases and financings. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions, including assumptions concerning the completion of the expansion of the Daly Facility, government approval of pro-cannabis policies, greater access to financial services and increased cultivation capacity, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause results to differ from those stated in the forward-looking statements in this release include unexpected increases in operating costs, a continued strain on farmers due to fires and the Coronavirus pandemic and competition from other retailers. All forward-looking statements, including any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, contained in this release are made as of the date of this release and are included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this 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/80466 Early adoption of state-directed mandatory face mask policies was associated with a 10% reduced mortality risk ratio across all counties and a 5% reduced mortality risk ratio among urban counties. Researchers at the UNC Charlotte, Department of Public Health Sciences examined the COVID-19 incidence and mortality data in the 3,102 counties across the US using data from the John Hopkins University and Kaiser Family Foundation. They found that early adoption of state-directed mandatory face mask policies was associated with a 10% reduced mortality risk ratio across all counties and a 5% reduced mortality risk ratio among urban counties. At the end of August 2020, 3,079 US counties reported at least one confirmed case of COVID-19, and about two-thirds of all U.S. counties had a state policy on mandatory face mask use. According to the study, it took an average of 62 days from the first reported case in the U.S. for COVID-19 to spread to the 3,079 counties. However, it took an average of 101 days from the first reported case in the U.S. for the counties to have a statewide policy on face mask use. As of August 31, 2020, the median county-level case fatality rate was 1.54%. Among the 2,009 counties with a statewide policy on face mask use, the median case fatality rate was 0.81%, Oluwaseun Adeyemi, a public health sciences doctoral candidate and one of the study authors, writes. But it was not only the reduced case fatality rate among the counties with a statewide policy on a face mask that was intriguing. Counties whose statewide policy on face mask use came before the 62-day mark had a reduced mortality rate ratio compared to other counties that instituted the statewide policies after the 62-day mark. Adeyemi stated that early adoption of face mask policy was associated with a 10% reduced mortality risk compared to counties with late adoption of statewide face mask use policy. The authors selected the death counts a week before and three weeks after the statewide policy on face mask use. For counties without a statewide policy on face mask use, death counts corresponding to dates of an adjacent state with a mandatory face mask policy were selected. The case fatality rate was measured as the proportion of deaths in a county divided by the number of confirmed cases. The authors will be presenting these results at the Society of Behavioral Medicines (SBMs) 42nd Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions on April 12, 2021. About University of North Carolina at Charlotte UNC Charlotte is the third largest and the fastest-growing university in North Carolina. The public health sciences department at UNC Charlotte prides itself in its faculty, whose research focuses on diverse areas of public health issues which include occupational health, suicide, maternal health, infant and child health, social determinants of health, cancer, and chronic diseases, and geriatric population. Based in Charlotte, the third fastest-growing urban city in the U.S., the public health sciences comprises a community of students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds, working together to solve local, regional, and national emerging public health issues. About SBM The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) is a 2,400-member organization of scientific researchers, clinicians, and educators. They study interactions among behavior, biology, and the environment, and translate findings into interventions that improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities (http://www.sbm.org). ### Aer Soleir to Develop Onshore Renewable Energy Projects in Europe HOUSTON, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An affiliate of 547 Energy LLC ("547 Energy"), the clean energy investment platform of Quantum Energy Partners ("Quantum"), today announced that it has partnered with European clean energy industry veteran, Andy Kinsella ("Kinsella"), to launch a new company with a mission of developing, constructing, owning, and operating a multi-gigawatt (GW) portfolio of onshore wind, solar and energy storage projects throughout Europe. The new platform, Aer Soleir, will be headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Kinsella brings over 35 years of experience in the international energy sector and has held leadership positions at companies including Ireland's Electricity Supply Board (ESB), ESB International, GE, Siemens and most recently Mainstream Renewable Power where he served as CEO. In addition, Kinsella has been a member of the Renewables Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency (Paris), was Chairman of Smartwind (a Mainstream-Siemens-rsted JV offshore wind development company), a member of the Energy sub-Committee of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and Member of the Advisory Committee to the Independent Committee on Climate Change (London). Gabriel Alonso, CEO & President of 547 Energy, said, "The European Green Deal provides the policy roadmap to transition Europe to a clean energy economy and sets into motion Europe's political ambition to be the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050." Alonso added, "We believe there is no better time than now to invest in the accelerating clean energy transition and are thrilled to partner with Andy as he leads the charge in this new venture. We have full confidence in Andy's ability to grow Aer Soleir into a leading European pure-play renewable energy developer and look forward to working closely in the journey." Sean O'Donnell, Managing Director at Quantum and Director of 547 Energy, said "We have known Andy for years and are excited to further expand Quantum's presence in the clean energy space through this partnership with him. He is a proven, execution-focused executive who can deliver strong results for his investors. The task of decarbonizing the European power grid is a meaningful undertaking that will require the vision and dedication of entrepreneurs like Andy and the Aer Soleir team." Andy Kinsella, Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Aer Soleir remarked, "I am personally very pleased to be leading this exciting effort with the support, vision and expertise provided by both 547 Energy and Quantum. Aer Soleir's mission is to develop and build best-in-class, large-scale, energy transition projects that will provide material, long-lasting economic benefits to communities across Europe. We look forward to supplying safe, reliable, and valuable clean energy to our customers and to delivering superior returns for our investors. Our vision is that one day, everyone's life will be electrified sustainably, and we are pleased to be playing an active part in creating a create a cleaner energy future for all." ABOUT 547 ENERGY 547 Energy aims to maximize value for its investors by partnering with leading entrepreneurs who are driving growth in the clean energy economy. To date, 547 Energy has invested in ConnectGen LLC, BlueFloat Energy LLCand ENORA S.A. 547 Energy was founded and is led by industry veteran Gabriel Alonso and is backed by Quantum Energy Partners, a leading provider of capital to the global energy industry. For more information on 547 Energy, please email info@547energy.comor contact Joe Sy at +1-713-452-2189. Why the name 547 Energy? The human eye sees color over wavelengths ranging approximately from 400 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red), with the green sitting at roughly 490 to 575 nanometers. A wavelength of 547 nanometers is visible as "electric green", a color which represents the overarching aim of 547 Energy - to advance towards a sustainable energy future. ABOUT QUANTUM ENERGY PARTNERS Founded in 1998, Quantum Energy Partners is a leading provider of private equity capital to the global energy industry, having managed together with its affiliates more than $17 billion in equity commitments since inception. For more information on Quantum, please visit www.quantumep.comor contact Michael Dalton at +1-713-452-2110. A retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Senate is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate whether there is an "unlawful pattern or practice of conduct" at the police department in Windsor, Virginia, after officers held a uniformed Guard officer at gunpoint and doused him in pepper spray. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking DOJ to investigate whether Windsor police regularly engage in searches and arrests that violate the Fourth Amendment, and if officers regularly conduct discriminatory policing. Read Next: Pentagon Halts Use of Vaccine Variant Needed to Immunize Deployed Troops "Given the alarming nature of the video evidence documenting brazenly violent and disrespectful treatment of an Army Officer wearing his uniform, it is logical to infer that this incident may be indicative of widespread law enforcement misconduct," Duckworth wrote to Garland. Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario, who is Black and Hispanic, was ordered from his vehicle during a traffic stop in December, which police say was due to a missing license plate on his SUV, although he says he had a temporary tag visible in the back window. What followed was caught on multiple police body cameras. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Sunday he is having State Police conduct its own investigation, saying the incident is "disturbing" and "angered" him. "Our Commonwealth has done important work on police reform, but we must keep working to ensure that Virginians are safe during interactions with police, the enforcement of laws is fair and equitable, and people are held accountable," Northam said in a statement. Nazario, who serves in the Virginia National Guard's 29th Infantry Division, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, saying his rights were violated and he was not charged with any crimes. In publicly released footage, officers point guns at Nazario and shout contradictory orders, telling him to keep his hands up while also demanding he exit the vehicle. He's later hit with multiple bursts of pepper spray. Nazario tells officers he is afraid to get out of his car, and one responds, "Yeah, you should be." An officer also is heard saying, "You're fixing to ride the lightning, son," which could reference the use of a taser or death by electric chair. One of the police officers in the encounter, Joe Gutierrez, was fired from the force after an internal investigation found he violated the department's policy on excessive force by pepper-spraying Nazario. The other officer, Daniel Crocker, is still with the department. The military community responded to the released video with outrage. The Army's top enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, commended the lieutenant for keeping calm amid officers shouting and pointing weapons at him. "Like many of you," Grinston tweeted Monday, "I was concerned by the video of [Nazario's] traffic stop in December. He represented himself and our Army well through his calm, professional response to the situation -- I'm very proud of him." Grinston, who shared a video describing his own challenges with his racial identity, said he has been assured Nazario is receiving support from his unit leadership. "Situations like this are what I want Soldiers to discuss," Grinston said. "This is the reality that some of our Soldiers still face. As a leader, you should know that and be willing to have conversations about how events like this impact your teams." -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: 'I'm Very Proud of Him:' Sergeant Major of the Army Reacts to Black Lieutenant's Traffic Stop Summerville, SC (29483) Today Mostly cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 72F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. A student bikes across campus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (JTA) A year after the filing of a federal civil rights complaint alleging an unrelenting campaign of anti-Semitic harassment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the school is set to have a new dorm specifically for Jewish students. Illini Chabad will run the dorm in partnership with the university, the Forward reported. The dorm, which joins a list of faith-based housing options, will have room for 32 students. The bottom floors will serve as the Chabad center and kosher dining hall. While the dorm is meant to be a place where Shabbat and kosher observance will be easier, it is also intended to be a response to the recent spate of anti-Semitic incidents on campus. ADVERTISEMENT In March 2020, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP filed a complaint with the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights on behalf of students over an alleged pattern of anti-Semitism, including instances of swastika graffiti, vandalism at Jewish centers, and harassment of Jewish and pro-Israel students. The complaint was enabled by the Trump administrations 2019 decision directing the Education Department to include Jewish students in anti-discrimination protections. In September, the schools student government passed a resolution supporting the Black Lives Matter movement that also included a call to divest from companies that do business with Israel. In November, the university said it would work with Jewish and pro-Israel students to make sure they felt safe at school. Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel, director of Illini Chabad, told the Forward he hoped the new dorm would be a step toward making students feel safer on campus. If theres one place on campus you want to be comfortable, its at least where you go to sleep at night, Tiechtel said. The set of postage stamps shows images of a lighthouse illegally built by Taiwan on Ba Binh (Itu Aba) Island belonging to Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. This is not the first time Taiwan's Chunghwa Post has issued stamps with the content violating Vietnams sovereignty over Truong Sa Archipelago. Viet Stamp Club, a group of stamp collectors belonging to the HCM City Stamp Association has sent a document to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), informing it that Taiwans postage stamps violate Vietnams sovereignty over Truong Sa Archipelago. The document says on November 23, 2020, Chunghwa Post issued a set of five stamps showing five lighthouses built by Taiwan. One of the lighthouses was built illegally in 2015 on Vietnams Ba Binh Island. The island has been illegally occupied by Taiwan since 1956. It is the biggest island of the Truong Sa archipelago. The stamp with the image of the lighthouse, 13.7 meters higher than sea level and an operation range of 10 miles, has face value of 15 new Taiwan dollars. The Chunghwa Post issued the stamps as propaganda about the so-called Taiwanese sovereignty over Ba Binh Islan in order to deceive the domestic and international public about their illegal actions. The move of Taiwans Chunghwa Post has violated international laws, seriously violated Vietnams sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago. It doesnt come in line with the provisions of the Acts of the Universal Postal Union, the Viet Stamp Clubs document reads. This is the third time the Chunghwa Post has issued postage stamps with content violating Vietnams sovereignty over the Truong Sa Archipelago. Prior to that, in 1996, it issued a set of stamps, including two stamps and one stamp bloc showing the illegal nine-dash line on the East Sea and the image of Vietnams Ba Binh Island. In 2016, they issued a set of four stamps with the images of Ba Binh Island. Soon after the stamps were issued in 2016, following a proposal by the Viet Stamp Club, the Chunghwa Post was asked to respect the truth, repeal the stamps and related publications, and not repeat the action. Nevertheless, the Chunghwa Post continues to be disrespectful to the fact that Vietnam has enough legal and historical evidence to prove its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa, and continues to take such wrong actions. Viet Stamp Club has proposed that the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Post and Vietnam Stamp Association protest the move by Taiwans Chunghwa Post and Taiwan Stamp Association. Binh Minh Vietnam requests businesses to respect its sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa Vietnam requests that businesses respect the countrys sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, as well as its sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over related waters in the East Sea, Legislative leaders on Beacon Hill say they were caught off guard by the solvency fund calculations that sent employer contributions for unemployment insurance skyrocketing. Now as business leaders push for a fix to the unemployment insurance rate increases, tied to COVID-related jobless claims, lawmakers are trying to get a grasp on the full impact on Massachusetts employers. The solvency issue is something that was just dropped on our lap, the Quincy Democrat said, during a review of the fiscal 2022 budget proposal with House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz. We dont even know how big of a problem that is. Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues said he found out about the solvency fund spike after receiving several calls from business owners in his district. We discovered that in all the actions weve taken to try to provide as much help to our employer community as we can in terms of unemployment insurance, this is something that we were not informed of, said Rodrigues, a Westport Democrat. Were taking a look at it now. Well be working with our colleagues in the House and in the administration. In a statement, Marianos office said it was surprised the Baker administration did not factor the solvency fund assessment into the overall employer contribution rates. Neither lawmakers nor state officials mentioned the solvency fund when Gov. Charlie Baker signed an unemployment insurance law, which authorizes $7 billion in borrowing and freezes payment schedules for employers. Mariano told reporters Wednesday morning lawmakers are waiting for a cost estimate from the governors office. Patrick Marvin, spokesman for the Executive Office of Administration & Finance, confirmed the Baker administration is looking into the solvency issue. Business leaders are calling on lawmakers and Baker to use the incoming federal aid from the American Rescue Plan to replenish the unemployment insurance trust fund, which by the end of 2021 is projected run a deficit of more than $4 billion. Massachusetts is expected to get roughly $4.5 billion over two years. The solvency fund rate increase stems from the states rise in unemployment rates in the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic and the governors non-essential business closures triggered a flood of unemployment claims 148,452 new claims in the first week of the states emergency declaration alone. Massachusetts reported the highest unemployment rate in the nation in July and August before dropping off in the months that followed. Now employers say they are facing the brunt of those costs, despite having closed and limited staffing to comply with state and federal COVID-19 regulations. Massachusetts UI tax noticesScreenshot Employers are facing major increases on their unemployment tax bills due to the historic rise in COVID-related jobless claims, but not in the way they expected. When businesses lay off workers, they face higher unemployment insurance costs. The CARES Act directed states to move all COVID-related unemployment claims to the solvency fund, rather than to let the claims affect the individual companys rating. The solvency fund, which all employers pay into, traditionally covers jobless claims from workers whose employers went out of business. The cost is spread out across the workforce through solvency fund assessments. The solvency fund rate has remained below 2% over the past decade. In 2019, the rate fell to 0.58%. After absorbing the states COVID-19 unemployment claims, the solvency fund rate jumped to 9.23% for the next year. I dont believe anybody expected that this would occur, certainly not to this magnitude, said Joe Lawler, who serves on the executive board of East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce. The solvency rate is calculated each year under statute, meaning the state Department of Unemployment Assistance cannot revise the solvency fund rate unless the law is changed. State legislators had expected the unemployment insurance law to prevent major tax increase for employers by halting the schedule payments. Without the UI law, the state would have moved to Schedule G, the highest employer rate schedule, and charged business owners hundreds of dollars more per worker. But the solvency fund is a separate pool that is factored into the overall contribution rate. The tough thing is if we hadnt done the legislation, the [tax] bills were seeing would have been exponentially worse, said House Minority Leader Brad Jones, a North Reading Republican. Jones and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr are circulating a letter calling on legislative leaders and Baker to use federal aid, namely the $4.5 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan, to replenish the UI trust fund. The letter has gained signatures from 55 lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Kelly Pease of Westfield and Nick Boldyga of Westfield. Several Democrats have signed on, including Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow, Sen. Anne Gobi of Spencer, Rep. Jacob Oliveira of Ludlow and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa of Northampton. Maryland and Kentucky have moved to spend the federal aid on their unemployment systems. When asked whether Massachusetts should do the same, Mariano noted that the federal government has yet to issue guidance on how to properly spend the federal funds. The guidance is expected to be released in mid-May. It is premature to have any discussion about how our government would make up any deficit or fix any problem that the solvency fund created, Mariano said. While the UI law enables the state to borrow money for the trust fund, Tarr said employers are left footing the bill in the mean time. I think its incumbent on us to make a strong and clear statement that were going to support them in being able to remain alive and in business in Massachusetts, said Tarr, a Gloucester Democrat. While I appreciate the speakers comment, that doesnt mean that we cant try to do something now. The state also has more than $7 billion in unspent federal funds, but much of those funds are already earmarked for other purposes or come with restrictions. Rodrigues said legislative leaders are open to suggestions but will wait for the federal guidance before spending any of the new federal aid. I think were right now here focused on getting the general operating budget, Rodrigues said. Then, well take any and all possibilities into consideration and what we can do to the help of our employer community. Weve done it through this pandemic. Related Content: Princess Anne reminisced about sailing in her younger years as she made her first in-person appearance at an official event since her father's death today. The Princess Royal, 70, cut a sombre figure today as she visited Britain's most prestigious yacht club, the Royal Yacht Squadron, in Cowes on the Isle of Wight - five days after her father Prince Philip passed away aged 99. The visit will be particularly poignant for Anne because her father Prince Philip was a long-time member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, a former commodore, and Admiral until his death last week. She spoke fondly of her 'early memories of sailing' at the west Cowes-based club and remembered learning to sail on Prince Philip's Bloodhound yacht, before taking time to speak to senior members and a group of aspiring young sailors. Princess Anne cut a sombre figure today as she visited the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, Isle of Wight - five days after her father Prince Philip passed away aged 99 Princess Anne cruised extensively with Prince Philip on their yacht Bloodhound before it was sold in 1969 (pictured, aboard the boat in 1964) The Princess Royal, 70, was seen wearing sunglasses and a black coat on her first public appearance since the Duke of Edinburgh's death The royal wore dark sunglasses for much of the visit to the Royal Yacht Squadron today, where she was offered a tour of the boat and spoke with staff. She paired the dark coat with a black pair of trousers and donned black leather gloves for the occasion. Asked by club commodore Jamie Sheldon about the vessels she had sailed on, Anne said: 'I started really with Bloodhound (a yacht). I then regressed to dinghy sailing for a bit.' She smiled as she spoke with some of the younger sailors and asked about their sailing experience. Princess Anne smiled as she spoke with some of the younger sailors and asked about their sailing experience The Princess Royal opted to wear 'Team GB' sunglasses during the visit to the Isle of Wight earlier today The royal appeared enthusiastic as she spoke with members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, days after her father's death The Royal Yacht Squadron, which started the yacht races in 1826 that eventually evolved into Cowes Week, has long had close links to the Royal Family The Royal Yacht Squadron, which started the yacht races in 1826 that eventually evolved into Cowes Week, has long had close links to the Royal Family. Famous past members include Nelson's captain at Trafalgar, Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy. Prime Minister Edward Heath, a successful yachtsman, was controversially rejected by the Squadron in the 1970s. The princess left the RYS on a boat called 'Warrior', before arriving at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne around 1.15pm. The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque during her visit to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, on the Isle of Wight before signing a guest book During the visit, Anne spoke fondly of her 'early memories of sailing' at the west Cowes-based club and remembered learning to sail The mother-of-two cut a sombre figure as she visited the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on the Isle of Wight The royal donned a life jacket as she sailed from the Royal Yacht Squadron to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club The princess left the RYS on a boat called 'Warrior', before arriving at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne around 1.15pm Prince Philip's racing yacht Bloodhound In 1962, Prince Philip bought a 63ft Camper and Nicholson called Bloodhound. It was during these times that the young royals learned to sail. He cruised it extensively with Prince Charles and Princess Anne before it was sold in 1969. In January 2010 Bloodhound was purchased by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and is now berthed alongside The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. Advertisement Prince Philip was an active member of the club, hosting an annual cocktail party on board for Isle of Wight dignitaries and public servants as part of his lifelong commitment to encouraging all those who served the community in any role. On Sunday, Anne - the Queen, 94, and Prince Philip's only daughter and second eldest child - issued a moving statement admitting she was 'not ready' for her father's passing. Describing Prince Philip as her 'teacher, supporter and critic', she said: 'You know it's going to happen but you are never really ready. 'My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate. 'His ability to treat every person as an individual in their own right with their own skills comes through all the organisations with which he was involved. 'I regard it as an honour and a privilege to have been asked to follow in his footsteps and it has been a pleasure to have kept him in touch with their activities. 'I know how much he meant to them, in the UK, across the Commonwealth and in the wider world. 'I would like to emphasise how much the family appreciate the messages and memories of so many people whose lives he also touched. We will miss him but he leaves a legacy which can inspire us all.' Anne is among the senior royals who are coming together to ensure the Queen will not be left to 'walk alone' following the death of her beloved husband of 73 years and is accompanied by a member of the family on future public engagements. As part of her visit, the Princess Royal viewed a Youth Training Programme and spoke with members of staff Anne, 70, was back to work today - her first royal engagement since her father, the Duke of Edinburgh, died in his sleep at Windsor Castle last week In a statement issued following his death, Anne said it was a 'honour and a privilege' to have been asked to follow in her father's footsteps Princess Anne looks up as she visits the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on the Isle of Wight today Anne is among the senior royals who are coming together to ensure the Queen will not be left to 'walk alone' following the death of her beloved husband of 73 years Sources stressed that Her Majesty, who says Prince Philip's death has left a 'huge void' in her life, will fulfil as many commitments as possible once the two weeks of official mourning ends on April 22 the day after her 95th birthday. They point out that she has always undertaken solo engagements, both before and after her husband officially retired in 2017. But it is understood there is a concerted effort under way to ensure she has more support in the future. Sources stressed that Her Majesty, who says Prince Philip's death has left a 'huge void' in her life, will fulfil as many commitments as possible once the two weeks of official mourning ends on April 22 the day after her 95th birthday. Pictured: Anne today It is one of her most popular designs and often used by influencers on Instagram But she says Boohoo recently released bikini-dress set 'identical' to her design ictoria El-Abaire, 35, started fashion business after being placed on furlough A fashion designer popular with Love Island stars has claimed Boohoo copied the designs of one of her bikini-dress sets after the firm launched an 'identical' outfit. Victoria El-Abaire, 35, started her business Victoria Leigh after being placed on furlough during the first coronavirus lockdown. The former dental assistant spends hours making each piece individually and the bespoke designs have made her popular with Love Island celebrities Gabby Allen and Olivia Bowen. But she was left upset when fast-fashion brand Boohoo recently released a bikini and dress set which looks similar to one she unveiled in September. Ferne McCann pictured wearing 35-year-old Victoria El-Abaire's bikini and dress set (left) and Boohoo's design (right), which is being sold in its 'new in' section for 21 in the sale Ms El-Abaire, pictured above, started her business Victoria Leigh after being placed on furlough during the first coronavirus lockdown Victoria said: 'It is really deflating, and it makes you think what is the point. 'Why have I spent all this time and effort working out my own patterns, studying what fabric will go with it. 'It takes a long time to make the piece by hand so we charge more. And then Boohoo just replicates it in two seconds and sells it for cheaper. 'It's very deflating - we have no voice.' Victoria created a bikini crop top matched with a ruched dress last year costing 71 together - which was worn by celebrities such as Ferne McCann. It is one of Victoria's most popular designs which is often used by influencers on Instagram. In Boohoo's 'new in' section it now sells an almost identical looking set for 21 in the sale. 'The ruching technique is not new, that dates far back,' Victoria, of Grays, Essex, explained. 'But Boohoo has replicated the design of the whole set. They have used the same fabric, the top and the skirt together is not a known thing. Love Island star Gabby Allen pictured wearing one of Victoria's dresses. The former dental assistant spends hours making each piece individually Olivia Bowen wearing one of Victoria's dresses while with her boyfriend Alex. Victoria makes each piece individually based on her star-studded customers' sizes 'People have even been tagging me in Boohoo pictures because they assumed it was my design.' And Victoria says she noticed Boohoo designers started following her on Instagram over the past six months. She said: 'Quite often in followers' biographies it stated they worked for Boohoo.' Victoria was put on furlough from her job as a dental assistant during the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020. She had always sewn clothes as a hobby and decided to sell them in her free time, with her designs taking off before she went full time in her new fashion business. She said: 'It was a huge risk, but I have been teaching myself as a hobby for years. 'I think customers like being able to give their own measurements, especially with shops being closed due to Covid.' Ms El-Abaire pictured wearing the bikini and dress set. The fashion designer says she noticed Boohoo designers started following her on Instagram over the past six months The bikini part of the set, which can be worn in various ways, as pictured above. Victoria had always sewn clothes as a hobby and decided to sell them in her free time Victoria makes each piece individually based on her star-studded customers' sizes. She added: 'It makes me think what is the point, maybe I should just go back to my old job.' It is not the first time Boohoo has been accused of copying other designers' work. Earlier this year, London-based high-end fashion label KAI Collective sent a cease and desist letter to Boohoo over alleged copyright infringement. The brand claimed it had found a high level of similarity in the prints used by Boohoo to designs in a KAI collection. It requested a 30,000 payment for damages and the coverage of legal costs. MailOnline has contacted Boohoo for comment. The search continues Wednesday morning for 12 missing crew members after a commercial vessel capsized Tuesday off Louisiana's coast amid bad weather. Update: 1 dead, 12 missing from capsized ship near Louisiana's coast Six of the people aboard the Seacor Power have been rescued, according to the Coast Guard and local officials. The forecast calls for more storms and potentially high wind Wednesday. The Coast Guard has scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. to provide the latest update. Follow the live updates. Here's what we know so far Wednesday. How many people were on the vessel? Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III said 18 people were on board before the Seacor Power took on water in rough seas. The hope is that we can bring the other 12 home alive, Chaisson said by phone Wednesday morning as he traveled to Port Fourchon, where he said families of the crew members had begun to gather Tuesday night, seeking any information they could. +3 At least 6 of 18 passengers rescued after boat capsizes south of Port Fourchon Coast Guard officials said that at least six people were rescued after a large commercial boat capsized in the Gulf of Mexico, 8 miles south o A Coast Guard cutter reached the scene within 30 minutes of receiving the distress call and rescued one person from the water, officials said. Multiple good Samaritan vessels rescued four more people, the Coast Guard said, and a Coast Guard boatcrew from Grand Isle rescued another. We continue to pray for the 18 men who were on that vessel as well as their families, Chaisson said. The vessel's manifest described 18 crew members on board, he added. Where did the vessel capsize? The Seacor Power, a 129-foot lift boat, capsized in the Gulf of Mexico about 8 miles south of Port Fourchon, officials said. The vessel left Port Fourchon Tuesday at 2:12 p.m., according to Marine Traffic. The Coast Guard received an emergency distress signal from the Seacor Power at 4:30 p.m. Here's video of the capsized vessel: How did the vessel capsize? The Seacor Power started taking on water around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials said, as the metro area got hit by thunderstorms and strong gusts of wind. There was a microburst of weather that came through the area at the time of the incident, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lally said Tuesday. I dont know whether that was the cause, but what we can say is that inclement weather did hit the area at the time. +6 See photos of damage, records set from severe weather in metro New Orleans As heavy rain poured down and strong winds howled across southeast Louisiana, reports of thousands of power outages and extensive damage began 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 As the storms moved offshore, the National Weather Service in Slidell issued a special marine warning, advising that steep waves and winds in excess of 57 mph were possible from Port Fourchon to the lower Atchafalaya River. A ship in the Gulf heading into Port Fourchon clocked a gust of about 117 mph, according to our news partners at WWL-TV. For comparison, a Category 3 hurricane has sustained winds of 111 mph to 129 mph. Who is searching? The Coast Guard and good Samaritans were helping with the rescue mission Tuesday, and a search plane from Texas was enroute. The search continues Wednesday by air and sea. The Coast Guard said these rescue crews are involved: Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris Coast Guard Cutter Amberjack A Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter Two Coast Guard Station Grand Isle 45-foot RB-M HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplanes from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi and Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile Four good Samaritan vessels What's a lift boat? The Seacor Power is a commercial lift vessel, designed to become an offshore platform by dropping three towering legs down to the sea floor. Hit by the storm, it flipped over, with one of the legs pointed awkwardly skyward as rescuers searched for the workers in rough seas. Here's a picture of what it usually looks like in the water. Messages left for the capsized vessel's owner, Seacor Marine, weren't immediately returned late Tuesday. According to specifications on the owner's website, the Seacor Power is an offshore construction jack-up that was built in 2002 and carries nearly 40,500 gallons of fuel oil. Officials, focused on searching and rescuing crew members in the wake of the capsizing, haven't said how much of the Seacor Power's oil may have spilled. Port Fourchon, Louisianas southernmost seaport, is a major base for the U.S. oil and gas industry, supporting most of Louisianas offshore platforms and drilling rigs. What's the forecast today? More thunderstorms are expected Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell. Damaging winds in excess of 60 mph will be the main threat, along with small hail. (4/4): PLANNING: Showers/storms are likely to develop a bit earlier today, spreading west to east this morning, then organizing/intensifying later this afternoon. Use extra caution if traveling today. DO NOT cross water covered roads or cross any barricades. #lawx #mswx pic.twitter.com/JEJWUowL9D NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) April 14, 2021 Flooding risks, more severe storms for Wednesday in New Orleans, Baton Rouge; see forecast Areas with the biggest risk for flooding are Baton Rouge, areas west of Interstate 55 and areas north of Interstate 10/12. Staff writers Katelyn Umholtz and Ramon Antonio Vargas contributed to this story, along with The Associated Press. Covid-19 outbreak risk from migrating still high Vietnam may face new Covid-19 outbreaks which could spread from some neighbouring countries, Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor to the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Centre warned. illustrative image ALBANY After weeks of horse racing tracks being excluded from guidance for sports venue reopening, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that tracks can reopen at 20 percent seating capacity next week. The change will take effect on April 22, the same day that the New York Racing Association's Belmont Park opens for its thoroughbred racing season. The New York Racing Association looks forward to welcoming fans back to Belmont Park this spring and to Saratoga Race Course this summer, said NYRA President and CEO Dave ORourke in a statement. We thank Gov. Cuomo for the opportunity to host fans at our historic tracks for the first time since the start of the pandemic. "NYRA has dearly missed the passion and excitement that fans bring to the sport of thoroughbred racing, he continued. Todays announcement by the governor is one more indication that we are collectively moving toward a return to normalcy. Harness racing at Saratoga Casino and Hotel is already underway. Jeff Cantine, the president of Saratoga Horsepersons Association, said he was pleased to hear that some fans will be allowed in, as not having race lovers at the track hurts the horse owners' bottom line and enthusiasm for the sport. I think it is awesome, Cantine said. Its something the track can work with. Im sure they will have to do some arranging and monitoring, but everyone will be happy. It is still unclear what the fan capacity will be when the Saratoga Race Course opens for its summer meet on Thursday, July 15. However, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) says that she is hopeful the capacity can rise as more people get vaccinated and the positivity rate declines. Meanwhile, she said, the tracks have to learn more about the state guidelines. The devil is in the details, Woerner said. We dont know yet if this is 20 percent capacity for reserved seating or 20 percent capacity for the backyard and along the fence, too. We need the written guidance. But 20 percent is a good place to start. ORourke said NYRA will also be reviewing the guidelines and protocols and that ticketing options will be announced once the guidance is more clear. He also said that NYRA will continue working on plans for Saratoga. While we are optimistic that capacity limits will increase in the coming months, we have a variety of options to address scenarios where demand is far greater than supply," O'Rourke said. "The specifics continue to evolve, but our goal in each scenario is to be able to accommodate as many fans as possible by offering purchasing options that are fair and equitable. State Sen. Daphne Jordan (R-Halfmoon) said the announcement is good news for the economy in Saratoga County. "Horse racing is absolutely critical to Saratoga Springs and Saratoga Countys economy: our restaurants, hotels, tourism, and struggling small businesses that rely on the racing season," Jordan said. "After a racing season without spectators, its essential that fans be allowed to attend the 2021 racing season and that it be done safely and sensibly." Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan is concerned that 20 percent won't be enough to bring the economy back. She too is hoping for a capacity increase in July. "I understand there will be logistic issues to contend with, but 20 percent will have a negative impact on the city and our downtown businesses, and the economy generally," Madigan said. "The city had a 58 percent decrease in sales tax during our summer 2020 season. Outside New York City, our sales tax was the poorest in terms of performance overall. The city cannot afford a 2021 racing season that allows only 20 percent occupancy. ... If indoor event spaces can be open, surely we can have a lot more in terms of occupancy for an outdoor sporting venue." Note: This story was updated on Friday morning to reflect the correct date for track's reopening to fans. A group of police officers marched out of a public housing building in Manhattan on Monday with a man who they said had a gun and had been hiding in an apartment with a woman and her baby. But it was what came out of the building next that really grabbed attention while feeding into a far-reaching debate about policing in New York: a 70-pound robotic dog outfitted with lights, cameras and what the police describe as artificial intelligence. The four-legged device had only gone into and out of the buildings lobby without playing an active role in the operation, the police said. Still, its mere presence at a public housing building ignited a fierce backlash, with many people condemning it as a stark example of police power and misplaced priorities even as calls to address both roil the United States. You cant give me a living wage, you cant raise a minimum wage, you cant give me affordable housing; Im working hard and I cant get paid leave, I cant get affordable child care, Representative Jamaal Bowman, a first-term Democrat who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, said in a video posted on Twitter. Instead we got money, taxpayer money, going to robot dogs? Burma Myanmar Junta Charges and Arrests Striking Doctors and Senior Medical Staff Doctors from the emergency unit of Yangon General Hospital initiated the civil disobedience movement on Feb. 3 / The Irrawaddy The Myanmar military regime has charged 19 government doctors, including a director of the health ministry, several medical superintendents and specialists across the country, with incitement for their support of the civil disobedience movement (CDM) and for backing the committee representing elected lawmakers. The doctors are from government hospitals in Naypyitaw, Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions and Shan and Kachin states. The junta blames the doctors for inciting government healthcare workers to take part in the CDM. It also said that the doctors are supporting the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluattaw (CRPH), which has been declared an unlawful association by the military regime. The CRPH was founded by lawmakers from the National League for Democracy (NLD) who were democratically elected in the November 2020 election, but ousted from office after the militarys Feb.1 coup. All 19 doctors have been charged under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code. They face up to three years imprisonment if found guilty, according to the amendment to Article 505(a) made by the junta since their coup. Doctors have been targeted by the military regime ever since hundreds of healthcare workers from Yangon and Mandalay initiated the CDM on Feb.3 in protest at the juntas overthrowing of the NLD government. Tens of thousands of government staff and workers from the private sector across Myanmar have since joined the CDM, leaving many government offices, ministries, hospitals and banks deserted or closed and severely restricting the regimes administrative machinery. Junta spokesperson Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun has accused the doctors of murdering people in cold blood since they stopped working in government hospitals. However, the doctors supporting the CDM have been providing free treatment for patients whose medical records are held with government hospitals at private and free clinics, despite ongoing harassment from the regime. On April 6, junta security forces stormed the home of orthopedic surgeon Dr Kyaw Min Soe in Yangons Mayangone Township. The doctor, a professor at the University of Medicine, Yangon, had been involved in the CDM. The professors hands were tied behind his back during the arrest, a black bag was put over his head and he was dragged away from his residence by soldiers and police, according to witnesses. Dr Kyaw Min Soe had been treating people injured in anti-regime protests. It is assumed that he was targeted because of that, but there has also been speculation that he was arrested because of his close relationship with Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, a prominent figure in the CDM who has been appointed as an acting minister of three ministries by the CRPH. Another physician Dr. Maw Maw Oo, head of the Emergency Department of Yangon General Hospital, was reportedly arrested on April 12. The doctor had also been treating protesters injured during the juntas crackdowns on anti-regime demonstrations. On Tuesday the military regime threatened private clinics and hospitals where doctors on their arrest list are working with having their hospital licenses revoked. In addition, the owners of those private clinics and hospitals will be prosecuted, too, the junta said. Other government medical staff in the CDM movement face arrest if they are providing treatment at the private clinics and hospitals, the regime warned. As of Tuesday, more than 3,000 people including elected leaders, election commissioners, anti-regime protesters, teachers, doctors, journalists, writers, artists and civilians have been arrested since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). More than 710 civilians including anti-regime protesters, bystanders and local residents have been killed by the juntas forces during their crackdowns, raids, arrests and random shootings. You may also like these stories: UN Official Warns of Syria-Style Conflict in Myanmar, Urges Immediate Intl Action The Day Nehru and Nasser Were Soaked in Myanmar Watchman Reportedly Tortured to Death by Myanmar Regime Troops " " Beulah Mae Donald's (right) son Michael Donald (left) was lynched by the Ku Klux Klan in Mobile, Alabama in 1981. She fought back and took them down. Her story is now a four-part CNN Original Series. CNN/HowStuffWorks The long list of America's civil rights icons includes a string of instantly recognizable names; presidents and preachers; a 14-year-old boy in the wrong place at the very worst of times; and a determined bus rider who refused to yield. Beulah Mae Donald may not be among those heroes who immediately come to mind. She may not come to mind at all. But through the most unthinkable of tragedies, with a courage drawn from her faith and an unwavering search for the truth, Beulah Mae Donald has earned her place. Few have endured so much pain, few have given so much, to further the cause. "She never rested until her mission was accomplished," says John Giggie, a history professor at the University of Alabama and the director of the school's Summersell Center for the Study of the South, "which was to make Mobile, to make the Deep South, to make America see her son, see his assailants and not forget." Advertisement A Mother's Pain, A Nation's Stain Early in the morning of a late-March day in 1981, Beulah Mae Donald was in her Mobile home, waiting for Michael, the youngest of her seven children, to return home. By dawn, after suffering through a nightmare that shook her awake, he still hadn't arrived. A little before 7 that morning, the phone rang into the early morning silence. A woman told Beulah Mae that her son's wallet had been found; it was a sign that Beulah Mae, in the strain of the moment after a worry-filled night, took to mean that Michael was alive and well somewhere. ''No, baby, they had a party here, and they killed your son,'' the caller reported, according to a 1987 account in The New York Times Magazine. ''You'd better send somebody over.'' Michael Donald, 19, was brutally murdered that evening, beaten badly with a tree limb, his throat slit and a noose with 13 loops pulled tightly around his neck. If all of that wasn't terrible enough, his body was hung from a tree on a neighborhood street just a few blocks from his house for all the world to see. For the better part of a shameful century, lynchings were a constant fear for Blacks living in the Deep South. The Equal Justice Initiative, in "Lynching In America: Confronting The Legacy Of Racial Terror," has documented more than 4,000 racial terror lynchings of African Americans in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia between the years of 1877 and 1950. But this was 1981. No one had been lynched in America in more than 20 years. The killing of Michael Donald, brutal in both its execution and its brazenness, was stunning. It was sobering. It made news across the country. "This [lynching] stands out as a reminder that, even despite the victories of the Civil Rights movement, white supremacy was far from being banished from America," Giggie says now. "It was perhaps the most visible and painful reminder that acts of racial terror were still part of the fabric of everyday life in the South and in America." " " Michael Donald was just 19 years old when members of the United Klans of America brutally beat and lynched him on a neighborhood street in Mobile, Alabama. CNN Advertisement Convicting the Killers Police in Mobile immediately suspected the Ku Klux Klan, which at that time had waning influence around the South but was still active. In fact, some members of the United Klans of America, once one of the biggest Klan groups in the country, watched from a porch across the street as police took down Michael Donald's body. A cross was set afire on the Mobile County courthouse lawn that night. It took prosecutors some two years to finally bring Michael's killers to trial, and then only after a vocal Beulah Mae upset further by a pseudo-investigation by local police that smeared the name of her son by suggesting his death was due to a drug deal gone bad rallied local organizers and national activists like the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The FBI joined in and, after a stalled initial investigation, finally arrested two men for Michael's killing. Klan members Henry Hays and James "Tiger" Knowles, apparently angered by a jury's inability to convict a Black man for killing a white police officer in another high-profile case and spurred on by the local Klan to seek revenge, were convicted of killing Michael in 1983. Hays was sentenced to death for the murder, Knowles to life in prison. But Beulah Mae, still looking to clear her son's name, was not finished. With the urging and the help of the founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Beulah Mae brought a civil suit in 1984. Beulah Mae Donald sued the Klan. " " Henry Francis Hays is escorted by police after his arrest for the murder of Michael Donald. Hays was found guilty and later executed by the state. Azalea City News Collection/University of Southern Alabama Advertisement Taking Down the Klan The civil trial, which began in 1985, demanded that the Klan be held responsible for the actions of its members. The complaint, in which Beulah Mae was joined by several other plaintiffs, was sought on behalf of all Black citizens of Alabama who "seek the right to life free from harassment, intimidation, physical harm and death at the hands of members of the defendant United Klans of America solely because of the race of said black citizens." The idea behind it was straightforward: Not only did Beulah Mae want to clear the name of her son, she wanted all who were part of it to be held accountable. "I wanted to know who all really killed my child," she said in 1988. "I wanted to be assured ... I wasn't even thinking about the money. If I hadn't gotten a cent, it wouldn't have mattered. I wanted to know how and why they did it." In the suit, Beulah Mae and others alleged that the Klan killed Michael for two reasons: One was to "intimidate present and future jurors in Mobile County and Alabama from ruling in favor of black defendants charged with crimes against whites or in favor of black plaintiffs seeking to recover damages from whites, thereby denying black citizens the right to a fair and impartial trial." Second, the defendants the Klan wanted to intimidate Blacks. From the allegations in the complaint: [T]o 'show the strength of the [United] Klans' and to show [blacks] that [the United Klans was] still here in Alabama,' thereby intimidating and threatening black citizens who would attempt to exercise their right to vote, to equal employment, to open housing, to free association with persons of all races, to equal justice, and to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as guaranteed by the federal and state laws. Among those charged individually along with Hays, Knowles and the Klan: Hays' father, Bennie Jack Hays, a high-ranking official in the Klan; and Frank Cox, another Klan member and the man accused of supplying the rope around Michael's neck. " " Robert Shelton was the longtime leader and Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America. He was named in the suit Buelah Mae brought against the United Klans of America. Library of Congress On Feb. 12, 1987, an all-white jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama found for Beulah Mae Donald and the plaintiffs and ordered the Klan and six individuals to pay damages in the amount of $7 million. That's $16 million in today's dollars. The younger Henry Hays died in Alabama's electric chair in 1997 against the wishes of the devoutly faithful Beulah Mae at the age of 42, the first execution of a white person for crimes against a Black person in the state in more than 80 years. His father Jack Hays, because of evidence presented at the civil trial, was indicted for inciting the murder of Michael Donald. The elder Hays died before his trial was completed. Cox was later tried, found guilty and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Knowles, who tearfully apologized to Beulah Mae during the civil trial and testified against Hays and others, was released from prison in 2010. The case essentially bankrupted the KKK. The Klan had to turn over its headquarters in Tuscaloosa to Beulah Mae after the verdict. Beulah Mae sold it and used the proceeds to buy a new home in a better neighborhood. Beulah Mae Donald died in Mobile some 18 months after the verdict at the age of 67. But she is remembered now when, indeed, she is remembered as the article in The New York Times Magazine trumpeted her: "The Woman Who Beat the Klan." Her fight is now the topic of a four-part CNN Original Series "The People v. The Klan: The Untold Story of Beulah Mae Donald." The most important part of her story, in these days of racial unrest, is the remembering. "I remember after George Floyd's murder, some people were asking, 'Where did this come from, how could this happen?' Whereas other people, particularly Black Americans, were saying, 'This has been happening for a long, long time. This is just the most public setting, or capturing, of a tradition of injustice,'" says Giggie. "That disconnect between those who couldn't understand where it came from, and those that did, is in that gulf that I think modern America sometimes teeters." NOW THAT'S SAD After Michael Donald was murdered, Beulah Mae Donald insisted that her son's casket be open during the funeral. She wanted the whole world to see the crime that had been committed. Her decision was reminiscent of the 1955 funeral in Chicago of 14-year-old Emmett Till, whose open-casket photos landed in Jet Magazine and other outlets and prompted a worldwide outrage. Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has reconfirmed that the 2021 edition of its annual showcase will go-ahead in-person at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 16 - 19, as final preparations are being put in place, in particular health and safety. In addition to Reed Exhibitions Global Covid-19 Safety Shows Health & Safety strategy, ATM is working closely with the team at the Dubai World Trade Centre and with Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to provide a safe, touchless and seamless experience for all. The show will strictly adhere to the health and safety guidelines set by the Dubai Government and followed by venue. The team at DWTC are working hard to ensure that all events run safely and have implemented a range of measures including an enhanced cleaning regime, improved air circulation and multiple hand sanitiser stations. Commenting, Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world to visit with a wide range of precautionary measures in place to ensure the safety of tourists at every stage and touchpoint of their travel journey, from arrival to departure. More than 9 million doses have already been administered in the UAE, which is also a major achievement. Indeed, Dubais commitment to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety and its effective citywide management of the pandemic received a strong endorsement from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which gave the city a Safe Travels stamp, she added. The theme of this years show is A new dawn for travel and tourism and the spotlight will be focused on the very latest Covid news from around the world vaccine rollouts, social and travel restrictions and as consequence, the current state of the industry and more importantly, what the future holds. It will also look at the emerging trends and how innovation can drive the industry forward. The health of the travel and tourism industry is key to the region. Prior to the pandemic, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to the Middle Easts GDP was predicted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), to reach $133.6 billion by 2028. In-person on the show floor, 62 countries represented by main stand holders and sharers will be participating this year. They include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Germany, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Greece, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and the US to name but a few. Features this year will include Travel Forward at ATM, which will highlight keynote speakers and world-class technology experts, that will provide industry-leading insights about the latest technologies and trends that will undoubtedly shape the future of travel and tourism. The ATM 2021 conference programme includes the Global Stage which will feature the Hotel Industry Summit and Buyer Forums dedicated to key source markets such as Saudi Arabia, India and China. There is an International Tourism and Investment Conference, plus other focused events on Gulf-Israeli ties, an Aviation Panel and a special seminar aimed at encouraging women to take up careers in tourism and travel. In addition, other co-located events will include the Digital Influencer Speed Networking event and Buyers Club. ATM 2021 will play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week, which will feature exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking events. Also, for the first time, a new hybrid format will mean a virtual ATM running a week later to complement and reach a wider audience than ever before. ATM Virtual, which made its debut earlier this year after ATM 2020 was postponed, proved to be a resounding success attracting 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries. It is imperative that we include a virtual element to Arabian Travel Week because many industry professionals from around the world, cannot attend the in-person event every year, particularly this year with travel restrictions still in place, said Curtis. ATM 2021s strategic partners include Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as Destination Partner, Emaar Hospitality Group as Official Hotel Partner and Emirates as Official Airline Partner. - TradeArabia News Service Organisations from across Kildare who are working on issues of human rights and equality are invited to apply to the Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme 2021-22. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the Commission) will award small grants of up to 6,000 and general grants of up to 20,000 to support activities under three strands: Advancing Social and Economic Rights and Equality Combatting Racism and Racial Discrimination Progressing the Rights of People with Disabilities The scheme, which is closing soon, is open to civil society organisations, rights-holder and community led groups, and trade unions from across the country, who can bring forward proposals on empowering people and communities to understand and claim their rights and be part of decision-making that affects them. This includes people at risk of discrimination protected under the nine grounds of Irelands equality legislation: gender, civil status, family status, age, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community and people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Two organisations in Kildare, Older Voices Kildare and Maynooth University are among those previously awarded funding for work focused on human rights and equality. Activities that the Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme 2021-22 supports include: Participatory education and training activities Projects focused on engaging people in shaping policy and legislation reform Conferences, seminars and roundtables Campaigns and print or digital tools Participatory research and policy analysis Monitoring compliance of public bodies with human rights and equality standards Sinead Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated: Were delighted to begin the sixth year of our Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme. To date, we have supported over 150 projects across Ireland including a number in Kildare, helping organisations to amplify and bring forward the voices of those who have experienced barriers to justice. Wed love to see a strong field of applications from across the country. We encourage organisations across Kildare who work on human rights and equality issues to check out the scheme, to read the qualifying criteria, and to make applications if they reach those criteria. The strict deadline for receipt of applications is Thursday 22nd April at 4pm and full details of the grant scheme are available on the Commissions website: www.ihrec.ie Armenian and Greek organizations in America are lobbying US authorities to block SpaceX's upcoming launch of a Turkish communications satellite for reasons of national security. SpaceX plans to use its Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle to send the Turksat 5B satellite into orbit in June 2021. In January, a private space company launched an older communications satellite, Turksat 5A, into space from a base at Cape Canaveral. The Greek American Council and the Armenian National Committee of America have sent a letter to the US Federal Aviation Administration requesting that the plans be blocked, arguing that the communications satellite has dangerous military uses. The letter noted that satellite communications can expand the range of Turkish drones, expanding the ability of Ankara to independently conduct military operations against the positions of the United States and its allies in almost half of the globe. Turkish drones were used against the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Turkey threatened to use them against Greece and Cyprus. Satellite communications, in particular, have played a role in expanding the range of Turkey's most advanced drones. The letter also mentions that the United States has imposed sanctions against the Turkish defense industry. Fulton County Commissioners to Vote on Legislation to Challenge Georgias Election Reform Bill In an attempt to counter the Georgia voting reform bill, Senate Bill 202, Fulton County commissioners announced that they are preparing to take legal action against it. Democrat Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman says she has enough votes to have her resolution pass, reported Fox5. It directs the county attorney to provide legal methods in court or out of court, to fight SB 202, Abdur-Rahman said. The local commissioners are of the opinion that Gov. Brian Kemp and the voter reform targeted Fulton County, the states largest. The voter reforms require photo ID for absentee voting, mandatory dropbox security, and expands early voting dates, among other measures. Abdur-Rahman expressed disapproval for the reduction of ballot drop boxes by Senate Bill 202. We had 38, it is now eight. They added drop boxes in rural counties but you decreased the boxes in the metropolitan area, said the commissioner. Now, Stevie Wonder can see that. She further complained that the voting reform bill prohibits two recently purchased mobile voter RVs that cost $800,000. Fulton County has two mobile units that 11,000 people used to vote. Were these the 11,000 votes Trump was looking for? Abdur-Rahman said. SB 202 is telling all 159 counties this is what you have to do, but you have to do it with your budget, which will be a burden on the taxpayer, Abdur Rahman said. The voting will ensue on Wednesday and two other Democrat commissioners will likely support the legislation. As a response to the resolution, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued a response. Fulton County has been failing its voters for at least 25 years. Each new election cycle brings a new failure and it is Fultons voters who suffer. The bottom line is that Fulton Countys elections leadership is responsible for running elections. It is Fulton Countys elections leadership that has created long lines for their voters time and time again while other areas of the state have managed to execute successful elections, said Raffensperger. Instead of addressing their chronic election mismanagement issues, Fulton Countys Democrat officials have doubled down on their failed policies. After voting to override their own elections boards decision to fire the Fulton elections supervisor, Fulton Countys Democrat commissioners are now taking aim at legislation that could actually bring Fultons voters the relief they have been seeking for decades, he added. SB 202 provides avenues to change the elections leadership in consistently failing counties. Fulton Countys Democrat leadership has decided the double down on a system that isnt working. Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Here is the New York Times Editorial from March 2, 1969: Justice in New Orleans One of the most disgraceful chapters in the history of American jurisprudence ended happily early yesterday morning when the New Orleans jury declared Clay L. Shaw innocent of conspiring to murder President Kennedy. The fact that the jury reached its verdict unanimously, on the first ballot, and after less than an hour of deliberation provided a fitting judgment on the flimsy case offered by the prosecution. But, even after this victory for justice, the question remains of how an innocent man could be jailed and tried for a capital crime on such bizarre "evidence." District Attorney Jim Garrison has much to answer for in this persecution of an innocent man. As his emotional final appeal to the jury showed once again, Mr. Garrison's real purpose in holding the trial was to prove his obsessional conviction about the fraudulent character of the Warren Commission report on the Kennedy assassination. This fantasy produced the victimization of Mr. Shaw. Mr. Garrison's shocking conduct of the whole matter proved his unfitness for public office, particularly for such a sensitive post as that of district attorney. Fortunately, the voters of New Orleans have an opportunity later this year to demonstrate the same common sense toward Mr. Garrison's continuance in office that the jury exhibited toward his wild charges against Mr. Shaw. This opinion piece also appeared in the New York Times on March 2, 1969: VIJAYAWADA: Dr B.R. Ambedkars vision is being fulfilled for the first time in Andhra Pradesh after YSRC government led by Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power in the state. The assertion was made by AP government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy after he and other ruling party leaders paid floral tributes to Dr. Ambedkar on the latters 130th birth anniversary celebrated at the partys central office here on Wednesday. On the day, Ramakrishna Reddy released a book by Varaprasad based on events that took place in the life of Dr. Ambedkar. Speaking on the occasion, Ramakrishna Reddy said Dr. Ambedkar was a great leader whose ideology gave a direction to both India and the world. The Father of Indian Constitution had tirelessly advocated equality in the society. For the first time in history of AP, Ambedkars vision is being fulfilled in the state since past 20 months under the leadership of Jagan Mohan Reddy, the government advisor maintained. He emphasised that the Chief Minister has been working on empowerment of women, adequate political representation for Dalits and development of poor irrespective of caste and religion. MP Nandigam Suresh said Jagan Mohan Reddy has always declared that people of Scheduled Castes are his relatives and he is working hard for their welfare and development. Giving his own example, Suresh pointed out that despite being an ordinary activist of the party, he has been made an MP. This is proof that the CM always supports Dalits, he stated. MLA Merugu Nagarjuna said the Chief Minister has been implementing Ambedkar ideas in the state through various schemes and programmes to develop all sections of the society. APSDCL chairman Challa Madhusudan Reddy and other leaders participated in the event. They spoke in detail about the development activities taken up by YSRC government for uplift of oppressed communities. March 26 Atlanta ParkMobile ParkMobile ParkMobile Jeff Perkins Brian Krebs New York City ParkMobile Keene ParkMobile January 2014 Keene ParkMobile ParkMobile (TNS) ParkMobile, which provides a digital parking-payment app for Keene, N.H., streets and lots, was the victim of a data breach that accessed users' information, the company has announced.In asecurity notification, the-based firm said it had recently become aware of a "cybersecurity incident" related to a vulnerability in third-party software.An investigation into the incident found that the data accessed includes users' license plate numbers and, if provided, email addresses and phone numbers,said in a separate notice Tuesday. In a small percentage of cases, the company said, it includes users' mailing addresses.Data accessed in the security breach also includes encrypted passwords but not the encryption keys needed to read them,announced. Still, it encouraged users to consider changing their passwords for the app.No credit card information or parking transaction history were accessed, the company said Tuesday.spokesmandid not immediately respond to a request from The Sentinel for more information Tuesday morning.KrebsOnSecurity, a cybersecurity blog run by former Washington Post reporter, reported the breach Monday.KrebsOnSecurity learned of the breach from athreat-intelligence firm that monitors cybercrime, the blog reported. Account information for 21 millionusers that was accessed in the incident is being sold online, KrebsOnSecurity reported, citing information from a Russian-language web forum.began usingin. The mobile app allows people to pay for parking on their phone, with users asked to identify where they parked and to provide their license plate and payment information.officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information, including an inquiry into whether the city had been informed of thebreach.This article has been updated with information from a security notification thatreleased Tuesday. In this #BehindtheBrandManager feature, we find out more from Justine Cullinan, GM of marketing and brand strategy and communication at the iconic and well-loved South African fast-food chain Nando's. Justine Cullinan Nando's has such a strong voice and brand story. Was this the idea since the beginning, and how do you keep this voice consistent? How do you navigate working in a consumer space yet at the same time instilling a strong point of view when it comes to politics and current events? We like to think we have the opportunity to voice what people might be thinking but are unwilling or unable to say. This is part of the role the Nandos brand plays in the landscape of South Africa to say things which most South Africans are feeling and to do so in a funny and smart way. We like to keep conspiracies out of the kitchen. #VaccineforSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/1HnEOGu5Pw NandosSA (@NandosSA) February 1, 2021 How has Nando's had to adapt strategies since the Covid-19 pandemic? We continued to focus on building our empathetic muscle and being with and for South Africans in a time of great need. What is it like managing such a well-known and loved South African brand? What have been some of your highlights while working for Nando's? All the Marketing Achievement Awards 2021 winners The Marketing Achievement Awards (MAAs) took place last night by way of a premium virtual event, giving everyone the opportunity to safely participate in the evening's festivities... What have been some of the most noteworthy and successful brand campaigns you have worked on? Can you tell us more about your current #TinForTjips campaign as well as any other recent brand campaigns and the rationales behind them? Y'all already spilling the beans online, now you'll be doing it for a good cause. You give the tin food, and we'll chip in. #TinForTjips https://t.co/Owmd14VrTk NandosSA (@NandosSA) March 24, 2021 What do you think are the most successful channels for getting your brand message out there? What career advice would you give to aspirant young marketing and branding professionals? Cullinan chats key campaigns, pivoting during the Covid-19 pandemic and bravely (and humorously) voicing what South Africans are feeling.The Nandos brand evolved over time with many twists and turns and many people working within the marketing team to make it the brand people know and value today. We keep a very interested eye, ear and finger on the pulse of whats going on in SA and we are led by our customers. We really listen to them and like to understand what they need, what theyre worried about and how we can play a role in helping them. We always ask: What is the role of the brand here? Our consistency is born of this approach and an unwavering Nandos brand positioning.Operationally, weve adapted by launching new channels like the Kerbside collection when people couldnt enter into our restaurants to make it easier for our customers to get their Peri-fix. We instituted social branded distancing protocols, branded PPE for staff, had to reshuffle our staffing rosters to make sure we minimise risk to our people and our guests among many others.This has meant a very agile approach to operating where we make mistakes, head off down roads to learn things, take risks and then figure out what works best for our business. For the most part, we operate from the position that its more important to make progress than to be perfect.From a marketing perspective, we arent dissimilar to the brand before Covid-19.Its a privilege, can be intimidating at times and is often very rewarding and a lot of fun.Winning Marketing Organisation of the Year at the Marketing Achievement Awards. We won this as a whole team for driving a marketing-led organisation in the toughest year the country has seen in a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Were also delighted that we didnt retrench any staff, no franchisee went bankrupt, our brand grew and our sales are recovering steadily post the immense challenges of 2020.We launch a variety of promotional campaigns throughout the year. Its these campaigns that Im most proud of because they connect our products with our customers in meaningful and often humorous ways. When Covid hit we had an Easter meal campaign live that encouraged people to gather together and share a meal, which we quickly had to pivot away from. We ended up changing the line distant relatives are closer than you think to distant relativesmust remain distant. We did this in a week.During the last festive season, we launched the Gatvol Fed-up Festive Feast including a stunt that had a choir of Karens performing our own rewritten Christmas carols outside our Sandton restaurant to bid the outgoing year tsek. I doubt there are any other brands willing and able to use the word gatvol in their advertising. In fact, we werent able to flight our original radio and out of home material in certain spaces because media owners werent willing to take the risk that we were using such honest language so overtly in our advertising.Tin4Tjips enables us at Nandos to help you (South Africans) help those in need by collecting your panic-bought tins of food and redistributing them to hungry children. In exchange for the tins of food we collect from our customers, those customers get free Nandos chips on us!Nandos has for the second time in the past year partnered with a non-profit organisation, Joint Aid Management (JAM), who will distribute the tinned food to South Africas most vulnerable through its well-established network of charitable organisations that focus on taking care of pre-school children through early childhood development centres. You can participate in the Nandos Tin for Tjips initiative by ordering through the Nandos mobile app or online for delivery or collection (kerbside too).Its been wonderful to see South Africans heading into their pantries for their unused tins to get free chips. Corporate South Africa has noticed our efforts in this campaign and has come to the party too. Our food friends at Koo, McCain and All Gold have pledged to add tins to our collection so that we can make even more of a difference in the lives of hungry kids.It depends very much on what your message is. We have different objectives for doing different things. Tin4Tjips is a very PR and online/social-driven message because our customers participating need to order their Nandos online or through our app. However, some of our biggest brand campaigns are very TV-centric because that channel still maintains the highest audiences in South Africa and we like to tell a story to which all our customers can relate. So, we need a visual medium. The hero of our festive campaign last year was radio our Christmas carols were all about an audio experience.Instead of trying to solve a business problem and fit the world to your needs, turn your attention to a customer problem and, in solving those, you often derive commercial value in return. AB6IX Donghyun has been confirmed to join NU'EST JR and Yoon Ji Sung in a new K-drama titled "I'll Be Your Night"! This acting project will be his first one, marking his acting debut. On April 13, reports stated that Kim Donghyun had been chosen as one of the cast members in "I'll Be Your Night," and he is said to be playing one of the members of a band. His appearance on the television series has since been confirmed. AB6IX Donghyun to Appear on New K-Drama "I'll Become Your Night" as a Band Member On April 14, Donghyun has been announced to officially join the cast of the upcoming TV series "I'll Be Your Night." He previously starred as one of the male lead in a web drama called "Fling at the Convenience Store," which premiered early this year. After gaining acting experience through this web series, the AB6IX member has expanded his acting spectrum by appearing on a terrestrial television show for the first time. In the new K-drama, "I'll Be Your Night," AB6IX Donghyun will play the role of Gaon, a member of the world-class band called LUNA. Gaon is the youngest member of the group as he is only 17 years old when he joined LUNA after winning a competition two years ago. Also, he has excellent keyboard playing skills. In addition, as LUNA's youngest member, Gaon is close to most of his bandmates, except for Taein, who he sees as a mature person. Donghyun's character also becomes shy when he's in front of the fans. Through Gaon, AB6IX Donghyun will show off various charms that he has never shown before. "I'll Be Your Night" is a drama that combines romantic comedy and K-pop music, which is gaining popularity around the world. The upcoming television series is about a famous band and a fake doctor who ends up moving into their dorm to cure a member who is suffering from sleepwalking. This new K-drama will focus on a series of events between the idol group and the phony doctor. It is expected that NU'EST JR, Yoon Ji Sung, and AB6IX Donghyun will create warm chemistry within the band. "I'll Become Your Night" is scheduled to start production in May and is slated to be broadcast sometime in the second half of this year. Are you excited to see AB6IX Kim Donghyun on the small screen? Kim Donghyun as a Member of AB6IX + Boy Group to Make a Comeback Meanwhile, Donghyun as a member of K-pop boy group AB6IX is in charge of the band's vocals and visuals. Since he debuted, he has actively participated in music work and has showcased a versatile aspect. Kim has been credited in numerous tracks of the group. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: These are Romantic Korean Web Dramas That You Can Enjoy Binge-Watching AB6IX is set to make a comeback on April 26 with their fourth mini-album titled "MO' Complete: Have a Dream." This will be the band's first return to the K-pop scene after only three months since their third extended play, "Salute: A New Hope." For more news updates about other K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here at Kpopstarz. Owned by Kpopstarz. Written by Mhaliya Scott State celebrates Robotics Week, promotes opportunities to boost skills needed for future careers State celebrates Robotics Week, promotes opportunities to boost skills needed for future careers April 8, 2021 Media Contact: Beata Kica, 517-614-9773 As we wrap up Robotics Week in Michigan, state officials encourage students, educators and parents to join them in highlighting the importance of robotics education, which encourages problem-solving, creative thinking and a healthy sense of competition that drives innovation from students and prepares them for high-demand, high-wage careers. "Robotics programs offer students a fun, hands-on approach to classroom lessons and experiences to build skills and interests leading to college and career pathways in good-paying technical fields," said Megan Schrauben, Executive Director of the MiSTEM Network. During this school year, over 2,100 robotics teams at all levels and programs representing more than 400 districts across the state applied for robotics grants. Michigan ranks second for having the most robotics teams in the nation and Michigan's high schools rank first among the nation's high school statewide programs (including FIRST in Michigan, Robotics Education Competition Foundation and Square One). The MiSTEM Network's efforts have supported the expansion and integration of robotics education to build a stronger STEM culture in Michigan. Robotics requires all subjects of STEM and is a well-rounded approach to educational technology and learning. Many of Michigan's high-demand occupations through 2028 integrate competencies acquired through robotics curriculum. The Southeast Region of the MiSTEM Network is working toward integrating more robotics programming into curriculum for students across the state. They regularly host a Ten80 Competition where students work together to re-engineer a car and attend an invitational where they can test out their new innovations in a hands-on, interactive setting. Students and educators cultivate 21st Century skills through team-oriented challenges. "Ten80 gets students interested in STEM and helps our teachers to think about how they can bring this kind of learning into their classrooms, so more students can benefit," said Scott Heister, MiSTEM Region 2 Director. "Ten80 helps students understand and actively participate in the innovation process that drives today's economy." While in-person Ten80 events are not running, teachers and teams have transitioned to an Autonomous Vehicle Challenge, which allows them to run this program in their classrooms or remotely, using virtual systems. In partnership with the Macomb Intermediate School District, Macomb County and Square One, Region 4 of the MiSTEM Network aimed to increase engagement for high school robotics students this year as a result of lost opportunities from the pandemic. They put together a project that would re-engage students with transferable skills in robotics, with Macomb County allocating the funds. The opportunity was open to all public-school districts in the county and all high schools that had First Robotics Competition (FRC) teams. Another component of the program in addition to robotics competencies was equipment enhancements for teams and districts, with no cost for any student, teacher or district to participate. "The goal of this partnership was to support a talent pipeline for the robotics sector and advance robotics efforts in our region," said Mark Muzzin, STEM Consultant for the Macomb MiSTEM Region. "When educators and students have access to the tools and curriculum necessary to engage more students in the robotics arena, they can give them valuable, real-world skills that open pathways to building a better future." Educators and students are encouraged to explore and apply robotics into their curriculum, to better prepare for the diverse array of career pathways available in Robotics and STEM fields. All programs mentioned above are supported by state school aid funds in combination with valuable community partners. To learn more, visit Michigan.gov/MiSTEM A group of Democratic pollsters released a "lessons-learned" report on April 13, attempting to explain why they blew the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which they predicted a blow-out for Biden, and Democrats taking control of the Senate as well as widening their lead in the House. COVID-19 is among their excuses. Perhaps voters with more progressive attitudes on COVID-19 were not only more likely to wear masks and stay home, but also more likely to answer poll calls while conservatives were harder to reach. And related to the COVID-19 hypothesis is the idea that some voters opted out of polls due to a lack of social trust. Trump may have helped turn this into a problem for pollsters by attracting distrustful voters and making his most ardent supporters even more distrustful of other people, of the media and perhaps even polling itself. That, in turn, could have made his supporters less likely to answer polls. The Democratic pollsters hope for better forcecasts ahead and pray each evening that Trumps political days are over. Noting that they did much worse in 2020 than in previous years, the report suggests the presence of Trump screwed everything up for them. We should be careful not to overcorrect for an error that may be geared to one man, who will, hopefully, never be on the ballot again. The pollsters ALG Research, Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, GBAO Strategies, Global Strategy Group and Normington Petts should be careful what they wish for. Trump looks like hes rarin to go. Shades of Kim Jong-un... The Business Roundtable released a survey of its membership on April 12, showing that 98 percent of its CEOs fear that Joe Bidens proposed hike in the statutory federal tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent would have a moderate or very significant adverse affect on their business. Had the North Korean leader been running the Business Roundtable poll, he could have hit the 100 percent tax disapproval rate. Cmon Business Roundtable, the corporate rate was 35 percent before Donald Trump gifted Corporate America with his massive 2017 cut. Of course, few corporations pay the statutory corporate rate, taking advantage of tax-avoiding deductions, exemptions, offshoring and other schemes. The Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy released a report on April 2, showing that 55 profitable American companies stiffed Uncle Sam on taxes in 2020. That list includes Charter Communications, which earned $3.7B in US pre-tax 2020 profit, FedEx ($2.1B profit), Salesforce ($2.6B), Consolidated Edison ($1.2B), Nike ($2.9B), Textron ($278M) and Interpublic Group ($284M). Is it too much to ask for these companies to pay their fair share of tax? While the Business Roundtable may beg to differ, Team Biden and the American public think so. Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam is an American scientist born in Boston, Massachusetts who received his Bachelor of Science and PhD in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the founding president of New England Complex Systems Institute. His research has focused on formalizing complex systems and attempting to relate these to everyday social issues. He is an expert in the quantitative analysis of pandemics and was an advisor to policy makers on the West Africa Ebola virus epidemic. In February 2020, he founded EndCoronavirus.org, a global network of thousands of volunteers to guide and provide policy on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Yaneer Bar-Yam (Image credit: Yaneer Bar-Yam /Medium) On January 26, 2020, Bar-Yam co-authored a brief on a comprehensive response to the spread of the virus during those first weeks in which the global threat from the novel coronavirus was becoming clear. Bar-Yam and his co-authors wrote, Standard individual-scale policy approaches such as isolation, contact tracing and monitoring are rapidly overwhelmed in the face of mass infection, and thus also cannot be relied upon to stop a pandemic. Multiscale population approaches including drastically pruning contact networks using collective boundaries and social behavior change, and community self-monitoring are essential. Together, these observations lead to the necessity of a precautionary approach to current and potential pandemic outbreaks that must include constraining mobility patterns in the early stages of an outbreak, especially when little is known about the true parameters of the pathogen. It will cost something to reduce mobility in the short term, but to fail to do so will eventually cost everythingif not from this event, then one in the future. *** Benjamin Mateus: Thank you for taking time to speak with the World Socialist Web Site. Last time we spoke you mentioned you had done extensive work on pandemic modeling. Maybe you can briefly explain what you do by way of an introduction. Yaneer Bar-Yam: Good afternoon. It is my pleasure. So, a little bit of background. I am a physicist and a complexity scientist. [Behind this science] is that calculus and statistics do not describe the real world because of interdependencies [that exist]. So, when something over here depends on something over there, the mathematical frameworks do not describe what is happening. You would think that you can get closer and closer, but it actually does not work. There is a boundary beyond which you cannot go with calculus and statistics. What you must do is actually develop new math and the key sort of fundamental framework for that was developed in 1970 by Ken Wilson. It is called renormalization group. And it is a mathematical framework that shifts how we think about the world. And the main thing we can pull out of this for the purposes of this conversation is that it identifies what are the most important variables in the problem which is the present pandemic. What it really means is that you have to know that there are three things that are important: One is the R0 value [the basic reproduction number] of the transmission, which can be greater than one [infections growing] or less than one [cases declining]. Second is restrictions on travel. If you do not have travel, you cannot have a pandemic. And the third is the number of infected individuals and the fact that zero is different from any other number, which basically means that if you control the outbreak enough, then you do not have an outbreak, but it has to be enough because if you still have 10 or a hundred cases, it's not the same as zero, which runs the risk of perpetuating the transmission of the pathogen. The key thing is that if we understand all three of those variables are interdependent, we can put together a strategy. You have to know how to put things together in the right combination. And the right combination is very straightforward once you understand it. So, let me say what does not work. What does not work is what we are doing now. As the cases go up, we increase restrictions and as the cases go down, we decrease restrictions, which basically guarantees that we are constantly in a situation where we see the greatest number of cases that we can tolerate. The right strategy is what we call the green zone strategy, which means you suppress the outbreak. You identify areas that do not have cases. So, they are at zero. You protect them by limiting travel between regions. Remember, travel is one of the variables. If an infected person goes into a green zone, that zone is no longer green. But if you have eliminated infections from a region then you can open areas to normal [with contact tracers and testing capacity in place]. Then you progressively open up more areas that go green and allow people to travel between them. And if you do this right, it does not take very long. Basically it takes four to six weeks, a little bit longer if you have a lot of cases, but if you start from small areas, you can do this incredibly fast. That is the essence of the green zone strategy, which enables in a practical way to achieve elimination of the virus. BM: How was the green zone strategy devised? What is it and when was this conceived? YB: The interesting thing is that in some sense, this is the ancient way of fighting outbreaks. Everything that I have said is based on biblical to medieval strategies. The basic idea of restricted transmission is something that we know is ancient. Part of the problem is that in the recent times people have disparaged the old ways saying they do not work anymore, and we will do something new. But this mathematical discussion, which, again, is anchored in a math that basically tells you what to focus on, was something that I started when I wrote a paper 15 years ago on pandemic dynamics. It was basically a paper on mutations in pathogens and how the combination of global transportation and mutational dynamics works together because the point is that if you separate how pathogens evolve from the effect of travel, you get one answer, but if you combine them together, you got a different answer. And the answer is that as we add long range transportation, the world, even only with a small amount of long-range transportation, you make a transition from local outbreaks to global extinction [pandemic]. And in fact, the regime [mathematical concept] that we are in now with pathogen, with variants and so on, is exactly the regime that was analyzed in the paper. BM: The issue that you are raising is a curious one. Epidemiologists like Dr. Michael Osterholm have been warning that such a pandemic is inevitable. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa had raised significant concerns that the world was completely unprepared for such an event. Even as late as the summer of 2019, the US conducted an exercise called Crimson Contagion to test the federal governments capacity to contain a respiratory pathogen brought to the US from China. They predicted that a hundred million people would be infected and over 500,000 would die, concluding that the country was woefully unready for such an event. And then came the COVID-19 pandemic in a matter of a few months. How does the modeling and mathematics contrast with the discussions being had by epidemiologists and scientists? YB: Fifteen years ago, I started to try to raise the alarm about the fact: What the science and math showed was that we cannot expect a slightly worse and then a slightly worse situation as the pandemic spreads. It gets dramatically worse all of a sudden. And people do not know how to react to such a catastrophe. Yes, there were others that were sounding the alarm, but clearly no one paid sufficient attention. When Ebola happened in West Africa, I was involved at a policy level. And that was when we were very explicit about the strategies needed to stop outbreaks, and again, one of these narratives that is accepted in standard literature is that travel restrictions do not work because once the disease gets somewhere, then it is already out, and so on. But that is incorrect. If we combine travel restrictions with lockdowns, then you are working to get rid of the disease more efficiently and effectively. The point is that it is using things together that enables you to overcome the problem. And this is where the confusion arises because we think about things independently. Let me use an illustration. Let us say you thought about driving a car. You use the combination of the steering wheel, gas and brakes to bring the car to a stop safely. Using only one or the other will create accidents. You will not get far. That is what this is really about. There is this structural understanding that we were missing. The math helps explain what parameters of the pandemic we can control. There is also this deeply engrained denialist attitude that says, its never going to happen here. We are all set. We can deal with anything just because we think we are great, and not realizing that there can be challenges that are life-threatening and society-threatening and can undermine our way of life and our, even our very existence. This idea that for 50 years or a hundred years, we have not had to face something that is devastating does not mean that we will not face it now. This is the worst thing that has happened in say a hundred years in terms of the pandemic. And people did not think that it was going to happen. But it has happened. And now we are going into the fatalistic mode that we are stuck with it and this is the way it is going to be forever, which is also not a good mode. We have to understand what we have always had control over this pandemic. BM: Last time we spoke you mentioned that we are looking at the pandemic from the perspective of individual casesfrom a single person to another person. But you said, if I remember it correctly, that a community disease is not an individual disease. Can you maybe expand on that? YB: The training that physicians go through is an individual-oriented training, right? There is a patient that comes in, they have a problem. You are going to figure out the problem. You are going to treat them. And that is the framework of thinking. And it is a very important framework, and it works really well if someone has a heart attack or other problems that are really individual problems, but a transmissible disease is by definition, something that is going from person to person. Even though the individual symptoms or their conditions should be treated as an individual, it is much better to prevent individuals from becoming infected in the first place. And that infected person is by definition, not an individual property, but rather it is a property of how people interact with each other. We have to think about the set of people that are interacting together and the basic understanding that we need to start with is that it is a community property. It has to do with how people choose to interact with each other. It is in households. It happens in homes. But in the end of the day, the village is what we need to show up in the hospital or in a doctors office. And one of the biggest concerns that I have had has been the fact that people are being sent home to their families to isolate or to quarantine. We know that leads to a lot of infections, serial infections within families. It has been widely reported. In order to stop that, people have to protect their families. They need a place to go where they are safe and where they can be taken care of, receive treatment [while] they are sick, brought food and also support [given to] their families so they do not worry about having to support their families or whatever, all of the concerns that someone will have, and end up being new vectors for the transmission of the virus. Now, at the community level, the community, like an individual, has to take care of itself too when they are sick; a community has to take care of itself when there is a pandemic. And in West Africa, the way [Ebola] was stopped, and, again, they were expecting, the predictions were, millions of people dead, and it was stopped with 11,310 deaths. And the way it was stopped was by people going door to door, members of the neighborhood in Liberia, went door to door, did early identification of cases and isolated and quarantined people so that they would not transmit. And that was enough to stop Ebola. We know that works. In India, during the current pandemic, in one of the worst slums in Asia, in Dharavi, people went door to door, over and over again, a couple of times a day. They did not even have enough testing, but they use oximeters and thermometers in order to identify cases. That was sufficient. They had isolation facilities and they had to do this in high density, urban contexts. You have to do case identification, super intensively, in order to stop the outbreak. But that is what works. Now, in a suburb in the US, maybe you can do a lot of that by remote, calling people up and saying, how are you doing? Do you need help? Do you have symptoms? But the basic idea is the same, that you have to identify cases quickly. You have to isolate people away from family and housemates. Because otherwise the disease transmits; it is in the community. You have to do it. The way to think about this is that you think about the community as being sick and once the community is not sick, if there is no disease there, then you can open it up. But, instead, we are caught in this loop of imposing restrictions to limit the disease spread, but we do not do enough to stop it. We open up again and then the cases go back up and then we are back into imposing restrictions. BM: I wanted to ask about your thoughts on when the epidemic first broke out in Wuhan, China, and we recognized that person-to-person transmission was occurring, and the World Health Organization (WHO) began to understand the scope of the problem. What do you think went right? What do you think went wrong? YB: What went right is that they said that this was a problem. This was dangerous. The main thing is that they said that action had to be rapidly taken. The main fundamental problem, however, was that [the WHO] did not explicitly say two things at the beginning: One, they did not say that the goal should be elimination and, two, they did not say the travel restrictions were essential. And those two go together. And this was the big failure. There is no reason that just because the disease exists in the world, it has to be everywhere. But in order to prevent it from being everywhere, we have to take the measures that are necessary in order to prevent it. If you look at the US, if you look at other countries like Russia or across Europe or across South America, many countries not only did not stop it from getting to the country, they allowed it to get everywhere in the country because they did not use travel restrictions to confine it. If you can confine it, the more you can confine it, the easier it is to get rid of it. But if you accept that it is going to be there, if you accept that it is going to become endemic, then you do not do travel restrictions nor elimination. But once you know that you can get cases to go downand we definitely found out that we could get cases to go downthen one should do the elimination strategy because the faster you do it, the less harm it does. And the less harm it does to everything, including illness, death, disability, all of these thingsbut also, the less economic harm. People also do not understand that time is super important in pandemics. Everyone thinks that once you have something then it lasts forever. But if you can stop it, then the most important thing that costs you is the amount of time that it takes to get rid of. So, the more you limit it, the more you confined it in space and in time, the less is its impact on society. BM: Shifting gears, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now implementing new guidelines that will reduce physical distancing in schools from six to three feet. There has been much discussion on the role of children in the pandemic and the reopening of schools. Can you speak to this? YB: This business about children do not transmit or they do not get sick is just wrong. Children do transmit and can get very sick. The major reason why there was some confusion is that kids have less severe cases. Often, they are asymptomatic. But the consequences for children are still significant. They get long COVID, there are long-term disability implications for children. And to allow that to happen to children is a very incorrect thing to do, obviously. And of course, children also, because they transmit, even though they are asymptomatic much of the time, they transmit back into the community, back to their families, back to their schools, and many teachers have suffered the consequences of being infected by their students. The whole idea that this is not a significant illness for children is incorrect. But, in addition, we are now seeing the new variants and that is a whole topic of discussion, which can provide more severe cases. Indeed, the situation that we see is that people who have been previously infected can be infected by the new variant. At least some of them, definitely the Brazilian variants in particular, they can be more fatal. It can even decrease the effectiveness of the vaccines. We are not sure by how much, but a loss of the effectiveness of immunity seems to be significant. And if that variant has immunity-evading property, then there are many other variants out there that also are immunity-evading. Basically, if you now allow vaccinated people to get together in schools, at events and gatherings, and all the while there are these vaccine-evading variants, they will start growing. But people are not paying attention to these issues. As these immune-evading variants lead to other outbreaks people will then begin clamoring for another vaccine. But what people do not understand is that when you have lots of variants, then you have many different genetic types and fighting many different genetic types is very different from fighting one genetic type. The vaccines are specific to a type and now we have multiple types. Are you going to have 10 vaccines? Are you going to have hundreds? How long will this vaccine-only strategy work? And if we continue to have waves and waves of different variants, what of the continued harms to society, to the economy? These are just going to multiply. And what we are seeing is that the United States and some other countries in the world are making choices that are likely not to have very positive outcomes. BM: What are your thoughts on the current vaccine distribution? The US is hoarding the vaccines. The EU is going through its own turmoil with loss of confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine, vaccine hesitancy, and slow rollout. The WHO has been calling for equitable distribution, but many low-income countries have yet to see even one dose. In the context of zero-COVID and the elimination strategy, can you speak to the COVID-19 vaccines? YB: First of all, the vaccine is clearly a powerful tool. Like any other tool, it has its strengths and its limitations. If we use it effectively, it can be incredibly helpful. But if we rely on it exclusively, then it becomes a dangerous strategy and it is likely to fail us. People are hoping that it will be the magic bullet, but it does not usually work that way. The most effective way to use a vaccine is a very traditional approach called ring vaccination, which means you use it as part of contact tracing, vaccinating the people who are most likely to get infected. Now, of course, we want to vaccinate also those people that are most likely to be harmed by the disease. But first we have to stop the disease from transmittingstop the disease, period. So, the ideal strategy is to target elimination of the virus. Ring vaccination, again, is basically vaccinating people that are most likely to be infected so that they do not spread the disease further. And that includes essential workers, medical personnel or anyone very likely to get infected. And then beyond that, one could argue that the countries that have the worst outbreaks, are the places that we should be vaccinating first, because they are the ones who have the people most likely to be infected. But the short story is what we need to do is to make a decision that we want to get rid of the virus. And right now, we are continually making the decision that we want to live with it. If we decide to live with a virus, we are going to end up living with it. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We have the ability to make a different choice. The fundamental, the real question is will we make that choice? And the consequences are like night and day, right? The challenge that we are facing is that community decisions are very difficult in a world where people do not interact with their neighbors, do not discuss things on a social level. That is the biggest challenge that we are facing right now in much of the industrialized world, where we have weakened community and family ties. And we are not making decisions in a shared way. We do not need to wait for governments. It is not a government action. It is a community action. But the main thing is that in order for that to happen, people have to talk to each other and to own the problem. One of the main things that I have done in my work on pandemics, whether its in the Congo or in the US or in Europe, is I have let people know that it is a decision that they have to make. BM: The last question goes to the point you just made about communities working together in the context of the geopolitical issues and the globalization of the economy. The fight against the virus is also a political issue. The herd immunity policy which prioritizes profits over life and livelihood makes such a proposal complex. The present fight by teachers and school reopening is a case in point. The entire political apparatus is pressuring teachers to open schools. How are communities to fight this? YB: Let me affirm very clearly that one of the key drivers of the failed response is the lack of compassion from those who are in positions of power, economic and political, to the people of their own country. This is a very bad situation. And it has really driven the pandemic harm, but of course it also drives harm from poverty and from work conditions and from everything else that causes harm in the context of social function. The main way to combat it is the same way that we have to fight the virus, which is to have communities understand that they have to own this responsibility. It is not something that we can await until someone else does it for us. It is an action by the community. There is a failure of the social compact. There is a failure of representation. People are not being represented, that the desires and interests of the public are not being represented. The press is a major instrument of confusion by amplifying the conflict in the society. They undermine our ability to work with each other and their narrative is false. Most people care about each other. Most people want to do the right thing. Most people want to work towards a solution to severe problems. And the press is amplifying the fringe in order to benefit from that controversy in terms of attracting attention. And so, the most important thing is for people to reach out to each other, to express, not just in word, but, in deed, that they care about each other. And to collaborate together on the challenges that we face in the world and how we have to do that is not the same as we dealt with it in the past. Technology helps. We can collaborate, but we cannot get together in a crowd. We have to learn how to use the ability to talk to each other in groups and teams to share our understanding, galvanize our shared efforts to overcome the challenges that we face in the world. BM: Dr. Bar-Yam, I want to thank you again for sharing your thoughts and your time with us. It has been very instructive. YB: It has been my pleasure. The Current Cannabis Sector Rally Is Pointing To Another Breakout My research team and I continue to believe the Cannabis/Alternative sector is poised for a big trend in 2021 and 2022. Over the past few years, this sector has continued to trend lower after the hype of 2016~2018 back when everyone was getting into the Cannabis industry as multiple US states authorized recreational and medical use. After the 2018 peak, followed by the early 2019 moderate price recovery, this entire industry sector fell out of favor with investors for almost 2 full years. MJ Pennant Setup Almost Complete The peak in the MJ, Alternative Harvest ETF, in September 2018 was $45.40. The lowest price since that peak was in March 2020 at $8.81 thats an 80% decline in price. Currently, MJ is trading near $22.31 and weve seen a tremendous recovery after the 2020 US elections. These elections resulted in a wave of enthusiasm for Cannabis and Alternative supply companies as it was widely expected the Democrats would move quickly to legalize Cannabis and other illegal drugs after their win. Come watch over 50 Investment and Trading legends share their secrets click here to save your FREE seat to any speaker you want to see! Looking at the MJ Daily chart below, MJ has retraced and stalled into a Pennant/Flag formation that we believe may prompt another explosive upside price trend. The Apex of any Pennant formation can be very volatile at times. Traders need to be prepared for wild price action as we near this Apex date. Yet, we believe the bias of the market, with a resurgence of the US economy and continued belief that the Democrats will attempt to push through Federal Cannabis legalization, may prompt another upside price wave. A simple Fibonacci Measured Move of recent price action on this Daily MJ chart shows a potential for a minimum of +20% with a target near $27.18. Other cannabis stocks may be setup for even bigger gains. Aurora Cannabis May Breakout Above $11 Very Quickly As we can see from the following Aurora Cannabis chart, which we highlighted in our Four Stocks To Own Before The US Elections follow up article, rallied from $3.71 to levels near $19 (a massive +423%) in just 4 months. If a true Fibonacci Measured move takes place from recent price lows (near $8.95), then we believe another +150% rally may be setting up in ACB with a target price level near $17.76, then $23.35. As amazing as that may seem, this wont be happening overnight but rather is expected to unfold over the next weeks and months. The rally in MJ could happen much quicker than the rally in ACB yet both symbols seem poised for another upside price rally. If the US reflation trade continues to push the general market rally higher and US states continue to gradually reopen for business as usual, Cannabis will continue to grow in revenues and activity. The very deep contraction in this industry has barely just begun to reflect the projected growth over the next 5+ years. Dont miss the opportunities in the broad market sectors over the next 6+ months. Staying ahead of these sector trends is going to be key to developing continued success in these markets. As some sectors fail, others will begin to trend higher. Learn how BAN Trader Pro can help you spot the best trade setups. Learning to profit from these bigger trends and sector rotation will make a big difference between success and failure. If you are not prepared for these sector rotations, then you can sign up now for my FREE webinar that teaches you how to find, enter, and profit from only those sectors that have the most strength and momentum. Staying ahead of sector trends is going to be key to success in volatile markets. For those who believe in the power of trading on relative strength, market cycles, and momentum but dont have the time to do the research every day then my BAN Trader Pro newsletter service does all the work for you with daily market reports, research, and trade alerts. More frequent or experienced traders have been killing it trading options, ETFs, and stocks using my BAN Hotlist ranking the hottest ETFs, which is updated daily for my premium subscribers. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. PM Borirs Johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to shorten his trip to New Delhi later this month in view of the severity of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India. The visit, due on April 26, is significant for the UK as it is eyeing a new bilateral trade deal with India, following its exit from the European Union. India is the second-largest investor in the UK, after the US. Post-Brexit, the UK is focused on the Indo-Pacific region for its economy and security. Johnson had earlier indicated that apart from New Delhi, he wanted to visit Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. Official sources on Wednesday however said that Johnson is reducing the length of his trip to India. A spokesperson in London told media that the decision to shorten the visit was taken after due consultations with the Indian government. Incidentally, India has placed a temporary hold on all exports of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine after the rise in Covid-19 infection cases at home. The suspension of exports is expected to affect supplies to around 190 countries including the UK. The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose vaccine jointly developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Serum Institute of India's Covid-19 vaccine, called Covishield, is the local version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India. However, as the second wave of the pandemic has hit India badly, the domestic demand for the vaccine has increased hugely. The coronavirus pandemic management and vaccine distribution will be part of Prime Minister Johnson's visit, ministry of external affairs sources in New Delhi said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to shorten his trip to New Delhi later this month in view of the severity of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India. The visit, due on April 26, is significant for the UK as it is eyeing a new bilateral trade deal with India, following its exit from the European Union. India is the second-largest investor in the UK, after the US. Post-Brexit, the UK is focused on the Indo-Pacific region for its economy and security. Johnson had earlier indicated that apart from New Delhi, he wanted to visit Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. Official sources on Wednesday however said that Johnson is reducing the length of his trip to India. A spokesperson in London told media that the decision to shorten the visit was taken after due consultations with the Indian government. Incidentally, India has placed a temporary hold on all exports of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine after the rise in Covid-19 infection cases at home. The suspension of exports is expected to affect supplies to around 190 countries including the UK. The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose vaccine jointly developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Serum Institute of India's Covid-19 vaccine, called Covishield, is the local version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India. However, as the second wave of the pandemic has hit India badly, the domestic demand for the vaccine has increased hugely. The coronavirus pandemic management and vaccine distribution will be part of Prime Minister Johnson's visit, ministry of external affairs sources in New Delhi said. New Delhi, April 14 : China's intention is to replicate carrier battle groups like the US Navy with the addition of more aircraft carriers and accompanying them with a fleet of support ships and destroyers, Indian Navy chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, said on Wednesday, pointing out the rapid expansion of naval power by Beijing. Replying to a query during the Raisina Dialogue 2021 on China adding more aircraft carriers to its fleet and its plans to deploy them in the Indian Ocean Region, Admiral Singh said, "We have seen regular naval Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region for over a decade now. If China looks West from where it is, its energy, markets and resources are located to the West. So, it won't be surprising if it soon comes into the Indian Ocean, as there is a saying that the flag follows the trade." The Navy chief was speaking on the topic 'Samudra Manthan: The Indo-Pacific in Churn'. Currently, China is building its third and largest aircraft carrier to take forward military modernisation plans amid a number of territorial and maritime disputes. In 2019, China had launched its second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, the first to be built at home. It joined the Liaoning, which was developed by retrofitting a Soviet-era cruiser commissioned in 2012. The PLA Navy is working towards six aircraft carriers, with two likely to be deployed in China's near seas, including for the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, two for the Western Pacific and two for the Indian Ocean. The Navy chief said that in the Indian Ocean Region, Indian Navy's aim is to be a 'Preferred Security Partner'. "Be credible and forward-leaning in our engagements, be first responders," he said. Admiral Singh also talked about shunning transactional nature of engagements, working with regional navies to build their capacities to secure their interests, as also working with like-minded navies to build interoperability and trust. Talking about Quad, an informal security forum comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, Admiral Singh said that as far as the military part is concerned, navies of Australia, Japan, the US and India already enjoy a high degree of interoperability. "If an opportunity arises, we have the capability and capacity to come together in an almost plug and play mechanism," he said. On Indo-Pacific, the Navy chief said: "Given the expanse of the Indo-Pacific, no one can do it alone. Expanse is an incentive for nations to work together. Indian Navy is ready to do its bit to contribute to security and stability. We can build collective maritime competence, and learn from each other." He said that there is also a natural desire among most nations in the region to cooperate and collaborate for greater prosperity. "Indo-Pacific provides tremendous opportunities for issue based convergences. Convergence, as you know, can lead to cohesion," he said. The Navy chief said akin to the mythological 'Samudra Manthan', "we can work together and extract many treasures and ultimately extract the 'Amrit' (heavenly nectar)". "There exist many avenues for maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific to come together and ensure that the ocean churn should benefit all," he said. "So I remain positive of what the churn in the Indo-Pacific would bring to the region, and to the world at large," said the Navy chief, adding, "When we look at the Indo-Pacific, what stands out is its predominant maritime character, and we know that oceans connect, they don't divide." "And, therefore, the opportunities for cooperation, to my mind, can outweigh the challenges that we face. There is also a natural desire among most nations in the region to cooperate and collaborate for greater prosperitya," he concluded. Andy Kurrus, VP of Resource Development stated, "We are pleased with the drilling results to date which continue to improve our understanding of the five Goliad Formation roll fronts or trends within PAA-1. The continuity of the uranium roll fronts, and the exceptional uranium grade intercepts are impressive. The development of Burke Hollow, the only recent uranium discovery in the United States, continues to exhibit the potential to be the largest Goliad Formation deposit ever discovered in the South Texas Uranium Trend. As we plan for additional Production Areas at Burke Hollow, we have a strong pipeline to our ~19,000 acre property, including defined resources outside of PAA-1 and several exploration targets and anomalous areas that have only been lightly explored." The drilling has targeted trend extensions of the five known fronts within the PAA-1 area. Drill holes, logged by prompt fission neutron ("PFN") equipment, which resulted in intercepts exhibiting GT values equal to or greater than 0.3, utilizing a cutoff parameter of 0.02% grade (pU 3 0 8 ) , are displayed in the following table: Identification PFN (0.02 Cutoff) Horizon HOLE DATE TD TOP (ft)** THICKNESS (ft)** Average GRADE pU 3 O 8 (%)* GT 283.0-319.5 2021-02-22 480 414.5 27.5 0.163 4.483 Goliad Lower B Sands 262.5-326.5 2021-02-23 480 393 19.0 0.131 2.489 Goliad Lower B Sands 262.5-326.5 2021-02-23 480 427.5 21.0 0.117 2.457 Goliad Lower B Sands 268.0-319.5 2021-02-24 480 421.5 10.0 0.103 1.030 Goliad Lower B Sands 283.0-318.0 2021-02-24 480 423 18.5 0.090 1.665 Goliad Lower B Sands 283.0-314.0 2021-03-02 500 419.5 7.5 0.049 0.368 Goliad Lower B Sands 262.5-326.0 2021-03-23 480 394 9.0 0.036 0.324 Goliad Lower B Sands 283.5-317.0 2021-03-25 500 428 10.5 0.189 1.985 Goliad Lower B Sands 283.5-317.0 2021-03-25 500 445.5 7.5 0.069 0.518 Goliad Lower B Sands 232.5-342.0 2021-03-29 440 388 10.0 0.129 1.290 Goliad Lower B Sands 284.0-320.0 2021-03-30 480 419.5 17.0 0.055 0.935 Goliad Lower B Sands 227.5-339.5 2021-04-01 440 368 4.0 0.107 0.428 Goliad Lower B Sands 227.5-339.5 2021-04-01 440 377 12.0 0.227 2.724 Goliad Lower B Sands 260.5-324.0 2021-04-05 480 423 7.5 0.145 1.088 Goliad Lower B Sands 284.0-320.5 2021-04-06 500 420 13.0 0.074 0.962 Goliad Lower B Sands 284.0-320.5 2021-04-06 500 434 7.5 0.042 0.315 Goliad Lower B Sands 282.9-319.5 2021-04-08 480 413 27.5 0.159 4.373 Goliad Lower B Sands 236.0-343.5 2021-04-08 460 365.5 10.0 0.032 0.320 Goliad Lower B Sands *All grade values are based on Prompt Fission Neutron ("PFN") logging and denoted by pU 3 O 8 **Rounded to nearest tenth of a foot The 14 holes presented in the table above represent 35% of the 40-hole total drilled to date. The remaining 26 holes were drilled in or nearby lesser mineralization, directly behind or in front of the roll front, thus bracketing the front location. The project area is a 19,335-acre property located in eastern Bee County within the South Texas Uranium Trend 50 miles to the southeast of the Company's Hobson Processing Plant. Burke Hollow has received all four of its major permits required for uranium extraction from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Burke Hollow Goliad mineralization trends lie at depths ranging from 160' to 1100', and follow the outline of an anticlinal structure which has produced abundant natural gas and oil from multiple underlying formations. Several miles of potential mineralized trend length remain only lightly explored to date. The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and was reviewed by Clyde L. Yancey, P.G., Vice President-Exploration for the Company, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company. As a leading pure-play American uranium company, UEC is advancing the next generation of low-cost and environmentally friendly In-Situ Recovery (ISR) mining uranium projects. In South Texas, the Company's hub-and-spoke operations are anchored by our fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility which is central to our Palangana, Burke Hollow, Goliad and other ISR pipeline projects. In Wyoming, UEC controls the Reno Creek project, which is the largest permitted, pre-construction ISR uranium project in the U.S. Additionally, the Company's diversified holdings provide exposure to a unique portfolio of uranium related assets, including: 1) major equity stake in the only royalty company in the sector, Uranium Royalty Corp; 2) physical uranium warehoused in the U.S.; and 3) a pipeline of resource-stage uranium projects in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Paraguay. In Paraguay, the Company owns one of the largest and highest-grade ferro-titanium deposits in the world. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. Stock Exchange Information: NYSE American: UEC WKN: AJDRR ISN: US916896103 *Notice to U.S. Investors The mineral resources referred to herein have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101 and are not compliant with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Industry Guide 7 guidelines. In addition, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to herein are economically or legally mineable. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, market and other conditions, risks that the Offering will not be completed, failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp Related Links http://www.uraniumenergy.com/ At a time when the government is facing heavy criticism over the glitches in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout due to short supplies, the administration is set to fast-tracked emergency approval for foreign-produced jabs that have been granted similar clearances in other countries. Till now India has been depending on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine made in India by Serum Institute under the name Covishield and homegrown Bharat Biotech's Covaxin to inoculate its population. BCCL Sputnik V approved On Monday, the DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) cleared the Russian Sputnik V for use in the country, making it only the third covid vaccine in India. But both SII and Bharat Biotech have been struggling to scale up their production to meet the rising demand from the government. Several states have been complaining that they running out of shots and requested the Center to increase supplies. BCCL Other foreign-approved vaccines get nod too Now the government has accepted the recommendation of an expert panel which said that COVID-19 vaccines which have been developed and are being manufactured in foreign countries and which have been granted emergency approval for restricted use by authorities in the US, Europe, the UK, Japan or which are listed in the WHO Emergency Use Listing may be granted emergency use approval in India. The expert panel also mandated the requirement of post-approval parallel bridging clinical trial in place of conduct of local clinical trial. "This decision will facilitate quicker access to such foreign vaccines by India and would encourage imports including import of bulk drug material, optimal utilization of domestic fill and finish capacity, etc, which will in turn provide a fillip to vaccine manufacturing capacity and total vaccine availability for domestic (use)," the ministry said. AFP According to the Union Health Ministry, the first 100 beneficiaries of such foreign vaccines shall be assessed for seven days for safety outcomes before it is rolled out for further immunization programme within the country. Though this, in theory, will help India to get more vaccine shots it is still unclear how much the country will be able to procure from the international market. Reuters That is because makers of the other COVID-19 vaccines that have been cleared around the world are also struggling to meet their own existing commitments, mostly in the US, UK and EU. 's ( ) (FRA:TN6) Ian Prentice caught up with Proactive's Andrew Scott soon after industry experts confirmed the scope to generate additional revenue by way of a high-value titanium by-product from the Yarrabubba Iron-Vanadium project in Western Australia. The company is encouraged by the results of test-work on the tails stream of the magnetic concentrate which generated a Yarrabubba Ilmenite (titanium) Product (YIP1). This type of legislation takes away physician and patient autonomy to choose treatment options, emboldens other states to pass similar laws and does permanent damage to the gender diverse population. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) has sent a letter to all 50 state governors along with legislative leaders, alerting them to the increase in anti-transgender legislation that is proliferating in state legislatures across the country. After Arkansas became the first state to ban gender affirming care for transgender youth, ASDSA felt the need to voice its concern, as procedural dermatology is an important aspect of gender affirmation treatment. Although some of the bills moving through state legislatures seek to protect the transgender community, many of them are similar to the new law in Arkansas. This type of legislation takes away physician and patient autonomy to choose treatment options, emboldens other states to pass similar laws and does permanent damage to the gender diverse population since we know lack of access to quality health care is directly linked to the high rate of suicide in this population, said ASDSA President Mathew Avram, MD, JD. Mona Gohara, MD, chair of the ASDS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Work Group, echoed these concerns, stating It is the opinion of organized medicine that denying gender affirming care to transgender people can cause devastating, life-changing outcomes and mental health crises, which could result in suicide. Governors must do everything they can to protect their transgender citizens, which includes vetoing any of these dangerous and medically unfounded bills that come across their desk. In November 2020, the ASDS / ASDSA Board of Directors approved the organizations DEI position statement, which includes pledging to support policies that ensure nondiscrimination and are sensitive to the health and well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) / Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) individuals and enhance the health of LGBTQ / SGM people. ASDSA will continue to monitor state legislation that impacts the health of the LGBTQ / SGM population and how dermatologic surgeons and their patients may be impacted. Visit http://asds.net/diversity to learn more about ASDS / ASDSAs diversity initiatives. About ASDSA With a membership of 6,400+ physicians, ASDSA is a 501(c) (6) association, dedicated to education and advocacy on behalf of dermatologic surgeons and their patients. For more information, visit http://asds.net/ASDSA. Follow @ASDSAdvocacy on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn! Benchmark report provides meaningful insights and serves as an additional tool to help companies evaluate insurance limits and exposures against industry peers WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has released its annual Liability Limit Benchmark & Large Loss Profile report. The report highlights the frequency and severity of large loss data over the past decade, as well as the liability insurance limits for businesses across several industry sectors, including chemical, construction, consumer products, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, oil and gas, rail transportation, road transportation, real estate and hospitality, and utilities. "Our report provides brokers and risk managers industry data and insights to stay ahead of the curve and to effectively manage risks while identifying and rectifying potential gaps in coverage," said Joseph Fobert, Executive Vice President, Excess Casualty, Chubb Major Accounts. "The data shows the liability challenges facing a variety of industry sectors over the past decade, demonstrating how critical it is for companies to have the proper insurance limits in place." Risk managers can use the report to benchmark their own limits against their industry peers. For example, based on the data, the report recognizes a rapid uptick in nuclear and super-nuclear verdicts, potentially suggesting a need for businesses to increase their liability coverage. Download Chubb's Liability Limit Benchmark & Large Loss Profile Report 2021 here. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com. Chubb Insurance Company of Canada has offices in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver and provides its products and services through licensed insurance brokers across Canada. For additional information, visit: chubb.com/ca. SOURCE Chubb Related Links www.chubb.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 07:32:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A medical worker checks information outside a COVID-19 testing bus in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on April 13, 2021. Over the past week, there has been an increase of 33 percent in daily case counts with an average of almost 8,100 new cases reported per day, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada on Tuesday. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) OTTAWA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Over the past week, there has been an increase of 33 percent in daily case counts with an average of almost 8,100 new cases reported per day, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada on Tuesday. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, said Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, in a statement on Tuesday. Tam said that over the past week, the number of people experiencing severe and critical illness continued to rise. On average over 3,000 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospitals each day, which represented a 29 percent increase over the previous week. This included almost 970 people being treated in intensive care units, which was 24 percent higher than the week before. There are almost 36,000 variants of concern cases reported to date across Canada, with the B.1.1.7 variant accounting for about 96 percent of these. Specifically there are 34,404 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, 1,222 cases of the P.1 variant, and 365 cases of the B.1.351 variant. "These trends are discouraging, but they reinforce why we must strengthen precautions to bring this variant of concern-driven resurgence under control quickly," Tam said. Canada has reported a cumulative number of 1,078,562 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday evening, including 23,392 deaths, according to CTV. Enditem PODCAST PROJECT 38: How small businesses can be M&A players too In a crowded mergers and acquisitions environment, Bluestone Investment Partners has carved out its own niche by focusing on companies in the $15 million-to-$50 million revenue range. They often are just emerging from the small business set-aside arena and seek more resources to compete for full and open opportunities. John Allen, co-founder and managing partner of Bluestone Investment Partners, shares in this episode the philosophy and strategy that drives how the firm made its deals in recent years. Large and mid-size companies typically dominate M&A activity, but Allen explains to WT Editor Nick Wakeman there is no reason that a small business can participate as well -- with the right partner. Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs25 crore on Yes Bank Ltd for perpetrating fraudulent acts on its customers by influencing them to alter their investment positions from fixed deposits (FD) to risky additional tier-1 (AT-1) bonds. Three former senior executives of Yes Bank who were part of the private wealth management group in the bank were also fined Rs50 lakh to Rs1 crore by SEBI. SEBIs investigation found that Yes Bank had misrepresented the AT-1 bond product as a Super FD and as safe as an FD. The term sheet was also not shared with many investors and no confirmation was taken from the customers on their understanding of the products features and the risks associated with the bond. The SEBI order, by adjudicating officer Soma Majumder, says that Yes Bank, being a company, acted through its employees to "perpetrate such fraudulent acts on its hapless and unsuspecting customers, some of whom were influenced to even alter their investment positions from FDs to these risky AT-1 bonds." The market regulator also imposed a penalty of Rs1 crore on Vivek Kanwar, head of private wealth management, and Rs50 lakh each on Ashish Nasa and Jasjit Singh Banga. The SEBI order says the penalty of Rs25 crore has been imposed due to misrepresentation and fraud perpetrated on the Bank's own customers, who were lured and induced to buy risky AT-1 bonds. Some of these customers were even induced to alter their position from FDs to these AT-1 bonds. SEBI says the penalty is justified as it is commensurate with the violations and will also have a deterrent effect. SEBI had received several complaints from investors in AT-1 bonds issued by Yes Bank. It conducted an investigation and found that AT-1 bonds of Yes Bank were sold to retail investors between 1 December 2016 and 29 February 2020. SEBI noted that 1,346 individual investors had invested about Rs679 crore in the AT-1 bonds. Out of the total investors, 1,311 were existing customers of Yes Bank, and invested around Rs663 crore in these AT1 bonds. As many as 277 customers had existing FDs with Yes Bank and they prematurely closed them and reinvested about Rs80 crore in these AT-1 bonds which were subsequently written down. SEBI pointed out that Yes Bank had also failed to conduct risk-profiling of individual clients, especially senior citizens aged 70, 80 and 90 years. It added that there was a push from the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bank to down sell AT-1 bonds, which led the private wealth management team to recklessly sell the bonds to individual investors. The order says the facts and circumstances of the case clearly indicate that in order to make the institutional investors subscribe to more capital of Yes Bank, the employees devised the plan to down-sell the AT-1 bonds, held by the institutional investors, to individual investors including their customers. SEBI observed that the noticees had facilitated selling of AT-1 bonds of Yes Bank from institutional investors to individual investors. It was alleged that during the process of selling bonds, individual investors werent informed about all the risks involved in subscription of AT-1 bonds," the order says. In order to do that, the bank highlighted the AT-1 bonds as earning high interest vis-a-vis the FDs. The omission on the part of the bank to forward relevant documentary information to the investors/customers indicates suppression of material facts to create a misleading appearance of the AT-1 bonds in order to lure the investors and customers to invest in them. The misrepresentation perpetrated by the bank and its employees influenced the investors and customers of Yes Bank and they were lured into purchasing the bonds. Some of the customers also closed the FDs and used the money to buy the AT-1 bonds. All these actions amount to fraud perpetrated by the bank on the investors, the SEBI stated. The former executives contended that they were not decision-makers or key management personnel. They also submitted that the whole direction and decision of facilitating the sell down of AT-1 bonds to retail investors came from Rana Kapoor who was the then MD and CEO and in charge of all activities of Yes Bank including decision making. Bondholders had moved the Court in February under the banner of the AT1 Bondholders Association, and alleged that the sale of bonds was fraudulent and pressed the Court to direct Yes Bank to deposit Rs160 crore in the Court, pending a decision in the case. Besides retail investors, institutional investors such as Indiabulls and 63moons technologies have also moved courts. Last month, the Bombay High Court had granted time to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and SEBI to file their responses to a petition filed by individual holders of Yes Bank AT-1 bonds. The next date of hearing is 26 April 2021. Last year on 13th March, the government had approved a rescue plan for Yes Bank, backed by the SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank and IDFC First Bank, which infused Rs10,000 crore in Yes Bank. The bailout was effected following a reconstruction scheme formulated by RBI, with the support of the finance ministry. As per the framework of the banks reconstruction scheme, Yes Bank wrote off Rs8,415 crore of AT-1 bonds. It is interesting to note that while RBI (banking regulator with responsibility to protect customers interests) and Yes Bank have refused to accept the charges of mis-selling in the case, SEBI has imposed a penalty on the Bank and its former employees. While the order clearly confirms and establishes the charge of mis-selling of perpetual bonds to retail investors by Yes Bank executives, it is disturbing to see that RBI is still playing blind and mute to the blatant mis-selling of AT-1 bonds which happened in the case of Yes Bank. The SEBI order effectively contradicts RBIs stance that there is no merit in the petitioners contentions. In fact, last year, in its reply to the petition filed by 63 moons technologies in Madras High Court, the banking regulator affirmed that the action for writing off the bonds has been rightly taken under the provisions of the contract between Yes Bank and AT-1 bondholders, and, hence, there is no merit in the petitioners contentions. The RBI had said The whole purpose of writing off the bonds is to ensure that the capital infused by the public sector i.e., SBI and other investors should not be diluted. The AT-1 bonds are a liability, and, hence, the same should be written off for the effective implementation of the Notified Scheme, which is made in the interest of the general public and to regain the confidence of the depositors. However, now with SEBI order slapping the bank and its officials with a penalty and acknowledging that there was indeed enough evidence of mis-selling, will RBI sit up and acknowledge that it goofed up? Yes Bank is now said to be preparing to appeal against the SEBI order and there might be a long legal battle ahead for the hapless investors. Moneylife has been writing about how the government and the banking regulator threw AT-1 bond-holders of Yes Bank to the wolves on the ground that they were savvy investors who ought to have known the risks involved. This was a false assumption on so many counts. SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SOCAP Global (SOCAP), in partnership with Sustainable Life Media (Sustainable BrandsSB), today jointly announced the " INTEGRATE21Regenerative Finance Conference ," on November 8-10, 2021 at Fordham University in New York City, and is committing to help facilitate progress on SDG #17Partnerships for the Goals. "The CFO and the overall finance function is essential to accelerate the pace of ESG investment and innovation," said Scott Broomfield, Chairperson of Sustainable Brands and the INTEGRATE Conference and Managing Director of The EPIC Fund. Scott continued, "The CFO is uniquely qualified to lead in regenerative business activities such as creating integrated ESG decisioning frameworks, understanding submerged risks, creating transparent governance models, and developing integrated external reporting. INTEGRATE21 will address these complex issues and provide CFOs and CSOs with a synthesis of ESG best practices, technologies, toolkits, and resources." Some of the INTEGRATE21 keynotes scheduled to speak will include Fernando Tennenbaum, CFO Anheuser-Busch InBev, Ezgi Barcenas, Global Head of Sustainability Anheuser-Busch InBev, Michelle Greene, President Emeritus Long-Term Stock Exchange. INTEGRATE21 is now accepting speaker nominations for CFOs wishing to speak on regenerative finance and ESG related investing and innovation (please see contacts below). INTEGRATE21 will deliver practical solutions for CFOs, CPAs, and the C-Suite, to adopt, execute and operationalize strategic ESG related initiatives and programs. The conference will also focus on professional development for the Professional Services sector - specifically CPA's offering CPE (Continuing Professional Education) and Wealth Advisors offering CE (Continuing Education). "The Professional Services sector and CPA's in particular are in a unique position to help accelerate the adoption of ESG strategies for small to medium enterprises. The CPA profession is critical to facilitating the transformation of traditional accounting and valuation practices which is foundational to creating a regenerative economy," said Joy Pettirossi-Poland, Principal of Building Bridges 2012. The Conference will be hosted by Fordham's Gabelli School of Business in New York City, and will consist of practical tracks, including: Risk assessment and management through an ESG lens, Science-based targets and goal setting by industry sector, Strategic internal decisioning making and governance models, How to execute on an integrated external reporting framework, and Designing a technology focused, comprehensive systems strategy (demonstrations day three). On Wednesday, November 10th Technology "Demo Day" is designed for Technology Solution Providers that responded to the INTEGRATE RFP Challenge to showcase their technology solutions for ESG reports used in internal decision making and external reporting to investors for all of the INTEGRATE 21attendees. See contacts below for information to demo. In addition leading up to the Conference, SB and SOCAP will sponsor seven (7) CFO video podcasts and three (3) webinars all free of charge leading up to the Conference to set the framework for INTEGRATE 21. The first video podcast will be available on the INTEGRATE 2021 website by the end of April. About SOCAP Global: SOCAP Global is a purpose-driven platform whose brands Social Capital Markets (SOCAP), SPECTRUM , Total Impact , Conscious Company Media , and World Changing Women are at the intersection of business, money and meaning. SOCAP Global connects, educates, and inspires people through the power of storytelling and networks, transforming moments to movements, thoughts to action. For more information, visit http://socialcapitalmarkets.net/ follow on https://intentional.co/social/. About Sustainable Brands: Sustainable Brands is the premier global community of brand leaders and innovators who are designing the regenerative next economy. Since 2006, our goal has been to inspire, engage, and equip business leaders and practitioners who see ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) innovation as the essential driver of brand growth, value creation, and positive impact as business as a force for good. Follow SB on twitter @ https://twitter.com/SustainBrands and on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustainablebrands/ About Fordham's Gabelli School of Business: Founded in 1920, the mission of the Gabelli School of Business is to inspire and empower positive global change, developing students into compassionate business leaders and supporting faculty and students in the ongoing generation of new knowledge. The Gabelli School's vision is to become a world leader in social innovation by inspiring and equipping its graduates to be business leaders who understand the challenges in sustainability facing businesses and the potential of harnessing the power of social responsibility for both financial success and societal impact. For more information please contact: Joy Pettirossi-Poland @[email protected] SOURCE SOCAP Related Links http://www.socialcapitalmarkets.net Watertown, NY (13601) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. By Anushree Fadnavis and Neha Arora HARIDWAR, India (Reuters) -Hundreds of thousands of ash-smeared ascetics and devout Hindus jostled to take a dip in the Ganges during a religious festival on Wednesday, hoping to wash away their sins, as India reported another record surge in coronavirus infections. As huge crowds made their way towards the river on a special day of bathing during the weeks-long "Kumbh Mela" festival, health authorities had to pull back a COVID-19 testing crew. "We have moved away our sampling team to avoid a stampede-like situation," said S.K. Jha, chief medical officer of the northern city of Haridwar, where the event is being held. "We do, of course, expect cases to rise when the priests and other crowd move away." Police said 650,000 devotees had bathed in the river since Wednesday morning and people were being fined for failing to observe social distancing in some areas. Infections in the city have already jumped to more than 500 a day since Kumbh Mela, or the pitcher festival, officially began this month, from just 25-30 last month, Jha said. Hotels have become isolation shelters for those found infected by a team of 300 medical staff running 40,000 random tests daily. India's new COVID-19 cases hit a record 184,372 in the past 24 hours, more than double the figure at the start of the month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, however, has refused to call off the festival that is scheduled to last the whole month, possibly fearing a backlash from religious leaders in the Hindu-majority country. "It is already a super-spreader because there is no space to test hundreds of thousands in a crammed city and the government neither has the facilities nor the manpower," said a senior official in Uttarakhand state, where Haridwar is located. Devout Hindus believe bathing in the holy Ganges absolves people of sins, and during the Kumbh Mela, it brings salvation from the cycle of life and death. Story continues A short distance from the river, Hotel Sachin International had converted itself into a COVID isolation centre. All 72 rooms were packed with more than 150 patients, a hotel executive said. "We started taking in patients on April 5, and three days ago all our rooms got filled," the employee said, declining to be identified because of a gag order from local authorities. The hotel did not respond to an email seeking comment. A doctor from the region said at least four other hotels have been turned into COVID wards. "What you are seeing is not Kumbh Mela but it's a corona atom bomb," Tweeted Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, alongside a picture of a sea of devotees. "I wonder who will be made accountable for this viral explosion." (Reporting by Anushree Fadnavis and Neha Arora; Additional reporting by Saurabh Sharma; Editing by Krishna N. Das and Giles Elgood) Spring causing the snow to melt means Illinois Department of Transportation crews are out in force picking up litter. While IDOT is committed to maintaining a positive impression of Illinois by having our maintenance teams collect litter from our roadsides, we need your help, acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. If the warmer temperatures make you tempted to toss that food wrapper or pop can out your car window, please dont. Trash is more than just an eyesore. It has real, negative impacts on both the environment and our communities. Pam Osborne, executive director of Rockford-based Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, says throwing trash and cigarette butts out car windows and dumping takeout containers in parking lots winds up costing Illinois taxpayers $6.1 million a year in cleanup costs. It is so disappointing to see trash all over the city, Osborne said. Maybe people think what they are getting rid of is not much and it really doesnt matter, but you multiply that by thousands of people and it comes out to a lot of trash. This year, the trash problem has only gotten worse because of COVID-19, she says. People are throwing masks in parking lots and throwing gloves, she said. These items have a lot of bacteria in them. And somebody has to pick them up. Osborne says the state transportation departments campaign to Think Before You Throw is the right idea. Its just not that hard to dispose of trash properly, Osborne said. It is a matter of developing the habit. Osborne suggests a simple solution. In the car, have a bag for garbage, she says. Then when you get home, toss the bag in the trash can before you go in your front door. Plastics give off toxins as they break down. The longer they sit outside in the weather, the more they look and smell like food to birds and animals, Osborne says. Fish and animals cant digest plastic. They eat it and they die. On April 24, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful will have their annual volunteer clean-up day. People, businesses and school groups can sign up and lend a hand. Bucharest Prefect Alin Stoica said on Wednesday that he did not call a meeting after the day before a ministerial order establishing the criteria for assessing the COVID-19 epidemiological risk in order to establish local lockdown, adding that the regulation does not change the situation in Bucharest. "I have not called a meeting. That order does not change the situation. We have approved measures that we will continue to apply, as per the latest decision. If the Public Health Directorate/National Public Health Institute make other proposals, we will discuss them. But now the infection is trending down, which means the applied measures work," Stoica said in a statement to the press. On Tuesday, an order for amending and supplementing the Order of the Minister of Health 1,309 / 2020 on the application of measures to prevent and contain COVID-19 was published in the Official Journal.Thus, local lockdown can be ordered for towns or cities/metropolitan areas with over 100,000 inhabitants that meet at least 60 points. These points are awarded according to a series of indicators such as: the number of tests performed in the last seven days, the 14 cumulative case rate, its trend, the number outbreaks / total cases in the administrative areas, occupancy rate of intensive care beds in the county, occupancy rate of beds intended for patients with COVID-19 in the county. We are serving fiction to children as if it was the real world Top psychiatrist Michal Patarak talks about how the pandemic toll tests mental health. "The online world is a fiction and I fear this fiction is now being served to children as the real world, says psychiatrist Michal Patarak about children in pandemic spending most of their time at the computers. (Source: Unsplash ) Until now its been smouldering, and Ive been waiting for the eruption to come. Now it has. One year after the first restrictions, the lockdown honeymoon is over, psychiatrist Michal Patarak wrote in a Facebook post in mid-March. The lockdown honeymoon that Patarak, head of the psychiatric department at one of the countrys biggest hospitals, the F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, is referring to is what his patients have been through in the pandemic. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Patarak reveals the effect the global coronavirus outbreak has had on the lives of people suffering from severe psychiatric illnesses, and exactly when society as a whole reached breaking point and lost what unity it had to fight the spread of the virus. Michal Patarak is head of the psychiatric department at the F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Slovak Psychiatric Association and the Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the association, among other. (Source: Courtesy by M.P.) What we all need is to live in reality and be able to come to terms with it, Patarak told The Slovak Spectator. We can stage childish protests and throw ourselves on the floor, or we can be adults about it, control our emotions and point them in some constructive direction. That is what mental health is about. And the pandemic is the kind of phenomena that tests our personal disposition: what we are like. A honeymoon that lasted too long 14. Apr 2021 at 7:00 | Michaela Terenzani The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), the premier organization advocating strategic board leadership in higher education, today published the AGB Board of Directors Statement on Justice, Equity, and Inclusion, and Guidance for Implementation. This new AGB Board of Directors statement calls on boards to place the values of justice, equity, and inclusion (JE&I) at the heart of their discussions and actions, and to make a concerted effort to recognize and remove barriers that prevent people of color and other marginalized groups from receiving the full benefits of higher education. To help boards achieve these goals, the document explores the relevance of such values at the institutional level and beyond, while also highlighting strategies that will prepare boards to lead their institutions in addressing systemic racism and other forms of discrimination. The statements guidance comes in the form of strategic recommendations and suggested questions for boards, presidents, senior leaders, faculty, and administrators. Given the many needs and differences among institutions, the questions are designed without a specific solution in mind. Rather, they should lead boards to have substantive conversations that advance the institution forward. Recommended strategies include: Develop and apply an equity lens in the boards governance structures and processes. Apply a justice, equity, and inclusion lens throughout the institution. Contribute to social justice and equity in the community in which the institution is located. The statement highlights practical advice within this framework. For example, following the lead of institution leadership and in collaboration with the campus community, boards can engage in the exercise of identifying outcomes that, if pursued and achieved, would affirm the institution is inclusive, socially just, and educationally equitable. Boards can then use the outcome of that exercise to guide them when making decisions around future institutional priorities. The AGB Board of Directors Statement comes at a tumultuous time for higher education due to a host of factors, ranging from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic and enrollment fluctuations, and increasing skepticism regarding the relationship between higher education and minority populations. For example, according to a Gallup survey report, Black and Hispanic students were more likely to say that the pandemic would affect their ability to graduate. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the largest undergraduate enrollment declines in the 2021 spring semester versus the previous year were Native Americans and international students, both in the double digits. This kind of trend data is critical for institutions to understand and address. Boards understand the basic truth that justice, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to the future of our institutions. But understanding how to practically promote the culture and processes necessary for an inclusive environment is difficult for all of us, said Dr. Shauna Ryder Diggs, AGB board chair and regent emerita, University of Michigan. This statement provides the thought-provoking questions that boards and leadership teams should consider and tailor to their institutions. During this unprecedented time of the pandemic, utilizing the full talents in our diverse student, staff, and faculty body is paramount and eliminating the barriers to this end is critical. Integrating these values into an institutions overall strategy means that more students will find success and that more institutions will be ready for the sea changes that are already transforming higher education. The statement is a message from AGBs Board of Directors: dont treat these values as separate from your other goals. They are deeply connected. The board statement is but one of several new resources from AGB as part of its Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDE&I) Initiative. Other materials include an FAQ guide, Trusteeship magazine articles, and a toolkit for institution, system, and foundation boards. AGB also has a consulting practice area to provide tailored support to the specific needs of individual institutions. JDE&I is a focus of several sessions at the 2021 National Conference on Trusteeship, happening now (April 1214). The values of justice, equity, and inclusion are integral to students success and the long-term vitality of institutions, and AGB is committed to empowering board members to serve as strategic partners with their presidents and leadership team members, said Henry Stoever, AGB president and CEO. AGB has promoted the need for boards to better understand the campus climate, the importance of diversity inside and outside the boardroom, and the need to create opportunities to hold difficult conversations. Demonstrating leadership on these issues is a critical part of the boards fiduciary responsibilities as showcased in AGBs Principles of Trusteeship. The statement also includes an appendix of important definitions so that board members can enjoy a shared vocabulary, and a list of sample benchmarking tools to measure progress. About AGB The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with 100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues, implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief executives, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership. ARMONK, N.Y. and LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM [NYSE: IBM], Red Hat and Cobuilder today announced a global collaboration to co-develop OpenBuilt, a new platform designed to help securely connect fragmented construction industry supply chains. Built on Red Hat OpenShift and running on IBM Cloud, OpenBuilt will offer new digital solutions to help innovate and drive more efficient, sustainable and safer construction projects. IBM, Red Hat and Cobuilder to co-develop OpenBuilt, a new platform designed to help securely connect fragmented construction industry supply chains. IBM, Red Hat and Cobuilder to co-develop OpenBuilt, a new platform that will offer digital solutions to help innovate and drive more efficient, sustainable and safer construction projects. A cross-industry ecosystem of five partners will play a vital role in the development process together with IBM, Red Hat and Cobuilder, including Cemex, EDIN Network, Backe, Sol Services and Element. The construction industry has long been challenged with project delays, cost overages as well as wasted materials often caused by disconnected processes and poorly coordinated activities and resources. Companies across the built environment including architects, building material suppliers, manufacturers, construction and engineering firms are now looking to innovate and speed up the expansion of their digital strategy. By moving away from largely manual processes, the industry will be able to explore more effective ways of working. OpenBuilt is designed to allow companies across the global built environment and construction industry to securely connect their current technology platforms and digital solutions to partners, suppliers or subcontractors in their supply chain via a single integration hub. With a foundation on Red Hat OpenShift running on IBM Cloud, the industry's most secure and open cloud for business, OpenBuilt aims to help improve communication and securely exchange data across the supply chain. Companies will then have access to the latest applications and services from technology providers to expand their digital platforms without complex, bespoke software development. Mark Farmer, CEO of Cast Consultancy and Independent Champion for Modern Methods of Construction in Homebuilding for UK Government, commented: "In pursuing the broad goal of construction industry transformation, there is a critical need to break down the deep silos and fragmentation that exists in how we organise and operate design, manufacture, construction and operation processes. This is equally true in the emerging digitalisation challenge. To create more strategic and scalable intelligent workflows we need data and software to be part of a fully connected ecosystem. The concept of digital platforms is nothing new but if construction is ever going to realise the full potential of some of the technology solutions that are now proliferating and if those solutions are ever going to be given the chance to scale to maturity then there is a need for market leadership in creating a unifying platform that can host these solutions and enables interoperability. What IBM and partners are offering through Open Built is the opportunity to act as a digital integrator at an international and industry wide level, gluing together what is becoming an increasingly fragmented digital market place for construction technology solutions. This is an important step forward which has great potential to make our industry more efficient." "The global construction landscape is evolving and requires a new approach towards industry-wide technology platforms with new levels of openness, innovation and collaboration. Together with our partners we are creating OpenBuilt to empower the construction industry to break down its silos with intelligent workflows and play an active role in designing and driving its own transformation. Successful companies across the construction supply chain are coming together to embrace a digital future, harnessing the power of an open hybrid cloud approach and adopting new technologies to gain a real competitive advantage. We want to inspire other companies to join us and accelerate the march towards a truly digital construction industry," said Jon O'Donnell, Managing Partner, IBM Global Business Services EMEA. Collaborative development will initially focus on three key areas: 1. Establishing OpenBuilt using Red Hat OpenShift running on IBM Cloud to enable construction companies to adopt a hybrid cloud approach and connect their supply chain. Then gain access to a wide library of pre-integrated applications from trusted companies and solution providers operating in the built environment. This foundation of open-source software, security leadership, and enterprise grade infrastructure is designed to support companies hosting mission-critical workloads such as ERP systems - on the platform. To maintain consistent technical language, OpenBuilt will use Cobuilder's Data Templates to structure all data in a way that allows for machine-readability and interoperability with existing and future systems. Users can build and deploy intelligent workflows via an intuitive drag and drop interface, making application development far more accessible to the industry. 2. Integration of Independent Software Vendors to make an array of software and services accessible. IBM solutions including Watson, Maximo, TRIRIGA, next generation KITT dictionary and IBM Blockchain in addition to Salesforce open APIs will be integrated into the platform during the development to enable users to build functionality into their intelligent workflows. Industry integrations can be developed ranging from Building Information Modeling and Digital Twins solutions with 3D Repo, digital project management solutions with Asite, data-driven building operations and maintenance services with Facilio and finding and researching building products for specification with SpecifiedBy and artificial intelligence-powered health and safety advice from Intuety. 3. Development of new flagship applications including a solution that will enable organisations to search, filter and sort building product technical data. This can allow companies to quickly find materials with the right specification to design, build or maintain buildings that meet industry guidelines such as functional, safety and environmental performance requirements. Cobuilder's data dictionary solution Define will be among the fundamental technologies enabling the use of a common language within the initial OpenBuilt flagship applications. "Interoperability and standardisation of data exchange lie at the core of Cobuilder's services. We are thrilled to see the industry coming together and truly believe that OpenBuilt will bring the connectivity and common language needed to bring construction to the next level of digital transformation" said Lars Fredenlund, CEO, Cobuilder. Driven by an Ecosystem Ecosystems are crucial to driving digital transformation. Alongside IBM Global Business Services (GBS), Red Hat and Cobuilder, the cross industry ecosystem of five partners has come together to actively shape the direction of OpenBuilt with the aim of transforming the construction industry. This includes all forms of buildings (residential, industrial, commercial, hospitals, schools), all economic infrastructure (civil engineering infrastructure, above and below ground) and the urban space and landscape between and around buildings and infrastructure. Representing areas across the global construction industry, the ecosystem can use its experience and insight to develop a range of ways companies can tap into the power of OpenBuilt: CEMEX: a global building materials company that provides cutting-edge digital solutions, high-quality products and industry-leading services to satisfy customers' construction needs around the world. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future. CEMEX is strategically positioned across the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. "This collaboration is a strategic initiative that will enable greater productivity and open up new opportunities to increase our customers satisfaction", said Fernando A. Gonzalez, CEO of CEMEX. "We continue to lead the digital transformation in the industry with the support of leading partners, leveraging on their expertise, innovation, and advanced IT services to deliver game-changing solutions." EDIN Network: EDIN is a global network of merchants, manufacturers and service providers that helps its members find new customers, reduce customer acquisition costs and exploit future trends through their events, workshops and technology incubator. Since its inception in 2016, the Edin network has rapidly grown to become one of the largest alliances to discuss trends and stimulate transformation in the construction industry, representing members with a combined turnover of 23bn. "We are convinced that OpenBuilt will drive interoperability, facilitate data exchange and enable businesses to automate their processes without the need for complex and bespoke software development. This will unleash a wave of innovation in the industry, enabling new business models and transforming productivity. It will enable members using our OpenBuilt-powered incubator to explore new ways to gain control of their data, monetize their data and engage customers in new ways, without having to start from scratch. We are incredibly excited about the forthcoming era of transformation and our central role in shaping it" said Philippe Hardt, Founder, EDIN Network. Sol Services: formed in 2003, Sol Services has steadily grown from its origins as a regional mechanical, electrical and fit out specialist. Under the forward-thinking leadership of Directors Nigel Burdett and Andrew Gordge, the company has expanded across London and the UK with overseas capability in Europe, providing a full range of construction, refurbishment and maintenance solutions. Through its extensive portfolio of projects across the public and private sector, it has built a reputation for delivering safe, reliable and high-quality projects. "We saw the opportunity, and recognised the need for a technology platform to pull the construction world together. And with the organisations involved in the development of this product, I have total confidence it will be the direction of construction for the future" said Nigel Burdett, Director, Sol Services Ltd. Backe: Backe is a family-owned construction and property development company with operations throughout Norway. Backe is committed to reducing emissions in the Norwegian construction and building industry and invests in technology to ensure sustainable operations throughout its value chain. With more than 70 years' experience in the Norwegian market, Backe delivers projects to the public and private sector. The company employs about 800 people and reported revenues at NOK 4.5 billion for 2020. "We are proud to partner with IBM and other leading brands to explore a global digital platform for the construction industry that will allow us to analyse, use and share data in new ways. The OpenBuilt platform will facilitate collaboration among suppliers and partners, improve productivity and help us meet coming regulations for documentation of the carbon footprint along the entire value chain. Backlogs in the industry are affected by market uncertainty due to covid-19 effects. Going forward, digitalisation and smarter ways of working will be keys to ensuring cost efficiency, sustainability as well as attractiveness among prospective employees", says Eirik Gjelsvik, CEO of Backe. Element Materials Technology: one of the world's leading global providers of testing, inspection and certification services for a diverse range of materials, products and technologies in advanced industrial supply chains. Element delivers an extensive range of solutions to customers in the construction industry and recently launched Element Digital Engineering, a new business focused on engineering simulation, modelling, data science and artificial intelligence to solve complex industrial challenges. Jo Wetz, CEO Element Materials Technology, commented "Element is delighted to be a founding partner of OpenBuilt, a digital market place for the construction industry with quality at its core. OpenBuilt will enable greater transparency for all stakeholders involved in a building's life cycle; increase confidence in the procurement of services for the built environment; and help ensure that the testing and certification of materials and products is central to the digital transformation of the sector." Notes to editors: About OpenBuilt: OpenBuilt is an independent company owned and led by a consortium of industry partners. To date, the EDIN Network, CEMEX, AS Backe, Sol Services and Element Materials Technology have signed up as founding partners to own and steer the development of the platform. IBM, Red Hat and Cobuilder are providing technology and services to OpenBuilt and leading the creation of the platform. For more information on OpenBuilt and how you can be part of the initiative, log onto www.openbuilt.io and check out the Get Involved page. About IBM: For further information about IBM Global Business Services visit: https://www.ibm.com/services About Cobuilder: Cobuilder offers an IT platform that employs all relevant international standards for data management to help construction industry actors exploit the potential of product data. Fit-for-purpose and accurate product data improves quality of service, time to market and reduces time, cost and environmental footprint. Cobuilder is a privately-owned international business with more than 120 employees distributed at HQ in Oslo and wholly owned subsidiaries in England, France and Bulgaria. The company is a major driver for the digitization in Construction and is a strategic contributor to ISO, buildingSMART, CEN and CENELEC. About Salesforce: Salesforce, and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. Media Contacts: Marisa Conway IBM External Relations [email protected] Lucy Linthwaite IBM External Relations, UKI [email protected] SOURCE IBM Related Links www.ibm.com Environmental activists wearing a mask of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and protective suits denounce the Japanese government's decision on Fukushima water, near the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea Lee Jin-man/ AP Japan's neighbors are not happy about its call to release contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea. China and South Korea say the water from the wrecked nuclear plant could affect food safety. Hashtags trending on Chinese social media are calling for a boycott of Japanese seafood in protest. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Japan has decided to release contaminated water accumulated at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean - but its neighbors are not happy. Tokyo announced this week that it would gradually release more than 1.2 million tons of radioactive water - enough to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Japan has been storing the water in tanks following the 2011 nuclear plant meltdown, which followed a devastating earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan's coastal regions. South Korean and Chinese governments have voiced concerns that the radioactive water from the nuclear plant could affect food safety and have grave ramifications on marine life in the area. According to Kyodo News, civic and environmental groups in South Korea held rallies in Seoul yesterday, holding up placards near the Japanese embassy in Seoul to protest the move. Protesters toted banners with pictures of salmon steaks, prawns, and mussels with radioactive symbols slapped over them, shouting slogans and calling for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to reconsider his decision. "The sea is not a trash can. The Japanese government has no right at all to dirty the waters," one person at the rally said to Kyodo News. The decision spawned more than a million comment threads on Chinese social media platform Weibo (the Chinese version of Twitter) in the last 24 hours. Hashtags including: "Fukushima water could destroy half the Pacific Ocean in 57 days" and "Japan is inflicting a disaster on other nations" surfaced on the platform. Some Weibo users also called for a mass boycott of Japanese seafood, citing worries of "high radioactive content" in fish imported from Japanese suppliers. Story continues Notably, fishing unions in Fukushima have also objected to the Japanese government's move, arguing that releasing the water into the ocean would ruin a decade of work that the fishing industry has invested into restoring its reputation. The Japanese government assured its neighbors that it would filter the contaminated water before release. But that statement on its own has not inspired confidence, considering previous scandals that the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) - the corporation involved in handling the water - has been involved in. TEPCO admitted in 2018 that radioactive material had not been filtered out of the water it processed, despite the company maintaining for years that it had. Reuters reported that South Korea summoned Koichi Aiboshi, Japan's ambassador to Seoul, to formally express objections against the Japanese government's decision. South Korean media outlet SBS reported on Wednesday that president Moon Jae-in is considering filing a formal complaint with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea - an intergovernmental organisation established by the UN. Meanwhile, Koo Yoon-cheol, chief of the South Korean office for government policy coordination, said during an emergency vice-ministerial meeting that the country's government would "take all necessary steps" to keep its citizens safe. "The decision can never be accepted and would not only cause danger to the safety and maritime environment of neighboring countries. It was also made unilaterally without sufficient consultations with our country, which is the closest neighbor to Japan," Koo said. "We will strongly demand Japan take concrete steps to ensure the safety of our citizens and prevent any damage to the maritime environment," he added. Koo also called for transparency regarding how the contaminated water is handled and asked for regular inspections to be carried out. Separately, Chinese state media Xinhua reported a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, which slammed the move to release the nuclear water as "extremely irresponsible." "The Fukushima nuclear accident is one of the most serious in the world. The leak of large amounts of radioactive materials has had far-reaching implications on the marine environment, food safety, and human health," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. The Chinese also called the Pacific Ocean "mankind's shared property" while strongly urging Japan to "fulfill its international obligations, and duly respond to the serious concerns of the international community, neighboring countries, and its own people." Read the original article on Insider Island Records founder Chris Blackwell raised some eyebrows when he signed Bob Marley and The Wailers and offered the band a real advance. Though the amount (4,000 BP) was small in the grand scheme of things, it represented a gamble for a reggae band with no following outside Jamaica. With their money in pocket, The Wailers flew home and did what they did best: They recorded. Blackwell was blown away by the results when he arrived in Jamaica a few months later. Not only had The Wailers produced great music; theyd poured every cent of their advance into the album. Yet Blackwell didnt plan on releasing the music exactly as the Wailers produced it in Jamaica. Prior to Catch a Fire (1973) hitting the world market, Blackwell and Marley transformed the overall sound. In brief, they honed the songs for a rock and mostly white audience. The Wailers Catch a Fire featured turned-up guitars and for a rock audience The Wailers in 1972: Earl Lindo, Bob Marley, Carlton Barrett, Peter Tosh, Aston Family Man Barrett | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images RELATED: Why Bob Marley and Peter Tosh Parted Ways After the Wailers 2nd Island LP When Blackwell heard what The Wailers had produced, he knew he could fine-tune the product for U.K. and U.S. audiences. And in the age of arena rock, Blackwell went with a logical approach: He turned up the guitars. Wailers fans weaned on tracks such as Trench Town Rock and Craven Choke Puppy heard a very different sound right from Concrete Jungle, the opener to Catch a Fire. Session guitarist Wayne Perkins, whod played on records by Joe Cocker and countless others, supplied the guitar lines. Perkins didnt receive credit on the album (as is the case with session players), but most Wailers fans could recognize the change in approach. And the same went for the rhythm itself, which had been sped up a tick in the studio. More overdubs came in the form of electric piano, clavinet, tabla (Indian percussion), and Moog synthesizer parts. The process took months, and the sound represented a significant departure from the band that caught Blackwells attention in the first place. Chris Blackwell explicitly aimed for less of the reggae rhythm on Stir It Up Perkins also contributed guitar overdubs on Baby Weve Got a Date and Stir it Up, the latter of which featured wah-wah effects. As Blackwell explained in the Classic Albums documentary on Catch a Fire, the goal was making it much less of the reggae rhythm and more of a sort of drifting feel. Rabbit Bundrick, the session keyboardist who played with The Who and many other acts, said as much about his parts on Catch a Fire. Because the [plan] was for Chris Blackwell to help Bob break in America, we needed to add something that Americans were used to like clavinets, Bundrick said in the documentary. So Bob was ready for that. Blackwell acknowledged how far he and his team (including Marley) went in Island studios. [Catch a Fire] had the most overdubs on it, Blackwell said in the Classic Albums doc. This record was the most I dont say softened, but more say enhanced to try and reach a rock market. Because this was the first record. And they wanted to reach into that market. The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government has announced that it will end the state of alarm on May 9. The state of alarm is the juridical mechanism regional governments use to impose obligatory social distancing measures, such as lockdowns, curfews, limitations on gatherings and mobility restrictions. Once presented as being less effective than nationwide lockdowns but more compatible with keeping workers on the job, the state of alarm is being ended as a signal that the ruling class seeks to lift any measures limiting the extraction of profits. This ending of social distancing will only accelerate the spread of the virus, provoking countless unnecessary deaths. Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias speaks in the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul White) Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended this policy, cynically claiming Spain would vaccinate 33 million people, or 70 percent of the adult population, by late August, even though it has missed all its previous vaccination targets. He then claimed ludicrously that We are facing the beginning of the end of the pandemic. ... Spain already has an exit horizon. Vaccination is the most efficient economic policy, he insisted, underscoring the capitalist interests underlying the herd immunity policy. Spain is ending social distancing policies as Europe enters a new wave of the pandemic. The country regularly records around 10,000 infections and dozens or hundreds of deaths each day. Press reports calculate that the new wave could lead at the very least to several hundred thousand new infections, on top of the 3.3 million recorded to date. This means tens of thousands more could die, beyond the more than 100,000 excess deaths recorded by Spains National Institute of Statistics. Not one significant comment has been posted questioning why Spain is eliminating social distancing as a new wave begins. Death on this scale has not been seen since on the Iberian Peninsula since the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), which led to around 500,000 deaths. Nevertheless, all the liberal or pro-Podemos media, from El Pais to elDiario.es, Publico, La Marea, and Infolibre have accepted this policy as an accomplished fact. Such staggering indifference to human life confirms the British Medical Journals characterization of ruling elites pandemic policy as social murder. The responsibility for this social murder lies above all on the left populist Podemos party. Having promised radical change and an end to austerity, it has become the PSOEs chief co-conspirator in the ruling elites pandemic policy. Podemos is reacting to the ending of social distancing measures by saying nothing. As always, silence denotes consent. This is a warning about similar parties and politicians internationally, such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of the Democratic Socialists of America, Jean-Luc Melenchon of La France Insoumise, Janine Wissler of Die Linke in Germany and Syriza in Greece. Drawn from the affluent middle class and similarly based on the identity politics of race and gender, these parties adopt the same murderous policies as their right-wing counterparts in the political establishment. Podemos only comment about the fourth wave came from its regional branch in Andalusia. Its spokesperson, Susana Serrano, accused the regional right-wing Popular Party (PP) government last week of total immobility in the face of the fourth wave. She called on the PP to continue with the nightly curfew. However, after May 9, this policyitself ineffective in guaranteeing social distancingwill soon be impossible to carry out, as her own party will have lifted the state of alarm. Like Sanchez, Serrano called for accelerating vaccinations as the only possible solution. She called for hitting the accelerator with respect to vaccination, which is what is going to stop the spread of the virus. In the absence of closing nonessential work and a subsidised shelter-at-home policy, however, this condemns countless thousands more to die as they wait for vaccinations. Serrano ended her press conference claiming that Podemos avoids the false dichotomy between health or economy. This is a political lie. Podemos has implemented the official policy of prioritising capitalist profits over human life throughout the pandemic. Its leader, Pablo Iglesias has routinely been tasked with falsely presenting his governments pandemic policy as being based on science. Last May, Iglesias said that while the government had done some things badly, we have also done good things, like listening to specialists and epidemiologists. This was part of the victory speeches last May and June, which culminated in Prime Minister Sanchezs now-infamous statement: We have defeated the virus. At that time, excess deaths due to the pandemic stood at 48,000, well less than half the total today. Underlying these cynical statements was a clear strategy to force millions back to work and school and lift confinement measures. This led to thousands more deaths in a second wave. By the end of the year, 22,000 more people died, raising the excess death toll to 70,000. It exposed the lie that the PSOE-Podemos governments policy was based on science. Ahead of the third wave, Iglesias declared in mid-December as the first vaccines started to roll out, Thank you to science and the health workers. We are seeing the end of the tunnel. Thanks a lot all of you who have given everything to our citizens. Sanchez also declared, With the arrival of the vaccine, I insist, the beginning of the end is near. Once again, the underlying motive was to lift social distancing measures to boost Christmas profits. A third wave was then presented as inevitable. State epidemiologist Fernando Simon publicly admitted in mid-December, It is very likely that we will maintain an upward trend, if the forecasts are what we are seeing, until the middle or end of January. Nonetheless, the government lifted social distancing for the holidays. By the end of the third wave in February, Spain accumulated a death toll of over 100,000 excess deaths and 3.2 million infections. Now, as Spain enters its fourth wave, Iglesias is remaining silent. So has his colleague Yolanda Diaz, Podemos new deputy prime minister and labour minister, groomed to become Iglesias successor. Diaz has played a key role, working with the unions to implement herd immunity policies. With the Workers Commissions (CCOO) and General Union of Labour (UGT) unions, Diaz forced millions of workers back to nonessential work. They did this even as unions recognised that most companies are not in a position to guarantee these health and safety conditions, as CCOO leader Unai Sordo declared in April 2020. This led to disaster. According to conservative estimates, at least 25 percent of COVID-19 outbreaks in Spain originated in workplaces. CCOO and UGT have also claimed that schools are safe environments, suppressing teachers and students anger against school reopenings. Schools have now become one of the main sources of the spread of the virus, surpassing for the first time other environments, such as social or family gatherings, nursing homes, health care centers or workplaces. This means that tens of thousands of deaths and infections provoked by the back-to-work and back-to-school orders are directly attributable to Podemos and the trade unions. As Spain enters the fourth wave, moreover, the CCOO and UGT have made clear they will not call for any measures to limit the spread of the virus. CCOO posted a statement on March 29, titled CCOO asks to not repeat the mistakes of Christmas period to avoid a fourth wave. Analysing data, it said that confirmed cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths nationwide doubled in the period between December 2, 2020 and February 24, 2021. Nevertheless, CCOO did not propose or call for any concrete actions. Similarly, UGT has absurdly called for avoiding a fourth wave last week, by which point it was clear that this wave is already under way. The unions major concern, however, is not workers lives but the possibility that new restrictions would affect the accumulation of profits. UGT Secretary of Social Policies, Work and Social Security Mari Carmen Barrera said, It is essential to avoid a fourth wave of contagion that would produce new work stoppages and put more stress on the economy and employment. This is key to ensuring the summer [tourist] season. For this reason, it is necessary to continue the restrictive measures until collective immunity is achieved, in the same way it is necessary to accelerate and strengthen the vaccination campaign because together with prevention measures, they are essential to recover the [economic] activity." The following day Sanchez announced the ending of the state of alarm. UGT did not follow up on its initial, symbolic call for limited restrictive measures. Instead, it has remained silent. Workers and youth must assimilate the bitter lessons of this past year. The PSOE-Podemos government and the trade unions cannot be pressured to carry out a more humane pandemic policy. Their sole concern is to keep profits flowing into the coffers of the financial elite, regardless of the cost in human lives. Only an international political struggle by the working class, organized independently from the pro-capitalist unions and on a socialist program opposed to pseudo-left parties like Podemos, will be able to impose effective measures to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. PITTSFIELD The former chief of appeals and records access officer in the Berkshire District Attorney's Office is being honored for blowing the whistle over the DA's order to withhold public records about a closed investigation in a politically fraught case. Jeanne Kempthorne, also the office's former general counsel, has received the 2021 Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award from New England First Amendment Coalition. She will be honored at the coalition's New England First Amendment Awards on April 21. In a release Wednesday, the group said the Orfield award is given to those "from one of the six New England states who has fought for information crucial to the publics understanding of its community or what its government is doing or not doing on its behalf." DA's office whistleblower resigns over public records issues, 'campaign culture' PITTSFIELD The Berkshire district attorney's general counsel and public records officer has resigned after she said Andrea Harrington attempted to block the release of public records in a Kempthorne, 64, resigned in January 2020 after Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington attempted to block the release of records sought by The Berkshire Eagle. The records requested were communications between the DA's office and officials at Bard College at Simon's Rock into a student's since-debunked claim that she had been the victim of a racially motivated attack on campus. Kempthorne later resigned, after protesting that there was no legal justification to withhold the records, and that the attempt to block access stemmed from the office's "campaign culture." Harrington had said there was no wrongdoing, and that, after weighing concerns, she ultimately did release the documents. Kempthorne, a former commissioner on the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission who was a federal prosecutor during 11 of her 36 years working as an attorney, told The Eagle she is moved by the honors from a group she has always respected. "It couldn't come from a better group," she said, adding that whistleblowing is painful yet critically important. She said her move to protest the withholding of records was simply part of trying to do her job lawfully. "If people never come forward, government dies," she said. "It begins to create a chink in the armor. You have to have a crack to let the light in, and maybe this is a crack." The fallout hasn't been easy. "It's been surprising how isolating coming forward is," Kempthorne said. She said she is thrilled that another of the coalition's awards this year will go to Yamiche Alcindor, the White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour. KENOSHA, Wis. A white police officer from Wisconsin who was investigated and cleared for shooting and injuring a Black man during a domestic dispute has returned from administrative leave, officials said Tuesday. Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey was not charged in the August 2020 incident that left Jacob Blake Jr. paralyzed from the waist down. Sheskey shot Blake seven times while Blake was about to get into an SUV. Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said in a release that Sheskey returned to duty on March 31. The release said Sheskey was found to have been acting within policy and will not be disciplined. Although this incident has been reviewed at multiple levels, I know that some will not be pleased with the outcome; however, given the facts, the only lawful and appropriate decision was made, Miskinis said in the statement. Sheskey and two other Kenosha officers were trying to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant when a pocketknife fell from his pants during a scuffle. Blake said he picked it up before heading to a vehicle to drive away with two of his children in the back seat. He said he was prepared to surrender once he put the knife in the vehicle. Sheskey told investigators that he feared for his own safety so he opened fire. The shooting happened three months after George Floyd died while being restrained by police officers in Minneapolis. Blake last month filed a civil lawsuit accusing the officer of excessive force. ALSO READ: Minnesota cop who fatally shot Black motorist resigns Veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake has covered Wyoming for more than four decades, previously as a reporter and editor for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle and Casper Star-Tribune. He lives in Cheyenne. The views expressed here are solely his own. Turkey is concerned about the escalating security situation in eastern Ukraine and is in favor of ending the tension between Russia and Ukraine peacefully by respecting territorial integrity. This was said in a statement by Turkish Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar on April 13, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Ukraine is our strategic ally. We are very concerned about their future. We, as the state, made our declarations regarding their security, living in peace and territorial integrity. We said we did not recognize the occupation of Crimea. We said we were closely monitoring the existence of the Crimean Tatars there and their future, he stated. The minister stressed that Turkey was in favor of de-escalating the situation in eastern Ukraine. As we have always said, we are in favor of a peaceful end of the tension between Russia and Ukraine, respecting the territorial integrity within the framework of international law, Akar emphasized. As Ukrinform reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was on an official visit to Turkey on April 10. Following the meeting, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in resolving the situation in eastern Ukraine. ish Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks to reporters at the White House on April 13, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Fauci: Strong Similarities Between Post-Vaccination J&J, AstraZeneca Blood Clots There are similarities between the blood-clotting issues seen in people after getting two different COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Anthony Fauci said on April 14. There are some rather strong similarities about this with regard to the timeframe following vaccination, particularly importantly, the clinical syndrome of these clots together with low platelets, so there are a lot of similarities there that you just cant miss, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on NBCs Today show. Fauci was comparing issues from Johnson & Johnsons shot with those from the AstraZeneca vaccine. U.S. health officials and drug regulators recommended a pause in using J&Js vaccine on April 13 after six cases were recorded of post-vaccination blood clots in conjunction with low blood-platelet levels. One woman died and another is in critical condition. Many states heeded the advice and stopped using the vaccines. Post-vaccination blood clots were also seen in people who received AstraZenecas vaccine in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, with dozens of those patients dying. AstraZenecas vaccine isnt yet authorized in the United States, though the company is attempting to get it approved. Boxes of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Ronquieres, Belgium, on April 6, 2021. (Yves Herman/Reuters) The European Unions drug regulator found a possible link between the shot and the blood clots and said AstraZeneca should list rare blood clots as a possible side effect. The issues seen with the two different vaccines could be related, Fauci said on April 14. Both shots use an adenovirus, or common virus, to act as a vector to deliver a gene for the CCP virus (also known as the novel coronavirus), triggering the bodys protection against COVID-19. Besides J&Js vaccine, the other two shots authorized for emergency use in America are based on messenger RNA technology. No post-vaccination blood clotting has been reported for either of those two shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No further cases of clotting in Johnson & Johnson recipients came up in the last 24 hours, Fauci said. People who have gotten one of the shots shouldnt worry. The first bit of advice is really dont worry very much because, just as we said, its a very, very rare event. Thats the first thing. The second thing, the bracket of time when this occurs was between six and 13 days. So its between one and two weeks. So if you got your vaccine several weeks ago, then it makes it even less likely that you should have any concern at all, he said. If youve had it within a few days, just stay heads-up for symptoms, severe headache, abdominal pain, chest pain, things like that. Officials say the pause enables them to probe the cases of blood clotting, and allows health workers to prepare for treating cases in which vaccines may be involved, because they require different treatment from that of most clots. A pet dog has been caught up in a wild dispute which ended with two people being bitten and a car being driven into a brick wall. Shocked neighbours were woken by the bizarre altercation outside a home in North Haven in Adelaide's west shortly before midnight on Tuesday. CCTV from across the street shows a group of people arguing in the road before a staffy appears to jump into the car. CCTV from across the street shows a group of people arguing in the street before a staffy appears to jump into the car (pictured) 'The dog bit me in the face, get her and the f****** dog out of my car now,' a man can be heard screaming in the footage. 'Get that f******g dog.' The injured man manages to escape the dog's reach by climbing onto the roof of a reversing car. A woman is seen trying to control the dog before it lunges forward and pulls the woman the ground before biting another man. Shocked neighbours were woken by the bizarre altercation outside a home in North Haven in Adelaide's west shortly before midnight on Tuesday The driver is seen trying to flee the chaos but ends up slamming the car into a brick wall before eventually speeding off. The two men attacked by the dog were taken to hospital. Police said no charges will be laid. Port Adelaide Enfield Council is investigating the incident and has taken away the dog. The car then slams into a brick wall (pictured) while trying to run over the agitated terrier Shocked neighbours 9News the commotion lasted around 10 minutes and offered to help the home occupants clean up, which was declined. 'So much screaming, I came out and the fence was knocked down,' Beth Nikandru said. 'The neighbours were all out, it woke everyone up.' Jack Hunter added: 'They started cleaning all the debris and blood, which was a bit odd.' Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - BMEX Gold Inc. (TSXV: BMEX) (FSE: 8M0) ("BMEX" or the "Company") is very pleased to announce the appointment of Warner Uhl as President, CEO and Director of the Company. After an extensive search, Warner quickly emerged as the candidate of choice, due to the combination of his work experience, his history of successful project execution in various stages of exploration and resource development, as well as his seamless fit within the organizational culture at BMEX. Warner assumes this leadership role during an active exploration season, with BMEX having just completed its inaugural drill program at the King Tut property. Warner has more than 30 years' experience as a senior mining professional. He has worked in executive management with mining, construction, and engineering companies to help bring resource projects from exploration, through feasibility, to commissioning. He has been involved in all stages of mine development and operations as a Project Director, Senior Vice President Technical Services, Chief Project Officer and Manager of Mining and Metals for companies in the Americas and Australia. He is very familiar with working in Ontario and Quebec, most recently Warner served as the Project Director for Wood Engineering on the IAMGOLD Cote Gold Project. He has also worked on development proposals for Wallbridge Mining. Throughout his career, social license of mining projects has been another focal point of his success as he worked with local communities and First Nations groups to foster a culture of partnership with these important stakeholders. Warner brings both a technical and financial background to his new role at BMEX and holds a Master of Business Administration, is a Certified Risk Manager, a Certified Safety Officer, and a Project Management Professional. Mr. Victor Cantore, Chairman of the Advisory Board for BMEX Gold commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Warner to the role. The Advisory Board and Board of Directors have already had excellent discussions with him and I value his hands-on approach to the BMEX exploration program. He brings the right amount of leadership tempered with practical know-how to this role." "I have met the BMEX team and I am excited to be working with them. I am honoured to have been selected to lead this company with its two highly prospective projects in Quebec's Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Between the historical drilling results and the recent exploration campaign, BMEX Gold has the potential to be the next big gold play," said Warner Uhl, President and CEO of BMEX Gold. In connection with his appointment, Mr. Uhl has been granted 500,000 stock options, exercisable at $0.25 per share for a period of five years. The options vest over a period of three years. About BMEX Gold Inc. BMEX Gold Inc. is a junior Canadian mining exploration company with the primary objective to acquire, explore, and develop viable gold and base metal projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions such as Quebec, Canada. BMEX is currently fully focused on earning 100% interest in its two projects, both located in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt: King Tut Project consists of 120 contiguous claims on 5,206 hectares consists of 120 contiguous claims on 5,206 hectares Dunlop Bay Project consists of 76 mineral claims that cover 4,226 hectares BMEX common shares trade under the symbol "BMEX" on the TSX-V and under the symbol 8M0 on the Frankfurt Exchange. For further information please contact: BMEX Gold Inc. Dylan Sidoo, Business Development Tel: 1 (604) 423 4499 Email: info@bmexgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the plans for future exploration and development of the King Tut and Dunlop Bay properties and the acquisition of additional exploration projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" , "anticipates" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the King Tut and Dunlop Bay projects; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in resource estimates, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in areas in which the Company operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80358 Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind the worst financial scam in history, died in jail at age 82 on Wednesday, US prison officials said. ... Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind the worst financial scam in history, died in jail at age 82 on Wednesday, US prison officials said. Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2009 for running a pyramid-style scheme that defrauded tens of thousands of people around the world. The scheme was estimated to be worth around $63 billion. We can confirm Bernard Madoff passed away on April 14, 2021, at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Butner, North Carolina, an official with the federal Bureau of Prisons told AFP in an email. The statement said the cause of death needed to be determined by a medical examiner. In February 2020, Madoffs lawyer said the disgraced Wall Street financier was terminally ill and wanted to leave prison to die. Attorney Brandon Sample said Madoff was suffering from terminal kidney disease, among other serious medical conditions. The Bureau of Prisons concluded in September 2019 that Madoff has less than 18 months to live because of the terminal nature of his kidney failure, Sample wrote. The Washington Post reported then that Madoff needed a wheelchair and 24-hour care. He asked for compassionate release so he could mend fences with his grandchildren and die at home but the request was rejected by the prisons bureau. Ive served 11 years already, and, quite frankly, Ive suffered through it, Madoff told the paper in an interview. You know, there hasnt been a day in prison that I havent felt the guilt for the pain I caused on the victims and for my family, he said. A pyramid, or Ponzi, scheme is a form of fraud in which returns on investments are generated only by bringing in fresh investments from new victims. Cash from new clients is used to pay existing clients until the scheme eventually collapses. Madoffs fraud was revealed during the financial crisis in 2008 when he was unable to satisfy growing client demands to withdraw their investments, and many lost their savings or were unable to retire. New Yorker Madoff never invested a single cent of the money the schemes clients trusted him with, instead using money from new investors to pay older ones. US authorities have seized about $4 billion related to Madoff and aim to return it to tens of thousands of his victims around the world. The Madoff Victim Fund will disburse payments to more than 30,000 people around the world who were cheated out of their investments by the crooked financier between the 1970s and 2000s, the US Justice department has said. Ballston Spa National Bank with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York hosts its 13th contactless drive-thru food pantry on Friday, April 16 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at 990 Route 67 in Ballston Spa. It is open to area families and individuals in need of food assistance. Patrons will receive food on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Preschool and elementary school students at the Robert C. Parker School raised a donation of $3,050 to benefit the Albany-based childrens literacy organization, The RED Bookshelf. To promote and celebrate literacy that includes all children, the PreK - 4th grade students participated in a day-long read-a-thon. Students collected pledges from family and friends and each class spent the entire day reading. To make the day extra special, everyone wore pajamas, and each class featured a variety of guest readers including specialist teachers and administrators. U.S. President Biden pays respect to slain Capitol Police officer Xinhua) 10:59, April 14, 2021 U.S. President Joe Biden pays his respect to U.S. Capitol Police officer William "Billy" Evans at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 13, 2021. William "Billy" Evans, the 18-year Capitol Police officer killed while in the line of duty when a car rammed into him and another officer, lay in honor in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday. (Amr Alfiky/Pool via Xinhua) (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) There were more deaths than births in several Brazilian cities last month amid the country's latest surge in Covid-19 cases. At least ten cities, including Rio de Janeiro, recorded higher death rates than birth rates in March. According to the national Civil Register, Rio de Janeiro reported 36,437 deaths in March but only 32,060 births in the same period. Brazil is currently the global epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, with daily deaths last week surpassing 4,000. The outbreak is pushing hospitals to breaking point with many patients dying before an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed becomes available. ICU capacity currently stands at about 80 per cent across all of Brazil's 27 regions. There have been more deaths than births in several Brazilian cities last month amid the latest surge in Covid-19 cases (pictured, cemetery workers inter the coffin of a Covid-19 victim) Brazil is currently the global epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, with daily deaths last week surpassing 4,000 Over 13 million coronavirus cases have been recorded in Brazil, among them 380,000 deaths, the worlds second highest death toll behind only the United States According to the national Civil Register, Rio de Janeiro reported 36,437 deaths in March but only 32,060 births in the same period Over 13 million coronavirus cases have been recorded in Brazil, among them 380,000 deaths, the worlds second highest death toll behind only the United States. Victims are also getting younger with over 50 per cent of intensive care beds occupied by patients under 40 years old, according to a study published over the weekend by the Brazilian Association of Intensive Medicine. The new statistic is a jump of 16.5 per cent compared to the occupancy of that age group between December and February. The report is based on data from over a third of all the countrys intensive care wards. It is not clear why more young people are falling seriously ill during the current wave of the virus in Brazil, but some scientists think the new P1 variant that originated in the Amazon city of Manaus could be at least partly to blame. Other factors, such as the behaviour of younger people who might feel less concerned about going out and socialising, and the vaccination of the elderly, could also be influencing the data. However, Brazil's vaccination program has been painfully slow and only an estimated 3 per cent of the population, approximately 6.3 million people, have received both jabs. A further 21.1 million have received one vaccine, according to the country's health ministry. But at least 1.5 million of them are behind schedule for their second jab and there has been no explanation for the delay from the government. The outbreak is pushing hospitals to breaking point with many patients dying before an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed becomes available. ICU capacity currently stands at about 80 per cent across all of Brazil's 27 regions Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism for his approach to the coronavirus, which he has described as a 'little flu' Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism for his approach to the coronavirus, which he has described as a 'little flu.' He has repeatedly ignored calls of health experts to wear masks and railed against the use of lockdown measures. A probe into the government's pandemic response was launched on Tuesday after a Supreme Court judge ruled last week that enough senators had backed the inquiry. The congressional investigation, known by its Portuguese acronym as a CPI, can result in a number of actions, including the referral of possible wrongdoing to law enforcement. Bolsonaro has repeatedly ignored calls of health experts to wear masks and railed against the use of lockdown measures (pictured, freshly dug graves at a cemetery in Brasilia, Brazil) Experts say the recent explosion in Covid cases is fuelled by a local variant of the virus that is believed to be more contagious In practice, the inquiry is a political headache for Bolsonaro, who is already facing record disapproval amid Brazils worst coronavirus wave. Senate leader Rodrigo Pacheco said on Tuesday that a congressional inquiry into the federal response to the pandemic would be combined with a probe into how federal resources were distributed to states. Some Bolsonaro-aligned lawmakers had pushed for an inquiry to probe how states and municipalities have handled the pandemic, though Pacheco argued such a move could infringe on the jurisdiction of state assemblies. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed common concern over Russia's build-up of military forces on the border with Ukraine. High Representative/Vice-President Borrell and Secretary Blinken discussed the recent developments in Ukraine and expressed their deep concern over the large ongoing build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraines borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea, reads the statement released by the European External Action Service. As noted, Josep Borrell and Antony Blinken agreed to continue to work together on the stabilisation of Afghanistan and exchanged views on the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia. Both also referred to the situation in Iran and the state of play of the ongoing discussions to bring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action back to full implementation. As reported, Russia has continued to concentrate troops near Ukraine's borders, while the Russian media wage an information campaign of lies and provocations to discredit Ukraine and justify Russia's military intervention under the pretext of "protecting the Russian-speaking population." ol LOS ANGELES (AP) Equipment from a marijuana grow in a Los Angeles homes garage may have caused an explosion that shattered the structures, trapping one man in the debris and sending another to the hospital with critical burn injuries, authorities said Monday. More than a dozen nearby homes were evacuated after the explosion Sunday night in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood and at least seven sustained damage from debris, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement. Firefighters could smell natural gas in the air when they responded but did not find any flames, the department said. The blast likely caused a natural gas leak, which firefighters shut off, officials said. Authorities said on Monday that an inspection of the home and garage wreckage found evidence of a marijuana grow. Its unclear what materials caused the explosion but it may have been fertilizer, chemical stimulants or cleaning products, Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey told the LA Times. He said it has not been confirmed if the operation was legal. Firefighters discovered a 59-year-old man with critical burn injuries outside the home. Firefighters were in shoulder-deep debris when they heard a tapping sound and found a 46-year-old man buried in the wreckage. They were able to cut him out with a chain saw and he was conscious and alert when he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other residents of the home a man, a woman and three children were not hurt. A woman from a neighboring home was evaluated for injuries and declined to go to a hospital. The Los Angeles Police Department was taking the lead in the investigation of what caused the blast, the statement said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. EAST LANSING, MI Plans for more in-person classes and activities at Michigan State University are still on track as students and members of the MSU community receive their COVID-19 vaccines, according to President Samuel Stanley. In an interview with MLive on Wednesday, April 14, Stanley said he has heard loud and clear from students and families about how excited they are to return to an in-person fall semester. Getting to that point, though, starts with vaccination, Stanley said. About 80% (of students) do want to get the COVID-19 vaccine, so thats a really great number to be starting at, Stanley said. We hope to work with the other 20% on educating them and hopefully getting them vaccinated as well. MSU has announced plans for a more typical fall semester with 75% of undergraduate classes offered in person. Most classes that were in-person prior to the COVID-19 pandemic will go back to in person, Stanley said, but there may be some sections of larger courses that will continue online rather than be in person, Stanley said. With more in-person classes on campus comes more students living on or near campus. Stanley and the university expect all first-year students to live on campus, with some exceptions, but there may not be as many returning students living on campus, Stanley said, adding he expects anywhere from 11,500 to 13,500 students living on campus. Itll be pretty much back to our max, which is around 14,500, so I think were pretty close to that, Stanley said. Getting the vaccine to students has been a priority for many colleges, including MSU. However, with the pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to health issues connected with it, MSU had to switch to giving the Pfizer vaccine to students. Michigan will pause use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine, following CDC guidance On April 13, the university vaccinated 480 students, and the goal is to vaccinate as many students as possible before they leave campus this spring, Stanley said. The university will also offer vaccines for students during the summer and before they come back for the fall. I think we want to make it as easy as we can for everybody who wants to get a vaccine, Stanley said. So we will explore every opportunity to help people get a vaccine because its so important for us. One conversation university officials are still having is whether to require students to have a vaccine before returning in the fall. Stanley would prefer to give people the option to be vaccinated, and hes encouraged by the 80% of students who want one. The benefits of students having a COVID-19 vaccine could include not having to quarantine if theyre exposed to someone with it, or being exempt from the universitys COVID-19 testing program, Stanley said. Those decisions have not been finalized yet, he said, but those kinds of incentives might encourage students to get vaccinated. For faculty and staff, Stanley said he expects they all will be able to be vaccinated as many have been pushing and advocating for MSU to get vaccines when they were previously not available to everyone. I think they want to be vaccinated, I think they want to get back in the classrooms and teach, but they want to feel safe, so I think this is a prerequisite for that, Stanley said. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, MSU has learned how to pivot quickly and move classes online when needed. MSU will always have a plan B, Stanley said. But as MSU students and community members continue to get vaccinated, Stanley said thinks reverting back to an all online semester will not happen again. I think we have techniques now that are better than what we had to begin with. I think our student body was educated more than they were before about what the right things are to do now, so Im optimistic, Stanley said. READ MORE: University of Michigan, Michigan State University switching to Pfizer vaccine for students Michigan universities pivot student vaccination plans amid Johnson & Johnson pause Another 718 students lose University of Michigan building access for not completing COVID-19 tests Paris Hiltons public image is undergoing a rather seismic shift thanks to the stars careful crafting of her comeback tale. Opening up about her struggles in the past has made fans who were once harsh about Hiltons lifestyle much more sympathetic, and it certainly seems that there is more to the star than many have been willing to grant in recent years. Still, not everything about Hiltons prior persona has changed. A recent shopping spree demonstrates that Hiltons love for tiny dogs and expensive bags has remained intact. Paris Hilton rose to fame as a rich socialite Hi everyone, what are you up to this weekend? pic.twitter.com/J3IqgYtXcw Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) April 1, 2021 RELATED: The Unsurprising Origins of Paris Hiltons Baby Voice In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a rising celebrity scene that defied conventional understanding of how stars came to be. A collection of rich socialites started to fill the spotlight. Rather than being famous for musical talents or acting careers, these stars were simply famous for being famous creating a kind of feedback loop for influence that would usher in the rise of reality TV and social media stardom as we know it today. These kinds of proto-influencers pre-dated Instagram and TikTok, and they would do things like charge for a club appearance or partner with brands to be caught casually using their products when the paparazzi were around to snap pictures. Kim Kardashian was among this famous crowd, but at the time, none stood out as prominently as Paris Hilton. Hilton leveraged her media attention into reality TV appearances, a music career, and some lukewarm attempts at acting. Her star burned bright and fast, and soon she and most of the other socialite celebrities of the day were seen as has-beens. Paris Hilton frequently sported tiny dogs in expensive bags RELATED: Its Paris Hiltons Fault Handbag Dogs Became an Actual 2000s Trend Carrying a dog around in a handbag doesnt sound particularly practical or, for that matter, sanitary but it was a trend of the early 00s thanks in large part to Hilton. She has a well-documented love for tiny dogs, especially Chihuahuas. She had one pet named Tinkerbell who lived to be 14 and passed away in 2015. Tinkerbell was frequently spotted out and about with Hilton and captured in tabloid pictures. Hilton would tuck the pup into stylish handbags, and soon fans were copying the style choice. The trend became so popular that many animal rights activists spoke out against the practice of treating animals like accessories, fearing that pups purchased for a photoshoot would soon lose their luster and be left in the lurch as their owners lost interest. For Hilton, though, being a pet caretaker doesnt seem to be just for show. She has spent some serious cash on her four-footed friends and reportedly splurged on a $300,000 mansion to house her pets. A recent shopping spree for Paris Hilton included a pricey designer bag Paris Hilton | Donato Sardella/Getty Images As Page Six reports, Hilton recently treated herself to a shopping spree in Miami, Florida. That included a trip to Prive Porter, a luxury retailer that has staked its reputation on the ability to acquire rare goods, especially Hermes Birkin bags. Indeed, it was precisely a Birkin that Hilton gravitated toward once at the shop. She got herself a Bleu de Nord Togo Birkin that sells for around $24,500. It wasnt just herself that was getting pampered in Miami, however. Hilton also purchased a Hermes Micro Kelly Charm valued at a whopping $5,500. The recipient? Her dog Diamond. The itty bitty Chihuahua was featured in an Instagram story opening her gift by tearing into the decorative packaging before posing for some posh pics. Matamata Primary School teacher Carma Maisey credits the University of Waikatos Poutama Pounamu Blended Learning for encouraging her into Masters level study. It has been a completely unique, uplifting and life changing experience, says Carma, who has been teaching for 11 years. Poutama Pounamu is a 12-month professional learning development (PLD) programme run by the School of Education at the University of Waikato. The blended learning course supports leaders and teachers to do professional development while still working. Carma is just one of a number of kaiwhakaako (teachers) who have gone on to complete their Masters after doing Poutama Pounamu Blended Learning in 2020. Another student from an earlier cohort has recently enrolled to do his Doctor of Education. The support, kindness and encouragement the Poutama Pounamu tutors gave me was absolutely critical in my decision to continue with my study and enrol in the Masters of Education, says Carma, who was awarded a Ministry of Education TeachNZ Study award to complete her Masters at the University of Waikato this year. Poutama Pounamu provides a supported pathway into Masters level study wherever you are in New Zealand. Benefits include the ability to credit two 15-point papers and a $1000 scholarship towards a summer school paper at the university. The fifth cohort of 86 new kaiwhakaako started their Poutama Pounamu blended learning in February, with wananga taking place in both the North Island and South Island. North Island wananga, Huria Marae, Tauranga. Their first wananga was held at Te Awhina Marae in Motueka on 25-26 February, and at Huria Marae in Tauranga on 22-23 March. Professor Mere Berryman says it's exciting to welcome these kaiwhakaako back into academic study and was looking forward to seeing where their learning journey would take each one. This course is proving to be a successful and innovative way to get teachers and other educators back into tertiary education, while still teaching and working, says Professor Berryman. It provides an incentive for kaiwhakaako to carry on and complete their Masters by proving that studying at tertiary level again is achievable while working. Designed to indigenise and decolonise teaching practices, schools and communities, the blended learning comprises five online modules, two face-to-face wananga over two days and one virtual wananga. By learning through and in te ao Maori (Maori world view) contexts blended learning encourages people to deepen their understandings, knowledge and confidence about historical events that have led to disparity for Maori and how this continues through our colonial education system, says Professor Berryman. Learning about racism is an important related aspect. Kaiwhakaako receive regular feedback throughout the programme, and share their learning with colleagues in small groups back in their schools and centres. Its great to see how Poutama Pounamu Blended Learning has reignited the passion for learning among kaiwhakaako, says Professor Don Kilnger, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Education. For some teachers, its also been the incentive to kickstart their higher education journey. Their knowledge and personal development will benefit them personally and professionally, as well as their schools, students and wider communities. The Division of Education at the University of Waikato is delighted to support our teachers in this way. For more information about the Poutama Pounamu programme or studying education at the University of Waikato, visit https://poutamapounamu.org.nz/elearning/about Huria Marae, Tauranga. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Michele Bachelet, warns Myanmar could be headed toward a bloody civil war like Syria unless the violence is brought under control. Bachelet is calling on all states with influence, especially Myanmar's neighbors, to apply concerted pressure on the ruling military junta to end its campaign of repression and slaughter of its people. She said many of the grave human rights violations being committed by Myanmar's military might amount to crimes against humanity and must be stopped. Bachelet's spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, said the high commissioner fears a continuation of these crimes could tear the country apart and lead to a civil war. "The high commissioner states that there are clear echoes of Syria in 2011," Shamdasani said. "There too, we saw peaceful protests met with unnecessary and clearly disproportionate force. The state's brutal, persistent repression of its own people led to some individuals taking up arms, followed by a downward and rapidly expanding spiral of violence all across the country." WASHINGTON - The pause in distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week threatens to create a significant hurdle to President Joe Biden's campaign to combat "vaccine hesitancy," just as the administration approaches a critical point in its efforts to persuade Americans wary of getting vaccinated. Many of those eager for a coronavirus vaccine have now received one, and officials are increasingly focused on rural and minority communities suspicious of the vaccines' safety. Officials' decision to halt distribution of a vaccine, however cautionary, following potentially serious side effects, however rare, could set back those efforts, public health experts said. Compounding the challenge, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been central to Biden officials' strategy for inoculating skeptical and hard-to-reach populations. Unlike other authorized vaccines, Johnson & Johnson's version does not need to be stored at ultracold temperatures and, crucially, it requires only one dose. "This is devastating," said Frank Luntz, a longtime GOP pollster who has been working to win over vaccine-hesitant Republicans. "At the very moment that conservatives were starting to reconsider their hesitancy, they are told that their fears are real and justified. Right now, there are thousands of people saying, 'See, I told you so.' " Biden officials were quick to minimize the impact of the pause, which was enacted as authorities reviewed reports of six U.S. cases of a rare but severe type of blood clot among the approximately 7 million people who received the shot. They noted that only a small fraction of Americans have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and stressed that the administration remains on track to meet its inoculation goals even without it, given the ample supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. "This announcement will not have a significant impact on our vaccination program," Jeffrey Zients, Biden's coronavirus response coordinator, said in a hastily arranged appearance in the White House briefing room on Tuesday, adding that the country has "more than enough" of the other vaccines to continue the current rate of 3 million shots a day. Later in the day, Biden added that the need for a pause reaffirmed his strategy to acquire extra doses for the federal program and to hold on to them even as pressure has built to send supply abroad. "I made sure we have 600 million doses," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office, referring to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. "So there's enough vaccine that is basically 100% unquestionable for every single, solitary American." But in a tacit recognition of the need to address constituencies already skeptical of the coronavirus vaccines, Biden officials fanned out talk to target audiences. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy was booked to appear Tuesday night on TV programs run by the right-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group and Gray Television to discuss the Johnson & Johnson safety review. The two news organization have programming in many local media markets. Jose Montero, a top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, went on Univision and Telemundo to reach Latino audiences. Members of Biden's coronavirus response team also held a call with more than 2,300 members of their "community corps," a group the White House has collected of "trusted messengers." Senior administration officials briefed prominent Black physicians. Top CDC and Food and Drug Administration officials reached out to key members of Congress. And the CDC held a call with top doctors and plans to brief clinicians on their decision, the White House said. "People are very eager to see how we react to this. Do we put the data out? Do we try to sweep it under the rug? Do we contextualize it?" said Andy Slavitt, the White House's senior adviser for the coronavirus response. "The approach we've chosen to take is one that is very much fact-based, very much conversation-based and very much 'give people the real information.' I think that's all you can do." Various groups of Americans are reluctant to take the coronavirus vaccine for different reasons. Many African Americans remember the decades of mistreatment of Black patients at the hands of the medical profession. Some conservatives are wary of any government-sponsored push aimed at influencing Americans' behavior. Others worry that the coronavirus vaccines were approved too quickly. Still others subscribe to unfounded conspiracy theories about the vaccines' purpose. Tuesday's announcement could play into all of those anxieties, public health experts said. "We're very concerned that this announcement for very rare side effects could have a disproportionate impact in triggering and bringing fears to the surface," said Douglas Kriner, a government professor at Cornell University who has studied vaccine hesitancy. Kriner said survey respondents had raised questions about coronavirus vaccines that ranged from understandable to improbable. "Four percent of people volunteered in an open-ended question that death was a common side effect" of getting vaccinated, Kriner said. The dilemma now facing U.S. officials parallels a problem that European leaders grappled with last month, after regulators paused AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for safety reviews, prompted by similar reports of rare blood clots. The European Medicines Agency, the continent's top regulator of pharmaceuticals, ultimately reaffirmed that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and effective. But polls found that public trust in the shot significantly declined in Europe after the episode. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French Prime Minister Jean Castex and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier all publicly received AstraZeneca shots in subsequent days as officials rushed to shore up confidence in the vaccine. But because so many American leaders - including Biden, Vice President Harris and former president Donald Trump - have already been vaccinated, it is not clear whether American officials can use a similar strategy. Slavitt cited significant differences between the European situation and the current pause. In many parts of Europe, he said, the AstraZeneca vaccine was the sole shot available, and the message from European authorities was sometimes contradictory. "It just got confusing," Slavitt said. "Confusion hurts you in this kind of situation, and I think if we avoid that we will minimize unnecessary damage." Leslie Francis, a medical ethicist at the University of Utah, agreed that being clear and transparent about a rare vaccine side effect is what public health officials should be doing. She said she believes a key reason officials are pausing the vaccine is for general public messaging. "People want to make super sure no one has a reason to be suspicious of vaccination," Francis said. "I think that reason is a really strong reason. It's so important to seem trustworthy and to be trustworthy. It's about bending over backwards about vaccines." Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, played down the impact of the announcement on groups hesitant to get a vaccine. He noted that about 120 million Americans have received shots, and that the majority were made by Pfizer or Moderna. "There have been no red-flag signals from those," Fauci said. "So you're talking about tens and tens and tens of millions of people who receive vaccine with no adverse effect. This is a really rare event." When the pause was announced Tuesday morning, it prompted an immediate round of questions from governors who were participating in a regularly scheduled Tuesday call with the White House coronavirus response team. Several of them raised concerns about whether it would damage their efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy. "Folks came in pretty hot," said one person who was on the call, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private conversation. Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who was on the call, said he pushed the White House officials to keep the pause as brief as possible. "Your chance of dying from covid is much greater than the one in a million chance of developing this thrombosis from the vaccine," Ricketts said. He added that many in his rural state prefer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it only requires one dose and because it is more easily stored. Trump weighed in with a statement decrying the decision to suspend distribution of the Johnson & Johnson product, saying it had proved "extraordinary" and warned that its "reputation will be permanently damaged" by the action. He also predicted that those who have already taken the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will now be "up in arms" and suggested, without any evidence, that the pause was a political decision designed to help Pfizer, a company that Trump has railed against for failing to produce a vaccine ahead of the November election. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was authorized for emergency use in late February. A senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about a delicate situation, said the episode shows the strength of the system, not its weakness. The clinical trials for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine included tens of thousands of people, the official said, but it would not necessarily have detected a problem that could be as rare as one in a million. "If you're on an airplane, the gold standard doesn't mean you don't run into turbulence," the official added. "The gold standard means that you have practices and tools for dealing with situations that occur and minimize the damage." Some public health experts backed up this contention. "This should add to our confidence, not shake it - even for six cases, the Biden administration made the decision to prioritize safety," said Brian Castrucci, an epidemiologist who leads the de Beaumont Foundation, a public health organization. "What concerns me most is how this moment, these data, will be weaponized by those interested in sowing seeds of doubt in the vaccine." - - - The Washington Post's Frances Stead Sellers contributed to this report. Tony Nguyen, founder and senior partner of legal consultancy firm EPLegal The Ever Given container ship, wedged in the Suez Canal for almost one week before it was finally freed from the shoreline, had an adverse impact on about 12 per cent of global trade. Around one million barrels of oil and roughly 8 per cent of liquefied natural gas passes through the canal each day, and it was estimated by Lloyds List that the crisis cost $400 million per hour in delayed goods. It was also projected that the canals revenues were taking a $14-15 million hit for each day of the blockage. This was not the first time the Suez Canal was blocked, causing huge damages to one of the worlds most vital shipping routes. The closing of the Suez Canal for five months in November 1956 due to war triggered a number of British and American decisions involving claims of frustration of contract. In 1967, the canal turned into a battleground between Israel and Egypt during national conflicts and was blocked for eight years. In three other circumstances (2004, 2006, and 2017) a large tanker and two cargo/container vessels got lodged in the waterway and caused the canal to be blocked for respectively three days, eight hours, and three hours. All these accidents would invite a wave of claims due to the delays or cancellation of shipments via the canal. These claims generally arise between the buyers and sellers of goods being transported; the contract of carriage between the charterers and the ship owners/carriers; and parties in service and construction contracts utilising goods being transported. Would these claims be easily rejected by the fact that the accidents are by nature force majeure (FM) events and the parties in breach should be exempted from liability? We can analyse the legal issue in the context of (i) English laws, being the most frequently applied laws to international trade contracts, (ii) the UN Convention on the Contracts for International Sales of Goods (CISG) the substantive provisions applied to the buyers and sellers of goods which have their places of business in member states, and (iii) Vietnamese laws. The common element in these three jurisdictions is that they all require the event to be unexpected to the party in breach. It is without doubt that the Suez events are qualified for this condition. But there are other conditions to be met. English laws Under English law, contractual performance will be excused due to unexpected circumstances only if they fall within the doctrine of frustration; or where the parties agree otherwise (most likely a FM clause) in their contract. The test of frustration is a very high threshold: it only applies where the events make the performance of the contract impossible, illegal, or radically different from that originally envisioned by the parties. In the first Suez event waive of cases, the buyer and seller disputed over the alleged breach of failure to ship the goods via Suez Canal under a sales contract which applied Form No.38 of the Incorporated Oil Seed Association Forms of Contract. It was found that closure of the canal increased the length of the voyage necessary for delivery from 2,300 to 10,500 miles (to go through the alternative Cape of Good Hope). The cost of shipment was raised from about 6 ($8.2) per tonne to between 27-29 ($37-39.8) per tonne. The court held that in the present case an unexpected event occurred, namely, the closure of the Suez Canal, and no doubt it may be said to have involved both inconvenience and material loss. But I am not satisfied that there was also such a change in the significance of the obligation as would call the principle of frustration into play. Thus, the fact that the alternative route for shipment of goods via Cape of Good Hope would incur huge additional costs to the obligor will not excuse them from liability. Similar results are expected for a contract of carriage between a charterer and a carrier, except that if the contract specifies that cargo should be shipped via the Suez, then the blockage would have frustrated the contract. The CISG Article 79.1 of the CISG provides a more specific description of the conditions for an impediment which stop a party from performing a contract: A party is not liable for a failure to perform any of his obligations if he proves that the failure was due to an impediment beyond his control and that he could not reasonably be expected to have taken the impediment into account at the time of the conclusion of the contract or to have avoided or overcome it or its consequences. According to Professor John Honnold, the term impediment must be interpreted to read that the event actually prevents performance. This also implies that an event that makes performance commercially impracticable does not satisfy the test. The other conditions of an impediment under the CISG are (i) beyond a partys control; (ii) the affected party could not reasonably anticipate the impediment at the time of signing the contract; and (iii) the affected party could not reasonably avoid or overcome it or its consequences. Reasonably means what a normal person in such circumstances knew or should have known at the time of signing the contract. In addition, the affected party must inform the other party of the impediment and its effect on his ability to perform within a reasonable time, otherwise he will be held liable for damages resulting from such non-receipt (Article 79.4). Putting the Suez events in context, it seems that a seller or carrier would face the same problem if he tries to avoid liability based on Article 79 of the CISG. It is theoretically possible (though commercially impractical) to have shipments via alternative routes and the very first condition of impediment is not met. Notably, the affected party may seek to amend the contract using another doctrine under the CISG and the UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law) Principles: hardship. It has been widely established by the academics that Article 79 of the CISG applies to hardship situations, and the UNIDROIT Principles may be applied to fill in the gap of Article 79 while determining the consequence of hardship. Accordingly, if a hardship situation is established under Article 79, the affected party may request renegotiation of prices and/or terms (but he may not withhold performance). Upon failure to reach agreement within a reasonable time, either party may resort to the court, who will then terminate, or adapt the contract with a view to restoring its equilibrium. Vietnamese laws Vietnam has recognised FM since 1995 and the definition of FM is currently stipulated in the Civil Code 2015. Accordingly, an event is an FM if it satisfies the following three conditions: being objective; being unforeseeable; and cannot be overcome despite taking all necessary and possible measures. The last condition means that the event must be an impediment that could not be overcome despite the affected partys attempt to implement all solutions. The Suez events therefore shall not give rise to an exemption of the obligor despite the impact of these events. In terms of hardship, Article 420.1 of the Civil Code 2015 renders the concept of a fundamental change in circumstance to describe hardship, and provides a solution to hardship situations which is similar to the UNIDROIT Principles. Given the situation of the recent Suez Canal incident, applying English laws, the CISG, or Vietnamese laws will result in the same consequence: contractual claims against the party affected by the blockage will likely succeed. However, the party in breach may declare a hardship situation in a timely manner and request renegotiation of the contract prices and/or other terms with a view to restore the economic balance of the contract. The Coast Guard and multiple good Samaritan vessels responded to the capsized vessel and searched for multiple missing people in the water. (USCG/Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris) 6 Rescued, 12 Missing After Large Boat Capsizes Off Louisiana Coast Six people were rescued on Tuesday after a large commercial boat capsized off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, but 12 remain missing, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard and multiple good Samaritan vessels continue their search and rescue efforts about eight miles (12.9 kilometers) south of Port Fourchon, the states southernmost port, the U.S. Coast Guard announced late Tuesday. The Coast Guard said it received a radio beacon notification around 4:30 p.m. of a distressed 129-foot commercial lift vessel. The Coast Guard subsequently issued an urgent broadcast that attracted some vessels to come and help. At the time, a heavy storm with gusty winds was hitting the area, according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans. One person was rescued from the water by the Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris, a 154-foot vessel, which arrived on the scene within 30 minutes. Another person was rescued by a Coast Guard vessel from Grand Isle. Another four people were rescued by good Samaritan vessels. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris pulls a person from the water after a 175-foot commercial lift boat capsized eight miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana, on April 13, 2021. (USCG/Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris) SEACOR Marine, which owns the capsized boat, confirmed to ABC News that the boat is used in oil and gas exploration and is called the SEACOR Power. The company told the outlet that a total of 18 people, including employees and contractors, were on board. Vessels conducting the rescue mission, which was still in progress as of late Tuesday, include Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris, two Coast Guard Station Grand Isle 45-foot vessels, Coast Guard Cutter Amberjack, as well as an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi. The National Weather Service late Tuesday announced a flash flood watch for areas of southeast Louisiana and Mississippi through Thursday morning. REED CITY A former Osceola County Sheriffs Office employee was sentenced to prison for possessing and collecting hundreds of images of child pornography. I know I have caused a great deal of pain to my family, friends and former coworkers, 40-year-old Andrew Wernette told the court Wednesday. Ive made a lot of peoples lives really, really difficult. Wernette, of Reed City, accepted a plea deal from the Michigan Attorney Generals Office in February. Per the deal, Wernette pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated child sexually abusive activity; two counts of possession of a controlled substance-analogues; and single counts of aggravated distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity; distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity; larceny in a building; and maintaining a drug house. He appeared before Osceola Countys 49th Circuit Judge Scott Hill-Kennedy, via Zoom, for sentencing Wednesday. The charges stem from a September 2020 search of Wernettes Reed City home where authorities seized two computers belonging to Wernette and discovered more than 100 images of child pornography on each computer. The offenses date back to June 2014. At sentencing, Donna Pendergast, first assistant attorney general, said she could not understand the psychology of crimes committed by Wernette. The bottom line is, it is not a victimless crime, Pendergast said. Its an exploitive crime and its very detrimental to society as well as the people that are roped into this as victims. Pendergast said she was also troubled by the violation of trust that was placed with Wernette. In 2018, Wernette was initially hired as a road patrol officer with the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, Undersheriff Jed Avery told the Pioneer on Wednesday. However, after not passing the required field training, Wernette was placed in a clerks role with the department, Avery said, and his responsibilities included tasks like filing paperwork, he said. Avery noted Wernette was not in uniform while working as a clerk. At a previous hearing, Wernette admitted to stealing drugs morphine and oxycontin that belonged to the departments Drug Take Back program. Investigators found the drugs hidden in Wernettes home. I dont think that is a victimless crime either. He violated the publics trust (in law enforcement), Pendergast said. Defense attorney Robert S. Hackett told the judge that his client has no prior criminal history. Hes ashamed of (this case). Hes ashamed because of the position he put his family in and also the community, Hackett said. During his opportunity to speak, Wernette admitted this is no ones fault but my own. I am responsible for my actions, he said. Wernette said he has a desire to change and will use the programs and services available to him while incarcerated. I violated a lot of peoples trust. I cant straighten out that dollar bill, he said. But I can do everything I can to move forward positively in the future. Prior to sentencing, Hill-Kennedy said several of the images of young children, accumulated by Wernette over the years, were forced to do inappropriate and awful things. The children in the images were believed to be missing or suspected to have been put into human trafficking, he said. Hill-Kennedy added Wernette did not act on his choices, such as abusing or assaulting a minor. Wernette was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in the states prison system for two counts of aggravated child sexually abusive activity; and single counts of using a computer to commit a crime, and aggravated distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity. He was sentenced 8 1/2 months for single counts of count of distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity and larceny of a building. Wernette was also sentenced to 5 1/2 months for the remaining drug-related charges. All sentences will run concurrently, and he was given credit for 211 days served. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 11:07:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is going to concentrate on debt management and economic recovery over the next four financial years as the country faces the socio-economic stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. In its Medium Term Debt Management Strategy Report published late Monday, the finance ministry said that in the financial year 2021/22 starting on July 1, the government will focus on debt management objectives by implementing a macroeconomic framework. Over the next four financial years, the Ugandan government will strive to keep debt within sustainable levels and minimize refinancing risks and costs, it said. "External financing will be driven by disbursements and new financing in form of concessional, semi concessional, and non-concessional/commercial sources," the ministry said in the report. "Domestic borrowing will majorly be in form of longer dated instruments aimed at reducing the refinancing risk in the public debt portfolio," it added. The ratio of Uganda's nominal debt to gross domestic product (GDP) in December 2020 stood at 47.2 percent, up from 38.0 percent from a year earlier. Experts said that if a country's ratio is above 50 percent, then it faces debt distress. Increase in debt stock, according to the ministry, was on account of rise in external borrowing to address among others the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. Uganda's total debt stock at the end of December 2020 was 17.96 billion U.S. dollars, up by 35.0 percent year on year. "This increase was on account of a rise in external borrowing and its disbursements to address the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 as well as growth in domestic debt issuances to finance the fiscal deficit," the ministry said. COMPOSITION OF UGANDA'S DEBT In terms of external debt stock by creditor category, multilateral creditors rank highest with 64 percent of the total for Uganda, followed by bilateral creditors with 35 percent and commercial banks with 1 percent. Among the multilateral creditors, the World Bank ranks first with 58 percent, followed by the African Development Fund with 20 percent. The report said there has been a 2-3 percent reduction in the share of the World Bank and the African Development Fund respectively last year due to new financing from the International Monetary Fund that has taken up 7 percent of the multilateral creditors' debt stock. Undisbursed debt stock stood at 4.55 billion dollars as of Dec. 31, 2020 compared with 4.45 billion dollars as of Dec. 31, 2019, according to the report. The World Bank, China and the Islamic Development Bank hold the largest share of undisbursed stock with 24 percent, 19 percent and 10 percent respectively. The delay in disbursement, according to the report, was due to slow implementation of projects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which also impacted the supply of goods and services needed. Newly signed loan financing agreements with conditions for disbursement were also another reason for delayed disbursement. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:41:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The testing of a potentially needle-free COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in Australia. The vaccine, COVIGEN, is a joint venture between the University of Sydney, a biotechnology company Technovalia, and an alliance of clinical trial centres called Vax4COVID. The DNA-based vaccine will be tested in about 150 participants aged between 18 and 75 at sites in the states of New South Wales (NSW), South Australia and Western Australia. Selection of participants is expected to begin this month. The trial period has not been finalised. The Phase 1 trial's lead investigator, Associate Professor Nicholas Wood from the University of Sydney, said the goal was to assess the safety of using different doses of COVIGEN. Wood described the trial as a "significant milestone for all involved in this one-of-a-kind partnership between Australian institutions, the industry and the Australian government via the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)." The project has received a 3 million Australian dollar grant (about 2.29 million U.S. dollars) from the MRFF. Meanwhile, the state of Queensland is due to rollback its COVID-19 restrictions from Thursday. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Twitter on Wednesday that the restrictions imposed two weeks ago would ease. Queenslanders have had to wear masks in indoor venues, and there have been restrictions on hospital and aged-care visits, as well as limits for pubs, clubs and cafes. Palaszczuk said the state had again recorded no new community transmitted cases which allowed the easing of restrictions. The state, however, recorded the death of an elderly COVID-19 patient on Tuesday. The man at the age of 80, had been travelling in the Philippines and returned home on March 20. He tested positive on March 25 while in hotel quarantine and was admitted to hospital. Queensland on Wednesday also recorded two cases of coronavirus from returned travellers in hotel quarantine, who acquired the virus in Papua New Guinea. Enditem After a war ends, preparation for signing a peace treaty between former conflicting states usually starts. However, five months after the end of the Second Karabkh War, the region is still full of problems which prevent relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan from normalization. Firstly, it is militarization of the region as separatist paramilitary groups havent stopped their activity on the territory of Azerbaijan after signing the November agreement on Karabakh. Activity of illegal armed groups concurred with rearmament and re-equipment of the Armenian army devastated during the war. To prevent activities of sabotage groups on liberated territories, Azerbaijan detached a few dozens of Armenian citizens. Now the Armenian authorities have paid attention to these people. However, they werent interested in their citizens during several months until the early elections had been announced. Premier Nikol Pashinyan seems to hide his best card till the start of the election campaign. His opponents are supporters of the former president Robert Kocharyan. The Azerbaijani side states about necessity of signing a comprehensive treaty on mutual respect and recognition of borders with further demilitarization of Karabakh and withdrawal of remnants of the occupation regime. Yerevan deliberately ignores it. Secondly, the problem of demining of the Azerbaijani liberated territories is urgent in the region. During 30-year history of the confrontation, the occupied territories were dotted with mines. Most of mines are of Soviet origin - TM-62 anti-tank blast mines and PMN-2 anti-personnel mines. As time went on, mines went wrong. Thus, mined areas were frequently renewed. Baku demands mine areas maps from the Armenian side but Yerevan says that many mine fields havent been registered and their maps have been drawn quick and dirty and even got lost. Fresh mine barriers will be removed easily. For the rest, it will take a lot of time. Thirdly, external interests of various geopolitical players are present in the negotiation process. They focus the process on certain benefits. Theoretically, Baku and Yerevan are able under Moscows mediation to deal and to start taking steps on recovery of lost communicational ties, including diplomatic relations. Fourthly, there is still a problem of psychological attitude to the conflict as people have forgotten how to live in peace. Experience of Soviet international building is not attractive to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the modern reality. Moreover, there are no new mechanisms of peaceful existence of close ethnic communities. However, a complex of preventive steps is activated in the region to prevent shifting of crisis elements into regular warfare. Russian peacemakers deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh are doing it successfully. A significant step on the way to overcoming of ethnic and national confrontation could be a comprehensive agreement on joint living of peoples, building infrastructure, and development of resources within the framework of the international law. On April 11, India recorded almost 170,000 Covid-19 cases, a record for the country since the start of the pandemic. The day before, India crossed a different kind of milestone: Vaccinating 100 million people. It is this seesaw of despair and hope that India rides today, battling the outbreak with a healthcare system operating on the brink even as its pharmaceutical industry tries to fill the worlds prescription for vaccine doses. India reached the 100 million vaccination mark in 85 days, faster than the U.S. and China, which took 89 and 102 days respectively. But the task ahead is formidable: the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of fully vaccinating 300 million individuals by July. The arithmetic alone is daunting. India started with a stock of 100 million vaccine doses at the beginning of the year. Its two manufacturers--Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are equipped to produce 66 million doses per month through June, adding 396 million to the total. But they also have obligations to supply Unicefs COVAX program and export agreements elsewhere to the tune of 80 million doses. That leaves 416 million doses for local use: 184 million doses short of the 600 million needed to reach the July goal. ALSO READ: Best of BS Opinion: The mis-selling menace, Covid-19 vaccination, and more Already, Pune-based Serum Institute--which makes the AstraZeneca shot, called Covishield in India--and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech--which makes the locally developed Covaxin--are at capacity. New vaccines from new manufacturers need to hit the market. The shortage comes at a crucial time in the global fight against Covid-19 and in Indias until now impressive vaccine diplomacy. The shipments have gone from Asia to the Caribbean, from Africa to Latin America in boxes tagged with the Sanskrit phrase Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, may all be happy. Bhutan has administered at least one dose to more than 60% of its population thanks to vaccines produced in India. New Delhi also supplied serum to Paraguay, which had been under pressure from Beijing to break its ties with Taiwan in order to secure China-made vaccines. But the generosity of the diplomacy has earned the Modi government domestic ire. The Indian vaccine stock is distributed to all the states, which administer the healthcare system. The just-in-time replenishment has led to stock running out in some cities, generating criticism of inequitable vaccine availability as the exports continue and as local inoculations are limited to people 45 years old and above. Many of the countrys more industrialized states are suffering a surge in infections and want vaccine priority as well as an exception to age eligibility in order to serve their younger populations. The Modi government has categorically refused to do so. It is, however, working to allocate larger supplies to cities that have become pandemic hot spots. There is potentially some relief ahead. Russias Sputnik V vaccine was approved on April 12 by an independent expert panel and received immediate certification by the Drugs Controller General of India. Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddys Laboratories will become a manufacturing hub for Sputnik, producing 1 billion doses, with 250 million marked for local use. The Russian Direct Investment Fund is also in talks with other Indian manufacturers. ALSO READ: India's Covid crisis stems from arrogance, hyper-nationalism, incompetence A vaccine from Zydus Cadila, an Ahmedabad-based firm, may be next to get an approval. Johnson & Johnson may soon undertake a bridging trial for its single-dose vaccine to be manufactured for local as well as export market though its current pause in the U.S. to assess fears of blood clotting may become an issue in India as well. On April 13, the government also allowed the use of all vaccines certified by U.S., EU and Japanese regulators. There is much to admire about Indias efforts: It has managed to scale its medical manufacturing efforts to global proportions and earn the title of pharmacy of the world. When the pandemic ends, it will be with the tremendous assistance of Indias pharmaceutical industry. But, right now, we are nowhere near declaring that victory. Even if India fully vaccinates 300 million citizens by July, thats just about one third of the total population. Meanwhile, the pandemic is raging unabated, sparing not even younger people. For now, Indias fight against Covid-19 hangs in balance. And so does the worlds. (The views are personal.) Facebook spent $24 million in 2020 keeping its billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his family secure at home and when travelling. Pictured: Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan Facebook spent $24 million on keeping its billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg secure at home and when travelling in 2020, according to a financial filing from the tech giant. The huge cost comes due to 'identified specific threats' faced by the company's co-founder, necessary due to his 'unique position' as 'one of the most recognised executives in the world,' according to the proxy statement filed on Friday. Facebook spent $3 million more on protecting Mr Zuckerberg than in 2019, with the increase in costs blamed on the pandemic, the 2020 US elections, and the rising cost of personal bodyguards. The filing shows that in 2020, the company spent more than $13.4 million on personal security for its 36-year-old CEO 'at his residences and during personal travel pursuant to Mr. Zuckerberg's overall security program.' He also received a pre-tax allowance from the tech giant of $10 million for his family's private security, taking the total security spend to $23.4 million. Zuckerberg is married to Priscilla Chan, whom he met at university. They share two children. An additional $1.8 million went towards costs associated with his use of private jets, which is also included in the security expenses of the filing. For reasons behind the cost, the company said Mr Zuckerberg 'is synonymous with Facebook and, as a result, negative sentiment regarding our company is directly associated with, and often transferred to, Mr. Zuckerberg. 'Mr. Zuckerberg is one of the most-recognized executives in the world, in large part as a result of the size of our user base and our continued exposure to global media, legislative, and regulatory attention,' it added. The $3 million increase in security spend from 2019 to 2020 was 'primarily due to regular personal travel, costs relating to security protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased security coverage during the 2020 US elections and other periods with increased security risk, and market increases in the costs of security personnel,' Facebook said in the statement. Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, flanked by police and security, leaves after testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on 'An Examination of Facebook and Its Impact on the Financial Services and Housing Sectors' in Washington, DC in 2019 In total, Facebook's founder received $25,288,264 in compensation from Facebook in 2020. Mr Zuckerberg is currently the world's fifth richest person, worth $97 billion according to Forbes' 2021 World Billionaire List, and according to Bloomberg Billionaire's list is worth a staggering $118 billion. The statement said Mr Zuckerberg accepted a $1 salary from Facebook, as he has done in previous years, and did not receive any bonus payments or incentive compensation from the company. It noted that the full amount given to Facebook's CEO each year for security is expected to be spent, but that any portion left unused would cover excess security costs in future years. The security team is led by former US Secret Service agent Jill Leavens Jones and also provides coverage for Facebook's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. Sandberg was paid $918,077 in 2020, and received $8,518,973 to cover her security costs, which also included her personal use of private aircraft. Sandberg and Zuckerberg are the only Facebook executives that receive 24/7 security protection. Pictured: A view of Mark Zuckerberg's Palo Alto home in California. Facebook spent $3 million more on protecting Mr Zuckerberg than in 2019, with the increase in costs blamed on the pandemic, the 2020 US elections, and the rising cost of personal bodyguards In 2019, Zuckerberg's $10 million budget not only bankrolled a 70-plus person security team, but was also reportedly used for a 'panic chute' and a bulletproof conference room, among other things. While it remains an unconfirmed rumor, many Facebook employees claim Zuckerberg has access to a 'panic chute' located in the floor of a bulletproof conference room located next to his office desk. The chute reportedly leads to the parking garage underneath Facebook's Menlo Park, California headquarters and is designed to get the CEO quickly out of the building in case of an emergency, according to Business Insider. Facebook, along with Zuckerberg and Sandberg, have been repeatedly criticised over issues relating to the company's handling of its users' data and their privacy. Zuckerberg and Sandberg have both faced repeated calls from privacy advocates and experts to step down from their roles in the wake of various scandals in recent years. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg was paid $918,077 in 2020, and received $8,518,973 to cover her security costs, which also included her personal use of private aircraft Last week, it was reported that a new online tool contains the phone numbers of thousands of Facebook users. VICE's Motherboard found that the tool lets customers pay to uncover the numbers of users who have liked specific pages on the social media platform. The data is completely separate from the 533 million Facebook users' personal details, including addresses and phone numbers, that were posted to a hacking forum on Saturday. Facebook has no intention of notifying the more than 530 million users whose details were hacked and posted online, the social media giant said last week. Facebook said in a blog post on April 6 that 'malicious actors' had obtained the data prior to September 2019 by 'scraping' profiles using a vulnerability in the platform's tool for syncing contacts. Among the victims were Zuckerberg, whose cell phone number was among the leaked personal data posted online by hackers. A Facebook spokesman told Reuters the social media company was not confident it knew which users had been hacked and would need to be notified. Pictured: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 25, 2021. Zuckerberg and Sandberg have both faced repeated calls from privacy advocates and experts to step down from their roles in the wake of various security scandals in recent years Business Insider reported last year that no one is allowed to park their car in the garage space below Zuckerberg's desk for fear of car bombs and other safety risks. And whether he's inside the offices or not, Zuckerberg is tailed by an intimidating group of security guards, the website reported. Zuckerberg has armed security outside his gated homes in California's Bay Area, all of his doctors are screened beforehand and he's driven everywhere, according to Business Insider. Guards help protect Zuckerberg and Sandberg from stalkers, of which they reportedly have many. The pair also have 'amusing' security names, Business Insider said. The website chose not to publish the names for privacy reasons. Stalkers are said to be referred to internally as BOLOs, or Be On the Look Outs, who are barred from entering Facebook's headquarters. Security guards also serve as a buffer between Zuckerberg and any angry employees. Guards sit at the front of company-wide meetings and there are often plainclothes guards situated in the crowd, Business Insider reported. They also guard him near his desk, which is designed in the same open plan as the other desks in the office. 'If you've ever been close to his office, you'll see there are big burly people sitting there staring at screens,' a Quora post from last year reads. 'They pretend to be software engineers but everyone knows they are security guards. 'Once I was there at 7 a.m., and tried to take a picture of his office (he was not inside) to send to my family, but immediately, 3 of the men came seemingly out of nowhere and asked me to delete the picture,' the post continued. On the one hand, President Joe Bidens decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 of this year makes perfect sense. Troops were sent there 20 years ago to root out al-Qaida, which had killed 3,000 Americans in the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. That objective was met 10 years ago. Since then, U.S. troops have tried to help the Afghan government build a civil society and help the Afghan military stave off the Taliban. Neither venture has succeeded. Its gone on long enough. Its time to come home. Advertisement On the other hand, the timing of the policy, announced in a televised address Wednesday, seems odd. U.S. troops long ago stepped away from playing a direct combat role. At the peak, their numbers totaled 98,000, and, over the 20-year span, 2,488 of them died. However, there are now just 3,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan1,000 of them special forcesand none of them have been killed in over a year. Advertisement Advertisement Some might ask, whats the rush to get out? The rush is this: Toward the end of the Trump administration, U.S. negotiators signed an accord with the Taliban, pledging to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021in exchange for which the Taliban renounced future cooperation with al-Qaida. (ISIS has recently emerged as a force in Afghanistan, but both the Taliban and al-Qaida fiercely oppose it.) If the U.S. troops arent out by then, the Taliban will attack them with armsthe U.S. will be forced back into combat, which is the last thing Biden or just about anybody wants. Advertisement Last month, at his first press conference as president, Biden said it would be logistically difficult, probably impossible, to withdraw all the troops by such an early date. In Wednesdays announcement, he said that the withdrawal will begin by May 1. Clearly Biden hopesmaybe he has somehow arrangedthat the Taliban will take that as a token of goodwill and refrain from attacking the Americans on their way out. As with many other hopes about the Taliban, there is no guarantee. Meanwhile, there is a larger issue, at least from the Afghan point of view. The U.S. troops, light-footed as theyve been in recent years, have performed counterterrorism missions on the Afghan-Pakistan border; theyve kept the Taliban from taking over the country completely; and theyve safeguarded the rights of girls and women, who would be horribly subjugatedas they were during the Talibans brief reign before the U.S. invasionif the Western troops departed. (NATOs troops, which slightly outnumber ours, will follow the U.S. troops out of the country.) Advertisement Advertisement Biden said on Wednesday that he had consulted with military and intelligence officials before making his decision, but he did not say they agreed with itand many of them clearly did not. A few hours before his address, the directors of the major U.S. intelligence agencies testified before a Senate committee on the leading threats facing the nation. No Afghan-based terrorist group topped the list, but when asked about the consequences of a U.S. troop withdrawal, CIA Director William Burns replied that, without troops on the ground, Americas ability to collect intelligence, or to act on reemerging threats, will diminishthats just a fact. Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, agreed and said this was the assessment of the entire intelligence community. Advertisement In his address, Biden said, Well continue to support rights of Afghan women and girls by maintaining significant humanitarian assistance. Well ask other countries in the region to do more to help. Well not take our eye off the terrorist threat. Well reorganize counterterrorist capabilitiessubstantial assets in the regionto prevent the reemergence of terrorists. Well hold the Taliban accountable not to allow any terrorist to threaten the U.S. from Afghan soil. Advertisement He went on, Some will say we cant do this without the military, but replied, Thats nothing but a recipe for keeping troops in Afghanistan indefinitely. Biden is right about that, but the critics also have a point. Biden added, Our diplomacy does not hinge on having boots on the ground, but boots do help diplomacy quite a bit if the ground is a war zone. Advertisement Retired Adm. William McRaven, the former head of U.S. Special Operations Command, who organized the attack on Osama bin Ladens lair in Pakistan, said in an interview with Defense One that the intelligence and counterterrorism missions could continue, even with the troop withdrawal. If you gave me the resources, I could figure out how to do this, McRaven said, adding that hed spoken about the subject with officials close to Biden. Now are we going to need some people on the ground? McRaven went on. Yeah, we are. Were going to need at least some small footprint at Bagram [the Air Force base in Afghanistan]. Were going to need a small footprint, obviously, in the capital. Were going to need intelligence resources. I think the administration will figure out how to manage that. Advertisement Advertisement Maybe, but under the treaty negotiated with the Taliban, and given Bidens announcement of a total withdrawal by September, its not clear how. Biden made some other compelling points in his speech. Since the killing of bin Laden, Islamist militias have spread across various countries, especially in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Therefore, it no longer makes sense to keep thousands of troops in one country, at a cost of billions of dollars. Some of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan werent born when bin Laden launched the 9/11 terrorist attack; some of them have parents who were stationed in Afghanistan. This war, Biden said, was never meant to be a multigenerational undertaking. Past U.S. commanders have said that there has never been a military solution to the war in Afghanistan, that there had to be a political settlement, but they warned against pursuing diplomacy until after the troopsU.S., NATO, and Afghanhad achieved favorable conditions by winning enough battles to give Western diplomats more leverage at the bargaining table. These victories never came; the conditions were never favorable. So, Biden asked, when will be the right moment to leave? One more year? Two more years? Ten more years? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden has always been skeptical of the case for escalation and mission creep in Afghanistan. When President Barack Obama was chairing debates on whether to pour more troops into the fight and to adopt a strategy of counterinsurgency (aka nation building), Vice President Biden was consistently opposedhe was often the only official in the room to call for a smaller footprint and a less ambitious strategy. Obama later admitted that Biden was right and scaled back to the troop levels to the strategy that Biden had preferred. But Obama left 5,500 troops in Afghanistan to assist the Afghan army and to perform counterterrorism missions near the Pakistan border. Trump, who wanted to get out entirely until his advisers convinced him otherwise, cut that presence to a few thousand. Now Biden, seeing no point in carrying this on indefinitely, is eliminating it entirely. Advertisement The ultimate consideration, Biden said, though not in so few words, is that Afghanistan just isnt that important to us. We have to focus on the challenges in front of us, he said. These include defeating terrorist operations that have metastasized far beyond Afghanistan, combating the pandemic, shoring up alliances in cybersecurity, and improving American competitiveness in the face of Chinas ambitions. One thing Biden should contemplate very seriously: Afghanistan may not be important to us, or much of the rest of the world, but it is important to Afghans, many of whom put their lives on the line to help U.S. officers, troops, and diplomats fight what became, at its peak, as much an American war as an Afghan struggle. If the Americans leave and the Taliban take over, many of those Afghans and their families will very likely be arrested or killed. Advertisement George Packer recalls in the Atlantic that, as the Vietnam War ground to a halt, then-Sen. Biden opposed spending money to bring thousands of South Vietnamese citizenswho had helped U.S. soldiers during that warout of the country and onto American shores. In retrospect, and to many at the time, it was a dishonorable position to take. (President Gerald Ford and many others took a different stance, and 135,000 Vietnamese were evacuated.) At the very least, President Biden should not repeat his mistake. One way to inject some morality into this extremely uncomfortable end of a much-too-long war, which hasnt had a convincing purpose for more than a decade, is to help those who have helped us. Mr. Schrepferman arrives at SagaCity with two decades of proven success at media and entertainment brands such as Viacom, Disney, Rolling Stone, and Shazam. He will be responsible for revenue growth across SagaCity's best-in-class local media brands in Houston, Seattle, Sarasota, and Portland, Oregon. He will also lead advertising sales and business development efforts for the company's talented content creation teams, working with partners in the travel and tourism industry. "Brad's singular expertise arrives at this most critical juncture in SagaCity's history. He will help lead our sales teams through this next critical stage of digital transformation," says Nicole Vogel, CEO and cofounder. "Our award-winning editorial teams have grown these regional media brands to attract the largest and most sought-after lifestyle audiences in some of the greatest influencer cities of our time. It's now time to further monetize these audiences of highly educated, affluent, early adopters." SagaCity Media's editorial and advertising offerings on a variety of channels bring the latest in city news and lifestyle to their communities, spotlighting the very best that they have to offer in food and drink, arts and culture, regional travel, outdoor recreation, homes and real estate, and more. That makes the company an ideal fit for Mr. Schrepferman's experience at the forefront of new media formats, honed amid repeated waves of innovation in digital marketing. "I'm excited to join SagaCity at a time when communities and hyperlocal brands are experiencing a renaissancewith an urgent need for high-quality lifestyle and editorial content," says Mr. Schrepferman. "SagaCity's authentic brands not only provide locally relevant information, but make people smile. I am looking forward to connecting our audiences with like-minded advertisers who are rebuilding and reinvesting in local economies." About SagaCity Media SagaCity Media, Inc. is the parent company of the preeminent lifestyle media brands in Seattle, Portland, Houston, Sarasota, Aspen, Vail, and Park City. In their respective markets, they produce the most-visited local lifestyle websites, largest-selling magazines, and industry-dominating social media followers. SagaCity also produces award-winning publications for regional tourism groups across the U.S. SOURCE SagaCity Media, Inc. Related Links http://www.sagacitymedia.com/ Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. HANOVER, N.H. - April 14, 2021 - Scientists have searched for years to understand how cells measure their size. Cell size is critical. It's what regulates cell division in a growing organism. When the microscopic structures double in size, they divide. One cell turns into two. Two cells turn into four. The process repeats until an organism has enough cells. And then it stops. Or at least it is supposed to. The complete chain of events that causes cell division to stop at the right time is what has confounded scientists. Beyond being a textbook problem, the question relates to serious medical challenges: Cells that stop dividing too soon can cause defects in growing organisms. Uncontrolled cell growth can lead to cancers or other disorders. A study from Dartmouth, published in Current Biology, provides a new answer to the question by tackling the problem in reverse: The research focused on large cells that reduce their size through division until enough cells are formed to move to other stages of development. "The early embryo is an ideal place to study cell size control," said Amanda Amodeo, an assistant professor of biology at Dartmouth and the lead researcher. "The cells we work with are eggs that are visible to the eye. They don't need to grow before dividing, so it allows us to look at connections that are obscured in adult cells." According to the study, a set amount of the protein histone H3 is loaded into an embryo before fertilization and is used up as the embryo divides into more cells. As histones are consumed to accommodate the growing number of nuclei, they release the enzyme Chk1 to bind with another protein, CDC25, to stop the multiplication of cells. The research is technical, but the mechanism is relatively straightforward: With histone H3 out of the way in a growing cell, the stop enzyme Chk1 finds and disables the protein that triggers cell cycle progression, CDC25. "The key to our research result was coming up with the possibility that unusually large amounts of histone H3 may feed into the stop enzyme," said Yuki Shindo a postdoctoral research fellow at Dartmouth and first author of the paper. "Once we noticed that, we were able to test this idea in our living test tube, fruit fly eggs." The new research builds on earlier studies which found that a biological constant exists between the size of a genome and the size of a cell. Researchers knew that once a balance point was achieved, cells would stop duplicating, but didn't understand how cells could determine the ratio. To find the answer to the long-running question, the research team studied fruit fly eggs. Because of their large size compared to other cells, the team was able to get a different perspective on the cell cycle. "We've had all of the pieces for years but couldn't quite get them to fit together," said Amodeo. "Once we recognized that H3 interacts directly with both DNA and Chk1, the work went very fast. Everything worked the first time, which is a good sign that the hypothesis is right." Since the same molecules that control cell division--histone H3, CDC25 and Chk1--are all identified in cancer and other ailments, the finding can help researchers that are seeking answers to questions related to development and disease. "We were originally curious about a basic biological question on how cells in a growing egg make a decision to stop at the correct timing," said Shindo. "We are now excited that our findings may also have an important implication for a broader context such as disease." ### Research conducted for this study was performed at and supported by the Lewis-Sigler Institute at Princeton University as well as by grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Uehara Memorial Foundation, and the Japanese Biochemical Society. About Dartmouth Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and offers the world's premier liberal arts education, combining its deep commitment to outstanding undergraduate and graduate teaching with distinguished research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and its leading professional schools: the Geisel School of Medicine, the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Thayer School of Engineering and Tuck School of Business. The U.S. Navy has disciplined an officer for calling enlisted sailors 'hatchet-wielding perverts' and 'deviants' who posed a risk to his family in a typo-ridden letter. The letter was signed by 'Lt. Nathanael Allison, PhD', who wrote that he had been given orders to live in Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan for the next three years. The disciplinary action against the officer comes after an investigation was opened last week when the letter was circulated on social media. In the letter, Allison said he was willing to pay for his family to live in a hotel rather than have them staying in enlisted housing, Task & Purpose, which obtained a copy of the letter, reported last week. Pictured: A copy of the letter believed to be sent by Lt. Nathanael Allison, resulting in the Navy taking disciplinary action against him Allison alleged that the enlisted quarters were unsafe for his family because of alcoholism, rampant drug use, sexual assaults, and 'other perverts'. 'I personally had to deal with an enlisted child molester as my subordinate,' wrote Allison, who added that sailors who stayed in enlisted housing were 'often drunk and hostile.' 'I have a good-looking family, a wife and two daughters age 3 and 4. They are prime targets to be victims for these enlisted deviant activities. My family should be safe in housing that is with officers,' Allison wrote. 'Officers are more respectable and theses [sic.] type of deviant activities are incredibly rare compared to deviant activities of enlisted being common place. [sic.]' Pictured: An aerial image of the the USS Ronald Reagan arriving at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan, in 2017. The U.S. Navy has disciplined an officer for calling enlisted sailors 'hatchet-wielding perverts' and 'deviants' who posed a risk to his family in a typo-ridden letter after he was ordered to live at the base for a year The Lieutenant also complained that living in enlisted accommodations could isolate his family from other officers who would be reluctant to visit them. He argued that if he were forced to live with enlisted sailors, he would be duty bound as an officer to report any instances of drug use he may witness. This, he wrote, would place his family at risk of retaliation, and he would constantly have to break up brawls among the other sailors. 'A few tours ago, an enlisted housing unit had two gangs attacking each other with hatchets and other weapons over competing drug turf,' he wrote. He did not clarify where the hatchet-fight occurred. 'Forcing an officer to live in a large apartment building with almost with enlisted is unethical. Factor in the fact that it is far away from work and far away from other officer housing even on Ikego and this is just wrong in every way,' he added. Pictured: Family Housing in Yokosuka and Ikego, where Lt. Nathanael Allison took issue with being placed after being ordered to live at the base for three years According to a response from Naval Hospital Yokosuka commanding officer Capt. Carolyn Rice posted on Sunday to the hospital's Facebook page, the base hospital is investigating the letter for its strong remarks and language used. 'I am aware of the recent allegation that a member of our staff sent a letter to the housing office with comments disparaging to enlisted service members,' Rice wrote. 'We are conducting an internal investigation into the matter and if any allegations are found to be true, we will take appropriate actions.' Allison's command is also reportedly working with the housing office to confirm the letter's authenticity and authorship, spokeswoman for the hospital Erika Figueroa told Stars and Stripes last week. 'It is under investigation, as is any case when someone allegedly acts in a way that is counter to our standards of behavior,' she told the military news outlet. The letter was reportedly sent on February 8, but began circulating on social media and causing outrage last week after it was posted to military community Facebook pages, and a YouTube video about the letter received over 300,000 views. Navy veteran and Ikego resident Amber Borrero told Stars and Stripes that she found the comments about her neighborhood unsettling. 'I always feel safe here,' she said last week. 'It's really upsetting, because our community is always really helpful. We have support pages specifically for Ikego, and if anyone needs anything they can make a post, and someone usually helps.' However, not all disagreed with the letter's sentiment. The official Terminal Lance Twitter account, run by Marine veteran, cartoonist, and author Maximilian Uriarte, wrote in response: 'I mean he's not wrong.' In the US Navy, Lieutenant is the third commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, and is comparable to the rank of Captain in the other branches of the Armed Service. It is the 18th rank in the United States Navy. Enlisted sailors are members of the Navy or Navy Reserve who serve in an occupational speciality that requires a high school diploma (or GED) as a minimum educational requirement. Ikego base is around seven miles from Yokosuka in Japan. It features more than 800 housing units. When a disaster strikes, social media can be helpful in alerting the public quickly. Social media posts can also offer useful information for emergency response and decision making. Given the immense amount of data in social media posts, only some of which may be important to emergency managers, researchers are using artificial intelligence, or AI, to make the process more efficient. Such computer systems use a process called machine learning, in which the computers are "trained" by humans, who help identify the characteristics of relevant posts in different situations. Virginia Tech professor Chris Zobel is part of a multidisciplinary project that seeks to involve community members in working with expert systems to help uncover disaster-related risks posted on social media. The project team recently won a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund initial work on the project. Besides Zobel, a professor of business information technology in the Pamplin College of Business, project participants are researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, Brigham Young University, and George Mason University, as well as members of Maryland's Montgomery County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The group has demonstrated the potential of its "human-AI teaming" approach in work on social media posts related to COVID-19 risks and attitudes in the metro Washington, D.C., region. It hopes to show the wider applicability of its approach in providing situational awareness for emergency management and disaster response. Situational awareness "is an understanding of what is happening and where it is happening during a crisis," Zobel explained. "The idea is that when individuals or groups tweet about what they are seeing and experiencing in different locations in the surrounding area -- whether it's about a large gathering of people without masks, rising flood waters, or a large tree leaning over a road due to strong winds during a hurricane -- emergency managers can use this information to understand what is happening in specific places and respond to the situation more effectively." The task of sifting through millions of posts for useful material would be daunting if not for computers. "Because so many people use social media, there is a lot of data to dig through," Zobel said. "Furthermore, because most people aren't necessarily just tweeting about the crisis, you have to actively search through this data for the subset of information that is actually relevant. "This is why artificial intelligence is needed -- a computer can do this large-scale searching through all the data much more quickly and effectively than a human can. But, the machine needs to be trained -- it needs to learn what to search for -- to do this correctly." Zobel said humans are thus used as part of machine learning, the process by which computers develop the ability to recognize patterns and correctly classify new information. "Machine learning is a form of artificial intelligence in that it replicates the process that humans go through to learn things." In the human-AI teaming project, trained humans would review the tweets (the project is focusing only on Twitter for now), categorizing them for relevance and the type of information they contain. "This can be particularly effective," Zobel said, "if the humans are local experts who can understand the context of the messages and assess their true relevance, like the CERT members we are working with." This expert classification of the messages is then fed to a computer algorithm, which iteratively learns to recognize the patterns inherent in them that make them relevant, he said. "The idea is ultimately to enable the trained AI system to analyze large numbers of new posts in real time and to identify whether they are relevant and how they should be classified." When the computer becomes an expert system, it can take the place of a human expert and store such knowledge as: "If we see a tweet with these particular characteristics, then most likely it is indicating that someone needs help," Zobel said. "This information can then be provided to emergency managers to give them a very focused view about what is actually happening and where, as the crisis evolves." The group's project brings together such disciplines as computer science and social science and such specialty areas as human-computer interaction, crisis informatics, and disaster operations. It draws on its members' expertise on such topics as how people use social media in crises, how teams use complex technologies in disasters, and how volunteers can be motivated. One of the project's goals is to show that its human-AI team approach can help reinforce community resilience. "My role is to look at how the extra knowledge from social media can be used to enable emergency managers and their communities to become increasingly more resilient," said Zobel, whose primary research interests are disaster operations management, humanitarian supply chains, supply chain resilience, and sustainability and environmental decision making. Disaster resilience, he said, is the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events. "My research focuses on quantifying how much resilience, and what type of resilience, is exhibited by different organizations in different disaster situations, in order to understand how that resilience can be improved. Having access to more and better information about what is going on can help with various aspects of preparing for, resisting, and recovering from a disaster." Zobel would be tackling two key questions: What is needed to implement such a system in a CERT organization teaming up with volunteers to identify actionable data from social media? Within this process, how can the human-technology interaction be facilitated effectively? He noted that the NSF award, part of its Civic Innovation Challenge, will be used for planning efforts "to convene a series of focus groups to assess the feasibility of working with different CERT organizations to implement the approach and to evaluate the receptiveness of emergency managers and government organizations to the idea." The team plans to pursue another grant from the NSF for the next stage of its work, to show the effectiveness of its approach and to further demonstrate that it can be used for other types of disasters and communities across the United States. ### Alliance Defending Freedom and three Christian schools are revolting against a high profile federal case filed by LGBT students last month that endangers funding to faith-based institutions. Corban University, William Jessup University and Phoenix Seminary are the three Christian schools who declared intervention on a federal lawsuit filed by 33 LGBT current and former students from Christian and religious schools last month. Conservative Christian nonprofit organization Alliance Defending Freedom is backing the three schools, who expressed desire to intervene as defendants in the lawsuit that claims the religious exemption in Title IX is unconstitutional. According to Christian Headlines, the ADF appealed to the federal court in Oregon on Friday to enable the three Christian post-secondary schools to serve as defendants in the case filed by Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP), an LGBT youth group arguing that the declaration of "religious exemptions'' in Title IX are unconstitutional. Current federal rules state that religious institutions are exempted from Title IX, the law that bans descriminiation based on sex in education programs education programs and activities. Under the Biden administration, Title IX now applies to sexual orientation and gender identity. The 33-member coalition of REAP argues that Christian colleges and universities are often discriminative of the LGBT community by prohibiting LGBT content in student handbooks "based on scriptural teaching." The lawsuit seeks to change this and ensure that Title IX is enforced at "all taxpayer-funded educational institutions, including at those institutions that discriminate and cause harm on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs." Per the ADF, this lawsuit simply "threatens the rights of faith-based schools to operate according to their beliefs. However, Christian schools are fighting back, claiming that the court must not decide upon the constitutionality of the Title IX's religious exemption without listening to the side of the "very religious educational institutions that the exemption was designed to protect." Furthermore, the schools' motion to intervene argues that ruling for the LGBT students' case will' be detrimental not only to faith-based institutions, but also to those students who rely on federal funding to attend these Christian schools. A ruling that sides with the LGBT students will also force faith-based institutions who remain steadfast in their religious convictions and uphold religious speech about important issues like sex, gender, marriage, and morality to lose vital federal funding for them to continue serving the religious public. "Religious schools would face the impossible choice of losing students who would be denied needed federal financial assistance or abandoning their beliefs. And it would slam the door of opportunity in the face of students who want to pursue higher education at colleges and universities that share their faith," the ADF said, describing what could happen if the LGBT group wins the case. According to Life News, ADF senior counsel David Cortman called the LGBT lawsuit "radical and broad," saying that "It attacks every single religious school in the entire country. It seeks to undo protections for religious colleges and universities to be able to teach and operate according to their own religious beliefs." Cortman argued that the LGBT lawsuit in fact "creates constitutional violations" instead of solving such violations, "discriminating against the schools for operating according to their faith." The LGBT lawsuit appears to be an emboldened attack on religious freedom, perpetuated by President Joe Biden's executive orders and the Democrat-supported Equality Act. Cortman hopes that the court will "allow them to participate" in a discussion that in fact involves them and the fate of 200 more Christian schools across the United States. President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccination campaign hit a snag Tuesday when federal regulators recommended a "pause" in administering Johnson & Johnson shots. But the White House portrayed the action as important validation of his measured approach throughout the rollout. Biden declared that even with a temporary loss of J&J 's one-shot vaccine, there is a huge supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, enough that "is basically 100% unquestionable, for every single solitary American." Perhaps more concerning than any worry about supply, however, is the potential blow to public confidence in all of the vaccines, as polls suggest potentially tens of millions of Americans are hesitant to get the shots that public health experts say are necessary for the nation to emerge from the pandemic. The pause actually should have the opposite effect, boosting confidence that the government is putting safety first, Biden and top health officials said at a White House briefing. The advisory by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - citing a need to investigate reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots - was "testimony to how seriously we take safety," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert. In the opening months of his presidency, Biden has put top priority on a robust response to the virus that has killed 559,000 Americans, with a vaccine campaign in which nearly 50% of adults have received at least one shot. His actions have received generally strong reviews, and hesitancy toward taking the vaccine has gradually declined as inoculations have increased. With three vaccines in use in the U.S. and plenty of supply in the pipeline, Biden actually has received some criticism for not sharing more vaccines with other nations. The president said Tuesday's action proved the wisdom of his approach. "My message to the American people on the vaccine is, I told you all," Biden told reporters after the announcement, adding that he "made sure we have 600 million doses" just from Pfizer and Moderna in the pipeline. The Johnson & Johnson pause, which regulators say they hope to resolve within days, comes on the heels of production issues at the Baltimore plant that produces the J&J vaccine. The White House, which got only about 12 hours' notice that some sort of announcement was coming and did not have any advance warning about the substance of the FDA and CDC's action, moved swiftly to minimize concerns about its impact. Aides recognized that they had to portray the decision as ensuring the "gold standard" of safety, to avoid feeding into vaccine hesitancy. "I think it's a very strong argument for safety actually," Fauci said. White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients added that the pause by the agencies "should reassure the American public that they will be very diligent and conservative about how they approach the vaccines." They argued the pause proved the prudence of Biden's cautious approach to promises around vaccine supply and delivery, as well as his administration's reluctance to make commitments to share excess vaccine with the world because of concerns about potential setbacks such as this. "They're clearly trying to reassure people there will be supply, and it will be safe," said former White House communications director Jennifer Palmieri. "You don't want this to have happened, but in terms of what are your tools when it does, they used their best ones - the president, the most senior person who has credibility and the top experts - to do it." Due to supply issues, the J&J shot reflects just a small share of doses being administered, though it had been one of the most promising vaccines given its ease of administration and distribution. Zients said the U.S. still expects to take delivery of enough doses of the other two approved vaccines for every adult American to get their shots by the end of May. Moderna and Pfizer this week are delivering 28 million doses to the federal government - enough to exceed even the current 3 million shot-per-day pace. Zients acknowledged that some states may have been caught off guard by Tuesday's announcement but said that reflected the speed with which officials moved to address the safety concerns. He added it was proof of Biden's commitment to "follow the science" in responding to the pandemic. "We want the science agencies to lead with science," Zients said, saying no one at the White House was involved in the decision to call for the pause. "There's no reason for us to be involved in any of the scientific decisions, we bring nothing to the table." The agencies said Tuesday they were investigating unusual clots that occurred in six women, of the more than 7.2 million adults who've received the shot. One of the patients died and another remains hospitalized in serious condition. Officials said the delay had as much to do with educating physicians about the unique way the clots have to be treated as their desire to study the exceedingly rare side effect. The usual treatment, with the blood thinner heparin, could lead to dangerous patient outcomes, they said. Fauci, speaking at the White House, advised those who had recently gotten J&J shots not to "get an anxiety reaction, because remember it's less than one in a million." He added, "However, having said that, pay attention" to potential symptoms of the clot including severe headaches, abdominal or leg pain, and shortness of breath. Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, an infectious disease physician at the John Cochran VA Medical Center and St. Louis Board of Health, said the J&J pause might affect overall vaccine confidence but the transparency was critical to boosting confidence in minority communities that have some of the lowest uptake of the shots. "Today was such a sign of strength and of leadership and of improved direction toward rebuilding trust in these communities," she said of the Biden administration's forthrightness about the issue. "They came to us as soon as this information became available knowing what was at stake." "They're trusting the American public, and this gives these communities a reason to trust them," she said. Also read: US calls for pause on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine over blood clotting reports Also read: Pfizer to pursue bringing COVID-19 vaccine to India after easing of import rules Also read: Pfizer hikes COVID-19 vaccine price to $23 per dose in latest EU contract A senior Manitoba civil servant was stripped of his assistant deputy minister title after Premier Brian Pallister learned he travelled to Las Vegas to referee a UFC match, but the government refuses to say whether the employee had been granted permission for the travel. A senior Manitoba civil servant was stripped of his assistant deputy minister title after Premier Brian Pallister learned he travelled to Las Vegas to referee a UFC match, but the government refuses to say whether the employee had been granted permission for the travel. Jerin Valel was hired as the interim assistant deputy minister of transformation as of early March, but was moved back down to his director position this week after the premier learned of Valel's travel for his side gig. Valel has been refereeing at UFC matches around the world since 2012, and was the referee for multiple matches in Las Vegas before and after a travel ban was issued by Pallister on Feb. 1. To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here. This content is made available to Free Press readers as part of an agreement with CBC that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Manitoba. Questions about CBC content can be directed to talkback@cbc.ca. Below is a recap of all the witnesses who testified at Derek Chauvin's trial through April 16, in order of appearance. PROSECUTION 911 dispatcher Jenna Scurry The prosecution's first witness on March 29 was Jenna Scurry, a 911 dispatcher who watched live video of police kneeling on Floyd and testified that she called the officers' supervisor with concerns about their use of force. It was Scurry who sent officers to the Cup Foods at 38th and Chicago Avenue on May 25, 2020, after receiving a call about a man using a counterfeit bill. Scurry told how she had seen surveillance footage of the incident from one of the city's pole mounted cameras and been struck by a 'gut instinct' that 'something wasn't right'. The video, which had not previously been released publicly, showed Chauvin and fellow officers Lane and Kueng perched atop Floyd next to a squad car while officer Thao looked on. Scurry noted that she wasn't watching the stream the entire time because she was fielding other calls. But she said that as she glanced away and back again, she was struck that the officers hadn't moved and asked a colleague if the screen had frozen. 'I first asked if the screens had frozen because it hadn't changed. I thought something might be wrong,' she said. She said that she hadn't wanted to be a 'snitch' but she recognized what appeared to be use of force and stated: 'I took that instinct and I called the sergeant.' Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank played audio from the call, in which Scurry said: 'I don't know if they had to use force or not. They got something out of the back of the squad and all of them sat on this man. So I don't know if they needed to or not but they haven't said anything to me yet.' 'You can call me a snitch if you want to,' she added. She said she made the call to 'voice my concerns' and noted that she had never made one like it to a police sergeant before. Cross examining Scurry, Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson was at pains to underscore gaps in what she saw and the facts that she had no police training, little knowledge of what the calls to which she sent officers actually looked like and pointed out that her attention was not trained on the screen at all times. Bystander Alisha Oyler Alisha Oyler, a cashier at the Speedway gas station opposite Cup Foods who recorded video of Floyd's arrest was the state's second witness. 'Trying not to cuss' and frequently failing to recall events Oyler explained that she had first noticed police 'messing with someone' outside the Dragon Wok restaurant opposite Cup Foods. She said she had watched officers handcuff Floyd and take him across to the now infamous site of squad car 320 in front of the store's entrance and continued to record events on her cell phone as she stepped out to have a cigarette. She said she had done so because the police were 'always messing with people and it's not right'. MMA fighter and bystander Donald Williams Donald Winn Williams II, a mixed martial arts fighter and the prosecution's third witness who had yelled at Chauvin to check for a pulse and accused him of placing Floyd in what he called a 'kill choke', testified first on March 29 before continuing on March 30. Williams became emotional as he spoke about how he called 911 after Floyd was placed in an ambulance because: 'I believed I had just witnessed a murder. I felt the need to call the police on the police.' He began to cry as jurors were played audio of the call, in which he named officer 987 and said: 'He just pretty much killed this guy. He wasn't resisting arrest. He had his knee on his neck. He wasn't resisting arrest or nothing, he was handcuffed.' Williams said he witnessed Chauvin 'shimmying', or adjusting his position on Floyd's neck, in a recognized martial art maneuver designed to double-down on and tighten a choke hold. He told how he watched Chauvin squeeze the life out of Floyd, who he said was in 'tremendous pain' and 'faded away like a fish in a bag'. He said that when he called Chauvin out for using a blood choke the officer looked him straight in the eye and did not stop. Williams also told how Officer Tou Thao put his hands on his chest and pushed him back to the curb when he tried to intervene. At the end of his 911 call Williams was heard shouting at Thao: 'Y'all murderers man, y'all murderers.' On cross-examination, Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson attempted to undercut William's presentation of himself as a controlled and professional observer of events who remained schooled by his training and experience in sports and security. Nelson appeared to be trying to provoke Williams into a display of anger as he repeatedly tried to discredit his claims to having remained calm. 'You started calling [Chauvin] names didn't you?' Nelson asked. 'You called him, 'a tough guy.' You called him 'such a man,' 'bogus.' You called him a 'bum' 13 times. You called him a 'bitch.'' But while Williams agreed to all of these assertions he would not be persuaded to agree to Nelson's characterization of him as 'angry' or threatening. Asked if he had told Officer Tou Thao that he hoped he would shoot himself he said: 'No..I said you will shoot yourself in two years because of what you did.' Bystander Darnella Frazier, 18 Darnella Frazier, who was 17 years old when she recorded the most famous viral video of Floyd's arrest last spring, took the stand on March 30 and told how she felt helpless as she watched him lose consciousness. 'There's been nights I've stayed up apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting, not saving his life,' Darnella, now 18, said. 'But it's not what I should have done - it's what [Chauvin] should have done.' Darnella - who was not shown on camera in court because of her age - asserted that Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck even harder as the growing crowd begged him to stop - and that he didn't remove his knee even when paramedics were searching for a pulse. 'I heard George Floyd saying: "I can't breathe, please get off of me." He cried for his mom and he was in pain,' Darnella said. 'It seemed like he knew it was over for him. He was terrified, he was suffering. This was a cry for help.' When an ambulance arrived, Darnella said paramedics had to tell Chauvin to remove his knee from Floyd's neck. Darnella said that she felt 'threatened' by both Chauvin and Thao who she said 'were quick to put their hands on their mace' when a woman who identified herself as a firefighter asked Chauvin to check for a pulse and she and Darnella made to move towards Floyd where he lay. Asked if, at any point, Chauvin had 'got up or let up' she said: 'If anything he actually was kneeling harder. It looked like he was shoving his knee in his neck.' At the close of her testimony Darnella broke down as she told jurors how witnessing and filming Floyd's death affected her life. 'When I look at George Floyd I look at my dad, I look my brothers, I look at my cousins, my uncles because they are all black,' she said. 'I have a black father, black brother, black friends and I look at that and I think how that could have been them.' Bystander Judeah, nine Nine-year-old witness Judeah, took the witness stand on March 29 and described how she and her cousin Darnella, who testified earlier, had gone to Cup Foods for snacks on May 25 when they found Floyd pinned to the ground by Chauvin and two other police officers. The girl, who was not shown on camera due to her age, gave gut-wrenching testimony about how Chauvin refused to remove his knee from Floyd's neck even after paramedics arrived and 'asked him nicely to get off of him'. 'He [Chauvin] still stayed on him [Floyd],' Judeah said. She said the medics eventually 'just had to put him off, get him off of him.' 'I was sad and kind of mad. If felt like he was stopping his breathing and kind of hurting him,' Judeah said of Floyd. Judeah is pictured second from the right in a green shirt in video from Floyd's fatal confrontation with police that was shown in court Bystander Alyssa, 18 The prosecution's fourth witness on March 30 was an 18-year-old named Alyssa, who told how she had walked towards the incident and started recording on her friend's cell phone because she felt 'something was wrong'. Alyssa broke down in tears as she described what of Floyd, saying: 'It's difficult [to talk about] because I felt like there wasn't anything I could doand I felt like I was failing him, failing to do anything.' Alyssa said that Chauvin did not move his knee even on the arrival of paramedics and in fact she saw him put more weight on Floyd's neck as the minutes ticked by. 'He [Chauvin] didn't really take his eyes off him [Floyd] for the most part. At one point I saw him put more and more weight onto him. I saw his back foot lift off the ground and his hands go in his pocket.' 'I saw him move his knee down more, make little movements,' she added. The prosecution played the video recorded by Alyssa, in which she could be heard shouting: 'He's not moving. Check his pulse. Tell me his pulse right now. It's been over a minute [since he moved].' She told the jury: 'I knew that time was running out. He was going to die.' Finally she said, there came a point when 'I kind of knew that he was dead and not breathing, no longer fighting, no longer resisting.' Bystander Kaylynn, 17 Alyssa's friend, 17-year-old Kaylynn, was the last minor to testify on March 30. She said that it was the police officers who were 'hostile' not the crowd recalling how Chauvin was 'digging his knee into George Floyd's neck' and 'grabbed his mace and started shaking it at us' when onlookers shouted at him to check for a pulse. 'I was scared because I didn't know what was going to happen,' she said. Asked directly what she was scared of, she replied: 'I was scared of Chauvin.' Off-duty firefighter Genevieve Hansen Off-duty Minneapolis firefighter and paramedic Genevieve Hansen, 27, caused a stir in the courtroom on March 30 when she was admonished by Judge Cahill for repeatedly interrupting and talking back to Chauvin's attorney Nelson during cross examination. Hansen had wiped away tears as she recalled how she had identified herself as a first responder and begged to help Floyd when she believed he was dying outside the Cup Foods store on May 25, 2020. But soon after her demeanor changed as she was questioned by Nelson, who asked if she would describe bystanders at the scene of Floyd's arrest as upset or angry. Hansen replied: 'I don't know if you've seen anybody be killed, but it's upsetting.' At this point Judge Cahill stepped in and cautioned Hansen for being argumentative, telling her to 'just answer his questions'. Minutes later Cahill sent the jury out for the day before turning to an increasingly combative Hansen and telling her in no uncertain terms: 'You will not argue with the court, you will not argue with counsel.' Under direct examination, Hansen explained how her desperate pleas to be allowed to provide Floyd with life-saving medical assistance were ignored by the officers who pinned him down and blocked by officer Thao. 'I tried calm and reasoning, I pleaded and was desperate. I was desperate to help,' Hansen said. Her calls fell on deaf ears as Chauvin remained unmoved and Officer Thao told her to remain on the curb, at one point saying: 'If you really are a Minneapolis firefighter you would know better than to get involved.' In court Hansen said: 'That's exactly what I should have done. There was no medical assistance on the scene and I could have given [it].' 'The officers were leaning over his body with what appeared to be the majority of their weight on him,' she said. 'He wasn't moving, he was cuffed and three grown men putting all their weight on somebody that's too much. 'Chauvin seemed very comfortable with the majority of his weight balanced on top of Mr Floyd's neck. In my memory he had his hand in his pocket. He wasn't distributing the weight on the car, on the pavement.' Hansen said that she had assessed that Floyd had a 'altered level of consciousness,' that concerned her greatly. She said that his face was 'smooshed' into the pavement and said: 'I was really concerned. I thought his face looked puffy and swollen which would happen if you were putting a grown man's weight [on him]. 'I noticed some fluid coming from what looked like George Floyd's body and a lot of time we see a patient release their bladder when they die - that's where my mind went. He was restrained but he wasn't moving.' Hansen said she recognized that Floyd was unconscious because he was not responding to the 'painful stimulae' of Chauvin's knee on his neck. 'What I needed to know was whether or not he had a pulse anymore,' she said. But she said she was not permitted access to the scene and the officers ignored her offers to talk them through CPR. She said she felt 'helpless.' 'There's a man being killed,' she said, 'and had I had access I would have [helped]. This human was denied that right.' Before she took the stand jury saw video she had recorded on the scene and heard audio of the 911 call she placed immediately after. Her voice trembling with shock and emotion she could be heard telling the operator: 'I literally just watched police officers not take a pulse and not to do anything to save a man and I am a first responder myself and I literally have it on video.' In an uncomfortable cross-examination, Hansen refused to be drawn into an admission that she would be distracted from her job if a threatening crowd were gathered telling her she was 'doing it wrong'. Time after time Nelson attempted to get an admission out of her until she said: 'I think a burning structure where there are buildings and homes and people living on either side is much more concerning than 20 people. 'I'll repeat myself, I know my job, I'm confident in doing my job and there's nothing anybody can do to disturb me.' When he asked if she had grown angry, she said she had been 'desperate' before admitting: 'I got quite angry after Mr Floyd was loaded into the ambulance and there was no point in trying to reason with them anymore because they had just killed somebody.' Cup Foods employee Christopher Martin Cup Foods clerk Christopher Martin testified on March 31 about how his coworker called the cops on Floyd because he believed he used a counterfeit $20 bill on May 25. Looking back, Martin said he wished he'd never raised alarm about the bill because he believes Floyd might still be alive if he hadn't, telling the court: 'This could have been avoided.' Martin told the court that he became suspicious of the bill because it had an unusual 'blue pigment so I assumed it was fake'. 'The policy was if you took a counterfeit bill you had to pay for it out of your pay-check,' Martin explained. 'I took it anyways and was planning to just put it on my tab - until I second guessed myself and eventually told my manager.' The manager then instructed Martin to go outside and bring Floyd back, he said. When Floyd refused, a co-worker called police. One of the responding officers was Chauvin. Martin said that the two things he noticed about Floyd were his 'size' and he appeared to be 'high'. However he said that he did not find Floyd's demeanor to be threatening, saying: 'He seemed very friendly, approachable, talkative, he seemed just to be having an average Memorial Day living his life. But he did seem high.' Martin said he went back to manning the cash register when police arrived but soon after noticed a commotion at the front of Cup Foods and went outside, where he saw Floyd pinned to the ground. 'I saw people yelling and screaming I saw Derek [Chauvin] with his knee on George's neck on the ground,' he said. 'George was motionless, limp and Chauvin seemed veryhe was in a resting state, meaning like he just rested his knee on his neck.' Martin, who lived above the store, said: 'I pulled my phone out first and called my mom and told her not to come downstairs. Then I started recording. 'Later on that night I deleted it because when they picked George up off the ground the ambulance went straight down 38th and the quickest way to get to the hospital is straight down Chicago Avenue.' Martin said he assumed from this that Floyd was already dead and deleted his recording as he didn't want to have to show it to anybody or answer questions about it in the aftermath. Asked how he had felt as he absorbed what he had just witnessed, Martin said 'disbelief and guilt'. Martin, who had earlier told jurors that he had almost not reported the fake bill and only done so after second-guessing himself, said: 'If I would have just not taken the bill this could have been avoided.' Asked if he still worked at Cup Foods, Martin's voice cracked as he said: 'No. I didn't feel safe.' Bystander Christopher Belfrey, 45 Christopher Belfrey testified on March 31 about video he recorded when he drove past Cup Foods and say officers Lane and Kueng approaching Floyd in his car. Belfrey, 45, said he started recording when parked directly behind Floyd's SUV because he was 'startled' to see Lane draw his handgun. He explained that he pulled to the other side of the street, not wanting to 'get in the middle' of whatever was occurring and continued recording. The court watched the footage in which Floyd can be seen, apparently cuffed and compliant, seated against a wall having been removed from his vehicle. According to Belfrey, Lane and Kueng then walked Floyd across to their squad car and put him in it. Belfrey said that he had simply gone home at that point because 'I thought he was detained. I thought it was over.' Bystander Charles McMillian, 61 Charles McMillian, who was the first person to confront police about their treatment of Floyd on the day of his fatal arrest, broke down in tears as the prosecution played footage of cops wrestling with the handcuffed black man. McMillian, 61, said he was driving by the Cup Foods convenience store when he noticed officers struggling with Floyd and pulled over simply because he was 'being nosy'. In footage from Lane's body camera McMillian was heard calling out as cops grappled with Floyd in their squad car. McMillian said he 'tried to make the situation easy,' by telling Floyd: 'You can't win.' Floyd could be heard telling McMillian: 'I'm not trying to win. Don't do me like that, I'm claustrophobic.' As he described how Floyd began to cry out for his mother minutes later while pinned to the ground by the officers, McMillian wept as he revealed that he understood how Floyd felt after losing his own mom. 'I couldn't help but feel helpless. I don't have a mama either, but I understand him. My mom died June 25th,' the witness said through tears. He revealed that he had experience of being handcuffed himself and as Floyd became more agitated, having been apparently calm as he was walked towards officers Lane and Kueng's squad car, McMillian said he tried to help. The court played footage of the events as McMillian described them. One clip of McMillian on the sidewalk was spliced with body camera footage of Floyd in the squad car. 'I'm watching, you know, Mr Floyd,' McMillian said. 'He collapsed onto the back seat and I'm trying to get him to understand when you make a mistake, once they get you in cuffs you got to wait there. Once they get you in cuffs you can't win.' McMillian then described how he continued to try to help Floyd after officers Lane, Kueng and Chauvin had pinned him to the ground. '[Floyd] kept saying: 'I can't breathe. Mama they're killing me, they're killing me.' He started saying: 'My body's shutting down.'' As more of the video was played McMillian's voice could be heard urging Floyd: 'Get up and get into the car. Get up and get into the car man.' Floyd responded: 'I can't.' Later McMillian could be heard telling Chauvin: 'Your knee on his neck, that's wrong man.' Of his own part in the scene, McMillian said: 'I was trying to help him. He appeared to be in and out [of consciousness], with foam around his mouth. I said: 'Man he said he can't breathe,' and they said: 'Well if he keeps talking he can breathe.'' The jury was shown body-cam footage in which McMillian told Chauvin: 'I don't respect what you did.' The officer replied: 'Well that's one person's opinion. We got to control this guy because he's a sizeable guy and looks like he's probably on something.' Minneapolis Police Lt Jeff Rugel Lt Jeff Rugel, who runs the Minneapolis Police Department's Business Technology Unit, testified on March 31 to authenticate officers' body camera footage and other video evidence from the scene. Brief footage from Chauvin's camera was played, revealing his perspective as he approached Floyd for the first time. Chauvin was seen with his hands around Floyd's neck as he and Officer Thomas Lane struggled with to get him into a squad car. After a chaotic, blurred portion of footage, Chauvin's camera fell to the tarmac and there was no more footage from his perspective. In footage recorded by Lane's body camera, Chauvin's camera could be seen lying beneath the squad car. It's unclear exactly how the camera came to be on the ground during the confrontation. Rugel told the jury how that Minneapolis police policy demands that officers wear their cameras at all times and to activate them during any activity or public interaction. Asked if Chauvin wore a body camera and if that was 'the box on the floor [beneath squad car 320]', Rugel said: 'Yes.' George Floyd's girlfriend Courteney Ross Courteney Ross broke down in tears within minutes of taking the stand on Thursday as she described how she and Floyd first met in 2017 at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center, a shelter where he was working as a security guard and she was visiting her son's father. The married mother-of-two said she was touched when Floyd asked to pray with her because she was going through a hard time in her own life - and they kissed in the lobby that same day. Ross - who wore a gold necklace with her late boyfriend's name - began crying even harder when Frank pulled up a photo of Floyd. Then she laughed as she called the photo a 'dad selfie', before telling how hard it was for Floyd to be so far away from his two daughters, who lived in Texas. She described the man who had called out for his mother in his dying moments as 'a mama's boy' who was 'devastated' and 'broken' by her death in May 2018. 'He seemed like a shell of himself like he was broken, he seemed so sad,' she said. 'He didn't have the same kind of bounce that he had.' Ross was then asked to tackle head on the issue of drug abuse with which, she admitted, both she and Floyd struggled. She said that they were both addicted to opioids having been prescribed them for chronic pain - including oxycodone, which he took in pill form, obtaining it through other people's prescriptions to make sure the pills were safe. 'Both Floyd and I, our story it's a classic story of how many people get addicted to opioids. We both suffered from chronic pain. Mine was in my neck and his was in his back. 'We both have prescriptions. But after prescriptions that were filled, and we got addicted, and tried really hard to break that addiction many times.' Though he tried to get clean, she said it was something that he struggled with 'every day'. In March 2020, she said, she noticed 'behavioral changes' that made her suspect that Floyd was using again, or more, and that she too fell into heavier use at that time. On cross examination by Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson, Ross revealed that that she and Floyd both purchased opioids from Morries Lester Hall, a friend who was in the passenger seat of Floyd's car on the day he died. Jurors heard that Hall sold controlled substances to both her and Floyd and that she 'did not like Morries at all'. Ross told the court how, in March 2020, just two months before Floyd's death, he purchased pills that she did not recognize as the opioids to which both she and Floyd were addicted. She said the pills, which she believes landed Floyd in the hospital due to an accidental overdose, appeared 'thick' and were not uniform, and that when she took them they did not have the same effect as opioids. 'The pill seemed like it was a really strong stimulant. I couldn't sleep all night. I felt very jittery,' Hall said. Ross also revealed that Floyd had been hospitalized twice in March on one occasion due to a drug overdose that saw him hospitalized for five days. Paramedics Seth Bravinder and Derek Smith Paramedics Seth Bravinder and Derek Smith testified on Thursday as the jury was shown shocking new images of EMTs loading Floyd into an ambulance and attempting to resuscitate him. Bravinder and Smith were asked by the prosecution to explain what was happening in graphic video and stills of Floyd being placed on a stretcher and treated in the ambulance. Some of the images came from video recorded by witnesses on the scene, while others came from the body camera of officer Thomas Lane, who rode with Floyd to the hospital. Asked to describe Floyd's condition, Smith said: 'In lay terms, I thought he was dead,' as the prosecution showed a screengrab of him checking for Floyd's pulse. Video showed Smith gesturing to Chauvin to remove his knee from Floyd's neck so they could put his limp body on a stretcher. In images shown during Smith's testimony, Floyd was seen slumped, and with his mouth bloodied as Smith said he did not have an obvious physical injury that would explain his dire condition. Smith told the court that Floyd's pupils were 'large and dilated'. Bravinder was asked during his testimony what a medic would expect to see in the eyes of a patient who had suffered an opioid overdose. 'We look to see if their pupils are really small, constricted, pinpoint,' he said. But when Nelson countered, asking what methamphetamine one of the substances found in Floyd's blood - does to the pupils, Bravinder said: 'It dilates them.' Smith told the court that he detected a flicker of electrical activity in Floyd's heart as they sped to the Hennepin County Medical Center and administered a shock in hopes of restarting a pulse. But, he said, Floyd remained 'in his dead state'. Both Bravinder and Smith testified that they wanted to get Floyd into the ambulance quickly because he was in cardiac arrest. Bravinder added: 'On top of that there was also a crowd of people who were yelling and in my mind we had to get away from that because running a cardiac arrest takes lot of mental power, can be taxing and we want to do that in the optimum environment to be in a controlled space.' Bravinder said he stopped the ambulance en route to the hospital and went into the back to assist his partner when Floyd's cardiac monitor was showing 'asystole' - the medical term for 'flat-lined'. 'It's not a good sign,' Bravinder said. 'Basically just because your heart isn't doing anything at that moment. There's not it's not pumping blood. So it's not it's not a good sign for a good outcome.' Asked if it was important to start resuscitation efforts as soon as a pulse was lost, Bravinder said: 'Yes, as soon as possible.' 'The longer a patient goes without receiving resuscitation the less likely it is that resuscitation will be successful.' Cross-examined by Nelson, Bravinder confirmed he had personally been called out to emergencies involving drug overdoses and that police were called to such cases as a matter of course. Nelson asked: 'Is that because sometimes when people are treated for an overdose and they come round they become aggressive and violent?' Bravinder responded: 'Yes.' Minneapolis Fire Department Captain Jeremy Norton Minneapolis Fire Department Captain Jeremy Norton testified on April 1 about the initial confusion that saw their fire rig arrive at Cup Foods to assist paramedics only to find that the ambulance had pulled off the scene and was treating Floyd a few blocks away. He explained that they had received very little information beyond receiving a call out to Cup Foods which was elevated from code 2 (non-emergent), to code 3, (lights and sirens en route). According to Norton the only information he had was that the patient had sustained 'a mouth injury'. On arrival at the store Norton found 'people upset' and searched for a patient. Norton said: 'I was looking for a patient. The call was confusing because I didn't have a lot of information so was essentially looking on the floor for someone.' The fire rig ultimately joined the ambulance crew at 36th and Park Avenue, two blocks away. By the time he saw Floyd he was, he said: 'Face up on the stretcher. He had an advance airway in an he had the Lucas compression device in place and working.' Norton cleared Lane out of the ambulance and took over attempts to resuscitate Floyd who was, he said, 'to all intents and purposes dead'. Minneapolis Police Department Sergeant David Pleoger David Pleoger, who recently retired as a sergeant with the Minneapolis Police Department and was Chauvin's supervisor, testified on April 1. The jury heard new audio of Chauvin speaking with Pleoger moments after Floyd's death, saying: 'I was just going to call you come out to our scene we had to hold a guy down he was going crazy, wouldn't go in the back of the squad.' Pleoger said that Chauvin did not tell him that he had applied his knee to Floyd's neck or that he had held him down for any length of time. 'I believe he told me he'd become combative he mentioned he'd injured either his nose of his mouth and eventually having struggled with him,' Pleoger recalled. 'He said he'd suffered a medical emergency and an ambulance was called.' As supervising shift sergeant, Pleoger was tasked with investigating any use of force incidents that occurred during his shift 3pm to 1am. Describing the call he'd received from 911 dispatcher Jenna Scurry, Pleoger said: 'She called to say she didn't want to be a snitch but she had seen something while viewing a camera that she thought was concerning.' Pleoger had not received a call from Chauvin at that time and initially told Scurry that what she saw 'might not count'. According to Minneapolis Police Department policy officers are required to report use of force incidents under certain circumstances but not if it is a 'take down', which Pleoger who had not been called by any of the officers on the scene - initially assumed was the case. The jury was shown footage from Pleoger's body camera in which officers Chauvin, Thao, Kueng and Lane could be standing near the site of where they took down Floyd. Pleoger instructed Chauvin to identify and speak with witnesses, to which the officer replied: 'We can try but they're pretty hostile.' Additional video showed Pleoger arriving at the hospital where Floyd was pronounced dead, in which Chauvin appeared to be wringing his hands. Asked if he had an opinion as to when Chauvin's restraint should have ended, Pleoger responded: 'Yes [it should have ended] when Mr Floyd was no longer offering up any resistance.' MPD Sergeant Jon Edwards Sgt. Jon Edwards, who was called to secure the scene in the aftermath, testified that two of the officers involved were still at the site when he arrived and that he was ordered to remove the crime scene tape just hours after his death was confirmed. Edwards said he encountered Lane and Kueng at the scene when he arrived and he instructed them to turn on their body cameras. Edwards said: 'I asked them to chill out because I knew from Sergeant Pleoger that he had a couple of escort sergeants coming down to transport them to interview room 100.' Edwards told jurors that at approximately 10.13pm news came through that Floyd had died and the situation was confirmed as a critical incident. By then homicide was on the scene and Lane and Kueng were transported to City Hall to be interviewed. Edwards testified that he was then ordered to remove the crime scene tape he had earlier put up at about 3.30am. MPD Lt Richard Zimmerman Richard Zimmerman, the head of the Minneapolis Police Department's homicide division, told jurors that Chauvin's use of force in arresting Floyd was 'totally unnecessary' because a handcuffed person doesn't pose a threat and kneeling on someone's neck can 'kill them'. Zimmerman, who responded to the crime scene after Floyd's deadly arrest, testified that he had watched multiple videos showing the moment the officer knelt on the black man's neck after handcuffing him. Having watched the videos, Zimmerman was clear: 'Pulling him down to the ground face down and putting your knee on his neck for that amount of time is just uncalled for.' He added that once Floyd was handcuffed, he saw 'no reason why the officers felt they were in danger and that's what they would have to feel to use that level of force.' Zimmerman told jurors that kneeling on the neck of someone who is handcuffed and in the prone position is 'top-tier, deadly' force and should not be used. 'If your knee is on a person's neck, that can kill him,' he said. Asked by prosecutors whether a handcuffed person was a reduced threat, Zimmerman said: 'Once a person is cuffed, the threat level goes down all the way. They are cuffed, how can they really hurt you. 'You getting injured is way down. You could have some guy try to kick you or something, but you can move out of the way. That person is handcuffed, you know, so the threat level is just not there.' Zimmerman, who is trained every year in the use of force, told jurors he had never been trained to 'kneel on the neck of somebody who's cuffed and in the prone position'. 'Once you secure or handcuff a person you need to get them out of the prone position as soon as possible because it restricts their breathing,' he said, adding that having your hands cuffed behind your back 'stretches the muscles back through your chest and makes it more difficult to breathe'. Dr Bradford Langenfeld Dr Bradford Langenfeld, the medic at the Hennepin County Medical Center who pronounced Floyd dead, told jurors on April 5 that he believed the cause of death last May 25 was asphyxia. He told the court, 'Any amount of time that a patient spends in cardiac arrest without CPR markedly decreases the chances of survival' before explaining that those chances dropped by 10 to 15 percent with each passing minute. There was nothing in the paramedics' reports, he said, to suggest that they were concerned that Floyd had either suffered a heart attack or drug overdose. Dr Langenfeld also told how paramedics had fought to revive Floyd for 30 minutes by the time he arrived in his ward but that despite their efforts he was in cardiac arrest and save for occasional Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) activity in the heart not strong enough to establish a pulse he flat-lined. The medic could not recall whether or not Floyd was still cuffed on arrival but he did remember seeing indentations from the handcuffs on his wrists. Dr Langenfeld said he had considered a host of possible causes for Floyd's cardiac arrest and concluded that hypoxia oxygen deficiency or asphyxia was most likely, he said 'based on the information that I had.' He declared Floyd dead after 30 minutes in the hospital, by which time he had been without a pulse for close to an hour. Speaking softly and soberly he recalled, 'In the absence of any apparent reversable cause, [I felt that] the likelihood of any meaningful outcome was far below 1 percent and we would not be able to resuscitate Mr Floyd, so I then pronounced him dead.' The court also heard from Dr. Bradford Langenfeld Monday, pictured, the medic at the Hennepin County Medical Center who pronounced Floyd dead Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo told jurors that Chauvin 'absolutely did not' follow police policy on de-escalation or use of force when he pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. In explosive testimony on April 5, Arradondo said Chauvin's use of force 'absolutely' violated the department's policy and belief in 'the sanctity of life,' and that the pressure he used was contrary to all departmental teachings. He said: 'Once Mr Floyd had stopped resisting and certainly once he was in distress and trying to verbalize that, that should have stopped. 'Once there was no longer any resistance and clearly when Mr Floyd was no longer responsive and even motionless to continue to apply that level of force to a person proned out, handcuffed behind their back that in no way shape or form is by policy, part of our training, certainly not part of our ethics or values.' Shown a still image taken from the bystander video Arradondo said: 'When I look at the facial expression of Mr Floyd that does not appear in any way shape or form that that is ight to moderate pressure [as per policy]. 'That action is not de-escalation and when we talk about the framework of our sanctity of life and principals and values that we have that action goes contrary.' Arradondo, Minneapolis's first black police chief, also told the court that he agreed the Chauvin had violated policy by failing to provide any medical aid to the clearly suffering Floyd. He fired Chauvin and three other officers the day after Mr Floyd's death on May 25 last year and in June called it 'murder'. As well as his clear condemnation of the actions he described as violating policy, Arradondo told the court that Floyd's alleged crime - passing a fake $20 bill at Cup Foods store - did not rise to the level of violent crime that demanded use of force or a custodial arrest. Inspector Katie Blackwell Inspector Katie Blackwell, former commander of the Minneapolis police department's training division, took the stand on April 5. She said that she has known Chauvin for close to twenty years having first served as a community officer with him. And she herself appointed Chauvin, who was by far the most senior officer on the scene May 25, to the role of Field Training Officer, responsible for training and mentoring new recruits. But when shown an image of Chauvin, with his knee on Floyd's neck, Blackwell was damning. She said, 'I don't know what kind of improvised position that is.' According to Blackwell officers are taught to use one or two arms, not knees, for neck restraints and to constantly reassess the situation. She also said that 'positional asphyxia' was a concept known to her for as long as she had been an officer roughly the same period of time that Chauvin has served. She echoed testimony already heard by the jury regarding the dangers of keeping a person in the prone position one in which they are not able to adequately breath. For that reason, she said, officers are taught to put suspects on their side, in the side-recovery position or sitting upright 'as soon as is possible.' MPD Inspector Katie Blackwell also gave evidence Monday. She told jurors about the training officers recieve Ker Wang, Crisis Training Coordinator On April 6 the court heard from Sergeant Ker Wang, 49, Crisis Training Coordinator with the MPD and the man who wrote significant portions of that training. He said that he recognized Chauvin's name, not because he knew him personally, but from training. The court heard that Chauvin took part in a 40-hour crisis training course in 2018 though this was not a course in which Wang had personally instructed him. Wang described a 'crisis' as anything that took an individual 'beyond their coping mechanisms' and said that the primary goal of any intervention was to 'de-escalate' and restore the situation to a pre-crisis level. Steve Schleicher asked Wang to talk the jury through the Critical Decision Making Model a graphic of five spheres around a central sphere. Wang, who introduced the model to MPD training in 2018, explained how the outer spheres which contained the topic headings: Information Gathering, Threat/Risk Assessment, Authority to Act, Goals and Actions, Review & Re-Assess linked to the 'key pillars of procedural justice' expressed in the centre 'Voice Neutrality Respect Trust.' The model could be read and enacted in any direction, as officers respond to crisis in a state of flux and constant reassessment. He said that every officer could apply this model, 'like memory' and in doing so 'can slow down time,' in a crisis situation. He said, 'I believe in this model because it works.' When Nelson cross-examined the witness he sought to widen the focus from Chauvin's assessment of and actions towards Floyd to take in the context of the crowd the part that they played in events and the extent to which their understanding of them was limited. He pointed out that an officer had to consider 'the totality of the circumstances,' which 'is more than just how you react to the person being arrested.' Wang agreed with Nelson's statement that this included, 'citizen bystanders, what to do when a citizen bystander starts filming you, how to identify when a citizen constitutes a risk.' The model was, Nelson asserted, 'a very dynamic, ever-changing thing based on the information that comes to the officers in real time.' Much of that may be invisible to the onlookers, he said such as tactical thinking, knowing that medical help is on the way, considering officer safety. Nelson then steered toward a presentation of Chauvin's conduct and appearance as textbook. Referencing training he said, 'An officer should appear confident, they should be able to try to stay calm, they should try speak slowly and softly, they should avoid staring or eye-contact' Wang agreed. They should, he said, in all respects attempt to 'create time and distance.,' acting only when it was 'safe and feasible' to do so. Lieutenant Johnny Mercil Minneapolis Police Department's use of force expert and the man in charge of officer training told jurors on April 6 that Chauvin's knee on Floyd's neck is not, and never has been, an MPD trained neck restraint. Asked by prosecutor Steve Schleicher if such a level of restraint would be authorized when a subject is handcuffed Lieutenant Johnny Mercil replied, 'I would say no.' Mercil also told the court that officers were taught to use the minimum amount of force needed to detain someone. Asked about leg neck restraints Mercil explained that, while not taught to officers, they were something that might be shown to young cadets. But they would not look like the restraint carried out by Chauvin on May 25. As Schleicher walked him through the training and concepts in MPD's Use of Force Mercil told the court that officers are not taught to use leg neck restraints and never have been. Mercil was responding to a picture of Chauvin with his knee pressed into Floyd's neck shown to him in court. According to Mercil officers are taught how to deliver conscious and unconscious neck restraints with their arms and only under very limited circumstances when the level of resistance and threat would make such a measure proportional. MPD medical support coordinator Nicole MacKenzie Nicole MacKenzie, Minneapolis police medical support coordinator, testified that it is 'very difficult to focus on a patient if you don't feel safe', arguing a noisy crowd could have made it hard for officers to hear Floyd struggling to breathe. She told jurors on April 6 that treating a person under the eyes of a noisy crowd was 'incredibly difficult.' MacKenzie said: 'It might sound wrong but bystanders do sometimes attack EMS crews so sometimes just getting out of the situation is the best way to diffuse it.' 'It's incredibly difficult [to treat under those circumstances] because you're trying to be heads down on a patient [but] it's very difficult to focus on the patient if you don't feel safe around you.' MacKenzie also said Floyd could have displayed 'super-human strength' due do 'Excited Delirium' brought on by the consumption of the illicit drug speedball. Explaining this potential side-effect of taking the illicit drug MacKenzie said, 'The person might be experiencing elevated body temperature, the heart rate might be extremely elevated and insensitive to pain. Because you don't really have that pain/compliance edge that would normally control somebody's behavior. 'Somebody experiencing this might have what we would call super-human strength, lifting things they wouldn't normally be able to lift, breaking things.' One of other officers at the scene, Thomas Lane, said he was 'worried about excited delirium' and suggesting rolling Floyd on his side. The prosecution established that Chauvin had undergone training in CPR and AED as well as other first aid before MacKenzie told the jury that trained officers must provide medical aid when necessary. It was not enough, she said, for an officer to simply call for an ambulance and wait when in a 'critical situation'. She talked the jury through the basic steps in which officers are trained to establish responsiveness and if no response is forthcoming to check for breathing and a pulse before commencing chest compressions. Asked if it was true to say that if a person can talk they can breathe, MacKenzie said, 'No sir, somebody can be in respiratory distress and still be able to verbalize it.' But under cross-examination MacKenzie agreed that the policies on rendering emergency medical aid were 'somewhat qualified or contingent on what was going on at the scene at the time.' Put simply the scene had to be safe, she accepted, before an officer should turn their attentions to first aid or CPR. Nelson focused again on the scene. Painting the picture of a busy road and volatile, vocal crowd he asked if it would be possible for an officer to confuse the gasps of 'agonal' ineffective 'breathing' with effective breathing and if this mistake would be more likely, 'when there's a lot of noise and commotion.' MacKenzie agreed on both points. Use-of-force expert Jody Stiger Derek Chauvin's use of force was 'excessive', according to Jody Stiger, a Los Angeles police sergeant who gave testimony as the state's use-of-force expert on April 6. Stiger told the court that he has served in some of the most dangerous places and some of the most dangerous beats Skid Row, gangs, narcotics both in uniform and undercover and on LAPD's Use of Force Board, as a peer reviewer of high profile uses of force. Stiger was also a tactics instructor of six years and has travelled nationally in his capacity as an aid to the Inspector General an independent oversight entity in LAPD consulting with police forces across the country to establish consistent standards and training nationwide. He has conducted 2500 use of force reviews including use of deadly force. Stiger told the jury that he had reviewed all of the state's materials body-worn cameras, cell and pole-camera video footage, reports and MPD manuals and training materials. He told the court that he also took into consideration legal standards, the level of the offense and the person's actions. Asked about Floyd's crime attempting to pass a fake $20 bill he said, 'Typically you wouldn't even expect to use any force.' He said officers were initially justified in their use of force because Floyd was 'actively resisting' but said 'once he was placed in the prone position on the ground he slowly ceased his resistance and at that point the ex-officers should have slowed down or backed off their force as well.' Instead, he noted, 'They continued the force that they were utilizing from the time when they put him on the ground.' Stiger told the court that the officers could have continued trying to talk to Floyd and noted that Kueng had already established some sort of rapport. But despite this he said that they had not behaved unreasonably in their efforts to get a struggling Floyd into the back of the squad car. He recalled, 'Mr Floyd was actively resisting moving around clearly, trying to get out. He didn't want to be there and the officers were initially trying to place him in the back seat, grabbing the seat belt and things of that nature and eventually the decision was made to remove him from the vehicle.' He said, 'They were pulling him from the driver side, passenger door the street side pulling on his legs and his arms and once they got him out he kind of went on his knees. 'He was saying he couldn't breathe, saying he was claustrophobic. Numerous times he stated he was afraid, he had had covid and couldn't breathe and he had anxiety and was claustrophobic.' Jody Stiger, 50, who gave testimony as the state's Use of Force expert, said Chauvin's use of force was 'excessive' Senior Special Agent James Reyerson, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension officer James Reyerson, the lead investigator in Derek Chauvin's murder case on April 7 reversed his testimony regarding George Floyd's declaration, 'I ate too many drugs', later clarifying he heard: 'I ain't doing no drugs'. Defense attorney Eric Nelson had played the clip to the court from one of the officer's body-worn cameras at the scene last May 25. Asked if he recalled hearing that Reyerson said no he did not. After the segment was played in court, when asked again if he had heard it he said, 'Yes I did.' But in a stunning about face, when recalled by the prosecution and played a longer portion of the bodycam footage, Reyerson said that he now believed Floyd to be saying, 'I ain't doing no drugs.' Reyerson told the jury both the patrol car Floyd was pulled out of and the car he was in were processed on May 27, two days after Floyd's death, then again in December 2020 when the prosecution requested a search of the Blue Mercedes SUV before the defense asked to see squad 320 in January. It was at that time a half- chewed speedball pill was found bearing Floyd's DNA and saliva. BCA forensic scientist and Lead Crime Scene Investigator McKenzie Anderson BCA forensic scientist and Lead Crime Scene Investigator McKenzie Anderson told the jury on April 7 how she had found a crumpled and open packet of Suboxone a medication given to adults with an opioid addiction in the driver's seat footwell of the Mercedes Floyd had arrived in, as well as an unopened packet on the seat. She also told them about two round white pills found in the center console of the car. Jurors were shown pictures of all of these findings. Anderson and her colleagues had not found the pills or containers on an initial search of the Mercedes on May 27 when she photographed the interior and searched with little sense of what she might be looking for. The car was searched again on the request of the Attorney General's office December 9 when the pills and $20 bills stuffed between the passenger seat and center consol. Anderson told jurors that she 'didn't give any forensic significance' to the small white pill clearly visible on the floor on the passenger side of the vehicle's back seat in the first set of pictures. She explained that she had been looking for blood or something to do with fake bills. The potential significance was immediately spotted by the defense who requested a second search of the car having seen the half-chewed pill in pictures. On a second search Anderson found the white pill as well as several other small irregular shaped white objects that could, she said, have been parts of a pill. There were no visible markings on either the pill or the fragments, all of which, she said had a rough texture and irregular shape. There was one fragment, stuck to the back seat and reddish-brown in color, that, she said, seemed 'consistent with the other pieces,' except for the color difference. Forensic testing found Floyd's DNA in saliva left on the half-chewed pill which was found to be a 'speedball' or compound of methamphetamine and fentanyl when sent to drug chemistry division. Forensic scientist Breahna Giles BCA's Breahna Giles was the forensic scientist tasked with analyzing the glass pipe and pills found in the Mercedes. On April 7 she testified that she found traces of THC the psychoactive component found in marijuana in residue scraped from the pipe and determined the pills, which had pharmaceutical markings, to be a compound of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen. She also tested the tablet and fragments found in the back of squad 320 and found the partial white pill to be methamphetamine as well as identifying methamphetamine in the fragments found. Under cross-examination Giles said that there was the presence of other substances but not enough to make a positive determination of its nature. Asked by Nelson, 'But that was fentanyl?' she said she could neither confirm nor deny its presence. Eleven nanograms of Fentanyl was found in Floyd's bloodstream. BCA's Breahna Giles was the forensic scientist tasked with analyzing the glass pipe and pills found in the Mercedes. She found traces of THC the psychoactive component found in marijuana in residue scraped from the pipe and determined the pills, which had pharmaceutical markings, to be a compound of Oxycodone and Acetamenophin Forensic chemist Susan Neith Forensic chemist Susan Neith was the last witness on April 7. She also tested the pills from both vehicles and told the jury that she found trace levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the pills taken from the back of the squad car. She put the levels of fentanyl at less than 1 percent the amount she said she would expect to find in street fentanyl. But put the levels of methamphetamine at between 1 and 2.9percent which she said was much lower in her experience than that found in street drugs which she would expect to come in at 80 to 90 percent. Forensic chemist Susan Neith was the last witness of the day. She also tested the pills from both vehicles and told the jury that she found trace levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the pills taken from the back of the squad car Pulmonology expert Dr Martin Tobin Dr Martin Tobin, a specialist at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital and Loyola University's medical school in Chicago, testified he believed Floyd's cause of death was due to a lack of oxygen that damaged his brain and caused his heart to stop. During his hours-long testimony on April 8, he said there were several factors that he said made it difficult for Floyd to breathe, beyond Chauvin's knee on his neck: Officers lifting up on his handcuffs, the hard street, lying face down, his turned head and a knee on his back. 'A healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died as a result of what he was subjected to,' Dr Tobin said. Tobin, analyzing a graphic presentation of the three officers holding down Floyd for what prosecutors say was almost 9 1/2 minutes, testified that Chauvin's knee was 'virtually on the neck' for more than 90% of the time by his estimate. Chauvin also kept his knee on Floyd's neck for 3.02 minutes after Floyd had 'reached the point where there was not one ounce of oxygen left in the body,' Tobin said. When asked if Dr Tobin, based on his medical expertise, had determined a cause of death for Floyd after viewing videos from the scene, he said: 'Mr Floyd died from a low level of oxygen... The cause of low level of oxygen was shallow breathing. Small breaths that weren't able to carry the air through his lungs. 'He was being squashed between the two sides,' Dr Tobin said as he described the position Floyd was in lying face down on the ground with the officers pinning him down. Dr Tobin told the court that the impact of the pressure of the officers and handcuffs rendered movement so impossible that Floyd's left lung was greatly affected. 'When you breathe you use your diaphragm, next thing you recruit is the big muscles in the neck, when those are wasted up then you're relying on these kinds of muscles to get air into the right side.' Elsewhere in his testimony, Dr Tobin said he'd calculated that Floyd's lung capacity was reduced by 43 percent when Chauvin was pinning him down. Forensic toxicologist Dr Daniel Isenschmid Dr Daniel Isenschmid took the stand on April 8 and told how he found traces of fentanyl and methamphetamine when he tested blood drawn from Floyd at the hospital and urine from his autopsy. He told the court that even though there was a high level of fentanyl in Floyd's bloodstream 11ng ml where a 3ng ml could be lethal individual tolerance had to be taken into account. The toxicology expert suggested Floyd's tolerance have been high as a regular user. He also pointed to the presence of norfentanyl a metabolic of fentanyl. Isenschmid said that he wouldn't expect to see this in a case where death had occurred as a result of fentanyl overdose because the body wouldn't have had a chance to metabolize the drug. He described the level of meth in Floyd's bloodstream 19ng ml - as no more than he would expect to find in the blood of a patient who had consumed a single legally prescribed dose and his amphetamine was below reportable levels. Forensic expert Dr William Smock Dr William Smock took the stand on April 8 and testified that Floyd died from positional asphyxia, which he said was 'a fancy way of saying he died because he had no oxygen left in his body'. 'When the body is deprived of oxygen, in this case from pressure on this chest and back, he gradually succumbed to lower and lower levels of oxygen until he succumbed and he died,' he said. Smock said that he had considered and dismissed other causes including the defense's causes of choice fentanyl overdose and excited delirium. One by one he explained the symptoms of excited delirium including excessive sweat, being unaffected by pain and super-human strength and dismissed them pointing out that Floyd was cold to the touch, complaining of pain from the moment he was on the ground and unable to throw the police officers from his back. Asked by prosecutors how many of the 10 recognized symptoms he observed, Smock answered: 'Zip.' He discarded fentanyl overdose as a possible cause of death because he said, Floyd was not falling into a coma, snoring, or slowing down in breathing. He was, instead, fighting for his life and demonstrating 'air hunger' as he struggled to breathe. He pointed to Floyd's weakening voice as evidence that the life was draining from him and recognized Floyd's dying moments in his altering facial expressions and anoxic seizure when his legs kicked out straight behind him. Smock explained that since Floyd was a chronic drug users the levels of narcotics and their metabolites found in his blood stream really meant very little. 'You don't rely on the level, you look at the patient,' he said. The defense has pointed to the fact that there was no bruising on Floyd's neck and throat post mortem as proof that Chauvin's knee did not dig into him until the life was squeezed out of him. But Smock, who is also a specialist in strangulation, said: 'You can be fatally strangled and died of asphyxia and have no bruising.' Dr William Smock, a forensic medicine expert, told the jury in Derek Chauvin's murder trial on Thursday April 8 that when George Floyd cried out 'I can't breathe' he was exhibiting the desperation of 'air hunger' Forensic pathologist Dr Lindsey Thomas Forensic pathologist Dr Lindsey Thomas, who works as a medical examiner in Reno and Salt Lake City, testified on April 9 that Floyd died as as result of 'low oxygen' or 'asphyxia.' Thomas said that in this case the autopsy itself did not tell her the cause of death in her investigation but the 'unique' amount of documentation in terms of videos and records was vital in establishing 'mechanism' of death. She agreed with Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr Andrew Baker's finding that the cause of death was 'cardiopulmonary arrest, complicating law enforcement subdual restraint and neck compression'. Thomas told the court that there are no physical findings in autopsy that show low oxygen but there are sometimes findings consistent with a cause of death that may result in low oxygen. She gave as an example a partial hanging in which a person may have petechiae, tiny burst blood vessels in the eye. She said that she had found such supporting signs in Floyd's autopsy. According to Thomas, 'Mr Floyd had superficial injuries on his face, shoulders and wrists. What that does is it supports what I saw in the videos which is that he's being forcibly restrained and subdued and trying to move into a position by rubbing his face against the ground, pulling against his handcuffs and by pushing with his shoulder. 'And he also had some scrapes on his knuckles on his right hand and again that was from him pushing trying to get into a position where he could breathe.' She explained: 'There are really two parts; cardiopulmonary arrest which doesn't really provide much additional information because essentially we all die when our heart and lungs stop, but as a forensic pathologist I would use it to differentiate from cardiac arrest. This is not a sudden cardiac arrest. 'This is a death where both the heart and lungs stopped working and the point is that it is due to subdual restraint and compression.' Thomas concluded: 'The activities of the law enforcement officers led to Mr Floyd's death.' And by that she meant placing him in the prone position, handcuffing him and kneeling on his back and, specifically, neck. Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr Andrew Baker Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr Andrew Baker, who performed Floyd's autopsy, took the stand on April 9 and said that he did not find the cause of death to be asphyxia or low oxygen levels and that he did not believe that Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck for 'the majority' of the time. In a massive departure from the prosecution's contention, Baker said: 'In my impression from the video it would appear that Mr Chauvin's knee was primarily on the back, on the side or the area in between Mr Floyd's neck (and back).' Under cross examination, Baker told the court that asphyxia was 'a very common cause' of the deaths that he had seen across 2,900 to 3,000 autopsies but it was not the conclusion that he came to before, or after, having seen the videos of the incident on May 25, 2020. In a startlingly brief direct questioning by Jerry Blackwell, Baker told the court that Floyd died because being pinned down on the ground with his neck compressed was, 'just more than he could take,' given his severe underlying heart disease. Asked if, in his opinion, the positioning of Chauvin's knee would cut off Floyd's oxygen supply, Baker said: 'In my opinion it would not.' In his view, he said: 'It was the stress of that interaction that tipped him over the edge given his underlying heart disease and his toxicological status.' The doctor told the court that he had deliberately avoided all video footage until after he conducted the autopsy because he did not want to introduce any 'bias' that might, 'lead [his] examination down any particular path'. In his conclusion Floyd's death occurred 'in the context' of law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression but he did not give the cause of death as set out by others. Cardiologist Dr Jonathan Rich Dr Jonathan Rich, a cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, took the stand on April 12 and said Floyd would still be alive if it weren't for Chauvin's restraint as he asserted that the black man did not have heart disease and his tolerance for fentanyl was so high that the drug played no role in his death. 'In this case Mr George Floyd died from a cardiopulmonary arrest,' Rich told the jury. 'It was caused by low oxygen and those low oxygen levels were produced by the prone restraint and positional asphyxia that he was subjected to.' Rich refuted key arguments from the defense when he said he had considered and discounted Floyd's cause of death as having originated from the heart itself or being the result of an overdose. 'After reviewing all of the facts I can state with a high degree of medical certainty that George Floyd did not die from a primary cardiac event and he did not die from a drug overdose,' he said. Instead, he said Floyd 'was just unable using all of his muscles, his accessory muscles, he was unable [to breathe] because of the position he was subjected to'. 'The heart thus didn't have enough oxygen either which means the entire body didn't have enough oxygen,' he said. Asked whether he thought Floyd would be alive today were it not for 'Mr Chauvins subdual and restraint of nine minutes and 29 seconds on the ground', Rich said: 'To a high degree of medical certainty, he would have lived.' Rich told the court that, in his view: 'Mr George Floyd's death was absolutely preventable.' He said the first thing that could've been done to prevent Floyd's death would have been to simply not place him in the prone position at all. After that happened, Rich said Floyd should have been moved into the side recovery position when his complaints of not being able to breathe became audibly weaker. While Floyd had high blood pressure which could, Rich said, become a problem over time if not treated, he told the jury: 'Every indicator is that Mr Floyd had an exceptionally strong heart because he could generate pressures at some points upwards of 200.' Rich explained that a problem with some of the patients he sees who are suffering heart failure is that they cannot generate pressures of even 80 as a top number. Normal blood pressure is around 120/80. As doctors Martin Tobin, William Smock and Lindsey Thomas had before him, Rich asserted that the deterioration he observed in Floyd was not the sudden loss of consciousness of a primary cardiac event, but the slow seeping way of one deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period of time. 'In the course of the restraint I was looking to see if his deterioration occurred rapidly,' Rich said. 'A primary cardiac event, the most common arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation, when that happens the individual will look relatively okay and then they will immediately become unconscious. 'On the other hand if the cause is from something else for example low oxygen levels you will typically see that happening more gradually and slowly. 'I could see his speech starting to become less forceful, his muscle movements becoming weaker until eventually his speech and muscle movements were absent. And then of course he was in a PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity) cardiopulmonary arrest.' Turning to the autopsy report, Rich said that he had found no evidence of the sort of tell-tale damage to the heart that a heart attack would have left behind. And while he called Floyd's arterial disease 'notable', he said it was not something that surprised him because it is so common. What was most significant, he said, was that Floyd's arteries were only partially blocked, not completely occluded a sign of that a heart attack had occurred. Rich discounted a fentanyl or methamphetamine overdose saying that he felt the latter 'played no substantive role at all'. He said from what he had seen, Floyd's behavior his talkativeness, alertness, ability to walk was the opposite of what a person would witness in an opiate overdose. On cross examination, Nelson tried to take the sting out of Rich's testimony that Floyd would be alive today were it not for Chauvins actions. Flipping the outcome back on Floyd, Nelson asked: 'If Mr Floyd had just got into the seat of the squad car do you think he would have survived?' Rich tip-toed into his answer, denying Nelson the straight yes or no that he sought. 'Had he not been restrained in the way in which he was, I think he would have survived that day. I think he would have gone home had he not been subjected to the prone position that he was,' he said. 'So in other words,' Nelson summed up for the court. 'If he had just gotten into the squad car.' Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's younger brother Floyd's younger brother Philonise Floyd broke down in tears at trial on April 12 as the court was shown pictures of his slain sibling - as a young boy, sleeping in his smiling mothers arms, as a teenager studying, pen in hand and as a young athlete who got a basketball scholarship to South Florida before transferring to Gainesville, Texas, where he played football, and smiling with his seven-year-old daughter Gianna in his arms. Philonise, 39, recalled his oldest brother as a 'leader,' who organized his younger siblings and made sure they had their school uniform each morning and a snack before school. He said that people in their community would go to church just because they saw that Floyd was there. He said that his older brother always wanted to be taller and to be the best, measuring himself as he grew and throwing hundreds of hoops in a bid to be the 'best' at basketball. Philonise recalled playing video games and catch with Floyd growing up before telling the court with a smile that his brother 'couldn't boil water' but would make the best 'banana and mayonnaise and syrup sandwiches'. Toward the end of his brief testimony, he told how broken Floyd was by his mother's death, saying that at the funeral, 'George just sat there at the casket saying: "Mamma" over and over again. 'He was just kissing her. He didn't want to leave the casket.' George Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd testified at Derek Chauvin's murder trial on Monday afternoon (pictured) Use-of-force expert Seth Stoughton The prosecution's final witness, use-of-force expert Seth Stoughton, testified on April 12 that Floyd did not pose a threat during his fatal arrest and said officers should have relented after the handcuffed black man pleaded: 'I can't breathe' 27 times. Stoughton, a former cop turned law professor, was asked to provide his analysis of body camera video of Floyd pinned to the ground by Chauvin and two other officers on May 25 in Minneapolis. In a damning sequence prosecutor Steve Schleicher asked: 'Did Mr Floyd present any threat of escape? Did he present any threat to physical property? Did he present any threat to the physical safety of officers or anyone else?' Again and again Stoughton answered: 'No he did not.' Asked: 'Did he present any sort of threat at all?' Stoughton again said: 'No he did not.' Stoughton concluded: 'No reasonable officers would have believed that was an appropriate, acceptable or reasonable use of force.' Stoughton said it was 'never' necessary or reasonable to place Floyd in a prone position, adding: 'It's clear from the number of officers the fact that he's handcuffed and has been searched he doesn't present any threat of harm, his actions don't suggest he's any threat of escape.' 'Given the range of alternatives available to officers its just not appropriate to prone someone when theyre already compliant,' Stoughton said. Stoughton went on to draw a distinction between 'threat' and 'risk'. He explained: 'Threat is not some abstract notion. It's specific; threat "of" something. Threat exists when the individual has the physical ability, the opportunity and apparent intention to cause whatever harm we're envisaging. 'That's how we identify threat. Risk you can think of as a potential threat. Risk is something officers can use tactics and communications to address. The goal is to prevent risk becoming threat and that threat to turn into whatever the apparent harm intended is.' He added: 'While threat can justify use of force, risk can't.' Stoughton said that he considered a use of force review as 'kind of a balancing of harms. The idea is an officer cannot use more force than the situation justifies. 'The foreseeable effects can't be disproportionate to the perceived threat.' That is exactly what he concluded they had been on May 25, 2020. Stoughton told the court: 'Before he fell silent Mr Floyd said: "I can't breathe" by my count at least 27 times. If somebody is describing that they're in distress then officers have to take that into account.' 'The officers are maintaining Mr Floyd in that prone position but there are some indicators that the foreseeable effects are occurring and that hes experiencing positional asphyxia. 'Not only does he indicate it with the words he's using but [as the restraint continues] his voice is slower and thicker.' According to Stoughton a 'reasonable officer' would 'absolutely' have been aware of Floyd's complaints and in fact Chauvin can be heard acknowledging both them and, later, Officer J Alexander Kueng telling him that he could not find a pulse. Returning to his threat assessment as a vital part of establishing the reasonableness of force used Stoughton said: 'Somebody who does not have a pulse does not present a threat in any way.' Stoughton also dismissed the notion that the crowd posed any credible threat or could be perceived as such by a 'reasonable officer'. He pointed out that the first negative comment from the crowd came more than three minutes into the restraint and he noted Officer Tou Thao's flippant comment: 'This is why you don't do drugs, kids' as an indication that the officers were not truly afraid of trouble. 'That's relevant because if you are concerned about a crowd you don't say things that are likely to exacerbate that situation,' he explained. 'A comment like: "This is why you don't do drugs, kids," is not rapport building.' After Floyd had been removed by paramedics Chauvin returned to his squad car and could be heard in a interaction with a bystander. Paraphrasing what he could recall, Stoughton said that Chauvin attempted to justify his actions by saying, 'something akin to describing Mr Floyd as a pretty big guy, possibly intoxicated possibly on drugs and that officers needed to keep control over him'. According to Stoughton: 'All of those individual statements are true; Mr Floyd was a larger individual and there was ample reason to think he may have been impaired by alcohol or drugs. 'But a reasonable officer in this situation would have perceived that they could have maintained control over him without putting a knee on his neck or keeping him in that position. 'The sanctity of human life is the absolute priority in policing. On cross examination, Nelson pressed Stoughton: 'Does the reasonable officer decide whether they should be put in the squad car or does the suspect decide whether they should be put in the squad car...the suspect does not get to dictate I get to sit on the ground or in the front of the squad car?' Stoughton agreed they did not. Nelson re-iterated Stoughton's view that the use of the prone position was never reasonable suggesting that 'reasonable minds' can disagree. 'On this particular point? No,' Stoughton countered. Stoughton agreed that the use of force is often not very pretty but that that did not necessarily mean that it was unlawful. But he added: 'I don't think that's the case here.' DEFENSE Retired Minneapolis police officer Scott Creighton Retired Minneapolis police officer Scott Creighton was the first witness to take the stand for the defense on Tuesday April 13 as the court watched body-camera footage of Floyd's arrest on May 6, 2019. In a remarkably brief direct examination Nelson asked Creighton what he had observed of Floyd as he approached his vehicle. Creighton told the jury that Floyd was not responsive and that he had to 'physically reach in [to the car] because I wanted to see his hands.' In the video Floyd can be heard saying: 'I don't want to be shot' before Creighton pulled him out of the car. Under cross examination by Erin Eldridge, Creighton observed that the situation had 'escalated really quick' once Floyd refused to show his hands and that he was compelled to pull his gun. He described Floyd as 'incoherent' but able to walk and talk. Nelson had hoped to show the jury that, under similar circumstances, when approached in a car by an officer with his gun drawn, Floyd rapidly ingested drugs and pretended to have a medical emergency. On re-direct Nelson asked if Creighton had heard his partner instructing Floyd to 'spit it out'. Creighton said, he may have done. Retired Minneapolis Police Officer Scott Creighton (pictured) testified about what he witnessed of Floyd during an arrest on May 6, 2019 Retired paramedic Michelle Moseng Retired paramedic Michelle Moseng was the prosecution's second witness on Tuesday April 13 as Nelson drew out the parallels between May 6, 2019 and what he contests took place on May 25, 2020. Moseng was called to Floyd's arrest during which he had required medical care. According to Moseng, Floyd was agitated and upset and told her that he had been taking seven to nine opioids oxy and Percocet every twenty minutes throughout the day and another just before the officer had approached the car. When asked for details of her physical assessment of Floyd she revealed that she recorded a blood pressure of 216 over 160 so high that she recommended he be taken immediately to hospital. Floyd told her, she said, that he had not been taking his blood pressure medication, 'for months'. In an aggressive cross-examination, Eldridge peppered the witness with questions demanding her acknowledgement that Floyds blood oxygen, pulse, respiration, heart rhythm and EKG were all normal. 'And you took him to the hospital and he was monitored for two hours and he was released,' Eldridge said, to which Moseng answered: 'Yes.' Michelle Moseng (pictured) was the paramedic called to administer medical aid during Floyd's arrest on May 6, 2019 George Floyd's friend Shawanda Hill The third witness called by the defense was Shawanda Hill, the woman who was in the car with Floyd and his friend Morries Hall, on May 25, 2020, after having bumped into Floyd in Cup Foods where he offered to give her a ride home. At times hard to hear and irritable, Hill told Nelson that Floyd was 'happy, normal' and 'alert' when she spoke to him in the store. But back in the car after she had been on a call with her daughter Hill said she saw that Floyd had suddenly fallen asleep before Cup Foods clerks came out to confront him about using a counterfeit $20 bill. By then, she said: 'He was already sleeping. When they came to the car and when they came try to wake him up, I tried to wake him up over and over, he kept, he'd wake up, then say something, then nodded back off. He did that a couple of times.' Hill went onto relate how she had struggled to get Floyd to focus when the police arrived, telling him: 'Baby that's the police, open the door, roll down the window.' Hill said Floyd was 'startled' when Officer Thomas Lane pulled his gun, prompting him to grab at the steering wheel and plead: 'Please don't shoot me, please don't shoot me.' Judge Cahill spoke to Hill, who had been named in earlier testimony as a heroin dealer, ahead of the jury being seated after a brief morning break. He explained to her that the attorneys might ask her whether or not she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that, though he did not think the questions would incriminate her and he had instructed the limit of their scope, she had the right to consult and attorney regarding invoking her Fifth Amendment right. She said she did not need one and that she was 'ready to go'. In his brief cross-examination Assistant Attorney General Frank Matthew established that, despite his sleepiness, Floyd was not short of breath or complaining of chest pains at any point. Minneapolis Park Police Officer Peter Chang The fourth witness for the defense was Minneapolis Park Police Officer Peter Chang, who arrived at Cup Foods after officers Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng had already confronted Floyd. The jury was shown video from Chang's body-camera, which revealed Floyd's friends reactions to his arrest for the first time. Chang described a relatively calm scene on his arrival at Cup Foods where he saw Kueng next to Floyd who was seated on the ground, handcuffed and leaning against the wall outside Dragon Wok restaurant. Chang told the court that he had been 'concerned for the officers' safety' due to the 'very aggressive crowd' that gathered outside Cup Foods on 38th and Chicago as police struggled with and subdued Floyd. As the scene in front of Cup Foods clearly becomes more heated, Chang can be seen pacing to and fro - movement he explained to Nelson as due to checking on his fellow officers safety - and repeatedly telling Hill and Hall to stay put as they agitate to see whats going on. He informs them: 'Right now they're grabbing an ambulance for your buddy. He might have heart himself.' Cautioning both to stay away from the car and the scene, he tells Hill: 'Shawanda you're not helping.' In a very brief cross-examination Frank established that there had never been a 'code 3' or emergent call out to the scene at Cup Foods and undercut Changs concern for his fellow officers by pointing out that he knew there were four officers on scene and that none ever radioed for help. MPD Medical Support Coordinator Nicole MacKenzie Minneapolis Police Department Medical Support Coordinator Nicole MacKenzie made her second appearance on the stand directly before the court broke for lunch on Tuesday. When appearing as a state witness last week, MacKenzie gave her opinion that treating a person under the eyes of a crowd, hostile or otherwise, 'is incredibly difficult'. She also told the court about 'excited delirium', saying that it could give a person, 'super-human' strength. Today Nelson focused on the symptoms of the condition and recent training materials that, he established, of which Chauvin as a veteran would not have had knowledge. In contrast, rookie Lane did and in body-worn camera footage he can be heard expressing concern that Floyd may be suffering from excited delirium. MacKenzie explained that Lane would have received training that included the acronym NOTACRIME of signs and actions cadets were trained to note and take. She talked the jury through each letter. She said that a person may be Naked, exhibit violence towards Objects, by Tough and unstoppable. The onset could be Acute, the person Confused and Resistant as well as Incoherent, the condition could be due to Mental health issues and always required an EMS to be called early as it could lead to a sudden cardiac arrest. In another brief cross Frank established from MacKenzie that as a medical support coordinator it was not her job to diagnose conditions. She agreed she would always defer to a paramedic. Minneapolis Police Department Medical Support Coordinator Nicole MacKenzie made her second appearance on the stand directly before the court broke for lunch on Tuesday Use-of-force expert Barry Brodd Barry Brodd, a former cop and use-of-force expert who specializes in police and civilian defense cases, testified for Chauvin's defense on Tuesday April 13 and said the defendant did not use deadly force against Floyd. In fact, Brodd argued that Chauvin's placing the handcuffed black man in the prone position and kneeling on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds did not constitute use of force at all. 'It's a control technique. It doesn't hurt,' Brodd said. 'It's safe for the officer, safe for the suspect and you're using minimal effort to keep them on the ground.' During direct examination by Nelson, Brodd said Chauvin was 'justified' and acting 'with objective reasonableness' in his interactions with Floyd. He told the jury that police officers 'don't have to fight fair', explaining that they can use a level of force that is 'one up' from the level of any resistance. He noted that when dealing with suspects who are under the influence of drugs, officers can 'find themselves in a fight for their life in a heartbeat'. Brodd also leaned in to the defense narrative that Chauvin and his fellow officers felt 'threatened' by the gathering crowd. Brodd's confident testimony took a turn when prosecutor Steve Schleicher stepped up to cross examine him, wasting no time in tackling the assertion that keeping Floyd in the prone position did not constitute a use of force and did not hurt. He asked Brodd if he truly believed that it is unlikely that 'orienting yourself on top of a person on the pavement with both legs [on top of them] is unlikely to produce pain?' Brodd conceded that it could. Schleicher countered that if that position could produce pain, by Brodd's logic, it could also constitute a use of force. Looking at the all-too-familiar image of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck, Brodd was forced to concede: 'Shown in this picture, that could be use of force' - but argued that Floyd had grown increasingly non-compliant. Schleicher then showed a screengrab of Floyd pinned to the ground and asked: 'What part of this is not compliant?' Refusing to deviate from his narrative Brodd insisted: 'I see his arm position. A compliant person would have both their hands in the small of their back and be resting comfortably.' The disbelief clear in his voice, Schleicher asked: 'Did you say resting comfortably?' 'At this time when he's attempting to breathe by shoving his shoulder into the pavement,' Brodd replied. Pathologist Dr David Fowler Dr David Fowler, the former chief medical examiner of Maryland, took the stand on April 14 to share his conclusion that Floyd's death should have never been ruled a homicide because there were too many competing potential causes of death. One of the potential causes Fowler presented was Floyd's exposure to exhaust from the squad car he was pinned next to, which the witness said could have caused some degree of carbon monoxide poisoning. But on cross examination by trial attorney Jerry Blackwell, Fowler was forced to admit that he had no concrete evidence to support the carbon monoxide poisoning theory. Blackwell seized on the fact that Fowler had never set eyes on the squad car or attempted to simulate the conditions to sample possible levels of carbon monoxide in Floyd's vicinity. The prosecutor bluntly challenged: 'For that matter cutting even more to the chase how do you even know the car was on?' Fowler said that it was a question he had specifically asked and that he had observed water dripping from what appears to be a tail pipe. Blackwell pressed: 'You just assumed based on observing something dripping from a tail pipe that the car was on?' 'It's not an assumption,' Fowler bit back. 'It's an evaluation based on an indicator that the car was running.' The carbon monoxide point was one of many on which Fowler contradicted the opinions of medical experts who testified before him. Blackwell drilled down on those contradictions while attempting to chip away at Fowler's credibility, at one point telling him: 'You're not a toxicologist..a pulmonologist.. a cardiologist, a physiologistYou don't treat patients.' Fowler's earliest contradiction across more than five hours of testimony came when he shared his conclusion that Floyd died from a 'sudden cardiac arrhythmia' due to his underlying heart disease during his restraint by police. That conclusion was refuted by Dr Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County chief medical examiner who performed Floyd's autopsy. Among the 'significant contributing conditions' that he listed was the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine, paraganglioma - the adrenalin secreting-tumor that Floyd had - and his exposure to the squad car exhaust. Fowler also said that Floyd had an enlarged heart, which meant he needed more oxygen to function, and that methamphetamine use heightened his risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Later in his lengthy and technical testimony, Fowler cited multiple studies which challenged the notion that the prone position - in which Floyd was held for nine minutes and 29 seconds - is inherently dangerous. He also referenced studies which concluded that it doesn't matter how much a person weighs if they are applying a single knee to another person - and a double knee restraint makes only a modest difference. According to those studies a person transfers just 23 percent of their bodyweight during a double knee restraint. So, Dr Fowler said, Chauvin who he viewed as applying a single knee restraint for most of the restraint would have been applying less than 30 to 35 pounds of weight to Floyd. Asked if any of that weight compromised Floyd's neck structures, Fowler said: 'None of the vital structures.' 'There was absolutely no evidence of any injury to the skin or deeper structures of the back or neck,' he said, citing photos from Floyd's autopsy. In fact, he said the pressure applied to Floyd was less than the amount necessary to even bruise him. PROSECUTION - REBUTTAL Pulmonology expert Dr Martin Tobin The state recalled its star medical witness, pulmonologist Dr Martin Tobin, to the stand for its rebuttal on April 15. Tobin told the jury that the defense expert who testified at length yesterday, Dr David Fowler, was 'simply wrong' in his conclusions that carbon monoxide played any role in Floyd's death. Addressing Fowler's claim that the levels of carbon monoxide in Floyd's blood could have been between 10 and 18 percent, Tobin said: 'I believe it is not reliable.' Tobin started to tell jurors that his view was based on arterial blood gas obtained from Floyd in Hennepin County Medical Center when Nelson objected. Before the witness stepped up, Judge Cahill warned the state that he would declare a mistrial if Tobin sought to introduce any new evidence during his rebuttal to Fowler's testimony. Instead Tobin walked the fine line and explained: '[Floyd] had an arterial blood gas obtained, so that's sticking a needle into the artery and you measure a number of different items like the pressure of oxygen, carbon dioxide, acid, and the oxygen saturation and that is how much of the hemoglobin the protein in the blood that carries the oxygen.' Asked for Floyd's oxygen saturation levels, Tobin told the court: 'It was 98 percent saturated with oxygen when they measured it at Hennepin County Medical Center and that was 9.16pm.' As for what, if anything, that tells about Floyd's carbon monoxide levels, Tobin said: 'If hemoglobin is saturated at 98 percent, all there was for everything else was two percent. 'The maximum amount [of carbon monoxide] was two percent, it could be something else but two percent is within the normal range.' Pressing that point he told the jury: 'You and I have somewhere between zero and three.' He said Fowler's statement that Floyd's carbon monoxide could have increased to between ten and 18 percent was 'simply wrong'. Tobin also cast doubt on Fowler's testimony with respect to the hypopharynx the area of the throat that, he said, would not have been narrowed by Chauvin's knee on his neck. Fowler said he could find no research to support the notion that it would have. Today Tobin said: 'There's at least a dozen maybe 20 studies that show the relationship between how if you lower the size of the lungs you must get a decrease in the hypopharynx.' But he said there was no specific research into how pressure on the neck narrows it because 'we try to do research and studies that might be puzzling'. Tobin explained: 'If you think about sticking your fingers into your neck you know it's going to narrow the hypopharynx. It's common sense.' In a brief cross-examination, Nelson pointed out that Tobin had not produced for the courts review any of the dozens of articles which he cited. KEMEROVO, Russia -- Prosecutors in the Siberian city of Kemerovo have asked a court to sentence two Jehovah's Witnesses to five years in prison each as Russia continues its crackdown on the religious group. The group said the prosecutor had requested the Zavodskoi district court to hand down the jail terms to 60-year-old Sergei Yavushkin and 46-year-old Aleksandr Bondarchuk. The defendants are expected to give their final statements in the trial on April 16, after which Judge Vera Ulyanyuk will announce her decision. The case against Yavushkin and Bondarchuk was launched in July 2019. They were charged with organizing the activities of "a banned, extremist group" and placed under house arrest at the time, because of which they lost their jobs. It was said at the trial, which started almost exactly a year ago, that charges against the defendants were based on materials provided by a person who had actively taken part in the prayers and Bible studies of the religious group and secretly recorded the sessions with the intention of turning over the materials to investigators. Since the faith was outlawed in Russia, many Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in the country and in Russia-annexed Crimea. The United States has condemned Moscow's ongoing crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses and other peaceful religious minorities. 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, rejecting military service, and not celebrating national and religious holidays or birthdays. According to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses have either been convicted of extremism or are being held in pretrial detention. The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovahs Witnesses who've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political prisoners. [April 14, 2021] Redstone Credit Union Leverages Incorta as Data Hub for Data Science Department to Gain Business Speed and Autonomy Incorta, the Direct Data Platform, today announced a long-standing engagement with Redstone Federal Credit Union to enable data scientists to perform deeper analyses of their credit card and mortgage data. Incorta will serve as Redstone's primary data hub, providing fast access to an array of different data sources, allowing teams to uncover insights immediately and solve complicated challenges without leaning too heavily on their IT partners. As Redstone approaches $10 billion in assets, it's increasingly important that the company becomes self-sufficient with its data and can organize, analyze and act on connected data from a multitude of sources, whether it's the core system, card processing system or credit bureau. With Incorta, Redstone's data science department can interact with their data and run through a series of hypotheses, allowing them to investigate and solve even the most complex problems, from inactive credit cards to spikes in fraudulent activity. "As today's digital world increases the number of sources from which data can originate, it's essential that organizations gain a handle on their data and operate independently in order to make real-time, informed and crucial decisions," said Incorta CEO Scott Jones. "As Redstone continues to expand its footprint, we're thrilled to serve as their data hub to empower analysts to maximize the value of their data." To conduct a comprehensive analysis, Redstone's data science department had previously relied on a fragmented system whereby analysts downloaded data from disparate sources into Excel or Access spreadsheets, even if they were performing only a slightly different analysis. This process required significant effort from the IT department and had to be repeated for each use case. With Incorta, data scientists can create their own predictive models, which not only allow them to gain more visibility into the process but also relieve their dependence on outside software vendors. Redstone analysts can nw iteratively learn how to best connect data, and every iteration results in a re-usable data model that makes the next time faster and more productive. Incorta is also boosting Redstone's mortgage business, allowing teams to merge data from their external mortgage originator with their internal data for detailed analyses. Redstone had previously relied on the IT department to connect to a vendor's AWS database; now, the data science department has access to 200 new data connectors released in Incorta's latest platform update, enabling connections to big data solutions like AWS and Azure, and collaboration platforms like Gmail and DocuSign. "Incorta is a game-changer for our data science department. It's a huge victory to access that much new data and stitch it together with other sources, while operating completely autonomously," said Raj Prasad, senior assistant vice president for data science and analytics at Redstone. "Incorta has given the reins to our analysts to interactively explore their data with domain experts, allowing them to uncover insights exponentially faster and in turn improve the way we engage with our customers. The IT team appreciates the workload reduction as much as the analysts appreciate the time-to-market improvement." To learn more about Redstone's complete story and achieved results along with other fast movers from the Incorta customer community, please visit www.incorta.com/customers/redstone. About Incorta Incorta is the data analytics company on a mission to help data-driven enterprises be more agile and competitive by resolving their most complex data analytics challenges. Incorta's Direct Data Platform gives enterprises the means to acquire, enrich, analyze and act on their business data with unmatched speed, simplicity and insight. Backed by GV (formerly Google Ventures), Kleiner Perkins, M12 (formerly Microsoft (News - Alert) Ventures), Telstra Ventures, and Sorenson Capital, Incorta powers analytics for some of the most valuable brands and organizations in the world. For today's most complex data and analytics challenges, Incorta partners with Fortune 5 to Global 2000 customers such as Broadcom (News - Alert) , Nortek, Forterra, Equinix, and Credit Suisse. Incorta is ranked 158th on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500. For more information, visit https://www.incorta.com. About Redstone Federal Credit Union With more than $6.6 billion in assets, Redstone Federal Credit Union is the largest member-owned financial institution in Alabama and one of the largest federal credit unions in the nation by assets. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, Redstone Federal Credit Union serves more than 600,000 members. Chartered on November 28, 1951, Redstone Federal Credit Union has proudly served its members for nearly 70 years and has 27 conveniently located branches across North Alabama and Tennessee. Redstone Federal Credit Union provides a level of service that is not generally available at other financial institutions through its philosophy of - People Helping People. www.redfcu.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005084/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] As crowds descend on the nations High Streets this week, following the reopening of non-essential stores, the savviest shoppers are to be found trawling charity shops and vintage emporiums for deals. Second-hand shops were braced for a flood of donations similar to the volume received following the end of the first lockdown, as millions of us have once again had plenty of time to clear out our wardrobes. Last summer Cancer Research UK saw a 31 per cent increase in donations, while Oxfams online sales over Christmas were up 90 per cent compared with the same period the year before. Prue White shared her top tips for navigating the second-hand minefield, as the UK's savviest shoppers trawl charity shops in search of bargains (file image) The time is ripe to get on the pre-loved bandwagon its an ideal way to source sustainable pieces and move away from fast fashion, which sees clothes mass-produced at low cost, worn a few times and then disposed of. And with a surplus of stock in charity shops right now, there are bargains galore if you know what to look for. But if youre put off by thoughts of musty dresses and ill-fitting garments, follow PRUE WHITES top tips on how to navigate the second-hand minefield and bag yourself a stylish, one-of-a- kind look. Go armed with a tape measure We all know modern sizing can vary from store to store, but when youre shopping vintage, the nuances are even greater. You need to know your body well, because labels are sometimes missing and its not always possible to try pieces on. Be sure to have your waist, hip and bust measurements to hand and be prepared to alter items. If youre a dab hand with a needle and thread thats perfect but, if not, head to your local tailor. Most dry cleaners offer an alterations service, too. Try this out with an item youre not too invested in before handing over your best-loved piece. Prue said making friends with the volunteers in your local second-hand shop can help you with clearing clutter. Pictured: Armstrongs Vintage Be strategic Make friends with the volunteers in your local second-hand shops by taking your own good-quality clothes in often. Not only will this help you clear your clutter, it also ensures youll check in regularly for fresh stock. Consider your locale though the people you see on the streets around you are likely to be the same people making the donations, so think about where you might discover the best loot. It may well be worth a trip to a posher postcode! Two-tone: Chanel 2013 cardigan (size 16), 595, ukdesigner exchange.com Look for designer tells If youre shopping premium, knowing the signatures of specific brands is imperative to avoid buying fakes. To limit the counterfeit trade, some use hologram stickers, often sewn into seams (UGG boots have these), while bags by labels such as Gucci or Fendi will have serial numbers inside them. More premium retailers, such as Designer Exchange, will have already done this verification process, so you can be confident that youre buying the real thing. But the price will reflect this, so youre going to pay more here than you will for a gem uncovered in Oxfam. Focus on fabric Prue recommends investing in items made from natural fabrics because they are hard-wearing. Pictured: 68, wolfangypsyvintage.co.uk Keep an eye out for natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk (like this pink Cacharel bib-front blouse from Wolf & Gypsy Vintage in Brighton) because they are all environmentally friendly and hard-wearing. That said, some original 1970s polyester pieces will wear well without creasing as well as being jolly with their disco vibes. Inspiration: Chanel bag, sellierknightsbridge.com But dont rush Remember, theres no going back. Most sellers, including luxury pre-loved retailer Sellier Knightsbridge, dont accept returns. Be sure you love the piece before you part with your cash, but dont dismiss something just because its a bit bashed up. When it comes to designer handbags and shoes, it could be worth breathing new life back into them. The Restory (the-restory.com), which has branches in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, will collect your item and painstakingly restore it. Francesca Paris is The Eagle's data and public records reporter. She was previously the North Adams reporter. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston. Find her on Twitter at @fparises. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 15:05:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, presides over a symposium on Yellow River legislation in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) XI'AN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu has called for accelerated legislation to advance ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks while presiding over a symposium on Yellow River legislation on Tuesday in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Li stressed that the national strategy for ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin is important for national rejuvenation and sustainable development. He said that ecological conservation and restoration should be highlighted in the new law to improve the fragile ecosystem of the Yellow River. The legislation should emphasize implementing the plan to develop functional zones along the Yellow River basin and delimit ecological red lines, he said. It should provide legislative support to establish the strictest institution for the protection and utilization of water resources, as well as the most rigorous institutions for environmental regulation and water pollution prevention and control, Li said. The new law should attach importance to the construction of a comprehensive flood control and disaster mitigation system, and a system to monitor and provide early warnings for environment-related emergencies, he noted. Li also underlined the law's role in enhancing the preservation and inheritance of Yellow River culture. During his trip to Shaanxi, Li conducted research on Yellow River protection legislation, hearing views from local officials working at the primary level. Enditem Open feedback by Novartis associates contributed to coveted Canadian employer recognition Novartis ranked among the companies with the highest levels of trust and most inclusive cultures in the country DORVAL, QC, April 13, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. is thrilled to be recognized as a Great Place to Work and announce that Novartis in Canada has earned a spot on the "Top 50 Best Workplaces" in the country. Novartis has also been proudly named on the 2021 list of Best Workplaces for Women, a designation that speaks to the organization's inclusive and equitable work environment. These rankings were made possible thanks to feedback provided directly from Novartis associates about their workplace experience. All associates were given the opportunity to voice their opinion through an anonymous and independent analysis conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute with Novartis associates across the Novartis businesses: Novartis Innovative Medicines Division (Pharmaceuticals and Oncology business units), as well as Sandoz Canada. The Top 50 Best Workplaces list is curated based on analyzed responses from thousands of individuals from organizations in Canada with more than 1,000 employees working in Canada or worldwide. "What makes me very proud about these designations is that it is our associates who provide their feedback and they are telling us that our 'care in leadership' approach is appreciated. Our leaders didn't underestimate the challenges that were faced in 2020 and focused on prioritizing the wellbeing of our associates to ensure, among other things, work-life balance. I would like to express my gratitude to the team for their steadfast dedication to reimagining medicine and continuing to deliver for patients no matter what," said Christian Macher, Country President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. Novartis fosters a work environment and culture that brings out the best in people to fulfil the purpose of reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's live. The company operates with the understanding that associates are its greatest asset and they are encouraged to live the values and behaviors that underpin the Novartis culture. The company prides itself on its commitment to diversity and to nurturing an inclusive environment all around. Novartis is also committed to be an ethical and responsible corporate citizen in Canada through its employment practices, as well as through its research programs and commercial activities and by always showing respect for the environment. The highly respected recognition program run by the Great Place to Work Institute gathers and evaluates employee feedback and acknowledges companies who have built high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. The list evaluates like-sized companies from across Canada that are measured against criteria designed to identify those that are exceptional places to work. Novartis associates were surveyed and gave feedback on the following five areas: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. About Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. In 2020, the company invested $45 million in research and development in Canada. Located in Dorval, Quebec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,000 people in Canada and is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca . About Sandoz Sandoz is a world leader in generics and biosimilars and a division of the Swiss multinational Novartis. A true leader in its field, Sandoz Canada markets and distributes a wide range of generics, biosimilars and specialty products. www.sandoz.ca Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandoz-canada/ About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com. SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. For further information: Novartis Media Relations, Stephanie Weinstein, Novartis Corporate Communications, +1 438 364 4346, E-mail: [email protected] Related Links http://www.novartis.ca Sweetface "Nyx" Shelton, a well-loved brindle-furred American Mastiff who served with the Alaska National Guard for more than three years, died April 9 at age 4 -- just weeks after earning a prestigious state medal for her work. Her death came just over a week after her last day as the Alaska National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, or SAPR, program therapy dog. Nyx and Ashley Shelton, a sexual assault response coordinator for the Alaska National Guard and the dog's owner, were awarded the Alaska Commendation Medal on March 18 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, according to a release. "Our beautiful therapy dog, Nyx, has been diagnosed with lymphoma which is not curable. Typically, dogs only survive 30-60 days once diagnosed. Nyx is happiest at work with her friends so she will continue to work as long as possible in the Anchorage Armory. #akngsapr #saprdognyx," the Alaska National Guard's SAPR program said in a Feb. 25 Facebook post. Another Facebook post announcing Nyx's retirement said, "She truly loved her job and her people." In addition to providing emotional support, Nyx supplied therapeutic aid for the SAPR Program and Warrior and Family Services. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month; 6,236 service members reported that they experienced a sexual assault in fiscal 2019, according to that year's Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. Both combat and sexual assault are strongly linked to post-traumatic stress disorder, and therapy dogs can play a vital role in service members' healing process. Whether it was accompanying a survivor of sexual assault as they testified in court or identifying and responding to stress among service members, Nyx "maintained constant readiness to serve her comrades," according to the news release. State Family Program Director Octavia Thompson, "one of Nyx's coworkers," said that Nyx helped service members persevere through difficult moments. "Without a doubt, her calm and comforting nature have had a positive impact on our program," Thompson said in the release. "We know that sometimes we have to discuss things that are uncomfortable or very personal, but as soon as people see her, they feel as if a friend is there." As the military continues to grapple with how best to support survivors of sexual assault, Nyx "empower[ed] service members" and "directly contribute[d] to a culture of seeking and receiving help when needed," according to the release. "I have seen her on multiple occasions just sit next to someone who has had a bad day, lean against their legs to let them know they are not alone," Thompson said. "I, too, have experienced her support on a rough day where she has come to sit next to me, put her paw on my leg and look to me as if to say, 'I am here with you.'" A Facebook post shared by the Alaska National Guard SAPR Program said Nyx "passed peacefully at home knowing how much she was loved not only by her home family, but also her work family." Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 18:01:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI -- The COVID-19 situation has exploded in India, as a record number of 184,372 cases were registered in a single day, between Tuesday and Wednesday. The number of new cases has been consistently on the rise over the past couple of weeks, and have been above 100,000-mark/day for almost ten days. As many as 1,027 deaths were recorded in 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 172,085. This is the highest single-day spike this year. (India-COVID-19-Record high infections) - - - - SUVA -- The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has expressed deep concern about Japan's decision to dump nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and urged Japan to rethink about such a decision. According to a statement by the PIF on Wednesday, PIF Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor said that the PIF noted, with deep concern, the decision by the Japanese government to discharge the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) Treated Water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the Pacific Ocean, and wished to highlight and reiterate the position of the Pacific Islands Forum region in relation to this matter. (Pacific Islands Forum-Japan-Nuclear waste water) - - - - MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Wednesday 8,122 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 892,880. The death toll climbed to 15,447 after 162 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. The coronavirus spread has not slowed down, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online briefing. (Philippines-COVID-19-Tally) - - - - SEOUL -- South Korea's employment marked the first rebound in 13 months last month, showing signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, statistical office data showed Wednesday. The number of those employed totaled 26,923,000 in March, up 314,000 from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea. It was the first turnaround since February last year. (South Korea-Unemployment rate) Enditem White tea industry heralds prosperity for east China's Fuding Xinhua) 13:44, April 14, 2021 FUZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Having hopped from job to job across China since he was 15, Li Zhaotie finally became self-sufficient through white tea cultivation back in his hometown in the city of Fuding, east China's Fujian Province. Li, 45, started growing white tea in 2011 and within five years he built himself a six-bedroom house using the incomes generated from selling the produce. He currently operates a 180-mu (12 hectares) tea farm in Fangjiashan Village, renowned for the unique variety of tea. Over the past decade, white tea cultivation in Fuding has flourished into an industry worth over 10 billion yuan (about 1.53 billion U.S. dollars), with approximately two-thirds of the city's population engaged in it. The thriving industry has helped lift many people out of poverty. White tea is deemed one of the six major types of tea in China and its processing involves simpler steps compared to the other varieties. Tender buds and sprouts are plucked in early spring, and then withered and dried to preserve their delicate and sweet flavor. White tea was grown in Fuding as early as 1,000 years ago during the Tang Dynasty. In the late 18th century, tea growers in the city created Yinzhen, a distinguished variety of white tea. It was around that time the white tea was exported en masse to regions including Europe and Southeast Asia. While white tea was met with rave reviews overseas, it once remained under the radar for many years, overshadowed by green tea, black tea and oolong tea. "Fuding white tea is a dark horse in China's tea market," said Lin Youxi, founder of a renowned tea company in the city. Once a technician for tea processing machinery, Lin sold tea harvested from Fuding in the 1990s when the company he worked for went under. Back then, he used to primarily deal in green tea and herbal tea. Breakout for white tea in Fuding came in 2007 when a government-led group was set up for branding Fuding's white tea and nurturing the industry. The group helped local tea companies attend exhibitions and open up new markets. It did not take long for Fuding's white tea to gain popularity. "Fuding White Tea" has been among the top 10 most valuable tea brands in China for 11 consecutive years, ranking fourth last year at an assessed brand value of over 4.97 billion yuan. Since 2010, white tea-growing started scaling up in Fuding, bringing locals like Li back to join in the business. In 2020, Fuding produced 25,300 tonnes of white tea. Tea-related output is currently valued at 11.95 billion yuan, up 12.2 percent year on year despite the pandemic-induced impacts. Over half of Fuding's per capita rural disposable income comes from tea. "There's no way a hard-working person can be poor here," said Zhang Longgui, head of Diantou Township in Fuding. Aside from growing tea themselves, farmers can expand their income by leasing their fields, working for tea companies, or holding shares in such companies, Zhang added. While Fuding accounts for around half of white tea output nationwide, white tea currently takes up approximately 2 percent of total tea consumption in China, indicating room for future growth. Amid competition from other white tea-growing areas, Fuding is beefing up efforts to make white tea healthier and greener. According to local officials, the city is exploring unified citywide pest control to lower chemical residuals, and has banned the use of herbicides. The COVID-19 pandemic helped many tea companies in Fuding embrace e-commerce opportunities. Fragrant Tea, a brand with leading e-commerce sales of white tea, has trained livestreaming anchors almost every day on e-commerce platforms. Last year, the company's sales skyrocketed to 82 million yuan, mostly from online business. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... LONDON When Prince Philips funeral takes place on Saturday, it will be more than a focal point for national mourning. Many will also be watching for any signs of reconciliation between Prince Harry and the royal family, especially with his elder brother Prince William. It will be the first time that Harry comes face-to-face with the royal family since he and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped away from royal duties last March and moved to California with their young son, Archie. While that departure caused a huge rift in the monarchy, family relations took a further dive last month when Harry and Meghan gave a candid interview with U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Among other revelations, Harry confirmed rumors that he and his brother had been growing apart, saying the relationship is space at the moment though he added that time heals all things, hopefully. Harry also told Winfrey that his father, heir to the throne Prince Charles, was not accepting his calls for a time. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ And the couple threw a bombshell by revealing that an unnamed member of the royal family had expressed concern about how dark their childs skin color might be due to Meghans biracial heritage. Days after the explosive racism accusations were aired, William shot back, telling reporters that his was very much not a racist family. In spite of the tensions, Saturdays funeral will almost certainly remind the brothers of their shared grief at another royal funeral more than two decades ago when, as young boys, both walked behind their mother Princess Dianas coffin in 1997. On Saturday, Harry, 36, and William, 38, are both expected to join other senior royals and walk behind their grandfathers coffin, as the funeral procession makes its way through Windsor Castle. Many observers believe that Philips funeral will provide an ideal opportunity for The Firm to show a united front to the world and for the royal brothers to smooth over tensions. Philip, who had been married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than seven decades, died last week at 99. They shared emotion. They share grief at the present time because of the death of their grandfather, former Prime Minister John Major, who was appointed the princes guardian after Dianas death, told the BBC this week. I hope very much that it is possible to mend any rifts that may exist. But Angela Levin, Harrys biographer, said it would be inappropriate for the royals to talk about their personal issues in the run-up to the funeral, and there may not be time afterward if Harry rushes back to the U.S. I absolutely think it would be wrong to be all about themselves before the funeral. And I think that its wrong to imagine that theyre going to pour out their hearts and give each other a hug, when so much has happened in the year and William has had to take on so much more responsibility, she told the AP. Penny Junor, another royal biographer, thinks the damage done by the Winfrey interview especially the racism accusations, which she called unforgivable would be very difficult to come back from. (Harry) was disrespectful to his father. He talked about a private matter on a global stage. Theres a lot to sort out, Junor said. Both of the brothers are very stubborn people, she added, and William will have been really hurt and angry at his brother for the interview. Harry arrived in the U.K. on Monday and is in quarantine, but he can attend the funeral in line with government rules that make exceptions for such occasions. Meghan, who is pregnant with their second child, was advised by her doctor not to make the long trip, officials said. The brothers have had contrasting roles and personalities from birth, though in recent years those differences have increasingly come to the fore. As the younger brother to a future king the so-called spare to the heir Harry had far fewer responsibilities and a reputation as the party prince before serving in the army and settling down in his 30s. He found success and enjoyed popularity in Britain with the Invictus Games, the sporting event he founded for disabled and wounded members of the military. Yet his place in the monarchy became further diminished with the birth of Williams three children, who bumped him down to sixth in line to the throne. It was clear from at least 2019 that Harry wanted a break from the constraints of the monarchy to craft his own narrative. That year Harry and Meghan separated from the Royal Foundation, originally set up as the brothers joint charitable venture, so they could have their own platform. The princes separate statements this week in tribute to Philip reflected their personalities and differing styles. While Williams stated that he and his wife Kate will continue to do what (Philip) would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead, Harrys tone was much more informal and light-hearted. The younger brother praised Philip for being authentically himself and thanked him for his dedication to Granny. He also wrote: While I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, Oh do get on with it. Still, Levin and Junor said the brothers had enjoyed an incredibly close bond from childhood, and both were hopeful the time would come for them to reconcile their differences. Harry said to me when I was interviewing him for my biography, he said that William is the only person he can really trust, said. He felt if he went and met people, he didnt know if they were liking him for what he was rather than who he was. But they could discuss anything, he and William. Historian Ed Owens, who wrote The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public 1932-1953, about the royal familys public relations strategy in the last century, agreed that it was still early days for a royal reconciliation. I dont think theres going to be any great sort of family get-together or a return to sort of normalcy, sort of pre-Megxit, anytime soon, he said. ___ Associated Press Danica Kirka contributed to this report. ___ Read all AP stories about Prince Philip at https://apnews.com/prince-philip The partnership expands Bennies commitment to providing employees with access to world-class employee benefits. STAMFORD, Conn. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bennie, an employee benefits platform helping companies create a healthier workplace, and Betterment 401(k), a technology-led 401(k) provider that makes saving for retirement easy, today announced a partnership to help employees gain control of their finances. The partnership allows employers to provide their employees with a simple, powerful platform of all benefits information and a better 401(k) plan. Companies can easily maintain their plan and help their employees prepare for retirementall while keeping costs low. Through this partnership, Bennie members will benefit from Betterments industry-leading 401(k) solution and wider suite of employee financial wellness tools, available through Bennies Marketplace beginning on April 13th. With its low fees, seamless onboarding process, and intuitive user experience for both employers and employees, the Betterment 401(k) is a high-quality and affordable retirement planning option for companies of all sizes. Despite the many challenges that businesses have faced over the past year, the one thing that has not changed is employers desire to ensure that their hardworking employees are financially well. That starts by being able to offer a great benefits package, said Kristen Carlisle, General Manager of Betterment 401(k). By partnering with leading platforms like Bennie, we can support those businesses by making high-quality retirement plans and employee benefits available and accessible to all. Built to deliver employee-focused benefits experiences, Bennie is an employee benefits solution empowering people with the access and understanding necessary to improve their lives. By offering strategic benefits and HR technology consulting and support, Bennie is not only bridging the gap between benefits and HR technology but also helping employers navigate the complexities of the benefits marketplace and select the right products and platforms for their needs. Bennies simple platform is a single hub for all employee benefits, making it easy for employers to manage benefits and for employees to access them. "Betterment's 401(k) has an impressive suite of financial tools that complements Bennies focus," said Matt Straz, Founder & CEO at Bennie. "We are committed to providing our customers and their employees with the most innovative benefit solutions and Betterment is a leader in financial wellness programs. We are very excited to be working with the team at Betterment 401(k)." Betterment 401(k) helps individuals make the most of their money and enables businesses to provide their employees with more than just a 401(k). By giving employees the ability to plan for retirement in full view of their other financial goals, Betterment helps companies make it easier for employees to make smart decisions for near- and long-term financial success. Employees with a Betterment 401(k) have access to personalized advice, managed accounts, tax-saving strategies and a choice of investment portfolios (including socially responsible options). In addition, they can take advantage of Betterments no-fee checking and high-yield cash accounts, as well as additional retirement accounts like IRAs. About Bennie Bennie is the modern benefits platform for mid-sized companies. With an easy to use app and world-class brokerage services, Bennie is reimagining the entire benefits experience for employers and their employees. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut with employees across the US, this successful, proven team of industry innovators & experts have come together from top benefits firms, technology startups, and insurance carriers to create a better benefits experience. Bennie is committed to not only helping companies create healthier workplaces, but also building a better world. 1% of the companys equity has been pledged to supporting community and health-related causes, so as the company grows, so does the size and scope of our commitment. For more information, go to bennie.com or follow us on LinkedIn, or Twitter @BennieHealth. About Betterment 401(k) Betterment 401(k) is a 401(k) service built from the ground up with the needs of the modern employee in mind. It's selected by employers who want to offer their employees tailored and smart financial advice that will help them create a more secure future. Betterment 401(k) offering is powered by Betterment's proprietary, smart technology that automates and optimizes asset allocation to enhance financial wellness. As a fiduciary that is independent of the funds it invests in, Betterment believes that everyone has the fundamental right to expert financial advice. Headquartered in New York City and created by the largest independent robo-advisor, Betterment 401(k) is used by leading employers like Casper and Boxed. For more information, visit www.betterment.com/401k. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005071/en/ Chris Flores Bennie press@bennie.com Arielle Sobel Betterment arielle@betterment.com Source: Bennie Washington, DC, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) have joined forces to champion two critical Hydrocephalus Association priorities for the 117th Congress. Specifically, theyve introduced H. Res. 20, a bipartisan resolution supporting September as Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. They also reconstituted the bipartisan Congressional Pediatric and Adult Hydrocephalus Caucus, which plays a critical role in raising awareness of the condition on Capitol Hill. Both actions reflect their deep and abiding understanding of the needs and interests of hydrocephalus patients, families, and caregivers. Res. 20 points to the many challenges this condition poses for patients, their families, and the country as a whole. Among other things, the resolution references the following facts: over one million Americans live with the condition; one in 770 babies develop hydrocephalus each year; up to two-thirds of service members with traumatic brain injuries may develop hydrocephalus; and, the only treatment for the condition is brain surgery. The Congressional Hydrocephalus Caucus serves to raise awareness of these devastating problems, along with the need for concrete solutions. In support of the over one million people living with hydrocephalus in the U.S., we are deeply grateful to Representatives Doggett and Smith for their support of Hydrocephalus Awareness Month and in reinstating the Congressional Pediatric and Adult Hydrocephalus Caucus. Their actions demonstrate their commitment to raising awareness about this condition in Washington, D.C. and beyond. We at the Hydrocephalus Association appreciate their willingness to embrace the needs of patients and families around the country as we seek to find better treatments and possibly a cure. They are essential partners in these efforts, said Diana Gray, President and CEO of the Hydrocephalus Association. Anyone can develop hydrocephalus, an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, at any time. This can include premature babies, active duty service members, veterans, and seniors. Individuals can also be born with it, develop it as part of the aging process, or acquire it as a result of infections, brain tumors or traumatic brain injuries, among other causes. Unfortunately, the overall population affected by hydrocephalus is growing, but the public and many policymakers are still unaware of the condition and the needs of those it affects. The Congressional Hydrocephalus Caucus works toward increasing understanding of the condition, as well as developing policy solutions designed to improve quality of like for those impacted. For more information on this resolution, the caucus and hydrocephalus, please contact the Hydrocephalus Association at info@hydroassoc.org or by calling 888-598-3789. Attachment A woman has revealed how she escaped life in a secretive religious sect which outlaws birthdays, pop music and even make-up. Jessie Shedden, 34, from Gwent, South Wales, the youngest of eight children, was inducted into an evangelical Christan organisation now known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church at one week old, The Sun reported. She said the church outlaws modern technology and women wearing trousers or make-up, explaining: 'We followed a strict interpretation of the Bible and our lives were set up to avoid contact with 'evil' outsiders.' After her mother was diagnosed with cancer when she was 30, Jessie became more curious about life outside the church and ended up having sex with an outsider. Her liasons with the stranger inspired her to leave the church. Jessie Shedden, 34, from Gwent, South Wales, has spoken about how she had sex for the first time when she was 30 in the back of a second-hand Honda At one week old, Jessie was inducted into the evangelical Christian organisation called the Exclusive Brethren which is now known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Her parents' families had been in it for generations. She explained: 'From the outside, my childhood home looked normal. But inside, we didn't have a TV or radio, and there were no story books allowed, only religious pamphlets. Pop music was banned and I had no posters on my bedroom walls. 'Each family saw itself as a self-contained bubble of purity, with women covering their heads in public and forbidden from wearing trousers, make-up and jewellery, or cutting their hair. Our lives were lived for God, and anything 'frivolous' such as birthdays, holidays or pets were outlawed.' Jessie had been homeschooled and wasn't taught any sex education. Jessie grew up in Somerset, the youngest of eight children, and was inducted into an evangelical Christan organisation now known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church at one week old and recalled how her childhood home didn't have a TV or radio and religious pamphlets replaced story books, while pop music was also banned Jessie met her now-fiance Dai, 63, in December 2019 after Dai came to see a pest problem on her farm where she looks after chickens (pictured) and the pair moved in together in March 2020 She called the idea of contraception 'completely alien' and confessed she 'didn't even know it existed' for years. Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Plymouth Brethren Christian Church's core beliefs originated from Anglicanism in the early 1820s. Members of the group believe they were chosen by God and were waiting for the Rapture - a moment when the 'saints on earth' will be moved onto the next life, while those who aren't pure remain on earth. Believers live in constant fear of the 'wrath of God' from a young age, and ex-members have revealed they were not allowed to watch television as children, play with toys, read nursery rhymes, or celebrate birthdays. Indulging in such activities would decrease the likelihood of members going to heaven in the afterlife, and as a result the church have a reputation of ostracising themselves from the outside world and modern technology. In 2016, Australian nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton described the oppression she was subjected to as she grew up in the secret religious brethren. Even 40 years later, she found it difficult to look in the mirror, after being told as a child that vanity was a sin. 'I've been brought up in this very strict religious sect,' she told A Current Affair. 'It's really wrong to subject children to that.' The health professional, who became a household name after becoming a columnist in Cleo Magazine and giving her expertise on television, described how even young girls had to take part in the traditions while growing up. Females were not allowed to attend university and all females wore a ribbon, bow or scarf across their head from a young age to signify 'you accept the headship (authority) of men.' 'I feel extremely lucky that I managed to escape. I was born to a brethren secret group who saw themselves as 'God's chosen people,' she said. At the age of 20, she and her sister decided to flee, meaning she could never hear from her family again, as members who leave the Brethren are also ex-communicated. Advertisement At the age of 11, Jessie became more curious about the world and how babies were made. When she reached 18, Jessie said everything changed when she met a local who was 42 through her work. While it was forbidden for her to be friends with him, they grew closer for years and it made her realise she was craving a different life. In February 2016 Jessie's mum, then 66, was diagnosed with colon cancer, dying in June 2018 and the experience shocked Jessie into wanting a different life. In December 2016, she approached the man, and, on her 30th birthday, the couple had drove down a country lane and had sex in her car. For days afterwards, she worried about falling pregnant, despite using a condom, because she wasn't able to access any other contraception. After a few months the liaisons ended but it made a huge impact on her and she decided to leave the church. Jessie bought a mobile phone, which she hid, and put down a deposit on a rented house without her parents' knowledge, until the confirmation of her post redirection was sent to the house. Jessie met her now-fiance Dai, 63, in December 2019 and the pair moved in together in March 2020. She said that she has always fancied older men as she was never around people her own age, finding them immature, and associates more with older people. Jessie met Dai when he came to see a pest problem at her farm, where she looks after chickens. Jessie, who doesn't think the couple will have children, said that she is so glad where she is now, and can have sex freely with Dai who is 'wonderful' and that she is 'much happier'. A church spokesman told The Sun said: 'Ms Shedden's decision to no longer attend our church is a personal choice and we wish her the very best. 'We strongly refute any allegation that Ms Shedden's experiences are linked to the lifestyle and practices of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. 'The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is a mainstream Christian Church, which follows the teachings of the Holy Bible. Our 18,000 members have been proud to live and work in communities across the UK for nearly 200 years and we fully embrace the British values of individuality and mutual respect.' About 24 hours after his arrest, a former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, is still being detained in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), PREMIUM TIMES can report. This newspaper reported that Mr Okorocha was arrested by the operatives of the anti-corruption agency at about 4 p.m. Tuesday at his Unity House private office in Abuja. Sources familiar with the matter told this medium that the former governor was arrested after a five-hour standoff with EFCC operatives who trailed him to the location. Our reporter was reliably informed that the anti-graft agency had repeatedly invited the former governor to its Abuja headquarters in connection with multiple corruption allegations against him. Mr Okorocha, who is now the senator representing Imo West, reportedly declined to honour the invitation, a development that infuriated detectives who fanned out to get him. Interrogation continues Sources in the anti-corruption agency told our reporter on Wednesday that Mr Okorocha passed the night at the detention facility of the commission in Wuse 2, Abuja. On why he has not been released, the sources said operatives have been interrogating him since his arrest since Tuesday. The interrogation has continued till this afternoon, one of the sources added, but could not tell when the questioning session would end. Controversies Details of the allegations against the senator are sketchy but our sources said they are related to suspected monumental graft during his eight-year reign as governor. Since he left office as governor in 2019, Mr Okorocha has been having a running battle with his successor, Governor Hope Uzodinma, who accused him of misgovernance and corruption during his tenure. Both men are members of Nigerias ruling party, APC. On February 21, the former governor was arrested by the police for unsealing a hotel owned by his wife but which was shut by the Imo State government. He was later released. In November 2020, the EFCCs zonal office in Enugu arraigned Lasberry Anyanwu, a former commissioner who served under Mr Okorocha. He was charged with stealing and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N180 million. Invited over old case In an interview shortly after PREMIUM TIMES broke the news of Mr Okorochas arrest on Tuesday, his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, told this medium that the senators arrest was based on an old petition written by the Imo State Government. I dont think EFCC has a new matter with Okorocha, Mr Onwuemeodo said. Remember that after he left as governor, the (Imo) state government wrote petitions against him, the EFCC came and investigated this matter. The matter between Okorocha and EFCC has been pending in various courts, it is not a new matter, he said. Unless they must have invited him to come and clarify one or two issues, he added. In a later statement, Mr Onwuemeodo, who described the arrest as an invitation, noted that the former governor is a law-abiding citizen and would always cooperate with the commission which, according to him, was merely doing its job. ADVERTISEMENT He also said the senator had been in court with the EFCC over the pending matter. The truth is that Okorocha left as the governor of Imo State on May 28, 2019. And shortly after his exit as governor, Imo State Government wrote Petitions upon Petitions against him. The EFCC investigated the petitions and has been in various courts of the land with Okorocha, to that effect, he stated. He said at the end of the day we would know whether the commission will be withdrawing the cases in courts, or would continue with the cases already in courts. But to us, the commission is doing its job and should be given the needed cooperation. And Okorocha being a law-abiding citizen, would always cooperate with the commission over the Matters in Courts. EFCC is not a slaughter house, but a very responsible institution and should be seen as such. We have no reason to complain about the invitation of today, which Okorocha honoured as a patriotic and responsible Nigerian. Like we stated earlier, the commission didnt invite Okorocha today (Tuesday), for the first time, the senators spokesperson added. A man wanted by law enforcement is accused of carrying a gun and a large amount of heroin when he was arrested in Worcester on Tuesday by local and state police as well as the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Forces, authorities said. Massachusetts State Police troopers, other agencies and the Worcester police officer assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service unit went to a home on Beacon Street shortly after 9 a.m. to arrest 43-year-old Luis Torres on a warrant for numerous firearms charges and violent crimes, according to officials. At the home, officers said they found large amounts cocaine and heroin as well as a handgun and ammunition. Torres is accused of not having a license for the firearm, the Worcester Police Department said in a statement. Torres was arrested and charged with the warrant as well as heroin and cocaine trafficking, illegally carrying a gun, possession of ammunition without an FID and improper storage of a firearm. He was expected to be arraigned at a later date. Connecticut is experiencing one of the biggest sellers markets in its history. And the unprecedented demand is pushing prices up and inventory down. In 2020, the U.S. Postal Service reported more than 10,000 relocations to Connecticut from New York. Given the COVID-spurred urban exodus, some communities saw double and triple-digit increases in the number of home sales last year. Additionally, realtor.com predicts the Greenwich-Bridgeport corridor will see one of the half-dozen biggest increases in home prices in the nation in 2021. And thats creating the perfect storm of buyer frenzy, according to local real estate watchers. Well-placed and high-priced homes are flying off the market, and bidding wars among buyers are becoming commonplace. We spoke to local realtors to find out some of the tactics buyers in Connecticut are using to stand out of the pack. Cash offers Many local realtors have stories about the New Yorkers coming into Connecticut and paying cash for homes sometimes sight unseen. Writing a check is the easiest way to a sellers heart because it dispenses with the haggling and delays that can come with mortgages, said Stephanie Barnes, a Westport-based realtor with Stephanie & Co. at Compass. Waiving home inspections While she doesnt recommend it to her clients, Barnes said some buyers waive home inspection to streamline the process. Some reason it makes sense to take the calculated risk of an inspection for informational purposes only or bring a trusted contractor along on a walk-through. Megan Foggitt, a Wallingford-based real estate agent part the CT Property Sisters associated with Margaret Bennett Realty, suggested waiving a portion of whatever repairs may be necessary. By doing this, Foggitt said buyers can state that they will not ask the home seller to cover any repairs uncovered in the inspection process unless the cost exceeds a particular figure. Waiving mortgage contingency Barnes said she has seen some buyers waiving the mortgage contingency that protects a buyers deposit if something unforeseen happens to the final sale. Without it, a seller knows that, should things fall apart, they can quickly cut loose and look for a new buyer. Escalation clause Realtor Eric Radecki of Century 21 in Fairfield County suggests considering an escalation clause. The buyer agrees to pay a certain price for the home. If the seller then receives a higher bid, the buyer agrees to increase by pre-discussed increments. This move gives the seller more insight into a buyers commitment in the event of a bidding war, Radecki said. Pre-approval Sellers want to know a buyer is serious, realtors said. Getting pre-approval plus from a mortgage lender before making an offer is wise, said Radecki. This is a pre-written mortgage agreement, not just a promise or pre-approval that is in process, he said. Foggitt also mentioned that she will have the lender associated with her buyer contact the listing agent to share information on how financially well-suited their buyer is to make a home purchase to help expedite the home sale process. Flexible closing date Todays market is forcing over-asking price bids. Buyers can consider sweetening the deal with a highest price/best terms model, Barnes said. Being flexible on the closing date or contingencies might be more attractive than a slightly higher dollar amount, she said. In the end, every seller is different and sometimes honest, open discussion is the ticket to a winning bid. Every single deal is a unique organism, Barnes said. Even in todays digital world, you need to pick up the telephone and talk. One of the main trade unions representing bank workers has called for further clarity from Bank of Ireland over its recent decision to close more than 100 of its branches across the island of Ireland. Last month, Bank of Ireland announced plans to close 88 branches in the Republic and 15 in the North giving reduced footfall and a marked shift in customer behaviour towards online banking as its main reason. It said the closures would begin in September and additional services will be offered through 900 An Post offices in the Republic. 'Publish footfall numbers' However, the Financial Services Union (FSU) has now called on Bank of Ireland to formally publish accurate footfall numbers for each branch due for closure. The FSU claims information that it has seen suggests one branch in Dublin, which is due to be closed, has been attracting over 220 people per hour. Furthermore, the union claims that the information shows that 75% of all proposed closing branches have at least 500 people coming into them on a weekly basis, with 25% of those having between 1,500 and 3,000 customers on a weekly basis. Bank of Ireland have led us all to believe that footfall in these branches was non-existent, and that the branches were empty most of the time, said FSU general secretary John OConnell. 'People still use branches' These numbers show that even in the middle of a pandemic and where the branch is only open part-time people are regularly using their local bank branch." It is clear the only motive behind the proposed closures is higher profit margins and not, as the bank claims, how often customers use the Bank. Bank of Ireland should now come clean and publish the footfall figures for each of the bank branches they want to close, Mr OConnell said. The FSU wants the Oireachtas committee on finance, public expenditure, and reform to request another meeting with Bank of Ireland, so it can correct the record and outline the real reasons why they are closing branches". 'Online/offline tipping point' In response, Bank of Ireland repeated its claim that the way people bank continues to evolve, and its customers are using its branches less every year. For a long time we have kept branches open when the general trend was to reduce them, but weve reached a tipping point between online and offline banking, a spokesperson said. Between 2017 and 2020, footfall at the closing branches dropped by around 60% while digital usage by our customers increased by one third. "In the two years before the pandemic, the number of people visiting branches had reduced by almost a quarter. Our mobile app is now our most popular way to bank, with almost half a million customer log-ins every day and traffic up by a third in the past two years, they said. We are making the branch changes in a way that protects local access to physical banking for those who want it through the new partnership with An Post, they said. For veterans, a hidden side effect of COVID: Feelings of personal growth The U.S. military veteran population is known to have abnormally high rates of suicide, so health officials have been concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic might elevate risk of psychiatric disorders, particularly among those suffering from post-traumatic stress and related disorders. A recent national study of more than 3,000 veterans participating in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study did find that 12.8% reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to COVID-19 and 8% said they had contemplated suicide during the pandemic. However, the same survey, published April 8 in JAMA Network Open, revealed another, startling finding. A full 43.3% of respondents -- more than three times the number of those reporting COVID-related PTSD symptoms and five times the number of those who had contemplated suicide -- said that they have experienced positive psychological benefits during the pandemic. These veterans reported greater appreciation of life, closer interpersonal relationships, and an increased sense of personal strength. "Yes, there have certainly been many negative mental health consequences of the pandemic, but we are also seeing that a considerable proportion of people may experience positive psychological changes," said Robert Pietrzak, director of the Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD, associate professor of psychiatry and public health at Yale, and lead author of the paper. "This suggests that the experience of stress and trauma related to the pandemic can lead to positive personal growth." Over the past decade, Pietrzak and Steven Southwick, the Glenn H. Greenberg Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Yale and senior author of the new paper, have been studying veterans who experience what is known as "post-traumatic growth" following a traumatic experience. Scientists have long been fascinated with the concept of resilience -- how people who endure trauma find a way to bounce back. The concept of post-traumatic growth posits that while trauma can increase risk for mental disorders such as PTSD, it may also spur positive personal growth. For the latest findings, Pietrzak and Southwick initially asked veterans about their psychological health between November of 2019 and March 2020. The advent of the pandemic motivated them to follow up that survey with another, of the same group, a year later. In this second survey, they asked questions about PTSD symptoms and possible positive psychological changes related to the pandemic. Of the 3,078 veterans who responded to both surveys, 43.3% reported that the pandemic led to positive psychological changes in their lives. Among veterans who screened positive for COVID-related PTSD symptoms, more than 70% reported experiencing these changes. "Post-traumatic growth is a process that often happens naturally and is stimulated by reflective processing about a traumatic event," Pietrzak said. "Sometimes you need to be sufficiently shaken by an experience and even experience symptoms of PTSD to begin to process it at a deeper level and ultimately be able to grow from it." Greater post-traumatic growth -- particularly an increased appreciation of life and improved interpersonal relationships -- was also associated with a 40% lower likelihood of contemplating suicide during the pandemic. This finding suggests that psychological interventions to promote post-traumatic growth may be a helpful measure to prevent suicide among veterans. While the scientific study of post-traumatic growth is relatively new, the concept is not. Ancient religious and spiritual traditions, philosophers, and scholars have long expressed the potentially transformative power of suffering. "The saying 'Grow through what you go through' captures the essence of post-traumatic growth," Pietrzak said. He and his colleagues plan to continue to follow their cohort of veterans over time to examine the longer-term course of post-traumatic growth and whether it may help promote resilience to subsequent traumatic events. ### The National Health and Resilience in Veterans study is supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD. Jack Tsai, an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Yale who also serves as campus dean and professor of public health at the University of Texas School of Public Health in San Antonio, co-authored the paper. This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-13 23:52:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Somali opposition presidential candidates on Tuesday faulted the Parliament's move to extend President Mohamed Farmajo's term in office for two years, terming it unconstitutional. The National Salvation Forum, a newly formed alliance for opposition presidential candidates said Monday's resolution is a threat to the stability, peace and unity of Somalia. "The decision by the House of the People to extend its mandate and that of the president by two years is null and void," the alliance said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. The statement comes after the Lower House of parliament voted Monday to extend the president's term for another two years to allow the country to prepare for direct elections. The parliamentary resolution to hold a direct election in 2023 which would require constitutional office holders to stay in office came amid pressure from the international partners for the parties to strike a consensus. The partners have also warned that they will not support actions that lead to a partial or parallel electoral process, or an automatic extension of previous mandates. The alliance which had earlier stated it will not accept term extension for constitutional office holders said the resolution is an attempt to derail recent efforts to reach an agreement on inclusive and peaceful elections in the country and the implementation of the Sept. 17, 2020 pre-election deal. "The forum, in consultation with the various sections of the Somali society, will take necessary steps against an unconstitutional term extension and take measures to find a solution for the transition period," it said. Farmajo, whose four-year term in office officially ended on Feb. 8 has for several months been unable to find a truce with two regional leaders from Puntland and Jubaland and agree on a timetable for electing new office holders. Farmajo said Monday his government will play its key role in the implementation of the electoral law as passed by Parliament to rightfully restore the constitutional power to the Somali people. Enditem Port Fourchon: The Coast Guard searched for 12 people missing off the coast of Louisiana on Wednesday after finding one crew member dead and pulling six survivors from rough seas when their commercial platform vessel capsized in hurricane-force winds. Coast Guard Capt. Will Watson said winds were 80 to 90 mph (130 to 145 km/h) and seas were 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to (2.7 meters) when the Seacor Power overturned. "It's challenging under any circumstance," he said. The bulky vessel with three long legs that can be lowered to the sea floor to make it an offshore platform flipped over Tuesday afternoon miles south of Port Fourchon. At one point, video showed the massive ship " 129-feet (39-meters) long at its beam " with one leg pointed awkwardly skyward as rescuers searched the heaving water. One crew member was found dead on the surface of the water, Watson said at a news conference Wednesday. Asked about the prospects of the missing crew, he said: "We are hopeful. We can't do this work if you're not optimistic, if you're not hopeful." Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III said time is critical in the rescue effort because "we have the potential for some rough weather around lunchtime." "The hope is that we can bring the other 12 home alive," Chaisson said. The search involved at least four Coast Guard vessels, four private ones and Coast Guard airplanes based in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Mobile, Alabama. A Coast Guard helicopter also was being used. Relatives of the missing crew members rushed to the port from their homes nearby, seeking any information they could get, Chaisson said. "We continue to pray for the ... Men who were on that vessel as well as their families," Chaisson said. The company that owns the ship, Houston-based Seacor Marine, set up a private hotline to share information with families of those onboard, Chaisson said. An employee who answered the phone Wednesday morning said he had no immediate information he could share. The National Weather Service in New Orleans had advised of bad weather offshore, including a special marine warning issued before 4 p.M. Tuesday that predicted steep waves and winds greater than 50 knots (58 mph). The Coast Guard received an emergency distress signal at 4:30 p.M. And issued an urgent marine broadcast that prompted multiple private vessels in the area to respond, saving four crew members, the agency said. Coast Guard crews rescued another two people. Although the Coast Guard said the lift boat capsized during a microburst, a National Weather Service meteorologist said the system was more like an offshore derecho. "This was not a microburst -- just a broad straight-line wind event that swept over a huge area," Phil Grigsby said. He said the weather service's nearest official gauge, at Grand Isle, showed about 30 minutes of 75 mph (120 km/h) winds, followed by hours of winds over 50 mph (80 km/h). The initial storm system was followed by a low-pressure system called a wake low, which amplified the winds and made them last longer, Grigsby said. "It was the strongest wake low I've seen in almost 18 years here," he said. Capt. Ronald Dufrene said his offshore trawler, Mister Jug, was among the shrimp boats that struggled to survive. "People who have been fishing 30, 40 years " the first time they put their life jackets on was yesterday. ... I know three boats for sure said that," Dufrene said. He said the captain who was on board his boat told him seas rose 15 to 20 feet (5 to 6 meters) and the wind gauge was lost at 80 mph (129 km/h), but a crewman told him later that he saw the gauge at 95 mph, "then the wind laid the pole over." The 95-mph (153 km/h) report can't be taken as official, Grigsby said. "We don't know how well-calibrated their instrument is. But it's not outside the realm of probability," he said. Port Fourchon, Louisiana's southernmost seaport, is a major base for the U.S. Oil and gas industry, supporting most of Louisiana's offshore platforms and drilling rigs. The storm also overturned other vessels and damaged property from Louisiana's shore up to New Orleans. "Please join @FirstLadyOfLA and me in praying for those who remain missing after yesterday's capsizing off the coast of Grand Isle and for those who are working to rescue them," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday on Twitter. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 04:00:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei speaks during Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 3, 2012. (Xinhua/Official Website of the Iranian Supreme Leader) TEHRAN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday reiterated Tehran's position that U.S. sanctions must be lifted before Iran returns to its compliance with the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "The officials' assessment is to go and negotiate in order to implement that policy, and we have no objection in this regard," Khamenei said in a public event, as quoted by his official website. Talking through videoconference in a religious ceremony broadcasted to celebrate the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, Iran's supreme leader stated that the U.S. officials' expressions of readiness to negotiate do not mean that Washington is ready to "listen and accept what is fair," but are rather a sign of their determination to "impose their unjust position." The United States "has not kept its promises on dozens of occasions," he said. Photo taken on April 9, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua) The JCPOA resumed talks in Austria's capital Vienna on April 6. The U.S. government has sent representatives to take part in the process, but Tehran has until now refused to meet them, since Washington abandoned the JCPOA in May 2018 and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran. This week, voices were clearly heard in Iran asking the government to halt the Vienna talks after the Iranian uranium enrichment plant in Natanz suffered an attack on April 11, which Iran has accused Israel of the "sabotage." Yves here. This article takes a look at how little progress is being made against climate/carbon emission targets and recommends more aggressive government action. Presumably the book its summarizing, Making Climate Policy Work. However, it sets up a straw man by equating carbon pricing with cap and trade and carbon offsets. Weve called out those approaches starting with the early days of this website, in 2007, as gimmicks that enrich intermediaries, are rife with fraud, fail to change behavior, but mislead some do-gooders into thinking theyve accomplished something. A carbon tax is not a new idea. Al Gore pumped for it in 1992. Illustrious economists, including Fed chairmen, two former Treasury secretaries, and Brookings recommended one in 2019. The Financial Times called for a clear and predictable price for carbon in 2007 as a crucial step in combatting climate change, without saying how it could be achieved. Tyler Cowen (!!!) advocated a carbon tax and has also explained why regulations would likely still be necessary. From a 2014 post: One problem with a Pigouvian tax is you may fail to meet the threshold of a desired outcome, given that the market response to the tax is uncertain. For instance if the government put on a stiff carbon tax there is a chance dirty coal use simply might continue, albeit at higher prices, and thus no problem would be solved. A very very high tax could ensure a movement away from dirty coal but then perhaps the tax is much higher than it needs to be and that too will bring significant distortions. In that case, it can in principle make sense to supplement the Pigouvian tax with some kind of best practices standard or quantity regulation on the side of emissions. Now heres the catch. Lets say you have been arguing that the transition to green energy can be a smooth and certain glide. In that case you should want the tax only (admittedly you still might favor direct regulation as a substitute, given the absence of a tax). Lets say you wring your hands about the ability of the market to find a good substitute for the dirtier fossil fuels. Youre really not sure whether that can be done or not at a reasonable price. In that case there is the uncertainty and you might favor the Pigouvian tax plus the regulation. Or if you are truly fearful about substitutability, and dont assign high enough priority to emissions control and climate issues, you might want no tax and also no major regulations. One odd mix of positions is Im very unsure how well and how smoothly this transition will go and I want only a Pigouvian tax. Another odd mix is Im sure this transition will be a smooth and easy glide, I want both Pigouvian taxes and lots of regulation. Now in addition to Cowens point that carbon taxes may still not be sufficient to deter bad behavior all by themselves (you can imagine rich people continuing to fly on private jets), there are other reasons to have reservations: They are likely to be regressive. There are ways to offset that with income taxes, but those who pay very low income taxes will be net losers ex giving them explicit subsidies. They would need to be implemented in a coordinated basis across major economies, including China, to be effective. Then again, we have that coordination problem no matter what policy is adopted. There would similarly be border cost adjustment issues whether our trade partners played ball or not. And it appears progressives have become squeamish about advocating taxes. From Politico in 2018: The story of the carbon taxs fading appeal, even among groups that like it in principle, shows the difficulties of crafting a politically palatable solution to one of the worlds most urgent problems including greenhouse gas levels that are on track to reach a record high this year. This aversion to taxes in the U.S. is high and should not be underestimated, said Kalee Kreider, a former Gore adviser and longtime climate activist. I have a lot of scars to show for that. I fear that the idea of a carbon tax is turning out to be a heavier lift than people envision, said RL Miller, founder of the advocacy group Climate Hawks Vote. As it is right now, starting from scratch, there is no constituency for it. And I think the climate movement needs to go through some rethinking. Ahem, doing anything that is even remotely adequate to the challenge is a heavy lift By Bruce Lieberman. Originally published at Yale Climate Connections Lockdowns, working from home, and sharply curtailed travel during the pandemic shaved 7% from global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, according to the United Nations. But as people get vaccinated, economies begin to recover, and global emissions revert to the pre-pandemic trajectory, the outlook is dim for cutting emissions enough to avoid serious climate change and its adverse impacts. With the clock running and the worlds economies headed in the wrong direction, climate policy experts see an urgent need to quickly throw out approaches that do not work and accelerate the ones that do. In the months leading up to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow running from November 1 to 12, 2021, Yale Climate Connections is looking at ideas put forward in a new book: Making Climate Policy Work and elsewhere. Why a Course Change Is Needed To keep average global temperatures from rising no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, net emissions by 2100 must decline by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by about 2050, according to a new report by the UN. To limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, CO2 emissions must decrease by about 25% below 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by about 2070. Current pledges under the 2015 Paris Agreement fall far short of what is required, demonstrating the need for Parties to further strengthen their mitigation commitments to avoid catastrophic climate change in this century, the report stated. Even if parties to the agreement follow through with their latest plans to cut emissions, the globe will be on a path to cut greenhouse gas emissions only 0.5% below 2010 levels by the end of this decade. Plotting a New Course Market-based schemes like cap-and-trade agreements and carbon offsets have largely failed to deliver on the promise that policy makers once saw in them, according to a new book by carbon policy experts Danny Cullenward, a Stanford Law School lecturer and policy director at CarbonPlan, and David G. Victor, co-director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative and a professor at the University of California-San Diego. The authors analyze the reasons those magic wand approaches have failed and lay out a suggested course correction in their 2020 book, Making Climate Policy Work. The book says the most effective way to cut emissions quickly enough to avoid climate disaster is for governments to adopt policies and regulations targeting specific sectors such as electricity generation. The authors recently summarizedthe ideas from the book in a wide-ranging, three-part interview with David Roberts of the clean energy newsletter Volts. The biggest reason for the disappointing results of carbon pricing schemes like cap-and-trade, they argue, is that policy makers aggregated industries and jurisdictions. This made it easier for a wide variety of opponents to aggregate to fight the policies, resulting in a lowest common denominator system that fails to lower emissions as much as intended. By linking all the sectors together, in effect you are linking the politics together, Victor told Roberts in the Volts interview. And then the whole program becomes connected to the sea anchor of the least ambitious politics. The authors also see problems with carbon offsets, which allow polluters to pay someone else to take action that offsets their pollution, such as planting trees or rehabilitating forests. A major flaw: This approach makes it hard to ensure that what polluters are paying for is actually happening, or that the steps are really offsetting the pollution. Everyone imagines that theres this vast army of people working on this problem, insuring that theres a good outcome, but in practice you see understaffed regulators very few people paying close attention to this who have no financial interests, Cullenward said. Victor told Volt that emissions will not be adequately reduced without large-scale, systemic state intervention and that this will require a lot of government. We cant delude ourselves into thinking that you can wave a magic wand over this climate problem, with a market that doesnt require a lot of detailed design and high-quality intervention. Having government back off is the opposite of what you need. In their book, Cullenward and Victor offer a strong argument for doubling down on a bigger role for government. The Emissions Gap Some kind of course correction is urgently needed. The UNs Emissions Gap Report 2020, published in December, found that even with the 7% drop in global emissions in 2020 due to the pandemic, the world remains on track to see average temperatures exceed 3 degrees C (in excess of 5 degrees F) above preindustrial levels by 2100 blowing past the 1.5 C and 2.0 C increases that climate scientists have warned should be upper limits of warming. In 2019, global emissions totaled 59.1 billion tons of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere an all-time high. As post-COVID economies open back up this year and next, experts expect pent-up demand by consumers around the world to bring emissions roaring back. The Emissions Gap Report targets consumer behavior and the shipping and aviation sectors, which account for 5% of global emissions. Shipping and aviation worldwide need to shift rapidly from fossil fuels, and aviation has advanced research into new lower-carbon fuels and increased fuel efficiency. But, the report says, projected increases in demand will make it harder for these sectors to quickly transition away from fossil fuels. The report places significant responsibility squarely on individual consumption. Two-thirds of global emissions are linked to private households, and the richest 1% of the worlds population is responsible for twice the emissions of the poorest 50%. The Emissions Gap Report evaluates the gap between anticipated emissions and levels consistent with the Paris Agreement goals of limiting warming in the 21st century to below 2 degrees C, while shooting for a rise of no more than 1.5 degrees C. Current commitments under the Paris Agreement would still leave annual global emissions far too high to limit warming to 2 degrees C, the Emissions Gap Report found. Under current commitments, annual global emissions are projected to reach a median estimate of 59 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2030 17 billion metric tons too high to keep average global temperatures within the 2 degree C threshold, and 32 billion metric tons too high to stay below an increase of 1.5 degrees. So even if the current Paris commitments are met, the level of global emissions projected for 2030 will be nearly identical to the 2019 level. Numerous countries have pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by mid-century, or they have taken at least some initial steps toward that goal. France and the UK have gone as far as making the goal a legal requirement. China, the worlds number one emitter, has said it plans to become carbon neutral by 2060, but its still relying heavily on coal-burning power plants to expand its economy. The United States, the second biggest emitter, has launched an aggressive agenda under the Biden Administration to cut emissions, largely by decarbonizing the nations electricity sector by 2035. President Joe Biden has said he wants the U.S. to become carbon neutral by 2050. But he faces a divided government, a struggling economy, and numerous other competing priorities. Reductions Need to be 80% More Ambitious than Paris Agreement Pledges The world needs government leaders in Glasgow to enact the course correction that experts are proposing. Overall reductions in emissions globally must be about 80% more ambitious than what member countries of the Paris Agreement have pledged, University of Washington statistician Adrian Raftery told the Washington Post. The conclusion came from a significant study published in February by a team Raftery led that said global emissions need to fall steadily by about 1.8% annually in order to even have a chance at staying below a 2 degree C rise in average temperatures this century. Rafterys study estimated the probability that the Paris Agreements biggest emitters can meet their current commitments. It assigned a 2% probability for the United States, and a 16% probability for China. If current trends continue, there is only a 5% chance that global average temperatures can stay below a 2 degree increase this century, Raftery and his colleagues estimated. However, if all countries can actually meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, the chance rises to 26%. If the United States alone fails to meet its commitment, that percentage falls to 18%. Even under the best of circumstances, the Paris Agreement as it stands will fall far short of where we need to be. The commitments are not enough, Raftery told the Washington Post. Emissions Gap Report 2020 asserts that governments around the globe can reverse course and limit warming to 2 degrees C if they solidify their commitments to net zero emissions by mid-century and more jump on board. As of late February, 126 countries accounting for 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions had adopted, announced, or were considering net-zero goals. The state public defenders office is appealing a recent court ruling dismissing its lawsuit over how a South Jersey county retains data potentially relevant in criminal cases. The Office of the Public Defender sued Gloucester County last year over issues involving a damaged server used to store 911 calls, police dispatch communications and other data, and a policy change that would reduce how long such data is preserved on a new county server. The public defender argues that material relevant to criminal cases is being lost, while the county says the plaintiff has not identified any instances of harm caused by the countys policies, which it says are in line with state rules. The public defenders office was notified last year by the county prosecutors office that the server in the county dispatch center was irreparably damaged and that while some records were still accessible, the county planned to destroy the old server in early August. The public defenders office filed an emergency application in court to bar the servers destruction and Superior Court Assignment Judge Benjamin C. Telsey ordered last August that the old server be maintained until the county could produce a report from a computer forensic expert on what went wrong with it and whether any data could be obtained from it. In the five months following that order, the county did not provide any report indicating an evaluation had been conducted, according to the lawsuit filed in December. In the meantime, the county prosecutors office has responded to multiple discovery requests from the public defenders office with statements that 911 calls and other records relevant to several cases are no longer available because of the server malfunction, the suit noted. In pursuing that matter, the public defenders office learned that data stored on the new server would only be retained for 31 days, raising fresh concerns about future cases. The county is currently storing the files for six months, according to a March filing in the case, but plans to transition to the 31-day timeline in the future. Under state guidelines, these types of records must be maintained for at least 31 days. Parties involved in a criminal case must file records requests with the county to obtain relevant records stored on the server. That timetable isnt realistic for the records in question, the public defender argued, given that a defendant may not be arrested within 31 days of a 911 call being placed and that the public defender may not even be assigned a case within that timeframe. In the past, this data was provided by the county months and sometimes years after it was recorded, meaning longterm retention was not an undue burden, according to the plaintiff. Despite OPDs (Office of the Public Defenders) attempts to mitigate the harm by requesting the evidence from Respondents the moment that OPD becomes aware of each case, OPD continues to receive responses indicating that the evidence is no longer available because it was automatically deleted pursuant to either a 31 day or a 6-month retention period, according to statements made in recent court filings by the public defenderss office. The suit sought an interim order prohibiting deletion of any data from the new server until the legal challenge was resolved and a final judgement requiring the county to maintain data for at least five years on its new server and to keep all data on homicides and sexual assault cases indefinitely. Regarding the old server, the public defender asked that a forensic evaluation determine what went wrong with it and what material can be salvaged. They also wanted the old server preserved for at least five years. Telsey dismissed the case in February and lifted a moratorium on deletions from the new server, finding that he didnt have the authority to order a change in how long records must be maintained, describing that as a responsibility for the state legislature. As for the old server, he ruled that the public defenders office couldnt raise that issue again, since he had already made a ruling on the disposition of that server last year. That server remains in the countys possession and has not been destroyed or analyzed by a forensic expert. Basically, were just asking the appellate court to review the dismissal because we think the judge probably could have given us the relief we were asking for, Assistant Deputy Public Defender Katherine Constantine Blinn said this week. Its kind of a unique situation, because the issue, the deletion of evidence, it just impacts so many criminal cases In ruling on the matter, Telsey expressed a concern about the length of time for data retention and offered a hope that the parties could find a compromise. It seemed to me that Judge Telsey agreed that this was a significant concern, Constantine Blinn said. He just seemed to feel that, legally, he didnt have the authority to require the county to hold the evidence longer. In the meantime, the appellate court has granted a motion preventing deletion of any data while the case remains in litigation. The suit names the county prosecutors office, Acting Gloucester County Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman, the freeholder board, the county department of emergency response, county administrator Chad Bruner and county emergency response director Thomas Butts as defendants. County dispatch centers around the state have different standards for how long they keep this data, according to documents filed in the case, ranging from the 31-day minimum in counties including Salem and Mercer, up to a year in Cumberland County. Several others keep them from 60 to 90 days. The New Jersey State Police keep it for two years. Gloucester Countys dispatch center receives about 1,200 calls to 911 a day and the new server has sufficient capacity to store no more than one years worth of data, according to statements made in court filings. The reason for the planned change in Gloucester County is not explained in court documents, but the county argued that the public defender has failed to identify a single instance in which a case has been affected by the change in retention practices. The (public defender) fails to identify a single instance of concrete harm, a single criminal case impacted by the change in retention practice, instead making conclusory allegations of wide reaching harm that the trial court properly deemed as hypothetical and insufficient, the county argued in documents challenging the appeal. County officials declined to comment on the matter this week, citing the ongoing litigation. The public defenders office isnt taking issue with the administrative code that sets the minimum retention period at 31 days, Constantine Blinn said. Our argument is not that the administrative code is unlawful, our argument is that theres a sort of subclass of materials that are not just your run-of-the-mill EMS dispatch. Theyre relevant evidence in criminal cases, so they are subject to some additional requirements that stem from the Constitution and making sure this evidence is preserved. While she couldnt provide a current example of a case endangered by the retention policy, citing client confidentiality, Constantine Blinn pointed to a potential scenario. A misidentification case is a perfect example. When somebody calls 911 and they provide what theyre seeing to the 911 dispatcher and the defendants delete that and no one ever gets to listen to it and the defendant doesnt get to hear evidence that described a different person, thats huge, she said. We want this evidence to get to all of the parties. We want the evidence to get in front of a jury. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Senior Sophia Chin, a cross country team captain and National Honor Society president, will represent Benson Polytechnic High School on the 2021 Portland Rose Festival Court. The daughter of Cynthia Shaff-Chin and Pete Chin, she was born in Lansing, Michigan, and plans to pursue a career as an architect. Chin was named Bensons princess during a Zoom ceremony Wednesday that included Rose Festival and school officials as well as fellow candidates Bethany Brundage, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Martinez De Jesus and Aberdeen Stuart, all seniors. Chin is the 13th princess named to the 2021 court. The other members of the court are: This years online court announcements are just one more example of how the Rose Festival has adapted to COVID-19 protocols in a year that has already seen the festival cancel its large public events, including the Grand Floral Parade and CityFair. The court announcements continue Thursday with Ida B. Wells High School, and will end Friday with St. Marys Academy. In all, the festival will name 15 young women to the court from Portland-area high schools. Each of them will receive a $3,500 scholarship provided by The Randall Group and one-on-one mentorship arranged by Unitus Community Credit Union. The court will make public appearances as COVID-19 precautions allow. The Queens Coronation will be staged in June in Washington Park, as it was in 2020. Watch the court announcement below and read more about Sophia Chin as told to the Portland Rose Festival. Future education plans: Five-year bachelor of architecture program at Drexel University or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Career plans: I want to make a difference as an architect with sustainable and green infrastructure, and affordable housing. High school activities and honors: President of Bensons National Honor Society in 2020-21. Cross country team captain since 2019. I was awarded most inspirational and most improved in 2018, and most dedicated and most valuable player in 2019. Hobbies and special interests: I love reading fantasy stories, and Ive dedicated more time to cooking this year. Most of my free time is dedicated to exercising for cross country. I am part of the Design Advisory Group for the Benson Remodel. I participated in the ACE (architecture, construction, engineering) Mentorship Program in Winter and Spring of 2020 and the ACE Mentorship Programs Construction Industry Round TableCompetition Team. Both years of ACE & the DAG have given me further insight into what my career as an architect may look like. What is your favorite place to visit in Portland and why? I love walking though the historic neighborhoods of Portland, especially Irvington, Laurelhurst and Mount Tabor. As an architecture enthusiast, I enjoy all the different kinds of beautiful homes in these neighborhoods. What are you most proud of during your high school career? I am most proud of sticking with cross country and battling through my anxiety that came with racing. With practice, I was able to work through my fear and power through. The years of long, hard practices have built up my mental strength and grit as well as my physical strength. I know that attitude of perseverance will help me greatly in the coming years. What is your favorite Rose Festival event and why? My favorite part of the Rose Festival is the Rose Show. Each year my elementary/middle school would have students who would bring their own roses to school for judging by a visiting Royal Rosarian. The whole school would pack into the gym to hear speeches and poems, and at the end we would sing What A Wonderful World, an experience that was incredibly beautiful and emotional every year. Unitus Community Credit Union Mentor: Aimee Berg. Kjerstin Gabrielson, kgabrielson@oregonian.com 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. Instagram has revealed it could give users the option to hide likes on their feed, in a move aimed to protect mental health. The Facebook-owned photo-sharing app said it is about to conduct 'a small global test' of the feature, which will let users choose what experience is best for them. The popular app began hiding like counts for users in seven countries back in 2019 to understand if it 'reduces pressure associated with posting'. But the trial received some negative user feedback leading to Instagram making a few alterations this time around. This time, users will be able to choose whether they see likes on other users' posts, as well as whether other users see likes on their posts. For the 2019 test, users didn't have this choice. Instagram has concerns that seeing a post with thousands of likes can lead to feelings of low self-worth for users who only get a few likes or have just a handful of followers. The efforts to make users feel happier online amid concerns social media can contribute to low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy in young people. However, other independent experts have previously suggested the decision is actually more to do with advertising and revenue. Instagram said it will test the option for its users to hide likes from others. An initial test of the feature in 2019 proved unpopular 'Some people found this beneficial but some still wanted to see like counts so they could track what's popular,' said a Facebook spokesperson. 'We're testing a new option that lets you decide which experience is best for you whether that's choosing not to see like counts on anyone else's posts, turning them off for your own posts, or keeping the original experience, and seeing like counts.' While Instagram users will still be able to see a list of likes on their own posts, they can opt for the number to be hidden from others. Instagram said users will still be able to opt for the 'original experience' in other words, they can keep letting their followers see how many likes their posts have, and can keep seeing how many likes other users' posts have. However, if someone they're following has opted to hide how many likes they have, this is arguably not part of the 'original experience'. This is how likes were shown for users in the 2019 trial. Instead of a number of 'likes' they are all lumped together under 'others'. As part of the test, users were still able to like other people's photos - they just couldn't see how many likes the photo got If the feature is fully rolled out, Instagram users would be able to change their like-hiding preferences at any time. The Instagram spokesperson added that it will share more information soon about an upcoming test of the feature. Facebook (Instagram's parent company) is also 'exploring' options to introduce a similar experience for Facebook (the social network). Instagram introduced the original feature to people in seven countries in the summer of 2019 Canada, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. But the move was met with horror from users who said it was one of their favourite features on the site. As on many other social media sites like Twitter, the amount of likes a post tends to be an indicator of popularity or acceptance not just of the content of the post, but the person who posted it. One user affected by the 2019 test said: 'I want my likes back! I don't care if I have 10 or 100. I want it back.' Another Twitter user said at the time: 'Uhhh but we like seeing the likes lol.' Instagram's trial in Canada, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand has been met with shock and horror among the app's users After the test was introduced, experts also claimed that it had 'nothing to do with mental health' and instead aimed to encourage businesses to spend money on promoting posts on the platform. Companies can be put off from paying to advertise on Instagram because their promoted posts often don't get many likes, which can negatively affect business, according to one critic. Conversely, 'influencers' with millions of followers are making millions of dollars selling everything from cosmetics to protein shakes, but Instagram sees none of it. 'Let's stop the bulls**t that this recent change is about reducing the incidence of mental health among their users,' said Dave Levett, head of Australian marketing agency Murmur. 'It's about raising ad revenue for the platform, and make Instagram more appealing for small businesses and brands to pump dollars into the growing social behemoth.' Another marketing insider said buying an ad on Instagram was an 'industry joke' because they were so ineffective. 'Instagram is a 'likes-first' platform and naturally, ads don't get a lot of likes, which has the effect of making often reputable products appear fake or unpopular,' the unnamed insider told MailOnline. Lucknow, April 14 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Mohanlalganj, Kaushal Kishore, has asked the state election commission (SEC) to defer the Panchayat elections by a month, in view of the pandemic. The first phase of polling for the Panchayat election is due on Thursday. Kaushal Kishore tweeted that instead of conducting elections, saving lives of people should be of prime concern. He said that thousands are in the grip of disease. "The crematoriums are flooded with dead bodies," he said in a tweet while tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. This comes a day after state minister Brijesh Pathak wrote a letter to senior health officials, underlining the poor state of health system in the state capital amid a surge in Covid cases. iStock-1267413669 Writing at Fox News Sunday, Ted Harvey, a former Colorado legislator now chairing the Committee to Defeat the President, described as an "anti-Biden super PAC," asserted Joe Biden is "determined to trample on the Second Amendment" while at the same time "undermining the right to bear arms in unilateral fashion." "When it comes to gun control," Harvey alleges, "the Biden administration believes in government by fiat, unencumbered by the legal constraints placed on the presidency. He says so himself: 'I'm going to use all the resources at my disposal to keep people safe' even if it means treading on the Constitution." While it might be easy to dismiss Harvey's Op-Ed as partisan claptrap, it is far more challenging when one considers the Biden gun control plan covered several times at AmmoLand News. Biden is on record. Harvey's column quickly cuts to the chase when he observes, "Of course, Democrats fail to acknowledge that Colorado my home state and the site of America's most recent mass shooting already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. The state government in which I served for more than a decade already mandates universal background checks and bans high-capacity magazines. Colorado is even a "red flag" state, allowing law enforcement officials to temporarily seize weapons from those deemed an extreme risk. "As is often the case, the Democratic Party's laundry list of 'gun control' demands would have done nothing to stop the Colorado shooting." ..... As Prince Harry has arrived back into the UK, the royal commentators have said that the Duke of Sussex will face logistical challenges instead of gaining diplomatic immunity. On April 12 UK media outlets had reported that Prince Harry has arrived back home, for the first time since he and his wife Meghan Markle left for California, ahead of Prince Philips funeral on Saturday. Following his arrival, ITVs Royal Rota podcast discussed the challenges the Duke of Sussex will face and said that he will have to quarantine, which is something he couldve gotten away with diplomatic immunity. Host Chris Ship told listeners that he believes that Prince Harry didnt get any immunity because the Royal family didnt want to be seen to be getting any special treatment. Co-host Lizzie Robinson then added that the Prince will fall in the line with COVID-19 protocols. She added that the Duke of Sussex will quarantine and will get tested in a bid to be released in time for the funeral. Ship further explained that Prince Harry will take two tests, one on arrival and one on the fifth day, and if they both are negative, he would be released from the quarantine. Given his status as a member of the royal family travelling to support the Queen, it was earlier speculated that Prince Harry might be exempted from travel restrictions. In Britain, some exemptions even apply to members of diplomatic missions and consular posts and officers, servants or representatives of international organisations among others. However, now it is believed that for public health reasons, Prince Harry didnt get any diplomatic immunity and instead was encouraged to complete tests on days two and five after arrival. It is worth mentioning that under the current government regulations, anyone travelling to England must quarantine for 10 days. So Prince Harry didnt get immunity per se, but he did get a reduced self-isolation period through test to release scheme. Prince Harry pays tribute to grandfather Philip Meanwhile, on April 12 Prince Harry paid tribute to his grandfather Prince Philip who died on April 9 at the age of 99 at Windsor Castle. In a statement, the Duke of Sussex remembers Prince Philip as a ma of service, honour and great humour. He also said that the Duke of Edinburgh will be remembered as the longest-reigning consort to the monarch. Prince Harry said, My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. He will be remembered as the longest-reigning consort to the monarch, a decorated serviceman, a prince and a duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, the legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end, he added. (Image: AP) Elanders will issue its Quarterly Report for the first quarter 2021 on Wednesday April 28 at 07:30 CET, followed by a conference call at 09:30 CET, hosted by President and CEO Magnus Nilsson and CFO Andreas Wikner. We invite fund managers, analysts and the media to participate in the conference call. Please see below details to join the conference. To join this event, please use the below Click to Join link 5-10 minutes prior to start time, where you will be asked to enter your phone number and registration details. Our Event Conferencing system will call you on the phone number you provide and place you into the event. Please note that the Click To Join link will be active 15 minutes prior to the event. CLICK TO JOIN Use the Click to Join option above for the easiest way to join your conference or use one of the access numbers below: Sweden: +46 (0)8 5033 6546 Germany: +49 (0)69 2222 10763 UK: +44 (0)330 336 9401 USA: +1 929-477-0630 Participant Passcode: 111145 Agenda 09:20 Conference number is opened 09:30 Presentation of quarterly results 09:50 Q&A 10:30 End of the conference During the conference call a presentation will be held. To access the presentation, please use this link: https://www.elanders.com/presentations For further questions, please contact Magnus Nilsson, President and CEO, telephone: +46 31 750 07 50 Andreas Wikner, CFO, telephone: +46 31 750 07 50 Attachment By Crista Ferkler March 31 is Transgender Visibility day. On this year I look at all my transgender friends and family members living their truth and being themselves. The strides the community has made is incredible. However, it has also caused me to pause and think about all of the transgender men and women who are no longer with us because they tried to live their authentic and honest lives and were killed for it. It makes you realize that we still are not doing enough to protect our family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who identifies as a part of the LGBTQ community. A major area that is still extremely behind the times is in legal protections. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania there is still a gay and trans panic courtroom defense. What that means is that if someone attacks a member of the LGBTQ community, the defendant can use the defense that they panicked due to the sexuality of the assaulted person as the reason they attacked them. This defense places the blame on the victim and not on the person who committed the crime and is rooted in homophobia and transphobia. This defense is used to justify violent assaults and murders such as the murder of Daniel Spenser in 2016. His murderer received a charge of criminally negligent homicide and only six months in jail and ten years of probation. According to the Human Rights Campaign, there have been 12 transgender or gender nonconforming people killed so far this year, and three of those lives lost were in Pennsylvania. Jeffery Bright (16) and his sister Jasmine Cannady (22) were killed in Ambridge, PA. As well as Chyna Carrillo (25) from New Wilmington, PA. Their murderers could potentially go into a courtroom in Pennsylvania and blame the victims for the crime they committed. This defense has been successfully removed from the courtrooms of twelve states. A ban has been brought up in both the House and the Senate in Pennsylvania with no success. It has been brought up as well on a federal level with no success. We need to demand more from our senators and representatives in our fight to further promote LGBTQ lives and safety. We need to do more than post on social media that we are allies. We need to fight for increased safety and equal rights and to remove homophobia from our courtrooms. We need to demand the immediate removal of gay and trans panic defense in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Too many lives have been lost already. Crista Ferkler is a student at West Chester University. Rachel Riley was seen stepping out for the first time since announcing she is expecting her second child with husband Pasha Kovalev. The presenter, 35, looked radiant as she went for a stroll with her other half, 41, and their 16-month-old daughter Maven at Media City in Salford, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday. She announced her pregnancy with a hilarious Instagram post earlier in the day, asking her fans to figure out her latest Countdown conundrum, which aptly spelt the phrase fertility. Rachel Riley steps out for the first time since announcing she is pregnant with her second child as she enjoys a stroll with husband Pasha Kovalev and their daughter Maven Rachel was sure to turn heads during their family outing as she stepped out in a fluorescent pink padded jacket, and she covered her blossoming baby bump with a black jumper that had a rose printed on the front. She completed her look by wearing a pair of black leggings and teamed them with a pair of matching trainers. The Countdown star styled her golden tresses into loose waves that cascaded over her shoulders, and she protected herself amid the coronavirus crisis by wearing a face shield. Pasha, meanwhile, kept things casual by teaming a black jacket with a grey jumper and loose-fitting black trousers. Congratulations: After making her announcement, Rachel also shared two selfies from the set of Countdown which showed off her baby bump Cosy: Rachel was sure to turn heads as she stepped out in a fluorescent pink padded jacket, and she covered her blossoming baby bump with a black jumper Relaxed look: Rachel completed her look by wearing a pair of black leggings and teamed them with a pair of matching trainers Baby news! Rachel announced she was expecting her second child by unveiling the news with a hilarious Countdown conundrum on Wednesday Helping hand: Pasha was seen carrying a number of bags and suitcases during their outing He completed his casual look by stepping out in black trainers, while he offset his attire by covering his nose and mouth with a flower-print face mask. Rachel was seen pushing daughter Maven around in a push along scooter, who was all bundled up in a coat, gloves and a rainbow beanie. After making her announcement, Rachel also shared two selfies from the set of Countdown which showed off her baby bump. In the caption of her post, Rachel joked that she didn't need to hold her stomach in anymore as she wrote: 'Nice being able to breathe again at work! No more stomach holding in, phew.' Safety first: The Countdown star styled her golden tresses into loose waves that cascaded over her shoulders, and she protected herself amid the coronavirus crisis by wearing a face shield Simple look: Pasha, meanwhile, kept things casual by teaming a black jacket with a grey jumper and loose-fitting black trousers Adorable: Maven was all bundled up in a coat, gloves and a rainbow beanie Delighted: Pasha appeared to be in great spirits following the announcement he would be a father once more Keeping close: Rachel made sure to keep holding onto the handle of Maven's scooter Rachel's post earlier in the day showed her cradling her blossoming bump in a pretty black floral mini dress as she posed alongside the famous Countdown letters board. With the tiles spelling out the phrase 'Fitt Riley' Rachel asked her fans to guess what the correct word could be, with many quickly guessing it must be 'Fertility.' Rachel's caption read: 'A special teatime teaser! And your clue is... Riley had this to thank for the reason her clothes no longer fit her... 'And it'll only get worse till Autumn! Happy, happy days for our little family @pashakovalev and future big sister Mave.' Guess what? The presenter asked her fans to figure out her latest Countdown teaser, which aptly spelt the phrase fertility Bumping along nicely: Rachel also shared a photo in a blue dress where she posed from the side and which showed off her bump Together: It comes just weeks after Rachel spoke about her hopes of having another baby with her former Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Rachel's post continued the trend of her first baby announcement in 2019, which saw her reveal she was expecting with a Countdown teaser that spelt the word 'maternity.' The maths guru met Pasha while they competed on Strictly together in 2013, and they married six years later in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony, just weeks after announcing they were set to become parents. Rachel and Pasha welcomed their first child, daughter Maven Aria in December 2019, with the star announcing her arrival after the tot was two weeks overdue. Doting: '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' she said She wrote on Instagram at the time: '2 weeks after we were expecting her this little one finally made an appearance! Miss Maven (one who understands) Aria (lioness) Riley Kovaleva arrived on Sunday morning weighing in at 7lbs 4. 'After keeping us waiting she came so quickly we didn't have a chance to get to the hospital and was born in our bathroom with our amazing doula and wonderful St Mary's midwives rushing over to be with us in to be nick of time! 'She's absolutely perfect and Pasha and I are in newborn bliss. Couldn't be more in love #newborn #babygirl #maven #baby'. Last month, Rachel spoke about her hopes of having another baby with her former Strictly Come Dancing star husband Pasha. Continuing the trend: In 2019 Rachel announced her first pregnancy with a similar Countdown conundrum, posting a jumbled teaser that spelt the word 'maternity' Wedding bells! Rachel and Pasha married in June 2019 in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony, a month after announcing they were set to become parents 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.' Staying at home: 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 The television presenter added Maven is sleeping well through the nights, but has missed out on interacting with other children. 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.' An instinctive decision by father to show his 22-month-old daughter some pelicans has ultimately saved their lives, as the boat they were on exploded into flames just seconds later. Oliver and his baby daughter Florence were aboard the boat on the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney on Easter Sunday when a friend offered to swap seats so they could go on the top deck and watch the pelicans. Oliver offered to take up the offer and went upstairs while the friend went down onto the deck. When the boat exploded seconds afterward during refuelling, Oliver and his daughter were shielded from the impact of the blast, while the friend tragically was among those who received its full impact. 'We went up onto the top of the boat when John [a friend] offered to swap seats with us to get a better view so Florence could see some pelicans,' Oliver told 7NEWS. 'It's hard to walk into a ward and hear someone screaming so loudly and know it's your close friend.' Scroll down for video Oliver and his baby daughter Florence were aboard a boat on the Hawkesbury River on Easter Sunday when the vessel suddenly caught fire shortly after refuelling CCTV footage from the Hawkesbury River Marina, at Brooklyn, captured the moment the vessel exploded near Dangar Island just after 5pm when the skipper turned on the ignition shortly after refuelling Ale Osr (pictured) remains intensive care eight days after the explosion on Easter Sunday - suffering burns to 60 per cent of her body Mirka Tothova (pictured) suffered burns to 30 per cent of her body in the horrific explosion CCTV footage from the Hawkesbury River Marina, at Brooklyn, captured the moment the vessel exploded near Dangar Island just after 5pm when the skipper turned on the ignition after refuelling. The group can be seen casually strolling back along the dock and getting back onto the boat following refuelling. Several people were gathered with the skipper on the rear deck while others stand on the bow, waiting to embark. But as the key was turned in the ignition, a fireball engulfed the rear part of the boat, with the force knocking people off their feet. Those who were near the front of the boat rushed to the safety of the dock before some doubled back to help their critically injured friends. Eleven people were on or near the boat when it exploded, with the injured running back to the marina where bystanders turned the area into a makeshift triage, filling containers with water and grabbing hoses to soothe burns, 9News reports. This photo of the friends was taken on the boat an hour before the explosion on Easter Sunday Ale Osr from Mexico also suffered severe burns to 60 per cent of her body after the boat exploded north of Sydney on Easter Sunday The boat exploded when the skipper turned on the ignition, the force knocking those on the stern to the ground Mirka Tothova was celebrating her 30th birthday with the ten others on board a boat on Easter Sunday when the vessel exploded into flames. The shop manager from Sydney's eastern suburbs suffered burns to 30 per cent of her body and was one of four rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Ms Tothova remains in the intensive burns unit at Royal North Shore Hospital where she will undergo skin grafts. Her partner of four years Joseph Kwon, 33, was standing on the pontoon pushing the boat off after refuelling when the vessel suddenly exploded. He recalled the horrifying moment of seeing his girlfriend covered in flames. 'It's like we were in a terrorist attack, one minute it was calm, the next it was mayhem,' Mr Kwon told the Daily Telegraph. 'Mirka's hair and clothes were on fire, I was patting them out with my hands.' Mr Kwon described his girlfriend as a fighter after she moved to Australia to start a new life. 'She moved here five years ago, so it's hard when she has no family here we've pretty much only got each other,' Mr Kwon said. Ms Tothova is currently in intensive care at Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering burns to her hands, arms, legs and torso Emergency services rushed to the scene where they found a total of eight people injured and the boat engulfed in flames Joseph Kwon (right) described his partner Mirka (left) as a fighter Ale Osr (pictured) remains intensive care eight days after the explosion on Easter Sunday - suffering burns to 60 per cent of her body Friends are desperately trying to raise funds to cover their medical expenses for Ms Tothova and another critically injured woman Ale Osr from Mexico, who suffered severe burns to 60 per cent of her body. GoFundMe pages has been set up to raise funds for both Ms Osr and Ms Tothova as they cannot claim Medicare to fund their growing medical costs. Mr Kwon has acknowledged the public support and plans to spend part of the funds raised for Ms Tothova towards flying her family out to Australia. 'Mirka is currently in the intensive burns unit undergoing skin grafting surgery and multiple other painful treatments,' a friend wrote on the page set up for Ms Tothova. 'Roughly every three days she needs to have her wounds cleaned to remove the dead tissue so she does not get an infection. This is an extremely painful process which causes extreme fever after every procedure.' 'Mirka is loved by her friends and the local community which she gives so much to, and those that are close to her know how funny she is with her unconventional humour,' the friend added 'Mirka is on a bridging visa with no insurance and at this time we don't know exactly how much the financial burden will be for her long term rehabilitation, loss of income, rent, bills and cost for bringing her family to Australia. Mirka Tothova from Slovakia was celebrating her 30th birthday at the time the boat caught fire at the Hawkesbury River Marina in Brooklyn Ale Osr (left) and Mirka Tothova (right) were among four people rushed to hospital in a critical condition Friends have rallied around Mirka Tothova (left) and Ale Osr (right) to raise funds for their medical costs as both are non-Australian citizens and can't access Medicare Meanwhile, Ms Osr remains in intensive care. Friends revealed Ms Osr requires surgery every second day and needs multiple skin grafts as she faces months of rehabilitation. 'There is no timeframe currently on how long she will be in ICU for, as she is still in a critical condition,' a friend wrote online. 'Ale requires surgery roughly every two days to remove dead skin and tissue, and to clean her wounds. To do this, they need to put her under general anaesthetic as it would be too painful if she were awake. 'She will require multiple skin grafts to help heal large areas that have been burnt and extensive surgery and rehabilitation over the next few months.' The friend said Ms Osr was working at a long day care centre at Gladesville 'where the families, children and educators all absolutely love and adore her'. 'Ale is known for her bubbly personality and infectious smile that has the ability to brighten anyone's day,' the friend said. As Ms Osr was in Australia on an international student visa she was not covered by Medicare. 'We are unsure at this time how much her student medical insurance will cover, however we do know that her medical expenses will be significant and may not be entirely covered,' a friends of Ms Osr wrote. 'On top of this, her loss of income, rent, bringing her family to Australia, rehabilitation, and so on, all add extreme financial pressure, something that we would like to support Ale with as much as we can.' On Wednesday, a group of protesters from Alabama will make their way to Minneapolis to protest the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright. Both Diana Isom and Brittany Scroggins will be meeting a group of three more people in Birmingham before they head off to Minneapolis Wednesday morning. Isom said they will be out there protesting for at least three days. They said watching the footage of Wright being killed was heartbreaking, bringing tears to their eyes, especially knowing it was just miles away from where George Floyd had been killed just last year. They said they knew they had to do something to fight for justice for Wright, and say protesting for change is a cause much bigger than the both of them. "When it comes to the cause, I will die for the cause," Isom said. "This is for my future children that I will have. They're going to be my skin color, as well. America is going to look at them as Black people, and I could not live with myself knowing my children could be murdered because of incompetent police officers," Isom said. "We watch the news as you know from our local town, and we have to sit back and be made to feel defenseless, like we sit back and we cry, because there's a lot of things going on in the world right now and nobody's fixing it. Some of us our just tired of sitting back and crying," Scroggins said. Both Isom and Scroggins told WAAY 31 their group hopes for not only change but some sort of charges against the officer who says she accidentally shot Wright. Sen. Hawleys Bill to Break Up Big Corporations Praised and Panned on Right A legislative reform proposed by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to crack down on mergers and acquisitions by mega-corporations and strengthen antitrust enforcement is drawing mixed reviews from conservative analysts and Republican campaign strategists. A small group of woke mega-corporations control the products Americans can buy, the information Americans can receive, and the speech Americans can engage in, Hawley said in a statement announcing the proposal. These monopoly powers control our speech, our economy, our country, and their control has only grown because Washington has aided and abetted their quest for endless power. While Big Tech, Big Banks, Big Telecom, and Big Pharma gobbled up more companies and more market share, they gobbled up our freedom and competition. American consumers and workers have paid the price. Woke corporations want to run this country and Washington is happy to let them. Its time to bust up them up and restore competition. Hawleys Trust-Busting for the Twenty-First Century Act includes the following provisions, according to the statement: Ban all mergers and acquisitions by companies with market capitalization exceeding $100 billion. This provision would bar Googles recent purchase of the Waze travel app that was then incorporated into the tech giants Maps app. Empower the Federal Trade Commission to designate dominant digital firms exercising dominant market power in particular internet markets, which would be prohibited from buying out potential competitors. This provision would prohibit Facebook from buying digital startups that could become social media rivals. Dominant digital firms would be excluded from giving priority in search results to favored sites without explicitly disclosing the practice. As a result, Google would have to disclose that it gives priority in its search results to its own reviews over those of Yelp. Reform the Sherman and Clayton acts to enable enforcement officials to use direct evidence of anticompetitive conduct to support an antitrust claim. Doing so will allow enforcers more effectively to pursue the breakup of dominant firms and prevent antitrust cases from devolving into battles between economists. Replace the outdated, numerically focused standard for evaluating antitrust cases, which allows giant conglomerates to escape scrutiny by focusing on short-term considerations, with a standard emphasizing the protection of competition in the United States. Clarify that vertical mergers are not exempt from antitrust scrutiny. Drastically increase antitrust penalties by requiring companies that lose federal antitrust suits to forfeit all their profits resulting from monopolistic conduct. Praise The Hawley proposal drew praise from Internet Accountability Project (IAP) Founder and President Mike Davis. Senator Hawleys Trust Busting for The Twenty-First Century Act is the type of bold leadership and smart legislation this country so desperately needs, Davis said in a statement. Senator Hawleys commonsense bill introduces the hard reset Congress must enact to save the free market from abusive trillion-dollar Big Tech monopolists and other giant woke corporations attempting to exert too much power and control over our lives. For too long, through antitrust amnesty and Section 230 immunity, Google has been allowed to exert too much influence through its control over the internet. Along with Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter, they continue to censor conservatives, violate our privacy and crush their competition at all costs and without consequence. Davis is the former chief counsel to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) when he was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hes also a former aide to then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), and law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, when he served on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning agreed, saying: Senator Hawley is 100 percent correct. Any credibility that Big Tech had as anything less than a cartel was ended with the collusion between Amazon, Apple and Google to destroy the Parler platforms ability to exist. He was referring to the coordinated actions of the three digital giants last December that forced social media startup Parler off the internet for nearly two months. These three massive companies could not countenance the existence of a platform they did not control, which allowed the free expression of ideas, he said. Reservations But others interviewed by The Epoch Times expressed reservations about increasing the power of the federal government over private business enterprises. I agree with Sen. Hawleys heartburn with many of the business decisions of Google, Facebook, and Twitter, yet I believe that busting up these companies flies in the face of traditional free-market conservatism, Brian Darling said. Darling, former senior counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and former Senate liaison for The Heritage Foundation, is the founder and president of Liberty Government Affairs. I think breaking up successful companies hurts the long-term health of the U.S. economy, hurts our competitive tech edge with China, and infringes on the freedom to contract, he said. Paul Larkin, senior legal fellow in The Heritage Foundations Institute for Constitutional Government and former assistant to the solicitor general, told The Epoch Times that the bill has some serious drafting problems. The definition he offers for Section Two is internally incoherent because it says, If you prove X, then you dont have to prove X, Larkin said, referring to the section of the proposal that specifies a plaintiff need neither define the scope of a relevant market, nor establish the share of such a market controlled by the defendant regarding a claimed violation of the anti-trust statute. And his list of factors to define market dominance invites agencies and courts to make it up as they go along, Larkin said. The Heritage fellow has argued 27 cases before the Supreme Court during his career. Similarly, David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, claimed the Hawley proposal would harm competitive enterprise. The legislation, like most populist policies, will royally backfire. The ability for firms to merge, acquire, and invest fuels economic dynamism and competition. Sen. Hawleys approach is misguided and bizarrely invites more government regulation, Williams told The Epoch Times. The more the government regulates technology, the less innovation well have. Government regulations and liberty dont go together. No government should be so big and so powerful that it can destroy businesses. Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be contacted at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc Do you remember when politics, one of our great national pastimes, was fun? You may not its been a while. These days, to wade into the political arena is often to emerge covered in bile. Those whove done so recently might be tempted to make a beeline back to shore, safe from the hand-wringing, hyperbole and mutual recriminations that have come to pass for considered debate. We were much more lighthearted before things became so partisan, Democrat Mike Collier said over six-inch Subway sandwiches at Total Plaza on Monday, days after hed launched his second campaign for lieutenant governor. Much more lighthearted. It was a poignant comment coming from Collier, a longtime accounting executive whos been involved in Texas politics since the 2014 midterm cycle, when he served as the Democratic nominee for state comptroller. He lost to Republican Glenn Hegar that year, and then went on to lose his first challenge to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in 2018. But in both cases he campaigned with a sense of humor, as well as a wonkish passion for issues such as public education, property taxes and infrastructure. Its fun being a Democrat! Collier told me years ago, an attitude that might be perplexing in a red state such as Texas but is energizing nonetheless. And this was an attitude that resonated with many voters. In the 2018 election cycle, Collier was nearly unknown, with a small campaign team and modest fundraising reports. He managed to build a base of grassroots support, and ultimately came within 5 percentage points of unseating Patrick, the fiery conservative who holds what is arguably the states most powerful office. Many Democrats cheered the news that Collier would seek a rematch against Patrick, a Republican who in January announced that he has a $20 million war chest and intends to seek re-election next year. Last time I didnt assemble a team. I just started throwing punches, Collier said. We were grassroots; we were digital; we wore out a couple of trucks. This time around, he reckons, his campaign will have more infrastructure, given the strong showing in 2018 and the message those results sent to donors and operatives who may have written off Colliers bid as quixotic. Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice Universitys Baker Institute, said Collier should be considered a long shot, given his low profile compared to Patricks and the difficulty that Democrats routinely face in raising enough money to mount a competitive statewide race in Texas. But Republicans, he noted, might boost the appeal of a Democrat by pushing far-right legislation such as Senate Bill 29 a measure that would prevent transgender youths from competing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity. Barring exceptionally favorable national and local conditions, I dont think Collier has much of a chance of defeating Patrick in 2022, Jones said. But that being said, if a perfect Democratic storm takes place, Collier is the type of middle-of-the road reasonable candidate that with sufficient funds could defeat Patrick. Patrick, for his part, hasnt engaged with Collier this cycle. And conservative consultant Luke Macias doesnt think GOP voters should be worried. The only shot Democrats have of being relevant is finding someone like Matthew McConaughey to be on the ballot, he told me. Worth noting is that the conventional wisdom, at the beginning of the 2018 midterm cycle, was that Republicans would sail to victory in the statewide races. Several incumbents, including Gov. Greg Abbott, managed to do so. But Patrick had a closer-than-expected finish. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won by less than 4 points against Democrat Justin Nelson. And U.S Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly escaped a spirited challenge from Democrat Beto ORourke that drew nationwide support, winning re-election by less than 3 percentage points. Cruz wont be on the ballot until 2024, a presidential election year. And Patrick may not be as vulnerable as Paxton. The embattled attorney general remains under indictment for allegedly violating state securities laws and is also reportedly the focus of an FBI investigation into whether he abused his office to benefit a wealthy donor (he denies the charges). But, in any case, Collier views Patrick as vulnerable enough given the big issues facing the state school funding, infrastructure, property taxes and criminal justice reform and the sense among many voters that our politics have devolved in a dangerous way. Patrick, a former talk radio host, has arguably had a hand in that trajectory. Take some of the outlandish statements he made just during the past year. In April 2020 he argued that grandparents like him would take their chances with COVID-19 to see the economy reopened; in November, he offered a reward of up to $1 million for evidence of voter frauda stunt announced amid Donald Trumps failed effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Theater, perhaps. But its theater that many Texans arent cheering, given whats at stake. Unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud were at the heart of the violent Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol that left a police officer and four others dead and now are being cited by Republican state legislators pushing new voting restrictions. My guess is that theres an awful lot of folks that dont really consider themselves partisans, but they consider themselves patriots, Collier said Monday, reflecting on the current push by state leaders, including Patrick, to restrict voting rights in Texas. They might have a preference for one policy or another policy, but overarching all of that is they understand history, they understand freedom, they understand democracy, and they did not like what they saw on January 6th and all that led up to it. He reckons that in light of the ticket-splitting in the 2018 cycle the election that saw several Republicans narrowly avert defeat there are still many Texas voters who are judging the individual candidates, rather than the parties they represent. erica.grieder@chron.com This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. by Vladimir Rozanskij Due to frosts, many agricultural productions were destroyed in March. For onions, beans and corn, extraordinary work rates are needed. According to Islamic leaders, Rakhmon "finds new excuses every year". Trial and convictions for "terrorism" of 119 members close to the Muslim Brotherhood. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Throughout Central Asia, Islamic clergy yesterday declared the beginning of Ramadan (Ramazon in the Tajik language). The path of purification also includes the practice of fasting from dawn to dusk. President Emomali Rakhmon, addressed his best wishes to citizens of the Muslim faith (see photo), with a special invitation for farmers and those who work in the fields, urging them to focus on work, for an abundant harvest and to avoid all forms of fasting. This year, Ramadan falls precisely in the harvest season. In March, a series of frosts caused the onion sprouts to die, and they had to be planted again, along with the beans and corn. For this reason, extraordinary rhythms of work are required, which will occupy the entire period of Ramadan. The owner of a farm in the Hisor district, Amina Junisova, tells currentime.tv: We have decided to change the working hours: instead of starting at 8, we will start at 6 in the morning until 10, then we rest and work from 5 to 10 in the evening ". A further difficulty is the unexpected peak in temperatures, which have already exceeded 24 degrees with a tendency to rise, especially in the open field. Presidential invitations usually do not allow for hesitation, but Muslims do not intend to give up the holy fast. Rakhmon assures that the indication does not violate the canons of Islam, and cites the opinion of the religious hierarchy: "According to the Ulema, the Shariah and the theologians of sacred Islam, fasting prevents the work of people employed in harsh conditions, or in the branches heavy industry and manufacturing related to the provision of food safety. So these citizens can refrain from fasting, and observe it in another more appropriate period, declared the president in his official wish. Representatives of Islam in neighbouring countries disagreed with Rakhmons interpretation, noting that abstention from fasting can only be permitted in the case of serious illness. In reality, the Tajik president repeats these warnings every year, with more or less final tones, "and every year he finds new excuses ... religious freedom in Tajikistan gives us hope for something better", says Nafigullah Ashyrov, head of the Muslim Religious Administration of the Asian part of Russia. Ramadan is not the only "Islamic" headache for Rakhmon. On April 9, the Supreme Court of Dushanbe sentenced 119 people for terrorism, considering them exponents of the "Muslim Brotherhood", as reported by Asia-Pljus. Almost all of them received a sentence of between 5 and 25 years, only two were fined. An Egyptian citizen, Muhammad Baiumi, who taught at the national university of Tajikistan, was sentenced to the longest term and was recognized as the leader of the group. Another Egyptian teacher from the same university received a 7-year term, while Mullah Ismoil Kakkhorov will have to serve 15 years. Almost all the other defendants - university students, high school teachers, civil servants - received five years' sentences. All the condemned were accused of financially supporting terrorist actions and propaganda, justifying terrorism even in the lessons. The accusations go as far as the "attempt to violently overthrow the established power in order to establish an Islamic state". The trial, which began in July 2020, took place behind closed doors, with no access for the press. A journalist who was among the accused, Daler Sharifov, received heavy fines for articles in which he spoke out in favor of the ideology of the "Muslim Brotherhood", an organization banned in Tajikistan since 2006. $1 million awarded to increase high-speed internet access across Michigan $1 million awarded to increase high-speed internet access across Michigan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 2021 Caleb Buhs, buhsc@michigan.gov or 517-282-6018 LANSING, Mich. The Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) today announced an additional $1 million in funding from the Connecting Michigan Communities (CMIC) grant program. The funds will go towards projects that will expand broadband infrastructure across Michigan and provide access to high-speed internet for residents and businesses to compete in todays digital society. With this critical investment through the CMIC grant program, we will expand broadband internet access to 1,300 locations, said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II. Increasingly, broadband access is a necessity for work, school, and daily life, and we must ensure that all Michiganders have access to reliable, affordable internet. I am proud of this program that will increase access for families and better connect people, communities, and businesses across Michigan. The CMIC grant program was established to extend broadband service to unserved areas in Michigan and help close the digital divide. This is the second round of awards. The $1 million grant funding was awarded to four projects across the state and will impact 1,300 locations. The overall economic benefits from these infrastructure initiatives are estimated to reach up to $2.9 million annually. The first round of CMIC grant funds were announced in October 2020, with $11.9 million awarded to 10 projects. Overall, the total grant funds awarded so far will impact more than 12,000 locations in Michigan and generate annual economic benefits that could exceed $25 million. All projects awarded funding have committed to closing the digital divide and providing digital literacy training materials to residents and businesses in their proposed service area, while working with local community and anchor institutions and foundations to host events to promote e-learning, job, and workforce training. A full list of the CMIC grant awards can be accessed on the CMIC website, along with information about future grant awards. A third round of projects are currently under public review, with DTMB accepting comment or objections concerning each project through May 5, 2021. ### Debuting at the onset of a new era of travel in which protecting nature, benefitting local communities, and celebrating cultural diversity has taken center stage, Beyond Green invites travelers to discover, plan, and enjoy adventures that align with their sustainable travel values and aspirations Committed to building a better and brighter future for people and the planet, Beyond Green officially launches today as a curated guide for travelers seeking a more purposeful way to explore the world, featuring a global portfolio of 27 hotels, resorts, and lodges that exemplify sustainability in action. Debuting at the onset of a new era of travel in which protecting nature, benefitting local communities, and celebrating cultural diversity has taken center stage, this forward-thinking brand invites travelers to discover, plan, and enjoy adventures that align with their sustainable travel values and aspirations through a variety of intuitive tools and experiences. These include a new brand website; dedicated storytelling via its @StayBeyondGreen social media accounts; exclusive benefits through I Prefer Hotel Rewards; and a celebratory, limited-time Journeyers Pick Package. At the heart of Beyond Green is a belief that to travel gently and with purpose is to travel well. More than ever, each of our individual travel choices make a difference, and, together with our outstanding member properties, we designed Beyond Green to make it easier for travelers to enjoy incredible luxury vacations that also support significant social and environmental change for the future, said Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of both Beyond Green and its parent company, Preferred Hotel Group. The world has shown an unwavering need to Believe in Travel, and this is our defining moment to inspire a kinder and gentler way to explore the planet together, where good guests meet good hosts. The question is no longer whether we can transform travel based upon sustainable tourism principles and practices to be a powerful force for saving nature, regenerating ecosystems, and providing tangible social and economic benefits to local people, while also celebrating cultural diversity and inclusiveness around the world. This is now happening, as also represented by Beyond Green members. Rather, the most important question is how can travelers help make sustainability the new normal around the world while also having a great vacation. The answer is when we travel the sustainable way the Beyond Green way - we can have a positive impact right now on the places we visit, said Costas Christ, Brand Leader of Beyond Green and President of Beyond Green Travel, also an entity of Preferred Hotel Group. DIGITAL-FIRST RESOURCES FOR INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION Experiential travelers looking for a more meaningful way to explore the world can now visit StayBeyondGreen.com for thoughtful, essential resources and tools to book truly sustainable luxury getaways, from Belize to Bora Bora. The new website features highly curated visual content of each member property and the experiences they offer, along with vivid stories about the world of sustainable travel through its Good Stories blog, where novel content, tips and advice will be added on a continuous basis. The brand also invites travelers to engage in daily dialogues about sustainable tourism, inspiring travel experiences, and best practices for being informed global citizens on social media by following its newly launched Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels and #StayBeyondGreen and #TravelGently online conversations. I PREFER HOTEL REWARDS MEMBER BENEFITS As part of the Preferred Hotel Group family of brands, Beyond Green invites travelers to enroll in I Prefer to access meaningful rewards at more than 650 participating properties worldwide. In addition to receiving standard I Prefer benefits such as points for every eligible stay and early check-in and late check-out privileges, I Prefer members who book stays at participating Beyond Green hotels, resorts, and lodges receive access to exclusive bonus points-earning opportunities that are tied to participation in on-property enrichment activities representative of the three pillars of sustainable tourism. Varying from property to property, these experiences range from an Ecology Tour in San Juan Capistrano at The Ranch at Laguna Beach in California to a specialized lecture on the Gobi Desert at Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia. I Prefer members with Elite-tier status will also receive a welcome amenity or community giving opportunity, in addition to earning 50 percent more bonus points during every eligible stay. CELEBRATORY LAUNCH OFFER Whether seeking to stay within their own country or satisfy the pent-up desire to dust off their passport and go somewhere new, Beyond Green encourages travelers to seize the moment by taking advantage of a limited-time only Journeyers Pick Package, available at 15 participating properties for bookings made by September 30, 2021 for travel through December 31, 2021. Featuring the best available rate plus a unique local experience or meaningful memento exclusively available through this special offer, as well as 5,000 I Prefer bonus points, the Journeyers Pick Package include highlights such as, but not limited to: Private 1.5-hour Shinrin Yoku Forest Therapy session at andBeyond Vira Vira Traditional sunset Dhow Cruise with snacks and drinks at andBeyond Mnemba Island Guided walking tour of the Monastery of Panagia Spileotissa at Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas Body scrub wellness experience using organic ingredients at Borgo Pignano Polynesian outrigger experience at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa WHERE GOOD HOSTS MEET GOOD GUESTS: THE BEYOND GREEN PORTFOLIO With plans for steady, thoughtful growth, Beyond Green celebrates its official launch in collaboration with 27 inspiring member properties that each take a unique and genuine approach to hospitality while representing sustainable tourism leadership through actionable, measurable efforts: Americas andBeyond Vira Vira (Pucon, Chile); Arenas Del Mar Beach Front and Rainforest Resort (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica), Bentwood Inn (Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA); Blancaneaux Lodge (Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize); Carneros Resort and Spa (Napa Valley, California, USA), Cavallo Point (Sausalito, California, USA); Islas Secas (Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama); Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur, California, USA); Ted Turner Reserves Vermejo (Raton, New Mexico, USA); The Ranch at Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach, California, USA); Turtle Inn (Placencia, Belize) Europe Aristi Mountain Resort (Zagori, Greece); Ashford Castle (Co. Mayo, Ireland); Borgo Pignano (Tuscany, Italy) Africa andBeyond Bateleur Camp (Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya); andBeyond Mnemba Island (Zanzibar, Tanzania); andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (Namib Desert, Namibia); Bushmans Kloof (Western Cape, South Africa); Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge (Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda); Wilderness Safaris DumaTau Camp (Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana); Wilderness Safaris Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp (Kaokoveld, Namibia); Wilderness Safaris Linkwasha Camp (Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe); Wilderness Safaris Mombo Camp (Okavango Delta, Botswana); Xigera Safari Lodge (Okavango Delta, Botswana) Asia InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); The Brando (Tetiaroa, French Polynesia); Three Camel Lodge (Gobi, Mongolia) Travelers are invited to access more information on Beyond Green, its three key pillars of sustainable tourism, and its member properties, and book authentic, luxury travel experiences around the world by visiting StayBeyondGreen.com. ABOUT BEYOND GREEN Guided by a passion to embrace travel as a force for good, Beyond Green is a global portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges that exemplify sustainability leadership. To create a more purposeful way to explore the world where good guests meet good hosts, Beyond Green has curated a unique portfolio of properties based on their commitment to deliver on the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmentally friendly practices that go beyond the basics; protection of natural and cultural heritage; and contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of local communities. To be considered for membership in Beyond Green, a property is vetted according to more than 50 sustainability indicators that align with global sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Owned and operated by Preferred Hotel Group the family-owned company that manages and operates other hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Historic Hotels of America, and Historic Hotels Worldwide Beyond Green ushers in a new way to experience genuine hospitality by the people for the planet. For more information, visit StayBeyondGreen.com. ABOUT PREFERRED HOTEL GROUP Owned and operated by the Ueberroth Family, Preferred Hotel Group is the parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PHG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, representing more than 1,100 hotels, resorts, and residences across 80 countries, in addition to a global portfolio of destinations such as Suzhou, China; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Uganda. With more than 200 seasoned travel professionals situated across 20 countries, the company connects independent hotels, hospitality companies, destinations, and tourism bureaus to key markets worldwide through a variety of strategic branding, sales, integrated marketing, revenue management, and comprehensive distribution services, along with other consultancy services. Fueled by its brand promise, Believe in Travel, the company champions an unwavering belief in the transformative power of travel and its ability to enrich peoples lives and create greater tolerance. For more information on Preferred Hotel Groups entities, please visit PreferredHotels.com, StayBeyondGreen.com, HistoricHotels.org, PHGConsulting.com, and BeyondGreenTravel.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Caroline Klein Chief Communications Officer +1 414 732 5352 cklein@staybeyondgreen.com Hannah Nelson Senior Manager, Public Relations Americas +1 303 885 7186 hnelson@staybeyondgreen.com COLUMBUS, OhioAs Ohio and other states are accusing Facebook of antitrust violations, representatives of the social-media giant say their company faces plenty of competition and that it should be up to state lawmakers to regulate it on issues such as privacy. Members of Facebooks policy and legal team laid out their arguments against the lawsuit during a meeting this week with the editorial board of cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer. (Cleveland.com has business relationships with Facebook in a variety of ways that affect this news organizations revenue.) The lawsuit, filed by 48 attorneys general, claims that Facebook has a monopoly over social networking in the United States, noting that more than half the countrys population over the age of 13 uses a Facebook service every day. Facebook uses a buy-or-bury strategy to maintain that monopoly, the lawsuit claims, by either purchasing potential rivals or using its clout to thwart them. Facebooks market dominance, the suit continues, gives the company wide latitude to set its own rules for how it collects, uses, and protects users private information, and to profit from that information even when its not in users best interests. Eliminating rivals also harms advertisers in a number of ways, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to rule that Facebooks acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp (popular photo-sharing and chat applications, respectively) to be in violation of antitrust law -- a move that could result in Facebook having to sell those companies. The suit also asks, among other things, that states involved in the action be given advance notice before Facebook acquires any other company for $10 million or more. Kate Patchen, associate general counsel for Facebooks litigation team, said that various aspects of Facebook each have a number of competitors, and that Facebook has numerous rivals for peoples time and attention. There are a number of other ways that you can communicate with friends and family, and there are a number of other ways that you could spend your time, Patchen said. Patchen also said its the wrong time for states to challenge Facebooks purchase of WhatsApp and Instagram, considering those deals took place years ago and Facebook has invested a tremendous amount of money in those products. Facebook officials and lawyers also made other legal arguments against the states lawsuit, including that the federal government not states should be the one enforcing federal antitrust law. They also argue that the states must show that the states themselves not just their residents -- have been injured by Facebook, and that the lawsuit doesnt prove that. Not only do we believe theres a lack of consumer harm, but the competition that Facebook faces across all of our products actually benefits consumers, said Christen DuBois, another member of Facebooks litigation team. In recent years, Facebook has faced a variety of criticism, from concerns over privacy to its role in spreading misinformation. Will Castleberry, Facebooks vice president of state policy and community engagement, said those issues should be resolved by state and federal lawmakers and regulators, not through an antitrust lawsuit. Instead of addressing those (frustrations) in the channels they should, theyre addressing them through an antitrust lawsuit, which isnt the right channel and, candidly, wont create the solutions that theyre looking for, he said. Castleberry added that theres absolutely a need for government to regulate Facebook regarding a number of issues, from privacy controls to revenge porn. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, when asked in an interview if the problems laid out in the lawsuit should be left to the legislature to resolve, replied: Well of course the legislature did act -- its called the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. So, maybe (its) 130 years late, but I think they could probably Google it. Yost, a Columbus Republican, said the lawsuits main issue is Facebooks predatory acquisition of up-and-coming competitors. Yost said Congress maybe ought to revisit Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which offers protections for Facebook and other platforms from lawsuits over illegal material or copyright violations posted by users. There are things that maybe ought to be directed toward Congress rather than the courts, but that doesnt mean that we dont have a righteous complaint before the court, Yost said. I believe we do. Read more Ohio politics and government stories: Sen. Rob Portman, who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during clinical testing, urges Ohioans to get vaccinated despite setback Ohio reports 2,340 new coronavirus cases, 90 new deaths: Tuesday update Review confirms no major damage from Ohio Statehouse vandalism: Watch video of the break-in State working with Wolstein Center, college campuses on Johnson & Johnson vaccines Ohio legislature to see bills critics say are anti-transgender The Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (CERSC) held its first public meeting on Sunday to discuss a working class-led strategy to stop the third wave of the pandemic. The meeting featured an international panel of speakers, who explained the committees demands for the closure of schools and nonessential production, and the provision of full wages to all workers and families so they can shelter at home, to an attentive online audience. The meeting took place as Canada struggles with a reported 73,447 active cases of the COVID-19 virus, the grim milestone of 1 million cases having been reached on April 3 and a further 60,000 confirmed infections already added to the total since that date. Last Sunday's meeting was attended by dozens of educators, school support staff and other supporters of the fight to close schools and save lives. (Photo credit: CERSC) The meeting was chaired by World Socialist Web Site reporters Roger Jordan and Richard Dufour, and conducted in English and French. In his introductory remarks, Jordan underscored the devastating impact of the ruling elites homicidal policy of keeping the economy and schools open, noting that the global death toll will surpass 3 million in the coming week. These deaths were not an inevitable result of the virus, but the product of the deliberate policy of placing corporate profits ahead of human lives. Laurent Lafrance, an educator from Quebec and a leading member of the CERSC, presented the opening report. Lafrance explained how the explosion of cases in recent weeks with the onset of Canadas third wave is directly related to the reopening of schools. Reviewing the experience of the pandemics first two waves, he remarked that a study by Montreal researcher Dr. Simona Bignami found that it was Montreal children who infected their parents last fall, not the other way around. Now authorities are forced to acknowledge this, he said, but schools remain open. The vaccination campaign, instead of helping to curb the virus, is now the central pretext being invoked by the political establishment to justify the lifting of all remaining restrictions, he added. Lafrance cited important facts, including the spread of new, more contagious variants, that demonstrate the pandemic in Canada is now at its most dangerous point ever. Since February, for example, one in 43 Canadians who have contracted the virus have died, and at present, the number of cases in Canada is increasing at 2.5 times the global average. Lafrance continued, Unlike the US, where the situation has never been under control, Canada has experienced very definite waves, which were directly related to the reopening of schools. Lafrance also shared his personal experiences as an educator during the pandemic, having seen firsthand the inconsistent health measures, lack of clear guidelines, and poor communication when there are COVID-19 outbreaks at schools and other workplaces. He related the refusal of his trade union to take any action to fight for the health and safety of its members. Senior officials even ruled out of order a motion at a union meeting calling for an emergency meeting to discuss how workers can protect their health and lives. Summing up the strategy of the CERSC, Lafrance said in conclusion, Uniting with teachers and other education staff in other countries is essential. Educators in Canada must also understand that they are involved in a larger struggle to unite the entire working class. To be blunt, the struggle that school personnel face will not be resolved by a struggle limited to the education sector. The pandemic, along with social inequality and all social problems, affects the entire working class. The second speaker was Evan Blake, a writer for the World Socialist Web Site who has played a leading role in the formation of rank-and-file committees in the education sector in the US. Blake reported on the execution of the herd immunity policy in the US, which the Trump and Biden administrations, while using different rhetoric, have both implemented, and the complicity of the corporate media and trade unions in the realization of this profit-driven agenda. He also stressed that these criminal policies are creating the conditions for a mass working class upsurge. Nothing will return to normal and the pandemic has profoundly altered society, Blake declared. It is a world historic tragedy that is shaping mass consciousness and moving workers to the left everywhere. There is an enormous radicalization taking place in the working class in America, the center of world capitalism, Wall Street and American imperialism. Several workers and educators expressed their support for the committee and made contributions to the meeting, including two teachers from Ontario. Those of us who may have been holding out hope that the severity of the situation would force governments to act to save lives are being hit by the sobering reality that this homicidal policy is not going away, said a high school teacher from Toronto. A statement sent to the committee by an Ontario teacher was also read out at the meeting. The teacher voiced their anger at the lack of action taken by the teachers unions to protect workers, and how the pandemic has exposed the unions opposition to any struggle. The message teachers have gotten is loud and clear. No matter how bad of an outbreak happens in your school, we will never intervene on the memberships behalf, the statement read, referring to the attitude of the unions. We cannot help you because the government says its illegal. This is the straitjacket workers need to break out of. The third featured speaker was Gregor Link, a writer for the World Socialist Web Site and a member of the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education in Germany. Link reported on the state of the pandemic in Europe, where almost 1 million people have died of the virus and 25,000 people are currently dying each week. In Germany, as in Canada, deadly new variants are spreading exponentially, yet the federal and state governments unanimously refuse to close schools and businesses to contain the pandemic. In our view, it is crucially important to organize independently of the unions and reach out to workers all over the world, stated Link. We intend to fight for a general strike that includes and unites workers across Europe and beyond to shut down schools and non-essential production. All affected workers and small business owners must be completely compensated. The ill-gotten wealth of the corporate elite needs to be seized and the trillions in state funds taken back in order to fund a rational and internationally coordinated action program against the pandemic. In the discussion period following the speeches, a question was raised by a high school teacher from Peel Region. She asked about the committees position on claims that childrens mental health and social development are negatively impacted by online schooling. In response to the teachers question, Jordan explained that the closure of schools was an emergency decision driven by the need to stop mass death. Another key aspect of the program were advocating is for full compensation to all families and workers who are affected by the pandemic, he added, which is something that the ruling class refuses to do, even though it has vast resources at its disposal. Just look at the amount of money that Canadas billionaires alone have gained during the pandemic, or the hundreds of billions just in one countryCanadathat was handed over to the banks and the corporations at the beginning of the pandemic. These funds, he continued, could be used to provide social and mental health support to children and families. The meeting concluded with an address by Keith Jones, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Canada, who remarked that we now confront the most perilous situation during the entire pandemic. The SEP national secretary emphasized that this disastrous state of affairs was the outcome of the ruling class prioritization of corporate profits over human lives. He also denounced the trade unions for sending workers back to dangerous schools and workplaces as the virus ran rampant. When workers at the Cargill meatpacking plant in High River, Alberta, where there had been more than a thousand infections and three deaths, pressed for action against a premature return to work, their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers union, ordered them back on the job, denouncing a strike as illegal and reiterating its commitment to the pro-employer, state enforced labour relations system, said Jones. Atop the Canadian Labour Congresss homepage it reads: In Canada, weve weathered the pandemic by sticking together and supporting each other, he continued. Thus speaks the privileged union bureaucrats, with their six-figure salaries, of a crisis that has demonstrated and deepened the enormous class divide in Canada, as around the world. If truth be told, the unions with the capitalist elite and its governments have stuck together, expanding the corporatist collaboration that has seen the unions that were in an earlier period associated with working class struggles transformed into junior partners of management and the state. Jones emphasized that a network of rank-and-file committees must be established in schools and workplaces across the country, under the leadership of the CERSC, to fight for an end to all in-class instruction and the closure of all nonessential production until the pandemic is halted. The fight for these demands, as part of the struggle against a pandemic that respects no borders or passports, inevitably raises the need for a broader struggle, he said. All teachers, school staff, students and parents are encouraged to join the struggle to halt the spread of the pandemic and save lives. If you are interested in joining the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, visit our Facebook page or contact us at: cersc.csppb@gmail.com. Workers within other sectors are encouraged to contact us for information on building a rank-and-file committee in their workplace. WCO Members of the Virtual Working Group on Gender Equality & Diversity gathered on the 12th of April to discuss recent achievement and current work to promote gender equality and diversity in Customs. The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives from 14 Customs administrations (Argentina, Brazil, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, the Maldives, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe) to exchange. Information was shared on recent achievements including the launch of the Compendium on Gender Equality and Diversity in Customs showcasing examples from 17 Customs administrations around the world. VWG Members were also informed on the progress of current work including the enhancement of the WCO Blended Training Package on Advancing Gender Equality and Diversity in Customs. Argentina Customs, who participated in the VWG for the first time, shared information on recent initiatives launched to promote gender and diversity policies in the administration, including development of a protocol and trainings targeting managers to prevent gender based violence in the workplace and a guide on how to promote and implement gender sensitive language in internal and external communication. Jamaica Customs Agency, who also recently joined the VWG, shared information about their work to implement gender mainstreaming in the administration. This process has included the development of a comprehensive Gender Action plan and plans to prevent sexual harassment and gender based violence in the workplace. Other initiatives launched include gender sensitization training for senior managers and ensuring the application of gender sensitive and inclusive language in all policy documents. Zambia Revenue Authority also shared information about a two day workshop recently organized by the administration targeting women traders which aimed at sensitizing traders on customs policies and procedures. The workshop, which gathered 100 participants, also provided information on topics such as Customs ethics, e-services and the Customer Service Centre and aimed at better understanding the particular challenges faced by women traders and served to create awareness within Customs on how these needs can be better met. The WCO looks forward to continue working closely with its Members to drive this agenda forward. For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org. A Houston high school teacher is under fire about a lesson plan that asked students to discuss the 'complicated' nature of the N-word, with the teacher writing the N-word out in full on the board. Her decision to spell out the word shocked students and prompted at least one to take a picture. The English assignment also had a picture of deceased rapper Tupac Shakur and a quote, which also spelled out the N-word. A teacher at Stratford High School had the assignment' as part of a warm-up activity for her class on Monday. 'It was just really shocking at first because it was there on the board,' said student Karina Rodgerson to KHOU. A shocking lesson in an English class in Houston is drawing fire from students and parents The prompt from the teacher was 'How is the word n***** complicated? How has it changed?' Students needed to answer in 75 words. The Tupac quote alongside the prompt was, 'N****** was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing. N***** is the ones with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs.' Karina Rodgerson's mother was shocked by the teacher's inflammatory assignment. Anita Rodgerson said, 'I would like to know, did this teacher not follow the system? Is there not a system in place? Is there going to be a system and what improvements can they make to the system?' 'That word didnt need to come up on any screen, with any children of any color,' added Mary Daly to KPRC 2; her granddaughter was in the questionable class on Monday. 'A thinking human is all you have to be. You dont have to be any color to understand that that was completely wrong of [the teacher] to do.' Pictured: Alum Marcel McClinton, who is 'very embarrassed' to be a graduate of the school The teacher has been working at Stratford High School (pictured) since 2013 Teachers in the district go through diversity training, but that was not enough to prevent this incident, leading to the unnamed teacher being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. 'A Stratford High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave given concerns with the professional judgment in her lesson planning and delivery during a warm-up activity Monday,' said a statement from the Spring Branch Independent School District. 'Inappropriate and offensive language was used, which the Spring Branch Independent School District does not condone and will not accept. 'We continue to investigate this incident and will take appropriate actions. We deeply regret and apologize this incident occurred.' An email about the incident was also sent out to parents by the school district. The warm-up activity was linked to the class starting to read 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' which was written by Black author Zora Neale Hurston. 'It was shocking, inappropriate, inexcusable, any adjective you want to use,' Executive Director of Communications for Spring Branch ISD Terry Abbott said to KHOU. 'This was not a lesson plan that was approved in advance by anyone.' According to ABC 13, the unidentified teacher is white and has been working within the district since 2007, moving to Stratford High School in 2013. 'It makes me feel very embarrassed to have her as a teacher and to have graduated from Stratford High School,' said alum Marcel McClinton, who admits to previous problems with the teacher. 'I feel as though Black and brown students in her classroom are not respected or valued and I know that personally, because I had her as a teacher for a whole year.' I'd like to take a rational look at the confrontations among cops, motorists, and pedestrians. When we see incidents of cops shooting blacks (which are the only shootings the media cover), one thing becomes clear: resisting arrest often ends up with a loss of life. Something else is obvious: when a cop is the one losing his life, it's practically overlooked by the media. When a police officer, whether during a traffic stop or a street stop, is making an arrest, the person being arrested has no right to resist. If that person believes it's an unlawful arrest, he can make that argument at the station house or in a courtroom. However, let's be clear about this: the cop has the legal authority to make the arrest, simply based on the penal law. Moreover, once the officer has uttered the words "you're under arrest," the only right that person has, under the law, is to submit to said arrest. Furthermore, the only right the cop has, under the law, is to follow through with the arrest of someone who has broken the law. What benefit to society would occur if cops were to just walk away when someone defies lawful authority? Should cops arrest only those who come along willingly? People don't like getting arrested. In addition, if they already have a criminal record, they are likely to be facing some prison time. That might cause them to panic and react violently. But the officer who stopped them may not know about their criminal past. Hence, his life may be in danger from someone facing a long prison sentence. Most cops with experience know that every call for service could end up in a battle for their lives. Some of the most violent situations I faced during my 20 years with the NYPD began with something as innocuous as a family dispute. In other words, I wasn't called to the scene of a homicide, an armed robbery, or an assault in progress. The dispatcher said there was an argument between a man and his wife. Yet, when a cop arrives on the scene, one of the participants may feel it's time to get very tough with the spouse, in front of the cop. When the cop intercedes, he often finds that he's under attack from both. You need only one experience like that to be on high alert going forward. Generally speaking, most people, of all skin shades, will cooperate when stopped by a police officer. In 99.99 percent of police stops, the person goes on his way, with or without a ticket or other legal document. The problem arises when people, evidently thinking they're above the law, refuse to obey the officer's directions. Here's an example from my own experience. I stopped a man on the street because I had a warrant for his arrest on a charge of robbery. My partner and I got out of our radio car and approached him. After confirming his identity, I showed him the warrant and told him he's under arrest. He response was something like, "You ain't arresting me, m-----------!" as he began backing up and raising his fists as if to engage in combat. O.K. what does the average citizen think a cop should do under those circumstances? The cop is there to protect the public against criminals. If he is too timid, or too scared to do his job, the public suffers. If the bad guys believe they can intimidate the police into backing down, can you imagine what they'll do to the average law-abiding citizen? In the case described above, the wanted man was taken into custody, albeit after some necessary roughness. Let me tell you the lesson every cop learns if he lives long enough. That is, anyone willing to fight a cop is very likely to kill him in order to escape. I've scuffled with men who tried to grab my gun during the encounters. If they had gotten it out of my holster, I wouldn't be here to write about it. What many people don't understand is that cops get scared, too! They just want to do their job and go home to their families. Therefore, when a violent situation occurs, they'd better be prepared to overcome the resistance to their authority, one way or another. If someone ends up getting hurt or killed, the cop wants to be certain that it's not he. Once again, I reiterate that all these tragedies could be eliminated if people obeyed the law and didn't resist arrest. Bob Weir is a retired detective sergeant in the New York Police Department Image via Public Domain Pictures. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. A company that specializes in the co-ownership of second homes by multiple parties sued the city of St. Helena last week amid a dispute over whether the arrangement amounts to a timeshare. The federal lawsuit, filed April 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to guarantee the legally-protected rights of (Pacasos) homeowners to enjoy the benefits of owning property in the beautiful surrounds of St. Helena. The complaint requests a judgment declaring that St. Helenas timeshare prohibition does not apply to Pacaso and an injunction barring the city from interfering with Pacasos economic interests. Pacaso creates a limited liability company to hold the title for each home and allows up to eight co-owners to buy an interest in the LLC. At closing, the co-owners take full ownership of the house and Pacaso stays on as property manager. According to the complaint, Pacaso owns or manages five homes in St. Helena. The city has accused Pacaso of operating timeshares, which are banned by a city ordinance. The Municipal Code defines a timeshare as "an ownership or leasehold estate in property devoted to a time-share fee (tenants in common, time span ownership, interval ownership) or a time-share lease." Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and the immediate past president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo have cautioned the y... Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and the immediate past president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo have cautioned the youths against joining politics as a career without first establishing themselves. Both leaders spoke in Enugu, weekend, during the gala night for 17 finalists of the 2021 Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership Initiative (YELI). They emphasized the need for what they described as a second address for youths who want to engage into politics in Nigeria. They said this was the only way the youths would avoid walking into jail. The leaders stated that most people who veered into politics now see it as a profession and a means to enrich themselves, which had worsened corruption in the country. They said that the change that must be brought to bear in the polity by the youths was to have a means of livelihood before venturing into politics to enable them offer the needed services and avoid being sent to jail as result of looting public resources at the end of their career. The maiden YELI competition which began in February this year with over 900 applicants from the 17 local governments in the Enugu State was aimed at supporting youths between ages of 20 and 35 years who have start-up businesses not less than one year and not more than three years old. The organization mapped out N10 million which it released to the 17 youths to support their businesses. Nnamani, who was the chairman of the occasion, attributed the majority of the problems in the politics in Nigeria to people who have taken it as profession and advised the youths to shun the tendency for the betterment of the society. He said: Why we engage in politics is to serve the people. But you must aspire to serve when you have a second address in politics, unless you want to end in jail for grabbing resources that do not belong to you. This mentality of grabbing is why we are the way we are. This is something the youths must avoid to make the difference for our country to move forward. He also urged Nigerian youths to think about studying courses in the higher institutions that are relevant to the future, stressing that some courses offered in Universities are no longer relevant in solving challenges of the country. He stated that the entrepreneurial skills the YELI was impacting on the youths and the financial support to their businesses was what was needed to achieve the needed growth and development following the diminishing job market and urged those who benefited to put them to good use to build a strong future. Nnamani, who praised the Initiator of the YELI project, Dr Dorothy Jeff Nnamani for her entrepreneurial spirit, stated that she had contributed in creating employment and that such a project would soon play the role Silicon valley was playing in America in Nigeria. On his part, Chief Nwodo, stated that changing the idea of making money as quickly as possible among the Nigerian youths was needed to advance the course of the nation. He lamented the decay in the educational system of Nigeria today, and maintained that his generation passed through more bitter experiences than what the Nigerian youths face today. He stated that the only thing that worked in his time was good education which is being denied the present youths. I walked over three miles away to fetch water, cracked wood for my parents to cook and cooked in the midst of huge smoke coming from the wood. We walked various miles to go to school. We didnt have the opportunity to enjoy what technology has brought today but in them, we survived. The only difference is that those who benefited from scholarships and community contributions for their education have found it difficult to invest in the society, they have chosen to train their children abroad and left our educational system to die. I call on them to rescue us from this because it was not the story before now, he said. He told the youths to always learn from every mistake to engender growth, stressing that courage and convictions were part of every successful story. Earlier, Mrs. Nnamani said the initiative was her way of giving back to the society in view of the growing unemployment and youths restiveness, stressing that the youths if well supported, can revive and reignite sustainable businesses that have the potential to promote decent livelihoods, job opportunities and save the world. Sunday Chinwuike Onah from Nsukka won the grand prize of N2 million, Ugwujide Chinazom from Enugu-East won the second runner up prize of N1 million while Ogbabido Chukwuka won the first runner up prize of N500,000. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 22:46:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Marwa Yahya QENA, Egypt, April 14 (Xinhua) -- "If you want to live a long life, you should take four spoonfuls of black treacle a day," said Shehab Omeda, a 54-year-old owner of a mill in Bahgourah, a small Egyptian village located 600 km south of the capital Cairo. "It's used in beauty products, such as hair strengthener, and also in pastries and sweets," Omeda told Xinhua, noting black treacle or black honey, also known as molasses, is a natural cough suppressant and wards off anaemia and indigestion. Molasses, a viscous product resulting from refining sugarcane or sugar beets, is one of the oldest and branding industries in Upper Egypt, especially Qena Province, the country's center for planting sugarcane. There are 200 mills that produce molasses from sugarcane across Qena, and 45 of them are located in the village Bahgourah. However, these mills are still operating on primitive tools and antiquated techniques, lacking modernized machines to increase the production. Featured as a staple item in breakfast for most Egyptians, one jar of molasses fetches only an equivalent of 1.07 U.S. dollars, Omeda said. "The tools used in squeezing the sugarcane should be modernized," he said, referring to the molasses industry as a heritage that should be sustained and developed via advanced techniques. Although the daily output of Omeda's mill is good, the rising prices of the sugarcane and workers' wages have led to higher costs and unsatisfactory profit. "Each grinder needs at least 30 laborers in my place," he explained. He urged the state-run Small Enterprise Development Agency to provide loans for the owners of molasses mills to buy new ovens and machines for boosting production and security of the workers. "Over 20 years, I have worked on producing molasses," said Mohamed Hassan, a 40-year-old worker, while packing ceramic jars filled with a mix of sesame paste and black treacle. The man who earns an equivalent of eight dollars per day explained that producing molasses is a seasonal industry that starts in December and ends in June, which means he has no income during summer. "By modernizing the industry, the laborers could work along the year, not only for several months," he said. Ashraf al-Dawdi, governor of Qena, hailed the traditional industry of producing molasses as "one of the main pillars of local development programs in Upper Egypt." In addition to financial fund for the owners and workers, the government is keen to preserve and develop manual crafts and small industries by providing training and modern tools to keep down costs and guarantee quality production, al-Dawdi noted. Enditem FEIN Power Tools, Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality power tools and accessories, is significantly lowering prices on its four most popular magnetic base drills and including a 13/16 x 2 DOC cutter for free. FEIN Power Tools, Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality power tools and accessories, is significantly lowering prices on its four most popular magnetic base drills and including a 13/16 x 2 DOC cutter for free. The cutters, valued at $72, are included in each magnetic drill case, making it simple for customers to take advantage of this promotion. To participate, customers must purchase one of the following magnetic base drills from a FEIN authorized distributor: JME HoleMaker III a magnetic base drill capable of drilling up to 1-3/8 x 2 featuring an extremely durable and powerful design. For use with carbide or HSS cutters, giving customers the option for cutting harder materials. JME USA 202 M a magnetic base drill capable of drilling up to 2 x 2. This lightweight and powerful two-speed drill is ideal for the workshop or construction site. It features an MT3 tool mount and includes an adapter for Weldon shanks, making it highly versatile for customers. JHM USA 101 a magnetic base drill capable of drilling up to 1-1/2 x 2 engineered for dimensionally accurate drilling on the construction site. JHM Shortslugger a compact magnetic base drill capable of drilling up to 1-3/16 x 2 and weighing only 22 pounds, is ideal for working in confined spaces or overhead. The promotional period runs now through December 31, 2021. For more information regarding this promotion, please call 800.411.9878. To learn more about FEIN Power Tools and its products, please visit our website at http://www.feinus.com. FEIN is your partner for first-class power tool systems FEIN is renowned as a globally active company with roots in Germany that is synonymous with high-quality power tools and accessories, designed for the toughest jobs in industry and manual trades. Having laid the foundations by inventing the electric hand drill, the first power tool in the world, in 1867, Wilhelm Emil Fein founded the FEIN company. FEIN now holds more than 700 active industrial property rights, including around 500 patents and patent applications. FEIN focuses on products and services that are ideal problem solvers for metalwork and are marketed by over 16 subsidiaries and more than 50 offices around the world. As an independent family-run business, FEIN embodies an open corporate culture, attaches great importance to human interactions and provides plenty of space for innovative ideas. The company headquarters in Schwabisch Gmund-Bargau are home to the largest production site, which works in close collaboration with other sites in Asia and North America, ensuring consistently high manufacturing quality at all locations. The company employs around 800 members of staff globally, delivering a great deal of ingenuity and commitment to service, including setting future milestones in the development of premium power tool systems. This is precisely why FEIN is seen as professional and has been for over 150 years. http://www.fein.com Press contact: Lyndsey Barrett FEIN Power Tools Inc. 1000 Omega Drive Suite 1180 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Phone 1.800.441.9878 E-mail lyndsey.barrett@feinus.com A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden exchanged views on bilateral ties and explored areas of possible cooperation during a phone conversation on Tuesday. "They discussed a number of regional and global issues, including the intent of the United States and Russia to pursue a strategic stability dialogue on a range of arms control and emerging security issues, building on the extension of the New START Treaty," the White House said in a written statement referring to the 2010 agreement on strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty, extended for five years this February. "President Biden also made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to Russias actions, such as cyber intrusions and election interference," the White House said. "President Biden emphasized the United States unwavering commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity," the White House said in a statement, noting that Biden voiced concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in Crimea and on Ukraines borders, and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions. Biden also proposed a summit between the two leaders in a third country as Washington. "President Biden reaffirmed his goal of building a stable and predictable relationship with Russia consistent with U.S. interests, and proposed a summit meeting in a third country in the coming months to discuss the full range of issues facing the United States and Russia," the statement said. LONDON Your local pub, its a bit like your favorite pair of shoes or jeans, something you just completely take for granted, Rob Cope said, sitting outside the Carlton Tavern in North London on Monday. With the glow of the afternoon sun easing the bite of the chilly April air, he gazed at the buildings brick facade and explained, You dont really understand that its there until its gone. The Carlton Tavern joined thousands of other pubs on Monday in reopening with outdoor spaces as lockdown restrictions in England eased after months of closures. But its story still stood out in that shared national moment, as its closure was counted not in months but in years. Its story began when developers tore it down. Six years ago, people watched in dismay as the Carlton Tavern, built in the 1920s and nestled against a park on the edge of the affluent Maida Vale neighborhood, was reduced to rubble. The buildings overseas owners had skirted local laws and abruptly demolished it to make way for luxury apartments. Dr. Marwa Zaatari Professor Jose-Luis Jimenez, University of Colorado Boulder stated, Thousands of classrooms and counting, have already implemented electronic air cleaners, inducing a false sense of security at best and at worst harming the health of our children. Parents across the country and the world have been shocked to find that many of the air cleaners sold to school districts and installed in their childrens classrooms are the same misleading devices that the worlds top indoor air experts have been warning about for years due to the potential creation of toxic byproducts and lack of independent peer reviewed studies. In response to these dangers and lack of data, a group of concerned parents and industry leaders have created a fundraising campaign to fund the independent research of these devices that is so desperately needed. Conservatively, an estimated Hundreds of Millions of Dollars have been spent on these devices nationwide, according to Dr. Marwa Zaatari, ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force member. These unproven and potentially harmful electronic air cleaners, predominantly purchased with CARES Act funds, have been marketed under a variety of names like; ionizers, needle point bipolar ionization, UV-PCO, plasma generators, H2O2, and DHP. Due to the increasing recognition of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in poorly ventilated schools, sales reps and manufacturers are making such claims as; 99.9% SARS-COV-2 removal, mountain top air, all-natural, chemical free, active vs passive; as selling points to schools looking for ways to protect their students. Most sales reps rely on carefully crafted, at times misleading marketing material written by a combination of marketing teams and lawyers, with an abundance of fine-print disclaimers. Respected indoor air quality scientists agree that these technologies are primarily unproven and lacking critical scientific peer reviewed independent backing of their effectiveness or safety. This makes them potentially harmful for our children. Professor Jose-Luis Jimenez, University of Colorado Boulder stated, Thousands of classrooms and counting, have already implemented electronic air cleaners, inducing a false sense of security at best and at worst harming the health of our children. Unfortunately, these devices, described by CDC as emerging technologies and by ASHRAE as unproven lack enforced Testing Standards Methods and have inadequate government regulation. As schools around the country begin to open for in-person learning, many parents are worried about the lasting health effects of these unproven devices. If these electronic air cleaners are not removed, they will continue to potentially introduce harmful byproducts into the air of their childrens classrooms for years to come. This can lead to an array of devastating health outcomes for our children, teachers, and school staff. Dr. Marcel Harmon, Associate Principal and Research and Development lead at BranchPattern stated, This equipment creates interior conditions that differ from the environments our physiologies evolved to function within. It should not be surprising such an evolutionary mismatch could result in negative health impact. Dr. Marwa Zaatari, indoor air quality expert and one of the organizers of the campaign added, we are a group of concerned parents and experts vowed to protect the health of our children and help schools make wise decisions about their indoor air quality by funding independent peer-reviewed research. This is the only way to ensure an honest evaluation of these aforementioned devices. The funds raised in the campaign will be donated to a team of researchers led by Illinois Institute of Technology to measure the effectiveness and safety of a wide variety of emerging air cleaning technologies. More specific details can be found on the campaign website. **The claims made in this release are explored in great detail and supported by many studies and citations in Dr. Marwa Zaatari's Open Letter to Address the Use of Electronic Air Cleaning Equipment in Buildings.** Ledbetter Woman Charged With Prostitution By West Kentucky Star Staff LIVINGSTON COUNTY - A Ledbetter woman was arrested Tuesday on charges of prostitution.According to the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, detectives with the McCracken County and Livingston County Sheriff's Offices were conducting an investigation into prostitution that led to 52-year-old Denise Nichols of Ledbetter.Nichols allegedly agreed to meet for sex in Ledbetter in exchange for a predetermined amount of money.Nichols is charged with one count of prostitution. She was lodged in the McCracken County Jail. According to information published by the United States Department of Defense on April 9, 2021, the U.S. Navy Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) and Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel HMJS Cornwall conducted a live-fire exercise in the Caribbean Sea on April 9, 2021. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) and Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard patrol vessel HMJS Cornwall sail in formation during a live-fire exercise on April 9, 2021. (Picture source U.S. DoD) The USS Wichita (LCS-13) is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship in service with the United States Navy. She was acquired by the US Navy from Lockheed Martin and the Marinette Marine shipyard on 22 August 2018 along with USS Sioux City in a double delivery. The ship was christened and launched on 17 September 2016. The Freedom-class is one of two classes of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, built for the United States Navy. The ship is a semi-planning steel monohull with an aluminum superstructure. It has a length of 115 m, displaces 3,500 tons, and can a top speed of 47 knots (87 km/h). The design incorporates a large, reconfigurable seaframe to allow rapidly interchangeable mission modules, a flight deck with integrated helicopter launch, recovery and handling system, and the capability to launch and recover manned and unmanned boats from both the stern and side. The USS Wichita is armed with one BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm naval gun, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, Honeywell Mark 50 torpedo, four 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. She can be fitted with up to two Mk44 Bushmaster 30 mm guns and "Longbow" Hellfire missiles as part of the surface warfare (SuW) package. The HMJS Cornwall is County-class offshore patrol vessel operates by the Jamaican Coast Guard. The ship is based on the design of the Stan 4207 designed by the Dutch Shipyard Damen. Gunners from both ships shot hundreds of rounds at a floating training target. Formally known as a naval gunnery target balloon, the target is endearingly known as a killer tomato. While it was the first live-fire exercise, this was Cornwalls second interoperability exercise with a U.S. Navy warship this year. In February, Cornwall conducted a passing exercise with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95). The USS Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force Souths mission, which includes counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 01:41:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Since the first COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020, Botswana has witnessed an increase in the number of gender-based violence (GBV). "The cases have dropped from the time of lockdowns but are still higher than before lockdowns," said Lorato Moalusi, the chief executive officer of Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre (BGBVC), a non-governmental organisation. Prior the lockdowns, the monthly average of those who sought refuge at the BGBVC shelter was 9, but during the course of the first lockdown, the average shelter admission rose to 40, while the average of those who sought counseling rose from 58 to 92. To date, the monthly average for shelter admissions is 11, while that for counseling services is at an all-time high of 94, according to Moalusi. This rise in cases has compelled BGBVC to increase the number of safe havens across the country, Moalusi said. With support from organizations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and the Botswana government, as well as other local development stakeholders, BGBVC was able to run nine extra shelters in 2020, one of which was dedicated to admitting men. "Shelter services were highly required as individuals could not stay with their perpetrators for prolonged and continuous periods, particularly during lockdowns," she said, noting that psychosocial support was also highly required to help people cope with not only the effects of COVID-19 and its subsequent lockdowns, but also with emotional violence and threats of physical violence. "We have also increased the number of houses in Gaborone from one, since inception in 1998, to four in 2021. We are also operating two houses in Francistown now," she said. Now with offices in Gantsi, Molepolole, Francistown and Gaborone, BGBVC is able to offer temporary and emergency shelter, counseling, legal, clinical, as well as community outreach and education services to a great number of people across the nation. Though both women and men experience gender-based violence, Moalusi is of the view that the major cause of GBV in the country is that GBV is entrenched in the patriarchal system, wherein women have long been treated as children, due to the prevalent gender inequalities. Hence, the majority of victims to date are still women and children. Violence against men is not as systemic and endemic. Hence seeking counseling is not common among men as it is also not a culturally accepted act, Moalusi said. To ensure change by breaking barriers and discouraging stigma so men can step forward, Moalusi's non-governmental organisation has over the years included men in its services through couple counseling and opened services to male survivors of GBV. Apart from employing men, recently the NGO changed its name from Kagisano Society Women's shelter to Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre, all in an effort to encourage men to come forward and seek help. BGBVC is now also working on providing online services. "We will soon train our counsellors and others in collaborating NGOs through a coalition known as Coalition for NGO Funding (CoNGOF). There are 21 NGOs that are members and are coordinated by DITSHWANELO -- Botswana Human Rights Centre, Childline Botswana and BGBVC," Moalusi said. Globally, Botswana is listed as one of the countries in the world with a prevalence of GBV cases, especially among women, according to Moalusi. "It is rated as number two on rape cases globally with 92.90 rape incidents per 100,000 citizens. Figures do not take into account rape incidents that go unreported to the police. Botswana has a rape culture that for a long time went on with impunity, but the country has now responded by putting in place a law on sex offenders registry," Moalusi added. Enditem Portugals Supreme Court of Justice has ordered a man to pay his ex-wife 60,000 euros ($72,000) in compensation for the cleaning and cooking she did during their three-decade-long marriage. There was a time when housework was considered a wifes duty, but those times are long gone, as evidenced by the avalanche of court rulings in favor of housewives asking for compensation from their ex-spouses. The latest such case comes from Portugal, where the Supreme Court recently ruled that a woman was entitled to $72,000 in compensation from her ex-husband for performing domestic activities like cooking and cleaning throughout their 30-year marriage. Photo: Oberholster Venita/Pixabay The ruling, which came on January 14 and was covered by Portuguese media in February, ended a long trial in which the two ex-spouses fought in various courts around Portugal. Originally, the wife asked for at least 240,000 euros ($290,000) for all the work she did for free during their marriage, but her claim was dismissed by a court in Barcelos, which ruled that she was not entitled to any kind of financial compensation. As the work spent in the home is not legally required under the de facto union, its provision as a contribution to the common economy is configured as a spontaneous fulfillment of a natural obligation, the Judge in Barcelos wrote in their ruling. The woman filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals, which this time ruled in her favor, granting her a compensation of 60,000 euros. Her ex-spouse challenged the decision at the Supreme Court of Justice, which maintained the previous decision and ordered him to compensate his ex-wife for all her work. The court ruled that while it remains invisible, housework has clear economic value, as it translates to enrichment by saving expenses. Photo: Sarah Brown/Unsplash The demand for equality has long been inherent to the idea of justice, so it is not possible to consider that all or much of the housework in a house, of the members of the de facto union, corresponds to the fulfillment of a natural obligation, founded on a duty of justice, the ruling stated. On the contrary, such a duty calls for a division of tasks as equal as possible, without prejudice to the possibility that the members of that relationship freely agree that one of them does not contribute to the provision of domestic work, in the logic of specializing the contributions of each one. It was proven that for the 30 years that the couple were married for, the wife was the one who took care of the house and prepared the partners meals. The Supreme Court argued that this led to the enrichment of the couple member who did not participate in domestic work, since it allowed them to benefit from the result of these activities without costs or contributions. Photo: CDC/Unsplash The court determined the financial value of the domestic work performed by the woman by using the national minimum wage as a criterion, multiplying it by 12 months, for the 30 years of marriage. A third of the sum was them subtracted as the womans expenses during that period. A couple of months ago, we featured the very similar case of a woman in China who was granted compensation for the housework she performed during her five-year marriage. Vivo phones will no longer be allowed on Hong Kong Airliness subsidiary Hong Kong Air Cargo aircraft and other airlines after an incident resulted in one of the cargo pallets full of Vivo Y20 phones caught fire. Twitter Reported first by The Standard, the cargo pallets caught on fire moments before they were being loaded onto a plane (flight number RH331) yesterday, while they were waiting on the tarmac to be loaded. Vivo Mobile Pallet Catches Fire While Loading in Cargo Plane at HKG pic.twitter.com/sW7NXIoPd5 Solo Shokeen (@SoloShokeen) April 11, 2021 The fire commenced at around 5:08 AM. The flames that erupted in one pallet soon spread to others near it, causing contents contained in it to drop out. A rescue team arrived at the location in no time and after a 40-minute effort, they managed to put out the fire at 5:56 AM. The flight was originally scheduled to take off at 6:25 AM. Also Read: Fast Charger Gets Phone's 4000mAh Battery From 0 To 100% In 17 Mins, But Still Not Fastest Ever Photos shared online showed the iconic Vivo blue and white logo boxes, with several smartphones lying on the tarmac, burnt to a crisp. This is what the pallet was supposedly carrying, VIVO smartphones. Most probably a lithium battery issue similar to that Samsung Note problem from sometime ago. Lithium batteries are a "Dangerous good" capable of igniting spontaneously under heat or physical damage. pic.twitter.com/ktxtwjde3w Andre Quiros (@flyingheavy747) April 11, 2021 Airport authorities have announced that luckily there were no casualties due to this incident. However, a site measuring 24 metres in length and 12 metres in width on the airports tarmac was severely affected due to the fire. Soon after, reports surfaced stating that Hong Kong Airlines would face an embargo on Vivo phones (reported first by Air Cargo World), along with two more freight companies -- Cargo Link Logistics HK Co Ltd and Sky Pacific Logistics HK Co Ltd -- until further notice. Vivo, in a statement to Android Authority, has stated that theyre currently investigating the matter, We noticed that a shipment of goods, some of which were Vivo products, got burned on the parking apron of Hong Kong International Airport on April 11. We have paid high attention and immediately set up a special team to work closely with the local authorities to determine its cause. Reuters This incident is very similar to what happened with Samsung Galaxy Note 7 which was, and still is, banned to be taken on a flight, across the world, after several devices were known to catch fire spontaneously, due to a design defect in the device. Also Read: Note 7 Exploded, Was Banned On Flights So Samsung Gave Away 200 Galaxy Note 8s To Passengers This eventually resulted in a massive rollback of the device. Itll be interesting to see if more airlines around the world will follow a similar move with Vivo phones. With the rise in Covid cases, as well as night curfew in several cities, e-commerce companies such as Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal are witnessing at least twice the demand for products, especially essentials and groceries. Places such as Maharashtra and Delhi, which reported most cases, have taken the lead in terms of demand from customers ordering essentials and groceries online. The number of orders for the e-commerce companies has increased by almost 2X compared to business as usual, said an industry executive, who did not wish to be named. According to Seshu ... Recently the PA legislature introduced three abortion bills: one banning the health care procedure at six weeks, one requiring a death certificate for abortions, and the third which criminalizes abortion for a diagnosis of Down syndrome. This is a waste of taxpayers time and money, and frankly, we dont have time. Our nation is in the grips of a public health crisis and pandemic. Politicians should be focused on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and providing support to their communities. Instead, theyre exerting efforts on limiting health care. I am a practicing OBGYN and serve as the Board Chair at Planned Parenthood Keystone. I spend every day helping my patients navigate the complex choices involved in reproductive and sexual health. My patients are the experts in their own lives and need to be able safely plan and choose when to have children. No politician should be able to make major life decisions for them. These bans are so dangerous that major medical groups like the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose them. Bans on abortion are deeply unpopular with people across the political spectrum. There is growing support for abortion access. In fact, nearly 8 in 10 Americans say they do not want to see Roe overturned. The three proposed bills have nothing to do with supporting communities during a pandemic, but going against what a majority of people support. Melanie Stone, Board Chair, Planned Parenthood Keystone, Lancaster, Pa. Not a single pandemic can hinder cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting in Baku with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, BelTA reported. According to him, the countries have diversified their relations in politics and economics, and they are not burdened by anything. We do not interfere with anyone, and no one tries not to interfere with us. Because if you want to do something, it is difficult to prevent it, he said. Last year, the trade turnover between Belarus and Azerbaijan approached half a billion dollars. Lukashenko thinks this is a good result in terms of dynamics. As for our political relations, it is difficult to say what we are missing. We have a brilliant relationship. And I am always proud of that. We have restored the warmest relations since the Soviet Union in all areas, he noted. Lukashenko also offered support from Belarus "in the restoration of the territories affected by the recent conflict [in Nagorno-Karabakh - ed.]." We talked about this for a very long time yesterday. I am very glad that you, as a true friend of the Belarusian people, understand that there is so much more work ahead. Hard work, peaceful work. And you should know that your reliable friends are in Belarus. You know our capabilities. Today we will discuss it again with ministers and specialists. If we come to an agreement (we have always had this), we will always implement our agreements. Santa Clara County announced a vaccine windfall Tuesday, more than a quarter million doses directly from the federal government that allowed the county to open coronavirus vaccinations to people as young as 16, two days ahead of much of the state. Were very excited. Finally were going to see a tremendous increase in vaccine and the availability of appointments, Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the countys vaccine officer, told a news conference. He said that demand has long outstripped vaccine availability and that that is changing. I think Santa Clara County hasnt really gotten the fair amount (of doses) that we have should have had, he said. So I think this is appropriate that were getting this vaccine. The federal allotment is based on the countys large number of federally qualified health centers, which receive priority from the federal government. The county has already received nearly 300,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine this week through the program. Another 40,000 doses of Moderna are expected to follow, said Otto Lee, a county supervisor, at the news conference. In all, thats nearly five times what the county had been receiving, he said. Weve been waiting for this day for a long, long time, Lee said, adding that the move to vaccinate everyone at least 16 years old who lives or works in the county was a game changer. Santa Clara County and San Francisco each lowered vaccination eligibility Tuesday to include everyone 16 and older. They joined more than half the states counties that have done so, including Alameda and Contra Costa, ahead of the statewide expansion Thursday. Santa Clara County officials said tens of thousands of additional vaccination appointments are opening up this week and next. The officials urged people to make appointments through the countys website, at SCCFreeVax.org. People without a computer can call 211 within the county to schedule their shots. Santa Clara County was able to expand its federal vaccination pipeline with the help of four representatives to Congress House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Democratic Reps. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto and Ro Khanna of Fremont county Supervisor Cindy Chavez told The Chronicle after she had thanked them during the press conference. The federal government gives vaccine priority to federally qualified health centers, but counties must apply to join that pipeline. Chavez said in an interview that the politicians help was needed because Santa Clara County has 12 such clinics, second only to Los Angeles in the state, and that asking for tens of thousands of doses might have raised questions about whether the county could handle such an influx. Chavez said the county has been preparing its vaccine infrastructure since the fall, and can vaccinate 30,000 people a day but has had only a drizzle of doses. Now, with the additional doses, the county will be able to vaccinate people more quickly in low-income communities in East San Jose and Gilroy, she said. News of the increase came on a day when most counties, including Santa Clara, announced that they were pausing adminstration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of safety questions raised after six recipients in the U.S. developed blood clots after their shots. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov US President on Wednesday said it is time to end America's longest war in Afghanistan, a responsibility which he does not want to pass on to his successor. Biden is the fourth US president to preside over the war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, soon after Al Qaeda terrorists based in attacked the twin-towers in New York. In his speech to the nation, Biden, observing that the US went to because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago, said that he "cannot explain" why the US should remain there in 2021. "Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come," Biden said. A day earlier, the White House said that Biden has decided to withdraw all American troops out of war-torn by September 11 this year, the 20th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York. "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result, Biden said. "I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth. "After consulting closely with our Allies and partners, with our military leaders and intelligence professionals, with our diplomats and development experts, and with Congress and the Vice President, I have concluded that: It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home," the President said. He said that America will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit." While the US will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, its diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue America will continue to support the Government of Afghanistan, he said. "We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. Along with our partners, we are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel. And they continue to fight valiantly on behalf of their country and defend the Afghan people, at great cost. "We will support peace talks between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, facilitated by the United Nations, Biden said. The US and the signed a landmark deal in Doha on February 29, 2020 to bring lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan and allow US troops to return home from America's longest war. Under the US- pact signed in Doha, the US agreed to withdraw all its soldiers from Afghanistan in 14 months. Since the US-led invasion that ousted the after the September 11, 2001 attacks, America has spent more than USD 1 trillion in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban insurgents and Afghan civilians. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haiti president vows 'more effort' on kidnappings Map of Haiti marking the capital Port-au-Prince Haiti's President Jovenal Moise vowed Monday to do more to combat the country's "scourge" of kidnappings following the abductions of 10 people, including clergy members and French citizens, that prompted angry accusations of government inaction. Kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months in Port-au-Prince and other provinces, reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the Caribbean nation. Anger in the poorest country in the Americas has been piqued by the abductions on Sunday of 10 people in Croix-des-Bouquets, a town northeast of the capital Port-au-Prince. They include seven Catholic clergy -- five of them Haitian, as well as two French citizens, a priest and a nun. Moise vowed he would "not give up" and "do everything the law allows" to secure the kidnapped group's release -- and to tackle Haiti's kidnapping problem more broadly. "I am aware that the state must make more of an effort in the battle against this disaster that is kidnapping and organized crime in the country," he said at a ceremony launching customs facilities in Port-au-Prince. Moise spoke out after stinging criticism from the Catholic Church, which said Haiti had for some time been witnessing a "descent into hell." "The public authorities who are doing nothing to resolve this crisis are not immune from suspicion," the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince said in a statement. Paris opened an investigation Monday for "kidnapping and sequestration in an organized gang." The case has been entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (OCLCO), the Paris prosecutor's office said, which has jurisdiction over crimes committed against French citizens abroad. "The crisis and support center of the ministry as well as our embassy in Haiti are fully mobilized, in close contact with the local authorities," the French foreign ministry said. Story continues The kidnap victims were "on their way to the installation of a new parish priest" when they were abducted Sunday, Father Loudger Mazile, the spokesman of the Bishop's Conference for the island nation, told AFP. The kidnappers have demanded a $1 million ransom for the group, he added. Authorities suspect an armed gang called "400 Mawozo" -- which is active in kidnappings -- is behind the abduction, according to a police source. The five priests belong to the Society of Priests of St James, which is based in France, their superior general, Paul Dossous confirmed to AFP on Monday. "We are trying to pray while also being active. We are negotiating. The contact is made, that is important," he said. The French embassy in Haiti did not respond to AFP's request for comment. - Gangs on the rise - The Haitian Conference of Religious (CHR) also slammed the lack of agency by government authorities in a statement. The CHR "expresses its deep sorrow, but also its anger at the subhuman situation through which we have been wading for more than a decade," the group said. "Not a day goes by without weeping and gnashing of teeth, yet the so-called leaders of this country, while clinging to power, are increasingly powerless." "This is too much. The time has come for these inhuman acts to stop," said Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas of Miragoane in southwestern Haiti. "The Church prays and stands in solidarity with all the victims of this heinous act," he added. The French Bishops' Conference and other French clergy also expressed "their deep concern" and urged "the kidnappers to free the men and women of peace they have kidnapped and not to add more hatred where there is already poverty and insecurity." In March, the Haitian government declared a month-long state of emergency to restore state authority in gang-controlled areas, including in the capital. The rise in gang violence and political instability have recently drawn protesters onto the streets of Port-au-Prince. A week ago, hundreds of women protesters rallied in the city against the growing power of gangs, which has led to a spike in kidnappings for ransom. The United States warned of the risk of kidnappings as it reissued advice to citizens to avoid all travel to Haiti on Monday. "Kidnapping is widespread and victims regularly include US citizens," a State Department advisory said. The unrest comes as the government remains mired in a political stand-off. Moise maintains that his term of office runs until February 7, 2022, but others claim it ended on February 7, 2021. The disagreement stems from the fact that Moise was elected in a vote that was cancelled for fraud, and then re-elected a year later. Without a parliament, the country fell further into crisis in 2020, and Moise is governing by decree, fuelling growing mistrust of him. Amid the instability, Moise has said he plans to hold a constitutional referendum in June. bur-st-to-ft/jh U.S. soldiers will soon be coming home from Afghanistan. President Biden announced his plans to start withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan starting May 1. All U.S. soldiers will be out by Sept. 11, 2021. By the time we have all our troops out of Afghanistan, it will be 240 months since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that started this war. Deandre Hubbard served in Afghanistan for 12 of those months. The atmosphere of not knowing what could happen, thats whats traumatizing to me," said Hubbard. "You just never know what is going to happen during that time, or any given time really. Hubbard served in Afghanistan back in 2016. He said by the time he got there, things had calmed down where he was stationed. It wasnt real hazardous. It was just, doing your term on the front," he said. "It was more so relaxing I guess, it wasnt as combat active as a lot of people portray it to be. However, Hubbard knows his experience isn't the same as every soldier who's served in Afghanistan in the past 20 years. In fact, almost 2,500 soldiers have died there. That's why he hopes every remaining soldier gets back safely. Theres obviously areas that are terrible and people are actually dying day in and day out," said Hubbard. "I just wish them the best. This is America's longest war. Hubbard said getting to come back home after protecting your country is one of the best feelings. Its always a blessing to go somewhere and return safely, but its scary, but at the same time, just coming back home is such a great, overwhelming feeling of relief that you do not have to do that again, but being in the military, you never know. What we do know is that come Sept. 11, 2021, our soldiers won't be going back to Afghanistan for this war. President Biden said America's efforts to support peace will not end once our troops are out of Afghanistan. China to see strong growth in foreign trade in rest of 2021: UK think tank Xinhua) 10:04, April 14, 2021 Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows the container terminal of the Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua) "We expect export momentum to remain robust in the second quarter (Q2)," said the report, adding that a strong global economic recovery would underpin China's exports through 2021, despite the likely retreat of pandemic-related demand later this year. LONDON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China's exports and imports are both expected to see strong growth in the rest of 2021 amid positive global and domestic economic recovery, British think tank Oxford Economics said in a report released Tuesday. "We expect export momentum to remain robust in the second quarter (Q2)," said the report, adding that a strong global economic recovery would underpin China's exports through 2021, despite the likely retreat of pandemic-related demand later this year. Given global shipping delays could overshadow the near-term export outlook, China's role in global supply chains "doesn't seem to have diminished," said the think tank. "On the contrary: China's exports have gained global market share since the onset of the pandemic, and the improvement has been broad based across goods categories in recent months," said the think tank. Workers process chestnut kernels for export at a workshop of a foreign trade company in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua) Apart from the exports, the British think tank also said that "looking ahead, goods imports should continue to grow in the rest of the year due to the ongoing domestic recovery." "We expect economic growth momentum to gain pace again after the temporary weakness in Q1 (the first quarter)," said the think tank, noting the fact that domestic travel and logistics "returned to 'normal' in March, and we look for consumption momentum to see a more visible improvement in the second half of the year 2021." The report came as China's official data showed earlier in the day that the country's total imports and exports of goods surged 29.2 percent year on year to 8.47 trillion yuan (about 1.29 trillion U.S. dollars) in Q1 of 2021. In the quarter, exports jumped 38.7 percent from a year earlier and imports climbed 19.3 percent in yuan terms, according to figures released by the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GAC). Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained China's largest trading partner during the period, followed by the European Union and the United States, the GAC data showed. Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows China-produced sedans at Tesla's gigafactory in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) In the first quarter, China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road rose 21.4 percent year on year to reach 2.5 trillion yuan (about 0.38 trillion dollars). The country's imports and exports to Vietnam, Indonesia and Poland achieved relatively rapid growth. "So there's lots of opportunities for foreign companies to succeed in China and succeed right throughout the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative)," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua in a recent interview. The 48 Group Club is a British trade organization that provides policy interpretation, information consultancy, legal assistance and other services for both British and Chinese companies. "I think China is quite clear that its economy will have sizable foreign participation in order to protect the interests of the Chinese people and to help grow the economies of other countries," said Perry. "In the long term, the best opportunities, as I said, are in China and in BRI," said Perry. Aerial photo shows a China-Europe cargo train loaded with containers of electronic products and accessories of household appliances leaving for Russia's Vorsino in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Bo) (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) [April 14, 2021] Cle de Peau Beaute Kicks Off Second Annual Initiative in Support of UNICEF to Improve Access to STEM Education for Girls TOKYO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cle de Peau Beaute, the global luxury skincare and makeup brand, announces the second year of their multi-year partnership with UNICEF. The partnership aims to improve girls' access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, learning and relevant skills for the future -- unlocking the power of their potential through knowledge. The brand will donate a portion of The Serum's global sales to support UNICEF's program that contributes to the education and empowerment of girls in Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, and Niger amongst other regions. The initiative will run in-store in May and June, and from May through to 31 December online. There are roughly 600 million adolescent girls in our world, many of them - especially those living in developing countries - are disproportionately excluded from critical education and skills-building opportunities, especially in the STEM field. This becomes particularly significant when over 90 per cent of jobs worldwide have a digital component and without increased digital adoption and use, adolescent girls will have fewer employment opportunities and face additional barriers to be competitive in 21st century jobs.[1] The global pandemic has disrupted the lives and education of millions of girls around the world and has highlighted the urgency for digital inclusion through our increased reliance on technology. As the world reimagines learning systems to adapt to our new reality, Cle de Peau Beaute's partnership with UNICEF is developing a blueprint for building girls' and young women's skills both in crisis and for the future. Funds raised for UNICEF from last year's sales of The Serum pushed forward initiatives around the world that are enabling girls to overcome barriers to education and access their inner potential: Bangladesh: Transforming Education for Girls Cle de Peau Beaute is supporting UNICEF's programs in Bangladesh to promote gender equity in the education system, alleviating gender-related barriers to education and reducing gender-based violence. to promote gender equity in the education system, alleviating gender-related barriers to education and reducing gender-based violence. In partnership with the Government of Bangladesh , UNICEF is working to build a national curriculum framework, integrating a strong gender equality lens and promoting transferrable skills development. , UNICEF is working to build a national curriculum framework, integrating a strong gender equality lens and promoting transferrable skills development. UNICEF has implemented an Alternative Learning Program in Bangladesh for 100 vulnerable adolescent girls, linking them to skills development and employment opportunities. 95 percent of girls in the program have already been connected to a relevant job. Kyrgyzstan: Building 21st Century Skills for Girls Cle de Peau Beaute is supporting UNICEF's STEM4Girls programs in Kyrgyzstan to empower girls to pursue a professional education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and beyond. to empower girls to pursue a professional education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and beyond. 110 girls have been trained to be role models and peer educators for younger girls in their communities. The peer trainers are now hosting their sessions online and sharing their knowledge and skills with children throughout their communities - reaching even more girls and empowering them to take charge and bring about change. Niger: Promoting Girls' Empowerment Cle de Peau Beaute is supporting UNICEF's programs in Niger to promote new opportunities for adolescent girls by helping them to develop relevant competencies and skills. to promote new opportunities for adolescent girls by helping them to develop relevant competencies and skills. The partnership supported 120 adolescent girls to receive skills-based training and literacy classes and started engaging 200 girls in a peer mentoring program. "Every girl deserves to grow up in a world of opportunity and to live a fulfilled life. But millions of girls around the world are denied that opportunity without access to school or to resources denied the chance to participate equally in society. The pandemic has highlighted the urgency for inclusion and the need for girls to be central to change their lives and contribute to their communities. With support from our partnership with Cle de Peau Beaute, UNICEF is investing in skills-building initiatives in STEM, digital technologies and social entrepreneurship. UNICEF supports efforts that make sure girls lead empowered lives, equipped with the right resources and opportunities. The world's 600 million adolescent girls can become the largest generation of female leaders the world has ever seen," said Ms. Carla Haddad Mardini, Director, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, UNICEF. "At Cle de Peau Beaute, we believe the key to a better world lies in unlocking the power of girls through STEM education, a task that no individual or brand can achieve alone. With a purchase of The Serum, anyone can support the work made possible through our partnership with UNICEF and claim their role in effecting positive change during a time of global crisis. We are honored to know that through UNICEF, these contributions are channeled to make the most necessary and meaningful impact. Now in the second year of this initiative, we warmly invite everyone to play a tangible role in enabling access to education, empowerment and employability for girls globally," said Ms. Yukari Suzuki, Chief Brand Officer of Cle de Peau Beaute. Cle de Peau Beaute aims to empower girls through education the first step to unlocking girls' potential and innate intelligence. Through this initiative, for every purchase of The Serum, a donation will be made to UNICEF to support the education and empowerment of girls around the world. Cle de Peau Beaute invites women to join them in contributing to girls' education through participating in this campaign, during a time that girls across the globe need even more support. Together, they can realize a more radiant, positive future. Notes to Editors UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service. A bout Cle de Peau Beaute Cle de Peau Beaute, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Cosmetics, was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Cle de Peau Beaute means the key to skin's beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of a woman's radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, Cle de Peau Beaute has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 20 countries and regions worldwide. Cle de Peau Beaute Official Website: www.cledepeau-beaute.com Cle de Peau Beaute Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/ #KeyToABetterWorld [1] Plan, 2020. USAID, 2020 SOURCE Cle de Peau Beaute [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A mail carrier was working in Oakwood when he suffered a beatdown in broad daylight, police say, and the NYPD is asking the publics help identifying three individuals sought for questioning in connection with the incident. The 47-year-old employee of the U.S. Postal Service was punched numerous times in the face and body around 2:20 p.m. on April 7 on Guyon Avenue near North Railroad Avenue, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information and a post on the 122nd Precinct Twitter feed. The victim suffered minor lacerations to his right hand along the knuckles and pain to his head, left thumb and right hamstring, according to police. The suspects fled in an older model Jaguar, police said. The NYPD posted surveillance photos of three individuals sought for questioning in connection with the incident on the 122nd Precinct Twitter feed. WANTEDOn Weds, 4/7 appx 2:20p on the 90 block of Guyon Ave, the pictured individuals, while acting in concert did strike the victim (an on duty USPS Mail Carrier) multiple times causing injuries. Please call @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS w ANY info! pic.twitter.com/FoeqKmX6eI NYPD 122nd Precinct (@NYPD122Pct) April 14, 2021 The first individual is described as a male, approximately 22-26 years of age, standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds and was seen wearing a black tank top and red pants, police said. Police described the second individual as a male, approximately 22-26 years of age, standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 115 pounds and was seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored jeans. The third individual is described as a female, approximately 22-26 years of age, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, 180 pounds and was seen wearing a red shirt and light colored pants, police said in the statement. Police also posted a photo of a vehicle whose occupants are sought. Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. RELATED COVERAGE: Crime news on Staten Island LAPEER COUNTY, MI -- A 23-year-old Metamora man was killed in a broadside crash Tuesday afternoon in Lapeer Township, police said. Lapeer Township Police Department officers and Lapeer County Sheriffs Department deputies were dispatched shortly after noon Tuesday, April 13, to the intersection of Peppermill and Wilder Road. Stephen Collins-Krug, 23, of Metamora, was the driver and lone occupant of a 2017 Chevy Malibu, according to a Lapeer County Sheriffs Office news release. He was headed west on Peppermill Road and came to a complete stop at the Wilder Road intersection stop sign, police said. When Collins-Krug drove past the stop sign, his vehicle entered the path of a 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck headed north on Wilder Road, police said. The truck hit Collins-Krugs vehicle broadside and both vehicles left the northwest corner of the intersection. Collins-Krug was extricated from the vehicle by Lapeer City Fire and Rescue, police said. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The pickup truck was driven by a 51-year-old Lapeer man, with a 52-year-old Lapeer man as the lone passenger in the vehicle. Neither man was injured in the crash, police said. The intersection was closed for approximately two hours for rescue and police investigation. A preliminary investigation supports that excessive speed or alcohol were not contributing factors to the crash, police said. The crash remains under investigation by the Lapeer Township Police Department and Lapeer County Sheriffs Office. Lapeer City Fire and Rescue, Medstar EMS, Lapeer County EMS, Michigan State Police Lapeer Post, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Lapeer County Sheriffs Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit assisted deputies at the scene. Read more on MLive: Former Grand Blanc teacher accused of having sexual relationship with student in 2014 Man who exchanged gunfire with Flint police charged with 18 felonies Two suspects being investigated after alleged postal worker assault in Flint Man accused of taking upskirt video of 14-year-old girl on Easter Sunday Teen who took plea in 2018 case involving 2 bodies found in Flint River granted new attorney Gunman shot after firing assault rifle at Flint officers, police say Saginaw teen killed in Flint I-75 crash loved family, music Man dies after truck hits tree in Flint, police say Arrest made after postal worker assaulted in Flint, police say I have to tell my grandchildren about their father in the past tense: Mother calls for end to gun violence in Flint Version en espanol Anxious to get one of Floridas biggest industries afloat, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have introduced legislation to bypass sailing restrictions set in place by the federal government following the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Tuesday press release, the two Florida senators and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, of Alaska, introduced the Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements (CRUISE) Act which would work around current conditional sail orders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that restrict the industry from operating. The legislation is a part of a big push out of Florida to reopen the cruise industry, which was one of the first industries largely impacted by the then-emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Both Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody support a lawsuit against the CDC over restrictions on the cruising industry, arguing that the damages of shutting down have been so severe that the industry is on the brink of financial ruin, according to court documents. The cruise industry Florida is huge, with ports scattered throughout Floridas coastline, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa. And cruise ships are well-known in the industry, with names such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian which pack ships with hundreds of employees ranging from cooks to dancers. The Alaska cruises are also a big draw, which is why U.S. Sen. Sullivan got involved in. American travelers are already booking voyages, in hopes that the cruise ships will sail in the next few months. And should the legislation in Congress pass, it would compel the CDC to lift its conditional sail order by no later than July 4, though its not clear if the COVID pandemic will be waning at that time. As it stands now, Florida has been facing more contagious COVID mutations than any other state, and not all people have been vaccinated. Advocates for the cruising industry, such as Rubio and Scott, argue that the CDC has unfairly prohibited cruise lines from reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while other industries, such as airlines, are largely operational. In a press release on the legislation, Scott said that: While many sectors of the economy have been safely operating for months under CDC guidelines, Floridians, and those across the nation that rely on the cruise industry for work, continue to wait for updated guidance from the CDC. The proposed legislation would require the CDC and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to issue recommendations for how the cruises could reopen while safely mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on the ships. The three senators also want a working group of industry stakeholders and the U.S. secretaries of transportation, commerce, and homeland security to help build these recommendations. Gov. DeSantis has been pushing for the reopening of the cruise industry, as it contributes significantly to the overall Florida economy. With much of the industry closed for about a year, thousands of employees no longer had jobs and the industry lost millions of dollars. This report first appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee. Hank Azaria who has voiced over one hundred characters in The Simpson has apologised for his portrayal of Indian immigrant Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The Simpsons have been criticized in recent years for its racist portrayal of characters from its white actors. One of the most popular character critiques has been Apus character and his stereotypical depiction of people of Indian and South Asian descent. Comedian Hari Kondabolus film The Problem with Apu released in 2017, was a film that explored the real-life impacts that Apus character had on Indian society in America. Growing up Kondabolu was happy to see some representation of his culture, however, when he grew up he realised, "...[Apu] he's funny, but that doesnt mean this representation is accurate or right or righteous. It gets to the insidiousness of racism, though, because you dont even notice it when its right in front of you." Voice actor of Apu, Hank Azaria appeared on Dax Shepherds Armchair Expert podcast and said that the criticism was always going to come as he had been voicing the character for over thirty-one years, I really didnt know any better. I didnt think about it. I was unaware how much relative advantage I had received in this country as a white kid from Queens. Just because there were good intentions it doesnt mean there werent real negative consequences to the thing that I am accountable for. I really do apologise. I know you werent asking for that but its important. I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels I need to go round to every single Indian person in this country and apologise. If its a character of colour, theres not the same level of opportunity there. The first argument is, if its an Indian character, Latin character or Black character, please lets have that person voice the character. Its more authentic, they might also bring their experience of their culture to it and lets not take away jobs from people who dont have enough. The Oxford philosopher Gilbert Ryle had a theory about dispositions. In his view, when we say that a person knows Latin, that a glass pane is brittle or that sugar is soluble, were not talking about some deep attribute thats normally hidden from us. Rather, these dispositional concepts are basically predictions about what would happen in certain situations. Thats consistent with the way you explain your bisexuality by saying that if, contrary to fact, you were single and dating, youd see both men and women. Surveys meant for tracking diversity, though, arent interested in dispositions, as such; theyre interested in social identities. These things are connected, of course. Catholic priests, who have taken a vow of chastity, can identify as gay while abjuring sexual activity or romantic relationships. That is, they could, while leading lives of abstinence, put it out that theyre gay and be recognized by others as such. (I dont mean just by their nearest and dearest.) They could inhabit that identity. Yet it can sometimes be hard to turn a disposition into an identity. Father Bryan Massingale, as a scholar and activist, writes and talks publicly about his sexual, racial and religious identities; but unless your professional practice has an L.G.B.T.Q.+ focus, the issue may simply not arise in your work life. And checking a box on a client or state-bar survey doesnt necessarily affect how youre seen in the workplace. If the surveys aim to collect information about people with particular social identities in your profession, the pertinent question is whether your colleagues would identify you as such, not just how you would self-identify. The way you regard yourself in pectore (to use the Catholic phrase) doesnt settle the matter. If your objective is to destigmatize bisexuality among your co-workers, its not the subjective but the social dimension of identity that counts. Ryle, by the way, seems himself to have lived a celibate life. Im told that his colleague A.J. Ayer once asked him which sex he would incline toward were he ever to have an intimate relationship. (Ayer, a notorious philanderer, was also keen on gay rights.) Ryle apparently spent a long moment in grave reflection on his dispositions and then replied, simply, I dont know. It wouldnt have occurred to Ayer that he might have had no sexual inclinations at all. We have two adult children and have always considered that being fair means we give to them equally. As they enter middle age, though, their circumstances are quite different. One has a spouse with equal earning power who is almost certain to inherit from her family. The second child is single, with our family her only resource. Is it fair to give one one-third and the other two-thirds? We would share our decision with them. Emily, Pittsburgh You can treat two children as equals and still take account of their different needs. A parental bequest allows some people simply to do things they otherwise wouldnt; for others, its a real help in meeting ordinary needs. The closer your second child is to the second situation, the stronger the case for a larger share. Its good to talk about these things with your beneficiaries as youre deciding them, though. Children may have unnecessarily disappointed expectations and even conflicts after youre gone if you dont make your plans clear while you can explain them. Kwame Anthony Appiah teaches philosophy at N.Y.U. His books include Cosmopolitanism, The Honor Code and The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity. To submit a query: Send an email to ethicist@nytimes.com; or send mail to The Ethicist, The New York Times Magazine, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018. (Include a daytime phone number.) These stones were conveyed over 600 miles in the 'belly of a dinosaur.' A new study discovered that during the Mesozoic Era, dinosaurs with long necks migrated hundreds of miles across what is now called the American Midwest. How do scientists know that these huge beasts migrated? The Pink Stones The dinosaurs swallowed pink stones in what is now Wisconsin, walked westward over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), and then passed away in the region that's now called Wyoming, abandoning the stones in a new location. Josh Malone, a lead researcher on the study, also a graduate student in the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, told Live Science: "We believe that these stones were conveyed from southern Wisconsin to north-central Wyoming in the dinosaur's belly." This current finding is "one of, if not the longest concluded instances of [nonavian] dinosaur migration" documented, Michael D'Emic, an associate professor in the Department of Biology at Adelphi University in New York and a co-researcher of the study added. Also Read: Scientists Finally Unlock Dinosaur DNA Dinosaur Migration The study is the first of its kind to make use of the so-called stomach stones - rocks recognized as "gastroliths" that are gulped to help crush food in the stomach - as a substitute for the migration of dinosaurs, Malone said. But Malone didn't set out to mystify over dinosaur migration initially, a little topic studied in paleontology. Instead, he was paying visits to his father, David Malone, a geologist at Illinois State University, who was performing a mapping project in Wyoming in 2017."I was not yet into geology- I was just paying my dad some visit just for fun," Malone said. "We were strolling around in the Bighorn Basin, and we continued seeing these stones that were polished in the [late Jurassic] Morrison Formation. I inquired, 'Dad, what are these?' And he replied, 'Oh, they are gastroliths.'" But when Malone asked his dad where the gastroliths were from, his dad wasn't certain. Josh Malone said that it was the start of it all, and that day they spent in the field was the reason he studied geology. The Zircon Crystals The project became his senior thesis at Augustana College in Illinois, and it was released online on Feb. 27 in the journal Terra Nova. From that trip in the field with his father - who is a co-researcher on the study, Malone carried hundreds of the pink quartzite gastroliths back to Augustana College and squashed them to get the zircon crystals out. Malone said they do that because these zircons give a pretty good fingerprint to where they originate from. Geologists already understand that pink quartzite, like the specimen Malone discovered in Wyoming, happens only in a handful of regions throughout North America, including New Mexico, Idaho, Wisconsin, and Montana. By finding out the ages of the zircons within the quartzite specimen, Malone and his coworkers successfully match the stones with the already-dated pink quartzite across the continent. Related Article: New Discovery: The Largest Dinosaur, 'The Spinosaurus' Was Not Well-Adapted To Aquatic Life For more news, updates about dinosaurs and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 06:21:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Following a joint statement of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, San Francisco has paused the use of the J&J vaccine out of an abundance of caution until more is learned about the potential side effects, according to an announcement from the city's mayor London Breed on Tuesday. The CDC and FDA said on Tuesday that they are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the country. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the city. The city's Department of Public Health will continue to monitor the situation and will look forward to hearing the outcome from the CDC's meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to be held on Wednesday to better understand the significance of these cases, the announcement said. To date, San Francisco has administered more than 33,000 doses of the J&J vaccine to residents with no known cases of blood clotting, according to the announcement. The city's supply of J&J vaccine would decrease by upwards of 90 percent due to federal manufacturing issues. As the city only received 500 doses this week, this pause will not have a significant impact on this week's vaccination efforts, it added. Enditem Advertisement Police guarded the property of Officer Kimberly Potter as Daunte Wright protests turned violent Tuesday night, with demonstrators clashing with police in Minneapolis while Portland's police union building was set on fire. Potter's five-bedroom house was surrounded with protective fencing after protesters leaked her address online as outrage mounts against the veteran cop who allegedly mistook a taser for a gun when she fatally shot Wright, 20, a black man. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing in the city. At least 60 people were arrested at protests in Portland, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago overnight on Tuesday. Curfews had been in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove from 10pm local time, but had done little to stem the demonstrators. In Portland, at least 100 people descended on the Portland police union headquarters in North Portland where they set the building ablaze, shot fireworks and locked traffic - prompting police to declare a riot for the second night running. Footage shows the Portland Police Association engulfed in flames before fire crews arrived to try and extinguish the blaze. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, about 90 minutes before the 10pm local time curfew deadline, police declared protests outside the Brooklyn Center police station to be an unlawful assembly; pepper spray and flash bombs were used by officers in an attempt to disperse the crowd while demonstrators used umbrellas as shields. Demonstrators began gathering again Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch. More than 1,000 protestors had arrived by early evening. Cops declares Minneapolis protests unlawful Tuesday as they clashed with demonstrators outside of a police station A police officer releases a chemical irritant at a protester on the other side of the fence of the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. Protesters clashed with Minneapolis police for a third night in a row Tuesday over the alleged accidental police shooting death of a black man by a veteran female cop Protesters shield themselves with umbrellas amid smoke from chemical irritants outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. Veteran cop Kimberly Potter - who resigned from the force Tuesday - is said to have confused her gun for a taser when she shot at Daunte Wright, 20, on Sunday A police officer holds a tear gas launcher while standing guard at the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. Potter's home was barricaded up Tuesday, with officers posted inside, as a group of protesters gathered at the fences Police and protesters clash Tuesday following a third night of demonstrations in the wake of Wright's death Activists raise their arms as they confront State troopers, National Guard members and other law enforcement officers following a march for Daunte Wright Tuesday. Curfews had been in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove from 10pm local time before gatherings were declared unlawful The PPA building is on fire. Portland Police just declared a riot. pic.twitter.com/P6Pko7A2r5 Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) April 14, 2021 A march for Daunte Wright, who was shot and killed by former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter, in Brooklyn Center Firefighters arrive on the scene after protesters set fire to Portland police union building Potter - who resigned from the force Tuesday - is said to have confused her gun with a taser when she shot at Daunte Wright, 20, in Brooklyn Center on Sunday. A police source told DailyMail.com they had taken precautions to protect the home. Potter, who has two adult sons, lives at the property with her husband, a former Fridley police officer. They are all understood to have left the home late Tuesday night after the address was posted to social media. About 90 minutes before the 10pm local time curfew deadline, police declared protests outside the Brooklyn Center police station to be an unlawful assembly; pepper spray and flash bombs were used by officers in an attempt to disperse the crowd while demonstrators used umbrellas as shields Law enforcement officers stand guard following a march for Daunte Wright Tuesday. Demonstrators began gathering again Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing in the city Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station Tuesday. More than a 1,000 protestors had arrived by early evening. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing Cops declared protests in Minneapolis unlawful Tuesday as they clashed with demonstrators outside of police station Police and protesters faced off once again after nightfall Tuesday. 'Whose street? Our street!' the crowd chanted. The unrest had continued after the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Wright's death as a homicide and said the cause was a gunshot wound to the chest Demonstrators use umbrellas to shield themselves against tear gas and pepper balls in Brooklyn Center Tuesday Law enforcement officers stand guard while stopping the fire that hit a vehicle near the Brooklyn Center police station More than 200 demonstrators had arrived by early evening. Activists who attended the mayor's news conference called for sweeping changes to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and sharply criticized the acting police chief, Tony Gruenig, for not yet having a plan Demonstrators protect themselves with umbrellas and a blower against tear gas and pepper balls Tuesday A group of demonstrators marched to the Brooklyn Center FBI building from the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday A tear gas canister explodes as people confront law enforcement outside an apartment complex across the street from the Brooklyn Center police headquarters on Tuesday Law enforcement attempt to apprehend someone near Brooklyn Center Police Station. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Duante Wright during a traffic stop Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Duante Wright during a traffic stop. Law enforcement charge protestors outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station as they attempt to enforce the curfew. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Duante Wright during a traffic stop. Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Duante Wright during a traffic stop Outside the Brooklyn Center's heavily guarded police headquarters in Minneapolis, Tuesday, 'Murderapolis' was scrawled with black spray paint on a concrete barrier. 'Daunte Wright! Say his name!' the crowd chanted. 'No justice, no peace! Prosecute the police!' There were no reports of looting Tuesday. A group of protesters marched to the Brooklyn Center FBI building from the Brooklyn Center Police Department as the evening went on. Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer said at a midnight press conference: 'As the evening unfolded, the event devolved.' Officials said bricks and cans were thrown at cops. As the mayor spoke earlier on Tuesday, Wright's relatives and supporters assembled near the Minneapolis courthouse where Chauvin is standing trial, and recounted for reporters the anguish of his death at the age of 20. Wright, who struggled with a learning disability and dropped out of high school, was remembered as a good-natured, loving man who worked multiple jobs to support his 2-year-old son. Floyd's two brothers appeared at the news conference along with Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross, who embraced Wright's mother, Katie, and said she had once taught Daunte Wright in school. Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, speaks during a press conference as he joins the family of Daunte Wright outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, Chyna Whitaker, Daunte Wright's girlfriend, and Floyd family lawyer, Ben Crump, attend a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13 Katie Wright, center, mother of Daunte Wright, speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Minneapolis. Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by police Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center Naisha Wright embraces Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, as she speaks during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Katie Wright, center, mother of Daunte Wright, arrives to speak during a news conference, Tuesday, April 13, in Minneapolis. Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by police Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, speaks as other family and friends and family attorney Ben Crump, listen during a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13 Naisha Wright, aunt of Daunte Wright, speaks as she is joined by members of George Floyd's family during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Naisha Wright, aunt of Daunte Wright, speaks as she is joined by members of George Floyd's family during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center Floyd family lawyer, Ben Crump speaks during a press conference with Daunte Wright's and George Floyd's families, at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13. Tensions have soared over the death on April 11 of African American Daunte Wright near the Midwestern US city, a community already on edge over the ongoing trial of a policeman accused of killing another Black man, George Floyd Wright's deadly encounter began when police pulled him over in his car for what they said was expired auto registration. According to Gannon, officers then discovered a warrant for his arrest in their system. When Wright broke away from one officer and climbed back into his car in an apparent bid to flee, the second officer, since identified as Potter, accidentally drew her pistol instead of her Taser and opened fire, he said. An autopsy found Wright was struck once in the chest. Potter can be heard on police video shouting: 'Holy shit, I just shot him.' The car then rolled away with Wright still in the driver's until it struck another vehicle and came to a stop. The recollections of Wright's mother and other relatives focused on his last moments. Katie Wright said her son called her after he was pulled over, and that she offered to mediate with police over the phone. She said she heard police order her son, who seemed confused, out of his vehicle, followed by the sound of scuffling and an officer telling him to hang up the phone. She said Wright's girlfriend, who was with him in the car, eventually picked up the phone and, amid cries and screams, told her he had been shot. 'She pointed the phone toward the driver's seat and my son was laying there, unresponsive,' Katie Wright recalled, weeping. 'That was the last time that I've seen my son.' Barriers and metal fencing was put up around the home of Officer Kimberly Potter who resigned from the force Tuesday A man speaks with two cops stationed behind barriers and metal fencing put up around the home of Officer Kimberly Potter Police started barricading Potter's home on Tuesday after her address was posted on social media, DailyMail.com can reveal. Exclusive photos show the five-bedroom home surrounded by police and workmen unloading barricades A police source said they anticipate protests and are taking precautions to prevent the home being wrecked Police stand guard as demonstrators gather outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Tuesday A traffic cone is being thrown by demonstrators over law enforcement officers Tuesday. Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer, in Brooklyn Center Protests on April 13, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota after a white veteran police officer shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright, during a traffic stop in Minneapolis on Sunday after allegedly confusing her gun for a Taser A protester in a gas mask gestures as activists confront State troopers, National Guard members and other law enforcement officers following a march for Daunte Wright on Tuesday Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the medical examiner said. Protests, pictured Tuesday, began within hours Protesters rally outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday, as it is guarded by cops and the National Guard Protesters participate in a march Tuesday, days after Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer, in Brooklyn Center Curfews are also in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove 'You are hereby ordered to disperse,' an announcement played to the protesters said, warning that anyone not leaving would be arrested. The number of protesters then dropped rapidly over the next hour. The unrest had already continued for a second night Monday just hours after the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Wright's death a homicide and said the cause was a gunshot wound to the chest. White veteran police officer Potter and her police chief boss both resigned from the force Tuesday. It is not yet clear what charges Brooklyn Center Police officer Potter will face over the death of the 20-year-old black man but multiple sources told KSTP they could be filed on Wednesday. Veteran Minneapolis cop 'will be charged today' for shooting dead Daunte Wright, 20, during traffic stop after she and the Brooklyn Center chief of police both resign as city erupts in protest The white veteran police officer who shot dead Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in Minneapolis after allegedly confusing her gun for a taser could reportedly faces charges as early as today after she and her police chief boss both resigned from the force. It is not yet clear what charges Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter will face over the death of the 20-year-old black man but multiple sources told KSTP they could be filed on Wednesday. Both Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned on Tuesday two days after Wright was shot dead after he was pulled over for what police said were expired license plate tags. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Potter, a married mother-of-two, has been on administrative leave since the shooting. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot announced the resignation of Potter's police chief boss. Gannon was the one who revealed during a tense press conference a day earlier that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday two days after the 20-year-old black man was shot dead after he was pulled over for what police said were expired license plate tags The resignations came as pressure mounted for Potter to be fired, including from Mayor Elliot. Elliott said on Tuesday he was 'appreciative' that Potter submitted her resignation but that he had not asked for it. He said he wasn't sure if it was because she had heard that she would soon be fired. It is not clear if Potter will be entitled to keep her pension. Activists who attended the news conference called for sweeping changes to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and criticized acting police chief, Tony Gruenig, for not yet having a plan. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city Elliott said there were 49 police officers in the department but none of them lived in Brooklyn Center. He didn't immediately have information regarding racial diversity of those officers but said 'we have very few people of color in our department.' He went on to say he hoped Potter's resignation would 'bring some calm to the community' but that he would keep working towards 'full accountability under the law.' 'That's what we're going to continue to work for,' Elliott said. 'We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that, his family deserves that.' Wright was shot as police were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to take him into custody after running his name and realizing he had the warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the warrant but court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police last June. His aunt has said the warrant was for marijuana possession. Meanwhile, police started barricading Potter's home on Tuesday after her address was posted on social media, DailyMail.com can reveal. Exclusive photos show the five-bedroom home surrounded by police and workmen unloading barricades. A police source told DailyMail.com that they anticipate protests later and said they are taking precautions to prevent the home being wrecked. 'We learned from [Derek] Chauvin. His house got totally smashed up in the protests,' the source said. It is understood Potter left the property late last night with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick. Jeffrey, a 26-year police veteran, retired from cop work with the Fridley Police Department in 2017 and now works as a corporate investigator at Allina Health. A relative was also spotted at the home on Tuesday morning, taking a series of cardboard boxes out of the property and loading it into their car. Police sources told DailyMail.com that Potter and her family have left the area entirely. A protester gathered outside Potter's home on Tuesday after police and workers erected barricades People were spotted retrieving belongings from Potter's home on Tuesday after the police officer left with her family last night In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake. 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right,' Aubrey said. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Wright's mother added that she wants Potter to be held accountable for 'everything she's taken from us'. During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Wright's aunt, Naisha Wright, called his death 'murder' and dismissed claims it was an accident. 'They murdered my nephew. She killed my nephew,' Naisha said at the press conference, which was held alongside members of George Floyd's family. 'Every pistol, every Taser, it has a safety on it. She saw that she had to release that. That woman held that gun in front of her for a long damn time.' Naisha had earlier denied that her nephew's license plate tag was expired, as police have said. She also said a misdemeanor warrant that was out for her nephew was 'just for some weed'. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the agency investigating Wright's death. Potter has been placed on administrative duty. Brooklyn City Mayor Mike Elliott said during the press conference that the officer should be fired. 'My position is that we cannot afford to make mistakes that lead to the loss of life of other people in our profession,' Elliott said, adding he fully supported relieving the officer of her duties. His comments were in contrast to City Manager Curt Boganey, who was in charge of the police department, after he said he wanted due process to play out before passing judgment on the officer's actions. Boganey was fired by the town's City Council in an emergency meeting on Monday. Elliott now oversees the police department. Brian Peters, head of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, said Potter was working Sunday as a field training officer, training a rookie officer. 'She's just a very dedicated, passionate, good person. It's completely devastating,' he said. 'In a very tense moment, she made a mistake. It's not her character.' Potter is a married mother of two, who was first licensed as a police officer in Minnesota in 1995 at age 22, according to state records obtained by the Star Tribune. She has served on the city's negotiation team, and was among the first to arrive at the scene of another officer-involved shooting, in August 2019. In that case, Kobe Dimock-Heisler died after he allegedly rushed at officers with a knife in a home. Potter instructed the two officers involved in the 2019 incident 'to exit the residence, get into separate squad cars, turn off their body worn cameras, and to not talk to each other,' according to an investigative report from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, obtained by the paper. Both officers' actions were found to be justified and no charges were filed. Potter has been a union president for her department's officers, the paper reported, and was a longtime member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association. Potter has two adult sons and lives with her husband, a former Fridley police officer, in a different Minneapolis suburb, the paper reported. She had annual salary of $86,190, according to public records from 2018. Advertisement The state police said the dispersal order came before the 10 p.m. curfew because protesters were trying to take down the fencing and throwing rocks at police. Veteran police officer Potter could reportedly faces charges as early as tomorrow after she and her police chief boss both resigned from the force. It is not yet clear what charges Brooklyn Center Police Officer Potter will face over the death of the 20-year-old black man but multiple sources told KSTP they could be filed on Wednesday The number of protesters dropped rapidly, until only a few remained late on. Police also ordered all media to leave the scene Wright's father, Aubrey Wright, told ABC's 'Good Morning America' that he rejects the explanation that Potter mistook her gun for her Taser. 'I lost my son. He's never coming back. I can't accept that. A mistake? That doesn't even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that,' he said. Protesters are pictured Tuesday The resignations from Officer Kim Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon came two days after the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center. The Brooklyn Center Police Department is pictured Tuesday The National Guard has been called in to defend the Brooklyn Center Police Department. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city The Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. The modest suburb just north of Minneapolis has seen its demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70% of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Hispanic Prosecutors in Hennepin County, where the shooting occurred, said they have referred the case to nearby Washington County a practice county attorneys in the Minneapolis area adopted last year in handling police deadly force cases Protesters began gathering again Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Potter has been on administrative leave since the shooting. She is said to have left her home with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Activists march to protest the death of Daunte Wright. People have taken to the streets to protest after Daunte Wright, a 20-year old black man, was shot and killed by police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Chicago: Protestors navigate along Chicago's Millennium Park during a peaceful protest on Tuesday New York: Andrew Yang attends a 'Justice for Daunte Wright' bike ride at Barclays Center Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday two days after the 20-year-old black man was shot dead after he was pulled over for what police said were expired license plate tags Potter, a white veteran police officer, shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright, during a traffic stop in Minneapolis on Sunday after allegedly confusing her gun for a taser Chyna Whitiker, the mother of Wright's child, during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot announced the resignation of Potter's police chief boss. Gannon revealed during a tense press conference a day earlier that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. Wright was shot dead on Sunday afternoon after he and his girlfriend were pulled over during a traffic stop for what police say was an expired car registration. The officers then learned Wright, who has a toddler son, had the outstanding warrant against him. Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to take him into custody after running his name and realizing he had the warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the warrant but court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police last June. Wright had choked a woman and threatened to shoot her if she did not hand over $820 she had stuffed in her bra, court papers obtained by DailyMail.com allege. He was due to face trial on a charge of attempted aggravated robbery - with a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Large crowds gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday for the third night in a row. Wright was shot dead on Sunday afternoon after he and his girlfriend were pulled over during a traffic stop for what police say was an expired car registration. The officers then learned Wright, who has a toddler son, had the outstanding warrant against him The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement Tuesday that 'no conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete.' Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to take Wright into custody after running his name and realizing he had the warrant Mourners gather at the intersection of 63rd and Katherine Drive where a memorial has sprung up for Daunte Wright Hundreds of protesters defied a 7pm curfew in Minneapolis on Monday night. Protesters are pictured Tuesday People pay their respects to Wright on Tuesday at the intersection of 63rd and Katherine Drive. Protests also broke out overnight Tuesday in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Portland and Seattle A demonstrator carries a flag bearing the names of people of color killed by police at a rally outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department to protest the shooting death of Daunte Wright Daunte Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake after police revealed Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter accidentally fired her gun instead of her taser Police body cam footage of the fatal incident showed three officers approaching Daunte Wright's car in Brooklyn Center on Sunday after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake. 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right,' Aubrey said. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Police released footage of the incident from Potter's bodycam that showed her and two other officers approaching Wright's car after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop. The footage showed one officer trying to handcuff Wright as a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. Wright immediately jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee. A struggle then broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car. 'I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!' Potter could be heard shouting in her bodycam video. Immediately after, Potter can be heard saying: 'Holy sh*t. I shot him'. Wright managed to drive several blocks before coming to a stop when he hit another car. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his girlfriend, who was a passenger in the car, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. EXCLUSIVE: Daunte Wright had a warrant out for his arrest for attempted aggravated robbery charges after 'choking and holding a woman at gunpoint for $820 in 2019,' court papers reveal Daunte Wright choked a woman and threatened to shoot her if she did not hand over $820 she had stuffed in her bra, court papers obtained by DailyMail.com allege. That is the case that led to a warrant for his arrest at the time he was shot and killed by police officer Kimberly Potter in Minnesota on Sunday, leading to days of unrest. And online speculation that he did not know there was a warrant out for his arrest is false, DailyMail.com has learned. A letter returned to the court for having a wrong address was giving notice of a court date in August and had nothing to do with the warrant. Wright, 20, was shot dead in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on Sunday by Potter, 48, a 26-year veteran in the Brooklyn Center Police Department. DailyMail.com can reveal that Daunte Wright (pictured in his booking photo) 20, had a warrant out for his arrest on attempted aggravated robbery charges after allegedly holding a woman at gunpoint for $820 in December 2019 She says she mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her taser. After the gun fired, she is heard on body camera saying: 'Holy s**t I shot him.' Potter and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday. Wright was allegedly pulled over for having expired license plate tags, although he called his mother and told her it was for having an air freshener hanging on his rear-view mirror. While checking his details, Potter and other officers learned of the warrant. When they tried to handcuff him, Wright got back into his car and at that point Potter shot him in the chest after warning fellow officers to get out of the way by shouting, 'Taser, taser, taser.' Wright was due to face trial on a charge of attempted aggravated robbery - with a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Charging papers say he and a second man, Emajay Driver went to a home shared by two women in Osseo, Minnesota 'to party' in December 2019. At the time, Wright was 19 and Driver was 18. The women asked them to leave around 2.30 am on December 1, but they said they didn't have a ride and the women - who are not identified in the court documents - allowed them to sleep on the floor. In the morning, one of the women went to the bank to get her $820 rent money which she gave to the other woman and then left for work. As Wright, Driver and the second woman were leaving, Wright allegedly tried to hold up the woman. 'The three of them were walking to the door to exit the apartment and defendant Wright turned around and blocked the door preventing victim from leaving,' says the report, written by Osseo Police Officer Shane Mikkelson. DailyMail.com has learned that online speculation that Wright did not know there was a warrant out for his arrest is false. A letter (pictured) returned to the court for having a wrong address was giving notice of a court date in August and had nothing to do with the warrant 'Defendant Wright then pulled a black handgun with silver trim out from either his right waistband or his right coat pocket and pointed it at victim and demanded the rent money,' continued Mikkelson. 'Victim said 'Are you serious?' Defendant Wright replied: 'Give me the f**king money, I know you have it.' When the woman again asked him if he was serious, Wright is said to have replied: 'I'm not playing around.' Mikkelson's report said: 'The $820 cash was tucked in the victim's bra and defendant Wright placed his hand around victim's neck and choked her while trying to pull the cash from under her bra. 'Victim was able to get loose from defendant Wright and started to kneel down and scream.' After more yelling, Wright allegedly told the woman that he was going to shoot her unless he got the money. 'Give me the money and we will leave,' he allegedly said. 'Give me the money and we will go.' Mikkelson added: 'Defendant Wright then tried to choke victim a second time and tried to take her money. Defendant Driver was telling her to give defendant Wright the money. 'Defendant Driver then said: 'Let's go,' and the two defendants left and got into a white Cadillac and left the scene,' wrote Mikkelson. 'Afterwards, victim found that the cash was still in her bra.' Mikkelson said the woman identified both Wright and Driver through photo line-ups. Wright's bail was originally set at $100,000 with orders that he should not contact the victim or any witnesses, refrain from drugs and alcohol and not have any weapons. A bond bailsman paid $40,000 for his release. But his bail was revoked in July last year due to his 'failure to not possess a firearm or ammunition' and not keeping in touch with his probation officer, court papers show. At that time a judge issued a warrant for his arrest, that was still outstanding on the day he died. In recent days several people have claimed on the Internet that Wright may not even have known about the warrant because it was sent to the wrong address and returned to the court by the US Postal Service. But that letter, sent out on February 2 and returned to the court three days later was just to advise Wright of a change of date for his court hearing. Katie Wright (left), the mother of Daunte Wright, is embraced during a vigil for her son on April 12, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Wright was shot and killed yesterday by Brooklyn Center police during a traffic stop It was sent to an address in Minneapolis and marked 'Return to Sender. No such number. Unable to forward' by the USPS. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of Floyd's death in Minneapolis last May, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. Overnight protests broke out in New York, Washington, D.C., Portland, Seattle and elsewhere. Police officer Potter's five-bedroom home was surrounded by cops unloading barricades on Tuesday after her address was leaked online. A police source told DailyMail.com that they anticipate protests later and said they are taking precautions to prevent the home being wrecked. 'We learned from [Derek] Chauvin. His house got totally smashed up in the protests,' the source said. Potter left the property late last night with her 54-year-old husband Jeff and their sons Sam and Nick. Jeff Potter, retired from cop work with the Police Department in Fridley, Minnesota, in 2017 after 26 years. He now works as a corporate investigator at Allina Health. A relative was also spotted at the home on Tuesday morning, taking a series of cardboard boxes out of the property and loading it into their car. Police sources told DailyMail.com that Potter and her family have left the area entirely. In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake. 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right,' Aubrey said. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Wright's mother added that she wants Potter to be held accountable for 'everything she's taken from us'. His aunt, Naisha Wright, had earlier called for Potter to be jailed for 'not knowing the difference between a fully loaded pistol and a taser'. 'Accident? An accident? No, come on now! I own a 20,000 volt taser. They don't feel nothing like a gun,' she told CNN. 'My family's blood is on their hands.' Naisha has denied that her nephew's license plate tag was expired, as police have said. She also said a misdemeanor warrant that was out for her nephew was 'just for some weed'. Wright's shooting death has sparked violent protests and unrest in the city that is already on edge because of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in George Floyd's death. Police Chief Tim Gannon released footage of the incident from Potter's bodycam that showed her and two other officers approaching Wright's car after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop. The footage showed one officer trying to handcuff Wright as a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. Wright immediately jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee. A struggle then broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car. 'I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!' Potter could be heard shouting in her bodycam video. Immediately after, Potter can be heard saying: 'Holy sh*t. I shot him'. Potter and Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday amid mounting pressure for Potter to step down. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Potter, a married mother-of-two, had been on administrative leave since the shooting. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot also announced the resignation of Potter's police chief boss. Gannon was the one who revealed during a tense press conference a day earlier that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. The resignations came as pressure mounted for Potter to be fired, including from Mayor Elliot. Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to arrest Wright after running his name and realizing he had an outstanding warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the warrant but court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police last June. His aunt has said the warrant was for marijuana possession. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the agency investigating Wright's death. Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who helped the family of George Floyd win a $27million legal settlement against the city of Minneapolis, is also representing the Wrights. In a tweet, Crump said he believed that Potter 'knew exactly what she was doing' in a previous case which he said she told officers how to 'obscure accountability'. He wrote about the previous incident involving Dimock-Heisler and Potter, saying she 'taught officers who fatally shot Kobe Dimock-Heisler how to protect themselves & obscure accountability'. Crump, quoting a Hennepin County Attorney's Office report, wrote that Potter had previously instructed two police officers in the previous case to 'exit the residence, get into separate squad cars, turn off their body worn camera, and to not talk to ech other. 'Of course Kim Potter knew exactly what she was doing. She knew how to obscure the truth. In that instance, her actions were clearly intentional,' he wrote. Wright's mother Katie Wright has previously described her son calling her in the moments before he was shot to say police had pulled him over for having air fresheners dangling from his rear-view mirror. It is illegal in Minnesota to have anything hanging from a rear-view mirror. She said he called her to get insurance information for the vehicle because she recently gave the car to him. Describing the call, Wright's mother said: 'I said when the police officer comes back to the window, put him on the phone and I will give him the insurance information. 'Then I heard the police officer come to the window and say, 'Put the phone down and get out of the car.' And Wright said 'why'. He said, 'We'll explain to you when you get out of the car.'' 'A minute later, I called and his girlfriend answered, who was the passenger in the car, and said that he'd been shot and she put it on the driver's side, and he was laying there lifeless,' Katie told gathered media on Sunday afternoon. 'I heard scuffling, and I heard police officers say, 'Daunte, don't run,'' she said through tears. The call ended, and she dialed his number again. His girlfriend answered and said he was dead in the driver's seat. Speaking before the unrest broke out, Wright's mother had urged protesters to stay peaceful and remain focused on the loss of her son. 'All the violence, if it keeps going, it's only going to be about the violence. We need it to be about why my son got shot for no reason,' she said to a crowd near the shooting scene in Brooklyn Center. 'We need to make sure it's about him and not about smashing police cars, because that's not going to bring my son back.' President Bidens climate envoy, John Kerry, arrived in China on Wednesday, the first Biden administration official to visit the country at a moment of high diplomatic tensions. In its formal announcement of the trip, the State Department said that Mr. Kerry would discuss raising global climate ambition ahead of a virtual climate summit that President Biden plans to host for dozens of world leaders later this month. The summits goal is to prod countries to do more to reduce carbon emissions and limit planetary warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius, a threshold scientists argue is needed to avert catastrophic changes to life on the planet. President Biden has invited Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, to the summit, but Mr. Xi has not yet accepted the invitation. His participation in an American diplomatic initiative, were it to happen, would be a significant sign of Chinas willingness to work with the United States despite rising tensions over sanctions and other measures the new administration has taken in coordination with its allies. Mr. Kerrys visit to China underscores the Biden administrations intent to cooperate with China on shared challenges, including climate, the coronavirus and nuclear proliferation even as the countries are locked in an increasingly fraught political, technological and military competition. The international response to Israels attack last Sunday on Irans main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz highlights the reality of geo-political relations. The attack took place as the US and Iran resumed supposedly highly constructive talks in Vienna on a possible return to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), constraining Irans nuclear program. Israel is vehemently opposed to any resumption of the deal. The New York Times reported that, according to US and Israeli intelligence sources, Israel had played a role in the attack, involving the remote detonation of an explosive devicebelow more than 20 feet of reinforced concretesmuggled into the plant. The explosion took out both the primary and backup systems supplying electricity to thousands of underground centrifuges at the Ahmadi Roshan nuclear enrichment facility, Irans main enrichment program. Israeli news outlets, citing intelligence sources, attributed the attack to Mossad, Israels spy agency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government issued no official statement. Attack on Iran nuclear facility linked to Israel Israel escalates attacks on Iran, targeting vessel in Red Sea The explosion follows a long list of actions taken by Israel against Irans nuclear program, including the use of the US-Israeli Stuxnet virus to disable 1,000 centrifuges and the assassination of its scientists. The blast was criminal and reckless. The loss of electrical power for any length of time could have had catastrophic consequences, as the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan demonstrated. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami knocked out all the electrical supply to the nuclear power station, including the emergency generators that keep the cooling systems running, leading to the second worst nuclear meltdown in history, rivaling Chernobyl. Iran condemned the blackout at the underground Natanz nuclear facility, branding it an act of nuclear terrorism. Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, called it an act against humanity that could have caused a disaster. Tehran has pledged to retaliate in response to Israels increasingly overt aerial, maritime and cyber-based campaign against it, potentially precipitating a regional war that would rapidly involve the major powers. The Israeli campaign follows Irans decision to resume nuclear activities prohibited under the JCPOAsince January, Iran has acquired 55kg of uranium enriched to 20 percent purityalthough it has pledged to reverse course once sanctions are rescinded. In the last days, Tehran has announced it would enrich to 60 percent, surpassing what is needed for civilian purposes. Yet the worlds leading imperialist political figures and press barely noted the potentially devastating consequences of the blast, much less condemned Israel. Had the attack been perpetrated by any one of Washingtons declared foes, be it Iran, North Korea, Russia or China, the vitriolic outpouring would have been deafening. Not one of the worlds commentators has seen fit to point out what has been an open secret for yearsthat Israel has a nuclear program for military purposes not subject to any inspection regime. In 2007, the then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert broke with Israels policy of nuclear ambiguity whereby it refused to acknowledge or deny its nuclear weapons, which various analysts estimate at between 80 to 200 warheads, specifically including Israel in a list of nuclear powers. Olmerts comment was an explicit warning to Iran that Israel was prepared to use nuclear weapons to maintain its military predominance in the Middle East. In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq's nuclear plant at Osirak to ensure that it would retain this status. No immediate comment came from France or Britain, with only Germany, Irans main trading partner in Europe, making a mild criticism of the attack. Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, said, What we are hearing currently out of Tehran is not a positive contribution, particularly the development in Natanz. The European Union issued a statement rejecting attempts to undermine the talks, calling for a further clarification of what had happened. It imposed further sanctions on eight Iranian officials for human rights abuses. The explosion took place the same day that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met Israels Defense Minister Benny Gantz and later held a private meeting with Netanyahu, the first official visit to Israel by a member of the Biden administration. Austin reassured Israel that it had the Biden administrations backing, emphasizing, Our bilateral relationship with Israel in particular is central to regional stability and security in the Middle East. During our meeting I reaffirmed to Minister Gantz our commitment to Israel is enduring and it is ironclad. It is inconceivable that the attack on Natanz was mounted without Washingtons knowledge and approval. Tel Avivs role has long been to carry out Washingtons dirty work in the region. Jen Psaki, the White House spokesperson, refrained from commenting on whether the US had any knowledge of the attack and from condemning the attack, while denying any US involvement. She said, The US was not involved in any manner and we have nothing to add to speculation about the causes. Just who is she kidding? In his 2006 book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration, American journalist James Risen claimed the CIA and Mossad considered sabotaging the power lines leading to Iranian nuclear sites using trucks laden with explosives that would be detonated by electromagnetic signals. Mossad would use its agents to penetrate the site. Following tests of a model in Nevada, the plan was called off because it was too risky. This week, Olmert confirmed this indirectly, telling news website Ynet that the explosive device at Natanz was probably placed there more than 10 years ago. Israel, which likes to call itself the only democracy in the Middle East, implicitly confirmed US involvement. A defence official told Haaretz, We work in close cooperation with the Americans on the most sensitive matters. There has been no condemnation of the attack in the Israeli media, with all discussion focusing on whether it was wise for Mossad and the security services to have leaked the news of Israels involvement in the blast. While commentators believe that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is keen to secure relief from US sanctions and will therefore avoid any major escalation, Danny Yatom, a former Mossad chief, said, Once Israeli officials are quoted, it requires the Iranians to take revenge, adding, There are actions that must remain in the dark. The response to the Natanz explosion demonstrates that none of the imperialist powers and their regional allies have anything but contempt for the international framework set up in the aftermath of World War II to regulate international relations and prevent the outbreak of hostilities. While Tehran is not seeking war with Washington, US imperialism has made clear that it reserves the right, directly or indirectly, to bomb or invade anyone it sees as a challenge to its hegemony. The critical question that emerges is to mobilize the working class on an international, socialist program against war. Reporter Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S. Senate is slated to advance on Wednesday on a rare bipartisan effort looking to investigate into and halt hate crimes against Asian American citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both sides warned the tentative framework could still fall apart. However, senators signaled an earnestness to merge differing proposals that could lead to bipartisan passage of a bill by the end of the week. Calling on GOP Support for Asian Hate Crimes Bill Top congressional Democrats are prompting their GOP colleagues to support legislation introduced by Representative Grace Meng and Senator Mazie Hirono that addresses the increasing number of hate crimes and violence against Asian American citizens. According to Meng, "For more than a year, the Asian American community has been fighting two viruses, the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Asian hate. We've heard about and seen videos of both young and elderly Asian Americans being shoved to the ground, stomped on, being spat on and shunned. These heinous acts have been outrageous, unconscionable and they must end," reported NPR. Despite a number of Republicans raising concerns regarding the bill, it is slated to advance on the Senate floor. This will allow time for debate and extra amendments. The bill would accelerate the federal government's response to hate crimes against Asian American citizens. It will also strengthen guidance for local and state government hate crime coverage. According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. on Tuesday, he plans to set forth a bill targeting anti-Asian hate crimes to the floor this week and prompted Republicans not to bar it. Schumer stated tackling hate in the Asian American community could and should be bipartisan, reported NBC News. Woman Raises Over $100k to Provide Scared Asians Free Taxi Rides in New York The Senate is poised to commence debate on legislation tackling the rise of potential hate crimes against Asian Americans. The growing problem will also test whether the chamber could push past partisanship on an issue crucial to numerous constituents, reported US News. The bill would speed up the Justice Department's evaluation of hate crimes as the Asian American community has witnessed an increase in incidents amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. It also would task the department to cooperate with community-based organizations and local law enforcement groups to raise awareness. Such passage would be very uncommon in a chamber that has been dominated in the past few months by a presidential impeachment trial and the Democrats' party-line passage of the American Rescue Plan. According to Hirono on Tuesday, the main sponsor of the hate crime bill, she is willing to broaden her bill to more vividly capture varied instances of anti-Asian crimes. Meng remarked combating hate should not be a partisan issue. The New York Democrat added that Democrats and Republicans should stand together against racism and brutality and that they should say enough is enough. Democrats have an inferior 50-seat majority in the Senate. Sixty votes are necessitated to limit debate on legislation and then transfer it to the Senate floor for a full vote. According to Republican Senator Chuck Grassley on Tuesday, the bill would receive adequate support from the GOP to advance. However, he said that he was hoping it could be amended. Asian Americans Rally Against Racism After Atlanta Spa Shootings @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The crews did an exceptional job in fighting the fire, Waukegan Fire Marshall Todd Zupec said. Unfortunately, once the fire is able to get inside the walls and attic spaces of these old structures, it becomes very labor intensive for our firefighters. The on-scene crews were able to keep the fire from spreading to neighboring structures. IT Modernization House Oversight presses for details on TMF repayment plans A group of House Democrats are asking the administration to create a plan for how it will protect the self-sustaining model of the Technology Modernization Fund and how it will pick projects to fund in the wake of a massive boost in TMF funding from the American Rescue Plan. The pandemic relief package gave the revolving fund $1 billion. TMF traditionally has received appropriations in the range of $25 million, and concerns remain from those both in and out of government on how the money will be spent. In a letter sent to Shalanda Young, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Katy Kale, the acting administrator at the General Services Administration, five lawmakers from the House Oversight and Reform Committee asked that those in charge of TMF not let its reimbursement model atrophy. The fund was designed with the idea that it would be self-sustaining. Agencies awarded money from the fund to modernize their IT infrastructure are on the hook to pay back TMF within 5 years, unless they get a special exemption from the OMB director. This time, we understood that the reimbursement model would need to be relaxed in order to ensure the most immediate and effective investment of the $1 billion TMF appropriation, wrote committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and fellow Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Md.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). The text of the law, signed into law on March 11, doesnt include a reimbursement requirement. Most drafts of the provision retained a reimbursement requirement for only a portion of the funding, the lawmakers wrote. It was taken out in the budget reconciliation process used to pass the law, they said. Although that requirement could not be retained . We strongly urge the administration not to let the reimbursement model atrophy during the expenditure of the investment made by the American Rescue Plan, the legislators wrote. At the same time, some industry representatives and former government employees have said the reimbursement requirements may actually discourage agencies from fully participating in the fund, since not all projects have easily quantifiable results. That sentiment was echoed by multiple current agency IT leaders in a not-for-attribution discussion FCW hosted on April 13. Its a loan, which has a lot of strings, so thats not an option, one participant said. The group of lawmakers asked OMB, GSA and the TMF Board that oversees the fund to give Congress a plan on how the money will be prioritized and spent, as well as details on how the money will fall at least partially under reimbursement requirements. They asked how the board will create timetables for repayment for certain projects that anticipate financial returns, and how it will go about measuring the success of proposals that dont have easily quantifiable goals in terms of financial payback. They also want to know what the board will use to gauge which applications receive funding, and how it will scale up to take in more applications than it used to. The letter requested a briefing on the plan before May 7. It may not look like it now but intersections in downtown Plainview will be wide enough for two vehicles when construction of the downtown StreetScape project is complete. Right now, said Melinda Brown, the fences for construction are placed further away from where the edge of the bulb out corners will be making it tricky for drivers to navigate when another vehicle is heading down the street in the opposite direction. Frustrated drivers need not worry. But while there will be ample room for two vehicles to travel down the street side-by-side, the design was meant to slow traffic, said Brown, who handles communications for the city of Plainview. By the time its through, there will be wider sidewalks, bulbed out street corners, benches, bike racks and more greenery up and down Broadway from 5th to 8th Streets. It also includes new lamp posts some of which are already installed and ADA-compliant ramps at the ends and midway points along the sidewalks. Some bricks from the historic street had to be removed but many were replaced during construction on the east side of the street. Thats been a point of interest for people who inquire about the project. The goal of the project is to make downtown a more pedestrian-friendly place to boost economic activity and encourage visitors. Brown also noted that Plainview Walk of Fame plaques will be taken up and replaced into the sidewalk when construction workers move down to widen the sidewalk in front of the Fair Theatre. The plaques, themselves, wont change. Construction crews will simply move and realign them. Space will also be made to accommodate future inductions, including the installation of the late Joe Garnetts plaque. The Plainview City Council approved the addition of Garnett to the Plainview Walk of Fame in October. The installation ceremony was delayed due to COVID-19. Garnett, who was a nationally recognized artist/illustrator credited with creating some iconic album artwork, died earlier this year. Brown said the estimated completion date for the project has moved to about mid-September, weather permitting. This part of construction is just the first in a two-phase project. The second phase will include work around the courthouse and construction work on 5th and 6th Streets down Ash Street. The Downtown StreetScape project is part of the six bond projects approved by Plainview voters in 2017. Voters approved $1,480,000 for downtown improvements. Brown said the total cost of the project is $2.3 million, which was funded by the bond money, a Texas Department of Agriculture grant and a Main Street Capital Grant, in addition to money from the citys capital improvement plan budget. The bid for the project was awarded to Trinity Hughes Construction out of Wichita Falls in July 2020. The Queen went back to work yesterday. It had only been four days since her husband Prince Philip, the love of her life and her rock for seven decades, died. For any other 94-year-old woman, such a crushing blow would almost certainly prompt a period of quiet mournful reflection with family. But Her Majesty is not any other 94-year-old woman. She is a quite astoundingly stoic and selfless human being, who has put others before herself through her entire adult life. So, she insisted on honouring a retirement ceremony for a trusted aide, the former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel. Scroll down for video Prince Andrew in ceremonial dress at a service to mark the centenary of the RAF in London on July 10, 2018 Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London on March 13, 2001 It was a very British ceremony. The official royal Court Circular announced: 'The Earl Peel had an audience of The Queen today, delivered up his Wand and Insignia of Office as Lord Chamberlain and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chamberlain, when Her Majesty invested him with the Royal Victorian Chain.' None of this will mean a thing to bemused Americans, or indeed many equally bemused Britons, but it will have meant a lot to Earl Peel, the most senior member of the Royal Household for the past 14 years, and it will have meant even more to him that the Queen kept her promise to do it this week despite the loss of the most important person in her life. Her loyalty and dedication say everything you need to know about her; a woman who has put the country and public duty before any of her own concerns since she acceded to the throne in 1953. Compare and contrast to the behaviour of some of her children and grandchildren over the years, and you'll soon realise why the Queen is in a class of her own when it comes to royal service. She's certainly in a very different class to her son Prince Andrew, whose long-time friendship with billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has cast one of the worst shadows over the Royal Family in modern times. Andrew insists he is completely innocent of any impropriety regarding Epstein, who took his own life rather than face justice for a shocking litany of appalling sex crimes against underage girls. He has also emphatically denied claims that he himself had sex with Virginia Roberts, who says she was trafficked by Epstein, on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, and therefore still a minor under US law. Following a disastrous interview with BBC Newsnight in November 2019, in which he failed to show any sympathy for Epstein's victims, Andrew was forced to announce he was stepping down from public duties 'for the foreseeable future'. He said then: 'I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.' Well, law enforcement agencies including the FBI made it very clear very quickly they were extremely keen for Andrew to help with their investigations. But in January 2020, the New York state attorney, Geoffrey Berman, accused the Prince of 'zero cooperation' and not responding to multiple requests by the FBI and US lawyers for an interview. Prince Andrew leaving Windsor Castle yesterday, hours before it was reported that the Queen is being forced to decide which rank of military uniform the Duke of York can wear to his father's funeral after he demanded to go as an Admiral Andrew, through 'Palace sources', feigned bemusement at this allegation, insisting he was 'more than happy' to talk to them. Yet oddly, 16 months after his public commitment to do so, he still hasn't done so. And forgive me for my own bemusement, but if he's so happy to talk to the FBI, and has absolutely nothing to hide, than why HASN'T he talked to them? It would be as simple as picking up the phone and saying: 'I'm ready for my interview.' Andrew's ongoing failure to do this, and his silence over all things Epstein since the Newsnight fiasco, is deafening and damning. Especially as he emerged from hiding this week to speak to the media about the death of his father. In a surprising, and to my mind highly inappropriate, exchange, he marched out of a private church service straight over to a pool TV reporter who had clearly been instructed to only ask him about Philip. 'We've lost the grandfather of the nation,' Andrew said, adding that it had been a 'terrible loss' and the Queen had said her husband's passing has 'left a huge void in her life.' Andrew then revealed: 'My father said to me on the telephone a few months ago, 'We are all in the same boat and we must always remember that, but occasionally we, the family, are asked to stand up and show compassion and leadership'. And unfortunately, with my father's death, it has brought it home to me, not just our loss, but actually the loss that everybody else has felt, for so many people who have died and lost loved ones during the pandemic. And so, we are all in the same boat - slightly different circumstances because he didn't die from COVID, but we're all feeling a great sense of loss.' Hmmm. I have no wish to criticize a son's feelings on the loss of his father. But there was something suspiciously pre-meditated and calculated about these supposedly impromptu comments. And frankly, for Andrew to try to garner the nation's sympathy, using the pandemic as a tool to do so, stank of someone trying to deflect public attention from his own shameful situation. Prince Andrew taking a stroll through New York's Central Park with Epstein on Sunday December 5, 2010 To understand the full magnitude of the Prince's brass neck, consider today's revelation by the Daily Mail's royal editor Rebecca English that Andrew has demanded he be allowed to wear an Admiral's uniform for the funeral on Saturday. He was made an honorary Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy on his 55th birthday in 2015 and was due to be promoted to full Admiral on his 60th birthday last year, but 'offered' to defer it until he cleared his name and returned to public duties. Obviously, he hasn't actually earned either of these titles. He retired from the Navy in 2001 after reaching the lesser rank of Commander. Yet his request to attend the funeral as an Admiral when he has so far failed to either clear his name or return to public duties is completely outrageous. How dare he 'demand' anything given his refusal to be interviewed by the FBI about a very serious sex crime investigation? The Queen insisted on honouring a retirement ceremony for a trusted aide, the former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel just four days after the death of Prince Philip (pictured with the Queen in June last year) And of all the things Her Majesty the Queen has to think about this week, the question of what uniform Andrew should be allowed to wear should be so far at the bottom of the list of priorities that it has barnacles clamped to it. Let me be clear: I have no idea if Andrew's guilty of any criminal offences, or whether he witnessed or has knowledge of any that Jeffrey Epstein committed, or any that his other great friend Ghislaine Maxwell may have committed. But what I do know is that Andrew's disinclination to expose himself to an FBI interrogation, under oath, about any of it raises significant question marks about his innocence. And if he wants to tell the world that his father urged him to show 'compassion and leadership' in one of their final conversations, then he could start by showing compassion to Epstein's poor victims and leadership by telling the FBI everything he knows. Until or if he does, Prince Andrew remains a royal unfit for purpose, and I don't see want to see any more media interviews with him or hear about any more of his 'demands' to wear a bloody Admiral uniform. Some 221 practitioners and staffers of Hanois Bach Mai Hospital, one of the largest public health facilities in Vietnam, have turned in their resignation over the past year. Discussing this issue with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Nguyen Quang Tuan, director of Bach Mai Hospital, confirmed the mass departure. Some are highly qualified medical workers who switched to better paying jobs, while a majority are less skilled staffers who became dissatisfied with the hospitals decision to go fully self-funded instead of relying on state subsidies, or displeased at their job rotation at the facility, Tuan said. Pressure from the COVID-19 workload is also a possible reason for the mass departure, added Do Van Thanh, head of human resources at Bach Mai Hospital. While 221 had departed, the facility has also recruited 506 new practitioners and officers, many of whom hold senior medical titles. Our hospital is striving for a change in service quality, Thanh stated. Pressures of changes might be the reason for many staffers to leave. The Ministry of Health, the immediate managing body of Bach Mai Hospital, demanded a full list of resigned staffers along with an explanation from the hospital management after being informed of the situation in February. The hospital is responsible for the administration and usage of human resources in their facility, a Ministry of Health official stated. In a responding report submitted on March 22, the hospital leaders cited the reduced benefit package, which stems from the poor revenue that the institution reported during the pandemic, as the reason for the mass resignation. Bach Mai Hospital also requested the Ministry of Health to raise the price ceiling for medical services to improve its returns, which will help uplift the income of personnel. The report also mentioned tempting job offers from private hospitals that target highly-skilled practitioners in public facilities, which may cause a 'brain drain' from the public sector. Bach Mai is a central-level hospital in Hanoi under the management of the Ministry of Health. It receives some 6,000-7,000 visiting patients per day, with an outstanding reputation for many of its departments, including emergency, poison control, rehabilitation, cardiovascular medicine, cancer treatment, and orthopedics. The hospital faced multiple mishaps in 2020, as it was placed on lockdown for over one month due to a coronavirus outbreak in the facility, plus two of its former executives were detained over allegations of inflating prices of medical equipment. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A nurse fills up a syringe with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site at a senior center in San Antonio, Texas, on March 29, 2021. (Sergio Flores/Getty Images) 142 Fully Vaccinated People in Houston Test Positive for COVID-19 More than 140 people in Houston have tested positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after being fully vaccinated against the virus that causes the disease, health experts in the Texas city confirmed. According to data provided by the Houston Health Department, the number of Houstonians who were infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus after being fully vaccinated is 142or 0.02 percent of residents who have been fully vaccinated, The Houston Chronicle reported. The data of the potential so-called vaccine breakthrough cases date back to January, when the first wave of recipients received a full vaccination. Breakthrough cases refer to COVID-19 cases that appear in people more than two weeks after they have been fully vaccinated against the virus. COVID-19 is caused by the CCP virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus, which originated in China in late 2019. Dr. David Persse, the citys chief medical officer, said residents becoming infected after being fully vaccinated is not unexpected because the shot doesnt grant recipients 100 percent immunity. This vaccine is not dissimilar from other vaccines in that it gives you some level of protection, but no vaccine is 100 percent effective, Persse said. While tens of hundreds of thousands have been vaccinated, in a community that still has viral spread, its not too big of a surprise there are a small number of people who have become infected. None of the Houstonians who tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the shot required hospitalization, Persse said, saying symptoms are usually very mild with vaccinated people testing positive compared to unvaccinated people. Fully vaccinated refers to people receiving both doses of the vaccines produced by Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech. A third option, from Johnson & Johnsonwhich is currently suspended in the United States after reports of rare blood clots among recipientsis a single dose. According to U.S. drug regulators, Pfizers vaccine is 95 percent effective in preventing infection of the CCP virus. Modernas was shown in a clinical trial to be 94.1 percent effective, while Johnson & Johnsons was 66.9 percent effective. The percentages are for two weeks after the final vaccination. A number of U.S. states have recently seen similar infections among Americans who are fully vaccinated, including Idaho, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Washington. Michigan data shows 246 residents tested positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after being fully vaccinated. Eleven of the residents were hospitalized and three died, a spokesperson with the state Department of Health and Human Services (MDDHS) told The Epoch Times via email. The people who died were all 65 years or older. In Washington, more than 100 people tested positive after being fully vaccinated, authorities said on March 31. Of those recipients, eight patients required hospitalization, and two have died. All contracted the virus more than two weeks after being fully vaccinated. Finding evidence of vaccine breakthrough cases reminds us that, even if you have been vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask, practice socially distancing, and wash your hands to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others who have not been vaccinated, Washington Secretary of Health Umair Shah said in a statement. Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters during a virtual briefing the number of so-called breakthrough COVID-19 cases is not a cause for concern. I think the important thing is to look at what the denominator of vaccinated people is, because it is very likelyand what were hearing at least indirectly, and were certainly going to be confirming thatthat that number of individuals who were breakthrough infections is not at all incompatible with a 90-plus percent vaccine efficacy. So, I dont think that there needs to be concern about any shift or change in the efficacy of the vaccine, Fauci said. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. From NTD News Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 00:56:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden exchanged views on bilateral ties and explored areas of possible cooperation during a phone conversation on Tuesday. Putin and Biden thoroughly discussed the current state of Russian-U.S. relations and some international issues during the phone call at the initiative of the U.S. side, the Kremlin said in a press release. Biden confirmed a previously sent invitation asking Putin to take part in a climate summit, which will be held via video link on April 22-23. Both sides expressed their readiness to continue dialogue on the most important areas of ensuring global security, which would meet the interests of not only Russia and the United States, but the whole world as well. Biden voiced interest in normalizing relations with Russia and establishing stable and predictable interaction on such acute problems as ensuring strategic stability, arms control, the Iranian nuclear program, the situation in Afghanistan, and global climate change. To that end, the U.S. president suggested considering the possibility of holding a summit with Putin in the foreseeable future. When discussing the internal Ukrainian crisis, Putin outlined approaches to a political settlement of the tensions in the Donbass region based on the Minsk agreements. The leaders agreed to instruct relevant departments to work on the issues raised during the telephone conversation. Enditem Had there been any firing of the kind that took place at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar on April 10, where four persons were killed in firing by the Central Industrial Security Force, and another person was killed in a violent clash, political leaders from all sides anywhere else would have condemned the firing and condoled the death of all five. There would have been a demand for an inquiry on whether the firing was justified. Did the CISF open fire only as a last resort? Did they use lathi-charge and teargas before shooting? It might be argued that the CISF doesnt follow the usual police protocols because, as those called to guard industrial installations, they usually fire straightaway. But when detailed for poll duty, the CISF personnel should be appropriately reoriented. The first thing the Election Commission should have done is to call for a report as why there was firing in the first place. The Election Commission must not let it appear that firing at people, even killing them, is part of the orderly conduct of elections. That would lower the criterion of free and fair elections. The Trinamul Congress as well as BJP leaders should have appealed to the people to desist from violence and facilitate a peaceful poll. Instead, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee calls it a genocide, though she had every right to ask the EC to order an inquiry. Union home minister Amit Shah, the BJPs star campaigner, should have condoled the death of the five persons instead of blaming Ms Banerjee for inciting the crowd. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did condole the death of the five, but his main focus was on blaming Ms Banerjee. What seems to be adding to the violence in the atmosphere -- there seems to be violence in the air even when it is not breaking out in violent episodes -- and this has been the result of inciting speeches made by the BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and other sundry party minions like the West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and party MP Rakesh Sinha, on the one side, and TMC supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her minions on the other side. It is to be expected that in a fiercely fought election like the ongoing one in Bengal, each side would use sharp language against the other, but the belligerence on the part of the two main rivals -- BJP and TMC -- has not exactly been decent. As a matter of fact, indecent and provocative speeches on all sides marked a new low in this bout of electioneering, and this has contributed to the violent quotient in a generally violence-prone West Bengal. Mr Modi and Ms Banerjee have been setting a bad example of how rivals should be debating issues, including contentious ones. If Ms Banerjees pronouncements have been intemperate, those of Mr Modi and Mr Shah as well as their BJP colleagues have been plainly shameful, because they were all personal attacks on Ms Banerjee. In a media interview after the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Mr Modi remarked that the election was not for choosing a class monitor but for the Prime Minister, justifying the coarse language that was used on the campaign trail. The question does arise as to what extent the Election Commission could intervene to douse tempers and lower the temperature. There is little doubt that the commission would hesitate to pass strictures against either the Prime Minister or the home minister even if there is enough cause to do so. Mr Modis direct reference to the issue of Matuas in his speech at Burdwan, and his plain confession that he had visited the shrine of the Matua guru during his recent state visit to Bangladesh and using it in a poll speech was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Similarly, Mr Shah saying in a media interview during the campaign that Jai Shri Ram was a political, and not a religious, slogan called for a rap from the Election Commission. So, the warnings against state BJP president Dilip Ghosh and party leader Dilip Sinha seemed too little and too late, apart from sending out a signal that the gesture of the Election Commission to be seen as evenhanded was a weak gesture at best, and unconvincing at the worst. The EC not only has to be impartial, but it has to be seen to be impartial. Prime Minister Modi and home minister Shahs in-your-face dominance gives the impression that independent constitutional offices like that of the Election Commission dare not assert their constitutional status. The commission can cite chapter and verse to show that it has not been afraid of the Narendra Modi government, but it is the contrary perception that mars the image of the commission. Both the commission and the Narendra Modi government are sure to argue that this is due to the malicious propaganda of the Opposition parties! But people will not be wiling to buy the argument because of the commissions hesitant behaviour in its dealings with the BJP in contrast to its decisive stand against the acts of omission and commission by the leaders of the Opposition parties. Ms Banerjees speeches have always lacked restraint, but it can be said without sounding partisan that there is no diabolical cunning in her outbursts, though this would not justify her outbursts. On Tuesday, in a speech at Barasat she called Prime Minister Modi a liar, and immediately corrected herself, saying that liar was an unparliamentary word, and that the Prime Minister was misleading the people when said that her government had done nothing for the Matua community. What India is seeing is a generation of political leaders who are immature, who lack the poise of a leader of a national stature, they are quick-tempered and allow their passions to shape their words. While Indian democracy is to be celebrated for its vibrancy and vitality, it does not pass muster for democratic decencies. Unfortunately, neither Mr Modi nor Ms Banerjee are willing to set the benchmark for polite democratic discourse. Their ill-tempered speeches poison the air and contribute to the violent atmosphere. Achievements that merit a key to the city of New Orleans apparently include backing that azz up. Mayor LaToya Cantrell presented homegrown rapper Terius Juvenile Gray with a ceremonial key to the city at her office on Tuesday. In return, Juvenile gave the mayor one of the whimsically industrial lamps he designs, builds and sells as a side hustle via his Made By Juvie luxury furniture brand. The key to the city proclamation praised him for his contributions to the music industry and being known as one of the pioneers of hip-hop music in the South. Known as a creative genius and homegrown talent that has made him a hip-hop legend and known worldwide Juvenile exemplifies the New Orleans' spirit by bringing people together and inspiring a generation of musicians and fans. Grays story is very much a New Orleans one. He spent part of his youth living in the Magnolia housing development and witnessed bounce, with its singsong melodies, call-and-response choruses and infectious beats, take root at block parties and dances. He first achieved local notoriety with his featured rap on DJ Jimis Bounce (For the Juvenile). He came into his own after joining the roster of Cash Money Records. Founded in New Orleans in the early 1990s by brothers Ronald Slim Williams and Bryan Birdman Baby Williams, Cash Money steadily churned out regional hits by B.G., Magnolia Shorty, U.N.L.V. and the Hot Boys, the all-star quartet featuring Juvenile, B.G., Turk and the then-unknown Lil Wayne. But Juveniles 400 Degreez was a game-changer. Released on Nov. 3, 1998, via Cash Moneys new distribution deal with Universal Records, 400 Degreez was Juveniles third solo album. Producer Mannie Fresh, the architect of Cash Moneys classic sound, blended fat-bottomed beats and live instruments in a way that nodded to Juveniles New Orleans pedigree but was also palatable to a national audience. Spoken-word skits between the songs added a touch of humor. The song Ha hit No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was widely hailed as one of the years best singles. But the smash Back That Azz Up or, in its sanitized form, Back That Thang Up blew up as a cultural phenomenon. The video, shot in the Magnolia housing development, offered a firsthand look at New Orleans hip-hop culture. Numerous women demonstrated the aerobic gyration requested in the songs title, twerking before the term had even entered the lexicon. Juvenile, in one of the more colorful cases to cross the federal docket, would later successfully defend his claim to the song. Local bounce music pioneer Jerome DJ Jubilee Temple sued Juvenile, alleging that Back That Azz Up infringed on the copyright of Temples similar Back That Ass Up. In 2003, a jury sided with Juvenile, an outcome later upheld by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Powered by the success of Ha and Back That Azz Up, 400 Degreez sold 4 million copies an enormous number, even for the days when music consumers still bought albums. 400 Degreez was the best-selling rap album of 1998. More than 20 years later, it remains Cash Moneys top seller, even outperforming Lil Waynes landmark Tha Carter III. 400 Degreez may well be the best-selling album by any New Orleans artist of the past 50 years. 400 Degreez proved to be Juveniles commercial peak. His follow-up, 1999s Tha G-Code, sold only a million copies; his next release, Project English, sold only half as much. He returned to platinum status with 2003s Juve the Great, thanks to the No. 1 single Slow Motion, featuring recently deceased New Orleans gangsta rapper Soulja Slim. Juvenile subsequently left Cash Money for Atlantic Records but was never able to replicate his early success. More recently, a smattering of arrests nightclub fights, failure to pay child support, etc. generated more headlines than his music. He lost a home in Slidell to Hurricane Katrinas storm surge; his Get Ya Hustle On recounted the post-hurricane hustle in which many locals engaged. He eventually reconciled with Cash Money Records. During Tuesdays ceremony at City Hall, he sported a platinum Cash Money medallion around his neck. Now he has a fancy key to go with it. Florida officials on Tuesday announced their intention to permanently shut down a leaking wastewater reservoir south of Tampa that had forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes under the threat of a catastrophic collapse. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida said on Tuesday that he was allocating more than $15 million to start the process of closing the 79-acre reservoir, which is part of a system of ponds connected to a former phosphate mine in Piney Point, Fla. He said he was directing the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop a plan to permanently close the site. We want this to be the last chapter of the Piney Point story, Mr. DeSantis said at a news conference at the reservoir. A leak was detected at the site on March 26, and officials said water was leaking at a rate of two million to three million gallons a day. The reservoir held 480 million gallons of water, and local officials said they feared that if it gave way, a collapse could unleash a 20-foot wall of water. A week later, there were 390 million gallons remaining, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said. MINNEAPOLIS - George Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease, a forensic pathologist testified for the defence Wednesday at former Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial, contradicting prosecution experts who said Floyd succumbed to a lack of oxygen from the way he was pinned down. In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, right, listen, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over motions in the trial of Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV, via AP, Pool) MINNEAPOLIS - George Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease, a forensic pathologist testified for the defence Wednesday at former Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial, contradicting prosecution experts who said Floyd succumbed to a lack of oxygen from the way he was pinned down. Dr. David Fowler, a former Maryland chief medical examiner who is now with a consulting firm, said the fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd's system, and possibly carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust, were contributing factors in the 46-year-old Black man's death last May. All of those combined to cause Mr. Floyds death, he said on the second day of the defence case. In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson speaks as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill discusses motions before the court Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool) Fowler also testified that he would classify the manner of death undetermined, rather than homicide, as the county's chief medical examiner ruled. He said Floyd's death had too many conflicting factors, some of which could be ruled homicide and some that could be considered accidental. Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson is trying to prove that the 19-year Minneapolis police veteran did what he was trained to do and that Floyd died because of his illegal drug use and underlying health problems. Prosecutors say Floyd died because the white officer's knee was pressed against Floyds neck or neck area for 9 1/2 minutes as he lay on the pavement on his stomach, his hands cuffed behind him and his face jammed against the ground. Fowler listed a multitude of factors or potential ones: Floyds narrowed arteries, his enlarged heart, his high blood pressure, his drug use, the stress of his restraint, the vehicle exhaust, and a tumour or growth in his lower abdomen that can sometimes play a role in high blood pressure by releasing fight-or-flight hormones. In this image from video, Dr. David Fowler testifies as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool) Fowler said all of those factors could have acted together to cause Floyds heart to work harder, suffer an arrhythmia, or abnormal rhythm, and suddenly stop. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell launched an aggressive cross-examination, attacking Fowler's findings down the line. He got Fowler to acknowledge that even someone who dies from being deprived of oxygen ultimately dies of an arrhythmia. He also got Fowler to admit that he didnt take the weight of Chauvins gear into account when he analyzed the pressure on Floyds body. Blackwell further accused Fowler of jumping to conclusions and suggesting to the jury that Floyd had a white pill in his mouth in the video of his arrest. Fowler denied saying that. Blackwell also attacked Fowler's testimony about carbon monoxide, which displaces oxygen in the bloodstream. In this image from video, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell questions Dr. David Fowler, a retired forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland, as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool) In his original testimony, Fowler said carbon monoxide could have contributed to oxygen depletion in Floyd, noting that he was facing the tailpipe end of a squad car. But Floyd's blood was never tested for carbon monoxide. You havent seen any data or test results that showed Mr. Floyd had a single injury from carbon monoxide. Is that true? Blackwell asked. That is correct, because it was never sent, Fowler said. Blackwell also noted that the squad car was a gas-electric hybrid and that Fowler had no data on how much carbon monoxide was actually released. And he suggested that the witness assumed the engine was running at the time. Fowler said he believed it was. A National Guard soldier stands guard on an outside balcony at the Hennepin County Government Center, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Minneapolis where testimony continues in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd during an arrest last May in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The prosecutor also got Fowler to agree that it would take four minutes to cause irreversible brain damage if the brain is starved of oxygen, and that insufficient oxygen can cause the heart to stop. "And if a person dies as a result of low oxygen, that person is also going to die ultimately of a fatal arrhythmia, right? Blackwell asked. Fowler responded: Correct. Every one of us in this room will have a fatal arrhythmia at some point. Fowler further agreed that Floyd should have been given immediate attention when he went into cardiac arrest because there still was a chance to save him at that point. A number of medical experts called by prosecutors have said Floyd died from a lack of oxygen because his breathing was constricted by the way he was held down. A cardiology expert rejected the notion that Floyd died of heart problems, saying all indications were that he had "an exceptionally strong heart. But Fowler said that Chauvins knee on Floyd was nowhere close to his airway and that Floyds speaking and groaning showed that his airway was still open. He also testified that Chauvins knee was not applied with enough pressure to cause any bruises or scrapes on Floyds neck or back. And he said that Floyd did not complain of vision changes or other symptoms consistent with hypoxia, or insufficient oxygen to the brain, and that he was coherent until shortly before he suddenly stopped moving. The bottom line is, moving air in and out, and speaking and making noise is very good evidence that the airway was not closed, Fowler said. Blackwell ended his cross-examination by getting two questions before the jury: Whether Chauvin's actions played a role in Floyd's death, or whether Floyd's death was coincidental and unrelated. But the defence objected, and Fowler was not permitted to answer. Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyds death after his arrest on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 at a neighbourhood market. The video of Floyd gasping that he couldn't breathe as bystanders yelled at Chauvin to get off him triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious examination of racism and policing in the U.S. The defence hasnt said whether Chauvin will take the stand. Earlier Wednesday, Judge Peter Cahill turned down a defence request to acquit Chauvin, rejecting claims that prosecutors failed to prove Chauvins actions killed Floyd. Requests for an acquittal are routinely made midway through a trial and are usually denied. Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan. Associated Press video journalist Angie Wang contributed from Atlanta. New York state hit a milestone on Monday, announcing that one-quarter of the population statewide is now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But staying true to the roller coaster of the last 13 months, that good news was accompanied by a setback. On Tuesday morning, the state announced that it would halt administration of Johnson & Johnsons one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, following federal authorities call for a pause because of a very small number of recipients experiencing severe blood clotting issues. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration cited six women across the country, among nearly seven million who received Johnson & Johnsons one-dose vaccine, who developed a rare and severe type of blood clot. One woman died and another is in critical condition. Though that represents a tiny fraction of all those who have received the shot, the regulators recommended a pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution, while they review the blood clot cases. While its unclear how long this pause will last, it will likely impede efforts by New York City and the state to vaccinate people in particular, people who face barriers to accessing the vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has some advantages over the other vaccines that have been approved for emergency use in the United States. Johnson & Johnson requires only one dose and it is also less cumbersome to store and ship than the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which each require storage at unusually cold temperatures. These qualities make the Johnson & Johnson vaccine somewhat simpler to deploy for pop-up vaccination sites and in administering the shot to homebound people. New York City has relied exclusively on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for its door-to-door program vaccinating homebound people, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said that program will have to be suspended for now. The state, meanwhile, has used Johnson & Johnson for its pop-up vaccination sites at New York City Housing Authority developments, community centers and churches, though not exclusively. These sites have also been administering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. A spokesperson for the state Department of Health told City & State in an email Tuesday afternoon that the state has enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to keep up the current vaccination rate, including at 16 new community-based pop-up sites announced last week. But on Tuesday night, after the deadline for this story had passed, the spokesperson sent a new statement and clarified that not all pop-up sites will immediately be able to adapt to offer Moderna or Pfizer in place of Johnson & Johnson. That means that fewer New Yorkers will be able to be vaccinated at pop-up sites while the Johnson & Johnson pause is in effect. Some pop-up sites were able to adjust operations in order to proceed as planned while others are rescheduling for later dates, Samantha Fuld wrote in an email Tuesday night, noting that people with Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointments should check for updates from their medical providers. We will continue to work with all providers and use all means necessary to get this life-saving vaccine to eligible New Yorkers statewide, particularly those in hard-hit communities. These pop-up sites and at-home vaccinations are part of a larger effort to increase vaccinations among populations hit hardest by the pandemic, including people of color and low-income people, and among those who may be hesitant about getting the vaccine or who lack easy access to it. Not having the convenient one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine in New Yorks arsenal could mean a setback for that effort. The optimism around the J&J shot was the feasibility, said Dr. Melody Goodman, associate dean for research at the New York University School of Global Public Health. I do think it's more challenging getting everyone vaccinated and making it easy for people to get vaccinated, she said, of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine being put on pause. Goodman added that all medications have side effects, and that the cases of blood clot shouldnt discourage people from getting the vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy remains an issue across demographic groups, and has been shown to be highest among white Republicans. But New York has made a concerted effort to address concerns about the vaccine in Black communities, where distrust in the American medical system stems from the deeply rooted systemic racism of American health care. Some public health authorities, including Tom DAngelo, president of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, said they hope the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will last only a few days. Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner of the FDA, also said it was expected to last a matter of days. For however long it does last, it will likely affect the administration of some of the city and states programs to vaccinate hard-to-reach populations, possibly making it more difficult to bridge the gap in vaccinations that still exists between white New Yorkers and people of color. Statewide, white people account for over 75% of people who have received at least one vaccine dose while making up 70% of the adult population, and Black people account for 10% of that group, despite making up roughly 17% of the population. New York Citys program to vaccinate homebound people including seniors and people with disabilities has relied exclusively on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. De Blasio said Tuesday that the program will have to be suspended for now. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said that the city will try to shift people with Johnson & Johnson appointments at city sites to either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine when possible. But the details on how the city will cope with the loss of Johnson & Johnson remain unclear. Meanwhile, some of the states efforts to combat inequity in vaccinations have been focused on pop-up vaccination sites at NYCHA developments, churches and other community sites. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is used at these pop-ups, though the other vaccines have been used as well. Fuld, the Department of Health spokesperson, said that pop-up sites are re-established at the same location three to four weeks later, in order to provide people their second doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. While not all pop-up sites will be able proceed as planned to offer the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine in place of the Johnson & Johnson, some of them will, Fuld said. For now, public housing residents and others accessing those pop-up sites will have to count on making that return visit. April Simpson, president of the Queensbridge Houses Residents Association, said that she received the two-dose Moderna vaccine at a pop-up site at Queensbridge, and said it was easy to come back for the second appointment. I was hesitant at first, but all my doctors encouraged me, Simpson said. My first shot was a breeze. My second shot left a little more to be desired. I had the symptoms of a little cold and body aches, and I had a headache. It lasted about two-and-a-half days, and then I was fine. Simpson added that after she received her first dose, she was told when to come back for her second and received several reminder calls ahead of the scheduled second dose. While administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is paused, Goodman said its important to remember that New Yorkers shouldnt be afraid of getting that vaccine or any of the others approved for use. I think people are willing to tolerate a large number of side effects, but its like vaccines are not allowed to have any, she said. I think thats a ridiculous expectation for us to have, given that almost all medications we take have side effects. This story has been updated with a new statement from the state Department of Health. One of the largest rural lifestyle retailers nationally is moving into a portion of the vacant Kmart store in Wind Gap. Tractor Supply Co. plans to move into the site at 801 Male Road by summer, a chain spokesman told lehighvalleylive.com. The company is known for its extensive mix of products necessary to care for home, property and pets. Theres also heating fuel, along with hardware and maintenance supplies. Other regional locations include Lower Nazareth, Upper Macungie and Lehighton, as well as in Blairstown and Washington, Warren County. The Wind Gap opening comes on the heels of the chain on Tuesday announcing plans to expand its Carhartt offering in dozens of retail stores nationally. Carhartt, a leading workwear manufacturer and a decades-long partner of Tractor Supply, will be adding several thousand additional square feet of branded, in-store shopping space. The new shop-in-shop concept, which currently is in 10 stores nationally, will roll out in more than 100 Tractor Supply stores this year with an additional 25 stores added in 2022, the spokesman said. Its unclear if the Wind Gap location is part of the 2021 lineup. Each Tractor Supply store typically has about 15,500 square feet of retail space indoors with a similar amount of space outdoors. The Wind Gap store will be similar in size, the spokesman said. The Wind Gap Plaza site also plans to create jobs. About 15 new positions are up for grabs with at least half the total being full-time jobs. All the positions can be found at tractorsupply.jobs. Tractor Supply joins Ocean State Job Lot stores, which opened in September 2020 in the other portion of the Kmart building. Ocean State Jobs in September 2020 announced it would be seeking tenants to occupy the 50,000 square feet of the former Kmart space remaining at the time. A third tenant is being sought for the building. David Steinberg, director of leasing and real estate for Ocean State Job Lot, said Thursday the company is working to lease the remaining 20,000-square-feet of space at the Wind Gap site. (Ocean State Job Lot) will share the details once a tenant has been secured, he said. Kmart in March 2020 closed the Wind Gap location after parent company, Sears Holdings, announced in August 2019 it would be closing four additional stores in New Jersey and the Wilson Borough location in Pennsylvania. By mid-December 2019, the Wilson Borough store was shuttered after a couple months of liquidation sales. The Wilson store remains vacant. A Tractor Supply spokesman did not immediately have information Wednesday if the chain had any interest in that property along 25th Street. Founded more than eight decades ago, Tractor Supply operates more than 1,900 stores in 49 states and has an e-commerce website, TractorSupply.com. It also owns and operates Petsense, a small-box pet specialty supply retailer focused on meeting the needs of pet owners, primarily in small and mid-size communities across 25 states, and offering a variety of pet products and services. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The emergence of innovative solutions, that improve mechanical endurance of food products and provide them longer shelf-life, has exerted importance on the use of active and modified atmosphere packaging. In terms of value, the global market for active and modified atmosphere packaging is predicted to reach US$ XX Bn in 2018, and will continue to expand at a CAGR of over xx% during the forecast period 2018-2025. Trends Market Research (TMR) has compiled in-depth research on the markets insights and global analysis of growth opportunities is compiled in the report titled, Active and Modified Atmosphere Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2025. Developments in global food packaging industry such as self-venting microwave packs and respiring trays will continue influencing the demand for active & modified atmosphere packaging solutions. Moreover, the consumption for active & modified atmosphere packaging products will be majorly concentrated among meat producer and retailers as they require packaging methods that provided better sustenance in terms of biodegradability and compostability. Although, packaging material recyclability and increasing initial costs in packaging processes are expected to curb the expansion of global active & modified atmosphere packaging market. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3427 In terms of revenues, the global market for active & modified atmosphere packaging is projected to exceed US$ XX Bn by the end of forecast period 2018-2025. APAC region will dominate the market, increasing at a CAGR of over xx% over the forecast period. Among the markets regional segmentation, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will continue to procure leading value share in the global market. However, the APAC region will face close competition by the active & modified atmosphere packaging market in Latin America, which will exhibit a similar CAGR during the forecast period. Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/3427/Single Amcor Limited, Sealed Air Corporation, Winpak Limited Company, Coveris Holdings S.A., Berry Plastic Group Inc., Bemis Company Inc., Linpac Packaging, ULMA Packaging, and S. Coop and Ilapac International S.A., among others are recognised as some of the leading companies contributing to the growth of the global active & modified atmosphere packaging market. Based on the applications, the global market for active & modified atmosphere packaging is segmented into processed food products, bakery & confectionery, fruits & vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry & seafood, and others. Demand for modified atmosphere packaging is higher in fruit & vegetable vendors, while active packaging products are consumed higher in food processing companies. By 2018, the processed food segment is anticipated to account for XX% of the total revenue share of global active and modified atmosphere packaging market. Based on the material type, the global market is further segmented into polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polypropylene, and others. Polymer materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate provide additional properties to several active & modified atmosphere packaging materials. Get Request for Table of Contents: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3427 Aubrey Wright, Daunte Wrights father, consoles Chyna Whitaker, the mother of Daunte Wright Jr. Photo: Jennifer Ackerman/The New York Times Keno Evol had bought gas masks for people in Minneapolis to protest a potential not-guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murdering George Floyd. Then another Black man was killed by police, just ten miles away. When we lost Daunte, the gas masks had to be used earlier than expected, he said. Police violently responded to protests for Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, the Minneapolis suburb where the 20-year-old was killed, firing tear gas and rubber bullets at crowds of people. After a summer of unrest following Floyds death, community members knew what to do immediately after another police killing. They started donating money and bringing diapers and nonperishable food to Wrights family, including his 2-year-old son, and members of his community. It reminds us that not only do we always have to stand in readiness for the state and for police officers, but we also need to stand ready for each other and show up for each other, said Evol, the founder of the Black Table Arts co-operative. Even in the context of Black pain, we combated by showing up for each other. Demonstrators protesting face off with police near the Brooklyn Center police station. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Protests started the night Wright was killed and have been ongoing since. By the 7 p.m. curfew each night, protesters have filled the streets of Humboldt Ave. outside the Brooklyn Center Police Departments headquarters. On Monday, 40 people were arrested, police said. By Tuesday night, the National Guard lined the police station, ringed with chain-link fencing and armored vehicles. That night, there were more than 60 arrests, according to state police. The protests showed no sign of slowing down ahead of a prosecutors decision to file manslaughter charges against Kim Potter, the 26-year veteran police officer who was training a new cop when she shot and killed Wright. During a vigil Monday night where Wright was killed, more than 500 people gathered to express that same pain for Wright that many felt less than a year ago when Floyd was killed. Even before we could finish saying his name, we had to add another one to the list, said Dewayne Davis, the pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis and one of several clergymen who spoke. Were not going to let you take our brother away from us and forget. Were not going to forget to say his name, and every time you see us, youre going to hear us say it again, Davis told the crowd. They gathered in front of a large wooden statue of a raised Black fist that had been moved there from George Floyd Square. The memorial that took place for Wright was in many ways similar to the one held for Floyd people made the same calls and expressed the same frustration they had last summer, just singing a new name. Daunte Wright is my little brother, they chanted. Wrights aunt said at a press conference Tuesday with Floyds family that Floyds girlfriend was once Wrights teacher going to show just how small the Black community is in the Twin Cities. If anything happens to anybody, either you know them personally or you know someone that knows someone that knows them, said 22-year-old activist Isak Douah I know people personally whove met George Floyd. Naisha Wright (R) embraces Katie Wright (C), the mother of Daunte Wright, as she speaks during a press conference. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Douah has been in the streets protesting and volunteering since last summer, including volunteering as security for George Floyd Square. Since the start of the Chauvin trial last month, hes shifted toward focusing on the mental wellness of Black youth with a podcast. Isaks father, Remi Douah, has felt the same duty. A mental-health professional, he brings a folding chair to a place just outside the artist-made graveyard near where Floyd was killed to offer counseling. The idea came as a result of so many people coming out of this experience watching so many representations of dead bodies and feeling like saying something, Douah said, seated in front of mock tombstones bearing names of people killed by police: Jamar Clark, Philando Castille, George Floyd, Dolal Idd, and soon Daunte Wright. I usually ask about three questions: What makes you happy? When was the last time you were happy? What were you doing? And then how together can we bring it back? Douah said. Douah started an organization called 846S to address mental-health issues in the Black community in the midst of coping with trauma from police violence named for the eight minutes and 46 seconds that Chavin knelt on Floyds neck. (Prosecutors now say it lasted even longer, nine minutes and 29 seconds.) Theres one person who I spoke to who blew my mind in terms of what healing means, he said. Healing means we dont need to live in a food desert, healing means that we need to have access to a good living and paying wages, healing means addressing the social determinants of health. As the Chauvin trial wraps up, with the prosecution having rested its case on Tuesday, and the investigation into Wrights death continues, Douah said he will continue offering support to a community reeling from one trauma after another. The beam of light passes through a disordered medium and projects the same picture onto the detector that would be detected without the medium. Why is sugar not transparent? Because light that penetrates a piece of sugar is scattered, altered and deflected in a highly complicated way. However, as a research team from TU Wien (Vienna) and Utrecht University (Netherlands) has now been able to show, there is a class of very special light waves for which this does not apply: for any specific disordered medium such as the sugar cube you may just have put in your coffee tailor-made light beams can be constructed that are practically not changed by this medium, but only attenuated. The light beam penetrates the medium, and a light pattern arrives on the other side that has the same shape as if the medium were not there at all. This idea of "scattering-invariant modes of light" can also be used to specifically examine the interior of objects. The results have now been published in the journal Nature Photonics. An astronomical number of possible wave forms The waves on a turbulent water surface can take on an infinite number of different shapes and in a similar way, light waves can also be made in countless different forms. "Each of these light wave patterns is changed and deflected in a very specific way when you send it through a disordered medium," explains Prof. Stefan Rotter from the Institute of Theoretical Physics at TU Wien. Together with his team, Stefan Rotter is developing mathematical methods to describe such light scattering effects. The expertise to produce and characterise such complex light fields was contributed by the team around Prof. Allard Mosk at Utrecht University. "As a light-scattering medium, we used a layer of zinc oxide an opaque, white powder of completely randomly arranged nanoparticles," explains Allard Mosk, the head of the experimental research group. First, you have to characterise this layer precisely. You shine very specific light signals through the zinc oxide powder and measure how they arrive at the detector behind it. From this, you can then conclude how any other wave is changed by this medium in particular, you can calculate specifically which wave pattern is changed by this zinc oxide layer exactly as if wave scattering was entirely absent in this layer. "As we were able to show, there is a very special class of light waves the so-called scattering-invariant light modes, which produce exactly the same wave pattern at the detector, regardless of whether the light wave was only sent through air or whether it had to penetrate the complicated zinc oxide layer," says Stefan Rotter. "In the experiment, we see that the zinc oxide actually does not change the shape of these light waves at all they just get a little weaker overall," explains Allard Mosk. A stellar constellation at the light detector As special and rare as these scattering-invariant light modes may be, with the theoretically unlimited number of possible light waves, one can still find many of them. And if you combine several of these scattering-invariant light modes in the right way, you get a scattering-invariant waveform again. "In this way, at least within certain limits, you are quite free to choose which image you want to send through the object without interference," says Jeroen Bosch, who worked on the experiment as a Ph.D. student. "For the experiment we chose a constellation as an example: The Big Dipper. And indeed, it was possible to determine a scattering-invariant wave that sends an image of the Big Dipper to the detector, regardless of whether the light wave is scattered by the zinc oxide layer or not. To the detector, the light beam looks almost the same in both cases." A look inside the cell This method of finding light patterns that penetrate an object largely undisturbed could also be used for imaging procedures. "In hospitals, X-rays are used to look inside the body they have a shorter wavelength and can therefore penetrate our skin. But the way a light wave penetrates an object depends not only on the wavelength, but also on the waveform," says Matthias Kuhmayer, who works as a Ph.D. student on computer simulations of wave propagation. "If you want to focus light inside an object at certain points, then our method opens up completely new possibilities. We were able to show that using our approach the light distribution inside the zinc oxide layer can also be specifically controlled." This could be interesting for biological experiments, for example, where you want to introduce light at very specific points in order to look deep inside cells. What the joint publication of the scientists from the Netherlands and Austria shows already is how important international cooperation between theory and experiment is for achieving progress in this area of research. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. He had on Tuesday isolated himself after some officials in his contact tested positive for "After initial symptoms, I got myself tested. My report is positive. I am in self-isolation and following doctors advice. I am doing all the works virtually," Adityanath tweeted from his official Twitter handle. Earlier, he had said, "The officers of my office tested positive for They were in touch with me, therefore, as a precaution, I am isolating myself and starting all my work digitally." Some officials, including his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Abhishek Kaushik, tested positive for COVID-19. The chief minister, however, had not identified the officials who were tested for the infection. ALBANY, N.Y., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oleate esters are the esters or salts of oleic acids, where the raw materials are sourced from animal fats and wide variety of vegetable oils, including palm oil. The use of natural raw materials make oleate esters highly attractive in a wide spectrum of industrial and commercial applications. Some of them are methyl oleates, ethyl oleates, and butyl oleates, where a majority of products is utilized for their high solvency in lubricants, agrochemicals, and oil-based formulations. For instance, methyl ester is preferred in making lubricants due to its stability, biodegradability, and renewability. The consumption of oleate esters is rising in personal care industry. Constant focus on improving the efficacy and safety of major product categories is a key trend in the oleate esters market. The global oleate esters market is projected to clock CAGR of ~ 5.0% between 2019 and 2027. By the end of this period, the valuation is expected to surpass US$ 2.63 Bn. Request for Covid-19 Impact Analysis on Oleate Esters Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Covid19.php Key Findings of Oleate Esters Market Study Vast Uptake due to Wide Range of Applications to Drive Innovation The rising uptake of oleate esters in wide range of applications including agrochemical, cosmetics, and lubricants is a key driver for revenue growth in the oleate esters market. They are also utilized in plasticizers, and absorbents, due to the presence of natural raw materials. The presence of palm oil, canola oil, soybean oil makes it a desirable chemical formulation in all major applications. Thus, it is essential for manufacturers of oleate esters to aim at formulations that can modify the properties suitably such as for meeting the functional characteristics of the final products. Thus, they are finding massive demand in the lubricant industry. Rise in demand for oleate esters for agrochemicals makes the agriculture industry a potentially lucrative segment in the oleate esters market. Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php Manufacturers Keen on Spurring Production Volumes In the backdrop of the massive scale of demand in various industries, manufacturers are leaning on boosting their production output. A great deal of the demand is due to the vast utilization of oil based formulations in chemicals of commercial significance. The use of cost-effective raw materials is thus a key trend expanding the avenue in the market. Growing demand for these in automotive industries is a key factor in spurring volumes of production of oleate esters. View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/18347 Oleate Esters Market: Key Driving Factors and Avenues Rapid pace of industrialization is a key trend spurring the uptake of oleate esters in various industrial applications Growing awareness about the use of natural raw sources is a key aspect Oleate Esters Market: Regional Assessment North America and Asia Pacific are lucrative markets. and are lucrative markets. The rapid pace of industrialization over the past few decades is a key trend in these markets. Their combined share is more than 50% of the global oleate esters market Vast scale of production and consumption drive the revenue in the regional market Strides made in personal care ingredients in the U.S. are bolstering the sales in the market. Europe is expected to be emerging market over the forecast horizon. Oleate Esters Market: Key Participants The Victorian Chemical Company Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. Kao Corporation Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) Wilmar International Ltd. Procter & Gamble Top players are engaging in strategic partnerships to gain a competitive edge over their rivals and peers. A growing number of players have been consolidating their production capacity in major and emerging regional markets. Purchase Premium Research Report on Oleate Esters Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals and Materials Industry, Sodium Oleate Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sodium-oleate-market.html Trimethylolpropane Trioleate Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/trimethylolpropane-trioleate-market.html Explore More Upcoming Reports: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/upcoming.htm About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/oleate-esters-market.htm Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com SOURCE Transparency Market Research Describing the genetic diversity of human populations is essential to improve our understanding of human diseases and their geographical distribution. However, the vast majority of genetic studies have been focused on populations of European ancestry, which represent only 16% of the global population. Scientists at the Institut Pasteur, College de France, and CNRS have looked at understudied human populations from the South Pacific, which are severely affected by a variety of diseases, including vector-borne infectious diseases such as Zika virus, dengue, and chikungunya, and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Using genome sequencing of 320 individuals, the scientists have investigated how human populations have biologically adapted to the environments of the Pacific islands and how this has affected their current state of health. This study has also revealed hitherto unsuspected aspects of the history of human settlement in this region. This work is published in the April 14th, 2021 issue of Nature. An international consortium of scientists organized by Etienne Patin (CNRS/Institut Pasteur) and Lluis Quintana-Murci (College de France/Institut Pasteur) was set up to characterize the genetic diversity of populations in the South Pacific, a region full of contrasts with its myriad islands that have been settled at very different time periods. Indeed, shortly after humans left Africa, they settled Near Oceania (Papua-New-Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands) approximately 45,000 years ago, while the rest of the Pacific, known as Remote Oceania (Vanuatu, the Wallis and Futuna Islands, Polynesia, etc.), remained uninhabited. It was only approximately 40,000 years later that Remote Oceania was peopled: it is currently accepted that a group of humans left Taiwan 5,000 years ago - a migration known as the 'Austronesian expansion' - passed through the Philippines, Indonesia, and the already-inhabited Near Oceanian islands to eventually settle Remote Oceania for the first time. En route to these remote lands, the ancestors of South Pacific populations met with groups of archaic humans, with whom they interbred. While 2-3% of modern-day Oceanian populations' genetic material is inherited from Neanderthals (which all populations outside Africa also possess), up to 3% of their genomes is also inherited from Denisovans (relatives of Neanderthals thought to have originated in Asia). It was already known that modern humans inherited beneficial mutations from Neanderthals via admixture, which improved their ability to adapt to their environment, including resistance to viral infections (Cell, 2016 ). In this study published today, scientists from the Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit (Institut Pasteur/CNRS ) in collaboration with various laboratories in France , Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, China, and Taiwan have sought to shed light on how ancient admixture helped Pacific populations to adapt to their specific island environments, including any pathogens encountered. Historical events traced using genetics Based on whole-genome-sequencing of over 320 individuals from Taiwan, the Philippines, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands, and Vanuatu, this work published in the Nature journal has helped tracing the history of the human settlement of Oceania. First, the scientists have dated the settlement of the various islands of Near Oceania back to approximately 40,000 years, thus confirming archaeological records. They have also demonstrated that this initial settlement was followed by a period of genetic isolation between islands. "Our results confirm that humans were able to cross the seas to reach new lands from an early stage. However, they also suggest that these voyages were relatively infrequent at this distant period in history," explains Etienne Patin, a CNRS scientist within the Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit at the Institut Pasteur. Moreover, the results of the study reveal a major reduction in the size of these populations just before the settlement. Second, the study challenges the theory, known as the Out-of-Taiwan model, that a population left Taiwan approximately 5,000 years ago to rapidly settle Near and Remote Oceania. "Our analyses suggest that humans left Taiwan more than 5,000 years ago, and that admixture between the Austronesian incomers and the populations of Near Oceania started only 2,000 years later. The expansions from Taiwan therefore took some time, and may have involved a maturation phase in the Philippines or Indonesia," comments Etienne Patin. The heritage of Neanderthals and Denisovans in South Pacific populations Through this work, it has been possible to estimate the proportions of Neanderthal and Denisovan material in the genomes of South Pacific populations. "We were surprised to note that, contrary to the Neanderthal heritage, which is very similar among the twenty populations studied (approximately 2.5%), the Denisovan legacy varies considerably between populations, from virtually 0% in Taiwan and the Philippines to up to 3.2% in Papua-New-Guinea and Vanuatu" comments Lluis Quintana-Murci, Professor at the College de France, holder of the Chair in Human Genomics and Evolution, and Head of the Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit (Institut Pasteur/CNRS). But this was not the only surprise. The study confirms that Neanderthals provided modern human populations with beneficial mutations associated with numerous phenotypes: skin pigmentation, metabolism, neuronal development, etc. However, the most surprising finding is that admixture with Denisovans has almost exclusively brought beneficial mutations related to immune response regulation. This suggests that the Denisovan heritage has been a reservoir of advantageous mutations, which have improved the Pacific populations' ability to survive local pathogens. Therefore, it appears that these populations have benefited from the advantages bestowed through admixture with both forms of archaic humans. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that admixture with Denisovans did not occur at once, but over the course of at least four independent events. It shows that the Denisovans with whom the Pacific populations interbred were in fact highly diverse populations. This conclusion was impossible to deduce from the single genome of a Denisovan specimen found in Siberia: "One of the strengths of these analyses is that, by studying the 3% of archaic heritage present in the genomes of modern humans, one can 'resurrect' Denisovans' genomes, and thus show that they presented high levels of genetic diversity," comments Lluis Quintana-Murci. Finally, besides the biological adaptation enabled by archaic admixture, the scientists have found that lipid metabolism, cholesterol in particular, was also a target of natural selection among Oceanian peoples. This insight will potentially improve our understanding of why recent changes in these populations' lifestyle may be associated with metabolic disorders. By taking an evolutionary genetics approach, it is possible to shed light on the history of populations' biological adaptation to their environment, and provide the scientific community with valuable information on specific human traits. These large-scale genomic studies will eventually help us better understand the genetic causes of diseases affecting some regions of the globe, where medical research has hitherto been scarce. ### .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal PORTALES Lesser prairie chickens have a tough life. Energy development and severe drought have left the colorful grouse with few pockets of prairie in New Mexico. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must decide by May 26 whether the bird should again be added to the endangered species list. A federal listing could mandate species protection practices from ranchers, farmers and energy companies in the birds five-state range. Tish McDaniel, a grouse biologist, said the ebb and flow species depends on a habitat of ample grass and shrubs in the shinnery oak ecosystem. The health of the prairie chicken is kind of the health of the prairie, she said. If the prairie chickens not doing well, the prairies not doing well. And theres not much out here right now. The lifelong Portales resident helped establish the 28,000-acre Milnesand Preserve for the birds as part of her career with the Nature Conservancy. All of our grassland bird species are important, and theyre in trouble, McDaniel said. Ive been watching prairie chickens all my life. It would be a shame if people didnt get to see that any more. McDaniel surveys local land for prairie chicken population counts, so she knows the best places to see the birds put on a show at dawn on cool spring mornings. Male prairie chickens gather on leks, or mating grounds, to attract female birds. The birds strut across the grassland as the sun rises. The little grouse fan their feathers and inflate air sacs to make a booming sound. An October 2020 report released by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies estimates a population of about 5,100 of the birds in eastern New Mexico and west Texas. That statistic is up about 300 birds since the 2018 survey, but still well below what biologists say are sustainable numbers. Oil and gas, wind, and solar energy development can push prairie chickens away from their best habitat. The birds avoid tall structures such as wind turbines or oil rigs because predatory raptors may perch there. Portales-area rancher Mack Kizer remembers seeing flocks of 1,000 prairie chickens. Now, the birds are sparse. Right now, rain is our biggest obstacle to keeping the moisture during the hatching seasons so they can hatch up and raise a crop, Kizer said. This will be going on three years of a major drought like weve never seen before. We only got 3.5 inches down here last year. In early 2020, more than 2,000 acres of Kizers Lost Draw Ranch became a permanent conservation easement to protect the lesser prairie chicken. Xcel Energy helped fund the easement to offset the massive nearby Sagamore Wind Project, a 100,000-acre, 240-turbine wind farm. Xcel also relocated some planned turbines that would have been on prime habitat. The birds are special here, Kizer said. Its good to use my land for them. Fish and Wildlife in 2014 listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The birds habitat spans parts of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas. Lesser prairie chicken populations need large tracts of relatively intact native grasslands and prairies to survive, the 2014 listing decision states. Significant threats to the LPC include habitat loss, modification, degradation and fragmentation within its range. A federal judge soon overturned the decision after a lawsuit from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and four southeast New Mexico counties. Judge Robert Junell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas said Fish and Wildlife had failed to consider current conservation programs when listing the bird. In 2016, an environmental coalition petitioned for a relisting. The U.S. Interior Department agreed that Fish and Wildlife would issue a decision by May 26, 2021, as to whether the lesser prairie chicken warrants federal protection. Wayne Walker, founder of Common Ground Capital, works with landowners and industry to fund mitigation projects on private land. The former wind energy developer said government programs should help ranchers see the birds as an opportunity, not an obstacle. Conservation has to pay private landowners, Walker said. We need to get mitigation dollars in the right place, at the right volume, at a reasonable cost, so we can actually start building some conservation back with this bird, in addition to offsetting industry impacts. Groups across five states under the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies patch together land purchases for habitat so that bird populations dont plummet further. But some argue that the current program isnt meeting its objectives to protect the chicken and restore prairie habitat. Wildlife agencies and private companies must face the true cost of permanent conservation, said Adam Riggsbee, founder of RiverBank Conservation, which owns prairie chicken easements on 13,000 acres in New Mexico and Texas. Wind is a resource and intact prairie is a resource, and you have to allocate those resources wisely, Riggsbee said. Our model is to go out, find the land, cut those deals, get the sites approved through the Fish and Wildlife Service, then put a price tag on it to make sure we charge the right value to our customers, which are oil and gas, wind, solar. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommend special livestock grazing plans to preserve chicken habitat. Removing invasive plants and tall structures and using prescribed burns to reduce wildfires also help restore the land. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of Justice has intensified an antitrust probe into American Airlines' (AAL) partnership with JetBlue Airways on apprehensions that the partnership could result in high fares at important traffic points, Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The first phase of the deal was inaugurated by both airlines in February even while the Justice Department and attorneys general of New York, Massachusetts and other places were studying the partnership. The U.S Department of Justice is looking into codeshares on nearly 80 routes from New York and Boston. The department initiated the probe as it felt that such a deal will kill competition in the already busy airports at New York and Boston. The Justice Department report said that the investigation is ongoing and no final conclusions have been arrived at. American Airlines and JetBlue had announced their partnership in July 2020. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) will not support in Parliament a Liberal minority government, and snap election is the only solution if the governing coalition parties cannot sort out the current crisis. "PSD will throw its parliamentary support behind no Liberal minority government whatsoever. PSD will support no government led by the National Liberal Party (PNL) or the Save Romania Union - Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (USR PLUS) alliance. PSD categorically rules out any such scenario," PSD said in a statement on Wednesday, agerpres.ro confirms. According to the Social Democrats, President Klaus Iohannis and the three parties "that lost the election last year" are responsible for the crisis "they have single-handedly created". "If Iohannis is not able to do his job as a mediator, the only solution is to return to the people through snap elections, because the current Parliament no longer meets the popular will, and the Romanians have figured out how harmful PNL and USR PLUS are for the entire society," the statement reads. Delhi Chief Minister on Wednesday welcomed the Central government's decision to cancel or postpone the Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) board exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic and called it a "great relief" for lakhs of students and their parents. "I am glad that the exams have been cancelled/postponed. This is a great relief for lakhs of students and their parents," tweeted Board Exams for Class 10th have been cancelled and 12th exams have been postponed, said the Union Ministry of on Wednesday after a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is to mention that Kejriwal had on Tuesday urged the Centre to cancel the board examinations amid a rise in the number of cases in the national capital. Addressing a press conference here today, Kejriwal had said, "6 lakh children in Delhi are going to write exams. Nearly 1 lakh teachers will be a part of it. These can become major hotspots leading to large-scale spreading of Corona. Children's lives and health is very important to us. I request Centre to cancel exams." Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia urged the to promote Class 12 students on the basis of internal assessment. "I am happy that Class 10 exams are being cancelled and dates are being rescheduled for class 12 exams. Like Class 10 students, I appeal to the government to promote Class 12 students on the basis of internal assessment," Manish Sisodia. Union Minister further told ANI that students of class 10th to be promoted on basis of internal assessment. If student not satisfied with the internal assessment then can give examination once situation will be Normal 21,50,761 students were scheduled to appear in Class X CBSE board exams while 14,30,24 students are supposed to take the Class XII exams. CBSE, in normal circumstances, schedules Board exams for Classes X and XII from February 15 to the first week of April. (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: Yet another case of sexual assault on a woman has been reported from Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh where four men gang-raped a 25-year-old woman at gunpoint. The culprits allegedly abducted the victim by pointing a gun and then dragged her to a field and raped her in front of her husband, police said. The accused are yet to be identified. Superintendent of Police Ajay Sehdev said that the woman was returning from a village with her husband and three-month-old child on a motorbike when they were waylaid by the four men in a car near Nirgajni village. The four pulled her off the bike and dragged her to a sugarcane field nearby and took turns to rape her. Then they threatened her and her husband against disclosing the incident to anyone. Four men dragged me to a sugarcane farm and raped me. They constantly threatened to kill my child, also tied and beat up my husband, the victim was quoted as saying by ANI. The police said the accused are yet to be identified. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. [April 14, 2021] Global $26.9 Billion Simulation Software Market to 2026: Technology Analysis of Digital Twins, IoT and Iiot, AI and ML, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality & 5G DUBLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Simulation Software Market by Component (Software (FEA, CFD), Services), Deployment (Cloud, On-premises), Application (Product Engineering, R&D, and Gamification), Vertical (Automobile, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global simulation software market size is expected to grow from an estimated value of USD 12.7 billion in 2020 to USD 26.9 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.2% from 2020 to 2026. The simulation software market is driven by various factors, such as a reduction in production expenses and training costs, the use of advanced technologies for simulation and avoiding the production of faulty products to boost the growth of the simulation software market across the globe during the forecast period. However, complexities in integrating software and increasing data security concerns can hinder the growth. Professional services segment to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period Professional services of simulation software include consulting services, training services, engineering and integration services, and support services. These services play a critical role in the efficient and effective designing and implementation of the simulation software. Consulting services, such as 3D data visualization and simulation selection, ensure fast and low-risk execution of simulation. Engineering and integration services are the crucial use cases of R&D processes across verticals, such as automobile, mining, and healthcare. Training services are the vital components of simulation services. It helps engineers and product owners understanding the functioning of the product in real-time scenarios. This is an essential and critical service for verticals, such as aerospace and defense, ship building and marines, chemicals, and automobiles. Support and maintenance services include technical support, knowledge sharing, and software upgrades. Support and maintenance services are offered as a separate contract to the buyer of the simulation and analysis software by the support team. These services are ofered to satisfy customers' simulation and analysis requirements. On premise segment to account for a higher market share during the forecast period On the end-user side, the simulation and analysis technology has to be installed or integrated to create virtual environments for designing, PLM, verification, and validation purposes. The on-premises deployment mode is the primary method provided by companies to their employees due to security concerns. The on-premises deployment of simulation and analysis technology helps in maintaining its privacy. However, installing the simulation and analysis technology is a complex process as it has to be integrated with the complex infrastructure of organizations. Asia Pacific to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period The simulation software market in the Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. APAC has a potential for growth in the simulation software market. APAC is expected to witness extensive growth opportunities in the manufacturing and IT sectors during the forecast period. The existence of a large population, developing infrastructure and technology and affluence of sources are the major factors contributing to the growth of the simulation software market in the region. The government of India and China have been accelerating the manufacturing sector for developing and verifying cars, IT related products and solutions, and defense equipment. High market growth is also anticipated due to technological advancements and utilization of the simulation and analysis technology. The rapid expansion of the domestic market, as well as global enterprises in the region, is also an important factor in the growth of the simulation software market in the region. Market Overview and Industry Trends Premium Insights Reduction in Production Expenses and Training Costs to Boost Growth of Market Software Segment to Hold Larger Market Size During Forecast Period Finite Element Analysis Segment to Hold Largest Market Size During Forecast Period Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Segment and Asia-Pacific Region to Grow at High Growth Rates During Forecast Period Asia-Pacific to Emerge as Best Market for Investments in Next Six Years Drivers Reduction in Production Expenses and Training Costs Use of Advanced Technologies for Simulation Avoiding Production of Faulty Products Restraints Complexities in Integrating Software and Increasing Data Security Concerns Opportunities High Spending on Simulation in Aerospace, Healthcare, and Defense Challenges Lack of Standard Benchmark to Measure Outputs Use Cases Use Case: Siemens Use Case: Anylogic Use Case: Createasoft Regulatory Landscape German Civil Code Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (Siso) International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (Inacsl) Open Geospatial Consortium (Ogc) Technology Analysis Digital Twins IoT and Iiot Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality 5G Companies Mentioned Altair Engineering Ansys Anylogic Apriori Autodesk Aveva AVL List GmbH Bentley System Certara Cesim Comsol Cybernet Dassault Systemes Flexisim Honeywell Keysight Technologies Mathworks Mosimtec MSC Software Presagis Prosim PTC Ptv Group Scalable Networks Siemens Simio Simscale Simul8 Corp Spirent Communications Synopsys For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sn7ncv Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-26-9-billion-simulation-software-market-to-2026-technology-analysis-of-digital-twins-iot-and-iiot-ai-and-ml-augmented-reality-and-virtual-reality--5g-301268860.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global polypropylene compounds market size is anticipated to reach USD 35.19 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., growingat a CAGR of 7.6% from 2021 to 2028. Increasing requirement for flame retardancy and improved heat resistance and serviceability of plastics in the electrical & electronics industry is the primary factor driving the growth of the global market. In addition, regulations in western markets, including the EU and the U.S., which are aimed at vehicular weight reduction are further fueling the demand for polypropylene (PP) compounds in the automotive industry. Key suggestions from the report: The global market was valued at USD 17.59 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2021 to 2028 Mineral filled PP compounds will continue to be the largest product segment of the global market over the forecast period In terms of revenue, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of more than 46% of the global market in 2020 and is estimated to register the fastest CAGR over the next eight years The growth of the APAC regional market is attributed to the rapid expansion of the end-use industries, such as automotive, and electrical & electronics, in emerging economies like China and India Europe is estimated to account for the second-largest revenue share of the global market by 2028 Read 119 page research report with ToC on "Polypropylene Compounds Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Mineral Filled, Compounded TPV), By End-use (Automotive, Electrical & Electronics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028" at:https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polypropylene-pp-compounds-market The mineral-filled product segment is expected to hold a dominant market share owing to the superior properties of these products, such as higher heat distortion and rigidity. The most widely used minerals in the PP compound include talc, glass beads, mica, silica, and calcium. Low-cost production in China has led to a surge in new polymer production, which is driving the market to oversupply. Furthermore, rising population, rapid industrialization, and increase in consumer disposable income levels are some of the key socio-economic factors supporting market growth in the region. The global market is the second-largest polymer business in the world, which contributes more than 25% of the overall polymer demand. Basic raw materials required for producing chemicals include feedstock, such as crude oil, natural gas, and other sources. Numerous companies in the industry have begun manufacturing the raw materials themselves to combat the supply-demand imbalances and meet the uncertainty of crude oil prices. Grand View Research has segmented the global polypropylene compounds market on the basis of product, end-use, and region: PP Compounds Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Mineral Filled Compounded TPO Compounded TPV Glass Reinforced Others PP Compounds End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Automotive Interior Exterior Under the Hood Components Building & Construction Electrical & Electronics Textiles Others PP Compounds Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Asia Pacific China India Japan Latin America Mexico Brazil Middle East & Africa & Saudi Arabia List of Key Players of Polypropylene (PP) Compounds Market LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. Solvay ExxonMobil Corp. Trinseo Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. Washington Penn Plastics Co., Ltd. Rhetech, Inc. Avient Corp. Find more research reports onPlastics, Polymers & Resins Industry, by Grand View Research: MEA Polypropylene Compounds Market - Increasing demand for lightweight material from the automotive and electrical and electronics industries is expected to fuel the growth of the market over the forecast period. Silica Market - The market scope includes silica forms including precipitated, fumed, gels and sols, and micro silica (fumes). Rising demand for the product from the rubber industry is the primary factor driving the market. Shale Gas Market - Rising energy demand along with depleting conventional gas reserves has resulted in a shift towards unconventional natural gas reserves such as shale gas, tight gas, and coal bed methane. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg 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. Police on Thursday arrested a Bergen County man for allegedly sexually assaulting and spying on a child for years. On April 9, police arrested Marlon Mendoza-Salas, 30, and charged him with sexual assault by sexual contact, invasion of privacy and endangering the welfare of a child, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a statement. As of Wednesday afternoon, Mendoza-Salas, of Carlstadt, was being held at the Bergen County Jail, according to jail records. The joint investigation by Carlstadt Police Department and the offices Special Victims Unit was sparked by a tip the unit received of Mendoza-Salas allegedly sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16, according to the statement. As the two departments investigated, they discovered that Mendoza-Salas sexually assaulted and spied on the unnamed girl, who was under the age of 13, for years, according to the criminal complaint. Between May 14, 2014 and May 13, 2018, Mendoza-Salas sexually assaulted the child, who was identified only by her initials, according to the complaint. Sometime between May 14, 2017 and May 13, 2019, he also allegedly hid in a bathroom closet and spied on the child taking a shower, according to the complaint. At some point between May 14, 2018 and May 13, 2019, Mendoza-Salas filmed the child taking a shower, according to the complaint. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Russian Justice Ministry works on bill on digital technology use in criminal justice RAPSI 12:39 14/04/2021 MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) The Justice Ministry of Russia is developing a bill to use modern digital technologies in criminal proceedings, according to Russias Justice Minister Konstantin Chuichenko. The initiative in particular envisages the possibility of remote participation in investigative activities and court hearings of criminal cases, he said during the extended meeting of the Justice Ministrys collegium on Wednesday. The main purpose in legislative drafting activities for the current year is the completion of work on the complex reforming of legislation on administrative offences and liability, the Minister also stated. ATLANTA, April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Twenty-Four elected and non-elected officials joined appreciation dinner to celebrate the recently passed Ramadan Resolution and the initiation of Muslim Student Appreciation Act in the Georgian House of Representatives. Both the resolution and the Act represents first of its kind in the history of Georgia. The officials included US Representatives, State representatives, State Senators, Honorable Judges, County Chairs, District Attorney, Solicitor General, Sheriffs, County Commissioners, Mayors and Board of Education. Muslim delegation leaders and members came from counties such as Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and Hall to extend their gratitude and welcome the officials. "It is our religious obligation to thank our fellow human being who do good and that is precisely why we have gathered here tonight," said Haassan Rangoowala, leader of the Gwinnett Muslim delegation. "The faith of Islam is beautiful and important to the world and our state of Georgia," said Representative Gregg Kennard of Georgia District 102 and a Pastor who led the Ramadan resolution and Muslim Student Appreciation Act in Georgia assembly. There are 1.9 billion Muslims in the world, millions in the USA and thousands in Georgia. This year Ramadan starts on April 13 and ends with Eid Al-Fitr (festival of breaking the fast)- a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide. "Ramadan is the holy month for Muslims not only to renew themselves spiritually but also to recognize their responsibility and obligations to the society at large, to take care of the needy and under privileged regardless of their religious or racial background," said Muhammad Dhanani, one of the youth speakers at the event. The word Halal means permissible in Arabic. Muslims are to consume only halal food and are forbidden to eat many animals such as pork. Muslim children are not offered halal food at school cafeteria and as a result the skip having breakfast and lunch. Many Muslim families send lunch and breakfast with their children spending their limited funds when Muslim kids could eat for free in the school cafeteria since every student is eligible for free meals. "I hope and pray that with passing the Muslim Student Appreciation Act, Muslim children will have access to halal food at schools and avoid all the nutritional and psychological implications they go through," said Lei La Ibrahim, a senior at Clarkston high school. "I ran on the agenda of inclusiveness and I am glad to be part of this event. Muslims are a growing population of my constituency and am very appreciative of their trust in me," said Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux from Georgia's 7th Congressional District. BUCHANAN, N.Y., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation and Holtec International, along with the New York State Department of Public Service Staff, the New York State Office of the Attorney General, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Westchester County, Hendrick Hudson School District, Town of Cortlandt, Village of Buchanan, Riverkeeper, Inc., and the Public Utility Law Project of New York, Inc, today filed a Joint Proposal with the New York Public Service Commission, which reflects a comprehensive settlement of the issues raised in the proceeding concerning the proposed post-shutdown transfer of Indian Point to subsidiaries of Holtec for decommissioning. The parties to the Joint Proposal recommend that the PSC adopt the proposal and approve the post-shutdown transfer of Indian Point from Entergy to Holtec. Entergy and Holtec have requested a decision on the Joint Proposal in May. Entergy and Holtec previously filed a petition with the New York PSC concerning the proposed transfer of Indian Point and a license transfer application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November 2019. The NRC approved the license transfer in November 2020. Among other issues, the Joint Proposal resolves issues of financial assurance, site restoration, financial reporting, continued funding for state and local emergency management and response activities, a memorandum of understanding with local taxing jurisdictions concerning property taxes, and the dismissal of the D.C. Circuit litigation relating to Indian Point transfers by the State and local entities who are parties to the litigation and signed the Joint Proposal. "The difficult but necessary decision we made four years ago to shut down the safely and securely operated Indian Point Energy Center was hardest on our dedicated and professional employees," said Leo Denault, Entergy's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "I want to thank the team at Indian Point for their service and for finishing strong." "We are pleased to have reached a comprehensive and equitable agreement relative to the prompt decommissioning of Indian Point with the many stakeholders who were involved in the process," added Denault. The sale of Indian Point following its permanent shutdown will benefit the community by enabling the facility to be removed and the site remediated decades sooner than otherwise thought possible. Indian Point Unit 2 shut down on April 30, 2020. Indian Point Unit 3 will shut down by April 30, 2021. "Holtec is pleased to have found common ground and reached consensus with the State of New York, and the interested parties, on a Joint Petition that supports the prompt, safe, and efficient decommissioning of Indian Point," said Holtec's President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kris Singh. "Our commitment to be a good neighbor and shared goal of protecting the health and safety of the public and the environment, were key to reaching agreement on a number of issues. This joint proposal provides for additional financial assurance, oversight as well as environmental protections that serve to mitigate risk and protect the interests of the local communities and citizens of New York." Holtec, with experience performing prompt decommissioning at other sites, plans to begin the decommissioning process at Indian Point promptly upon taking ownership and expects to release most of the site for re-use by the 2030s, as much as 40 years sooner than if Entergy continued to own the facility. As part of the agreement between the companies, Holtec will initially provide job opportunities for over 300 of Entergy's current employees at Indian Point and it also has agreed to honor the collective bargaining agreements that apply to current employees. Background Information Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission, and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and more than 13,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. Holtec International is a privately held technology company with operation centers in Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in the U.S., and globally in Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, U.K., and Ukraine. Since the 1980s, Holtec has played a preeminent role in the industry by expanding the wet spent fuel storage capacity at over 110 reactor units worldwide. Over 130 global nuclear units rely on Holtec's technology for spent fuel storage and transportation. Holtec develops and implements innovative solutions to overcome technical challenges faced by its clients around the world. HI-STORE, the world's first below-ground Consolidated Interim Storage Facility, is currently undergoing licensing for deployment in New Mexico. Holtec's SMR-160, a 160-Megawatt small modular reactor, will provide safe, secure, dependable, affordable, and carbon-free power even in the world's most arid regions. Holtec is also dedicated to the safe and efficient decommissioning of shuttered nuclear plants. Holtec's approach to decommissioning is to begin and complete the physical work of decontamination and dismantlement decades sooner than if the current nuclear plant owner retains ownership of the plant. As a major supplier of special-purpose pressure vessels and critical-service heat exchange equipment, Holtec provides air-cooled condensers, steam generators, feedwater heaters, and water-cooled condensers. As a fully integrated supplier, Holtec possesses in-house capabilities to design, engineer, analyze, license, fabricate and construct these technologies. SOURCE Entergy Corporation Related Links http://www.entergy.com Dr Reddy's Laboratories will begin supplying Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines, imported from Russia, in May. The drug major is also going to tap domestically sourced jabs as their production speeds up in India. However, the vaccine's pricing, along with how many doses will be supplied at the outset, has not been determined yet. Meanwhile, talks between the Centre and the Hyderabad-based drug major are on. Dr Reddy's is the sole licensing partner for Sputnik V in India. Also Read: Russia's Sputnik V to be rolled out in May in India; pricing to be affordable Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Tuesday said it has received approval from the Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik in the country. The company has received permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to import the Sputnik vaccine into India for restricted use in emergency situations as per the provisions of the New Drug and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Dr Reddy's said in a regulatory filing. Following the DCGI's approval of the emergency use authorisation of Sputnik V, RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said that the coronavirus vaccine's roll out in small quantities will likely begin as early as May 2021. Dmitriev added that production on a larger scale will start by July 2021 with plans to produce 500 million doses. He stated that Sputnik V is safer than Moderna and Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines, adding that Mexican data has also shown "very less serious adverse events" for Russia's jab. Also Read: DCGI approves emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V; 3rd vaccine to get nod in India Regarding the pricing of Sputnik V, Dmitriev said, "We are in talks with the Indian government on the pricing of the vaccine for private and govt rollout - it will be more affordable than the existing vaccines of the world." Meanwhile, the RDIF has said that India has become the 60th country to approve the use of Sputnik V against coronavirus and more than 850 million doses of the vaccine are going to be produced in the country annually. The vaccine's approval by DCGI was based on results of clinical trials in Russia as well as positive data of additional Phase III local clinical trials in India conducted in partnership with Dr Reddy's Laboratories. Sputnik V has been approved for use in countries with a total population of 3 billion people, or about 40 per cent of the global population, and India has become the 60th country to approve Sputnik V, RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said in a statement. Also Read: India badly needs Sputnik V in fight against COVID-19 India is the most populated country to register the vaccine and is also the leading production hub for Sputnik V, it added. In September 2020, Dr Reddy's had partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V and distribute the vaccine in India. In addition to the trials conducted in Russia by RDIF, phase II/III clinical trials of the vaccine were carried out by Dr Reddy's in India. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and IRVING, Texas, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vistra (NYSE: VST) a leading Fortune 275 integrated retail electricity and power generation company and Malta Inc., a leading developer of long-duration thermal energy storage solutions, in collaboration with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), have been awarded a Department of Energy (DOE) grant. The federally funded project will study how Malta's energy storage system can improve the environmental and economic performance of a natural gas-powered power plant, help to balance the diverse power generation on electric grids, and improve the reliability and resiliency of the electric system as more intermittent renewables come online. "Malta is committed to accelerating the energy transition," said Ramya Swaminathan, Malta's CEO. "We are proud to collaborate with Vistra as it works to achieve aggressive net-zero carbon emissions goals and to expand our relationship with SwRI, one of the premier research organizations in the country. This collaboration furthers our mission by validating the Malta system's ability to enable cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable electricity." The U.S. Department of Energy-funded study will focus on integration of the Malta system with a Vistra-owned natural gas-fired plant to optimize its environmental and economic performance. The Malta energy storage system will use electricity generated by the natural gas plant, convert and store that energy as heat, and then convert it back to electricity that can be redistributed on the electric grid as demand necessitates. The unique design of the Malta system would further diversify Vistra's generation portfolio and create a more stable and resilient grid as intermittent renewable resources comprise a greater percentage of the generating capacity in the years ahead. "Vistra is committed to leading our industry in the effort to address climate change," said Molly Sorg, Vistra's chief purpose and sustainability officer. "Vistra sees immense value in the increased research and development of new, longer-duration energy storage technologies, which will play a crucial role in grid reliability, balancing the intermittency of the power produced by renewable resources. We're proud to work with Malta and SwRI to advance innovative solutions for a global energy transition." According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas is the leading fuel source in the U.S. electricity sector, representing 39% of all electricity generated in 2020 and approximately 30% of utility and independent power producer generation units. Long-duration energy storage technologies, like the Malta system, promise to enable cleaner, more efficient operation of gas plants while supporting the operators' transition to more variable renewable energy sources. "Our goal is to design the future of integrated power systems," said Natalie Smith, the study's Principal Investigator and Senior Research Engineer at SwRI. "Pairing Malta's innovative storage technology with Vistra's diverse and evolving portfolio is the first step toward a clean, efficient, and resilient electricity generation landscape in a sustainable future." The Malta Pumped Heat Energy System (PHES) is a long-duration energy storage solution. The system uses turbomachinery and heat exchangers, well established and proven technologies in power generation, in a novel way to store electricity and dispatch it to the grid on demand. The Malta PHES is capable of storing electricity for up to 200 hours, with initial systems focused on current market applications for 10-12 hours of storage. This system uses hardware components, technologies, workforce personnel and skillsets, and a supply chain similar to those used by fossil plants, allowing for synergy when co-locating the two technologies. About Malta Inc. Malta is developing a Pumped Heat Energy Storage (PHES) system that employs well-established principles and technologies in a novel way to store electricity for long durations and dispatch it to the grid when needed. The Malta system was incubated at X, Alphabet's Moonshot factory, before becoming an independent company in 2018. The company is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is backed by a world-class investor syndicate that includes Bill Gates-led Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Alfa Laval, a world leader in heat transfer technologies, and others. For more information visit www.maltainc.com. About Vistra Vistra (NYSE: VST) is a leading, Fortune 275 integrated retail electricity and power generation company based in Irving, Texas, providing essential resources for customers, commerce, and communities. Vistra combines an innovative, customer-centric approach to retail with safe, reliable, diverse, and efficient power generation. The company brings its products and services to market in 20 states and the District of Columbia, including six of the seven competitive wholesale markets in the U.S. and markets in Canada and Japan, as well. Serving nearly 4.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial retail customers with electricity and natural gas, Vistra is one of the largest competitive residential electricity providers in the country and offers over 50 renewable energy plans. The company is also the largest competitive power generator in the U.S. with a capacity of approximately 39,000 megawatts powered by a diverse portfolio, including natural gas, nuclear, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. In addition, the company is a large purchaser of wind power. The company is currently constructing a 400-MW/1,600-MWh battery energy storage system in Moss Landing, California, the largest of its kind in the world. Vistra is guided by four core principles: we do business the right way, we work as a team, we compete to win, and we care about our stakeholders, including our customers, our communities where we work and live, our employees, and our investors. Learn more about our environmental, social, and governance efforts and read the company's sustainability report at https://www.vistracorp.com/sustainability/. About SwRI Southwest Research Institute is a premier independent, nonprofit research and development organization using multidisciplinary services to provide solutions to some of the world's most challenging scientific and engineering problems. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, our client-focused, client-funded organization occupies more than 1,500 acres, providing more than 2.3 million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for approximately 3,000 employees who perform contract work for government and industry clients. SOURCE Vistra Corp. Related Links https://www.vistracorp.com The chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ludovic Orban, said on Wednesday that for the Liberals there is no other political solution of government than the current coalition and stressed that Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity (USR PLUS) must make a new proposal for Minister of Health. "I took note of Prime Minister Florin Citu's decision to remove the Minister of Health from office. As I said Monday after the coalition's sitting, it is not only the right, but also the prime minister's obligation to ensure the proper functioning of the Government and to intervene when necessary, in order to ensure good governance, the implementation of the governing programme and the service of the public interest even by changing a minister. I say it upfront that for the PNL there is no other political solution of government than the current governing coalition and that, from our point of view, this decision of Prime Minister Florin Citu is a decision that has nothing to do with our firm commitment to maintaining the current governing coalition. It is strictly a decision that aims to appoint at the Ministry of Health, one of the most important ministries in the structure of the Government, all the more so since we are in a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USR PLUS themselves to appoint a minister who will responsibly manage the field and who has the capacity to fight effectively for increasing the quality of the medical act and for the fight against the pandemic," Orban said in Parliament. Ion Energy (CVE: ION- OTCQB: IONGF) CEO Ali Haji joined Steve Darling from Proactive tin ring news the company has completed its public offering brings in 5.75 million dollars into the treasury. Haji telling Proactive about the demand he was seeing and the fact they intend to use the net proceeds to fund exploration at its Mongolian lithium brine projects Baavhai Uul, and Urgakh Naran Ashley Cain's baby daughter Azaylia has been nominated for a Pride Of Britain Award by thousands of supporters around the world. The eight-month-old, who was rushed to hospital on Tuesday night, just hours after celebrities and fans held a clap in her honour, has been battling acute myeloid leukaemia since she was just two months and has garnered thousands of votes. The Azaylia Diamond Cain Journey To Fight Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Facebook page, which boasts 136.9K member, saw traction rising to get the tot nominated for one of the prestigious awards to recognise her fight. The Ex On The Beach star, 30, and his partner Safiyya Vorajee, 34, have been chronicling her leukemia battle on social media, and after their Pride Of Britain votes began the couple revealed she had been discharged again. Vote for Azaylia: Ashley Cain's baby daughter Azaylia has been nominated for a Pride Of Britain Award by thousands of supporters around the world (Azaylia pictured in a digital portrait by Roe-Parkin Creative) On the Facebook page for the tot, one of her followers penned: 'Get this little champ nominated!!', leading to masses of comments confirming fans had voted. The page has followed Azalyia's journey with huge support from many close to the family as well as strangers who have been helping the family. In what will no doubt be happy news for the family, on Wednesday Safiyya shared a video of Azalyia as they made their way home after another platelet transfusion. The video showed Azaylia on a stretcher while playing with a teddy bear which had been gifted to her by a paramedic. Before she was admitted to hospital on Tuesday night, the aesthetic practitioner wrote alongside the video: 'Back in hospital tonight, Azaylia's heart rate was over 200. Currently waiting for her blood results to see if we can get her some antibiotics to treat any infections... 'You are amazing baby. Mummy and daddy promised to give you our 100% from day 1 & we will keep to our word what ever you need we will do for you baby.' Let's go champ: On the Facebook page for the tot, one of her followers penned: 'Get this little champ nominated!!', leading to masses of comments confirming fans had voted Hold on: The video showed Azaylia on a stretcher while playing with a teddy bear which had been gifted to her by a paramedic Clearly heartbroken, the couple took to Instagram to give the update alongside the videos showing paramedics tending to the tot in her third urgent hospital trip in the brief time she has been allowed to return home. Earlier in the evening, a special clap was held for Azaylia, with celebrities like Abbey Clancy, Marnie Simpson and Mrs Hinch led the stars in taking part in the clap, which celebrated eight-month-old daughter amid her leukaemia battle. The couple were moved as strangers and celebrities showed their support for their little tot in the same way the public have done for the NHS during the corona crisis. Abbey was joined by her husband Peter Crouch alongside three of their children, and in her video Abbey wrote '#GoChamp'. Heartbreak: Azaylia was rushed to hospital on Tuesday night, just hours after celebrities and fans held a clap in her honour Their love: They have been chronicling her leukemia battle on social media Support: Abbey Clancy, Chloe Goodman, and Mrs Hinch led the stars taking part in clap for Ashley Cain's baby daughter Azaylia (pictured with mum Safiyya) amid her leukaemia battle Their love: Azaylia was diagnosed when she was just two months old Mrs Hinch posted a photo from her front door and wrote over the snap: 'Azaylia. We are all behind you.' Stacey Solomon was unable to get home in time to take part in the clap, but she shared a picture of Ashley with Azaylia, and wrote: 'I've seen lots of you clapping for beautiful Azaylia tonight. 'It's just the most unimaginable, heartbreaking thing that I've seen and experienced with too many precious families. It's just so unfair and cruel.' Sweet: Safiyya and Azaylia are pictured in hospital in March Abbey was joined by her husband Peter Crouch alongside three of their children, and in her video Abbey wrote '#GoChamp' Let's go champ: Mrs Hinch, meanwhile, posted a photo from her front door and wrote over the snap: 'Azaylia. We are all behind you' Safiyya took to Instagram to share a video after the clap, showing how many people had come out to clap for Azaylia. She told her followers: 'We've just done our 7 O'clock clap and wow our street was so loud wasn't it?' 'You were singing really loud weren't ya? Wow! Everyone's come out, yea they have all for you baby girl, I love you.' After they returned home, Safiyya went on: 'Wow here's the champ, everyone's still been singing for you, yea. Let's go champ, let's go!' Touching: Stacey Solomon was unable to get home in time to take part, but she shared a picture of Ashley with Azaylia, and wrote: 'It's just the most unimaginable, heartbreaking thing' Grateful: Safiyya took to Instagram to share a video after the clap, showing how many people had come out to clap for Azaylia 'All for you': Safiyya added, 'You were singing really loud weren't ya? Wow! Everyone's come out, yea they have all for you baby girl, I love you' Ashley also shared a post shortly before the clap was set to take place, as he gushed over being able to take his daughter for a walk outside for the first time. In a touching post, he wrote: 'Today was the first time in the 8 months of Fatherhood that I've had the chance to walk down the street with my baby in my arms. 'No hospital, no isolation, no pram with a protective cover... Just me, and my baby, doing what a daddy and daughter should be able to do. 'When I say this to you all I really mean it... Appreciate what you have, cherish every single moment and always be the best you that you can be for the ones you love.' Staying positive: Ashley also shared a post shortly before the clap was set to take place, as he gushed over being able to take his daughter for a walk outside for the first time He added: 'I have been told today, there is an official doorstep clap that's been organised for azaylia tonight at 7pm. 'To this day, I am still amazed and overwhelmed at the amount of love and support for my beautiful daughter, and I am grateful for everyone who has arranged and will be taking part in tonight's clap, to show support for Azaylia and her journey. 'Despite what's going on, I truly feel blessed that I get to spend these days with the best thing that ever happened to me. They will stay with me in my heart forever!' Moving: Ashley wrote in the caption, 'Appreciate what you have, cherish every single moment and always be the best you that you can be for the ones you love' Earlier in the day, Ashley revealed Azaylia had been rushed back to hospital after she began crying blood and in urgent need of a transfusion. Taking to Instagram, her mum Safiyya shared a video from within the hospital during which Ashley, 30, cradled the eight-month-old while she slept. Proving herself to be incredibly strong, Safiyya said to the camera: 'We've just gone back into hospital to get Azaylia another platelet transfusion because last night the tears started having blood in them, so we needed more platelets'. She also shared an image of Azaylia's leg with a deep purple bruise as a result of the disruption of the body's platelet production, which causes bleeding under the skin. Heartache: Earlier in the day, Ashley revealed Azaylia had been rushed back to hospital after she began crying blood and in urgent need of a transfusion People with leukaemia are more likely to bruise due to the fact their bodies don't create enough platelets to plug bleeding blood vessels. Leukaemia bruises look like any other kind of bruise, but there are usually more of them than normal. Additionally, they may show up on unusual areas of the body. Ashley cradled Azaylia in the heartbreaking clip, while they stood in the brightly-coloured hospital room and Safiyya held the camera and spoke. Bleeding: Safiyya also shared an image of Azaylia's leg with a deep purple bruise as a result of the disruption of the body's platelet production, which causes bleeding under the skin Reaching out: Proving herself to be incredibly strong, Safiyya said to the camera: 'We've just gone back into hospital to get Azaylia another platelet transfusion because last night the tears started having blood in them, so we needed more platelets' Pain: Ashley cradled Azaylia in the heartbreaking clip, while they stood in the brightly-coloured hospital room and Safiyya held the camera and spoke It comes after Safiyya revealed she has planned a tattoo tribute to her daughter Azaylia, as the tot continues her fight against leukaemia. Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, she shared heartbreaking videos chronicling the family's tough evening before, after they demanded doctors carry out a platelet transfusion on the tot. After having casts made of their daughter's feet over the weekend, Safiyya revealed they had another cast-making session, during which she was given the imprints of Azaylia's feet in preparation for a tattoo tribute to the tot. Ashley later shared another post showing his daughter sleeping and wrote alongside: 'We fight and we pray for another day #letsgochamp'. The couple have been chronicling Azalyia's health woes on social media since she was diagnosed with leukaemia at just two months and has garnered worldwide support, including from Dwayne Johnson. Hold on: The group stood together in the heartbreaking scenes Heartbreak: It comes after Safiyya revealed she has planned a tattoo tribute to her daughter Azaylia, as the tot continues her fight against leukaemia In the same video in which she discussed her tattoo, Safiyya branded her daughter's pain 'torture' to look upon and then posted a video while singing Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's 1998 hit When You Believe. On her tattoo, she said: 'We did more castings yesterday to get some necklaces and some hand prints and foot prints... 'I started stressing in case I dropped it but the lady was so good and gave me a print that I can get as a tattoo so she'll always be with me and so close. So I decided to get the prints done and a tattoo of her hands and feet.' On their trip to hospital and her transfusion the previous day, she said: 'Azaylia was experiencing loads of nosebleeds due to the platelets in the body not being able to clot the blood so we went to hospital... Heartbreak: Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, the aesthetic practitioner, 34, shared heartbreaking videos chronicling the family's tough evening before, after they demanded doctors carry out a platelet transfusion on the eight-month-old Let's go: Ashley later shared another post showing his daughter sleeping and wrote alongside: 'We fight and we pray for another day #letsgochamp' 'She's so beautiful': After having casts made of their daughter's feet over the weekend, Safiyya revealed they had another cast-making session, during which she was given the imprints of Azaylia's feet in preparation for a tattoo tribute to the tot 'Unfortunately over the night she's still experiencing the bleeding. Just spoken to the community nurse and they're coming to check. Anything you're experiencing with your child, you know your child best. We thought it was right to get the transfusion... 'The NHS and the service they provide is amazing. Every morning I wake up is a blessing and I just feel so lucky to hold her there and for her to smile and to sing to and all our Jungle Book themed tunes... 'The amount of times we sing you wouldn't even know. You don't know how much I love her and it's absolutely heartbreaking and this feels like torture it's so hard and the support you've given us is amazing... Pained: In the same video in which she discussed her tattoo, Safiyya branded her daughter's pain 'torture' to look upon and then posted a video while singing Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's 1998 hit When You Believe 'It's so hard and painful but I'm gonna make every day as special and fun as possible for her. Make the most of everyday because tomorrow isn't promised to anyone.' She then shared a video of Ashley's sister Alissia dancing with Azaylia and another showing them snapping selfies together. Last week, doctors revealed there was no further treatment available amid her leukaemia battle following the discovery of multiple tumours in her body. The couple recently raised more than 1.5m to fund a trip to Singapore for life-saving transplant, but she was being treated in the UK during the interim. Heartache: Last week, doctors revealed there was no further treatment available amid her leukaemia battle following the discovery of multiple tumours in her body He later revealed that Azaylia can no longer fly to Singapore for treatment after discovering the tumours, and vowed to make her final days 'as fun as they can'. Ashley penned a detailed account of Azaylia's health battle on his GoFundMe page and said that any extra funds the couple receive will be donated to other families in a similar situation to them. According to the NHS, it is a 'highly complex and potentially risky treatment' but has been shown in trials to cure some patients when other treatments have failed. Sweetheart: Ashley said he has spent the first eight months of fatherhood under Covid-19 restrictions in hospital as his daughter fought the cancer Ashley said he has spent the first eight months of fatherhood under Covid-19 restrictions in hospital as his daughter fought the cancer. Doctors told the TV star and his partner Safiyya that chemotherapy would not be enough to cure Azaylia. Last week, Ashley shared a heartbreaking video revealing he and Safiyya were bringing their little girl home to make her comfortable after learning doctors had found tumours throughout her body. And as he faces up to the harrowing prognosis that his adorable child has just days to live, Ashley paid tribute to the brave youngster as he admitted: 'I don't know what I will do without you.' Pained: Last week, Ashley shared a heartbreaking video revealing he and Safiyya were bringing their little girl home to make her comfortable after learning doctors had found tumours throughout her body In the video, the doting dad was seen gently splashing the water around Azaylia as she looked up at her dad adoringly while sitting in a small tub on the hospital ward. Captioning the footage, he wrote: Azaylia's last bath in hospital, before we take her home where she belongs. '9 days ago consultants told us my daughter had 1-2 days to live, but thought she may pass that evening. Even with a barbaric disease consuming her blood, tumours in her brain and organs and amounts of pain I cannot imagine... 'She is still battling through 9 days later, with parts of the day with nothing but smiles despite her discomfort. 'This is a testament of this little girls strength and the fight she has possessed all of the way through. She has fought a battle that not many, if any, of us could have endured and she's earned the love and respect of many on the way... Her love: Over the weekend, Safiyya shared a heartwarming video showing the family eating together, with Azaylia tucking into strawberries while her parents looked on 'The truth is though, I hope and pray that I have earned hers! Even through the hardest and saddest time of my life, she has found a way to make it better... 'She has shined light on the darkest of days and she has opened my heart to amounts of love I couldn't believe possible!... 'The truth is, I don't know what I will do without you. But for now, I find strength in giving you the best of me, and the only me that you deserve!... 'You are in my arms, my thoughts, my prayers and my heart everyday my princess. YOU'RE MY HERO! DADDY LOVES YOU!' Advertisement President Joe Biden said he was pulling the remaining 2,500 U.S. forces out of Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks because the U.S. has 'accomplished' the mission. 'I said, along with others, we'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell if need be. That's exactly what we did. And we got him ... That was 10 year ago. Think about that,' Biden said from the White House Wednesday. 'Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan have become increasingly unclear.' Biden noted how he 'inherited' an agreement from former President Donald Trump and the Taliban to pull U.S. troops out of the country by May 1. It would end America's Longest War that has cost more than $2tillion and taken the lives of more than 2,300 U.S, soldiers. His decision has drawn criticism from Republicans who say he is making a 'grave mistake' and fear it could create an opportunity to reignite jihadi extremism. Biden insisted that he did not want to pass on the 'responsibility' to a fifth president and the time to pull out was now. 'It's perhaps not what I would have negotiated myself, but it was an agreement made by the United States government and that means something,' Biden acknowledged, adding that May 1 would not be the end, but the beginning of the drawdown. 'U.S. troops as well as forces deployed by our NATO allies and operational partners will be out of Afghanistan before we mark the 20th anniversary of that heinous attack on September 11,' he said. In his 15 minute speech, he made it clear to the Taliban that the U.S. would retaliate if they attacked. 'The Taliban should know if they attack us as we draw down, we will defend ourselves and our partners with all the tools at our disposal,' Biden said. President Joe Biden detailed his plans to fully withdraw U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by this year's 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks President Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he tours Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60, where war dead from Afghanistan and Iraq have been laid to rest President Joe Biden walked through Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery Wednesday after announcing his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan 'I said, along with others, we'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell if need be. That's exactly what we did. And we got him. That was 10 year ago,' Biden said during his remarks on withdrawing forces from Afghanistan on Wednesday President Joe Biden arrives to speak from the Treaty Room at the White House Wednesday, where President George W. Bush announced the nation's involvement in Afghanistan just weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks President George W. Bush announcing that the U.S. and Britain had started bombing Afghanistan, in the Treaty Room of the White House on October 7, 2001 Were 20 years of blood and treasure wasted? How conflict cost $825billlion and 3,500 dead troops Critics lined up to slam the 'pointless' war in Afghanistan as US, UK and NATO allies prepare to pull out troops and hand the country to the Taliban after a 20-year conflict which cost $825 billion and the lives of 3,500 soldiers. The conflict has seen tens of thousands of deaths in all, with remarkably few of the aims set out in the beginning actually achieved. As NATO leaders meet for talks this week, with a possible withdrawal on the cards following President Trump's pledge to have all US troops out by May, those across the globe who have opposed the war have once again made their views known. American author and combat vet Daniel L. Davis wrote: 'The United States has been fighting a pointless, unnecessary war in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.' Laila Harre, leader of New Zealand's Internet Party, tweeted that it was '20 years since the Alliance stood against this predictably destructive deployment. 20 years wasted on war.' Meanwhile, a survey in 2019 found 58 per cent of veterans and 59 per cent of the public felt the conflict was not worth fighting. Afghanistan's government is held together by a fragile power-sharing deal, it is one of the least democratic and most-violent places on earth, and half of its territory is either in Taliban hands or being contested by the Islamists. It is unlikely that NATO forces will stay much longer. Their withdrawal would bring an end to one of the longest conflicts of modern times. But it will also be the beginning of the end of democracy in the country - the long-running campaign's main objective - as the Taliban reclaim total control. The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 on a counter-terrorism mission - seeking to capture or kill the Al Qaeda leaders who orchestrated the 9/11 terror attack, and to displace the Taliban government which sheltered the group. NATO was not far behind, arriving in the country two months later with a mission to secure Kabul province so the new government could be established there. But the objectives quickly changed - a new goal to rebuild Afghanistan as a stable and democratic country within the Middle East emerged, and the war dragged on. Military operations expanded to fit. In 2003, NATO's mission extended across the entire country and troops became more involved in day-to-day fighting alongside regular US forces. At its height, in 2011, the NATO force numbered roughly 130,000 men drawn from 50 countries, before declining rapidly from 2013 as US forces pulled back. In 2014, primary responsibility for security was handed over to the Afghan government and today, there are around 10,000 troops from 36 countries stationed there in support and training roles. Over that time, some 3,500 coalition troops have died fighting - the vast majority, around 2,400, were American. The UK lost some 450 soldiers - the second-highest total - who were largely killed in Helmand and Kandahar provinces when they took over combat operations from the Americans. On the Afghan side, it is thought that more than 110,000 have been killed including at least 31,000 civilians who were largely hit by airstrikes. At least 30,000 coalition troops have also been wounded in the fighting - the vast majority American - while tens of thousands of Afghans have also been wounded. NATO costs are hard to estimate because its troops are drawn from dozens of countries which control spending individually through many separate budgets. However, the respected Stockholm International Peace Research Institute previously estimated that combined US and NATO combat costs in Afghanistan from 2001 and 2012 totalled around $725billion. Advertisement The Taliban has already warned of attacks if U.S. forces aren't fully out of the country by May 1. 'If the [Doha] agreement is breached and foreign forces fail to exit our country on the specified date, problems will certainly be compounded and those whom failed to comply with the agreement will be held liable,' Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid tweeted Wednesday. Biden said he wouldn't rush a departure. 'We will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit. We'll do it responsibly, deliberately and safely,' he pledged. 'And we will do it in full coordination with our allies and partners who now have more force in Afghanistan than we do.' Biden made the announcement from the Treaty Room of the White House, where President George W. Bush announced the U.S. and Britain had started bombing Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001. He said during the speech that he had called Bush to inform him of his decision. 'While he and I have had many disagreements over policy throughout the years, we're absolutely united in our respect and support for the valor, courage and integrity of women and men in the United States Armed Forces who served,' Biden said. 'We're immensely grateful for the bravery and backbone they have shown through nearly two decades of combat deployments,' he continued. 'We as a nation are forever indebted to them and their families.' Later, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that Biden had also spoken to former President Barack Obama. 'I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth,' Biden said. Biden said he also consulted with allies, military leaders, lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris to help make his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops. 'I concluded that it was time to end America's longest war,' Biden said. 'It's time for American troops to come home.' He recalled traveling to Afghanistan in 2008 as the incoming vice president. 'What I saw on that trip reinforced my conviction that only the Afghans have the right and responsibility to lead their country and that more and endless American military force could not create or sustain a durable Afghan government,' Biden said. 'I believed that our presence in Afghanistan should be focused on the reason we went in the first place: To ensure Afghanistan would not be used as a base from which to attack our homeland again,' the president continued. 'We did that, we accomplished that objective,' Biden stated. Since then, Biden argued, the war on terror has moved all over the place. 'With the terror threat now in many places keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country, at the cost of billions each year, makes little sense to me and our leaders,' he said. He added, 'the main argument for staying longer is what each of my three predecessor have grappled with - no one wants to say that we should be in Afghanistan forever.' 'But they insist, now is not the right moment to leave,' Biden said. He left Trump, who announced a prompt departure from the country after losing the election to Biden, out of the calculation. The decision on a deadline to remove the final 2,500 U.S. forces would finally put an end to the war amid questions about how much stability and security the U.S. would leave behind amid a fragile government that the military has helped prop up in Kabul. Republicans slammed Biden's plan as essentially surrendering the region to al Qaeda amid the ongoing war on terror. But Biden argued that 'diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue' in Afghanistan after the military presence has gone. He emphasized that his administration will continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban and assist international efforts to train the Afghan military. And he noted that the U.S. and its partners are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel who are fighting in country. 'We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago,' Biden will say. 'That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come.' After his remarks, the president visited Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. 'Hard to believe, isn't it?' he said, looking at the lines of graves. Section 60 of the Virginia cemetery includes the country's most recent war dead, from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 'I'm always amazed at generation after generation, the women, the men, who are prepared to give their lives for their country,' Biden told reporters after being asked what this moment meant to him. As he did in his remarks, Biden brought up his son, Beau, who died of cancer in 2015 after serving in Iraq. 'It means I have trouble these days ever showing at a veterans' cemetery not thinking of my son Beau, who proudly insisted on putting on that uniform and going to hit unit to Iraq and giving up his spot as attorney general in the state of Delaware, because he thought it was the right thing to do,' Biden said. He answered in the negative when asked if withdrawing was a hard decision. 'No it wasn't to me,' the president said. 'It was absolutely clear. Absolutely clear.' 'We went for two reasons - get rid of bin Laden and to end the safe haven. From the very beginning I never thought we were there to unify Iraq, I mean Afghanistan,' Biden said, making a quick fumble. 'It's never been done. It's never been done.' 'Thank you all for being out here in the rain,' he told the group of reporters, as he walked through the cemetery with an umbrella in his hand, but not opening it. Prior to his announcement, Biden spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ahead of his remarks. 'The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition,' Ghani wrote on Twitter. 'Afghanistan's proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful,' he added. The White House is facing criticism from several corners about the decision to withdraw all of the American military presence - even from within its own ranks. CIA Director William Burns said on Wednesday that Washington's ability to collect intelligence and act on threats will diminish when U.S. troops leave Afghanistan. 'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact,' he told the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding that the United States would however retain 'a suite of capabilities.' But White House press secretary Jen Psaki countered that 'many of our intelligence officials have said publicly and in these hearings that the threats have evolved, that we need to approach how we look at counterterrorism through the prism of what the threats are in 2021. And even if you look at Al Qaeda, it is not being harbored in a safe haven in Afghanistan how it was 20 years ago.' Psaki said Biden made the decision after asking for a review from his advisers where they didn't sugar coat anything. She also said the president would not change his mind should the situation on the ground change in Afghanistan. 'We can't look at things through the 2001 mindset we have to look at things through the 2021 world,' she said at her daily press briefing. 'We are not going to take our eyes off the terrorist threat or any sign of al Qaeda has resurgence, and we will reposition our counterterrorism capabilities in that regard,' she said. President Joe Biden got emotional and paid tribute to his late son Beau when he visited the graves of US troops killed in Afghanistan in Arlington Cemetery Biden looks at a grave marker as he walks through Section 60 during a visit to pay his respects in Arlington National Cemetery 'Hard to believe, isn't it? Biden said as he held a wreath in his hands near the burial sites of more than 800 American soldiers and said it was 'absolutely clear' that he needed to bring 2,500 troops home Biden looks at the tombstone of Second World War and Vietnam Air Force veteran John Howard Stetson during his trip THE TERRORISTS THINK THEY'VE WON, WARNS GOP SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM Sen. Lindsey Graham took the first swing at President Joe Biden's plan to withdraw all the U.S. troops from Afghanistan, scheduling a press conference Wednesday following the president's remarks. Graham told reporters that the 'world is at risk' thanks to Biden's move. 'Every terrorist camp in the world is on steroids today because in their world they beat us,' the South Carolina Republican warned. 'In their world, they drove us out.' Graham accused Biden of choosing the 'highest risk option available' by pulling the remaining 2,500 troops out of the country starting May 1 and ending before the 20th anniverary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, which prompted the war. He started the press conference by telling reporters how he missed his fellow Senate hawk, the late Sen. John McCain, who agreed with Graham on foreign policy decisions, but not on ex-President Donald Trump. 'I miss John McCain a lot, but probably no more than today because if John were with us I'd be speaking second, and he would be telling you a story about how unwise this decision is to withdraw all of our forces from Afghanistan,' Graham said. Sen. Lindsey Graham slapped down President Joe Biden's plan to remove the remaining U.S. forces from Afghanistan, making comments at a press conference scheduled Wednesday after Biden's announcement speech Graham blasted Biden for canceling the country's 'insurance policy,' arguing that groups like Al Qaeda won't be able to regain strength if American boots remain on the ground. 'We gain the idea that the war is now over and Joe Biden ended the longest war in American history,' Graham said. 'With all due respect to President Biden you have not ended the war you have extended it.' The Republican pointed a finger at Biden during his vice presidential years for backing a full U.S. pull-out in Iraq, which resulted in the formation of ISIS. 'You are going to do to us what you did in Iraq, put us in a world of hurt,' Graham said. It was President Donald Trump who etched out an agreement with the Taliban to have U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. Biden acknowledged this wouldn't happen - saying Wednesday that May 1 would be the drawdown's start date instead. Graham reminded reporters he was against this idea when Trump was in charge as well. 'I felt it was incubment upon me to stand up to Trupm decisons that I thought would make us less safe,' he said. Despite these policy differences, Graham and Trump remained close allies through the ex-president's final months, when a number of Senate Republicans split from him. Trump and the late Sen. John McCain were another story, clashing during the 2016 campaign and until McCain's death in August 2018. In August 2017, McCain rolled out his own plan on how Trump should handle Afghanistan, criticizing the White House for not having one already. That plan called for additional U.S. support. McCain wanted Trump to add more troops for counterterrorism missions, provide the Afghans more air support and give the military more authority to target enemy forces including the Taliban, Al Qaeda and ISIS, CNN said. Advertisement Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin briefed the decision to NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday. 'We will discuss our future presence in Afghanistan. We welcome this opportunity to closely coordinate and consult with all allies as we agree on our future presence in Afghanistan,' Blinken said ahead of his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 'Almost 20 years ago, after the United States was attacked on 9/11, together we went into Afghanistan to deal with those who attacked us and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorists who might attack any of us. And together we have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve, and now it is time to bring our forces home,' he added. Blinken said the United States would coordinate closely with European allies on the U.S. troop withdrawal. 'We will work very closely together in the weeks and months ahead on a safe, deliberate, and coordinated withdrawal of our forces from Afghanistan, but even as we do that, our commitment to Afghanistan, to its future, will remain and we'll talk about that today as well,' he said. Biden's decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed with Taliban insurgents by his predecessor Donald Trump's administration. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that won't be affected by security conditions in the country. The U.S. and allied effort to force the Taliban from power began in October of 2001, weeks after the Sept. 11th attacks under the George W. Bush administration, after the regime had provided sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda fighters. While Biden's decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al Qaeda and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, women's rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al Qaeda's haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. Republicans also hammered Biden on Tuesday after his decision was publicly reported. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted the move in a Senate floor statement saying Biden plans to 'turn tail' and calling it a 'retreat.' US soldiers arrives at the site of a car bomb attack that targeted a NATO coalition convoy in Kabul on September 24, 2017 - US war in Afghanistan killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000 In this file photo a US soldier investigates the scene of a suicide attack at the Afghan-Pakistan border crossing in Torkham, Nangarhar province on June 19, 2014 'Just moments ago, new reporting suggests the Biden Administration plans to turn tail and abandon the fight in Afghanistan,' McConnell said. 'Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership,' he added. He said leaders in both parties criticized a 'reckless withdrawal' from Syria and Afghanistan in the 'prior Administration.' 'Those same voices in both parties should be equally concerned about the Biden Administration's announcement today,' he said. 'A reckless pullback like this would abandon our Afghan, regional, and NATO partners in a shared fight against terrorists that we have not yet won.' He also said it would 'specifically abandon the women of Afghanistan, whose individual freedoms and human rights will be imperiled.' Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and GOP hawk, called the planned withdrawal a 'disaster in the making.' 'A full withdrawal from Afghanistan is dumber than dirt and devilishly dangerous. President Biden will have, in essence, cancelled an insurance policy against another 9/11,' said Graham. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon after Biden delivered his remarks, Graham blasted the decision again. 'I miss John McCain a lot but probably no more than today because if John were with us I'd be speaking second, and he would be telling you a story about how unwise this decision is to withdraw all of our forces from Afghanistan,' Graham said. Some Democrats criticized the decision. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire called it disappointing. 'I'm very disappointed in the president's decision to set a September deadline to walk away from Afghanistan. Although this decision was made in coordination with our allies, the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave without verifiable assurances of a secure future,' she said in a statement.' Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a voice on military issues among Senate Democrats, declined to say directly he was on board with the decision. 'Well, it will be a transition. Because we still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that area. But there are other places in the world too where you have to be conscious,' he said. We also have to maintain a presence for regional stability,' he said. Asked if he supports the move, he responded: 'You know there is no easy answer.' 'It's a little concerning to me. It should be a conditions-based withdrawal, and not just because it's the 20th anniversary of 9/11,' said Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. U.S. and coalition forces were able to drive the Taliban from power and a new Afghan government was created. A long effort to train and equip native Afghan forces followed, amid an ongoing insurgency. In a statement last month, the Taliban threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops in Afghanistan if they did not meet the May 1 deadline. But it would still set a near-term date with withdrawal, potentially allaying Taliban concerns that Biden would drag out the process. The May 1 deadline had already started to appear less and less likely in recent weeks, given the lack of preparations on the ground to ensure it could be done in a safe and responsible way. U.S. officials have also blamed the Taliban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda. It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following al Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington because the Taliban had harbored al Qaeda leaders. Internet platforms get guidance on fair market play From:ChinaDaily | 2021-04-14 09:04 Three top government departments, including the State Administration for Market Regulation, have urged Chinese internet platform companies to conduct a monthlong self-inspection and desist from monopolistic behavior and any action that hinders fair competition or hurts the interests of merchants and consumers. The regulator said on Tuesday after a meeting with the Cyberspace Administration of China and the State Taxation Administration and 34 internet platform companies that severe punishment would be meted out to those who violate the rules and urged e-commerce giants to learn from the recent penalties imposed on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. The regulator said it was necessary to weed out and punish illegal behaviors or monopolistic malpractices among platform companies, including forcing collaborating merchants to choose between their own online marketplaces and those of its competitors' for selling products, by abusing their dominant position in the market, "pinching off young shoots" by acquiring them, burning money to seize the "community group buying" market, hurting repeat customers with big data, ignorance of "fake and shoddy" products, leakage of customer information and tax-related illegal activities. Among these malpractices, actions that have forced merchants to choose between the platform's own marketplace and other competitors are the most severe, a reflection of sheer capricious and disorderly expansion of capital from the platform economy, which is blatant trampling and destruction of market competition, officials said after the meeting. Actions that force merchants to choose marketplaces hinder innovation and stifle interest among merchants and consumers. This needs to be eradicated, they said. The meeting also called for strengthening regulations to tackle illegal behaviors and malpractices. The officials, however, clarified that stringent action does not mean any change in the government attitude toward the platform economy. Rather, the emphasis will be on respecting industry development patterns and restore fair competition and innovation to build an open and safe new order among internet companies. It will also be an impetus for a more prosperous, vigorous and convenient online platform economy. The State Administration for Market Regulation, which started a probe into Alibaba in December, fined the company 18.23 billion yuan ($2.78 billion) on Saturday for abusing its dominant position over rivals and merchants on its e-commerce platforms. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said in a statement that the company accepts the penalty with sincerity and will ensure its compliance with determination. The three departments have asked platform-based internet companies to strictly prevent any disorderly expansion of capital to ensure economic and social security; strictly prevent monopoly and disorder to ensure fair competition; strictly prevent technology strangulation to ensure innovation and development of the industry; strictly prevent the abuse of rules and algorithms to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of all parties, and strictly prevent system closure to ensure ecological opening and sharing. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:35:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, April 14 (Xinhua)-- Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases recently in Nepal, an infectious disease hospital based in the capital Kathmandu has once again fully become a dedicated COVID-19 hospital from Tuesday. Administration of the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital made such a decision citing an increasing number of patients being admitted over the last two weeks. It had been the first of hospitals converted into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in the Himalayan country last year. "Currently, 22-23 COVID-19 patients have been admitted at our hospital, up from 2-4 patients just two weeks ago," Sagar Kumar Rajbhandari, director of the hospital, told Xinhua on Tuesday. The hospital currently has 60 beds for accommodating the coronavirus patients. Nepal has seen a rapid rise in coronavirus infections recently. The government on Tuesday reported 517 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, compared to 47 cases recorded for a single day on March 6, and 554 cases on Jan. 8. On Monday, the number of daily COVID-19 cases stood at 559, passing the 500-mark for the first time in four months. According to Nepali officials, cases detected over recent days were mostly caused by the more infectious coronavirus variant first reported in Britain in December 2020. "Both infection rate and mortality rate of the new coronavirus strain is high," Samir Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population told Xinhua on Monday. Amid the worsening situation of COVID-19, hospitals in Nepal are receiving more coronavirus patients. "Just 10 days ago, we had 2-3 COVID-19 patients admitted in our hospital," Santa Kumar Das, chief of the COVID-19 management committee at the Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, said. "Now, 24 beds are occupied by coronavirus patients." The hospital has currently prepared 60 beds for coronavirus patients. "When coronavirus cases were decreasing until recently, we had allocated just nine beds for COVID-19 patients," said Das. Nepal's vaccination drive, which was launched in late January, is still in its first phase, with about 1.85 million people having so far received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and currently with the vaccines donated by China being in use. The Nepali government announced on Tuesday that the administering of second vaccine doses will start from April 20 for health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel, journalists, diplomats and staff of diplomatic offices among other people in the priority groups. Enditem New Delhi, April 14 : According to LinkedIn's Future of Talent report, more than 9 in 10 (93 per cent) companies in India are looking to fill open roles internally in the post-Covid era. In 2020, the rate of attrition increased 1.5 times in India as employees battled long shifts while working remotely. As signals of a second wave accentuate India's remote working needs, the report shows that HR will play an even bigger role in determining the future of talent as 9 in 10 companies agree that HR will now play a key role in helping organisations streamline their business, shape their strategy, and hire more efficiently, even beyond Covid-19. The pandemic has introduced significant internal shifts within companies. This, coupled with India's historically competitive talent market, is fuelling the rise of internal mobility across companies today. According to LinkedIn's Future of Talent report, more than 9 in 10 (93 per cent) companies in India are looking to fill open roles internally in the post-Covid era. Diving deeper into the reasons for this surge in internal hiring, the report shows that 7 in 10 companies in India hire internally to gain an insider's perspective or a sense of progress. The report also states that when hiring internally, the top 3 skills that companies in India look for are good communication, problem solving skills, and time management. To keep pace with today's rapidly digitising business needs, companies are also keen to upgrade the capabilities of their workforce. Taking cue, 95 per cent of companies in India have dedicated L&D programs to help employees learn new skills and prepare for the future, according to the Future of Talent 2021 report. While skills take the centrestage, many companies in India are also leaning on data analytics to tap into relevant talent pools when hiring today. LinkedIn's research shows that 91 per cent companies in India use data to make informed talent-hiring decisions while 53 per cent frequently use data to map skills with open position requirements. To make remote hiring even more efficient, 9 in 10 companies are also merging roles to reduce talent acquisition costs today. "As remote work continues to disrupt the way we work, HR will play a greater role in helping companies absorb new hiring trends to build the future of talent. In 2021, India will see more companies merge roles, upskill their employees, and hire internally to maximize business growth without expanding operational costs. Data-led hiring practices will also play a critical role in helping companies engage with their employees, attract the right talent, and hire more effectively in 2021. It's evident that companies today are realizing that businesses succeed when their people succeed," says Ruchee Anand, Director, Talent and Learning Solutions, Linkedin. Despite surgery and subsequent treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, the majority of patients experience recurrence of malignant brain tumours. Researchers at Linkoping University, Sweden, and the Medical University of Graz, Austria, have shown in cells in culture that an ion pump can deliver drugs more accurately, which gives less severe adverse effects in chemotherapy. The results have been published in Advanced Materials Technologies. "This is the first time an ion pump has been tested as a possible method to treat malignant brain tumours. We used cancer cells in the lab, and the results are extremely promising. However, it will probably take five to ten years before we see this new technology used in treatments for brain tumours", says Daniel Simon, associate professor at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at the Department of Science and Technology at Linkoping University . The scientists have used cells from glioblastoma, which is the most common and most aggressive type of cancer that can arise in the brain. When a brain tumour is surgically removed, small parts of the tumour are often left behind, embedded between the brain cells. Even high-precision surgery cannot remove these cells without damaging the surrounding healthy brain tissue. This means that radiation treatment and chemotherapy are used to stop the recurrence of the tumour. In Sweden, around 30 cytostatics are available to treat different types of cancer. These chemotherapy agents are most often given either intravenously or as a tablet. But in order to reach the brain, they must first spread through the circulatory system and then pass through the blood-brain barrier. The walls of the small blood vessels in the brain are much less permeable than blood vessels in the rest of the body, and can prevent many substances in the blood entering the brain. Thus, only a few drugs that work against cancer can pass through. Scientists at Linkoping University and at the Medical University of Graz have now developed a method in which an implanted ion pump can be used to get around the blood-brain barrier and supply gemcitabine - an extremely effective chemotherapy agent that cannot normally pass the blood-brain barrier - directly into the brain with high precision. Gemcitabine is currently used to treat cancers in the pancreas, bladder and breast, where it acts by disrupting the cell division process in rapidly growing tumours. This means that gemcitabine does not affect brain cells, since these do not, in general, undergo cell division. "The traditional glioblastoma treatment currently used in the clinics harms both cancer and neuronal cells to the same extent. However, with the gemcitabine ion pump, we tackle only the cancerous cells, while neurons stay healthy. In addition, our experiments on cultured glioblastoma cells show that more cancer cells are killed when we use the ion pump than when we use manual treatment", says Linda Waldherr, postdoctoral fellow at the Medical University of Graz. She has conducted the study together with researchers at Linkoping University. When the ion pump is to transport gemcitabine from an electrolyte reservoir into cells or a tumour, a low current is used to "pump" the positively charged drug through an ion transport channel. The method is known as electrophoresis. The ion pump needs only a low current to pump the gemcitabine, which is an advantage since it avoids the risk that brain cells are activated and transmit unintended nerve signals. The low current and voltage also mean that eventual therapeutic technology will not require large power supplies or batteries to operate. Rainer Schindl, associate professor at the Medical University of Graz, describes other advantages. "The pressure inside the brain is extremely sensitive, and using an ion pump to transport the drug instead of a fluid-driven device means that the pressure is not affected. Also, the dosage is controlled by electrical charging, which makes the supply of the chemotherapy agent extremely precise. The next step will be to use the ion pump to evaluate different chemotherapy agents that have previously given adverse effects that are too serious or that are unable to pass the blood-brain barrier", he says. ### Principal funding bodies for the research have been The Austrian Science Fund, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research. The article: Targeted chemotherapy of glioblastoma spheroids with an iontronic pump Linda Waldherr, Maria Seitanidou, Marie Jakesova, Verena Handl, Sophie Honeder, Marta Nowakowska, Tamara Tomin, Meysam Karami Rad, Tony Schmidt, Joachim Distl, Ruth Birner-Gruenberger, Gord von Campe, Ute Schafer, Magnus Berggren, Beate Rinner, Martin Asslaber, Nassim Ghaffari-Tabrizi-Wizsy, Silke Patz, Daniel T. Simon, Rainer Schindl Advanced Materials Technologies 2021 doi: 10.1002/admt.202001302 Supplier News 14 April 2021 Seattle - Today at the American Hotel & Lodging Assn.'s 2021 Virtual Safety Summit, hoteliers will gather to discuss top safety concerns that are critical to the future of the hotel industry. This "can't-miss" event is designed to help prepare and protect owners and operators from what lies ahead. React Mobile, a Supporting Sponsor of the event and a provider of best-in-class hotel safety platforms, will play a key role with CEO Robb Monkman and CTO Riley Eller moderating three roundtable discussions, and Monkman serving as a panelist during the "20/20 Vision" session that will discuss on-the-ground implementation and operating safety devices during the pandemic and beyond. "React Mobile is proud to be participating in this powerful annual AHLA event," Monkman said. "At a time when employee safety is more critical than ever before and hotels are preparing to reopen with marginal crews, operators must be doing everything possible to ensure a safe environment for its frontline workers who are putting themselves at risk in the name of hospitality. Even before COVID-19, a new safety culture was emerging in our industry that was placing employee protection at the core of operations. At this Virtual Safety Summit, participants will be updated on state laws and industry programs like the AHLA 5-Star Promise Initiative that are encouraging operators to implement technologies and introduce training programs that maintain a safe environment." "It is with great pride that I join some of hospitality's most prominent thought leaders discussing corporate and property level safety topics today," he said, "and Riley and I are honored to be among the subject matter experts leading three of 25 roundtable conversations and answering the many questions today's operators will pose about their employee's safety." Roundtables Focusing on Employee Safety Technology Monkman encourages hoteliers interested in learning more about employee safety technology to attend the following virtual 20-minute roundtable discussions: The Pros and Cons of Safety System Self-Installs / 2:45 p.m. EDT To self-install or not to self-install, that's the question. Are fears and uncertainties around safety system self-installation worth the potential cost-savings? Join this session to learn more. To self-install or not to self-install, that's the question. Are fears and uncertainties around safety system self-installation worth the potential cost-savings? Join this session to learn more. The Risks of Working Alone / 3:15 p.m. EDT If a hotel rarely experiences safety issues, should it provide panic buttons to its employees anyway? Let's discuss. If a hotel rarely experiences safety issues, should it provide panic buttons to its employees anyway? Let's discuss. Protecting Staff from Panic Button Hacks / 3:34 p.m. EDT Did you know that the panic buttons meant to protect your people can be hacked and make them more vulnerable? Learn how to make your safety monitors even safer. "Adding panic buttons today means more than just checking off a requirement on the property to-do list it also means increasing staff loyalty and reducing turnover," Monkman said. "In these uncertain times, hoteliers cannot assume their valued employees will return post pandemic. Showing empathy by investing in workers' personal safety is proven to have a positive impact on job retention 93% of employees say they are more likely to stay with an empathetic employer. Not only will existing employees return, but new candidates will be drawn to a property for its integrity and social conscience. When hoteliers put employee safety first especially when occupancy and revenues are low loyalty emerges." "Doors are opening today, but hotels can't operate without their people," he said. "Only when workers feel safe and valued can they be motivated to deliver an exceptional experience for guests. There is no time like the present to begin protecting your team and preparing for the future. To learn more about how you can better protect your valued workers, register for the AHLA 2021 Virtual Safety Summit today." To register for the AHLA 2021 Virtual Safety Summit, click here. A Cumberland County man suffered life-threatening injuries after falling 30 feet in a paraglider accident on Tuesday evening. The 50-year-old Bridgeton resident was flying the motorized glider in the area of Methodist Meeting Road and Back Neck Road in Fairfield Township shortly before 7 p.m. when he struck a telephone pole wire, witnesses told New Jersey State Police. The paraglider fell about 30 feet to the ground and was unconscious when good Samaritans rushed to his aid and cut him free from his seat belt, police said. He was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, with serious head injuries and is listed in critical condition, police said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N532 million for the construction and furnishing of the University of Ibadan library extension. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, briefed State House correspondents after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari is still in London for a routine medical check-up. The Minister of Education also presented a memo for the award of contract for the construction and furnishing of the extension of the University of Ibadan library. The memo, which was approved, is at the cost of N532 million with a completion period of 48 weeks, the minister said. Mr Mohammed hinted that the memo was well received because of the need to extend the library facility in the university. He said that for many years, the library had needed real extension, given the surge in students population. According to him, the extension project will comprise two suspended floors, two online reading areas and three cubicles It will also include one physically challenged reading area, four seminar rooms and one reprographic unit. Other facilities are six staff offices, one control room, a general room, stores, four e-libraries, a coffee room, a technical service room, a media unit room, one galaxy/exhibition room and a journal publication unit, in addition to two reading areas. The contract was awarded to the UYK Nigeria limited and it is to be delivered in 48 weeks, Mr Mohammed Chibok girls On the seventh anniversary of the abduction of Chibok girls, the minister said the government had more than ever demonstrated its concern for the issue of security through the town hall meeting it held in Kaduna recently. He said the theme of the all-encompassing meeting was Setting Benchmark for Enhanced Security and National Unity. Meanwhile, the meeting observed a minute silence in honour of Mahmud Tukur, a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, who passed away recently. Apart from Mr Mohammed and Mrs Ahmed, others at the FEC meeting were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba. The remaining ministers joined virtually from their offices. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Funds Office, Habiba Lawal. ADVERTISEMENT The National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, a retired major general, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, were also present at the meeting. At its last meeting on March 31, FEC approved over N19billion for various projects for the Ministries of Transportation, Aviation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). (NAN) Freelance journalist Vladislav Yesypenko has told a court he was tortured and forced to confess after he was arrested in March by Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in Crimea on fabricated charges. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) call for his immediate release and the withdrawal of all charges against him. Vladislav Yesypenko's lawyer, Aleksei Ladin, said his client testified during a closed-door hearing on 6 April that he was tortured and threatened with death unless he confessed: "They tortured him with electric shocks and by beating his legs, his genital area, his body. They beat him to obtain confessions and forced him to incriminate himself....," Ladin said after the hearing. Yesypenko also said that he was forced to confess on local TV channel Crimea 24 with a text prepared in advance. Vladislav Yesypenko is accused of "illegal production, repair, or modification of firearms" and "espionage" for Ukrainian intelligence. He was detained on 10 March pending trial. If convicted on firearms charges, Yesypenko could face up to six years in prison. If convicted of espionage, he could face up to 20 years, according to Russian law. Yesipenko holds Ukrainian and Russian nationalities and has been cooperating with the project of the Ukrainian RFE/RL service "Crimea.Realities" for 4 years. He periodically provides photos and videos, which are published on the RFE/RL resources. "The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine is in solidarity with our colleagues from the service "Crimea.Realities '' in their right to independently inform about life in the occupied peninsula. Dozens of journalists and contributors to the project are being harassed and persecuted. Most of them were forced to leave the Crimea. We condemn torture, the restriction of the right to a lawyer and demand the immediate release of Vladislav Yesipenko" commented NUJU President Sergiy Tomilenko. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "These false charges must be withdrawn. Such barbaric use of torture and forced confessions must be stopped. Together with journalists unions around the world we demand Vladislav be set free". Taxi owners and drivers in Aurangabad have demanded that the EMIs on their vehicle loans be deferred in the wake of strict restrictions enforced in to check the spread of COVID-19. The Jay Sangharsh Vahan Chalak Sanghatna, an umbrella body of taxi owners and drivers here, in a memorandum to Aurangabad collector on Tuesday said tourist and religious places in the state have been shut in the wake of the pandemic and this has adversely affected their earnings. "We are already facing problems because of the negative impact on our income. We have taken loans to buy our vehicles and banks are demanding its repayment, due to which we are under stress," the association said in its plea. Hence, the taxi owners and drivers want that their EMIs be deferred till the situation normalises, the association's president, Sanjay Halnor, said. "The banks should not impose a fine on us during the period of COVID-19-related restrictions," he said. Reeling under an unprecedented COVID-19 wave, the government on Tuesday announced severe restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state. The restrictions, which exclude essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on Wednesday and remain in force till 7 am on May 1. Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot, will be in force during the period, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She was born with congenital deafness, diagnosed with schizophrenia, committed to a sanatorium, she rescued Jews from the Nazis (despite her daughters being married to high-ranking members of the Nazi Party) and founded her own religious order of nuns. The life of Princess Alice of Battenberg is an embodiment of the old saying that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. The mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 9 aged 99, makes her first appearance halfway through the award-winning Netflix drama The Crown and could easily be the subject for an entire series of her own. Princess Alice of Battenberg in a portrait taken around 1910. Hulton Archive / Getty Images The fourth episode of season three focuses on the inner traumas and insecurities the husband of Queen Elizabeth II harbored in his complicated relationship with his mother, who is portrayed in The Crown by English actress Jane Lapotaire. With a certain amount of creative license, the story picks up on the life of this largely unknown royal figure when she is attempting to sell a sapphire brooch in Athens to raise funds for her congregation. After the 1967 military coup in Greece, Alice of Battenberg moved into Buckingham Palace, in the fictional version occupying a small attic room where she shared cigarettes and secrets with her granddaughter, Princess Anne. She ran her own religious order and was always seeking funding. She sold the majority of her possessions and, in times of war, she gave her food rations to orphans or anybody else who needed them, says historian Hugh Vickers in his book, The Crown Dissected, a historical analysis of the first three seasons of the series. She did move into Buckingham Palace in 1967, but she wasnt installed in a sad little room as The Crown suggests, instead she occupied a spacious apartment with views on the first floor. It is true that she was close to Princess Anne, with whom she developed a very personal relationship. However, it is not true that she was the focus of a feature in the British daily The Guardian. Thats ridiculous. She was a very private person. She didnt give interviews. She was so reserved that she destroyed all her letters and, when she died, she only left three dresses, Vickers told the British newspaper The Times. Prince Philip with his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg on March 7, 1960. GETTY Princess Alice of Battenberg was born at Windsor Castle in 1885 in the presence of her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. She was married at the age of 18 to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, with whom she had five children: four daughters and a son, Philip, who would later become consort to Elizabeth II. In 1922, when Philip was still an infant, the family were exiled from Greece and they swiftly became separated. Philip was educated at boarding schools in England and Scotland, while his father lived by his own means in Monte Carlo and Alice was interned at a Swiss sanatorium after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Further complicating family reunions, Alice and Andrews four daughters married into the German nobility, some of their husbands being fervent supporters of National Socialism, while Philip was joined the British Royal Navy. In 1930, Princess Alice was put through the wringer by the experiments of Sigmund Freud. A 2012 documentary, The Queens Mother in Law, explained how the father of psychoanalysis diagnosed all of Alices problems as being down to her hormone levels and sexual frustration. Freud prescribed a course of X-rays to be applied to her ovaries to accelerate the menopausal process. The treatment was a failure and only served to condemn her to lifelong health problems. She fled the sanatorium and returned to Greece, where she founded an orthodox convent. Like something from a Greek tragedy, she was only reunited with her family in 1937 when they all attended the funeral of her daughter Princess Cecilie, who died with her husband and two sons in an airplane accident in Belgium on her way to attend her brother-in-law Prince Ludwigs wedding in London. The wedding day of Princess Elizabeth (c) and Prince Philip, attended by Alice of Battenberg (5th l). STR - / AFP Rebecca Cope says in an article for Tatler that during World War II, Princess Alice worked for the Red Cross. She certainly had experience in the area. During the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, she had served as a nurse, setting up field hospitals and assisting surgeries on wounded soldiers. During the occupation of Athens by Italian and German forces, she helped to hide a Jewish family, the Cohens, who in 1913 had helped members of King George Is family escape into exile. From that moment on, Alice became fully committed to charitable and humanitarian work through her convent, the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary, which she founded in 1949. A profoundly spiritual and religious person, she took an interest in various doctrines throughout her life. She attended the royal wedding of Philip and Elizabeth and her daughter-in-laws coronation in 1953, arriving at the latter dressed in the nuns habit of her order. She also had the engagement ring that Philip used to propose to the future Queen Elizabeth II made from the few jewels she had not sold during the 1940s. Princess Alice of Battenberg was exiled from Greece again in 1967 in the aftermath of the Greek junta and lived at Buckingham Palace with her son and daughter-in-law until her death in 1969. English version by Rob Train. Were learning more about Israels attack on Irans nuclear facility at Natanz. Initially, the event was reported as a cyber attack and cyber may, in fact, have played a part. However, explosives were the main component. The Jerusalem Post reports that the attack was carried out through a device smuggled into the facility and detonated remotely. The explosives reportedly took out both the primary and backup electrical systems. (At Natanz, the electrical substation reportedly is 40 to 50 meters below ground.) The initial explosion is believed to have set off secondary explosions, causing even greater damage. An attack last July was carried out with explosives smuggled into a centrifuge assembly facility at the site. The explosives reportedly were embedded in a heavy table that was brought into the facility. An Iranian official says that this time a desk was used. Another possibility is that the explosive device was placed in components before they were installed at Natanz, so that no agent was needed to smuggle them in. This theory was offered by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in an interview. Either way whether the explosives got in through smuggling or pre-installation Israels accomplishment is stunningly impressive. Even the Iranians paid tribute. The former head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization acknowledged that the design of the enemy was very beautiful. But Iran is reluctant to credit Israel. A government spokesman claims that the explosion was not an external attack and that a traitor has been identified. It may be that Israel used a traitor to help execute the attack. How much damage did the explosions cause? The Iranians say that thousands of centrifuges were damaged. Centrifuges spin a gaseous uranium compound at high speeds to separate out and concentrate uranium-235, the fissile isotope of uranium needed for nuclear to fuel a reactor or nuclear bomb. The head of Irans Parliament Research Center announced on television that the destruction of the centrifuges has damaged most of the enrichment facilities at Natanz. Israeli intelligence officials say it could take at least nine months to restore production at the facility. However, Iranian officials counter that the impacted centrifuges were first-generation machines and will be replaced with more advanced ones. Steve has noted the oddity of Israeli sources being so forthcoming about their countrys role in the attack on the Natanz facility. He attributes the openness to Israels desire to send a signal to the U.S. a signal, I assume, that it lacks faith in Joe Bidens approach to Iran. In this regard, it might (or might not) be relevant that Israel reportedly did not inform the U.S. in advance about the attack. Former Israeli intelligence officials are expressing displeasure with leaks about Israels operation. I agree with Steve that even without the leaks, Israels role would be clear. Its not a good idea for Israelis to be talking with any specificity about how the attack was carried out. However, with the exception of Olmerts speculation, that information seems to be coming from Iran. This much is clear. Israel isnt going to rely on Joe Biden to protect itself from Iran and the threat posed by the regimes nuclear program. That would be foolish. STEVE adds: One of the many benefits of the whole series of Israeli direct actions inside Iran in recent months/years is that they are surely causing a counter-intelligence crisis inside Iran. I suspect there are numerous mole hunts under way that are causing huge tensions within Irans spy agencies and military circles. How do you say James Angleton in Farsi I wonder? Agartala, April 14 : A new phenomenon of political violence has emerged in Tripura with at least 25 incidents of political hostility registered by the police after the declarations of results of elections to the politically important Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as both the attackers and the victims are tribals. Police officials on Wednesday said that the cadres and workers of the newly formed 'TIPRA Motha', which secured a landslide victory in the TTAADC polls by defeating the ruling BJP-IPFT candidates, attacked many offices and members of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "In all, the 25 cases of political violence during the past few days, the attackers are tribals and they attacked the members of the same community. We have arrested many perpetrators and have taken legal actions against the assailants. Over 30 tribal men and women were injured in these incidents and a young tribal woman Biswa Laxmi Debbarma was killed on Monday at Srinagar in southern Tripura," a police official said. Amalgamating various local tribal-based parties and leaders and members of other parties, the 'TIPRA Motha' (tribal unity) headed by Tripura's royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman was formed just a few months ago and scripted a new political history by capturing the 30-member TTAADC. Despite Deb Barman has urged his members and cadres to refrain from the political hostility but his partmen continue to attack the members and party offices of the rival parties. "I have asked my partymen to restrain from unleashing any kind of violence and I will ask the police to take action against those who are doing the unlawful activities," said the 'TIPRA Motha' chief, who would assume office as the Chief Executive Member of the TTAADC next week. BJP Spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjee said that the 'TIPRA Motha' has attacked their partymen and offices in alliance with the members of the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist). The CPI-M central committee member and veteran tribal leader Jitendra Chowdhury strongly denied the accusations and said that the BJP is trying to play down the violent activities of the 'TIPRA Motha'. In the April 6 elections to the TTAADC (result of which declared on April 10), of the 28 seats, the 'TIPRA Motha' won 18 seats, the BJP secured nine seats while one seat went to an Independent candidate. Two members nominated by the governor in the TTAADC on the advice of the state government. The results of the elections to the TTAADC are a major setback for the BJP-IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) alliance, which wrested power in Tripura in 2018 after defeating the CPI-M led Left parties that ruled the state for 25 years. However, the BJP for the first time won nine seats in the TTAADC though its junior ally IPFT, despite being a major tribal-based party, drew a blank. Tripura's oldest tribal-based party Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), a former ally of the Congress, is also a partner of the 'TIPRA Motha', and its two candidates, secured victory in the polls to the TTAADC, which has a jurisdiction on over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which 90 per cent are tribals. The opposition CPI-M, which was governing the TTAADC until May 17 last year, has also suffered a setback in the elections though it has a strong base among the tribals ever since the Left movement started in Tripura in the early 40s. The IPFT has been agitating since 2009 for the creation of a separate state by upgrading the TTAADC while TIPRA Motha had recently raised the demand for a 'greater Tipra land' (greater areas for the indigenous tribals). Both the demands were, however, strongly opposed by all the political major parties, including the BJP, the CPI-M and the Congress. The TTAADC was constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in June 1985 for the socio-economic development of the tribals, who always played a significant role in Tripura politics. POTTSVILLE Nurses working at Lehigh Valley Health Networks two hospitals in the city allege the facilities and their parent company have imperiled patient and worker safety and improperly discouraged union-related activities. The whole hospital is affected, Brandy Siegfried, a nurse and chief shop steward at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street, said Monday about the situation. Local 112, Office and Professional Employees International Union, Camp Hill, which represents 95 of the LVHN nurses, filed three charges on April 6 against the hospitals with the National Labor Relations Board. They are , according to Local 112 Business Representative Seth L. Goldstein, questioning employees about their union activities, thereby interfering with their exercising their rights; maintaining work rules that bar employees from discussing terms and conditions of employment; and barring the wearing of union stickers and buttons on their uniforms. Were in the process of giving affidavits to the board, Goldstein said. Harold Maier, assistant to the NLRB regional director in Philadelphia. said there is no set timetable for action. It will be docketed, an agent will be assigned and the investigation will commence, he said of the complaint. Maier said that investigation should take from six to eight weeks to complete, although that is not set in stone. Theres a lot of variation from case to case, he said. If the NLRB decides to prosecute the case, an administrative law judge would preside over the hearing, Maier said. A judge usually will schedule the trial at least three months before it actually occurs, he said. M. Michael Peckman, marketing and public affairs director for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill, said Tuesday that the local hospitals would confine their comments to a single statement. Out of respect for the collective bargaining process, we do not discuss contract negotiations publicly, the statement reads. Officials from the parent company, Allentown-based Lehigh Valley Hospital Network, could not be reached Tuesday for comment. Siegfried said the nurses want the hospitals to be safer places for patients and staff members. We are demanding safe staffing ratios. We are demanding security officers at the south building, which is where the psychiatric staff is, she said. Siegfried also said security officers should be allowed to be security officers. They need to be guaranteed to be there, and not used as couriers or for any other functions, she said. The hospital does not even follow its own policy on staffing its wards, according to Siegfried. They make it up as they go along, she alleged. Four of the 10 beds in the Intensive Care Unit at the East Norwegian Street hospital are blocked off because of lack of staff, Siegfried said. Beds are also blocked off in the medical surgery area, she said. Intensive care, maternity and pediatric nurses all are being shifted to the medical surgery area, Siegfried said. That is not what those nurses should be doing, she said. Theyre being given caregiver duties, Siegfried said. Goldstein and Siegfried each believe Lehigh Valley is trying to bust the union, alleging nonunion employees are being treated better than union members. Hospital staff members are split evenly between union and nonunion workers, according to Siegfried. Lehigh Valley is extremely anti-union, she alleged. According to Siegfried, the union also is looking for higher wages and better retirement provisions. Former US Senator Chris Dodd (left) and Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu wave after the arrival of a US delegation at Songshan Airport, Taipei, April 14, 2021. A U.S. delegation led by former Senator Chris Dodd arrived on the democratic island of Taiwan on Wednesday, amid rising tensions with China. Dodd's is the first delegation to visit the country since President Joe Biden took office in January. A close personal friend of Biden, Dodd was accompanied by former deputy secretaries of state Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, and greeted by Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu. Taiwan foreign affairs ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said the delegation's visit would "enable it to exchange views on a variety of topics with relevant government departments here." A senior administration official in Washington said the delegation was visiting in "a longstanding bipartisan tradition." "The selection of these three individuals senior statesmen who are longtime friends of Taiwan and personally close with President Biden sends an important signal about the U.S. commitment to Taiwan and its democracy," the official said. Analysts told RFA that the visit signals increasing concern in Washington over growing Chinese aggression towards Taiwan, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), nor formed part of the People's Republic of China. The visit comes amid increasing incursions by Chinese aircraft into Taiwan's Aircraft Defense Exclusion Zone (ADIZ), and calls from CCP general secretary Xi Jinping for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to prepare for war. Kwei-Bo Huang, associate professor of international relations at Taiwan's National Chengchi University, said the delegation reflects concern in the Biden administration. "Cross-straits relations are getting tenser and tenser," Huang said. "Biden has made clear his full commitment to the people of Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act." "This sends a political message about boosting Taiwan's ability to defend itself." 'A very important image' Wu Se-Chih, researcher at the Cross-Straits Policy Association, agreed, saying the visit carried strong political connotations. "I think this is indeed a very important image for Biden to project when it comes to implementing the rules of exchange between Taiwan and the United States," he said. "We can expect future interactions between Taiwan and the United States to operate on this basis," he said. "There will be different levels of exchange, depending on whether it's about security or economic matters," he said. Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office meanwhile warned that China "does not promise to abandon the use of force and retains the option of taking all necessary measures." It called on Washington to halt its exchanges with Taiwan and pointed to recent military exercises by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) as a sign of its determination to fight "Taiwanese independence forces." "We oppose any form of official exchange between the U.S. and Taiwan, no matter how its presented, no matter what excuses are used as a cover up," office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang told a news briefing on Wednesday. Chinas foreign affairs ministry said it had lodged complaints to Washington about the delegation, which is scheduled to meet with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday. A State Department spokesperson called on Beijing stop saber-rattling after the PLA flew 25 military jets into Taiwan's ADIZ on Monday. "The United States notes with concern the pattern of ongoing [Chinese] attempts to intimidate the region, including Taiwan," the spokesperson said. "We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan." Reported by Hwang Chun-mei and Jane Tang for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. [April 14, 2021] Trend Micro Offerings Are FedRAMP Authorized and Available on AWS DALLAS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), the leader in cloud security, now offers two new FedRAMP1 authorized cloud security services running on AWS GovCloud. These offerings further the company's long-standing commitment to help U.S government agencies accelerate their digital transformation and overall security posture. For more information on how Trend Micro empowers agencies to use modern cloud technologies with an emphasis on security and protection of federal information, visit here. According to Gartner2, the public sector vertical will "incorporate cloud services, software-defined networks, and hyper-automation in technology and virtual desktops to ensure maximum flexibility in transitioning staff in and out of government offices according to fluctuations in COVID-19 levels." Trend Micro's global expertise in cloud workload protection offers government customers a single purpose-built solution for virtual, cloud and container environments. The new services are optimized for AWS environments and provide automated protection via simplified deployment, rich APIs across multi-cloud environments and consistent, context-aware policies. "We are committed to supporting our AWS Partners as they help customers leverage the cloud in order to meet their missions," said Sandy Carter, Vice President of Partners and Programs, AWS. "I applaud our partners Carahsoft, Smartronix, and Trend Micro for providing public sector customers with trusted security services to help them fast track their AWS cloud adoption, while maintaining continuity of operations, and FedRAMP compliance." Trend Micro Deep SecurityT for Government by Smartronix provides comprehensive security in a single solution that is built to protect sensitive workloads in Smartronix's FedRAMP authorized environment. "Government agencies are accelerating their journey to the cloud to save taxpayer dollars, drive greater IT efficiencies and become more agile in what they do. But this threatens to expand the attack surface and expose these organizations to increased cyber-risk," said Kevin Simzer, COO of Trend Micro. "We have a strategic partnership with Smartronix who will go the final mile with these specific customers to help mitigate these risks and maximize AWS cloud investments." Public sector organizations have multiple options to leverage Trend Micro's cloud security technologies via Smartronix' FedRAMP authorized Cloud Assured Managed Services platform. It can be delivered as a fully managed service, supported by Smartronix, or as a SaaS solution. "Smartronix continues to support the increased demand for secure and compliant cloud solutions required by our government customers to meet their mission needs," said Peter LaMontagne, CEO of Smartronix. "Partnering with Trend Micro enables Smartronix to deliver a differentiated solution through a SaaS deployment and managed services model, via our FedRAMP authorized Cloud Assured Managed Services platform." Smartronix was acknowledged as a Leader for the third time in the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Infrastructure Professional and Managed Services, Worldwide report.3 The new Trend Micro Deep Security for Government by Smartronix is available through Carahsoft Technology Corp. and will soon be listed on AWS Marketplace. Gartner disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Trend Micro Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro's cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.TrendMicro.com . 1 The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a government-wide program to provide a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services 2 Gartner, Predicts 2021: Governments Tackle Transformation Out of Necessity, 11/19/20 3 Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Infrastructure Professional and Managed Services, Worldwide, 5/4/2020 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trend-micro-offerings-are-fedramp-authorized-and-available-on-aws-301268557.html SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Newser) A middle school in Illinois is ditching the name of the third presidentbut it won't be taking the name of the 44th one. At a meeting Tuesday, the Waukegan Board of Education voted 5-2 in favor of renaming Thomas Jefferson Middle School after late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, reports Fox. The board decided to rename the school because Jefferson was a slaveowner. Other leading contenders for the new name were Barack and Michelle Obama Middle School or Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez Middle School, but activists pushed back against the Obama suggestion, citing the millions of deportations during his presidency, the Hill reports. Waukegan, just north of Chicago, is more than 50% Latino. story continues below Board members felt Lewis, who died last year, paved the way for the first Black president, CBS2 reports. Waukegan School Board President Brandon Ewing, who voted to rename the school after Lewis, said Obama was a "great president" but "nobody's legacies are perfect" and "we have a responsibility to listen to all constituents and weigh that in whatever decision we make." He described Lewis as someone who "embodies what we want to teach our students, and that is how to get into good trouble." The board also decided to rename Daniel Webster Middle School after civil rights actvist Edith Smith because the former secretary of state had defended slavery, reports ABC7. (In his eulogy for Lewis, Obama described him as a founding father of a better America.) Fremantle has engaged lawyers to investigate new claims around racism on the Neighbours set, in addition to a review being undertaken by Indigenous consultancy firm Campfire X. Sharon Johal, who played Dipi Rebecchi on the series from 2017 2021, said she tried to deny, bury and ultimately survive racist taunts allegedly from some of her colleagues. But she also spoke out over resolutions from management and a lack of social media moderation. A statement on her website says: On more than one occasion a current cast member (non-POC) directly referred to me as you people when speaking in derogatory terms about an altercation they were involved in with an Indian person. The same person repeatedly referred to me as the black one and/or blackie behind my back in the presence of other crew members. I have been told that the same cast member also repeatedly claims that the show only employs Indian actors and diverse actors of colour to fill their diversity quotas and not because they are any good. From what I understand and what has been communicated to me by other cast and crew, these incidents of racism and problematic behaviour, while directed at me, are not unique to me. I communicated these racist comments to management and while they were sympathetic and the actor being questioned on one occasion to my knowledge (causing me to be targeted again), no further action was taken. Managements position was that I needed to speak to management directly at the time each of these incidents occurred. This practice does not take into consideration the reticence of a victim to come forward in a workplace culture where perpetrators are not seen to be held accountable (so why report?), and where the person reporting is afraid of being further targeted by the perpetrator and in fear of losing their job. Sharon Johals full statement with further complaints, is available here. She returns to the set next week in a guest appearance as Dipi Rebecchi. Another cast member, Sachin Joab, who portrayed Ajay Kapoor from 2011 2013 also levelled complaints about contract and work condition inequities, between caucasian and non-caucasian actors under former producers and questioned the way the Kapoor family was written out of the show. I asked [the production company], How can we go back to a country that were not from and havent been to? Both of our characters are born and raised right here in Australia he told Guardian Australia. Their complaints follows recent statements made by actors Shareena Clanton and Meyne Wyatt around racist and / or homophobic conduct towards First Australians on set. Despite a shift in recent years towards more inclusive characters and storylines, producers are yet to comment on specific claims levelled against the 36 year old soap. We remain committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees on the set of Neighbours and take very seriously any questions about racism or any other form of discrimination, a spokesperson from Fremantle said. We are engaging an independent legal investigation to work concurrently with Campfire Xs cultural review and hope to work directly with the individuals that have raised concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps are appropriate. Related Tesco profits have fallen by a fifth despite 'exceptional' sales of more than 1billion per week in the pandemic. The closure of pubs and restaurants boosted Britain's largest supermarket but it was unable to capitalise because of 892million of costs related to the virus. Revenues rose 7 per cent from 49.9billion to 53.4billion in the year to February 27, helped by a 77 per cent increase in online sales to 6.3billion. Revenues at Tesco rose 7 per cent from 49.9bn to 53.4bn in the year to February 27, helped by a 77 per cent increase in online sales to 6.3bn But the supermarket giant's profits fell 19.7 per cent to 825million as it was forced to spend enormous sums to keep staff safe and expand capacity online. Thousands of vulnerable staff were paid to self-isolate at home, costing the supermarket 79million. Tesco spent 58million on PPE, screens and signs for stores, and 173million on 'thank-you' bonuses to its 450,000 staff. Challenges: Chief executive Ken Murphy took over from Dave Lewis in October It also hired 49,600 temporary and permanent staff to cover for workers who were off sick or self-isolating, at a cost of 290million. The results were also hit by Tesco's widely-lauded decision to pay back 585million of business rates relief. The dividend was held at 9.15p per share, equivalent to 707million. Shares fell 2 per cent, or 4.7p, to 227.4p yesterday. Chief executive Ken Murphy, who took over from Dave Lewis in October, said: 'Everything about this last year has been exceptional. 'While challenges have been significant our business has demonstrated incredible strength and agility. 'We expect a strong recovery in profitability as the majority of our additional Covid costs won't be repeated.' The company said operating profits will return to pre-pandemic levels this year, despite sales returning to normal when hospitality reopens. This is because virus-related costs will fall to around 223million, and a 'strong recovery' is expected for Tesco's wholesale business, Booker, when hospitality reopens. Tesco Bank will also return to profit after making a 175million loss last year, it hopes. Independent retail analyst Richard Hyman said yesterday: 'I think Tesco is being very sensible with the guidance, but I'm pretty positive. The numbers were good and there's a safe pair of hands at the helm.' Nicholas Hyett, an analyst at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'The stage is set for a strong earnings recovery once the pandemic passes.' Investment bank Jefferies said that the profit guidance was 'conservative', as it gave a 'buy' recommendation with a 310p target price. In recent weeks, the company's stock has been trading at its lowest levels since November 2017. Investors are concerned that food delivery is not as profitable as sales in-store, meaning the shift to online could hit its bottom line in the long-term. Tesco said its online division is profitable, and that it is cutting costs with new warehouses, which will make it cheaper to pick online orders. Its first unit, in West Bromwich, is already servicing 500 orders per day, about the same as a large store, and it plans to open a further five this year. Murphy also highlighted the success of the Clubcard Plus, saying that 80 per cent of shoppers in its larger stores are using it and discounts have been extended to 3,000 products. The scheme is encouraging greater loyalty, he claimed, and the data that Tesco collects will help the retailer target promotions at its shoppers. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Following COVID-19 outbreaks at multiple schools in the state, three schools will voluntarily close to in-person learning due to coronavirus cases. The state Public Education Department announced on Tuesday that Mesa Alta Junior High School and Central Primary in Bloomfield and Socorro High School will move to exclusively remote learning starting on Wednesday. Bloomfield closed the junior high because there were enough potential exposures among staff members who chose not to be vaccinated that Mesa Alta could no longer support in-person learning and Central Primary closed its doors because a majority of kids at the school would have had to quarantine as close contacts related to two positive cases. Meanwhile, seven students at Socorro High School tested positive since . The PED said none of the schools reached the threshold for mandatory closures. Each of the schools will be shuttered for about two weeks with plans to reopen April 26. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Daniel Dae Kim is revealing little known nuggets about the breakthrough role that put him on the map. The award-winning actor gained fame through his beloved character Jin-Soo Kwon on J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelofs Emmy Award-winning ABC supernatural drama Lost, a big hit during the mid-to-late aughts. But according to Kim, the role of the South Korean-born doorman-turned-waiter-turned-enforcer had an alternate fate. There were maybe one or two of us that really had job security, the 52-year-old New York University alum revealed to Vulture. From what I understand, it was planned for me to be killed off in season one. I was not a very sympathetic character, so it would have been easy for me to get killed off without the show missing a beat. Currently starring on The Good Doctor, Kim credits writer Monica Macer for saving his character and, furthermore, being the force behind his role that lasted through the entire run of the series. She is African American and Korean American. She lobbied for me, he shared, and also credited another Korean American writer, Christina Kim, for working on creating his characters memorable dialogue. The way the dialogue was put together was they would write it in English and then I would go to someone in Hawaii and translate it together with that person. Then I would learn it in Korean, he explained, saying he is grateful that he was able to learn the language for an American television show. The married father of two who was born in South Korea and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania also shared how Lost was groundbreaking because he was able to have open dialogue about subverting Asian stereotypes with the showrunners. When I read the script for the pilot, I knew this was a land mine, Kim said about the roles. My greatest fear was that the pilot of Lost would air but the series would not because if you were to see the pilot as the totality of my character, you would have been left with that stereotype. Story continues Jin and his wife Sun-Hwa Kwon portrayed by co-star Yunjin Kim drew early criticism on for falling into the Asian stereotype of the overbearing husband and his submissive wife. While we were shooting, I remember sitting down with Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams and saying, Guys, this character cannot progress in this same way. They basically said, Trust us. I did, and it turned out for the best, he shared. As an Asian actor, youre just looking to get hired. Its about working within the system to try and change it when you have the opportunity. The character grew to a place where I dont think youd call him a stereotype by the end. Winning 11 Emmys and a Golden Globe, Lost about survivors of a plane crash in the South Pacific Ocean ran for six seasons between 2004 and 2010. Five Haitian and two French religious, as well as three laypersons, were kidnapped in the Caribbean nation on Sunday as they were preparing to attend a ceremony for the installation of a new parish priest. By Vatican News staff writer Five Catholic priests and two nuns were part of a group of people abducted on Sunday in Haiti, Church officials said. Reports indicate that the kidnapped persons include five Haitians and two French citizens a priest and a nun. Three other lay persons were also reportedly abducted at the same time. The incident took place in the municipality of Croix-des-Bouquet, northeast of Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, while the group was preparing to attend the installation of a new parish priest. Separate reports indicate that the kidnappers, suspected to have been part of an armed gang, have demanded a ransom for the release of the people in their custody. Appeals This is too much, said Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas of Miragoane. The time has come for these inhumane acts to stop. The Haitian Conference of Religious (CHR) has expressed its deep sorrow, but also its anger at the situation, which the group says has been going on for over a decade. Haitis challenges For several years, the Island nation of Haiti has battled with political and socio-economic crises, further worsened by Covid-19 and a worsening atmosphere of insecurity. The situation of political instability and a spike in kidnappings by gangs have led to recent protests by thousands of citizens, who accuse authorities of not sufficiently equipping the police in their fight against insecurity in the Caribbean nation. In March, the government declared a state of emergency for one month in several areas of the country in an effort to stem the upsurge of crime and to allow the PNH (National Police of Haiti) to regain control of areas overrun by gang activity. PORTLAND, Ore., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Gloves Market by Type (Disposable Sterile Gloves, Disposable examination and protective gloves, and Consumer gloves), and Industry (Medical, Horeca (food), Cleaning, Beauty, Food and Drinks, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Automotive, Electronics, Construction, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20212025". As per the report, the global gloves industry was accounted for $48.01 billion in 2017, and is projected to reach $118.50 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2021 to 2025. Major determinants of the market growth Increase in concerns for safety and hygiene, advancements in technology, rise in awareness about hygiene among healthcare service providers, and growing number of end user and need for gloves have boosted the growth of the global gloves market. However, high price competition and toxic reaction to certain types of gloves hinder the market growth. On the contrary, untapped market in emerging economies is estimated to open lucrative opportunities for the market players in the future. Download Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/9232?reqfor=covid Covid-19 scenario: The demand for gloves increased during the Covid-19 pandemic due to rise in need for them from food industry to maintain hygiene. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the demand for gloves as a part of the PPE kit increased for surgical purposes and personal use. The increased demand for disposable gloves due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in turn opens opportunities for market players for expanding the manufacturing of disposable gloves. The disposable examination and protective gloves segment held the largest share By type, the disposable examination and protective gloves segment dominated the market growth in 2019, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global gloves market. Moreover, the segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period, due to rise in infectious and chronic diseases across the globe such as COVID-19, swine flues, and hepatitis. The food and drinks segment to manifest the highest CAGR through 2025 By industry, the food and drinks segment would portray the highest CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period, due to growth of the food industry and rise in restaurants based on various cultures across the globe. However, the medical segment accounted for the highest share in 2019, holding nearly two-fifths of the global gloves market, owing to the wider use of medical gloves in hospitals and surgeries across the globe. Enquiry for Short-term and Long-term Impacts of COVID-19 at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/9232 Europe, followed by North America, held the lion's share By region, the global gloves market across Europe, followed by North America, held the largest share in 2019, contributing to around one-third of the market. This is due to surge in medical tourism, and presence of large key players in Europe. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period, owing to surge in imports from the Asian markets. Major market players Ansell Ltd. 3M Co. Co. Semperit AG Holding Cardinal Health, Inc. Honeywell International Inc. Hartalega Holdings Berhad Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd Kimberly-Clark Corp. Top Glove Corp. Bhd rubberex corporation (m) berhad Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market. Similar Reports: Western Europe Sterile Gloves Market - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 India Disposable Gloves Market - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Disposable Medical Masks Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Medical Nonwoven Disposables Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Disposable Medical Gloves Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022, 1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research SOURCE Allied Market Research Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Donald Trump listen during a signing ceremony for H.R. 748, the CARES Act in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 27, 2020. (Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images) McConnell Suggests He Doesnt Want to Escalate Feud With Trump Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appears to not want to escalate a spat between him and former President Donald Trump and did not directly answer a question about critical comments Trump reportedly made about him during a speech. Trump commented on McConnells leadership during a recent address to Republican donors over the past weekend, and weeks before that, Trump sharply criticized the Senate Republican leader in a statement. When asked about the former presidents remarks, McConnell said, What Im concentrating on is the future. What we are confronted with here is a totally left-wing administration with a slight majority in the House, a 5050 Senate, trying to transform America into something no one voted for last year, McConnell continued. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), gave Trump a Champion of Freedom Award at Trumps Mar-a-Lago, Florida, resort. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, on Tuesday, said McConnell does not harbor any negative feelings against Trump and wants the spat to end. Right now, its sort of a one-sided thing. The leader has no animosity and hes made it very clear he wants to work with the president to get the majority back, Thune said Tuesday. But several weeks ago, McConnell published an opinion article that criticized Trump for his election-fraud claims and said it was the reason why Republicans lost two Georgia Senate seats on Jan. 5. I wish he wouldnt do it, but I dont think theres any way that you could change how he does things. I think we just have to adapt the best we can and stay focused on what are our objectives and thats get the [Senate] majority back in 2022, Thune said, according to The Hill. The South Dakota senator, who himself has been a target of Trumps, said hes hoping the president and leader at some point can come to an understanding. Everybody right now, including the leader, who is a target, is saying we are more interested in focusing our ire on the Democrats, who with their policies are doing great harm to the country and these Republican family feuds arent helpful, arent constructive, Thune said. The leader is saying the president is blowing off steam and well live to fight in 2022 and hopefully with the team all on the same page. The Epoch Times has contacted Trumps team for comment. ILION, N.Y. The attorney for an Ilion firefighter who has been placed on administrative leave, says hes still not sure why his client isnt back to work. Anthony Brindisi represents Michael Conover, who is looking to be reinstated as the deputy fire chief. Ilion Mayor Brian Lamica confirmed two members of the fire department were under investigation in February, after the Ilion Fire Department received a letter from a former employee that could subject the village to legal liability. Brindisi says its unclear if Conover was involved in the complaint, and is yet to be interviewed concerning the investigation. I have never seen an investigation take this long by a municipality. Imagine your employer coming up to you one day saying we're going to put you on administrative leave, said Brindisi. They dont tell you if you're the subject of an investigation, they dont tell you what complaint has allegedly been filed, they give you no information whatsoever on what you may have done wrong or the ability to respond to any of those accusations. According to Brindisi, Conover just wants to get back to work. There is a cloud of suspicion over my client that's affecting his reputation, standing in the community, his profession as a firefighter, said Brindisi. He just wants to go back to work, serve the village of Ilion, serve the community that he loves, and he's not getting the ability to do that right now because of the lack of communication coming from the village of Ilion. The Ilion mayor declined to do an interview with NEWSChannel 2, saying this is a personnel matter he cannot discuss. Sale of electric vehicles recorded a 20 percent slump in fiscal 2021 largely due to a steep 37 percent crash in electric three-wheelers - the largest segment, during the year. The fiscal saw registration of 134,619 units as against 168,311 units in fiscal 2020, data collated by CEEW Centre for Energy Finance's (CEEW-CEF) shows. This was the first time since fiscal 2015 that the category has recorded a decline. The biggest impact of Covid was on three-wheelers where sales declined from 140,683 units in fiscal 2020 to just 88,378 units in fiscal 2021. Two and four-wheelers however ducked the trend registering impressive growth during the year albeit on a relatively small base. After posting a marginal decline in fiscal 2020, electric two wheelers grew to 40,837 units last year from 24,839 units in the previous year. Two and three-wheeler EV sales accounted for nearly 96 per cent of all EV sales in the country in FY21 even as the share of three-wheeler, due to the slump in sales, has declined to 65 per cent from 83 per cent. At the same time, share of two-wheeler EVs, including those that have speeds greater than 25 kph, has grown to 30 per cent from 14 per cent. There has been a sharp uptick in sale of electric cars as well, which grew from 2,727 units in fiscal 2020 to 4,588 units in FY 2021 largely due to greater number of launches in this segment. With over 23 new electric car models slated for launch by fiscal 2022, this segment is expected to show strong growth in years to come. Electric vehicle registrations now account for the highest ever share of 0.88 per cent of all vehicle registrations in the last financial year. The Indian automobile market has registered over 6.38 lakh EVs since 2011-12. "Electric mobility is poised to be at the forefront of India's green recovery. In the coming years, the Central and state governments need to reduce uncertainty by rolling out detailed and clear long-term policies," said Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW. "Further, targeted efforts are needed to solve critical challenges such as higher upfront cost of EVs, lack of end-user financing, consumer's range anxiety, and inaccessible charging. The CEEW-CEF dashboard provides key information of over 600 public charging stations in the country." With just a year left of the government's flagship FAME II scheme that incentivises electric vehicles in the country, it is highly improbable that the targets would be met. So far only only 4.25 per cent of the sales targets have been met. The major barrier according to CEEW is lack of awareness about the scheme among potential EV buyers. The top 10 EV states in the country made up 88 percent of the overall sales with UP, Bihar and Karnataka the top three in terms of volumes. Tripura has the highest share of EVs in percentage terms as compared to combustion engine vehicles. "Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka were the top 3 states in terms of EV sales in FY21. Uttar Pradesh alone contributed 23 per cent of the country's sales, with 31,584 EVs sold in FY21," said Meghna Nair, Analyst at CEEW-CEF. "The top 10 states together made 88 per cent of all EVs sold in India. Tripura, however, leads with the highest share of EVs per 1,000 internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with 52 EVs sold for every 1,000 ICE vehicles in FY21." Also read: Electric vehicles' global sales jump 39% in 2020, 3.1 million units sold Also read: M&M to pump Rs 3,000 crore in EV business in next 3 years Also read: Xiaomi to enter electric vehicle business Get ready for the hottest topics in oral health with the EuroPerio Series, a virtual initiative of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP). Gum diseases affect most people at some point during their lives. They are caused by the body's reaction to bacteria that build up in the mouth and cause inflammation. The two main forms are gingivitis and periodontitis. Registration is now open for the EuroPerio Series launch event on 5 June, which will be broadcast live from the Bella Center Copenhagen in Denmark. Seven additional sessions will follow virtually, one each month from September 2021, paving the way for the in-person EuroPerio10 congress in June 2022 in Copenhagen. Explore the EuroPerio Series scientific programme: https://www.efp.org/europerio-series/programme/. Gum diseases can often be stopped with good oral hygiene and professional cleaning to remove bacteria and reduce inflammation. But some patients require surgery to clear hard-to-reach bacteria and repair tissue destruction - this topic kicks off the EuroPerio Series, featuring state-of-the-art presentations by international experts. Stay tuned for future sessions on the links between gum disease, diabetes, and heart disease - find out how healthy gums can help prevent these conditions. In addition: insights into how personalised medicine is being used to treat periodontitis and problems with dental implants. Plus: the future of bone regeneration to promote tissue reconstruction after gum disease. And much more. We have an exciting programme lined up for the EuroPerio Series showcasing the most important scientific issues of the day discussed by opinion leaders from around the globe. The interactive virtual sessions will enable you to quiz the experts from wherever you are." Professor David Herrera, EuroPerio10 Scientific Chair Professor Phoebus Madianos, EuroPerio10 chair, said: "EuroPerio10 was postponed until 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The EuroPerio Series will provide a taster of what's to come next year and be a warm-up for our highly-anticipated event in Copenhagen." Professor Nicola West, EFP secretary general and EuroPerio10 treasurer, said: "Gum disease affects up to half of all adults worldwide, with the majority totally preventable. Don't miss this virtual series for up-to-the-minute evidence on prevention and treatment, plus links to other common illnesses including heart disease, diabetes and dementia." 2021-04-14 Maeci Today, Minister Luigi Di Maio attended the meeting of NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers in Brussels, in the presence of the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Defence. On the agenda, the peace process in Afghanistan. Muji brand owner Ryohin Keikaku on Wednesday detailed its steps to address concerns over its use of cotton produced in Xinjiang, as it looks to avoid being caught up in allegations over the use of forced labor in the western Chinese region. The Japanese retailer acknowledged receiving many inquiries about products from Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of subjecting Uyghurs to forced labor. A host of western retailers, including clothing brand H&M, have come under intense criticism from Chinese consumers in recent weeks over their position on the use of Xinjiang cotton for their products. Some have faced a backlash over previous statements of concern about reports of forced labor in the region. In a statement published as Ryohin Keikaku released its second quarter financial results, the Muji brand owner said Xinjiang "is a vast production area" that accounts for 80 to 90% of all cotton produced in China. "With regard to the approximately 5,000 hectares of farms and other facilities in the Xinjiang region, we assess the information about the cotton fields, the profiles of the workers and the personnel plans of the farms, and we dispatch an external, independent, third-party organization to conduct on-site audits in line with the cotton cultivation schedule," the company said. "Muji has obtained a global standard certification for the cotton and cotton yarn used in its products in order to specify that they are organic," the company said. It added that the certification was conditional on compliance with international labor conventions established by the International Labor Organization as well as business principles set out by the U.N. and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Muji said it was "taking all necessary steps to respect human rights and manage labor standards" in its use of organic cotton, which it said it sourced from around the world including India, China, Turkey, and the U.S. As of April 14, products described as being made with Xinjiang cotton are on sale via Muji's website in China but are not featured in its online stores in Japan. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 20:24:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and the UN special envoy to Libya Jan Kubis discussed in Cairo on Wednesday the recent developments and means of settling the crisis in the war-torn country, according to an Arab League statement. The meeting touched upon political, security and economic conditions in Libya. "The two diplomats also tackled the Arab League's supporting role in the settlement path in Libya under the auspices of the United Nations," the statement said. They also reiterated the importance of abiding by the cease-fire deal, ensuring the foreign forces and mercenaries leave Libya, and holding the national elections by the end of 2021. The Libyan new executive authority is led by Mohamed Menfi, president of the Presidency Council, and new Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. The Arab League called for a meeting of the pan-Arab body, the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union to exchange views on and coordinate efforts in completing the transitional process and reaching an integrated political settlement in Libya. Enditem Organizers have been trying to raise funds for this landmark for year without much success. With the U.S. retreat from Afghanistan allegedly coming soon . . . Explaining the conflict to residents will become even more difficult. Read more . . . Xiaomi today confirmed that it will launch its Mi QLED TV 75 in India on April 23rd, along with the Mi 11 series phones. This comes after the launch of Mi QLED TV 55-inch model which was launched in India back in December last year. This should be the Mi TV Q1 model which was launched in Europe in February. It features a 75-inch edge-to-edge display with quantum dot technology, 100% NTSC color range with 1.07 billion color variations and 1,024 different color shades, 192 zones of full array dynamic local dimming and has support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. It has MEMC offering up to 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 port, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), 30W stereo speaker system that includes two tweeters and four woofers, supports Dolby Audio and DTS-HD. The TV runs Android TV 10 and has dedicated microphones for far-field voice control (up to 3 meters). Mi TV Q1 / Mi QLED TV (75) specifications 75-inch (3840 2160 pixels) 4K display with MEMC 120Hz refresh rate, 178-degree viewing angle, 100% NTSC Color Gamut, 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) Quad core MediaTek MT9611 (A55) processor with Mali G52 MP2 GPU 2GB RAM, 32GB storage Android 10 WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) (22 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.0, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB, S/PDIF, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, Ethernet AV1, H.265, H.264, H.263, VP8/VP9/VC1, MPEG1/2/4, etc. Mi Voice remote with support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. 30W ( 2 x 15W) 6 speaker system (4 woofers, 2 tweeters), Dolby Audio, DTS-HD The Mi QLED TV 75 will be sold on Flipkart in addition to Mi.com and Mi Home stores offline. We should know the price for India when it goes official next week. Rep. Matt Gaetz reappeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday and attended the hearings of the committees he serves on as lawmakers in both parties have called for his ouster. Gaetz appeared relaxed as he showed up to Judiciary and Armed Services committee hearings, with several conservative Judiciary Committee members chatting amiably with him including Reps. Jim Jordan, the ranking member, and Andy Biggs, who leads the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. Asked for comment Tuesday after returning to Washington for a vote after Congress' two-week Easter recess, Gaetz referred reporters to a column he wrote last week saying he had not paid for sex and accusing his critics of being corrupt. Also on Wednesday, the House's No. 2 Republican said party leaders would 'take action' against Gaetz if the Justice Department formally moves against the Florida lawmaker, who is under federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking. Rep. Matt Gaetz returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday and was seen sporting a floral mask during a House Judiciary Committee hearing Rep. Matt Gaetz (right) speaks to Rep. Andy Biggs (left) before a House Judiciary committee hearing at the Capitol on Wednesday Rep. Matt Gaetz (right) converses with (from left) Republican Reps. Louie Gohmert, Jim Jordan and Thomas Massie during Wednesday's Judiciary committee markup meeting Rep. Steve Scalise, the House's No. 2 Republican, said Wednesday that GOP leadership would 'take action' against Rep. Matt Gaetz if the Justice Department moves in on him Rep. Matt Gaetz wasn't spotted on Capitol Hill Tuesday, but arrived back to work Wednesday making appearances during two committee meetings The remarks by Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana made him the latest congressional Republicans to opt against springing to the defense of the three-term lawmaker from Florida's panhandle. Federal investigators are probing Gaetz over allegations that include sex with a minor, according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity because they could not discuss details publicly. Scalise said in recent years, party leaders have removed Republican lawmakers facing serious charges from their committee assignments. That was essentially a restatement of the House GOP's internal rules, which require lawmakers to resign from committees if they are indicted for felonies with penalties of at least two years in prison. 'If something really formal happened from Justice, we would of course react and take action,' Scalise told reporters. A frequent face on conservative television networks and an ardent ally of former President Donald Trump, Gaetz has broadly denied the accusations and not been charged with any crimes. He serves on the Armed Services and Judiciary committees, and critics have said he should immediately be removed from the Judiciary panel because it oversees the Justice Department. Scalise did not directly answer questions about whether he has confidence in Gaetz. Scalise said he's not discussed the allegations with Gaetz but expected to meet with him this week. 'It's serious things alleged. Obviously we want to get the facts,' Scalise said. Gaetz did not attend a weekly closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Wednesday, Scalise said. Florida's two Republican senators have also steered clear of voicing support for Gaetz. Most Republicans have taken neutral stances or said nothing about the three-term House lawmaker. 'Sure, and I don't think anyone's saying they're not,' Sen. Marco Rubio said Tuesday when a reporter suggested the allegations are serious. 'And he's pretty firm in his denial, so we'll have to wait and see how it plays out.' On Monday, Sen. Rick Scott said Gaetz faces 'pretty serious allegations' but didnt say what should happen to him. 'I think weve got to get all the facts,' Scott said. Both senators are considered potential 2024 presidential hopefuls. Few GOP lawmakers have voiced support for Gaetz, who has said he will not resign. Trump issued a brief statement last week that said Gaetz 'has totally denied the accusations against him.' Gaetz is also the focus of a bipartisan investigation by the House Ethics Committee of accusations including sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, spending campaign funds for personal use and accepting a bribe or impermissible gift. The committee has provided no additional detail. Gaetz, 38, became engaged on New Year's Eve at Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida. On Sunday, No. 3 House GOP leader Liz Cheney of Wyoming called the accusations against Gaetz 'sickening' but didn't suggest he should resign. Gaetz has called for Cheney's defeat after she was among 10 House Republicans to vote for Trump's House impeachment in January. On Wednesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz also appeared at a hearing for the House's Armed Services Committee Rep. Matt Gaetz attended a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday Rep. Matt Gaetz questions a witness during Wednesday's House Armed Services Committee hearing Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois last week became the first GOP member of Congress to say Gaetz should surrender his House seat, tweeting, 'Matt Gaetz needs to resign.' Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, also voted to impeach Trump in January on a charge of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Gaetz and other Florida Republicans and political allies are being examined as part of a broad public corruption inquiry by federal investigators that began months ago, people familiar with the probe have said. Prosecutors are said to be examining whether Gaetz and Joel Greenberg, a former county tax official, paid underage girls or offered them gifts in exchange for sex. One person said investigators were looking at trips Gaetz and other men took and whether women were paid or received gifts to have sex with them or later received government jobs. It was also revealed in a Florida court last week that Greenberg was working toward a plea deal, which might mean he would provide prosecutors with information about the congressman. Greenburg pleaded not guilty to charges including child sex trafficking and fraud. The state of Colorado is just a couple of votes and one signature away from offering its people the option to turn their human bodies into pounds of soil after death. Based on the Centennial State's bill that has already passed one legislative chamber, it would legalize human composting to give people an option for the "natural reduction" burying method. According to The Independent, the said process involves a body being placed inside a cradle then into a vessel over a bed of alfalfa, wood chips, and straw. After removing non-organic materials such as prosthetic implants, the body would stay inside a greenhouse-like facility for a span of 30 days as it transforms into soil. When the process is complete, a body could create one cubic yard or several hundred pounds of soil. According to experts, the process of human composting is more environmentally friendly compared to conventional burial or cremation. They said it only uses one-eighth of the energy of a traditional cremation. However, the state would not allow the soil to be used to grow food for human consumption. Colorado would also prohibit the selling of the soil and combining the soil of multiple individuals without consent, New York Post reported. Colorado will become the second state to legalize human composting if the bill passes, next to Washington. READ NEXT: U.S. to Possibly Enter Worst ''Mega Drought'' in More Than a Millenium Catholic Church Questions Human Composting Democratic Senator Robert Rodriguez of Denver, one of the bill's sponsors, said it is an innovative idea in a state that prides itself on natural beauty and opportunities. Raised as a Catholic, Rodriguez noted that it is not necessarily something that he might want to do for himself, but he believes that people in Colorado should have a choice. Rodriguez and the other sponsors on the bill, namely Democratic Representative Brianna Titone of Arvada and GOP Representative Matt Soper of Delta, shared that they have heard a lot from individuals who are excited about human composting. The SB21-006 seems familiar to many Colorado residents as it did not make it through the session last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That's why the bill's sponsors decided to bring it back. Some Colorado residents were about to start a petition about legalizing human composting after what they have witnessed in Washington state. But they were glad to find out that some lawmakers were already working on it. Some post-death businesses are also excited to get involved in the new process, while others are still holding out for more specifics. Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery-Crown Hill told The Post that the company needs to learn more. But it believes in the importance of offering choices to people, Canon City Daily Record reported. On the other hand, the Colorado Catholic Conference opposes human composting because it contradicts the church's teaching that the human body is sacred and "the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral society." It added that more research is needed on what the practices would do for health and safety. READ MORE: Archeologists Unearthed Chilling Secrets of 'Tower of Skulls' in Mexico City WATCH: Colorado May Join Washington in Allowing Human Composting - From Yours News The judge, Peter A. Cahill, has tried to bar a common defense tactic, blaming the victim. He has strictly limited testimony about Mr. Floyd, saying that his past acts and state of mind were not relevant to the case. But the defense has tried to expose jurors to Mr. Floyds history of involvement with the police, and arguments over how much of the May 2019 arrest jurors would see began well before the trial. Mr. Nelson said that arrest showed a pattern of behavior in which Mr. Floyd responded to the police by panicking, implying that he faked his response. This goes to the very nature of this case and why public perception is what it is, Mr. Nelson said in court a few weeks ago. The things that he is saying. I cant breathe. Im claustrophobic. Calling out for his Mama. The judge did not buy that argument, and initially barred any mention of the incident. He changed his mind after a second search, in January, of the squad car used on the day Mr. Floyd died turned up half-chewed pills of methamphetamine with Mr. Floyds DNA and saliva on them. He said that showed similarities between the two arrests, but he allowed the jury to see only about 90 seconds of the 2019 video. This evidence is being admitted solely for the limited purpose of showing what effects the ingestion of opioids may or may not have had on the physical well-being of George Floyd, Judge Cahill told the jury on Tuesday before the video was shown. This evidence is not to be used as evidence of the character of George Floyd. The video showed Mr. Floyd being slow to respond to commands from the police, and the officer who wore the body camera reaching to put Mr. Floyds hand on the dashboard. It escalated real quick, said the officer, Scott Creighton, who is now retired and who was the days first witness. US State Departments Report on Nigerian Violence Leaves Out Jihad Commentary Claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria were discounted by the Department of States recently published 2020 Country Report which cites land disputes and farmer-herder competitionnot jihadismas the driver of mass homicides in Nigerias North West states. The 17,000-word report posted March 30, 2021 spares just 200 words to explain close to 1,000 brutal murders in Nigerias Middle Belt during the last year. Land disputes, competition over dwindling resources, ethnic differences, and settler-indigene tensions contributed to clashes between herdsmen and farmers throughout the north-central part of the country, according to 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria. The findings of the report contradicted stern warnings from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the International Committee on Nigeria, Save the Persecuted Christians, and nonprofit human-rights watchdogs. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria cites studies by United Nations think tanks and European newspapers to downplay the claims of genocide. The tragedy of Nigeria is reduced in the report to a competition between herders and farmers that plagues the entire Sahel. Ethnocultural and religious affiliation also contributed to and exacerbated some local conflicts. Nevertheless, many international organizations, including the International Crisis Group, assessed these divisions were incidental to the farmer-herder conflict, the Report explained. The U.S. Missions Reports drew a rebuke from the executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians (STPC), which has tracked atrocities against Christians closely. The paid-for fallacy of farmer-herder conflicts promoted by Nigerian lobbyists continue to enable Sharia apologists at the State Department and in the international community to excuse the [Muhammadu] Buhari regime for its wholesale failure to address religious-based violence and insecurity in Nigeria which by and large targets Christian communities with near-daily slaughter, rape, and abductions leading to enslavement, Dede Laugesen told The Epoch Times in an email. It is true, however, that Christians and Muslims have all suffered at the hands of extremists operating with impunity in Nigeria, she said. Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliated groups, all have the same goalto exterminate or expel Christians from their traditional lands in the north and to implement strict adherence to Islam. There is no safe place for Christians in northern Nigeria. What is happening in Nigeria, we believe, is genocide. Under the heading of members of National/Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups the State Department 2020 Country Report noted systematic discrimination against Hausa and Fulani people without mentioning Christian farmers who figure prominently in reports of massacres. The predominantly Muslim and nonindigenous Hausa and Fulani faced significant discrimination from the local government in land ownership, jobs, access to education, scholarships, and government representation, says the report. Fulani is mentioned twice in this report, but not how they are victimizing citizens in the middle-belt, said Kyle Abts, a co-founder of the International Committee on Nigeria, to The Epoch Times. Somewhere in the past 10-20 years there has arisen a militant faction of herders who are Fulani. Unfortunately, the victims now are predominately Christians who are farmers, said Abts, a former missionary to Nigeria. The Report did not cover religious issues but linked to the International Religious Freedom Report published in June 2020. That earlier document was a mirror of the narrative deployed by the State Department regarding the longstanding crisis of killings in north-central Nigeria since 2015: Numerous fatal clashes continued throughout the year in the North Central region between predominantly Christian farmers from various ethnic groups and predominantly Fulani Muslim herders. Reports of eyewitnesses at dozens of nighttime raids in Kaduna and Plateau States, noted that large groups of men speaking the language of the Fulani ethnicity entered their compounds shouting Allahu Akbar and began slashing men, women, and children with machetes. No graphic testimony of atrocities is included in the dry prose of the report, which assigned agency for the murder in the language of abstraction. As the report stated, Scholars and other experts, including international NGOs, cited ethnicity, politics, religion, lack of accountability and access to justice, increasing competition over dwindling land resources, population growth, soil degradation, and internal displacement from crime and other forms of violence all as drivers contributing to the violence. The State Department Report of 2020 attempts to balance the claims of aggrieved Nigerian victims with competing claims that support the Nigerian government, which is headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the top Fulani leader in West Africa, and scores of Fulani officials in the government agencies. Readers learn that the U.K.-based Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART), blames Fulani militia for murdering over 1,000 Christians throughout the year. HART concluded that religion and ideology were key factors behind violence targeting predominantly Christian communities, the targeting of church leaders, and the destruction of hundreds of churches, according to the U.S. Mission analysis. Yet, the claim of Nigerian Christians is contextualized by counterclaims from a U.N. agency. A study by the U.N. Office for West Africa and the Sahel noted that within the country, there are many different Fulani clans, sub-clans, local Fulani cultures and dialects, and variations in herding practices. The State Department has consulted experts who refute HARTs warnings of sectarian murder on a massive scale. Experts stated there was no evidence to suggest the Fulani had an explicit Jihadist agenda or were mobilized behind a common ethnic agenda and noted there are between 30-40 million Fulani in Africa. Where there are disputes about the facts of murders, the State Department gives weight to the Nigerian governments stance. On February 10, on the eve of general elections, as many as 131 members of the predominantly Muslim Fulani ethnic group and 11 members of the predominantly Christian Adara ethnic group were reportedly killed and some 10,000 were internally displaced in clashes in Kajuru, according to the State Department. The source for this accusation is the controversial Gov. Nasir el-Rufai, a Fulani tribe member, who has the responsibility to enforce the law against bad actors of any ethnicity. However, by many accounts, the governors public accusation, which was never verified by photos of corpses or even graves, enflamed tensions between Muslims and Christians in his state. At the time of the governors accusation, even the local police chief could not endorse his claims of a massacre of Fulanis, according to Gloria Ballason, a Kaduna-based human rights lawyer, speaking to The Epoch Times. The government always has a skewed narrative to explain every atrocity. Douglas Burton is a former U.S. State Department official who was stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq. He writes news and commentary from Washington, D.C. He can be contacted at burtonnewsandviews@gmail.com. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. GODFREY The Lewis and Clark Community College board meeting on Tuesday was the final one for Robert Watson. Watson has served as a trustee since 1977, longer than any current sitting trustee. He was also chairman of the board from 1983-2019 Watson is an attorney who has worked in Washington D.C. with the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission and served as Illinois Attorney General from 1965 to 1967. He earned his bachelors degree from Milliken University and his Doctorate of Law from the University of Illinois. LCCC President Ken Trzaska said that, even though he has only been at the school for six months, he knows of Watsons impact on the college. He has been an advocate for numerous new programs over the last 40 years, Trzaska said His leadership on the board also saw a remarkable period of growth for the college, both in student enrollment as well as capital expansion. Trustee Brenda Walker McCain said that there a few words that describe Watson: determination, vision, excellence, commitment, strength and leadership. She also said his help with the campus buildings, strategic partnerships and private donations were vital to LCCC. Theyre not established by attending a board meeting once a month, McCain said. These are things that are built over time and result from an unparalleled commitment from the students, the college and the region. Watson said he has enjoyed his time as a trustee and that he has made every effort to improve and bring about the best education. I think the college is fortunate to have interviewed and employed someone like Dr. Trzaska, who I know will do a very good job, Watson said. Also on Tuesday, Trzaska updated board members on his three-year plan for the college. Within the first weeks of May, he plans to send out a rough draft to the full campus team as well as the community. The four key directions of the plan from the previous meeting were: An expectation of enrollment and retention improvement Investing in program and curriculum development Building a transparent and inclusive campus culture Broadening community and educational collaboration. Trzaska said that first key direction has shifted slightly to improving enrollment and maintaining retention rates, as L&C lead the pack in retention rates. A final draft is planned for a vote at the June meeting. NEW YORK - Bernard Madoff, the infamous architect of an epic securities swindle that burned thousands of investors, outfoxed regulators and earned him a 150-year prison term, died behind bars early Wednesday. He was 82. FILE - In this Tuesday, March 10, 2009, file photo, former financier Bernie Madoff exits federal court in Manhattan, in New York. Madoff, the financier who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the largest Ponzi scheme in history, has died in prison, a person familiar with the matter tells The Associated Press(AP Photo/David Karp, File) NEW YORK - Bernard Madoff, the infamous architect of an epic securities swindle that burned thousands of investors, outfoxed regulators and earned him a 150-year prison term, died behind bars early Wednesday. He was 82. Madoff's death at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, was confirmed by his lawyer and the Bureau of Prisons. Last year, Madoff's lawyers unsuccessfully asked a court to release him from prison during the coronavirus pandemic, saying he suffered from end-stage renal disease and other chronic medical conditions. One of those lawyers, Brandon Sample, said on Wednesday it was believed Madoff died from natural causes related to his failing health. For decades, Madoff enjoyed an image as a self-made financial guru whose Midas touch defied market fluctuations. A former chairman of the Nasdaq stock market, he attracted a devoted legion of investment clients from Florida retirees to celebrities such as film director Steven Spielberg, actor Kevin Bacon and Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax. But his investment advisory business was exposed in 2008 as a Ponzi scheme that wiped out peoples fortunes and ruined charities. He became so hated he wore a bulletproof vest to court. The fraud was believed to be the largest in Wall Street's history. Over the years, court-appointed trustees labouring to unwind the scheme have recovered more than $14 billion of an estimated $17.5 billion investors put into Madoffs business. At the time of Madoffs arrest, fake account statements were telling clients they had holdings worth $60 billion. Madoff pleaded guilty in March 2009 to securities fraud and other charges, saying he was deeply sorry and ashamed. After several months living under house arrest at his $7 million Manhattan penthouse apartment, he was led off to jail in handcuffs to scattered applause from angry investors in the courtroom. He stole from the rich. He stole from the poor. He stole from the in between. He had no values, former investor Tom Fitzmaurice told the judge at the sentencing. He cheated his victims out of their money so he and his wife ... could live a life of luxury beyond belief. Sample said in a statement that the financier had lived with guilt and remorse for his crimes up until his death. Although the crimes Bernie was convicted of have come to define who he was he was also a father and a husband. He was soft spoken and an intellectual. Bernie was by no means perfect. But no man is, the lawyer said. U.S. District Judge Denny Chin sentenced Madoff to the maximum possible term. FILE - Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff leaves U.S. District Court in Manhattan after a bail hearing in New York, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. Madoff, the financier who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the largest Ponzi scheme in history, died early Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in a federal prison, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) Here, the message must be sent that Mr. Madoffs crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of irresponsible manipulation of the system is not merely a bloodless financial crime that takes place just on paper, but it is instead ... one that takes a staggering human toll, Chin said. A judge issued a forfeiture order stripping Madoff of all his personal property, including real estate, investments, and $80 million in assets his wife, Ruth, had claimed were hers. The order left her with $2.5 million. The scandal also exacted a personal toll on the family: One of his sons, Mark, killed himself on the second anniversary of his fathers arrest in 2010. Madoffs brother, Peter, who helped run the business, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2012, despite claims he was in the dark about his brothers misdeeds. Madoff's other son, Andrew, died from cancer at age 48. Ruth is still living. Jerry Reisman, an attorney for about three dozen Madoff victims, said hed spoken to several after Madoff's death. Some of them are saying theyre enjoying this day, he said. No one sees this as a great loss. No one is going to mourn Bernie Madoff. They are happy they have survived him. Madoff was born in 1938 in a lower-middle-class Jewish neighbourhood in Queens. In the financial world, the story of his rise to prominence how he left for Wall Street with Peter in 1960 with a few thousand dollars saved from working as a lifeguard and installing sprinklers became legend. They were two struggling kids from Queens. They worked hard, said Thomas Morling, who worked closely with the Madoff brothers in the mid-1980s setting up and running computers that made their firm a trusted leader in off-floor trading. When Peter or Bernie said something that they were going to do, their word was their bond, Morling said in a 2008 interview. In the 1980s, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities occupied three floors of a midtown Manhattan high-rise. There, with his brother and later two sons, he ran a legitimate business as middlemen between the buyers and sellers of stock. Madoff raised his profile by using the expertise to help launch Nasdaq, the first electronic stock exchange, and became so respected that he advised the Securities and Exchange Commission on the system. But what the SEC never found out was that, behind the scenes, in a separate office kept under lock and key, Madoff was secretly spinning a web of phantom wealth by using cash from new investors to pay returns to old ones. An old IBM computer cranked out monthly statements showing steady double-digit returns, even during market downturns. As of late 2008, the statements claimed investor accounts totalled $65 billion. The ugly truth: No securities were ever bought or sold. Madoffs chief financial officer, Frank DiPascali, said in a guilty plea in 2009 that the statements detailing trades were all fake." His clients, many Jews like Madoff and Jewish charities, said they didnt know. Among them was Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who recalled meeting Madoff years earlier at a dinner where they talked about history, education and Jewish philosophy not money. Madoff made a very good impression, Wiesel said during a 2009 panel discussion on the scandal. Wiesel admitted that he bought into a myth that he created around him that everything was so special, so unique, that it had to be secret. Like many of his clients, Madoff and his wife enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. They had the Manhattan apartment, an $11 million estate in Palm Beach, Florida and a $4 million home on the tip of Long Island. There was yet another home in the south of France, private jets and a yacht. It all came crashing down in the winter of 2008 with a dramatic confession. In a meeting with his sons, he confided his business was all just one big lie. After the meeting, a lawyer for the family contacted regulators, who alerted the federal prosecutors and the FBI. Madoff was in a bathrobe when two FBI agents arrived at his door unannounced on a December morning. He invited them in, then confessed after being asked if theres an innocent explanation, a criminal complaint said. Madoff responded: There is no innocent explanation. Madoff insisted he acted alone something the FBI never believed. A trustee was appointed to recover funds sometimes by suing hedge funds and other large investors who came out ahead. The effort is still ongoing, and to date has returned around 70% of lost funds to investors. More than 15,400 claims against Madoff were filed. At Madoffs sentencing in 2009, wrathful former clients stood to demand the maximum punishment. Madoff himself spoke in a monotone for about 10 minutes. At various times, he referred to his monumental fraud as a problem, an error of judgment and a tragic mistake. He claimed he and his wife were tormented, saying she cries herself to sleep every night, knowing all the pain and suffering I have caused. Thats something I live with, as well, he said. Afterward, Ruth Madoff often a target of victims scorn since her husbands arrest said she, too, had been misled by her high school sweetheart. I am embarrassed and ashamed, she said. Like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused. The man who committed this horrible fraud is not the man whom I have known for all these years. About a dozen Madoff employees and associates were charged. Five went on trial in 2013. DiPascali was the prosecution's star witness. He recounted how just before the scheme was exposed, Madoff called him into his office. Hed been staring out the window the all day, DiPascali testified. He turned to me and he said, crying, Im at the end of my rope. Dont you get it? The whole goddamn thing is a fraud. In the end, that fraud brought fresh meaning to Ponzi scheme, named after Charles Ponzi, who was convicted of mail fraud after bilking thousands of people out of a mere $10 million between 1919 and 1920. Charles Ponzi is now a footnote, said Anthony Sabino, a defence lawyer specializing in white collar criminal defence. Theyre now Madoff schemes. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An officer with the city Department of Correction was arrested for assault early on Wednesday morning on Staten Island, according to police. The arrest stemmed from a domestic incident, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Albert Lorusso, 43, was apprehended at 2:36 a.m. in the 121st Precinct, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Lorusso has been charged with assault, criminal mischief and harassment, according to the police statement. An argument with a woman escalated when the suspect allegedly pulled the victim off the couch, causing a minor injury. The suspect allegedly threw the womans cell phone when she said she was going to call the police, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. RELATED COVERAGE: Crime news on Staten Island Federal and state leaders will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to fix the failures in the vaccine rollout amid growing alarm at the threat to health and the economy from delays to millions of vaccinations. The national cabinet meeting will canvass urgent changes to the rollout including federal support for mass vaccination centres as Prime Minister Scott Morrison admits to problems in the program and the need for a new approach. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will chair national cabinet twice a week in order to get on top of the troubled vaccine rollout. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer In a sudden shift from the monthly meetings of the peak leadership group, Mr Morrison has asked premiers and chief ministers to put national cabinet on an operational footing with meetings twice a week until the emergency passes. The federal move aims to end weeks of conflict between federal and state governments over missed targets to protect Australians from COVID-19, with a promise from Mr Morrison to unite the nation even though some of his own ministers fuelled the blame game. Nearly 200 Dutch tourists arrived on the Greek island of Rhodes to have a 10 day holiday in Greece looking forward to voluntarily quarantine at a resort. The group escaped the eight-day lockdown in the Netherlands imposed for containment of the new surge of COVID-19. As many as 25,000 Dutch tourists signed for the government experiment to spend a week in Greece in confinement for what they described a covid vacation as the summers set in. The government introduced the staycation to see if safe tourism can thrive during the coronavirus pandemic that requires the arrivals to quarantine at the luxury hotels and resorts. According to Euronews, the travellers, all aged between 18 to 70, were asked to quarantine at the five-star beach-front Mitsis Grand Hotel, they had all, although, diagnosed negative to the COVID-19 PCR test. An all-inclusive stay was allotted to them to isolate and were even allowed to swim at the private pools of the resort, but prohibited to leave the premises or visit the Mediterranean Sea beaches. The Netherlands entered lockdown in November, last year, and had since left several measures activated to curb the variant surge. The country, however, plans to ease the restrictions in a phased manner by mid-May for tourism to pick up. Greeces government ran a hotel quarantine pilot program earlier this month initiated by Dutch operator Sunweb in collaboration with the Netherlands government. The scheme attracted flak on social media with residents describing the covid vacation in the likeness of a prison. Some argued that the tourists under strict confinement would only be looking at the walls. Some noted that the governments scheme resembled a camp. Regardless, the tourists arrived at the Aegean island of Rhodes on Monday wearing face masks and carrying their luggage excited to quarantine at Rhodes resort. The quarantine was arranged at the Mitsis Grand Hotel Beach, which recently resumed operation in a grand reopening after a prolonged closure of the hospitality sector to mitigate the virus spread and deter the tourists from travelling. We have just opened our doors and we are ready to welcome you all back to the only 5* ultra all-inclusive sea-front hotel at the heart of Rhode, the quarantine resort wrote in an Instagram post. Negative PCR test mandatory Each room where the dutch tourist will isolate had an Aegean sea view from the balcony and the resort dons infinity pool on its terrace. The property, however, prohibited the guests from mixing with other tourists and strictly staying within their quarters. The room cost 399 (345) each, and the tourists told Greeces public broadcaster Open TV that isolation at Rhodes was a better option as many did not have a pool facility or a view back at their homes. Tourists entered Greece with negative Covid-19 tests taken at least 3 days before their departure from the homeland country. Police have paused the investigation into the disappearance of Russell Hill and Carol Clay who vanished on a camping trip while having a secret affair. Detectives uncovered two shovels while trawling through bushland at an 'incredibly remote' location at Mount Hotham in the Victorian Alps about midday on Wednesday while looking for signs of the pair. The shovels were placed into plastic bags and carried from the scene by officers so they could be forensically examined. Victoria Police halted the search of the site on Thursday morning as they await the results of the testing. Investigators are still trying to determine how Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, disappeared while camping in the rugged bushland of the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's East Gippsland region on March 19, 2020 Police carrying out a renewed search for the pair on Wednesday found two shovels which were placed in plastic bags and taken away for forensic testing A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the results will determine whether or not investigators return to the Mount Hotham location. Detective Acting Inspector Tony Combridge of the Missing Persons Squad said on Wednesday that 'somebody was involved' in the pair's baffling disappearance but the importance of the shovels remains unclear. 'At this stage... as to the relevance, or its importance, to the investigation, that's still to be assessed at this time,' Insp. Combridge said. Mr Hill, 74, and 73-year-old Ms Clay were last heard from when he made a call on March 20 last year via HF radio, saying he was in the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's high country. His car and the campsite were found burnt near Dry River Creek Track in the valley a day later. Large scale searches of the surrounding rugged bushland turned up no sign of the couple, but Victoria Police began searching the area near Mount Hotham on Wednesday morning after receiving 'fairly significant' new information. The pair had been involved in a secret affair for years and had gone on the camping trip before their site was found burned to the ground two days later The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne 'The decision to search in that area was made based upon information uncovered during the investigation. The information has been accrued over a period of time,' Insp. Combridge said. The information came from 'multiple sources' and the police are 'pursuing a number of lines of enquiry', although Insp. Combridge said they have no suspects at this stage. When asked if police were expecting to find the couple's bodies at Mount Hotham, Insp. Combridge replied: 'I'm hopeful we will find some answers for the family'. 'These are particularly challenging circumstances that we find ourselves in. It is an incredibly remote area. There are parts of that bush that have probably never have been walked on by humans - it is that remote. 'Some of this bush is so thick we might not find what we're looking for.' The search site near the Great Alpine Road is 80km away from their campsite. Police investigations have indicated Mr Hill and Ms Clay spent the night at Howitt High Plains on the night of March 19 before entering the Wonnangatta Valley on March 20 and vanishing without a trace. Russell Hill and Carol Clay (pictured) were last heard from on March 20 last year Pictured: The spot where Mr Hill and Ms Clay were believed to be camping before their mysterious disappearance more than a year ago Mr Hill's best friend Rob Ashlin (pictured) believe the couple had been attacked during their camping trip 'I don't think anything's off the table but we look at what's in front of us and the likely scenario is that somebody else is involved. As for finding an outcome, we could be one phone call away,' Insp. Combridge said. Victoria Police want to speak to anyone who was in the area around Howitt High Plains or the Zeka Spur Track between March 19-20 of last year. They have also put out an appeal for information for anyone who was in at the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between March 20 to 24. Detectives want to speak to the driver of a white ute that was seen near the couple's campsite on March 19. Investigators from the missing persons squad have long worked off the theory the pair were set upon by unknown attackers. Insp. Combridge, previously said police were not giving up on the case despite the difficulty. 'It has been over 12 months since Russell Hill and Carol Clay disappeared and we are committed to finding the answers on what happened to them,' he said on Friday. Mr Hill (pictured) had left his Drouin home on March 19 for a camping trip along the Dargo River in Victoria's northeast and planned to leave the region on March 26 'We will continue to search the area and encourage anyone with information to come forward, no matter how small they think that information might be.' An earlier school of thought from police was that Mr Hill and Mrs Gray were ambushed or shot by illegal deer hunters they either stumbled upon or who they spotted with a now-missing drone. Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told A Current Affair officers are chasing all leads and have zeroed in on a driver of a white ute that was seen in the valley a day before the pair disappeared. 'It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carol's disappearance but we can't afford to leave any stone unturned,' he said. Police have noted the toilet at the campsite had been unused, suggesting the couple had not had time to settle in before they disappeared. Friend Rob Ashlin said their bodies could have been disposed of in the sprawling bushland. 'The fact that it's been reported that those sleeping bags were missing, makes me feel that those sleeping bags were carted out of there and... used as body bags,' he said. Victorian police believe it is 'highly unlikely' that either Ms Clay (pictured) or Mr Hill are alive after they went missing last year 'There are a lot of places the country is very rugged where they can be got rid of, never to be found again.' Detectives have established Mr Hill had camped alone in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between March 11 and 13 before returning a week later with his lover. An older person or pair were later seen in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on March 22 and 23 but investigators have never been able to establish if this was Mr Hill and Ms Clay. Detectives are calling for anyone in this area, including the pair themselves, to come forward. It is still to be determined whether the pair's disappearance is suspicious. Ms Clay had told friends she was expecting to return by March 29. 'The grief that these families have had to deal with over the past year, coupled with immense public speculation, is immensely difficult to comprehend and our thoughts are with them on this anniversary,' Det Insp Stamper said. 'I know they will be hanging on every phone call and every knock on the door, hoping they will finally get some answers. 'Sadly, at this stage we believe it is highly unlikely that either Russell or Carol are still alive.' Anyone who sights Mr Hill or Ms Clay should phone triple-0 immediately. Anyone with any other information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. [April 14, 2021] Global Text Analytics Market (2020 to 2025) - Major Players Include Alphabet, Amazon and Basis Technology Among Others DUBLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Text Analytics: Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides an overview of the global market for text analytics and analyzes market trends. Using 2019 as the base year, the report provides estimated market data for the forecast period 2020 through 2025. Revenue forecasts for this period are segmented based on deployment, application, end-user, and geography. Market values have been estimated based on the total revenues of software and services. The report also focuses on the major driving trends and challenges that will affect the market and the vendor landscape. The report explains the competitive landscape and current trends in the text analytics market. The report concludes with an analysis of the text analytics vendor landscape and includes detailed profiles of the major players in the global text analytics market. Report Includes: 68 tables An overview of the global market for text analytics within the industry Analyses of the global market trends, with data from 2019-2020, estimates for 2021 and 2023, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2025 Assessment of the value chain of the text analytics industry ecosystem Highlights of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the text analytics industry Estimation of market size and revenue forecasts for the text analytics industry, and corresponding market share analysis by deployment type, application, end-user, and geographical region Understanding of upcoming market opportunities and areas of focus to forecasting the market into various segments Identification of major stakeholders in the text analytics market and analysis of competitive landscape for the market leaders Insight into market dynamics featuring drivers and restraints, and other macroeconomic factors affecting the text analytics industry Detailed profiles of the major players including Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Basis Technology, IBM, Microsoft, SAS, and Texifter LLC Text analytics is a subset of natural language processing (NLP). Both terms are often used interchangeably by industry vendors. Text analytics falls under the artificial intelligence (AI) family. Technology advances within AI have enabled more accurate and contextual analysis of highly dimensional, multilingual textual data. Text analytics is the process of deriving business insight from textual sources. Text analytics scenarios cover not only a wide set of functional requirements, such as enterprise content management and advanced search engines, but also functions such as social media analytics, eail/document analysis and free-form analysis. Simply put, text analytics is the practice of using technology to gather, store and mine textual information to translate large volumes of unstructured text into quantitative data in order to uncover insights, trends and patterns that can be used to inform smarter business decisions. The COVID-19 pandemic has further propelled the market for text analytics, especially in industries such as life sciences and healthcare, where there is a need to analyze research documents from all over the world and across different languages to come up with new drugs or courses of treatment. At the same time, governments and public health departments are trying to leverage data from social media and other sources to monitor citizen response to COVID measures such as social distancing. Many other industries, such as banking and financial services (that need to process large numbers of documents) are focusing on handling customer complaints and keeping the lights on for their back-office applications as they struggle with reduced staff (as most business process outsourcing (BPO) operations have been affected). These and other organizations are trying to leverage natural language technologies (NLTs), from text analytics to chatbots to document processing, to optimize their operations and move towards digital transformation. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Introduction Study Goals and Objectives Reasons for Doing This Study Scope of Report Information Sources Methodology Intended Audience Geographic Breakdown Analyst's Credentials Custom Research Related Reports Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights Chapter 3 Market and Technology Background Technology Overview Text Analytics Process Text Sources Text Analytics Processing Technologies Types of Text Analytics Sentiment Analysis Text Classification Semantic Search Market Drivers Rise in Adoption of Predictive Analytics and Sentiment Analytics by Various Industries Continuous Improvements in the Language Processing Algorithms Increasing Attractiveness of Social Media Analytics Market Restraints Dearth of Technical Expertise and Technological Awareness Data Security and Privacy Issues COVID-19 Impact on Text Analytics Market Chapter 4 Market Breakdown by Deployment Introduction Cloud On-premises Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Application Introduction Business Intelligence Customer Relationship Management Fraud Detection Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Others Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by End User Introduction Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Government & Defense Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences IT and Telecom Media and Advertising Retail and E-commerce Travel and Hospitality Others Chapter 7 Market Breakdown by Region Introduction Americas U.S. Canada Mexico Brazil Rest of the Americas Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of APAC The Middle East and Africa and Middle East Africa Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape Market Ranking Vendor Landscape Text Analytics Pricing Models Pricing Models of Vendors Strategic Analysis Product Launches Collaborations and Partnerships Expansions and Investments Chapter 9 Company Profiles Major Players Alphabet Inc. (Google) Amazon.Com Inc. Basis Technology Corp. Bitext Innovations S.L. Clarabridge Inc. Expert.Ai (Formerly Expert System Group) International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. Lexalytics Inc. Luminoso Technologies Inc. Meaningcloud Llc Megaputer Intelligence Inc. Micro Focus International Plc Microsoft Corp. Open Text Corp. Sas Institute Inc. Key Innovators Amenity Analytics Ltd. Cortical.IO Ag Digital Reasoning Systems Inc. Indico Data Solutions Inc. Kingland Systems Knime Ag Linguamatics Proxem Rapidminer Inc. Texifter Llc. Chapter 10 Appendix: List of Acronyms For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ousx3 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-text-analytics-market-2020-to-2025---major-players-include-alphabet-amazon-and-basis-technology-among-others-301268850.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A 19-year-old woman accused of fatally shooting a Harvey man as she sat in the passenger seat of his vehicle told investigators she had been abducted before the killing and chased through a West Bank neighborhood afterward while a man ripped away her clothing, authorities say. But Tyria Robinson's description of her alleged kidnappers as White and their vehicle as a van didn't match the homicide victim, a Black man, or his car, a sedan, according to homicide detective Donald Zanotelli of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. And witnesses saw Robinson shedding her own clothes off while fleeing the scene. "I told her there were numerous witnesses contradicting her statement," Zanotelli testified Tuesday during a probable cause hearing held in Magistrate Court. Robinson, a Harvey resident, has been booked with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in the killing of Anthony Fefie, 27. Deputies discovered his body behind the wheel of his wrecked car in the 2900 block of Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey (map) on March 14, Zanotelli said. They also found a gun on the floorboard of the front passenger side, and ballistic testing showed it was the weapon used to kill him, Zanotelli said. Investigators learned that the car had swerved and hit a brick fence surrounding an apartment complex before crashing into a tree in the median on Manhattan. No one but Fefie was in the vehicle by the time deputies arrived. But witnesses told investigators that a woman had gotten out on the passenger side after the car hit the tree. "They said when she exited the vehicle, they could see she had blood spatter on the left side of her body," Zanotelli said of the woman, later identified as Robinson. Robinson reportedly told onlookers that the driver had passed out, then she ran to the nearby apartment complex, authorities say. She was seen discarding personal items, such as her phone, as she ran. She approached a male resident in the complex and "asked the witness if she could take a shower and offered him $1,000 for a ride Uptown," Zanotelli said. The man told investigators he noticed the blood on the woman and asked if he should call 911. Robinson initially told him to call but, after he dialed the emergency number, took his phone and disconnected the call, Zanotelli said. Other witnesses spotted the woman running through a nearby subdivision, still clothed, going in and out of open garages, the detective testified. She eventually made her way to the intersection of Lapalco Boulevard and Vulcan Street (map), about 1 miles from the crash site, authorities said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "At that time, she was completely nude and running up the [Lapalco] bridge," Zanotelli said. When Robinson reached the other side of the bridge, she flagged down a motorist. The driver told investigators she stopped for Robinson because she suspected the woman was the victim of domestic violence, Zanotelli said. Robinson asked the driver to take her to Uptown New Orleans, authorities said. By then, however, several patrol cars were behind the motorist's vehicle with activated lights and sirens, Zanotelli said. Robinson pleaded with the driver not to pull over, but the motorist told Robinson she had to follow the law, authorities said. Robinson was then detained and taken to the Sheriff's Office investigations bureau. During questioning, Robinson told detectives she'd been smoking a cigarette at her aunt's Willow Street home in New Orleans the night before the homicide when she was kidnapped by two White men driving a Chevrolet Astro van, Zanotelli said. Fefie is Black. Robinson said she wasn't sure where the men took her. But she said she lost consciousness until morning and wasn't sure why she was now in a homicide interrogation room or who was dead, Zanotelli recounted. She denied ever being in Fefie's Hyundai Sonata and scoffed at the investigators' contention that several witnesses saw her get out of the vehicle after the crash, Zanotelli testified. But detectives said they found Robinson's fingerprint on the inside of Fefie's car. Although witnesses reported seeing Robinson removing her clothing, Robinson told investigators a man who had been chasing her ripped them off, Zanotelli said. Zanotelli did not explicitly say how Robinson and Fefie knew one another, but he said the two had exchanged text messages the night before the shooting. His testimony also didn't provide a suspected motive for the killing. Detectives think Robinson tried to conceal her part in the homicide by attempting to shower off the blood, discarding her phone and removing her bloody clothing, authorities said. Her clothes were never recovered. Criminal Commissioner Paul Schneider ruled there was probable cause to continue holding Robinson at the parish jail in Gretna. Bond was set at $550,000. China's record imports of Iranian crude in recent months has squeezed out supply from rival producers, forcing sellers of oil from countries such as Brazil, Angola and Russia to slash prices and divert shipments to India and Europe. The jump in Iranian volumes took the market by surprise and has capped global oil prices although the Biden administration had been expected to resume talks with Tehran to revive a nuclear deal. Iranian oil started to slip into China from late 2019 despite tough US sanctions, but volumes began to surge only since late last year as oil rebounded above $60 and buyers were emboldened by the prospect of the United States lifting sanctions under President Joe Biden. China received a daily average of 557,000 barrels of Iranian crude between November and March, or roughly 5% of total imports by the world's biggest importer, according to Refinitiv Oil Research, returning to levels before former US President Donald Trump re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2019. Most of these oil ended up in the eastern province of Shandong, China's hub for independent refiners. "These 'sensitive' barrels are hammering supplies from everywhere, as they are simply too cheap," said a Chinese trader who handles oil sales to Shandong, referring to Iranian oil which was sold $6-$7 a barrel below that from Brazil earlier this year. Read: Oil prices tick up after robust China data A second trader said suppliers from South America to West Africa and North Sea are boosting efforts to find new markets as Chinese demand plummeted. South America's top exporter Brazil and West Africa's Angola were among the worst hit, while Russia's far-east grade ESPO crude recorded some rare flows to the U.S. pinched by falling Chinese demand. Shipments from Brazil, which last year overtook Angola as China's No. 4 supplier thanks to aggressive marketing and attractive pricing, fell 36% in January-February versus a year ago, though volumes climbed 16% on-year in March, according to Chinese customs and Refinitiv assessment. While China's appetite for Brazil's sweet oil from Tupi field is "endless" - and the Asian country still pays a premium for it - current margins are less competitive, Roberto Castello Branco told Reuters on Sunday, in his last interview before stepping down as Petrobras Chief Executive Officer on Monday. India has become a bigger market for oil from Brazil, West Africa and even North Sea as China's demand cools, providing the world's No. 3 importer with ample alternatives as New Delhi cuts Saudi oil purchases. India's imports of Brazilian and Angolan crude jumped for March to May arrivals while Europe took in more Brazilian oil between March and April than at the start of the year, Refinitiv data showed. The onslaught of Iranian crude, passed off as oil from Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia, has dampened prices for competing supplies like Norway and Brazil to multi-month lows, though they recovered moderately in the last couple of weeks. Spot premiums for Brazil's Tupi crude delivered into China in May earlier dropped to 10 cents a barrel to ICE Brent, down from more than $1 a barrel for late December arrival before clawing back to 30-40 cents last week. "The Chinese are now hunting for light crude to blend down the heavy Iranian," said a second source with a West African producer, adding that they managed to sell only two spot cargoes for May, at slightly better prices versus "a bad month" in April. They could barely compete with Iranian barrels at Brent minus $3-$5 a barrel. "China doesn't want to pay high (prices) with all the sensitive barrel," said a third trading executive. The surge in Iranian supplies, however, has not affected the market share of Saudi Arabia, China's top oil supplier, as the OPEC kingpin serves a different client base - China's state refiners and mega private plants. With transactions mostly done in Chinese currency and in some cases end-buyers offered open credit, Iranian oil flows are expected to continue, especially as the private firms face little political pressure to quit the lucrative business. "Imagine you're a teapot boss, all you care is if the oil is cheap enough and if your plant is equipped to process that," said a fourth Chinese trading executive. New Delhi, April 14 : A delegation of the Trinamool Congress met the Election Commission officials on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating differences between the people of different caste and community. The Trinamool delegation also demanded action against the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for violating the model code of conduct. The Trinamool delegation included Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Pratima Mandal and Santanu Sen. In its memorandum submitted to the poll panel titled "Malfunctioning of Election Commission during polls in West Bengal 2021", the Trinamool said, "We bring to your notice the deplorable state of affairs of the Election Commission in respect of its approach towards Trinamool Congress vis-a-vis the BJP in West Bengal during the ongoing Assembly polls." The Trinamool categorised its memorandum into three parts -- inaction of the EC, under action of the EC and over action of the EC. Citing the example of inaction on the part of the Commission, the Trinamool highlighted two speeches made by the Prime Minister alleging the role of Trinamool workers and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee behind the deaths of four people in Cooch Behar, besides appeasing the Matua and Namasudra community voters in the state. It also cited a press conference held by Shah, where he had alleged that Banerjee did not speak a single word over the death of Anand Burman in the state. The Trinamool accused Shah of trying to invoke false narratives of caste discrimination. Citing the example of under action, the Trinamool alleged in its memorandum that one BJP Chief Minister BJP referred to "Pakistan" in his speech and also called Banerjee "Begum", while one BJP leader justified the killings in Cooch Behar while another questioned why only four people died and not more. Citing over action by the EC, the Trinamool memorandum said that Banerjee was banned from campaigning for 24 hours. The Trinamool memorandum said that it is confident that the people of West Bengal will respond appropriately to such illegal acts of the EC by voting in favour of the party candidates. "We urge the Election Commission to display some fairness in its approach. Currently, its actions are devoid of all fairness. We urge the EC to ensure a level playing field in the last four phases of the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal," it added. U.S. health officials recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine on concerns about rare and severe blood clotting side effects. A type of brain blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets in six women between the ages of 18 and 48, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday in a joint statement. As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the vaccine have been administered, the agencies said. The recommended pause may further complicate efforts to vaccinate the world, just weeks after a vaccine relying on a similar approach and developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford raised similar concerns in Europe. J&J representatives didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. South Africa kick-started its first phase of the vaccination rollout programme using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in February. On 17 February the first group of healthcare workers lined-up to receive the shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The South African government said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine a good first choice for the national vaccination programme. It was tested in a large trial of almost 44,000 people from four continents, of whom 7.000 participants came from South Africa. The study also provided a good picture of how the vaccine works against the new 501Y.V2 variant, which is dominant in South Africa. The South African trial showed that while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine does not prevent mild symptoms, it provides 57% protection against moderate-severe disease, 85% protection against severe disease, and 100% protection against death. By way of comparison, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provided only 27% protection against mild to moderate COVID-19 caused by the new 501Y.V2 variant. When injected, the vaccine trains your immune system to fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Like all COVID-19 vaccines, the jab contains instructions for the spike protein on the Coronavirus. These instructions are delivered to the immune system by a modified adenovirus that has also been used in other vaccines, such as the Ebola and Zika shots. The adenovirus is safe to use in vaccines as it has been modified so that it cannot cause disease or replicate in humans. Some mild side effects include tenderness at the injection site, feeling unwell, feverish and a headache for a few days. These are positive signs that the body is mounting an immune response to the Coronavirus. Reporting by Bloomberg and SANews. A man in the US has sued the Detroit Police Department for arresting him after he was falsely accused of shoplifting based on a faulty facial recognition match. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Robert Williams, The Verge reported on Tuesday. Williams' experience was the first case of wrongful arrest due to facial recognition technology to come to light in the US, according to the ACLU. "I came home from work and was arrested in my driveway in front of my wife and daughters, who watched in tears, because a computer made an error," Williams said in a statement. "This never should have happened, and I want to make sure that this painful experience never happens to anyone else." After a shoplifter allegedly stole several watches at a Shinola store in Detroit in 2018, Detroit police officers tried to identify the thief by using a blurry image from the store's surveillance camera video and feeding it through facial recognition technology. The lawsuit cites studies that show that facial recognition technology is poor at accurately identifying Black people, especially in cases like this one when the photo is grainy, the lighting is poor, and the suspect is not looking at the camera. Williams was held for 30 hours in a Detroit detention centre where he was forced to sleep on a raised cement slab due to overcrowding. "We know that facial recognition technology threatens everyone's privacy by turning everybody into a suspect," said Phil Mayor, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Michigan. "We've repeatedly urged the Detroit Police Department to abandon its use of this dangerous technology, but it insists on using it anyhow." The lawsuit seeks damages and policy changes to stop the abuse of facial recognition technology. 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. Attorneys for the Jefferson Parish School Board and the families of two students who were suspended after they were seen handling BB guns during virtual lessons have been ordered to begin settlement negotiations, according to court records. A conference is scheduled May 18 in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Michael North. "The parties shall be prepared to enter into meaningful and good-faith settlement negotiations at the conference," the court order says. Ka'Mauri Harrison, who already has Jeff Landry on his side, gets support from ACLU in BB gun suit The American Civil Liberties Union has joined the legal fight in federal court over the fate of Ka'Mauri Harrison, a Harvey fourth grader who The prospect of a settlement marks a sharp turn in the case, which has been contentious since news of the suspensions broke in the fall. School Board leaders and school administrators have stood firm behind the teachers and administrators who at first recommended the two boys for expulsion then reduced the discipline to suspensions, six days for one student and three days for the other. The school system has asked a federal judge to declare a new Louisiana state law, passed due to the suspensions, unconstitutional and has vowed to fight the families' lawsuits to the end. Recently, however, cracks have developed in the School Board facade. Last week, board member Billy North questioned the amount of public money being spent to defend the suits: more than $160,000 in just a few months. On Wednesday, board member Tiffany Kuhn said settlement talks were "a conversation we should have." Attorney Chelsea Cusimano, who represents the families of Harvey fourth grader Ka'Mauri Harrison and Grand Isle sixth grader Tomie Brown, said Wednesday she had offered to settle for an amount she would not disclose. But the offer spurred the agreement to enter mediation, she said. Following BB gun suspensions, Louisiana AG Jeff Landry sues Jefferson Parish School Board Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has sued the Jefferson Parish School Board over what he claims were illegal meetings held by a school s "It was recently brought to our attention that some of the School Board members wanted to enter into good-faith settlements negotiations in the Brown and Harrison matters," Cusimano said. According to the court order filed Wednesday, such an offer and response is a condition for holding a settlement conference. 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 Said the school system: "The settlement hearing is a court sponsored opportunity for the parties to meet and talk about the possibility of a resolution." The cases have drawn a widespread attention since September, when Ka'Mauri Harrison's suspension became public. The Woodmere Elementary student was taking an online exam from his room at home when he disappeared for a moment and reappeared holding a BB gun, which he set beside his chair with the barrel still visible. His teacher tried to get his attention, but because he was taking a test, he had muted her. Moments later, he was disconnected from the class. Later that day, his parents were informed he would be punished. The school principal, following policy that forbade weapons on school property or at school-sponsored events, recommended expulsion. A school system hearing officer reduced that to six days. In a similar case, Grand Isle sixth grader Tomie Brown saw his expulsion recommendation knocked down to three days by the same hearing officer. Cusimano, who represents both families, argued that the students were denied proper due process and that their rights - both students were in their own homes when they handled the BB guns - had been violated. In addition to groups such as the ACLU, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and the NRA, the case quickly drew the attention of state lawmakers, who unanimously passed a new law affording extra appeals to students recommended for expulsion and ordering school systems to write policies specifically for virtual instruction. North said this week that he welcomed news of settlement talks. "If this is the beginning of the end and we can start being concerned about the classroom and educating children ..., I'm all for this step," he said. President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap South Korea is considering lodging a complaint with an international tribunal against Japan's decision to dump a huge amount of contaminated wastewater from a crippled nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. President Moon Jae-in issued the instruction before meeting with Japan's new ambassador here, Koichi Aiboshi, to receive his credentials. In an internal meeting, Moon ordered his government to "proactively consider" bringing the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Moon then told the Japanese envoy that there is "great concern" among South Koreans, as the two nations are geographically close to each other and share the sea. He asked the envoy to convey his message to Tokyo during a conversation following the credentials ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae. The previous day, the Japanese government announced a plan to release what it calls "treated water" from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Moon also received credentials from the new Dominican Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo and the new Latvian Ambassador Aris Vigants. It is unusual for the president to mention such a diplomatically sensitive issue while conversing with a group of foreign ambassadors, Kang pointed out. A Cheong Wa Dae official later told reporters on background that the office of the secretary for legal affairs has begun a review of various options, which include a formal request for the tribunal to take a provisional measure first, similar to a "court injunction", against Japan's move. Meanwhile, Seoul's Ambassador to Tokyo Kang Chang-il was slated to present his credentials last week but it has been postponed due to his sudden injury. (Yonhap) Hainan free trade port rises as investment magnet Xinhua) 13:59, April 14, 2021 Aerial photo taken on Dec. 8, 2020 shows a cruise ship at a port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) HAIKOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- South China's Hainan Province Tuesday witnessed the inking of 104 key projects to inject new impetus into the construction of its free trade port (FTP). The projects, 22 of which are foreign-funded, involve 65.72 billion yuan in total investments (10 billion U.S. dollars) and cover tourism, modern services and high-tech industries. The deals, signed in Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan, also reflect the increasing appeal of the island province at the forefront of China's opening up to investors. Previously, the FTP had seen the signing of 741 projects with an investment of 519.6 billion yuan in multiple areas including intelligent manufacturing, international shipping, education, medical care and aerospace. China proposed setting up a free trade zone in Hainan in 2018 and began construction of the Hainan FTP last year. Over the past three years, a number of foreign companies have settled in Hainan, including Harrow School from Britain, U.S. electric carmaker Tesla and tourism company TUI Group. Cambodia Angkor Air Co. Ltd. Tuesday inked a deal to operate 10 planes in Haikou and establish a base there. David Zhan, board director of the company, said they hoped to benefit from the Seventh Freedom of the Air and fly from Haikou to major cities in Northeast Asia, Russia and the ASEAN members. The Hainan FTP last year began to trial the Seventh Freedom of the Air, which allows foreign carriers to operate flights between two foreign countries without the need to touch down in the airline's home country. INVESTMENT MAGNET Defying the economic headwinds brought by the raging pandemic, the Hainan FTP has forged ahead with a steady inpour of investments. Authorities said that last year Hainan launched 538 projects with an investment of 172.5 billion yuan. "The construction of these projects are of great significance to develop Hainan's modern industries, narrow the gap in infrastructure and public service and boost confidence in FTP construction," said Qi Hongchao, an official with the Hainan provincial development and reform commission. Meanwhile, the province unveiled 11 key industrial parks in June last year, where favorable FTP policies are implemented to lure in investment projects. Statistics show over 20,000 new enterprises have been registered in these industrial parks last year. The Hainan FTP has become a strong magnet to foreign investment as Hainan accelerates opening up against the backdrop of global economic slowdown and shrinking foreign direct investments due to the pandemic, said Peng Wei, deputy director of Hainan's department of commerce. In 2020, a total of 1,005 overseas-funded enterprises were established in Hainan, up 197.3 percent from the previous year, according to the department. Tourists shop at a duty-free shopping mall in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) The booming duty-free shopping sector is the FTP's another attraction for global brands wishing to explore China's huge market. The first China International Consumer Products Expo, scheduled in Haikou in May, has attracted more than 1,100 international brands, including L'Oreal, Shiseido and Tesla. After 2025, the entire island of Hainan could become duty-free and rise as a paradise for the duty-free and tourism retail industry, said Han Shengjian, director of the Hainan bureau of international economic development, adding that "these international brands are preparing for their future opportunities in the Hainan FTP." Starting July 1, 2020, Hainan increased its annual tax-free shopping quota from 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan per person. The categories of duty-free goods have been expanded from 38 to 45, with electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops added to the duty-free list. Five more shops opened in Sanya and Haikou last December and this January, bringing the total number of duty-free shops in Hainan to nine. "With the expo, Hainan will become the largest luxury consumption center in China and even the world," said Chi Fulin, head of the Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development. China last Thursday issued a guideline to support easing market access in Hainan in its latest effort to speed up the Hainan FTP construction. The guideline detailed measures to innovate market access in the pharmaceutical and health sectors, optimize financial market entries and development environment and promote wider entries in the fields of culture and education. Hainan has great potential in the development of the modern service industry, especially in finance, medical and health care, education and luxury consumption, said Chi, noting the Hainan FTP will play a more important role in China's reform and opening up and become a joint of both international and domestic circulation. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The US embassy in Benin Wednesday deplored the drop in the participation of Beninese in the presidential election through a declaration issued at the end of Sundays poll Campus Facilities Unique Ceiling Hatches Creativity at University Incubator The University of Maryland is a strategic partner of the Techport @ The Airport, a business incubator designed to encourage transfer of technologies developed by the military into the commercial sector. The Incubator provides opportunities for students to gain real world experience and supports programs of the Universitys Division of Research and James Clark School of Engineering. Located in the St. Marys County, MD Airport (FAA LID 2W6), about 60 miles south of Washington D.C., it was funded by the Technology Transfer Office of the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), Aircraft Division. The incubator brings a new, entrepreneurial presence to the airport, conveniently located just eight miles from NAWC. The proximity of the airfield, hangars, and other aviation resources facilitates the commercialization of aviation-related technology, not to mention encouraging fly-in meetings in the conference rooms and work spaces. Conference areas and classrooms in the Incubator use Sand, a warmer color of Ceilume thermoformed ceiling panels. Photo credit: Eileen Bildman Built on a modest budget, it uses clever design to make the most out of its space. When designer Eileen Bildman of Studio 2 Design, Hollywood, MD, was selected to create Techport @ The Airport, she researched other incubators throughout the country and saw a lot of what she did not want to build. They looked like a bunch of closets in a row going down a hallway. Thats not very inviting for anyone to come into, for a client to visit, or for working with other people, she says. I decided, instead, to create a place that looked and functioned like a cutting-edge contemporary office, with an inviting feel, collaborative spaces, and a sense of openness and transparency. On the exterior, Bildman designed the 6,000-sf Techport building to blend in with other airports buildings, a pre-engineered metal building system made a bit less industrial by the inclusion of large windows and a stylish, techy canopy over the main entrance that recalls the design of an aircraft wing. On the interior, it is a different experience. Its a modern aesthetic, says Bildman, with very clean lines, a lot of glass, and some dark wood on walls. The interior is dominated by a large, open-office space that can host up to 15 start-up and early stage companies. The open-office atmosphere is similar to the office designs of many large corporations. To bring that space together visually, Bildman employed an unusual strategy: she designed the ceiling. Instead of using the usual flat white mineral fiber panels, she created a strongly-patterned ceiling made of Ceilume thermoformed panels. It has two contemporary styles of panel in different colors. The main field is latte-colored Ceilume Orb, a motif that resembles the look of spinning aircraft propellers. In the middle of the space is a sharply-contrasting recessed area of black Ceilume Roman Circles, with its grid rotated 45 degrees compared to the surrounding ceiling. The thermoformed vinyl panels are installed in a conventional 24 x 24 suspended ceiling grid that is painted to match the panel colors. The floor reflects the ceiling design in negative, with a square of light wood-grain vinyl tile directly beneath the black ceiling, surrounded by darker tiles throughout the room. In addition to the open area, there are two small conference rooms and one large conference room, as well as two small offices and a large management/executive office for the staff that will supports the start-ups. Most of the interior partitions are floor-to-ceiling glass, and transmit daylight from into the buildings interior. An important design consideration was acoustic control. In an open office with multiple businesses operating simultaneously, privacy and speech clarity are significant concerns. It was resolved by using noise-reducing ceiling panels and the cushioned vinyl flooring (to dampen footsteps) to effectively tame the rooms noise level and reverberation. The open-plan offices of the Techport @ The Airport are visually unified by strongly patterned ceilings of Ceilume thermoformed ceiling panels in two strongly contrasting colors. The dramatic ceiling design is mirrored in negative by the floor tiles, with a light-colored square below reflecting the dark-colored recessed square above. Photo credit: Eileen Bildman The thin vinyl ceiling panels act as a diaphragm that transfers room noise into the cavity above the ceiling; there, acoustic vibrations are dampened by the viscous mass of air, an effect enhanced by the addition of sound-absorbing material above the panels. We had a grand opening with 150 people in the building, recalls Bildman. All of them laughing and talking, with women in high heels and men with big voices; I was thinking, this would be the true test. It worked brilliantly. You could easily have a conversation with a group of people. Bildman leveraged the ceiling as a designable surface the fifth wall to great effect. The Ceilume panels enabled her to focus the space visually in a dramatic way, at no more cost than an ordinary acoustic ceiling. During design, I got a lot of different opinions on this would work. Now everybodys thrilled about it. When visitors walk in, they just love the ceiling. Something that would never draw your attention in a typical commercial building is now something that gets your attention immediately. They walk in and go Wow. About Ceilume: Ceilume is the leading manufacturer of thermoformed ceiling and wall tiles and panels. The companys roots go back to when Mid-Century was Modern and the pioneers of modular ceilings. The family-owned business is located in Californias wine country and occupies a historic apple-packing warehouse. With an eye on the future, Ceilumes research and development continues to improve interior finish systems to meet changing environmental, performance, and aesthetic needs. For more information, see www.ceilume.com/pro. The Australian sharemarket broke back through 7000 points on Wednesday to reclaim its post-pandemic high, with market watchers now tipping the index to kick on to a new all-time record. The benchmark index topped last weeks 13-month peak by about 10 points as technology shares, gold miners, and health firms fuelled a 0.7 per cent rise to 7023.1. Bell Direct markets analyst Jessica Amir said investors were continuing to buy into the narrative of a strong economic rebound, even after recent setbacks to the nations vaccination schedule. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.7 per cent to close at 7023.1 on Wednesday. Credit:Louie Douvis She predicted the local index would test its previous heights in coming weeks and months as the data continued to improve and company earnings impressed. Weve climbed over the 7000 obstacle and I think the next headline will be about us hitting an all-time high, Ms Amir said. The markets best close since February 21 last year brings it within 150 points of its highest finish of all time, a remarkable 13-month recovery after being savaged in the steepest bear market in history. Ms Amir said a positive jobs report on Thursday would further stoke the embers lit by the release of jubilant consumer sentiment and business confidence data this week. She added that companies will soon also have the chance to show off a drastic improvement in earnings, and - in the case of the banks - improved dividend prospects. It is a really good time for investors to be involved, Ms Amir said. Theres still plenty of upside - tech has come out of a one-month bear market and is in a real sweet spot. Youll also see the banks report a bumper - perhaps a record - turnaround when their numbers are out. Theres momentum there. Wall Streets lead was mixed on Wednesday, though the tech-heavy Nasdaq was booming after US 10-year yields eased on the latest inflation data. US inflation jumped to 2.6 per cent year-on-year in March, slightly higher than 2.5 per cent predicted. Swissquote analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya said a pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine also pulled attention away from rising consumer prices and back to the endless pandemic to boost stay-at-home stocks. Locally, Afterpay rose 2.3 per cent to $127.85 to lead the tech sector higher on Wednesday, supported by Xero, and Wisetech Global. Buy now, pay later platform Zip Co had been as much as 9 per cent ahead before fading into the afternoon. It was down 1.2 per cent at $9.16 when it requested a trading halt at 3pm for an expected capital raising and purchase. Biotech CSL rose 1.2 per cent to $267.80 and ResMed was up 1.6 per cent at $27.05. Randal Jenneke, head of Australian equities at T. Rowe Price noted that growth stocks had continued their recent show of strength, though from a position of underperformance. I think part of what were seeing is that there was such a savage move into value over the past six months that were kind of having a bit of a pause as the market starts to think about inflation numbers, he said. Iron ore miners Rio Tinto and BHP improved throughout the session to each finish 0.7 per cent ahead. Gold miners were buoyed by glistening precious metal prices. Commonwealth Bank was the best of the Big Four, gaining 0.7 per cent to $87.80. Macquarie Group also finished 0.7 per cent higher. Meanwhile, Bitcoin continued its record rise on Wednesday, hitting a new high of $US64,025 ($83,535) ahead of the public listing of digital exchange Coinbase. The market is constantly changing and so is technology. What inspired BlueScope to develop Activate a technology that can still claim to be the best-of-the-breed, despite the 20 years of testing? Daniel Parker, Process Development manager, BlueScope Innovation At BlueScope, we understand that our success depends on our customers choosing us. That is why we work closely with them to create value and trust, share ideas, and bring the benefits of innovative, sustainable products and services to their own businesses and projects. We have manufacturing operations in 18 countries, and sales offices in other locations around the world. Through this supply network, around 14,000 BlueScope people serve thousands of customers worldwide. That is to say we have in-depth understanding of customers needs and our customers, as end users, have always been looking for ways to expand the lifespan of their plants, workshops, or buildings, maximising their investment. This is where our Activate technology fits in. Why did it take BlueScope more than 20 years to invent the Activate technology? In order to ensure the new generation of COLORBOND steel and ZINCALUME steel with Activate coating technology live up to the highest expectations in durability, we conducted a comprehensive testing programme that featured accelerated laboratory corrosion tests, as well as real-world outdoor exposure tests. Over a 20-year period, more than 8,000 profile panels have undergone Q-Fog cyclic testing and salt spray testing in laboratories. A further 10,000 panels have been tested in 22 different exposure sites in Australia and around the world. The Activate technology is covered by over 20 patents applications that have been filed worldwide, related to the unique and effective microstructure in our new technology that differentiates it to any other product on the market. Additionally, during the product development stage, 50 building sites comprising a wide range of applications, as well as five purpose-built test structures, have been tested in real-world conditions and in severe marine environment. The new technology has also been validated by third-party testing and benchmarked against the latest coated products around the world through the French Corrosion Institute, proving that COLORBOND steel with Activate technology is highly durable, especially at the cut edges, and more resilient to scratches and scuffs during construction. What makes Activate technology corrosion resistant? Is this technology a good fit for challenging environments in the industrial or coastal context? The key factor behind BlueScopes patented Activate technology lies in the unique composition and microstructure of four phases including aluminium, zinc, and two strategically positioned magnesium compounds. With the unique composition and microstructure of the four phases, our new generation COLORBOND steel and ZINCALUME steel create a self-sealing effect that greatly improves corrosion resistance at cut edges, screw holes, and scratches. This mechanism improves the protection of projects in difficult environments such as marine and polluted industrial sites, enabling them to withstand the test of time. And of course its a good candidate for any project in Vietnam from benign environments to more challenging environments close to marine or industrial areas. Vingroup chooses COLORBOND steel for their Vinfast Factory and its complex areas Since its launch in 2019, how has Activate been received by investors? Our Activate technology was launched in Australia in 2013. After six years of presence in a variety of global projects, NS BlueScope Vietnam made a business decision to introduce this very technology to the Vietnamese market as a breakthrough to improve our product quality, thereby accelerating the growth of the countrys construction industry. Kizuna IZ has chosen Colorbond steel for their ready serviced factories for over 10 years. When Activate technology was launched in 2019, they confidently choose the new-generation COLORBOND steel for their new project, Kizuna 3 C.P. Group has also chosen Colorbond steel for many of their factories As our Activate technology sets a new standard for Vietnams alloy-coated steel industry, it is welcomed by prestigious investors across the board. We are now having major world-class factories such as Vinfast, Kizuna, or FM Logistic applying our new flagship coating technology in Colorbond steel or Zincalume steel. We believe they will be the trend setters in the industry with our solutions. A family's home must be partially-demolished after underage neighbors broke in while they vacationed and trashed it with shovels, soda, glitter and urine. Brian and Kara Kenny, from Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, have had to move into an Airbnb for 18 days while demolition crews gut their home after its floors and walls were ruined by the underage tearaways last week. Police have told the couple the burglars will face no criminal charges because of their ages, which have not been released. The Kennys, both 34, came home to discover the burglars had peed into Brian's computer, destroying it. Their inflatable hot tub and Brian's watch collection had been destroyed with a shovel. Holes had been punched in the family's walls, with multiple gadgets including a TV, tablet computer and hover board destroyed. Glitter and soda had also been poured over the family's furniture in further acts of wanton destruction. Kara, who works as an accounting assistant, told DailyMail.com that she and Brian got a call about the damage one day into their vacation, on April 9, but decided to stay in Florida so as not to spoil their children's trip. Brian and Kara Kenny from Myrtle Beach returned home from Disney World to discover their home had been ruined by two underage burglars The couple discovered $40,000 of damage to their house, which must now be partially-demolished Kara, an accounting assistant, told DailyMail.com that the family's new hot tub had been punctured with a shovel Glitter and soda had also been poured over the family's furniture in a further act of wanton destruction Brian's computer was destroyed with urine, with other devices including this tablet also trashed The Kennys say that multiple electronics were destroyed during the break in which will not be covered by their homeowner's insurance 'We chose not come home immediately because we knew the damage would be there waiting for us, it was already a done deal.' she said. Despite being pre-warned of what had happened, Kara says she and Brian, a construction worker, were still stunned by the orgy of destruction that awaited them when they returned home. And the couple were shocked when Horry County Police told them that because the vandals were children they could not be charged for the damage, even thought it was intentional. The two kids told police they were playing outside and that they entered the house through a window to get a drink, News Channel 6 reports. Kara told DailyMail.com that she does not have a personal relationship with the children involved but does know of them and has no idea why their house was targeted. 'No one can figure it out unfortunately,' she said. 'It seems like it was just totally random. The parents are being pretty cooperative, and they are apologetic.' Brian and Kara Kenny returned to their Myrtle Beach home after a trip to Disney World to find thousands of dollars of damage The Kennys estimate that the damage caused to their Myrtle Beach home totals $40,000 A hoverboard was among the Kenny's personal items damaged during the break in by two local children The mom says she and Brian are now pursing civil action against the boys' parents. But compensation will be limited to $5,000 because of the attackers' ages - far short of the repair bill the Kennys now face. In a further blow to the couple, their homeowners' insurance did not cover their ruined belongings. And they have been forced to move into an Airbnb for 18 days, with Kara saying the burglary has caused 'huge financial strain.' The house was glitter bombed and spray painted, photos show holes in walls and the Kennys says the home's floors were damaged. Kara said: 'It's been really rough, unfortunately.' Kenny says police have been 'extremely cooperative and super nice about the entire situation' she said the officer who responded to her home was apologetic and sensitive in handling the case because children were involved. Kenny's neighbors have attempted to ease the couple's financial burden with a GoFundMe page aiming to raise $6,000 that has so far raised over $2,500. We've heard the announcement by the Tourism Ministry that cultural workers are to get priority access to vaccines and travel exemptions. VPN provider Surfshark has analysed the recently discovered Facebook data leak containing the data of 533 million users, and found that 14,323,766 of the leaked profiles were South African. South Africa has the tenth highest number of breached accounts overall, the analysis showed, making it one of the countries most severely impacted by the leak. In general, the top 10 countries by breaches make up 50% of all the breach cases, Surfshark stated. According to NapoleonCat data, South Africa had 17.6 million Facebook users at the time Facebook closed the vulnerability that allowed the data to leak. Over 81% of all South Africans who had a Facebook account in August 2019 may therefore be impacted. As a point of reference only 96,121 South Africans were affected by Facebooks infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018. Security expert Alon Gal, the chief technology officer at Hudson Rock, first reported this latest leak via Twitter, revealing that all 533 million records had been posted to the dark web for free. Gals report included screenshots of a list of countries that was posted by the person who leaked the database. This list had a line stating that the leak contained 14.3 million records for Africa. However, the list also separately listed African countries like Angola, Algeria, Botswana, and Nigeria. Surfsharks analysis has now confirmed that the Africa line in the leakers list was actually South Africa. Leak not due to a hack Facebook In response to Gals post and the ensuing news articles, Facebooks director of strategic response communications, Liz Bourgeois, said that this was old data that was already reported in 2019. We found and fixed this issue in August 2019, stated Bourgeois. This explanation has been challenged, with Wired reporting that Facebook never disclosed the vulnerability that resulted in this specific leak. The security flaw that allowed attackers to get their hands on the names, phone numbers, Facebook IDs, location information, and other sensitive data of millions of users was in Facebooks contact importer. We believe the data in question was scraped from peoples Facebook profiles by malicious actors using our contact importer prior to September 2019, Facebook said in an official statement. This feature was designed to help people easily find their friends to connect with on our services using their contact lists. Facebook said that when it found out how attackers were using this feature in 2019, it made changes to the contact importer. In this case, we updated it to prevent malicious actors from using software to imitate our app and upload a large set of phone numbers to see which ones matched Facebook users. Facebook said that it is important to understand that attackers obtained this data not through hacking its systems, but by scraping publicly available information from the Facebook platform. The information did not include financial information, health information or passwords, Facebook assured. What data was leaked from South African accounts Surfshark told MyBroadband that from the 14,323,766 South African Facebook accounts, 83,938,406 data points were leaked. The attackers, on average, therefore exposed six types of data per user in South Africa, with specifics varying from user to user, a spokesperson for the company said. While the big worry online is about email addresses, this is not the part that should cause the most concern as a comparatively small 0.51% of the South African profiles had their email addresses exposed, Surfshark stated. However, all affected users 100% had their phone numbers or Facebook IDs leaked. The data set also allows matching names and phone numbers with additional data like location (37,18%) and relationship status (21,41%), Surfshark said. That helps to both choose the targets or to make hacking attacks more believable. An attacker could use the data exposed in the leak to send SMS (or WhatsApp) phishing attacks to your number, Surfshark said. It could also be used to gather information for SIM swap fraud. The table below summarises what data each of the South African Facebook profiles in this leak contained. Leaked data by percentage of South African Facebook profiles affected Leaked data point Number of profiles Percentage of profiles Phone number 14,323,568 100% Facebook ID 14,323,559 100% First Name 14,290,821 99.77% Gender 13,773,588 96.16% Last name 14,296,184 99.81% Location 5,325,530 37.18% Employer name 4,465,408 31.17% Relationship status 3,066,753 21.41% Email address 72,995 0.51% How to check if your phone number was leaked Due to the fact that this leak contains mostly phone numbers rather than email addresses, data breach notification service Have I Been Pwned has added the ability to search its breach and leak database for your phone number. Theres been huge interest in the Facebook incident, and Ive seen near-unprecedented traffic to Have I Been Pwned over the last couple of days, said the founder of Have I Been Pwned, Troy Hunt. Hunt said that he never planned to make phone numbers searchable, but the Facebook data leak changed his view. Theres over 500 million phone numbers, but only a few million email addresses in the Facebook leak, he said. This means 99% of people were getting a miss when they should have gotten a hit. To see if your number was part of the recent Facebook data leak, you can search for it on the Have I Been Pwned website. Phone numbers are stored with the country calling code, so South African numbers start with 27. To search for your number, you must add 27 at front of the number and drop the leading 0. The number 0821234567 will therefore change to 27821234567. It is no secret that the reflation in oil prices, WTI and Brent, above $50.00/bbl in the last six months has been a boon to the companies that service oil and gas wells. This price reflation in the underlying commodities has driven increases in upstream activity as shown in the graphic below. Data- PrimaryVision, chart by author In this article, we will review the improved financial metrics of one of the biggest Oilfield Service companies (OFS), Schlumberger, (NYSE:SLB), and some things it is doing to develop new technologies for the future. There is a fine line that companies like SLB must walk. They must find ways to generate cash flow and profits with the present dominant form of energy, petroleum. At the same time, to stay relevant for the long term they must meet the new energy economy with solutions. Schlumberger exhibited a renewed sense of optimism about the year ahead in their most recent conference calls. This marked a pronounced change in tone from prior meetings with analysts and was backed up with reports of cash from operations that in many cases doubled from the prior quarter. They are also preparing to deliver new technology in the renewables space. Lets take a closer look. Schlumberger Schlumberger beat analysts forecasts on the top and bottom lines in Q-4 and gave strong guidance for Q-1. The companys shares rallied from the low $20's in February to $30 in early March on this news. A general pullback in oil prices in mid-March knocked oil equities back in many cases about 20%. SLB has fallen consistent with that to the mid $20s, and that's going to be about it as WTI has found support around the $60 level. If you want to own SLB below $30 you are going to need to bite soon, as when the company releases earnings, I expect a move back above $30 and continuing higher through the year. Related: Rising Middle East Production May Trigger A New Oil Price War Google Finance Stephane Biguet, SLB CFO commented on the improved market the company is seeing presently- The early signs of recovery in the international offshore markets, combined with the high-grading of our North America portfolio and the near completion of our restructuring efforts, will all support strong margin expansion in the future as the industry recovery unfolds. In particular, we can count on the strength of our international business, which despite a very challenging macro backdrop in 2020, generated EBITDA margins of close to 24% on a full-year basis. These margins are set to improve going forward. Yahoo Financials With that optimism noted regarding the resurgence of their core businesses, lets look at a couple of the initiatives the company is pursuing in the area of renewable energy. Schlumberger New Energies SLB's New Energies division is developing renewable forms of energy on a number of fronts laying the groundwork for what the company may look like in a decade or so. One area is their clean hydrogen development through the Genvia venture with the French CEA. In the Genvia venture, they are deploying an interesting new technology called Solid Oxidizer Electrolyzer-SOE to achieve this aim. Clean hydrogen has been the holy grail of renewable energy for a number of years. The problem is that most of the Earths supply of this element was bound up in liquid form and the energy required to separate it made the process uneconomic. Now, with various forms of electricity generation coming on-line (Wind/Solar), it is possible to pair these projects to produce free hydrogen economically. The press release for the Genvia joint venture makes the underlying business case for the development of this technology. Related: Chinas Oil Imports Surge Ahead Of Refinery Maintenance Season In the next 30 years, hydrogen production could account for 20% of total energy demand, according to the Hydrogen Council. Genvias technology development and industrialization activities will be in step with the anticipated strong growth of the hydrogen economy. Genvia will provide innovative early solutions through strategic alliances in different industries. Source SLB has also started a new venture here in the U.S. state of Nevada. Called Neolith Energy, they will break ground soon on a pilot plant to extract lithium from the Nevada desert. The ultimate aim here is to demonstrate the commerciality of a new process for concentration of the lithium-ion and manufacturing lithium carbonate which is used primarily to make LI batteries. Just down the road in Sparks, Nevada is the world's largest consumer of lithium carbonate, the Tesla (NYSE:TSLA) Gigafactory. Coincidence? Probably not. Tesla Some criticize the company for throwing scarce capital at blue-sky science projects like this. I applaud them. There is an energy transition underway to renewables, and if the company is to remain relevant and have a growth trajectory long term, it depends on some of these New Energies ventures panning out. Q-4 2020 results Revenues were $5,532 bn for the quarter. An improvement of 5% over the prior quarter, but down 33% from 2019. No great surprise there really. The key to me is the prior quarter improvement. EBITDA came in at $1,112 bn, up 9% from Q-3, but down 33% from 2019. I think the company has a line of sight to return to 2019 adjusted EBITDA of $6.6 bn by YE 2021, or early 2022. The company also made good on its commitment to return to ~20+% EBITDA margins in Q-4 and expects that to continue to improve through the year SLB generated $878 mm of OCF and $554 mm of free cash flow during Q-4 up sequentially, but down from the ~$1.55 bn pace of 2019. The company's cash position improved to ~$3.0 bn in the quarter. The company has a $1.5 bn RCA against which there are no borrowings. SLB has ~$1.75 bn in debt coming due in 2022, ~$1.50 bn in 2023, and another ~$750 mm coming due in 2024. Through cash outlays, use of their RCA, or new debt offering to push back these amounts the company faces no insurmountable debt walls in the next few years. Debt increased about $600 mm in 2020 due to currency adjustments which are hedged and won't cause a detriment to cash. I should also mention the company is the subject of a number of analyst upgrades recently with an average price target of $29, and an outlier estimate of $39.00. I think these will get another bump higher if the company delivers as I expect they will. Yahoo Financials Your takeaway SLB is a company you want to own in the OFS space for growth and eventual income. They are the undisputed King of OFS companies with a legacy that goes back deep into the last century. The companys core oil and gas business is set to perform at markedly higher levels than in the prior year, providing the cash flow necessary to reduce debt load, buy back shares, and ultimately increase their now minimal dividend. Over the short-haul, deleveraging the balance sheet is number one on their cash flow priorities list. In addition to being well-positioned to reap the benefits from the oil and gas expansion cycle now underway, Schlumberger is a leader in using its core technical expertise to facilitate new forms of clean energy. This strong footing in the present, while looking down the road at the shape of the energy transition now in its early stages makes a compelling investment case for investors with a moderate risk profile. With the cash the company will generate in the coming years, I feel an entry point at or near present levels will provide returns in the double-digit range for years to come. By David Messler for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in the opening ceremonies of new administrative offices of the State Commercial Bank "Turkmenbashi" and the Joint-Stock Commercial Bank "Senagat" (Industry) in Ashgabat. The new bank buildings have been erected in the southern part of Ashgabat which has recently turned into a new business center of the Turkmen capital. "Turkmenbashi" bank and its 23 branches operate throughout the country and serve more than 600 thousand clients, offering them a wide range of services, as well as various types of loans. Senagat bank is one of the leading commercial banks in Turkmenistan with 13 branches throughout the country. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov congratulated the bank employees on moving to the new offices and wished them success in their professional activities. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) ("Austral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company and Pampa Metals Corporation (CSE: PM) (FSE: FIRA) (OTC Pink: PMMCF) ("Pampa") have entered into a non-binding letter of intent ("LOI") whereby Austral may acquire up to an 80% interest in the Cerro Blanco and Morros Blancos properties held by Pampa (the "Transaction"). Austral Gold's Chief Executive Officer Stabro Kasaneva said: "Following our recent acquisition of Revelo Resources Corporation ("Revelo"), which included exploration projects located close to our Guanaco/Amancaya mining complex and a 19.9% shareholding interest in Pampa, we are pleased to enter into this LOI, which should enable us to further increase the number of projects that we own or control in the area. Our interest in this Transaction is consistent with our strategy to obtain a leading role in the Paleocene-Eocene Belt in Chile which we believe is a prolific mineralized belt that is underexplored for precious metals." Highlights of the LOI: a) Initial Option: Pampa has agreed to grant Austral an option to acquire an initial 60% interest in the Cerro Blanco and Morros Blancos ("Properties") for the following consideration: US$3 million in exploration expenditures on the Properties including a minimum of US$1 million in year 1, and a further US$2 million in year 2, 2,963,132 shares of Pampa that Austral holds through Revelo. After returning these shares, Austral's shareholding in Pampa will be reduced to approximately 13.6%, Austral will terminate its nomination right to appoint a representative to the board of directors of Pampa through Revelo. b) Stage 1: If Austral exercises the Option and earns a 60% interest in a property or the Properties, Austral may increase its interest in each such property to an aggregate total of 65% ("Stage 1") for the following consideration: minimum drilling of 15,000m, studies required to complete a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA"), PEA by an internationally recognized engineering firm to the standards, and in the form, prescribed under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), and minimum annual exploration expenditures on each property of US$250,000. c) Stage 2 Austral may at its sole discretion, elect to earn an additional 15% interest in a property or the Properties ("Stage 2") by completing the following activities within 5 years from providing notice to Pampa that it intends to reach Stage 2: minimum drilling of 10,000m, studies required to complete a bankable feasibility study ("BFS"), and BFS by an internationally recognized engineering firm to the standards, and in the form, prescribed under NI 43-101. If Austral does not complete these activities, then Pampa will be named operator of a property or the Properties and may increase its ownership from 35% to 80% by completing these activities, on the same conditions established for Austral. The primary exploration targets of Austral on the Properties are gold, silver and other precious metals. If Austral's exploration on the Properties results in a reasonable conclusion that copper is the dominant metal for a property, Pampa will become the 60% holder of the property, and will have the same earn-in rights and parameters as described above for Austral with appropriate adjustments. The Transaction is subject to due diligence, compliance with any requirements from the ASX and TSX Venture Exchange, execution of a definitive agreement and certain undertakings from Pampa, in addition to customary conditions precedent to be included in the Definitive Agreement. Austral expects the Transaction to close before the end of June 2021. About the Properties: Both the Cerro Blanco (6,500 Ha) and the Morros Blancos (7,300 Ha) Properties are prospective for porphyry copper (+/- gold +/- moly) and high-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver (+/- copper) deposits which are located in the heart of the Paleocene Mineral Belt in northern Chile. The Paleocene Belt is host to important copper and gold-silver deposits and mines, and the Properties are located along a prolific segment of the prospective belt, along trend from important copper mines such as Spence (BHP) and Sierra Gorda (KGHM and Sumitomo), as well as precious metals mines and projects. Cerro Blanco is located about 20 Km southwest of the multi-million ounce El Penon gold-silver mining district (Yamana Gold) and Morros Blancos is located adjacent and to the east of Austral's Amancaya gold-silver mine. Access to both projects is easy, both being located less than 30 Km from the Pan American Highway, and altitudes are moderate. Both projects are close to Austral's Guanaco processing plant, which may allow for more efficient and cost-effective development and operation. About Austral Gold Austral Gold Limited is a growing gold and silver mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of quality assets in Chile, the USA and Argentina. Austral owns a 100% interest in the Guanaco/Amancaya mine in Chile and the Casposo Mine (currently on care and maintenance) in Argentina, and a non-controlling interest in the Rawhide Mine in Nevada, USA. In addition, Austral owns an attractive portfolio of exploration projects in the Paleocene Belt in Chile (including those acquired in the recent acquisition of Revelo Resources Corp), a 19.2% interest in Pampa Metals and a 100% interest in the Pinguino project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: AGLD) and the Australian Securities Exchange. (ASX: AGD). For more information, please consult Austral's website at www.australgold.com. About Pampa Resources Pampa Metals is a Canadian company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE: PM). Pampa Metals has interests in an outstanding 59,000-hectare portfolio of projects prospective for copper and gold located along proven mineral belts in Chile, one of the world's top mining jurisdictions. See attached map for the locations of the Company's projects. The Company has a vision to create value for shareholders and all other stakeholders by making a major copper discovery along the prime mineral belts of Chile, using the best geological and technological methods. For more information, please visit Pampa Metals' website here www.pampametals.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. Release approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Austral Gold, Stabro Kasaneva. For additional information please contact: Jose Bordogna Chief Financial Officer Austral Gold Limited jose.bordogna@australgold.com +54 (11) 4323 7558 David Hwang Company Secretary Austral Gold Limited info@australgold.com +61 (2) 9698 5414448 Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include the terms agreed to in the Letter of Intent, the parties' expectation that they will be able to conclude the Transaction, and the expectation that they will be able to do so before the end of June 2021. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets especially in light of the effects of the novel coronavirus" uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on the ASX and on SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80381 Bengaluru, April 15 : French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is on a 3-day visit to India, will be in this tech hub on Thursday for promoting bilateral relations in science and technology, an official said on Wednesday. "On his day-long visit to the city, Le Drian will announce contribution of France to India's human space flight programme 'Gaganyaan' at the human space flight centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the city," said a French consulate official in a statement here. Le Drian will also interact with the state-run ISRO's chairman K. Sivan and human space flight centre director S. Unnikrishnan Nair on the occasion. "In the space cooperation over the decades, France and India worked on many missions, including the operational climate research satellites," said the official. The Indo-French Oceansat3-Argos mission will be launched soon, while a third joint satellite Trishna is in the development phase. "The thermal infrared orbiter will be the first to monitor temperature of earth on a global and constant basis, with very high accuracy," said the statement. France is also keen to strengthen dialogue with India on emerging space security issues. Le Drian will also visit Bangalore Life Sciences cluster, with National Centre for Biological Sciences, the Centre for cellular and molecular platforms and the Institute of Stem cell science and regenerative medicine. "Besides highlighting the cooperation between the two countries on health, life sciences and biotechnology, Le Drian will hold talks with heads of National Centre for Biological Life Sciences and French companies in the city," added the official. Le Drian will meet investors and top executives of major business groups to showcase his country as an attractive business destination for Indian firms, which are choosing France as their gateway to the EU (European Union) market, especially in the context of Brexit. SABA:--- Residents of Saba are invited to a town hall meeting on Thursday, April 15 to attend a presentation by volcanologist Elske de Zeeuw-Van Dalfsen of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Meteorology (KNMI) on Sabas Mt. Scenery volcano. She will also answer questions from the public. The Executive Council of the Public Entity Saba decided early this week to organize a town hall meeting where people can be informed about the status of the Mt. Scenery volcano and the volcanoes on neighboring islands. The subject has become very timely with the volcanic eruptions of the La Soufriere in St. Vincent, more than 500 kilometers away from Saba. De Zeeuw-Van Dalfsen is currently on Saba, together with three colleagues of the KNMI, to construct a new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/seismic monitoring station on the North Coast to measure possible seismic or volcano-related activity. The KNMI advises the local authorities about the status of the Mt. Scenery volcano and has been monitoring Saba since the end of 2006. In an interview early this year, De Zeeuw-Van Dalfsen explained that a volcanic eruption doesnt suddenly happen: usually it is a process that evolves over a longer period of time which is accompanied by signals of the volcanos increased activity. This has been the case on St. Vincent where the volcano started to show signs of increased activity last year. The Saba volcano is and has been for a very long time on code green, meaning that there is no abnormal activity. Experts call this normal background activity. The fact that La Soufriere in St. Vincent has erupted doesnt mean that the other volcanoes in the region will become active too. Volcanoes are not connected; they stand on their own. During the townhall meeting this Thursday, residents will have ample opportunity to pose questions to the volcanologist and her colleagues of the KNMI. The townhall meeting takes place at the Eugenius Johnson Center in the Windwardside from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. It is an open secret in political circles that Atchannaidu and Lokesh have strained relations and the latter tried to halt the appointment of the several-time MLA from Srikakulam district as party president for AP. DC file photo Vijayawada: A video of Telugu Desam sate president K Atchannaidu predicting doomsday to the party and ridiculing the leadership of TD general secretary Nara Lokesh went viral in social media on Tuesday. The veteran TD leader was seen saying: 17th tarvata (Tirupati bypoll day) andaru khaleeye.. party ledu bokka ledu (everyone in the party will be free after April 17 as party will have no future). We are carrying on with the party as we are associated with it from the very beginning. The video has surfaced as a major embarrassment to the principal Opposition party, which is facing shock after shock in the series of elections the 2019 assembly poll defeat, followed by the worst drubbing in the civic polls. The party is seen losing its confidence as is also evident from the decision by party chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu to keep the TD out of the Zilla and Mandal Parishad polls. The poll boycott has further demoralized the party cadre and raised doubts over the future of the party. Notably, the present video got leaked a few days before the Tirupati bypoll. The video, apparently shot with a secret camera, carried a conversation between Atchannaidu and a TD leader Venkat Rao. Their chat began over a land deal in Hyderabad and payment thereof, but went on to other matters and the party president making sensational observations about the party and Lokeshs leadership. Atchannaidu told Deccan Chronicle dismissively, Too many people are indulging in mischievous things and this could be one of it. He tweeted that the video was the handiwork of chief minister Jagan who, he said, was resorting to stone throwing and circulating a distorted version of my conversation, out of fear of the YSRC losing the Tirupati bypoll. Nobody can spoil my relationship with Lokesh, he said. Taking potshots at Atchannaidu, municipal administration minister Botsa Satyanaranayana said he could have openly announced that TD would be shut very soon, but he being the president of the AP unit, he may have limitations and could share his anguish only with his own party leaders. The conversation begins with Venkat Rao complaining to Naidu that Lokesh was neglecting his repeated request to help him get Rs3 crore from builder KL Narayana, though Chandrababu Naidu and film actor Balakrishna had promised to help him out. When Rao said Lokesh did not receive him properly when he went to meet him, the TD state president was seen saying, ippudu andariki ante. Yevvariki vinadam ledu. Evari badhalu vallavi (Lokesh is not listening to anyone. We are all having issues). Reacting to Rao repeatedly complaining against Lokesh, the TD state president said, aa manishulu baagunte party ki ee paristhiti enduku vuntundi It was an open secret in political circles that Atchannaidu and Lokesh have strained relations and the latter tried to halt the appointment of the several-time MLA from Srikakulam district as party president for AP. Atchannaidu had been arrested by the Jagan-led state government in a corruption case a few months ago. Published on 2021/04/13 | Source Actress Han Ye-seul pulled off the summer look in her own way. Han Ye-seul presented the summer fashion story as a muse of the fashion brand The AtG through the magazine 1st Look published on April 15th. In this pictorial, you can get a glimpse of Han Ye-seul's daily real-way styling and bold runway look at the same time. She gives off infinite charm, going back and forth between extreme charm just with her chic expression, makeup, lovely smile and hair styling. In particular, the new way of wearing clothes with an attitude, creates trendy summer fashion items in a comfortable yet bold way. Wearing a red linen dress like a robe, matching white sleeveless T-shirts and denim pants to enjoy comfort, while styling a micro mini skirt with a long linen jacket to suggest a sensuous office look. It also adds fresh edges to basic items such as a crop top with a clear view of the back and summer wide pants, showing the essence of sensuous mix & match with elegant knitwear and casual training pants. Meanwhile, Han Ye-seul has been working as a new model for CJ O Shopping's flagship fashion brand The AtG since the spring of 2021. An ongoing protest against the construction of the Namakhvani hydropower plant in western Georgia continued on April 14 as demonstrators gathered near the village of Gumati and later decamped to the regional capital, Kutaisi. Protesters fear the possible negative environmental impact of the plant and say that it is not in the interests of Georgia. The work of the Russian painter who has dedicated her life to chronicling the changing face of her country's capital This is the work of Russian artist Alena Dergileva, who has spent the past four decades capturing the streets of her native Moscow in exquisitely detailed watercolors. Dergileva, 69, began capturing street scenes in Moscow in the 1980s. As the city began developing rapidly in the 2000s, her theme took on historical significance as she watched elegant, time-worn buildings transformed or replaced by generic corporate structures. But her paintings carry their historic role lightly. Dergileva is capable of a wide range of artistic techniques but has settled on a naive, almost cartoonish style to capture her beloved home city. Dergileva told RFE/RL she works by finding somewhere discreet on the street to stand, then makes a quick sketch of the scene on an oven-tray-sized sheet of her favorite French art paper. With the sketch drawn, the artist then goes back to her central Moscow apartment to begin work in earnest. Dergileva says using watercolors is "the most difficult technique because you can't correct mistakes." With so much at stake in each stroke she works "only a little at a time," with each painting taking nearly a month to complete. While sketching her scenes, the painter -- whose background is in portraiture -- says she also makes quick scribbles of people passing by. "I always do my best to capture exactly those people who walked in a certain place," Dergileva says. Dergileva's work often includes garish commercial signs that many artists would avoid. But she says "all the 'ugly' details of the street make everyday life vivid and uniquely valuable. Bright bags with logos on them mark the period of time we are living through, which is very important to me. I always try to get a living picture." Some of Dergileva's recent work is marked by the coronavirus pandemic that has transformed street life around the world. This 2020 painting captures the sudden prevalence of food-delivery workers after the pandemic closed restaurant doors. The painter says the delivery people "truly interest" her for the unexpected flashes of color they bring to the street: "They have colored our life so much." The painter says she is less enthused about the presence of expression-obscuring face masks. This is one of only two of her works featuring masks. On strolls through her city, Dergileva keeps an eye on some of the elegant buildings she has painted through the years. Over time, she says, details and accessories on a house might appear and disappear "like jewelry on a woman." Some of the scenes captured in Dergileva's watercolors are easy to locate and compare on Google Maps. The street view of this address shows that the signage and other small details of the scene have changed since it was painted around 2015. Dergileva says her ongoing quest to chronicle Moscow's overlooked spaces has its roots partly in her childhood, when the country's communist authorities demolished her family home. In the late 1960s, officials began installing characterless Soviet apartments on the street where Dergileva played and in 1972 the wreckers came for her home. Today an office building stands in its place. This is one of several paintings Dergileva made in the town of Zaraysk, near Moscow, through the 1980s and 1990s, which she is now compiling for a book. The artist says that "the vast majority of buildings I painted in Zaraysk no longer exist. They were demolished, burned, or heavily renovated, therefore the book will be the town's chronicle." Meanwhile, Dergileva's continuous life's work remains central Moscow, where on literally every walk she finds something new she wants to paint. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:22:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Although two-thirds of Zambia's population live in rural areas and depend on agriculture as their mainstay, most of the foods produced go to waste. This is due to lack of markets as well as lack of knowledge on how to preserve the foods. However, a local firm is determined to change the status quo. Apart from promoting the consumption of indigenous foods, the company is determined to promote the indigenous foods to the outside world, including China. The firm believes that indigenous foods have not only high nutrient contents but medicinal values as well despite being frowned upon by people. "Any country that has a very low opinion of local foods is a very poor country. God gave us the local foods because he knows the value they contain and it is therefore important that we start appreciating our indigenous foods," said Sylvia Banda, Managing Director of Sylva Food Solutions, a subsidiary of Sylva Professional Catering, a restaurant that offers catering services. She said the purpose of coming up with the company was due to a need in indigenous foods, especially during the dry season. The company has been working with smallholder farmers who are being provided with techniques on how to grow various vegetables which it later buys from them. The company has also been providing training to the smallholder farmers, with about 25,000 farmers so far trained not only in Zambia, but Mozambique and Tanzania as well. The training includes methods of drying traditional vegetables hygienically, education on healthy foods and the high nutrition value of the indigenous food compared to the imported staples. Among the indigenous vegetables targeted include pumpkin leaves, cowpea leaves, okra, bean leaves and sweet potatoes leaves, among others. These are being processed and packaged and sold to supermarkets so that people can enjoy the traditional foods all year around instead of waiting for the rainy season. The company has also started producing various products from Moringa, a tree that is rich in healing properties and can remove toxic substances from the body. Among the products being produced from the tree which grows naturally include tea bags, Moringa soup and cereals. "The purpose of coming up with the company is that we saw a need in our country, especially where vegetables are concerned. In most parts of Zambia, we only depend on the rain-fed type of farming and when it is the dry season, you find that we have problems in continuing and this how we came with the drying of these vegetables," she added. She has also compiled a cookbook "Zambian Cookbook" that includes remedies and recipes using indigenous crops and plants. To encourage mass production of indigenous foods, the company is involved in the processing of the foods and has also entered into contract agreements with smallholder farmers. The indigenous vegetables are currently being processing at the company's factory and because of the huge interest in the project, a larger factory is currently underway and is expected to be commissioned soon. The factory is adding value to various indigenous foods through the production of various products which are being packaged and supplied to supermarkets in the country. "Our plan is to be Zambia's biggest promoter of indigenous foods and we are determined to ensure that we change the mindset of people to start appreciating local foods. These foods are very rich in nutrients and have medicinal values," she said. While the company has taken advantage of the free trade arrangement provided by the United States through its African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), she says the company is expanding its horizon and is keen to penetrate the Chinese market. The company, she said, is targeting Africans in the diaspora as potential customers for its products outside the country as most African countries have similar indigenous foods. She further said the company is positioning itself to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) by penetrating the African market. She said the company is ready to take advantage of the free duty access provided by China to penetrate the Chinese market. "All we need is for someone to link us to China so that we penetrate that market. With the current equipment that we have, we are able to supply the Chinese market," she said. Indeed, the need to appreciate local products cannot be over-emphasized because of the immense benefits that accrue not only in terms of economic development but poverty reduction as well. Enditem Exporting Canadian electricity, jump-starting electric vehicle sales and consideration of carbon-based trade barriers are three of the key topics on the table between Canada and the United States as the two countries dig into bilateral climate-change policy co-ordination. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files) Exporting Canadian electricity, jump-starting electric vehicle sales and consideration of carbon-based trade barriers are three of the key topics on the table between Canada and the United States as the two countries dig into bilateral climate-change policy co-ordination. Discussions between the two countries on climate change policy have been ongoing since the election of U.S. President Joe Biden in November. But Tuesday, Canadas Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson met with U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and appeared in the virtual GLOBE Capital 2021 conference with American political consultant John Podesta. Podesta is a trusted Democratic consultant who served as White House chief of staff under former president Bill Clinton, and as a climate-policy adviser to former president Barack Obama. The meeting between Wilkinson and Kerry is a part of a continuing dialogue aimed at getting both countries to set more ambitious national commitments to lower greenhouse-gas emissions. The results are expected to be revealed at an international summit next week. The previous emissions targets were set ahead of the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. International leaders and diplomats will be meeting in Scotland in the fall for another round of negotiations. Zero-emission vehicles are a focus of U.S.-Canada diplomacy. Wilkinson hinted that the phaseout of internal combustion engines is likely on the horizon in Canada as he hopes to "implement a 100 per cent ZEV sales target as soon as possible." This will involve co-ordination across the vehicle supply chain on both sides of the border, he said, including involvement from the auto industry and auto workers unions. "Theres a lot of work that we can do together to keep those supply chains integrated, keep them here in North America, ensure that the electric vehicles of the future are built here with labour thats in the United States and Canada. So I think thats an exciting possibility," Podesta said Tuesday. As a part of the GLOBE Capital conference, the Canadian Infrastructure Bank unveiled its latest project that will help to sell clean Canadian electricity in the United States. A total of $1.7 billion is being committed to the construction of the Lake Erie Connector Project that will see Ontario electricity exported into the American PJM Interconnection the largest electricity market in North America, that services 13 states in the northeast from New Jersey to North Carolina. Of the funding, $655 million is being invested by the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and $1.05 billion is being fronted by private investors. "I think sometimes people look at the negative impacts of climate change, as opposed to looking at a trillion-dollar opportunity," federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said at the virtual announcement. The sale of Canadian power into the American grid, which has also been pursued in Manitoba, is a broader partnership opportunity that officials on both sides of the border are eager to pursue. The U.S. electricity market will need a significant amount of reworking if Bidens goal of a carbon-free power grid is to be achieved by 2035. "I think there is a strong market in the United States for clean power from Canada, we need to work together on storage, and transmission to ensure that the grid is secure and reliable," Podesta said. He added that while cross-border electricity sales are important, they arent a policy being pursued in isolation. For example, this week Biden announced significant investments in offshore wind. "I think theres tremendous potential probably in both countries for a buildout of more offshore wind on both coasts." Wilkinson said he hopes during pandemic recovery to see significant advancements for mature green energy, such as wind and solar, but also the advancement of power-generation sources that are newer on the scene in Canada, including tidal and geothermal. But continued investment in fossil fuel infrastructure should be avoided as both the U.S. and Canada aim to phase out heavy-carbon sources such as coal. "We need to ensure as were phasing out coal, which we have committed to do by regulation by 2030, that were not simply replacing that with natural gas-fired power plants that will exist in 2050, and a net-zero world," Wilkinson said. As Canada and U.S. move forward with more stringent climate policies, additional trade policies will be needed to ensure cheaper, more carbon-intensive goods arent cutting into the North American market; a phenomenon known as carbon leakage. "The Europeans are moving forward with a carbon-border adjustment, as early as this summer. I think the United States and Canada need to be discussing that. Because quite frankly, we dont want other countries taking advantage of our markets by undercutting through the ability to use emissions, in essence, as an advantage," Podesta said. The EU trading block is expected to push such trade policy forward by the summer. More details about the potential rollout of such policies in North America will likely be unveiled at next weeks summit. sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik The former police chief of the University of Utah and an officer who showed explicit photos of Lauren McCluskey to his colleagues are demanding $10million from the college because they say they were mistreated during the fallout of the case. Ex-University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy received a full year's salary and a $6,000 party when he retired in 2019, almost a year after McCluskey was killed. Authorities said McCluskey, a 21-year-old track star from Pullman, Washington, was fatally shot by Melvin Rowland, 37, on October 22, 2018. Brophy, along with Miguel Deras, a former university officer who reportedly showed at least three of his male co-workers explicit images of McCluskey without a work-related reason, filed a legal notice on Tuesday, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Deras resigned from his position before an investigation into his conduct was launched. Three other former officers, Rick McLenon, who served as acting chief until his resignation in June 2020, Mario Sellick and Aaron Nelson, are also a part of the lawsuit that seeks $10million from the university. Ex-university of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy (left) and Miguel Deras (right), a former university officer who reportedly showed his male co-workers explicit images of Lauren McCluskey, are demanding $10m from the college because they say they were mistreated Authorities said Lauren McCluskey (pictured), a 21-year-old track star from Pullman, Washington, was fatally shot by Melvin Rowland, 37, on October 22, 2018 In the notice, the former officers allege that the university used them as scapegoats amid public outcry that McCluskeys case was handled improperly. 'The Universitys apparent objective was to focus public attention on the Claimants rather than its own institutional failings and wrongdoing in relation to Laurens case,' the notice states. The former officers' lawyers claim that their 'good names, reputations and liberty interests have been adversely impacted'. 'Plaintiffs have suffered wrongful and unwarranted job loss, and/or have been rendered unemployable as a result of the stigma created and cultivated by Defendants,' the lawyers said. McCluskey was being blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend, Rowland, when she confided in campus police in October 2018. She told authorities that she was being extorted by her sex-offender ex who said he had access to some of her personal images and was threatening to release them if she didn't pay him $1,000. Terrified by the demand, McCluskey paid Rowland the money, and then sent copies of his threatening messages and the pictures in question to police as evidence. In 2020, it was revealed that Deras saved the compromising photos of the young track star onto his phone, before showing them to his colleagues and bragging about being able to ogle at them any time he wanted, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Just nine days after filing the report, McCluskey was shot dead by Rowland on campus, who then turned the gun on himself inside a church hours later. The promising athlete had ended the relationship a month earlier after discovering Rowland was a registered sex offender who had lied about his name, age and criminal history. It was also revealed that McCluskey called the police six times in the 10 days leading up to her horrific murder in the backseat of a car in her dorm's parking lot. Authorities identified Melvin Rowland (left and right) as McCluskey's killer. He killed himself hours later inside a church The student athlete had called the police six times in the 10 days before her horrific murder in the backseat of a car in her dorm's parking lot On the day she was killed, McCluskey attempted to contact authorities but did not hear back from them. Red flags were already raised before McCluskey broke up with Rowland when two of her friends contacted the resident adviser in their dorm with concerns about him on September 30, 2018. They their adviser that Lauren was 'very sad' and that Rowland wasn't letting her 'hang out with friends'. A report by the University of Utah Department of Public Safety (UUPS) states: 'The friends feel Lauren does not sound right and they notice that week that Lauren's physical appearance had begun to change. 'Both believe Lauren was too trusting and was being taken advantage of by Rowland. 'They are very concerned about Lauren, that she is in an unhealthy relationship with an older man who was controlling her and is practically living with her. They are also concerned that this man had been talking about getting Lauren a gun very soon.' After conducting various reviews, University of Utah officials decided not to 'overstep' and not to assist McCluskey 'unless she was seeking support'. Just days later, McCluskey discovered that Rowland had lied about his identity when they met at a bar on September 2 and began to date. Rowland had told the star athlete he was 28 years old and that his name was Shawn Fields. When McCluskey confronted Rowland about the lies and the fact that he was a registered sex offender, he said he had 'many identities'. Rowland murdered McCluskey three weeks after she broke up with him upon discovering he was a convicted sex offender and had lied about his name and age In the weeks before her death, McCluskey repeatedly called the police with her concerns about Rowland and revealed she was being blackmailed with their intimate photos McCluskey asked Rowland to come to her dorm room on October 9 and broke up with him. But she allowed him to stay the night and borrow her car the next day to run errands. On the same day she broke up with him, McCluskey received a text message from someone claiming to be Rowland's friend saying she had broken his heart. The friend told Lauren he would drop off her car. Another message told McCluskey to 'go kill yourself'. On October 10, McCluskey's mother contacted campus police. She was aware that her daughter had found out incriminating details about her boyfriend and wanted a campus escort to help retrieve her car. A dispatcher called McCluskey, who denied assistance and said Rowland was going to drop off her car at her apartment later that day. McCluskey then called campus police that night at 5pm and asked for a security escort to take her to her car at the stadium parking lot, where Rowland had dropped it off instead. On October 12, McCluskey called the police and said she received text messages claiming Rowland had died in a car accident. McCluskey thought Rowland's friends were 'trying to lure her away from campus and into a trap', according to the UUPS report. 'Police tell Lauren not much can be done if the messages do not contain threats, but to contact UUPS if things escalate,' it reads. Rowland murdered Lauren at her dorm, the South Tower Medical Plaza Student Housing, before going on a date with a woman and visiting the State Capitol. Hours later, he killed himself at Trinity AME Church On October 13, McCluskey contacted campus police again, revealing she received texts and email addresses she believed belonged to either Rowland or his friends. She told police that the messages were demanding money in exchange for not posting 'compromising photos' of her and Rowland on the internet. McCluskey sent $1,000 to keep the photos private, and then called police. A University of Utah detective was assigned to screen for sexual extortion charges and on October 19 a formal investigation began. McCluskey called Salt Lake City Police on October 19 and expressed concern that University of Utah police weren't doing enough to stop Rowland's harassment. 'I'm worried because I've been working with the campus police and last Saturday I reported and I haven't gotten an update,' she can be heard saying in a 911 call. 'They haven't updated or done anything.' McCluskey also said she feared there could be an 'insider' within UUPS because Rowland knew 'all about her contact with the police', the UUPS report reads. McCluskey repeatedly called police as she continued to receive text messages from numbers claiming to be Rowland's friends that she feared were trying to lure her out of her dorm Three days before her death, McCluskey called Salt Lake City Police and expressed concern that University of Utah police weren't doing enough to stop Rowland's harassment. Pictured is the dorm parking lot where McCluskey was murdered 'Dispatch advised her to contact UUPS and speak with the officer in charge of her case.' Police later discovered that McCluskey had given Rowland access to her computer and accounts, so he was able to read every email she was sending to police in real time. During the next few days, from October 19 to October 22, Rowland was captured on security cameras at 'various locations on campus'. On October 22, McCluskey emailed the police department and said she received a message from an unknown number claiming to be the UUPS deputy chief and asking that she come to the police station. 'Can you come to the station as soon as possible. There is something you need to see. I will go over the details when you get here,' the message read. From the hours of 3pm to 6pm that day, Rowland spent the afternoon waiting for McCluskey with some of her friends in her dorm building. At 8.20pm Rowland spotted McCluskey as she was returning to her dorm from a night class and speaking on the phone with her mother. After murdering her, Rowland went on a date with a woman. He later ran into Trinity AME Church (pictured) after police spotted him and killed himself inside He confronted her and quickly dragged her into the parking lot, causing her to drop her phone and belongings. McCluskey's mother heard her yell 'No, no, no!' before the phone went silent. Rowland then forced McCluskey into the backseat of a car, where he shot her in the head. Right after murdering McCluskey, Rowland went on a date with a woman he had met on a dating website just days earlier. Campus police located Rowland by 12.46am on October 23, engaging him in a foot pursuit and following him into Trinity AME Church. Rowland broke in through the back door of the church and committed suicide. The university previously admitted there were 'several indications' that McCluskey was 'in trouble'. 'Had victim advocates been engaged, Lauren might not have been left to assess the dangerousness of her situation on her own. There were shortcomings both systemically and individually,' the report reads. 'While the University has developed systems and programs to respond to student welfare issues, those systems were not engaged nor utilized.' 'In the final analysis we will never know that this tragedy could have been prevented without these deficiencies,' the report concluded. 'What we can say is that correcting the issues we have identified in this report might lessen the probability of such a tragedy occurring again.' McCluskey's parents wrote a rebuttal to the review, writing that they 'respectfully disagree with the conclusion that Lauren's murder could not have been prevented'. 'There were numerous opportunities to protect her during the almost two weeks between the time when our daughter began expressing repeated, elevating and persistent concerns about her situation and the time of her murder,' they added. McCluskey was an accomplished student athlete and a star on the University of Utah's track and field team. Rowland was a resident of Salt Lake City and in 2004 was convicted of attempted forcible sex abuse and enticing a minor over the internet, according to court records. He was released from Utah State Prison in 2013 after nine years behind bars. The ex-husband of an ITV weather presenter has been jailed after a nine-year campaign of controlling behaviour, harassment and stalking against her during their marriage. Jonathan Wignall, 54, set alerts for Ruth Dodsworth's television appearances, used her fingerprint to access her phone while she was asleep, and fitted a tracking device to her car. Today a court heard Wignall was an 'unrepentant, possessive bully' with a 'fragile ego' who repeatedly accused Ms Dodsworth, 45, of being unfaithful during their relationship. He refused to allow her to travel to filming locations without him, would turn up at ITV Wales' Cardiff studio unannounced, and force her to spend her lunch hour with him in its car park. Jealous Jonathan Wignall, 54, (right) was today jailed for three years for plaguing ex-wife ITV host Ruth Dodsworth (left) including at her TV studio Cardiff Crown Court heard the couple met in 2001, a year after Ms Dodsworth started her weather job, and were married in 2002. But Wignall's controlling behaviour began around 2010 when the couple moved from Swansea to Cowbridge and she became their main breadwinner when his nightclub business started to fail. Prosecutor Claire Pickthall said: 'The shift in the dynamic of the home was not an easy one for the defendant to take. 'His alcohol intake increased as did his controlling and coercive behaviour towards Ms Dodsworth.' On one occasion in October 2016 family members witnessed Wignall pushing his wife over causing her to fracture a rib, and on another occasion saw him pushing her and grabbing her by the neck. Wignall was sentenced to a total of three years in custody, of which he will serve half before being released on licence, he was given a restraining order against contacting Ms Dodsworth Wignall was said to have called his wife 'incessantly' when she was working away, and that while home he would open her mail and stand outside the door while she used the bathroom. He would also accompany her to doctors' appointments and quizzed contacts on her phone about the nature of their relationship. Ms Pickthall said: 'On one occasion she woke during the night to find him pressing her fingertip against her phone to access the fingerprint ID feature, and ultimately her phone, while she was sleeping.' When Ms Dodsworth eventually decided not to return home after a work shift on October 17 2019, Wignall called her 155 times and even threatened to commit suicide to get her to return. When Wignall was arrested the following morning on suspicion of harassment, he told police: 'Harassment? 'But she's my wife.' Ruth Dodsworth is a regular ITV weather presenter on regional news in Wales and London - and has appeared on This Morning Wignall was later released on bail on the condition he did not contact Ms Dodsworth, but messages he sent to family members about her whereabouts raised suspicions he had planted a tracking device on her car by December 2019. The tracker was found and police found an app on his phone and laptop linked to the device as well as an alarm on his phone set to go off when Ms Dodsworth was presenting the weather on television. Wignall pleaded guilty to one count of coercive and controlling behaviour and stalking before he was due to stand trial last month. Ms Pickthall said Wignall's controlling behaviour charge could only be drafted as starting in December 2015, when the offence was created, but in reality it had lasted since around 2010. Ms Dodsworth told the court via videolink she has been left with 'heavy debts' after discovering Wignall had borrowed money under their name. Soon after his arrest she was told she was to be evicted from their home due to Wignall failing to pay bills and found he had pawned her jewellery for cash. Ms Dodsworth, fighting back tears, said: 'Because of my television career I've had to try and portray a smiley, happy, sunshine-like personality every day, when how I felt was everything but.' Ms Dodsworth said she had been left feeling 'degraded' at work due to colleagues witnessing her former partner's behaviour, and the past year had seen her confidence and physical health deteriorate. Dyfed Thomas, defending, said Wignall previously ran a 'phenomenally successful business' with both the Escape nightclub in Swansea and the city's annual Escape In The Park festival before both came 'crashing down' and affected his relationship with Ms Dodsworth. He said Wignall had been 'besotted' with her, and that he was 'sorry for his behaviour'. But Judge Daniel Williams told Wignall: 'It is clear you have no remorse for that which you've done. 'You affect the air of a respectable and beleaguered but successful businessman. 'You're not. 'You're a fantasist with a fragile ego which makes you an unrepentant, possessive bully.' Wignall was sentenced to a total of three years in custody, of which he will serve half before being released on licence, and was also given a restraining order against contacting Ms Dodsworth. Helena Frith Powell (pictured) said it would be foolish to give up a lengthy relationship for a 'bit of side salad' YES By Helena Frith Powell Would I ever trust Dominic West again if I were his wife? There she was at home with their four kids, when pictures emerged of him gazing adoringly at a besotted Lily James. Him stroking her cheek, snuggling up to her on a scooter (and, actually, what is a 50-year-old man doing on a scooter anyway?) In spite of all this, Catherine FitzGerald has decided she can trust her husband again. After a few consoling weeks in Lamu, an idyllic island in Kenya, she has agreed to take him back, on the proviso he never has contact with Lily again. I think she has done the right thing. Many women will disagree. They will see it as anti-feminist and weak, even foolish. They will argue that once a man has strayed, he will do so again. And again. In my opinion, it would be more foolish to give up on a relationship that began when they were university students, and a life together with four (still relatively small) children, for what one of my friends describes as a bit of side salad. Infidelity is often the result of circumstance more than personality. Of course, there are some serial adulterers but its ridiculous to condemn someone to a life sentence of mistrust because they stray once. How many men, having shared a few bottles of wine with a pretty girl at lunch, would be tempted to stroke her cheek, much like Dominic West did? What about a business trip where you end up in bed with someone youre never likely to see again? Do these, or countless other circumstances that could lead to infidelity, make a man (or a woman) untrustworthy? I dont think so. Dont end a marriage over a bit of side salad What if you refuse to trust your partner again on the basis of something that actually meant nothing at all? Thus depriving you both of a truly meaningful relationship and a happy life together. A man who strays might actually be doing so in search of his true mate. I have a friend who is married to a man she had a fling with while he was still in an unhappy relationship with his now ex-wife. As far as I know, he has been faithful for 20 years and counting. I would be more upset if my husband announced he would rather spend time with and talk to another woman than have a quick fling in Rome. Although I would prefer it if she werent a 32-year-old film star. Lucy Cavendish (pictured) argued a person who cheats can't be trusted NO By Lucy Cavendish Fifteen years ago, I was sitting with my then-boyfriend in a pub. He was looking imploringly at me and holding my hands. I promise Ill never do it again, he said, tears welling in his eyes. I was trembling in shock and pain as Id just discovered hed been having an affair throughout our long-term relationship. I told him Id never trust him again. But he was adamant. Eventually, I decided to continue my relationship with him. I told myself I knew what philanderers looked like. They were shifty, charming sorts who had two mobile phones (at least), disappeared for days on end and came back with lipstick on their collars. My boyfriend was none of those things. So I took him back. A year later . . . well, I dont need to spell it out. This time I walked away with the words my mother once told me a leopard never changes its spots ringing in my ears. She knew this full well as my charismatic father couldnt seem to commit fully to one woman, either. He loved my mother but he just couldnt resist a pretty face and flattery. He was also good at imploring and grand gestures. So no, I dont believe a person who cheats can be trusted. Once they have crossed that rubicon (the first time they stray), they wont stop. The problem is that the cheater enjoys the cheating. They may well say they dont but, even the most remorseful of unfaithful men knows, deep down, that promising not to do it again to never contact that woman again is an impossibility. Witness Dominic West telling his wife he will never again see or talk to Lily James, with whom he was alleged to have had an affair. It might have kept them together, but I doubt his wife sleeps easy at night. Cheating is a drug the thrill is just too alluring Because cheating is all about drama. Its lies here and thrilling little meetings there, as well as illicit sex. Its a powerful drug. The thrill of the subterfuge is just too alluring. Some men are born serial adulterers, believing its their right to indulge their priapic tendencies. Some do it from arrogance and ego, some through a collapsed ego. The only time I have seen men kick the habit is in my role as a couples counsellor whereby couples work hard to look at the cause of the cheating. But very few cheaters are up for this level of scrutiny and commitment. Cheating is an avoidance of commitment. Whatever the reason, once the forbidden fruit has been bitten into, its almost impossible to forget how good it tastes. Thats why its a habit thats almost impossible to kick. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded the Cleveland-based Manufacturing Growth and Advocacy Network (MAGNET) a $624,316 grant to launch a new program that will help Cuyahoga County manufacturers respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rocky River Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez announced this week. The R-7 program that will be funded by the grant named for the seven Rs needed to help the more than 1,800 manufacturing companies in Cuyahoga County provides hands-on consulting to help small and medium-sized manufacturers restart their production, relaunch using new technologies, refocus on growing industries, reconnect with customers, reskill their workers, reshore their supply chains, and resecure their businesses. After the CARES Act was adopted last year, Gonzalez wrote a letter asking then-Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to support the nonprofit consulting groups application for money that would be used to provide technical assistance developed especially for small manufacturing businesses to assess worker safety, improve internal operations, evaluate product mix and origination, enhance marketing, and prevent hackers and other cybersecurity threats. Gonzalezs letter said the requested money would help over 200 small and medium sized manufacturers in the county, and the requested federal money would be matched by $130,000 in non-federal funding. It said the proposed program will retain 500 jobs, create 100 new jobs, and aid $10 million in new investment. MAGNET is part of a National Institute of Standards and Technology and Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program to support small and medium manufacturers across the U.S. As the Northeast Ohio affiliate of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, MAGNET has a proven history of success in ensuring that manufacturers have the tools they need to create new products, increase revenue, and compete in the global economy, Gonzalezs letter said, adding that much of the work will occur in Opportunity Zones in Cleveland and nearby suburbs. The people and manufacturers in Cuyahoga County will benefit tremendously from the support provided through this grant, said a statement from MAGNETs President and CEO, Ethan Karp. Read more: John Boehners political memoir disses Trump and Tea Party but avoids Ohio controversies Sen. Rob Portman, who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during clinical testing, urges Ohioans to get vaccinated despite setback White House says Biden infrastructure bill would improve Ohios roads and bridges HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge releases $5 billion to fight homelessness Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur joins Capitol riot lawsuit against Donald Trump, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers Sen. Sherrod Brown wants repeal of corporate tax provisions he says export jobs Nina Turner collects $2.2 million for congressional bid Jim Jordans campaign explains large errors on its Federal Election Commission reports Former Ohio GOP chair Jane Timken raises $2.1 million for U.S. Senate bid U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan gives update on Friday attack that killed police officer and knife-wielding assailant at U.S. Capitol Planned Parenthood sues Ohio over its telemedicine abortion ban President Joe Biden deputizes Marcia Fudge to sell his infrastructure plan Conservative MP Michael Chong rises during question period in the House of Commons on March 26, 2021. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic Michael Chong Condemns Attack on Epoch Times Hong Kong Printing Press The Conservative Partys foreign affairs critic Michael Chong has condemned the April 12 attack on the Hong Kong Epoch Times printing facility, and is calling on Ottawa to speak out against the Chinese regimes crackdown on freedom of the press. This attack follows Beijings ban on the BBC from broadcasting in China, and the expulsion of dozens of foreign journalists from mainland China, Chong said in a statement. The Chinese communist leadership continues to violate international law in Hong Kong by breaching the terms of the 1984 Joint Declaration, which guarantees freedom of the press and freedom of speech, the MP said, referring to agreement between Beijing and the UK which set the terms for handing Hong Kong back to China from British rule in 1997. The Epoch Times printing facility in Hong Kong was attacked on April 12 by four masked men, who smashed equipment with sledgehammers and scattered construction debris from a bag. The resulting damage forced the Hong Kong edition to temporarily halt operations. Chong, an outspoken critic of the Chinese regimes human rights record, was recently sanctioned by Beijing along with the parliamentary Subcommittee on International Human Rights and two U.S. officials. Chong sponsored a motion to declare the Chinese regimes campaign against Uyghurs a genocide, which was unanimously approved by the House of Commons in February. In his statement on the April 12 attack, Chong said suppression of an independent media outlet in China is concerning. Conservatives call on the Trudeau government to stand up and speak out against Beijings crackdown in Hong Kong and on a free press, he said. The U.S. State Department also condemned the attack, and urged authorities to investigate the issue. The United States is concerned by increased efforts to silence independent media and otherwise suppress freedom of expression, including the politically-motivated targeting of journalists, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. The attack was condemned by a number of other lawmakers and press organizations around the world, including the Hong Kong branch of the Foreign Correspondents Club. The Foreign Correspondents Club, Hong Kong strongly condemns the attack on the Epoch Times printing presses and calls for the perpetrators to be brought swiftly to justice, the group said in a statement. Epoch Times Hong Kong office was the target of another attack in 2019, when four masked men dressed in black and wielding batons entered the print shop and set equipment on fire. Last week investors received a welcome boost as Britains FTSE 250 reached a new all-time high, boosting many Isas, pensions and other investment portfolios. The high-performing index comprises the 250 biggest companies listed in London, after those on the larger FTSE 100. Following a rollercoaster year, the index now finds itself 3 per cent higher than its pre-Covid record - set just after the 2019 general election. Unlike the multinational dominated FTSE 100, the FTSE 250 is regarded as more representative of the UK economy, making the news of its success particularly welcome. Bounce back: Following a rollercoaster year, the FTSE 250 index now finds itself 3 per cent higher than its pre-Covid record - set just after the 2019 general election The FTSE 250's performance in the decade since the financial crisis years has been strong but it fell off a cliff last March as coronavirus hit - before regaining lost ground Its performance suggests the markets have high hopes for Britains economic fight back, and the end of lockdowns for good. Which shares are driving the bounce back, will the recovery boost your portfolio and how can you grab some of that success for your Isa or other investments? We take a look and get some investing ideas. The UK-focussed stock market index that's on a roll The FTSE 250 has been on a roll of late, gaining 8 per cent since markets re-opened in January. The index isnt short on strong performers, with more than 100 of its members growing by more than 10 per cent in that time. The biggest winners this year include Cineworld (up 60 per cent), virtual bingo titan Gamesys (up 60 per cent) and services company Mitie (up 55 per cent). Its all a long way from last year, when the FTSE 250 suffered a stomach-turning 37 per cent loss during the Covid crash. With a larger share of customer-facing businesses than the FTSE 100, the index looked set for a tough year and many investors were braced for the worst. While the FTSE 250 enjoyed a modest recovery in the spring, it was the news of the successful vaccine trials that finally changed its fortunes. Four months later, and with Britains Covid cases down 96 per cent since January, the index is finally pushing into positive gains. It suggests that markets can finally see an end to the Covid nightmare even if ministers dont always seem to share their confidence. With UK households sitting on an estimated 180 billion of lockdown savings, investors will be hoping that a summer spending splurge will propel the FTSE to new highs. If theyre right, it could lead to the FTSE 250s strongest year on record. Tread carefully when picking shares With a diverse spread of sectors, the FTSE 250 has long been popular with both retail investors and fund managers. The attraction of investing in medium-sized companies is plain to see in the long-term performance figures, says Laith Khalaf of investment platform AJ Bell. They are small enough that they still have room to grow, but large enough that they are established businesses with existing customer bases. Before choosing any stock, its essential to do your research. Even companies you think you know well can turn out to have a very different business model. Delivering: In 2019 Royal Mail was one of the FTSE's least-loved stocks, with a 60% drop in value in a year. Two years on it is a 'must have' stock, with a 246% rise in one year Look at Royal Mail, which, back in the spring 2019, had become one of the FTSEs least-loved stocks, with a 60 per cent drop in value in a year. Yet the company was championed by influential fund managers who pointed to its growing continental trade as evidence that the markets pessimism was undue. Two years on and Royal Mail has become one of the FTSE 250s must have stocks, with a 246 per cent rise in one year. However, its important to remember that a stocks short-term performance is not the best indicator of future growth. Many of the fastest risers this year are the same companies that were hit hardest by the Covid crash. They may have risen sharply in recent months, but from a very low baseline and not always without difficulty. Take Cineworld, which teetered close to bankruptcy at the height of the Covid crisis. Speculation about a Chinese takeover offer has revived its share price in recent months, but analysts remain wary of its large corporate debts. The FTSE 250's top risers over the past three months is dominated by firms that were hammered in the pandemic, investors need to be wary this rebound may not last The UK-focused funds and trusts that could profit Investors looking for funds that focus on the UK to ride the recovery may find themselves spoilt for choice. The relatively weak performance of FTSE stocks in recent years has fuelled a rise in funds hunting for British bargains. Temple Bar Investment Trust, one of the first funds to back Royal Mail, is a well-known proponent of value investing. As is Nick Train, the fund manager who currently runs the Finsbury Growth & Income Trust. Interestingly, both trusts are also backing companies from the struggling FTSE 100, whose low valuations have been called ridiculous by Train. The trusts five-year records are very different, with a 10,000 investment now worth 11,400 with Temple Bar, and 15,000 with Finsbury. Temple Bar has accelerated rapidly in recent months, with many hoping the trust can return to its glory days of the early 2010s. Mr Khalaf, meanwhile, picks Franklin UK Mid Cap, which holds a concentrated portfolio of 30 to 40 medium-sized companies. Larger holdings include manufacturer Bodycote and housebuilder Redrow. A 10,000 investment five years ago would now be worth 15,600. He also suggests the Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF as a cheaper option for investors looking to gain exposure to the wider market. As an index tracker, the fund mirrors the composition of the FTSE 250 itself, meaning that investors money grows in line with the overall index. If markets keep pushing towards record highs, it could be a valuable addition to any portfolio. Surat crime branch arrested a 28-year-old resident Kishan Rupani for allegedly morphing Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani onto a song video by the famous American pop star Taylor Swift. He also shared the video on his social media. The 28-year-old was, however, released on bail after the Surat crime branch registered a case and recorded his statement. The morphed video that became viral on social media used a popular Taylor Swift song 'I Knew You Were Trouble' in this video. Kishan Rupani is very active on social media and his Instagram handle is named gujju_smilly, where he has more than 5 lakh followers The accused had posted this video on his social media to garner more likes and shares on his social media account, according to the local police. Police officials discovered this video when they were scanning the social media for posts that spread fake news related to COVID-19, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rahul Patel. For now, the police has seized his mobile phone and sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory for investigation purposes. After his son received bail, Arvindbhai Rupani said that his son is innocent and hasn't done anything to defame the Gujarat CM. Arvindbhai Rupani was quoted by India Today as saying, "We would see my son sitting for hours with his mobile phone, but I am sure he is innocent and he has not done anything to defame such an important person." Edited by Mehak Agarwal Also read: MP Tourism Minister conducts puja at Indore airport to ward off COVID-19 Also read: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani tests COVID-19 positive day after collapsing at Vadodara rally Also read: What's in a name? Gujarat govt to rename dragonfruit as 'Kamalam' A voter walks to the entrance during early voting for the Senate runoff election, at Ron Anderson Recreation Center, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Powder Springs, Ga. Todd Kirkland/AP Todd Kirkland/AP Hundreds of companies signed a statement opposing restrictive voting laws Wednesday. Some notable companies, including Walmart, Delta, and Coca-Cola, opted not to join. JPMorgan, which didn't sign, said it made its own statement supporting voting rights last month. See more stories on Insider's business page. While hundreds of major companies signed a new letter Wednesday opposing restrictive voting rules in the wake of Georgia's election law, some notable ones - including Walmart, Coca-Cola, JPMorgan, and Delta Air Lines - declined to join the effort. The letter, which ran as a full-page ad in the Wednesday edition of The New York Times and Washington Post, opposed "any discriminatory legislation" that limited people's ability to vote. United Airlines, American Express, Facebook, Target, investor Warren Buffett, and others joined the effort. Last month, a smaller group of companies signed a letter with similar sentiment organized by Black business leaders. But, the Times reported, several companies declined to sign Wednesday's letter, including Georgia-based Coca-Cola, Delta, and Home Depot, as well as Walmart and JPMorgan Chase. "We publicly made our own strong statement last month about the critical importance of every citizen being able to exercise their fundamental right to vote," a spokesperson for JPMorgan said. The bank's chief executive, Jamie Dimon, was one of the first major business leaders to speak out against the law, saying on CNN that he encourages workers to exercise their right to vote and opposes any efforts that would prevent them from doing so. When asked about not signing onto Wednesday's statement, a spokesperson for Home Depot said: "We've decided that the most appropriate approach for us to take is to continue to underscore our belief that all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation, and to continue to work to ensure our associates in Georgia and across the country have the information and resources to vote." Story continues Read more: Corporate America's response to Georgia's new voting laws isn't benevolence. It's about economics and profit, experts say. A Walmart spokesperson told Insider the company supports the Business Roundtable's recently issued statement, which CEO Doug McMillon was heavily involved in drafting. The statement "affirms that the right to vote and the integrity of our elections are cornerstones of our democracy," the spokesperson said. In a note to employees, McMillon said the company is "not in the business of partisan politics," noting that the retailer focuses on business issues such as taxes and regulation. In the note, he added that "broad participation and trust in the election process" are essential to the integrity of elections. A Coca-Cola spokesperson said the company hadn't seen the letter initiated by the Black Economic Alliance but is open to hearing their perspective. The company said it has "spoken up in support of the foundational right to vote," and added that, "We believe the best way to make progress now is for everyone to come together to listen, respectfully share concerns and collaborate on a path forward. We remain open to productive conversations with advocacy groups and lawmakers who may have differing views. It's time to find common ground. In the end, we all want the same thing - free and fair elections, the cornerstone of our democracy. The beverage-maker faced consumer boycotts last month for not doing enough to oppose the bill. It later said it wanted to be "crystal clear" that it was disappointed in the outcome of the Georgia voting law. That sparked former President Donald Trump, a noted Diet Coke fanatic, to tell his followers to protest the company. Delta declined to comment. Amid pressure to condemn the Georgia voting law, Delta CEO Ed Bastian blasted the legislation last month, saying it was "based on a lie." In March, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the election bill, known as SB202, into law. The legislation made ballot drop boxes permanent, but only at select locations during limited hours, and shortened the window for requesting absentee ballots. The law also banned ballot selfies, and expanded early voting dates and hours in most counties, among other restrictive measures. Read the original article on Business Insider Palau 'would welcome British aircraft carrier' to counter China's reach in Pacific, says president Dubai, April 14 : The Indian expatriate communities from various states across the country, are celebrating their traditional New Years, albeit, on a low-key. Malayalees, Tamilians, Odias and Assamese ring in Puthandu, Vishu, Pana Sankranti and Bohag Bihu on April 14, while Telugus, Kannadigas, Maharashtrians, Sikhs and Kashmiris celebrate Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi and Navreh on April 13. The traditional New Years are coinciding with the second and third days of the holy month of Ramadan in the UAE, making it an auspicious time for believers across the country, Khaleej times reported. Retail outlets, flower vendors and restaurants have reported a flood of enquiries for food and religious paraphernalia from Indian families across all the country, Khaleej Times has learnt. V. Nandakumar, Director of Marketing and Communications at Lulu Group International, said: "This year, all festivities started on the same day. Also, since it's the first few days of Ramadan, we're witnessing high footfalls in our stores." Restaurant owners are viewing this time as an opportunity to turn their businesses around after the Covid-19-induced slump last year. Muslims around the world marked the start of Ramadan Tuesday. But a rise in COVID-19 cases has again placed limits on how they can observe the holy month. Ramadan is traditionally marked by longer prayers in crowded mosques. Muslims do not eat or drink from morning to night. The custom is meant to stop unhealthy habits and to feel closer to God. At the end of the day, they meet with friends and family to eat a big feast, called the iftar. Last year, Islams holiest month began during the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Many mosques have since reopened and restrictions have eased this year. However, crowded gatherings in mosques and large gatherings for meals remain banned. Mecca in Saudi Arabia is home of the Kaaba, Islams holiest site. Limited numbers of people were permitted inside the Great Mosque of Mecca on Tuesday, which houses the Kaaba. Other Muslims could only pray towards the Kaaba five times a day. In Lebanon, plans for Ramadan had to change as the country faces the worst economic crisis in its history. Samiyeh al-Turk was at a busy outdoor market in Beirut. We cannot buy anything. We ask how much the lettuce is, the cucumber and the tomato, she said. How we are going to get through the month of Ramadan? I dont know. Israel has permitted 10,000 vaccinated Palestinians to pray in Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque starting Friday. But a night time curfew in the crowded Gaza Strip restricted family gatherings as the virus continues to spread. Curfews remain in Iraq throughout Ramadan. Business owners and shops could operate but only through home deliveries. Vaccinations are a challenge for Muslim nations giving shots throughout Ramadan. There is an Islamic teaching that Muslims should not put anything in the body during Ramadan between sunrise and sunset. But Indonesias top religious leaders said that Muslims eligible for vaccinations are required to take the shots during Ramadan. Mosques are permitted to open for prayers with restrictions. People can hold iftar gatherings at 50 percent capacity. Anna Mardyastuti lives in Indonesias capital of Jakarta. Easing restrictions is like a breath of fresh air for us who are tired by this COVID-19 outbreak, she said. Yes, they should act to stop the virus, but not block the door to worship or change our tradition of Ramadan entirely. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused to close mosques even as infections in the country rise to new highs. Mosque leaders are told not to let anyone older than 50 enter to pray, but the restrictions are rarely followed. And in Egypt, the government prevented mosques from serving free meals during Ramadan. It also banned traditional iftars that would bring together large amounts of people at long tables. Im Jonathan Evans. Amr Nabil and Niniek Karmini reported this story for the Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mosque n. a building that is used for Muslim religious services habit-n. a usual way of behaving : something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way feast- n. a special meal with large amounts of food and drink delivery-n. the act of taking something to a person or place capacity-n. the ability to hold or contain people or things usually singular outbreak-n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease worship-v. to honor or respect (someone or something) as a god eligible adj. able to be chosen for something : able to do or receive something Care home residents will be able to register for a postal vote or for a proxy - ANTHONY UPTON Care home residents are "effectively barred" from voting in person in the elections by guidance that requires them to self-isolate for 14 days after leaving the home, a care group has said. Guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) states this is to ensure that residents who may become unknowingly infected do not then pass coronavirus to other residents and staff. But it states: "We recognise that in practice, this is likely to mean that many residents will not wish to make a visit out of the home." The National Care Forum said it is a "national scandal" that residents' access to the voting booth on May 6 will be restricted. This group of people will be feeling that their voices and opinions are "less valid and less valuable than the rest of the population" said the membership body, which represents not-for-profit providers. Chief executive Vic Rayner said: "The whole experience of voting for the majority of people living in care homes will have been in person, often for many years at the same polling station, going through the motions in a way that is both familiar and a connection to wider society. Getting the vote is a rite of passage. "Losing the right to vote in person is a national scandal." Care home residents will be able to register for a postal vote or for a proxy to vote on their behalf. But Ms Rayner said this should be a choice, and not because other opportunities have been removed. She said: "As soon as it became apparent that everyone would not be able to share full access to the voting options, then the elections should have been paused, or we should have found a way where the opportunities for all to vote were equalised. She added that it "should not be acceptable" that residents cannot vote in their local polling station without having to isolate for 14 days, when the rest of the population is out going to the pub, shopping and even socialising in gardens. Story continues A previous version of the DHSC guidance, introduced on March 8, limited visits out of care homes to residents of working age. It was updated last week, dropping restrictions preventing people over the age of 65 from taking trips outside the home. It followed a legal challenge by the group John's Campaign, which argued that the Government was acting unlawfully by imposing a blanket ban regardless of the health of the individual. The group said at the time that it wants to see the 14-day self-isolation requirement amended. ROME, APR 14 - A shareholders meeting of Italy's leading news agency ANSA on Wednesday confirmed former editor-in-chief and former head of publishers group FIEG Giulio Anselmi as president for the three-year period from 2021 to 2024. The meeting, chaired by Anselmi, approved the 2020 balance sheet which showed a profit for the third year running, of 390,500 euros. The result was due to cost containment and the development of commercial activities which offset a significant contraction in revenue, around 3.2 million euros down on 2019, largely due to the effects of the COVID-19 emergency. Genoa-born Anselmi, 76, is a former editor of La Stampa, Il Messaggero and L'Espresso as well as ex-assistant editor of Corriere della Sera and former leader writer for La Repubblica, who served as ANSA editor from 1997 to 1999. (ANSA). Primary school pupils learned 'little or nothing' from online lessons during lockdown and lost a fifth of the progress they would have made in the classroom, a study has found. The report from Oxford University says that while remote teaching was often of a high quality, youngsters' education still suffered. Lower levels of learning were even greater in families from disadvantaged backgrounds. The findings originally came from data gathered in the Netherlands, where schools closed for eight weeks in the first lockdown. But researchers at Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science say they're applicable to the UK too. Research from the Netherlands suggest primary school pupils lost on average 20 per cent of expected progress because of school closures The study's authors Dr Per Engzell, and DPhil candidates Arun Frey and Mark Verhagen, say the findings are 'dire' and are likely to be reflected internationally. Alarmingly, the Netherlands' students had among the best possible virtual learning opportunities and yet lost on average 20 per cent of expected progress because of school closures. Dr Engzell said 'Students made little or no progress while learning from home and losses are particularly concentrated among students from homes with parents with low levels of education. 'For them, the loss was about 50 per cent worse than for others.' Arun Frey said 'These results confirm many of the worst fears that educators and other stakeholders had when going into the first lockdown. 'The Netherlands did so many things right. Teachers and school officials made a tremendous effort. The government provided additional support and financial resources. 'From broadband access to housing and parental support, conditions in the Dutch system outscore most of its neighbours.' 'If anything, consequences are likely to be graver in the UK, where schools also stayed closed for longer.' In the Netherlands, student progress was 'seen to decline considerably' despite advanced digitalisation in Dutch schools, a relatively short first lockdown and world-leading rates of broadband access for children studying at home. According to the Oxford team, the Dutch research is even more worrying for the many countries that were far less prepared for the challenges of remote learning. The study's authors Dr Per Engzell, and DPhil candidates Arun Frey and Mark Verhagen, say the findings are 'dire' and are likely to be reflected internationally More encouragingly, tthough the vast majority of students' performance deteriorated during remote learning, some Dutch schools experienced only a small, or even no drop in learning. Mark Verhagen said 'Teachers' actions and school policies seem to play an important role in mitigating the negative consequences of the pandemic, and we need to understand what's driving these differences.' As children and teachers across the world return to 'proper' schooling, the researchers say their findings are 'crucial to prepare them for the gaps that will need to be bridged'. A large offshore wind energy project planned off the coast of New Jersey will connect onshore to two former power plants, and cables will run under two of the states most popular beaches, officials said Tuesday. At a virtual public hearing on the Ocean Wind project planned by rsted, the Danish wind energy developer, and PSEG, a New Jersey utility company, officials revealed that the project would connect to the electric grid at decommissioned power plants in Ocean and Cape May Counties. The northern connection would be at the former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey Township; the southern connection would be at the former B.L. England plant, a coal-fired facility in Upper Township. Governor Phil Murphys administration has pushed for the B.L. England plant to be used for offshore wind since at least 2019. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities had previously paved the way for rsted to use the Oyster Creek site that same year. Cables running from the wind farm, to be located between 15 and 27 miles (24 to 43 kilometers) off the coast of Atlantic City, would come ashore at one of three potential locations in Ocean City: 5th Street, 13th Street or 35th Street. They would then run under the roadway along Roosevelt Boulevard out to Upper Township and the former power plant, which closed in 2019. Cables also would need to cross Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, running under the dunes and beach and existing parking lots, out into Barnegat Bay, coming ashore either directly at the Oyster Creek site in the Forked River section of Lacey, or at either Bay Parkway or Lighthouse Drive in Waretown, also known as Ocean Township in Ocean County. Pilar Patterson, permit manager for rsted, said the onshore work in beach areas would be kept to a minimum during the summer. She said the company had done visualization studies showing that it would be difficult for the average person to see the windmill turbines from the shoreline, noting that weather conditions, time of day and other factors all affect visibility. Some Jersey Shore residents have already voiced opposition to the project, based on the possibility of seeing the turbines from the beach. The project, designed to generate 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 500,000 homes, would include up to 98 turbines. The turbines would be illuminated by two types of lighting: aviation lights atop the turbines, which would only activate when a plane is nearby, and navigation lights designed to make the structures visible to boats. The second category of lighting would not be visible from shore; they cannot be seen from farther than 5 nautical miles, Patterson said. She said the turbines would be spaced far enough apart that recreational vessels and fishing boats can maneuver among them. rsted and state and federal regulators said minimizing any impact on recreational and commercial fishing is a top priority in building the project. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management was to accept public comments on the Ocean Wind project later in Tuesdays web presentation. rsted hopes to have the project running by the end of 2024. NJ Advance Media staff writer Michael Sol Warren contributed to this report. Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC. English Russian MALVERN, Pennsylvania, April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation , the provider of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, will be attending Mining World Russia, which takes place at Moscows Crocus Expo. The international trade show, which is in its 25th year exhibiting machines and equipment for mining, processing, and transportation of minerals, takes place April 20th 22nd, 2021, with Rajant joining its partners in Pavilion 1, Hall 3, Stand B2051. Showcasing collaborative solutions for fully mobile mining connectivity will be Rajants Russia-based distributor CompTek and technology providers LANIT, AMT-GROUP, CROC, DCLogic, NEMAN, and SATEL. Showcased, alongside Rajants networking, will be LANITs VR/AR smart glasses. Equipped with a video camera and compact screen, this technological solutions software operates over the Rajant network and enables visualization of on-site observations to command centers for collaborative off-site expertise to complete all phases of the mining mission successfully. You need a Mission Critical network to enable Augmented Reality in hard-to-reach challenging locations, says Nikita Ivanov, CompTeks head of sales. CompTeks integration partners in Russia and the CIS are committed to evolving minings overall productivity, safety, and efficiency. With Rajant and its partners, a fully digitalized mine is possible. Mines are some of the most challenging Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments in which to deploy network systems. Rajants partnership with CompTek, a Russian distributor of network and telecommunication equipment, has brought together other Eastern Europe and CIS partners to demonstrate support of machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity and mobility for open-pit and underground mining. Unlike traditional wireless networks that run using fixed infrastructure and have limited range and coverage such as Wi-Fi and LTE, Rajant is unique, shares Marcin Kusztal, Sales Director Eastern Europe and CIS for Rajant. Our Kinetic Mesh BreadCrumb nodes overcome the mines constantly changing conditions, which hinder connectivity and real-time application support, with industrial wireless networking that is unwavering in adverse and mobile environments. Rajants self-optimizing Kinetic Mesh nodes work via multiple-frequency, peer-to-peer connections. Plus, the BreadCrumbs can be fixed or mobile, ensuring a mining operations continuous productivity and safety. Stop by our booth at the show, and well show you how we do it. About CompTek Founded in 1989, CompTek is the leading Russian distributor of network and telecommunication equipment. An innovative company providing breakthrough technologies, CompTeks business is based on a two-tier system affording its partners a whole range of services to support and develop their business. This work model, with the extended support and value-added services (VAD,) is directed at operators, system integrators and software developers. We offer professional technical expertise, project financing and management, equipment testing and the specialists training at our Training Center, one of the first certified in Russia, where thousands of engineers from Russia and CIS countries have received certification. About Rajant Corporation Rajant Corporation is the broadband communications technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh networking, BreadCrumb wireless nodes, and InstaMesh networking software. With Rajant, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput, and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajants Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in 65 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, oil & gas, petrochemical plants, municipalities, public safety, agriculture, and warehouse & factory automation. Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact: Alice DiSanto Rajant Corporation adisanto@rajant.com 914-582-8464 The proposed technique is said to be able to connect directly to the microscopic and medium scale defects in the solar cell materials. It is based on three kinds of noises that science has thus far been able to identify in PV devices.The use of noise-based techniques for the testing of electronic components and solar cells is not new at the research level, although it has so far been applied to a very limited extent in PV research. A group of Chinese scientists has recently utilized three types of noise to characterize different parts and types of defects in solar cells through a technique which ... 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. Mid Louth Cathaoirleach Councillor John Sheridan has written to Transport Ministers North and South to seek the reopening Dunleer train station to be included in a new cross border rail strategy. "Last week the Transport Ministers in Belfast and Dublin announced a cross border rail review. "Obviously, any such plan should include Dunleer and explore the viability of reopening that station in the middle of the town. "Dunleer had train services up to 1984 which is relatively recent in infrastructure terms and there is so much desire for it to re-open some day. "We recently had the launch of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor which isn't just about jobs for the large towns but all towns along the route being accessible for employment. "As far as I can see, Dunleer is the largest town along the rail line from Dublin to Belfast with no station open. "The draft county development plan will provide for an increase in Dunleer's population of 51% up to the year 2027 and that doesn't take into account increased population in Mid Louth as a whole" "Overall, I think this new scheme is to be welcomed. "We could have Louth at the heart of services between Derry and Cork which would be a truly all-Ireland approach to rail travel. I have written to both Ministers to ask that the prospect of re-opening Dunleer is included in this new strategy." After 31 years, Hank Azaria has apologised for voicing Indian character Apu in The Simpsons. Its been over a year since Hank Azaria stepped down from being the voice of Indian cartoon character, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. However, what he has learnt about structural racism continues to haunt his career, and he has now apologised for contributing to the problem. He confessed: I really do apologise. It's important. I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise. And sometimes I do. The dangers of stereotyping Azaria was the voice of Apu, the Kwik-E-Mart store manager, for three decades and has only recently realised how harmful his character has been in propagating stereotypes and racism against the South Asian community. He spoke about his regrets in depth earlier this week on the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. Azaria said: It's not about congratulating me for the response because I'm a big part in creating the problem to begin with. So nothing takes that away except maybe an amends over time which I am attempting to make. He revealed that he had been talking with many people from the South Asian community, and has started educating himself more about racism. He admitted that he didnt understand the damage the character would do for so many years. It was only in 2017, when Indian-American comic, Hari Kondabolu, released his documentary The Problem With Apu, that he really started to understand the problematic portrayal of Apu on The Simpsons, and its consequences. I really didn't know any better. I didn't think about it. I was unware how much relative advantage I had received in this country as a white kid from Queens. Just because there were good intentions it doesn't mean there weren't real negative consequences to the thing that I am accountable for. Colour-conscious casting Apu was not the only coloured character that Azaria voiced for. He also used to voice for Black character, Carl Carlson but Alex Desert took over that role last year. Azaria is still working on the show voicing for Moe Szyslak. Since Azaria stopped playing Apu, the character has been put on hold until they find a suitable actor to voice for him. Azaria has been strongly advocating choosing actors of colour to play characters of colour, he added: If it's a character of colour, there's not the same level of opportunity there. The first argument is, if it's an Indian character, Latin character or Black character, please let's have that person voice the character. It's more authentic, they might also bring their experience of their culture to it - and let's not take away jobs from people who don't have enough. Capcom has concluded its investigation into last year's cyber attack and confirmed that no more information has been compromised. Back in January, the company said the personal information of 16,415 people had been leaked following the ransomware attack, but has now downwardly revised that figure to 15,649 people. It also indicated that information relating to roughly 390,000 customers, business partners, and other external parties may have been compromised, and in today's update said there have been "no changes" following that announcement. The Japanese company once again reiterated that "none of the at-risk data contains credit card information." "At this point in time, the Capcom Group's internal systems are near to completely restored, and while coordinating with the newly established Information Technology Security Oversight Committee, the company will work toward continuously strengthening both security and the protection of personal information going forward," said the company. "Capcom offers its sincerest apologies for any complications and concerns its customers as well as its many stakeholders may have experienced, and further, would like to express its deepest gratitude for their ongoing support during this time." The lengthy update includes a pretty detailed breakdown of how the attack played out, revealing the culprit accessed the company's internal network by targeting an older backup VPN device at its North American subsidiary. "At that time, the Capcom Group, including the North American subsidiary, had already introduced a different, new model of VPN devices," said Capcom. "However, due to the growing burden on the Company's network stemming from the spread of COVID-19 in the State of California, where this North American subsidiary is located, one of the aforementioned older VPN devices remained solely at this North American subsidiary as an emergency backup in case of communication issues, and it became the target of the attack." That opening allowed the perpetrator to compromise devices at Capcom's other offices in the U.S. and Japan, infecting them with ransomware that resulted in the encryption of files and the loss of personal information. The person responsible for the attack also left behind a ransom note instructing Capcom to make contact with a view to negotiating, although it didn't specifically mention a ransom amount. After consulting with law enforcement, however, Capcom chose not to engage with the culprit and "took no steps to make contact." You can read the full breakdown, including what steps Capcom will take to avoid a repeat scenario and support those affected by the attack, by checking out the full update. PV Real Estate Ryan Donner & Associates' Rio Cuale Cleanup a Success Last Sunday, the Ryan Donner & Associates real estate team and a group of volunteers picked up 10 large bags of trash along the Rio Cuale from El Caloso to the ocean in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Sunday, which marked the end of the 2-week-long Semana Santa vacation period, a group of volunteers led by Ryan Donner and Associates stepped up to the task of cleaning up after the national and foreign visitors that came to Puerto Vallarta to enjoy a few days of fun in the sun. While these visitors brought much welcomed tourism dollars and pesos into our local economy, they also left a lot of trash behind, which made it the perfect time to organize a community clean-up. Cleaning up Puerto Vallarta's rivers and beaches not only protects animals, fish, birds, and plant life from the risks that trash brings, but also sends a message to others: that we care about our community. So, Ryan and his team called on family, friends and volunteers to join them in picking up the trash along the banks of the Rio Cuale from El Caloso to the ocean. On Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 9:00 am, a group of 25 volunteers met at the Ryan Donner & Associates office, which is perched on the banks of the Rio Cuale at Insurgentes 108-1 on the south side of Puerto Vallarta, where they were equipped with all the tools they would need for the clean-up campaign. Once fully equipped, the group followed the river to the beach, picking up all kinds of garbage, like plastic bags and bottles, aluminum cans, broken glass, tires, etc. - and making a few new friends along the way. By the time they had finished, the volunteers had accumulated 10 XXL bags of trash and the well-deserved feeling of personal satisfaction that comes from helping make the world a better place for our children and the community of Puerto Vallarta. 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 - On Sunday, which marked the end of the 2-week-long Semana Santa vacation period, a group of volunteers led by Ryan Donner and Associates stepped up to the task of cleaning up after the national and foreign visitors that came to Puerto Vallarta to enjoy a few days of fun in the sun.While these visitors brought much welcomed tourism dollars and pesos into our local economy, they also left a lot of trash behind, which made it the perfect time to organize a community clean-up.Cleaning up Puerto Vallarta's rivers and beaches not only protects animals, fish, birds, and plant life from the risks that trash brings, but also sends a message to others: that we care about our community. So, Ryan and his team called on family, friends and volunteers to join them in picking up the trash along the banks of the Rio Cuale from El Caloso to the ocean.On Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 9:00 am, a group of 25 volunteers met at the Ryan Donner & Associates office, which is perched on the banks of the Rio Cuale at Insurgentes 108-1 on the south side of Puerto Vallarta, where they were equipped with all the tools they would need for the clean-up campaign.Once fully equipped, the group followed the river to the beach, picking up all kinds of garbage, like plastic bags and bottles, aluminum cans, broken glass, tires, etc. - and making a few new friends along the way.By the time they had finished, the volunteers had accumulated 10 XXL bags of trash and the well-deserved feeling of personal satisfaction that comes from helping make the world a better place for our children and the community of Puerto Vallarta. Site Map Print this Page Email Us Top A routine check on an occupied parked vehicle in Daly City turned deadly last week when police officers saw what they believed was a firearm on the lap of a passenger, struggled to take it away and fatally shot the man in the chest, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told The Chronicle on Tuesday. The weapon turned out to be a BB gun. Daly City police have released few details about the fatal police shooting, but Wagstaffe provided an account Tuesday of what unfolded on April 7. A Daly City police officer patrolling the 700 block of Niantic Avenue stopped to offer assistance to an occupied parked truck with a fairly severely damaged tire, Wagstaffe said. A woman was in the back seat, and Roger Cornelius Allen, 44, of San Francisco was in the front passenger seat, he said. The driver got out to speak with the officer, and three more officers showed up to the scene. Two officers who were on the passenger side of the truck noticed what appeared to be a Ruger-like handgun in Allens lap. It was a BB gun, Wagstaffe said, but it did not have an orange tip that replica firearms typically have. They yelled out as always law enforcement do, Gun, gun, gun, gun, gun! Wagstaffe said. Mr. Allen picked the gun up it is described to us and held it in his hand. One officer leaned in and grabbed Allens hand and the gun, trying to control the gun, Wagstaffe said. Wagstaffe said a sort of back-and-forth struggle ensued between the officer and Allen, and at some point the muzzle of the gun pointed in the direction of the first officer and the driver standing outside the vehicle, and later swung back and pointed at the face of the officer trying to take the weapon from Allen. Wagstaffe said Allen was silent ... from beginning to end and didnt utter a word to the officers over the course of the incident, and neither did the passenger in the back seat. When the second officer on the passenger side saw the gun pointed at the face of the officer struggling with Mr. Allen, he reported he feared that his fellow officer was going to be shot in the face, Wagstaffe said. He shot toward Allen twice, striking him once in the chest, Wagstaffe said. The officers name has not been released. Allen died at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Daly City police do not have body-worn cameras, and Wagstaffe said there is no video of this shooting. The officer who fatally shot Allen has been placed on paid administrative leave as the incident is investigated, Wagstaffe said. Wagstaffe said one officer was struck in the forehead by something and sustained a very small bruise on the forehead that did not require medical attention. Its unclear if the BB gun went off during the struggle, he said. The driver and the other passenger have been cooperating with investigators, Wagstaffe said. The District Attorneys Office is investigating whether this fatal police shooting was lawful or not. Anyone with information about this case should call the District Attorneys Office and speak with Chief Inspector William Massey at 650-363-4883. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez It was an interesting assortment of items that workers at a Ravenel, South Carolina butcher and taxidermy shop reportedly found inside the stomach of a 12-foot alligator killed by a Lowcountry hunter. A Facebook post by the owner of Cordrays, where the alligator was taken for processing, said his team found five dog tags, a shell casing, turtle shells, several bobcat claws, and even a spark plug inside the alligators stomach. WCSC 5 News reported the 445-pound gator was killed by Ned McNeely, owner of the Adams Run property where he found it. McNeely said he has several alligator tags you apply for with the state, which the report said are dispersed by South Carolina based on the acreage hunters have, as well as alligator population. The report cited McNeely who said in addition to twin 7-year-old girls, he has three labs and a variety of duck impoundments at his property, and a lot of swampland near the Edisto River. So Im rife with alligators down there, he said. According to Cordrays Facebook post, McNeely asked that they examine the reptiles stomach, which Kenneth Cordray said they dont normally do, but in this case they did. Cordray said in the post that since two of the dog tags were still readable, he called one of the numbers that still worked, and was connected with an older gentlemen, who said he had that lease 24 years ago, and those were from his deer dogs. WCSC 5 reported that although McNeely said he understood that a gator will take a dog if they get the chance, he was puzzled as to how the spark plug got in there. How old was the gator? The news outlet noted that McNeely and Cordray both agreed that its difficult to estimate the alligators age, although McNeely called it an old man. Cordray estimated the gator had to be up there because it was big enough 25 years ago to eat a full grown hunting dog, which, according to the description the man gave of the dog, he estimates it would have weighted about 80 pounds or so, WCSC 5 reported. Cordray explained that gators grow according to their habitat and their food supply and their population, the report cited. What will McNeely do with the gator? Reportedly, Cordrays team will process the alligator meat, taking about a week to make steaks, summer sausage and jerky; and a mount will be made of the gators skin, which takes about nine months. McNeely said that so far, this one was the biggest hes killed in his 10 to 15 years of hunting alligators, the report cited. He said he had to shoot it a couple of times, and that getting it out of the eight to nine-foot canal required a bunch of ropes and hooks and kayaks and a tractor with a chain. According to the report, McNeely said he hasnt yet decided what to do with the gator, although hes talking about doing a full mount, or a rug mount. However, he jokingly said his wife was having discussions with him about the plan, the report said. YEREVAN, 14 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 14 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 519.34 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.01 drams to 620.92 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.13 drams to 6.86 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 715.03 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 247.11 drams to 29185.81 drams. Silver price down by 3.58 drams to 416.59 drams. Platinum price down by 237.18 drams to 19485.59 drams. A 29-year-old Northborough man received an 8-year prison term on Tuesday in federal court in Worcester for participating in romance and lottery schemes that targeted seniors and defrauded them of more than 600,000. Austin Nedved was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 97 months and 17 days in prison. Twelve months of the sentence will run consecutively to a sentence Nedved is serving for a separate fraud conviction in the Eastern District of Kentucky. Nedved also received three years of supervised release and restitution of $569,750. In December 2020, Nedved pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud and one count of money laundering conspiracy. From at least 2017 through 2019, Nedved participated in romance and lottery schemes targeting seniors. The romance schemes would convince victims to send money abroad to purported love interests. The lottery schemes would try to convince victims that they can obtain lottery winnings or large government grants by forwarding cash for administrative fees or expenses. Nedved sold Bitcoin to them so that they could send money overseas to the fraudsters. In one of the schemes in late 2017, an individual posing as Jonathan G. over social media convinced a 78-year old victim to believe that he was an oil company owner from Weston. Without ever meeting Jonathan G. in person, the victim fell in love and agreed to marry him. Jonathan G. then falsely told the victim that his oil company had experienced an accident abroad and people died. He then told the victim he needed money to settle financial obligations from the accident with a foreign government. He told the victim he would not be able to return to the United States to get married until he paid the debt. Jonathan G. told the victim to pay him via Bitcoin. The victim, who had never purchased digital currency before, agreed and contacted Nedved by phone and text message in Massachusetts to arrange a cash-for-Bitcoin transaction. On June 25, 2018, in a parking lot in Kittery, Maine, the victim gave Nedved a cashiers check to purchase approximately $100,000 in bitcoin. Nedved then released approximately $100,000 in Bitcoin to a Bitcoin Wallet controlled by Jonathan G. Four days later, in Leominster, Nedved and another person took $40,000 from the victim for the same purpose. In total, Nedved and his co-conspirators converted more than $630,000 to Bitcoin. They then either returned the Bitcoin to the victims of the fraud or forwarded it to unidentified third parties. A cryptocurrency worker who smeared blood on the elevators of his apartment building after splitting from his girlfriend has been found dead in the Hudson River. Shuvro Biswas, 31, was discovered floating close to West 45th Street in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan on Monday. Police say there were no signs of foul play, with a medical examiner set to determine how the 'brilliant' mathematician, who grew up in the Bronx, died. Shuvro Biswas, 31, was said to have suffered depression after splitting with his partner last year Police say there were no signs of foul play, with a medical examiner set to determine his cause of death Shuvro's brother Biprojit Biswas said his late sibling had suffered depression after splitting with his partner. Bijojit told the New York Post: 'He had a girlfriend and they had a bad breakup, but I don't want to say that was the cause of everything. He didn't really like to share much. He's a private person.' The dead man's brother said he and his family had tried to convince Shuvro to seek psychiatric help, to no avail. Shuvro's family and the management of the Hudson Yards building were he rented an apartment are said to have grown increasingly concerned by his erratic behavior in the year leading up to his death. In February, its owners took him to court to try and evict him after the blood-smearing incident, and for igniting a mattress in his apartment close to a propane tank. The 'brilliant' cryptocurrency worker was discovered floating close to West 45th Street in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan on Monday Shuvro's brother Biprojit Biswas, said the family is devastated by the loss 'He's a really good guy. He's brilliant.' He is also said to have brandished a knife in public places, made false reports of intruders. A court filing seen by the Post said: 'Defendant is a ticking time bomb who, just months into the Lease, has engaged in numerous incidents of escalating, offensive nuisance-type conduct that threatens the lives, health, safety and well-being of Building staff, Building residents and Building property.' Biprojit says his late brother explained the issues away, claiming the blaze had been the result of a cooking fire. He added that he and his family have been left 'extremely devastated' by their loved one's tragic death. Biprojit said: 'There's no words. 'He's a really good guy. He's brilliant. 'He went to Bronx High School of Science. He went on to study applied mathematics. We're still not sure where things went wrong.' For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 Pentagon claims that their medical researchers have successfully created a sci-fi inspired microchip that can detect COVID-19 when inserted under the skin. In a New York Post report from CBS' "60 Minutes" interview with the Pentagon on Sunday evening, the unit said that its Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has managed to develop a "revolutionary technology" that could detect diseases like COVID-19. Among the "top-secret" unit's roles is to study "emerging technologies for military use" including "biological weapons," the report noted. The COVID-detecting microchip, according to 60 Minutes, is a tissue-like gel that would be implanted underneath a human skin to monitor an individual's health. Retired Colonel Matt Hepburn - an infectious disease physician commissioned by the DARPA director to "take pandemics off the table" - provided details on the microchip. He revealed that the new technology had not been used outside the Defense Department. The new technology, according to Hepburn, will detect COVID-19 in a patient before it leads to an outbreak. "We challenge the research community to come up with solutions that may sound like science fiction," he said in the interview. "And we're very willing to take chances with high-risk investments that may not work. But if they do, we can completely transform the landscape." Along the report, NY Post refutes conspiracy theory claims that Microsoft's Bill Gates wants to "insert a microscopic global positioning system into our bodies" through the administration of vaccines. The basis was Dr. Hepburn's statement that "it's not some dreaded government microchip to track your every move." Comparing the chip to a car's "check engine" light, the doctor explained that the "tiny green" sensor could tell disease-causing chemical reactions within the body and would give signals if the person's about to get symptoms soon. Once implanted, the chip would continuously test the host's blood for any presence of a virus. If, say, COVID-19 was detected, the chip's signal would alert the patient before he infects anyone. A rapid blood test could also be self-administered to verify the chip's diagnosis. "We can have that information in three to five minutes. As you truncate that time, as you diagnose and treat, what you do is you stop the infection in its tracks," Hepburn said. The subdermal implant is now in its late-stage testing added the doctor. DARPA scientists stressed the importance of their research which has reportedly prevented outbreaks in crowded military quarters. One of which was the one that happened in March and April 2020 where 1271 crews of the USS Theodore Roosevelt tested positive with the coronavirus. Part of the segment features another technology which enables a regular dialysis machine to "remove COVID-19 from the blood using a customized filter." The treatment was tested on a military spouse for four days and the result was promising. NY Post asserts that much of Pentagon's research "has been critical in stopping the pandemic." This includes the virus-detecting microchip along with the development of vaccines in short span of time. "For us, at DARPA, if the experts are laughing at you and saying it's impossible, you're in the right space," said Hepburn. Being a law officer in this day and age takes someone who is willing to take a bullet on our behalf. It also takes someone who is willing to b Read more Perhaps its because the legislators who are crafting many of these laws dont speak or work with the men and women who maintain and supervise these facilities and rehabilitate those incarcerated there? From wardens to correctional officers to even regular staff consisting of educators, medical and dental personnel, social workers, maintenance crewmen, Ive had the honor and privilege to get to meet the people that take care of inmates while safeguarding us from them. Their jobs are demanding, stressful, and oftentimes unforgiving. They go into a tough environment every day that can send them into harms way, due to how the laws are now (ironically) stacked against them. How did this happen? Ask the people that passed the bail reform last year and the HALT Act this year. However, this legislator saw honor, commitment, integrity, professionalism, strength of character, compassion and humility in our workforce there. These are great people who put on a uniform that means something and who have families that count on them. They are hardworking solid everyday Americans serving their Nation and communities 24/7. To continue to belittle them by threatening their livelihoods with talk of shutdown and telling facilities how to run their operations, tells me that, once again its not about care for inmates, the community, or those who serve either its all an agenda. South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday said that the country will be suspending the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after health concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "We have determined to voluntarily suspend our rollout until the causal relationship between the development of clots and the vaccine is sufficiently interrogated," Mkhize said in a statement. "In the extremely unlikely event that rollout is completely halted, we will not have any impediment to proceed with phase two of the rollout with Pfizer," he added. This comes after the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA recommended a "pause" in the use of the COVID-19 vaccine "out of an abundance of caution" over six reported cases in the US of a "rare and severe" type of blood clot. In a joint statement, the CDC and the FDA said they were investigating clots in six women in the days after vaccination, in combination with reduced platelet count. The six reported cases were among more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered in the United States. All six cases occurred among women ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination, according to Dr Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC and Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance," the statement said. "FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution. This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot," it added. On February 27, The FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. As of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 15,59,960 while the total number of deaths is 53,423. (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 COVID-19 pandemic is in a new and confusing phase. Through the tireless work of scientists, public-health officials and regulators at the national level, we are likely on a long downslope in deaths and possibly cases (a fourth wave notwithstanding). However, not much time has been spent considering what will happen once herd immunity has been achieved. The COVID-19 pandemic is in a new and confusing phase. Through the tireless work of scientists, public-health officials and regulators at the national level, we are likely on a long downslope in deaths and possibly cases (a fourth wave notwithstanding). However, not much time has been spent considering what will happen once "herd immunity" has been achieved. As a pediatrician with experience in encouraging vaccination, and an infectious disease doctor focused on critically ill adults, we are very concerned about the risks of vaccine hesitancy as the pandemic enters its terminal phase. A parade of new strains suggests COVID19 may perpetually recreate itself, much like the influenza virus. And like the other common coronaviruses, it could become a childhood illness, thriving on the constant supply of nonimmune children. COVID-19 is still entrenched in Canadian communities, and we and other experts believe it is likely to persist in humans for the foreseeable future. A parade of new strains suggests COVID-19 may perpetually re-create itself, much like the influenza virus. And like the other common coronaviruses, it could become a childhood illness, thriving on the constant supply of non-immune children. As anyone who works with children knows, this means adults will always be at risk of contracting COVID-19. This scenario also means vaccinations are likely to become an ongoing effort, possibly with updated vaccines becoming regularly available. Vaccine hesitancy is already a major concern. The Canadian Community Health Survey revealed that nearly one-quarter of Canadians over 12 years old expressed some vaccine hesitancy, and a full one-tenth of Canadians would outright refuse vaccination. Manitobans were about as hesitant as Canadians overall, although First Nations and Metis peoples had particularly high hesitancy. The most commonly cited concerns were vaccine safety and side effects. Our fear is that the public may perceive the vaccines as of only limited utility, even though they will still protect from lifethreatening disease. Its worth noting that this survey was conducted during the winter crest, when hospitals were overflowing. We expect vaccine enthusiasm will drop as high-risk people are vaccinated and deaths fade from the news. New variants from Brazil, South Africa and other regions could also discourage vaccination, as vaccines designed on the original COVID-19 strain will not work as well for new variants. Our fear is that the public may perceive the vaccines as of only limited utility, even though they will still protect from life-threatening disease. New vaccines will arrive, but this is a mixed blessing: it is wonderful that vaccines can be quickly updated, but there is also a risk that people will delay getting vaccinated as they wait for more appealing options. The AstraZeneca vaccine offers a real-time example. As physicians, we are encouraged by headlines announcing rapid regulatory adjustments being made around the world based on the rare occurrence of blood clots. While this risk needs to be thoroughly investigated, the vaccine should be recommended to groups at high risk from COVID-19 so long as this side effect is rare. We each have a decision to make: we can develop and maintain our COVID19 immunity with vaccines, or we can eventually get the virus itself and this scenario is likely to persist long after the pandemic has faded from the front pages. However, the public may see those same headlines and fear the vaccine was poorly designed or could be outright dangerous; the consequence is that some people will avoid this vaccine, hoping for another. Reduced visibility of the virus, a sense of helplessness regarding new virus variants and "vaccine shopping" may spur large numbers of people to delay or avoid vaccination altogether. This would be precisely the wrong decision. When COVID-19 persists in our communities, vaccines are the only option to avoid life-threatening illness. There is no possibility of persistently avoiding the virus itself through herd immunity: adults who choose to delay vaccination are constantly at risk of getting sick with the virus, much like the common cold or influenza. Although death rates have improved since the pandemic started, COVID-19 remains far more dangerous than anyone should accept, and it may worsen again as new variants become dominant. We each have a decision to make: we can develop and maintain our COVID-19 immunity with vaccines, or we can eventually get the virus itself and this scenario is likely to persist long after the pandemic has faded from the front pages. Much like wearing a seatbelt is always preferable in a car crash, being vaccinated is always safer than not being vaccinated, no matter the type of vaccine, the variant of COVID-19 or your personal age and health. It is for this reason that we urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, to take the vaccine that is offered, and to maintain their vaccination status as new virus variants and vaccines arrive. Runjun Kumar is a resident physician in pediatrics and genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; Anand Kumar is a professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba. Flash China on Tuesday urged the United States to treat Japan's decision to dump contaminated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea according to the facts, rather than according to the country that would make the move. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing when commenting on the United State's recently declared stance that Japan's decision has been "transparent," and "appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards." "International authorities and experts have clearly pointed out that the discharge of tritium-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean will affect the marine environment and the public health of neighboring countries," said Zhao, adding that at the same time, the existing treated wastewater contains other radionuclides and needs to be further purified and treated. "The disposal of nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan is related to the international marine environment, food safety and human health," he said. Zhao stressed that China hopes the U.S. side will treat the real environmental issue without reflecting on any particular country. Appeals Court Upholds Ohio Law Prohibiting Down Syndrome Abortions A divided Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday gave the green light for an Ohio law that seeks to protect unborn children with Down syndrome from being subjected to selective abortions. The full court of the 6th Circuit ruled in a 9-7 en banc decision (pdf) to reverse a lower court ruling that blocked H.B. 214, known as the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act, from being enforced. The 2017 law prohibits a doctor from performing an abortion if he or she has knowledge that the mothers reason for aborting the pregnancy is due to a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis. Doctors who violate the law could be punished criminally and result in the revocation of their medical license. The majority argued that the plaintiffsfour medical service providers and a doctorhad failed to demonstrate a likelihood that their claim would succeed. The plaintiffs had argued that the law was unconstitutional and burdens the right to an unencumbered abortion. The American Civil Liberties Union represented the plaintiffs in this case. But the majority panel did not agree. It said that the law does not impose an undue burden on women from seeking an abortion and that any obstacles the law imposes on mothers seeking abortion are incidental and acceptable. The judges said that if a doctor disqualifies him- or herself from performing an abortion to comply with H.B. 214, the mother could still secure another doctor, with no knowledge of her reason for the abortion, to perform the abortion. Certainly, even with a referral, this could take some time, it would likely cost some additional money, and it might force her to travel farther than she would have had to otherwise. But, without something more, the Court has already determined that these types of burdens do not rise to the level of an objectively substantial obstacle, the panel wrote. The issue in this case, the panel argued, is not about the womans right or ability to obtain an abortion, but rather that the law regulates whether doctors can perform an abortion if he or she knows the mothers intention for the abortion. The law itself does not penalize a mother who seeks an abortion because of her fear that her child could be born with Down syndrome. It prohibits a doctor from aborting a pregnancy if the doctor knows that the womans purpose is to preclude the birth of a child who will have Down syndrome, but it permits that same abortion if the doctor does not know. Thus, from the plaintiffs perspective, it regulates (via the doctor) the reason behind the womans decision, the opinion stated. The majority also found that the district court was also mistaken when it issued the preliminary injunction to block the law on the ground that the law eradicated the womans right to an abortion, the panel wrote. The judges said the right to an abortion, even before viability, was not absolute and that states could still regulate such abortions as long as it does not impose an undue burden on the womans ability to terminate her pregnancy. Simply put, there is no absolute or per se right to an abortion based on the stage of the pregnancy. The district court erred by so holding, and the plaintiffs cannot succeed on that proposition standing alone or show any likelihood that they could do so, they said. In the dissent, Chief Justice Ransey Guy Cole said he believes H.B. 214 is undoubtedly an abortion restriction and argued that the majoritys ruling is an attempt to sidestep one constitutional problem but would only [land] it in another. Ohio may believe that requesting an abortion due to a fetal diagnosis of Down syndrome is offensive and discriminatory. But the state may not ban speech for being offensive or even discriminatory, Coles said, explaining that the law only restricts the information and opinions a mother may share with her doctor. In its haste to reconcile the law with a womans right to an abortion, the majority turns H.B. 214 into a dont ask, dont tell law. So long as doctors dont ask and women dont tell, the majority reassures us that women remain free to exercise their constitutional rights, he wrote. Meanwhile, Circuit Judge Bernice Bouie Donald delivered a scathing dissent to the majority opinion, describing the law as the long-arm of the statewielding the threat of a class-four felonyforcefully reaching into a profoundly intimate conversation between doctor and patient and telling the patient to be silent about her medical history or worse, purposefully lie about it. Ohio had introduced the law in an effort to protect members of the Down syndrome communityboth born and unbornfrom discriminatory abortions, to defend families from coercive healthcare practices that encourage Down-syndrome-selective abortions, and prevent doctors from becoming witting participants in such abortions, the court said. Jessie Hill, cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Ohio, said in a statement that they were disappointed by the decision. Patients should have all the information desired about their pregnancy, and be encouraged to ask questions confidentially in order to make the very personal decision to have an abortion freely, without the presence of politicians in the exam room. Its unfortunate that the court gave so little weight to the importance of open and honest communication within the doctor-patient relationship, Hill said. Meanwhile, the president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List praised the ruling, saying that the court upholds Ohio as a safe haven for unborn babies with Down syndrome. This law includes reasonable, compassionate measures to prevent lethal discrimination in the womb. We also recognize and celebrate that this legislation has the potential to pose a significant challenge to Roe v. Wade. Now that a circuit split has occurred on the issue of whether states may prohibit the eugenic practice of discrimination abortion, the Supreme Court has even more reason to weigh in on this important matter and declare these laws as constitutional. We encourage the high court to act now that this issue has received further consideration in the lower courts. Discriminatory abortions based on sex, race and disability are no less than modern-day eugenics, and must swiftly come to an end, President Marjorie Dannenfelser said. This comes after a three-judge panel on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in January ruled to uphold a block on a similar law in Arkansas. Arkansass Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the January ruling. The case is Preterm-Cleveland et a v McCloud et al, No. 18-3329. (@fidahassanain) A LHC division bench comprising Justice Sardar Sarfraz Ahmed Dogar and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural ordered the jail authorities for immediate release of PML-N Chief and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case. LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 14th, 2021) PML-N President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has secured bail from Lahore High Court in money laundering case. A LHC division bench comprising Justice Sarfraz Ahmed Dogar and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural passed the order on petition moved by Shehbaz Sharif. The bench granted him bail against two surety bond worth Rs 5 million. The court directed the jail authorities for immediate release of Shehbaz Sharif. It is a major political development and big relief for the PML-N during these testing times. Last month, Hamza Shehbaz, the son of Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly, was granted bail Chaudhary Sugar mills case. On Wednesday, Maryam Aurangzeb and other PML-N leaders were present there inside the courts. However, as they heard that their leader was granted bail and they came out of the courtroom, some of the party workers showered Currency notes on Maryam Aurangzeb and other party leaders on premises of the LHC. On September 28, 2020, NAB team had arrested Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case after Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected his bail plea. A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court comprising Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem and Justice Farooq Haider heard the plea, during which Shehbaz Sharifs lawyer presented his arguments. Counsel of PML-N President argued that Shehbaz Sharif saved over Rs1,000 billion of national exchequer and never received his pay as a member of National Assembly. No evidence was available against Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case and none of the witnesses accused PML-N leader of the ill practice, he added. (Details to follow) U.S. intelligence officials Wednesday cast China as an "unparalleled" security threat, warning of Beijing's increasing efforts to suppress its regional adversaries, expand its military might while racing to achieve technological superiority across the globe. For the first time in more than two years, top U.S. intelligence officials appeared before lawmakers to outline a daunting global threat landscape that included fallout from the deadly coronavirus pandemic and Russia's continuing campaign to undermine U.S. influence. But during a two-hour hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, there appeared to be no dispute that China represented the most serious risk to the United States where officials said Beijing has long sought economic advantage through sustained cyberwarfare. Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden on Sept. 24, 2015, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. "China increasingly is a near-peer competitor challenging the United States in multiple arenas, while pushing to revise global norms in ways that favor the authoritarian Chinese system," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate panel. "It also has substantial cyber capabilities that if deployed, at a minimum, can cause localized, temporary disruptions to critical infrastructure inside the United States." FBI Director Christopher Wray underscored Haines' assessment, telling lawmakers that active investigations involving China continue to mount, indicating that there were about 2,000 such inquiries underway ranging from cyber theft to economic espionage. More: Feds charge 8 in alleged secret Chinese repatriation plot hunting fugitives in U.S. "I don't think any country poses a more severe threat," said Wray, who has spoken extensively in the past year about the bureau's concerns and the increasing volume of investigations. "China increasingly is a near-peer competitor challenging the United States in multiple arenas," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a Senate panel on Wednesday. The gathering of the government's top intelligence leaders to publicly discuss the current threat environment had been part of Congress's annual hearing schedule, but the Trump administration abandoned the practice amid flaring tensions with the intelligence community. Story continues Avril and Wray appeared with CIA Director William Burns, National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone and Army Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. COVID-19 pandemic will cause global unrest for years, experts warn The testimony came following the release of the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment, which not only noted the risks posed by traditional adversaries, including Iran and North Korea but a global health scourge in the form of the coronavirus pandemic. In the report, officials warned the pandemic would continue to test governments across the globe for years to come, fueling humanitarian and economic crises, political unrest and geopolitical competition. No country has been completely spared, and even when a vaccine is widely distributed globally, the economic and political aftershocks will be felt for years, the report concluded, referring to the massive virus fallout. Countries with high debts or that depend on oil exports, tourism, or remittances face particularly challenging recoveries, while others will turn inward or be distracted by other challenges. The pandemic has been thrust to the forefront of global threats joining the "disruptive effects of ecological degradation and a changing climate, an increasing number of empowered non-state actors, and rapidly evolving technology, the report found. The complexity of the threats, their intersections, and the potential for cascading events in an increasingly interconnected and mobile world create new challenges for the (U.S. intelligence community). This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China cyberwar a 'severe' threat to US, intelligence officials warn The discussions, which began early this month and recessed last Friday, are intended to map out a plan for the return of Iran and the United States to compliance with the deal. It has teetered on collapse since President Donald J. Trump withdrew the United States from it three years ago, restored economic sanctions and imposed new punitive measures as part of a maximum pressure strategy aimed at forcing Iran to agree to more restrictive terms. Israel, which regards Iran as an existential threat, supported Mr. Trumps decision and has expressed anger at the Biden administrations intent to revive the agreement, arguing that it is weak and would not prevent Irans leaders from militarizing their nuclear capabilities. Iran has repeatedly said that its nuclear energy program is peaceful. But Iran responded to the Natanz blackout with a reported attack on an Israeli ship, which was said to have caused only minor damage and no fatalities, and then announced its plan to enrich uranium to 60 percent purity, up from 20 percent, moving a big step closer to the 90 percent level that could be used to fuel a nuclear weapon. Iran began reneging on pledges to limit its enriched uranium stockpile under the 2015 nuclear deal after the Trump administration renounced American participation. Iranian officials have also said the country plans to replace centrifuges at Natanz with more modern ones banned under the original nuclear deal. Kazem Gharibabadi, Irans ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based nuclear-monitoring arm of the United Nations,said on Twitter that process could begin soon. An Iranian parliamentary delegation visited Natanz on Wednesday, and one lawmaker said the wreckage was less extensive than from arson sabotage there last July. Speaking on the Clubhouse chat site, the lawmaker, Vahid Jalalzadeh, said that some underground tunnels had been damaged, but that part of the facility had power and that centrifuges were operating. There was no way to corroborate his assessment, which differed from earlier accounts of large-scale ruin. The ex-wife of AFL star Brad Seymour has been rushed to hospital twice in the past three weeks after her chronic brain condition 'flared up' amid the stress of their shock split. Melissa, 45, who confirmed the end of her 20-year marriage with the Sydney Swans star in January, suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, which carries sensation from the face to the brain whereby even mild stimulation such as putting on makeup can cause a jolt of excruciating pain. A close friend said Melissa's condition became so unbearable during the aftermath of the marriage breakdown that she couldn't take it anymore, and had to seek medical help. Chronic pain: AFL star Brad Seymour's ex-wife of 20 years Melissa was rushed to hospital twice over the past three weeks amid an ongoing chronic brain condition. Both pictured in happier times The friend told Daily Mail Australia: 'She was in hospital for just over 24 hours the first time and appeared to be on the mend - but then her condition flared up again and she rushed back to hospital just a few days ago.' Melissa had microvascular decompression surgery on her brain about a year ago to relieve abnormal compression of a cranial nerve - but it hasn't appeared to stop the pain completely. 'She couldn't stay in hospital any longer than a day, as she had to look after her two children. She's so stressed with everything that's happening. Now she's just trying to concentrate on them, and on writing her book.' Pain: The author, 45 - who confirmed her split from the Sydney Swans star in January - suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, which carries sensation from the face to the brain whereby even mild stimulation can cause a jolt of excruciating pain Melissa - who shares two children aged 18 and 13 with Brad - had hinted she was set to write a tell-all book about her tragic marriage on Instagram. She captioned an image of an inspirational quote with: 'Im writing my second book (putting it all on the table - thats not the title but some of the contents) and this one is not flowing out of me like the first one did, so Ill take all the inspiration I can get.' When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Melissa confirmed the hospital trip but would not comment. But when questioned about the book, she simply said: 'How can I advocate on behalf of women, if I don't also bear my own harrowing stories?' Over: In January, Daily Mail Australia revealed the CEO of the Swans Foundation had ended their relationship four weeks earlier and moved out of the family home the couple shared with their two teenage children In January, Daily Mail Australia revealed Brad Seymour - the CEO of the Swans Foundation - had ended the marriage four weeks earlier and moved out of the family home the couple shared with their two teenage children. 'So, I wish I had had the time to tell my friends directly, but this article came out this morning and kinda blew the lid off those plans,' Melissa wrote on Instagram at the time. 'The headline is all you need to know - Brad and I are separated and as the article says, I'm pretty shocked to say the least.' The pair married in 2001 after a whirlwind romance of six months. 'The kids are okay with it (as much as possible) and getting more used to it day by day,' she continued. 'They remain the central focus in moving forward.' [April 14, 2021] Dreame Technology Awarded as the Fastest Growing Brand by AliExpress GUANGZHOU, China, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ -- Dreame Technology, the leading innovative company in smart home cleaning appliances, has been awarded as the Fastest Growing Brand of 2020 at 2021 AliExpress Merchant Annual Summit. By virtue of their outstanding product quality and intelligent user experiences in home cleaning, Dreame cordless stick vacuum T20, V11, V10 have been ranked as the top sellers on AliExpress. Since joining AliExpress in 2018, Dreame Technology has expanded its worldwide market rapidly, covering key countries such as the US, France, Poland, Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy, Holland, Korea and Japan. Starting from 2020, sales volume of Dreame cordless stick vacuum has achieved the TOP 1 in AliExpress French market and successfully become one of the best new brands in Europe. When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the global economy in 2020, Dreame still performed well among AliExpress global market with more than $14 million of sales value, 4 times higher than the previous year. During the 2020 AliExpress Black Friday, Dreame official store ranked the highest sales value within the home cleaning appliance category. Deame Technology always attaches great importance on product innovation and user experience. Through in-depth market research and analysis, Dreame's R&D team realizes that robot vacuum users have strong demand for advanced obstacle avoidance. Under such circumstance, Dreame Technology is going to launch its new product Dreame Bot L10 Pro robot vacuum and mop to provide smart home cleaning solutions on AliExpress platform in May. The innovative HIGH PRECISION 3D obstacle avoidance system adopted by Dreame Bot L10 Pro can scan the surroundings in real time, help the machine recognize and avoid obstacles quickly and accurately. The dual-laser LiDAR technology and the new SLAM (Simultaneous localization and mapping) algorithm enables L10 Pro to reconstruct 3D mapping and optimize the cleaning route and avoid bumping. "We're honored to receive the Fastest Growing Brand Award by AliExpress. It motivates us to make breakthroughs and put users on top of our mind. Dreame Technology aims to develop the world-class products in smart home cleaning appliances," said Frank Wang, International Marketing Director of Dreame Technology. Both empowered with groundbreaking 150K RPM high-speed motors to ensure powerful and deep cleaning, Dreame cordless stick vacuum T30 and V12 can generate up to 185AW and 190AW suction power separately. This unparalleled power means Dreame cordless stick vacuum T30 and V12 can remove deep-seated dust and debris more thoroughly than any other cleaners in the market. Dreame Technology is expected to introduce Dreame Bot L10 Pro, Dreame cordless vacuum cleaner V12 and T30 on Amazon and AliExpress in May and June this year. About Dreame Technology Established in 2015, Dreame Technology, an innovative consumer product company focuses on smart home cleaning appliances with the vision to empower life through technology. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more information, please visit https://www.dreame-technology.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dreame-technology-awarded-as-the-fastest-growing-brand-by-aliexpress-301268870.html SOURCE Dreame Technology [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Syracuse, NY -- A Jamesville man is headed back to prison after admitting yet again to possessing child porn -- the third time hes been caught in the past decade. Roy Bovee, 34, faces up to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to sharing hundreds of illegal photos and videos from his cell phone, federal prosecutors said. Hes already a registered sex offender who served more than four years in prison on a 2014 child porn case and nearly two years on a 2010 case. Federal prosecutors have made it clear how they feel about Bovee: There is no question that the Defendant presents a terrible risk to the community, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown wrote during his 2014 child porn case. During that case, Bovee was found to have placed 20 ads on Craigslist soliciting underage girls for sex, the prosecutor wrote at the time. Bovee also solicited a 16-year-old girl for sex in exchange for $150 and asked if the teen would be willing to drug her 11-year-old sister so he could have sex with her, according to court papers. There were also allegations of prior sex abuse involving acquaintances and family, the prosecutor added. He has no regard for the lives he has destroyed and his strong desire to ruin more lives is the guiding force in his life, Brown concluded. Go back to 2010, though, and Bovees life appeared to be much different. He was an Eagle Scout as a teenager, an athlete at high school in Canastota, a volunteer firefighter as a young man and a military veteran with multiple deployments overseas. He worked a number of construction jobs and took classes in firefighting at Onondaga Community College. Since he was a volunteer firefighter, all of his training was completed while not being paid and was completed on his own time, noted Assistant Federal Public Defender Randi Bianco in 2014. These actions and his record of dedication to his job speaks to his selflessness, his desire to help his community, and others. As a child, Bovee lived in a loving, supportive household and was described as polite, kind and hard-working, Bianco added. His dad was a Boy Scouts leader, and Bovee attained the top rank of Eagle Scout. But after four years in the military, Bovees world came crashing down. His first child porn conviction from 2010 came after his arrest while still in the U.S. Marines. He spent 20 months in a California prison. It was only after that point that Bovee shared a secret with his parents, Bianco wrote in court documents: he had been abused as a child for two years. ...through counseling following his military conviction, he began to come to terms with what had happened to him, Bianco wrote. But Bovees actions didnt change. In 2013, he was arrested again for child porn and failing to register, as required, as a sex offender. Thats the case involving the Craigslist solicitations. He pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender to close that case. He admitted that he moved back to Central New York after serving his prison sentence without registering as a sex offender. Brown, the prosecutor, suggested that Bovee moved home quietly so he didnt ruin his reputation in his hometown community. In taking the plea deal, Bovee also admitted to possessing more child porn and enticing the teenage girls over Craigslist, the prosecution noted in court papers. Bovee was sentenced in the 2013 case to more than four years in prison, getting released in September 2017, according to federal prison records. Bovee was arrested again on the latest child porn charges in July 2020. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to using his phone to share hundreds of illegal photos and videos over the social media app Kik Messenger. He remains jailed until sentencing later this year. Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. (Newser) "I'm not a danger. I'm not a criminal." You might be inclined to agree. What Ghalia al-Asseh is is a chemistry and biotechnology student at the Technical University of Denmark, the country in which she has lived since fleeing Syria with her family in 2015. Now, the 27-year-old is one of 250 people whose residence permits have been revoked or not renewed because of Denmark's determination that Damascus is safe once more. They're being told to leave their new lives and go "home" to the country they fled. NPR indicates the groundwork has been laid for some time: In 2019, a Danish report described a "significant" improvement in the security situation in certain areas of Syria, and that report served as the basis of a 2020 decision to start to review the residence permits that had been given to those who hailed from the Damascus area. More: story continues below The New York Times reports on the significance of the move: It makes Denmark "the first European Union country to deprive Syrian refugees of their asylum status, even as Syria remains shattered. The bloc and the United Nations describe most areas in Syria as not stable enough to be considered safe for returnees." NPR zeroes in on the story of one family who saw relatives and friends who ended up in Germany or the Netherlands getting permanent residency. They thought it was nearly their time to get the same. Instead, they were just told to go back to a place where Heba Alrejleh's first husband died in front of her and where Radwan Jomaa believes he will be arrested for protesting Bashar al-Assad's rule. Indeed, while the Guardian reports that after 10 years of war, fighting is mainly restricted to the north, it notes Assad's secret police are still active. Deutsche Welle reports there's no cooperation between Denmark and Assad's regime, so critics of the move say deportations can't actually be enforced at this time. Those whose residence permit is not renewed but do not leave can end up in Danish deportation camps. (Read more Syria stories.) In the age of misinformation, some of the craziest ideas are well received. Especially if they are gross and dangerous nonsense, as the young comedian and writer Mekki Leeper put it, according to his latest Comedy Central special, Control Room. In 2019, Leeper created a Squarespace website in 15 minutes, and on a budget of 1,000 dollars, created an alternative medicine company within a week. He based his company on an entirely made-up premise that his product, a used tissue (thats right, a tissue carrying someone elses germs from sneezing), could make you immune to certain viruses when nestled into your nose and thoroughly inhaled. A bogus though apparently very convincing thing to do with your time and if you have $80 to spare. Yes, one tissue ran for $80, while it took Leeper less than $3 to package each one in gold tape with a fancy logo marked with its brand name, Vaev, meaning tissue in Danish. The tissue was marketed to work like a vaccine -- as stated on their website, which is still up by the way, We believe that when flu season comes around, you should be able to get sick on your terms. Those words hit kind of differently these days, dont they? Continue Reading Below Advertisement And thats just the beginning. Cue the commercial that Leeper produced with friends and hired actors for: WESTPORT The Westport Weston Health District spent Tuesday shifting gears to offer Moderna in place of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, following news that the U.S. would pause using J&J while a possible link to blood clots is investigated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called for an immediate halt on the use of the vaccine after six women developed rare but severe blood clots out of 6.8 million people who have received it. The district, which serves Westport, Weston and Easton, was supposed to host a smaller J&J clinic on Wednesday with fewer than 100 people scheduled, said Mark Cooper, the districts director. He said some of the people they contacted decided to not get the Moderna vaccine, but said so many people are still looking for appointments that it wasnt hard to fill the slots. The district has already given about 110 J&J vaccines, a fraction of their overall vaccinations considering the more than 4,000 doses of Moderna it has administered. Weve been using J&J mostly for the homebound program, Cooper said, adding that started a couple of weeks or so ago. He said the J&J vaccine makes sense for those situations because it only requires one shot. This group will also switch to Moderna in the meantime. The list of homebound residents comes from the three towns, as well as the state who also keeps track of this demographic, Cooper said. The list is always changing, he said. So far, he said they havent heard of any complications, just the usual sore arm. He said hes not sure if the district will have enough Moderna vaccines to offset the stall because they had recently started shifting to ordering more Johnson & Johnson vaccines after reassurances from the state that there would be an abundance of it this week. We were cutting back on our orders of Moderna, he said. He said theyre going to use Moderna as long as needed and that the J&J pause might be short as officials investigate why the blood clots could have happened. Well all have to wait and see, Cooper said. The FDA is recommending that anyone who has had the J&J vaccine and experiences a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their healthcare provider, said Sofia Pendley, an assistant clinical professor at Sacred Heart University. If youve received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and do not have any of these symptoms within the three weeks of your vaccine, it is unlikely that you will have an adverse reaction. Most colleges in Connecticut had been planning to vaccinate their students with Johnson & Johnson before they left campus, but are now looking at other options due to this and a delay in the federal supply. We have been working with the state with the hope of receiving vaccines for our students before they leave campus, said Kimberly Swartz, a SHU spokesperson. However, knowing that there was no guarantee that would happen and aware that there were already issues with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after the botched batch in Baltimore, we have been encouraging our students to find ways to get vaccinated ever since they became eligible on April 4 and have continued to work with Hartford HealthCare who is partnering with us on our mega vaccination site. Cooper encouraged people to still get vaccinated. Were trying to stay ahead of the variants and the only way to do that is to get vaccinated, he said. Jacqueline Vernarelli, an assistant professor at Sacred Heart agreed. Its important to know that this is very rare, and people should not panic, or cancel future vaccination appointments while we wait for more information, she said. Staff writer Amanda Cuda contributed to this report. The British military's drive for diversity could mean it struggles to recruit enough soldiers, the director of the National Army Museum has warned. Former brigadier Justin Maciejewski also described plans to cut the number of soldiers to 72,500 as pushing 'the bounds of credibility'. The armed forces must not lose sight of its 'core workforce' by focusing too heavily on recruiting candidates from different backgrounds, Col Maciejewski said. The former brigadier, who served in Iraq, said that while diversity was important, 'working class families' historically made up the majority of the army. As a result, the policy could result in a fall in numbers of applicants, he warned. The distinguished veteran was discussing the problems the forces have recruiting with Jeremy Paxman on The Lock In podcast. Justin Maciejewski (pictured receiving the Distinguished Service Order in 2008) has warned that the British military's drive for diversity could mean it struggles to recruit enough soldiers He said: 'The army has always struggled to recruit, hence the Queen's shilling in the bottom of the beer glass and the endless posters persuading people to come and get adventure in the army.' He went on to say that the current size of the British Army, which is to be reduced to 72,500 soldiers by 2025 as part of a move towards drones and cyber warfare, 'pushes the bounds of credibility'. Last month, a defence review revealed the Government's plan to reduce the number of soldiers in the army by 10,000 to 72,500 troops its smallest size since 1714. One infantry battalion is being axed in the overhaul, with five more given new roles. The 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment will be removed from the Army's Order of Battle. Four infantry battalions, which currently specialise in training troops overseas, will eventually merge to form the Army's new Ranger Regiment. While one of Yorkshire Regiment's two full-time infantry battalions will be given a new role as the Army's 'experimental unit', testing the latest equipment and fighting techniques. Col Maciejewski continued: 'These numbers are really small and for a country that wants to be on the security council it is a very small army. 'I would say in terms of size, as a historian and a veteran and speaking very much in a personal capacity, it is verging on, it pushes the bounds of credibility.' He said that while the high standards of training within the forces made up for its limited size in some respects, he still believes more recruitment is crucial. He added: 'I do think the smaller the army becomes the less visible it is... 'I think that in this period where diversity and inclusion has become such an important priority that has also spilled over into recruiting. 'I think this is obviously important, you know everyone wants to have a diverse and inclusive workforce but sometimes if you lose sight of your core constituency in that process you will also struggle to find the numbers. 1.5m campaign: A recent campaign by the British Army was aimed to appeal to the millennials 'So I think that in the modern world the army needs to focus on recruiting a diverse workforce but also being very mindful of who historically has provided the bulk of the people for the army. '[Which is] of course what we would have called in the old days working class families from right across the country whose sons and daughters have joined the army. 'Sometimes we under focus on those core groups at the expense of others and I think that combined with outsourcing recruiting has probably caused the army quite a lot of challenges recently. ' A recent recruitment campaign was launched by the British Army and was aimed at recruiting millenials. The 1.5 million campaign featured six soldiers with labels of modern stereotypes including 'millennials' and 'phone zombies' in a bid to appeal to a wider pool of talent. In 2018, the Army was accused of 'bowing' to political correctness after it launched a campaign to recruit more people from a diversity of genders, sexualities, ethnicities and faiths. Image from 2018 campaign which featured a set of films asking questions like 'Can I practice my faith in the army?'. Critics at the time said they had 'bowed' to political correctness by specifically targeting people from diversity of genders, ethnicities, sexualities and faiths Another image from the 2018 campaign which asked viewers: 'Can I be gay in the Army?' The scheme saw a series of adverts broadcast on television, radio and digital platforms as part of a campaign titled 'This Is Belonging 2018'. The drive included a series of animations on social media, among them films that asked: 'Can I be gay in the Army?' and 'What if I get emotional in the Army?'. Other videos ask: 'Can I practise my faith in the Army?', 'Will I be listened to in the Army?' and 'Do I have to be a superhero to join the Army?'. But Colonel Richard Kemp, who led British troops in Afghanistan, claimed that it shows how the Army 'is being forced down a route of political correctness'. And retired Army officer Major General Tim Cross said it is important for people to know 'we are not going to be soft and we are not going to be nice to people'. (Newser) Two Italian police officers on assignment in Belgium were exploring some of Brussels' antique shops after work when they discovered a $120,000 Roman statue, stolen from Italy nearly a decade ago. The statue of a headless Roman in a draped toga struck the men as suspicious. As members of the Italian police's archaeological unit, Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC), they recognized that the statue was of Italian origin and showed damage from excavation tools, reports NPR. Once they got back to Italy, the officers learned the marble statue, from the first century, had been swiped in November 2011 from the Villa Marini Dettina archaeological site outside Rome. story continues below Photos of the "Togatus" statue, featuring one arm across the chest, matched a file in a database of stolen cultural assets. Then began the process of securing the statue's return. A European Investigation Order was filed before the statue, worth an estimated $120,000, was finally returned to Italy in February. The TPC shared photos of several officers transporting the life-size statue, covered in bubble wrap, per NPR. An Italian businessman who used a Spanish alias is believed to have received the statue before sending it on to Belgium, per Sky News. He has been referred to Italian prosecutors for investigation, police said. (Read more stolen art stories.) Following an increase in anti-Asian discrimination and abuse amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the Senate will take up a bill highlighting hate crimes against Asian-Americans this week. Even though some Republicans have expressed reservations about the measure, it is scheduled to move forward to the Senate floor, giving time for discussion and amendments. Republicans urged to cooperate in passing the hate crimes bill The hate crimes bill, proposed by Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, will speed up the federal government's reaction to crimes against Asian-Americans and improve state and local government hate crime reporting guidelines. It currently has no Republican votes, as per CBS News. In the Senate, Democrats have a slim 50-seat lead, and it takes 60 votes to limit debate on law and carry it to the floor for a final vote. Senator Chuck Grassley told reporters that the bill would get enough Republican support to pass on Tuesday, but he hoped it could be amended. According to a Senate Democratic aide, a collaborative initiative is underway to enhance the Hirono bill by including a bipartisan bill introduced by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Jerry Moran for local agencies to increase hate crime reporting further. But only if Senate Republicans chose not to vote to block it on Wednesday. Mitch McConnell Says Republicans to Fight Biden's Infrastructure Plan in 'Every Step of the Way' Schumer urges Republicans not to block hate crimes bill Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that he wants to put a bill on the floor this week to combat anti-Asian hate crimes and encourage Republicans not to oppose it. At a press conference with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Asian American lawmakers, Schumer said, "Combating hatred in the Asian American community can and should be bipartisan." Schumer noted that he wants 60 senators to go on with the measure, NBC News reported. Achieving Republican cooperation ensures that even though all 50 Democratic senators vote in favor of it, they will only require 10 Republican votes. "I'm hoping for a lot more than 60. Who could argue with such an easy, but important piece of legislation?" Schumer asked. President Joe Biden's Aim For Bipartisan Cooperation Applies Stealthy Pressure Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, proposed legislation in March to guide the Department of Justice to expedite the investigation of COVID-19-related hate crimes reported to law enforcement agencies and assist them in developing ways to track those cases online and conduct public outreach. According to The Washington Post, Democrats call the bill "unobjectionable," "modest," and "noncontroversial." It implies that if Republicans vote to stop it, the controversy over repealing the filibuster, which essentially means that other Senate bills require 60 votes to pass, would heat up. At the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, a study of police department data investigating hate crimes in 16 of America's major cities, found a huge increase in anti-Asian hate crimes last year. It showed that, while overall, such crimes decreased by 7 percent in 2020, those affecting Asian people increased by nearly 150 percent. Pence Unveils Plans for 2024 Presidential Run Following Reports He's Not Included as Trump's Pick @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Erin Moriarty, Loyola University's Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Talks About University Applications: How to Write a Compelling Personal Statement or Application Essay Close (Photo : depositphotos) A personal statement is part of the application process for many university undergraduate programs. Every applicant will provide one, and admissions officers will read them all. If you want yours to stand out, follow these guidelines from Erin Moriarty, Loyola University's Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. 1. Answer the Questions Many university applications will ask questions about a person's background, education, and aspirations. While you may be tempted to "copy and paste" your answers, it's essential to answer each question clearly. Don't include answers to questions they didn't ask. Admissions officers have a lot of experience reading applications, and they will notice when they're reading something that doesn't exactly fit what they asked. 2. Add Important Details On applications or personal statements, it's easy to fill the page with general beliefs and goals. What's more difficult is to find ways to stand out among the crowd. One of the best ways to do this is by being as specific as possible. Include valuable details about your life and the reasons you want to attend the university in question. Avoid generic phrases or statements that could be true of anyone. Instead, find ways to insert unique characteristics or explanations about yourself and your beliefs. 3. Focus on Your Opening Section Admissions offices will read hundreds, if not thousands, of applications and personal statements each semester. One of the best ways to separate yourself from the pack is in the opening paragraph. Your opening statement has to find a way to hook the reader and make them want to keep reading. If your opening is too generic, the admissions officer reading it will quickly lose interest and may miss out on some of the better parts later on. 4. Avoid Cliches Every aspiring doctor or teacher wants to help people. Every potential entrepreneur has the next big idea. That's why it's important to avoid using cliches or stating the obvious in your essay. Instead of wasting your writing space and the reviewer's time, focus on the things about your life that make you unique and the reasons your goals matter. 5. Write Correctly Finally, ensure your essay is written well. It should not contain typos, grammatical mistakes, or awkward phrasing. Your application and personal statement are the first impression you will make on the university. If it's obvious you didn't take the time to double-check and polish the piece, you're sending a clear message to the admission's office you don't care very much. All of the above advice is a great starting point for completing college admissions applications and writing personal essays. Remember to stay true to who you are and show why you would be a great addition to any university campus. Who Is Erin Moriarty? Erin Moriarty, Loyola University Chicago's Associate Vice President and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, is passionate about students. She believes strongly in Loyola's mission - to help mold young men and women to become leaders in today's society and to seek God in all things. Outside of work, Erin can be found participating in Pedal the Cause or biking along the shores of Lake Michigan. See Now: Facebook will use AI to detect users with suicidal thoughts and prevent suicide 2017 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A popular social media influencer, Japhet Omojuwa, has refuted a claim by a former education minister, Obiageli Ezekwesili, that she was listed as a director of his PR firm, Alpha Reach Limited, without her knowledge. But he has yet to provide the full records of the firm from inception as demanded by the former minister. A foreign media platform, BuzzFeed, had reported that employees of the PR company got paid to promote a social media campaign for the release of a Columbian, Alex Saab, who was detained in Cape Verde over pending charges against him in the U.S. Mr Omojuwa had, in an April 9, 2021 statement reacting to the controversy generated by the BuzzFeed report, stated that Alpha Reach, as an organisation, was not involved in the campaign making the rounds. Mrs Ezekwezili, in reaction to the situation, had threatened to sue the social media influencer for an unauthorised use of her name as a director of the company without her consent. The former minister had, through Femi Falanas law firm, written to Mr Omojuwa, claiming that she was shocked to learn of her status as a director of the company when contacted by BuzzFeed. She denied her involvement in the company, although PREMIUM TIMES check with NG-Check.com, a platform that provides information on Nigerian companies, listed her alongside the Governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, as company directors. On that basis, Mrs Ezekwesili demanded, through her lawyers, an apology and full disclosure of the records of Alpha Reach, from Mr Omojuwa. Another twist Many Nigerians had bid the then hot controversy farewell until Wednesday when Mr Omojuwa shared, via his Twitter handle, his reply to Mrs Ezekwesili s lawyers insisting that she was made a director of the firm with her consent. Mr Omojuwa was in his first reaction to the matter in his April 9, 2021 statement, silent on the former ministers status as a director of the company, as he then merely stated that she was at no time a part-owner of Alpha Reach and that she is not a member of the Alpha Reach board. He did not directly address Mrs Ezekwesilis anger at being listed as a director in the firm. However, in his latest reply to Mrs Ezekwesilis demand for an apology and full disclosure of the records of the firm, Mr Omojuwa, through the law firm of Babalakin and Co, stated emphatically that the former minister was made a director of Alpha Reach with her consent. He said he had a close relationship with the former minister for about 10 years, and it was thus reasonable that he wanted to leverage her reputation to advance the company he promoted. In what he said demonstrates as the extent and strength of their relationship in the period leading to and after the registration of the company, Mr Omojuwa said through his lawyers, that on April 6, 2012, at 21:23, Mrs Ezekwesili sent him a message asking him to pull in your brother(s), Chine and Chuba (her biological sons) into what you do from now. He said she made similar comments on October 6, 2012. The company was indeed registered in 2012; our client, however, unequivocally denies your allegations that consent of your client was not sought before she was listed as a Director. Our client sought and obtained your clients consent before listing her as a director of the company, based on their close relationship, which you curiously omitted to mention in your letter, the reply read in part. Ezekwesili meant to be Buharis minister Adding a new twist to the controversy, Mr Omojuwa, stated in the four-page letter dated April 14, 2021 that Mrs Ezekwesili was only removed as a director of the company in 2015 while it was being anticipated that she would be appointed a minister by then President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari. He added that Mr El-Rufai was similarly removed as a director of the firm at about the same time when it was certain he was going to be Kaduna State governor. Clearly, your client is a successful public figure with whom our client had a close relationship. It is reasonable that our client wanted to leverage her reputation to advance the company he promoted. It was not until 2015 when it was certain that HE Mallam El-Rufai.was going to become the Governor of Kaduna State and the likelihood that your client could be appointed a Minister by the then President-elect Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, that they both were removed as Directors of the company. ADVERTISEMENT You might recall that your client honoured the ruling partys invitation to deliver a keynote speech at a public forum in Abuja in 2014, and there was a general expectation that she would play a role in President Buharis government, Indeed, your client leaned on our client to publish and distribute her speech at the APC forum, Mr Omojuwas lawyers had written. Mr Omojuwa did not indicate if Mrs Ezekwesili signed any document to be listed as a director of the company. He, however, spoke on their past mutually beneficial relationship, which his lawyers wrote as the basis upon which our client sought and obtained your clients consent. Mutual benefits Mr Omojuwa, through his lawyers letter recalled the 10-year relationship between him and the former minister dating back to 2011 when he had just completed the mandatory national youth service. He stated that Mrs Ezekwesili took him under her wings and even assisted in paying part of his rent in Abuja in 2012. He recalled how Mr Omojuwa, at some point, took the former minister as his most trusted person and confidant. He also recalled that he had been of benefit to her by helping her to fight proxy wars on social media on her request. Relationship breakdown Mr Omojuwas legal team also chronicled how the relationship between the duo went sour as a result of the alleged refusal of the latter to play by his former benefactors playbook on and off social media. The relationship between your client and our client deteriorated because our client is no longer the impressionable boy who had just completed his NYSC in 2011. He is a man who has earned his stripes and is no longer willing to fight proxy wars or be used to fight perceived enemies by a benefactor. He is tired of your clients constant efforts to control his public views and tweets. Full disclosure will be granted with undertaking Responding to Mrs Ezekwesilis request for a full disclosure of the records of Alpha Reach, Mr Omojuwa stated that he would only release it with an undertaking by the former minister not to release them to the public. Our client is very much willing to disclose documents relating to the period between September 2012 and April 2015, when your client was a director of the company. However, given how your client and her family shared the letter under reference on social media (in clear demonstration of bad faith) after our client had already acknowledged receiving it, your client and her family could not be trusted not to disclose the companys sensitive corporate information if it is made available to her. Our client would only make those documents available to your client upon a written undertaking that the documents would be treated with utmost confidentiality. Subtle threats Mr Omojuwa disclosed that he had evidence of information and opinions which the former minister had privately shared with him in the course of their relationship. In what appears to be a threat to spill this information in the public space, Mr Omojuwas letter ended by stating, while he remains grateful for your clients past contributions to his growth and development and is sad about the recent turn of events, our client is ready to use every piece of information at his disposal to defend himself and his future against your clients ungodly allegations. Process of registration This reporter scanned through the requirements laid down by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for company registration in Nigeria and realised that there is the need for means of identification of directors, subscribers and even stakeholders for inspection by the commission. Mr Omojuwa did not state in his letter if Mrs Ezekwesili provided any of these or signed to be listed as a director. PREMIUM TIMES attempts to hear from Mr Omojuwa and ask him about the companys incorporation documents were futile as he declined to answer the questions on the registration of the controversial PR firm for legal reasons. It is a legal issue and I dont think my lawyer would advise I grant any interview on this subject, Mr Omojuwa said before cutting off this reporter. He ignored this reporters call after picking the first call. Several calls made to Mrs Ezekwesili popular phone line did not connect. She has not responded to a message sent to her by this reporter on the subject as of the time of filing this report. KRASNODAR, Russia -- Police in the Russian city of Krasnodar have detained several members of the local team of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny for unclear reasons amid ongoing crackdown on the network of Navalnys teams across the country. The coordinator of the team, Anastasia Panchenko, told RFE/RL that traffic police stopped a car transporting her and two colleagues as they were traveling to a location to shoot a documentary. Police took the activists to the Krasnodar city police department for what they called "a check." When the activists said they would not go, the officers threatened them with a charge of disobeying a police order. Panchenko said lawyer Feliks Vertegel is representing their interests at this point. Activists associated with Navalny have been under pressure since the 44-year-old outspoken Kremlin-critic was incarcerated in February. The coordinator of Navalnys team in the North Caucasus region of Daghestan, Eduard Atayev, and his assistant Murad Manapov, were detained on unspecified administrative charges on April 12 and April 13 respectively, after the team was established over the weekend, Navalny's associate Ruslan Ablyakimov told RFE/RL. Earlier in February, an initial attempt to set up Navalnys team in Makhachkala failed after its coordinator-to-be, Ruslan Ablyakimov, was attacked and beaten by unidentified individuals after he arrived in the region from Moscow. The coordinator of the network of Navalny's teams across Russia, Leonid Volkov, has said that, despite Navalny's incarceration, the teams will continue their work to derail the ruling United Russia party's stranglehold on power in parliamentary elections in September. Navalny and his supporters have developed a "smart voting" system, which is aimed at undercutting United Russia candidates. Under the system, voters can enter their address into a special app, which will then give them a list of the candidates deemed most likely to defeat their United Russia rivals regardless of their party affiliation. Navalny was imprisoned after returning to Russia in January from his recuperation in Germany after he survived a poison attack last August in Siberia. He has accused President Vladimir Putin of ordering his assassination, something the Kremlin denies. Navalny has complained of back pain and numbness in his hands and legs and has accused prison authorities of withholding adequate medical treatment. He declared a hunger strike in late March, raising even more concerns about his overall health. Company to host business update conference call on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 6:00 PM CEST (Paris time) 12:00 noon (New York time) Regulatory News: Mauna Kea Technologies (Euronext: MKEA, OTCQX: MKEAY) inventor of Cellvizio, the multidisciplinary probe-based and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE/nCLE) platform, announced today that it will publish its financial results for 2020 and Q1 2020 saleson Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 5:45 PM CEST (Paris time). An English-language conference call will be held at 6:00 PM CEST, Paris time (12 noon, New York time), to review the financial results, recent operational accomplishments, 2021 outlook and answer questions To access the conference call, please use one of the following dial-in numbers at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time: USA: +1 646-722-4916 UK: +44 (0)20 7194 3759 FR: +33 (0)1 72 72 74 03 Followed by the PIN code: 96787831# Following the live call, a replay will be available: on the Mauna Kea website: https://www.maunakeatech.com/fr/investisseurs - or by phone, during 90 days, please dial one of the following numbers: USA: +1 (646) 722-4969 UK: +44 (0)20 3364 5147 FR: +33 (0)1 70 71 01 60 The passcode for the replay is 425000722# About Mauna Kea Technologies Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company that manufactures and sells Cellvizio, the real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform. This technology uniquely delivers in vivo cellular visualization which enables physicians to monitor the progression of disease over time, assess point-in-time reactions as they happen in real-time, classify indeterminate areas of concern, and guide surgical interventions. The Cellvizio platform is used globally across a wide range of medical specialties and is revolutionizing the way physicians diagnose and treat patients making a transformative change in medicine. For more information, visit www.maunakeatech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005003/en/ Contacts: United States Mike Piccinino, CFA Westwicke, an ICR Company 443-213-0500 France and Europe NewCap Investor Relations Thomas Grojean +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 maunakea@newcap.eu OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) A man fleeing the California Highway Patrol totaled his girlfriends Maserati SUV after he careened up an embankment and slammed into the underside of an overpass, wedging the vehicle under a freeway in Oakland, authorities said Tuesday. The driver is lucky to be alive. The owner of the Maserati not so lucky, the CHP said in a social media post that included photos of the mangled luxury vehicle. Police say the 32-year-old man was speeding on a highway Monday when a CHP officer tried to stop him. He accelerated to over 100 mph nd then exited the freeway, veering over a curve, up the embankment and ending up just beneath the freeway, Officer David Arias, a spokesman for the CHP in Oakland, said Tuesday. In this photo provided by the California Highway Patrol is the scene where a man fleeing from the CHP totaled his girlfriend's Maserati SUV after he careened up an embankment and slammed into the underside of an overpass, wedging the car under a freeway in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, April 12, 2021. (California Highway Patrol via AP)AP The man, who was alone, complained of pain and was taken to a hospital, Arias said. It was a miracle he didnt get more injuries because the whole area where his head would have been caved in. He must have ducked or something, he said. Arias said the man faces charges for reckless evading. More: 2 crashes minutes apart, including hit-and-run of child, injure several people in Harrisburg: police Man remains in coma after SUV, tractor-trailer crash in Perry County: state police This report by OECD international investment expert, Pierre Poret, was published in the Oct/Nov 1998 edition of the OECD Observer. Introduction The Asian crisis prompted calls from several quarters for tighter controls on foreign investment and capital flows in emerging markets. But such calls are misplaced. There are several compelling arguments in favour of freeing up capital flows in these markets, provided it is done in an orderly and properly structured way. The Asian crisis has provided a reminder - and a particularly dramatic one - that countries which open themselves to capital inflows become more vulnerable to large capital outflows when investor sentiment turns downwards. This could result in sharp currency depreciation, financial instability and severe recession. Net private flows to Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, which increased rapidly in the 1990s to reach $97 billion in 1996, turned into a large net outflow of $12 billion in 1997. Output was expected to fall in these countries by nearly 6% in 1998 after 4.5% growth last year. The financial turmoil in Asia has led to several calls for tighter controls on inflows of foreign investment, particularly short-term. Yet, there is plenty of evidence to show that as markets and institutions mature, the efficiency and regulatory gains arising from the liberalisation of capital movements outweigh the risks. None of the developed OECD countries maintain general capital controls, even on short-term capital, and there is no indication of a change in their position. And with reason, as estimates suggest that the annual gains arising from the mobility of international capital are on average of the order of at least 1 percentage point of GDP, possibly much higher. (Regulatory Reform in the Financial Services Industry, OECD Report on Regulatory Reform, Vol. I: Sectoral Studies, OECD Publications, Paris, 1997.) As emerging market economies persevere in their efforts to close the gap with advanced OECD economies, further global integration in financial markets will become all the more necessary. In other words, the question for emerging market economies is not whether capital movements should be liberalised, but how to move towards this objective with a minimum of risk. Several conditions are important to maximise the benefits of foreign investment and reduce the risks associated with capital liberalisation. They include prudent macro-economic policies and responsive exchange rate regimes. A robust domestic banking system and securities markets and good corporate governance are also key, as is the removal of distortions from government support and guarantees. Another requirement is to instil market discipline through transparency and disclosure, for example, by providing timely and reliable statistics to guide decision-making. The experience with the implementation of the OECD Code of Liberalisation of Capital Movements - one of the main substantive obligations of OECD membership - also points to complementary measures which, rather than focusing on restricting short-term investment, actually encourage longer-term foreign investment. Promoting Foreign Equity Investment In most OECD countries foreign investment in equity is considered extremely important to sustaining the liberalisation process. One reason is simply that foreign corporate investors are not usually willing to take long-term commitments unless they have an opportunity to exert influence on the enterprises they invest in. Equity investment provides a way of doing this. Foreign equity investment also has the potential to enhance local corporate governance practices and the investor can help develop the financial infrastructure and institutions needed to cope with free capital flows. Furthermore, equity investment, unlike debt-creating instruments, imposes no obligation on the debtor to make pre-established interest payments and to reimburse the principal at a set date. Equity investment is also generally denominated in the currency of the recipient country so that the exchange-rate risk is shared by the foreign investor. The Asian emerging economies which were most affected by the recent crisis (Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand) all maintained tight quantitative ceilings - never more than 49% - on non-resident purchases on the stock market, together with the possibility of general discretionary screening procedures for foreign equity investments. Even stricter limits on foreign ownership in protected sectors such as banking and finance were imposed in some of them. The disciplining effect of international exposure Excessive reliance on short-term foreign funds intermediated by banks poorly equipped to perform market-based credit selection has been identified as one of the main causes for the recent crises in Asian emerging economies. Net interbank lending to Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand rose from $14 billion per year in 1990-94 to $43 billion in 1995-96, two thirds of which had maturities with less than a year; these figures compare with net equity inflows of only $11 billion and $17 billion over the same periods. (1998 Annual Report of the Bank for International Settlements.) Recourse to direct corporate finance from abroad, in particular through the issue and introduction of domestic securities on foreign run markets, contributes to alleviating the burden on domestic banks, thereby reducing their vulnerability to shocks. It also exposes domestic corporations to the disclosure requirements and other disciplines of international capital markets, and allows investors and fund managers to keep a closer watch on the investment behaviour and financial standing of the companies they hold interests in. Again, in the same four economies most affected by the crisis (Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand), prior approval and other restrictions governed the issue and introduction of domestic corporate securities on international markets. Moreover, accounting rules and corporate practices were not always well adapted to international standards and hampered admission to world securities markets. The disciplining effect of international exposure Excessive reliance on short-term foreign funds intermediated by banks poorly equipped to perform market-based credit selection has been identified as one of the main causes for the recent crises in Asian emerging economies. Net interbank lending to Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand rose from $14 billion per year in 1990-94 to $43 billion in 1995-96, two thirds of which had maturities with less than a year; these figures compare with net equity inflows of only $11 billion and $17 billion over the same periods. (1998 Annual Report of the Bank for International Settlements.) Recourse to direct corporate finance from abroad, in particular through the issue and introduction of domestic securities on foreign run markets, contributes to alleviating the burden on domestic banks, thereby reducing their vulnerability to shocks. It also exposes domestic corporations to the disclosure requirements and other disciplines of international capital markets, and allows investors and fund managers to keep a closer watch on the investment behaviour and financial standing of the companies they hold interests in. Again, in the same four economies most affected by the crisis (Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand), prior approval and other restrictions governed the issue and introduction of domestic corporate securities on international markets. Moreover, accounting rules and corporate practices were not always well adapted to international standards and hampered admission to world securities markets. The disciplining effect of international exposure Excessive reliance on short-term foreign funds intermediated by banks poorly equipped to perform market-based credit selection has been identified as one of the main causes for the recent crises in Asian emerging economies. Net interbank lending to Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand rose from $14 billion per year in 1990-94 to $43 billion in 1995-96, two thirds of which had maturities with less than a year; these figures compare with net equity inflows of only $11 billion and $17 billion over the same periods. (1998 Annual Report of the Bank for International Settlements.) Recourse to direct corporate finance from abroad, in particular through the issue and introduction of domestic securities on foreign run markets, contributes to alleviating the burden on domestic banks, thereby reducing their vulnerability to shocks. It also exposes domestic corporations to the disclosure requirements and other disciplines of international capital markets, and allows investors and fund managers to keep a closer watch on the investment behaviour and financial standing of the companies they hold interests in. Again, in the same four economies most affected by the crisis (Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand), prior approval and other restrictions governed the issue and introduction of domestic corporate securities on international markets. Moreover, accounting rules and corporate practices were not always well adapted to international standards and hampered admission to world securities markets. Improving credit-risk management Several critics watching the Asian crisis have advocated a tightening of regulations on the intermediation of banks in cross-border capital flows to help reduce reliance on short-term lending. Yet such limitations on banks' external borrowing, which are permitted under the OECD Code through regulations on net foreign exchange exposure and net external positions, already existed in Asian emerging market economies before the crisis. True, there may have been room for more effective enforcement of existing regulations. But there were always limits to what the rules could achieve without interfering with the normal conduct of business, in particular trade finance. And in any case the Asian crisis had less to do with controlling cross-border flows to banks, than with a breakdown in internal credit management. No amount of regulation on capital flows could have prevented that. Another option, therefore, is to regulate and supervise the local lending practices of domestic banks so as to ensure prudent and effective credit-risk management. Banks would then have less incentive to look to external funds to finance indiscriminate investment. Appropriate guidelines for credit selection, diversification rules for debtor exposure, adequate provisioning against default risks and effective enforcement mechanisms, the lack of which was very much at the root of the crisis in Asian emerging markets, would go a long way towards achieving this objective. Consistent with the practice in a number of OECD countries for years, requirements that certain credits extended by domestic banks to residents be settled in local currency might have been tightened in Asia's emerging markets. In the OECD Code, liberalisation means that residents and non-residents should be allowed to transact freely between each other, subject only to possible reporting and other simple formalities to ensure data collection and avoid illegal activities. In the case of the worst-hit Asian economies, the opening of their capital account was to a large extent primarily the result of discretionary authorisation granted to selected sectors. Apart from the favouritism and corruption that discretionary and ad hoc liberal policies almost inevitably give rise to, they also create the perception among foreign financiers and domestic debtors that the government is sharing the risk, a perception which may encourage excessive inflows of capital. At the same time, such practices cast doubt over the transparency of the rules and the strength of the authorities' commitment to liberalisation. That, in turn, discourages long-term financial investment. Policies to liberalise capital movements were not in themselves the cause of the recent Asian problem. The aim of continuing policies should therefore be to shift the structure of capital inflows in favour of high-quality foreign investment and gain the confidence of long-term investors. That means promoting foreign equity investment, allowing direct exposure of corporations to the disciplines of international securities markets and reducing the scope for opaque and patronising authorisation policies. And if prudent rules for credit-risk management are effectively implemented, excessive reliance on short-term external borrowing through fragile banking systems and misallocation of investment resources would be reduced. The outcome would be an orderly liberalisation process that works. LAS VEGAS, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Absolute Dental Group LLC ("Absolute Dental") announced that it has completed the expansion of two practices located in Las Vegas, NV. The practices located on the corners of Eastern & Serene and Lake Mead & Jones were both doubled in size to accommodate a growing population and an increased demand for dental services. In addition to the physical expansion, the practices were modernized with the latest dental technology to improve the patient experience. "These newly expanded practices are simply another example of Absolute Dental working to make patient care more accessible along with expanding specialty dental services such as orthodontics, oral surgery, and pediatric dentistry to everyone in Las Vegas", said David Drzewiecki, CEO of Absolute Dental Group LLC. About Absolute Dental Group Headquartered in Las Vegas Nevada, Absolute Dental is Nevada's largest branded Dental Service Organization (DSO) with 28 affiliated dental practices throughout Northern & Southern Nevada. With practices in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Reno, and Carson City, Absolute Dental's affiliated dentists change lives one smile at a time. Beginning with one practice in 2002, Absolute Dental has positioned itself as a leading DSO dedicated to complete oral healthcare and exceptional service for patients. Absolute's mission is to offer all dentistry in one place and provide trusted dental care to the communities that they serve. Media Contact: Julie Cotton 702-779-3668 [email protected] SOURCE Absolute Dental WASHINGTON On opposite ends of Pennsylvania Avenue at the same moment Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Latin America policy experts as House GOP leaders displayed to reporters a missing milk carton with her face on it. Harris was announcing she is planning a trip to Mexico as well as Guatemala, which is one of the countries from which most migrants travel to the U.S. southern border. Meanwhile, House Republicans declared her missing at the border. It was a split screen that exemplified the politics that have plagued Harris since President Biden said last month that she would take the lead on the administrations efforts to stem migration from Central America to the U.S. She and the White House have sought to distance her from the border itself, where historically high numbers of migrant children have been taken into U.S. custody in recent months. Republicans have latched onto the issue, seeing border security as one area where Biden is vulnerable with voters. A Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday confirmed it as a weak spot for his administration. Harris has been slowly ramping up her efforts to work with Mexico and the three Central American countries known as the Northern Triangle El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras since Biden gave her the job. She has had phone calls with the presidents of Mexico and Guatemala in which she discussed ways to address factors that drive migrants north, including poverty and violence, as well as security efforts in those countries. On Wednesday, she convened a virtual round table of experts on migration, Latin America policy and climate change, saying results wont materialize overnight. Most people dont want to leave home, Harris said. When they do ... they are fleeing some harm, or (because) to remain home is to remain in a position where there is no opportunity to meet essential needs that include feeding their children, keeping a roof over their head and engaging in productive work. Asked whether she would go to the border, Harris said that was a job for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Her job, she added, was focusing on diplomacy and humanitarian aid to Central America. We must address the symptoms, and that is what is happening with the team of folks who are working on the border, led by Ali Mayorkas, Harris said. But we also have to deal with the root causes. Otherwise, we are just in a perpetual system of only dealing with the symptoms. At the same time Harris was making her case for long-term solutions, Republicans in the Capitol were showing reporters the missing milk carton they emblazoned with the vice presidents face, giving a news conference decrying the number of migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. and overcrowding of border holding facilities as a result. Its a national disgrace, and President Biden puts Kamala Harris in charge of it and she refuses to go down, said Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 GOP leader in the House who carried the prop. Maybe because she doesnt want to be associated with this disgraceful policy. But if shes the vice president of the United States and the president put her in charge of this, Vice President Harris needs to go down to the border and see this for herself. Republicans have blamed Biden for the rise in migrants, but the reality is complicated. Deteriorating conditions in their home countries, including hurricanes and the coronavirus pandemic, have driven many north. Biden has stepped back some of former President Donald Trumps most aggressive immigration policies, but continues one that rejects almost every migrant at the border. He has allowed in children traveling alone, which has led to overcrowding at border facilities for unaccompanied minors. The lineup of experts who gathered to brief Harris suggests she was gathering advice on building the economies in Central America, combating corruption and offering legal pathways for migrants to come to the U.S. One of the participants, Migration Policy Institute expert Andrew Selee, said the meeting was an opportunity for Harris to hear outside perspectives on what could be helpful in the region, but that the task remains as challenging as it was for previous administrations. Its going to be hard to keep a bright division between whats border policy and whats regional policy, because they are interrelated. At some point those two realities collide, Selee said. The politics about this are all about the immediate situation at the border, but the larger context has a lot more history to it and is much more complicated. And things that would fix the political crisis at the border might not actually fix the larger crisis in the region, which is what weve seen in the past. Harris said she would be seeking to build policies that continue for years. Thats the work that Im prepared to do, which is to begin that process of meaningful work, knowing that were going to have to have a long-term strategy, Harris said. And it will take some time to see the benefits of that work, but it will be worth it. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 06:57:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOUSTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the major power grid operator in the U.S. state, on Tuesday urged customers to conserve energy due to a combination of high generation outages and higher-than-forecasted demand. "Due to a combination of high generation outages typical in April and higher-than-forecasted demand caused by a stalled cold front over Texas, ERCOT may enter emergency conditions," ERCOT tweeted Tuesday afternoon. The grid operator said it did not expect customer outages, adding that "declaring an emergency would allow us to access additional resources." As for the conservation, it urged consumers and businesses to reduce their electricity usage in the afternoon and evening. ERCOT came under fire over its handling of a historic winter storm that hit Texas in mid-February, leaving millions in darkness and freezing temperature for days. According to the latest release from the Texas Department of State Health Service, there are at least 125 deaths related to the winter storm. Enditem MAMAMOO Wheein is finally back with a new mini-album titled "Redd," which features the title track "Water Color." After its release, the song not only climbed to the top of a domestic chart, but it also landed on the No. 1 spot of more than 10 iTunes charts. MAMAMOO Wheein Makes a Comeback with "Redd" Mini-Album On April 13, Wheein released a new a new solo mini-album entitled "Redd," and also dropped the music video for the title track "Water Color." "Water Color" is about being confident and knowing oneself in each situation you encounter. The physical album "Redd" also includes an English version of "Water Color," which will be released through various music sites at a later date. This marked Wheein's first comeback in more than one year since her first single album, "Soar," which came out in September 2019. Watch the music video for MAMAMOO Wheein's "Water Color" below! MAMAMOO Wheein's "Water Color" Scores No. 1 on Domestic Charts and Over 10 iTunes Charts Shortly after the "Redd" mini-album was released, the title track "Water Color" quickly ranked first on various domestic charts, such as the real-time charts of Bugs and Genie, as well as on MelOn's Latest 24Hits. Wheein's new solo track also landed on MelOn's 24Hits. Based on the daily chart, "Water Color" is at No. 5 on Bugs, No. 18 on Genie, and No. 47 as of press time. In addition, "Water Color" attracted many global fans and dominated the iTunes Top Songs charts in at least 13 countries around the world. These include Czech Republic, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, and more. On the worldwide iTunes Song chart, Wheein's "Water Color" ranked tenth with 8,708 points. It is the only new K-pop song within the top 10. Meanwhile, "Water Color" is currently in second place on the iTunes Top 100 K-pop Songs. "Butterfly," which is also included in the "Redd" album, claimed the No. 8 spot. "Redd" by MAMAMOO Wheein Enters iTunes Album Charts MAMAMOO Wheein's new album also entered iTunes charts in other countries. "Redd" landed on No. 3 in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey. The album also ranked fifth in various such countries such as Vietnam, Russia, Denmark, France, United States, United Kingdom, and more. Besides the iTunes Top Albums Chart, Wheein's "Redd" also made it to the worldwide iTunes Album chart. It is currently at No. 3 with a total of 16,942 points. Album Sales on Gaon and Hanteo Charts of MAMAMOO Wheein's "Redd" When it comes to album sales, Wheein's new release earned more than 15,000 in just two days. As of April 13, "Redd" already sold a total of 17,114 copies on the Hanteo chart, making it the bestselling album by a female act that day. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: MAMAMOO's Agency Merges With OH MY GIRL's Label On April 14 at 12:30 p.m. KST, the mini-album sold 5,759 copies, totaling 22,873 copies of "Redd" sold on the Hanteo Chart. Meanwhile, on Gaon Chart, MAMAMOO Wheein is currently sitting at No. 3 on the Daily Retail Album Chart. Based on the data, "Redd" has 89 copies sold as of April 14. For more news updates about other K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here at Kpopstarz. Owned by Kpopstarz. Written by Mhaliya Scott Australians could see a surge in vaccinations in the final quarter of this year in a federal plan to set up massive sites capable of inoculating thousands of people each day, holding out the promise of protecting the population by Christmas. Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed the plan in a speech that admitted to problems in the vaccine rollout and aired hopes for a new approach when he meets state and territory leaders at a national cabinet meeting on Monday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted to problems in the vaccine rollout while airing hopes for new agreements with the states. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Our task now is to work with the states and territories to find the best method for mass vaccination to be achieved in that fourth quarter, or earlier if those doses become available sooner, Mr Morrison said. And if we get that right, it should be possible it should, assuming supply chains and vaccine hesitancy not getting beyond us it should be possible to vaccinate the balance of the population this year. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or "the Company") (TSX:OMI)(AIM:OMI), a South American-focused gold developer and explorer, is pleased to announce the results for the third quarter ended February 28, 2021 ("Q3 21" or the "Quarter"). All dollar figures are stated in US$ unless otherwise noted. The unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company for the quarter ended February 28, 2021 and the related management's discussion and analysis have been filed and are available for review on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. They are also available on the Company's website at www.orosur.ca. A link to the PDF version of the financial statements is available here: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/3651V_1-2021-4-13.pdf Highlights of the Third Quarter Results for 2020/21 Colombia On 30th September 2020, Newmont Corporation ("Newmont"), entered into a Joint Venture ("JV") with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico") whereby the two companies will jointly assume and advance Newmont's prior rights and obligations with respect to the Anza Project in Colombia on a 50:50 basis, with Agnico as operator of the JV. Agnico's and Newmont's JV vehicle was renamed Minera Monte Aguila. Following receipt of exploration funds from its JV partner Minera Monte Aquila, Minera Anza began the process of re-establishing its field camp at the Anza project in readiness for commencement of field operations. A substantial team of geoscientists and support staff were recruited to manage the work. Drilling operations commenced on 15th November 2020 with a total of 2,994.7m drilled to the end of February 2021, with 2,762m completed during the quarter. Two announcements were made relating to assay results from the ongoing drilling campaign - on 25th January 2021 and 22nd February 2021. Key intersections included: MAP-072 4.1m @ 6.52g/t Au, 29.73g/t Ag and 0.28% Zn from 108m. 5.90m @ 4.55g/t Au, 2.74g/t Ag and 0.30% Zn from 171.1m, and 70.50m @ 3.53g/t Au, 9.33g/t Ag and 1.62% Zn from 184.80m MAP-073 21.60m @ 6.02g/t Au, 6.02g/t Ag and 3.23 %Zn from 271.75m MAP-074 5.20m @ 1.17g/t Au 4.97g/t Ag and 3.02% Zn from 195.40m MAP-075 19.85m @ 0.90g/t Au 2.17 g/t Ag and 6.46% Zn from 226.15m MAP-076 12.25m @ 5.39g/t Au, 1.65 g/t Ag and 0.18 % Zn from 228.65m A considerable volume of samples remains at the laboratory of ALS in Peru, which has experienced substantial delays in turnaround times due to Covid related staff shortages. These issues are slowly being resolved and it is anticipated that assay delays will be reduced in the next quarter. Apart from drilling at the APTA prospect, work commenced on regional mapping and sampling across the wider lease holding. A large program of BLEG sampling commenced, which once analysed should provide vectors to more targeted programs in following quarters. The Company has commenced work on converting the last of its secure license applications to granted status so that they can be accessed for exploration work later in the year. Uruguay In Uruguay, the Company has focused its activities on the implementation of the Creditors Agreement, which was approved by the Court in September 2019, and the sale of the assets of its Uruguayan subsidiary Loryser. As part of that Agreement, Orosur issued in December 2019,10,000,000 Orosur common shares to a trust for the benefit of Loryser's creditors as contemplated in the court-approved Creditors Agreement. At the same time, and in line with Company's expectations, during Q3 2020, Loryser signed a Settlement Agreement with DINAMA (Uruguay environmental agency) in order to recover the $1,326k from an environmental guarantee it had executed previously. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Loryser is continuing with the reclamation of the tailings dam and Dinama will pay in instalments upon completion of a nine-phased closure plan. The agreement is now effective after getting final approval from the Audit Tribunal, which oversees all Governmental accounts. The reclamation is progressing well. The first of the payments from DINAMA in an amount of $150k was received by the Company on May 21, 2020 and the second payment of $269k was received on December 7, 2020. On August 6, 2020, the Company sold its mining and exploration permits in the San Gregorio Project area of Uruguay to Kiwanda Group LLC for an aggregate cash consideration of $550k of which $250k was received on completion and a further $300k is payable on August 1, 2021. Good progress is being made on the sale of Loryser's other assets including plant and equipment. The proceeds from all of these sales will be used to pay liabilities in Uruguay in connection with the aforementioned Creditors Agreement. Financial and Corporate On February 28, 2021, the Company had a cash balance of $7,006k, (May 31, 2020 - $782k) which includes the proceeds from the private placement and from the exercise of options, both detailed below. As at April 13, 2021, the Company had a cash balance of $7,595k. On October 30, 2020, 2,876,670 options were exercised by a number of employees and former employees On December 7, 2020, the Company completed a private placement financing consisting of the sale of 23,529,412 units (the "Units") at 17 pence per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of 4 million ($5,372k). Each Unit consisted of one (1) common share in the capital stock of the Company ("Common Share") and one-half (1/2) of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of 25.5 pence for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. On December 10, 2020, the Company granted an aggregate of 5,600,000 stock options of which 4,300,000 were granted to certain directors and officers of the Company, at an exercise price of CAD$0.325 with an expiration date of December 10, 2030. These options vest 50% immediately and the 50% on December 10, 2021. On January 12, 2021, the Company appointed Mr. Nicholas (Nick) von Schirnding to the Company's Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director. The Company also appointed Mr. Louis Castro, then non-executive chairman of the Company, to the role of Executive Chairman. Outlook and Strategy During the period, the Company continued its focus on developing the potential at Anza and continuing the orderly closure of its historical operations in Uruguay in accordance with the court agreed settlement process. Work on both facets of the corporate strategy is progressing well and the recent capital raising in November 2020 has provided sufficient balance sheet strength to continue progress. The Company is also examining new business opportunities in South America, subject to travel limitations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. For further information, please contact: Orosur Mining Inc Louis Castro, Chairman, Brad George, CEO info@orosur.ca Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Joint Broker Jeff Keating / Caroline Rowe Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 470 0470 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker Andy Thacker/Zoe Alexander Tel: +44 (0) 20 3657 0050 Flagstaff Communications Tim Thompson Mark Edwards Fergus Mellon orosur@flagstaffcomms.com Tel: +44 (0)207 129 1474 The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation ("MAR "). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. About Orosur Mining Inc. Orosur Mining Inc. (TSX: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a precious metals developer and explorer focused on identifying and advancing gold projects in South America. The Company operates in Colombia and Uruguay. About the Anza Project Anza is a gold exploration project, comprising three exploration licenses, four exploration license applications, and several small exploitation permits, totaling 207.5km2 in the prolific Mid-Cauca belt of Colombia. The Anza Project is located 50km west of Medellin and is easily accessible by all-weather roads and boasts excellent infrastructure including water, power, communications and large exploration camp. The Anza Project is currently wholly owned by Orosur via its subsidiary, Minera Anza S.A. The Anza project is subject to an Exploration Agreement with Venture Option between Orosur's 100% subsidiary Minera Anza S.A and Minera Monte Aguila SAS, a 50/50 joint venture between Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM, TSX:NGT), and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM, TSX:AEM). Forward Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the exploration plans in Colombia and the funding from Newmont/Agnico of those plans, Newmont/Agnico's decision to continue with the Exploration and Option agreement, the ability for Loryser to continue and finalize with the remediation in Uruguay, the ability to implement the Creditors' Agreement successfully as well as continuation of the business of the Company as a going concern and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. The Company's continuance as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain adequate financing, to reach profitable levels of operations and to reach a satisfactory implementation of the Creditor's Agreement in Uruguay. These material uncertainties may cast significant doubt upon the Company's ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business and accordingly the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited, those as described in Section "Risks Factors" of the Company's MDA and the Annual Information Form. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Orosur Mining Inc. Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) Unaudited As at February 28, 2021 As at May 31, 2020 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,006 $ 782 Accounts receivable and other assets 165 130 Assets held for sale in Uruguay 2,050 3,081 Total current assets 9,221 3,993 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 128 72 Exploration and evaluation assets Columbia 5,247 6,479 Total assets $ 14,596 $ 10,544 LIABILITIES AND (DEFICIT) Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 373 $ 313 Liabilities of Chile discontinued operation 2,063 2,010 Warrants 802 - Liabilities held for sale in Uruguay 17,833 17,389 Total current liabilities 21,071 19,712 Deficit Share capital 70,671 65,670 Shares held by Trust (325) (380 ) Contributed surplus 6,751 5,987 Currency translation reserve (1,883) (2,016 ) Deficit (81,689) (78,429 ) Total deficit (6,475) (9,168 ) Total liabilities and deficit $ 14,596 $ 10,544 Orosur Mining Inc. Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) Unaudited Three Months Ended February 28, Three Months Ended February 29, Nine Months Ended February 28, Nine Months Ended February 29, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Restated (Restated Operating expenses Corporate and administrative expenses $ (377) $ (319 ) $ (910) $ (1,039 ) Exploration expenses (10) (14 ) (39) (71 ) Share-based payments (859) (3 ) (867) (34 ) Other income 9 - 20 1 Net finance cost (3) 21 (6) 18 Loss on fair value of warrants (61) (20 ) (61) (11 ) Net foreign exchange loss 135 (9 ) 152 (16 ) Net loss for the period for continued operations $ (1,166) $ (344 ) $ (1,711) $ (1,152 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) Cumulative translation adjustment $ (24) $ - $ 133 $ (269 ) Total comprehensive loss for the period from continued operations (1,190) (344 ) (1,578) (1,421 ) Income (loss) from discontinued operations (66) (198 ) (1,549) 479 Total comprehensive loss for the period (1,256) (542 ) (3,127) (942 ) Basic and diluted net loss per share for continued operations $ (0.01) $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01) $ 0.00 Basic and diluted net loss per share for discontinued operations $ (0.00) $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01) $ 0.00 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 185,392 159,618 168,917 153,380 Orosur Mining Inc. Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) Unaudited Nine Months Nine Months Ended Ended February 28, February 29, 2021 2020 (Restated) Operating activities Net loss for the period $ (3,260) $ (673 ) Adjustments for: Share-based payments 867 34 Obsolescence provision (100) - Fair value of warrants 61 11 Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment (400) (391 ) Foreign exchange and other 1,472 (331 ) Changes in non-cash working capital items: Accounts receivable and other assets (14) 224 Inventories 1,356 316 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (791) (171 ) Net cash used in operating activities (809) (981 ) Investing activities Proceeds received for sale of property, plant and equipment 461 468 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (61) - Environmental tasks - (395 ) Proceeds received from exploration and option agreement 2,893 1,250 Exploration and evaluation expenditures (1,540) (577 ) Net cash provided by investing activities 1,753 746 Financing activities Issue of common shares 4,978 - Proceeds from exercise of options 437 - Proceeds from exercise of warrants 282 - Net cash provided by financing activities 5,697 - Net Change in cash and cash equivalents 6,641 (235 ) Net change in cash classified within assets held for sale (417) 176 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 782 526 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 7,006 $ 467 This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Orosur Mining Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640286/Orosur-Mining-Inc-Announces-Third-Quarter-Results-for-202021 Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust Plc (the "Company") Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 28th April 12:15pm (the "AGM") As set out in the Company's annual report for the year ending 31 December 2020, due to continued UK Government restrictions on travel and public gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders will unfortunately not be able to attend the AGM in person, and are therefore requested to provide proxy voting instructions in advance by logging on to the Registrar's online portal, www.signalshares.com, and selecting Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust plc. You will need your investor code ("IVC"), which can be found on your share certificate. If you hold your shares via a nominee (e.g. an investment platform) you will need to contact your nominee and request that they vote according to your instructions. Votes must be lodged no later than 12:15pm on Monday26 April 2021 and voting on the day of the AGM will not be possible. A presentation from the Investment Manager, comprising slides and a voiceover, will be available on the Company's website (www.globalrenewablestrust.com) the week before the meeting, and the Board and the Investment Manager would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions shareholders may have. To that end, shareholders are invited to email their questions to the Company Secretary ahead of the meeting. The AGM itself will be webcast so that shareholders may follow the proceedings online, and hear questions answered, although they will not be able to speak or vote. Following the conclusion of the meeting, written answers to questions will be displayed on the website, as will the voting results. If a shareholder wishes to send in a question for the Board or the Investment Manager, or to request a link to the meeting webcast, they can do so by emailing the Company Secretary, Link Company Matters Limited, at pmgr@linkgroup.co.uk by 5:30pm on Monday 26th April. In your email, please provide your name and IVC, which can be found on your share certificate. If you have any questions about your IVC, please contact the Company's Registrar, Link Group, on 0371 664 0300 (+44 (0)371 664 0391 if calling from overseas). [April 14, 2021] AppCrown Announces Vantage Point as the First Industry Consulting Partner and AppCrown Integration Distribution Partner AppCrown, the pioneer and a leading managed turnkey industry integration provider for enterprise cloud-based CRM systems, is pleased to announce Vantage Point (News - Alert) as the first consulting partner for Salesforce Financial Services Cloud ("FSC"), helping wealth management and banking companies scale Salesforce FSC customer success with turnkey back office and 3rd party application integrations. Vantage Point will utilize AppCrown's managed turnkey industry integration solutions for wealth management to enhance the Salesforce FSC implementation experience by being able to scale any wealth management firms [RIAs, Independent Broker Dealers, Bank Broker Dealers, and Hybrid RIAs] integration needs. For example, because of AppCrown's managed turnkey industry integration solution, Vantage Point customers will be able to integrate multi-custodians into Salesforce FSC within 24-48 hours after entitlements are established. Such a partnership empowers Vantage Point to create tremendous value add consultative solutions around a highly customized Salesforce FSC customer experience. Since 2009, AppCrown has been a managed turnkey industry integration provider for wealth management and banking; effectively, AppCrown normalizes an industry ecosystem into any Salesforce experience, enabling consultants and customers to create their own customizations with integrated industry data. The first major enterprise level customer, of national footprint, to utilize AppCrown's managed turnkey industry integration solution was TD Ameritrade Institutional; utilizing AppCrown's managed turnkey industry integration for wealth management to deploy a national turnkey CRM solution with out-of-the-box custodian integrations [within 24 hours of purchase]. Vantage Point Consulting (Vantage, Vantage Point) is an employee-first and client-success-focused, Salesforce cross-cloud implementation partner with a niche focu working with clients across the financial services industry. Vantage Point Consulting has grown from a team of former industry practitioners and Salesforce ecosystem veterans to a firm that provides deep expertise and experience at scale. Vantage Point serves clients across all Financial Services sub-verticals, including wealth and asset management, insurance, capital markets, banking, lending, and more. The Vantage team has grown expeditiously and now has over 30 highly experienced professionals with over 200-years of combined financial services experience and over 80 Salesforce certifications. Vantage offers its clients a comprehensive and collaborative approach to meeting their digital transformation goals and objectives through its end-to-end service offerings - consulting, implementation, integrations, development, data & analytics, and enablement. "We see this as a highly value add for the universe of existing Salesforce FSC customers and new, prospective, Salesforce FSC customers. Our forward-looking efforts will be to bring highly capable technology enablement firms, such as Vantage Point, to deliver turnkey industry integrations into an enterprise CRM with their implementation strategies." said Ted Tsung, CEO of AppCrown. "At Vantage Point Consulting, we strive to remain ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and trends across the industry, including innovative ways to solve to meet those trends and needs across our client base. We have worked with AppCrown dating back to my days as a Salesforce customer. This partnership with AppCrown will allow us to provide new and existing Salesforce customers with a seamless turnkey integration into Salesforce Financial Services Cloud. We look forward to partnering closely with the team at AppCrown and our mutual clients into the future." said David Cockrum, Founder & CEO of Vantage Point Consulting For those interested to learn more, please register interest for AppCrown's managed turnkey integration solution, https://www.appcrown.com/salesforce-fsc or contact Vantage Point at vantagepoint.io or call us at 469-499-3400 About AppCrown AppCrown LLC, a privately held technology company based in New York, is transforming the way wealth management firm's setup their CRM integrations with critical 3rd party systems; delivering turnkey, out-of-the-box automated integrations rather than the traditional consult & build approach. About Vantage Point Consulting Vantage Point Consulting partners with clients to help them get the most out of their investment in the Salesforce platform to meet business goals and objectives. Vantage has exclusive focus on Financial Services with over 200-years of combined industry experience. We provide Senior-level engagement and white-glove service across all of our projects. Our full suite of Salesforce Consulting services includes cloud implementations, marketing automation, integrations, data migrations, advisory, and managed services. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005922/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] YEREVAN. While presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020 at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan quoted from then President Serzh Sargsyan's interview with Russia Today, in November 2016, where he spoke about the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. Pashinyan quoted from that interview, saying: "We were close to signing the document several times, where all these principles were clearly reflected; that is, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are leaving the territories that are currently occupied as a security zone. The territories that the Azerbaijanis call occupied, they call them the seven forcibly seized Azerbaijani regions. We leave the territories, go. But in the first point it was clearly written that the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh will be determined through the free expression of the will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Then it was written who will participate, what is the agenda and everything. The journalist asks: That is, a referendum? Serzh Sargsyan answers: Yes, a referendum. That was the embodiment of the right to self-determination, but every time the Azerbaijani side was putting forward new demands; that is, we have reached a point where we say, 'Azerbaijan, I return the seven regions to you,' [but] Azerbaijan says, 'No, you have to give more,'" Pashinyan said. Also, the Armenian PM recalled Serzh Sargsyan's interview given to a local television on July 16, 2017, quoting: "The April war showed that Azerbaijan rejects the Madrid version of the solution of the problem, and this became clear to everyone. Azerbaijan's position is also clear: it says that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is Azerbaijan's internal affair; that is, Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan and should remain so." Westlake, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Epidemiologic Solutions Corporation (ESC), a public charity qualified by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) commits not less than $200,000 of funding to Gold River Productions Services (OTC Pink: GRPS) for its development of PainplexTM an all-herbal extraction developed by Gold River Productions Services (GRPS) and other formulations. This will be part of the "Relief Kit" which will include products from both GRPS and Halberd Corporation (OTC Pink: HALB) designed to alleviate moderate to severe discomfort without opioids or other potentially harmful and addictive drug. The kit and products will be available free of charge to veterans in need. Such veterans will be encouraged to provide feedback about "Relief Kit". William Hartman, CEO of HALB states, "This is a huge step forward in providing relief to our veterans who have suffered too much for too long without relief. Halberd's hemp patch is designed to provide relief for up to four days, which I believe makes this product unique and will afford stand-alone or adjunctive help." Richard Goulding, M.D., Chairman of the Board of Gold River Productions (GRPS) has some further input, "Opioid addiction is a very difficult problem and is particularly prevalent in veterans who often had to take narcotics for injuries. PainplexTM is our proprietary formulation that is non-toxic and non-habit forming. While we have seen overwhelming positive response to our Raspberry ReliefTM gummies, the complexity of relieving discomfort involves multiple approaches to the problem. PainplexTM will be our first commercially available herbal blend formulated by Dr. Bruce Bond, who has been involved with its creation for over 25 years having perfected the compounding with a large volume of patients. While we have discounted the product to the charitable foundation, this still represents income to the Company and allows us an incredible opportunity to have actual product created and available for sale. But even more important is what Epidemiologic Solutions is able to do for our veterans. With the implementation of PainplexTM this not only launches our nutraceutical products line, but allows us to help fund Epidemiologic Solutions in perpetuity with a percentage of our sales proceeds going back to the charity. In essence, this launches the catalyst to continue our efforts to support veterans as they deserve to be supported. Supplying veterans with non-toxic solutions to sleep, anxiety and pain has always been our goal and we are thrilled to contribute in this small way to their comfort and health." Dr. Bruce Bond, Chief Products Development officer of Gold River Productions states, "We are so thrilled to be able to help veterans with their principal medical issues. This collaboration with ESC is an amazing endeavor. We hope to provide a "Relief Kit". This will be a package designed to cover all aspects of discomfort, and will include, but not be limited to our CBG gummies, and some new products we have seen astounding results with. In addition to the Hemp patch of Halberd's, which is an amazing and long-lasting product, we hope to be able to offer this kit to our investors first, on a limited basis, and then the public. In addition to the foregoing, we have 16 nutraceutical formulations in various stages of R&D that will be developed in sequence. They cover a number of concerns from male stamina to energy and more. This has been developed from over 25 years of clinical practice and years in the nutraceutical industry. Basically, with proper extraction and combinations, we can achieve efficacy and real value for our patients." *Note: These products have not been evaluated by the FDA. The Company make no claims that these or any of their products are cures or treatments for any disease. The Company welcomes any donations, which can be done by visiting the website at: http://epidemiologicsolutions.com/ Contribution is tax-deductible in accordance with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Sections 26 U.S. Code 170 and 501(3). We also welcome suggestions. DISCLAIMER: ESC seeks donations. Payments to ESC do not constitute an investment; there is no quid pro quo. By making a donation, one does not receive any kind of equity or nonequity benefit that specifically accrues to the donor. Instead, we only hope that you and others will help to make the world a better place. CONTACT: Epidemiologic Solutions Corporation http://epidemiologicsolutions.com/ info@EpidemiologicSolutions.com Twitter: @escscientific About Gold River Productions Inc., (OTC Pink: GRPS) Gold River will focus on market-targeted products including, but not limited to rare cannabinoids and effective products where a particular need is identified. Products for pain relief, sleep, etc. that will be distributed through convenience stores, independent pharmacies and some proprietary products through physicians. CONTACT: Gold River Productions, Inc. support@grpsinc.com www.GRPSInc.com @grpsinc Twitter: @grpsinc goldriversocialmedia@gmail.com About Halberd Corporation Halberd Corporation (OTC Pink: HALB), is a publicly traded company on the OTC Market and is in full compliance with OTC Market reporting requirements. It is debt-free and holds the exclusive rights to several patent pending COVID-19 extracorporeal treatments: The Company holds the exclusive rights to the COVID-19 extracorporeal treatment technology provisional patent applications: "Method for Treating and Curing Covid-19 Infection"; "Method for Treating COVID-19 Inflammatory Cytokine Storm for the Reduction of Morbidity and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients"; "Method for Treating and Curing COVID-19 Infection by Utilizing a Laser to Eradicate the Virus", "Nasal Spray To Prevent The Transmission Of Covid-19 Between Humans", "Nasal Spray to Prevent the Transmission of Covid-19", "Method For Treating And Curing Covid-19 Infection By Utilizing Radiofrequency Extracorporeally To Eradicate The Virus", and "Medication For The Reduction Of Morbidity And Mortality In Persons Infected By Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19 Virus)". Halberd also holds the exclusive rights to the underlying granted U.S. Patent 9,216,386 and U.S. Patent 8,758,287. To get the latest news on Halberd's exciting developments, subscribe by submitting this form. (https://halberdcorporation.com/contact-us/) For more information please contact: William A. Hartman w.hartman@halberdcorporation.com; support@halberdcorporation.com www.halberdcorporation.com Twitter:@HalberdC Safe Harbor Notice Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The Companies caution that statements, and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. The Companies undertake no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. Investor caution/added risk for investors in companies claiming involvement in COVID-19 initiatives - On April 8, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and William Hinman, the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, issued a joint public statement on the importance of disclosure during the COVID-19 crisis. The SEC and Self-Regulatory Organizations are targeting public companies that claim to have products, treatment or other strategies with regard to COVID-19. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, new information may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The Company further cautions investors that the primary focus and goal is to battle this pandemic for the good of the world. As such, it is possible that the Company may find it necessary to make disclosures which are consistent with that goal, but which may be adverse to the pecuniary interests of the Company and of its shareholders. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80411 If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today that there is a written agreement with Azerbaijan over the return of the prisoners of war and it remains into force. There is a written agreement with Azerbaijan on the return of the prisoners of war which has been signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and the Russian President. That agreement is in force every day, every moment. We should note that Azerbaijan doesnt fulfill its obligations, and I am happy to record that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have clearly emphasized the necessity of the return of captives and other detained persons, Pashinyan said during a Q&A session in the Parliament. The PM stated that the Azerbaijani authorities are making this issue a subject of political speculation, also for provoking internal political instability in Armenia. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Were asking for people to understand the pain, the violence, the brutality, the chattel-ness of what we went through, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat of Texas, said during a committee debate late Wednesday. And of course, were asking for harmony, reconciliation, reason to come together as Americans. The renewed interest in reparations comes as Mr. Biden has positioned addressing racial inequities at the center of his domestic policy agenda, proposing billions of dollars in investments in Black farmers, business owners, neighborhoods, students and the poor. The White House has said Mr. Bidens $4 trillion jobs agenda is intended, in part, to tackle systemic racism and rebuild our economy and our social safety net so that every person in America can reach their full potential. The question of reparations to former slaves and their descendants has vexed and divided policymakers for generations, caught up in larger questions about the legacy of racism in America and white denial of the crippling effects of the slave economy. It presents thorny practical questions as well, like who should benefit, what form reparations might take and how to pay for them. William T. Sherman, the Union general, made the first widespread attempt in 1865 with a special battlefield order to seize 400,000 acres of costal land and award it in parcels to former slaves. But after President Abraham Lincoln died later that year, his successor, Andrew Johnson, quickly rescinded it. No subsequent plan has come close to enactment. Black representatives in Congress began rekindling the issue three decades ago when they first proposed a commission to explore it. The bill before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday would establish a body to study the effects of slavery and the decades of economic and social discrimination that followed, often with government involvement, and propose possible ways to address the yawning gap in wealth and opportunity between Black and white Americans. It would also consider a national apology for the harm caused by slavery. Vietnam records 16 more imported Covid-19 patients Two foreign experts and 14 Vietnamese people who recently arrived in Vietnam from abroad have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of patients in the country to 2,733, the Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday evening. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, an Indian man and a US man aged 38 and 58 recently landed at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City. They were both sent to local quarantine facilities upon arrival. The two men are now being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital for Covid-19 patients. 14 Vietnamese patients include eight men and six women aged between 23-50 who recently returned to Quang Nam, Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces, and Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh cities from Russia, the US, and Japan. They have all been sent to local quarantine facilities upon arrival are now being treated at local hospitals. With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 2,733, including 910 locally-transmitted cases reported since the new outbreak started in Hai Duong on January 28. As of 6 pm on April 14, a total of 2,445 Covid-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital. There have been 35 deaths, most of them being the elderly with serious underlying diseases. At present, nearly 39,000 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home. Professor Marie Scully, a haematologist at University College London, stumbled on the link when testing for unusual antibodies A British scientist has revealed how her instinct helped to uncover the link between AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine and a very rare blood clot. Haematologist Professor Marie Scully unknowingly stumbled upon the complication in early March, when a woman in her 30s was admitted to hospital with a brain blockage. Despite numerous tests, University College London Hospital medics could not work out what caused her to suffer the condition, which sparked a severe headache, light intolerance and vomiting. Further tests showed she had clots in her stomach, liver and lungs. Baffled doctors also spotted she had low levels of platelets which clump together to form clots. The unidentified woman, one of the first to suffer the vaccine-related complication in Britain, was later wheeled into intensive care because her condition deteriorated so quickly. In desperate hope of finding a way to treat her, Professor Scully had the brainwave of swabbing for an unusual blood-clot causing antibody that is normally only triggered by heparin a drug that is designed to stop blood clots. The ironic side effect heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurs when the immune system wrongly attacks the blood-thinner. The patient tested positive for the antibodies named PF4 despite never being given the drug. Recalling her decision to test for the antibodies, Professor Scully told The Guardian: 'Oh, I'd love to tell you why. I don't know why I did it. Looking back, it makes no sense.' She then ran the same tests on a blood sample from another woman in her 50s who had died with the same brain blood clot called CVST and thrombocytopenia, and a third patient in Birmingham. Both also came back positive. Professor Scully claimed the only factor linking them was AstraZeneca's vaccine all three had the jab shortly before they were struck down. German and Norwegian researchers also uncovered similar results last month. Britain's medical advisers last week recommended under-30s receive an alternative jab over the blood clot link. Denmark becomes the first country to stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine entirely Denmark has completely ceased administering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine following its possible link to very rare cases of blood clots. The decision will remove the shot from Denmark's vaccination scheme and could delay the country's vaccine rollout by up to four weeks, based on previous statements by health bodies. 'The Danish Health Authority has decided to continue the vaccination against Covid-19 without the vaccine from AstraZeneca,' it said in a statement, adding that it had not ruled out using the vaccine in the future. Almost one million Danes have received their first jabs, 77 per cent with Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine, 7.8 per cent with Moderna's shot and 15.3 per cent with AstraZeneca's, before it was suspended. Denmark was the first country to pause the use of the AstraZeneca jab in March amid concerns about blood clots. Several other countries followed suit though most, including Germany and France, have since resumed the use of the vaccine for older people. Advertisement Health chiefs acted out of an abundance of caution, saying the chances of younger adults dying from Covid was so tiny that the benefits of the vaccine did not clearly outweigh the risks. But the risk-benefit ratio for older adults, who face a much greater risk of becoming seriously ill, was clearly in favour of the vaccine, the panel concluded. Scientists and leading experts believe the complication was occurring slightly more often than expected in younger adults. They have emphasised, however, that it is vanishingly rare to develop the condition after the jab occurring in around one in 250,000 recipients, overall. The rate for under-30s is thought to be roughly one in 90,000. The condition in question, known as cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT), is the development of a blood clot in a vein that carries blood away from the brain. Experts say it is occurring in combination with low levels of blood platelets, known as thrombocytopaenia. The MHRA says blood clots can also occur in other major veins, such as those in the abdomen and legs. Clots are now starting to be seen in the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine as well - which is set to be approved in Britain within days. No10 has bought 30million doses of the jab but deliveries aren't scheduled to trickle in until July. The UK has so far recorded 79 blood-clotting cases linked to the jab to date out of more than 18million AstraZeneca doses, of whom 19 have died. No blood clots have been linked to second doses, prompting experts to suggest the complication is an 'idiosyncratic' response to the original jab. Professor Scully added to the newspaper that the discovery was a 'massive switch' in how doctors treat patients struck down by the complication. 'It wasn't just diagnosing it. The normal lines of therapy had to almost be reversed,' she said. Professor Marcel Levi, who was chief executive of UCLH at the time, said they alerted Britain's top medical officers as soon as they made the find. 'I sent an email to Chris Whitty (England's chief medical officer) and Patrick Vallance (No10's chief scientific adviser) and they immediately responded,' he told the newspaper. 'I think they kept a close eye on the numbers in the following days.' An email was also sent out to all hospitals to warn of potential adverse reactions to the vaccine. And a Whatsapp group of 500 blood clot experts was founded to monitor cases in the country. The blood clot is triggered when antibodies start binding to platelets in the blood which the body uses to close open wounds and stop them from bleeding. But the attack on them by the immune system causes them to bunch together in the bloodstream, leading to blockages. Professor Scully revealed they are investigating whether under-60s could also face a higher risk, and particularly those in their mid-40s. 'But that could change as we get more and more cases identified,' she added. Neither Britain or Europe's medical regulator have formally recommended an age-restriction on the use of the jab. But every nation has acted on their own accord, with France recommending other jabs for under-55s and Germany saying the same for under-60s. Both countries have also said anyone in these groups who received a first dose of this jab should get an alternative, despite no evidence currently saying whether jabs can be mixed. Austria is always ready to provide a venue for a possible meeting between Russian and U.S. Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, if the sides opt to organize their summit on its territory, an Austrian foreign ministry official said. "It is up to the sides to decide whether to organize such summit or not, where and when to hold it," the official said when asked whether Austria was ready to provide a venue for such a summit bearing in mind that it had hosted a lot of such talks. "Naturally, Austria will always be at the service of participants in the high-level talks of all types," TASS cited him as saying. The While House and the Kremlin reported after a telephone call between Biden and Putin earlier on Tuesday that the two leaders had discussed a possibility of a personal meeting in the coming months. Vienna has been hosting Russia-U.S. arms control talks. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg earlier confirmed that his country was ready to offer its services as a venue for US-Russian negotiations. SPRINGFIELD With the man who murdered her father nearly 30 years ago back behind bars, the world feels right again. John Stote, convicted in 1997 in the brutal stabbing death of Springfield bar owner John Jackie Regan three years earlier, received a rare medical parole in late January from the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections. Stote, 61, had contracted COVID-19 and was on a ventilator. Regans family was incensed when Stote was released from prison on Jan. 21 under a relatively new state law. They were elated when the state parole board sent him back on Monday. I feel like finally things are fair again; like the world is right again. A murderer is back behind bars where he never should have been released from, said Maureen Regan Moriarty, a special needs schoolteacher from Springfield. While Stotes attorney, Mark Bluver, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, a spokesman for the parole board confirmed Stotes return to MCI-Shirley. By statute, medical parole is reserved for those inmates who are terminally ill or permanently incapacitated, and whose condition is so debilitating that the inmate does not pose a public safety risk, the state official said. The statute also requires that a person be returned to custody if they have recovered from the medical condition that made them eligible for medical parole, and the Parole Board carefully reviews each case to make this determination. The state law allowing for medical parole hands that authority to Department of Corrections Commissioner Carol Mici, while the power to send parolees back to prison lies with the board. Stote was returned to prison along with Nelson Rodriguez, convicted of the first-degree murder of 18-year-old Felipe Barros in New Bedford in 1997. While those convicted of second-degree murder are eligible for parole after 15 years, first-degree murderers are never afforded that option. The so-called compassionate relief statute offers very ill first-degree murder convicts the unusual opportunity for parole, and the pandemic has tested that more frequently than ever before. Prison reform advocates have lauded the medical releases, arguing state sentencing standards are draconian. Because Massachusetts does not have the death penalty, the commonwealth has among the largest number of aging and elderly inmates in the nation. Upon their return, Stote and Rodriguez who taunted his victims family after his conviction, according to a news account in SouthCoast Today will have an opportunity for a preliminary hearing within two weeks. That hearing will determine whether the pair continue to meet the statutory criteria for medical parole eligibility in light of their continuing recovery, the state parole spokesman said. Regan Moriarty said she will encourage state lawmakers to pass reforms tightening up the language of the current medical parole law to exclude first-degree murderers. Its now more important than ever for the state Legislature to do the right thing, she said. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni also echoed his support for the transfers back to prison. The loss and devastation of a murder is the unrelenting sentence for a victims family and community. Lawful and just murder sentences must have similar finality. Accordingly, the legislature should act with urgency to clarify and amend this statute, Gulluni said. Representatives of Vietnam and the UK hand over notes confirming the date when the UKVFTA comes into force. Photo: VNA Emily Hamblin, UK consul general in Ho Chi Minh City and trade director for Vietnam, said that May 1 is the next milestone to celebrate in the United Kingdom and Vietnams timeline of implementing the free trade deal (UVFTA), when the agreement will legally enter into force. However, the benefits of it have already been in place for several months, being provisionally applied from January 1. Some 65 per cent of all tariffs have already been eliminated and this will increase to 99 per cent over the next six years. This equates to tariff savings of $134.65 million per year on Vietnamese exports to the UK by full implementation, and of $42.52 million per year on UK exports to Vietnam. Among them, there are huge cooperation opportunities in the field of healthcare. Hamblin said that in an age of growing challenges from non-communicable diseases, and emerging threats from infectious diseases such as COVID-19, digital health has the potential to offer new solutions and alleviate pressure on overstretched health systems. Digital health technology can empower patients to actively participate in their care, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance operational efficiency. Innovation and technology have touched many aspects of life in Vietnam and healthcare is no exception. In a concerted effort to embrace Industry 4.0, the Vietnamese government has committed to a national agenda that seeks to harness the potential of digital solutions across the healthcare system. This has set a solid foundation for digital transformation in Vietnam, and the UK shares many of the same aspirations. We seek to utilise digital innovation to expand equitable access to quality care, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and wellbeing. At the early stage of digital transformation, Vietnam has plenty of opportunities to avail of innovative solutions from the UK, Hamblin stressed. Meanwhile, Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, said, As AstraZeneca continually strives to put patients first, we appreciate the UVFTA that is helping to ensure continued access to our innovative and high-quality medicines for millions of Vietnamese patients. British pharmaceuticals like AstraZeneca can enjoy the increased protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, internationalised standards and technical regulations, and enhanced transparency of policies on government procurement and reimbursement, which in turn will allow us to better serve local patients. Kapoor stressed that the UVFTA entering into force is especially meaningful when the UK and Vietnam are looking forward to another decade of bilateral strategic partnership, cooperating ever more closely in numerous areas, including healthcare, to strengthen the livelihoods and economic prosperity of the people. Indeed, a number of UK healthcare investors have started to set up their presence in Vietnam. Last year London-based Real Capital London launched a $156 million Hong Anh Medical Campus project in Ho Chi Minh City. The facility will be a state-of-the-art healthcare system incorporating a 462-bed hospital, a medical training centre, a network of general practice clinics and pharmacies, and senior residencies and nursing homes, adding much needed facilities and services to Vietnams healthcare system. The project is divided into four stages, with the final phase expected to be completed by 2030. The funds vision is to build a state-of-the-art medical campus under British standards, offering the highest standards of healthcare in Vietnam As of present, British investors have poured $3.87 billion across over 400 projects in Vietnam and is the 15th-largest foreign investor in the country. Established British actors already here include financial services companies like HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and Prudential; Jardines in real estate; and healthcare companies such as AstraZeneca, GSK, and Reckitt. In the past decade, Vietnam and the UK already enjoyed a strong growth cycle with bilateral trade growing on average 12 per cent per year. The UVFTA is built upon that strong basis and is opening the doors to increase capital flow between the two nations, according to Hamblin. She stressed that the UVFTA provides better market access for services, as Vietnam has committed to opening up markets beyond that set out within the World Trade Organizations baseline, which delivers greater market access for UK service providers. These and other measures set out in the FTA represent real benefits for both businesses and consumers. In the same vein, Kenneth Atkinson, executive chairman of Grant Thornton Vietnam and a board member of Britcham Vietnam, said that the UVFTA is one of the first signed and entered into by the UK, after leaving the European Union last year. The agreement reflects the importance both the UK and Vietnamese government place on the strategic partnership and the growing importance of the bilateral relationship. Atkinson expected that a reduction in regulatory barriers and red tape will attract UK investors to Vietnam, particularly in the healthcare space. VertiGIS, a leading geographic information systems (GIS) solution provider and software developer, announced today the completed acquisition of longstanding development partner KMS Computer GmbH. KMS is an established and trusted computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software specialist based in Dresden, Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005039/en/ KMS by VertiGIS is an established and proven provider of computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software based in Dresden, Germany. KMS is known for its GEBman software and has been supporting municipalities, industrial, service and utility companies, among others, with their facility and document management requirements since 1990. The flexible, end-to-end solutions are based on the latest web technologies and are suitable for internal or mobile use. (Graphic: Business Wire) VertiGIS is backed by global, technology-based investment firm Battery Ventures, who began acquiring GIS and location technology-focused companies under the brand in 2017. Best known for the GEBman software suite, KMS has helped municipal, industry, service, and utility companies with their facility- and document management needs since 1990. Their flexible, end-to-end solutions based upon the latest web technologies and suitable for in-house or mobile use integrate access and analysis of factual data, documents, and spatial information for plants, real estate, and capital goods. For the past 15 years, KMS has worked with VertiGIS to bring ProOffice a process-oriented software solution with optional GIS connectivity for infrastructure workflows, and built upon GEBman technology to German, Austrian, and Swiss customers. The integration of KMS into VertiGIS ensures that the strategic planning and development of ProOffice and GEBman continue to be closely coordinated. "After 30 years, it was time for me to hand over the company to the next generation," explains Konrad Schulze, founder and Managing Director of KMS. "Due to the successful partnership and cooperation that has existed between KMS and VertiGIS for many years, I know we can combine the greatest strengths of both organizations and expect our joint customers to benefit from the expanded expertise and industry-leading know-how we have developed over the years." "Previous sales partners have now become colleagues, and we are looking forward to working together as one team." Schulze's son, Sebastian, will transition from CTO at KMS to assume the co-role of Managing Director together with VertiGIS veteran Theodor Meusburger. KMS's solution will become an integral part of the VertiGIS offering for all customers and business segments and will be further supported in sales and software development by VertiGIS's global business units and teams. "We are excited to have an even closer working relationship with our friends and partners at KMS," adds Holger Schade, CEO of VertiGIS EMEA. "This transaction will drive additional innovation as we extend our technological capabilities to a broader group around the globe." "Facility management solutions are a key strength of VertiGIS', and the shared development plans for ProOffice and GEBman fit perfectly into our product strategy moving forward." About VertiGIS: VertiGIS is a leading geographic information systems (GIS) solution provider and software developer. Its focus is the development of software solutions and services that help utilities, land management, public sector, energy, telecommunications, and industry customers connect their business processes and location technology. The VertiGIS product portfolio is used by thousands of customers and millions of end-users around the world and is designed to enhance the capabilities of leading mapping software, most notably Esri's ArcGIS. Major product brands include UT for ArcGIS, the 3A product line, Geocortex, GEONIS, ConnectMaster, M4 Solutions, GeoOffice, WebOffice and ProOffice. Further information can be found at www.vertigis.com About Battery Ventures: Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, London, Israel and New York. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here. About KMS: KMS is an established and proven provider of computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software based in Dresden, Germany. KMS is known for its GEBman software and has been supporting municipalities, industrial, service and utility companies, among others, with their facility and document management requirements since 1990. The flexible, end-to-end solutions are based on the latest web technologies and are suitable for internal or mobile use. Learn more at www.gebman.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005039/en/ Contacts: Sabine Parschau, Communications Manager VertiGIS EMEA Website: www.vertigis.com Email: sabine.parschau@vertigis.com Phone: +49 89 839315 240 Holger Schade, CEO VertiGIS EMEA Website: www.vertigis.com Email: holger.schade@vertigis.com Phone: +49 89 45026 0 Sebastian Schulze, Co-Managing Director KMS by VertiGIS Website: www.gebman.com Email: sschulze@kms-computer.de Phone: +49 351 31 50 30 Theodor Meusburger, Co-Managing Director KMS by VertiGIS/Managing Director VertiGIS Austria Website: www.vertigis.at Email: theodor.meusburger@vertigis.com Phone: +43 5 9908 0 CPS Energy said it has enough power to meet demand in San Antonio as the statewide grid on Wednesday continued warning of a tight supply of electricity. However, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the states grid operator, is not asking for energy conservation. And it doesnt expect to require temporary power outages as it did in San Antonio and the rest of the state during the deadly winter storm in February. On Tuesday, ERCOT called on Texans to conserve power amid a statewide shortage, caused primarily by more power plants going offline for maintenance than usual and lower-than-expected production from wind and solar farms. On ExpressNews.com: CPS to trim bills for customers who lost a day or more of power during winter storm Temperatures have also been warmer than ERCOT had forecast, raising the demand for energy for air conditioning. Statewide, 33,000 megawatts of power generation is out of service because of maintenance work, according to ERCOT. Thats just under 40 percent of ERCOTs total generation capacity of over 80,000 megawatts. We may see tight grid conditions due to the large number of generators out of service for planned and forced maintenance, combined with low wind and solar output forecasted for today, said Woody Rickerson, ERCOTs vice president of grid planning and operations Also on Tuesday, CPS Energy said it had 400 megawatts of power available above what it expected customers to need. The next day, a CPS spokesperson said the city-owned utility generally has enough power to cover load for this time of year in our service area. Several of CPS power plants are currently offline for planned maintenance, the utility said. That includes the 560-megawatt Spruce 1 coal-fired unit, the 191-megawatt Milton B. Lee East power plant units and the three-unit Braunig natural gas plant, which has 859 megawatts of capacity. Utilities typically do maintenance work on their plants during the spring, when the weathers milder, so theyre prepared for Texas summers, when temperatures are frequently over 100 degrees and demand for electricity spikes, ERCOT officials said. Just like maintaining your car, generators must be maintained to keep them running smoothly, Rickerson said. CPS said the work underway at its plants is unrelated to the February winter storm. Several of CPSs facilities seized up or didnt function properly during the deep freeze, including the Spruce 1 unit and some of the units at the Braunig Power Station. On ExpressNews.com: CPS Energy lawsuits face slim chances of victory, raising specter of rate hike Power plants undergoing maintenance have to be up and running again by May 15 to be online for the start of summer. The deadline could explain why so many power plants are offline at the same time, said Joshua Rhodes, an energy researcher with the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas-Austin. There is not much time left to get ready for the summer, he said. He also said there are more plant outages this year as a result of hold-over impacts from the winter storm. Growth of the states load, or the amount of power needed to supply Texas growing population, could be a factor, too, he said. Rickerson said Tuesday the state isnt out of the woods yet. A few unseasonably hot days between now and mid-May could cause ERCOT to again ask Texans to conserve power, Rhodes said. We might get tight again if we have higher than expected temperatures in the near-term, he said. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net Introducing its latest television commercial, "My friend", Savanna is tackling the #MyFriendZone. Not the one you are probably thinking about; the other kind - the multiple friends South Africans tend to make going around their daily business... 3 1 of 3 Courtesy of Kendra Scott / Submitted Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy, Kendra Scott Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Kendra Scott has built her success around women. In 2002, the Austin-based CEO famously started her eponymous company with just $500, all the capital the then-single mother could muster. Over the past two decades, Kendra Scott has grown into a bedazzling billion-dollar empire, and Scott herself has become one of the richest self-made women in the country, all while raising three children and juggling the various commitments familiar to so many mothers. Capstone Mining Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX:CS) will release its 2021 first quarter results on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 after market close, followed by an investor conference call on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 10:00am (Eastern Time). Q1 2021 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST DETAILS Link to the webcast and audio: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1442216&tp_key=bb14159f30 Dial-in numbers for the audio-only portion of the conference call are below. Due to an increase in call volume, please dial-in at least five minutes prior to 10:00am ET to ensure placement into the conference line on time. Toronto: (+1) 416-764-8650 Vancouver: (+1) 778-383-7413 North America toll free: 888-664-6383 Confirmation #11415542 A replay of the conference call will be available until May 5, 2021. Dial-in numbers for Toronto: (+1) 416-764-8677 and North American toll free: 888-390-0541. The replay code is 415542#. Following the replay, an audio file will be available on Capstone's website at: https://capstonemining.com/investors/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. ABOUT CAPSTONE MINING CORP. Capstone Mining Corp. is a Canadian base metals mining company, focused on copper. We are committed to the responsible development of our assets and the environments in which we operate. Our two producing mines are the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, US and the Cozamin copper-silver mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. In addition, Capstone owns 100% of Santo Domingo, a large scale, fully permitted, copper-iron-gold project in Region III, Chile, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties. Capstone's strategy is to focus on the optimization of operations and assets in politically stable, mining-friendly regions, centred in the Americas. Our headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Further information is available at www.capstonemining.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413006157/en/ Contacts: Jerrold Annett, SVP, Strategy and Capital Markets 647-273-7351 jannett@capstonemining.com DENVER, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent clinical study published in peer-reviewed journal Life finds that women of advanced maternal age (women age 39 and older) who took CCRM Fertility's acai berry antioxidant supplement had comparable in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes to their younger counterparts, demonstrating its positive effects on aging-associated decline in fertility. CCRM Acai is made from acai berries sourced from the Amazon Rainforest and generates a very high level of natural antioxidant activity. "Oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body, is known to substantially contribute to ovarian dysfunction and subsequent diminished egg quality, especially among women of advanced maternal age. This can significantly impact a woman's chance of having a baby," said CCRM Fertility Scientific and Genetics Director Mandy Katz-Jaffe, Ph.D. "This study demonstrates that our antioxidant regiment prior to an IVF cycle can help reduce oxidative stress and restore the balance of antioxidants in the ovaries thereby enhancing the reproductive potential for women of advanced maternal age." Led by Dr. Katz-Jaffe, the study was comprised of 121 women, ages 2844, and all participants took the CCRM Acai oral supplement for 12 weeks, on average, prior to ovarian stimulation. Women ages 39 and older had a 75% live birth rate compared to women under the age of 39 with a 78% live birth rate. In conjunction with human data, Dr. Katz-Jaffe also examined the ovaries and eggs of aged mice to confirm the benefits of the CCRM Acai supplement. "On a molecular level, we noted changes in the mice that had received CCRM Acai, including increases in antioxidant pathways, decreases in aptosis (cell death), and increases in the expression of the antioxidant genes," commented Dr. Katz-Jaffe. CCRM Fertility patients, including 45-year-old Candice Burris, have positive feedback to share about the 100% natural antioxidant supplement. "After my first round of failed IVF, I was absolutely devastated as I was in my early 40s and my biological clock was ticking," said Burris. "CCRM Fertility specialists introduced me to CCRM Acai when I decided to pursue a second round of IVF. Because of CCRM Acai, I tripled the number of eggs retrieved on my second round of IVF versus the first round. Thanks to CCRM Acai and CCRM Fertility, we are forever thankful for our sweet baby girl, Skyler." CCRM Fertility Founder and Medical Director William Schoolcraft, M.D., added, "We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve IVF outcomes. The results of this study are extremely positive for women of advanced maternal age and we're pleased to offer the CCRM Acai supplement to our patients across all 11 of our fertility centers across North America." For further details, view the study published on MDBI.com. About CCRM Fertility Founded by Dr. William Schoolcraft in 1987, CCRM (Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine) Fertility is the nation's leader in fertility care and research. CCRM Fertility specializes in the most advanced fertility treatments, with deep expertise in in vitro fertilization (IVF), fertility assessment, fertility preservation, genetic testing, third party reproduction and egg donation. Unlike many other fertility clinics that outsource their specialists and testing needs, CCRM Fertility leverages its own data, as well as a dedicated team of in-house reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and geneticists in order to deliver industry-leading outcomes. CCRM Fertility operates 11 fertility centers (including 25 offices) throughout North America, serving prospective parents in major metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York, Northern Virginia, Minneapolis, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.ccrmivf.com. SOURCE CCRM Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday defended the execution of a Paris-based Iranian journalist whose death triggered widespread condemnation in France and around the world. Iran hanged Ruhollah Zam on Saturday after a court found him guilty of corruption on earth, a vague but serious charge that often is used to punish alleged espionage or an attempted government overthrow. European countries have the right to comment, but Zam was executed upon a courts ruling, Reuters reports Rouhani told a televised news conference. I think its unlikely that this will hurt Iran-Europe relations. Zam ran an opposition news site and Telegram channel with more than 1 million followers, which, according to The Associated Press, published embarrassing information about the regime as well as the locations of anti-government protests in 2017. He was living in self-imposed exile in Paris, but for unclear reasons traveled to Iraq in 2019 where an Iranian news outlet said he was captured by the Revolutionary Guards and forcibly taken to neighboring Iran. Authorities released a video after his arrest showing a blindfolded Zam in a car apologizing for his actions. In what Reporters Without Borders called a grossly unfair trial, Zam was sentenced to death in June, and last week a court rejected his appeal. In protest of Zams killing, France and several European Union member states pulled their ambassadors from the Europe-Iran Business Forum scheduled to take place virtually this week. Iran responded to their criticism by summoning the envoys of France, where Zam had lived, and Germany, which currently holds the EUs rotating presidency. The execution also drew condemnation in the United States, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling it barbaric. The U.S. strongly condemns Iran's unjust, barbaric execution of Ruhollah Zam, Pompeo tweeted Tuesday. Zam exposed the brutality and corruption of the regime, which has killed or arrested more than 860 journalists in its 41-year reign of terror. Jake Sullivan, President-elect Joe Bidens choice for national security adviser, called Zam'ss execution another horrifying human rights violation by the Iranian regime. Iran is also holding Habib Chaab, a Swedish-based Iranian opposition figure who was reportedly abducted by an Iran-backed network while visiting Istanbul in October. Tehran has accused Chaab of orchestrating an attack on a military parade in the city of Ahwaz that killed 25 people in 2018. Leader Pact is a Network that Directly Connects Executives Who Are Looking for Work to Companies LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / James Patrick, CEO of Leader Pact, is pleased to announce the creation of a new app for the company's intelligent job platform. To learn more about Leader Pact, which is a premium leadership professional network of job sharing that brings translucency to business leaders through intelligent matching via Artificial Intelligence, please visit http://www.leaderpact.com/. As Patrick, who was previously a managing director at EY and SVP at Universal, noted, he was inspired to create Leader Pact in order to help overcome the infirmity in the conventional process of leadership hires that he experienced and saw by being both a hiring manager as well as a candidate. Through the use of Artificial Intelligence and with the approach of employer and candidate matching, Leader Pact aims to provide leadership opportunities to business leaders that have been inaccessible to them. "Leader Pact enables business leaders to have better control over and find leadership positions in their industry," Patrick noted, adding that it is also enabling the connection between the recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates. "Therefore, Leader Pact is helping the business leaders and companies find the best roles and talent possible." According to the in-depth research that Patrick conducted prior to launching Leader Pact, companies are definitely concerned about their ability to find outstanding employees. "An article that I read in 'Harvard Business Review' said that hiring talent was the number one concern of CEOs, as well as the top concern of the entire executive suite," he said. "Also, just this year CNBC reported that research found that 70 percent of all jobs are not published publicly on jobs sites." As Patrick explained, leadership hiring has become a regressive sector, and hasn't been able to innovate fast enough for the growing needs of companies and business leaders who want to grow and bring value to the business world. "We see Leader Pact at the intersection of AI and leadership hiring which is a $193 billion market, and it's ripe for innovation, via an unconventional technology that brings the best leaders and the strongest companies together securely and safely." Leader Pact user base has grown at a rate of 110 percent since launch, Patrick said. This includes the senior executives, board members, vice presidents, and directors from 90 percent of the Fortune 500 and 70 percent of largest startups in the world. About Leader Pact: The goal of Leader Pact is to democratize leadership positions so that the best business leaders have access to them. The positions available on Leader Pact come from employers and intelligent algorithms with hiring contact details so that business leaders can directly meet with each other. Leader Pact is free to join. For more information, please visit http://www.leaderpact.com/. CONTACT: Katy Rubio katy@leaderpact.com 415-800-4585 SOURCE: Leader Pact View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640475/Leader-Pact-Announces-the-Creation-of-an-App-for-its-Intelligent-Job-Platform An inner city maze that most residents don't visit will have to suffice for Kansas City MLK tribute after a years-long debate has finally been settled. Sadly, the attempt to sell this as a victory only works on people getting a regular check from the government. In fact . . . THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING REMOTELY "ICONIC" ABOUT KANSAS CITY'S UPCOMING MLK INTERSECTION!!! Nevertheless . . . The swath of land is good enough to put this useless name game controversy behind Kansas City with the knowledge that tribute to a civil rights leader mostly served to incite bitter disputes and petty political gamesmanship. Check the links . . . Fox4: Kansas City Parks board approves naming streets after Martin Luther King Jr. KCUR: Kansas City Parks Board Renames Iconic Connecting Route In Honor Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. KSHB: KCMO Parks Board approves renaming several streets to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard You decide . . . Advertisement The U.S. government is increasing its allocations of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccine after federal agencies recommended a pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Across the country next week, there will be a seven percent increase in the number of doses shipped, according to new data published on Tuesday. During the week of April 19, more than 10 million first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be made available to states and jurisdictions, an increase from 9.4 million during the week of April 12. Similarly, the government will be shipping 7.4 million initial and final doses of Moderna's jab, up from 6.9 million the previous week. What's more, Pfizer CE0 Albert Bourla tweeted on Tuesday that Pfizer boosted production of its vaccine and 'can deliver 10 percent more doses to the US by the end of May than previously agreed.' Currently, the U.S. is averaging 3.3 million shots in arms per day, an increase from the three million reported just five days ago. However, during a press conference on Wednesday Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, noted that there will be an impact on daily averages 'in the very short term...as sites and appointments transition from Johnson & Johnson to Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.' PFIZER: More than 10 million first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be shipped next week (far right), an increase from 9.4 million during the week of April 12 (second from right) MODERNA: 7.4 million initial and final doses of Moderna's vaccine will be sent to states and jurisdictions the week of April 19 (far right), up from 6.9 million (second from right) An average of 3.3. million people are being vaccinated every day, but White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zeints said during a press briefing on Wednesday that there will be an impact on daily vaccination averages as sites and appointments transition from J&J vaccines to Moderna and Pfizer vaccines Allocations of the J&J vaccine have not been published for next week, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed yesterday that neither unfilled orders will be filled nor new orders be accepted. On Tuesday, the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that clinicians pause use of the J&J vaccine after six reported cases of rare, but serious, blood clots out of 7.2 million vaccinations. One of the women died and another is in critical condition in the hospital in Nebraska. The CDC is also now investigating the death of a woman in Virginia who also recently had the vaccine. Officials have not revealed if the women had underlying conditions that may have caused them to be more likely to get blood clots, nor did they say how long the pause would last. CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr Anne Schuchat said on Wednesday (pictured) that there is no currently no evidence J&J's vaccine is causing blood clots During an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr Anne Schuchat said the agency has now proof that the vaccine caused blood clots. She revealed one of the main reasons the agencies stopped the rollout is to give officials time to talk to doctors about how to treat the condition. 'A key component of why we are on this pause is so that we can educate the clinicians about how to diagnose and treat this condition because the usual treatment could actually make things worse,' she said. Host George Stephanopoulos asked: 'Just to be clear, there's no evidence - you haven't established - that there's a link between the vaccine and these blood clotting events, have you?' 'No,' Schuchatt replied. CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat discusses future of Johnson & Johnson vaccine after pause due to blood clot concerns: "We want to get to the bottom of it and make sure we can protect people. The pandemic is serious. https://t.co/TCWRhhroSM pic.twitter.com/5FB9e7WJcV Good Morning America (@GMA) April 14, 2021 J&J's vaccine accounts for around ten percent of the vaccines given out on a daily basis in the US - some 300,000 people every day. Of the 75 million people who are fully vaccinated in the country, 7.1 million had the J&J shot. People arrive at a mobile Covid-19 vaccine site in Wilmington district of Los Angeles, California on April 13, 2021, where the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine was due to be administered but changed to the Pfizer vaccine following a recommendation from federal health officials. They were given Pfizer or Moderna instead The traditional method of treating blood clots is a drug called heparin which, Schuchat said, could cause 'more harm' if given to people who have also had the J&J vaccine. She repeated her comments on CBS This Morning, saying the pause 'gives them a chance to talk to the medical community and help them understand how to treat these blood clots if they do arise.' Now there are questions over why the FDA and CDC didn't just issue a warning to medical professionals about the blood clots rather than pull the vaccine entirely. US VACCINE SPLIT Pfizer 99.4MILLION 5.7 million per week Moderna - 85.4MILLION 5 million per week J&J - 7.2Million 1 million per week roughly Advertisement Some in the scientific community and many outside of it are now calling the decision an overreaction and are urging people not to become wary of the vaccine, which is by far the most convenient that has been brought to market in the US. Brent Saunders, former Allergan CEO, said: 'J&J have done an excellent job of getting this vaccine out, they've committed a lot of resources doing that, I think the transparency here has been excellent. 'I think this was an overreaction by the CDC and FDA. The odds of getting COVID and dying of COVID are higher. There was only one fatality, one critical case. This is not, you know you're talking about one in millions of odds. 'The odds of dying in a car crash on your way home today are higher. Medicines do have side effects. All medicines have side effects. 'I think making doctors and consumers aware of the issues, being able to manage are all important - pausing this vaccine will only cause more harm in the long term as we have so much vaccine hesitancy in this country'. Meanwhile, former FDA Director Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Tuesday that the CDC did not revoked the J&J vaccine's emergency use authorization. 'They didn't order this off the market,' he said. 'This was a requested pause, which is an awkward regulatory step, but I think it reflects the level of caution on their part to not to appear to act too forcefully here.' Doctors on Tuesday also pointed out that people were more likely to get blood clots from COVID-19 infection than they were from the vaccine. 'For now, I would be careful with any of these conspiracy theories and again with the panic,' Dr Purvi Parikh of NYU Langone Health told CNBC. 'You're much more likely to clot from the real Covid-19 virus, which is about 1 in 20 people hospitalized or even 1 in 100 recovering at home. That's far more likely.' Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, claimed on Wednesday that pausing the vaccine wouldn't cause increased hesitancy, suggesting it might actually prove to people who were skeptical that the CDC is careful. 'The very fact that you havethe CDC and the FDA looking so carefully at this, making safety the primary concern, in my mind, confirms or underscores the situation that we take safety very seriously,' he said on NBC's TODAY. He said that it could take 'weeks' for a decision to be made, and that in the meantime, people only need to worry about the clots if they have had the vaccine within the last two weeks and have developed severe and persistent headaches, abdominal pain and/or leg or arm pain. 'If you've had it a month or two ago, I think you really don't need to worry about anything,' Fauci added. 'If you are in the time frame of within a week or two of having gotten vaccinated, remember one thing: This is a very rare event. It's less than one in a million. 'Having said that, you still wanna be alert to some symptoms, such as severe headache, some difficulty in movement, or some chest discomfort and difficulty breathing,' he said during an appearance on CBS on Tuesday night. The White House is insisting there is enough Moderna and Pfizer to go around for 'every solitary American' to get a vaccine. Experts however say it's unrealistic to expect them to 'pick up the slack'. Colin C. Smalley, a regulatory project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said his agency has also been called because the area contains a section of Long Run Creek. His agency received a report into a potential violation of the Clean Water Act and illegal fill placed in the wetlands on the Cook County side, but no determination has been made, Smalley said. AUSTIN, TexasThe adult content network Afterglow will host Oral 101: Cunnilingus - Get Down with Going Down, a free online educational workshop with sex toy boutique Babeland, at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET Thursday. The free virtual event will be held via Zoom for adults 18 and over who register to attend on the Babeland.com events page or by clicking here. It will feature Babeland sex educator Lisa Finn and special guest educator Andy as they discuss their best-tested oral tips, tricks and techniques. Ive been a big fan of Babeland for a long time, and we at afterglow are thrilled to be a part of this exciting workshop event to educate and inspire more people to master the art of cunnilingus, said afterglow CEO and founder Lilly Sparks. Our company is all about the decadent exploration of our bodies and each other and bringing more fun to the bedroom, so we are definitely looking forward to being a part of this amazing event! Attendees will also receive a 14-day membership to the afterglow site, xoafterglow.com, featuring original erotic movies, eye-opening exercises, a space for honest dialogue and compassionate resources that are inclusive and open to all. Afterglow is offering new memberships starting at $10 a month. For more information, visit xoafterglow.com and Babeland.com. President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, closing the book on America's longest war. "We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago," Biden said in a speech Wednesday. "That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021." The war was launched with a wide swath of international support when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, but it quickly became a slog with no clear victory conditions. Since then, 2,352 U.S. troops have been killed and more than 20,000 injured. Roughly 3,500 troops remain in the country, a significantly smaller footprint than the 100,000-plus troops during the early years of the Obama administration. Read Next: Soldiers Involved in Flying Helicopter Low Over DC Protesters Have Been Disciplined, Army Says "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result," Biden said. "I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth." Biden's announcement comes as the U.S. will miss the May 1 deadline to leave the country negotiated between the Trump administration and the Taliban. The withdrawal of troops will almost certainly plunge the country into chaos and create a power vacuum groups such as the Taliban will fight for, but there's no evidence the situation wouldn't become violent regardless of when the U.S. left. An intelligence report released Tuesday paints a grim picture for Afghanistan if it is left relatively alone to fight, saying that "the Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield and the Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay." "We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces," Biden said. "Along with our partners, we are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel. And they continue to fight valiantly on behalf of their country and defend the Afghan people, at great cost. We will support peace talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, facilitated by the United Nations." The U.S. hasn't lost a service member in Afghanistan since February 2020 and has virtually ceased combat operations, moving to an advisory role training Afghanistan troops. However, moving weapons and dismantling bases could put troops in a vulnerable position during the coming months. "The Taliban should know if they attack us as we draw down, we will defend ourselves and our partners with all the tools at our disposal," Biden said. "We will not take our eye off the terrorist threat; we'll hold the Taliban accountable." The decision to end the war has split Congress along mostly partisan lines. Former President Donald Trump's failed promise to end the war was one of the rare issues on which Republican lawmakers would publicly rebuke him. Most Democrats back Biden's move, but hawkish Republicans blasted the president's commitment as premature. Sen. Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said a withdrawal that isn't conditions-based will "create a breeding ground for international terrorists." Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., slammed Biden's withdrawal decision as "dumber than dirt and devilishly dangerous." Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, backed Biden's decision, saying, "We cannot wait for the perfect security conditions," which he said would mean "our men and women in uniform would never return home." -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: After War Zone Scandals, Special Operators Are Curbing Deployments and Investing in Ethics Training More than a decade before Daunte Wright was fatally shot during a Minnesota traffic stop on Sunday, the police killing of another young Black man drew a similar outpouring of grief and rage 2,000 miles away. Demonstrators filled the streets of Oakland in January 2009 after Oscar Grant was killed by an officer following a scuffle on a train early on New Year's Day. One officer pulled the 22-year-old onto a metro platform and put his knee on his head as another shot him in the back. GEORGE FLOYD: Judge refuses to sequester jury in George Floyd murder case The officer's attorneys back then, as authorities in Minnesota did this week, suggested an unusual explanation for the fatal incident: He had meant to fire a Taser but instead grabbed a gun, they claimed. "It's totally shocking that it would occur, even yesterday," said John Burris, the lawyer who represented Grant's family. "But the beat goes on. Even if this one turned out to be tragic, the initial conduct, the racial profiling - that happens all the time." Wright, 20, had been pulled over for a traffic violation in the Minneapolis suburbs before the "accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death," Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said on Monday. Inbody camera video played at a news conference, Potter shouts "I'll Tase you!" and then "Taser! Taser! Taser!" before shooting at Wright. "Holy s---, I shot him," she says moments later, seemingly realizing that she had fired her gun instead. Since pistol-grip Tasers were introduced in 1999, police have blamed more than 10 other incidents on such a mix-up, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, including at least three that were fatal: There was Everardo Torres, who had been handcuffed in the back of a police car in California, and Eric Courtney Harris, who was shot after he ran from a gun-sale sting in Tulsa. But the incident that resonated most widely across the country was Grant's - one of the first such killings to be filmed and posted on social media, an early exhibit for how video evidence of use-of-force could elicit mass demonstrations about racism and police violence. RELATED: Man shot, killed during Minnesota traffic stop sparks unrest Four years later, his story would be recounted in the critically acclaimed film "Fruitvale Station," starring Michael B. Jordan as Grant, with real-life footage from the night of his killing. Grant, a retail worker and father to a 4-year-old, had been heading home with friends on a packed BART train from San Francisco, full of crowds celebrating the New Year. He began fighting aboard the train with another passenger, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, a man he had once been in jail with. Others aboard the train called the police about the brawl. When it pulled into Oakland's Fruitvale Station, Grant and four friends were detained by BART police officers. But the officers' conduct was so rough that bystanders began speaking up - and filming. One officer reportedly shouted racial slurs and profanities at Grant. Another, Johannes Mehserle, tried to handcuff him, pushing him from his knees to his chest, before firing a fatal shot into Grant's back. Burris said Mehserle did not need to pull out any kind of weapon. But at his bail hearing, some defense witnesses said that the officer had announced he was about to use his Taser, not his gun. One witness, a psychologist who frequently testifies on behalf of police, described the incident by coining the phrase "slips and capture" to describe an error under high pressure. Amid national fallout over Grant's death, Burris said that many police departments edited their operating manuals to ensure that officers reached for the right weapon. Someagencies began instructing officers to wear Tasers on the opposite side of their dominant hand, turned backward to be easily taken out. "It was something that no one had been thinking about but it became a real issue," he said. "Officers had to be trained if not retrained on this issue of making sure they reach for the right weapon." Yet Grant's uncle, Cephus Johnson, said Wright's death in Minnesota is more than just a failure to prepare. "It's not like [the officers] didn't know who he was. And so even if he attempted to jump into the vehicle to take off, there was no need to shoot a weapon or pull out a Taser," he told KNTV. "This is not about training. This is about cultural policing being changed and the blue code of silence being broken." ROME, APR 14 - The ArcelorMIttal steel group has sacked a worker at its controversial and polluting ex-ILVA plant in Taranto because he urged people to watch a TV mini-series on pollution at a steel plant. The three-part serial, 'Svegliati amore mio' (Wake Up My Love), directed by Simona Izzo and Ricky Tognazzi, was broadcast on the flagship Berlusconi channel Canale 5 from 24 March to 7 April. It is based on the true story of a mother who starts a campaign against a polluting steel plant after her daughter comes down with leukemia. Pollution has long been a problem at the former ILVA works at Taranto, Europe's largest, and has been linked to higher than normal cancer rates in the Puglia city, especially among children. ArcelorMittal Italia (AMI), which has had to close the plant on several occasions due to environmental concerns, on Tuesday reached a deal with shipbuilder Fincantieri and engineering firm Paul Wurth Italia (PWI) to reconvert the Taranto works with more eco-compatible technology. The sacked worker, Riccardo Cristello, appears likely to be rehired after talks between the company and the labour ministry. "I didn't offend anyone and there's no apology needed," he said after meeting the head of PR at the plant. (ANSA). Ranked No. 10 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies, Pilot Company's growing family of brands includes more than 800 owned and operated Pilot Flying J Travel Centers and One9 Fuel Network locations. "Through all of the uncertainty of the past year, we've remained open and continued to grow our business and our people," said Paul Shore, chief people officer of Pilot Company. "We are thrilled to be adding to our team and even though our National Hiring Day event is April 27, we are hiring now." Pilot Company is committed to providing a safe, clean and friendly environment for team members and guests and is following COVID-19 precautions and protocols at its stores across North America. With safety as a top priority, interviews during National Hiring Day will be virtual. To schedule a virtual interview time and learn about Pilot Company's available positions, interested candidates should visit https://jobs.pilotflyingj.com/national-hiring-day. Open positions include: Retail Hourly positions: Store team member opportunities include cashiers, food services, facility services and other positions at Pilot Flying J and other travel center locations across the U.S. and Canada . These team members provide our guests with fast and friendly service while maintaining inventory and store appearance. Store team member opportunities include cashiers, food services, facility services and other positions at Pilot Flying J and other travel center locations across the U.S. and . These team members provide our guests with fast and friendly service while maintaining inventory and store appearance. Leadership positions: The company's retail leadership positions oversee high-volume retail facilities and offer competitive pay with excellent benefits. Travel center general managers and service leaders are crucial to achieving business objectives and to ensuring a great experience for team members and guests. The company's retail leadership positions oversee high-volume retail facilities and offer competitive pay with excellent benefits. Travel center general managers and service leaders are crucial to achieving business objectives and to ensuring a great experience for team members and guests. Professional drivers: Pilot Company's fuel transport, DEF and crude oil transport drivers are home more often and proud of the work they do. The company is hiring more than 300 professional drivers for company and independent contractor positions across the country, including: Pilot Company's fuel transport, DEF and crude oil transport drivers are home more often and proud of the work they do. The company is hiring more than 300 professional drivers for company and independent contractor positions across the country, including: More than 100 crude oil company and independent contract drivers in Texas 40 clean/fuel company drivers in Phoenix 18 crude oil company and independent contract drivers in Carrollton, Ohio 11 crude oil company drivers in North Salt Lake, Utah Additional driver positions in Indiana , Kentucky , Washington and Oregon , , and Corporate support center: At its headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee , and at offices located in Houston , Dallas and Denver , Pilot Company seeks 100 dedicated and talented team members in a number of departments, including technology, supply and distribution, inside sales, human resources and finance. "There is incredible opportunity for advancement at Pilot with 73% of our leaders having been promoted internally," said Shore. "In addition to development, team members are supported with excellent benefits and a family-like work environment that is passionate about making a great day for the millions of guests we serve." Serving the traveling public since 1958, Pilot Company is innovative, growth-oriented and dedicated to its people-first culture. Part-time and full-time team members have access to competitive benefits, including weekly pay, comprehensive and affordable medical and dental plans, $10-a-week health plans for stores and hourly support positions, tuition assistance, 401(k) participation, paid time off, paid parental leave, wellness programs, training and professional development. Store team members also receive a free meal during each shift. A core value at Pilot Company is giving back and team members are encouraged to take part in volunteer opportunities, fundraising efforts, and other philanthropic activities in support of their local communities. To learn more about National Hiring Day and the benefits of working at Pilot Company and its family of brands, visit https://jobs.pilotflyingj.com/national-hiring-day. About Pilot Company Pilot Company keeps North America's drivers moving as one of the leading suppliers of fuel and the largest operator of travel centers. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Company has grown its network to more than 1,000 retail and fueling locations and as the third largest tanker fleet in North America, supplies more than 11 billion gallons of fuel per year to the market. Its energy division also supplies DEF, bio and renewables and provides hauling and disposal services. Through the company's vast network of fueling locations, Pilot Company serves 1.5 million guests per day and provides over 30,000 direct fleet customers with bundled solutions for fuel, credit, factoring, services and rewards. Its Pilot Flying J Travel Center network includes over 750 locations in 44 states and five Canadian provinces with more than 680 restaurants, 74,000 truck parking spaces, 5,300 deluxe showers, 6,200 diesel lanes and offers truck maintenance and tire service through Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J. The One9 Fuel Network connects a variety of fuel stops to provide value, convenience and perks to fleets and professional drivers at more than 240 locations across the United States. More information on locations and rewards are available in the myRewards Plus app. Pilot Company is currently ranked No. 10 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies. For additional information about Pilot Company, its 28,000 team members and commitment to giving back, visit www.pilotcompany.com. SOURCE Pilot Company Russia waded into the coronavirus vaccine safety debate today with a PR blitz to claim its Sputnik jab does not cause the rare blood clots that have blighted others. The country's controversial vaccine triggers an immune response in a similar way to rival jabs made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. But its manufacturer, the Gamaleya Research Institute in Moscow, today claimed its jab does not cause the same clot problems seen with those vaccines because of its 'purification technology'. Critics accused Russian scientists of trying to undermine Britain's vaccine drive and to profit from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson's bad press by advertising its own jab as an alternative. James Lawson, a fellow at The Adam Smith Institute think-tank, told MailOnline: 'With Russia's languishing vaccine campaign, it's clear they are in no position to lecture others. 'Their propaganda is designed to undermine other nations and should not be given any credit. 'Evaluation must avoid degenerating into petty international politics and be led by science the priority is maximising supplies of all effective vaccines, without giving credence to any fear-mongering directed against our existing safe vaccines.' A man is pictured receiving a dose of the Sputnik V vaccine at a mobile jab site in in Simferopol, Crimea The Gamaleya Institute said that there were 'significant differences' in the way it had used cold viruses to develop its vaccine compared to AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. As a result, the Russian scientists said, 'there is no reason to extrapolate safety data from one vaccine to safety data from other vaccines'. It says a 'four-stage purification technology' used to develop Sputnik V improves the safety of the jab, citing a study that suggests 'insufficient purification' of DNA could trigger blood clots. The latest developments come amid a string of reports suggesting that both those vaccines might raise the risk of a condition called cerebral sinous venous thrombosis (CSVT) for young adults. The Food & Drug Administration in the US this week dragged Johnson & Johnson's vaccine into the furore, asking medics to stop using it while it investigates one-in-a-million cases of brain blood clots in young women. WHAT DID THE RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS SAY? TECHNICAL STATEMENT IN FULL A comprehensive analysis of adverse events during clinical trials and over the course of mass vaccinations with the Sputnik V vaccine showed that there were no cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). All vaccines based on adenoviral vector platform are different and not directly comparable. In particular, AstraZenecas ChAdOx1-S vaccine uses chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver the antigen, consisting of S-protein combined with leader sequence of tissue-type plasminogen activator. The vaccine from Johnson & Johnson uses human adenovirus serotype Ad26 and full-length S-protein stabilized by mutations. In addition, it is produced using the PER.C6 cell line (embryonic retinal cells), which is not widely represented among other registered products. Sputnik V is a two-component vaccine in which adenovirus serotypes 5 and 26 are used. A fragment of tissue-type plasminogen activator is not used, and the antigen insert is an unmodified full-length S-protein. Sputnik V vaccine is produced with the HEK293 cell line, which has long been safely used for the production of biotechnological products. Thus, all of the above vaccines based on adenoviral vectors have significant differences in their structure and production technology. Therefore, there is no reason and no justification to extrapolate safety data from one vaccine to safety data from other vaccines. The quality and safety of Sputnik V are, among other things, assured by the fact that, unlike other vaccines, it uses a 4-stage purification technology that includes two stages of chromatography and two stages of tangential flow filtration. This purification technology helps to obtain a highly purified product that goes through mandatory control including analysis of free DNA presence. In addition, the volume of nucleic acid is several dozen times lower in adenoviral vectors compared to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (1 to 2 mcg vs 50 to 100 mcg, correspondingly). A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on April 9, 2021, discusses that the cause of the thrombosis in some patients vaccinated with other vaccines could be insufficient purification that leads to the emergence of significant quantities of free DNA. Insufficient purification or use of very high doses of target DNA/RNA can result in adverse interaction of a patients antibodies that activate thrombocytes with elements of the vaccine itself, including free DNA and consisting of PF4 factor and heparin or nucleic acid - PF4/DNA and PF4/RNA. Advertisement European regulators are expected to decide what to do about the jab by next week, while Britain's regulator is set to approve its use and to receive 30m doses in the summer. Denmark today said it wouldn't use AstraZeneca's jab any more because of the clotting scare. No link has been proven, however, and there is still no evidence the vaccines directly cause the condition. Dr Joe Grove, an infection and immunity researcher at University College London, told MailOnline: 'The bottom line is we do not know the cause of this very rare complication so it is difficult to say for sure why a vaccine may or may not cause it. 'Regarding the statement from Gamaleya it is quite well grounded in science and the citation they provide stacks up that paper does discuss the idea that DNA impurities may trigger this type of clotting event. 'However, this was a just suggestion and is not yet supported by evidence that DNA impurities in the AstraZeneca or J&J vaccines cause clotting events. 'Ultimately, it is difficult to make rational arguments as to why Sputnik V wont cause clotting when the precise cause of the clots remains unknown. Gamaleya might be right, they might be wrong, only time will tell. 'Im confident that all vaccine manufacturers are doing their utmost to provide safe and effective vaccines. Vaccines remain our best, and possibly only, route out of the pandemic.' While scientists remain unsure what about the two vaccines if anything is causing the blood clots, the common theme is they both use adenoviruses. Adenoviruses are common cold viruses that AstraZeneca and J&J use to transport genetic material from the coronavirus. Pfizer and Moderna, however, use synthetic bubbles to achieve the same goal, and haven't seen the same clotting concerns. Sputnik V also uses adenovirus technology but it's based on different viruses to the other two, the company said, and exhaustively purified. In a statement released by a London-based PR agency Gamelaya said: 'All of the above vaccines based on adenoviral vectors have significant differences in their structure and production technology. 'Therefore, there is no reason and no justification to extrapolate safety data from one vaccine to safety data from other vaccines.' The company's PR blitz follows statements released by the same agency last November claiming Sputnik is safer and more effective than Pfizer's jab. Scientists questioned those claims, warning there was 'considerable uncertainty' because of a small number of infections in the trial. Despite all the uproar about the blood clots the risk of developing one is vanishingly rare and significantly lower than the risk of getting Covid. Health chiefs imposing bans and restrictions on vaccines say they are acting out of an 'abundance of caution'. They say the chances of younger adults dying from Covid was so tiny that the benefits of the British-made vaccine do not clearly outweigh the risks. But the risk-to-benefit ratio for older adults, who face a much greater risk of becoming seriously ill, was clearly in favour of the vaccine, the panel concluded. Scientists and leading experts believe the complication was occurring slightly more often than expected in younger adults. They have emphasised, however, that it is extremely rare to develop the condition after the jab occurring in around one in 250,000 recipients, overall. The rate for under-30s is thought to be roughly one in 90,000. An award-winning Hoover, Alabama, teacher has been arrested on a felony sex charge. Vincent Joseph Chiaramonte, 41, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse/forcible compulsion. He is a teacher at the Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3) but has been on leave since the investigation began almost a year ago. Efforts to locate an attorney who could comment on Chiaramontes behalf werent immediately successful. According to Hoover police, the investigation began May 31, 2020. Chiaramonte was initially arrested on a misdemeanor charge through Hoover Municipal Court. He was placed on leave in June 2020. Lt. Keith Czeskleba said as the investigation continued, there was enough evidence to increase the charge to a felony. The case was presented to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office in the Bessemer Cutoff which issued the felony warrant on March 29. Authorities said Chiaramonte is accused of non-consensual sexual contact with a woman in her 60s. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on March 30 and released the same day after posting $7,500 bond. Chiaramonte in 2017 received the prestigious Milken Educator Award, hailed by Teacher magazine as the Oscars of Teaching. At the time, he was a computer science teacher at Hoovers Bumpus Middle School and received a $25,000 cash prize. More: After delays, judge wants newspaper shooters mental health trial to happen Prime suspect arrested in 25-year-old Southern California cold case Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access South Africa: Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo to head no-fault compensation fund Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo will chair the no-fault compensation fund, as the country gears up for the mass COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme. Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, made the announcement in Parliament on Wednesday. Mkhize believes that the fund will give the country an opportunity to implement the vaccine adverse events compensation scheme at the same time South Africa is expected to vaccinate its citizens next week. He said this guarantees that every citizens rights are fully protected during the inoculation process and that there is sufficient recourse should those vaccinated experience damages. In the structure of the fund, Mkhize said there has been no undertaking by any manufacturers to contribute, and this it will mainly be a government-funded exercise. Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo has graciously agreed to assist us with the mammoth task of chairing the first of its kind fund, said Mkhize. He said Judge Ngcobos extensive experience as a jurist, including having headed the highest court in the land - the Constitutional Court - and his recent experience in health-related complexities, such as the Health Market Inquiry chair ,makes him an ideal candidate. He will able to oversee all claims and uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, equity and constitutional rights of our citizens, said Mkhize. The Minister said the fund is another indication of governments preparedness that whilst the State has fully indemnified manufacturers against any third party claims, it also has sufficient mechanisms to protect citizens. According to Mkhize, the Health Department has procured 31 million vaccines from Johnson & Johnson (J&J). An initial agreement for 11 million vaccines was signed and the initial purchase price was paid. He said the agreement included an option for the department to secure an additional 20 million vaccines. While the conditions of the first agreement have been met, the multinational corporation put a precondition for no-fault compensation regulations to be published by 30 April 2021 for their second agreement. This condition has also been made by Pfizer as well, Mkhize said. The Minister said the National Coronavirus Command (NCCC) has since accepted the recommendation for the draft regulations to be published for public comments in relations to the no-fault compensation fund. This will take a period of about five days and we recognise that this period is shorter than the usual processes that has been used for public consultation that is followed by Parliament. In the meantime, Mkhize said public comments will be processed to formally gazette the final regulations by 22 April 2021. We intend for the no-fault compensation fund to be independent, and have the credibility and skill that is required. Meanwhile, South Africa has suspended the rollout of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure and a final decision is expected soon. This comes after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paused the rollout of the vaccine following reports of a rare clotting condition in six people out of 6.8 million doses administered. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Minister of. Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has been honoured by two institutions at separate ceremonies in Accra. The honour which coincided with his birthday last Friday were by the leadership of the Dzelukpe Anlo State in the Volta region and the Constituency Secretaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region. Both institutions attributed the honour to the role and impact made by Dr Adutwum during the first term of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government towards the development of education in the country. They said the role played by the Minister towards the introduction of the Free Senior High School and the double track system of education were worth noting as it brought a lot of gains to parents, students and the nation as a whole. Another reason the two institutions assigned to the honour was the humility, selflessness, his respect for people irrespective of political, ethnic, religion and other social affiliations. Speaking to the two delegations at separate ceremonies, Dr Adutwum thanked them for the honour done him, as it would spur him on to do more for the development of education in the country. He said, getting the best for the nation required a multi-sectorial approach since the collective effort of all could help get the best results for the various facets of the economy. The Education Minister again said, although it was the responsibility of the Government to initiate development policies for the country, the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government was ready to listen or receive any kind of inputs from all for the development and interest of the nation. He appealed to parents and society in general to develop interest in the education of their children so they could monitor the progress being made to enable them give the right support or advice at the right time. The leadership of the Dzelukpe Anlo State in the Volta region presented a Kente cloth and traditional sandals to the Minister and another cloth to the spouse of the Minister. The delegation from the Ashanti region, on the other hand, presented a citation which was read to the Minister, congratulating him on his elevation to the Substantive Minister position. It attributed Dr Adutwums elevation to the trust the President, Nana Akufo Addo had in him, urging him to work extra hard to deliver the Presidents vision of transforming the nations education to meet the 21st century needs. The two delegations used the occasion (which coincided with the Ministers birthday) to wish him a happy birthday after they had presented their gift to him. The leader of the Dzelukpe Anlo State, Togbi Gobah Tengey Seddon, pledged the support of the people of the Volta region to the Minister of Education and urged him to continue to do more towards the development of education in the country. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video It is race weekend again and that means we can get ready for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Not a common name on the Formula 1 calendar, but the race in Imola is certainly not an unknown for the Formula 1 fan. Who will take victory on this legendary track in 2021? Will it be Max Verstappen, or will it be Mercedes again? Or perhaps even a surprise winner? Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari The circuit of Imola used for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been in its current state since 2008. Of course, there have been some safety modifications but the circuit in Italy still has that unique character. At 4.909km Imola is certainly not the longest track on the grid, but with 19 corners it is a pretty technical circuit. Every mistake is punished because next to the track you immediately end up in the grass or gravel. The fastest lap was set by Lewis Hamilton during last year's race. He drove 1.15.484. Grand Prix in Imola The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was held for the first time in 2020 but it was not the first time a race was held in Imola. This happened in 1980 when the test track of Ferrari was used for the first time for the Italian Grand Prix. This edition, won by Nelson Piquet, was so successful that the race returned in 1981 under the name of San Marino Grand Prix. After the fatal crash of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994, the track was modified for 1995. The race would remain on the calendar until 2006. Michael Schumacher won no less than seven times for the Tifosi, Senna is still the number two with three wins, as is Alain Prost. Williams and Ferrari as a team won the most in Imola: eight times each. Formula 1 in 2021 Arriving in Imola we have concluded the winter test and the first Grand Prix in Bahrain. Red Bull Racing and Mercedes are the two teams at the top as expected, but this year with a significantly smaller difference between the two. The pole in Bahrain even went to Max Verstappen by four-tenths. In the race, however, it was Lewis Hamilton again, who eventually won the race thanks to some clever tactics of Mercedes. With Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes had two drivers in the front, while Sergio Perez had to fight his way to the front after a weak qualifying and a problem with his car on Sunday. Emilia Romagna GP Prediction In Imola, Bottas and Perez are going to play extremely important roles, as they are likely to do all year. Perez is not expected to be between the Mercedes in qualifying already, but he should qualify P4 or close to give Red Bull an extra option in the battle with Mercedes. If so, Verstappen won't be such an easy target anymore. If that is the case, Verstappen is the favourite. Hamilton lost two tenths due to a mistake in turn 10 in Bahrain. Verstappen had the best handling car in Bahrain, and there are a lot of corners in Imola. Verstappen will have to take pole and hope that Perez qualifies close to him. Overtaking is not easy in Imola, but with a good strategy, you can still get something done. Verstappen has the fastest car and is therefore the favourite, but Mercedes and certainly Lewis Hamilton are still too close for Verstappen to fill in blindly for the win. Read more Looking back | Three times in Italy is not a charm for Verstappen in Imola Weather forecast Earlier this week we already let you know the forecast of Weather.com that there was a big chance of rain during the race on Sunday. That chance of rain has only increased. There is an 83 per cent chance of rain during the race in Imola, and with 12 degrees Celsius, it is not exactly warm either. Friday and Saturday seem to be dry in Imola, but it will be a big change for the drivers and teams. From the extreme heat in Bahrain, they are now in Europe. In Italy, it can be very nice at this time of year but for this weekend the weather is mainly cold and rainy. Timetable Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Friday First free practice: 10:00 - 11:00 Second free practice: 13:30 - 14:30 Saturday Third free practice: 10:00 - 11:00 Qualification: 13:00 - 14:00 Sunday Race: 14:00 - 16:00 BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. A Minnesota prosecutor said Wednesday that he will charge a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop, igniting days of unrest and clashes between protesters and police. Kim Potter will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The announcement came a day after Potter resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department, where she had served for 26 years. Police Chief Tim Gannon also resigned Tuesday. Gannon had released Potters body camera video the day after the Sunday shooting. It showed her approaching Wright as he stood outside of his car as another officer was arresting him for an outstanding warrant. Police said he was pulled over for having expired registration tags. As Wright struggles with police, Potter is hearing shouting Ill Tase you! Ill Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser! before firing a single shot from her handgun. After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and Potter says, Holy (expletive)! I shot him. Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the medical examiner. This photo provided by Ben Crump Law, PLLC. shows Daunte Wright and his son Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party. (Ben Crump Law, PLLC. via AP)AP Gannon has said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser. However, protesters and Wrights family members say theres no excuse for the shooting, and it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for an expired car registration and ended up dead. The charging decision was announced as the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin progresses. George Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyds neck. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said the city had been moving toward firing Potter, a 26-year veteran, when she resigned. Elliott said he hoped her resignation would bring some calm to the community, but that he would keep working toward full accountability under the law. Brooklyn Center, a suburb just north of Minneapolis, has seen its racial demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70% of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Hispanic. Elliott said he didnt have at hand information on the police forces racial diversity but that we have very few people of color in our department. This May 31, 2007 photo shows Officer Kim Potter, formerly part of the Brooklyn Center Police negotiation team in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (Bruce Bisping/Star Tribune via AP)AP Potter, 48, was an instructor with the Brooklyn Center police, according to the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. She was training two other officers Sunday when they stopped Wright, the associations leader, BIll Peters, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The stop was for expired license plates, but police then tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for his failure to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. More: Wisconsin police officer who shot Jacob Blake last summer is back on duty, wont be charged: chief Allison Langdon has questioned Magda Szubanski's motives in criticising Jenny Morrison - accusing the TV star of hypocrisy after being the victim herself of 'trolling' in the past. The television personality and comedian landed herself in hot water on the weekend after she retweeted a photo of Scott Morrison's wife in a high-neck black dress as she watched her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip. 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid's Tale meme. But no. It's 21st century Aussie life,' she posted to Twitter. The Today host dismissed Szubanski's claim that Morrison was yet to reveal her values publicly, saying she'd been transparent with the things she believed in and questioning the Kath and Kim actress' motives. 'I do love Magda but as someone who has been trolled online by bullies before and spoken of the toll it's taken on her mental health, I wonder why she did this,' Langdon said on Thursday morning. Allison Langdon has questioned Magda Szubanski's motives in criticising Jenny Morrison - accusing the TV star of hypocrisy after being the victim herself of 'trolling' in the past Magda Szubanski says she didn't recognise Jenny Morrison (left) in this photo of her watching her husband Prime Minister Scott Morrison sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip The left-wing comedian had retweeted a photo of Mrs Morrison watching her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip, captioning the image: 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid's Tale meme. But no. It's 21st century Aussie life' Szubanski defended the controversial tweet that compared Mrs Morrison to an enslaved woman in the dystopian thriller The Handmaid's Tale on A Current Affair on Wednesday night. She claims she didn't even recognise that the woman in the photo was Mrs Morrison, as she wasn't wearing her 'normal hair and make-up' and insisted she wasn't have a crack at her appearance - but later added the Prime Minister's wife was 'fair game'. 'I genuinely, when I first saw I did not realise it was Jenny Morrison, because it looks different for her,' Szubanski told host Tracey Grimshaw. 'She normally has her hair and make-up and the whole thing, and if people can believe me, I'd take a lie detector if they don't, I didn't realise it was her. Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, who appeared alongside Langdon on the morning show on Thursday, disagreed with the host saying it was nothing but 'good Aussie humour'. 'You can look at it as trolling, with what's going on on social media there is a lot of trolling going on but I think people want to chuck some Aussie humour in there,' Lambie said. 'I didn't see it as offensive myself.' 'I think a lot of people think it was unfair and unnecessary,' Langdon replied. The actress said Mrs Morrison (pictured, far left, during a visit to Washington DC with her husband to meet the Trumps) was 'fair game' as she was an important political figure Szubanski insisted on ACA many others on social media expressed a similar reaction to the photo. 'I just that it was a strange PR photograph and all I'm suggesting is with that comment. Why would you put something that looks like 'The Handmaid's Tale' as a photo op? Scott Morrison is the master of spin, Szubanski added' 'If I was the only one who had that reaction you'd think, 'Oh, Magda has an angle,' but heaps of people did.' 'I was actually coming off the back of other people commenting and it took me a while to twig that it was her.' Szubanski reiterated she wasn't commenting on Mrs Morrison's appearance but believe the Prime Minister's wife is fair game for criticism. 'I can't prevent other people from saying what they're saying and I think doing a media pile-on people appearance isn't something I would condone,' she said. 'That's why I reasonably quickly said that is not what this is. 'I'm just saying this as an inept PR photo, and then it developed into this whole other thing.' Magda Szubanski defended the tweet when she addressed the saga on A Current Affair on Wednesday night Magda Szubanski believes Jenny Morrison (pictured) is 'fair game' when it comes to public criticism The actress, best-known for playing netballer Sharon in beloved Australian comedy Kath and Kim, insisted she did not mean to spark criticism of Mrs Morrison's appearence. 'Do I think that a pile-on of Jenny Morrison's appearance is OK? Absolutely not. But do I think it is legitimate to critique her, yes I do. She is the Prime Minister's wife,' she added. 'You can opt in or out of public life and Scott Morrison frequently uses her as a policy advisor. 'He says, 'I spoke to Jenny about this and that.' If she is going to have some sort of influence in public life I want to know what are her values, what kind of woman is she?' Szubanski told the program she was shocked at the backlash the tweet has sparked but insists she was doing 'okay' after celebrating her 60th birthday on Monday. 'I'm becoming Twitter toughened and if you speak up, this is what's going to happen,' Szubanski said. 'What stunned me was this was such a non-event, and non- comment - it was a comment about a photo that I genuinely thought was a meme. 'I was a bit staggered that I got drawn into this over such a nothing observation that thousands of people had already made on Twitter, made that comment,' 'I think it's sort of a fact of 21st century life if you are at all a public person, you do get better at it, but it seems excessive as to what the actual tweet was. It certainly wasn't at a tirade as it has been called.' Jenny and Scott Morrison (pictured together on April 11 at a prayer service for Prince Philip after his death) have two children Earlier on Wednesday, Szubanski fired of a series of angry tweets amid growing backlash and argued Mrs Morrison was fair game for criticism because she had 'opted in' to public life by offering her husband policy advice. Szubanski also suggested the outrage was distracting from ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate's scorching testimony against the PM at a Senate Inquiry Responding to criticism from Liberal MP Nicolle Flint - one of several conservative female politicians who took issue with her Handmaid's Tale tweet - Szubanski wrote: '1) seriously, my comment is 'appalling' says Flint. 'Appalling'?! '2) I never said a single word about Jenny. 3) why is this headline news when... Christine Holgate is testifying?! Blatant attempt to use 'sisterhood' to distract. Now THAT'S appalling.' She then addressed the paparazzi photos of her, taken on Monday, and denied any suggestion she was 'walking back' her initial comments about Mrs Morrison. The Handmaid's Tale is a novel written by American author Margaret Atwood, later adapted into a hit US TV series, about the aftermath of a fictional religious revolution. It leaves the majority of the US controlled by a totalitarian patriarchal regime and renamed 'Gilead', a land where fertile women are raped and used for their childbearing abilities after a global plummet in birth rates. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight April 13-14, 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. THE Liberal party is asking the provincial government to put an end to what it calls bullying tactics by Manitoba Public Insurance against the associations that represent vehicle repair shops. THE Liberal party is asking the provincial government to put an end to what it calls bullying tactics by Manitoba Public Insurance against the associations that represent vehicle repair shops. Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont says the government should send the two sides to conciliation because MPI is trying to force 232 businesses in the collision industry to sign what it calls a "money-losing contract." "No business in Manitoba should have to tolerate threats and coercive tactics like this kind from anyone, least of all from MPI, a Crown corporation that we all own," said Lamont in a statement on Tuesday. "We are asking the auditor general to investigate these allegations. In the meantime, the PCs need to tell MPI to call off their dogs and negotiate in good faith. "Manitoba jobs and businesses are at stake." No business in Manitoba should have to tolerate threats and coercive tactics like this kind from anyone, least of all from MPI, a Crown corporation that we all own." Dougald Lamont Last month, MPI surprised the Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba and Manitoba Motor Dealers Association, which represent the businesses that repair light vehicles, with a 90-day notice to terminate an agreement for vehicle repair compensation. The current rate agreement was to be in place until April 15, but MPIs notice would see it end on June 13. The associations have told MPI they are being underpaid for work compared with other jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan. They say 20 per cent of vehicle repair shops are not profitable, the provinces vehicle repair labour rates are 4.1 per cent behind the Manitoba consumer price index, and the allowances given for shop and paint materials are 21 per cent lower than the cost of goods. The associations have said the proposed rate it gave to MPI was determined by a third-party firm, BDO. MPI has argued if it had accepted the proposals from the associations, insurance would increase by double digits. "This now allows us to individually reach out to accredited body shops and begin the process of allowing no disruption to our customers after the 90-day period," said MPI spokesman Brian Smiley at the time. Earlier this month, the two associations went to court to ask for injunctions to stop MPI from communicating with individual shops. In an affidavit filed in court, Curtis Wennberg, MPIs vice-president and chief operating officer, said more than 100 individual shops have signed a new agreement and will be paid a higher rate than shops that have not signed. MPI has said customers with outstanding claims or repairs can still have their vehicles repaired at any accredited repair facility before the agreement ends. A spokesman for MPI said on Tuesday the Crown corporation would not comment on the statements by the Liberal leader. No one with either association could be reached for comment. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Global investment firm KKR will acquire a majority interest in Birmingham-based Therapy Brands. Though financial terms were not disclosed, Bloomberg is reporting the deal totals $1.2 billion. Founded in 2013, Therapy Brands is a practice management and electronic health record software platform for healthcare providers. Its products are used by more than 28,000 practices across the U.S., ranging from individual providers to national multi-location practice groups. The company employs more than 500 people nationally. KKR, based in New York, is acquiring the company from investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital LLC, Oak HC/FT and Greater Sum Ventures. Existing investor PSG will participate in the transaction alongside KKR and continue as a minority shareholder. Therapy Brands CEO Kimberly OLoughlin said the deal will accelerate the companys mission. Provider and patient friendly technology-enabled solutions are more important than ever as the demand for mental and behavioral health services continues to rapidly increase, Therapy Brands CEO Kimberly OLoughlin said. We are excited to welcome KKR as our new investor, which brings a deep understanding of the healthcare sector and extensive experience in scaling technology-enabled platforms. Nancy Pelosi's husband made an excellent Microsoft stock market trade. Let's check out the details. Purchase of Stock Via Call Options Barron's reports Nancy Pelosis Husband Bought Roblox, Microsoft Stock Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband just disclosed he bought Roblox stock the day it went public, and acquired Microsoft stock through options. The Barron's article is behind a paywall. Fox News also reports the same thing: Pelosi's Husband Bought $10M in Microsoft Shares Through Options. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband purchased millions of dollars worth of Microsoft (MSFT) and Roblox (RBLX) shares last month, new financial disclosures form reveal. Paul Pelosi exercised call options and paid $1.95 million to buy 15,000 shares of Microsoft at a strike price of $130 on March 19, according to an April 9th filing with the House clerk. That same day, Pelosi, who owns and operates a California venture capital investment and consulting firm, paid $1.4 million for 10,000 shares valued at $140 apiece. Since Pelosi made the purchase, Microsoft share prices have climbed from about $230 to roughly $255 an increase of close to 11% after the company secured a lucrative government contract worth nearly $22 billion to supply U.S. Army combat troops with augmented reality headsets. The deal was announced on March 31. Extremely Bad Looking Comments by Krystal and Saagar This is an extremely bad look at the very least. And at worst, it's outright corrupt. It has the appearance of using insider knowledge of where the US government is headed. Access to that knowledge if you are Speaker of the House you may have special insights in order to profit massively off of your stock trades. Nancy Pelosi is already a very wealthy woman. Why are members of Congress allowed to trade stock while they are holding public office? We covered this on the Republican side at the beginning of Covid. Even the appearance of this is so disgusting. Nancy Pelosi Wealth Nancy Pelosi in the 7th Richest Person in Congress. Question of the Day Q: How did Nancy Pelosi become so wealthy? A: You tell me. Any guesses? Here's a Thought Legal For Congress, Not You Here are recent Pelosi Insider Moves. The list shows the Microsoft call options. And here is a list of Senate Transactions you may be interested in. If you had knowledge of this deal and made a similar trade, then got caught, you would be fined, lose all your profits, and potentially be thrown into jail. Dear @AOC Recall that Burr, other senators under fire for stock sell-offs amid coronavirus outbreak Addendum The stock market purchase was made on March 19, 2021 ahead of the deal as reported. The option purchase was made 2020-02-28 not 2021-02-28. Apologies offered. I failed to correctly note the options date. Paul Pelosi also bought TSLA calls on 2020-12-22 with an expiration of 3/18/22. That was ahead of Biden's push for energy tax credits. Important Ethics Issues for All of Congress Please consider Nancy Pelosis Recent Stock Purchase Raises Important Ethics Issues For All Of Congress Nancy Pelosi made some stock purchases last month that are raising eyebrows and questions about the ethics of Congresspeople buying and selling stocks. In December, Rep. Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, purchased 25 call options of Tesla stocks, along with a few other stock purchases. Why does this matter? Because under the Biden administrations new agenda, with its focus on environmental protections and combating climate change, Pelosi could benefit financially from those political plans. According to the disclosure, Pelosi (or her husband, Paul, who runs a venture capital firm) purchased call options at a stake price of $500. Since the calls were bought last month, shares of Tesla have risen from $640.34 to over $890. The call options are now valued at $1.12; they were purchased for between $500,000 and $1 million. Questions of whether its ethical for members of Congress to buy and sell stock are not new. Last year, former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler was accused of insider trading and profiting off the coronavirus pandemic when she sold between $1.275 million and $3.1 million in stocks right after being briefed in January 2020 about the seriousness of the virus. In June of 2020, the investigation was dismissed by a Senate ethics panel. And since then, Loeffler lost her seat in the Senate to Democrat Raphael Warnock. Another former Georgia Senator, David Perdue, was also criticized for potentially unethical stock purchases during the six years he spent in Congress. The Republican was investigated by the Justice Department for his stock market activity, though no wrongdoing was found (he, too, lost his recent re-election campaign to a Democrat, Jon Ossoff). In the past, there has been legislation aimed at combating this. The STOCK Act, passed after the 2008 financial crisis, attempted to stop insider trading by making it illegal for government officials to trade stocks after receiving material or nonpublic information derived from their jobs, or information that they received while performing their jobs. In light of the Loeffler and Perdue activity, that bill has been re-examined and some people have argued it did not go far enough. Other lawmakers agree, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley. Currently, there is proposed legislation that would ban individual stock purchases by members of Congress. After nearly four years of the most corrupt president in American history and with U.S. senators brazenly trading stocks to profit off a raging pandemic, the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act is more urgent than ever, Warren and other lawmakers said in a joint statement. All of these transactions, dates, and timings look extremely bad at the very least. One cannot prove the Pelosi trades are related to deals and timings just as one cannot prove Loeffler or Perdue were guilty either. The charges against Loeffler and Perdue were widespread in the media. The charges against Pelosi will not get the same coverage. Man Faces Murder Charge Following Fatal DUI Crash in Newport Beach A 28-year-old man with three previous driving under the influence convictions is facing a life sentence in jail after allegedly striking and killing a 74-year-old man with his car. The victim, Richard Frost, was fatally wounded about 4 p.m. April 10, after his car was struck by a Chevy Malibu on Newport Boulevard, the Orange County District Attorneys office said in an April 13 statement. When Frost got out of his car in attempt to stop the other driver from leaving the scene, he was struck by the fleeing sedan, and later died in hospital. A 74-year-old man was left for dead in the middle of the street, tossed aside as if he never mattered, because of the selfish decision of a stranger to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a press release. His life may not have mattered to the driver who left him for dead, but it matters to me and it matters to the Orange County District Attorneys office. We will fight for justice for him and everyone who loved him. Stewart Waithanji is facing three felony charges, with three felonies of murder, driving under the influence, and driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. He was arrested shortly after the crash in the parking lot of a Los Alamitos bar. Waithanji has three prior driving under the influence convictions in Iowa, and was wanted on two arrest warrants for driving under the influence charges dating back to September and October 2019. Waithanjis hearing is set for April 30. If he is convicted of all charges, he will receive maximum sentence of life in jail. He is being held on $2 million bail. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak speaks during a news conference on the state's response to the CCP virus outbreak at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 17, 2020. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Nevada Plans to Fully Reopen by Start of June: Governor Nevada is setting a goal of reopening all its counties at 100 percent capacity by June 1, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced on April 13. Currently, masks and social distancing are required statewide; Nevada rules also generally limit occupancy for businesses and gatherings at 50 percent. Individual counties may opt to fully reopen earlier, since they are set to be granted control on May 1 over COVID-19 mitigation measures, Sisolak noted. County school districts will also be able to decide on mitigation measures. We are aware that some counties may make the decision to move to 100 percent capacity as early as May 1 when they gain the authority, and others may not, the Democratic governor said at a press conference about the states actions regarding the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Each county in Nevada is unique, and two of seven have different factors to consider: rural or urban settings, community transmission rates in the area, and vaccine administration, among a few. The state government on May 1 will be removing the statewide required social distancing mandatealthough counties may impose their own restrictions. However, the statewide mask mandate will remain until at least June 1, Sisolak noted. No counties will be able to override the mandate. Outside of getting vaccinated, its still the best tool we have to prevent the spread, Sisolak said of the mask mandate. I wish I could give all Nevadans an exact timeline as to when we can tuck away our masksbut public health officials made it clear that in order to reach our goal of reopening on June 1, we must make sure Nevadans stay masked. Meanwhile, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will maintain supervision over gaming institutionsincluding casinosthroughout the state, Sisolak said. He didnt specify whether the NGCB would allow reopening at full capacity by June 1. Nevada on April 5 made all residents 16 and older eligible for CCP virus vaccines. Sisolak announced that as of April 13, 40 percent of people over the age of 16 in the Silver state have started the vaccination process, adding that about 25 percent are fully vaccinated. He said that 65 percent of those aged 60 and over, and 75 percent of those aged 70 and older have initiated or completed vaccination. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 11:17:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOHHOT, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Police in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have nabbed four suspects and seized narcotics and drug-making materials, after uncovering a drug manufacturing case. The police operation in Huade County started after they monitored two suspects who were engaged in the drug trade. Police seized 28 kg of caffeine and 24 kg of caffeine sodium benzoate on the spot. Through an interrogation of the suspects, police found the drugs came from a local underground drug-making workshop. A raid was soon launched leading to the seizure of 131 kg of sodium benzoate and 23 kg of caffeine on the spot. Police are still probing into the case. Enditem Ethan Klein (submitted photo). By Susan Meikle, university news and communications Miami University junior Ethan Klein has been named a Goldwater Scholar for 2021-2022. He is among 410 students nationwide to receive the scholarship, the premiere undergraduate award of its type in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. Klein, from Stevenson Ranch, California, is one of seven students from an Ohio public university to receive the award. He is a geology major with an environmental science co-major, pursuing a certificate in geographic information science. The Goldwater Scholarship The Goldwater Scholarship Program encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, natural science and engineering. Nationwide, faculty nominated 1,256 students from a pool of more than 5,000 for the scholarship, worth up to $7,500 per year. This is the 10th year in a row a Miami student has been named a Goldwater Scholar, said Paul Urayama, associate professor of physics and Miamis Goldwater representative. ' "I knew it was here where I would have the encouragement and resources to thrive" Ethan Klein and Claire McLeod in the Center for Advanced Microscopy and Imaging (CAMI). Klein has been conducting undergraduate research since his first semester at Miami. He felt immediately welcomed and supported by geology faculty even before he joined Miami, he said. After learning about opportunities in advanced microscopy for undergraduates during his first visit to campus, he said I knew it was here where I would have the encouragement and resources to thrive. He has worked closely with faculty mentors Claire McLeod, assistant professor of geology and environmental earth science, and Mark Krekeler, associate professor of geology and environmental earth science and also of mathematical and physical sciences at the Regionals. It has been wonderful to get to know and collaborate with Ethan over the past few years here at Miami, McLeod said. He first participated in McLeods and Krekeler's AUGITE research program, a National Science Foundation-funded GEOPATHS program designed to support student professional development and success not only in geoscience but STEM more broadly. His first research project, working with McLeod, involved investigating the petrogenesis of granite underlying the Round Mountain Gold Mine in Nevada, in relation to the rock that hosts the gold. From this program and in the years that followed, Ethan has exemplified his ability to conduct independent research, collaborate with peers and mentors, and communicate his research findings to diverse audiences, McLeod said. He has continued with Krekeler on a project that involves characterizing the mineralogy and geochemistry of historical talc ore samples from the Willow Creek Mine in Montana. Klein was trained in the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at Miamis Center for Advanced Microscopy and Imaging (CAMI), an all-university research, teaching and service facility located in Upham Hall. Klein and Mark Krekeler work with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). His preliminary SEM study revealed that the minor mineral assemblage of the Willow Creek Mine is more mineralogically diverse and complex than previously recognized and that these minerals contain potentially toxic elements. Dr. Krekeler and I are continuing by looking further into the bulk geochemistry of the talc as well as pyrite mineral inclusions within the ore, Klein said. Krekeler said Ethan has been one of the best performing students in our department, reaching early research success and maintaining a very high GPA. Undergraduate research last summer was curtailed by pandemic and the stay-at-home orders, but Klein was able to work on analysis of SEM data he had collected previous to the campus shut down. His work on the project has already contributed to a manuscript with Krekeler published last fall in Results in Geochemistry. I am grateful for having become published at this point in my career, Klein said. He has presented his research in poster presentations at the annual Geological Society of America meetings in 2019 (in person) and 2020 (virtually). I enthusiastically congratulate him on his Goldwater Scholarship Award as it reflects his dedication to exceeding expectations in undergraduate research, Krekeler said. McLeod added, I have no doubt that Ethan will continue to excel here at Miami as an early career scientist and I very much look forward to what the future will bring. Late pruning of trees destroys birds' nests, say campaigners in Rome. Environmental groups are protesting against the pruning of Rome's trees, currently in full swing, claiming that it is destroying birds' nests as well as being detrimental to trees at this stage in their cycle. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently slammed the "badly planned pruning of trees" in the city as has the International Organisation for the Protection of Animals (OPIA) which states that the conservation of nesting birds is regulated by a specific EU directive (147/2009). OIPA also pointed out that the late pruning of Rome's trees contravenes a municipal regulation which prohibits the cutting of the city's hedges or trees on public land that "damage or remove nests," reports online newspaper RomaToday. In addition to the risk to nesting birds and fledgling chicks, the pruning of deciduous trees in spring results in the trees losing the sap they have reserved to produce new leaves, which in turn can weaken the tree. The reason for the off-season pruning operation relates to the late start of a three-year contract, worth 60 million, which was announced in September. Heralded by the city at the time as "historic," the pruning campaign has divided the city into eight lots for tree pruning, reports RomaToday. However, despite being announced six months ago, the pruning operation only got underway in late March. Photo Wanted in Rome. Queensland Health has released a series of guidelines for interacting with anti-vax friends and family who spout spurious theories at the dinner table. As the Covid-19 vaccine and rollout continue to dominate global headlines, the Sunshine States health department is offering rebuttals to help debunk any myths that your friends and family may bring up. Among the most common arguments is that the vaccine can in fact cause Covid, change a persons DNA and is regularly resulting in death overseas. Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the issues critics have raised about the vaccines, and how officials are encouraging the public to respond when they are presented as fact at family functions or while out with friends. Health authorities say the vaccine is the world's greatest chance at lifting restrictions and returning to normal (pictured: Customers dining at the Opera Bar after Sydney experienced a Covid shutdown) People are dropping dead overseas after taking the vaccine Globally, more than 806 million doses of vaccine have been issued, and that number is climbing by the millions daily. According to the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 182 million doses have been issued in the United States alone in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. So far, not a single death has been attributed directly to the administration of the vaccine. While people have died after taking the vaccine, Queensland Health says these deaths are likely to be coincidental... even in vulnerable, frail and elderly people. The benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the side effects, a spokesman said. Despite that counter-argument, the Australian government has instructed people aged under 50 not to take the Astra Zeneca vaccine due to fears it can clause potentially deadly blood clots. Globally, more than 806 million doses have been issued, and that number is climbing by the millions daily, according to the New York Times daily tracker The vaccine can give you coronavirus According to Queensland Health, this simply isnt possible. The vaccine does not contain any live virus, as some other vaccines for different illnesses does. As such, a person cannot contract the virus directly from the vaccine. But, because immunity does not occur immediately - particularly given the two most common vaccines require at least two shots - some people have caught Covid soon after they have been immunised. This is simply because their body has not been given enough of a chance to build antibodies to fight the virus before the infection struck. The vaccine does not contain any live virus, as some other vaccines for different illnesses does The vaccine changes your DNA It doesnt. Queensland Health explained the Pfizer vaccine uses Messenger RNA (mRNA), which is 'very different from DNA'. The mRNA gives instructions to cells within the body to replicate a protein that is found within the virus that causes Covid. In turn, the body recognises this protein does not belong and begins to naturally develop antibodies, and that trains the body to respond the same way if it were to be infected by the real virus. Eventually, the cells of the mRNA break down and the body naturally expels them once it recognises how to successfully fight it off and train the immune system. Therefore, mRNA and the Covid vaccine is not supposed to interact with or mutate a person's DNA in any way. Queensland Health has released a series of guidelines for interacting with anti-vax friends and family who spout conspiracy theories at the dinner table The vaccine can cause really severe side effects Most commonly a person will experience mild symptoms after having the jab. Queensland Health says these should not alarm people as it indicates the recipient's immune system is being stimulated, responding, learning and adapting. In very rare cases, the vaccine has been proven to cause anaphylaxis - or a severe allergic reaction. This usually occurs in people with a history of severe allergies, who are advised to remain under medical supervision immediately after receiving the vaccine. You need to remember that we are vaccinating very large numbers of people over a short period of time. A certain number of unexpected and unusual reactions are going to happen in the period following vaccination by chance, the spokesman said. So far, not a single death has been attributed directly to the administration of the vaccine. While people have died after taking the vaccine, Queensland Health says these deaths are likely to be coincidental... even in vulnerable, frail and elderly people The vaccine can affect fertility if people are trying for a baby There is no known link between infertility and the vaccine. A person who is pregnant or trying for a baby is urged to seek independent professional health advice before taking any vaccine or medication. According to The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Covid vaccines do not appear to cause any problems with pregnancy, fertility or the development of placenta. 'Like all vaccines, scientists are studying COVID-19 vaccines carefully for side effects now and will continue to study them for many years,' a spokesman said. There is no known link between infertility and the vaccine. A person who is pregnant or trying for a baby is urged to seek professional health advice individually before taking any vaccine or medication People who are breastfeeding cant get vaccinated Again, women who are breastfeeding should seek individual medical advice, but this should not prevent a person receiving the vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been studied in detail in women who are breastfeeding, but this does not mean it is unsafe to do so. Breastfeeding women can safely receive almost all other vaccines available. COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been studied in detail in women who are breastfeeding, but this does not mean it is unsafe to do so There is no way to know what is even in the vaccine. Im not putting that in my body A list of every ingredient used in the Covid vaccines is easily accessible for anybody searching for it. The ingredients include water, sugar, salt and an active ingredient. The active ingredient in Pfizer is mRNA, which encourages the body to replicate the protein in Covid in order to fight it off. The AstraZeneca vaccine, the other commonly used vaccine in Australia, has many of the same ingredients except uses a modified Adenoviruses instead of mRNA as the active ingredient. This works in a similar way as the mRNA, but has been modified so as not to cause any infections as it builds a tolerance in the body. To learn more about the ingredients in detail, click here. As the Covid-19 vaccine and rollout continue to dominate global headlines, the Sunshine States health department is offering rebuttals to help debunk any myths that your friends and family may bring up The vaccine was developed way too quickly for it to be safe Each of the widely used and globally approved Covid vaccines have been through the same rigorous testing as vaccines in the past. But Queensland Health acknowledges this mightnt be apparent to the general public. No testing phase was skipped but for these important vaccines researchers and international governments worked together to streamline some of the processes that often slow down the approvals process, making it available to the public faster to save lives earlier, the spokesman said. Among the most common arguments is that the vaccine can in fact cause Covid, change a persons DNA and is regularly resulting in death overseas 'We don't need the vaccine if we're practicing good hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks' Queensland Health reiterated the global response that the vaccine is 'our best asset in fighting this virus'. 'They have been proven to reduce the serious effects of Covid-19 in people who become infected with the virus'. The spokesman agreed that Australia in particular is doing well in combatting the virus via other methods, but said this can't be maintained forever. 'We should keep practicing them until told otherwise... But do we want to live this way forever? Is it good for our mental health? Work? Holidays? Visiting family and friends? 'The COVID-19 vaccine is still the best way to protect people long-term against severe COVID-19 symptoms.' The ingredients include water, sugar, salt and an active ingredient. The active ingredient in Pfizer is mRNA, which encourages the body to replicate the protein in Covid in order to fight it off. The AstraZeneca vaccine (pictured), the second commonly used vaccine in Australia, has many of the same ingredients except uses a modified Adenoviruses instead of mRNA as the active ingredient Advertisement All senior members of the Royal Family will now wear mourning dress at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on Saturday. The Daily Mail understands that, in an unprecedented about-turn, a last minute decision, approved by the Queen, has been made that no royals will wear military uniform in order to present a united family front. Behind the scenes, courtiers have been racked by concern that Prince Harry, who was forced to give up his honorary military titles after he acrimoniously quit royal duties and moved to the US, would be the only senior royal not in uniform. Harry, 36, is understood to have wanted to wear the Blues and Royals dress uniform he wore on his wedding day in May 2018. As a former captain with the Household Cavalry, however, he is entitled only to wear a suit, with any medals he has been awarded in the course of his duties or by the Queen. By contrast the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal would have been, by convention for a royal ceremonial funeral, in full military uniform. Harry is believed to have spoken to William, Charles, Eugenie and Beatrice in an attempt to 'park any disputes' ahead of the funeral. A source told the Mirror: 'Despite everything that has gone on and the wounds are still pretty raw, everyone is hoping any disputes will be parked for another day'This is about giving the Duke the send off he deserves surrounded by his family.' Harry, 36, is understood to have wanted to wear the Blues and Royals dress uniform he wore on his wedding day in May 2018 The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal would have been, by convention for a royal ceremonial funeral, in full military uniform The Daily Mail understands that, in an unprecedented about-turn, a last minute decision, approved by the Queen (pictured), has been made that no royals will wear military uniform in order to present a united family front The Duke of Edinburgh (left) walks in procession with the Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII) and the Duke of Kent as the funeral cortege of King George VI made its way from Windsor Station to St George's Chapel in 1952 Prince Charles, Prince Philip, Prince Harry And Prince William walk behind the coffin of the Queen Mother as it arrives at Westminster Abbey Photograph by Horace W Nicholls of the funeral of King Edward VII at St George's Chapel, Windsor. Officers salute as the coffin is carried to a gun carriage pulled by sailors 15th February 1952: The coffin containing the body of King George VI is loaded onto a train at Paddington Station, London, to take it to Windsor The British Royal family watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is prepared to be carried from Westminster Abbey at the end of her funeral service on April 9, 2002 Queen Victoria's funeral procession passing through London. She was the longest-ruling British monarch, reigning from 1837-1901 The Queen Mother's coffin, draped in her personal standard, turns off The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle The Royal Family including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, the Duke of York and Prince Harry follow the Queen Mother's coffin at her funeral at Westminster Abbey, London in April 2002 Royals in military uniform: A brief history Royal Family members with a military rank have worn uniforms at state occasions since the 19th century. At the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002, the last funeral of a royal consort, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne all wore uniforms. Prince Edward, who quit the Royal Marines after four months' service, wore a black morning coat, as did his nephews William and Harry, who had yet to serve in the Armed Forces. Anne had not served in the military but held the honorary rank of Rear Admiral. By contrast, at the funeral of Princess Diana royals wore dark suits and not military dress. The funeral was considered a ceremonial event rather than a full state occasion. In 1952, at the funeral of the Queen's father King George VI, his brothers the Duke of Windsor and the Duke of Gloucester wore military dress alongside Prince Philip. The Queen and Queen Mother wore mourning clothes, including heavy black veils. The three dukes also wore military dress for Queen Mary's funeral in 1953. Illustrations from Queen Victoria's 1901 funeral show her sons Edward VII and the Duke of Connaught in military dress on horseback in her funeral procession. Advertisement The issue was compounded when Prince Andrew demanded to wear the uniform of admiral, a position he had offered to defer taking up after stepping back from public duties in the wake of the Epstein scandal. Crucially Andrew has not been stripped of his honorary military titles and remains a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy. It led to concerns within the Royal Household that if Andrew were denied his request to go in uniform, he and Harry would be the only ones in civilian dress who had seen active service in the military. A source said: 'There was the risk of real embarrassment.' The Queen has decided that, to retain family unity and spare Harry any public humiliation, everyone will dress the same morning coats and black ties for the men, simple black outfits for the women. It is believed to be only the second time in more than a century that members of the Royal Family have not worn uniform to the funeral of a monarch or their spouse. It will, however, be seen as a significant public olive branch to Harry in the wake of his and Meghan's devastating interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, in which they criticised members of his immediate family and accused the institution of racism. Buckingham Palace last night declined to comment, but the Mail understands the decision will be officially announced today. It is believed that there is a genuine desire to try to start to repair stricken family relationships, particularly the rift between Harry and his older brother William, and the funeral of their beloved grandfather may be a good place to start. Discussions on the issue went to the wire, with senior aides including the Master of the Household, Vice-Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, trying to negotiate a solution. The final decision rested with the widowed Queen. A source close to Andrew said yesterday that he would 'do what is appropriate' and had no intention to distract from his father's funeral. He served 21 years in the Navy and is promoted in line with his peers who are still serving. He became a rear admiral on his 50th birthday, a vice-admiral on his 55th and had been due to become an admiral on his 60th last year. But he requested to forgo the promotion until he is able to clear his name and fully resume royal duties. However it is understood that he still asked to go to his father's funeral as an admiral. Saturday's event is known as a royal ceremonial funeral based on one held 19 years ago for the Queen Mother, wife of George VI at Philip's specific request. It is not as large or as grand as a state funeral, but many of the ceremonial elements are the same. All senior royals entitled to wear uniform, including the Duke of Edinburgh, did so in April 2002. The body of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), the longest-ruling British monarch, lies in state at one of her royal residences, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight The Queen Mother's funeral cortege drives along The Long Walk at Windsor Castle. The coffin was being moved from the Royal Chapel in Windsor to the Queen's Chapel at St. James's Palace in London Sailors pulling the gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Victoria, Windsor, Berkshire, following her death in 1901 The funeral procession of King George VI arrives at Windsor Castle, Berkshire in 1952, just before Queen Elizabeth took the throne King George V at the funeral of his father King Edward VII, London, 20 May 1910. The funeral was attended by huge crowds, and was the largest ever gathering of European royalty Pall bearers carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, leave Westminster Abbey in London following the funeral ceremony 15th February 1952: Members of the British Royal family entering St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the company of the King's Company Grenadier Guards who are carrying King George VI's coffin at his funeral The Royal Family Gather At Westminster Abbey For The Funeral Of The Queen Mother Who Had Lived To The Age Of 101 Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and the Queen Mother watch the body of the King being placed in Westminster Abbey King Edward VIII and his three brothers follow the gun carriage' at the Funeral of King George V in London in 1936 The Queen Mother's coffin arrives at Westminster Abbey for the funeral service in London, which was the culmination of more than a week of mourning for the royal matriarch 1936: Funeral procession of King George V in London. The gun carriage bearing the coffin is drawn by sailors 15th February 1952: The funeral cortege of King George VI makes its way through Parliament Square, London The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, the Duke of York and Prince Harry at the Queen Mother's funeral at Westminster Abbey, London in April 2002 1st May 1910: The draped coffin of King Edward VII, (1841 - 1910), who ascended the British throne in 1901, lies in state in Buckingham Palace, London Huge crowds attended the funeral of the King Edward VII (1841-1910), in London in May 1910 This was in contrast to the private funeral of the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, weeks earlier, where mourning dress was worn, as well as five years earlier at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, by then a former royal. Initially the plan was for senior royals to wear military uniform on Saturday in line with convention. But it quickly became clear this was a thorny issue given how vocal Harry, currently quarantining at Frogmore Cottage at Windsor after flying back from the US, has been over the loss of his military titles. Sources close to Harry have revealed the depth of his anger, particularly given he had served ten years in the military with two frontline tours of Afghanistan. Last month he told Miss Winfrey that losing his official positions 'hurt' but added that he ultimately respected his grandmother's decision. However, he pointedly attended with Meghan a military cemetery in Los Angeles wearing his lounge suit and medals, after the Queen denied his request to have a wreath laid at the Cenotaph on his behalf on Remembrance Sunday as he is no longer a working royal. RICHARD KAY: How has it come to this? And what on earth would Philip think...? On Saturday, when the nation comes to a halt for the funeral of one of its last bona fide Second World War heroes, not one of Prince Philip's family will be clad in military uniform. Instead his sons, daughter, grandsons and cousins who by virtue of appointment or distinguished service have a right to regimental or naval dress will be in mourning clothes: Tailcoats for the men and dresses of black crepe for the women. Not a flash of ceremonial gold stripe nor a navy blue sash will be on view, no decorated peak caps to be raised and lowered as protocol demands and no snappy salutes given. So how on earth has it come to this? A delicate compromise was how it was being seen in Palace circles last night, an attempt to head off the possibility of yet another internal family row. The Queen and Prince Philip at the Royal Military College Duntroon where the Queen presented new colours in 2011 But to many it will look less like a concession and more like a capitulation. In an instant, centuries of tradition have been overturned. The reason? A question of uniforms for two royal dukes. The two dukes, of course, are Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, both semi-detached from royal life yet both with a compelling hold on a military heritage. As the Daily Mail reported yesterday, Andrew who has stood down from official duties over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein had made clear that he wished to wear the uniform of an admiral, the rank he was awarded by the Queen on his 60th birthday and which at the time he offered to defer. But while this has provoked unease in and around the office of the Lord Chamberlain, which is overseeing the formality of the funeral, the major focus is on the position of the Duke of Sussex. Harry's decision to give up royal life and move to California with his wife Meghan and their son Archie meant he had to surrender his treasured honorary military titles. This had thus opened up the very real possibility that Philip's grandson would have been the only senior male royal not in uniform at the funeral of the warrior prince. It is hard to escape the irony of this. Of all those in Philip's immediate family, only two had like him seen active service, his son Andrew and his grandson Harry. In the Falklands conflict of 1982 Andrew was a daring helicopter pilot flying dangerous decoy missions to lure deadly Argentine Excocet missiles away from British warships. No one questioned his courage then and he left the Royal Navy after 22 years of impeccable service. Prince Harry served in the Army for 10 years and was in the Blues and Royals (pictured: Harry in his military uniform in 2019), including in Afghanistan. The Duke of Sussex also held the role of Captain General of the Royal Marines (pictured right) Prince Andrew returns from the Falklands War on September 17, 1982, on board HMS Invincible Harry displayed bravery on not one but two tours of Afghanistan, once as an infantry troop leader on the ground and second time round flying sorties at the controls of an Apache helicopter. He, too, was selfless in his service. Harry and Andrew both second sons, remember, who spent much of their lives as heirs to their elder brothers have been troubled by what they see as their exclusion from military matters. How this has hurt; both hardened by combat but crushed by disappointment. Andrew has long kept up links with other veterans and survivors of the South Atlantic conflict, while Harry turned his support for wounded servicemen into the Invictus Games. No wonder this has provoked a crisis at the Palace. Imagine the scene as the royals follow the family patriarch's coffin down the hill from Windsor Castle to its place of rest at St George's Chapel on Saturday afternoon. There is Harry, and possibly Andrew, in civilian clothes alongside Prince Edward, who abandoned the Royal Marines just weeks into its gruelling commando course, but who holds a handful of honorary military titles permitting him to don uniform, and Princess Anne, who also has a fistful of Army and Navy appointments but no service experience. It is difficult to imagine Philip, who said he never left the Navy but was merely on permanent leave, doing anything but harrumphing at this extraordinary state of affairs. Here was a man, the youngest officer promoted to first lieutenant during the war, mentioned in despatches during the Battle of Cape Matapan and a witness to the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, now being denied the kind of send-off, with its blaze of ceremonial colour, he had so often presided over. The Duke of York, Prince of Wales, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Royal, and Earl of Wessex in uniform in 2002 When the Queen Mother was laid to rest in 2002, it was Philip leading the funeral procession in his ceremonial Royal Navy uniform. And it was the same in 1979, at the obsequies for Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the uncle he lost at the hands of the murderous IRA. He was in military uniform, too, for the funeral of Britain's wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. And he surely would have expected nothing less at his own farewell: That those entitled to wear uniform should do so. He might have helpfully argued that if Harry and Andrew could not wear the dress of the senior and honorary positions they held, why not the uniform of the ranks they left the service with? In Andrew's case in 2001 it was as a commander. Harry reached the rank of captain, which was automatically promoted to major on his retirement. But Philip, too, was the great pragmatist of the Royal Family. Might he not also have thought how much better if his funeral were a vessel for agreement rather than one of dissent? Three of Prince Philip's German family will attend funeral and are isolating in Ascot before service after Duke said he wanted 'blood' relatives represented They were all denied a place at his wedding, thanks to post-war nervousness at Buckingham Palace. But for the rest of his life, the Duke of Edinburgh was adamant that bygones should be bygones. That is why he made it clear that he wanted his 'blood' family the network of German nieces, nephews and cousins to whom he was devoted to be properly represented and included in his funeral arrangements. And so they shall be. For I learn that two great-nephews and a cousin are currently locked in a Covid-compliant bubble at the Berkshire home of a mutual friend ahead of Saturday's funeral. They were quietly invited to fly to the UK last weekend, in order to undergo quarantine procedures ahead of the service. Like Prince Harry, they will provided final Covid tests permit be eligible to join the Queen and other members of the immediate family at St George's Chapel on Saturday. For now, Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden; Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg are all behind closed doors in a house near Ascot. With only 30 mourners permitted inside St George's Chapel on Saturday afternoon, in line with Covid rules, it means a tenth of the congregation paying tribute to the Duke will be from Germany. 'It really is an incredible honour and we are all extremely touched and privileged to be included on behalf of the wider family,' says Prince Philipp, 51, in a statement from the house where he and his cousins must remain isolated until the weekend. His grandmother, Princess Margarita, was the Duke's elder sister and the Duke paid many visits to the family home, Langenburg Castle in southern Germany. Prince Bernhard, 50, also a father of three, is a grandson of the Duke's second sister, Theodora (known as 'Dolla'). Prince Donatus, known as 'Don', 54, is the head of the House of Hesse, into which the Duke's two younger sisters, Cecile and Sophie (known as 'Tiny') married. Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, pictured with Prince Charles, said: 'It really is an incredible honour and we are all extremely touched and privileged to be included on behalf of the wider family' Prince Bernhard, pictured with his wife at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Monaco in 2011, is the grandson of the late Duke's sister Theodora Prince Donatus, head of the House of Hesse and pictured with the Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2019, is also related to the monarch Family seat: The Queen and the Duke were guests at Langenburg Castle on a state visit in 1965 Troubles ahead: Philip, second from left, as a boy with his parents and four sisters, who adored him. They all married German aristocrats Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg is one of many of the Duke's relatives isolating behind closed doors in a house near Ascot Prince Charles meets members of his father's extended family on a trip to Langenburg in Germany in May 2013 Princess Stefanie and Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden - a great-nephew of the Duke of Edinburgh at the wedding of Count Bjorn and Countess Sandra Bernadotte in Germany in 2009 Queen Elizabeth II (accompanied by Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse) watches her horse 'Barber's Shop' compete in the Tattersalls and Ror Thoroughbred Ridden Show Class on day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park on May 16, 2014 in Windsor All these families enjoy so many precious recollections of the 'Uncle Philip', who thought nothing of popping over to Germany for a christening or a landmark birthday party for the offspring and relatives of his older sisters. They were the kind-hearted, glamorous quartet of princesses who had doted on their boisterous little brother through an often troubled childhood. The Duke never forgot that, as I learnt from Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg earlier this year when I was researching the Duke's European family. 'It was such a joy having a conversation with him. His memory was extraordinary,' he explained. 'He could remember playing hide-and-seek in the castle when he was a boy, and he always enjoyed talking to the local people. 'He could switch from German to English and back, whether he was talking about Winston Churchill or the local wildlife.' In recent days, quite properly, all the focus has been on the tremendous sadness felt by the Queen, the Royal Family and the Duke's vast network of friends and organisations. But his death has also left a huge hole among the broader continental cousinhood, who all adored the energetic, unstuffy uncle, great-uncle and cousin who always made a beeline for his younger relatives to hear their latest news. For he was not only an enthusiastic participant in family gatherings. In fact, many refer to him as 'the glue' or 'the bridge' who has kept the current British Royal Family closely connected to the European cousinhood. They are the 'other' royal family, the relatives who might not be household names in Britain but who, for generations, have happily slotted in at house parties or picnics at Balmoral, Sandringham and elsewhere. Besides, they are all themselves related to Queen Victoria anyway. And it was always at this time of year, traditionally, that the Duke would invite many of his relatives for one of the highlights of the royal calendar the Royal Windsor Horse Show. If Ascot Week was when the Queen filled the castle with her friends from the world of racing, then the horse show was 'the Duke's week' each spring, with plenty of Langenburgs, Badens, Hesses and Hanovers occupying the Windsor guest rooms. At big family gatherings, whether in the UK or in Germany, there would always be a big crossover. At the celebrations for the golden or diamond wedding anniversaries of the Queen and the Duke, for example, the German relations were fully included. Similarly, many a German christening has featured a House of Windsor godparent at the font. Prince Philip and his four sisters had grown up in the strange, unsettled world of peripatetic refugee royalty between the wars. They were all born into the Greek royal family, itself descended from the ruling house of Denmark, but had been driven into exile in 1922 after a military coup. Prince Philip was still a baby, taken to safety aboard a British destroyer by his big sister, Margarita, who famously carried him in an orange box. He was just a schoolboy when all four of his sisters married within a year of each other, all to German aristocrats. One of the greatest tragedies in his long life was when his sister Cecile was killed in a 1937 plane crash with her husband, George Donatus of Hesse, and two young sons, en route to a family wedding in London. Come the outbreak of war, all three surviving sisters would find themselves on the other side as Prince Philip served gallantly in the Royal Navy. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, pictured as baby in 1922. His extended family are now in the UK ahead of his funeral on Saturday A rare picture of the Duke of Edinburgh, also known as Prince Philip of Greece, at the public school of Gordonstoun, Elgin, Scotland Prince Philip of Greece, later to become the Duke of Edinburgh, being held by Princess Alice of Greece after he was born in 1921 July 1922: From right to left, the Princess Theodora, Princess Cecilia, Princess Margarita and Sophia of Greece at the wedding of Edwina Ashley and Louis Mountbatten. They are the four daughters of Prince Andrew and Princess Alice of Greece December 1922: Prince Andrew of Greece (1882 - 1944) with his wife Princess Alice (1885 - 1969) and their daughters, Princess Theodora (1906 - 1960) and Princess Margarita (1905 - 1981) Left to right; Princess Cecilia, Princess Margaret, Princess Sophia, Princess Theodora - the Duke of Edinburgh's four sisters One aspect of some of this week's coverage of the Duke's long life which has upset many of his German relations is the oft-repeated myth that 'all his sisters married Nazis'. Though all the surviving brothers-in-law would be forced into uniform during the war, they were certainly not all active members of the Nazi party. For example, Theodora married Prince Berthold of Baden and it was the Badens who encouraged the pioneering Jewish educationalist, Kurt Hahn, to establish his original school at their family seat, Salem Castle. Prince Philip was a pupil there himself until Hahn was driven out by the Nazis. He fled to Scotland, where he founded Gordonstoun. The young Philip followed him there soon afterwards, after persistently getting into trouble for mocking the Nazi salute. 'Dolla' Baden realised that this was clearly no place for her little brother. Come his wedding to Princess Elizabeth in 1947, however, the bridegroom was told that none of his sisters could attend. It was explained to the Duke that this was to spare him criticism from the Press and public but it hurt, nonetheless. He had always loved them all dearly. Only his mother, who had become a nun, was invited to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony. However, the sisters were all extremely touched and moved when they learnt how he had cheekily included them in the service. They had given him a joint wedding present a gold fountain pen and he insisted on using that (rather than the Abbey nib) to sign the wedding register. After his wedding, he made a point of including them in family gatherings. A favourite character at Royal Family bashes was always Princess Margaret of Hesse 'Aunt Peg', as Prince Charles and others called her. She had been the Hon Margaret Geddes, the British bride whose wedding to Prince Ludwig of Hesse had been the reason why poor Cecile and her family were heading for London on that fateful flight in 1937. All through her life, she would remind the younger generations that Prince Philip was 'one of the best dancers in Europe'. When the Queen paid her first state visit to Germany in 1965, it was again decided that the Duke's sisters and their husbands should be omitted from the formal events. Undeterred, the Queen and the Duke simply went to stay with them privately in between state occasions. 'It was wonderful when they arrived on the train at Langenburg it was the last time a proper train stopped there because the station closed after that!' recalls Princess Charlotte Croy, who was then married to Prince Kraft of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. She is the mother of Prince Philipp, who is now ensconced in that Ascot bubble. She has fond memories of the Duke of Edinburgh subsequently visiting the family just like any other house guest, often bringing one of his own children, so the British junior royals have all grown to know their cousins. 'I remember once that I had to finish stuffing all these felt toy animals for a charity,' says Princess Charlotte. 'I was very late with them so the Duke just joined in. There he was, stuffing toys as we chatted!' Left to right, back: Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Princess Margarita von Hohenlohe-Langenburg (sister of Prince Philip), Andrew Elphinstone (Cousin of the Queen); front, left to right: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone, the Queen with Princess Anne and the Queen Mother Circa 1930: Princess Margarita of Greece (1905 - 1981), the sister of Prince Philip, shortly before her marriage to Prince Gottfried of Hohenlohe-Langenburg July 1922: Princess Sophie of Greece, sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the wedding of Lord Louis Mountabatten to the Countess of Ashley. She married Prince Christopher of Hesse, and in 1946 married Prince George William of Hanover Circa 1930: Cecilia, Grand Duchess of Hesse (1911 - 1937). She is the daughter of Princess Alice and Prince Andrew of Greece, (sister of the Duke of Edinburgh) July 1922: At just one year old, the Duke of Edinburgh, also known as Prince Philip of Greece shows an interest in things floral Prince Philip and his sister, Princess Sophie of Hanover when they attended the funeral of the Dowager Lady Brabourne and Nicholas Knatchbull at the Church of St John the Baptist at Mersham, near Ashford, Kent Lady Louise Mountbatten with Princess Theodora of Greece (left) and Princess Margarita of Greece (right), daughters of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, and sisters of the Duke of Edinburgh When Prince Kraft died in 2004, Prince Philip dropped everything. 'He was the first person we called to share the sad news with and he certainly made sure he would be there by our side,' says Kraft's daughter, Princess Xenia zu Hohenlohe, a great-niece of the Duke. 'During the funeral service, after I had stood up to do my reading and sat down again, he put his arm around me briefly and whispered: 'Well done'. It was one of the biggest compliments paid to me in my life. If you got that kind of a remark from someone as practised in public appearances, you knew you'd got something right!' Now an international expert in sustainability in the hospitality industry, Princess Xenia says that the Duke was always a driving force in encouraging younger members of his wider family to greater things. 'His unofficial motto was always: 'Just get on with it!',' she tells me from her home in Munich. 'Over the days since his death, I have personally realised that his sense of duty, his discipline, his passion for environmental issues, his unique sense of humour and lack of ego are something for us always to aspire to. He certainly motivated me to be courageous and to stretch my horizons. I am forever grateful for this influence of his.' Like all the other members of this wide European diaspora of very sad, very proud royal cousins, Xenia wishes she could be there to pay her respects this weekend. But they are all very pleased and deeply touched that when it came to surrounding himself with his nearest and dearest at the end, dear 'Uncle Philip' had certainly not forgotten the family into which he was born. 'I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla': Prince Philip was determined to save Charles and Diana's marriage. Here, GYLES BRANDRETH reveals the Duke's tough but tender letters that made her laugh and cry One of the things that saddened and worried the Queen and Prince Philip about Princess Diana was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head. It certainly came as no surprise to them when the radiant young princess quickly became the centre of attention. Once upon a time, Philip and Elizabeth themselves had been viewed as characters from a fairy tale. The difference between them and Diana was that they didn't take it personally. For the Queen and Prince Philip, royalty was never about hysterical crowds, newspaper column inches, 'celebrity' or 'star quality'. It was simply about duty and service. When I discussed this with the Duke of Edinburgh in his library at Buckingham Palace, he said to me: 'You won't remember this, but in the first years of the Queen's reign, the level of adulation you wouldn't believe it! You really wouldn't. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, signs the visitors book at Hillsborough castle in June 2014 Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, at the Red Cross Headquarters, London, in 1991 The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a welcome ceremony in Toronto at the beginning of their Canadian tour in October 1991 'It could have been corroding. It would have been very easy to play to the gallery, but I took a conscious decision not to do that. Safer not to be too popular. You can't fall too far.' The truth about the Prince and showgirls Over the years, there have been reports of Prince Philip appreciatively eyeing up shapely women and making suggestive remarks. In my experience, however, while he evidently enjoyed the company of good-looking women, his manners were impeccable. During the 1980s, when I was Appeals Chairman of the National Playing Fields Association, I helped organise a number of royal charity fundraisers. Backstage after the show, I would escort Philip along the line-up of charmingly shapely and scantily clad chorus girls. The Prince shook them firmly by the hand and looked them only in the eye. More recently, at a Royal Variety Performance, while the Queen's equerry and I nudged each other knowingly and agreed that Jennifer Lopez was indeed a fine figure of a woman (petite but perfectly formed), the Duke of Edinburgh directed his small talk entirely at J-Lo's forehead. He was careful. He was no fool. And he was not interested in showgirls, actresses and starlets. Advertisement Diana, of course, had proved to be a master at playing to the gallery. Yet when Philip first met her as a shy 19-year-old, she'd brought out his protective instincts. With Press speculation at fever pitch in early 1981 about a possible wedding, the duke decided it was time to interfere. In a letter to his 32-year-old son, he pointed out that the girl was young and vulnerable, and it was time for Charles to put up or shut up. He should either propose to Diana, counselled his father, so 'pleasing his family and the country', or release her. But he really shouldn't let her go on dangling in the wind. Was it the kind of letter a father in Philip's position should send to his son? Earl Mountbatten's daughter, Patricia (also Charles's godmother), had no doubts. When I went to see her, she said: 'I take it you've seen the letter? It wasn't a bullying letter at all. It was very reasonable. It was fair. It was sensible.' But that wasn't at all how it seemed to Prince Charles at the time. His father's letter, he said privately, made him feel 'ill-used and impotent'. Faced with what he regarded as a parental 'ultimatum', he felt emasculated, cornered, almost compelled to propose. There are certainly two sides to the sorry story of the marriage of Charles and Diana and as I had friends who were good friends of each of them, I've heard both sides. At great length. Charles, according to Diana's camp, was selfish, self-indulgent, thoughtless, uncaring and cruel. He was jealous of her popularity with the public and made no effort to share her interests. Faced with her frailty her post-natal depression, her mood swings he'd been unable to cope. And instead of responding to her cries for help her bulimia, her attempts at self-injury he'd sought solace in the arms of Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, together at a polo match in 1987 Charles' friends were equally entrenched. Diana, according to them, had been in love with the position, not the prince, and had never tried to understand her man. Self-regarding and self-absorbed, she resented her husband's range of interests and demanded a cull of some of his closest friends. Plus, she'd become difficult and manipulative. She made up stories, told lies and had affairs. Really, Diana was beyond the pale. But where did the Queen and Prince Philip stand? What has finally become clear though it wasn't at the time is that throughout the whole unhappy saga, Charles's parents meant well and did their best, too. They'd been full of hope for the success of the marriage. When it began to go wrong and others said 'I told you so' among them, Charles's friend Nicholas Soames, Philip's friend Penny Romsey, the Queen Mother's friend Lady Fermoy (Diana's maternal grandmother) Elizabeth and Philip said nothing. Princess Diana at the Royal Anthropological Institute in London in 1990 They kept their own counsel. They looked on, silent and dismayed. Unlike almost everybody else involved in the drama, Philip and Elizabeth could see both sides of the story and had some sympathy with both sides, too. The duke, in particular, was always a shrewd judge of character but contrary to his public image, he was also capable of genuine kindness and understanding. And he wanted to help, if he could. By the summer of 1992, the Queen agreed with him that 'something must be done'. That June, the Sunday Times had begun to serialise Andrew Morton's book, Diana: Her True Story, which portrayed the princess as a wronged woman, locked in a loveless union and psychologically battered by an unfeeling husband. Morton's sources were acknowledged to be Diana's friends but at Buckingham Palace, they suspected Diana herself. They were right, of course. Diana hadn't met Morton, but, through an intermediary, she'd recorded tapes for him in which she told her dramatic story. Yet even when Prince Philip challenged her directly, saying many feared she'd cooperated in some way, she told him, equally directly, that she hadn't. She lied. That June, the Queen and Prince Philip sat down with Charles and Diana at Windsor, to listen to their woes and talk about the way ahead. Charles said little, but Diana insisted that the time had come for a trial separation. The Queen and Prince Philip were totally as one. They counselled the unhappy couple to search for a compromise, to think less of themselves and more of others, to try to work together to revive their marriage for their own sakes, for the sake of their boys, for the sake of Crown and country. The Queen and Prince Philip at the Royal Military College Duntroon where the Queen presented new colours in 2011 Before they all parted, the Queen proposed a second meeting on the following day. But Diana failed to turn up, returning to Kensington Palace instead. It was around then that Philip decided to act. 'I try to keep out of these things as much as possible' was his line unless he thought he had something useful to contribute. In this case, he felt he did so he started typing the first in a series of extraordinary letters to his troubled daughter-in-law. Philip cared for the sick too... While Diana did much that was worthwhile, Philip told me, what she did was not unique. For example, early in 1956, in Nigeria, the Queen and Prince Philip, aged 29 and 34, young and oh-so-glamorous, visited a leper colony. They did so not simply to visit Commonwealth citizens suffering from leprosy, but more significantly, to allay the widespread, irrational fear that was attached then to any physical contact with the disease. This was a lifetime before Princess Diana with the same good intentions got stuck into Aids. Advertisement Letters had always been the duke's most effective means of personal communication. In conversation, he could be hectoring and difficult to read; on paper, he was calmer, more considered, more considerate. He used letters to show he cared. He used them, too, to think out loud, to explore, to question, to offer ideas and advice, and to say those things that, within a family, are sometimes more comfortably written down than spoken out loud. The existence of his very personal letters to Diana are no state secret, but they've been the subject of much misunderstanding. According to some reports at the time, Philip wrote merely to scold and upbraid her. He was even accused of calling her 'a trollop' and 'a harlot' which left him distinctly unamused. In fact, Philip's letters to Diana were typical of his correspondence overall. They were sympathetic, but unsentimental; direct, but to a purpose. Each seemed to say: here's a problem let's unravel it, separate the strands, see if we can't make sense of them, come closer to a proper understanding of what's wrong in the hope of being able to do something towards putting it right. Did he criticise Diana? Well, he certainly upbraided her for failing to come to the second meeting with him and the Queen, when they'd set aside time for the purpose. He also asked her to examine her own behaviour and acknowledge there'd been faults on both sides; and he reminded her that, while Charles was sometimes difficult, she wasn't always easy herself. No sensitive issues were dodged: he talked about the canker of jealousy, and the problem of Camilla. He certainly didn't condone his son's on-going relationship with Camilla not for a moment but he did want Diana at least to try to see the situation from Charles's point of view. Prince Charles And Princess Diana waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, accompanied by Prince Philip in 1981 Her post-natal depression and her irrational behaviour after Prince William's birth had not made her easy to live with, he said. Her constant 'suspicion' of her husband was wearing. In short, Philip confronted his daughter-in-law with home truths, and invited her to think about her marriage, long and hard. Unfortunately, when Diana received Philip's letters, she was at her most vulnerable and volatile. As soon as one arrived, she opened it, scanned it, usually burst into tears; then she shared it, as soon as possible, with her closest friends. Rosa Monckton, then managing director of Tiffany's in London, and Lucia Flecha de Lima, wife of the Brazilian ambassador, were probably Diana's two closest girlfriends at the time of her death. In the aftermath, I had lunch with them and they described to me the ritual of receiving, reading and replying to the Duke of Edinburgh's correspondence. 'When the letters came,' explained Rosa, 'they caused excitement and alarm at the same time. Diana was very up and down. Something he said might make her cry, something might make her laugh. She very often got the wrong end of the stick, misinterpreting what he meant.' Lucia recalled: 'We went through each letter so carefully, thinking about what he said, talking about it, explaining it to her. 'We'd get into the car and all go to the [Brazilian] embassy and sit together and read the letters, line by line.' 'Then,' said Rosa, 'we helped her draft her replies. She took the correspondence very seriously.' The exchange between Philip and his daughter-in-law continued for more than a year. For a while, Philip's letters, carefully tied together with ribbon, were stored for safe-keeping in a box in the Brazilian ambassador's safe. 'They were good letters,' said Lucia, emphatically, 'He's a good man.' Rosa Monckton agreed. 'Actually, he was pretty wonderful,' she said. 'All he was trying to do was help. And Diana knew that.' Not according to the Princess's former butler, Paul Burrell, however. He claims Diana found many of Philip's letters 'brutal,' and that he'd plainly never understood her. But I'm convinced that Burrell is wrong. Philip did understand his daughter-in-law. Acting in loco parentis, he was offering her what she needed: tough love. Far from heaping on the blame, he accepted that her bulimia was an illness and that consequently she couldn't always be answerable for her behaviour. He acknowledged, too, that Charles was wrong to have returned to Camilla but he told Diana that she, too, was wrong to have taken other lovers, and he asked her to reflect on why her husband had sought out his old flame. Finally, he praised Diana's achievements, while at the same time inviting her to consider where and when she might have got things wrong. Being consort to the Prince of Wales, he reminded her, 'involved much more than being a hero with the British people'. Some of his remarks were undeniably negative, but his underlying message was always positive. As for his purpose, it was characteristically practical: to guide her towards the possibility of a reconciliation with Charles. In one letter, he even drew up a numbered list of things activities, interests, people that the pair of them had in common. I doubt that the trained marriage counsellors could have done very much more. 'To be fair,' acknowledges Burrell, 'Prince Philip did more to save the marriage than Prince Charles.' Princess Diana and her butler Paul Burrell visiting Sarajevo to promote the landmine survivors network in 1997 In 2004, the former butler claimed that Charles had struck a deal with Philip to dump Diana five years after the wedding. According to Burrell, Diana also suspected that her father-in-law had been 'a collaborating architect in the marriage's downfall', and that he'd given Charles 'his blessing, with a nudge and a wink, to renew his liaison with Camilla'. Furthermore, Burrell maintained that the princess had been told by Charles himself that 'he'd always had his father's blessing from the outset of the marriage to return to Camilla if the princess didn't make him happy'. Diana, of course, was capable of saying many things and different things on different days. But her friends Rosa Monckton and Lucia Flecha de Lima are quite clear on this: she had great respect and affection for her father-in-law; she trusted him and knew he wanted only to help. The idea that the duke could have arranged 'a five-year get-out clause' on his son's marriage is simply not credible. Indeed, in one of his letters, Philip had actually written to Diana: 'I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla.' Along with the Queen, however, he also found some of her behaviour frustrating, bewildering and troublesome. In the autumn of 1995, they were both appalled when she gave an interview to Martin Bashir for Panorama, in which she expressed her opinion that Charles would never become king and declared: 'I would like to be queen of people's hearts.' The Queen declared: 'Enough is enough.' After consulting with Philip, she wrote to both Charles and Diana, telling them that an early divorce was now desirable. In the event, the Wales's divorce settlement took many months to negotiate. Meanwhile, Prince Philip was alarmed by reports that Diana's demands included the suggestion that any future children she might have by another husband should bear hereditary titles. His own view was that, as well as losing her rank as a Royal Highness, she should have her title downgraded from the Princess of Wales to Duchess of Cornwall on the basis, as he put it, that 'when it's over it's over.' Princess Diana at a polo match at Windsor in 1987 In the end, Diana surrendered her royal status, and agreed to be known as 'Diana, Princess of Wales', in return for a lump-sum sweetener of 17 million and an annual staff and office allowance of 400,000. And that was that. Except, of course, the worst was yet to come: in the early hours of Sunday August 31, 1997, the chauffeur-driven Mercedes in which Diana and her then lover, Dodi Fayed, were travelling across Paris crashed into a concrete pillar. Her funeral was not a comfortable experience for Prince Philip. For one thing, Elton John had never been one of his favourite performers. For another, he found Tony Blair's over-emotional reading of the Lesson embarrassing. And both he and the Queen felt that Charles Spencer's impassioned address was illogical and insulting. In the course of it, Earl Spencer had spoken directly to Diana's sons and solemnly vowed 'that we, your blood family, will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering these two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition, but can sing openly as you planned.' The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh did not join in the general applause. Later, privately, Her Majesty said that what had disappointed her about Charles Spencer's address was that it failed to do justice to his sister's memory. He'd devoted so much of it to castigating the media and disparaging the Royal Family that he'd left himself no time to pay proper tribute to Diana's many gifts and achievements. The Queen was especially saddened by the fact he'd failed to acknowledge the importance to Diana of her personal faith. When I spoke to Charles Spencer some years later about his sister's funeral, he told me he'd had no intention of upsetting the Royal Family. I asked him how much hands-on involvement the 'blood family' had had with the boys and their upbringing, and he admitted: 'Not a lot'. 'Prince Charles is obviously a good father,' he said, 'and the boys are doing really well. I think Diana would be very happy about the way they've grown up.' I asked how he felt about Camilla. He said, 'It's none of my business. I wish Charles every happiness.' As for Prince Philip, although he'd never approved of his son's affair with Camilla, nor of his handling of it, he could see no objection to Charles eventually marrying his mistress. Being a pragmatist, he was pleased to see the situation 'regularised'. 'You can't argue with the inevitable,' he told me. When I asked what he made of Camilla, he was circumspect but agreed that she was a good sort, adding: 'She's good with the boys.' The Queen, for her part, discovered quite quickly that Camilla is very much her sort of woman. Prince Philip, the Queen and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall attend a banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2005 It certainly helps that her daughter-in-law can talk easily (and amusingly) about dogs and horses. In addition, Camilla is comfortable with the Queen's view of life; she's politically incorrect (in a good way), funny, self-deprecating, realistic; and, like the Queen, she's a mother and a grandmother who's been a bit tempest-tossed but has managed to weather the storms. I'm even told that the Queen understands Camilla's weakness for cigarettes, and smokes one herself from time to time. At the wedding in 2005, Her Majesty made a witty speech in which she welcomed her son and his bride to 'the winners' enclosure.' 'They have overcome Becher's Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles,' she said. 'They have come through, and I'm very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves.' Just a few days before the wedding, I'd met Prince Philip in the company of his Norfolk neighbour, Lord Howard of Rising. Daringly, Lord Howard reminded him of the saying: 'When a man marries his mistress, it creates a vacancy.' The duke chuckled obligingly. 'Don't, please!' he muttered. Contemporary documents are both saddening and amazing. It was hugely shocking to watch the 'civilized' British indulging in acts of unprecedented violence against Indians and amazing way the people of India, collectively and individually, belonging to different faiths and Castes, rose in revolt. Indifferent to Jallianwala victims These documents make shocking revelations about the reprehensible attitude of the foreign rules towards victims of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In June 1919 the home department came out with the statement which described the British causalities but kept mum on the count of Indian deaths raising an idiotic argument that whatever number would be made public by the British government would not be acceptable to the Indians! However, when government repression in Punjab drew world-wide condemnation, the British government appointed a commission of enquiry for investigating the violence in Punjab on October 14, 1919, headed by a jurist from Scotland, Hunter. This commission came to be known as Hunter Commission. It came to the conclusion that at Jallianwala Bagh 381 Indians, including males, females and even a six month old baby were killed by the General Dyer's force. This count was highly disputable as the unidentified bodies (of the people who were not Punjabis but were in Amritsar as it was a famous business/religious centre where also people from other states constantly came in search of livelihood) were disposed of. Multi-religious, multi-caste struggle The Hunter Commission list of martyrs makes it clear that the protest meeting at Jallianwala Bagh held in protest against Rowlatt Act and arrests of renowned Congress leaders, Dr Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew (whose son Toufique Kitchlew, an author died in penury) was attended by men, youth, women of all religions and castes. According to the list, 381 Indians died due to the firing of the British army under the command of Brigadier General Reginald Dyre. His invading force mainly consisted of Nepali Gurkhas, Baluch Regiment (manned by Punjabi Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs), the 54th Sikhs and the 59th Sind Rifles soldiers making it clear that the British ruled India with the help of the Indian stooges. Out of 381 martyrs, 376 were identified, 220 were Hindus, 90 Sikhs and 66 Muslims. Another significant aspect of this gathering, which reflected in the list of martyrs too, was that if on the one hand businessmen, lawyers, journalists, literary persons, government employees, intellectuals were present, on the other hand large number of audience belonged to the professions like iron smith, dhobi (washer men) weavers, barbers, helpers, daily-wage earner, carpet-knitters, masons, cobblers and sweepers. Many women were also present. The caste identities were as wide and included, chartist (traders), Pathan, Jat, Rajput, Brahmins, Barrages, Banyan, Sheikh, Siayed, Mambo etc. Notably, 14 Kashmiri Muslims were also martyred. The women martyrs were, Harbir Kaur identified as Jatni and Bitto sister of Sher Singh Jat. These realities once again underlined the fact that before the appearance of protagonists of Hindu and Muslim separatism, Indian freedom struggle was a united movement over-riding religious and caste divisions. It was a true anti-colonial movement for an all-inclusive India. Udham Singh as Mohammed Singh Azad Udham Singh was 20 year old orphan (born in a Dalit family) who witnessed the massacre. So deep was the hatred that he vowed not to rest until he had avenged the killing of the innocent hundreds. In order to enter England where one of the perpetrators was living, Udham Singh travelled to Mesopotamia, Kenya, Uganda, USA and USSR, all in quest of Indian revolutionaries and ammunition. He survived working as a carpenter and helping to organize the labour movements in the countries he took refuge. He spent almost two decades as a refugee in different parts of the world. Udham Singh Finally he could fulfill his vow of taking revenge on March 13, 1940 when he shot dead Michael ODyer, the Lt Governor of Punjab (the architect of the Jallianwala massacre who ordered the crackdown) at Caxton Hall, London. When taken to court after arrest, he identified himself as Mohammad Singh Azad. By adopting this name underscored the fact that the overthrow of the British rule was impossible without the unity of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh of India. Udham Singh was 20 year old orphan (born in a Dalit family) who witnessed the massacre. So deep was the hatred that he vowed not to rest until he had avenged the killing of the innocent hundreds.In order to enter England where one of the perpetrators was living, Udham Singh travelled to Mesopotamia, Kenya, Uganda, USA and USSR, all in quest of Indian revolutionaries and ammunition. He survived working as a carpenter and helping to organize the labour movements in the countries he took refuge. He spent almost two decades as a refugee in different parts of the world.Finally he could fulfill his vow of taking revenge on March 13, 1940 when he shot dead Michael ODyer, the Lt Governor of Punjab (the architect of the Jallianwala massacre who ordered the crackdown) at Caxton Hall, London. When taken to court after arrest, he identified himself as Mohammad Singh Azad. By adopting this name underscored the fact that the overthrow of the British rule was impossible without the unity of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh of India. It is likely that if Udham Singh were to return to India today as Mohammad Singh Azad, he would be lynched It was 81 years ago (July 31, 1940) Udham Singh died on the gallows in the Pentonville prison of London. Before kissing the gallows Mohammad Singh Azad said: I did it because he deserved it. He wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country. After announcement of death sentence he had told the court: "I do not care about sentence of deathI am dying for a purpose... We are suffering from the British Empire I am proud to die to free my native land and I hope that when I am gonein my place will come thousands of my countrymen to drive you dirty dogs out; to free my countryyou will be cleansed out of India. And your British imperialism will be smashedI have nothing against the English people at allI have great sympathy with the workers of England. I am against the imperialist government. Down with British Imperialism!" There is a strong likelihood that if Udham Singh were to return to India today, he would be lynched by Hindutva goons. Shockingly, even after Independence of the country nothing changed for the surviving members of the martyrs and grievously injured. They remained neglected what to talk of honouring the families. In India where persons who were behind bars during Emergency (1975-77) for less than a month, receive INR 10,000 and less than two months as INR 20,000 as family pension, the demand of the families of the martyrs that at least they should be entitled for pension and railway concession have not been accepted. Disgusted, 'the Jallianwala Bagh Shaheed Parivar Samiti' wrote a letter to the British Prime Minister that England should compensate their loss! It only shows the helplessness and hopelessness of the families of the martyrs but surely shamelessness and spinelessness of the Indian rulers. On this anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre the hypocrisy of the Hindutva rulers is to be seen and believed. This lot like every anniversary will laud the sacrifices at Jallianwala Bagh and condemn repression by the British by imposing draconian laws like Rowlatt Act. Worst draconian laws While they are using far worse draconian laws like Defence of India (DIR), Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as every days governing tool discarding democratic-secular norms enshrined in the Constitution. It is difficult to count how many intellectuals, lawyers, journalists, activists, authors, poets, artists are behind bars under these laws. It is sad that on the eve of 102nd commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in which Hindus-Muslims-Sikhs laid down their live together RSS-BJP leaders from Modi down to those campaigning West Bengal are hailing the brutal killing at Sitalkuchi village of four young Muslim voters by a central Para-military force under the ministry of home headed by Amit Shah. Dilip Ghosh The Bengal BJP chief, Dilip Ghosh, declared that there would be a Sitalkuchi everywhere.Another RSS-BJP leader of the State, Rahul Sinha went to the extent of demanding that central forces should have killed eight rather than four people in Sitalkuchi in West Bengal. The Bengal BJP chief, Dilip Ghosh, declared that there would be a Sitalkuchi everywhere.Another RSS-BJP leader of the State, Rahul Sinha went to the extent of demanding that central forces should have killed eight rather than four people in Sitalkuchi in West Bengal. --- *Formerly with Delhi University, click here for Prof Islams writings and video interviews/debates. Facebook: https://facebook.com/shamsul.islam.332; twitter: @shamsforjustice; blog: http://shamsforpeace.blogspot.com/ It is high time that in order to save our democratic-secular India from the clutches of the Hindutva rulers we remember the heritage of joint martyrdoms of Jallianwala Bagh and use it as antidote to the criminal communal polarizing game played by them. It would be the fittest homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh too.--- The RSS-BJP rulers declare India to be a battle-ground between Hinduism and Islam. Muslims have been declared as internal threat by RSS ideologue MS Golwalkar (Bunch of Thought, Chapter xvi). Behaviour of many of their leading cadres, including those who hold high constitutional posts, is such that they seem to be conspiring over-time to ignite a civil war between the two communities. They are under the impression that this would help divert attention from failures of the Hindutva rulers on developmental front.Indeed, they are refusing to treat Muslims as part of the Indian nation, which according to them is a Hindu nation. They have no hesitation in identifying themselves as Hindu nationalists. Awfully, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took oath to uphold democratic-secular polity in 2014, long before had identified himself as a Hindu nationalist with total commitment to the Hindutva project.However, it was not the scenario during the freedom struggle which the Hindutva organizations, especially RSS and Hindu Mahasabha led by VD Savarkar, willfully betrayed. Indeed, nobody should be surprised to know that in the pre-Independence literature of RSS there is no mention of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.The unity of the Indian masses could be witnessed when the British rulers perpetrated one of the worst blood-bath in the modern history -- the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. However, people of India, shackled by the most powerful imperialist power of the world, Britain, presented a heroic united resistance. It was no exception.It could be seen again and again since the First War of Independence 1857. It is no hearsay but corroborated by the contemporary British government documents. These amazing eye-opening documents were part of the British archives which became National Archives of India after independence.Most documents, concerning the most volatile period of the Indian freedom struggle, not only showed the Britishers brazenly flouting democratic norms, indulging in barbarism, while suppressing the mass discontent but also brought to light hitherto hidden aspects of Indian peoples united heroic fight-back. Recently, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a landmark bill, An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policyone of the boldest climate laws in the United States. This new law will help us reverse and mitigate the impacts of climate change in Massachusetts and beyond. Most importantly, it will ensure the health of people, animals, nature and the economy now and for future generations. Once again, Massachusetts policymakers have modeled bipartisan collaboration and leadership to address climate change that should serve as inspiration for policymakers on the national stage. Without unified action across party lines, we wont be able to stop our climate crisis with the urgency required. We can no longer afford inaction on climate due to political games, the stakes are too high. Climate change is the greatest threat to the health of our communities, our economy and the natural places that we love. We are seeing the dire impacts of the climate emergency caused by decades of greenhouse gas emissionsdevastating storms, deadly wildfires, threats to agricultural production and public health, and safety impacts. The best available science indicates that to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, we must reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Thankfully, Gov. Baker and the legislature have heard this warning loud and clear and have taken unified, bipartisan action on climate change. Lets hope we can do the same in Congress. The Massachusetts climate law is game-changing because it harnesses bold strategies that call for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts by 2050. These strategies include both transitioning away from fossil fuels as well as harnessing the power of nature to draw down the carbon already in the atmosphere. Net-zero is an ambitious goal, but it can be achieved. It requires us to reach an emissions profile in which we are sequestering more greenhouse gas emissions than we are generating. To get there, we must take an all-hands-on-deck approach and deploy a wide range of climate solutions and technologies. There is no silver bullet that will solve the climate crisis all by itself. The Massachusetts law is a tremendous first step to get us where we need to go as a world to address climate change. It sets ambitious, science-based targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions and holds the government accountable through more frequent reporting and accountability. The law employs a range of strategies to achieve the goals, including market-based approaches, incentives and regulations. It also jump starts nature-based strategies that protect, restore, and better manage forests, farms and wetlands to reduce and remove carbon from the air and store it long term. And by requiring utilities to buy more renewable energy, including offshore wind, by 2030, at least 40% of the states electric power will come from renewable sources. The law also increases appliance efficiency standards and sets benchmarks for clean technology adoption for electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations, solar technology, energy storage, heat pumps and more. And, importantly, the law strengthens environmental justice policies by updating the definition of environmental justice populations and by enhancing the review process for projects to include consideration of potential public health impacts, cumulative impacts and long-term harms. Federal policymakers should act quickly and take a similar bipartisan approach to ensure long-lasting, enduring policies to address the climate emergency. The Massachusetts law provides a framework that can appeal to lawmakers from across the nation and across the political aisle. Many policymakers could agree to advance clean energy that enhances public health and reduces long-term risks; to generate green jobs to decarbonize our economy; to protect and engage our most vulnerable populations; and to conserve natural resources for capturing carbon. We need to go beyond executive orders, which can easily be changed with a new administration, and enact bold and far-reaching federal legislation to meet the climate emergency. May the exemplary bipartisan action weve seen in Massachusetts be a clear example for finding common ground at a national level and advancing climate policy that will be truly impactful. We can work together both to reduce emissions and to build more just and resilient communities. Now, lets get to work, because time is running out. Deb Markowitz is state director at The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, former secretary of state of Vermont, and former secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. (Newser) Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter will be charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright, whom she shot and killed during a Sunday traffic stop. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput made the announcement on Wednesday; Wright's death has been classified as a homicide. The AP reports Potter could face up to 10 years if convicted. The news comes one day after Potter resigned from the force, along with Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon. Potter had been on the force for 26 years and was training officers when she reportedly mistook her gun for her Taser. story continues below NBC News looks at the fates of officers who've recently been involved in Minneapolis-area shooting deaths. St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile during a 2016 traffic stop. Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor was found guilty of both third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the 2017 death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond and was sentenced to 12.5 years. Derek Chauvin is currently on trial for the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis; Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. (Read more Daunte Wright stories.) Trump-era spike of Israel settlement growth has only begun View Photo EFRAT, West Bank (AP) An aggressive Israeli settlement spree during the Trump era pushed deeper than ever into the occupied West Bank territory the Palestinians seek for a state with over 9,000 homes built and thousands more in the pipeline, an AP investigation showed. If left unchallenged by the Biden administration, the construction boom could make fading hopes for an internationally backed two-state solution Palestine alongside Israel even more elusive. Satellite images and data obtained by The Associated Press document for the first time the full impact of the policies of then-President Donald Trump, who abandoned decades-long U.S. opposition to the settlements and proposed a Mideast plan that would have allowed Israel to keep them all even those deep inside the West Bank. Although the Trump plan has been scrapped, the lasting legacy of construction will make it even harder to create a viable Palestinian state. President Joe Bidens administration supports the two-state solution but has given no indication on how it plans to promote it. The huge number of projects in the pipeline, along with massive development of settlement infrastructure, means Biden would likely need to rein in Israel to keep the two-state option alive. While Biden has condemned settlement activity, U.S. officials have shown no appetite for such a clash as they confront more urgent issues. At the same time, Israel will likely continue to be led by a settlement hawk. In the wake of yet another inconclusive Israeli election, either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or one of his right-wing challengers is poised to head the government, making a construction slowdown improbable. Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian spokeswoman, called the Trump administration a partner in crime with Netanyahu. She said Biden would have to go beyond traditional condemnations and take very serious steps of accountability to make a difference. It needs a bit of courage and backbone and willingness to invest, she said. According to Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group, Israel built over 9,200 new homes in the West Bank during the Trump presidency. On an annual average, that was roughly a 28% increase over the level of construction during the Obama administration, which opposed the settlements. Perhaps even more significant was the location of the construction. According to Peace Now, 63% of the homes built last year were in outlying settlements that would likely be evacuated in any peace agreement. Over 10% of the construction in recent years took place in isolated outposts. Hagit Ofran, a Peace Now researcher who compiled the data, said Israel is doing its utmost to treat the West Bank as if its part of Israel without leaving a scope for a Palestinian state. Israel has also laid the groundwork for a massive construction boom in the years to come, advancing plans for 12,159 settler homes in 2020. That was the highest number since Peace Now started collecting data in 2012. Unlike his immediate predecessors, Netanyahu has encouraged construction in remote areas deep inside the West Bank, further scrambling any potential blueprint for resolving the conflict. Settler advocates have repeatedly said that it would take several years for Trumps support to manifest in actual construction. Peace Now said that trend is now in its early stages and expected to gain steam. Its the settlement approvals that are actually more important than construction, said Peace Now spokesman Brian Reeves. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip territories the Palestinians want for their future state in the 1967 Mideast war. It withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but has cemented its control over east Jerusalem which it unilaterally annexed and the West Bank. Nearly 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, roughly 15% of the total population. In addition, over 200,000 Jewish Israelis live in east Jerusalem, which is also home to over 300,000 Palestinians. The Biden administration says it is opposed to any actions by Israel or the Palestinians that harm peace efforts. We believe, when it comes to settlement activity, that Israel should refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, State Department spokesman Ned Price said this month. Continued settlement growth could meanwhile bolster the case against Israel at the International Criminal Court, which launched an investigation into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories last month. Israel appears to be vulnerable on the settlement issue because international law forbids the transfer of civilians into lands seized by force. Israel and its Western allies have rejected it as baseless and biased. Israel is not a member of the court, but any potential ICC warrants could put Israeli officials at risk of arrest abroad. The settlements are scattered across the West Bank, running the gamut from small hilltop clusters of tents and mobile homes to full-fledged towns with residential neighborhoods, shopping malls and in one case, a university. Every Israeli government has presided over the expansion of settlements, even at the height of the peace process in the 1990s. The Palestinians view the settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, a position with wide international support. Israel considers the West Bank to be the historical and biblical heartland of the Jewish people and says any partition should be agreed on in negotiations. The two sides have not held serious talks in more than a decade. Trump, who took unprecedented steps to support Israels territorial claims, remains popular in Efrat. The settlement is located in the rolling hills south of Jerusalem and is expanding toward the north into the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. You keep using the term settlement, said Moti Kellner, a retiree who has lived in the area since 1986. Walk around, does this look like something thats a camp, with tents and settling? Its a city! He described Trumps policies as very good, if theyre not overturned. ___ Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Moshe Edri in Efrat Settlement and Jelal Hassan in al-Masara, West Bank, contributed. By JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press New Delhi: The Noida Administration has announced to shut all the swimming pools in the district in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. As per the official order by the Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Suhash LY on Tuesday (April 13, 2021), the swimming pools have been closed with immediate effect till further notice. As per reports, all the gyms in the district have also been directed to shut in order to check the spread of coronavirus. The Health Department has also reportedly reserved 50% of beds in private hospitals for the local people and guidelines have also been issued to all hospitals in this regard. It has been done as several patients had to recently face a problem due to a shortage of beds. These steps come almost a week after the Gautam Budh Nagar administration imposed a night curfew in the entire district amid rising coronavirus infections. The curfew has been imposed from 10 pm to 5 am till April 17. However, all movement essential goods/commodities and essential/medical services shall be exempted from restrictions. This is to be noted that the Gautam Buddh Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh is one of the worst-coronavirus-hit districts. It recorded 229 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths on Tuesday. This is the first time in over four months that the district witnessed more than a single COVID-19-related death in a day. Back on November 24, 2020, it had recorded three deaths. District's COVID-19 caseload has now increased to 27,957, of which, 1,602 are active cases. In Uttar Pradesh, there are currently 95,980 active cases. (With inputs from agencies) Washington DC, US (PANA) - The United States is deeply disappointed by Somalia's decision to approve a legislative bill extending the mandates of the president and parliament by two years, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday IT and digital skills demand in North Wales never been higher despite dramatic decline in talent Demand for IT and digital skills in North Wales has never been higher. A study by the Learning and Work Institute found that across the UK, one in four companies has a significant gap when it comes to basic computer skills. That, coupled with a 40% fall in school pupils taking ICT at GCSE level since 2015, has led to a dramatic decline in talent. Colwyn Bay and Bangor-based S2 Recruitment has witnessed this trend and revealed a growing number of permanent IT and digital posts in North Wales are being filled by candidates from outside the region. Business Manager Sian Shepherd confirmed that while this was the case there has also been an exodus of talent across the border. We have the skills right here in North Wales but for some reason a lot of people have travelled to England and further afield for work, rather than applying for quality digital roles right here on their doorstep, said Sian. This has become a significant issue especially due to the Coronavirus pandemic and more people than ever moving online with S2 Recruitment helping to appoint people from as far away as London, Kent, Norfolk and even Scotland to take up positions in Gwynedd and Anglesey. That said, we are also aware there are skilled and experienced people from North Wales working nationally and internationally for global companies, so there is a crossover. Research also revealed there is a massive need for more candidates with AI (Artificial Intelligence), robotics and cloud computing experience, and a disparity in the number of young women applying for roles. More than 80% of the positions we have appointed to in the last six months have been filled by male candidates; the number of female applicants in this sector is low, said Sian. This is where education is going to be key; we really need to see academia and the private sector work together to attract more youngsters into industries where there will be a better chance of a career for them, and to address the demographic challenges. It is a candidate-driven market right now, especially for those who are highly skilled, so its imperative this is capitalised on. She added: One way could be to introduce 12-month placements on further and higher education courses in the fields of IT and computer science, so students are job ready on graduating. We hear from clients turning away customers because they do not have the staff to tackle the digital elements of the work, especially in light of Covid-19 and an inability to recruit due to skills shortages. Some have tried hiring from abroad and others are simply failing to hire anyone and seeing it impact on revenue. Solutions have to be found, and soon, because the problem is only going to get worse if things continue. Points reinforced by Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann, CEO of Worldskills UK. He said: With digital technology now embedded in so many parts of life, from virtual GP appointments and online retail to industry 4.0 and the rise of fintech, it has never been such an important time to look at the digital skills our economy needs. The findings show there is a mismatch between supply and demand; the majority of our employer poll believe that their reliance on digital skills will increase in the future, yet analysis of digital skills provision in education shows that the numbers training in digital skills is on a downward trend. And there is a significant gender gap, with young women reporting that they are both less confident and less interested in digital careers compared to young men. Dr Bentley-Gockmann added: WorldSkills UK is committed to acting on the outcomes of this research to improve the opportunities for more young people, and help ensure more employers can be confident about accessing the high-quality digital skills they need to help power our economic recovery. For more on S2 Recruitment, visit www.s2recruitment.co.uk or follow @s2recruitment on social media. Alternatively, call 0333 323 4371. LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Metage Capital Limited: open letter to the Shareholders of Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited ("FAP") Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited 1ST Floor, BCI House Avarua, Rarotonga Cook Islands Dear fellow Shareholders, On March 22, 2021 the Company issued a circular for a Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 22, 2021 to re-domicile FAP to Singapore, in order to mitigate a change in Cook Island tax law. The Re-Domiciliation Proposal (Proposal 1) requires the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the total votes of the Shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting. Metage Capital recommends that shareholders vote against this resolution and encourage the Board to bring forward alternative proposals that address the two fundamental issues facing the Company: its poor investment performance and the excessive discount between its net asset value per share and its share price. The investment performance of FAP has been poor as can be seen in the table below[1] from the October 31, 2020 Annual Accounts. The Company has underperformed its benchmark over 1, 3, 5 and 10 years at a net asset value level. Its share price performance has been worse, owing to the large discount between its net asset value per share and share price. As at April 8, 2021 this discount was 23.9%[2]. This is a level which is highly unusual for a fund investing in high quality bonds and should be unacceptable to both the Board and the Investment Manager. Annual compound total returns 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited NAV -2.9% 0.8% 4.5% 3.5% Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited-Market Value -6.3% -6.4% -0.4% -0.3% Benchmark 6.2% 5.6% 6.0% 6.0% JP Morgan Asian Credit Index (JACI) 6.5% 6.0% 5.5% 8.0% In bringing forward these re-domiciliation proposals the Board has chosen to take a narrow, tax-driven view of the process, rather than to look at the operation of FAP as a whole. It is notable that whilst their analysis "included input from tax, legal, accounting, and other advisors[3]" there was not a robust process to seek input on what Shareholders actually want. Metage therefore recommends that Shareholders vote against Proposal 1 and encourage the Board to bring forward amended proposals that properly address the poor performance and the discount between the value of the Company's assets and its market capitalisation. We are happy to discuss how this might best be achieved with other shareholders or the Board. Yours sincerely, Tom Sharp Director Metage Capital Limited Princes House 38 Jermyn Street London, SW1Y 6DN United Kingdom Email: tom.sharp@metage.com; Tel: +(44) 203 813 8590 [1] Page 13 of October 31, 2020 Annual Report for Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited [2] Source: Weekly Company Update for April 8, 2021 [3] Page 6: Background to the proposal; Notice of Special and Annual General Meeting of Shareholders And Management Information Circular Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) The Department of Education said Tuesday there is no need for an academic break amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, noting that what the students need are less strict policies, which the agency is already implementing. Iyong palaging sinasabing academic break ay panawagan ng mga kabataan, pero tayo sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon ay mayroon tayong sinasabing academic ease, Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said in a briefing. [Translation: The academic break is a call from the youth, but in the Department of Education, we have the so-called academic ease.] Naniniwala po kami na hindi naman kailangang itigil ang pagkatuto, ang kailangan ay mas maging considerate tayo sa mga sitwasyon ng bawat bata, he added. [Translation: We believe learning should not stop and what we need is to be more considerate of the situation of each student.] He also said the lack of gadgets is not a reason to suspend classes since students can use printed self-learning materials. He said the DepEd has already asked teachers to be less strict with deadlines for submission of requirements and be more understanding of their students plight as they deal with the different challenges of studying at home. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also opposed calls for a nationwide academic break. After months of delayed opening due to the pandemic, basic education classes resumed in October under blended learning, which involves a mix of printed self-learning modules, internet-based sessions, and radio and TV broadcasts. Classes in other levels are also mostly held online. The DepEd extended the current school year in public schools by a month as learning gaps were seen and have to be addressed "to meet the required essential learning competencies." The current school year will now end on July 10, 2021 instead of June 11. The New Orleans Public Library is eyeing a Nov. 13 referendum to renew a property tax that would keep its funding at current levels, after voters rejected a plan by Mayor LaToya Cantrell that would have made deep cuts in the library budget. The date was picked to give time for the library to finalize a strategic plan that's now in development, Executive Director Gabriel Morley told City Council members on Tuesday. The attempt to renew the millage, which expires at the end of the year, comes after voters in December rejected a proposal that would have reshuffled the library tax and several others. The plan would have kept the overall tax rate in the city the same but redirected those taxes. Much of the opposition to those proposals came from the fact that the plan would have reduced the library's $20 million by $8 million, with that money instead going to a city early childhood education program and toward economic development efforts. Property tax proposals, French Quarter sales tax voted down in New Orleans New Orleans voters solidly rejected all three parts of Mayor LaToya Cantrell's tax reshuffling Saturday night, voting down a plan that would h Each of the three ballot measures that made up the plan was rejected by at least 56% of voters. If the library tax is not renewed this year, it would result in a $10.5 million budget cut for the library. 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 In addition to giving the library time to finalize its strategic plan - something that council members requested before they agreed to put the tax back on the ballot - Morley said that picking the November general election rather than the October primary would mean the tax would be on a less crowded ballot. The October election will feature the mayor's race, City Council campaigns and other elections for city offices, at least some of which are expected to be settled before the November runoffs. After the defeat of the tax plan last year, the City Council took steps to put the library millage back on the ballot at its current rate, independently of the Cantrell administration. The mayor said shortly she had no plan to make another run at renewing any of the millages or proposing a new configuration. Mayor Cantrell's administration: No plans to make another attempt at renewing taxes Mayor LaToya Cantrell may not make another attempt at getting voters to approve a set of property taxes next year, potentially allowing a set So far, no proposals have emerged to renew the other two taxes that are expiring at the end of the year and were part of Cantrell's tax package. Those taxes currently bring in $9.3 million a year for streetlights and infrastructure and $3.6 million for affordable housing. But Lawson said she would like to see more details about McDonalds plans, including what the training looks like and how often it will be offered. She also said the company should talk to workers like her if it wants to develop a truly effective program. Ask most people if they would like to live to 100, and the answer is almost invariably and emphatically negative. Why would I want to live to be 100? they reply. My health and my quality of life will be horrible. Ill be a financial burden to my children or grandchildren. Whats the point? At Human Longevity, they phrase the question a different way: What if you could live to 100, while enjoying amazing health and wellness so that you can continue to have a great lifeessentially maximizing your healthy human lifespan? For its elite clientele of individuals looking to reach the century mark in fine fettle, the answer to that second question is a resounding yes. Related An Inside Look at the Future of Surgery Our battle cry is Die young as late as you can, says Dr. David Karow, president of Human Longevity, a premium precision health care membership-based in San Diego, California, and poised to open clinics around the world, including locations in Beijing and San Francisco later this year. For Karow, Die young as late as you can means avoiding passing away before ones time due to preventable, if all too common age-related diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other silent killers. Historically, for most people, Karow notes, the only time you find out when you have one of these fatal issues is when you either die of it or its become so advanced that its nearly impossible to cure. So we ask, what if you were to do a true deep dive into a persons health, far beyond the traditional executive health checkups, so that you can identify these conditions years earlier when they can still be treated fairly easily? Thats the fundamental mission behind Human Longevity. To put it another way: Their mission is to accelerate the worlds transition to 100+ living. The company started with the sole vision of collecting comprehensive health data to identify personal risk factors for the individual, which would then be shared with their physicians or concierge doctors. Members historically came to Human Longevity once a year for their assessment, including a full-body, brain and cardiac MRI, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, insulin sensitivity testing, whole-genome sequencing, pharmacogenomic analysis, blood work and a wide variety of other tests. Story continues Related How Innovation in Emerging Markets Is Transforming the Health Care Landscape at Lightning Speed The problem is that our clients personal care physicians were overwhelmed with all the data we were providing them, Karow said. For example, part of what we do during the testing phase is to sequence the entire genome of our clients. This allows us to identify the biomarkers that predict potentially fatal diseases, among other things. The primary care doctors and concierge medicine providers with whom we shared this valuable information simply werent familiar or trained to incorporate the implications of the data we provided to their patients. We realized that we needed to do more than capture enormous amounts of health data and hope that other physicians were able to execute on it. We needed to offer full-on precision concierge care to guarantee that our patients were receiving the proper ongoing care they deserved, especially in instances where future health risks were detected, he added. In other words, we needed to become the primary and precision medicine care physician for many of our clients instead of just an assessment clinic they go to once a year to get their comprehensive health baseline. Human Longevity has recently launched what it calls its 100+ Membership. The 100+ program enables members to combine the clinics signature data-driven precision medicine testing to predict the future risk of chronic age-related disease, along with a personal physician at Human Longevity, who offers precision and personalized care, as well as direct access to world-leading specialists at Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical Schools largest teaching hospital. We can now handle everything from routine aches and pains, vaccinations and prescriptions, to deep, data-driven precision medicine, Karow explained. The goal is to keep our clients living healthily even beyond the century mark. Related How Global Ventures' Noor Sweid Is Changing the World Western medicine isnt health care, Karow continued. Its sick-care. If you want to be well and stay well, dont go to where people are sick! We are very different. People come to our facility where they have their own private luxury suite. They get their testing done and then benefit from a quantifiable baseline of their health that we provide using the 150 gigabytes of data we collect over the course of the assessment day. Theres no place on earth that provides a deeper dive into the health of an individual. By closely examining every aspect of the human body, and then having the capability to interpret the data that results from that testing, we give our clients clarity about not only their current health but also their future health. In instances where we become their primary care physicians, we provide them with day-to-day action plans and treatment programs to head off any life-threatening diseases years before they would have otherwise been detected. Karow acknowledges that while Human Longevity is not an inexpensive approach to health care for the individual, the companys broadening use of prevention technologies is actually driving down the cost of elite care for everyone. Human Longevity is world-class luxury health care that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Related Revenge Travel: The Post-Pandemic Trend That's About to Explode Companies like ours are at the forefront of democratizing precision medicine for everyone in society, Karow says. What may be expensive and out of reach for many people, today will be affordable and actually the norm in the future. Our clients are pioneers, paving the way towards the future of affordable proactive healthcare for all. While everyone is talking about new care paradigms, such as value-based care, they actually miss the mark, Karow notes. Value-based care is good at controlling costs, but the value doesnt really accrue to the patients who generally have the same outcomes and life expectancies. Instead, Human Longevity is focused on outcomes-based care where the most important outcome is 100+ living. At scale, our 100+ preventative platform will not only achieve 100+ outcomes but also control costs. Were very excited not just to be serving our current market of relatively affluent clients, but also being part of a process that is going to make precision medicine, and the ability to avoid dying of preventable illness, the foundation of health care in the very near future. New York Times best-selling author and Shark Tank contestant Michael Levin runs MichaelLevinWrites.com, a leading book ghostwriting firm. The post How to Live to 100 With Great Quality of Life appeared first on Worth. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/14/2021 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Matt James allegedly continued to date a woman after he was named Season 25's Bachelor late last spring and tried to convince her to compete for his heart on the show.A woman named Grace conducted an Instagram Live session with Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone on Friday and revealed she had met Matt and his "Quarantine Crew" in 2020 and the pair dated before and after he was chosen to star on 's 25th season, which began filming in late September."I would say I had a romantic friendship with Matt before the show," Grace revealed.She explained, "Matt and I were talking super casually throughout all of [Winter 2019-2020], very casually, and there's no shame in that. He wasn't the Bachelor or even trying to be the Bachelor at that point. He was just a random guy whom I was talking to. He seemed like a nice guy."Grace said she and Matt went out on a date or two and then he was announced as the Bachelor on Good Morning America in June 2020.The big announcement came "just a couple of days" after Matt and Grace went out on a date."And then we continued to talk and we went out on another date," Grace shared, "and then he tried to get me to go on the show and nominated me to go on the show. And I said, 'No.' I just got a new job... I also thought I might be 'the villain' because I already knew him."A couple of months later, Grace admitted that she began considering going on the show because her job wasn't really working out."I had a couple interviews. I was like, 'Okay, Matt, I'm ready to go on the show, I guess.' And a producer contacted me, I had a couple interviews, and I didn't get on the show. And then I found a better job," Grace said.But Grace pointed out she doesn't feel like a victim and is "completely fine." She also added that she's "completely fine with Matt.""He went on the show and he found love, and that's great. I'm happy for him -- no issues there. I hold no grudge towards Matt," Grace noted.But Grace's feelings about Matt have since changed.Grace said she and Matt "casually talked" after he and Rachael Kirkconnell broke up in mid-February over her racism controversy in which she had "liked" racially-insensitive material on social media as well as posed for racially-ignorant photos in the last several years."[We] very casually [talked] and never made plans to meet up, and then I didn't hear from him until Sunday, [April 4]. It had been a month since we last talked," Grace shared.Grace, who currently lives in Florida, said Matt contacted her on April 4 around 8PM when he was in Miami after she had worked about 13 hours."Matt texted me out of the blue and said, 'What are you doing this week?' And I was like, 'Shouldn't be too busy. Mondays I always have off.' And he says, 'Why don't you come to Miami for the night?'" Grace recalled.While Grace acknowledged Miami could be fun and a nice "change of scenery," she called Matt on the phone and said she had to think about it more because she was really tired."And then he said, 'Oh, well we could have a quieter night, if that's what you want,'" Grace alleged.After showering and thinking about the situation, Grace said she decided to just go to bed.Two days later, Grace saw that Matt was trying to get back together with Rachael and the pair was spending time together in New York, where Matt currently lives."It just didn't sit right with me. I just felt like Rachael was so in love with him, and for him to try and contact me and hang out with me -- someone he's had a past romantic relationship with -- two days prior in Miami, it just didn't sit right with me and I felt like I had to say something for Rachael's sake," Grace explained.Grace therefore contacted Carbone and told him that Rachael needed to be made aware of Matt's actions."Rachael and I have talked," Grace said.She added, "I think trying to hook up with somebody and then two days later talking to this girl who's saying she's in love with you and saying you're going to get back together with, it was shady. And I wasn't okay with it... I feel like Rachael is really the victim here."Grace noted that a man "two-timing" women is "just not okay" and she hopes that Rachael "finds someone better."According to a different Instagram Live session Carbone had done on Friday, Carbone insisted Matt -- who had allegedly been talking and FaceTiming with Rachael every day since their breakup aired on : After the Final Rose in March -- had told Rachael that he still loved her and wanted to get back together during her stay in New York.Carbone reported that Matt had lied about wanting to remain "just friends" with Rachael and was dishonest with Rachael about his intentions with Grace, saying Grace didn't mean anything to him. In addition, Matt also allegedly lied to Grace about having invited Rachael to his place shortly after his trip to Miami.When Rachael found out about Grace, she reportedly confronted star and also called Grace to compare stories."Rachael essentially walked out on Matt and [said], 'We're done,'" according to Carbone."Matt got caught with his pants down and she left and called her [ ] girls and hung out with them... She left Matt's apartment in a huff very upset and crying."Grace told Carbone that she believes Matt appeared on to begin with "for fame" but that doesn't really bother her."At a certain point when you start changing your character and lying and gaslighting and trying to do all of these things to protect your image and your fame, that's sort of when I have an issue," Grace said."All power to you if you go on the show for fame, but in Matt's case, I just feel like it reached a point where it got to be a little too much."Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group As the food industry emerges from more than a year of struggles and closures, some food and beverage brands want to reward people who have been vaccinated. And they're doing so with a range of freebies for anyone with their vaccine card. Unilever is offering health care workers and people who receive the vaccine free popsicles and Klondike shakes at select vaccination sites in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix on Friday, May 14 only. Related: Andres has several restaurants in the Washington D.C. area, where only 24% of residents are fully vaccinated as of Monday night. Although Krispy Kreme got some backlash from its "free doughnuts for a year" promotion (especially from doctors who noted the potential for unhealthy weight gain), more restaurants, stores and apps are hopping on board with the rewards system. Did we mention there's free beer? We're ready for the needle, doc! Shake Shack On Thursday, Shake Shack announced that, through June 12, people who show their CDC-issued vaccine cards at any of the 25 Shake Shacks in New York City will get a free side of Crinkle Cut Fries with the purchase of any burger or chicken sandwich. And if you get vaccinated at one of the city's mobile vaccine clinics, you'll earn a ShackBurger voucher (while supplies last). Mayor Bill de Blasio ate a burger and fries from Shake Shack for breakfast during his press briefing Thursday as he announced his office's collaboration with the chain. Is it too early in the day to eat a burger? he asked a press aide before taking a bite of the burger. Mmm vaccination. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Budweiser The King of Beers is the latest brewer celebrating Americans with newly-minted vaccination cards. Now through May 16, most U.S. residents who are vaccinated and over the age of 21 can enter the "Reunite with Buds" giveaway to win a debit card you can use to buy a free cold one. To enter, you'll need to sign up for a My Cooler Rewards membership. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Drop Technologies Fancy a bulk delivery of your favorite snacks and seasonings from Amazon or free eats from DoorDash and Uber? The e-commerce company called Drop will offer $50 in credit to people who post a vaccine selfie with #DropCovid and @JoinDrop tag on Instagram. Krispy Kreme Backlash be damned! Krispy Kreme is standing by their offer to treat customers who have received complete doses of the vaccine. For the remainder of 2021, anyone who has been fully vaccinated can bring their vaccination ID card each time they'd like a free doughnut (one per day) at the doughnut chain's stores and drive-thrus nationwide. Nathan's Famous The hot dog company famed for its Coney Island hot dog eating competitions will dish up free hot dogs as a thank you for getting the vaccine. Those who want to cash in on their free hot dog just need to bring their vaccination card into the Coney Island flagship restaurant to enjoy one. For now, this is the only location offering the freebie, but doesn't hurt to check your local Nathan's. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Office Depot and Staples OK, so clearly these office supply stores, aside from their small selection of prepackaged to-go snacks, don't quite fall into the food category. However, their freebies will help folks keep track of their vaccination cards to cash in on delicious deals thus earning them a spot on this list. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to take a photo of their card as backup proof, these stores will laminate your cards for free to help keep them safe. At Office Depot and Office Max, use the coupon code 52516714 through July 25. At Staples, use code 81540 through May 1. Sam Adams The Boston-based beer manufacturer promoted its clever #ShotForSam with a vaccine incentive program on Monday. The first 10,000 folks who post evidence that they've been vaccinated (like a vaccine card or photo of their bandaged arm post-shot) on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag will be rewarded $7 through Cash App. Yes, that's just enough to enjoy an ice cold Sam Adams on the house at a place of your pleasing. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. So Good So You This brand of good-for-you immunity boosting shots is available at a lot of national retailers and health food stores. The vitamin C-packed cold pressed juices range in ingredients, from inflammation-fighting turmeric to immunity boosting elderberry, come in 1.7-ounce bottles. By going to freejuiceshot.com, folks can share they've been vaccinated to receive a voucher for a free shot (the drinkable version). A man charged with child rape and other offenses in Tennessee died Sunday after falling out of an 11th floor window of an Orange Beach hotel, five days before he was set to appear in court, police said. Dane Appalsammy, 52, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, died around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, said Orange Beach Police Assistant Chief Robert Howard. Howard did not name the hotel. Appalsammy, who was out on $10,000 bond and was in Orange Beach for a family vacation, was charged with rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery and solicitation of a minor - aggravated sexual battery in Rutherford County, Tennesee, according to court records. Rutherford County Circuit Court records showed Appalsammy was scheduled to appear in court Friday for a status hearing. Appalsammy, a former information systems vice president with Middle Tennessee Electric, was originally slated to leave Orange Beach Friday but extended his stay two extra days, according to a police report obtained by The Daily News Journal. His belongings were packed as if someone was about to leave the hotel, that report stated. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with ArcelorMittal Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal, where the sides discussed the development of green metallurgy and increased investment in Ukraine, taking into account environmental characteristics due to international standards. According to the presidential press service on Wednesday, the company, as the largest foreign investor in Ukraine and one of the largest steel producers in the world, will launch the Steel Billion investment program in our country, which provides for investments of almost $1 billion in the ecological modernization of steel production in Kryvy Rih. "Investments in the Ukrainian economy and the environment are a positive signal for all investors, to whom we will provide comprehensive support," Zelensky said. He also pointed out the need to finish the modernization of coke-chemical, sinter and blast-furnace production as soon as possible, which are the largest pollutants. The company confirmed its readiness to complete this program by the end of 2023. The meeting was attended by First Assistant to the President Serhiy Shefir; Deputy Heads of the President's Office Ihor Zhovkva and Yulia Svyrydenko; Director of JSC Helios Rostyslav Shurma; CEO of ArcelorMittal CIS Vijay Goyal; CEO of JSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih Mauro Longobardo. The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Halilu Shaba as Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The confirmation was a sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology. The Senate made the confirmation completely ignoring a petition levelled against the now confirmed nominee. No lawmaker mentioned the petition. Chairperson of the Committee, Uche Ekwunife, who presented the report, said Mr Shaba showed evidence of more than 21 years demonstrable experience in science and technology and knowledge of space. She said he was thoroughly interrogated when he appeared before the committee for screening and that the committee was satisfied with his responses and convinced that he was qualified. She, however, did not mention whether or not there was a petition against the nominee an information that is always passed to the Senate when confirming a nominee. She recommended that Mr Shaba be confirmed. The petition The petition against Mr Shaba was one of the nine petitions laid before the Senate by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Ayo Akinyelure. According to the document he read, the petitioner, Nnamdi Onuka of the Academic Union of Research Institutions, made the petition against Mr Shaba and the Minister of Science and Technology, His petition is a fervent appeal to scrutinise the recommendation of Mr Shaba to the Senate for confirmation in view of disregard for due process in the ongoing appointment of substantive Director General/CEO of NASDRA. Further details of the petition were not read out as Mr Akinyelure was only laying the petitions. Although he did not state when the National Assembly received the petitions, the senator said they were petitions sent to the office of the Senate President that were yet to be laid. It is also not clear if the committee of Science and Technology was aware of the petition. Usually, whenever a petition is written against a nominee, the committee in charge of screening is mandated to consider and investigate details of the petition before recommending the nominee for confirmation or rejection pending the outcome of the investigation. Confirmation After Mrs Ekwunifes presentation, two senators, Sabi Abdullahi and Ajayi Boroffice, also said the nominee be confirmed. The lawmakers approved the confirmation when the question was put to voice vote by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter on March 2, asked the Senate to confirm Mr Shaba. Mr Shaba had been acting as DG of the agency following the expiration of the two-term tenure of Seidu Mohammed, a professor, in June 2020. ADVERTISEMENT Before now, he served as a deputy director at the National Emergency Management Agency between 2006 and 2009, before joining NASRDA. This past year has tested even the most highly functioning and irrepressible of teams. As uncertainty continues and resilience erodes, you may be seeing illnesses, mistakes, burnout, and conflict increase among your colleagues. It's time to ask yourself how you can better cultivate a capacity to thrive under stress as a group, not just as individuals. Or put another way, how you can become a resilient leader. Early in my career as a U.S. diplomat, a simple but significant act taught me the power of resilience leadership. I had been sent to Baghdad by the State Department to open the Office of the U.S. Consul when insurgents attacked the Al-Rashid Hotel where I was staying. A rocket hit my room directly, leaving me alive but traumatized, suffering from PTSD (though I did not yet know it), and struggling to retain my equilibrium. Looking back, I now know that the attack severely depleted my resilience. But at the time, I just knew I felt exhausted, angry, and bitter that I'd been placed in harm's way. I sent a nasty email to the State Department's HR office that included a snarky line saying that the only thing I wanted was for Secretary Colin Powell to tell my parents that he was keeping me safe. (To put this in perspective, it was a little bit like a deeply burnt-out mid-level manager at Amazon asking Jeff Bezos to make amends to their family). And here's where I learned that lesson. Months later, long after I'd forgotten that email, I traveled to Washington D.C to accept an award for my actions after the Al-Rashid bombing. Just before it began, an aide asked my parents to stand in a specific spot in the room. After giving me the award, Secretary Powell left the stage and walked directly to my parents. He introduced himself, shook their hands, and told them, "Don't worry, I'm keeping your daughter safe." He comforted them and gave me the strength I needed to return to Baghdad and complete my assignment. Why did this simple act contribute to my resilience and inspire me when I returned to a dangerous, unpredictable environment? I felt that Secretary Powell, despite his power and responsibilities, was genuinely committed to me and my family's well-being. What's more, I realized he had cultivated a team of people who were willing to forgive my anger, who were allowed to bring requests to him from junior staff, and who worked with him to make the time to fulfill what I thought was an unrealistic request. Since then, I've dedicated my life to helping leaders at all levels demonstrate this kind of authentic commitment to their team members. During the pandemic, the online course in Resilience Leadership I teach on Udemy has surged in popularity -- with enrollments for resilience continuing to climb as we face the uncertainties of a post-pandemic workplace. Here are four meaningful ways you can effectively model and cultivate resilience right now, whether you're a supervisor, a manager, or a CEO. Publicly Ask for Help Many leaders are reluctant to admit in public that they need help, worried they will appear to be vulnerable or not up to the demands of the job. However, asking for help improves resilience, and when leaders publicly ask for help, they encourage others to do the same. Acknowledge Your Bad Days Most people try to give the impression that they are OK, even when they are not. When leaders acknowledge that they are having a tough time because a child is ill or a friend just died, this communicates that it is reasonable to struggle from time to time. Talk About Your Passions If your family is your passion, talk about them, and mention the importance of being home for dinner with your children. If a hobby is your passion, let your team know why you make time for it. When your employees see how much you value non-work activities, they will feel free to do the same. Put Your People First When people feel safe and supported, they will often perform exceptionally well under stress. Some will even remember the crisis as a highlight of their career. So take a few minutes and ask yourself whether you are truly putting your people first. Are you making the sacrifices necessary to demonstrate that you care about your staff? If not, ask yourself why. What are you prioritizing ahead of your employees? Identify the barriers preventing you from supporting your people and work to remove or minimize those barriers. MIAMI, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr Jeff a laundry franchise infused with cutting edge technology that has modernized the tedious task of laundry in more than 30 countries through a seamless 48-hour home pickup and delivery mobile app-based service announced today it is expanding its booming franchise into the United States. After raising $43 million in funding and growing across the globe with 2,000 franchisees in Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Mr Jeff is introducing its comprehensive "Business in a Box" franchise opportunity, connecting the offline and online worlds, to U.S. entrepreneurs. Initially, Mr Jeff is offering the franchise opportunity to qualified entrepreneurs in select cities within Arizona; Colorado; Florida; Kansas; Massachusetts; Missouri; New Hampshire; Nevada; Oregon; Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Vermont. The company will announce additional target markets throughout 2021. Mr Jeff was founded by three university friends in Valencia, Spain, who wanted to make life easier for their community, just like the brand's namesake Geoffrey the beloved, witty butler featured on the hit 90's sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The trio built Jeff an omnichannel platform bringing the convenience of Amazon or Netflix to day-to-day services like laundry, fitness, massage and beauty. Currently, laundry is the only service offering that will be available in the United States, with fitness, massage and beauty to be introduced at a later time. Mr Jeff offers a quick and easy laundry solution ideally suited for today's busy consumers, and those looking for a contactless laundry solution during the ongoing pandemic. After the customer places the order through the app, the laundry bag is collected at the customer's home, the order is processed at the Mr Jeff store and the clean clothes are sent to the customer's home within 48 hours all touchless. While customers have an option to drop off and/or pick up their clothes at the physical Mr Jeff location, the majority choose the convenience of the pickup and delivery service. Throughout its international expansion, financial backers have repeatedly shown confidence in the scalability of the business. The latest example is a signed agreement with Clean Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in growth-stage laundry companies. The fund is managed by industry leaders with more than 100 years of combined industry experience who have collectively built hundreds of laundromats across the United States, including Alex Weiss, founder and CEO of Clean Rite Centers, a laundry service superstore chain which has developed more than 200 locations across North America. "Mr Jeff has proven to be a laundry franchise with an incomparable vision and an operation that has led it to consolidate internationally. After 25 years in this sector, their business model has still surprised us, and we want to bet on them for their entry into the U.S.," Weiss said. In addition to its safe pickup and delivery, customers are also drawn to Mr Jeff's subscription service. For a reasonable monthly fee, they can schedule weekly laundry and ironing services. Franchise owners in international markets have noted the benefits as well, as the subscription service provides a recurring revenue platform. Due to its contactless pickup, delivery model, and a commitment to disinfection best-practices, Mr Jeff flourished in 2020 while other laundry service providers were hard hit. Entrepreneurs opened 185 locations internationally from March 2020 through the end of the year. Mr Jeff franchisees can also take advantage of a turnkey model, with everything they need to run their business starting from day one, as well as a comprehensive "Business in a Box," with three proprietary technology products: The Jeff App, for customers to schedule services from the palm of their hand. The Jeff Suite, a unique management software designed to attend to the needs of the business and cater its growth with functions such as invoicing and P&L, in which entrepreneurs can make data driven decisions based on metrics like the number of orders, income, requested services, number of subscriptions and active users. The Jeff Driver app, which is connected to Jeff Suite and Jeff App, to manage all the pickup and delivery timings and routes. This gives employees and business owners an easy way to run everything from their synchronized and powerful business mobile-friendly apps. The "Business in a Box" also includes an international brand and promotion materials, specialist training and support, industry know-how and innovative business plans that set every franchisee up for success on how to run this distinctive laundry business. Among these resources includes a marketing playbook, with tools that allow them to customize materials, tactics and campaigns for local markets; and access to Jeff Academy, an online learning platform with the most detailed and comprehensive aid immediately available to franchisees. With its simple yet advanced operations, each location typically has up to five employees, including a driver. For its launch in the United States, Mr Jeff is seeking self-motivated individuals who are ready to manage their own time and business decisions, as well as enterprise franchisees looking to diversify their investments. "We've seen a trend of 'covid-preneurs' seeking to control their own destinies through entrepreneurship in other countries, but none more so than the United States," said Eloi Gomez, co-founder and CEO. "We built Mr Jeff to democratize entrepreneurship and let anyone take control of their financial future through business ownership. With Mr Jeff's introduction to U.S. entrepreneurs, we hope to provide an ideal opportunity for those ambitious individuals looking to leverage a simple business operation with a relevant, tech-based service that makes life easier for consumers." ABOUT MR JEFF Mr Jeff, a home-delivery laundry franchise, is part of Jeff, a wellness services platform startup founded in Valencia, Spain in 2015 by three friends, Eloi Gomez, Adrian Lorenzo and Ruben Munoz. The trio met in 2010 in their university dormitory and quickly realized they all shared an entrepreneurial spirit. With more than 2,000 franchisees in 30+ countries. Its goal is simple: Mr Jeff wants to provide The Good Good Life to its users and franchisees. In early 2021, the brand brought its franchise opportunity to the United States, specifically looking to partner with qualified franchisees in Arizona; Colorado; Florida; Kansas; Massachusetts; Missouri; New Hampshire; Nevada; Oregon; Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Vermont. International locations have expanded with other daily services including Fit Jeff, Beauty Jeff and Relax Jeff. For more information on bringing a Mr Jeff to your community please visit https://franchise.jeff.com/us/ Media Contact: Amanda Regan, Fishman PR, [email protected] or (630) 229-8962 SOURCE Mr Jeff Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:02:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's legislature started Wednesday deliberating a bill on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The draft laws, in a package named the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021, were brought to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the first and second reading at a meeting that began Wednesday noon. The local amendment came about two weeks after electoral revisions were passed by China's top legislature. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted on March 30 the amended Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, which concerns methods for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the formation of the LegCo. The bill mainly comprises six areas, including reconstituting the Election Committee, providing for the method for selecting the chief executive, updating the composition and formation of the LegCo, and the candidate eligibility, among others. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she hopes that the draft will be passed by lawmakers by the end of May. Enditem Niklas Astedt Finally Wins the GGPoker Super MILLION$ April 14, 2021 Matthew Pitt The GGPoker Super MILLION$ has been a thorn in the side of Niklas Astedt since the very first edition of the weekly high stakes tournament. Astedt had never won the event in 43 previous attempts, but he got the job done on April 13, and walked away with a colossal $1,095,741. GG Spring Festival H-41: $2,500 Sunday 5 Million Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Niklas Astedt Sweden $1,095,741 2 Shawn Daniels United States $821,689 3 Jason Koon United States $616,180 4 Joao Vieira Portugal $462,070 5 David Yan New Zealand $346,504 6 Sami Kelopuro Finland $259,841 7 Sam Greenwood Canada $194,853 8 Pedro Garagnani Brazil $146,119 9 Wei Zhao China $109,574 The Super MILLION$ took on a different name this week because the tournament is part of the $150 million guaranteed GG Spring Festival schedule. Make no mistake, however, that this event was the Super MILLION$; perhaps the temporary name change is all that was required for Astedt to win? Day 1 took place on April 11 and saw the 202 starters cut down to a final table of nine. Astedt held the chip lead going into the final table, but his eight opponents refused to allow him to have everything his own way. It did not take long for the final table to lose a player because Wei Zhao sat down with a meager three big blinds. They went into the middle with king-nine against the pocket jacks of Astedt and failed to get there. Relive the Super MILLION$ action right here Garagnani Shot Down By Bad Beat Another 45 minutes passed before the next elimination was confirmed. Pedro Garagnani lost all but a small blind when his ace-king lost to the ace-queen of Joao Vieira. Garagnani's micro stack went into the middle of the felt with six-deuce and lost to the king-queen of Astedt. Seventh place and $194,853 went to Sam Greenwood. He busted during the 50,000/100,000/12,500a level when Astedt raised to 220,000 on the button with pocket sixes before calling Greenwood's 15 big blind shove from the small blind. Greenwood held ace-four, and busted when the board ran out king-high. More than a quarter of a million dollars went to Sami Kelopuro when he crashed out in sixth. Shawn Daniels raised to 220,000 under the gun with pocket queens, Kelopuro three-bet all-in for 15 big blinds from the big blind with ace-jack. Daniels called, his queens held, and Kelopuro was done. Kelopuro's seat had not even gone cold when David Yan's exit was confirmed. Yan committed his 10 big blinds with king-queen of clubs, but Astedt woke up with pocket aces. The board was kind to Astedt's aces, and Yan headed for the exits Sami Kelopuro Bags a $520,000 Score Uncharacteristic Jam By Vieira Portugal's Vieira was the next player to bite the dust; Vieira walked away with $462,070. Astedt min-raised with five-trey of hearts for 320,000, Vieira responded with a three-bet all-in for 2,835,505 with queen-jack of hearts from the small blind, only to see Daniels call the all-in with ace-king from the big blind. Astedt, obviously, ducked out of the way. Neither player improved with all five community cards in view, so Vieira busted. Jason Koon's tournament ended soon after to send the tournament into the heads-up stage. he busted at the hands of Astedt who raised enough from the small blind to set Koon all-in for his 1,342,517 chips, and Koon called. It was jack-nine for Koon, ace-king for Astedt, and a king on the river sent Koon to the showers. Astedt held a more than two-to-one chip advantage over Daniels going into heads-up. The pair battle for a while before Daniels disconnected. Astedt sat out and waited for Daniel to return, and it was on the first hand back that Daniels busted. Daniels open-shoved 15 big blinds with ace-six and Astedt called with the dominating ace-ten. Astedt's hand remained best, meaning Daniels was the runner-up, a finish worth $821,689. Astedt won his first Super MILLION$ title and a whopping $1,095,741. Livspace, India and Southeast Asias largest home interiors and renovation platform, launched a campaign titled Dont try this at home. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of living in a well-designed home fitted with quality material, hardware and accessories. To market the campaign, Livspace has partnered with Disney+ Hotstar, as an associate sponsor for the Indian Premier League (IPL). The company will also use high-impact digital channels and a mix of video, static and audio formats for maximum impact. The campaign is expected to reach over 60 million people in 15 Indian cities in a span of 60 days. The target cities include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR and recently launched markets Kolkata, Kochi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. Conceptualized by Mumbai-based TILT Brand Solutions, the campaign will feature six short brand films. The films are a humorous showcase of people doing everyday things in their homelike watching TV, cooking in the kitchen or storing clothes in the wardrobebut due to poor design, they have to perform stunts to get these tasks done. The companys internal data shows that the majority of its customers are new homeowners and hence they are undertaking home interiors for the first time. In the case of choosing the wrong service providers, the toll on daily life is high for all members of the family as they have to keep adjusting to poor design. With Livspace, consumers can opt for professional home interiors with efficient design and a 10-year warranty. The brand also promises on-time delivery along with transparent pricing. Speaking about the campaign, Kartikeya Bhandari, Chief Marketing Officer at Livspace said, As market leaders, Livspace is focused on creating the organised interiors category in all its launched cities and countries. Its our constant endeavour to introduce more and more homeowners to a professional way of getting home interiors done. This time, we have taken our brand promise of high quality and efficient design and presented it through the Dont try this at home campaign. The narrative is also timely as many people have spent months cooped up at home and have started noticing the inconveniences caused by poor design. Adding his thoughts on the partnership with Disney+ Hotstar, Kartikeya mentioned, IPL has always been a great platform for brands to present their narrative and with this season having kicked off, we at Livspace believe this is a great opportunity to reach a large audience and inspire them to improve their daily lives at home with interiors from Livspace. Commenting on Livspcases campaign, Adarsh Atal, Director - Creative and Content at TILT Brand Solutions said, As a brand, Livspace strongly believes that great interior design is not just about the way things look. It's also about function. Taking a leap forward from our previous campaign that dealt with 'Living with design flaws', this time around, we decided to emphatically warn people about the implications of living in a poorly designed home. 'Don't try this at home' is our tongue firmly-in-cheek way of telling people not to try stunts at home and try Livpsace to discover the joy of smart design. The Indian home renovation industry has observed tremendous growth over the last few years and the organised sector is occupied by some key players with Livspace being the largest and fastest-growing brand in the space. Last month, the company announced its expansion to four new cities as well as launched Indias largest experience center for home design in Bangalore in January 2020. Myanmar anti-junta protesters hold signs condemning the military government as they mark the Thingyan holiday in Hlaing township, Yangon region, April 13, 2021. With little to celebrate as they kicked off the Burmese New Year on Tuesday, people across Myanmar staged holiday-themed protests to defy the military junta in what an activist called a funeral wake for the whole country, while the U.N. rights chief said she feared the nation faces a fate similar to war-shattered Syria. Opponents of the generals who overthrew the countrys elected government on Feb. 1 scrapped water-related blessings of the Buddhist Thingyan Water Festival for protest messages, strikes, and memorials to victims of the army regime that has turned rifle grenades and battlefield weapons on unarmed civilians. Now is like a funeral wake for the whole country because of the atrocities of the military junta, a young man from Yangon who called himself Harry. More than 700 people have died because of their brutality. This is not a time for celebrations. The holiday which runs from April 13 to April 16 and versions of which are observed in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and other Asian countries is normally marked by singing, dancing, feasting, and mass soaking in joyful water fights. Were not celebrating Thingyan as we traditionally do. Were holding various campaigns to defy them, Harry said, referring to the army regime. Already dampened last year by crowd restrictions to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Thingyan this year saw at least four people killed and dozens of others arrested in nationwide crackdowns, while in Kachin state near the border with China military air strikes drove more than 1,000 villagers from their homes. Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the military intensified on April 10. Nine civilians, including a Buddhist monk, were killed by heavy artillery during nighttime air raids on April 11 during an attempt by Myanmar forces to recapture strategic hills, according to a Kachin political leader. War is nothing new to people in Kachin state. It has been going on for a lifetime, said Dwe Bu, vice chairwoman of the Kachin State Peoples Party. Kachin state has been at war on and off since 1948, when the then Burma became independent from Britain. But the recent fighting has been intense, and the air strikes have become even more troubling for the people. They have had to flee their homes, she told RFA. Myanmar anti-junta protesters display of poster with the image of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they ride around Hpakant township in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, April 13, 2021. Credit: RFA Kachin military analysts say there have been about 30 clashes across the state in the past 60 days, with more than 120,000 civilians displaced by previous fighting unable to return home. Ten Myanmar military soldiers were killed and several others were wounded in overnight fighting with KIA fighters in Mogok in Mandalay region, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reported Tuesday. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told RFA that he had not yet received information about the Mogok clash. A resident of Kachins Sihat village, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said her community was nearly deserted. They no longer dare to stay in the village, she said about her neighbors. Some have moved to villages where they have relatives, and some are hiding in the woods using logs and branches to make makeshift bomb shelters. Almost everybody has left our village since yesterday. Other villagers have fled to larger towns or to monastery compounds, local residents said. Since the beginning of the fighting, people have been fleeing to other villages, and then when the fighting got closer in the evening, they had to flee into the jungle, said Naing Lin of Nong Kone village. People are living in fear. In this situation, no one can trust anyone, he added. At least five soldiers were injured Tuesday morning when a landmine exploded while a military convoy was patrolling the banks of the Uru River in Kachins Hpakant jade mining region, a key source of funds for the KIA, residents said. When the mine exploded just in front of the convoy, two of the five soldiers who were sent to stop protests immediately fell to the ground, appearing to have been seriously injured, one witness said. Two explosions were heard, he said. Some shrapnel even hit nearby houses. The ground shook, the witness said. It was unclear if the landmines were planted by the KIA or another ethnic armed group. RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen Zaw Min Tun for comment on the Kachin fighting. Myanmar anti-junta protesters participate in a 'revolutionary Thingyan' demonstration in Sanchaung township, Yangon region, April 13, 2021. Credit: RFA More killings in ethnic lands Violence rang out in other parts of Myanmar on Tuesday, with soldiers shooting dead an ethnic Gurkha couple who were delivering milk by motorbike in the town of Tamu in the northwestern region of Sagaing, near the border with India, a day after a seven-year-old was gunned down, witnesses told RFA. The killing of the couple, members of an estimated 1 million Nepali-speaking descendants of Gurkha soldiers who served during British rule over what was then called Burma, was the latest of more than 20 people killed in the town, which is home to ethnic Naga rebels and awash with weapons, many home-made. Naga forces led by the Kukai National Organization and its armed wing, the Kukai National Army an insurgent group active in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar attacked junta forces, killing 18 troops in response to a brutal crackdown on April 10, residents said. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, called on Tuesday for immediate measures by the international community to push the military regime to stop the violence against the people, including air strikes targeting civilians in Kachin, Shan, and Kayin states. There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011. There too, we saw peaceful protests met with unnecessary and clearly disproportionate force, she said. The Middle Eastern country is shattered and still fighting 10 years after the Arab Spring touched off protests. The military seems intent on intensifying its pitiless policy of violence against the people of Myanmar, using military-grade and indiscriminate weaponry, Bachelet said. I fear the situation in Myanmar is heading towards a full-blown conflict, she said in a statement. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. NEW YORK, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Atos SE ("Atos" or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: AEXAY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. Fighting for victims of securities fraud for more than 85 years (PRNewsfoto/Pomerantz LLP) The investigation concerns whether Atos 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 April 1, 2021, Atos issued a press release disclosing that the Company's auditors had issued a "qualified opinion . . . as to two US legal entities representing 11% of 2020 consolidated revenue that require additional diligences." Specifically, these auditors identified "internal weaknesses over financial reporting process and revenue recognition in accordance with IFRS 15 leading to several accounting errors, as well as risk of override of controls in this respect." Atos stated that it had hired external firms in order to conduct an investigation and that the auditors were unable to obtain sufficient evidence that Atos's financial statements were free of material misstatements within the necessary timeframe. On this news, Atos's stock price fell $1.67 per share, or 10.81%, to close at $13.78 per share on April 1, 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. Story continues CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-on-behalf-of-investors-of-atos-se---aexay-301268348.html SOURCE Pomerantz LLP As Spains coronavirus infection figures begin to climb again, authorities are racing to step up the vaccination effort despite this weeks news of a pause in the rollout of Johnson & Johnsons Janssen vaccine due to blood clotting concerns. Practically all of the 80-and-over population (95.6%) has received the first dose of one of the two Covid-19 vaccines being administered to this age group, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. While they await their second shot, healthcare centers have begun calling in people in their seventies, representing over 3.9 million individuals. Of these, 21.4% have already had at least one injection. Simultaneously, this week most of Spains regions are starting to immunize 355,000 people with medical conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, including individuals who have undergone certain types of transplants, those on dialysis, some cancer patients and those with depressed immune systems. So far, the 70-to-79 age group has been receiving the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, although there were plans to add Janssen to the list starting on Wednesday. On Tuesday, however, the pharmaceutical company announced a halt on its European rollout after US federal health authorities recommended pausing its use over sporadic cases of blood clots among recipients in that country. A similar decision recently affected another vaccine that is being used in Spain and elsewhere in the European Union, made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The Janssen vaccine only requires one shot, and 300,000 doses were expected to arrive in Spain during the month of April. By comparison, 2.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine are due to arrive over the same period. The good news is that immunization of the 70-to-79 group is moving along much faster than the 80-and-over group, which required two months. Early estimates place completion of first injections by early May. In the meantime, people between 60 and 69 years of age are being immunized with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Health Ministry is still deciding what to do with essential workers under that age who already received their first dose of this treatment, but who are no longer eligible for the second following a recent change in the governments vaccination criteria. Despite some reports of citizen rejection of AstraZeneca following widespread media coverage of rare blood clotting cases, most regions said that a majority of people are going to their appointments. Andalusia Immunization of the 70-to-79 age group is being conducted at the usual vaccination sites, which include local healthcare centers and large facilities. The Andalusian health department is contacting eligible individuals through SMS messages on their cellphones. Progress is uneven across the different provinces. Virgen del Rocio Hospital in Seville has also begun to immunize patients with medical conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the disease. Aragon People who are turning 73, 74 and 75 this year can make an appointment for a shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those between 60 and 62 years of age will be called in for a dose of AstraZeneca. Asturias Around 97% of the 80-and-over population has had their first dose, and 53.2% has had both. A third of residents in their seventies have received their first injection. Balearic Islands The regional health department wants to start immunizing the 70-to-79 age group as well as patients with medical conditions that make them very vulnerable to the disease. The islands will receive 18,000 fewer vaccines this week, a substantial decrease due to a production drop at AstraZeneca. These doses will go to people in their sixties and essential workers. Authorities have reported isolated cases of people rejecting this vaccine. Basque Country The Basque Country has finished administering the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine to the 80-and-over population and has begun to vaccinate those aged between 70 and 79, starting with the oldest people in this bracket. According to the regional health chief, Gotzone Sagardui, the vaccines are being administered as fast as they are being received. The region received 70,207 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday and 6,400 of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday. The regional health department has been making vaccine appointments for people with chronic conditions and serious illnesses, such as transplant recipients and cancer patients, since last week. The region is continuing to wait for a decision to be made about what to do with people under 60 who have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, given this medication is now restricted to the 60-to-69 age group. The Basque government has not ruled out any of the three possible options administering a second dose of AstraZeneca, using another vaccine or not administering the second injection at all, as the first one is considered to be 70% effective against Covid-19. Basque authorities have, however, indicated that this is a decision that should be made nationally. Canary Islands Regional healthcare sources said that vaccination has not been halted on any island and that there has been no significant rejection of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Castilla-La Mancha This region has begun immunizing people in their seventies and patients with high-risk conditions, said a government spokesperson. The 60-to-69 group is also being called in for AstraZeneca shots. Overall, 16,386 citizens under the age of 80 have received a dose. Castilla y Leon Regional premier Francisco Igea said on Monday that he expects 70% of the population to be vaccinated 30 to 50 days from now. So far, 22.1% of residents have received at least one dose. Catalonia In Catalonia, 85% of the 80-and-over group have had their first shot, and people in their seventies are being called in this week for an injection. Immunization is also proceeding for people in their sixties and for individuals with high-risk medical conditions. On Tuesday, the regional government said that rejection of the AstraZeneca vaccine was in the range of 10%, but that these individuals will be called later in the year for a new appointment. Galicia Galicia began to vaccinate people between 70 and 79 years of age this week in the main cities of the region. Appointments are made via text message and confirmed by phone. A total of 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered to this age group this week. People with serious health conditions began to receive their first shot on Monday. Some 35,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been earmarked for this priority group. The region is also set to receive 7,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be used in a new mass vaccination campaign next weekend which is aimed at the 15,000 residents between 60 and 65 years of age. La Rioja La Rioja began to vaccinate people in the 70-to-79 age bracket on Monday. According to sources from the regional health department, this group will receive their first dose at the vaccination site set up in the exposition center Riojaforum and in mobile units that will travel to each basic health zone, beginning with those in Haro, Najera, Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Murillo. Around 2,000 people from this age group are scheduled to get a shot every day. Sources from the health department consider the speed of the vaccination drive to be satisfactory. La Rioja also began on Monday to administer the vaccine to people with pre-existing medical conditions or diseases that make them vulnerable to the virus. This is being done in San Pedro Hospital, where the Moderna vaccine is being used, and in Fundacion Calahorra Hospital, which is using the Pfizer vaccine. With respect to the delays in the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccine, sources from the health department say the vaccination plan is being adjusted according to what is delivered and will continue to vaccinate the 60-to-65 age group with the doses that have been so far received. Madrid Madrid regional officials want to let citizens voluntarily get immunized with AstraZeneca doses and they are asking for the elimination of current guidelines on target groups, given the new delays expected by the halt on Johnson & Johnsons Janssen vaccine rollout and by concern over blood clotting reports among Janssen and AstraZeneca recipients. If there are citizens who dont want to [receive these vaccines], there are many more who do, said Madrid premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the Popular Party (PP) on the regional public broadcaster Telemadrid. Regional authorities also want to extend the waiting period between the first and second doses for AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna. Madrid officials are expected to make their case for these changes at a Wednesday meeting of central and regional health authorities. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of the Socialist Party (PSOE) has criticized Madrids position. This week, the Madrid region will administer nearly 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to the over-75s in primary healthcare centers, according to a press release from the regional government. People in the 70-to-74 age bracket will also receive this vaccine, which will be administered in the hospitals of 12 de Octubre, Gregorio Maranon, La Paz and Fundacion Jimenez Diaz. With respect to people with serious medical conditions, the vaccination drive begins this week in 15 public hospitals. These people will be contacted directly by the hospitals that usually treat them for their illness to set an appointment and will receive the Moderna vaccine, the press release said. According to a spokesperson from the regional health department, only 20,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are estimated to arrive this week. Due to this shortage, Puerta de Hierro Hospital in Majadahonda and six hospitals in the south of the region will not be able to continue administering the vaccine until a new shipment arrives. Murcia Murcia began to vaccinate the 70-to-79 population last week and this week will begin to immunize people with medical conditions and illnesses that make them especially vulnerable to Covid-19. According to a spokesperson from the regional health department, 70% of those scheduled to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine are going to the appointment, compared to nearly 85% for the Pfizer vaccine. Navarre The vaccination of the 70-to-79 age group began last week. This week, the region has begun immunizing people at very high risk of developing a serious case of Covid-19, such as transplant recipients, cancer patients and the over-40s with Down syndrome. Generally, this group is vaccinated in a hospital. With respect to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Navarre government says that only an insignificant number has refused the medication at a vaccination site while a little more than 4% have refused when called in for an appointment, a slight rise from when the age criteria changed. Valencia region The Mediterranean region is expecting to administer 213,000 doses this week despite a smaller shipment than expected. Authorities said that they will do a follow-up of vaccinated people for a month after inoculation to enquire about potential adverse effects, the regional daily Informacion reported. English version by Melissa Kitson and Susana Urra. ZUG, Switzerland, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IWG, the world's leading flexible workspace organisation has secured new franchise partners in Togo, Libya and Guinea to fuel the group's rapidly growing worldwide network in Africa and is also set to launch in Gabon. Togo is one of the latest countries to embrace the economic growth opportunities afforded by flexible workspaces, with the Regus centre opening in May 2021 as a franchise operation in partnership with the Confortis International Group. Located at 2447 Avenue de la Chance, the Regus centre occupies a strategic location within the new business district of GTA Lome II, in front of the General Directorate of LONATO, near the embassies and the headquarters of large companies and institutions and three minutes from the Presidential Palace. Regus Avenue de la Chance is just ten minutes from the airport and fifteen minutes from the Togolese port of Lome, the largest in West Africa. The port provides the capital with a geographic advantage with its state-of-the-art container handling equipment serving as a gateway to the landlocked countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The centre's high quality facilities including coworking space, private meeting rooms, a business lounge and state of the art technology will meet the needs of companies of all sizes, from start-ups to global corporations in this growing business hub. Regus Avenue de la Chance will offer 160 workstations as well as six meeting and conference rooms, across 1,000m2, in a ten storey building also featuring a hi-tech gym, restaurants and premium accommodation. Regus Almutawasit will be opening in the heart of the Libyan capital, Tripoli in June in partnership with Alhareth Ghattour. More than a quarter of the oil rich country's population live within the capital city. The centre featuring excellent facilities including coworking space, meeting and conference rooms and a business lounge is in the capital's flourishing business hub on the Mediterranean coast. The area combines centuries of historical architecture with modern infrastructure, attracting multinationals from around the world. Guinea , the world's second largest producer of bauxite, and a country with rich deposits of diamonds and gold will also be embracing the many benefits of flexible workspace with the opening of a Regus centre in May. Located just a few minutes from Conakry Gbessia International Airport, the Tour Niger centre is located in downtown Kaloum's business area and is within 500 metres of the Presidential Palace, ministries, the port as well as the city's major hotels and banks. Tour Niger, will be the most iconic newly built tower on the Conakry skyline. Regus is opening the centre in close collaboration with franchise partner, the Sonoco Group IWG will open its first flexible workspace in Gabon , one of Africa's largest oil producers and the world's largest producer of Manganese. The Regus Serena Building, features 38 private offices, dedicated co-working space with 100 workstations and two meeting rooms. The Regus centre is located on the 3rd floor of the building and enjoys a privileged location in the Petit Paris area of Libreville, a 15-minute drive from Leon Mba International Airport. Mark Dixon Founder and CEO of IWG said, "With the latest openings in Togo, Libya, Gabon and Guinea, we are delighted to expand our rapidly growing network to over 25 countries in Africa. Studies have shown that globally, the flexible workspace industry will support the creation of 30 million new jobs and we are proud to be playing a part in in unlocking the growth opportunities afforded by the sector to new markets across the globe." A franchise opportunity with great returns and world-class support Regus and parent company IWG are currently seeking driven, committed franchise partners to capitalise on the significant demand for flexible workspaces across Africa. IWG has been running successful workspaces for over thirty years, ever since it founded the industry in 1989. It has developed its business model through many economic cycles. Its operating model is proven, demonstrably successful and can provide partners with a highly attractive return on their investment. IWG provides multiple revenue streams, including monthly membership programmes commission for selling other locations within the brand's inventory and MyRegus app bookings, among others. As part of its new programme, IWG offers comprehensive infrastructure to support franchisees throughout the lifecycle of their investment. The global IWG franchise team works closely with its franchisees to support with identifying locations and fitting out the centre, as well as growing their market footprint backed by world-class operational and marketing support and quality customer service and IT infrastructure. For more information on IWG franchise opportunities, please visit https://franchise.iwgplc.com/. For IWG media enquiries: Simon Condon, Group Head of Communications, IWG. [email protected] 0800 060 8703 SOURCE IWG Plc Related Links https://www.iwgplc.com/ China firmly opposes any sort of official relationship between U.S., Taiwan: spokesperson Xinhua) 15:49, April 14, 2021 Tourists take photos with the Taipei 101 skyscraper in the background at Xiangshan Mountain in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, July 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang) BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged solemn representations with the United States over the U.S. government sending a delegation to the Taiwan region, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing when commenting on U.S. President Joe Biden sending a delegation of former U.S. officials to Taiwan, scheduled to visit the island from Wednesday to Friday. Reiterating China's firm opposition to any form of official contact between the United States and Taiwan, Zhao noted that this position is consistent and clear. "We urge the United States side to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, immediately stop any form of official contacts between the United States and Taiwan, prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces so as to avoid further damage to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the spokesperson said. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: On April 12, a "park" dedicated to the Artsakh war was opened in Baku with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan, where, along with Armenian military equipment, images (mannequins) of Armenian armed forces servicemen, personal belongings of Armenia and Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] soldiers, and helmets of fallen Armenian servicemen are displayed. During the discussion of various matters in the [Armenian] parliament yesterday, the number one topic was the [Azerbaijan president] Aliyev "park," and the MPs condemned Ilham Aliyev's such demeanor; also, [Armenias] Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, the RA and Artsakh MFAs issued statements. And what does the world say [about this park]? Russia's State Duma MP, United Russia faction member Vitaly Milonov, who also had visited Artsakh during the 44-day war, expressed a viewin a conversation with Zhoghovurd dailythat with this move, Azerbaijan once again shows that it considers the course of the war a success for it. "Azerbaijan is proud of the war and does not accept [it] as a tragedy that occurred between the two nations. Mr. Aliyev is trying to use the killing of Armenians as a political move. Everyone understands very well that Aliyev moved in this war on [Turkish president] Erdogan's advice, and it is very tragic for me that he started all this." Speaking about the silence of the international community [regarding this war], he [Milonov] noted: "And did the international community stop Turkey and Azerbaijan when they were bombing Artsakh? Of course not. I believe that Turkey proves once again that it perceives Azerbaijan only as a country subject to it [Turkey]." Let us added that a big discussion on this and matter of the return of Armenian prisoners of war, in general, took place yesterday at the Council of Europe as well. Hawaii is now the latest state authorizing registered nurses to perform abortion instead of doctors after Gov. David Ige signed the legislation on Monday. According to Fox 5, a previous Hawaii law states that only doctors are allowed to perform "early, in-clinic abortions." This was reportedly due to the lack of attending physicians, especially in several smaller islands. Residents seeking an abortion provider will have to fly to Honolulu to have one. The islands of Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai reportedly were lacking of "local abortion care providers." Even on the Big Island, only the west side of Hilo has access to abortion services. Doctors from other islands had to fly to Maui to provide services. This was halted by travel restrictions imposed by governments following WHO's declaration of a coronavirus pandemic. Chairperson of the Hawaii Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Dr. Reni Soon said that "abortion care" was not available on the island for several months. "This act will enable people who desperately need reproductive health care services to receive health care from very high quality health care providers, including advanced practice registered nurses, where they need it, when they need it, and ... in their own communities," said Director of the Hawaii State Center for Nursing Laura Reichardt during the bill signing ceremony. Further details in the report said that the recently signed legislation will allow "advanced registered nurses" to practice abortion procedures from prescribing drugs that will terminate pregnancy to performing aspiration abortion, a minor surgery wherein a vacuum is used to empty a woman' uterus. Both can be carried out by nurses during the first trimester of pregnancy but with the aspiration abortion performed only in accredited hospitals, clinics, or in a nurse's office. Qualifications of said "advanced practiced registered nurses" authorized to terminate embryos are those that have at least reached master's degree with training and certification in diagnosis and medical prescription. The legislation signed by Governor Ige also stated that there were studies that could vouch on the safety and reliability of abortions performed by "qualified licensed health care provider." The service, according to the legislation, is as safe as those performed by doctors. Other voices in opposition -besides those who are staunchly anti-abortion- to the legislation have expressed concerns that these advanced nurses have not had the same training as doctors. On the other hand, advocates claim that these nurses have already been providing similar complicated procedures like inserting an IUD, a birth control procedure where the inserted device prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching the eggs. Other states that have the same legislation are California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. Hawaii reportedly is the first state in the nation to allow abortion on demand in March 1970, years before abortion was legalized in the U.S. via Roe V. Wade. The law enacted that time states that, "the State shall not deny or interfere with a female's right to choose or obtain an abortion of a nonviable fetus or an abortion that is necessary to protect the life or health of the female." Gandhinagar, April 14 : The Gujarat Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani on Wednesday evening, will hold a virtual meeting with various religious leaders of the state on the prevailing situation of Corona infection in the state. The CM will hold discussions with them and request cooperation from every community in the fight against the virus. Vijay Rupani will have a virtual meeting with many religious leaders of the state at 4 p.m. in the evening on Wednesday. Many dignitaries from various religious communities like Ratnasundarji Maharaj Saheb, Namramuni Maharaj Saheb, Vraj RajKumar, Dwarkesh Lalji, Brahmavihari Swami, Sant swami of Vadtal Temple, Tyagvallabh swami, Shernath Bapu, Avichaldasji Maharaj, Dilipdasji Maharaj, Shambhu Prasad Tundiya, Maulana Lukman Tarapuri and Right Reverend Silvance Christian will participate in the meet. The CM will have discussions with them regarding the current Covid situation in the state, and their role in the fight against the pandemic. Earlier too, last year, the CM had such discussions with various religious leaders and received support and assurances from all communities to fight the pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT The House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary has asked the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) not to punish the federal government for the wrong action of the state governments. The Committee Chair, Luke Onofiok (PDP, Akwa Ibom), stated this on Wednesday during an interface with JUSUN representatives in Abuja. JUSUN is currently on strike in protest of the refusal by government to grant judiciary financial autonomy. While appealing to the workers to call off their industrial action, Mr Onofiok said the National Assembly was in solidarity with the workers on the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary. Please let us not punish others for the sin of those at the state level. We should take the blame to the doorsteps of those who are actually the cause, he said. They should engage the judiciary staff of their states. When there is financial autonomy it will be for the betterment of their states at large. We are appealing to our governors to please obey the law. Earlier, the General Secretary of JUSUN, Isaiah Adetola, urged the lawmakers to support the union in the implementation of the constitution. JUSUN is here to fight for the common good. The National Assembly should do something. I appeal that you give us the maximum support that the constitution of the country is obeyed by all, Mr Adetola said. President Muhamadu Buhari, in 2020, signed the Executive Order 10 for the implementation of financial autonomy for state judiciary. The Executive Order 10 makes it mandatory that all states of the federation should include the allocations of both the legislature and the judiciary in the first-line charge of their budgets. AWD This drag strip battle is far from conventional. On one lane, we have a tuned Porsche 911 Turbo. It's more powerful than the stock and already fast 911, and it also features an all-wheel-drive system. The second lane sees a 1980s Chevy Monte Carlo flex a massive set of wheels with low-profile tires and a beefed-up LS V8 under the hood.Riding on gold-painted, 24-inch Forgiato wheels, this boxy coupe goes by the name "Black Blur." This Monte Carlo has been hitting the drag strip for years now, and last time I checked, it got its juice from a turbocharged LSX mill. It's definitely more powerful than your average Monte Carlo, although the actual numbers are a mystery.But is it quick enough for a beefed-up 911 Turbo that also benefits from? There's no spec sheet to compare, but the German coupe is rarely the underdog in scenarios like this. Surprisingly enough, though, the rear-wheel-driven Monte Carlo pulls a win, taking advantage of a nearly perfect off-the-line sprint.The 911 driver's reaction is a bit slow at the green light, so his race is mostly about catching up. He manages to reduce the gap toward the finish line, but there's not enough time for him to get in front. That's not to say that the Monte Carlo didn't deserve the win, but the outcome might have been different with a quicker driver in the 911 Turbo Still, it's cool to see a boxy, G-body donk smash a modern supercar at the drag strip. It's proof that cars on massive rims can be impressively fast. The lesson here is that you should never underestimate big rim cars for straight-line racing. US petroleum giant Exxon Mobil earlier this year announced plans to close its oil refinery in Australia, claiming it is no longer economically viable. The Exxon Mobil facility in Altona, Melbourne, commenced operations in 1949. Now the jobs of 350 workersmost of them highly skilled specialists in a dangerous industryare under threat. In October last year, BP announced its plans to close its Kwinana refinery in Western Australia. If BPs planned April 2021 shutdown also proceeds, there will be only two refineries left in Australia, down from seven a decade ago. Exxon Mobil Altona oil refinery [Credit: Google Maps] The trade unions have enforced repeated orderly closures of the refineries. United Workers Union (UWU) national secretary Tim Kennedy responded to the Exxon Mobil Altona announcement by again making clear there would be no struggle to defend jobs. Describing the closure of the plant (though this is not slated to begin until another six months) as a terrible missed opportunity, the UWU head pleaded with the federal government to invest in just transition and quality jobs of the future. Other sections of the trade union bureaucracy have made open appeals to nationalist-militarist calculations within the Australian ruling class on the question of oil refining capacity. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), a division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, responded to the BP Kwinana refinery closure announcement by urging the government to nationalise the facility. MUA Assistant National Secretary Ian Bray said, The COVID crisis exposed how vulnerable Australias supply chains have become, highlighting that essential supplies can quickly run short if seaborne trade is disrupted by a pandemic, military conflict, natural disasters or an economic shock. This reference to petroleum supply chains in the event of military conflict was made amid accelerating US plans for a military conflict with China, in which Australia would be immediately involved as Washingtons regional ally. The trade unions, together with the Labor Party, are enthusiastic participants in the anti-China war drive (see Australian unions back war preparations at Labor Party conference). The MUAs call for nationalisation of oil refineries has nothing to do with the interests of the workers. Instead, the union bureaucracy is appealing to a section of the Australian ruling class that is seeking to strengthen domestic industrial capacity as part of the preparations for war. Australia remains dependent on the US for reserve refined petroleum. The federal government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a $2.3 billion slush fund for the oil refining corporations in last years budget, as part of a plan to boost Australias limited storage capacity. This included money for the construction of 780 megalitres (4.9 million barrels) of diesel storage tanks. The additional oil refining subsidies proved insufficient for Exxon Mobil. Exxon Mobil Australia chairman Nathan Fay nevertheless heaped praise on the government for its significant support offered to Altona and other refineries, adding that the decision to convert our facility to a terminal is not a reflection of those efforts. If Kwinana and Altona were to close there will be only two remaining refineries in AustraliaAmpol in Lytton, Queensland and Viva Energy in Geelong, Victoria. Mass layoffs and closures are also threatened at both of these facilities. Viva Energy has accepted an Interim Refinery Production Payment subsidy of 1 cent per litre from the federal government. This translates to some $30 million in the first half of 2021. The subsidy is conditional on the refinery staying open, but only until July 2021. The Ampol refinery in Queensland has refused the subsidy as the company does not want to make any, even limited, commitment to staying open. All of Australias oil refineries areby global standardsageing, run down, small, and inefficient. Responsibility for this lies not with oil refinery workers but with the corporations running them and successive Labor and Liberal governments, which have all failed to allocate the necessary investment resources into the facilities. The Exxon Mobil plant at Altona requires hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades to make it viable. It has been starved of investment for decades. Neighbouring residents have been plagued by leaks and spillages from the refinery. More than 520,000 litres of unleaded petrol leaked from a corroded underground pipeline discovered after two years in 2006 when residents began to feel sick. The company was fined $350,000less than the cost of the petrol that leaked. Exxon Mobils Altona refinery is the smallest in the country, with a capacity of only 90,000 barrels per day (bpd, with 1 barrel equal to 159 litres). Australias largest refinery, BP Kwinana, is only slightly larger with 146,000 bpd. By comparison the worlds largest refinery is Indias Jamnagar Refinery, which has a daily capacity of 1.24 million bpd. Global corporate restructuring is seeing smaller refineries like the one at Altona being converted to import-only storage facilities, while lower cost production at the mega refineries in India, Korea, Japan and the Middle East dominate world output. An index that tracks the cost of shipping petroleum products fell to an all-time low last year, making it cheaper than ever to ship product around the world. Even before the announced closures of Kwinana and Altona more than half of Australias fuel needs were imported. Exxon Mobil recently imported crude oil for its Altona refinery from Azerbaijan and West Africa. Oil refinery workers at Altona and every other refinery across the country should reject the planned closures and related corporate restructuring. The unions will do nothing to defend these jobs, so it falls to workers to organise themselves in independent rank-and-file committees that will turn to workers throughout the country and link up with oil refinery workers internationally to thwart the plans of Exxon Mobil and BP to destroy their livelihoods. Oil refineries and the entire energy industry must be nationalised under workers' controlnot to prepare a nationalist campaign for imperialist war, but as part of a socialist reorganisation of society in the interests of the working class. This will involve the necessary reorganisation of oil production on a planned and scientific basisensuring secure and safe jobs for workers in the industry, meeting the energy needs of the population, and considering the necessary environmental protections. All this requires a fight for a workers' government, based on an internationalist and socialist political perspective. UOC to provide teachers in Europe with training to improve online teaching E-learning has become a key teaching and learning tool in the current pandemic and ensuring its quality throughout Europe is one of the aims of a series of research projects being launched this year. In Europe, e-learning covers a range of teaching methods that vary from country to country. The Erasmus+ Empower Competences for Online Learning in Higher Education (ECOLHE) project, in which the UOC is a participant, has been set up to examine the way in which the idea of e-learning has been put into practice in the European Higher Education Area. "This research-action project has been set up to create conditions under which best practices can be shared across a range of aspects, including teaching digital skills in higher education, validating teaching competences and online teaching strategies," said Montse Guitert, coordinator of the Edul@b research group and the ECOLHE project at the UOC. She is working alongside her colleagues Teresa Romeu and Marc Romero from the same research group. With a projected duration of 36 months and a budget of over 416,000, ECOLHE is headed by Italy's Link Campus University Foundation and involves another six universities and organizations from six countries: UOC, Spain; University of Rome III, Italy; the National University of Ireland's University College, Cork; Patras University, Greece; the European Association of Erasmus Coordinators, Cyprus; and Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Their research covers six case studies from the participating countries, apart from Cyprus. In Spain, the UOC will analyse the online education system being developed by the University and involving professionals from all its areas, including: administration, students, teachers, researchers and management, focusing specifically on the implementation, management and assessment of digital innovation in the university's educational project. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) is a leading online university, with over 25 years' experience with innovative online teaching methods. It has the eLearn Center, set up to promote innovation in e-learning. According to Carles Sigales, UOC Vice President for Teaching and Learning, "the pandemic has confirmed that switching to online teaching is not so easy. Universities that offers online teaching have to be organized in a completely different way, as the switch from classroom to remote teaching is not automatic." "This experience we have will go hand-in-hand with input from policymakers responsible for education, and a report will be drafted, presenting the UOC as an example of a fully online university. It will form part of a comparative report, which will include the other cases analysed by our project partners, all of whom use face-to-face learning," said Guitert. Lifelong online learning As well as this research, the UOC is involved in all the stages of the project, including validating tools for the data collection, and applying and analysing them at local level. "Much of our focus is on creating a training course for teachers and tutors to improve online teaching within a framework of lifelong learning," said Guitert. The UOC became involved in ECOLHE through its links with Italy's Link Campus University, which is leading the project. The University's prior experience also includes the DECODE project, helmed by Link and aimed at teachers of compulsory education, enabling them to apply digital skills in their classrooms. Recommendations applicable throughout Europe After the project is completed, its findings will be applied throughout Europe, not just in the countries directly involved. "One of the primary aims of ECOLHE is to generate a framework and tools that can be used to improve the quality of online education," said Guitert. "When COVID-19 came along, we were already experiencing sustained growth in demand for online training. Before the pandemic, 15% of university students in Spain were already studying online. The boom in online learning is closely linked with the demand for lifelong learning, which is absolutely unstoppable," said Sigales. This means that the project can be used to provide recommendations for politicians and policymakers and academic bodies on how to build a European higher education area based on independent quality guarantees. This project supports the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4, Quality Education, SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals. The UOC is a leader in the field of research into e-learning, having conducted 224 projects from 2001 to 2020, and currently has 20 research groups active in the field. Project co-funded by the European Union Erasmus Plus Program [Project Code: 2020-1-IT02_KA203_079176] UOC R&I The UOC's research and innovation (R&I) is helping overcome pressing challenges faced by global societies in the 21st century, by studying interactions between technology and human & social sciences with a specific focus on the network society, e-learning and e-health. Over 500 researchers and 51 research groups work among the University's seven faculties and two research centres: the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and the eHealth Center (eHC). The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and open knowledge serve as strategic pillars for the UOC's teaching, research and innovation. More information:research.uoc.edu. #UOC25years ### This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Natasha Mkhize, brand and marketing manager for Curro Holding's network of schools, shares with us the value of growing up with a strong role model, and explains what it takes to market not just a 'moment', but a lifetime experience. Natasha Mkhize Tell us a bit about yourself... Your mind is your power. You can be anything you want to be, all you need to do is read and go to school and empower your mind. Your experience spans such a wide variety of brands... What are some of the biggest differences youve found working in the education space to the more general consumer-based brands? What is it you love about the education industry and your role in it? #BehindtheBrandManager: Thobile Tshabalala, head of Brand at Old Mutual Thobile Tshabalala, head of Brand at Old Mutual is responsible for implementing the overall brand strategies and marketing-related plans to build and grow the Old Mutual brand... What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned from your experience in the sector? What do you believe are the most successful channels for your brands communication and why? Do you feel branding for the education sector comes with a higher level of responsibility given the target audience than other consumer brands? How do you plan on building the Curro brand going forward? I was raised by my strong and determined grandmother in the humble township of Gugulethu in the Western Cape. Gugulethu means our pride in isiXhosa and true to where I come from, I am my grandmothers pride and joy. She wanted nothing but the best for me and taught me resilience, perseverance and that the key to unlocking your future is to read and to be educated. She always used to say,And today I know I am exactly where I need to be, part of the education sector.Before finding myself in the education sector, I ploughed through years in the FMCG and retail sectors. I paid my marketing and advertising school fees by working in advertising in account management across FMCG brands. I did a few courses in marketing and business management to keep me afloat and then did my post-graduate diploma in business administration at Stellenbosch University. While doing so I worked in the retail and FMCG sectors in brand management across various media and digital channels, as well as with in-store shopper experience tactics in both formal and informal shopper touchpoints.It was in 2019 that I moved into the education sector with Curro Holdings Ltd and also completed my masters degree in business administration through Stellenbosch University. At Curro, my main role is to manage the brand vision, equity and market position of the company as well as to create a positive brand identity for all stakeholders. I also develop, establish and maintain marketing strategies to meet brand-specific objectives and I support the schools on all strategic elements of the Curro brand.The main difference is that you are marketing a basic need quality education for the future of South Africa. This cannot be augmented as a consumable product, it is an imperative. Consumer-based brands sell a dream (a facade, a place or a thing to escape) while education gives you a right of passage that is real and tangible; it is something that you have that cannot be taken away and its something that you can build on from nursery school to tertiary level. The consumer evolves and grows within the education sector. It is not a moment, nor a memory but a lifetime experience.I love that I am part of an industry and, more specifically, a brand that nurtures and celebrates the future of South Africa. I am encouraged and fulfilled by being part of a brand that celebrates the individual and considers what is best for the learner be it through platforms that allow them to be creative, the best in sport or to perform academically. Education is there to spark and ignite a hidden talent and I am responsible for sharing this with our society; showcasing an opportunity to parents for their children, and to the youth, that their future can be bright and prosperous.The importance of brand reputational management as it is important to be very transparent. Education is built around trust and heart, not just a need. It is important to be clear and transparent in all our communications, both to current and prospective parents and learners. There is also not a one-size-fits-all approach or a generic approach, you need to be hyper targeted so that you can be relevant and remain top of mind across a broad audience as we offer education across the learners development cycle from being a baby, to a teenager, to an adult.Community above-the-line channels such as community radio and newspapers as well as digital platforms (for both parents and learners); and most importantly, community engagements at school. It is important to not onlywho we are but toour brand offering by sharing our learners stories. For a parent it is important to know that their children are in a safe space for growth and for learners it is a space of belonging. Therefore, it is important to use platforms that showcase aexperience and digital platforms allow for sharing of experiences and engagements.Most definitely. As mentioned earlier we service a very wide audience with a need state built around trust; so, it is important that our branding and messaging are inclusive and resonate with our audience.The brand is centred around our learners; we offer quality education for future leaders. This is translated in the curriculum and extramural activities we offer to ensure that we are nurturing not only young minds but well-rounded future leaders. We therefore need to make sure that this forms the basis of all our marketing strategies, be it in the classroom or outside of the classroom. An enchanting lake that glows fairyfloss pink is drawing travellers to a remote part of 'Victoria's own Outback' that was once home to a cavernous salt mine. Lake Crosbie in Murray-Sunset National Park, northwestern VIC, may be about six hours' drive from Melbourne, but the sight on arrival will not disappoint. A natural phenomenon that only occurs with the right balance of salt, sunlight, high temperatures, low rainfall and algae causes the water to turn from glistening white to a rose-hued pink. Famed for being untouched, Lake Crosbie is similar to a lake at Melbourne's Westgate Park and the iconic Hutt Lagoon, a spectacular site six hours' drive north of Perth that's quickly becoming a 'must-see' destination on Australia's west coast. Scroll down for video An enchanting lake that glows fairyfloss pink is drawing travellers to a remote part of 'Victoria's own Outback' Lake Crosbie in Murray-Sunset National Park, northwestern Victoria, may be a six-hour drive from Melbourne, but the sight on arrival will not disappoint Murray-Sunset National Park, just under six hours' drive from Melbourne CBD Lake Crosbie's captivating colour is largely created by the salt mine relics and mounds of salt which have lain abandoned on the water's edge since operation ceased in 1979. Due to the remoteness of the area and a lack of phone reception, a travel advisory notice on the Parks Victoria website warns that campers must be self-sufficient by carrying all the water and provisions they need. Aptly named, Murray-Sunset National Park is the perfect vantage point to take in some of the finest sunsets in the world. Lake Crosbie is just one of a series of mesmerising pink lakes drawing tourists to the area, along with lakes Becking, Kenyon and Hardy. A natural phenomenon that only occurs with the right balance of salt, sunlight, high temperatures, low rainfall and algae causes the water to turn from glistening white to a rose-hued pink Aptly named, Murray-Sunset National Park is the perfect vantage point to take in some of the finest sunsets in the world Lake Crosbie is just one of a series of mesmerising pink lakes drawing tourists to the area, along with lakes Becking, Kenyon and Hardy Two hours' drive south is Lake Tyrrell, Victoria's largest salt lake which attracts visitors from around the world as a site for star-gazing. Meanwhile further south, an industrial part of Melbourne that boasts its own pink lake is receiving record numbers of visitors all eager to capture the perfect Instagram photo. Hundreds have been flocking to the water, tucked away in Westgate Park less than 20 minutes' drive from the CBD, to capture content for their social media feeds. Parks Victoria told the ABC that Westgate lake first turned pink in December 2012, and has turned pink almost every summer since. The colour is at its most vivid when the sun hangs directly over the water, from 10am until 2pm each day. Australians hungry for the perfect Instagram photo are travelling to an industrial part of Melbourne to pose in front of this mesmerising lake filled with bubblegum pink water Hundreds have been flocking to the lake, tucked away in Westgate Park less than 20 minutes' drive from the CBD, to capture carefully curated content for their social media feeds Photos of the lake have drawn stunned responses on social media, with one woman who visited last summer declaring she was 'in awe of its beauty'. 'Nature will never cease to amaze me,' said a second, while a third called it the best sight she has witnessed in Australia. Many were incredulous that such a remarkable attraction existed in Melbourne. One resident said she only recently discovered the lake despite living in the city for more than 20 years. [April 14, 2021] agilon health Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering agilon health, inc. ("agilon health"), which partners with primary care physicians to unlock value-based healthcare delivery, announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 46,600,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $23.00. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by agilon health. The gross proceeds of the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses payable by agilon health, are expected to be approximately $1,072 million. agilon health has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 6,990,000 shares of its common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on April 15, under the ticker symbol AGL (News - Alert) . The offering is expected to close on April 19, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and BofA Securities are acting as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Deutsche Bank Securities, Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Securities, William Blair, Truist Securities, and Nomura are acting as additional book-running managers. A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") on April 14, 2021. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Atention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. About agilon health agilon health is transforming healthcare by empowering community-based physicians with the resources and expertise they need to innovate the payment and delivery of care for seniors. agilon health enables physicians to create their own Medicare-centric globally capitated line of business. The agilon Total Care Model is powered by our purpose-built platform and enabled through a growing national network of like-minded physician partners. With agilon, physicians are freed from the constraints of the transactional fee-for-service reimbursement model and are able to practice team-based, coordinated care to serve the individual needs of their senior patients and to transition to a sustainable and predictable, long-term business model. The rapidly growing appeal of the agilon platform, partnership model and network of leading community-based physicians has allowed us to expand to 17 local communities with 16 anchor physician groups, as well as a network of physicians across Hawaii, in fewer than five years. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of agilon health, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the registration statement and the preliminary prospectus included therein. Copies are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. agilon health undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this press release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005921/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Congress General Secretary on Wednesday called upon the Yogi Adityanath government to stop covering up the numbers related to Covid cases and deaths in Uttar Pradesh. In a three-page statement issued here, she said that the Congress would support all efforts for the welfare of people. Noting that between April 5 and 11, Covid cases had increased by 70 per cent in the country and 281 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, she said that Uttar Pradesh has a population of 24 crore but not even one crore had been vaccinated till now. said that testing in the state was not up to the mark and reports of tests were being unduly delayed. "The number of beds is insufficient and this is leading to delay in treatment has led to increase in deaths and people are being made to wait for hours to cremate their near and dear ones," she said Citing the letter sent by UP Law Minister Brijesh Pathak, said that it exposes the grim reality of the prevailing situation, as compared to the tall claims being made by the state government. She further stated that there were merely 531 ICU beds in Lucknow whereas the number of patients here is over 13,000. "There are more than 5,000 posts of doctors lying vacant in district hospitals. There is a total requirement of 45,000 doctors in UP at all levels including primary health centres and community health centres but there are only 13,000 doctors at present," she pointed out. Priyanka further asked the Yogi Adityanath government to ramp up medical facilities, allow testing by private labs but cap their rates, and ensure an easy and transparent procedure for admission of patients in medical facilities. The Congress leader sought financial assistance for Covid patients from poor families and increase the vaccination drive. --IANS amita/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:23:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's space agency has released an online database of the first batch of the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe. Researchers and the public can access the Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Scientific Data and Sample Release System via the website www.clep.org.cn, where they can apply for data and samples, according to the China National Space Administration, which announced the release of the database Tuesday. The Chang'e-5 probe, which returned to Earth on Dec. 17, 2020, retrieved a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples, mainly rocks and soil from the lunar surface. According to China's lunar sample management regulations, the lunar samples will be generally used for four purposes, namely permanent storage, backup permanent storage, research and public welfare. Enditem Did the 2021 reunion of MTVs original Real World do more harm than good for some of the cast? Viewers watched Becky Blasband dramatically leave the show after getting into an intense debate about race with Kevin Powell. Most of the cast reached out to Blasband after she departed, but Andre Comeau says the entire encounter left a bad taste in his mouth, especially when Blasband refused to answer the casts repeated calls and text messages. Becky Blasband | Photo courtesy of Paramount + Andre Comeau says he has no ill will toward Becky Blasband Comeau ended up speaking with Blasband at some point after she left the loft. But, I have not spoken to Becky since the show aired, he said on the Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast. Ive spoken with her a few times since we moved out and have, you know, explained, you know, my thoughts, he continued. Cause what happened is that when she left, she didnt respond to any of our repeated texts or calls. I called her a couple of times when she left, just to kind of say, whats going on? What are you doing? And she didnt respond. And that kind of rubbed me the wrong way, certainly. Feeling the Monday blues? We got you covered! Stream all episodes of The #RealWorld Homecoming: New York now on @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/v3ZllINOrX The Real World Homecoming: New York (@RealWorldMTV) April 12, 2021 RELATED: The Real World: New York: Does Eric Nies Ever Make it to the Loft? So when I did hear from her, I had to explain to her, look, you know, your absence given that, you know, there was no other explanation, he added. I went in a pretty dark place and, and I had nothing else to go on. You werent there to, you know, give any other explanation. So, I mean, obviously, I knew it wasnt me, but I still felt, you know, she should have responded to my repeated texts and calls and maybe cleared up some of that confusion. Comeau added that he is still open to talking to Blasband at any point. Adding, I have no ill will. Andre Comeau says the series is still very real Comeau also shared that despite rumblings about reality television being fake, The Real World was very real. No that was all real, Comeau told People TVs, Daryn Carp. I was there. I saw it with my own two eyes and my own two ears. He added, I saw someone paint themself into a corner, and rather than, you know, try to ease her way out, she chewed her own foot off to get out of it. And it was not a very it was ill-advised. He also addressed how Blasband was surprised by the conversation she had with Powell. I know that Becky felt a little blindsided by the conversation, that she wasnt really expecting to be confronted with the conversation that she had with Kevin back in the 90s, he said. In last week's episode, Kevin and Becky had a 1-on-1 talk about the conversation that led to Becky's exit. Let's just say things didn't end so well. Catch up on The #RealWorld Homecoming: New York right now on @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/GLaoJirvvW The Real World Homecoming: New York (@RealWorldMTV) April 6, 2021 RELATED: The Real World Homecoming: Is There Enough Love for the Series to Revisit Every Season? I would have thought that she should have expected that, I was expecting it, he remarked. And Im still expecting some of the things that I said to come back and haunt me because we all know what were getting into. I mean, we all know that cameras are on and they want to create some, you know that they want us to discuss some of the issues of the day and certainly, race and the difficulties with communicating our viewpoints are always a hot topic. I would say that some of the things that Becky said were ill-advised and probably not very well thought out. MINNEAPOLIS - Middle-age and older people living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods--areas with higher poverty levels and fewer educational and employment opportunities--had more brain shrinkage on brain scans and showed faster decline on cognitive tests than people living in neighborhoods with fewer disadvantages, according to a study published in the April 14, 2021, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers say such brain aging may be a sign of the earliest stages of dementia. "Worldwide, dementia is a major cause of illness and a devastating diagnosis," said study author Amy J. H. Kind M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. "There are currently no treatments to cure the disease, so identifying possible modifiable risk factors is important. Compelling evidence exists that the social, economic, cultural and physical conditions in which humans live may affect health. We wanted to determine if these neighborhood conditions increase the risk for the neurodegeneration and cognitive decline associated with the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease and dementia." For the study, researchers identified 601 people from two larger studies of Wisconsin residents. Participants had an average age of 59 and no thinking or memory problems at the start of the study, although 69% had a family history of dementia. They were followed for 10 years. Participants had an initial MRI brain scan and then additional scans every three to five years. With each scan, researchers measured brain volume in areas of the brain linked to the development of Alzheimer's dementia. Participants also took thinking and memory tests every two years, including tests that measured processing speed, mental flexibility and executive function. Researchers used the residential address of each participant and a measure called the Area Deprivation Index to determine if each participant lived in an advantaged or disadvantaged neighborhood. Neighborhoods in the index are determined by census areas of 1,500 residents. The index incorporates information on the socioeconomic conditions of each neighborhood and its residents, ranking neighborhoods based on 17 indicators including income, employment, education and housing quality. Of all participants, 19 people lived in the 20% most disadvantaged neighborhoods in their state and 582 people lived in the 80% of all other neighborhoods in their state. People in the first group were then matched one to four to people in the second group for race, sex, age and education and compared. At the start of the study, there was no difference in brain volume between people living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods and those in other neighborhoods. But at the end, researchers found brain shrinkage in areas of the brain associated with dementia in people in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods, while there was no shrinkage in the other group. Researchers also found a higher rate of decline on tests that measure risk of Alzheimer's disease. "Our findings suggest that increased vigilance by healthcare providers for early signs of dementia may be particularly important in this vulnerable population," said Kind. "Some possible causes of these brain changes may include air pollution, lack of access to healthy food and healthcare and stressful life events. Further research into possible social and biological pathways may help physicians, researchers and policymakers identify effective avenues for prevention and intervention in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia." Limitations of the study included a small number of participants from highly disadvantaged neighborhoods and a limited geographic setting. Future studies should involve larger and more diverse groups of people over longer periods of time. ### The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. Learn more about dementia at BrainandLife.org, home of the American Academy of Neurology's free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When posting to social media channels about this research, we encourage you to use the hashtags #Neurology and #AANscience. The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 36,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit AAN.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. She was the first to arrive at a beauty salon at the stroke of midnight on Monday for her post-lockdown makeover. And Lizzie continued with the pampering on Wednesday as she posed outside the R.H Salon in London's Knightsbridge as she excitedly made the most of the easing of lockdown rules. The TV personality, 52, cut a typically glamorous figure for her appointment, wowing in a leopard print top and skintight leather trousers. Back for more: Lizzie continued with the pampering on Wednesday as she posed outside the R.H Salon in London's Knightsbridge as she excitedly made the most of the easing of lockdown rules Lizzie kept off the chill by adding a fringed leather jacket to her look, while her narrow waist was cinched in by a black belt with a gold buckle. The stunner boosted her height with a pair of killer black pointed Louboutin heels and added a touch of bling with a gold ring and bracelet. Completing her showstopping look, Lizzie enhanced her features with a sleek palette of make-up, while unsurprisingly, her caramel locks were expertly styled in chic curls. Ever the exhibitionist, Lizzie sultrily strutted up and down the street, showcasing her incredible physique. Strike a pose: The TV personality, 52, cut a typically glamorous figure for her appointment, wowing in a leopard print top and skintight leather trousers She then accepted a flower from a gentleman working on the salon's impressive jungle-themed floral display. Lizzie's outing comes after she was one of the first in the country queuing up to have a post-lockdown makeover as businesses reopened on Monday. The media star dressed up for the occasion in a silver sequin mini dress as she arrived at The Lisa Harris Skin Science clinic in Weybridge for the pamper session. Style: Lizzie kept off the chill by adding a fringed leather jacket to her look, while her narrow waist was cinched in by a black belt with a gold buckle Fashionista: The stunner boosted her height with a pair of killer black pointed heels and added a touch of bling with a gold ring and bracelet Glam: Completing her showstopping look, Lizzie enhanced her features with a sleek palette of make-up, while unsurprisingly, her caramel locks were expertly styled in chic curls Lizzie put on a leggy display in the silver mini dress which she teamed with glittering heels. The former WAG enhanced her sun-kissed glow with a smoky eye and styled her ombre locks in relaxed loose waves. While many will wait until the retail and beauty sectors reopen on Monday morning, Lizzie decided to venture out into the depths of night to mark the celebration. Walk this way: Ever the exhibitionist, Lizzie sultrily strutted up and down the street, showcasing her incredible physique Why thank you! Lizzie gleefully accepted a flower from a gentleman working on the salon's impressive jungle-themed floral display Fun times: The stunner chuckled away as she chatted to her new friend outside the salon Fabulous: The telly favourite and her new pal pulled identical poses outside the salon The radio presented looked delighted as she cut a big red bow before heading inside for her treatments. Lizzie has been keeping her social media followers entertained during the UK's third lockdown by posting gorgeous selfies to her Instagram. While her snaps have gone down a treat with her friends, the former WAG admitted her sons Josh, 25, and James, 21, have sometimes felt embarrassed by their mother's sultry shots. The TV star recently said: 'I know sometimes my sons put their head in their hands with the pictures I post.' First in! Lizzie was the first to arrive at a beauty salon at the stroke of midnight on Monday for her post-lockdown makeover Over the past five years, mother-of-two Jessica Thorpe has become a master of flexible working from home. She often won't begin her working day until her two young children, Frank, four, and Stella, 18 months, are tucked up in bed at night and cannot distract her. To ensure she clocks up full-time hours, she also works in between the nursery runs, even answering emails in paediatric waiting rooms. WFM revolution: Pension experts believe working from home could allow more women to switch from part-time to full-time And the Zoom boom means Jessica, 40, who works in the events industry, can attend regular online meetings with her team in London from the comfort of her Sheffield home. But while often chaotic and exhausting, this flexible working pattern has allowed her to continue to earn a sizable income and build up her pension pot. Now experts believe Jessica's way of life may be the key to closing the gender pension gap that has long left women poorer than men in retirement. Last week, insurance giant Aviva warned that the shift to flexible working during the pandemic could hinder women's careers. Danny Harmer, chief people officer for Aviva, said this was because women might be less likely than men to return to the office. This could mean men have more 'visibility' with their superiors and stand a better chance of being promoted. Yet pension experts say the exact opposite could be true, as working from home could allow more women to switch from part-time to full-time. According to investment firm Interactive Investor, making the leap to full-time hours could boost a working mother's pension pot by an average of 30,500. Jessica says: 'I think the idea that you have to be working in an office between 9am and 5pm every day is now dead. 'It's very easy for mums to be answering emails while out and about and hitting their deadlines at night once their children are in bed. 'I have been on a flexible working pattern for more than five years and that allows me to clock-up full-time hours - but sometimes at weekends or in the evening. 'I'm very conscious of my savings and it's good to know I am still adding to my pension pot even while raising very young children.' Shortfall: Research found women expected an average income of 33,980 in retirement, yet those aged 55-plus have an average of just 70,052 saved in pensions Interactive Investor estimates that a full-time working mother's pension pot amounts to 153,562, on average. But a mother who works part-time has a typical pension pot of 123,061 - a difference of 30,501. The investment platform estimates that around 300,000 mothers who have one or more children of primary school age and are currently working part-time would be able to access full-time jobs if their employers offered flexible working hours. Becky O'Connor, head of pensions and savings at Interactive Investor, says: 'The reason many mothers don't work full-time is that working life often demands hours are fulfilled at certain times of day. As a result, millions of women have lost valuable career progress, pay and pensions over the years. Many feel they have to give up work altogether, a pattern that has damaging social and financial consequences. 'Flexibility by default could be a silver lining of this awful time for these mothers, as it has opened employers' eyes to the potential of a working-from-home revolution, allowing people to take on more hours and still meet their children's needs.' Another study released this week by investment firm Fidelity found that just 22 per cent of women feel on track to afford a comfortable retirement. The research also revealed that women expected an average income of 33,980 in retirement, yet women aged 55 and over have an average of just 70,052 saved up in their pension pots. Former pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann welcomes the move to flexible working, adding that it will 'alleviate' some of the pension discrepancies between men and women. She says: 'The more women can combine their caring duties with their careers, the better. It is certainly a good thing if workplaces make it easier for women to continue working full-time hours while balancing their other responsibilities. 'For far too long women have had to take on the bulk of caring responsibilities at their own cost.' She adds: 'But this will only alleviate the problem it is not a solution. Lots of women are still unable to commit to full-time hours even when flexible working is an option.' The Government has been increasingly under pressure to legislate to allow more employees to work from home if they want. In 2019, it committed to a consultation on making it the default position unless employers had a good reason. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that a mother is more likely to be working part-time rather than full-time until her youngest child is 11. This means mothers often miss out on a decade of full-time work. h.kelly@dailymail.co.uk Japan says it will start releasing radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear center into the sea beginning in two years. The contaminated water is to be treated before it is released into the Pacific Ocean. The government announced the plan Tuesday and said it had been approved by cabinet ministers. The decision had long been expected, but faced delays linked to safety concerns and public opposition. Japan has said the water release is necessary to move forward with cleanup efforts at the Fukushima nuclear center. Three reactors there suffered meltdowns after the 2011 earthquake and huge ocean wave destroyed the plants cooling systems. The disaster forced 160,000 people to flee contaminated areas around the plant. Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, operates the nuclear center. It is carrying out the cleanup. TEPCO said Fukushima will run out of all its storage space for radioactive water by late 2022. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the government had decided the ocean release was the most realistic way to solve the water storage problem. Other methods considered included injecting the water into the ground or converting it to steam or hydrogen and then releasing it into the atmosphere. The government describes the water to be released as treated and not radioactive. But experts say that 100 percent of radioactive materials cannot be removed. TEPCO and government officials say tritium -- a radioactive form of hydrogen is the only substance that cannot be removed from the water. They say tritium is not considered harmful in small amounts. The officials say all other radioactive materials in the water can be reduced to releasable levels. The exact amount of radioactive material that would remain in the water is not known. Some scientists say the long-term effects on ocean life from large amounts of such treated water also remains unknown. Fishermen and many people living in the area strongly oppose the plan. They have said releasing the water into the ocean could cause widespread damage to Fukushimas fishing and agriculture industries. Suga said the government plans to offer assistance to help local agriculture, fisheries and tourism businesses. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, said in a video message the ocean release was in line with international practice. He added, however, that the large amount of water at the Fukushima plant makes it a unique and complex case. China and South Korea reacted strongly to Japans decision. China called the plan extremely irresponsible, saying Japan had not considered the health concerns of neighboring countries. In South Korea, the countrys minister for Government Policy Coordination, said the plan was absolutely unacceptable." He urged Japan to provide more information about how the water will be treated and how the plans safety will be verified. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English. 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 contaminate v. to make something dirty or poisonous convert v. to change the appearance, form, or purpose of something tourism n. activities related to travel to a place for pleasure practice n. what people do or how they do it unique adj. very special or unusual absolutely adv. completely or totally (often used to make a statement more forceful) verify v. to prove that something is true SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, will hold a conference call to review the company's first quarter 2021 financial results and related matters on May 7, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. EDT. To participate in the conference call: Toll-free calls: 877-883-0383 International calls: 412-902-6506 The conference code is 1813749. You also may listen to the live audio webcast of the call, in listen-only mode, on Lear's Investor Relations website at ir.lear.com. The webcast replay will be available two hours following the call. Note: The first quarter 2021 slide presentation will be available on Lear's website before the earnings call begins on May 7, 2021. SOURCE Lear Corporation Related Links http://www.lear.com (Recasts, adds details) PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - The European powers party to the Iran nuclear deal told Tehran on Wednesday that its decision to enrich uranium at 60% purity and install a further 1,000 centrifuges at its Natanz site were contrary to efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Talks between world powers, Iran and the United States are due to resume in Vienna on Thursday, but in a joint statement Britain, France and Germany said Tehran's decision to enrich at 60 percent was not based on credible civilian reasons and constituted an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon. "Iran's announcements are particularly regrettable given they come at a time when all JCPoA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) participants and the United States have started substantive discussions, with the objective of finding a rapid diplomatic solution to revitalise and restore the JCPoA," the three countries said. "Irans dangerous recent communication is contrary to the constructive spirit and good faith of these discussions." Tehran has said its decisions came after arch-foe Israel sabotaged its key Natanz nuclear site on Sunday. "In light of recent developments, we reject all escalatory measures by any actor, and we call upon Iran not to further complicate the diplomatic process," the E3 said. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Jon Boyle, William Maclean) [April 14, 2021] KinderCare is Hiring Teachers for Early Childhood Education Centers Across the U.S. As the nation emerges from the pandemic and many families adjust to changes in their workplace, there's an increased demand for child care in communities across the country. As a result, KinderCare is currently hiring a record number of teachers for KinderCare Learning Centers across the country. "Throughout the pandemic we've remained committed to upholding a culture where people love what they do and who they work with," said Tom Wyatt, CEO of KinderCare. "That level of commitment shows in the incredible interactions our teachers have every day with the children and families they support." In 2021 KinderCare earned the Gallup Exceptional Workplace award for the fifth year in a row, one of only four employers worldwide to do so. The award recognizes companies that create an extraordinary environment for their employees. "As a working mom myself, I am so proud of the role KinderCare plays in supporting families, especially parents looking to find a balance between being a parent and being an employee, no matter where they work," said Jessica Harrah, senior vice president of human resources for KinderCare. "The Gallup Exceptional Workplace award affirms our efforts to create a strong culture of positive and caring employees who are passionate about the work they do. We're especially honored to be one of only four companies worldwide to win this award five years in a row. We can't wait to welcome new employees to the KinderCare family and introduce them to our incredible culture." For more than 50 years, KinderCare has created safe, nurturing environments in centers across the country where kids can learn, grow and build confidence for life. KinderCare focuses on encouraging children's natural curiosity to learn and providing high-quality early childhood education and care programs in a setting with industry-leading health and safety practices. Since the beginning of the pandemic KinderCare leaders have worked closely with a panel of doctors and medical experts, the CDC and local health departments to ensure they're doing everything possible to keep our teachers, children and communities safe through enhanced health and safety protocols. KinderCare offers employees a variety of benefits, including health insurance, education assistance, paid time off and a 401(k) with company match. The company also offers employees significantly reduced child care rates through the KCE Kids Benefit. Anyone interested in becoming a KinderCare teacher can search for jobs in their area and apply online at kcecareers.com. Prospective employees can learn more about KinderCare employee benefits online. About KinderCare Education KinderCare Education is America's largest private provider of early childhood and school-age education and child care. KinderCare supports hardworking families in 40 states and the District of Columbia: In neighborhoods, with KinderCare Learning Centers that offer early childhood education and child care for children six weeks to 12 years old; that offer early childhood education and child care for children six weeks to 12 years old; At work, through KinderCare Education at Work , providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and , providing customized family benefits for employers across the country, including on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up care for last-minute child care, and In local schools, with Champions before and after-school programs. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 1,500 early learning centers. In 2021, KinderCare earned its fifth Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award - one of only four companies worldwide to win this award for five consecutive years. To learn more, visit KinderCare Education. To learn more visit us online at KinderCare, on Facebook or on Instagram. For resources, information, and activity ideas for parents and teachers of young children please visit KinderCare.com/blog. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005086/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Federal prosecutors will not charge a police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt (pictured), 35, as she climbed through the broken part of a door during the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6 Federal prosecutors will not charge a police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt as she climbed through the broken part of a door during the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6. Authorities had considered for months whether criminal charges were appropriate for the Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego. The Justice Department's decision, though expected, officially closes out the investigation. Babbitt was among a large mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory. That came shortly after the former president rallied his supporters and urged them to fight to stop the certification of Biden's win. Prosecutors said they had reviewed video of the shooting, along with statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses, examined physical evidence from the scene and reviewed the autopsy results. 'Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution,' the department said in a statement. Video clips posted online depict Babbitt, wearing a stars and stripes backpack, stepping up and beginning to go through the waist-high opening of an area of the Capitol known as the Speaker's Lobby when a gunshot is heard. She falls backward. Another video shows other unidentified people attempting to lift Babbitt up. She can be seen slumping back to the ground. Prosecutors said Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber. Scroll down for video Video clips posted online depict Babbitt (pictured top right climbing through a broken door), wearing a stars and stripes backpack, stepping up and beginning to go through the waist-high opening of an area of the Capitol known as the Speaker's Lobby when a gunshot is heard The officers used furniture to try to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway from the Speaker's Lobby in a bid to stave off the rioters, who kept trying to break through those doors, smashing the glass with flagpoles, helmets and other objects. At the same time, Babbitt tried climbing through one of the doors where the glass was broken out. While in the Speaker's Lobby, the Capitol Police officer, who was not been identified, fired a single round from his service weapon, striking Babbitt in the shoulder, prosecutors said. She fell to the ground before a police tactical team rushed into the area and gave first aid. Babbitt was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Babbitt is one of five people who died in or outside the Capitol on January 6, including a police officer. Three other people died of medical emergencies. The Justice Department does not bring criminal charges in most police shootings it investigates in part because of the high burden for prosecution. Criminal charges were not expected in this case because videos of the shooting show Babbitt encroaching into a prohibited space, and second-guessing the actions of an officer during the violent and chaotic day would have been a challenge. 'Specifically, the investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber,' prosecutors said. While in the Speaker's Lobby, the Capitol Police officer, who was not been identified, fired a single round from his service weapon, striking Babbitt in the shoulder, prosecutors said Officers were later seen tending to the bleeding woman on the floor of the Capitol building before she was taken to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries later that day Prosecutors have filed charges so far against more than 400 defendants in the Capitol riots (pictured), with some facing allegations they conspired to storm the building in advance The statement continued: 'Acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to Ms. Babbitts family, the U.S. Attorneys Office and U.S. Department of Justice have therefore closed the investigation into this matter.' Prosecutors have filed charges so far against more than 400 defendants in the Capitol riots, with some facing allegations they conspired to storm the building in advance. A law enforcement internal probe of the deadly attack on the Capitol has also found significant shortcomings within the police department charged with securing the complex. The US Capitol Police inspector general, in two reports submitted to Congress last month, focused on 'deficiencies' within the police department's unit that handles civil disturbances, along with poor coordination and training within its intelligence operations. Summaries of the two reports were reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday. The House of Representatives Administration Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Thursday with Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton testifying. It took hours for police, battling the rioters, to restore order to the Capitol. The inspector general found the department's Civil Disturbance Unit was operating that day 'at a decreased level of readiness'. It also said the department had to do a better job of ensuring that weapons and ammunition, as well as riot shields, are properly maintained and supplied to officers. In early March, a task force headed by retired US Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore made similar recommendations and called for the creation of a quick-reaction force in Washington to deploy to similar disturbances. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Capitol Police officers were instructed by their leaders to refrain from using their most aggressive tactics to stop the rioters. On January 26, Democratic Representative Tim Ryan said law enforcement was ordered not to use lethal force. The ramifications of the pandemic will continue to be seen in this new patient population and were looking forward to helping these individuals diagnose their symptoms, navigate their treatment path and ease some of their concerns. Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced today it has established one of the regions first specialized clinics to address the unique health needs of patients recovering from moderate to acute cases of COVID-19 and experiencing its longer-term effects. The AHN Post COVID-19 Recovery Clinic is led by the Networks pulmonary and critical care division and is based out of the Breathing Disorders Center at the AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion. Across the country, physicians are witnessing an increasing number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 yet continue to deal with a myriad of issues from pulmonary, heart and vascular problems to chronic fatigue, headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder, explained Tariq Cheema, MD, division director of pulmonary, critical care, sleep and allergy at AHN and physician lead at the clinic. The ramifications of the pandemic will continue to be seen in this new patient population and were looking forward to helping these individuals diagnose their symptoms, navigate their treatment path and ease some of their concerns. A February study in JAMA by infectious disease specialists from the University of Washington in Seattle, (Sequelae in Adults at 6 Months After COVID-19 Infection doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0830) found that roughly 30 percent of 177 people who mostly had mild COVID-19 cases reported persistent symptoms up to nine months after illness; for surveyed participants over the age of 65 years, that number jumped to 43.3 percent. Overall, of the more than 28 million Americans diagnosed with COVID-19, its estimated that as many as 8.4 million people fall into the category commonly known as the "long-haulers." Across AHN, and in line with national findings, the coined long-COVID symptoms most often recorded include fatigue, shortness of breath, scarred lung tissue, cardiac or neurological complications and depression. In fact, in a recent report published in JAMA Psychiatry (Association of Acute Symptoms of COVID-19 and Symptoms of Depression in Adults doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3223) researchers surveyed nearly 4,000 individuals with a prior COVID-19 diagnosis and found that more than half met the criteria for moderate or greater symptoms of major depressive disorder. Weve seen former COVID-19 patients whove never smoked before with lung scans mirroring that of a lifelong smoker. Were also noting increased cases of extreme fatigue, ongoing loss of smell/taste, heart inflammation and growing numbers of self-reported depression, continued Dr. Cheema. So as COVID-19 hospitalizations started to fall across the Network, we pivoted our focus to designing a multidisciplinary, strategic clinical team aimed at diagnostics, recovery and comprehensive care. Currently, the AHN Post COVID-19 Recovery Clinic engages caregivers from the cardiovascular, family medicine, behavioral health, pulmonary and critical care disciplines to create tailored treatment paths that help patients diagnose, manage and overcome related complications brought on by mild to severe COVID infections. Pulmonologists Tiffany Dumont, MD, Briana DiSilvio, MD, Jeffrey McGovern, MD, and Meilin Young, MD will work alongside Dr. Cheema to spearhead the effort. Specialty physicians at the clinic include Indu Poornima, MD, cardiologist, Betsy Blazek-O'Neill, MD, integrative medicine, Amy Crawford-Faucher, MD, family medicine, Andrea Synowiec, MD and Kevin Kelly, MD, neurologists and Alicia Kaplan, MD, psychiatrist. Patients can expect to work closely with an assigned nurse navigator to design and implement a purposeful care pathway to best manage their post-acute COVID syndrome and treat persistent symptoms. For patients at the clinic, treatment plans will vary but may include CT scans, cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation, medical therapies, mental health screenings and breathing exercises. Although based out of AHN Health + Wellness Pavilion in Wexford, the clinic is available for patients throughout the region with participating clinicians positioned across Allegheny General, Allegheny Valley, Jefferson, Grove City and Saint Vincent hospitals. The clinic offers both telemedicine and in-person appointments. The AHN Research Institute will also be actively engaged to systematically assess and analyze data collected from patient reports and outcomes. We anticipate the broad-range of patient cases to offer a special vantage point into the lasting impacts of the virus. As we rapidly synthesize this information, well be able to better understand its epidemiology, have more data to inform treatment plans and gain more knowledge to share with our broader community. Theres still so much to learn and apply from this pandemic, concluded Dr. Cheema. The new clinic is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and continues to experience symptoms after recovery. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 412-DOCTORS. ### Allegheny Health Network (http://www.AHN.org), a Highmark Health company, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. Among the network's 300 clinical locations are 13 hospitals and five Health + Wellness Pavilions. AHN also is home to a comprehensive research institute; home- and community-based health services; and a group purchasing organization. The network employs more than 20,000 people and has more than 2,400 doctors on its medical staff. Established in 2013, AHN's member hospitals share legacies of charitable care that date back more than 160 years. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says it is still possible the airline will relaunch most of its international network in late October despite the delay to Australias vaccination program, saying more bubbles like the one with New Zealand could gradually restart overseas travel. Australias largest airline has flights scheduled and is selling tickets to most international destinations from October 31, based on the federal governments original timeline for completing its vaccination rollout. Qantas boss Alan Joyce says Australians could still be travelling by October. Credit:Bloomberg That timeline has been cast into doubt by the supply issues and rollout delays plaguing Australias vaccine program. The Morrison government has conceded that the whole population will not receive their first jab in 2021 and will not commit to a revised timeline. But Mr Joyce told a Centre for Aviation (CAPA) event on Wednesday that an October restart was still a possibility, notwithstanding the delayed vaccine program. Study finds for the first time, in Africa, that mutations are associated with delayed clearance of the parasite among children with malaria treated with common Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). - Study finds for the first time, in Africa, that mutations are associated with delayed clearance of the parasite among children with malaria treated with common Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). - While drug efficacy remains high so far, authors call for increased monitoring in the region. New data provide the first clinical evidence that drug-resistant mutations in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum may be gaining a foothold in Africa. The study, conducted in Rwanda, is published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal and finds for the first time that the mutations are associated with delayed parasite clearance, as was first shown in South-East Asia when artemisinin-resistance started to emerge. The study also finds that the mutations are more prevalent than previous studies have reported, indicating likely transmission of the mutations, and raising concern about further geographical spread of resistance. There are an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide, and there were 409,000 deaths from malaria in 2019 - of which 274,000 (67%) were among children under 5 years. 94% of all malaria cases and deaths occur in Africa [1], and experts have long been concerned about the potential emergence of drug resistance across the continent. While the efficacy of current therapies remains high, the authors call for more intensive surveillance in Rwanda as well as neighbouring countries to help monitor the spread of mutations and inform public health actions. "Mutations can emerge spontaneously, and previous studies have pointed to isolated cases of resistance. However, our new study shows that resistant isolates are starting to become more common and most importantly, are associated with clinical implications (delayed parasite clearance)," says lead author Dr Aline Uwimana, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda [2] Co-author Dr Naomi Lucchi, CDC Resident Advisor for the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative adds: "our study showed that the treatment for malaria in Rwanda is still 94% effective, but new studies and ongoing monitoring are urgently needed." [2] Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), introduced in the early 2000s, are currently the most effective and widely used treatments for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. ACTs combine an artemisinin component that clears most of the parasites from the patient's body within three days, and a long-acting partner drug that clears the remaining parasites. Resistance to the artemisinin component of an ACT is suspected if the presence of the parasite remains after day three of treatment (called delayed parasite clearance). This drug resistance is associated with parasites carrying mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum kelch 13 gene (pfk13). Currently, ten mutations in pfk13 have been confirmed as markers of artemisinin partial resistance (including R561H, P574L and C580Y), and several other mutations (referred to as candidate markers) have been identified as potentially associated with resistance. Partial artemisinin resistance was first identified in Cambodia in 2008. It is now well-documented in many South East Asian countries, where the C580Y mutation is common. Evidence from the Mekong region has shown that once artemisinin resistance becomes prevalent, resistance to the partner drug often follows, resulting in ACT treatment failure. In 2006, Rwanda introduced artemether-lumefantrine (an ACT, and the most widely used antimalarial) as the first-line treatment for malaria. The World Health Organization recommends therapeutic efficacy studies at least every two years for monitoring the efficacy of ACTs and the tracking of resistance through molecular markers. When ACT efficacy is confirmed to be below 90%, replacement with an effective antimalarial is recommended. One such study was performed in Rwanda among children aged 1-14 years in 2013-2015 in Ruhuha and Masaka. The R561H mutation was observed in 7.4% of P. falciparum parasites collected in Masaka, and a low prevalence of the P574L mutation was reported in isolates collected in Masaka and Ruhuha in 2013-2015 and in Huye in 2015. However, the presence of these mutations was not found to be associated with delayed parasite clearance and the therapeutic efficacy of ACT was confirmed at over 97% in both sites. In 2018, another therapeutic efficacy study was conducted, the results of which are reported in this new article. The pfk13 R561H and P574L mutations were present in 12.8% (28/218) and 0.9% (2/218) of pre-treatment samples, respectively. For the first time, this study shows that the pfk13 R561H mutation was associated with delayed parasite clearance, although the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine remained high. Genetic analysis of pfk13 R561H mutants indicated their common ancestry and local origin in Rwanda. The study was conducted across three sites in Rwanda (Masaka, Rukara, and Bugarama). 224 children aged between 6 months and 5 years who had a P. falciparum infection were treated with a three-day course of artemether-lumefantrine and monitored for 28 days, with weekly blood collections. 8/51 (15.7%) participants in Masaka and 12/82 (14.6%) in Rukara had detectable parasites three days post treatment, according to WHO criteria for partial resistance. The therapeutic efficacy was estimated at 94-97%. Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Philip Rosenthal, University of California, San Francisco, USA (who was not involved in the study), says: "Recent data suggest that we are on the verge of clinically meaningful artemisinin resistance in Africa, as emerged in Southeast Asia over a decade ago. With resistant genotypes emerging and continued heavy drug pressure, we may anticipate continued selection of resistance. Loss of artemisinin activity will in turn threaten ACT partner drugs. Loss of efficacy of key ACTs, in particular artemether-lumefantrine, the most widely used antimalarial, may have dire consequences, as occurred when chloroquine resistance led to enormous increases in malaria deaths in the late twentieth century. Although it is impossible to predict the pace of progression of drug resistance in Africa, close surveillance for genotypic and phenotypic evidence of artemisinin and partner drug resistance, with prompt replacement of failing regimens, may save many lives." ### NOTES TO EDITORS This study was funded by the U.S President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www. sciencemediacentre. org/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2018/ 01/ AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE. pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com [1] https:/ / www. who. int/ news-room/ fact-sheets/ detail/ malaria [2] Quote direct from the author and cannot be found in the text of the Article. NOTE: THE ABOVE LINK IS FOR JOURNALISTS ONLY; IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A LINK FOR YOUR READERS, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING, WHICH WILL GO LIVE AT THE TIME THE EMBARGO LIFTS: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00142-0/fulltext Peer reviewed / Observational study / People Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark have opened up for the first time about his life-threatening stroke last summer. Joachim, 51, was on holiday with his family in France when he suddenly suffered a blood clot and had to be rushed to Toulouse University Hospital to receive emergency surgery. Joachim, who lives in Paris with Marie, 45, spent the rest of the summer recuperating at the Danish royals' summer residence, Chateau de Cayx in Cahors in southern France before returning to Paris, to start a new job as a Defense Attache at the Danish Embassy in September. Eight months on, the Danish Prince and his wife opened up about the ordeal in an interview with Hjernesagen's member magazine, where Marie admitted the stroke could have 'changed their lives.' Prince Joachim, 51 and Princess Marie of Denmark, 45, have opened up about the blood clot he suffered in July which led him to undergo emergency brain surgery in France (pictured now) 'It was so close to a tragedy that could have changed our lives forever,' she said. The father-of-four revealed he could count on his wife 'amazing' support throughout the ordeal, and added she held his hand in the ambulance all the way to the hospital. He added Marie went into 'soldier mode' after she noticed signs her husband might be having a stroke. Marie was taken aback by a nonsensical sentence Joachim told a cousin who had come to visit them that evening and made him repeat himself. Father-of-four Joachim said the ordeal had been difficult for him and his family, with Marie adding they came close to a tragedy that would have changed their lives (pictured during the interview) At the same time, she noticed her husband's face was paralysed and understood he was suffering a stroke. Instead of panicking, she called an ambulance and hopped in with him, never leaving his bedside until he was fully recovered. 'We're grateful to be together today,' she said. Joachim said it had been hard not to think about what could have happened if he had not been operated on in time, and said that while the situation was difficult for the person affected, it also took a toll on their loved ones. Hjernesagen is a private Danish charity for people who have suffered brain lesions such as aneurysms and strokes. The Danish royal court advertised the interview on its official Instagram account. 'In a new interview with Hjernesagen's member magazine, Your Royal Highnesses Prince Joachim and Princess Marie tell about the serious course when the Prince was hit by a blood clot in the brain on the evening of 24 July last year,' the post read. 'With their participation in the interview, the Prince and Princess especially wanted to emphasize two important points: That you should always take the signs of a stroke seriously and react immediately - and that you must not forget the relatives of the victim.. 'Due to corona restrictions, the interview was conducted on a video connection between Copenhagen and Paris, where the Prince and Princess spoke with the Brain Case from the Danish embassy. The interview is published in Hjernesagen's member magazine today.' They accompanied the post with a picture of a beaming Joachim and Marie embracing each other. In July, the 51-year-old son of Queen Margrethe, who is sixth in line to the throne, was rushed to Toulouse University Hospital in France, where he was immediately operated on. Just two days earlier, Prince Joachim had been celebrating his second son's 18th birthday at the Danish royals' summer residence, Chateau de Cayx in Cahors in southern France. Pictured, the prince with his family on the happy occasion Just two days earlier, Prince Joachim had been celebrating his second son's 18th birthday at the Danish royals' summer residence, Chateau de Cayx in Cahors, in southern France. Joachim had marked the event alongside the teenager's mother and his ex-wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. The parents were joined by their eldest son Prince Nikolai, 20, and Joachim's current wife Princess Marie and their two children Prince Henrik, 11, and Princess Athena, eight. Prince Joachim of Denmark and his ex-wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg divorced in 2004 after 10 years together - they were Denmark's first royal split in nearly 160 years. In July the 51-year-old son of Queen Margrethe, who is sixth in line to the throne, was rushed to Toulouse University Hospital (above) in France, where he was immediately operated on The prince, who is the second son of Margrethe and Prince Consort Henrik, is sixth in line to the throne after his elder brother Crown Prince Frederik and his four children with Australian-born Crown Princess Mary. He has since remarried Paris-born Marie Cavallier, now Princess Marie and the couple have two children together Prince Henrik, 11, and Princess Athena, eight. In a statement the Palace said at the time: 'His Royal Highness Prince Joachim was admitted to the University Hospital of Toulouse, France, late last night. 'The prince was operated on immediately afterwards for a blood clot in the brain and the operation was successful. The condition of His Royal Highness is stable today.' The statement continued: 'The Royal House has no further information at this point in time, but it is the wish of Her Majesty The Queen that the public respects the privacy of the family during the hospitalisation.' In late September, Joachim, who had returned to Paris after recuperating from the operation throughout the summer, started a new job as a defense attache at the Danish Embassy to France. Speaking to journalists on his first day back, Joachim said he was 'fine' and told how he had lived through a 'non-summer' due to the health issues he underwent in late July - before spending most of August recuperating. Joachim was meant to start his new job on September 1, however this was postponed due to his condition. [April 14, 2021] Bahmni, OpenEMR recognized as Digital Public Goods by Digital Public Goods Alliance As a digital public good, Bahmni will enjoy increased visibility and support in tackling global challenges BENGALURU, India, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bahmni, an open source Electronic Medical Record (EMR) governed by the Bahmni Coalition, was added to the Digital Public Goods Alliance's DPG Registry. ThoughtWorks, a global software consultancy is part of the Bahmni Coalition's core governing committee and was instrumental in conceiving and building Bahmni during its early years. The Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) and its registry promotes digital public goods in order to create a more equitable world. To become a digital public good, projects are required to meet the DPG Standard ensuring they truly encapsulate open-source principles. Bahmni is one of only 23 projects deemed digital public goods out of more than 500 nominations. The Hospital Information System (HIS) and EMR is a seamless integration of three critical systems: patient medical records, laboratory management and billing. Bahmni has been built on top of OpenMRS, OpenELIS, OpenERP and cm4Chee, an OSS Radiology PACS Server - to be a user-intuitive system customized for use in low-resource areas with limited bandwidth and infrastructure. Today, Bahmni implementations are in more than 500 hospitals across 50 countries and benefiting millions of patients around the world. On occasion of the ecognition, Sudhir Tiwari, managing director for ThoughtWorks in India said, "We designed Bahmni to make quality healthcare accessible in places where the doctor to patient ratio is relatively low and there is no formal medical record system. Being listed as a digital public good is a recognition of the impact Bahmni has had, and the role it can play in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Being part of the DPGA's registry will ensure Bahmni greater global visibility and access to funding sources and implementation support in the future." "Bahmni is a welcome addition to the DPG Registry. Thanks to the focus on low-resourced areas with bandwidth and resource limitations, Bahmni has the potential to serve as the open-source reference EMR application globally, a prospect that moves the needle on achieving the sustainable development goals," added Lucy Harris, co-lead of the DPGA Secretariat. For more information on Bahmni, the Digital Public Good, please click here. About The Bahmni Coalition The Bahmni Coalition is a group of organizations whose primary responsibility is to evolve and support the Bahmni product. The Coalition includes organizations that are users of Bahmni, contributors to Bahmni development or implementation, and those offering services around Bahmni. The Bahmni Coalition acts as a representative of the wider Bahmni community. It is responsible for setting direction for the product, ensuring larger community involvement, evangelising Bahmni adoption and acting as a steward for Bahmni license. About ThoughtWorks We are a software consultancy and community of passionate purpose-led individuals, 8,000+ people strong across 48 offices in 17 countries. Over our 25+ year history, we have helped our clients solve complex business problems where technology is the differentiator. When the only constant is change, we prepare you for the unpredictable. About the Digital Public Goods Alliance The Digital Public Goods Alliance is a multi-stakeholder initiative endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General, working to accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in low- and middle-income countries by facilitating the discovery, development, use of, and investment in digital public goods. The Secretariat of the Digital Public Goods Alliance is co-hosted by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and UNICEF and governed by an Interim Strategy Group consisting of: iSPIRT; The Government of Norway; The Government of Sierra Leone; and UNICEF. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487548/ThoughtWorks_Logo.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487547/DPGA_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A large commercial boat was reported capsized in the Gulf of Mexico south of Grand Isle on Tuesday night after a severe storm passed through the area and caused extensive damage in the New Orleans area. UPDATE: One dead, 12 still missing from lift boat that capsized in Gulf near Louisiana, Coast Guard says WWL television reported that the Coast Guard and several good Samaritan vessels were trying to rescue those on board the 256-foot lift boat. A WWL reporter said 18 people were believed to be on board. A video shared on Facebook by Kevin Gilton of Thibodaux showed what presumably is the flipped vessel. Gilton wrote that seven of 17 people had been rescued. The Coast Guard did not immediately say how many people were on board, rescued or missing. 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 The Coast Guard said a search plane was en route to help. Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet, whose district includes Grand Isle, said multiple vessels were overturned or ruined on the island, and that some trailers and businesses were damaged. . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that wind gusts had reached 75 mph in Grand Isle. "We expected some winds and possible rains, but nothing as extensive as what took place on the coastal areas of Jefferson Parish," Templet said. "They want to see us, as a state, not just be more prosperous, but also safer," he said. "There are certain policies and the direction that they see the state going that they want reversed." Zeldin was elected to Congress in 2014 and is in his fourth term representing the 1st Congressional District. He served two terms as a state senator. Before entering the political arena, he earned his law degree at Albany Law School and served in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Iraq in 2006. He continues to serve in the Army Reserve. After announcing his candidacy for governor on Thursday, he had Army Reserve duty over the weekend. His time in the Army has taught him about service, he said. He wears dog tags with the Army's seven values: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. "You learn during the military experience that these are not just words on your tags," he said. "They all have extremely important meaning and purpose. These are values to live by." The Guatemalan government last Tuesday said the Biden administration had no increased border security deal. It came as the president got squeezed from its ill-handling of the border crisis. An increased border security deal does not exist with Guatemala Despite what claims the government asserts that no such agreement was signed to send troops to control the migrant surge into the United States, the Epoch Times reported. Guatemala sent 1,500 police officers and military personnel to its southern border on Monday, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki and that they agreed to set up 12 posts along the path of the migrants. "There was a pledge to improve border protection as a result of those discussions," Psaki told reporters in Washington. The Guatemalan government denied such a deal was even talked about. Officials in Guatemala said that the 1,500 law enforcement and military personnel were already deployed to the border since last January. "From the start of his administration in January 2020, President Alejandro Giammattei has made a pledge to combat transnational threats such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and as a preventive measure against the pandemic," officials said. The White House did not immediately answer a request for remarks about Guatamela's statement. On March 30, Vice President Kamala Harris talked with Giammattei on March 30. The White House claimed they reached an increased border security deal creating the conditions to expand opportunity for people to return or not leave, so they won't need to risk crossing into the US. Texas, Missouri Attorneys General Sue President Biden for Shutting 'Remain in Mexico Policy' One of the reasons why there is a spike in illegal border crossings is the administration repealed the border policies of Donald Trump, and reversing the 'Remain in Mexico' program got President Biden criticized severely. In 2021, there were more minors at the border without parents or adult guardians; they doubled from February to March, the numbers reported are 9,271 to 18,663. The number of children arriving at the border without a parent or guardian more than doubled from February to March, from 9,271 to 18,663. According to statistics from the previous fiscal year, Guatemalans are one out of every two unaccompanied minors. White House Domestic Policy Council aide Tyler Moran described the alleged deals with Guatemala and other countries as a way to shield children traveling to the United States during an appearance on MSNBC on Monday. "We've reached deals with them to expand the number of troops on their own border. This has been settled upon by Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. That will not only discourage traffickers, smugglers, and cartels from exploiting children on their way here, but it will also protect those children," Moran added. According to the White House, the alleged deals with Mexico and Honduras include deployment of their 10,000 troops across its southern border, which has doubled detentions, and the latter deploying 7,000 police and military personnel "to disperse a large contingent of migrants." The Honduran defense minister Fredy Santiago Diaz indicate that it might send border troops, but an increased border security deal was never an agreement. US Border Officials Say Among All the Migrants, 861+ are Criminals Joe Biden's Policies to Blame for Sending Children to U.S. Border Biden Administration to Use Taxpayers' Money to Pay for Migrants' Hotel Accommodations @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dear County Office of Education Chief Business Officials: 202021 Second Quarter Lottery Apportionment The State Controllers Office (SCO) distributed the 202021 second quarter Lottery apportionment on March 30, 2021. The total apportioned to county offices of education, school districts, and charter schools is $322,244,866.19. Local educational agencies (LEAs) will receive $306,349,341.71 or $49.811266868 per unit of average daily attendance (ADA) for the unrestricted lottery apportionment, and $15,895,524.48 or $2.584555048 per ADA for the Proposition 20 lottery apportionment this quarter. To view a copy of the Master Register that lists the ADA, apportionment, adjustments, and net amount actually paid (Remittance Advice) to each county office, school district, charter school, and community college district on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, visit the SCOs web site at https://www.sco.ca.gov/ard_payments_lottery.html. The California Department of Education requests that county superintendents of schools inform LEAs immediately of this apportionment. If you have any questions regarding the lottery apportionment, please contact Julie Klein Briggs, Fiscal Consultant by email at CAAR@cde.ca.gov. Sincerely, Keith Smith, Education Fiscal Services Administrator School Fiscal Services Division KS:jkb NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) has opened nominations for the 2022 Innovators in Science Award, which will recognize significant achievement among early-career and senior scientists in the field of gastroenterology. This marks the first time scientists engaged in transformative research in gastroenterology will be eligible for the award, administered by NYAS and sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The program accepts nominations from eligible research institutions around the world to recognize the work of a promising early-career scientist and an outstanding senior scientist. Winners in each category will receive an unrestricted award of US$200,000 for having distinguished themselves for the creativity and impact of their research. NYAS is accepting nominations through May 27, 2021, from more than 400 international universities and academic institutions, select government-affiliated and non-profit research institutions and the program's Scientific Advisory Council, composed of renowned science and technology leaders. Candidates must be nominated by their institution and may not be self-nominated. A judging panel composed of scientists, clinicians and international experts in gastroenterology will determine the two winners based on the quality, impact, novelty and promise of their research. They will be announced in January and honored at the 2022 Innovators in Science Award ceremony and symposium, scheduled for March 28-29, 2022, in Tokyo, Japan, as health and travel conditions allow. "After one of the most challenging years of our time, recognizing and celebrating advancements in science is more important than ever," said Nicholas B. Dirks, Ph.D., president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences. "The world is seeing firsthand how innovative science and thinking can improve human health, and we are committed to honoring those who are leading the way. The Innovators in Science Award salutes ground-breaking researchers who have developed science-based solutions to debilitating diseases, improving quality of life for people all over the world." Since its inception, the Innovators in Science Award has focused on acknowledging outstanding research and contributions in fields of medicine aligned with Takeda's core therapeutic areas. The inaugural award recognized neuroscience discovery, followed the next year by regenerative medicine, rare disease research in 2020 and the latest on research in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Recent research shows that 20-40% of adults worldwide are affected by at least one functional gastrointestinal disorder, which can dramatically impact quality of life. Nominations may be submitted by representatives from the nominating institution through the Innovators in Science Award website via its online submission platform: https://innovatorsinscienceaward.smapply.io. Please refer to the guidelines and FAQ sections for other details on eligibility, nomination materials and the selection process. About the New York Academy of Sciences The New York of Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org. Media contact Roger Torda Director of communications, New York Academy of Sciences [email protected] SOURCE New York Academy of Sciences April 14, 2021 in Utility (E) [prMac.com] Luxembourg - Houdah Software is pleased to announce the immediate availability of HoudahSpot 6.1 for macOS. HoudahSpot is a file search tool that helps Mac users organize files and finds these if they did not. HoudahSpot combines fast and precise file search with a customizable results display and previews. It makes it easy to find the document, email message, photo, or video file you need. HoudahSpot is a productivity tool that serves as the hub of many workflows: in HoudahSpot, all the files related to the task at hand come together. It is also the starting point for deep dive searches to fetch further information from archives. A customizable interface makes HoudahSpot equally adept at presenting mail messages, documents, or media files. Search templates provide starting points for specialized searches. E.g., a search for video files. HoudahSpot is a powerful, versatile, and highly customizable file search tool for Mac. It uses the existing Spotlight index for ultra-fast file searches. The purpose of HoudahSpot is to provide quick access to all kinds of files. HoudahSpot supports full-text search, a multitude of precise search criteria, as well as regular expression filters. With these tools, it is a breeze to refine searches and hunt down an elusive document iteratively. HoudahSpot is the go-to tool for Mac users who need to find a precise document, mail message, photo, video, artwork, etc., in a "haystack" of files. HoudahSpot makes it easy to combine multiple criteria (such as name, text content, kind, and a wide assortment of other metadata) and thus helps users find the files they need: * Mails messages with attachments received this year * Word processing files containing the word "invoice" or "estimate" * Image files named "logo" or "icon" that are more than 512 pixels wide * Files created, modified, or opened within the last 7 days What's New in HoudahSpot 6.1: HoudahSpot 6.1 can draw from 15 years of customer feedback. "The recent HoudahSpot 6.0 release has been extremely popular. As such, it has also generated much feedback from customers: praise and feature requests," says Pierre Bernard of Houdah Software. "Version 6.1 distills much of this feedback into a series of refinements both small and large." * HoudahSpot can now find Apple Mail messages tagged by SmallCubed's MailTags plug-in; HoudahSpot searches message keywords and project names * HoudahSpot 6.1 brings enhanced Quick Look previews for files hosted by the document and information management solution DEVONthink. * The Quick Look preview pane in HoudahSpot now lets users select text; It is thus possible to copy-paste from search results without the need to open the found files *HoudahSpot 6.1 dramatically improves the performance of Apple Mail message searches * The Tag cloud introduced in HoudahSpot 6.0 can now be hidden when not in use * "Text Preview" can now be set to use a fixed-width font. This configuration improves the legibility of texts like source code and tabulated data * The window toolbar offers more space where to grab and move the HoudahSpot search window * Fixes a bug where "Find by Example" failed to pick up file properties * Works around a macOS Catalina bug where toolbar items may disappear when working with tabs Feature Highlights: * Quick search field: start a search by typing just a few words * Multi-criteria file search: Find files by name, text, content kind, author, recipient, image dimensions, and more * Easy-to-use criteria editor: Combine search criteria to narrow down search results to the exact files you need * Smart location selection: Search multiple folders at once, and exclude others * Tag cloud: Lists file tags found in current search results. Provides a quick way to narrow down results (new) * Customizable results display: View search results as a list or grid. Add columns. Sort. Arrange in groups * Concise file info: See properties relevant to the selected file type * Preview of file content: Peek inside files. See text matches in context * Saved searches and templates: Use as starting points for recurring searches * Snippets: Save sets of frequently used search criteria * Filter by folder. See top-level files only. Combine multiple filters (new) * Fully customizable. Set the default search window to match your preferences and workflow * Continued search: Open files and, where the application supports it, continue searching for text matches by pressing command-G (Find Next) * Integrates with Finder and third-party tools like Default Folder X, PopClip, ForkLift, Path Finder, Alfred, LaunchBar, and Butler Customer Voices: "If there is one utility that is indispensable for me on the Mac, HoudahSpot is it (locates files on disk)." - @helgeg via Twitter "I love HoudahSpot - way, way better than Spotlight as a search app for @Apple Mac computer." - @sinabhfuil via Twitter "HoudahSpot may be the most helpful application I own." - H. E. Jr., Edmond, OK "There's nothing else like it [HoudahSpot] for Mac users by a long margin." - Adrain Stevenson Language Support: * HoudahSpot is offered in English, German, and French language versions Minimum System Requirements: * macOS 10.14 Mojave or newer * Optimized for macOS 11 Big Sur on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs * Spotlight enabled * 35 MB of disk space Pricing and Availability: HoudahSpot 6.1 is priced at $34 (USD) for a single-user license. A family license is available for $42. Upgrades are priced at $19 and $29, respectively. HoudahSpot licenses purchased on or after June 1, 2020, upgrade for free. A full-featured trial version is available. Licenses can be purchased from the Houdah Software store. Upgrades are available upon loading a previous license. HoudahSpot is also available onSetapp - a subscription service for Mac and iOS apps. Founded in 2005 by Pierre Bernard, Houdah Software s.a r.l is a small company based in Luxembourg, Europe. Houdah Software specializes in quality software for Mac, iPhone, and Apple iPad. Our mission is to pair quality products with excellent customer support. All Material and Software Copyright (C) 2005-2021 s.a r.l. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac, macOS, iPhone, iPod, and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners. ### [April 14, 2021] Blockchain-Based SaaS Platform ShelterZoom That Transforms Documents and Contracts into Fully Digital, Intelligent Assets, Ramps Up Staffing with New CTO and CRO Hires as Company Continues to Expand ShelterZoom, the creator of DocuWalk, has filled two key roles with proven leaders from the fast-paced worlds of technology, blockchain and digital startups. ShelterZoom provides an industry-agnostic, smart-contract-based SaaS (News - Alert) platform that transforms records, documents and contracts into fully digital, interoperable and intelligent assets. The company, a 2021 Fintech Breakthrough Award Winner for Best Contract Management Platform, recently launched its latest productivity application DocuWalk to help any type of business conduct operations remotely in a safe, secure and transparent manner and expanded into Japan to accommodate their ongoing digital transformation. John Purvis will become the company's Chief Revenue Officer and Vince Albanese will become ShelterZoom's Chief Technology Officer. The twin appointments were announced by Chao heng-Shorland, ShelterZoom Corp.'s Co-Founder and CEO. "With these two exciting hires, ShelterZoom is positioned for dramatic expansion in the fast-growing world of secure, virtual documents and contracts," Cheng-Shorland said. "We are thrilled to have them with us, as businesses and stakeholders around the world continue to operate digitally." Purvis was a Senior Vice President. Global Sales and Marketing at Oracle (News - Alert) Corporation from 1995 to 2000 when he built and grew a $3 billion global sales and marketing operation spanning 99 countries by introducing breakthrough paradigms of inside sales sophistication. He led the sales team of a pioneering BI provider, resulting in a customer list reading like a who's-who of the Fortune 500, and closed landmark deals with Oracle, Apple (News - Alert) and Amazon. Purvis is an accomplished world-class sales leader. He is an internationally recognized expert in services revenue and delivery. He built an open-systems movement in Asia Pacific through the integration of sales, marketing and customer services. He revolutionized selling the intangible in the services industry for Silicon Graphics during its heady Jurassic Park era. Albanese has been intimately involved with decades of success and cutting-edge innovation. Most recently, he has focused on delivering enterprise-grade blockchain solutions to healthcare and finance entities. Albanese was also the first technology hire for GratisCard Technologies and eventually became the Chief Architect and CIO. After GratisCard became Revolution Money (News - Alert) in partnership with Steve Case, the company was eventually sold to American Express as the Serve platform that powers Walmart's Bluebird card. He was also Global Director, Technology for R.P. Scherer Corporation, managing global pharmaceutical manufacturing for 21 plants in 13 countries. He founded, managed and eventually sold a national Oracle-based consulting company servicing a dozen Fortune 50 process manufacturing companies. For more information about ShelterZoom, please visit www.shelterzoom.com. About ShelterZoom ShelterZoom's mission is to provide an industry-agnostic, smart-contract-based SaaS platform that transforms records, documents and contracts into fully digital, interoperable and intelligent assets. These digitized assets can "think," "communicate," "travel" and "trade." After winning the 2018 SIIA CODiE Best Emerging Technology Award, which recognizes "high-impact products," ShelterZoom is delivering to market a first-of-its-kind industry-agnostic platform to evolve contracts to Contract of Things (CoT). A market leader in blockchain and the 2021 Fintech Breakthrough Award Winner for Best Contract Management Platform, ShelterZoom is more than just a software company. ShelterZoom is changing the way the global market thinks about remote operations and collaboration. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005548/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] McDonald's will mandate worker training to combat harassment, discrimination and violence in its restaurants worldwide starting next year, the company said Wednesday. The training requirement will impact 2 million workers at 39,000 stores worldwide. 'It's really important that we be very clear: a safe and respectful workplace where people feel like theyre going to be protected is critically important for our business,' McDonalds President and CEO Chris Kempczinski told The Associated Press in an interview. 'Its just what society is expecting.' The change is part of a larger reckoning over sexual harassment at McDonalds. At least 50 workers have filed charges against the company over the last five years, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they complained. The problem wasnt confined to restaurants. In November 2019, McDonalds fired its former CEO Steve Easterbrook after he acknowledged having a relationship with an employee. Scroll down for video On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, McDonald's said the company will mandate worker training to combat harassment, discrimination and violence in its restaurants worldwide starting in 2022. President and CEO Chris Kempczinski stressed the importance of a safe workspace Kempczinski, who joined McDonalds in 2015, said the company needs to set expectations and then continually refer to them, especially since staff turnover in restaurants can be high. 'If youre not constantly talking about values and keeping them in the fore, if you get complacent, then perhaps theyre not as obvious to people or theyre not as inspiring as they could be,' he said. McDonalds restaurants worldwide - 93% of which are owned by franchisees - will be required to meet the new standards starting in January 2022. They must also collect feedback on the stores work environment from employees and managers and share those results with staff. Corporate evaluations will consider whether employees feel safe, both physically and emotionally, Kempckinski said. Many McDonalds franchisees support the change. In November 2019, McDonalds fired its former CEO Steve Easterbrook after he acknowledged having a relationship with an employee. 'As employers, we have an important role to play in setting the bar high for a values-led, safe and inclusive working environment,' said Mark Salebra, the chairman of the National Franchisee Leadership Alliance, in a statement distributed by McDonalds. The alliance represents more than 2,000 U.S. franchisees. In legal filings, McDonalds workers have complained about unwanted touching, lewd comments, verbal abuse and physical assaults while on the job. In some cases, workers accused managers of ignoring their complaints or retaliating by giving them fewer shifts or transferring them to other stores. In 2018, McDonalds attempted to deal with the problem by introducing harassment training for its U.S. franchisees and general managers. The following year, it started a hotline for employees to report problems and opened the training program to all of its 850,000 U.S. employees. But at that time, the company didnt require franchisees to provide the training. McDonald's employees protest outside their workplace on April 9, 2021 in Los Angeles Kempczinski, who became president and CEO after Easterbrook was forced out, said many franchisees provided the training. But as he thought about the company's values during the pandemic, which put more emphasis than ever on the health and safety of food workers, he felt it was important to expand the training and make it a requirement. McDonald's forced out Easterbrook in November 2019 over an inappropriate relationship with an employee. The company then filed a lawsuit last year seeking to reclaim millions of dollars in compensation paid to him as part of a separation agreement, alleging that it later learned he had covered up sexual relationships with at least three other employees and destroyed evidence. Kempckinski wouldn't say whether McDonald's has removed any franchisees from its system because of worker harassment charges. Often, when a franchise isnt ensuring workers safety, it has other problems that can lead to its dismissal from the system, he said. At least 50 workers have filed charges against the company over the last five years, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they complained Details are still being worked out, but Kempczinski said he expects employees will be given training when they start working for McDonald's. Restaurants might also have training once a year for all employees. Thats similar to the kind of training that is already being done at the companys Chicago headquarters. McDonald's said it will continue to work with experts and make anti-harassment materials available, but franchisees will be allowed to choose their own training programs. Kempczinski said he hopes McDonalds action becomes a model for the restaurant industry. 'Let's use this to raise the entire standards for the industry,' he said. Eleven of 12 Ukrainian women who participated in an intimate photoshoot have been deported from the United Arab Emirates, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko said. "Yesterday evening, the authorities of the UAE deported 11 Ukrainian citizens who were earlier detained in Dubai for participating in an explicit photoshoot. Another Ukrainian woman, who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, will be deported after recovering," Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday. All the women have been banned from returning to the UAE in the future, he said. "Thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian consulate in Dubai, the women were given the mildest possible penalty," Nikolenko said. He mentioned that in addition to deportation, they were facing a large fine and imprisonment for up to six months. On April 5, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that 12 Ukrainian women had been detained in the UAE. Media outlets reported the detention of the Ukrainian women earlier. They were detained following the publication of a video showing the young women posing naked on the balcony of a high-rise building in the Dubai Marina resort district. New Delhi, April 14: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Wednesday made out a strong case for matching ability and aptitude while highlighting the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) which seeks to transform India sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high-quality education to all. He was addressing the Association of Indian Universities' 95th Annual Meet and National Seminar of Vice-Chancellors, an event hosted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad. Delving into the NEP, PM Modi said every student has certain capabilities and these pose three questions before the student and the teacher. "First, what can they do? Second, what is their potential if they are properly taught? And, third, what they want to do?" Going further he said, the answer to the first question is the inner strength of the students. However, if institutional strength is added to that inner strength, the development of the students will get expanded and they will be able to do what they want to do. Emphasising this aspect the PM said the NEP aims to fulfil Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan vision of education. Quoting Dr. Radhakrishnan he said: "His vision of education was that it frees and empowers the student to participate in national development." Asserting that while education should make one a world citizen, the Indian aspect of it should not be lost. "Education management should be undertaken keeping the whole world as a unit but also, focussing on Indian character of education," he observed. Need for skills The PM stated that skills and its imparting will play a key role in making India self-reliant. Speaking on the growing demand for skills in the emerging Aatamnirbhar Bharat, he said, "India is being looked upon as the future centre of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data, 3D printing, Virtual Reality and robotics, mobile technology, geo-informatics, smart healthcare and defence sector. To meet the requirement of skills, Indian Institutes of skills are being set up in three big metropolitans of the country." Highlighting the vital role that the universities will play, the Prime Minister said, "We want that all universities should be multidisciplinary as we want to give students flexibility." He also called upon the vice chancellors to work for this goal. Paying tributes on behalf of a grateful nation to Bharat Ratna B.R. Ambedkar, the PM said that as his anniversary comes when the country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, it must give Indians a new energy. Talking about Babasaheb's philosophy, the PM said that Dr Ambedkar considered knowledge, self-respect and politeness as his three revered deities. "Self-respect comes with knowledge and makes a person aware of his or her rights. Through equal rights, emerges social harmony and the country progresses. Our education system and universities have this responsibility to carry the country forward on the path shown by Babasaheb." The PM said the country is following Babasaheb's conviction for equal rights and equal opportunity for all. He emphasized that schemes like Jandhan accounts are leading to financial inclusion of every person and through DBT money is reaching directly to their accounts. He said the country is committed to take Babasaheb's message to each and every person. Developing the key places related to his life as Panch Teerth is a step in that direction. He said measures like Jal Jeevan Mission, free housing, free electricity, support during pandemic and initiatives for women empowerment are taking forward Babasaheb's dreams. The PM released four books based on Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's life, written by Shri Kishor Makwana. These are Dr. Ambedkar Jivan Darshan, Dr. Ambedkar Vyakti Darshan, Dr Ambedkar Rashtra Darshan, and Dr. Ambedkar Aayam Darshan. Among those who were present at the event were Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat and the State Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ "El Favor continues to deliver high grade zones exceeding a kilo per ton surrounded by wide zones of potentially bulk mineable grades near surface," said Brad Langille, President and CEO. "With 9 drill rigs operating, we are aggressively advancing towards our initial resource estimate in Los Ricos North." Table 1: Drill Hole Intersections Hole ID Area From To Length1 Ag Au AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGF-21-032 Favor 0.0 69.3 69.3 107.8 0.49 144.6 incl. Guitarrillas 30.4 45.7 15.3 392.2 1.76 524.1 including 37.5 40.9 3.4 1,253.5 5.63 1,675.6 and Los Chivos 120.9 130.5 9.6 111.7 0.39 141.2 including 120.9 122.7 1.8 417.0 1.50 529.2 LRGF-21-034 Favor4 74.3 137.6 59.0 118.8 0.32 142.6 incl. Salomon 74.3 79.3 5.0 361.4 0.90 428.6 including 77.5 79.3 1.8 902.2 2.19 1,066.5 and Guitarrillas 156.7 159.5 2.8 109.7 0.16 121.6 LRGF-21-035 Salomon 102.2 103.7 1.5 147.8 0.37 175.4 and 111.1 127.1 16.1 96.6 0.21 112.6 including 122.7 126.1 3.4 187.2 0.41 218.1 and Guitarrillas 211.9 223.9 12.0 86.2 0.09 93.2 including 220.0 223.2 3.2 203.9 0.15 215.1 LRGF-21-036 Favor 54.1 57.1 3.0 49.1 0.06 53.4 LRGF-21-039 Favor 41.8 49.0 7.2 134.8 0.76 192.0 and Salomon5 70.2 95.7 23.3 92.1 0.22 108.5 including 89.5 91.5 2.0 550.3 1.43 657.7 Guitarrillas 168.9 181.8 12.9 254.1 0.81 314.8 including 168.9 177.0 8.2 392.5 1.25 486.2 including 171.0 173.7 2.7 919.9 2.85 1,133.5 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1. 3. Hole LRGF-21-038 assays are still pending. Hole LRGF-21-037 did not intersect significant mineralization. 4. Excludes 4.3m of historically mined void. 5. Excludes 2.3m of historically mined void. Three of the four major veins (Salomon, Guitarrillas and Los Chivos) appear to converge into a 100m wide zone at the western end of the El Favor deposit in the vicinity of the Hundido Pit at an elevation of 1300m. The wallrock in between the veins is strongly silicified, altered and mineralized. This mineralization can be observed in outcrop at the Hundido Pit, underground in the Salomon Cross Cut and in the road cuts along the north side of the El Favor hill and in the drill holes. More holes are required in this area to determine the strike length and potential depth of these wide combined zones. The Eastern end of the El Orito deposit (as presently defined) is located about 800 metres along strike to the west of the Hundido Pit (see Figure 2). Wide zones of precious and base metal mineralization were cut by drill holes at El Orito at elevations between 600 to 800m. Geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs in the area between El Orito and the Hundido Pit have been accelerated and given priority. Table 2: Drill Hole Locations Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Length LRGF-21-032 585240 2336495 1350.0 180 -45 202.5 LRGF-21-034 585182 2336510 1318.0 180 -45 203.6 LRGF-21-035 585277 2336535 1315.0 180 -45 265.3 LRGF-21-036 585377 2336410 1335.0 180 -45 169.2 LRGF-21-037 585325 2336430 1355.0 180 -45 131.2 LRGF-21-039 585327 2336496 1338.0 180 -45 242.0 Figure 1: Plan View La Trini to El Favor Area of Los Ricos North Figure 2: El Favor Drill Hole Locations Figure 3: Favor-Orito Long Section Figure 4: Cross Section LRGF-21-032 VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps. Access the GoGold Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com. The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for GoGold can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/9404 and on the Company's website at: www.gogoldresources.com. Los Ricos District Exploration Projects The Company's two exploration projects at its Los Ricos property are in Jalisco state, Mexico. The Los Ricos South Project began in March 2019 and an initial resource was announced on July 29, 2020 which indicated a Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 63.7 million ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq contained in 10.0 million tonnes, and an Inferred Resource of 19.9 million ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq contained in 3.3 million tonnes. An initial PEA on the project was announced on January 20, 2021 indicating an NPV 5% of US$295M. The Los Ricos North Project was launched in March 2020 and includes drilling at the El Favor, La Trini, Casados and El Orito targets. During 2020, GoGold's exploration team identified over 100 targets on the Los Ricos North properties, demonstrating the significant exploration potential. The Company plans to drill 10 of these targets as part of its 2021 drilling program which is planned to exceed 100,000 metres of drilling and will be one of the largest in Mexico. Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work. The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the ActLabs facility in Zacatecas, Mexico. ActLabs crushes the samples and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 150 mesh (106m). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 50-gram charge by fire assay (Code 1A2-50) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 1A3-50). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code 1F2 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code 8-Ag FA-GRAV Ag). Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed GoGold's QA/QC protocols. Mr. David Duncan, P. Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information of this release. About GoGold Resources GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States. This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Los Ricos South and North projects, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, including the intention to undertake further exploration at Los Ricos North, and the prospect of further discoveries there, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release. SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc. Related Links http://www.gogoldresources.com/ Editors note: In the weeks leading up to the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, April 25, Time Warp will feature stories related to films nominated this year and other local connections to the annual film event. 1906: In the Academy Award-nominated film Mank, writer, activist and 1934 California gubernatorial candidate Upton Sinclair has a minor but important part that deals with the writing of the screenplay for Citizen Kane. Bill Nye yes, Bill Nye the Science Guy plays Sinclair opposite Charles Dance as newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, Arliss Howard as Louis B. Mayer and Ferdinand Kingsley as Irving Thalberg. Sinclair was well-known by then, having entered the spotlight in 1906 with his book, The Jungle. Sinclair worked in the meatpacking industry in Chicago to get background for this work of fiction, which was first serialized in the socialist newspaper Appeal to Reason and later published in book form by Doublebay. The book focuses on a Lithuanian immigrant, Jurgis Rudkus, who works in a meatpacking plant. The reader goes on a journey through the unsafe, unethical and unsanitary conditions that the mostly immigrant workforce faced in the Windy Citys plants. It also touches on the workers lives outside the factory and what is was like to be the working poor. When the book hit the streets in February 1906, it created as a stir. On March 17, a short article in the Scranton Republican traced the early career of Sinclair up to his work on The Jungle. The newspaper reporter called the novel the most daring and remarkable book that has been published in this country. A month later, in the Literary Notes section of the Scranton Republican, a report noted that the book saw wide sales and that newsdealers constantly were requesting more copies. It may be called a blazing indictment of conditions as they exist there, yet if all is true that Sinclair in his novel says, the government should not lose a minute to step in and right some of the terrible wrongs that are being perpetrated there, the reporter said of the book. The federal government did step in. In the June 4, 1906, edition of the Scranton Times, an article dealt with an investigation of the meatpacking industry ordered by President Theodore Roosevelt. The president described what his investigators, Labor Commissioner Charles Neill and social worker James Reynolds, uncovered as revolting. Roosevelt called for immediate and drastic legislation in the interests of health and decency. By the end of the month, Congress had passed the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Sinclair continued writing, trying to affect change with his prose. He took on the newspaper industry (The Brass Check), coal mining (King Coal), oil drilling (Oil!) and the automobile industry (The Flivver King). Sinclair entered politics in 1920, first running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; the U.S. Senate in 1922; and three times for governor of California, in 1926, 1930 and 1934. In his 1934 gubernatorial run, depicted in the film Mank, he received no support from newspapers in California. Hearst, a major character in Mank, owned newspapers in Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco, according to a newspaper guide from the University of Illinois Library. The Hollywood studios were not fans of Sinclair, either. His run fell victim to the first big hit campaign of modern politics, spearheaded in no small part by the Hollywood studios, and in particular, MGM, Irving Thalberg, and studio head Louis B. Mayer, according to a 2016 KCET.com article. MGM even produced fake newsreels called California Election News with the intent to move voters opinions away from Sinclair. Sinclair ran on a platform of ending poverty in California. He suggested having unemployed people use empty factories to make goods for their own use, giving the unemployed land so they could grow produce, providing pensions for blind and disabled people, getting rid of Californias sales tax and adding a graduated state income tax. In the end, Sinclair lost to incumbent Republican Gov. Frank Merriam in the general election, but he continued writing. He won the Pultizer Prize for Fiction in 1943 for his work Dragon Teeth, which deals with the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Sinclair died at 90 at a nursing home in Bound Brook, New Jersey. His obituary in the Scranton Times on Nov. 26, 1968, called him the king of the muckrakers. Brian Fulton, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribunes expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140. Biognosys, a leader in next-generation proteomics solutions for drug discovery and development, announces today that it has established a strategic agreement with Siemens Healthineers, a global medical technology company, through its clinical laboratory in Berkeley, California. The agreement leverages Biognosys expertise in unbiased biomarker discovery technologies and solutions with Siemens Healthineers biomarker assay development, lab testing, and commercialization capabilities. With this agreement, we can enable our biopharmaceutical customers to use the power of our proprietary discovery proteomics solution for novel biomarker identification and bring these biomarkers into clinical applications with Siemens Healthineers diagnostic assay development expertise. Oliver Rinner, PhD, CEO, and founder of Biognosy Using Biognosys proprietary Hyper Reaction Monitoring (HRM) mass spectrometry technology, thousands of proteins may be quantified simultaneously from a broad range of clinical sample types. HRM enables an unmatched depth of proteome coverage with reproducible and precise quantification to identify the most promising, actionable biomarkers to support clinical decision-making. This discovery proteomics solution can be applied with high throughput in large-scale studies involving thousands of samples. The strategic agreement enables the discovery of novel biomarkers via the HRM technology followed by translation into validated biomarker assays for potential clinical applications. This may include clinical trial usage and In Vitro Diagnostics development programs. We are excited about this relationship with Biognosys because their expertise and unique biomarker discovery capabilities are very complementary to our end-to-end diagnostic solutions for our biopharmaceutical customers. Sebastian Kronmueller, Head of Siemens Healthcare Laboratory in California About Biognosys Biognosys is a leader in next-generation proteomics, dedicated to transforming life science by inventing and developing cutting-edge proteomics technology and solutions and making them widely available for pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers and proteomics experts. The companys proprietary solutions provide a multi-dimensional view of protein expression, function, and structure in all major biological species and sample types. Biognosys unique, patented technologies utilize high-resolution mass spectrometry for the quantification of thousands of proteins across thousands of samples with industry-leading precision, depth, and throughput. Through advanced data analytics, Biognosys translates data into actionable insights for R&D and clinical research. More information at biognosys.com. About Siemens Healthineers To learn more about Siemens Healthineers, please visit siemens-healthineers.com. A truck sprays DDT in 1945 to eliminate mosquitoes on Jones Beach on Long Island, N.Y. (Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) When Rachel Carsons "Silent Spring" first sounded the alarm on DDT and its devastating effects on birds and fish, our understanding of how this pesticide affected humans was just beginning. Chemicals can take years to reveal their insidious power, and so for decades, scientists have been piecing together study by study the reasons why DDT still haunts us today. First it was breast cancer in women who were exposed to this hormone-disrupting chemical in the 1950s and '60s. Then their daughters, who had been exposed in the womb. Researchers over the years have also linked DDT exposure to obesity, birth defects, reduced fertility and testicular cancer in sons. Now, a team of toxicologists, molecular biologists and epidemiologists at UC Davis and the Public Health Institute in Oakland have confirmed for the first time that granddaughters of women who were exposed to DDT during pregnancy also suffer from significant health threats: Higher rates of obesity and menstrual periods that start before age 11. Both factors, scientists say, may put these young women at greater risk of breast cancer as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. "This is further evidence that not only is a pregnant woman and her baby vulnerable to the chemicals that she's exposed to but so is her future grandchild," said Barbara Cohn, director of the Public Health Institutes Child Health and Development Studies, a multigenerational research project in California that has followed more than 15,000 pregnant women and their families since 1959. "This is something that people had always thought was possible," she said, "but there had never been a human study to support the existence of that link." The findings come at a time of renewed public interest in DDT, a problem that had been largely tucked into a fading chapter of history. Concerns have intensified since The Times reported last fall that the nations largest manufacturer of DDT once dumped as many as half a million barrels of its waste into the deep ocean. Story continues The pesticide, now banned, is so stable it continues to poison the environment and move up the food chain. Significant amounts of DDT-related compounds are still accumulating in Southern California dolphins, and a recent study linked the presence of these persistent chemicals to an aggressive cancer in sea lions. As for humans, "theres a clear line you can track of whats happening," said Linda Birnbaum, who, as the former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, has been following these multigenerational studies with great interest. "A lot of people want to think that the problems with DDT have gone away, because Congress banned it in 1972. Well, they haven't," said Birnbaum, who is now a scholar in residence at Duke University. "By the time the daughters got pregnant with the granddaughters, that was long after DDT had been banned and yet they were carrying within them the seeds of these problems." :: More than 60 years ago, in the heyday of DDT, a team of scientists had the foresight to start collecting blood samples from more than 15,000 pregnant women at the Kaiser Permanente hospital in Oakland. At every trimester and also shortly after birth, each woman provided a sample that was studied and carefully archived. Researchers tested the blood for DDT, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and continued to follow up on health assessments. They kept in touch with the womens daughters, who had been exposed to DDT in the womb, and then with their granddaughters. A plane dusts DDT powder on a flock of sheep in Medford, Ore., in 1948. DDT was once considered a wonder pesticide. (Associated Press) They found, after years of research, that women heavily exposed to DDT during childhood are five times as likely to develop breast cancer, and that a mothers DDT exposure during pregnancy, or immediately after birth, is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer for their daughter. Their daughters are also more likely to experience delays in getting pregnant. In this most recent study, published Wednesday in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the research team found that the risk of obesity in the granddaughters who are now in their 20s and 30s was two to three times greater than women whose grandmothers had little DDT in their blood during pregnancy. These granddaughters were also twice as likely to have much earlier menstrual periods another indicator of increased health risks later in life. This persistent, generational exposure is likely related to the reproductive system, Cohn said. Since a female is born with all her eggs, a granddaughter is technically also exposed to DDT if her mother was exposed in the womb. "Even though we banned that stuff more than 40 years ago, people now walking the Earth the granddaughters of those who were pregnant were exposed," Cohn said. She wonders if the increasing rates of childhood cancer, diabetes and other health problems affecting young people today are also somehow connected to these chemicals of the past. "It's the full meaning of what a forever chemical is in some ways, that makes every chemical potentially forever if it has the potential to do this." Bruce Blumberg, a professor of developmental and cell biology at UC Irvine, still remembers the trucks that used to spray massive amounts of DDT in farms and neighborhoods. At the supermarket where he worked as a kid, foggers would be brought inside at the end of each day. "The whole market would be full of a fog of DDT," said Blumberg, who also teaches pharmaceutical sciences. "The industry would want you to believe that chemicals have no effect, because the doses are too low and there's just no effects and it's all crazy alarmists." Blumberg now specializes in studying how chemicals in the environment can affect our genes and predispose people to obesity, which affects about 42% of Americans today. He conducts lab experiments on mice to answer the many questions that scientists have been unable to test on humans. That's why the multigenerational Bay Area study, which hes not affiliated with, is so important, he said. It provides much-needed human observational data that are incredibly hard to come by perhaps even harder to maintain. "If we're lucky, that cohort [of Bay Area women] will continue through four, five, six generations," he said, "and we'll really learn something about the effects of what happened in the past on the future." :: Akilah Shahid said she was shocked, yet fascinated, to learn that she was in the third generation of a major study on how chemicals in the environment could be affecting women. A biology major at Mills College, Shahid said it all clicked for her for when she dug into the research. Her family has been no stranger to health problems. Her grandmother alone has fought cancer three times. "I feel like, for a while, cancer just came out of nowhere," she said. "You don't know who's going to get it, and now we have a reason why." Akilah Shahid is a third-generation participant in the Public Health Institute's Child Health and Development Studies research program. (Courtesy of Liv Schultheis) Shahid, now 30, exercises a lot. She tries to eat well. It empowers her to know that her weight isnt completely her fault and that theres only so much within her control. DDT isnt allowed anymore, but she cant help but wonder about all the other chemicals still prevalent today bisphenol A (BPA), per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other manufactured compounds that dont seem to ever go away. She avoids plastic water bottles and tries to be mindful of how her choices and actions right now could expose her future grandchildren to some unknown disease. How many times have we talked about climate change and things that we need to do better for our children and grandchildren? This is more proof that hello, what we do today is going to affect people way forward, she said. I hope this is a wake-up call for a lot of people, because we're talking about saving the environment again, today, for our future generations. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. After more than two decades under the jurisdiction of the NYPD, school safety agents are staring down a transition to the citys Department of Education (DOE) that has ignited a heated debate about what protecting students should look like in practice. Some advocates find the current proposals made in the City Council, which call for the aforementioned transition and for school safety agents to be stripped of the ability to carry restraints and make arrests, to be underwhelming. A coalition of supporters for more drastic changes say a reimagining of school safety is needed a push that would mark a fundamental shift in how crises are handled in school buildings and where funding would be allocated. Dawn Yuster, the director of the School Justice Project for the Advocates for Children of New York, said the organizations belief is that the current proposals being made in the City Council are inadequate and that a substantial shift in personnel and resources are essential steps to correct issues in school policing that disproportionately affect children of color. We agree with young people that moving school safety agents from the NYPD to the Department of Education, and then giving them a couple of trainings is just not sufficient, said Yuster in an interview with the Advance/SILive.com. If youre really talking about reimagining the role of school safety, youre not automatically just moving over one type of role and saying everyone should be doing that role continued, said Yuster. Youre really rethinking it. Part of that process would involve having more active conversations with those involved in the job currently, but also with advocates that have been pushing for changes for years, Yuster explained. School safety agents interviewed by the Advance/SILive.com expressed disappointment that they were not adequately considered when the City Council proposals were made, and a meeting in Graniteville weeks ago that featured dozens of people who work the job revealed discontent at the city legislature. The New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the city for not communicating its plan with advocates and school safety agents, adding that individuals who do not want to be a part of the transfer to the DOE, along with those who have a substantiated complaint of use of force against a child, should not be a part of the transformation. Gregory Floyd, the president of Local 237, the union that represents the citys school safety agents, has been in stern opposition to changing the role of his union members, contending: The school safety agents are the foundation of the schools ... and you will see a sharp decline in order once thats removed. A bill in the City Council is calling for changes to school safety agents. (Staten Island Advance) MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS Addressing the mental health needs of students, especially those disproportionately affected by incidents of crisis and discriminatory policing, is a major starting point that Yuster suggested is one example of reform that should already be in place in city schools. Advocates for Children of New York previously called for a mental health continuum to be put in schools with high rates of child-in-crisis incidents. The continuum would partner schools with hospital-based mental health clinics and place teams of clinicians in school communities that work with children and staff to address mental health needs. While that model was developed by the Mayors Leadership Team on School Climate five years ago, budget issues have recently led to its integration being stalled. Theres really a need for this continuum of integrated and intensive services to meet the needs of students with significant mental health challenges, said Yuster. Schools are currently required to have a crisis intervention team that creates a de-escalation plan for emergency situations, according to the DOE. The agencys regulations also delineate when school administrators should call 911 for a police response. However, Yuster said significant concerns remain in how children in crisis are handled. NYPD DATA NYPD data analyzed by the Advance/SILive.com showed Black students were restrained by school safety agents more than any other race in schools across three of Staten Islands four NYPD precincts through the entirety of 2019. Children can be restrained for a variety of reasons, including a child-in-crisis incident, which involves a student exhibiting emotional distress. Restraints are seldom used overall, the data shows, but a 2017 Advocates for Children of New York report which will be updated this year showed strong disparities in which students were restrained most often. In an effort to increase de-escalation tactics and further reduce the amount of incidents with NYC youth resulting in the use of restraints, all NYPD School Safety Division personnel are in the process of being trained by the DOE in the recognition and mitigation of implicit bias, and methods for conflict resolution, said NYPD spokeswoman Sgt. Jessica McRorie. The ultimate goal of the NYPD in partnership with the DOE is to continue to minimize the utilization of restraining devices including handcuffs when interacting with children in our schools, McRorie added. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams took questions at a gathering of school safety agents in Graniteville. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk) Yuster said there is currently a piecemeal approach to how school safety reform is being pushed to the detriment of actual change. The DOE is doing little pieces of things right now where they have lots of things to talk about that theyre doing, said Yuster. I think one of the problems that weve seen is that its really a patchwork and there isnt really a system wide approach, and there are a lot of schools that are left out. The unwillingness to take more drastic steps she chalks up to a limitation in thinking, adding that the current trajectory of school safety is really not about what is best for students and schools and school communities. Many advocates, she said, envisioned a more drastic shift of the roles of school safety agents to a myriad of other positions that compliment one another that also address the needs for overt safety in schools. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams published a detailed vision of school safety that would only rely on law enforcement in the most extreme circumstances. The call for police-free schools not only requires that police infrastructure, culture, and practice be removed from schools, but also that this system be replaced by youth-, parent-, and educator-led solutions that center liberation and restorative justice, said Williams. CONCERNS REMAINS Concerns remain, however, about how these models will address immediate dangers to schools. Yuster acknowledged the need for a physical presence of school safety agents but said the extent of the force and the funding it absorbs is excessive. There would need to be someone at the front desk who would meet with parents or visitors, said Yuster, adding, We dont need over 5,000 people to do that, referring to the number of school safety officers in New York City. While changes to school safety agents are being debated in the City Council, Yuster said it appears a holistic vision of reform informed by conversations with all sides of the issue is not being pursued in earnest. We appreciate that the Department of Education is now starting to reach out more to youth groups and organizations, but its challenging because if they have already made up their mind to move all these agents over, said Yuster. I think that puts everyone in a tough position. France, on Tuesday, announced that its volume of trade with Nigeria in the year 2020 dropped to $2.3 billion, from $4.5 billion in 2019, as a result of COVID-19. The French Minister in charge of Foreign Trade and Attractiveness, Frank Riester, disclosed this at a meeting he held with Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), in Abuja, as part of his two-day official visit to Nigeria. We are optimistic of the future, when the crisis will be ending, because we have many companies that have settled here. We want a win-win partnership between our two countries. We have 100 companies that are settled in Nigeria, representing 10,000 people working in these companies and we want to increase our investments in Nigeria, he said. Riester added that the French Government wanted to help in the development of different states, by investing in both the private and public sectors, so as to deepen the relationship between the two countries. He said that as the largest economy in Africa and the economic engine room of West Africa, Nigeria is indeed a major partner for France. The minister said that the French government was also putting in place measures that would allow more Nigerian companies to operate and invest in France. Tomorrow, I will meet some Nigeria companies that have already invested in France, as others are willing to invest in the country. These companies will be invited to a specific meeting in Paris in June, where President Emmanuel Macron will welcome many companies all over the world, and some of the companies will be from Nigeria, because we want more Nigerian investments in France. Mr Riester added that the government was also putting in place policies that would encourage more Nigerian investment in France, while the French government was also willing to assist Nigeria to tackle insecurity. The Chairman of the NGF, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, commended the French government for its interest in Nigeria, especially in the states of the Federation. Mr Fayemi, represented by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, described the meeting, aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and France, as fruitful. He said that the meeting sought ways of boosting Frances collaboration and investment in Nigeria, in particular with the state governments. Speaking later in an interview with journalists on the ongoing strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) who are protesting the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the nations judiciary, Mr Lalong said that state governors were not against financial autonomy for the judiciary. Mr Lalong, who said that the governors were already consulting with JUSUN, added that the NGF would be meeting on Wednesday, to finalize the issue, as they did not need any Order 10, to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary, since they played key role in the passage of the financial autonomy legislation. He, however, said that certain criteria had to be put in place, for financial autonomy for the judiciary to commence at the state level. Mr Lalong said that financial autonomy was not about finances, but to strengthen the institution. You dont wake up one day and say you are doing financial autonomy, because a law is passed, there must be processes. ADVERTISEMENT For instance, as a former Speaker, I will tell you that you cannot do financial autonomy until you establish a service commission. You must establish a state Allocation Committee. All these are steps towards autonomy. You dont achieve autonomy in a day. We did it in the National Assembly, and there was no Order 10 for implementation. It took them stages. The federal government is aware. Members of the National Assembly, who are governors today, were members who fought for the autonomy, so how can we be against the autonomy, Mr Lalong asked. (NAN) Gods Grace Through It All: a gripping and poignant biography of one of Gods most blessed, dutiful, and exceptional children. Gods Grace Through It All is the creation of published author, Christine Miller Hill. As the eldest of seven children, Paul Miller had to leave school at the age of fourteen to work the family farm while his father was confined to a mental hospital for a year. Five years later, as a member of the U.S. Marines, he stormed the beaches of Okinawa during World War II. While on the island, he was burned on 35% of his body and spent the next nine months in three different military hospitals. Some years later, he and his wife June lost twin boys at birth. Through it all, Paul relied on what his saintly mother had taught him and what his own personal relationship with Jesus Christ had instilled in him. As a preacher of the Gospel for sixty years, he knew from first-hand experience that God is much bigger than any trials we may encounter and can be trusted to guide us safely through difficult times. This book is a testament to Gods care for his children and a note of gratitude for all the wonderful people He placed in Pauls path along the way who truly personified Gods grace through it all. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Christine Miller Hills new book is the inspirational, heartwarming, and at times utterly astonishing biography of the Rev. Dr. Paul Edward Miller. More than all else, this book excels as a testimony to the power of unshakable faith in helping Gods children discover grace and surmount even the most formidable challenges that life may lay in their path. A man who inspired countless souls in his lifetime, through this book Rev. Dr. Miller is sure to become one who inspires just as many from beyond the grave. View a synopsis of Gods Grace Through It All on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Gods Grace Through It All at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Gods Grace Through It All, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Download a Free Sample Report The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. BP Plc, Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., PetroChina Co. Ltd., Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Qatar Petroleum, Rosneft Oil Co., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. are some of the major market participants. Increasing upstream investments will offer immense growth opportunities, to leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Crude Oil Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Crude Oil Market is segmented as below: Production Area Onshore Offshore Geography APAC North America Europe MEA South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40237 Crude Oil Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis and Scope To help businesses improve their market position, the crude oil market provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include BP Plc, Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., PetroChina Co. Ltd., Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Qatar Petroleum, Rosneft Oil Co., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. The report also covers the following areas: Crude Oil Market size Crude Oil Market trends Crude Oil Market industry analysis The rise in global demand for oil is likely to emerge as one of the primary drivers of the market. Related Reports on Energy Include: Global Oil and Gas Pipeline Monitoring Equipment Market - Global oil and gas pipeline monitoring equipment market is segmented by product (hardware components and software systems) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, MEA, and South America). Global Well Testing Services Market - Global well testing equipment market is segmented by application (onshore and offshore) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, MEA, and South America). Crude Oil Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist crude oil market growth during the next five years Estimation of the crude oil market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the crude oil market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of crude oil market vendors Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Production area Market segments Comparison by Prodcution area Onshore - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Offshore - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Production area Customer landscape Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors BP Plc Chevron Corp. ConocoPhillips Co. Exxon Mobil Corp. PetroChina Co. Ltd. Petroleo Brasileiro SA Qatar Petroleum Rosneft Oil Co. Royal Dutch Shell Plc Saudi Arabian Oil Co. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ Report: www.technavio.com/report/crude-oil-market-size-industry-analysis SOURCE Technavio Related Links http://www.technavio.com/ President Joe Bidens fiscal year 2022 budget blueprint included $46.1 billion for the Department of Energy, the Savannah River Site landlord. The preliminary request for the DOE, unveiled Friday, is a roughly 10% increase, an additional $4.3 billion, compared to 2021. Exactly how much is earmarked for Environmental Management, the departments nuclear cleanup office, or the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the nations nuclear warheads, is unclear. The documents published last week included only general, top-line figures. More information more granular information, too is expected later this year. While the discretionary request outlined in the attached enclosures reflects only one piece of the Presidents broader agenda, it includes a range of proposals that lay a foundation to reinvest in the Nations strength, the Office of Management and Budgets Shalanda Young wrote to Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who chairs an appropriations panel. When it comes to the DOE, a summary of the presidents spending plan focused largely on the departments capacities in the energy, jobs and climate sectors; one bullet point, Strengthens the Nations Nuclear Security, highlighted its critical role in the management and development of nuclear weapons. Alongside the American Jobs Plan, this funding request offers the major investments we need to tackle the climate crisis, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said, while simultaneously increasing our economic competitiveness, ensuring overlooked communities benefit from the clean energy revolution, and creating millions of good paying, union jobs across America. The budget summary also confirmed the administration is reviewing the U.S. nuclear weapons landscape and related efforts to modernize. The sentiment has floated around. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks have said they support a wide-ranging assessment, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously told Nikkei Asia and other Japanese media that the U.S. would undertake something called the Nuclear Posture Review. At the time, according to a March transcript, Blinken said a review might begin in the weeks ahead. Similarly, a Pentagon official last month pulled out of a plutonium pit production briefing in Columbia because the administration is engaged in a full review of the program, said Rick Lee, the chairman of the S.C. Governors Nuclear Advisory Council. Stephen Young, a Washington representative for the global security program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, recently urged U.S. officials to reconsider nonsensical plans to spend a trillion dollars to build thousands of new nuclear warheads, among other things. We call on the Biden administration to make major cuts to proposed nuclear weapons programs and start us on the path to actual national and international security, Young said in a statement. Bidens budget outline is exactly that an outline, a goal-setting document. Ultimately, it is up to Congress to fund the government. Employees of Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) say they have were blindsided with a 33 1/3 per cent pay cut in their salaries. While some workers were under the impression the cut was supposed to occur next fortnight, many were unprepared for managements move. One employee told the Express yesterday while talk was being bandied about a few days ago with regard to the pay cut, she thought more notice would have been given to staff since globally theres a pandemic. I am hurt and disappointed. Vivo will soon launch a new V21 handset. Already, the phone has made multiple unofficial appearances online, including the recent certification in Indonesia. Now, Vivo Malaysia has posted the first teaser of the upcoming phone. The teaser reveals a dewdrop-like notch on the front and an LED flash setup on the top panel. The flash is likely to be part of Vivos Spotlight Selfie feature. The teaser also gives a view of the back panel. There is a rectangular camera module at the top left corner with at least three camera sensors. The module also houses the LED flash. The right edge of the phone houses volume rockers and a power button, which is most likely to double as the fingerprint sensor. ALSO READ: Vivo ropes in Virat Kohli as brand ambassador Interestingly, Vivo says the handset has an 8GB+3GB extended RAM. Thanks to additional 3GB RAM effect on your 8GB phone, you can maximise your phones potential and run your apps at faster speeds without lag, says Vivo on its website. ALSO READ: Vivo Nex 5 specs tipped, may feature under-display camera and more At the moment, Vivo has not revealed when the phone will officially launch. There is no word on the rollout of the phone in other markets as well. That said, Vivo has just launched a new Y21SG in the Philippines. The handset comes with a 6.51-inch HD+ display with a 1600x 720 pixels resolution and LCD (IPS) panel. It runs on MediaTeks Helio G80 processor. It has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Theres also a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. Theres a triple rear camera setup on the back. It consists of a 13-megapixel primary sensor, 2-megapixel sensor, and 2-megapixel sensor. On the front, it has an 8-megapixel camera. The handset is available for about $205 ( 15,300 approximately). Oscar Goncalves, study author. Credit: University of Coimbra A pioneering study with the Portuguese population shows that adolescents with high levels of callous-unemotional traits demonstrate lower levels of anticipated guilt towards the possibility of committing an immoral act and struggle to judge an immoral act as a wrong one. Researchers have evaluated the callous traits, that is, the lack of empathy and disregard for the wellbeing and feelings of others, of 47 adolescents between 15 and 18 years old. The teenagers watched video animations portraying examples of moral transgressions, such as incriminating someone or keeping money that fell from someone else's pocket. "This approach allowed us to create more realistic scenarios that happen in daily life," explains Oscar Goncalves, a neuroscientist at Proaction Lab and co-author of the study. The adolescents were asked how guilty they would feel if they were the ones to commit the moral transgressions and how wrong they think the actions were. Although the callous-unemotional traits in adolescents are known to be precursors of psychopathy in adulthood, the results of the study differ from what is known about psychopaths. "Adults with psychopathic traits show low levels of anticipated guilt but consider immoral actions as wrong. However, in our study, adolescents with high CU levels show levels of guilt and judge immoral actions as less wrong," explains Margarida Vasconcelos, first author. However, researchers have found evidence of a dissociation between moral emotions and moral judgment, that is, between the feelings of guilt and the judgment of immoral actions. "Even in adolescents with sub-clinical levels of callous-unemotional traits, this dissociation typical in psychopathy in adulthood is already happening during development," explains the study coordinator Ana Seara Cardoso. The results of the study will "contribute to the development of a severe anti-social behavior model" and allow the "development of intervention targets, rehabilitation and early prevention of anti-social behavior," says Ana Seara Cardoso. Explore further Traits associated with increased risk of gun use among high-risk adolescents More information: Margarida Vasconcelos et al. Callous-Unemotional Traits Moderate Anticipated Guilt and Wrongness Judgments to Everyday Moral Transgressions in Adolescents, Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021). Margarida Vasconcelos et al. Callous-Unemotional Traits Moderate Anticipated Guilt and Wrongness Judgments to Everyday Moral Transgressions in Adolescents,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.625328 A mother has asked European judges to help keep her brain-damaged five-year-old daughter alive. Paula Parfitt, 41, lost three legal battles in the UK as she tried to prevent doctors from switching off her daughter Pippa Knight's life support at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London. Ms Parfitt, from Strood in Kent, has made a written application to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, and is waiting for a ruling. Ms Parfitt said she did not know if she would be granted a hearing but wanted to do everything she could for her daughter. 'I might win,' she added. An ECHR spokesman said on Wednesday Ms Parfitt's application would be 'considered in due course' and an 'interim measure' had been granted to 'stay the withdrawal of treatment'. Doctors want to stop treating Pippa, who is in a vegetative state after suffering from Acute Necrotising Encephalopathy - a childhood disease which causes a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection and high fever, rapid alteration of consciousness and seizures. A High Court judge based in London has ruled they can lawfully stop providing life support treatment to allow Pippa to die. Paula Parfitt (pictured in January), 41, lost three legal battles in the UK as she tried to prevent doctors from switching off her daughter Pippa Knight's life support at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London Doctors want to stop treating Pippa (pictured), who is in a vegetative state, and a High Court judge based in London has ruled they can lawfully stop providing life support treatment to allow Pippa to die Judges in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court have refused to overturn that decision by Mr Justice Poole. Ms Parfitt thinks Pippa should leave hospital and wants specialists to stage a home care trial. She said the decisions by Mr Justice Poole, plus the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges, left her devastated. Mr Justice Poole heard evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London in December, and delivered a ruling in January. The judge, who heard that Pippa's father is dead, described the case as 'heart-rending'. Pippa was born on April 20, 2015, and had initially developed normally, but in December 2016 she became unwell and began to suffer seizures, the judge heard. Ms Parfitt, from Strood, Kent, wanted daughter Pippa (pictured together during a walk outside the hospital) to leave hospital for specialists to stage a homecare trial In March, Ms Parfitt revealed she was able to bring Pippa for walks outside the hospital attached to a portable ventilator. She said she would not have thought such walks would be possible a few weeks ago but it 'shows people what is possible'. 'A few weeks ago I didn't think these walks would be taking place at all,' said Ms Parfitt, who is being backed by campaign group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. 'We've been out three times in the last week with a portable ventilator.' She suggested that a similar arrangement might make it possible for Pippa to live at home and added: 'A more modern ventilator which I would have at home would be even better and offer Pippa even more movement and help her even more.' A barrister representing Ms Parfitt had told appeal judges that independent experts based at other children's hospitals thought a home-care trial was in Pippa's best interests. Vikram Sachdeva QC said other hospitals might have agreed to a home-care trial. Doctors treating Pippa, who is in a vegetative state at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London, said life-support treatment should end Pippa was born in 2015 and developed normally, but in December 2016 she became unwell and began to suffer seizures and a court has heard she is now unaware of her surroundings Mr Sachdeva said Pippa was not suffering pain and there was 'genuine scope for debate' about what was in her best interests. He added that Pippa would not live for a long time, possibly months, and Ms Parfitt wanted her to die at home. Mr Justice Poole heard evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London in December, and delivered a ruling in January. The judge said the youngster had no awareness of her environment. He said he could not 'give weight' to Ms Parfitt's view that home care would improve Pippa's condition. The judge said that view was 'at odds' with the unanimous opinion of the clinicians and medical experts. Ms Parfitt, said after his ruling: 'I don't understand why the hospital and the court wouldn't let me find out whether Pippa could come home to be cared for with all her family around her, when two independent doctors from reputable hospitals in England both said that they thought this was worth trying.' Photo: The Canadian Press A voter is shown at a Whitehorse polling station during the Yukon election on Monday, April 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Kelly The Yukon territorial election ended in a tie Monday night with the Liberals seemingly headed toward a minority government. The Liberal and Yukon parties sit at eight seats each and the NDP has two. Ten seats are needed to win a majority. But the riding of Vuntut Gwitchin, or Old Crow, sits locked in a tie between Pauline Frost, who was a Liberal cabinet minister, and the NDP's Annie Blake. Elections Yukon said there will now be an official count to validate the reported count for all electoral districts. If the results are 10 votes or less, the returning officer would then apply for a recount with the Yukon Supreme Court. If required, it would be held on or before Monday. If the race is still tied after the recount, Yukon's Elections Act says the winner will be determined by a draw. But what would a minority government mean in Yukon? And how could the results of the recount affect that outcome? Here's a look at what happens next: --- Who will be Yukon's premier? Dan Cable, clerk of the Yukon legislative assembly, says even if the NDP wins in Vuntut Gwitchin, incumbent premier and Liberal Leader Sandy Silver still has the first shot at forming government. "If there's no clear winner ... the offer is made to the incumbent party first ... (to) form a government," Cable said. If the Liberals were to win, they would be able to form a minority government of nine seats in the 19-seat legislature, and would need the support of non-Liberal members to move forward with their agenda. "It's early days and we still haven't settled the election yet," Cable said. --- What happens next? Under Section 280 of Yukon's Elections Act, if there's a tie, the returning office has to apply to a judge of the Yukon Supreme Court for a recount. The returning office has six days after election day to do this. If ballot counters find an error during the recount, then a winner is declared. "It all rides on Old Crow at this point," Cable said. --- What happens if Vuntut Gwitchin stays tied after the recount? If the tie remains, Cable said, then the Elections Act says a "drawing of lots" must take place before a judge. That means putting the names of both candidates into anything from a hat to a coffee mug and pulling one out to determine the winner. "It is a strange thing. It's not frequent that it happens in Canada, but it does," Cable said. --- Has this happened before? This isn't the first time such a tie has happened in Yukon's history. It happened in the same riding back in 1996, said Cable. A vote held on Sept. 30 that year resulted in a tie between the NDP's Robert Bruce and the Yukon Party's Esau Schafer. A draw was held and Bruce was declared the winner. "They essentially drew a name out of a coffee cup, from my recollection," Cable said. --- How does it work in Canada's other territories? Yukon is the only one of Canada's three territorial governments that has a party system. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut have consensus-based governments, which means members of the legislative assembly are elected as independent candidates in their constituencies. Once elected, members vote to select the Speaker, premier and cabinet ministers. But, Cable said, a tied vote could happen anywhere in the country. (Natural News) The National Center on Sexual Exploitation Law Center (NCOSE), The Haba Law Firm and The Matiasic Firm are all suing Twitter on behalf of child survivors of sexual abuse who were trafficked on the far-left social media platform with Jack Dorseys blessing. A second survivor is joining the first, both young boys, in a federal lawsuit that alleges Twitter facilitated their trafficking by pedophiles who use the social media platform to exploit innocent children. Both plaintiffs say they were harmed by Twitters distribution of material depicting their sexual abuse and trafficking, a trend that we have covered numerous times as a warning to our readers. All over Twitter, pedophiles and other sexual deviants are sharing and trading images and videos, all illegal, of underage children being sexually abused or otherwise exploited. And to this day, Twitter has done nothing to stop it, even as it bans conservatives along with our former president. Twitter has profited from the knowing distribution of child sexual abuse material depicting these two young men when they were children, and it must be held accountable, says Peter Gentala, senior legal counsel for NCOSE. Twitter cannot sweep under the rug the fact that it both allowed child sexual abuse material on its site and refused to remove it. Does Jack Dorsey know what usually happens to pedophiles in prison? Both plaintiffs in the case say they were solicited and recruited for sex trafficking as minors. After escaping the manipulation, both child sexual abuse victims say that material depicting them was spread all over Twitter. After being alerted to this heinous evil, Twitter responded by refusing to remove the illegal content, and in fact proceeded to promote and profit from it. John Doe #1 actually heard back from Twitter, which said it would not remove the illegal content because it does not violate the companys community standards. This lack of care and proper attention resulted in the child sexual abuse material of John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 accumulating over 167,000 views before direct involvement from a law enforcement officer, who was finally able to have Twitter remove the child pornography material, reports the website End Sexual Exploitation. For violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, Twitter is being sued, and rightly so, by the two plaintiffs. These two young men have suffered severe anguish and trauma at the hands of Twitter, says Lisa Haba, a partner at The Haba Law Firm. Twitter had everything it needed to do the right thing and prioritize the safety and privacy of these children before its own profits. Our lawsuit seeks to hold Twitter accountable for knowingly profiting from the sexual abuse and trafficking of children and the re-victimization of these two boys. Founded in 1962, NCOSE is the leading national non-partisan organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation, including child sex abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking, and the public health harms of pornography. The Haba Law Firm, which operates out of the Greater Orlando area of Florida, has a solid reputation for excellence in civil litigation on behalf of human trafficking and sexual abuse survivors. Haba Law prides itself on its aggressive and effective representation, honesty, and trauma-informed, victim centered advocacy, the firm says about the work it does on behalf of the innocent. The unparalleled knowledge and experience with human trafficking and sexual abuse has resulted in partner Lisa Haba receiving numerous awards and recognitions for her work with survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse. More related news about the pedophilia and child sex trafficking activities that take place on Twitter and other Big Tech platforms can be found at Evil.news. Sources for this article include: EndSexualExploitation.org NaturalNews.com Sri Lanka has banned 11 hardline Islamist organisations, including the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda, for their links to extremist activities in the country, according to an official announcement. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under a special gazette notification issued on Tuesday proscribed the radical groups under the Prevention of Terrorism (temporary) Provisions Act. The notification specifies that any person who acts in contravention or conspires to act would be sentenced to prison terms between 20 and 10 years. Among the banned organisations are local Muslim groups, including the Sri Lanka Islamic Students Movement. In the immediate aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks, Sri Lanka had banned the local Jihadi group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) and two other outfits. The NTJ suicide bomb attacks on churches and luxury hotels here had killed 270 people while injuring 500 others. A special probe panel appointed in 2019 by former President Maithripala Sirisena had recommended the banning of Muslim extremist organisations who advocate radicalism in the Buddhist-majority country. The report also asked for the banning of an extremist Buddhist group, BBS or the Forces of Buddhist Power. The panel said that the BBS actions had contributed to the radicalisation of Muslims. The gazette, however, has excluded the Buddhist group. The panel report was rejected by all political parties despite the head of the local Catholic church Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urging the implementation of its recommendations which he said would give some justice to the victims of the bombings. The panel had found Sirisena and the then top security police brass culpable for failure to prevent the bombings despite the availability of prior intelligence on the impending attack. The Australian national flag flies over Parliament House in Canberra in this file image. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images) Australian PM to Meet With Liberal Staffer Brittany Higgins Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet with former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who alleged that she was raped in Parliament House in 2019. Higgins says she was sexually assaulted by a fellow ministerial adviser in Parliament House while she was working for the coalition government in 2019. The prime minister said a location for the private meeting was yet to be confirmed. Im looking forward to meeting with Brittany, Morrison told reporters in Perth on Wednesday. I know there are a range of issues shes relayed to my chief of staff that she would like to raise and I look forward to hearing her. Late last month, the prime minister offered to meet Higgins after weeks of immense political pressure stemming from her allegations. In response, she said she was unaware Morrison was willing to discuss her concerns about how the incident was handled. I welcome the opportunity to meet the prime minister to discuss how the workplace culture in Parliament House can be improved, she said at the time. Higgins triggered national debate about the treatment of women and the handling of sexual assault complaints. She has been highly critical of senior ministers response to her initial complaint, which has been reinstated with police. The prime minister has instigated an inquiry into whether his office was briefing journalists against Ms Higgins partner in an attempt to discredit and undermine her. By Matt Coughlan Former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate has piled more pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his governments treatment of women, alleging he bullied her out of a job as the first female chief of the postal service. Dressed in suffragette white, Ms Holgate tore into the Morrison government over its treatment of her and alleged her gender was absolutely a factor in her controversial exit from Australia Post over her decision to reward four employees with Cartier watches in 2018. Christine Holgate takes her seat at the start of the Senate hearing on Australia Post at Parliament House. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen He has people in his cabinet, he has members of parliament, who are being accused of the most terrible atrocities to women ... and theyre allowed to stand and still remain in their jobs and represent our country. I was forced to stand down, Ms Holgate told a Senate inquiry on Tuesday. She said she was left contemplating suicide as a result of the bullying and intimidation she endured over the watches saga, which she said included Mr Morrison humiliating her in the Parliament. Haiti Army : Establishment of the Bureau of General Officers (BOG) at the Ministry of Defense In accordance with the decree of October 26, 2015 on the organization and functioning of the Ministry of Defense, the Minister of Defense, Mr. Jean Walnard Dorneval, set up the Bureau of General Officers (BOG). This structure had its first working meeting on Friday, April 9, 2021 at the premises of the Ministry of Defense. Article 18 of the decree specifies that the Bureau of General Officers (BOG) is "a structure composed of active or retired General Officers, placed under the direct authority of the Minister. Its mission is to advise the latter on all matters of defense interest." As such, the BOG is empowered to make proposals, suggestions and recommendations and submit technical opinions to the Minister in matters of defense and security. Chaired by Minister Dorneval, this first meeting of the BOG brought together the following generals : 1) Herard ABRAHAM: retired lieutenant-general, former commander-in-chief of the FAd'H, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, former Minister of the Interior and National Defense; 2) Prosper AVRIL: retired lieutenant-general, former Haitian head of state (September 17, 1989 March 10, 1990; 3) Mondesir BEAUBRUN: retired brigadier general, former Minister of the Interior and National Defense; 4) Pierre H. CHERUBIN: retired brigadier general, former member of the FAd'H high staff; 5) Gerard LACRETE: retired major-general, former member of the FAd'H staff; 6) Jodel LESSAGE: lieutenant-general, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti; 7) Fritz ROMULUS: retired brigadier general, Armed Forces of Haiti; 8) Acedius SAINT-LOUIS: retired brigadier general, former commander of the Leopards Camp of the FAd'H, former Minister of the Interior and National Defense. The members of the Bureau of General Officers welcomed the establishment of this structure. They say they are ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Defense in accordance with the wishes of the law and register their participation in this structure as a call of duty from which they cannot shirk. The establishment of the BOO represents an important step in the regular functioning of the Ministry of Defense. It is important to stress that the current functioning of the BOG is part of Minister Dorneval's determination to strengthen the structures of the Ministry of Defense. Long before the BOG, the following structures were set up: The Permanent Commission for National Defense; The Information and Communication Systems Department; The General Intelligence Directorate; The Research Center in Sciences and Technological Innovations (PORSIT); The establishment of Departmental Directorates of the Ministry of Defense (in progress). These organs and structures, together with the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H), will enable the Ministry of Defense to better respond to its constitutional mission. HL/ HaitiLibre Zaandam, the Netherlands, April 14, 2021 - Today Ahold Delhaize held its Annual General Meeting. Shareholders adopted Ahold Delhaize's 2020 financial statements and agreed to the proposed 2020 annual dividend of 0.90 per common share for the full year. Therefore, a final dividend of 0.40 per share will be paid on April 29, 2021. This is in addition to the interim dividend of 0.50 per share, which was paid on August 27, 2020. Shareholders adopted all other proposals on the agenda, including the appointments of Jan Zijderveld and Bala Subramanian as members of the Supervisory Board. PricewaterhouseCoopers was re-appointed as the external auditor of the Company for the financial year 2021. During his speech, Ahold Delhaize CEO Frans Muller said: "As I look back on 2020, the coronavirus has had an enormous impact on all of us and on all the local communities which are close to one of our brands' more than 7,000 stores. Our people have seen the hardship that the coronavirus causes every day. Customers, both online and in stores, have also felt the impact while they sought the safe familiarity of their daily shopping, amidst an atmosphere of great uncertainty. Associates across all our local brands, who number 414 thousand in total, have shown their commitment every day. "In 2020, we were able to make major investments, totaling 2.6 billion. In the Netherlands alone, that amounted to 600 million. This enabled us to award contracts to both large companies and medium sizes businesses, like construction companies, painters, plumbers and to logistics and IT-companies. These investments also led to direct and indirect employment opportunities. "We have greatly expanded our online capacity, with additional distribution centers, home shop centers, and most recently, an additional micro-fulfillment center in the US. We can now serve customers even better online, anytime and anywhere, in the way they want. For example, 87% of American households in our markets now have access to same-day pickup and delivery. "Together with our strategy and our purpose, our newly adopted vision sets the course for our company: to create the leading local food shopping experience. Our brands do this together with local suppliers and partners. That is how we can best serve customers and their changing needs in the best possible way. These needs include support for healthier living and cooking more at home. They also include helping customers make more sustainable choices and enabling more frequent and faster grocery pick-up and delivery. "We started 2021 in a position of strength which offers room for further growth. However, the outlook for this year is still uncertain due to the pandemic. That's why, in 2021 we will continue to do all we can to support associates, customers and local communities." Cautionary note: This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words and expressions such as to be, vision, sets the course, leading, ready, future, position, enables, outlook, uncertain, certain, continue or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (the "Company") to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company's management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Company's management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. The Growth Gap The Growth Gap is a Yakima Herald-Republic reporting series and newsletter on how Washington states declining child care sector is edging out young learners. Were zeroing in on how this issue impacts children, families, providers and our economy in Central Washington, with an emphasis on long-term outcomes for early learners. To sign up for the newsletter, go to www.yakimaherald.com/users/admin/mailinglist. COMING WEDNESDAY: A visit to the Early Childhood Learning Center at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe. Gunman fires at police responding to call in Maryland from elevated position (Getty Images/iStockphoto) A gunman has opened fire at police responding to a call in Maryland from an apartment balcony, authorities say. Officers are hunting for the suspect after shots were fired at them in Gaithersburg, Maryland, when they were called out to deal with a parking hazard. Officials say that no officers were hit or injured in the incident, which took place at around 3pm on Tuesday. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Police have asked people in the city of 60,000, which is located north west of Washington DC, to shelter in place while they hunt for the gunman. The citys police chief Mark Sroka said he had reviewed the body cam footage and that it was clear that one shot was fired in the direction of the officers. But he refused to confirm that the two officers had been specifically targeted as they continued to hunt for the suspect at the nearby apartment complex. Read More Caron Nazario's lawyer says he was 'terrified' of being shot CDC meeting fails to deliver definitive decision on J&J pause Heart problems killed George Floyd, not police, pathologist testifies This years Student Government inauguration looked somewhat more familiar than it did last year, when Abigail Adeleke and her cabinet were sworn into office virtually. Though masks and social distancing served as a reminder that the pandemic is ongoing, an in-person ceremony was carefully hosted on the Foote University Green Tuesday evening to swear in and welcome the 2021-22 executive board. Landon Coles, a Ronald A. Hammond Scholar majoring in political science; Ajiri Uzere, a political science and psychology double major; and Grace Tenke, a finance major, were sworn in as the University of Miami undergraduate Student Government president, vice president, and treasurer, respectively. With a campaign titled The Uproar, the trio ran with a clear mission to establish transparent policies that encourage greater social cohesion; connect students with professionals; and actively benchmark and communicate ideas, initiatives, and policies with peers. Adeleke, the outgoing president, opened the ceremony by thanking University administration, faculty, staff, and her peers for everything they have accomplished during her tenure. She welcomed Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, to the podium to give his remarks before Patricia A. Whitely, senior vice president of student affairs, shared her memories of the outgoing executive board. I dont think any of you can appreciate how meaningful it is to see all of you in three-dimensions, Duerk said jokingly as he addressed the audience. I especially want to acknowledge our outgoing executive boardAbigail, Shirley Gelman, and Amanda Rodriguez. This leadership team has really been critical representatives of the student voice through all of our COVID-19 policies and everything that the pandemic has brought us. Its no secret that Adeleke and her team faced unique challenges during their administration. Leadership and peers agreed that the outgoing executive board went above and beyond its call of dutyfrom navigating the global pandemic to ensuring every student felt heard as the country tackled a social justice reckoning. No one, and I mean no one, could have ever thought that our administration would be battling a racial and viral pandemic, said Adeleke. We had to make the really tough decision as an executive board. We were going to have to do what we could with what we had and that meant changing course, creating initiatives that met the momentbut it never meant discarding our dreams and ambitions. President Julio Frenks 15-point plan on racial justice was developed with input from the outgoing administration. She [Adeleke] had a different role, because she not only had to do all the student government stuff, but she was always advocating for students, said Whitely, who recalled the personal relationship she forged with Adeleke over the past year. It was a result of all her hard work that Courageous Conversations was created. Following Whitelys speech, Adrian Nunez, community engagement coordinator at the University and the 2017-18 student government president, presented Adeleke with a seal of the City of Coral Gables to commemorate her successful presidency. Awards were also given to students and faculty members for their extraordinary commitments. The awards presented were: Miles PendletonGolden Hurricane Award, presented to a member of Student Government who made an outstanding contribution while not necessarily serving in a key leadership position. presented to a member of Student Government who made an outstanding contribution while not necessarily serving in a key leadership position. Bao DuongPatricia A. Whitely Unsung Hero Award, recognizes a student, staff, or faculty member who has made outstanding contributions that are not widely known or acknowledged, while neither being involved in nor having a role within Student Government. Maria Galli Stampino, senior associate dean for faculty affairs and college diversity, College of Arts and SciencesWilliam R. Butler Award for Administrative Excellence, recognizes faculty or staff members who made critical contributions to completing Student Government initiatives. To recognize students for their contributions during the past year were Renee Dickens Callan, executive director of student life; Joshua Brandfon, senior director of student activities, student organizations, and student center complex programs; and Heather Stevens, assistant director of divisional initiatives. Before the ceremony concluded, the incoming administration stood before the crowd to take their oath and officially assume office. Executive board members Uzere and Tenke both expressed their excitement to take over and said that they are looking forward to getting to work. Im so humbled and honored, said Uzere. Freshman year we were at the inauguration and now Im in the inauguration. Thats a dream I never saw coming, and Im just so blessed to be doing it alongside Landon and Grace. Im just so excited that the student body voted in our favor and want us to represent them, said Tenke. Im confident that we will do our very best to support our university community and support change and hopefully enact change for years to come. To close out the ceremony, Coles shared a few parting words. When I asked Grace and Ajiri to join me last April, I knew then that we were setting out on a journey that would lead us to this moment, said Coles, who aspired to become student government president the moment he stepped foot onto the Coral Gables Campus four years ago. For the last yearand even before thatwe have been working, laying a foundation, and rooting ourselves within our community, and that doesnt stop. Though hes been working hard and nonstop for this moment, Coles went on to say, Im just getting started. Coles also added that he and his team members are committed to the campus community and look forward to representing each and every student on campus for the next academic year. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has wished a speedy recovery to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav after both the leaders tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. In a tweet, Priyanka said she prayed for the speedy recovery of the two opposition leaders and hoped they would stay safe. At present, Yogi Adityanath and Akhilesh Yadav are in home quarantine and are being taken care of by a team of doctors. --IANS amita/khz/bg (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.) HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Human Exploration Rover Challenge will host a virtual awards ceremony for its competing teams Friday, April 16, at 9 a.m. CDT. Media wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Janet Sudnik of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center by 5 p.m. on April 15. The student competition one of seven Artemis Student Challenges tasks high school and college teams from around the world to design, build, and test a human-powered rover capable of traversing simulated terrain from the Moon, Mars, and other rocky planets. Along the way, teams are also required to complete scientific tasks, reflecting spacewalks that were completed during NASA's Apollo Program and may be completed during NASA's Artemis Program. Although NASA will not be able to host teams in person this year, the students have gained significant value from the engineering, teamwork, and project tasks they have already completed. Awards will be given for Overall Winner, Project Review, Social Media, Task Challenge, Videography, Ingenuity, Phoenix, Safety, and STEM Engagement. Teams should reach out to the HERC staff with any questions or for more details. For more than 25 years, the annual NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge and its sponsors have encouraged student teams from the United States and around the world to push the limits of innovation and imagine what it will take to explore the Moon, Mars, and other worlds. HERC is managed by the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. The competition reflects the goals of the Artemis program, which seeks to put the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. NASA's Office of STEM Engagement uses competitions to further the agency's goal of encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. For more information about NASA's Artemis Student Challenges, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/artemis.html SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov (CNN) Tesla is still trying to get back on China's good side. An executive at the electric carmaker told Chinese authorities this week that Tesla will store any data it collects in China within the country's borders, Chinese state media reported Tuesday night. The remarks from Grace Tao Lin, vice president for external affairs at Tesla China, follow recent reports in several media outlets that the country's military had banned Tesla vehicles from its complexes over concerns that onboard cameras could be used for spying. The company has also faced criticism recently for a series of problems involving its cars. In February, Tesla was summoned by regulators to answer questions about the quality of its Shanghai-made vehicles. Beijing has made preventing the abuse of customer data a key part of its broader crackdown on tech companies operating in China. The government's campaign this week extended to Ant Group, the Alibaba-affiliated financial tech firm that promised to "strengthen the protection of personal information" following a Beijing-ordered overhaul of its operations. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been trying to reassure China that his company isn't doing anything inappropriate. He said at an annual state conference last month that his cars would never be used for spying in the country. Musk later lavished praised on the country in an interview with state broadcaster China Central Television, where he pledged that the country would become his company's "biggest market" in the long run. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request from CNN Business for comment about Tao's reported remarks. The Shanghai Securities Journal said that she was speaking Tuesday at a roundtable meeting between dozens of US companies and officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, China's powerful economic planner. Tao said Tesla's data collection in China will strictly abide by the country's laws and regulations, the paper reported. The company had enjoyed a special relationship with authorities in the country over the past few years. Even though he does not speak Chinese, Musk is one of the most popular American business leaders in China. He has some 1.7 million followers on Weibo, a prominent Chinese social media platform more than Apple CEO Tim Cook. And he considers the country, which is the world's largest car market, critical to his electric vehicle ambitions. In 2020, Telsa's revenue from China soared 124% from a year earlier, largely thanks to sales of the Shanghai-made Model 3. Tesla sold more than 137,000 Model 3s in China last year. That made it the best selling electric vehicle in the market, according to the China Passenger Car Association. This story was first published on CNN.com, "China is going after tech companies. Tesla is trying to keep out of the way." A 48-year-old Indian-origin drug-affected and sleep deprived truck driver was jailed on Wednesday for 22 years for ploughing his heavy vehicle into Australian police officers and killing four of them last year on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway, according to media reports. Mohinder Singh was sentenced in Victoria's Supreme Court after pleading guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing death, three charges of trafficking a drug of dependence, and one charge of possession of a drug of dependence. Singh was fatigued and drug-affected. He stopped on his route to do a drug deal, before veering into the emergency lane of the freeway in Kew and ploughing his 19-tonne prime mover into officers and their stationary vehicles on April 22 last year, The Age newspaper reported. Constable Lynette Taylor, senior constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney died at the scene, The Guardian reported. Singh was jailed for 22 years, with a non-parole period of 18 year and six months, the report said. Justice Paul Coghlan said the crash had shocked the public conscience and described footage of the incident as chilling. The grief of those close to the victims is profound and life-changing, Coghlan told the court. Such grief is heightened by the sudden and unnecessary nature of the deaths. We can only hope ... as time goes by, some amelioration of their suffering can come about. He was "actively psychotic" as he claimed he had seen a witch before killing the officers in the crash. The officers had pulled over Porsche driver Richard Pusey for allegedly speeding at the time. Multiple CCTV cameras showed footage of Singh "repeatedly drifting" into the emergency lane of the freeway before the crash, 9news.com reported. Singh's reckless driving was observed by other motorists, with one witness saying: "He's going to...kill someone." Singh was an ice user who, investigators estimate, had rested only five of the 72 hours before the crash and spent much of those three days dealing and using drugs with associates when not driving, The Age reported. The heartbroken families of the four fallen police officers say "no amount of punishment" can ease the grief they feel over losing their loved ones, it said. Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police would commemorate the anniversary in services next week and one later this year that would be open to the public given the overwhelming support shown to the force from the community. The tragedy, he said, was a reminder of the daily risks police faced performing their duties. That's not lost on us, 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.) Over the past few weeks, how much have you been thinking about Dr. Seuss? Your answer to that question will reveal a lot about where you land politically and what kind of media you consume. Because back in March, Dr. Seuss made headlinesat least, on one channel: Fox News. In case you werent follow this story, heres what happened: The estate of Dr. Seuss said it would no longer be selling six of the 40-plus childrens books authored by Seuss. Were not talking about Cat in the Hat or Red Fish, Blue Fish, but more obscure titles, like the first book published under Seuss name. The estate offered very simple reasoning here, saying, These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong. If you flip them open, illustrations of Asian characters in particular look like crude racial stereotypes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Fox News, what happened here could be summed up in one word: canceled. If you read Slate, you probably have a different take on all this. You probably agree with Dan Pfeiffer, from over at Pod Save America. This is not the banning of books. This is not cancel culture, however you define it, he said. This is the decision of the people who own the intellectual property to not continue to publish it. That is the sort of free-market capitalism that Republicans would generally celebrate. But Pfeiffer, who served in the Obama White House, sat up and paid attention when this so-called canceling started taking root with Republican politicians. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy posted a dramatic reading of Green Eggs and Ham. Sen. Ted Cruz offered to sign Dr. Seuss books and send them to constituents if they donated $60 to his campaign war chest. Republicans do not make these decisions out of thin air. There is a reason behind it, Pfeiffer said. Advertisement You may be rolling your eyes about all this back-and-forth over cancel culture, but a lot of the time, these rallying cries actually work for Republicans. On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Pfeiffer about the Republicans strategy and why Democrats cant afford to ignore it much longer. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Mary Harris: If I had to ask you to define wokeness or cancel culture, could you do it? Dan Pfeiffer: No. Cancel culture is a little bit like fake news. Its a term that means everything and nothing. Its just shouted out there as a signal. If you say that the Suess family choosing to not publish some books is cancel culture, then you have no idea what that means. Advertisement Perry Bacon Jr. at FiveThirtyEight talked about how this is a feature, not a bug, because it allows so many things to just get swept into this big umbrella. Youre talking about everything and nothing at the same time, but youre very angry about it. The key features is you must yell about it. You cant talk about it, and you must scream at the top of your lungs, because what youre trying to do is create this existential fear among your voters that America is changing and is changing in ways that are not good for you. And cancel culture is, as broadly defined by the Republicans, part of that. A writer in New York magazine made this point that cancel culture allows Republicans and their supporters to pose as innocent victims of persecution rather than as culture warriors themselves. Advertisement Advertisement I think thats exactly right. Victimization has been at the core of conservatism for a very long time. Despite the fact that they have every advantage in terms of political power in this nation, from the Electoral College to the Senate, theyre always the victims, right? Donald Trump, billionaire president of the United States, was a victim every day he woke up. And this is all part of it. It allows you to say that these otherswhich is a combination of nefarious forces, of Black people, brown people, young people, Hollywood elites, college professorsare coming for you and your traditionally American culture. Youre going to be a victim of this change that the Republicans are going to try to stop. Advertisement And it gets Republican voters to focus on what unites them, not what divides them. Plenty of people who vote Republican are in favor of stimulus checks or a $15 minimum wageissues Republican politicians have been ignoring. But Republican voters and politicians agree on the cultural stuff: a desire to slow down the rate of societal change, a yearning for an imagined American ideal. Focusing on cancel culture also exploits a Democratic weak point, right? Advertisement Democrats are always going to be more divided than Republicans because the very nature of the districts and the states that we have to win to win political power requires us to appeal to a set of voters who are much more conservative than the median Democratic voter. And so we need Joe Manchin and we need AOC. We need everything in between. So theres always going to be more debate between us. This is where much of the intellectual capital of the Democratic Party needs to be spent: finding ways to tell our economic message that are as compelling and interesting and evocative as the Republicans have been able to do with their cultural issues. Advertisement But why isnt that happening? Its cooled down a little bit, but I look at that month of December where you had Conor Lamb, who is a Democrat representing a fairly conservative district in Pennsylvania, calling out how he had to talk about defund the police. And then you have AOC coming out and saying this is a racialized critique. And when I saw that, I was like, You guys need to get your house in order. If youre going to be fighting with each other, youre never going to get going here. And that seems like a real weakness to me of Democratic Party strategy right now. Why isnt this getting addressed? Advertisement Advertisement We can always do more to have unity. And these party debates are good to have out in the sunlight for people to see. But there are also times when maybe they can better be resolved with a conversation between two people that was not mediated by Politico. But its also true that the division is maybe 10 percent of the problem, but it gets 100 percent of the attention. And when you look at how the party has reacted over the first couple of months of the Biden administration, weve been remarkably unified on a whole bunch of things, which is really impressive, considering the historically narrow margins we are dealing with in the House and in the Senate. Thats all going to be tested as time goes on. It always gets harder, not easier, the further you get from Inauguration Day. But the challenge we always have is the incentives for focusing on division are greater than the incentives for focusing on unity. And this is how we sometimes end up in these situations. Advertisement This idea of cancel culture, its not just a left-wing thing. There are also right-wing efforts to cancel left-wing ideas. You see this happening all over the country with local legislatures talking about the 1619 Project. Its valuable to look at this in this way because it makes it really clear to me that this is a battle over whose perspectives we value and why, and its not just left-wing folks flying off the handle. This is a really subtle conversation about our culture and who were talking to and who Americas for. Advertisement Thats exactly right. And this is why its so important to recognize that the Republican argument here is very much in bad faith. They are not making defenses of the First Amendment or anything else. It is trying to protect themselves from being able to say what they want to say, even if it carries great offense, and protect themselves from alternative viewpoints. The Republican focus on the 1619 Project is the perfect example. This has become a huge part of Republican politics over the past year. This is a focus on a series of Pulitzer Prizewinning articles in the New York Times, yet now we have laws being passed about that. We have people trying to put it in the Republican platform. Republicans, for political reasons, and right-wing media figures, for political reasons and economic reasons, go trolling for examples, real and fake but most often fake, to try to make themselves the victims of something that is happening even when that something else is not real and something they are also doing on their side. Advertisement Do you see any Democrats out there right now who are responding to this cancel culture/wokeness divide conversation in the right way? Advertisement I think Joe Biden is doing it the exact right way, which is for Joe Biden, the best thing you can do is not get pulled into these debatesto ignore them and focus on the things that are very popular. But this proposition is really going to be tested as the 2022 campaign gets going. Why? When you are not in an active campaign, its very easy to just focus on the things youre doing in Congress and the popular things that you have just passedselling the American Rescue Plan and trying to pass the American Jobs Plan. But once you are running against a person who is attacking you on these points, youre going to have to find a way to respond. Advertisement I am in no way arguing that we should ignore cultural issues. Democrats should speak up against racism and misogyny. We should speak up against the array of incredibly bigoted bills that are being passed targeting the trans community. We should do all of those things. But we also need to move the conversation to places that unite us and divide them. So what does that look like if Im a local politician in rural Pennsylvania? Advertisement The key thing hereand my advice is based on how Barack Obama dealt with some of these issuesis you cant ignore the issue and you cant buy the premise of the argument. What you have to do is explain why the opponent is bringing this up. So that would be saying something like Opponent X is talking about Dr. Seuss, and Potato Heads, and insert your right-wing outrage du jour, because they want to divide and distract you from their opposition to a $15 minimum wage and the fact that they are going to give additional tax cuts to corporations to be paid for by cuts in Medicare. Explain why theyre doing it, because I think voters will understand that. They have a much more sophisticated understanding of politics than we give them credit for. So if you actually can speak to the motivation behind the attack and what its trying to conceal, you will have your success in taking the issue, addressing it, and then pivoting to a much more safe ground on the issues that animate your voters and divide their voters. Advertisement But sometimes thats easier said than done. Even Obama himself had a tough time navigating this terrain. And the Democratic response to the culture war can get a lot worse than that. When many political advisers think about how to push back on issues of identity politics, they talk about having a Sister Souljah moment, which recalls this incident from back when Bill Clinton was first running for president. He wanted people to know he wouldnt be in the pocket of Black activist groups. And he made this infamous speech. What happened there? Advertisement Advertisement In the 1992 presidential elections, Bill Clinton was running for office and speaking at a Rainbow Push conference, which is the organization started by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. One of the speakers at that conference was an activist and a rapper named Sister Souljah who had performed with Public Enemy and some other groups and had made a series of comments about white people and police officers that had gotten a ton of attention, certainly probably an undue amount of attention, which speaks to some pretty disturbing dynamics in American media. Advertisement Shed been talking about the Rodney King riots. I think she said Black people kill Black people all the time, so why not have a week where we kill white people? And oof, its not an easy thing to hear, although the full context was a little bit different than that. Yes, in that conference, Bill Clinton went out of his way to criticize Sister Souljah. The comments were very aggressive. It was seen at the time and aggressively pitched by the Clinton campaign as Bill Clinton showing that he would stand up to Black activists. Essentially, that he was different than previous Democratic presidential candidates. At the time was it good politics? Advertisement It was seen as great politics at the time and has become this thing people say all the time: When are you going to have your Sister Souljah moment? And what it came to mean is that youre going to go someplace and separate yourself from a constituency in your party in order to appeal to middle-of-the-road swing voters. Advertisement I think in hindsight, it is a pretty gross moment. There was no reason for a presidential candidate to make this thing an issue and do it in such a blatant and pretty cynical way. And I do not believe that moment has aged particularly well over time. There was some talk about this during the postGeorge Floyd protests. When is Joe Biden going to separate himself from some of the looting and rioting? And whats his Sister Souljah moment? I think its a very bad look at politics. And I have been trying to not reiterate that as this example of good politics, to try to treat it for what it really was, which is victimizing someone within your party. This is a little-known activist and rapper who was elevated by the media and then turned into this historical punchline by a presidential candidate. It doesnt feel very good when we talk about it now. Has your thinking on this culture stuff evolved? It has. I think some of the core lessons for how you deal with these things are things that we learned from Barack Obama as you had a Black candidate with the middle name Hussein trying to win over conservative voters all across this country. And so you had to think about this stuff a lot. We had to think about it. And in some ways, it was thought at the time to be unique to Obama because he was in very uncharted territory. But I think its bigger than that. Joe Biden had to deal with many of the same challenges. And the fact that these issues had the same effect with voters with Biden on the ticket as they did with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton suggests that this is a much bigger thing that all Democrats have to deal with. Its not something that is just specific to when there is a Black candidate on the ballot or theres a woman running. This is the next generation of politics. And I have learned a lot of lessons and am obviously still learning them. We dont have the answers to all of this, but the party has changed, and the Republican Party has changed, too. And we have to adjust our strategies for that. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. Aerospace firm expansion plans backed by planning committee in boost to the economy of Wrexham Expansion plans at an aerospace company in Wrexham have been given the go ahead, with councillors describing it as a boost to the local economy. Magellan Aerospace, on Llay Industrial Estate, had put forward proposals to create an 8,000 square metre building adjacent to the existing factory to assemble, store and distribute aircraft parts. The development will also provide offices and welfare facilities for staff, along with on site car parking and a new access point off Miners Road. The Canadian firm said the proposals would provide new job opportunities in the area. It comes after it was announced last summer that up to 240 jobs could be lost at the factory due to a reduction in orders during the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at a virtual meeting on Monday evening, planning officer David Williams said application contains significant economic benefits and would create 120 new jobs. He continued: Its an industry that we want to see supported, with highly skilled jobs involved. Its in accordance with policy, the vast majority of the site is within the land allocated for employment, all of the site is within the settlement limit. There are no objections raised by highways, as you can see from the report they have looked at the capacity of the junctions which be which have used the transport assessments provided by Aldi as being the most appropriate because of the issues of COVID. There is sufficient capacity to allow for any increase in traffic on the back of this developments. As you can see, a large proportion of additional staff will be outside peak hours, they will shift the shift patterns So, a large proportion of additional staff church will occur outside the network peak, which will help alleviate the situation and they will introduce car sharing etc to reduce the impact again on on parking requirements at the site. Llay councillor Bryan Apsley said the development would be a major increase in employment and a boost to the economy of Wrexham. These comments were echoed by Hermitage councillor, Graham Rogers, who added: Wed be silly to refuse this application, especially when its going to encompass an additional 120 jobs, which as already stated, which will be a boost to Llay and the surrounding areas and also Wrexham, as far as the economy is concerned. Ive got concerns in relation to the construction phase as regards to parking. There are a number of units around that particular site, where the sites are derelict. Is it possible that the applicant could make inquiries to see whether or not during the construction phase that one of these derelict sites could become available for parking for the construction worker? Mr Williams noted that it would be possible to condition a management plan for parking due to the construction period. The plans for the expansion were backed unanimously by committee members. The U.S. and Japan should coordinate even more closely to check Chinas military rise, Gen Nakatani, a prominent member of Japans House of Representatives and a former defense minister, told Axios in an interview. Why it matters: Later this week, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will become the first foreign leader to visit President Biden at the White House, demonstrating the importance that the Biden administration is placing on the U.S.-Japan relationship. Details: Nakatani is a co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international group of legislators from democratic countries focused on the challenge of China's rise. He is also the co-founder of the Japan Parliamentary Alliance on China. What he's saying: "Japan's greatest concern about China is its growing military power," Nakatani told Axios. "The Japan-U.S. alliance should strengthen the maintenance of vigilant surveillance and deterrence through joint Japan-U.S. actions." To address this challenge, Nakatani emphasized the importance of working together with regional partners who share common values, including the Quad, an informal grouping of four Indo-Pacific democracies Australia, Japan, India and the U.S. Nakatani said that with the new challenges facing the region, Japan should amend its pacifist constitution so that the country can shift from a focus on pure defense to "active Asian security." On what to expect from the upcoming summit between Biden and Suga: "The two sides will likely declare that they share common strategic goals and values, confirm specific policies and issues, and make a clear statement that they will maintain deterrence through the Quad with India and Australia." Also likely up for discussion: cooperation on climate change; human rights diplomacy toward China; naval cooperation and freedom of navigation operations; missile defense; and economic and security topics such as space, cyberspace and 5G. Driving the news: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi recently criticized China's human rights violations in Xinjiang, its Hong Kong crackdown, and its actions in the contested East China Sea. But while Tokyo has been unusually outspoken on Xinjiang, it has not taken action. "The Japanese government has never sanctioned human rights violations and is even hesitant to ratify the UN Genocide Convention," said Nakatani. "This is due to the fact that Article 9 of the Constitution prohibits the use of force, and the Japanese government is thoroughly committed to its non-military pacifism that says the issue should be resolved peacefully, and remains reluctant to impose any sanctions on foreign countries." What to watch: The EU only recently created its own version of the Global Magnitsky Act to sanctions human rights abusers overseas, and Nakatani hopes that Japan will soon follow suit. "I will continue to spare no efforts in passing the Japanese Magnitsky Act," he said. Go deeper: Quad leaders to unveil plan to boost Asia's vaccine supply Catherine Zeta-Jones has received her second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The actress, 51, shared the happy news on Instagram on Wednesday, telling fans: 'Second shot this morning! So happy!' Alongside the positive update, Catherine posted a stylish selfie, wearing a white face mask and chic circular sunglasses. Stuck to the A-lister's black jumper was a sticker that read: 'I've been vaccinated.' Good news: Catherine Zeta-Jones, 51, has second dose of the COVID vaccine. She shared the happy news on Instagram on Wednesday, telling fans: 'Second shot this morning! So happy!' Catherine appeared to have been vaccinated at NewYork-Presbyterian hospital as her red and white sticker bore the health center's name. NewYork-Presbyterian offers both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, however it's unclear which the actress received. MailOnline has reached out to Catherine's representatives for comment. Catherine who lives in New York with her husband Michael Douglas and their two children kept the east coast chill at bay by wrapping a patterned scarf around her neck. Attached to the Entrapment star's glasses was a beaded white chain. Exciting: Catherine's post comes after she revealed that both son Dylan, 20, and daughter Carys, 17, are keen to follow in their famous parents footsteps during a Today show appearance The doting mother wrote in full: '2nd shot this morning!! So happy! I have a megawatt smile under my mask!' Catherine's upbeat post comes a day after she revealed that both son Dylan, 20, and daughter Carys, 17, are keen to follow in their famous parents footsteps in Hollywood. The Welsh actress said in an interview on Tuesday's Today show that her kids are 'extremely bright' and are 'passionate' about acting. 'Michael and I would be the first parents to say, 'You know, maybe you should think of another career,' but we've seen how passionate they are about the craft,' Catherine explained. 'They know what celebritydom is. They know the good, the bad, warts and all of that.' Proud mum: Catherine added during her virtual Today show appearance: 'They know what celebritydom is. They know the good, the bad, warts and all of that' She added: 'My kids went off to summer camp every year, to theater camp with all the Broadway kids, and held their own very, very well, I have to say.' The Chicago Oscar winner said both she and Hollywood star Michael, 76, do have concerns about how much Dylan and Carys would have to prove themselves because of who they are. 'Michael's experience was, it's a hard act to follow when your dad's Spartacus,' she said. Catherine shared that her children remain undeterred and look set to embark on acting careers. 'I just presume that it's in the cards and I'm very excited to see whatever journey they happen to go on,' she said. Catherine and Michael, son of legendary star Kirk Douglas, married in 2000. He already had a son Cameron from his first marriage to Diandra Luker. Cameron was seen on screen with his mother, father and grandfather in 2003's It Runs In The Family. In 2010, Cameron was sentenced to prison on drugs charges and was released in 2016. he has since gone on to marry and is the father of two young children. Patna, April 14 : After the recent surge in the number of Covid cases in nearly all parts of the country amid the second wave of the pandemic, the people living outside Bihar are now returning to their native state. The Indian Railways have also run special trains to facilitate their return. The migrant workers who have returned to Bihar have now begun to worry about finding work here. Some are thinking about doing farming while many people are thinking about engaging in contractual labour. Hundreds of people from Mokama, adjoining Bihar's state capital Patna, earned their livelihood working in other states. Many such people have returned to their native villages. Anand Kumar, a resident of Ghoswari village, says that dozens of people from his village had gone to other states to earn money and have now returned home or are preparing to return to their native place fearing a lockdown. He said he had also come back to his native place when the lockdown was imposed last year in view of the pandemic. He was left without work after the lockdown was lifted following which he again returned to Bihar. Now once again due to the lockdown people are forced to return to their native places. Subedar Rai, a resident of a village near Ghoswari, used to work as a security guard in Mumbai. His whole family was infected with coronavirus and his wife died of the infection. Following this, he left Mumbai and returned to his native village. He said nobody cares in big cities. "I have returned to my native village facing a lot of trouble. Now come what may, I will not leave Bihar. I will work in the fields," he added. Ram Surat, a labourer who works in a Pune factory, has also returned to Bihar. He had returned home last year when the situation due to the pandemic had worsened. When the situation improved, the factory owner called him back to work, but now everybody has returned to their homes. He has a family in Bihar. "I will stay in Bihar for a few days and when the situation improves, then I will return to work." He is relieved that he has returned to his native state. However, asked how will he get employment here, he says that he could survive for some days but if the situation due to the pandemic persists for a long time, then it would become difficult. Ramnandan, who lives in Chanka village of Purnia district, does not want to leave Bihar now. He said he returned home last year and is now doing farming. What is the use in moving out of Bihar. Advising other people, he says that one should search for work in Bihar. He said the state government is also working towards giving work to people. People from Bihar travel in search of work to most parts of the country. Due to the surge in Covid-19 cases, factories and businesses are being shut down in many states, due to which people are returning to their native states. However, the number of infected cases is also rapidly increasing in Bihar. The people who have returned to their states are relieved that at least they have returned to their villages. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The city of San Antonio rolled out its COVID-19 vaccine waitlist Wednesday morning, finally giving people a way to escape the stress of hunting for appointments on their own. Adult Texas residents can add themselves or a family member to the list, which went live shortly after 10 a.m., by visiting sanantonio.gov/waitlist or sanantonio.gov/listadeespera, for Spanish speakers. Those without internet access can also call the citys 311 line, 210-207-6000. After signing up, people will receive a confirmation text or email and be contacted by a vaccine provider once an appointment becomes available. For now, the waitlist is available only for San Antonios four vaccine hubs the Alamodome, UT Health San Antonio, University Healths operation at Wonderland of the Americas mall and WellMeds sites. The hubs are putting residents 65 and older at the front of the line for appointments. Less than half of that population has received a shot. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio to roll out vaccine registry Wednesday This is a strategy to prioritize the most vulnerable segment of our population to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, and not compete with the general population to do so, said Anita Kurian, who leads the communicable disease division of the Metropolitan Health District. Medical practices and pharmacy chains like H-E-B, CVS and Walgreens are not included in the waitlist, but Kurian said it will be expanded to more providers later. Prioritization of older residents will also ease once a greater proportion of that group has been inoculated. While other cities and states adopted waitlists much sooner than San Antonio, Kurian said the scheduling tool is more useful now that all adult Texans are eligible for the vaccines and the national supply has expanded. The city of San Antonio created its list in partnership with Healthcare Access San Antonio, a nonprofit. On ExpressNews.com: You're not supposed to be here' At 34, he needed new lungs after COVID wreaked havoc It removes some of the anxiety from securing an appointment. Many residents have expressed frustration at having to repeatedly refresh websites or call busy hotlines, to no avail. Even those who successfully booked an appointment have criticized the process as onerous. Kurian asks residents to refrain from signing up for multiple vaccine waitlists. That strategy wastes the time of providers who follow up with people, only to discover they received a shot elsewhere, she said. I understand its a big struggle, she said. Everybody wants to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. But you just have to be a little patient, and then we can get everyone vaccinated more efficiently. On ExpressNews.com: COVID-19 one year later: What San Antonio's public health and medical experts have learned from the pandemic At the moment, only vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are being given in San Antonio. Local providers have halted use of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine as federal regulators investigate a rare blood-clotting disorder identified in a handful of women soon after receiving a shot. As of Sunday, about 1 in 4 residents in Bexar County had received at least one shot, and more than 375,000 had been fully vaccinated, according to state data. lcaruba@express-news.net The family of a young expectant couple who were mowed down as they walked their dogs have only an unfinished baby blanket to remember them by. Kate Leadbetter, 31, and her partner Matthew Field, 37, were about to become parents for the first time, to a son they named Miles, when they were run over in Alexandra Hills in eastern Brisbane on Australia Day. They were allegedly hit by a 17-year-old driver of a stolen Land Cruiser who was high on drugs, on bail for 50 other charges, and rammed another car hours before. He has been charged with murder and several other crimes. Kate Leadbetter, 31, (right) and her partner Matthew Field, 37, (left) were six months pregnant with their first child when they were tragically killed in a hit-and-run in Brisbane on Australia Day Kate's mother Jeannie and stepfather Tom Ricter said Miles would have been their first grandchild when he was born in May. Although it sits waiting for a child that will never come, a tiny crocheted baby blanket with only one row left until completion has offered the family hope amid their darkness. Through tears, Jeannie vowed to finish the blanket in honour of her grandson. 'I haven't gotten back to it, but I will. I will do it,' Jeanie told the Courier Mail. Since January 26, the grieving parents' lives have been completely changed. Although they continue to do the things they have always done, everything has a 'hollow ring to it' and they just 'go through the motions'. Jeannie and Kate were eagerly anticipating the arrival of Miles, and joked about the size of the unborn bub during the pregnancy. Once he reached the size of an eggplant, they started calling him baba ganoush. Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field (pictured) had been dating for more than four years and were expecting their first child Jeannie said at Christmas, just a month before their deaths, Katie remarked how big the family would be the following year once their fifth member arrived. She thought she had reached the age where her biggest worry would be looking after a newborn again. 'I should be like, "wow, now is five weeks 'til the baby is born I should be worrying if I'm capable of looking after a newborn overnight, or if I've lost the skill". I thought (that's what) I'd be worrying about right now,' she said. 'We had the best life. We were just sweet, it was all good. And then in the space of thirty seconds it just stopped We had a great kid and she had a great partner and we finally had that cool bit of playing with "grandies" to look forward to.' Mr Richter recalled how pleased the couple looked when they revealed they were pregnant. He said they came over and Jeannie opened a bottle of wine, but Katie turned it down before telling them the news, with the four bursting into tears. Both of the couple's beloved dogs Django and Frankie (wearing pink bandage) attended the funeral, and looked lost as the family said their goodbyes Floral bouquets (pictured) adorned the coffins of Kate and Matty at a private ceremony held in February But just months later, their world would be completely shattered began when local Sunshine police officers knocked on their door. They were immediately in 'disbelief' that they could be gone because the odds of what happened were 'infinitely small'. Mr Richter said the fact the dogs are still alive showed how it was just a matter of seconds difference between them surviving or not. On Wednesday, he will release a song titled 'Three Hearts' to remember their loved ones who were tragically killed. There is a verse each dedicated to Kate, Matt and Miles. Mr Richter said there were constant reminders Kate and Matty were gone, and Jeannie said she found it hard to think about anything else. Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field had been dating for more than four years and were expecting their first child 'Every time we think of things we want to tell Katie, even just silly little things we want to tell her, we can't anymore. Our beautiful daughter isn't there,' he said. However, he said the whole extended family pulled together to support each other, along with friends near and far. Kate and Matt both died at the scene on Finucane Road in Alexandra Hills and the teen allegedly fled before stealing a set of keys from a nearby house. He was then arrested by police after being disturbed by the resident. It will be alleged the boy deliberately collided with another car at the same intersection shortly before the couple were killed. Police believe the Landcruiser was stolen from a home in Cleveland earlier that afternoon. Proceeds from download sales of Three Hearts will go towards Kate's memorial, and donations to Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group are encouraged. There is never a good time to talk about Tucker Carlson. As John Oliver recently reminded us, offering up attention to those who seek attention in a media world driven solely by monetizing our scarce attention feels uniquely horrible. But Carlson has been pushing harder and harder on his defense of a national voting regime that limits the ability of what he described last week as new people, more obedient voters from the Third World to vote. His flirtation with anti-immigrant dog whistles has become a full-on marching band, which means it may be time to talk about him. As he invoked white replacement theory last week, Carlson was at pains to say that he wasnt endorsing the great replacement theory, a noxious idea prevalent in white supremacist circles that describes the ways in which white cultures are reverse-colonized by Black and brown immigrantsled by Jews, progressives, and globalistswho are building to an extinction-level event. The theory is cited time and again by mass murderers and Nazi enthusiasts. In defending Carlson this weekend, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch insisted that Carlson wasnt amplifying these white ethno-nationalist talking points; he was merely talking about who gets to vote. Thats quite strange because Carlson wasnt talking only about voting and, as his clarification of his position this week makes clear, he wasnt only talking about immigrants either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to a call from the Anti-Defamation Leagues Jonathan Greenblatt to fire the Fox host over the dip into dangerous racist tropes, Murdoch insisted that a full review of the guest interview indicates that Mr. Carlson decried and rejected replacement theory. In Murdochs fun retelling, Carlson actually renounced the theory when he said the following: Everyone wants to make a racial issue out of it. Oh, you know, the white replacement theory? No, no, no, this is a voting rights question. I have less political power because they are importing a brand-new electorate. Why should I sit back and take that? Not to be too lawyerly about it, but adding the words no, no, no before parroting a racist theory about a foreign-born electorate that dilutes your vote doesnt represent a real disavowal. Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. But the most interesting aspect of Carlsons choice to hide behind voting rights in his claims about new people and obedient voters helicoptered in from the Third World isnt just that its of a piece with the burgeoning conservative trend of stating outright that some minorities should absolutely have a harder time votinga triple lutz perfected last week in the pages of National Review. The weird thing is that in hiding from accusations of the kinds of racism that alienate sponsors, Carlson ended up saying that his biggest problem is actually with natural-born American citizens who vote for Democrats in red states. In other words, hes building himself a pretext sandwich: He isnt just decrying immigration or immigrants voting; he is also decrying Americans voting so long as they are Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement As Heather Digby Parton points out, Carlsons strange alternative demographic complaint isnt actually about immigration at all, lawful or otherwise. It is about how some Americans are less American Americans. Perhaps he thinks it gets him out from under the pile-on about being anti-immigrant, but it also vaults him into pre14th Amendment, Dred Scottsounding claims that citizens of one state may not be citizens of another, or even of the U.S. And as jarring as the racism may be, the attack on some Americans as foreigners in their own country is almost more radical. Following calls for his firing over the anti-immigrant comments, this weeks Tucker Carlson wants us to be reassured that he is just as worried about Californians who move to Texas as he is about everything else. In a new turn, Carlson railed against replacement within the country because, he warns, lawful U.S. citizens have flipped states from red to blue. He pointedly raised recent white liberals from New York turning Vermont blue and Massachusetts residents doing the same as they move to New Hampshiredemographic change, he called it, that brings their bad habits with them. He cant be invoking racist replacement theories as long as hes blaming the white yoga instructors who have ruined Aspen in the same way that he blamed the Third World immigrants he deplored last week. The brand-new electorate of non-Americans are just as worrisome when theyre coming from New York and Massachusetts. And Carlsons new concern is not merely the dilution of his own vote, but also the deterioration of beautiful places because liberals are fleeing to the pallid hideaways of Boise and Bozeman, distorting local culture and real estate markets as they do it. Advertisement Advertisement Its not the worst sleight of hand, pretending that so long as you also loathe rich white people from California (note: Carlson is a rich white person from California), you cant be a racist. But hes not even fully committed to the cover. Having made his point about New York liberals who ruined Vermont, he swiftly reverts to his primary point: But in most of this country, it is immigration from other nations more than anything else that has driven political transformation. This is different from what weve seen in places like Vermont. Americans have every right to move to new states if they want, even if they have silly political opinions. But our leaders have no right to encourage foreigners to move to this country in order to change election results. Doing that is an attack on our democracy. Advertisement Its easy to say the whole white yoga instructor thing was just pretext, jazz hands to stop advertiser boycotts. But that doesnt feel like the end of the story. Because by calling into question the white liberals who move from state to state within the country, he was also implying something sinister about their voting rights. The implication on this front is that there is something illegitimate happening whenever Democrats relocate from one state to another. There is something illegitimate happening whenever the people within a historically red state make a different choice when they cast their ballots. And lest it sound insane to claim that any red state vote for Biden is fraud, recall that that was also the root of Trumps big lie about the 2020 election as well as the Jan. 6 attacks on the capitol. By connecting immigrants who vote in America to American voters who pull the lever for Democrats, Carlson has in fact leashed the increasingly vocal claims that the parts of the electorate who voted for Biden are not real Americans to his own claims that anyone who emigrates to the United States is an inherently suspect voter. Thats new. And by connecting these two ideasand padding them in a lot of mumbo-jumbo about being canceled and his personal heroism in speaking suppressed truthsCarlson isnt just trying to immunize himself against the ADLs original claims about racism. Hes adding to the growing drumbeat that holds that any vote for a Democrat is itself an act of democracy-killing fraud. Government funding available in England for vets to visit farms in a bid to tackle Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is due to end in June. Defra currently funds one-to-one on-farm advisory visits by a veterinary practitioner to work with keepers of breeding cattle to tackle the disease on their farms. Funding is available to provide on-farm advice and for vets to work with 'clusters' of cattle keepers, to share best practice and tackle the disease as a group. The government funding will also cover testing for BVD which takes place as part of the process. The disease currently costs farmers in the UK an estimated 61 million a year in lost performance. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is urging farmers and keepers to take advantage of the funds. "The testing to see if BVD is active in a herd must be consistent with the most recent standards as set by BVDFree and carried out in designated laboratories," it explained. "On a first come basis there is limited funding available for further testing to identify any Persistently Infected animals which might be actively spreading the disease. "The control and eventual removal of BVD from the national herd has been a goal for many years, and this project sits alongside and supports farmers in registering with the BVDFree initiative. "We strongly support the use of this scheme and urge anyone thinking of starting their BVD journey to talk to their vet or call the Stamp It Out scheme," AHDB said. The government's funding, made available through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), is only available until the end of June 2021. Seven Logan councillors who were suspended after the Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland levelled fraud allegations against them, leading to the entire councils dismissal, have had their charges dropped in court. While also relieved of the fraud charge, former mayor Luke Smith has been ordered to face trial on separate counts of misconduct in public office for his alleged role in pushing out the councils chief executive Sharon Kelsey. Former Logan councillors Phil Pidgeon, Trevina Schwarz and Russell Lutton, with Ms Schwarzs lawyer Terry OGorman outside Brisbane Magistrates Court after their fraud charges were dropped. Credit:Matt Dennien Then-local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe appointed an administrator at the council, south of Brisbane, in May 2019 and swept aside the entire elected body days after the group, along with the already-suspended Mr Smith, were automatically and briefly stood down with pay. The departure of councillors Russell Lutton, Cherie Dalley, Phil Pidgeon, Steve Swenson, Laurie Smith, Trevina Schwarz and Jennie Breene had left the council with just four members, not enough to form a quorum, triggering its dismissal under the same 2018 laws that forced their suspension while they faced criminal charges. Clarification: This editorial has been updated to reflect that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has forwarded a complaint to other entities for investigation. By now, it has become painfully clear Gov. Greg Abbott will play the increase in migrant for all it is politically worth, even if that means using a compassionate local response as a prop. In his April 7 news conference, set against the backdrop of the Freeman Coliseum, Abbott, flanked by Stetson-wearing Texas Rangers, dramatically announced anonymous allegations of sexual abuse and neglect. It was quite a spectacle. While the allegations are serious and must be investigated, vetted and addressed the news conference was rushed and very much cart before the horse. Abbott hadnt even toured the Freeman Coliseum before striking a pose. And as a former attorney general, Abbott would surely know how unusual it is to announce an investigation before it begins. Were still awaiting substantive evidence, governor. The upshot of his use of children as political props to chastise the Biden administrations immigration policy has been skepticism about the claims. Immediately after Abbotts news conference and throughout the weekend local leaders and immigration advocates rushed to tour Freeman Coliseum. Visitors came away doubting Abbotts allegations and criticizing his motivations. Following Abbotts April 7 press conference, Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores toured the facility with the governor. She said she wished he had taken the tour before sharing these vague accusations. As any journalist can share, tips must be investigated, but that does not mean they are true or accurate. Last Thursday, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert also took a tour and described very good operations, including more than 400 employees and 100 volunteers per day in an open space with ample security, 24/7. On Friday, local leaders, including Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, toured the facility and confirmed the children are receiving adequate meals, and volunteers have undergone background checks and COVID-19 screenings. Castro said the Freeman Coliseum was better than what he had witnessed at Customs and Border Patrol, or CBP, processing centers. Two migrants one from El Salvador and the other from Guatemala who were released because they turned 18 complimented their treatment at the coliseum. After tours on Sunday, local immigration advocates are asking for federal and local leaders to speed up the reunification process. Whats tragic about Abbott is he should be better than this. He politicized a model local response, and in so doing fueled doubt about child abuse. Details about these allegations remain vague. A memo from state officials attached to a letter Abbott sent to Vice President Kamala Harris outlines reports made there was not enough food or volunteers and that those testing positive for COVID-19 were not being separated. Other allegations include not properly monitoring boys during showers and, at night, possible sexual behavior and bullying. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has referred the complaint to the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has said it lacks jurisdiction, and also pointed to DPS for a status of the cases. DPS so far has not responded beyond receipt of the emailed questions. Abbott has demanded that President Joe Biden shut down the facility, calling the conditions deplorable and a direct result of President Bidens refusal to secure the border and his administrations lack of planning for the fallout of his open border policies. All the more reason for the governor to provide evidence. In his words and actions, Abbott hasnt shown empathy for migrant children and their families. Before these allegations, Abbott held news conferences, wrote letters, tweeted and gave media interviews to complain about the increase of migrants crossing the border. He didnt show compassion for migrants during Trump or Obama administrations, even when there were reports of abuse. Provide evidence or provide leadership, governor. But dont continue to turn a compassionate local response to shelter immigrant children into a national political prop. Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) denied journalists from entering and reporting on a public hearing on April 8 regarding the councils draft local plan for 2021-2035. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the blocking of reporters and urges the Council to ensure all future meetings are open to the press. Journalists and media workers were blocked from entering the MBSA public hearing, with officers saying the event was invitation only and no invitations were extended to the media. The meeting was held at Wisma MBSA banquet hall in Shah Alam on April 8 to discuss the councils proposal to convert the Shah Alam Community Forest into commercial real estate and a cemetery. Only residents and other members of the public who lodged formal objections to the draft plan were allowed in. In an attempt to assist journalists, some residents offered to enter the session and act as representatives. However, officers imposed the condition that the session must not be reported and journalists must surrender their recording devices. According to the Centre for Independent Journalism, the decision by the council contravenes the Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment 2011 meant to provide to every individual a reasonable right of access to information made by every department of the State Government and to promote transparency and accountability. MBSA councillor, Pappa Raidu Veraman, said another session would be held where journalists can lodge their objections, insisting planning officers would hold further hearings. However, journalists made it clear they were there to cover the hearing, not participate in it. The IFJ said: This is a severe infringement on press freedom. The recent crackdown on journalists across Malaysia, from the Malaysiakini verdict to the emergency proclamation criminalising fake news, is crushing the capacity of journalists to ensure transparency and accountability in a democratic society. Darktrace is set to call on a high-profile roster of heavy hitters as it drums up support for its forthcoming float. The decision by bosses to push ahead with the London listing, which could value the cyber security firm at 3billion, comes just weeks after fellow tech firm Deliveroo flopped on its debut. Darktrace's close links with Autonomy founder Mike Lynch, an early backer who is embroiled in fraud allegations, are also under scrutiny. Establishment roots: Darktrace founder Poppy Gustafsson, left, Tory peer David Willetts, right, and City veteran Sir Peter Bonfield lead Darktrace The Cambridge firm has warned investors that a ruling against Lynch in court could harm its reputation and force the sale of his shares in the business. And it is set to call on a string of City grandees and former government ministers to press the flesh on its behalf. Former universities and science minister David Willetts, 65, was recently appointed to the board, and ex-BT boss Sir Peter Bonfield is a director who has served on the boards of firms such as Sony and Ericsson. Other advisers include former MI5 director Lord Evans, senior CIA veteran Alan Wade and former UK home secretary Amber Rudd. They could be key to keeping investors on-side. Darktrace was founded in 2013 by a group of Cambridge mathematicians and former spies. Clients range from Rolls-Royce to Coca Cola. But the long-running association with Lynch, 55, could be a thorn in its side. On the board: City veteran Sir Peter Bonfield He is in court on both sides of the Atlantic, battling claims that he cooked the books at Autonomy before it was sold to Hewlett Packard for 7billion in 2011. Lynch denies any wrongdoing. But he is awaiting judgment after a civil trial in the UK's High Court, while another judge is also set to rule imminently on the separate question of whether the tycoon can be extradited to face criminal charges in the US. Sushovan Hussain, Autonomy's former finance chief, has already been prosecuted and jailed by US authorities, while former vice-president Stephen Chamberlain has been charged. Chamberlain is a Darktrace employee, serving as operating chief, although he is currently on administrative leave. In recent years, Lynch has distanced himself from Darktrace. He stepped down as a director in December 2018 after a US grand jury charged him with 14 counts of conspiracy and fraud. But he continued to sit on Darktrace's advisory board until last month and still sits on its science and technology board. Darktrace and Lynch remain linked in other ways. The firm's boss, Poppy Gustafsson, is a former Autonomy executive who worked under Lynch, as is her former co-chief Nicole Eagan. Along with Lynch and Hussain, Eagan founded Invoke Capital, which became Darktrace's first financial backer with a 10,000 investment eight years ago. Since then Invoke has provided extensive help to Darktrace, and key figures such as Gustafsson, Eagan, technology chief Jack Stockdale and marketing chief Emily Orton were moved across from it. Since 2018, Invoke has been paid roughly 6.5million for services to Darktrace, according to the firm's registration document. Darktrace has taken steps to distance itself from Lynch and Invoke, including paying 1.2million to terminate their relationship. And it has warned its remaining exposure to Lynch still presents risks. He and his wife, Angela Bacares, own roughly 19 per cent of the firm and could make 570million from the listing. But Darktrace said that if Lynch's legal jeopardy worsens, he may have to sell his shares, undermining the stock price. It also warned that if he is found guilty in the US, Darktrace could face money-laundering charges. Eagan, who is strategy chief, was previously questioned as part of US inquiries into Autonomy. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on her part. Gustafsson on Monday said Lynch has 'no involvement in the day to day running of the company'. If questions persist, however, she may find that an increasingly tricky tightrope to walk. Forman cautioned that in most U.S. states, which receive vaccine shipments based on population, demand for the shot still exceeds supply. So its hard to know how many people are resisting until everyone wanting the shots gets them. But if states soon start seeing significant numbers of unfilled appointments with many people still unvaccinated, he said consequences could be serious. Click here for updates on this story PLACERVILLE, California (KCRA) -- In a unanimous vote, and after a public comment session lasting over three hours, Placerville's city council decided Tuesday night to remove the depiction of a noose from the city's logo. Mayor Dennis Thomas opened up the public comment period with ground rules for the Zoom call that was livestreamed to YouTube. The first commenters, all 173 of them, would have one minute to speak their minds followed by a comment period for people wanting to speak for at least two minutes on Agenda Item 12.1. "This meeting has been a long time coming," said Thomas. "It's my desire and our council's desire that everybody has a chance to get heard." Locals, longtime residents, shop owners, transplants from other areas of California, high school-age students, young, old all gave their opinions at the meeting about the noose on the city's logo. "I am horrified and deeply hurt that we have a symbol of a noose in our logo," said one caller. "A noose is a symbol of death. A noose is a symbol of lynching. A noose is a symbol of racism I think we're better than that." Many callers said the people of Placerville should decide the future of the logo with the noose depicted, by voting on it. "I would like us to keep our noose. It's taking away from our history. We need to keep our history. This world right now is taking inch by inch little pieces of our history and throwing it away," said another caller. "If you guys are gonna change anything it needs to come out to the people and the people should be able to vote on it." It's not entirely clear when exactly the current city logo was created. At Tuesday's meeting, the city manager and other council members said they've done some research on it. They said it's only about 40 years old or so, dating back to the mid-to-late 1970s. The logo stems from Placerville's Gold Rush history, which the city relies heavily on as a tourist draw. Prospectors from around the world went to the area hoping to strike it rich, which made it difficult to keep the peace. In 1849, three men were convicted of robbery and murder. To send a message that those crimes would not be tolerated, the men were hung from a tree along what is now Main Street. That is how the city became know as Hangtown, and the nickname has stuck. Amid national dialogue about racism in the United States, there was increased pressure for the noose to be taken out of the city logo. The timeline for changing the logo on city facilities and vehicles wasn't outlined at Tuesday's meeting. The city manager estimates that making the changes, along with the labor involved, will be around $5,300. The city said the cost can be absorbed in the current year budget. The Local Government Association of Queensland has called for the head of the states corruption watchdog to be stood aside while an independent inquiry is held into how charges came to be laid against seven Logan councillors now cleared of any allegations. Chief executive Greg Hallam also called for the release of legal advice in relation to the saga, in which the entire council was dismissed after the criminal charges left it without a quorum in 2019. Greg Hallam speaks to media after fraud charges laid against Logan councillors were dropped. Credit:Matt Dennien He said the affected councillors should be compensated and a public apology issued. There were cheers in the Brisbane Magistrate Court when prosecutors announced they would drop fraud charges against former councillors Russell Lutton, Cherie Dalley, Phil Pidgeon, Steve Swenson, Laurie Smith, Trevina Schwarz and Jennie Breene, along with former mayor Luke Smith, because of a lack of evidence. China-India border tensions "remain high" despite some force pullbacks this year, the US intelligence community has told Congress, asserting that Beijing seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to its preferences, including its claims over disputed territory. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in its latest annual threat assessment report to the US Congress that Beijing will continue to promote the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand its economic, political and military presence abroad, while trying to reduce waste and exploitative practices, which have led to international criticism. The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came into power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. "China-India border tensions remain high, despite some force pullbacks this year. Chinas occupation since May 2020 of contested border areas is the most serious escalation in decades and led to the first lethal border clash between the two countries since 1975, the report said. "As of mid-February, after multiple rounds of talks, both sides were pulling back forces and equipment from some sites along the disputed border, it said. The border standoff between the armies of India and China erupted on May 5 last following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February in line with an agreement on disengagement. India has been insisting that a resolution of outstanding issues including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra is essential for overall ties between the two countries. Read | No nation more important than India as US seeks to counter China, states think tank report According to the report, China seeks to use coordinated, whole-of-government tools to demonstrate its growing strength and compel regional neighbours to acquiesce to Beijings preferences, including its claims over disputed territory and assertions of sovereignty over Taiwan. In the South China Sea, Beijing will continue to intimidate rival claimants and will use growing numbers of air, naval, and maritime law enforcement platforms to signal to Southeast Asian countries that China has effective control over contested areas. China is similarly pressuring Japan over contested areas in the East China Sea. China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond. It is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are vital to global trade. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the strategically vital area. Beijing will press Taiwan authorities to move toward unification and will condemn what it views as increased US-Taiwan engagement, the report said. China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified, even by force. "We expect that friction will grow as Beijing steps up attempts to portray Taipei as internationally isolated and dependent on the mainland for economic prosperity, and as China continues to increase military activity around the island, it said. Also Read | Chinese military says India should cherish 'current positive trend' of de-escalation in eastern Ladakh Chinas increasing cooperation with Russia on areas of complementary interest includes defence and economic cooperation, it added. China will try to increase its influence using vaccine diplomacy, giving countries favoured access to the Covid-19 vaccines it is developing. It will also promote new international norms for technology and human rights, emphasising state sovereignty and political stability over individual rights, the ODNI said. China will remain the top threat to US technological competitiveness as the Chinese Communist Party targets key technology sectors and proprietary commercial and military technology from US and allied companies and research institutions associated with defence, energy, finance, and other sectors. Beijing uses a variety of tools, from public investment to espionage and theft, to advance its technological capabilities, it said. According to the report, China will continue expanding its global intelligence footprint to better support its growing political, economic, and security interests around the world, increasingly challenging the United States' alliances and partnerships. Across East Asia and the western Pacific, which Beijing views as its natural sphere of influence, China is attempting to exploit doubts about the US commitment to the region, undermine Taiwans democracy, and extend Beijings influence, it said. Beijing has been intensifying efforts to shape the political environment in the United States to promote its policy preferences, mould public discourse, pressure political figures whom Beijing believes oppose its interests, and muffle criticism of China on such issues as religious freedom and the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong, it said. Company Announcement No. 19/2021 Copenhagen, 14 April 2021 Results of the Annual General Meeting of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (the "Company") held its annual general meeting today. The outcome of the general meeting was as follows: 1. Adoption of the audited annual report The audited annual report was adopted by the general meeting. 2. Appropriation of profit as recorded in the adopted annual report The general meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal that for the financial year 2020 the Company pays a dividend of DKK 6.50 per share of DKK 1. 3. Presentation of the Company's remuneration report for an advisory vote The remuneration report was approved by the general meeting. 4. Adoption of the remuneration of the Board of Directors and Board committees The general meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal for compensation to the Board of Directors for the financial year 2021 as follows: Ordinary members of the Board of Directors are paid a base annual fee of DKK 440,000 The chairman receives three times the base annual fee The vice-chairman receives two times the base annual fee The chairman of the Audit Committee receives a fee corresponding to 75 percent of the base annual fee Other members of the Audit Committee receive a fee corresponding to 37.5 percent of the base annual fee The chairman of each of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee receives a fee corresponding to 25 percent of the base annual fee The members of each of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee receive a fee corresponding to 12.5 percent of the base annual fee The fees for the chairmen and members of the committees are in addition to their fee as chairman, vice-chairman or member of the Board of Directors. In addition to the above, the Company may, in accordance with the Company's remuneration policy, also pay social contributions and similar fees that it may be charged by foreign authorities in relation to the fees paid to members of the Board of Directors. Further, the Company may pay travel expenses and other expenses related to the work as a member of the Board of Directors. 5. Reduction of the Company's share capital The general meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal that the Company's share capital is reduced by cancelling some of the Company's treasury shares of a nominal value of DKK 2,500,000. After the reduction, the nominal value of the Company's share capital will be DKK 97,500,000. Prior to the implementation of the capital reduction, the Company's creditors will be requested to file any claims they may have against the Company within a period of 4 weeks. The request will be published via the Danish Business Authority's IT system. The capital reduction will be implemented after expiry of the said 4-week deadline. Once the capital reduction has been completed, Articles 3.1, 5.1 and 6.1 of the Company's Articles of Association will be amendedto reflect the resolution to reduce the share capital. The Company will publish an announcement once the reduction of the share capital has been completed. 6. Authorisation to the Board of Directors to resolve that the Company's general meetings shall be held as completely electronic general meetings The general meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal thatthe Company's Board of Directors is authorised to resolve that the Company's general meetings shall be held electronically without access to any physical attendance, i.e. as completely electronic general meetings in accordance with section 77(2) of the Danish Companies Act. Consequently, a new Article 7.4 is included in the Company's Articles of Association. 7. Language of company announcements etc. The general meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal that information disclosed pursuant to applicable securities legislation, including company announcements, shall be in English only going forward.Consequently, a new Article 11.7 is included in the Company's Articles of Association. Accordingly, this will be the last company announcement that is available in both Danish and English. Going forward, company announcements will only be in English. 8. Election of members to the Board of Directors The general meeting re-elected Nigel Northridge, Henrik Brandt, Dianne Blixt, Marlene Forsell, Claus Gregersen, Luc Missorten and Anders Obel and elected Henrik Amsinck as members of the Board of Directors. 9. Election of auditor(s) PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerskab was re-elected as auditor of the Company. -- The Board of Directors has appointed Nigel Northridge as chairman of the Board of Directors and Henrik Brandt as vice-chairman. Members of the Audit Committee are Marlene Forsell (chairman), Dianne Blixt and Luc Missorten. Members of the Nomination Committee as well as the Remuneration Committee are Nigel Northridge (chairman), Henrik Brandt, Claus Gregersen and Luc Missorten. For further information, please contact: For investor enquiries: Torben Sand, Head of Investor Relations phone: +45 5084 7222 or torben.sand@st-group.com For media enquiries: Simon Mehl Augustesen, Director of Group Communications phone: +1 484-379-8725 or simon.augustesen@st-group.com About Scandinavian Tobacco Group Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S is a world leading manufacturer of cigars and pipe tobacco with an annual production of four billion cigars and 5,000 tonnes of pipe and fine-cut tobacco. The Group holds market-leading positions in several categories and has a portfolio of more than 200 global and local brands. Scandinavian Tobacco Group has its headquarter in Copenhagen, Denmark - and employs approximately 11,000 people in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. For more information please visit www.st-group.com Attachment MINSK -- Yuras Zyankovich, a Belarusian lawyer who also has U.S. citizenship, has been detained in Moscow and transferred to a detention center in Minsk amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent in Belarus following a disputed presidential election last year. Zyankovich's wife, Alena Dzenisavets, told RFE/RL on April 13 that Russian security officers "abducted" her husband from the Nordic Rooms Hotel in Moscow on April 11 and brought him to the Belarusian capital. "I learned about that only yesterday. I talked to a manager of the hotel. According to him, the hotel's personnel saw how men in civilian clothes took Yuras away, saying that he was suspected of terrorism. They showed their documents saying that they are from security organs," Dzenisavets said, adding that Zyankovich is currently in the detention center for the Belarusian Committee of State Security (KGB) in Minsk. Yuras Zyankovich, who used to be a regional leader of the opposition Belarusian Popular Front (BNF) party and once sought to be its presidential candidate, has been living in the United States since 2007. He is a graduate of Fordham University's School of Law in New York and is permanently based in Houston, Texas. Zyankovich frequently visits Belarus and actively takes part in the country's political life. On April 12, the day of Zyankovichs detention in Moscow, a noted Belarusian political analyst, Alyaksandr Fyaduta, went incommunicado in the Russian capital, where he works as a media consultant. Moscow police said at the time that they had started looking for him after his relatives raised concerns about his whereabouts. On April 13, the Belarusian KGB said that Fyaduta is in custody in Minsk. The KGB statement said that Fyaduta and BNF chairman Ryhor Kastusyou were being held on unspecified charges, adding that detailed information on the cases will be provided later. Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled the country since 1994, was declared the landslide winner in the August election, which was widely viewed as rigged in his favor. Thousands of citizens took to the streets for months to protest the results, saying Lukashenka's challenger, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, actually won the election. Tsikhanouskaya left Belarus for Lithuania after the election for security reasons, while Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in which almost 30,000 have been detained, hundreds beaten, several killed, and journalists targeted. Many other senior opposition figures have also left or were forced to leave Belarus, fearing for their safety, while several of those who haven't left have been detained by security officials. Former parliamentary staffer Brittany Higgins, whose allegations that she was raped in Parliament House prompted national debate about Canberras workplace culture, has signed a major non-fiction book deal worth an estimated $250,000. The contract was agreed with publishers Penguin Random House Australia after a three-way auction involving Allen & Unwin and Hachette last month. Her publisher will be Melbourne-based non-fiction specialist Alison Urquhart. Brittany Higgins speaks at a rally on March 4. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The memoir will take in Higgins account of her alleged rape in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019 and her role in the subsequent movement for greater protection for women in Canberra, and workplaces more generally. I feel privileged to be afforded the opportunity to share my experience inside Parliament House with readers, Higgins said in a statement on Tuesday. ELAINE Houlihan, of Kilmallock Macra, has become the first female Munster vice president in 20 years. She beat off stiff competition from Aine McCarthy of Killeagh Macra, Co Cork. Elaine, aged 25, is currently chairperson of Limerick Macra, alongside being PRO and very proud member of her home club of Kilmallock Macra. Elaine joined Macra in 2016 after some encouragement from her parents Eamonn and Ann, both former members of the organisation. Since joining she has been active at club, county and national level. "I am delighted to be elected Munster vice president and I would like to thank my family, friends and amazing campaign team for all the support over the past few weeks. "I would also like to thank my opponent Aine McCarthy for an honest and fair campaign. I look forward to working with all clubs in the Munster region over the next two years of my term," Elaine, who is a qualified physiotherapist working with sporting clubs around the county. She also currently works in the Kilmallock office of Deputy Richard ODonoghue TD. One of her passions is physical and Mental health. Last year, she organised and hosted keynote speakers in an online mental health discussion for Kilmallock Macra which was a huge success with almost 2000 views. Her other interests include agriculture and volunteering - she has travelled to India to provide life changing physiotherapy to those in need . Over the next two years Elaine will work with all the clubs throughout Munster to help reboot clubs post Covid and ensure they are fulfilling their potential. She also wants to have a big focus on promoting positive mental and physical health among members. "Isolation has had a huge effect on our members in rural communities and this is something I will work to combat with the help of the presidential team," said Elaine. She would also like to see the introduction of equine based competitions and workshops within the organisation as almost every other aspect of agriculture already has a competition. Elaine will start her term as Munster vice president at the National Macra na Feirme AGM next month. LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ClickDissolve.com is the first company of its kind to use AI to automate the California LLC dissolution process, saving thousands of business owners time and money. With its ground-breaking online system, the experienced team at ClickDissolve e-files the necessary dissolution paperwork required to close a business enterprise in the State of California. California LLC Dissolution Form To dissolve an LLC in California, the correct forms must be filed with the Secretary of State in coordination with the Franchise Tax Board. Every limited liability company must file a Certificate of Cancellation, but not every LLC must file a Certificate of Dissolution. In addition, every LLC must be in good standing with the Secretary of State. If they are not, they must correct their status with the Franchise Tax Board and file a revivor request form before they can dissolve their LLC. When small business owners try to wade through the dissolution process on their own, an error or omission can disrupt the entire procedure. By partnering with state agencies, ClickDissolve cuts through the bureaucracy with its clear, easy-to-use digital system, streamlining the necessary documentation required to cease doing business in the State of California. "Failure to correctly dissolve an LLC or Corporation can result in costly tax liabilities and other legal complications for business owners," said Annie Le, Director of ClickDissolve.com, an e-business based in Houston, Texas. "Our one-click solution is a game-changer. In many cases, it can help business owners dissolve their LLCs within 24 hours." The cost of hiring a lawyer to legally dissolve a California LCC can place an unwanted burden on a company already struggling to meet its obligations before it stops doing business. ClickDissolve.com's innovative online system asks the LLC's representative to answer 10 simple questions, which experts review. ClickDissolve then prepares the appropriate dissolution paperwork and files it directly with the state, officially closing the LLC. "The average attorney cost to dissolve an LLC in California is about $2,500," said Annie Le. "ClickDissolve's technology can get it done faster and for less than $100. Legal services shouldn't cost an arm and a leg for small business owners." If an LLC is no longer in business and does not notify the appropriate government agencies, the business will continue to accrue taxes and fees. Since ClickDissolve was founded in 2010, it has handled the dissolution of thousands of small businesses, allowing owners and entrepreneurs to move forward with confidence to their next endeavors. About ClickDissolve.com ClickDissolve.com is a leading business dissolution service operating in California. The company provides a range of technology solutions for business owners to interact with government agencies effectively. The company has helped over 10,000 California LLCs and Corporations comply with state agency and IRS requirements in the last five years. Contact: Peter Le [email protected] (888) 832-4680 Related Images california-llc-dissolution-form.jpg California LLC Dissolution Form California LLC Dissolution Form SOURCE ClickDissolve.com Iceland Indus Travels is offering Ultra Small Group Tour Specials where travelers can create their own bubbles of only 2-6 people. These are designed to help passengers stay safe and feel comfortable without missing out on incredible experiences. They will also enjoy more in-depth and personalized adventures from traveling in a small group and closer interaction with tour guides. Make sure you take advantage of these special rates before they are gone! COSTA RICA Costa Rica is an adventure lovers paradise. From active volcanoes to tropical rainforests, the Indus Travels 8-Day Costa Rican Adventures Tour will guide travelers through breathtaking hikes and exhilarating activities. Starting at $909/person including international flights, adventure junkies can take the Sky Tram Gondola over the tropical rainforest or walk over nature with the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Glide through treetops near active volcanoes or go white-water rafting near exotic animals. With the Costa Rican Adventures Tour, you can enjoy thrilling experiences in Arenal, San Jose, and Manuel Antonio. While these are not for the faint of heart, the tour also offers slower-paced excursions. Bathe in the hot springs of Arsenal National Park, embark on the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, or head towards the Penas Blancas River for a relaxing safari float. CROATIA Known as the Land of a Thousand Islands, Croatia is full of natural beauty and wonder. Medieval walls, turquoise waters, and ancient history await travelers looking to explore the country. From the historic city of Dubrovnik to coastal gems like Split and Zadar, visitors will fall in love with the breathtaking scenery. For 12 days starting at $2989/person including international flights, The Indus Travels Best of the Adriatic Tour will take travelers to all of these beautiful cities and more. Passengers will stop in Mostar to discover historic monasteries, scenic rivers, and the Stari Most dating back to 1566. There will be stops in the historic city of Ljubljana and fairy-tale lakes of Slovenia. The Best of the Adriatic Tour will conclude in Zagreb, where you will get your final taste of Croatia surrounded by gorgeous greenery, famous cathedrals, and cultural landmarks. ICELAND Ever wanted to ditch the set itinerary and explore a country on your own? With iconic routes like the Golden Circle and extraordinary Northern Lights, the Iceland Explorer Self Drive Tour may be your perfect option. Discover active volcanoes, magnificent glaciers, geothermal hot springs, and incredible waterfalls that will take your breath away. Hit the open roads in a small group and discover the surreal beauty of Iceland while feeling safe and comfortable. For 10 days starting at $2469/person including international flights, the Iceland Explorer Self Drive Tour will guide you through the beautiful Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Thingvellir. Enjoy optional excursions like the LAVA Centre in Hvolsvollur or snowmobiling on the Myrdalsjokull Glacier. SAFE TRAVELS ASSURED If youre concerned about safety, let us put your worries at ease. At Indus Travels we always make the health and safety of our travelers a priority. We have created a new set of standards with specific precautions set in place to create a safe travel environment for all passengers and staff. Bookings will be scheduled with the ability to postpone, change dates, and cancel your trip within 60 days of departure. Vehicles will be sanitized before each trip and operators will follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. We strictly handpick hotels that follow WHO health and safety guidelines. Learn more about our Safe Travels Assurance Policy. For further information, Contact: Praveen Syal, Indus Travels Inc. 233 11951 Hammersmith Way Richmond BC V7E 1H8 Canada Tel. 604 279 8794 http://www.indus.travel The French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who arrived in New Delhi on April 13 for a four-day official visit, said that the country has set a target of having 20,000 students in France by 2025 and they would work for making it possible. Speaking at an event at the French Embassy where he appointed 15 Alumni Ambassadors of Higher Education in France, he assured that these students will receive support during their stay in France. "We set ourselves a target - it is to have 20,000 Indian students in higher education institutions in France by 2025. We will make it, thanks, in particular, to you, and to your dynamic experience and energy. And as you know, we will support these students during their stay in France so that as they may fully live this intellectual, cultural and human experience," he said. France welcomes Indian students The French Foreign minister also said that he shares a strong bond with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "I apologise for arriving late but I was with my colleague, Minister Jaishankar, your External Affairs Minister, and we had so many things to discuss and our relationship is so strong that we got late. However, I very much wanted this latest visit, which is my 17th official visit to India. To begin with, you because the history, the background of our cooperation, of our partnerships has always been based on sharing knowledge, sharing ideas, and academic exchanges," he added. Indian students are extremely talented and France is keen to welcome more of them. Today, Min @JY_LeDrian appointed 15 Alumni Ambassadors chosen from the prestigious France Alumni network to boost student mobility b/w France and India. pic.twitter.com/YFN6OBpUD0 Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) April 13, 2021 Meanwhile, Jaishankar and Le Drian on April 13 held bilateral talks in Hyderabad House wherein they discussed collaborating on areas of mutual interest. Both the leaders recognized the immense opportunities for greater collaboration in a variety of fields such as trade, defence, education, research, energy, climate change amongst others. They also agreed to fast track discussions on the India-EU trade and investment agreement. Le Drian on April 14, along with Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, will take part in a panel discussion on climate change at the French Embassy. A comfortable, substantive and productive discussion with FM @JY_LeDrian. India and France will advance their shared post-COVID agenda through close collaboration. pic.twitter.com/JcyJgRSDnD Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2021 (Image Credits: FranceinIndia/Twitter) (Inputs from ANI) ZUG, Switzerland, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the Bitcoin SV blockchain, today announces that it has appointed Marcin Zarakowski as its first internal legal counsel & public policy manager. Zarakowski will be based out of the Association's headquarters office in Zug, Switzerland. Zarakowski's hire is the latest addition to a growing roster of experienced professionals at Bitcoin Association working towards establishing a regulation-friendly global ecosystem for blockchain technologies and digital assets. In his new role, Zarakowski will handle both Bitcoin Association's day-to-day legal matters, as well as contribute to its quickly expanding public policy agenda, with a focus on the European Union and surrounding territories. Bitcoin Association continues to increase its engagement with policymakers around the world, working to educate government agencies about how they can support and implement innovations emerging in the blockchain space. The Association and its supporters have advised on the application of legal & regulatory frameworks for both digital assets and blockchain technologies around the world, including during the drafting phase of the Digital Assets Business Act 2020 in Antigua & Barbuda. In addition to its first-hand work in the space, Bitcoin Association has strived to raise awareness of these issues amongst the general public, including the creation of Blockchain Policy Matters - a legal and regulatory focused online web series that has welcomed guests including U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina 10) and U.S. Securities & Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce. Recently, the Association's new Blockchain for Government Initiative made a trip to Khartoum, Sudan to lead the first-ever Sudan Blockchain Summit and Workshop, in addition to conducting meetings to educate both government and business leaders about how blockchain technology can advance Sudan's digital transformation as the country rebuilds. Zarakowski joins Bitcoin Association as an experienced hand in the blockchain space, making the move from the Lisk Foundation - another Zug-based non-profit operating in the blockchain technology and digital asset sector. He has particular experience with legal issues involving blockchain, data privacy, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and intellectual property. Zarakowski has proactively contributed to regulation and legislation pertaining to blockchain technologies, both as co-chair of the privacy working group at the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications and as a member of the working group on DLT and blockchain as part of the Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland. In addition to his legal experience, Zarakowski is a Certified Information Privacy Professional - Europe (CIPP/E). Speaking on today's announcement, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commented: "Bitcoin Association is committed to supporting a regulation-friendly ecosystem for blockchain technologies and digital assets - one that balances the need for a lawful environment while fostering and encouraging innovation. Marcin's experience will be valuable as we expand our public policy work and government blockchain initiatives across Europe and surrounding territories - educating decision-makers about the power of BSV as the only public blockchain with the ability to scale unbounded to meet the needs of both enterprise and government. And as a former lawyer myself, it's wonderful to welcome another lawyer to the Bitcoin Association team." Commenting on his hire, Marcin Zarakowski said: "I am excited to join Bitcoin Association, as I see tremendous potential for the BSV blockchain to be successfully implemented across a range of different use cases in both the public and private sector. Because of its ability to scale unbounded, I firmly believe that BSV can be the catalyst that drives mass adoption of blockchain technology and successfully realises its truly disruptive potential. I look forward to helping Bitcoin Association and its Blockchain for Government Initiative navigate and contribute to the developing regulatory environment for blockchain technologies and digital assets in my new role." About Bitcoin Association Bitcoin Association is the Switzerland-based global industry organization that works to advance business on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. It brings together essential components of the Bitcoin SV ecosystem - enterprises, start-up ventures, developers, merchants, exchanges, service providers, blockchain transaction processors (miners), and others - working alongside them, as well as in a representative capacity, to drive further use of the Bitcoin SV blockchain and uptake of the BSV digital currency. The Association works to build a regulation-friendly ecosystem that fosters lawful conduct while facilitating innovation using all aspects of Bitcoin technology. More than a digital currency and blockchain, Bitcoin is also a network protocol; just like Internet protocol, it is the foundational rule set for an entire data network. The Association supports use of the original Bitcoin protocol to operate the world's single blockchain on Bitcoin SV. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1218683/Bitcoin_Association_Logo.jpg Loren and Alexei Brovarnik from the 90 Day Fiance franchise are fan favorites, and viewers cant seem to get enough of their little family. Their son, Shai, turned one on April 14, 2021, and both of his parents wished their son a happy birthday in the sweetest posts. We have all the details. Loren and Alexei Brovarnik in 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After | YouTube/90 Day Fiance/TLC Loren and Alexei Brovarnik from 90 Day Fiance Loren and Alexei are both 32, and they met in 2013 when Loren traveled to Israel on a Birthright trip that she was staffing at the time. Alexei was the medic of the group, and hes from Israel. They were married in the United States in 2015, and they did it again in Israel in 2016. On April 14, 2020, their son, Shai, was born. Loren is also pregnant right now with another son. The happy couple resides in Hollywood Beach, Florida, and they will soon be a family of four. The couple has become favorites in the 90 Day Fiance franchise, especially with their memorable appearances in episodes of Pillow Talk. Theyve been in other spinoffs as well, including season 3 of the original 90 Day Fiance, seasons 1 and 2 of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, as well as 90 Day Fiance: What Now. Loren and Alexei even had their own segment on What Now called Loren & Alexeis Baby Special. They can also be seen in the discovery+ exclusive series 90 Day Diaries. Loren and Alexei Brovarnik wished their son a happy birthday in the sweetest posts RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Loren and Alexei Brovarnik Debut Their Family Halloween Costumes and It Couldnt Get Any Cuter Shai is now officially one year old, and hell soon be a big brother. His parents recently shared some sweet posts wishing him a happy birthday, and theyre a must-see for fans. They had some adorable photos of Shai taken professionally for his birthday, and theyre truly adorable. Loren shared a few in a birthday post for her son. Shai can be seen wearing a white onesie that says, Mr. Onederful. He sits in a little bed amongst a grey backdrop complete with white and silver balloons and ones with gold flakes inside. Behind him is the words, Mr. Onederful with other decorations hanging up as well. Shai looks at the camera in the frame-worthy shot. In the next image, Shai is wearing a bowtie and shorts with mustaches on it along with a little crown that says, One. Theres a cake in front of him as he looks at it, and he has his hand on it. Its clear hes been getting acquainted with it as there is frosting on him. The next photo is Shai staring off while seated next to his cake before going in for a bite. It has a cake topper that says, Mr. Onederful. In the last shot, Shai has his mouth slightly open as he wears an outfit with mustaches on it. He sits in a box in front of the same backdrop as before. Loren captioned the memorable post on Instagram: Happy 1st birthday to our Mr. ONE-derful! Shai, you truly are the gift in our lives! Thank you for making us an Ima and Aba a year ago! We love you more than there amount of stars in the universe! Please help us with Shai a very happy 1st birthday!! #birthdayboy #teambrovarnik #babybrov #1stbirthday. Loren also shared some posts and videos on her Instagram Story for Shais birthday as well. She also shared posts for his birthday on Twitter and Facebook too. Alexei also shared a post for his sons birthday from the same photoshoot. In the image he shared, Shai is seated next to his cake with his bowtie on as he makes a silly face. Hes been in the cake as a chunk of it is on the side of him and frosting can be seen on him as well. He wears his hat that proclaims him as One in the memorable moment. Alexei captioned the post on Instagram: Happy birthday to my Shai !!! #teambrovarnik #oneyearold #mylife. He also shared some videos on his Instagram Story that Loren shared along with a post too. Loren and Alexei shared the most memorable posts for their sons birthday, and its always nice to see these milestones. The Lyrid meteor shower is returning for its annual dance across the night skies this month. The peak of the annual light show will be in the pre-dawn hours of April 22, which happens to be Earth Day. While the shooting stars can be seen anywhere on Earth, the Northern Hemisphere will have the best views, especially rural areas away from city lights. The show coincides with a nearly full moon, and the brightness means less of the meteors will be visible, but stargazers can follow a few steps to get a good glimpse. Scroll down for video Particles from the comet Thatcher create the dust that make up the Lyrid meteor shower, named for the constellation Lyra The Lyrid meteor shower occurs each year from about April 16 to April 25. This year, the shower should start ramping up late at night on April 19 and reach its peak late on April 21 and into the pre-dawn hours of April 22, according to AccuWeather. Thats when it will produce the highest number of shooting starsbetween 10 to 20 an hour after the moon has set, according to the American Meteor Society. While the shower lacks persistent trails, it can produce fireballs, which are exceptionally bright meteors that can be seen over a very broad area. To locate where the Lyrid meteor shower will be passing, use the brightest star in the constellation Lyra to find the 'radiant,' or the point where it looks like meteors are originating The best place to see the shower is the Northern Hemisphere, though they can be seen to a lesser extent from the Southern Hemisphere. Rural locations, far from the light pollution of industrial areas, will have the best view. Unfortunately, the shower coincides with a bright waning gibbous moon, a phase that comes very close to being a full moon. The added moonlight means less of the shower will be visible, though even without a telescope there will be plenty to see. To locate where the meteors will be passing through, locate the brightest star in the constellation Lyra to find what astronomers call the 'radiant.' Multiple exposures were combined to produce this image of the Lyrids meteor shower over Niederhollabrunn, Austria in April 2020. The meteors streak through the sky at speeds of about 110,000 mph This is the point in the sky from which the meteors become visible to us on Earth. The Lyrid meteor shower got its name because its trails seem to radiate from the constellation Lyra (the Lyre). HOW DO I SEE THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER? The show is on between April 16 and 25, ramping up late on April 19 and reaching its peak on April 21. The best place to see the Lyrid meteor shower is in the Northern Hemisphere, although it is visible from all over the world. Rural areas away from city lights will provide a clearer view. The best time to catch these 'shooting stars' is before dawn, when the moon has set. Hopeful stargazers should look east for the best chance of catching a shower. Lyrid meteors should be the brightest lights in the sky aside from the moon. They leave smoky trails that can last for several minutes Advertisement The debris actually comes from the orbit of the comet Thatcher. Although Thatcher is quite far from Earth, orbiting the Sun only once every 415 years, it sprinkles cosmic detritus far and wide along its path. As they burn up the meteors streak through the sky at speeds of about 110,000 miles per hour. Though the Lyrids aren't the brightest shower the Perseuds and Geminids both outshine them they are one of the first observed by humans. They were first spotted by Chinese astronomers in 687 BC. While meteor showers can be seen from Earth, the meteoroids that cause them are actually no bigger than pebbles. The meteorological show doesnt end with the Lyrids, though: On April 26 and 27, amateur astronomers can see 2021s first supermoon. A supermoon is a full moon near perigee, or the point when its closest to the Earth. Its not easy to detect with the naked eye, but our celestial satellite will be up to 15 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a typical full moon. Aprils full moon is also known as a Pink Moon, though there is no actual color change: The moniker comes from the fact that it coincides with the blossoming of the moss phlox, a pink wildflower that blooms in the US and Canada. The coincidence gives it the designation of Super Pink Moonbut again, dont go looking for a rose orb in the sky. If you miss the Lyrids, you'll have another chance to catch a shooting star in early May, when the Eta Aquariid meteor shower reaches it peak. Look to the sky late May 5 and early May 6 for up to 40 meteors an hour, Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office told Thrillist. Named because their radiant appears to be in the constellation Aquarius, the Eta Aquariids are created by debris from Halley's Comet. BERLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Europeans are concerned that the COVID-19 crisis will influence their quality of life for the long haul, according to a new survey "Digitising Europe Pulse: The impact of the second COVID-19 wave", commissioned by the Vodafone Institute, and conducted by Kantar, with over 15,000 interviewees from 15 European countries. Two out of three Europeans agree that the pandemic will affect their lives in the short term (65%), and almost as many see effects in the long run (61%). Those living in Portugal (78%), Greece (77%) and Spain (75%) consistently remain the most concerned about long-term quality of life impact brought about by the pandemic. Germans (44%) and Estonians (45%) are the least concerned in this regard. The same tendency can be observed regarding the short-term impact; for example, 82% of the Greeks and 80% of the Portuguese state that the COVID-19 crisis will limit their quality of life in the short term only 49% of the Germans and 50% of the Dutch share these concerns. The personal economic situation of Europeans has also worsened, compared to results in May 2020. This includes loss of savings (18%, May: 14%) or danger of bankruptcy (6%, May: 4%). In every country, except Sweden, more people lost their savings compared to May. In Poland, Spain and Greece a plus of 9% state that they have already been affected by the loss of their savings. 8% of the surveyed Europeans claim that they cant afford to buy food anymore; 16% expect this to happen in the future. The degree of affectedness in the crisis depends on demographics, as families are much more affected than single households. Almost 10% of households with minimum two adults and children up to 16 years cant pay their mortgage anymore. 18% expect this to happen in the future. In contrast, only 5% of the single households are not able to settle their mortgage and 9% are worried about it. In every other economic indicator, like "loss of savings", families are noticeable more affected than single households. Inger Paus, Managing Director of the Vodafone Institute, said: "The 'Digitising Europe Pulse' shows how significant the economic and social impact is for a majority of Europeans after one year of the pandemic. Corona also has the potential to exacerbate structural inequalities in Europe in the future - between low and high earners, between families and singles, between northern and southern Europe. This is where the European Union must start with its recovery fund/reconstruction programme to guarantee equal living conditions for all citizens in the future as well." Methodology An online survey conducted by Kantar of over 15,000 citizens from across 15 European countries including: Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK. There was a sample size of at least 1,000 interviews per country (in total 15,008 interviews) and all participants were aged 16 years or older. This research was conducted between 07.12. 18.12.2020. Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications The Institute is Vodafone's think-tank. We explore the potential and responsible use of digital technologies for innovation, growth and sustainable social impact. Through research and events, we provide thought leadership and offer a platform for dialogue between business, academia and politics. Press Contact: Friedrich Pohl Head of Communications Mobile: +49-172-71-55-900 Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications Office Berlin Behrenstrae 18 10117 Berlin www.vodafone-institut.de Social Media: linkedin.com/company/vodafone-institute twitter.com/vf_institute youtube.com/VodafoneInstitute SOURCE Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications The curtain rises on a dim, drab room. An alarm sounds, and a woman wakes. She tries to rouse her sleeping child and husband, calling out: Get up! It is the opening scene and the injunction of Lorraine Hansberrys 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, the story of a Black family living on the South Side of Chicago. Never before, in the entire history of the American theater, had so much of the truth of Black peoples lives been seen on the stage, her friend James Baldwin would later recall. It was the first play by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. When Raisin won the New York Drama Critics Circle award for best play, Hansberry at 29 became the youngest American and the first Black recipient. How often the word first appears in the life of Hansberry; how often it will appear in this review. See also spokeswoman or only. Strange words of praise; meretricious even, in how they can mask the isolation they impose. Hansberry seemed to anticipate it all. At the triumphant premiere of Raisin, at the standing ovation and the calls for playwright to take the stage, she initially refused to leave her seat. The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, she later wrote, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely. Hansberry died in 1965, at 34, of cancer. The fact still feels intolerable, almost unassimilable her death not merely tragedy but a kind of theft. Look at the work that awaits you! she said in a speech to young writers, calling them young, gifted and Black inspiring the Nina Simone song of the same name. Look at the work that awaited her. She goaded herself on, even in the hospital: Comfort has come to be its own corruption. Tom Rhodes was crowned the winner of MasterChef 2021 on Wednesday night. The Nando's manager, 31, who was furloughed during the pandemic, impressed John Torode and Gregg Wallace during the final with his 'absolute genius' dishes- which included olive oil ice cream. It comes after the MasterChef final was postponed on Friday to Wednesday night in the wake of Prince Philip's death. Talking after his win against contestants Mike Tomkins and Alexina Anatole, Tom said: 'From beginning to end, MasterChef is the most incredible experience. Winner! Tom Rhodes was crowned the winner of MasterChef 2021 on Wednesday night 'Being this year's MasterChef Champion, after watching and admiring so many past Champions, seems like a dream come true. 'I'm grateful that I met, got to know and cook alongside some of the most wonderful and talented people, and have found friends for life in them. 'I'll also never forget and can't be more thankful to all the friendly, hard working, fantastic people, that make MasterChef such a special show.' Teasing what's next, Tom added: 'I feel this is just the start, and I'm excited for what comes next. One day I would love to write a cookbook and have a cookery school. Amazing: The contestant, 31, beat Mike Tomkins and Alexina Anatole during the final after impressing John Torode and Gregg Wallace with his 'absolute genius' dishes Postponed: It comes after the MasterChef final was postponed on Friday to Wednesday night in the wake of Prince Philip's death 'During the competition, I have realised my love for developing recipes and cooking for other people outside of my friends and family, so would love to do more of this after the show. 'It would be great to spend time in professional kitchens as even after over 20 years of cooking I know I still have so much to learn. I'd also love to see more of East and South East Asia, to learn more about their food and culture.' During the series 17 finale on Wednesday, the three finalists had to prepare a three-course meal for judges John, 55, and Gregg, 56. Tom's winning menu started with a trio of oysters and his main a reverse seared rib-eye steak topped with kombu pickled beetroot, baked beef fat beetroot, wasabi buttermilk and a watercress puree. It was served with sake and bone marrow sauce. Talking after the main, Gregg said: 'It is shockingly modern with the big blocks of colour but I understand it and it's absolutely fantastic.' Tom's dessert was his take on a classic lemon tart, he opted for a short crust case filled with a yuzu citrus cream topped with a black olive meringue and candied yuzu peel. He served the dish with an olive oil ice cream, olive oil and sea salt flakes. Challenge: During Wednesday's show, the three finalists had to prepare a three-course meal for judges John and Gregg (Mike, Alexina and Tom pictured) 'Absolute genius': Tom's winning menu started with a trio of oysters and his main a reverse seared rib-eye steak topped with kombu pickled beetroot, baked beef fat beetroot, wasabi buttermilk and a watercress puree. Tom's dessert was his take on a classic lemon tart served with olive oil ice cream The final dish left the judges impressed with Gregg saying it was 'a work of absolute genius' while John added that it was 'flawless and a joyous dessert'. John added of Tom's win: 'Tom walked into this kitchen and surprised us. He has defined himself a style all of his own and it's fantastic. 'His food is delicious and it looks beautiful. As an amateur chef what he is doing is really impressive.' While co-judge Gregg said: 'I love this fella. He has delivered some of the most beautiful, elegant dishes I have seen in this competition for a long while. He is a phenomenal talent and the sky's the limit for him.' Lovely: Talking after his win, Tom said: 'Being this year's MasterChef Champion, after watching and admiring so many past Champions, seems like a dream come true.' Tom was born in Manchester and grew up in Rochdale before relocating to Newcastle where he attended university. He now lives and works in the city. He was able to take part in the cooking competition after he was furloughed from his front of house job at Nando's at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year. The star chef takes over the title of Masterchef winner from Thomas Frake, 33, who was crowned the winner of the 16th series in 2020. Talking about his love of cooking, the winner revealed that he has been experimenting in the kitchen since he was four-years-old and he went on to cook for his parents' friends when he was a teenager. Inspiration: Tom revealed that is inspired by Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater, he said: 'When I was younger, I watched a lot of Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater.' (Nigella pictured in 2020) Tom also revealed that is inspired by Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater, he said: 'When I was younger, I watched a lot of Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater. 'I have met Nigella Lawson and have a signed copy of How to Eat, which has a special place in my growing collection of over 300 cookbooks.' Talking about his time on the 2021 series, Tom added: 'I have had a great time in the competition and I have so many great memories. I can't believe what has just happened, I couldn't have asked for more. 'When I came in today I wanted to put up three beautiful plates of food and I have done that. I am so proud of myself and so happy.' It comes after the MasterChef final was postponed on Friday to Wednesday night in the wake of Prince Philip's death. The BBC were forced to cancel the episode following a programme rescheduling so the channel could air special coverage celebrate the late Duke Of Edinburgh's life. The final was originally due to air on Friday night on BBC One at 8.30pm, however tribute programme HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Remembered aired instead. A statement from the corporation at the time said: 'With the sad news that HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has died there is now special coverage across all BBC networks to mark his life of extraordinary public service and planned scheduling has been suspended.' Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 19:34:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 1, 2021 shows Vlad Voiculescu in Bucharest, Romania. Romanian Prime Minister Florin Citu fired Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu on Wednesday, two days after the death of three COVID-19 patients due to oxygen failure in a mobile intensive care unit (ICU) in Bucharest. Voiculescu became the third health minister having been dismissed since the COVID-19 outbreak in Romania at the end of February last year. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) BUCHAREST, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Florin Citu fired Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu on Wednesday, two days after the death of three COVID-19 patients due to oxygen failure in a mobile intensive care unit (ICU) in Bucharest. Voiculescu became the third health minister having been dismissed since the COVID-19 outbreak in Romania at the end of February last year. According to the Presidential Administration, President Klaus Iohannis already signed the decree on the removal of Voiculescu from office. Signs indicate that the dismissal will cause disturbances in the three-party ruling coalition. The alliance of Save Romania Union (USR) and the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) has already expressed dissatisfaction with the National Liberal Party, the largest party in the ruling coalition, by refusing to attend a regular government meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna, also co-chair of the USR-PLUS alliance to which the fired health minister belongs, will temporarily hold the vacant post, according to the decision of the prime minister. But Barna publicly said that he would not assume the post of interim health minister. Three COVID-19 patients died on Monday in a mobile ICU unit in the Victor Babes Hospital in Bucharest, one of the largest designated COVID-19 hospitals in the country, due to a malfunction in the oxygen installation. The incident caused a strong public reaction in the country. Enditem Luong Thanh Nghi, deputy head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs talks about the policies to attract young Vietnamese talents abroad. Delegates attending the Global Young Vietnamese Intellectual Forum in 2019 in Hanoi. Photo nhandan.com.vn How do you view the quality and prospects of Vietnamese people abroad? About 5.3 million Vietnamese people are living and studying in more than 130 countries and territories all over the world with about 80 per cent of them in developed countries. Among them, between 500,000 and 600,000 hold at least a bachelor degree. There are thousands of skilled Vietnamese engineers and developers working for Silicon Valleys leading corporations including Google, Facebook and Microsoft. They have made many contributions in fields such as science and technology, economy, politics and culture for their host countries. This is a great source of high quality human resources for Vietnam who can make significant contributions to the countrys development in the context that the country is accelerating the modernisation and industrialisation process. Could you share more about talent attraction policies being implemented? Vietnam has had policies to tap the potential of Vietnamese people abroad for long. In 2018, the Ministry of Planning and Investment cooperated with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs to establish a network of young Vietnamese experts and scientists all over the world so they can make further contributions. In October 2019, the Government issued a decree to establish the national innovation and creativity centre with preferential mechanisms, aiming to create a favourable academic and working environment for intellectuals to contribute to the countrys science and technology sectors. In March 2020, the Government issued a decree to attract Vietnamese citizens working in science technology field abroad and bring foreign people working in this field to Vietnam. This decree specifies favourable policies to encourage them to return to the country. Recently the Government ordered relevant agencies to work on a national strategy to attract talents in Vietnam and overseas with better policies including wages, the benefit to access to different sources of information of ministries, departments and localities, support from the State to organise and participate in forums and conferences. In recent years, about 500 experts return to the country annually or have regular collaboration with local research institutes, universities both in public and private sectors. They have made many contributions to the country. In the Economic Advisory Group to the Prime Minister, we have acknowledged experts including Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh, lecturer at Havard University and Indiana University, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, Deputy Director for Research at IPAG Business School, France, Associate Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Khuong, lecturer of the National University of Singapore, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tho, lecturer of Waseda University, Japan. Other acknowledged experts who have returned include CEOs Vu Xuan Son and Le Diep Kieu Trang, or former staff of Google Nguyen Thanh Nhan. Since 2018, we have held three forums for young Vietnamese scientists abroad. Participants offered proposals and ideas that are essential for the development of Vietnam. In October 2020 we had a conference for Vietnamese overseas to contribute their ideas about digital transformation and ways to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic to develop the economy. We have compiled their proposals and initiatives and reported to the Prime Minister and relevant agencies so these can be studied and implemented. In the future, the Committee will cooperate with relevant agencies to establish a network of Vietnamese talents all over the world. What are advantages and difficulties when these policies are implemented? What are the proposals to make these policies effective in attracting Vietnamese talent to contribute to the development of the country? We have gained certain results through these policies. Networks and associations of Vietnamese intellectuals and experts have been launched in many developed countries and they have closely collaborated with organisations in Vietnam. The Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts Global based in France has about 1,000 members working in many fields. The Vietnam Initiative in the US is affiliated with about 40 research institutes and universities all over the world. They have many cooperation and collaboration activities with the country through policy consultancy, idea contribution. HCM City has done a good job in attracting talent. Currently there is a network of young talents who are collaborating with the departments and agencies of the city. The experts have also invested in many projects including the 3D Printing technology by Arevo Company of Vu Xuan Son and Le Diep Kieu Trang. However, there are some limitations in these policies. There is lack of consistency in policies among ministries and localities. Some localities have not paid enough attention to attracting talent to work. The access to information is still limited and while there is also lack of close cooperation among scientists, many ideas are not well received. Secondly, although we have many policies they are not strong enough to encourage Vietnamese experts to return to the country. They include limited benefits for their families, and the fact that the academic environment still lacks professionalism. We hope that innovative policies can help to overcome these obstacles. From another perspective, they dont necessarily return to be able to contribute to the country. Many are living and working in host countries but still making significant contributions to Vietnam. Developed countries offer better environment for scientific research, creativity and development especially in such fields as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, digital transformation and digital economy. VNS How to attract talent VietNamNet introduces an article by National Assembly Deputy Le Thanh Van on the draft national strategy to attract and use talents, which can be seen as comments to the draft documents of the 13th National Party Congress. Actress Rosemond Brown popularly known as Akuapem Poloo has been convicted by the Accra Circuit Court over naked pictures with her son. The conviction comes after she posted a naked picture with her son on Instagram celebrating his seventh birthday. She has been remanded into custody to undergo a pregnancy test before her sentencing. In court Wednesday, the actress pleaded guilty to all three charges and was convicted on her own plea by the court presided over by Christina Cann. Background The actress was facing charges of publication of obscene materials, engaging in domestic violence namely conduct that in any way undermines another persons privacy or integrity and engaging in domestic violence namely conduct that in any way detracts or is likely to detract from another persons dignity and worth as a human being. According to the prosecution, on June 30 2020, Rosemond celebrated her sons seventh birthday by taking nude pictures together with her son who was also half-naked. She posted the pictures on her Instagram page which went viral on social media. The pictures attracted comments, adding that the behaviour of the accused person was likely to detract from the dignity of her seven year old son among others. The caption on the picture read: I am naked in front of you because this is how naked I was giving birth to you, so in case you find me lying somewhere dont pass by but see me as your mom who brought you to life. On November 9, 2020, she appeared before the court over similar charges. But after several criticisms on the post, the actress apologised for her actions. She also explained what the act sought to achieve arguing that it was to get children to do more for mothers no matter how deprived the state in which they [mothers] find themselves in. I was not completely naked. He did not see my organs because I covered myself with a cloth and applied sellotapes to the necessary parts. Besides the picture was taken in my own house, Akuapem Poloo said. At the Court presided over by Christiana Cann on Wednesday, she admitted Rosemond to bail in the sum of 100,000 with four sureties two to be justified with landed property worth 100,000. The title deed of the property, the Court said, should be deposited at the courts Registry pending the outcome of the matter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rosemond Alade Brown (@akuapem_poloo) Source: myjoyonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The former chief financial officer of a Middleborough-based shoe company was federally charged Wednesday and agreed to plead guilty to embezzling about $30 million from the company. Richard Hajjar, formerly of Alden Shoe Co., agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions and filing a false tax return. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled. Hijjar, 64 of Duxbury, was fired from Alden Shoe Co. in 2019 after he embezzled money from company accounts to his personal accounts and to another individual, authorities said. According to the complaint, Hajjar purchased two pairs of earrings that totaled nearly $200,000 and two diamond rings that cost $241,000 for a person who is listed as Individual 1. A civil lawsuit filed by Alden Shoe Co. Inc., names former Boston news anchor Bianca de la Garza as the recipient. Court documents also show that Hajjar paid $114,000 for private flights for the person to go to St. Maarten and Anguilla. Based on the shoe companys civil lawsuit, that person again appears to be de la Garza. Hajjars scheme, court documents said, began in 2011, when he wrote himself eight checks worth $585,000. The following year, court documents said, he wrote himself 17 checks totally more than $1.2 million. Hajjar transferred even larger sums of money into his accounts. In 2014 and 2015 alone he transferred more than 11.3 million into his accounts. Authorities said between 2014 and 2019, Hajjar also failed to report the proceeds of his embezzlement as income on his tax returns, thereby failing to pay approximately $5,112,822 in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. The most serious charges against Hajjar carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of at least $250,000. In June 2020, Alden Shoe Co. filed a civil lawsuit in connection with the theft of the money, stating Hajjar used some of the stolen cash to bankroll de la Garzas production company. Related Content: The Luxembourg Confederation of Commerce (CLC) has reiterated its criticism of the government on the issue of social insurance for cross-border workers in the road transport industry. Above all, the CLC criticises that the government has still not reached an agreement with neighbouring countries on a convention. Such an agreement would allow bus and lorry drivers to remain insured in Luxembourg, even if they carry out more than 25% of their activity in their country of residence. The large majority of a transport company's clients are often based abroad, and it is regular practice for them to send their drivers across the Grand Duchy's borders for more than 25% of their working time. And it is indeed often the case, that the drivers spend that time in their respective country of residence. In a recent speech, Minister of Social Security Romain Schneider stated that only 2% to 3% of employees in the road transport industry would be affected by this measure. If these figures are so low, it is because companies have been forced to "fiddle", according to Nicolas Henckes, the CLC's director. Henckes explains that what allows the companies to avoid having "high figures" is their own effort to organise themselves in a way that, for instance, "German drivers drive in France and French drivers drive in Germany". According to the CLC, 66% of the 7,300 lorry drivers employed in Luxembourg come from the three neighbouring countries, as do a quarter of the 3,750 bus drivers employed in the Grand Duchy. If affiliation to the local social security system is abolished, employers will lack one of their most convincing arguments to attract new workers. Henckes points out that Luxembourg road transport industry already has "enormous difficulties" finding drivers. This change will reduce the net salary of these drivers even more because of the transfer to foreign systems, a factor which "will certainly not improve the situation". The CLC criticises that the current European regulation, which dictates this course of action, does not take into account the particular situation of a small country such as Luxembourg. It would be regrettable if the Luxembourg government did not defend the interests of Luxembourg-based companies, Henckes adds. The CLC calls on the Minister for Social Security to act, stressing that he "finally has to get in touch with the other countries and start negotiations as soon as possible". Social insurance for cross-border workers in the road transport industry must be treated with the same urgency as the teleworking agreements, the CLC concludes. Download Image: Web Erin McCutcheon, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history at Lycoming College, recently won a $9,000 grant from the College Art Association of America (CAA). The grant is part of the CAAs new Art History Fund for Travel to Special Exhibitions, and will allow McCutcheon to take her Art & Politics in Latin America students to San Francisco to see works of art in-person after studying them in her class this past fall. The Art History Fund for Travel to Special Exhibitions is designed to cover travel costs associated with attending museum special exhibitions throughout the United States and worldwide. The purpose of the grant is to enhance students' firsthand knowledge of original works of art. The original itinerary for McCutcheons class centered on visiting Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Unstable Presence at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). This exhibition was unfortunately put on hold due to COVID-19, however, McCutcheon hopes to bring her students to see a modified version of the exhibition along with other works by Latin American artists in San Francisco in the fall of this year. McCutcheons course, which she will teach again in Spring 2022, offers students an academic and participatory introduction to the major artists, artworks, scholars, and themes of twentieth and twenty-first century Latin American art, approached through the critical intersection of art and politics. Throughout the course, students come to understand the ways in which artistic developments occurred in tandem with, and often in direct response to, moments of revolution, dictatorship, uneven development, and social upheaval, as well as make connections to critical issues of U.S.-Latin American relations. They engage with texts, ideas, and perspectives from various disciplines that incorporate concepts of gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality into their analysis of art from this critical period in history. Lozano-Hemmers interactive works engage with a number of pertinent themes in the course, including histories of political violence and trauma, memorials and monuments, activist appropriations of public space, and the incorporation of new media and technologies into participatory works. He is an incredibly innovative artist whose work is geared toward public participation achieved through his installations and manipulation of technologies, said McCutcheon. I believe students direct engagement with art is a powerful part of the learning process. Students in this class participated in an art project with the Mexican feminist collective, Bordeamos por la paz, during the fall of 2020 that gave them first-hand insight into the working methods of collective artistic activism so central to the histories of Latin American art. The CAA grant helps add another dimension to the learning process, giving students the opportunity to experience new works by one of the leading Latin American artists today, in dialogue with the history of Latin American and Latinx art that can only be experienced in San Francisco. I am impressed with Dr. McCutcheons teaching and the innovation that she brings to our curriculum, said Philip Sprunger, Ph.D., provost and dean of Lycoming College. As a professor, Erin has energetically embraced her position, and she connects well with students, who rave about her teaching. While in San Francisco, McCutcheon plans to also take students to see Diego Rivera's Pan American Unity mural at City College and tour public art in the Mission District. There are some really interesting connections to be made with Lozano-Hemmers contemporary work that engages the community and Diego Riveras murals created specifically for this US-American context and the ongoing creation of public murals, predominantly made by Chicanx artists, in the Mission District, said McCutcheon. McCutcheon has a doctoral degree in art history and Latin American studies at Tulane University, with research focusing on feminist art in Mexico. She received her masters degree in art history at the University of Leeds in England. After holding teaching positions at both Millsaps College and Tufts University, as well as positions in curatorial departments at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Henry Moore Institute, she joined Lycoming College in 2019. In addition to teaching a variety of survey courses from ancient to contemporary art, she offers students more focused special topics courses with a particular emphasis on art and activism, art from Latin America, and the study of art through the critical lenses of gender, race, and sexuality. CAA, as the preeminent international leadership organization in the visual arts, promotes these arts and their understanding through advocacy, intellectual engagement, and a commitment to the diversity of practices and practitioners. Elite Transit Solutions (ELITE) is a recognized third-party logistics (3PL) leader in revolutionizing the freight management logistics industry. Our Chameleon TMS software is allowing us to evolve from a regional Pittsburgh business to a supply chain brand with a national presence. Our expansion reflects the evolution of our technology. Its scalability is enabling our explosive growth and ambitious goals for diversification in all ways. Pittsburgh-based, leading 3PL company Elite Transit Solutions (ELITE) has begun aggressive expansion plans with the opening of its first additional locations in Chicago and Charlotte. ELITE, which currently employs 120, has started hiring what it expects to be more than 200 new employees nationally by 2022, with potentially hundreds of more new hires in coming years. The company also has future plans to open more offices around the country. In addition to strong customer relationships, the company is attributing much of its growth to its investment in creating groundbreaking proprietary software for the freight management industry. Our Chameleon TMS software is allowing us to evolve from a regional Pittsburgh business to a supply chain brand with a national presence. Our expansion reflects the evolution of our technology. Its scalability is enabling our explosive growth and ambitious goals for diversification in all ways, said Michael Johnson, CEO, Elite Transit Solutions. Through the first quarter of 2021, ELITE is on pace to move more than 85,000 truckloads for its customers in 2021, up from over 50,000 truckloads in 2020. Launched in 2013, ELITE ranked 997 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list last year, showing three-year revenue growth of 463 percent. It has made the list for the past four consecutive years. Geographic expansion and new hires Johnson notes that both its new Chicago and Charlotte locations will house sales offices for clients and carrier partners. Both are currently operating in temporary spaces, but permanent offices in both cities are under contract and expected to open by August 2020. ELITEs Chicago presence will be a larger main office staffed by mid-level managers, sales, and on-site administrators, including Human Resources. The Charlotte location will serve as a sales satellite office, where two members of the companys senior management team are also currently based. By location, ELITE expects to hire over 100 new staff members in Chicago and 25 in Charlotte by 2022. Interested candidates may visit https://elitetransit.com/careers/ to access job postings, which continue to be updated. Chameleon proprietary technology propels growth ELITEs exceptional customer service and freight management technology innovations have dramatically increased its customer base. Its Chameleon Suite of proprietary advanced logistics tools is a groundbreaking transportation management system (TMS) that creates a scalable infrastructure, allowing exponential expansion. The user-friendly software employs predictive analytics to automate up to 80% of logistics tasks, which takes the burden off shippers and helps ELITE maintain its industry-leading 98% on-time delivery rate. Of the roughly 16,000+ brokers in the industry, less than a dozen companies own and develop their own software. For ELITE, this investment has paid off by empowering its team to build solutions that address customer challenges, create efficiencies for carriers, and improve productivity and profitability for everyone involved. These innovations mean that ELITE can more effectively assess and control timing and expenses for greater profitability and plan for ongoing solutions development. With Chameleon, we have the leadership team, support, and infrastructure to fuel dramatic growth. A national presence will allow us to diversify our employee base, carrier partner base, and ultimately our shipper/client relationships, noted Johnson. About Elite Transit Solutions (ELITE) Founded in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2013, Elite Transit Solutions (ELITE) is a recognized third-party logistics (3PL) leader in revolutionizing the freight management logistics industry. ELITE delivers innovative technology solutions that minimize waste while elevating service and value for customers in food and beverage, OEM, industrial, and chemical companies. The company has been honored on the Inc. 5000 list for three consecutive years as one of Americas fastest-growing companies and has received numerous additional industry awards such as Food Logistics Rock Stars and Top Green Providers, Best In Biz, and the Pittsburgh Business Times Fastest Growing Companies. Visit elitetransit.com, e-mail info@elitetransit.com, or call (878) 999-2880. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) Credit ratings and research group Moodys Investors Service has revised its outlook for the Philippine banking system to 'stable' despite economic risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report issued earlier this week, the New York-based agency noted this reflects their expectations of a mild economic recovery supporting the operating environment for the countrys banks. However, it did note the recent surge in the countrys infections along with tighter quarantine rules will make the economy bounce back slower in the first half of 2021. Moodys stable outlook for the Philippine banking system shall be valid over the next 12 to 18 months. It issued a negative outlook for the system in April last year, citing then the unprecedented challenges ushered in by the coronavirus health crisis. While still on the positive, certain institutions have announced downscaled growth forecasts for the Philippine economy this 2021 due to the alarming spike in COVID-19 cases recorded daily, and the resulting stricter quarantine rules. On this vein, Moodys also noted asset risks remain high with dampened business activity and consumer sentiment, along with a high unemployment rate. These, coupled with current mobility measures, will keep weighing on retail borrowers and small businesses capacity to settle debts, it added. With the end to debt relief measures last year, nonperforming loans will rise this 2021, it added. The government earlier put in place grace periods for loan payments through the Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws to help Filipinos navigate through the pandemic. RELATED: BSP: 30-day grace period for loans no longer applies in new round of ECQ Large corporate groups' debt repayment capacity deteriorated materially in 2020 and remains a key source of systemic risk because banks' loans are heavily concentrated on them, Moodys noted. Still, the credit rater expects credit costs to go down with banks already setting aside what it considers significant loan loss provisions in 2020 in anticipation of a growth in bad loans. However, lingering asset risks will likely keep these costs high, it added. On the other hand, trading income is likely to decline as markets turn less volatile. Loan yields will decline as banks reprice their loans at lower rates amid abundant liquidity and weak credit demand, Moodys further explained, noting these factors will keep the profitability of banking institutions at last years levels. Meanwhile, the company expects the banking systems funding conditions to keep being favorable, since these are largely funded with deposits and risks to the stability of banks deposit bases remain low. Moodys emphasized as well how the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas had been proactive in injecting liquidity to the system to avoid any near-term stress resulting from abrupt economic changes, and that weak credit demand will also assist banking institutions in keeping ample liquidity buffer. RELATED: BSP maintains interest rates at 2%, expects inflation to go over 2021 target range We expect the government to prioritize systemic stability and support for rated banks when needed. It is unlikely to adopt a bail-in regime in the next 12-18 months, it added. A young girl who vanished on her way to school in Sydneys west more than two decades ago was probably killed in a homicide shortly after her disappearance, an inquest has been told. Quanne Diec, 12, was last seen on the morning of July 27, 1998, when her mother watched her walk away from their Granville home towards Clyde train station. She never arrived at the station. Quanne Diec was last seen in 1998. Vinzent Tarantino, 53, was charged with Quannes murder in 2016 after he walked into a police station and claimed he abducted her, strangled her and dumped her body in Sydneys south. He was found not guilty in 2019 following a trial in the NSW Supreme Court. Mr Tarantinos barrister successfully argued in the trial that her client made a false confession because he feared for his life and believed he was being pursued by bikies after he witnessed the aftermath of a triple bikie murder at the Blackmarket Cafe. Tran Viet Lan, whose parents own a motorbike repair shop in Phu Yen province, has has won many provincial and national prizes for his inventions since he was an eighth grader. Lan's submarine robot His latest achievement is second prize in the National Science and Technology Competition for high school students for his submarine robot that supports hydrogeological research. Lan decided to work on the robot after learning about problems that hinder undersea research of specimens. With the desire to reduce risks when people carry out research deep under the sea, Lan set to work on a submarine robot. He spent all his time after school hours on his project. After eight months, he successfully assembled the robot which brought him first prize in the province and second prize at the national competition. The robot weighs 20 kilograms and can dive at the depth of 50 meters. It supports image data collection, 3D map drawing, and seabed topography with a photogrammetric method combined with a vision tool. It also recognizes objects with AI, operates them with spectral cameras, and monitors water environmental parameters with a sensor system. The robot arm helps collect specimens when necessary, and has a part that collects liquid for research. The system operates automatically under a preset roadmap with pre-installed points on the map and then returns to the starting position. Users monitor the robot and operate it remotely via a phone app or computer. All the engine, IC system and components of the robot were imported at a cost of VND15 million, according to Lan. Asked about the problems when designing the robot, Lan said that electronic parts were easily damaged in the water environment. Lan tried many different assembly methods to solve the problem. In fact, new problems arose every time during experimentation. However, the difficulties made him more determined. The student finished all exercises in class so that he could spend time at home on research. After every failure, I came up with new ideas, better than the previous ones, he said. The diving mechanism, for example, uses a diving engine to force the ship down instead of pumping water into the compartment, which can make it heavier and sink. His plan increased the flexibility to help the operator easily access different difficult types of terrain under the sea. However, the project is beyond the financial capability of a high school student, so the model cannot be examined in different conditions. Ngoc Linh 20 universities in southern VN recruit students based on IELTS, intl certificates In 2021, about 20 universities in the southern region of Vietnam will enroll students based on their IELTS and international certifications. China to promote LMC with Mekong countries: Chinese FM Xinhua) 09:46, April 14, 2021 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses a reception celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) in Beijing, capital of China, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China will work with Mekong countries to continue to promote the development of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), strive to create a new model of regional cooperation, and build a new highland of development and prosperity, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here Tuesday. Wang made the remarks while attending a reception to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the LMC. Wang said that the LMC mechanism had brought tangible benefits to the people of all LMC countries. The six LMC countries absorbed resources from all sides, focused on pragmatic cooperation and reached fruitful results. They also did a lot to benefit the people and carried out regional governance and maintained the peace and stability of the region. He said that China is speeding up efforts to foster a new development paradigm, and the LMC is facing new opportunities. The six LMC countries should adhere to the spirit of partnership to jointly seek ways for development; adhere to interconnection to build an engine for development; adhere to innovation to foster momentum for development; and put people's livelihood first to consolidate the foundation for development. Myo Thant Pe, Myanmar Ambassador to China, said that all countries would continue to cooperate closely with China, push forward mechanism construction and deepen pragmatic cooperation to better benefit all the people. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Two Italian fugitives arrested in Cambodia during a coordinated operation between the Italian and local judicial authorities and Interpol. He is a 45 year old from Ozieri, MA, and a contemporary of Pordenone, CC The capture took place in Phnom Penh. The 45-year-old Sardinian was caught thanks to a ruse, after being lured with an excuse to the local immigration office. MA was sentenced in 2020 by the Milan Court of Appeal to eight years and eight months in prison for sexual violence against minors. CC., Wanted since 2017, must instead serve a residual sentence of 13 years for a series of financial crimes ranging from complicity in aggravated extortion to forgery of credit cards. The Italian authorities will ask for extradition for both. (Unioneonline / lf) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have called for a pause on the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, citing reports of rare blood clot condition observed in a group of women. The clots occurred in six women roughly six to 13 days after they received the J&J vaccine, federal regulators said Tuesday. One has since died, and another was in critical condition as of Tuesday. Federal regulators paused administration of the J&J vaccine out of an abundance of caution. The patients were diagnosed with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a condition marked by blood clots in the brains venous sinuses, a system of veins that drains oxygen-depleted blood. The condition is rare, but potentially fatal, affecting roughly five people per million annually, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Officials say ordinarily the condition is not seen in patients with low blood platelets, which is what officials have flagged as being of concern among the J&J patients. Its their occurrence together that makes a pattern, and that pattern is very, very similar to what was seen in Europe with another vaccine, so we have to take the time to make sure we understand this complication and address it appropriately, said Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Tuesday morning. Officials have not been able to explain why the vaccine would cause blood clotting, but have postulated the clots may be a result of an immune system response, triggered by the shot, that can lead to the activation of blood platelets. What are the symptoms of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis? Officials said the symptoms of the blood clot condition include severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain and shortness of breath. The cases in the U.S. occurred six to 13 days after administration of the J&J vaccine, or an average of nine days later. Health officials say anyone who experiences any of these symptoms around that time period after receiving the J&J vaccine should seek medical help immediately. If you are not experiencing these symptoms after getting the J&J vaccine, you may still experience flu-like symptoms a day or two afterward. Officials stressed that this is normal, and part of the immune systems response to the vaccine. Those symptoms should subside after a few days. What is different about the J&J vaccine The J&J shot is different from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Unlike the Moderna and the Pfizer shots, which deploy viral RNA to induce an immune response, the J&J shot is a viral vector vaccine, meaning a benign pathogen containing viral genetic material, called an adenovirus, is injected into the body. The injected virus has been manipulated so that it cant replicate. The immunization only requires one dose and can be stored for up to three months in regular refrigeration temperatures. The CDC said it will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday to further review the cases of blood clotting and assess their potential significance. The FDA will look at that analysis as it also investigates the cases. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution, the agencies said in a joint statement. This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot. Nearly seven million Americans have received the J&J vaccine to date. Related Content: Fraud charges against seven former Logan councillors have been dropped as Queensland's corruption watchdog admitted that after more than two years of legal wrangling, it could not prove its case. Prosecutors officially discontinued the charges at a hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday. A public gallery packed with councillors, family and supporters erupted in cheers and celebration as their fight for justice was finally declared to be over. Outside court, many could not hold back tears as the realisation that the legal fight to clear their names - one that had destroyed marriages, relationships and careers - was finally over. Seven former councillors -- Russell Lutton, Cherie Dalley, Phil Pidgeon, Steve Swenson, Laurie Smith, Trevina Schwarz and Jennie Breene -- and former mayor Luke Smith were charged with fraud by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). Former councillors Phillip Pidgeon (left) and Russell Lutton leave the Brisbane Magistrates Court in Brisbane on Wednesday after charges against seven former Logan city councillors were officially discontinued However, while the fraud charges were dropped, Luke Smith was committed to stand trial in the District Court on charges of misconduct in relation to public office. The councillors were charged after the sacking of council chief executive Sharon Kelsey in 2018, when her contract was not extended. The CCC alleged her dismissal had been influenced by Ms Kelsey making allegations of alleged corruption against mayor Smith. The council was discharged by then local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe, with an administrator appointed until local government elections were held. An emotional Mr Pidgeon said the charges and ongoing legal turmoil had cost his 22-year career, his reputation and almost his marriage. 'This toll has resulted in relationship breakdown. It has destroyed my marriage and luckily my wife is here today - we are reconciling and trying to come through this,' Mr Pidgeon told reporters outside court. 'This is unfair and unwarranted and I have never seen something like this happen in the history of Australia.' While now cleared of any wrongdoing, Mr Pigeon said it was time to move forward. 'There needs to be some form of making this right,' he said. 'We are all innocent of these charges and something needs to happen to make sure this does not happen again.' Ms Schwarz said new legislation introduced by the Palaszczuk government meant any councillor charged with a criminal offence could no longer keep their job. 'The death of the presumption of innocence which has occurred to me and my fellow accused and now acquitted fellow councillors is appalling,' Ms Schwarz said. 'I have lived through two years of hell now brought to an end because the Director of Public Prosecutions thankfully accepted my lawyer's recent submission that the prosecution was misconceived and should be stopped now. 'I have stood terrified of the prospect of a lengthy jail sentence for voting according to my conscience and on the legal advice of some of Queensland's leading industrial lawyers to end the probation of (a) CEO.' Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said the decision was vindication for the former councillors, calling for 'compensation and a public apology for this egregious misuse of the justice system'. 'Careers, lives and reputations were ruined and a democratically elected council wrongly sacked before these erroneously laid charges could be properly tested by the courts,' Mr Hallam said. 'There must be an independent review to ensure this is not allowed to happen again.' The LGAQ had maintained the CCC overstepped the mark by wading into an industrial relations dispute. 'The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and the Industrial Court are the forums for which these matters are independently adjudicated, not the CCC,' Mr Hallam said. Burma Myanmar Troops Sustain Heavy Casualties as Kachin Keep Control of Strategic Base KIA troops in their headquarters Laiza. / The Irrawaddy Nearly 100 Myanmar military troops were killed in the regimes attempt to retake control of a strategic base near the Chinese border from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Tensions have been rising since the KIA seized the Alaw Bum base, which was previously occupied by the Tatmadaw, on March 25. The military launched several airstrikes over four days in their efforts to recapture the base from the KIA. Light Infantry Battalion 320 of Myanmars military, based in Momauk Township of Kachin State and consisting of about 100 troops, came in two columns to attack the KIA outpost at the base. However, one column withdrew on Tuesday, after suffering a heavy defeat in which the battalion commander died. Another column clashed with KIA forces on Tuesday night and also suffered heavy casualties. I am afraid almost all the troops in that military column have died. I heard only two or three soldiers survived in that column. And our troops are pursuing them, said KIA information officer Col. Naw Bu, according to local news outlet Kachin Waves. As of Wednesday, the KIA had arrested 38 Myanmar military soldiers. No exchange of fire was reported on Alaw Bum on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a starving soldier of Myanmars military was arrested at Mongsaiyan village near Laiza, the area under the direct control of the KIAs headquarters, the news outlet said. That soldier said they had not eaten any food except banana buds for eight days, said Col. Naw Bu. Following the KIAs refusal to recognize the military regime, clashes have been reported across Kachin State and northern Shan State since March 11. The KIA has attacked military and police outposts and has threatened to step up its attacks if the junta continues to shoot peaceful protesters across the country. A skirmish was reported near Namya village by Myitkyina-Hpakant road on Wednesday morning. Military convoys came under mine attacks in Kachin State on Tuesday as well. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Charges and Arrests Striking Doctors and Senior Medical Staff UN Official Warns of Syria-Style Conflict in Myanmar, Urges Immediate Intl Action The Day Nehru and Nasser Were Soaked in Myanmar Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here She proudly announced she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Nathan Dalah when she posted a picture of her bare baby bump at the start of this month. But Georgia Fowler kept her pregnancy figure under wraps on Wednesday, as she attended the launch of new fitness movement FS8 in Sydney's Manly. The Victoria's Secret model, 28, covered up in head-to-toe black, concealing her blossoming tummy in a baggy black knit and a wool jacket. Keeping mum! Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler kept her pregnancy figure under wraps on Wednesday when she attended the launch of new fitness movement FS8 on Wednesday. The brunette beauty did, however, show off her slim pins in a pair of figure-hugging black tights and accessorised with a Bottega Veneta 'cassette' leather handbag. The expectant mother was glowing in minimal makeup and wore her chocolate locks up in casual updo. Joining Georgia at the launch were several other high-profile Aussie models, including Megan Blake Irwin, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Montana Cox and Tahnee Atkinson. She's got it covered! The 28-year-old covered up in head-to-toe black, concealing her blossoming tummy in a baggy black knit and a wool jacket Glowing: The expectant mother was glowing in minimal makeup and wore her chocolate locks up in casual updo Megan looked like a dream in cream, flaunting her toned tummy in a long A-line skirt and a backless button-up cardigan by P.E Nation. She paired the ensemble with some matching cream canvas sneakers and added a touch of glamour with her black leather Dior saddle bag. Meanwhile, Tahnee showcased her trim pins in a pair of black bike shorts, which she paired with a baggy white sweater. A dream in cream! Megan Blake Irwin looked like a dream in cream, flaunting her toned tummy in a long A-line skirt and a backless button-up cardigan by P.E Nation A touch of glamour: She paired the ensemble with some matching cream canvas sneakers and added a touch of glamour with her Dior saddle bag Standing out from the rest! Bambi Northwood-Blyth stood out in a mustard-coloured activewear, slipping her very slender figure into a bodysuit, fleece shorts and a hoodie Perfect! The colour perfectly complimented the beauty's complexion Strike a pose: Bambi posed on a reformer machine at the launch Model figure: Meanwhile, Tahnee Atkinson showcased her trim pins in a pair of black bike shorts, which she paired with a baggy white sweater Popular choice! The brunette model and swimwear designer also toted the same coveted Bottega Veneta leather handbag as Georgia The brunette model and swimwear designer also toted the same coveted Bottega Veneta leather handbag as Georgia. Bambi stood out in a mustard-coloured activewear, slipping her very slender figure into a bodysuit, fleece shorts and a hoodie. Retired surfer Mick Fanning is The Face of F8, a new training concept by F45, which combines the best elements of three popular workouts: Pilates, yoga, and tone. FS8 workouts combine the best of eight modalities from traditional disciplines and remixes them to produce a holistic, fully functional, full-body workout. Leggy lady: Model Montana Cox showed off her slim pins in a pair of beige bike pants teamed with a baggy sweater Skintight alright! The shorts perfectly accentuated her statuesque model figure Burma Myanmar Regime Hands Mentally Ill Man Death Sentence Ko Aung Aung Htet has been sentenced to death. A person who suffers from mental illness was sentenced to death along with 18 other people by Myanmars military regime on April 8 after being accused of banditry and murder in North Okkalapa Township, Yangon, in late March. On March 27, an army officer and his civilian friend were attacked by 19 people in Nya ward in the township, according to the regime. During the attack, an army officer was injured and his friend allegedly stabbed to death and a pistol and radiophone were taken from the officer. Ko Aung Aung Htet, who suffers from mental illness, and the 18 other suspects were charged under Articles 396 and 397 of the Penal Code. The court-martial sentenced them all to death for committing dacoity an Indian term for banditry with murder. Only Ko Aung Aung Htet and another suspect, Ko Bo Bo Nge, are in detention while the other 17 are in hiding. Ko Aung Aung Htets mother claims he only witnessed the attack from a distance. Due to a mental illness caused by alcohol abuse, Ko Aung Aung Htet has been treated at a mental health hospital and was on medication, his mother told The Irrawaddy. I feel pain over the sentence. Please release my son as he is innocent, she said. Five men and a woman were also sentenced to seven years imprisonment with labor by a court-marital over an arson attack on the North Okkalapa court office on March 15 and 16. By Tuesday more than 3,000 people, including elected leaders, election commissioners, anti-regime protesters, activists, teachers, doctors, journalists, writers and artists, had been detained by the junta since the Feb. 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. More than 710 civilians have also been killed by the regimes forces. You may also like these stories: How Many Mass Killings Are Enough Before the World Helps Myanmar? Myanmar Troops Sustain Heavy Casualties as Kachin Keep Control of Strategic Base Myanmar Junta Charges and Arrests Striking Doctors and Senior Medical Staff WEIPPE - The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking public comment on a draft Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) permit for the city of Weippe publicly owned treatment works (POTW). The city applied for a wastewater discharge permit for its wastewater treatment facility, located at 0 West 8th Street, Weippe, Idaho 83553. The proposed permit would authorize the discharge of treated municipal wastewater from September 1 through June 30 to Jim Ford Creek for five years. The permit identifies the pollutants of concern, the required limits for each pollutant or parameter, and monitoring and reporting requirements necessary to ensure compliance with the permit and protect human health and the environment. Written comments on the draft permit and fact sheet will be accepted through May 14, 2021, at 5:00pm MDT. The draft permit and fact sheet are available for public review at DEQs state office (1410 N. Hilton St., Boise, Idaho), DEQs Lewiston Regional Office (1118 F St. Lewiston, Idaho), and on DEQs website. A public meeting may be held, if requested in writing, by April 28, 2021. Comments and questions regarding this process should be directed to Michael Snider or submitted electronically on DEQs Public Comment Opportunities page. Comments should address water quality considerations and include supporting materials where available. Comments should also reference the city of Weippe POTW and permit number (ID0020354). Michael Snider Surface & Wastewater Division 1410 N. Hilton St. Boise, Idaho 83706 michael.snider@deq.idaho.gov Submit requests for a public meeting electronically on DEQs website, by mail, or email to Lori Flook. Ive never met Nusret Gokce in real life, so theres a chance hes a very nice man. However, I am fine with mocking his alter egothe ultra-ripped meme/restaurateur known as Salt Baeevery chance I get, especially when hes doing things like ripping people off, which he has allegedly done to Brooklyn-based artist William Hicks. Eater reports that Hicks has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Mr. Bae in the District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming the smarmy steak salesman printed Hicks artwork on menus, takeout bags, and signs at overseas outposts of Baes restaurant (and home of the fabled $1,000 gold-plated tomahawk ribeye), Nusr-Et Steakhouse. According to the lawsuit, Hicks and another artist were commissioned in September 2017 to design a mural of The Bae in his iconic bicep-bulging, salt-sprinkling pose to be displayed at the steakhouses Miami outpost; additional murals were ordered for Nusr-Et restaurants in New York, Dubai, and Istanbul. After the original paid commissions, Hicks alleges Bae and his associates had unauthorized copies of the murals made for restaurants in Turkey, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates without compensating Hicks for further use of his copyrighted design. The amount Hicks was paid for the original commission has not been disclosed, and both he and his lawyers have opted not to speak to reporters. Read more This lawsuit is but the buzzing of flies to Bae & Friends, who seem unable to open a restaurant without being dragged to court. They were sued for wage theft in Miami, where they emerged victorious, and also in New York, a case that was quietly settled last July. In Dallas theyre facing two lawsuits from a contractor claiming he was never paid for his services. Last October the Nusr-Et team was charged with multiple safety violations by the city of Boston, but it doesnt appear theyve been sued there... yet. When Salt Bae comes to town, anything can happen! An Indian lawyer has filed a lawsuit against Prince Harry for allegedly violating his vow to marry her. Palwinder Kaur, the woman, alleged in a petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Prince Harry had contacted her on social media and told her he wanted to marry her after interacting for a while. She also demanded that Indian authorities issue a foreign arrest warrant for Prince Harry so that the police and the U.K. could detain him and compel him to fulfill his vow of marriage without delay. A woman claims Prince Harry promised her marriage The court dismissed the application, stating that she had not been meeting with Prince Harry and warned her of catfishing risks. The Indian lawyer has filed a lawsuit against Prince Harry Middleton and other people, Daily Mail reported. Prince Philip's Bond with Princess Diana, Including Exchange of Letters "Prayer is this petition filed by the petitioner, who is a lawyer and is appearing in person, is to take legal action against Prince Harry Middleton, son of Prince Charles Middleton, a United Kingdom citizen. And to order the United Kingdom Police Cell to take action against him, as despite a commitment to marry the petitioner, the said promise has not been fulfilled," the lawsuit states. When questioned by the judge, Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan, she acknowledged that she had never visited the United Kingdom or met the Duke of Sussex in person. Their only contact had been via email and social media. She went on to say that she had taken the difficult decision of requesting the court action after writing to Harry's father, Prince Charles, to tell him that Prince Harry was engaged to her and had broken his vow to marry her. Meghan Markle Advised Not to Return to the UK; Prince Harry Risks Royal Divorce If He Returns Unapologetic Court denied Indian lawyer's lawsuit against Prince Harry The court denied the case, stating that it could not be proved that she had spoken to Prince Harry. But they did try to be sensitive to the woman, finding out that there are several false accounts on social media that cannot be counted on as evidence of real-life conversations. According to The Sun, catfishing is the phenomenon of making false identities to trick victims, often by promising romantic commitments. The Indian lawyer said their romance blossomed online, with a man claiming to be Prince Harry, who then proposed to marry her. Kaur, who claimed she was duped into thinking she was speaking with Prince Harry, has filed a lawsuit demanding that the true Prince Harry fulfill his vow of marriage. Fortunately for the sixth-in-line to the throne, the Punjab and Haryana high court rejected the filings, calling them a "daydreamer's fantasy," allowing Prince Harry to keep his marriage to Meghan Markle intact. "Love is blind, and in this situation, it went a step further," Amangurbir Singh Dhillon, a lawyer with the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh, told The Independent. "The woman was so blinded by love that the high court had no choice but to shed some light on her situation and provide her some clarification. Hon. Justice Sangwan expressed concern for a young naive lover, which I believe is an outstanding example of judicial conduct." Prince Philip Gets Wish Of 'No-Fuss' Funeral, Brings William and Harry Face To Face Since Rift @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vic Opposition Demands Answers Over the Renewal of Hotel Quarantine Firms Licence Victorias state opposition is calling for an investigation into why a private security company, which was involved in Victorias bungled hotel quarantine scheme, was granted a licence extension by the state. The move comes just weeks after NSW Police revoked the master licence of Unified Security Group due to undeclared changes in ownershipeffectively axing up to a third of NSW quarantine hotels. However, an interim stay until April 26 was granted to the company earlier this month by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In a letter to Victorias Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Police and Crime Prevention David Southwick said his party was deeply concerned that the Andrews government awarded contracts to Unified after a government review found ongoing concerns of widespread company phoenixing, sham contracting, poor training and employee education and language standards into Victorias private security industry. Serious questions remain as to why an unapproved company facing charges in New South Wales was engaged to work in hotel quarantine and has received a licence renewal, Southwick said. Furthermore, Unified Security Group was not part of a Victorian government panel of approved security providers, unlike the other two private security companies engaged in the states hotel quarantine program, Southwick added. Despite paying more than $60m to these companies, private security contractors were directly responsible for triggering Victorias catastrophic second wave, resulting in the deaths of more than 800 Victorians, 250,000 job losses and immeasurable social and economic harms, he said. Southwick says no answer has yet been given by the Andrews government over its decision to renew Unified Securitys contract in the states hotel quarantine program, reported Sky News. Unified Securitys chief executive, David Millward, has previously accused the Andrews government of having a confused and ineffective government departmental structure, which led to inadequate infection-control protocols in the hotels, reported The Age. This comes despite the company being vindicated after the Coates Inquiry found flaws in the Victorian governments oversight of the hotel quarantine program, and alleged that Unified was incapable of staffing the quarantine hotels and relied almost entirely on subcontractors, reported The Herald Sun. Unified Security Group, an Indigenous-owned business, was awarded contracts of over $30 million between late March and July 2020 to oversee Victorias hotel quarantine scheme. Under the contracts awarded to Unified, Wilson Security, and MSS, these companies were asked to provide security guards training on infection control and personal protective equipment. The Coates Inquiry found that while hotel quarantine was a crucial element that the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews had committed Victoria to adopt. The report noted that neither he nor his ministers had any active role in, or oversight of, the decision about how that enforcement would be achieved. This the inquiry heard led to hotel quarantine security being highly casualised and poorly trained in contrast to strict structures supporting police and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. Following the release of the hotel quarantine final report in December 2020, Unified said in a statement that its company staff worked hard and in good faith, and were unfairly maligned after the outbreak and said that it was convenient for bureaucrats to blame and hide behind security guards and security companies. In response to the hotel quarantine inquirys final report, the Victorian government said that along with implementing all 81 recommendations, it is committed to learning from these lessons, to ensure that Victoria continues to deliver the safest and most effective quarantine system possible. Tectonic Theater Project (creators of The Laramie Project) and Madison Wells Live will bring a new version of Miami New Drama's acclaimed Seven Deadly Sins project to New York City's Meatpacking District this summer, with performances beginning Wednesday, June 23. The Seven Deadly Sins comprises seven 10-minute plays by different authors, with each one performed in a different storefront window. Masked and socially distanced audience members will receive disposable earbuds in order to hear the actors, who will each be behind isolation barriers to protect themselves. Audience members will rotate through each play over the course of the evening. These seven writers are Ngozi Anyanwu (Gluttony), Thomas Bradshaw (Sloth), MJ Kaufman (Pride), Moises Kaufman (Greed), Jeffrey LaHoste (Envy), Ming Peiffer (Wrath), and Bess Wohl (Lust). Kaufman will also direct the production, which was originally conceived by Michel Hausmann. The design team is led by David Rockwell (scenic and environmental design), Dede Ayite (costume design), Yuki Link (lighting design), and X Casting / Victor Vazquez CSA (casting director). Casting and additional details for The Seven Deadly Sins will be announced in the coming weeks. The question I keep asking myself Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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) Jean-Christophe Novelli has admitted raising his autistic son Valentino is an 'enormous challenge' and he and fiance Michelle Kennedy have been to hospital three times in the last week alone with him. The French chef, 60, and his partner described caring for their son, three, who is nonverbal, as a 24-hour job, with Michelle worrying how he will communicate with others when he is older. Appearing on Wednesday's episode of Loose Women, Jean-Christophe said: 'Valentino is an amazing boy but it is an enormous challenge and something we had to learn to adapt. There is not a single day off. Tough time: Jean-Christophe Novelli and his fiance Michelle told Loose Women on Wednesday that raising his nonverbal autistic son Valentino, 3, has been an 'enormous challenge' 'Sometimes it can be 24 hours a day. I think we should not be ashamed, it is what it is. We have had to learn a lot. The thing is, we want to give him so much.' Valentino was diagnosed autism in December 2019, little more than a year after overcoming stage four neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The couple have faced health challenges with Valentino during Britain's lockdown with Jean-Christophe telling how they have made frequent trips to hospital. He said: 'This week, we've been to the hospital three times and this is a place no one wants to go. The NHS what they do every single day is fantastic. Family: The French chef, 60, and his partner described caring for their three-year-old son, who is nonverbal, as a 24-hour job 'You know they are on top of it. It's always difficult with a young child and I'm sure there is worse.' Speaking about his communication skills, Michelle said: 'That is a massive fear [for parents of an autistic child], their son or daughter can't communicate. 'Valentino doesn't seem to be able to understand and that's a massive debilitating worry for us. 'The future is far away but you can't help but get your head in a spin, thinking of your child not being able to communicate forever. When you've got that nagging at the back of your mind, it is quite difficult.' Jean-Christophe said: 'Valentino is an amazing boy but it is an enormous challenge and something we had to learn to adapt. There is not a single day off' Michelle told how during Valentino's battle with cancer, doctors discovered he had a 15q deletion, a rare genetic condition in which there is a missing copy of part of the genetic material that makes up one of the body's 46 chromosomes. She said: 'He had cancer as a baby, they ran all sorts of tests on him and found he had a genetic deletion, 15q. When we found that out, they said there would be a 50pc chance he would have it, 50pc chance he wouldn't. 'I know a lot of parents are fighting and struggling knowing there is something different about their child but they're struggling to get a diagnosis but we got that early. He's got a limp at the moment. It's frightening. Everything is heightened.' Michelle, who is also mother to Jean, 11, and Jacques, seven with Jean-Christophe, admitted she has relished spending so much time with him during lockdown. Awareness: Jean-Christophe admitted lockdown has woken him up to the severity of his youngest son Valentino's autism after initially being in denial about his symptoms She said: 'It's great having Jean-Christophe here. It's difficult for Jean, he can't go over to Belfast with his restaurant. But at the same time, he's with us and with young children, we're blessed. 'I always think, look at the positives. I'm blessed to have Jean around here. You can tell when he's been away because the kids have been feral.' Jean-Christophe believes Valentino's autism diagnosis has brought him closer with his siblings, with Michelle adding: 'Adversity can push the siblings into a place of responsibility. It's hard, of course it is, on them. 'It's about breaking down the stigma. At the end of the day, it's so important to break down that stigma of these types of mental health problems.' Stay home: Jean-Christophe has been spending an extended period of time with sons Jean, 11, Jacques, seven, and three-year old Valentino during lockdown It comes after the chef previously admitted spending an extended period of time with his loved ones has given him a better understanding of Valentino's condition and his unique way of communicating with his parents. 'Being in the house so much now, I realise I was in denial about what was going on with Valentino,' he told OK! magazine. 'Before, I could be away for six weeks. Now I can clearly see it and it's not easy. When you love someone you think everything should be positive. I'm still very positive but I can see that there is a lot of struggle there. 'It's been very difficult for Michelle and the boys. We don't have a nanny or an au pair. It's also been very difficult because I'm out of my comfort zone while I'm not working.' Equally challenging has been the struggle to communicate with Valentino, who is frequently left frustrated in his efforts to connect with his parents as he can't speak. Michelle said: 'The future is far away but you can't help but get your head in a spin, thinking of your child not being able to communicate forever' 'He is very frustrated. He can't even say mummy or daddy, he just takes your hands. I feel a little bit sad in a way. It's very challenging,' Jean-Christophe explained. Valentino's autism diagnosis came after successful treatment to beat Neuroblastoma, a cancer of specialised nerve cells in the nervous system and other tissues. Fewer than 100 children in the UK are diagnosed each year with the disease, and most of them are under five. The cancer can spread to tissues beyond the original site, including bone marrow, bone, lymph nodes, liver and skin. The Tennessee State Library and Archives hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony with dignitaries, elected officials and Library and Archives staff on Monday to celebrate the opening of its new state-of-the-art building. After the Bicentennial Malls Carillon Bells welcomed guests and the Tennessee Army National Guard Color Guard presented the colors, five-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman sang the national anthem. Former U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, Governor Bill Lee, former Governor Bill Haslam, Secretary of State Tre Hargett and State Librarian and Archivist Chuck Sherrill spoke about how the vision for the beautiful new Library and Archives became a reality. Today we give new life to a State Library and Archives that is chock full of stories, the raw materials of history that give meaning to our lives, said former Senator Alexander. We are grateful to Governor Lee and Secretary Hargett for seeing through to the finish this important project that began in the 1990s and got a big boost from Governor Haslam. As we celebrate 225 years of statehood, were fortunate to have a state-of-the-art facility that will preserve Tennessees rich history, said Governor Lee. The new Tennessee State Library and Archives Building will document the stories of Tennesseans who have shaped our great state, and I thank Secretary Tre Hargett for his leadership in bringing this project to completion. Our state has a rich history full of stories from the generations that came before us, said former Governor Haslam. Now we have a building that can capture that history and keep it safe for generations to come. Congratulations to Secretary Hargett and his team for making this happen. Lt. Governor Randy McNally, Speaker Cameron Sexton, former Governor Winfield Dunn and former State Librarian and Archivist Jeanne Sugg joined the speakers for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The new Tennessee Library and Archives is a state-of-the-art facility every Tennessean should visit at least once," said Lt. Governor McNally. "Tennessee has a great and proud history. That history is preserved and protected by our state Library and Archives. The library has always been an outstanding resource for all Tennesseans to study and research their states history. With this new facility, our state records, documents, newspapers and history will be more protected and accessible than ever. I am grateful to Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Librarian Chuck Sherrill and countless others who made this dream a reality for all of Tennessee. This is an historic day for all Tennesseans, as the new Library and Archives is now officially open for business, said Speaker Sexton. The effective partnership between our General Assembly and Secretary Hargett in recent years has turned what once was a vision into a spectacular reality that is this state-of-the-art facility. Our new Library and Archives will better preserve Tennessees historical collections and make them even more accessible to current and future generations. Former Library and Archives staff member and former president of the Friends of the Tennessee State Library and Archives Mrs. Virginia Gooch Watson had the honor of cutting the ribbon. In 1953, Mrs. Watson processed the first book moved from the Library and Archives original home in the State Capitol to their former building on 7th Ave. N. After the ceremony, attendees were invited to enjoy tours of the new 165,000 square foot building. The journey from the idea for this new building to today was long and not without obstacles, said Secretary Hargett. We would not be here today without the strong support from the members of the Tennessee General Assembly as well as Governor Haslam who placed this building his budgets. Additionally, I am grateful to so many others who advocated for and contributed their time and talents to this building that will preserve Tennessee history for the next 100 years." Founded in 1854, the State Library, a division of the Department of State, was created to collect, preserve and provide access to Tennessee's historical records and resources in accessible formats. In 1919, the State Archives program was added, creating the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Today, the Library and Archives is Tennessee's premier historical research facility and actively promotes the development of local libraries and archives across the state. "We have been blessed to work with so many dedicated professionals who helped bring this project to fruition, including Tuck Hinton Architects and Thomas Miller & Partners, Turner Construction, the current and former members of the State Building Commission, the Department of General Services and Strategic Technology Solutions," said Mr. Sherrill. "We are excited to welcome visitors to this incredible new facility that will serve the people of Tennessee for generations to come. The Library and Archives is holding an open house for the new building at the intersection of Rep. John Lewis Way N. and Jefferson Street in Nashville on Tuesday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. CDT. Visitors are invited to take self-guided tours. Staff will be available to explain the new features and work done in each area. Reservations are not required to attend the open house. To schedule a visit to the Library and Archives after Tuesday, email ask@tsla.libanswers.com. Library and Archives guests are required to wear a mask. To learn more about the Library and Archives collections and upcoming programs, follow their social media channels, Facebook: Tennessee State Library and Archives and Instagram: @tnlibarchives along with the Secretary of States Twitter account: @SecTreHargett. Video from the ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony is available on the Secretary of State's Facebook page and YouTube channel. For more information about the Library and Archives, visit the Secretary of States website, www.sos.tn.gov. HOUSTON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LiquidFrameworks announced today that it executed a highly successful first quarter in 2021, with sales results at 125% of goal. LiquidFrameworks' Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, David Levitt, attributes the growth to the foreseeable ramp up in oil production over the coming months. "As optimism around the vaccine rollout continues and the corresponding increase in energy demand, service companies in the energy industry are preparing for their service volume to increase," Levitt remarks. "However, the need to keep job costs low while capturing every billable dollar is still a necessity. Savvy companies are embracing technology, such as FieldFX, to digitally transform their field operations and maximize revenues." The FieldFX product suite from LiquidFrameworks is the primary enabler of digital transformation for companies in the energy industry that target major financial and operational improvements to their business. FieldFX is a cloud-based mobile field operations software suite designed to manage contracts, quotes, equipment, jobs and field tickets along with customer-specific electronic forms such as safety incidents, inspections and other operational data reports. FieldFX was designed specifically for field personnel, in order to increase usability and, therefore, increase and accelerate the value of the implementations. The FieldFX solution also works both online and offline, which is critical for service companies in the energy industry. "Our domain expertise in this industry has led us to become the de facto standard for service companies throughout the energy value chain," Levitt added. "This industry is experiencing a digital transformation, focusing on the elimination of paper quotes, tickets and forms and FieldFX customers are leading the charge." "Automating processes in the field is a win for all parties involved," said Travis Parigi, CEO and founder of LiquidFrameworks. "This quarter has been a fantastic way to start 2021 and I am confident the momentum generated by our team will propel us through another successful year." To learn more about how mobile field operations management solutions can add value to your service company, visit www.liquidframeworks.com. About LiquidFrameworks LiquidFrameworks is a leading provider of cloud-based, mobile field operations management solutions serving the energy, industrial and environmental services industries. LiquidFrameworks' FieldFX solution provides companies with numerous benefits, including increased and accelerated revenue capture, increased cash flow, improved contract compliance, increased invoice accuracy and improved customer responsiveness. LiquidFrameworks is based in Houston, Texas. To join the conversation, follow @LquidFrameworks on Twitter. Media Contact: Emily Rhodes (713) 552-9250 www.liquidframeworks.com PR Contact: Bryan Spevak 512.387.3703 [email protected] SOURCE LiquidFrameworks Related Links http://www.liquidframeworks.com Surge testing will start in Barnet tomorrow after a single case of the South African variant was discovered. Thousands of residents in Wandsworth and Lambeth are already queuing up to take coronavirus tests after 44 cases of the South African variant were found. Earlier today the drive to surge-test everyone in the two London boroughs descended into farce as at least two centres showed no appointments for the next fortnight. Barnet Council said teams of officials will go door-to-door in areas in the N3 postcode to deliver PCR test kits, and a mobile testing unit will be set up in the car park of Finchley Central Station. Meanwhile, Wandsworth Council said the testing operation was a 'mammoth task' but urged all adults in the area to get tested even if they do not have any symptoms. Facilities offering asymptomatic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing have now been opened at Wandsworth Town Hall, Tooting Leisure Centre and the University of Roehampton, as well as Lambeth Town Hall and Brockwell Park. Thousands of residents in Wandsworth and Lambeth are queuing up to take coronavirus tests after 44 cases of the South African variant were found People stand in line for coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London People aged 11 and over who live, work or travel through those areas are being urged to take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, on top of twice-weekly rapid testing. Additional testing has also been set up by NHS Test and Trace in the SE16 area of Southwark, where the Department of Health said a case linked to the cluster in Wandsworth and Lambeth has been identified and is self-isolating. A statement on Barnet Council's website said: 'The South African variant of Covid-19 has been found in Barnet. 'From Thursday 15 April we will start testing people for this variant in specific postcode areas affected in N3 or those who shop on the local high street.' A steady stream of people joined the lines at pop-up centres on Clapham Common and in Brockwell Park near Brixton on Wednesday morning after they were warned waiting times could reach up to two hours. And at least two centres in Wandsworth showed no appointments available for the surge period up to April 23. Louisa Wells, 34, from Camberwell, said the process of queuing and testing in Brockwell Park had taken her about an hour. 'I saw they were surge testing in the area, and they wanted everyone to get a test, so I did what I was told,' she said. People stand in line for coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London, today Queues wound around the parklands on Clapham Common on Wednesday afternoon A member of staff hands out testing kits for the disease on Clapham Common Wednesday 'I'm not particularly concerned (about the new variant) but obviously any extension of this is concerning.' Another woman, who lives and works in Lambeth, said she is taking 'every possible precaution to protect her family... and colleagues' following the announcement of more cases of the variant. Wandsworth Council - which is under the control of the Conservative group - and the Department of Health have not responded to MailOnline for a request to comment. A temporary testing site at Deal Porter Square, next to Canada Water Library, was opened on Wednesday and residents can also collect and drop off home-testing kits from Canada Water Library Theatre. Sangeeta Leahy, director of public health at Southwark Council, said: 'We understand that this could be concerning news, but there is no cause for alarm. 'We are delivering Covid-19 tests to residents in a defined area so that we identify how far, if at all, the variant has spread. 'This variant of Covid-19 may be more easily passed between people... it is important that we all continue to follow the current rules on social distancing and meeting with people from outside our household.' Staff hand out home testing kits for the coronavirus disease on Clapham Common in London People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London Hundreds of people queued in Clapham Common for surge tests on Wednesday afternoon Downing Street has insisted the outbreak is being taken 'very seriously' and 'strong measures' have been put in place to prevent it spreading. A DHSC spokesperson said: 'Additional surge testing and sequencing has been successfully rolled out in a number of targeted locations to help us suppress, control and better understand Covid-19 variants in circulation. 'Surge testing has been well received by the public in those areas, with thousands of tests completed and thousands of genomes sequenced. 'Further data will be provided in due course.' The BBC reported that the outbreak appears to have been triggered by an individual who travelled from Africa in February. According to documents seen by the broadcaster, the country involved was not on the red list for mandatory hotel quarantine at that time, but is now. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), urged people not to 'go wild' after restrictions were eased on Monday, warning it could lead to the South African variant becoming more prevalent. The two centres known to have no appointments are Tooting Leisure Centre and Wandsworth Town Hall. One Balham resident said: 'If they wanted everyone to be tested, perhaps they should have thought about increasing capacity. 'You've now got people who want to make sure they don't spread the variant effectively unable to find out whether they have got it or not.' Members of the public queue for the COVID-19 testing centre at St John's Church in Waterloo Both Tooting Leisure Centre and Wandsworth Town Hall have no appointments now available It comes a day after residents of the two South London boroughs said they were unable to celebrate the easing of lockdown restrictions after being urged to undergo PCR testing for the South African coronavirus variant. Just hours after boisterous celebrations across English cities following the partial reopening of pubs and restaurants, hundreds of people queued patiently on Tuesday morning at special surge testing centres in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth. More than 70 people in the two boroughs are being forced to self isolate after contracting the South African with all local residents instructed to get tested. There were also long queues at Lambeth Town Hall and other sites in neighbouring Wandsworth. Residents waited patiently at Brockwell Park's surge testing centre for more than an hour as the long queue snaked its way along a hill overlooking the capital. Ruth Clarke, 23 told MailOnline: 'I was drinking outside a local pub on Monday night and was looking forward to going out for a meal tonight. Then I heard about this South African variant and thought I'd better get tested. More than 70 people in Wandsworth and Lambeth are being forced to self-isolate after reportedly contracting the South African variant that could weaken the vaccine People stand socially distanced as they queue to enter to take a Covid test at a mobile novel coronavirus testing centre in Brockwell Park in south London WHY ARE SCIENTISTS SO SCARED OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT? The variant has mutations on its spike protein which scientists fear will make it difficult for the immune system to recognise, even in vaccinated people Real name: B.1.351 When and where was it discovered? Scientists first noticed in December 2020 that the variant, named B.1.351, was genetically different in a way that could change how it acts. It was picked up through random genetic sampling of swabs submitted by people testing positive for the virus, and was first found in Nelson Mandela Bay, around Port Elizabeth. Using a computer to analyse the genetic code of the virus which is viewed as a sequence of letters that correspond to thousands of molecules called nucleotides can help experts to see where the code has changed and how this affects the virus. What mutations did scientists find? There are two key mutations on the South African variant that appear to give it an advantage over older versions of the virus these are called N501Y and E484K. Both are on the spike protein of the virus, which is a part of its outer shell that it uses to stick to cells inside the body, and which the immune system uses as a target. They appear to make the virus spread faster and may give it the ability to slip past immune cells that have been made in response to a previous infection or a vaccine. What does N501Y do? N501Y changes the spike in a way which makes it better at binding to cells inside the body. This means the viruses have a higher success rate when trying to enter cells when they get inside the body, meaning that it is more infectious and faster to spread. This corresponds to a rise in the R rate of the virus, meaning each infected person passes it on to more others. N501Y is also found in the Kent variant found in England, and the two Brazilian variants of concern P.1. and P.2. What does E484K do? The E484K mutation found on the South African variant is more concerning because it tampers with the way immune cells latch onto the virus and destroy it. Antibodies substances made by the immune system appear to be less able to recognise and attack viruses with the E484K mutation if they were made in response to a version of the virus that didn't have the mutation. Antibodies are extremely specific and can be outwitted by a virus that changes radically, even if it is essentially the same virus. South African academics found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to the new variant. One researcher said it was 'clear that we have a problem'. Vaccine makers, however, have tried to reassure the public that their vaccines will still work well and will only be made slightly less effective by the variant. How many people in the UK have been infected with the variant? At least 544 Brits have been infected with this variant, according to Public Health England's random sampling. The number may be higher, however, because PHE has only picked up these cases by randomly scanning genetic sequences of cases identified. They are thought to have covered every case last week. Will vaccines still work against the variant? So far, Pfizer and Moderna's jabs appear only slightly less effective against the South African variant. Researchers took blood samples from vaccinated patients and exposed them to an engineered virus with the worrying E484K mutation found on the South African variant. They found there was a noticeable reduction in the production of antibodies, which are virus-fighting proteins made in the blood after vaccination or natural infection. But it still made enough to hit the threshold required to kill the virus and to prevent serious illness, they believe. There are still concerns about how effective a single dose of vaccine will be against the strain. So far Pfizer and Moderna's studies have only looked at how people given two doses react to the South African variant. Studies into how well Oxford University/AstraZeneca's jab will work against the South African strain are still ongoing. Johnson & Johnson actually trialled its jab in South Africa while the variant was circulating and confirmed that it blocked 57 per cent of coronavirus infections in South Africa, which meets the World Health Organization's 50 per cent efficacy threshold. Advertisement 'It's taken the shine off the easing of the lockdown and ruined my plans. I was hoping that things were returning to normal but we can't seem to get rid of coronavirus. It's like a monkey on our backs.' Fitness instructor Deleoy Smith, 36 said: 'Just when we had some good news about shops and restaurants reopening we now get hit with the South African variant. When will this ever stop. 'Of course it's made me nervous about going out. I was looking forward to going for a drink tonight with some pals but don't think I'll bother until I get my test result.' Raymond Campbell, 29 who had taken a day off work to get a test said: 'It feels as if the whole country is celebrating but not us. 'I was planning to go into the West End of London tonight for a drink after seeing the party atmosphere there on the news. But this South African strain has got me worried again so I won't bother.' Officials revealed that a second testing site is to be set up at Brockwell Park on Wednesday to cope with the huge demand. Scores of people queued outside Lambeth Town Hall where testing capacity is also set to be increased over the coming days. Irene Sullivan, 67 who had just had a test said: 'Having the South African strain in our area is terrible news, especially for young people in our area. It came after everyone in Lambeth and Wandsworth was today urged to book a coronavirus test after a cluster of the troublesome South African variant was spotted in the two London boroughs. Public Health England revealed last night up to 74 cases of the mutant strain were discovered in the council areas, in what officials called a 'significant' outbreak. The variant, known as B.1.351, is of concern because it is feared it may be able to partially evade existing vaccines. Dr Ruth Hutt, director of public health for Lambeth Council, insisted officials were 'fairly confident' most cases had been found. But she added there was a risk cases of the variant had already spilled over into the wider community. A cluster of infections was picked up in a care home. Dr Hutt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that residents of the two boroughs can still enjoy the easing of lockdown but urged them to do so 'safely'. 'It is a really good opportunity now to mobilise all this testing just to check we don't have any further cases of this variant in either Lambeth or Wandsworth,' she said. Dr Hutt added that 'a lot' of the cases were picked up through asymptomatic testing, saying it was proof that there were 'really good testing processes in place'. She said: 'What we want to do is a wider testing across the public of anybody who doesn't have symptoms to check there aren't further cases out there that we may have missed.' Ministers have been fighting to stop the mutant variant from spreading rapidly. More than 540 cases have already been spotted in Britain. Surge testing has been used in dozens of areas where the variant has been detected. Travellers are also asked to quarantine, in an attempt to stop cases being imported. Surge PCR testing is available for people aged 11 and over who live, work or travel through these boroughs. PHE revealed yesterday there were 44 confirmed cases of the variant in the areas, and 30 probably cases linked to these individuals. The chief medical adviser for NHS Test and Trace, Dr Susan Hopkins, said the clusters were 'significant'. 'It's really important people in the local area play their part in stopping any further spread within the local community,' she added. 'Around one in three people with Covid don't show any symptoms. 'By taking part you can protect yourselves and your loved ones and help us identify any possible new cases that would otherwise be missed, preventing further transmission and saving lives.' The B.1.351 strain has three key mutations on its spike protein which help it 'hide' from the immune system, known as E484K, N501Y and K417N. Covid uses its spike to latch onto human cells and the current crop of vaccines have been designed to train people's bodies to recognise that protein. But any deformities make it harder for the immune system to spot and flush it out, allowing the virus to take hold. No10's scientific advisers fear the South African variant which has yet to take hold in the UK may make the current crop of vaccines around 30 per cent less effective. Analysis by SAGE found the strain can cause up to a 10-fold decrease in the effectiveness of antibodies in vaccinated or previously infected people. While antibodies are not the only part of the immune response against Covid white blood cells also help they play a crucial role in fighting off the infection. Nonetheless, experts are still confident the jab is strong enough to protect the vast majority of people from falling severely ill with the B.1.351 strain. South Africa which has been ravaged by the variant has already suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine, citing concerns it is not effective enough. Testing volunteers are pictured at the make-shift swabbing site in Brockwell Park this morning And real-world data from Israel last week suggested the strain may also evade the protection provided by Pfizer's vaccine to some extent. But separate studies have sought to downplay fears, with one suggesting the Pfizer jab offers 100 per cent protection against the Brazilian and South African variants. Researchers in Israel compared almost 400 people who had tested positive for Covid, 14 days or more after they received one or two doses of the vaccine, against the same number of unvaccinated patients with the disease. The variant was found to make up about one per cent of all the Covid cases across all the people studied, according to the study by Tel Aviv University and Israel's largest health provider Clalit. But among patients who had received two doses of the vaccine, its prevalence rate was eight times higher than those unvaccinated - 5.4 per cent versus 0.7 per cent. This suggested the jab is less effective against the South African variant, compared with the original Covid and a variant first identified in Britain that has come to comprise nearly all Covid cases in Israel, the researchers said. 'This means that the South African variant is able, to some extent, to break through the vaccine's protection,' said Tel Aviv University Professor Adi Stern. The Department of Health has said 44 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been found predominantly in Wandsworth and Lambeth (pictured, Lambeth town hall) The research cautioned, however, that the study only had a small sample size of people infected with the variant because of its rarity in Israel. They also said the research was not intended to deduce overall jab effectiveness against any variant, since it only looked at people who had already tested positive for Covid. Some previous studies have indicated that the Pfizer shot was less potent against B.1.351 variant than against other variants of Covid, but still offered robust defence. It comes as England's Covid vaccination roll-out was expanded to over-45s today. But the NHS website for booking appointments crashed just moments after the drive was officially opened up to younger adults. Users trying to get a jab were told: 'The NHS site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. We are working to resolve these issues. Thank you for your patience.' Other users reported being placed in a queue with a holding screen which read: 'You are in a queue. Lots of people [are] trying to book an appointment.' Health chiefs have moved on to the next stage of the campaign because No10 hit its April 15 goal of offering everyone in the top nine priority groups their first dose three days ahead of schedule. Official data show that 36 areas have given a Covid jab to less than 60 per cent of people in the high-risk age groups. London has a large proportion of the worst-performing areas But shortly after the site crashed, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted that the problem had been 'fixed'. Moderna's vaccine is also being dished out in England from today. But only 20 sites will get supplies of the US company's jab this week, as supply trickles in at around 150,000 a week. Ministers have bought 17million doses of Moderna's vaccine, which is the third to be added to the NHS' 'armoury', alongside jabs from Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Moderna's jab as well as leftover supplies of AstraZeneca and Pfizer that haven't been reserved for second doses will be used to move on to the next phase of the roll-out. Boris Johnson hailed the 'hugely significant milestone' in the race to inoculate the country, as he said the Government would 'move forward' on its next goal of inviting every adult for a vaccine by the end of July. Despite moving on to the next phase of the roll-out, parts of England have still only vaccinated half of citizens over the age of 50. Some areas of the country have stormed ahead and managed to reach more than 96 per cent of people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and above, exceeding Number 10's ambitions. But others have been sluggish for months, with large sections of their middle-aged and elderly populations still unprotected against Covid. Official data analysed by MailOnline shows that 36 areas of the country have given a Covid jab to fewer than 60 per cent of people in the high-risk age groups. London has had the least successful rollout so far and is home to six of the 10 lowest uptake areas. Jafas nonhierarchial presentation brings out Mapplethorpes campy side, and the Wildean absurdity of contemplating mens tumescent or dilated parts with the same tranquil gaze youd cast on a tiger lily. Some juxtapositions offer a bit of decadent fun, as when Jafa interrupts a run of Mapplethorpes blunt black-and-whites with a rare color portrait of, hard to believe, the archbishop of Canterbury. He intermixes Mapplethorpes nudes of Black models with admirable neutrality, though placing one models erect sex organ next to a black horse facing the same direction is really a schoolboy joke. But can we even see Mapplethorpe today the way we did when the Kitchen debuted his roughest pictures in 1977, or when an obscenity trial in 1990 made them a flash point of the culture wars? His stringent composition and cold eye retain a small power, but the relationship of sex to photography has changed a great deal. Let me try to put this decorously: A certain number of visitors to this show will later look at dozens more explicit, square-format photographs and even send one or two on smartphone apps that facilitate encounters not unlike those Mapplethorpe pictured. Once the shock was how he objectified nude bodies; now its we who objectify ourselves, every day in our pictures and profiles, just for one moment of human contact. Dozens of items including Adidas bags, designer purses and iPhones have been recovered from the property of a man alleged to have stolen the goods from homes and businesses. The 34-year-old man's home in Zillmere, Brisbane's north, was raided by police on Monday as part of an investigation into a string of thefts in the city. The man was arrested and charged with a total of 51 stealing-related offences. Police are calling on the public's help to track down the owners of a stockpile of stolen items that were uncovered at a home in Zillmere in Brisbane's north. Some of the goods found by cops are pictured The items found by police included sets of keys, handbags, an iPhone, handbags and wallets Several backpacks were found at the Zillmere home, along with a variety of items that included binoculars and screwdrivers Police allege the man stole two iPads used for ordering food from the front counter at a cafe in Taigum in December last year. He is also alleged to have stolen multiple wallets over several months and used the victim's credit cards to make a number of purchases. A large number of goods were found by police under a staircase in the man's home on Monday, including bags, wallets, keys, sim cards and headphones, alleged to have been stolen. Police are now appealing for the public's help to track down the owners of the goods and have released images of the items in the hope they can be identified. A 34-year-old man was arrested at his home in Zillmere on Monday and charged with 51 stealing-related offences Pictured is a backpack and a handbag found by cops after they executed a search warrant on Monday Several sets of car keys were found, as well as USB sticks, memory cards and a Tiffany & Co sunglass pouch Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444 and quote QP2002636463. The man was charged with 18 counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence, 20 counts of fraud and 13 counts of receiving tainted property. He appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday. The High Court has today backed the Ministry of Justice over its decision to impose strict licence conditions on a freed terrorist in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack. Omar Latif, 37, was jailed in 2012 alongside Fishmongers' Hall attacker Usman Khan for his involvement in al Qaida-inspired plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange. Days after Khan's 2019 knife attack, justice chiefs ordered a crackdown on Latif - who was out of licence. The Ministry of Justice banned Latif from attending meetings of more than 50 people and from entering the City of London without permission. Latif later took the department to court, claiming the changes to his licence conditions were 'unlawful'. But two High Court judges have today ruled in the MoJ's favour, saying he had been largely treated lawfully on all but one specific issue. The licence conditions will remain in place, according to MoJ chiefs. Omar Latif (pictured), 37, was jailed in 2012 alongside Fishmongers' Hall attacker Usman Khan for his involvement in al Qaida-inspired plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange Days after Khan's (pictured) 2019 knife attack at Fishmongers' Hall, justice chiefs ordered a crackdown on Latif - who was out of licence Latif was one of nine men who were jailed in 2012 for terrorism offences relating to an al Qaida-inspired plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. Latif, from Cardiff, was sentenced to 10 years and four months' imprisonment for attending meetings with the intention of assisting others to prepare or commit acts of terrorism. Future London Bridge attacker, Usman Khan, was jailed over the same plot at the same hearing. Latif was automatically released from prison at the halfway point of his sentence in February 2016, and was recalled to prison that September before he was again released on licence in May 2018. On November 29, 2019, Usman Khan fatally stabbed Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at Fishmongers' Hall in central London while out on licence. Five days later, Latif - who claimed he has had 'no contact' with Khan since they were in the same prison in 2016 - was told that 'senior officials' at the MoJ had imposed new conditions on his licence. At a hearing in February, his lawyers argued the additional conditions are unlawful. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the High Court ruled that the new licence conditions were initially imposed without giving Latif the opportunity to make representations about them. Mr Justice Swift, sitting with the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, said in the ruling that Latif should have been 'afforded an opportunity to comment on the proposals to impose the additional conditions'. Latif was one of nine men (all pictured) who were jailed in 2012 for terrorism offences relating to an al Qaida-inspired plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp in Pakistan Usman Khan fatally stabbed Jack Merritt (pictured left), 25, and Saskia Jones (pictured right), 23, at Fishmongers' Hall in central London while out on licence However, the judge added that 'it is not necessary to quash the decision to add new licence conditions', as Latif was later given the chance to make representations. The High Court also rejected Latif's argument that only the Parole Board could vary his licence conditions or that the new conditions were disproportionate. At the hearing in February, Latif's barrister Dan Squires QC said the changes to his licence 'were not made because of any change to the risk he posed or anything he had said or done'. Mr Squires said Latif's behaviour since his release in May 2018 had been 'exemplary', adding that Latif 'had no involvement in, or prior knowledge of, the London Bridge attack'. In the judgment, Mr Justice Swift said a phone conversation informing Latif of the changes to his licence in early December 2019 was 'only to explain to the claimant the effect of the new licence conditions, not to ask him whether he had anything to say that might be material to the decision-making process'. But the judge said Latif was later able to make representations which were considered by probation officers, which meant he was 'sufficiently involved in the decision-making process at that point'. A 23-year-old African spurred tortoise at a German zoo gets around on his own despite joint problems thanks to a roller board. ADVERTISEMENT ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen zoological adventure world in North Rhine-Westphalia said the 220-pound tortoise, Helmuth, started having trouble supporting his own weight due to shoulder joint problems with his front legs. The zoo said Helmuth is getting used to moving on his own again after being lifted onto a board with wheels that he can propel with his legs. Zookeepers said Helmuth's legs are strengthening from his training sessions with the roller board and he is getting skilled at navigating around on his wheels. GREENWICH Drivers will have to put up with traffic detours this summer through Bruce Park. But the hassle will be worth it, the towns Department of Public Works said, to replace a deteriorating and functionally obsolete bridge. The DPW will replace the vehicle bridge on Davis Avenue through the heavily used park. That will necessitate a road closure, likely from May 1 to Sept. 1, with construction taking place six days a week. Jason Kaufman, a senior civil engineer for the town, said this plan made more sense than doing a staged construction to allow the road to stay open during the work. There are three major concerns with a staged construction approach at this location, Kaufman said. The first is a concern about stability of the other half of the bridge if you were to do one half. Theres currently a center pier on this bridge that will be removed and there will be a one-span length beams put across. The designer has some concern about removing half of the bridge and having the other half remain to keep traffic passing over it. Based on the deterioration which is evident underneath theyre extremely concerned about leaving half. A staged construction would require two construction seasons to work in and the hope under this plan is to have most of the work completed this year, Kaufman said. A staged construction would also increase costs for the project by as much as 30 percent to 50 percent, he said. The bridge was originally constructed in 1934. The construction is budgeted at $2.3 million, expected to be covered by a grant from the states Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program. DPW has said that work on the project, to be done by A. Vitti Excavators of Stamford, will begin around April 26 with temporary traffic control devices to prepare for the May 1 road closure. The construction hours on the project are slated to be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Work will continue even after the road is reopened to install new curbing and sidewalks near the bridge. DPW has given the project an estimated 15-month timeline. Once the road is reopened in September, there may be alternating one-way traffic during work hours for the final restoration of curbs, sidewalks and pavement, which is slated to be finished by September 2022. Final details about that have not yet been released. Landscaping is also expected to be done next spring. And DPW has stressed that all of the dates could change due to weather or any unforeseen circumstances. The Board of Selectmen last week unanimously approved the detour, which will use Davis Avenue, Museum Drive, Arch Street, Interstate 95 and Indian Field Road. Access to local driveways and Oneida Drive will be maintained throughout the construction, DPW said. The town held public hearings about the project, which Kaufman said has been in the works for years, as well as direct meetings with neighbors, the Board of Education and emergency services so they can plan around the closure. The bridge geometry and striping layout are known to be functionally obsolete, DPW has said. That means it does not meet current roadway design standards. Because of that and the signs of deterioration as well as the critical nature of the bridge, the department said it decided to go ahead with the replacement. Selectperson Jill Oberlander asked DPW whether it had considered putting space in the new bridge for a bike lane. James Michel, the towns deputy commissioner of public works, said while it was considered, it was determined it would take too much widening. He said they did not want to take away green space from Bruce Park. Kaufman said a 5- to 6-foot shoulder would be striped adjacent to both lanes crossing the bridge. In the event that future capital improvements are made to surrounding roadways within the park to accommodate bike lanes, shoulders crossing the bridge would have the ability to be restriped as bike lanes, Kaufman said on Monday. At last weeks Board of Selectmen meeting, Michel said he would discuss future ways with Oberlander and perhaps with bicycle user groups in town to allow for designated areas for bicycles to travel there. First Selectman Fred Camillo said he thought that was a great idea but urged Michel to make sure and reach out to the neighbor groups, too. We might think its a great idea, but they might not, Camillo said. The town has set up a webpage at greenwichct.gov/1549/Davis-Avenue-Bridge to provide updates about the project. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com Chennai, April 14 : International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed an equity investment up to $20 million into Faering Capital International Growth Fund III or Faering III. According to IFC, the investment is subject to a cap of 20 per cent of the final fund size of Faering III, a mid-market private equity (PE) fund focused on growth equity transactions in India. The fund is targeting a total commitment of $300 million and will be managed by Faering Capital Advisors LLP. IFC will not be the single largest investor in the proposed Faering III. Faering III will continue to focus on its key strengths of targeting growth stage mid-market companies in financial services, consumer and digital, pharma and healthcare, and other sectors such as business services. The new Fund is expected to size its average ticket per company in the range of $15-40 million in 10-12 companies. IFC said a delegated authority co-investment envelope for an amount of up to $20 million in potential co-investments in the Faering III's portfolio companies is also being proposed alongside the Fund commitment. Faering Capital also manages Fund I (US$150 million) and Fund II (US$200 million), IFC said. For one weekend only, Saturday April 17 and Sunday April 18, the brand is partnering with some of NYC's most beloved Black and Hispanic owned food trucks to cover free eligible meals and a cold, refreshing 20 oz. Manzanita Sol for all customers. Recognizing that some of these small business owners and their communities could use support now more than ever after the past year, Manzanita Sol is giving back to the trucks and their customers while celebrating the unique neighborhood flavors that keep the city running. "New York is a place where you'll find diverse cuisines around every corner and food trucks are what bring that authentic taste of home paired with a refreshing Manzanita Sol to the streets of the city," said Angie Martinez, who helped announce the initiative. "That's what I've always loved about this city and why I'm so proud to be working with Manzanita Sol to celebrate it." Located across the city and spanning Puerto Rican, Dominican, Jamaican, and Trinidadian specialties, participating food trucks include: Lechonera La Pirana , 766 E 152nd St (corner of Wales Ave. and 152nd Ave.), South Bronx ( 1-7 pm ET ) , 766 E 152nd St (corner of Wales Ave. and 152nd Ave.), ( ) Headed by the infamous machete-wielding "La Pirana" who is known for his classic Puerto Rican pork dishes. El Punto Final , 559 W 185th St, Washington Heights ( 3-9 pm ET ) , 559 W 185th St, ( ) Family owned and run, El Punto Final focuses on delivering a taste of home to the Dominican community. Nio's Trinidad Roti , Newkirk Ave. and Nostrand Ave., Flatbush ( 12-7 pm ET , Saturday only) , Newkirk Ave. and Nostrand Ave., Flatbush ( , Saturday only) Run by a mother and daughter duo that serve up Trinidadian and other Caribbean specialties, curries, and roti in Brooklyn . specialties, curries, and roti in . Island Spice Grill , 492 Malcolm X Blvd, Harlem ( 12:30-6 pm ET ) , 492 Malcolm X Blvd, Harlem ( ) Jamaican and other Caribbean food created by a couple who channeled their efforts to keep essential workers fed during the pandemic. Participation will be limited to one free eligible meal and one free 20 oz. Manzanita Sol per customer. To accommodate demand, each food truck will only offer a limited menu of eligible items during the promotion period, available while supplies last. In addition, Manzanita Sol will provide each vendor with $10,000 to help further support their business. Recognizing that street vendors are the fabric of the city, Manzanita Sol looks to show its support for iconic local trucks and their communities beyond launch weekend. This program ladders up to PepsiCo's "Racial Equality Journey" commitment where together with The PepsiCo Foundation, it is investing more than $570 million over five years to lift up Black and Hispanic businesses and communities in the U.S., address issues of inequality, and create opportunity, including increasing its spending with Hispanic- and Black-owned suppliers and funding community engagement initiatives. "Just as apple is a familiar flavor from home for many New Yorkers with Latin American and Caribbean roots, the diverse food trucks in the city also give that familiar taste of home they know and love," said Esperanza Teasdale, vice president and general manager of the Hispanic Business Unit for PepsiCo Beverages North America. "Manzanita Sol is happy to give back to these cherished and loved neighborhood vendors that have worked tirelessly, many over generations, to serve their communities." Available widely in New York City for the first time, Manzanita Sol can be found in 20 oz. and 2-liter bottles at retail channels across the New York metro area, including local bodegas, delis, grocery chains and other independent small businesses. Consumers can learn more about the campaign online and through special content with Angie Martinez here. ABOUT MANZANITA SOL Manzanita Sol is a delicious, lightly carbonated apple soda bursting with juicy red apple flavor that'll make your taste buds dance. The crisp, refreshing flavor is from real apple juice and tastes great with a meal or when quenching your thirst. Manzanita Sol will liven up your day and is a refreshingly different alternative to other flavored sodas. ABOUT PEPSICO PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com. SOURCE PepsiCo Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company" or "Aires"), is pleased to announce the launch of their new subscription model which offers consumers the ability to pay for the Aires product that they purchase over time. This new offering creates a recurring revenue platform for Aires and as such, provides the Company with a consistent and dependable revenue stream. As previously announced, Aires has been in the process of developing a new subscription model initiative to generate a predictable revenue stream for the years to come (refer news release dated 22 February 2021 here). This new strategy, which the Company is launching alongside its other successful marketing initiatives (Airestech E-commerce Platform, Drop Shipping Program, Affiliates/Influencer Marketing Program, etc.), will increase monthly revenue via recurring subscription payments. This new business model will generate a growing source of repeating revenue for the Company, as a single customer will pay multiple payments over a longer period of time for prolonged access to the Company's products. All of these new subscription orders will be fulfilled and serviced by the Aires warehouses in the USA and Canada. The Subscription model program provides immediate benefits for Aires, including: Provides a direct response to consumer demand as many customers wish to outfit themselves and their homes in a single order of product and a payment plan eliminates the larger upfront costs for this type of consumer. Additional predictable recurring revenue, with multi year agreement. Improving revenue by offering a new up-sell and cross-sell tool, which will increase the order amount of each transaction, further increasing revenue. Better conversion rates for customers who desire to equip their entire house or office with Aires technology, Improve customer lifetime value and customer retention by offering flexibility. Aires is expecting a progressive revenue increase as early as the second quarter. These monthly subscription payments will provide a steady, dependable income stream that is guaranteed over a time period of 12 to 60 months. Aires' new Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) based on subscription orders will be a significant part of the total yearly revenue growth, with a global target of +200% compared to last year. Aires' CEO, Dimitry Serov commented, "We will be offering this new program to our customers in North America (USA and Canada) and the product will be delivered directly from our warehouses in NJ and Ottawa within four business days. Looking after our customers is always our top priority, and providing them with a flexible payment plan and constantly improving our services will definitely impact the success of our company!" About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. ("Aires") is Canadian-based nanotechnology company which has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The technology was developed by a team of highly credited scientists and confirmed by independent third-party validation including peer reviewed studies and publications in scientific journals. Aires' Lifetune products specifically target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, Wi-Fi radiation, including the rapidly expanding next-generation high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under ticker 'WIFI'. Learn more at www.airestech.com . On behalf of the board of directors Company Contact: Dimitry Serov, CEO Email: dimitry@airestech.com Telephone: (905) 482-4667 Website: www.airestech.com For further information please contact: Investor Cubed Inc.: Neil Simon, CEO Email: wifi@airestech.com Telephone: (647) 258-3310 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. 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. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80122 Romanias prime minister dismissed the countrys health minister on Wednesday, after a series of incidents related to the minister's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic created tensions within the governing coalition. The move came a day after Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu reportedly made changes to the criteria the government uses to determine which virus-control restrictions to impose on local areas without informing Prime Minister Florin Citu. While announcing the decision, Citu said the country was going through "a difficult period in the fight against the pandemic" and that its resources were stretched. Citu said the leader of USR-PLUS political alliance, Dan Barna, will serve as interim health minister. Voiculescu was appointed in December and briefly served as Romanias health minister in 2016. He had promised to reform the nations strapped health care system. Amid financial trouble, the country's health system has also seen a spate of fires at hospitals, including one in January which killed five patients in the country's capital Bucharest. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Muslims practice social distancing, as a preventive measure to combat the spread of the COVID-19, while reciting the first evening prayer during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 13, 2021. Malaysia on Tuesday reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in two months as new infections set a record in Sarawak, a day after a minister warned that the country may be on the cusp of a fourth coronavirus wave. The infectivity rate had also risen Tuesday to 1.09 the highest so far this year according to a graph tweeted by Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, the Health Departments director-general. The rate denotes the number of people that a person with the virus can infect. Today, Sarawak reported the highest daily number of new cases at 607 cases This was followed by Selangor with 483 cases and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur with 133 cases, Noor Hisham said in a statement. There are 12 deaths today four cases in Sabah and Sarawak each, three in Selangor, and one in Terengganu. Sarawak, on Borneo Island, is Malaysias largest state. It recorded 607 new cases on Tuesday, after recording only half that number a day earlier, according to the State Disaster Management Committee. This new record also puts Sarawak at the top of the list in the country, the state committee said in a statement, about the second straight day of reporting the highest number of infections per state. During the Islamic month of Ramadan, where Muslims in Malaysia began fasting on Tuesday, people must be diligent about following the health ministrys health and safety regulations, Noor Hisham said. People are advised to continue observing the SOP for mosque and surau prayers and also the SOP for food sector involving Ramadan bazaar and Aidilfitri bazaar set by the government, he said, referring to standard operating procedures during the pandemic. Health Minister Dr. Adham Baba, meanwhile, said Sarawak states infectivity rate known as R0 and pronounced R-naught had jumped to 1.1 compared to 1.08 recorded on Monday. This means a single COVID-19 carrier has the ability to infect 1.1 other people and we want to curb this, he told reporters after visiting a COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. He said the federal government had decided to soon deploy 500 medical staff from the Health Ministry to Sarawak to assist the states government in stemming the spread of the virus. Because of the latest rise in new infections and the infectivity rate, Malaysia is staring at the possibility of a fourth wave of COVID-19, Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Monday. Overall, the ministry has confirmed that COVID-19 cases in most states are presently not stable, he said in a news broadcast, according to local media outlets. With 1,767 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the cumulative caseload in Malaysia rose to 363,940. Thailands worrying spike In neighboring Thailand, COVID-19 infections could shoot up 10-fold starting in May, unless the government implements urgent measures to control new cases, Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, warned on Tuesday. On April 4, Thailand had reported the start of a third phase of COVID-19, this time stemming from an outbreak at nightlife venues and involving the more contagious B.1.1.7 strain of the virus. New infections have topped 900 for three days in a row, according to health data. If we dont do it right, in the next one month the spread will spin out of control 9,000 new infections a day, Opas said. Thailand registered 965 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday the start of the three-day Songkran or Thai New Year festival taking the cumulative caseload to 34,575, with 97 virus-related deaths. Last Thursday, the government shut bars and night spots for two weeks, having already banned gatherings of more than a 100 people, and New Year activities such as parties, music concerts and water fights, Meanwhile, the administration has enhanced health facilities nationwide to deal with the surge in COVID-19 infections. Thailand has arranged enough beds to handle the increased number of coronavirus cases, Dr. Somsak Akksilp, head of the Department of Medical Services, said on Tuesday. Last week, the Thai military and other government agencies scrambled to set up over 10,000 beds in field hospitals and turned a number of hotels into hospitels, or temporary nursing places, in Bangkok and adjacent provinces. There are 23,483 beds in upcountry and Bangkok, which are in hospitals, field hospitals and hospitels, only 5,266 are occupied and 18,257 vacant, Somsak said. The national COVID-19 task force has also set up three hot lines for patients to call about virus-related health services. So far, Thailand has received 578,532 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese state-owned firm Sinovac and Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca. A little more than 70,000 people have been fully vaccinated and some half a million have been given at least one COVID-19 jab, according to public health officials. INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) Teacher training requirements could be changing in Indiana. Senate Bill 205 would allow teachers to get their licenses through alternative programs instead of the traditional four year college requirement. There would also be one year of clinical experience. Democratic State Rep. Sheila Klinker is worried it doesn't provide the same kind of mentorship and hands on training needed. "It's all an online program with no personal relationships or faculty and I think that's key to why it's not a workable situation," she explained. Klinker also doesn't believe it will encourage more people to become educators. "The bottom line is we need to be working on incentives for teaching with dollars and cents at this point rather than having an online situation," she added. The bill also says alternative program graduates may not teach a special education course or be a teacher of record for a special education student. News 18 reached out to one of the bill's authors, Republican State Sen. Brian Buchanan, but he was not able to get back with us. The bill now goes to the Senate for a final vote. Magda Szubanski has revealed she compared Scott Morrison and his wife to religious extremists in The Handmaid's Tale because of a fear that Christianity is infiltrating politics. The comedian made headlines on Sunday when she retweeted a photo of the prime minister's wife Jenny wearing a modest black dress while watching her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip. In the controversial tweet, she said the image looked like a scene from the dystopian thriller where women are uneducated, subservient to men and ruled by Bible-touting dictators. The left-wing comedian had retweeted a photo of Mrs Morrison watching her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip, captioning the image: 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid's Tale meme. But no. It's 21st century Aussie life' 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid's Tale meme. But no. It's 21st Century Aussie life,' she wrote. On Wednesday night, the former Kath & Kim star doubled down on her comments and said they were a restrained way of drawing attention to the fact that she thinks elements of 'far-right' Christian conservatism are increasingly present in politics. 'That was a mild way of drawing attention to the fact I do have concerns about, and trust me this is not about the majority of Christians, but the element of the far-right,' she told A Current Affair. 'And - they are really going to come for me now - I think that is a concern. 'I think that is quite legitimate to say in this country. I don't like extremes of any kind is my stance.' Mr and Mrs Morrison are evangelical Christians and have made no apologies for their strong beliefs, with the Liberal leader having met his future wife at a Christian youth camp. Doubling down on her decision to make the comments about the Morrison family, the actress added: 'I am extremely restrained about what I say on Twitter, but there are some opinions that I will voice. 'In terms of the increasing presence of the religious right in politics in this country, then I will say something.' Szubanski also asked presenter Tracy Grimshaw: 'Why you would put something that looks like the Handmaid's Tale out as a photo op?' Magda Szubanski defended the tweet when she addressed the saga on A Current Affair on Wednesday night Magda Szubanski says she didn't recognise Jenny Morrison (left) in this photo of her watching her husband Prime Minister Scott Morrison sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip - which she then compared to a scene from the Handmaid's Tale (right) She also said she did not instantly recognise the woman in the photo as Mrs Morrison because she wasn't wearing her 'normal hair and make-up'. Margaret Atwood's 1985 classic is set in a totalitarian state called Gilead where single women are kept as sexual slaves for reproduction purposes, while married women are only taught how to sew and bow to the whim of their powerful husbands. It has since been made into a successful TV series. Women in the book and show are also covered from head to toe in long, plain-coloured dresses and watch their husbands carry out official duties. Referring again to her decision to speak about the Morrisons, the actress said she was 'not there to just make nice comments all the time' and that certain things 'needed to be addressed'. 'I am 60 Tracy, at what point do you start to just say you know things that you think are important?' she asked. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (L), Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison (C), his wife Jenny Morrison (2nd L), Governor-General David Hurley (R) and his wife Linda Hurley (2nd R) attend a special prayer service to commemorate the death of Prince Philip Scott and Jenny Morrison pictured with their children Lily and Abbey. The family are evangelical Christians and the couple met at a church camp in their youth In a follow-up tweet on Tuesday, Szubanski said 'the infiltration of the religious far-right into Australian politics is disturbing'. She also drew comparisons between 'Christian soldiers' and those criticising her own comments. 'I see what the "Christian Soldiers" are doing here. They have drawn a "pink line" and Im the Big Game,' she wrote in reference to the scandal around the tweet. Actor, comedian and gay marriage advocate Magda Szubanski poses with an LGBTQI flag. She has seen blamed her comments about Jenny Morrison on fearing the rise of the 'religious right' Pictured: Scott Morrison and his family with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Szubanski asked 'what's with the hand signal thingy?' referring to Mrs Morrison's hand on her daughter's wrist She also drew attention to a sign Mrs Morrison was making with her hand in a picture they family posed for alongside Harry and Meghan - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In the image, Mrs Morrison's thumb and forefinger are touching, forming a circle on the little girl's arm. 'What's with the hand signal thingy?' Szubanski wrote, showing Mrs Morrison index finger and thumb forming a circle. While it is most commonly understood to be a benign sign meaning 'OK', a similar signal had been used by the political far right, when the digits create a W and P for White Power. While her question may have been innocent, it prompted a string of replies suggesting the hand gesture was somehow sinister. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Jenny Morrison's hand gesture was in any way signifying 'white supremacy'. When asked about her comments, Szubanki acknowledged to A Current Affair that it was 'probably a silly tweet to put out' but said the reaction was designed to distract the public from other issues. 'The fact that it turned into a big issue is no doubt in my mind partly to distract from the fact that Christine Holgate was making her testimony,' she said. Ms Holgate, the former CEO of Australia Post, accused Mr Morrison of humiliating her in a scorching senate enquiry on Wednesday, after the prime minister slammed her for buying luxury watches for staff. Szubanski told the program she was shocked at the backlash the tweet has sparked but insists she was doing 'okay' after celebrating her 60th birthday on Monday. Magda Szubanski (pictured) poses with the LGBTI Celebrity Award in 2018. She has a history of outspoken left-wing views 'I'm becoming Twitter toughened and if you speak up, this is what's going to happen,' Szubanski said. 'What stunned me was this was such a non-event, and non-comment - it was a comment about a photo that I genuinely thought was a meme. 'I was a bit staggered that I got drawn into this over such a nothing observation that thousands of people had already made on Twitter. 'I think it's sort of a fact of 21st century life if you are at all a public person, you do get better at it, but it seems excessive as to what the actual tweet was. It certainly wasn't a tirade as it has been called.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny wait to sign a condolence book at Admiralty House following the death of Prince Philip Scott Morrison with his daughters Lily and Abbey. Szubanski has asked why Mr Morrison asks his wife Jenny for political advice Earlier on Wednesday, Szubanski fired off a series of angry tweets amid growing backlash and argued Mrs Morrison was 'fair game' for criticism because she had 'opted in' to public life by offering her husband policy advice. Responding to criticism from Liberal MP Nicolle Flint - one of several conservative female politicians who took issue with her Handmaid's Tale tweet - Szubanski wrote: '1) seriously, my comment is 'appalling' says Flint. 'Appalling'?! '2) I never said a single word about Jenny. 3) why is this headline news when... Christine Holgate is testifying?! Blatant attempt to use 'sisterhood' to distract. Now THAT'S appalling.' She also insisted that she hadn't meant to make a personal attack on Mrs Morrison's appearance, but instead wanted a greater degree of accountability - particularly given her husband's revelation that he turns to her for work advice. A local restaurant in California was closed off by city officials after repeatedly violating COVID-19 restrictions, but the owner argues it's because of "fear and control" by authorities. Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill, a Western-themed restaurant in Burbank, California, has been enveloped in a chain-link fence by the city's authorities after it "repeatedly defied COVID-19 mandates." The fence was put in place so that the owners and operators of the restaurant at 2623 W. Magnolia Blvd. would be prohibited from opening their establishment amidst "unsafe conditions." Supporters and opposers to the closure have picketed in the site over the course of several days, straining police resources, a report said. According to NBC Los Angeles, the demonstrators have remained peaceful "for the most part," but neighboring communities have reported being "impacted by the commotion." The Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff invited the representative of the Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill, attorney Mark J. Geragos to file a motion to modify the injunction that served somewhat of a temporary restraining order on the restaurant. However, the owner of the restaurant did not receive any sanctions after they "defied health orders and continued to offer outdoor dining at a time it was banned in Los Angeles County as a way of limiting the spread of the coronavirus." According to CBN News, the restaurant owner's son Lucas Lepejian was taken into the custody of California police on Tuesday morning after he was caught removing sandbags placed in front of the building to deter anyone from going inside. It was the third time he was arrested in a week. Lucas' father Baret Lepejian, the owner of the restaurant, declared that he had no intention of paying over $50,000 worth of fines that the California government had slapped onto his establishment. Baret, who lives in Thailand, challenged authorities to "Show me one shred of evidence of how I am endangering the public." "This has never been about safety or the public," the California restaurant owner argued. "It's never been about that. This whole thing is about fear and control." On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom took to Twitter to share that the state's COVID-19 positivity rate is at its "lowest since the beginning of the pandemic" at 1.5%. This follows a recent uptick in COVID-19 positivity a few days ago, Deadline reported. However, California is looking to vaccinate more people beginning Thursday, enabling those aged 16 and above eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The state has already administered about 23 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with 38.3% of residents having been inoculated once, the Los Angeles Times reported. About 21.1% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, meaning they have completed two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, or have gotten the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. "Californians have done the hard work of slowing the spread of #COVID19 and now we are looking forward," the Office of the Governor of California shared on Twitter. "With a continued focus on vaccine equity & mandated masking, we're setting our eyes on June 15th to fully reopen our economy." Vaccination obligation key to herd immunity China Daily) 11:14, April 14, 2021 China has so far administered 164.47 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with around 24.5 million doses given in the past six days, as the country continues to accelerate its vaccine rollout. Yet that is still a far cry from the amount needed to build herd immunity, which requires at least 70 percent of the population to be vaccinated, a goal that the government is striving to achieve by the middle of next year. It is an urgent task for the government to vaccinate all those who are eligible as soon as possible, so the country can reopen to the outside world after more than a year of pandemic-induced restrictions. China is now producing 5 million vaccine doses a day, and will likely have produced 3 billion doses of vaccines by the end of the year, according to the National Health Commission. So unlike many other countries that have seen their vaccination programs stalled mainly because of supply shortages or delayed shipments, it will be able to produce the vaccines it needs to achieve its goal. But hindering the endeavor to achieve a higher rate of vaccination at an earlier date is the fact that many people are still hesitant to get their shots due to various concerns. For example, some are still doubtful about the safety and efficacy of the new vaccines, while others think it's unnecessary to take the jabs given that the pandemic has been largely contained in China. Not to mention those who just want to "take a free ride", by waiting till herd immunity is achieved in the country next year. To overcome these concerns, the government needs to work harder to drive home the fact that COVID-19 vaccines meet rigorous scientific standards, and have proven to be both safe and effective. Yet while pushing forward with the vaccination program, officials at all levels must bear in mind that they should not force through their effortsfor example, by making vaccination compulsory for residentsno matter how well intended such policies may be. Doing so will only exacerbate public doubts and do a disservice to the fight against the virus. How well the government can help the public use reason to prevail over fear, and trust in science to override ignorance in the vaccination drive will serve as a big testament to its governance capacity. Encouraging every citizen to accept the responsibility and obligation to be vaccinated is the only way to build a nationwide firewall against the coronavirus. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) A Contra Costa couple who speak only Vietnamese delayed getting their COVID-19 vaccine by several weeks because they didn't understand the instructions in English for how or where to get the shot. Staff members at Asian Health Services who reviewed California's MyTurn vaccine website for clients found the Vietnamese translations riddled with errors, making comprehension difficult. The Oakland Coliseum mass vaccination site promises translation services for languages beyond just Spanish, but after Asian Health staff members tried unsuccessfully for half an hour to get an interpreter for Chinese languages, Vietnamese or Korean, they gave up. (TNS) Language barriers often hinder Asian Americans' access to lifesaving coronavirus vaccines, says a coalition led by a Bay Area health center.To measure and highlight the problem, Asian Health Services in Oakland unveiled a new website Monday to collect and publish such stories from around the country."With the intense increase in anti-Asian hate this year, we understand the necessity of documenting and raising the visibility of these experiences," said Thu Quach, Asian Health Services' chief deputy of administration.As California and the nation embark on the broadest possible distribution of shots to inoculate against the coronavirus, examples are emerging of translation errors and omissions on websites and in verbal communications that can hinder people with limited or no English skills.Officials from Asian Health Services, which is leading the five-member coalition, provided examples of such stories, including some from the organization's own clients:The federal Title VI law requires federally funded programs to provide "meaningful language assistance to individuals who do not speak English well," Quach said. AsianAmVoices.org aims to "collect data when meaningful language assistance is not provided," the new website explains. "Please let us know if you or someone you know have run into problems getting the vaccine because of language."The site allows people to make reports in 10 languages other than English: Bengali, Burmese, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Mongolian, Nepali, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese. The others in the coalition behind the site are the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Asian American Research Center on Health, Progressive Vietnamese American Organization, and One Nation.Nine stories have been collected to inaugurate the website, including five from the Bay Area, two from New York, one from Washington state and one from Houston. In the Bay Area, Quach submitted examples from her own observation including the two about the state-run sites MyTurn and the Oakland Coliseum.After her staff found multiple errors in the Vietnamese language translation, Quach reported on AsianAmVoices.org that it looked like the state had used Google Translate, an app known for occasionally bungling translations. She wrote: "We were disappointed in the lack of quality control and communicated it to the people of MyTurn."She also reported her staff's inability to receive over-the-phone translations promised at the Oakland Coliseum mass vaccination site, writing: "This is yet another example of the barriers our limited-English-proficient, Asian-Pacific Islander communities face when it comes to language access."Darrel Ng, spokesman for the state's vaccination efforts, said California is well aware of the need to reach residents of all languages, and makes translators available in at least 200 languages "to ensure that language is not a barrier to getting a vaccine."Ng said the state does not use Google Translate, and said his office will reach out to Asian Health Services to learn what specific errors the site may have. He also noted that MyTurn is available in 11 languages besides English: Armenian, Japanese, Khmer, Punjabi, Russian, Chinese simplified and traditional Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.Also, Ng said, the state has "prioritized reaching the API community" by running TV ads in 10 Asian languages since March 29 in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego and Los Angeles with a frequently asked questions format specific to the Asian American community. The ads began on April 1.Quach said that California should have begun those ads months ago, and that the state's MyTurn site had begun with translations only in Spanish. "I think the state should work with community health centers to provide culturally and linguistically competent materials," she said. "Our staff are the community. It's not enough to provide translation. We know how to address a lot of the barriers and cultural hesitancy" toward vaccinations.As for the Contra Costa County couple whose shots were delayed because they could not understand instructions in English, county spokesman Scott Alonso said that an API work group has helped the county reach out to Asian Americans. The county has also distributed a vaccine eligibility flyer in 11 languages, including Punjabi, Thai, Farsi and Lao."These kinds of reports are always concerning and remind us that our work with historically marginalized communities is vital and never done," Alonso said. He said the county's vaccine call center offers many languages, but gave a phone number for people to call if they have complaints: 833-829-2626. A call to that number on Monday offered two language options: English or Spanish. A 36-year-old Monmouth County man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after shooting two men outside an apartment building in Freehold Borough last month, authorities said Joseph Lyons, of Ocean Township, was arrested with the help of the United States Marshals Regional Task Force and sent to to the Monmouth County jail, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday. The shooting took place about 8 p.m. on March 30 outside The Continental at Freehold, an affordable-housing building on Jackson Street, close to downtown Freehold Borough. Both victims were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated for injuries not considered life-threatening and released. Lyons was also charged with two weapons offenses. A spokesman for the prosecutors office declined to disclose a motive for the shooting or say whether the victims lived in the building. Officials also declined to say exactly when or where Lyons was taken into custody. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Daniel Newman of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Freehold Borough Police Detective Richard Schwerthoffer at 732-462-1233. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can also submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip line at 1-800-671-4400. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. DUBAI, UAE and TORONTO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IBC Capital chairman Khurram Shroff has announced the launch of a collection from calligraphist Afaque Hussain, valued at $39 million, on the Toronto-based curated digital arts NFT marketplace, Artifya. This is the first-ever Arabic calligraphy collection to be tokenized as NFTs, and Khurram plans to make the artwork available to mosques across North America, in commemoration of the holy month of Ramadan. Khurram Shroff, Artifya board member & IBC Capital Chairman with Calligraphy Art Arabic Calligraphy by Afaque Hussain A member of Artifiya's board of directors, Khurram Shroff is also a co-founder of the Ethereum GeneSys Blockchain. As a result of being backed by Ethereum GeneSys, Artifya is able to offer greater code flexibility, and the lowest transaction fees, among similar marketplaces, creating positives for both artists and collectors. The NFT market has been making significant gains globally, with gamers and collectors investing hundreds of millions of dollars, in Blockchain-secured digital collectibles. By lowering the cost associated with the creation and exchange of NFTs, Ethereum GeneSys is playing a critical role in the expansion of this emerging ecosystem. "We are witnessing a boom in NFTs, and the creation of a digital marketplace that is bringing together artists, musicians, gamers, and collectors, globally", said Khurram Shroff. "It's particularly exciting to be involved in the launch of the first-ever digitally tokenized Arabic calligraphy collection, especially as the NFTs are being created just in time to commemorate Ramadan Kareem". Khurram's sentiments are shared by the artist and calligraphist whose creations are being offered as NFTs, in this unique launch. "As an artist, it's very gratifying to see the latest chapter in the history of an ancient artform being showcased using cutting edge technology", said Afaque Hussain. "Arabic calligraphy is inextricably linked with Islamic theology and spiritual expression, so I'm delighted that the digitized versions of my artwork will be shared with mosques across North America, during the holy month of Ramadan". Blockchain-authenticated NFTs are creating a mechanism for artists to unlock the value in their creations, and Artifya is at the forefront of this movement, by transparently monetizing artwork and making it globally accessible. In addition to lowering costs associated with digitally tokenizing collectibles, Artifya is also able to 'age' NFTs, with the help of Ethereum GeneSys, to mimic changes in the value of physical artwork, with time. "For those of us who have been proponents of Blockchain since its inception, the growth in NFTs is another validation of this decentralized and empowering technology. As supporters of artistic expression around the world, Artifya will continue to expand the number of artists it features, with many more collections to be tokenized in the near future", Khurram concluded. View the artwork here. About Artifya: Artifya based in Toronto, is reshaping the digital economy by building the world's best, exquisite, and trusted curated marketplace for this new world of digital assets that include non fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs are digital goods (think digital art, game items, domain names, and more) with brand new properties: they're unique, provably scarce, liquid, user-owned, and usable across multiple applications. Simple but powerful, Artifya is at the forefront of ushering a renaissance in the digital world. www.Artifya.com About Khurram Shroff Crypto Whale Khurram Shroff, whose IBC group holds investments in over 4000 blockchain projects, has been an ardent champion of Blockchain and was also instrumental in the recent Proof of Stake launch of Ethereum 2.0, through an investment of 100,000 Ether. He is the Chairman of IBC Group, which is a substantial Global Real Estate and Tech investment company, that recently transferred their headquarters to Toronto, Canada. https://www.linkedin.com/in/khurramshroff/ For more information or interviews please contact: Neha Kaul Your Wordsmiths - Content & PR 0504507068 [email protected] SOURCE Artifya Related Links http://www.Artifya.com Two timber industry advocates who criticised high-profile Australian scientist David Lindenmayer on social media have been forced to retract their comments and apologise. Professor Lindenmayer, an ecologist at the Australian National University who specialises in forest conservation, sued Justin Law and Matthew Leplaa for defamation in the Victorian County Court after they made personal attacks on him on social media. Ecology expert Professor David Lindenmayer launched legal action against his critics. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong As reported in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, in March 2020 the Goongerah Environment Centre in Gippsland wrote to Monique Dawson, the chief executive of logging agency VicForests, about logging in fire-affected forests, citing two research papers by Professor Lindenmayer. When Ms Dawson replied, she included a statement: We do not accept the published opinions of Professor David Lindenmayer as reflective of evidence and do not consider him to be an authority in these matters. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit! Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | April 14, 2021 A 2014 lawsuit which alleged that the Pennsylvania State Police discriminated against women through the use of physical tests during its hiring process has reached a $2.2 million agreement. A man living in Allentown who purchased ricin after being inspired by Breaking Bad pleaded guilty in federal court. Rattlesnakes have begun to emerge from their dens. Plus, an 18-year-old man from Lewisburg makes bowling history. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too. In certain circles of San Francisco, a case of syphilis can be as common and casual as the flu, to the point where Billy Lemon can't even remember how many times he's had it. "Three or four? Five times in my life?" he struggles to recall. "It does not seem like a big deal." At the time, about a decade ago, Lemon went on frequent methamphetamine binges, kicking his libido into overdrive and silencing the voice in his head that said condoms would be a wise choice at a raging sex party. "It lowers your inhibitions, and also your decision-making abilities are skewed," said Lemon, who is 50. He's sober now and runs the Castro Country Club in San Francisco which is not a resort, but a place where gay men come to get help with addiction, especially meth. Lemon said syphilis comes with the territory. "In the 12-step community, if meth was your thing, everybody had syphilis," he said. In 2000, syphilis rates were so low that public health officials believed eradication was on the horizon. But the rates started creeping up in 2001. From 2015 to 2019 alone, cases rose 74%. There were nearly 130,000 cases nationwide in 2019, according to data released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In California and the U.S., about half of syphilis cases are in men who have sex with men. More than a third of women in the West who have syphilis also use meth, which has surged in recent years. These are just some of the trends causing overall national cases of sexually transmitted diseases to hit an all-time high for the last six years in a row, reaching 2.5 million. And the consequences are now trickling down to babies , who are contracting syphilis from their mothers: Congenital syphilis rates nearly quadrupled between 2012 and 2019. This was all before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S., and with contact tracers and testing supplies diverted from STDs to covid-19, the CDC is predicting 2020 numbers will be no better. "We are quite worried about this and have seen this trend over time," said Dr. Erica Pan, California's state epidemiologist. "Unfortunately, with years of not having enough funding and infrastructure in public health, and then in this past year, of course, both at the local and state level, a lot of personnel who had been focusing on STDs and syphilis follow-up have really been redirected to the pandemic." There's no single cause Many factors have contributed to the rise of STDs, and syphilis in particular. In San Francisco's gay community, for example, the rise of mobile dating apps like Grindr and Tinder made finding a date "faster than getting pizza delivered to your home," said Dan Wohlfeiler, an STD prevention specialist and co-founder of Building Healthy Online Communities, which uses these apps to improve gay men's health. When the dating apps first came on the scene around 2009, they made it harder for disease investigators to track the spread of STDs and notify people who may have been infected, because men don't always know the names of the men they hook up with. "They sometimes only know their online handle," said Dr. Ina Park, associate professor at the medical school of the University of California-San Francisco and author of "Strange Bedfellows," about the history of STDs. "And if the sex didnt go well, then sometimes they will block the person from their app and they dont even know how to reach that person again." Online dating began back in the late 1990s, around the same time effective medications to prevent the transmission of HIV became available: first, antiretrovirals that suppress the virus in those who are HIV-positive, and then later, in 2012, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which prevents new infections in people who are HIV-negative but considered at risk for contracting the virus. With the risk of contracting a deadly disease falling to almost zero, condoms fell even more out of favor than they already were, said Park. "If one man is taking PrEP and the other one is virally suppressed, there's no HIV risk at all," she said. "So why use condoms if you don't mind having a touch of syphilis?" Diagnosing syphilis is tricky While syphilis is not benign - it can cause blindness, deafness or brain damage it is easy to treat. Typically, a shot of penicillin in the butt will cure it. But diagnosing syphilis can be tricky, said Park, who treats patients with STDs at the San Francisco City Clinic. She often finds herself crouched low in the exam room, "lifting up their scrotum and lifting up their penis," craning her head to get a look from all angles. She does these gymnastics to find rashes associated with syphilis. Some are obvious, others subtle. She said doctors in regular family medicine clinics often aren't trained on where to look, or when. "The patient came in saying, 'Im tired,'" Park said, referring to a common symptom of syphilis. "How many people are going to say, 'Take off your pants and lift up your scrotum. I want to look'? We only do that at the STD clinic because thats what we do." But specialized public STD clinics, like the one where Park works, have been shutting down nationwide. One reason is persistent underfunding of public health programs, a trend laid bare during the pandemic. Another reason is the Affordable Care Act. In a strange way, the 2010 law, intended to expand access to health care, actually contributed to the closure of STD clinics. "Honestly, I think everyone thought they werent going to be necessary," Dr. Karen Smith said in 2019, when she was the director of the California Department of Public Health. She said that, once Obamacare was in place, the thought was that STD testing would happen in primary care clinics. "We sort of all assumed that if youve got health insurance and youve got access to a doctor, thats all that you need," she said. "It turns out that thats not really all that you need." People still had affairs they didn't want to talk about with their family doctor. And some family doctors didn't want to probe into patients' sex lives. Young people, in particular, prefer clinics geared to them, out of their parents' purview. "That loss of anonymous care really was a problem," Smith said. The syphilis epidemic reaches babies, too When Christian Faulkenberry-Miranda decided to become a pediatrician, she never thought she'd become an expert in syphilis. In 2010, shortly after finishing her medical training and starting work at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California, she began seeing babies with a rash on their tummies that looked like a blueberry muffin. She thought it was a common viral infection, until these babies tested positive for syphilis. In those early days, Dr. Faulkenberry-Miranda saw perhaps a few instances of congenital syphilis each year. Now she sees two cases every week. It's important to start the 10-day antibiotic treatment right away, to avoid complications, but she still follows her patients through their first year of life, and often through childhood, to watch for vision and hearing problems, developmental delays, attention deficits and learning disabilities, all of which can result from congenital syphilis infections. In 2019, 128 cases resulted in stillbirth or neonatal death. "The disappointing thing is that syphilis is very treatable," she said. "This is something thats completely preventable, with proper screening and treatment of these moms during pregnancy." Congenital syphilis cases hit a troubling milestone in 2019, reaching a high of 1,870 cases, an increase of 279% in five years. That is higher than the number of mother-to-child HIV cases at their peak in 1991. "How could this be happening? Testing is cheap and widely available. The same treatment weve been using since the 40s still works," said Park, who has also seen an increase in congenital syphilis cases in San Francisco. "And yet we have this completely out-of-control epidemic among the most vulnerable babies in our society." Many of the women who give birth to babies with syphilis have had no prenatal care. They often use drugs mainly methamphetamine and are often homeless, said Smith, the former California public health director. This makes them more likely to trade sex for housing, food or drugs. Drug use, in particular, makes women less likely to recognize they're pregnant at all, and less likely to seek health care if they do. "Theyre very concerned about whats going to happen when theyre found to be pregnant and using drugs," said Smith. "They're concerned that their drug use will be reported and then their children will be taken away." The complications of these women's lives also make disease investigation and contact tracing very challenging. Veteran contact tracer Romni Neiman remembers the difficulty she has had tracking down pregnant women in her career. Neiman works for the CDC, and before she was redirected to covid last year, she worked on preventing STDs, including congenital syphilis, in California. She remembers looking for one woman in the late 80s in Chicago. The pregnant woman used drugs and had been exposed to syphilis. Her housing was so unstable that Neiman went to three places before finding her. The woman had no car, so Neiman offered to drive her to the clinic to get tested. The woman had no safe place to leave her toddler, because a man in the place she was staying was abusive, so Neiman took care of the child while the woman saw the doctor. "She was just trying to do the best that she can, and she was really afraid," Neiman recalled. "Sometimes its really taxing and really sad. And you come home at the end of the day and youre like, 'Wow. Wow.'" Challenges like those, combined with persistent underfunding for public health, are what led to the initial spike in congenital syphilis in Fresno County in the 2010s, said Park. Local contact tracers couldn't keep up, and the state had to step in with reinforcements. The state is taking new measures to address the rates, said Pan, the state epidemiologist, like requiring women to be screened for syphilis twice during pregnancy instead of once. And, rather than wait for women to come in for prenatal care, the state is doing more outreach and screening pregnant women in the emergency room and in prisons and jails. Pan believes the covid pandemic has created an opportunity to invest in a nimbler response to emerging and reemerging public health issues like syphilis. "Its been a really long, hard year responding to this pandemic, but people have really acknowledged and realized the impact of divesting in public health infrastructure," she said. "I hope that a lot of the resources that we hope to bring to bear in the longer term after this pandemic will benefit STDs as well." This story is part of a partnership that includes KQED, NPR and KHN. South China province mobilizes drought relief efforts Xinhua) 16:13, April 14, 2021 GUANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangdong Province has taken multiple measures including rationing the water supply, diverting water resources and carrying out artificial precipitation enhancement to relieve a lingering drought. Less rainfall and inadequate reservoir water storage since October last year have strained the drinking water supply in a number of cities in Guangdong. The provincial drought-relief headquarters said the provincial government has appropriated 330 million yuan (about 50.4 million U.S. dollars) in drought relief funds, and local governments have mobilized 700,000 people to assist the work. Since October 2020, the precipitation in Guangdong has averaged 130.3 mm, down 58 percent from the historical average for the period. In March, the average runoff of the Hanjiang River basin in eastern Guangdong was down 76 percent from the recent historical average. According to the headquarters, the total water storage of large and medium-sized reservoirs in the province was also down 4.48 billion cubic meters from the historical average. In drought-hit Jieyang City, water pipelines were laid and new water wells dug to relieve the drinking water shortage. Shanwei City introduced 8,350 water pumps to divert water urgently to alleviate the drought in farmland. The cities of Chaozhou and Shantou have adopted artificial precipitation enhancement to increase precipitation, and rationed the water supply to residential areas. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) A man has been jailed for shooting dead a protected elephant seal on the central California coast. Jordan Gerbich, 30, used a .45-caliber pistol to shoot the seal in the head near the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve in San Simeon in September 2019. The animal was found with its tail fins cut off and cut open, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Gerbich pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of illegally taking a marine mammal. He was sentenced to three months in federal prison, a year of supervised release, three months of home detention and 120 hours of community service. Jordan Gerbich, 30, (pictured) pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of illegally taking a marine mammal Gerbich, who is formerly from California but now lives in Utah, was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Gerbich killed the marine mammal in September 2019 at an elephant seal viewing area near the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve in San Simeon. A court document stated that Gerbich had purposefully traveled to the area at night and killed the animal 'as a kind of grotesque test' on the demand of his intoxicated friend, NBC reported. He used a .45-caliber pistol to shoot the seal. Its body was found the next day with a bullet to the head. The seal was also found with its tail fins cut off and cut open, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Northern elephant seals are a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (File image) The prosecution sentencing memorandum said the motive remained unclear but Gerbich knew that his actions were wrong. The 30-year-old pleaded guilty last December to one count of illegally taking a marine mammal. Northern elephant seals are a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. New Delhi, April 14 : With the aim to augment its sustainability initiatives, The Oberoi Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Energy Efficiency Private Limited (EESL), a joint venture of 4 PSU's under the Ministry of Power. EESL through its Building Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) will assist The Oberoi Group in implementing several energy efficient initiatives, including clean energy systems across its properties. These initiatives will help reduce the Group's overall carbon footprint and strengthen its energy conservation efforts. Under the partnership, EESL, through its nationwide network, will collaborate with all Oberoi Group Hotels to evaluate opportunities for saving energy and lowering emissions. EESL will recommend select energy programs from its portfolio with proven track records of successful implementation. Additionally, as a part of The Oberoi Group's efforts towards sustainability, tailor-made energy efficiency initiatives for each of their hotels and resorts will be executed. EESL will provide technical support and extend its procurement advantage through its partners across the energy sector. The potential energy efficiency measures will include lighting, electric motors & pumps, air-conditioning, ventilation systems, indoor air quality systems and electric vehicles along with charging infrastructure. Speaking about this partnership, Saurabh Kumar, Executive Vice Chairman, EESL, said, "Energy efficiency is becoming central to sustainable growth of businesses. Our partnership with The Oberoi Group stands testament to the exemplary vision and progressive approach of a hospitality leader in joining the forces of achieving sustainable development of the country." Vikram Oberoi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Oberoi Group, said, "Sustainability is at the core of our ethos at The Oberoi Group. Several of our hotels are powered by renewable sources and are supplemented with energy efficient measures which have progressively reduced our carbon footprint. Our partnership with EESL further strengthens our commitment towards the planet and our vision of providing sustainable luxury experiences to our guests." Bui Thanh Son - Minister of Foreign Affairs Vietnam has been and will continue to be a reliable friend and partner, an active and responsible member of the United Nations and the international community. Every year, landmines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices claim nearly 10,000 casualties, mostly civilians and children in conflict areas such as Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen, but also alarmingly in places like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, where wars ended decades ago. It is a stark reminder that the wounds cut deep in the aftermath of wars and create long-lasting, destabilising effects to post-conflict peacebuilding and sustainable peace. It reminds us that peace cannot be sustained if the legacy of wars is not addressed. Indeed, the international community has come together to address this challenge. Actions taken by member states, the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Mine Action Services, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other stakeholders have proven critical in mitigating dangers and addressing multiple challenges caused by explosive remnants of war. The Security Council, with the adoption of its landmark Resolution 2365 on mine action in 2017, has also stressed the importance of ensuring that peacekeeping operations are equipped, informed, and trained to reduce such threats. All efforts have contributed meaningfully to post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. However, much remains to be done. The greatest challenge, as always, is a matter of political will. Regrettably, mine action has not been accorded the level and span of attention it deserves. The contaminated areas are vast and the number of victims in need of assistance is overwhelming. The resources allocated are dwarfed by the complexity and magnitude of the problem. Decades of wars in Vietnam have caused untold sorrow and left destructive, lingering effects. To this day, almost one-fifth of Vietnams land areas are still contaminated by unexploded ordnances. Clearance efforts, if continued at the current speed and resources, will take another hundred years to complete, seriously hindering our sustainable development. Clearance must also be complemented by victim assistance, awareness-raising, and risk education at all levels, and importantly, the creation of sustainable livelihoods so that the fruits of peace are durable and meaningful. Mine action, after all, is about protecting and caring for our people and our communities, especially the most vulnerable. This holistic approach we take involves all stakeholders. Leading the efforts are our experienced and competent military engineers, effectively supported by national and international partners. Cooperation in mine clearance, including between former foes, like Vietnam and the US, has proven valuable in healing the wounds of war. At the international level, mine action requires a whole-of-system, coherent, and long-term approach. Stronger partnerships are vital for better delivery and sustainable results. This means enhanced support and increased resources to all stakeholders, from national governments and regional organisations, like the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre, to NGOs, and those working on the ground. Adequate and regular financing, technological assistance to help clearance and decontamination, capacity building, knowledge, and experience sharing to those affected must be stepped up. Finally, the United Nations and especially the Security Council should build on the Resolution 2365 and expand efforts to ensure the safety of its peacekeepers, protect civilians, and sustain peace. The council should mainstream mine action in its relevant agenda items and country-specific discussions. Sustaining peace is hard, and even harder when we work alone. Vietnam has repeatedly called for an inclusive approach transpiring all parts of the peace spectrum and involving all stakeholders. Peace can only be sustained when a comprehensive and holistic approach is adopted. In this regard, as a key initiative during our chairmanship of the council, the president of Vietnam will convene a high-level open debate on enhancing measures for conflict prevention and resolution on April 19. We will spare no effort to forge a stronger partnership for sustainable peace. "When I came in I was offering clothes for free that were in new or like new condition, brand new packages of socks and underwear, all for free, and I was willing to deliver it whenever they needed it, so it was like I checked that box that they were looking for," Clary said. The nonprofit and the school district have been working together ever since. Clary, who said she "fell in love with Auburn" while working for Rep. John Katko at his 2018 campaign events, is thrilled to be able to help in multiple parts of central New York. Monetary donations to good causes are wonderful, Clary said, but donating clothes is a more achievable way for a lot of people to help. "Not everybody can write a $100 check to a charity, but everybody can go through their closet and find something that they can donate," Clary said. "I think that is something tangible, you can hand it to somebody, and know that it's going to go to somebody that really needs it." Police have charged four people in Goulburn during investigations into an alleged criminal network supplying ice and other drugs in the area. Homes throughout the city, south-west of Sydney, were searched shortly after 6am on Wednesday when police executed four search warrants. Four people were arrested after raids on Goulburn homes on Wednesday. Credit:NSW Police Officers allegedly found cannabis, methylamphetamine, prescription drugs, weapons, cash and electronic devices that will all undergo forensic examination. Two men aged 32 and 54 and two women aged 22 and 52 were arrested and taken to Goulburn police station. Media Contact: Michael E. Newman, mnewma25@jhmi.edu In the movie Mary Poppins, the title character sings that "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." Now, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown how a radioactive sugar -- combined with a widely used imaging technology -- could soon help physicians make the medicine work better by enabling them to rapidly detect and monitor infections from the largest group of bacterial pathogens threatening humans. The new imaging tool uses positron emission tomography -- commonly known as a PET scan -- to noninvasively find and track dangerous infections from the microbial family Enterobacterales, a group that includes the Escherichia coli strains that cause food poisoning; Klebsiella pneumoniae, a cause of pneumonia and a severe threat to patients weakened from COVID-19; and Yersinia pestis, the scourge behind the "Black Death" pandemic of plague in the 14th century that wiped out 75% of the world's population. Enterobacterales bacteria also have been tagged by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as "urgent and serious antibiotic resistance threats" because of their frequent mutations to drug-resistant strains. The new diagnostic tool is described in a paper published April 14, 2021, in Science Translational Medicine. It emerged from a creative combination of existing PET scan technology -- a sophisticated 3D visualization system for imaging diseases such as cancer -- with sorbitol, a molecule used in making sugar-free foods. The method capitalizes on the fondness for sorbitol of Gram-negative bacteria (a classification of bacteria based on their resistance to a specific staining procedure) such as Enterobacterales and the fact that other microorganisms, cancers and human cells do not absorb it. "We converted an already available radioactive imaging tracer into an isotope-tagged sorbitol molecule that would light up clusters of Gram-negative bacteria within the body during a PET scan," says study senior author Sanjay Jain, M.D., professor of pediatrics, and radiology and radiological medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In a previous study, the researchers demonstrated that PET scans using their novel sugar tracer -- chemically known as 2-deoxy-2 [18F] fluoro-D-sorbitol (18F-FDS) -- successfully detected Enterobacterales infections in mice. This time, the team conducted a clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the 18F-FDS PET technique. The work was done in collaboration with scientists from the Fundacion Cardiovascular de Colombia-Hospital Internacional de Colombia (Piedecuesta, Colombia). A total of 71 PET scans were performed in 31 patients, 18 of whom had previously confirmed Enterobacterales infections using traditional blood cultures. The 18F-FDS PET imaging technique was able to detect and localize Enterobacterales infections at multiple body sites, and distinguish them from the patients with infections caused by other bacteria and the ones whose infection-like symptoms were the result of cancer. The tracer was well tolerated by all of the participants and showed no adverse effects. Because the 18F-FDS PET imaging technique has shown that it can immediately detect the presence of Enterobacterales bacteria deep inside the body -- compared with laboratory tests which can take two to three days to confirm an infection -- the researchers feel that their method can play an important role in optimizing antibiotic treatments and preventing the rise of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains. "Using broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat a suspected bacterial infection before an infection is confirmed is sometimes like firing a cannonball to kill a fly," says study lead author Alvaro Ordonez, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "While such treatment is clinically justified in patients with serious infections of unknown origin, it can promote bacterial resistance to the drugs. Knowing quickly which organism is causing the problem can enable clinicians to target the antibiotic best suited for that bacteria, and that is where our new imaging system could make a difference." The researchers also say that the 18F-FDS PET imaging technique also can be used to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy, as they showed for 13 of their clinical trial participants with Enterobacterales infections. "We scanned the patients before and after their course of treatment," says Ordonez. "In those who did not respond well because of the presence of drug-resistant bacteria, the 18F-FDS signal remained high with the final scans. On the contrary, it decreased in those patients whose infections were significantly treated." Jain says that larger clinical trials are needed to validate the findings of his team's latest study. "However, we're excited that our data support the role of 18F-FDS PET as a viable diagnostic and treatment monitoring tool," he says. Jain and Ordonez are available for interviews. Media Contact: Michel Morris, melben1@jhmi.edu Our ears are not just organs for hearing; they also sense head motion, coordinate balance and enable us to move safely in different environments. Now, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have found that a test using commercially available, high-speed video goggles can help diagnose vestibular loss -- weakness in the balance mechanism of the inner ear -- more effectively. In a study published March 25, 2021, in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Amir Kheradmand, M.D., director of research at the Johns Hopkins Medicine Neuro-Visual and Vestibular Disorders Center, and his team determined that the use of high-speed video goggles and automated analysis software can provide immediate feedback of vestibular loss during a clinical evaluation of patients with dizziness and balance problems. Their findings show the test can be easily applied with a simple tilt of the head and torso together while the patient is seated and looking straight ahead. "Imagine watching a video on a cell phone, and when you turn it from vertical to horizontal orientation, the screen adjusts accordingly," says Kheradmand, who also is an associate professor of neurology, and of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and an adjunct faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics. "That's what our ears do; they sense the movement of our head, so that when you move your head to the right side, your eyes automatically move to the left. This helps keep the world steady in front of you." "So, what we're measuring with the goggles is the rolling of the eyes relative to the head tilt so that we may do a comprehensive evaluation of the inner ear balance function," Kheradmand explains Kheradmand says that the oculography (video recording of eye movements) goggles capture moving images of a patient's iris, the colored portion of the eye that controls the amount of light reaching the retina. The goggles also feature sensors that can track head motion and measure the balance function of the ear. "You don't need complicated laboratory equipment," he says. "We can do the test in seconds to determine any loss of function." The clinical trial described in the study compared data from the goggles for patients who had lost vestibular ability because of surgery with others who have normal inner ear function. Kheradmand says his team found that the test could accurately detect loss of vestibular function 83% of the time. Future studies, he says, will need to include patients with other causes and varying degrees of vestibular loss to better establish the test's diagnostic ability. Kheradmand says the test not only uncovers past loss of vestibular function, but also can define if the loss is recent or chronic. However, he adds, the ability to detect loss varies with the length of time a patient has had the condition. In the study, patients who had a long history of loss were harder to identify, while those with very recent loss were easily found. Kheradmand says that he and his team are excited about the potential use of their test to measure and track recovery from vestibular loss, as well as one day being able to track a patient's response to vestibular physical therapy. Kheradmand is available for interviews. Media Contact: Danny Jacobs, danny.jacobs@jhu.edu George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services has joined the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network (JHCRN). Developed by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR), JHCRN is designed to bring together academic- and community-based clinical researchers to provide new opportunities for research collaborations and accelerate the transfer of new diagnostic, treatment and disease-prevention advances from the research arena to patient care. George Mason is the first university to join the JHCRN, which was established by Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2009 and includes the clinical health systems of Luminis Health in southern Maryland, TidalHealth in eastern Maryland and Reading Hospital, an affiliate of Tower Health, in Pennsylvania. The network creates a bridge for research between Johns Hopkins and community-based medical centers by linking physician-scientists and staff members from Johns Hopkins Medicine with various centers in the region. It serves several purposes, the most important of which is making clinical trials available to patients who may not otherwise have access to them. "The JHCRN is a unique research resource that increases patient access to innovative therapies and outcomes research in their own local communities. It also empowers physicians to design and conduct a broad array of research projects relevant to their communities," says Adrian Dobs, M.D., JHCRN director and professor of medicine and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "It is a premier network of affiliated medical institutions which can carry out efficient, collaborative clinical research to achieve high-quality innovative patient care. I am very impressed with the depth and excellence of research being done within the GMU enterprise, and believe our overall network will benefit from this great work." George Mason is the one of the fastest-growing Research I institutions in the country, and its College of Health and Human Services has more than 1,900 undergraduate students and 1,370 graduate students. "We are proud to join this highly-respected network of health care delivery organizations to bring research discoveries into clinical practice in a timely manner to improve the health of those we serve," says Germaine Louis, Ph.D., dean of the college. "It is only through partnerships such as these that we can improve health equity and make health visible and accessible for all people." The JHCRN directly addresses the many complexities of conducting multisite and multi-institutional studies by providing investigators with a larger patient pool and a seamless platform that uses common research protocols. The goal of the network is to speed the approval of new protocols while ensuring careful oversight of patient safety. Rapid startup and timely completion of research studies, aided by widespread access to clinical trials, will make promising therapies available for patient use more quickly. Initially, the JHCRN focused on expanding cancer-related clinical trials (including medical, surgical and radiation-therapy aspects of cancer treatment), as well as diabetes and surgical studies. Collaborations have facilitated expanded work, including a wide range of research areas, such as pediatrics and intensive care; COVID-19 studies; neuropsychiatric, brain and spine diseases; and radiology and nuclear medicine studies. Present sponsors include federal and industry sources, along with private foundations. The JHCRN is a program within ICTR, which is a part of a national consortium dedicated to transforming how clinical and translational research is conducted at academic health centers around the country. For more information about the JHCRN, visit http://ictr. johnshopkins. edu/ JHCRN . Dobs is available for interviews. ### Julian Castro took to Twitter to advocate for better representation for Latinos, but some users think maybe he should sit this one out. On Tuesday, April 14, Castro retweeted an NBC Latino article about Latino congressional members, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, calling for an army base to be named after a Latino military hero. It was their way of pushing for more recognition of Hispanics in the military. The former San Antonio mayor and HUD secretary echoed that push, questioning why the U.S. has military bases named after Confederates and not after Latinos. That must change, his tweet concluded. Many Twitter users werent exactly having it. [T]he democrat vs republican bomb meme was supposed to be PARODY, noted @planet_please. Of all the things happening in the US and Latin America, this is what you're advocating for? asked user @raphrodisiac. This country has been such an oppressive force in Latin America, will naming military assets after Latinos make the exploitation feel any better? Imperialism, [b]ut make it Inclusive, commented user @alicia_dl_1, complete with the sparkling star emoji. Sir, Woke Imperialism is NOT where it's at, user @teoami informed Castro. I refuse to believe this isnt an Onion article, shared @saltytrashwitch. He said why drop bombs when we can drop bombas, said @AdrianXpression. Literally why on earth would you want to be associated with such a dubious honor when many of the places the [military] is used to destabilize are Latino countries, argued user @lavieap. This aint it. I just know you have something better to do than perpetuate this insult to injury. [I] wanted healthcare but this is way better, @skyscrapersoup sadly joked. While some questioned why Castro didnt take the tweet down, others imagined the Latino-focused building names. [W]hat we really need is a [C]esar [C]havez military base in [I]raq, pointed out @m0ntythepython. Selena Quintanilla Youth Migrant Humanitarian Welcome Center (Donna, TX), imagined @cesarmvm. [I can't] wait for the Cesar Chavez Black Hawk to terrorize people crossing the border, cracked @dani_l0l. USS George Lopez, suggested @tankbearclaw, while @aguaardientes recommended Fort Walter Mercado. Imagine dropping a b*mb named Cesar Chavez on a brown country, speculated user @Totoltetl. I wonder if this is gonna be a Dolores Huerta Army Detention Center level of bad or a Augusto Pinochet Air Force Base level of bad, questioned user @RafaPtolemy. Biden would do world a favor by dumping Trumps trade practices 15:44, April 14, 2021 By Dennis Meng ( People's Daily Online There are two items that just wont fit Republicans or Democrats narratives of imposing tariffs on China: campaign hats and surgical masks. One is a symbol of the past, gone with the twice-impeached former president, and the other is a daily necessity, shielding us from the still rampant virus. Those dead and gone campaign hats (yes, many were indeed produced in China), however, together with over 43 billion masks China exported to America from March to February represent only a tiny fraction of the complex trade ties between the worlds two largest economies. Behind the tip of the iceberg is a lose-lose battle, unilaterally chosen by the U.S., that will continue to damage the already vulnerable world economy. Tariff gamble crumbles For a long time, the Trump administration had based its whimsical tariff practices on a false hope that they would reverse Americas trade deficit and bring jobs back home. But the statistics told a different story. A U.S. Census Bureau report showed that the US goods trade deficit reached a record of $915.8 billion in 2020, a surge of $51.5 billion (6.0% year-on-year), following former U.S. President Donald Trumps relentless imposition of tariffs against China and many American allies, including Canada and the EU. A study commissioned by the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) also suggested that the trade friction caused a peak loss of 245,000 U.S. jobs and a gradual scaling back of tariffs on both sides would boost growth and lead to an additional 145,000 jobs by 2025. In fact, the job losses and deficit spikes were a lesson that repeated itself. One needs to look no further than the George W. Bush administration era, during which an 8 to 30 percent tariff on certain steel products from all countries except Canada, Israel, Jordan, and Mexico cost the U.S. nearly 200,000 jobs in the steel-consuming sector, larger than the entire number of employed (187,500) in the steel sector itself at the time. Just like back in 2002, when the vast majority of steel-consuming manufacturers were actually small companies, which bore the brunt of the tariffs, it was those everyday consumers and small businesses that suffered the most from Trumps tariff carpet bombing. Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Since Chinas entry into the WTO, the prices of many consumer goods--ranging from washing machines, televisions, and PCs to Christmas decorations, toys, and clothing--have taken a sharp decline, giving American consumers more options to choose from. Thanks to the efficient value chain and fast global shipping services (many only realized their importance after the grounding of Ever Given in the Suez Canal), families in Anchorage, Alaska can buy decorations for Christmas Eve some 4,461 miles away in Yiwu, east Chinas Zhejiang Province, which produces around 80% of the worlds Christmas decorations. The COVID-19 pandemic has also served as a deep reminder that Chinese products are inextricably intertwined with the global market. Back in March 2020, a 30-pack of 3M's N95 mask was sold on U.S. Amazon for $199.95 and still in short supply while states were grappling to procure scarce PPEs and ventilators. At a time when American manufacturers were struggling to meet demand, China made an average of 40 masks for every person around the globe, according to a Bloomberg report. Employees work at the Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) American conglomerates have also been profiting greatly from the Chinese assembly line and the vast, lucrative market. In January 2021, Tesla Giga Shanghai (also known as Gigafactory 3) started to deliver its brand-new Tesla Model Y, an electric compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV). Currently, with a production rate of 3,000 cars a week, Tesla sells one in three of its electric cars in China. The Apple Bucket, a term used by Chinese netizens for the whole set of Apple products after the KFC Bucket, is yet more proof that made-in-China has already been written into the DNA of American products, something which has long been taken for granted. Trumps tariff gamble was based on a misconception that American consumers could wean themselves off Chinese products and swallow a chunk of the tariffs by paying more for local goods, that more demand for domestic products would create more jobs, and that American companies could soon find alternative suppliers and buyers and live happily ever after. But the sad truth is that salaries arent growing with the price tags, especially during a time when millions of households are waiting for relief bills to make ends meet, no well-trained workers are ready to be deployed for gigantic production tasks, and that such an advanced supply-chain is nowhere to be found other than in one of Americas largest trading partners Three years into the trade friction, 66 percent of Chinese products exported to U.S. and 58 percent of U.S. exports to China have still been affected, with farmers as collateral damage, and 300,000 jobs lost and 0.3 percentage points in U.S. GDP shredded during the first year, a recent CNN report said. A perfect storm Besides the counterproductive tariffs, Trump also wielded other dangerous weapons in the hope of boosting domestic industries. By bullying Chinese companies out of the competition--through penalizing Chinese tech companies by adding them to the so-called entity list, delisting those companies from stock exchanges, or simply signing executive orders to curb their operations--the Trump administration was creating a perfect storm of state-manipulated trade practices, exactly the same thing they have continuously accused other nations of doing. Consumers experience new 5G handsets at a Huawei specialty store in Shanghai on Nov 28, 2020. Still struggling with the shortage of key 5G components, Huawei is striving to increase sales of its products other than smartphones. [Photo by CHEN YUYU/FOR CHINA DAILY] But apparently, tariffs plus economic weapons werent enough in the eyes of Trump. Then came that gang-like, bullying-style game of framing China. According to Americas guidebook, no trick is easier to pull than slamming other nations for human rights violations. Related Reading: U.S. smear campaign against Xinjiang reveals true face of hegemony The reckless forcing out and groundless defaming game had done nothing good to the international market, which had already been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and also set a terrible precedent in which US market regulators could pronounce the death sentence on well-behaved companies in a self-proclaimed free market with groundless and unreasonable accusations, a practice that is destined to discourage future investment and cooperation. The illuminated Olympic rings, Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower are seen at Tokyo Bay area, in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) Thomas L. Friedman, a New York Times columnist, compared China-U.S. relations to the Olympic Games in his recently published argumentative essay, ending it with: So, lets make sure we win the Olympics that count. If China-U.S. relations are to be regarded as the Olympic Games, with bilateral trade as the main event, the race doesnt need to be that ugly. So, instead of wasting time setting hurdles for other contestants to slow them down so as to maintain your dominance, why not focus on your own rhythm (in the real world, the well-being of the people, racial equality, innovation, and education, etc.)? An April 7 opinion article in the Financial Times titled Biden should summon the courage to reverse course on China said that ending the trade friction with China would boost economic growth in the U.S., helping Biden in the 2022 midterm elections. And most of the world would cheer if the Biden administration pressed the pause button, especially while COVID-19 is still raging. The world would indeed cheer if the Biden administration abandons the Trump tariffs and trade practices that did no one any good, and let the free market speak. (Web editor: Meng Bin, Liang Jun) Union Health Minister Dr on Wednesday called for stringent action against those found indulging in black marketing and hoarding of anti-viral drug Remdesivir used in Covid-19 treatment, in wake of a sudden spike in demand due to surge in cases across the country. Responding to a question on Remdesivir shortage, Dr Harshvardhan told ANI, "Shortage of Remdesivir happened because its production was reduced as COVID19 cases were decreasing. Our drug controller and ministry held a meeting with stakeholders and asked manufacturers to strengthen the production. In case of any complaint of black marketing or hoardings of doses stringent action will be taken by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Stringent action should be taken against those who are exploiting people by inflating the price of Remdesivir. Union Health Minister emphasised that there are no shortage of vaccines and the Centre gives it to every state and added, "It is the job of states to provide the vaccine at the centre in a time-bound manner along with monitoring the drive and meticulous planning." Replying to the question on Kumbh Mela, the health minister said, "It is clear that it is a new virus of COVID-19 and the most important COVID appropriate behaviour is with masks, distancing and using sanitisation. Wherever it is not followed then it is dangerous in terms of COVID-19. We should go back to COVID appropriate behaviour and only then we can lower down the cases." On the use of Remdesivir, NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul said, "It is an investigational drug. Its role has been clearly defined in the clinical management protocol. There is no question of the use of Remdesivir in home settings. That is unethical. It is only required for those hospitalised patients who are on oxygen. That is the pre-condition." The second wave of has witnessed an unprecedented demand for Remdesivir injection. India has banned the export of Remdesivir injection and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in view of the sudden spike in cases. SUV Horse shit. Utter horse shit. They disabled the tracker within three minutes of nicking the car. Alarm, immobiliser, tracker all useless. If insurance pay up Ill still take a fifteen grand bath and be pretty much uninsurable thereafter. Secure tracker MY HAIRY ARSE. pic.twitter.com/wL850dB5u9 Giles Coren (@gilescoren) April 10, 2021 This is the really useful Jaguar tracker app that tells you where your car is in all circumstances EXCEPT WHEN IT HAS BEEN STOLEN. pic.twitter.com/F75UwsN38X Giles Coren (@gilescoren) April 10, 2021 Its like finding the phone that you lost two days ago multiplied by about a gazillion. pic.twitter.com/5ngbxo5RHu Giles Coren (@gilescoren) April 11, 2021 Coren is a British journalist, food writer, and TV and radio presenter. Hes pretty famous for his work for The Times and, as of late, for his epic story of how his Jaguar I-Pace got stolen from outside his house and recovered two days later. If a modern tale of car theft should be made into a movie, this is probably it, but only as long as Coren serves as narrator.It all started on April 10, with Coren waking up to see his brand new electric kitty cat had gone missing from outside his London home. A bunch of c***s stole it, for sure, he said on Twitter, declaring so f**k them, f**k the environment and f**k any sort of giving a s**t about cars. Im buying a six year old diesel f**king Skoda and everyone can just f**k off.Chalk this up to the rant of a justifiably angry car owner. Coren went on to say that the Jaguar app that told him where his vehicle at all times was worked just fine, except for those times when the vehicle had been nicked. He was, again, justifiably angry, but he soon learned that his anger was misdirected at Jaguar: the thieves had disabled tracking on the car within minutes of stealing it. And yes, they used a relay device to open and start the car.The next day, Coren got a text from the Met Police, informing him that his car had been located. However, the police told him they didnt have the manpower to investigate themselves so Im heading off alone on foot to see if my car is there I suppose Im rather hoping the crims themselves are not still in the vehicle?Coren walked to the location, which was actually not that far off from where he lived and found the I-Pace perfectly parked. Despite his fears, the criminals hadnt drained the battery, but they did have a blast with it, judging by the fact that the seat had been slung into the gangster position. After some debating with himself as to whether he should take his car back, Coren did just that.He spent the next night barely sleeping, thinking the thieves would come back for the car. Relieved to find it was still there in the morning, he called the police and Jaguar to unreport the theft. Jaguar sent a tow truck to pick up theand bring it in to reprogram the keys and fix the jammed tracker. As for the police, Coren was understanding enough. [Met Police], tks for being sweet - totes understand there are bigger fish to fry than rich peoples cars.The only questioning remaining right now is who should play him in the movie. President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree on Wednesday appointing Prime Minister Florin Citu as interim Minister of Health, the Presidential Administration announced. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Florin Citu removed Vlad Voiculescu from the position of Minister of Health. He announced that Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna will be acting head of the ministry. At the same time, the head of the Executive dismissed Andreea Moldovan from the position of Secretary of State with the Ministry of Health, agerpres.ro confirms. Subsequently, the head of state signed the decree on the dismissal of the Minister of Health. Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity (USR PLUS) leaders criticized the Prime Minister's decision to remove the Health minister, saying they had not been consulted and called for an emergency meeting of the governing coalition to discuss the withdrawal of Prime Minister Florin Citu's confidence. The National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) have announced that they support Prime Minister Florin Citu, pointing out that there is no alternative to the current governing coalition. A barber who left a sign on his shopfront blaming the 'China virus' for his store's reduced opening hours has defended his actions and lashed out at his critics. Chris Manning said he did not regret taping the message to the front of his barbershop in Nerang on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Mr Manning told Daily Mail Australia he was not a racist and the sign was reflective of his 'sense of humour.' Gold Coast barber Chris Manning has defended a controversial sign (above) he stuck up on his store window to let customers know his opening hours had changed Mr Manning said the sign - which blamed reduced opening hours on 'the China virus' - was a reflection of his 'sense of humour' and wasn't racist 'My customers are certainly enjoying it,' he said. 'People are ringing up and thanking me for doing it. 'I'm not a racist, the shops around me are Asian and I get along well with everyone.' Mr Manning said he made the poster in response to reports US President Joe Biden would not refer to coronavirus as the 'China virus', unlike his predecessor Donald Trump. 'Words have consequences. It's the coronavirus. Full stop' Mr Biden tweeted on March 19. The barber said he wasn't racist and he did not understand or care about any of the backlash online over the poster. He said he had to reduce his opening hours because his clientele - mostly older men - were afraid to leave the house in case they caught Covid. Anti-racist campaigner Erin Wen Ai Chew (pictured) said the term 'China virus' was racist Anti-racist campaigner Erin Wen Ai Chew said the use of the term 'China virus' was problematic. 'When this term is used, there is racial backlash against Asian-Australians who are perceived to have a Chinese background,' Ms Chew, who is the founder of the Asian Australian Alliance, said. 'Many non-Asians in Australia can't tell the difference between the different and vast diversity of Asian cultures - to them everyone who looks Asian must be Chinese and therefore responsible for the pandemic.' The AAA launched a reporting tool for racism in April last year, and has recorded 515 incidents including 'China virus' and 'Chinese virus' being yelled at people while they are in public. 'Using terms which incite racism and hatred is not about hindering free speech or being PC, it is about knowing the limitations and not inciting hate,' she said. 'Mr Manning likely has never and will not experience racism, so it is easy for him to make excuses for his ignorance.' The words 'F**k Off Back to China' were found in the inner-city suburb of Beaconsfield, Sydney There has been a reported rise in anti-Asian racist attacks in Australia since the pandemic. A survey by the Australian National University found four in five Asian-Australians had experienced racism since the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnamese-Australian writer Alyssa Ho slammed a racist message engraved in a concrete footpath in inner-city Sydney earlier this month. In March this year, a young pregnant couple in Perth were called n*ps and g**ks while waiting for an ultrasound. Two international students were bashed in Melbourne in a racist attack and two sisters in Sydney were spat and told they carry coronavirus last year. Writer Alyssa Ho (pictured) shared the a photo of the racist slur with her Instagram followers A study by the Australian National University found 84.5 per cent of Australians from an Asian background reported facing Covid-19 related discrimination in 2020. 'We know that sadly many Asian-Australians still face and experience discrimination every day,' survey Director Mr Jieh-Yung Lo said. 'In our survey last year, around 15 per cent of Australians identified as being Asian-Australian. The research shows that Asian-Australians play a pivotal role in the success of our society and nation. 'They have been a pillar of our society for generations. We must do better; we can do better.' Jamie Shin and his partner (pictured) were racially abused while waiting for an ultrasound Anti-Discrimination NSW said they received 241 complaints between January and April of 2021, and said 62 were on the ground of race. Reasons included being abused, spat at in public, harassed for wearing a face mask and having their car windows smashed in. There has been a spate of murders of Asian women and bashings of Asians in the United States of America, which are believed to have been racially motivated. Nearly four thousand incidents of racist attacks against Asians, mostly women, were reported by US discrimination reporting forum 'Stop AAPI hate' in the last year. This includes the murder of six Asian women in Atlanta, USA, and numerous brutal bashings of women - including elderly ones - recorded on video in public spaces. Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents advertisements US Mint to honor astronaut Sally Ride on 'American Women' quarter April 14, 2021 The first female U.S. astronaut to fly into space will be honored by the United States Mint in 2022, leading off a series of circulating coins depicting notable American women. Sally Ride, who famously made history launching on the space shuttle in 1983, will be featured as part of the Mint's American Women Quarters Program. The late astronaut will be one of the first two women represented on the new coins, which will be issued through 2025. "Famed writer Maya Angelou and trailblazing astronaut Dr. Sally Ride will be the first," the U.S. Mint announced on Monday (April 12). As authorized by Congress by the passage of the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, the U.S. Mint will issue circulating and numismatic quarter-dollar coins with reverse (or tails-side) designs that are "emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of a prominent American woman," beginning next year. The bill directs that the honorees be selected from a wide spectrum of fields, as well as be from ethnic, racial and geographical diverse backgrounds. The legislation also requires that no living person be featured on the coins. Ride died in 2012 at the age of 61. A member of NASA's first class of astronauts to include women, Ride launched on her first mission in 1983 as a member of space shuttle Challenger's STS-7 crew. The first American woman to fly into space, Ride was preceded into Earth orbit by two Russian female cosmonauts: Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1963 and 1982, respectively. Ride flew on a second shuttle mission, STS-41G, also aboard Challenger, in 1984. In total, she logged 14 days and 8 hours in space, circling the Earth 230 times. After retiring from NASA in 1987, Ride became a physics professor and authored several children's science books. She also co-founded Sally Ride Science, a non-profit organization promoting students, mostly girls, take up an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers. In addition to being the first U.S. woman in space, Ride was the youngest NASA astronaut to launch on a mission (at age 32 in 1983) and the earliest space flier to be recognized as a member of the LGBT community. In accordance with the enacted law, the Secretary of the Treasury selected Ride (and Angelou) for the American Women Quarters Program after consulting with the Smithsonian Institution's American Women's History Initiative, the National Women's History Museum and the Congressional Bipartisan Women's Caucus. The public is invited to submit recommendations for future women to be honored via a website run by the National Women's History Museum. The U.S. Mint will oversee the design of the coins, including the quarter honoring Ride. Once there is candidate artwork, the Mint will submit the concepts to the Commission of Fine Arts for comment and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee for review. The final decision on the designs will be made by the Secretary of the Treasury. The obverse (or heads-side) of each coin in the American Women Quarters Program will maintain a likeness of George Washington, but will be different from the design used during the U.S. Mint's earlier quarter programs. Ride will not be the first astronaut to appear on a U.S. coin or a circulating quarter. In 2002, the U.S. Mint issued Ohio's entry in its 50 State Quarters Program with a depiction of an astronaut in an Apollo spacesuit as a nod to the state being the "birthplace of aviation pioneers," including John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. More recently, the Mint depicted a shuttle astronaut on its 2019 commemorative coin celebrating Native Americans in the space program, and in January of this year, honored "Teacher in Space" Christa McAuliffe on a commemorative silver dollar. Sally Ride, the first female U.S. astronaut to fly into space, will be among the first to be honored on a 2022 circulating coin as part of the U.S. Mint's American Women Quarter Program. (NASA/US Mint / collectSPACE) Earlier U.S. Mint coins depicting astronauts include the 2002 Ohio State Quarter, 2019 Native American $1 Coin and 2021 Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Silver Dollar. (US Mint/collectSPACE) 2021 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 00:01:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO -- Japan's western prefecture of Osaka on Wednesday saw a record high of daily COVID-19 infections for the second straight day, logging 1,130 new virus cases. A total of 4,312 new cases were reported nationwide, marking the highest number of daily cases since Jan. 23, with new infections in Tokyo reaching 591, according to the health ministry and local officials. (Japan-COVID-19) - - - - TOKYO -- Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Wednesday marked the fifth anniversary of two sizable earthquakes that claimed the lives of 276 people. Five years since a magnitude 6.5 quake shook the southwestern region on April 14, 2016, and the area was rocked by a magnitude 7.3 quake two days later, hundreds of people remain displaced in the affected regions, with many of them still forced to live in makeshift accommodation. (Japan-Earthquake-Anniversary) - - - - DHAKA -- In a grim landmark, Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 96 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily spike, bringing the death toll to 9,987. The country's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) also reported 5,185 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising its total tally to 703,170. (Bangladesh-COVID-19) - - - - JAKARTA -- The death toll from the tropical cyclone Seroja that recently hit Indonesia's province of East Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday rose to 181, while 47 people remain missing, according to the latest official data. At a virtual press conference held by the country's disaster mitigation agency on Wednesday afternoon, the province's deputy governor Josef Nae Soi reported that at least 250 people are still suffering injuries caused by the flash floods and landslides triggered by the cyclone earlier in April. (Indonesia-Seroja-Death toll) - - - - ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a telephone conversation on Wednesday to discuss Afghan peace process, the Pakistani army said. An army statement said matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including latest developments in the Afghan peace process and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed during the phone talk. (Pakistan-U.S.-Afghanistan) Enditem A. On March 18, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a new bridge phase between phases four and five of the Restore Illinois plan, which will ease the Phase four capacity limits. The bridge phase, as well as the continuing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, allows community association boards to possibly reopen with restrictions, pools, party rooms and fitness centers (with social distancing protocols and sanitizing). However, it is still within the discretion of the board of directors to determine when to reopen common amenities for residents based on health and safety rationale. It should also be noted that while the state of Illinois has a bridge plan between phases four and five, the city of Chicagos suggested Phase Four guidelines for residential buildings has not yet been revised. Thus, the citys Phase Four capacity limits for outdoor common areas, indoor common areas, fitness centers and swimming pools remain in effect. Lorraine viewers were left shocked after the morning programme aired a clip of two amorous pigs during a Countryfile segment with host Kate Humble. Ranvir Singh, 43, who is currently standing in for main host Lorraine Kelly, couldn't hide her amusement as the X-rated clip was shown on Wednesday morning. The Strictly Come Dancing star was interviewing Kate ahead of the return of her Channel 5 programme - Escape to the Farm - later this week. Ha! Lorraine viewers were left shocked after the morning programme aired a clip of two amorous pigs during a Countryfile segment with host Kate Humble Ranvir offered viewers a warning before showing the 'saucy' clip, which saw a boar named Ted mount a female pig called Sausage during mating season. The presenter said: 'Now tonight, Kate Humble is back with a new series of Escape to the Farm and be warned...this clip contains some rather saucy scenes.' Narrating the unfolding scene, Kate said: 'When a pig is in season you kinda want to take advantage of it, so I think we might have a winter romance in our hands.' Shocking stuff: Ranvir offered viewers a warning before showing the 'saucy' clip, which saw a boar named Ted mount a female pig called Sausage during mating season She continued by saying: 'Hold on Ted, don't destroy me fence, we're going to get you together in a second! We've just got to work this out.' And as the session got underway, she added: 'However, before I could get Ted and Sausage inside, they sneak out into the yard and get straight to it.' Stunned viewers soon took to Twitter to air their opinion after tuning into the X-rated scenes during breakfast. Narrating the unfolding scene, Kate said: 'When a pig is in season you kinda want to take advantage of it, so I think we might have a winter romance in our hands' One candid viewer wrote: 'Love watching pigs s****ing first time in a morning!' While another sarcastically added: 'Kate Humble playing matchmaker on her farm. Great news to wake up to!! #Lorraine.' Another shared a screengrab from Black Mirror of the Prime Minister about to have set with a pig as they mocked the racy segment. Used car prices in Australia have soared by 37 per cent on average since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The resultant global shortage of new vehicles has seen motorists instead buy late-model secondhand cars, with utes, SUVs, hatchbacks and vans all in demand. With less Australians willing to catch public transport due to virus fears, Moody's Analytics calculated that wholesale used car prices had climbed by 37 per cent since February 2020, just before the pandemic. Used car prices in Australia have surged by 37 per cent on average since the start of the Covid pandemic. Utes did even better with Holden Colorado used car prices climbing by 56 per cent since early last year to $33,800 from $21,700 based on average prices for a three-year-old example Used cars in demand Holden Colorado: up 56 per cent to $33,800 Toyota Camry: up 50 per cent to $23,100 Hyundai i30: up 47 per cent to $16,000 Toyota HiAce: up 46 per cent to $35,400 Source: Datium Insights data comparing February 2020 with March 2021 based on average prices for top-selling three-year old model Advertisement Moody's Analytics expected used car prices to stay high until at least the end of June before an end to global supply shocks saw more new cars enter showrooms. 'Prices are not expected to revert to pre-pandemic levels, and they will remain elevated throughout the second quarter,' it said. Moody's senior economist Michael Brisson said buyers were snapping up late-model used cars rather than going on a waiting list for the arrival of new versions. 'Ordering your new vehicle and then waiting for it to be delivered has become commonplace across the country,' he said. 'Dealers and consumers have become increasingly frustrated by the inability to buy and sell with ease as in years past.' Commuters are also more reluctant to use public transport with new Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing just 14 per cent of people caught a bus, train or ferry in March 2021, compared with 23 per cent in March 2020 shortly before the Covid lockdowns. The Datium Insights-Moody's Analytics Price Index calculated used car prices had surged by 37 per cent from February 2020 to March 2021. Utes did even better with used Holden Colorados climbing by 56 per cent since early last year to $33,800 from $21,700 based on average prices for a three-year-old example. Toyota HiAce van values rose 46 per cent to $35,400 from $24,300 Despite the Holden name disappearing in 2021, it did even better than the Ford Ranger, with used values rising by 38 per cent to $39,800 from $28,900. Toyota Camry prices have soared 50 per cent to $23,100 from $15,400. Hyundai i30 prices climbed 47 per cent to $16,000 from $10,900. Toyota HiAce van values rose 46 per cent to $35,400 from $24,300. Newer Toyota LandCruisers have dramatically surged with secondhand prices for the top-of-the-range up by 54 per cent from $120,000 in 2019 to to $185,000 this year, well beyond the new price of $124,396. Demand hasn't been quite as strong for older examples with prices increasing by 10 per cent to $65,600 from $59,500 for a three-year-old model. Toyota Camry prices have soared 50 per cent to $23,100 from $15,400 Hyundai i30 prices climbed 47 per cent to $16,000 from $10,900 Datium Insights head of product Tanim Ahmed calculated changes in used car prices for three-year-old top-selling models. Mr Brisson acknowledged used car values were artificially high due to global supply problems for new vehicles. 'The market is overvalued and will take time to recalibrate,' he said. 'The most likely scenario for this recalibration is through an extended period of limited price growth over the medium term.' [April 14, 2021] Nestwave Secures Additional Capital to Accelerate Deployment of Low-Power Geolocation Solutions for the IoT Nestwave, a provider of low-power geolocation IP and cloud services for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, today announced that it has secured a 2.4 million round of financing from the European Innovation Council, the European Commission's newly established venture capital fund, and from current investors Sofimac Innovation (Paris, France) and The Faktory Fund (Liege, Belgium). The new financing round will enable Nestwave to further accelerate the rollout of its hybrid-signal global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and cellular positioning technologies. "We are grateful for the support from the European Innovation Council who, together with our current investors Sofimac and The Faktory Fund, believe in and continue to back our vision for making location accessible to low-power IoT devices," said Ambroise Popper, CEO of Nestwave. "This new round of financing will enable us to accelerate the pace of our technology innovation, product development and commercial deployment of positioning solutions for IoT applications." Nestwave's geolocation solution enables IoT modem chip makers and DSP partners to implement low-power, cost-effective geolocation for asset tracking, personal trackers and a wide range of new IoT applications. Purpose-built for the IoT, the Nestwave solution reduces power consumption significantly compared to traditional GNSS offerings while eliminating the need for a dedicated positioning chipset. "Nestwave is very well positioned to capitalize on the growing nexus of geolocation and IoT technologies," said Martin Bruncko, EIC Fund Investment Committee member. "This new round of funding for Nestwave will support the momentum for its unique, low-energy and high precision technology targeting applications in areas such as asset tracking, logistics and transportation." Nestwave has developed a DSP software solution that enables modem providers in the IoT market (supporting LTE (News - Alert) cat M1, NB-IoT, LoRa or Sigfox) to offer a cost-effective, accurate geolocation solution integrated within their platform. Based on more than 10 patents issued and pending, the Nestwave solution improves accuracy in urban canyon environments, increases indoor coverage, and reduces power consumption as compared to existing geolocation solutions. "Nestwave is opening new opportunities in the IoT and cloud services market by eliminating the need for dedicated positioning chipsets, imroving accuracy and reducing power dissipation," said Simon Alexandre, general manager and partner, The Faktory Fund. "Led by a team of successful entrepreneurs and geolocation experts, Nestwave has created innovative low-power positioning technology that helps chipset and product makers develop and bring to market new and innovative solutions for IoT geolocation," said Nicolas Boulay, senior partner, Sofimac Innovation. "Nestwave is a gamechanger in the geolocation market and for larger IOT deployments." About Nestwave Nestwave SAS (News - Alert) , based in Paris, France, is a provider of advanced geolocation engines purpose-built for IoT applications. IoT modem and wireless MCU chipmakers use Nestwave software to enable high-performance, low-power location capabilities, eliminating the need for a dedicated positioning chipset. To learn more, please visit us at www.nestwave.com. About the European Innovation Council Fund Established in June 2020, the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund) is a breakthrough initiative of the European Commission to make direct equity and quasi-equity investments (between 500.000 and 15 million) in European high impact and deep tech start-ups and scale ups. The EIC Fund provides patient capital and invests in companies from any sector, across all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon 2020. The Fund pays particular attention to empower and support female founders as well as contributing to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries. The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is not to maximise financial investment returns, but to have a high impact by accompanying companies with and disruptive technologies in their growth. Its objective is to crowd in market players, further sharing risks by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow on funding. To learn more about the EIC, visit https://eic.ec.europa.eu/index_en. About The Faktory Fund The Faktory Fund is a private Tech Startup Accelerator and Seed Investment Fund founded by Pierre L'Hoest, the Belgian entrepreneur known for his TV slow motion technology. The Faktory Fund is currently incubating and funding startups in the areas of Internet of Things and connected devices (B2B). www.thefaktory.com About Sofimac innovation Sofimac Innovation is an independent management company certified by the financial markets regulator (AMF) and dedicated to technological and innovative investment. We are present in Paris, Lyon, Rennes and Marseille, as close as possible to the major innovation centers in France. We support innovative start-ups in their growth projects with a wide range of investment vehicles. We invest in breakthrough technologies in the Engineering Sciences, digital, and Health & Nutrition sectors. Our funds, backed by renowned industrial corporates, ETI (News - Alert) , banks, BPI, Universities and Schools, are offering a unique and innovative ecosystem to our portfolio companies. Sofimac Innovation currently manages nine funds comprising more than 90 active companies. www.sofimacinnovation.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005331/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Recent headlines about rape culture and sexual abuse in schools have stirred up painful memories for my family. Last week Ofsted announced it would visit some of the schools and colleges named on the Everyones Invited website to check if institutions are doing enough to protect their female students. It comes as more than 14,000 anonymous testimonies of harassment and assault against young women and girls have been collated on the site. As these stories emerge, I cant help but feel a sense of conflict as the finger of blame is pointed at toxic schoolboys. Boys like my son, Henry. I still recall the day five years ago when I was at work and received a call from Henrys boarding school telling me there had been an incident and that I had to go there straight away and collect him. A mother who lives in London, recalls her son Henry being expelled for sharing a girl's nude photograph when he was age 15 (file image) My mind was racing as I drove the 60 miles to the school I knew he hadnt been involved in an accident, so was safe, but I couldnt imagine what else had happened. Henry was about to turn 16 and had been back at school for just a few weeks following the Christmas holidays. He was a smart, happy, sociable teen who enjoyed his co-ed boarding school, while his younger sister, 14 at the time, was at a private day school in the London suburb where we lived. He was very keen to board at 13 and, although it was against my better judgment, we allowed him to go as his father had enjoyed his time at an all-boys boarding school. As parents, we felt a mix of girls and boys would be best for him, as he got on so well with his sister and always had female friends. But oh, how I regret that decision. I arrived at the school and was shown into the headmasters office. He explained there had been an incident in which a naked photograph of one of the girls in his year had been circulated among the boys, and the boys involved were to be suspended for two weeks while an investigation was carried out. That was all the information I was given. I was told wed be informed of the outcome, and as the headmaster showed me out of the office, a shocked-looking Henry was waiting outside the door. The mother said Henry shut himself away in his room after explaining that he forwarded the photograph without thinking. Pictured: Women protest against male violence this month The journey home was awful. Henry was crying and wouldnt look at me. My instincts as a mother kicked in I knew it wasnt the time to be asking questions, I had to get my child home and look after him. For the next couple of days Henry shut himself away in his room after telling us his side of the story: that his friend had sent him the naked photo and, without thinking, he had forwarded it to a friend in another school. When I asked how his friend had got the photo in the first place, he said the girl had asked her friend to take the picture, then sent it to the boy, who she fancied. It was just a bit of fun. No harm was meant. As the mother of a daughter, Im well aware of the pressure on young girls to look and behave in a certain way, and the heartbreakingly early sexualisation of them on social media. Thankfully, my daughter is sporty and wasnt interested in boys until her late teens. She rarely, if ever, posted pictures of herself on social media. Without thinking, hed sent the photo to a friend But I appreciate how hard it must be for mothers whose daughters do post pictures in bikinis and crop tops. This is so much a part of everyday culture now that its almost impossible to know how to deal with it. We regularly had discussions with our children about staying safe on social media, and shared our values on relationships and equality. Along with the PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) lessons all pupils receive at school, which includes sex education, we believed Henry was in a nurturing environment one that we were paying nearly 40,000 a year for. We were confident our lovely, bright son would navigate his teenage years successfully. I did not for one minute believe that what Henry became involved in was malicious or willingly harmful. Yes, he made a mistake, but he knew that now and was very sorry. That is the nature of being a teenager they make mistakes and learn from them. Henry was expelled without being given advice on what to do next, just months before his GCSE exams. Pictured: Protest against male violence A week later, Henrys housemaster called to say he was sure it would blow over. We all felt an enormous sense of relief. However, before Henry was due to return, the headmaster asked us in for a meeting. He wouldnt give any more details, but his tone gave me a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach. In a brief meeting, the headmaster said that any kind of sexual transgression would not be tolerated in the school and that Henry had to be made an example of. He was expelled and that was that. No help or advice on what to do next, with Henrys GCSEs less than six months away. Only an instruction for Henry to collect his things and leave the premises. I was stunned, and rather than argue, I couldnt get out of there fast enough. Henrys friend was expelled, too, but the girls who took and sent the photos were thought blameless. To this day I still struggle to understand that. Yes, what my son did was wrong, but it wasnt an act of revenge, it wasnt coercion, it was a game that went horribly wrong. I wouldnt have reported Henry to the police Of course, I realise the girl must have felt a sense of violation and humiliation, but she played a role, too. Let me be clear, Im not condoning sexual transgressions against women and girls, but when young boys are involved we have to remember they are vulnerable, too. They are learning how to be sexual beings in an overly sexualised culture, in the same way girls are. Henrys actions may have broken the law, but I didnt think he deserved to be labelled a criminal, and the headmaster didnt get the police involved. I certainly wouldnt have reported him to officers, as Simon Bailey of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has suggested recently that parents should do. With his GCSEs looming, I frantically phoned other schools to find Henry a place. Each one was understanding and a little surprised at how harshly he had been treated. Unsurprisingly, none had places at that time of the year, so my only option was a tutorial college or crammer. Usually its students who have failed exams or those aiming for higher grades who attend, and there is nothing like the camaraderie found in a school. The mother said Henry was a victim of the failure of schools , the Government and social media. Pictured: Protest against male violence It was hard for Henry to focus on his studies the life he knew had gone. He missed his friends, he missed playing sport every day, and the lingering sense of shame and guilt just wouldnt leave him. Seeing our once-outgoing, happy son in such turmoil was awful. It also spelt the end of the ambitions we once had for his education. Wed always assumed hed take A-levels and go to university, but he scraped through his GCSEs, passing six subjects. We persuaded him to continue at the crammer for his A-levels. He said he wouldnt go to another school as he couldnt face the past being dragged up. Henry was so relieved when he took his A-levels and was out of the education system for good. He got a menial job at a family friends business, and has now branched out to work for himself. It is not what we imagined for him, and we often wonder what might have been, had he not been expelled. Thankfully, his friends stood by him, but it took him a long while to feel confident enough to have a girlfriend, so I was delighted when he fell in love with Alice, aged 18. He told her what had happened and she was understanding and supportive. They went their separate ways two years later and he is now with Emily, whom he adores. Im proud of the kind, loving and talented young man my son has become, especially as he paid such a huge price for a mistake. I hope that any girls traumatised by an experience like this have also been able to rebuild their lives. I believe Henry was a victim too. A victim of the failure of schools, the Government and social media to protect young people and let them grow into adulthood, safely and at their own pace. Names and certain details have been changed to protect the identities of those involved. Saudi Arabias state oil giant Aramco, the worlds largest oil exporter, will meet only part of the nominations for crude from the European and Mediterranean regions for loading in May, refiners have told Argus. While three refiners have been given all the nominations they had put through, three others will receive crude loading in May below the volumes they had nominated, Argus said. Saudi Arabia is competing, among others, with Russias Urals grade in the European markets. Earlier this month, Aramco lifted its official selling prices to its most important outlet, the Asian market, but lowered slightly the prices for its crude to Europe and the United States. Although the Saudis made minor cuts to their prices for the flagship Arab Light grade for May to Europe, Urals crude looks more attractive to European buyers because it is at its lowest price in one year, traders told Bloomberg this week. While not all European customers will get the crude volumes they had requested, Aramco is set to meet all the requests coming out of Asia, including India, officials notified by the Saudi firm of their requests told Bloomberg. India has requested less crude from Saudi Arabia for May, in line with its new policy to seek alternatives as it is displeased with the Saudi and OPEC+ management of the oil market with production cuts to keep prices relatively high. The Saudis will be ramping up their crude oil production in May, both as part of the OPEC+ agreement to gradually raise collective output by over 1 million bpd by July and as part of the gradual reversal of the unilateral extra 1-million-bpd cut Saudi Arabia kept for February, March, and April. According to some analysts, rising Middle Eastern oil production is making the commodity that comes out of this region cheaper compared to Brent-linked grades, which may lead to a price war. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Midland residents will have opportunities to comment on the newly proposed 2021-22 city-wide budget. During this week's Midland City Council meeting, the budget was presented to council members, highlighting key elements of the proposal. Council passed a resolution 5-0 to set budget workshops and public hearings. The proposed budget will be discussed by council in detail during a work session at 6 p.m. Monday, April 19, which the public can access via Zoom. There will be no chance for public input that meeting, but two public hearings will follow at city council meetings on April 26 and May 10. The proposed budget can be viewed at the city clerks office and the citys website. If residents want to give input on the budget outside of the public hears, Assistant City Manager David Keenan said residents call 989-837-3400 or email cityhall@midland-mi.com. Finally, council must accept the budget by the fourth Monday in May, this year being May 24, before the budget is implemented on June 1, Keenan said. During the meeting, Keenan highlighted goals that council wanted the budget to meet. The goals below were implemented into the budget plan: Maintaining a high level of public service for residents. Adding funds for flood response implementation. There was an additional $100,000 added to stormwater support and $500,000 to wastewater support. Adding funds to city retirement plans, beyond the annual required contributions, to improve the funding status of each plan. Maintain $6 million in the General Fund, unreserved fund balance. No increase in the millage rate. Other highlights include an increase of sewer rates from 2.5% to 3%, an expected personal property tax reimbursement to the city of $3.8 million in May of 2021 and 2022, and additional pandemic related grant funds for the Jack Barstow Airport. While not included in the budget, Keenan said the city will be receiving about $2.8 million in American Restoration Plan funds in May. Eligible uses of these funds include premium pay for essential workers, responding to public health emergency impacts, replacing lost revenue impacted by the pandemic and infrastructure for water, sewage and broadband. He said challenges came with budgeting around the COVID-19 pandemic and last years flooding. While the city cannot budget for a full recovery from these events, the city would be budgeting toward recovery. Monica Bellucci looked completely unrecognisable on Tuesday as she got to work on her latest film in Italy, wearing a long grey wig and hat. One could be forgiven for failing to spot the typically glamorous Italian actress during a break between scenes on the set of forthcoming movie The Befana Comes At Night 2: The Origins. Dressed in character as powerful Good Witch Dolores, Monica, 56, appeared to be in high spirits while chatting with the crew as they prepared for another take on location in Rome. There she is: Monica Bellucci, 56, looked completely unrecognizable on Tuesday as she got to work on her latest film in Italy All change: One could be forgiven for failing to spot the glamorous actress during a break between scenes on the set of forthcoming movie The Befana Comes At Night 2: The Origins Wearing a crooked witches hat and clutching an obligatory broomstick, the actress was appropriately dressed for her role as the kindly witch, who devotes her life to children. A flowing grey wig concealed Monica's traditionally dark hair, while heavy, coarse and rather uncomfortable looking clothing reflected the film's 18th century setting. With spring temperatures soaring in the Italian capital the actress soon made a beeline for her personalised chair, where she shielded from soaring spring temperatures while touching up her make-up. Adjustment: The actress touched up her own make-up on set after making a beeline for her personalised seat The right look: Wearing a crooked witches hat and clutching an obligatory broomstick, the actress was appropriately dressed for her role as the kindly witch Here we go: Dressed in character as powerful Good Witch Dolores, Monica, 56, was seen preparing for another scene on set in Rome Produced by Lucky Red and Rai Cinema in collaboration with Sky, the new film serves as a prequel to the Italian language La Befana vien di notte (The Legend of the Christmas Witch), which Monica did not star in. The forthcoming move will also star Zoe Massenti, Alessandro Haber, Herbert Ballerina, Corrado Guzzanti and Fabio De Luigi. Filming commenced in Italy on March 1st, with the movie expected to be released towards the end of 2021. There you go: An assistant helped the star as she pulled a quilted coat on over her costume All set: A flowing grey wig concealed Monica's traditionally dark hair, while heavy, coarse and rather uncomfortable looking clothing reflected the film's 18th century setting That's it: An assistant checked that she looked the part before she got back to work on Tuesday as a crew member tweaked her wig That's snot a good look: Monica blew her nose while standing directly in front of a mask-clad production assistant on the COVID-19 controlled set Sitting pretty: Monica also had a hand in fixing her make-up as she observed her reflection in a small mirror Leading lady Monica has been in a relationship with Nicolas Lefebvre, 36, since May 2017, four years after her split from ex-husband Vincent Cassel. The actress first confirmed she was seeing someone in an interview with Paris Match last November, but stayed coy about her partner's identity. Admitting they had been dating a while and things were going well, she said of her new man: 'The man I share my life with doesn't have the same job as me, but he travels a lot. His rhythm of life complements mine.' Short straw: An unfortunate assistant was lumbered with the task of holding a parasol above Monica's head as temperatures soared in Rome on Tuesday She's got it: However the actress soon put her hands to good use by taking control of the parasol while working through a scene Fade to grey: Monica quickly adjusted her centre-parted wig after removing her hat Asked whether she would consider getting married again, the former Bond girl kept her cards close to her chest. She said: 'When you've been married twice before, you need to take time to think about it before starting over, to understand why it happened and why you divorced. Let's just say I'm in a learning phase at the moment.' Monica was married to fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso from 1990 until 1994, and then Matrix star Vincent Cassel from 1999 until 2015. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [April 14, 2021] Ethereum Mining and Blockchain Company TTM Digital Assets & Technologies Enters Into Triangular Reverse Merger With Sysorex Herndon, VA, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Sysorex (OTCQB: SYSX) today announced the closing of a reverse triangular merger with TTM Digital Assets & Technologies, Inc., a data center owner and operator and now, the largest U.S. publicly traded Ethereum mining company based in the United States with operations in New York and North Carolina. As a result of the transaction, TTMs business and operations will become the core business of Sysorex as the first Ethereum company trading in the U.S. public markets. Sysorex will continue to operate its legacy business providing a comprehensive suite of network performance, secure wireless access and cybersecurity products to the U.S. Government through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sysorex Government Services, Inc. TTM, a pioneer in the Ethereum mining sector, operating since 2017, has been profitable since inception. Prior to the Merger, TTM mined and distributed Ethereum to management and its investors that if held by those investors would be valued at approximately $35,000,000 at todays Ether (ETH) price of approximately $2,325. TTM owns and operates more than 12,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), including a large number of specialized Cryptocurrency Mining Processors. These GPUs are currently online and securing the Ethereum blockchain and generating ETH around the clock with industry leading efficiency. By the Merger, the shareholders of TTM exchanged 100% of TTMs share capital for Sysorexs agreement to issue 124,218,268 shares of Sysorex common stock to the TTM shareholders, which will represent 80% of the total share capital of Sysorex. As a closing condition to the Merger, a significant portion of the Companys existing debtholders, creditors and service providers agreed to convert or exchange their outstanding indebtedness or accounts payable, as applicable, eliminating at least $13,500,000 of Sysorex debt, substantially improving Sysorexs balance sheet and significantly increasing Sysorex shareholders equity. Wayne Wasserberg, an executive with more than 15 years of experience working with clients internationally across industries including Forex trading, alternative assets, infrastructure and real estate development has been elected CEO of TTM, replacing Zaman Khan who will remain on the Board and will continue as the President of SGS. Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Wasserberg stated, TTMs management team draws experience from multiple industries including crypto-centric development stage businesses, engineering and capital markets who recognized the power and flexibility of the Ethereum blockchainsoon after its introduction. The team smartly invested in data center infrastructure shortly after formation and from the outset recognized the importance of owning and operating its cryptocurrency mining infrastructure. Mr. Wasserberg continued, The historical strategy was to operate TTM similar to an investment fund distributing mined ETH to its investors. Given the expanded opportunity set presented by Ethereum today including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), development of apps and peer-to-peer financial transactions, and the expectation that future upgrades to the Ethereum network will make Ethereum more scalable, and to further enhance security to support 1,000s of transactions per second, TTM has shifted its strategy to amassing Ethereum in our corporate treasury, providing public shareholders exposure to this asset class as we also expand our platform to unlock value for our new shareholders based on the latest opportunities provided by Ethereum as we position for the exciting future of Ethereum and our business. Given our strong position within the cryptocurrency industry and deep relationships with the leading manufactures of GPUs and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), we can expand to the mining of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the future. However, our current mindset is that Ethereum holds several advantages over Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, which as it has matured, has maintained a conservative stance on technological progress and blockchain usage, Ethereum has embraced progress in on-chain usage allowing for the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) and explosive growth in decentralized finance (DeFi) as programmable money. Given this divergence of approach, we were not surprised last month to see Visa become the first major legacy transaction service provider to settle transactions on top of the Ethereum blockchain. We believe the Merger with Sysorex provides our combined company with certain strategic opportunities that we have identified given Sysorexs relationship with the U.S. Government and the recently announced $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan and we look forward to exploring new business with SGS. We also see large opportunities around Ethereums flexible network that allows users to build and launch NFTs on top of the framework, which can also be stored on the network, and we are interested in exploring optimization of Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning and quick image rending in partnership with our significant stakeholder, CoreWeave, Inc. The Merger was structured as and is intended to constitute a tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 368(a)(1)(A) and Section 368(a)(2)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. For additional details on the Merger, please reference our current report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Please visit our TTM Website for more information. We will retain the SYSX stock ticker symbol until further notice. Safe Harbor Statement All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While management has based any forward-looking statements included in this release on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the control of Sysorex, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not limited to, the fluctuation of economic conditions, the impact of COVID-19 on Sysorex's results of operations, Sysorexs ability to integrate the products and business from recent acquisitions into its existing business, the performance of management and employees, the regulatory landscape as it relates to privacy regulations and their applicability to Sysorexs technology. Other factors that are detailed in Sysorex's periodic and current reports available for review at sec.gov. Furthermore, Sysorex operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment where new and unanticipated risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Sysorex disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, update or revise forward-looking statements. For more information: Company info@ttmdigitalassets.com Investor Relations ir@ttmdigitalassets.com Jimmy Caplan, Market Makers Public Relations pr@ttmdigitalassets.com Rick Eisenberg, Eisenberg Communications [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Help India! In a letter sent on April 12 to USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and the eight other Commissioners, the signees said the behavior of Indias federal and state governments in enabling religious freedom violations had spectacularly worsened since last year, when USCIRF had first recommended that India be designated as CPC. TCN News Support TwoCircles Dozens of international civil rights organizations and hundreds of individuals have urged the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to recommend to the US Department of State that it designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for the rapidly escalating persecution of religious minorities and for the Indian governments complicity in the massive violations of religious freedom. In a letter sent on April 12 to USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and the eight other Commissioners, the signees said the behavior of Indias federal and state governments in enabling religious freedom violations had spectacularly worsened since last year, when USCIRF had first recommended that India be designated as CPC. Indeed the reasons for designating India as a CPC are more compelling now by an order of magnitude than ever before, and the situation is set to get worse without significant international pressure, the letter said. The letter was sent days ahead of the USCIRFs upcoming 2021 Annual Report which is scheduled to be released on April 21. Among others, the letter is signed by Hindus for Human Rights, International Christian Concern, Indian American Muslim Council, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America, Dalit Solidarity Forum, American Muslim Institution, American Sikh Council, Center for Pluralism, Global Christian Ministers Federation, India Civil Watch International, International Organization to Preserve Human Rights, International Society for Peace and Justice, Justice For All, Just Law International Parity, Plateau State Youth Council, and Progressive India Collective Voices for Freedom. The USCIRF had last year recommended Indias designation as CPC for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Former President Donald Trumps administration had, however, declined to designate India as CPC, claiming that Indias worsening religious freedom was due to non-state actors and not by the government. We hope that this letter shows that state actors are playing a central role in Indias declining religious freedom, and that the 2021 Annual Report will make this clear, the letter said. Citing key features of the deterioration in religious persecution in 2020, the letter mentioned the anti-Muslim violence in Delhi in February 2020 that killed over 50 people. In its aftermath, the Delhi Police failed to arrest the Hindu perpetrators who led the violence and instead arrested hundreds of Muslims, accusing them of the anti-Muslim violence, the letter said. It said that investigations by Amnesty India and the Polis Project confirmed that the Delhi Police were themselves complicit and an active participant in that violence. Yet, the Indian Government had refused to open any investigation into their role. Delhi Police had also failed to arrest leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including two federal legislators, who had incited the violence. When a Delhi judge ordered that he (Mishra) be charged, the judge was transferred overnight. The letter said Indias Christians suffered 225 incidents of religiously motivated violence in the first ten months of 2020, many at the hands of vigilante mobs. At least eight incidents were recorded in two weeks after the nationwide lockdown was lifted. These included physical assaults, damage to Christian properties, and threats issued by radical Hindu nationalists. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, anti-Christian violence rose from 147 in 2014, when Mr. Modi became prime minister, to 328 in 2019. The letter also mentioned 83-year-old Fr. Stan Swamy, a prominent Indian Jesuit priest who ails from Parkinsons disease and has been imprisoned on the basis of tampered evidence. He has also been denied bail. Elaborating further on the continued persecution of minorities, the letter highlighted the increasing criminalization of marriage between Muslim men and Hindu women, with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh joining the list of states that had passed the so-called love jihad laws. It said nearly one in four Indians now lived under such laws. Karnataka and Assam were also legislating similar laws, while Gujarat and Haryana had announced their intention to draft similar legislation. The BJP had also added love jihad laws to its campaign slogans in Kerala and West Bengal, the letter said. After the Uttar Pradesh government passed a love jihad law, the state police arrested 10 Muslims in just one week and accused them of forcing their adult Hindu wives to convert to Islam, the letter said. The letter said 2020 started with the Modi government intensifying its campaign of brutal repression against tens of thousands of Muslims and people of all faiths protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). We have seen similar police brutality during the ongoing farmers protests, which are being led by members of the Sikh community. Additionally, there has been a rise in anti-Sikh rhetoric, including threats of genocidal violence against the Sikh community, with Hindu nationalists calling for a need to repeat 1984 and protesters being branded as terrorists and anti-nationals, the letter said. India also allowed the scapegoating of Muslims, including foreigners, accusing them of spreading coronavirus. Police across India arrested members of the Tablighi Jamaat on the false charges that they had violated government prohibition on large gatherings and concealed that some of them were infected with the SARS-CoV-2. That this was motivated by Islamophobia became apparent as the courts rejected the prosecutions case and acquitted the Muslim men citing a lack of evidence, the letter said. The letter also noted that India had built numerous detention centers to hold hundreds of thousands, mostly Muslims, who are being targeted under CAA-NRC with the sole intention of turning them into foreigners in their own country. Already, the government has announced it would start the NRC soon as Covid-19 abates. There can be no doubt that instead of ending the persecution of Indias religious minorities, Mr. Modis administration has doubled down on its resolve to move India closer to becoming a Hindu nation, as desired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the nearly-a-century-old Hindu supremacist organization to which he belongs, it said. We hope that USCIRF will continue to powerfully speak the truth on India and recommend this year, too, that the US Government designate India as a CPC, it added. Although the global logistics market has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since last year, the freight train service between China and Europe has shown strong resilience, transporting epidemic control materials and daily supplies and injecting vitality into the global economy. The latest data showed that from January to March, 3,345 freight train trips were conducted between China and Europe, a year-on-year increase of 70 percent. They carried 317,000 containers, up 79 percent year-on-year, according to the China State Railway Group, the national railway operator. By January, the country had seen more than 1,000 such trips for the ninth consecutive month, the group said. In 2011, when the service began, only 17 trips were made that year. According to the group, the freight train service has played a significant role in stabilizing industrial chains, facilitating China-Europe trade and supporting the global battle against the novel coronavirus. Major railway ports including the Ereenhot land port in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and the Khorgos land port in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have expanded their capacities, adding more facilities for loading and unloading and opening more cross-border train tracks. Representatives from transportation organizations and businesses from countries operating the freight train services have held three video conferences since last year to discuss international cooperation, ensuring punctuality of the service and aiming to establish a safe, stable and effective international logistics channel. According to the group, by February, the trains had delivered 9.97 million epidemic prevention and control itemsincluding protective masks and medical suppliesweighing 80,000 metric tons to Germany, Poland, Belgium and other countries. Last year, a record of 12,400 freight train trips were made between China and Europe, a year-on-year growth of 50 percent. They carried 1.14 million containers, up 56 percent from 2019. Launched in 2011, the China-Europe freight train service, considered to be a significant part of the Belt and Road Initiative, has boosted trade between China and participating countries. Last month, the blocking of the Suez Canal by a stuck ship led to the increase of inquiries about the China-Europe freight train service as an alternative for anxious businessmen. Outbound service starts in many cities in China such as Yiwu in Zhejiang province and Chengdu in Sichuan province, leaves the country via the land ports in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, passes through Russia and central Asian countries and arrives in western Europe. The journey usually takes about two weeks, but it is cheaper than air freight and faster than maritime service. A high-profile guideline of the development of China's transportation system in 15 to 30 years promotes the goal to improve the international railway logistics system, including the strategic corridor of the China-Europe freight train service. Conductor Zhang Xiaojun was the first to obtain credentials to operate a China-Europe freight train in Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia, a city that borders Russia. Since 2013, he has been driving the train from Manzhouli to Zabaykalsk, Russia. Although more conductors have joined the route, Zhang gets busier every year. "Many more trains arrive and carry freight on to Russia," he said. He makes the journey three times every two days now. The China-Europe freight train service has proved to be more advantageous compared with maritime and air transportation during the pandemic, Ma Bin, associate researcher from the Center for Russia and Central Asian Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, wrote in a policy briefing. While the maritime and air freight capacities have been restrained by the pandemic, the freight train service has seized the opportunity to expand its market, he said. Ma added that the government has given the service strong support, facilitating growth by persuading countries along the route to provide preferential policies so that trains can complete customs inspections more quickly. To maintain the service's sustainable development, he suggested providing a more comprehensive evaluation system to assess its performance. The existing system mainly assesses performance indicators such as the scale and transportation time. Ma suggested adding others, such as the diversity of goods and the number of countries and cities the trains arrive in. Profit should be the priority, and the government's subsidies should be reduced, he added. Advertisement Kamala Harris revealed Wednesday she is planning a trip to Guatemala and Mexico, but won't be stopping at the southern border to assess the growing crisis. Harris told reporters on Wednesday she has no plans to tour the overcrowded Texas migrant camps and the wall because Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is 'responsible' for the border. She then held a Zoom meeting with 'experts' on northern triangle countries in her first intervention into the migrant crisis 21 days after the White House named her border 'czar'. Republicans called the move 'despicable', claiming Harris is directly responsible for the horrific conditions faced by thousands of migrant children. 'The President has asked Secretary Mayorkas to address what is going on at the border,' she clarified to the press before kicking off the closed-door meeting. 'I have been asked to address the root causes.' GOP House Whip Scalise told DailyMail.com on Wednesday: 'It's despicable.' 'President Biden and Vice President Harris are directly responsible for this humanitarian, health, and national security crisis they've created at the border and the horrific conditions these children face in the detention facilities their administration runs and won't even bother to go see them, or the thousands of border patrol agents who risk their lives dealing with the consequences, in person,' he continued. 'Shame on them.' Scalise, who led a group of GOP lawmakers to the border last week, slammed the Biden administration for creating the border crisis by undoing several Trump-era policies related to immigration on Day One. 'He needs to go see for himself the damage that he's doing and stop this madness,' Scalise said during a GOP briefing. At the briefing, Scalise brought along a milk carton prop with Vice President Harris' face on it and the words: 'Missing at the border'. Vice President Kamala Harris held a virtual meeting Wednesday with outside experts on assessing the issues in Northern Triangle countries leading to mass migrations to the U.S. This was the first event she held related to the crisis in her 21 days as border czar The GOP trolled Kamala Harris Wednesday for not yet visiting the border by brining a 'Missing at the border' milk carton with the vice president's face on it to a press briefing In the three weeks since Kamala Harris was named 'border czar', she hasn't visited or held a press conference Before the meeting Harris said she would visit Guatemala and Mexico soon, but not the border. 'The President has asked Secretary Mayorkas to address what is going on at the border,' she said. 'I have been asked to address the root causes' Thousands of migrants continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. Here Romanian immigrants were taken into Border Patrol custody at the La Joya, Texas border after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico on April 13 Romanian migrants wait in La Joya, Texas after crossing into the U.S. by way of Mexico Central America migrants wait while holding their children on Tuesday to board CBP busses to travel to a processing center after crossing into the U.S. from Mexico Harris was put in charge of the crisis last month and finally took on her role Wednesday by speaking virtually with outside experts on assessing the situations in Northern Triangle countries leading to migrants fleeing to the southern border. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki doubled-down on Harris' newly-defined role in her press briefing Wednesday. 'Well what the president asked the vice president to do is run point on the Northern Triangle and be a high-level conduit in having discussions with leaders in the region,' Psaki clarified. 'That's exactly what she is doing and will do when she goes and visits the countries in the region and, and obviously she's had discussions that have been read out as well with some leaders in the region.' 'Our secretary of Homeland Security has visited the border,' she said, reiterating Mayorkas' role in addressing the crisis. 'Other secretaries who run points on these issues will and we expect will in the future. I don't have any visits to preview for you of the president's.' New data obtained by The Washington Times shows Immigration and Customs enforcement had a 75% drop in arrests in the first seven weeks of Bidens administration compared to the same period in 2020. The significant drop comes as illegal crossings soar and many agents are tasked with taking care of the more than 21,000 unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody rather than patrolling the border. Some lawmakers who have visited Texas and its holding facilities have detailed seeing agents on diaper duty in the middle of the night instead of patrolling the border. Non-priority arrests have dropped more than 80% from 17,810 last year to 3,306. Harris' meeting Wednesday covered 'root causes of migration, humanitarian assistance, economic development, climate resilience, transparency, and good governance,' according to a statement from the vice president's office. The office emphasized Harris is holding the meeting 'In her role overseeing diplomacy towards Mexico and Northern Triangle nations.' The experts 'will offer assessments and recommendations for the region.' Biden announced last month that Harris would lead the White House response to the immigration crisis. Since taking on that position, the White House has swiftly walked back on the capacity of her role including pushing her focus on 'root causes' in Central America rather than addressing the massive border crisis the U.S. is facing. Critics have slammed the vice president for not doing much in the 21 days since she was named border czar. Harris has not visited the border or Central American countries. She did hold at least one call with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei. The virtual event Wednesday is the first time Harris has done any public work related to the immigration crisis. While Harris will hear from outside national security experts on immigration and the Northern Triangle, no immigration or border officials are joining the conversation to give their perspective on the issue. CBP agents register immigrants before bussing them to processing centers near the La Joya, Texas border with Mexico on April 13 More than 21,000 unaccompanied migrant children are in federal government custody. Republicans who visited these centers last week shared images during a press conference Wednesday, April 14 of the massively overcrowded facilities Border facilities are overflowing with children arrivals, some by nearly 2,000% their capacity Minors are held in see-through pens in the facilities where they are crammed together on mats with mylar blankets The Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Dan Restrepo, who served as a principal advisor to Barack Obama, joined the virtual meeting. Other participants include Senior Policy Advisor for Central America at Oxfam Vicki Gass; President of the Migration Policy Institute Andrew Selee; Co-director of the Latin America Working Group Lisa Haugaard; President at the Washington Office on Latin America Geoff Thale; Natural Resources Defense Council Manager of Green Finance and Climate Change Carolina Herrera; and Director of the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Jason Marcza. In another sign or advancement in addressing the crisis, the White House announced Monday it struck a deal with Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras to send more of their troops to secure borders and stop migrants before arriving illegally in the U.S. 'The objective is to make it more difficult to make the journey, and make crossing the borders more more difficult,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing Monday. 'We worked with them to increase law enforcement at the border to deter the travel, which is a treacherous journey.' 'Guatemala surged 1,500 police and military personnel to its southern border with Honduras and agreed to set up 12 checkpoints along the migratory routes,' she added. The Guatemalan government, however, says this claim is not true. Harris was named border czar 21 days ago by President Joe Biden and has received a slew of criticism for doing virtually nothing in that role including not visiting the border Biden's administration is struggling to address the growing border crisis with record numbers of illegal crossers. Here Guatemalan immigrants were taken into Border Patrol custody after as they crossed overnight April 13 into Roma, Texas from Mexico It released a statement Tuesday saying there is no 'signed document' between Guatemala and the U.S. relating to border security. The statement continues that Guatemala did send 1,500 troops to its border in January to address migrant caravans and claims the influx is unrelated to any new deal. 'President Alejandro Guimmattei has committed, since the beginning of his term in January 2020, to strengthen border security as a strategy to battle transnational threats like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and as a preventive measure in the face of the pandemic,' the statement reads. A Texas nonprofit, Family Endeavors, was awarded a $530 million no-bid contract from the government in further effort to mitigate the massive influx of migrant children arriving at the southern border. Texas non-profit Family Endeavors was awarded a $530 million grant to curb the child migrant crisis after it hired Biden transition official Andrew Lorenzen-Strait This is the largest-ever contract the Texas-based non-profit has received, and it was awarded a few months after Family Endeavors hired Biden transition official Andrew Lorenzen-Strait, Axios reported. The nonprofit is aimed at helping vulnerable communities through crises. The group announced its hiring of Lorenzen-Strait on January 20 the same day as Biden's inauguration and he took on the role of senior director for migrant services and federal affairs. Lorenzen-Strait is a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official. He also advised the Biden-Harris transition team on Homeland Security policy and staffing. President Joe Biden's administration is scrambling to address the growing immigration crisis as recent numbers show more than 21,000 unaccompanied minors are in federal government custody. Family Endeavors is part of that effort. The faith-based organization was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Last month, Biden appointed Vice President Kamala Harris as border czar, but she has since held no events related to the crisis or even taken the time to visit the border or Northern Triangle countries. On Wednesday morning, Harris is expected to hold a virtual roundtable in her new role. Recent data shows there are currently more than 21,000 unaccompanied migrant children in federal government custody An unaccompanied minor (right) hugs a fellow teen in La Joya, Texas on Tuesday. The two met during their journey from El Salvador to the U.S. southern border More migrants arrive daily. Here a 26-year-old father walks with his 5-year-old daughter after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico into Roma, Texas on April 13 and seeking asylum Border Patrol agents search illegal immigrants in La Joya, Texas before transporting them to a processing center on April 13 Immigrants are bussed from where they cross the border into the U.S. to processing centers She will speak with experts on their assessments of the Northern Triangle region, which includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The vast majority of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are from these countries. Notably, the vice president is not meeting with any border or immigration agents or officials on the matter, just a panel of 'experts.' Former Homeland Security officials who served under Trump say they are relieved Harris has taken a hands off approach at the border. 'I'm glad she's nowhere near the border,' Trump-era acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner Mark Morgan told DailyMail.com during a panel discussion with the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday. 'Quite frankly,' he continued, 'I think if she does do what she should do as the anointed border czar, she's just going to make the crisis even worse.' Along with Morgan, former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli and former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf joined the discussion with the conservative think tank where all three are visiting fellows. Vice President Harris has received a slew of criticism for not yet visiting the southern border despite being put in charge of the crisis 21 days ago. President Biden has also not gone to the U.S.-Mexico border as he nears his third month in office. Morgan pointed to Harris' lax immigration policies as a reason why it's better she remain as uninvolved as possible. He noted she helped make California a so-called 'sanctuary state' when she was attorney general by refusing to work with federal authorities to turn over illegal immigrants in the state. 'This is a former Senator Harris who during a congressional testimony referred to ICE as the KKK, she basically called ICE agents racists,' Morgan bashed the vice president. 'She's gone further to say that ICE should be dismantled and start from scratch.' The Heritage Foundation hosted a panel with with former Trump's Homeland Security officials on Tuesday. Former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf (upper right), Former acting DHS deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli (bottom left) and former Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan (bottom right) Morgan said of Vice President Kamala Harris not yet visiting the border: 'I'm glad she's nowhere near the border.... Quite frankly, I think if she does do what she should do as the anointed border czar, she's just going to make the crisis even worse' Thousands of migrants are arriving at the border as the Biden administration sees a record- breaking number of illegal arrivals. Here a Guatemalan family waits on the ground in La Joya, Texas with other immigrants to board a bus for a processing center on April 13 Cuccinelli told DailyMail.com during the panel talk that no one wants to take ownership of the massive failure at the southern border: 'This is a political hot potato within the administration' Cuccinelli told DailyMail.com during the panel talk that no one in the administration wants to take ownership of the massive failure at the southern border. 'This is a political hot potato within the administration,' Cuccinelli said. 'None of them want it,' he added. 'That's why the president tossed it to the vice president, that's why he hasn't visited the border even though he has caused the problem. That's why she won't touch it, she won't talk about it, she won't go to the border, she won't go anywhere near it. Cuccinelli said those in the White House are 'all more afraid of the radical left base than they are committed to solving the problem.' 'By a longshot it's not even close,' he insisted. Biden has taken on a much more lax immigration approach than his predecessor evident by a slew of Trump-critic DHS nominees the president announced Monday. These policies, however, have quickly led to a humanitarian crisis as a record number of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador arrive at the border every day this includes nearly 20,000 unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody. 'We told you so,' Morgan said. Wolf added that although Harris was put in charge of the border, the White House's messaging as been all wrong, leading to concussion among the public and DHS and border officials and agents. 'The administration needs to clear up who's in charge,' Wolf insisted. 'Is it the DHS secretary, is it the White House, is it the vice president? Because I can tell you that the men and women in the field are also confused.' 'I can't tell you how many people that I've talked to at the department that has no idea who's in charge,' he said. 'Who should they be listening to, who should they be taking direction from? They don't know and if they don't know that is a problem.' Biden announced he is nominating anti-Trump Tucson, Arizona police chief Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection. Magnus pictured here in December 2014 holding a 'Black Lives Matter' sign at a BLM protest Biden announced Monday a series of new nominees who will lead the border and immigration effort. This includes tapping Tucson, Arizona police chief Chris Magnus to lead the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP). Magnus has been vocal in his criticism of Trump and how he and one-time Attorney General Jeff Sessions handled immigration. 'The harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and Mr. Sessions's reckless policies ignore a basic reality known by most good cops and prosecutors,' Magnus wrote in a 2017 op/ed. 'If people are afraid of the police, if they fear they may become separated from their families or harshly interrogated based on their immigration status, they won't report crimes or come forward as witnesses.' Another appointee includes fellow anti-Trumper Ur Jaddou to head up the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. President Joe Biden released a sudden tweet on Monday defending Harris amid mounting criticism over her failure to visit the border and after GOP Senator John Cornyn questioned who was in charge in the White House. 'When I served as Vice President, I asked to be the last person with the President before big decisions were made and @VP is providing the same counsel to me,' Biden wrote. 'She's the last voice in the room and never fails to speak the truth as we work to build our nation back better.' He included a picture of the pair in discussion inside the Oval Office. President Joe Biden tweeted Monday about his vice president, Kamala Harris, saying she 'never fails to speak the truth' and provides counsel to him. Biden's tweet came without explanation after Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas asked whether he was 'really in charge' Border agents discover 20 undocumented immigrants, including two children, hiding under the boards of a trailer in desperate attempt to enter the US amid migrant crisis Texas border agents discovered 20 undocumented immigrants, including two children, attempting to enter the US while hiding under the boards of a trailer on Monday. The discovery came two days before Vice President Kamala Harris announced she will travel to Mexico and Guatemala as the migrant crisis at the border deepens. Chief Patrol Agent Austin Skero shared images of the smuggling attempt that showed 18 adults and two children lying on top of one another under the boards. Skero confirmed that the children's ages are 10 and 15. It's unclear if they were traveling alone, with their parents or with other relatives. Another image shows massive bags and other items that were placed on top of the boards to conceal the migrants. Skero said they made the discovery after a Del Rio Sector K9 alerted agents to the trailer at one of their checkpoints. Texas border agents discovered 20 undocumented immigrants, including two children, attempting to enter the US while hiding under the boards of a trailer on Monday Another image shows massive bags and other items that were placed on top of the boards to conceal the migrants 'With temperatures on the rise, smuggling attempts like these have a high potential to turn deadly,' Skero said. A DailyMail.com request for comment and more information to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was not immediately returned Wednesday morning. Harris said she'll visit Mexico and Guatemala but won't go to the southern border and the overcrowded child migrant camps because Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is in charge of that aspect of the crisis. She defended her move in a Zoom meeting with northern triangle country experts, 21 days after the White House named her the border 'czar'. CBP data shows migrant crossings at the US-Mexico border is vastly higher in 2021 compared to 2020, which saw a decrease. Illegal crossing have reached an all-time high under President Joe Biden 'The President has asked Secretary Mayorkas to address what is going on at the border,' she clarified to the press before kicking off the closed-door meeting. 'I have been asked to address the root causes.' There were nearly 170,000 encounters with migrants on the US-Mexico border in March, a 20-year high. The total, announced Thursday, includes nearly 19,000 children traveling alone, the highest monthly number on record. About four in 10 border encounters last month were with families and unaccompanied children many from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador at a time when policies in the US and Mexico favor them staying in the United States while they seek asylum. It marks the third sharp jump in Central American asylum-seekers in seven years. One child who made national headlines is Wilton Obregon. Wilton was captured on video tearfully asking a CBP agent for help earlier this month. His family left Nicaragua for the US on February 8. Wilton and his mother, Meylin, illegally crossed the Mexico-US border in late March and were intercepted by border agents before they were forced to return back to Mexico. Wilton and his mother were then kidnapped an hour after arriving in Mexico. Their abductors then contacted her brother Misael Obregon in Miami requesting ransom, but he was only able to gather enough money to secure his nephew Wilton's freedom. After Wilton was released from his captors, he was able to again cross into the United States with more than 100 people. But he was left behind in the middle of the night while napping in the Texas desert area. On April 1, a CBP officer who was on his way home after concluding his work shift encountered Wilton in the middle of a dirt road in the Texas border city of La Grulla. Wilton Obregon (pictured), of Nicaragua, drew headlines earlier this month when he appeared in a video crying in front of a US Border Patrol agent and asking for help after he had been abandoned by the group of migrants he had crossed the Mexico-United States border A video recorded by the agent captured the moment Wilton went up to him crying and asking for help. 'It's that I was coming with a group and they abandoned me and I do not know where they are at,' the child told the officer in Spanish. Later the border agent asked the boy if he had been instructed 'to come ask for help,' but the the child replied, 'no, I am coming because if I did not, where am I going to go? Somebody could abduct me, kidnap me. I am scared.' These encounters have been occurring more often as the US tries to grapple with the border crisis. In another incident, two Ecuadorean girls were abruptly dumped over a steel barrier at the Mexico-United States border on March 30. Surveillance video footage released by Border Patrol showed the moment a smuggler dropped Yareli, three, and her five-year-old sister Yasmina over the 14-foot high border wall in New Mexico. Another smuggler was waiting on the American side to catch the girls, who were then tossed to the ground. Both smugglers then fled, abandoning the children. The surveillance camera operator immediately alerted Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station agents and directed them to the remote location. In another incident, two Ecuadorean girls were abruptly dumped over a steel barrier at the Mexico-United States border on March 30. El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez provides snacks to the two girls from Ecuador who were abandoned by smugglers The girls' mother, Yolanda Macas Tene, and father, Diego Vacacela Aguilar, had left their Ecuadorean home not long before, relatives said, and were awaiting their daughters in New York City. An official with the Consulate of Ecuador told DailyMail.com that the girls could soon be reunited with their parents in New York City. The latest jump in border crossings follows ferocious storms in Central America and President Joe Biden ending former president Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies, though many changes attributed to Biden are rumors or have been fabricated by smugglers to generate business. The 'root causes' prompting Central Americans to leave haven't changed, said Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, whose temporary shelter has been hosting 400 to 500 people nightly, compared with a peak of about 1,000 in 2019. 'I think that it's simply that the traffickers use whatever is happening in the United States to extort the families, to lure them, to create a narrative that says, 'Come right now. The president is going to let you in,'' she said. Migrants, in dozens of interviews over the last two weeks, generally said circumstances in Central America led them to the US. When asked about Biden, nearly all said his relatively pro-immigration positions influenced their thinking. Smuggling fees vary widely, with some paying up to $10,000 a person in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. There is often a discount for additional relatives. The trip can take weeks in cars, buses and trucks, ending when an inflatable raft reaches the banks of the Rio Grande and families and children turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. Biden has exempted unaccompanied children from expulsion, allowing them to stay in the US while pursuing asylum claims and live with 'sponsors,' usually parents or close relatives. Harris and Biden both have been hammered by GOP lawmakers for not visiting the border, even as jarring photos of minors held in overcrowded detention centers drew fresh attention to the issue. Biden has dispatched a number of top aides to evaluate the situation at the border instead. Republican lawmakers returning from a border trip blamed the Biden administration for the problems, arguing for a return to Trump-era policies. They said the president and vice president need to go to the border to see firsthand the migrant surge. 'He can stop this today,' said Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the GOP whip. 'Vice President Harris needs to go down to the border and see this for herself.' Harris faces her own set of challenges in taking on a problem that has long eluded any easy solutions. She's been tasked with overseeing diplomatic efforts to deal with issues spurring migration in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which includes pressing them to strengthen enforcement on their borders, while also developing and implementing a long-term strategy that gets at the root causes of migration from those countries. On Wednesday, Harris was led a briefing with a handful of experts focused on those very issues, and she acknowledged in remarks to reporters that solving the region's problems would take time. 'We have to figure out how to assess our impact,' she said, but added, 'it will not be obvious overnight'. 'The work we have to do is going to require a commitment that is continuous, that we institutionalize with our partners,' and that includes a long-term strategy in the region, Harris said. She added: 'It will take some time to see the benefits of that work, but it will be worth it.' Will There Be a Penalty for Withdrawal From Afghanistan? Commentary President Joe Bidens announced intention to complete the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, exactly 20 years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, will complete a goal that former President Donald Trump wanted to meet, but did not, following advice from military leaders, who convinced him that a May 1 deadline was a bad idea. The Taliban has made no withdrawal commitment and therein lies the problem with what used to be called the war on terrorism before, it appears, the United States decided to unilaterally surrender. One of the principles of warfare is to know ones enemy. The United States, over several administrations, has failed to apply that principle. The goals of the Taliban and international terrorism have been on display even before Sept. 11, 2001. According to War on the Rocks, a website offering analysis, commentary, debate, and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security issues, the terror group openly states that any peace negotiations with the United States must be based on sharia law, an extreme interpretation of the Koran that many Muslims reject. In fact, Taliban leaders have said any peace talks must have the same goals as jihad. Their stated objective is to end the occupation by American and NATO forces and reintroduce the rule of sharia in Afghanistan. Have we already forgotten what that looked like? It included the repression of women and girls that begins with denying them an education or the opportunity to engage in any profession. Men are supreme. Women have virtually no rights. Some years ago, I met in New York with a group of Afghan women who had escaped from the Talibans clutches. They told me stories of having to wear a burqa and blacken their house windows so no one could see in. One said if she took a public bus, a male relative had to take a coin from her hand and drop it in the coin box. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who along with President George W. Bush was in office during that awful day when 3,000 Americans were killed, responded to the presidents announcement: By declaring that this withdrawal is not based on conditions on the ground, the Biden administration is sending a dangerous signal that the United States fundamentally does not understandor is willfully ignorant ofthe terrorist threat. She called Bidens announcement a propaganda victory for the terrorists. No one wants a forever war as some have referred to our presence in Afghanistan, but wars dont end when one side quits, especially when the other side has a religious motivation for continuing to fight. Trump at least listened to military leaders who wanted to maintain a supportive role in Afghanistan. Biden has either not listened or is listening to those who believe withdrawal is equivalent to victory. In her statement, Rep. Cheney referenced President Barack Obamas decision to precipitously withdraw American troops from Iraq: retreat does not end the fight against terrorism. It merely gives our enemies more room to reconstitute and plot attacks against the homeland. The forces behind terrorism are patient. We are not. Guess who is most hurt by our impatience? I hope I am wrong about this, but if I am right, the possibility of more attacks and more bloodshed will be on the hands of the current administration, no matter how long it takes before the Taliban regroup and Afghanistan again becomes a center for exporting terrorism to our shores and to other countries. John Calvin Thomas has been a syndicated columnist, author, and radio commentator for more than 35 years. His latest book is Americas Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. News Mississippi pauses Johnson & Johnson vaccinations after CDC reports rare instances of blood clots Rogelio V. Solis I AP Sharis Carr, a nurse at the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Service Center in Clarksdale, Miss., holds a vial of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine that was administered to seniors. The Mississippi State Department of Health is instructing physicians, clinics and hospitals to stop administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots. TUPELO The Mississippi State Department of Health is instructing physicians, clinics and hospitals to stop administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots. UPDATE: MSDH lifts pause on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine The pause in distribution and administration Johnson & Johnsons vaccine results from guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration after six reported U.S. cases of a rare type of blood clot in individuals after receiving it. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is currently the only single-dose COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the U.S. The blood clots occurred in veins that drain blood from the brain and were seen in combination with low platelet levels. All six cases occurred six to 13 days after vaccination in women between the ages of 18 and 48. One resulted in death. None of the cases occurred in Mississippi, and the state has seen no severe adverse events related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. On Tuesday, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs stressed that residents who received the Johnson & Johnson shot shouldnt be worried about their safety because the risk period appears short and the likelihood of an adverse reaction to that specific vaccine is low less than one in a million based on current data. The CDC recommends people who develop severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks of receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine contact their physician or clinic. Byers reiterated that mild side effects are common and are nothing to worry about. The individuals who may develop a transient headache or flu-like illness within a couple of days after receiving the vaccine, which can typically occur with all three of the vaccines that are out there right now, thats not the type of symptoms were talking about, Byers said. MSDH will communicate with physicians, clinics and hospitals to advise them how to respond in the unlikely event that they see someone with this rare reaction, Dobbs said. The CDC/FDA pause does not apply to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Were talking about a rare complication related to one of the three vaccines (Johnson & Johnson) that we have, Dobbs said. And the relative risk of the vaccine, even with this horrible complication, is so much less common than death with COVID. Mississippi has administered about 1.477 million doses of the vaccine as of Tuesday. Around 42,000 of those doses were Johnson & Johnson. Thats less than 3% of total doses administered in the state. MSDH has told providers not to distribute doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until the CDC and its Advisory Committee distributes additional information on immunization practices. Those thousands of doses wont go to waste. The pause is temporary, Byers said, and MSDH will ensure providers who received shipments of Johnson & Johnson that havent administered are maintaining the doses in conditions that keep them viable. Of the Johnson & Johnson doses administered to Mississippians, 54% went to women and 46% to men. 54% of Mississippis J&J recipients were white, while 37% were Black. Only 5% of the J&J doses administered to Mississippi residents went to individuals 16-24 years old, while 14% went to individuals 25-39 years old and 16% went to those 40-49 years old. More than 65% of the doses were distributed to people ages 50 and older, which are outside the age range determined to be at risk for the rare clotting event associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. MSDH continues to encourage Mississippians to receive one of the two-dose mRNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna. Appointments can be scheduled at drive-thru locations throughout the state by visiting covidvaccine.umc.edu or calling MSDHs vaccination hotline at 877-978-6453. Fighting the COVID pandemic hasnt been easy this whole time, but were still in the fight, so we want you to go out and get your Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if you havent had it yet, Dobbs said. Weve got a little ways to go on this, so keep fighting. When Gautier Massonneau set up Trilobe, he did so with the aim of creating ultra-innovative luxury watches at reasonable price points. The brands first watch, Les Matinaux, debuted in 2018. Massonneau, an engineer born into a family of architects, came up with the unconventional time display which was then mechanised by watchmaker Jean-Francois Mojon. The patented X-Centric module lends itself to endless interpretations: enough for the next ten years! promises Massonneau with a smile. For the time being, Watches and Wonders 2021 is where Trilobe presented Nuit Fantastique, the new face of a watch that is eccentric in every sense of the word. And, in line with the brands credo, there are versions priced under CHF 8,000. Nuit Fantastique Trilobe Infinity rather than seconds Trilobes premise is to show the time by means of three rotating rings, off-centre for the minutes and seconds. Nuit Fantastique displays minutes through an aperture while the trilobe indicator for the seconds visible on Les Matinaux disappears: Seconds arent something you really need to know in everyday life. The disk for the seconds and the minutes aperture form a figure of eight, symbolising infinity. Were creating artworks that give the time. Were making time less ordinary, more poetic. Nuit Fantastique Trilobe The brand likes to do things differently, such as choosing not to align the trilobe indicators. We got a call about that from the Manufacture that makes our watches in Switzerland! says Gautier Massonneau, clearly amused. Shaking things up further still, the rings rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. Once again, Trilobe sidesteps convention, making sense from what can seem counter-intuitive. A keen eye will also spot the water-resistance symbol on the case back: not the usual fish but a rubber duck. A bridge between arts Every Trilobe watch is a work in its own right forging new connections between the arts. References to architecture abound, starting with the brands name. As a universal symbol, the trilobe goes beyond a specific period in history, says Massonneau. Inspiration for the openworked rosette on the dial of Les Matinaux came from the Sainte Chapelle in Paris; Nuit Fantastique looks to the deconstructivism of postmodern architecture. The idea is to rethink forms using open and empty spaces such as the grained or sunbrushed dial alongside others that are more elaborate: the seconds disk has a Clous de Paris decoration and a classic railroad scale. Traditional watches follow a more centred structure. These contrasts are a means of moving away from that. While Les Matinaux takes its name from a compendium of works by the French poet Rene Char (The Dawn Breakers in English), Nuit Fantastique looks to the writing of the Austrian novelist Stefan Zweig. Trilobes philosophy that by freeing time we can live life to the full is echoed in one of Zweigs short stories, Fantastic Night. In it, a jaded young baron is reawakened to the thrills and emotions of life. And what could be more thrilling than to take leave of time in the company of this Nuit Fantastique! Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 14 April 2021: The Report Aluminum Extrusion Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Pipes & Tubes, Shapes), By Application (Electrical & Energy, Building & Construction), By Region (MEA, APAC), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028 The global aluminum extrusion market size is expected to reach USD 104.15 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing investments in infrastructure and residential construction is projected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. Emerging economies of Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa are witnessing increasing investments in the residential and infrastructure sector owing to the rapid urbanization, rising per capita income levels, and growing population. For instance, in the economic budget of FY 2020-21, the Indian government announced around USD 1.41 trillion funding for infrastructure projects in the country. The Indian government is set to develop 6,500 projects under its National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) over the next five years. Besides the construction industry, growth in the automotive & transportation sector is also expected to play a crucial role in driving the market growth. Aluminum, being a lightweight material, helps in curbing emissions from automobiles. Also, due to various stringent government regulations regarding carbon emissions, automobile companies are preferring this material over steel for automotive manufacturing. The Covid-19 pandemic has created disruptions in the value chain of the industry across various countries, such as China. However, the country is all set for a strong rebound in its economic activities, following the relaxation of economic and social controls since April 2020. Where the other major economies of the world reported a negative GDP for the second quarter (April-June) of 2020, China registered a GDP growth of 3.2%. The economic growth of the country has helped soften the impact of the pandemic for the remainder of 2020. Access Research Report of Aluminum Extrusion Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/aluminum-extrusion-market Aluminum Extrusion Market Report Highlights The shapes product segment generated the largest revenue share of 80% in 2020 and is estimated to retain the leading position over the forecast period The growth of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for channels, tubing, and angles in various applications, such as construction, architectural and automotive components, computers, and domestic appliances In terms of revenue, the automotive & transportation application segment is expected to grow at a steady CAGR of 6.9% from 2021 to 2028 Properties, such as flexibility, durability, and corrosion-resistance, enable usage of aluminum extrusion in automotive & transportation applications, thereby driving the segment growth Asia Pacific was the dominant regional market in 2020, in terms of revenue, and is expected to maintain its position growing at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period Stable Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the manufacturing sectors of China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore is one of the key factors driving the APAC regional market The market is highly competitive in which most of the players are focusing on creating their differentiation factors. The establishment of an efficient sales channel is of key significance for the manufacturers in the market List of Key Players of Aluminum Extrusion Market Hindalco Industries Ltd. Arconic Corp. Norsk Hydro ASA Constellium N.V. QALEX Access Press Release of Aluminum Extrusion Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-aluminum-extrusion-market Violence and the kingdom quest Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Covid, Cocaine Take Europe to a Breaking Point, warned an April 12 headline in Barrons.[1] The problem is that people in search of peace amidst the economic and other crises brought on by the pandemic have turned increasingly to drugs. We are at the breaking point, said Catherine De Bolle, a European Union official, in an interview with journalist Jan Hennop. I read those lines while contemplating the United States own come-apart. Desperation grows and leads to cravings for opiates that will bring peace. Governments enact new policies, and the policies petrify into rigid laws that become unyielding fossils all in the name of protecting the people. As I brooded on all this, I ran across a saying of Jesus in which the English word, violence came up. In Matthew 11 and Luke 16, Jesus and His followers are talking about John the Baptist and his ministry. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force, says Jesus. (Matthew 11:12 NASB). The Greek word translated violence is key to understanding Jesus statement. As used there it refers, not to physical conflict, but to passionate intensity. People then and now want desperately the fruit of the Kingdom of Heaven, but without the King of that Kingdom, or the Spirit who energizes that Kingdom. Thus, across the ages, people have been on the kingdom-quest through which they wear out themselves, their institutions, and even their societies. My memory is haunted by trips I made into the former Soviet bloc in the period just after the collapse of communism. At one point I helped conduct a leadership conference on ethics that assembled in an aging factory building. Inside, a large wall mural from the Communist era depicted a valiant, energetic Lenin surging forward, clutching the unfurled banner bearing the hammer and sickle as the masses followed with wide-eyed anticipation. Left-Socialism sought the perfect society that would be the workers paradise. Right-Fascism strove for what Nazi theoreticians taught would be a world of Wagnerian sweep, with all inferior people erased or enslaved. Twenty years after the Second World War, we lived briefly in Nuremberg, which was to be the world capital of Hitlers Fourth Reich. On a Sunday afternoon, my wife, baby daughter, and I puttered on the columned marching grounds where Hitler stood before thousands and Goebbels staged his dramatic light shows. With passionate intensity, every generation has had its utopian dreamers who either die in their obscure corners or bring their nations into their insanity and reduce them to ashes or, as Allied soldiers said of bombed and shelled Berlin, a rubble world. The tragedy of this exhausting, intensely passionate, often bloody-violent quest is that God never intended for us to create or bring in the true Kingdom but receive what He has already created through Christ for His image-bearers us. The Bible goes from Paradise to Paradise. Genesis opens with Eden, and Revelation closes with the New Jerusalem. In between, Christ has come into the world to remove the dividing wall of evil that separates us from His holy Kingdom. Because of His grace, there is no need to try to take it by force (Luke 16:16) It is to be received as a gift, its high price already paid by the Lord of history. The fruit that all the utopians have sought across history, like goodness, justice, peace, and joy that goes beyond mere, transitory, circumstantial happiness, is embedded in the Kingdom of Christ. (See Romans 14:17) That brings us to the other meaning of the Greek word translated in both Matthew and Luke as violence, or force. That other word is eagerness. This happens as we realize the differences between entering the Kingdom Christ has already won for us on the immanent scale and building that transcendent Kingdom ourselves. Receiving the Kingdom leads to rest while trying to build it on earth exhausts us. I discovered how this can work on a national scale while researching my book, Call Down Lightning, about the remarkable revival that swept the United Kingdom country of Wales, 1904-1905. (Thomas Nelson/Emanate, 2019) As the 20th century dawned, Wales, which had experienced mighty spiritual awakenings in earlier times, was plunging into chaos. Pulpits had grown cold, families were collapsing, and society at large was becoming increasingly dysfunctional. The Holy Spirit moved upon a young coal miner, Evan Roberts, and a few other youths, to launch a national prayer movement. Other authors and I have detailed what happened. Within a years time, 100,000 people from a population of about a million, had received Christ. The impact could be felt in society at large as there was a violent (in the positive sense) passion to enter Christs Kingdom. Miners even had to retrain the mules that hauled the coal from the mines because the miners had stopped cursing at the animals to get them to move. The transformation in society soon became national, and eventually international, reaching all the way to California and even North Korea. Welsh churches were crucial in helping bring this Kingdom fruit to their nation. So, the violence of the Kingdom now must be that of churches fervently praying for the blessings of the Kingdom to fall upon troubled society. This wont happen through the woke church that allows society to dictate its theology, or the worldly church who fashions its styles in the image of its culture, or the wealth church that focuses on material acquisition, but through the awakened church. This is where the ministry of the Kingdom starts, and from which its blessings are spread to all. [1]Covid, Cocaine Take Europe To 'Breaking Point': Europol | Barron's During his campaign, Mr. Biden also pledged to restore the use of consent decrees, a court order negotiated between federal and local officials that the Justice Department for years used to pressure police departments. The Trump administration largely backed away from the practice when Jeff Sessions, President Donald J. Trumps first attorney general, curtailed their use before his departure in 2018. Mr. Biden has also tapped a former top civil rights official, Vanita Gupta, as associate attorney general and Kristen Clarke, a former civil rights lawyer, to lead the Justice Departments civil rights division. Those nominations, some said, signaled that the administration would enact more accountability measures. In its discretionary budget request, the administration also proposed $209 million for the civil rights division. The president also vowed to bolster the Justice Department office that issues grants to police departments with a requirement that it use funds to ensure diversity within police ranks. They have carrots, they have funding they can control to try to encourage certain behaviors in police departments, encourage them to seek to find ways of reforming themselves before they have it do it to them by something like a consent decree, said Kristy Parker, who spent 15 years in the civil rights division of the Justice Department. With a set of nascent campaign promises, Mr. Biden and his advisers have relied on the continued support of civil rights groups as they urge calm after the shooting of Mr. Wright. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden will deliver virtual remarks at a convention held by the National Action Network, a civil rights nonprofit founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton. He is not expected to focus on promoting the policing bill. We have so much work to do, from criminal justice and police reform, to addressing health disparities and voting rights, the president will say, according to a copy of his remarks provided to The New York Times. Queen Elizabeth II lost her consort after Prince Philip died, but she will continue to tread on as the head of the Monarchy. After Prince Philip's untimely death, questions about whether Queen Elizabeth II will finally leave the throne started to emerge. This would give Prince Charles the title he has been preparing for a long time now. However, the recent tragic event will reportedly not affect Her Majesty's stint since Prince Philip would not want her to stop either. A former senior aide at the Buckingham Palace told PEOPLE magazine that Queen Elizabeth II will not abdicate even without the Duke of Edinburgh by her side. "Her family will step up and be by her side, but she will carry on. She understands that she has a job to do, and [Philip] would have wanted her to crack on. She did do so when he retired from public life," the source added. On April 21, Her Majesty will add one more year to her record as the longest-reigning British monarch. She already surpassed Queen Victoria's 63 years and 216 days length of reign. Although it may be saddening to continue without the support of her husband, the Queen will serve the country even more since she dedicated her life to it. Per the royal insider, the duty and honor of the royal family push the Queen not to abdicate. At the same time, the public service Prince Philip showed is also important to her. Prince Philip Prioritized Royal Family More Than Anything Aside from Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William - the first reserve to the throne - also revealed the same sentiment in his tribute to the late Prince Philip. On Kensington's official Instagram account, Prince William shared a photo of Prince Philip and Prince George in 2015. "My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead," a part of the caption says. "I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job." Before his death, the Duke of Edinburgh spent more than 70 years of his life serving Queen Elizabeth II. He held his final royal engagement in August 2017 through a meeting with the Royal Marines and retired at the age of 96. Prince Philip left London to have a more peaceful life at their Wood Farm Cottage located in Norfolk on the Sandringham Estate. Despite that, he continuously supported the Queen in the most amazing ways. "It is away from the public eye and it's so peaceful and such a beautiful location," a royal source said that time. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] LONDON, ONTARIO April 13, 2021 Debuting on Microsofts next-generation Xbox Series X|S and due on all other platforms today, Digital Extremes robust new Warframe Call of the Tempestarii update puts players at the helm of a colossal new Railjack experience for the ultimate space fantasy. Available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, console players gain access to Corpus Proxima & The New Railjack while all players will receive the ghostly, quest-driven Call of the Tempestarii for free. Download all three trailers! Grab the Call of the Tempestarii Launch Trailer, the Xbox Series X|S Trailer, and the Sevagoth Profile Trailer, plus all new key art and screenshots: digitalextremesltd.box.com/s/t7d0j9th9znd88ssl6eeve845rlyxe5g all three trailers! Watch all three trailers! Call of the Tempestarii Launch Trailer: https://youtu.be/gBnAIJOsxI4 Xbox Series X|S Trailer: https://youtu.be/u7zy9kXSgas Sevagoth Profile Trailer: https://youtu.be/qtbYEm IbAc8 all three trailers! When we launch Call of the Tempestarii on all platforms today, well reach a new defining moment for Warframe, said COO Sheldon Carter. Yes, well take that very big second step into the next generation on Xbox Series X|S, but what's really driving this new content is the new Railjack. Railjack is maturing, growing more robust and becoming the dynamic space adventure we originally imagined it would become. Heed The Call of the Tempestarii and Discover Sevagoth Call of the Tempestarii steers players down an eerie path of unfulfilled prophecies and ghostly disturbances in an all new lore-based quest. Heeding a strange beacon call, Railjack AI Cephalon Cy charts a course through harrowing Void Storms and new Corpus boss battles to unveil a haunting story introducing the specter of death, Sevagoth. Completing this Quest sets the stage for even bigger battles later this year. The powerful 46th Warframe blends heavy damage and team support characteristics into a magnificent reaper form. Sevagoths Abilities Reap, Sow, and Gloom contribute to a unique death well meter, building to launch Sevagoths second form, the fierce all-melee Shadow. Sevagoths spectral Shadow glides across the battlefield reaping souls, bearing extended, sharpened talons that slash and tear enemies asunder. Beware the Reaper! Build, Board and Battle With this retrofitted Railjack update, console players get to experience Corpus Proxima & The New Railjack for the first time. Every aspect has been redesigned to embody the core Warframe experience. With our players feedback in mind to improve the Railjack experience, this update was renovated and simplified to produce less grind and less reliance on matchmaking, giving Tenno ample opportunities to more easily engage in epic spaceship battles, slingshot into enemy ships, and collect, fight and explore. Railjack missions now combine Warframes fluid parkour combat with epic space battles. Ramped up core reward loops -- such as hunting and collecting valuable Arcanes in Void Storms -- unlock hard-to-get Warframes and Warframe Primes, such as Ash Prime! Re-worked, improved Command Intrinsics and Avionics Systems, and a hire-able NPC AI crew give battle-ready Tenno more control, more gametime, and less waiting around. NPC crews can be recruited, leveled up, and customized for improved single-player missions. Two new game modes Volatile and Orphix, plus ultra-powerful mech gameplay, round out a new robust, satisfying experience. Experience Next-Generation Warframe By launching Call of the Tempestarii on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox players instantly get access to Warframes all new story, new Warframe, and new gameplay in impressive next-gen visual and audio fidelity. Warframes significantly improved loading times hurl Tenno seamlessly into the action complete with impressive 4K resolution and 60fps and offers cross-system play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Our new rendering engine dials up dynamic real-time lighting and volumetric shadows for a true next-generation experience. And our recently implemented sound system provides greater sonic depth, a broader variety of spaces, and more audio detail. Xbox Game Pass Warframes next-generation arrival means that all players who own an Xbox Game Pass can access the generous Warframe: Excalibur Jade Bundle. This bundle, which retails for $19.99 for players without an Xbox Game Pass, features an Excalibur Jade Skin, Excalibur Jade Noggle, Tonkor Jade Skin (includes Tonkor grenade launcher), Liset Jade Skin, Jade Daedalus Armor, Capala Jade Sigil, and a 7-Day Affinity Booster. Grab it now! To keep up with the latest updates, be sure to follow Warframe on Twitch , YouTube , Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Download Warframe on Steam PC, Epic Games Store, PlayStation4 and PlayStation5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. ABOUT DIGITAL EXTREMES Founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, Digital Extremes ranks as one of the world's top independent video game development studios. Originating with the co-creation of Epic Games' multi-million unit selling Unreal franchise including Unreal and Unreal Tournament, Digital Extremes went on to develop Dark Sector, BioShock for the PlayStation3, the BioShock 2 multiplayer campaign, and The Darkness II. The studio has reached its greatest critical and commercial success with the free-to-play action game, Warframe, boasting a global community of 60+ million registered players on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch. For more information about Digital Extremes, visit www.digitalextremes.com . To sign up for Warframe, visit www.warframe.com . ### MEDIA CONTACT Outrageous PR Danielle Woodyatt & Ami Langton [email protected] Islamabad: A senior Pakistani official has said that the country was working to develop its own single-dose coronavirus vaccine with Chinas support, a media report said on Wednesday. Executive Director of National Institute of Health (NIH), Major General Aamer Ikram, said this during a briefing to the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on National Health Services on Tuesday, The Express Tribune reported. We are going to make a single-dose vaccine for COVID-19. We conducted the clinical trial of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine CanSinoBio in Pakistan," he said. Later talking to the media, Ikram said Pakistan was among the first countries to take part in the clinical trial of CanSinoBio vaccine. He said Pakistan had requested China to transfer the technology for the vaccine and the raw material for the vaccine is going to arrive this month. We hope that we will be able to take some measures for preparation of the vaccine by the end of April. Our team is ready to undertake this task while a Chinese team has also arrived in Pakistan. The Chinese team will oversee our team at the NIH," he said. Briefing the parliamentary panel, Ikram said the NIH plant, which was closed a few years back, has been made functional again and once the plant is ready, the process for manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine will begin. The NIH is going to make its own single-dose vaccine in the near future," the official said. The NA committee lauded the NIHs efforts and declared it good news for the nation. Pakistan has so far administered vaccines to 1.3 million people but still needs to go a long way before its 220 million people will be inoculated. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. A study carried out by the University of Granada indicates that smoking cannabis significantly alters key visual functions, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional vision (stereopsis), the ability to focus, and glare sensitivity Yet, more than 90% of users believe that using cannabis has no effect on their vision, or only a slight effect A group of researchers from the Department of Optics of the University of Granada (UGR) has studied the effects of smoking cannabis on various visual parameters compared to the effect that the users themselves perceive the drug to have on their vision. This study, led by Carolina Ortiz Herrera and Rosario Gonzalez Anera, has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Its main author, Sonia Ortiz Peregrina, explains that cannabis use is on the rise despite being an illegal drug. According to the national Survey on Alcohol, Drugs and Other Addictions in Spain 2019-2020, cannabis use nationally has increased since 2011, with 37% of Spanish adults having used this drug at some time. Approximately 10% consumed it in the last year. In this study, which had the approval of the Human Research Ethics Committee of the UGR (ref. 921/CCEIH/2019), an exhaustive visual trial was conducted on 31 cannabis users, both when they had not consumed any substance in advance and also when they were under the effect of the drug. The researchers also studied the participants' perception of the visual effects of having consumed this drug. The results showed that, following consumption, visual aspects such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, three-dimensional vision (stereopsis), the ability to focus, and glare sensitivity significantly worsened. Despite this, not all subjects reported a worsening of their vision after smoking cannabis. Indeed, 30% reported that their vision had not suffered at all, while 65% responded that it had worsened only slightly. The authors note that the visual parameter that could be most strongly linked to users' perception of the visual effect is contrast sensitivity. The study found a negative effect on all of the visual parameters evaluated, with the effect of cannabis on some of the parameters being analysed for the first time in this research. These results, together with the lack of awareness that the participants presented about the visual impairment caused by smoking cannabis, indicate the need to carry out awareness-raising campaigns, as this visual deterioration can pose a danger when performing everyday tasks. XIAMEN, China, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NewSound will be at the forefront of Chinese Hearing Aid Manufacturers taking part in the 2021 American Academy of Audiology virtual exhibition. This is a first for both NewSound and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). At AAA's virtual exhibition, hearing aid industry leaders will learn the latest developments in technology and the results of recent cutting-edge research. Participants will engage in chats, watch tutorials & product videos, download white papers, and moreonline! With an estimated 40 million Americans suffering from hearing loss, and just one-quarter of that number wearing hearing aids, NewSound recognizes the imperative of bringing affordable, state-of-the-art technology for the hearing impaired. Xiamen NewSound technology Co., Ltd.'s has been dedicated to the hearing aid industry for almost two decades. As an innovative hearing aid manufacturer and software developer, NewSound maintains its leadership role in the industry by staying current with trends, technological developments, and the latest research, and we take great pride in attending AAA's 2021 exhibition. It is important for hearing-impaired individuals and their families to know that in this time of crisis, hearing help is available without leaving the comfort and safety of their homes. NewSound has made this possible through its high-quality Direct-to-Customer (DTC) hearing devices, capable of custom adjustment with the remote-fit EASYHEAR APP. David Yu, NewSound's CEO, said, "Almost 30 years of industry experience made me realize early on that rechargeable products will be the future." Starting early in 2013, NewSound began its development of rechargeable technology, quickly taking the lead over other Chinese hearing-aid manufacturers. Yu stated, "Why do we say, battery free? The user is free from having to remove and re-insert batteries over and over again. Disposable batteries are also a burden for the earth when they go in the trash. So, we're dedicated to freeing people, and the earth, from a tired, outdated technology." World Earth Day follows AAA's exhibition by less than one week, which is why NewSound believes it is important to emphasize our commitment to environmentally friendly power. For example, NewSound's collaboration with Energous on an RF technology and the coming inductive wireless charging project. AAA's virtual exhibition holds the promise to learn about the latest trends and innovative technology. We look forward to meeting people in this alternative way! Most of all, NewSound recognizes its foremost responsibility is to make people hear better. We hope you will visit NewSound's booth at the AAA's virtual exhibition: NewSound's booth locates at AAA2021:Hall 6.Link to visit the exhibit. Media Inquiries: Xiamen NewSound technology Co., Ltd. Yizhen (Stella) Ke, Marketing Director 05923921171 [email protected] Corporate website: http://usnewsound.com/product/info_64_itemid_223.html SOURCE Xiamen newsound technology Co.,ltd Related Links http://www.usnewsound.com Reasonable minds can disagree, I suppose, on the wisdom of Georgia's new voting law. For my part, nothing about it strikes me as especially dastardly, let alone racist and I say that after having read detailed analyses of the law's main provisions, including a 5,000-word breakdown by The New York Times that was plainly intended to be unfavorable. I haven't found the ferocious attack mounted on the law by progressive activists to be very persuasive, but I acknowledge that people of goodwill might come to a different conclusion. That said, not every charge made by those condemning the law falls into the category of honest opinion: Some of it is just dead wrong. For example, President Biden, by way of explaining why he considers Georgia's new law to be "sick" and "outrageous" and "un-American," claimed repeatedly that it requires the polls to be shut at 5 p.m., thereby keeping working people from voting. "You're going to close a polling place at 5 o'clock, when working people just get off?" he said in an ESPN interview. "This is all about keeping working folks, and ordinary folks that I grew up with, from being able to vote." But as The Washington Post's fact checker concluded, this was a "Four Pinnochio" whopper, completely at odds with the truth. (The Post, it should be noted, editorialized against the new law.) Far from curtailing voting hours, the new law expands them and also adds an extra Saturday of voting. The new law also confirms that Georgians have the right to vote absentee without having to give a reason, and it provides a three-month window before an election in which absentee ballots can be requested. It authorizes at least one drop box per county for the convenience of early voters (more populous counties can install additional drop boxes), thus institutionalizing a practice that didn't exist in Georgia before the COVID-19 pandemic. It empowers the state attorney general to set up a hotline to report any allegations of possible voter intimidation or fraud. And, yes, it prohibits activists from giving voters standing in line "any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink." These tweaks may be sound or unsound, but how anyone can honestly call them "sick," "outrageous," or "un-American" beats me. What I really find incomprehensible, though, is the accusation that Georgia's law amounts to a revival of Jim Crow, the pre-Civil Rights racial oppression that prevailed throughout the South. It is hard to overstate what a smear and a libel that is. Second only to slavery, Jim Crow segregation and persecution was the very worst thing in American history evil, unconstitutional, and inhumane. Jim Crow was a monstrosity in numerous ways, only one of which was the near-total denial of the right of Black Southerners to vote. Eventually Jim Crow was overturned by the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and a generation of Americans has grown up knowing of it, if at all, only through history books. To call something "Jim Crow" is the equivalent in American terms of calling something "Nazi" both are terms so toxic that they should be reserved only for genuine examples of brutal, totalitarian repression and cruelty. Covid lockdown critics over the past year who have likened mask requirements to the tactics of Nazi Germany weren't just engaging in hate speech. They were demeaning the memory of Germany's countless victims, and trivializing the ghastly history bound up in the word "Nazi." Any American who uses the term "Jim Crow" in the same irresponsible, incendiary manner is guilty of much the same thing. And yet there has been no shortage of Americans doing exactly that, from the Georgia director of the ACLU to Democratic politician Stacey Abrams to progressive legal activists to, most dismayingly of all, the president of the United States, who slammed Georgia's law as not merely the return of Jim Crow, but "Jim Crow on steroids." I understand that politicians and polemicists routinely use over-the-top language to score points and belittle their opponents, but to casually toss about a slur like "Jim Crow" is grotesque and indecent. What occurred under the rubric of Jim Crow was little better than apartheid and sometimes far worse . Through deceitful voting rules, enforced segregation, and the denial of due process, Black Southerners were locked out of any role in the American political system. They were barred from voting, barred from seeking public office, barred from getting a decent public education, and barred from most public accommodations. But in the 50-plus years since Jim Crow was crushed, Black people in Georgia and elsewhere across the South are anything but shut out of the political system. "Georgia's congressional delegation has five Black representatives and one Black senator," writes Jonah Goldberg . "Its state legislature is 27 percent Black. The mayor of Atlanta is a Black woman. Georgia has a large and politically powerful Black middle class, not to mention plenty of Black celebrities and 1-percenters. Do we really believe the state is one election law away from a system of legal lynchings and separate water fountains?" To repeat: Maybe you think that the changes adopted in Georgia's new voting statute are unsound or disgraceful; maybe you think they were deliberately designed to make it marginally more difficult for Democrats to influence elections. Maybe you even think that they were purposely crafted to make it likelier that Black voters will be dissuaded from voting. Does that add up to "Jim Crow on steroids"? Only to someone utterly ignorant of Jim Crow's history or utterly unconcerned with the truth. To my mind, it is condescending and faintly racist to believe that nonwhite voters are less adept than anyone else at registering to vote and casting a ballot. Black voter turnout in Georgia surged in 2018 and surged last November. It surged yet again in January's runoff, which sent two new Democratic senators to Washington, including Raphael Warnock, the first African American ever to represent Georgia in the Senate. But even if you do believe that Black citizens are more easily discouraged from voting than white citizens, nothing about the new law is remotely comparable to the kind of voter suppression that used to be standard in American South. Here's a glimpse at the history of Jim Crow vote suppression. "Before a Southern Negro [sic] is allowed to vote, he must often be aapproved' by a (white) Board of Registrars, a Board which proves difficult to locate in many county areas," reported Jack H. Pollack in The American Mercury in 1947. After filling out the necessary forms and paying the required fee, white applicants were usually approved without challenge. But for Black applicants, the obstacles were just beginning. Under Jim Crow, Southern officials used "economic pressures, white primaries, poll taxes, agrandfather clauses,' intimidation, and even outright violence to keep the ballot from Negroes," Pollack recounted. In many Southern polling places, "the visible or implied warning sign a was: aNegroes, Vote at Your Own Risk.'" A favorite means of keeping Black men and women from registering to vote was the bogus "literacy test." In Georgia it was common to require Black applicants to "read, repeat, or interpret the Federal or State Constitution." That question was used so often that many Black citizens intent on gaining the vote would go through a months-long ordeal of memorizing both constitutions, until they knew them word for word, wrote Pollack. "But as one Georgia official reflected, "Negroes can still be required to write the Constitution and then be disqualified if they leave out any commas." Next to the Constitutional bogey, the most frequent trap "question" in Southern literacy tests is to translate and spell correctly obscure Latin phrases. A Negro veteran who recently tried to register in Jackson, Mississippi, was asked, "What is the meaning of Itar, E. Quar Tum Entertia Ventricular?" Shortly afterwards, another Negro was asked, "What does a writ of Certiorari, Writ Error Coraim Nobis, Subpoena Duces Tecum mean?" . . . [R]egistrars reject Negro applicants for not properly answering such "intelligent questions" as "Boy, what's the meaning of delicut status quo rendum hutt?" If the bewildered applicant ponders the phrase, the registrar continues: "Maybe that's too hard for you. Here's an easy one. If the angle plus the hypotenuse equals the subdivided of the fraction, then how many children did your mother miss having?" Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. In 1964, John Hersey described in the Saturday Evening Post the relentless humiliation would-be Black voters continued to face in the Jim Crow South. Applicants would be kept waiting outdoors, in blistering heat, for hours on end before finally being summoned to the registrar of voters. Hersey wrote of Varsell Pleas, one in a group of 17, who was given the registration form to complete, and required to copy out and explain Section 76 of the state constitution: "In all elections by the legislature the members shall vote viva voce, and the vote shall be entered on the journals." Pleas had been studying the constitution for several weeks, and he knew several of the 28 sections of Article 3, the state's bill of rights, by heart, but there were 285 clauses in the whole document, and he had never happened to find out the meaning of the phrase "viva voce." . . . When Pleas handed in the test, the lady in the office told him to come back in 30 days and find out whether he had passed or not. . . . [A month later] Varsell Pleas went up to Athens and asked knowing what the answer would be whether he had been passed for registration. The lady in the office got out his application and she said, "No, Varsell, you didn't pass." "Can you tell me, ma'am, just where I didn't pass?" The lady gave both sides of the sheet a quick look, and she said, "No, it just says, aFailed.' It doesn't say why. You just failed, that's all." "Yes, ma'am," said Varsell Pleas, and went home. Not one of the 17 had passed. Across the 11 states of the former Confederacy, notes historian Robert A. Caro in the introduction to Master of the Senate, part of his monumental biography of Lyndon Johnson, just 1 in 5 of the more than 6 million African American citizens eligible to vote succeeded in registering. "Of course, even those blacks who had registered to vote often didn't dare go to the polls to cast ballots, because of fear of violence or economic retaliation," Caro added. "In 1957, there were scores of counties in the South which had tens of thousands of black residents, but in which, in some elections, not a single vote had been cast by a black." That was Jim Crow. By all means, denounce Georgia's new law, if you genuinely think it deserves denouncing. But don't pretend that it contains anything even vaguely reminiscent of the inhuman Jim Crow obstacles that for decades deliberately disenfranchised Black citizens. Georgia today has millions of active Black voters, and no law tinkering at the margins with the state's election procedures is going to deny them their rights. In fact, predicts Nate Cohen , the New York Times's elections and demographics guru, "the law's voting provisions are unlikely to significantly affect turnout or Democratic chances. It could plausibly even increase turnout." Like "Holocaust," "slavery," and "genocide," the term "Jim Crow" is drenched in a history of pain, cruelty, and lethal humiliation. Such terms should be deployed with profound and respectful care, and never merely to score a cheap political point. The EU has announced plans for a major contract extension for Pfizers Covid-19 vaccine. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the EU would start negotiations to buy 1.8 billion doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine through to 2023. We need to focus on the technologies that have proven their worth, Ms von der Leyen said in an apparent jab at AstraZeneca, with whom EU leaders have previously and very publicly feuded about vaccine supply. The AstraZeneca jab is a viral vector vaccine, similar to the Johnson & Johnson shot, while Pfizers and Modernas inoculations use mRNA technology to produce an immune response. Both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have faced concerns in recent weeks over very rare blood clotting incidents which may be linked to them. On Wednesday, Denmark became the first country to announce it would stop using the AstraZeneca jab altogether due to concerns about blood clots. Other countries, including the UK, have limited its use and recommended that it should only be used in older patients, such as those over the age of 30. Pfizer/BioNTech has said it is planning to provide the EU with an extra 50 million doses in the second quarter of this year, on top of 200 million doses already earmarked for the blocs 27 member nations. The European Commission currently has a portfolio of 2.3 billion doses from half a dozen companies and is negotiating more contracts. We keep all options open to be prepared for the next stages of the pandemic, for 2022 and beyond. We can, however, not comment on contractual issues, the Commission said in a statement. About 16 per cent of the EUs total population have received at least one vaccine dose so far, as of 13 April, according to figures collected by Our World in Data. Additional reporting by AP Voluntary carbon markets have the potential to unlock funds for green projects from companies that have made carbon-neutral commitments, and will cover more industries and companies than mandatory markets, a top banker says. Bill Winters, CEO of British banking giant Standard Chartered PLC, told Caixin in an interview that companies in Europe are promoting voluntary carbon markets because its mandatory market, the European Unions Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), has been limited to public utilities and some industrial sectors. To some degree, it (the ETS) is really very narrow, said Winters, who is also chairman of the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM), a private sector-led initiative launched in January to build a voluntary carbon market to help corporations reach net-zero emissions. Carbon markets trade carbon credits, also known as emissions certificates, which are permits that allow holders to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Companies buy these permits to offset their emissions. Mandatory and voluntary carbon markets are two kinds of carbon trading mechanisms. In a mandatory market, companies in the industries that the government believes should control greenhouse gas emissions by law have to reduce or offset their emissions. Voluntary carbon markets operate outside the mandatory sphere and allow companies who are committed to reducing carbon emissions to purchase carbon credits voluntarily. Winters said there will be numerous buyers of carbon credits in voluntary carbon markets because, although increasingly more companies will make carbon neutrality commitments, many of them cant do it alone, thus creating demand for credits. There are now 1,500 companies that have made commitments to transition to net zero, Winters said. I guess that number will increase by 100 times in the coming year or two, because its going to be very difficult for companies to avoid making that commitment. Standard Chartered stands out as an example. The banks two largest shareholders, Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd. and Blackrock Inc., have asked it to try to achieve carbon neutrality, Winters said, but as a bank it is not able to meet the goal by itself. The bulk of our emissions are coming through our own financing (that involves) people in carbon-intensive industries, he said. Suppliers of carbon credits in voluntary markets will be involved in projects that are devoted either to greenhouse gas avoidance or reduction, such as renewable energy, or to greenhouse gas removal, such as reforestation, according to a January TSVCM report. The voluntary markets are expected to support breakthrough projects which are not yet commercially viable, but are valuable contributors to carbon neutrality, Winters said. Billionaire Bill Gates, another supporter of voluntary carbon markets and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, holds a similar view. I believe it (a voluntary carbon market) has the potential to drive early investment in green technologies, especially those that are difficult to commercialize, he said in the preface to the TSVCM report. Read more In Depth: How China Plans to Harness Market Forces for Carbon Neutrality In China, policymakers plan to launch a national mandatory carbon market by June, initially only to include the electricity generation sector. Meanwhile, a voluntary carbon market may be on the way, as the local government in Beijing said (link in Chinese) last month that the city will build a national management and trading center for voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction. Both moves are part of the countrys efforts to fulfill its goal to top out greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Contact reporter Guo Yingzhe (yingzheguo@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com) Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go. Follow the Chinese markets in real time with Caixin Globals new stock database. In the days since a Chronicle investigation was published that detailed allegations of sexual assault by Dominic Foppoli, the public outcry has focused on removing Foppoli from his office as the mayor of Windsor. He has denied the allegations and said he will not resign. But Foppoli isnt just a politician. He has another identity, too, one that often confers quite a bit of status in Sonoma County: a vintner. Since 2012, Foppoli has co-owned Christopher Creek Winery, on the outskirts of Healdsburg, with his brother, Joe. Following the allegations, Joe has asked Dominic to leave the winery. My colleagues have been looking at how Foppoli rose politically, and in doing so, theyve also asked me: How did people in Sonoma Countys wine industry see Foppoli? What was his reputation as a winery owner? Is it possible that other winemakers in the county, too, had heard about some of Foppolis alleged sexual misconduct, as former Windsor Mayor Debora Fudge had? In short, Dominic Foppoli was not a household name in the wider California wine industry until now. Christopher Creek Winery is located in a coveted corridor of the Russian River Valley, yet it never rose to the same level of prominence as some of its neighbors. Locally, in fact, the winery may have been known more for its notorious parties, according to some members of the wine industry, than for its Pinot Noirs. At the events, alcohol would flow freely, sources say, and a crowd would often end up in the hot tub. Its not unusual for wineries to host parties. Harvest parties, held at the end of autumn to celebrate finishing the busiest time of the year, are especially common, and the guest list often comprises employees from other nearby wineries. On its face, theres nothing strange about the idea that Christopher Creek located right between the downtowns of Healdsburg and Windsor, which are just 6 miles apart could have been a hub for such gatherings. But there was something different about the Christopher Creek festivities, local industry members told me. Just as members of civic organization Active 20-30 once put Dominic Foppoli on a Hookup Mistakes to Avoid list, people in the local wine industry warned each other about being careful while attending gatherings at Christopher Creek. People would say, Dont stay at Christopher Creek too late, dont go hot tubbing, said Erica Stancliff, a winemaker who previously lived in Windsor but now lives in Santa Rosa. Stancliff said she and Foppoli crossed paths several times and were briefly friends. It was at one of those parties, in 2019, that 21-year-old winery intern Rose Fumoso said she met Foppoli. They got in his car, and he allegedly attacked her, she said. A number of wine-industry insiders, including Stancliff, said theyd sensed something was a little off about Foppolis conduct, but that theyd been unaware of the extent of his alleged actions. Peter Burke, director of the Sun Valley Wine Auction, an Idaho charity event in which many Sonoma County wineries participate, said he has avoided working with Foppoli for years. No one I know is surprised, and we are all thinking its way overdue, said Ken Blair, who works at Preston Farm and Winery in Healdsburg. Foppolis reputation as a party host, it seems, overshadowed his clout as a vintner. Christopher Creek wines were known among some connoisseurs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to Mike Lucia, owner of nearby Rootdown Cellars. He recalls serving the Christopher Creek Petite Sirah during that era, when he was working as a sommelier in Healdsburg. The winery is known because it existed before he bought it, Lucia said. More recently, after the Foppolis took over the winery, Christopher Creeks name has rarely shown up on restaurant wine lists, in wine shops or in press over the last six years. Wine Spectator, for example, hasnt reviewed a Christopher Creek wine since the 1998 vintage, long before Foppoli came along. In another industry, a local business known for pool parties might have sounded louder alarm bells. But there are several features of Sonoma Countys wine culture that may have allowed practices like that to endure, said Amy Bess Cook, founder of the Sonoma organization Woman-Owned Wineries. One feature is the central role of alcohol to these workplaces, Cook said. Hot tubs may not always be involved in winery parties, but drinking certainly is. That can make the line between a social and professional environment harder to parse, which can potentially lead to dangerous situations. Wine is supposed to bring people together, Cook said. The way that it does that on the business side, though, can be pretty blurry. Another factor is that the Sonoma County wine industry can feel like a bubble, which can contribute to a culture that implicitly encourages silence, said Lisa Rhorer, a Santa Rosa resident who works in wine marketing. Many people working in the wine industry in the county grew up together, she said; its common for locals to help each others family members get jobs. She believes that makes people less likely to hold each other accountable when bad behavior surfaces. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Foppoli grew up in Sonoma County, and his family has longtime farming roots in California. For someone to come forward is a grave risk, Rhorer said, because this is such a tight, inclusive community that youre now going to be known as a whistle-blower. Its possible that a reputation as a whistle-blower could hurt someones ability to get jobs in the local industry, she said: Its sad, because people dont want to be hindered from moving forward in their career. Though Sonoma County is as prestigious a wine region as any in the world, its still a place where many deals are done over a handshake. Winemakers who want to buy fruit from a famous vineyard might rely on the introduction of a friend in order to get in the door with the grape grower. People lend each other equipment, trade wines and write letters on each others behalf when someone is applying for a permit to build a new tasting room. Cook agreed that some people in Sonoma County may be less likely to call out peers behavior because of the communitys insularity. Theres definitely a tightly knit network of people that keeps each other safe in this region, she said, referring to the people in positions of power. The Sonoma County wine industry has never before dealt with a public scandal quite like this one. Its unprecedented, said Michael Haney, president of Sonoma County Vintners, a group that moved to expel Christopher Creek on Friday. Another local organization, the Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association, also announced on Friday it planned to terminate Chistopher Creek from its membership. Beyond formalities like those, its not yet clear how the local wine community will respond to the Foppoli allegations in a larger sense whether there will be attempts to shift some of the cultural norms to ensure that people can remain safe going forward. As I wrote last week, the #MeToo movement hasnt swept through winemaking the same way that it has restaurants or other adjacent industries. But as the calls mounted for Foppoli to resign or be removed from the Windsor mayors office, women including Cook and Stancliff were adamant that the wine industry, too, would do its part to speak out against the alleged assaults. Were going to push back against this in Sonoma County, Cook said. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley FAIRFIELD, New Jersey -- The Infusion Nurses Society has adopted the international Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) framework as a dedicated standard in its recently published 2021 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice. According to Parker Laboratories, this standardized approach for application of aseptic practices during vascular access procedures will reduce variability and improve patient safety, particularly when visualization technology like ultrasound is required to facilitate catheter placement. "The inclusion of ANTT shows that INS recognizes this approach to aseptic technique should be the basis for all clinical education regarding intravenous devices," said Neal Buchalter, president of Parker Laboratories, a worldwide leader in ultrasound products for more than 60 years. "As a company, we share this commitment. It's reflected in our development of products that make it easier for clinicians to adhere to proper aseptic technique, as well as partnerships with clinical leaders to raise awareness about the importance of ANTT." Parker Laboratories manufactures the UltraDrape Barrier and Securement Dressing, the first dressing designed specifically for use during ultrasound-guided peripheral IV (UGPIV) insertions. The company is currently sponsoring a continuing education course from PICC Excellence on the basics of ANTT. ANTT: Key Concepts (1 CE credit) will be available to clinicians for free until June 30, 2021. Read Back to the Basics with ANTT Best Practices by Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD in the latest issue of Healthcare Hygiene Magazine. ANTT is a unique, standardized approach to aseptic practice that has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce the incidence of healthcare acquired infections. The ANTT Clinical Practice Framework teaches clinicians a uniform process for infection prevention and is designed for use with all invasive procedures -- from simple dressing changes to the insertion of vascular access devices, and even major surgery. "Aseptic technique is a critical clinical competency, and yet for so long there was not a universal, standardized way to apply it, or even teach it. This led to a lot of ambiguity and variability in clinical practice, which ultimately places patients at a greater risk of infection," said Stephen Rowley, MSc, BSc, RGN, RSCN, Clinical Director of the Association for Safe Aseptic Practice (ASAP) and co-author of the 2021 INS Standards. "It's not that ANTT is a radically different technique; what it does is better explain the principles, rules and process making it easier for clinicians to implement them into clinical practice more effectively," Rowley added. "For such an important clinical competency, the benefits of having a single standard framework -- and especially a common practice language used internationally -- are perhaps as profound as they are obvious." Rowley, who developed the ANTT Practice Framework in the mid-1990s, believes its inclusion in the INS Standards will "encourage an even broader adoption of ANTT and ultimately help improve the safety of all invasive medical procedures." The updated INS Standards also support the use of visualization technology to increase vascular access insertion success. For instance, ultrasound guidance is recommended for peripheral IV insertions in adults with difficult vascular access. This recommendation is supported by Level I evidence showing fewer insertion attempts and less reliance on more invasive central vascular access devices. Despite its benefits, the use of visualization technology may also carry some patient safety risks. For peripheral IVs, the presence of the ultrasound probe and gel at the sterile insertion site can lead to an increased risk of contamination if clinicians do not follow safety guidelines for the use of appropriate supplies (i.e. gel and probe protection). Proper aseptic technique is critical to reducing contamination that leads to a greater risk of infection during UGPIV procedures. To mitigate risks like these, the INS Standards recommend making ANTT awareness a key part of assessing clinician competency in the use of visualization technology for inserting vascular access devices. Unfortunately, research indicates that relatively few healthcare facilities in the United States have established a standardized process for maintaining ANTT during UGPIV procedures, according to Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, an internationally recognized expert in vascular access and CEO of PICC Excellence. A survey of vascular access and emergency department clinicians revealed significant levels of variation in UGPIV procedures and application of proper aseptic technique, even between departments within the same hospital. To standardize UGPIV practices, Dr. Moureau recommends the use of the sterile UltraDrape dressing. This sterile barrier dressing facilitates aseptic technique for UGPIV insertions by separating the ultrasound probe and gel from the skin, resulting in a safer, gel-free insertion. "To increase adoption, ANTT must be efficient, safe and cost-effective, and that is precisely what the UltraDrape dressing achieves," said Dr. Moureau. "By separating the gel and probe from the insertion site, UltraDrape standardizes the procedure in a way that makes it easier for clinicians to adhere to the principles of ANTT. This also eliminates the time-consuming post-procedure clean up, making UGPIV procedures safer, faster and less expensive." As INS's most recognized publication, the Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice are revised and released every five years to provide clinicians with an evidence-based framework to develop infusion-based policies and procedures for all practice settings. A summary of the key changes in the 2021 Standards can be found here. ### About Parker Laboratories Parker Laboratories is a leading global medical products company that develops, manufactures and sells ultrasound and electromedical contact media, as well as leading lines of institutional cleaner and disinfectants. A worldwide leader in ultrasound medical products for the past 60 years, Parker Laboratories has been consistently at the forefront of technological advances in the industry. Its flagship product, Aquasonic 100 Ultrasound Transmission Gel, is the world standard for medical ultrasound. UltraDrape UGPIV Barrier and Securement is available through medical supply distributors or by contacting Parker Laboratories at (973) 276-9500 or visiting parkerlabs.com As a ferocious storm whipped up towering waves off Louisiana's coast on Tuesday, a commercial vessel carrying 18 people capsized in the Gulf of Mexico, sparking a mass rescue operation from the U.S. Coast Guard and a fleet of good Samaritans. By early Wednesday morning, rescuers had plucked six people from the sea as the Coast Guard continued combing the water for survivors. "We're still looking for others right now," Petty Officer Jonathan Lally, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, told The Washington Post early on Wednesday. READ MORE: ERCOT asks Texans to conserve power, but says outages not expected as it nears emergency conditions The vessel was a 129-foot lift boat named Seacor Power, according to Armond Batiste, a spokesman for Seacor Marine, which owns the vessel. Batiste confirmed to The Post that 18 people were onboard when it capsized. The Coast Guard first got an emergency beacon from the Seacor Power at 4:30 p.m. as the ship foundered about 8 miles off Port Fourchon, a coastal town nearly 100 miles south of New Orleans. At the time, an unexpectedly fierce storm was lashing the area and wreaking havoc on boats in the Gulf. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported gusts up to 75 miles per hour on Louisiana's southern coast, Nola.com reported. Boaters in the area described dangerous conditions. "Ive NEVER Heard soo many MAYDAY calls in my life!" a man named Bruce Simon, who said he was on a boat in the Gulf at the time, posted to Facebook along with images of heavy seas. "Waves are breaking over the bow! A liftboat flipped . . . An other boats have flipped an are taking on water!" READ ALSO: Texas Senate revives push to block cities' paid sick leave ordinances Amid the gale, the Seacor Power capsized. The liftboat is designed with a wide, open deck and can raise itself out of the water on stilts to perform maintenance on oil rigs. The Seacor Power could carry up to 12 crew members and 36 passengers, according to its online specifications. The Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris, a 154-foot rescue vessel, scrambled to the scene within half an hour of receiving the emergency beacon, joining multiple good Samaritan boat crews that also answered the call. Coast Guard photos from the scene show the Seacor Power nearly completely submerged in turbulent seas, with just one corner of the boat jutting up from the water. The Glenn Harris rescued one person from the water, while another Coast Guard crew on a 45-foot boat found another survivor. Four others were saved by good Samaritans, the Coast Guard said. The Glenn Harris remained on scene to keep searching for survivors overnight along with various Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft, Lally said. Another Coast Guard cutter was also en route to the area to assist. 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 To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Dublin, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "HVAC Sensors Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type and End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to this report the global HVAC sensors market was valued at US$ 3,222.20 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 5,264.70 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2020 to 2027. The report highlights the key factors driving the market growth and prominent players with their developments in the market. The growth of the global HVAC sensors market is mainly attributed to robust growth in construction sector in developed and developing nations. HVAC sensors are commonly used in applications such as room, duct, cable, immersion, wall, and others. The various application areas are expected to play a significant role in future. This rapid growth of the construction sector is attributed to the rising urban population demanding better standard of living. Further, the rise in commercial construction such as shopping malls, recreational centers, cinema halls, and office buildings is boosting the installation of HVAC systems. Requirement for automatic and well-regulated air-conditioning in automobiles is constantly growing. The advancement in HVAC sensors used in automobiles enables zone-wise climate control and provides protection from external harmful gases and odor. Moreover, the automotive manufacturers are making constant efforts to further improve the vehicle comfort concerning climate. For instance, the integration of carbon-dioxide (CO2) sensors in automotive HVAC systems is one of the significant developments in the automotive HVAC systems market. According to Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA), ~91.3 million vehicles were sold across the world in 2019. These developments coupled with rising automotive sales are propelling the growth of the HVAC sensors market. Surge in Demand for Smart HVAC Systems is Creating Business Opportunities to Market Players The HVAC industry is growing at a faster rate in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific with an advent of supporting IoT sensors. China, India, the US, Germany, and the UK are among the countries that are strongly adopting HVAC systems. Further, rising demand from South Asian countries is strongly supporting the market growth. For instance, according to IEA report, the Southeast Asia is expected to reach the consumption of 300 million units by 2040. The increasing pollution and rising demand for energy-saving smart technologies, such as smart HVAC systems, are expected to accelerate the market growth during the forecast period. The report segments the global HVAC sensors market as follows: By Type Temperature Sensors NTC RTD Thermocouple Others Humidity Sensors Pressure & Flow Sensors Motion Sensors Smoke & Gas Sensors Others By End User Residential Commercial Industrial By Geography North America US Canada Mexico Europe UK Germany France Italy Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) China India Japan Australia South Korea Rest of APAC Middle East and Africa (MEA) Saudi Arabia UAE South Africa Rest of MEA South America (SAM) Brazil Argentina Rest of SAM Reasons to Buy Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global HVAC sensors market Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global HVAC sensors market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Coverage 3.2 Secondary Research 3.3 Primary Research 4. HVAC Sensors Market Landscape 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 PEST Analysis 4.2.1 North America - PEST Analysis 4.2.2 Europe - PEST Analysis 4.2.3 APAC - PEST Analysis 4.2.4 MEA - PEST Analysis 4.2.5 SAM - PEST Analysis 4.3 Ecosystem Analysis 5. HVAC Sensors Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Growth in Construction Sector 5.1.2 Growing Demand for HVAC Sensors in the Automotive Sector 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 Issues Related to Motion-Activated Air Conditioners 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Development of Smart Cities 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Implementation of Smart, Connected, and Energy Efficient IOT-enabled HVAC Systems 5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 6. HVAC Sensors - Global Market Analysis 6.1 Overview 6.2 HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 6.3 Market Positioning - Global Market Players Ranking 7. HVAC Sensors Market Analysis - By Type 7.1 Overview 7.2 HVAC Sensors Market, By Type (2019 and 2027) 7.3 Temperature Sensors 7.3.1 Overview 7.3.2 Temperature Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.3.3 NTC 7.3.3.1 Overview 7.3.3.2 NTC: Temperature Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.3.4 RTD 7.3.4.1 Overview 7.3.4.2 RTD: Temperature Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.3.5 Thermocouple 7.3.5.1 Overview 7.3.5.2 Thermocouple: Temperature Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.3.6 Others 7.3.6.1 Overview 7.3.6.2 Others: Temperature Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.4 Humidity Sensors 7.4.1 Overview 7.4.2 Humidity Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.5 Pressure & Flow Sensors 7.5.1 Overview 7.5.2 Pressure & Flow Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.6 Motion Sensors 7.6.1 Overview 7.6.2 Motion Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.7 Smoke & Gas Sensors 7.7.1 Overview 7.7.2 Smoke & Gas Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 7.8 Other Sensors 7.8.1 Overview 7.8.2 Others Sensors: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 8. HVAC Sensors Market - By End User 8.1 Overview 8.2 HVAC Sensors Market, by End User (2019 and 2027) 8.3 Residential 8.3.1 Overview 8.3.2 Residential: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 8.4 Commercial 8.4.1 Overview 8.4.2 Commercial: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 8.5 Industrial 8.5.1 Overview 8.5.2 Industrial: HVAC Sensors Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ million) 9. HVAC Sensors Market - Geographic Analysis 9.1 Overview 9.2 North America: HVAC Sensors Market 9.3 Europe: HVAC Sensors Market 9.4 APAC: HVAC Sensors Market 9.5 MEA: HVAC Sensors Market 9.6 SAM: HVAC Sensors Market 10. Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak 10.1 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global HVAC Sensors Market 10.1.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 10.1.2 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 10.1.3 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 10.1.4 Middle East and Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 10.1.5 South America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 11. Industry Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Market Initiative 11.3 New Product Development 11.4 Merger and Acquisition 12. Company Profiles 12.1 Siemens AG 12.1.1 Key Facts 12.1.2 Business Description 12.1.3 Products and Services 12.1.4 Financial Overview 12.1.5 SWOT Analysis 12.1.6 Key Developments 12.2 Emerson Electric Co. 12.2.1 Key Facts 12.2.2 Business Description 12.2.3 Products and Services 12.2.4 Financial Overview 12.2.5 SWOT Analysis 12.2.6 Key Developments 12.3 Honeywell International Inc. 12.3.1 Key Facts 12.3.2 Business Description 12.3.3 Products and Services 12.3.4 Financial Overview 12.3.5 SWOT Analysis 12.3.6 Key Developments 12.4 Johnson Controls, Inc. 12.4.1 Key Facts 12.4.2 Business Description 12.4.3 Products and Services 12.4.4 Financial Overview 12.4.5 SWOT Analysis 12.4.6 Key Developments 12.5 Schneider Electric 12.5.1 Key Facts 12.5.2 Business Description 12.5.3 Products and Services 12.5.4 Financial Overview 12.5.5 SWOT Analysis 12.5.6 Key Developments 12.6 TE Connectivity Ltd. 12.6.1 Key Facts 12.6.2 Business Description 12.6.3 Products and Services 12.6.4 Financial Overview 12.6.5 SWOT Analysis 12.6.6 Key Developments 12.7 Sensirion AG 12.7.1 Key Facts 12.7.2 Business Description 12.7.3 Products and Services 12.7.4 Financial Overview 12.7.5 SWOT Analysis 12.7.6 Key Developments 12.8 Senmatic A/S 12.8.1 Key Facts 12.8.2 Business Description 12.8.3 Products and Services 12.8.4 Financial Overview 12.8.5 SWOT Analysis 12.8.6 Key Developments 12.9 Sensata Technologies, Inc. 12.9.1 Key Facts 12.9.2 Business Description 12.9.3 Products and Services 12.9.4 Financial Overview 12.9.5 SWOT Analysis 12.9.6 Key Developments 12.10 BELIMO AIRCONTROLS (USA), INC. 12.10.1 Key Facts 12.10.2 Business Description 12.10.3 Products and Services 12.10.4 Financial Overview 12.10.5 SWOT Analysis 12.10.6 Key Developments 13. Appendix 13.1 About the Publisher 13.2 Word Index For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1zafmj From time to time, whether motivated by politics or articulating a misinformed position, commentators will seek to claim Trinidad and Tobago is a failing state. I take serious umbrage to that because when one understands what a failing state or economy looks like, it is clear we are very far from that. In fact, by independent measures, we are closer to the opposite side of that spectrum. Someone first spotted a device believed to be an old hand grenade at the bottom of a bluff at Openlands on April 6, according to Amanda Civitello, communications manager for Highland Park. Then on April 9, materials that may have originated from aircraft flares from World War II were discovered in the same area, she said. LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Tego Cyber Inc. (OTCQB:TGCB), an emerging cybersecurity threat intelligence company, today announces the appointment of Chris C. White to its Board of Directors. Mr. White is currently the Deputy CISO / Director of Global Security Operations for The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. He has over 30 years of experience in cyber security, telecommunications and automation which includes tenures as: Chief Technology Officer for EY MSS, Senior Security Engineer at AT&T, and Senior Lead Engineer at General Dynamics AIS. Mr. White holds a Master's degree in System Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Network Engineering from Regis University. "We are very pleased that someone with Chris' caliber and reputation recognizes the potential of Tego Cyber and has joined our board," stated Shannon Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer of Tego Cyber Inc. "We will be relying on Chris' input and oversight during the finalization of development and monetization of the first version of the Tego Threat Intelligence Platform and how to maximum potential revenue growth and profitability," continued Mrs. Wilkinson. Chris White added, "I am very thrilled to be joining the Tego Cyber Inc. Board. The threat intelligence space has significant room for improvement and growth to make the data provided actionable and relevant. Tego's approach of enrichment, while also being helmed by a proven and awarded cyber professional of Shannon Wilkinson's caliber, positions it to enable positive change to the enterprise and greater value to consumer's cyber spend." About Tego Cyber Inc. Tego Cyber Inc. (OTCQB:TGCB, "the Company") was created to capitalize on the emerging cyber threat intelligence market. The Company has developed a cyber threat intelligence application that integrates with top end security platforms to gather, analyze, then proactively identify threats to an enterprise network. The Tego Threat Intelligence Platform (TTIP) takes in vetted and curated threat data and after utilizing a proprietary process, the platform compiles, analyzes, and then delivers that data to an enterprise network in a format that is timely, informative, and relevant. The threat data provides additional context including specific details needed to identify and counteract threats so that security teams can spend less time searching for disparate information. The first version of the TTIP will integrate with the widely accepted SPLUNK platform to provide real-time threat intelligence to macro enterprises using the SPLUNK architecture. The Company plans on developing future versions of the TTIP for integration with other established SIEM systems and platforms including: Elastic, IBM QRadar, AT&T AlienVault, Exabeam and LogRhythm. Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained in this press release, those which are not purely historical or which depend upon future events, may constitute 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. Statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future constitute forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements because of various factors. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also consult the risks factors described from time to time in the Company's Reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders. Contact: Tego Cyber Inc. 8565 S Eastern Avenue, Suite 150 Las Vegas, Nevada USA 89123 Tel: 855-939-0100 Email: info@tegocyber.com Web: tegocyber.com Facebook: facebook.com/tegocyber LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/tegocyber Twitter: twitter.com/tegocyber Investor Relations: Tel: 855-939-0100 Email: info@tegocyber.com Web: www.otcmarkets.com/stock/tego SOURCE: Tego Cyber Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640190/Tego-Cyber-Inc-Announces-Appointment-of-Chris-C-White-to-Board-of-Directors PORT FOURCHON, La., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A large commercial vessel reportedly capsized Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico with 18 crewmembers onboard. The vessel has been identified as the SEACOR POWER, an offshore lift boat operated by SEACOR Marine, LLC. The lift boat capsized south of Grand Isle, Louisiana after a severe storm passed through the area. The severe weather has caused extensive damage and multiple vessels may have been impacted. The U.S. Coast Guard is undertaking efforts to rescue the crewmembers aboard the capsized vessel. A search plane has been sent to the area and U.S. Coast Guard officials from Texas have joined in the effort. Reportedly, 7 of the 18 crewmembers have been rescued. The status of the other crewmembers remains unclear. The maritime attorneys of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, LLP have represented thousands of maritime workers and their families for serious injuries and death on the water. Attorney Matthew Shaffer anticipates that SEACOR Marine will likely file a Limitation of Liability complaint to limit its damages in connection with the capsized vessel. The Limitation of Shipowners' Liability Act allows a vessel owner to limit its liability for damages to the value of the vessel involved in the occurrence giving rise to the action. If successful, this legal maneuver could serve to limit the rights and remedies available to the crewmembers on board the capsized lift boat and their families. "In my 30-year maritime practice, I have seen it done and defeated. We routinely fight Limitation of Liability complaints on behalf of individuals hurt in maritime accidents throughout the country. Privity or knowledge on the part of the vessel owner strips the owner of its ability to limit its responsibility for damages," said Matthew Shaffer. Call 1-800-282-2122 for a free consult with our maritime attorneys. Matthew D. Shaffer is a Proctor in Admiralty and is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. If you were or a loved one was injured or killed in a maritime accident, contact Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP today for a free case evaluation at 1-800-282-2122. SOURCE Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:CJC)(FSE:YXEP)(OTCQB:CJCFF) ("QPM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a "best efforts" private placement to raise gross proceeds of $1,500,400, through the issuance of 6,820,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.22 per Share (the "Offering"). In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay for certain subscribers a finders' fee of 8.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering on the closing and will also issue to finders for certain subscribers non-transferable compensation warrants equal to 8.0% of the number of Common Shares issued. The Common Shares shall be distributed in Canada pursuant to private placement exemptions in each of the provinces of Canada and the Shares may be distributed in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements pursuant to Rule 144A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in a manner that does not require the Common Shares to be registered in the United States. The Common Shares may also be sold in such other international jurisdictions as the Company may agree. The Common Shares will be subject to a four-month "hold period" commencing on the closing date pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities and Regulation 45-102 respecting Resale of Securities (Quebec) and the certificates or DRS advices representing such securities will bear a legend to that effect. The net proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used for exploration expenditures as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes. The private placement is expected to close on or about April 30, 2021, and is subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the project to advance it to the mineral resource estimate stage. For more information please contact: Jean-Francois Meilleur President Tel.: 514 951-2730 jfmeilleur@qpmcorp.ca Normand Champigny Chief Executive Officer Tel.: 514 979-4746 nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca 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: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640335/Quebec-Precious-Metals-Announces-15-Million-Private-Placement-of-Common-Shares Coronavirus featured County pauses J&J vaccine AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis Sharis Carr, a nurse at the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Service Center in Clarksdale, Mississippi, holds a box containing doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday. The U.S. is recommending a pause in using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots. Nacogdoches County will pause its use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after state and federal health officials recommended states temporarily stop distributing the vaccine after six women across the nation suffered a rare and severe type of blood clot. None of the six happened in Texas, state health officials said. About 500,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in Texas, according to a statement by Texas Department of State Health Services. Around 3,000 of those were given in Nacgodoches County, said Nacogdoches Fire Chief Keith Kiplinger, who is in charge of logistics for local vaccine clinics. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare and are being further evaluated to ensure vaccine safety, John Clingaman Jr., the Lufkin district coordinator for Texas Health and Human Services said in an email sent to government and health officials in the region. No one in Nacogdoches County has reported any adverse side effects from the Johnson & Jonson vaccine, Kiplinger said. They really recommend that if you have a severe headache or extreme leg pain within a few weeks of having the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that you should go to your health care provider, he said. Treatment for these specific blood clots is different than what might typically be administered, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital officials said. Anyone having a severe reaction to the vaccine is encouraged to call 911. Kiplinger stressed that these reactions are extremely rare. Around 6.6 million doses have been given in the United States, meaning that the blood clots have a chance of less than one in a million. My only concern is the people who were already vaccine hesitant, its going to give them a reason not to do it, he said. Stephen F. Austin State University nursing students and paramedics were scheduled to give 300 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Wednesday at the county expo center. In an abundance of caution, for the moment we are cancelling the administration of the J&J vaccine and will offer the Moderna vaccine at our scheduled shot clinic on Wednesday, said Matthew Malloy, clinical coordinator for the local public shot clinics and quality manager at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. Anyone who wants to wait for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be rescheduled at a later date pending the CDC/FDA decision. Rescheduling began Tuesday, said Jessica Sowell, spokeswoman for the joint city and county emergency management office responding to the pandemic. Patients were contacted by phone and email. Well be able to accommodate everybody on that list with a Moderna vaccine if they want it, Kiplinger said, noting that the county has given more Moderna than anything by several fold. Local residents wanting to schedule a vaccine can call 936-305-8488, though hours for the call center vary daily. Online registration is available at tinyurl.com/vacnac. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to determine the next course of action, which will give state health officials more direction on how long the pause might last or other next steps, said Dr. David Lakey, vice chancellor for health affairs and a chief medical officer at the University of Texas System and a member of the states Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. The biggest impact in Texas is likely to be on larger retail pharmacies, which were anticipating that about two-thirds of the supply being delivered this week would be Johnson & Johnson, Lakey said. Because the vaccine is more stable and more easily stored than those produced by Pfizer and Moderna, it was also the vaccine of choice for mobile vaccination efforts, including the Save Our Seniors program, which targeted seniors in their homes, he said. All three mass vaccination sites run by the federal government in Texas announced early Tuesday that they will halt the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and, when possible, switch to the other two. Id like to stress these events appear to be extremely rare. However COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority, FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock said at a news conference. We expect it to be a matter of days for this pause. Texas vaccine efforts, like those in other states, were already stymied this week by a dip in shipments of the vaccine until a Baltimore production plant can be approved for distribution. Texas had expected to get about half a million doses of that vaccine, but was allotted about 130,000 through state and federal programs, state officials said last week. About 130 local providers and 11 mass vaccine hubs, including the three federal sites, were allocated Johnson & Johnson vaccines for this week, according to DSHS. The Associated Press and the Texas Tribune contributed to this story. For the first time, Canada has secured the number one position in the 2021 Best Countries Report, a ranking, and analysis project by US News & World Report; BAV Group, a unit of global marketing communications company VMLY&R; and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The ranking was based on cultural, financial, political, and technological influences, as well as two new parameters, social function, and agility. Japan and Germany secured the number two and three positions, whereas Switzerland, which is often on number one country, slipped to fourth over the course of the coronavirus pandemic. Australia meanwhile was placed at number five, and the US gained a position becoming the sixth top country in the world on the report. Nations are impacted on many critical fronts by how they are perceived globally from foreign relations to international business to tourism. These perceptions are ever-evolving in a rapidly changing world, stated Kim Castro, editor, and chief content material officer said about the ranking in the report. The 2021 Best Countries analysis combines data and storytelling to explore how countries compare on a host of global issues, he said. [Image Credit: 2021 Best Countries Report] Canada was named the best country in the world for the high quality of life and social function. It was also rated top in terms of the job market, human rights, and dedication towards social justice. The rate of corruption in the country was recorded as very low and the country was ranked high related to respecting the property rights of the citizens. The report emphasized the parameter of social justice where most countries struggled. 80 percent of the total population of the world aligned themselves with social justice, which includes addressing racial injustice, police brutality, and gender inequities, the report stated. [Image Credit: 2021 Best Countries Report] This year the model behind the Best Countries report has been updated and evolved in response to 2020, a year like no other, John Keaveney, WPP advisor and head of Analytics & Insight, BAV Group said in the report. From the death of George Floyd and the subsequent rise of the social justice movement to the need for quick and decisive action by our governments and scientists to tackle the threat from Covid-19, all such seismic events now play a role in the way citizens rate a nation and its society as a whole," Keaveney added. He continued, "By combining more traditional measures of a nations power and influence with our new dimensions of Social Purpose and Agility, we are now able to more accurately measure the strength and perceptual equity of any country in 2021. US at 18th position on social justice Canada and the Nordic nations were ranked high in terms of social equality and justice as compared to the US that was on the eighteenth position on the report. Canada is a high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living," the report stated. Canada was also ranked top in womens safety and equal opportunity for women. 68 percent of the nation agreed that the country was equally led by women and the females enjoyed equal rights. The ranking of the worlds countries was also based on the third annual Origin Index, where responders voted which country they would buy most from, basis its model energy. It gauged other parameters such as COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy, views on Jan.6 US capitol siege, and 25 other subcategories. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has agreed with the European Union that it will respond to the bloc's legal action over how it has introduced new trading rules for Northern Ireland by mid-May, a spokeswoman for the government said on Wednesday. The EU launched legal action against Britain in March for unilaterally changing trading arrangements for Northern Ireland that Brussels says are in breach of the Brexit divorce deal agreed with London last year. Britain has denied that the move undermines the part of the Brexit deal that governs trade to the British province, saying it extended the grace period for checks on goods moving to Northern Ireland to ease their passage. "In line with precedent that typically allows two months to respond to proceedings of this kind, we have agreed with the EU that we will respond to the Letter of Formal Notice by mid-May," the spokeswoman said. "We've been clear that the measures we have taken are lawful and part of a progressive and good faith implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol." Since leaving the EU's single market at the end of last year, supermarkets in Northern Ireland have seen some shortages of food, and the British government has also delayed introducing checks on parcels and pets. The difficulties stem from the terms of Britain's withdrawal agreement, which leaves Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods and so requires checks on goods arriving there from other parts of the United Kingdom. The two sides are due to meet on Thursday for talks on Northern Ireland at a meeting unlikely to reach a breakthrough but seen more as a staging post as London and Brussels try to find a way to ease differences over trade. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Kate Holton) We are honored to be recognized again by NAMEC for the 6th consecutive year, reflecting our dedication to bringing current, innovative education to the global medical community." - Whitney Faler, MPA, director of accreditation and outcomes for CMEO CME Outfitters (CMEO), a leading accredited provider of continuing medical education and a division of NexPhase Capital-backed KnowFully Learning Group, was presented with the National Association of Medical Education Companies (NAMEC) 2020 Award for Best Practice in CME Outside of the USA this Spring. The NAMEC Best Practice in CME Awards recognize best practices, ideas or processes that can be implemented by NAMEC members to improve CME. This award was given in recognition of CMEOs submission entitled, Real-World Evidence: CDK 4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone Receptor-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer. This short webcast, part of the CMEO Snack series, is supported by an educational grant from Pfizer, Inc. and is hosted by Martine Piccart, MD, PhD, honorary professor of oncology at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and scientific director of the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels, Belgium. This cost-free CMEO Snack is available on-demand and offers CME/CE credit for international audiences. To access the activity, click here. One of CMEOs goals is to create a meaningful learning experience for clinicians around the world, stated Whitney Faler, MPA, CMEOs director of accreditation and outcomes. In these short-form online activities, learners are able to gain valuable insights on key topics they can immediately apply to their practice. This award is appreciated and demonstrates CMEOs growing compendium of activities in oncology and our focus on growth outside of the United States. We have made a concerted effort to expand our ex-US learners that are hungry for our education and are very pleased with the engagement of international health care professionals in our activities, commented Jan Perez, SVP, CME Outfitters. We are honored to be recognized again by NAMEC for the 6th consecutive year, reflecting our dedication to bringing current, innovative education to the global medical community, Faler said. For more information on CME Outfitters or to view a list of available and upcoming activities, visit http://www.cmeoutfitters.com. ---------------------- About CME Outfitters CME Outfitters develops, distributes and certifies continuing education activities that focus on the integration of the interprofessional and interdisciplinary care team to ensure the best care of patients. CME Outfitters educational interventions include interactive webcasts, live symposia, medical simulations, clinical case series and other innovative formats that leverage the latest in technology to optimize the learning environment and promote clinician and patient behavior changes. CME Outfitters also offers expert accreditation, outcome and logistics services for non-accredited organizations. In July of 2020, CME Outfitters became part of KnowFully Learning Group, a leading provider of continuing professional education and exam preparation courses to the healthcare and financial services sectors. KnowFully is backed by NexPhase Capital, LP, a thematic and operationally-focused private equity firm. For more information, visit http://www.cmeoutfitters.com. About NAMEC NAMEC is a professional association dedicated to: Representing the interests of medical education companies (MECs), including advocacy for MECs and education of the professionals who work for them. Supporting the advancement of certified education as an integral part of the healthcare community in improving patient health outcomes. Fostering increased collaboration among certified education stakeholders in a manner of mutual support, professionalism, and respect. Advocating, demonstrating, and supporting the value of certified education. For more information, visit http://www.namec-assn.org Pay Governance Hires 20-Year Veteran as Partner in Its Los Angeles Office Executive compensation consulting firm Pay Governance (www.paygovernance.com) has hired Tara Tays as a Partner. Tays, who brings more than 20 years of executive compensation consulting experience, will be responsible for providing advice and counsel to clients across industries on a wide range of executive and board of director compensation issues. She will be based in the firm's Los Angeles office. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005268/en/ Tara Tays (Photo: Business Wire) Prior to joining Pay Governance, Tays was a Managing Director for Deloitte (News - Alert) Consulting LLP's U.S. executive compensation consulting practice. She has worked extensively with a variety of clients, including technology and high-growth companies across the United States. "Tara is an experienced professional with strong consulting, technical and client relationship skills and will strengthen our presence in the Southern California and West Coast markets," said Pay Governance Managing Partner Christine Skizas. "We look forward to her joining our team." In addition to her work role, Tays is a thought leader, featured speaker and author on executive compensation and corporate governance topics. She has been a frequent contributor to publications and events sponsored by the National Association of Corporate Directors, National Association of Stock Plan Professionals and Deloitte's Center for Board Effectiveness. Pay Governance LLC is a leading independent consulting firm focused on delivering advisory services to compensation committees. The consultancy also advises the management of companies in situations in which the firm does not serve as the independent committee advisor. Pay Governance has locations throughout the United States in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and St. Petersburg. The firm also has strategic affiliate relationships with Pay Governance Japan and Pay Governance Korea. For more information, visit www.paygovernance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005268/en/ During the bond hearing, which occurred via Zoom, Assistant Cook County States Attorney Conor Woods said the domestic battery charge stems from an incident that occurred on the afternoon of April 11 involving Maguire and a woman. Woods said the woman accused Maguire of pushing her to the ground inside the home and placing his forearm against her neck so that she could not breathe. Maguire also allegedly smashed the womans cellphone, Woods said. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Sunday, April 11 11:52 p.m. Deputies responded to a Jerome Township residence for a report of a verbal argument between an 87-year-old mother and her 55-year-old son. Both parties were arguing over the sale of a television and a chicken sandwich. No assault occurred, and both parties agreed to go to bed for the night. 11:11 p.m. Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated driver in the 2600 block of West Midland Road. 9:58 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to an area in Edenville Township regarding a complaint of a black Ford F250 that was swerving and driving off of the roadway. Deputies located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The 21-year-old male driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated. 9:54 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a larceny. A 31-year-old Lee Township woman said an unknown person stole about $513 worth of items from her yard. 8:46 p.m. Deputies responded to a domestic assault that occurred at an Edenville Township residence. A 57-year-old man was assaulted by his intoxicated 21-year-old live-in stepson. The 21-year-old left the scene prior to deputies arriving, but he was located at another location, where he was arrested for domestic assault and operating while intoxicated (see the above entry for 9:58 p.m.) 7:46 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence at the request of the Gladwin County Sheriff's Office to attempt to located a 35-year-old woman's family member and inform them of her death. Deputies made contact with a 62-year-old male resident, who said the deceased woman did not live there and was only an acquaintance. The resident gave a possible address in Bay County and the information was forwarded to the Gladwin County Sheriff's Office. 5:41 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 1700 block of South Saginaw Road. 3:34 p.m. A 56-year-old man reported the theft of $280 in property. This incident is being investigated. 11:19 a.m. A vehicle owner called the sheriff's office because they discovered damage to their vehicle's Tonneau cover. They believed this occurred because an unknown suspect forced open the cover to steal items within the pickup truck bed. 2:41 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township business for a report of a domestic assault. A 38-year-old Freeland woman assaulted her 40-year-old boyfriend. The man had no injuries, and the woman was arrested for domestic assault and operating while intoxicated. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the state program for the development of cross-border cooperation for 2021-2027 to increase the competitiveness of Ukraine's border regions. The government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, Servant of the People MP Vasyl Mokan, reported this on Facebook. "The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft resolution 'On the approval of the state program for cross-border cooperation for 2021-2027.' The adoption of the document will help increase the competitiveness of Ukraine's border regions by establishing good neighborly relations with neighboring countries, solving common problems of socio-economic development and implementing cross-border cooperation projects," Mokan wrote. He also added that the government had adopted a resolution introducing amendments to the list of settlements being granted the status of mountain settlements. It proposes to set out the new wording of the list indicating the territorial communities and districts, which include the relevant settlements under the new administrative territorial system of Ukraine. According to the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, there are now 714 mountain settlements in Ukraine, which are located in 86 territorial communities and are part of 16 districts in four regions. Residents of mountain settlements have a number of benefits. In particular, for them, the amount of state pensions, scholarships, and all types of state material assistance is increased by 20%, whereas tariff rates and salaries of employees are raised by 25%. op Building an anti-racist community takes learning, practice, and intention, said Rev. Sean Williams of the Lyonsville church. Our planning team has heard from many people who want to do their part, but dont know where to start. This conference is designed to connect people to great work already taking place and resources already out there. From the youngest to the oldest, participants will leave with new tools, ideas and connections. "We see this launch as a moment in time to eliminate some incredibly long-standing barriers. Typically, receiving quality dance instruction of any style has been reserved for those with access to big cities and the necessary financial means. Many adults might also feel like they have missed the 'cutoff age' to begin their dance journey," said STEEZY Studio Director of Content, Jessie Ma. "Our virtual platform gives us an opportunity to break down the non-inclusive walls of styles like ballet. Everyone is welcome to take their first steps with STEEZY. We aim to create an accessible and intimidation-free space for people of all backgrounds, ages and experience levels to learn and practice dance." STEEZY is the first to offer multi-class curriculums to the masses through its online platform with its "Intro To" ballet, contemporary and jazz programs - a teaching method previously taught only in expensive dance studios and academies, and usually catered to children. The longest of the three programs, "Intro To Ballet," is designed as a five-week course to be taken at the learner's own pace. The English National Ballet's Brittany Cavaco will teach 25 foundational classes that focus on key milestone completion, starting with positions and barre and building up to turns, jumps and variations. The contemporary curriculum will consist of a 10-day program taught by Entity Contemporary Dance's Karen Chuang, who has toured with artists including Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and Lady Gaga, while the 7-day jazz curriculum will be led by Laura Ann Smyth of the Regina Klenjoski Dance Company. After completing the foundational courses, STEEZY users will be able to keep up with and strengthen their practice with newly released classes every week in each style, featuring category-leading instructors like Harper Watters of The Houston Ballet and Dominique Kelley, who collaborates with the likes of Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. "Dance is more than movement - it's an outlet for self-expression that's packed with mental and physical benefits. Practicing dance has always had niche relevance, but we're now seeing it go mainstream, partly due to the pandemic and platforms like TikTok," said STEEZY Studio Co-Founder & President, Connor Lim. "We have STEEZY members all over the world getting in on the dance action and joining the community. We're excited to welcome even more new dancers with the addition of these great styles." STEEZY members will be able to awaken their inner dancer through the new programming and classes. In addition to ballet, jazz and contemporary, users will also be able to enjoy the platform's 1,000+ multi-style classes led by world-renowned choreographers who have worked alongside the likes of Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Lizzo. Membership options start at $8.33 per month. For more information and to start your free one-week trial today, visit www.steezy.co. About STEEZY Studio STEEZY Studio is a dance technology company that makes it fun and easy to learn dance online. The company's 1,000+ online dance classes are available via iOS, Android, or any web browser. STEEZY Studio brings access to high-quality instruction and choreography to people across the world, with a global community spanning over 100 countries. The company specializes in beginner-level instruction, allowing dancers of all levels to learn a wide variety of styles from traditional studio techniques to street style choreography. For more information and to experience the joy of dance, visit www.steezy.co. Media Contact: Kelsey Comstock, [email protected] SOURCE STEEZY Studio Geneva, Apr 13 (UNI) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet believes that the current situation in Myanmar echoes Syria in 2011 and can escalate into a full-scale conflict if the international community does not react. "There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011. There too, we saw peaceful protests met with unnecessary and clearly disproportionate force. The States brutal, persistent repression of its own people led to some individuals taking up arms, followed by a downward and rapidly expanding spiral of violence all across the country," Bachelet said, as quoted by UN Human Rights Office's spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani. Shamdasani recalled that Bachelet warned back in 2011 that the failure to provide a global response "could be disastrous for Syria and beyond." .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... The Bernalillo County Commission last week approved nearly $352 million in general fund spending for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Almost two-thirds 64% will go to the county employee payroll. The rest is in operations, including over $40 million in contracts. So what is the county contracting out? There are $1 million-plus contracts with the courts that cover defendant assessments, supervision programs and other pretrial services. Other major expenditures include fuel and medical care for people in jail. The county also has dozens of agreements in lesser amounts that provide for office supplies/equipment, building maintenance, software licenses and legal services. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ But the full list of contracts included in the commissions meeting packet showcases the breadth and intricacies of county operations. For example, the county is allotting $11,000 for a contractor to clean the 10,000-gallon grease trap at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Other budgeted expenditures in 2022 include: $150,000 for elevator maintenance $80,000 for indigent cremation services $40,000 to local veterinary clinics for a spay/neuter assistance program $190,000 for state and federal lobbyists $9,000 in empath training $10,000 for laundry soap at the jail $6,000 for online dance and fitness programs for seniors $20,000 for portable toilets for Parks and Recreation $4,500 for Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office dog food $60,000 for Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office public relations $35,832 for the Treasurers Office lockbox at the bank $10,985 for equestrian therapy for the Youth Services Center juvenile detention facility $1,700 for a radioactive material license renewal $60,000 for road salt SILVER DOLLARS: Bernalillo Countys forthcoming headquarters at 415 Silver SW is getting a little more expensive. The County Commission last week approved another change order for the Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square complex, adding a total of $778,213 to the project and raising the total HB Construction contract to $56.3 million. Including other expenses beyond the contractor, the project total is now $68.1 million. The change order will cover build-out of the shell space on the complexs seventh floor, something originally left unfinished as a cost savings during the programming phase, according to county documents explaining the new expense. Finishing the seventh-floor space will enable some county employees from a separate county Public Works campus to relocate to the new headquarters. The headquarters project should be mostly complete by May, with employees starting to move into the building by June. Jessica Dyer: jdyer@abqjournal.com The biggest changes with the Surface Laptop 4 compared to its predecessor are inside. We have outlined the differences between the two display sizes below and the various configurations in which Microsoft will offer them. In short, AMD and Intel processors will be available with both display sizes this time around, but there are compromises. For some reason, Microsoft has reserved the Ryzen 5 4680U for the 13.5-inch model and the Ryzen 7 4980U for the 15-inch model. Additionally, 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD is only available on Intel configurations. The Surface Laptop 4 has a larger battery than its predecessor too, albeit only by 2 Wh. Previously, Roland Quandt had suggested that Microsoft would equip the Surface Laptop 4 with a 49 Wh battery, which would have been a 4 Wh jump on the 45 Wh battery in the Surface Laptop 3. The Surface Laptop 4 starts at 1,129 in the EU, US$999.99 in the US and 999 in the UK, for reference. Prices rise to US$2,299.99 for the flagship 13.5-inch and 15-inch models though, while an Intel model costs at least US$1,499.99. Credible compiled a list of 20 U.S. metro areas where homes are selling the fastest, using data from Zillow and ranking homes according to the average number of days they were listed before there was a pending sale in December 2020, the most recent month in which data was available for all metros. With two Covid-19 vaccines now under scrutiny for possible links to very rare cases of blood clots in the brain, US government scientists are focusing on whether the specific technology behind the shots may be contributing to the risk. In Europe, health regulators said last week there was a possible link between the AstraZeneca Plc vaccine and 169 cases of a rare brain blood clot known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), accompanied by a low blood platelet count, out of 34 million shots administered in the European Economic Area. The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended temporarily halting use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports of six cases of CVST in women under age 50 among some 7 million people who received the shot in the United States. Read | J&J vaccine and clots: A risk, if it exists, is tiny Both vaccines are based on a new technology using adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, that have been modified to essentially render them harmless. The viruses are employed as vectors to ferry instructions for human cells to make proteins found on the surface of the coronavirus, priming the immune system to make antibodies that fight off the actual virus. Scientists are working to find the potential mechanism that would explain the blood clots. A leading hypothesis appears to be that the vaccines are triggering a rare immune response that could be related to these viral vectors, FDA officials said at a briefing on Tuesday. The US agency will analyse data from clinical trials of several vaccines using these viral vectors, including J&J's Ebola vaccine, to look for clues. None of the previous vaccines using viral vectors have been administered at close to the scale of the AstraZeneca and J&J Covid-19 shots, which may explain why a potential link to blood clots only materialised during these massive vaccination programs. The technology has also been used in coronavirus vaccines developed in China and Russia. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, was reluctant to declare the blood clot issues a "class effect" shared by all adenovirus vector vaccines, but he sees marked similarity in the cases. "It's plainly obvious to us already that what we're seeing with the Janssen (J&J) vaccine looks very similar to what was being seen with the AstraZeneca vaccine," Marks said. "We can't make some broad statement yet, but obviously, they are from the same general class of viral vectors." 'AT THE BEGINNING' In Europe, scientists are exploring a number of hypotheses, including looking more broadly at the way the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself affects blood coagulation. One team in the Netherlands plans to conduct lab studies that expose specific types of cells and tissues to the vaccines and monitor how they react. They will also explore whether any risks could be limited further by reducing the vaccine dose. "There are many hypotheses, and some of them may play a role," said Eric van Gorp, a virologist at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. "We are at the beginning, and - as it goes in research - it may be that we can find the clue at once, or it may be that it goes step by step." Other scientists were struck by the parallel between the J&J and AstraZeneca shots. Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London, said the similar blood clotting incidents associated with both "is clearly noteworthy for defining mechanism." There has been no sign of such problems with the vaccines made by BioNTech SE with Pfizer Inc or Moderna Inc using a different technology. "It would be interesting to know more about Sputnik V - also a similar adenovirus vaccine," Altmann said. The Russian vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow uses two different human cold viruses - including the Ad26 virus in the J&J shot. The issue might also affect the adenovirus vector vaccine from China's CanSino Biological, experts said. Examining whether there is some common link to adenoviruses is "a reasonable speculation, and it's a line of research and investigation. But that doesn't mean it's proven," said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Moore, who took part in an informal White House briefing with other scientists on Tuesday, said the FDA and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working closely with health officials in Europe to determine whether the syndromes linked to the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines are the same. An important clue may lie in the fact that the reported events typically appear around 13 days after the shot, which is the period in which antibodies might be expected to appear. "This is speculation, but the timing of something happening after about 13 days on average is suggestive of an immune response to a component to the vaccine," Moore said. Investigations of this sort could take years. But like the vaccines themselves that were produced in record time, Moore believes there will be so much effort put into the research that it will more likely be resolved within weeks. "It's so clearly important," he said. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig testifies on his agency's budget before a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S (Photo : REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein/File Photo) The U.S. government is losing some $1 trillion in unpaid taxes every year and needs more and consistent Internal Revenue Service funding to go after tax cheats, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said on Tuesday. Rettig told the Senate Finance Committee that the "tax gap" -- the difference between taxes legally owed and revenue collected -- has grown substantially since the last official estimate of a $441 billion annual average from 2011 to 2013. Advertisement New sources of wealth arising since then, such as trading in cryptocurrencies, were escaping taxation, he said, as was rising foreign-sourced income and abuses of business income passed through as personal income. "If you add those in, I think it would not be outlandish, that the actual tax gap could approach, and possibly exceed $1 trillion" on an annual basis, Rettig said. Rettig said the agency is "outgunned" by increasingly sophisticated tax avoidance schemes, while years of budget cuts have left it with about 17,000 fewer revenue enforcement staff than it had a decade ago. He called for Congress to provide "consistent, timely, adequate and multiyear funding." President Joe Biden's fiscal 2022 budget request would boost the IRS budget by about $1.3 billion, or 10.4% over current levels. The proposed $13.2 billion IRS budget would include an additional $900 million for tax enforcement in fiscal 2022, which starts on Oct. 1. The Treasury has made closing the tax gap a priority, hiring recently hiring Natasha Sarin, a Wharton School economist who is an expert on the topic. The tax gap represents underreported income, underpayment or nonpayment of taxes owed and exaggeration of claimed tax breaks such as deductions and credits. One suggestion that Rettig made to senators to capture more unreported income would be legislation requiring that transactions in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin be reported, similar to the way that securities transactions are reported on 1099 forms. These reports would help the IRS to tax capital gains in lightly regulated cryptocurrency investments, which now have a market capitalization of around $2 trillion, Rettig said. The IRS chief also said that the agency would be ready to open a portal on July 1 for low-income Americans to sign up to receive monthly payments of an expanded Child Tax Credit under Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. The credit, which will provide six months of payments of $3,600 for children under 6 years of age and $3,000 for those 6 to 17, puts the revenue agency into the position of benefits administrator for the first time. Rettig said the new monthly payment system, which is temporary, will cost about $391 million and take 300 to 500 people to administer, including more phone service personnel and fraud investigators. Kris Jenner opened up about her relationship with her ex Caitlyn Jenner - and Jenner's 2016 transition back in 2016 - during an interview that premiered on Monday. The self-proclaimed 'momager' of the Kardashian family sat down for a conversation with Kristina O'Neill for WSJ. Magazine and shared some insight regarding her personal life. Specifically, the 65-year-old reality star expressed that she and her family had not been familiar with the process of gender transition and described it as being a 'shock' when they found out Caitlyn was set to go through with it. Speaking her mind: Kris Jenner opened up about her relationship with her ex Caitlyn in an interview for WSJ Magazine that premiered on Monday 'I think one of the most interesting things that we all learned was that none of us had been through anything like that before in a million years,' she remarked. Jenner also noted that her family had to deal with the experience as it went along and attempted to stay as open and supportive as possible. 'We didn't know how to process that and it was a process, it was a shock, and then it was a reality, and it was something that we had to absorb and try to wrap our heads around and learn about,' she recalled. The social media personality went on to address the public perception of her family's experience with her ex's transition and acknowledged that it was a difficult period for everyone. Tough times: During the sit-down, the reality television personality expressed that she and her family did not know how to process the experience, stating that 'none of us had been through anything like that'; she is seen with her former spouse in 2015 Doing their best: The self-proclaimed 'momager' of the Kardashian clan went on to note that her ex's gender transition was something that her family tried 'to wrap our heads around and learn about' 'I'm sure many people who are fans of our show weren't expecting it either and were as confused at times...because there's so many different ways of looking at it. 'I think that going through it was just one day at a time, truly, I had no experience in anything like that before, so you're just trying to understand,' she added. Jenner went on to note that her children were ultimately her main priority during the period of time and admitted that she did not necessarily handle everything the right way while taking care of them. Taking it slow: Jenner went on to express that she eventually came to terms with her ex's decision and that her family resolved to get 'through it...one day at a time'; the former couple are seen with four of her children in 1995 'I'm the kids' mom, so trying to navigate that was hard because I wanted to be the best parent I could be and do the right thing and I didn't always know what that meant in that situation.' The reality television star went on to speak about her current relationship with her past spouse and remarked that, through their children, they would remain connected for life. Jenner described her connection with Caitlyn, aged 71, as 'very respectful...she's the father of two of my kids, and so that speaks volumes.' The former couple was married from 1991 until their separation in 2013, with their divorce being finalized two years later. Long time running: Jenner and her ex were married from 1991 until 2015, and the two remain close: They are pictured alongside her daughters Khloe, Kim and Kourtney as well as her son Robert in 2007 During their time together, the pair welcomed two daughters named Kendall and Kyle, aged 25 and 23, respectively. Prior to her marriage to the Olympic medalist, the businesswoman was married to lawyer Robert Kardashian, who is best known for his actions during the highly televised trial of OJ Simpson. She welcomed her three daughters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe, as well as her son Robert, during her time with her first husband, whom she married in 1978. The two dissolved their union in 1991 and remained friends until his passing in 2003. Jenner has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Corey Gamble, since 2014. New York - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Secretary-Generals Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance today launched the SDG Investor Platform, an innovative tool to facilitate private sector investments that contribute to furthering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). According to the OECDs latest data, developing countries are facing a shortfall of USD 4.2 trillion in the financing they would need this year to keep them on track for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Reallocating just 1.1% of the total assets held by banks, institutional investors, or asset managers would be sufficient to fill the gap in SDG financing. Building on the SDG Investor Maps created by UNDPs SDG Finance initiative SDG Impact - and leveraging on UNDPs presence in more than 170 countries and territories, the SDG Investor Platform - established in partnership with the GISD Alliance - provides private sector investors with access to country level market intelligence, including on-the-ground insights on the local investment landscape and investor connections. SDG Investor Maps is a unique tool that allows investors to identify the impact/sustainability areas that, combined with high return, can be game-changers in their portfolio. To date, it has identified over 200 investment opportunities in 14 countries[1] covering a wide range of sectors, from food and beverage to healthcare and infrastructure, where financial promise and impact potential to advance the SDGs coalesce. The production of SDG Investor Maps is expected to grow further in 2021 and 2022 across all continents.[2] UNDPs new SDG Investor Platform provides the critical data, insights and tools that investors need to drive new levels of capital towards the Sustainable Development Goals, said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. In doing so, it will also help countries to unlock critical financing that is now needed to build forward better from the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately advancing the wellbeing of both people and planet. GISD Alliance members bring their unique expertise and ability to understand and target investor needs and to connect with other funds and instruments. The SDG Investor Platform will also serve as a hub for SDG-enabling investment where many knowledge products will live, including SDG Impact Standards for Private Equity, Bonds and Enterprises, an online free Impact Management and Measurement Training designed with Duke University (available in Q4 2021), the GISD Navigator, and others. Noting the significant contribution this collaborative effort will bring to the SDG investment space, the co-chairs of the GISD Alliance, Oliver Bate, CEO of Allianz, and Leila Fourie, CEO of Johannesburg Stock Exchange, said: Increasing transparency and matching of demand and supply is key to the success of SDG-oriented investments. The SDG Investor Platform is a valuable resource not only for the GISD Alliance members who already committed to the SDGs, but also for all like-minded investors, development finance institutions and governments. The platform will help them align their investment decisions with the SDGs. The soft-launch of the SDG Impact Platform took place on the margins of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development and the SDG Investment Fair. The SDG Investor Platform will be further enhanced with the feedback provided by private sector partners and other stakeholders. ### About UNDP: UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UNs development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Investors, private sector actors, Development Financial Institutions/International Financial Institutions, and other stakeholders who are interested to provide insights are encouraged to reach out to sdginvestorplatform@undp.org About GISD: The Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance is made up of 30 CEOs, recognized leaders of major financial institutions and corporations spanning all regions of the world. The focus of the Alliance is to deliver concrete solutions to scale-up long-term finance and investment in sustainable development. [1]Armenia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Paraguay, Rwanda, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda [2] In development: Belize, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Tanzania. Planned: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Gabon, Guinea, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia. Three years from now children will be able to see a 60-foot-projection of the human body, will be able to travel through the human digestive system and will get an up-close look at Lehigh Valley watershed creatures if the Da Vinci Science Centers plans come to fruition. Officials behind the project revealed new details Wednesday for the center planned at Eighth and Hamilton streets in Downtown Allentown. Science Center CEO Lin Erickson said the center has raised $37 million toward its $72 million goal. PPL CEO Vince Sorgi will chair the campaign to raise the remainder of the funds. PPL will be the title sponsor of the new museum to be named the Da Vinci Science Center at the PPL Pavilion. Visitors will enter the museum through Curiosity Hall, where theyll see the 60-foot-tall projection of the human body. We are reimagining what a science center, and STEAM education will look like, Erickson said. Renderings were released April 14, 2021, for the new Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. Rendering of the Science In the Making area, showcasing Lehigh Valley manufacturing and inventions.Courtesy Da Vinci Science Center Inside there will be a Science in the Making area dedicated to Lehigh Valley manufacturing and innovations. There will be a watershed area where visitors follow a stream of water and see otters and turtles. There will be a My Body exhibit where visitors can travel through tunnels that represent systems in the human body. Renderings were released April 14, 2021, for the new Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. Rendering of the immersive body exhibit.Courtesy Da Vinci Science Center And there will be a traveling exhibit area where Erickson hopes to attract exhibits such as ones linked to Harry Potter, Pixar, and the Titanic, the sort of exhibits you once had to travel to Philadelphia or New York City museums to see. We are bringing world class science experiences to our community, Sorgi said. The exhibit space at the new site will be three times larger than the current site on Cedar Crest Boulevard. Erickson hopes to break ground on the new center by spring 2022 and open it by spring 2024. Da Vinci Science Center Board Chairman James McLean said the pandemic did little to slow the momentum for the new centers plans. Leading the science center during this exciting transition is an honor, McLean said. Putting it in downtown Allentown puts the center within a short walk for many disadvantaged Allentown children. The Allentown School District looks forward to partnering with the center for STEAM-based educational opportunities for its 16,000 students. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math. We are excited, we are proud and we are looking forward to breaking ground, said Allentown School District Superintendent Thomas Parker. Mayor Ray OConnell said the center will attract more visitors downtown during the daytime, where theyll patronize local restaurants and shops. Erickson said the center will add about 60 jobs to the current staff at the Cedar Crest site. That doesnt include contracted services for food sales and the gift shop. She said the center has commitments for $21 million in state funding and a $5.6 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant through the city. Officials declined to say how much PPL paid to be a title sponsor. The museum was once planned for Downtown Easton. Plans were eventually scrapped two years ago when plans for an aquarium fell through and a dispute ensued over the museums potential location. Some of the new exhibits echo ones proposed in Easton, including the large Vitruvian man at the entrance and a BioDome with watershed animals. Renderings of the Downtown Allentown centers exhibits were created with the help of exhibit design firm Thinc. MKSD Architects will design the downtown museum with help from Barry Isset & Associates, HB Engineers, and EMS Consulting. Alvin H. Butz is the construction manager. The law firm Gross McGinley will represent the center. PFM will be its financial advisors. Renderings were released April 14, 2021, for the new Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. This shows the Eighth Street entrance.Courtesy Da Vinci Science Center Renderings were released April 14, 2021, for the new Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. Rendering of the Lehigh Valley watershed area.Courtesy Da Vinci Science Center Renderings were released April 14, 2021, for the new Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. Rendering of the turtle tank.Courtesy Da Vinci Science Center Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. As the summer tourist season soon begins amid the coronavirus pandemic, more and more countries are trying not to lose their vacationers again this year. Ukrainians now find it difficult to holiday abroad, as most popular countries have been closed for tourist purposes, and the low level of vaccination creates additional precautions. That is why the report that Greece will be the first Schengen country to receive tourists from third countries from May 14 has become encouraging news for Ukrainian citizens who are not afraid to spend part of the next "quarantine" summer abroad. Ukrinform spoke with the Minister of Tourism of Greece, Mr. Harry Theocharis, about the prospects for entry and stay in the country for Ukrainian vacationers and learned why this summer "all you want is Greece." GREECE CAN ALLOW TRAVEL FOR BOTH EU AND THIRD COUNTRIES Question: Greece announced plans to open its borders to tourists from the EU and third countries on May 14. If this happens, it will be the first Schengen country to accept residents of third countries for summer vacation in 2021. Could you explain the conditions under which Greece opens its borders? Answer: First of all, we have an integrated system. It's a system where we are planning to implement in many stages so as to keep everyone safe. So let me briefly explain those lines of defense. The first is that before you come from Ukraine to Greece, you need either to be vaccinated and have a certificate issued by the Ukrainian authorities or to have a negative test before you come. The second requirement is that when you come, you will be subject to testing. So we will have our teams. Not everyone will be tested, of course, but a percentage of people depending on the positive result we have a very sophisticated system that checks who is going to be tested and who is not, depending on what they count, and all those things. The third line of defense is quarantine hotels. If you are found positive together with your family, you will be isolated for ten days to a quarantine hotel. The fourth line of defense is that we are implementing very strict protocols in order to ensure that everyone is safe. We implemented them last year and we updated them this year to make a few changes. But effectively, the very successful protocols of last year that kept everyone, with no problems, safe will be implemented in the buses, in the hotels. Every person in the tourism ministry will be subject to those protocols. Of course, they have to be followed by our friends from Ukraine that will decide to come to Greece. And finally [the fifth line of defense], we are building a wall of trust, a wall of immunity by vaccinating the personnel of the tourist sector. Everyone working in tourism the drivers, the guides, the people serving in the hotels, etc will be vaccinated as a priority, of course, as soon as we finish with the vulnerable the vaccination of the older people, people who have illnesses. Question: The so-called "unessential" travel to the Schengen area, which includes tourism, has currently been banned. What mechanism does Greece use to open its borders to countries that do not belong to the European Union or the Schengen area? Answer: On the legal basis, we have checked this through. We are allowed to allow traveling and, of course, we will start with the European Union. We will gradually lift the restrictions on the way to May 14. We will lift restrictions with specific third countries. This is not with every third country. Question: There will be some list, right? Answer: Yes, of course. Question: Do you know which countries will be on this list, in addition to Ukraine? Answer: Of course, we will have Russia, Belarus, and other countries from the Middle East. We basically have the countries that are important for us touristically and, of course, Ukraine is a country where people like to come to Greece. Question: So you state that Greece will be open to Ukraine from May 14, right? Answer: Yes. I want to note that we always take into account the epidemiological situation. We always monitor the situation, we talk with our doctors, and they check all again and again. And they give us the green light, and we move on. So I cannot be 100% sure this year, because we have to check the epidemiological situation and in view of that we will make the final decision. Question: So we can predict that after May 14, if the epidemiological situation worsens in certain third countries or in Greece, you can shut your borders? Answer: We will try to take every measure not to create the problem for the market, of course. But at the same time, it's a dynamic situation. We will do what is necessary to keep all Ukrainians safe. This is our No. 1 priority. Because we always put safety first, we were able to be much better than other countries in this crisis. So this is how we are operating, and we'll continue doing so. We will do it, however, with the minimum disruption for everyone. That's why we decided to choose a date where things will have progressed and there's a small risk of changes. May 14 is the date when we can project with confidence that things will go according to plan. WE ARE DISCUSSING WITH UKRAINE THE POSSIBILITY OF SIGNING BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON VACCINATION PASSPORTS Question: As part of the resumption of tourist travel, have you recently discussed with Romania the possibility of signing a separate bilateral agreement on vaccination passports before the introduction of "green passports" by the European Union? Are you considering reaching such an agreement with Ukraine? Answer: We are already in technical discussions to understand the details on what kind of vaccination papers we issue, whether they are digital, who issues them, etc. So we gather all the information that is required in order to be able to accept those and be able to check them at our border. We will agree on those details, whether we will do it with the ministries exchanging letters or will sign an agreement. It depends on the format, but the reality is the same. We will be able to accept Ukrainian people coming to our borders and, of course, hopefully, Greeks that want to come to Ukraine. We have mixed marriages, we have people who have ties between the two countries and we want to allow these people to be able to travel. Question: A vaccination passport has not yet been formally approved in Ukraine. Will Greece accept certificates issued by Ukrainian medical institutions? We now use the CoronaVac and Covishield vaccines. Will these vaccines fit? Answer: [Greece will accept] any certificate that is valid for the Ukrainian authorities. That's why we are waiting for the Ukrainian authorities to give us examples of those certificates so that we can check them at our borders. We are also aiming to accept third-party vaccines as well [those not approved by the European Medicines Agency]. We're compiling the list of vaccines that are being used in third countries, like Ukraine. We are hoping that our doctors will give us the list that they consider acceptable. Hopefully, this list will include all the vaccines being used by third countries. Question: So Greece still needs a special document, like a formal vaccination document, from the Ukrainian side? Answer: It has to have important details in English. It has to be English as well. This is why we are discussing this with the relevant authorities. Because, you understand, we cannot read documents in the language of every country whose citizens come to us. Question: Do you plan to have this form by May 14? Do Ukrainian officials say it will be prepared soon? Answer: Yes, the discussions are ongoing. Of course, we are exchanging information and I'm pretty confident that people will be responding at the correct time. EXCEPT FOR PCR TEST, NO ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY Question: Let's talk about documents. You said it would be necessary to present a vaccination passport, a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours prior to arrival, or an antibody test. Answer: As for the antibody test, we are still waiting for our doctors to tell us [whether it can be permitted]. We are hoping that during the summer we will be able also to accept an antigen test instead of a PCR test so as to bring the cost of travel further down. I cannot yet say when exactly this could happen. It could be from May 14. The basic plan is to try to ensure, without the risk, that an antigen test is allowed for as many countries as possible. Question: Are there some special requirements for PCR tests? Should they be issued by certified laboratories? Answer: Yes, they should be issued by credited labs. Question: Where can I find the list of these laboratories? Answer: I am not sure yet, to be fair. I think that there is an international list of labs that are credited with the right, procedures to perform those tests. Question: Is it necessary to have extra documents, for example, booked apartments, accommodation, insurance? Answer: There are no extra documents. You don't even have to bring your smile because we guarantee that we will give you a smile when you go, when you leave Greece. Of course, you need to have a passport, anything else that you need in any other year, plus a PCR test or a vaccination certificate. "ALL YOU WANT IS GREECE!" Question: Let's talk about children, because summer vacation is mostly family vacation. What is the minimum age for kids to present a PCR test? Answer: We discussed this at length with our doctors. Apparently, the discussion about the kids has changed since last year because it seems that the kids spread the disease a lot. So the minimum age they have decided on is five years old. Question: If a parent gets COVID-19 during his or her stay in Greece and this parent is isolated to another hotel, is the whole family isolated? Answer: Yes, the whole family. Question: How long will Ukrainians be allowed to stay in Greece after entry? And, accordingly, will it be necessary to "renew" the test for coronavirus every ten days, for example? If yes, which test is needed and where can it be obtained? Answer: There are no other limits that are normally used here. You can stay as long as you could stay in 2019, for example. There are no extra limits. And there is also no need to take another test. You have to take it only if you have symptoms. Question: Are you planning to open borders for travel organized by travel agencies or will you also allow independent trips with apartments booked, for example, on Booking.com or Airbnb? Answer: We will open our borders for all types of travel: both for travel agencies, and for independent travel, as was the case in previous years. Question: What about insurance? Last year and this year, Greece pledged to cover health insurance for tourists who get infected with coronavirus while on holiday in your country. Does your insurance cover additional expenses during the illness, such as food or extra days of stay at the hotel? Answer: You have access to our national health system as if you were a Greek citizen. As far as COVID is concerned, if you have symptoms and you need to be tested, you are tested and it's free of charge. If you need to go hospital, you go to hospital and it's free of charge. Our health system is at your service, just like it is with Greeks. The insurance does not cover any extra stays or anything else you might need. But our isolation hotels will be if there are places used to host people that need to stay. So in some cases, we might use those. Question: So I can say that you recommend Ukrainians buy some extra insurance? Answer: I think this is the best way to have a piece of mind that anything that might happen, you are covered. Thank you for clarifying the picture of a holiday in Greece for Ukrainian readers. Answer: We miss our friends from Ukraine, and we want to see your friendly faces again. We assure you that we in Greece are waiting for you with open arms, but we also do it in ways that suit both parties. That is why the slogan of this year's season is "All you want is Greece!" (speaks Ukrainian, smiles). Great! I hope you will see a lot of Ukrainian tourists this summer. Oleksandra Fedorchuk, Ukrinform Roll Out Warrenton extended until 2022 The Warrenton Town Council approved an extension of the Roll Out Warrenton program until Jan. 2022. It suspends some provisions of the zoning ordinance to allow businesses to utilize outdoor public areas, like parking spaces. The program was established in spring 2020 especially to promote outdoor dining during the pandemic. The vote to renew the program took place Tuesday evening, April 13. I think the success of the program speaks for itself, public works director Frank Cassidy told council members. The use of public parking spaces for outdoor dining has proved especially popular in Old Town Warrenton, he said. There have been very minimal challenges with public-works tasks like leaf and snow removal, he said, but businesses have been willing to work with the town to accommodate those needs. Mayor Carter Nevill said the council is exploring making the program permanent, which would require an amendment to the town zoning ordinance. Nevill, who owns a retail business on Main Street, said he has counterintuitively heard fewer complaints about parking since the program was implemented. Since visitors to Old Town Warrenton have become aware there is less available street parking, they have gone directly to the public lots on the side streets, he said. The council also voted Tuesday night to amend the 2021 budget to include $20,000 toward improvements to First Street, with the intention of creating a multi-use public space blending Main Street, First Street, local adjacent businesses and Town Hall. Experience Old Town Warrenton has applied for and received a grant from the PATH Foundation dedicating $20,000 toward improvements on First Street. -- Coy Ferrell Two members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors announced plans Tuesday to make Muni fares in the city free for all this summer, and this time its not a joke. The proposal introduced by supervisors Dean Preston and Matt Haney at Tuesdays board meeting would appropriate $9.3 million in one-time funds to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to offset the costs of piloting free public transit for all, for three months. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the program would begin July 1 and run through the end of September. Preston, who has advocated that the citys public-transit agency provide free service for all during the pandemic, told The Chronicle in an interview Tuesday evening he hoped the pilot would help increase access to public transportation and gauge what it would cost to permanently fund free fares for everyone. If it passes and goes into effect, wed have a fare-free period, which would have the immediate benefit of putting money in riders pockets during a time when people are really struggling in the city, Preston said. I think people would really benefit from that. Tuesdays announcement comes as ridership at Muni and other Bay Area transit operators has struggled to rebound to pre-pandemic levels while Bay Area car traffic has mostly returned to normal. Muni is operating about 70% of its service before the pandemic. Prestons office said the proposal would not increase or affect the agencys services. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle 2020 Past efforts to make Muni fares free for everyone have been unsuccessful without finding permanent sources of funding to sustain free services. Preston said the pilot program would help gauge what it would cost the city to fund fare-free transit long-term. The city would monitor ridership and gather data on which lines experience the biggest increases, Preston said. Muni would still collect voluntary fares under the pilot program, Preston said. It was unclear Tuesday whether the free fares would extend to the citys landmark cable cars, which remain out of service. Agency officials did not seem enthusiastic about the proposal. In a Tuesday evening statement, Muni spokesperson Erica Kato said, We are unclear about the study objectives for the proposed pilot. Were always looking for ways to remove barriers and make Muni more accessible, and restoring our service and focusing on reliability are the most equitable ways to create access with one-time funds, Kato said. There are many hurdles to clear before the plan becomes reality. In order to be implemented, the proposal needs to pass a legislative committee, gain a majority vote from the 11-member board and get final approval from Mayor London Breed. As the pandemic has altered the nations public-transit landscape, large cities such as Kansas City, Boston and Fresno have either implemented or explored fare-free public transit. San Francisco should be at the forefront of that movement, Preston said, and at minimum be piloting it and trying to get data to inform our decision. Chronicle staff writer Mallory Moench contributed to this report. Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com New Delhi, April 14 : Leading chip-maker MediaTek on Wednesday launched a new 5G smartphone chipset called Dimensity 700 5G in the India market. The 7nm SoC is designed to bring advanced 5G capabilities to its advanced camera capabilities and power-efficient design. The company also announced realme as the first smartphone brand in India to feature the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC. "The MediaTek Dimensity 700 brings the power of 5G to the India market. The SoC is designed in line with our vision to spread the benefits of 5G to consumers everywhere in an accelerated manner," Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, said in a statement. "The SoC delivers advanced connectivity with a seamless all-around smartphone experience, whether you're working, playing a video or connecting with your friends," Jain added. The key features of MediaTek Dimensity 700 include -- smooth 90Hz displays, brands can design smartphones with crisp, high-resolution Full HD+ displays and ultra-fast refresh rates to reduce blur in animations, scrolling and games for the best user experience. It will support multi-camera designs with up to 64MP. The SoC also enables improved battery life, multiple voice assistant support and is 28 per cent more power-efficient than an equivalent 8nm process, delivering longer immersive experiences. South Carolina's juvenile justice system had a rocky year in 2020, from a Department of Justice report slamming state custody for endangering the youth in its care to a lawsuit against Charleston County's detention facility. Attempts at reform were slow-moving. In 2021, state officials and advocates are bringing in outside help. The S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice is starting a three-year partnership with the Center for Children's Law and Policy, a national juvenile justice reform group. The partnership has been years in the making, DJJ Director Freddie Pough said. He and CCLP Director Mark Soler joked that it'll be like a marriage. "Till death do us part," Pough said. DJJ handles more than 3,000 young people each year, typically detaining children who the court system rules have committed criminal offenses. Three county lockups, in Charleston, Richland and Greenville counties, also hold children before their trials. State custody, which is frequently overwhelmed, involves five secure facilities, 43 county offices and 10 camps across the state. In February 2020, a Justice Department report found that South Carolina had violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for not providing reasonable safety from harm for the youths in DJJ's care, particularly due to use of solitary confinement. Fights and assaults also were a common problem, the report found. Pough said the DOJ report didn't motivate the partnership with the children's center, but it identified several issues they need to work on. "It's prime time to change the culture at DJJ," Pough said. Testing out reforms The partnership will seek reform on a local level. Starting in May, Charleston County will be the test site for the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. It's a national program by the Annie E. Casey Foundation geared at using data-driven solutions to reform juvenile detention, and this will be the first time it's been attempted in South Carolina. So far, the program has been used in 39 other states. The Center for Children's Law and Policy will help Charleston County officials law enforcement, defenders, prosecutors and other stakeholders examine juvenile adjudication and detention to make sure the system's focus in on rehabilitation. Soler said CCLP staff members will assist in collecting data on children in detention and examining whether the detention screening instrument is working to only detain children who can't safely remain in the community. "Overutilization of detention does not help a young person if they're not a threat to the community," Pough said. Soler agreed, adding, "Incarceration is really the greater risk for children who have had minor offenses." If a young person who only has committed minor offenses is kept alongside children who have committed more serious crimes, detention can become more of a "school for crime," Soler said. Charleston was chosen as the first South Carolina site because DJJ felt the county had already been working toward reform but needed a boost of resources and the help of experienced reformers. The Charleston County Sheriff's Office has said a new detention facility for juveniles will be built by the end of 2021. In July 2020, an advocacy group sued former Sheriff Al Cannon and other former top officials regarding negligent care toward the children held in the agency's old facility. These actions were launched following an investigative report by The Post and Courier on conditions there. The newspaper found some juveniles were warehoused in their dorms 23 hours a day with no outdoor time and little classroom time each week. Others were locked in a "wet cell" for hours at a time, a room which jail officials denied was being used at that time. The youths were moved to a floor in the adult jail until a new facility is completed. The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative could make Charleston "a beacon for the state, and potentially a beacon for the nation," Pough said. Within DJJ itself, Pough said he wants to shift the focus from punishing children when they break the rules to incentivizing and rewarding good behavior. That kind of culture shift is hard to do, Soler said. If children in juvenile detention are overly punished, they might take away the lesson that "might makes right," Soler said. "Young people are there because they're troubled. Not because they're bad kids," Soler said. "Many of the young people locked up across the country are locked up because they pissed off an adult, and that's not a good enough reason." Josh Gupta-Kagan, a University of South Carolina professor who specializes in juvenile justice, said there's always been a dichotomy in how children are treated in the justice system. "Are we treating them as kids who are going through a tough time, or are we going to treat them as criminals who need to be punished?" Gupta-Kagan said. He said juvenile justice needs many more services on the front end to help children avoid entering the criminal justice system, or if they do, diverting them to community-based programs that can provide mental health and other treatment. Detaining children before trials needs to be much more selective. "We're not talking about hardened criminals," Gupta-Kagan said. Asking the 'why' Family Court Judge Michele Patrao Forsythe said Charleston is ready and excited for juvenile justice reform. A small working group has discussed reforms for years, but it hasn't been able to get off the ground, she said. Forsythe handles several juvenile dockets each week. She tries to focus on the reason behind an offense, such as trauma, a difficult home life or bad influences. She said far too many young people are incarcerated for offenses that aren't too serious, such as running away from home. Some children are detained because their families are unable or unwilling to take them back. If there's not enough help for youth early on, Forsythe said, some could become permanent members of the criminal justice system. "We're not asking the 'why' enough," Forsythe said. She sees many juveniles cycle in and out of her courtroom. She's known some for her entire five years on the family court bench in Charleston. Forsythe said her job has grown harder with hearings being conducted virtually due to COVID-19. It's common for children and their parents to have bad connections when calling in to the hearing or not showing up at all. On one Monday docket, Forsythe waited 20 minutes to start a hearing so a 16-year-old boy, ready to make a guilty plea for possession of a stolen car and not stopping for police, could log on with his mother. After they listened to DJJ's and the state's recommendation probation, an order to attend school, a mental health assessment, a letter of apology, a restraining order from the car's owner and having a positive peer group Forsythe talked to him one-on-one. "How would you feel if someone stole your mama's car?" she asked, prompting him to think how it would affect every aspect of their lives. "Everything you do has a consequence." In another virtual hearing, a 17-year-old boy pleading guilty for possession of a stolen car and refusing to stop for police was visibly injured, saying he had a broken wrist from being attacked while in custody. Forsythe ruled he could return to his family with an ankle monitor keeping him in the home as he awaited a local evaluation. When asked, the teen told Forsythe he didn't know what grade of school he was in, or what grade he was supposed to be enrolled in. He hadn't been to school in a long time. Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, PM Narendra Modi will be holding a meeting with the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokkriyal 'Nishank', Secretary and other important officials on April 14 at 12 noon in a bid to discuss the issue of CBSE board exams for Classes 10 and 12 students, said GoI sources. CBSE has scheduled to begin the class 10th and 12th board exams from May 4. However, many students and parents have tweeted to request the education ministry to either conduct the board exams online or postpone the exams for a month or two, considering the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. The chorus for cancellation of upcoming board exams also grew louder after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appealed to the Centre to cancel the exams saying the examination centres can become super spreaders and alternative methods for assessment need to be explored. Vadra said that it will be practically impossible to ensure the safety of students at large and crowded exam centres. Kejriwal said that as per the data collected in the last 10-15 days, at least 65% of the patients are below the age of 45 and reiterated the importance of the safety of especially the youth. Millions of students are registered to appear for the board exams. To register their protest against the CBSE exams amid the pandemic, people took to Twitter to trend #cancelboards2021 in order to bring the attention of the authorities to their demands. There have been demands from students for holding online examinations and over one lakh students have already signed a petition to the CBSE in this regard. No change in plan yet CBSE officials, on the other hand, have denied any change in plan "yet" and reiterated that the arrangements are being made to ensure social distancing by increasing examination centres by over 50 per cent. A senior board official has said that the exams cannot be cancelled as these are subjective exams that are crucial in nature and cannot be conducted online. The official added that the exam centres have been increased and all COVID protocols will be followed strictly. (Image: PTI) Mexico's Televisa said that it would receive $4.8 billion in return for contributing its content assets in a tie-up with Univision of the United States Spanish-language television giants Televisa of Mexico and Univision of the United States are joining forces to compete with Netflix and Amazon in the booming market for digital streaming. The two firms will combine their content and form a new company called Televisa-Univision that will be "the biggest and most relevant Spanish-language media group in the world," a Televisa statement said. Televisa said that it would receive $4.8 billion$3.0 billion in cash and most of the remainder in Univision sharesin return for contributing its content assets. The Mexican group will be the top shareholder in the new company with a stake of 45 percent under the deal, which covers broadcast, subscription, digital and live television. The tie-up is backed by Japanese investment giant SoftBank, US technology titan Google and investment bank The Raine Group. The new company is expected to launch a global streaming platform in early 2022 to meet the growing demand for content from the estimated 600 million Spanish speakers in the world, the statement said. Mexico, home to 126 million people, is the most populous Spanish-language market, it noted. Televisa distributes its content through broadcast channels in over 70 countries. It will contribute its four free-to-air channels, 27 pay-TV networks channels and stations, its Videocine movie studio and Blim TV subscription video on demand service to the new company. Univision is the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the United States, where it owns numerous broadcast and cable networks as well as television and radio stations, the statement added. 'Significant market opportunity' "This transformative combination brings together the leading network serving US Spanish-language audiences with the leading media platform in Mexico powered by the most powerful Spanish-language content engine in the world," said Univision chief executive Wade Davis. "Televisa-Univision will emerge as the leading global Spanish-language multi-media company, uniquely positioned to capture the significant market opportunity for Spanish speakers worldwide." Less than 10 percent of the Spanish-speaking population uses a streaming service, compared with nearly 70 percent in the English-language market, offering significant room for growth, the statement said. "Together, Televisa-Univision can more aggressively pursue innovation and growth through digital platforms as the industry continues to evolve," said Televisa executive chairman Emilio Azcarraga. But Claudia Benassini, a research professor at Mexico's La Salle University, said the new company would struggle to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Disney unless it makes major investments to improve its content. "The telenovelas (soap operas) that were once the big strength of Televisa now leave a lot to be desired. They're very low quality content," she said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador welcomed the deal, including the announcement that Televisa would be the biggest stakeholder in the new company. He said that Mexico would receive "several billion pesos" in taxes from the deal. "I only asked them to give their word that ... xenophobia and discrimination are not allowed and that the dignity of Mexicans is respected" in their television content, the left-wing populist told reporters. The two companies, partners for more than six decades, recently created a subscription television channel called TUDN specializing in sports. The new giant, which will be led by Univision CEO Davis, will have estimated combined sales of around $4.0 billion, Televisa said. Explore further Millions of Charter cable customers lose Univision channels 2021 AFP OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will issue a formal apology next month for the treatment of Italian-Canadians during the Second World War. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on April 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will issue a formal apology next month for the treatment of Italian-Canadians during the Second World War. The government said in a news release that 600 Italian-Canadian men were interned in camps in Canada after Italy allied with Germany and joined the war in 1940. Some 31,000 other Italian-Canadians were declared enemy aliens. Trudeau told the House of Commons Wednesday that his government "will right these wrongs" by issuing a formal apology in May. In 1988, Canada formally apologized and offered $300 million in compensation to Japanese-Canadians, 22,000 of whom were interned in camps during the Second World War. Trudeau did not say whether there will be compensation for Italian-Canadians. He announced plans for the apology in response to a question Wednesday from Liberal MP Angelo Iacono. "During the Second World War, hundreds of Italian-Canadians were interned for the simple reason that they were of Italian heritage," Iacono told the Commons. "Parents were taken away from their homes, leaving children without their fathers in many cases and families without a paycheque to put food on their tables. Lives and careers, businesses and reputations were interrupted and ruined, and yet no one was held responsible. "Italian Canadians have lived with these memories for many years and they deserve closure." Trudeau replied that Canadians of Italian heritage "deal with ongoing discrimination related to mistakes made by our governments of the past that continue to affect them to this day." "I'm proud to stand up and say that our government will right these wrongs with a formal apology in the month of May." The government's news release said that in 1939, the Defence of Canada Regulations gave the justice minister the right to intern, seize property and limit activities of Canadian residents born in countries that were at war with Canada. The regulations clearly targeted Canadians' fear of "the foreign element," and not a single person was ever charged with any crime, the release said. In 2018, the RCMP issued a statement of regret for their involvement in the internment. The government's formal apology will pay tribute to and honour the families of each of the 600 interned as an act of respect and an acknowledgment that an injustice happened, the release said. Canada is home to over 1.6 million Canadians of Italian origin, one of the largest Italian diasporas in the world, and they have made immeasurable contributions to the social, cultural and economic fabric of the country, the release added. A joint statement from 10 Italian-Canadian members of Parliament, including Justice Minister David Lametti and Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, said many residents suffered irrevocable harm. "They may have been Italian by heritage, but they were Canadians first. We as Italian Members of Parliament thank those members before us who brought attention to this injustice and helped bring this apology to fruition for these families in our Italian-Canadian communities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. At a time when China is threatening America's national security interests in space, why are U.S. federal agencies putting America's leading advantage at risk? That appears to be a concern the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had in mind last week as it expressed disapproval of the Federal Aviation Administration's refusal to enforce tight security standards among U.S. space contractors. China seems to believe that it can defeat the U.S. militarily if it becomes an aerospace superpower. Last month, it took the unprecedented 21st-century steps of mining lunar rocks and creating a lunar space station with fellow American adversary Russia. For all China's feats in space, reliability remains its Achilles heel. The People's Republic doesn't appear capable of fully handling its new demanding launch schedule, which includes more than 40 orbital launches for 2021. After watching its first rocket failure in two years in 2019, the country has overseen plenty more explosions, including two in a month last year. If the U.S. can't top China's ambitious launch goals, it needs to launch its own rockets with precision so it can keep up with the communist regime and fend off its forthcoming abuses. That hasn't been the case in the first quarter of this year, and, concerningly, the FAA doesn't seem willing to intercede to the extent required to protect public safety. In December, U.S. contractor SpaceX violated its launch license by sending off a rocket without security clearance. In the ensuing months, three more SpaceX rockets failed. Rather than conduct a thorough agency investigation, as national security should demand, the FAA directed SpaceX the same company that broke its rules to examine the incident. Then, after a brief mandated delay, the agency allowed it to continue launching unabated, barely even slapping the company on the wrist for its deliberate neglect of the federal government's safety regulations. Given what's at stake, how does this lax response from the agency make any sense? In a letter to the FAA, the House Transportation Committee chairman and the aviation subcommittee chairman expressed this very sentiment. They wrote that, "given the high-risk nature of the industry, we are disappointed that the FAA declined to conduct an independent review of the event and, to the best of our knowledge, has not pursued any form of enforcement action." It's absurd that the nation's largest transportation agency is willing to put the fate of the space race with China in the hands of the same businesses that flout FAA regulations and have a vested interest in putting profits over protection. This careless approach to enforcing law and order will signal to the rest of the industry that these rules are guidelines, not requirements, leading to the gradual decline of America's reliability advantage over the communist regime. Thankfully, Congress is now doing what the FAA is not. Per its letter, it's investigating these launch irregularities following two months of examinations "that, taken together, raise serious questions." In the letter, lawmakers also urged the FAA to "resist any potential undue influence on launch safety decision-making" and asked that the agency implement "a strict policy to deal with violations of FAA launch and reentry licenses." If the FAA ignores Congress's advice, the Legislative Branch should use its oversight authority to force the implementation of these changes. After all, the FAA was created by Congress and should remain accountable to it. With China planning to launch crewed missions to Mars and even deploy a solar power plant by 2050, the space race from China isn't going anywhere; it's just getting started. Faceless bureaucrats at the FAA may be able to afford ceding America's national security advantages for political purposes, but our elected representatives in Congress can't. Here's hoping they step up to the plate and intercede before it's too late. Muth is the president of Citizen Outreach. Image via Pxhere. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. [April 14, 2021] Cybersecurity and IT Consulting Firm SecureTech360 to Expand in Fairfax County, Create 10 New Jobs Governor Ralph Northam today announced that SecureTech360 LLC, a small, woman-owned and minority-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned cybersecurity and information technology consulting firm, will invest $155,000 to expand in Fairfax County and create 10 new jobs. SecureTech360 will build its presence in the healthcare IT and cybersecurity field to provide secure, scalable, and equitable healthcare solutions and products. The company is based at 6564 Loisdale Road in the Springfield area (Lee District) of Fairfax County. "Motivated by a desire to increase diverse representation in the healthcare IT and cybersecurity space, SecureTech360 is excited about the opportunity to create jobs in Virginia for underserved populations," said Principal CEO Quiana Gainey. "Our hope is to educate and empower disenfranchised individuals who have systematically been left out of the industry while transforming the local economies in which SecureTech360 resides. One of the main reasons we love Fairfax County is because of the diversity and the people who reside in the area." SecureTech360 built "health tech pods" in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pods can be used to expand hospitals or can be deployed in rural areas with limited access to healthcare. They incorporate a secure telemetry backbone to enhance the patient and provider experience. "We are always gratified to help woman-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses grow their presence in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, and working with SecureTech360 is particularly gratifying because it is working to create opportunities in IT sectors for diverse populations," said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). The company prides itself on community service and engagement. In 2020, SecureTech360 was awarded the Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award after staff dedicated more than 300 hours of volunteering and raising funds for various causes. SecureTech360 has donated more than $25,000 in scholarships monies to support local nonprofit organizations such as G.I.R.L, Project SheEO, UPO Inspire, Women Behind the Business and the United Negro College Fund. SecureTech360 also began PRETTI with a Purpose, a scholarship program for 11th- and 12th-grade girls and college students interested in a degree in science, technology, engineering, health and math. "I am delighted to see that Springfield and the Lee District have the kind of assets that SecureTech360 needs to grow and succeed, and I applaud the company for its emphasis on linking IT job opportunities with residents of marginalized communities," said Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk (Lee District). The FCEDA worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to secure the project for Virginia, and will support SecureTech360's job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. The FCEDA is a member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance. Other members: the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005894/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] GREENVILLE A national advocacy group for religious freedom has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of South Carolina Catholics and 20 private colleges and universities challenging an amendment to the South Carolina Constitution that bans private schools from receiving public funds. The Washington, D.C.-based Liberty Justice Center is challenging the so-called "Blaine Amendment." The act is legacy of "racism and bigotry," Daniel Suhr, a senior attorney for the group, said during a press conference April 14 outside downtown Greenville's St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School announcing the filing of the suit. Suhr is representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, which operates 33 schools with more than 7,000 students, as well as the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities nonprofit group that represents 20 schools. The private colleges include the Upstate's Furman University, Anderson University, North Greenville and Wofford, along with a handful of historically Black colleges and universities in the Midlands. Speaking before a diverse audience of fourth graders and their teachers and administrators seated in St. Anthony's school gymnasium, Suhr decried what he said is the state's history of racism and anti-Catholic sentiment. Joining him on stage was South Carolina's Catholic bishop, the Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone, who said Catholics in Charleston faced a mob in the early 1800s after trying to teach Black students. "We're here really today to stand up for children and families across South Carolina and to face head-on the anti-Catholic and the racist history that is ingrained in our state's Constitution," Guglielmone said. At issue is a provision in the state's Constitution that itself traces to an earlier attempt in the 1870s by Congressman James Blaine to amend the U.S. Constitution with a measure to block parochial schools from receiving money from state governments, according to The American Journal of Legal History. At the time, Protestant and "nativist" movements feared the influx of largely Catholic immigrant groups from Italy, Ireland and Eastern Europe arriving in the United States. The failure of the Blaine Amendment to gain traction at the national level in 1875 led to a state-by-state effort to shape law against public money going to religious schools. Today, dozens of states still have Blaine Amendment provisions in their Constitutions. The nexus between the provision and South Carolina, Suhr said, is linked to 19th Century politician Ben "Pitchfork" Tillman, who was an avowed racist. "Those of you who know the state's history know the 1895 Constitution was chiefly the product of one man, Gov. Benjamin Ryan Tillman," Suhr said. "Or as you perhaps better know him: Pitchfork Ben. Let's be clear. Tillman was a racist and a bigot, and he was a champion of the Blaine Amendment. He weaponized the Blaine Amendment as part of his quest to achieve the lasting disenfranchisement of the state's recently freed slaves." In South Carolina, the outcome of that effort is Article XI, Section 4 in the state's 1895 Constitution, which states, "No money shall be paid from public funds nor shall the credit of the State or any of its political subdivisions be used for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution." This provision today is frequently cited in arguments against the state's ability to issue vouchers to help families pay for private school. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster supports vouchers and included nearly $14 million in lottery profits to support them in his 2021-22 budget recommendation. Vouchers also have broad support within the Republican Party. Still, a vouchers bill remains in legal limbo in South Carolina after the state Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in December to block federal coronavirus relief funding from going to the state's private schools. In their ruling, the state's justices cited Article XI, Section 4. The effort to open the door for private schools to receive public money has its critics, such as Greenville County school board member Chuck Saylors. Saylors, a former national PTA president, said that vouchers would pull funding from government institutions that unlike private schools have an obligation to educate every child regardless of academic or health challenges. Private schools also do not have the same level of financial transparency and accountability as their public counterparts, he said. "If I have a child that has a learning disability, if I have a child that cannot speak English, if I have a child that is so medically fragile that they cannot attend a traditional classroom if I come to Greenville County Schools tomorrow and say, 'I want my child enrolled in school,' we are required by law to accept those children," Saylors said. "And we do, with love and attention, to make sure that we do what we can to help them." Private schools have no such requirement, he said. "A private school can say, 'I'm sorry, I cannot take that child because we do not have the capability to do that.'" Seanna Adcox contributed from Columbia. Blackmailers targeted men in 1718th century London by threatening to publicly accuse them of being gay in order to extort money, a study has revealed. At this time, homosexual acts were considered by the authorities to be a capital offense and therefore potentially worthy of punishment by the death penalty. During the late 17th and 18th century there were around 90,000 prosecutions for homosexuality in London alone although judicial reaction was often 'lenient'. Offenders were often sentenced to a 'small' fine and a few hours in the pillory. Criminologist Paul Bleakley of Middlesex University analysed court proceedings from the Old Bailey that date back to the period between 1674 and 1913. He found many examples of those targeted by blackmailing gangs, among them the son of a former Prime Minister who managed to turn the tables on his extortionists. Criminologist Paul Bleakley of Middlesex University analysed court proceedings from the Old Bailey (depicted above as it stood in 1737) that date back to the period between 1674 and 1913. His investigation found that blackmailers targeted men in 1718th century London by threatening to publicly accuse them of being gay in order to extort money Pictured: an illustration of two imprisoned gay men embracing, dated to 1707. The drawing was made in response to the arrest of forty gay men in London in who were said to have frequented a 'club' together 'Court records suggest a trend of London blackmailers setting out to extort men for money, threatening to charge them with homosexual offences if they did not pay the price demanded,' wrote Dr Bleakley. 'In fear of the threat to their reputation or severe punishment if found guilty, many of the victims reluctantly acceded to the demands of the extortionist. There was greater potential for success when extorting men with a reputation to protect'. 'In the cases of opportunistic blackmail, the victim was usually unknown to their blackmailer and targeted only because they were in the right place at the wrong time,' he continued. Through his research, Dr Bleakley found that, when such blackmailers were taken to court, judges in the Old Bailey typically sentenced them to threesix months in prison in those cases where the extortion was made in a public space. In cases where the victim had been approached by their extortionist in their own home, more severe sentences were often doled out. However, analysis also revealed that lesser punishments tended to be given in those cases where it was suspected that the victim might actually be gay. 'Rather than being an objective consideration of personal circumstances, the determinant factors adopted by the courts were the product of entrenched sociocultural (and moral) perspectives on homosexuality,' Dr Bleakley wrote. FIGHTING THE BLACKMAILERS Pictured: Sir Edward Walpole, one victim One of the blackmail victims identified by Dr Bleakley in the Old Bailey court proceedings was Sir Edward Walpole, son of former British Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. Refusing to by extorted, Sir Edward turned the tables on his would-be blackmailer one John Cather, an unemployed servant who accused him in 1750 of assault with intent to commit sodomy. Sir Edward hired a private investigator who infiltrated Mr Cather's social circle. He was later able to bring charges of blackmail and extortion against six individuals whom he said had demanded money in return for dropping the original assault case against him. Ultimately, one of the men was sentenced to be hanged while the rest were sentenced to 'lengthy prison terms'. Advertisement Based on the court records, blackmailers seem to have typically operated at night and worked in gangs of between three and six. They would target men in known gay cruising sites across London including St James's Park and areas along the Thames like Tower Hill and the 'Ratcliffe Highway'. (This latter area which lies between what is now Wapping and Shadwell was once a 'disreputable area' that was associated with crime and vice, and the site of two notorious attacks, 'the Ratcliffe Highway murders' in the early 19th century.) 'There was a scenario where one person would lure someone into a sexual act or what seemed to be a sexual act before three other people would jump out and start yelling, creating a scene and an intentional climate of fear,' Dr Bleakley wrote. This, he added, was contrived to make the victim 'more willing to do whatever it takes to silence them and stop the situation getting worse.' Based on the court records, blackmailers seem to have typically operated at night and worked in gangs of between three and six. They would target men in known gay cruising sites across London including Tower Hill, depicted here in the year 1745 'At this time there was no official police force as the Met Police did not come into existence until 1829,' explained Dr Bleakley. 'So were talking about a legal system where people would bring their own claims to court. If they were extorted or blackmailed they had to find the person responsible and sue them.' 'It was a hard prospect to explain why you were in these known cruising sites such as St James's Park or by the river in the dead of night.' 'For the men who were gay and there for cruising purposes, there was a huge barrier to reporting the crime.' 'Homosexuality was still theoretically punishable by death and while executions didnt happen often there was always the possibility.' 'So a lot of men were in fear and more than willing to pay up than be exposed.' 'It was a hard prospect to explain why you were in these known cruising sites such as St James's Park [pictured here in 1745] or by the river in the dead of night,' said Dr Bleakley. 'For the men who were gay and there for cruising purposes, there was a huge barrier to reporting the crime' Extortion cases dropped radically in number in the early 19th Century. This followed public calls for humane punishments in reaction against the Waltham Black Act of 1723 which had assigned the death penalty to some two hundred offences many of which were petty crimes. (The capital offense for homosexual acts actually predated this code originating in 1533, during the reign of King Henry VIII, when the state started punishing so-called 'moral offenses' previously handled by the church.) Nevertheless, 19th Century reforms saw it become illegal to 'maliciously threaten to accuse any other person of any crime, punishable by law with death, transportation or pillory, or of any infamous crime, with a view or intent to extort or gain money.' Homosexuality, however, would not be decriminalised in the UK until 1967. 'The same fears homosexual men were experiencing in London in the 1700s were very likely similar to what people faced in 1966,' said Dr Bleakley. 'Theres a very long history of persecuting the LGBT community [] and while extortion may seem unfathomable today, in a historical context tolerant attitudes are far less common.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal Crime, Law and Social Change. [April 14, 2021] Oscar Announces New President of Oscar Medical Group, Releases Early Data on Virtual Primary Care Oscar Health, Inc. ("Oscar") (NYSE: OSCR), the first health insurance company built on a full stack technology platform, today announced that Dr. Okiki Louis will become President of Oscar Medical Group (OMG), effective April 26, 2021. OMG is a collection of physician-owned practices and offers high-quality, compassionate and patient-centered care. OMG physicians and nurse practitioners provide virtual urgent care and virtual primary care services to members. "Dr. Louis has deep experience managing a large, regionally distributed practice, having spent many years at Concentra," said Meghan Joyce, Chief Operating Officer at Oscar. "We're thrilled to have her join the team and lead OMG into its next phase of growth." Dr. Louis is joining OMG from Concentra, where she is currently Vice President of Medical Operations for the Mountain Region and oversees medical operations in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Alaska, Colorado and Utah. Prior to Concentra, Dr. Louis served as an Urgent Care Physician at WellStar Health, and earlier in her career, she spent eight years as an emergency medicine physician. Dr. Louis is board certified in emergency medicine and completed her residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Louis received her Bachelor's degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and her M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. As a part of Dr. Louis' responsibilities, she will oversee virtual urgent care and the primary care practice supporting Oscar's Virtual Primary Care offering. Since its launch this year, Oscar's Virtual Primary Care program has increased access and improved affordability for members. Early results show that the program has made strides to improve access and close care gaps: Oscar Medical Group is one of the op 3 largest primary provider groups by volume of Oscar patients seen in states where they are practicing. The majority of members who have adopted virtual primary care are 36+. Members with chronic conditions have had higher adoption rates than healthy members. We offer care in both English and Spanish, and have up to 38% Spanish-speakig empaneled patients in our virtual primary care teams across the country. Adherence to recommended care has been very high -- 80% of prescribed medications have been filled. Our virtual primary care providers have received a 99% member satisfaction score. 85% of patients say they intend to use Virtual Primary Care as their only primary care provider and/or when health issues arise. "I'm looking forward to leading OMG and partnering with Oscar to expand OMG's virtual practice and serve even more members," said Dr. Louis. "The pandemic has presented a host of challenges in accessing healthcare, and Oscar has been at the forefront of offering solutions like Virtual Primary Care that enable patients to continue accessing care at a cost they can afford, and I am excited to build upon its success." Dr. Louis is succeeding Dr. Neil Parikh who became OMG President in 2019. Dr. Parikh will be staying with OMG through Fall 2021 and will work closely with Dr. Louis once she joins at the end of the month. "Dr. Parikh has been instrumental in launching Oscar's virtual platform and building Oscar Medical Group into what it is today," said Meghan Joyce. "We are grateful for all he has done and his partnership over the years." About Oscar Health, Inc. Oscar Health, Inc. ("Oscar") is the first health insurance company built around a full stack technology platform and a relentless focus on serving its members. At Oscar, our mission is to make a healthier life accessible and affordable for all. Headquartered in New York City, Oscar has been challenging the health care system's status quo since our founding in 2012. The company's member-first philosophy and innovative approach to care has earned us the trust of approximately 529,000 Americans across 291 counties, as of January 31, 2021. We offer Individual & Family, Small Group and Medicare Advantage plans. We also offer our full stack technology platform to others within the provider and payor space. Our vision is to refactor health care to make good care cost less. Refactor is a term used in software engineering that means to improve the design, structure, and implementation of the software, while preserving its functionality. At Oscar, we take this definition a step further. We improve the member experience by building trust through deep engagement, personalized guidance, and rapid iteration. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005570/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. W hen Daniela Balzano opened the doors of Water Street Jewelers, she wanted to create a trusted and loved space in downtown Madison. In just a short time, the shop has seen a flurry of business with numerous custom designs and repairs. The community is getting to know us and getting to know that they can depend on us for their jewelry needs, and for that were just very grateful. said Balzano. Water Street Jewelers occupies the space recently vacated by the former Silver Moon Jewelry on Main Street in Madison. The town also lost another custom jewelry businesses Paul C. Lirot Jewelers, due to the owners retiring. The new stores front windows are filled with bold, shimmering necklaces and glowing golden cuffs meant to entice the casual passerby to step inside. Surrounded in tranquil hues of blue and water themed paintings, every piece of jewelry tells a story. Balzano, who owns Water Street Jewelers along with her husband, Todd Taylor, also operates another location on the Guilford Green, which opened in 2019. Balzano has spent her entire professional life in the jewelry business and her love of jewelry dates back to when she was a little girl creating her own treasures, she said. Born in Italy and raised in Connecticut, Balzanos entree into the jewelry world came quite unexpectedly. In 1998, she was living in New Mexico enrolled in college for veterinary sciences, and to pay bills she repaired jewelry in a local store. A jewelry manufacturer familiar with her work offered Balzano a job opportunity that she couldnt pass up. Kabana, one of the few manufacturers left in the U.S., asked if I would be interested in being a representative for their company on the East Coast. I took the job, and I ended up just never turning back. After many years with Kabana, Balzano broadened her knowledge of the industry working for the diamond design company, Sylvie. Balzanos experience traveling as a brand representative gave her amazing insight into her own future as a jeweler, she said. Balzano noted, I would see couples come in and look at bands then walk back out the door because it was something that wasnt in their budget. I really wanted to create something that was very loving, accepting and inviting for anyone. With extensive knowledge of the jewelry business and the creative passion for her artistry, Balzano opened her first store in 2019 on the Guilford Green before arriving in downtown Madison. I could take you through the store, and its like a small museum. You can go to each jewelry line and hear the story. said Balzano. As she walked through the intimate space, Balzano highlighted the array of artisans she carries. From inside a glass cabinet, she pointed out a lustrous collection of mother of pearl inlay necklaces, rings and earrings. Each stone is meticulously sculpted by hand to precisely fit into a space. It can take 17 hours to make one piece of jewelry, she said. Balzano shared the story of the Sleeping Beauty Turquoise as she held a necklace up to the light, inlaid with this uniquely-hued sky blue stone. The stone is from a mine in Arizona. Inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain and the windows of the palace, she said. Influenced by the streets of Paris, the shop also carries French Kande. Handmade in their Los Angeles studio, artisans craft bold statement pieces mixing stones and large medallions of gold, silver and brass. Jewelry is not just a visual art but a very functional art. Its amazing that artists can put those elements together. They can make a highly functioning beautiful piece of art thats wearable, said Balzano. She considers several factors in deciding what brands to sell in her shop. I look for a story, a face, and a name to a company. Quality, craftsmanship and companies that are socially conscious. Balzano offers diamond lines that use only conflict-free stones, certified that the diamonds are not from war-ridden countries or areas where people can be severely hurt in the diamond mining process. Its an honor to be in a luxury field. I feel like I have a responsibility to be as conscientious as possible because I feel so much gratitude for my career, said Balzano. Balzano proudly designs her own line of decorative charms inspired by Egyptian amulets such as serpents, scarabs, and papyrus. The charms are very female-centric and celebrate different points in a womans life. I love doing the design work because thats where my heart is. Aside from jewelry, the shop offers appraisals, watch batteries, repair and custom design work. Balzano also carries a collection of Judaica that includes mezuzahs, Hamsa jewelry and decorative items. In terms of jewelry trends, Balzano said she is seeing a lot of yellow gold and really unusual charms hooked onto paper clip chains and layering pieces. In bridal jewelry, there are many more solitaires and not as ornate as in the past. Your seeing multiple, stackable bands along with a plain solitaire ring, said Balzano. She also creates an abundance of custom jewelry with customers names, or significant stones. We really sit and draw it out to come up with a design that is something they have, in a sense, made. Balzano said she especially loves to present the finished product to her customers. Ive been known to cry when Im taking a piece out of the box. I get very emotionally attached to my customers. Sometimes the creative process can be a wonderful challenge for Balzano who relies on strong intuition to create special pieces for clients. She shared the story of a customer who was looking to remount her engagement ring, but throughout the design process seemed dismayed and undecided. Balzano told her, I think this is a very emotional process for you, and what Im seeing is that you just like your old ring. Well set your stone, and youll feel like it was the ring you got married in. Its my job to figure out exactly what is going to make you happy. Balzano said she wants people to feel at home in her stores. When you walk in, you can buy a pair of earrings for $20 and a diamond bracelet for $20,000. You are no different to us because you are the customer. We are so grateful for the business, and that you came to us. One of Balzanos favorite elements to her job is her staff, she said. I love my staff. They are my family. Each has very unique skills, and they genuinely love people. They create relationships and inclusiveness which really makes our stores unique. Being surrounded with beautiful stones and natural elements is another high point of Balzanos career. She especially enjoys the family heirlooms filled with stories and history. You get to see the craftsmanship and the amazing ingenuity of different jewelry artists, she said. Philanthropy also is a vital part of Balzanos business, as well as working with local causes and partnering with like-minded brands. The shop carries Anna Beck, intricately designed Balinese jewelry, which donates 30 percent of its proceeds to causes benefiting women and an elephant refuge. Balzano also collaborates with the Women and Family Life Center in Guilford. I was a single mother in my 20s, and I worked very hard, she said. It was a very challenging time, and Im very sensitive when it comes to women in need. The Women and Family Life Center is near and dear to my heart. Balzano said she feels so excited to be a part of the downtown retail community and enjoys the gathering of customers in her shop. People buy jewelry in their lives during a time of love or loss. Its a bookmark in their life. They experience that at the same time in the store in different capacities, but it creates some sort of energy. Thats one of my favorite things about my job. Water Street Jewelers, 769 Boston Post Road Madison www.waterstreetjewelers.net. You can reach Elizabeth Rubin via email at smashgirl2@comcast.net. Montgomery County does not offer the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a health official said Tuesday after the vaccine was paused. During a Montgomery County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday morning, Jason Millsaps, executive director with the countys Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said Montgomery County has not administered any of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at any of its vaccination sites. The Montgomery County Public Health District on Tuesday reported a drop of 186 in active COVID-19 cases. The county total is now 50,740 cases with 1,789 of those active. The total number of deaths remains at 273. Total hospitalizations increased 10 to 98 with 21 of those patients in critical care beds. To date 26,491 people have recovered. The countys testing positive rate remains at 9 percent. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused Tuesday after blood clots were found in six women who had taken the vaccine. According to an Associated Press article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced that they were investigating unusual clots in the women between the ages of 18 and 48. One person died. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott followed the federal governments lead in pausing the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination. In a statement released Tuesday, Abbott said there have been no cases of blood clots in Texas but said he is taking the situation seriously. While no cases of blood clots have been reported in Texas, we are taking the reports of rare adverse effects seriously and are working to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines administered in our state continue to be safe and effective, Abbott said. I urge Texans who do experience adverse reactions, such as severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccination, to contact their health care providers or call 2-1-1 to receive a referral for a health care provider. Vaccines are a crucial tool to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and remain the most effective way to combat the virus in our communities. I continue to encourage Texans who wish to receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to sign up. The acting FDA commissioner expected the pause to last only a matter of days. But the decision triggered swift action in Europe and elsewhere as the drugmaker and regulators moved to halt the use of the J&J vaccine, at least for now. Hundreds of thousands of doses were due to arrive in European countries this week. The European Union has been plagued by supply shortages, logistical problems and concerns over blood clots in a small number of people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Both county and state health officials continue to stress appointments are needed to get the vaccination at the Woodforest Stadium hub in Shenandoah. To check eligibility and make an appointment , visit https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx. If you are 65-plus years of age and do not have internet access, you can join by calling 936-523-3916, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Friday 8 a.m. to 4 pm. After signing up, check email daily for information. cdominguez@hcnonline.com [April 14, 2021] McDermott's CB&I Storage Solutions Awarded LNG Storage Contract for Philippines' First LNG Import Terminal HOUSTON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott International, Ltd today announced that its CB&I Storage Solutions business has been awarded a contract by Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company of Manila Inc. (AG&P) for the engineering, procurement and construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank for AG&P's Philippines LNG import and regasification terminal, currently under construction in Batangas, Philippines. "We are confident we made the right choice to work in close cooperation with CB&I Storage Solutions on this technically advanced and challenging project," said Roeland Uytdewilligen, Project Director of AG&P. CB&I Storage Solutions will provide the first of two 60,000 cubic meter full containment steel LNG tanks along with geotechnical investigation, soil improvement, foundation and topside platform structure, pre-commissioning, purging and commissioning activities. "We are proud to support AG&P in the delivery of the Philippines' first LNG import terminal. The design of this first-of-a-kind full containment steel LNG tank highlights our innovation and technology leadership in the LNG storage industry and positions CB&I Storage Solutions to serve the growing small-scale LNG market in Asia and other regions with similar demands," said Cesar Canals, Senior Vice President of CB&I Storage Solutions. "We have an extensive history of executing world-class projects in the Philippines and are confident in our ability to deliver this tank safely, on time and within budget." Mechanical completion is slated for the third quarter of 2023 with purging and commissioning activities to follow. About CB&I Storage Solutions CB&I Storage Solutions is the world's leading designer and builder of storage facilities, tanks and terminals. With more than 59,000 structures completed throughout its 130-year history, CB&I Storage Solutions has the global expertise and strategically-located operations to provide its customrs world-class storage solutions for even the most complex energy infrastructure projects. About McDermott McDermott is a premier, fully-integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott's innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructureempowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott's locally-focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com. Forward-Looking Statements McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about backlog, to the extent backlog may be viewed as an indicator of future revenues or profitability, and about the expected scope and value of the project discussed in this press release. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope, execution or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders, other creditors, customers and other business counterparties of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. This communication reflects the views of McDermott's management as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Contacts: Investor Relations Kevin Hargrove Vice President and Treasurer +1 281 870 5569 KHargrove@McDermott.com Global Media Relations Reba Reid Senior Director, Global Communications and Marketing +1 281 588 5636 RReid@McDermott.com Local Area Media Relations Kallise Clayton Communications and Marketing, CB&I Storage Solutions +1 281 870 5274 KClayton@McDermott.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdermotts-cbi-storage-solutions-awarded-lng-storage-contract-for-philippines-first-lng-import-terminal-301268336.html SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SOUTH PARIS, Maine, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelly Wels, award winning author and women-owned business owner, launches a new online wellness boutique dedicated to bringing families high quality CBD Products and other natural products that support enhanced health and vitality. Kelly Wels & her son Riley. CBD Serenity Store The creation of CBD Serenity Store is the culmination of the award winning founder, Kelly Wels' successful past entrepreneurial ventures and personal experiences. From her multi-million dollar retail business, Kelly's Closet, founded in 2000, and sold in 2010, to her #1 How-to-award-winning book on cloth diapering: Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide To Modern Cloth Diapering . Since that time, Kelly has continued to create successful businesses that provide information, services and products to assist in bettering people's lives. In 2018, Kelly opened her brick and mortar store, Serenity Place, in Oxford, Maine providing the local community with a variety of wellness products and other beneficial and unique products for a 'community style' shopping experience. In March of 2020, when many businesses were forced to close due to Covid-19, Kelly made the decision to close her brick and mortar store and develop an online community instead. Kelly had personally experienced the multiple health enhancing benefits of CBD, especially during many trying times when she was dealing with the challenges of depression and stress. She was inspired to make CBD products, and the serenity she experienced using them, available to as many people, and their furry friends, as possible, along with other health and holistic lifestyle supporting products such as, essential oils , supplements, teas , skin and hair care products and even fun comfy leggings ! So, she put her creative powers and business prowess to work and CBD Serenity Store is the fruit of that endeavor. Kelly and the CBD Serenity Store team welcome you to their online community and invite you to enjoy our quality online boutique of products that have been carefully selected to enhance and support your natural, glowing health, serenity and vibrant lifestyle. About CBD Serenity Store CBD Serenity Store is an online wellness boutique owned by Kelly Wels, a natural products industry advocate, which is dedicated to bringing families high quality CBD Products and other natural products that support enhanced health and vitality. Contact: Kelly Wels 207-850-7518 [email protected] SOURCE Kelly Wels Related Links https://www.serenityplacestore.com/ Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King on Monday launched his 2022 election campaign. King is a Republican. He was the Doraville police chief and had no insurance experience when Gov. Brian Kemp named him commissioner in 2019 to succeed John Beck. Beck was indicted on charges that he defrauded a former employer out of $2 million, spending the money on personal expenses and funding his insurance commissioner campaign. Beck denies the charges and has yet to go on trial. King was born in Mexico and is Georgias first Hispanic statewide officeholder. He has served as a brigadier general in the U.S. Army National Guard. Kemp has often brought him into the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic to convey messages to Georgias growing Latino population, which now numbers more than 1 million. King said hes running on his record of cutting expenses, combating fraud and restoring trust in the department. He said that with a full term, he would work to lower healthcare costs and insurance rates. While Im proud of the progress we have made, there is still more to do, King said in a statement. Democratic state Rep. Matthew Wilson of Brookhaven has said hes considering a challenge to King. Related: Topics Georgia Demonstrators in large numbers gathered in the Minneapolis suburb on Monday to mourn and protest the death of a young Black man named Duante Wright, who succumbed to a gunshot wound after white officers engaged at the scene. Wright had attempted to drive away fearing for his life as officers demanded that he pulls over. Shortly after the 20-year-old jumped in the car and drove a few miles away, panicking, the said officers opened fire that killed Wright, as he crashed some blocks away. Witnessing the shooting, a group of youngsters confronted the officers and jumped on the police vehicle sparking mass anti-police brutality protests around the city. Local KTLA5 broadcaster aired visuals wherein the angry mob surrounded the Brooklyn Center police department building, and hurled objects and rocks at the officers following the incident. They were shortly joined by the other demonstrators at early hours of Monday morning, that waved flags and signs that read Black Lives Matter and Justice for Daunte Wright. Dauntes mother told local reporters of NBC affiliate KARE at the scene that her son called her saying the cops were pulling him over for having air fresheners, which they could see dangling from his rear-view mirror. She then heard scuffle sounds and vehicle screech as the phone call abruptly terminated. A minute later I called, and his girlfriend answered, which was the passenger in the car, and said that hed been shot, the outlet quoted Katie Wrights official statement. A mob of protesting residents on Monday confronted the officers in riot gear that clashed with demonstrators in the metropolitan area, where tensions were imminent as George Floyds trial is underway. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz tweeted that he was praying for Wrights family as our state mourns another life of a Black man taken by law enforcement. Reports suggest that the Minneapolis police department did not immediately identify Wright, but the protests had already swelled as fresh wave anger swept the across the city situated northwest border of Minneapolis. [Image Credit: AP] [Image Credit: AP] [Image Credit: AP] Wrights girlfriend who sustained injuries was at the time of the incident beside the victim. Katie Wright, the victims mother, told Associated Press: All he did was have air fresheners in the car and they [Police] told him to get out of the car. During the call, she said she heard scuffling and then someone saying Daunte, dont run before the call ended. When she called back, her sons girlfriend answered and said hed had been shot. Had 'outstanding warrant', say officers In a statement, Brooklyn Center police issued a differing account saying that officers engaged with a motorist, who had an outstanding warrant, after he refused to get out of the car. An officer tried to arrest the driver after he stepped outside but he hastily re-entered the vehicle and attempted to drive. It was at this point that the cop shot at the vehicle after it had driven several blocks away. The department added, that Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office will release the victims identity after a preliminary autopsy and familys approval. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said at a news conference that protesters attacked the officers as they attempted to disperse the mob at 1:15 a.m. Monday. The crowd ransacked at least 20 businesses at the citys Shingle Creek shopping center, Harrington said, adding that the National Guard was activated. He said that the department had asked the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the incident. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott announced a curfew in the city as he tweeted, We want to make sure everyone is safe. Please be safe and please go home. (Image Credit: AP) ADVERTISEMENT The police in Anambra State said they have arrested six youth, between the ages of 17 and 25, suspected to be cult members. The police spokesperson in the state, Toochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. The suspects have been identified as Ejinaka Chukwujekwu, 17, Emeka Nwanna, 18, Michael Ozuah, 20, Chukwuma Obu, 22, Onyemaechi Chijoke, 25, and Ifeanyi Ebeze, 25. They were rounded up around Amikwo village in Awka, the state capital, during a ceremony where some youths were being initiated into a cult group, Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said. He said two locally made pistols and eight live cartridges were recovered from the suspects. The police spokesperson said the suspects had confessed to being members of Black Axe Confraternity and had participated in the shooting incident of April 12, which resulted in the death of an unidentified man in Ukwuoji area of Awka. According to him, police operatives attached to the anti-cult unit of the Command busted the den of cultists and armed robbery gang at about 12 p.m. following credible intelligence. Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects were actively involved in the recent shooting incident at about 8 a.m., on April 12, that resulted to the death of one unidentified young man at Ukwuoji, Awka. They equally confessed to being members of Black Axe Confraternity and will be charged to court on conclusion of the investigations, he stated. Cult-related violence and killings among youths remains one of the prevalent security challenges in Nigeria. (NAN) Blinken, NATO Secretary General discuss need for Russia to cease its buildup along Ukraine's borders State Department At the talks in Brussels on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the need for Russia to cease its military buildup along the borders of Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement. "They discussed the immediate need for Russia to cease its aggressive military buildup along Ukraines borders and in occupied Crimea," according to the press release. "The Secretary and Secretary General agreed it was essential for NATO to continue delivering support for Ukraine," the department said. In addition, according to the document, Blinken and Stoltenberg discussed the topic of Afghanistan, noting that since NATO collectively brought forces into this country, it is also necessary to leave it all together. Brazil is still struggling to contain its outbreak The EU said Wednesday that it is expecting 50 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses earlier than expected, as rival drugmaker AstraZeneca faced a fresh setback after Denmark banned its use over blood clot links. The news comes after Johnson & Johnson said it would delay its European rollout, also over blood clot fearsa major hit for the continent's beleaguered immunisation campaign, as several countries battle rising caseloads. The J&J and AstraZeneca setbacks are a dampener on hopes that mass immunisations can allow a swift exit from a pandemic that has now killed close to three million people and ravaged the global economy. But there was nonetheless some good news on the vaccine front, with 50 million BioNTech/Pfizer doses that were due to arrive in Europe only at the end of 2021 brought forward. They will start arriving as soon as this month. Citing the uncertainty created by earlier delays, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stressed: "It is therefore important to act swiftly, anticipate and adjust whenever it is possible." More than 820 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have now been administered globally, but with demand far outstripping supply, countries are scrambling to secure much-needed jabs. The race to secure vaccines has sparked diplomatic rows, notably between the European Union and the UK after the bloc accused London of hoarding jabs. Australia has also accused the EU of falling short on promised doses. Canberra's trade minister will travel to Europe this week for talks with his counterparts in Germany, France and Brussels about vaccine exports. Covid-19 vaccines in use 'I haven't been able to bury you' Johnson & Johnson said it would put off its European deliveries over reports of rare blood clots among people who had received the shot. US health regulators also recommended pausing its use after six reported cases of clotsamong more than 6.8 million J&J doses administered in the US. And experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were due to meet Wednesday to decide whether or not to recommend new restrictions on its use. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Wednesday it would make its recommendation on the safety of the J&J jab next week after evaluating clot links. AstraZeneca has faced similar setbacks, with many countries now limiting its use to older people following isolated cases blood clots among younger populations, some fatal. More than 820 million doses of the vaccine have now been administered globally Denmark said Wednesday it would stop using it altogethera European firstdespite assurances from the EMA and the World Health Organization that the benefits far outweigh possible risks. Russia's state-run Gamaleya research institute meanwhile said there was no risk of blood clots from its Sputnik V vaccine. Several countries, from Germany to India to Turkey, are battling a worrying spike in cases. In Rome, a billboard company manager has put up huge signs around the city shaming authorities for their failure to end a shortage of burial plots due to surging death rates during the pandemic. "Mum, sorry I've not been able to have you buried yet," reads the message put up by Oberdan Zuccaroli in memory of his late mother, who died of a heart attack on March 8. River Ganges infections In India, more than 1,000 people tested positive after bathing in the River Ganges for the world's biggest religious festival. A healthworker at a morgue in Paraguay A huge crowd of worshippers packed the riverbanks to take a dip as part of a bathing ritual, despite India's soaring virus cases. "Our faith is the biggest thing for us," Siddharth Chakrapani, a member of one of the Kumbh Mela organising committees, told AFP, explaining why so many people entered the river. The World Health Organization has meanwhile expressed concern that the pandemic could worsen in the Middle East and North Africa during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Already last week, detected cases in the region rose 22 percent and deaths by 17 percent, said Ahmed al-Mandhari, WHO's chief for the eastern Mediterranean. In Turkey officials imposed new restrictions including a tougher overnight curfew, while in Bangladesh police patrolled the capital as a strict nationwide lockdown was rolled out. Most European countries are still facing virus restrictions due to stubbornly high caseloads, and on Wednesday France's Bayonne festivalone of the continent's largest gatherings, attracting around a million people each yearwas forced to call off the July event. German doctors said they are treating an increasing number of young people as new variants sweep the country But in Belgium, cafes and restaurants got the greenlight to open their terraces from May 8 after a slight easing of cases there. Swiss officials also announced that bars and restaurants and some leisure facilities could reopen next Monday. In Japan, a spike in COVID cases forced a section of the Tokyo Olympics torch relay to be pulled from public roads. But with just 100 days to go before the scheduled opening, International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates told reporters that cancellation was "certainly not" on the table. "The Tokyo Games will be the light at the end of the tunnel," he insisted. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP When someone contacts Louisiana Medical Marijuana Doctors, they often have a low quality of life because of a chronic condition. Knowing this, LONDON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- dRISK, a London and Pasadena-based startup that has so far been in stealth, today announced its launch and that it has - for the first time commercially - employed its edge case retraining tool to achieve a 6x performance in time to detect high-risk events for autonomous vehicles (AVs). Whereas semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles currently do not always detect high-risk events in time to react to them (oncoming cars peeking into the lane from behind other vehicles, vehicles running red lights concealed by other cars), dRISK's tools for retraining AVs to recognize edge cases represent a dramatic step forward in the ability to retrain autonomous vehicles to well outperform humans at even the trickiest driving scenarios. The results were formally presented at NVIDIA's GTC conference on April 12, 2021. dRISK's mission is to help make AVs dramatically safer as soon as possible. The new patented knowledge graph technology (analagous to Google's knowledge graph of the internet, but in dRISK's case a knowledge graph of real-world events) solves a number of problems which have plagued AV developers so far -- encoding massively high-dimensional data from all the different relevant data sources into a tractable form, and then offering the full spectrum of edge cases so as to retrain on not just with what has already happened but will happen in the future. dRISK delivers simulated and real+simulated edge cases in semi-randomized, impossible-to-game training and test sequences, to achieve superior testing and retraining results for customers on real-life data. Unlike traditional training and development techniques, in which AVs are trained to recognize primarily whole entire vehicles and pedestrians under advantageous lighting conditions, with dRISK's edge cases AVs are trained to recognize just the predictors of high-risk events (e.g. the headlights of an oncoming car peeking into the lane amid low-visibility). AV systems trained this way can recognize high-risk events sooner, without a significant decrease in performance on low-risk events. dRISK's customers include AV developers, major transport authorities and one of the world's largest insurers, all of whom have an interest in mitigating AV risk and improving AV performance. dRISK has so far delivered semi-customized solutions on an individualized basis, but intends to release a version of its AV retraining product directly on the web later this spring to open up these capabilities to the wider AV community. dRISK Inc and wholly-owned subsidiary dRISK.ai Limited, along with its partners in the UK-based D-RISK consortium, Imperial College London's Transport Systems Laboratory, Claytex and DG Cities, received 3M in funding from the UK's Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to develop the ultimate driver's test for the self-driving car. In addition to its government funding, dRISK raised seed funding in a closed round led by Okapi Ventures, with Netsu Equity Ltd, Poetic Partners, SaaS Ventures and Mount Wilson Ventures. dRISK holds 4 patents on its technology, with two additional patents pending. dRISK's CEO is Chess Stetson, Ph.D. (Computation and Neural Systems, Caltech) and its team boasts talent from Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and NASA. See more here: dRISK's "Risk Aware Perception" Notes to Editors About dRISK Using dRISK for retraining, Autonomous Vehicles can detect and contend with edge cases 6x sooner and with 2x greater accuracy. dRISK has built a taxonomy of edge cases derived from massive and heterogeneous data focused on high risk -- millions of hours of CCTV footage trained on high-risk intersections, full-text accident reporting, and extensive expert input from both transportation specialists and NASA experts in failure mode analysis. Integration is easy, and data can be delivered exclusively for perception retraining on fully annotated simulated and real-life data, or for full-stack AV risk assessment with hardware in the loop. dRISK's customers include AV developers and the world's largest insurers and transport authorities. SOURCE dRISK Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to a new study published by Polaris Market, the global Computer Aided Engineering Market is anticipated to reach USD 11.86 billion by 2026. The increasing penetration of smartphones and tablets are the major factors driving the demand for CAE software. The developing economies worldwide are witnessing high increase in the demand for consumer electronics owing to rising affordability of the people. Further, augmented use of modern engineering modes including, 3D printing, building information modeling, concurrent engineering, and 3D modelling are bolstering the computer aided engineering market growth for CAE software worldwide. However, factors such as piracy of CAE software as well as rising open-source threat are hampering the market growth to certain extent. Also, inadequate technical expertise and lack of skilled labor in several countries globally is restricting the growth of the computer aided engineering market. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/computer-aided-engineering-market On the other hand, cloud-based CAE tools helps the vendors to escalate market penetration in small as well as medium sectors by providing advantages such as reduced maintenance costs and operating costs as well as mobility of the companies. Further, CAE software plays a significant role in the economic growth of several industries including aerospace & defense, automotive, finance, oil & gas, and healthcare among others. During the past few years, a trend has been noticed in the CAE software marketplace. The players operating in the computer aided engineering market are entering into partnerships as well as mergers & acquisitions between the CAE providers and resellers. This has resulted in increased presence of value-added resellers in large number, which is further acting as a driver to boost computer aided engineering market growth. CAE software offers broad application range as well as supports various tasks including, analysis, simulation, validation, and manufacturing of engineering products. Although, CAE software is an analysis and troubleshooting tool, several critics claims that there is a delay in the accurate results, which acts as a hindrance to the market growth. Also, due to availability of open-source solutions, companies often avoid to make investments in attaining commercial licenses of CAE solutions thus, further restraining the CAE software market growth. Moreover, increasing computational fluid dynamics adoption that facilitates in reducing electric vehicles costs as well as forecast of thermal conditions, is anticipated to propel the growth of the computer aided engineering market during the coming years. Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/computer-aided-engineering-market/request-for-sample On the basis of geography, Europe is anticipated to account for the major share of the computer aided engineering market in terms of revenues, followed by North America. Also, Asia Pacific computer aided engineering market is expected to demonstrate high growth during the forecast period. The presence of strong automotive industry in Europe and consumer electronic industry in developing nations of Asia Pacific are the factors influencing market growth for computer aided engineering. Further, governments of the developing nations of Asia Pacific region are encouraging the growth of their manufacturing sector by providing funds, subsidies, and tax benefits in order to boost their economic growth. This is anticipated to support the market growth owing to constant increase in the manufacturing sector. Some of such initiatives include Make in India as well as Made in China 2025. Also, automation of industrial equipment is rising at a very high pace, which is likely to bolster the computer aided engineering market growth. Moreover, constant increase in the labor costs worldwide is encouraging the adoption of equipment automation by the manufacturing industries thereby, positively influencing the market growth. Some of the key players operating in the computer aided engineering market includes Casio Computer Co., Ltd., BenQ Corporation, Dell Technologies, Inc., Seiko Epson Corp., NEC Display Solutions, PLM Software, Inc., Dassault Systemes, Exa Corporation, ESI Group, and Numeca International among others. Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/computer-aided-engineering-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. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE At least two potential contenders for state attorney general State Auditor Brian Colon and 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez have over $300,000 in their campaign accounts as New Mexico approaches the 2022 election cycle. The two Democrats are among the states best-funded officeholders, according to reports filed this week with the Secretary of States Office. The race for attorney general next year is expected to draw some strong candidates. The incumbent, Hector Balderas, a Democrat, is in his second term and cannot run for reelection. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ No one has formally announced a campaign yet. Colon, an Albuquerque lawyer who won the auditors race in 2018, has about $367,000 in his account after receiving $75,000 in recent contributions, according to his newly filed campaign finance report. Raul Torrez, the district attorney in Bernalillo County, has about $334,000 in cash after $97,000 in recent contributions. He won reelection last year. Colon and Torrez have been mentioned as potential candidates for attorney general. Torrez said Tuesday that he is proud of the progress made in the District Attorneys Office, but that he is also interested in the possibility of serving as the states next attorney general. Nothing is final yet, but I expect to make a decision in the coming months. Torrez is a former federal prosecutor. Colon, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party, hasnt commented directly on the attorney generals race. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, for her part, has less cash on hand, but has raised and spent a substantial amount over the past six months, according to this weeks reports. She has about $134,000 in her account after raising $244,000 and spending $324,000. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has already announced plans to seek reelection next year. In addition to races for governor and attorney general, New Mexico voters in 2022 are set to decide campaigns for state land commissioner, treasurer, auditor and secretary of state, as well as 70 seats in the state House. [April 14, 2021] Kasada and GreyNoise Team up to Identify Which Potential Threats Demand Immediate Attention Kasada, provider of the most effective and easiest way to defend against advanced persistent bot attacks, today announced a partnership with GreyNoise Intelligence, the leader in internet background noise insight and security analyst efficiency. By teaming up with Kasada, GreyNoise will be able to provide users with an improved understanding of their security environment and more accurate information about which potential threats demand their attention. Kasada detects malicious automation and bot networks, seeing billions of bot interactions every month. GreyNoise collects, analyzes and labels data about IP addresses that scan the internet and saturate security tools with "noise". GreyNoise has enriched its IP data with Kasada's intelligence on persistent bot traffic, allowing users to quickly identify and triage emerging bot activity. This information will be available to security organizations and the public for free here. "Kasada's approach to bot mitigation not only identifies bots that others miss, but halts them in their tracks, from the start," said Andrew Morris, founder and CEO of GreyNoise Intelligence. "I'm excited about how well our technologies complement each other in this first-of-its-kind partnership. The combination of their expertise and ours provides powerful insight and context to our users." Kasada estimates that 30% of all Internet traffic is generated by bots. Malicious bot-driven events occur every day, and the majority of login attempts across industries are fake, passing by mostly unnoticed as well-disguised traffic that looks and acts "human." By enriching GreyNoise's IP scan and attack data with Kasada bot intelligence, the companies will give security analysts a clearer understanding of which potential threats to be worried about, helping them apply their limited time and resources to those attacks targeted towards their businesses. "GreyNoise delivers a unique understanding of Internet background noise, and by combining that with our real-time bot information, countless companies will be able to differentiate true threats from noise faster than ever before," added Sam Crowther, founder and CEO of Kasada. "The ability to quickly focus efforts on the most troubling attacks without worrying that something critical was missed is of tremendous value." For any IP address in the GreyNoise Visualizer identified as a bot by Kasada, security analysts get detailed insights about the IP's attributes and behavior. With this level of data, analysts can determine whether the bot activity associated with this IP address represents a threat that requires further investigation or one that can be deprioritized. The detailed insights include: Bot - Kasada's bot intelligence is overlaid with GreyNoise's to expose IPs that GreyNoise has seen scanning the internet that Kasada has also seen engaging in bot activity. - Kasada's bot intelligence is overlaid with GreyNoise's to expose IPs that GreyNoise has seen scanning the internet that Kasada has also seen engaging in bot activity. Classification - the IP's intent-- is it malicious, benign, or unknown. - the IP's intent-- is it malicious, benign, or unknown. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) - Users immediately gain insight into which security vulnerabilities the IP is probing for or exploiting. - Users immediately gain insight into which security vulnerabilities the IP is probing for or exploiting. Metadata - When was the first and last time this IP was seen scanning the Internet? Users can also learn what operating system (OS) it's running, what its geographic location is, and other information such as ports and paths, JA3 fingerprinting, if a user-agent is being used, and more. - When was the first and last time this IP was seen scanning the Internet? Users can also learn what operating system (OS) it's running, what its geographic location is, and other information such as ports and paths, JA3 fingerprinting, if a user-agent is being used, and more. Tags - Tags quickly tell users what behavior the IP address is exhibiting. To learn more, watch the demo video and check out the GreyNoise Visualizer. About GreyNoise GreyNoise is the only security company that tells security teams what NOT to worry about. By collecting and analyzing data on internet scanner IPs that saturate security tools with noise, GreyNoise allows security analysts to confidently ignore irrelevant or harmless activity, and create more time to uncover and investigate true threats. GreyNoise data is delivered through a web-based visualizer, APIs, integrations with SIEM, SOAR and TIP tools, a command-line tool, and as bulk data. The company is trusted by enterprises, government agencies, top security vendors, and threat researchers around the world to increase analyst efficiency, uncover compromised devices, and identify emerging threats. GreyNoise was founded in 2017 and is backed by leading venture firms including CRV, StoneMill Ventures, Paladin Capital, and Inner Loop Capital. For more information, please visit greynoise.io, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Kasada Kasada is the most effective and easiest way to defend against advanced persistent bot attacks across web, mobile, and API channels. With Kasada, trust in the Internet is restored by foiling even the stealthiest cyber threats, from credential abuse to data scraping. The solution invisibly stops automated threats while inflicting financial damage to attackers, destroying their ROI. With the ability to onboard in minutes, Kasada ensures immediate and long-lasting protection while empowering enterprises with optimal online activity. Kasada is based in New York and Sydney, with offices in Melbourne, San Francisco, and London. For more information, please visit www.kasada.io and follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005250/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Prime Minister on Wednesday said the new Education Policy is futuristic and as per world standards, and aimed at fulfilling Dr S Radhakrishnan's vision of education that empowers a student to participate in development. "India takes pride in being the mother of democracy as it's values are embodied in our social life," Modi said addressing the Association of Indian Universities' 95th annual meet and a seminar of vice-chancellors via video conference. The Centre unveiled the new (NEP) last year. "The is futuristic and as per global parameters," Modi said. Every student has certain capabilities. These capabilities pose three questions before the student and the teacher, he said. "First, what they can do? Second, what is their potential if they are properly taught? And third, what they want to do?" Modi said. The answer to the first question is the inner strength of students, he said. "But, if institutional strength is added to that inner strength, their development will get expanded and they will be able to do what they want to do," the prime minister said. He said the NEP is aimed at fulfilling the vision of Dr S Radhakrishnan (India's second President and academician) of education that frees and empowers a student to participate in national development. "Education management should be undertaken keeping the whole world as a unit, but also focusing on the Indian character of education," he said. Modi said the role of skilled youth is continuously increasing as India walks the path of 'aatmanirbharta' (self- reliance). India is being looked upon as the future centre of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, 3D printing, virtual reality and robotics, mobile technology, geo-informatics, smart healthcare and defence sector, he said. "To meet the requirement of various skills, Indian institutes of skills are being set up in three big cities of the country. In Mumbai, the first batch of the Indian Institute of Skills has already started," Modi said. He also asked universities to be multi-disciplinary. "We want all universities to be multi-disciplinary and provide flexibility to students, like an easy entry and exit from courses and creation of an academic bank for easy completion of courses," he said. For this, every university will have to collaborate, he added. "Babasaheb Ambedkar has given a strong foundation for us to take forward all our democratic values after independence," Modi said, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar. He said Dr Ambedkar considered knowledge, self-respect and politeness as his three revered deities. "Self-respect comes with knowledge and makes a person aware of his or her rights. Through equal rights, social harmony emerges and the country progresses. Our education system and universities have this responsibility to carry the country forward on the path shown by Babasaheb," Modi said. The city-based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University hosted the event. Modi also released four books based on Dr Ambedkar's life, written by author Kishor Makwana. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also participated in the event. In a shocking incident, a batch of 320 doses of Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, was stolen from a hospital in Rajasthan's Jaipur. An FIR has been registered by the hospital administration in this regard. How did it happen? 32 vials of Covaxin were stolen on way to the vaccine centre from the cold storage. A vial of the Covaxin contains 10 doses of the vaccine and 32 vials contained 320 doses of the vaccine that went missing during transit. The incident took place at the Kanwatiya Hospital in Shastri Nagar of Jaipur. The hospital superintendent has registered a case with the police. BCCL Chief Medical Officer Narottam Sharma said, "320 doses have gone missing from the hospital. We have sought a probe into the incident and have lodged a case with the police." "We were shocked to see that 320 vaccine doses have gone missing from the hospital," said the hospital official. The probe The FIR had been lodged in the case after the hospital staff failed to locate the vaccine. The case has been registered under Section 380 (Whoever commits theft in any building, tent or vessel) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Meanwhile, the probe has been handed over to Head constable Harnath Singh. Male nurse Hiralal Verma had filed the complaint about the missing vaccine at the Shastri Nagar police station. The FIR has been filed against unidentified persons. Meanwhile, a report said the health department will probe the case of the missing vaccine. There are fears that the vaccine might be sold on the black market. BCCL The suspected theft of the COVID vaccine comes amid reports of a shortage of vaccine doses in several parts of the country. Is there a shortage? Last week, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot raised a hue and cry over vaccine shortage in the state and said Rajasthan has insufficient stocks to carry on with the vaccination drive. Ashok Gehlot had said that the number of Covid-19 doses available in Rajasthan is insufficient to carry on vaccination and the drive will have to be stopped in many districts. He also said that the Centre's claim of no shortage of Covid-19 vaccines in the country is wrong and demanded that a status report on the availability of doses be made public. Reuters Earlier on March 8, Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma had claimed shortage of the vaccine against the coronavirus disease in the state. COVID-19 vaccination is being done free of cost at all government hospitals. While Rs 250 are being charged at private hospitals. Govt fast tracks emergency approvals Meanwhile, the central government has fast-tracked the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccine from other countries. The Centre on Tuesday said that it is fast-tracking emergency approvals for foreign-produced vaccines as COVID-19 cases continue to spike at an unprecedented rate in the country. Reuters The government's move is part of the strategy to have more vaccines to speed up COVID-19 vaccination coverage. On Monday, the government approved Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the country. The approval was granted by Indias Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). [April 14, 2021] Odyssey Group International Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board Irvine, CA, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Odyssey Group International, Inc. (OTCQB: ODYY ) (the "Company" or "Odyssey"), a technology and asset acquisition company focused on developing unique, life-saving medical products, today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with the appointment of leading experts in the fields of neurology, cardiology and preclinical drug development. The SAB will guide and advise the Company as it advances its proprietary platforms developing innovative technologies that address unmet medical needs. We are proud to have such an accomplished group of scientific and clinical experts as inaugural members of our Scientific Advisory Board, said Michael Redmond, President and Chief Executive Officer of Odyssey Group International. Their scientific perspectives will provide value in supporting the development of our product portfolio, including our drug candidate, PRV-002 intended to treat concussion. Our management team is eager to leverage this groups expertise to optimize our R&D and clinical activities. Founding members of the SAB include: James P. Kelly, MA, MD, FAAN, FANA Dr. Kelly is the Executive Director of the Marcus Institute for Brain Health (MIBH) and Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO. The MIBH is a specialized treatment program funded by the Marcus Foundation to care for US military Veterans with persistent symptoms of TBI. He is also National Director of the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network TBI Medical Programs for which the MIBH serves as the clinical coordinating center. His immediate past position was Director of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. As its founding Director, he led the creation of an innovative interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals who blended high-tech diagnosis and treatment with complementary and alternative medical interventions in a holistic, integrative approach to the care of US military personnel with the complex combination of TBI and psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. In this role, Dr. Kelly was frequently called upon by leaders of the Military Health System in the Pentagon, the US Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs nd numerous military facilities in the continental US and abroad. He twice traveled to Afghanistan to advise and assist at military hospital programs and forward operating base medical units. Dallas C. Hack, MD, MPH, FACMPH, COL, US Army Dr. Dallas C. Hack graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1976. After a rotating internship in Anesthesiology and a fellowship in Cardiology and Biomathematics, he worked in General Practice and Biomedical Engineering for 9 years, serving as Vice President of Engineering for a number of biomedical companies. He entered active duty in September 1987, to accept a position in clinical research at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and completed a residency in General Preventive Medicine in 1995. He also has a MPH from Johns Hopkins University, a MSS from the US Army War College, a CPE from the Certifying Commission in Medical Management, and is a Fellow of the American College of Military Public Health. After assignments at Fort Detrick, Fort Knox, and SHAPE, Belgium, COL(R) Hack then served as the Command Surgeon for the US Army Central Command-Kuwait from 2001 to 2002 (arriving in theater the day before 9/11) where he directed medical care for the US military in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. He also served as Deputy Commander for Clinical Services for 3rd MEDCOM, assisting with planning medical support for Operation Enduring Freedom and providing clinical oversight over medical operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. From 2008 to 2014, COL(R) Hack was the Director of the Combat Casualty Care Research Program (CCCRP) where he led trauma research across the Department of Defense, with a focus on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He oversaw 650 TBI research projects and over $850 million in federal funds for TBI research. COL(R) Hack helped establish the 2013 National Research Action Plan on TBI and PTSD, the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium, and the NCAA-DoD Grand Alliance. About Odyssey Group International, Inc. Odyssey Group International, Inc. (OTCQB: ODYY ) is a technology and asset acquisition company with a focus in the area of life saving medical solutions. Odyssey's corporate mission is to create, acquire and accumulate distinct assets, intellectual properties, and exceptional technologies that provide meaningful medical solutions. The Company is focused on building and acquiring assets in areas that have an identified technological advantage, provide superior clinical utility, have a substantial market opportunity and provide solid returns to its valued shareholders and partners. For more information, visit: http://www.odysseygi.com About PRV-002 PRV-002 is a fully synthetic non-naturally occurring neurosteroid being developed for the treatment of mTBI (concussion). In preclinical studies, PRV-002 has demonstrated equivalent, if not superior, neuroprotective effects compared to related neurosteroids. Animal models of concussion demonstrated that PRV-002 reduces the behavioral pathology associated with brain injury symptoms such as memory impairment, anxiety, and motor/sensory performance. Additionally, PRV-002 is lipophilic and can easily cross the blood-brain barrier to rapidly eliminate swelling, oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain while restoring proper blood flow. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including our ability to close on the agreement in a timely manner, successfully complete a Phase 1 clinical trial, the economic slowdown affecting companies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid changes in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, and legislative, regulatory, competitive developments and general economic conditions. Investor Contact: Rich Cockrell CG CAPITAL ODYY@CG.CAPITAL 404.736.3838 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ANKARA, Turkey (AP) The United Nations, Turkey and Qatar announced Tuesday that a high-level conference between Afghanistans warring sides will take place in Istanbul later this month. The meeting is aimed at accelerating peace negotiations and achieving a political settlement to decades of conflict. Their joint statement said the conference will take place between April 24 and May 4. The three co-conveners said they are committed to supporting a sovereign, independent and unified Afghanistan. The surprise announcement came a day after a Taliban spokesman said the insurgent group would not attend a peace conference that had been tentatively planned to take place in Turkey later this week, putting U.S. efforts for a peace plan in jeopardy. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, responding to questions about the Taliban announcement, said: My understanding is that there are still internal deliberations going on within the Taliban. An invitation was extended to them, he said. We very much hope to see them participate. The Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 by a U.S.-led coalition for harboring Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America. A peace deal that Washington brokered with the Taliban and signed in February last year led to talks in Qatar with the government that began last September. In the agreement with the Taliban, the Trump administration committed to removing the last of its troops from Afghanistan by May 1, but the Afghan government blames the Taliban for rising violence and for not abiding by its provisions. President Joe Biden announced Wednesday the withdrawal will be delayed by more than four months. Biden has said he is committed to ending Americas longest war and set a new goal of Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, for the withdrawal. The Taliban has balked at reports that American troops would remain after May 1 and has warned of consequences if Washington reneged on the deal and the withdrawal timeline. Story continues Dujarric said there were widespread consultations at many levels involving many parties on the dates and timing of the conference, which follows a number of initiatives in the last months. The U.N., Turkey and Qatar said the overriding objective of the high-level meeting is to accelerate and complement the ongoing intra-Afghan negotiations that have been taking place in Doha, Qatar and to achieve a just and durable political settlement. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the conference agenda was the subject of extensive consultations with the Afghan parties. The conference will focus on helping the negotiating parties reach a set of shared, foundational principles that reflect an agreed vision for a future Afghanistan, a roadmap to a future political settlement and an end to the conflict, the ministry said. According to a U.N. diplomat, high-level representatives from 21 countries have been invited to the conference along with European Union High Representative Josep Borrell, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and Organization for Islamic Cooperation Secretary General Youssef Al-Othaimeen. The 21 invited countries are Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Norway, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the list has not yet been made public. Dujarric said the conference is expected to be partly in person and partly virtual. Details are still being worked out, but U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to kick it off, he said. Under the Taliban, women were not allowed to go to school, work outside the home or leave their house without a male escort. And though they still face many challenges in the male-dominated society, Afghan women have increasingly stepped into powerful positions in numerous fields and many fear the current negotiations could bargain away their gains. The Taliban have promised women could attend school, work and participate in politics but stressed that would be allowed in keeping with Islamic principles without saying what that might mean. Dujarric stressed the U.N.s commitment to the Afghan people and their right to basic democratic principles and a government that reflects their wishes. We are committed to ensuring that the gains that have been made are not lost, and that is especially true for women in Afghanistan, he said. Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Cruise, a leading US-based autonomous vehicle company, have signed an agreement as part of which Cruise will operate self-driving taxis and ride-hailing services in the emirate. The agreement will make Dubai the first non-US city in the world where Cruise will commercially operate these vehicles. The deployment of these self-driving vehicles is expected to significantly improve road safety levels as over 90% of accidents are due to human errors. The all-electric vehicles are environmentally-friendly and capable of serving a wide range of clients from different community segments, including seniors and people of determination. This agreement will support Dubais 2030 vision for self-driving technology, as part of which the emirate seeks to reduce transportation costs by AED900 million ($245 million) a year and save AED1.5 billion a year by reducing environmental pollution by 12 per cent, as well as generate AED18 billion in annual economic returns by increasing the efficiency of the transportation sector in Dubai. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and former US Ambassador, and Cruises Chief Legal Officer Jeff Bleich signed on behalf of Cruise signed the agreement in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. Sheikh Hamdan said: This agreement, which is the first of its kind worldwide between a government entity and a leading developer of autonomous vehicles, and autonomous vehicle technology, is a major step towards realising Dubais Self-Driving Transport Strategy aimed at converting 25% of total trips in Dubai into self-driving transport trips across different modes of transport by 2030. Global partnership Cruises partnership with auto manufacturing giants gives them the ability to build their self-driving cars on standard production lines, which will ensure the highest performance and safety standards. Among other factors, this has enabled Cruise to be the exclusive provider of self-driving taxis and ride-hailing services till 2029. Dubai will be the first non-US city where the Cruise Origin, the first purpose-built all-electric, self-driving vehicle, will be launched. Under the agreement, Cruise will establish a new local Dubai-based company which will be fully responsible for the deployment, operation and maintenance of the fleet. The selection of Cruise was not taken lightly. We engaged in a comprehensive, multi-year process to choose the best possible partner. Cruises technology, resources, purpose-built vehicle, automaker partnerships, approach to safe testing and deployment and strategy give them the ability to launch safely and faster than any other company. Preparations for the launch of the self-driving service will start shortly. The operation of Cruise self-driving vehicles will start with a limited number of vehicles in 2023, with plans to scale up to 4,000 vehicles by 2030, revealed Al Tayer. RTA will facilitate the governance of the service provided by the company and support the introduction of the appropriate legislative environment, policies and regulations required for operating this technology, noted Al Tayer. Fundamental shift Self-driving vehicles will bring a fundamental shift in transportation and offer innovative solutions for mobility and congestion in the city. The introduction and operation of the vehicles will be gradual and begin in specific areas, scaling as the community experiences their safety and benefits first-hand. The vehicle will be fitted with state-of-the-art sensors to monitor road conditions, and controls to avoid collision with any objects - even with those the human eye cannot see, he further added. The operation of self-driving taxis will also enhance the integration between transit means, which will ease the mobility of public transport riders and simplify the process of being transported to their final destinations (first and last-mile), concluded Al Tayer. Dan Ammann, CEO of Cruise, expressed how thankful he was for the privilege of Cruise having been chosen by the RTA and for their work to develop an innovative framework for self-driving deployment. The Cruise Origin will make transportation safer, a better experience, more affordable and better for the planet, Ammann said. Dubai and the RTA are leading the way in making this a reality for their people, and for people everywhere. TradeArabia News Service The US and NATO are dangerously escalating threats against Russia over Ukraine. On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted that NATO would decide on Ukraines NATO membership and that Ukraine, which has been pushing for accelerated admission, had a right to apply for membership. He denounced Russia for allegedly moving its troops toward the Ukrainian border, calling the move unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning. A Ukrainian soldier near Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo) Both Stoltenberg and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels, who urged that Ukraine be admitted to NATO. A day before, CNN published a video report with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also insisted that NATO admit Ukraine as soon as possible, even at the risk of an escalation of the conflict with Russia. Later on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, again stressing US support for Ukraine. He also proposed a summit in the coming months to discuss US-Russia relations and urged Russia to de-escalate the situation. In reality, it is NATO and Ukraine that have been aggressively escalating tensions in the region. Immediately underlying the current flare-up of conflict was the adoption of a strategy to retake Crimea by the Zelensky government, and open discussions of a Ukrainian offensive in East Ukraine. Both were tantamount to declaring that Ukraine was preparing for all-out war with Russia. In response to a US- and EU-backed coup in Kiev by far-right forces against the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovich in February 2014, Russia had annexed the Crimean peninsula, which hosts the naval base of its Black Sea Fleet. The coup also triggered a now seven-year long civil war in East Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian army that has claimed over 14,000 lives and displaced millions. The Ukrainian government launched these provocations just weeks after the inauguration of Democratic President Joe Biden, who has embarked on an aggressive course against both Russia and China. The US is now deploying two warships to the Black Sea through the Turkish straits, starting April 14. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, NATO has amassed 40,000 troops and 15,000 items of military equipment along Russias borders, above all in the Black Sea region and the Baltics. Map of the Black Sea region On Tuesday, NATO launched Locked Shields 2021, which has been described as the largest cyber war exercise in the world. Focused in the Baltics, it involves NATO practicing how to protect civilian and military infrastructure, such as water treatment and energy facilities, in case of international conflict. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has responded to the provocative statements by representatives of the US government by calling the US an adversary. He denounced the US deployment of two warships, warning the US to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast. It will be for their own good. Russia is now conducting military exercises on its southern front, and in the Black Sea. The actions by NATO, above all the threats of Ukrainian NATO membership, are extraordinarily reckless provocations, directly posing the risk of war between nuclear-armed Russia and the NATO powers. Russia has long warned that NATO membership of Ukraine would cross a red line. Since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO, despite promises to the contrary, has expanded ever closer to Russias borders, including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and the Baltic states. It was also as part of the encirclement of Russia that the US and Germany organized two coups in Ukraine, in 2004 and 2014. The Black Sea region is an important component of US strategy, aimed at countering both Russia and China. A recent report by the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis think tank (CEPA) stressed that, Growing Russian (and Chinese) influence in the BSR [Black Sea region] affects wider Western interests in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Southwest Asia. The report, authored by a former commander of US Army Europe, urged NATO to invite Georgia into NATO and put Ukraine on a fast track to membership. It further advocated that the Russian Black Sea fleet should be made vulnerable off the coast of Crimea, including through the deployment of drones and cruise missiles and the deployment of mine-laying capability. Other recent think tank reports have stressed the need to counter the influence of China in the region, which has established close economic relations with several countries, including Ukraine. Precisely because of the intersection of various geopolitical conflicts and interests, the crisis in the Black Sea region has the potential to trigger a catastrophic regional, and even global war. Already, the conflict has drawn in Turkey, Poland and Belarus. This weekend, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Zelensky, endorsing the belligerent Crimean Platform. Moreover, it is only thanks to the permission granted by Ankara that the US is legally able to deploy its warships to the Black Sea. Before the meeting, Putin had called Erdogan, explicitly urging him to not back Ukraine in the conflict and to not scrap the 1936 Montreux convention which regulates passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, limiting warship deployments. The Montreux convention is seen as critical by Russias ruling class to prevent the Black Sea from becoming an American lake, as one State Duma deputy put it. On Monday, Russia suspended all air travel with Turkey, citing the explosion of coronavirus cases in the country. While other countries, including the UK, have also ended air travel to Turkey because of the pandemic, commentators speculate that the move was a response to Erdogans backing of Zelensky. There have also been troop movements in Belarus and Poland. Earlier this week, the Polish government reportedly began sending troops to its borders with Belarus. Warsaw has denied that the deployment had anything to do with the crisis in the Black Sea. However, it comes just over a week after Russia reportedly sent troops to the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. On Tuesday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry summoned the attache of the Polish embassy after an unidentified aircraft had violated Belarusian airspace on the Polish-Belarusian border. Tensions between Belarus and Poland have grown in recent months as Warsaw has openly supported the anti-Lukashenko opposition. Warsaw is also closely aligned with the NATO war drive against Russia and the Ukrainian government of Zelensky, whose Crimean Platform Warsaw supports. By contrast, President Alexander Lukashenko, besieged by mass protests that initially also encompassed significant sections of the working class, has recently turned to the Russian oligarchy for political and military support, endangering Belarus earlier close ties with Kiev. The current war crisis starkly underlies the disastrous outcome of the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the culmination of the decades-long betrayal of the October revolution by the Stalinist bureaucracy. Three decades after the restoration of capitalism, living standards of the working class everywhere have been decimated, and endless wars by US imperialism have devastated much of North Africa and the Middle East. The former Soviet Union itself has been turned into a geopolitical powder keg. The working class has no interest in the catastrophic wars that are being prepared. Already, hospitals across the region are overwhelmed and thousands are dying every day from COVID-19 because of the criminal response of the ruling class to the pandemic. In the US, more people have died from the pandemic than in both world wars combined. In Ukraine itself there is enormous popular hostility to any continuation, let alone expansion, of the conflict with Russia. However, the opposition to imperialist war within the international working class must be armed with a political program and leadership. Foreseeing the beginning of a new period of wars and social revolution, the International Committee of the Fourth International organized a Conference of Workers against Imperialist War and Colonialism in Berlin in November 1991. The Manifesto, issued almost exactly 30 years ago to rally for the conference, on May 1 1991, concluded, The defeat of imperialism and the menace of colonialism and war can be guaranteed only through the international unification of the working class. This unity can be achieved only through the building of the Fourth Internationalthe World Party of Socialist Revolution. For more on the Berlin War Conference and the dissolution of the Soviet Union click here . India has fast-tracked emergency use approval for eligible foreign-produced shots against Covid-19, in a move to expand its basket of vaccines amid the highest surge in the infections in the country and speed up the inoculation drive that got a boost with a third vaccine Sputnik V from Russia getting clearance. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, announced on Tuesday a state-wide curfew in the worst-hit State for 15 days from April 14. War against coronavirus has begun once again, he said in his address via social media on a day when the State reported 60,212 new Covid cases and 281 fresh deaths. The announcement by the Union Health Ministry by which the eligible manufacturers of the foreign vaccines are not required to undertake local clinical trials in India could clear the decks for imports of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots with certain conditions. A statement by the ministry said the government has decided that Covid-19 vaccines which have been developed and are being manufactured in foreign countries and which have been granted emergency approval for restricted use by authorities in the US, Europe, the UK, Japan or which are listed in the WHO Emergency Use Listing may be granted emergency use approval in India. The first 100 beneficiaries of such foreign vaccines shall be assessed for seven days for safety outcomes before it is rolled out for further immunization programme within the country, it added. We hope and we invite the vaccine makers such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and othersto be ready to come to India as early as possible, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said at a media briefing. He termed the governments move as a significant development and a liberal regulatory step that will increase the access to vaccines that are manufactured outside. It also opens up eventually doors for import of bulk or import of finished vaccines in vials or import leading to fill and finish in the country, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told the media briefing. Currently, two vaccines Covaxin by Bharat Biotech and Covishield by Serum Institute of India (SII) are being used for inoculation in India. With India in the grip of second Covid-19 wave, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it very clear that the government would not go for lockdowns in a big way and rather resort to local containment. The Minister said this at a virtual meeting with the World Bank Group president David Malpass. Teachers at San Jacinto Intermediate School were surprised Wednesday to received new laptops through a federally funded COVID-relief program. The event was part of distribution of 10,000 laptops and other digital devices worth a total of $1.2 million to Pasadena ISD through Operation Connectivity, a state program administered by the Texas Education Agency. Funded through the CARES Act, the program provides reimbursement funding to eligible school districts for technology-related purchases made during the pandemic. Disaster emergency declarations are necessary to protect public safety. They save lives in the middle of a disaster and help Pennsylvanians rebuild their homes, lives and communities after the disaster ends. Disaster emergencies are frightening and unpredictable. Even short-lived disasters can result in damages that take months or years to repair. Despite our best efforts to build safely, plan carefully, and prepare for the unexpected, the only thing we know for certain is that disasters will strike. What we cant know is exactly where, when, and how Pennsylvanians will be endangered next. Under Pennsylvania law, the governor can declare a disaster emergency that has the force of law, which allows the governor and state agencies, including the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, to respond quickly. The very unpredictability that surrounds disasters is why disaster emergency declarations are so important. We need a disaster response plan that is flexible. Flexibility means that we can react quickly to any disaster to get help to the people who need it. Disaster emergency declarations provide that flexibility. When a disaster emergency has been declared by the governor, state and local resources can be redirected to help people hurt by the disaster. This includes pre-positioning supplies and response teams, providing resources and personnel to assist in evacuations, establishing warming or cooling centers, and distributing water, food and supplies. Perhaps most important, it activates the state emergency response plan, which is a requirement to request assistance from the federal government. Crucially, a disaster emergency declaration also allows the governor to waive statutes and regulations to speed disaster responses. A disaster emergency declaration activates the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to legally request mutual aid assistance from other states. For instance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, Gov. Tom Wolf reduced licensing requirements that might prevent out-of-state and retired health care workers from providing care to patients, expanded the use of telehealth, and authorized pharmacists and other medical workers to give vaccines. If these changes were attempted outside of the disaster emergency, they would have required regulatory or legislative change that would have taken months at best. Without an emergency disaster declaration, the governor does not have the ability to transfer unused but appropriated funds. Those state funds, up to $20 million annually, are used to pay for critical expenses. Disasters are so unpredictable that the deadline to apply for a federal emergency or major disaster declaration isnt until 30 days after the emergency. Whereas some of the costs the state bears can be reimbursed by the federal government, we need to show that we already have spent money on the response to be compensated. In many cases only 75% of eligible costs will be reimbursed. A disaster emergency declaration allows the state to shift funds to make sure rescue and recovery efforts move forward uninterrupted. If a declaration is ended prematurely, all of this goes away. Sharing resources between state agencies, waiving red tape and regulations, paying the National Guard, asking for help and reimbursement none of it happens without a declared disaster emergency at the state level. Pennsylvanians deserve better than the uncertainty disasters can cause. They deserve an emergency response plan to keep them as safe as possible and support them all the way to recovery. Flexible disaster emergency declarations are a crucial part of that process. Prosecutor seeks 6-year imprisonment for ex-Deputy Emergencies Minister in fraud case RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 10:58 14/04/2021 MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) A prosecutor has demanded six years in penal colony for the former First Deputy Emergencies Minister, Lieutenant General Sergey Shlyakov charged with fraud, attorney Ruslan Zakalyuzhny has told RAPSI. Moreover, the prosecutor has asked Moscows Khamovnichesky District Court to jail another defendant Sergey Onishchenko for six years as well. Two other defendants Alexander Kazartsev and Yury Kuznetsov may be sentenced to 5.5 and 7.5 years behind bars respectively. The sentencing is scheduled for April 20. According to investigators, Shlyakov and his alleged accomplices offered the former assistant of Russias Emergencies Minister Yury Udalov to help in the achievement of the post of the Yaroslavl Regions Governor. In May 2018, the latter turned to law enforcement seeking to prevent the criminal activity of a group of people. As reported earlier, two examination were conducted, over 15 witnesses were questioned and more than 500 documents were studied as part of the case. The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei. [Photo/Xinhua] China resolutely opposes the United States developing any formal relations with China's Taiwan region, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Tuesday. Ma made the comment in response to the US Department of State recently issuing new guidelines to encourage interactions between the US government and the island. Upholding the one-China principle and provisions of the three China-US joint communiques is a serious promise made by the US to China, he said. We urge the US side to take concrete actions to honor its promise, refrain from sending the wrong message to Taiwan separatists, and take solid measures to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, he said, adding the attempt to lean on the US for secession perpetrated by the Democratic Progressive Party, the island's ruling party, is doomed to fail. The South African coronavirus variant is persisting despite surge testing and tough travel quarantine measures, experts have warned. Cases of the mutant strain have started picking up over recent weeks, even though targeted curbs aimed at flushing it out have been introduced in dozens of postcodes where it is spreading. Only 544 cases of the B.1.351 variant have so far been spotted in Britain, meaning it's unlikely to become dominant any time soon. But Public Health England statistics show 75 cases of the strain were spotted in the first week of April the highest weekly figure since it was first detected in Britain in early December. Dr Jeffrey Barrett, director of sequencing at the Wellcome Sanger Institute where the majority of Britain's cases have been checked for variants, told MailOnline the strain was 'consistently' cropping up in samples. And Dr Susan Hopkins, who directs PHE's coronavirus response, said although there was no evidence of widespread transmission of B.1.351 'cases are dispersed across the UK in low numbers'. Britain has not managed to get rid of the strain despite lockdown, when the lack of social movement meant any cases could have been snuffed out. Experts don't believe the South African variant has any 'evolutionary edge' over the highly-transmissible Kent strain the UK's most dominant coronavirus. It will only be knocked off the top spot if another variant emerges that spreads even faster. But because B.1.351 has mutations that make it partly vaccine-resistant, there are fears it could spiral once the Kent strain is squashed by the immunisation programme. No10's advisory panel SAGE believes the variant makes jabs about 30 per cent less effective at stopping infections. The South African variant has been most common in London in recent weeks, although cases have been picked up scattered across England RESIDENTS IN TWO LONDON BOROUGHS URGED TO GET TESTED FOR COVID Everyone in Lambeth and Wandsworth has been urged to get tested for coronavirus, after a 'significant' cluster of cases of the South African variant was spotted in the boroughs. Public Health England revealed this week up to 74 cases of the mutant strain were discovered in the council areas, in what officials called a 'significant' outbreak. Health chiefs have now asked anyone over the age of 11 who lives in, works in, or travels through either borough to get tested. The variant, known as B.1.351, is of concern because it is feared it may be able to partially evade existing vaccines. Dr Ruth Hutt, director of public health for Lambeth Council, insisted officials were 'fairly confident' most cases had been found. But she added there was a risk cases of the variant had already spilled over into the wider community. A cluster of infections was picked up in a care home. Dr Hutt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that residents of the two boroughs can still enjoy the easing of lockdown but urged them to do so 'safely'. 'It is a really good opportunity now to mobilise all this testing just to check we dont have any further cases of this variant in either Lambeth or Wandsworth,' she said. Advertisement All adults in the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Lambeth have this week been asked to get a Covid test after health chiefs identified a cluster of up to 70 cases in the two London boroughs. Scientists are concerned about the South African variant because studies suggest it may be able to partially evade vaccine-triggered immunity. Ministers have ordered surge testing to root out every case of the strain, and have imposed mandatory quarantine on arrivals from some countries where it is widespread to try to stop it from re-entering the UK. But scientists warn these measures will only delay its spread and will not stop it reaching the country again. The variant has already become established over the channel and now accounts for a third of cases in parts of France. Dr Barrett said: 'If you look at the rate of B.1.351 in our surveillance sequencing not people who are in post-travel quarantine it has been consistently around 0.1 to 0.15 per cent. 'It is close to 0.2 per cent in the most recent week but the numbers can bounce around and, so far, the message has been consistent steadiness.' He added: 'At these low numbers, and with the comparatively low number of cases overall, I don't think one can interpret much yet. 'The key thing, of course, is that we keep up the genome surveillance coverage as close to all new cases as possible, and watch for any consistent week-on-week trends as lockdown is eased.' Dr Hopkins said: 'Latest data suggests that approximately 65 per cent have links to international travel and where local clusters are identified, public health interventions are quickly put in place. 'The variant has not been shown to cause more severe illness or increased risk of death but ongoing vigilance remains high. 'Where cases are identified, local authorities working with health protection teams can switch on surge testing to reduce the risk of the virus spreading locally. 'Positive tests are sent for rapid analysis and where required, further interventions can be put in place. 'The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to remember hands, face, space and fresh air, and abide by the restrictions in place.' Britain currently has the capacity to sequence around 30,000 genomes a week for troublesome variants. Sources told MailOnline they have been able to check almost every positive case for a 'number of weeks' because infections have plummeted. But around a third of cases are asymptomatic, which could allow dangerous variants to spread undetected in the country. More than 70 people in Wandsworth and Lambeth are being forced to self-isolate after reportedly contracting the South African variant that could weaken the vaccine People stand socially distanced as they queue to enter to take a Covid test at a mobile novel coronavirus testing centre in Brockwell Park in south London Experts also warn it is difficult to compare the number of variants between weeks, because in some seven-day periods not every case was sequenced for the virus. They added that capacity for checking cases has been constantly surging, rising upwards from 20,000 in early March to around 30,000 today. And there are always a number of positive swabs that do not contain enough virus particles for a variant to be identified. London had the vast majority of South African variant cases by the end of March (167), PHE data showed. Although there were also handfuls of infections scattered across England including the North West (52), West Midlands (30), and South East (61). The variant sparked concerns after studies suggested it may be able to dodge vaccine-triggered immunity and spark an infection. SAGE analysis suggested it can cause up to a 10-fold decrease in the effectiveness of antibodies in vaccinated or previously infected people. But experts said they were confident that even if the strain could trigger infections, it was likely the vaccines offered enough protection to prevent serious forms of the disease. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at Reading University, said jabbed Britons should feel confident they have immunity against the strain. 'My feeling generally about the variants is that they will not cause serious disease in an immunised population so even if there is some circulation it may not be of much consequence,' he told MailOnline. It comes after surge testing was sparked in two London boroughs in response to a 'significant' cluster of cases. Residents were today pictured in long queues at Lambeth Town Hall and other sites in Wandsworth, with people also forced to wait at a test centre in Brockwell Park. Health chiefs have asked anyone over the age of 11 who lives in, works in, or travels through either borough to get tested. Dr Ruth Hutt, director of public health for Lambeth Council, has insisted officials were 'fairly confident' most cases had been found. But she added there was a risk cases of the variant had already spilled over into the wider community. A cluster of infections was picked up in a care home. Dr Hutt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that residents of the two boroughs can still enjoy the easing of lockdown but urged them to do so 'safely'. 'It is a really good opportunity now to mobilise all this testing just to check we dont have any further cases of this variant in either Lambeth or Wandsworth,' she said. Hospitalisations and deaths will rise inevitably as the lockdown is lifted, Boris Johnson has warned the public. The dramatic falls in infections were achieved primarily because of the tough restrictions rather than the vaccination programme, the prime minister said. The bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown, Mr Johnson said. So, as we unlock, the result will inevitably be that we will see more infection, that sadly we will see more hospitalisations and deaths and people have just got to understand that. However, the prime minister insisted the key future dates for lifting curbs on 17 May and 21 June would go ahead as planned, on the current data. At the moment, I cant see any reason for us to change the roadmap, to deviate from the targets that weve set ourselves, he said. But, Mr Johnson added: People need to understand that the success of the vaccine rollout is great but its not just the vaccine rollout thats causing the reduction in deaths and infection. Overwhelmingly, thats been delivered by the lockdown and that we need to continue to be cautious and be sensible. The prime minister also dismissed criticism of his choice to head the inquiry into the David Cameron lobbying scandal, after Labour questioned his independence. He argued Nigel Boardman would be given pretty much carte blanche to ask anybody whatever he needs to get to the bottom of the controversy. I would like it to be done quickly, but wanted him to have the maximum possible access, so we can all understand exactly whats happened, he insisted. Pressed on why it was not a full independent inquiry, Mr Johnson replied: Ive got every confidence in Nigel. And, asked what he made of his predecessor, David Cameron, lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital, he said: Thats a matter for Nigel Boardmans report. People have got questions that they need to satisfy themselves about including me about how this supply chain finance stuff is meant to work. I dont think it is going on at present anywhere in government, but we need to understand exactly what the intention was, how it came about, and that is exactly what Nigel Boardman is going to do. Mr Johnsons warning about future deaths came after a member of the joint committee of vaccination and immunisation warned there could be another 50,000. Because of vaccinations, if control of the virus is lost, then the damage it can do will be relatively restricted, Professor Jeremy Brown told BBC Radio 4. But when I say relatively restricted, what I mean is that a big third wave could still end up with 30,000 to 50,000 deaths, potentially, if it was a similar sort of size to the previous waves that weve had. he warned. WASHINGTON House Democrats from New York are threatening to oppose future tax legislation unless it includes a repeal of the state and local tax deduction cap, amping up the pressure on congressional leadership to make that change in the package they're planning to tether to President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill. Democrats in New York's House delegation except U.S. reps. Kathleen Rice, D-Garden City, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-Bronx, signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., saying: "This issue is so critical to our state and our constituents that we will reserve the right to oppose any tax legislation that does not include a full repeal of the SALT limitation." The 2017 tax law led by Republicans instituted a $10,000 cap on the amount of state and local taxes an individual can deduct from their federal tax bill, causing some higher-income earners to pay more federal taxes. The move provoked immediate opposition from Democrats in state like New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, where people face higher state tax burdens. Even some Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, have opposed the cap, saying it results in double taxation of the same income. The letter sent Tuesday was steered by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-Glen Cove, who previously announced he would not vote for the Biden's infrastructure bill unless it repealed the SALT cap. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., followed suit. Although the letter does not explicitly reference the infrastructure bill, it warns, "we will not hesitate to oppose any tax legislation that does not fully restore the SALT deduction." Biden has proposed to increase corporate taxes in order to pay for his $2 trillion infrastructure plan. Repealing the SALT cap would reduce federal revenue, costing the federal government $673 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Tax Foundation. That's more than Biden plans to spend on fixing roads, bridges and other transportation projects in his infrastructure plan. Congressional leaders have expressed their support for reversing the SALT cap, but won't say how or when they will do it. "I am going to do everything and find a way to do the SALT repeal," said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., in a recent interview. "I want to get it done as quickly and effectively as we can." Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine will remain in limbo a while longer after U.S. health advisers told the government Wednesday that they need more evidence to decide if a handful of unusual blood clots were linked to the shot and if so, how big the potential risk really is. The reports are exceedingly rare six cases out of more than 7 million U.S. inoculations with the one-dose vaccine. But the government recommended a pause in J&J vaccinations this week, not long after European regulators declared that such clots are a rare but possible risk with the AstraZeneca vaccine, a shot made in a similar way but not yet approved for use in the U.S. At an emergency meeting, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrestled with the fact that the U.S. has enough vaccine alternatives to do without the J&J vaccine for a time, but other countries anxiously awaiting the one-and-done shot may not. One committee member, Dr. Grace Lee, was among those who advocated tabling a vote. She echoed concerns about getting more data to better understand the size of the risk and whether it was greater for any particular group of people. Even as the legal validity of Tamil Nadu State Information Commissioner S. Muthuraj's recommendation - to send nine IAS officers on compulsory retirement for dereliction of duty - is questioned, it will surely sound alarm bells ringing in the minds of all public information officials (PIO) who dilly-dally on details sought under the Right to Information Act, said activists. "The recommendation is appreciated. It is an eye opener as to whether an Information Commissioner can make such a recommendation," Senthil Arumugham, General Secretary, Satta Panchayat Iyyakkam told IANS. Recently, the Tamil Nadu Information Commission had recommended to the state Chief Secretary to take legal action to compulsorly retire nine IAS officers - Surjith K. Chaudry, Vibhu Nayar, Kakarla Usha, D. Jagannathan, K. Srinivasan, K. Nandakumar, S. Jayandhi, N. Venkatesh and G. Latha- for dereliction of duty while heading the Teachers Recruitment Board as its Chairman between June 2011 and October 2020. "The order is a warning to all the PIOs and others that if they don't respond to RTI queries properly then there will be disciplinary action," Jayaram Venkatasan, Convenor, Arappor Iyyakam told IANS. Citing various provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Muthuraj, the State Information Commissioner had also recommended to the state Chief Secretary to register in the annual confidential reports of the nine IAS officers that they failed in ensuring transparency and accountability during their tenure at the Teachers Recruitment Board. Candidates who had appeared in the competitive exam held for recruiting the teachers had approached the Commission stating that despite marking the right answers for the questions, they were marked wrong, thereby, they failed to get the job. In his order Muthuraj said despite various orders issued earlier by the Commission on such complaints the issue of publication of 'Wrong Key' for questions continues which shows that the senior officials of Teachers Recruitment Board had functioned irresponsibly. The Tamil Nadu Information Commission ordered: (a) appointment of Chairman, Teachers Recruitment Board as the Public Information Officer and provide all details sought by the applicants within 20 days of the order and (b) take action against those who had prepared the questions and the answer key for the competitive exam. While apprecating the Tamil Nadu Information Commission for its order, Arumugam of Satta Panchayat urged the former to ensure that all public offices voluntarily declare various details on their own as per Section 4 of the RTI Act. Arumugam also said the Commission should enable people to apply for information online. "In Tamil Nadu one has to seek information in the traditional mode-by filing a written application," Arumugam said. According to him, the Commission can start being transparent about its functioning itself by uploading the pending case details and their years of pendency. Arumugam said it takes couple of years for the Commission to decide on appeals. "Information delayed is information denied. Many a times, a delayed information turns out to be useless for an applicant. There is no timeline for the Commission to decide on the cases that come to it," Arappor Iyyakam's Venkatesan said. "Even after the issuance of a show cause notice the Commission does not act fast against the delinquent public information official," Venkatesan said. Jayaram also said the law makers should deliberate on the annual reports of the Tamil Nadu Information Commission which is laid on the table of the House. 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. Yoeung Kaiy said police raided his home without a warrant and confiscated 100 copies of the guide. Yoeung Kaiy displays a copy of his book detailing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in an undated photo. Authorities in southern Vietnams Dong Nai province arrested and later released an ethnic Khmer Krom youth and labor activist after he released a book about indigenous rights, drawing condemnation from a Khmer Krom advocacy group. Yoeung Kaiy said in a post to his Facebook account following his release on Wednesday morning that he had been arrested a day earlier by around 100 police officers who raided his home allegedly without a warrant and confiscated some 100 books detailing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, his cellphone, and his computer. He said the police returned his cellphone and computer but kept the books and charged him with publishing without permission and tax evasion. RFAs Khmer Service was unable to reach Yoeung Kaiy on Wednesday for further comment but he told the Khmer Krom News outlet that despite his release he remains concerned about his security. Yoeung Kaiys father told RFA on Tuesday that his son had been arrested because of his activism and discrimination by Vietnamese authorities. He said that his son has advocated for better working conditions for Khmer Krom workers in Vietnam. The Khmer Kromethnic Khmer who live in what was historically southeastern Cambodia, but now controlled by Vietnamface serious restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, association, information, and movement in Vietnam, despite being recognized as one of 53 ethnic minorities in the country, according to U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. The Vietnamese government has banned Khmer Krom human rights publications and tightly controls the practice of Theravada Buddhism by the minority group, which sees the religion as a foundation of their distinct culture and ethnic identity. Contrary to international obligations Venerable Son Yoeng Ratana, information department director for the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation rights group, condemned Yoeung Kaiys arrest, which he said was ordered because authorities in Vietnam want to bar Khmer Krom from advocating for self-determination. This arrest is very unjust for Khmer Krom people because the young man simply disseminated the U.N.s declaration on indigenous rights, which Vietnam has recognized, he said. The Vietnamese authorities acted contrary to their international obligations. This shows they are continuing to abuse the human rights of Khmer Krom, who are an indigenous people. Yoeung Kaiy had recently launched a Facebook page to educate Khmer Krom workers on their labor rights. He also provides pro bono advice to Khmer Krom involved in labor disputes and hopes to set up unions for Khmer Krom factory workers. Yoeung Kaiy told RFA in March that Khmer Krom workers in Vietnam were being forced to work overtime and refused time off for Khmer national holidays such as the Khmer New Year and the Pchum Ben Festival. To date, the governments of only two of the 21 provinces Vietnam has claimed from Cambodia since the 17th century allow Khmer Krom workers to take days off during the Khmer New Year. More recently, Yoeung Kaiy told RFA that that he has been regularly followed by Vietnamese authorities demanding that he stop his advocacy on behalf of the Khmer Krom and assaulted when he refused. When we express our views, they threatened to imprison us, he said. T-shirts declaring Khmer Krom support for International Womens Day on March 8, shown in an undated photo. To Hoang Chhuong Recent harassment At least three Khmer Krom youths were recently fined up to U.S. $300 for posting comments on Facebook about their indigenous history. Another Khmer Krom youth, To Hoang Chhuong, was fined U.S. $300 for wearing a T-shirt marking the anniversary of the loss of Khmer territory to Vietnam. He recently told RFA that he plans to publish a guide to self-determination and distribute it for free to members of his ethnic minority. I am disseminating information on indigenous rights to raise awareness among the Khmer Krom of the laws governing indigenous people, he said. The latest harassment follows a March 29 raid by Vietnamese authorities on the printing house of a Khmer Krom man named Thach Sang who had created T-shirts declaring the ethnic groups support for International Womens Day on March 8, based on a customers order. Thach Sang told RFA that he is seeking intervention from NGOs and human rights groups against the authorities, whose actions he said had disrupted his business. This was a threat and they tried to force me to accept my mistakes, he said, noting that police demanded that he thumbprint a document at the time of the raid, but did not allow him to read it, so he refused to do so. Reported and translated by Samean Yun for RFAs Khmer Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. London: British MPs have paved the way for Lex Greensill and David Cameron to potentially be hauled before Parliament by announcing an inquiry into the collapse of Greensill Capital. The stench around the former prime ministers dealings in pleading for special treatment for the Australian banker with some of the governments most powerful figures was growing, said one Commons Treasury committee member. The committee, chaired by Conservative MP Mel Stride, will examine the regulatory lessons from the failure of Greensill Capital and the appropriateness of HM Treasurys response to lobbying in relation to Greensill Capital. The relationship between Lex Greensill and former British PM David Cameron has come under intense scrutiny. Credit:Attila Csaszar Parliamentary committees have the power to summon British citizens. Original-Research: Eloro Resources Ltd. - von Sphene Capital GmbH Einstufung von Sphene Capital GmbH zu Eloro Resources Ltd. Unternehmen: Eloro Resources Ltd. ISIN: CA2899003008 Anlass der Studie: Aufnahme der Coverage Empfehlung: Buy seit: 14.04.2021 Kursziel: CAD 15,80 Kursziel auf Sicht von: 24 Monate Letzte Ratinganderung: - Analyst: Peter Thilo Hasler High-Grade Breccias in Stable Jurisdictions We initiate research coverage of Eloro Resources with a Buy rating and a fully diluted price target of CAD 15.80 per share, representing 314.7% upside from the current share price. Our price target is derived from the in-situ valuation of the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe of its property Iska Iska in Bolivia, for which we calculated a NAV estimate of CAD 1,476.5 million. We applied a 0.8x multiple to our net asset value per share estimate to arrive at our target price of CAD 15.80 per share. Other assets (above all La Victoria in Peru) were not included in our valuation. We like to highlight that the current pullback in the company's stock price (during its recent financing rounds), could be an interesting entry point for investors, as Eloro Resources is now ideally positioned, in our view, to aggressively advance its current portfolio of development projects. Should the company be able to make a discovery and eventually delineate a mineral resource at Iska Iska, we believe the share price could quickly re-rate towards our price target. Eloro Resources is a Canadian-based exploration and development company that controls a portfolio of high-grade gold and silver projects in mostly stable jurisdictions in Bolivia, Peru, and the Canadian province of Quebec. Eloro Resources states that it has recently intersected very encouraging silver, gold, and base metals mineralization at its most valuable Iska Iska flagship property in Bolivia - a stable mining jurisdiction in close proximity to world-class polymetallic mines and mineral deposits like the world's largest silver deposit Cerro Rico de Potosi, attracting increasing interest from major miners. Drilling confirmed ASTER satellite data suggesting a breccia pipe with a total effective mineralized diameter of at least 600 m at Iska Iska. Breccia pipes are usually important hosts of large tonnage ore bodies in many producing mines in epithermal and porphyritic deposits, particularly in the Andean Cordillera of Central and South America. With silver equivalents (Ag EQ) of up to 442 g/t in continuous channel sampling of the Santa Barbara adit, drilling strongly support the geologists' assumption, that the breccia is a medium to high grade polymetallic deposit, where several different metal phases are found in the ore - in addition to silver mainly zinc, lead, gold, copper, bismuth, tin, and indium. Recent findings demonstrate that Iska Iska not only seems to be mineralized everywhere the company has drilled so far, but also, that Iska Iska contains sections of extreme high grades, which in our view, could create a bulk tonnage potential in Iska Iska. Die vollstandige Analyse konnen Sie hier downloaden: http://www.more-ir.de/d/22316.pdf Kontakt fur Ruckfragen Peter Thilo Hasler, CEFA +49 (89) 74443558/ +49 (152) 31764553 peter-thilo.hasler@sphene-capital.de ubermittelt durch die EQS Group AG. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung bzw. Research ist alleine der Herausgeber bzw. Ersteller der Studie verantwortlich. Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. [April 14, 2021] Culver's Selects PAR Technology's Brink POS Cloud-Based Software for All Its Locations ParTech, Inc. (PAR),?a?leading global provider of point of sale (POS) software and integrated technical solutions to the restaurant industry, today announced that Culver's, a 790+-location quick-service restaurant concept headquartered in Wisconsin, has selected PAR's Brink POS as it's point of sale solution across its entire network. ParTech, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PAR). Culver's, a mid-Western U.S.-based chain known for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard, worked with long-time partner RDS Wisconsin during its software selection process, ultimately choosing Brink POS because of its industry-leading integration partner ecosystem. RDS Wisconsin will be managing the relationship, including product rollout and servicing. "PAR's experience in QSR and innovative approach to technology, combined with RDS' proven expertise and knowledge of Culver's, its franchisees, and team members allows us to?focus on our mission; 'We genuinely care, so every guest who chooses Culver's leaves happy,'" said Kelly Hanson, Vice President of Information Technology, Culver Franchising System, LLC. "We've also seen our guest preferences shift from 60% of our business to nearly all of our business being On-the-Go. PAR's approach to mobile capabilities for our restaurants and franchisees will?offer?more flexibility to?serve our guests both online and in our drive-thrus." "We're honored and humbled by Culver's trust in PAR," said Savneet Singh, President and CEO of PAR. "PAR strives to deliver the solutions that connect people to the restaurants, meals and moments they love, and we look forward to delivering on this brand promise. This is a storied restaurant concept, and PAR will work hard to help Culver's continue their legacy." The initial pilot rollout will start later this month. Conversions for the remaining Culver's locations will begin in late 2021. About Culver's For over 35 years, Culver's guests have been treated to cooked-to-order food made with farm-fresh ingredients and served with a smile. The ever-expanding franchise system now numbers over 790 family-owned and operated restaurants in 25 states. The restaurants' nationally recognized customer service is based on small-town, Midwestern values, genuine friendliness and an unwavering commitent to quality. Signature items include the award-winning ButterBurger, made from fresh, never frozen beef, and Fresh Frozen Custard, including the famous Flavor of the Day program. For more information, visit?www.culvers.com,?www.culvers.com/facebook,?www.twitter.com/culvers?or?www.instagram.com/culvers About RDS Wisconsin Retail Data Systems of Wisconsin, part of Data Systems, Inc., the largest Point of Sale Reseller in the country, provides leading-edge Retail Technology Solutions (News - Alert) to the Quick Service, Grocery, Specialty Retail, Petroleum and Convenience, and Table Service Industries.?RDS' 70+ years of industry knowledge, technical expertise, and commitment to premier customer service contributes to our long-standing partnerships with valued clients like Culver's. ABOUT PAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION PAR Technology Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary ParTech, Inc., is a customer success-driven, global restaurant and retail technology company with over 100,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries using its point of sale hardware and software. With the recent acquisition of leading Loyalty solutions provider, Punchh Inc., PAR has become a Unified Commerce Cloud Platform for Enterprise Restaurants. PAR's platform enables quick service, fast casual and table service restaurants to improve their operational efficiency by combining its cloud-based Brink POS, Data Central backoffice, PAR payments and now Punchh loyalty software with the world's leading restaurant technology platforms. PAR Technology's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PAR. For more information, visit www.partech.com or connect with PAR Technology on Facebook or Twitter (News - Alert) . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005245/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The first edition of the Swiss Machining Seminar 2021 was held in Beijing on Wednesday and featured 20 machining experts from the Swiss Machinery Association who shared their experiences in the most cutting-edge technology in machining and automation. The Ambassador of Switzerland to China Bernardino Regazzoni gave the keynote speech. (Photo provided by Swisscham Beijing) The Swiss Machining Seminar 2021 welcomed around 250 attendees at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beijing, representing a wide range of industries, from automotive, aerospace, medical, and 5-axes machining, to smart factory automation, state-of-the-art coatings, and high-end coolants. The seminar attracted specialists in China in the machining and automation industries, from tooling engineers, programmers, tool manufacturers, CNC-operators, to factory planners. On the Swiss side, experts from 20 industry champions of the Swiss Machinery Association shared their expertise in how to achieve both high quality and cost effectiveness. (Photo provided by Swisscham Beijing) The Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal industry (MEM) is Switzerlands biggest industrial employer. Its high standards in quality, precision, safety and reliability, coupled with its ability to innovate, make Swiss MEM competitive internationally. In his keynote speech, Swiss Ambassador to China Bernardino Regazzoni emphasized Swiss innovation, quality and precision in this rapidly-changing world of manufacturing technology: Its the people working in these precision fields that make the Swiss Made label a true symbol of excellence; they implement the values of quality and innovation that are at the core of the Swiss ethos. (Photo provided by Swisscham Beijing) The Swiss Machining Seminar is organized by the Swiss Machinery Association, a division of SwissCham, with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in China, and Swissmem. Based in Shanghai, the Swiss Machinery Association is a pool of Swiss companies with expertise in high-end solutions for the metal cutting industries, 5-axes machines, software solutions for Industry 4.0 (tool management and CNC-programming), coating services and liquid tools, high-performance Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) tools (milling cutter, drills, reamers, taps, etc.). Their clients are producers in the automotive, aerospace, medical and machinery industries, hydraulic, as well as the energy industries. These companies place their focus on total cost of ownership (TCO) and high-performance solutions at lowest cost per part (CPP). (Photo provided by Swisscham Beijing) The organizers expressed their satisfaction with the high turnout given the current travel restrictions for visitors from abroad. The second edition of the Swiss Machining Seminar is planned to take place in 2022 in Shanghai. The organizers are looking forward to continue adding value for the participating companies and the visitors. (Source: Embassy of Switzerland in China) [ Editor: WXY ] OTTAWA - Alberta's Jason Kenney became the fourth Canadian premier to sign an agreement supporting the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Canada on Wednesday. Kenney signed a memorandum of understanding with the premiers of Ontario, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney updates media on measures taken to help with COVID-19, in Edmonton on Friday, March 20, 2020. Alberta is set to join three other provinces in exploring the feasibility of small modular reactors as a clean energy option. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson OTTAWA - Alberta's Jason Kenney became the fourth Canadian premier to sign an agreement supporting the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Canada on Wednesday. Kenney signed a memorandum of understanding with the premiers of Ontario, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. The provinces also released a feasibility report prepared by Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power, NB Power and SaskPower which gives a potential timeline for development and deployment of SMRs and assesses their competitiveness with other non-emitting energy sources. Here's five things you should know about SMRs: What are SMRs? SMRs are nuclear reactors that produce less than 300 megawatts of electricity. Because they are smaller than traditional nuclear power plants, which generally produce 800 MW and up, they are expected to be cheaper to build, scalable to meet specific industrial and remote community needs and, according to the report, will have the "potential" to be competitive with other low-carbon forms of energy. When are they expected to be in use and where? According to the feasibility study, Canada's first grid-scale SMR project of about 300 MW is expected to be in place at the Darlington nuclear site in Ontario by 2028, followed by up to four similar units in Saskatchewan with the first in service in 2032. The technology and developer are to be selected by the end of this year. An advanced SMR design is also to be developed in New Brunswick resulting in demonstration units at the Point Lepreau, N.B., nuclear site by 2030. Meanwhile, a new class of "micro SMR" is being designed to replace diesel use in remote communities and mines a 5-MW gas-cooled reactor project is proposed at the Chalk River nuclear site in Ontario and is expected to be in service by 2026. What is the federal role in developing SMRs? The feasibility study says that "cost and risk-sharing with the federal government" is an important part of developing SMRs, noting they support Canadas goals of phasing out coal by 2030 and becoming a net-zero carbon emitter by 2050. Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan has said nuclear power is essential to meeting Canada's climate-change goals. Are SMRs considered to be safe? Proponents argue that new applications, simplified designs and advanced technology give SMRs an enhanced level of safety, building on Canada's reputation as a safe and well-regulated leader in nuclear energy. What do opponents of SMRs say? More than 100 environmental, anti-nuclear, community and other Canadian groups signed a statement in November declaring SMRs a dirty, dangerous distraction from tackling climate change. They argue the fight against global warming can't wait for the technology to be proven and deployed and warn SMRs will cost more than other low-carbon energy alternatives, won't create as many jobs and will result in new streams of dangerous nuclear waste. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. CAMBRIDGE, Ont. - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. has signed a deal to buy U.S. company BioDot Inc., a manufacturer of automated fluid dispensing systems, for $106 million. CAMBRIDGE, Ont. - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. has signed a deal to buy U.S. company BioDot Inc., a manufacturer of automated fluid dispensing systems, for $106 million. California-based BioDot was founded in 1994 and makes non-contact and quantitative fluid dispensing systems. The company employs 94 people spread across its two U.S. manufacturing facilities and locations in China and the United Kingdom. ATS says BioDot will continue to be led by its long tenured CEO, Tony Lemmo. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, pending customary regulatory filings. ATS says it plans to fund the acquisition by drawing on its revolving credit facility. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:ATA) Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) is investigating the recent leak of a Facebook user dataset that dates back to 2019. At the start of April, it came out that someone on a hacking forum had made the dataset public, exposing the personal information of about 533 million Facebook users in 106 countries. Depending on the account, there are details about phone numbers, birth dates, email addresses, locations and more. The source of the leak is an oversight Facebook fixed in August 2019. The DPC, having considered the information provided by Facebook Ireland regarding this matter to date, is of the opinion that one or more provisions of the GDPR and/or the Data Protection Act 2018 may have been, and/or are being, infringed in relation to Facebook Users personal data, the agency said in a statement spotted by TechCrunch. Today I spoke with Helen Dixon @DPCIreland about the #FacebookLeak. The Commission continues to follow this case closely and is committed to supporting national authorities. We also call on @Facebook to cooperate actively and swiftly to shed light on the identified issues. Didier Reynders (@dreynders) April 12, 2021 The timing of the announcement comes after Didier Reynders, the EU Commissioner for Justice, tweeted that he spoke with the DPC about the leak. With many international companies operating their European headquarters out of Ireland, it often falls to the agency to investigate potential GDPR infractions on behalf of the EU. We are cooperating fully with the DPC in its inquiry, which relates to features that make it easier for people to find and connect with friends on our services," a spokesperson for Facebook told Engadget. "These features are common to many apps and we look forward to explaining them and the protections we have put in place. The FB breach has certainly generated some interest, currently doing 40k-45k requests per min on @haveibeenpwned (up about 6x on normal baseline traffic) pic.twitter.com/Rpa8itUwsh Troy Hunt (@troyhunt) April 4, 2021 After Business Insider was one of the first publications to report on the database finding its way online, a spokesperson for Facebook told NPR the company wasn't planning to notify people of this latest development. From the company's perspective, there's an argument that the data is 'old.' But people change their emails and phone numbers infrequently. To that point, Have I Been Pwned, a tool you can use to find out if someone leaked your email in a data breach, has been fielding about six times as many requests as usual since news of the forum posting came out. Advertisement Russian fighter jets tore through the sky performing acrobatic stunts at blistering speeds in preparation for the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow. Video of the aerial display released by the Russian Ministry of Defence on Monday showed low altitude training exercises featuring the Mi-35 and Ka-52 attack helicopters and the Berkut aerobatic team in the Mi-28N helicopter. The annual event marks the anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and is set to take place in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Servicemen marched in formation at the Alabino training ground on Wednesday, wearing facemasks and carrying red flags as tanks and rocket launchers trundled by. Russian fighter jets tore through the sky performing acrobatic stunts at blistering speeds in preparation for the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow The Tu-160 (pictured) is one of the heaviest supersonic aircraft ever produced and is currently the faster bomber in the world Six Su-25 fighter jets will be used to carry out stunts and paint the Russian flag in the skies above Red Square. The MoD also announced that several missile carriers will be showcased in the parade, including the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS. The Tu-160 is one of the heaviest supersonic aircraft ever produced and is currently the faster bomber in the world. The annual parade marks the anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and is set to take place in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Servicemen marched in formation at the Alabino training ground on Wednesday, wearing facemasks and carrying red flags as tanks and rocket launchers trundled by The training day - the fifth of its kind since last year's parade - involved more than 70 different aircraft which performed stunts from an altitude of 1850-550 metres (590-1,804 feet) and at speeds of 200-550kph (124-341mph) The parade - now in its 76th year - is held in remembrance of the 20million Soviet lives lost during World War II It is considered the most important military parade in the country and is attended by thousands of military personnel and officials 'We are planning a flight in a traditional formation over Red Square but this year a group of a Tu-160 aircraft escorted by four Su-35 fighters of the Russian Knights aerobatic group has been added,' Alexander Ivashkin, the aerial weapons and tactical training chief of the Aircraft Demonstration Center said on Wednesday. It is the first time Su-35S multirole fighters will escort a Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bomber, Russia's TASS news agency reported. The training day - the fifth of its kind since last year's parade - involved more than 70 different aircraft which performed stunts from an altitude of 1850-550 metres (590-1,804 feet) and at speeds of 200-550kph (124-341mph). President Vladimir Putin will attend the May 9 parade and will be the keynote speaker in his role as Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces. Thousands of cadets and high-ranking officials from the Russian military attend the event held in Moscow's iconic Red Square each year Service commanders, military generals and deputy ministers from the Ministry of Defence will be in attendance at the parade, along with President Putin. Pictured: A TOS-1A Solntsepyok multiple rocket launcher during the rehearsal on Wednesday Video of the aerial display released by the Russian Ministry of Defence on Monday showed low altitude training exercises featuring the Mi-35 and Ka-52 attack helicopters and the Berkut aerobatic team in the Mi-28N helicopter Wednesday's rehearsal was the fifth of its kind since last year's Victory Day parade, which was postponed by just over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: RS-24 Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missile launcher during Wednesday's rehearsal The parade - now in its 76th year - is held in remembrance of the 20million Soviet lives lost during World War II. It is considered the most important military parade in the country and is attended by President Vladimir Putin. He is the keynote speaker at the event in his role as Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces. Pictured: A serviceman is seen during rehearsals for the Victory Day parade at the Alabino training ground on Wednesday Pictured:T-34-85 tanks take part in the rehearsal for the Victory Day parade, which will take place in Moscow on May 9 Six Su-25 fighter jets will be used to carry out stunts and paint the Russian flag in the skies above Red Square. Pictured: A Smerch multiple rocket launcher during Wednesday's rehearsal The parade involves hundreds of military personnel, including musicians. Pictured: A drummer during Wednesday's rehearsal Thousands of cadets and high-ranking officials from the Russian military attend the event including service commanders, military generals and deputy ministers from the Ministry of Defence. Last year's parade was postponed to June 24th due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite that, it drew 13,000 military personnel along with an enormous crowd. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, no foreign guests will be invited to the parade on May 9 This year's parade will mark the first time Su-35S multirole fighters will escort a Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bomber, TASS reported. The female police officer who shot dead Daunte Wright has been charged with second-degree manslaughter over the black man's killing. Washington County Attorney Peter Orput announced Wednesday afternoon that charges had been filed against Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter. Potter, a 48-year-old married mom-of-two, was taken into custody around 11.30am local time Wednesday by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents in St. Paul. The veteran cop was booked into the Hennepin County Jail just after midday where she will now be held ahead of her first court appearance. Under Minnesota law, a second-degree-murder charge is filed when a person is accused of causing another person's death through negligence that created an unreasonable risk, and of consciously taking the chance of causing severe injury or death. If convicted, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. However, sentencing guidelines for someone without a criminal record call for no more than four years behind bars. Ben Crump, the attorney for Wright's family, welcomed the news of Potter's arrest but said 'no conviction' could bring back the 20-year-old father-of-one after he was 'executed' by the cop. Potter shot and killed Wright Sunday during a traffic stop just 10 miles from the courthouse where another white cop Derek Chauvin is currently being tried for the murder of black man George Floyd. The veteran officer, who has worked for the department for 26 years but allegedly confused her gun for a taser, resigned from the force Tuesday as protests erupted in the city for a third night in a row demanding justice for Wright. The white female cop, Kimberly Potter, who shot dead Daunte Wright has been arrested over the black man's killing as she faces being charged with second-degree manslaughter. Potter pictured in mug Washington County Attorney Peter Orput announced Wednesday afternoon that charges had been filed against Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter Potter, a white veteran police officer, shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright (pictured with his son), during a traffic stop in Minneapolis on Sunday after allegedly confusing her gun for a taser Imran Ali, Washington County assistant criminal division chief and director of the Major Crime Unit, said in a statement announcing the charges that the state will 'vigorously prosecute this case' against the veteran cop. 'Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police officer,' said Ali. 'With that responsibility comes a great deal of discretion and accountability. We will vigorously prosecute this case and intend to prove that Officer Potter abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her taser. 'Her action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright and she must be held accountable.' Ali and County Attorney Peter Orput had met with Wright's family prior to announcing the charges, assuring them 'we would spare no resources in seeking justice for Mr. Wright,' said Ali. New details about the fatal shooting were also released by the attorney's office Wednesday. Potter had been training a rookie cop, named in the criminal complaint as Brooklyn Center Police Officer Anthony Luckey, Sunday afternoon when she shot Wright dead. According to the criminal complaint, Luckey and Potter pulled over Wright in his white Buick at 63rd and Orchard Avenues North in Brooklyn Center at 1:53 pm Sunday. Police previously said Wright, who has a toddler son, was first pulled over for expired license plate tags when he was driving with his girlfriend. Luckey ran Wright's identification and found he had a warrant out for his arrest for a gross misdemeanor weapons charge, the complaint states. Four minutes later at 2:01:31, Luckey and Potter approached the driver's side of the car and asked Wright to get out and place his hands behind his back, according to the report. Wright did as the officers asked and Luckey told him he was being arrested for his outstanding warrant. Both Wright and Luckey were standing just outside of the open driver's side door, while Potter was standing behind and to the right of the other officer, the report says. Potter was taken into custody around 11:30am local time Wednesday by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents in St. Paul, the BCA said Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott, who had called for Potter's firing earlier this week, tweeted after news of her arrest broke Potter (above) was taken into custody around 11:30am local time Wednesday by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agents in St. Paul Seconds later at 2:01:49, Wright reportedly pulled away from the officers and got back into the car, with Luckey trying to maintain physical control of him, according to the complaint. At 2:01:55, Potter then said she would taser Wright. Instead, she pulled her Glock 9mm handgun with her right hand and pointed it at Wright, saying again that she would tase him. Potter shouted 'Taser, taser, taser,' as she pulled the trigger on her handgun at 2:02:01, firing one round into the left side of the victim, the complaint states. Wright immediately said 'ah, he shot me,' and drove away in his car before crashing and coming to a stop. Meanwhile, Potter said 'S**t, I just shot him!' after firing her gun. The entire incident from the traffic stop to the shooting took place within nine minutes. Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned, after examining Potter's duty belt, that her handgun was holstered on the right side of her belt and her taser on her left side. Her taser was yellow with a black grip and was set in a straight-draw position, meaning Potter would have to use her left hand to pull it out of its holster, according to the complaint. The complaint says she used her right hand to draw her firearm. Officers are trained to always carry their handgun on their dominant side and taser on their weak side. It is not yet clear which sides Potter regards as her dominant and weak or whether she had the taser and firearm holstered in the right places. Potter's house is blocked by security barricades in Champlin, Minnesota, Wednesday The married mother-of-two left her home in Minneapolis Monday with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick after her address was posted on social media Police guarded the property Tuesday night and fencing was erected around it that day Potter's home guarded by law enforcement and fencing as protesters demand justice for Wright and his family The Washington County Attorney's Office said it will not be holding a news conference on the case at this time. The investigation remains active and ongoing with the BCA and the Washington County Attorney's Office continuing to work together on the case going forward. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott, who had called for Potter's firing earlier this week, tweeted after news of her arrest broke Wednesday morning. 'Daunte Wright like many other black and brown members of our community should be alive and at home with his family today,' he wrote. Crump, who also represents the family of Floyd and helped them win a $27 million legal settlement against the city, said in a statement that 'while we appreciate that the district attorney is pursuing justice for Daunte, no conviction can give the Wright family their loved one back.' He doubled down on the doubts that Wright's death was an accident calling the black man's killing 'intentional, deliberate, and unlawful.' 'This was no accident. This was intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force. Driving while Black continues to result in a death sentence,' said Crump. 'A 26-year veteran of the force knows the difference between a taser and a firearm. Kim Potter executed Daunte for what amounts to no more than a minor traffic infraction and a misdemeanor warrant. Crump compared Wright's death to the death of Floyd, which took place on Memorial Day just miles from Sunday's shooting, as well as the deaths of several other black people at the hands of law enforcement in America. 'Daunte's life, like George Floyd's life, like Eric Garner's, like Breonna Taylor's, like David Smith's meant something. But Kim Potter say him as expendable,' he said. 'It's past time for meaningful change in our country. We will keep fighting for justice for Daunte, for his family, and for marginalized minorities. 'And we will not stop until there is meaningful policing and justice reform and until we reach our goal of true equality.' The family will hold a news conference tomorrow at 12 pm local time. Meanwhile, the White House refused to weigh in on whether Potter should be charged Wednesday with Press Secretary Jen Psaki telling reporters: 'I'm not going to weigh in on legal or law enforcement actions. 'We'll leave that to the court and law enforcement authorities on the ground.' Protests erupted again Tuesday night near Brooklyn Center Police Station as people demand justice for Wright and his family Activists raise their arms as they confront State troopers, National Guard members and other law enforcement officers following a march for Daunte Wright A march for Daunte Wright, who was shot and killed by former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter, in Brooklyn Center The case had been referred to Orput by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman due to a rule adopted last year that deadly police shootings should be handled by either another county or the state Attorney General's Office in order to prevent conflict of interest. Potter is being represented by attorney Earl Gray - who also represents Thomas Lane, one of the three other cops charged over Floyd's death whose trial will begin in August. Gray also worked on the legal team for Jeronimo Yanez, the former cop who was charged over the shooting death of black man Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, in 2016. Yanez was found not guilty of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm by a jury in 2017. Potter was placed on administrative leave immediately after Sunday's shooting and calls mounted for her to be fired, including by Mayor Elliott. She then resigned Tuesday, issuing a short resignation letter where she made no mention of the deadly shooting. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Mayor Elliott said he had not accepted her resignation and was making sure 'we are being accountable to the steps that we need to take'. The married mother-of-two left her home in Minneapolis Monday with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick after her address was posted on social media. Police guarded the property Tuesday night and fencing was erected around it as protesters took to the streets for a third night in outrage at the killing of another black man at the hands of law enforcement. Police body cam footage of the fatal incident showed three officers approaching Daunte Wright's car in Brooklyn Center on Sunday after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop Potter could be heard shouting 'Taser!' several times in the moments before she fired her gun Police Chief Tim Gannon also resigned on Tuesday, one day after he said during a tense press conference that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. 'This was an accidental discharge that resulted in a tragic death of Mr Wright,' Gannon said. 'As I watch the video and listen to the officer's commands, it is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their taser, but instead shot Mr Wright with a single bullet.' The police chief's departure is the latest shake-up of the department in the days following Wright's death. City Manager Curt Boganey, who was in charge of the police department, was fired Monday after he said he wanted due process to play out before passing judgment on the officer's actions. Elliott now oversees the department. Wright's family have said they cannot accept Gannon's theory that his death was an accident. Wright's father Aubrey Wright told ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday: 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Wright's mother Katie Wright said she wanted to see Potter be 'held accountable for everything that she's taken from us.' They called for charges to be brought against Potter. Wright's mother Katie said her son called her from the vehicle after he was stopped by the officers to ask her for insurance information. She said she then heard the officers telling Wright to get out of the car before she heard a struggle break out. 'Then the police officer asked him to hang up the phone,' said Katie. 'Three or four seconds went by. I tried calling back to back to back because I didn't know what was going on.' She said she later called back and his girlfriend, who was in the car with him, answered crying and screaming that he had been shot. Wright, a 20-year-old with a toddler son, was shot and killed during a traffic stop Tuesday Body camera footage released Monday showed Potter and the two other officers at the scene approaching Wright's car after pulling him over. The footage showed one officer trying to handcuff Wright as a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. Wright jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee. A struggle then broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car. 'I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!' Potter could be heard shouting in her bodycam video. Instead, Potter fired her handgun at Wright. Immediately after, Potter can be heard saying: 'Holy sh*t. I shot him'. Wright managed to drive several blocks before coming to a stop when he hit another car. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his girlfriend sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Wright's death as a homicide and said the cause was a gunshot wound to the chest. Potter is a married mother of two, who was first licensed as a police officer in Minnesota in 1995 at age 22, according to state records obtained by the Star Tribune. She has served on the city's negotiation team, and was among the first to arrive at the scene of another officer-involved shooting, in August 2019. In that case, Kobe Dimock-Heisler died after he allegedly rushed at officers with a knife in a home. Daunte Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake after police revealed Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter accidentally fired her gun instead of her taser Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, speaks as other family and friends and family attorney Ben Crump, listen during a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13 Potter instructed the two officers involved in the 2019 incident 'to exit the residence, get into separate squad cars, turn off their body worn cameras, and to not talk to each other,' according to an investigative report from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, obtained by the paper. Both officers' actions were found to be justified and no charges were filed. Potter has been a union president for her department's officers, the paper reported, and was a longtime member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association. Potter lives with her husband Jeffrey, a 26-year police veteran who retired from the Fridley Police Department in 2017 and now works as a corporate investigator at Allina Health. Potter had an annual salary of $86,190, according to public records from 2018. Wright's shooting death has fueled protests and unrest in the city that is already on edge because of the trial of Chauvin. Chauvin is also charged with second-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter and third-degree manslaughter over the death of Floyd, who died when the cop knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. Curfews were put in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove from 10pm local time Tuesday night, but many demonstrators still took to the streets. Police used pepper spray and flash bombs to disperse the crowds of people who used umbrellas as shields. At least 60 people were arrested at protests in Portland, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. Army troops from the 10th Mountain Division collect their duffels after returning from a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan on Dec. 08, 2020 in Fort Drum, New York. Army troops from the 10th Mountain Division collect their duffels after returning from a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan on Dec. 08, 2020 in Fort Drum, New York. Credit - John MooreGetty Images This article is part of the The DC Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox every weekday. Back in 2009, Joe Biden didnt get his way when then-President Barack Obama spent much of that year listening to a team packed around the table in a White House conference room, debating the U.S. footprint in Afghanistan. As Vice President, Biden wanted to see Afghans step up and take control of their own security, but was ultimately outflanked by others in both the Situation Room and the backdoor political knife fights about troop levels, counterinsurgency and nation-building. That changes today, though, as now-President Biden publicly announces plans to zero-out U.S. troops by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The decision reflects Bidens long and deep pessimism about the prospects for a U.S. victory in Afghanistan, the launching pad for 9/11. It also, for the first time in years, matches the reality about Americas prospects for victory in the war there, however that is defined. Bidens move brings to an end Americas longest war, a long-simmering conflict that meant solemn sacrifice for military families and changed so much of day-to-day life for all Americans, even if they dont immediately realize it. The attacks in New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania led to the creation of the now ubiquitous Department of Homeland Security. The devastations ushered into reality massive changes for how Americans fly, how the government uses powerful surveillance abilities and how Americans treat their neighbors. Since 9/11, Americas appetite for civil liberties has faded, its commitment to multiculturalism has been tested and its skepticism about outsiders was given a new life. Dont believe it? Just look at the number of deportations that the new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency conducted: the number went from 189,000 in 2001 to almost 360,000 in 2019, according to the most recent DHS figures. American administrations cant make that kind of change if its truly unpopular with its people. Story continues Bidens history with Afghanistan offers some reasons to have expected this day would come. Sure, Biden joined 97 colleagues to give the greenlight to President George W. Bush to use military force to take out Afghanistans Taliban government that harbored the al-Qaeda terrorists who took credit for 9/11. In the Senate, Biden was later a big booster of building back Afghanistan with billions of U.S. dollars, a move that never quite got the traction it needed. But as Vice President, Biden grew more queasy about the U.S. odds of prevailing. Shortly before he was sworn in, he visited Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. His verdict upon returning was that Afghanistan was going to be a very heavy lift. But it wasnt until the 2009 review of the U.S.-led military plans in Afghanistan that Bidens faith in winning the war broke. Biden is, to this day, a product of the Cold War, and the high of defeating the Soviet Union in the 1990s came to heel on Sept. 11. Gone was the idealism that led him to hammer Bill Clintons administration for not leveraging Americas military might sooner in Bosnias civil war in the name of humanitarian causes. It also didnt help that his son, Army Major Beau Biden, had deployed to Iraq in 2008 for a year. In 2010, Biden exploded to Washington foreign-policy eminence Richard Holbrooke that it was unthinkable to keep U.S. forces engaged simply to protect Afghan citizens. I am not sending my boy back there to risk his life on behalf of womens rights! Biden said, according to George Packers new biography of Holbrooke that draws on the subjects journals. Americas Forever Wars had come home to Wilmington and rocked Bidens belief in the nations military might, as The Washington Post argued last year. The skepticism came naturally. After Obama sent an additional 22,000 troops to Afghanistan and wanted another look at the policies for Afghanistan and Pakistan shorthanded as AfPak around the White House he asked Biden to be the in-house skeptic about everything being offered. Biden privately sought to keep the troop levels where they were, about 68,000 at the time. Biden wanted to shift the goalposts from protecting Afghanistans civilians to training Afghan forces to do the job and lead the fight against al-Qaeda. It stood counter to a plan offered from Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who wanted 40,000 more troops. Most of the Cabinet seemed inclined to trust the general. In December of 2009, Obama announced at West Point that he was sending another 30,000 troops and set a 2011 as a date for their drawdown. It was, to borrow from political scientist Dominic Tierneys The Right Way to Lose a War, a choice of ugly stability. Bidens team spun the decision as a compromise, but it was clear he had fought it using every ounce of his political capital. As Hunter Biden writes in his new memoir, his father ended one conversation with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exasperated about Obamas political guru David Axelrod and his backdoor campaigning for the surge. Goddammit, the VP said, according to his son. Axelrods gotten in her ear! Biden then spent the rest of the week on Nantucket for Thanksgiving firing off handwritten faxes directly to Obama, trying to talk him out of the plan, according to The Washington Post. According to The Atlantic, one of them sprawled 20 pages. And according to Bob Woodwards reporting, Biden tried to meet privately with Obama one last time before Obama informed his war cabinet of his plans, was rebuffed and still intercepted him on the way to the Situation Room meeting for one last push. Now, the only one who needs convincing is Biden himself and he has seen enough. And while the political drama about Bidens decision at the White House is befitting a Shakespearean play, there is a tragic ripple that goes far beyond 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. There will be no ticker-tape parades in cities or heros welcome in small towns. The United States, put simply, didnt win this war. The last big hot war the country won was World War II, and the Cold War was as much about the failure of the Soviet system as it was about any actions the United States took. America has gotten used to bringing to an end its costly reactions to global events: Korea, Vietnam, the first and second wars in Iraq and now Afghanistan. As my colleagues Kimberly Dozier and W.J. Hennigan note in their analysis, the final country remains teetering on a knifes edge. And given a pessimistic streak befitting an Irish poet that is embedded in Bidens psyche, hes not one to hope that the country catches a break. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the daily D.C. Brief newsletter. An April noreaster isnt out of the question later this week. Wednesday is expected to be a sunshine-filled, spring-like day for Massachusetts, except for the immediate eastern coast, where cooler temperatures and onshore winds are forecast, according to the National Weather Service. The sunshine wont last, as an approaching low-pressure system will cause showers to develop overnight across Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. The rainfall should gradually spread eastward to the rest of southern New England starting Thursday morning, not reaching the coast until the late afternoon or early evening, the weather service said. Widespread heavy downpours from the slow-moving storm system are anticipated Thursday night into at least part of Friday, with wet snowfall mainly expected in the Berkshires, according to forecasters. Theres a decreasing chance for appreciable snow outside of that area. As much as 4 to 6 inches of snowfall is expected across the Berkshires and hilltowns of the Pioneer Valley. In central and eastern Franklin County as well as across northern Worcester County, closer to 2 to 4 inches may fall, meteorologists said. [Late Week Storm Update] A slow moving storm system will bring widespread heavy rainfall to the region late Thu into Fri. Precipitation type remains uncertain, but favors mainly rain in most locales, but some wet snow is possible especially across the high terrain of western MA. pic.twitter.com/TFiipj9CIf NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) April 14, 2021 A winter storm watch will stay in effect for Western Massachusetts from Thursday through Friday evening. Officials are warning the heavy, wet snowfall could make travel difficult and cause some power outages. Amid the noreaster late Thursday, high temperatures will remain mild though, hovering in the upper 40s to near 50s across the state. The weather is expected to become chillier afterward, according to forecasters. Snow-to-liquid ratios will be very low given the marginal temperature profile, so snow will be heavy and wet, the weather service said, not as much of an issue now as it would be later in May since most trees still remain bare, but not a non-issue either. Precipitation, including lighter snowfall across higher terrains, should linger through Friday evening, but it will be more scattered, the weather service said. Here are the temperature trends for the next 7 days. Temperatures will trend cooler than the average Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, before seeing improvements this weekend #MAwx #RIwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/pYdU3tTNBC NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) April 13, 2021 The federal agency noted its expecting a good soaking of rain between Thursday and Friday evening. One to 2 inches of rainfall is in the cards for southern New England, with the majority of the precipitation expected before 8 a.m. Friday. The wet weather is welcome news for a moisture-starved region. A large portion of Massachusetts and other states in the Northeast are in a state of drought, and officials last week urged residents to take water conservation steps now. Along with bringing heavy precipitation to southern New England, the noreaster will also hit the region with strong winds. Gusts during the day Friday should reach 36 miles per hour on Cape Cod, 32 mph in Boston, 26 mph in Worcester and 24 mph in Springfield, forecasters said. The precipitation is expected to continue into Friday night. The weather will gradually improve by Saturday as the storm exits out to sea. Dry and milder conditions are likely Sunday, but rainfall may return by the start or middle of next week, according to meteorologists. The forecast is subject to change more than 72 hours out. Related Content: Much of Massachusetts in drought with drying likely to continue; Residents urged to take water conservation steps now Social Democratic Party (PSD) Senator Robert Cazanciuc, who participated, on Wednesday, at the Bucharest Court of Appeal (CAB), in a protest of lawyers in defense of their colleague Robert Rosu, draws attention to the consequences of lawyers' "induced fear" when they are called to defend fundamental rights. "I think we are at a real turning point regarding the existence of the rule of law. I will read very carefully the reasoning of this sentence and I hope to be able to penetrate the secrets of convicting a lawyer for exercising his profession. I do not know if, at society's level, there is awareness of the consequences of lawyers' induced fear, when they are called to defend fundamental rights. I hope that those for whom 'fundamental rights are but a luxury' never get to decide on the destinies of the judiciary," Cazanciuc wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. Cazanciuc claims that the public reports on the grounds for Robert Rosu's conviction call into question the "effectiveness" of Article 24 of the Constitution regarding the citizen's right to defense."'The role of the judiciary is not to divide the world into good and bad people, into righteous and unrighteous people, but to make human society work' - these are the words of a lawyer, former judge, heard today on the steps of the Palace of Justice, at a protest meeting of the Bucharest Bar Council, which I attended with several lawmakers. Public reports on the grounds for the conviction of lawyer Robert Rosu seriously question the effectiveness of Article 24 of the Constitution, which should really protect the right to defense of the citizen," added Cazanciuc.Dozens of lawyers protested on Wednesday in defense of their colleague Robert Rosu, who was sentenced to prison in the case of the restitution of Baneasa Royal Farm in Baneasa neighborhood, Bucharest. The protesters demanded that every person should have the right to defense, which is guaranteed by law.Robert Rosu, the lawyer of Prince Paul of Romania, was definitively sentenced, in December 2020, by the High Court of Cassation and Justice to five years imprisonment in the case of the illegal restitution of the Baneasa Royal Farm By Nina Baker bakerni@grinnell.edu Grinnell College will require students enrolled in the 2021-22 academic year to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the school announced in an all-campus email on April 14. This news comes after the College announced that students will return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. With this announcement, the College joins a growing list of institutions who will be requiring vaccinations in the fall. The efficacy of vaccines, as well as expanded vaccine eligibility and availability, allows us to address the higher risk of transmission in a communal living environment and affirms this additional step to protect the health of our community, the email said. Students who are unable to acquire a vaccine in their home state or country will be provided with a vaccine upon arrival to campus in the fall by Student Health and Wellness (SHAW). Additionally, students with religious or medical concerns may request to be exempt from the vaccine requirement. Like with all vaccine requirements at the College, SHAW will consider exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Dean of Students Elaine Marzluff said that the administration has known vaccination requirement was an option for several months, but the pandemic planning team needed to be certain that students would reasonably be able to acquire vaccines for themselves and that the College would be able to supply enough vaccines for students who were unable to by the time the school year began. Only recently did it become clear that vaccines were widely available enough for this requirement to be put in place. The College held its own vaccine clinics earlier this month. Joseph Bagnoli, vice president of enrollment and dean of admission, added that with two weeks left for prospective students to confirm enrollment at the College, the announcement brings a degree of insight for them in deciding whether or not to attend. This can go a long way toward reassuring someone whos thinking about joining the community for the first time, that this is a place taking its role in public health seriously, said Bagnoli. All students will be required to have medical proof of vaccination prior to enrollment. This proof of vaccination would be distinct from so-called vaccine passports, which are documents that a vaccinated individual would be required to carry on-hand with them in order to enter some venues. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has stated that she plans to take legislative or executive action against vaccine passports in Iowa due to privacy concerns. As we have since the pandemic began, we continue to approach every decision using a community and public health framework that prioritizes the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community. We look forward to welcoming all students back to campus and to a return to living and learning in community, the Colleges email ended. More information regarding COVID-19 vaccinations can be found at through the CDC and Grinnell Vaccination page. Artificial intelligence for space Suddenly, circular holes were visible on the surface of Mars that were not there before. On photos of Saturn's moon Enceladus, geysers were discovered that hurl powerful fountains of steam towards space. And on the images sent to Earth by the Mars rover Curiosity, structures were found that look like fossilised worms. All these phenomena, some of which appear to be temporary, were discovered by chance. Or because humans took a lot of time to sift through the images from Earth's neighbouring planets. "Artificial intelligence technologies would make it much easier to detect previously unknown anomalies," says Hakan Kayal, Professor of Space Technology at Julius-Maximilians-Universitat (JMU) Wurzburg in Bavaria, Germany. Science is still at the beginning Using artificial intelligence (AI) in astronautics? According to Professor Kayal, science in this field is still in its infancy: "There are only a handful of projects on this." If an AI is used to detect unknown phenomena, it must first be trained. It has to be "fed" with what is known so that it can recognise the unknown. "There are already satellites that are runned with AI. Their AI is trained on Earth and then sent into orbit. However, we have other plans: We want to train the AI on board of a small satellite under space conditions," says the JMU professor. This project is challenging, but feasible: "Miniaturised IT systems are becoming more and more powerful. And we take our time for AI training. So a learning process in orbit can take several days." Interplanetary missions as a long-term goal But why transfer the training of the AI to space, to computers in miniature? Whereas it would be much easier to realise with mainframe computers on Earth? That's because Hakan Kayal has a clear vision of the future. He wants to use small satellites with AI not only to observe Earth, but also for interplanetary missions - to discover new extraterrestrial phenomena, perhaps even traces of extraterrestrial intelligences. "As soon as you go interplanetary, communication with the satellite becomes a bottleneck," says the professor. With increasing distance from Earth, data transfer takes longer, "you can't keep sending data back and forth. That's why the AI must be able to learn independently on the satellite. And it must only report relevant discoveries to Earth." Launch into orbit expected in 2024 Kayal's team around project leader Oleksii Balagurin will implement this technology on the small satellite SONATE-2 and test it in orbit. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is funding the project with 2.6 million euros. The project began on 1 March 2021; the satellite is to be launched into orbit in spring 2024. The mission there is designed to last one year. The small satellite from Wurzburg will be about the size of a shoebox (30x20x10 centimetres). Its cameras will take pictures in different spectral ranges and will have the Earth in view. The image data will flow into the on board-AI, which will automatically recognise and classify objects. The technology will first be thoroughly tested around the Earth before it can possibly go on an interplanetary journey later. Hakan Kayal already has this future mission called SONATE-X firmly in his research plan - the X stands for extraterrestrial. Students can collaborate SONATE-2 will have other innovative and highly autonomous features on board. Compared to the predecessor satellite SONATE, the sensor data processing system will be further miniaturised and made more energy-efficient. In addition, there are new types of satellite bus components, such as improved star sensors for autonomous attitude control. The cameras will not only detect and record static objects, but also short, transient phenomena such as lightnings or meteors. The SONATE-2 team will consist of about ten people. Students can also participate - as assistants or within bachelor's and master's theses. Training the next generation in this cutting-edge technology has a place in the project. In addition to its computer science programmes, JMU offers a Bachelor's and Master's programme in Aerospace Informatics and a Master's programme in Satellite Technology. The SONATE-2 project is financed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) based on a resolution of the German Bundestag (FKZ 50RU2100). The predecessor project SONATE The new nano satellite SONATE-2 builds on a successful predecessor project, the SONATE satellite - also developed and built by Kayal's team, also funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. More about the mission: https:/ / www. informatik. uni-wuerzburg. de/ en/ aerospaceinfo/ wissenschaft-forschung/ sonate/ ### This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. CANTON, Mass., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An iconic guitar brand has partnered with the number one music education brand and it's music to the ears. Today School of Rock announced that Gibson Brands is joining the family of brands in School of Rock's GearSelect program. GearSelect, which launched two years ago, provides School of Rock students the ability to purchase professional musical instruments, accessories and tools from some of the world's most innovative and recognizable brands. "Our GearSelect portfolio is another way we are driving substantial growth and differentiation for School of Rock and our breakthrough patented curriculum," said Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. "We are making a striking rebound from the constraints of the pandemic and now is an incredibly exciting time to be part of School of Rock. We will continue to build on this momentum fueled by a passionate community of artists, curriculum innovation, and new partnerships." The Gibson Brands and School of Rock partnership will be across Gibson's portfolio of brands including Epiphone , Kramer , MESA/Boogie and KRK , as well as Gibson TV and the worldwide mentoring program Gibson Generation Group . The partnership will roll out later this year to School of Rock's community of 40,000 students around the world. Whether a student is taking lessons virtually or socially-distanced in person, not only will they have the ability to attain professional gear through Gibson Brands, but also several exclusive opportunities that will improve the quality of students' playing and performance experiences. "As we think about the next generation of rock guitarists, we need to provide a relevant balance of inspiration, engagement, and access to instruments," says James "JC" Curleigh, President and CEO of Gibson Brands. "This new partnership with School of Rock sets the stage to achieve this balance going forward." School of Rock provides students of all ages an exciting and engaging learning environment for taking guitar lessons, drum lessons, bass lessons, keyboard lessons, and singing lessons. Drawing from all styles of rock and roll, School of Rock students learn theory and techniques via songs from legendary artists such as Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Aretha Franklin and Green Day. Thanks to the school's patented performance-based learning approach, students around the world have gained superior instrumental skills and confidence on the big stage, with some moving on to record deals and larger platforms such as American Idol, The Voice and Broadway. For more information on School of Rock, please visit www.SchoolofRock.com. About School of Rock School of Rock helps aspiring musicians master skills, unleash creativity, and develop tools they need to thrive in life. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 350 schools open and in development across 15 global markets. Since 2009, School of Rock has grown student count from 4,000 to over 40,000. School of Rock offers a wide variety of music lessons , including guitar lessons , singing lessons and piano lessons . School of Rock was awarded US Patent 10,891,872 in 2021 for its innovative music education method. Follow School of Rock on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchoolofRockUSA and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SchoolofRockUSA . For more information on School of Rock visit www.SchoolofRock.com or call 866-695-5515. To learn more about School of Rock franchise opportunities head to http://franchising.schoolofrock.com/ About Gibson: Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone , which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer , the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie , the home of tone, and KRK , behind great music for over 30 years. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Gibson TV , and Instagram . SOURCE School of Rock IRVING, Texas, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EnviroFlight, a wholly owned division of Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR), announced the development of a new R&D and Corporate Center in Apex, North Carolina. This area of North Carolina has a strong focus on agriculture technology and agriculture research, and is an ideal location to meet the needs of a growing regenerative agriculture business conducting highly technical research on black soldier flies and their larvae. Groundbreaking on the new facility starts April 2021, and EnviroFlight expects to be in the facility in early 2022. This new R&D facility will allow for further emphasis to be placed on target research areas, including expanding the knowledge base for alternative uses of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in animal health, animal nutrition, cosmetics, and other product development. EnviroFlight is currently the only company to produce BSFL on a commercial scale in the United States and has its first manufacturing plant located in Maysville, Kentucky. This innovative and responsible approach has considerable potential within the sizable global animal feed industry as it will provide an environmentally friendly, sustainable source of high-value nutrients. Liz Koutsos, President of EnviroFlight, said, "Research and development is a core focus area for EnviroFlight, with our research team and dedicated engineers focused on all aspects of insect biology and production including genetics, immunology, animal nutrition, and innovative engineering solutions. As part of our growth plan, we are excited to invest in a new R&D and Corporate Center in Apex NC, and join the robust Triangle Region AgTech community. This new facility will allow us to continue to develop technology that leverages the potential of this amazing insect and facilitate our growth in the alternative protein industry." About EnviroFlight EnviroFlight is a leader in sustainable insect ingredients designed for animal and plant nutrition, aiming to drive transformative change in the global food supply. It is the leading developer of proprietary technologies which enable the rearing of black soldier fly larvae in a scalable manner. EnviroFlight's mission is to use regionally available, low-value materials, emphasizing production of nutrients in a socially responsible way and reducing the environmental and financial costs to our food supply. For more detail about EnviroFlight, visit www.EnviroFlight.net. About Darling Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR) is one of the world's leading producers of organic ingredients, producing a wide array of sustainable protein and fat products while being one of the largest producers of renewable clean energy. With operations on five continents, Darling collects waste streams from the agri-food industry, repurposing into specialty ingredients, such as hydrolyzed collagen, edible and feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, fuel feedstocks, and green bioenergy. The Company sells its products around the globe and works to strengthen our promise for a better tomorrow, creating product applications for health, nutrients and bioenergy while optimizing our services to the food chain. Darling is a 50% joint partner in Diamond Green Diesel (DGD), North America's largest renewable diesel manufacturer, currently producing approximately 290 million gallons of renewable diesel annually which products reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by up to 85% compared to fossil fuels. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://www.darlingii.com. For more information on Darling's ESG efforts, visit http://www.darlingii.com/csr. Safe Harbor Statement Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release. For more information: Carrie Kuball, VP Sales and Marketing, Email: [email protected] Tel: +651.503.2983 Investor Relations: Jim Stark, VP Investor Relations, Email: [email protected] Tel: +972-281-4823 SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc. Related Links http://www.darlingii.com PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Constitutional Affairs and Decolonization (CCAD) will meet on April 15, 2021. The Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 15.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. Representatives of Sint Maarten Anti-poverty Platform and Sint Maarten Consumers Coalition will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Discussion on the concerns regarding human rights and inequality in the relationship between St. Maarten and the Netherlands (IS/171/2020-2021 dated November 16, 2020) This meeting was requested by MP R. Brison, MP O.E.C. Ottley, MP S. M. Bijlani, and MP G.S. Heyliger-Marten. Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten Former Communications Minister under the Mahama administration, Dr Edward Omane Boamah has said it is glad that Twitter selected Ghana to host its Africa operations. According to him, the previous Mahama administration delivered 4G on a wider scale to Ghanaians and extended optic fiber across the country including rural areas. Data is the currency for the future. Data will generate more jobs, he said. Glad Twitter selected Ghana to host its Africa operations. This is benefit from investments in both fixed & wireless broadband. Also glad we delivered 4G on a wider scale to Ghanaians & extended optic fiber across the country including rural areas. Data is the currency for the future. Data will generate more jobs, he wrote on Facebook. The American microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages, has chosen Ghana as its Head Quarters for Africa Operations. Twitter said its mission is to serve the public conversation, and its essential, for the world and for Twitter, to increase the number of people who feel comfortable participating in it. To do this, we need to make it easier for everyone to join in and provide more relevant experiences for people across the world. Today, in line with our growth strategy, were excited to announce that we are now actively building a team in Ghana. To truly serve the public conversation, we must be more immersed in the rich and vibrant communities that drive the conversations taking place every day across the African continent. In a tweet on Monday, April 12, she said Twitter chooses Ghana as their regional hub for Africa!! Thumbs up for Digital Ghana! Great news for our local, vibrant tech community. We cant wait to welcome others #NAkufoAddo. #TwitterGhana President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also commended Twitter for choosing Ghana as the headquarters for its Africa operations. The choice of Ghana as HQ for Twitters Africa operations is EXCELLENT news. Govt and Ghanaians welcome very much this announcement and the confidence reposed in our country. 1/3 #TwitterInGhana #TwitterGhana Mr Akufo-Addo said in a tweet. Below is the post by Dr Omane Boamah: Glad Twitter selected Ghana to host its Africa operations. This is benefit from investments in both fixed & wireless... Posted by Dr Omane Boamah on Monday, April 12, 2021 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 My daughter was targeted by fraudsters in November last year. She has learning difficulties as a result of contracting meningitis as a baby, and was born with part of her arm missing. While she strives to be independent, at 34 she is immature and vulnerable for her age. She had received a text message that appeared to come from Halifax asking if she had made a 186 payment to Amazon. When she replied 'No', fraudsters called her within minutes. Phone con: Halifax did not refund a customer who fell victim to a mobile phone text scam in which she lost over 4,000 Posing as Halifax, the criminal said her account had been compromised and she would need to move her money to a 'safe account'. My daughter was suspicious and said she'd visit her local branch to resolve the matter. But the fraudster said the branch was closed due to Covid. To reassure her, he called her back from what looked like the phone number on the back of her bank card. But after she transferred 4,043, the crook vanished and her bank won't refund her. H. H., via email. Tony Hazell replies: Halifax was able to recover 3,000 of your daughter's money but this still leaves a 1,043 loss. You say the only contact your daughter had from the bank was a letter informing her she had not carried out sufficient checks before making the payment, which meant Halifax was not liable. When you tried to call its helpline, you were unable to get through. I don't think this is any way to treat a victim of fraud, particularly a customer who is so vulnerable. When Halifax signed up to a new code of conduct in May 2019, it pledged to treat fraud victims fairly and refund blameless customers who had done all they could to protect themselves. I'm not sure what more the bank could have expected your daughter to do. The fraudster had an answer for everything, knew many details about her account and appeared to be calling from the bank's phone number. Halifax says it was unaware of your daughter's health conditions. Now that it is, it has agreed to reimburse the remaining 1,043. What a shame it couldn't just do the right thing in the first place. Blighted Butlin's trip My partner and I visited Butlin's in Skegness last year and another guest vomited all over us. It ruined our evening and our plans for the rest of our break. Butlin's refused to see it as its problem and, as well as not offering us an upgrade on another holiday, it did not even make a goodwill payment. I decided to use the online small claims service to request 250 compensation, plus fees of 25. Butlin's didn't respond to the court, so it ruled in my favour in late November. I've tried to find out when Butlin's will make the payment but have not received a response from the firm. If it wanted to do everything possible to ensure that I never go back, it has ticked all the boxes so far. P. B., Milton Keynes, Bucks. Tony Hazell replies: Being vomited on was no doubt unpleasant, but I fail to see how this was the resort's fault, unless it had continued to serve a drunk guest or provided food that made them ill. Despite this, Butlin's says it offered to dry clean your clothes and post them to you. This you accepted, but failed to mention in your email. It also offered you a discount on a future stay, which you refused. You were determined to get compensation, so took legal action. Butlin's did not manage to respond to the small claims paperwork in time due to an internal mix up, for which it apologises. But it says it tried to contact you on eight occasions, including two calls in November, in a bid to find a solution. The day I spoke to Butlin's, someone from its customer care team called you to apologise and arrange a bank transfer of 275. I think, in this case, the success of your claim was down to luck. You have YOUR say Every week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some regarding our report on the difficulties facing first-time buyers: Most Europeans rent and don't moan about it. It's time for politicians to accept that property prices are now beyond affordable for many. They should focus on making renting less of a stigma by clamping down on rogue landlords. H. B., Manchester. It took my partner and I years of saving before we had enough money for a deposit. We are on average incomes and have no children, and we bought our first house at 37. My parents saved for a deposit on one income and bought their first home at 23. C. S., Southport, Merseyside. Our sons are 25 and 27 and both bought their own homes without having to borrow large sums of money from us. We paid their university fees and ensured they weren't lumbered with large student loans and usurious rates of interest. R. T., via email. I work in a supermarket with quite a few young couples. Most have managed to buy a property, even though they earn well below the national average. You can't own your dream home straight away you need to start modestly. S. A., Norfolk. I'm 31 and struggling to get on the property ladder. I'm a single woman and have a decent salary, but there are no flats I could afford in my area. I enquired about a property which wasn't due to be built until September, but it was already sold. P. C., Buckinghamshire. I was lucky to be able to rent out three flats and use the profits on their sale as my children's deposits. I don't know how kids manage without help like this. S. M., St Albans, Herts. HMRC says I owe 412 but doesn't know why I worked with Durham police in a civilian role until May last year, paying basic-rate income tax on my salary. I receive my personal allowance on a Met Police pension. My state pension started in July last year. HMRC wrote in August saying I owed 412 and that my tax code would be adjusted to recover the sum. I called HMRC and was told it 'could not see why it was owed or from where'. The owed sum was deferred but I've now received a letter informing me I still owe 412 from a previous tax year. It's unacceptable that HMRC can't tell me where this is from. N. O., Newcastle upon Tyne. Tony Hazell replies: There's a simple explanation and I'm surprised that those you spoke to at HMRC did not offer it. Your state pension is taxable but paid without tax being deducted. HMRC deals with this by deducting your state pension from your personal allowance. This will be shown on your coding notice before the start of the tax year. However, in the year that your state pension starts, things can get a little complicated because you are likely to be mid-way through the tax year. HMRC will adjust the tax codes it provides to employers and private pension providers, but the state pension is backdated and tax code changes can take a while to be acted upon. This led to you receiving four months' extra tax allowances. It also turned out that your state pension was a little higher than HMRC had expected. Together these led to an estimated 412 underpayment of tax. HMRC will review the figure now the tax year has started and will update your records. NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc. ("GMO Trust"), the New York-based, regulated stablecoin subsidiary of Japanese Internet and financial services conglomerate GMO Internet Group ("GMO"), and Zero Hash Inc. ("Zero Hash"), a leading fiat and digital asset custodian and settlement provider, today announced its partnership to bring "GYEN", the world's first regulated Japanese yen (JPY) stablecoin, and "ZUSD" to Zero Hash's settlement network. Zero Hash = SigNet/SEN for Multicurrency Fiat and Stablecoins 24/7/365 Payments and Instant Settlement Zero Hash, through its proprietary technology and extensive banking partnerships, offers a settlement network in which multiple fiat currencies can be combined with any supported digital asset product pair. Expanding on the capabilities of Signature's SigNet and Silvergate's SEN networks, Zero Hash can enable real-time transfer in JPY and USD 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Transactions conducted on Zero Hash settle real-time via a ledger mechanism, in FDIC-insured bank accounts and digital asset wallets. These services are available now to Zero Hash's institutional customers via its suite of settlement and banking APIs. An Industry First for JPY Zero Hash to Accelerate JPY Funding and Settlement GMO Trust's GYEN and ZUSD stablecoins will be supported on Zero Hash's settlement network, allowing Zero Hash's network of customers to not only fund and withdraw with digital JPY anytime, but also settle instantaneously with digital JPY. What this means is the same speed, efficiency and availability enabled by Signet/SEN for USD will be available in JPY, eliminating the typical bottlenecks associated with moving and settling with JPY. In many instances, cross-border JPY transfer and settlement can take days to weeks with current financial rails this will be a problem of the past with Zero Hash. "Many of the institutional counterparties we speak with express frustration over transaction times when dealing with JPY, and in partnership with Zero Hash, we set out to solve this problem," said Kurt Bierbower, GMO Trust's SVP of Business Development. "Zero Hash enables institutional trading firms, market makers and other counterparties on their network to experience incredible speed and efficiency for JPY funding, settlement, and leveraging their banking network and our stablecoins." "Zero Hash has built a powerful funding, trading and settlement solution to drastically accelerate the settlement of these new Finance 2.0 transactions," said Zero Hash CEO Edward Woodford. "We are excited to highlight our deepening partnership with GMO Trust through this regulated stablecoin offering." Please note that due to regulatory restrictions, GYEN and ZUSD will not be offered to Japanese residents. About GMO Internet Group and GMO Trust GMO Internet Group, based in Tokyo, is a global market leader in the Internet infrastructure, Internet finance and the digital asset space since its inception in 1991. It operates the world's largest online FX trading platform, an Internet bank, a cryptocurrency exchange, a cryptocurrency mining operation, a payment gateway and a regulated stablecoin. GMO Internet, Inc. (TSE: 9449) is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit https://www.gmo.jp/en/. GMO Trust, based in New York, is a limited purpose trust company, regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. Issuing the world's first regulated JPY stablecoin "GYEN," GMO Trust also offers a USD stablecoin "ZUSD." GMO-Z.com Trust Company is on a mission to bring traditional finance into the digital age with blockchain services. For more information on GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc., visit https://stablecoin.z.com/ . About Zero Hash Zero Hash's mission is to empower innovators by delivering access to the financial system 2.0. Zero Hash enables developers and businesses to focus on building experiences and products. We power your favorite brokerage app or neo bank to offer BTC, provide the rails to the 2.0 payment processors, give platforms the ability to facilitate instantaneous cross border payments and eliminate complexity for moving assets for the world's largest liquidity providers. Zero Hash provides the complete turnkey solution to allow platforms to launch digital assets and own the client experience, without any regulatory overhead and a light technical lift (a matter of API endpoints). Zero Hash's clients include Neo-banks, broker dealers (and payment groups. Zero Hash is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business as well as a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 US jurisdictions. Zero Hash is also regulated as a Canadian MSB. Zero Hash was voted Innovator of the Year by the 2019 Profit & Loss Readers Choice Awards. Press Inquiries Ryan Graham JConnelly TEL: 862-777-4274 Email: [email protected] GMO Trust GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc. Email: [email protected] Zero Hash Email: [email protected] Copyright (C) 2021 GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SOURCE GMO Internet Group Related Links https://www.gmo.jp/en He also got Fowler to admit that he didnt take the weight of Chauvins gear into account when he analyzed the pressure on Floyds body. Blackwell further accused Fowler of jumping to conclusions and suggesting to the jury that Floyd had a white pill in his mouth in the video of his arrest. Fowler denied saying that. On February 17 in 1600, Bruno was dragged through the streets of Rome and burned at the stake at the centre of Campo de Fiori. Throughout the years, Campo dei Fiori , has always been a vibrant and lively square in which people would meet for races, poles or the daily market. Unfortunately, it is also known as the square in which executions took place during the 15century. The reminder of this dark period is represented by the statue of Dominican philosopher and scientist Giordano Bruno, condemned to the stake for expressing heretical beliefs. Bruno was burned alive at the stake for believing in the Copernican idea of a sun-centred universe, which opposed to the Churchs ideology of an Earth-centred universe. The statue built in 1888, therefore represents one of the many victims of a totalitarian Church, which as such did not admit that its truths could be doubted. Giordano Bruno was born in 1548 from a noble family in a city near Naples, and immediately showed a propensity to study becoming a scholar. In 1565, he joined the Dominican convent in San Domenico Maggiore in Naples, where he became a priest regardless of his heretical ideology.He began traveling to France, England and Germany spreading the Copernican theories on nature and heliocentrism, while contrasting Copernicus belief of a finite world with his idea of the infinity of the universe. His works intrigued his audience but also sparked controversy and anger amid the local scholars, leading to his excommunication in 1591, when he was asked to return to Italy. In 1592, at his return, Bruno was reported by a student, which caused his arrest by the Roman Inquisition and incarceration in Castel SantAngelo. It was there that Bruno spent the last eight years of his life, being tortured and interrogated while remaining true to his heretic beliefs, even after being sentenced to death. According to Bruno, his death sentence was the demonstration that the Church had great fear for his truth to be revealed. On February 17 in 1600, Bruno was dragged through the streets of Rome and burned at the stake at the centre of Campo de Fiori, exactly where his statue stands today. The memory of Giordano Bruno is associated with his persistence to reveal the truth and celebrates freedom of thought. However, in his opinion, religion had a positive educational and social function, and therefore it was to be affirmed as a means of controlling the masses. The indisputable fact remains that Bruno, although not a defender of public freedom of thought, was in any case a victim of a totalitarian Church that imposed its strict ideology to the rest of the world. South Africa: Officers arrested for truck hijackings The National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU) has slammed the brakes on a traffic and police officers syndicate, which has allegedly been hijacking trucks on Gauteng freeways. In a statement, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said this came after three men were arrested in Johannesburg on Tuesday, shortly after hijacking a truck. The three -- a member of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Departments VIP Protection Unit, a member of the South African Police Flying Squad and a civilian -- were spotted driving a vehicle fitted with false number plates in the Johannesburg central business district, RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said in a statement. He said the number plates raised the suspicion of an alert member of the NTACU, a division of the RTMC. He kept the vehicle under surveillance while he called for back-up from members of the SAPS Crime Intelligence and the Gauteng Highway Patrol, said Zwane. The joint team confronted the suspects and found them in possession of State issued firearms. Zwane said upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspects had earlier allegedly dropped off a fully loaded truck at Strydom Park in Randburg. It is believed that they are part of a syndicate that has been hijacking trucks on the R59, N3, Kliprivier and other routes in Gauteng, Zwane said. The investigation continues and more arrests can be expected. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon. RTMC chief executive, Advocate Makhosini Msibi, applauded the members for the arrests. This is a major breakthrough in the fight against truck hijackings in Gauteng. There have been many complaints and allegations about the involvement of law enforcement officers in this heinous crime and these arrests will have a devastating impact on the syndicate, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Santiago Rosario glanced around as the crowd began to disperse Tuesday on the first National Borinqueneers Day. Oh, beautiful. Beautiful. Me and my people, remarked the 95-year-old World War II veteran from Bethlehem. Sitting with Rosario at the front was Enrique Vazquez, a 93-year-old Korean War veteran from Nazareth. Roughly a hundred people or so had gathered masked, to protect the aging veterans from COVID-19 to break ground along the South Bethlehem Greenway trail for a memorial to Rosario, Vazquez and the rest of the ranks of the Borinqueneers, the nickname given to the 65th Infantry Regiment that fought in both world wars and Korea. The name comes from Borinquen, the pre-colonial name for Puerto Rico. Most soldiers in the unit, the Armys only all-Hispanic unit, hailed from the island. The regiment was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on April 13, 2016. The date officially became a national holiday just this year, part of a defense-spending bill approved by Congress in January. The text of the law designates the day as an opportunity to recognize the bravery, service and sacrifice of the unit and pay tribute to the sacrifices made and adversities overcome by Puerto Rican and Hispanic members of the Armed Forces. Led by Bethlehem City Councilwoman Olga Negron, community leaders, family and friends on Tuesday celebrated the lives and service of the few Borinqueneers still living and many others who have died over the years. People waved Puerto Rican flags and clutched pictures of loved ones. Members of the Borinqueneers Motorcycle Club were in attendance, unmistakable with their leather vests with patriotic patches. Some in the club have direct connections to Borinqueneer veterans; all strive to aid those still living and tend to the graves of those already gone. We ride in honor of those soldiers that gave their all, said Luis Lucho Rodriguez, of Allentown. BCGMCNC CALL TO ACTION: NATIONAL BORINQUENEERS DAYApril 13th A DAY CREATED TO; CELEBRATE, REMEMBER AND CREATE... Posted by Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony National Committee on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 A number of speakers said that the Puerto Rican community has influenced the history of Bethlehem, working in the steel mills alongside so many other nationalities, and that it is time for them to receive the same level of recognition. That started with the groundbreaking for a memorial on the greenway, between Webster and Taylor streets. It will be a dominos table, a cultural emblem and something with which the community can interact. In addition to veterans, it will include the names of Hispanic and Latino community leaders (Negron said to email suggestions to her at onegron@bethlehem-pa.gov by May 31). A ribbon-cutting is expected on Sept. 15 marking the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Apizaco, Mexico, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2021 ) :Greyssi Venegas devours her first meal in three days at a Mexican shelter near the railroad where migrants risk their lives clinging to freight trains on their grueling journey north to the United States. An unexpected pregnancy has complicated her already tortuous trip from Honduras by rail, road and on foot with her seven-year-old son Eduardo. "Yesterday I felt ill. I didn't want to eat. So I asked for a pregnancy test," said the 23-year-old, who has a cough and dark circles around her eyes from fatigue. Venegas scraped together around $100 for her second attempt to reach the United States in three years, but the money had already run out by the time she reached Mexico. She set off from the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on March 21 and walked almost 300 kilometers to eastern Guatemala with her son, before traveling more than 12 hours by road. Then she crossed part of southern Mexico on foot before riding a freight train northwards with other undocumented Central American migrants fleeing violence and poverty. "I worked on a coffee farm, but the hurricanes left me with no job or home," Venegas told AFP at the Sagrada Familia shelter in the central Mexican state of Tlaxcala. She was likely referring to hurricanes Eta and Iota, two powerful and deadly storms that slammed Central America in late 2020 triggering massive floods and causing widespread damage. At the shelter Venegas joined other migrants spending one or two nights to regain their strength before resuming their arduous journey north. The US-based owner of the Honduran coffee plantation has promised to help her if she gets asylum in the United States. But he cannot do it before because he could be accused of human trafficking, she said. "How I cross over is my problem," Venegas said. - 'The Beast' - The shelter is overflowing with migrants, so some have to spend the night next to the tracks of the nearby railroad known as "The Beast" ridden clandestinely by migrants through Mexico. In three months, the Sagrada Familia hostel has helped around 3,000 people -- a "dramatic" figure compared with 6,500 in the whole of 2020, said its director, Sergio Luna. "We don't see it decreasing," he said. In March, around 172,000 undocumented migrants -- many from Central America -- were detained crossing the US border with Mexico, a 71 percent increase in just one month and the highest level in 15 years, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported. It said that 60 percent of them were deported to Mexico under pandemic-control measures. Under pressure from Washington, Mexico has stepped up security along its southern border with Guatemala to stem the flow of Central Americans, but migrants are finding new routes across. Hernan Cardona, a 58-year-old former Honduran police officer, fought back tears as he recounted how the "ordeal" began on March 15 for his five children and a granddaughter. Guatemalan police took around $375 from him on the way north, forcing him to look for work making deliveries in southern Mexico to earn some money. "Then we went on foot for eight days and eight nights... sleeping in the mountains and without eating," he said. - 'Only God' - Migrants say they have been given new hope by US President Joe Biden's reversal of the hardline immigration policies of his predecessor Donald Trump. The changes include allowing unaccompanied children to stay and be united with relatives living inside the United States. The number of unaccompanied children detained after crossing the border illegally, or trying to sneak through official entry ports, doubled in March from February to 18,890, according to the CBP. But Venegas said she had no intention of sending her son, who has a heart condition, across the frontier on his own. "I wouldn't allow them to separate us for anything in the world. Only God will be able to do it," she said. (Alexandria, MN) When Keith Norling heard the news about Barbara Bush passing, it got him thinking about a passion the two of them share. Mrs. Bush had a passion for literacy. Reading, however, was something that was a source of angst and embarrassment for Keith but became a mission later in life. In the late 1970's, as a recently married adult Keith was illiterate. Forty-plus years later, with Barbara Bush being laid to rest on April 21st, Keith reflected on the connection his family has had with the first lady. Keith's path to literacy actually began with a jar of mayonnaise. As a young married man Keith's wife Sheila asked him to go to the store to pick up some Hellman's Miracle Whip. He returned home with a jar of Hellman's Mayonnaise. That may not seem like a big mistake, but when questioned Keith insisted he did get Miracle Whip. After a few more questions Sheila realized that he couldn't read. Never claiming to be a scholar, Keith had somehow managed to graduate from both high school and technical college with only a 3rd grade reading level. As a teenager he says he memorized the driver's licence test answers so when he failed the written test the first time, he luckily received the identical test on try number two and passed. It was little tricks like that which allowed him to move forward. With some resistance Sheila was able to convince Keith to enroll in a program with the Alexandria Literacy Program. Keiths father Enfred Norling, better known as Shorty, was the topic of a letter from the former first lady. Inspired by his son, Shorty decided to get his GED. He admitted that he only had made it through 6th grade. Upon graduation from Jefferson High School in 1992, at the age of 70, Keith's father drew the attention of the White House's biggest fan of expanding literacy throughout the country. The note, from July 1st, 1992, was written to the staff at the Alexandria Literacy Project; coordinator Sandra Schroepfer and Shorty's instructor Sa Vera Anderson. Mrs. Bush concluded the letter with the line, George joins me in sending best wishes. Keith reflects on Mrs. Bushs passing and the letter in the following video clip. Keith spent many years as an advocate for all adults who struggle with literacy. One of his proudest moments was when he was asked to talk with lawmakers at the state capitol in an effort to get funding to help the state of Minnesota's literacy program. Nervous as a cat, Keith says he could tell that several of the legislators in that committee hearing were uninterested at best. He broke the ice by telling them that his instructor at the Literacy Project had told him "it's okay to be nervous." Keith then said, "and right now I'm really okay." That comment drew laughter and some newfound attention. Keith then shared a statement that apparently hit home for the elected officials. He said, "if I can't read, I can't vote." The end result, the state's program received a $1.2 million dollar boost. Keiths father Shorty passed away in 2011, but while the country mourns the loss of the late Barbara Bush, Keith cant help but smile as he thinks about how she is woven into the story of his family. FLINT, MI A conference aimed at helping residents of Flint and Genesee County get access to resources and information about fair housing is scheduled to take place over the course of several days. The free Love Where You Live Fair Housing Conference presented by the Flint Area Community Housing Resource Board takes place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, 3:45 to 5:10 p.m. Thursday, April 15 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 16. All of the sessions will be held virtually via Zoom and live on Facebook. To register for one of the sessions, visit here. April is Fair Housing Month and due to changes in income, laws, emergency orders and families across the nation, CHRB is committed to assisting in every way that it can by bringing this vital information to as many as possible during this week, according to a Flint Area Community Housing Resource Board press release. Some of the information and discussions planned at the conference includes renter/ landlords rights, fair housing, credit and homeownership, connecting with neighborhoods, community resources and information, per a Flint Area Community Housing Resource Board flyer. The focus is on Flint and Genesee County, but the conference is open to all who desire to attend. In addition to the virtual conference, the board will hold an in-person event with COVID-19 safety enforcements from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17 at the Bethel UMCs parking lot, 1309 N. Ballenger Highway, in Flint. On Saturday, resources and free individually packaged lunch will be available to the first 100 participants. Every individual and family are entitled to go through a fair and equitable process to secure a place that they desire to live, Dwayne Clemons, member of the Flint Area Community Housing Resource Board, said. Our community needs to be aware of the resources that are available and the amazing community organizations who stand by ready to assist them every day. The conference is possible with sponsorship from The State Bank, Flint Housing Commission, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Hamilton Community Health Network, Bethel UMC and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Additional project support is provided by Total Life Prosperity CDC, The Power Initiative and Bethel UMC Outreach. Read more on MLive: Goyette Mechanical in Flint plans to add nearly 100 jobs, expand its headquarters Flint & Genesee chamber reveals new name, four divisions to advance regions attractiveness This woman-owned architect company draws the lines that brings buildings to life in Genesee County Father and sons close bond over love for cars inspires them to open car dealership in Genesee County Smarter Pet Parenting I'm proud of our accomplishments and see a bright future for virtual care. whiskerDocs will continue to work toward a future that will finally make the experience parents have enjoyed for their human children available for their four-legged and feathered children," says Deb Leon, CEO and founder whiskerDocs, a leader in providing 24/7 access to veterinary expertise via multi-channel, technology-driven telehealth and wellness services, is excited to announce the expansion of its leadership team and facilities to support the rapid growth experienced in the past 18 months. Spurred on by the overwhelming need for virtual access to veterinary support during the Covid-19 pandemic, the whiskerDocs veterinary team delivered over 90,000 interactions in 2020 alone. This growth has led to an increase in whiskerDocs coverage to over 6 million pets, the opening of a Southern California satellite office, and has culminated with several key leadership appointments. Through its partnerships with leading medication, wellness, employee benefits, and pet health insurance companies, demand for whiskerDocs services has increased significantly. As pet ownership soars and consumer spend on pet services continues to climb, whiskerDocs cumulative total topped over 200,000 interactions with over 1 million unique touch-points. Its data-driven outcomes provide partners with deep insights into the valuable role virtual care plays in pet health and pet owner engagement. The recent leadership appointments of Nicole Rogers, Bruce L. Truman, and Mike Domanick will help whiskerDocs continue to apply enterprise-level best practices in veterinary virtual care and drive further growth as demand for better access to pet care continues to rise. Nicole Rogers, formerly serving as Vice President of Operations, has now been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Rogers began her career with whiskerDocs in 2015 as Quality Director and quickly moved into broader Operations roles over the following years. In her position as COO, Ms. Rogers guides collaboration between whiskerDocs ever-growing remote executive, management/supervisory, and agent teams. She also develops and executes key partnership success strategies, including account management, program implementation and design, analytics, service delivery, and quality. With over 10 years of previous experience as a manager of 2 veterinary practices, Ms. Rogers brings unique veterinary industry insights to the operations of whiskerDocs. Bruce L. Truman is appointed Senior Vice President of Business Development. As a pet technology business executive, Mr. Truman brings tremendous expertise in business development, healthcare informatics and emerging digital technologies. Mr. Truman is a founding board member of the Veterinary Virtual Care Association, a chief commercial officer advisor to Fear Free and serves in an advisory capacity to several pet technology startups. Mr. Truman is a past president of VetPartners.org and is considered an expert on digital transformation in the companion animal market, speaking at numerous industry events. In his new role, Mr. Truman will work with the whiskerDocs team to advance key partnerships for the company during this period of substantive growth. Mike Domanick, former Practice Leader for Mercer, considered one of the leading global human resource consulting firms in the world, is joining the whiskerDocs leadership team as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy. His over 25 years of strategic business development will assist whiskerDocs in the design and implementation of growth initiatives and significant key partnerships. He will be leading efforts to continue the development and nurturing of client relationships in the employer and non-traditional pet markets. His expertise will help to create both short- and long-term growth strategies for whiskerDocs. According to Deb Leon, CEO and founder of whiskerDocs, I'm proud of our accomplishments and see a bright future for virtual care. According to Ms. Leon, We built our technology to support the millions of pets in this country and provide their - owners with the instant-access pet support theyve been demanding for years. I have confidence that our growth is a sign of even better things to come in the evolution of comprehensive virtual care for pets. whiskerDocs will continue to work toward a future that will finally make the experience parents have enjoyed for their human children available for their four-legged and feathered children. About whiskerDocs whiskerDocs, the leader in virtual triage services for pets, has been trailblazing telehealth with innovative technology-driven, on-demand solutions since 2013. Serving pet parents in the U.S. and Canada, whiskerDocs provides multi-channel access for over 6 million pets via client partnerships and direct-to-consumer relationships. The whiskerDocs team of veterinary telehealth specialists is composed of licensed veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians, who deliver protocol-driven, seamless experiences within seconds, supported by whiskerDocs patented processes and proprietary multi-modal cutting-edge technologies. Mental health professionals would be required to inform parents or guardians if they become aware a teen is considering suicide under a bill passed Tuesday in the Oregon House. Providers are already permitted to share this information with parents and many do, said Rep. Ron Noble, R-McMinnville. However, there are also many behavioral health providers who choose not to involve a parent or guardian, even when it may be clinically appropriate, he said. The House approved the bill 57 to 1. It now heads to the Oregon Senate. The only vote in opposition came from Rep. Marty Wilde, D-Eugene. In my opinion, the Legislature should not seek to override a medical practitioners judgement, he said. House Bill 3139 does allow mental health providers to withhold the information if they reasonably believe the teen is at risk of abuse, or if they otherwise believe the disclosure is not in the minors best interest. That exception is meant to allay the concerns of groups like the Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, which said that in some cases, teens receiving a suicide risk assessment would have been harmed by their parents or other family members if they knew their child sought help. The organization said this is especially true for LGBTQ teens. In Oregon, teens 14 and older can seek and receive mental health care without their parents knowledge. The potential for a teen to be harmed by a parent after getting information from their mental health provider can be tough to discern, said Rep. Jack Zika, R-Redmond. I think its very important the provider knows what kind of home life (the teen) has when they go home, and not make the situation worse. In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death among Oregonians age 15-24, according to the Oregon Health Authority, trailing only deaths from unintended injuries. The bill was brought forward on behalf of Jason and Roxanne Wilson, a Yamhill County couple whose teenage daughter died by suicide in 2018. Jason Wilson testified to the House Committee on Behavioral Health in February that he and his wife learned that their daughter had previously attempted suicide when they read it on her death certificate. We were doing everything we were supposed to do, said Wilson. It is not a persons right, that sees my child for one hour a month, to make the decision of whether or not I should know. That argument resonated with many lawmakers. Im a mom of three teenage daughters, and I would want to know, said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany. Chris Lehman clehman@oregonian.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 21:37:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Buses sit idle at a terminal during a lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Dhaka, Bangladesh on April 14, 2021. Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Wednesday wore a completely deserted look as the government enforced a strict lockdown to help curb the spread of the second wave of COVID-19, asking people not to venture out unless they have an emergency. (Xinhua) by Naim-Ul-Karim DHAKA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Wednesday wore a completely deserted look as the government enforced a strict lockdown to help curb the spread of the second wave of COVID-19, asking people not to venture out unless they have an emergency. The recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases prompted the government to enforce the strict lockdown that began Wednesday, the first day of the Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan. Amid an upswing in the fresh cases, the Bangladeshi government said a maximum of 20 people can attend prayers at each masjid during Ramadan which is usually a month of festivity in the country after Bengali New Year. The lockdown also began in the morning of Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year, which is usually celebrated amid festivities every year on April 14, with only a few people on Dhaka streets amid the heavy presence of law enforcers. Bangladesh authorities urged everyone to celebrate the New Year virtually by avoiding public gatherings in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic. Last year the usual Bengali New Year programs were also canceled to avoid mass gatherings. Local TV stations reported that enforcement of the lockdown in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country was tight enough, shutting completely shopping malls and transport. A few private vehicles were seen on the streets of Dhaka, which are usually clogged during the days of Ramadan. Dhaka Metropolitan Police intercepted bikers and checked their documents. Those who were walking towards their destinations were also being stopped and questioned by law enforcers to show "movement pass" issued by the police. Only vehicles belonging to law-enforcement agencies, government officials and media were seen to run on the Dhaka streets with the addition of a few rickshaws. Apart from domestic and international flights, river transport and railway operations were also suspended owing to the lockdown, with only emergency services remaining operational. Bangladesh on Wednesday decided to allow special flights to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Singapore to ensure that migrant workers can reach their destinations even though international flights have been suspended. Bangladesh's Cabinet Division on Monday issued a circular with a set of directives to be effective during the lockdown from 6:00 a.m. local time Wednesday to the midnight of April 21. In line with the directives, all government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices will be closed but banks will operate for hours daily. The new lockdown imposed with stricter rules demands the closure of markets and shopping malls, but allows restaurants and hotels to remain open from morning to evening but only for takeaway or online services. No one will be allowed to go outside except for trips for the absolute necessity such as medicine and daily essentials, medical treatment, and burial or funeral. According to the directives, all public transport services will be suspended, but goods-laden vehicles, production system and emergency services will not come under the purview of the lockdown. Also offices, employees and transports involved in law and order enforcement and emergency services, relief distribution, health service, electricity, water, gas/fuel, fire service, activities at ports, telephone and Internet, telecommunication and other services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. Factories and industries will remain open under the authorities' arrangement, maintaining health safety guidelines. New cases of COVID-19 continued to rise since the middle of last month as the country sees a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 96 more deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily figure, bringing the death toll to 9,987. Bangladesh reported 5,185 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising its total tally to 703,170. Enditem CanNor investment of over $1.8 million supports community and Indigenous-led projects in the Northwest Territories YELLOWKNIFE, NT, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) The Northwest Territories has many diverse regions that require tailored support to help their local businesses, organizations and communities thrive. The Government of Canada is making targeted investments in economic infrastructure, sector development, capacity building, business expansion and food security for Northerners. These investments are supporting good local jobs in northern communities, access to economical, reliable and safe food supplies, and opportunities to build prosperity and self-reliance. The Government of Canada remains committed to working with Indigenous organizations, businesses and communities to help stimulate the Northern economy and support Northerners. Federal government supports regional economic development in NWT Today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CanNor, announced that an investment of over $1.8 million has been made to support projects in Inuvik and Fort McPherson, as well as beneficiaries in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and the Gwich'in Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories. This funding, delivered by CanNor, supports five regional initiatives in NWT led by businesses, community organizations and Indigenous economic development corporations. Through this investment, NWT businesses will be able to create over 25 new full-time and part-time jobs, and maintain or expand existing jobs. This investment helps communities and Northerners adapt to current economic realities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and seek future opportunities for economic growth. Today's announcement is further proof of the Government of Canada's commitment to long-term sustainable economic development across NWT. Initiatives like these are essential to the recovery, diversification and long term economic sustainability of northern communities. Quotes "The Government of Canada recognizes that strong regional economies rely upon the success of local businesses, entrepreneurs, community groups and Indigenous economic development organizations. That is why we work through our Regional Development Agencies, like CanNor, on the ground in the territories, providing necessary support to communities and Northerners especially in these challenging times." - The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CanNor "We understand the challenges territorial businesses and communities are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investments made today through CanNor will continue to support northern businesses, organizations and communities with opportunities as they weather the economic impacts of this pandemic and plan for a strong economic recovery. Strategic investments like these also help greatly at a local level with community economic development and job creation, and, more broadly, the development of a diversified and sustainable economy across NWT." - Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament, Northwest Territories "We hope that our project, the Inuvik Year-Round Farming Project, will become the jumping off point for more food security and food sovereignty projects in the Beaufort Delta, and encourage people in the north to look at our own supply chains, economic development and agriculture in an innovative way!" - Ray Solotki, Executive Director, Inuvik Community Greenhouse "The energy security provided by this project, Field Studies Gas Development in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, significantly advances the goals set out under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. It represents an Inuvialuit-led solution that takes into account the preservation of our values, advances participation in the northern and national economy, all while reducing emissions and helping preserve our local environment." "IRC is appreciative of the support provided, as it has helped enable the development of a strategic plan directed on developing capacity, business potential and food security in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region." - Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Chair and CEO "The Teetl'it Gwich'in Band's focus with the Community Freezer Program is to provide community members with the necessary skills of preparing, preserving, and storing country foods harvested from off the land. This program allows us to work towards keeping our culture and traditions alive, by teaching valuable skills and sharing knowledge while giving back to the community." - Chief Wanda Pascal, Teetl'it Gwich'in Band "As a First Nations owned corporation, the Tetlit Zheh Development Corporation is pursuing success through growth, investment and partnership. The advice and financial support from CanNor provides the Corporation with the ability to expand services, pursue business opportunities, create employment and assist in capacity building." - Trina Nerysoo, Acting Manager, Tetlit Zheh Development Corporation Quick Facts The funding announced today is provided through CanNor's full suite of regular economic development programming, which support projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation. Associated Links Stay connected Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED. Follow CanNor on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) For further information: Catherine Mounier-Desrochers, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, [email protected]; Barbara Abramchuk, Communications Advisor, NWT region, 867-669-6587/867-445-4032, [email protected] Related Links http://www.cannor.gc.ca At the opening ceremony of the OSSO Hai Phong (Photo: VNA) Hai Phong The Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) together with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) put into operation a one-stop service office for returning migrant women and their families (OSSO) in the northern port city of Hai Phong on April 13. The office establishment is part of a project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to enhance Vietnams capacity in supporting returning migrant women and their families' sustainable re-integration into local society. According to official data, between 2015 and 2020, about 6,200 local people married foreigners, with a large number of these marriages turning out miserable due to language and custom differences and domestic violence. Many of these people were forced returning to Vietnam and continued facing difficulties in terms of employment, legal procedures, and re-integration, among others, at home. At the opening ceremony, VWU Vice President Bui Thi Hoa highlighted the strategic meaning of the office establishment in Hai Phong and lauded the local chapter of the VWUs active support for Vietnamese women married to foreigners. She asked the managing unit behind the office to study the demand of returning migrant women and optimise the operation of the facility, making it a reliable address for the the women and their families. KOICA Director Cho Han Deog expressed his belief that the OSSO will be helpful for the women and their families during their integration process. The OSSO Hai Phong is one of the five offices set up under the project in Vietnam. They offer free-of-charge consultations for returning migrant women regarding legal, psychological issues, education and training, employment, loan obtainment, healthcare, and violence prevention. They also play a role of connecting related domestic and foreign organisations in support of the group. DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / Solitario Zinc Corp. ("Solitario") (NYSE American:XPL)(TSX:SLR) today announced it will be featured as a presenting company at the H.C. Wainwright Spring Mining Conference. The conference is being held on April 19-20, 2021 virtually. Christopher Herald, CEO of Solitario, will provide an overview of the Company's business during the live presentation and will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to join the conference. If you are an institutional investor and would like to attend the conference, please register at the following link: www.hcwevents.com/mining. We invite all investors to listen to the Solitario's presentation online at: https://journey.ct.events/view/b4203305-a368-4424-abf5-d719cb9ef83b starting on April 19th at 3:00 p.m. EDT and archived for 90 days. Over 60 corporate presentations are available live and on-demand on April 19-20, 2021, starting at 9:00 A.M. (EDT). Event: H.C. Wainwright Spring Mining Conference (Virtual Conference) Date: April 19th, 2021 Time: 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Location: Virtual Conference Company Webcasting Link: https://journey.ct.events/view/b4203305-a368-4424-abf5-d719cb9ef83b About Solitario Solitario is a well-funded emerging zinc exploration and development company traded on the NYSE American ("XPL") and on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("SLR"). Solitario holds 50% joint venture interest (Teck Resources 50%) in the high-grade, open-pittable Lik zinc deposit in Alaska and a 39% joint venture interest (Nexa Resources holds the remaining 61% interest) on the high-grade Florida Canyon zinc project in Peru. Management and Directors hold approximately 9.6% (excluding options) of the Company's 58.4 million shares outstanding. Solitario's cash balance and marketable securities stand at approximately US$7.7 million. Additional information about Solitario is available online at www.solitariozinc.com. About H.C. Wainwright & Co. H.C. Wainwright is a full-service investment bank dedicated to providing corporate finance, strategic advisory and related services to public and private companies across multiple sectors and regions. H.C. Wainwright & Co. also provides research and sales and trading services to institutional investors. According to Sagient Research Systems, H.C. Wainwright's team is ranked as the #1 Placement Agent in terms of aggregate CMPO (confidentially marketed public offering), RD (registered direct offering) and PIPE (private investment in public equity) executed cumulatively since 1998. For more information visit H.C. Wainwright & Co. on the web at www.hcwco.com FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Christopher E. Herald President & CEO (303) 534-1030, Ext. 14 Valerie Kimball Director - Investor Relations (720) 933-1150 (800) 229-6827 SOURCE: Solitario Zinc Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640279/Solitario-Announces-Participation-at-the-HC-Wainwright-Spring-Mining-Conference-April-19-20-2021-Virtual-Conference The joint venture plans to invest 10bn in the UK over the next five years and is expected to provide some strong competition to BT The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared the proposed 31.4bn merger of broadband provider and Telefonicas UK mobile network O2. Having examined the evidence, the CMA inquiry group has now provisionally concluded that the deal is unlikely to lead to any substantial lessening of competition in relation to the supply of wholesale services, the watchdog said in a statement. , owner of Virgin, and Telefonica announced a deal last May to merge their UK operations in a 50-50 joint venture. The merger was scrutinised by the CMA to assess if it would mean higher prices for rivals using their wholesale services. READ: Virgin Media and O2 merger referred for full UK competition investigation A thorough analysis of the evidence gathered during our phase 2 investigation has shown that the deal is unlikely to lead to higher prices or a reduced quality of mobile services meaning customers should continue to benefit from strong competition, said Martin Coleman, chair of the CMA panel inquiry. The joint venture plans to invest 10bn in the UK over the next five years and is expected to provide some strong competition to ( ), the largest provider of fixed-line, broadband and mobile services in the UK. Cairo: The cargo vessel that blocked global shipping in the Suez Canal and is caught in a legal dispute in Egypt is fit to sail once approval is given, its technical manager said on Wednesday. The Ever Given was declared suitable for onward passage from the Great Bitter Lake to Port Said, where she would be assessed again before departing for Rotterdam, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said in a statement. The ship has been in the lake, which sits between two sections of the canal, since being dislodged on March 29. The 400-metre (430 yard) vessel was stuck in the canal for six days, blocking traffic. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Wednesday that negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement "may take some time". It has made a $916 million compensation claim against the ship`s Japanese owner Shoei Kisen, UK Club, one of its insurers, said. The SCA has also obtained a court order to detain the ship as discussions over compensation continue. "The SCA`s decision to arrest the vessel is extremely disappointing. From the outset, BSM and the crew onboard have cooperated fully with all authorities," BSM chief executive Ian Beveridge said in the statement. "BSM`s primary goal is a swift resolution to this matter that will allow the vessel and crew to depart the Suez Canal." Taiwan`s Evergreen Line, which is the Ever Given`s charterer, said separately on Wednesday it was investigating the scope of the Egyptian court order "and studying the possibility of the vessel and the cargo on board being treated separately". Panama`s Luster Maritime and Japan`s Higaki Sangyo Kaisha, the vessel`s registered owners, have started legal proceedings in London`s High Court to open a limitation fund that lawyers say will serve as a cash pool of around $115 million to satisfy valid English claims. Japan`s Shoei Kisen is the beneficial, or ultimate, owner of the vessel. Two Suez Canal Authority sources told Reuters that the owner had offered $100 million in response to the Canals claim. Shoei Kisen declined to comment. TSXV:OIII | OTCQX:OIIIF - O3 Mining TORONTO, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - O3 Mining Inc. (TSXV: OIII) (OTCQX: OIIIF) ("O3 Mining" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has sold its Kinebik Gold Project located between the towns of Matagami and Lebel-sur-Quevillon, in northern Quebec, to Tri Origin Exploration Ltd. ("Tri Origin"). Under the terms of the agreement (the "Transaction"), O3 Mining received 2,700,000 common shares of Tri Origin, which are subject to a statutory four month and a day hold period. Download Press Release (CNW Group/O3 Mining Inc.) After giving effect to the Transaction, the Corporation now holds an aggregate of 5,100,000 shares of Tri Origin, representing approximately 9.87% of the issued and outstanding Tri Origin shares on a non-diluted basis. Mr. Jose Vizquerra, O3 Mining's President and Chief Executive Officer commented: "We are pleased to announce that we have found another strategic partner for one of our non-core assets. We continue to increase value for our shareholders through divestment as a part of our ongoing strategy. We look forward to supporting Tri Origin as they maximize value in the Kinebik Gold Project". About O3 Mining Inc. O3 Mining Inc., an Osisko Group company, is a gold explorer and mine developer ready to produce from its highly prospective gold camps in Quebec, Canada. O3 Mining benefits from the support, previous mine-building success, and expertise of the Osisko team as it grows towards being a gold producer with several multi-million ounce deposits in Quebec. O3 Mining is well-capitalized and owns a 100% interest in all its properties (137,000 hectares) in Quebec. O3 Mining trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX.V: OIII) and OTC Markets (OTCQX: OIIIF). The company is focused on delivering superior returns to its shareholders and long-term benefits to its stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at https://o3mining.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Story continues This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "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 information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Corporation, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the restart of operations; further steps that might be taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19; the impact of COVID-19 related disruptions in relation to the Corporation's business operations including upon its employees, suppliers, facilities and other stakeholders; uncertainties and risk that have arisen and may arise in relation to travel, and other financial market and social impacts from COVID-19 and responses to COVID 19. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Corporation nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Corporation does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be 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 news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Logo with OSK (CNW Group/O3 Mining Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/o3-mining-sells-its-kinebik-gold-project-to-tri-origin-exploration-301268620.html SOURCE O3 Mining Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2021/14/c2461.html Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy on Tuesday told members of the City Council that more and more officers are leaving the ranks of the city police. He said just a couple of years ago an average of just over three officers left the force for reasons other than retirement in a month. Now he said it is up to 5-6, with as many as eight a month retiring. Chief Roddy said, "It's a difficult time to be a police officer. Many who are leaving us are getting out of law enforcement altogether." He was making a pitch to do away with the current requirement that officers must live in the state of Tennessee. He said, "I can recruit somebody who lives in Memphis, but not someone from Catoosa County." A motion passed 7-1 to allow the city attorney to seek to have the Brown vs. City of Chattanooga opinion altered in Federal Court. The ruling changed the city's form of government to allow more representation by black council members. Some of its wording restricted city police hiring from outside the state. Chief Roddy said the department is making progress in minority recruitment, with the most recent academy being the most diverse. He said the move to reach out to North Georgia and North Alabama would not hurt that effort. He said some minorities living in that section might prefer working for the city police rather than police departments near where they live. Councilman Russell Gilbert had objections, saying, "There are very few African Americans living in North Georgia and North Alabama." He said the move "could lead to less opportunities for African Americans here." Councilman Demetrus Coonrod said it is because of the Brown decision "that many of us are able to be up here." She said a main problem with inner city residents wanting to become police officers is that many have a negative image of police. She added that is not the case with her five-year-old daughter, saying she witnessed white, male officers trying to save her daddy's life after he was shot. She said the daughter is very friendly to officers and wants to become a police officer. Both council members said low pay is another prime reason for police and fire recruitment and retention problems. Councilman Gilbert, who was in his last meeting on the council, cast the only no vote. Life was different until vehicular infractions became the province of police officers. Before the 20th century, the average American seldom came under police scrutiny, writes Columbia law professor Sarah Seo, author of Policing the Open Road: How Cars Transformed American Freedom. Ironically, the rise of the automobile that embodiment of personal freedom vastly expanded the polices powers over everybody who drove or rode in a car. Cops pull over 50,000 cars every day, 20 million per year. People of color, however, have always gotten special scrutiny from law enforcement, on and off the road. The Biden administration has made the decision to extend the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan past the May 1, 2021 deadline agreed to with the Taliban. However, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by September 11, 2021, bringing to a close Americas longest war. Yet as strong as the urge may be to move on, the U.S. still has a security interest in Afghanistan that it must safeguard. As stated repeatedly over the years, that interest is for Afghanistan to never again be a safe haven from which terrorists launch attacks against the United States or its allies. Relative to the future of U.S. policy on Afghanistan, securing this interest is typically associated with two options: leaving behind a residual counterterrorism force in perpetuity as an insurance policy against terrorist threats, or withdrawing forces and relying on the threat of future U.S. military action to deter the Taliban from breaking their commitments to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan to conduct international attacks. With the Biden administrations decision to withdraw by September irrespective of conditions on the ground, it would seem as though it is taking the latter course. However, a third option exists. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan, U.S. forces there have shifted to a primarily virtual posture to advise Afghan security forces. Even prior to this, the United States was providing fly-to-advise support to some Afghan partner units. These experiences open the door to the possibility of conducting long-term, over-the-horizon advisory support without a sustained U.S. presence in Afghanistan. While this topic has been discussed in general terms, it has yet to be closely examined in the context of Afghanistan. Here we introduce and explore the concept of a remote advisory cell designed to help secure the primary U.S. security interest in Afghanistan. In order to design such a cell, it is necessary to determine how it should be focused and what capabilities it needs. The primary U.S. security interest in Afghanistan is focused on al-Qaeda (and its regional affiliate in the Indian subcontinent) and the Islamic State-Khorasan. Despite years of persistent military pressure applied against these groups, they have proven resilient. As CNA found in a previous study, when counterterrorism pressure is removed from terrorist groups that are resilient, they will regroup and expand into areas of reduced pressure. Therefore, in recent years, the U.S. has sought to strike al-Qaeda and Islamic State targets in Afghanistan with its own forces and build and leverage capabilities within Afghan partner forces to do the same. If by the time U.S. forces fully withdraw from Afghanistan, the U.S. has not shifted to a stance of fully trusting the Taliban to secure its counterterrorism interests in Afghanistan, the Biden administration may want to maintain capabilities that are sufficient for Afghan security forces to generate adequate pressure on al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Afghan units best suited to do this are the Afghan Air Force and Afghan special operations forces (SOF). These elements have been partnered with U.S. units conducting counterterrorism operations as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel since 2015 and Operation Enduring Freedom before that. As such, they represent the minimum viable capability for Afghan security forces to maintain the necessary level of military pressure on al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Afghanistan. Periodic reports on the capabilities of Afghanistans air force and SOF make clear that these units are operationally proficient. For example, in the 4th quarter of 2020, Afghan SOF conducted 94% of their operations independent of U.S. and coalition assistance. Their operational prowess notwithstanding, these units continue to struggle with the support capabilities necessary to enable success, including logistics, personnel management, and maintenance, as our prior independent assessments and more recent work has made clear. Thus, a remote advising cell would need to primarily focus on improving (or least preventing the failure of) these supporting functions while also maintaining an emphasis on operational aspects. There are a number of ways to configure a remote advisory cell, but we will discuss three here. The first option would be a cell located outside of Afghanistan. Such a cell would consist of a group of advisers with open communications channels to the Afghan Air Force and Afghan SOF. These advisers would provide persistent, virtual advisory support to better enable these units to conduct counterterrorism operations but would never physically enter Afghanistan. Subsumed within this option are two additional possibilities concerning the cell's location. The cell could be located somewhere in proximity to Afghanistan or located somewhere inside the continental United States. The benefits of the cell being in the region include minimizing the time difference between advisers and Afghan units and decreasing the number of distractions for the cells personnel. However, the quality of communications and connectivity may be reduced in this option. It may be harder to find high-quality volunteers with the right skillsets to persistently deploy to a forward location. Conversely, a cell located in the continental United States would likely have better, more reliable communications channels and access to a broader pool of volunteers, but it would have a substantial time difference from Afghanistan, and its members would have the normal distractions of daily home life. The second option for a remote cell builds on the first. In addition to having a remote cell outside of Afghanistan to provide virtual advice to the Afghan Air Force and SOF, this cell would maintain the capability to conduct limited duration face-to-face engagements with these units personnel. These engagements could be structured in two different ways. First, cell members could conduct limited duration fly-to-advise missions into Afghanistan. These missions could be conducted by either military or non-uniformed personnel (civilians or contractors). This would better allow the cell to maintain personal relationships with the leaders of Afghan partner units and would enable the cell to conduct face-to-face training courses for, especially complex matters. Alternatively, the United States could sponsor Afghan Air Force and SOF visits to the cells location for limited training programs or conferences in fly-to-be-advised operations. The United States has enabled Afghans to attend training courses in the U.S. and other countries in the past (such as pilot training). Given the current needs of the force, one could imagine hosting logistics conferences, training on personnel systems or similar activities focused on sustainment of unit capabilities. The third option for a remote advisory cell represents a significant departure from the first two. In the first two options, the United States would maintain control and oversight of the TAA cell since the U.S. military would run it. However, the United States could alternatively provide Afghanistans government with the funding necessary to staff and operate an advisory cell using contractors. The Afghan government would then manage its own contracts in this regard, finding a willing company with the requisite expertise to address the needs of the Afghan Air Force and SOF. Aside from the specific benefits and detriments afforded by each option, one can imagine several overarching advantages and disadvantages of a remote advisory cell more broadly. Advantages include the potential for longer deployments (and thus the chance to develop longer, stronger relationships with relevant Afghan Air Force and SOF personnel), greater force protection for U.S. personnel, and the likelihood of reduced operating costs for the advisory cell as compared to the current situation in Afghanistan. Disadvantages include the burden of building relationships with minimal to no in-person interactions and a reduced ability on the part of the United States to exercise control over how the Afghan government uses the Afghan Air Force and SOF. Regardless of the model chosen for a remote advisory cell, our analysis of the concept suggests that it should adhere to three common factors to best enable its success. First, it should be focused more on supporting capabilities than operational ones, in accordance with the needs of the Afghan Air Force and SOF. This should drive personnel requirements and associated skillsets needed to staff the advisory cell. Second, any remote advisory cell should be jointly and selectively manned. There are already several U.S. Air Force and Army units that have longstanding relationships with the Afghan Air Force and SOF, respectively. These connections should be maintained via the leadership and structure of the remote advisory cell. Third, the cell should be fully integrated as a single entity instead of having multiple advisory cells independently focused on advising their particular partner unit. The choice to establish a remote advisory cell as just described would be a bilateral one between the U.S. and the government of Afghanistan, but it is nonetheless useful to consider how the Taliban might react to such a move. To do so, we engaged four experts on the Taliban to explore whether the group would object to a remote advisory cell's existence and, if so, under what pretext. Their collective insights revealed several pertinent findings. First, the United States should prepare for verbal pushback from the Taliban against the notion of a remote advisory cell, though whether or how this would affect Taliban offensive actions on the battlefield is hard to predict. Second, establishing a remote advisory cell would likely curtail any potential future U.S.-Taliban cooperation on counterterrorism matters, as it would send a clear signal that Afghan security forces remain the United States partner of choice. Third, if postured properly, a remote advisory cell could prove helpful in negotiations with the Taliban. For example, suppose the U.S. fully withdrew from Afghanistan before a comprehensive peace settlement is reached (as is stipulated in the U.S.-Taliban agreement). In that case, a remote advisory cell could help retain some leverage for the U.S. and the government of Afghanistan while negotiations continued. Conversely, if the United States fully withdrew its forces and did not maintain a remote advisory celland the situation in Afghanistan deterioratedthe creation of such a cell at that time could be an option to reinforce the Afghan Air Force and SOF short of sending U.S. troops back into Afghanistan. In conclusion, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State remain present in Afghanistan, and the U.S. retains an enduring interest in keeping counterterrorism pressure on those groups. As long as the Taliban waver on their counterterrorism commitments, the Afghan Air Force and SOF are the United States chief and best options for conducting counterterrorism operations absent a U.S. troop presence on the ground. A remote advisory cell is a feasible option for maintaining security cooperation relationships with critical Afghan partner units, though it should adhere to the common features identified above to be as effective as possible. The Taliban, meanwhile, are unlikely to readily accept the establishment of a remote advisory cell, limiting the ideas utility to specific circumstances. Even so, a remote advisory cell may have domestic political benefits given the increased force protection and likely reduced costs it would afford over the current U.S. footprint in Afghanistan. Alexander Powell is a Research Analyst in the Countering Threats and Challenges Program at CNA Corporation, a non-profit, non-partisan research, and analysis organization based in Arlington, Virginia. He has worked extensively on security issues in Afghanistan, traveling there frequently to conduct assessments of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. In 2017, Powell deployed with the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan. He holds an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University, where his thesis focused on foreign armed interventions in Afghanistan since the Anglo-Afghan Wars. Dr. Jonathan Schroden directs the Countering Threats and Challenges Program at the CNA Corporation. His work at CNA has focused on counterterrorism and counter-insurgency activities across much of the Middle East and South Asia, including numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. You can find him on Twitter @jjschroden. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of CNA, the Department of the Navy, or the Department of Defense. Because the law grants the police enormous leeway to protect their own lives and those of others in situations they deem to be dangerous, it remains difficult to charge and convict them even in cases when they do not claim a shooting was accidental. It can be at least as difficult to bring charges when officers argue they merely made a mistake. In 2017, for instance, Charles Gillis, a small-town Georgia sheriffs deputy, claimed that he had accidentally drawn his gun instead of his Taser and fired a bullet through the arm of a young man he and his partner were trying to arrest. After considering the case, the local district attorney said he found no negligence or criminal intent. Robert Weisberg, a professor of criminal law at Stanford University, said that typically, officers could be culpable if their actions meet the standard of gross negligence. Was it extremely reckless or negligent for a trained officer to make this mistake? he said. Officers may evade charges or convictions if the context around their actions whether the victim made sudden or threatening movements, for example makes those actions seem reasonable. Mr. Weisberg said that cases in which officers say they mistook which weapon they were using are rare. He said they are legally different from the majority of police shootings, where officers concede they used deadly force but argue they were justified in doing so. We havent seen any evidence that the officer intended to cause Mr. Wrights death, he said. In 2019, Matthew D. Weintraub, the district attorney in Bucks County, Pa., investigated a case of weapon confusion involving an officer who yelled, Taser! before shooting a man in a police holding cell. Mr. Weintraub ultimately ruled out charges after finding that the shooting was neither justified, nor criminal and that the officer had an honest but mistaken belief that he had used his Taser against the victim, who was injured but survived. CLEVELAND, Ohio A divided federal appeals court Tuesday upheld an Ohio law that punishes doctors who perform abortions because women fear their children could be born with Down syndrome. The 6th U.S. Court of Appeals overturned a decision by U.S. District Judge Timothy Black, who had placed an injunction on the law passed in 2017. The decision means doctors could face felony charges and the loss of their medical license for violating the law. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and Preterm-Cleveland, which challenged the law. It is unclear whether abortion-rights advocates will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeals court voted 9-7, with Judge Alice Batchelder writing for the majority. Batchelder said that the law does not create a substantial obstacle to a womans ability to choose or obtain an abortion. She said the law is valid in all conceivable cases, and the plaintiffs cannot succeed on the merits of their claim. Judge Jeffrey Sutton agreed: I fail to see how it is an undue burden to prohibit expectant mothers from telling the doctor performing the abortion the reason for their decision: a Down syndrome diagnosis. The Ohio law makes the decision a private one and leaves it there, perhaps just where it should be left. In a scathing dissent, Judge Bernice Donald wrote: I will call it what it is: the long arm of the state wielding the threat of a class-four felony forcefully reaching into a profoundly intimate conversation between doctor and patient and telling the patient to be silent about her medical history or worse, purposefully lie about it. Advocates who oppose abortion hailed the decision as a victory. Ohio Right to Life is elated that the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with life and ruled against the fatal discrimination of babies with Down syndrome, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said in a statement. The American Civil Liberties Union disagreed. Patients should have all the information desired about their pregnancy and be encouraged to ask questions confidentially in order to make the very personal decision to have an abortion freely, without the presence of politicians in the exam room, said Jessie Hill, an attorney working with the ACLU of Ohio. Its unfortunate that the court gave so little weight to the importance of open and honest communication within the doctor-patient relationship. The appellate bench heard the case after a three-judge panel upheld Blacks ruling. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office, however, requested the bench hear the case. He lauded the decision Tuesday. Todays ruling by the court will restore this important protection for Ohioans born and unborn alike with Down syndrome, Yost said in a statement. Then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed the bill into law in December 2017. Black blocked the law months later with the injunction, and the state could not enforce it while the lawsuit was pending. The ACLU, representing Planned Parenthood and Preterm Cleveland, argued the law would force Ohio women to travel out of state for abortions or force them to continue pregnancies against their will. Doctors who perform an abortion because of a womans fears that her child could have Down syndrome, or have a possible diagnosis, could be convicted of a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. The State Medical Board could also revoke the licenses of doctors. In siding with Batchelder, Judge Richard Allen Griffin cited the Holocaust and Nazi Germanys push for eugenics, an attempt to find the perfect species. Eugenics was the root of the Holocaust and is a motivation for many of the selective abortions that occur today, Griffin wrote. Donald, however, countered in her dissent, citing the difference between a woman today making an individual choice and a historical movement tightly fastened upon improving stock. " Batchelder was appointed by President George H. W. Bush, while his son chose Sutton and Griffin. President Barack Obama selected Donald. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Bay Area environmental groups are celebrating a decision by an affiliate of Cargill to withdraw its appeal of a federal judge's finding that Redwood City salt ponds are protected by the Clean Water Act. While the withdrawal does not mean development is prohibited it does make it more difficult, as the federal act requires permits be issued before any dredging or filling of the salt ponds, a 1,365-acre area adjacent to the San Francisco Bay filled with tidal pools, marshland and commercial salt mining operations. The decision to withdraw by Redwood City Plant Site, LLC, a Cargill affiliate, follows the decision by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw its appeal Feb. 26 in the weeks after the Biden administration took office. The EPA's change of direction appears to be another instance of the new administration's different stance on environmental issues than that of the Trump administration. In his October 2020 opinion, U.S. District Judge William Alsup determined that the EPA ignored its own interpretative regulations in 2019 and misinterpreted relevant case law when it decided the salt ponds were not part of the "waters of the United States." The judge vacated the determination and sent the case back to EPA to reconsider under the correct standards. The EPA and Cargill appealed the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The EPA's 2019 determination was challenged by Xavier Becerra, attorney general of California, and a group of environmental organizations including Save the Bay, San Francisco Baykeeper, Green Foothills and Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge. Those groups celebrated the appeal withdrawals Tuesday and now hope the EPA drafts a new determination in line with the court ruling. "After decades of denial, Cargill is finally acknowledging that these salt ponds are legally wetlands and waters of the United States," said David Lewis, executive director of Save The Bay. "Now it's urgent to protect them for people and wildlife forever, by adding them to the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge." The Redwood City salt ponds are filled with levees and dikes constructed for use in salt mining operations. Salinized water fills a series of evaporation pools that result in salt deposits that are ultimately scraped out and sold commercially. The dispute turned on whether the fact that the salt ponds were set off from the Bay itself by the development of a system of levees and dikes made them no longer part of the navigable waters of the Bay. "The salt ponds here have not been dry and have had continuing connections to the Bay," Judge Alsup wrote. Based on that, the EPA was wrong to have determined they were not part of the navigable waters of the Bay. 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. The flag-draped casket of U.S. Capitol Police Officer William "Billy" Evans arrives Tuesday to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Tonight, Evans' body will be returned to his native North Adams, followed by a private funeral and burial Thursday in Adams. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Iconic Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ICM) (OTC Pink: BVTEF) (FSE: YQGB) (the "Company" or "Iconic") is pleased to announce it has begun total project scale permitting at the Bonnie Claire project located 48 km (30 miles) north of Beatty, Nevada. The permit, known as a Plan of Operation will allow exploration and development of the project for the next several years. Iconic has engaged EM Strategies Inc. of Reno, Nevada to create the Plan of Operations. The study will permit the following: An all-weather access road into the project site Access to 39 proposed future drill sites Trenching for bulk samples A proposed facility site Other work, currently in progress, includes completion of an updated NI43-101 resource report by Global Resource Engineering Ltd. (GRE) of Denver, Colorado. The report is expected within the next week. Work also continues on the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and further metallurgical testing. Bonnie Claire Property The Bonnie Claire Property is located within Sarcobatus Valley, which is approximately 30 km (19 miles) long and 20 km (12 miles) wide. Quartz-rich volcanic tuffs containing anomalous amounts of lithium occur within and adjacent to the valley. Drill results from the salt flat have included lithium values as high as 2550 ppm Li and a 1560 foot (roughly 475 meter) vertical intercept that averaged 1153 ppm Li. The current 43-101 report on the project notes that, with a cutoff grade of 600 ppm Li and average grade of 1,027 ppm Li, one square mile contains an inferred resource of 5.025 billion kilograms Li (though this is a resource, not a reserve, and has not yet proven economic viability). The gravity low within the valley is 20 km (12 miles) long, and the current estimates of depth to basement rocks range from 600 to 1,200 meters (2,000 to 4,000 feet). The current claim block covers an area of 74 km2 (28.6 mi2) with potential for brine systems and further sediment resources. Qualified Person Richard Kern, Certified Professional Geologist, a qualified person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Kern is not independent of the Company as he is the Chief Executive Officer of Iconic. On behalf of the Board of Directors SIGNED: "Richard Kern" Richard Kern, President and CEO Contact: Keturah Nathe, VP Corporate Development (604) 336-8614 For further information on Iconic, please visit our website at www.iconicminerals.com. The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.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 (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, statements with respect to the Option, the Joint Venture, the amount of the Offering, the expected use of proceeds from the Offering and the future business plans and exploration 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: "will", "believes", "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, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals required for the Option Agreement and the future development of the Company's projects in a timely manner. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, including on the Bonnie Claire Property, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium and gold, 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, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the business, financial condition and exploration and development activities of the Company, 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 of the TSX Venture Exchange in respect of the Option Agreement and the Offering, 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 the Canadian Securities Authorities. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. 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 in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80379 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaycha Labs, a leader in Cannabis and Hemp testing technologies and methods, has announced that its next lab will be in Tempe, Arizona. With locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida (Fort Lauderdale/Davie and Gainesville), Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee, Kaycha has the most extensive network of Cannabis labs in the United States. Kaycha Labs James Horvath, CEO of Kaycha Labs, remarked, "Arizona, having just legalized adult-use, recreational marijuana in November, is the most logical choice for our company's newest location. In addition to Arizona being a nascent market, many of our current multi-state operator clients have invested heavily in the state, and we know they value reliable testing partners who can provide consistent testing methodologies across geographies." John Schwartz, Kaycha Labs' Chief Operating Officer, added, "The 6,000-square-foot Tempe space comes with a pre-existing, efficient layout that will allow us to build-out quickly and accommodate several sets of equipment. We have already hired our lab director, construction contracts have been signed, and because we are experienced in the ISO certification process, we expect to be operational this fall after we complete the regulatory process. Needless to say, we are very excited." ABOUT KAYCHA LABS: Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Kaycha Labs has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee. Kaycha's network of accredited labs is a recognized leader in testing precision and speed, delivering results within 48 hours with sample automation and technology innovation. Kaycha labs implements over 500 procedures and methods to test Cannabis and Hemp products using state-of-the-art equipment. These procedures and methods comply with standards set by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Standards Organization (ISO), United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Services, and Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC). For more information, visit KaychaLabs.com and on social media @KaychaLabs Media Contact: Kara Pound Simply180, Inc. [email protected] 386-237-4500 Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE Kaycha Labs An appeal court has increased a jail sentence imposed on former Adelaide magistrate Bob Harrap after his admissions to deception and conspiracy charges. But the court has declined to increase Harrap's non-parole period, which remains at 12 months. Harrap pleaded guilty to two counts of deception in relation to the use of his government car and to one count of conspiring to commit an abuse of public office. He had tried to avoid demerit points and the loss of his licence over speeding fines by lying about who was driving his car at the time. He had also ensured he heard a court matter despite previously giving the lawyer involved private advice in relation to the case. At a hearing in February, Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Hinton argued that Harrap's sentences for both sets of offending were manifestly inadequate and urged the Court of Appeal to intervene. Mr Hinton also argued against the order that the sentences for the conspiracy offences and the deception charges be served concurrently. An appeal court has increased a jail sentence imposed on former Adelaide magistrate Bob Harrap (pictured outside court last year) after his admissions to deception and conspiracy charges But Harrap's defence counsel David Edwardson QC said Harrap's sentences were excessive considering he was a first offender, had excellent character references and was at very low risk of reoffending. In a majority decision on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal increased Harrap's head sentence from 18 months to 21 months but left his non-parole period unchanged. It dismissed the DPP's appeal on the deception charges but allowed it in relation to the conspiracy offence. It also allowed Harrap's own appeal against his sentence on the deception offences. In jailing Harrap last year, District Court Judge Paul Slattery said he accepted the 61-year-old had lost his career, that his mental health had been impacted and that he would be at greater risk in prison. But he said Harrap knew the seriousness of his offending. 'Members of the judiciary are required to hold themselves separately from other members of society,' Judge Slattery said. In another decision handed down on Wednesday, the appeal court also recorded a conviction against one of Harrap's co-accused, a lawyer involved in the conspiracy offence. At sentencing, Catherine Moyse had escaped a conviction and was fined $600. But the Court of Appeal overturned that decision, recorded a conviction and increased her fine to $6000. The DPP had argued that the woman's initial penalty had failed to maintain an appropriate standard of punishment. Monk in the marketplace publishes his story Monk in the marketplace publishes his story Ray Simpson, the founding pastor of the ecumenical church in Bowthorpe, has published an autobiography called Monk in the Marketplace. The book begins with his war-time childhood and then maps his early ministry assignments and his calling to be a pastor, which became reality in the divine experiment of Bowthorpe. Leafing through the autobiography the reader will stumble across many well-known Norfolk figures, including John Drake from YMCA and Paul Hodgson from the Church on the Way, who both climbed the haystack in the centre of Bowthorpe to pray over what would become the site of the new church. Bowthorpe Church was launch in a packed village hall during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January 1978. Ray Simpson was commissioned by the Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Quakers and United Reformed churches, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band, with the Pentecostal and Community Church leaders offering the right hand of fellowship, to establish one family of Christians for one neighbourhood. The Anglican Diocese purchased an empty shop unit in Clover Hill, and Ray initially lived above it, opening it daily for prayer, newspapers, and coffee. He named it The Open Door, and it became the first home of the one family of Christians. Those involved in the project decided to form Bowthorpe Community Trust as a separate entity. They turned derelict stables into wood workshops and a shop, sponsored a listening and counselling service and opened a house of prayer, run by a Franciscan Tertiary who offered refuge to battered women or pilgrims. After the church was constructed, Ray set up daily morning and evening prayer, and asked a Norwich museum to donate an ancient Bowthorpe church bell from centuries back. It was tolled daily at 9.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. After a decade in Bowthorpe, he was granted a sabbatical leave and visited the cell of Brother Klaus, Switzerlands patron saint. It was during this time of retreat that he had the inspiration to turn a derelict forge next to the vicarage into a prayer cell dedicated to St Walstan. Rays interest in Celtic Christianity drew him towards Lindisfarne in Northumbria, the tidal island from which St Aidan launched the Celtic Church in England. When the time came for him to feel that his mission in Bowthorpe was fulfilled, Ray moved to the island and founded the Community of Aidan and Hilda. He has now written some 40 books, including Exploring Celtic Spirituality, Soul Friendship, Celtic New Monasticism for Everyday People and Liturgies from Lindisfarne. Monk in the Marketplace was published by Darton, Longman and Todd on March 31. Pictured above is Ray Simpson Eldred Willey, 14/04/2021 Highlights Realme may be working on a new affordable phone with 5G. This phone may use a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chipset. Rumours are rife that this phone may be one of the Q-series. Realme may be planning another affordable 5G phone with a new chipset. After launching a flurry of smartphones such as the Realme GT, Realme GT Neo, Realme V13 5G, Realme V15 5G, and Realme X7 Pro (Ultimate Edition) in China, the Oppo offshoot is getting ready for a phone with Dimensity 1100 chipset inside. Now, the chipset here is a little less powerful than the top-end Dimensity 1200, which we recently saw on the Realme GT Neo. So, it is clear we are not looking at a flagship-level phone. According to Digital Chat Station, which has a pretty good record of leaking news about upcoming phones in China, the Realme phone in question may arrive by the end of this month. And this phone is going to be affordable. But how "affordable" is the real question. Realme already has a pretty good range of phones in China, and these phones are spread across various price points. Right now, these price segments are already too crammed, which is why it will be interesting to see where this phone will fit. Apart from the information that a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 processor will power this phone, there is nothing else known at this point. But there is no harm in guessing. Considering the phone will use MediaTek's penultimate 5G chipset, you can expect the phone to have an AMOLED screen with an in-display fingerprint sensor. The phone may come with at least a 64-megapixel camera system, if not the 108-megapixel camera that the Realme 8 Pro comes with. And there is definitely going to be fast charging on this phone because that is a standard feature now. Interestingly, a mysterious Realme phone arrived at China's TENAA certification body. This phone bears the model number RMX2205, and the images in the listing suggest that there may be an AMOLED screen on the phone with an embedded fingerprint sensor. This display may be 6.43-inches in size with Full-HD+ resolution. The phone is going to be 8.4mm thick, but its weight is not known right now. The phone has a volume rocker on the left and a power button on the right. A 4400mAh battery is supposed to keep the lights on this phone that will come running Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 software. Recently, Realme confirmed it is planning to launch a new Q-series of phones that will sit below the GT series in China. And it is possible this phone we are talking about may be one of the Q-series. Some rumours even point out that this smartphone will arrive in some markets are Realme 8i. Realme recently launched the 8 and 8 Pro in India, and now it is bringing the 8 5G in Thailand and India. Sinn Fein Midlands Northwest MEP Chris MacManus has called on the governments plan relating to the EU Recovery Fund to specifically focus on the Northwest region. The needs of the Northwest were outlined in a Sinn Fein submission to the plan by MacManus and by Sinn Feins Public Expenditure spokesperson, Mairead Farrell TD. Mr MacManus said: Ireland stands to gain up to 1.2bn from the EUs 750bn Recovery Fund. The Northwest must be prioritised within the plan and utilise synergies with other funds to maximise a Northwest investment package. I am pleased that Sinn Fein has proposed this initiative. The Recovery Fund along with PEACE Plus, Sinn Feins proposals on regional aid guidelines, structural funds and the Brexit Fund offer the opportunity to put together a comprehensive investment plan for the Northwestern region. This region has actually slipped in relative terms from being a developed region to a region in transition. It begs the question in transition to what? It is appalling that this has come to pass but it highlights deep structural and investment issues in the north, west and border area of the Irish state. Brexit brings an even deeper problem. The distance from Galway, the largest city in the West of Ireland, to Brest in France, our nearest EU landpoint, is over 800km. The need for investment has never been greater. Mr MacManus concluded, The North West Regional Assembly must be involved in this plan and the Recovery Fund must be the linchpin in an investment plan that maximise the synergies of these funds. The Kinston Police Department in North Carolina ((Google Maps)) Two North Carolina police officers have been suspended after repeatedly punching a Black man lying on the ground in a clash that was caught on camera by a filming bystander. At around 6pm on Monday, Kinston Police officers McKinley Jones and Kevin Page responded to a 911 call from a woman who said David Lee Bruton Jr, 36, had threatened to slap her, according to the Jones Free Press. In a press conference on Tuesday, police said that Mr Bruton then attempted to run away from the officers, but tripped and fell to the ground, with the officers quickly moving to detain him while he was on the floor. The authorities have claimed that Mr Bruton kicked one of the officers in the stomach in the incident, while the footage filmed by a bystander showed the two officers punching the 36-year-old several times as he was on the ground before arresting him. The footage of the incident was uploaded to Facebook on Monday evening, quickly causing outrage among local residents and politicians. In a statement, Kinston Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon reacted to the footage, saying: The video that you saw, that I saw and that members of the community have seen, the response has been the same, it is very disturbing. Ms Solomon added to the Free Press: It is very concerning, which is why we cant afford nor do we desire to afford to ignore what we saw. She confirmed that the local police department alongside the city is investigating the incident and is seeking additional footage from anyone else who witnessed the arrest. Barbara Sutton, the president of the Lenoir County chapter of the NAACP, told WRAL-TV that she is very, very disturbed and very outraged by the footage and confirmed she has received dozens of calls relating to it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Ms Brutons mother, Cynthia Bruton, told the Free Press that the officers must receive consequences for their actions and confirmed that her son was not seriously injured in the encounter. We are really grateful to God that he is alive, she said. Because he couldve been one of those taken out by police but he was not. Story continues Just looking at the video last night, one would have thought he was beaten to a pulp, but as far as we know, hes OK. We still have not seen him, Ms Bruton added. Mr Bruton has been charged with intimidation, simple assault and disorderly conduct, with a bond set at $500 (362). Kinston Police chief Tim Dilday confirmed to The Independent on Wednesday that the two officers have been suspended from the department, pending an investigation into the incident. The footage was uploaded amid the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with killing unarmed Black man George Floyd after kneeling on his neck for several minutes during an arrest last May. It also came just one day after the death of 20-year-old Black man Daunte Wright, who was killed by a Minnesota officer, prompting protests and further scrutiny on use of force by police. Pakistan interior minister recommends ban on Islamist party View Photo ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistans interior minister on Wednesday recommended a ban on an Islamist political party whose supporters held violent rallies this week to condemn the arrest of their leader that left at least five people dead. Saad Rizvi, an Islamist cleric, had threatened protests if authorities did not expel the French ambassador over depictions of Islams Prophet Muhammad. The announcement by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad came hours after Pakistani security forces swinging batons and firing tear gas moved in to clear sit-ins by the protesting Islamists in the capital Islamabad and elsewhere. The crackdown came after five people, including two police officers, were killed Tuesday in the clashes. Police and paramilitary rangers quickly cleared most of the sit-ins staged by the protesters in Islamabad and roads were reopened. Ahmed asked protesters who were still blocking roads and rallying in the eastern city of Lahore to peacefully disperse. The announcement of a proposed ban on the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party came two days after supporters first began blocking highways and key roads in various parts of the country to denounce Mondays arrest of their leader. Rizvi was taken into custody after he threatened the government with mass protests if it did not expel French envoy Marc Barety before April 20 over the publication in France of depictions of Islams Prophet. Rizvi had claimed the government committed to expelling the French diplomat in an agreement. However, the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan insisted it only committed to discussing the matter in Parliament. Ahmad said police and paramilitary rangers launched a crackdown against demonstrators before dawn Wednesday and quickly cleared rallies in the capital and other cities, including the garrison city of Rawalpindi. He said two policemen were killed and 340 police were wounded in the clashes with Islamists. Ahmad did not say how many demonstrators died, but police earlier said at least three Islamists were killed in clashes. He said he hoped the situation would soon be under control in Lahore, where Islamists were still rallying and blocking some roads. Rizvi emerged as the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party in November after the sudden death of his father, Khadim Hussein Rizvi. His party wants the government to boycott French products and expel the French ambassador under an agreement signed by the government with Rizvis party in February. Tehreek-e-Labiak and other Islamist parties have denounced French President Emmanuel Macron since October last year when they say he tried to defend caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as freedom of expression. Macrons comments came after a young Muslim beheaded a French school teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class. The images had been republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to mark the opening of the trial over the deadly 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures. That enraged many Muslims in Pakistan and elsewhere who believe those depictions were blasphemous. ___ Dogar reported from Lahore, Pakistan. By MUNIR AHMD and BABAR DOGAR Associated Press Inoperable ventilation units in George Bancroft Elementary School, which the Scranton School District contend broke after a contractor completed an energy efficiency project, will keep students from the building until at least January. Meanwhile, the district is unable to produce any documents related to the units to fulfill a Right to Know Law request filed by The Times-Tribune last month. The units, located in each classroom, could cost $20,000 each to replace. The bidding, manufacturing and delivery process would mean the school could likely not reopen for at least eight months, Arif Fazil, president of DHuy Engineering, said at Monday nights school board meeting. As students in Scranton returned to schools over the last few weeks for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, Bancroft remained closed because of the faulty ventilation units. Students from Bancroft, which the district has proposed to close permanently as part of the reconsolidation plan, have moved to Isaac Tripp Elementary School. The school board on Monday delayed making the decision if Bancroft would ever reopen. During a tour of Bancroft March 22, Harold Newell of Scranton Electric opened a ventilation unit and showed work done by a different contractor, which he said he believes caused the coils inside to freeze over the last year. The Times-Tribune filed the Right to Know Law request after the tour, seeking any information about the work. Superintendent Melissa McTiernan said Tuesday she had no comment about the lack of documents. The Scranton School District administration continues to fully cooperate with the state police and the attorney generals office in the ongoing investigation, she wrote in an email. The investigation has led to charges related to overbilling by the former district mechanic and work done on the personal vehicles of the former business manager. Last fall, authorities charged three former employees the superintendent, chief operating officer and daytime maintenance foreman for crimes related to ignoring lead and asbestos problems. Officials would not confirm if the Bancroft work is part of the investigation. Solicitor John Audi also did not have an explanation related to the documents. Were looking into what our rights are, he said of the work done on the units. Director Sean McAndrew, who attended the tour last month, asked during the meeting for an update on the units. There are issues that have occurred that we cannot discuss publicly because of potential litigation, Audi replied. On Tuesday, McAndrew said he hopes school directors and the public receive additional information soon. If someone did something wrong, I hope theyre held accountable, he said. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says increasing the meetings of National Cabinet to tackle the slow vaccine rollout will be useless unless the federal government becomes more open about jab supplies. The next national cabinet meeting has been brought forward to Monday and after that will be stepped up to twice a week as it seeks to rectify a vaccination program which is lagging well behind most developed countries. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the more regular meetings would continue "until we solve the problems and get the program back on track". But the NSW premier told reporters the responsibility for expediting the rollout lay with Canberra as lack of supply was the main hindrance. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and state National Party leader John Barilaro hit the campaign trail for an upcoming byelection. She has urged the federal government to be more transparent about vaccine supplies. She reiterated the NSW government was keen to go above and beyond its assigned 300,000 COVID-19 vaccinations. 'We've been offering our support for a long time, approaching this with an enormous sense of urgency,' Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday. 'Having the majority of our population vaccinated does give us more freedom, puts us in line with where the world is heading. 'We can't afford to be left behind because it's bad for our communities.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison laughs with staff during a BHP worksite visit on his trip to Western Australia. He has stepped up the frequency of National Cabinet meetings to expedite the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. It comes after Mr Morrison on Wednesday abandoned his opposition to major vaccine hubs, such as those proposed by the NSW government. Having abandoned targets to have everyone vaccined by October, Mr Morrison now said the end of the year might be too ambitious as 'there are too many uncertainties'. Medical authorities this month recommended people under 50 get the Pfizer vaccine instead of AstraZeneca because of rare blood clotting concerns. U.S. President Joe Biden / Reuters President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after the al Qaeda attacks that triggered America's longest war, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The disclosure of the plan came on the same day that the U.S. intelligence community released a gloomy outlook for Afghanistan, forecasting "low" chances of a peace deal this year and warning that its government would struggle to hold the Taliban insurgency at bay if the U.S.-led coalition withdraws support. Biden's decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed to with the Taliban by his predecessor Donald Trump. The insurgents had threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops if that deadline was missed. But Biden would still be setting a near-term withdrawal date, potentially allaying Taliban concerns. The Democratic president will publicly announce his decision on Wednesday, the White House said. A senior Biden administration official said the pullout would begin before May 1 and could be complete well before the Sept. 11 deadline. Significantly, it will not would be subject to further conditions, including security or human rights. "The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe in staying in Afghanistan forever," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in a briefing with reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the decision with NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday, sources said. Biden's decision suggests he has concluded that the U.S. military presence will no longer be decisive in achieving a lasting peace in Afghanistan, a core Pentagon assumption that has long underpinned American troop deployments there. "There is no military solution to the problems plaguing Afghanistan, and we will focus our efforts on supporting the ongoing peace process," the senior administration official said. The U.S. intelligence report, which was sent to Congress, stated: "Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Taliban is confident it can achieve military victory." It remains unclear how Biden's move would impact a planned 10-day summit starting April 24 about Afghanistan in Istanbul that is due to include the United Nations and Qatar. The Taliban said they would not take part in any summits that would make decisions about Afghanistan until all foreign forces had left the country. The May 1 deadline had already started to appear less and less likely in recent weeks, given the lack of preparations on the ground to ensure it could be done safely and responsibly. U.S. officials have also blamed the Taliban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda. It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following al Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks, when hijackers slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, killing almost 3,000 people. The Biden administration has said al Qaeda does not pose a threat to the U.S. homeland now. In this Nov. 28, 2019, file photo, armed U.S. soldiers stand guard in the motorcade for President Donald Trump speaks during a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit to the troops at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, about 20 years to the day after the al Qaeda attacks that triggered America's longest war, U.S. officials said Tuesday. AP GREENVILLE The plan to place a moratorium on certain types of new development in the city is all but dead in the water. But in a compromise promised to come at the end of April, limitations of some sort will emerge. The majority of Greenville City Council does not support a temporary freeze on new development near single-family neighborhoods, City Manager John McDonough said. "As I understand things as they stand now, there is not support to move forward with that development moratorium," McDonough said April 12. "However, between the option of doing nothing and the option of implementing a moratorium, council has given clear direction that doing nothing is not an option." The statement was made following a council meeting in which a confusing vote on zoning for a small-scale mixed-use project on East Stone Avenue provided a case study for the pressure policy-makers face in response to "commercial creep" on neighborhoods. In that vote, the simple rezoning to commercial of a tiny strip of residential property behind the historic Earle Street neighborhood was denied over concerns of a potential rooftop bar, even as city planners assured such a use would be prohibited and suggested the rezoning be approved. The vote was a microcosm of the need for guidance on how to handle new development as the city takes on the monthslong task of rewriting its land regulations as part of its recently adopted 2040 comprehensive plan. The idea of a six-month moratorium first appeared March 22 as an agenda item. Mayor Knox White said at the time the sudden nature of the moratorium proposal created distrust in the community. Developers vehemently objected, calling such a measure a stain on Greenville's reputation as an investor-friendly city. Valuable projects and millions of dollars of investment would be frozen, they said. Two council members who represent predominantly minority districts facing pressures of gentrification lobbied for the moratorium on the premise that a flood of projects would enter the pipeline before a rewrite of zoning laws is complete. The council members, Lillian Brock Flemming and Ken Gibson, were the only two votes against a measure to delay moratorium talk until April 26. In the meantime, the city's planning staff was directed to engage three aspects of the community: neighborhood representatives, developers and members of the steering committee that put together the comprehensive plan. That outreach is ongoing but meanwhile confusion reigned over the vote on a rezoning central to a development proposal at 15 E. Stone Ave. next to Waffle House. On March 18, the city's Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve developer Timothy Kearns' request to rezone a small sliver of residential property connected to a single-family home on 12 E. Earle St. The sliver extends like a "peninsula" into the East Stone commercial property, City Planning Director Jay Graham said. Its small size, 290 square feet, is measured in thousandths of an acre. During the commission meeting, residents expressed concern that the project included a rooftop bar. Graham assured the commission that current regulations prohibit that use. The developer also reconfigured his project to divert heavy activity away from the back of the neighborhood toward the commercial Stone Avenue corridor. If the zoning was denied, city regulations that require setbacks from residential properties would make the project less viable, Graham said. Since that commission meeting, City Council's development moratorium made its splash and left council members in a state of limbo and with political pressure to preserve the character of neighborhoods. The end result was a confounding series of motions and votes on April 12 that in the end led to the project's denial. First, the mayor was absent from the meeting, leaving the seven-member council one voter short. Councilman Russell Stall, who presided over the meeting, asked for a motion on the rezoning. Flemming expressed concern that the council had yet to hear the input of residents from the commission meeting. The area has a history of conflict between residential and commercial development. In 2012, Waffle House won a settlement against the city for limiting its operations after residents protested the restaurant's location near the neighborhood. Its been problems in this area for a long time, because everybody wants it to be commercial and all of it is not commercial," Flemming said. "Its residential. Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe echoed Flemming's concern, saying that the minutes from the meeting had yet to be posted, leaving the council without sufficient information. What I dont want to hear is a project coming in on this property that abuts a single-family residence and people are on the premises, looking into the bedroom of the property behind it, Dowe said. With the motion to approve on the table, Dowe suggested the matter be tabled until after the input could be received. However, City Attorney Mike Pitts said that the motion to approve had to be voted on, though the council could immediately move to reconsider and then potentially vote to defer a decision. Flemming voted no on approval. Next, Councilman John DeWorken, who lives directly behind the proposed project, announced he would abstain from voting due to conflict of interest. That left the next council member called upon, Gibson, flummoxed. I had intended to anchor my vote to Mr. DeWorken, since it was in his district, but he has sort of blown up that plan, Gibson said as he struggled to cast his vote. He ultimately voted no. Councilman Wil Brasington, a staunch opponent of a moratorium, also voted no. Stall, who also opposes a moratorium, voted yes, resulting in a 4-1 vote against the rezoning. Immediately after the vote, Stall asked for a motion to potentially reconsider. No one offered, and Stall moved on to the next item on the agenda. The project, Dowe said, shows exactly why the council must address how commercial development impacts neighborhoods. To me, this is the quintessential example of why it is so important as we approach April 26 of what can be in someones backyard and think about what we want in our backyard, Dowe said. In this file photo, then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, speaks with then-Interior Secretary Ken Salazar before a ceremony in New Castle, Del., March 26, 2013, at First State National Monument, which was designated a national monument by then-President Barack Obama, the monument is the first step toward creating a national park in Delaware, the only state not included in the national park system. [April 14, 2021] Leviton Increases Fiber Network Support for Global Data Centers BOTHELL, Wash., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leviton today announced it has consolidated all of its plenum data center fiber cable manufacturing to its Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina facility. This insourcing capability is made possible by its September 2020 acquisition of U.S. cable manufacturer Berk-Tek, and makes Leviton a fully integrated company that manufactures its own fiber cable, connectors, connectivity hardware and cable assemblies. This move offers hyperscale, cloud or enterprise data center managers more options, faster response times and more cost effectiveness as they deploy, update or expand their networks. "Integrating our own plenum-rated fiber cable into our pre-terminated fiber cable assemblies is a key step following the acquisition of Berk-Tek," said Dave Mullen, senior product manager for Leviton Network Solutions. "It helps us further optimize our service and logistics to provide data center assemblies quickly and cost-effectively. Also, by directly controlling both the manufacturing of the fiber cable and the fiber cable assemblies, Leviton is now able to increase its capacity and further expand its product line, making what is often times a custom configuration for some manufacturers, a standard offering for Leviton." Leviton offers an extensive line of data center and enterprise fiber trunks, including Opt-X Unity ultra-low loss, Opt-X Enterprise DC low loss and plug-n-play standard loss options. In addition to this wide selection of data center cable and pre-terminated assemblies, Leviton offers extensive connectivity systems, design and planning assistance and localized customer service around the world. "With Leviton, data center managers get a customerfocused, singlesource global manufacturer of endtoend cabling systems," added Mulen. "Some of the biggest data center operators in the world including active equipment manufacturers and cloud network services rely on Leviton for their fiber networks. We are proud to be one of the few companies in the world to manufacture both complete fiber and copper solutions." To learn more about Leviton end-to-end fiber network systems, or to configure pre-terminated fiber trunk assemblies, please visit www.leviton.com/fiber. About Leviton Network Solutions Leviton Network Solutions delivers complete network structured cabling systems for data center, enterprise, education, health care, government and commercial mixed-use markets around the globe. Solutions include copper and fiber optic connectivity, IT/AV systems and much more. All Leviton products are engineered to exacting standards, offer industry-leading performance and are backed by the industry's best service and support. IT management, builders, contractors and other industry professionals consistently rank Leviton products as the most preferred brand in the industry. We can expand your network possibilities. Learn more at www.leviton.com/ns or www.twitter.com/LevitonNS. About Leviton Every day, Leviton is engineering possibilities that make the future happen, meeting the needs of today's residential, commercial, and industrial customers globally. From electrical, to lighting, to data networks, and energy management, Leviton develops thoughtful solutions that help make its customers' lives easier, safer, more efficient and more productive. Driven by its commitment to its customers, the ingenuity of its employees and the safety and quality of its products and solutions, with Leviton, the FUTURE IS ON. For more information, visit http://www.leviton.com, www.facebook.com/leviton, www.twitter.com/leviton, or www.youtube.com/Levitonmfg. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leviton-increases-fiber-network-support-for-global-data-centers-301268685.html SOURCE Leviton [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] On February 11, 2021 Belgiums fleet of elderly 43 F-16As and eight two-seat F-16Bs was grounded after one of the F-16As lost its engine, which overheated and partially disintegrated. The pilot was able to turn around and make an emergency landing. Within a week the problem was found to be a defective hinge pin in the F-100 engines used by Belgium F-16s. Many Belgium F-100 engines needed to go through a five-day engine modification process to replace the hinge pins and any other engine components that had suffered excessive heat exposure because of the hinge pin problem. The hinge pin problem was not widespread because simple components like hinge pins are purchased from a wide variety of suppliers. Even simple items like hinge pins must meet stringent standards and some batches can appear to meet the standards but dont. Selling substandard or counterfeit components has become a big business since the 1990s, with China and Russia being the source of some very convincing counterfeits. Jet engines have hundreds of parts that wear out frequently and the bad batch of components is a constant threat, Some Belgium F-16s are already back in service within a week and by mid-March all were all 51 Belgium F-16s were cleared for service. This was just in time for a veteran Belgian F-16 to become the first European pilots to have flown an F-16 for 5,000 hours. Only five other pilots have done that. Belgium earlier decided to replace its F-16s with 34 F-35A stealth fighters. These wont begin arriving until 2025 and delivery will not be complete until the end of the decade. At that point there wont be many, if any, customers for 40-year-old F-16s, no matter how well maintained they are. In Belgium engine MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) is performed by Belgium firm Patria, which is a major provider of MRO for F-100 engines used by European air forces. There are a lot of these engines around because they are very popular, durable and reliable. F-100 entered service in 1974 for the F-15 (which uses two of them) and then for the F-16 and some other aircraft. The F-100 engine is expected to continue in use into the 2040s. The engine design has been upgraded several times since the 1980s and even with regular MRO an F-16 will serving 20-30 years will wear out two or three F-100s during that time. Two American firms manufacture the engine as the F-100 and F-110 and compete with each other for sales. These two-ton engines cost about $5 million brand new. MRO costs over engine lifetime doubles or triple the purchase cost. The F-100/110 is five meters (16 feet) long with a maximum diameter of 1.2 meters and produces up to 29,000 pounds of thrust. The Netherlands F-16s, which also use Patria for MRO, had their engines examined and found no evidence of the problems in the Belgium F-16s. The Netherlands Air Force covered for Belgium to provide quick-reaction fighters the two nations that share air defense duties for their air space. Belgium received most of its F-16A in the early 1980s and these fighters have been heavily used since 2001 to support NATO operations against terrorism and to supply more air interception missions against growing Russian air force activity against new NATO members in eastern Europe. Belgium F-16s underwent major upgrades to Block 20 standards in the late 1990s and this took nearly a decade to complete. Most of those new NATO members replace their Russian Cold War era fighters with F-16s, usually Block 30 or better models. Engines arent the only problem elderly F-16s have to deal with. In late 2014 Norway confirmed reports that some of their older F-16B fighters had been found to have cracks in the fuselage and some of these F-16B two-seat models were grounded until repairs could be made. Earlier the United States had found similar cracks in some of their F-16D aircraft and after investigating concluded that all F-16Ds and F-16Bs, which the U.S. does not use any more, should be inspected. At the time there were over 150 F-16B and 400 F-16D aircraft in service worldwide. Turkey, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Denmark and Norway have some of these aircraft and all had to inspect for cracks. Only Norway reported finding any, other may have just quietly done the inspections and made repairs as needed. The situation in Norway was quickly noticed because some of the F-16Bs involved are stationed at the air base the normally sends F-16s aloft to intercept Russian recon aircraft getting too close. This crack crises began in mid- 2014 when the U.S. Air Force grounded 82 F-16D jets after cracks were discovered in longerons (metal support beams inside the forward fuselage, which hold the cockpit in place). The D version of the F-16 is the two-seater used for training. Some 16 percent of the 969 F-16s in the U.S. Air Force are the D model and these are all at least 24 years old with more than 5,500 hours in the air. The longeron design for the D and B models is different than that for the single seat models because the D and B models have a longer cockpit canopy. The air force made repairs and replacements to put the grounded F-16Ds back in service. The manufacturer has repair kits for the F-16Bs, which are the two-seater version of the F-16A. Norway has 57 F-16s, ten of them the B model. Even in 2014 it was noted that the U.S. F-16 fleet was rapidly aging. The average age of existing F-16s is over 30 years, and the average aircraft has nearly 7,000 flight hours on it. Most European nations received their F-16s in the 1980s and have upgraded them since. But they are still basically elderly aircraft. Back in 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 flight hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest models (a Block 25) F-16 passed 7,000 hours in the air. The F-16C was originally designed for a service life of 4,000 hours. But advances in engineering, materials and maintenance techniques have extended that to over 8,000 hours. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, F-16s sent to these areas will fly over a thousand hours a year more than what they would fly in peacetime. The F-16 thus follows the path of previous best-selling fighters. During the Cold War (1947-91) Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s. Since 1991 warplane manufacturing has plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong into the 2020s. The U.S. still has about a thousand F-16s in service (about half with reserve units). F-16s built so far went to 27 countries. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used warplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 will be replacing all U.S. F-16s by the late 2020s. That means the U.S. will have plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, and many allies in need of low-cost jet fighters. Many current F-16 users planned to replace the F-16 with the F-35 but that aircraft costs more than twice as much as a new F-16V so air forces are seeking to operate a mixed force of F-35s and late model F-16s. Since the 1990s most F-16s produced were for export and these, like the Israeli F-16I, cost as much as $70 million each. Some nations, like South Korea, built over a hundred F-16s under license. The 16-ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs it is an effective bomber. Since first entering service some 4,600 F-16s have flown over 12 million hours. Despite fears that a single-engine fighter would be less safe, F-16s have, in the 21st century suffered a remarkably low accident rate (loss or major damage) of 2.4 per 100,000 flight hours. The F-16 is one of the most modified jet fighters in service. While most are still called the F-16C, there are actually seven major mods, identified by block number (32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60, 70 and 72), plus the Israeli F-16I, which is a major modification of the Block 52. The F-16D is a two-seat trainer version of F-16Cs. The various block mods included a large variety of new components (five engines, four sets of avionics, five generations of electronic warfare gear, five radars and many other mechanical, software, cockpit and electrical mods.) Until the Block 70 came along, the most advanced F-16 was the F-16 Block 60. The best example of this is a special version of the Block 60 developed for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The UAE bought 80 "Desert Falcons" (the F-16E) which is optimized for air combat. It is a 22 ton aircraft based on the Block 52 model (which the KF-16 was originally), but with an AESA radar and lots of other additional goodies. The Block 70 goes beyond the Block 60, especially in terms of electronics and airframe enhancement to extend flight life. The most successful F-16 user is Israel which set a number of combat records with its F-16s. Israel plans to keep some of its late-model F-16s flying for over a decade more as it retires the oldest ones. At the end of 2016, Israel retired the last of its 125 F-16A fighters. The first 70 were acquired in 1980 and 1981 and included 8 two-seater F-16B trainers. One of the F-16As achieved a record by being the single F-16 with the most air-to-air kills (6.5), all achieved in 1982 using three different pilots. Israel received 50 used F-16As in 1994 (including 14 B models) and used these mainly as trainers. These F-16As were the first of the nearly 400 F-16s Israel obtained from the United States since 1980. Israeli F-16s have shot down 47 aircraft (70 percent of the 67 kills for all F-16s built). Israeli F-16As flew 474,000 sorties and spent over 335,000 hours in the air over 35 years. Israel was the most energetic user of the F-16 and also took the lead in developing upgrades and accessories. This could help selling the older F-16As, but that is a crowded market with more and more of these oldest F-16s being retired rather than upgraded. That is easier to do with the later F-16C models and that what Israel did with all of its F-16Cs. In one of Houstons industrial parks near Bush Intercontinental Airport, the 114,400-square-feet building looks like any other warehouse in the area. Like many of the built-to-suit commercial facilities in the park, the well-kept building features a contemporary front entrance to the lobby and loading docks for trucks. Unlike other warehouses in the park, however, this one is not housing cargo. It is a new emergency intake unit for unaccompanied migrant girls. But the facility, opened earlier this month, is raising questions among immigration advocates and lawyers who have experience working with migrant children. The National Association of Christian Churches, a disaster-relief agency based in Houston, was awarded a federal contract to house unaccompanied minors who had been detained at the southwest border. About a dozen organizations and lawyers reached by the Houston Chronicle expressed concern or surprise about the shelter and NACC, which has no track record sheltering or working with unaccompanied children or immigrants in general. Among them, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston which has a long history of sheltering immigrant children, the managing attorney at the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, and FIEL Houston, an immigrant-led civil rights organization that has operated in Houston since 2007. Immigration: Surge in unaccompanied minors at border hits all-time high FIEL executive director Cesar Espinosa was concerned about NAAC after being turned away when he offered translators, volunteers or advice. He was later allowed inside the facility, and his trepidation increased. From overcrowding to the heat that these children may experience, (these) are just a few questions that linger in my mind after witnessing for myself the conditions in which these children are currently being stored in at a warehouse that once housed dry goods, said Espinosa. He toured the shelter a week after it opened and said the girls movement is limited to their cot spaces except to go to portable toilets and showers brought to the facility. They dont even have a place to eat The food is brought to their cots, he said. Instances of inappropriate social distancing were also evident, he said. NACC didnt respond to several requests for comment. On the border: Photos provide a glimpse inside Texas border facility where migrant children are held As of April 8 the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement reported 452 girls ages 13-17 were being housed at the shelter. The Biden administration created emergency shelters like the one in Houston to manage the influx of unaccompanied minors coming primarily from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Those three countries are suffering from poverty and violence, and late last year two hurricanes displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The minors arrive at the Southwest border and are in U.S. Customs and Border Patrol facilities until they can be placed in emergency shelters under the custody of U.S. Health and Human Services while waiting to be connected with relatives in the U.S. What is NACC? The National Association of Christian Churches is a nonprofit that, according to its website, was founded in 1992 by a group of pastors that wanted to provide pastors the tools in the everyday running of their churches. It was incorporated in 2005. Despite its name, there are no listings of any Christian churches connected with the association. The website says the organization is not a church council but a church resource center. GuideStar, which reports about charitable organizations, indicates the nonprofit is also known as NACC Disaster Services, with Pastor Jose Ortega recorded as principal officer and president. NACC has tax-exempt status and is registered as a church organization, which also excludes it from having to file financial reports to the IRS, unlike other types of nonprofits. Dun & Bradstreet, a commercial credit bureau that tracks the financial information of businesses, indicate the NACC has 15 employees and annual revenues of roughly $810,000. Although NACC hasnt managed a shelter for immigrant children before, it has worked on disaster relief projects in Houston and other cities. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August 2017, Jose Ortega and his wife Angelica Ortega were featured by TV stations in Lumberton, N.C., where they were spending time with their seven children. Jose Ortega had been in the city since the previous October helping flood victims following Hurricane Matthew, the stations reported. NACC gained some notoriety when former Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Beltran mentioned them among people and organizations helping him in a disaster relief campaign for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017. The group has assisted local authorities in a COVID-19 vaccination day, and during the February freeze it operated a warming site to shelter the homeless and people stranded in airports. They also helped the city of Houston with food drives during that crisis. Their expertise is working in disasters. Theyve been very effective in helping in disasters really around the world, said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, who helped the group set up the warming center. A better job? Unlike the congresswoman, veteran lawyers and organizations in Houston that routinely work with immigrant children dont have the same confidence in the organization. We have never heard about NACC before the government announced the opening of the emergency shelter, said Julie Pash, managing attorney of the Deportation Defense Houston project at the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative. The collaborative is a coalition of immigration stakeholders such as nonprofits, advocates, law school legal clinics, public agencies and private foundations. A spokeswoman for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Office of Refugee Resettlement, said NACC was vetted following standard procedures, under the constraints of the emergency created with the surge of unaccompanied children. Facilities considered by the governement to be temporary shelters or emergency intake sites for unaccompanied minors go through a thorough review process, said Isabel Manuela Estrada Portales, the HHS spokeswoman. Sites such as the NACC Houston shelter are only selected after that review, she said. Additional capacity to house unaccompanied children has been urgently needed to manage the increasing number of arrivals at the border since February, she said. As of Monday, there were 18,773 unaccompanied children under the custody of Health and Human Services and 2,962 under Custom and Border Protection. When the Office of Refugee Resettlement identifies a site to house immigrants, it considers possible modifications to the facility, the availability of infrastructure, location, cost of operating a shelter at the site and other factors that can affect its appropriateness for children, Estrada Portales said. The NACC site is providing required standards of care for children, such as clean and comfortable sleeping quarters, meals, toiletries, laundry, recreational activities and access to medical services, Estrada Portales said. Other leaders who have visited the NACC site, such as Jackson Lee and U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, have said the children have basic needs covered, and that they are focusing on trying to unite minors with relatives as soon as possible. Children who have been discharged from HHS shelters spend an average of 37 days in those facilities, according to federal data from February. As of last week, two children from the NACC shelter have been unified with their families, officials said. Most sponsors are parents or close family relatives. While FIEL and other advocates focus on urgently releasing children from shelters, others stress proper vetting of the childrens sponsors over speed. Vetting the sponsors is an important piece to the reunification process to ensure that a child is not going into the home of an abusive caretaker, said Elizabeth Sanchez Kennedy, director of the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, a group of lawyers and legal professionals who ensure that immigrants in the region have equal access to due process. NACC could be equipped to do this work, but I dont know them, Sanchez Kennedy said. Catholic Charities is considered the gold standard, said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. In late March, Cornyn visited a Catholic Charities shelter for unaccompanied minors in Houston. The director of communications with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston said they have no information about the decision-making process in setting up this emergency shelter at NACCs warehouse. Although they were mentioned by the government in a press release as one of the service providers at the new facility, I assume this was a typo, said Betsy Ballard. Perhaps they were referring to a Catholic Charities agency in another city. After many immigration programs were closed during the Trump administration, shelters are now being organized overnight, said Sanchez Kennedy. Errors can happen, she said, especially when caring for children that require certain kinds of specialties that are different from just dealing with immigrants in general. I dont know if thats the case here. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter.com/oliiviaptallet Transformational Acquisition of Pangaea Resources Sydney, April 14, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Empire Energy Group Limited ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding Sale and Purchase Agreement with Pangaea (NT) Pty Ltd as trustee of the Pangaea (NT) Unit Trust ("Pangaea" or "Vendor") to acquire Pangaea's Beetaloo Sub-basin portfolio for a combination of cash, ordinary shares and unlisted options in Empire as set out in the attached presentation. Empire is also carrying out a capital raising. Further details about the capital raising will follow in due course.Highlights- Empire to acquire an operated 82.5% interest in five tenements across the Beetaloo Sub-basin onshore Northern Territory- Empire's best estimate Prospective Resources have more than doubled to ~41 TCFe comprising 37 TCF gas and 657 MMbbls liquids (condensate and oil)- Empire's 2C Contingent Resources have increased by more than 350% comprising 171 BCF gas and 2.9 MMbbls liquids- $5 million cash payable and 140 million Empire shares to be issued to Pangaea upon completion of the transaction. Pangaea will also be issued 8 million unlisted Empire options with an exercise price of $0.70 per share- Transaction materially enhances Empire's early commercialisation plans for the Beetaloo and provides Empire with multiple drill-ready targets- The acquisition is subject to Empire shareholder and Northern Territory Government approvals. Completion is expected to occur in June 2021Comments from Empire Managing Director Alex Underwood: "This acquisition confirms Empire's position as the leading Beetaloo independent. The transaction significantly increases Empire's operated acreage, Prospective Resources and Contingent Resources in this key region. Empire now controls a globally significant gas resource which strengthens our early commercialisation strategies. Pangaea's tenements overlap the Amadeus Gas Pipeline, which in addition to the McArthur River Mine Gas Pipeline that crosses EP187, provides Empire with multiple pathways to market utilising existing infrastructure. We are delighted to welcome Pangaea and Mr Paul Fudge to the Empire shareholder register and to our Board. The development of these resources is crucial to meeting the energy needs of Australia and the Asian region."CompletionCompletion of the transaction is subject to standard Northern Territory Ministerial approvals and Empire shareholder approval as mentioned above. Empire will seek shareholder approval for the issuance of shares and options under this transaction at an EGM to be convened as soon as practicable. The notice of shareholder meeting will contain an Independent Expert's Report.Advisorsamicaa is acting as financial advisor and Baker McKenzie is acting as legal advisor to Empire on the transaction.Morgan Stanley is acting as financial advisor and Herbert Smith Freehills is acting as legal advisor to Pangaea on the transaction.Blue Ocean Equities and Morgans Financial are acting as Joint Lead Managers to the capital raising.To view the presentation, please visit:About Empire Energy Group Ltd Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators. Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 04:17:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Market workers wait to receive COVID-19 vaccine at a makeshift vaccination center in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, April 15, 2021. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported on Wednesday 1,402 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the country to 251,675. The ministry also announced four more fatalities, taking the death toll to 1,423, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,296 to 235,053. A total of 15,199 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment, including 237 in the intensive care units. At a government meeting on Monday, Kuwaiti Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah said that the number of coronavirus infections and fatalities in Kuwait are still high. He warned that the situation is delicate and urged all the public to register to get the vaccine to rein in the coronavirus. The Kuwaiti government decided on Monday to ban holding iftar (fast-breaking) banquets at mosques or at any other public or private place during the holy month of Ramadan. The government also called on citizens and residents to adhere to social distancing rules and other coronavirus precautionary measures, particularly avoiding crowds, to stop the spread of coronavirus and maintain the safety of all. The Kuwaiti government has decided to further shorten the curfew by one hour to last between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. local time, and allow walk inside residential areas between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. from April 8 to April 22. Enditem A family with Italian heritage have revealed the key components of their Nonna's house that are typically found in all homes belonging to grandparent's from the European nation. The video, titled 'things in our Italian household that just make sense', was shared to TikTok by user unbelievacow along with the famous track Che La Luna Mezzo Mare. The footage showed three siblings rock up and down to the beat of the song as they toured the family home to point out classic Italian styled furnishings and designs. A family with Italian heritage have revealed the key components of their Nonna's house that are typically found in all homes belonging to grandparent's from the European nation At the front of the home, two of Nonna's granddaughters pointed to the stained glass windows at the door as well as the bricks and pillars that hold the house together. There were boxes of tomatoes in another section of the house, which are used to make homemade pasta sauce. Two of Nonna's granddaughters then ventured into the bathroom where they posed with toilet cleaning products and a bidet. In the kitchen, the TikTok video showed off the 'feature tiles' which were positioned on the wall between the brown wooden cupboards. The typical Italian home also comes with its own fully stocked bar and Nonna has decorated the living space with family photos. In the final snippet of the video, the three granddaughters bop along to the music with their Nonna in front of her 'forbidden cabinet', which appears to contain fancy glassware. The video, titled 'things in our Italian household that just make sense', was shared to TikTok by user unbelievacow along with the famous track Che La Luna Mezzo Mare. The typical Italian home also comes with its own fully stocked bar (left) and Nonna has decorated the living space with family photos (right) The video has more than 530,000 views and about 43,000 likes. 'Why do all grandmothers have the forbidden cabinet,' one person commented on the video with the laughing emoji. 'I don't know how they all manage to have the same looking house, no matter where in the world,' another commented. A third said: 'It's amazing how every Nonna's house has the same items.' New Jersey desperately needs more judges to handle the cases mounting up amid the pandemic, judges told lawmakers Tuesday at a budget hearing. There are currently 64 judicial vacancies out of 463 seats in Superior Court, with three vacancies more coming by next month, according to Judge Glenn Grant, acting Administrative Director of the Courts. That amounts to almost 14% of the entire Superior Court system, including the trial and appellate divisions, at a time when jury trials have been delayed and officials are bracing for a glut of new complaints once landlords are allowed to evict tenants again. These extraordinary times are not a good time to be operating with a historic shortage of judges, Grant testified before the state Senate Budget Committee. New Jersey Superior Court judges which handle criminal, civil and family law are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Vetting and hiring judges can be a long and complex process, and individual senators may unilaterally object to nominees. The senate did approve hiring a dozen new judges last month. A spokesman for Gov. Phil Murphy said they had worked expeditiously to fill judicial vacancies. We look forward to working with the Legislature on efforts to fill the bench with qualified nominees, Michael Zhadanovsky wrote in an email. Several lawmakers expressed alarm during Tuesdays hearing, including state Sen. Samuel Thompson, R-Middlesex. Im going to make a statement I dont think Ive ever made on a budget committee, Thompson said to the judges. If you need more money, come back. Judges said they mainly needed more nominees. More than 58,000 eviction cases have already been filed since last April through March of this year, all of which are pending, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. Under the current eviction moratorium, landlords can file for evictions over nonpayment of rent but cannot lock out tenants during the pandemic. The eviction ban ends mid-June. The state projects more than 194,000 landlord-tenant cases will be filed by next year, Grant testified. Housing advocates have warned lawmakers of a tsunami of evictions followed by mass homelessness if the state does not find a way to streamline the outstanding cases. What is coming, we cannot even imagine, said Judge Jeanne Covert. The court system has continued to work during the shutdown, judges emphasized, and officials are strategizing ways to reduce the backlog. More than two million people have participated in more than 156,000 remote events since the pandemic began, Grant said. Hundreds of people have also been sentenced and virtual grand juries have issued more than 5,200 indictments, he added. But virtual proceedings sometimes take even longer than in-person meetings, Covert said. In February, the state Supreme Court ruled that some people awaiting trial behind bars should be released because of the delay. NJ Advance Media staff writer Sophie Nieto-Munoz contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Blake Nelson may be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. The Texas Supreme Court on April 9 reversed lower court rulings and found that Farmers Insurance was within its rights when it decided 19 years ago not to renew homeowners policies that it feared would have forced it to cover mold damage. The 7-0 decision overturns rulings that required the carrier to renew 400,000 insurance policies that were thought to include coverage for all risks to dwellings, not just named perils. The high court also reversed orders by the 13th Court of Appeals that would have brought a $4 million payday to class-action attorneys who shepherded the case through two decades of litigation, as well as a second group of attorneys who represented plaintiffs in a separate but related class-action lawsuit. The opinion, written by Justice James D. Blacklock, explains that the case arose after Farmers and other insurers decided to stop using the HO-B policy form in 2001 because of numerous court rulings that found coverage was owed on claims for mold damage caused by leaking pipes. Insurers began using the HO-A policy form, which covered only named perils. The state Department of Insurance and attorney general approved the use of the new forms. Homeowner Sandra Geter filed suit, however, asserting that her policy stated that Farmers was not allowed to refuse to renew her policy because of claims for losses resulting from natural causes. She said that she and all other policyholders with the same policy language had a contractual right to renew their policies because Farmers had admitted it was refusing to do so because of all the mold claims it had to cover statewide. The trial court in Jefferson County and the Court of Appeals agreed. The Supreme Court, however, said both courts erred. The opinion notes that in 2002 the Texas Department of Insurance issued a bulletin that said insurers could change the terms of their policies by notifying the policyholder that they had decided not to renew coverage no later than 30 days before policy expiration. Geters position is that Farmers bound itself by contract to perpetually renew all its HO-B policies regardless of its statewide financial results and regardless of whether TDI approved statewide changes to its policy forms, the high courts opinion says. While courts will enforce contracts according to their plain meaning, we also cannot be blind to the commercial realities of the context in which the parties were operating. The court said the language in Geters policy does not mean Farmers cannot change its terms for coverage because of underwriting losses suffered statewide. The Supreme Court said claims for losses resulting from natural causes means claims made by the individual policyholder against a single policy. Likewise, references throughout the policy to losses are references to losses of the individual policyholder, not to Farmers losses on a statewide scale, the court said. The flood of mold claims that prompted Texas insurers to change policy forms turned out to be less of a concern than initially feared. In 2006, the Supreme Court ruled in Fiess v. State Farm Lloyds that the HO-B policy form unambiguously excluded losses caused by mold. The trial court had awarded the plaintiffs attorneys $3,046,246 in fees and costs of $486,789. The Court of Appeals had also ruled in favor of attorneys who intervened to assert a claim to collect fees for work they did that they said helped the plaintiffs. The Supreme Court reversed those judgments and remanded the case to the trial court to reconsider the issue of attorney fees. The high court said that its usual practice is to allow trial courts to determine what attorney fees are equitable, but it also noted that Geter and the class have not prevailed in any regard and have obtained no favorable results. Topics Carriers Texas (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Distil PLC - London-based owner of premium spirit brands - Says its unaudited full-year volumes and revenues for the year ended March 31 showed significant year-on-year growth. Says volumes increased 30% year-on-year, revenue increased 48% while investment in brand marketing and new product development increased 60%. "The outlook for the coming year is positive as restrictions are eased, consumer confidence grows, and social activity is restored. Against this backdrop we will confidently continue to drive growth and invest in new products which offer shareholder value," says Distil. JKX Oil & Gas PLC - UK-based hydrocarbon exploration and production company - First quarter 2021 total production falls 17% year-on-year to 9,177 barrels of oil per day. Says decrease is due to no drilling activity taking place in Ukraine operations. Inland Homes PLC - Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire-based house builder and brownfield developer - Says sale of 105 bed hotel in Bournemouth completed for GBP13.3 million. Says planning permission granted for 514 homes in Hillingdon. Says it has planning application for 1,629 homes and 28,772 square foot of commercial space to local authority in Hounslow. Schroder British Opportunities Trust PLC - established to invest in a portfolio of public and private equity investments consisting predominantly of UK companies - Says it has deployed around 80% of the fund received from its IPO on December 1 last year. As at 31 March 2021, the portfolio comprised of 30 companies and had a strong near term pipeline of additional private equity investments. Reports net asset value per share at March 31 of 102.16 pence, up 4.2% since IPO. Atalaya Mining PLC - Cyprus-based copper producer - says copper production in the first quarter of this year was 5.7% higher year-on-year at 13,979 tonnes, but slightly lower than the quarter prior "due to lower copper grades and recoveries". Says its plant processed a record 4.0 million tonnes of ore despite seven days of planned maintenance stoppage during February, which were offset by a new monthly performance record in March when 1.5 million tonnes were processed. MJ Hudson Group PLC - asset management consultancy headquartered in London - Enters into five-year financing agreement with Santander UK PLC, comprising of a facility up to GBP17.5 million due back in 2026. Says the facility will be used to finance the group's mergers & acquisitions pipeline, regulatory capital requirements and general corporate needs. Says that in the short term, the funds will also replace existing loans which total approximately GBP3 million. Iconic Labs PLC - UK-based media and technology business - Says it sent a pre-action letter to Greencastle Acquisition Ltd, Greencastle MM LLP, Greencastle Capital Ltd, Linton Capital LLP and ex-chair David Sefton, outlining a number of serious wrongdoings, including breaches of duty. "Should the company not receive a satisfactory response, the company intends to issue proceedings in the Commercial Court in London," says Iconic Labs. This follows from Iconic receiving a statutory demand from Greencastle Acquisition for GBP58,668 as well as a demand from Sefton claiming an amount of GBP256,676 "comprising certain unpaid invoices". "Such claims, which the Company believes are wholly without merit, will be vigorously defended by the company in their entirety," says Iconic Labs. Palace Capital PLC - investment company with portfolio of UK commercial real estate located outside of London - Says rent collection continues to be "very strong", despite the backdrop, with 92% of rents received for the December quarter and 94% collected for the financial year to 31 March. Says 82% of March quarter rents have been received. Pays quarterly dividend of 2.5 pence per share, unchanged since July quarter last year. Orosur Mining Inc - South American gold exploration and development company - Posts third quarter ended March 31 net loss of USD1.2 million, widening from USD344,000 year-on-year. Says it is examining new business opportunities in South America. Vianet Group PLC - Stockton-on-Tees, England based internet-of-things monitoring platform - Expects adjusted operating loss for year ended March 31 of around GBP700,000, and GBP1.1 million of operational cash generation. Says second half was slightly better than the first. "We believe there are significant growth opportunities for the group as the UK emerges from lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions are lifted," says Vianet. Strategic Minerals PLC - London-based mineral company with operations in the UK, the US and Australia - Says annual Cobre, which is in New Mexico, US, magnetite sales continue to exceed USD3 million, with revenue growing 12% year-on-year. " Sales remained robust and the positive annual growth highlights both the strong underlying demand and the Southern Minerals Group team's ability to maintain "contactless" operations, therein protecting both our personnel and clients," says Strategic Minerals. SMG is a wholly-owned subsidiary. Phoenix Copper Ltd - North American focused base and precious metals producer - Announces the addition of 58 unpatented lode claims and 56 unpatented mill site claims to the Empire mine in Idaho, US. Addition increases land holdings by 1,160-acres. Ceiba Investments Ltd - investment firm dedicated to investing in Cuba, with interests in the commercial and tourism real estate sectors - Announces listing of EUR25 million 10% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2026. Resolute Mining Ltd - Australian gold miner - Says mining lease for Bibiani gold mine in Ghana restored following its termination in late March by the Ghanaian Minister of Lands & Natural Resources Samuel Jinapor. Watkin Jones PLC - residential property developer - Says adjusted earnings before interest and tax for the first half ended March 31 are expected to be in line with its expectations, but slightly below the prior year. "We anticipate our profit for the first half of the year to be in line with our expectations and slightly below last year, which was before the onset of the disruption caused by the pandemic. The fundamentals supporting the markets for high quality build to rent and student accommodation assets remain strong and with the continued progress we have made in the first half of the year, gives us confidence in our future trading," says CEO Richard Simpson. By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The United States is backing the war waged against Syria and should compensate damages inflicted on the Syrian people, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The U.S. and its accomplices acting in the world and the region are involved in supporting an unprecedented terrorist war unleashed against Syria. <> U.S. actions in Syria fall outside of the scope of international law and are worthy of condemnation by the international community," the statement reads. "Syria places [responsibility] on the US administration for the consequences of the criminal policy it pursues against the Syrian people and demands compensation for the heavy losses and colossal damage inflicted on Syrians by the aggression waged against Syria and the American occupation," SANA News Agency cited the statement as saying. [April 14, 2021] The Church Pension Fund Invests $20 Million in Impact Investment Fund Designed to Preserve Workforce Housing Communities Nationwide The Church Pension Fund (CPF), the sponsor and administrator of pension and other benefit plans for The Episcopal Church, announced that it invested $20 million in Turner Multifamily Impact Fund II (Fund), a $357 million workforce housing fund managed by Turner Impact Capital (Turner), one of the nation's largest real estate investment firms dedicated to social impact investing. The Fund, together with the first Turner Multifamily Impact Fund, will enable Turner to acquire and manage up to 20,000 housing units across the country and keep them at rent levels that are affordable to residents earning less than the area median income. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005587/en/ The Church Pension Fund invested $20 million in Turner Multifamily Impact Fund II (Fund), a $357 million workforce housing fund managed by Turner Impact Capital, one of the nation's largest real estate investment firms dedicated to social impact investing. The Fund, together with the first Turner Multifamily Impact Fund, will enable Turner to acquire and manage up to 20,000 housing units across the country and keep them at rent levels that are affordable to residents earning less than the area median income. (Photo: Business Wire) Roger Sayler, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of CPF, said, "Turner Impact Capital has a long-tenured team with deep expertise investing in the affordable workforce housing market. We look forward to building our relationship with Turner Impact Capital as we continue to explore future positive impact investments that offer attractive risk-adjusted returns while also addressing key societal issues." Turner's social impact mission extends beyond preserving this housing stock. Turner also offers residents a wide range of free enrichment services tailored to each community, such as afterschool homework help, employment assistance, community halth services, and neighborhood watch programs. Bobby Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Turner Impact Capital, said, "We are grateful to The Church Pension Fund for their support, and we are looking forward to working together in the future. While many investors have struggled to raise capital for social impact funds, we have seen remarkable interest due to our singular focus on impact strategies, the demonstrated success of our previous housing investments, and our proven track record generating superior risk-adjusted returns across complementary investment platforms that also include education and community-serving healthcare facilities." CPF's socially responsible investments around the world focus on economically targeted initiatives (urban redevelopment, affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, and microfinance) and environmentally responsible programs (sustainable forestry, clean technology, and green buildings). This transaction follows CPF's prior socially responsible investments, which include investments with New Energy Capital Partners, Avanath Capital Management, Bridges Fund Management, Cheyne Capital Management, Developing World Markets, Social Investment Managers & Advisors, and SilverStreet Capital. CPF also seeks to convene people and connect investors with socially responsible investing ( SRI (News - Alert) ) fund managers and opportunities through its Insights & Ideas series of conversations. Earlier this year, it hosted a discussion on investing in economically disadvantaged communities, which follows other conversations focused on faithful investing, shareholder engagement, positive impact investing, and sustainable investing. Editor's Note: Individuals interested in learning more about CPF's SRI efforts and viewing videos related to its positive impact investments can visit cpg.org/SRI. About Turner Impact Capital Turner Impact Capital is one of the nation's largest private equity real estate firms exclusively dedicated to social impact, with more than $5 billion in investment potential. Based in Santa Monica, California, the firm focuses on creating sustainable solutions for many of today's most daunting societal problems by developing and investing in community-enriching infrastructure in densely populated, underserved communities. Learn more at turnerimpact.com or @turnerimpact on Twitter (News - Alert) . About The Church Pension Fund The Church Pension Fund and its affiliated companies, collectively referred to as the Church Pension Group (CPG), maintain three lines of business-benefits, insurance, and publishing. CPG provides retirement, health, life insurance, and related benefits for clergy and lay employees of The Episcopal Church, as well as property and casualty insurance, and book and music publishing, including the official worship materials of the Church. Follow CPG on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. cpg.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005587/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An award-winning Hoover teacher has been arrested on a felony sex charge. Vincent Joseph Chiaramonte, 41, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse/forcible compulsion. He is a teacher at the Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3) but has been on leave since the investigation began almost a year ago. Efforts to locate an attorney who could comment on Chiaramontes behalf werent immediately successful. According to Hoover police, the investigation began May 31, 2020. Chiaramonte was initially arrested on a misdemeanor charge through Hoover Municipal Court. He was placed on leave in June 2020. Lt. Keith Czeskleba said as the investigation continued, there was enough evidence to increase the charge to a felony. The case was presented to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office in the Bessemer Cutoff which issued the felony warrant on March 29. Authorities said Chiaramonte is accused of non-consensual sexual contact with a woman in her 60s. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on March 30 and released the same day after posting $7,500 bond. Chiaramonte in 2017 received the prestigious Milken Educator Award, hailed by Teacher magazine as the Oscars of Teaching. At the time, he was a computer science teacher Hoovers Bumpus Middle School and received a $25,000 cash prize. ADVERTISEMENT Nigerian stocks pulled back from a two-day retreat on Wednesday, with the benchmark index inching up by 0.09 per cent, but the advance means little when set beside the loss that befell the market Monday through Tuesday, summing up to 0.69 per cent. Equities have shed N140 billion in the last two days as stock market fund yielded more grounds to the debt market, where the pull of improving yields has not ceased draw participants. That suggests recovery is likely to be measured and not dramatic for the Nigerian bourse, which so far this year has depreciated by N850 billion. A negative market breadth was reported as there were 22 losers against 14 gainers. The all-share index expanded 34.32 points to close at 38,636.15, while market capitalisation closed at N20.21 trillion. Year to date, the index is down by 4.06 per cent. TOP FIVE GAINERS Guinness led the gainers chart, appreciating by 9.96 per cent to close at N26.50. Meyer went up by 8.16 per cent to N0.53. Wema rose to N0.60, notching up 5.26 per cent in the process. Chams added 4.76 per cent to end trade at N0.22. Caverton completed the top 5, climbing by 2.56 per cent to N2. TOP FIVE LOSERS NNFM was the worst performing stock, declining by 10 per cent to close at N5.40. Fidson shed 9.89 per cent to close at N4.28. Cutix fell to N2.03, losing 9.78 per cent. Sterling Bank slumped to N1.65, recording 8.33 per cent decline. Wapic closed at N0.46, going down by 8 per cent. TOP FIVE TRADES Japaul Gold was the most active stock with 46.220 million shares worth N34.57 million traded in 279 deals. UACN traded 32.595 million shares priced at N311.50 million in 140 transactions. Fidelity had 28.472 million shares valued at N70.73 million traded in 144 deals. Access traded 22.685 million shares estimated at N183.24 million in 225 transactions. Zenith traded 19.618 million shares valued at N431.43 million in 330 deals. He was dismissed by Sky for gross misconduct and 'violating common decency' Employees working at shopping centre to drum up business for Sky products aja Minhas, 44, made comments while working at stand in Lancashire in 2019 A Sky employee who told a colleague that two young girls wearing short skirts would be raped 'if this was Pakistan' has won an unfair dismissal case. Retail advisor Raja Minhas, 44, made the comments about the teenagers as they walked past his shopping centre stand in Blackburn, Lancashire, in June 2019. He was accused of saying that 'girls in general who wear skirts like that and then get raped, it's their own fault', the tribunal heard. Mr Minhas was working with his colleague, Mia Klemetti, at the time to drum up business for Sky products, the hearing was told. The alleged comments sparked a heated row between Mr Minhas and Ms Klemetti, who said she would 'rethink' what she would wear when she worked with him again. Raja Minhas (pictured above), 44, made the comments about the teenagers as they walked past his shopping centre stand in Blackburn, Lancashire, in June 2019 Mr Minhas, who is originally from Pakistan, told investigators: 'I saw two girls walking past, both girls were dressed inappropriately. 'You could see the outline of their bodies. I mentioned that if this were Pakistan, people would be looking and it's like an open invitation to be getting raped.' He later said he thought the conversation with Ms Klemetti was simply an exchange between two colleagues and he 'regretted' upsetting her. The pair were joined by an off-duty colleague Farhan Qudeer in the middle of their argument. A complaint was then made to his bosses and in an interview Mr Minhas said his comment was a 'momentary lapse of judgment' which would not be repeated and which he regretted. However, he repeated that if girls 'dress like that sick people might take advantage.' Ms Klemetti said during her interview she believed a woman should be able to wear what she wanted, and that 'no one should be talking about rape on the basis that it is someone's fault because of what they wear.' She accepted their discussion had become 'heated' and confirmed it had upset her. Ms Klemetti added that the claimant was 'not a bad guy' and he was entitled to his opinion. Mr Minhas was described as 'contrite, apologetic, and full of remorse' but was dismissed by Sky for gross misconduct and 'violating common decency'. A tribunal judge has now ruled that dismissal was unfair. Employment tribunal judge Mr Robinson said: 'The claimant made a foolish remark in the context of a discussion with Ms Klemetti about people's dress generally. Mr Minhas was working with his colleague, Mia Klemetti, at a shopping centre stand to drum up business for Sky products, the hearing was told (file photo) 'The claimant had strong views about the issue and he expressed them in forceful terms to his work colleague and she vociferously opposed them. 'The conversation was ten to fifteen minutes long and became heated. He came to regret it when he realised that the matter was being taken seriously. 'Up to that point he thought that he was having an informal chat, which would be taken no further.' The judge said the dismissal was unfair as the two colleagues were talking to each other and not to any member of the public or indeed any other Sky employee. He said Ms Klemetti herself did not complain and, when giving evidence to the tribunal, she did not believe it would go as far as it did. But he added: 'The claimant was guilty of some misconduct because Ms Klemetti did feel that she would not dress in a certain way in front of the claimant. 'This was a heated argument between two people who had two different views of how people should dress in public. 'The incident did not require the claimant to be dismissed and such a sanction in all the circumstances of this case is outside the band of reasonable responses. 'Mr Minhas never condoned rape. He had a view as to how a certain kind of dress might affect the way some men may behave. 'Much was made by the respondent witnesses about the possibility that Sky's brand would be damaged. That was an improbable outcome. 'The discussion between the claimant and Ms Klemetti was a private one.' Speaking after the verdict Mr Minhas, of Nelson, Lancashire, said he would be seeking his old job back at a remedy hearing held at a later date. He added: 'At the moment I don't want to say much until after that. But I am pleased with what the tribunal has done. The main thing was to show that Sky made it out to be exaggerated which was disappointing. 'It was something that was not nice and I am pleased it has been put right.' John Cena and his wife of six months Shay Shariatzadeh were seen picking up lunch in Vancouver on Monday afternoon. The 43-year-old WWE wrestler turned Hollywood actor has been in Canada filming the Suicide Squad spinoff series Peacemaker. By his side on an off day from work was Shay who lovingly clasped onto his bicep, and the pair married in a private ceremony in October after it was reportedly 'love at first sight.' Lunch run: John Cena, 43, and wife of six months Shay Shariatzadeh make a food run in Vancouver on an off day from filming his new series Peacemaker The ex-fiance of Nikki Bella paid no mind to the chillier Canadian weather as he strolled with his lady love in a simple white T-shirt and black shorts. The active couple rocked matching APL sneakers as John did the not-so-heavy lifting and carried their to-go bag. Cena began dating the engineer in 2019 after meeting her while filming the comedy Playing With Fire in her native Canada. They made their red carpet debut at the movie premiere. A source told People upon meeting Shariatzadeh 'it was love at first sight.' 'He was dazzled by her.' Instant connection: A source told People that upon meeting Shariatzadeh in 2019 he felt 'it was love at first sight' They kept their romance lowkey and chose to marry out in an intimate ceremony at a Tampa attorney's office who also officiated. Just three days before the surprise wedding Cena tweeted: 'Love involves constant effort. When you are truly ready to let love in and give to love all it needs to flourish, I feel there is no greater more rewarding connection.' Despite no trouble in paradise, his name was dragged over the weekend at Wrestlemania 37 just four years after he proposed to then-fiancee Nikki Bella in the ring. One female WWE star by the name of Bayley incited anger in Nikki and her twin sister Brie as she tried to get a rise out of the now-retired sister duo by mentioning his name. Whirlwind: They kept their romance lowkey and chose to marry out in an intimate ceremony at a Tampa attorney's office who also officiated in October; pictured January 2020 'I don't know what you two twin idiots are doing over here looking like Elmo, OK? I don't know if you heard, but John Cena is not here tonight,' Bayley added which incited a smackdown. Nikki and John were together for six years before calling it quits in 2018, and their relationship played out on the longstanding E! show Total Bellas. The pair are on good terms, Nikki even thanking him in a recent speech when she and Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame. 'To John, thank you for teaching me a lot about this business and truly helping me find my fearless side,' she said. And both have moved on romantically, as Nikki is now engaged to Dancing With The Stars' pro Artem Chigvintsev, with whom she shares a child. In this image from video, Dr. David Fowler, a retired forensic pathologist and former chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland testifies as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 14, 2021. (Court TV via AP) George Floyd Death Should Be Classified as Undetermined, Not Homicide: Former Medical Examiner The death of George Floyd should be categorized as undetermined instead of homicide, said a former medical examiner during the trial for officer Derek Chauvin, who was accused of killing Floyd. In my opinion, Mr. Floyd had a sudden cardiac arrhythmia due to his atherosclerosis and hypertensive heart disease during his restraint and subdual by the police, Dr. David Fowler, who previously headed a medical examiners office in Maryland, said on Wednesday during Chauvins trial in Minneapolis. He said that fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyds systemas well as the paraganglioma tumor he suffered fromcontributed to his death. Fowler also noted that Floyds death could have been caused by possible carbon monoxide poisoning from being close to a police car exhaust, Floyds enlarged heart, and other factors. Floyd was 46. All of those combined to cause Mr. Floyds death, said Fowler, an expert witness for the defense. He had significant narrowing of all of his coronary arteries close to their origin, which really is consistent with all of his heart, unfortunately, being subjected to reduced supply, he added. Homicide and undetermined are two of the five categories medical examiners use to label manners and causes of death. Gregory G. Davis, the president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, told Time magazine years ago that homicide indicates someones intentional actions led to the death of another person. The other labels are natural, accident, and suicide, Davis said at the time. Several other medical experts who testified have said that Chauvin keeping his knee pinned on Floyds neck and back was his primary cause of death. Mr. Floyds use of fentanyl did not cause the subdual or neck restraint, said Dr. Andrew Baker, the county medical examiner who conducted an independent autopsy of Floyd. His heart disease did not cause the subdual or the neck restraint. Dr. Martin Tobin, a lung expert, also testified in court this week that Floyd died from a low level of oxygen Its like the left side is in a vice. Its totally being totally pushed in, squeezed in from each side. Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson is trying to prove that the 19-year Minneapolis police veteran did what he was trained to do and that Floyd died because of his illegal drug use and underlying health problems. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell got Fowler to admit that he didnt take the weight of Chauvins gear into account when he analyzed the pressure on Floyds body. Further, Blackwell all but accused Fowler of jumping to conclusions and suggesting to the jury that Floyd had a white pill in his mouth in the video of his arrest. Fowler denied saying that. The Associated Press contributed to this report. GATESHEAD, England, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Growth capital investor BGF has invested 14 million in Bloom (Bloom Procurement Services), based in the North East and headquartered in Gateshead. Bloom is the UK's only public sector procurement marketplace offering an end-to-end managed service procurement solution. Founded in 2011 by Adam Jacobs, the executive chairman, Bloom provides a dynamic and open access marketplace for the provision of professional services to the UK Public Sector. Bloom's managed service enables public sector buyers to compliantly and transparently award public sector contracts and achieve significant savings. Buyers have access to a dynamic supplier base across a wide range of professional service categories. For suppliers of professional services, Bloom offers an efficient and effective route to market. The Bloom marketplace is open access allowing all suppliers to register on the platform at no cost. It enables SMEs access to a market on a 'level playing field' alongside more established organisations. To date Bloom has transacted over 7,500 projects with a value of 800 million, across all parts of the public sector. Bloom founder and entrepreneur, Adam Jacobs, said: "BGF stood out as the investment partner for us at this stage in our development. The team demonstrated a good understanding of our business and market and have a clear track record of successful investments in a similar space. They are backing a business with enormous growth potential and the BGF partnership emboldens our ambition to rapidly scale the business and create a great case study for entrepreneurship and growth in the North East of the UK." Amabel Grant has been named CEO, having joined the business in 2018 as CTO with significant public sector and technology experience, including Crown Marketplace Programme Director at the Cabinet Office. This deal will enable Bloom to invest in development of the next generation of its Pro-vide technology, enhancing the proposition for existing customers and unlocking significant growth potential. Key to Bloom's success to date, Diane Cheesebrough is non-executive director and will move to non-executive chair as part of the deal. Barry Jackson and Rob Johnson from BGF led the investment. Barry Jackson, investor at BGF, said: "Adam and Amabel are a powerful combination and Bloom is a unique asset, which has access to a large market and the potential to rapidly scale. This is a business offering a best-in-class solution, delivering results for its users and driving social value throughout the supply chain. We're looking forward to working with the team to achieve our shared ambitions for Bloom." Bloom's marketplace enables public sector buyers across Central Government, Local Government, Housing Associations, Blue Light, NHS, Universities, Schools and Non-Departmental Public Bodies to deliver against their social value goals. In turn, professional services suppliers are able to demonstrate how they will add social value and support delivery. CEO, Amabel Grant, added: "Our technology means we're uniquely placed to offer the whole public sector an end-to-end managed service procurement solution for professional services. In addition, we help buyers evaluate social value when awarding contracts, which became a mandatory requirement for central government contracts this year. We're also able to support the drive to open up public procurement to more SMEs because of our ability to onboard and work with any suppliers at any time. The Bloom team and I are incredibly excited to be working alongside BGF who bring invaluable experience of supporting scale-up businesses in developing and delivering a customer led tech road map." Advisors to BGF were Cavu Corporate Finance (Shawn Bone, Thomas Brunsnes) and Squire Patton Boggs (Paul Mann, Craig Pettit). Advisors to Bloom were KPMG (Christian Mayo, Michael Downes) and Cooley (Stephen Rosen, Charlotte Lennon). Michael Downes, Director in KPMG's corporate finance team in Newcastle, said "It's been a pleasure working with Adam, Amabel and the team at Bloom on this transaction. The deal is another example of the appetite from investors to back entrepreneurial tech-enabled businesses in the region. Bloom has an exciting future and the investment from BGF will help the team to realise the potential to grow significantly over the next few years." About BGF BGF was set up in 2011 and has invested 2.5bn in nearly 400 companies, making it the most active investor in the UK. BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, based on shared long-term goals with the management teams it backs. BGF invests in growing businesses in the UK and Ireland through its network of 16 offices. In 2018, Canada launched its equivalent - the Canadian Business Growth Fund - and in 2019, Australia did the same, both based on BGF's funding model. About Bloom Bloom Procurement Services was founded in 2011, by entrepreneur Adam Jacobs. Bloom has evolved into the UK's leading public sector procurement marketplace for professional services. Bloom's managed service enables public sector buyers to compliantly and transparently award public sector contracts and achieve significant savings. Buyers have access to a dynamic supplier base across a wide range of professional service categories. Suppliers have the ability to access and work with the public sector at significantly reduced cost. To date, Bloom has managed the procurement and delivery of over 7,500 projects across nearly 500 Public Sector Organisations in the UK, including Central Government, Local Government, Housing Associations, Blue Light, NHS, Universities, Schools and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. After federal regulators recommended a pause of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, Michigan health leaders hope this transparency builds trust. The fact that there is transparency about that is a great step, said Dr. Mark Hamed, a health director serving the counties of Lapeer, Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola and District Health Department #2. Now do I think anti-vaxxers will play into it? Absolutely. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration issued a statement recommending a pause of use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after a handful of adverse events Tuesday. The pause was out of an abundance of caution. RELATED: Feds recommend pausing use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine following reports of severe reaction The recommended pause comes after data shows six women in the U.S. had a rare and severe type of blood clot following their Johnson & Johnson vaccine, one of whom died. The FDA reported these events are extremely rare, as more than 6.8 million doses have been administered in the U.S. When Kate Cadieuxs 20-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son decided to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine about two weeks ago, she said she felt iffy about it. As the newest approved coronavirus vaccine, Cadieux of Chelsea said it wasnt her first choice for her children. Cadieux, 45, was administered the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. When she learned Johnson & Johnson was paused for use, Cadieux said she felt anxious for her children. I know its only six people and I know thousands of people are dying from COVID but.... you know, we did this intentionally to ourselves, getting a vaccine, trying to be safe, she said. Its just so damaging to me because I do think all the vaccines came out very quickly. According to Cadieux, her daughter and son said they would still get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if they would have known about the pause and it was the only vaccine available to them. RELATED: Feds recommend pausing use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine following reports of severe reaction Transparency surrounding the adverse events is good and can built public trust, said Hamed, who is also a practicing physician and president of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. I think it shows theyre doing their due diligence, Hamed said. The CDC created a system called v-safe to check in on those who received their COVID-19 vaccine. The detection of these adverse events following the Johnson & Johnson vaccine shows these systems are working, said Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, spokesperson for the Washtenaw County Health Department. This can be used to inspire confidence, Ringler-Cerniglia said. Any concern can be quickly known and investigated and we can figure out whats going on and move forward. Michigan quickly followed the recommendation and paused the use of the one-dose vaccine. The state will adapt its vaccine strategy going forward until further review, according to a statement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office. RELATED: Michigan will pause use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine, following CDC guidance A few vaccine clinics have quickly adapted and switched to Moderna or Pfizer coronavirus vaccines for upcoming vaccinations. Rare adverse events from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have no effect on Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, Ringler-Cerniglia said. Hamed also noted these vaccines are made completely differently. For those who received the one-dose vaccine and are concerned about their own health, University of Michigan epidemiologist Ryan Malosh recommends being vigilant about ones symptoms and contacting a doctor if necessary. Malosh also recommends joining v-safe to track symptoms. RELATED: Adverse reactions to Johnson & Johnson vaccine are rare, but heres what to watch out for The pause, however, is a two-fold issue, Malosh said. It will probably hurt confidence, but it also hurts the supply of the vaccine that we have available to give to people who are willing and who arent hesitant right now, Malosh said. Malosh can see the pause affecting the number of vaccinations per day in terms of supply, as well as some individuals being hesitant due to the pause. The CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday, April 14 to further review these events. The FDA will review this analysis. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail anticipates the one-dose vaccine will be released from the pause. However, people will likely be hesitant of it, she said. That is going to be something to overcome, Vail said. It will take messaging about the rareness of adverse events from the one-dose vaccine to reduce any following hesitancy, Vail said. Abram Wagner, a University of Michigan epidemiologist, said there could be restrictions on who can get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine based on gender or age, among other solutions, unless it is revoked. This would be similar to the hold put on AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in parts of Europe. RELATED: Johnson & Johnson pause has similarities to AstraZeneca, not Pfizer or Moderna vaccines Vaccine hesitancy is on a spectrum, Wagner said. Those who were adamantly against vaccinations will remain that way. However, for those more hesitant after the Johnson & Johnson vaccination was paused, Wagner would say that the COVID-19 vaccines have been used in hundreds of millions of individuals up to this point. There are multiple varieties of COVID-19 vaccines. One of those is being temporarily paused so that it can have an exhaustive safety review. But the other ones... have been used by, at this point in time, hundreds of millions of individuals, theyve been shown to be highly effective, and to be very safe. Read more on MLive: Michigan will pause use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine, following CDC guidance Johnson & Johnson pause has similarities to AstraZeneca, not Pfizer or Moderna vaccines More than 3.3M Michiganders have had first dose of COVID-19 vaccine Pause of J&J COVID-19 vaccine shows safety checks in place, Spectrum Health doctor says Half of the units in could remain shut for the next fortnight as the states new Covid-19 norms come into effect. These include appliance and apparel makers, which fall in the non-essential category. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a 15-day statewide curfew and a host of other restrictions to contain the spread of the According to the order, all factories producing essential goods and services will remain operational at full capacity. Export-oriented units will remain open to fulfil their export obligations. Industries that require continuous manufacturing, too, can operate with 50 per cent workforce. Relaxation has also been provided for factories that offer in-house accommodation. But, all other factories must stop their operations for the next 15 days. Around 50 per cent of the units in could remain shut because of the state governments new restrictions. Industry should have ideally been left out of these restrictions and allowed to operate by adhering to safety protocols. The impact of the last year was catastrophic. If the industry is impacted again, it will have a negative impact on tax collection and employment, said Sudhir Mehta, president of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCAI). ALSO READ: Coronavirus Live: Delhi reports 17,282 cases, 104 deaths in last 24 hours Appliance makers told Business Standard that they were awaiting clarity from the state government on whether they could operate their units or not in Those discussions are on and we are awaiting guidelines regarding the same, Kamal Nandi, business head and executive vice-president, Godrej Appliances, said. Nandi is also the president of the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), an apex body of durables companies in the country. However, a senior appliance industry executive said that shutting appliance factories in Maharashtra made no sense, since non-essential retail shops were operational in other states and inventory produced in local plants could be diverted there. We should be allowed to operate with all safety guidelines in place. We are prepared to do that, he said, declining to be quoted since discussions with the state government were currently on. Maharashtra contributes 12-15 per cent to an appliance companys annual sales. Apparel makers, however, remain less confident of operating their factories in the current lockdown, since many units have not come out of the disruption caused by the nationwide in 2020. In a letter to Thackeray on Monday, Rajesh Masand, president of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India, warned that the Maharashtra could deal a body blow to the local industry. The garment industry has been particularly severely hit by the pandemic last year, as retail, which is the lifeline of the garment industry, was one of the last sectors to be opened up. It has taken the industry close to a year to regain at least some semblance of pre-Covid business levels. To go into another lockdown will completely kill the garment industry of Maharashtra, Masand said. ALSO READ: As Covid spreads, 70% Indian CEOs see revenue growth in FY22: PwC survey Nearly 18,000 garment factories operate in Maharashtra, of which 10,000 are located in and around Chandrakant Salunkhe, founder-president of the SME Chamber of India, estimates that nearly 85 per cent of the industrial units in the state could down shutters for next two weeks due to the restrictions. While estimates vary, according to a Maharashtra government official, there are around a million units in the state. The SME Chamber of India has demanded a waiver on interest on loans for the next three months and easing of non-performing asset norms for units impacted by the restrictions. Industry associations have also demanded government help in vaccinating labourers and managers following government directives. ALSO READ: Coping with Covid We are offering our premises and volunteers for the task and the government should give vaccines, said Sandeep Tondapurkar of the Additional Ambernath Manufacturers Association, which represents over a thousand units on the outskirts of On Wednesday, office-bearers of the MCCIA had a meeting with state government officials to seek clarity regarding the restrictions. The government has clarified that agro-processing industries can continue to function at 100 per cent. All industries which are part of a value chain of an export unit can function too. The government will list industries requiring continuous process manufacturing that can function with 50 per cent workforce. We have also requested the government to allow industry self-certification to keep manufacturing activity on, Mehta said. The new regulations also lay down criteria for the functioning of factories. It states that all the units that provide accommodation to their labour working in the same campus or in an isolated facility and with only 10 per cent of managerial staff coming from outside may continue to work. ALSO READ: Renewed risks to recovery All staff, without exception, would need to get vaccinated at the earliest. Factories will also have to follow Covid-19 protocols and factories with more than 500 workers would need to set up their own quarantine facilities. Auto component manufacturing units in Maharashtra which have export obligations are functioning normally as of now. But the Covid-19 situation remains volatile and there will be minor disruptions, said Deepak Jain, president of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India. We are taking all the precautions and have strengthened safety protocols. The government order requires industrial units to arrange for workers accommodation in campuses. The industries have experience of this and will manage it this year too, Jain added. ALSO READ: Rahul takes swipe at govt over fast-tracking approval for foreign vaccines We are trying to ensure that the industries do not suffer. We have held discussions with various industry bodies and are issuing necessary clarifications. We are still assessing how many industries will remain open during the next fifteen days and our staff is collecting data in this regard, said Baldev Singh, principal secretaries (industries department). Its a massive irony, for all the world to see. / Its the nations capital, its Washington, D.C. Those words sung in 1981 by the poet, musician and Washington-area resident Gil Scott-Heron sum up centuries of contradiction and frustration for residents of the nations capital. More than 700,000 people live at the center of the so-called free world, but they dont have any voting representation in Congress. Civil rights activists have long pointed to this predicament as an example of gross racial inequity: Until recently, the citys population was predominantly Black, and it remains more heavily African-American than any state in the union. As the citys mayor, Muriel Bowser, said at a hearing in the House of Representatives last month, This is anti-democratic, and its un-American, and it has to be fixed now. And Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform took a step toward granting Bowsers wish, as it voted to advance a bill that would grant statehood to the District of Columbia. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) A prosecutor said Wednesday that he will charge a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer with second-degree manslaughter for killing 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright in a shooting that ignited days of unrest and clashes between protesters and police. The charge against former Brooklyn Center police Officer Kim Potter will be filed Wednesday, three days after Wright was killed during a traffic stop and as the nearby murder trial progresses for the ex-officer charged with killing George Floyd last May, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said. Second-degree manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. RELATED: Protest after chief says officer meant to use Taser, not gun Potter was arrested Wednesday morning at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul. An attorney for Potter did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. The former Brooklyn Center police chief has said that Potter, a 26-year veteran and training officer, had intended to use her Taser on Wright but fired her handgun instead. However, protesters and Wrights family members say theres no excuse for the shooting and it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead. Potter, 48, resigned Tuesday, as did Police Chief Tim Gannon. The Star Tribune reported that concrete barricades and tall metal fencing had been set up around Potters home in Champlin, a suburb north of Brooklyn Center, with police cars guarding the driveway. After Floyds death last year, protesters demonstrated several times at the home of the former Minneapolis officer charged with killing him, Derek Chauvin. Police say Wright was pulled over for expired tags, but they sought to arrest him after discovering he had an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for his failure to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. Gannon released Potters body camera video the day after Sunday's shooting. It showed her approaching Wright as he stood outside of his car as another officer was arresting him. As Wright struggles with police, Potter shouts, Ill Tase you! Ill Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser! before firing a single shot from her handgun. Wright family attorney Ben Crump said the family appreciates criminal case, but he again disputed that the shooting was accidental, arguing that an experienced officer knows the difference between a Taser and a handgun. Kim Potter executed Daunte for what amounts to no more than a minor traffic infraction and a misdemeanor warrant, he said. Cases of officers mistakenly firing their gun instead of a Taser do happen, but experts say they are extremely rare, usually less than once a year nationwide. RELATED: Man shot, killed during Minnesota traffic stop sparks unrest Transit officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison after responding to a fight at a train station in Oakland, California, killing 22-year-old Oscar Grant in 2009. Mehserle testified at trial that he mistakenly pulled his .40-caliber handgun instead of his stun gun. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a white volunteer sheriffs deputy, Robert Bates, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter after accidentally firing his handgun when he meant to deploy his stun gun on Eric Harris, a Black man who was being held down by other officers in 2015. Potter was an instructor with the Brooklyn Center police, according to the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. She was training two other officers Sunday when they stopped Wright, the associations leader, BIll Peters, told the Star Tribune. In her one-paragraph letter of resignation, Potter said, I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott had said he hoped Potter's resignation would bring some calm to the community, but that he would keep working toward full accountability under the law. We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that. His family deserves that, Elliott said. Police and protesters faced off again after nightfall Tuesday, with hundreds of demonstrators once more gathering at Brooklyn Centers heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch. About 90 minutes before a 10 p.m. curfew, state police announced over a loudspeaker that the gathering had been declared unlawful and ordered the crowds to disperse. That set off confrontations, with protesters launching fireworks toward the station and throwing objects at officers, who launched flashbangs and gas grenades, then marched in a line to force back the crowd. State police said the dispersal order came before the curfew because protesters were trying to take down the fencing and throwing rocks at police. The number of protesters dropped rapidly over the next hour, until only a few remained. Police also ordered all media to leave. Brooklyn Center, a suburb just north of Minneapolis, has seen its racial demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70% of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Hispanic. Elliott said Tuesday that he didn't have at hand information on the police force's racial diversity but that we have very few people of color in our department. ___ Bauer contributed from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writers Doug Glass and Mohamed Ibrahim in Minneapolis; Tim Sullivan in Brooklyn Center; and Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, contributed to this report. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of Daunte Wright at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky informed Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga about the escalation of the security situation in eastern Ukraine and the concentration of Russian troops near the border. The Head of State informed the Prime Minister of Japan about the aggravation of the security situation in eastern Ukraine and the increase in the concentration of Russian troops near the borders of our state, the Presidents press service informs. The President thanked for supporting Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the support of the G7, in particular Japan, was extremely important for Ukraine. In turn, Yoshihide Suga assured that the Japanese side was closely monitoring the developments and expressed full support for Ukraine. The parties also exchanged views on preparations for the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform in Kyiv and further bilateral dialogue activities at the highest level. The President of Ukraine invited the Prime Minister of Japan to take part in the festivities on the occasion of Independence Day and join the work of the Crimean Platform summit. As reported, the armed forces of the Russian Federation have been lately building up troops near the state border of Ukraine in the north, east and south, as well as in the occupied Crimea. In addition, the number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine committed by the Russian armed formations has increased, the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffer losses. At the same time, the Russian Federation conducts a propaganda campaign to justify aggression against Ukraine. On April 6, it also became known that apart from pulling troops to the Ukrainian border, Russia began a control check of the army's combat readiness. ol Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Health Department on Wednesday clarified vaccine czar Carlito Galvez earlier pronouncement that there may be a new COVID-19 case surge in the middle of the year, noting that the government is just preparing should that happen. We have to qualify the statement of Secretary Galvez, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source. He was just trying to say that there might be this possibility of another surge in these coming months if we are not going to continuously comply with the protocols and if we are not going to be able to contain the spread of this virus, she relayed. In line with this, Vergeire underscored the need to ramp up efforts for the pandemic response especially with the uncertainty brought by the crisis. We need to prepare that there would be another surge maybe in a couple of months, maybe towards the end of the year, Vergeire said. What we really need to do is to ramp up our efforts so that these surges will not happen again. She noted the most critical factor would be maintaining the countrys healthcare system in order for hospitals to accommodate patients as much as possible. Vergeire made the clarification after Galvez, in a television interview on Tuesday, said another surge may take place in June or July. OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David echoed the DOHs stance, saying Galvez statement was done as a precaution since the threat of a surge is always there. Nationwide COVID-19 cases reached 884,783 on Tuesday after the DOH logged 8,571 new virus infections. But Vergeire said the decrease in cases which went as high as 15,000 on April 2 can be considered artificial as some laboratories did not operate over the weekend. Yesterdays numbers were a little bit low," Vergeire noted. "So this is just artificial it is not a true reflection." Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 04:28:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held on Tuesday a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the latest developments of the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) built on the Nile River. Shoukry explained how Ethiopia's unilateral decision to carry out the second filling of the GERD without reaching a tripartite legally binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan "would impact the stability and the security of the region," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Shoukry has previously sent letters to the UN, the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly regarding the dispute over the GERD, according to the statement. The Egyptian top diplomat highlighted the importance of the role of the UN and its agencies in contributing to resuming the negotiations by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, in a bid to reach an agreement on the rules of filling and operating the dam. Ethiopia, an upstream Nile basin country, carried out the first phase of filling the dam in July 2020 and is planning to go ahead with the second phase in July this year despite the concerns of Egypt and Sudan, which have repeatedly called for reaching a tripartite agreement. A week ago, the tripartite GERD talks sponsored by the African Union (AU) in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo, failed to reach an agreement. Both Egypt and Sudan have blamed Ethiopia for the deadlock. 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 dam. Over the past few years, the tripartite talks on the rules of filling and operating the giant hydropower dam, whose total capacity is 74 billion cubic meters, have been fruitless, including those hosted earlier by Washington and the recent ones by the AU. Enditem According to the governor's announcement, travelers may choose from two options an expedited PCR test with next-day results or a rapid molecular NAAT test that provides results within an hour. The tests must be administered within 72 hours of departure from ONT. "We're honored to be a Trusted Testing Partner with the State of Hawaii. At Ontario Airport, we're committed to the safety and well-being of our passengers, and throughout the pandemic, we've implemented industry-leading health protocols, including our on-site testing clinic. Hawaiian Airlines' new service to Honolulu has been very popular with ONT passengers, and we look forward to creating even more travel opportunities to the great State of Hawaii," said Alan D. Wapner, President of the OIAA Board of Commissioners and Mayor pro tem for the City of Ontario. Ontario's local testing partner is the Covid Clinic which offers drive-through testing on Parking Lot 3 daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The ONT site, open since November, offers tests by appointment and on a drive-up basis. "Since the onset of the pandemic, ONT has worked hard to provide clean, safe facilities for our customers, as well as services that will offer peace of mind as they embark on their travels," said Mark Thorpe, OIAA CEO. "The Covid Clinic has been a great and trusted partner in offering quick, reliable COVID-19 tests administered in the comfort and privacy of our customers' vehicles. "The trusted testing partner designation is a proverbial shot in the arm for Ontario as we continue our steady recovery from the downturn in air travel resulting from the pandemic," Bowman said. Just last month, Hawaiian Airlines began nonstop service from ONT to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (NHL) five times a week. Alaska Airlines flies from ONT to HNL with connections in Portland, Ore., and Seattle. United Airlines serves HNL, Kahului Airport (OGG) on the island of Maui, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on the island of Hawaii and Lihue Airport (LIH) on the island of Kauai via San Francisco. Delta Air Lines services HNL and OGG from ONT via Seattle and Salt Lake City. American Airlines operates flights from ONT to HNL, KOA, OGG and LIH via Phoenix. About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which, before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). OIAA Media Contact: Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport Related Links http://www.flyOntario.com M701JAC Gas Turbine YOKOHAMA, Japan, Apr 14, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Power, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received an order for two M701JAC gas turbines, the Company's latest model in its air-cooled J-Series, for a 1,500-megawatt (MW) class natural-gas-fired GTCC (gas turbine combined cycle) power plant under construction in Sirdarya, the Republic of Uzbekistan. The order follows the conclusion of an equipment supply agreement for the Sirdarya project between ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power and water desalination assets in 13 countries worldwide, and China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd. (CGGC) as the appointed project EPC contractor.The Sirdarya project was planned by the Government of Uzbekistan to provide cleaner, more efficient and cost-competitive gas power that can be utilized across industries in Uzbekistan. This new plant will have capacity equivalent to 8% of Uzbekistan's total generation capability and will be able to meet 15% of the country's overall power demand when complete. Construction of the new power plant will also lead to the partial closure of existing Sirdarya thermal power plant with improved efficiency, which is expected to result in a reduction of CO2 emissions by 2.2 million tons per year.In addition to providing two high-efficiency next-generation gas turbines as the plant's core equipment, Mitsubishi Power will also provide technical advisers to support construction and commissioning and 25-year long term service agreement (LTSA) to support reliable operation.The JAC-Series are gas turbines featuring a forced-air-cooled combustor system and an optimized cooling structure. They also have an extra-thick-film thermal barrier coating that enables more advanced cooling of turbine blades, and they adopt a compressor with a high pressure ratio.Since inception in 2004, ACWA Power has grown rapidly both domestically and internationally in line with its mission to make available electricity and desalinated water in a reliable and responsible manner to support the social development and economic growth of nations where they operate. CGGC is headquartered in Beijing and undertakes business in more than 140 countries worldwide, mainly in the fields of hydropower, environmental protection, equipment manufacture and infrastructure development.Going forward, Mitsubishi Power will further focus its resources into promoting adoption of high-efficiency, environmentally friendly GTCC power generation equipment in a quest to contribute to stable supplies of electric power indispensable to worldwide economic development, and to help achieve a sustainable decarbonized society.Source: Mitsubishi Power, Ltd.Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. by Francis Khoo Thwe Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calls on influential states, like China and ASEAN members, to put concerted pressure on the military in Myanmar. For the World Bank, the country's economy will shrink by 10% this year. Fitch Solutions sees a failed state because of the military. Yangon (AsiaNews) In a statement released yesterday, Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the international community not to repeat the same deadly mistakes of the past in Syria. Fearing that the country might be heading towards a full-blown conflict, she is urging concerted action to stop the military in its campaign of repression and slaughter of its people. In fact, the militarys growing provocations against armed ethnic groups and their reactions are driving the country towards civil war. Several Western countries, along with South Korea and Japan, have condemned the militarys violence, imposed targeted sanctions and halted aid programmes. For Bachelet, Statements of condemnation, and limited targeted sanctions, are clearly not enough. In a veiled appeal to China and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), she urged States with influence [. . .]to urgently apply concerted pressure on the military in Myanmar to halt the commission of grave human rights violations and possible crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, because of the violence, the country is witnessing the flight of many foreign businesses and companies. The civil disobedience strike of almost all sectors of society is driving the economy almost entirely in the hands of the junta towards collapse. A recent World Bank forecast expects Myanmar's economy to shrink by 10 per cent this year. For Fitch Solutions, a provider of credit intelligence, the country risks becoming a failed state. Tatmadaw [the military] is increasingly losing control of the country, it said. The vast majority of the people support Suu Kyis ousted government. Texas non-profit Family Endeavors was awarded a $530 million grant to curb the child migrant crisis after it hired Biden transition official Andrew Lorenzen-Strait The Texas nonprofit Family Endeavors was awarded its largest-ever contract in an effort to mitigate the massive influx of migrant children arriving at the southern border. The $530 million no-bid contract was awarded after Family Endeavors hired Biden transition official Andrew Lorenzen-Strait, Axios reported. The nonprofit is aimed at helping vulnerable communities through crises. The group announced its hiring of Lorenzen-Strait on January 20 the same day as Bidens inauguration and he took on the role of senior director for migrant services and federal affairs. Lorenzen-Strait is a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official. He also advised the Biden-Harris transition team on Homeland Security policy and staffing. President Joe Bidens administration is scrambling to address the growing immigration crisis as recent numbers show more than 21,000 unaccompanied minors are in federal government custody. Family Endeavors is part of that effort. The faith-based organization was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Last month, Biden appointed Vice President Kamala Harris as border czar, but she has since held no events related to the crisis or even taken the time to visit the border or Northern Triangle countries. On Wednesday morning, Harris is expected to hold a virtual roundtable in her new role. Recent data shows there are currently more than 21,000 unaccompanied migrant children in federal government custody An unaccompanied minor (right) hugs a fellow teen in La Joya, Texas on Tuesday. The two met during their journey from El Salvador to the U.S. southern border More migrants arrive daily. Here a 26-year-old father walks with his 5-year-old daughter after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico into Roma, Texas on April 13 and seeking asylum Border Patrol agents search illegal immigrants in La Joya, Texas before transporting them to a processing center on April 13 Immigrants are bussed from where they cross the border into the U.S. to processing centers She will speak with experts on their assessments of the Northern Triangle region, which includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The vast majority of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are from these countries. Notably, the vice president is not meeting with any border or immigration agents or officials on the matter, just a panel of experts. Former Homeland Security officials who served under Trump say they are relieved Harris has taken a hands off approach at the border. 'I'm glad she's nowhere near the border,' Trump-era acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner Mark Morgan told DailyMail.com during a panel discussion with the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday. 'Quite frankly,' he continued, 'I think if she does do what she should do as the anointed border czar, she's just going to make the crisis even worse.' Vice President Kamala Harris was named border czar 21 days ago, and has received a slew of criticism for doing virtually nothing in her capacity in that role. She is holding a virtual round table with experts to discuss the Northern Triangle assessment on Wednesday Along with Morgan, former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli and former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf joined the discussion with the conservative think tank where all three are visiting fellows. Vice President Harris has received a slew of criticism for not yet visiting the southern border despite being put in charge of the crisis 21 days ago. President Biden has also not gone to the U.S.-Mexico border as he nears his third month in office. Morgan pointed to Harris' lax immigration policies as a reason why it's better she remain as uninvolved as possible. He noted she helped make California a so-called 'sanctuary state' when she was attorney general by refusing to work with federal authorities to turn over illegal immigrants in the state. 'This is a former Senator Harris who during a congressional testimony referred to ICE as the KKK, she basically called ICE agents racists,' Morgan bashed the vice president. 'She's gone further to say that ICE should be dismantled and start from scratch.' The Heritage Foundation hosted a panel with with former Trump's Homeland Security officials on Tuesday. Former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf (upper right), Former acting DHS deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli (bottom left) and former Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan (bottom right) Morgan said of Vice President Kamala Harris not yet visiting the border: 'I'm glad she's nowhere near the border.... Quite frankly, I think if she does do what she should do as the anointed border czar, she's just going to make the crisis even worse' Thousands of migrants are arriving at the border as the Biden administration sees a record- breaking number of illegal arrivals. Here a Guatemalan family waits on the ground in La Joya, Texas with other immigrants to board a bus for a processing center on April 13 Cuccinelli told DailyMail.com during the panel talk that no one in the administration wants to take ownership of the massive failure at the southern border. 'This is a political hot potato within the administration,' Cuccinelli said. 'None of them want it,' he added. 'That's why the president tossed it to the vice president, that's why he hasn't visited the border even though he has caused the problem. That's why she won't touch it, she won't talk about it, she won't go to the border, she won't go anywhere near it. Cuccinelli said those in the White House are 'all more afraid of the radical left base than they are committed to solving the problem.' 'By a longshot it's not even close,' he insisted. Biden has taken on a much more lax immigration approach than his predecessor evident by a slew of Trump-critic DHS nominees the president announced Monday. Cuccinelli told DailyMail.com during the panel talk that no one wants to take ownership of the massive failure at the southern border: 'This is a political hot potato within the administration' These policies, however, have quickly led to a humanitarian crisis as a record number of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador arrive at the border every day this includes nearly 20,000 unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody. 'We told you so,' Morgan said. Wolf added that although Harris was put in charge of the border, the White House's messaging as been all wrong, leading to concussion among the public and DHS and border officials and agents. 'The administration needs to clear up who's in charge,' Wolf insisted. 'Is it the DHS secretary, is it the White House, is it the vice president? Because I can tell you that the men and women in the field are also confused.' 'I can't tell you how many people that I've talked to at the department that has no idea who's in charge,' he said. 'Who should they be listening to, who should they be taking direction from? They don't know and if they don't know that is a problem.' Biden announced he is nominating anti-Trump Tucson, Arizona police chief Chris Magnus to lead Customs and Border Protection. Magnus pictured here in December 2014 holding a 'Black Lives Matter' sign at a BLM protest In the three weeks since Kamala Harris was named 'border czar', she hasn't visited or held a press conference Biden announced Monday a series of new nominees who will lead the border and immigration effort. This includes tapping Tucson, Arizona police chief Chris Magnus to lead the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP). Magnus has been vocal in his criticism of Trump and how he and one-time Attorney General Jeff Sessions handled immigration. 'The harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and Mr. Sessions's reckless policies ignore a basic reality known by most good cops and prosecutors,' Magnus wrote in a 2017 op/ed. 'If people are afraid of the police, if they fear they may become separated from their families or harshly interrogated based on their immigration status, they won't report crimes or come forward as witnesses.' Another appointee includes fellow anti-Trumper Ur Jaddou to head up the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. President Joe Biden released a sudden tweet on Monday defending Harris amid mounting criticism over her failure to visit the border and after GOP Senator John Cornyn questioned who was in charge in the White House. 'When I served as Vice President, I asked to be the last person with the President before big decisions were made and @VP is providing the same counsel to me,' Biden wrote. 'Shes the last voice in the room and never fails to speak the truth as we work to build our nation back better.' He included a picture of the pair in discussion inside the Oval Office. Thailand, 9th April 2021 Marriott International Hotels and Resorts in Phuket and Phang Nga and Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), a food rescue foundation, recently hosted their third mutual Rescue Kitchen to provide warm meals to the local community. During these challenging times, we believe that warm and nutritious meals have both positive physical and mental benefits and help people to work for a better tomorrow. said Mr. Brad Edman, Multi Property Vice President, Phuket. At Marriott, we always strive to take the best possible care of our guests and our associates. We are committed to giving back to the local communities where we live and work. Serving our world is one of Marriotts core values. On the 24th March, over 40 volunteers, including general managers, chefs and associates from 11 Marriott International Hotels and Resorts in Phuket and Phang Nga, worked with SOS Thailand to organize and run a pop-up kitchen that served over 13,700 nutritious meals to community members in Patong and Ko Kaew. In order to prevent food waste and minimize single-use plastic, Rescue Kitchen repurposes surplus ingredients from the hotels and combines them with fresh local ingredients to create delicious and nutritious meals. The community is encouraged to bring their own reusable food containers when they pick up their meals. Marriott International hotels and resorts taking part in this initiative include Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa Merlin Beach, Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa Nai Yang Beach, The Naka Island Resort & Spa, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort, Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, and Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort. About Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS) SOS has been serving to the communities in need in Thailand since the beginning of its operation in 2016 in Bangkok and 2019 in Phuket. Until now, SOS has been redistributing nutritious food to vulnerable communities for more than 5 million meals by rescuing surplus ingredients and food products from hotel chains, supermarkets, suppliers within Bangkok Metropolitan and Phuket areas every day. For more information, please visit www.scholarsofsustenance.org/sos-thailand About Marriott International, Inc. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 132 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. For more information, please visit www.marriott.com and stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @MarriottIntl Mumbai, April 14 : Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who was born in a village in Bihar, has put forth the interesting suggestion of creating a film-friendly set-up in a village near Patna, which is well-connected to the city, where people from Bollywood can shoot. "A film-friendly 'mohalla' or colony is possible with a little bit of funding from the government to create a film panchayat at a well-connected village near Patna, at least on a trial basis for now. The area can hence be marked by filmmakers all across the country to shoot any urban setting scenes they need to for their film, with the maximum help in the form of a solid support system provided by the locals there," says Tripathi, who was born in Belasand, Gopalganj District. The actor feels villagers can be trained to work as junior artistes in the films shot there, which could be a source of income for them. "Locals can be a part of the crew as well as act as junior artistes in films that are shot there. We could try creating a village similar to the likes of Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya, which is known to be the cleanest village of Asia also a tourist spot. I have been to this village and it's a very fascinating place to visit," added Tripathi. To federal health officials, asking states on Tuesday to suspend use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine until they can investigate six extremely rare but troubling cases of blood clots was an obvious and perhaps unavoidable move. But where scientists saw prudence, public health officials saw a delicate trade-off: The blood clotting so far appears to affect just one out of every million people injected with the vaccine, and it is not yet clear if the vaccine is the cause. If highlighting the clotting heightens vaccine hesitancy and bolsters conspiracy theorists, the pause in the end could ultimately sicken and even kill more people than it saves. With coronavirus cases spiking in states like Michigan and Minnesota, and worrisome new variants on the horizon, health officials know they are in a race between the virus and the vaccine and can ill afford any setbacks. We are concerned about heightened reservations about the J&J vaccine, but in addition to that, those reservations could spill over into public concerns about other vaccines, said Dr. Paul Simon, the chief science officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Today, were striking a blow for independence with ten delicious bottlings from brands that arent part of big drinks companies. So, from a Maryland-style rye whiskey to single estate vodka, here are some of the best independent spirits brands out there. Most big booze brands are owned by huge multinational companies like Diageo and Pernod Ricard. Not that thats a bad thing. We love Johnnie Walker Black Label and Beefeater, distilled by Desmond Payne in south London, is one of our go-to gins. But without a thriving independent scene, our drinks cabinet would be a lot less exciting. Happily, thanks to some pioneering distilleries such as Sipsmith, now part of Beam Suntory, there are now countless new brands turning out high quality, delicious and idiosyncratic boozes for all your drinking pleasure. From pungent mezcal to world-spanning Japanese blends, here are ten of the best independent spirits brands money can buy. Much of the explosion in whiskey labels comes from independent bottlers who buy and blend spirits to create something a bit different. This is one case in point being a Maryland-style of rye which is sweeter than normal. Its blended from two whiskeys sourced from Indiana, brought down to bottling strength with limestone-filtered water from Sagamore Farm. How do I drink it? Those sweet milky coffee and pistachio ice cream flavours are just crying out for an Old Fashioned. Portobello Road Gin is distilled on the actual Portobello Road in west London. It was founded by top bartender Jake Burger and Paul Lane in 2011. Alongside the distillery, the building called, naturally, The Distillery, houses two bars, a hotel and the Ginstitute where you can learn to make your own gin. Or if that sounds like too much work you could just buy this bottle. How do I drink it? With its elegant traditional flavours, this is great in all manner of ginny cocktails like the summery Gin Cup. If youre a whisky fan, you probably read the recent news about the changing legislation for Japanese whisky which now excludes certain big names from the category. One company that has always been open about using imported spirits in its blends is Hatozaki. This mixes Japanese and imported whiskies and is aged in a mixture of sherry, bourbon and mizunara oak. How do I drink it? With those sweet flavours of honey, stone fruit and nutty cereals, this is a great one to put in a Whisky Highball with soda water and plenty of ice. The Casa Noble range of 100% agave Tequilas have proved quite a hit with Master of Malt customers. Agave spirits are a huge growth area as drinkers move away from the lime and salt image of yesteryear to bottles that major on flavour. This is packed full of earthy, roasted agave notes on the nose and palate. How do I drink it? Were very partial to a Sweet Orange Margarita which involves making the standard version but adding an extra part of fresh orange juice and serving it on the rocks with a splash of soda water. Those who like a spicier style of bourbon will love this. Its distilled by New Riff distillery of Kentucky with a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. Then its aged in toasted and charred new oak barrels before bottling at a useful 50% ABV to accentuate all those big spicy flavours. How do I drink it? High rye strength bourbons like this one are perfect in a Manhattan. And may we recommend the Hotel Starlino vermouth rosso which is aged in bourbon casks? The East London Liquor Co. (ELLC) is one of our favourite small distillers. Founded in Bow in 2015, it produces a big range of spirits including gin, vodka and whisky, as well as rums imported from the Caribbean. As you might guess from the name, this gin packs a flavour punch with oily juniper bolstered by lavender, fennel, lemon peel and more. How do I drink it? Some gins get lost in the flavour soup that is the Negroni but Louder can make itself heard above the noise of Campari and vermouth. Ok, so the name is a bit of a challenge. Apparently, its what Mexican cockerells say instead of cock-a-doodle-do. But its worth getting past the pronunciation to enjoy this delicious mezcal. Its produced from wild Tobala aged between 10 and 15 years of age in strictly limited quantities to ensure sustainability. How to drink it? With its complex flavours of coconut, tangy pineapple, mint and butter, we think its best just sipped neat. But its also fabulous in place of gin in a Negroni. Every drinks cabinet should have a bottle of this in it. Its made by Merlet in France from fresh blackberries steeped in neutral alcohol and sweetened. This firm produces a great range of fruit liqueurs like creme de cassis, poire William and apricot brandy all made in the traditional way from fresh fruit. How do I drink it? Well, the classic cocktail for Creme Merlet Creme de Mure is the Bramble but its also great in place of cassis in a Kir Royale. We were so impressed with Ramsbury when we visited a couple of years back. Its a distillery and brewery set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside that only uses grains from the surrounding Ramsbury Estate. Each bottle tells you the provenance and variety of the wheat used and the quality really shows when you taste this creamy spicy vodka. How do I drink it? This makes the best Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred, weve ever had. Serving it ice cold brings out that gorgeous creamy texture. This is named after a war hero called Lieutenant Colonel Fox. Apparently, its based on his 1859 recipe that was recently rediscovered. We tend to roll our eyes a bit when we hear stories like this. There are a lot of them in the gin world. But theres now denying the quality of this gin. That old Fox knew what he was doing. How do I drink it? People who like gin with plenty of flavour will lap this up. We think its perfect in a G&T but its a great all rounder, especially as its very reasonably priced. (Newser) Tuesday brought big arrests in the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart. Wednesday brought the prosecution's theory of the crime. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow alleged Paul Flores, a fellow student who was the last person seen with Smart and has been the main suspect all these years, killed Smart as he raped or tried to rape her in his dorm room at the California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo, where the two were both freshmen. "We certainly believe Mr. Flores room was a crime scene," said Dow. Flores' father Ruben, who was also arrested, is accused of helping him hide Smart's body. More: Dow was largely mum on the evidence that spurred the arrests other than saying "significant information has come in over the past two years, and in the past month." In terms of the "past month," the AP cites San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson as saying the arrests followed a search of Ruben Flores' Arroyo Grande home in March that involved ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs. New evidence was uncovered. The house is about 15 miles from the university. story continues below Dow said they believe they know where Smart was buried, reports the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Smart, 19, was last seen May 25, 1996, heading back to her dorm after an off-campus party. She was inebriated and Flores reportedly suggested that he walk her home. Dow said it's possible Flores sexually assaulted other women and noted that Flores has regularly gone to bars near his home in the Los Angeles area of San Pedro. Dow requested that anyone with knowledge of any other "assaults or other acts" Flores committed report them to 805-549-7867. The Los Angeles Times reports that prosecutors plan to make their case in part by sharing evidence of "prior sexual acts" and "other alleged incidents of abuse" involving Flores. Paul Flores is to be charged with first-degree murder; Ruben Flores will be charged with accessory after murder. Both are due to be arraigned Thursday morning. People has some of the Smart family's Tuesday statement on the development: "It is impossible to put into words what this day means for our family; we pray it is the first step to bringing our daughter home. ... The knowledge that a father and son, despite our desperate pleas for help, could have withheld this horrible secret for nearly 25 years, denying us the chance to lay our daughter to rest, is an unrelenting and unforgiving pain. We now put our faith in the justice system." The AP has more background on the case: It was three days before Smart was reported missing, with a roommate saying police didn't want to take a missing persons report at first because it was Memorial Day weekend and it was possible she had just left the campus. The Smart family in its statement referenced how "an indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years." The Smart family in 1996 sued Paul Flores and the university $40 million. A rep for the family reports the case has been stayed awaiting a criminal case outcome. (Read more Kristin Smart stories.) A man who police say attacked two women on San Franciscos Embarcadero in February 2020 has been acquitted of felony assault charges after jurors heard evidence that he was suffering a mental breakdown. Police said George Kennedy, who was then 47, stabbed a woman in the back as she was jogging near Pier 19, then fled on a bicycle. Fifteen minutes later, police said, he attacked a tourist with some sort of tool at Pier 39 a mile away. Kennedy was arrested on his bicycle near the scene of the second attack, wearing an old-time train engineers striped cap and tan overalls. Both women were treated for their injuries at a hospital, and one underwent surgery. Last Monday, after deliberating for just over a day, a Superior Court jury found Kennedy not guilty of felony assault and convicted him only of a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. He had been jailed since his arrest and was released with credit for time served, his lawyers said. Attorneys from the San Francisco public defenders office said they presented five witnesses who testified that Kennedy had been in the middle of an acute psychotic episode that made him not conscious of his actions at the time of the attacks. A felony assault conviction requires proof that the act was knowing and intentional. Three of the witnesses were from the citys Jail Health Services, which had designated him for treatment after his arrest, his lawyers said. Another witness said Kennedy had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Prosecutors argued that, despite his underlying mental health problems, Kennedy was conscious and responsible for the attacks. Cases like this are uncomfortable for all of us who care about the health and safety of our communities, but this case reminds us that criminal court is not the appropriate venue to address mental illness, said Deputy Public Defender Martina Avalos, Kennedys lead attorney. She said the verdict means Kennedy, a U.S. military veteran, can continue to get the medical care he needs through his full coverage with the Veterans Administration. Rachel Marshall, spokesperson for District Attorney Chesa Boudin, said the office respects the jurys verdict. We wish there were and are continuing to push for better available tools for addressing mental illness in our legal system, she said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko India is in touch with authorities in Pakistan regarding safety of over 800 Indian pilgrims whose visit to the neighbouring country has been affected by violent protests in several cities, including Lahore. "Closely tracking developments. In touch with Pakistani authorities and Sikh Jatha. Will do utmost to ensure security and safe return of pilgrims," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted. The minister's response came after President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee Manjinder Singh Sirsa, in a tweet, requested Jaishankar to look into the matter of stranded Sikh pilgrims in Pakistan. Over 800 Indian Sikhs travelled to Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival. The Indian pilgrims had reached Lahore via Wagah border on Monday to attend the festival. On Tuesday afternoon, the visiting Indian Sikhs left for Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal in 25 buses which were escorted by the police and the Pakistani Rangers. Owing to the TLP protest that blocked roads, the Sikh yatrees reached Hassanabdal at 4 am on Wednesday after over 14 hours of journey which otherwise is covered in three hours, an official of the Punjab government told PTI in Lahore. Protests are taking place in several part of Pakistan by supporters of Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) demanding the expulsion of the French envoy over the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France. The Indian pilgrims attended the main event on Wednesday in which several local Sikhs also participated. The visiting pilgrims are scheduled to visit other holy places in the Punjab province of Pakistan during their 10-day stay in the country. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) [April 14, 2021] CRN Names Corsica Technologies to Its 2021 MSP 500 List CENTREVILLE, Md., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Corsica Technologies , recognized as one of the nation's top managed IT and cybersecurity providers, announced today that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named them to its 2021 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Managed Security 100 category. This is the fourth time in a row that Corsica Technologies has been named to the list, and the second year in the Managed Security 100 category. The annual list recognizes the leading North American providers that demonstrate innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services. They help users improve operational efficiencies and navigate the complexities of IT solutions, while maximizing their return on investment. CRN recognized Corsica Technologies 2021 Managed Services Provider MSP 500 list in the Managed Security 100 category. "With the current focus on digital transformation while also managing constantly evolving threats, companies need a provider that can bridge the gap between managed IT and cybersecurity services", says Brian Harmison, Corsica Technologies CEO. "We partner with clients to ensure all facets of their network are not only secure but optimized to help them grow." Corsica Technologies offers a highly skilled, certified IT and cybersecurity team to help organizations create a secure technology foundation so they can thrive, protecting their data, secure their systems and responding to cyber incidents. Using innovation technology, Corsica Technologies' dedicated experts protect clients 24x7x365 from their Security Operations Centers (SOC) , offering full IT security, including security gap auditing, issue remediation, real-time monitoring, incident response and forensics and security awareness training and testing. With cutting-edge approaches, MSPs are integral to the success of businesses worldwide, empowering organizations to leverage complex technologies while focusing on their core business without straining their budgets. CRN's 2021 MSP 500 list identifies the key managed services players who are setting themselves apart with best-of-breed solutions that provide business outcomes. About Corsica Technologies Consistently recognized as one of the top managed IT and cybersecurity providers, Corsica Technologies helps organizations leverage technology as a competitive business advantage. Our integrated IT and cybersecurity services protect companies and enable them to succeed. www.corsicatech.com . 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. www.thechannelcompany.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crn-names-corsica-technologies-to-its-2021-msp-500-list-301269208.html SOURCE Corsica Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In the aftermath of a decisive E-tax election victory Mayor Q took a bold step and openly joined detractors of Kansas City Police Department Chief Smith. His brazen social media criticism sparked a wave of backlash and some pretty vile social media commentary that matches the meanest trolls on this blog. Remember that no so long ago East side leaders admonished the city hall leader for failing to take a side on the tenure of KCPD Chief Smith. Accordingly . . . MAYOR Q HAS NOW PUBLICLY ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH ACTIVISTS HOPING TO REPLACE THE KCPD CHIEF AND PUSH FOR LOCAL CONTROL!!! Moreover . . . To deny Mayor Q's solidarity with forces collaborating to remove the KCPD Chief would be outright cowardice and yet another departure into the legalese that only serves to make the rising star politico look weak. The Mayor doesn't have to write a press release or author any more tweets to show the public where he stands: In direct opposition to the current local law enforcement leadership. At the very least, the mayor's public opposition against the top cop offers a definitive reference for voters and a sign that po-po union organizers were yet again politically incompetent by throwing their support behind a dude who stabbed them in the back less than a year later . . . Supporters of former Council Lady and mayoral contender Jolie Justus claim that AT LEAST she would have been honest in her approach to community policing and probably didn't have the stamina to march in the streets and yell with anti-police protesters. And so we thank this vital community news resource for making a straightforward argument in their latest issue. Check-it . . . Northeast News: Standing for Law and Order The premise . . . Once again The Kansas City Star, the Urban League, and the Kansas City Homeless Union whatever that is have called for Kansas City Missouri Police Chief Rick Smiths head on a pike. Why? Because Chief Smith, unlike former Chief Darryl Forte, has a backbone and cant be bent to fit the mold of the woke mob. The latest alleged misstep by Smith was to agree to accept an award at the Jackson County Republican Committees Reagan-Lincoln Day Dinner for keeping the city safe last summer during the violent Plaza riots a well deserved honor in this News Dogs eyes. For his decision, Chief Smith was excoriated and Twitter bullied by Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Quinton Lucas, then summarily dragged over the coals by The Stars Editorial Board, most of whom live in Southern Johnson County . . . Money line and a hint at larger political forces at play . . . This is all about the Mayor and his woke gang trying to wrench control of the police department away from the governor-appointed Board of Police Commissioners and put it into the hands of bought off woke locals who are bendable to every whim and wish of the leftist mob. You decide . . . A women walks down the street on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Ill., on Oct. 19, 2006. (Jeff Haynes/AFP via Getty Images) The Truth About COVID That Dares Not Speak Its Name Commentary Michelle Obama was right in principle, if not in execution, when she tried to improve the healthy quality of school lunches. She was actually saving lives, temporarily at least ignoring that sin of PC sins fat shaming, an idea whose principle ramification in the pursuit of not offending people is to kill them. Too bad Michelles initiative didnt last or was poorly conceived because the truth about COVID-19 that dares not speak its name is obesity is by far the greatest indication of mortality from the pandemicand, of course, a lot of other things. If you want to survive the CCP virus, forget whatever vaccine, good, bad or indifferent, or even hydroxychloroquine or ivermectinfirst get fit. When you shed those pounds, and you can often do it in a month, chances are you shed diabetes as well, fight cancer and every other comorbidity we have been hearing about for what seems like, and is, years. Michael Fumento made this situation painfully clear in an article for The American Conservative in which he writes: Last month the CDC reported that about 80 percent of those who are hospitalized or die in the U.S. because of COVID-19 are overweight or obese. Instead of paying attention to this amazingly high percentage, another epidemic of sorts has been going on in the opposite direction in the name of fighting fat shamingan increasing trend in magazines, online and on television to use overweight women as models. Often these models are of color. This (naturally) woke trend obviouslyand very sadlyonly contributes to why the death rate is so much higher in minority communities. As Fumento also notes: For black women, the obesity rate is a stunning 56.9 percent. Stacey Abrams is not a great role model for young black women for more reasons than one. And, yes, what I just did was fat shame. Fat shaming saves lives, sorry to say. Nevertheless, many conservatives whisper to themselves and others we mustnt, we mustnt when one of us writes something like that, even if obviously true and known for a long time. Theyll accuse us of racism. (Actually, theyre the real racists.) The reality is we live in a world of maximum politically correct dishonesty that is bringing Western Civilization to its knees. If we dont start speaking the truth loudly and clearly its over. COVID is just one area of this pervasive dishonesty that has taken over our culture to a degree that may even have shocked Orwell. Wokethe evil spawn of political correctnessis the most successful lie ever to come to America. It is the true pandemic and harder to cure than COVID-19, even the South African strain. Witness how over 100 business leaders just met in a giant Zoom call to oppose states making voting laws too strict when those laws, even the new Georgia one, are in reality too lax and prey to fraud. Whats interesting in this is the probability that many of the leaders know they are lying or have convinced themselves (made the calculation) that a lie is the truth in order for their businesses (and themselves) to survive and thrive. Woke has taken them over like a disease. This is something close to what occurs regularly in China. My friend Victor Davis Hanson has been writing and talking of late of a thirty-seventy split in our country, the thirty being those who are imposing these lies on society while the seventy sit back passively and take it. He wonders how long this will last. So do I. About COVID, at least, we can be honest. Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, co-founder of PJMedia, and now, editor-at-large for The Epoch Times. His most recent books are The GOAT (fiction) and I Know Best: How Moral Narcissism Is Destroying Our Republic, If It Hasnt Already (nonfiction). He can be found on Parler as @rogerlsimon. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Wednesday he will withdraw remaining U.S. troops from the forever war in Afghanistan, declaring that the Sept. 11 terror attacks of 20 years ago cannot justify American forces still dying in the nations longest war. His plan is to pull out all American forces numbering 2,500 now by this Sept. 11, the anniversary of the attacks, which were coordinated from Afghanistan. Soon after Biden made his announcement, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels said the alliance had agreed to withdraw its roughly 7,000 forces from Afghanistan, matching Bidens decision to begin a final pullout by May 1. The U.S. cannot continue to pour resources into an intractable war and expect different results, Biden said. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The drawdown would begin rather than conclude by May 1, which has been the deadline for full withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump administration reached with the Taliban last year. It is time to end Americas longest war, Biden said, but he added that the U.S. will not conduct a hasty rush to the exit. We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result, said Biden, who delivered his address from the White House Treaty Room, the same location where President George W. Bush announced the start of the war. I am now the fourth United States president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth. Bidens announcement, which he followed with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, marks perhaps the most significant foreign policy decision in the early going of his presidency. Hes long been skeptical about the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. As Barack Obamas vice president, Biden was a lonely voice in the administration who advised the 44th president to tilt towards a smaller counterterrorism role in the country while military advisers were urging a troop buildup to counter Taliban gains. Biden has also made clear he wants to recalibrate U.S. foreign policy to face bigger challenges posed by China and Russia. Withdrawing all U.S. troops comes with clear risks. It could boost the Talibans effort to claw back power and undo gains toward democracy and womens rights made over the past two decades. It also opens Biden to criticism, from mostly Republicans and some Democrats, even though former President Donald Trump had also wanted a full withdrawal. This administration has decided to abandon U.S. efforts in Afghanistan which have helped keep radical Islamic terrorism in check, said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. And bizarrely, they have decided to do so by September 11th. While Bidens decision keeps U.S. forces in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. Biden spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday ahead of his speech. The White House said in a statement that Biden told Ghani the United States would continue to support the Afghan people through development, humanitarian and security assistance. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision, and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition, Ghani said in a Twitter posting. Biden spoke, too, with former President Bush ahead of announcing his decision. He also spoke with allies, military leaders, lawmakers and Vice President Kamala Harris to help make his decision, according to the White House. Bush, through his spokesman, declined to comment about his conversation with Biden. Biden emphasized that his administration will continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban and assist international efforts to train the Afghan military. He noted that the forever war has led to service members who werent even alive at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks serving, as well as young troops following in the steps of their mothers and fathers in deploying to Afghanistan. The war in Afghanistan was never meant to be a multigenerational undertaking, Biden said. Obama, who had hoped but ultimately failed to end the war during his time in office, said in a statement that he supported Bidens decision, that it is time to recognize that we have accomplished all that we can militarily, and that its time to bring our remaining troops home. Following his speech, Biden visited Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who died in recent American conflicts. After paying his respects, Biden told reporters it was absolutely clear to him that ending the war was the right decision. Biden, in his speech and during his visit to the hallowed cemetery, reflected on his own late son Beau Bidens service. The presidents son, who died of cancer in 2015, had deployed to Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard. Im always amazed that generation after generation, women and men give their lives to this country, Biden said. It means I have trouble these days showing up to this cemetery and not thinking about my son. CIA Director William Burns acknowledged at a hearing Wednesday that Americas ability to contain the terrorist threat from Afghanistan has benefited from the military presence there, and that when that presence is withdrawn, the U.S. governments ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. Thats simply a fact, Burns said. It is also a fact, however, that after withdrawal, whenever that time comes, the CIA and all of our partners in the U.S. government will retain a suite of capabilities, some of it remaining in place, some of them that we will generate, that can help us to anticipate and contest any rebuilding effort. A senior administration official said the September withdrawal date was an absolute deadline that wont be affected by security conditions in Afghanistan. The long conflict has largely crippled al-Qaida and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, womens rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al-Qaidas haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. As Biden announced his decision, his top national security aides Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were consulting in Brussels to coordinate NATOs withdrawal from Afghanistan with the planned pullout of American troops. Stoltenberg, the NATO chief, said the alliances full withdrawal would be completed in months but did not mention the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. We went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together and we are united in leaving together, he said. ___ Lee reported from Brussels. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Alexandra Jaffe, Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville contributed reporting. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - 77312 new coronavirus cases were reported in the United States on Tuesday, taking the national total to 31345992. This is higher than the 7-day average of 71215. 987 new deaths were reported in the country on the same day. With this, the COVID death toll in the U.S. increased to 563446, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. Coronavirus infections continue to surge disproportionately in Michigan. More than 10000 cases were reported in the state on Tuesday, making it the worst of the nation's hot zones. Colorado recorded the most number of deaths - 97 - on the same day. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said the suspension of using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not have a significant impact on the United States' vaccination program, as the J&J vaccine makes up less than 5 percent of the more than 190 million recorded shots in arms in the country. There have been 6.85 million doses of J&J vaccine distributed in the United States so far. Those who were administered the vaccine don't have to worry about any reaction, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Chief Medical Advisor to the President. FDA and CDC announced Tuesday that as a precautionary measure, they have recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as they review data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals who received the vaccine. Zients said the Biden administration has more than enough supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to continue the current pace of about 3 million shots per day. 'We're now working with our state and federal partners to get anyone scheduled for a J&J vaccine quickly rescheduled for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine,' he told reporters. CDC advisers are scheduled to meet Wednesday to review cases of blood clots in people who received the J&J vaccine. The European Medicines Agency said in a statement released on Wednesday that the benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects. Irrespective of the blood clot cases reported in the U.S., the French government said it will administer the 200,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine it has received. As a deadly second Covid wave sweeping, 184,372 new cases were reported in India on Tuesday, taking the national total to more than 13.8 million. This is the highest number of cases recorded in a single day since the pandemic broke out in the country. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de - Double-digit Revenue Growth Guidance of 12%-14% for FY22 - Share Buyback of 9,200 Crore ($1.23 bn) and Final Dividend of 6,400 Crore ($0.85 bn) Announced BENGALURU, India, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, delivered strong FY21 performance with 5.0% CC growth, and growth accelerating to 9.6% in Q4 in the face of a turbulent economic environment. Large deal TCV for FY21 peaked to an all-time high of $14.1 billion with 66% being net new. Operating margin for the year expanded by 3.2% and Free Cash Flows increased by 38.5%. The Board has recommended capital return of 15,600 crore (app. $2.08 billion) including final dividend of 6,400 crore (app. $0.85 billion) and open market buyback of shares of 9,200 crore (app. $1.23 billion). "I am very pleased with our performance this year and incredibly proud of our employees for the passion and commitment they displayed despite a very tough environment. We have crossed a milestone of `100,000 crore in revenue in FY21. Our intense focus on client relevance, growing our digital portfolio with differentiated capabilities like Infosys CobaltTM, and empowering employees have helped us emerge as a preferred 'partner-of-choice' for our global clients. Our record large deal wins stand testimony to the effectiveness of this approach", said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "A strong momentum exiting FY21, alongside a focused strategy to accelerate client digital journeys, gives us confidence for a stronger FY22", he added. Outlook for FY22: Revenue growth guidance of 12%-14% in constant currency Operating margin guidance of 22%-24% In Q4, Infosys continued to expand its digital capabilities, especially with the Infosys CobaltTM cloud portfolio. The company announced a partnership with LivePerson for Conversational AI to help brands manage AI-powered conversations with consumers and employees. Powered by NVIDIA DGX A100 systems, the company also built its own applied AI cloud to provide employees simple and fast access to AI infrastructure, expanding their ability to drive AI-driven transformation for enterprises. During the quarter, Infosys was also recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2021 by Ethisphere Institute, US and was ranked #30 on WSJ's 2021 list of 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world. 1. Key highlights for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2021 "Despite the disruptions, we continue to execute seamlessly with broad-based momentum across verticals. This has led to healthy volume growth and record utilization in a seasonally soft quarter", said Pravin Rao, COO. While our employees continue to work from home through this health crisis, we remain focused on their wellness, including facilitating vaccination rollout for eligible employees. Attrition has picked up, largely reflecting a strong demand environment, but we remain confident of our employee engagement initiatives, vast talent pool and training capabilities to ensure seamless execution," he added. "FY21 was a landmark year with superior shareholder returns backed by robust operating metrics and strong growth across revenue, margins and free cash flows", said Nilanjan Roy, CFO. "Executing on our capital allocation policy, the company proposes to increase the total dividend per share by 54% over previous year and Buyback of Equity shares of up to 9,200 crore", he added. 2. Capital Allocation The Board in its meeting held today approved the following: Buyback of Equity Shares, from the open market route through the Indian stock exchanges, amounting to 9,200 crore (Maximum Buyback Size, excluding buyback tax) (app. $1.23 billion *) at a price not exceeding 1,750 per share (Maximum Buyback Price) (app. $23.3 per ADS*), subject to shareholders' approval in the ensuing AGM. *) at a price not exceeding 1,750 per share (Maximum Buyback Price) (app. per ADS*), subject to shareholders' approval in the ensuing AGM. For FY 21, the Board has recommended a final dividend of 15 per share ( $0.20 per ADS*). Together with the interim dividend of 12 per share already paid, the total dividend per share for FY 21 will amount to 27 (app. $0.36 per ADS*) which is a 54% increase over FY 20. With this, the company has announced total dividend of 11,500 crore (app. $1.53 billion *) for FY21. *USD-INR rate of 75.00 3. Client Wins & Testimonials The trust clients repose in Infosys drives us to invest further in building stronger digital capabilities and to raise the bar in delivery excellence. Sam Marnick , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Spirit AeroSystems , said, "We look forward to partnering with Infosys on our efforts to further diversify our business and strategically position Spirit AeroSystems for the future. We appreciate the long-standing relationship we have with Infosys and the support they have brought to a number of strategic projects for Spirit." , said, "We look forward to partnering with Infosys on our efforts to further diversify our business and strategically position Spirit AeroSystems for the future. We appreciate the long-standing relationship we have with Infosys and the support they have brought to a number of strategic projects for Spirit." Alan Feeley , CIO of Siemens Gamesa , said, "Implementing a single S/4HANA system across all business units and regions is a core component of our company-wide strategy towards process efficiency, standardization and industrialization. These first go live steps across 7 countries, supporting all business types, have proven the value of the greenfield approach chosen, achieving a stable productive environment around Hybrid Azure cloud by Infosys. This single and global setup provides an almost Zero "change the standard" approach giving confidence towards sustainable cost management & upgrade proofing for the future. Infosys has demonstrated admirable 'staying power' and has delivered a solid product whilst fulfilling our expectations of being a partner in full." , said, "Implementing a single S/4HANA system across all business units and regions is a core component of our company-wide strategy towards process efficiency, standardization and industrialization. These first go live steps across 7 countries, supporting all business types, have proven the value of the greenfield approach chosen, achieving a stable productive environment around Hybrid Azure cloud by Infosys. This single and global setup provides an almost Zero "change the standard" approach giving confidence towards sustainable cost management & upgrade proofing for the future. Infosys has demonstrated admirable 'staying power' and has delivered a solid product whilst fulfilling our expectations of being a partner in full." "We are pleased to continue to partner with Infosys BPM in standardizing and digitizing supply chain processes across our regions. Infosys BPM's strong leadership commitment and clear understanding of our operations will enable significant productivity improvements, service levels improvements, and cost savings," said Ryan Plourde , Group Executive Supply Chain, Newmont Corporation . . Paolo Lomonaco , CFO, Chalhoub Group , said, "We are delighted to extend our strategic collaboration with Infosys to accelerate our digital transformation journey and enable a seamless transition to a new business model in the post-Covid normal. Infosys has been our partner of choice in providing a range of technology services for almost a year and has managed to efficiently transition during the unprecedented situation. We look forward to leveraging Infosys' adroitness and a clear understanding of best in class retail technologies to scale digital commerce and drive operational efficiency." , said, "We are delighted to extend our strategic collaboration with Infosys to accelerate our digital transformation journey and enable a seamless transition to a new business model in the post-Covid normal. Infosys has been our partner of choice in providing a range of technology services for almost a year and has managed to efficiently transition during the unprecedented situation. We look forward to leveraging Infosys' adroitness and a clear understanding of best in class retail technologies to scale digital commerce and drive operational efficiency." "We collaborated with Infosys to organize our first Mars AI virtual festival in December 2020 , featuring top leaders from Mars, incorporated and globally renowned AI experts. With more than 8,000 associates and business stakeholders attending, spread across geographies, and spanning various business segments, we needed a platform that could not only support the scale of the event but also deliver a seamless, immersive, and engaging experience. And the Infosys Meridian platform delivered. Using the Infosys Meridian workplace ecosystem, we were able to drive interactions and collaboration amongst the global participants by orchestrating immersive interventions that included 26 kiosks, a speaker hangout area, a Twitter board, multiple games, a leaderboard, a digital caricature corner, and a live DJ. Over the five days of the event, we were able to execute an exciting agenda to create and sustain meaningful engagements with our global stakeholders." - Miao Song, Global CIO, Mars Petcare , featuring top leaders from Mars, incorporated and globally renowned AI experts. With more than 8,000 associates and business stakeholders attending, spread across geographies, and spanning various business segments, we needed a platform that could not only support the scale of the event but also deliver a seamless, immersive, and engaging experience. And the Infosys Meridian platform delivered. Using the Infosys Meridian workplace ecosystem, we were able to drive interactions and collaboration amongst the global participants by orchestrating immersive interventions that included 26 kiosks, a speaker hangout area, a Twitter board, multiple games, a leaderboard, a digital caricature corner, and a live DJ. Over the five days of the event, we were able to execute an exciting agenda to create and sustain meaningful engagements with our global stakeholders." - "Our partnership with Infosys has been invaluable, allowing us to innovate, strengthen our core operations, handle growing volumes and as customers focus on becoming increasingly digital, improve our services. The Infosys team supports our business transformation goals by helping us drive efficiencies and improve customer experience. Infosys demonstrated great support and flexibility throughout the pandemic, helping us keep our operations running and delivering with an unwavering customer-focus." - Petteri Naulapaa, CIO, Posti Group Oyj 4. Recognitions About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor "Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.". NOTES: 1. The above information is extracted from the audited condensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2021 which have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on April 14, 2021. 2. A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded from www.infosys.com. 3. Other Income includes Finance Cost. IFRS-INR Press Release : https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2020-2021/q4/documents/ifrs-inr-press-release.pdf Fact sheet: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2020-2021/q4/documents/fact-sheet.pdf Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg [April 14, 2021] Media Invitation: HKBN FY2021 Interim Results Live Webcast To: Business Editor / Assignment Editor HKBN FY2021 Interim Results Live Webcast Due to the current circumstances, HKBN Ltd. (SEHK Stock Code: 1310) will hold its FY2021 interim results media presentation via webcast. In the webcast, the company will share with media members its key interim financial results for the 6 months ended 28 February 2021, as well as its business outlook. We cordially invite your presence to cover the event. Details of the live webcast are as follows: Date: 21 April 2021 (Wednesday) Time: 4:30pm Link: https://webcast.irasia.com/hkbn/interim/2021/press/live.php (You are advised to join 15 minutes earlier for registration) Presenting Executive: Mr. William Yeung HKBN Co-Owner and Executive Vice-chairman Language: Cantonese * If you cannot view this webcast via Microsoft Internet Explorer browser, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for viewing this webcast. Please fill in and send the attached Media Reply Slip to media@hkbn.com.hk or fax to +852 3999 7349 by 19 April. Should you have any enquiry, please contact: HKBN Ltd. Corporate Communications Department Stella Ko Tel: +852 3999 8251 / +852 9728 9289 Fax: +852 3999 7349 Email: media@hkbn.com.hk Media Reply Slip HKBN FY2021 Interim Results Live Webcast To: HKBN Ltd. Email : media@hkbn.com.hk Fax : 3999 7349 ? Our representative(s) will attend HKBN FY2021 Interim Results Live Webcast ? Our representative(s) will not attend and would like to receive related press material Media name: _____________________________________________________________ Reporter name: ___________________________________________________________ Title: _________________________ Email: _________________________ Mobile:________________________ /PRNewswire -- April 14, 2021/ SOURCE HKBN Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: "We felt that we were winning the war, but this battle has begun again," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) as he imposed new restrictions in the state due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation. "This is for your welfare. I am not happy doing it. If we do not break the COVID transmission chain, it will strangle us. Livelihood is important. But saving lives is a greater priority," CM Uddhav Thackeray said during an address to the state. The Maharashtra CM announced severe curfew-like restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state, which exclude essential services, and will come into effect from 8 pm on April 14 and remain in force till 7 am on May 1. For the people who used to travel in Mumbai's local trains and city buses, it will no more be allowed if you're not in the designated 'essential services'. The Maharashtra government said that the following are included in the essential services: 1. Hospital, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccinations, medical insurance offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, other medical and health services including supporting the manufacturing and distributing units along with their dealers, transport and supply chain. Manufacturing and distribution of vaccines, sanitisers, masks medical equipment, their ancillaries, raw material units and support services. 2. Veterinary services, animal care shelters and pet food shops. 3. Groceries, vegetable shops, fruits vendors, diaries, bakeries, confectionaries, all type of food shops. 4. Cold storage and warehousing services. 5. Public Transport: Airplanes, trains, taxis, autos and public buses. 6. Services related to the functioning of offices of Diplomats of various countries. 7. Pre-monsoon activities by local authorities. 8. All public services by local authorities. 9. Reserve Bank of India and services designated by RBI as essential. 10. All offices of SEBI recognised market infrastructure institutions such as Stock Exchange, depositories, clearing corporations etc and other intermediaries registered with SEBI. Guidelines for containment & management of COVID-19 #BreakTheChain (13th April 2021) pic.twitter.com/p6lQ3KMlFi CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 13, 2021 11. Service required for restoration/maintenance of telecom services. 12. Transport of Goods. 13. Water supply services. 14. Agriculture related activities. 15. Export-Import of all commodities. 16. E-Commerce (For essential goods and services). 17. Accredited Media. 18. Petrol Pumps and Petroleum related products, including offshore/onshore production. 19. All cargo services. 20. Data centres / Cloud Services / IT Services supporting critical infrastructure and services. 21. Government and Private Security Services. 22. Electric and gas supply services. 23. ATM's. 24. Postal Services. 25. Ports and related activities. 26. Custom 1-louse Agents/ Licensed Multi-Modal Transport Operators associated with movement of vaccines/ lifesaving drugs/ pharmaceutical products. 27. Units producing raw material/ packaging material for any essential services. 28. Units that are engaged in the production of materials for the impending rainy season for individuals as well as for organisations. 29. Any Services designated as essential services by the local disaster management authority. California on Wednesday marked a major pandemic milestone: For the first time, none of its 58 counties were in the most restrictive purple tier of its pandemic reopening plan. Merced County had been the last county remaining in the purple tier, indicating widespread coronavirus risk, after Inyo in Southern California moved to the second-most-restrictive red tier on Tuesday. However, earlier this month, Merced public health director Rebecca Nanyonjo-Kemp submitted a letter to state health officials saying that the countys coronavirus data was inaccurate because of a test backlog that caused an artificial jump in the number of positive cases, according to the Merced Sun-Star. She requested a correction, and on Wednesday the Central Valley county was allowed to advance to the red tier. No counties in California remain in the purple tier, a significant milestone in the states use of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the state health department said in a statement. As of Wednesday, 22 California counties were in the red substantial tier, including Solano County in the Bay Area. The Bay Areas eight other counties were in the moderate orange tier, along with 25 others across the state. Three counties Lassen, Sierra and Alpine were in the least restrictive yellow tier. The developments came a day before the state opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older. As of Wednesday, 40% of Californias population had received at least one shot and 22% were fully vaccinated, according to The Chronicles vaccine tracker. The state is preparing to retire the color-coded reopening system and fully reopen the economy on June 15 if aggressive vaccination goals continue to be met, and hospitalizations remain low. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Erin Allday contributed to this report. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang A new report by the Standard Bank, parent company of Stanbic Bank Ghana, has cautioned the government on its rising debt levels. In its March 2021 Flash Note of the African Markets Revealed (AMR) report, it noted that the pace of growth of external commercial debt over the past few years had been alarming, hence the need for the government to do something about it if the country was to return to the fiscal consolidation path. The report highlighted that although the countrys debt might seem sustainable, albeit with high risk of debt distress, the fast pace of growth of external commercial debt over the past few years called for caution. Debt-to-GDP levels rose to 76 per cent in 2020 and could well hover around those levels in 2021 should GDP growth improve as expected. The split between domestic and external debt is almost even, at a 51:49 ratio. Moreover, commercial creditors, including Eurobond creditors, now account for nearly 50 per cent of the external debt composition, underscoring debt investors sustainability concerns, the report indicated. Fiscal consolidation may take four years The report further indicated that the country might have to wait till 2024 to return to its deficit threshold of five per cent. It, however, noted that that was not an isolated case as most African economies were expected to see fiscal consolidation between two and four years. The path to fiscal consolidation may take a further four years as the government does not expect to return to the Fiscal Responsibility Act threshold of five per cent of GDP until at least 2024. In fact, most African economies foresee some two to four years to fiscal consolidation given the disruption to economic activity and consequent impact on government revenues amid rising social costs. However, fiscal consolidation faster than that will be desirable given high interest payments and debt service costs, the report indicated. Projected deficit That, according to the report, came on the back of a projected fiscal deficit of 9.5 per cent in 2021. The report further noted that improvement in Ghanas fiscal consolidation would depend largely on how the country recovered from the shocks of COVID-19. The Ghanaian government projects a 9.5 per cent fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio for 2021 amid rising social expenditure and interest payments, from 11.7 per cent recorded in 2020. Including financial sector costs, fiscal deficit-to-GDP was 13.7 per cent in 2020. Much of the progress on fiscal consolidation will depend of how quickly the economy can recover after the pandemic. The government forecasts growth of five per cent year-on-year for 2021, roughly matching our base case of 4.8 per cent year-on-year where we expect external demand to rebound more meaningfully in H2:21 due to vaccinations across the globe, it stated. About AMR The African Markets Revealed Report is a monthly report issued by the Standard Bank Group and focuses on the economic and financial outlook of African countries. The report also reviews current economic situations and makes short-to-medium-term predictions about the economies of African countries. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said he has tested positive for Covid-19. He had on Tuesday isolated himself after some officials in his contact tested positive for coronavirus. Yogi Adityanath tweet "After initial symptoms, I got myself tested. My report is positive. I am in self-isolation and following doctors advice. I am doing all the works virtually," Adityanath tweeted from his official Twitter handle. Earlier, he had said, "The officers of my office tested positive for coronavirus. They were in touch with me, therefore, as a precaution, I am isolating myself and starting all my work digitally." With the end of the deadline set by the Election Commission for not entering the boundaries of Cooch Behar district, Chief Minister on Wednesday met the families of the victims who were killed at Sitalkuchi during the fourth phase of polling. Four people were killed in the firing by the central forces in Sitalkuchi in Bengal on April 10. After the meeting, Chief Minister said, "I have met the family members of the five killed in Sitalkuchi. They have died at such a tender age. I think the incident should be investigated. Those who are guilty should be punished. Let the elections be over. The State Government will investigate the incident. The family of the deceased will get justice. Don't fall into the trap of any kind of instigation. We will not spare anybody, however, influential the person might be, they will be tried". The Chief Minister was referring to the five persons including the four villagers of Jor Patki village who were killed in the firing by the central forces and one person was killed by some unknown miscreants while coming out after casting vote. The four persons who were killed in the firing on Saturday last are identified as Amjad Hossain (28), Chalmu Mian (23), Jobed Ali (20) and Nameed Mia (20). The chief minister also met Jagadish Barman - the father of Ananda Baraman (18), the first time voter of Pathantuli, Golenawhati GP, Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar who died when he was shot from a firearm by unknown miscreants. "Four of the minority brothers died and one of my Rajbanshi brothers died. All the deaths are the same to time. Death of anybody is unfortunate and the government is always beside them. I cannot give back their life but shall do everything possible to help the families come out of this painful situation," the Chief Minister said. BJP President J.P. Nadda, however, criticized for doing politics on religious lines in Sitalkuchi. Speaking at a rally in Kolkata on Wednesday, the BJP President said, "Mamata Banerjee didn't say a single word about the Rajbanshi, the first time voter, who was killed by the TMC goons when he was coming out after casting his vote. Is this because he is Rajbanshi? Is this because he is Dalit? This is very unfortunate". Senior TMC leader Sougata Roy was quick to respond. "The chief minister expressed her solidarity to all the people who were killed on that day. She made it clear that the government will provide assistance to all the families of the deceased. The BJP leaders are trying to politicise the whole incident. They should stop doing politics and think about the common people- the people who lost their lives in the incident". --IANS saibal/skp/ (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.) Gov. Greg Abbott would never be able to shut down businesses in Texas again during an emergency like COVID-19 under legislation that passed the state Senate on Tuesday. In a move to curb Abbotts powers, lawmakers would require him to call the Legislature into a special session in order to shut down businesses during a major statewide emergency. State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, said his Senate Bill 1025 makes clear only the Legislature may close or economically degrade a category of business. The Senate also passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would would require the governor to call a special session before extending a disaster declaration for more than 30 days. That measure would need to be approved by the states voters to become law. Because the Legislature meets once every two years, lawmakers had a limited role in shaping the states response to the pandemic until the start of 2021. Only three states in the nation, including Texas, had governors who unilaterally controlled their states coronavirus response for more than six months. The duration of Abbotts coronavirus-related orders the first was issued March 1, 2020 is unprecedented and raises questions about the strength of the governors emergency powers, which have also been the subject of a number of lawsuits filed by business and political interests. HES DECIDED HES THE KING: Gov. Greg Abbotts COVID response leaves lawmakers on sidelines The legislation curbing Abbotts power still has a long way to go. It must still go to the Texas House for approval. The House has its own legislation seeking to rein in the governors emergency powers House Bill 3 which has yet to pass out of committee. During the pandemic, Abbott has received increasing criticism from Republicans who disagreed with forcing businesses to close or limit their occupancy to prevent transmission of the virus. Though such shutdowns were enacted in most states, the lawmakers say they worried that livelihoods were destroyed by those decisions. That frustration turned into censures of Abbott from some county Republican party executive committees and become of rallying point for critics who want a Republican to challenge him in the GOP primary as he seeks re-election. Abbotts critics on the right have held up Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who lifted that states coronavirus restrictions in September, as they argue that Abbott was too slow to do the same. PRIMARY FOR ABBOTT?: Six potential challengers to Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2022 Republican primary During debate of the measure on Tuesday, Democrats including Sens. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, and Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, raised concerns about giving businesses blanket protections during the next pandemic, saying it could take weeks for the Legislature to convene and move on measures that may be needed immediately to save lives. What if we need to act with speed? Menendez said. What if there has to be a brief closure for 15 or 20 days? Maybe youve raised a concern that the House will take up, Birdwell responded, adding, Im adamant that only the Legislature can close businesses. The state Legislature must make the most seminal decisions for livelihood. I agree that the Legislature should have a role, but will remain opposed because I dont see this Legislature being able to convene fast enough, Eckhardt said. If an identical version of the bill is approved by the Texas House, Abbott would need to sign it in order for it to become law. He said in early February he was open to rolling back his offices sweeping emergency powers. At that time, Abbott said he was working with legislators on the matter, but it has to be done in a way that leaves flexibility to move swiftly. jeremy.wallace@chron.com jeremy.blackman@chron.com Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A good deal of sunshine. Hot. High around 90F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. In recognition of National Poetry Month, RISE Chattanooga is partnering with two local organizationsthe National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc. and the Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.to honor the legacy of black women writers with The Hill We Climb: Black Women Thriving by Writing. This program was inspired by the work of Amanda Gorman and comes in two parts: a poetry competition and community discussion. The poetry competition is open to black girls and women in middle school, high school, and college. Young artists are encouraged to submit pieces about overcoming adversity, triumph, and feelings of thriving in their world. Interested poets can submit their work here. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 23, at midnight. From President of the Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Amy R. Davis, The Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter Arts and Letters Committee is focused on advancing cultural experiences by highlighting the artistic contributions of African Americans, both past and present. We feel it is essential to share their gifts of music, poetry, art, and dance. We are honored to partner in this event which highlights the artistic works of Amanda Gorman. We know that providing a platform of this nature for young contestants will give them an opportunity to stimulate their excellence in the arts. Black women in literature have long been some of the most powerful voices in America," said Woodson Carpenter, RISE Community Arts strategist. "They have been trailblazers, challengers, mirrors for our culture and collective consciousness. It is imperative that we honor these legacies, and it is a pleasure to partner with black women to make that happen. Representatives from each of the partner organizations will review submissions and select one winner from each age group to be awarded $100 and invited to share their work at a community gathering on Thursday, April 29, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. The culminating event will celebrate the community's young writers and explore the significance of Ms. Gormans work and reading for President Bidens inauguration. While black women will be centered at this event, all are welcome to join. "NCBW-Chattanooga is proud to partner with RISE-Chattanooga and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority," said Deborah Flagg, NCBW Chapter president. "We deliver support services that help youth achieve their educational goals through STEAM and this partnership will provide more exposure to the world of art. By supporting positive experiences, encouraging excellence in education and promoting the pursuit of positive lifelong goals, NCBW is creating future leaders. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:30:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday lashed out at attempts by the United States and Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority to contain China with Taiwan or seek "Taiwan independence." With the firm resolve and strong ability of 1.4 billion Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, any attempt to contain China with the Taiwan question or count on military force to seek "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. The United States has hyped up the so-called "China military threat" and kept sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, which speaks volumes about its sinister intentions, said Ma. Some DPP politicians, who are hugely overestimating their strength, have been seeking "Taiwan independence" through relying on foreign support, Ma said, adding that these individuals are certain to face the consequences of their actions in due course. Enditem The teachers are tentatively slated to hold an election in June to finalize the formation of their union, and if the effort receives a majority of yes votes, the new Latin School Union will be affiliated with the IFT and the American Federation of Teachers/AFL-CIO, Excell said. A court in Hong Kong on jailed a woman for four-and-a-half years for helping to light a fire on a city street during the 2019 protest movement, which was sparked by plans to allow the extradition of alleged criminal suspects to mainland China. Siu Lok-ting, 27, was handed the sentence after being found guilty of two counts of arson and one count of rioting, after the judge took into account mitigating factors such as the absence of attacks on police officers. Siu's parents were visibly devastated by the sentence, with Siu's father crying out "This society is without mercy! As she was being taken away, her partner shouted out: "Let's get married when you get out!" She will serve four and four-and-a-half year jail terms concurrently, after her diagnosis of depression and anxiety was taken into account, according to the judge. Siu's sentence came a day after veteran pro-democracy campaigner Koo Sze-yiu -- who has stage-four cancer -- was jailed for five months for "taking part in an illegal assembly." 'Down with the CCP!' Koo told the court that he would take the sentence in his stride, and continued to speak out against a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from , 2020. "Being in prison is a part of my life now," he said. "This is my 11th jail sentence, and I expect there to be a 12th and a 13th." "Next time, I will deliberately break the national security law, and I won't expect leniency from the court." Ignoring the judge's attempt to cut him off, Koo continued: "Human rights are more important than any government, and the people are more important than any government." "Down with the CCP! End the one-party dictatorship!" Fellow activist Raphael Wong, who came to the court to show support for Koo on , said Koo is a veteran activist who can cope with prison life. Nonetheless, there are concerns about his health. "His comrades in the pro-democracy movement won't be happy about this, because he is sick," Wong said, adding that Koo had spent just a few days out of prison after his release from a sentence for "desecrating" China's national flag. "I took him to the Lai Chi Kok Reception Center to visit [fellow activist] Long Hair the very next day, because Long Hair was afraid he might ... not be around after he himself got out," Wong said. "They had a very happy time chatting together." No regrets Pro-democracy district councilor Bull Tsang said Koo has been a veteran of the human rights and pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong since the city rose up in protest following the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. "He has been to jail quite a lot [because of his civil disobedience actions]," Tsang said. "The last two times were after the 2019 anti-extradition movement." "Koo is willing to do time in a smaller prison to fight for freedom of speech," he said. "Meanwhile, the seven million residents of Hong Kong, including the judges who tried him, are doing time in a larger prison for fighting for freedom of speech," he said. Koo first became involved in left-wing activism during his youth in Macau, later leaving to take up residence in more liberal Hong Kong. He has spent three decades building protest movements, marking the , 1989 bloodshed and carrying out civil disobedience actions, many of which have landed him in jail. Faced with terminal cancer, he recently told Stand News that he has no regrets about the way he is spending his time. Article 17 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights and Article 27 of the city's Basic Law both state that the residents of Hong Kong enjoy the right to freedom of speech, press and association, and of demonstration. But the recent imposition of the national security law and recent changes to Hong Kong's political system to enable its control by the CCP have put an end to the city's promised freedoms, and to the limited democracy the city once enjoyed. Reported by Lau Siu Fung, Fong Tak Ho and Chan Yun Nam for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. She has followed her mother and sister into the modeling business. And Lisa Rinna's daughter Amelia Hamlin posed up a storm for one of her brand endorsements on Instagram this Tuesday. The 19-year-old was decked out in black and white gear from Alo Yoga in shots she posted to both her main page and Insta Stories. Showbiz legacy: Lisa Rinna's daughter Amelia Hamlin posed up a storm for one of her brand endorsements on Instagram this Tuesday Amelia, who has been open about her past experiences with anorexia, comes from a show business family on both sides. Her father is noted TV actor Harry Hamlin whilst her mother is soap star turned Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Lisa Rinna. Not only did her mother make a splash in several modeling shots but her elder sister Delilah, 22, has gone into the same line of work as well. Amelia is currently carrying on a relationship with 37-year-old reality TV heartthrob Scott Disick who has three children with Kourtney Kardashian. Here and there: The 19-year-old was decked out in black and white gear from Alo Yoga in shots she posted to both her main page and Insta Stories Scott started dating his previous girlfriend Sofia Richie when she was 19 and before that he was linked to Bella Thorne when she was 19. Lisa could be seen in a recent trailer for He Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills voicing her objections to her daughter's new romance. 'He's too damn old...and he's got three kids!' exclaimed Lisa's co-star Kyle Richards to which Lisa could only reply: 'I know!' Meanwhile Kourtney is now dating Blink-182 drummer Travis Scott in a relationship that has become so serious he got her name tattooed onto his chest. Heartthrob: Amelia is currently carrying on a relationship with 37-year-old reality TV heartthrob Scott Disick (right) who has three children with Kourtney Kardashian (left) On the final season premiere of Keeping Up With The Kardashians last month Scott revealed that his close bond with Kourtney contributed to his split from Sofia. He even claimed that Sofia gave him an 'ultimatum' demanding he choose either her or the mother of all his children. Although he attempted to have Sofia become 'more of a priority' he felt that she was 'wanting to push Kourtney out' of the equation, he alleged. A few days ago an Us Weekly source insisted that 'Amelia's not bothered by Kourtney' and the tight co-parenting equation is 'not an issue.' [April 13, 2021] Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities (MUMSS) Deploys InvestCloud Wealth Platform to Target Fast-Growing High-Net-Worth Individuals SINGAPORE and TOKYO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestCloud, an award winning global FinTech firm serving some of the largest banks, wealth managers and asset managers in the world, today announced the deployment of its wealth management platform by Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities (MUMSS). MUMSS is the wealth management, global markets and investment banking arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan's largest bank and the world's fourth largest bank by total assets. Financial advisors at Private Banking Group of MUMSS will use the InvestCloud Wealth Platform to expand its client base of Japanese high-net-worth individuals a fast-growing sector in a country historically underserved by wealth management services. The InvestCloud platform will enable financial advisors to enhance digitalisation in their client relationship processes, focusing on the specific needs of the client and delivering more personalised services rather than spending time on manual processes. The deal is also the result of substantial investment made by InvestCloud in its Japanese operations. In recent times, it has adpted its multi-jurisdiction platform to accommodate local requirements including Japanese language, calendar and regulations. InvestCloud has also expanded its Tokyo office, moving to larger premises and expanding its local team of IT and wealth management professionals whose skill sets match the needs of financial service providers in Japan. Christine Ciriani, CEO of Private Banking, InvestCloud, says: "We are enormously proud and excited to be working with MUMSS. Japanese high-net-worth sector customers place tremendous value in their relationships with their service provider, and we have made significant investment in our technology and workforce in Japan so that local wealth managers can meet and exceed these expectations." Haruka Homma, Country Manager Japan, InvestCloud says: "The Japanese high-net-worth sector is undergoing a long-awaited transition. A large number of high-net-worth customers have been waiting for advisors who are able to provide more customer-centric advice such as goal-based wealth planning. In that sense, this project can be said to be an important milestone for a major transformation of not only the MUMSS business, but also the wealth management business in Japan. We look forward to supporting MUMSS as it evolves its business to serve this diversifying market of investors." About InvestCloud InvestCloud is a global company specializing in digital platforms that enable the development of financial solutions, pre-integrated into the Cloud. The company offers on-demand client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding library of modular apps, resulting in powerful products. Headquartered in Los Angeles, InvestCloud has over 20 global offices including New York, London, Geneva, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney, supporting trillions in assets across hundreds of diverse clients from the largest banks in the world to wealth managers, asset managers and asset services companies. For more information, visit InvestCloud.com. SOURCE InvestCloud [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Hills: New Beginnings cast reunited in California's La Quinta district on Tuesday to continue filming the second season, which premieres May 12 on MTV. Spencer Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag joined Brody Jenner as they knocked back drinks and rode a mechanical bull while shooting scenes for the upcoming series. Later in the day, model Heidi, 34, slipped into a blue bikini as she enjoyed cocktails with co-star Audrina Patridge by the pool. They're back: Spencer Pratt, wife Heidi Montag and Brody Jenner reunited in California's La Quinta district on Tuesday to continue filming the second season of The Hills: New Beginnings As they approached the pool, Brody joked that Justin 'Bobby' Brescia resembled 'Aquaman's son' with his shoulder-length locks, beard, and shades. Once inside, the hunk uploaded a clip of himself and Bobby by the pool - set to Ecuadorian one-hit wonder Gerardo's 1991 song Rico Suave. Heidi - who famously underwent 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day back in 2010 - looked fantastic in a blue underwired bikini alongside co-star Jennifer Delgado. The mother-of-one took to TikTok to share a video of herself sipping a drink poolside as Audrina raised her glass. Living it up: Later in the day, model Heidi, 34, slipped into a blue bikini as she enjoyed cocktails with co-star Audrina Patridge (second from left) by the pool Yee-haw! Later in the day, the blonde beauty couldn't contain her delight as she mounted a mechanical bull at their next filming location Guns out: Spencer showcased his biceps in a tie-dye muscle tee and swim trunks while KUWTK alum Brody Jenner opted for a black T-shirt over swim trunks Evergreen: Audrina flaunted her taut tummy in a peach tank top and sweatpants as she was escorted inside the poolside resort by two masked crew members Retro: Brody joked that Justin 'Bobby' Brescia (pictured) resembled 'Aquaman's son' with his shoulder-length locks, beard, and shades Old school: Once inside, the hunk shared a video of himself and Bobby by the pool - set to Ecuadorian one-hit wonder Gerardo's 1991 song Rico Suave The MTV cameras rolled in the background as the Pratts posed in the pool with their three-year-old son Gunnar Stone, who swam with floats. Before the family jumped into the pool, Brody remarked: 'Look at that little thug right there. Gunnar, get it! You better get in there!' At no point was anyone wearing face masks to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus, but all Californians over 16 are eligible for the vaccine starting Thursday. As of Wednesday, there have reportedly been 3.71M confirmed COVID-19 cases in California (297K in Riverside County) leading to 60,507 deaths. Bikini babes: Heidi - who famously underwent 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day back in 2010 - looked fantastic in a blue underwired bikini alongside co-star Jennifer Delgado Weee! The MTV cameras rolled in the background as the Pratts posed in the pool with their three-year-old son Gunnar Stone Cute: Before the family got in the pool, Brody remarked: 'Look at that little thug right there. Gunnar, get it! You better get in there!' Vaxxed? At no point was anyone wearing face masks to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus, but all Californians over 16 are eligible for the vaccine starting Thursday Later, Heidi put on her best western wear to mount the mechanical bull at their next filming location. Brandon Thomas Lee - now rocking a mullet with shaved sides - was thrown from the bull during his attempt at the rodeo. Brody was particularly excited to film Frankie Delgado on the bull, which he handled longer than Lee. Missing from the fun was Kristin Cavallari, who shared a spring time snap on Wednesday in a cleavage-boosting floral frock from her home in Franklin, TN. Cowboy: Brandon Thomas Lee - now rocking a mullet with shaved sides - was thrown from the bull during his attempt at the rodeo Ride 'em! Brody got excited to film Frankie Delgado on the bull, which he handled longer than Lee The drama-filled season two trailer of the dismally-reviewed reality show - which premiered Tuesday - ended with a slow-motion cameo from Cavallari. Also featured in season two of The Hills: New Beginnings will be Ashley Wahler, Jason Wahler, Jennifer Delgado, Kaitlynn Carter, Whitney Port, and newcomer Caroline DAmore. Back in 2006-2010, the Laguna Beach spin-off was frequently criticized for fabricating storylines. 'Spring!' Missing from the fun was Kristin Cavallari, who shared a spring time snap on Wednesday in a cleavage-boosting floral frock from her home in Franklin, TN The government must move forward as the country cannot be thrown into political instability following a minister's reshuffling, Deputy Prime Minister Kelemen Hunor, Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) leader, who called on coalition colleagues for a calm discussion in the next period, told AGERPRES on Wednesday. "Of course, it is an undesirable, difficult situation that we have to get past, because this coalition and this Government have assumed an important role, an important responsibility and, as I said before, we cannot accept that the fate of the coalition lies in one minister. We have to move forward and there is no alternative to this coalition. And I am convinced that USR PLUS [Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity] will come with a nomination very soon. There will be a discussion in the coalition and there is no question of thinking of other options," the deputy prime minister specified, agerpres.ro confirms. He announced that Prime Minister Florin Citu has the support of the UDMR, a political crisis being unacceptable and an undesirable signal for Romania's foreign partners. According to him, maturity is needed, a context in which no conditions should be set in the coalition, being the prime minister's responsibility to conduct government reshuffles. "It takes maturity and we mustn't set conditions to each other, because reshuffling is the job of the prime minister and he, when he makes such a reshuffle, announces the restructuring and the government has to move further. I call on the responsibility of our colleagues and a calm discussion in the coalition in the coming days," added Deputy Prime Minister Kelemen Hunor. On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna, co-chair of USR PLUS, requested an emergency meeting of the governing coalition to discuss the withdrawal of the confidence of Prime Minister Florin Citu, after he dismissed Vlad Voiculescu from the position of Minister of Health. Attempts to seek "Taiwan independence" doomed to fail: spokesperson Xinhua) 15:34, April 14, 2021 A citizen runs in front of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday lashed out at attempts by the United States and Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority to contain China with Taiwan or seek "Taiwan independence." With the firm resolve and strong ability of 1.4 billion Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, any attempt to contain China with the Taiwan question or count on military force to seek "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. The United States has hyped up the so-called "China military threat" and kept sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, which speaks volumes about its sinister intentions, said Ma. Some DPP politicians, who are hugely overestimating their strength, have been seeking "Taiwan independence" through relying on foreign support, Ma said, adding that these individuals are certain to face the consequences of their actions in due course. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Community groups have three months left to apply for funding for projects that aim to enhance, preserve or protect the Bay of Plenty's natural or historic character. The grants are available through the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environmental Enhancement fund, with up to $25,000 per project available. Regional council chairman Doug Leeder says the fund has helped many different groups across the Bay of Plenty over the last 20 years. "Our Bay of Plenty community is made up of so many knowledgeable environmentalists filled with innovative ideas. "These volunteers are the backbone of what makes our region thrive so this fund is one way we can support them in doing their crucial work." This fund is open to those who want to improve the environment, raise environmental awareness and use enthusiasm and skills of the community, says Doug. In the last year, the fund has supported a diverse range of projects across the region including a giant sea bin for the Tauranga Bridge Marina, solar panels for Te Puke High School and wetland planting at the Awatapu Lagoon in Whakatane. Doug says council is also constantly looking at ways to adapt and mitigate the changing climate the BOP sees on a daily basis and is keen to hear from the local community on projects that could lessen those changes. Tauranga Bridge Marina was able to secure an ocean sea bin for the marina in 2020 through the fund in 2019. Marina operations and services co-ordinator Anna Barnes says they were always keen to look into different environmental initiatives and bring awareness to the micro plastics that float within Tauranga Harbour to boaties, marina users and the wider community. On any given day, the sea bin could collect everything from general rubbish, micro plastics and even things like jandals, she says. The Mount Manganui College Environmental Group then collected the "rubbish" and lodged its data with the World Data Index. To qualify for the grant the project must be on public land, or land with public access, needs to contribute towards environmental enhancement, help develop community awareness and encourage community participation. More information on the fund can be found on the regional council website ISTANBUL, APR 14 - Premier Mario Draghi's calling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "dictator" was "total rudeness, total rudeness," Erdogan told the Anadolu news agency Wednesday, almost a week after Draghi made the remark. Draghi called Erdogan a dictator in a press conference on Thursday. The Turkish government rapidly summoned the Italian ambassador to Ankara to express its disapproval of the comments, which Draghi made in relation to the 'sofagate' case regarding the failure to provide a seat for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting on Tuesday. "I am really sorry about the humiliation that the commission president had to suffer with these, let's call them for what they are, dictators," Draghi said. The Italian premier said the EU had to be frank with figures like Erdogan, stressing the differences in outlook while at the same time being ready to cooperate. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the comments "ugly and unreasonable" and said they should be taken back. The deputy leader of Erdogan's AKP party, Numan Kurtulmus, said "there are no dictators in our country. If you want to see a dictator, look to your own history. Look to Mussolini". Draghi won backing from several quarters on Friday with European People's Party (EPP) chief Manfred Weber among the senior voices expressing support. "Prime Minister Draghi is right, under President Erdogan's lead Turkey has moved away from the rule of law, democracy and fundamental freedoms in the last decade," Weber said in a statement sent to Italian media. Turkey, Weber said, "is not a free country for all its citizens. "If Europe wants to build a constructive partnership with countries like Turkey, and it is in our strategic interest to do so, we ought to speak clearly and honestly about the actual facts. "This is also the reason why we have been asking the (EU) Council for years to finally close the procedure of enlargement of the EU to (include) Turkey. We are categorically against a prospect of accession of Turkey to the EU and as long as it is on the table it hinders a franker and more realistic relationships with the country". Turkey recently pulled out of the 2011 Istanbul Convention on violence against women, dismaying activists who say gender violence is on the rise there. Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, said Draghi was spot on. "Brothers of Italy has denounced the authoritarian, Islamist direction Erdogan's Turkey has taken for years and asked the EU to withdraw Ankara's status as a candidate country," said Meloni, whose party is the only major group in parliament not to back Draghi's broad coalition government. "Premier Draghi's clear, firm words were good. "We demand respect and we hope that the premier's comments are just the government's first step in powerfully defending Italian interests in the Mediterranean and stemming the political and cultural expansionism of the Islamist regime in Ankara". (ANSA). An outbreak of vomiting among dogs has been traced back to a type of animal coronavirus by researchers. Vets across the country began reporting cases of acute onset prolific vomiting in 2019/20. The Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNet) at the University of Liverpool asked vets for help in collecting data, with 1,258 case questionnaires from vets and owners plus 95 clinical samples from 71 animals. Based on this data, a team from the universities of Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester and Bristol identified the outbreak as most likely to be a variant of canine enteric coronavirus (CeCoV). Canine coronavirus only affects dogs and is not the same as Sars Cov2 which causes Covid in humans. Researchers found no evidence of any similar illness in people. The work is published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The team are working on a project funded by the Dogs Trust called SAVSNet-Agile which aims to develop a national surveillance system for canine health. Dr Barry Rowlingson from Lancaster University said: "We've developed complex statistical models to look for disease outbreaks. Being able to rapidly detect increased incidence, without triggering a false alarm from a natural random variation, is the key problem here. Early detection is crucial to early treatment and enhanced monitoring. "The SAVSNet Agile project aims to feed information back to local veterinary practices so they can be alert to any new outbreaks." Vets began to suspect an infectious cause because vomiting was more frequent than is typical for canine gastroenteritis. SAVSNet researchers found a specific and significant increase in the number of dogs recorded as exhibiting gastroenteric signs between late December 2019 and March 2020. As well as reusing health records, SAVSNet also collected questionnaire data from vets and owners caring for affected animals, as well as healthy controls. This showed male dogs were more at risk than females. Charlotte Appleton, SAVSNet Agile PhD Student, said: "Obtaining such important results at an early stage of my PhD is a wonderful achievement and will hopefully provide a pathway of higher visibility into the health of domestic animals." ### China described its military exercises near the island of Taiwan as combat drills Wednesday. The military activity takes place as former U.S. officials arrive in Taipei to signal President Joe Bidens support for Taiwans democracy. Taiwan has said that Chinese fighter jets and bombers have entered its air defense zone. A Chinese aircraft carrier has also been performing exercises near the island. Twenty-five Chinese air force planes, including fighters and bombers, entered Taiwans air defense zone on Monday. It is the largest entry into areas controlled by Taiwan reported in recent years. Chinese spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said the military activity was necessary to answer Taiwans independence efforts and Taiwan-U.S. collusion. He said that Taiwans government is working with external forces. In the past, China has given little explanation for its military movements near Taiwan. Its defense ministry only called them military activities in January. China considers Taiwan a rebel territory although the two sides have had separate governments since 1949. The United States has not formally recognized Taiwans government since 1979. However, the U.S. remains the island democracys strongest ally. U.S. officials have been watching the growing tensions with China with concern. Former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd and former diplomats Richard Armitage and James Steinberg arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday. A Biden administration official called the visit a personal signal of the presidents loyalty towards Taiwan and its democracy. It is not an official U.S. visit. The three men are meeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday. Taiwans presidential spokesman said the trip again shows the Taiwan-U.S. relationship is rock solid, and is a full expression of support for Taiwan in the United States. Tsai has said Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China. Mainland Chinese spokesman Ma said the meeting between Tsai and the former U.S. officials would make the situation worse. Ma said Chinese officials oppose the U.S. playing the Taiwan card and continuing to send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces. Ma also accused Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party of seeking independence through military means. It will only push Taiwan towards disaster, he said. Im Jill Robbins. Reuters reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story zone n. an area that is different from other areas for a special reason collusion-n. secret cooperation for an illegal or dishonest purpose external- n. coming from outside Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP of Mures County, Dumitrita Gliga asked the Minister of National Defense, Nicolae Ciuca, to specify Romania's official position regarding the events on the Ukrainian border, agerpres.ro confirms. "Today, I call on Mr. Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca, Minister of National Defense, for an answer regarding our country's official and explicit position in relation to the worrying events on the Ukrainian border. Given that all news bulletins center on the official statements and positions of the states regarding the escalation of tensions in Ukraine, we, although we have a common border with Ukraine, are riparian on the Black Sea and we watch over the welfare of the over 400,000 Romanians living in the neighboring country, we continue to expect Romania's official position," Dumitrita Gliga told AGERPRES. She said that according to public information, there were movements of Russian troops at the end of last week on the border with Ukraine and in the annexed Crimean peninsula and for this reason she asked the Minister of Defense for a series of answers. "We look forward to the Minister's response to the following questions: Given Romania's historical past and proximity to possible conflict areas, what is the official and explicit position of our country in relation to these events? What measures should we officially adopt, as a NATO member state, in the event of an escalation of the conflict on the Russian-Ukrainian border?," the deputy added. University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, has concluded a national search with the appointment of the Universitys first chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and vice president (CDEIO/VP). Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, will assume the position July 1, reporting directly to the president. As CDEIO/VP, she will steward UMBs commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); catalyze the institutional change necessary for deepening and strengthening that commitment; and design and operationalize a transparent accountability framework to measure and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the Universitys DEI initiatives at every level of the institution. I am excited to welcome Dr. Forbes Berthoud to UMB, and I am eager to work together with her to identify issues and improve structures and systems at our University to continue to build a culture that is truly inclusive and equitable for every member of our community, Jarrell said. I have been so impressed with the thoughtful and collaborative way Diane has interacted with her future UMB colleagues during the search process. Its no wonder she was able to accomplish so much at the University of California, San Diego [UCSD]. Forbes Berthoud has held several critical positions at UCSD since 2011, most recently associate vice chancellor for equity, diversity, and inclusion. In that role, she led the management of the universitys first Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence, directed central aspects of an accountability process involving senior leadership, provided leadership in the development of accountability data dashboards to track key metrics, and oversaw the creation of an equity, diversity, and inclusion best practices resource and diversity strategic planning toolkit to guide the planning and implementation processes. As CDEIO/VP, Forbes Berthoud will work in close collaboration with the provost and other senior University officials, leading the development of a strategic action plan that will leverage current efforts, and create a sustainable infrastructure that effects every aspect and every level of UMB. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring my experience and passion to UMB and I look forward to working together with every part of the University community to achieve our goals, Forbes Berthoud said. The work of equity, diversity, and inclusion is not a solo job. It's not the chief diversity officer saying, This is the way. It is really understanding both the principles and the values, sharing those in a leadership role, and bringing everyone into that picture to achieve a cohesive vision and have outcomes that will really move the institution towards greater excellence. Prior to serving as UCSDs associate vice chancellor for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Forbes Berthoud oversaw academic planning, strategic planning, and implementation as academic director of the universitys 4,000-student Sixth College. She served on the Chancellors Committee on the Status of Women, developed and enhanced the global education program, and was honored with a university-wide diversity award for outstanding efforts in advancing UCSDs academic and institutional goals in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Forbes Berthoud also was founding faculty of the RISE San Diego Urban Leadership Fellows Program, a partnership with the University of San Diego to advance leadership and workforce development and civic engagement, and she was recognized as a 2020 San Diego Woman of Distinction by San Diego Woman Magazine for her contributions to higher education, community, and society. Forbes Berthoud also has considerable history in the Baltimore-Washington region, serving as faculty and lecturer at George Washington University, George Mason University, Howard University, the University of Maryland, College Park, and Trinity University, where she was associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication. Outside of academia, she served as an organizational development consultant with Montgomery County Government and the American Psychological Association, and Ombudsperson at the U.S. Capitol. Forbes Berthoud received PhD and MA degrees in Organizational Communication and Social Psychology from Howard University, and a BA in Communication and a certificate in Spanish Translation and Interpretation from Barry University. She holds a management certificate from the University of California, a certificate in mediation from the National Center for Conflict Resolution, and is a graduate of the UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Program. She was named UMBs inaugural CDEIO/VP following a national search and rigorous selection process organized and conducted by selection committee co-chairs, Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, MBA, UMB chief business and finance officer and vice president. I am extremely pleased that Diane Forbes Berthoud will be serving as the University of Maryland, Baltimores inaugural chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. She brings a rich array of experiences working with students, faculty, and staff in higher education as well as a proven track record of effectively engaging community stakeholders in initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kirschling said. Diane was exceptionally impressive at every stage of the search process, Rhodes added. I am convinced that her previous experience on a health science campus positions her well to be the inaugural CDEIO/VP for UMB. I am excited to have her join the leadership team. University leadership, faculty, and staff were able to meet with CDEIO candidates, with finalists presenting their ideas and experience to the entire UMB community in a series of virtual town hall meetings. One key issue each candidate was asked to address was their view of the evolution of the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Previously, there was a lot of focus on diversity who was in the room looking at representation, and representation does matter. And we have made some strides in some areas, Forbes Berthoud told her town hall audience in January, adding that some progress also is being made on inclusion in decision-making and in programs at all levels of academia. Equity is really thinking about what the history and the structural barriers have been for traditionally marginalized populations, for groups that are underserved and underrepresented. Equity is concerned with barriers and disparities and recognizing them, she said. Stronger investment in such things as infrastructure, offices, staff resources, and pipeline programs will not only facilitate a greater examination of those barriers, but now will establish the kinds of structures and the strategies and tactics to bring about the change thats needed. We have to be open to understanding how issues of the past impact our present reality, and what our individual and collective roles are in creating a more equitable and inclusive culture, Jarrell said. And I am confident that Diane Forbes Berthoud will play a critical role as an adviser, a leader, and a catalyst for the institutional change we seek. The 2021 edition of the Pepsi North America Cup looms closer with each passing day, and Trot Magazine continues to profile some of the races top contenders ahead of the million-dollar classic. At 15-1, Lawless Shadow ranks at #6 in Trot Magazines 2021 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. Competing for the some of the same connections who campaigned his sire Shadow Play, Lawless Shadow marked himself on the Grand Circuit locally after beginning his career in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series. He stepped onto the main stage with a 1:52.2 victory in a $117,029 Nassagaweya division on North America Cup night last year and also finished third in the $720,000 Metro Pace. In total, Lawless Shadow made nine starts as a two-year-old, winning on four occasions and only missing the board once. He earned $307,624 for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and co-owners R G McGroup Ltd., Serge Savard and Frank Cannon, and earned the 2020 O'Brien Award as Canada's Two-Year-Old Male Pacer of the Year. Trot Insider caught up with trainer Dr. Ian Moore for an update on Lawless Shadow. Where did Lawless Shadow winter and when did you start back with him? He went right to Florida. They have beautiful paddocks here theyre a couple-acre paddocks and theyre all grass. Actually, this year is the best grass weve had in the 12 years Ive been here. Ive had people say well Ill take them here or there or wherever. My experience with that is that, when I get them back, theyre not in the shape that I want them in. So Ive tried to convince owners to send them with me. It might cost a little more, but at least I go out to look at [them] every day. If theres any problems, I can deal with it; I can monitor their condition and so on so they can start their training back ready to go. Not delayed for a few weeks because they didnt have enough to eat all winter. [We started back with him] towards the end of January. Probably around the 18th of January. Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year? I dont think hes grown more, but hes filled out; hes rounded out and muscled up in places where he mightve been a bit more slack on last year. Hes a great horse to work on [and] a terrific horse on the track. Im looking forward to racing him somewhere. Hopefully it will be home, where we want to be, but Im unsure now. What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi North America Cup? Hes going to qualify on Friday (April 16) at Southern Oaks. He is paid up to the Meadowlands Pace and in Pennsylvania I think, and then at the end of the year in Indianapolis [Hoosier Park] theres several there we paid up into. But for the stakes all up there, we were counting on the 22nd [of May] the first OSS race I believe it is at Mohawk and then the Somebeachsomewhere and the North America Cup. Thats what we were pointing to. Before all this latest stuff started, I had been getting them primed right to that point. Now, I dont know what to do. Wed prefer to be at home because its such a good program there, and thats where I live and thats where I work. But Im not going to go there if its not safe, which is very unusual to say. You asked me in the fall if I feel safe down here I feel a lot safer down here right now than I do heading up there. And Im sure you know the U.S. has actually put a travel ban on Americans going to Canada. Did you get the COVID-19 vaccine / Will you and your team be vaccinated by the time the North America Cup rolls around? Everybody did down here. Some of my staff got their shots two weeks ago, they got the Moderna [vaccine]. The two in their 20s, they got their first shots the Monday past and they're booked for the 26th for their second shot. "I was done on February 11th, Nancy was done about two or three weeks ago." What makes him such a good horse? "Hes just turned into an unbelievably sweet horse. Just two fingers to drive, you can do whatever you want with him. Ask him to go and he goes. A really good feeler." At what point last year did you think this horse was North America Cup material? I think its been documented there that Ive said he was always a nice colt. He had some troubles early and he grew out of them with a few minor equipment changes. He was a pretty nice two-year-old for us I guess any two-year-old thats third in the Metro has got to be a decent horse. Thats why we kept him [eligible] and were hoping hell do it in the North America Cup. The ones that raced last year, there are certainly some nice two-year-olds there the American-breds, Im talking about. Thats another thing hopefully, theyll be able to come. It wont be any good for the industry [if they cant]. Any other three-year-old stablemates in the barn right now that are paid up and also looking promising? Hes the only three-year-old colt Ive got. We have two fillies, OSS eligible, and then Lady Arthur in Ohio. And a four-year-old (Tattoo Artist) and a five-year-old (Century Farroh), and 14 babies. IONIA, MI -- A former Lowell police officer who authorities say needlessly fired eight rounds at a fleeing vehicle, striking a man and teen in the car, is expected in court Wednesday, April 14. The police officer, according to testimony, fired 11 shots total during the incident, and it is the final eight shots that led to criminal charges being filed. Jason Diaz is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, misconduct by a public official and careless discharge of a weapon causing injury. According to an earlier probable cause hearing and a transcript of testimony, one of the rounds grazed the head of a 15-year-old and another struck a man in the arm. The charges were filed after a review by the Michigan Attorney Generals office. Diaz, who has since resigned from the department, is expected in court Wednesday for a hearing on whether enough evidence exists to send the case to trial. According to the probable cause transcript, Diaz attempted to stop a vehicle on Aug. 29 at 2:40 a.m. on Fulton Street near Alden Nash Avenue SE but it sped away at high speed, going into Ionia County. The vehicle, a Chevy Impala, turned onto to Whites Bridge Road off M-21 but was blocked by a tree in the road. Diazs cruiser was behind the vehicle and Diaz had just stepped out, taking cover behind his open door. Dashcam and body cam video show the vehicle then backing up toward the cruiser and actually scraping against the cruisers side as Diaz jumps back in, according to testimony from Ionia County Sheriffs Detective Phillip Hesche. Related: Police officer involved in shooting charged with two felonies by Michigan Attorney General Diaz then fires three shots as the vehicle passes his cruiser. A moment later, after the vehicle turns around and begins speeding away, Diaz fires eight more rounds, Hesche testified. One of those rounds went through the back of the car, going through multiple layers of steel and fabric before grazing the head of the 15-year-old, he said. According to the transcript, Hesche said the charges against Diaz stem from the eight rounds fired as the vehicle was speeding away. That vehicle, in the opinion of the Attorney General, is that it was no longer a threat to the officer. It was no longer a threat to the public. It was on a back road and that vehicle was driving away, Hesche testified. He needlessly fired those additional eight rounds. Diaz gave a statement to investigators and said he thought he was in great danger as the vehicle backed toward him. The driver had refused to comply with a command to show his hands a second earlier. At this time, I was in fear of being hit by the Impala, which I knew would have caused me great physical harm or death, Hesche testified, reciting the officers statement. According to his statement in the transcript, Diaz allegedly acknowledged he fired his weapon as the other vehicle was speeding away. Related: Officer fires shots at stolen vehicle after 100 mph chase through Lowell, police say Police said the Impala, while speeding away on M-21, crashed into a yard while the driver apparently tried to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle. The Impala was in the wrong lane, police said. The other vehicle turned out to be an unmarked Grand Rapids police cruiser driven by an off-duty officer. Everyone fled the Impala, but Kent County sheriffs deputies arrived to assist in a search. Police used a drone and were able to locate the five people hiding in another vehicle near the crash scene. Diazs attorney, Marc Curtis, declined to discuss the case before Wednesdays hearing. The court hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday. More from MLive CDC expects pause of J&J vaccine to be matter of days as experts study extremely rare blood clots Grand Rapids elected leaders set to receive highest pay raise in 36 years amid budget shortfall Van Andel Institute founding research director George Vande Woude dies, leaves lasting legacy Led by Sequoia, new funding will fuel life sciences cloud leader's global growth and product expansion SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchling, the leading life sciences R&D cloud, has raised $200 million in Series E funding led by Sequoia Capital Global Equities and joined by Altimeter Capital, Byers Capital and Elad Gil. Existing investors participated, including Thrive Capital, Benchmark, Menlo Ventures, Alkeon Capital, ICONIQ, Lux Capital, Spark Capital and Lead Edge Capital. The company will use the funding to aggressively invest in product development and global expansion to support enterprise customers. "Recent breakthroughs in biology have the potential to transform the world in the same way that computing and the internet did. We are relying on scientists to rewrite the medicines we take, the food we eat, and the fuels that power our lives," said Patrick Fu, managing partner at Sequoia Capital Global Equities. "We are excited to partner with Benchling as they build the foundational software infrastructure for the scientists redefining the world." Since launching in 2012, more than 300,000 scientists and 1,000 R&D organizations around the globe have adopted Benchling's cloud platform to manage massively complex experimental datasets and optimize R&D processes. Benchling customers - including Gilead Sciences, Sanofi, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Corteva Agrisciences, Sana Biotechnology and more - rely on the company's suite of cloud applications to design DNA, collaborate on experiments, automate data capture, manage research workflows and enable rapid decision-making, all with the aim of bringing products to market faster. "Sana focuses on engineering genes and cells with a goal of creating novel medicines that not only treat disease, but hopefully cure it," said Steve Harr, Sana co-founder and CEO. "This is complex, interdisciplinary work where each scientist needs to capture, store and analyze immense amounts of data. Benchling has critical technology that enables Sana's global R&D teams to focus on developing our platforms and pipeline, building the right automation, designing the right experiments and finding the insights that reside within our data." In January, Benchling announced it had doubled its annual recurring revenue (ARR) for the fourth year in a row while adding more than 150 customers in industries spanning medicine, food, agriculture, materials, consumer packaged goods and energy. Multiple enterprises on Benchling delivered life-saving COVID-19 antibody treatments in record time. With a focus on bringing Benchling to the world's largest biotech hubs to support key customers, the company also opened its EMEA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. "This past year has proven the impact biotechnology can have on the world. It's been thrilling to see our customers at the center of developing everything from life-saving therapeutics for COVID-19 to more sustainable products for our planet," said Sajith Wickramasekara, CEO and Co-Founder of Benchling. "This funding will enable us to provide more products, solutions and services that scientists around the world ultimately need to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges." About Benchling Benchling is the first R&D cloud platform powering the life science industry and helping the next generation of scientists make breakthrough discoveries and bring them to market faster than ever before. Multinational pharmaceutical corporations, high-growth biotechnology companies and major research institutions alike trust Benchling to speed collaboration and convert the complexity of life sciences into world-changing results. For more, please visit benchling.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/951242/Benchling_Logo.jpg [April 14, 2021] BGF Invests 14 Million In Tech-led Procurement Business Bloom GATESHEAD, England, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Growth capital investor BGF has invested 14 million in Bloom (Bloom Procurement Services), based in the North East and headquartered in Gateshead. Bloom is the UK's only public sector procurement marketplace offering an end-to-end managed service procurement solution. Founded in 2011 by Adam Jacobs, the executive chairman, Bloom provides a dynamic and open access marketplace for the provision of professional services to the UK Public Sector. Bloom's managed service enables public sector buyers to compliantly and transparently award public sector contracts and achieve significant savings. Buyers have access to a dynamic supplier base across a wide range of professional service categories. For suppliers of professional services, Bloom offers an efficient and effective route to market. The Bloom marketplace is open access allowing all suppliers to register on the platform at no cost. It enables SMEs access to a market on a 'level playing field' alongside more established organisations. To date Bloom has transacted over 7,500 projects with a value of 800 million, across all parts of the public sector. Bloom founder and entrepreneur, Adam Jacobs, said: "BGF stood out as the investment partner for us at this stage in our development. The team demonstrated a good understanding of our business and market and have a clear track record of successful investments in a similar space. They are backing a business with enormous growth potential and the BGF partnership emboldens our ambition to rapidly scale the business and create a great case study for entrepreneurship and growth in the North East of the UK." Amabel Grant has been named CEO, having joined the business in 2018 as CTO with significant public sector and technology experience, including Crown Marketplace Programme Director at the Cabinet Office. This deal will enable Bloom to invest in development of the next generation of its Pro-vide technology, enhancing the proposition for existing customers an unlocking significant growth potential. Key to Bloom's success to date, Diane Cheesebrough is non-executive director and will move to non-executive chair as part of the deal. Barry Jackson and Rob Johnson from BGF led the investment. Barry Jackson, investor at BGF, said: "Adam and Amabel are a powerful combination and Bloom is a unique asset, which has access to a large market and the potential to rapidly scale. This is a business offering a best-in-class solution, delivering results for its users and driving social value throughout the supply chain. We're looking forward to working with the team to achieve our shared ambitions for Bloom." Bloom's marketplace enables public sector buyers across Central Government, Local Government, Housing Associations, Blue Light, NHS, Universities, Schools and Non-Departmental Public Bodies to deliver against their social value goals. In turn, professional services suppliers are able to demonstrate how they will add social value and support delivery. CEO, Amabel Grant, added: "Our technology means we're uniquely placed to offer the whole public sector an end-to-end managed service procurement solution for professional services. In addition, we help buyers evaluate social value when awarding contracts, which became a mandatory requirement for central government contracts this year. We're also able to support the drive to open up public procurement to more SMEs because of our ability to onboard and work with any suppliers at any time. The Bloom team and I are incredibly excited to be working alongside BGF who bring invaluable experience of supporting scale-up businesses in developing and delivering a customer led tech road map." Advisors to BGF were Cavu Corporate Finance (Shawn Bone, Thomas Brunsnes) and Squire Patton Boggs (Paul Mann, Craig Pettit). Advisors to Bloom were KPMG (Christian Mayo, Michael Downes) and Cooley (Stephen Rosen, Charlotte Lennon). Michael Downes, Director in KPMG's corporate finance team in Newcastle, said "It's been a pleasure working with Adam, Amabel and the team at Bloom on this transaction. The deal is another example of the appetite from investors to back entrepreneurial tech-enabled businesses in the region. Bloom has an exciting future and the investment from BGF will help the team to realise the potential to grow significantly over the next few years." About BGF BGF was set up in 2011 and has invested 2.5bn in nearly 400 companies, making it the most active investor in the UK. BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, based on shared long-term goals with the management teams it backs. BGF invests in growing businesses in the UK and Ireland through its network of 16 offices. In 2018, Canada launched its equivalent the Canadian Business Growth Fund and in 2019, Australia did the same, both based on BGF's funding model. About Bloom Bloom Procurement Services was founded in 2011, by entrepreneur Adam Jacobs. Bloom has evolved into the UK's leading public sector procurement marketplace for professional services. Bloom's managed service enables public sector buyers to compliantly and transparently award public sector contracts and achieve significant savings. Buyers have access to a dynamic supplier base across a wide range of professional service categories. Suppliers have the ability to access and work with the public sector at significantly reduced cost. To date, Bloom has managed the procurement and delivery of over 7,500 projects across nearly 500 Public Sector Organisations in the UK, including Central Government, Local Government, Housing Associations, Blue Light, NHS, Universities, Schools and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Chinese national flag is seen in Beijing, China (Photo : REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo/File Photo) China's push for global power is the leading threat to U.S. national security, while Russia's efforts to undermine American influence and assert itself as a major actor also pose a challenge, said a U.S. intelligence report released on Tuesday. The 2021 Annual Threat Assessment lays out U.S. spy agencies' views of the chief foreign policy issues facing U.S. President Joe Biden in his first year in office, complicated by the coronavirus pandemic and global climate change. Advertisement While China and Russia are presented as the leading challenges, Iran and North Korea will also test U.S. national security, the report said. The report, sent to Congress, will be the subject of Senate and House intelligence committee meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. Biden's Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and CIA Director William Burns will testify publicly for the first time since being confirmed. The report said the ruling Chinese Communist Party will press "whole-of-government efforts to spread China's influence, undercut that of the United States, drive wedges between Washington and its allies and partners" and foster acceptance of its authoritarian system. At the same time, Chinese leaders will "seek tactical opportunities" to lower tensions with the United States when it suits their interests, the report said. It said China possesses substantial cyber-attack capabilities that, at a minimum, can cause localized, temporary disruptions to critical infrastructure within the United States. Russia seeks to undermine American influence, sow disagreement among Western countries and inside Western alliances, and build its abilities to "shape global events as a major player," the report said, adding that it too will "remain a top cyber threat." The agencies' assessment of Iran's nuclear program and intentions was mixed. They said they continued to believe that Iran "is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that we judge would be necessary to produce a nuclear device." But they said, after President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with world powers, Tehran "resumed some nuclear activities" that violate the accord. Iran will "present a continuing threat to U.S. and allied interests" in the Middle East, working to undermine American influence, the report said. North Korea, they said, "will pose an increasing threat to the United States, South Korea, and Japan" as it upgrades its conventional military capabilities. Pyongyang's interest in developing weapons of mass destruction will remain a major concern, the report said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "remains strongly committed to the country's nuclear weapons, the country is actively engaged in ballistic missile research and development" and remains interested in developing chemical and biological weapons, the report said. Patna, April 14 : A 60-year-old person lost his life in an ambulance at the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) after the hospital administration allegedly denied him admission in the Covid ward since an inspection by Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey was underway. The deceased, Vinod Kumar Singh, a resident of Lakhisarai district, was suffering from fever and his son Abhimanyu Singh claims he first took him to AIIMS-Patna. "As the casualty doctors of AIIMS0Patna refused him admission on Monday night, we went to NMCH on Tuesday morning. The doctors at NMCH refused my father admission in the Covid ward as an inspection of Mangal Pandey was scheduled there," alleged Abhimanyu. "We were waiting in the ambulance since morning and requested the doctors several times to admit him, but they refused. The doctors told me the patients would get admitted only after the inspection of the health minister gets over. As we had no other option, we waited in the ambulance where my father lost his life," he added. But Dr Vinod Singh, the medical superintendent of NMCH has denied the allegations levelled by the victim's family members. "The patient died before arrival in the hospital premises. The hospital administration was not involved in giving VIP treatment to the minister. During his visit, only three medical officers were with him during the inspection and he was provided information about the facilities in the hospital. The claims of the deceased's son are absolutely false," added Singh. The ECOLHE project, co-funded by the EU's Erasmus+ programme, involves the UOC and another six universities in Europe. E-learning has become a key teaching and learning tool in the current pandemic and ensuring its quality throughout Europe is one of the aims of a series of research projects being launched this year. In Europe, e-learning covers a range of teaching methods that vary from country to country. The Erasmus+ Empower Competences for Online Learning in Higher Education (ECOLHE) project, in which the UOC is a participant, has been set up to examine the way in which the idea of e-learning has been put into practice in the European Higher Education Area. "This research-action project has been set up to create conditions under which best practices can be shared across a range of aspects, including teaching digital skills in higher education, validating teaching competences and online teaching strategies," said Montse Guitert, coordinator of the Edul@b research group and the ECOLHE project at the UOC. She is working alongside her colleagues Teresa Romeu and Marc Romero from the same research group. With a projected duration of 36 months and a budget of over 416,000, ECOLHE is headed by Italy's Link Campus University Foundation and involves another six universities and organizations from six countries: UOC, Spain; University of Rome III, Italy; the National University of Ireland's University College, Cork; Patras University, Greece; the European Association of Erasmus Coordinators, Cyprus; and Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Their research covers six case studies from the participating countries, apart from Cyprus. In Spain, the UOC will analyse the online education system being developed by the University and involving professionals from all its areas, including: administration, students, teachers, researchers and management, focusing specifically on the implementation, management and assessment of digital innovation in the university's educational project. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) is a leading online university, with over 25 years' experience with innovative online teaching methods. It has the eLearn Center, set up to promote innovation in e-learning. According to Carles Sigales, UOC Vice President for Teaching and Learning, "the pandemic has confirmed that switching to online teaching is not so easy. Universities that offers online teaching have to be organized in a completely different way, as the switch from classroom to remote teaching is not automatic." "This experience we have will go hand-in-hand with input from policymakers responsible for education, and a report will be drafted, presenting the UOC as an example of a fully online university. It will form part of a comparative report, which will include the other cases analysed by our project partners, all of whom use face-to-face learning," said Guitert. Lifelong online learning As well as this research, the UOC is involved in all the stages of the project, including validating tools for the data collection, and applying and analysing them at local level. "Much of our focus is on creating a training course for teachers and tutors to improve online teaching within a framework of lifelong learning," said Guitert. The UOC became involved in ECOLHE through its links with Italy's Link Campus University, which is leading the project. The University's prior experience also includes the DECODE project, helmed by Link and aimed at teachers of compulsory education, enabling them to apply digital skills in their classrooms. Recommendations applicable throughout Europe After the project is completed, its findings will be applied throughout Europe, not just in the countries directly involved. "One of the primary aims of ECOLHE is to generate a framework and tools that can be used to improve the quality of online education," said Guitert. "When COVID-19 came along, we were already experiencing sustained growth in demand for online training. Before the pandemic, 15% of university students in Spain were already studying online. The boom in online learning is closely linked with the demand for lifelong learning, which is absolutely unstoppable," said Sigales. This means that the project can be used to provide recommendations for politicians and policymakers and academic bodies on how to build a European higher education area based on independent quality guarantees. This project supports the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4, Quality Education, SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals. The UOC is a leader in the field of research into e-learning, having conducted 224 projects from 2001 to 2020, and currently has 20 research groups active in the field. Project co-funded by the European Union Erasmus Plus Program [Project Code: 2020-1-IT02_KA203_079176] UOC R&I The UOC's research and innovation (R&I) is helping overcome pressing challenges faced by global societies in the 21st century, by studying interactions between technology and human & social sciences with a specific focus on the network society, e-learning and e-health. Over 500 researchers and 51 research groups work among the University's seven faculties and two research centres: the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and the eHealth Center (eHC). The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and open knowledge serve as strategic pillars for the UOC's teaching, research and innovation. More information:research.uoc.edu. #UOC25years ### The New York City mayoral race is one of the most consequential political contests in a generation, with immense challenges awaiting the winner. This is the second in a series of profiles of the major candidates. April 14, 2021 On a late February morning in TriBeCa, the most seasoned politician in the New York City mayors race was sitting outside, futzing with his fogging-up eyeglasses as he wrestled with an assessment of an election that appeared to be slipping from his grasp. For Scott M. Stringer, every chapter of his steady ascent through New York politics serving on a community planning board as a teenager; becoming a protege of Representative Jerrold Nadler; moving from district leader to state assemblyman, Manhattan borough president and finally, city comptroller has laid the groundwork for a long-expected mayoral bid. He has deep experience, boasts a raft of endorsements and verges on jubilant when describing his passion for his hometown. For much of the mayoral campaign, none of that has been enough to generate a surge of enthusiasm around his candidacy, according to polling and interviews with more than 30 activists, lawmakers and other New York Democrats. Mr. Stringer is working hard to change that. If I was a book, and youre in a bookstore and you saw the cover of the book, you may say, Im not sure I want to read that, Mr. Stringer said, framing a picture of himself with his hands, reaching from his head to his midline. 22 State Republican AGs Oppose Unconstitutional DC Statehood Bill Twenty-two Republican attorneys general have declared they will challenge any attempt to make the District of Columbia the 51st state, calling such efforts unconstitutional and bad policy. If this Congress passes and President Biden signs this Act into law, we will use every legal tool at our disposal to defend the United States Constitution and the rights of our states from this unlawful effort to provide statehood to the District of Columbia, the attorneys general wrote in an April 13 letter (pdf) to President Joe Biden and congressional leaders. The letter comes in response to proposed legislation by non-voting Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.), which seeks to shrink the size of the federal district serving as the nations capital and establish a new state upon the remaining land. Proponents of Nortons bill argue that while the Constitution specifies that the federal district cant exceed ten miles square, it doesnt say it cant be smaller than that. The attorneys general rejected their interpretation of whats known as the Enclave Clause, saying that Congress lacks the authority to alter the size of the federal district in the first place. Accordingly, not only does Congress lack the authority to create an entirely new state out of the District, but it also does not have the authority to reduce the size of the District to the equivalent of a few federal buildings and surrounding parks, they wrote in the letter. Their letter moved on to warn that D.C. statehood would undermine the design of the Founding Fathers, who decided not to place the capital of the United States within any state, so that no state would be able to exercise excessive influence over the federal government. They also claimed that admitting D.C. as a state would unfairly benefit the citys residents. Its enactment would be antithetical to our representative democratic republic and it would constitute an unprecedented aggrandizement of an elite ruling class with unparalleled power and Federal access compared to the remaining fifty states of the Union, the letter read. The argument echoes that of Zack Smith, a legal fellow at conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, who testified last month before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that D.C. residents already have an unfair influence on federal policies compared to Americans living in the other 50 states. How many committee members on their way to this hearing today passed yard signs, banners, or even billboards advocating D.C. statehood? I certainly did, Smith said in his testimony (pdf) at that time. Nowhere else in the country would it be possible to reach so many members of Congress so easily. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform is set to debate and vote on Nortons bill on April 14, with a full House vote scheduled for April 19. The bill is currently backed by 215 members of Congress, all of them Democrats. "Bridgerton" season two has yet to air, but Netflix has already given the greenlight for a third and fourth season. Vice President of Global TV at Netflix Bela Bajaria told CNBC in a statement, "'Bridgerton' swept us off our feet." "The creative team led by Shonda knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members." She added, "They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We're planning to be in the 'Bridgerton' business for a long time to come." The cast and crew of the most-watched Netflix show is currently in production of the second season and will focus more on Daphne's brother, Lord Anthony Bridgerton's romantic endeavors. It will also introduce new characters to the show. 'Bridgerton' Season 2: What The Show Could Look Like Chris Van Dusel, the show's frontrunner, told Cosmo UK that they are "just as focused on the first season," he also pointed out that the book series where the show is based on has eight books which could mean that there could be eight seasons of "Bridgerton." Van Dusel explained that he's interested in "exploring love stories and romances for all the Bridgerton brothers and sisters" in the coming seasons. In an interview with Phoebe Dynevor for Harper's Bazaar, she claimed, "If we're sticking to the books, it's Anthony's turn now. But there's no such thing as a happy ending, is there?" She added, "I think love's always shifting and changing. So who knows? I'd like to see what happens next." Speaking of her character Daphne Bridgerton, "And also, I'd like to see Daphne get involved in Anthony's love life, since he was so involved in her." What Could Happen on Seasons 3 and 4 of 'Bridgerton' Executive Producer Shonda Rhimes said of the renewal, "I knew these were stories that would captivate a viewing audience. But the evolution of this adaptation would not be a success without the many significant contributions of the entire Shondaland team." Lord Anthony Bridgerton will be finding his love and will be the main focus of the second season, however, it has yet to be confirmed who the next seasons will be focusing on. If the Netflix show follows the books, next seasons will explore Benedict Bridgerton and Colin Bridgerton's quest for love. READ ALSO: Rege-Jean Page Speaks Out on Potential 'James Bond' Project After 'Bridgerton' Role Rege-Jean Page on 'Bridgerton' Unfortunately, what's likely not to change on "Bridgerton" is Rege-Jean page, who will not make a reappearance as Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings. Shonda Rhimes also addressed about Page's exit from her show. She told Vanity Fair, "Usually that happens when I've killed off somebody that's been around for a while. we didn't kill him, he's still alive!" Rhimes also reaffirmed that Page's exit after the first season was already planned since the beginning. She said, "That was the plan: come and do one season as the duke. Anything else that was extra and wasn't really the plan when we started wasn't the plan when we finished." The Executive Producer also clarified that the rumored "James Bond" actor was invited to return to the next season of the show, just like other stars as cameos. However, Page Six reported that the real reason Page left the show was due to "creative differences" with Rhimes. According to their source, the 30-year-old actor was not happy he would've been a star on the show but not the focal point. READ MORE:Is This Why Rege-Jean Declined $250K Offer to Return to Bridgerton Season 2? - New Salary and Real Reason Revealed See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Contact Gold Corp. (TSXV: C) (OTCQB: CGOL) (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") is pleased to report results for the final 4 drill holes completed during the 2020 drill program at the Green Springs gold property ("Green Springs"), Nevada. Results are from the Alpha Zone; the northernmost zone of gold mineralization identified at Green Springs to date. Highlights: 1.40 g/t Au over 42.6 metre from a depth of 24.38 m in hole GSC20-04 at the Alpha Zone Including: 1.91 g/t Au over 23.77 m Drilling at the Alpha Zone in 2020 intersected thick intervals of variably oxidized gold mineralization hosted within the Pilot Shale Oxidation of the gold mineralization at Alpha is controlled by high and low angle faults The Alpha Zone is located 1.5km northeast of the Mine Trend, and remains open for expansion in all directions and sits on the same northeast structure linking Bravo to Alpha and Tango Building the road from the Alpha Zone to the Tango Target is now complete Drilling the first ever holes at the Tango Target is underway "The Alpha Zone continues to return thick intercepts of gold mineralization. In building the road from Alpha to Tango, we aim to make the next drill discovery at Green Springs and possibly link these two targets together," stated Matt Lennox-King, CEO of Contact Gold. "The 2021 drill program is going very well and we are looking forward to drilling the virgin Tango target, which is the most obvious untested drill target at Green Springs." The Company has completed 3,100 meters in the first 23 drill holes of the 2021 drill program and plans to continue drilling the Mine Trend and testing the never before drilled targets "Tango", and "Foxtrot", which are located 1.5 km to the north and east of the Mine Trend, respectively. The 2021 program is focused on rapidly expanding the footprint of oxidized gold mineralization at Green Springs, by stepping out on high grade zones along the Mine Trend encountered by Contact Gold in the 2020 program, and by testing high-potential exploration targets to the east and north of the Mine Trend. Gold mineralization at Green Springs is typically near surface and well oxidized, and found in 2 key host units, the Chainman and Pilot Shales. Tango Target: The Tango Target has never been drill tested. Tango is hosted in the Pilot Shale at the contact with the underlying Guilmette limestone; the same horizon that hosts drilled gold mineralization at the Alpha Zone, located 500m to the South. This horizon also hosts the deposits at Kinross's Alligator Ridge mine and at the nearby Pan mine operated by Fiore Gold. A large gold-in-soil anomaly with values ranging from 122 ppb Au to 1070 ppb Au was outlined by previous operators over an area measuring 500 m x 250 m. Contact Gold geologists mapped and rock sampled the northern portion of Tango in early winter 2019. The highest gold samples grading +1 g/t were collected from strongly decalcified, oxidized Pilot Shale adjacent to Pilot Shale jasperoid proximal to northwest and north-south striking faults. The target is open for expansion, particularly to the west where it dives beneath Joana limestone. Systematic channel sampling of the road cuts from Alpha to Tango is underway. 26 rock samples ranging from 0.1 g/t Au to 1.52 g/t Au across the target area Separately 7 samples returned with >20 g/t Ag from the same batch of 26 rock samples 1.52 g/t Au is the best gold-in-rock sample 172 g/t Ag is the best silver-in-rock sample Drone photo of the Tango Target with the drill pad layout. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5350/80373_2fc11c33a4ba4a09_004full.jpg 2020 Green Springs drill hole results from this news release: Drill Hole Mine Trend sub-Zone From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (Au g/t) Oxidation GSC20-04 Alpha 24.38 67.06 42.67 1.40 Mixed (28% CN Recovery) including 35.05 58.83 23.77 1.91 Mixed (30% CN Recovery with the bottom 24 m averaging 54% CN recovery) GS20-15 Delta 3.05 12.19 9.14 0.26 Oxide (76% CN Recovery) GS20-16 Delta No Reportable Intercepts GS20-17 Delta No Reportable Intercepts For a plan map of the Alpha-Tango Zones, please click: http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/Alpha-Tango-20210414.jpg For a simplified cross section of the Alpha Zone, please click: http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/2021Apr-Alpha-section.jpg About the Green Springs Project: Green Springs is located near the southern end of the Cortez Trend of Carlin-type gold deposits in White Pine County, Nevada, east of Fiore Gold's Pan Mine and Gold Rock Project and south of Waterton's Mount Hamilton deposit. The Green Springs property is 18.5 km2 encompassing 3 shallow past producing open pits and numerous targets that were not mined. Contact Gold signed a purchase option agreement with Ely Gold Royalties ("Ely Gold") to acquire an undivided 100% interest in Green Springs in July 2019. Green Springs is an early-stage exploration property and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource estimate at Green Springs. Additional information about Green Springs is summarized in the NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Green Springs Project, White Pine County, Nevada, USA" prepared for Contact Gold, with an effective date of June 12, 2020, and dated August 5, 2020, as prepared by John J. Read, C.P.G; an independent consultant and qualified person under NI 43-101, and can be viewed under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Vance Spalding, CPG, VP Exploration, Contact Gold, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Drill intercepts were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 0.14 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of material averaging less than 0.14 ppm gold for low grade intervals and higher-grade intervals were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 1.00 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of assays averaging less than 1.00 ppm gold. Gravimetric assays are used for all Fire Assays above 4.00 ppm gold. Cyanide solubility assays are completed on all Fire Assays greater than 0.1 g/t. True width of drilled mineralization is unknown, but owing to the apparent flat lying nature of mineralization, is estimated to generally be at least 70% of drilled thickness. The Cyanide recovery percentages are equally averaged by interval, and are not weighted by gold content per interval. Quality Assurance / Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference standards, blanks, and duplicates. All failures are followed up and resolved whenever possible with additional investigation whenever such an event occurs. All assays are completed at Paragon; an ISO 17025:2005 accredited lab. Check assays are completed at a second, reputable assay lab after the program is complete. About Contact Gold Corp. Contact Gold is an exploration company focused on making district scale gold discoveries in Nevada. Contact Gold's extensive land holdings are on the prolific Carlin and Cortez gold trends which host numerous gold deposits and mines. Contact Gold's land position comprises approximately 140 km2 of target rich mineral tenure hosting numerous known gold occurrences, ranging from early- to advanced-exploration and resource definition stage. Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com. For more information, please contact: +1 (604) 449-3361 John Glanville - Director Investor Relations Chris Pennimpede - VP, Corporate Development E-mail: info@ContactGold.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to the anticipated exploration activities of the Company on the Green Springs property. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80373 A Louis Vuitton logo is seen outside a store on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, (Photo : REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo) Sales at French luxury goods group LVMH bounced back far more quickly than expected in early 2021, carried by demand for Louis Vuitton handbags and Dior products as Chinese and U.S. shoppers made the most of an easing of COVID-19 restrictions. A freeze in international tourism triggered by the pandemic added to the pain of store closures for the luxury industry last year, and the crisis had raised concern that consumers might lose their appetite and spending power for high-end wares. Advertisement LVMH, the sector's biggest company and owner of more than 70 brands ranging from Moet & Chandon champagne to Guerlain cosmetics, on Tuesday posted first-quarter revenues that even exceeded 2019 levels, before the pandemic. Its like-for-like sales, which strip out the effect of currency changes and its acquisition of U.S. jeweller Tiffany, rose by 30% year-on-year in the three months to March to 14 billion euros ($16.70 billion). That was nearly double an analyst consensus forecast for 17% growth cited by UBS. Compared with pre-pandemic levels and the first quarter of 2019, like-for-like sales were up 8%. Sales in Asia, excluding Japan, were up 86% from year-ago levels, and in the United States, which is rolling out a massive stimulus programme, revenues rose 23%. That contrasted with a 9% drop in Europe in the period, where economies are also expected to recover this year, but some countries, including France and Italy, have brought in new lockdowns to control rising infection rates. Across much of Asia, stores have been open since last spring. Luxury customers have begun buying more pricey goods online too, which helped Vuitton for instance, though LVMH said this remained a minor factor overall. "Nothing replaces store visits, you can just improve it with a visit before online," finance chief Jean-Jacques Guiony told a conference call with analysts. NO MORE ACQUISITIONS? LVMH's revenues had dropped by 16% last year, and its airports duty free business is still struggling. But its fashion and leather goods division, which houses Vuitton, Dior and brands such as Fendi and which accounts for nearly half of LVMH's revenues, recorded a 52% increase in like-for-like sales, again way above analysts forecasts of a 27% rise. The watches and jewellery division's sales rose by 138% when including acquisitions and exchange rate effects, benefiting from the consolidation of Tiffany. LVMH completed the $15.8 billion acquisition in early January after a legal battle. Asked about more potential purchases in the luxury goods sector, including brands such as Armani, Guiony brushed off suggestions LVMH was ready to pounce again and said the group was focused on integrating Tiffany. ($1 = 0.8382 euros) New York, April 14 : Johnson and Johnson (J&J) has decided to delay the roll out of its Covid-19 vaccine in Europe after federal health agencies in the US recommended a pause in the use of the jab in the country. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday called for a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six recipients of the jab developed a rare and severe type of blood clot. "We have made the decision to proactively delay the roll out of our vaccine in Europe and pause vaccinations in all Janssen Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials while we update guidance for investigators and participants," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement on Tuesday. "We have been working closely with medical experts and health authorities, and we strongly support the open communication of this information to healthcare professionals and the public." The European Union (EU) last month authorised the use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made a positive recommendation based on scientific assessment of its efficacy and safety. But reports of some people developing rare blood clots after receiving the vaccine have put strains in the vaccination drive. In the US, the FDA and the CDC have urged the states across the country to pause the use of the single-dose vaccine while they investigate cases of blood clots. "The safety and well-being of the people who use our products is our number one priority. We are aware of an extremely rare disorder involving people with blood clots in combination with low platelets in a small number of individuals who have received our Covid-19 vaccine," Johnson & Johnson said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A CNN director was caught on tape admitting to producing pro-Biden propaganda to prevent former President Trump from getting elected and serving a second term after the 2020 Presidential Elections. Project Veritas has gone undercover to reveal the true CNN agenda that aimed to remove Trump from office during the crucial 2020 Presidential Elections. CNN technical director Charlie Chester went on several Tinder dates set up by Project Veritas, during which he was unknowingly being recorded as he boasted about how CNN was able to remove Trump from office and instill fear in people. According to Breitbart, Project Veritas now has Chester on tape saying that "I 100 percent believe that if it wasn't for CNN, I don't know that Trump would have got voted out." In a secretly recorded video, Chester admitted that it was one of the reasons why he applied for a job at CNN, to "be a part" of the company's agenda to remove Trump from office. In the video, Chester discussed the CNN agenda that involved highlighting how former President Trump was unfit to serve. According to the technical director, the media giant was "creating a story that we didn't know anything about." He admitted, "Trump, his hand was shaking. We brought in so many medical people to all tell a story-it was all speculation-that he was neurologically damaged, that he was losing it. He's unfit." At the same time, Chester admitted that the CNN agenda was to present the Democratic candidate Joe Biden as someone who was in good health despite his medical history of brain aneurysms and cognitive decline at the age of 78 years. Trump is four years his junior. Chester said, "We would always show shots of [Biden] jogging and that [he's] healthy." The CNN agenda to remove Trump from office worked, just as Chester said it would. He said in the secretly recorded tape, "Our focus was to get Trump out of office, right? Without saying it, that's what it was...Look what we did, we [CNN] got Trump out." BREAKING: Part 1 - @CNN Director ADMITS Network Engaged in Propaganda to Remove Trump from Presidency Our Focus Was to Get Trump Out of Office I Came to CNN Because I Wanted to Be a Part of That MORE BOMBSHELLS: https://t.co/kDe3HDdX2r#ExposeCNN pic.twitter.com/0G33tF83jr James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 13, 2021 But CNN's work is not yet done. According to the New York Post, the new CNN agenda now that they were able to remove Trump from office is to instill fear in people. The Project Veritas tapes revealed that according to Chester, the next big thing to use as a tool to instill fear in people after COVID-19 is climate change. "I think there's a COVID fatigue. So whenever a new story comes up, they're [CNN's] going to latch onto it," Chester explained. "They've already announced in our office that once the public will be open to it - we're going to start focusing mainly on climate. Our next thing is going to be climate change awareness." When asked by his fake Tinder date what that CNN agenda would look like, Chester responded by saying it will be a lot of "constantly showing videos of decline in ice, and weather warming up, and like the effects it's having on the economy." He added that the climate change narrative is a "pandemic-like story that we'll beat to death, but that one's got longevity." "Climate change can take years, so they'll [CNN] probably be able to milk that quite a bit," Chester said, concluding that, "Fear sells." The strong resurgence in the use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) produced by automotive manufacturers in China since 2020 has resulted in the rapid growth in demand for technical-grade lithium carbonate altering the traditional price dynamics in lithium salts in both the domestic Chinese and seaborne Asian markets. Chinas technical-grade and battery-grade lithium carbonate prices have both been on an upward trend after bottoming out in the second half of 2020 amid robust demand from the battery supply chain, and the upturns accelerated at the start of this year, with the price gap between the two grades narrowing considerably in February. Technical-grade lithium carbonate is typically used to produce LFP batteries, while battery-grade lithium carbonate is mostly used to produce cobalt-rich nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) lithium-ion batteries including NCM111 (Ni:Co:Mn: 1:1:1), NCM523 and NCM622 batteries. The nickel-rich NCM811 battery is produced using battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Fastmarkets assessed the Chinese technical and industrial-grade lithium carbonate spot price at 79,000-81,000 yuan ($12,134-12,441) per tonne on Thursday March 18, up by 150% from 30,000-34,000 yuan per tonne between late June and early July 2020 when the price plunged to its lowest level of the past year. And Fastmarkets weekly price assessment for lithium carbonate, 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot price range exw domestic China was 85,000-90,000 yuan per tonne on March 18, up by 124% from 37,000-41,000 yuan per tonne between early July and early October last year. Technical-grade lithium carbonate was mostly trading at a discount of 7,500-8,500 yuan per tonne against battery-grade lithium carbonate in the first half of 2020 in the domestic Chinese market. Since mid-2020, the discount mostly hovered around 5,500-6,500 yuan per tonne, before hitting a low of 2,000 yuan per tonne in mid-February, according to Fastmarkets data. "The elevated technical-grade lithium carbonate [price] underlines the stockpiling drives among consumers who are anticipating increased demand for LFP batteries. Meanwhile, squeezed supplies have prompted lithium producers to keep raising their offers, some of which are increasingly closer to the level for battery-grade materials," a producer said. LFP batteries are one of the earliest well-developed EV battery technologies in China and are well known for their stable and safe performance. They had been widely used in various types of EVs as a result, but in the second half of last decade, faced with appealing government incentives, most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the country switched to NCM lithium-ion batteries, particularly pure EVs, because their higher energy density ensures a longer driving range per single charge. But the OEMs willingness to use NCM lithium-ion batteries especially for nickel-rich NCM811, which generates the highest energy density among all NCM batteries has recently been tempered by fast-rising cobalt and nickel prices this year, amid tight availability and just as subsidies are being phased out. Prices for cobalt sulfate and nickel sulfate, two key raw materials to produce NCM lithium-ion batteries, were up by 43.86% and 13.11% respectively as of March 19, despite some recent retreats, according to Fastmarkets data. China produced 9.56 gigawatt hours (GWh) of LFP battery power in the first two months of 2021, accounting for 44.3% of the total battery output and up by 624.2% compared with the same period in 2020. NCM battery power was 12 GWh over the same period, accounting for 55.7% of the total and up by 385.1% from January-February 2020, according to the latest data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). A precursor materials producer told Fastmarkets that LFP batteries are likely to account for half of the market share over the course of 2021. Additionally, the slower pace of adoption of nickel-rich NCM batteries among OEMs has resulted in battery-grade lithium carbonate trading at a premium above hydroxide in China since early December last year as opposed to the discount seen in the previous two to three years. Seaborne Asian market The seaborne Asian market is mirroring the trend in the Chinese domestic market, with the price gap between battery-grade and technical-grade carbonate also narrowing significantly. Technical-grade lithium carbonate was mostly traded at a discount of $1.25-2.35 per kg against battery-grade lithium carbonate at spot cif China, Japan and South Korea basis in the second half of 2020, while the discount has been $0.25-0.75 per kg most of the time so far this year, according to Fastmarkets data. In addition, the seaborne Asian market also witnessed a narrowing gap between battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate, which has more actively responded to the rally in China so far this year. Battery-grade lithium carbonate was trading at a discount of $2.15-2.25 per kg against the equivalent grade of lithium hydroxide, but the gap has narrowed to $1.25-1.75 per kg so far this year, Fastmarkets data shows. "The South Korean and Japanese lithium import markets are trying to keep in alignment with the China, but so far prices are comparatively more aligned in the carbonate market," a Japanese trader said. The battery-grade lithium carbonate price in the seaborne Asian market has risen by nearly 52% so far this year, while the equivalent-grade hydroxide price has gained about 28%, according to Fastmarkets data. Lithium miners strengthen sustainability commitments With demand for lithium continuing to recover in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Chiles Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) and other major lithium miners have announced plans to expand production while highlighting their commitments to sustainable lithium extraction. SQM recently announced that it was the first lithium mining company to join the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), while committing to expand its capacity for lithium carbonate production in 2021 to 120,000 tonnes per year and to 180,000 tpy by 2023. This compared with output of 70,000 tonnes in 2020. The producer was joined by a string of other major and junior miners that have pledged to reduce the carbon footprints of their operations in line with increasingly stringent requirements from automotive manufacturers. Lithium is a key ingredient in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and for energy storage systems, and lithium demand for both uses was expected to soar in the coming years. Argentina, Chile and Bolivia form the so-called lithium triangle that holds more than 70% of the worlds reserves of lithium underneath salt flats. Australia is another important source, where it is extracted via hard-rock mining. In February, United States-based lithium producer Livent announced its new sustainability goals, which it said will lead to carbon neutrality by 2040. This will be achieved partly by the use of 100% renewable energy, it said. Livent has begun the relevant certification process for its operations in Argentina under IRMA. "IRMA provides a credible solution for the growing demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining standards," Livent president and CEO Paul Graves said. "Many of the leading automotive [original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)], including BMW, Mercedes and most recently Ford, have publicly announced their intention to accelerate the adoption of the IRMA standard across their supply chains." The use of renewable energy throughout its operations has been highlighted by Canada-based junior miner Sigma Lithium. The company is developing a hard-rock-based lithium production plant in Brazil. This will be the first spodumene-based lithium mine in South America. According to the company, production is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2021. Lithium hard-rock miners in Western Australia are also increasing their sustainability commitments. Asked how Pilbara Minerals will track the sustainability of its operations, chief executive officer Ken Brinsden said: "We are very conscious of the need to both track the carbon footprint and reduce emissions in respect of our business activities." "There are lots of opportunities in mines and services to reduce emissions," he added. "The Pilbara [area] hosts some of the worlds greatest renewable resources in the form of solar radiation and wind. We look forward to being able to demonstrate our ability to capture these resources and materially lower the carbon footprint of our operations." Fastmarkets assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea, was $10-11 per kg on March 4 this year. This compared with $9.50-11.00 per kg on March 12, 2020. The Asian spot price for battery-grade lithium hydroxide has gone up. Increasingly higher prices have been heard in the market, with Chinas domestic price progressively rising since the end of 2020 on demand recovery and tight spot supply. Unusually warm temperatures in Russia's southern regions led to the spread of wildfires that have threatened hundreds of homes. In Pskov region, over 100 fires have been recorded, while in the Voronezh region, firefighters fought to save the village of Mechyotka from a fire that threatened to damage 700 homes. Dmitry Chernyshov, a villager in Mechyotka, said "I stepped outside and saw the house was totally on fire, and once it started there was nothing to be done." Alexei Kirshin, the head of a firefighting train being used to douse the flames in Mechyotka, said 15 trucks with a capacity of 85 tonnes of water were being used. Temperatures in Voronezh were as high as 25 degrees Celsius this week, though authorities are investigating whether the fires were man-made. Fires burned down tens of millions of hectares of land in Russia last year, spurred by abnormally warm temperatures in regions such as the Arctic. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Why the Left Ignores the Killing of a Pakistani Immigrant Uber Driver Commentary On March 23, Mohammad Anwar of Springfield, Virginia, a 66-year-old immigrant from Pakistan earning his living as an Uber Eats driver, was killed by two girls, ages 13 and 15. They carjacked Anwar, Tasered him and then, as he held on to the car (the source of his livelihood) in an attempt to stop them from stealing it, floored the gas pedal and crashed the car, killing him when he was thrown from the vehicle. As reported the next day in The Washington Post: Anwar tried to force his way back into the car by climbing on top of the teen in the drivers seat, (Detective Chad Leo of the Washington, D.C., police homicide unit) said. Before he could get all the way in, though, the 13-year-old reached over from the passenger seat, turned on the ignition and manipulated the gear shift, Leo said. With Anwar hanging outside the car through the open drivers door, Leo said, the vehicle lurched forward and accelerated down the block, made a sharp right turn, struck a curb and overturned, landing passenger side up. Anwar was ejected and suffered broken bones and injury to his head. After the unharmed girls climbed out and joined the onlookers milling around the car, one of them could be heard yelling, My phone is in there! (The Washington Post, March 31) and, He has my phone! (CBS News, March 30). I found no mainstream media that identified the girls as black. In The Washington Post report cited above, there was no mention of the girls race, just, Two girls ages 13 and 15 have been charged with felony murder. CNNs report on March 27 made no mention of race: Two teenage girls have been charged in the carjacking death of an Uber Eats driver The girls, 13 and 15, assaulted Anwar with a Taser while carjacking him The younger girl is from the southeast section of DC, the older from Fort Washington, Maryland, police said. In a March 31 Washington Post editorial on the subject, there was no mention of the girls race. The New York Times never even reported the incident. Why is this significant? Because white perpetrators of violence are always identified as such. When a white man engages in a mass killing, the first thing we learn, and are told over and over, is that he is white. If a white policeman kills a black man, no matter how justified (as in Ferguson, Missouri) or morally ambiguous (as in most other cases), we are reminded in every news story that the officer was white. In the very first New York Times report on the Atlanta massage parlor killings, the Times reported, The suspect in custody is white. The mainstream media have a mission that has nothing to do with reporting truth. Along with the Democratic Party and the rest of the Left, their mission is to portray Americathat is, its white populationas racist. Reporting that nonwhites have perpetrated violenceparticularly against nonwhitesundermines that narrative, and these inconvenient facts are therefore consciously omitted. Or worse: The implication placed in peoples minds is that whites are the perpetrators. This was my point in a previous column when I wrote: Another New York Times article (about anti-Asian-American violence), under the headline A Tense Lunar New Year for the Bay Area After Attacks on Asian-Americans, opens with this: The videos are graphic and shocking. In January, a local television station showed footage of a young man sprinting toward, then violently shoving to the ground, a man identified as Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84, who had been out for a morning walk in the Anza Vista neighborhood of San Francisco. He later died. The Times piece never reveals the name or race of the perpetrator: Antoine Watson, a 19-year-old black man. Why? Because the Times wanted its readers to believe that Ratanapakdee, the elderly Asian American, was murdered by a white. Truth, it is necessary to say again and again, is a liberal value and a conservative value, but it has never been a left-wing value. Here is another example from just the past two weeks: Last week, anti-black and anti-Semitic graffiti were discovered at Albion College, a school about 100 miles to the west of Detroit. As is usually the case with such incidents, police soon discovered that the culprit was not a white racist but a black person seeking to inflame anti-white hatred. Yet, here was how the Detroit Free Press headlined the discovery: Albion Student Suspended Over Racist Graffiti. Nowhere in the article did the Detroit Free Press note that the suspended student was black. America is drowning in left-wing lies. And it is being asphyxiated by the Lefts substitution of social justice for justice. The two girls, who committed a very adult crime, will not be charged as adults, will likely not be imprisoned and very possibly will not even be punished. And the Albion studentwhose name has not been releasedmost likely wont be punished either. Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group has been recognized as the National Mortgage News #1 Best Large Mortgage Company to Work For in 2021. This annual survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in the U.S. mortgage industry. This year's list included 50 companies. At Atlantic Bay, we focus on genuinely caring for our customers and team. We've helped over 140,000 families find the home of their dreams. We're continuously striving to inspire growth and lending peace of mind, all while having fun. The Atlantic Bay way is one unlike other companies, and you'll hear that from many of the more than 900 employees who work there. "We just have an amazing team, and it transcends throughout our organization," Brian Holland, CEO of Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group said. "I look at our team as my clients; I want to keep them happy and make sure we are giving them opportunities to grow and have a work/life balance." As their team has continued to expand, their core values remained the cornerstone of the company, nearly 25 years later: We genuinely care. We inspire growth. We have fun. "No matter where on your career journey you are, when you join Atlantic Bay, you're given the tools to thrive and succeed. If you are on the path to leadership, there's room for that kind of growth," Holland shared. Holland shared that employees can grow deep roots - some have started as receptionists and are now running departments. That growth option is available to everyone at Atlantic Bay. Atlantic Bay makes every effort to ensure the happiness of their employees. While many have pivoted this year working remotely, holidays, happy hours, and award ceremonies have been embraced virtually. "The companies that are a part of this year's ranking have demonstrated exemplary support for their teams during an unprecedented year of upheaval," said Heidi Patalano, editor-in-chief of National Mortgage News. "They've been nimble in adapting to circumstances surrounding the pandemic at the same time that origination demand has exploded." Atlantic Bay focuses on genuinely caring for their customers and their team. Since its start in 1996, the company has helped more than 140,000 families find the homes of their dreams. "We're continuously striving to inspire growth, all while having fun," Holland said. "We're in the business of lending peace of mind, whenever, wherever, however to our wonderful team, our past, current and future borrowers!" For more information on Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group or for opportunities, contact Jessica Swink at [email protected]. ABOUT THE AWARD: Companies from across the United States entered a two-part survey process to determine the National Mortgage News' Best Mortgage Companies to Work for. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. ABOUT ATLANTIC BAY: Founded in 1996, Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group is a privately owned national mortgage lender headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Atlantic Bay has been recognized as a Top 100 Mortgage Company in America, Best Mortgage Company, Most Enjoyable Place to Work, and an Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Company. Through our AB Cares program, we have donated more than $2 million to charities and participated in events that promote the passions of our customers, employees and neighbors. All loans subject to income verification, credit approval and property appraisal. Not a commitment to lend. Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group L.L.C. NMLS #72043 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Located at 600 Lynnhaven Parkway Suite 203 Virginia Beach, VA 23452. www.atlanticbay.com Related Images atlantic-bay-mortgage-group.jpg Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group Employee Appreciation Week 2019 At Atlantic Bay, we focus on genuinely caring for our customers and team. We've helped over 140,000 families find the home of their dreams. We're continuously striving to inspire growth and lending peace of mind, all while having fun. SOURCE Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group By Mary Ann Schwindt schwindt@grinnell.edu A years-long saga is coming to a close as Mahaska Communications Group (MCG) embarks on a two-year, more than a million-dollar construction project to bring fiber optic internet to the entire Grinnell metro area. Residents and business owners alike can subscribe to the new service starting as early as July, provided installation is completed on time. MCG will offer two service plans: a one gigabyte service, which has download speeds of 1,000 megabytes (MB) per second, for $59 per month; and a two gigabyte plan for $99 per month. This [is the] sort of project the community has been working on for really over a decade, and the city and the chamber really started working aggressively on it about five years ago, said Russ Behrens, Grinnell city manager. When Grinnell first began to seriously consider fiber optics, in 2016, MCG offered to help the city explore its options. The process wasnt easy, and the city struggled to find a potential provider. Its been difficult, frankly, with some of the other providers to even build a relationship and try to get them to communicate with us, said Behrens. Nobody had an interest in building fiber to every home in Grinnell, said Behrens. We originally started our first discussions with the current providers Mediacom, Windstream but they made it abundantly clear they were not going to make an investment in this community. Eventually, MCG stepped in itself and announced in early 2019 that it planned to expand into Grinnell, after talks began the previous year. Over the course of the last five years, MCG has experimented in several other small towns around Iowa such as New Sharon and Montezuma and felt comfortable bringing their service to Grinnell. Before making the decision to begin construction, MCG launched a survey with the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce which reported that almost 600 Grinnell residents would be interested in the potential new service. The fact that so many potential customers were receptive to the idea helped MCG make its final decision to start building in Grinnell. On the heels of MCGs 2020 announcement that they were exploring fiber optic options in Grinnell, Windstream announced its intention to enter the fiber optics business and quickly began to install aerial lines that June. While Windstream installed their lines before MCG, the service is only available to two-thirds of the city, said Steve Burnett, assistant general manager of MCG. We will do what we always intended to do which is to help the entire community by putting fiber around the entire community, and not just part of it. MCG had initially planned to install aerial lines but was persuaded to switch to buried cables after the City offered to help coordinate and map out underground lines. According to Burnett, underground lines increase the reliability of the system during storms such as last Augusts derecho. In addition to full-city coverage, MCG also plans to continue its involvement with the wider Grinnell Community. The company helped provide WiFi hotspots alongside the Grinnell-Newburg Foundation in the wake of the derecho. Part of MCGs mission, according to Burnett, is to integrate into the communities they serve. As part of that goal, MCG will be hiring local for its new Grinnell branch office, located on the corner of 5th Ave. & Broad St. Our main objective is to serve communities that have been underserved, said Burnett. We will typically donate services to public law enforcement, public libraries and schools. Those entities can use the money they would have spent on services to buy books for the schools and libraries or even equipment for the EMT or Fire Department. One thing we learned when we were having all our discussions was that speed is really not the critical piece. Its reliability that people care more about, and I think thats what MCG really brings to the community, said Behrens. Due to MCGs reconfiguration of a previous project in Sigourney, the start of construction was pushed back to March 29. Although Behrens anticipates minor nuisances with the long-term construction, he is sure most people understand that disruption or inconveniences are warranted in the long run in order to have that broadband at their doorsteps. Just based on MCGs history, their teams are pretty confident theyll take care of those problems, said Behrens. Behrens said that there will be regular meetings with MCG to ensure that city supports the installation process, such as helping the company avoid damaging existing utility lines. MCG will consider expanding to nearby businesses on the outskirts of Grinnell if they express interest in the new service. The company also plans to help reinforce the Colleges preexisting fiber infrastructure, and construct new lines connecting Grinnell College-owned facilities around town. Moscow : Some 120 Islamic State fighters and 60 foreign mercenaries were killed in a series of Russian air strikes in Syria over the past 24 hours, the defence ministry in Moscow said today. Puzzlingly, the ministry also said three senior IS commanders including Omar al-Shishani had been confirmed dead as a result of an earlier Russian strike. Moscow reported al-Shishani's death despite the fact that the Pentagon said in 2016 the notorious fighter had been killed by American troops in Iraq. "A command post of the terrorists and up to 80 (IS) fighters including nine natives of the Northern Caucasus were destroyed in the area of Mayadeen," the ministry said, adding that another 40 IS fighters were killed around the town of Albu Kamal. Mayadeen is one of the Islamic State group's last bastions in Syria. In another air strike, more than 60 foreign mercenaries from the former Soviet Union, Tunisia, and Egypt were killed in the Euphrates Valley south of Deir Ezzor. The ministry said "large numbers of foreign mercenaries" were coming into the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal from Iraq. It also said Russian forces had killed senior IS commanders Omar al-Shishani, Alaa al-din al-Shishani and Salah al-Din al-Shishani, all natives of the Northern Caucasus. Moscow reported their deaths after taking "several days" to confirm the results of an earlier strike on the northern outskirts of Albu Kamal which destroyed an IS command post with more than 30 fighters including the natives of the Northern Caucasus. The Pentagon announced in March 2016 that American forces had killed Shishani, one of the most notorious faces of IS known for his thick red beard. Shishani, whose nom de guerre means "Omar the Chechen," came from the former Soviet state of Georgia's Pankisi Gorge region, which is populated mainly by ethnic Chechens. He fought as a Chechen rebel against Russian forces before joining the Georgian military in 2006, and fought Russian forces again in Georgia in 2008. He later resurfaced in northern Syria as the commander of a group of foreign fighters and became a senior leader within IS. The Russian defence ministry was not immediately available for further comment. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, disagreed with Moscow's report. "Salah al-Din al-Shishani is still alive and is somewhere in the regions controlled by jihadist groups in the west of Aleppo province. He is a famous commander, and his jihadist group is allied with the jihadists of the Al-Nusra front but only in their fight against the regime," he said. "He has no links with IS." The advances against IS in Deir Ezzor have resulted in a heavy civilian death toll through Russian and coalition air raids. The Observatory said Russian air strikes on Thursday night killed 14 people, including three children, fleeing across the Euphrates on rafts near Mayadeen. Since it intervened in Syria in 2015, Russia has not acknowledged any civilian deaths from its strikes, and it dismisses the Observatory's reporting as biased. Moscow has been staging air strikes in support of its ally Damascus targeting both IS in Deir Ezzor province and rival jihadists led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate in Idlib province in the northwest. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. More than a year has passed since pandemic-related government restrictions began, causing many businesses around the world to shift their workforce to remote. With increased reliance on technology, new work environments and greater use of at-home devices and networks in some cases, experts say cyber risks have grown as criminals find ways to exploit user data and gain access to passwords and systems. As a partial return to normal is sought by many, more than 806 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, according to New York Times data at time of publication. However, increased cyber risks due to the COVID-19 driven work from home environment are likely here to stay. At least, thats what Jerry Ray indicates in this episode of The Insuring Cyber Podcast. Ray is the Singapore-based chief operating officer of enterprise data security and encryption business, SecureAge. Regardless of people going back into the office or not, so many changes have taken place in both the security infrastructure thats had to be built around work from home, as well as employees habits and practices, he says. Ray says that compounding the issue are challenges some companies face when understanding their own cyber risk and finding the right insurance coverage. Its very hard for companies to appreciate their own risk, he says. I see many companies not opting in or not considering policies the way they should simply because they cant gauge the extent of their own exposure. He says more of a unification of language and available coverage across cyber insurance policies could be a solution. A homeowners policy or auto insurance [policy] is very simple for people to understand what those are, he says. They can look across three or four different providers and have a sense of the questions thatll be asked, the type of coverages that are provided. Later in this episode, Tim Francis, enterprise lead for cyber insurance at insurance company Travelers, says he believes work from home cyber risks didnt become as big of a problem as was thought near the pandemics onset. However, he says the challenge is cyber issues that did arise still persist a year later. Everybodys working environment is different in terms of how theyre doing this, he says, adding that insureds need to be adapting their cyber incident response plans as a result. If you had an incident response plan, and you tested it, but you havent tested it in light of potentially and likely new working arrangements, you ought to do that too, he says. Would that same incident response plan that you had in place pre-COVID work in a post-COVID working arrangement? For insurers, he says its good practice to make sure the insurance that clients are purchasing works for their risk transfer objectives and to take a look at the exclusion language in light of a work from home context. While its, I think, unlikely that there might be some exclusions in place that apply, its important to look at that, he says. Does the definition of a computer system or employee work in the context of a work from home environment? And so, the agent can help guide the customer through that, and frankly, ought to be guiding the customer through that. Check out the rest of this episode to hear what else Jerry and Tim have to say, and be sure to check back for new episodes that publish every other Wednesday along with the Insuring Cyber newsletter. Thanks for listening. Topics Carriers Cyber A new feature from Google called 'Heads Up' aims stop 'smartphone zombies' from staring at their handsets while walking. Heads Up uses your phone's motion sensors to detect that you're moving and your location to know if you're walking indoors or outdoors. If it detects that you're moving while your phone screen is on, it sends warnings like 'look up', 'look ahead', 'stay focused', 'watch out' and 'be careful'. Using your phone while walking can lead to trips and dangerous collisions with objects and other pedestrians or even road traffic. Careless smartphone addicts who are constantly glued to their devices can put other road users' lives at risk, as well as their own. Scroll down for video Heads Up is a new feature - currently only for Pixel phones - that helps remind you to be aware of your surroundings while youre on the move 'HEADS UP' ALERTS Alerts from the Digital Wellbeing app when Heads Up mode is activated: - Be careful - Look ahead - Stay focused - Look up - Stay alert - Watch out - Watch your step Advertisement Heads Up is being tested in beta (prior to an official release) on Google's Digital Wellbeing app but is only available for Google's own Pixel phones. However, the feature is likely to roll out to other Android phones after this initial beta test. 'If you've ever tripped on the sidewalk or walked into a pole while texting, you're not alone,' said Google community manager Camille Vogl in a post on the Google support page. 'Heads Up is a new Digital Wellbeing feature that helps remind you to be aware of your surroundings while you're on the move. 'If your phone screen is unlocked and you're walking, you'll receive a gentle nudge to look up and pay attention to what's around you.' The tech giant isn't suggesting smartphone users should rely solely on the new feature to keep safe, however. 'Please always use your best judgement, and use this feature as a gentle reminder when you do find yourself distracted while walking,' said Vogl. Screenshots from Heads Up. Users can chose whether or not to give the feature access to their location To use Heads Up, Pixel users need to join the beta program in the Digital Wellbeing app. To activate Heads Up, tap on 'Digital Wellbeing & parental controls' under Settings and then tap the option for Heads Up. At this point, you'll have to grant permission to track your physical activity, so Heads Up knows when you're walking outside. Giving the feature the ability to track your location, meanwhile, is totally optional. 'Location permission is optional but makes for a better experience by identifying situations that are more likely to be hazardous and require your attention,' said Vogl. Heads Up is triggered when walking, and if you have granted the location permission, then it will also take into account whether or not youre outdoors. It should also work while jogging or running, since your phones motion sensors will detect that youre moving. Vogl also stressed that Digital Wellbeing isn't constantly monitoring or tracking physical activity and location information. 'Digital Wellbeing doesnt monitor any other kinds of activity, and your specific location is never shared with Digital Wellbeing,' she said. Google said it's aware of 'the safety and wellbeing-related benefits of not using our phones while walking'. Being engrossed in texting and social media has led to people walking into lampposts, stepping out into traffic and tripping over. Texting and scrolling on touchscreens has sent pedestrian injuries soaring by a whopping 800 per cent, a study published last year found. Up to 45 per cent of pedestrians are distracted by their phones when crossing the street in busy cities, the research suggested. The scientists behind the study, from the University of Calgary in Canada, said related injuries are likely to get worse. They already account for around one in every 25 road safety incidents, the team wrote in the journal BMJ Injury Prevention. Travel bosses today slammed the Government's approach to resuming international flights as they claimed it is 'too cautious' and warned many holiday firms are 'teetering on the brink'. Senior industry figures told MPs on the Transport Select Committee that the proposed traffic light system is 'too complex' while the overall strategy set out by ministers is 'very vague in many areas'. They also warned border control at airports is already 'unable to cope' with Covid checks despite passenger numbers being massively reduced due to the lockdown ban on non-essential international travel. They warned there will need to be a 'dramatic improvement in border performance if we are to increase passenger numbers' when flights do resume. Despite the criticism of the Government's approach, airline bosses have delivered a boost to millions of Brits hoping for a summer break abroad as they said most of Europe and the US could be on the 'green list'. Johan Lundgren, easyJet's chief executive, said he expects 'most European countries' to be included in the Government's quarantine-free category when international travel returns from May 17. Asked if he expects destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Turkey to be on the Government 'green list', Mr Lundgren replied: 'Yes, by the time we open up for travel on May 17 and if the Government continues to have the plan in place on the two-test system.' Meanwhile, British Airways boss Sean Doyle said the continued success of the vaccine rollout in the UK and the US could allow for a transatlantic travel corridor to be put in place. Last month, experts said London and Washington were already discussing piloting a bilateral safe travel scheme between the two countries. Mr Doyle, who was speaking at an online industry event, also said the firm would be offering 60 PCR tests to its customers amid concerns the bill charged by some testing firms of approximately 120 could price many families out of a trip abroad. His comments reflect the announcement made by testing firm Randox who said yesterday it would be offering 60 tests through partnering airlines in a bid to aid the sector's recovery. The Government has yet to say which countries will make it onto the 'green list' for low risk travel but the Department for Transport has pledged to categorise countries 'in early May'. Assessments will be based on a range of factors, including the proportion of a country's population that has been vaccinated, rates of infection, emerging new variants, and the country's access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing. In other coronavirus news today: NHS England statistics revealed just 175 Covid patients are being admitted to hospital every day in England - down from more than 4,000 in January Gibraltar has vaccinated its entire adult population, making it a prime 'green list' candidate for a sunny break when international travel resumes from May 17 Germany is expected to give under-60s who had their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine a different jab for their second dose amid blood clot concerns Sweden has recorded 625 new infections per million people in the past seven days, the latest figures reveal, which is much higher than its Nordic neighbours The chief executive of easyJet Johan Lundgren (pictured) said that by the time travel restarts in Britain on May 17, most European countries should be on the UK's green list for travel EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren has said he expects most European destinations to be included on the Government's green list when international travel from the UK resumes from May 17 The Government's Global Travel Taskforce published details on the proposed traffic light system last week. It will see countries rated green, amber or red, with travel from 'green' countries quarantine-free but passengers will have to take one test after flying home, rather than the current two. Boris Johnson's lockdown exit roadmap states that international travel will resume no earlier than May 17. Travel bosses today delivered a damning assessment of the taskforce's report as they claimed it lacked detail and argued the proposed timetable for the return of flights is too slow. Simon McNamara, the UK and Ireland country manager for the International Air Transport Association, told MPs: There was a tremendous amount of expectation from this report and we expected it to be, if you like, the start of the sprint to the finish. But it has turned out to be another milestone and I think that is the disappointment in it. It has provided that framework, it has provided some clarity but there are many areas that are still unanswered it is very vague in many areas such as the timescale to when the border will be ready, which countries will fall into which category. I think crucially the approach to reopening we believe is still too complex and too cautious Im afraid.' Chris Garton, chief solutions officer at Heathrow Airport, expressed concerns about the proposed testing regime and added: Our biggest issue in terms of the summer particularly is the performance at the border and we need to see a dramatic improvement in border performance if we are to increase passenger numbers travelling through Heathrow. Mr McNamara echoed a similar sentiment on border checks as he said: Finally, it is the point that Chris raised which is the ability of the border to handle any scale up in operations. 'It is unable to cope at the moment so we are very concerned about that also. Brian Strutton, the general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association, told the Committee that the taskforce's report was a 'bitter disappointment to everybody working in the industry'. The expectation was this would be the blueprint to get summer flights going again,' he said. In fact it is not, it is a jam tomorrow, we might let you know next month where you can fly to and when. There is no specificity in it at all so as a result many airlines have already told us they will be curtailing the plans they had for the summer. Mark Tanzer, the chief executive of the Association of British Travel Agents, said firms are increasingly feeling the strain as he cautioned against further delays to resuming holidays abroad. He said: I guess I cant emphasise enough the urgency of pushing forward with this given the state of the industry which has been in suspension for over a year now and the fact that we have gone through Easter and out the other side with international travel illegal means there is even more pressure on the summer season. A week lost is vital for a lot of members who could be teetering on the brink.' The evidence to MPs came after Mr Lundgren struck a more optimistic tone this morning, telling reporters: 'I will struggle to see that there will be, unless something happens between now and then, that there would be many (European) countries who wouldn't be in that green category.' Mr Lundgren said the main question customers were asking was which countries would be on the 'green list' as he urged the Government to come forward with more details as soon as possible. He added: 'We would expect that, if the Government continues with the approach on the testing regime that they have said, I would expect almost all major European countries, that by the time it comes to travel reopening, that most countries in Europe should be in that category.' Travel to and from a 'green' country will require people to be tested before they leave their holiday destination and again two days after arrival back in the UK. The Government is exploring whether cheaper rapid lateral flow tests could be used for the pre-departure check with a PCR test then used for the test after arrival. Mr Lundgren said: 'If the PCR test and the lateral flow test will need to be in place for 'green' countries, I couldn't see that there would be many countries in Europe that wouldn't be in the 'green' category. BA boss Sean Doyle (pictured) has said swift vaccine rollouts in the UK and the United States should enable transatlantic routes to open once international travel resumes this summer 'It's important the Government comes out with this list as soon as possible because this is the main question for most of our customers right now. 'They want to know if the favourite destination for them to go on their holiday or to visit friends and family across Europe is that country in the 'green' category. 'And it will be a big difference, of course, if you're in the 'green' category, versus if you're in 'amber' or 'red'.' The UK's seven-day rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people stands at 29, while many popular short-haul locations have much higher figures, including France (348), Greece (185), Italy (169) and Spain (111). Asked if he expects destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Turkey to be on the Government 'green list', Mr Lundgren replied: 'Yes, by the time we open up for travel on May 17 and if the Government continues to have the plan in place on the two-test system. 'I wouldn't see reason why you wouldn't have the majority of the countries of Europe in there. 'We really believe that, if you're in the 'green' category, there should not be any need of any testing at all because it would be considered low-risk.' Meanwhile, BA boss Mr Doyle said swift vaccine rollouts in the UK and the US should enable transatlantic routes to reopen. 'There's an immediate opportunity to open up the US,' Mr Doyle said during CAPA Live, an online industry event. With the two countries 'more or less mirroring each other' on vaccination, he said 'that should lead to the UK and the US being able to lead the way in terms of opening up'. Paul Charles, the CEO of The PC Agency, said he believes discussions between the US and the UK are 'proceeding positively'. He told MailOnline: 'The UK/US governments are in negotiations at the moment which are proceeding positively, about a possible pilot bilateral corridor scheme to enable safe travel between the two countries after the end of May. 'One of the (eight) Global Travel Taskforce workstreams is called 'Engaging with other like-minded countries' these are countries such as the US which have advanced vaccine rollout programmes and are focused on reducing infection and variant rates. easyJet boss Johan Lundren has urged the Government to come forward with details of its green list as soon as possible but Malta (pictured) is one that sources say could be included 'Profiteering' private firms add 1,000 to price of holiday for four as they charge up to 300 for single Covid test that other firms offer for 60 Private Covid-19 testing firms have been accused of profiteering by charging up to 300 for a single PCR test which cost just 20 to make while other companies charge as little as 60 for the same tests. The most expensive companies on the official list of Government-approved firms sell coronavirus tests for around four times the price of the cheapest firms and five times if you want 24-hour weekend turnaround. An investigation by the Daily Telegraph has found that this can be the difference between adding 1,000 to a family-of-four's summer holiday overseas and a potentially more affordable charge of 240. Every holidaymaker returning to Britain from May 17 will have to take a PCR test on or before the second day of arrival, even when travelling back from a so-called 'green list country'. People coming back to the UK from 'amber' or 'red list' countries will have to take two tests, on days two and eight. It follows plans by minsters to cut the cost of PCR tests and remove any private testing firms that were 'profiteering' from the official list, after the Government announced a huge expansion of twice-weekly testing. Boris Johnson said the multi-billion pound move can help the return to normality by picking up asymptomatic cases and identifying local outbreaks faster. But concerns were immediately raised as when used on that scale the tests could wrongly label tens of thousands of people a week as having Covid - forcing them to isolate and get more reliable PCR checks to show they are clear. Advertisement 'The Biden Administration has also been consulting in the US about opening up borders in advance of American Independence Day in July.' One Whitehall source said Greece could make it on to the so-called 'green list' next month despite a recent rise in cases, while the USA, Gibraltar, Malta and much of the Caribbean are tipped for green status. There remains a rumbling row over the Government's plans to require people travelling to 'green' countries to be tested for coronavirus. Current PCR prices mean a family of four with two children over the age of 11 could face a testing bill of approximately 500. Airline bosses have called for the testing requirement to be ditched or for teh PCR tests to be replaced with lateral flow tests which take 30 minutes to deliver a result. The Association of British Travel Agents has warned that the cost of testing could be a 'major barrier' to going abroad this summer. Luke Petherbridge, Abta's director of public affairs, told Sky News that the travel industry feels 'an overriding sense of frustration' with the 'lack of detail' in the Global Travel Taskforce's recent report on how international travel could safely return. He said the sector needs to know the precise criteria by which countries are going to be assessed to determine their risk levels. Mr Petherbridge said: 'Testing is going to be a major barrier to travel this summer - we need the Government to engage with the industry on how we can bring down the cost of testing.' Commenting on the Global Travel Taskforce's recommended approach to potentially low-risk countries, he said: 'We cannot understand why countries in the green category should require a PCR test. 'We believe a double lateral flow test approach would be a more proportionate approach to follow in that category.' Mr Strutton told Sky News the Government should be subsidising the PCR tests to make the price more reasonable. He also urged the Government to 'kick-start' international travel by offering the tests free to key workers as 'they deserve a holiday'. Mr Doyle said his airline will make PCR tests available to customers for just 60. Randox, a major coronavirus testing firm, announced yesterday that it is to halve the cost of PCR tests for travellers returning to the UK from overseas in a bid to aid the sector's recovery This echoes the announcement by a major Covid testing firm that they were going to halve the price of their tests. Randox said yesterday that it will charge holidaymakers jetting back to Britain 60 for the gold standard tests, rather than the usual 120 they would cost. The cut-price tests will be available for customers of partnering airlines, which have not yet been revealed but Mr Doyle's comments this morning suggest British Airways could be among them. Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald said today: 'In recognition of the needs of both the travel industry and the British public at this unprecedented time, Randox will reduce the all-inclusive cost of PCR testing for those in the UK undertaking international travel to 60 per test. 'We can see the pressures faced by both the travel industry and the general public and are committed to effective and economical testing to support holidaymakers and those undertaking international travel.' The 60 PCR test will be ordered online and purchased using a discount code, Randox said. It comes as easyJet has said it is getting ready to 'ramp up' services for the summer holiday season by offering more flights from late May after restrictions ease. The carrier said it expects to fly up to 20 per cent of 2019 capacity levels between April and June, with most countries planning to resume flying at scale in May. EasyJet flew just 14 per cent of its 2019 flight programme between October and the end of March. The group confirmed it will slump to a steep first-half loss, of between 690 million and 730 million for the six months to March 31, but said this is slightly better than expected thanks largely to stringent cost-cutting. It burned through around 470 million of cash during its second quarter to the end of December, which was lower than feared as it slashed costs by nearly 60 per cent to about 854 million. Mr Lundgren said: 'We continue to closely monitor the situation across Europe and, with vaccination programmes accelerating, most countries are planning to resume flying at scale in May. 'We have the operational flexibility to rapidly increase flying and add destinations to match demand. 'EasyJet is ready to resume flying, prepared for the ramp-up and looking forward to being able to reunite people with their families or take them on leisure and business flights once again.' But he reiterated calls for the Government to cut the price of Covid-19 tests for air passengers, having previously said they sometimes cost more than easyJet's tickets. He said: 'EasyJet was founded to make travel accessible for all and so we continue to engage with Government to ensure that the cost of the required testing is driven down so that it doesn't risk turning back the clock and make travel too costly for some.' Rio de Janeiro, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Apr, 2021 ) :The "Brazil variant" -- a more contagious mutation of the coronavirus that emerged in the Amazon late last year -- is fueling fears the pandemic could flare anew, leading several countries to suspend flights from Brazil. Here is a rundown of what we know -- and don't -- about the variant known as P1. - Why is it worrying? - There are still a lot of unknowns about P1. Two certainties, though: it is more contagious than the initial strain of the novel coronavirus, and it can re-infect people who have had the original. "The fear is justified. P1 is a more contagious variant, and it has spread rapidly across Brazil, which is an enormous country. The pandemic is out of control in Brazil right now," said microbiologist Natalia Pasternak. Covid-19 claimed 66,500 lives in Brazil last month -- more than double what had previously been the country's deadliest month in the pandemic, July 2020. With Brazil's total death toll now at 358,000 -- second only to the United States -- April is on track to be even worse. It is unclear to what extent P1 is causing the surging death toll. Experts suspect it is more virulent than the original strain but say more research is needed. - When did it start? - Researchers say P1 emerged in December last year in or around the northern city of Manaus. But it was first identified as a new variant in Japan, where it was found in travelers returning from Brazil. It has now been detected in more than 35 countries, though many have managed to limit infections. Several countries have suspended flights to and from Brazil over the outbreak, most recently France on Tuesday. - Why is it more contagious? - Like the South Africa variant, P1 has a mutation known as E484K, dubbed an "escape mutation" because it helps the virus dodge our antibodies. The mutation alters the virus' "spike protein," helping it invade cells more easily. "It's like a master key that can open various doors," said Jesem Orellana, a researcher at Brazilian public health institute Fiocruz. P1 has thrived in part because of limited capacity to contain the virus, including in Manaus, whose health system collapsed so badly in January its hospitals ran out of oxygen. "If the Brazilian authorities had been responsible, they would have closed Manaus like China closed Wuhan," Orellana told AFP. "Instead, they sent overflow patients to other regions, with people accompanying them, some of whom were also infected with P1" -- accelerating the variant's spread. - Is it deadlier? - Researchers have not definitively established whether P1 is more virulent. In preliminary studies, Orellana observed that the variant did not cause a significantly higher mortality rate among hospitalized patients in Manaus than during the first wave of the pandemic. He thinks Brazil's soaring death toll is more likely caused by hospitals being overwhelmed. Other studies, however, indicate P1 is in fact more lethal. - Do vaccines work against it? - Experts say more research is also needed on the extent to which different vaccines are effective against P1. One piece of good news: preliminary studies show Chinese-developed CoronaVac, the most widely used Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil, as well as the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, are at least partly effective against the variant -- though definitive, real-world results are still needed. But there is bad news, too. The unchecked spread of the virus in Brazil has given rise to more mutations, including P2 -- notably detected in Rio de Janeiro -- and P4, recently identified in neighboring Minas Gerais state. "Brazil has become an open-air variant laboratory," said Orellana. More may already be out there. "Brazil is one of the worst countries in the world on genetic sequencing. It's no coincidence we discovered P1 some 60 days late -- in Japan," he said. Microbiologist Pasternak said in an ideal world, Brazil should combine a lockdown with mass vaccination. "Instead, we have neither," she said. "We lack the political will for a lockdown, and the doses to vaccinate," she said, criticizing a "lack of coordination" at the national level under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has minimized the pandemic. By Prossy Kisakye Kampala Capital City Authority council has resolved to re-name Nsambya Estate Road after the late Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. Dr Lwanga was found dead in his house earlier this month after suffering a heart attack, according to the doctors report. The motion was presented by KCCA Speaker Abubaker Kawalya in honor of the late Lwangas efforts towards the development of the church. Nsambya estate road stretches from Total Nsambya past Nsambya hospital and the American Embassy towards Kabalagala. Meanwhile, the KCCA councilors have opposed the deputy speaker Bruhan Byaruhangas motion to rename one of the city roads after the former chairman of UTODA, Moses Katongole in remembrance of his works saying he did not deserve it, alleging that during his reign, many taxi operators were exploited. Muslims share food as they break their first fast in the Holy Month of Ramzan at Macca Masjid, Charminar, Hyderabad. (DC File Image: P. Surendra) HYDERABAD: The holy month of Ramzan fasting began on Tuesday night in Hyderabad with Taraweeh prayers. The duration of first days fast will be 14 hours while on the last day, it will be for 14 hours 39 minutes. Muslim worshippers performed the Taraweeh prayers in almost all masjids while maintaining physical distance. Elderly people voluntarily refrained from attending the Taraweeh prayers, while children were not allowed into many masjids. These masjids had earlier been washed and cleaned. In several of them, disinfectant material was used to sterilize all surfaces and floors to ensure a healthy environment. Masks were distributed among worshippers. Managements of many masjids shortened the duration of Taraweeh prayers. Unlike previous years, there is no interpretation of the Quran amidst the Taraweeh prayers. Moulana Hafiz Rizwan Qureshi and Moulana Ahsan bin Mohammed Alhamoomi will recite the three chapters of the Holy Quran daily till 9th Ramzan in Mecca Masjid and Shahi Masjid respectively. In both these masjids, women performed the night prayers in separated enclosures. More than more than two thousand faithful performed the Taraweeh. Home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi greeted Muslims for the holy month and prayed for acceptance of fasts and prayers. Mahmood Ali appealed to the faithful to spend more time in prayers, while maintaining Covid-19 protocols during the entire Ramzan month. Members of the activist group Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian will be meeting with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Friday to discuss the recent communication from United Nations officials to the U.S. federal government, as well as to possibly learn more about burial sites discovered during construction activities at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. In late January, three rapporteurs from the U.N. wrote to President Joe Biden expressing serious concern over Guam's ongoing military buildup "in the absence of adequate consultation with the Chamorro people and the associated threats to indigenous lands, resources, environmental and cultural rights." "Notably, the Chamorro people have not provided their free, prior and informed consent in connection with the ongoing expansion of U.S. military bases and its accompanying increase in personnel on Guam. The military escalation risks increased contamination to the drinking water, loss of wildlife and biodiversity, irreversible damage of their traditional lands, territories, and resources; loss of traditional livelihoods, cultural sites and heritage and threatens the physical and cultural survival of the Chamorro," the rapporteurs wrote. The communication was made public in late March. On April 1, Prutehi Litekyan wrote to the governor asking to discuss the implications of the U.N. communication, which requested that the U.S. provide information on current or planned measures to include CHamoru people in decision-making and to obtain their consent on projects that affect their land and territories, as well as information on Guam's Superfund sites and other issues. The rapporteurs urged the U.S. to take interim measures to halt alleged violations until a reply is submitted. "We respectfully beseech your leadership in engaging with the Department of Defense and Joint Region Marianas Guam to pause all activities in sites of impact in order to prevent further devastating impacts to our lands and waters and the defilement of our ancestors as we wait for a response from President Biden," Prutehi Litekyan partly stated in their letter to the governor. Since the letter's submission and the publication of the U.N. communication, acting State Historic Preservation Officer Carlotta Leon Guerrero released a preliminary report in full on ancestral remains found at the Marine Corps base site. Carlotta Leon Guerrero initially declined to release the full report and denied Freedom of Information Act requests in March, citing federal laws, but ultimately released the full report at the urging of the governor. A final report is pending. But the lack of disclosure caused controversy. The Vigilance Committee, a nonprofit seeking to ensure government compliance with disclosure laws, began requesting information after the initial denial to media. Prior to the release of the full preliminary report, Sen. Telena Nelson submitted her own disclosure request seeking information on human remains found at or near Camp Blaz in 2020 and 2021, as well as actions that guided the discovery and removal of the remains. Following the release of the full preliminary report, Nelson said she is glad the governor ordered Carlotta Leon Guerrero to release some information on the burial sites and she looks forward to further information. An oversight hearing and roundtable on the status of CHamoru burial sites and ancestral remains was supposed to take place Wednesday but was rescheduled to April 22, due to a scheduling conflict and to allow further review of the preliminary report, according to Nelson's office. The governor, Carlotta Leon Guerrero and several other officials attended a ceremony at Camp Blaz on Nov. 4, 2020, in which remnants of a pottery bowl were returned to its skeletal remains and reburied. Carlotta Leon Guerrero received the preliminary report on that day. The Guam Daily Post requested photographs or videos from the ceremony in November, but Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Rick Moore said to his knowledge, "no photos or videos have been released or posted from the ceremony." "We see it in certain groups that come to an agreement to bring about changes in the life of the Church, all the media that inform ... But prayer is not seen". General audience dedicated to "The Church teacher of prayer". Monasteries "vital cells, not only for the ecclesial fabric but for society itself". Vatican City (AsiaNews) The life of faith and even the Church cannot last without prayer, it cannot progress if it does not pray, because "everything is born in prayer, and everything grows thanks to prayer". Moreover, when the Enemy, the Evil One, wants to fight the Church, he does so first of all by trying to drain her sources, preventing her from praying. For example, we see it in certain groups that agree to bring about changes in the life of the Church, all the media that inform ... But prayer is not seen." This was the warning launched today by Pope Francis in an off-the-cuff reflection in the speech for the general audience, dedicated to "The Church teacher of prayer". "The life of a parish and of every Christian community - he said - is marked by the calendar of the liturgy and community prayer", which makes "that gift we received in childhood" from parents or grandparents grow. "We realize that it is a great and very rich heritage, and that the experience of prayer deserves to be deepened more and more (cf. ibid., 2688). The habit of faith is not starched, it develops with us, even through moments of crisis and resurrections. Indeed, we cannot grow without moments of crisis. After certain passages in life, we realize that without faith we would not have been able to do it and that prayer has been our strength. Not only personal prayer, but also that of the brothers and sisters, and of the community that accompanied and supported us. For this reason, too, communities and groups dedicated to prayer flourish continuously in the Church. Some Christians even feel the call to make prayer the main action of his days. In the Church there are monasteries, convents, hermitages, where people consecrated to God live and which often become centres of spiritual radiation. They are small oases where intense prayer is shared and fraternal communion is built day by day. They are vital cells, not only for the ecclesial fabric but for society itself. Let us think of the role that monasticism played in the birth and growth of European civilization, and also in other cultures. Praying and working in community drives the world forward. Everything in the Church is born in prayer, and everything grows thanks to prayer. When the Enemy, the Evil One, wants to fight the Church, he does so first of all by trying to drain its sources, preventing her from praying. "For example - he continued off the cuff - we see him in certain groups that agree to bring about changes in the life of the Church, all the media that inform ... But prayer is not seen. Don't pray. 'We have to change this, we have to make this harsh decision. Only with discussions, only like the media? Where is the prayer?" Prayer is what inspires changes in the Church. "Without prayer they are no changes in the Church, just changes of groups". "If prayer ceases, for a while it seems everything continues as always, by inertia, but after a short time the Church realizes that it has become an empty envelope, that it has lost its supporting axis, that it no longer possesses the source of warmth and love." The saints show it. "Holy women and men do not have an easier life than others, on the contrary, they too have their problems to face and, moreover, they are often the object of opposition. But their strength is prayer, which they always draw from the inexhaustible 'well' of Mother Church. With prayer they feed the flame of their faith, as was done with the oil of lamps. And so they go on walking in faith and hope. The saints, who often count for little in the eyes of the world, are actually those who support it, not with the weapons of money and power, of the media, but with the weapons of prayer. Francis then recalled that in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus poses a dramatic question that always makes us reflect: "When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Lk 18,8) or, he asked himself, "will he only find entrepreneurs of the faith, all well organized, and who do charities, many things, or will he find faith?". This question is at the end of a parable that shows the need to pray with perseverance, without getting tired. Therefore, we can conclude that the lamp of faith will always be lit on earth as long as there is the oil of prayer. This is what the Church carries on, our poor life ". This is an essential task of the Church: to pray and educate to pray. Transm to keep the lamp of faith from generation to generation with the oil of prayer. Without the light of this lamp, we could not see the way to evangelize; we could not see the faces of the brothers to approach and to serve; we could not light up the room where we can meet in community Without faith, everything collapses; and without prayer, faith is extinguished. There is no other way. For this reason, the Church, which is a home and school of communion, is a home and school of prayer. ADVERTISEMENT in line with the Police Act of 2020, a good place to start is the development of an Annual Policing Plan as provided for in Section 9(a) of the Act. The Annual Policing Plan, developed with inputs from the Headquarters and all police formations and commands nationwide, sets out the priorities, objectives, cost implications and expected outcomes of policing President Muhammadu Buhari has officially appointed a new Acting Inspector General of Police to replace the erstwhile IGP, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, as the number one cop in the country. Mr. Adamu, whose tenure formally ended on February 1 had this extended despite public outcry, in view of public service rules and the provisions of the Police Act of 2020. That extension ended on April 7, with the handover to the new Acting IGP Usman Alkali Baba. While welcoming the Acting IGP and wishing him a successful tenure, the state of insecurity in the country has thrown up several policing challenges that he should prioritise. Re-positioning the Nigeria Police Force for improved performance in addressing these security challenges should essentially seek to fulfil governments mandate to make the security and welfare of citizens its primary business and restore citizens confidence in the ability of the state to protect the people and properties within its geographical space. From banditry to kidnapping and insurgency, the Nigeria Police needs to recalibrate and deploy its personnel and resources in an effective operational manner to address these concerns. First, and in line with the Police Act of 2020, a good place to start is the development of an Annual Policing Plan as provided for in Section 9(a) of the Act. The Annual Policing Plan, developed with inputs from the Headquarters and all police formations and commands nationwide, sets out the priorities, objectives, cost implications and expected outcomes of policing for the next financial year, in consideration of the security situation across the country. As it is, policing cannot be business as usual, given that crime and criminals are constantly evolving new ways of unleashing violence on the populace. Each Command, working alongside its host communities, will bring into the Annual Policing Plan the contextual policing priorities peculiar to their regions/states to engender a template for responsive police service delivery to the public. The IGP needs to sit with his team to develop the short, medium and long-term policing needs of the public on the basis of emerging security trends. Accordingly, a framework for monitoring, evaluating, and drawing lessons from the implementation of the Plan at strategic periods should be set and implemented. This will ensure that policing services are results-driven and responsive to the policing needs of the public. The role of the Police Public Relations Committee, which is a mechanism for building trust relationships between the police and the public needs to be looked at. One must underscore the fact that one of the underlying drivers of the #EndSARS protest was the pent-up public resentment against police brutality and weak oversight mechanisms that are poor in holding errant police officers to account. Police public relations is currently at its lowest in Nigeria. While there seem to be some efforts at community policing by the Federal Government, it is obvious that these programmes need to be amplified and sustained. The role of the Police Public Relations Committee, which is a mechanism for building trust relationships between the police and the public needs to be looked at. One must underscore the fact that one of the underlying drivers of the #EndSARS protest was the pent-up public resentment against police brutality and weak oversight mechanisms that are poor in holding errant police officers to account. It is therefore pivotal for the police to empower its internal accountability mechanisms with such strategic powers to fully achieve their mandates without bottlenecks. A close collaboration should be forged between the Police and the Police Service Commission, and the newly inaugurated Police Public Complaints Committee under the Ministry of Police Affairs, to enhance the accountability of its personnel and uphold zero tolerance for police misconduct under the new Acting IGPs tenure. Again, the recent targeted killing of police officers and burning of police stations across the country should be investigated with the findings addressed, as a matter of urgency. As one of the banes of our current police system is the shortage of manpower, the country cannot afford to overlook this ugly trend that portends dire consequences and further exposes citizens to criminal elements. The community policing committees and boards to be set up across the states and divisional levels, as provided for in the Act, should be a top priority for the new IGP and the Commissioners of Police across the states, to nip security threats in the bud and support participatory policing. we cannot over-emphasise the need for better welfare packages and improved working conditions for the Police. Both the Police Act of 2020 and the 2019 Police Trust Fund detail beautiful provisions that touch upon improved welfare, salaries, periodic training, and equipping of police training institutions. One of the demands of the #EndSARS protest was improved welfare packages for the members of the police. Thankfully, while other demands are being addressed by the government, we cannot over-emphasise the need for better welfare packages and improved working conditions for the Police. Both the Police Act of 2020 and the 2019 Police Trust Fund detail beautiful provisions that touch upon improved welfare, salaries, periodic training, and equipping of police training institutions. The Acting IGP, through the Trust Fund Committee and the Federal Government, should work assiduously to sustain and achieve this demand under his leadership. As a people, we cannot provide meagre resources to the Police and expect it to perform wonders or pay lip-service to recommendations for police reforms. The necessary working conditions and tools, through appropriate budget releases, which will capacitate it to effectively fulfil its core functions in securing the nation, should be provided to the Police. In conclusion, the quality of recruitment is a matter of national importance that both the Police Service Commission and the Police need to address systematically. The Police Act of 2020, which makes provisions for specialists to be recruited into the Police, essentially seeks to provoke improved and specialised police service delivery to the public. It might also be necessary to look at the possibilities of upgrading entry requirements into the Police Force and introduce computer-based technologies that enhances transparency of the recruitment process. Those recruited into the Police must be trainable and able to imbibe and demonstrate the underlying principles of various police capacity building programmes, without resorting to brutality or harassment. These suggestions are considered necessary and timely to break the vicious cycle of police-citizen resentment and nurture a climate of partnership, professionalism, and accountability of the police in Nigeria. Ruth Eguono Olofin is a scholar-practitioner in security sector reforms and gender. She writes from Abuja and tweets via @OkugbeniRuth Performances Kick Off with Livestreams in April from Vancouver, Tel Aviv and London eMusic Live today announces that it will be the exclusive livestream platform for an exciting tour of upcoming performances staged in some of the most vibrant cities around the globe. As the world emerges from lockdown, eMusic Live's new model of live-digital hybrid shows will deliver new monetisation and reach to a borderless audience, rejuvenating a much-missed live music industry. Vancouver, Canada Tickets at emusiclive.com/Live_From_Vancouver eMusic Live will host three events streamed worldwide from Vancouver, including performances by two Juno Award-winning bands. Said the Whale, one of Canada's most successful indie rock bands will perform on Friday April 23. This will be followed on Saturday April 24 by Juno award-winning classic rock band Prism, one of the biggest band names in Canada, and Royal Oak, a Vancouver local favourite indie pop band. eMusic Live will offer multiple ticket options, including a weekend pass for all three shows and VIP passes to some events, as well as music sales. Tel Aviv, Israel Tickets at emusiclive.com/Live_From_Israel_Ivri_Lider Israeli pop star Ivri Lider will host 'Back to Stage' on Saturday April 24 from the Wohl Ampitheater, a show of his greatest hits and the first ever live-digital hybrid event to be streamed out of Israel. Lider is one of the most successful Israeli musicians of his generation, achieving commercial success with six solo albums that have gone gold or platinum. Recently he has starred as a judge on The X Factor Israel and The Voice Israel. Tickets will include general admission and VIP passes offering a live meet and greet before the show. London, United Kingdom Tickets at emusiclive.com/Live_From_London eMusic Live will host four performances streamed from the world-renowned Metropolis Studios in London. Metropolis Studios is Europe's number one independent recording studio with clients spanning the biggest names in the music industry, including Queen, Amy Winehouse, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and more. The studios will host four emerging artists, performing live and streamed across Friday April 30 and Saturday May 1: Beach Riot, Chloe Foy, Ruby Duff and Tusks. eMusic Live will offer multiple ticket options, including a pass for all shows. "We're delighted that eMusic live will be the exclusive livestream platform for this array of upcoming performances staged in multiple cities around the world," said Tamir Koch, eMusic President. "The shows, which feature award-winning, genre-spanning artists and iconic music venues, signify an exciting international expansion for our livestream and artist monetisation platform, and provide an opportunity to revitalise support for performers and venues emerging from regional lockdowns. "eMusic Live provides the most advanced commercial features to support live shows including in-platform promotional opportunities, merchandise and music sales, and VIP experiences, enhancing tours and live events with virtual fan experiences and reach. It is creating new models emerging in post-Covid that will use a hybrid approach to better support venues and artists." A roster of eMusic Live streamed events is also planned for the coming months to be staged in additional cities around the world, including Los Angeles and Nashville in the US as well as an expansion into the Australian market. For more information, visit: emusiclive.com About eMusic Live eMusic Live is the most advanced commercial live stream platform, offering end-to-end monetisation, engagement opportunities, and sponsorship experiences for artists, artist managers and venues around the world. Additionally, eMusic Live provides tremendous value for brands for whom music plays a key role in their engagement strategy or business model. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005574/en/ Contacts: Lara Peterson +1 (917)2889064 Coronavirus crisis is changing the priorities and needs of consumers, even in terms time and space. People want to spend as little time as possible when they do their purchases, and one of the tools helping them is contact less payments. Searching for an improval on this matter, Totam, devised by businessman Axel Capriles Hernandez, is an app whose objective is gathering payment management, price comparison and loyalty card in one single application in our mobile phone, specifically designed for buying gasoline and diesel. Although hybrid and electric are the main train on vehicles right now, the consumption of fossil fuels has not decline, showing that they are still the rival to beat. Even more, after the controversies over diesel pollution, everyday more drivers chose gasoline, instead of electric cars. We talk with Axel Capriles about the future of fossil fuels, on how Totam would work on the USA and if we'll see a majority of electric cars on the streets in the short term. Axel Capriles: "The market of gasoline and diesel will remain as the main source of energy for the next thirty years" -What will be the end for fossil fuel? Well, I think gasoline and diesel will remain an essential energy source for the next couple of decades. It would be needed a black swan effect -I mean, an unexpected event with disproportionate consequences- to change this trend. -Aren't renewable energies ready to replace fossil fuels? I would say no. Right now, oil has 33% of the market in the world enery matrix, followed by natural gas and coal, but renewable energies only have a 5% of the market. -Why is that? Is there any obstacle for electric cars to the market penetration? We are still not able to build a battery that is at the same time small and with enough capacity to long distance travel, and that's a true handicap. The advances in electric cars have been important, but they are not sufficient to replace the comfort of traditional cars. -So the market is not ready for the electric car? There's an exception where the electric car has been fully adapted and where we'll see a grow in its use: highly populated cities. In cities its easier to install recharging points, and the trips are shorter, so there is no need for high-storage batteries. -What will prevail: electric cars like Tesla's or hybrid cars? Electric cars are already a reality and there are lots of brands that are producing electric cars. I see that hybrid cars are more a temporary bridge solution, and will only last until the electric car is fully consolidated. Axel Capriles Hernandez: "The US is a risky market" -Talking about Totam, it is a marketplace whose intention is gathering services offered in service stations. Why did you decide develop this app? I think the consumers needed a useful tool to improve the experience on the service station. Totam is an app that reduce the time by 20%, just by gathering payment and loyalty cards in the same app, and offering discounts when paying with Totampay. -Will it be available internationally? Right now we are in process of launching a pilot program in Mexico and Spain, but we intend to make it work worldwide. -Also in the US? Well, it is true that the USA market has some difficulty due to the atomization of service stations in the US. It will be needed a huge investment just to adapt the technology. Furthermore, we can see how Gasbuddy has failed to gain loyalty to their platform, and they are obliged to keep investing in programs to attract new customers, without good results. -Has the coronavirus increased the use of the app in the countries where it is available? Yes, the pandemic has helped a lot, even in the pilot program. At the end of the day, customers want to reduce the risk of contagion, and Totam is specially designed to reduce personal contact. A UC Riverside virologist has won a $1.9 million award to help prevent the re-emergence of Zika virus, which causes microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. Rong Hai, an assistant professor in UCR's Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, will use the National Institutes of Health award over the next five years to investigate how Zika uses a protein , NS5, to beat the human immune system. Hai's ultimate goal is to develop a vaccine and antiviral drug for Zika, neither of which is currently available. In 2015, the Pan American Health Organization issued an alert about the first confirmed Zika infection in Brazil. Since then, outbreaks of the virus have spread to Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and South America. Though cases were also recorded in the U.S., continued transmission in this country tapered off. However, the mosquito that spreads Zika is still active in nearly 90 countries, and could begin transmitting it again at any time. "Viruses always surprise us with their unpredicted presence," said Hai. "The best thing that we can do is to extract the most information possible based on our experience with previous viral pathogens, which will get us better prepared for the future." When human cells are invaded by a virus, the first line of defense is our innate immune system, which produces proteins called interferons. Interferons induce an anti-microbial state in the infected cell and also in neighboring cells that suppress viral replication and block the spread of pathogens. One critical host factor in activating interferons is a protein, dubbed STAT2, and its activation sets the immune response in motion. "It's like a switch that turns on the virus-fighting response," Hai said. To be successful in infecting its human host, Zika virus uses its protein, NS5, to shut off human STAT2. Then, a person gets sick with ZIKV disease. "Somehow the virus triggers the degradation of STAT2, but we don't know how," Hai said. "If we find out the mechanism, we can develop a live vaccine and an antiviral for ZIKV, and apply the knowledge to other flaviviruses as well." Hai's background has prepared him well for this investigation. Originally from China, he studied virology at UC Berkeley, fascinated by the idea that only through infections are viruses able to live. Prior to joining the faculty at UCR six years ago, he worked with well-known RNA virologist Peter Palese at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Under his guidance, Hai began his career studying emergent viral pathogens such as the 2009 swine flu. He also helped develop next-generation vaccines for RNA viruses, like the universal flu vaccine. Hai says he's excited about this project because it will help the medical community to be prepared for the return of Zika virus. "It's an honor to serve our people in this way," he said. "Just like Jon Snow fighting the white walkers, my knowledge can help all of humanity." ### New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to meet Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal today (April 14, 2021) to take a call on the CBSE Board Exams 2021, sources told Zee News. PM Modi's meet with Pokhriyal, Education Secretary and other officials will likely take place at 12 PM. The meeting will decide on the postponement of the upcoming CBSE Board exams amid rising COVID-19 cases across the country. The CBSE Class 10 exams are scheduled to be conducted between May 4 and June 7, and for Class 12 students, between May 4 and June 15. However, due to the prevailing coronavirus wave, there have also been demands from students and parents to postpone the CBSE board exams. Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also appealed to the Centre to cancel the exams due to a spurt in the COVID-19 cases. "6 lakh children in Delhi are going to write CBSE exams. Nearly 1 lakh teachers will be a part of it. These can become major hotspots leading to the large-scale spreading of Corona. Children's lives & health is very important to us. I request Centre to cancel CBSE exams." Kejriwal said. The Delhi CM added, "Some alternative methods could be thought of. Children can be promoted this time on the basis of either an online method or internal assessment. But CBSE exams should be cancelled." Earlier in June last year, Kaspersky discovered an advanced cyberespionage campaign that was targeting entities in the government and military sectors in Vietnam. The final aim of these hackers is to put in a remote administration tool that gives them full control over the infected device. Analysis suggested that this attack was being conducted by a group of threat actors related to Cycldek. Cycldek is a Chinese-speaking threat group thats been active since 2013 and they are known for their sophisticated and advanced methods of cyberattacks. As Kaspersky revealed in their report, these Chinese-speaking threat actors often share their techniques and methodologies with each other which makes it easier for cybercrime researchers like Kaspersky to hunt for advanced persistent threat (APT) activity. And going by this research, Kaspersky has discovered how well-known cyberespionage groups like LuckyMouse, HoneyMyte, and Cycldek work. And thats exactly why the very moment one of the most well-known tactics of these threat actors, the DLL side-loading triad, was spotted in the attacks targeting government and military entities in Vietnam, it was immediately brought to notice. DLL, or dynamic-link libraries, are pieces of code meant to be used by other programs on a computer. In DLL side-loading, a legitimate file (such as from Microsoft Outlook) is tricked into loading a malicious DLL. This allows attackers to bypass security products. In this recently discovered campaign involving the entities in Vietnam, the DLL side-loading infection chain executes a shellcode that decrypts the final payload, which is a remote access Trojan thats been named FoundCore by Kaspersky researchers. FoundCore gives attackers full control over the infected device. Also, the method used to protect this malicious code from analysis is rather interesting. These threat actors are using a method that signals a major advancement in sophistication for attackers in this region. The headers (the destination and source for the code) for the final payload were completely stripped away, and the few that remained contained incoherent values. With this, the attackers are making it significantly more difficult for researchers to reverse engineer the malware for analysis. The components of the infection chain are also tightly coupled, which means that single pieces are difficult, sometimes almost impossible, to analyse in isolation, thereby preventing a full picture of malicious activity. Kaspersky researchers also discovered that this infection chain was downloading two additional malware. The first is called DropPhone which collects environment information from the victim machine and sends it to DropBox. The second is called CoreLoader which runs code that helps the malware evade detection by security products. Dozens of computers have been affected by this campaign, with 80% of them based in Vietnam. Most of these machines belonged to the government or military sector, however, there were other targets as well related to health, diplomacy, education, and politics. There were also occasional targets in Central Asia and in Thailand. ADVERTISEMENT The Cross River State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Union Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS EU) on forests management and conservation. The State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Inyang Asibong, made this known when the EU team visited her on Tuesday in Calabar. She said the partnership would also promote a healthy climate for both wildlife and other endangered species in the state forests. Ms Asibong said the Cross River rainforest was an asset not only to the state and the country, but the West African sub-region at large. She said under the Governor Ben Ayade led-administration, the wildlife and Green Canopy provided by the Cross River rainforest had enabled Nigeria to be a member of the Global Climate Change Cooperation. The commissioner enjoined the EU Wildlife Conservation Society to protect the forest communities, just as the state government had been doing over the years. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity released in May 2019, states that we are in danger of losing one million species to extinction, including migratory species if we do not step up our actions. Cross River Government takes the report seriously and has stepped up action to conserve species, protect ecosystems and make meaningful progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ms Asibong said. Earlier in his remarks, the Director of the European Union Wildlife Conservation Society, Andrew Dunn, said their work in the state would focus on National Park, Afi and Nde Mountains. Mr Dunn proposed to provide the state with technical support with a request to have a political buy-in through the signing of an MoU with the state Government to provide a framework and their terms of operations in the state. We will continue to set the bar for science, conservation and education that has driven our successes in protecting wildlife for over a century. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, adhering to core values of respect, accountability and transparency, innovation, diversity and inclusion, collaboration and integrity, he added. According to him, Cross River and Bauchi States remain choice places in Nigeria where they have worked for more than 15 years, having signed an MoU with the Federal Government to work in the two states. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Cross River houses more than 50 per cent of the Nigeria rainforest located at Afi and Nde Mountains in Ikom Local Government Area. It also houses the National Park in Akamkpa, Boki and Obanliku local government areas of the state. (NAN) OTTAWA - There is enough evidence to say the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may cause very rare blood clots but the shot is still extremely safe, very effective and will remain on the Canadian market, Health Canada said Wednesday. In this Monday, March 15, 2021 file photo a vial of AstraZeneca vaccine is pictured in a pharmacy in Boulogne Billancourt, outside Paris. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Christophe Ena, File OTTAWA - There is enough evidence to say the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may cause very rare blood clots but the shot is still extremely safe, very effective and will remain on the Canadian market, Health Canada said Wednesday. The department's regulatory team is updating the vaccine's label with information about the possibility of clots but only a patient who developed the new vaccine-induced blood clotting syndrome is advised not to get another dose of it. "Health Canada still considers the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine to outweigh the risks of getting COVID-19," said Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at Health Canada who manages the regulation of the COVID-19 vaccines. "We are not limiting the use of the vaccine to any specific age group or sex." The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which recommended March 29 that AstraZeneca not be used on patients under 55, will now meet to decide if that advice should be updated. NACI issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying it will update the guidance "soon" but for now the age recommendation stands. All provinces agreed to follow that advice, which was based on the fact early reports showed women under 55 were getting clots more often, and the risk of COVID-19 is higher as you age. The U.K. regulator recently said, like Health Canada, that the vaccine remained safe for everyone, but the British version of NACI recommended it not be given to people under 30, who have the lowest risk for severe illness from COVID. Denmark on Wednesday became the first country to decide to stop using AstraZeneca entirely as a result of the clots. The clotting syndrome has been labelled VIPIT, short for vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. It occurs when the body's immune system begins to attack blood platelets, leading to clots, and is treatable. Canada has had one VIPIT case reported a Quebec woman older than 55. The number of doses given was 480,000 as of April 3. The figure is likely much higher now, as Canada has received more than 2.3 million doses of the vaccine produced in the United States, India and South Korea. But Sharma said Health Canada's analysis looked only at the 480,000 shots. International reports show anywhere from one clot reported for every 40,000 doses given in Denmark, to one in 100,000 in Germany, and one in 250,000 in the U.K. Sharma said the general belief is that the incident rate will end up between one in 100,000 and one in 250,000. "These are extremely, extremely rare," she said. "The risk of ... regular clots with COVID is much, much, much higher." Blood clots are also much riskier when taking certain medications, including birth control. About one in 1,600 patients on the pill will develop a clot. COVID-19-caused clots are not the same as those caused by VIPIT, but one in five patients hospitalized with COVID-19 will develop a clot, and for patients who end up in critical care, the risk is one in three. There are also other risks from COVID-19, including death, and Sharma said the balance between risks of a vaccine weighed against the risks of COVID-19 heavily fall towards the virus being a much bigger risk. She also noted that VIPIT is very similar to clots caused in a very small number of people given the blood-thinning drug Heparin. "We still have Heparin on the market," Sharma said. "We still use it for prevention. We use it in syringes, for example, to prevent clots, even though there might be alternatives to it." The issue of blood clots extended to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week, which uses the same technology as AstraZeneca but has a different formula. The United States on Tuesday temporarily stopped using J&J because six patients developed clots, after 6.8 million doses were given. The pause was largely intended to provide time to get information to medical providers about what to look for and ensure treatments are known. Sharma said Canada is continuing to look at the J&J evidence as well. J&J is not moving to roll out the vaccine in Europe pending more information from the United States but a spokesman said Wednesday there are no plans to stop it in Canada at the moment. Canada isn't due to get its first deliveries of J&J for another two weeks. Europe was supposed to get its first deliveries this week. Sharma said Health Canada is updating the warning label on the AstraZeneca vaccine to include the potential for clots, the symptoms to look for and the treatments to provide. Sharma said Canadians should look to the case in Quebec, which was picked up and treated, to gain confidence that the monitoring system is working as it should. "Our best advice to Canadians is always the same but possibly more urgent now than ever, with cases of COVID-19 increasing across Canada," Sharma said. "Get whichever vaccine is available to you. It's that simple. The longer you wait to get vaccinated, the longer you're not protected." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. In a significant success to the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) recovered Pakistan sponsored Narcotics smuggled across the LoC in Karnah forests. 10 kg of narcotics, estimated to be approximately Rs 50 crore was recovered by the Forces as India has been carrying strong anti-infiltration drills to counter insurgency and also to curb the menace of Pakistan's 'Narco Terror Model'. According to an official statement, this catch is said to be the second in a week's span. Accompanied by terrorists, smugglers carrying the consignment along the LoC were unable to cross the fence and were forced to flee while abandoning the consignment due to the strong anti-infiltration drills by the Indian Army. The statement added that there is a high likelihood of arrests of certain kingpins in the upcoming days. "However, this time smugglers were spotted carrying the narcotics along the Line of Control. The Indian Army and BSF's strong anti-infiltration posture denied the smugglers accompanied by Pak-based terrorists, the opportunity to cross the fence. It forced them to abandon their consignment and flee on being challenged," the official said. Pakistani handlers controlling the nexus get money in lieu of Narco supplied which is in turn used to fund terror organisations," he said. The official also claimed that Pakistan Army is a key stakeholder in this narco-terror nexus which involves using civilians on both sides of the LoC as cannon fodder to destroy the social fabric on the border areas of Kashmir and Punjab. Earlier on April 8, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) busted a narco-module in the same area north Kashmirs Kupwara and seized heroin worth Rs 60 Cr while one person was arrested in connection with the smuggling and a special investigation team was constituted to probe the matter. Heroin consignment recovered from the possession of an arrested person was given to him by Pakistan-based militant outfits to ensure financial support to the militant organizations in Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, GV Sundeep Chakravarthy had said. "This is a very big racket and the consignments are received from Pakistan. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted headed by a Senior Superintendent (SP) level officer to probe the case further and investigate it thoroughly, the SSP added. According to the police, the module was in touch with Pakistan-based terror handlers and it was using the drug money to fund terror-related activities in the Valley. On reliable information, Kupwara Police busted a Pakistan-sponsored narco terror module and arrested one terrorist associate, identified as Mukhtar Husain Shah - a resident of Panj Taran Village, Karnah in Kupwara. 9 kg heroin recovered from his possession: Kupwara Police, J&K pic.twitter.com/5gxpDKkttD ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021 (With inputs from ANI) In essence, the OSCE Minsk Group called on Azerbaijan to renounce its destructive policy with its latest statement. This is what Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ara Aivazian said during todays question-and-answer session with government officials. According to him, the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group reminded Azerbaijan about the need to implement all the provisions stated in the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020, including the return of prisoners of war, as well as called on Azerbaijan to renounce its destructive policy which is obstructing the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The minister noted that Yerevan has never refused to engage in dialogue with Baku and is ready to exert all efforts for the future settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. DUBLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Deployment Type, by Organization Size, by End User, by Region, Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2020 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Workload Scheduling & Automation Market size is expected to reach $3.6 billion by 2026, rising at a market growth of 10.1% CAGR during the forecast period. Workload Scheduling and Automation software is a tool that is useful for automating IT processes and rationalization of workflows. With the help of this software, developers can automate and integrate processes of business and IT, it facilitates standalone tasks spread through server environments. Moreover, the need for manual scripting and manage cross-system dependencies are almost eliminated by the adoption of Workload Scheduling and Automation software and it correlates changes with workflows whenever needed. This allows IT to speed up the application delivery processes and hence shorten the time to market. Nowadays, applications developers are facing a fast and dynamic environment, therefore they need to deal with a host of diverse operating systems as well as business applications. In these heterogeneous environments, managing batch activity requires manual scripting which is an error-prone and time-consuming process. The major driver for the Workload Scheduling and Automation software market is the current need for automation in order to eliminate the manual scripting process. Though, due to the lack of a stable internal workload process in many companies, they are facing challenges in offloading the processes to the software. This is considered as a major challenge for the companies adopting for Workload Scheduling and Automation Software. Workload scheduling and automation are beneficial in automating, controlling, monitoring workflows, or jobs in an organizational IT environment. It is also helpful in implementing the background IT jobs more efficiently and thereby it restructure the IT infrastructure with other business purposes and diminish the total cost of ownership as well as enhance the organizational performance. Retailers in the market are proposing workload automation and integrated batch solution that complements the designed system. It also helps companies with administrative automated scheduling and monitoring functions to developing their batch operations. At the same time vendors are serving enterprises to raise their business agility as it helps in combining batch scheduling processes across varied and platforms, and IT environments by delivering the solutions under a managed services model. Companies Profiled IBM Corporation BMC Software, Inc. Broadcom, Inc. HCL Technologies Ltd. (HCL Enterprises) Hitachi, Ltd. Oracle Corporation Dell Technologies, Inc. (VMware, Inc.) Stonebranch, Inc. Advanced Systems Concepts, Inc. ASG Technologies Group, Inc. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology 1.1 Market Definition 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Market Scope 1.4 Segmentation Chapter 2. Market Overview 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Key Factors Impacting the Market Chapter 3. Competition Analysis - Global 3.1 Cardinal Matrix 3.2 Recent Industry Wide Strategic Developments 3.2.1 Partnerships, Collaborations and Agreements 3.2.2 Product Launches and Product Expansions 3.2.3 Mergers & Acquisitions 3.3 Top Winning Strategies 3.3.1 Key Leading Strategies: Percentage Distribution (2016-2020) 3.3.2 Key Strategic Move: (Product Launches and Product Expansions : 2016, Mar - 2020, Jul) Leading Players Chapter 4. Global Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Deployment Type 4.1 Global On-premise Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 4.2 Global Cloud Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region Chapter 5. Global Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Organization Size 5.1 Global Large Enterprises Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 5.2 Global Small & Medium Enterprises Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region Chapter 6. Global Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by End User 6.1 Global Retail Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 6.2 Global BFSI Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 6.3 Global Government & Public Sector Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 6.4 Global Manufacturing Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 6.5 Global Healthcare & Life Sciences Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 6.6 Global Telecom & IT Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region 6.7 Global Others Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region Chapter 7. Global Workload Scheduling & Automation Market by Region Chapter 8. Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/njjmwc 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 [April 14, 2021] MathWorks Previews the MATLAB EXPO 2021 Online Conference MathWorks today previewed the agenda for MATLAB EXPO 2021 to be held live across multiple international time zones during May 4-5, 2021. The event will feature more than 70 sessions and interactive workshops spanning 10 focus areas including AI, autonomous systems, modeling and simulation, predictive maintenance, 5G and radar, and teaching with MATLAB and Simulink. Attendance is free and registration is now open at: www.matlabexpo.com/online.html. MATLAB EXPO will highlight the latest features and capabilities of MATLAB and Simulink through real-world examples and hands-on demonstrations, while providing a forum for engineers, scientists, and researchers to share knowledge, network with peers, and talk to MathWorks experts. The conference also will offer interactive MATLAB and Simulink workshops as well as a digital exhibition area showcasing more than 20 MathWorks partners and affiliates. Included: MathWorks Automotive Conference New for 2021, MATLAB EXPO will incorporate the MathWorks Automotive Conference (MAC), the flagship event for MathWorks automotive customers worldwide. With two dedicated tracks in the EXPO, MAC 2021 will offer 15+ industry-specific sessions on topics including automotive megatrends, automated driving, electrification, and virtual vehicles. The MAC keynote, "Transforming the Software Development Paradigm to Meet the Unique Needs of Our Industry and Customers," will be presented by Jeff Daiker, Executive Director at Cummins. MATLAB EXPO Program Highlights The COVID-19 pandemic was unlike anything we have ever experienced. Scientists and engineers around the world responded to this monumental challenge and quickly developed solutions - from detection to containment to treatment - using MATLAB and Simulink. In his keynote, "Scientists and Engineers Save the World," MathWorks Vice President of Marketing, Rich Rovner, will highlight transformative projects and surprising applications of MATLAB and Simulink in the fight against the pandemic. The agenda also includes keynotes from renowned MathWorks customers. "Advancing 5G for a New Decade," John Smee, Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm (News - Alert) Technologies Inc. The talk will explore how 5G supports a variety of industries, including industrial IoT, automotive, and extended reality (XR). It will highlight the state of 5G technology today and what the recently completed 3GPP 5G NR Release 16 specificatons include. "The Interactions (News - Alert) Between Natural and Artificial Intelligence," Prof. Dr. Moritz Helmstaedter, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt. What can next-generation AI learn from new insights into the neural network architecture of our brains? This talk reports how researchers are using neural network mapping ("connectomics") in the brain to learn how biological computers work. "Electrification in the Aerospace Industry," Dr. Amit Gupta, Head of Rolls-Royce Electrical Singapore Pte Ltd. Electrification is being hailed as a pillar of the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (News - Alert) . Rolls-Royce Electrical's vision is to be a world-class supplier of electrical power and propulsion systems to drive electrification. This presentation offers insight into the direction electrification will take in the aerospace industry. Flexible Access to Interactive Presentations As an online event, MATLAB EXPO 2021 is open to participants from around the world. On each day of the show, the event will be repeated in four blocks of 3.5 hours each for participants in four time zones. Those located in Asia (start 09:00 a.m. IST), Europe (start 10:00 a.m. CEST), U.S. East (start 08:30 a.m. EDT) and U.S. West (start 09:30 a.m. PDT) will have the opportunity to select sessions from any block to suit their personal schedules. For a detailed agenda and registration, visit: www.matlabexpo.com/online.html About MathWorks MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of engineers and scientists, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of multidomain and embedded engineering systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these products to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial automation, and other industries. MATLAB and Simulink are also fundamental teaching and research tools in the world's universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 5000 people in 16 countries, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit mathworks.com. Follow us: Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn|XING Learn more about interesting projects with MATLAB and Simulink in our Blog. MATLAB and Simulink are registered trademarks of The MathWorks, Inc. Additional trademarks are listed at mathworks.com/trademarks. Other product or brand names are trade names or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005018/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The parents of a young girls whose appendix burst and left her in agony as she waited eight hours for treatment at an emergency ward have urged more funding for hospitals to prevent a looming tragedy. Annabelle and David Oates took their seven-year-old daughter Audrey to the Women's and Children's Hospital in March after their GP diagnosed her with acute appendicitis. But they told reporters on Monday that she wasn't examined by a doctor for six hours and waited another two- and-a-half hours before an emergency operation was performed. Annabelle (pictured left) and David Oates (pictured centre) took their seven-year-old daughter Audrey to the Women's and Children's Hospital in March after their GP diagnosed her with acute appendicitis 'She was arching her back and gritting her teeth and screaming she was in extreme pain,' Annabelle Oates said. 'There were no staff around when it happened. 'It put her health at risk. I think it was dangerous.' They also described how the emergency department was overcrowded with people standing in corridors with their children waiting to be seen, with the parents counting more than 60 people in a waiting area with a capacity of 30. Mrs Oates said she felt really sorry for the doctors, nurses and staff because there weren't enough of them to deal with the demand. A seven-year-old's appendix ruptured as she waited for hours in a crowded hospital emergency department in the Women's and Children's Hospital Adelaide (pictured) 'Audrey was able to get the surgery even though there was a delay,' she said. 'But you can imagine some family just turning away or not understanding things and you know their child could have died. 'I don't want that for anyone. I want the staff and the hospital to have the resources to be able to provide for the state of South Australia.' Oates estimated Audrey had been diagnosed with acute appendicitis by a doctor at around 3pm that day and told to go straight to hospital. Her appendix ruptured about 10pm, whereupon she was given stronger pain relief, and was admitted to surgery at 11.30pm. The damage caused by the rupture required what one doctor described as 'a nasty surgery' and she had to stay in hospital for nine days. 'Going through extreme pain is one (thing), but you dont know whether she could have died or whether she could have had permanent injuries as a result,' Ms Oates said. The Women's and Children's Hospital (pictured) said they launched an investigation several weeks ago and it was still underway In a statement, the hospital said a senior clinician had been in contact with the family and apologised for the delay in treatment. The hospital said an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the care of the child was launched several weeks ago and was still underway. But Professor Warren Jones, a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist who has campaigned for better services at the Women's and Children's Hospital, said the case was a major dereliction of care in a system that was overloaded and dysfunctional. But rather than be accused of heresy, she offered up Boganeys head. Shes not the first, nor will she be the last, to calculate this way. Her reaction was fear. And she capitulated, worried that her property would be damaged and that she herself would become the target of protesters, or that she would become socially isolated. OTTAWA, ON, April 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadians need a stronger environmental protection law that confronts 21st-century dangers with 21st-century science. All Canadians should be able to live their lives free from the effects of harmful chemicals and pollutants. That is why today, the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) and is recognizing Canadians' right to a healthy environment. CEPA is Canada's cornerstone environmental protection law that has been used to reduce air pollution from industry and vehicles, ban asbestos and keep microbeads out of our water. And it is through CEPA that the Government is moving to ban harmful single-use plastics. Over the past several decades, the science around the risks associated with harmful chemicals and pollutants has evolved. In order for CEPA to continue to protect Canadians and their environment from harmful substances, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, announced today that the Government of Canada is taking steps to strengthen CEPA in line with the science, including through recognizing Canadians' right to a healthy environment. The changes will strengthen protections for Canadians and the environment by: Recognizing a right to a healthy environment for every individual in Canada as provided for under CEPA a first in a federal statute in Canada providing continued support for strong environmental and health standards now and in the future. for every individual in as provided for under CEPA a first in a federal statute in providing continued support for strong environmental and health standards now and in the future. Assessing real life exposure based on the cumulative effects of a substance in combination with exposure to other substances, and better protecting populations most at risk due to greater susceptibility or potential exposure to harmful substances. based on the cumulative effects of a substance in combination with exposure to other substances, and better protecting populations most at risk due to greater susceptibility or potential exposure to harmful substances. Implementing a new regime for toxic substances that pose the highest risk. The new regime will prioritize the prohibition of uses and releases of substances toxic under CEPA that meet criteria set out in regulations to be considered of the highest risk. The new regime will prioritize the prohibition of uses and releases of substances toxic under CEPA that meet criteria set out in regulations to be considered of the highest risk. Supporting the shift to less harmful chemicals through the establishment of a Watch List of substances capable of meeting the criteria in CEPA to be considered at risk if, for example, there should be an increase in exposure . The amendments would require the Ministers to publish and maintain a list of substances that are capable of becoming toxic. through the establishment of a Watch List of substances capable of meeting the criteria in CEPA to be considered at risk if, for example, there should be an increase in exposure The amendments would require the Ministers to publish and maintain a list of substances that are capable of becoming toxic. Creating a new Plan of Chemicals Management Priorities. The Bill provides for public input on the development of a Plan of Chemicals Management Priorities, which will set out an integrated plan for the assessment and management of substances as well as supporting activities such as research, monitoring, information-gathering and risk communication. The Bill provides for public input on the development of a Plan of Chemicals Management Priorities, which will set out an integrated plan for the assessment and management of substances as well as supporting activities such as research, monitoring, information-gathering and risk communication. Amending the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) to provide the ability to develop a regulatory framework under the FDA to assess and manage the environmental risks of new drugs. This would remove the requirement to notify and assess new drugs under both the FDA and CEPA, providing a more efficient and effective approach to managing the risks of drugs in Canada . In addition to these amendments to CEPA, the Government will take action to improve information for supply chain managers and to enhance mandatory labelling for certain consumer products, giving Canadians greater access to information about the substances to which they are exposed. Today's proposed amendments represent the first major reform to CEPA since it was updated more than 20 years ago. They will enable the Government of Canada to deliver on its commitment to modernize CEPA and to continuously improve its initiatives to protect human health and the environment. Quotes "Our proposal to strengthen CEPA helps us make further progress in the priorities our Government articulated in the 2020 Speech from the Throne. The environment will be better protected, a right to a healthy environment will be recognized as provided for under the Act, and industry will benefit from a strong and predictable framework that encourages it to produce and use safe substances. This will contribute to a healthier environment and a healthier Canada for everyone." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change "Protecting the health of Canadians and their environment are key priorities for our Government. The legislation introduced today will strengthen CEPA to better protect Canadians, and our most vulnerable in particular, from environmental and health risks. By taking into account vulnerable populations and cumulative effects, we will also be better placed to make science-based decisions that keep all Canadians safe and healthy." The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health Quick facts CEPA became a law in 1988 and was last updated more than 20 years ago. CEPA is one of the main federal laws to prevent and control pollution. It allows the Government to protect Canadians and the environment from the environmental and human health impacts of a wide range of pollution sources, such as chemicals, animate products of biotechnology, vehicles, engines, equipment, hazardous waste and environmental emergencies. CEPA offers tools to identify and address these risks. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is responsible for CEPA and shares some of the responsibilities under the Act with the Minister of Health. Over the years, actions under CEPA have helped reduce air pollutants causing smog and acid rain; prevented the release of plastic microbeads from toiletries that wash down household drains and contribute to plastic pollution in oceans, rivers and lakes; set strict requirements for the import and export of hazardous waste; assessed over 4,000 existing substances and over 20,000 notifications for new chemicals, polymers and living organisms proposed for use in Canada ; developed measures to manage identified risks for close to 500 of those substances; set stringent limits on greenhouse gas emissions from engines and vehicles; established the first regulated phase-out of coal-fired electricity in the world; and banned asbestos and products containing asbestos, as exposure to asbestos fibres is known to cause cancer and other diseases. Related products Associated links Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page Health Canada and PHAC's Twitter page Healthy Canadians Facebook page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada For further information: Moira Kelly, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-271-6218, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]; Cole Davidson, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Health Canada Public Inquiries, 613-957-2991, 1-866-225-0709 Related Links http://www.ec.gc.ca A gray whale is shown off the coast of Washington in this September 8, 2020 handout photo. Canadian and American officials say they're monitoring a grey whale that developed lesions after being tagged by researchers. The whale was last seen in the waters off Vancouver Island and the officials say it appears to be doing well. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) -- When you go get your vaccine you'll leave with a card. You need to keep this card and take it with you when you receive your second dose, and health officials told News 10 you should also keep this card even after you're fully vaccinated. Officials told us that right now it's unclear what regulations may happen in the future in regards to the vaccine cards. However, some people do need these cards now when they travel outside of the country. This isn't limited to just airports. Some cruise ships are also requiring you to have this card before boarding. Health officials said that some events could require proof of vaccination. Events such as concerts or sporting events. Ashlee Stewart with the Vigo County Health Department said, "But if you want to get into a large event, you may have to have your vaccine in order to get into it, and you may have to show the documentation that you actually had it." Stewart urges you to keep the vaccination cards close, and so does the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The FBI said in the past year they've seen many scams surrounding COVID-19. Now, the FBI wants to warn us what we could be seeing when it comes to these vaccination cards. Supervisory Special Agent Spencer Brooks told News 10 identity theft has been on the rise. Brooks said the scams the FBI is seeing have to do with scammers telling you to pay to get the shot. Now that vaccines are quickly getting out to the public, Brooks said they're seeing a new scam. Brooks said, "Now we're seeing another way, another way you, another risk associated with identity theft which is vaccine cards when they're posted online." Brooks told us the reason many people want to post their vaccination cards online is that they are excited they are vaccinated. However, this excitement can come at a cost. Brooks warns that you're at risk of getting your identity stolen if you post your vaccine card on the internet. That's because the cards have personal information on them that scammers can use. Brooks said, "Identity theft for the criminals is kind of like a puzzle. Sometimes they come into an entire identity already, and sometimes they have to piece things together. So, maybe they've pulled something from Facebook, or from Twitter from somebody, but then they get another piece of information from your vaccine card." Brooks told us while your identity won't be stolen completely by your vaccine card, it could add to scammers trying to take advantage of you. He adds there are things you can do to show people you got vaccinated without putting yourself at risk. He said, "There are other options for letting your social media followers know that you got vaccinated. You're going to get a sticker, or you could show your arm with a band-aid." Brooks said the most important thing you can do for yourself is always being aware of what you post on social media. gettyimagesbank In the past, spoiled children cut parents' political careers short, but now politicians remain unscathed By Kang Hyun-kyung Last year, President Moon Jae-in's son Joon-yong was in a war of words with a main opposition party lawmaker over a 14 million won emergency relief fund the President's son received from the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture. Rep. Kwak Sang-do of the People Power Party initiated the wrangling by openly addressing the concern about a conflict of interest. "I wonder if it was appropriate for the President's son to receive the state subsidy aimed to help the pandemic-stricken artists," the prosecutor-turned-lawmaker wrote on social media. His social media message irritated Moon's son. Moon Jr was quick to react, cynically, to Rep. Kwak's remarks, claiming the lawmaker appeared not to have fully understood what the fund is for. "I think he's mistaken," he wrote on social media. "The 14 million won relief fund that I received is not a living expense. I would like to underline that I was chosen as one of the recipients after my proposal was thoroughly reviewed by the committee members. The committee does have criteria when they select recipients." But Rep. Kwak was tenacious. In February, months after he first raised suspicions about the selection criteria of the state subsidy, he disclosed a document revealing the proposal written by President Moon's son to back up his allegation. "There were only four lines about how he suffered after the start of the pandemic," the lawmaker said. He hinted at alleged preferential treatment for the President's son, claiming only 46 teams of artists out of 281 won the state subsidy and some artists were eliminated even though their proposals thoroughly described how they were negatively affected by the pandemic. Newly elected Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon has been mired in another conflict of interest allegation after his stepson, Choi Jae-woo, CEO of Busan-based Johyun Gallery, was known to participate in the Art Busan fair and sell several artworks in possession of his gallery. During a press conference on Monday, the Art Busan organizers confirmed that Choi's Johyun Gallery will take part in the fair and sell art produced by renowned artists such as Kwon Dae-sup. The news sparked a pros-and-cons debate about conflicts of interest as the Busan city government is one of the main sponsors of the art event. Some addressed the concern that the art event may end up becoming a venue for political lobbying under the guise of art sales. In a media interview, Choi revealed his discomfort with the allegation. "I am ready to take criticism, if necessary, because I am a family member of a politician," he was quoted as saying. "But I don't know if my participation in the art fair can be a source of criticism. If so, must I close my business?" The conflict-of-interest discourse in Korean politics has been taking the form of self-restraint for politicians and their families. They were asked to behave and keep a low profile, particularly in the public space, and not to cause unnecessary trouble. The teaching of Confucius written in the old book "The Great Learning" or "Daxue" was often touted for aspiring politicians to bear in mind for their successful careers. It goes, "Those who want to rule the nation must prepare themselves to serve the people from an early age. Train yourself first to have adequate knowledge and mental preparedness, then work on your family and make sure all your family members behave. If these are done, you're fine to be ambitious enough to rule the country. If you want to rule the world, you must first be a good leader of your country." This old wisdom is revisited whenever politicians are caught in a controversy for their spoiled children or other troubled family members. In the past, children's delinquent behavior dealt a blow to their parents' political careers. Some presidential hopefuls suffered the fallout from their sons' evasion of military duty. Former Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-phil came under fire after his 27-year-old son was arrested for illegal drug use and trafficking. In 2018, his son was sentenced to a three-year jail term suspended for four years. Rep. Chang Je-won of the main opposition People Power Party was troubled by his rapper son Yong-joon who performs under the stage name Noel. In September 2019, the son had a car accident. His car crashed into a motorcycle in the early morning while he was drunk driving in Seoul's Mapo District. Last June, he was sentenced to an 18-month jail term suspended for two years. Unlike in the past, spoiled children and their delinquent behavior rarely affects their parents' political careers. Chang began his second term in the National Assembly last year. For a second straight year, Thailand rang in the Thai New Years festival known here as Songkran, but without the traditional water-splashing, parties or concerts, as the country faces a new wave in the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrants in the predominantly Buddhist nation focused instead on making merits to observe the three-day holiday, which kicked off on Tuesday. In the morning, followers offered alms and later sprinkled water to show respect to Buddhist monks, who wore plastic face shields as a pandemic precaution. Culture Minister Ittipol Khunpleum led officials and celebrants in what was called a New Normal, Preserving Thai Culture event at Wat Arun Ratchawararam. The temple, a major tourist destination in Bangkok, was open while others were partially closed because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, destinations in the Thai capital that normally host water festivals to attract thousands of back-packing tourists, including Khaosan and Silom roads, faced yet another dry season. Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, the Disease Control Department director-general, warned that COVID-19 infections could shoot up 10-fold starting in May unless the government implements urgent measures to control new cases. New infections topped 900 for three days in a row, according to health data. If we dont do it right, in the next one month the spread will spin out of control 9,000 new infections a day, he said on Tuesday. Throughout Thailand, the government began shuttering night spots on April 6 in at least 41 of 77 provinces for two weeks, after a new wave of COVID-19 gripped the nation earlier this month. In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement wishing the people of Thailand good health and happiness on the occasion of Songkran. The United States of America is proud to recognize Thailand as one of our strongest and most enduring allies, he said in the statement issued on Monday. We look forward to deepening our friendship with the Kingdom of Thailand even further. Kolkata, April 14 : The Chief Electoral officer of West Bengal Ariz Aftab has called for an urgent all-party meeting on matters related to campaign during the period of Covid-19 on Friday and has asked all the state and national political parties to send only one representative. The commission's initiative comes after the Calcutta High Court directed the district administration and the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to take necessary measures so that the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission in connection with COVID related health protocols are strictly maintained. In the letter written to all the political parties in the state, Aftab said a meeting will be held with all the political parties on the aforesaid subject matter on Friday. He also asked the political parties to send only one representative for the purpose. Meanwhile the election commission has conducted a video conference with all the district magistrates and the superintendent of police of the poll-bound districts and asked them to speak to the district level leaders so that they maintain the Covid protocol like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. The commission has also asked the district administration to be strict and directed them to implement all the covid norms. "If the political parties don't abide by the rules and regulation laid down by the commission then the district administration has been directed to stop the political rallies if needed," a senior commission official in the state said. The Calcutta High Court has directed the district administration and the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to take necessary measures so that the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission in connection with COVID related health protocols are strictly adhered to by all stakeholders including the political parties and candidates during election campaigns. The court has also given the nod to the administration for resorting to the provisions of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 for enforcement of social distancing. The court's directions came in the wake of two writ petitions by two public spirited citizens expressing their concern that the people participating in the ongoing election campaigns are not adhering to the Covid protocol and this may cause a serious spike in COVID-19 cases in Bengal. "Stringent measures must be taken against persons who fail, neglect or refuse to obey the COVID protocols. If the Administration finds that a person, whether engaged in election campaigning or otherwise, is flouting the COVID protocols, such person must be taken to task immediately," the Court observed. As per directions of the court, wearing of masks has to be made mandatory at all gatherings; sanitisers must be made available liberally, safe distancing norms must be followed at all gatherings; the Administration shall do its best to ensure that there are no large congregations. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Jagmeet Singh correctly said at their convention that the Liberals make promises and do not follow through on them. Look at the letter that a Liberal had published here on March 29. Pay attention to the start of the third paragraph, Although not all the commitments have been established, several of the commitments require the federal and provincial governments to work together.... Thats the usual Liberal rhetoric that they make promises and then vague excuses why they have not followed through and imply the blame lies with others. These are empty promises that promise nothing. At the Liberal convention Trudeau was trumpeting his claim that the Liberals have a successful plan to fight COVID-19 and the Conservatives, who are not the government, do not. This is a tactic he learned from Donald Trump to accuse his opponent of what his own failing is. Lets look at the facts. Paul Lucas was with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from 1995 to 2012 and was CEO for 16 years. He has been retired for 9 years and wrote an opinion article in the Financial Post on January 14. GSK was involved with the production and distribution of H1N1 vaccine in 2009 working with public health and government (Harper) officials. Minister Leblanc stated on CTVs Power Play that we dont have any vaccine production in Canada because GSK closed its doors during the Harper years. Mr. Lucas wrote that GSK is still operational and manufactures annual flu vaccine for Canada. This is a Trump tactic to blatantly make false claims that suit his purpose and Trudeau learned from him. Trudeau also learned from Trump that if you say something often enough then people will start to believe it, and he is always trumpeting false claims of how well we are doing in vaccinating people. Will this prompt people to let down their guard like Trump did? Even Donald Trump finally came around and provided $12 billion to the innovative pharmaceutical companies for vaccine development. The UK and Germany also funded development. Trudeaus Liberal government did not provide any funding for this vaccine development. He has a very bad relationship with them. Mr. Lucas goes on to write that successive Liberal governments have created an unfavourable environment for investment and success of pharmaceutical companies. Now, like Trump, they accuse the Conservatives of what they did; to draw attention away from their utter failure to secure vaccines in a timely manner. Actually, the Mulroney and Harper governments supported the industry by improving the patent landscape and now this Trudeau government has amended it in 2017 and 2020. In the Patent Act, section 19.4 (1) states, The Commissioner shall, on the application of the Minister of Health, authorize the Government of Canada and any person specified in the application to make, construct, use and sell a patented invention to the extent necessary to respond to the public health emergency described in the application.. In 2020 this Trudeau government added or amended subsection (9). It states, The Commissioner shall not make an authorization under subsection (1) after September 30, 2020.. If I read this correctly, it says that the commissioner shall not authorize a response to a public health emergency! This is from the Trudeau government that claims to be doing so much to help Canadians get through this pandemic (a public health emergency). Is there any surprise that Canada gets short shipped? But Trudeau does Trump-style grandstanding, and people actually believe him. Look at the facts. Remember Justin Trudeau doing all his great grandstanding about him getting at it early and ordering vaccine from every company with enough to total something like being able to fully vaccinate every Canadian twice over, because we should buy enough to supply poor countries. What a nice man and a great leader (it would seem). Trudeau also provided funds to COVAX for distribution to poor countries, but he also gave some for Canada to draw on. Now it becomes more clear. Because of the abysmal relationship between Trudeau and the innovative pharmaceutical companies who do the developments, he did a shotgun approach in ordering large quantities from each so he only needed some to come through. Trudeau has refused to divulge any details of these publicly funded purchases and this is likely because he low-balled the price to them in accepting only quarterly commitments. We could not expect to receive the committed amount until the end of March which has led to a slow start to vaccinations and now being inundated with vaccine after many, many people have already died who may not have if we had vaccine in a timely manner. Trudeau also drew vaccine from COVAX in desperation to try to make up shortfalls, which some feel is unethical (and Im one of them); but then he already has three convictions for unethical behaviour. Trudeau was so desperate to get vaccine from other sources because of his relationship with the pharmaceutical companies that he actually tried to have a deal with China to obtain vaccine. I wonder why a pharmaceutical company would want to have its development here when the Canadian government is in bed with China, who acquires technology from others. This is also when China is holding two Canadian hostages. Israel led the world in getting people vaccinated and they really dont have any vaccine manufacturing facilities. Mr. Lucas wrote that an Israeli official said it was because of their good relationship with the pharmaceutical companies. So even if it was true what Leblanc falsely claimed, not having facilities is not an excuse for lack of vaccine. In an article in the Calgary Herald on March 20, it writes about Pamela Fralick who is president of Innovative Medicines Canada. She said that over a span of two years 30 CEOs from multinational pharmaceutical companies wrote to Trudeau four times seeking a meeting. Trudeau did not even have the courtesy to respond to these important people to Canada. What gall Trudeau had in phoning the CEO of Pfizer when shipments of vaccine were delayed because of a plant shutdown in Belgium. Is it any surprise that Canada was shorted because of this shutdown (when Pfizer has other plants)? Justin Trudeaus performance has been abysmal. Now in his convention he is Trump grandstanding again. He is using a brainwashing technique using repetition of the word real. He makes Liberal claims repeating this word over and over again that implies that the opposition does not have anything real. Justin Trudeau is a prote?ge? of Donald Trump and one always has to wonder: what is true, what is half true, and what is absolute lie. Just wait until the upcoming election and you will see Trudeau accusing the Conservatives of being like Trump to point this away from himself. It boggles my mind that anyone would even begin to think of voting for someone who has actually been convicted of unethical behaviour; and he was three times convicted. But then it boggled my mind how many people voted for Donald Trump last time and there are a lot of people in the east who still support Trudeau. By the way, I vote for the leader and I voted for Justin Trudeau in 2015, but I have not been stupid or nai?ve enough to vote for him again. I never forget the multiple black face episodes and the other unethical behaviour like the SNC Lavalin affair that bought him votes in Montreal. Like Trump was to the USA, Justin Trudeau is an embarrassment to Canada. How many people would be alive today if Justin Trudeau was not the Prime Minister? Jerrilynn DeCock, Penticton National security suspect's case adjourned to June 7 Prosecutors applied to adjourn the case, saying they had to obtain legal advice, while the police needed more time to investigate. File photo: RTHK Jimmy Choi reports A 30-year-old legal assistant charged under the national security law has been remanded in custody after the West Kowloon Magistracy adjourned his hearing to June 7. Prosecutors allege that Chan Tsz-wah colluded with media tycoon Jimmy Lai, activist Andy Li and others in requesting a foreign country to impose sanctions on Hong Kong between July 2020 and February 2021. Chan is also accused of colluding with Lai in helping Li with an alleged bid to flee to Taiwan. During a mention hearing, prosecutors said they had to obtain legal advice, while the police needed more time to investigate further. The defence, meanwhile, did not apply for bail. A family member of Chan later told reporters that Chan had decided to hire Victor Lau, a DAB member, as his new solicitor. The bespectacled defendant wore a grey suit and put his hand over his chest as he looked toward the courtroom's public gallery, where a few dozen people had come to show their support. Before he was escorted from the court, someone in the gallery shouted, Hang in there! Take good care of yourself!" Leading the deals, TVP in Poland has acquired almost 90 hours of property-search format A Place in the Sun , now in its 13thseries on Channel 4 in the UK for its new channel offering, TVP Woman which launched last month. The Freeform Productions show, in which property experts help house-hunters to search for their dream home in the sun has also broken new territories with MTV Oy Finland buying the fifth series of the Winter Sun strand of the show.Freeform Productions is also behind Channel 4s property format Coast Vs Country (pictured), in which two presenters compete to find the perfect home for a conflicted couple, one of whom wants to live by the coast and other in the country. The second and third series have been acquired by Ananey Israel.In a disrupted market, broadcasters are looking for content that has a history of ratings success, and an ability to bring a returning audience, said Orange Smarty founder and CEO Karen Young commenting on the deals. Despite the lack of travel the appetite for aspirational programming is higher than ever. On top of this premium quality factual that speaks directly to an audience has never been more in demand. Lucknow, April 14 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has tested positive for Covid-19. Akhilesh gave this information in a tweet and advised all those who had come into contact with him in recent days, to get themselves tested. He said that he had isolated himself at home and taking treatment as per prescribed protocol. Akhilesh had recently visited Haridwar where he met a number of saints and seers. Some of the saints, including Mahant Narendra Giri, later tested positive for Covid. On Tuesday, Akhilesh got himself tested for Covid-19 and the report which came on Wednesday, showed that he is positive for the virus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) ROME, APR 14 - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Wednesday in Brussels "we agreed with the US position (on withdrawing from Afghanistan). We are heading for an epochal decision for NATO, a decision we will take together with our allies and which will concern the presence of the alliance's troops in Afghanistan". Speaking after a meeting with US, British, German, and Turkish counterparts, Di Maio thanked the Italian soldiers engaged in peacekeeping missions around the world and added: "we will never abandon the Afghan people, whom we will continue to help even more with development cooperation projects, support for businesses, for civil society, and safeguarding human rights". (ANSA). Sandra Miller Sandra's personally selected team follows the same principles, working together with her to bring a level of boutique service to Santa Monica that real estate customers have never before experienced. Haute Residence is pleased to welcome Sandra Miller to the exclusive Haute Residence Network as its representative in the Santa Monica, California, luxury real estate market. Sandra Miller is the principal broker leading Engel & Volkers' thriving Santa Monica shop, which was the first Engel & Volkers shop to open in California. With numerous prestigious real estate awards and accolades to her name, Sandra is also notably one of only a small number of Engel & Volkers brokers to achieve a Private Office Advisor designation. Sandra's success is due in part to her years in a corporate realm prior to moving into real estate. That serves her particularly well for the Santa Monica and West Los Angeles marketplace, where residential real estate demands keen negotiating and decision-making skills. Sandra maintains that the business of real estate goes far beyond completing successful transactions. She believes that real estate is, ultimately, a personal service, so her clients turn to her as a reliable reference long after their home buying or selling is complete. Sandra's personally selected team follows the same principles, working together with her to bring a level of boutique service to Santa Monica that real estate customers have never before experienced. Visit Sandra Miller's Haute Residence profile: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/sandra-miller/ Visit Sandra Miller's website: https://sandramiller.evrealestate.com/ ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners. The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts. HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more. Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com Swiss logistics firm Mediterranean Shipping Company has launched a new direct container service from Vietnam to the U.S.s west coast. The container ship MP THE BELICHICK berthed at the SP-SSA International Terminal in the southern province of Ba Ria- Vung Tau, April 13. Photo courtesy of SP-SSA International Terminal. The SP-SSA International Terminal (SSIT) in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port cluster in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on Tuesday berthed the MP THE BELICHICK, a container ship operated by the companys new shipping service, Sentosa. Ships will embark from Singapore and travel through Thailands Laem Chabang City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau to Long Beach City in the U.S.s Pacific Southwest, and return to Singapore through Chinas Shanghai, Ningbo and Xiamen cities. An SSIT spokesperson said: "The demand for exporting to the U.S. has risen sharply since the U.S.s stimulus package has boosted demand. The pandemic also makes people shop online, especially for products from Vietnam." Last month, the SSIT received the container ship MSC AURIGA of MSCs direct service to the U.S, the largest ever to visit Vietnam. Vietnams exports to the U.S. in the first quarter of this year were worth $22.23 billion, up 39.3 percent year-on-year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. The main export included machinery and equipment ($4.36 billion), apparel ($3.51 billion), electronics ($2.85 billion), phones and components ($2.48 billion), and wood and wood products ($2.29 billion). [April 13, 2021] Crayon and ULAP Announce Partnership to Deliver Intelligent Cloud and Connectivity Solutions in the Philippines MANILA, Philippines, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crayon, a digital transformation expert, and ULAP, provider of intelligent business solutions, today announced a partnership to deliver intelligent cloud solutions to the Philippine market. "With innovation coming at the forefront of organizations' survival in the pandemic, customers and partners have worked closely with Crayon over the past year to help build the commercial and technical foundation for their successful and secure cloud-first digital transformation journey" says Crayon Philippines General Manager, Deon Del Mundo. This will continue under the strategic partnership of Crayon with ULAP, where they have developed a suite of solutions, that will give peace of mind to the SMBs and Enterprises in the Philippines as they run their businesses in the cloud. "Collaborating with partners like ULAP has been a part of our strategy to build an even stronger commitment to our customers' success in the new normal ", Del Mundo added. Crayon takes pride in their successful use-cases in delivering Cloud Readiness Assessment, Cloud Deployment, and Cloud Migration to businesses who are bound to move to the cloud, and Cloud Optimization, or Cloud Infrastructure Managd Services to those businesses who are looking to ensure they are not overspending in their cloud-based operations from 20% - 40%. ULAP continues to build on its extensive history of delivering tailored-made secure connectivity solutions to clients who are looking for a solution outside of the traditional legacy options. Our commitment to our clients is to deliver latency-free, secure connectivity solutions at a price point that is competitive in the Philippines market. "Our clients expect premium quality connectivity and service, and we deliver every time. In this partnership with Crayon, we look forward to delivering world-class solutions to Filipino companies as they continue to rise from the pandemic" says ULAP Chief Executive, Dominic McDonald. The direct connection between Crayon's cloud enablement services and ULAP's secure connectivity solutions, will result in companies quickly optimizing their transition to a secure cloud environment. About Crayon Crayon helps its customers build the commercial and technical foundation for a successful and secure cloud-first, digital transformation journey. With a global team of accredited experts, we assist our clients with services to plan, right size, optimize, manage, and innovate their IT estates throughout the entire lifecycle. We help businesses make data-driven and cost-saving decisions while navigating the digital future. To learn more about Crayon go to https://www.crayon.com/ About ULAP ULAP is a carrier-neutral, Intelligent Service Provider, headquartered in Makati, Philippines, that provides digital managed solutions to enterprises in APAC and beyond. With over 60 years of combined experience in APAC Telecommunications and Digital technologies, our team of experienced professionals provides customers with absolute comfort, that their services are managed by the industry's best. To learn more about ULAP go to https://ulap.net/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crayon-and-ulap-announce-partnership-to-deliver-intelligent-cloud-and-connectivity-solutions-in-the-philippines-301268311.html SOURCE ULAP [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] He recently stole the show at this year's British Academy Film Awards on Sunday with his typical deadpan humour. And Hugh Grant cut a laid back figure as he enjoyed a bite to eat during an outing in Somerset on Tuesday. The actor, 60, enjoyed England's lockdown easing this week as he ate a sausage roll outside Parsons Bakery in Frome. Out and about: Hugh Grant cut a laid back figure as he enjoyed a bite to eat during an outing in Somerset on Tuesday The Four Weddings And A Funeral star opted for a casual look for the day, wrapping up in a navy coat. Hugh appeared to be solo on the outing as he was seen enjoying his food outside the bakery. Sophie Jayne Ilott, who works as an assistant manager in the store, said the actor was a 'very polite and well-spoken gentleman', according to Bristol Post. It comes after Hugh stole the show as he presented the BAFTA Fellowship to acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee. Witty: Hugh stole the show at the BAFTAs virtual ceremony on Sunday as he presented the BAFTA Fellowship to acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee Hugh, who is known for his witty lines at the BAFTAs, was once again on top form as he took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall. The film star presented the organisation's highest honour to the Taiwanese director, 66, who accepted it via video message. He kept a serious face as he spoke to the camera using his dry British humour to joke that the Oscar-winning director's career has been 'almost preposterously successful'. Hugh continued: 'If he were actually to wear all the laurel garlands he's been awarded in Cannes and Venice and Berlin [film festivals] over the years, he would basically be a hedge.' Funny: The actor, 60, delivered his speech with typical deadpan humour, joking that Ang (pictured) is so decorated with laurel garlands from film festivals, he is 'basically a hedge' The actor also slipped in a sneaky piece of self-praise, calling Lee's 1995 film Sense and Sensibility 'exquisitely acted' - which Hugh himself starred in alongside Emma Thompson. Accepting the award, Ang also referenced his Jane Austen adaptation, saying: 'England has been particularly good to me in my career... Sense And Sensibility, which was like a second film school for me I could only communicate in short sentences. 'The comments I gave the actors were very concise, direct and honest. The casuals competing to see who would get the most rude remark from me. 'But my British colleagues were super-patient and kind to me. I owe so much to them because after Sense And Sensibility, I dared to venture into many other types of movies.' One-liner: At last year's BAFTAs, Hugh quoted one of his best known lines from Bridget Jones' Diary while presenting the Best Film award during the ceremony Gong: After greeting Bridget Jones co-star Renee Zellweger, 51, at the side of the stage he joked: 'That was a very, very, silly little dress', commenting on Renee's candy pink Prada gown Last year, Hugh quoted one of his best known lines from Bridget Jones' Diary while presenting the Best Film award at the 73rd annual EE British Academy Film Awards. After greeting Bridget Jones co-star Renee Zellweger, 51, at the side of the stage - who had just bagged the Leading Actress gong - he joked: 'Well first of all, well done Jones.' 'That was a very, very, silly little dress I thought,' he continued, commenting on Renee's candy pink Prada gown. The line was famously used by Hugh in the 2001 movie, during a scene in which a drunken Daniel Cleaver seduces Bridget on her sofa. Earlier on Sunday evening, Hugh cut a dapper figure alongside his glamorous wife Anna Eberstein as the pair arrived at the awards. The actor looked smart in a black tuxedo, white shirt and black bow tie as he hit the socially-distanced red carpet, while Anna, 41, put on a leggy display in a glitzy black mini dress for the awards ceremony. Hugh looked great in the dark suit jacket with shiny lapels and matching black trousers which he teamed with shiny black shoes. A zoo worker was rushed to hospital after being bitten by a venomous snake with no known antivenom, whose fangs can kill or cause organ and tissue death. The unnamed worker was caring for the African bush viper at a private area of San Diego Zoo when he was attacked on Monday. No updates given on their condition. 'Although the San Diego Zoo cares for a number of venomous reptiles, incidents like this are very rare, and the snake was contained at all times with no risk of an escape,' the zoo said in a statement. The African bush viper's venom can cause serious kidney damage and disrupt blood clotting and flow, cause inflammation, hemorrhaging and tissue death, according to National Geographic. An African bush viper attacked an employee at the San Diego Zoo on Monday. There is no known antivenom for the snake's bite, with the worker taken to hospital afterwards San Diego Zoo said the wildlife care specialist was bitten away from the public viewing area, with no updates on the victim's condition given The bush viper has dragon-like dorsal scales, and can grow up to about 30 inches in length Recorded fatalities from the African bush viper are incredibly rare. There has been at least one recorded death, according to the Department of Defense's Living Hazards Database. The snake's color varies from pale green to olive or reddish brown, and its belly is either yellow or green with thick black spots. At a maximum length of about 30 inches, the snakes are smaller than many in the viper family. To make up for it, their dorsal scales give them a dragon-like appearance. As many as 130,000 people die of snakebites every year, according to the World Health Organization. National Geographic reports that Venomous snakes kill some 30,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa each year, but the real number may be double that. The venom of vipers such as rattlesnakes and adders can cause serious kidney damage and disrupt blood clotting and flow, to produce severe inflammation, hemorrhaging, and tissue death. Their venom typically kills within days. Gallipoli When this seven-part TV series was released in 2015 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, it was launched with great fanfare, with Channel Nine predicting it would be the biggest show on television. Gallipoli had a lot going for it: it was based on the best-selling book of the same name by Les Carlyon; it was stacked with a top-notch cast Kodi Smit-McPhee, Harry Greenwood, Nicholas Hope, Anthony Hayes and Justine Clarke; and it dealt with an event we have long been told was the defining moment of Australia as a young nation. Kodi Smit-McPhee as wide-eyed teen soldier Tolly in Gallipoli. Credit:Channel Nine But you know what? It tanked in the ratings. After an audience of 1 million-plus for the opening episode, its slide was as perilous as the botched landings by the British Forces on Gaba Tepe, now known as Anzac Cove. The audience halved for the second episode, Nine then crunched the remaining episodes together, and it was labelled by then Nine Entertainment chief David Gyngell as the networks biggest disappointment. He is set to reprise his role as The Grandmaster in Thor: Love and Thunder, which has been filmed in Sydney over the last few weeks. And Hollywood actor Jeff Goldblum was spotted flying home to Los Angeles from Australia on Wednesday, following his work commitments. The Jurassic Park star, 68, cut a casual figure in cosy flying attire as he arrived at Sydney Airport in a chauffeured car. Leg day! Jeff Goldblum wore a pair of very slim-fitting pair of Adidas track pants as he jetted out of Sydney and home to the US on Wednesday after filming Thor: Love and Thunder His slender legs were clad in a pair of comfortable slim-fitting Adidas track pants, which he paired with a black knit and leather jacket. He wore a pair of checked Vans slip-ons on his feet and donned his signature fedora hat and glasses. The Hollywood veteran appeared in good spirits and was seen greeting fans with a Covid-safe elbow bump. Happy: The Hollywood veteran appeared in good spirits and was seen greeting fans with a Covid-safe elbow bump Signature look: He wore a pair of checked Vans slip-ons on his feet and donned his signature fedora hat and glasses Safety first: Once inside the airport, Jeff wore a protective face mask Jeff has been spending time with his Thor co-stars while spending time in Sydney, as well as several other Hollywood A-listers. Last month, Jeff, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky, Natalie Portman, Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi, actress Tessa Thompson and Idris Elba's wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba took in a Rabbitohs game. They were hosted in fellow Hollywood star Russell Crowe's box. He's back! The actor is set to reprise his role as The Grandmaster in Thor: Love and Thunder, which has been filmed in Sydney over the last few weeks Meanwhile, Jeff recently received his 'first dose' of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. He announced the news in February in an Instagram post, which included a snapshot of the star seemingly getting the vaccine at his home in Los Angeles. 'As a citizen well into my platinum years, I got my first dose of the vaccine through the LA County Department of Health,' he captioned the post. Done and dusted: Meanwhile, Jeff recently received his 'first dose' of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Jeff posed for the snapshot in his luxurious looking backyard, while donning a black robe, sweat pants, and leopard print slippers. He also had a mask over his mouth and nose that just happened to coordinate with his lounging ensemble. Standing a few feet beside Jeff was a nurse, donning a face mask and gloves, seemingly preparing to give him the vaccine or having just finished administering the first dose. Jeff went on to express his 'immense gratitude to all of the frontline healthcare workers, continuing to work tirelessly to keep us all safe.' Backlash: Despite having seemingly good intentions behind his post, Jeff was flooded with mixed feedback, with many calling out the luxury of having the vaccine 'delivered to [his] house' Rare experience: 'I love you but this kind of pisses me off that you get to get it in your house in your pajamas,' wrote one Jeff fan, reminding others that the vaccine process is rarely as glamorous or convenient The Independence Day actor also noted in his caption that, despite receiving the vaccine, he will 'continue to wear masks and practice social distancing' in public. 'This too shall pass. Grand things are ahead,' he concluded, followed by a pink heart emoji. Despite having seemingly good intentions behind his post, Jeff was flooded with mixed feedback, with many calling out the luxury of having the vaccine 'delivered to [his] house.' 'Your health department does home visits?' asked one commenter rhetorically, while another wrote: 'I want to be rich enough to be vaccinated at my house.' Priority issue? Another major point of contention was the actor thanking essential workers, while simultaneously getting the vaccine while many essential workers (inside and outside medical environments) remain unvaccinated 'I love you but this kind of pisses me off that you get to get it in your house in your pajamas,' wrote one Jeff fan, reminding others that the vaccine process is rarely as glamorous or convenient. Another major point of contention was the actor thanking essential workers, while simultaneously getting the vaccine while many essential workers (inside and outside medical environments) remain unvaccinated. 'CDC recommends that initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine be allocated to healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents,' reads the CDC's official vaccine guidelines. 'Curious how an actor gets vaccinated before 'essential workers' that make sure your stores are serving you. Rather self righteous,' read one irked comment. Flaunting? Some people saw Jeff's post as a means of 'flaunting' his access to the vaccine as well as the means it was administered to him 'We will all wait online. You go ahead and post your privilege,' read another, with one comment calling out Jeff's social status as 'jumping the line.' Some people saw Jeff's post as a means of 'flaunting' his access to the vaccine as well as the means it was administered to him. 'Way to flaunt getting a vaccine at your house. Incredibly tone deaf and disgraceful,' read one angry comment, with the person adding that they are 'no longer a fan' of Jeff. 'Are celebrities priority? Don't they have excessive square footage on which to quarantine safely?' asked another commenter, noting that quarantine in a small apartment is much more emotionally taxing than quarantining in a Los Angeles mansion. Positive vibes: Luckily for Jeff, there were a few positive comments among the waves of critique, including many comments labeling him a 'national treasure' in need of 'protecting' Thankful: 'So happy you're safe legend! We love you!' read one piece of positive, while another comments praised the Thor actor for his 'positive attitude' amid the pandemic Inquisitive: Some commenters even used Jeff's experience as a way to ask questions about the vaccine, with one person asking if the star has had 'any side effects yet?' Luckily for Jeff, there were a few positive comments among the waves of critique, including many comments labeling him a 'national treasure' in need of 'protecting.' 'So happy you're safe legend! We love you!' read one piece of positive, while another comments praised the Thor actor for his 'positive attitude' amid the pandemic. 'Thank goodness I need you to stay safe,' wrote a relieved Instagram user. Some commenters even used Jeff's experience as a way to ask questions about the vaccine, with one person asking if the star has had 'any side effects yet?' The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is administered in two doses, which are given to recipients 28 days apart, according to the CDC. The vaccine is 'shot in the muscle of the upper arm.' Some of the possible side effects listed are pain, swelling, and/or redness in the injection site, as well as 'rest of body' effects like chills, tiredness, and/or headache. 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. JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Effectual, a modern, cloud first, managed and professional services company, has been awarded a 10-year dedicated cloud services contract with the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae). The $140M single award includes Effectual as co-prime, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). An earlier announcement on October 27, 2020 by Ginnie Mae's contracting office listed JHC Technology as the co-prime. Effectual completed the acquisition of JHC Technology in January 2020 and will therefore be delivering the services awarded to JHC. For the next decade, Effectual will support Ginnie Mae's modernization initiatives and requirements as the corporation consolidates legacy platforms and leverages cloud native solutions to deliver more reliable, efficient, and higher quality services. Effectual will build a modern cloud infrastructure to integrate native AWS services with third party tools to achieve compliance with government requirements. Modernizing Ginnie Mae's platform will provide enhanced security, DevSecOps, monitoring, and service delivery across its entire application portfolio. "We look forward to bringing our cloud expertise to Ginnie Mae's modernization efforts," said Effectual CEO Robb Allen. "This is an excellent opportunity to develop a modern cloud strategy that not only ensures the security and reliability of their program, but also unlocks new capabilities for serving their customers using the innovation of AWS." An AWS Premier Consulting Partner, Effectual has deep public sector experience building solutions across AWS and VMware Cloud on AWS as well as expertise in federal standards such as FedRAMP and FISMA. The company's portfolio of modern cloud services includes strategy and design, migration, app development, and modern cloud management. With 200+ AWS Certifications, Effectual has achieved the AWS Migration Competency, AWS DevOps Competency, AWS Mobile Competency, AWS SaaS Competency, and AWS Government and Nonprofit Competency designations. Effectual is also a member of the AWS Well-Architected and AWS Public Sector Partner Programs as well as the AWS GovCloud (US) and Authority to Operate on AWS Programs. In addition, Effectual holds the VMware Master Services Competency in VMware Cloud on AWS. About Effectual Effectual, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Consulting Partner, is an innovative, cloud first managed and professional services company that works with commercial enterprises and the public sector to mitigate their risk and enable IT modernization. A deeply experienced and passionate team of problem solvers apply proven methodologies to business challenges across AWS and VMware Cloud on AWS. Effectual is backed by Catalyst Investors and Lumerity Capital, private equity firms focused on investments in cloud and data infrastructure. Effectual is a member of the Cloud Security Alliance, and the PCI Security Standards Council. SOURCE Effectual Inc. Related Links https://www.effectual.com/ Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov says that his GERB party will nominate Daniel Mitov, a former foreign minister, to lead the government it will try to form after the April 4 election. "I am choosing Daniel Mitov, because I want very clearly to underline our pro-European and pro-NATO position," Borisov told GERB lawmakers in a live streaming on his Facebook page on April 14. Borisov, who has dominated the Balkan country's politics since 2009, said he would also quit his seat as a lawmaker in the new parliament to focus on his center-right party. The pro-Western Mitov was minister of foreign affairs from 2014 to 2017. GERB won 75 seats in the 240-seats parliament. All the other political parties have refused to support GERB, so it is most likely that it will fail to form the government. With reporting by Reuters Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was on Wednesday questioned for eight hours by the CBI conducting the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) on orders of the Bombay High Court in connection with the allegations of corruption raised against him by former police chief Param Bir Singh, an official said. Deshmukh denied the allegations raised against him by Singh during questioning and told the officers that they were an attempt to malign the image of the state government, sources said. The senior NCP leader reached the DRDO guest house in suburban Santacruz, where a team of the (CBI) is camping, around 10 am, the official said, adding the questioning ended for the day around 6 pm. "The ex-home minister was questioned by SP-rank officers for eight hours," he said. Though his questioning ended at 6 pm, Deshmukh is still inside the DRDO guest house, they said. It is not clear whether Deshmukh is called by the CBI for another round of questioning on Thursday. The CBI on Monday issued a notice calling Deshmukh to join the agency's probe into the allegations levelled against him by Singh and suspended police officer Sachin Waze, who was arrested by the NIA. After his removal as police commissioner last month, Singh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray saying Deshmukh had set the target to some police officers, including Waze, to collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars and restaurants. Deshmukh had denied the allegations. Waze, an assistant police inspector, is currently investigated by the NIA in connection with the recovery of an explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south on February 25 and the subsequent murder of Mansukh Hiran, the purported owner of that vehicle. The CBI is conducting a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Deshmukh on the orders of the Bombay High Court. Following the PE order, Deshmukh resigned as home minister of Maharashtra last week. The allegations raised by Singh were reportedly corroborated by Waze, officials had said. Waze is currently in judicial custody till April 23. So far, the CBI recorded statements of Singh, Waze, Deputy Commissioner of Police Raju Bhujbal, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil, advocate Jayshree Patil and hotel owner Mahesh Shetty. The central agency also questioned Deshmukh's personal assistant Kundan Shinde and personal secretary Sanjeev Palande on Sunday. (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.) More Than a Threat: China Collects Americans DNA Commentary In the past few years, the United States has come to the realization and consensus that the Chinese regime, with its ambition to achieve global domination and its complete disregard for ethics and humanity, has become the No. 1 threat to the United States and the rest of the free world. Espionage by the communist regime has long been a known threat, and each day the world learns a little bit more about the extensive reach of Chinas information theft in many territories. The most recent discovery is that the regime has been openly and discreetly collecting Americans health care data, notably DNA. The first official alarm was rung in May 2020 by the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), which issued a public warning: Foreign powers can collect, store, and exploit biometric information from COVID tests. Amidst the pandemic and social unrest, it received no media attention, until a recent 60 Minutes program brought the issue to a public focal point. In its Jan. 31 episode, 60 Minutes reported that Chinese biotech colossus BGI had approached at least six states, including Washington, New York, and California, to offer generous packages of COVID-19 test assistance, including building and running state-of-the-art testing labs, providing technical expertise and equipment, and even donationsall free of charge. Former NCSC head Bill Evanina told 60 Minutes that he was so concerned by BGIs proposals that he authorized a public warning stating that foreign powers can collect, store and exploit biometric information from covid tests. Evanina has many good reasons to feel anxious, one being BGIs close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese military. BGI BGI was founded in 1999 in Beijing by Wang Jian, a Chinese geneticist who worked as a research fellow at several U.S. universities between 1988 and 1994. The companys name was Huada at that time, and its still using Huada as its Chinese name. In its early years, Huada relied solely on government funding and struggled to get sufficient funds to survive. Its opportunity came when SARS hit in 2003. Huada was the first to decode the SARS virus genome and to create a SARS detection kit. This gained attention and favor from the CCP senior leadership. Later that year, the company was adopted by the CCP academia establishment and became the Beijing Institute of Genomics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Thats how it got the name that its known for outside of China. Since its birth, BGI has nurtured a very nationalistic company culture and loyalty to the CCP. Wang once told the Founder Magazine that his companys walls were covered with slogans like Loyally Serve the Country, in appreciation for the local governments funds. Technicians work at a genetic testing laboratory of BGI in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, on Dec. 26, 2018. (Stringer/Reuters) In a draft application for an 800 million yuan ($122.2 million) government fund, Wang not only filled the pages with CCP-style rhetoric like I beg to fight for the great millennium plans of the Chinese people, but also stated that his projects purpose is to prevent foreign enemies from inventing genetic weapons against the Chinese race. He explained to his interviewer that he couldnt change or delete the genetic weapons statement because it appeals to Chinese military leaders. BGI started gaining international visibility in 2010, but not for scientific achievements. Thanks to a $90 million loan from the state-owned China Development Bank, BGI purchased 128 sequencing systems from San Diego-based Illumina, Americas top sequencing equipment maker. The purchase remains the companys largest single order of sequencing products. The development from this point on roughly resembles Chinas typical growth model in manufacturing and IT. With the help of American machines and tech services, coupled with cheap Chinese labor and government support, BGI quickly became the worlds DNA sequencing factory and accounted for over half of the worlds sequencing capacity. In 2012, BGI acquired Complete Genomics, a DNA sequencing company and equipment maker. The funds for the $117.6 million purchase were raised from Chinese venture capitals. The venture capitals in China are owned and controlled by the Red Princelings, who are second- or third-generation descendants of top CCP leaders. Illumina CEO Jay Flatley told The New York Times in 2012 that the sale would allow funding from the Chinese government to move the technology forward at a pace that no U.S. company could match because we do not have access to such funding sources. Illumina tried to stop the deal by offering a higher price but was turned down due to antitrust concerns. It also tried to lobby Congress to raise concerns but didnt get much response. In the health care industry, the United States had been losing market share and jobs to China long before the pandemic. Health care expert and author Rosemary Gibson warned about Chinas monopoly in the U.S. generic drugs market in her 2018 book China RX: Exposing the Risks of Americas Dependence on China for Medicine. Gibson wrote: In the 1990s, the United States, Europe, and Japan manufactured 90 percent of the global supply of the key ingredients for the worlds medicines and vitamins. Industry data reveal that Chinese companies formed a cartel, colluded to sell product on the global market at below market price, and drove all U.S., European, and Indian producers out of business. As a result, Chinese pharmaceutical companies have now captured 97 percent of the U.S. market for antibiotics and more than 90 percent of the market for vitamin C. America closed its last penicillin plant in 2004. The pain was felt clearly early on in the pandemic when the world desperately needed protective masks. Americans realized that 95 percent of its mask supplies were manufactured in foreign countries, and mostly in China. And China was keeping the masks for itself. The shortage can be and has been used against the United States: the Chinese regime mouthpiece Xinhua threatened in March 2020 to ban medical supply exportation to the United States as retaliation for the Trump administrations travel ban and helping American citizens in China to return to the United States. If it came to that, the article said, the United States would be drowned in the ocean of coronavirus. Workers produce masks for export at a factory in Lianyungang in Chinas eastern Jiangsu Province on March 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) A similar situation may happen in the DNA area. BGI has the technology, capacity, funds, and experienceits rapidly expanding its footprint globally. According to its website, BGI conducts business in more than 100 countries and areas and has 11 offices and labs in the United States. BGI has formed numerous partnerships with U.S. healthcare providers and research organizations to provide large-scale genetic sequencing to support medical research efforts, according to a 2019 report from the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC). Apparently, BGI sees COVID-19 as a perfect opportunity to deepen its impact in the United States. In a letter to Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, Wang mentioned that BGI had already donated products to the University of Washington, and offered to donate more as soon as our product receives regulatory approval. This suggests BGI is hoping the favor it offers will help it get approvals faster or easier, or give it a competitive advantage in some other way. BGI poses a bigger threat because it not only sells products, but also collects our most unique and personal information: DNA. Many people in the biotech community and government have expressed concerns about Chinas access to American DNA data, mostly for three reasons. In the 60 Minutes interview, Evanina discussed the very likely scenario in which Chinese companies would be able to micro-target American individuals and offer customized preventative health care solutions based on their DNA. Evanina asked: Do we want to have another nation systematically eliminate our health care services? Are we okay with that as a nation? The second concern is that China may use the DNA to track and attack American individuals. As the USCC report states: China could target vulnerabilities in specific individuals brought to light by genomic data or health records. Individuals targeted in such attacks would likely be strategically identified persons, such as diplomats, politicians, high-ranking federal officials, or military leadership. Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, believes this is a very likely scenario. The third concern is that China may devise bioweapons to target non-Asians. Mosher describes what this could look like in his article What Will China Do With Your DNA?, published by The Epoch Times in March 2019. He wrote: We know that the Asian genome is genetically distinct from the Caucasian and African in many ways. Would it be possible to bioengineer a very virulent version of, say, smallpox, that was easily transmitted, fatal to other races, but to which the Chinese enjoyed a natural immunity? Given our present ability to manipulate genomes, if such a bio-weapon can be imagined, it can probablygiven enough time and resourcesbe realized. While technically this will be very challenging, and so far theres no proof that such a weapon can be created, the consequences are too dire to be ignored. Organ Harvesting But theres one other reason that most Americans are not even aware of. In my opinion, this may be the strongest and most practical motivation for China to amass DNA in and outside of China. This reason is almost too evil to believe, yet it has been happening for more than two decades and is still going on: forced organ harvesting. A re-enactment of organ harvesting in China on Falun Gong practitioners, during a rally in Ottawa, Canada, 2008. (The Epoch Times) China started building its DNA database in 1999 through its public security system, when the National Statistics Committee approved the Criminal DNA Database project led by the Institute of Forensic Medicine & Science of the Ministry of Justice of China. The timing coincides with the onset of the large-scale persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and the start of nationwide forced organ harvesting from jailed practitioners and other prisoners of conscience. Since then, China has expanded the size of its DNA database at an astounding speed. In 2003, the public security had less than 100,000 records. Around 2017, China launched a major campaign to enforce nationwide DNA collection. In 2018, the size of the database jumped to 70 million records. To put this in perspective, the FBI DNA database, CODIS, was established about a decade before Chinas. As of September 2020, it has only about 19 million profiles. Today, national DNA database is a not uncommon in the world, and is usually used for legal and ethical purposes. But like the internet, telecom, and other technologies, such a database can be used for bad purposes in the hands of the CCP. In its 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: China, the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom quoted the independent China Tribunals finding that forced organ harvesting has been committed for years throughout China on a significant scale and that Falun Gong practitioners have been oneand probably the mainsource of organ supply. According to multiple sources, organ transplants in China started to soar around 2000. Today, China conducts more than 10,000 organ transplants each year, the majority of which are vital organs such as livers and lungs. The average wait time for a vital organ is between two and four weeks, compared to around three years in the rest of the world (pdf). The simultaneous growth of Chinas DNA database and organ transplants isnt a coincidence. Since the persecution of Falun Gong was initiated in 1999, millions of practitioners have been detained in jails, labor camps, and prisons. When in detainment, Falun Gong practitioners are consistently forced to do blood and organ testing, while other prisoners are not. Falun Gong parade in Manhattan on May 16, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Furthermore, the DNA collection is not limited to jails and labor camps. There have been many reports of police forcibly collecting DNA at Falun Gong practitioners homes. In one report from 2013, three public security personnel broke into the home of 64-year-old Yang Guizhu, a retired government worker, and demanded to collect Yangs blood sample for DNA testing. Upon her refusal, the three men held Yang down by force and drew her blood. Ethnic minorities such as Uyghurs have also been victims of forced organ harvesting. In recent years, the communist authorities have launched several campaigns to collect Uyghurs DNA along with other biometric data. Since 2016, every Xinjiang resident between the ages of 12 and 65 was forced to hand over DNA samples and undergo retinal scans and fingerprinting annually, in the name of free physical exams, according to Xinhua. Since late 2019, China has collected DNA from average citizens. Police have shown up at schools, villages, and residences to collect DNA samples and other information, and people were not given the option to refuse. Such practices are unthinkable in other countries, and some countries have banned the permanent logging of DNA records in order to protect citizens privacy and human rights. Though the world does not yet know everything China has done or is planning to do with the massive DNA database it has built in the past two decades, it is certain that an authoritarian regime with a long track record of crimes against humanity should not be trusted with our information. As of today, there are no formal restrictions on the sale of U.S. biotechnology companies, technology, or equipment to China, nor on the testing of U.S. DNA in China, nor on the transfer of U.S. genomic information to that country. It is time the U.S. government and lawmakers take a deeper look into this issue, before more damage is done. Pingping Yu has been a writer, translator, and researcher for The Epoch Times since 2007. She covers a variety of topics related to China, with a strong focus on human rights, economy, and business. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Seoul, April 14 : South Korea's daily new Covid-19 cases rebounded to over 700 on Wednesday, the most in over three months, as health authorities are looking at the option of raising social distancing rules to contain the virus resurgence. The country reported 731 more Covid-19 cases, including 714 local infections, raising the total caseload to 111,419, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Wednesday's daily caseload was the highest since January 7, when 869 new cases were confirmed. The number of new cases remained in the 500s over the last two days due largely to fewer tests conducted over the weekend, Yonhap reported. The country added seven more deaths, raising the total to 1,782. Health authorities worried over a fourth wave of the pandemic in spring, warning of stronger restrictions on multiuse facilities if the virus transmissions show no signs of letup. "We will consider adjusting the social distancing schemes and measures on business operation hours after closely monitoring this week's situations," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health official, said in a briefing. On February 15, the country lowered its tougher social distancing measures by one notch to Level 2, the third highest in its five-tier scheme, in the greater Seoul area and to Level 1.5 in other regions. Private gatherings of five or more people are banned nationwide. The nationwide traffic volume stood at 71 million over the weekend, up 14.6 per cent from a week earlier, which is similar to the level in November when the third wave of pandemic began, Yoon said. "This seems to be more evidence that people have let their guard down," Yoon said. "People could become relaxed, but the Covid-19 virus doesn't. The virus is tireless and indiscriminate." The number of locally transmitted cases surpassed 600 over the past week for the first time in three months, and the proportion of untraceable virus cases stood at 28.2 per cent during the period, the KDCA said. Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol vowed to expand preemptive testing to detect patients at an early stage and explore ways to effectively use self-testing kits to further step up the testing capacity. The Seoul metropolitan government is pushing to introduce rapid Covid-19 self-testing kits in schools, universities and religious facilities as part of its new campaign to safely reopen the city. Under new Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the city government has been working on a coronavirus response scheme tailored to the needs of individual businesses, raising concerns about potential inconsistencies with the policies of the central government. Since the country started its vaccination program on February 26, a total of 1,239,065 people have been given Covid-19 vaccine shots, including 43,489 the previous day. AstraZeneca's vaccine has been given to 936,448 people, while 302,618 received that of Pfizer. The KDCA said 60,567 people have received two doses. A total of 11,799 cases of side effects after vaccinations have been reported, up 64 from a day earlier, but 98.4 percent were mild symptoms, including muscle pain and fever. Another death after vaccinations was reported, raising the total to 49, according to the KDCA. Authorities, however, said most cases were not related to the vaccination. South Korea plans to vaccinate 12 million people by the end of June, with a goal of achieving herd immunity by November. Health authorities resumed administering AstraZeneca vaccines to eligible recipients aged over 30 on Monday, days after putting the program on hold amid growing concerns over its safety. With only two types of vaccines currently available here, the health ministry said it expects to secure Novavax vaccines as early as June, and 20 million doses will be ready by the third quarter. Novavax vaccines require two shots for immunization. Of the newly confirmed locally transmitted cases, 245 came from Seoul, with Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city accounting for 238. The southeastern port city of Busan reported 48 new cases. There were 17 additional imported cases, adding three from the previous day. The number of seriously or critically ill Covid-19 patients was 100, down one from Tuesday The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries was 101,938, up 651 from a day earlier. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of the Etihad Aviation Group, has selected Rom Top Aviation Ltd as its general sales agent (GSA) for the State of Israel. The appointment comes ahead of the April 6 launch of Etihads scheduled twice-weekly Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv service and as official Israeli government figures point to rising trade with the UAE following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two in the wake of last years signing of the Abraham Accords. The new three-and-a-half hour service will link two vibrant economic and technological centres and further facilitate trade avenues between the two nations within the region and beyond, explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group. Since the establishment of relations, there has been increased interest in trade and investment between the UAE and Israel, and Etihad Cargo can assist in realising these emerging opportunities. Given Israels recognised prowess within the medical and food production fields, there is an anticipation of strong demand for the specialised PharmaLife and FreshForward products. Etihad Cargo, which was last year named Best Cargo Airline in the Middle East by the prestigious trade publication Air Cargo News, has already played a major role in establishing relations between the UAE and Israel. In October 2020, it became the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Tel Aviv. This is an honour to be awarded the GSA of Etihads activities in Israel. On behalf of Rom Top Aviation and myself, we are committed to the success of Etihad Cargo in Israel, and I am sure this is going to be a fruitful cooperation, said Irit Krief, Owner, Rom Top Aviation. TradeArabia News Service An Instagram influencer with almost six million followers has been accused of trying to extort $300,000 from a pet groomer by launching a smear campaign that led to death threats, after an employee accidentally cut her mother's dog's tail. Riley Tully, the influencer behind popular account Meme Queen, allegedly tried to launch a 'shakedown' against Healthy Spot groomers near Los Angeles, threatening to use her massive social media clout to ruin their reputation if they didn't pay up, according to legal letters. The row erupted on Instagram leading to rabid animal rights supporters sending the pet store chilling death threats including, 'I'll cut your f***in arm off' and 'kill them! They need to burn!' According to documents, Riley's mother's Pomeranian, Noel, was rushed to the vet on January 23 after a groomer at Healthy Spot Costa Mesa slipped and cut the dog with clippers while trimming her tail. Instagram influencer Riley Tully, aka 'Riley Beek', has been accused of launching a smear campaign against Healthy Spot pet groomers in Costa Mesa, California Riley is the influencer behind popular Instagram account 'memequeen' which has 5.8million followers Legal letters obtained by DailyMail.com claim Riley threatened to use her social media clout to destroy Healthy Spot's reputation after a groomer accidentally cut her mother's dog's tail in January. The influencer began sharing posts about the incident on her meme account (pictured) in April During the emergency procedure, the animal hospital amputated three inches off Noel's tail. The store paid the vet's bills of $2,237, apologized profusely to the dog's owner Aimee Tully, fired the worker for not following their safety policies, and offered to pay the Tullys any ongoing medical expenses. But according to legal letters obtained by DailyMail.com, the accident then descended into a dog's dinner of a dispute. Aimee hired trial lawyers Abuershaid, Lee and Le, who wrote to Healthy Spot on February 3 warning that 'If we do not receive a response from you by Friday, February 5, 2021 5:00 P.M. PST, we will begin exploring Ms. Tully's legal rights against you and Healthy Spot.' Healthy Spot hired their own attorneys Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump and two weeks later a partner at the law firm wrote back with a stunning allegation of a $320,000 extortion plot by Aimee and her influencer daughter Riley. Riley took to social media to share pictures of her mom Aimee's dog, Noel the Pomeranian, who was rushed to the vet on January 22 after an employee at Healthy Spot accidentally cut her tail while grooming her Social media posts show she launched a public campaign against the pet store, demanding it take 'responsibility' for Noel's injuries, even after the owners agreed to cover the Tully's vet bills Amid the onslaught of criticism earlier this month, Healthy Spot's owners (pictured) released their own video decrying the 'smear campaign' 'We write as counsel for Healthy Spot to memorialize and respond to the extortionate demands made by your client', attorney Katherine Kleindienst wrote. 'Healthy Spot had already covered the costs of Noel's veterinary carethe only damages recoverable under California law in cases like these where a pet is accidentally injured. 'You acknowledged on the call that if a civil case were filed, "there's not much recovery there." Nevertheless, you conveyed your client's demands that Healthy Spot: (1) pay the Tully family $300,000; (2) donate $10,000 to $20,000 to the Orange County Pomeranian Shelter in Noel's name; (3) issue a public apology; and (4) enact an undefined 'policy change.' 'Your client's demands have nothing to do with the health and wellbeing of Noel. Rather, they are a transparent attempt to capitalize on Noel's injury and shake down my client by threatening to 'blast' the company on social media unless Healthy Spot pays hundreds of thousands of dollars.' The lawyer for the pet store warned that the alleged threat that 'absent a hefty payment your clients will "blast" Healthy Spot on social media and implicate Healthy Spot in potential criminal charges against the former groomer' may fall under California laws against extortion, adding: 'You and your clients would be well advised to tread carefully.' Riley's mother Aimee (pictured) lawyered up after the accident, which resulted in the animal hospital amputating three inches off Noel's tail Messages obtained by DailyMail.com show the influencer threatened the pet groomers with the power of her 5.8 million followers and warned that the situation was 'not going to go away' Soon the store began to receive threats and criticism, with some users calling for Healthy Spot to be 'shut down' or 'burned to the ground' One Meme Queen fan wrote to Healthy Spot: 'F***ING DISGUSTING YOU DESERVE TO ROT!!! PIECE OF S*** MOTHERF***ER ILL CUT YOUR F***IN ARM OFF!!!!!' After Noel's accident, the Tullys hired a lawyer and demanded Healthy Spot pay the family $300,000; donate $10,000 to $20,000 to the Orange County Pomeranian Shelter in Noel's name; issue a public apology; and enact an undefined 'policy change' Screenshots obtained by DailyMail.com show an Instagram message sent by the Instagram influencer to the company warning of the power of her 5.8 million followers. 'My other instagram account has 6 million followers. I am absolutely willing to post the story there if you continue in failing to handle the situation,' Riley Tully, who goes by Riley Beek on Instagram, wrote. 'This has been a nightmare from hell for my family and you should be ashamed at the way your company has handled it, or lack there of. I have had dozens of people message me some really disturbing stories about their own awful encounters at your locations. 'Stories of dogs teeth being pulled, broken bones, and gaping wounds at the hands of your inexperienced groomers. This is not going away. Shame on you for 'suspending' the groomer who did this. They should be fired IMMEDIATELY.' The Tullys' lawyers wrote back to the pet store saying the allegations of extortion 'could not be more far from the truth' and that 'Painting our stance as a 'shakedown' and an 'extortion' is off base.' Attorney Harrison Le wrote that the Pomeranian 'has been in a constant state of fear since the amputation' and refused to eat or go on walks. '[Noel] defecates and urinates indoors, and cries all hours of the night,' Le wrote. Lawyers for the pet store responded to the 'extortionate demands', arguing that their requests have 'nothing to do with' Noel's health An invoice obtained by DailyMail.com show Noel's emergency trip to the vet cost a total of $2,237, which Healthy Spot agreed to cover 'Medication and steroids have no effect. Noel's health is worsening every day, and Ms. Tully presently finds herself having to make the difficult decision whether Noel should undergo supplemental surgery or become euthanized.' The dispute carried on into early April, when Riley began to post about the incident on her Instagram account Meme Queen, a handle that usually shares memes, funny pictures and jokes and a whirlwind of hate descended on Healthy Spot. The influencer wrote that 'Noel's tail had been severed from the bone and was dangling from her body. She was rushed into emergency surgery where most of her tail had to be amputated.' Soon the store received threats including from one Meme Queen fan wrote to Healthy Spot: 'F***ING DISGUSTING YOU DESERVE TO ROT!!! PIECE OF S*** MOTHERF***ER ILL CUT YOUR F***IN ARM OFF!!!!!' Another user, jayy_fig, wrote: 'Looks like I'll be taking a trip to make sure you guys are forever ruined count down the weeks @healthyspot' and user, mandarin.exe, wrote: 'SUE THEM!!!!! KILL THEM!!! THEY NEED TO BURN!!!!' '[burn] that place to the ground' a fan called stuffmyfupalikes said. Riley also posted two allegations from other social media users of the store killing or hurting their pets. Riley used her Meme Queen account to accuse Healthy Spot of 'refusing to accept responsibility' for Noel's injuries She shared posts claiming Noel was left 'traumatized' and is in 'constant pain' after the accident Amid the onslaught of criticism earlier this month Healthy Spot released their own video decrying the 'smear campaign'. 'We are proud of the business we've built. Our company has helped thousands of customers improve the health and care of their pets,' the firm's founders Andrew and Mark said. 'We were heartbroken that this happened on our watch and took full responsibility for the incident as soon as it happened. 'Our team immediately took the dog to the vet and covered the cost of its care. Numerous Healthy Spot team members including me reached out to the pet's family to apologize. We made it clear that we would cover any veterinary expenses associated with the pet's injury now and in the future. 'They asked for $300,000. It was clear that they were seeking to weaponize the platform of the pet owner's daughter who is a social media influencer with millions of followers. In an interview with DailyMail.com, Riley denied any extortion and claimed that her mother had told her nothing about the fiery legal letters between Healthy Spot and her lawyers. She also posted a video on her personal account (right) denying the allegations In a letter responding to Healthy Spot's lawyers, The Tullys' attorneys the allegations of extortion and wrote that the Pomeranian 'has been in a constant state of fear since the amputation' 'Their lawyer promised that if we made this large six-figure payment to the dog owner, she and her daughter would sign non-disclosure agreements. 'Otherwise if we did not, they would blast us on social media and damage our business.' The pet store owners said hundreds of fake negative reviews were posted about the business, and they and their employees had received death threats and messages about burning down their store. In an interview with DailyMail.com, Riley denied any extortion and claimed that her mother had told her nothing about the fiery letters between Healthy Spot and Aimee's lawyers. Riley said her social media posts to her millions of followers were 'just to bring awareness to the situation' and that she had been contacted by other pet owners whose pets had allegedly been injured at the store. The influencer added that she was 'only interested in standing up for the animals and exposing what's happening behind the scenes here.' When contacted, Healthy Spot referred DailyMail.com to their videoed public statement. Riley also posted a video on her personal account, denying allegations of extortion. 'We have never threatened Healthy Spot with extortion, never ever,' she said in a video filmed in her car. 'That never happened, that is a complete and utter lie. There is no shred of truth in that statement.' The past year has seen demand increase at area food banks as people found themselves without work or simply with less work. The community has been great to us, said Melissa Hall, administrator at Jacksonville Area Community Food Center. Were still here helping people out. For the moment, the need seems to be leveling out and the center is keeping up with demand, Hall said, noting that tax refunds and stimulus funds might mean people are able to buy food instead of coming into the center. Thats not a long-term fix, though. When everything hits at one time, that kind of slows our traffic down, she said. But it will be picking back up. It already had started to pick back up around this time of the month in March, she said. The centers main source of food donations is the community. It also partners with Feeding America and gets food donations from Walmart, Aldis, County Market and Morgan County churches, Hall said. Lori Hartz, director of community relations at Passavant Area Hospital and a part of Healthy Jacksonville, said Jacksonville has seen huge food insecurity during the past year. As a result, there have been many food giveaways in the past year, she said, noting that Central Illinois Food Bank helped set up many of them. More food giveaways are planned this summer, Hartz said. At Cass County Food Pantry, director Joanne Anderson said the pantry is doing fine, thanks to the communitys response when the pantry put out pleas for food donations. But people also are coming in less, she said. There is some less, not a lot, Anderson said. But sometimes there is less than what we expect. Anderson said. The pantry saw more people come in during the past year, she said, adding that an increase in food giveaways in the area might have something to do with why fewer people have been coming in. Andersons not going to complain about business at the pantry being slow, she said. A year ago, so many people were coming in that the pantrys shelves were almost bare, she said. The number of people visiting Schuyler County Food Pantry also is down, said George Herr, the pantrys president. The pantry distributes once a month and has just around 100 families that visit, he said. The pantry soon will start putting up flyers at churches in the area to make people aware the service is available to the community, Herr said. A family whose beloved British bulldog, Biggie, was stolen from their home were targeted by cruel pranksters who sent them on a 16-hour manhunt after promising to reunite them with their dog. Nadine Steedman first posted a heartfelt plea for the beloved family pet's return on Facebook on March 21, the day she realised Biggie had been taken. The 25kg, two-year-old dog was stolen from the patio of the family home in Gaven on the northern Gold Coast. Ms Steedman suspects local teens took him with the intention of selling him, but she has since reiterated that he has medical conditions which means he cannot be bred. 'He's part of our family,' Ms Steedman has said countless times since Biggie's disappearance. Biggie was taken from the Steedmans backyard and was first believed to be in the Beenleigh area Ms Steedman's children have had t-shirts made up as they continue the search for their dog 'I just want this nightmare to be over for me, my children, my husband and most of all for Biggie. We just built this incredible relationship with him.' While he is not desexed, Biggie only has one testicle and requires surgery. Last week, Ms Steedman, her husband and their children were contacted anonymously by a person claiming to know where Biggie is. The man claimed his cousin had stolen the dog and kept him in a nearby warehouse for almost two months. The message was not unusual. Ms Steedman has been contacted several times by cruel trolls claiming to know where Biggie is just to taunt her. But she said this message 'felt so believable' because the man was able to provide a name, address, description of the car and personal information. Nadine Steedman had posted a series of heartbreaking messages about the missing pet in the last three weeks Bulldogs have become a regular target for dog-nappers because of their high value The hulking two-year-old bulldog weighs 25kgs and 'loved cuddles' with his family Ms Steedman was put in contact with the man who allegedly stole Biggie through the tipster, but the cousin said he would 'only talk over Snapchat so that it couldn't be screenshot'. At the time, Ms Steedman said she didn't have a clue what that meant or why it mattered. In any case, she agreed, and the pair spent 'hours' speaking over the social media app before agreeing to meet in a car park and drive to a new location where Biggie was allegedly being held after he was sold the day earlier. 'As much as my head was saying it's not right, my heart was desperate for it to be real, so I waited in this car park for hours,' she said. When the man failed to show up, Ms Steedman sent him a message only to be told he was 45 minutes away. Ms Steedman was put in contact with the man who allegedly stole Biggie through the tipster, but the cousin said he would 'only talk over Snapchat so that it couldn't be screenshot' Ms Steedman gets emotional when she thinks about where Biggie is or if he is missing home 'I was so excited... My mind ran away thinking ''we're going to get Biggie today''. I let my guard down and envisioned his welcome home. His bath, his dinner, where he would sleep.' When the time elapsed again, a sense of dread washed over Ms Steedman and she contacted police who have been assisting in trying to track Biggie down. 'They did some research and eventually I got the phone call that it was all just a joke,' she said. Ms Steedman questioned how anybody could be so cruel as to get joy out of causing the family more pain. Despite all the time that has passed, Ms Steedman and her family are still holding out hope that their 25kg cuddly family pet will be returned to them. There is a $5,000 reward for information that leads them to Biggie. 'There is no doubt in our minds that Biggie was targeted,' Ms Steedman explained. The day after his disappearance, she noticed public property out the front of her house had been vandalised and later learned this is a way for 'thieves to communicate about where a dog that is of value may be living'. Despite all the time that has passed, Ms Steedman and her family are still holding out hope that their 25kg cuddly family pet will be returned to them With more than one million followers on TikTok and thousands of followers on other social media websites, Georgia native Kylie Strickland is used to going viral. A few days ago, she started going viral for a different reason though, after stating that her boyfriend, who is featured prominently in a lot of her videos, had been abusing her for months. Her boyfriend in question is Cody Weems, from Salem, who was arrested in Georgia by Thomaston Police on Sunday, charged seven offenses, including aggravated assault, aggravated battery and assault on an unborn child. According to the Upson County Jail log, Weems full list of charges are: One count of assault on an unborn child One count of aggravated assault One count of aggravated battery One count of aggravated sexual battery One count kidnapping One count of burglary One count of battery On Monday, Strickland shared the first in a series of videos showing her in a hospital bed with a black eye and various other bruises on her body. In the video, she says that the abuse has been happening for two months. That video has been seen more than 2.5 million times. Follow up videos, including her talking about the abusive red flags she missed, as well as how glad she is for her current support system, have also garnered millions of views. Strickland also took to Facebook to write a more detailed post about what shes been through. Leave the first time. With the first sign. Leave, Strickland said in her post. Sometimes people dont change. After the news came out that Weems had been arrested, Strickland made an Instagram post sharing how happy she was that he was in custody. When I tell you this feels good, I mean this feels damn good! Strickland said in her post. You will never, ever touch me again! Weems is currently still in the Upson County Jail, with no bond set. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several U.S. officials said. Biden will lay out his vision for the way forward in Afghanistan and the timeline for the withdrawal in remarks Wednesday afternoon, The White House said. Punctuating the nearly two decades U.S. troops have fought and died in Afghanistan, the president will then visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of those who died in recent American conflicts. The decision to withdraw troops by fall defies a May 1 deadline for full withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump administration reached with the Taliban last year, but leaves no room for additional extensions. A senior administration official on Tuesday called the September date an absolute deadline that wont be affected by security conditions in the country. While Bidens decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al-Qaida and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, womens rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al-Qaidas haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Biden has been hinting for weeks that he was going to let the May deadline lapse, and as the days went by it became clear that an orderly withdrawal of the roughly 2,500 remaining troops would be difficult and was unlikely. The administration official said the drawdown would begin by May 1. Bidens choice of the 9/11 date underscores the reason that American troops were in Afghanistan to begin with to prevent extremist groups like al-Qaida from establishing a foothold again that could be used to launch attacks against the U.S. The administration official said Biden decided that the withdrawal deadline had to be absolute, rather than based on conditions on the ground. Were committing today to going to zero U.S. forces by Sept. 11, and possibly well before, the official said, adding that Biden concluded that a conditioned withdrawal would be a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever. Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. White House press secretary Jen Psaki didnt provide details of Bidens remarks planned for Wednesday, but she said during a White House briefing that Biden has been consistent in his view that there is not a military solution to Afghanistan, that we have been there for far too long. Psaki tweeted later Tuesday that Bidens visit to Arlington National Cemetery was to pay his respects to the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. Several U.S. officials confirmed Bidens withdrawal decision to The Associated Press, and an administration official provided details to reporters on condition of anonymity, speaking ahead of the announcement. According to the administration official, the only U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan will be those needed to protect diplomats there. No exact number was provided, but American troop totals in Afghanistan have been understated by U.S. administrations for years. Officials have quietly acknowledged that there are hundreds more in Afghanistan than the official 2,500 number, and likely would include special operations forces conducting covert or counterterrorism missions, often working with intelligence agency personnel. Bidens new, extended timeline will allow a safe and orderly withdrawal of American troops in coordination with NATO allies, the administration official added. The presidents decision, however, risks retaliation by the Taliban on U.S. and Afghan forces, possibly escalating the 20-year war. And it will reignite political division over Americas involvement in what many have called the endless war. An intelligence community report issued Tuesday about global challenges for the next year said prospects for a peace deal in Afghanistan are low and warned that the Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield. If the coalition withdraws support, the report says, the Afghan government will struggle to control the Taliban. Congressional reaction to the new deadline was mixed. Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake, said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed it as a reckless and dangerous decision. He said any withdrawal should be conditions-based, adding that arbitrary deadlines could put troops in danger, create a breeding ground for terrorists and lead to civil war in Afghanistan. Democrats were generally more supportive. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said President Donald Trumps May 1 deadline limited Bidens options. We still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that part of the world, but there are other areas, too, we have to be conscious of, Reed said. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said troops should come home, and the U.S. must refocus American national security on more pressing challenges. But at least one senior Democrat expressed disappointment. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said in a tweet that the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave w/o verifiable assurances of a secure future. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told the AP that the religious militia is waiting for a formal announcement to issue its reaction. The Taliban previously warned the U.S. of consequences if it reneged on the May 1 deadline. In a February 2020 agreement with the Trump administration, the Taliban agreed to halt attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for a U.S. commitment to a complete withdrawal by May 2021. Over the past year, U.S. military commanders and defense officials have said that attacks on U.S. troops have largely paused, but that Taliban attacks on the Afghans increased. Commanders have argued that the Taliban have failed to meet the conditions of the peace agreement by continuing attacks on the Afghans and failing to totally cut ties with al-Qaida and other extremist groups. When Biden entered the White House in January, he was keenly aware of the looming deadline and had time to meet it if he had chosen to do so. He began a review of the February 2020 agreement shortly after taking office, and has been consulting at length with his defense advisers and allies. In recent weeks, it became increasingly clear that he was leaning toward defying the deadline. Its going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline, Biden said in March. Just in terms of tactical reasons, its hard to get those troops out. He added, And if we leave, were going to do so in a safe and orderly way. ___ Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Islamabad and Eric Tucker in Washington and broadcast correspondent Sagar Meghani contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-15 02:14:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Former police officer Kim Potter, who shot 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright dead in Brooklyn Center, in the U.S. state Minnesota, will be charged with second-degree manslaughter for the killing, a prosecutor said on Wednesday. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said he is filing a second-degree manslaughter charge against Potter, a 48-year-old veteran female police officer who resigned on Tuesday and was arrested by agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) on Wednesday morning. The BCA, which is investigating the fatal shooting, said Potter will be booked into the Hennepin County Jail. The second-degree manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to local media reports. Protesters clashed with police for a third night on Tuesday night in the city following the police killing of Daunte Wright in a traffic stop on Sunday. At a midnight news briefing, the State Patrol said there were more than 60 arrests. One day before stepping down on Tuesday, the city's then police chief Tim Gannon said that Potter mistakenly used her gun instead of her taser in the fatal shooting, which he described as an "accidental discharge." The Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Wright died by a single shot to the chest and ruled the death a homicide. "No conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete," the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement on Tuesday, calling for protests to be peaceful. Wright's family is not "prepared to say that that was an accident," their attorney Jeffrey Storms told CNN on Tuesday. Brooklyn Center, a city of about 31,000, is just a few miles away from Minneapolis, where the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin over black man George Floyd's death in May 2020 is underway. "We will fight for justice for this family, just like we're fighting for our brother," Philonise Floyd said on Tuesday, extending his family's condolences to the family of Wright. Enditem A paedophile who prowled the streets in a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow has been jailed for 14 years after a string of sex attacks over a 20-year reign of abuse on young boys. Roy Coxhead, 66, was convicted of a raft of offences after a two-week trial earlier this year at Reading Crown Court. Judge Emma Nott described how he targeted vulnerable men in a calculated scheme to groom them to commit sexual acts with him. Coxhead was convicted of 13 offences, including two counts of indecency with a child, three counts of sexual assault on a male person and one count of perverting the course of justice. He has now been jailed for 14 years and will not be released until the parole board deems he is no longer a danger to society. His time in prison will be followed by a further four years on an extended licence. Coxhead will also be required to notify police of where he lives for the rest of his life. Roy Coxhead, 66, has been jailed for 14 years after a string of sex attacks over a 20-year reign of abuse on young boys The jury had earlier heard how Coxhead had used his position running a local business to employ vulnerable young men before utilising a flat, provided by his work, to create an environment which would attract young boys. The court heard that Coxhead successful seduced a vulnerable young man by offering him alcohol and eventually getting him addicted to cannabis. Prosecutor Timothy Naik told the court how, almost 20 years later, the pensioner had targeted his second victim after he heard the schoolboy blurt out 's*** d***' in a Tourette's outburst. To which Coxhead then responded: 'Come to my house and I will.' The prosecutor outlined how the boy suffered from significant learning disabilities throughout his life including autism and ADHD. The court heard how the young man could not deal with Coxhead's experienced manipulation and he visited Coxhead's home numerous times. The pensioner, who was convicted of 13 offences, prowled the streets in a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow (stock image) Judge Nott was told how the paedophile had targeted the two vulnerable boys in a calculated scheme to groom them and used his positions of power to exploit them. The court heard how Coxhead's grooming was so successful that the offences involving the two boys did not come to light until he was charged with other similar offences. Following the trial earlier this year, Coxhead was convicted of 13 offences, including two counts of indecency with a child, three counts of sexual assault on a male person and one count of perverting the course of justice. In a harrowing victim impact statement, one of the victims, now an adult who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: 'I thought I was going to lose everything when this abuse came to light, I feel so lucky to have my wife and children. Coxhead was convicted of a raft of offences after a two-week trial earlier this year at Reading Crown Court (pictured) 'Now I have told the truth there are no secrets between me and my wife. I am happy that it is done and it is over.' The mother of Coxhead's second victim told the court that the family had to move home due to the abuse while Coxhead was 'living life as if nothing had happened'. She told the judge: 'I felt ashamed as a lot of people were gossiping despite the fact that I knew we had done nothing wrong. I despaired that something had happened to my little boy and I could not protect him. 'He has had to relive this so many times, through the first and the second police investigations and then the court case. How many times will he have to relive it all?' Defence counsel Janick Fielding told Judge Nott that Coxhead had suffered from sexual abuse when he was a young child and this was a case of 'the abused turning abuser'. However, the barrister said that while Coxhead did accept he had been convicted, he did not accept his guilt and he 'thought he was in love with his first victim and he thought the relationship was real'. Coxhead, of Reading, Berkshire, appeared in court via a video link. He appeared disinterested throughout the proceedings, often picking his fingers and scratching his head. The pensioner, who was wearing a grey prison jumper, did shake his head as some of his offences were outlined to the court, as family members of his victims watched from the public gallery. Sentencing Coxhead to 14 years in prison, Judge Nott told him: 'You made yourself important to your first victim by giving him status and driving him around in your Rolls Royce Silver Shadow to sell cannabis to school friends. 'There was a significant age disparity between you and you used alcohol and cannabis to facilitate these offences. 'While you have expressed sorrow for yourself you have never shown any remorse for the damage you have done to your victims. Furthermore, you continue to treat yourself as the victim.' The Judge also condemned Coxhead for instructing his lawyers to attack his victims during the trial, playing on their weaknesses and trying to paint them as thieves attacking an old friend. In relation to his second victim, the Judge told Coxhead: 'Your lawyer put to his mother that it was part of her failings as a mother. This was a way of playing into her misplaced worries about her relationship with your victim. 'She is a dedicated and thoughtful mother.' Coxhead will spend 14 years in prison and will not be released until the parole board deems he is no longer a danger to society. His time in prison will be followed by a further four years on an extended licence. He will also be required to notify police of where he lives for the rest of his life. ADVERTISEMENT A friend is gone but his impact has not gone with him. It is ironic that his last argument with me was about Impact Investing. I eventually declined a formal role, but opted to be a friend of the project. Little did I know that Innocents greatest impact on many of us would be the ideas he left us with and prepared us to run with but without his continuing physical presence. I was always struck by the fact that our mutual friends and associates assumed that Innocent Chukwuma and I had known each other for a very long time. In reality, our paths only crossed for the first time around 2014. I was a late addition to an email chat group that Innocent and a few other friends belonged to and so I first got to meet Innocent through the views he expressed on important national issues before I met the man in real life. Ours was therefore essentially a virtual interaction, which metamorphosed into a real life engagement. What brought Innocent and I together therefore was the power of his written ideas and his penchant for analysing complex national problems honestly and sincerely. It was also about the depth and quality of his insights. I loved reading Innocents emails because they overflowed with remarkable insights and were dotted with subtle hints regarding the best way forward. His style was never explicit nor forceful. He wrote like someone who was more interested in teaching you how to fish than in serving you fish to eat. Innocent made it clear that he respected me, not on account of my corporate and business experience, but more on account of my interest and desire to speak up for the common man and the common good. These were the exact same things that I respected Innocent for, especially since many of his insights were deeper than mine. Eventually, Innocent and I established contact offline because the feelings that his writings evoked in me were similar to what my modest written contributions evoked in him; perhaps a case of birds of the same feather flocking together. For the record, Innocent was by far the larger bird, but it is fair to say that our relationship blossomed on the strength of mutual respect. Innocent made it clear that he respected me, not on account of my corporate and business experience, but more on account of my interest and desire to speak up for the common man and the common good. These were the exact same things that I respected Innocent for, especially since many of his insights were deeper than mine. If I only met Innocent in 2014, then I shudder when I recount the long list of very remarkable people, who mean well for Nigeria, and whom Innocent went out of his way to introduce me to. These were not business tycoons. They were largely men and women who were serving Nigeria in a variety of ways and who loved their fatherland and were ready to sacrifice their time, energy and limited resources to fight for the greater good. In a nutshell, Innocent helped to embed me within an ecosystem that was sincere and highly motivated and from which I drew lots of oxygen and also gave back some oxygen periodically. When the COVID-19 threat became very real from March 2020 onwards, Innocent was one of the first people I contacted to become a member of the 18-member Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank. This was a voluntary assignment and his assigned responsibilities included linking us up with aid agencies and other NGOs, as well as reaching out to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), whom we were determined to support. Innocent achieved all of this in record time and also got Ford Foundation to help contract an Epidemiologist that would support our work, as an adviser, in the early months. My regular joke with Mr Chukwuma was that he was not innocent because he was constantly trying to lure me out to play greater roles on matters that concerned the common good. I invited him for what would have been a last supper last week. Innocent could not make it because he was unwell. There were too many other rich engagements to list here e.g. Impact Investing, the educational element of ART X Lagos, which focused on sponsoring and exposing under-privileged school children under the Ford Foundation umbrella, to attend the West African art fair. Innocent spoke in terms of possibly unearthing a future Ben Enwonwu or Van Gogh by catching them young. A friend is gone but his impact has not gone with him. It is ironic that his last argument with me was about Impact Investing. I eventually declined a formal role, but opted to be a friend of the project. Little did I know that Innocents greatest impact on many of us would be the ideas he left us with and prepared us to run with but without his continuing physical presence. My regular joke with Mr. Chukwuma was that he was not innocent because he was constantly trying to lure me out to play greater roles on matters that concerned the common good. I invited him for what would have been a last supper last week. Innocent could not make it because he was unwell. It never occurred to me that it would be our last discussion. Even that last discussion was about urging me on. It was never about himself and that is the greatest memory of all. Rest in Peace my friend. My condolences to Josephine, the children and the rest of the family. Atedo Peterside (CON) is the Founder and President of Anap Foundation. Twitter:- @Atedo Peterside To the Editor: Re Biden Sets End Date for Nations Longest War (front page, April 14): After the murder of my brother-in-law on Sept. 11, 2001, I traveled with a delegation of 9/11 family members to Afghanistan the following January to see what our countrys military response meant for the Afghan people. We met with Afghan families who, just like us, had lost loved ones who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We met families whose homes were destroyed by U.S. bombs, and children missing limbs from U.S. cluster bombs. Everywhere we went, Afghans expressed hope that the two decades of war they had lived through were about to end now that the United States had arrived. Our military response to the crime of 9/11 has led to another 20 years of war for the Afghan people. It has been heartbreaking to witness Afghanistan ripped apart by violence, fueled in part by our countrys reliance on the naive idea that we can bring peace through war. RTHK: Officer who shot Daunte Wright to be charged A former police officer who fatally shot a Black man during a scuffle in a Minneapolis suburb that followed a routine traffic stop was expected to be charged with second-degree manslaughter on Wednesday, local media reported. Minnesota officials identified Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the Brooklyn Center police force, as the officer who fatally shot 20-year-old Daunte Wright on Sunday afternoon. The Washington County attorney's office was due to file charges against her on Wednesday, the Star Tribune newspaper reported. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput could not immediately be reached. Both Potter and Tim Gannon, the Brooklyn Center police chief, resigned on Tuesday. Wright was shot on Sunday after being pulled over for what police said was an expired car registration. Officers discovered there was a warrant out for his arrest, and an officer accidentally drew her pistol instead of her Taser during a struggle with Wright, who got back into his car, Gannon said on Monday. Potter can be heard on police video shouting, "Holy shit, I just shot him." (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Tuesday pledged to see to the implementation of the financial autonomy of both the judiciary and legislature in the various states, but opposed the Executive Order 10 issued last year by President Muhammadu Buhari to guarantee the independence of the two arms of government at the state levels. Speaking through Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, the forum said governors did not require the Executive Order to implement the financial autonomy of the two branches of government. Mr Lalong, representing the Chairman of the NGF, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, addressed journalists after a meeting of the forum with French Minister in charge of Foreign Trade and Attractiveness, Frank Riester, in Abuja. Judiciary workers, under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), have been on an indefinite nationwide strike since April 6 in protest against non-implementation of the judiciarys financial autonomy provided for in the Nigerian constitution and affirmed by a January 2014 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja. President Buhari, had in May 2020, issued the Executive Order 10 for the enforcement of the newly amendment provision of Section 121(3) of the constitution which places the budgets of both the judiciary and legislature at the state level in the first line charge. The status qualifies the two arms of state government to receive the funds standing to their credit directly from the federation account. Mr Buharis Executive Order issued for the enforcement of the said section 121(3) of the constitution, empowers the Accountant-General of the Federation to deduct from the allocations due to states in the federation accounts, and pay the deducted funds to state legislatures and judiciaries whenever such states fail to release the allocations to the other arms of government. State governors who are the main target of the ongoing JUSUN strike because of their failure to comply with the financial autonomy status of the judiciary, had rushed to court last year to challenge the legality of the Executive Order. Why we are against Executive Order 10 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Lalong, while speaking to journalists on the ongoing JUSUN strike on Tuesday, said state governors were not against financial autonomy for the judiciary but against the Executive order. He said the governors did not need any Order 10, to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary, since they played key role in the passage of the financial autonomy legislation. He, however, said that certain criteria had to be put in place, for financial autonomy for the judiciary to commence at the state level. Mr Lalong said that financial autonomy was not just about finances, but to strengthen the institution. You dont wake up one day and say you are doing financial autonomy, because a law is passed, there must be processes. For instance, as a former Speaker, I will tell you that you cannot do financial autonomy until you establish a service commission. You must establish a state Allocation Committee. All these are steps towards autonomy. You dont achieve autonomy in a day. We did it in the National Assembly, and there was no Order 10 for implementation. It took them stages. The federal government is aware. Members of the National Assembly, who are governors today, were members who fought for the autonomy, so how can we be against the autonomy? Mr Lalong asked. Governors meet with JUSUN leaders Mr Lalong said governors were already consulting with union leaders, adding that the NGF would be meeting with them on Wednesday, to finalise the issue. PREMIUM TIMES reported that JUSUN leaders had held separate meetings with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and lately the labour minister, Chris Ngige, but none of them could talk the union into calling of the strike. ADVERTISEMENT Strike Since the strike began on April 6, Nigeria as a whole, has been operating with the entire third arm of government at both the state and federal levels in total shutdown. Not only have all Nigerian courts been shut down, all administrative judicial bodies such as the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) have also been closed by the striking judiciary workers. (NAN) [April 14, 2021] Axcient Recognized by CRN as Top Data Protection Company on 2021 Storage 100 List DENVER, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axcient , a leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named Axcient to its 2021 Storage 100 list in the Data Protection segment. The Storage 100 list recognizes industry-leading storage vendors that provide transformative products and services. Axcient has laid the groundwork for MSPs to thrive in the modern channel with a simple, unified data protection platform, said David Bennett, Chief Executive Officer at Axcient. Whether the threat is a ransomware attack or a natural disaster, we make it easy and profitable for MSPs to reliably backup and recover data from devices, servers, or the cloud. With innovations like our x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud, we are delivering on an aggressive roadmap of innovations designed to cure data loss. Businesses are creating and consuming more data than ever before. With growing trends such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things driving the creation of more and more data, the need for technology to build versatile and durable storage solutions will increase. The shift to the remote workforce has increased the use of mobile devices and the complexity of data protection more than ever. Fast-growing MSPs are looking for backup and business recovery solutions that can simply address a range of business cases, from endpoint backup for satellite offices to data protection and business continuity for virtual machines running in clouds. New releases like Axcients x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud address this need without any requirement for expensive specialty appliances. Chosen by a panel of respected CRN editors, the companies featured in the 2021 Storage 100 list were selected for their perseverance in pushing the boundaries of innovation through cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships. The list itself is a valuable resource for solution providers looking for vendors that can support them in a complex storage maret with industry-leading storage offerings in areas such as software-defined storage, data protection, data management, and storage components. The 2021 CRN Storage 100 list recognizes the leading vendors that are delivering transformative advancements in storage technology and bringing the building blocks of modern solutions to solution providers, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. We are proud to acknowledge the vendors featured in this years Storage 100 list and congratulate them for their investments in R&D, engineering, and innovation. The CRN Storage 100 list will be featured in the April 2021 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.crn.com/storage100. To learn more about Axcient or start a free trial, please visit www.axcient.com. About Axcient Axcient is an award-winning leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Axcient x360 empowers MSPs to Protect Everything by combining SaaS Backup, BCDR, and secure File Sync & Share into one platform and experience for MSPs. Trusted by MSPs worldwide, Axcient protects business data and continuity in the event of security breaches, human error, and natural disasters. For more information, visit www.axcient.com. Follow Axcient on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. Learn more at www.thechannelcompany.com. Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook . Media Contact ARL Strategic Communications for Axcient Email: Amanda.Lee@arlpr.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By making accusations of vote fraud he was not able to prove, both before and after the election, Donald Trump made it easy for his critics to dismiss as dishonest any and all concerns about election integrity. Typical was a New York Times fact check from late September denouncing as false GOP claims that expanding access to absentee ballots and voting by mail facilitated election fraud. There have been numerous independent studies and government reviews finding voter fraud extremely rare in all forms, wrote Linda Qiu. That includes absentee ballots and vote-by-mail ballots between which there is no meaningful difference. Not only are both secure forms of voting, according to Qiu; they are considered the gold standard of election security. To pass a law limiting the use of absentee ballots, as Georgia recently did, is no longer to choose a side in a legitimate debate over how to balance ballot integrity and ease of voting. Instead, to express concern about the risk of election fraud is seen as being engaged in a different sort of fraud -- an illegitimate effort to disenfranchise the poor and minorities. The New York Times has aggressively insisted the last several months that worries over absentee and mail-in ballots, in particular, are dishonest violations of voting rights. Times staff opinion editor Spencer Bokat-Lindell wrote late in October that [t]he effort to discredit and discourage mail-in voting was the culmination of a decades-long disinformation campaign by the Republican Party and others to suppress votes, especially those cast by Black and Latino Americans. But what of the Times itself, which for over two decades has warned readers that the most common sort of election fraud involves absentee voting? As recently as September, Times reporters Stephanie Saul and Reid Epstein quoted Richard Hasen, who teaches election law at the University of California, Irvine, saying that [e]lection fraud in the United States is very rare, but the most common type of such fraud in the United States involves absentee ballots. In 2018 operatives working for the Republican candidate for North Carolinas Ninth Congressional District seat, falsified absentee ballots. Times reporters Alan Blinder and Michael Wines told readers that the states long history of election fraud was under a spotlight. They quoted lawyer Bill Gilkeson saying that absentee ballots were where the fraud really happens. In 2019 Blinder wrote, The Ninth District controversy ranks among the highest-profile examples of modern election fraud, one that underscores how absentee ballots remain susceptible to abuse. What accounts for the change from a dark presentation of the issue to a decidedly rosy one? RealClearInvestigations asked a spokesperson for the New York Times whether the papers current enthusiasm for absentee voting meant its staffs previous criticism and reporting were wrong or misleading. RCI also asked whether the articles had been, even just unintentionally, part of what Times staff editor Bokat-Lindell called a decades-long disinformation campaign by the Republican Party and others to suppress votes? She did not respond to those two questions. But the examples already cited here do not seem to be outliers. The headline of a 2012 article by Times legal affairs reporter Adam Liptak shouted, Error and Fraud at Issue as Absentee Voting Rises. Liptak declared that liberalized absentee voting increases the potential for fraud. So grave are the flaws of absentee voting, according to the Times, that they raise questions about the most elementary promises of democracy. Under a section heading Fraud Easier Via Mail, Liptak wrote: Election administrators have a shorthand name for a central weakness of voting by mail. They call it granny farming. We learned from the Times that campaign operatives helped voters in nursing homes. Such voters can be subjected to subtle pressure, outright intimidation or fraud. The secrecy of their voting is easily compromised. And their ballots can be intercepted both coming and going. Absentee ballots also make it much easier to buy and sell votes, Liptak continued. In recent years, courts have invalidated mayoral elections in Illinois and Indiana because of fraudulent absentee ballots. It would be hard to pull off some types of election fraud, he wrote. Impersonate voters on a scale large enough to be likely to affect the outcome of an election, and youre likely to be caught. The Times quoted no less an authority than Heather Gerken, an elections expert who is now dean of Yale Law School, on where to find fraud: You could steal some absentee ballots or stuff a ballot box or bribe an election administrator or fiddle with an electronic voting machine, Gerken told Liptak, concluding that is why all the evidence of stolen elections involves absentee ballots and the like. RealClearInvestigations reached out to Gerken asking whether she stood by her comments. She did not respond. The Liptak article, with its central thesis that mailed ballots are more likely to be compromised and contested than those cast in person, was persuasive enough that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas quoted from it in a recent dissent. Also in 2012, The New York Times published an op-ed by Hasen, the professor at UC Irvine whom Times reporters quoted just this past September. In the op-ed he observed, Every year we see convictions for absentee ballot fraud. Not a lot, but enough to know it's a problem. Hasen wrote he had found no election in decades in which impersonation fraud had the slightest chance of changing an election outcome. But absentee-ballot fraud is a different matter altogether. Hasen wrote it changes election outcomes regularly. Contacted by RealClearInvestigations, Hasen stands by his observations. He says that in the last decade, the ability to conduct absentee voting has improved, but that anytime ballots are outside the control of election officials, theres risk. He suggests that the difference in statements about absentee ballots made in the New York Times may be explained by some assertions being made by news reporters and other claims by the opinion staff of the paper. In 2011, Pulitzer Prize-winning Timesman Charlie Savage wrote that, compared with in-person voting, there was greater evidence that absentee ballot fraud has been used to attempt to alter the results of an election. Joyce Purnick penned a page-one story in the New York Times in September 2006 declaring, Experts in election law say most voter fraud involves absentee balloting. In 2004, the paper warned of fraud in the upcoming national election: Officials are struggling to cope with coercive tactics and fraudulent vote-gathering involving absentee ballots that have undermined local races across the country, wrote reporter Michael Moss. The Times worried that many states had abandoned or declined to adopt the safeguards on absentee voting that election officials have warned they will need to prevent rigged elections. In November 2000, the New York Timess Leslie Wayne warned about the expansion of absentee voting: The alternatives to traditional voting are more susceptible to fraud. Wayne attributed the concern to experts who said that [a]bsentee ballots can be more easily sold or shown to others before they are cast. The New York Times now insists through its designated arbiter of verified facts that absentee voting is the gold standard; the opinion page denounces any concern about the practice as not just wrong, but a myth used to suppress voting by the poor and minorities. And yet for more than 20 years the Times has been making the not-unreasonable case that absentee ballots are more susceptible to fraud than in-person voting. One might ask whether the Times, in its eagerness to discredit arguments with which it now disagrees, has thrown decades of its own reporting under the bus. Thats effectively the question put to the Times, but not answered. [April 14, 2021] DivInc Joins Forces with Mercury Fund HOUSTON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DivInc , a premier nonprofit organization founded to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the startup ecosystem, today announced a partnership with Mercury, an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. This partnership will help DivInc empower and educate underrepresented entrepreneurs by lending Mercury's expertise through mentoring, guidance, and workshops to entrepreneurs that participate in DivInc's accelerator program. Additionally, Mercury will provide financial support for the organization and its programs. "We are excited to establish a mutually beneficial long-term partnership with Mercury with the goal of accelerating equitable access to resources and opportunities, enhance economic mobility, and drive social impact across the startup and venture capital ecosystem in the city of Houston and beyond. Collaborative partnerships like this are essential to generating inclusive innovation," said Preston James, CEO at DivInc . DivInc works to build a strong pipeline of tech startup companies founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs. With the support of JPMorgan Chase, Verizon and The Ion, it recently expanded its presence to Houston with the goal of helping hundreds more startup founders who are people of color grow their own companies - creating jobs and greatly expanding wealth generation opportunities. For each member company that participates in their accelerator program, DivInc provides entrepreneur education and support programming, hundreds of hours of executive mentorship, and life-time access to its unique cultre, community and network, all at no cost to founders. In addition, each participating company receives $10K in non-dilutive grant funding. Heath Butler, Managing Director at Mercury says, "At Mercury, we believe there is significant untapped talent and resources in the urban communities of Houston and we are committed to playing a role in helping minority entrepreneurs gain the access, knowledge, and resources they need for a successful entrepreneurial journey. Through DivInc, we have direct access to this untapped talent and strongly believe there is a huge economic ROI in investing and empowering these entrepreneurs." "This unprecedented partnership shows a commitment to the impact we plan to make in the Houston tech ecosystem. We know that together we will empower underrepresented founders, provide visibility to those founders in the current venture capital blind spot, and unlock untapped returns for investors", says Ashley DeWalt, Managing Director at DivInc Houston. "We are excited for th opportunity for Mercury, along with our Houston community and business partners, to galvanize and rally around this effort in building up Houston's underestimated entrepreneurial ecosystem through the DivInc capital campaign," says Blair Garrou, co-founder and Managing Director at Mercury. "Mercury is committing to funding ten percent of the capital campaign and looks forward to activating our networks to help raise the rest. We feel it is our business and civic responsibility to contribute to the creation of DivInc's essential programming in supporting and funding Houston's next wave of successful entrepreneurs." DivInc Houston recently announced its spring 2021 accelerator program with support from program title sponsor Verizon. This inaugural cohort includes 10 companies focused on innovation in the Houston and Texas market. Read about each company in DivInc's blog post . Media Contact Ashely DeWalt ashley@divinc.org About DivInc DivInc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on championing diversity, equity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem by fostering the growth and development of underrepresented founders. DivInc offers programs including a 12-week accelerator for early-stage startups and builds partnerships with local government and non-government entities to drive systemic change. Founded in 2016, DivInc is headquartered in Austin, TX with the second location in Houston that opened in spring 2021. Learn more at https://www.divinc.org/ . About Mercury Fund Mercury Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. With over $300 million under management, Mercury invests in entrepreneurs and innovation across Middle America. Our investment themes focus on SaaS, Cloud, and Data Science/AI platforms enabling the digital transformation of markets and industries. Learn more at www.mercuryfund.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/divinc-joins-forces-with-mercury-fund-301268320.html SOURCE DivInc [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Prodigal Son season 2 is back after its long mid-season hiatus, and its turning up the heat for the Whitly clan. Alan Cummings joins the FOX series as Europol agent Simon Hoxley. And he says his intuitive character is ready to suss everyone out over the murder of Nicholas Endicott. L-R Alan Cummings and Bellamy Young in Prodigal Son | Phil Caruso/FOX Where we left Malcolm in Prodigal Son, Season 2 Episode 7 In the episode just before Prodigal Son took its seven-week break, Malcolm (Tom Payne) discovers that his little sister Ainsley (Halston Sage) remembers the night she murdered Nicholas Endicott in cold blood. All this time, she had blocked out the memory, believing Malcolm was the killer. When Ainsley realizes that she did it and that Malcolm lied to her about it, she angrily confronts him. But whats shocking to Malcolm is her calm demeanor. Ainsley doesnt seem torn up over being a killer, and this has Malcolm wondering if she has their fathers serial killer gene. Sibling dynamics can be a bit uncomfortable. pic.twitter.com/FGwOEOFxeu Prodigal Son (@prodigalsonfox) March 3, 2021 RELATED: Prodigal Son: Tom Payne Says Malcolm Is Facing a Whole New Thing With Ainsley At the end of the episode, Nicholas Endicotts dismembered body is discovered in Estonia right where Malcolm hit it. And when Simon Hoxley, aka the Mindsleuth, takes on the case, he realizes the perpetrator has to be somewhere in New York. But Malcolm who followed Martins (Micahel Sheen) instructions on the bodys disposal has no clue Hoxley is coming. Alan Cummings, who plays Simon Hoxley, says the Mindsleuth will go head-to-head with Malcolm The Whitleys are usually the sharpest people in any room, especially Malcolm, who has an immense talent for reading other peoples psychology. But according to Cummings, his character, Simon Hoxley, will give the family a run for their money. Theres a lot of head-to-head, in fact, he told TV Insider when talking about the Mindsleuths story arc this season. I come in with a lot of very accurate suspicions. I go to everyone and suss them out. [With Jessica,] its like two peacocks facing off. Its mental. I notice something about her rug. It sends her into a spiral of panic. Some people just don't see eye to eye. Don't miss the return of Prodigal Son tonight at 9/8c. pic.twitter.com/yduE9HqAI8 Prodigal Son (@prodigalsonfox) April 13, 2021 RELATED: Prodigal Son: The Surgeon Will Meet His Match With Catherine Zeta-Jones Vivian Capshaw Cummings also revealed that he is friends with Sheen and series newcomer Catherine Zeta-Jones. And he noted that their scene together will be epic. Weve all known each other for a long time, Cummings said. Theres the three of us. Were in a mental hospital, Michael chained to [the wall], Catherine pouting away, me camping it up asking these ridiculous questions, none of us using our own accents. I said it was a miracle there was any scenery left after we chewed it all. The Prodigal Son showrunner teases whats to come between Malcolm and Simon Hoxley Malcolm has always prided himself on being a great profiler. And hes usually one step ahead of his foes. But as teased by Prodigal Son showrunner Chris Fedak, Malcolm will meet his match with Simon Hoxley. Has Malcolm met his match? Meet the Mind Sleuth tomorrow at 9/8c. In the meantime, catch up on Season 2 anytime: https://t.co/0wkKRKaLoq pic.twitter.com/KJzAyvLOuh Prodigal Son (@prodigalsonfox) April 12, 2021 Sparks are going to fly, Fedak told TV Insider. Weve always wanted to have a profiler versus profiler story. Now that Bright has taken part in a murder coverup, along with solving murders every week, hes the perfect target for someone like Simon Hoxley, Europols greatest profiler. Alan is delicious. He just eats up the screen. Simon is a lot of fun and very funny. Prodigal Son airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on FOX. FREDERICTON - A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the Edmundston, N.B., region Wednesday brought New Brunswick's active case count to 141 the highest in Atlantic Canada and a main reason the regional travel bubble isn't reopening this month. This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the spherical particles of the new coronavirus, colourized blue, from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP FREDERICTON - A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the Edmundston, N.B., region Wednesday brought New Brunswick's active case count to 141 the highest in Atlantic Canada and a main reason the regional travel bubble isn't reopening this month. Health officials in the province reported 16 new cases 14 of which were identified in the Edmundston area, in the northwest of the province, which was placed under lockdown last weekend. The outbreak is a primary reason the region's premiers decided Tuesday to delay the reopening of the Atlantic travel bubble to May 3 from April 19. It's also why Nova Scotia is reimposing restrictions for travellers from New Brunswick. Beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, all visitors to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick will have to self-isolate for 14 days. In Charlottetown, the city's chamber of commerce issued a statement Wednesday expressing disappointment with the delay in reopening the bubble, which will allow residents of the region to travel freely between the four provinces without the need to isolate for 14 days. Chamber CEO Penny Walsh-McGuire said while the growing case counts in New Brunswick are "of concern," the chamber is urging the governments of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to consider a phased approach to reopening. "This could include solutions to allow for safe travel between the three provinces until such time that the situation in New Brunswick changes," Walsh-McGuire said. New Brunswick health officials said 11 of the 14 new cases in Edmundston and upper Madawaska involve contacts of a previously reported infection, while the three others were under investigation. The two remaining cases were in the Saint John region. Health officials said 19 patients were hospitalized with the disease, including 13 in intensive care. In Newfoundland and Labrador, officials reported three new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and ruled out community transmission in the western region of the province. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said all three cases are linked to travel. She said public health was still working to identify the source of a cluster of cases in the western region but added that recent mass testing efforts had ruled out community transmission. The province has 14 active reported cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 42 active cases. Health officials identified one case in the Halifax area related to international travel and one in the eastern zone related to domestic travel outside Atlantic Canada. Officials added that 18 previously reported cases have been identified as the B.1.1.7 mutation first identified in the United Kingdom. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said in a news release the number of cases being identified as variants is growing. "It's important to understand that most of these cases are related to travel," Strang said. To date, Nova Scotia has identified 41 cases of the U.K. variant and 10 cases of the B.1.3.5.1 mutation first identified in South Africa. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax and Sarah Smellie in St. John's. YORK York's longtime fire chief, whose abrupt firing last month stirred controversy through this city of 8,400, will receive his full retirement benefits even after officials discovered lewd material on his government cellphone alongside evidence he planned to delete other public records. York City Manager Seth Duncan, who last month cited a pattern of dishonesty in firing Fire Chief Domenic Manera, said this week he retroactively changed the chiefs official manner of departure to a retirement. The move, which came with at the behest of York City Council, affords Manera the right to receive a $62,000 severance package and to stay in the citys health, dental and life insurance plans. Typically, fired employees dont get those perks. Regardless of what transpired in the last two and a half months of service, that should not wipe away his career here at the city, Duncan told The Post and Courier. For the most part, people are moving forward. York Mayor Mike Fuesser agreed. Thirty-plus years of service to the city should not be completely tarnished, he said. In due time, I believe he should be given the proper recognition. This community is healing and will move forward as we do in the toughest of situations. Manera, Yorks fire chief since 1994, did not respond to requests for comment April 14. The deal is something of an olive branch after Maneras supporters complained to City Council last month that Manera had been wrongfully fired. They blamed Duncan and called on council to fire the city manager and reinstate the fire chief. But evidence obtained by The Post and Courier through an open-records request appears to support Duncans reasoning for firing Manera. In his March 9 termination letter to Manera, Duncan accused the chief of using city equipment including a city-issued cellphone inappropriately. Shortly thereafter, The Post and Courier requested data stored on Maneras city-issued phone. The city turned over a trove of pictures and videos from his phone, including a homemade photo of male genitals, that make clear the chief used the device for more than fire department business. The photos also included screenshots supporting city officials suspicion that Manera was carrying on a personal relationship on city time and equipment. The screenshots depicted messages between Manera and his wife, and between Manera and a female S.C. Department of Transportation engineer with whom he swapped thousands of text and photo messages between December 2020 and February 2021. That engineer, Allison Couick Love, previously told The Post and Courier her conversations with Manera were strictly professional. But screenshots of one of their conversations stored in Manera's phone appear to contradict her. On Feb. 27, after city officials first questioned Manera about his phone usage, photos show the chief emailed Love: Allison, I am so sorry, but we have to end things immediately. They confiscated my phone, Manera continued. They were trying to figure out who I have been talking and texting to. They have pulled my phone records for some reason. I did not tell them your name, all they know is that it started out as a business call and ended up as personal calls and text. Manera asked Love to delete all their prior messages and his contact information. Love replied to make sure Manera knew how to delete his copies of the messages as well, screenshots show. The messages appear to have been deleted by last month, when The Post and Courier submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to both the city of York and the state Transportation Department for copies of any correspondence between Manera and Love. Both requests came up empty. Love, no relation to the York County Council member who shares her first and last name, did not respond to a request for comment April 14. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said today Alabama residents should vote to decide whether to expand gambling in the state, and he doesnt have a position - yet - on what games should become legal. Tuberville was asked about gambling legislation that passed the Alabama Senate this week during his weekly telephone call with state journalists. The governor is looking at ways to support other programs, Tuberville said. Same with people in the House and Senate. I dont think it should really be a government decision, Tuberville said. I think the House and Senate should come to an understanding of, hey, lets vote on this. I dont have a dog in that hunt right now, Tuberville added. Tuberville covered other issues during the call, including: Gun control in the wake of President Bidens recent executive moves. I dont think hes done, Tuberville said of the president. We hate for anybody to be killed any situation, but we do not have a gun problem. We have a mental health problem in our country because of the drugs our kids are taking at a younger and younger age. Theres a lot of things we can address before we get to guns. Bidens infrastructure and jobs proposal is not about infrastructure, Tuberville said. Its about the Green New Deal in disguise. Only 6 percent of the proposal is for roads and bridges. The proposal puts more money toward electric cars than roads, bridges, ports and waterways combined. He called the proposal a farce. But Tuberville agreed Alabamas infrastructure is in need of repair statewide. Bidens proposed defense budget threaten(s) the strength and stability of our fighting forces, Tuberville said. More than 200,000 Alabama jobs support national defense now, he said, and the president wants to cut billions in defense spending, weaken military readiness and benefit American adversaries such as China. He called the presidents defense spending plan scary. The Green New Deal plan and Bidens scary defense budget were Tubervilles priorities for his prepared remarks before taking questions. GREENWICH Ruth Madoff, the wife of the infamous financial culprit, is once again in the spotlight with the debut of a new HBO film about Bernard Madoffs crimes. But one person not joining the renewed chatter sparked by the movie is the Old Greenwich resident herself. I did not watch the movie so I have nothing to say about it, Ruth Madoff said by phone this week, declining further comment. Madoff has lived in Old Greenwich since 2012, when she moved in with her son Andrew Madoff on Tomac Avenue. She currently resides in an apartment and condo-complex in Old Greenwich. Andrew Madoff died of cancer in 2014. Michelle Pfeiffer portrays Madoff in The Wizard Of Lies, which premiered last Saturday to popular and critical acclaim. It re-tells the story of Bernard Madoffs Ponzi scheme, and the pain it caused, to an audience of millions. With its release, the tabloids have once again been chasing Ruth Madoff, 76. But people in her adopted hometown, where financial scandals impacting families are hardly an unknown occurrence, seem to be supportive. In interviews with a dozen neighbors, former neighbors, residents and merchants in Old Greenwich this week, there was little resentment expressed toward the wife of one of the most infamous financial criminals of all time. Some even offered sympathy. Hey, they paid, said a neighbor of Madoffs, Mario Autera. She has to live with it. Residents said Madoff keeps a low profile: stopping in for a bagel on Sound Beach Avenue most mornings, then running errands at the CVS. She drives a Toyota Prius, and aside from a Rolex watch and an expensive hand-bag, adopts a very modest look. The movie has renewed speculation about Ruth Madoffs involvement in her husbands crimes. Bernie Madoff was arrested in 2008 and is serving a lifetime sentence in federal prison for defrauding some $64.8 billion from thousands of investors, some of whom lost all their savings to his scheme. The film depicts Ruth Madoff as unaware of her husbands financial corruption: All these questions ... I don't have any answers, she exclaims at one point in the drama. In a statement Ruth released during her husbands legal proceedings, she said she was unaware of his illicit dealings but some of the people who lost money to Madoff were skeptical. Theres part of me that wonders if she knew, noted Mary Louise Chiappatta, a former town resident visiting her parents, who live in Madoffs apartment complex, this week. But people here are really friendly to her. And she never bothers anyone. A one-bedroom apartment at the complex starts at $3,100 a month. Under terms of a deal worked out with federal prosecutors, Ruth Madoff was allowed to keep $2.5 million when their assets were sold off. Off Sound Beach Avenue, Cliff Ng, who runs a dry cleaning business, said she was like any other customer. If you didnt know who she was, you wouldnt think she was anyone. She tries not to stand out, he said. The New York Post, using an anonymous friend as a source, ran a long piece on Ruth Madoff earlier this month. The source told the tabloid that Madoff helps out at church fairs and finds companionship with a group of friends in her apartment complex. She avoids the Sweet Pea Baking Co., because these people are part of her old life, and the ones who lost money with Bernie, according to the Post account. The profile said Madoff had a short meeting with Pfeiffer. Another tabloid, Daily Mail Online, followed Ruth Madoff to an Ikea store in New Haven, taking pictures of her as she shopped. Ruth Madoff came to Greenwich to live with her son, Andrew, and to be close to her three grandchildren who live nearby. Her other son, Mark, committed suicide in 2010. All are depicted in the HBO film, as much a family drama as it is the story of the patriarchs crimes. Another dramatization about the Madoff case, an ABC miniseries starring Blythe Danner and Richard Dreyfuss, aired in 2016. Arkansas Asks Supreme Court to Review Appeals Court Ruling Against Law Banning Down Syndrome Abortions Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge asked the Supreme Court to review a decision by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that struck down a state law blocking abortionists from terminating a pregnancy solely because the unborn child has Down syndrome. Rutledge, a Republican, is challenging the appeals courts finding that the U.S. Constitution guarantees a right to selectively abort unborn children with Down syndrome. Rutledge announced the filing April 13, the same day as the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals narrowly reversed a lower courts injunction blocking a similar Ohio statute that forbids abortions to be carried out because of fetal Down syndrome. The Ohio law, H.B. 214, prohibits a doctor from performing an abortion with the knowledge that the womans reason for aborting her pregnancy is that her fetus has Down syndrome and she does not want a child with Down syndrome, the appeals court stated in its 97 ruling in Preterm-Cleveland v. McCloud. The case seems destined to reach the Supreme Court, which is now regarded as having a 63 conservative majority whose members may be interested in curbing abortion rights. Rutledge issued a statement about the Arkansas case. The Constitution does not require Arkansas to permit discrimination-by-abortion against Americans with Down syndrome, Rutledge said. Through my personal friendships, I know that while individuals with Down syndrome may have an extra chromosome, they also have extra love and joy they share unconditionally, and I will not stand by while Gods gifts are exterminated as has been done in other countries. The appeal is Rutledge v. Little Rock Family Planning Services, court file 20-1434. The 292-page petition for certiorari, or review, was filed with the Supreme Court on April 9. The respondents in the case, consisting of the abortion clinic, a Planned Parenthood affiliate, and physicians Stephanie Ho and Thomas Tvedten, are required to respond to the petition by May 13. In 2019, the Arkansas General Assembly approved Act 619, the Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act. It forbids a practitioner from performing an abortion if the woman is seeking the abortion solely on the basis of a diagnosis of Down syndrome or based on any other indication of Down syndrome. Arkansas has a powerful interest in protecting its citizens with Down syndrome from the grotesquely stigmatic messages that selective abortion sends them, the petition states. When new technology allows pregnant women to determine their unborn children have Down syndrome, false stereotypes and misinformation from doctors with little knowledge of the condition lead over two-thirds of women who receive a Down-syndrome diagnosis to choose abortion, the petition states. People with Down syndrome typically have mild to moderate cognitive impairment, and their life expectancies are lower than the general populations. But thanks to advances in care and support, the prognosis for people with Down syndrome is constantly improving. In 1960, the life expectancy for someone with Down syndrome was 10 years; by 2007, it was 47; today, its about 60. Not only has the medical outlook for people with Down syndrome dramatically improved; so too has their quality of life. Though medical professionals often assume that people with Down syndrome are a burden to themselves and their families, empirical research debunks that stereotype. Aided by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the respondents filed a lawsuit in June 2019 seeking to prevent Act 619 from coming into force. Claiming the law will have a devastating effect on women seeking to access abortion in the state, the respondents claim in their original legal complaint that Arkansas has been engaged in a targeted campaign against abortion, enacting more than 25 laws aimed at obstructing and interfering with womens access to abortion in the State, including at least 12 enacted in 2019 alone. They challenged the statute, which they said was one of three Arkansas laws that fly directly in the face of longstanding Supreme Court precedent and are the latest in Arkansass unrelenting campaign to deny women the health care they seek and to which they are entitled. A U.S. district court blocked the law, preventing it from taking effect. In January, the 8th Circuit upheld the lower courts order. Holly Dickson, executive director and legal director for the ACLU of Arkansas, criticized Arkansas for appealing to the Supreme Court. In recent weeks, Arkansas politicians have conducted a dangerous and unlawful attack on essential health care, and the attorney generals action is no different, Dickson told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. Its also part of a long history of attacking the right to abortion in our state. If this law were to take effect, it would do nothing to address the ableism or discrimination that people with disabilities face in housing, health care, education, or the workplace. This is nothing more than an attempt by politicians to exploit the fight for disability rights to further their anti-abortion agenda. Alabama lawmakers today did not substantially change a bill to legalize and regulate medical cannabis products in Alabama as they prepared for a key vote on the legislation, the sponsor said. The Alabama House Health Committee held a public hearing on the bill by Sen. Tim Melson, a Republican from Florence who is a physician and medical researcher. After the hearing, the committee sorted through proposed amendments. But Melson said none that would have weakened the bill were adopted. Melsons bill has already passed the Senate. The Health Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill Thursday. I feel good about the vote, Melson said. I dont know. Ive been shocked a couple of times in this building before, but I think well be OK. Committee approval would put the bill in line for approval by the House. Alabama would become the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana. The bill would regulate the production and use of medical marijuana products from the cultivation of the plants, through the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of the products, all the way to sales to patients at dispensaries. Doctors could issue medical cannabis cards and recommend medical marijuana products for a wide range of symptoms and conditions, including chronic pain; seizures; depression; weight loss and nausea from cancer and HIV; Crohns disease; Parkinsons; sickle cell anemia; PTSD; muscle spasticity from certain diseases; and other conditions. The bill would not allow the use of raw plant material or products that could be smoked. Four people spoke in opposition to the bill during the public hearing, while three spoke in favor. Christine Carr, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, said the bill is not based on good science. Carr called it a business bill designed as a health care bill that put profits ahead of patients. Dr. Marsha Raulerson, a pediatrician from Brewton who has been a doctor for more than 40 years, also spoke against the bill. Raulerson said marijuana is harmful and addictive. Linda Lee, executive director of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, spoke against the bill, saying the organization opposes the use of medications that dont go through the normal Food and Drug Administration process. Lee said the FDA has approved four medications derived from or related to cannabis, which she said shows that its not necessary to pass a medical marijuana bill. Melissa Mullins spoke in support of the bill. Mullins said her husband suffers severe side effects from medications he takes for a seizure disorder. She said her teenage daughter has autism. Seizure disorders and autism are two of the conditions that could be treated with medical marijuana products under Melsons bill. After the public hearing, lawmakers on the Health Committee proposed amendments to the bill. Some were adopted, including one that removed fibromyalgia, menopause, and premenstrual syndrome from the list of about 15 conditions or symptoms that doctors could recommend medical marijuana for. The committee generally rejected the amendments that Melson opposed. They came with amendments, Melson said I wasnt surprised. I knew what was coming. We accepted a few, which I think do not hurt the bill, maybe make it better. Then we tabled some that I thought just diminished the benefits of the bill. Melson said if the bill gets out of committee on Thursday he expects to get a vote on the House floor for the first time in three years of sponsoring the bill. In 2019, the Senate passed the bill. The House changed it to appoint a study commission on medical cannabis. The 18-member commission held several public hearings and issued a report in December 2019 recommending medical marijuana legislation, with some dissent. Last year, the Senate passed the bill again, but it had little chance in the House after the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and cut short the session. This story was edited at 1:56 p.m. to remove sleep disorders from the list of conditions that doctors could recommend medical marijuana for. Updated at 2:23 p.m. to add comments from Linda Lee. In 2021, Japan's China policy has been more aggressive with the increase in Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific. The East and the South China Sea have been the scene of increased military activity, one of these is about the Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims. Japan's China policy major shifts in 2021 The Japanese government has taken a hardline stance against the Chinese regime, as the east and south China seas are the flashpoints and the threat to Taiwan, with a host of charges that includes blatant human rights violations, reported by the Epoch Times. Last April 5, the Kyodo News Agency published an article about "Focus: Japan's China Strategy Is at Critical Juncture," before Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited the United States, posted in a Chinese-language site. The article featured significant policy changes how China's move impacted the situation. According to top U.S. military officials, Japan could be plunged into a national crisis once China decides to invade Taiwan militarily, which could happen in the near future. This becomes a reality as the CCP gets bolder in its actions lately. While testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 23, U.S. Navy Adm. John Aquilino, a nominee for the U.S. Indo-Pacific commander, projected that China could plan to launch a military invasion against Taiwan just before 2045, based on various reports. This is one of the factors for Japan's China policy. Japan's Dispute Over Chinese Ships in East China Sea Near Senkakus Will Get U.S. Support Adm. Phil Davidson, the current U.S. Indo-Pacific commander, said that it might be earlier than everyone thinks. He says it will be six years to need longer-ranged missile defenses fired from land bases in the Western Pacific to threaten Chinese forces. These missiles will be pointed at the Taiwan Strait and the Senkakus, which the PLA covers. The Senkaku islets are in contested waters called the Tiao-yu Islands in Taiwan and the Diaoyu Islands by the CCP. Chinese forces have repeatedly had incursions on the Senkakus as it probes the Japanese defenses. Japanese authorities are thinking of before-upping coastal defenses with U.S. land-based missiles, aiming at the Chinese forces near the Senkaku Islets and the Taiwan Strait. China's recent coast guard law It did not take long for the National People's Congress (NPC) to create the China Coast Guard Law on January 22, which became effective in February, to give power to China's maritime law enforcement to shoot on foreign ships needed. One criticism is that the Chinese coast guard does not control the supposed water bodies that are not China's. According to Jun Tsuruta, an associate professor of international law based in Japan's Meiji Gakuin University, it challenges Japanese territorial rights. The Communist regime uses a loose definition of jurisdictional waters that is not based on international law. He calls the Chinese Coast Guard a law enforcement agency and a military agency based on the text. This law is not accepted by countries other than Japan, like the Philippines and Vietnam, which the Chinese regime has bullied in their territories. One apparent change in Japan's China policy was evident on February 4 when bout countries met in the 12th Round Meeting of the Japan-China High-Level Consultation on Maritime Affairs. On February 4, the Japanese government conveyed "strong concerns" over the controversial law at the 12th Round Meeting of the Japan-China High-Level Consultation on Maritime Affairs. Just like Taiwan, the CCP wants to grab the Senkakus from Tokyo. Japanese Vote Changing the Status of the Senkakus Is Causing Rising Tensions With China Taiwan Fights China Using Vaccine Diplomacy to Isolate the Island @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. LAKE GEORGE Americade brings thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to this picturesque Adirondack village each June. But the pandemic forced its cancellation last year and the delay of this year's event to September. So Lake George tourism officials are looking for other events to fill its 7,000 hotel rooms, 100-plus restaurants and numerous outdoor attractions. And they're having some success. "We have definitely gotten an increase in inquiries regarding all sorts of events," said Amanda Metzger of the Lake George Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We're still nowhere near what it was prior to the pandemic. But we never stopped communicating with (potential clients)." The first ADK Jeep Invasion, as it's called, is expected to bring more than 2,000 of the vehicles to the 1,000 Acres Ranch in nearby Stony Creek from June 18 through 20. The events include a Saturday night gathering along Beach Road in the village, trail rides and a "show and shine." Meanwhile, Saratoga Springs is starting to see "a small amount of conferences and social events," said Darryl Leggieri, who heads Discover Saratoga. "Restaurants are getting busier," he said. "We're having a small amount of business travel." Still to be seen is whether spectators will once again be permitted at the historic Saratoga Race Course and at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. While regulations limiting crowd sizes have been gradually loosened for many venues, they're still quite limiting. Meetings and trade shows typically become more frequent in the autumn months, and that appears to be happening this year. "October it's actually fairly booked," said Jill Delaney, who heads Discover Albany, formerly the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau. At least some of the demand is from organizations that had booked events for earlier this year and then ended up postponing to the autumn as COVID continued to be a problem. But Delaney remains cautious. "Assuming there isn't another surge and nobody cancels, May is going to be better than March or April," she said. The meeting business is lucrative for conference centers throughout the Capital Region, thanks to its location in the Northeast, its interstate highway network and its air and rail service. In Saratoga Springs, group events, from weddings to major conventions, had an estimated $65 million impact on the city's economy in 2019, said Leggieri. This year, "we're far from that." And even if the meetings and conferences are scheduled, not everyone the planners were counting on is going to show up, said Delaney. Some companies may not be permitting staff to travel, while individuals may also be reluctant. And with low occupancy throughout the pandemic pushing hotel prices lower, revenues won't be as high, Delaney said. They're not expected to recover fully until 2023. Travel to meetings and other events may not return fully, said Jean Gagnon, who operates Plaza Travel in Latham. "People have seen the benefits of Zoom meetings and teleconferences," she said, adding, "They've also seen some of the negatives. You're not going to see (business travel) go away." As vaccination rates increase, so will travel, Gagnon believes. "Bookings are actually starting (to rise). People are starting to make plans," she said. Still, recovery "is not going to be a flick of the switch," said Delaney. Restaurants and hotels have to bring back furloughed employees, airlines have to recertify pilots, and businesses like car rental agencies need to build back their inventory after unloading many of their vehicles. "I've never seen prices for car rentals as high as they are now," Gagnon said this week, citing one example where a 10-day van rental in the Canadian Rockies cost twice what it did before the pandemic. Meanwhile, the border with Canada remains closed and may not reopen anytime soon. Canada's vaccination rate has lagged badly, with barely 2 percent of its population completely vaccinated. The figure is 10 times greater in the United States. In Lake George, tourism officials focused their promotions along Interstate 90 through central New York as the international border, and for a time state borders, remained closed. As part of its efforts to attract more meeting business, the Lake George Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau is providing funds to help cover audiovisual expenses for members who can't attend in person. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, the bureau booked 71 events everything from corporate meetings to class reunions that brought an estimated 76,000 people to the area, whose spending had an impact estimated at $28 million. Events that were booked for 2020 or earlier this year were postponed, not canceled, said Metzger. "So we hope we can still feel the economic impact of anything that was booked for 2020 or early 2021 in the future," she added. "In the past couple of months, there's been a big uptick in web traffic from Montreal," Metzger noted. Americade, meanwhile, is now scheduled for Sept. 21 to 25, while the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival, which also was canceled last year, will be held Sept. 23 to 26 in nearby Queensbury. Those events, and a reopened Canadian border, could make this an autumn for the record books. Vanderpump Rules' stars Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor have welcomed a baby son named Cruz Michael Cauchi. The reality TV couple shared the happy news on Instagram Tuesday, revealing that Brittany, 32, had given birth on Monday. 'Yesterday, April 12th at 1:51pm, our lives changed forever in the absolute best way possible,' Brittany shared. 'Our beautiful son Cruz Michael Cauchi was born and we have never been more in love.' Brittany Cartwright gives BIRTH! Vanderpump Rules' star welcomes baby son Cruz Michael Cauchi with husband Jax Taylor She added: 'He is the most precious gift and I am so blessed to be his Mommy. We are soooooo so happy, he is a dream come true!! Both Mommy & Baby are doing great!' The candid Instagram picture showed the back of their newborn baby's head, kissed by doting father Jax, 41. Cauchi is a reference to Jax whose real name is Jason Michael Cauchi. The pair were married in June 2019 in Britanny's native Kentucky, after getting engaged in Malibu the previous summer. Happy: The reality TV couple shared the happy news on Instagram Tuesday, revealing that Brittany, 32, had given birth on Monday This is the first child for them both. Late last month, Brit shared a duo of cute birthday selfies in which she was holding her small brown dog and a bunch of balloons to mark her 32nd birthday. Cartwright's pregnancy has coincided with not one but two of her Vanderpump Rules costars, Stassi Schroeder and Lala Kent. In the middle of January, Schroeder gave birth to a daughter, Hartford Charlie Rose Clark. Not feeding the trolls: The reality star had been receiving abusive comments from internet trolls over her pregnancy weight gain, though she has mostly laughed it off Brittany had previously been speaking out about haters on social media as she continues to be body-shamed about her pregnant figure. 'I don't know who else needs to hear this but all women carry differently and all are beautiful!!!' she wrote in March. '9 months pregnant and so proud of my body and every mark my healthy son has made!!' the mom-to-be wrote. In another post Brittany shared a clip of her posing in a clingy grey jersey dress and denim jacket, the same outfit she showed off to followers in recent days and claims she got criticized for. 'Perfect example. Women even mother's have harassed me over this photo so I put it in a video form for your hatin' butts!!!' Brittany defiantly captioned the video. When news broke just over a year ago that Laura Ashley was the first High Street casualty of the pandemic, I broke into little pieces, too. Because if there are two words that ignite feelings of nostalgia, they are Laura and Ashley. As a teenager in the 1970s, the flagship store just off Londons Sloane Street was a beacon of possibilities. I recall vividly the first Laura Ashley piece I owned: a purple smock that cost 25, a fortune to a schoolgirl back then. I wore it over a jumper (knitted by Mum) in winter, and over a Chelsea Girl T-shirt in the summer. My sister had a navy and white polka dot maxi skirt with a pie-crust hem. We felt the epitome of laid-back, ladylike cool, rejecting what we had grown up seeing our two older sisters struggle to fit into: teeny A-line shifts, short skirts and white tights. Liz Jones reflects on the history of Laura Ashley as the brand's homeware launches online and in select Next stores. Pictured: vintage Laura Ashley Oh, how we hankered after damask needlecord smocks, chunky maxi cardis, puff sleeves, jumbo cord coats, brown needlecord shorts with a voluminous smock tucked into the waist. My mum made me a pair of brown hotpants, but they were not the same. There was no Laura Ashley label that stated proudly: Made in Wales. The brand started life on Laura Ashleys kitchen table in 1953. Laura had loved an exhibition of quilts at the V&A, but found it difficult to source fabric. And so she bought a screen print for 10, some dye and some linen, and printed her own. Her first item on sale was a printed cotton scarf. The brand went from strength to strength. She opened her first store in Pelham Street, South Kensington, in 1968. By 1970, the Fulham Road store was selling 4,000 dresses a week. Come the Eighties, having bought our first house together, my sister and I graduated to Laura Ashley wallpaper and soft furnishings, cannily introduced by the brand in the early 1970s. No wall was complete without a floral border at the ceiling. No surface went unsprigged: a teapot, a mug, even a pair of oven gloves. We created a country cottage in the middle of Brixton. But, crucially, we no longer wore the clothes. Id just started working for a young womens magazine, where the uniform was a power suit in a primary colour. Liz said those who were initially fans of Laura Ashley moved on as rivals on the High Street mushroomed the brand. Pictured: Tapestry Floral Wallpaper In the next two decades, I only set foot in a Laura Ashley store once, and that was to spend the voucher Id been sent by the brands PR. I searched and I searched, but the only item I could bear to take home was a candle. The brand had become toxic. Not just because its founder died in a terrible accident she fell down the stairs in 1985, at the tragically young age of 60. But also because women had moved on. They wanted to look more sexy and powerful. Rivals on the High Street from Warehouse to Whistles and Joseph mushroomed. Laura Ashley has tried to reinvent itself, several times. Notably, in 2007, when it reissued a selection of classic designs, but in more modern, more malleable fabric and colours, such as dove grey. And again in 2013, when it raided the archives making me think it had no new ideas reissuing classic designs, including the very first scarf from 1954, this time in silk. But in March 2020, it would permanently close 70 stores, with plans to cut 268 office jobs and furlough more than 1,500 workers. Liz said the Laura Ashley homeware collection includes signature prints, indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting, mirrors and more While we have lost many great brands over the past year, the demise of Laura Ashley hit those of us of a certain age very hard. But, the good news is, Laura Ashley is back! Having been rescued by Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring and investment firm, you can now buy Laura Ashley homeware online and in select Next stores: 48 in total. Best of all is the news that a flagship Laura Ashley store opened on Monday at Westfield in West London, taking up 3,000 sq ft half! of the huge Next store there. The collection features the classic and recognisable Laura Ashley homeware, alongside an array of new designs. Products include signature prints, indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting, mirrors, soft furnishings, made-to-measure curtains, wallpapers and more. Once again, the archives have been raided, reproducing iconic and instantly recognisable prints such as Magnolia Grove (in natural, slate and dusky seaspray), Animalia (in dark steel, silver and blush) and, most iconic of all: Josette, featuring chandeliers and roses (in sage and seaspray). New prints are Tapestry Floral, and a very over the top Eglantine Rose. Liz described the Laura Ashley collection as colourful and busy, ideal for those who want to add something summery to their home Prices range from 40 for a cushion, up to 2,150 for a large sofa. My favourite pieces are a lantern ceiling light, 235, and a Seaspray chest of drawers, 760. Everything is usefully grouped by colour, and there is a design hub, where you can browse every print and colour, and ask a real person for help. It is the opposite of minimalist Scandi chic. Instead, it is colourful and busy. Some people might wonder why you want your living room to resemble that owned by Giles and Mary of Gogglebox fame (that print is discontinued, but Willow Leaf is very similar). But, addicted as I am to white walls and mid-century furniture, browsing the collection inside the airy new store, is strangely comforting. You might even bump into Boris Johnsons fiancee Carrie Symonds, given her choice of the maximalist interior designer, Lulu Lytle, and need to eradicate the simple, monastic John Lewis nightmare of previous No 10 incumbents. Women are now choosing floaty, floral tea dresses to express their joy at being able to socialise. Perhaps adding something summery to your home is timely, too. Best of all? The long-awaited reissue of the Garrat cocktail cabinet, 1,125. To quote Alison Steadman in that Seventies classic Abigails Party: Would you like a top up, Tone? Never underestimate the ability of Laura Ashley to be able to read our mood . . . Home renaissance: best of the rest DVF TEAMS UP WITH H&M Diane von Furstenberg x H&M Home, products from 17.99, in store and at hm.com. Designer Diane von Furstenberg is now launching her first interiors range in H&M Home. She is bringing her signature statement prints to products such as glass vases, plant pots and even espresso cups. The collection is available online and in selected shops from tomorrow. Designer Diane von Furstenberg is launching her first interiors range in H&M Home (pictured), featuring her signature statement prints JOHN LEWIS TAKES ON IKEA JOHN Lewis Anyday, prices start from 1.50, in store and at johnlewis.com. The company has launched its new budget line Anyday with 2,400 items a fifth cheaper than its other stock, including a 12-piece dinner service for 40 and a baby high chair for 35. HOMEWARE HITS MONSOON MONSOON Boutique Store, Marylebone High Street, London, items from 30. Also available at monsoon.co.uk. Almost a year after going into administration, Monsoon opened a new boutique concept store in London this week. As well as stocking womenswear and childrenswear, it is one of a handful nationwide that has started to sell homeware. The collection is expanding soon, to include throws and tie-dye twisted candles. Advertisement Available in store at Westfield, London, and at lauraashley.com and next.co.uk. Kolkata, April 14 : Taking a lesson from the fourth phase, the Election Commission of India has decided to deploy 853 companies of central forces for the fifth phase when 45 constituencies spread across six districts will go for the polls on April 17. This will be the highest force concentration in this election, outnumbering the fourth phase when the Commission deployed 789 companies for 44 assembly constituencies. Sources in the Commission said that of the 853 companies, 283 will be deployed only in North 24 Parganas district with 107 companies in Basirhat police district, 61 companies in Barrackpore police commissionerate, 46 companies in Bidhannagar police commissionerate and the rest 69 companies in Barasat police district. In addition to this, the EC has decided to deploy 68 companies in Darjeeling, 112 companies in Jalpaiguri, 21 companies in Kalimpong, 151 companies in Nadia district, 155 companies in East Burdwan district and 53 companies in Siliguri district. In the fifth phase there will be elections in six districts including 16 constituencies in North 24 parganas district, 8 constituencies in Nadia district, 8 constituencies in East Burdwan district, 7 constituencies in Jalpaiguri district, 5 constituencies in Darjeeling and 1 in Kalimpong district. "There will be an election in 15789 booths spread across 45 constituencies in six districts. The commission has decided to deploy 853 companies for the purpose with a concentration of nearly 6 personnel per booth. This is the highest concentration of force in this election and this is done with an intention that there is no more repetition of the Coochbehar incident," a senior official at the CEO office in the state said. With the additional force of 200 companies reaching the state after the end of Assam election there are presently 1071 companies of central force in the state. "Apart from the 853 companies the rest of the 218 companies of forces will be mainly used for the guarding of the strong room and maintaining the law-and-order situation in the non-polling areas," the official added. The EC has also decided to deploy 932 CAPF companies in the sixth phase on April 22, when 43 assembly constituencies across four districts will vote. The EC has further directed deployment of 760 and 715 companies, respectively, during the seventh and eight phases. Phase 7 will see 36 assembly constituencies go to polls while voters in 35 seats will exercise their franchise in phase 8. The has directed the government to look into the viability of complete in districts where the Covid spread has increased alarmingly. The court further directed that all public gatherings must be restricted to 50 persons immediately. "We understand that complete for weeks together may not be feasible but looking at the current surge of pandemic, we direct the government to look into the viability of complete in those districts where spread has increased alarmingly," the court stated in its order on Tuesday. Hearing a PIL related to Covid-19, a division bench comprising Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Ajit Kumar, made it clear that if the court learns of anyone moving on roads without mask, the court shall take it as an act of contempt on the part of police and will certainly haul up the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Prayagraj and other concerned districts for the same. The court also directed the district administrations to religiously comply with the guidelines issued by the state government on April 11 to check the spread of Covid-19 in the state. The court emphasized that the immunization programme must be vigorously carried out through vaccination of a large number of people and directed the Central government and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to rethink extending the benefit of vaccination to students pursuing higher education and those appearing in board examination of high school and intermediate. "If the board and other examination conducting bodies are going for offline examination, then the government must explore viability to extend the benefit of vaccination to such students as well," the court added. Passing the above directives, the court observed, "Night curfew or corona curfew is a very small step. It can curb only night parties and large religious congregations in the coming month of Ramzan and Navratri. What we need to ensure is that there is no unnecessary public movement even during day timings. We know that when a river acquires velocity no embankment can stop it and yet efforts are made to restrict it. We need to restrict public movement at least for a week or 10 days to break the chain. If life survives one would regain wealth and improve his economy. After all, every development is for people and if there are no people, there will be no use of any development activity." "The situation is so alarming that if it is not handled carefully and cautiously, we may lead to a stage of complete collapse of the public health system," the court added. Expressing concern over insufficient infrastructure to meet the Covid patients' requirements, the court directed the government to acquire open places in the city areas of districts that are the worst-hit in the state, to set up temporary level 1 hospital in a makeshift structure. "Arrange manpower on contract basis immediately to serve all those who are admitted to temporary level 1 Covid hospitals/centres," the court directed. "We must give priority to public health over elections and the government is expected to streamline every department of public health and public care in the light of the observations made hereinabove," said the bench while fixing April 19 as the next date of hearing in the case. The court directed the state government to file an affidavit of an officer not below the rank of secretary in this court by the next date fixed, detailing out the measures taken in the light of the observations made hereinabove. The court also directed that the district magistrate and chief medical officer (CMO), Prayagraj shall appear through video conferencing on the next date fixed. Besides, the court directed that a copy of this order be sent to the chief secretary, government of Uttar Pradesh, district magistrate and SSP, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Gorakhpur within 24 hours for immediate necessary action at their end. --IANS amita/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Vladyslav Krykliy and Head of Ganja City Executive Authority (Azerbaijan) Niyazi Bayramov discussed the possibility of direct flights from Ganja to Odesa, the website of the Infrastructure Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry believes that this direction will contribute not only to the development of tourism, but also to the strengthening of business contacts and the exchange of students. In addition, the interlocutors discussed the likelihood of cooperation in the implementation of promising infrastructure projects. "Ukrainian companies are ready to take part in the implementation of projects important for Azerbaijan," the press service said, citing Krykliy. Among the possible areas of cooperation, the minister named the design and construction of industrial, road transport and energy infrastructure facilities, the development of high-voltage power transmission systems, participation in the modernization of railways and the supply of railway equipment, metallurgical products, etc. "These are the areas that are based not only on the sectoral specialization of our economy, but also on the extensive experience of the leading Ukrainian companies in foreign countries, including with Azerbaijani partners," Krykliy said. As reported with reference to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Azerbaijan is ready to lift restrictions on the number of flights and positively consider the request of the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine. This is a general view of Main Street in downtown Johnstown, Pa., Wednesday morning, July 20, 1977 after floodwaters began to recede. Heavy rain and the breaking of a dam caused the city to be flooded. (AP Photo) The Day Lake Conemaugh Destroyed Johnstown Commentary SOUTH FORK, PennsylvaniaOne hundred and thirty-two years later, the truth of what happened here in May 1889 is still difficult to put into words. Standing on the very soil where Col. Elias Unger, the last president of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, had his home overlooking Lake Conemaugh, you can see from the distance where the Pittsburgh elite had their grand fishing club and elaborate cottages along the shoreline. Look right and you can also see the remnants of the poorly maintained dam that once held back their pristine private lake. It gave way on May 31, 1889, after days of relentless rain, sending 20 million gallons of water raging down 14 miles toward the city of Johnstown. With each inch and foot and mile, the force of the water gathered and carried with it trees, boulders, dirt, barns, animals, mud, people (dead and alive) and houses. It flung them all at the unsuspecting town, killing more than 2,000 and causing millions of dollars of damage. The people of Johnstown had spent that day preparing not for a horrific catastrophe but for the typical post-storm flooding from the Little Conemaugh and Stonycreek rivers. They moved their perishables to the upper stories of their buildings, as they often did to wait out minor floods. They had little idea of the fate that awaited them, National Park ranger Doug Bosley, who manages the three sites that make up the Johnstown Flood National Park, said. On that morning of May 31, club officials were frantic. They understood the 2-mile-long, 1-mile-deep lake was at its breaking point. By 3 in the afternoon, those that had gathered to try to stop the inevitable watched in horror as the dam gave way, Bosley said. It is said that it hit the town and its people with the force of Niagara Falls. Most people only heard it coming, Bosley said. Those who saw it and lived described it as a rolling mountain of dirt and trees, building over 40 feet high. A life-sized diorama of that wall of debris is the first thing that greets those entering the visitors center, which overlooks the completely intact Unger home. In addition to the wealth of artifacts and scale dioramas, visitors can feast their eyes on a gripping film called Black Friday, which leaves the viewer feeling as if he or she were in Johnstown when the flood hit. Across what was once Lake Conemaugh, the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club remarkably still stands. So do the elaborate and ornate cottages once owned by industrial Americas famed robber barons. The National Park Service has purchased the club and several of the homes and is painstakingly restoring them. It is well worth the visit. None of those club members ever came back after that horrific day. They just left their homes and their resort and walked away. Nor were they ever held legally responsible. The death toll became a national scandal, and their role in the neglect of the dams structure made headlines for years. The elite playground, within months, became a coal town. You can stand where the dam broke and look down in one direction and out in the other over the expanse of the former lake that emptied off this Appalachian plateau. Once again, it is hard to write any words that do justice to what was lost that day. Railroad tracks now run where the lake once stood. The long-long-short-long whistle of an oncoming freight train routinely echoes through the valley as it approaches. The body carried farthest by the ill tide was found in Cincinnati, Ohio. The last body was found in 1911. All told, 99 families perished in the flood, including 396 children. One hundred and twenty-four women and 198 men were widowed. Ninety-eight children were orphaned, and one-third of the dead, or 777 people, were never identified, according to the Johnstown Area Heritage Association. Walking around the places here, two things stand out. First, one can understand why the lake was built in this spot. The majestic scenery all around is soul-lifting. One is also struck by the dedication that went into preserving this critical moment in American history, first by the locals and then by the National Park Service. The year 1889 is critically important in the development of our nation. We were 24 years past the ravages of the Civil War and well into the societal shifts that the Industrial Revolution was causing our country. We had added four new states that yearboth Dakotas, Montana, and Washingtonthe most in 101 years. Coke was first bottled in Atlanta, and the Gilded Age was about to peak. We were changing, and with this moment at the lake, our popular views of the elite were changing as well. This moment, the disappearance of Lake Conemaugh and 2,000 of the inhabitants below, was a pivotal one in shaping how we would regard one another going forward. Salena Zito has held a long, successful career as a national political reporter. Since 1992, she has interviewed every U.S. president and vice president, as well as top leaders in Washington, D.C., including secretaries of state, speakers of the House and U.S. Central Command generals. Her passion, though, is interviewing thousands of people across the country. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through the lost art of shoe-leather journalism, having traveled along the back roads of 49 states. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Our high-speed, high-bandwidth world constantly requires new ways to process and store information. Semiconductors and magnetic materials have made up the bulk of data storage devices for decades. In recent years, however, researchers and engineers have turned to ferroelectric materials, a type of crystal that can be manipulated with electricity. In 2016, the study of ferroelectrics got more interesting with the discovery of polar vortices essentially spiral-shaped grouping of atoms within the structure of the material. Now a team of researchers led by the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has uncovered new insights into the behavior of these vortices, insights that may be the first step toward using them for fast, versatile data processing and storage. The team, which also includes researchers from DOEs SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, published their results today in Nature. What is so important about the behavior of groups of atoms in these materials? For one thing, these polar vortices are intriguing new discoveries, even when they are just sitting still. For another, this new research reveals how they move. This new type of spiral-patterned atomic motion can be coaxed into occurring, and can be manipulated. Thats good news for this materials potential use in future data processing and storage devices. Although the motion of individual atoms alone may not be too exciting, these motions join together to create something new an example of what scientists refer to as emergent phenomena which may host capabilities we could not imagine before, said Haidan Wen, a physicist in Argonnes X-ray Science Division. These vortices are indeed small about five or six nanometers wide, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, or about twice as wide as a single strand of DNA. Their movements, however, cannot be seen in a typical laboratory environment. They need to be excited into action by applying an ultrafast electric field. All of which makes them difficult to observe and to characterize. Wen and his colleague, John Freeland, a senior physicist in Argonnes X-ray Science Division, have spent years studying these vortices, first with the ultrabright X-rays of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne, and most recently with the free-electron laser capabilities of SLACs Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Both the APS and LCLS are DOE Office of Science User Facilities. Using the APS, researchers were able to use lasers to create a new state of matter and obtain a comprehensive picture of its structure using X-ray diffraction. In 2019, the team, led jointly by Argonne and Pennsylvania State University, reported their findings in a Nature Materials cover story, most notably that the vortices can be manipulated with light pulses. Although this new state of matter, a so called supercrystal, does not exist naturally, it can be created by illuminating carefully engineered thin layers of two distinct materials using light, said Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering and physics at Pennsylvania State University. A lot of work went into measuring the motion of a tiny object, Freeland said. The question was, how do we see these phenomena with X-rays? We could see that there was something interesting with the system, something we might be able to characterize with ultrafast timescale probes. The APS was able to take snapshots of these vortices at nanosecond time scales a hundred million times faster than it takes to blink your eyes but the research team discovered this was not fast enough. We knew something exciting must be happening that we couldnt detect, Wen said. The APS experiments helped us pinpoint where we want to measure, at faster time scales that we were not able to access at the APS. But LCLS, our sister facility at SLAC, provides the exact tools needed to solve this puzzle. With their prior research in hand, Wen and Freeland joined colleagues from SLAC and Berkeley Lab along with researchers from Pennsylvania State University, the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science and the University of Wisconsin, Madison to design a new experiment that would be able to tell them how these atoms behave, and whether that behavior could be controlled. Using what they learned at APS, the team including the lead authors of the new paper, Qian Li and Vladimir Stoica, both post-doctoral researchers at the APS pursued further investigations at the LCLS at SLAC. LCLS uses X-ray beams to take snapshots of what atoms are doing at timescales not accessible to conventional X-ray apparatus, said Aaron Lindenberg, associate professor of materials science and engineering and photon sciences at Stanford University and SLAC. X-ray scattering can map out structures, but it takes a machine like LCLS to see where the atoms are and to track how they are dynamically moving at unimaginably fast speeds. Using a new ferroelectric material designed by Ramamoorthy Ramesh and Lane Martin at Berkeley Lab, the team was able to excite a group of atoms into swirling motion by an electric field at terahertz frequencies, the frequency thats roughly 1,000 times faster than the processor in your cell phone. They were able to then capture images of those spins at femtosecond timescales. A femtosecond is a quadrillionth of a second its such a short period of time that light can only travel about the length of a small bacteria before its over. This is the horrifying moment a plane passenger drags a woman by the hair and punches her as a mass brawl reportedly about overhead lockers breaks out on a Tunisair flight. The shocking incident was filmed on Tunisair flight TU216 at Istanbul Airport in Turkey before the plane was meant to head to Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunisia on April 10. Airline officials said the brawl led to five-hour delays because takeoff had to be pushed back. Footage shows two women pushing and hitting each other as a flight attendant attempts to push a male passenger further down the plane's aisle. A woman in a white top then begins screaming and shouting at three other women before hitting them and trying to get past them. The shocking incident was filmed on Tunisair flight TU216 at Istanbul Airport in Turkey before the plane was meant to head to Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunisia on April 10 The brawl continues as a flight attendant desperately tries to diffuse the situation and calm the passengers down. The woman in the white top appears to be being held back by an older woman in a pink headscarf. While the women in white has her back turned the male passenger who had been pushed away earlier makes a break for it and grabs her hair. He tightly grips her hair and pulls her backwards before punching her in the head. The woman in a pink headscarf desperately tries to pull the woman in white away from the man who only releases his vice-like grip when the flight attendant gets physically involved. While the women in white has her back turned the male passenger who had been pushed away earlier makes a break for it and grabs her hair The woman in the white top then begins screaming at the man who assaulted her and violently thrashes to free herself from the woman in the headscarf who is holding her back. The footage ends as hordes of passengers are seen standing in the aisle of the plane with many of them screaming and shouting at each other. The brawl is believed to have originated from a fight about overhead locker space on the plane, according to Business News. The woman in the white top then begins screaming at the man who assaulted her and violently thrashes to free herself from the woman in the headscarf who is holding her back An airline spokesperson said a row broke out between passengers which led to a delay of five hours, and confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway. The flight landed at its destination at around 5am following the disturbance. The airline spokesperson confirmed that cabin crew had to ask for the assistance of security teams to calm down tensions before the plane eventually took off. Airline spokesman Ghassen Ouji said: 'This fight caused a delay of five hours and financial losses were suffered by the company.' The investigation is ongoing. International scientists from around the world are warning that chemical pollutants in the environment have the potential to alter animal and human behaviour. A scientific forum of 30 experts formed a united agreement of concern about chemical pollutants and set up a roadmap to help protect the environment from behaviour altering chemicals. The conclusions of their work have been published today in a paper led by Professor Alex Ford, Professor of Biology at the University of Portsmouth, in Environmental Science and Technology. Until now the effect of chemical pollutants on wildlife has been studied and risk assessed in relation to species mortality, reproduction and growth. The effect on behaviour has been suspected but never formally tested or assessed - the scientists say this needs to change. The world leading experts came from a variety of relevant disciplines including environmental toxicology, regulatory authorities and chemicals risk assessors. Professor Alex Ford explains: "The group were in no doubt that pollution can impact the behaviour of humans and wildlife. However, our ability to regulate chemicals for these risks, and therefore safeguard the environment, is rarely used. For example, chemicals that are deliberately designed as pharmaceutical drugs to alter behaviour, such as antidepressants and antianxiety medications, have been shown to alter the behaviours of fish and invertebrates during laboratory experiments. These medications like many prescribed drugs enter the environment through wastewaters." History shows us there are other examples of behavioural alterations from chemicals. During the 19th century, the phrases "Mad as a hatter" and "Crazy as a painter" were coined when those in these trades were found to have changed behaviour, from the use of lead and mercury. In more recent times concerns over metal toxicity resulted in the enforcement of unleaded fuels. The scientists are not just concerned about the obvious pollutants such pharmaceutical drugs leaking into the environment but they also warn about the potential unknowns such as chemicals in plastics, washing agents, fabrics and personal care products. The forum have come up with a roadmap they are urging policy makers, regulatory authorities, environmental leaders to act upon. The recommendations are: - Improve the mechanisms of how science studies contaminated-induced behavioural changes. - Develop new and adapt existing standard toxicity tests to include behaviour. - Develop an integrative approach to environmental risk assessment, which includes behaviour. Not just mortality, growth and reproduction. - Improve the reliability of behavioural tests, which need to allow for variation in behavioural reactions. - Develop guidance and training on the evaluation of reporting of behavioural studies. - Better integration of human and wildlife behavioural toxicology. Professor Ford said: "We know from human toxicology and pharmaceutical drug development that regulatory authorities and industry have advanced with confidence in the use of behavioural endpoints, either in chemical risk assessment and drug development. We are yet to see this used fully when addressing the health of the environment and the impacts chemicals may have on wildlife behaviours. There is real concern around our lack of knowledge of how pollutants affect wildlife and human behaviour and our current processes for assessing this are not fit for purpose." Dr Gerd Maack, from the German Environment Agency (UBA) and host of the forum, added: "We know that chemicals affect human and wildlife behaviours, especially hormones are affecting the mating behaviour of vertebrates. However, this knowledge is still not reflected in the regulation of chemicals in Europe, partly due to a lack of standardised methods, but also due to a non-understanding of the more complex study designs by many regulators. As one of the first of its kind, this workshop brought together behavioural scientists and regulators underpinning the importance of behavioural studies for the regulation. The results of this paper will serve a road map for a better acceptance and integration of behaviour studies in regulatory practices." Joel Allen, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said: "Along with my U.S. EPA colleagues, Jim Lazorchak and Stephanie Padilla, and as participants in the workshop and the preparation of this manuscript, we are excited about being part of a ground-breaking area in the potential use of behavioral responses to chemicals in chemical risk assessments as well as being co-authors on this topic in the prestigious Environmental Science and Technology Journal." Dr Marlene Agerstrand, an expert of chemicals risk assessment from the University of Stockholm said: "The regulation of chemicals is constantly evolving, as the scientific basis improves. A workshop like this, where researchers and regulators meet, could be the starting point for a change in how behavioural studies are viewed upon in the regulatory sphere. In this paper, we have identified knowledge gaps and regulatory needs with the purpose to continue the discussion with a wider stakeholder group." The forum took place at the German Environment Agency (UBA). ### A bill to increase the penalties for moving historical monuments caused sharp disagreement at a public hearing in the Alabama House State Government Committee this afternoon. The bill would revise the Memorial Preservation Act, a law passed four years ago when momentum was building for removal of Confederate monuments. The law came into play several times in Alabama last year, as Confederate statues came down in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and other communities across Alabama. The law provides a $25,000 fine against cities or counties that remove monuments in place 40 years or more. The bill to strengthen the penalties, by Rep. Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka, would impose fines of $10,000 against each public official and other people who participate in removal of or renaming a monument or memorial building. The fines would apply daily until the violation is rectified. It would make other changes in the law to add new restrictions to removing monuments or renaming memorial buildings and memorial streets. The bill also makes it a violation to disparage a monument or reinterpret it with new signage. The committee took no vote on Holmes bill today. The chairman, Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, did not commit to taking a vote at the next committee meeting in two weeks. Holmes said he still hopes to get a vote on his bill, which is House Bill 242. Only eight days remain in the legislative session. Holmes said he and other lawmakers have heard from people in their districts who want a stronger law to protect monuments. HB242 is about preserving our state and local history, Holmes said. This preservation is very important to Alabama voters. But Black lawmakers questioned whether memorials honoring the Confederacy are an accurate portrayal of history. If were going to tell it, lets tell it all, Rep. Rolanda Hollis, a Democrat from Birmingham, told Holmes. Lets talk about some of these monuments are a disgrace to some of us. People that looked like me were kidnapped. They were raped. They were beaten. And nothing was done about it. The legislation has caused a racial divide for years. Black lawmakers opposed the Memorial Preservation Act when it passed four years ago, but it passed with strong support from the all-white Republican majority. Todays, some supporters of Holmes bill who spoke at the public hearing said the Civil War was not fought about slavery. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, responded to that. The Civil War was fought to uphold slavery, Givan said. To keep their feet and hands and their knees on Blacks necks. That is what the Civil War was fought about all night and all day. We should get tired of taking Alabama back. We should, at some point, not want that stain on us. It was not the first disagreement between Givan and Holmes on the issues. Givan has also proposed a bill to revise the Memorial Preservation Act, but it takes the opposite approach. It would have set up a process for cities and counties to move monuments from taxpayer owned property, like courthouse lawns, to cemeteries, parks, or other communities. The bill, which Givan developed with help from the Department of Archives and History, failed to win approval in the House Judiciary Committee on a vote taken in March. Holmes opposed that bill. At that time, Givan attributed the defeat of her bill to racist attitudes on the part of some lawmakers, including Holmes. Holmes disputed that, saying his position was based on efforts to preserve history and were not related to race. Others who voted against Givans bill then said they were responding to the sentiment of people in their districts. Today, Holmes agreed with the point made by some of the speakers that slavery was not the cause of the Civil War, but was about tariffs and taxes instead. He also said the purpose of his bill is not solely to protect Confederate monuments. This bill protects all monuments, Holmes said. The Rosa Parks statue. They dont seem to give any credence to that. Theres people that would like to tear up and destroy that monument. This bill is aimed at trying to keep some harmony here and protect all monuments. Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, spoke in opposition to the bill. Brasfield told lawmakers on the committee he had the same concern as he did when the Memorial Preservation Act was first introduced in 2015 and when it became law in 2017. I believe the people who picked you, who are the same people who picked the county commissioners in your county, were smart enough to pick people who could make decisions on local issues, Brasfield said. And I believe the control of the property thats been vested in Alabama law by the county commission should be under the control of the county commission. And the county commission should have the ability to make decisions about its property. Related: Defeat of bill to revise Confederate monuments law rooted in racism, sponsor says Three personalities in the built environment and local governance have strongly given their support to the call for the country to have a new administrative capital. They have, therefore, called on duty bearers to take a bold decision to initiative plans for the relocation of the capital city from Accra to another part of the country. The three are a governance expert, Dr Eric Oduro Osae; the President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Rev. Professor Charles Adams, and the President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Dr John Amaglo. They agree that the move is not only necessary to deal with the congestion, over-population and flooding in Accra but also open up the country for further development, economic prospects, job creation, among other things. They have called for stakeholder consultations to decide on the most suitable place for the relocation of the capital. Akuoko Sarpong The Omanhene of the Agogo Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region, Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, last week re-ignited the debate on the need to relocate the capital city from Accra. It is time for the government to take bold steps at creating a new administrative capital for the country to solve the chronic congestion and related development challenges Accra has been subjected to and which make the future even more daunting, he had told the Daily Graphic. His call came on the back of a similar suggestion on January 10, 2018 by a consulting engineer and city planner, Prof. Nii Odartei Mills, who cited the poor state of the national capital as basis for his call. Although he did not name any particular place for development into a new national capital, he argued that poor planning, indiscipline and congestion in Accra were enough bases to have a new befitting capital. Dr Osae, Rev. Prof. Adams and Dr Amaglo agreed virtually with all the arguments espoused for the relocation of the capital city from Accra. Examples abound Dr Osae said it was about time the country took the bull by the horns to relocate the capital, saying that in all other countries where the capital city was over-populated and very congested, one of the ways to deal with that was to relocate it to another place. He cited Nigeria, where Abuja was created as the new administrative capital, and Cote dIvoire, where the administrative capital was relocated to Yamoussoukro, while Abidjan remained the commercial capital, and said: I believe it is about time we did it. Dr Eric Oduro Osae A governance expert We are going to do the National Population and Housing Census and we can have very good, empirical and evidential bases to support that particular agenda. But my caution is that we should not politicise it because if we do that, we will fail. What we can do is have a National Capital Development Law that will be documented, and once Parliament passes it into law, it will stand the test of time, he said. Dr Osae added that within the law, the country could have a short to medium and long-term strategy towards relocating the national capital to another area, where it could have a large land size to facilitate expansion and government businesses being located at one place. Dr Osae, who is also the Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, said at the moment, the central business district of Accra was over-populated and very congested. Asked about the next appropriate location, he said the issue of Dodowa, with its large tract of land, could be revisited, although there were other areas that could be considered as well. However, he said, the capital should not be located in the middle of the country, as that would make it landlocked and affect administration. I think we have enough land in this country, except that it should be closer to the sea, so that it will facilitate effective business transactions, he added. Security Dr Osae said security wise, it was dangerous to have all government businesses in one location because if the country is attacked, we are doomed. Security wise, we may also decide to spread out some of our sensitive national installations and national offices to other places, so that it will be difficult for people who want to attack the country to attack all of them at a go. So we have to think through it and develop short, medium to long-term goals, he said. Rev. Prof. Adams noted that Accra, which was not well planned, had sprawled beyond what could be easily re-engineered into a decent city, saying: On that score, I would say that Ghana should be thinking of building a more model city that will be the future capital of the country. He said apart from the unplanned nature of Accra and the congestion, factors such as flooding and Accra being prone to earthquakes made it imperative for the relocation of the capital city. Rev. Professor Charles Adams President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers Re-engineering Accra into a decent place, the GhIE President said, would require the demolition of a lot of structures and the payment of huge amounts in compensation, which the government would have to bear. Accra cannot be the future of Ghana because Ghana is the host of the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and all the other things that we boast of for being the gateway to Africa. If you look at the city, I dont think it is befitting of a gateway to Africa, he said. Moreover, Rev. Prof. Adams said, apart from the sea, all the inland water bodies had been messed up completely, while the waste system was also not working effectively, all because of the lack of proper planning. Again, he said, in Accra, industrial enclaves had been mixed with residential settlements. The city has been allowed to grow on its own. The city authorities make plans that cannot be implemented because the city has been built already. So we have people who go to work to try to plan but there is nothing they can plan and implement. You dont own the lands, they are for people; so what can you do? Look at the road network in Accra everything is in a complete mess, Rev. Prof. Adams pointed out. Aside from the central area that was built in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, other places are dusty and mixed up, he said. Jobs Another reason for the creation of a new city, Rev. Prof. Adams said, was the generation of jobs for the unemployed. For a country owing a lot of money and not able to create wealth for its people, building a new city will mean creating more jobs. This can trigger other investments in the country. We may not have all the money, but it does not also mean that we should not dream. Our dream cannot be Accra as it is; if Accra is the dream, then we are doomed, he said. In terms of a suitable place, he suggested that there should be broad-based consultations across the political divide, taking into consideration a number of factors. I would rather we determined what was needful and the key priorities and how that would help the whole country, he said. He said the engineers institution was ready to make inputs into plans to set up a new city. Dr Amaglo For his part, Dr Amaglo said the idea of having a new capital was laudable and of a necessity, and that there was the need to do a thorough job about what would go into the implementation of such a decision. It is a laudable idea because if you see the present situation in Accra, it is not the best. Theres congestion all over the place, with people trading anywhere and vehicles picking and dropping passengers anywhere, he observed. Dr John Amaglo President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors The Surveyors President said building a new capital, well planned with good layouts, would help open up the country for businesses and job opportunities. Dr Amaglo said with good planning and layout, problems such as flooding, among other things, could be dealt with anytime it rained. The roads, alignments and other things should also be taken into consideration. My only worry is how it will be implemented; if there wont be cutting of corners, he said. He, however, indicated that before such a decision was taken, there was the need for consultations across the country for inputs from various stakeholders in order to have a generally acceptable plan for what the new city would look like. Dr Amaglo also suggested that the plan should go beyond a few stakeholders coming together to do that and rather called for a national consultation to discuss the nitty gritty. The conversation should cover full disclosure on where funding would come from, the location, reasons for the selection of location and so on, making it a long-term plan, he said. The country should be able to give itself between one and five years to take such a bold decision. I believe that within that period we should be able to have a plan that is workable, Dr Amaglo stated. Again, the Institution of Surveyors, its President said, was ready to support in that direction by drawing on the expertise of its members across the country. We have what it takes to help build a new city. If the institution is called upon, we have our expertise and are ready to offer it for the national good. From the three institutions that we have ...we should be at the centre of activities to give advice on how to approach this thing, Dr Amaglo stated. Asked where he thought would be a suitable place, the President of the Institution of Surveyors said that should be left to the various stakeholders, professionals and technocrats who would be brought together during the consultations. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 20:57:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 13, 2021 shows a coastal restaurant with few guests in Beirut, Lebanon. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese restaurant sector, best known for its delicious food and generosity, is on the verge of meltdown under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lasting economic crisis. An estimated 4,300 restaurants and cafes out of a total of 8,500 closed between Oct. 17, 2019, the beginning of the current uprising in Lebanon, and December 2020, according to Tony al-Rami, president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs and Pastries. "The uprising, along with the following economic crisis, coronavirus and Beirut port's blasts, has dealt a deadly blow to restaurants all over the country," al-Rami told Xinhua. He noted that 2,069 restaurants were partially or completely destroyed by the blasts that ripped through the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020, killing at least 200 people, injuring around 6,000 others and devastating a huge area of the Lebanese capital. Meanwhile, the lockdowns imposed by the Lebanese authorities to curb the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the bankruptcy of hundreds of restaurant owners, who have continued to cover expenses without generating any revenues, al-Rami said. Lebanon has been going through its worst economic and financial crisis amid a shortage of U.S. dollars and the collapse of the local currency. In addition, banks have imposed unofficial capital control on people's access to their U.S. dollar deposits while restricting withdrawals from accounts in Lebanese pounds. "All of these factors kept the majority of the population from visiting restaurants as it has become a luxury that only five percent of the Lebanese can afford," al-Rami explained. Restaurant managers interviewed by Xinhua complained about the slump in business, urging authorities to restore political and economic stability to support their survival. "We've lost about 70 percent of our customers. Today most of our visitors are either Lebanese expatriates or foreigners who work in international companies in Lebanon," said Ihab Ayoub, manager at Bayrock Cafe, one of the country's most popular cafes. Ayoub explained that local customers can no longer afford a meal in restaurants as their salaries have lost more than 80 percent in value after the collapse of the local currency. "Our weekly clients are now visiting monthly," Michel Abi Mansour, outlet manager at Cozmo restaurant in Achrafieh, one of the oldest district of Beirut, told Xinhua. The young manager noted that the purchase of ingredients in U.S. dollar prompted restaurant owners to hike prices. "Our prices rose by at least 30 percent, so only a few people can afford now," he said. Restaurant managers also reported a mass layoff of employees in the hope of sustaining their operations. Al-Rami told Xinhua that an estimated 110,000 out of the total 160,000 restaurant employees in Lebanon were laid off, while the remaining 50,000 work part-time. He called for political stability in Lebanon, noting this is very essential to hold back the growing trend of restaurants' owners leaving the country to the Gulf and Egypt. Enditem Medical staffers examine citizens before COVID-19 inoculation at a vaccination center on Jeju Island, Wednesday. Yonhap Country reports 731 new COVID-19 cases, highest since Jan. 7 By Bahk Eun-ji The latest blow to Korea's COVID-19 vaccination program appears to be the potential danger of blood clots being caused by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine. The program has already been revised multiple times whenever issues emerged regarding supply or safety concerns. The situation is posing a great threat to the country's plan for reaching herd immunity by November. On late Tuesday, the U.S. health authorities recommended temporary suspension of the use of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, citing the rare but severe instances of blood clotting. The government has made contract with Johnson & Johnson to introduce 6 million doses with a goal to begin to bring the vaccine in the second quarter, with no specific schedule being set yet. Unlike other vaccines that need two shots, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which had been expected to be a "game changer," needs to be administered only once. Following the U.S. authorities' measure, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, Wednesday, it would review the blood clotting cases from overseas and decide what to do. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine gained the ministry's approval last week. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) also said it would discuss with the ministry whether to use Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, when imported, and convene a meeting with health experts. Earlier, there had been concerns of blood clotting with the AstraZeneca vaccine. AstraZeneca's product initially caused controversy over its efficacy on senior citizens. Then blood clotting cases were reported here and abroad, so Korea temporarily suspended administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged under 60. The country resumed use of the product for people under 60 on March 7, but four days later it excluded those under 30. Under this new measure, 77.5 percent of the country's service members, or 450,000 out of 581,000 who were supposed to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in the second quarter, became unable to get the shots. A series of these policy changes following public distrust and anxiety have made it almost impossible for the government to achieve its goal of vaccinating 12 million people within the first half of the year and achieving herd immunity by November. The government said it may swap the vaccine with product of other companies for service members, but there are still not enough vaccines to replace it. The volume confirmed to be introduced in the first half of this year is for 9.04 million people, and 59 percent of it, or those for 5.34 million people, are AstraZeneca's. The government was planning to introduce other vaccines such as Johnson & Johnson, Novavax and Modena in the second quarter, but the volume has not been decided yet. Meanwhile, the country reported 731 more COVID-19 cases for Tuesday, including 714 local infections, raising the total caseload to 111,319, the KDCA said. The Tuesday number was the highest since Jan. 7. New York, April 14, 2021 - Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, is pleased to announce Portland State University as the winner of the 3rd Annual Karen Hunter Memorial Award. The Karen Hunter award recognizes and encourages collaborations that advance information dissemination via technology. Awardees receive US$5000 and support to attend 2021 ACRL Virtual Conference, where an award reception will be hosted. The team at Portland State University Library demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the promotion and publication of openly licensed textbooks in order to save students money, increase student retention rates and improve student learning through the development of the PDXOpen initiative. PDXOpen has provided a tremendous impact on student learning and empowering instructors to engage in new pedagogical models to focus on increasing student success and engagement. Karen Bjork, Head of Digital Initiatives & Scholarly Publishing said: "Our open access textbook publishing initiative, PDXOpen provides the essential service of saving students money while increasing the visibility of our University scholars. PDXOpen supports another core PSU Library value -- student success -- and we are able to develop partnerships across campus with faculty, students and others who share these goals." The Portland State University library team involved in the creation and success of the PDXOpen initiative are Karen Bjork; Amy Stanforth, Student Success Librarian; Stephanie Doig, Library Office Manager; and Tammy Klupar, Library Office Coordinator. Gwen Evans, Vice President of Global Library Relations, Elsevier said, "Libraries and publishers have productively worked together to offer and implement e-resources, technology, and services. PDXOpen is an exemplary example of how libraries are experimenting and innovating by finding new ways to deliver content and help faculty facilitate remote instruction. The Karen Hunter Memorial Award is one way for us to continue to celebrate and bring visibility to these important library achievements." The Elsevier Karen Hunter Memorial Award was established in 2018 to honor Karen's legacy. In her four decades at Elsevier, Karen led groundbreaking initiatives in scholarly communications in partnership with the research community. You can read more about Karen and her contributions here. --- About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,100 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,500+ digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, our 40,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. http://www. elsevier. com Media contact Jonathan Davis Elsevier Communications, Europe +31 20 485 2719 j.davis.1@elsevier.com">j.davis.1@elsevier.com ### Matt Gaetz is facing a federal investigation into sex trafficking allegations, turmoil inside his congressional office and a flurry of unsavory reports about his conduct toward women. But his position inside the House GOP conference is safe at least for now. While top Republicans acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations surrounding Gaetz, just one sitting GOP lawmaker has so far publicly called on him to resign: Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Instead, Republican leaders on Tuesday were quick to defer to the ongoing Justice Department probe, noting that the Florida Republican would automatically lose his committee assignments if he were indicted. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said he needs to see what the facts are and pointed out there hasnt been any formal DOJ action yet, but added that obviously were watching it close." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who last week called the accusations serious," declined to say whether Gaetz should step down if the claims are true. These are hypotheticals, he told POLITICO in the hallways. We will deal with everything as they come. McCarthy also indicated he planned to talk to Gaetz at some point, but its unclear whether the two have connected yet. And while House GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the highest-ranking Republican woman, called the accusations sickening during a Sunday interview on CBS, she told POLITICO Tuesday that I am not going to comment on it anymore, but thanks for asking. Gaetz is one of Cheneys chief antagonists in Congress; he even flew to Wyoming earlier this year to troll her at a campaign-style rally. The restraint from GOP leadership which came as lawmakers returned to Washington for the first time since the news broke that the DOJ is looking into Gaetz suggests its unlikely that Gaetz will suffer any intra-party consequences until the investigation is complete. Still, as members trickled into the Capitol Tuesday, many rank-and-file Republicans were desperate to avoid talking about the Florida firebrand, with some pulling out all the stops to avoid reporters questions. Story continues Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said bluntly that he didnt want to be drawn into talking about that. One GOP lawmaker jokingly pretended to not to see reporters in the hallway. Another Republican, when asked about Gaetz, sarcastically responded: Who? Gaetz could face a reprimand from the House Democratic majority, which moved to strip Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) of her committee assignments earlier this year for incendiary rhetoric. But even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signaled hesitance about going down that path, instead putting that responsibility on McCarthys shoulders. I think there's been a clear violation of [House rules], but it's up to the Ethics Committee to investigate that and it's up to the Republican leader, Mr. McCarthy, to act upon that behavior, Pelosi said on CBS Face The Nation" this week when asked about Gaetz. The New York Times first reported that the DOJ is looking into Gaetzs alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and whether he violated sex trafficking laws or paid women for sex using online payments. The probe started under the Trump administration. The House Ethics Committee is also investigating a litany of allegations, including a CNN report confirmed by POLITICO that Gaetz showed his colleagues nude pictures and videos of women in his phone. So far, Gaetz has remained defiant and denied any allegations of wrongdoing. As he entered and exited the Capitol on Tuesday, Gaetz deflected reporters' questions about the investigation and instead highlighted an attempt by conservative group Project Veritas to undercut CNNs credibility. The general reluctance to admonish Gaetz, even among some of his biggest foes, comes as GOP lawmakers and even some Democrats have called on New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign in the wake of multiple sexual harassment allegations. But Republicans say Cuomos case is different because the New Yorker's accusers were on the record. With Gaetz, its just hearsay. If you had multiple 17-year-olds coming out and saying 'he paid me to travel with him,' I think that itd be different, said one GOP lawmaker, who only would discuss the allegations on condition of anonymity. It looks terrible, the member added. But again, we dont know if its true or not. Still, Republicans are coming under increasing pressure to distance themselves, and their party, from Gaetz. At least two GOP moderates have so far returned or donated contributions that they received from the Florida Republican, a sign that ties to Gaetz could be toxic in key swing districts. A third Republican, freshman Rep. Mike Garcia of California, wants to let the legal process play out, but said if Gaetz is indicted or resigns, he would donate the campaign funds to a womens shelter. "If somebody broke that law, then they would be facing time in prison," said Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). "But, what I would say to you is simply this: Matt gets his due process." Freshman GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, also from Florida, echoed a similar sentiment: "That investigation needs to be concluded ... Everybody is innocent until found guilty. So let's wait." This isnt the first time McCarthy and his leadership team have had to grapple with fringe members in their ranks. Greene was kicked off her committees by Democrats for her past inflammatory rhetoric; she has also caused headaches by forcing a series of procedural votes on the House floor. It could be equally hard to rein in Gaetz, a conservative gadfly who gained popularity with the MAGA crowd by fashioning himself as a warrior for former President Donald Trump and regularly appearing on Fox News. Adopting the Trump playbook on scandals, Gaetz stated in a recent op-ed that he absolutely wont step down from Congress and blamed the allegations on the deep state and fake news media at a weekend event in Florida. I wont be intimidated by a lying media, and I wont be extorted by a former DOJ official and the crooks he is working with, Gaetz said at the gathering, organized by the pro-Trump group Women for America First. The truth will prevail. While almost no Republicans have called on Gaetz to resign, very few have rushed to defend him, either. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a Trump acolyte and the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, was one of the lone Republicans who said he believes Gaetz and thinks he should keep his plum seat on the Judiciary panel. Gaetz already had few friends and a less-than-sterling reputation on Capitol Hill, leaving him short on political capital. And two congressional aides have resigned from Gaetzs office amid the steady stream of allegations and unflattering news stories about their boss. The women of his office released a statement defending Gaetz, though it was left unsigned. Its unclear what Gaetzs potential criminal exposure is. If he is indicted, he would have to forfeit his committee assignments under House rules. But he wouldn't face mandatory eviction from the House GOP conference under that scenario. If Republicans wanted to push him out of their ranks, it would take a two-thirds majority the same threshold required to expel a member from Congress. There is recent precedent for indicted Republicans refusing to leave Congress and then winning re-election. Trump allies and former GOP Reps. Chris Collins (N.Y.) and Duncan Hunter (Calif.) both refused to step down after being indicted for insider trading and campaign finance violations, respectively, though they ultimately resigned when their legal troubles caught up with them. But given the disturbing nature of the allegations surrounding Gaetz, some Republicans predict that it would be tough for him to survive politically if he is charged with a crime. I dont think anybody should resign based on allegations. But if he did everything they say he did, he shouldnt [be in Congress], said another House Republican. Freshman Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who represents a key swing district, said Gaetz deserves due process and it's too early to make a judgment call. But, she added: "Any allegations like that are upsetting ... Something as grave as that, I don't care if you have an R or a D by your name, that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." An alleged drunk driver crashed into a Laredo police marked unit and injured an officer, authorities said. Jose Luis Fuentes, 23, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated-refusal/collision, a Class B misdemeanor punishable with up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine or both. At about 2:19 a.m. April 10, Officer Vicente Ceballos was stationary in his marked patrol unit with its emergency lights activated assisting with a rollover crash by Interstate 35 and Frankfort Street. Ceballos then observed a red Ford F-150 through his rear view mirror approaching rapidly and then crashing into his unit, states the affidavit. Ceballos then observed the driver, Fuentes, exiting the vehicle. Fuentes was detained under the suspicion of driving drunk. Police said Fuentes had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath along with loud and slurred speech. The defendant appeared to have trouble balancing as he swayed around from side to side, states the affidavit. Fuentes failed a field sobriety test and refused to provide a sample of his breath, according to police. Ceballos had to be taken to the hospital after he complained of neck and back pain. He and Fuentes were taken to local hospitals for non-life threatening injuries, authorities said. This is the second recent incident where an alleged drunk driver rear-ended a cop car. Last weekend, a woman accused of driving while intoxicated was arrested after crashing into an LPD unit from behind in north Laredo. KUNGALV, Sweden, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Extraordinary measures as a result of the coronavirus As a result of the spread of the coronavirus, New Wave Group has, in accordance with the Act (2020:198), resolved that shareholders will not be allowed to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy. A person not being a shareholder will neither be allowed to attend. Shareholders will be able to exercise their voting rights by way of postal voting. Postal Voting Shareholders, who wish to exercise their voting rights at the Meeting, shall be registered in the register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on 10 May 2021 and send their postal vote to: New Wave Group AB (publ), "AGM", Kungsportsavenyen 10, SE-411 36 Goteborg, Sweden Shareholders shall use the form for postal voting, available on the company's website www.nwg.se (the form will only be available in the Swedish language). The postal vote shall have been received by the company no later than on 18 May 2021. Please note that postal voting must be done by sending a physical letter, postal voting be e-mail is not accepted. A shareholder that sends a postal vote to the company in accordance with what is set out above must not give notice of participation, the postal vote form is accepted as notice of participation to the Meeting. If the shareholder intends to be represented by proxy, a written, dated, power of attorney shall be issued for the proxy. The original power of attorney should be sent to the company at the address above and received by the company no later than on 18 May 2021. If the power of attorney is issued by a legal entity, a certified copy of the corporate registration certificate and other authorization documents should be sent to the company. Please note that shareholders who are represented by proxy must also give notice of participation as stipulated above. A proxy form is available on the company's website www.nwg.se. Shareholders who have trustee-registered shares must, in order to be entitled to participate in the Meeting, register the shares in their own name. Such temporary registration that is made by the trustee no later than on 12 May 2021 will be taken into account. The shareholder shall accordingly in good time prior to this date request the trustee holding the shares to carry out such temporary registration. Information on the resolutions passed at the Meeting will be published on 19 May 2021 as soon as the result of the advance voting has been finally confirmed. Proposed agenda: 1. Opening of the Meeting 2. Election of Chairman of the Meeting 3. Preparation and approval of the voting list 4. Approval of the agenda 5. Election of one or two minutes-checkers 6. Determination of whether the Meeting has been duly convened 7. Presentation of the Annual Report and the Auditors' Report, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Auditors' report on the Consolidated Financial Statements and presentation of Auditors' Statement regarding compliance with the principles of determination of remuneration to senior executives which has been in force since the last Annual General Meeting. 8. Resolutions on a. Adoption of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Income Statement and Consolidated Balance Sheet b. Allocation of the company's profit in accordance with the adopted Balance Shee Discharge from liability for the Board Members and the Managing Director 9. Determination of the number of Board Members to be elected 10. Determination of the remuneration to be paid to the Board of Directors and the Auditors 11. Election of members of the Board and the Chairman of the Board 12. Election of Auditor 13. Adoption of principles for appointing members of the Nomination Committee 14. Resolution on authorization of the Board of Directors to resolve on directed new issues of shares for the purpose of financing acquisitions of companies or businesses or part thereof 15. Resolution on authorization of the Board of Directors to take up certain financing 16. Resolution on adoption of new articles of association 17. Closing of the Meeting Election of Chairman of the Meeting (item 2): The Nomination Committee, which is constituted of Ulf Hedlundh, Svolder Aktiebolag (Chairman), Arne Loow, Fjarde AP-fonden and Torsten Jansson, Torsten Jansson Holding AB, proposes Olof Persson as the Chairman of the Meeting. Preparation and approval of the voting list (item 3): The voting list that is proposed to be adopted under item 3 of the agenda is the voting list that is compiled by New Wave Group AB based on the register of shareholders and received postal votes that have been reviewed by the minutes-checkers. Election of one or two minutes-checkers (item 5): It is proposed that Torsten Jansson and Goran Harstedt are elected as minutes-checkers, or, if either or both of them is/are prevented to do so, the person(s) that is/are appointed by the Nomination Committee. The minutes-checkers shall also review the voting list and ensure that received postal votes are correctly registered in the minutes of the Meeting Allocation of the company's profit (item 8 b): In view of the on-going coronavirus pandemic and how it has affected the company, the Board of Directors propose that no dividend shall take place. All surplus, SEK 1,702,533,925, is instead proposed to be carried forward to new account. Number of Board members, remuneration of the Board of Directors and the Auditors and election of Board Members, Chairman of the Board and Auditor (item 9-12) : The Nomination Committee, representing approx. 85 percent of the votes and approx. 45 percent of the capital in the company, has presented the following proposals: The Board of Directors shall comprise eight Members and no Deputies. The suggestion is dependent upon a modification of section 7 of the articles of association. Re-election of Christina Bellander, Jonas Eriksson, Torsten Jansson, Olof Persson, M. Johan Widerberg and Mats Arjes as Board Members and election of Ralph Muhlrad and Ingrid Soderlund as new Board Members. Magdalena Forsberg has notified that she is not available for re-election. Re-election of Olof Persson as Chairman of the Board. Ernst & Young AB is proposed to be re-elected as Auditors. If the proposal is approved, Jonas Svensson will be the Auditor in charge. The fees to the Board of Directors are proposed to be paid with SEK 450,000 to the Chairman and with SEK 190,000 to each of the other Board Members who are not employed by the company. The fee to the audit committee is proposed to be an amount of SEK 130,000, to be distributed within the audit committee. Fee to the Auditor is proposed to be paid according to accepted invoice and agreement. Procedure for appointing members on the Nomination Committee (item 13): The Nomination Committee proposes that the Meeting resolves that a new Nomination Committee for the Annual General Meeting 2022 shall comprise representatives of three of the larger shareholders. The Nomination Committee shall fulfill the assignments stipulated in the Swedish Corporate Governance Code. The Chairman of the Board shall receive a mandate to contact the company's largest shareholders in terms of the number of votes according to the share register on 30 September 2021 and offer participation in the Nomination Committee. If any of these shareholders waives its right to appoint a representative, the next largest shareholder shall be asked to appoint a representative. The company shall publish the names of the members on the Nomination Committee on the company's webpage no later than six months before the Annual General Meeting. The Nomination Committee shall elect one representative as Chairman, who may not be the Chairman of the Board or a Board Member. The Nomination Committee's assignment is in force until a new Nomination Committee has been appointed. If there is a material change in the owner structure before the Nomination Committee has completed its assignment the Nomination Committee may, upon a decision by the Nomination Committee, change the composition of the Nomination Committee according to the principles stipulated above. Authorization of the Board of Directors to resolve on new issues of shares (item 14): The main content of the proposal is authorization of the Board of Directors, for a period up to the next Annual General Meeting, to resolve, whether on one or several occasions, on new issues of not more than 4,000,000 shares of series B. The authorization includes the right to adopt decisions on deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights, however not if the decision on new issue stipulates payment for the shares in cash only. By resolutions according to the authorization the share capital can be increased with not more than SEK 12,000,000. The authorization shall include a right to adopt decisions on new issues in kind or new issues by way of set-off or otherwise on such terms and conditions as referred to in Chapter 13, Section 5, item 6, of the Swedish Companies Act. The reasons for deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights are that the newly issued shares shall be utilized for financing acquisitions of companies or businesses or part thereof. The basis for the issue price shall be the share's market value. A resolution according to this proposal is valid only if supported by shareholders holding at least two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the Meeting. Authorization of the Board of Directors to take up certain financing (item 15): The main content of the proposal is authorization of the Board of Directors, for a period up to the next Annual General Meeting, to resolve about taking up financing of the kind regulated in Chapter 11, Section 11 of the Swedish Companies Act. The conditions for such financing shall be on market conditions. The reason for the authorization is that the company shall be able to take up financing, on attractive conditions, where inter alia the interest is related to the company's results or financial standing. Adoption of new articles of association (item 16): The content of the proposal is that the current articles of association are updated to allow for a minimum of four (instead of three) and a maximum of eight (instead of seven) board members. The possibility to appoint deputy Board Members is deleted. Additional information Complete proposals concerning the decisions stated above, accounting documents, the Auditor's report and other documents required according to the Swedish Companies Act, will be made available at the company's office on 15 April 2021 and will also be available on the company's website www.nwg.se. Shareholders that have questions regarding the Annual General Meeting are welcome to contact the company at: [email protected] Processing of personal data For information regarding processing of personal data in connection with the Annual General Meeting, please see https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf. Information in accordance with Chapter 7m Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act Shareholders who wish to receive information regarding circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, and circumstances that can affect the assessment of the company's or its subsidiaries' financial position and the company's relation to other companies within the Group, shall notify the company thereof no later than ten days prior to the Meeting. The Board of Directors and the Managing Director shall, if any shareholder so requests and the Board of Directors believes that it can be done without material harm to the company, provide such information by making them available in writing at the company no later than five days prior to the Meeting. The information shall further, within the same time frame, be sent to the shareholder who has requested it and also make the information available to the shareholders on the company's website www.nwg.se. Number of shares and votes When this notice to attend the Annual General Meeting was issued, the total number of shares in the company was 66,343,543 distributed among 19,707,680 shares of series A and 46,635,863 shares of series B, constituting a total of 243,712,663 votes. Goteborg in April 2021 New Wave Group AB (publ) The Board of Directors This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/new-wave-group/r/notice-annual-general-meeting-of-new-wave-group-ab--publ-,c3324651 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/932/3324651/1400895.pdf Press release (PDF) SOURCE New Wave Group Good cholesterol, which is transported in HDLs (high-density lipoproteins), plays a key part in the prevention of atherosclerosis and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, according to a new paper co-authored by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in the journal Circulation, the anti-inflammatory properties of HDLs could be an even better biomarker for future cardiovascular events. Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic local inflammation that leads to plaques in the blood vessels and that, if left untreated, can cause cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of death in the world. The inflammation, while unnoticeable, can cause considerable damage to the blood vessels, so it is important to identify at-risk individuals as early as possible to curb progression of the disease. HDLs carry away surplus cholesterol from the vessel wall to the liver. Today, the value for blood HDL cholesterol is used to help predict an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease. HDLs are commonly referred to as "good" cholesterol but HDL particles have several important functions, amongst them anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have for the first time interrogated whether the anti-inflammatory activity of HDL particles can predict the future risk of myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular events. For their data, the researchers used blood samples from participants of the Prevend (Prevention of REnal and Vascular End stage Disease) study in Groningen. Of the 8,592 participants, a selection was made of 369 who were healthy when the study began but who, on a 10.5-year follow-up, were recorded as having experienced a cardiovascular event. These individuals were then matched according to age, gender, smoking habit and levels of HDL cholesterol with healthy individuals from the same cohort. Despite identical HDL cholesterol levels, the participants who had suffered a cardiovascular event showed lower anti-inflammatory activity in their HDL particles, and this read-out of HDL function predicted the occurrence of cardiovascular events independent of conventional risk factors. Further, adding this value to all other parameters, the results for the conventional Framingham model for predicting cardiovascular risk improved. Also, risk prediction improved when the HDL cholesterol value was replaced by the anti-inflammatory HDL value in the Framingham score. "Our results point to new opportunities for improved cardiovascular risk assessment by using a biologically meaningful functional biomarker for HDL instead of its cholesterol content," says the study's last author, Professor Uwe Tietge at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. "However, the method for analysing the anti-inflammatory activity of HDLs is currently rather complex and difficult. Our next goal is therefore to make the method simpler and more clinically implementable." ### The study was supported by grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation. Professor Tietge was on a contract with Astra Zeneca unassociated with this study. There are no other reported conflicts of interest. Publication: "HDL anti-inflammatory capacity and incident cardiovascular events", Congzhuo Jia, Josephine L.C. Anderson, Eke G. Gruppen, Yu Lei, Stephan J.L. Bakker, Robin P. F. Dullaart and Uwe J.F. Tietge. Circulation, online April 12 2021, doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.050808. Registered with the Abu Dhabi Global Market, De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd. provides support and advice to companies seeking to establish a presence and to carry out investment projects in the Europe/Middle-East/Africa region. PARIS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd. is a platform providing support and advice with respect to clients' cross-border activities between the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The firm's lawyers provide clients with assistance from the Abu Dhabi's office, working in synergy with teams based in Paris during the various phases of their projects, from the initial establishment of a presence (public affairs consultancy), assistance in the context of clients' investments (corporate, M&A, financing, PPP, dealing with international tender processes, etc.), to the management of their transactions in strategic sectors (energy, mining, infrastructures, banking, IP/IT, etc.), as well as on issues related to divestment, litigation and international arbitration. The firm's clients can rely on integrated teams, as well as on a network of local correspondents selected independently to deal with legal aspects specific to the target countries. Correspondents are selected according to each project's requirements. De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes has extensive experience in advising key players in the EMEA region (companies, DFIs, investment funds, governments...), with multidisciplinary teams (including an integrated OHADA practice). The firm's lawyers advise Gulf clients on projects in Africa and Europe, pan-African institutions, and international groups regarding their investments in Africa and in the Middle East. "The growth of the economic flows between the Middle East and Africa was a decisive factor in our choice to open this subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates, which is a real hub for international business in the EMEA region", explains Jean-Baptiste Santelli, partner at De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes and director of the Abu Dhabi subsidiary. "It is a way for us to get closer to our clients who are already relying on our recognised full-service expertise for dealing with transactions in this geographical area". Office contact details De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd. 34, Al Maqam Tower, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates +9712-418-7530 [email protected] About De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes provides support to its clients in France and overseas with: 180 persons available to assist clients based on high standards, responsiveness and creativity. available to assist clients based on high standards, responsiveness and creativity. A full service practice in all areas of corporate law. practice in all areas of corporate law. Expertise that is recognised by the market (lawyers recommended in Chambers, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Leaders League). by the market (lawyers recommended in Chambers, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Leaders League). About twenty languages spoken (German, English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Danish, Dyula, Spanish, Ewe, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Kinyarwanda, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Tamil, Ukrainian). (German, English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Danish, Dyula, Spanish, Ewe, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Kinyarwanda, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Tamil, Ukrainian). Lawyers registered with 13 bars ( England / Wales , Beirut , Brussels , California , Ireland , Israel , Kiev , Luxembourg , New York , Paris , Quebec , Shanghai , Tunisia ). ( / , , , , , , , , , , , , ). A network of correspondents, selected for the quality of their services and the relevance of their expertise, across all continents. SOURCE De Gaulle Fleurance & Associes Mumbai, April 14 : Actor Farhan Akhtar took to Twitter to urge people to stay indoors, in his new social media post on Wednesday. The actor wrote about how one must not venture out just because there are political rallies and religious gatherings. He said it was important to not fall prey to "peer pressure". "People asking why should we stay in when political rallies and religious gatherings are going on should remember the schoolyard argument re peer pressure 'just because someone jumps off a cliff ...' #StayHome #staysafe." Section 144 has been imposed in the state of Maharashtra owing to the Covid outbreak, barring groups of more than five people in public. Meanwhile, the actor will soon be seen in the film "Toofan". He plays a boxer in the film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, and featuring Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal. South African airlines are doing everything they can to attract customers, like slashing prices and allowing passengers to take their dogs on a flight with them. The airline industry took a tremendous knock in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel bans. It resulted in the death of South African Airways (SAA) while Comair, which operates Kulula.com and British Airways in South Africa, entered into voluntary business rescue proceedings in May 2020. Towards the end of last year, the Comair Rescue Consortium injected fresh equity of R500-million into the airline which allowed it to take to the skies again after an eight-month absence. Kulula.com and British Airways resumed services on 1 December 2020 under new CEO Glenn Orsmond. Seeing Comair aircraft back in the skies signals the beginning of the end of one of the most complex and high-profile corporate restructurings in South Africa, said business rescue practitioner Richard Ferguson. Kulula.com is a well-known and loved brand in South Africa, but within two weeks of operating again it faced competition from newcomer Lift. On 10 December 2020, Lift started flying with routes between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Johannesburg and George. Although many people questioned the wisdom of starting a new airline during a pandemic, Lift founder Gidon Novick was confident it was the right move. He previously founded and ran Kulula.com, which means he knows what worked and what needs to be done to succeed. Lifts biggest value proposition is flexibility, where clients can change or cancel tickets without any penalty. Lift and Kulula.com joined other local airlines, including FlySafair and Airlink, to serve South African travellers. Just as the South African travel industry started to recover in December, the second COVID-19 wave hit. Numbers dropped off rapidly. Novick said they saw a significant decline in demand for flights in January. This lower demand forced airlines to find ways to fill seats. The easiest way was to cut prices, and British Airways launched two seat sales in the past few months. In its latest sale, which ends today, British Airways is offering the discounts below on local flights: Johannesburg to East London from R499. Johannesburg to Durban from R519. Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth from R579. Cape Town to East London from R599. Cape Town to Port Elizabeth from R639. Johannesburg to Cape Town from R679. Durban to Cape Town from R679. The discounted fares are available for travel between April 2021 and November 2021. This sale followed the airlines introduction of new booking options in January which give customers the flexibility to change the dates and destination of a booking without any change fee. The airlines book with confidence commitment allows customers to adapt to unforeseen circumstances as they need to, said British Airways sales and marketing executive, Brian Kitchin. The additional flexibility is clearly aimed at Lift which has been offering flexible bookings to travellers from launch. Lift is, however, not sitting back. It has created a unique offering which allows travellers to fly with their small dogs. Your dog will now be able to travel in a pet-friendly carry bag placed under the seat in front of you, Lift said. This is a first for local travel and we couldnt be more excited to have little paws flying with Lift. The airline put people who are allergic to dogs or simply dont like them at ease. Only a limited number of pets are allowed to travel on selected flights and a rigorous cleaning schedule is conducted in between flights, it said. Lift said larger dogs and other pets are not currently allowed on its flights, but added that people should watch this space. The battle between airlines to fill seats is good news for consumers who benefit from lower prices, more flexibility, and other benefits. Now read: Price cuts and flexible bookings from South African airlines It is Groundhog Day, said Tim Miller, a former adviser to Jeb Bush, the only candidate to repeatedly challenge Mr. Trump during the early stages of the Republican presidential primaries in 2016. I always thought that was like a rational choice in 2015, Mr. Miller said, referring to the instinct to lie back and let someone else take on Mr. Trump. But after we all saw how the strategy fails of just hoping and wishing for him to go away, nobody learned from it. Throughout that campaign, one candidate after another in the crowded field tried to position themselves to be the last man standing on the assumption that Mr. Trump would self-destruct before making it to the finish line. It was wishful thinking. Mr. Trump attacked not only Mr. Bush but several other candidates in deeply personal terms, including Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and the businesswoman Carly Fiorina. Only Mr. Bush sustained a response, though he eventually left the race after failing to gain traction; Mr. Cruz, in particular, told donors during a private meeting in late 2015 that he was going to give Mr. Trump a big bear hug in order to hold onto his voters. They all tried to avoid being the target of his insults, while hoping that external events and news media coverage would ultimately lead to his downfall. Instead, Mr. Trump solidified his position as primary voting began. He intimidates people because he will attack viciously and relentlessly, much more than any other politician, yet somehow people crave his approval, said Mike DuHaime, who advised former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey in that primary race. Mr. DuHaime recalled Mr. Trump attacking Mr. Bushs wife in one debate, only for Mr. Bush to reciprocate when Mr. Trump offered a hand-slap later in that same debate. Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna said on Wednesday that the current government "is up and running" and the decision on the way "ahead" will be made at the government coalition meeting requested by Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity (USR PLUS) after Minister of Health Vlad Voiculescu was removed from office. Barna called for an emergency meeting of the ruling coalition to discuss the withdrawal of confidence in Prime Minister Florin Citu, agerpres.ro confirms. "This Government is up and running, this Government exists, we will have a discussion in the coalition today to see how we move ahead," he said, when asked by journalists if the Citu Cabinet still exists. Asked if USR PLUS is considering leaving the government if the National Liberal Party (PNL) does not withdraw Florin Citu's confidence, he said: "I have full confidence in the wisdom of USR PLUS, PNL, UDMR [the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania] to find solutions so that Romania to move forward". "I have every confidence in the wisdom and maturity of the coalition members in the meeting we will have today, so that we can find a way to continue to function. The stake is to govern for Romania, which concerns us, and the answer is very simple and was given to us, I totally agree, by the prime minister this morning: Romania does not depend on one person alone. I agree 100% with that," explained the co-chair of USR PLUS. Dan Barna said that he also discussed with President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday and it remains to be seen whether the mediation of the head of state will be needed. "We had a discussion with the president a few hours ago, we will see if the president's mediation will be necessary," he said. A judge Wednesday sentenced ex-Weyerhaeuser employee Susan Tranberg to four years and nine months in federal prison for stealing more than $4.5 million from the company. From nearly 15 years, Tranberg, 62, of Eugene, submitted fraudulent invoices for payment to the timber company by contracting with bogus vendors, including one she created in her mothers name, according to prosecutors. She had worked for the lumber company in Springfield for 42 years. The fraud occurred from June 2004 through January 2019, according to court records. Earlier this year, she pleaded guilty to mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax evasion. U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane ordered Tranberg to pay more than $5.3 million in restitution -- $775,984 to Weyerhaeuser, $3,805,223 to a Crime Victims Fund and $807,033 to the Internal Revenue Service. Tranberg acknowledged the fraud in a signed statement to Weyerhaeuser that she wrote on Jan. 15, 2019, the day she was fired in a meeting with company officials at a hotel near the Springfield office. Weyerhaeuser filed the statement in court. There is no (one) else to punish but ME,' Tranberg wrote, offering to give up her 12 weeks of banked vacation pay, retirement and 401K to try to make things right. Tranberg defrauded the business by creating fake vendors and approving payment to the vendors by forging co-workers signatures. She also would hack into colleagues computer systems without authorization or their consent, according to company officials and court records. Tranberg began working for the company on Oct. 25, 1976, and served as finance and planning manager at the Springfield office when she was fired, according to Justin Nikbakhsh, Weyerhaeusers vice president of financial operations. The company sometimes buys timber from third parties for its manufacturing operations and occasionally makes advance payments to those vendors, allowing them to produce timber under contract to Weyerhaeuser. Since June 2014, such payments were processed electronically. Weyerhaeuser didnt learn of Tranbergs theft until Jan. 10, 2019, when it discovered irregularities in certain advance payments to vendors in its electronic system, Nikbakhsh wrote in a sworn statement. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian JERSEYVILLE Police have identified a man who died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot Sunday when Jerseyville Police tried to pull him over for questioning in a St. Louis homicide. Police said they had been alerted that the driver of a vehicle with Missouri plates was being sought in the investigation and saw a car matching the description about 11 p.m. Sunday on Spruce Street. MIAMI and CONCORD, N.H., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The State of New Hampshire's Department of Education has selected Miami-based ClassWallet to administer its highly innovative ReKINDling Curiosity Program. The program is designed to provide a summer camp experience for children with disabilities or those from low-income families who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 schooling disruptions. The program was established by Governor Christopher T. Sununu with $3 million in federal CARES Act funds and distributed using the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund. It will allow nearly 3,000 qualified students statewide to receive a one-time grant of between $350 to $650 to attend a New Hampshire-approved overnight or day youth recreation camp. The Department of Education estimates a $500 camp fee will pay for a one-week summer enrichment program in New Hampshire. The program was developed by the Department of Education to help alleviate some of the trauma resulting from the pandemic and the resulting changeover to remote and hybrid education instruction models. Its summer enrichment opportunities are intended to allow students to return to school in the fall with a rekindled curiosity, excitement and anticipation. How the Program Works ClassWallet is a financial technology company providing a suite of integrated payment, purchasing and reimbursement solutions for the K-12 education market. It will provide and manage its online FamilyWallet portal and allow New Hampshire-approved youth recreation camps to be offered in the system as providers. It will also enable families to register for the program and submit Department of Education-required documentation to verify student eligibility and the corresponding youth recreation camp fees for which each family will be eligible. Once approved, the FamilyWallet system will permit families to select their preferred provider and ClassWallet will process the fee payment directly to the youth recreation camp. "Our ReKINDling Curiosity Program is all about helping to alleviate the social, emotional and mental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on some of our most vulnerable school children," said Frank Edelblut, Commissioner of Education, State of New Hampshire. "We're grateful to the team at ClassWallet for working with us to administer the program in a timely and transparent manner to help carry out the vision of our governor in assisting as many needy school children as possible." FamilyWallet leverages the ClassWallet spending management platform to provide virtual wallets to grant and scholarship program recipients. This enables them to pay for tuition, goods and services. The platform allows parents to upload purchase orders and receipts, pay invoices, manage purchasing and pre-paid cards and receive automated reimbursements with broad transparency all while protecting data and privacy. Each state determines the rules and restrictions for its program which are then implemented by ClassWallet. "The New Hampshire ReKINDling Curiosity Program is the first of its kind and we are grateful to the Governor and the Department of Education for selecting us to implement and manage the program for them on a turnkey basis," said Jamie Rosenberg, ClassWallet founder and CEO. "Our company's DNA is all about setting-up and administering specialized funding programs to assist parents, students and school districts. We're pleased that our financial technology platform will be able to support such an important student population in New Hampshire." In addition to New Hampshire, ClassWallet has helped distribute federal education funding in Texas, Oklahoma and Idaho. It also runs programs in Arizona and North Carolina and is under consideration in several additional states. The company's original product offering, TeacherWallet, is currently in use in more than 165,000 classrooms spread across 3,600 schools in 20 states. For more information about the New Hampshire ReKINDling Curiosity Program visit (insert link). For more information about ClassWallet, contact [email protected] or call 877-969-5536. About ClassWallet Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Miami, ClassWallet (www.classwallet.com) is a financial technology company providing a suite of integrated payment, purchasing and reimbursement solutions for the K-12 education market. State and local education agencies utilize ClassWallet to distribute funds to teachers, families, schools, and maintenance staff while providing finance officers with sophisticated oversight, reconciliation and reporting tools. Products include TeacherWallet, FamilyWallet, MaintenanceWallet and SchoolWallet. The company's mission is to empower education agencies to achieve the highest levels of accountability, productivity and efficiency while cultivating a culture of trust and flexibility for their staff and stakeholders. CONTACTS: Doug Wright / Henry Feintuch / Ashley Blas Feintuch Communications 201-952-6033 / 914-548-6924 / 509-494-4053 [email protected] Media room SOURCE ClassWallet Related Links https://www.classwallet.com Three more Manitobans have been slapped with fines for allegedly breaking COVID-19 self-isolation orders, and with the province in the early stages of its third pandemic wave, public health experts say tolerance for restrictions is waning. Three more Manitobans have been slapped with fines for allegedly breaking COVID-19 self-isolation orders, and with the province in the early stages of its third pandemic wave, public health experts say tolerance for restrictions is waning. Between April 5 and 11, officers responsible for enforcing COVID-19 prevention orders issued 13 tickets to people who were found flouting the law, the province said, including three $1,296 tickets given to people who failed to self-isolate as required under the provincial Public Health Act. Another three tickets were given to people who violated gathering sizes, one was issued for unnecessary travel to northern Manitoba, five tickets were given to people for not wearing a mask in an indoor public place and 100 warnings were issued, the province said. Dr. Louis Francescutti, a professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, said the publics compliance with health orders appears to be slipping as the pandemic picks up momentum across Canada. "I think six months ago, the public was fatigued. Now theyre basically ignoring it and as were heading into the worst wave yet," Francescutti said. "This is when people are really letting their guard down as summer is coming. You could not have created a more perfect storm for this thing to not go away in the near term." The Edmonton emergency room physician said public buy-in for health orders can be influenced by the perceived chance someone might be caught while breaking the rules and whether or not scofflaws face consequences. "If the likelihood is kind of low, chances are good youre going to go ahead and do it because youve done it all your life, you dont believe that its a real issue, you dont know anyone whos gotten COVID and youve never seen a really sick COVID patient," he said. "By now, everyones been desensitized." Earlier this week, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said many new COVID-19 infections in Manitoba can be traced back to behaviour or events that break public health orders. The top doctor said people sick with COVID-19 are reporting a high number of close contacts and some have held "larger gatherings'' in private residences, including play dates, house parties and sleepovers. Provincial data show that earlier this month, one person sick with COVID-19 had as many as 57 close contacts. The virus has been spread by travellers who have not self-isolated on their return to Manitoba and by those who don't recognize very mild symptoms as COVID-19, Roussin said. Last week, five separate households were exposed to the virus because someone returned from Western Canada without quarantining, he said. "We continue to see transmission in all of our concerning places. This is that prolonged, indoor contact," Roussin said. On Tuesday, the province said it could not confirm whether any of the tickets issued were related to inter-provincial travel. The data released Tuesday show a decline in the number of tickets issued by enforcement officers compared with the past three weeks, even as daily case counts have moved back into the triple digits, with 135 new infections reported. Since enforcement of public health orders can be a challenge for governments that do not want to alienate their population or have orders that are difficult to enforce, Francescutti said to achieve good compliance with public health orders, governments must first earn public trust. "The sooner you can start sharing what information you have with the public so that the public knows youre being open and transparent, the more likely they are to want to be part of the team working towards the solution," he said. "But if you let politics get involved, and you try and minimize the severity of whats actually going on, then the public gets confused. They dont know if youre playing games or not playing games, they dont know when to take you seriously, or not take you seriously." In the past month, provincial data show 14 tickets have been given to people for failing to self-isolate. Two tickets have been given under the federal Quarantine Act, which requires international travellers to self-isolate on arrival to the country. Fifty tickets have been given to people for exceeding gathering size limits and seven tickets have been issued to businesses. Another 24 tickets were issued to people not wearing masks in indoor public places. Rather than step up reactive enforcement efforts such as ticketing scofflaws to combat pandemic fatigue and indifference to public health orders, a sustained and persuasive messaging campaign could be launched to proactively improve compliance and build public trust, the doctor said. "You need really high-level catchy, powerful in-your-face campaigns that are sustained over a period of time and that are measured as well," he said. Dr. Philippe Lagace-Wiens, a medical microbiologist at the St. Boniface Hospital, said many Manitobans have bought in to the public health interventions introduced since the start of the pandemic last spring. But as the province considers introducing new or increased restrictions to handle mounting COVID-19 case counts, Lagace-Wiens said clear messaging accompanied by evidence and data to support the decisions of public health will be necessary to get Manitobans on board. "So when public health goes on TV and says 'well, we're going to do this,' that won't get buy-in alone," Lagace-Wiens said. "I think a lot of focus needs to be made on the justification, and there is justification, so it should be out there. "I think the bottom line is clear, accurate, justifiable messaging. So you need to say why we're doing this, not just, we're doing this, he said. "You need to be authoritative, not authoritarian." Since last April, the provincial government said 3,683 warnings and 1,159 tickets have been issued in Manitoba. with files from Katie May Danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca By then, Mr. Robson had in fact made two friends, both Irishmen working for Victorian Railways. They decided to pretend he was a mainframe computer, since those were expensive and delicate important enough to make people heed labels that said This Side Up. Around 11 months after hed first arrived in Australia, Mr. Robson climbed into the crate with his supplies: a hammer, a suitcase, a pillow, a liter of water, a flashlight, a book of Beatles songs and an empty bottle he said was for obvious purposes. He said he did not take any food. I certainly wouldnt wish to go to the toilet whilst staying in a crate for five days, Mr. Robson said. Before departure, his friends asked whether he was sure he wanted to ship himself more than 10,000 miles in a crate. Its too late now to change my mind, he recalled saying. About 10 minutes later, a truck took the crate to the airport. If all had gone according to plan, he would have walked free around 36 hours later. Once loaded off the plane, he would hammer out one side of the crate, he said, and walk home, basically, at night. There wasnt a great deal of security in London airport back then, he said. He wasnt seeking publicity, he added. All I wanted to do was to get back to the U.K. and disappear into the other 17 million that lived here and nobody would ever know it happened. But well after 36 hours, he was still in the crate. The pain hit him just two hours in. In Sydney, he was flipped upside down for 23 hours. He was placed upright on the next flight, which, instead of going to London, was diverted through Los Angeles. South Korea wants to take Japan to an international court. Taiwan and China demand the involvement of neighbouring countries before any decision is made. China is threatening action. For the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Japans plan meets scientific standards. Tokyo (AsiaNews) South Korea, Taiwan and China are protesting against Japan's plan to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, damaged 10 years ago by a tsunami, into the sea. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga yesterday said that a million tonnes of wastewater used to cool crippled reactors no longer pose a danger to safety and health. He stressed that the operation would be conducted in such a way as to protect the local fishing industry, which was concerned about the damage to its image. In addition to fishermen, environmental groups and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan are opposed to the initiative. South Korea today said that it was prepared to take Tokyo to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in issued the instruction before meeting with Japans new ambassador to South Korea for his accreditation ceremony. A sign of how serious South Korea is taking the issue, the meeting included other foreign ambassadors. For the South Korean government, the legal initiative includes a formal request for the tribunal to move against Japans decision to release wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The Suga administration explained that the disposal process will begin in two years' time, and that the released waters will be treated through an Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS). The latter removes the most radioactive elements, such as strontium and caesium, from wastewater, leaving only non-harmful quantities of tritium. For environmental groups, more innovative methods exist. Taiwan has not been convinced by Japans reassuring claims. Taiwanese authorities have asked the Japanese government to cooperate with its neighbours before making a final decision. Its Atomic Energy Council has urged Japanese authorities to share information on what impact the release will have at sea. China, for once, agrees with Taiwan. According to Beijing, the Japanese are being irresponsible. Without giving details, China has threatened to take action against Japan, whose decision is seen as a danger to the health and safety not only of the peoples of the region, but of the whole world as well. A study by Nanjing University of Science and Technology in China suggests that caesium leaked following the Fukushima accident has already polluted the East China Sea. Like Taiwan, China is concerned that it was not properly consulted by Japan. However, Japan has received support from the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency. In this unique and challenging situation, Japan has weighed the options and effects, has been transparent about its decision and appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards, said a spokesperson for the US State Department. SEATTLE, WA Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. 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 Online Masters in Christian Counseling Degree Programs. Intelligent.com analyzed 143 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 32 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Christian Counseling Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-christian-counseling-degree-programs/ 2021 Online Masters in Christian Counseling Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Amridge University Bob Jones University California Baptist University, Online Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary Christian Leadership University Colorado Christian University Colorado Theological Seminary Cornerstone University Crown College Dallas Baptist University Dallas Theological Seminary Faulkner University Fordham University Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Grand Canyon University Holy Apostles College and Seminary Hope International University Huntington University Johnson University LeTourneau University Liberty University Loyola University Chicago Luther Rice College & Seminary Maranatha Baptist University Messiah College Missouri Baptist University Ohio Christian University Ottawa University Regent University Southwestern Assemblies of God University Trevecca Nazarene University University of the Southwest 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/. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 20:24:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were confirmed killed following two separate communal clashes in Nigeria's northeastern state of Gombe since the beginning of the week, according to local officials. The clashes involved peoples of the Waja and Lunguda ethnic groups in neighboring towns of the state's Balanga local government area on Monday night, the police said. Many houses were also razed in the melee at the Hemen and Nyuwar communities, Gombe police chief Ishola Babaita said when visiting the areas on Tuesday. The clashes are believed to be reprisals on a farmland tussle between the Waja and Lungunda ethnic groups that began in the neighboring state of Adamawa in 2017, Babaita said. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the governor of Gombe, told reporters in Balanga on Wednesday that a 24-hour curfew has been imposed in the local government area following the clashes. "You all can see the level of damage. Here in the Hemen community, seven people have died, and in Nyuwar, eight people died, totaling 15 people so far," Yahaya said. The governor said the suspected attackers crossed from the neighboring state of Adamawa to wreak havoc on Monday night, adding security personnel have already been deployed to restore normalcy while the curfew will subsist until further notice. Enditem Tim Keller on the Church's responsibility in the wake of COVID-19 (exclusive) Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Citing the uneven impact COVID-19 has had on churches across the country, pastor and author Tim Keller has urged churches largely unaffected by the pandemic to partner with those reeling from death, illness and financial loss. The 70-year-old founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan spoke to CP in April 2020, just weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged New York City. At the time, he said the real test for Christians in the wake of COVID will come several months down the road when presented with opportunities to witness that we cant even envision just yet. For example: What if your community escapes pretty much and in three to four months youre OK, yet some communities you know of are hurt economically and there are tons of unemployed people?" he asked. "Maybe you could lock arms with a Church in a more hurt area. I think in the future, there will be ways to help, but that wont be obvious for a while." One year later, Keller told CP that the churchs responsibility in the wake of COVID is in many ways still unclear. But the clearest, most pressing outcome so far, he said, is that prosperous churches largely unaffected by the virus must partner with those that have been hardest hit. The impact of the pandemic on the Church has not been even, he said, noting that churches comprised largely of white-collar workers and professionals those who can work through screens and phones, own stocks, and have investments are really not doing that badly; they havent seen a lot of deaths of financial loss. But churches made up of working-class people, multi-ethnic churches, and those in low-income communities have been devastated by the pandemic, he said. There are a whole lot of have churches and have not churches, and the have not churches are really being hurt badly," Keller posited. "These 'have not' churches, many of them in cities and urban areas, have seen a lot more of their people die because their people were not in as good health or worked in areas exposed to the virus. They've seen financial loss because perhaps their people worked in industries shut down by the virus." One way churches that have prospered or been largely unaffected by the virus can partner with those who have been hard-hit is through a transfer of funds, Keller said. I know of churches that got money from the government in the very beginning because they were afraid they weren't going to be able to keep their doors open. But it turns out, they're doing fine, the Hope in Times of Fearauthor shared. Take some of that money and find some sister churches that preach the Gospel and have been hard hit and just partner with them. Say, How can we give to you, how can we help you? Keller stressed the importance of offering assistance in a non-paternalistic, non-patronizing, non-condescending way, adding: Youve got to make sure that you empower the people you're giving to. Though he retired as senior pastor of Redeemer in 2017, Keller, who is currently battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, remains active in ministry, now serving as the chairman of Redeemer City to City. The ministry has helped start more than 500 churches in dozens of the most influential cities in the world. COVIDs long-term effect on how churches do discipleship, community outreach, and evangelism, the pastor told CP, has yet to be seen. Studies show that pandemic has accelerated the decline in church attendance, even among regular churchgoers. I do think that everybody going online for a year means that when we come back, there is going to be some change and how we work, how we relate to each other and communicate with each other, he explained. It probably won't come all the way back to the way it was before, but it probably also won't stay the way it was. We dont know how society is going to work, he added. Some businesses say Everybody's going to stay working remote, other businesses say, We're going to go back the way it was, and other business leaders say, It'll be in the middle. Thats going to have an effect on the church, but how, exactly, is unclear thus far. Dubbed the most successful evangelist in the city by New York magazine, Keller previously told CP that the coronavirus is doing what 9/11 did to the state: presenting a unique opportunity for Christians to serve as a beacon of hope amid darkness. At the national level, I dont have much hope, he admitted. Politicians are trying to pin the other side with the blame for the virus and its discouraging. Theyre trying to score points so that when the pandemic begins to ease, they look good. But at the local level, thats probably not going to happen. Everyone is going to say, OK, how do we deal with the devastation in our communities? And thats where I think, if Christians are willing to get out there and be Good Samaritans and say, How do we work with people of different races and religions and just try to love them and how can we join hands? we will have less polarization and a real opportunity to witness. WEST CHESTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. (MTTI) announced today the issuance of United States Patent # 10,953,113. The patent claims a quick (5 min), easy and quantitative conversion of commercially available 18F-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) to 18F-Fluroglucaric acid (18F-FGA). Professor Fabian Kiessling, MD, Director of the Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany commented, In addition to monitoring tumor response to therapy, a tracer that sees necrosis should track organ fibrosis in chronic kidney disease and liver fibrosis. These diseases are common, but their progression and responses to therapy are still hard to track reliably. 18F-FGA could be extremely valuable to fill this unmet medical need. Professor Vibhudutta Awasthi, PhD, Associate Dean of Research, inventor and co-inventor Dr. Hailey Houson at the University of Oklahoma said, An 18F-FGA imaging agent for necrosis can revolutionize a diagnostic workup of many human diseases where tissue necrosis occurs as part of the pathology. This tracer enables use of high resolution, high sensitivity PET, to detect myocardial infarction and brain stroke. We are delighted to hear about MTTIs effort to commercialize this technology. The search for agents that could image necroses, without accumulating in living tissue, has been going on for decades. This innovative 18F PET tracer is specific for dead cells. It is also ideal for monitoring rapid tumor response to radiation and drug treatment. Were excited for this discovery and look forward to advancing this molecule to clinic, said Chris Pak, President & CEO of MTTI. Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. is a privately held, clinical stage biotech company, developing targeted radiotherapeutics for rare cancers. Our lead platform technology is owned under an exclusive worldwide license to commercialize Evans blue (EB) platform patents from NIH. This transformative technology has applications in several cancers overexpressing somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2), like Hurthle Cell Thyroid Carcinoma. The company is committed to building value by acquiring and translating innovative imaging, radiopharmaceutical therapy assets to improve human health, reduce healthcare costs and reward stakeholders. MTTI expects to orchestrate multiple clinical trials in 2021. For more information: www.mtarget.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005195/en/ Chris Pak, cpak@mtarget.com; 610-738-7938 Source: Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. The project, called LandCover6k, offers a new classification system that the researchers hope will improve predictions about the planet's future and fill in gaps about its past. Climate modeling is future facing, its general intent to hypothesize what our planet might look like at some later date. Because the Earth's vegetation influences climate, climate models frequently include vegetation reconstructions and are often validated by comparisons to the past. Yet such models tend to get oversimplified, glossing over or omitting how people affected the land and its cover. The absence of such data led to LandCover6k, a project now in its sixth year that includes more than 200 archaeologists, historians, geographers, paleoecologists, and climate modelers around the world. Led by archeologists Kathleen Morrison of the University of Pennsylvania, Marco Madella of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Nicki Whitehouse of the University of Glasgow, with data expertise from Penn landscape archaeologist Emily Hammer and others, LandCover6k's goal is to aggregate archaeological and historical evidence of land-use systems from four slices of time12,000 years ago, 6,000 years ago, 4,000 years ago, and around the year 1500into a single database that anyone can comprehend and use. The project offers what the researchers hope will become a tool to improve predictions about the planet's future, plus fill in gaps about its past. "Understanding the human impact on the Earth is more than looking at past vegetation. It's also important to understand how humans used the land and in particular, the relationship between human land use and vegetation," Morrison says. Though current Earth system models suggest that human activity during the past 12,000 years influenced regional and global climate, Madella says, "the models do not capture the diversity and intensity of human activities that affected past land cover, nor do they capture carbon and water cycles." Archaeology provides important information around land use that "helps reveal how humans have affected past land cover at a global scale," adds Whitehouse, "including the crops and animals being farmed, how they were being farmed, and how much land was needed to feed growing populations." In a new PLOS ONE paper, the team provides a detailed introduction to LandCover6k's land-use classification system and global database. Creating a common language, system To share such data meant first creating a common language that scientists across disciplines could understand. It's a task more fraught than it might sound, Morrison says. "Classification means putting hard edges on something. That's very challenging, as archaeologists are often much more comfortable with narrative." Partially because of a lack of shared terminology, archaeologists have not tried to aggregate and compare data on a global scale, something the project's paleoecologists and modelers had already been doing, she adds. "We spent years consulting with colleagues around the world, discussing all the different types of land use and developing a communication systemthe same language, the same terminologythat could be used anywhere." Because such categories historically have had different meaning depending on place, context, and time period, some archaeologists initially balked at committing to single definitions for each. Hammer offers the concept of "farming" as an example. "The line between what is called 'farming' and what is considered small-scale food production by hunter-gatherers really varies across the world," she says. So, how could the field fairly judge when the actions of hunter-gatherers managing wild plant and animal resources became "farming"? Questions like these prompted the LandCover6k team to create a hierarchy within the classification system, with an upper-level category capturing an idea at its broadest and several distinct sub-categories funneling down from there. In the farming example, the research team created a sub-grouplow-level food productionwhich could include the work of the hunter-gatherers. The hope was to offer enough nuance for the archeological community yet still make the data accessible to climate modelers. In addition to this flexible hierarchy and the uniform terminology, the final classification has three other principal features. It is scale- and source-independent, meaning it accounts for the myriad ways something can be studied. It "takes the perspective of land rather than people," as the researchers write in PLOS ONE, and it employs a consistent 8x8 kilometer grid scale. "That's quite large, from an archaeological perspective," Hammer says, "but we did that so that one person isn't drawing something very small and another person very large." Concrete examples To showcase how the classification works, the researchers offer the example of the Middle East 6,000 years ago. This region, the area represented by modern day Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen, was home to some of the earliest agriculture in the world. Using the new classification and database, project participants built a regional land-use map, despite data availability differing from one spot to the next. "Mesopotamia has been studied since the mid-19th century so there's a lot of data and a lot of syntheses to rely on," Hammer explains. "Arabia has not been nearly as well-studied. There are only a couple of data points, particularly for this period, and because of climatic events, the data are even rarer than for other periods. We wanted to illustrate the approach you would take in a situation where you have a lot of data versus a place with just a little." The new map of Middle Eastern land is proof of concept for the project, showing the contrast between the settled farms of Mesopotamia and the more sparsely settled lands of Arabia. The researchers don't see information gaps, like those of Arabia, as problematic. Rather because the land-use database also records data coverage and quality, it can highlight areas needing more research. "Humans have transformed landscapes for thousands of years," Morrison says. "But we can't just say that. We have to demonstrate it." And that's just what LandCover6k aims to do, merging what archaeologists have gleaned about human land use from different times and places into a single, accessible database for climate modelersand each other. "This project is really about translating what we do," Hammer says, "not only about the standardization of the terminology so we can talk at a global scale, but also about weaving together the narratives of the past." ### Emily Hammer is an assistant professor of digital humanities and of archaeology and anthropology of the ancient world in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Marco Madella is an ICREA research professor in environmental archaeology in the Department of Humanities at Pompeu Fabra University and coordinator of the Culture and Socio-Ecological Dynamics research group. Kathleen Morrison is the Sally and Alvin V. Shoemaker Professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and a curator in the Asian Section of the Penn Museum. Nicki Whitehouse is a senior lecturer in archaeological science in the School of Humanities at the University of Glasgow and a professor in human-environment systems at the University of Plymouth. LandCover6k is a working group of Past Global Changes (PAGES), part of Future Earth, an international community of sustainability scientists. Funding came from the Office of the Provost at the University of Pennsylvania, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, PAGES, and the International Union for Quaternary Research. Austin Chad Hill and Jennifer Bates, postdoctoral fellows in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, also contributed to the research. The COVID-19 shutdowns that swept the U.S. have been a boon for a newer auto-insurance product: pay-per-mile coverage. During the pandemic, Allstate Corp. has seen interest surge in its Milewise offering, which lets customers pay auto-insurance premiums for just the amount of driving they actually complete, said Glenn Shapiro, president of Allstates personal property-liability operations. The number of cars insured through Milewise was about six times higher last year than in 2019, and there were roughly four times more policies, with some covering multiple vehicles. Over the past few years, auto insurers have created more and more policies that allow customers to get insurance coverage just for the distance they actually drive, providing an alternative to broad policies that cover unlimited miles. Firms such as Allstate, the fourth-biggest U.S. auto insurer, and startups including Metromile Inc., which went public this year through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, have pushed to expand that coverage. While the pandemic has certainly accelerated that trend and spiked it for a period of time, I also think therell be an element of that that persists, Shapiro said in an interview. There was a really good business case for pay-per-mile pre-pandemic, and there will be post-pandemic. While the majority of recent interest in Allstates pay-per-mile program came from new customers, some existing clients switched as they cut back on driving, Shapiro said. The insurers Milewise offering, which expanded this week into Oklahoma and Wisconsin and is now in 19 states overall, uses a plug-in device to track a customers driving, except in some newer Ford Motor Co. vehicles that have embedded modems that share data with the program. Auto insurers initially benefited last year as the pandemic started spurring shutdowns across the country, leading to a nearly 40% drop in driving last April and a total 13% decline in 2020. Companies including Allstate returned some premiums to customers since the auto insurers benefited from the drop-off in driving, which tends to result in fewer accidents. The future of auto insurance will entail more pay-per-mile policies and telematic offerings, which allow insurers to track driving behavior and reward better and safer customers, according to Credit Suisse Group AG analyst Mike Zaremski. While there can be execution challenges with insurers building out the proper technology, companies that dont adopt it could lose their good customers, leaving worse drivers behind as clients, he said. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of pay-per-mile and telematics because there are a lot of people realizing that Im not driving as much,' Zaremski said in an interview. The technologies can also benefit insurers because if you have the ability to deploy this technology successfully, the volatility of your earnings should be much smoother. Photograph: Vehicles travel past homes on the I-94 highway in this aerial photograph taken over Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. Photo credit: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 Protesters marched through North Portland on Tuesday night and set a fire at the Portland police union building, prompting officers to declare a riot. An investigation is underway into the fire, which caused an estimated $25,000 in damages to the building, police said. Alma Raven-Guido, 19, of Beaverton was arrested and charged with second-degree arson after police say she was in possession of bottles of probable accelerant and lighters, along with a crowbar and spray paint. During a news conference Wednesday morning, Mayor Ted Wheeler condemned last nights criminal activity and urged people to protest peacefully. I support the calls for racial justice and equity and common sense police reforms, Wheeler said. But the minute that one crosses a line and engages in criminal destruction acts of arson acts of violence that is no longer peaceful protest. About 100 protesters met at Kenton Park around 9 p.m. and marched to the Portland Police Association Building. According to a flier advertising the event, demonstrators were protesting the killing of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was shot and killed Sunday by police officer Kim Potter in Minnesota. Police said Potter, who was the president of the police union for Brooklyn Center, a Minneapolis suburb, accidentally shot Wright and was instead trying to deploy a Taser. Before protesters arrived at the Portland union, police tweeted that marchers were blocking the street and told drivers to find alternate routes while telling marchers they needed to clear the streets to let cars through. Footage from independent reporters at the scene showed flames coming from the side of the building. Protesters also lit fireworks. PPB incident command has declared the criminal conduct by members of this crowd to be a riot. PPB is working to clear people from the building and intersection so fire fighters can put out the fire. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) April 14, 2021 Shortly after 10 p.m. police declared a riot, warning they would clear people from the area as firefighters came in to extinguish the blaze. They threatened to use tear gas and munitions on those who did not clear the area. Jones said the Portland Police Association Building is unoccupied, but homes are nearby. Some reporters at the scene took video of residents trying to extinguish the fire with garden hoses. The Oregonian/OregonLive We were extremely prepared with safety and cleanliness protocols from masks and social distancing to hand sanitizer stations and enhanced disinfecting procedures, she explained in an email to Pioneer Press after the opening. Our biggest obstacles were often with hospitality vendors who were short-staffed or in short supply due to the pandemic. For example, we ordered pillows several months in advance to have them arrive the standard five to six weeks before opening day, but they did not arrive until four days before opening and we were getting a little worried! Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow was sworn into the House on Wednesday, claiming the seat her late husband was elected to but never filled after dying of COVID-19 in late December, days before taking office. Letlow easily won a special election last month to represent the heavily Republican district in northeastern Louisiana. A university administrator making her first run for public office, she won the backing of former President Donald Trump and decisively outraised her opponents. Luke Letlow, 41, died on Dec. 29, five days before the new Congress convened. He was a top aide to Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-La., who had retired and whose seat he'd won. The Letlows have two children. I want to thank him for paving the way for me, Julia Letlow said on the House floor after taking the oath of office from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Too many families like mine have experienced tragedy because of this pandemic, Letlow said. To those families: I see you, I hear you. And most importantly, I pray with you. She earned a Ph.D. after writing a dissertation on coping with the sudden death of family members. She dedicated it to her younger brother, Jeremy, who died in an auto accident as a teenager. Letlow, 40, is the first female Republican elected to Congress from Louisiana. She will be on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee. +3 Julia Letlow wins 5th Congressional District. Her husband died of COVID days before taking the seat. Julia Letlow won a special election outright Saturday to represent the 5th Congressional District and will succeed her husband Luke, who captu Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Her arrival trims the Democrats' House majority to 218-212, with five vacant seats. That slim margin has helped fan GOP hopes of capturing control of the chamber in next year's elections. The narrow House majority and the 50-50 Senate, which Democrats control with Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote, have forced leaders to attain near-unanimous support from the party's lawmakers to advance legislation. A second vacant Louisiana seat will be filled soon by one of two Democrats in an April 24 runoff election. That New Orleans district was represented by Democrat Cedric Richmond, now a senior White House adviser to President Joe Biden. Three of the remaining vacant seats had been held by Democrats and one by a Republican. No party turnover is expected when special elections are held to fill those vacancies. Letlow is the 48th woman to be elected or appointed to fill congressional vacancies after their husbands died, according to figures from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. One of the best known of those was Democratic Rep. Corinne Boggs, known as Lindy, also from Louisiana. Boggs was elected to replace her husband, House Majority Leader Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., who died when the airplane he was aboard disappeared over Alaska in 1972. Lindy Boggs, long her husband's political adviser, served 18 years in the House and was known as a champion of women's issues. She died in 2013. Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - As Nigeria marks seven years since 279 schoolgirls were abducted by the armed group, Boko Haram, in Chibok, a human rights advocate has noted that tens of thousands of children in Nigeria are missing out on their education Amritsar: 437 Sikh pilgrims, who were granted permission to visit Pakistan on the occasion of Baisakhi, are safe amid ongoing protest and violence in the country after the arrest of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi. The information about the safety of Sikh pilgrims was shared by Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) secretary Mohinder Singh. Speaking to ANI, he said, "Due to TLP`s leader Rizvi arrest and its after-effects protest across Pakistan, the Sikh pilgrims going to Panja Sahib Gurudwara were stuck. It took 6 hours for them to reach Lahore after many struggles. They had to stay at Shri Dera Sahib in Lahore." "Yesterday, they proceeded to Panja Sahib around 8 pm. They have reached Panja Sahib Hospital," added Singh. "Pakistan government has given full support for the safety of Sikh pilgrims and Pakistan Gurudwara Pradhan, Satwant Singh also gave support for the safety of pilgrims," said Singh. After the arrest of TLP`s chief Rizvi, who was demanding that the French ambassador be sent home and import of goods from France over alleged blasphemous caricatures published in Paris, Pakistan erupted in violence, resulting in the death of three and 40 injured. "The pilgrims were stopped due to protest in Pakistan, it has nothing to do with the Sikh pilgrims," said Singh. "Every Sikh pilgrim is safe and have reached the Panja Sahib Gurudwara Hospital. This group was to return to India on April 22 after visiting all the holy shrines of the Sikhs in Pakistan," informed the SGPC secretary. Live TV The College of Charleston held its first vaccination clinic for students on April 14 after receiving a designation as a vaccine distributor from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The clinic offered 300 appointments for the Moderna vaccine at the Student Health Services building at 181 Calhoun St. It was booked up within 30 minutes of being announced to students on April 9, according to a news release. Events geared toward college students are especially important given their usual age group has received the least vaccines of any age bracket in South Carolina. Officials at DHEC have said they are concerned about low vaccination rates among younger people, who also are more prone to activities that could spread the virus, such as gathering in crowded places. Harry Pastides, an epidemiologist and the former president of the University of South Carolina, even suggested younger people might have been prioritized for vaccine eligibility sooner. "We immunized those who were most likely to remain behind closed doors," Pastides said during an American Medical Association web show April 9. C of C has planned four additional events, on April 20, April 26, April 28 and April 30. Students are able to schedule appointments through their student health portal on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to the release. The health services office is not accepting walk-in appointments. The college will host additional vaccine events to meet student demand and administer second doses of the vaccine. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 466 confirmed, 348 probable. Total cases in S.C.: 472,786 confirmed, 92,145 probable. Percent positive: 8.6 percent. New deaths reported: 15 confirmed, 0 probable. Total deaths in S.C.: 8,192 confirmed, 1,112 probable. Percent of ICU beds filled: 72 percent. How S.C. ranks in vaccines South Carolina ranks 42nd in the nation regarding the number of vaccines administered per 100,000 people as of April 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email Sign Up! Hardest-hit areas In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (65), Charleston County (41) and Horry County (33) saw the highest totals. What about tri-county? Charleston County had 41 new cases on April 14, while Berkeley had 20 and Dorchester 15. Deaths Six of the new confirmed deaths reported were patients age 35 to 64, and eight were 65 and older. One was a young adult age 18 to 34. Hospitalizations Of the 561 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of April 14, 134 were in the ICU and 62 were using ventilators. Long-term care facilities There have been 19,794 confirmed coronavirus cases in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities: 12,261 residents and 7,533 staff workers, according to DHEC data. So far, 1,912 residents have died from the virus, a mortality rate of 16 percent. Twenty-nine workers also have died. Together, they account for 24 percent of deaths in the state, the data from April 11 shows. Of the 685 facilities DHEC monitored, the virus has been found in 509. There are active outbreaks at 49 of them. Some type of visitation indoor, outdoor or both is allowed at 642 facilities; 25 do not allow it; and 18 did not report. What do experts say? According to a state-level report generated by the White House each week, South Carolina has the 19th-lowest number of new COVID-19 cases, adjusted for the size of each state's population. South Carolina ranks 13th in the number of new deaths reported during the first week of April. (In both rankings, the No. 1 slot is given to the state with the least transmission or the fewest deaths). Although cases have plateaued, the majority of counties in the state are still considered to have "high transmission" of COVID-19. Counties in the Upstate are in the worst shape. The FBI has intervened to clean up the mess left by attacks on on-premise Microsoft Exchange Server installations after obtaining court orders to access hundreds of vulnerable machines in the US and remove Web shells. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Department of Justice said these servers had been exploited in January and February by some groups who used zero-day vulnerabilities that Microsoft publicised on 3 March. More groups piled on in March while some of the earlier Web shells were removed by the owners, the statement said. The FBI removed the shells by issuing a command through the Web shell to the server, which was designed to cause the server to delete only the Web shell which was identified by its unique file path. Exchange servers that were serving webshells are at high risk of being hacked again now. It is unlikely the webshells will have shared default passwords again. Conclusion: FBI YOLO burned their opportunity to remediate the second wave surge of Exchange hacks. Heckuva job https://t.co/vDmuHdPW1y thaddeus e. grugq (@thegrugq) April 14, 2021 The DoJ said this operation had no connection to thein Microsoft Exchange on Tuesday. Todays court-authorised removal of the malicious Web shells demonstrates the Departments commitment to disrupt hacking activity using all of our legal tools, not just prosecutions, said assistant attorney-general John Demers for the Justice Departments National Security Division. Combined with the private sectors and other government agencies efforts to date, including the release of detection tools and patches, we are together showing the strength that public-private partnership brings to our countrys cyber security. "Theres no doubt that more work remains to be done, but let there also be no doubt that the Department is committed to playing its integral and necessary role in such efforts. Acting US Attorney Jennifer Lowery of the Southern District of Texas said: Combatting cyber threats requires partnerships with private sector and government colleagues. I like that the FBI had to go and get a rule 41 warrant to hack domestic Microsoft Exchange servers and remove malware from them, because Microsoft were too busy vacuuming the lawn. https://t.co/99QRnw6sus MalwareTech (@MalwareTechBlog) April 14, 2021 This court-authorised operation to copy and remove malicious Web shells from hundreds of vulnerable computers shows our commitment to use any viable resource to fight cyber criminals. "We will continue to do so in co-ordination with our partners and with the court to combat the threat until it is alleviated, and we can further protect our citizens from these malicious cyber breaches. Acting assistant director Tonya Ugoretz of the FBIs Cyber Division said: This operation is an example of the FBIs commitment to combatting cyber threats through our enduring federal and private sector partnerships. Our successful action should serve as a reminder to malicious cyber actors that we will impose risk and consequences for cyber intrusions that threaten the national security and public safety of the American people and our international partners. "The FBI will continue to use all tools available to us as the lead domestic law enforcement and intelligence agency to hold malicious cyber actors accountable for their actions. LOS ANGELESFour months after banning Pornhub users from using their credit cards to make purchases on the site, Mastercard handed down a new set of rules for banks that process payments for adult businesses, according to a statement issued by the credit card company on Wednesday. Banks that connect merchants to our network will need to certify that the seller of adult content has effective controls in place to monitor, block and, where necessary, take down all illegal content, the company said in the statement. The company also put the onus on banks to guarantee that merchants selling adult material require clear, unambiguous and documented consent for anyone appearing in video or images, according to a report by Bloomberg News. In December, Mastercard and its largest competitor in the credit card issuing industry, Visa, announced that they would no longer process payments made on Pornhub. But Mastercards new decree shifts a large amount of responsibility onto banks, who must now become, in effect, police for adult sites and businesses. Before allowing Mastercard credit cards to be used on any particular adult site, the bank issuing the card must take it upon itself to make sure the site has a review process for any adult content before it appears online. Banks must also require that sites have a process in place for complaints over allegedly non-consensual content, as well as a system that allows anyone who appears in an adult video or photo to demand removal of that content. You might ask, Why now? Mastercard said in the online statement, authored by Mastercard Senior Vice President John Verdeschi. In the past few years, the ability to upload content to the internet has become easier than ever. All someone needs is a smartphone and a Wi-Fi connection. Now, our requirements address the risks associated with this activity. And that starts with strong content control measures. According to its online statement, Mastercard has formed a partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation, a British charity group whose own site gives its mission statement as to eliminate child sexual abuse imagery online. Mastercard has also partnered with WeProtect Global Alliance, another British anti-pornography group. Both of these organizations are leading the charge to fight sexual exploitation, protect the youngest consumers and make the internet a safer place for people of all ages, Verdeschi said in the statement. Photo By Pguillaud / Wikimedia Commons President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Wednesday opened a two-day bi-partisan Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining, in Accra, and called on participants to discuss illegal small-scale mining devoid of partisan politics, narrow and parochial interests. The President said it would require stakeholders in the small-scale mining industry to engage in honest and candid conversations to stem the tide of the menace of illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as galamsey. He said although mining created jobs and improved livelihoods, it should not be done at the expense of damaging the environment. "Ghana is not only made up of the people, but the soil, water bodies, valleys, mountains, forests, plants and animal life, without them, we will not survive, and requires our collective determination to protect them," the President said. Ghana is endowed with numerous natural resources and should explore innovative ways to exploit them, without hurting the environment. President Akufo-Addo underlined the need to engage in responsible and sustainable methods of mining capable of taking care of the forests, flora and animal life. The Dialogue is on the theme: "Sustainable Small-Scale Mining for National Development" with an objective to ensure a broad-based consensus and a workable blueprint to promote sustainable mining and stem illegal small-scale mining in the country. It brought together representatives from the Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners and Ghana Chamber of Mines, chiefs from the 16 regions, members of the Council of State and National House of Chiefs, among other stakeholders. The President reiterated his earlier stand to fight against galamsey and deal decisively with anyone that engaged in it, irrespective of his or her political affiliation and influence in society. However, the President said he would not do so based on hearsay or mere allegations. He pledged his government's resolve to strictly implement the recommendations from the Consultative Dialogue for the benefit of the entire citizenry. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, expressed optimism that the proposals, ideas and suggestions from the Dialogue would form a workable blueprint to tackle the illegal mining menace. He said to implement solutions and recommendations from the Dialogue, it would require holistic and collective national efforts anchored on integrity of action to halt the galamsey menace. Mr Jinapor explained that they would court support from chiefs and mining communities on how to deal with the involvement of foreign nationals in the small-scale mining sector and provide alternative livelihoods for those to be affected. "We, from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, wish to assure the President of the Republic, participants at the forum, and mother Ghana, that whatever set of measures that will emanate from the deliberations over the course of the next two days, if approved by government, will be implemented diligently, dispassionately and with a great sense of integrity and urgency," he said. Mr Eric Asuboteng, the Managing Director of Anglogold Ashanti, who doubles as the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said small-scale mining contributed immensely towards the growth of the Ghanaian economy. For instance the sector employed one million people directly and created jobs for four million people indirectly, he said. It also contributed 10 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 36 per cent of the total gold produced in Ghana. Mr Asuboteng expressed the Chamber's unflinching support towards the regulation of the small-scale mining sector to ensure sustainable mining practices. Mt Francis Opoku, the Director of Finance, Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners, said small-scale mining started in Ghana in 1989 and had contributed substantially towards national development. The sector had since contributed from two to 35 per cent of the country's total gold production as at 2020, he said, and expressed the Association's support towards ensuring responsible and sustainable methods of mining. He was of the conviction that only certified people should be allowed to mine in the country to safeguard the environment. Mr Opoku pledged the Association's support to collaborate with state institutions and government to stamp out illegal and small-scale mining in Ghana. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Despite unforeseen challenges in 2020, the co-op made bold investments in the future of its business: selling its headquarters buildings to imagine an entirely new future of office work, taking the co-op carbon neutral, investing in retail pay, making a commitment to racial equity that will impact every area of the company, and rolling out innovative new offerings like virtual outfitting and Curbside Pickup within a matter of weeks. "We entered 2020 with incredible momentum, after more than a decade of record growth. Then, the entire world came to a halt. We regrounded ourselves in our values, making choices that at times came at great cost to our business. But we took the long view and continued to put our people first, quickly pivoting to find new ways of serving our customers and community," said REI President and CEO Eric Artz. "That approach turned out to be the right thing for our people and for our business, and allowed us to enter 2021 not just in a position of financial strength, but proud of who we were when the times were least certain." The co-op reported no profits in 2020 but ended the year in a strong cash position and debt-free, after investing millions in its impact work: combatting the climate crisis, fighting for racial equity and supporting its network of nonprofit partners. Now REI is launching the next chapter of that work, inviting its broader co-op community to take action. "Our co-op was founded on the principle of individuals coming together for the greater good. Now, the stakes have never been higher for our planet, ourselves and future generations," Artz said. "Today we're announcing Cooperative Action - a new initiative to harness the collective power of our 20-million-member, 15,000-employee community to combat the most pressing issues facing our industry and societyclimate change and racial equity." As part of the Cooperative Action platform, REI is inviting members, employees, and customers to join a new grassroots advocacy network in support of a more sustainable and equitable future for the outdoors. Whether it involves writing a member of Congress, signing a petition, or submitting a public comment, anyone can visit the REI Cooperative Action Network to receive updates from the co-op on how they can act on some of the most pressing issues facing the outdoor community. REI is also asking its community to take action by shopping responsibly and seeking out alternatives to new items. Used gear simultaneously lowers the barrier to entry for an outdoor activity and keeps products out of landfills. Every used item purchased through REI represents, on average, at least a 50% reduction in carbon emissions when compared to buying a new item. Over the last four years, REI expanded its offerings to allow customers to shop for used gear at a lower price point either in-store or online and launched a new member trade-in program that allows REI members to give new life to their gently used gear. In addition to offering customers options to purchase used gear, REI is also working to ensure that every purchase at the co-op supports better ways of doing business. All products in REI stores must adhere to the co-op's newly updated Product Impact Standards, which include expectations for how REI and its more than 1,000 vendor partners are addressing carbon reduction, inclusive marketing practices and cultural designs in their products. As part of these standards, all REI Co-op brand products are now certified Climate Neutral in addition to products from over 30 other certified brands. REI will look to further engage members in its impact work in the coming year and introduce more ways for the community to lighten its footprint and participate in Cooperative Action. "As a community united by our shared love for life outdoors, together we can drive the progress we need to make towards a more sustainable and equitable future for our planet," Artz said. Full audited financials for 2020 are available here. Explore additional details of the co-op's impact at REI.com/stewardship. 2020 highlights: $2.75 billion in revenue in revenue Invested $6.3 million in more than 400 nonprofit partners in more than 400 nonprofit partners Welcomed 1 million new members to the co-op Doubled online used gear sales Unveiled an ambitious new climate platform with the goal to reduce carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 About the REI Co-op REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 20 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 168 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. If you can't visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn't just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI's active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access toand stewardthe outdoor places that inspire us all. SOURCE REI Co-op Related Links https://www.rei.com/ Deeplite Inc., a Montreal, Canada-based AI optimization software startup, closed a $6m seed financing round. The round was led by PJC with participation from Innospark Ventures, Differential Ventures, Ajay Shah, Executive Chairman, Smart Global Holding, and existing backers Somel Investments, BDC Capital and Desjardins Capital. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate R&D development, expand the team and accelerate market expansion for its software. Co-founded by Davis Sawyer, Ehsan Saboori and Nick Romano, Deeplite provides an optimization software to optimize DNN (Deep Neural Network) models and enable AI for edge computing on edge devices such as cameras, sensors, drones, phones and vehicles. Incubated at TandemLaunch in Montreal, the company serves major OEM brands, semiconductor and application companies. FinSMEs 14/04/2021 King Mohammed VI chaired, Wednesday at the Royal Palace of Fez, the launching ceremony of the implementation of the project of generalization of social protection and the signing of the first related agreements. This Royal project, which will initially benefit farmers, craftsmen and professionals, traders and independent service providers subject to the unified professional contribution scheme (CPU), the auto-entrepreneur scheme or the accounting scheme, will be extended, in a second phase, to other categories with a view to ensuring the effective generalization of social protection to all citizens. After the screening of an institutional film on the various initiatives undertaken by HM the King in the social field, the minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform, Mohamed Benchaaboun, delivered an address before the Sovereign in which he stressed that this project is in line with the guidelines contained in the last Speech of the Throne Day, as well as in the one addressed by HM King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the opening of the 2020 legislative year, and related to the launching of a great reform project for the generalization of the social protection for the benefit of large groups of citizens. * Preserving the dignity of Moroccans, supporting their purchasing power and integrating the informal sector This societal project, which enjoys a follow-up and special attention from Your Majesty, is a real social revolution, because it will have direct and tangible effects on improving the living conditions of citizens and preserving the dignity of all Moroccans, while contributing into integrating the informal sector, added Benchaaboun. The implementation of this large-scale societal project constitutes a starting point for the achievement of His Majesty the Kings aspirations in favor of all the components of Moroccan society, in terms of responding to the challenge of the generalization of social protection, and represents, moreover, a lever for the integration of the informal sector into the national economic fabric, so as to guarantee the protection of the working class and its rights, as well as a decisive turning point on the path towards the achievement of the balanced development and social and spatial justice under the wise guidance of His Majesty the King. The minister also noted that as part of the implementation of the High Royal Directives, the government was keen to prepare a framework law whose outlines were presented before His Majesty the King during the Council of Ministers of February 11, 2021 and which was approved by the Parliament. This framework law is the cornerstone and the frame of reference for the implementation of the enlightened vision of Your Majesty in the field of social protection, and the achievement of the noble objectives set by Your Majesty, the most important of which are the support of the purchasing power of Moroccan families and the achievement of social and spatial justice, the minister said. It will also ensure the optimal implementation of this reform according to the timetable and axis set out in the speeches of the Sovereign, he noted, recalling that this concerns, firstly, the generalization of the basic compulsory health insurance during the years 2021 and 2022 by broadening the base of beneficiaries of this insurance to include vulnerable categories benefiting from the Medical Assistance Scheme and the category of professionals and self-employed and non-salaried persons, who exercise a liberal activity, so that 22 million additional people benefit from this insurance, which covers the costs of treatment, drugs and hospitalization. Secondly, the generalization of family allowances during the years 2023 and 2024 allowing households, which do not benefit from these allowances, to receive benefits covering the risks associated with childhood, or lump sums, said Benchaaboun, noting that the third point relates to the expansion in 2025 of the base of members of pension schemes to include people who are employed and do not receive any pension, through the implementation of the pension system specific to the categories of professionals and self-employed and non-salaried people who are exercing a liberal profession, in order to include all categories concerned. The fourth point mentioned by the minister concerns the generalization of the compensation for loss of employment in the year 2025 to cover any person exercising a stable job through the simplification of the conditions to benefit from this allowance and the expansion of the base of recipients. * Important amounts allocated to ensure the success of this project The management of these programs by 2025 will require the allocation of a total annual amount of 51 billion dirhams, including 23 billion financed by the general budget of the State, said the minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform. He said in this regard that the implementation of this forward-looking project requires the amendment of a set of existing laws and regulations, the development of new texts, and the launch of a set of structural reforms that concern the upgrading of the health system and the reform of the compensation system, so as to address the imbalances in the targeting of categories eligible for assistance, along with the operationalization of the unified social register. The implementation of this major social project also requires the development of management methods, including those related to the governance of social security agencies, with a view to creating a unified body for coordination and supervision of social protection systems, he said. * Opening up the health sector to foreign expertise and investment He underlined that the generalization of the medical coverage requires to take up a set of challenges which concern in particular the low rate of medical supervision, the important deficit in human resources and their unequal geographical distribution. Accompanying measures must also be adopted and will be aimed at intensifying training programs and consolidating medical skills of health professionals so that they can meet the demand, which will increase at a rapid pace with the implementation of this major societal project. It is also about, according to Benchaaboun, strengthening national medical capacity and fighting against the deficit in health executives, necessary for the success of this reform, through the opening of the practice of medicine to foreign expertise, the encouragement of international health institutions to work and invest in Morocco, and the capitalization on successful experiences, in accordance with the High Royal Instructions contained in the opening speech of the Parliament for the year 2018. On this occasion, HM the King chaired the signing of three framework agreements on the generalization of the basic compulsory health insurance for the benefit of the category of professionals and self-employed and non-salaried persons exercising a private activity. The first framework agreement concerns the generalization of compulsory basic health insurance for the benefit of traders, craftsmen, professionals and independent service providers subject to the unified system of professional contributions, the auto-entrepreneur system or the accounting system, which includes more than 800,000 members. It was signed by Abdelouafi Laftit, minister of Interior, Mohamed Benchaaboun, minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform, Khalid Ait Taleb, minister of Health, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, minister of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport and Social Economy, Mohamed Amekraz, minister of Labor and Professional Integration, Chakib Alj, president of the Moroccan Employers Body (CGEM), Houcine Alioua, 1st vice president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Services, and Sidati Chaggaf, president of the Federation of Chambers of Crafts. The second framework agreement concerns the generalization of the basic compulsory health insurance for the benefit of artisans and craft professionals (about 500,000 members). It was signed by Abdelouafi Laftit, Mohamed Benchaaboun, Khalid Ait Taleb, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Mohamed Amekraz, Chakib Alj and Sidati Chaggaf. The third framework agreement, signed by Abdelouafi Laftit, Mohamed Benchaaboun, Aziz Akhannouch, minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Khalid Ait Taleb, Mohamed Amekraz, Chakib Alj, Lahbib Bentaleb, president of the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture and Mohamed Ammouri, president of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development, concerns the generalization of the basic compulsory health insurance for farmers (about 1.6 million members). * 22 million additional beneficiaries during 2021 and 2022 Benchaaboun explained that about 3 million members, traders, independent service providers, artisans, craft professionals and farmers, in addition to their families, will benefit from the basic compulsory health insurance, i.e. a total number of beneficiaries of nearly 9 million citizens, which represents about 83% of the targeted categories of professionals, self-employed and non-salaried exercising a private activity. The minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform pointed out that the agreements relating to the remaining categories, including transport professionals and independent professionals (engineers, doctors, lawyers) will be signed in the coming weeks. Therefore, 11 million independent citizens and their families will benefit from the basic compulsory health insurance in 2021, said the minister, noting that all necessary measures will also be taken to allow 11 million poor and fragile citizens currently involved in the system of medical assistance RAMED to begin to benefit from the basic compulsory health insurance starting from 2022. Thus, about 22 million additional beneficiaries will be able, during the years 2021 and 2022, to be insured against diseases, with the same basket of treatments covered by the National Social Security Fund for private sector workers, as well as access to services provided by the private and public sectors, he concluded. This ceremony was attended notably by the Head of Government, Saad Dine Otmani, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Habib El Malki, the Speaker of the House of Advisors, Hakim Benchamach, HM the Kings advisors Fouad Ali El Himma and Yassir Zenagui, and members of the government. This editorial has been updated to reflect news developments. When data linked a potentially fatal blood clotting disorder to Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did what they have promised to do, and what they nearly always do, in such situations: They advised doctors and pharmacists to temporarily halt use of the vaccine while they investigate the matter. The pause is expected to last for a few weeks. The risk of developing this potential side effect is expected to be very small relative to the risks associated with the coronavirus for unvaccinated people. Only six clotting cases have been reported in the United States so far, out of the 6.5 million Johnson & Johnson vaccinations that have been administered. The F.D.A. is expected to clear the companys vaccine for continued use, possibly with some exceptions for people who have a high risk of clotting and nearly certainly with some guidance on how to watch for and treat the condition in question. The fact that such pauses are commonplace in clinical trials, and in post-marketing drug surveillance, did not stop critics from denouncing the F.D.A. and the C.D.C. In the hours after the announcement on Tuesday morning, critics warned that the agencies decision would cost lives, increase vaccine hesitancy and sow widespread irreconcilable confusion. That fear and frustration is understandable. This is a precarious moment in a pandemic that has been both deadly with nearly three million lives lost around the world and interminable. Vaccination rates have been increasing steadily, but variants are still on the march. The Johnson & Johnson shot makes up a small portion of the United States total vaccine supply less than 5 percent, according to the White House. But it has a crucial role to play. Because it requires just one dose, not two, its been the preferred option for harder to reach communities and for places where vaccine hesitancy is rampant. (Its easier to persuade a person once than twice.) Those are often the same communities where the risk of developing Covid-19 is greatest. Its no small matter to undermine trust in this shot, especially. New Yorkers were left shocked as they watched the NYPD's new robot police dog assist with an arrest at an apartment building on Monday. The $75,000 machine, called Digidog, was accompanying police officers as they responded to an incident at 344 East 28th Street in Manhattan. It's unclear what type of incident police responded to, but it did appear that they sent the robot dog in first. In one clip, officers are seen arriving to the complex and entering the building with the robot as someone in the background says: 'Oh that sh*t moves better than a dog. Never seen nothing like that in my life.' Another person is heard saying: 'What the f**k?' A short time later, police officers are seen in another clip escorting a handcuffed man out of the apartment building. New Yorkers were left shocked as they watched the NYPD's new robot police dog assist with an arrest at an apartment building on Monday The robot dog and its team of operators are then seen walking out of the complex. 'I know you f**king lying, what is this sh*t?' a woman is heard saying in the background. The videos were shared on Twitter on Monday and have since racked up more than 8 million views. The sight of the robot dog left several people outraged that the city is choosing to spend money on this type of technology as opposed to investing in much needed funding for the homeless, food pantries and education. 'Love that tax dollars goes to stuff like this instead of.. literally anything else,' one person tweeted. Another shared: 'All I can think is now over policed neighborhoods are going to end up having to worry about robots eventually.' 'We have enough empty homes and money to end the homelessness crisis and police are spending it on useless Black Mirror sh*t like this,' another person wrote. One user said: 'Say what you want about police but you have to agree that the budget could be used in so many better things. Defund the police at Least.' The sight of the robot dog left several people outraged that the city is choosing to spend money on this type of technology as opposed to investing in much needed funding for the homeless, food pantries and education Some likened Digidog to the robot on Black Mirror (pictured) 'A real dog is much cheaper and efficient, but instead they rely on technology which will fail and malfunction whereas a DOG can fix and correct itself!' another added. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of the robot dog's first critics when she denounced the NYPD's new crime-fighting machine last month. The Democratic firebrand blasted Digidog in a succession of tweets, two days after the cyber hound was filmed responding to a home invasion in her home borough of the Bronx. 'Shout out to everyone who fought against community advocates who demanded these resources go to investments like school counseling instead,' she wrote. 'Now robotic surveillance ground drones are being deployed for testing on low-income communities of color with under-resourced schools.' Ocasio-Cortez then argued that police funding that allows for new technology like the Digidog would have better served the community if it had been allotted to programs for education or housing. 'Please ask yourself: when was the last time you saw next-generation, world class technology for education, healthcare, housing, etc consistently prioritized for underserved communities like this?' she added in a follow-up tweet. AOC was responding to a February incident in which residents in the Bronx were stopped dead in their tracks as the robotic dog trotted down East 227th Street. The machine was accompanying police officers responding to a home invasion and barricade situation. The robotic dog, according to reports, was sent inside a building in the Bronx to climb stairs and investigate an area for a hostage situation but no one was found. Residents in the Bronx, New York stopped dead in their tracks as the four-legged robotic dog trotted down East 227th Street in February The machine, called Digidog, accompanied officers responding to a home invasion and barricade situation in February Digidog joined the NYPD last year. Digidog originated from Boston Dynamics, which initially named the machine Spot. However, NYPD gave the robot a new paint job and name before unleashing into the city to combat crime. The machine was designed for emergency situations that would otherwise be too dangerous for police officers. The robot is fitted with cameras to search an area and send back real-time footage and is powered by artificial intelligence to navigate on its own. Members of the NYPDs Technical Assistance Response Unit told ABC 7 in December that the robot weighs 70 pounds, can run about three-and-a-half miles per hour and climb over obstacles. It is also capable of two-way communication. For example, if an officer needs to talk with a suspect they are able to without getting in harms way. The department started using Digidog in 2020 for incidents in Brooklyn and Queens. In October 2020, there was a shooting in Brooklyn and the robot was used to investigate a basement where witnesses said the gunman was hiding. And later in Queens, Digidog came in handy at a tense scene where two armed men were holding five hostages in a home. NYPD Technical Assistance Response Unit Inspector Frank Digiacomo told ABC 7: People wanted food so we strapped food onto it and sent it into the location. The French army is the latest buyer of Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot. Images of Spot with soldiers during military exercises were shared by France's military school, the Saint-Cyr last week. The military school said Spot, and the 'robotization of the battlefield', is helping 'raising students' awareness of the challenges of tomorrow'. Spot was released in June last year and one of the first customers was Elon Musk for his firm SpaceX. BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to speed up the development of the modern vocational education system and cultivate more high-quality technical professionals. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on improving the country's vocational education. Vocational education has a promising future and great potential as China journeys toward socialist modernization, Xi said. Xi stressed the need to reform training and schooling modes as well as management and support mechanisms related to vocational education. He called for promoting bachelor-level vocational education and bringing about a number of quality vocational education institutions and programs. Party committees and government departments at various levels are urged to further innovate relevant institutions and enhance policy support and investment to see that fine workmanship is promoted and that the social status of technical professionals improves. In doing so, strong talent and skill support can be provided for the building of a modern socialist China and the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Xi said. The building of the high-level technical professional training system should focus on the country's modernization drive and high-quality development, Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said in another instruction on vocational education. Aiming at the forefront of technological change and industrial upgrading, more efforts are needed to promote integration between industry and education and cooperation between schools and enterprises, and attract more young people to receive vocational education, Li said. A national conference on vocational education was held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday, during which the instructions of Xi and Li were delivered. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference. She called for an integrated vocational education system covering different levels, better treatment and promotion opportunities for skilled professionals. A legal primer on cannabis to help cut through the smoke Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is seen at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 13, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Republicans Crafting Narrow Infrastructure Proposal to Counter Bidens $2.3 Billion Plan Republicans plan to unveil an infrastructure package that excludes items like funding for elder care to counter President Joe Bidens $2.3 trillion proposal, several GOP senators said Wednesday. The large Democrat package would allocate $400 billion for the care of the elderly and disabled, among other provisions that would not be included in typical infrastructure bills. Republicans want to slash the total amount by narrowing the focus to building and improving roads, bridges, and other traditional infrastructure pieces. What Id like to do is get back to what I consider the regular definition of infrastructure in terms of job creation. So thats roads, bridges, ports, airports, including broadband into that, water infrastructure, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said on CNBCs Squawk Box. Capito floated a package that would come in at the $600 to $800 billion range. We havent put all of that together yet, she added. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told reporters on Capitol Hill that he thinks an $800 billion package might be too high before repeating a desire to focus on roads, airports, and other traditional infrastructure elements. The so-called gang of 20, a group of Republican and Democrat members of Congress, plans to discuss a slimmed-down package on Thursday. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), part of the gang, said lawmakers are in communication with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who heads the National Governors Association to try and come up with something which is truly focused on infrastructure. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) speaks to reporters in Washington on April 13, 2021. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images) If you look at the $2.2 trillion bill or whatever it is now, only about 6 percent of it is devoted to roads and bridges, he told reporters in Washington. Some members of the gang met with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House on Monday on infrastructure. The meeting took place behind closed doors and did not result in any major breakthroughs. A bill in the range floated by Capito, if its for roads and bridges, would receive support from Cassidy, who said to expect a definitive proposal in the future. According to Romney, the effort is in the early stages. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), another moderate Republican, said earlier this month that cutting the infrastructure bill down to about $615 billion would be an easy win for the Biden administration, easily attracting enough GOP support. Bidens current plan would be paid for by hiking the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent, which has itself drawn pushback from Republicans who voted for the Trump era tax bill, which slashed the same rate from 35 percent to where it is now. Democrats need to draw at least 10 Republican votes in the Senate, unless they again turn to budget reconciliation, further undermining Bidens promise to govern by unifying the country. Potential payment options for the infrastructure bill include charging people for each mile they drive, senators said. Additional revenue could be created by taxing electric vehicles for road usage. I think we should start cobbling that together. Its going to have to come from a lot of different sources, Capito said on CNBC. My own view is that the pay for ought to come from people who are using it. So if its an airport, the people who are flying; if its a port, the people who are shipping into the port; if its a rail system, the people who are using the rails; if its highways, it ought to be gas if its a gasoline powered vehicle; if its a electric vehicle, some kind of mileage associated with that electric vehicle that would be similar to or the same as the gasoline tax, Romney added. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that Biden does not support raising the gas tax, which would not raise all of the money the administration wants to spend, after he discussed the tax during the earlier meeting with a bipartisan group. Now, fundamentally, he does not believe that paying for this historic investment in rebuilding our nations infrastructure and creating millions of jobs should be on the backs of Americans, she said. So he doesnt believe that anyway; hes proposed his own means of paying for it. But he was using it as an example of how it wouldnt even make a sizable dent in paying for the package. A new location for the Mountain Top Dunkin and a bagel shop could be coming to Route 309 in Mountain Top. The projects will be on the agenda of the Fairview Twp. zoning hearing board when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the municipal building. Both businesses are seeking special exceptions from the zoning hearing board to allow drive-thru lanes. If approved, the new Dunkin will move to the site of the current Chalet Restaurant, 43 S. Mountain Blvd., about a quarter-mile south of its present location. The existing Chalet, owned by Paul, Peter and Donald Savner, would be razed and a new building constructed. The developer, Pittston Realty LLC, which lists an address in Acton, Massachusetts, plans to build a 5,120-square-foot structure. The donut shop would occupy 2,000 square feet of the building with the rest slated for unspecified retail space. The parcel on which the building would be constructed measures nearly 87,000 square feet. The site of the current Chalet Restaurant is zoned highway commercial in which businesses such as restaurants are permitted. However, the townships zoning ordinance requires that businesses seeking drive-thru lanes obtain a special exception. The move is expected to alleviate a traffic problem on Route 309. Most mornings, especially on weekends, vehicles are lined up in the turning lane of Route 309, waiting to turn into the Dunkin. The queue of vehicles waiting to turn can create a hazard for motorists trying to exit the parking lot. JAZD Enterprises, which lists an address of 64 Loop Road, Mountain Top, wants to build a bagel shop at 123 N. Mountain Blvd., opposite 10X Fitness. The business will be known as Mountain Top Bloomin Bagel, according to documents filed with the township. The approximately 30,000-square-foot property is located in a neighborhood commercial zone which does not allow for drive-thru lanes. The zoning hearing board would have to approve a variance or special exception to permit the business to operate a drive-thru. The property most recently was the site of the medical office of Dr. Robert Dompkosky, which was destroyed by fire. Previously, it was Sharons Subs and prior to that, Philadelphia Subs, neither of which operated drive-thru lanes. Is This The Toughest-Ever SCOOP Final Table? April 14, 2021 Matthew Pitt It should not be surprising to find a final table full of stellar names when the tournament in question costs $25,000 to enter, but the final nine of the SCOOP-43-H:@ $25,000 NLHE [8-Max, Super High Roller] at PokerStars is something else. Seventy-one players bought into this $1.5 million guaranteed event and only nine remain in contention for the near $470,000 top prize. What an unbelievable group of players those final nine are. SCOOP-43-H:@ $25,000 NLHE [8-Max, Super High Roller] Final Table Chip Counts Seat Player Country Chips 1 Mikita "fish2013" Badziakouski Belarus 1,021,752 2 Benjamin "bencb789" Rolle Germany 2,687,426 3 Samuel "uropan" Vousden Finland 1,877,297 4 Conor "1_conor_b_1" Beresford United Kingdom 1,684,957 5 Wiktor "limitless" Malinowski Poland 1,962,432 6 Niklas "Lena900" Astedt Sweden 968,102 7 Christian "WATnlos" Rudolph Germany 1,906,328 8 Michael "imluckbox" Addamo Australia 4,377,475 9 Joao "Naza114" Vieira Portugal 1,264,231 Michael "imluckbox" Addamo leads the way when the cards are back in the air from 7:05 p.m. BST on April 14. Addamo is armed with 4,377,475 and will take some stopping. The UK-based Australian needs no real introduction, and it is easier to list the High Roller and Super High Roller events he has not won during his career. Now Addamo is in pole position in yet another high stakes event, although this could be his greatest challenge yet. Former WCOOP Main Event champion Benjamin "bencb789" Rolle returns with 2,687,426 chips, so must fancy his chances of glory in this $25,000 Super High Roller. Rolle is guaranteed $54,286 but there is no way on this planet that he is settling for that sum. PLAYING THE ULTIMATE FINAL TABLE OF DEATH TOMORROW Also took down the 5k Super Tuesday for 236k https://t.co/zl5wPPR3rB bencb (@bencb789) Third place at the restart belongs to the high-stakes cash game expert Wiktor "limitless" Malinowski. The Polish star has 1,962,432 chips, which are enough to cause great concern for the rest of his opponents. Anyone who is willing to take on Fedor Holz in a heads-up battle while drunk deserves the respect of his peers! Things do not get any easier the further down the chip counts you go. World Series of Poker bracelet winner Christian Rudolph (1,906,328), recent SCOOP champion Samuel "uropan" Vousden (1,877,297), and former world number one Conor "1_conor_b_1" Beresford (1,684,957) all have enough chips in their arsenal to cause some major damage to those around them. Just as you think matters could not get any worse, you find Joao "Naza114" Vieira, Mikita "fish2013" Badziakouski (1,021,752), and the Swedish legend that is Niklas "Lena900" Astedt (968,102) still in the mix. The final table is, quite frankly, ridiculous. We cannot wait for the action to commence. Follow the action from the toughest SCOOP final table ever! Who do you think with come out on top of this battle of poker Goliaths? You do not have long to wait to find out because the tournament resumes at 7:05 p.m. BST on April 14, and does so under the watchful eyes of the PokerNews Live Reporting team. Our reporters are on hand to bring you all the action, from the first pitched cards, to the final pot being raked in. Tune in and join them in what is sure to be one of the most epic battles online poker has ever witnessed. A 55-year-old Schuylkill County man, who is a former vice president of a National Association of Letter Carriers union local in the Lehigh Valley, was indicted this week on charges of wire fraud in a scheme involving letter carriers at the Allentown Post Office, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Philadelphia reports. Joseph Whitbeck, of Tamaqua, likely hasnt made his first appearance yet to face the two counts. Currently, those court actions are happening on Tuesdays and Fridays. The federal government alleges Whitbeck operated a kickback scheme by filing numerous complaints on behalf of groups of letter carriers represented by Local 274 claiming that postal service managers had violated overtime rules. Once Whitbeck would settle those class-action grievances for lump sums without designating to whom the payments were owed, he would select people to get the money, the government said. He offered to get extra payouts for letter carriers who agreed to kick back a portion of the money to him, a news release citing the indictment said. Those who did not participate in the kickback scheme did not get grievance payments to which they were entitled, the government said. Whitbeck made false and misleading statements to get letter carries to participate, the news release said. Former Local Union Vice President Indicted for Operating Overtime Kickback Scheme in the Allentown Post Office https://t.co/PEeLBuyv2c U.S. Attorney EDPA (@USAO_EDPA) April 14, 2021 The defendant frequently told letter carriers that he would use the kicked-back funds to assist other letter carriers who are out of work, the news release said. The scheme went on for more than a decade and came to light when a letter carrier raised it in March 2018 during a union executive board meeting, the government said. The U.S. attorneys office said the indictment did not list how much money Whitbeck allegedly made from the scheme. If convicted, Whitbeck faces a maximum possible sentence of 400 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine, three years supervised release, and a $2,000 special assessment, the news release said. Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said those representing the union should benefit workers. Union representatives are supposed to act in the best interest of the union members, not manipulate them into participating in fraud, Williams said in the news release. Here, Whitbeck held a position of trust and owed a fiduciary duty of honesty and loyalty to all letter carriers in the Allentown Post Office in connection with the equitable distribution of overtime grievance settlements. The defendant allegedly abused that trust and violated his obligation to union and non-union letter carriers alike. Kenneth Cleevely, executive special agent in charge for the Eastern Area Field Office of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, said Whitbeck is not like most of the postal services employees. The vast majority of the Postal Services 630,000 employees are hard-working, trustworthy individuals who work around the clock to deliver the nations mail, Cleevely said in the news release. However, when one of those individuals chooses to violate that trust, and the trust of their fellow employees, special agents with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General will vigorously investigate serious allegations, and seek the individuals prosecution and termination if appropriate. Whitbeck didnt immediately return a phone call and its not clear if he has an attorney. A call to the National Association of Letter Carriers national office in Washington, D.C, was not immediately returned. Note: To report crimes committed by postal service employees, contact USPS Office of Inspector General special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG, Cleevely said. A third suspect linked to the strange ransom plot involving a threat to turn an Alabama Confederate monument into a toilet was jailed in New Orleans over the weekend. Investigators booked Stanley Pate, 34, on Saturday with a count of possessing stolen property. His arrest came two days after police jailed Jason Warnick, 32, and Kathryn Diionno, 24, on the same count following the recovery of the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chair in the Upper 9th Ward. All three suspects have been released from custody on their own recognizance. Thieves last month stole the ornately carved, 500-pound stone relic from a cemetery in Selma, Alabama. Its value is estimated at $500,000. After the chair was stolen on March 19, a group calling itself White Lies Matter threatened to use it as a toilet if its owners, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, did not hang a certain banner outside their headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, by the 156th anniversary of the Confederate surrender ending the Civil War, according to news media reports in Alabama. The banner included a quote from Black Liberation Army activist Assata Shakur, who was linked to a New Jersey state troopers murder in 1973: The rulers of this country have always considered their property more important than our lives. +2 Marigny tattoo shop owners accused of possessing stolen Jefferson Davis chair from Alabama Two people accused in a bizarre ransom plot that involved a threat to turn an Alabama Confederate monument into a toilet have been arrested in 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 News of a $5,000 reward for the chairs recovery prompted a tip to authorities that the monument was being held inside a storage room at a Faubourg Marigny tattoo shop owned by Warnick and Diionno in the 1000 block of Touro Street. Police said they identified Warnick and Diionno as suspects after finding surveillance video showing several people moving the hulking chair out of their shop and into the back of a rental van. The chair was ultimately found at the intersection of North Galvez and Feliciana streets on Thursday, after someone sent the GPS coordinates to the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Officers recovered the chair, returned it to its owners and booked Diionno as well as Warnick. They also obtained a warrant to arrest Pate. Attorneys for Diionno and Warnick said the pairs arrests were a mistake and they were innocent. The Davis chair honors the sole president of the Confederacy, who was also a slave owner. Such monuments have come under increasing attack by activists ever since a counter protester was killed in 2017 during a white supremacist rally against the removal of a Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia. COLUMBUS, Ohio An elderly Lyft driver who had been hired by a group of juveniles ended up being pulled from her vehicle and having her car stolen, according to police. Police say the 73-year-old woman pleaded with the four males and one female during Sundays incident, repeatedly asking them why, why? Youre the chosen one for the day, one of the suspects responded, according to police. The suspects then drove off in her 2015 Chevrolet. The victim suffered cuts and abrasions during the incident, police say. She went to a nearby residence for help and the people there called 911. At about 9:30 a.m. Monday, the victims vehicle crashed into a Columbus City Schools bus. Two males and a female ran from the scene, but the female later returned and was taken into custody by police. The two male suspects have not been caught. Police are continuing to search for the suspects. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Man walks into Akron hospital with gunshot wound to leg Man with high-powered rifle opens fire on Akron home with 3 children inside, police say Columbus officers clash with protesters attempting to enter police headquarters Shooting at Lakewood park wounds teen, police say City recommends discipline for officers involved in pursuit that killed 13-year-old Tamia Chapmann By Yun Sun Since the beginning of the "freefall" of U.S.-China relations during the global COVID-19 pandemic last year, tension over the Taiwan Strait has been escalating, as attested by the constant military posturing, political signaling and coercive policies of the mainland. As the calls for "unification by force" worsen at an unprecedented pace in mainland China, the concern over the possible military takeover of Taiwan by China has exacerbated exponentially. As recent as last month, Admiral Phil Davidson testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that China could attempt to take control of Taiwan in the next six years. Such an estimate significantly accelerates the threat and imminence of a war over Taiwan, most likely fought between the United States and China. There are debates as to whether Beijing has made any determined decision to wage a war over Taiwan in the next few years. The official policy statements from the top leaders on Taiwan still stick to the formula of "peaceful unification." Based on the documents that guide China's national strategies, including the 2035 Plan and the 14th Five-Year Plan, China's national priority in the foreseeable future remains domestic development, instead of national unification. However, at the same time, it is also widely recognized that China's war preparation and military posturing toward Taiwan have accelerated in recent years. These actions include active military buildup, repeated coercive shows of force, as well as government-manipulated nationalism actively calling for "unification by force." These conflicting messages blur China's true intentions and calculations regarding Taiwan. Hence, they are particularly concerning for policymakers for their formulation of effective strategies toward a Taiwan-related contingency. By default, China prefers peaceful unification. It's much less costly and much more conducive to China's desired image of a peaceful rise. For the past four decades, peaceful unification also has appeared plausible and tenable given the relatively peaceful development of relations between the U.S. and China. As Beijing becomes increasingly convinced of the United States' relative decline and the peaceful "power transition" between the U.S. and China, Beijing's envisioned peaceful unification lies in a perceived future that one day, the U.S. will be so exhausted of its commitment to an island so close to China and so far away from its homeland that it will just pack up and leave. This situation means that, in Beijing's view, Taiwan's will to begin and accept a negotiated political settlement will only emerge when U.S. support is no longer an option. If this assessment continues, as many observers believe that it will, China will still prioritize and adhere to the formula of peaceful unification. However, since the Trump administration, the premise of the policy the eventual U.S. abandonment of Taiwan appears to be eroding more rapidly and significantly. Indeed, as great power competition with China becomes the priority of the U.S.' national security strategy, and Taiwan's utility in that competition is being constantly reevaluated and reassessed, the importance of Taiwan for the U.S., in its future strategic and defense planning of the region, is only expected to increase. This fact is perhaps the most important assessment in the whole scheme of China's strategy toward Taiwan. If the presumed future of peaceful unification based on political negotiation is no longer viable, the only path left for China will be the use of force, since it is highly unlikely for Beijing to adopt political reforms and make itself a more desirable partner for unification in Taiwan's view. If the use of force is indeed determined to be the only viable option, some Chinese have argued that Beijing should exploit any remaining U.S. hesitation that is embedded in Washington's "strategic ambiguity" position, and take action sooner rather than later, before the U.S. firms up its resolve and commitment to defend Taiwan. Any of the Chinese war planning over Taiwan by default assumes U.S. intervention, as no Chinese military leaders could afford leaving it out of the equation. Although the Chinese acknowledge the asymmetry in military capabilities between a superior U.S. and an inferior China, their confidence and belief in their eventual victory lies in the asymmetry of strategic resolve that China is willing to carry far higher casualties and losses to win the war than the U.S. ever will be. In this sense, whether the U.S. adheres to "strategic ambiguity" or adopts "strategic clarity" is a question that amounts to null, because Chinese war planning assumes that the U.S. will intervene anyway. However, the debate over such strategic stances does have significant impact over whether China will actively wage such a war. Although China may be willing to carry more casualties and costs when it has to, it doesn't mean that it wishes to do so. When the cost-imposing strategy by the U.S. and its allies elevates the cost of a war to a prohibitively high level, it will force Beijing to recalculate the costs and benefits of a war over Taiwan, hence disrupting and even deterring such a decision. Whether the U.S. needs to declare such a policy is an entirely different matter, as such a declaration could corner Beijing into more imminent decisions to use force. There is no easy way out of the Taiwan situation, as all sides feel intrinsically stuck in undesirable policy options. The precarious peace over the Taiwan Strait has been hanging in a delicate balance of power, intentions and assumptions. Many of these factors are already changing, and others are bound to change. China may not be gearing up for war tomorrow, but the fundamentals of its Taiwan policy are shifting. Yun Sun is a senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia Program, as well as director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C. This piece is published in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Leadership for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN) (www.apln.network). Piers Morgan accuses Meghan Markle of telling 'downright lies' over her claim to have been married to Harry three days before their ceremony in Windsor in a new interview. The Mail Online editor-at-large makes the comments in a preview clip of his grilling on Australian television by Karl Stefanovic in a 60 Minutes interview. A clip from what's set to be a compelling interview shows Morgan calling Meghan a liar - and says she even personally complained to his boss before he sensationally quit Good Morning Britain. In the new interview, Morgan also launches a fresh assault on cancel culture after quitting GMB after a live war of words with the show's weatherman Alex Beresford over Harry and Meghan. Now, the bestselling author of 'Wake Up: Why the World has Gone Nuts' has hit back at the couple - and the 'woke' goody two-shoes-types who are in their thrall. Recalling Ms Markle's claim that she and Harry were secretly married three days before the official ceremony, he fires up in the interview: 'They were downright lies. 'I don't believe a word she says. That [ceremony] would make the Archbishop of Canterbury a criminal.' Ministers will push for coronavirus vaccines to become mandatory for care home staff in England, Matt Hancock confirmed today. The Health Secretary argued workers have a 'duty of care' to elderly residents, who are most at risk of dying from the disease. Mr Hancock claimed industry bosses were united in their calls for a 'no jab, no job' policy, insisting good uptake was 'our route out of this pandemic'. Critics said any decision to make jabs compulsory would be an 'incredibly bad idea'. And England's care chief claimed the sector was still 'divided' over the plans, which were first leaked three weeks ago. Department of Health officials have now launched a five-week consultation on the proposal, with a final decision expected by July. Asked whether care home staff who refuse a vaccine could be sacked, Government sources told MailOnline: 'Everything is on the table'. The scheme will only apply to care homes for elderly people and does not include facilities housing younger disabled or vulnerable adults. NHS workers and home carers won't be subjected to the new rules either. NHS England figures show 78.9 per cent of care home workers are still to come forward for their jab, the equivalent of nearly 100,000. The Department of Health and Social Care said nearly half of all elderly care homes do not meet vaccination thresholds. SAGE has said at least 80 per cent of staff and 90 per cent of residents need to be immunised to provide a minimum level of protection against Covid outbreaks. More than a quarter of all Covid deaths have been care home residents. Boris Johnson's official spokesman previously accepted it would be 'discriminatory' to force anyone to be vaccinated. Quizzed about mandatory vaccines last November, the PM himself said: 'Thats not the way we do things in this country'. Ministers will try to make coronavirus vaccines compulsory for care home staff, Matt Hancock confirmed today Britain's Covid jab rollout has been an undoubted success, with more than 32million people given their first dose by April 12. But uptake has been poorer in care home workers. About 100,000 staff in England have not come forward for their jab The scheme will only apply to care homes for elderly people and does not include facilities housing younger disabled or vulnerable adults Hesitancy is thought to be high among care staff because many of them are from low income or less educated households or black or ethnic minority communities. All of those groups are known to be more likely to refuse a vaccine. The five-week consultation will involve talking with industry leaders, staff and residents about whether the plan is practical and ethical. Pete Calveley, CEO of Barchester Healthcare, said the human rights of people living in care homes were at stake and staff must protect them by getting vaccinated against coronavirus HOW MANY CARE HOME WORKERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN YOUR AREA? Nearly half of care home workers have still not taken up the offer of a vaccine in parts of London, while more than nine in ten have had a jab in Blackpool. NHS England statistics going up to April 4 show some 97,573 care home workers across the country are not vaccinated more than a fifth of all staff. The data shows uptake rates vary wildly across the country, with just 457 out of 886 eligible care home workers accepting a first jab in Lambeth 51.6 per cent of staff. For comparison, the highest rates in the country were seen in the Isles of Scilly (100 per cent), Blackpool (91 per cent), Shropshire (88.7 per cent), Plymouth (88.1 per cent) and Barnsley (87.8 per cent). Just over 23,000 care home workers of around 35,000 eligible staff (67.8 per cent) have accepted the offer of a the vaccine in London. Meanwhile, more than eight in 10 have said yes in the South West (82.4 per cent) and North East and Yorkshire (81.8 per cent). Bottom 10 areas for uptake among care home workers: Lambeth Luton Wandsworth Redbridge Enfield Manchester Southwark Hackney Havering Barnet 51.6% 59.0% 60.1% 62.1% 62.4% 62.4% 63.4% 63.7% 64.6% 65.5% Top 10 areas for uptake among care home workers: Isles of Scilly Blackpool Shropshire Plymouth Barnsley Telford and Wrekin Rotherham Darlington Torbay Devon 100.0% 91.0% 88.7% 88.1% 87.8% 87.6% 87.1% 86.7% 86.7% 86.3% Advertisement It is believed workers who still refuse to get a jab will be redeployed to care homes for younger, less vulnerable residents. But the Department of Health has not ruled out terminating contracts where moving them to another facility is not feasible There are about 461,000 care home staff in England. Martin Green, chief of Care England, said: 'We have been really impressed how care providers have worked with their staff to listen to their concerns about the vaccine and this has had a very positive effect with a good take up. 'The sector is divided on whether or not vaccination should be mandatory but it is wholly united in its support for the vaccine and has done everything it can to persuade it's residents and staff to have it. 'Should the vaccine be mandatory for adult social care staff it begs the question whether it should not be mandatory for the NHS too.' Others raised concerns that people who have valid reasons not to take the jab would be discriminated against. Kelly Andrews, organiser at the GMB workers' union, said: 'Mandating vaccination is an incredibly bad idea. 'There will undoubtedly be care workers who cannot receive the vaccine due to health or pregnancy reasons, and they will be left outside of the scope of the scheme.' She claimed many staff on zero hours contracts were refusing the vaccine because they feared missing out on shifts due to mild side effects. She added: 'This policy would be the thin end of the wedge and could lead to employers in other sectors demanding the same approach which would have profound consequences for human rights and employment rights. 'The UK Government needs to get a grip after showing a complete failure to understand the real needs of the sector and its workers. They have been badly let down during this pandemic.' Staff in care homes in the UK have been able to come forward for a vaccine since the programme launched in December. They were considered one of the highest priority groups due to their interactions with elderly and frail residents, who are most likely to die from Covid. Phil Booth, from the patient rights group MedConfidential, told MailOnline: 'If the Government proposes to mandate vaccination only for care home workers, why does it not do so for other carers, or for healthcare workers who will similarly come into contact with the elderly and most vulnerable? 'Or is that the plan, but Ministers arent telling us? Picking on one group and not another would seem to be driven more by politics and perception than by the science; the virus simply doesnt care. Far better that everyone is offered vaccination, and that we achieve herd immunity the ethical way as we do with measles, mumps, rubella, and a host of other diseases than to proceed down such a divisive, discriminatory, science-free path on the whim of a bunch of politicians whove clearly shown theyve no interest in following the rules themselves.' Other care bosses have backed controversial 'no jab no job' policies. Pete Calveley, CEO of Barchester Healthcare, said the human rights of people living in care homes were at stake and staff must protect them. The firm was one of the first to announce that it would not hire any new carers who haven't been vaccinated and all existing staff must get a jab by the end of April. Mr Calveley last month said the safety of his residents is a higher priority than people's personal choice not to have a jab and that he hoped the government would make it the law. He said the policy has only had a 'tiny impact' on the number of people accepting or applying for jobs and said some people had applied because they liked the rule. NHS England statistics going up to April 4 show some 97,573 care home workers across the country are not vaccinated more than a fifth of all staff. Nearly half of care home workers have still not taken up the offer of a vaccine in parts of London, while more than nine in ten have had a jab in Blackpool. The data shows uptake rates vary wildly across the country, with just 457 out of 886 eligible care home workers accepting a first jab in Lambeth 51.6 per cent of staff. For comparison, the highest rates in the country were seen in the Isles of Scilly (100 per cent), Blackpool (91 per cent), Shropshire (88.7 per cent), Plymouth (88.1 per cent) and Barnsley (87.8 per cent). Houston activist and rapper Trae tha Truth is supporting the family of George Floyd in person amid the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial. The rapper shared on Instagram that he was headed back to Minneapolis, a city dealing with continuing unrest amid Chauvin's trial. HOMETOWN HERO: That time Trae tha Truth rented an entire gas station to help Houstonians "Back To Tha Frontlines...... #GeorgeFloyd #DuaneWright Minneapolis ...... No Justice... It's just us... Time 2 Slide....." he wrote. The rapper and activist has stood with the family of George Floyd since the protests began in Houston and throughout the trial. According to another video posted to his Instagram, Trae sat in on the trial. FUNERAL NEEDS: Trae tha Truth wins a bittersweet victory for Harris Co. inmates with virtual funerals Trae went back to Minneapolis not only to support the Floyd family, but to also stand with the family of Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot at a traffic stop only about 10 miles from where Derek Chauvin is on trial in the killing of George Floyd, according to The New York Times. "I'm sending prayers, support, and comfort for his mother, father, son, and family. Not letting the Officer get a free kill on our time," Trae wrote on Instagram. Before returning to Minneapolis, the rapper was last seen protesting the death of Breonna Taylor at the home of Attorney General Daniel Cameron in Louisville, Kentucky. The protest later led to his arrest. Trae tha Truth has been forthright about his feelings in regards to social justice and shared multiple posts on Instagram regarding the death of Wright. He's made a vow to stand for Daunte Wright's family, as he does for others who have lost their loved ones to police murders. Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at UNSC Briefing on Kosovo (UNMIK) Statement Thank you very much, Mr. President, and I want to say welcome to both the Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia who are with us today. This is the first opportunity that Ireland has had to address these issues since we joined the Council, so I want to begin by underlining Irelands strong support for UNMIK. I would like also to welcome the Secretary-Generals report and of course thank SRSG Tanin and his team for their important work and his brief this morning. As the Secretary Generals report sets out, and we have heard from several briefers this morning, Kosovo of course like many of us, has had to face serious problems created by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last year. We very much appreciate the valuable role UNMIK has played in supporting Kosovo in addressing those challenges the procurement of medical supplies, PPE and expertise, and of course through the assistance we know they give to the most vulnerable communities. President, We attach particular importance to UNMIKs work on the promotion of gender equality in Kosovo, including through the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as well as its engagement with young people through the YPS agenda and programme. We see this work as especially important right now given the increasing levels of genderbased violence in the context of Covid - we have seen that right across the globe. We commend UNMIKs initiatives to support survivors from all communities in Kosovo. We also welcome that Kosovo has incorporated provisions of the Istanbul Convention into its legislation. What matters now of course is that this is followed up with the actual implementation of concrete policies. Ireland welcomes the advance in the political representation of women in Kosovo a female Minister with us today - following the recent elections where we know that the percentage of women elected to the Assembly exceeded the quota of the General Election Law. The significant progress of women in the political arena, now again must see itself translated into full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding in all its dimensions in Kosovo, including in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. In this context, we know that barriers faced by women need to be addressed in order to deliver sustainable and inclusive peace. We know the corollary is true, the involvement of women improves the prospects for that sustainable and inclusive peace. Mr. President, This Council has a responsibility, we have a responsibility to strongly support efforts to advance the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The EU-facilitated dialogue has a very and particularly important role to play in this regard, and we fully support the efforts of the HRVP, Josep Borrell and the EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak in advancing this process. A comprehensive, final and legally binding normalisation agreement is essential for the European perspective of both Serbia and Kosovo and for wider stability in the region in the Western Balkans. Now that a new Government and President are in place in Kosovo, there is a real opportunity for renewed momentum in dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. We urge that a concerted and a sincere effort be made over the coming months to progress the EUfacilitated dialogue. Mr. President, Let us recognize it, domestically, 2020 was a challenging year for Kosovo both in terms of political turbulence and the impact of COVID but we hope that the coming months will see a reinvigoration of the EU reform agenda, in line with the findings and recommendations of the European Commission's 2020 Kosovo report. The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for Kosovos Rule of Law institutions. Ireland strongly encourages the government to take into account in all Rule of Law reforms issues highlighted by the Covid pandemic, in particular with respect to vulnerable groups and their access to justice. The people of Kosovo have voted for change and for an agenda of rule of law and anticorruption reforms we heard that this morning. We urge the new Government to build on the work already done and to deliver further progress in this area for all the people in Kosovo. In this context, I also wish to underline Irelands support for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The Chambers have important work to do. It is also key that the authorities in Kosovo adhere to their commitments to the court. Mr. President, UNMIK has played an important role in assisting the people of Kosovo to build a peaceful and normal life, and advance regional stability. We wish SRSG Tanin and his team all the best in the next phase of their mission and look forward to further briefings of the Council on this issue. Thank you, Mr. President. Previous Item | Next Item By Xu Yongzhi On April 13, the Japanese government unilaterally decided to dump the Fukushima radwaste water to the sea in defiance of questions and objection at home and abroad and without consulting neighboring countries or the international community. Such an extremely irresponsible practice has triggered vehement opposition from the international community, especially surrounding countries, as the move will seriously threaten global public health security and the immediate interests of people living in its neighbors. Meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011 are one of the catastrophic nuclear disasters that have happened in the world so far, exerting far-reaching impacts on the oceanic environment, food safety, and human health. The continued cooling of the melted nuclear fuel generates about 140-ton radwaste water every day, which had amounted to 1.25 million tons by March this year and was stored in tanks. The Japanese government cited the lack of space at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) for storing radwaste water as the reason for releasing the water into the sea, adding that there is no better way of disposal, but this excuse obviously doesnt hold water. Taku Yamamoto, Chairperson of the Research Commission on Natural Resources and Energy Strategy of Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP ), said that many buildings at the NPP have been left idle for many years and can make room for storing the wastewater, plus there are large clearings at Fukushima where new water tanks can be built. According to a report by an expert panel, it is technically feasible to solidify the wastewater with cement and bury it, or directly release it 2,500m underground, but that costs USD160 million to 3.6 billion with possible effects on surrounding tourism and agriculture. In comparison, it costs only USD15 to 30 million to discharge the water into the sea, which is why Tokyo opted for it to save money. But this practice and stance of the Japanese government contradicted its attitude toward similar cases and commitment to the international community in the 1990s and revealed stark double standards. In 1993, Russia planned to dump to the Japan Sea over 1,000-ton radwaste water with about 1/10 the radioactivity of the Fukushima water. The Japanese government, bolstered by the US and other G7 members, strongly opposed releasing low-radioactivity pollutants to Far East seas on the grounds that the public is very sensitive to nuclear radiation, forcing Russia to give up the plan finally. To prevent the recurrence of similar situations, Japan and several other countries jointly issued the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, or the London Protocol , which states, Contracting Parties shall apply a precautionary approach to environmental protection from dumping of wastes or other matter when there is reason to believe that wastes or other matter introduced into the marine environment are likely to cause harm even when there is noconclusive evidence to prove a causal relationship between inputs and their effects. Now Japan has selectively forgotten this protocol in which it used to take pride. In all ridiculous fallacy, it even argued that while dumping from boats is against the protocol, releasing radwaste water from water pipes falls out of its mandate. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Tokyo committed to the international community at a conference of contracting parties to the London Protocol that it would study and seek a way to minimize the radioactivity leaked to the sea. But the fact is that Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the operator of Fukushima NPP, has lied to the outside many times, and the actual situation of the wastewater remains to be clarified. In the face of the doubts and concerns of the international community, Tokyo, on the excuse of preventing domestic fishermens interests from being harmed by rumors as much as possible, has refused to consult with neighboring countries. Yet, it is the domestic fishermen groups that voiced the strongest opposition to dumping the wastewater into the sea. The nuclear accident 10 years ago has plunged Fukushimas aquatic product sales on a nosedive, and Fukushima Fishing Association has just loosened the restriction on fishing in April this year; now, the governments decision will once again put the fishermens livelihood at stake. The sea is a common property of humanity. How to dispose of the radioactive wastewater at Fukushima NPP is not only Japans domestic issue. Tokyo must face up to its responsibilities, fulfill its international obligations in a scientific spirit, and accept examinations participated by surrounding countries. On the basis of ascertaining the content and harm of radioactive substances, it should consult with all stakeholders on the wastewater disposal instead of just dumping it into the sea with no consideration for the consequences. (The author is from the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.) The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, has said the board lost more than N10 million in 2020 to fraudsters. Mr Oloyede, a professor, told journalists on Wednesday in Abuja that the fraudsters penetrated the boards payment portal for ad hoc staff. He said the money, which was meant to pay JAMB ad hoc staff from the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), was hijacked by the suspected fraudsters. Mr Oloyede, however, said the board investigated the illegality, tracked and finally apprehended 10 of the suspects in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Abuja. We did not ask anyone to apply to be an ad hoc staff on the site, we had already chosen them through recommendations from various agencies, the registrar said. We only created the site just to pay them via a code that was assigned to them. However, these suspects gained access to the site, deleted the original account details and phone numbers and inserted theirs. We paid N20, 000 each for accommodation per night and N100, 000 for flight tickets, depending on the location of each staff to go and work for that period. The payments ranged from N200, 000 to over N300, 000 per person. Yet, these suspected fraudsters after gaining access to the sites, also inserted details for their family members. They didnt go to partake in the exercise but ignored the messages sent from our domain. One of them, Saidu Zubairu, collected over N3.7 million for himself because he inserted the account details of his mother, sisters and other family members. We have not calculated all the monies they all have so far received but altogether, the amount will definitely sum up to more than N10 million. We have already paid the original owners, though it took us over a year to track the suspects but we finally apprehended them and I assure you the law will take its course. Mr Oloyede reiterated the boards readiness to fight corrupt practices in its system, adding that some of the illegalities had prompted changes in its mode of operations. Mr Zubairu, one of the 10 apprehended suspects, said he got the code for the site through his friend (currently at large) and indulged others. I succeeded in changing the original details in the site and asked eight other friends of mine to do the same and they confirmed receipt of payment afterwards, he said. Mr Zubairu said he added the details of 12 family members to the site who were also paid above N300, 000. He, however, pleaded that they be forgiven while promising to reimburse the money if given sufficient time. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, a final year student of Economics at the University of Abuja, Justina Adegoke, said she recently discovered she was given fake admission to the institution. She said she came down to JAMB Computer Based Test (CBT) centre to address the challenge, only to be hijacked by a fraudster at one of the cyber cafes opposite the facility. He asked me what I wanted to do and I told him I wanted to create an email address to complete my admission process and he collected my phone to assist. I didnt know that he diverted the mail and password from my phone to himself. All information was then intercepted by him. He then called me first to ask me to send N1000 airtime before he would send the information, while claiming to be a staff of JAMB. He later asked for N2000 and then N3000 to release the mail and password and threatened to deal with me if I refuse to cooperate. Ms Adegoke said she couldnt take it anymore and decided to come to JAMB headquarters to report and make her complaint known. Moses Peter, who owned the cyber cafe, claimed not to be aware of the act he claimed was committed by one David Ahmed of Auchi polytechnic. He said he employed boys at random to go out and look for customers but was not aware of their fraudulent activities. All suspects apprehended by the board have been handed over to security personnel for further investigations. (NAN) Testifying in a murder case risky move that most defense attorneys advise against. However . . . The case is mostly based on perceptions about his character and hearsay. If he's the least bit convincing as a decent person . . . His statements could be powerful in a case that doesn't have a clear winner yet. Update . . . KYLR YUST TAKES THE STAND IN BOLD DOUBLE MURDER DEFENSE STRATEGY!!! CAN HE CONVINCE THE JURY?!? Updated deets . . . More links . . . 41 Action News: Yust testifies in own defense at double murder trial Fox4: Jury won't hear much on suspect's half-brother KSHB: Investigative Journalist Andy Alcock On The Scene Live Tweeting. Developing . . . GREENWICH Greenwich Hospital is working to reschedule some appointments after the federal Food and Drug Administration abruptly recommended a temporary halt in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19. The hospital had been planning to provide 1,400 doses of the J&J vaccine at its clinic at the Brunswick School on Friday. The goal had been to administer all of the one-dose vaccines in one day. But now that is being reorganized per recommendations after Tuesdays unexpected announcement. The Yale New Haven Health System, of which Greenwich is a part, is following the federal and state guidance and suspending its use of this one kind of vaccine, Dana Marnane, director of public relations and communications for YNHHS, said Tuesday. Greenwich Hospital has been administering J&J, plus two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna at the Brunswick clinic, noting on its appointments website which would receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. During this safety pause, we will not be administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at our vaccination clinics, Marnane said. We know that many people are anxious get vaccinated during this pandemic so we will reach out to patients who have upcoming appointments and provide rescheduling options, including offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Greenwich Hospital was looking to get the Moderna vaccine for those who are signed up for the J&J vaccine on Friday, she said. We are in the process of reaching out to patients now, Marnane said. And at least for some who have received the J&J vaccine, the announcement was not a cause for concern. Greenwich resident Hale McSharry and his sister Meghan McSharry both received the vaccine last week in a clinic at the University of Connecticut campus in Stamford. I am not worried about any possible side effects, Hale McSharry said. Getting vaccinated feels like finally being on the other side of something that stole a year of happiness and momentum from our lives. Ill take the less-than one-in-a-million odds. Gov. Ned Lamont, after discussions with the White House and federal health officials, said Tuesday it was expected the pause in administering the J&J vaccine would last days, not weeks. It was triggered by reports of six people out of the 6.8 million who have received the J&J vaccine nationwide developing severe blood clots. None of the cases were in Connecticut. Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the FDA, said the pause was expected to last a matter of days, although it depends on what we learn in the next few days. I think the pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine use is a prudent step to take, town Director of Health Caroline Baisley said Tuesday. The two-dose vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna have been more widely administered both throughout the country and in town they were available sooner and in larger amounts. They are not affected by the J&J announcement. All Connecticut residents age 16 and up are eligible to receive the vaccine. In addition to the clinic at the King Street campus of the Brunswick School, vaccinations can also be scheduled at the towns three-day a week clinic at Town Hall and at the nonprofit Family Centers five days a week clinic at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. Additional clinics are offered at hundreds of locations across the state. The Town Hall clinic is offering the Moderna vaccine, Baisley said. The town had received only a small quantity of J&J vaccines, which it was administering to home-bound seniors, she said. Rescheduling is not an issue in those cases, Baisley said. We will just use the Moderna vaccine, which we use for our on-site Town Hall clinic. The town, which had only about 50 doses of J&J, will discontinue its use until the state gives new direction, Baisley said. The Family Centers clinic typically receives only 100 doses a week of J&J, said Heather Dawson, vaccine coordinator for the non-profit. She said she had been scheduling J&J appointments exclusively on Mondays. Were going to do our best to accommodate and switch people over to Moderna if people want that one as of right now, Dawson said. If the pause is lifted before Monday, Dawson may be able to offer J&J as scheduled to those who wanted it. But, she said, she wants to see the results of a deep dive by the FDA into the vaccine. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com Future Retail said that it has received communication from Amazon.com that it has filed special leave petition before Supreme Court of India. Future Retail announced on Wednesday (14 April) that its advocates are in receipt of communication dated 13 April 2021 from advocates of Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings (Amazon) informing that Amazon has filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court of India against the captioned order dated 22 March 2021 passed by the division bench of the High Court of Delhi. Future Retail said that it will defend the matter/proceedings through its legal counsels. The Delhi High Court bench on 22 March 2021 had removed the stay over Future Group proceeding with a Rs 24,713 crore deal with Mukesh Ambani's retail company. A division bench of the Delhi High Court on 22 March 2021 granted a reprieve to Future Group from a single-judge bench order passed on 18 March 2021, which restrained the Group from taking any steps about the sale of its assets to Reliance Retail. Justice JR Midha on 18 March 2021 held that Future Group wilfully violated Singapore Arbitrator's order and directed it not to take further action on the deal. The court asked them to show cause as to why they shouldn't be detained for three months in civil prison for violating the emergency arbitrator's order. It also imposed Rs 20 lakh fine on Future Group and its directors. The Singapore International Arbitration Centre's (SIAC), on 25 October 2020, had passed an interim order in favour of Amazon, restraining Future Group from proceeding on the deal. In August 2020, RIL announced the acquisition of retail & wholesale business and logistics & warehousing business from the Future Group as going concerns on a slump sale basis for Rs 24,713 crore through its subsidiary Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL). In August 2019, Amazon had bought 49% stake in Future Coupons for Rs 1,500 crore. The US-based e-commerce giant said that the 2019 deal blocks Future Group from selling shares of Future Retail to rival RIL as it indirectly owned about 3.5% stake in Future Retail. In January this year, Amazon had moved the Delhi High Court challenging Future Group-RIL deal. The Delhi HC had upheld the emergency arbitration award from SIAC that was in favour of Amazon's and ordered a status quo. The status quo direction was subsequently stayed by a division bench of the High Court. Shares of Future Retail rose 1.17% at Rs 47.75 on Tuesday. Future Retail is engaged in the business of retailing a range of household and consumer products through departmental store facilities under various formats. The company is primarily engaged in the business of multi-brand retail trade. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) holds a press conference following the Senate GOP policy luncheon in the Rayburn Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 2, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Republicans Wont Support Rollback of Trump Tax Cuts to Pay for Bidens Infrastructure Plan: McConnell Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on April 13 that President Joe Bidens $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan will face stiff opposition from Republicans if it involves raising taxes by undoing portions of the Trump administrations landmark 2017 tax reforms. The point of this is, this tax bill of 2017undonewould create an extensive loss of jobs in our country and do exactly the wrong thing and move us in the wrong direction, McConnell said at a press conference April 13. Bidens infrastructure plan, which Republicans say stretches the definition of infrastructure to include things such as social programs, includes a partial repeal of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a major achievement of the Trump administration and a legacy the GOP is keen to preserve. Investing in the nations infrastructure is a popular proposition with Americans, and while both Republicans and Democrats want to fix crumbling roads and bridges, the plans $2.3 trillion price tag has politicians in both parties concerned about the scope of the package and how to fund the bill. McConnell said whats needed is an infrastructure bill as big as were willing to credibly pay for without going back and undoing the 2017 tax bill. It took 30 years to get another comprehensive tax bill after 1986, and I dont think theres going to be much of any settlement among Senate Republicans for undoing the 2017 tax bill, he said. Bidens tax hikes would kill 1 million jobs and harm the economy, according to a new study released by the nations largest manufacturing association, which called Trumps 2017 tax cuts rocket fuel for manufacturers. Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), said in a statement that if the Biden administration rolls back the Trump tax cuts, manufacturing workers will lose out on jobs, growth, and raises. The study (pdf), conducted by Rice University economists John W. Diamond and George R. Zodrow for NAM, found that the average annual job losses would be 600,000 each year over 10 years, and real wages would fall by 0.6 percent in the long run. This study tells us quantitatively what manufacturers from coast to coast will tell you qualitatively: increasing the tax burden on companies in America means fewer American jobs. One million jobs would be lost in the first two years, to be exact, Timmons said. The changes to the 2017 tax reform bill that the study assumed in its analysis included raising the corporate tax rate to 28 percent, restoring the corporate alternative minimum tax, removing expensing (100 percent bonus depreciation) of most investments in depreciable assets, and repealing the 20 percent deduction for certain pass-through business income. Biden said he hopes to win bipartisan backing for his infrastructure plan and is prepared to negotiate both its size and funding. The president met with lawmakers from both parties on April 12 to discuss the American Jobs Plan as they returned to Washington following a recess. Im prepared to negotiate as to the extent of my infrastructure project as well as how we pay for it, Biden said ahead of an Oval Office meeting with House and Senate members from both parties. I think everyone acknowledges we need a significant increase in infrastructure. Its going to get down to what we call infrastructure. Besides concern about the steep price tag, Republicans believe the bill goes beyond fixing roads, bridges, and water infrastructure. There is a bipartisan appetite for smart infrastructure bills. In fact, all the multi-year highway bills have been bipartisan going back decades. There isnt an appetite for using the word infrastructure to justify a multi-trillion-dollar slush fund for unrelated bad ideas, McConnell wrote on Twitter on April 13. McConnell expanded on that point in remarks from the Senate floor on April 13, calling Bidens package misleadingly titled legislation. The White House has lumped together a motley assortment of the lefts priciest priorities, McConnell said. Less than 6 percent of this proposal goes to roads and bridges. Its not remotely targeted toward what Americans think they are getting when politicians campaign on infrastructure. But instead of coming up with a better bill, Democrats have decided its the English language that has to change. They are embarking on an Orwellian campaign to convince everybody that any government policy whatsoever can be labeled infrastructure. Liberals just have to believe in it hard enough. White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended the sweeping nature of the package at an April 5 briefing, when asked by a reporter why not pare the plan down by cutting some of its social program and electric vehicle aspects. Some dont think that building a support system to take care of elderly parents or kids with disabilities at home so people can go back into the workforce some think that that is not investing in the infrastructure. The president disagrees, Psaki said. Some dont believe that rebuilding schools so that theyre safe and asbestos-free isnt investing in infrastructure; the president disagrees, she said, listing several other contentious items such as supply chains, broadband internet capacity, high-speed rail, and water systems, which she said Biden believes should fall under the scope of the infrastructure plan. Psaki said Biden is keen to engage with Republicans skeptical of his proposal and try to win over their support, a theme she reiterated at an April 13 briefing. His only red line is inaction, Psaki said, adding that he is happy to hear Republican proposals, including on tax hikes. In a statement following Bidens meeting with lawmakers, the White House stated that the sides had a good exchange of ideas, and the President asked for their feedback and follow-up on proposals discussed in the meeting, while underscoring that inaction is not an option. Biden is expected to speak to a joint session of Congress on April 28, giving him an opportunity to pitch his infrastructure plan to lawmakers. Emel Akan contributed to this report. UMHS Celebrates Virtual White Coat Ceremony For the student, the White Coat Ceremony marks a personal transition. For their families and friends, it is a reminder that their loved one is going to be engaging in one of the toughest rites of passage. Their support and understanding will be essential for the next four years. The University of Medicine and Health Sciences, (UMHS), a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States and Canada, hosted a virtual White Coat Ceremony for its first-year medical students. Finding a creative solution to maintain the time-honored tradition in the midst of a pandemic, UMHS invited 298 medical students across three cohorts to submit videos of themselves donning their white coats for the first time - and the submissions featured students getting a helping hand from a support network that included parents, loved ones, children, and even puppies. The UMHS White Coat Ceremony video showcases the diversity of the student population and the range of backgrounds representing 20 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, while emphasizing humanism in healthcare and the symbolic transition to the practice of medicine. Professionally produced by an Emmy-winning production company, the UMHS White Coat Ceremony featured welcome remarks from President Warren Ross, Provost & CAO Dr. David Graham, and a history of the white coat from Dr. George Shade, Dean of Clinical Science at UMHS. From this day forward you willingly dedicate yourself to the betterment of mankind through scientific and academic excellence, compassion, and selflessness, Dr. Shade told the students. Wear your coat with pride and respect for what it symbolizes: it was not easily obtained, and therefore should not be easily abandoned. You are now part of a proud profession that has earned its position of respect. Honor it as it honors you on this day. Many of the students from UMHS have followed a non-traditional path on their journey to becoming a doctor. While the average age of med students in the U.S. is 24 years old, 46% of the most recent class of students entering UMHS are 26 years old or greater, and 3% are more than 40 years old. Another notable difference with the UMHS student population is gender representation, with more than 60% of students who identify as female. As an independent medical school thats dedicated to promoting student success and securing residency matches for graduates in the United States and Canada, the White Coat Ceremony celebrates the obstacles that many UMHS students have overcome, as well as the promise of fulfilling their dreams. With backdrops ranging from beaches, to living rooms, to the U.S. Capitol, the videos of UMHS students provide a glimpse of the varied ethnic and geographical backgrounds represented by the diverse student population and reveal all the hope and promise the ceremony represents. For the student, the White Coat Ceremony marks a personal transition, said Edwin Purcell, PhD., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at UMHS. They are entering the field of medicine and therefore students learn and must display extraordinarily high levels of professionalism and empathy. For their families and friends, it is an opportunity to feel pride and also a reminder that their loved one is going to be engaging in one of the toughest rites of passage. Their support and understanding will be essential for the next four years. The white coats worn by both doctors and medical students have a proud and surprising history, which UMHS detailed in its blog, The UHMS Endeavour. Doctors did not originally wear white coats, and the facts surrounding the transition to white coats parallel the evolution of the practice of medicine. Even the length of the coats bears significance - with medical students wearing shorter coats than fully-licensed doctors. During the ceremony, Dr. Prakash Mungli, UMHS Dean of Student Affairs, introduced keynote speaker Dr. Kristen Miller, who was among the inaugural class of UMHS. Dr. Miller asked students, You get one shot, so why not challenge yourselves? Youre going to be pushed. Are you going to rise to the occasion? To see the full White Coat Ceremony for each cohort, including the complete remarks from the event speakers and videos for all of the UMHS students, please visit: January 2021 cohort - https://www.umhs-sk.org/white-coat-2021 September 2020 cohort- https://www.umhs-sk.org/white-coat-sep20cohort May 2020 cohort - https://www.umhs-sk.org/white-coat-may20cohort About UMHS The University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS), is a small, mission-driven medical school with a commitment to student support and a legacy of successful residency placements in the United States and Canada. UMHS was founded in 2007 by medical education pioneers Warren and Robert Ross to deliver a highly personalized school experience. Graduates of UMHS earn a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) and qualify to practice medicine throughout the United States and Canada. Students begin their Basic Science studies in St. Kitts, West Indies, and complete their clinical training in the United States. With an unprecedented 96% student retention rate, the vast majority of students that begin their medical studies at UMHS go on to obtain residencies. For more information visit https://www.umhs-sk.org/. Kalbarris post-cyclone rebuild could take years to complete with the regions builders already booked up through to 2022 due to Western Australias booming construction industry. Warren Taylor, who owns Warren Taylor Homes in Geraldton, said he and other builders in the Mid West had booked in as many as 70 builds each on the back of $20,000 building bonus grants brought in to mitigate the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The state grants require construction to begin before the end of the year. I know Perths under the pump big time with all the trades and that type of stuff, were exactly the same up in Geraldton and the Mid West and now this on top for poor old Kalbarri, I can see it being two years down the track before anyone gets up there, Mr Taylor told Radio 6PR. You could run into a situation where you just got unlucky with where you chose to target your test, and something popped up there that then made your test less effective, said Nathan Grubaugh, a virologist at Yale University. The gene for the viruss characteristic spike protein, known as the S gene, has been particularly prone to mutation, and tests that target this gene may miss certain variants. For instance, Thermo Fishers TaqPath test fails to detect the mutated S gene of the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in Britain and is now spreading rapidly through the United States. But the test does not rely on the S gene alone; it has three targets and can still return accurate results by detecting two other stretches of the coronavirus genome. Just 1.3 percent of molecular tests rely solely on an S gene target, according to calculations performed by Rachel West, a postdoctoral associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The rest either target more stable regions of the genome, which are less likely to mutate, or have multiple target sequences, which makes them less susceptible to failure. Its very unlikely that youre going to get mutations in all of them, Dr. Lillis said. The F.D.A. has listed four different molecular tests whose performance could be impacted by the variants, but notes that the tests should still work. Three of the tests have multiple targets; a fourth may be slightly less sensitive when the virus has one particular mutation and is present at very low levels. (The four tests are the TaqPath Covid-19 Combo Kit, the Linea Covid-19 Assay Kit, the Xpert Xpress and Xpert Omni SARS-CoV-2, and the Accula SARS-CoV-2 Test.) We dont think that those four assays are significantly impacted, said Dr. Tim Stenzel, who directs the F.D.A.s office of in vitro diagnostics and radiological health. It was more out of an abundance of caution and transparency that we made that information public. Antigen tests are less sensitive than molecular tests, but they are typically cheaper and faster, and they are being deployed widely in coronavirus screening programs. These tests detect specific proteins on the outside of the virus. Some genetic mutations could change the structure of these proteins, allowing them to escape detection. Vitamin D: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage Click image to expand. Every cell in your body has a vitamin D receptor in the nucleus. Approximately 2,000 genes in our body are controlled by vitamin D. Vitamin D is the master key to our immune system. If you have a mid level amount of vitamin D (50ng/ml), you cannot develop a cytokine storm. (A cytokine storm is that which kills in covid cases.) 70% of the world is deficient in vitamin D. (That means 70% of the world is immune suppressed. 70-80% of all Americans are immune depressed.) Approximately 80% of all nursing home patients are immune depressed. Over 90% of ICU Covid patients are Vitamin D deficient and immune depressed. Vitamin D is synthesized by UVB rays from the sun through our skin. (Sun screen blocks vitamin D synthesis. Above or below the 35th parallel, a person cannot naturally make vitamin D for 4-5 months of fall and winter. Obesity drastically decreases vitamin D levels, and over 60% of Americans are obese. Vitamin D. decreases colon, breast, thyroid and other cancer rates, and well as depression and suicide rates. A vitamin D supplement is critical for every world citizen in fall and winter (and indoor workers year round). Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a November 2020 interview that he takes 8,000-9,000 IU per day of vitamin D. But he never encouraged the public to follow his example in his thousands of television visits, while demanding that the public wear one or two masks at all times. At the same time, the government was spending billions (perhaps trillions) of dollars investing in vaccines and stimulus money to salve the harm of lockdowns. In contrast, little was spend on finding treatments. In fact, many patients were told to go home and isolate, and then go to the hospital if they couldn't breathe. Is this the best the United States can do in the 21st century? This truly surpasses ridiculous.Dr. Ryan Cole is CEO of Cole Diagnostics, an independent lab in Idaho. He was trained at the Mayo clinic and has worked in his field for 17 years. He recently presented his findings regarding the virus, treatment, and the vaccine before the Idaho State Assembly.In his presentation, Dr. Cole stated a number of facts that should be obvious to anyone who passed Science 101. For example, wearing a mask outside is insanity. Viruses do NOT live outdoors; they live indoors where there is poor ventilation. Dr. Cole stressed that a virus follows a certain cycle and then eventually fade away; many states of the US are no longer in pandemic status. Viruses are fragile; UV light kills them, and the wind blows them away. Public health officials should be encouraging people to go outside, not huddling indoors in fear.The average age of death in North American (from all causes) is 78.6. The average age of Covid death is 78.6.According to Dr. Cole, the biggest lost public health message is the failure of officials to talk about Vitamin (pro-hormone) D. In fact, there is no such thing as flu and cold season; there is only low vitamin D season. Here are some important vitamin D facts:In the US most insurance companies do not cover the cost of the blood panel to check for levels of vitamin D. Scandinavian countries check vitamin D levels twice a year, and supplement 35 foods with vitamin D. Perhaps this might explain Sweden's outcome during the pandemic.Dr. Cole said most Americans are also deficient in magnesium and zinc as well. Both can be helpful in boosting the immune system.Public health officials have ignored this critical message, and it may have caused the deaths of thousands. Many physicians are unaware of the importance of vitamin D; after all, they spend days learning all about pharmaceuticals, and mere minutes on the value of vitamins. However, not all doctors are asleep at the wheel. My own doctor started me on Vitamin D several years ago, and he tests my levels annually. (I have been well throughout this pandemic.)The most startling conclusion Dr. Cole emphasized is that normal vitamin D levels decrease covid symptoms and risk for hospitalizations by up to 90%. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has quietly acknowledged this fact. Why isn't this information on mainstream media instead of the constant propaganda and fear mongering? Perhaps they could find a space somewhere between all the commercials for pharmaceuticals.In the next article, we will learn what Dr. Cole and other doctors say about treatment, specifically Ivermectin. County School officials said in a meeting on Tuesday, a leader of the Baptiste Group said there are no plans for migrant children at a former Tennessee Temple dorm to attend county schools. School officials said they were told that the program is a short-term placement for children and is focused on reunification of children and families. The Baptiste Group plans to educate any children in their care through online learning and "will not be enrolling them in HCS schools," it was stated. A county school spokesman said, "As HCS would do for any other children experiencing homelessness, the district stands ready to support these children as needed in accordance with federal law." Terrance Ware of the Baptiste Group met with Dr. Jill Levine and Dr. Marsha Drake of Hamilton County Schools. They were told the name of the agency working with migrant children is Sidneys Place, which is run by the Baptiste Group. New Delhi: Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh appeared before the CBI on Wednesday (April 14) for questioning in connection with the allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Anil Deshmukh reached the DRDO guest house, where a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is camping in suburban Santacruz around 10 am, an official said. On Monday, the CBI had issued a notice calling Former Maharashtra Home Minister to join the agency's probe into the allegations levelled against him by Param Bir Singh and suspended police officer Sachin Waze, the official said. Sachin Waz, who was an assistant police inspector, is under investigation in the case of an explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai. The CBI is conducting a into the allegations against Anil Deshmukh levelled by Param Bir Singh after he was removed from the post of Mumbai police commissioner. The allegations were reportedly corroborated by Waze in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the SUV case, the officials earlier said. The Bombay High Court last week directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations levelled by Param Bir Singh against Anil Deshmukh. In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister, Param Bir Singh had claimed that Deshmukh asked Waze to allegedly extort over Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Anil Deshmukh has denied the allegations. So far, the CBI has recorded statements of Param Bir Singh, Sachin Waze, Deputy Commissioner of Police Raju Bhujbal, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil, advocate Jayshree Patil and hotel owner Mahesh Shetty. (With Agency inputs) Live TV During a hearing before a Senate panel on Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said the intelligence community does not know whether COVID-19 initially transmitted to humans from an animal, or whether it was due to an accident in a lab. CIA Director Bill Burns then criticized the Chinese government for not being transparent about finding the origins of the virus. Video Transcript MARCO RUBIO: So about a year and a half ago, a bat virus infected human beings, transferred into something that infected human beings. I don't need to tell everybody what's happened since then. The official answer for why it's happened, and it is a possible answer, is that this was a new zoonotic transmission. That it crossed over from an animal into a human. But there's another hypothesis, which is plausible, and that is, one, that there was an accident in the laboratory that ended up impacting the world the way we've seen. And there's reason to believe that's plausible. Number one, researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Technology have demonstrated from their publication record that they were skilled at techniques in which they genetically modified bat coronaviruses in order to create new man-made viruses that that were highly capable of creating disease in human beings. Second, there have been several lab leaks, documented, that have occurred in China, including ones involving the original SARS virus. And third, US diplomats who visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2018 warned of the risks of the sub-par safety standards that they observed. I think it's really a two-part question and I'll start with you, Director Haines, but I think Director Burns or General Nakasone can weigh in. We can't conclude definitively that the virus that causes COVID-19 emerged naturally until there's a transmission chain that's been identified how the virus evolved and transmitted between species. And, to date, no such path of zoonotic transmission has been definitively identified. Are those two things accurate? AVRIL HAINES: Thank you Vice Chairman. So it is absolutely accurate. The intelligence community does not know exactly where, when, or how COVID-19 virus was transmitted initially. And basically, components have coalesced around two alternative theories. These scenarios are, it emerged naturally from human contact with infected animals, or it was a laboratory accident, as you identified. And that is where we are right now, but we're continuing to work on this issue and collect information, and to the best we can, essentially, to give you greater confidence in what the scenario is. But I'll leave it to my colleagues if there's anything that they want to add. WILLIAM JOSEPH BURNS: No, sir, Mr. Vice Chairman. I agree with what Avril said. I mean, the one thing that's clear to us, and to our analysts, is that the Chinese leadership has not been fully forthcoming or fully transparent. I mean, working with the WHO or in providing the kind of original, complete data that would help answer those questions. So we're doing everything we can using all the sources available to all of us on this panel to try to get to the bottom of it. There is a lot you can now do in Iraq which you couldnt just a few years ago. To the outside world, the war-torn country has for years been dominated by coverage of Isis or, later, the battle to oust jihadi groups. As a reporter on the ground, the country felt almost cut up into sections, as whole areas were no-go zones. But thats changed. For a multipart series which launched today, we drove the length and breadth of the country from the restive Sinjar border area with Syria in the northeast, to the summering polluted oil cities of the far south. Along the way, we stopped at the former Isis stronghold of Mosul, which recently hosted a visit by the Pope. These kind of car journeys and events would have been unthinkable just four years ago. A sign of change but thats not to say life is easier in Iraq. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 23:49:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Denmark on Wednesday decided to entirely cease administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, said the country's health authority during a joint press conference with the Danish Medicines. "Based on the scientific findings, our overall assessment is there is a real risk of severe side effects associated with using the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. We have, therefore, decided to remove the vaccine from our vaccination program," said Soren Brostrom, director general of the Danish Health Authority. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the authority also claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was "currently under control" in Denmark, adding that this had contributed to the decision. Denmark first suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 11, citing "very rare but severe side effects" discovered during the jab's safety monitoring. Denmark's decision on Wednesday to ditch the AstraZeneca shot came on the heels of the European Medical Agency's (EMA) recent verdict that "the benefits of using the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive it." The Danish Health Authority agrees with the EMA's general findings, Brostrom said, adding that "In the midst of an epidemic, it has been a difficult decision to continue our vaccination program without an effective and readily available vaccine against COVID-19." However, the authority referred to further comments by the EMA that the "use of the vaccine during vaccination campaigns at the national level should also consider the pandemic situation and vaccine availability in each individual country." "We are basically in agreement with the EMA's assessment regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine. That is why it is important to emphasize that it is still an approved vaccine," said Brostrom. "But if Denmark were in a completely different situation and in the midst of a violent third outbreak ... and if we had not reached such an advanced point in our rollout of the vaccines ... then I would not hesitate to use the vaccine, even if there were rare but severe complications associated with using it." According to the Statens Serum Institut's (SSI) updated overview, 149,884 people in Denmark have received at least one shot and 596 both shots of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine. "Those who have received the first injection with AstraZeneca will later receive an invitation to vaccination with another vaccine," the health authority said. Meanwhile, Denmark continues to administer the vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. In total, 995,672 Danes have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, which corresponds to 17 percent of the population, the SSI said on Wednesday. Enditem NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: KCAC.U) (the "Company") announced that, commencing April 19, 2021, holders of the units sold in the Company's initial public offering of 23,000,000 units, completed on March 2, 2021, may elect to separately trade the shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants included in the units. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "KCAC.U," and the shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants that are separated will trade on the NYSE under the symbols "KCAC" and "KCAC WS," respectively. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Holders of units will need to have their brokers contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company's transfer agent, in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants. The units were initially offered by the Company in an underwritten offering. UBS Securities LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated acted as joint book running managers for the offering and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated acted as lead manager. A registration statement relating to the units and the underlying securities became effective on February 25, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting UBS Securities LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, telephone: (888) 827-7275 or email: [email protected]; and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Attn: Syndicate Department, One South Street, 15th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, or by email: [email protected] or by telephone: (855) 300-7136. About Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II The Company is a newly organized blank check company incorporated in Delaware for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. For more information, please contact Dan Huber Chief Financial Officer [email protected] (703) 674-6514 Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statements and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. SOURCE Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. II Related Links https://www.autospac.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 19:03:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A front-line medical worker receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia, on April 14, 2021. Zambia on Wednesday launched the COVID-19 vaccination program against the pandemic. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua) LUSAKA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Wednesday launched the COVID-19 vaccination program against the pandemic. The national launch, which was held at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), the country's highest referral hospital in the country's capital Lusaka, was attended by officials from the health ministry, cooperating partners and private sector representatives. The launch involves the first pillar of the program under the COVAX Facility consisting of 228,000 doses of AstraZeneca manufactured in India. The first pillar will cover 20 percent or 3.6 million of the eligible over 18 years people and will target front-line health workers and other people at most risk. A total of 8.3 million people are targeted to be vaccinated. Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said the launch of the program signifies the government's commitment to the fight against the pandemic. He said the launch signals the rollout of the program to all parts of the country with provincial launches expected in the coming days. The Zambian minister, who was the first to get the vaccination, said the fierceness of the pandemic requires that it must be tackled with seriousness, adding that the vaccination program was a great stride to tackle the pandemic and protect citizens. He reiterated that the vaccination program will be conducted in a cautious and phased manner on a voluntary basis and urged all eligible citizens to get vaccinated. He further revealed that the country expects the second batch of the vaccines under the COVAX Facility next month and commended cooperating partners for financing the vaccine mechanism. United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Coumba Mar Gadio said the launch of the program was a momentous occasion and was a mark of the government's commitment to fighting the pandemic. She said she was impressed at the rate the Zambian government has managed to get the vaccine when other countries were still struggling and urged citizens to take the vaccine as it was safe and vital in fighting the pandemic. Enditem Pearson Middle East, the worlds leading learning company has introduced a series of three new courses to address the demand for skilled professionals in the UAE. Powered by cutting-edge curriculum, offering International certification, and ensuring the highest degree of practical relevance through a blended learning journey, these new courses will provide relevant training to support the development of digital and specialized technical skills to build UAEs future workforce. The new courses introduced by Pearson were designed in collaboration with several global renowned universities, providing vendor-specific certifications to learners once completed. These courses include Introduction to Corporate Finance, Embracing the Digital World: Social Media Marketing, and Extended Digital Marketing Programme. According to the 2020 Robert Walters Employer Sentiment & Hiring Survey, 41% of employers expect there to be a technical skills shortage in the region as the need increases for local talent with relevant industry experience. Moreover, a study conducted by Bullhorn states 64% of recruiters reported a shortage of skilled candidates for available marketing roles. Majid Mneymneh, Vice President Higher Education and Corporate at Pearson Middle East commented: As we slowly enter the recovery phase of Covid-19, it is important for our workforce to become more agile and resilient. With reports indicating the need for more skilled professionals with digitalization or technical skills, we have introduced three new courses that will provide employers with the option to upskill existing staff. The certifications will also equip fresh graduates with career focused skills helping them secure front-line roles, while tackling the skills shortages in this area. Full details on each of the new courses is provided below: *Introduction to Corporate Finance Developed in partnership with Columbia Business, this course provides students with a Columbia Business School Certificate and Pearson Digital Badge. Students will gain an understanding of the time-honoured financial concepts and rules, and how these can be applied to value firms, bonds, and stocks. The course is taught by a world-class instructor, actively training the next generation of market leaders on Wall Street. Workshop instructors have a vast experience in the GCC region, helping business consultants and entities all over the Gulf to better shape their financial strategy. Classes start - March 22, 2021. Programme duration 6 weeks. Delivery format -blended learning. *Embracing the Digital World: Social Media Marketing Certification- Developed in collaboration with Oxford College of Marketing, this course will equip students with all the necessary skills to successfully launch a social media marketing strategy for a business. Participants will uncover the essentials of a successful social media presence where they will understand the power of social media networks and how organisations can utilise them to effectively build and engage with their audiences. It will help to build their knowledge on developing a suitable social media strategy and relevant content as well as how to measure social media ROI. On completion of this course, students will receive an Oxford Peg Certification & CPD hours. Classes start 16 April, 2021. Course duration 3 weeks. Delivery format live webinars. *Extended Digital Marketing Programme Developed in collaboration with The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), this course will help students master all the tips and tricks of an effective digital marketing strategy, and will learn basics within social media and email marketing as well as SEO, SEM, content marketing, and implementing campaigns with high ROI. Participants will learn how to implement best practices for creating, measuring, and optimising digital marketing campaigns, understand the website optimisation tactics to improve conversions rates and much more. This course provides students with a CIM Certificate & Pearson Digital Badge on completion. Classes start - April 26, 2021. Programme duration 6 weeks. Delivery format -blended learning.-- Tradearabia News Service Vice President Kamala Harris, recently put in charge of producing a strategy to stem the flood of migrants fleeing their homes in Central America, faces the challenge of how to aid countries with governments that are viewed as corrupt or unfriendly by the United States. Harris is meeting with Biden administration officials and outside experts on Wednesday to discuss options for reducing the large numbers of migrants trying to enter the United States at the southern border. What we want to do both now, immediately, and over the long term is to give people hope about their futures, give them motivation to stay in their homes and flourish and try to build a better future for themselves and their children and frankly for our entire region because these are some of our closest neighbors, countries that we value, a senior White House official said of Harris approach. It is something that the vice president is really focused on and determined to get right, the official added. The White House plans to work directly with aid organizations, community groups and private sector companies it hopes can create jobs and opportunity with economic investment in those countries, the official said on condition of anonymity. Harris has not spoken at length publicly about her regional strategy. Harris has had private calls with the leaders of Guatemala and Mexico, and closed-door meetings with Cabinet secretaries, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and other U.S. officials, according to her office. She has drawn criticism from Republicans over limited public remarks on the issue and for not visiting any of the countries that make up the Northern Triangle Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. She is working harder on avoiding accountability for the crisis than she is on trying to fix it., Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel argued last week in a Fox News opinion piece. Story continues The White House said that Harris would like to travel to that region. She wants to do so as soon as it is appropriate and as COVID conditions allow, the senior White House official said. It is something that she is eager to do and we will try to make happen as soon as possible. In the three weeks since President Joe Biden tasked her with addressing the conditions that led to a 20-year high in attempted crossings at the southern border, Harris has not spoken with the presidents of Honduras or El Salvador about what can be done to keep their nationals from making the dangerous journey to the United States. TRICKY POLITICS Last month, a U.S. judge sentenced the brother of Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez to life in prison after he was convicted of drug trafficking and other crimes. Prosecutors argued in sentencing documents that Tony Hernandez used his proceeds to direct millions of dollars of bribes to Honduran politicians, including his brother. El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele refused last week to meet with the U.S. special envoy to the region during his trip after the State Department called on him to adhere to democratic standards. Harris must carefully manage relationships with leaders accused by the U.S. government of corruption and eroding democratic institutions, regional experts say. You inevitably have to deal with most, if not all, of the governments at their highest levels on certain issues related to migration and related to addressing the root causes of migration, said Dan Restrepo, who was the senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council in the Obama administration. He said the administration should focus its efforts on supporting community groups on the ground in those countries that can help combat poverty and reduce crime, which would help keep people from fleeing. Corruption is a long-standing problem in countries that make up the Northern Triangle and the Biden administration says it has become endemic in Honduras in particular. Economic conditions worsened in the wake of two hurricanes that hit the region late last year. The U.S. administration last week asked Congress to make a down payment of $861 million on a $4 billion assistance plan that President Joe Biden pledged to put in place to address gang violence, drug trafficking, destruction caused by natural disasters and other problems that experts say are contributing to unusually high levels of migration to the United States. USAID also sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team to the region to begin ramping up the humanitarian response to the 2020 hurricanes that ravaged Central American countries and launch new programs intended to aid with job creation. Biden is also seeking to re-establish programs he helped put into place as vice president in the Obama administration, which the Trump administration cut. Former President Donald Trump slashed humanitarian assistance to the region and refocused aid on anti-narcotics and security programs. Among them is the Central American Minors Program, put into place by the Obama administration and terminated by former President Donald Trump in 2017. The Biden administration in March said it would restart the program that allows children to immigrate from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States if their parents are lawful residents. When the election happened, the Trump administration came in and turned a lot of the programs off and tried to zero out the assistance funding, and so many of the things that then-Vice President Biden tried to do, didnt have the time or the sustained focus to get off the ground, a senior White House official, who briefed reporters on Harris efforts, said. The Obama administration also provided funds for after-school and employment programs in the region that were intended to keep at-risk children from joining gangs or setting out for the United States, which regional experts say had the potential to be successful. Doris Meissner, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, said the Biden administration should also work with the United Nations and neighboring countries such as Costa Rica, Belize and Panama to ensure there are good asylum opportunities in the region for refugees. It should also develop additional opportunities for private employers to bring temporary laborers to the United States from Central American countries under existing work programs, said Meissner, a former Immigration and Naturalization Service commissioner. Emphasizing corruption in U.S. messaging may be counterproductive to the administrations goals in the near-term, said Maria Fernanda Bozmoski, deputy director of programs at the Atlantic Councils Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Thats a very confrontational approach, she said. Thats not really going to help move the conversation or create bonds. So while thats an underlying issue. We would think that it should not be one of the first things that comes up. And definitely the United States needs to work with these governments. Prosecutor demands over 4 years in jail for rapper involved in car crash in central Moscow RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 16:35 14/04/2021 MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) A prosecutor on Wednesday asked the Khamovnichesky District Court of Moscow to sentence rapper Elmin Guliyev accused of hitting pedestrians by car in the city center to 4 years and 4 months in penal colony, the courts press service told RAPSI. The defendant pleaded guilty. Therefore, the trial is held without examination of evidence. Initially, the man was charged with a road traffic offense that caused harm which endangered life or causes the victim severe bodily harm. But later charges against him were toughened after drugs had been found in his blood. Now he is prosecuted of committing a road traffic accident in a state of intoxication. He could face up to 7 years in jail if convicted. According to the investigation, on September 21, Guliyev driving his Infiniti ran a red light at the signal controlled intersection and collided with another car. Then the defendants car went into a foot path and hit two people. They were taken to hospital. US President plans to present on Wednesday the details of his plans to have all American troops out of war-torn by September 11 this year, the 20th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York. Ahead of a formal announcement, a senior official said Biden has decided to draw down the remaining US troops from and finally end the US war there after 20 years. There are currently 2,500 US troops in "The president will deliver remarks tomorrow on the way forward in Afghanistan, including plans and timeline for withdrawing US troops in close coordination with our partners, allies and the Afghan government, also his commitment to focusing on threats and opportunities we face around the world," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. According to an official, Biden has reached a conclusion that the United States will complete its drawdown and remove its forces from Afghanistan before September 11. "We will begin an orderly drawdown of the remaining forces before May 1 and plan to have all US troops out of the country before the 20th anniversary of 9/11," the official said. He said the withdrawal of troops is not conditions-based. "The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the case in the past two decades, is a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever," said the senior official. At her daily briefing on Tuesday, Psaki said Biden has been consistent in his view that there is not a military solution to Afghanistan and that the US has been there for far too long. "He believes and remains committed to supporting negotiations between the parties which are resuming next week. He also believes we need to focus our resources on fighting the threats we face today, almost 20 years after the war began... He will lay out more specifics tomorrow," she said. According to a State Department official, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has recently reached out to more than two dozen members of Congress, NATO allies, international partners and former government officials to outline the administration's approach on Afghanistan. Among the foreign leaders Blinken has spoken to recently, are his counterparts from Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Norway, Turkey and the United Kingdom and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He has also spoken to European Union High Representatives and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. The Republican Party has, however, slammed Biden for his decision on Afghanistan, claiming that this was a grave mistake. "A full withdrawal from Afghanistan is dumber than dirt and devilishly dangerous. President Biden will have, in essence, cancelled an insurance policy against another "A residual counterterrorism force would be an insurance policy against the rise of radical Islam in Afghanistan that could pave the way for another attack against our homeland or our allies," Senator Lindsey Graham said. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell claimed that "precipitously withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake". He termed it a retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership. "Leaders in both parties, including me, offered criticism when the previous administration floated the concept of a reckless withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. Those same voices in both parties should be equally concerned about Biden administration's announcement," he said. "A reckless pullback like this would abandon our Afghan, regional and NATO partners in a shared fight against terrorists that we have not yet won," McConnell said. The Democrats, however, applauded the president's decision with Congressman Gregory Meeks, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee saying it is time to bring back the troops. "I understand that bringing our remaining troops home will entail risk, as the Taliban will be required to uphold its commitment not to allow groups like al-Qaeda to operate on Afghan soil. However, the time has come to test the Taliban's commitment to these conditions and its ability to uphold its promises," he said. Congressman Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said, "President Biden's anticipated announcement that we will conclude the US military mission in Afghanistan reflects the reality that our continued troop presence after 20 years of war is no longer in the United States' best interest." Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna, the deputy whip of Progressive Caucus and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, applauded Biden for ending a "forever war". "It is an act of extraordinary political courage and vision. After 20 years, thousands of lives lost, and trillions of dollars spent, we are finally bringing home our troops from Afghanistan," Khanna said. President Biden campaigned on this popular policy and is now delivering on that promise. I'm hopeful this policy change, in accordance with US commitments under the Doha agreement, will help bring peace to a country that for decades has been ravaged by war. Only through diplomacy and negotiations will the war in Afghanistan, which has taken the lives of thousands of civilians, come to an end. (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 he served in Washington, D.C. through the very end, up until he was slain in the line of duty on April 2, the late U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Francis Evans was a Massachusetts man through and through. Known by his family and friends as Billy, Evans was born Feb. 18, 1980 in North Adams. After growing up and attending elementary school in the small Western Massachusetts city, his family moved to Clarksburg, Mass., where he made a crew of lifelong friends and graduated from Drury High School in 1998. He graduated from Western New England University in Springfield and went on to attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers before becoming a U.S. Capitol Police officer in March 2003. He served as a member of the first responder unit for more than 15 years and was assigned to the North Barricade, where his fellow officers lovingly called him King of the North, according to Evans obituary. It was at the North Barricade that Evans made his last stand, killed at age 41 in a car attack that seriously injured another officer. However, the barricade was also a place of positivity, where Evans spent hours alongside his colleagues. Their friendship was one of the best parts about his job, according to a statement from the family of the late officer, whos mourned by his children, wife, mother and numerous other loved ones. Billy leaves behind his two children, Logan and Abigail, whom he loved beyond measure, his obituary said. He was always eager to spend time with his children, and immensely proud of everything they did. They would always say they had the best time with their Daddioski. The remains of the late officer will arrive on a commercial flight at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut around 5:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. A procession of law enforcement vehicles, family members and funeral home personnel will then take Evans body to his final resting place, North Adams, his birthplace, officials said. The procession will pass through much of northern Connecticut, going north on Route 75 through Windsor Locks into Suffield, then traveling onto Routes 159 and 190, before heading north onto Interstate 91. Only a minor delay is expected in Suffield as the procession moves through the town. Residents who wish to pay their respect to the fallen officer and show their support to his family and loved ones may do so by lining the procession route, the town of Suffield noted in a statement. According to Evans family, he was the best father, son, brother, and friend anyone could ever hope for. His death leaves a gaping void in their lives, one that will never be filled, they said. The absolute most important thing in his life was his two children, Logan and Abigail, Evans family said. His most cherished moments were those spent with them - building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and recently finishing the Harry Potter series. He was always so eager to show how proud he was of everything they did, the family noted in their statement on April 6. Any opportunity to spend time with his children brightened both their lives and his. Their dad was their hero long before the tragic events of last week. Evans, an 18-year veteran of the Capitol Police, was killed after a man, who has since been identified as 25-year-old Noah Green, crashed a car into him and another officer at the North Barricade outside the Capitol building, authorities said. Green was shot and killed by police after exiting his car and lunging at officers with a large knife, according to the Capitol Police. First responders took Evans to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries. The late officers cause of death was from multiple blunt force injuries to the head. His killing was ruled a homicide, CNN reported, citing the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in D.C. On Tuesday, Evans body laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a tribute bestowed upon him for his service and heroic sacrifice, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. The honor is one reserved traditionally for presidents, members of Congress and other dignitaries, Pelosi and Schumer noted. Their hope was the tribute would offer comfort to the family of Evans, particularly his children. The United States Congress joins all Americans in mourning the tragic death of one of our Capitol Police heroes, Officer Billy Evans, Pelosi and Schumer said. In giving his life to protect our Capitol and our Country, Officer Evans became a martyr for our democracy. On behalf of the entire Congress, we are profoundly grateful. Related Content: We must note that the Armenian-Russian military alliance is pivotal for ensuring the external security of the Republic of Armenia and it is cemented by several dozen strategic treaties and mutual defense obligations, Pashinian told lawmakers in Yerevan. He stressed the importance of a joint military contingent comprising Russian troops stationed in Armenia and a Russian-Armenian air-defense system. According to the logic of the agreements that formed these two systems, an attack on Armenia means an attack on Russia, and the two countries must jointly confront external challenges, he said. Accordingly, Pashinian indicated Yerevans interest in the expansion of the Russian military base headquarters in Gyumri. In that context, he said Russian and Armenian officials are holding quite productive discussions on a possible deployment of more Russian troops to Armenias southeastern Syunik province. Syunik borders Iran as well as districts southwest of Nagorno-Karabakh which were retaken by Azerbaijan during and after a six-week war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10. Russia deployed soldiers and border guards there late last year to help the Armenian military defend the region against possible Azerbaijani attacks. Pashinian discussed bilateral military ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an April 7 visit to Moscow. He said after the talks that Russia is helping Armenia reform its armed forces after the autumn war in Karabakh. The Armenian Defense Ministry announced late last month that a high-level Russian military delegation will visit Armenia soon for further talks on the defense reforms. A delegation led by Colonel-General Sergei Istrakov, a deputy chief of the Russian militarys General Staff, held weeklong negotiations with the Armenian armys top brass in Yerevan in January. YEREVAN. I consider this occasion opportune to respond to a number of speculations, misinformation, and questions about the [recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020. "I want to start with the statement made by the former chief of the General Staff [of the Armed Forces], Onik Gasparyan, on November 17. On November 17, Onik Gasparyan stated that during the Security Council session on the fourth day of the war, he presented the Armed Forces' assessment of our losses and the current situation, noting that measures should be taken within two or three days to stop the war. I would like to responsibly and officially state from this tribune that this point of Onik Gasparyan's statement has nothing to do with reality, the chief of the General Staff did not say such a thing, this is officially recordedincluding with a recording. On the contrary, at the September 30 meeting of the Security Council, he said that the adversary had not made any progress, the [Armenian] army, the Armed Forces are fulfilling the task set before them, and will fulfill it to the end," Pashinyan stated, emphasizing that the then chief of the General Staff could not have made such a statement on September 30, as the report at the Security Council meeting on August 21, 2020 assured that the Armenian side couldwith the available forces and meanspush back the adversary in direction of Artsakh with the principle of "no step back", thwart the adversary's attack, and crush its military units. The PM noted, however, that all this does not mean that the Armenian leadership did not take measures to establish a ceasefire as soon as possible. "I want to remind that we have had official statements and agreements on a ceasefire three times at the highest level," he said. Also, Pashinyan read the text of the respective statement adopted during the October 10, 2020 meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, then added that a ceasefire was not achieved then because Azerbaijan did not observe it amid Turkey's statements that in their opinion, Azerbaijan should not maintain the ceasefire. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Various electronic platforms such as the educational portal and virtual classrooms have benefitted students with special needs during this pandemic. The Education Ministry is succeeding in its continuous efforts to ensure the sustainability of educational services to all students since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the modern platforms, the Ministry has activated all available communication channels with students and their parents adding to the success of the educational process. Minister Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi stressed the importance of the participation of the students with special needs in remote lessons in providing an opportunity to monitor their knowledge, skills and behavioural level, as well as ensuring their academic progress. He pointed out that since the start of the current academic year 2020/2021, a total of 28,646 direct lessons have been provided for those students. They are broken down as follows: 5,736 lessons for students with intellectual disability and Down syndrome; 10,416 for students with Autism spectrum disorder; 10,863 for students with learning difficulties; and 1,631 for students with speech and language impairments. Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday (April 14) urged the Centre to postpone the upcoming CBSE board exams for class 10 and 12 in the view of rising COVID-19 cases across the country. Punjab Chief Minister has written to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', with an emphasis on the prevailing pandemic situation and stressing that it would only be appropriate that a decision is taken forthwith to postpone class 10 and 12 board examinations. This would also allow the Union Government and States to plan better for conduct of the examination once the situation normalises, he said in an official statement here on Wednesday. Adding to this, the Punjab Chief Minister also stated that it was difficult to precisely predict as to when the surge in the COVID-19 cases will be arrested and by when will we see a consistently declining trend. Amarinder Singh in his letter urged the Union Education minister for an early intervention. The steady increase in COVID-19 cases in most States of the country has created a sense of great apprehension and anguish among students and parents alike regarding the Board examinations for classes 10 and 12, Amarinder Singh added. The government authorities in the state, have been receiving requests seeking postponement of the Board examinations by the State board as well as by the CBSE and ICSE. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to meet Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Wednesday (April 14) to take a call on the CBSE Board Exams 2021. The meeting will decide on the postponement of the upcoming CBSE Board exams amid rising COVID-19 cases across the country. India on Wednesday reported a massive spike of 1.84 lakh new COVID-19 cases took India's total coronavirus count to 1.38 crore, as per the Union Health Ministry. India reported 1,84,372 new COVID-19 cases alongside 82,339 recoveries and 1,027 deaths in the last 24 hours. The unprecedented surge in infections has taken the country's active count to 13,65,704. Live TV Advertisement Irina Shayk has lent her image to some of the fashion industry's most prestigious brands, such as Chanel, Moschino, and Oscar de la Renta. But the supermodel, 35, reconfirmed her devotion to Victoria's Secret as she shot promotional images for the lingerie giant in New York City on Tuesday. Shayk, who has worked with Victoria's Secret for over a decade, appeared to be enjoying herself while switching from outfit to outfit, boasting a bright pink color scheme. Undying love: Irina Shayk looked incredible as she flaunted her figure in three head-turning ensembles while shooting promotional images for lingerie giant Victoria's Secret in New York City on Tuesday She was first seen strutting her stuff on an empty city sidewalk while holding several bags from the iconic intimates brand. The supermodel was dressed in a lace lingerie top that was paired with a small matching hoodie, which remained draped over her left shoulder for much of the photoshoot's first part. Her eye-catching tops were contrasted by a pair of form-fitting blue jeans and a set of heeled shoes, while her beautiful brown hair remained tied back in a messy bun. At one point, a production assistant was seen adjusting an ill-fitting article of clothing in an effort to place an emphasis on Shayk's natural beauty. Color coordination: Shayk, who has worked with Victoria's Secret for over a decade, appeared to be enjoying herself while switching from outfit to outfit, boasting a bright pink color scheme Nice contrast: The runway fixture was also seen wearing a slightly-distressed pair of blue jeans on top of a set of high heels. She also carried several bags bearing the logo for Victoria's Secret After changing out of her first outfit, Shayk donned a much airier clothing ensemble for the remainder of the photoshoot. She was seen wearing a reflective pink minidress that clung closely to her shapely form and shone brightly in the setting springtime sun. The Russian native covered much of her body with a sizeable beige overcoat that hung freely off her shoulders. Changing it up: The supermodel was later seen in a busty satin pink minidress which she teamed with black loafers and white socks There it is: Shayk's beautiful brunette hair was tied back in a messy bun for the entirety of her photoshoot The runway icon tied off her outfit with a pair of small white socks and a set of shining leather loafers, and her gorgeous brunette hair remained tied back. She also hung onto the Victoria's Secret bags from the first portion of the photoshoot. At one point, Shayk was seen running through the city's streets, which caused her overcoat to flow gracefully in the wind. Bold and brash: The supermodel contrasted a start white corset and shorts with a leather biker jacket. She also carried a small black purse with her for the final part of the photoshoot Shayk's final outfit of the day partially consisted of a much more muted ensemble that prominently featured a leather biker jacket that left open-faced. The model paired her outer layer with a pair of high-top boots and a small purse that she carried around during the photoshoot's final portion. She contrasted her top with a small white corset that exposed a small portion of her toned midriff. The runway fixture tied off her outfit with a stylish pair of shorts that rose a few inches above her kneecaps. During an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Shayk expressed that, although her stunning looks make her seem perfect, she is not always in photo-ready condition. 'I'm not perfect. I have bad skin days and bad hair days. Sometimes I don't look like a model. I'm just a real human being,' she said. The fashion industry figure went on to noted that her secret to beauty was coming to terms with her own visage and body, which she encouraged her fans to do as well. 'You have to learn how to love you and be comfortable in your own skin. If you really love you for who you are, I think you can do anything,' she remarked. Phoenix Copper Limited / Ticker: PXC / Sector: Mining 14 April 2021 Phoenix Copper Limited ("Phoenix" or the "Company") Land holdings increased by 1,160-acres at Empire Mine, Idaho Phoenix Copper Ltd (AIM: PXC, OTCQX: PXCLF), the AIM quoted North American focused base and precious metals emerging producer and exploration company, is pleased to announce the addition of 58 unpatented lode claims and 56 unpatented mill site claims to the Empire Mine claim group to expand the operational footprint of the proposed ore haulage route and processing area. The Company's land holdings can be viewed on the Phoenix website at www.phoenixcopperlimited.com. Ryan McDermott, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We recently added 1,160-acres of unpatented claims to the Empire claim group. The additional acreage is comprised of 58 lode claims and 56 mill site claims located east of the Empire Mine on lands between the proposed open-pit and the processing area. These additional claims will allow us to make adjustments in the size and position of the haulage routes and ancillary processing areas, and as our engineers work through the design planning phase and adjust for topography, slope, and other design parameters. "The addition of the new claims has increased the Company's total holdings from 5,717-acres to 6,877-acres." Empire Mine Polymetallic Open Pit Oxide Deposit - Mackay, Idaho In October 2020, an updated NI 43-101 compliant resource was completed by Hardrock Consulting (HRC) and reported for the polymetallic Empire Mine open pit oxide deposit. The updated resource showed a 51% increase in the Measured and Indicated category from the previous year's resource. Including the Inferred resources, the Empire open-pit oxide deposit now contains 129,641 tonnes of copper, 58,440 tonnes of zinc, 10,133,772 ounces of silver and 355,523 ounces of gold. Phoenix is making progress with the feasibility and permitting of the polymetallic resource, most recently completing three years of environmental studies directly applicable to the permitting and mine planning. Discussions are underway with potential debt financiers to construct the project, with a production target for late 2022. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement. Contacts For further information please visit www.phoenixcopperlimited.com or contact: Phoenix Copper Limited Ryan McDermott Dennis Thomas Richard Wilkins Tel: +1 208 954 7039 Tel: +44 7827 290 849 Tel: +44 7590 216 657 SP Angel (Nominated Adviser) David Hignell / Caroline Rowe Tel: +44 20 3470 0470 Brandon Hill Capital (Joint Broker) Jonathan Evans / Oliver Stansfield Tel: +44 20 3463 5000 WH Ireland (Joint Broker) Harry Ansell / Adam Pollock / Katy Mitchell Tel: +44 207 2201666 Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Joint Broker) John Prior / Hugh Rich / Ailsa Macmaster Tel: +44 20 7886 2500 EAS Advisors (US Corporate Adviser) Matt Bonner / Rogier de la Rambelje Tel: +1 (646) 495-2225 Blytheweigh(Financial PR) Tim Blythe / Megan Ray Tel: +44 20 7138 3204 Notes Phoenix Copper Limited is a North American focused, base and precious metal emerging producer and exploration company, which has carried out a drilling programme and generated a copper, gold, silver and zinc resource on which it is carrying out a feasibility study to bring the historically producing Empire Mine in Idaho, USA, back into production. It is also evaluating the silver and gold resources around three other past producing mines within the 27.8 km2 Empire claims block as well as cobalt in two claims blocks north of Empire in Idaho. Phoenix's primary operations are focused near Mackay, Idaho in the Alder Creek mining district. This district includes the historical Empire, Horseshoe, White Knob and Blue Bird Mines, past producers of copper, gold, silver, zinc, lead and tungsten from underground mines in the first half of the twentieth century. Additionally, the district includes Navarre Creek a Carlin-trend gold discovery which hosts a 6.1 km gold strike length within a 9.8 km area. Phoenix acquired an 80% interest in the historical Empire Mine property in 2017 and, based on a total of 320 drill holes, an oxide resource was completed in late 2017. A NI 43-101 compliant PEA (preliminary economic assessment) for an open pit heap leach solvent extraction and electrowinning ("SX-EW") mine was completed in April 2018. In 2018 a further 8,600 metres in 93 holes was completed to upgrade the oxide resources, provide samples for ongoing metallurgical test work, geotechnical and hydrological studies and condemnation drilling for the heap leach pad site, waste dump and plant site. An updated NI 43-101 compliant resource was completed in early May 2020 and October 2020 for all metals. Present contained metal in all NI 43-101 compliant categories of resources, measured, indicated and inferred, stand at 355,523 ounces of gold, 129,641 tonnes of copper, 10,133,772 ounces of silver and 58,440 tonnes of zinc. Following the latest NI 43-101 compliant resource, Phoenix updated its economic model in February 2021 to include the processing of all contained metals through a two phased approach. Since acquiring the Empire project, Phoenix has increased the claim area from 818 acres to 5,717 acres, mainly to the northwest and west, and in so doing has increased the potential for additional oxide and sulphide copper resources, as well as the potential for stand-alone gold and silver resources, along a strike length of approximately 5.4 km towards the other brownfield mines of the Horseshoe, White Knob and Blue Bird Mines now within the property boundary. In particular, a new discovery at Red Star, 330 metres north west of the Empire Mine proposed open pit, has revealed sulphide ore and from three shallow exploration drill holes a NI 43-101 compliant maiden resource of 1.6 million silver equivalent ounces was reported. At Empire, it is estimated that less than 1% of the potential ore system has been explored to date and, accordingly, there is significant opportunity to increase the resource through phased exploration. More details on the Company, its assets and its objectives can be found on PXC's website at www.phoenixcopperlimited.com Job seekers will soon be given upfront cash payments so they can move for work, in a policy tweak that demonstrates the Morrison government's workforce relocation policies have been a flop. Eligible job seekers will get up to $2000 upfront from May if they move to a new location for ongoing work. The government has been trying to lure job hunters to regional Australia but the program has not worked as it required people with little savings to fork out money in order to move. People are seen queuing outside a yet to open Centrelink office in Heidelberg, Melbourne Employment Minister Stuart Robert says many Australians are still trying to find work as the economy recovers. 'We've also spoken to employers who are finding it difficult to secure the labour they need, especially in regional areas,' he said in a statement on Wednesday. 'These changes ensure that all job seekers eligible for relocation assistance, not just those in financial hardship, can get upfront support when they take up an offer of ongoing work, including for ongoing jobs in the agricultural sector.' The government is also lowering the threshold for eligible unemployed people to access the payments when moving for work. Job seekers will get help relocating for jobs offering at least 20 hours a week, instead of the existing threshold of 30 hours. 'All job seekers are immediately eligible to gain access to this support on commencement in employment services, rather than after 12 months of unemployment as was previously the case,' Mr Robert said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga for supporting Ukraines territorial integrity and invited him to the 30th anniversary of Ukraines independence and the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform. Glad to talk to Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Grateful to Japan for supporting Ukraines territorial integrity. The support of G7 and in particular Japan, one of our key partners, is crucial. Ill be glad to see you in Kyiv at the celebration of Ukraines Independence Day and at the Crimean Platform summit, Zelensky posted on Twitter. Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine. Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network. Ukraine is actively inviting world countries to take part in the Crimean Platform activities. The Crimean Platform is to be launched officially at an inaugural summit in Kyiv in August 2021. l YEREVAN. If we were driven by a mania for maintaining power, we would not have proposed holding snap parliamentary elections back in December 2020. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020. Also, the PM responded to this question of Anna Kostanyan, a member of the opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament: "If you claim that you did not make mistakes in the [Karabakh] negotiation process, why did First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan declare that you are a nation-destroying plague?" In response, Pashinyan said: "The First President has his own idea about the Karabakh issue, which we know in the 1997 article " War or peace? The time to get serious." The First President ran in the 1996 presidential election under the slogan victory, stability, progress, and at that time there was no talk of peace, a time to get serious. Then that agenda was formulated the exit strategy, in the modern vocabulary of the failed 1996 presidential election. I said in my speech back in the summer of 2016 () that at least in 2016 he [Ter-Petrosyan] accompanied [then President] Serzh Sargsyan in the negotiation process. You know, there was a meeting with the First President in the summer of 2018, and I can open up secret as to what he said to me. He said, You have to give the lands already. But in exchange for what? Why? How? The idea of the First President did not go beyond this frame. The rest is already a matter of assessment." WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th April, 2021) US authorities arrested a 35-year-old Virginia man for allegedly assaulting police officers during the January 6 Capitol riots, the Justice Department said on Wednesday. "[Paul] Johnson was arrested pursuant to a complaint in the District of Columbia and made his initial appearance in court on April 14. The complaint charges Johnson with inflicting bodily injury on certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; obstruction of justice and Congress; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and acts of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings," the department said in a press release. During the melee, Johnson became confrontational with Capitol Police officers as he approached a line of barricades, where he can be seen in video footage forcibly pushing and pulling on the barriers causing an officer to fall and hit her head on the stairs before losing consciousness, according to video images cited in the release. Hours later, the officer blacked out and collapsed while arresting another rioter and had to be transported to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a concussion, the release said. A key piece of evidence consisted of an interview posted on YouTube in which Johnson described how he broke through hastily erected barricades and boasted of fighting Capitol police, the release added. Five people died in the riot, including one protester and a police officer, who was beaten to death by the mob that was attempting to halt congressional certification of the vote electing President Joe Biden. Police have since arrested nearly 400 suspects, most identified from abundant video images of the rioters. Raffaldini Vineyards has this nickname of Chianti in the Carolinas, and it doesnt take long to figure out why, beginning with the terrain that mimics Tuscany and a tasting room that would look right at home in one of the hill towns outside Florence. Jay Raffaldini, the owner, has been working on Wall Street since 1985. In 2000, he acquired an abandoned farm in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and decided he would plant Italian grapes there. The rest from the Vermentino to the Montepulciano and the Sangiovese to the Sagrantino is history. Since then, Raffaldini relocated from New York City to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while commuting around the world for his hedge fund business, but you can still find him (or at least you could pre-COVID) behind the bar pouring tastings. He remains an active part of this business he founded. The winery, at 450 Groce Road in Ronda, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays, and noon to 5 Sundays. It is closed Tuesdays. Highlighting the many events on its 2021 calendar is the 16th annual Festa Italiana, scheduled this year on the weekend of Sept. 18-19. Below is the latest in the 6 Questions series of interviews with winemakers and owners of East Coast wineries, which looks behind at what has been a turbulent year and, with optimism, looks ahead. Thanks to Jay Raffaldini for taking these on. Q, Tell me about the Gallo Nero. What prompted the idea? How much you made? I do like seeing those old-timey bottles. A, Heres the letter he sent to club members and other members of the Raffaldini family. Hi All, I hope this finds everyone healthy and safe. As we emerge from winter and enter spring with a renewed sense of optimism and belief that the future will hold ever more promise of good tidings, I sought to find a way to remember the ordeal that all of us have suffered both individually and collectively. I asked myself has anything positive come from the sheltering in place and long periods of working for home. The more I reflected upon it the more I saw a silver lining. That ray of sunshine was the vast amount of time families spent together under one roof and were effectively reunited. It reminded me of a period not so long ago when families cooked and dined together, spent nights as one and just enjoyed each others company. So, the question for me is how do I honor that with a wine? In my mind I go back a few decades ago to when life was simpler and slower and being together was the rule, not the exception. During that period one wine was quite commonly found in Italian restaurants and grocery stores and that was a Chianti sold in straw bottles known as fiascos. Everyone over 40 years old remembers these bottles adorning checkered cloth tables and once the wine was consumed, they became candle holders with the red and green wax drippings on the bottle. What many did not know is that the fiasco bottle held 1-liter worth of wine, 33% more than a standard bottle, which is probably why so many people left the dinner table very happy. I began a long search to find a glass producer in Italy who makes these fiasco bottles. When I located him, he was of course amused there is an Italian-style vineyard in North Carolina (which by the way is a state he never heard of). He asked how many I wanted and when I told him he said, Sure, I can get you twenty-three. I said no I need twenty-three hundred and I think he fainted. Anyway, I have secured the bottles and we have crafted a beautiful Sangiovese blend called Gallo Nero [Black Rooster in Italian, the symbol of Chianti]. The wine is more structured than the typical Sangiovese blends we make as I wanted it to pair with much more than red sauce. It is a gem and when you purchase one of these commemorative bottles you will also receive a red and green candle so the Raffaldini fiasco [no pun intended] can have a second life. Jay Raffalidini said he purchased 2,300 of these fiasco bottles for a new release called Gallo Nero, a Sangiovese blend. The release will be on April 24. I hope all of you can join me for the limited release of this one-time wine at the winery on Saturday, April 24th, where I will be signing the bottles with my winemaker Chris Nelson. As we look forward to the future let us always reminisce on some of lifes happier moments from the past. All my best, Jay Q, Planting or replanting anything this spring or next? Thinking about any new varieties to put in? I assume it was a fairly tame winter down there? A, Were endless replanting; even if the varietal is right [Sangiovese] the clone [Brunello] was wrong so we planted over to the Vino Nobile clone, expanded acreage of Sagrantino and planted first-time Trebbiano as base for our Franciacorta-style sparkler. Q, For my readers not familiar with the winery, talk about the Italian festival you put on every year down there. It looks like its scheduled for September not sure if you had one last year, did you? A, Yes it is the third Saturday in September and we held it on Friday and Saturday last year due to COVID. We still had almost 1,500 people attend. Q, What has this past year been like for you and the winery? What new things did you develop that youll continue even after the pandemic? Were there a couple of big lessons you took away from this past year? Due to COVID our business model changed from standup bar-style tastings to seated flights with great success. Customers enjoyed it and purchased significantly more wine and we shattered sales records. We have permanently instituted this and will soon be going to a reservations-only model. Raffaldini Vineyards is located in the rolling foothills of the Swan Creek Wine Appellation within the Yadkin Valley, Q, What are you releasing this spring? Anything new beyond the Gallo Nero? A, We are not in the race to produce new wines every year; that is a brand destroyer. We only make eight wines and the goal is to get better every year learning from prior efforts. It is a simple but demanding business model since it strives for excellence and quality over quantity. Q, Looks like you went to Family Days and otherwise not allowing under 21 on the property. What led to the decision you made there? A, On the West Coast and in most places around the world no one under 21 is admitted, and reservations are required. It greatly enhances the relaxing and peaceful moments when unattended children are not bothering patrons. It surprises me that many East Coast vineyards still allow animals, outside food and alcohol and music devices. Feedback has been excellent and we are pleased with the results. ALSO READ: Chester County winery owners have big plans for their Chambourcin, sparkling program ALSO READ: New York Winery of the Year has been down this road before KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo speaks during a press conference at KT's headquarters in central Seoul, March 23. Courtesy of KT By Kim Bo-eun KT is speeding up its drive to expand its global media business, as the telecom firm seeks to reinvent itself as a digital platform company by shifting its focus to media content. Early this week, KT took over a 100 percent stake in Alticast's media business Altimedia for 11.26 billion won ($10.08 million). Altimedia is a tech firm that sells security-oriented products to be embedded with various media-related products. The company has offices in Vietnam and the Netherlands and also has some business ties in other countries in Asia and Europe. Last year, KT launched its internet protocol television (IPTV) business in Thailand through collaboration with Altimedia. KT has worked with Altimedia since the early stages of its IPTV business, which has accounted for a substantial portion of the solutions firm's sales here. KT said the acquisition was aimed at obtaining key media technologies to strengthen the company's media platform capabilities and scale up its media business overseas. "KT plans to use Altimedia's global connections and bases to expand its media business globally," a KT official said. "We are planning to expand in both media systems and content." The country's dominant fixed-line operator led by CEO Ku Hyeon-mo is seeking to integrate its diverse array of media businesses and accelerate growth. In January, the company launched its new affiliate KT Studio Genie in charge of content production. KT's businesses in IPTV, satellite broadcasting and over-the-top (OTT) media services will likely be placed under the new firm. "Creating a media-centered platform is the most important for becoming a digital platform company," Ku said in a press conference last month. "KT will change into a digital platform company by adding content to the existing media platform." Media is a key area of focus as KT is hoping to shed its reputation as an old-fashioned telecom operator and make a leap to become a global digital platform company. Media businesses were key drivers of KT's earnings in 2020. IPTV sales grew 7.7 percent in 2020 from a year earlier, as subscribers increased based on its expansion of offered content. KT has over 40 affiliates in a wide range of sectors, including broadcasting, online services, finance, security, real estate development, advertising and submarine cables. It is seeking to sell off businesses unrelated to future growth engines. Alticast, meanwhile, is set to focus on the mobility sector with the sale of its media business. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 16:47:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia decided to extend a night curfew in capital Phnom Penh for another two weeks from April 15 to 28 after the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise. "All kinds of travelling in Phnom Penh must be temporarily prohibited from 8 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time," Phnom Penh Municipal governor Khuong Sreng said in a decision on Tuesday. He said the ban provides an exception for those traveling for emergency health reasons or emergency situations, logistics and work for the public good. The governor added that all food stalls, restaurants, cafes and soft drink shops are not permitted to let customers eat or drink on their premises, but allowed to sell food for takeaway or delivery. He said all gatherings including gatherings for eating food or drinking alcohol must be temporarily suspended, except for gathering among family members in their houses. Violators will face penalties under the Anti-COVID-19 Law, Sreng said. Cambodia imposed a night curfew in Phnom Penh from April 1 to 14, in order to curb the rising cases of the COVID-19. Enditem RICHFIELD, Ohio, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The third poll in a series of nationwide surveys conducted by Navigate360, a full-spectrum safety preparedness and response company, and John Zogby Strategies, a national polling firm, shows the majority (54%) of teens today do not feel prepared to deal with the anxiety of returning to school and do not believe schools are equipped to respond effectively to emergency incidents or mental health needs. As many students return to the classroom in the coming weeks, physical and social-emotional safety is top of mind. Fifty-three percent of teens reported that they are thinking more about their physical and social-emotional safety than they were six months ago. However, when asked where they felt the least safe, students overwhelmingly selected "My School", compared to other places, including their after-school job, place of worship, favorite restaurant, or store. Despite reported increases of anxiety and stress, only 23% of teens believed that their school is prepared to handle mental health issues. Thirty-seven percent of students were confident that their classmates knew what to do in an emergency, and only 35% agreed that their school's leadership knew how to respond to ensure minimal casualties and loss of life. In the wake of several high-profile shootings, these statistics highlight students' lack of confidence in their school's ability to keep them safe. This poll is the third installment of the Safety and Wellbeing Index conducted by Navigate360 and John Zogby Strategies. The index was created to assess the public's sentiment on mental and physical safety in the United States. One poll focused on adults, and the companion poll captured the attitudes and beliefs of teenagers aged 16-17. The results show that recent incidents of violence are increasing feelings of fear and anxiety among American teens and taking a toll on their mental health. Key statistics of the Q2 2021 poll include: Only 38% of teens are confident that school officials can create an atmosphere of physical and social-emotional safety in the classroom. Half of the teens (49%) and parents (51%) surveyed are aware of a classmate or student who was bullied because of their race, sexual orientation, or income level. Only 42% of teens know where and how to report a threat or risk. Three in five teens (59%) say they know someone who has considered self-harm or suicide, up three points from the previous poll done in January. "With schools opening again and the tragic increase in violence across the country, we have a lot of work to do to relearn socialization skills, identify concerning behavior, and react to potential threats of harm in real-time," said Navigate360 CEO JP Guilbault. "Catching up on learning loss cannot be our singular area of focus this summer and fall. We must actively and proactively work together to create spaces that are safe physically, socially and emotionally." A number of questions in the survey illustrate how recent events and tragedies, including numerous recent active shooter incidents, impact teen mental health. 78% of parents with children under 17 report they are worried about the mental health impact of Covid-19 isolation and stress on their children. However, only 62% of parents reported that they talk to their children about mental health issues, with 36% saying they never do. Most notably, while 62% of parents feel that schools have sufficient resources to deal with mental health concerns, less than half of young adults agree. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent shootings have left teens increasingly worried for their safety, especially in school settings," said John Zogby, who conducted the poll. "The results show that teens have little confidence in their school's ability to handle issues of mental health, bullying, and physical security. Unaddressed, this could lead to an epidemic of self-harm, suicide, and violence." Navigate360 is focused on concrete solutions to address these issues. A recent study conducted by the US Secret Service found that school shootings are preventable when proactive and comprehensive monitoring and engagement occur--further evidence that there are in fact solutions to these dire problems. The Navigate360 and Zogby Strategies "Safety and Wellbeing Poll" consisted of sampling (304) 16- and 17-year-olds nationwide and was conducted online on March 25, 2021, with parental permission and a sampling error of +/-5.7 percentage points. The poll of (1000) across the country was conducted online on March 25, 2021. The margin of sampling error is within +/-3.2 percentage points. About Navigate360: Navigate360 empowers people, schools and communities to stay safe and thrive, physically, socially and emotionally. By offering solutions that span the full spectrum of safety including threat detection and prevention, mental health and wellness, and safety management and preparedness, Navigate360 provides the tools necessary to save and enhance lives. To learn more about Navigate360, visit: www.navigate360.com About Zogby: Nearly 40 years of excellence providing the most accurate polling and market research - servicing clients in over 80 countries, ranging from global NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, candidates from all parties, business startups, and local municipalities trying to redefine their strategy amidst dynamic changes. JZS asks revealing questions that get to the core and point to the future, offer meaningful analysis, and guiding strategies. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Navigate360 Related Links https://navigate360.com/ PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of Sint Maarten remains committed to the continuity of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project. The internal changes within the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Companys management staff (PJIAE NV) have no bearing on this commitment. This means that the project will continue according to the current financing agreement in place. Adherence to corporate governance guidelines at Princess Juliana International Airport is a primary concern of the Government when conducting policy toward its companies. As sole shareholder representative of the Princess Juliana International Airport Holding Company (PJIAH NV), the Council of Ministers will look into whether the proper procedures were followed with the dismissal of PJIAE NVs Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brian Mingo, in accordance with the Corporate Governance Code. As per the European Investment Bank (EIB) Financing Agreement and the World Bank (WB) Agreement, PJIAE must inform the EIB & WB of the termination of the CEOs contract and his replacement on the management board, thereby reconfirming its commitment to the continuity of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project. On April 8th, the supervisory board and management of PJIAH met with members of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (MinBZK), to negotiate the Cooperation Agreement between PJIAH, PJIAE, MinBZK, and Royal Schiphol Group, which expires on August 1st, 2021. The Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project will continue as per all signed agreements. The restoration of the Princess Juliana International Airport to its full potential remains a high priority for the government and people of Sint Maarten. Its timely completion is critical in fully restoring the countrys damaged economy as a result of the devastating 2017 hurricanes and the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic. The government will ensure the agreements with the World Bank and the European Investment Bank are upheld. VANCOUVER, BC, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - District Metals Corp. (TSXV: DMX) (FRA: DFPP); ("District" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the maiden drill program currently being executed at the high grade polymetallic Tomtebo Property located in the Bergslagen Mining District in south-central Sweden. District Metals Corp. Logo (CNW Group/District Metals Corp.) District commenced a 5,000 m drill program at the Tomtebo Property on March 15, 2021 (see news release here), targeting numerous high grade polymetallic zones at the historic Tomtebo Mine. To date, a total of 1,377 m has been drilled in seven holes. Drill core samples from the first three holes have been sent to ALS Geochemistry in Mala, Sweden for preparation and analysis, with results expected by late-May. All drilling thus far has been concentrated at the Steffenbergs and Oscarsgruvan zones as follow up, infill, and step outs from historical drilling that returned high grade polymetallic mineralization over significant widths. Appointment of Key Technical Advisor Rodney Allen, BSc, PhD of Volcanic Resources has been appointed as Technical Advisor to the Company. Dr. Allen was Manager, Geology Research and Development for the Boliden Group in Sweden for ten years. Prior to that position, he studied several polymetallic ore deposits in Sweden. His geological interpretations were instrumental in the discovery of new ore bodies at Garpenberg and Renstrom. Garrett Ainsworth, CEO of District, commented: "We are very pleased with the progression of our maiden drill program at Tomtebo. Our technical team and drill crew in the field are firing on all cylinders, which has resulted in optimized production from the drill rig with best practices being carried out with regards to health, safety, and the environment. We are very excited to receive assay results from our first three drill holes next month. The official appointment of Rodney Allen as a Technical Advisor for District Metals is a natural fit. Rodney is an important addition to the technical team given his depth of highly relevant experience at Boliden's Garpenberg Mine, and elsewhere in Sweden. Between Rodney and our Country Manager, Hein Raat, the Company is fully equipped to unlock the potential at Tomtebo." Story continues The Company has also granted a total of 200,000 stock options to employees and consultants of the Company, in accordance with the provisions of its stock option plan. Each stock option is exercisable at $0.40 per common share (being the closing price of the Company's common shares on April 13, 2021, the grant date). All stock options have a term of five years and vest on the grant date. Technical Information All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by, or approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Ainsworth has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the Tomtebo Property. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Tomtebo Property. The drill results reported in this news release are historical in nature. District has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. The author of the NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Tomtebo Property has completed historical data verification and validation work, and has concluded that the historical drill results at the Tomtebo Mine do not conform to the presently accepted industry standards. District considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. The Company also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, the Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. About District Metals Corp. District Metals Corp. is led by industry professionals with a track record of success in the mining industry. The Company's mandate is to seek out, explore, and develop prospective mineral properties through a disciplined science-based approach to create shareholder value and benefit other stakeholders. The advanced exploration stage Tomtebo Property is located in the Bergslagen Mining District of south-central Sweden is the Company's main focus. Tomtebo comprises 5,144 ha, and is situated between the historic Falun Mine and Boliden's Garpenberg Mine that are located 25 km to the northwest and southeast, respectively. Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo Property along an approximate 17 km trend that exhibits similar geology, structure, alteration and VMS/SedEx style mineralization as other significant mines within the district. Mineralization that is open at depth and along strike at the historic mines on the Tomtebo Property has not been followed up on, and modern systematic exploration has never been conducted on the Property. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Garrett Ainsworth" President and Chief Executive Officer (604) 288-4430 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information. This news release contains certain statements that may be considered "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and any similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, predictions, indications, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, statements relating to the Company's planned exploration activities, including its drill target strategy and next steps for the Tomtebo Property; the company's interpretations and expectations about the mineralization of the Tomtebo mine; the Company's belief that the numerous gravity high anomalies identified at the historic Tomtebo Mine provide immense expansion potential; the Company's belief that the modeled gravity high anomalies at the historic Tomtebo Mine could correspond with polymetallic and/or iron sulphide mineralization, or a mafic unit; and the Company's belief that the gravity high anomaly located one kilometer to the northeast of the Tomtebo Mine represents a potential grassroots discovery opportunity with a modeled tonnage that compares with the historic production tonnage from the historic Falun Mine. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on opinions, assumptions and estimates made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release, including, without limitation, assumptions about the reliability of historical data and the accuracy of publicly reported information regarding past and historic mines in the Bergslagen district; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund planned exploration activities, maintain corporate capacity and satisfy the exploration expenditure requirements required by the definitive purchase agreement between the Company and the vendor of the Tomtebo Property (the "Definitive Purchase Agreement") by the times specified therein; and stability in financial and capital markets. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks associated with the following: the reliability of historic data regarding the Tomtebo Property; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to finance planned exploration (including incurring prescribed exploration expenditures required by the Definitive Purchase Agreement, failing which the Tomtebo Property will be forfeited without any repayment of the purchase price); the Company's limited operating history; the Company's negative operating cash flow and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; the uncertainties associated with early stage exploration activities including general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process, failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals, technical issues, potential delays, unexpected events and management's capacity to execute and implement its future plans; the Company's ability to identify any mineral resources and mineral reserves; the substantial expenditures required to establish mineral reserves through drilling and the estimation of mineral reserves or mineral resources; the Company's dependence on one material project, the Tomtebo Property; the uncertainty of estimates used to calculated mineralization figures; changes in governmental regulations; compliance with applicable laws and regulations; competition for future resource acquisitions and skilled industry personnel; reliance on key personnel; title matters; conflicts of interest; environmental laws and regulations and associated risks, including climate change legislation; land reclamation requirements; changes in government policies; volatility of the Company's share price; the unlikelihood that shareholders will receive dividends from the Company; potential future acquisitions and joint ventures; infrastructure risks; fluctuations in demand for, and prices of gold, silver and copper; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; legal proceedings and the enforceability of judgments; going concern risk; risks related to the Company's information technology systems and cyber-security risks; and risk related to the outbreak of epidemics or pandemics or other health crises, including the recent outbreak of COVID-19. For additional information regarding these risks, please see the Company's Annual Information Form, under the heading "Risk Factors", which is available at www.sedar.com. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. All scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/district-provides-drilling-update-from-the-tomtebo-property-and-appointment-of-key-technical-advisor-301268292.html SOURCE District Metals Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2021/14/c4241.html Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Yenin met with Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Ukraine Noel Israel Khokhar to discuss steps to intensify cooperation between the two countries, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service has reported. "The parties discussed steps to intensify cooperation between Ukraine and Pakistan in trade, economic, military and technical spheres," the report reads. During the meeting, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Ukraine, develop high-level bilateral contacts, and update the legal framework. For his part, Yenin stressed the importance of holding a constituent meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission and the next round of political consultations of the foreign ministries in the near future. As a reminder, in 2020, trade between Ukraine and Pakistan amounted to USD 411.813 million, in particular Ukrainian exports was USD 331.096 million (+525.7% compared to 2019), and Pakistani imports - USD 80.717 million (+103% compared to last year). The positive balance for Ukraine was USD 250.379 million. In April 2020, President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Markiyan Chuchuk as Ukraines ambassador to Pakistan. ish HEALDSBURG, Calif., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Captina LLC today announces the general availability of CompleteDTC, a genuine breakthrough in direct-to-consumer winery management that levels the playing field for smaller DTC wineries. Founded by Ridgely Evers, the driving force behind QuickBooks and a lifelong small-business advocate, the impetus for CompleteDTC was his experience growing his own thriving DTC business, DaVero Farms & Winery in Healdsburg, California. Now, after several years serving a select, invitation-only group of peers, CompleteDTC is making its game changing capabilities generally available to wineries producing fewer than 10,000 cases per year. That's over 90% of the market, and as businesses they have one key thing in common: every employee wears multiple hats. "To be successful, they need a comprehensive, fully integrated solution," said Evers, "because they have neither the time nor the expertise to manage multiple software and service vendors, much less keep disparate sets of data in sync. And history shows that if data is in two places, at least one of them is wrong." That understanding has driven the development of CompleteDTC. It incorporates the full spectrum of functionality a DTC winery needs web store, point-of-sale, club manager, customer segmentation and email marketing, reservations and events, outbound sales, club member portal, and comprehensive, useful reporting, to name just a few. Every feature shares a common interface and database, eliminating the challenges of trying to tie third-party pieces together while greatly improving ease of learning and use. And the entire system is backed by a single place to turn for support and training. But CompleteDTC is far more than a collection of features: it is a transformative reimagining of small winery management. "The more you know about running a DTC business, the more impressed you will be with CompleteDTC," said Paul Leary, a wine industry consultant in the Napa Valley with decades of experience helping wineries build direct-to-consumer capabilities. "It stands alone in terms of its conceptualization as well as its capabilities. I am pleased to offer it to our small and medium sized clients, and only wish it were available for my larger, enterprise businesses." Recruitment Revenue Retention CompleteDTC is unique in being organized around helping smaller wineries with every stage of the customer lifecycle with particular emphasis on tools that improve customer retention, a critical success factor typically not addressed by other solutions. The Member Portal and Cellar Status features are examples of how CompleteDTC has rethought the role of software in customer retention, allowing wineries to reach members (and former members) with relevant messages that are about the customer, not the business. While it would have been easier to outsource email marketing to a third party, CompleteDTC elected to embed a state-of-the-art email composer tied directly into the CRM system, along with a Marketing Wizard that provides powerful, easy to use segmentation capabilities. "The Marketing Wizard is one of my favorite features. The system is continuously capturing customer behavior, so we can easily develop perfectly-targeted lists. The composer lets us send beautiful, highly personalized, mobile-friendly emails, or we can use the built-in Outbound Calling system. Either way, the responses are right in the system, making it simple to measure response and ROI," said Kasandra Brooks of Testa Vineyards. An Expertise Ecosystem The company's 10+ years of working with DTC wineries as well as operating one every day has made it clear that these businesses need ancillary services as well as technology. Yet choosing the right provider isn't easy, and a wrong decision can make things harder and more expensive. For that reason, the company has assembled a remarkably broad set of optional service providers, each one of whom has been carefully vetted based on the twin metrics of service quality and affordability, and then only after real-world use by DaVero. Tracey Welch, the company's president and a licensed CPA, points to compliance as an example. "Just because a winery is small doesn't change its regulatory obligations. While solving compliance isn't part of other winery management systems, our architecture puts us in a unique position to do so." The system handles sales and excise tax, age verification, and alcohol license monitoring, all seamlessly integrated into the software and supported by partners who can completely offload reporting at nominal cost. Relative to other approaches, Welch continues, "CompleteDTC all but eliminates compliance headaches, while also saving typical clients thousands of dollars each year." Credit cards presented another opportunity to reduce costs while providing superior performance. After careful research, CompleteDTC has forged a deep partnership with Preferred Payments, one of the most forward-thinking providers in the country. "Partnering with CompleteDTC made perfect sense for us because their architecture actively minimizes the potential for fraud, thereby allowing us to offer exceptionally low rates and fees," said Katie Orkin, General Manager of Preferred Payments. Again, typical CompleteDTC clients will see fee savings of thousands of dollars every year. The system includes native support for UPS, FedEx, GSO, and most third-party fulfillment companies, along with built-in nationwide weather monitoring so clients know when it's safe to ship. And, of course, CompleteDTC also provides an intelligent integration with QuickBooks at no charge. "Saving our clients time and money is just as important as helping them attract and retain customers," says Welch. "We take pride in the fact that most clients will find these savings more than offset the cost of CompleteDTC." Transparently Affordable CompleteDTC comes with a "No Surprises" guarantee. The monthly cost is easily calculated on the website, and there are no hidden fees or long-term contracts. Unlimited support and training are included at no additional cost, as is onboarding and data migration. The company is now accepting new clients. More information is available at https://CompleteDTC.com . Media: for additional information and interview queries, please contact Erin Hunt Moore, Verdant PR & Marketing at [email protected] or 917-544-3222. SOURCE Captina LLC/CompleteDTC Related Links https://CompleteDTC.com Prison officers have shown their support for the work done to help animals in Laois by raising hundreds of euro for the local charity. The Laois Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals was presented with the cheque by the Irish Prison College services which is based in Portlaoise at the Brian Stack Building. The LSPCA thanked all those who worked very hard to fundraise. The cheque was presented recently in Vetcare by RPO Woods and was accepted by Rachel and Emer and rescue dog Roxie on our behalf. A total of 500 was raised and is really appreciated. Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez at a news conference on Tuesday in Madrid. Emilio Naranjo / EFE Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday offered some insight into the way that 140 billion in European recovery funds will be spent in the coming years. The leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE) guaranteed that the biggest public investment plan in recent history will modernize the Spanish economy more intensely than at any other time since the country joined the European Union in 1986, alluding to a transformational moment for a nation that was then emerging from 40 years of dictatorship and isolationist policies. This plan is the greatest opportunity for Spain since its admission into the EU, said the prime minister in lofty tones meant to underscore the relevance of a project that he sees as the signature issue of his administration. The pandemic will give way to a new period in our history Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez Around half of the amount, 72 billion, will take the form of grants, while the rest will be paid out in loans. By comparison, in the 1980s Spain received 8 billion in European cohesion funds. While Sanchez did not go into too much detail the plan is not the final one that will be sent to Brussels, which has given member states an April 30 deadline he unveiled its main guidelines. Over the next six years, he said, Spain will undertake 102 reforms and 110 substantial investment projects. Besides all the major reforms negotiated with the EU on labor, pensions, taxes, public administration, health, education, the justice system, the caregiving economy and water legislation, Sanchez said there will be investments worth 70 billion that will have an immediate impact on jobs this year. Of that amount, 39% will be linked to the ecological transition and 29% to digital transformation. The numbers provide clues as to the scope of the public investment plan: 13.2 billion for a sustainable mobility strategy, 6.8 billion for a residential buildings renovation plan, 4.3 billion to streamline government agencies, 4 billion for the digitalization of small- and medium-sized businesses, and 4 billion to roll out 5G technology. A new Marshall Plan Central, regional and local governments will be largely in charge of spending the money, which authorities hope will pull the economy out of its current hole, consolidate long-term growth and upgrade an outdated productive model that has shown itself to be weak against the coronavirus crisis, as Sanchez himself admitted. In 2020, the negative effects of the austericide became evident in the weakness of our welfare state, said Sanchez, alluding to spending cuts enforced during the previous economic crisis that began in 2008. We have learned that the real solution lies in undoing the mistakes of the past. The pandemic will give way to a new period in our history, as demonstrated by the great European Marshall Plan currently underway and which we always defended. It is the first step towards a new era of modernization and transformation. The Socialist leader, who heads a minority government with junior partner Unidas Podemos, will take the spending plan to the lower house of parliament on Wednesday opposition groups have complained that they still dont have a text detailing the proposals and in the afternoon Economy Minister Nadia Calvino will discuss it with unions and employer groups. While Sanchez boasted that some of the reforms requested by Brussels have already been implemented, especially those involving climate change, education and remote work, the trickiest ones have yet to be tackled. The partners in the executive have agreed to tweak parts of the labor reform introduced in 2012 by a Popular Party (PP) administration, and talks are already underway, although employer associations appear unconvinced so far. On the sensitive issue of reforming the state pension system, an early proposal to extend the contribution period for pension eligibility to 35 years has been dropped, and on taxes, Sanchez said that recovery comes first, although reform remains in the pipeline. The European Commission is saying that Spain needs fiscal reform, said Sanchez, finding support for his long-term plan in the international arena. Even the dangerous Red communist Biden is talking about raising taxes, it is a worldwide debate, he said ironically, in reference to US President Joe Biden. English version by Susana Urra. Chinas Digital Silk Road is an ambitious vision to catalyze global digitalization. What will it mean for digital governance? The Diplomat reports that hinas Digital Silk Road (DSR) was launched in 2015 as a component of Beijings vast vision for global connectivity, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Like the BRI, the DSR is not monolithic and involves many actors at all levels across the Chinese public and private sectors. It is amorphous and the line between official and unofficial DSR projects is often blurry. Comprehensive data on DSR investments is difficult to come by. According to one estimate, by 2018, DSR-related investments in digital infrastructure projects outside of China had reached $79 billion. The DSR aims to improve digital connectivity in participating countries, with China as the main driver of the process. On the macro level, the DSR is about the development and interoperability of critical digital infrastructure such as terrestrial and submarine data cables, 5G cellular networks, data storage centers, and global satellite navigation systems. In one of the most recent moves, China completed the launch of its global satellite system, BeiDou, which, in some regions, is more accurate than the United States global positioning system (GPS). In Asia, Pakistan, Laos, Brunei, and Thailand are among the countries that have adopted BeiDou, and there is growing use in West Asia (the Middle East) and Africa. At the micro level, the DSR promotes connectivity between local businesses and consumers and among businesses and consumers. Examples include e-commerce, taxi-hailing, fintech (financial technology), and edtech (education technology) platforms and apps, as well as hardware such as routers, smartphones, and PCs. What Drives the DSR? The DSR is far more than just an infrastructure project. For China, the DSR is a solution that engenders a less U.S.-centric and a more Sino-centric Asian and global digital order. China pursues this goal by enabling the opening of new markets for Chinese tech giants such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei, and by strengthening the worlds digital connectivity with China. The DSR fits right in with the Chinese authorities ambitious national goals such as Made in China 2025 and China Standards 2035. These initiatives aim to enhance Chinas domestic tech innovation, production, and transaction capabilities. In turn, these goals are part of an overarching vision of the Chinese government for tech primacy and greater autonomy in the global digital order. But why? The Chinese government seeks to reduce the countrys vulnerable dependence on other tech leaders, especially the United States, Japan, and select European states. The DSR aids Chinese tech giants and smaller players to boost their sales and local knowhow and gain a foothold in overseas markets often with the help of Chinese government policy facilitation. Regardless of what one makes of the approach, the DSR expands the oligopolistic pool of digital products and services suppliers. Indeed, a small number of actors lead the tech world, and U.S. tech giants Alphabet (Google), Intel, Amazon, Cisco, and Facebook in particular have a near-global monopoly in their respective domains. For example, by the end of 2018, content providers such as Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon owned or leased more than half of the undersea cable bandwidth. These cables carry close to 98 percent of international internet data and telephone traffic. Such dominance is not healthy and several actors, including the EU and Australia, have taken steps to curb these tech giants sway. The DSR often focuses on BRI participants and developing economies; but the DSRs reach is not limited to these actors. The initiative fills digital voids wherever it spots one. Top recipients of DSR investments even include large European economies such as Germany and Italy. In Europe, projects focus on 5G networks, fintech, and smart city technologies. Through competitive Chinese public-private sector partnership deals, the DSR catalyzes a more digitalized world from Serbia to Mexico to Myanmar. A more digitalized world is not exclusively beneficial to China and Chinese companies. Indeed, DSR digitalization, if accompanied by economic growth, could offer a host of spinoff investment and sales opportunities for non-Chinese tech and non-tech companies too. But There Are Significant Challenges As with any initiative of this scale, the DSR comes with some challenges. Particularly, these apply to existing tech giants and digital infrastructure providers who would wish to sustain their lead. Broadly, however, these challenges apply to all stakeholders who favor the vision of a more open, transparent, free, and equitable global cyber domain and digital governance at large. In this regard, the DSR has four significant and far-reaching strategic implications. First, China can build and offer digital backbones that are almost entirely homegrown. The backbones are the infrastructure that makes digital communication possible, such as data cables, cellular networks, and data storage centers. Drawing an analogy with Legos, the more backbone China builds, the more it can build on and connect to that foundation thus strengthening its position in the global digital order. Second, the DSR may facilitate China to set standards for digital infrastructure and next-generation tech such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, blockchain, serverless computing, and so on. Although all tech leaders seek to set standards, existing tech leaders are bound to view emerging Chinese attempts to set standards as competition. Beyond the considerations of existing tech leaders and within the wider global considerations, setting standards brings considerable strategic advantages with it. Moreover, the DSR creates digital arteries that are likely to boost Chinese supply chains, its economy, and, therefore, its overall global economic influence. Third, Chinas view on digital governance has a much more state-paternalistic nature. This differs starkly from the average liberal Western view on digital values and norms, especially that of the United States. The Chinese government enforces strict restrictions on the cyberspace in China. It also does not hesitate to closely monitor its netizens in a considerably sealed off domestic intranet. Granted, China is certainly not the only country to practice a restrictive view on digital governance, and different countries enforce different types and levels of restrictions over cyberspace. Countries like Singapore and India tend to enforce controls on content too, and the EU, for instance, is increasingly regulating content. So, while the DSR does not promote a liberal and transparent cyber domain per se, it is important to note that there are no universal global cyber governance values. Perhaps this is reflective of the diversity of cultures and socio-political values on the human canvas both online and offline. Fourth, Chinese businesses, and by extension, Chinese authorities, could gain access to large local data pools through the DSR. By strengthening other countries reliance on Chinese infrastructure, Beijing could theoretically gain a valuable tool of local political influence, although this would depend considerably on local cybersecurity policies and enforcement capacities, among other factors. Such potential exploitation, however, is not exclusive to China. As the Edward Snowden revelations and the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal showed, any tech provider or cyber tech-advanced actor could abuse their position, if so desired. The DSR clearly serves a broader objective of narrowing the global digital divide. It also challenges the existing dominance of the U.S. digital value system and dominant market share of its tech companies. As such, the DSR presents both serious partners in digital transformation for those countries in need of competitively priced digital products and services, as well as competition to existing tech leaders. Regardless of where one stands, amidst a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the global economy, digitalization and economic growth are as welcome as ever. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Anyone who thinks the Cleveland Browns are a Super Bowl favorite because they signed Jadeveon Clowney is crazy. The Browns were already a Super Bowl favorite, and they happened to sign Clowney on Wednesday. A three-time Pro Bowler whos 28 years old might not be among the Browns 15 best players this season (I might rank him 13th right now), and thats fine. The Browns are taking a one-year shot on the former No. 1 pick because they can, and it wont cost them anything but money. It wont affect their future or hamper anything else they want to do in the present. Im not entirely sure about the upside, but I am sure about the downside, because there is none. Clowney was filled with optimism during his video news conference Wednesday afternoon, and if he hits anywhere near his upside, look out. Its funny because Ive never really been all the way healthy to the point where I felt like nothings bothering me, Clowney said, but I still can dominate in this league. I know that if I ever reached my max potential of getting back there, like I feel now, they say the skys the limit, but its probably higher than that. Theyve got footprints on the moon. Thats what were trying to reach. Clowney is thinking moon shot, when a little drive around the neighborhood might be enough to help the Browns. Clowney was injured in the first game of his rookie year in 2014, and his 2020 season ended after eight games with Tennessee because of a meniscus issue that required surgery. Hes had a few bad breaks, and the wise and cautious approach may be to think of him as older than 28 based on what his knees have gone through. In general, I think the headline here is more like Veteran coming off injury seeks ring with Super Bowl contender, than it is, All-Pro addition looks to put Browns over the top. As good as Wednesday was for the Browns in adding a run-stopping defensive end, I think it was a better day for Clowney in joining a team with a real Super Bowl shot. Hes made the playoffs three times in his career and won two games. This move might miss, and fans should prepare for that possibility. But its a smart shot at the right time. Keep two things in mind: One is that general manager Andrew Berry stayed on Clowney for a year before he made this deal happen. Its time to play a little game of Trust AB. He was relentless getting after me, trying to get me up here, Clowney said. Berry has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt in his 15 months on the job. The other thing is that if anyone had any doubt, its absolutely gone now: The Browns are all-in for a Super Bowl run. I said that more than two weeks ago before Clowney signed, but this crystallized it. I already thought the Browns might be the third-best team in the league before Clowney signed, and I may make an argument to move them up at some point. Youll see some people refer to the Browns as dark horse Super Bowl contenders ... but what exactly makes them a dark horse? Is every team in the league that doesnt have Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady a dark horse? This roster is maxed out. If Odell Beckham Jr. and Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams and Clowney are healthy, and everyone else is who we think they are, this might be the best Browns roster well see in the Mayfield-Garrett era. The Browns will have tough choices down the line as they lock up their young talent to bigger contracts. You cant have as many veterans like Beckham and Clowney and Jarvis Landry and Sheldon Richardson when youll be paying your homegrown young veterans. The Browns will have them all in 2021. So nothing really changed on Wednesday. Its just what it was before, but more of it. Its time to win. This team is a Super Bowl favorite right now. The Browns dont need Clowney to push them anywhere. But when the Browns have $8 million to spare for one season, when incentives can take the contract to $10 million, this is a clever way to spend it. So this was a big day. Congrats to Clowney. He joined a team already aiming toward a Super Bowl. Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Heres where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs. - More Browns coverage Why Clowney is poised for career year playing next to Garrett: Film Review Clowney: Im here to prove I can still dominate in this league DE Jadeveon Clowney signed to one-year deal worth up to $10 million Berry on Clowney: We love his relentless style of play Inside the decision to sign Clowney: Pluto How Clowney compares to former Browns edge rusher Olivier Vernon Social media reacts to Clowney signing Emergency Orange & Brown podcast on Wednesdays signing How does signing impact Browns draft? Hey, Terry 5 reasons the Clowney signing is a smart move: Cabot 3 players the Browns should consider at No. 26 Davis, Collins, Phillips among Browns targets: NFL mock draft roundup Lessons Browns can learn from previous QBs drafted in Top 5 Mayfield is lone QB drafted in the top 5 from 2009-18 still with original team - Berlin-based EMnify now offers multi-network LTE-M access in 45 countries, allowing IoT businesses to deploy LPWAN-enabled devices in global markets. BERLIN, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading cloud communication platform provider for IoT, EMnify, today announces global roaming of LTE-M - a 3GPP standard for Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) built on 4G networks and forward compatible with 5G. With this launch, EMnify is adding LTE-M support to its current 2G, 3G, and 4G network access, providing a future-proof connectivity option for cellular IoT in answer to worldwide GSM and UMTS phase-out. LTE-M introduces unique advantages for global IoT deployments, including: Long battery life with Power Save Mode (PSM) and Extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) features. with Power Save Mode (PSM) and Extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) features. Extended range for improved indoor and underground connections. for improved indoor and underground connections. Low-cost modules that are only 30% of 4G module price. Compared to NB-IoT - the other cellular LPWAN variance - LTE-M offers wider national and international roaming availability. The technology also comes with excellent mobility support and higher data rates to enable a wider range of connected use cases such as asset tracking and fleet management. Faster data speed further reduces power consumption in medium-bandwidth transmission like over-the-air firmware updates, as devices stay online for a much shorter time. Alexander Schebler, VP Carrier Relations and Co-Founder at EMnify, explains: "We recognize LTE-M is the go-to connectivity for a variety of IoT applications because it allows for innovative features not available with previous cellular generations while solving the challenge of 2G/3G sunsetting in regions like North America. To deliver these benefits to customers, we are proactively working with our network partners to enable LTE-M roaming as soon as it is technically available in their networks." As of today, EMnify offers LTE-M access in 45 countries with varying support levels depending on the customer's deployment location, including: Expected coverage where LTE-M access is technically available by default based on standard 4G implementation of EMnify's network partners. where LTE-M access is technically available by default based on standard 4G implementation of EMnify's network partners. Validated coverage where LTE-M availability is frequently tested and confirmed by EMnify's internal tests. where LTE-M availability is frequently tested and confirmed by EMnify's internal tests. Guaranteed coverage where LTE-M service is guaranteed via official roaming agreements with EMnify's network partners. EMnify empowers IoT businesses with a single SIM card for global cellular and LPWAN connectivity in 180 countries, along with a pay-as-you-go subscription model that can start at small data volumes under 1 MB. In addition to the new LTE-M launch, the company is also working on NB-IoT and 5G roaming with first agreements already signed, to ensure customers have the best access to the latest radio technologies. For more information on EMnify's LTE-M coverage, visit: https://www.emnify.com/lte-m-coverage About EMnify EMnify is the leading cloud communication platform provider for IoT that enables businesses with high growth IoT products to scale across networks worldwide with a single API. EMnify is solely dedicated to IoT - unlike traditional CPaaS vendors. Its disruptive solution and customer-centric approach are made possible by a team of international experts that support thousands of companies in more than 70 countries. Founded in 2014 by forward-thinking telecommunications experts Frank Stocker, Martin Giess and Alexander Schebler, EMnify revolutionized the industry through its cloud-native service, enabling secure IoT connectivity globally - addressing one of the main issues regarding the IoT sector. To learn more about EMnify, please visit www.emnify.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1283164/EMnify_Logo.jpg Former Deputy Minister of Energy, John Jinapor has disclosed that the challenge with the energy sector has to do with the congestion in the transmission lines and not the generation of electric power. According to him, the Akufo-Addo government for more than two years has not carried out any maintenance activities and upgraded the transmission system of GRIDCo due to lack of money. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the lawmaker for Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency maintained that the current power outage is a result of the high tensions from GRIDCo being congested for over a period of time due to the fact that there are not enough funds to upgrade the system and do maintenance. But the truth of the matter in this power outage is that the high tension from the GRID is congested; that is the fact and it has been congested for over a period of time and that is why from time to time, GRIDCo should have money to upgrade their system and do maintenance so that we dont experience such a situation in the country, he asserted. He, however, blamed President Akufo-Addo for the lack of money for GRIDCo to carry out its maintenance policy and upgrading as the President went to Parliament to announce the reduction of electricity tariffs to score political points at the detriment of the utility companies. When President Akufo-Addo went to Parliament to say that he has reduced electricity tariffs, the GRIDCo CEO was not happy with the President on that decision because the company needs money to maintain the high tension. The NPP scored political points out of the reduction in the electricity tariffs and Ghanaians were happy but the downside is that the utility companies need money to upgrade their systems, he indicated. Transmission lines do not get congested overnight because the demand will continue to increase and so it has gotten to a point where the transmission lines cannot carry the load again. The only way it will be able to carry the load is to reduce the load on the transmission and if that happens, some people will experience lights-out and that is what they dont want to do, and so we are experiencing low and high voltage due to the pressure on the transmission lines, he explained. Watch Video Below Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video With the end of the deadline set by the Election Commission for not entering the boundaries of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met the families of the victims who were killed at Sitalkuchi during the fourth phase of polling. Four people were killed in the firing by the central forces in Sitalkuchi in Bengal on April 10. After the meeting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I have met the family members of the five killed in Sitalkuchi. They have died at such a tender age. I think the incident should be investigated. Those who are guilty should be punished. Let the elections be over. The State Government will investigate the incident. The family of the deceased will get justice. Don't fall into the trap of any kind of instigation. We will not spare anybody, however, influential the person might be, they will be tried". The Chief Minister was referring to the five persons including the four villagers of Jor Patki village who were killed in the firing by the central forces and one person was killed by some unknown miscreants while coming out after casting vote. The four persons who were killed in the firing on Saturday last are identified as Amjad Hossain (28), Chalmu Mian (23), Jobed Ali (20) and Nameed Mia (20). The chief minister also met Jagadish Barman - the father of Ananda Baraman (18), the first time voter of Pathantuli, Golenawhati GP, Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar who died when he was shot from a firearm by unknown miscreants. "Four of the minority brothers died and one of my Rajbanshi brothers died. All the deaths are the same to time. Death of anybody is unfortunate and the government is always beside them. I cannot give back their life but shall do everything possible to help the families come out of this painful situation," the Chief Minister said. BJP President J.P. Nadda, however, criticized Mamata Banerjee for doing politics on religious lines in Sitalkuchi. Speaking at a rally in Kolkata on Wednesday, the BJP President said, "Mamata Banerjee didn't say a single word about the Rajbanshi, the first time voter, who was killed by the TMC goons when he was coming out after casting his vote. Is this because he is Rajbanshi? Is this because he is Dalit? This is very unfortunate". Senior TMC leader Sougata Roy was quick to respond. "The chief minister expressed her solidarity to all the people who were killed on that day. She made it clear that the government will provide assistance to all the families of the deceased. The BJP leaders are trying to politicise the whole incident. They should stop doing politics and think about the common people- the people who lost their lives in the incident". Matt Gaetz's friend Joel Greenberg has been cooperating with federal prosecutors since last year, according to a report on Tuesday night, and has told them that they both gave women cash and gifts in exchange for sex. Greenberg, a 36-year-old former tax collector, is currently in jail in Florida, awaiting trial on 33 counts including sex trafficking of a minor and fraud. On April 8 Greenberg's lawyers said that he was cooperating, and was prepared to take a plea deal. The New York Times reported that he has been cooperating since December. They also reported that he told them he and Gaetz, 38, had both paid for sex. Gaetz is seen on Friday at a 'Save America Summit' at Trump's resort in Doral, Florida Gaetz has denied paying for sex, and insisted that, as an adult, he never had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz on Tuesday was back in Washington DC, and refused to answer whether he was cooperating with a House Ethics Committee inquiry, which was opened on Friday. Asked by CNN, on leaving Congress, if he had a statement, he said: 'I think you can read my statement in the Washington Examiner. 'I think you can check out the work that your network has done to propagandize lies about me. I think that really ought to concern you.' Gaetz's friend Joel Greenberg, 36, is currently in jail in Florida, awaiting trial JUST IN: Rep. @MattGaetz leaves the Capitol after voting. Refused to answer any questions from @mkraju and me about the allegations or investigation into his conduct. pic.twitter.com/vlYXD1f3T9 Ryan Nobles (@ryanobles) April 13, 2021 Gaetz was referring to a story by Project Veritas, a media watchdog, which filmed a technical director at CNN saying that their coverage of Gaetz was designed to hurt him. 'The agenda is to get Matt Gaetz right now,' said Charlie Chester, a New York-based cameraman for the network. 'He's a problem for the Democratic Party because he's so conservative and he can cause a lot of hiccups in passing of laws. 'We're going to keep running these stories to keep hurting him.' The Florida congressman and his allies were enraged by a CNN story on Sunday, which reported that Donald Trump had refused to see Gaetz. Gaetz is among the most fervent supporters of the former president, and has long been determined to remain in his orbit. Gaetz, one of the former president's biggest fans, fiercely denied being rejected by Trump Gaetz, seen taking a selfie with the former president, was reportedly snubbed by Trump Gaetz insisted he neither sought a meeting with Trump, nor was he rejected. Trump's spokesman Jason Miller said the same, and Trump issued a statement on Monday attacking CNN. 'Fake News CNN, relying on all anonymous sources, meaning they probably made the whole thing up, wrote a very dishonest story claiming Congressman Matt Gaetz asked for a meeting with me at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, and was denied. 'This is completely false,' he said. CNN stood by its reporting, however. Last week Maggie Haberman, The New York Times' White House correspondent, told CNN that her sources told her Trump had been warned to keep his distance from Gaetz. 'His first impulse was that he wanted to defend Gaetz, you know: 'He's one of our people,'' said Haberman. 'They have been very close, and it's been because Gaetz is a presence on television, he's from Florida, and he's willing to defend Trump vocally no matter what happens.' Trump on Wednesday had issued not a full endorsement, but rather a carefully-worded statement saying that Gaetz never sought a pardon from him, personally. The New York Times reported that Gaetz asked the White House for a pre-emptive pardon. (Newser) As the British royal family prepares for the funeral of Prince Philip on Saturday, the queen is getting back to work. According to the Court Circular, which details the royals' daily events and engagements, Queen Elizabeth hosted a retirement ceremony for Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel, her household's top official, on Tuesday at Windsor Castle, per CNN. Princess Anne, Elizabeth and Philip's only daughter, also set about on some of her own royal duties this week, participating Tuesday in a video call for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's spring conference. story continues below The AP reports that even though the royal family is in an official two-week period of mourning for the late Duke of Edinburgh, who died at the age of 99, the palace had stated that members would "undertake engagements appropriate to the circumstances." Town & Country notes that the queen appears to have just one other engagement in the days ahead: Philip's funeral, a televised service to be held Saturday and capped at 30 people due to the pandemic. The magazine adds that Elizabeth has not yet put out her own statement regarding her husband's death. (Read more Queen Elizabeth II stories.) BAY CITY, MI A Mount Pleasant man accused of killing his father in their shared home has been federally charged with murder. Jacob A. Osawabine, 30, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 54-year-old father, James G. Osawabine Sr. The charge is punishable by up to life in prison. According to an affidavit authored by a Bureau of Indian Affairs agent, the father and son Osawabines on the night of April 6 and into the next morning were at their house at 7183 Bellevue Drive on the Isabella Indian Reservation. The Osawabines are members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. At some point, Jacob Osawabine called the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department to report that he had shot his father. Police responded to the scene and found James Osawabine lying face up on the floor near the homes front door. He had an apparent gunshot wound to his head, which was bleeding, the agent wrote. Some officers rendered aid to James Osawabine as others conducted a protective sweep of the house, finding a long gun, a handgun and several boxes of ammunition. James Osawabine was taken to an area hospital, where staff pronounced him deceased at 12:50 a.m. on April 7, the affidavit states. The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department Jacob Osawabine was still at the house when police arrived and was placed in their custody. Taken to police headquarters, Osawabine was read his Miranda and tribal rights and agreed to speak with investigators. Osawabine told them his father had left their house to get cigarettes and a beer. A short time later, Jacob Osawabine heard their front door open and believed someone was breaking in, he said. While on the second floor, Osawabine grabbed a .38-caliber revolver and fired a shot down the stairwell. He then went downstairs and fired a second shot toward the door, realizing afterward that he had shot his father, the agent wrote in the affidavit. Jacob Osawabine had his initial appearance in court before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Curtis Ivy Jr. on the afternoon of April 7, at which point the judge informed the defendant of the charge against him and his rights. Two days later, Osawabine again appeared before Ivy and consented to be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals until his trial. Jacob Osawabine is represented by Flint attorney Barry A. Wolf. James Osawabine is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, his mother, five siblings, his significant other, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He loved playing his electric guitar, going to concerts, and listening to music, his obituary states. James loved his family and time spent with them. Camping and road trips were also some of his favorite things to do. Jacob Osawabine is to appear for a preliminary examination before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris at 1 p.m. on May 21. Read more: Lawsuit in death of Saginaw man killed by police could be settled for $510,000 3 Saginaw men charged with stolen rifle, meth after crash during police chase Woman who allegedly drove car over Saginaw boyfriend faces life offense, prosecutors say WESTPORT, Conn., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgewater Associates ("Bridgewater"), a global leader in institutional portfolio management and the largest hedge fund in the world, today announced the launch of a new sustainable investing venture. Karen Karniol-Tambour and Carsten Stendevad will serve as Co-Chief Investment Officers ("Co-CIO") for Sustainability, overseeing the effort, including the design and implementation of investment solutions for clients pursuing sustainability goals alongside their financial targets. "Sustainable investing is a strategic priority for Bridgewater and for our clients," said David McCormick, CEO of Bridgewater. "Understanding the economic impact of environmental, social, and governance issues has always been crucial to our study of how economies and markets operate, and it is an increasing priority for our clients to achieve financial goals as well as have environmental and social impacts in their portfolios. With Karen and Carsten, we are deploying some of our leading investment talent and the power of our systematic investment approach to address these challenges." "Social and environmental issues are increasingly important to economies and markets due to their impacts on fiscal and monetary policy, capital flows and investor behavior," said Karen Karniol-Tambour, Co-CIO for Sustainability at Bridgewater. "In tackling these issues, we are leveraging Bridgewater's 45 years of experience conducting deep, systematic macro research and converting that understanding into scalable investment solutions for our clients." Stendevad added: "In recent years, we have seen a fundamental shift in the investment community, with the expansion of objectives from risk and return to also include impact. Building portfolios that seek to deliver on both financial and sustainability objectives is not trivial, and requires a rigorous and systematic approach to embedding sustainability throughout the entire investment process. Karen and I are excited to partner on deploying capital in this direction." The venture will also include the creation of a new Sustainable Investing Committee that will be co-chaired by Karniol-Tambour and Stendevad; Karniol-Tambour will also remain a member of the firm's broader Investment Committee (the body ultimately responsible for overseeing all of Bridgewater's investment strategies). The group will also be responsible for embedding sustainability considerations, as appropriate, into the firm's investment processes and partnering with clients on their sustainability priorities. Daniel Hochman will serve as Head of Sustainability Research and as a member of the Sustainable Investing Committee, and Lauren Hardardt will serve as the Chief Operating Officer for the venture. About Bridgewater Associates LP Bridgewater Associates is a global leader in institutional portfolio management and the world's largest hedge fund. Focused on understanding how the world's markets and economies work by having the deepest possible understanding of the global economy and financial markets, the firm translates that understanding into expertly constructed portfolios and meaningful relationships with institutional clients. Having built a track record of success for more than 40 years, Bridgewater's excellence is grounded in its distinct culture, which brings together great people and enables them to operate in a culture of radical truth and radical transparency. In recognition of the firm's commitment to excellence, its clients and the magnitude of its impact on the investment industry, Bridgewater has received more than 70 industry awards in the past 10 years including recognitions for innovation, performance, quality of research, client satisfaction and being a top place to work. Fortune named it the fifth most important private company in the U.S. Based in Westport, Connecticut, Bridgewater manages approximately $150 billion in assets for the world's largest and most sophisticated institutional investors, including public and corporate pension funds, university endowments, charitable foundations, supranational agencies, foreign governments, and central banks. For more information, please visit www.bridgewater.com. Press Inquiries Ryan FitzGibbon Prosek Partners 212-379-2115 [email protected] SOURCE Bridgewater Associates Related Links http://www.bridgewater.com Supplier News 14 April 2021 Oracle Food and Beverage Virtual Connect is back and better than ever. After a successful November event exploring how restaurants can recover and rebound after an unpredictable year, we're gathering again (virtually) to discuss how restaurateurs are refocusing their strategies to accelerate growth through concept expansion including ghost kitchens and virtual brands, better customer journeys from drive-thru to curbside and loyalty programs that bring guests back to the table. Virtual Connect is a unique event bringing together restaurateurs from all over the world and industry experts in sessions designed to inform and educate on how to stay on the cutting edge of our ever-changing industry. Whether you attended our fall event, or this is your first Virtual Connect, here are our top three reasons to join Virtual Connect. Reason 1: Executive keynote Q&A and customer panel On the 27th of April, we will kick off the event with a special keynote address from Oracle Food and Beverage SVP and GM Simon de Montfort Walker and vice president of strategy Chris Adams. Simon and Chris will discuss why connecting every guest interaction to back of house should be a focus for restaurateurs in 2021 and how our roadmap enables the key initiative. Customer panels will follow the same day with experts in the F&B space sharing insights on how they've modified their approach to align to new customer journeys and their expectation for the future of dining. Executive keynote Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa Executive Customer Panel Gagan Sinha, senior vice president of restaurant Technology at Inspire Brands, who recently acquired Dunkin Donuts, will join Mark Smith, chief information officer at SSP, a leading hospitality provider for food travel across Europe, and Ralph Marshall, vice president of technology EMEA for Starbucks Coffee Company in hosting our Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa Executive Customer Panel. This discussion will center on how they've adapted to new customer journey models, the restaurant technology making it possible to connect those journeys to back of house for highly efficient kitchens, and the growing importance of information transparency for consumers. Executive keynote Asia Pacific Executive Customer Panel Mike Palmer, operations director at Outback Steakhouse, will join Brad Dight, general manager, technology at Minor DKL Food Group and Patrick Branley, director of technology at Pizza Hut Australia in hosting our Asia Pacific Executive Customer Panel, where they will discuss how cloud POS technology is maximizing staff efficiency and how they' navigating aggregators, loyalty and the long-term shift to mobile interactions. Register for the keynote session that suits your schedule best: Register for April 27 | 11AM ET Americas & EMEA Opening Session | Register for April 27 | 7PM ET APAC Opening Session . Registering for either keynote session will also give you access to all our on-demand Power Sessions. Reason 2: Customer breakout sessions and panel discussions Day two of the agenda focuses on customer-led breakout sessions and solution expert topics where customer executives get together and talk openly about challenges, opportunities and solutions. Here's a look at the full agenda of speakers for April 28th and 29th: Guest engagement: Bringing guests back to the table with Chad MacKay , CEO, Fire and Vine Hospitality Group and Tim Brown, vice president, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage , CEO, Fire and Vine Hospitality Group and Tim Brown, vice president, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage Ghost kitchens and virtual brands: Diversifying with Simphony with Daniel Baven, owner, Noah's Kitchen and Dorothy Creamer, senior research analyst, hospitality and travel digital transformation strategies, IDC with Daniel Baven, owner, Noah's Kitchen and Dorothy Creamer, senior research analyst, hospitality and travel digital transformation strategies, IDC Personalizing quick service: Serving up a unique brand experience with Amer Wahab, chief operations officer, Kettleman's and Emil Davityan, co-founder, CEO, Bluedot with Amer Wahab, chief operations officer, Kettleman's and Emil Davityan, co-founder, CEO, Bluedot Omnichannel customer engagement: Building the ultimate connected experience with Anthony Sabga-Aboud, director, Global Brands Limited, Carlos Ramos, senior manager, Oracle Food and Beverage, and James Daleen, AppSuite, chairman and CEO with Anthony Sabga-Aboud, director, Global Brands Limited, Carlos Ramos, senior manager, Oracle Food and Beverage, and James Daleen, AppSuite, chairman and CEO Mobile ordering on- and off-premises with Pete Dalby , senior solution director, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage and Henrik Hessbo , principle solution engineer, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage with Pete Dalby senior solution director, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage and Henrik Hessbo principle solution engineer, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage Increasing check spend with Oracle Data Science with Paul Armstrong, vice president, development, Oracle Food and Beverage with Paul Armstrong, vice president, development, Oracle Food and Beverage Contactless interactions: Convergence of loyalty and payments with Shyam Rao, founder and CEO, Punchh and Mark James, master solution principal, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage with Shyam Rao, founder and CEO, Punchh and Mark James, master solution principal, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage Success planning: Maximizing your Oracle investment with Tony De Salvo, COO, Fortney Hospitality Group and Amy Bourgon, senior cloud success manager, Oracle Food and Beverage Reason 3: 15-minute Power Sessions We've structured the Power Sessions for our spring event to cover a variety of technical topics business owners will need to know looking ahead to 2021. Our 15-minute powers sessions will be available on April 29 at 12 PM ET and cover a variety of topics including: Faster implementations: Accelerating your time to value with Prasad Vemuri, senior director, global implementation services, Oracle Food and Beverage with Prasad Vemuri, senior director, global implementation services, Oracle Food and Beverage Advanced managed services: Expanding your team, talent, and technical expertise with Geoff Murtaugh, vice president, global consulting, Oracle Food and Beverage with Geoff Murtaugh, vice president, global consulting, Oracle Food and Beverage Quenching your real-time data thirst with Paul Armstrong, vice president, food and beverage development, Oracle Food and Beverage with Paul Armstrong, vice president, food and beverage development, Oracle Food and Beverage Curbside and delivery kitchen operations: Faster, error-free, online order fulfillment with Stu Bendall, senior manager, solution engineering, EMEA & JAPAC, Oracle Food and Beverage, Brian Burger, director, solution engineering, North America, Oracle Food and Beverage, and Ed Rothenberg, senior solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage with Stu Bendall, senior manager, solution engineering, EMEA & JAPAC, Oracle Food and Beverage, Brian Burger, director, solution engineering, North America, Oracle Food and Beverage, and Ed Rothenberg, senior solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage Ghost kitchens and virtual brands: Essential technology and tools with Oana Busuioceanu, manager, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage, and John Clubb, senior sales consultant, Oracle Food and Beverage with Oana Busuioceanu, manager, solution engineering, Oracle Food and Beverage, and John Clubb, senior sales consultant, Oracle Food and Beverage 360 Fan Experience: Smarter, safer, game-day strategies with Bret Hartley, senior solutions engineer, Oracle Food and Beverage with Bret Hartley, senior solutions engineer, Oracle Food and Beverage Get ready for outdoor dining with John Nicewick, senior global director, product strategy, Oracle Cloud and Hardware with John Nicewick, senior global director, product strategy, Oracle Cloud and Hardware Faster, smarter integrations: 3 use cases from Oracle partners with Keshav Kiran, senior director, global strategic partnerships, Oracle Food and Beverage with Keshav Kiran, senior director, global strategic partnerships, Oracle Food and Beverage Eat, stay, play: how to increase F&B revenue in your hotel or casino with Courtney Walton, senior solutions manager, Oracle Hospitality, Jessica Wilson, solution engineer, Oracle Hospitality, and George Zhang, senior solutions engineer, Oracle Hospitality Special thanks to our sponsors for this event: Platinum sponsor Epson Gold sponsors Appsuite, Bluedot, Punchh Silver sponsors DTiO, Ubamarket, Yellow Dog Join the keynote session that best suits your schedule: Register for April 27 | 11AM ET Americas & EMEA Opening Session | Register for April 27 | 7PM ET APAC Opening Session Reserve Your Seat Today We hope you can join us next month. In the meantime, don't hesitate to connect with us if you need assistance opening new sales channels, optimizing process for increased off-premises operations, or if you are interested in learning more about our exclusive One for One offer. Reach us directly by phone in the US: +1 866-287-4736; UK: +44 207 5626 827; AU: 1300 366 386; LAD: 52 559 178 3146) | chat | or request a call back. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a member of Wisconsin's Electoral College, cast his vote at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., on Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool) State Supreme Court Rules Wisconsin Governor Cant Limit Restaurant Capacity During CCP Virus Pandemic The Wisconsin state Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Tony Evers executive orders that reduced capacity on restaurants, bars, and other businesses due to the CCP virus pandemic. In a 4-3 ruling (pdf) Wednesday, the state court said the Democrat governors administration lacks authority to issue the orders, coming two weeks after the court struck down the states mask mandate. The statewide capacity limit restrictions have not been in place in Wisconsin since October of last year when the size of indoor public gatherings was limited to 25 percent of a buildings or rooms occupancy. The order was lifted and re-applied several times by the state government. The Supreme Court ruled that Evers and other state officials need the approval of the Wisconsin Legislature. The suit was brought by the Mix-Up Bar in Amery as well as Pro-Life Wisconsin. Justice Pat Roggensack wrote the opinion for the majority, and he was joined by fellow conservative Justices Anette Ziegler and Rebecca Bradley. Justice Brian Hagedorn filed a consenting opinion for the majority, while Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Dallet, and Jill Karofksyconsidered liberalsfiled a dissenting opinion. This case arises because [State Health Secretary Andrea Palm] issued another order doing exactly what this court said she may not do: limit public gatherings by statewide order without promulgating a rule, Roggensack wrote in the Wednesday ruling. Palm hopes to achieve a different outcome this time by seizing on some of the vulnerabilities in last terms decision. To be sure, the courts rationale in Palm was, in some respects, incomplete. Misha Tseytlin, attorney for the Mix-Up Bar and its owner, said in an email that the goal of Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, who is also a Democrat, was to have the court issue a blank check to devastate any business, at a moments notice. He said the ruling showed that a small, family-owned restaurant like the Mix Up can stand up to a powerful Governor and Attorney General and win when the law is on its side. Bradley, separately, in her dissent, said Evers should not have to go through the cumbersome rulemaking process when issuing an emergency order. The courts ruling is the third time that the Wisconsin Supreme Court found an order issued by Evers administration was unlawful. Other than striking down a mask mandate, the Supreme Court struck down the Wisconsin stay-at-home order following a legal challenge filed by Republicans in the state legislature. COVID-19 is the virus caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus. The Epoch Times has reached out to Evers office for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Health Canada is expected to release updated data today about COVID-19 vaccines, one day after the first case of vaccine-induced blood clots linked to Oxford-AstraZeneca was reported in Canada and the U.S. halted use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Provincial health officials are scheduled to hold a COVID-19 news conference sometime today and could announce tightened restrictions. Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday that restrictions are expected to be announced later in the week. Health officials revealed Tuesday that a COVID-19 variant has made its way to Manitobas north. The province did not say how many vaccination appointments for Monday and Tuesday were cancelled because of the weather. It appears the snow has finally stopped, but there could be more today, and it will still be very windy in Winnipeg. All weather warnings in Manitoba have ended. Katlyn Streilein reports on how some people are making the most of the snow dump. Apr. 14A woman told a Westmoreland County jury Tuesday she was able to break free from the man whom prosecutors claim planned to rape her as she walked along a trail near Saint Vincent College, where was an 18-year-old freshman in September 2017. Now 22 and attending another school, the Kittanning woman testified that a man wearing an American flag T-shirt, black cap and sunglasses passed her on a walking path at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve and immediately turned and grabbed her from behind. "He put me in a choke hold and pulled me to the ground," she said during the first day in the trial of Luke Hoover, 23, of Latrobe. Hoover was charged with attempted rape, aggravated assault, strangulation, stalking and simple assault in connection with the incident, which resulted in a brief lockdown of the campus. Hoover's accuser testified she set out alone on a walking trail and first came upon her attacker, who was standing with his hands in his pockets as she passed him. As her path looped around she came upon him again and as they passed, he turned and grabbed her from behind. She testified she was able to break free after she elbowed him the abdomen. Hoover tried to apologize as she ran away, she testified "He said he thought I was someone else. He had no emotion in his voice. It was a monotone," she told jurors. Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar, in his opening statement to the jury, said Hoover was identified from a picture taken by a security camera at the nature reserve by a Saint Vincent student who worked part-time at a nearby halfway house near Latrobe. The woman testified the man in the picture was the same person who attacked her on the trail. Lazar said Hoover, a resident of the halfway house, was convicted of sexual assaults as a juvenile for incidents in 2012, 2013 and 2015. In those cases, Hoover's victims claimed he approached them from behind and put his hands around their necks before pulling off their pants, Lazar said. Story continues "This is an identical pattern," Lazar said. "It is sufficient for you to make a finding this was an intent to commit a sexual assault." Defense attorney Mike Garofalo in his opening statement did not dispute Hoover's past criminal record, but said the circumstances of the previous offenses should not be considered in the current case. He said prosecutors will not be able to prove that Hoover intended to rape the coed. "You have to assume that by grabbing someone you have the immediate intent to penetrate her. This case will boil down to whether or not there is enough evidence to prove Luke Hoover had an intent to commit rape," Garofalo said. Garofalo said Hoover, who has been in jail since his arrest in January 2018, is not expected to testify during what is expected to be a two-day trial before Judge Megan Bilik-DeFazio. Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter . WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Kohl's Corp. (KSS) said Wednesday that it has reached a settlement agreement with an Investor Group, which collectively own 9.3% of the company' outstanding common stock, including options. The Investor Group consists of Macellum Advisors GP, LLC, Ancora Holdings, Inc., Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, and 4010 Capital, LLC. As part of the agreement, two new independent directors nominated by the Investor Group, Margaret Jenkins and Thomas Kingsbury, will join the Kohl's Board of Directors, as of the close of the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. An additional independent director identified by Kohl's, and agreed to by the Investor Group, Christine Day, will join the Board. Additionally, the company said that it received notice from Steve Burd that he will retire from the Board at the end of August 2021, and from Frank Sica that he will retire from the Board next year in connection with the company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 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. In October 2016, Mobile was shocked by the death of DeLauna Anderson, a mother shot to death at random while driving to her shipyard job. On Tuesday, the man believed to be the shooter received a life sentence. The Mobile district attorneys office announced that Antonio Lang, initially charged with capital murder in the case, had made a guilty plea to a murder charge and received a life sentence. In September 2020, the other defendant in the case, Iseral Bernard Hall, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. On the morning of Oct. 18, 2016, police responded to what they thought was a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 10. After finding Anderson dead of gunshot wounds, they began to piece together a disturbing scenario. People whod passed through the intersection of Duval Street and the I-10 Service Road shortly before the time frame reported that theyd seen two young men in dark clothes hanging around the . Some had felt concerned for their safety and said they were glad to get past the spot. Anderson wasnt so lucky: Someone put multiple shots through the door of her car, fatally wounding her. She was able to drive a short distance along the service road and up an on-ramp before crashing. The random nature of the crime made the investigation difficult. James Barber, police chief at the time, said that police were haunted by the thought that if anyone had reported a potential problem, police might have arrived at the intersection before the deadly attack. In hindsight there is a lesson there, he said. Everybody that called us feels the same way, I can guarantee you. It was the beginning of December before police a key tip led to the arrest of Hall, then 16, and Lang, then 18. I am pleased that today was the final day to close this part of the chapter for the Anderson family in getting justice for DeLauna, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Wright said in a statement released by the D.A.s office. Both of the defendants responsible for her death have been held accountable. This sweet family has endured so much through this process and I am happy to finally have Justice served for DeLauna. Please disable your ad blocker, and refresh the page to view this content. Bahujan Samaj Party chief on Wednesday appealed to the government to make arrangements for free food and accommodation for migrant labourers and workers who are planning to return home amid a spike in cases. She also demanded that all the needy and the poor be given COVID-19 vaccine free of cost. In a statement issued here on B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary, said people are once again planning to return home following the recent spurt in cases. Efforts should be made to stop another exodus of migrant labourers from cities as seen during the coronavirus-induced lockdown last year. "State governments should make adequate arrangements for food and lodging, otherwise these people may come in the grip of COVID-19 during the exodus. To stop this, the Centre should help the state governments as well." "On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Babasaheb, it is requested that the government should announce today itself free vaccination of the poor and the needy in the country," she said. She paid tributes to Ambedkar and said this day holds special significance for her party as it was on this day that the BSP was formed to take the mission of Babasaheb forward and fight casteist and narrow mindsets of people. (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.) Morgan Wallen took to social media on Tuesday to say that he won't be performing concerts for the remainder of the year amid a time of introspection in the wake of his scandal in which he was caught on tape saying a racial slur. 'Ive found this time away to be very valuable to me in many ways, but I feel like I need a little more of it, and therefore will not be performing tour dates this summer,' the country music artist, 27, said in a handwritten note posted Tuesday. The Sneedville, Tennessee native said that he 'wont be playing festivals or the Luke Bryan tour dates,' as he was slated to be on Bryan's Proud to Be Right Here Tour, as well as country festivals such as Kansas's Kicker Country Stampede and the Country Jam USA in Wisconsin. The latest: Morgan Wallen, 27, took to social media on Tuesday to say that he won't be performing concerts for the remainder of the year amid a time of introspection in the wake of his scandal in which he was caught on tape saying a racial slur The Whiskey Glasses artist added, 'It's important to me personally, if you can, still go to these shows - support country music. Country music is back and thats a beautiful damn thing.' In the post, Wallen admitted he had 'made some mistakes' and was looking to turn them into a learning experience. 'Im figuring those out and I apologized because I was truly sorry and have been making my amends,' Wallen said. 'I wanted to let you guys know that I have taken a couple months away and feel like I've really worked on myself. Im proud of the work Ive put in and in many ways thankful to have had the time to do it.' He added, 'I am still very proud of who I am and the man I am becoming.' The country music artist opened up in a handwritten note posted Tuesday In the post, Wallen admitted he had 'made some mistakes' and was looking to turn them into a learning experience Wallen also referenced the commercial success of his Dangerous: The Double Album, which was on top of the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks. 'I would have been proud of this album had it not done any of those things, but it did,' he said. 'My story is far from over & getting back out to see y'all is all I can think about. So just know you'll be seeing me sooner than later.' Wallen's controversy arose after a neighbor recorded the country artist as he came back to his house with friends January 31, disturbing neighbors with loud noise and car horns. He was heard telling an acquaintance, 'Take care of this p**** ass n*****' and 'take care of this p**** ass mother******' as he entered his abode in a clip posted on TMZ. Background: Wallen was heard on a recording made by neighbor and posted on TMZ earlier this year, using the racial slur as he chat with friends while returning to his Music City home In a subsequent apology, Wallen said he was 'embarrassed and sorry' over the exchange. 'I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back,' he said. 'There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.' Wallen was subsequently suspended 'indefinitely' by label Big Loud, with his music banned on radio stations for iHeart, Cumulus and Entercom. He was also declared ineligible for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Despite his banning from the event, a spate of billboards recently surfaced in Nashville saying that Wallen should be crowned Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 23:36:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's western prefecture of Osaka on Wednesday saw a record high of daily COVID-19 infections for the second straight day, logging 1,130 new virus cases. A total of 4,312 new cases were reported nationwide, marking the highest number of daily cases since Jan. 23, with new infections in Tokyo reaching 591, according to the health ministry and local officials. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura has said he might ask the central government to declare a third state of emergency. He said a day earlier that he could request the government to grant Osaka a prefecture-specific state of emergency to allow him more powers to combat the surging cases. "I have a strong sense of crisis. A request for large-scale business suspensions would be necessary if effects of the current measures under the quasi-state of emergency are proven unproductive next week," Yoshimura told a press briefing on the matter. The western prefecture is also struggling to contend with the spread of the highly transmissible virus variants, along with Tokyo, infectious diseases experts said. Such is the severity of Japan's rebounding COVID-19 infections that the head of the government's COVID-19 panel warned that Japan has entered a "fourth wave" of infections. Shigeru Omi, an expert in infectious diseases who heads the government's COVID-19 subcommittee, told a parliamentary session Wednesday that the central government should broader the areas currently subjected to stricter antiviral measures under a revised law. Omi said the expansion should be undertaken by the government "in an extremely swift and nimble manner," although Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the situation did not warrant such drastic intervention. "I don't see a big wave of infections nationwide," the Japanese leader said. But Omi said separately that in terms of Osaka, a state of emergency declaration should be considered as being issued. "It is necessary to fully consider the possibility of issuing a state of emergency in Osaka, which entails stronger anti-virus measures such as closure of eateries and heavier punishments for noncompliance compared with the quasi-emergency," Omi said. More than 90 percent of beds in the prefecture available for COVID-19 patients suffering from serious symptoms are occupied as the prefecture is on the brink of breaking point, sources close to the matter said recently. On Monday, Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa prefectures were added to the list of regions where tougher virus measures have come into effect under a new law that falls short of declaring a state of emergency, but allows prefectural governors to request bars and restaurants to shorten their business hours and impose fines for non-compliance. For Kyoto and Okinawa, the stricter measures will remain in place until May 5. Tokyo will see the tougher measures last through May 11. Large venue arenas in the affected prefectures have also had their capacities capped at 5,000 spectators, under the tougher restrictions that also include the western prefectures of Osaka and Hyogo, as well as Miyagi in Japan's northeast. Along with eyeing the central prefecture of Aichi for the stricter restrictions, Tokyo's surrounding prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama are once again being considered for the tougher measures that could also see travel during the upcoming string of Golden Week national holidays highly dissuaded. Suga said that a decision on the matter could be made this week, although his upcoming trip to the United States to meet U.S. President Joe Biden could see the decision delayed. The tougher measures have been implemented in the affected prefectures based on a revised law enabling the central government to declare a situation that falls short of a state of emergency in which special measures can be taken to counter the spread of the virus. The designation as being on the verge of a state of emergency can be applied when infections are surging in a situation equivalent to Stage 3, the second-highest on the government's four-tier alert system. Yet, according to the health ministry, the infection rate in Osaka, Hyogo, Miyagi and Okinawa have already reached Stage 4, with experts including virologists saying the rate necessitates the central government declaring a third state of emergency. The ministry said the rate in Tokyo and Kyoto, meanwhile, has reached Stage 3 on the four-tier system. Suga has conceded that the situation in Osaka was in fact worse than when the previous state of emergency was declared in January, although he reiterated, in contrast to some virologists, that the surging infections did not constitute a "fourth wave" of infections. The health ministry and local officials said Wednesday evening that total cases in Japan stand at a total of 517,723, and the death toll ils 9,524. The latest statistics come as Japan on Wednesday began counting down 100 days until the scheduled start of the Summer Olympics to be hosted by Tokyo. Enditem (@FahadShabbir) Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden said in a phone call on Tuesday that they would "continue dialogue" over ensuring global security, the Kremlin said Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2021 ) :Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden said in a phone call on Tuesday that they would "continue dialogue" over ensuring global security, the Kremlin said. "Both sides expressed their readiness to continue dialogue on the most important areas of ensuring global security," the Kremlin said in a statement. The statement also confirmed that Biden had proposed a summit between the two leaders, but did not say whether Putin had agreed. TruSense restores natural feeling to breast after mastectomy. TruSense is total restoration as it aims to reconstruct the breast, reconnect the sensory nerves, and ultimately restore the patients sense of wholeness after breast cancer surgery. During a mastectomy, nerves that supply the breast with feeling are severed causing loss of sensation to the chest area. Mastectomy patients can therefore lose all feeling, whether they choose to have breast reconstruction or not. After breast reconstruction, some sensation may return over time, but this is usually minimal if any. PRMA has been performing sensory nerve reconstruction in conjunction with breast restoration after mastectomy for over 20 years. TruSense is the result of this extensive experience. The procedure restores breast feeling by reconnecting nerves that supply feeling using a variety of techniques: either by directly suturing cut nerve endings together or by using a nerve graft to bridge a gap between the severed nerves. Nerve graft options include spare nerves taken from the patient or allografts. These nerve reconstruction techniques collectively referred to as microneurorrhaphy, require specialized training in microsurgery. Unlike other forms of breast reconstruction that focus only on restoring the look of the breast, TruSense also restores natural feeling. "Breast reconstruction has evolved tremendously over the years. However, for too long, surgeons have focused only on how the new breast looks, rather than also considering how it feels to the patient. TruSense is total restoration as it aims to reconstruct the breast, reconnect the sensory nerves, and ultimately restore the patients sense of wholeness after breast cancer surgery, says PRMA President Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. Providing patients this advanced surgical option significantly enhances the likelihood of breast feeling returning after a mastectomy. Our goal in performing any reconstructive surgery is to improve the individuals quality of life. We genuinely believe TruSense is a game-changer for breast cancer care because it addresses the next frontier in reconstruction: improving the patients ability to feel a touch or a hug. The best candidates for TruSense are women seeking breast reconstruction with a tissue flap (autologous reconstruction). Of all the tissue options, the DIEP flap is the best option for recreating a breast with feeling, adds Dr Chrysopoulo. This is because the tissue over the lower abdomen is almost as sensitive as the natural breast. Learn if you are a candidate for TruSense by using PRMAs virtual consultation service. Alternatively, schedule a telemedicine or in-person consultation by calling (800) 692-5565. About PRMA PRMA Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, Texas, specializes in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction. Procedures offered include TruSense, DIEP flap, SIEA flap, thigh flaps, buttock flaps, fat grafting, nipple-sparing mastectomy, revision breast surgery, explant surgery, and lymphedema surgery. PRMA is in-network for most US insurance plans and routinely welcomes patients from across and outside the US. Those interested in learning more about PRMA Plastic Surgery are encouraged to reach out via their official website or by calling (800) 692-5565. The Food and Drug Administration has temporarily lifted a medical abortion ban that requires abortion pills to be given to women in person or inside doctor's offices. The lifting of the ban will now enable sending abortion pills by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA's latest resolution reverses a Trump administration policy and gives abortion rights groups another major win under the Biden administration. According to the Christian Post, the FDA issued a letter on Monday signed by Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Janet Woodcock, which addressed the concerns of two doctors who claimed that it was dangerous for women to comply with the in-person dispensing requirements of abortion pills during the COVID-19 pandemic, recognized as a public health emergency. These in-person dispensing requirements are part of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, which were put in place to protect women from any adverse effects the abortion pill, specifically called mifepristone, may have. Woodcock also shed light on the evaluation of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research into the "studies pertinent to the in-person dispensing requirement in the Mifepristone REMS program during the COVID-19 pandemic." She said that based on the evaluation, the FDA did not find any significant "increases in serious safety concerns" when women are allowed to take abortion pills by mail or without first visiting a doctor's office. According to ABC News, the use of mifepristone has ben allowed since 2000 and that up to 40 of all abortions in the country are in fact done through medication instead of surgery, an option that has become key during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic broke out last year, the FDA temporarily suspended in-person requirements for all medications, including "tightly controlled drugs such as methadone." Since then, the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which then sided with the former president to reinstate the rule that requires women to access the drug in person and not by mail. Unsurprisingly, the FDA under the Biden administration backtracked this rule. The abortion pill can now be done "through the mail either by or under the supervision of a certified prescriber, or through a mail-order pharmacy when such dispensing is done under the supervision of a certified prescriber." Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser was one of the first pro-life advocates to condemn FDA's new ruling, expressing their concern over sending abortion pills by mail. Dannenfelser accused the Biden-Harris administration of exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic, cashing on in abortion industry profits, and disregarding the health and safety of American women. National Right to Life president Carol Tobias also condemned FDA's move to allow sending abortion pills by mail during the pandemic. She said that telemedicine abortions and abortions by mail enable women to "self-abort at home," which she believes increases women's risk because they may not be able to recognize any signs of an "incomplete abortion, a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, or a deadly infection" in case it occurs. Tobias argued that not only does abortion pills by mail make it more dangerous for women, it also makes the process "easier and cheaper" for the abortion industry Islamabad, April 14 : The current ruling government of Pakistan, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, may have come with a vision of progress and open-mindedness to create more acceptability of the country in the globe. But it appears that the one challenge which-- like previous governments -- remains as the toughest for this government is countering the religiously motivated hardline groups who have yet against brought the country to a standstill by chocking major cities in protest. Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious group with massive following across the country, has chocked major cities including the capital Islamabad, as their supporters took to the streets, protesting against the arrest of their chief Saad Hussain Rizvi, who was taken into custody after he threatened to storm the capital Islamabad in the coming days, if their demand of expulsion of the French Ambassador, was not met by the government. Angry protesters, since the time of the arrest of the TLP chief, have been staging violent sit-ins, where angry protesters have injured over sixty police officials, while at least 4 police personnel have also been killed. The violence has erupted in major cities of Pakistan with radical clerics and their followers have blocked highways, train tracks and chocked inter-city connectivity. The TLP has demanded the Imran Khan led government to stand by its agreement, in which, it committed that it would have the French ambassador in Islamabad expelled from the country over blasphemous images and the French President's controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Saad Hussain Rizvi, son of the late Khadim Hussain Rizvi, took over control of the TLP, after his father's death. Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a well-known hardline cleric had brought the country to a complete standstill, demanding the Pakistan government to expel the French ambassador and cut all ties with the French government over what he called, their deliberate attempt to ridicule Islam and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). An agreement was reached between TLP's Khadim Hussain Rizvi and the Imran Khan government late last year, in which the government actually had agreed to expel the French ambassador after it passes the legislation from the parliament. However, with deadline of the agreement ending, TLP has now taken the government to task again with violent protests, paralysing the country. What seriously alarming and worrying in the current situation, is that the government's writ, in handling, nabbing and restraining the religious hardliners from chocking the country, is nowhere to be found. To add more to the surprise, social media videos of the protest have shown many security personnel joining with the protesters to chant slogans, while their job was to disperse the mob and ensure maintenance of peace. The government's approval to meet all demands of the TLP last year, which included parliamentary approval of severing diplomatic ties with France within three months, raised serious questions over the competency of the Imran Khan led government, as many were shocked to see an extremist group, dictating the government on a sensitive foreign policy matter. With the protests entering into the third day, Pakistan continues to remain chocked while the government is still in process of formulating a plan to deal with the religious group and its supporters. "The authority of the state has seldom been so compromised. It was not just appeasement but abject submission to the lawbreakers and the non-state actors that has undermined the legitimacy of the civil administration," said senior journalist Zahid Hussain. "It was the same policy of appeasement that led the PTI government to concede to the TLP's demands in November 2020. Indeed, the deal ended the protest but by giving in to irrational demands of the religious group, the government and the state have further weakened their own authority", he added. The latest show of violence, vandalism and extremism by a radical extremist movement of a set of people with a narrow view of religion, has put the civilian government's ability to uphold the rule of law, under serious challenge. And the Imran Khan led government, who in the past has had entered into alliance with similar hardline groups for its political gains to win the general elections, is now being questioned over its wayward approach towards ensuring maintenance of rule of law in the country. A Worcester man was killed by a fellow inmate at a Massachusetts treatment facility Tuesday night, authorities said. Michael Robinson, 42, of Gloucester, is accused of fatally beating 43-year-old Scott Wonoski in a bathroom at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater Tuesday night, according to the Plymouth District Attorneys office. Robinson was arraigned in Brockton District Court Wednesday on charges of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Authorities say corrections officers at the treatment facility responded to a report of an altercation in one of the facilitys bathrooms around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night and found a bleeding, unresponsive male victim who was later identified as Wonoski, who is from Worcester. Medical treatment was administered to Wonoski at the scene before he was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, officials said. Wonoski was pronounced dead of his injuries just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said. Video surveillance obtained in the investigation into the incident by Massachusetts State Police shows Robinson physically assaulting Wonoski and exiting the bathroom, according to the district attorneys office. The investigation is ongoing. There are no exemptions to mandatory hotel quarantine in Australia but pragmatic solutions are found where difficult cases arise on humanitarian or compassionate grounds, an Irish doctor working in the country has said. Public health specialist Dr Niall Conroy said that while the Australian regime was strict, it had worked to keep Covid-19 out. The Queensland-based medic told a webinar hosted by the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group that nobody was exempt from quarantine, including those who were fully vaccinated. To date, 250,000 people have passed through the Australian quarantine system, which had detected around 1,800 positive Covid-19 cases. Were a zero Covid environment. 1,800 cases being let into the community would, with the exponential growth that weve seen, have resulted in us being as hard-hit as anywhere else, Dr Conroy said. Quarantine hotels must be pre-booked and cost around 1,500, although travellers do not pay in advance and individuals can pay by installments or apply for an exemption on costs. Incoming travellers that test positive for the virus are taken to hospital even if they do not show symptoms. Dr Conroy said the system was part of a broad suite of public health measures and that a lot of learning had taken place over the past year. The take-home message is that it has worked really well. We dont have Covid. Where humanitarian cases arise, individuals will still have to quarantine but pragmatic solutions will be found, he said, giving an example of daily hospital visits and Covid tests being arranged for someone arriving into the country to see a dying relative. An exemptions unit with legal and medical staff is established in each state, he said, to deal with difficult cases that arise with quarantine and other Covid-related issues. The system is backed up by medical and mental health supports and managed through a central logistics unit that links in with hospitals and the police force as necessary. Working with airlines was key to ensuring that passengers were pre-booked and the quarantine system must have spare capacity and could not run at 99 to 100% capacity like the Irish health system. Australia, he said, had a very good public health system and was well resourced, unlike in Ireland where public health doctors were still not given consultant status. I left for that reason because I could get a consultant contract in Australia, he said, adding that he leads a team of 16 staff and has loads more resources and authority to make decisions compared to his Irish counterparts. Meanwhile, University College Cork Professor Ivan Perry said the pandemic was a "wake-up call" to invest in services to deal with other public health challenges including, obesity, substances misuse, and an epidemic of mental distress in young people. The pandemic were going through is a wake-up call to develop our public health systems nationally and globally but unfortunately there is no sign at the moment in Ireland that were taking that message on board, he said. Public Health expert Professor Gabriel Scally said the 1800 Quarantine Act kept the plague out of the island of Ireland and that it was very disappointing that an all-island approach to quarantine was not taken. There should be one unified quarantine system for the whole island. Thats what makes perfect sense. Gov. Gavin Newsoms supporters have one last weapon to try to derail a recall before the secretary of state certifies it for the ballot and a half dozen Kardashians announce their campaigns: They can ask people who signed the recall petitions to remove their names. It is legal. But it comes with serious challenges for Newsom backers starting with the fact that Newsoms campaign itself says it doesnt plan to try it. It is imponderable, Newsom political strategist Ace Smith said on a Sacramento Press Club forum the other day. But imponderability isnt stopping a Newsom ally from launching an independent effort to get petition signers to erase their names. And not just any ally, but a former head of the state Senate and longtime Bay Area politician, Don Perata. Perata knows recalls. Not only did he have a front-row seat for the 2003 election that ousted Gov. Gray Davis, but he led an unsuccessful recall effort against then-state Sen. Jeff Denham in 2008. His reason: The Republican, who had easily been elected in a majority Democratic district, refused to provide one of the two GOP votes that Democrats needed to pass a state budget. Perata pulled the plug on the recall about a month before election day, after the California Democratic Party had spent more than $600,000 to remove Denham. Perata told me recently that the recall attempt was tactical. I just needed to get his attention. I couldnt make him an offer he couldnt refuse. These days, Perata has different views of recalls. Or at least this one of Newsom. He said its a distraction. We dont have time for this type of stuff, Perata said. California has its hands full trying to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and help people suffering from poverty thats worse than Appalachia, he said. And a recall election isnt cheap the 2003 vote cost the state more than $75 million. So Perata and what he described as a bunch of (political) gym rats latched onto the idea of asking people to reconsider their recall support. They call their organization Stop the Steal, a snarky nod to Donald Trumps false contention that voter fraud cost him the presidency. Recall organizers said last month that they had turned in 2.1 million signatures, and most everyone thinks enough of them are valid to top the nearly 1.5 million needed to qualify for the ballot. Perhaps optimistically, Perata said that if he and his crew can get just 100,000 people to change their minds and pull their signatures, that will be sufficient to kill the recall before it starts. But its no easy process. Starting in a couple of weeks, people who signed petitions will have 30 business days to let their local election officials know theyd like to remove their names. The challenge for Perata & Co. is finding signers who might be waffling. State law forbids anyone but election officials from knowing signers names or identifying details. That means theres a lot of guessing involved. Were trying to figure out if we can create, with enough extraneous information, a demographic model that we can appeal to, said Perata, whose team is testing some of its voter targeting ideas in the Bay Area. If they find people willing to take back their endorsement, Peratas group will have to persuade them to walk a postage-paid card stating their intention to a mailbox. Even that is a tall order, Perata conceded. This all sounds awfully experimental. And theres not a lot of time to figure it out. Oh, absolutely, Perata said. It is an experiment. Thats what state Sen. Josh Newman learned when he was trying to locate voters in his Orange County district who signed a petition to recall him in 2018, after the Democrat supported a bill to increase gas taxes and vehicle registration fees to pay for road repairs. Newman said his campaign spent hundreds of thousands of dollars sending canvassers door to door in search of people they thought fit a demographic profile. Ultimately, Newmans campaign submitted 2,000 names of people who wanted to take back their recall signatures. It wasnt enough. He was recalled, but won his seat back last year. Soon after he was re-elected, Newman introduced a bill that would give a recall targets campaign access to the names and contact information of petition signers. It is a fundamental tenet of the American justice system that the accused should always have the right to face his or her accusers, Newman said Monday during a committee hearing on the bill. The bill would not go into effect in time to affect Newsoms recall. Nevertheless, Orrin Heatlie, a recall leader, called it dangerous and reckless. ... It would stifle the process. Perata would like Heatlie to make it easy on him, demanding in a letter sent this week that he turn over the petitions or face unspecified legal action. Perata shouldnt wait by his mailbox for a response. Chalk that up as a long-shot campaigns longest shot. Recall organizer Anne Dunsmore told me that if Perata or other Newsom supporters try to persuade petition signers to remove their names, it will only make things worse for the governor. Do it. Do it. It will totally backfire it will offend people, Dunsmore said. People will see it as someone trying to take away their democratic rights, and it will further incriminate (Newsom) as someone who is turning a blind eye toward people in this state. Perata isnt buying that argument. He said he thinks many people signed the petitions out of frustration months ago when California was at its low point in the pandemic. But that was then, Perata said. Now, businesses and schools are reopening. California has the nations lowest infection rate. The state has improved its vaccination program. Were going to ask people, Has life changed enough from the time they signed it until today? Perata said. It is a provocative question to ask people who signed a recall petition. If Perata can find them. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Top U.S. public health officials on Tuesday asserted that COVID-19 vaccines are overwhelmingly safe as they urged recent recipients of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine to remain calm yet alert for symptoms of an extremely rare blood clot issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine giving scientists a few days to review reports of extremely rare blood clotting in six women out of the nearly 7 million people inoculated with the one-time shot. In a news conference at the White House on Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, urged Americans to remain calm yet vigilant. He encouraged recent recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Just dont get an anxiety reaction, and noted that less than one in 1 million people vaccinated had suffered from the rare and severe blood clotting. However, having said that, pay attention, he cautioned. Do you have symptoms, headache shortness of breath, anything that resembles a neurological syndrome? He added that in the rare instances of clotting, the symptoms came within a pretty tight timeframe of days to less than two weeks. So someone who had [the vaccine] a month or two ago? What does it mean for me? It really doesnt mean anything, Fauci said. Youre OK. Fauci said the pause came out of an abundance of caution and argued the feds did not pull the trigger too soon, when asked if the move would spark an increase in vaccine hesitancy that federal, state and local officials are already working to overcome. The pause gives the CDC and FDA some time to investigate how the clotting developed, including any potential medical links in the six women who experienced it, Fauci noted. One of the women reportedly died and another remains hospitalized. Researchers may find clues such as common medical histories that might shed some light on what happened, and what well do going forward, such as a potential guidance that a particular demographic should not take the vaccine out of safety concerns, Fauci said. Fauci argued it was premature to comment on whether the vaccine could be permanently pulled from production; he noted that in many instances, health officials pause before bringing a vaccine back into circulation with reshaped guidelines. The move also makes physicians nationwide aware of the situation as public health officials study potential treatments. The most common way to treat blood clots, which can occur due to pregnancy, some forms of birth control, smoking, obesity, COVID-19 itself and other conditions, is heparin, but that could be dangerous this time, Fauci added. Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, expressed hope that the pause would not undercut trust in vaccination at a time when the U.S. looks to ramp up inoculations and curb a recent rise in cases. He made the case that the federal governments transparency on the issue should give Americans even more confidence around how safety and efficacy are being monitored by the FDA. Hesitancy among groups of people is a challenge, and we need to be addressing it, and we are, Zients said. He cited federal, state and local efforts to meet people where they are, with initiatives relying on community leaders, faith-based leaders and local doctors that people may trust more than the government. The pause was just one more sign, Zients argued, that the Biden administration would place trust in the science, tell the truth and give Americans the facts as we know them. Zients and Fauci also repeatedly emphasized the 10s and 10s of millions of doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that have been administered with no adverse events. This is a wartime effort. Were at war with the virus, Zients said, noting the government has secured enough Pfizer and Moderna doses for 300 million Americans by the end of July. At least 28 million doses will go out to states, mass vaccination sites, pharmacies and community health centers this week. Tuesdays pause will not have a significant impact on our vaccination plan: Johnson & Johnson vaccine makes up less than 5 percent of the recorded shots in arms in the United States to date, Zients said. In Massachusetts, where more than 181,000 people have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the state Department of Public Health ordered all providers to pause administering doses immediately after the federal governments suspension. Health officials in Europe investigated similar blood clotting issues in 222 out of 34 million people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Britain, the European Union and three other countries, The New York Times reported. European medical officials said the benefits of the vaccine still outweighed the risks. The Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines use the same platform, called the adenovirus, but health experts are still investigating specific causes of the rare clotting. Related Content: For nearly 60 years, Joan Watts had her milk delivered to her doorstep. As many Britons have done for decades, she ordered by leaving a note with the empty bottles and paid the milkman, in earlier years in cash, then later by direct debit. But great-grandmother Joan, 90, is now one of thousands of older people whose milk delivery has been abruptly cancelled. Customers of Milk & More, which is the biggest milk delivery service in the UK and serves around half a million households, have been told they must place all orders online and pay by debit or credit card using a website or smart phone app. From April 24, anyone who isn't able or willing to use the internet will have their deliveries stopped. Online only: Customers of Milk & More have been told they must place all orders online and pay by debit or credit card using a website or smart phone app The move has triggered an angry reaction from elderly customers who feel they have been abandoned by an 'ageist' policy. 'I was happy to pay by direct debit but they said they won't allow it any more,' says Joan, who is widowed. 'I had to cancel because I can't use a computer and I worry about banking online because of scams.' Although around one in five Milk & More customers buy their goods without the internet, the company made several attempts to change this since it was taken over by German dairy giant Muller in 2015. In 2019, the firm announced it was banning payments by cash or cheque from January 2020. It still allowed customers to pay monthly by direct debit or by card over the phone but raised prices by 4p per pint for offline customers. Last September, it ran a trial in Essex of the new system which it said was 'really successful', with the 'vast majority of customers' moving online. But it wasn't successful for everyone and Joan, who lives in Essex, was just one of the people left behind. After next week, all customers nationwide will need to move online or their deliveries will be cancelled. One Milk & More milkman, who had been serving the same area for 38 years, told his customers he was 'devastated' by the decision and extremely concerned for the vulnerable and isolated elderly. We've had milk on our doorstep for 50 years Offline: Jean and John Salt will get their milk delivered for the last time next week Jean and John Salt will get their milk delivered for the last time next week, exactly 50 years since they got their first delivery on their wedding day. The pair, from Bexleyheath, Kent, have a computer but don't feel comfortable ordering milk online. With no other delivery services in their area, they must cancel. Jean, 78, says: 'We have always had milk delivered ever since we got married. 'It was lovely as our milkman knew everyone and would look out for people. 'Now we will have to buy milk from the supermarket. We are one of the lucky ones as we have a car. 'It's very unfair on people who don't have a computer and it seems to be the way the world is going now.' With more than two million over-75s in England unable to use the internet, campaigners said this is another example of elderly people left without access to essential services. 'It is essential that those who cannot or do not want to use the internet are not excluded or not disadvantaged as a result,' says Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK. In the 1970s, around 99 per cent of milk was delivered to the doorstep, but this dwindled to just 3 per cent before the pandemic. Before Covid-19, around 527,000 customers had milk delivered but this soared to 716,000 during 2020 and has since settled at 672,000, according to market analysts Kantar. Milk & More has signed up 175,000 new customers in the past two years, driven both by lockdown and demand from eco-conscious shoppers who want reusable glass bottles. The company confirmed to Money Mail the move to online-only was about 'cost-effectiveness', as it is more expensive to process direct debits. It said it was providing help for customers to get online, but Money Mail found its instructions are only helpful if you already own a computer or a smartphone and understand the internet. A Milk & More spokesman says the company 'invested in our business, to transform it from one that has been in decline for more than 40 years to one that is in growth'. Online custom 'turned the business around' and stopping offline orders and payments would 'protect the jobs of hundreds of milkmen, milkwomen and small suppliers. 'We understand not everyone will agree with our decision and we appreciate there will be people who can't or don't want to make the change. 'In these cases, we are very willing to help them, where possible, find an alternative supplier,' he adds. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Power Plus Productions based in North County San Diego, California announces corporate expansion with new offices located in Salt Lake City, Utah. This new location represents Power Plus Productions' strategy to position itself as a competitive player in emerging markets. The official announcement was made in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 19, 2021. Power Plus Productions' move to expand into the Salt Lake Market is based on opportunities presented by the growth of the tech sector, the need for Production Company options and existing clients opening offices throughout the Greater Salt Lake area. "Salt Lake is my hometown, where I started my career over 38 years ago", said Lane Rickard, President and Owner of Power Plus Productions. "I moved my operations to San Diego to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in Southern California. I'm grateful for the incredible clients we have had the pleasure to work, the many relationships we've developed and the outstanding employees that contributed to our growth over the years. Today, I am proud of what we have accomplished, and very excited about opening additional offices in the area where I was born and raised, to provide our services, experience and expertise in a market that has grown exponentially. As we mark the one-year anniversary of the California shutdown for non-essential businesses, it is fitting we would announce our expansion on this date. We hope this sheds some light on our industry." Get to know more about Southern California's #1 audio visual & event productions services company here: https://powerpluspro.com/about/. About Power Plus Productions Since 1989, Power Plus Productions has been committed to providing experienced, efficient staff and the highest quality, up-to-date equipment for any production event. Whether contracted for full-service production from concept to completion or working as a production partner, the level of service is consistently professional and flawless. Power Plus Productions prides itself on working with clients to understand their needs, expectations, and help them clearly deliver their message to attendees. The bar of excellence is never static. As with any worthy competitor, the promise is to keep elevating our standards and never settle for anything less than the best. Power Plus Productions maintains its Vista headquarters in North County San Diego and continues to offer the unmatched level of service and professionalism that it has built its 31-year reputation on. Want to learn more about Power Plus Productions? Visit our website at powerpluspro.com or contact us directly at (760) 727-1717 or by email at [email protected] SOURCE Power Plus Productions Related Links powerpluspro.com Long before I was ever a bride, I dreamed of love, a wedding and a beautiful marriage. Like so many young women I know, I held a rose-colored picture of what married life would look like in my mind. In college, I dated a boy who I thought might be my future husband, while we dated I hoped that our relationship would grow into everything I had imagined a good relationship would look likespoiler alert, the relationship was a fantastic failure. I had expected this relationship to take on the attributes of 1 Corinthians 13:4. I thought that our love would be patient, kind, without jealousy or boasting. We failed, both of us, to check off most of those boxes, but probably the most glaring issue in our relationship was our jealousy; and ultimately jealousy became the destructive force of our relationship. Nearly 12 years into an imperfect but happy marriage, I can now say without hesitation that jealousy can have no home in a healthy marriage or relationship. In order for our marriage to thrive I had to put to rest my old ways and jealous behaviors. It took marriage counseling, deep and authentic conversations, pressing into our faith, and ultimately replacing jealousy with trust to change the course of our marriage. If jealousy has crept its way into your relationship, read on to better understand why it has no place in marriage and how to begin healing your relationship of it. What Is the Context and Meaning of "Love Is Not Jealous"? The phrase Love is not jealous stems from a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the early church in Corinth. This specific letter addresses division within the church, wisdom in the spirit verses the wisdom of the world, immorality, lawsuits, marriage, Israels complicated history with God, how to worship well, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection of Christ. This book is jam-packed with encouragement, suggestions on how to live and many reminders of how humanity should be changed by both Christs crucifixion and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit in our lives. Nestled into chapter 13 of the letter is a whole section dedicated to how these early Christ-followers could love well. These truths remain relevant to this day. In 1 Corinthians 13:4 Paul writes, Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. (NLT) So often, we want to grab these statements and run with them as a foundation for any good marriage, but the reality is that Paul wasnt done speaking to the church in Corinth, nor is he done speaking to us. Paul continues, It (love) does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:5-7. This letter on love is not specifically, or exclusively, written to married people in the church. Rather, it is written to the church as a whole. This is a recipe for how we can love well, in our marriages and in relationship with all people. In my own personal relationships, I find, that jealousy stems from two places: distrust and envy. In my marriage I brought past wounds into our relationship and applied them to my husband, unsurprisingly, I became a raging jealous wife. In other relationships, Ive struggled with jealousy, it showed up as that little green-eyed monster envy. This form of jealousy typically stems from comparison. As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of all joy. Jealousy, envy, and comparison, dont have any room in Gods kingdom. 4 Things to Do If You're Struggling with Jealousy in Your Marriage I brought all sorts of unresolved baggage and jealousy into my early marriage and projected them onto my unsuspecting husband. In the past I had been cheated on, so certainly my husband would be unfaithful, right? I had been hurt, and I had caused hurt, so I lived in my early marriage half waiting for the other shoe to drop. I lived waiting for pain and for our relationship to fall apart. If youve experienced anything similar, you know that this is just no way to live. We had to get help. We had to unlearn bad habits. We had to build a relationship on a foundation of truth and trust. In those early days, I struggled with an inability to trust. This, of course, led to jealousy and all sorts of irrational thinking. My husband had no idea what was happening in my mind or what was causing me to be so triggered. All of this led to miscommunication, fights and when we were at our lowest, talks of separation and divorce. When we finally came to the end of ourselves we cried out for help, we cried out to God and got ourselves planted in marriage counseling. Those days were hard. There was a lot of crying and frustration, but we realized that we had to unlearn some of the things that we had learned in our childhoods and in previous relationships. Through Christian marriage counseling we learned how to forgive, how to communicate our needs and how to make our marriage a safe space for each other. If youre in a similar boat here are few helpful suggestions to get you started on the path towards healing and a relationship built on a foundation of trust. 1. Identify That There Is a Problem So often we settle for unhealthy patterns and cycles in our relationships. Things go well for a while and then suddenly revert to unhealthy patterns of jealousy, anger and resentment. The first step that we need to take in healing our relationship is calling out the problem and identifying it for what it is. 2. Get Help Christian Marriage counseling changed the trajectory of our marriage. If both partners in a marriage identify that their relationship could use some work then the next natural step is to get help by meeting with a Christian Marriage counselor or mentor. My husband and I went through three different counselors before we found the right fit for us. So, if you dont find the right counselor right away dont give up. Dig in your heels and keep looking. Your marriage is worth this work! 3. Deal with the Root Issues in the Relationship In our marriage we had to identify the root issues that were causing us insecurity and to act out of jealousy. My husband came from a broken family. His parents divorced when he was a child and although there has been a lot of healing, that example of a broken marriage stuck with him. I struggled with incredible amounts of insecurity. Those insecurities led to wild jealousy. We have to identify what causes us to lean into jealousy in our relationships in order to correct our patterns and restore our relationships. 4. Heal on Your Own My husband and I both recognized that we had areas in our pasts that needed work. Each of us had to do an element of healing on our own and with our own mentors and counselors. Dedicating time to self-work and healing has only made us stronger in our marriage. While marriage counseling has corrected so many of the issues that we brought into our marriage, self-work has proved equally valuable in correcting parts of our personalities that needs work and growth. Quotes and Scriptures about 'Love Is Not Jealous' Poet and philosopher Kahlil Gibran once wrote, Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. Dont force yourself into love, dont be possessive, for these are not the traits of love. Love is freedom. This statement points to Biblical truths about love. Love is not something to possess, instead it is to be embodied and replicated. 1 John 4:7-8 states, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. From the Old Testament to the New, the consistent thread and caution away from jealousy is apparent. Exodus 20:17 warns, You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. Proverbs 27:4 agrees, Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? And finally, Colossians 3:12-14 states, Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Coming to terms with the fact that jealousy doesnt belong in any of our relationships, whether they be friendships or marital, is a way to begin building healthy relationships and a healthy mindset. Additionally, identifying jealous behaviors and ways of thinking can stop jealousy in its tracks. Im learning, however slowly it might be, to take the advice of 2 Corinthians 10:5, taking every thought captive, this helps me identify jealousy in my mind before it ever translates into outward words or actions. Taking these thoughts captive also requires that we check ourselves before acting in envy. We might need to adjust our language a bit as well. Rather than telling a friend, spouse or loved one that were jealous over something they get to do or experience, we can shift our language and share in their excitement. We may feel pangs of jealousy internally, but the more we learn to release envy, comparison and jealousy the more joy were going to have in our own lives. In our marriages, if we experience jealousy, it might be a good indicator that its time for a relational check-in. During a check-in, whether with a counselor or on your own, remember to hold space for your spouse, be slow to speak, quick to listen, kind and truthful. These important conversations and check-ins might very well be the tool we all need to maintain long-lasting and healthy relationships. Further Reading What Does it Mean "Love Is Patient"? Is Jealousy a Sin? What Is Love? Photo Credit: GettyImages/Prostock-Studio Rachel Baker is the author of Deconstructed, a bible study guide for anyone who feels overwhelmed or ill-equipped to study the word of God. She is a pastors wife and director of womens ministries, who believes in leading through vulnerability and authenticity. She is a cheerleader, encourager, and sometimes drill-sergeant. She serves the local church alongside her husband, Kile, in Northern Nevada. They have two amazing kiddos and three dogs. Rachel is fueled by coffee, tacos and copious amounts of cheese. For more on her and her resources to build your marriage, see her website: www.rachelcheriebaker.com or connect with her on Instagram at @hellorachelbaker. How does proper nutrition affect course of pregnancy? Lamela wins Premier League Goal of Season South Korean air force chief resigns amid scandal over female sergeant suicide Nikol Pashinyan visits morgue in Abovyan Acting PM announces interference of external forces in electoral processes in Armenia Pashinyan conducts procession in Abovyan Mayweather is ready to fight with Conor McGregor Prince Charles may break 200-year-old royal tradition when he ascends to throne MO: Azerbaijanis carry out engineering work on territories without crossing Armenian border 8 security officials killed in Taliban attack in Afghanistan Biden gives prosecutors more freedom to terminate immigration cases Pregnant Megan Markle needs doctors' help 93 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Armenia per day Total of 1,557 bodies found in territories not controlled by Artsakh Twitter launches paid subscription Twitter Blue Vitamin D still not effective against COVID-19, study claims Robert Kocharyan: We are able to find solutions Tennessee boat merchant willing to pay $ 100,000 to anyone who catches specially marked fish Italy defeats Czech Republic Armenia ex-Ambassador to Vatican on Armenians' emigration and reasons Catholicos of All Armenians takes remains of St. Gregory the Illuminator to Artsakh Armenian ballet master Vilen Galstyan dies at 80 Scientists create virus-resistant cells with artificial genome Spain and Portugal tie match 0-0 Putin shares expectations from upcoming meeting with Biden Armenia 2nd President: Number of people who emigrated without returning has grown, only solution is shift of power EU bans flights of Belarusian airline companies in its airspace US deals blow to major Chinese companies Armenia acting PM: 62% of weapons obtained were obtained between 2018 and 2020 Armenia acting PM: Meghri corridor issue and transfer of villages of Kazakh region were a topic in November 2020 Armenia ruling party MP drops mandate Citizens of Armenia's Artashat greet acting PM by chanting 'Turk' and 'traitor' Yura Movsisyan on positive changes in Armenia national football team Armenia Ombudsman reminds PM's ex-chief of staff about shortcomings in activities during war Armenia 3rd President: We must start bringing back people who know everything about troops Armenia MOD hosts consultation with deputy commanders and battalions' commanders Armenia Ombudsman says acting PM's plan won't ensure restoration of Armenian citizens' rights Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan's failure to return POWs is equivalent to war crime Armenia 3rd President receives Netherlands Ambassador Armenia Prosecutor General speaks at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Boxer Narek Abgaryan to face off against Joe Ham in Dubai Caparros and Armenia national team member giving press conference (LIVE) "Armenia" bloc: We plan to meet with residents of Shirak Province Armenian water resources come under Azerbaijani control, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, Jun. 4 digest Armenia acting PM: Health insurance is inevitable Armenia Investigative Committee launches criminal case regarding keeping of bodies and remains of deceased servicemen Opposition "Armenia" bloc representative: Authorities are actually busy bribing voters Armenia legislature passes law to help ease requirements for future teachers Russia ambassador visits Meghri, Armenia border checkpoint (PHOTOS) Armenia ruling party's candidate for anti-corruption commission member not elected Armenia acting premier: There will be statement in coming days about exposure of high treason Dollar loses value in Armenia Armenia acting PM: Our task is to support our farmers so that engaging in agriculture is planned activity China Daily: Water tribe prospers ashore in Fujian Why does blood oxygen drop during COVID-19? Kate Winslet named Global Ambassador for LOreal Paris China calls for closer security, economic cooperation with Afghanistan Yura Movsisyan arrives in Stockholm Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: There was proposal from Azerbaijans Aliyev on Meghri issue CIS Observation Mission continues to monitor snap parliamentary elections in Armenia Nepal reports first death from 'black fungus' Armenian analyst: High-ranking US delegation's visit to Armenia can't be viewed as support to incumbent authorities "Armenia" bloc: Things can't get any worse in the country from the perspective of censure Arthur Abraham building park in his hometown Edmon Marukyan calls on people to vote for Bright Armenia Party to establish unity in the country Armenia Ararat Province deputy governor sacked Failed marriage: Kim Kardashian burst into tears, calling herself a loser Russian Ambassador says Russia makes significant contributions to ensuring of Armenia's security Azerbaijan reports 3 deaths from mine explosion in Karvachar Sarkissian to Nigmatulin: Armenia, Kazakhstan have lot in common ECHR fails to accept Azerbaijan's application against Armenia Government as new and separate case Sandra Bullock breaks up with her boyfriend because of child Head of Armenia's Verin Shorzha: Azerbaijanis operating equipment to move from one military post to the other Why are pickles dangerous? Iran produces trial batches of Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine President welcomes Catholicos of All Armenians who has arrived in Artsakh Netherlands Ambassador to Armenia visits Specialized Children and Youth Cycling School Armenia PM chief of staff: Possibility of full-scale war still exists in region Tigran Hamasyan wins 2 Deutscher Jazzpreis awards Alaska offers free COVID-19 vaccines to everyone Two Azerbaijan reporters die in landmine explosion in Artsakhs Karvachar Over 120 Nobel laureates urge G7 countries to step up efforts to tackle climate change Downtown Yerevan murder solved, murder suspect is foreigner Armenia former President Kocharyan: These authorities really have nothing to say Armenia parliament holding 2nd special session in one day Armenia ruling party MP unexpectedly admits that member candidate for anti-corruption commission is his wife Court fines 12 Australian media outlets 1.1 million for reporting on Cardinal George Pell Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan instrumentalizes captured people as political hostages, tools to pursue other goals Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: These authorities have not kept any of their promises in 3 years Brazilian fans 'attack' Neymar UN Security Council will make a recommendation on the next Secretary-General on June 8 Armenia ombudsman: Water resources have come under Azerbaijan army control Turkish actress faces 2 years in prison for 'insulting' rapist US lawmakers call for Turkey to be held accountable for repeated religious freedom violations Mkhitaryan transfer value reduces by 5mn Man gets poisoned by homeopathic remedy 72 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Candidate for post of Head of State must undergo psychiatric evaluation Armenia legislature continues special sitting Israel defense minister changes tone over Iran nuclear deal during US visit Nearly 185,000 fresh cases in yet another record rise India reported 184,372 fresh infections on Wednesday, taking the cumulative caseload to 13.8 million, according to a report in the Scroll. This is the highest daily rise in cases India has recorded since the pandemic broke out in January last year. The country saw 1,027 deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 1,72,085, according to central health ministry data. The active caseload is at 1.3 million, while the total recoveries have surged to 12.3 million. Read more here Maharashtra: Double mutant found in 61% samples tested Data shared by Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) with laboratories in Maharashtra has shown that out of 361 Covid-19 samples that were obtained from the state between January to March and genome-sequenced, 61% had the double mutation E484Q and L452R, now classified as B.1.617 lineage, a report in The Indian Express said. The Modi government had announced the detection of a double mutant variant on March 24 in 15-20% samples in Maharashtra. But the Centre did not link the variant with the resurgence of cases in the state. Read more here Delhi: Labs struggle to give Covid test results on time as cases surge Many laboratories in New Delhi are testing nearly three to four times the usual number of swab samples for Covid-19 amid a resurgence in cases, a report in ThePrint said. Over 180,000 samples were tested in the last two days in the national capital and most labs say they were overstretched. To make matters worse, the National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR)a key centre where government hospitals in Delhi send samples collected by themdid not conduct tests on Monday and Tuesday as they ran out of essential items such as flasks, safety equipment, among other things, the report said. Read more here In letter to Modi, doctors association calls out VIP culture in govt hospitals The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), a doctors' association, has expressed concerns about VIP culture in government hospitals in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi, a report in ThePrint said. Amid a surge in cases, the association said several Centre-run government hospitals have separate VIP counters that offer Covid testing only to politicians and ministers. But doctors have no separate counter for testing, the letter said. Read more here Mumbai: Medical waste spikes amid rise in cases The resurgence in Covid-19 cases has caused a spike in medical waste in Mumbai, which includes municipal solid waste and biomedical waste from Covid care centres and home quarantine, a report in The Indian Express said. The city has already generated a daily average of 50,000 kg Covid waste compared to an average of 39,000 kg daily in March. Biomedical waste includes syringes, medicines, used masks, gloves, urine bags, body fluid or blood-soaked tissues or cotton, PPE used by staff on Covid duty, the report said. Read more here Wanted in Rome put questions to Dr Antonella Polimeni, the first woman rector of La Sapienza, the oldest university in Rome and the largest in Europe. By Marco Venturini WiR: How and to what extent has the university world been affected by the covid-19 pandemic and what measures have been put in place by La Sapienza to alleviate the consequences of the various lockdowns? AP: The covid-19 pandemic, which arrived unexpectedly throughout the country, forced universities to react promptly so as not to interrupt teaching and to guarantee the right to study. In my opinion the response of the whole university system was very effective. In the second semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, La Sapienza ensured that 95 per cent of its teaching was carried out remotely. In a few days, La Sapienza ensured the transition from in-person to remote learning. We have demonstrated a resilience that cannot be taken for granted for a complex and diversified institution such as ours, with 115,000 students 9,800 from abroad 287 different courses and 177 graduate programmes. This response has also been possible thanks to the commitment of our faculty and technical-administrative staff. Before the temporary 'red zone' restrictions took effect recently we had resumed 50 per cent of the teaching activities of the second semester 2020-2021 in person from late February, in line with the decision taken by the academic senate of La Sapienza and by the conference of rectors of the universities of Lazio. All courses are taught in person and can be accessed by students either in the classroom or at a distance, regardless of the year of the course. Laboratory activities, exercises and research are also carried out in person. Finally, exams and graduation sessions are held in person, in line with the education ministry safety and health guidelines. They can also be held remotely for those students who request it. Access to classrooms is in compliance with all the current covid regulations, and the spacing and tracking of attendance is guaranteed through the Prodigit computer system which must be accessed in advance by students. When teaching resumed, the university also launched a free covid-19 screening campaign on campus. What is the role of online teaching and what, in your opinion, is the future of distance teaching? What are La Sapienza's initiatives in this regard? In the initial phase of the emergency, thanks also to ministerial funds, we were able to equip all areas of the university with information technology, along with other Italian universities. In the future, the experience of these months will allow us to continue to ensure a part of our teaching will be remote. In fact, there is no doubt that from the teaching point of view, this emergency has been an important experience. The digital tool is certainly useful for international students and for those who are off-campus, as well as for continuous training. I am talking about supplementary lessons, self-assessment tests, or life-long learning, all areas for which distance teaching can be complementary, even if not a complete substitute. University is always a moment of training, including social training, so presence is essential, because there must be a direct exchange between the teacher and the student. Recourse to remote learning has been, and still is, an obligatory choice that we will be able to exploit in the future. What are La Sapienza's strong points within the context of the city of Rome? In opening itself to the city and the greater Rome area, our university aims to build a relationship and a shared system with the socio-economic, cultural and urban sectors. In our complex society, it becomes increasingly necessary to acquire the different forms of knowledge necessary to support the formation of programmes of public and cultural interest, as well as for human and social development. Of particular interest are Open Science and activities related to the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Agenda 2030 that our university wants and can promote. We still have a great deal of work to do to strengthen the relationship between La Sapienza, the city of Rome and the Lazio region. I would like to point out that La Sapienza has confirmed its position as a world leader in classical studies, and is the only Italian university to boast a first place position in international rankings. This brilliant achievement, the result of commitment and passion, is part of our university's tradition of excellence in the field of classical studies, with innovative courses entirely in English, spaces to study among statues and decorative friezes in the reading areas of the Museum of Classical Art, and also cultural initiatives such as the Theatron Project, in which students adapt and stage Greek and Latin texts. We are talking about a founding discipline of our society and as such it must be preserved and passed on to new generations. It also offers analytical tools and transversal skills that make the difference in the job market and in a rapidly changing socio-cultural context. La Sapienza University in Rome. Photo credit: rarrarorro / Shutterstock.com. How do these two realities integrate and complement each other? It is necessary to deepen a profitable and lasting relationship between La Sapienza and the city, which hosts a large number of other universities and research centres, each with their own student and academic bodies, without being able to draw a sufficient synergy. It should be emphasised that the university includes all activities, in addition to research and teaching, that are open to the outside world and that go by the name of Third Mission. This includes research, academic entrepreneurship, spin-offs and start-ups, as well as science and technology parks. In addition there is the entire sector of the production of public goods, from the management of cultural assets (excavations, museums, historic buildings) to the protection of health (clinical research centres and bio-banks), continuing education and cultural and scientific outreach projects. The importance of research is increasingly important. What are La Sapienza's achievements in this field? Ours is one of the oldest and largest scientific communities in the world and it is also one of the most complex. In recent years we have maintained a high level of international prestige as shown by the periodical university rankings. However, I must confess that we have achieved this performance with great effort because we find ourselves operating under difficult circumstances. Italy invests too little in research. We are well below the European average and we rank only 27th in the international ranking for research spending. We only allocate 1.4 per cent of of gross domestic product to research which is not much if we consider that Germany, Denmark and Austria invest exactly twice as much and the average for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is 2.4 per cent. Also, the number of the researchers in Italy is among the lowest. And it could not be otherwise considering that there are still few graduates compared to the active population. The only positive note is the quality of our research. The covid-19 pandemic has clearly shown the strategic importance of research, training and assistance for the country in terms of the right to health, a particularly important issue for us. La Sapienza has two university hospitals (Umberto I and S. Andrea), as well as the Polo Pontino research centre, and we are the only university in Italy to have this breadth of facilities. It's no coincidence that we train 10 per cent of doctors, dentists and other healthcare professions in Italy. And this period has truly demonstrated the important role of the entire medical sector. How does it feel to be the first woman rector of La Sapienza and what is the role of women in the current and near future in Italy and Europe? My election had an impact beyond the purely academic sphere because La Sapienza now has a woman rector for the first time in its 717-year history. However I would also like to note that I was elected in the first round of voting with 61 per cent of the votes: this was also something new. I prefer to talk about a success of merit and method widely shared within the Sapienza community. The Minerva statue by Arturo Martini is one of the principal symbols of La Sapienza. Photo credit: Enzoartinphotography / Shutterstock.com. On the issue of gender, which concerns university students, staff and faculty, we must act to ensure equal opportunities for equal abilities and allow those with merit to have equal access. The data confirms that female students do better than their male colleagues: they enter university better prepared, they graduate earlier and with better grades. I believe it is very important to promote projects to encourage women as early as secondary school. The new prime minister, Female professors make up about 40 per cent of the total teaching staff, and the majority of technical and administrative staff are women. This is certainly a good record. However if we go into details women only make up 27 per cent of the top teaching roles and currently all 11 faculties are headed by men. However La Sapienza is above the national average in this regard, and the overwhelming majority of the directors are women, including our director general.I believe it is very important to promote projects to encourage women as early as secondary school. The new prime minister, Mario Draghi , recently announced that his government will invest in projects to encourage increasing numbers of young women to train in strategically important digital, technological and environmental sectors of the economy. Policies must also be put in place to bridge the gender gap and to reconcile work with personal and family committments. Before her election as rector of La Sapienza for a six-year term, Polimeni was dean of the university's faculty of medicine and dentistry. She is also the first female rector to be elected to a major Italian university. This article was published in the April 2021 online edition of Wanted in Rome magazine. Cover photo of Dr Antonella Polimeni by Stefania Sepulcri. Crash Sends Murray Man to E.R. By West Kentucky Star Staff MURRAY - A Murray man went to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after a crash on South 16th Street.The Murray Police Department said 76-year-old Jean Hale of Mayfield told them she was driving near Wiswell Road and started to turn left into a parking lot when she struck a vehicle driven by 40-year-old Chad Fritsche of Murray.Fritsche was taken to the emergency room for treatment of possible injuries. A winter storm watch is in effect for the Berkshires from 8 p.m. Thursday until 2 a.m. Saturday. If congressional resolutions had a voice, House Bill 1 (HB1), at 30 pounds a considerably obese tome, would let slip the parts usually kept at bay from the electorate. The For the People Act of 2021 is the antonymic title for the most openly unconstitutional and unpopular piece of legislation ever to pass muster in the House of Representatives. It is intended to destroy the process of fair elections in America, turn the watchdog Federal Election Commission into a partisan body, and forestall any state challenges by remanding them to the activist 9th District Court for the District of Columbia. Passed by the 117th House on March 3, 2021, all 800-plus pages of HB1, redesignated Senate Bill 1 (SB1), made a hard landing in the well of the Senate on St. Patricks Day, where it is now being reviewed in hearings before the Committee on Rules and Administration. So long as the Republicans hang tough, it gridlocks and falls upon the sword of the filibuster. During the Trump presidency, there were five Republican wings within the House and Senate, ranging from those loyal to Trumpism, such as Jordan and Gaetz, to the most Trump-skeptical, Murkowski, Collins, and Romney. Diverse allegiances and stylistic differences with the chief executive encouraged bickering, internecine rivalries, and splintering on issues that demanded consensus. Cloistering in blocs and factions kept them from uniting in the interest of their constituents. Since the Dems assumed control of the three branches, the Constitution has been repeatedly annotated by presidential executive orders. Paper-thin congressional majorities are breaking the back of the Treasury and indenturing generations through the process of budget reconciliation. The extremism of the Biden regime now appears to have accomplished that which the Trump presidency could not -- unanimity among Republicans and an opportunity to repatriate the working class. In a refreshing turn of events, Chuck Schumer is now the majority leader suffering dissension within his own ranks. Obstructing the partisan path to passage of SB1 are two Democrat holdouts, Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema. Both senators have vowed that they will not cast their lot behind any motion or process that will erode the filibuster or stonewall debate. The 2016 election of Trump confirmed a decades-long trend and bared an Achilles Heel for the Democrats. The Dems have slowly isolated and have eventually dispossessed their blue-collar base, installing a loyal corporatocracy in its place. These boardroom types with Ivy League pedigrees are all in with the Machiavellian maneuvers of the Democrat regime, throwing bags of money at their campaigns, conspiring to influence election outcomes, and imposing woke practices on their employees and customers in the hope of dodging boycotts, disapproving media, and rabid street militias. Energized Republican voters returned to the ballot box with a vengeance in 2020, including increased support from Black and Hispanic voters. Simple mathematics exposed incidents of massive fraud in swing states, yet legal challenges to the count were brushed aside by the high courts, ignoring the merits and evidence in plain view. For Republicans and their constituents, it was a familiar obstructive pattern. With Democrats holding a two to one advantage in appointed judges in the most influential federal court districts, Trump administration initiatives concerning immigration, health care, sanctuary cities, and the census, were stopped in their tracks in seventy different rulings over four years. If the cabal succeeded in handing number 45 his hat, it couldnt conceal a 2020 red wave that nearly overtook the Congress and gave rise to an angered voter base who believed themselves and their vote ill-treated. As the Biden administration continues to spend money willy-nilly with an economically destructive and globalist wish list driven by Sanders Marxists, Republican chances are looking better and better to take back the House in 2022. Democrats have placed their stock in SB1 as the only means to avoid the upcoming rout. Without SB1, the current landscape of American elections could do much harm to their party. Moreover, there is a trend in key states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, New York, and Georgia to come to grips with fraud by patching up the holes in loose voter practices in time for the next general election. At present, thirty-two states, excluding the territorial possessions, still require photo or non-photo identification. Of the eighteen states that dont require identification, eight are controlled entirely by Democrat executives and legislatures. Six states split party control of the executive and legislature, and four others have a Republican triumvirate. For the Democrats, thirty-two voter ID states and ten others under split-party or Republican control leaves far too much to chance, not only in a presidential election cycle, but in the state congressional races more specifically. Asserting federal control over state elections via SB1 hedges the bet that Democrats running against odds-on Republican favorites in red or purple states will be able to mount challenges and gain victories through fraud-prone practices such as mail-in voting, ballot harvesting, and extended voting deadlines that allow collections and counts to continue until Democrat candidates prevail. Increasing Democrat margins in the states also assures less pushback or secession from Biden executive actions and regulatory controls that diminish constitutional protections. Democrats rally around the idea that requiring identification invites voter suppression in that otherwise eligible minority voters do not possess drivers licenses, personally-addressed correspondence, or other free and available forms of government identification. It also presumes that they also dont drive cars, fly in airplanes, open bank accounts, serve on juries, obtain library cards, book hotels, possess credit cards, or get COVID vaccines. Such straw arguments also conveniently ignore the historic minority voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election. The rest of the free world appears to exert more common sense in preserving the integrity of their national elections. Throughout the COVID epidemic, the French continued to traipse to their city halls to vote, with access to sanitizers, social distancing, and sporting their own stylos for signing a registry that required personal identification. They saw no logic in shutting down in-person voting while food market patrons down the boulevards of Paris backed up in the chute to the cashier. Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, and Slovenia require photo IDs. So do Germany, Hungary, Canada, Israel, and Mexico. The entirety of the rest of Europe, throw in Iceland, all of Scandinavia, and the former Soviet states, the latter no strangers to past voter oppression and rigged elections, follow suit. George Soros, Hilary Clinton, and virtually every Congressional Democrat apparently believe that the world has it all wrong. As written by Arthur Conan Doyle and stated by his protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. If you remove outright stupidity as a premise in the creation of SB1, youre left with a nefarious intent to seize power in perpetuity. In SB1, a free America is facing the Rubicon. For Republicans, this may be their finest hour. In unanimity they will prevail, as they now hold tight the cord upon which dangles a representative democracy. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. HRS, the leading corporate lodging platform, is transforming the financial cycle governing corporate hospitality. In an age of digital transformation and comprehensive data visibility, managed travel has largely lagged behind. With the goal of helping companies fully capture and control lodging costs from all segments including transient, meetings and groups, and extended stay HRS has built a unique ecosystem that enables global payment, invisible and audited invoice management, and automated VAT reclaim for global programs. HRS' acquisition of Itelya, the world's leading travel invoice management services provider, emphasizes HRS' standing as the most traveler-centric lodging leader and a true financial technology provider. Itelya's services are used today in more than 180 countries. Itelya's superior invoice collection and data management capabilities simplify an array of downstream functions, including payment to suppliers and VAT reclaim for corporations. HRS' newly-founded Travel FinTech consists of more than 100 team members, collaborating to build the next generation Pay2Reimburse ecosystem. This end-to-end solution is plug play ready, connecting seamlessly with all leading ecosystem providers, including credit card merchants, expense tool providers and VAT reclaim services. "Itelya's decade-long expertise in global invoice management enables us to scale much faster to serve our global client base. We're excited that their existing management team, along with all their highly-talented colleagues, are joining the HRS Group," said HRS CEO Tobias Ragge. "Itelya is a centerpiece to the ecosystem we are building out. Our Lodging as a Service platform is comprehensive and unmatched, offering corporations a superior option as they recalibrate for the resumption of business travel. The fact that we own all of our technology solutions and associated data models gives us a unique capability to innovate faster and create the highest value for our customers." Complete Procure2Reimburse Ecosystem Creates Unique Data Insights For a Better Customer Experience HRS' Lodging as a Service platform includes: A procurement360 platform enabling best-in-class benchmarking regarding rates, safety, security and sustainability scorings of all lodging suppliers globally, A one-stop shop for booking corporate hotels incorporating transient, meetings and groups, and extended stay including AI-powered rate filtering to eliminate incorrect rates, fully automated rebooking and a personalized recommendation engine to maximize traveler satisfaction, and The Pay2Reimburse plug play solution, working within the entire ecosystem consisting of credit card merchants, expense tool providers and VAT reclaim services. The payment solution captures level-3 invoice data of any lodging supplier globally, performing compliance checks and generating data insights to optimize the procurement process and booking experience. The HRS platform is fully integrated into the leading corporate expense provider, SAP Concur, which helps reduce the burden on travelers for itemization in expense reporting. Automation introduced in recent months facilitates exponential VAT reclaim opportunities for companies that cumulatively leave millions in spend unclaimed due to data and paperwork inaccuracies. Prominent Brands Leverage HRS Pay2Reimburse Solution Globally The seamlessness and simplicity of HRS' platform is widely used by trailblazing managed travel programs around the world. In Europe, companies including Airbus and Deutsche Telekom use the technology to streamline hotel payment and reduce time and effort for travelers to be reimbursed. Companies with massive operations in China, such as Alibaba and Huawei, leverage HRS' customized solutions for the unique Chinese market to navigate a completely different payment ecosystem compared to Western market standards. In the United States, the state of California in 2020 illustrated the capabilities and fast scalability of HRS' platform and automated payment tools. Within four weeks of contract signing, HRS worked with state travel program leaders and other parties to support the state's COVID-19 response by building from scratch a safe lodging procurement, booking and payment solution covering more than 2,500 preferred hotel suppliers. This project has accommodated more than 2.5 million room nights in the last 12 months, with average savings per room night ranging from 25 to 40 percent. Payment highlights include: 99 percent invoice accuracy, including level-3 data, helping speed Federal reimbursement activities, 100 percent elimination of fraud via AI-powered automated auditing procedures, and 100 percent cooperation from hotels participating in the program, improving their use of virtual payment processes and setting the stage for them to work with corporate hotel programs in the same manner as traditional business travel resumes. Recognizing the creative flexibility and massive scale of this initiative, the state of California's travel program leader was honored by Business Travel News as Travel Manager of the Year for 2020. "The business travel industry has been traditionally focused only on improving the booking process. HRS is focused on creating a better, more seamless and sustainable customer experience. This goes way beyond the booking process, encompassing the entire Procure2Reimburse process," said Tobias Ragge. "We are developing an integrated ecosystem approach as successfully demonstrated by technology players in other industry verticals. We have seen that our automated Pay2Reimburse approach not only drives significant direct and indirect cost savings, but also has the biggest impact on traveler satisfaction and thus adoption to the managed program. We're facilitating invisible post-transaction processes by leveraging technology to reduce complexity that costs corporations millions every year and creates a lot of headaches with their travelers." About HRS HRS is revolutionizing managed lodging programs for corporations, hotels and business travelers worldwide with its proprietary technology and expertise. The company is committed to facilitating safety, savings, security, satisfaction and sustainable hotel options for its global client roster. Leveraging its unique Lodging as a Service platform, HRS oversees the totality of corporate hotel programs for its clients, from initial procurement and rate assurance to booking, virtual payment and expense management. With more than 65,000 hotels joining HRS' Clean Safe Protocol in 2020, and the recently launched Green Stay Initiative, the company provides newly-prioritized information on key decision factors impacting post-pandemic travel. The company's data-driven solutions deliver savings and performance for corporations across all hotel categories, including transient, meetings and long-stay lodging scenarios all while digitizing processes on the hotel side for a better traveler experience. Founded in 1972, HRS today works with 35 percent of the global Fortune 500, as well as the world's leading hotel chains, regional hospitality groups and independent hotels. More information at www.hrs.com/enterprise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005476/en/ Contacts: Michael Brophy HRS Global Media Relations michael.brophy@hrs.com +1 214-356-4326 Three teenagers who repeatedly stabbed a rival gang member on a busy train leaving him permanently blind in one eye have been jailed for a total of 18 years. Two men and a boy, who was 14 at the time, launched a vicious machete attack and stole their teenage victim's electric scooter. Jaheim Smith-Williams, Gabriel Burke-Georgiou, both 18, and a now 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons attacked the man in front of shocked passengers on a train in Tottenham, north London. The 18-year-old victim was sitting with his electric scooter propped up next to him on a northbound train as it left Northumberland Park station just after 7pm last September 24. All three defendants appeared at the Old Bailey where they pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. At the same court on Friday, a judge sentenced them to a combined 18 years in jail. Gabriel Burke-Georgiou (left) attacked the man in front of shocked passengers on a train in Tottenham, north London last September. Jaheim Smith-Williams (right), along with Burke-Georgiou and one other, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been jailed Smith-Williams and Burke-Georgiou, both 17 at the time, approached the victim and Burke-Georgiou started attacking him while Smith-Williams pulled out a Rambo-style knife before lunging towards the victim with at least three stabs. Passengers sitting nearby quickly got up and left the carriage to get away from the sudden attack, blocking the then 14-year-old boy from joining the assault. The 14-year-old then pulled out a long-bladed machete, ran towards the victim and joined the attack. The victim was forced backwards down the carriage as Smith-Williams hit him with the knife several more times leaving the victim on the floor with his hand over his left eye. As the train pulled into Meridian Water station, Smith-Williams, Burke-Georgiou and the 14-year-old got off the train and left the station. Burke-Georgiou left the carriage on the victim's electric scooter. The teenage victim and three suspects knew each other and were linked to rival gangs, police said. The 18-year-old victim was sitting with his electric scooter propped up next to him on a northbound train as it left Northumberland Park station just after 7pm last September 24 After the attack, the stricken man also managed to leave the train at Meridian Water station and was found collapsed outside a supermarket opposite the station before paramedics were called and he was rushed to hospital. He suffered stab wounds to the back of his right shoulder and head, a severe injury to his hand and lost his left eye as a result of the attack. The knives used in the incident were found by British Transport Police (BTP) officers in the area around Meridian Water station the next day. Smith-Williams, from Spitalfields, east London, and Burke-Georgiou, from Tottenham, were both sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and the now 15-year-old was handed a term of five years and one month inside. BTP Detective Constable Nick Barr described it as a 'vicious' attack, adding that the victim was left with life-changing injuries. He said: 'This was a premeditated and vicious attack on-board a busy train which left the victim with life-changing injuries. 'It was incredibly distressing for witnessing passengers and I would like to thank those witnesses for assisting our investigation and bringing those responsible to justice. 'Thankfully, incidents like this are rare on the railway, but you can help us by reporting anything or anyone suspicious to us by text on 61016. In an emergency, always call 999.' MUSKEGON, MI A former industrial site on Muskegon Lake could be transformed under a 10-year plan from a local developer. Ryan Leestma of Adelaide Pointe envisions building a marina, condos, a restaurant and retail space on more than 30 acres of waterfront property at 1204 and 1148 W. Western Avenue. I hope to see that entire area as a busy maritime community, Leestma said. The proposed Adelaide Pointe development is broken into five phases over the next decade, starting with the launch of a winter boat storage business that is already taking reservations. The on-site 60,000-square-foot boat storage company will stabilize the property, according to Leestma, and go toward funding the rest of the development. Every dollar that I make on this, Im going to be reinvesting into the project, Leestma said. He plans to more than double the storage space to 155,000 square feet this year. Related: Developer has ambitious plans for former industrial property on Muskegon Lake Other phases include building a 280-slip marina, a restaurant and retail space in the next three years and constructing 250 residential condos by 2026. I hope that this project really helps put Muskegon on the map as the new great place to be in West Michigan, said Leestma. He projects the entire investment into Adelaide Pointe will be about $150 million. Another rendering of the Adelaide Pointe development that shows the plans from above. More than 30 acres of former industrial property could be transformed under a 10-year plan from developer Ryan Leestma. (Rendering provided by Leestma Management) The Muskegon Lake development adds to Leestmas portfolio of investments and companies throughout West Michigan. Leestma Management, LLC owns office space and a commercial solar development company. The entrepreneur also founded Information Systems Intelligence. The information technology management firm that was the center of a $5.3 million settlement from Muskegon County for breaching the companys contract. Despite the four-year legal battle, Leestma says he remains committed to Muskegon because he wants to see the region succeed. All I want is to see this county get the credit that it deserves, he said. Leestma recently purchased property at 1204 W. Western Avenue from Dennis Kirksey of Kirksey Development Co. for $2.4 million, according to a listing from Capstone Real Estate. Leestma said he bought the adjacent propert at 1148 W. Western Avenue and a cul-de-sac, directly from owner Vaughn Makary. The vacant and blighted parcels were previously home to Westran Austin Trailer Division and Michigan Steel, which were demolished in 2014. The property is considered a key parcel for development as Muskegon Lake transitions from primarily industrial use to increased public access. Related: $3.1M effort will remove Muskegon Lake junk, restore shoreline Muskegon Economic Development Director Jake Eckholm said the Adelaide Pointe development is in line with other plans for Muskegon Lake. Projects like Harbor 31, Terrace Point, Hartshorn Village and Windward Pointe add a mix of uses to the long underutilized waterfront. Were seeing that start to accelerate, which is good because a lot of other related communities in West Michigan didnt necessarily have the industrialized past that we do, said Eckholm. For decades, sawmills and foundries dumped waste into Muskegon Lake. A years-long effort to clean the waters and restore the shoreline put the lake on the precipice of being delisted as an area of concern with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The next phase for the Adelaide Pointe development includes cleaning the site, rehabbing existing structures and planning for the marina. Leestma says he plans to present Brownfield site plans to the Muskegon planning commission and city commission in the coming weeks. Brownfields are properties where redevelopment is hampered by the presence of environmental contamination from past industry. Thats the next big step in moving the development forward, said Eckholm. More on MLive: Additional flight to Chicago announced by Muskegon County Airports new management firm Getty Drive-In Theatre opening April 16 for the 2021 season New owners of historic Muskegon County Club plan for business as usual After fatally shooting a black man during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb, Kim Potter, the Minnesota police officer responsible for Daunte Wright's death, and the chief of police resigned on Tuesday. Two days after the death of the 20-year-old black man in Brooklyn Center, Kim Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned in their positions. The 26-year veteran of the police force Kim Potter had been on administrative leave after the Sunday shooting incident. Minneapolis was already on edge over the trial of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin charged with murder for George Floyd's death last May. According to ABC7, Kim Potter wrote in her one-paragraph resignation letter that she had loved every minute of being a police officer and serving the community to the best of her ability. But she added that she believes that her immediate resignation is for the best interest of the community, the police department, and her fellow police officers. Mike Elliott, the Brooklyn Center Mayor, stated that he was appreciative that Potter submitted her resignation but cleared that he had not asked for it. The mayor noted that he was unsure if Potter did it because she had heard about the possible termination. He added that he hopes that the resignation would calm and heal the community after consecutive nights of unrest and protest in the city. Elliott also stated that he would keep working towards "full accountability under the law," and they will continue working to make sure that justice will be served and done. He emphasized that Daunte Wright and his family deserve justice. The mayor also said that the new police leadership is committed to working with community leaders and protesters who noted that Daunte Wright was racially profiled. RELATED ARTICLE: Cop Who Shot Daunte Wright Mistook Her Own Gun for Taser Kim Potter Mistook Her Own Gun for Taser Tim Gannon earlier said that he believes that Kim Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when reaching for her Taser. Potter can be heard on bodycam footage shouting, "Taser! Taser!" Daunte Wright was shot as police were trying to arrest him due to an outstanding warrant, The New York Times reported. The father of the victim, Aubrey Wright, rejected Kim Potter's explanation and the chief that she mistook her gun for her Taser. He emphasized that he lost his son and will never come back, so he cannot accept that it is just a mistake. He also pointed out that it is not acceptable as the police officer has been on the police force for 26 years. Kim Potter's Home Address Revealed After her address was posted on social media, Kim Potter reportedly fled her home. The officer, who resigned from her position in the police force, immediately vacated her home for her and her family's security, Independent reported. The police officer left her home as the unrest continues. On Monday night, the protest action prompted police to fire tear gas at protesters gathered outside of the Brooklyn Center Police Department in reaction to Daunte Wright's death. About 40 people were reportedly arrested at Monday night's protest. READ MORE: Minnesota Sports Teams Postpone Games Following Daunte Wright's Shooting WATCH: Daunte Wright Shooting: Officer Kim Potter, Chief Tim Gannon Resign From Brooklyn Center PD - From KARE 11 A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that the annual cases of sexually transmitted diseases or STDs have climbed to an all-time high for the sixth year in a row. The report released on Tuesday also found that there were more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis across the U.S. in 2019, according to a CBS 19 News report. These three were the most commonly reported STDs in the country, as stated in the 2019 STD Surveillance report. The CDC said there was a nearly 30 percent increase in reported STDs between 2015 and 2019, with the sharpest hike in syphilis cases among newborns. CDC officials said people with these infections do not always experience disease symptoms. But if left untreated, it can cause chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, severe pregnancy, newborn complications, and infant death, KOLD 13 News report. The CDC released the report as part of the National STD Awareness Week. Health departments across the U.S. reported 1.8 million cases of chlamydia, which is almost a 20 percent increase since 2015. The CDC noted that 616,392 cases of gonorrhea were reported in 2019, which is 50 percent higher than 2015, while 129,813 cases were recorded for all syphilis stages, which is a 70 percent peak, according to a New York Daily News report. In a statement, Raul Romaguera, acting director for CDC's Division of STD Prevention, said that gonorrhea rates in the U.S. were at historic lows less than 20 years ago, with advances in chlamydia diagnostics made it easier to detect infections and syphilis close to elimination. However, he said STD defenses went down, adding that people must focus and prioritize their efforts to regain this lost ground to halt the spread of STDs. READ NEXT: Healthvana App: Personal Medical Records, STD/HIV Testing Results At Your Fingertips Through Health App Cases of STDs in the U.S. The CDC said that the overwhelming number of STDs fall on Black people, whose ailments' incidence were five to eight times higher than for non-Hispanic white people. The CDC further noted that among Alaska Native or American Indian and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islander people, the rates were three to five times that of non-Hispanic white people. The CDC added that Latino or Hispanic people were one to two times more likely to contract STDs than non-Hispanic white people. Experts emphasized that the root causes are embedded throughout society and not just in the public health system. Jo Valentine, associate director of the Office of Health Equity in CDC's Division of STD Prevention, said that focus should be on hard-hit populations to reduce disparities. Valentine noted that social, economic, and cultural conditions such as poverty, unstable housing, drug use, and lack of medical insurance must be addressed as they make it more difficult for some populations to stay healthy. The New Mexico Department of Health said that communication is one of the best barriers to transmission. State Department of Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said that talking openly and honestly with partners before having sex is important in addressing the spread of STDs. Meanwhile, gay and bisexual men accounted for nearly half of all syphilis cases in 2019, UPI reported. Teens and young adults ages 15 to 24 years made up 61 percent of chlamydia cases and 42 percent of gonorrhea cases in 2019. Early data for 2020 showed that the trends observed in 2019 are still prevalent, with STD testing and treatment services disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Romaguera said that STDs would not wait for the pandemic to end, so people "must rise to the challenge now." READ MORE: New Australian Condom Can Kill STDs, Including HIV and Herpes WATCH: STD Cases Spiked During COVID-19 Pandemic, Health Officials Say - From WJTV 12 News She never puts a foot wrong when it comes to fashion. And Vogue Williams had a spring in her step as she arrived for work Global Studios in central London on Wednesday in a very bright ensemble. The Irish TV and radio personality, 35, looked stunning in a pastel orange jumpsuit as she headed into the building to present her Heart FM radio show. Commanding attention: Vogue Williams had a spring in her step as she arrived for work at Global Studios in central London on Wednesday in a very bright ensemble Vogue looked stunning in the eye-catching long sleeved jumpsuit which she teamed with white trainers. The podcast host accessorized her spring outfit with a white leather quilted Chanel bag and carried a change of clothes with her. She wore her honey tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and had on a huge pair of gold-rimmed glasses on to shield her eyes from the London sunshine. Lovely: The Irish TV and radio personality, 35, looked stunning in a pastel orange jumpsuit as she strutted her stuff along the pavement It comes after earlier this month Vogue explained that she 'didn't want to make anyone else feel bad' about how she'd lost the weight following the birth of her second child. Speaking with The Sun, the mother-of-two also discussed how she plans to have 'definitely four' children with husband Spencer Matthews, 34. Vogue said: 'There is so much pressure put on women about this and I didn't want to add to that when, instead of worrying about losing the baby weight, we should be worrying about where our pelvic floor is at and how our mental health is doing. Stylish: Vogue looked stunning in the eye-catching long sleeved jumpsuit which she teamed with white trainers 'It's purely down to my body type that I went back to how I was before without too much effort, and I did find myself trying to hide that for the first few months. 'I just didn't want to make anyone else feel bad by being all, 'hey, look at me after having a baby,' because the last thing anyone wants to see is someone who's lost the weight quicker than you.' Vogue added that it's impossible to win online as people will always comment on posts, whether it's saying she lost weight fast or carried the baby weight. Vogue often shares snaps of her svelte physique online and had displayed her toned post-baby body for a tanning video on Instagram just six weeks after Gigi's birth. She revealed that she'd bounced back at incredible speed as she donned a skimpy blue bikini and was joined by Spencer to apply the product. Elsewhere in her interview, the doting mum-of-two chatted about how she's finding motherhood with her second child, admitting that she's more laid-back with Gigi. Vogue, who also revealed she and Spencer would like 'definitely four' children, praised her daughter saying the tot is very easy going and happily settles herself. Although loving life with her new addition, Vogue said it has been hard at times having to see family members miss out on Gigi's first year because of the pandemic. A 16-year-old girl from Las Vegas and her boyfriend have been accused of murdering and attempting to dismember the teen's father, who had been against their relationship, before fleeing to Salt Lake City in the victim's car. The suspects, identified in court documents as Sierra Halseth, 16, and Aaron Guerrero, 18, were taken into custody in Utah on Tuesday, where they remained jailed pending their extradition back to Nevada to face counts of open murder in connection with the death of Daniel Halseth. The incident began unfolding on Friday afternoon, when firefighters responded to a call about a house on fire in the 8400 block of Dunphy Court. Aaron Guerreo, 18 (left), and his girlfriend, Sierra Halseth, 16, are facing counts of open murder for the killing of the girl's father, Daniel Halseth, 45 (right) First responders arrived at Halseth's home in Las Vegas on Friday to find his burnt body in the garage of his fire-damaged home Police say the suspects had set fire to the property in the 8400 block of Dunphy Court in a bid to cover up the murder, before fleeing to Salt Lake City in the victim's car When first responders entered the garage on the property, they found the homeowner's burned body. The Clark County Coroner's Office on Tuesday positively identified the victim as Danie Halseth and determined that he died from sharp force injuries. Police said they believe Halseth was stabbed to death before his daughter and her boyfriend set fire to the house. According to investigators, the duo had bought a chainsaw, a circular saw and a handsaw, and tried to dismember Halseth's body, before torching the home to cover up the crime, reported ABC4. The two teenagers then allegedly stole the victim's car and some of his money, and drove more than 400 miles to Salt Lake City. Police said they have obtained surveillance video from several different stores, which they say shows Sierra and her boyfriend purchasing the tools, lighter fluid and bleach. Sierra and Guerrero are expected to be extradited back to La Vegas, where they would be charged as adults. A coroner determined that Halseth died from sharp force injuries. The divorced father-of-three was set on fire after his death Police say Halseth had recently made comments that he did not want Guerrero dating his daughter. Halseth was previously married to Nevada State Senator Elizabeth Halseth and had three children with her, including Sierra. At the time of his death, he worked as an executive at an IT consulting company. Halseth was previously married to Nevada State Senator Elizabeth Halseth and had three children with her The couple's 11-year marriage was marred by allegations of domestic violence, and ended in a contentious divorce after Halseth pleaded guilty to two counts of coercion and battery, and was sentenced to probation, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal. Halseth's ex-wife has since remarried and changed her last name to Helgelien. Helgelien became concerned when she had not heard from Halseth for a while, and called his cellphone on Friday, but he did not pick up, police said. She then contacted her daughter Sierra, who claimed that her father was in the shower, and that his phone was broken. Helgelien also called a family friend, who came by the house and discovered signs of fire and bloodstains inside the house. Halseth's family have released a statement to 8NewsNow, saying they were heartbroken. 'We love Daniel beyond words,' the rest of the statement read. 'He loved his children and was an amazing father. We ask for privacy and respect for the family at this time.' With 21 days left to form a government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to convince Naftali Bennett that he should stand behind him rather than trying to take his place. Why it matters: Bennett's right-wing Yamina party won just seven seats in the March 23 elections, but an unprecedented set of political circumstances has created an opening for the former defense minister and tech entrepreneur to replace Netanyahu with the support of the center-left. Driving the news: Netanyahu and Bennett have met four times in the last two weeks, including once at the prime ministers official residence. Bennett had never previously set foot in the residence due to the fierce opposition of Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife. Netanyahu has lobbied Bennett to recommit to the right-wing bloc and refuse to ally with the center-left, Bennett's aides say. Netanyahu offered something Bennett has always wanted: an opportunity to join forces with Likud and gain slots on the party's electoral list and government positions for his supporters. Bennett had previously been shunned by Netanyahu's party. The state of play: Bennett has told Netanyahu he's ready to join a right-wing government, but that no such potential government exists. The radical right-wing Religious Zionism party has ruled out joining a coalition supported by the Ra'am Islamist party. Both would be required to reach a majority. What they're saying: Right now, Netanyahu doesnt have a government and everything seems stuck. But Netanyahu will put huge pressure on the Religious Zionism to soften their position. If he succeeds, we will join his government," a Bennett aide told me. The other side: Netanyahus aides think Bennett is playing for time in an attempt to run out the clock until Netanyahu has to return the mandate to the president. A wannabe superhero who took to the streets dressed as Batman during Melbourne's coronavirus lockdown has been unmasked as a cartoon villain. But Taylor Tangas, 26, the man under the suit, claims it's all a mix up and like the comic book caped crusader he is persecuted for crimes he didn't commit. The unemployed concreter became the talk of the city last year when photos surfaced of him in the imposing outfit, gazing over traffic. Tangas later came forward to unveil himself as the mystery character, claiming friends dared him to venture out in his homemade costume. At the time, he said he would be happy to make more appearances to give residents a mood boost during the coronavirus pandemic. Taylor Tangas, 26, (pictured) pleaded guilty to charges including obtaining financial advantage by deception in Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on Friday Tangas said he was dared by friends to dress in his homemade Dark Knight costume and go out in public But behind closed doors, the former MMA fighter from South Morang was committing sinister deeds - swindling $6,500 through a sophisticated retail and betting scam. Tangas pleaded guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception in Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on Friday, the Herald Sun reported He was fined $400, put on an 18-month correction order, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work. Whether he could wear the suit while fittingly paying his debt to society was not specified. However, Tangas told Daily Mail Australia he denied the 'outrageous' charges and only pleaded guilty to stay out of jail. 'Just like Batman, I like to keep quiet and in the dark also,' he said. 'Batman was a wanted criminal for things the media put out there that he were responsible for, even if he hadn't been. 'In order to have kept myself out of unnecessary and a much larger punishment, my legal representative, over months had agreed on safe circumstances that I plead guilty on a number of charges. 'Those charges are outrageous and there's statements made that are far from the truth. But I understand Batman shared the same fate and had to deal with it also.' The concreter caused a stir in April last year when he was spotted in a Batman costume, gazing over traffic at the intersection of Kings Way and City Rd (pictured) The court heard Tangas created a fake JB Hi-Fi account using a stolen bank card and bought more than $3,770 worth of goods online. He then travelled with a female accomplice to pick up the items using dodgy ID from the Northland store. The pair also used the account to place two bets on gambling sites worth $2,800. Days later, police raided the woman's Thomastown home and discovered stolen IDs, Tangas' altered drivers licence, an embossing machine, and a list of their collection of stolen devices inscribed on a white board. Proving himself to be more villain than hero, he was also charged with possessing meth on October 9 and attempting to break into cars in Kew on June 25. Eleven months earlier, in May 2019, he was found driving an unregistered car while unlicensed in Thomastown. The court heard Tangas suffered a downturn in work during the pandemic, and began socialising with 'undesirable people' and taking drugs. Magistrate Hayley Bate said Tangas's crimes were 'quite sophisticated' and his 'selfish behaviour' would have made his victims 'feel sick'. '[It] was an absolute disgrace,' Magistrate Bate said. The former MMA fighter said he denies the claims - despite pleading guilty - but Batman 'shared the same fate and had to deal with it' Magistrate Bate blasted Tangas for two earlier online court hearings, in which he appeared via video link in a car wearing a singlet, and another where he was more than 15 minutes late. She in those hearings warned he may face jail time, but decided against it on Friday due to his age and limited criminal history. Tangas bizarrely claimed he did not find out what he pleaded guilty to until the morning after the sentence - despite being in court. 'There were apparent finger prints on the inside passenger seat of a car that was found stolen in Kew,' he said. 'I don't have a licence so I'm forever getting into and out of car lifts here and there it could have been at anytime. 'The usage of credit cards for gambling and found equipment were at a residential house that I do not live in, [and it's] all on my shoulders unless anyone says otherwise. Which I understand. 'As Batman, all my job was to let the city know it was in safe hands. Batman is no criminal!' [April 14, 2021] Yahoo Finance to Exclusively Livestream Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yahoo Finance , the leading business and financial news brand, returns as the exclusive livestream host of the annual Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting on Saturday, May 1st beginning at 12:30pm ET. Watch the live stream here: https://finance.yahoo.com/brklivestream. The Yahoo Finance exclusive livestream of the meeting will be the only destination for investors, business professionals, journalists and consumers alike to tune in live from the comfort of their homes. Viewers can virtually watch Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, Vice Chairman of Non-Insurance Operations Greg Abel and Vice Chairman of Insurance Operations Ajit Jain share their candid outlook on economic recovery, todays markets, the company, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic has again led us to make changes to the annual meeting, but were delighted to be in Los Angeles with Charlie Munger and pleased to know that anyone who wants to watch the meeting can do so thanks to the worldwide streaming provided by Yahoo Finance, said Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Yahoo Finance is proud to be the exclusive global livestream partner for the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting. We remain committed to connecting diverse audiences to trusted financial news and important events during a pivotal time in our economy, said Jo Lambert, Head of Consumer at Verizon Media. Berkshire Hathaways Annual Shareholders Meeting is a defining event for the business community as thousands of people from around the world tune in to hear insights from the Woodstock for Capitalists. Again this year, due to the worldwide impact of COVID-19, the meeting will take place remotely, broadcast live exclusively by Yahoo Finance from Los Angeles, where Buffett will address the shareholders. On Saturday, May 1st, Yahoo Finance will be on the ground with Editor-in-Chief Andy Serwer, along with a team of on-air hosts from Yahoo Finance who will provide insight, analysis and news-making interviews via remote operations. The schedule of live coverage is below, with special guests and interviews for the pre- and post-shows to be announced at a later date. Yahoo Finance Livestream Programming Schedule: 12:30pm ET Yahoo Finance pre-show 1:30pm ET Q&A with Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Ajit Jain, and Greg Abel 5:00pm ET Berkshire Hathaway business meeting 5:30pm ET Yahoo Finance post-show 6:00pm ET Live stream ends 2021 marks the sixth year where Yahoo Finance is the exclusive livestream host and will be streamed with 100% closed captioning this year. Once again, the global livestream will be available in both English and Mandarin, with VOD replay available following the meeting. An audio replay of the meeting and accompanying interviews will also be available via podcast on iTunes and other podcast stores starting Monday, May 3rd. Yahoo Finance is available on desktop and mobile web via finance.yahoo.com , the Yahoo Finance app, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung TV+, Roku and is now available on linear broadcast via Fios. For the first time, Yahoo Finance will livestream the event on TikTok, attracting a wider audience and reaching the next generation of investors and future financial experts. Also new to audiences this year, Yahoo Finance will offer users the ability to connect and interact through its Watch Together co-viewing experience. Experiencing the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting with Watch Together allows users the opportunity to invite their colleagues and friends to a private video chat room to view a synchronized livestream of the meeting together from the comfort of their homes. Yahoo Finance will unveil new features during the experience including seamless, real-time analysis and interactive stock charts for the companies that Buffett and Munger mention on stage. Watch Together will be available on desktop, here: https://finance.yahoo.com/brklivestream. For more information on the Berkshire Hathaway Live Stream, visit the landing page on Yahoo Finance or add the event to your calendar. Follow the conversation on Twitter with @YahooFinance #YFBuffett, or on the Yahoo Finance Instagram , TikTok and Facebook pages. The Yahoo Finance Network is #1 in Business/Finance News.* MEDIA USAGE TERMS FOR BROADCAST: Hi-res downloadable clips will be made available and distributed day-of. Only those clips provided directly by Yahoo Finance may be used on-air; clips may NOT be pulled for broadcast use from Yahoo Finance site. Clips provided MUST appear in full; clips may NOT be re-cut, edited or altered in any way. Clips MUST retain Yahoo Finance logo, and be accompanied by a verbal reference Courtesy of Yahoo Finance OR cited in text on screen. FOR ONLINE: Embeddable VOD clips will be available at https://finance.yahoo.com/brklivestream/ Full live stream will be available on Yahoo Finance ONLY. VOD clips may be embedded from Yahoo Finance; clips are not to be downloaded or posted elsewhere directly, and not to be altered or edited in any way. Embeds must be accompanied by a mention and link back to Yahoo Finance . About Verizon Media Verizon Media, a division of Verizon Communications, Inc., houses a trusted media ecosystem of premium brands like Yahoo, TechCrunch and Engadget to help people stay informed and entertained, communicate and transact, while creating new ways for advertisers and media partners to connect. From XR experiences to advertising and content technology, Verizon Media is an incubator of innovation and is revolutionizing the next generation of content creation in a 5G world. * Source: Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform, Total Audience, Yahoo-HuffPost Finance Network, Business/Finance News category, February 2021, U.S." VERIZONS ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/news. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/. Media contact: Janelle Morris janelle.morris@verizonmedia.com Elissa Dotzman elissa.dotzman@verizonmedia.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has found that the South African Post Office is commercially insolvent, SABC News reported. According to the report, Malulekes audit review of the Post Office Groups annual results noted it had incurred losses of over R1.7 billion in the 2019/2020 financial year, with its liabilities exceeding assets by R1.5 billion. The Auditor-General gave the group a disclaimer option for its latest annual report. This was because she could not gather enough audit evidence to confirm the reasonableness of the managements assessment of the groups viability for the foreseeable future. I was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence due to the poor status of the accounting records, Maluleke stated. According to the SABC, the Post Office had incurred irregular expenditure of more than R200 million in addition to fruitless and wasteful expenditure exceeding R26 million. MyBroadband was unable to independently verify the veracity of the SABCs report. The office of the Auditor-General did not immediately respond to requests for comment via email or phone call. Post Office Group CEO Nomkhita Mona acknowledged the Auditor-Generals pronouncements but did not comment on the issue of insolvency. MyBroadband was also provided with a statement on the annual general meeting of the Post Office board, which was concluded on 31 March. While it did not delve into specifics around its annual results, it acknowledged that revenue at the Post Office performed below target by 8% in the last financial year. One of the major developments over the past year was the unbundling of Postbank from the Post Office. The Post Office said the the Auditor-Generals audit review had noted this had a negative effect on the Post Offices balance sheet. In addition, the Post Office said it had taken steps to address its cost base by embarking on initiatives of staff reduction, achieved through natural attrition and voluntary severance packages. As a result, its staff numbers had dropped by 1,871 during the year under review. The report and statement come after a recent presentation at the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications revealed just how serious the Post Offices financial mess is. In three months, the service had posted a net loss of R429 million, while its year-to-date net loss increased to R1.354 billion. In addition, creditors and accruals as of 30 September 2020 had increased to R1.774 billion. The year-to-date revenue recovery remains sluggish and insufficient to meet all operating costs, the SAPO said. The revenue shortfall contributes to cash deficits to pay suppliers and service providers, including employee benefit contributions. As a result of these financial troubles, the Post Office has stopped paying rent at certain locations and had to close around 55 branches due to arrears. In addition, employees pension fund and medical aid contributions which are deducted from workers salaries were not being paid over to the relevant institutions. In her response to the Auditor-Generals pronouncements on its annual report, Mona said that the Post Offices challenges in the recent past were well-documented. These have come about as a result of a number of factors both exogenous and endogenous including an obsolete business model. These were exacerbated by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that the Post Office continued to engage its creditors to acknowledge its indebtedness and willingness to honour the commitments, while debt collection was a focus area. Mona also stated that the Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams was in the process of appointing a team of experts to assist with the Post Offices turnaround plan. In the long term, we are confident that we have the opportunity to build a world class, commercially viable postal service with no heavy reliance on the national fiscus, Mona said. However, in the short to medium term, we fully expect that the National government will support SAPOs efforts in dealing with these legacy issues, she added. Bahrain call to take health measures even more seriously Bahrain call to take health measures even more seriously TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The spike in the number of coronavirus active cases is more often than not a direct consequence of individuals not following public health measures. So to keep one self and the entire community safe against COVID-19, the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus has been consistently and tirelessly advising the public to strictly adhere to health guidelines and precautionary measures. The best way to prevent the spread of virus is to wear face mask when heading out in public, observe social distancing, limit family gatherings, avoid large crowds, and get vaccinated. And even after getting the vaccine, health authorities still recommend people to not abandon all of them. Other prescribed protective measures also include doing more outdoor activities and washing hands frequently. Properly wearing a mask can help keep everybody safe while navigating the pandemic. While one should continue to wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid touching face and follow social distancing rules, wearing a mask is an essential step to stay safe. The most common way COVID-19 spread is through person-to-person contact. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, they produce respiratory droplets that can travel about six feet and can land in the mouths or noses of those nearby. No Charges Against Officer Who Shot Ashli Babbitt: DOJ Lawyer for Babbitt's family calls decision 'baffling' The U.S. Capitol Police officer who shot dead an Air Force veteran during the tumultuous events on Jan. 6 will not be charged, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced April 14. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the DOJs Civil Rights Division decided jointly not to pursue charges against the officer. The decision came after a thorough investigation into the shooting of Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old who joined others in storming the U.S. Capitol in Washington during a joint session of Congress in January. Babbitt was shot while trying to climb through a broken window into the Speakers Lobby, adjacent to the House chamber. Officials examined video footage posted on social media, statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting, and the results of an autopsy, the DOJ said in a statement. Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution. Mark Schamel, a lawyer representing the officer, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement: This is the only correct conclusion following the events of January 6. The lieutenant exercised professionalism and fantastic restraint in defending and protecting members of Congress. The officer remains unidentified in the public sphere. As unfortunate as it is that the lieutenant had to resort to deadly force, he fired only one shot at the only person who breached the locked doors and makeshift barricade that had been erected. He did so after clearly identifying himself and ordering the mob not to come through the barricade, Schamel added. He used tremendous restraint in only firing one shot, and his actions stopped the mob from breaking through and turning a horrific day in American history into something so much worse. National Guard troops walk through the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images) Babbitts family was informed before the decision was publicly announced. Terrell Roberts, an attorney for the family, told The Epoch Times that the decision was baffling. I find it to be baffling given the circumstances that its a clear case of shooting an unarmed person without any legal justification, but I have no idea what went into their decision, Roberts said. The family plans to move forward with a lawsuit against the officer for excessive use of force. Babbitts death was caused by the gunshot, which hit her left shoulder, the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled last week. The manner of death was homicide. The DOJ stated that its probe focused on seeing whether federal prosecutors could prove that the officer violated any federal laws. The investigation revealed no evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer willfully committed a violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 242, it stated. Specifically, the investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber. Acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to Ms. Babbitts family, the U.S. Attorneys Office and U.S. Department of Justice have therefore closed the investigation into this matter. Pauly DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino will return later this year with another season of Double Shot at Love. Fans of the MTV reality series are excited to see whats in store for season 3. But many are also curious about which roommates will return from season 2. At this time, it looks like three Double Shot at Love stars are out of the running for a spot in season 3. Pauly DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino | Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Double Shot at Love Season 3 will premiere later this year DJ Pauly D and Guadagnino shared the exciting news with fans on Apr. 13, 2021. Yesssir Lets GoOo @MTVShotAtLove SEASON 3 We Are Back!!!!! DelVecchio tweeted. Things will be a bit different in season 3. Since DelVecchio is in a relationship with Double Shot at Love star Nikki Hall, season 3 will be all about finding Guadagnino a woman. Sounds cool Ill check it out https://t.co/v6lp6x19IS Vinny Guadagnino (@VINNYGUADAGNINO) April 13, 2021 RELATED: Jersey Shore Star DJ Pauly D Is in a Zombie Movie DJ Pauly D and Vinny will be back to find the perfect match for the latter, MTV wrote. You know what they say: Third times a charm! With help from DelVecchio and Hall, Guadagnino will go through the process of finding his own happiness. Their insiders perspective will help him see the potential of finding a partner on a reality dating show. At this time, the exact release date for Double Shot at Love Season 3 is unclear. However, MTV says it will premiere later this year. Some fans think Maria Elizondo will be back for season 3 Leave it to reality TV fans on Reddit to piece together who might return for Double Shot at Love Season 3. According to one fan, crews are filming season 3 at the Adero Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The website says the resort will welcome guests starting May 14. That same fan also believes Maria Elizondo from seasons 1 and 2 is already there and going to be part of filming season 3. Her IG story matches the room pics! they said. Since hearing the news about season 3, many fans have reached out to Elizondo on social media to see if she will be part of filming. One fan asked if the format was going to be the same as season 2 the cast living and working with Guadagnino and DelVecchio. It is not, Elizondo replied. I am not [coming back] lol but nothing but all my love and support towards it. Many fans arent buying Elizondos tweet. Its literally where theyre filming so she can front all she wants about being in Cali, a fan wrote on Reddit. The pics from her story and the pics of the hotel rooms dont lie! The chairs and lights are the same. Brandon Stakemann, Nicky Curd, and Antonio Locke likely wont be part of Double Shot at Love Season 3 While its not entirely off the table, the probability of season 2 stars Brandon Stakemann, Nicky Curd, and Antonio Locke returning for season 3 of Double Shot at Love is slim. Since this season is about Guadagnino finding love, many fans dont expect to see the Cugines return. Why would they bring everyone else back for that, especially the guys? a fan on Reddit questioned. This fan thinks the possibility of a Jersey Shore spinoff with the Double Shot at Love Season 2 cast is more likely to happen than them returning for season 3. In a since-deleted post on Twitter, Stakemann said: Hi so everyone asking if we will be on this season of @MTVShotAtLove we wont. This is actually the first we are all hearing of it along with all of you. Weird flex I know, so thats that. It was a fun ride. This, along with the posts Stakemann, Curd, and Locke have been liking on the platform, has many people thinking theyre upset about not being invited back. Its Vinny and Paulys franchise; everyone else [was] guests, one fan commented. While thats true, only time will tell. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for updates on Double Shot at Love Season 3. Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma pulls a rebound away from Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges during the first half on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press) As the double-digit lead quickly melted all the way down to a single point, Frank Vogel could look to the Boom Baby pin on his shirt that was placed over his heart. Earlier Tuesday, Vogel learned that former Indiana Pacers coach and broadcaster Bob Slick Leonard had died, Vogel continuing to coach the Lakers even though he had lost a friend and mentor. To honor him, Vogel wore a pin with Leonards signature phrase affixed to his jacket. Leonard always was fond of reminding Vogel to never get too high or too low, not with wins and losses, and definitely not with players. So as things started to spin out of control in the Lakers game at Charlotte, Vogel waited. He trusted. And his team? It rewarded him. The Lakers closed a 101-93 win over the Hornets on a 9-2 run in the final two minutes to end a seven-game trip with an improbable winning record, with Vogel taking his last two timeouts back to Los Angeles with him. Before the game, Vogel spoke about Leonards influence on him and his family, the Indiana basketball icon taking Vogel under his wing when he started his coaching career on the Pacers bench. Ill be coaching tonights game with a heavy heart, Vogel said on a videoconference. But throughout the game, the Lakers ability to be levelheaded, the trait Leonard impressed on Vogel most, shone through. The team wasnt extra sharp on offense, heavy-legged from a physical game at New York the night before, but it was mentally sharp, cutting its turnovers down to just 11. The Lakers fought through physical problems, Markieff Morris getting scratched late with a sprained ankle and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope having to play through back spasms. Kyle Kuzma, who led the Lakers with 24 points, played with a sleeve over his strained calf. And Dennis Schroder, who has dealt with all sorts of minor issues, nearly fell asleep on his feet after he drained a clutch, late-game three. All our guys are really fatigued right now, Vogel said. Story continues They should get some life back in Los Angeles when they play Thursday against the Boston Celtics in front of, most importantly, about 2,000 fans in Staples Center for the first time since March 10, 2020. That energy that crowd gives you, that you feed off, that can be big, Caldwell-Pope said. The Lakers could use the help because most nights theyre undermanned, still without injured LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Morris, one of their fill-in starters, was unable to play, taking away another piece of their rotation. Still, they were somehow the healthier team on the court. The Hornets were without their top three scorers in Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball as well as a fourth starter, P.J. Washington, whos sixth in scoring. But the Lakers shouldve known the Hornets would play with plenty of fight. After all, thats how the Lakers have had to win during their own short-handed stretch, most notably in Brooklyn against the Eastern Conference favorites. And even though they were in a rare spot against the Hornets the favorites they played with urgency even if they werent sharp offensively. Guard Alex Caruso led the Lakers in little things, breaking up plays, diving for loose balls and hitting timely shots, scoring 13 off the bench and finishing plus-21. He and Schroder hit big shots, and the Lakers made all six of their fourth-quarter free throws. Frank trusts us to just be poised, to be patient when they make runs like that, Caldwell-Pope said. Weve been in situations like that many times. We just know what to do. Three takeaways on the Lakers Even at full strength, the adage goes that a winning record on the road is a success, and the Lakers avoided what could have been a disastrous stretch by winning four times during this seven-game trip, fighting off fatigue and an undermanned Hornets teams on Tuesday. Kyle Kuzma opened the game by airballing his first shot and hitting the side of the backboard on his next three-point attempt. But he rallied to lead the Lakers with 24 points, including a monster dunk over Charlotte center Bismack Biyombo. The Lakers managed to beat the Hornets without much production from their big men, with Montrezl Harrell and Andre Drummond combining to score only 10 points. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Colorado Politics senior political reporter Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged the central government to treat journalists as frontline workers and vaccinate them against COVID-19. He said the Delhi government will write to Centre on the issue. In a tweet, Kejriwal said journalists are reporting from most adverse situations and they should be treated as frontline workers and allowed vaccination on priority. Journalists are reporting from most adverse situations. They shud be treated as frontline workers and shud be allowed vaccination on priority. Delhi govt is writing to centre in this regard - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 14, 2021 Journalists are currently not included in the list of frontline workers. India's vaccination campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic began in January with healthcare workers and frontline workers permitted to get vaccinated in the first phase, before being opened to people of other age groups. On April 1, the Centre allowed all citizens aged above 45 years to get vaccinated. Also read: COVID-19: Govt approves plan to increase production of Remdesivir, drug cos to cut price Kejriwal had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking to open up vaccination for everyone above 18 years of age. The national capital on Tuesday reported 13,468 new COVID-19 cases, with positivity rate mounting to 13.14 per cent. Meanwhile, the rise in COVID-19 cases continues unabated across the country, with 1,84,372 new cases reported in the preceding 24 hours as of Wednesday morning. Considering the surge in cases, the Centre today decided to cancel class 10 exams for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students, while the exams for class 12 students have been postponed. Kejriwal, who had earlier appealed to the Centre to cancel the exams, expressed happiness on the decision. Also read: Sputnik V to be $300 million boost to Dr Reddy's Jaipur, April 14 : As Rajasthan goes for bypolls on April 17, the question that is doing the rounds is whether BJP's state unit chief Satish Poonia be able to escape the political trap laid by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in all the three constituencies going to the polls -- Rajsamand, Sahada and Sujangarh. In Sahada, the Gehlot government sent an Independent-turned-BJP man, Ladulal Pitliya, to home quarantine after he withdrew his nomination as an Independent and joined the saffron brigade. Even cops were deputed outside his house to ensure that he didn't step out for campaigning during his quarantine period. In Sujangarh, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra, who is also the Education Minister of Rajasthan, is camping along with his strong team. In Rajsamand, the state in-charge of Congress, Ajay Maken, has been addressing large gatherings demanding votes in favour of the Congress candidate. He has also taken the charge to redress the grievances of angry Congress leaders who due to some reasons were maintaining a distance from party activities. With the Congress upping the ante for the bypolls, the BJP is also leaving no stone unturned and has invited leaders like Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and Union Minister of State Anurag Thakur for election rallies. Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Ram Meghwal, and MP Diya Kumari are also making strong efforts to ensure electoral success for the BJP in all the three seats. The one challenge the BJP is facing is that due to the ongoing Assembly polls in West Bengal, many leaders are engaged in campaigning there. Secondly, a camp led by former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has maintained a strong distance from campaigning right from the beginning of filing of nominations. Amid all this, Poonia is busy campaigning for the party candidates, interacting with different sections of people, including chaiwalas, panwalas and vegetable vendors, among others. "We have strengthened the party at the booth and 'panna' level, which speaks the story of our efforts. We have strengthened the party at the ground level," Poonia said. Some BJP workers have also alleged that the Gehlot government is mususing government machinery by deputing ministers and huge convoy of workers and resources for the bypolls. Now it remains to be seen if Poonia, who has been appointed as the BJP state unit chief without the wish of the Raje faction, will be able to script a success for the BJP in the bypolls. READING, Pa. Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer is providing a new tool to add to the toolbox of fighting drug addiction. "Today, my office, the Berks County district attorney and the police and law enforcement are here today with the unified voice, saying, 'turn to us,'" said Attorney General Josh Shapiro, announcing the state's Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative, or LETI, is available in Berks County. Officials said those seeking help for a drug addiction can walk into any police station in the county to begin to enroll in a treatment program without the fear of being arrested. "This is the seventh county to join our initiative," said Shapiro. "More are coming today, tomorrow and in the weeks to come." Delaware County was added to the list shortly after the Berks announcement. Schuylkill County was already on the list. "This program is targeted at people who want help," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams. "It's also a program that's targeted for a low-level offender, and what the agreement would be is if we refer you to this program, you get involved in treatment and you complete treatment successfully, we will not charge you." The Reading-based Council on Chemical Abuse, or COCA, will have a critical role in the effort. "Quite honestly, law enforcement sees addiction at its worst," said Stanley Papadimitriou, COCA's executive director. "What's important is that we provide them another tool to help folks get much-needed treatment that's deserved." A five-hour standoff with a man wanted by North Bergen police ended peacefully Tuesday afternoon when Jersey City police took the man into custody. The drama started just after 10 a.m. when North Bergen police traveled to Jersey City to make an arrest of a man wanted in a robbery. Details were not immediately available Tuesday evening, but the man barricaded himself in a motor vehicle in the area of Kennedy Boulevard and Clinton Avenue and told police that he was armed. Roads in the area, from Bergen Avenue to the east and West Side Avenue to the west, as well as multiple blocks to the north and south of Clinton Avenue, were closed for much of the day. Police negotiators were in contact with the man, whose name was not released, during the afternoon and eventually convinced the man to surrender just after 3:30 p.m. No hostages had been taken, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said earlier in the day. Details of the North Bergen robbery were not immediately available. John Travolta remembered his late son Jett Travolta in a touching tribute posted to Instagram on Tuesday. The 67-year-old Pulp Fiction star posted a sweet black-and-white photo of himself grinning at his beaming son while the two appeared to be enjoying a day out on the water. His 2021 memorial post marks his first year commemorating his late son's birthday without his wife Kelly Preston, who died in July 2020 after being diagnosed with breast cancer two years earlier. Immortal love: John Travolta, 67, shared a moving tribute to his late son Jett to mark his 29th birthday on Tuesday. It's his first time celebrating his son's birthday without his wife Kelly Preston, who died last year 'Happy birthday my beautiful Jetty,' Travolta captioned his photo. 'I love you.' The Blow Out star previous told Us Weekly that his son's death was 'the worst thing thats ever happened in my life.' Jett died in January 2009 during a family trip to the Bahamas after he hit his head on a bathtub following suffering a seizure at their home on Grand Bahama Island. Travolta's late wife Kelly previously spoke about Jett's experience with autism and Kawasaki Syndrome during a 2012 segment on The Doctors. Tragedy: Jett died in January 2009 during a family trip to the Bahamas after he hit his head on a bathtub following suffering a seizure at their home on Grand Bahama Island; Travolta seen with daughter Ella, son Jett and wife Kelly Preston Medical issues: Preston star previously revealed that Jett was autistic and had Kawasaki Syndrome during a 2012 appearance on The Doctors; pictured in 1997 '[Jett] was autistic. He had seizures and when he was very young, he had Kawasaki Syndrome,' she revealed. The illness is a rare condition, often seen in children, in which the walls of arteries throughout the body become inflamed. 'I strongly believe as a mother, as does my husband, that there are certain contributing factors that lead to autism and some of it is very much the chemicals in our environment and in our food,' she suggested at the time. Travolta is also the father to two other children: his 21-year-old daughter Ella and his 10-year-old son Benjamin, both of whom he shared with Preston. Saying goodbye: Travolta announced the sad news of Preston's death on Instagram in July 2020, writing that the actress 'fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many' Secret struggle: Preston had been diagnosed two years earlier with breast cancer;pictured with (L-R) Benjamin, John and Ella Travolta announced the sad news of Preston's death on Instagram in July 2020, writing that the actress 'fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.' He also shared how 'Kelly's love and life will always be remembered,' in the emotional post. Preston was best remembered for several romantic comedies she made in the 1980s and '90s, including Mischief (1985), Twins (1988) and Jerry Maguire (1996). Since saying goodbye to his wife, Travolta has remained an engaged and loving father to his children, who regularly join him in his social media posts. Sweet: Since saying goodbye to his wife, Travolta has remained an engaged and loving father to his children, who regularly join him in his social media posts; seen with Benjamin and cat His daughter Ella seems to be following in his famous footsteps, as it was announced last month that she'll be starring in her first film without any connection to Travolta's work. Ella will lead a modern reimagining of Alice In Wonderland called Get Lost, in which all of the animal characters are portrayed by humans. Her character, renamed Alicia, will go on a mind-bending adventure through Budapest after a backpacking trip goes awry. A Ticket to Controversy: Orange County Officials and Residents Debate Merits of Vaccination Pass The Orange County Health Care Agency (OHCA) is looking to develop a secure way for residents to verify their COVID-19 vaccination status, its director said April 13. The program will provide the fully inoculated with a scannable QR code within the countys Othena application, which is normally reserved for appointment scheduling. According to the boards agenda, it is known as a composite app and will cost $3.8 million. The idea of a vaccine passport in Orange County was highly controversial, with more than 200 public speakers showing up to an April 13 board of supervisors meeting to voice their concerns about businesses having a way to easily deny non-vaccinated residents service. You can say youre not mandating, and you can keep repeating the word voluntary, but the fact is this system will enable exclusionary use by others, like the airlines, like large venues, grocery stores, Staples Center for you Lakers fans, one public commenter said. Theyll be able to easily exclude and deny services to many citizens, because youre all going to make it easy for them to do it. Another public speaker said: It is deeply concerning that the Orange County Board of Supervisors is considering a digital vaccine passport program. Regardless of whether its voluntary or mandatory, this is government overreach. OHCA director Dr. Clayton Chau was the target of much of the controversy at the meeting, where he attempted to clear up what he called misinformation. I, as a health officer, cannot mandate the COVID-19 vaccine, because it is not an approved product from the FDA. This is an emergency use authorization only, and people are not required to take the product, Chau said. So, I dont know where the rumor came from. The other piece regarding a controversial issue is around the word passport. As a health entity, we are required by law to give people proof that we provide a service to them which in this case is the vaccination. Chau went on to say that the FBI and the Centers for Disease Control recently issued a statement that the white card residents receive after being inoculated has often been sold or fraudulently created, which is why it is no longer considered proof of vaccination. So what happens is if an individual comes to us and requires us that we show them proof of vaccination, were working on issuing a digital vaccination administration record to folks, but they will have to request it, he said. Supervisor Andrew Do said that given that the vaccine is only permitted under emergency use authorization, people have the right to decide whether to take it without consequence. Since it is optional and is not required, theres no way that legitimately, any kind of exclusionary use of such a vaccine can be used, it would be just unfair, Do said. Admittedly, the term passport was probably unartful, it is a quick kind of glance at the issue we thought of as a convenient way to describe it, but I dont think any of us anticipated that the term would come with the exclusionary functions that maybe was imputed through the state or that the state might have considered, but certainly from our part that was never part of the consideration. Chau said the board of supervisors would not be voting on an item to mandate any kind of vaccination passport, and that the county would not be mandating any businessother than whats required by lawto require proof of vaccination. The county will not require anyone entering a public building or agency to show any proof of vaccination either, he said. We have to produce something for Americans when they encounter a situation where there is a required proof of vaccination. And the question has always been, can the government do that? And the answer now is no, but can the private side do it, and the answer is yes, Chau said. A business has every right to do whatever they want to do to make their environment safe. Supervisor Don Wagner held up his white COVID-19 vaccination card and said it should be enough to prove someone received a vaccine. This is a federal form. It is not our problem that the federal government doesnt have a form, isnt confident enough in its own documentation, etc. Thats not our problem. Whether they fix it or not is up to them, he said. Weve got 200 people who want to speak about this, and they are concerned that at some point we are going to say without the digital equivalent of this card or something else, youre not going to be able to travel in Orange County, youre not going to be able to come into Orange County, leave Orange County, be able to go to private businesses unless you have a passport. That is not what were doing. That is not what youre intending for us. You will resist that if ever somebody proposes it to you, right? Wagner asked Chau, who agreed. Supervisor Katrina Foley seemed to be for the idea of the passport, saying that showing proof of vaccinations has been common practice for a long time. In the past, if you wanted to go to Vietnam or Africa or India or any a number of countries, youd have to show proof of certain kinds of vaccinations, Foley said. The state is currently looking at allowing concert venues and sporting event venues to increase their capacity if they create some kind of program to show that people are vaccinated, and thats a business decision by those venues. I appreciate the need to have convenience. Im very concerned about our businesses, about our performing arts centers, about our concert venues, about our sporting event venues, about our theme parks, about our fair, being able to get back operating, and to me, this is a non-issue. This digital record that allows a person to easily prove that theyre vaccinated so that they can go and participate in activities that we love and enjoy here in Orange County, thats their choice. Supervisor Lisa Bartlett told Chau that he needs to make it clear that downloading the passport is completely voluntary. From the county perspective and from the health care agency, I think we need to make it crystal clear that with regard to the vaccination records, the digital records that can be obtained by individuals, that this is not a county mandate, she said. Thats not governments role, to mandate that everybody download a digital record. They have to opt into it, and it is completely voluntary. From the outside, the house is a typical upmarket residence in Niamey, but inside it looks like no other. Three drones straddle large tables with their albatross wings, amid improvised building materials and tools. Aziz Kountche, a grandson of Nigerien general and former president Seyni Kountche (1931-87), is an obsessive aeronautical entrepreneur who launched his civilian drone company, Drone Africa Service, in 2016, pledging aircraft that are "100 percent Nigerien". "We import products that are not found here such as fibreglass, carbon, but everything else design, modelling, manufacturing -- is done here," said the stocky craftsman with the delicate fingers of a jeweller. "I build them all myself." From childhood dreams during weekends at the Niamey flying club when he was not on the benches of Niger's posh French high school, he has created a company that claims a turnover that doubles every year. Kountche accepts that his family heritage opens doors, while rejecting talk of nepotism. For lack of means, he says, he did all his studies in Niger and it was evening classes for fellow students at the French high school that paid for his first hours of flight. After further hours spent on the internet and at the flying club, Kountche built his first drone in 2009, without really wanting to make any money from it. But with national security deteriorating because of jihadist incursions on the borders with Nigeria and then Mali, fewer and fewer civil servants and NGOs could venture to carry out field assessments. - 'Right niche, right time' - Aziz Kountche and his drones then provided an opportunity to continue mapping work, monitoring the pastoral movements of nomads and their livestock and preventing poaching. Elsewhere, it is Western firms that win contracts for lack of local know-how. But Kountche has "been able to exploit the right niche at the right time, and then, donors love start-ups in conflict zones," said the manager of a non-governmental organisation in Niamey, who is familiar with the work of his company. Story continues Kountche works only for the Nigerien state and its partners among NGOs and in the United Nations. In a country where both France and the United States operate armed drones, he denies any military interest for his aircraft, since there is a large enough market in other sectors. His first major success was a contract in 2016 with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UN agency needed to map out reception zones for displaced people in the southeastern Diffa region, battered by the incessant assaults of Boko Haram jihadists from Nigeria. Kountche's drones were used to monitor human movements and host villages in the affected region, where thousands of people have been uprooted. - 'Drone academy' - The activities of consultants have since multiplied in Niger and in the west African region, including anti-poaching surveillance in the W national park in Benin, monitoring the movements of giraffes in Koure not far from Niamey, and the mapping of flood zones in the heavy rains of 2020. The entrepreneur is now seeking to expand his services. Gone are the days of simply renting out technical know-how. The time has come for Kountche to sell drones and train other people. Material is already waiting in crates in his workshop and "serial" production will begin within a month. "We already have four or five orders to deliver," he says, happy with a flourishing business but stressed by the challenges ahead. "Opening a business here is easy and it does not cost a lot, but making it work, that's another matter." The business climate is not good in Niger one diplomat called it "catastrophic". Kountche says he has to pay 50 percent of the value of his imported products in customs duties, but relocating is not an option. "It makes no sense, that's not why Drone Africa Service exists." He also employs three people full time and his head is full of ideas. He is thinking of opening a "drone academy" in Niamey, but in the immediate future in a poor country where overland access is often difficult, he considers using drones to deliver vaccines against the Covid-19 virus. ah/stb/sba/nb/mjs LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson today announced a single SurePress L-6534VW has produced the following commercial print volumes in an installation 1.99 million square feet in one month, 5.5 million square feet in one quarter and 13.8 million square feet over a period of nine months since installation. Epson was able to track this data with its Epson Remote Management System server, a digital monitoring system that tracks usage data. This milestone emphasizes how the Epson SurePress digital label press can serve the largest of label converters. Third-party research from IT Strategies notes the average monthly print volume for large digital presses is 215,000-430,000 square feet. The SurePress L-6534VW being tracked by the Epson Remote Management System server shows production that is four times more than this average. The workflow to the SurePress L-6534VW was driven by the Wasatch RIP solution, which offers a fully customizable solution designed to streamline orders, minimize production errors, help increase productivity, and run print production effectively. This label printing milestone marks another benefit of the SurePress digital label press solution for label converters, underscoring not only its productivity, but its reliability to consistently print so many labels month after month. "Many manufacturers quote fast print speeds, which by themselves can be misleading, if they are not sustainable over time. This data from SurePress shows real-world production, with sustained printing stats over a period of several months," said Mike Pruitt, product manager, Epson America, Inc. "This printing milestone demonstrates once again why the SurePress L-6534VW is a reliable, high-quality label press solution for highly automated installations." The Epson SurePress L-6534VW digital UV press, designed for label converters investing in a digital label press or looking to expand production facilities, is a reliable and easy-to-use press that enables high-speed printing ideal for producing labels and packaging with outstanding durability. The PrecisionCore linehead, center drum system, and digital varnish deliver high-quality images. The space-saving, compact design integrates all of the functions required for production, such as Corona treatment, White ink, digital varnish, and an additional UV curing unit. About Epson Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson will become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/ Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica). EPSON, PrecisionCore and SurePress are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2021 Epson America, Inc. SOURCE Epson America, Inc. Related Links www.epson.com As many as 300 union catering workers at San Francisco International Airport could see their jobs moved to San Jose International Airport, according to their union, in what they are calling a deliberate attempt to get around recently stepped-up health care requirements for some workers at SFO. Their employer, LSG Sky Chefs, claims far fewer employees will be affected and the changes are part of a long-planned consolidation in response to the pandemic that includes moving some food operations to San Jose. Passed in November, the Healthy Airport Ordinance took effect last month and requires family health care be provided for private-sector employees to meet a higher standard, at no cost to workers. Employers can choose instead to contribute to a city-managed fund to cover health care expenses for workers and their families under the ordinance. Workers represented by the Unite Here Local 2 union including dishwashers, food prep workers, and cooks have been notified their jobs will be relocated to the companys San Jose facility, according to their union. In a statement, employee and union member Linda Fajardo said she had been furloughed during the pandemic by the company and had been looking forward to returning to work. My job is to prepare the cold foods for the airlines, and I stand on my feet all day long in a big cooler at 38 degrees. Fajardo said. Now I need physical therapy for my knees, but I cant afford it without a good insurance. My coworkers and I feel so betrayed. Chapter president Anand Singh said it was not a coincidence that the company announced the changes around the time the ordinance began to take effect last month. We believe its illegal in addition to being abhorrent, Singh said. He added that the union is working with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on options like revoking the companys license to operate. He said he believes the ordinance would still apply to workers, about 60% of Sky Chefs SFO workforce, even if they were moved since they are still servicing flights out of San Francisco. Singh said to his knowledge other companies affected by the ordinance were in compliance with it or working to be. Sky Chefs shouldnt be allowed to skirt the law and get away with this. It would set a dangerous precedent, he said. Sky Chefs said in an email the move was part of a prior plan to consolidate its food operations in San Jose as a lease at SFO expired and the pandemic has dried up demand for air travel and by connection catering services. The number of current employees who will move from SFO to SJC will be around 15-20 in total, the company said, adding that some employees will remain at its warehouse location at SFO. The company said it has been in compliance with the ordinance and that the closure was not connected to it. Singh, the union chapter president, also said those employees could be paid up to $4 per hour less if they were moved to San Jose. All employees will continue to receive their normal wages at this time, the company said. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who authored the ordinance along with Supervisor Shamann Walton, has called for a hearing into the issue, and what he called the companys egregious violations, of the ordinance in a statement. In a statement requesting the hearing, Mandelman said the company had ignored the ordinance, including refusing to notify employees affected by it of their rights. The Runaway Shop is not a new tactic; for decades, it has been used by businesses looking to evade hard-won worker protection laws, Mandelman said in the statement. Trade association Airlines for America has also previously filed a lawsuit against San Francisco over the ordinance and is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from its requirements. Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice Remote monitoring has helped stewardship teams and landowners gain new perspectives on their work, respond quickly to threats to conserved land, and work more efficiently to uphold the promise of protecting land in perpetuity. The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, announced today its first grants to support land trusts as they integrate new technologies into their work that will help ensure conserved lands remain protected. Offered in partnership with The Nature Conservancy in California, the $219,000 in grants to 18 land trusts will allow these nonprofit land conservation organizations to identify and implement the best solutions to monitor land in their care using tools such as satellite imagery and machine learning. Such technology would, for example, help a land trust more easily spot harmful activities, including the building of unauthorized structures or illegally harvesting trees on conserved land. Remote monitoring has helped stewardship teams and landowners gain new perspectives on their work, respond quickly to threats to conserved land, and work more efficiently to uphold the promise of protecting land in perpetuity, said Andrew Bowman, the Alliances president and CEO. This is a moment when so many are looking for ways to do more as we continue to work remotely. To that end, I am pleased to see our support for these new approaches to land stewardship grow. Additionally, the grants provide the Alliance and TNC an opportunity to gather new data that will help identify the most effective and accessible tools for the land trust community. This first cycle of grantees represents the diversity of the land trust community, said Mike Sweeney, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in California. We look forward to working with these land trusts to evaluate results of the different technologies used and promote peer-learning opportunities to engage the broader land trust community. Recipients of the grant funding include Adirondack Land Trust in New York ($17,000), Arizona Land and Water Trust ($13,000), Blue Ridge Conservancy in North Carolina ($5,500), Eastern Sierra Land Trust in California ($10,000), Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina ($4,500), Hawaiian Islands Land Trust ($1,400), Hudson Highlands Land Trust in New York ($20,000), Hunterdon Land Trust in New Jersey ($10,000), Lower Shore Land Trust in Maryland ($15,000), Minnesota Land Trust ($8,000), Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy ($13,800), Otsego Land Trust in New York ($9,000), Pacific Forest Trust in California ($16,000), Palmer Land Conservancy in Colorado ($17,000), Sonoma Land Trust in California ($20,000), The Vital Ground Foundation in Montana ($12,000), Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy in Michigan ($15,000) and Upper Savannah Land Trust in South Carolina ($12,000). For more information about how any specific grant award will be used, contact the land trust. About the Land Trust Alliance Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at http://www.landtrustalliance.org. About The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit http://www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter. Most popular European holiday destinations such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal should be on the Governments green list for foreign travel, according to the boss of easyJet. Chief executive Johan Lundgren said he would expect almost all major European countries to be put in the low-risk category when overseas holidays from the UK are allowed to resume. Under the new traffic light system, people arriving in the UK from a green country will not be required to self-isolate, but those entering from an amber destination must quarantine for 10 days. Existing rules for arrivals from red locations will continue, including the mandatory stay in a quarantine hotel. (PA Graphics) Everyone returning to or visiting the UK will be required to take at least one coronavirus test before departure and after they arrive. The earliest date that foreign holidays could be permitted for people in England under Prime Minister Boris Johnsons road map for easing restrictions is May 17. Mr Lundgren was asked if he expects destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Turkey to be on the green list. He replied: Yes, by the time we open up for travel on the 17th of May and if the Government continues to have the plan in place on the two-test system. I wouldnt see a reason why you wouldnt have the majority of the countries of Europe in there. The UKs seven-day rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people stands at 29, but many popular short-haul locations have much higher figures, including France (348), Greece (185), Italy (169) and Spain (111). Mr Lundgren said people should be able to return from green countries without any testing at all because it would be considered low risk. He added: Its important the Government comes out with this list as soon as possible because this is the main question for most of our customers right now. Aviation minister Robert Courts told the Commons Transport Select Committee that countries will be categorised in the early part of May. He added that it wouldnt be right for me to speculate on the lists. Assessments will be based on a range of factors, including the proportion of a countrys population that has been vaccinated, rates of infection, emerging new variants, and the countrys access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing. Simon McNamara, who leads airline trade body the International Air Transport Associations UK and Ireland activities, told the committee the Governments approach to reopening foreign travel is still too complex and too cautious. He said: We are approaching a point where the pandemic in the UK is under control. We have good protections in place with testing, with vaccination as well, and we think we can open in a faster but safe way. Mark Tanzer, chief executive at travel trade organisation Abta, told MPs the plan doesnt recognise the huge change that vaccination has created. He said tour operators are struggling to explain to customers who have had their jabs that actually nothings changed from last year in terms of travel restrictions. Mr Courts told the meeting: I accept this is a cautious unlocking of international travel. It is meant to be, because its meant to be robust and its meant to be something that is sustainable and that protects public health and ensures that we dont have to go backwards again. Brian Strutton, general secretary of pilots union Balpa, told Sky News that if the Government wants people returning from green destinations to take PCR tests which cost around 120 each rather than cheaper lateral flow tests then it should be subsidising them to make the price reasonable. He also urged the Government to kick-start international travel by offering the tests free to key workers as they deserve a holiday. "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 U.S federal health officials Tuesday said "out of an abundance of caution" they are recommending an immediate pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after six cases of blood clots were reported in the United States. At a joint virtual news briefing, officials of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said the pause would last "a matter of days" while the agencies investigate the cases of blood clotting, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), which occurred in women between 18 and 48 years old within six to 13 days after receiving the one-dose vaccine. They note the six cases occurred out of more than 6.8 million doses of the vaccine administered. CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat said people who received the vaccine more than two weeks ago have very little to fear. Those who received the vaccine within the last week or so who develop symptoms such as severe headache, abdominal or leg pain, or shortness of breath, should contact their health care provider. The officials said they are working to reschedule those people who had appointments to receive the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Schuchat said the decision is not a mandate, and people who, after discussions with their physicians, feel they can safely take it, will be allowed to do so. (Newser) Millions of Americans now living in Oregon, California, and Washington state could end up in their own Greater Idaho if a proposal submitted to Idaho lawmakers Monday becomes reality. Mike McCarter, president of Move Oregon's Borders for a Greater Idaho, told a joint committee of lawmakers that the plan, which would involve Idaho expanding its border to the Pacific Ocean, could grow Idaho's population by 50% and make it the nation's third-largest state in terms of area, KTVB reports. The plan calls for around three-quarters of Oregon becoming part of Idaho. Supporters say residents of parts of southeast Washington and northern California would also welcome the chance to become part of a red state. story continues below McCarter, an Oregon resident, said four rural Oregon counties have already approved the plan and votes are coming up in five more. "There's a longtime cultural divide as big as the Grand Canyon between northwest Oregon and rural Oregon, and its getting larger," he said, per the AP. For parts of Oregon to join Idaho, the plan would have to be approved by Congress and the legislatures of both states. McCarter's group argues that the move would be likely to win approval since it won't affect the balance of power in the Senate. The AP reports "Idaho lawmakers appeared intrigued but skeptical." Mark Simmons, a former speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, told Idaho lawmakers that "a lot of details" would need to be worked out, including the minimum wage, which is $11.25 in Oregon and $7.25 in Idaho. (Read more Idaho stories.) Under the partnership, STL will be responsible for delivering millions of kilometres of optical fibre cable to support the build over the next three years. Openreach has plans to use STL's expertise and innovation to help accelerate its Full Fibre build programme and drive efficiency. This collaboration with Openreach strengthens a 14-year-old technology and supply relationship between the two companies and further reinforces STL's commitment to the UK market. Openreach plans to take advantage of STL's cutting-edge Opticonn solution a specialised set of fibre, cable and interconnect offerings designed to drive significant performance improvements, including up to 30 per cent faster installation. It will also have access to STL's Celesta a high-density optical fibre cable with a capacity of up to 6,912 optical fibres. This compact design is 26 per cent slimmer compared to traditional loose tube cables, allowing 2000 metres of cable to be installed in under an hour. The high density super-slim cable will also help minimise the use of plastic across Openreach's new network. Kevin Murphy, MD for Fibre and Network Delivery at Openreach, said: "Our Full Fibre network build is going faster than ever. We need partners like STL on board to not only help sustain that momentum, but also to provide the skills and innovation to help us go even further. We know the network we're building can deliver a host of social and economic benefits from boosting UK productivity to enabling more home working and fewer commuting trips but we're also trying to make this one of the greenest network builds in the world. So, it's good to know that STL's compact and efficient designs will contribute to this in a significant way." Commenting on the collaboration, Ankit Agarwal, CEO Connectivity Solutions Business, STL, said: "We are extremely excited to join hands with Openreach as a key optical solutions partner to build Full Fibre broadband networks for millions in the UK. Our customised, 5G-ready optical solutions are ideally suited for Openreach's future-proof network requirements and we believe they will enable next-gen digital experiences for homes and businesses across UK. This partnership will be a major step towards our mission of transforming billions of lives through digital networks." The announcement comes as Openreach continues to ramp up the build rate for its Full Fibre broadband programme which aims to reach 20 million homes and businesses by the mid-to-late 2020s. Openreach engineers are now delivering faster, more reliable connectivity to another 42,000 homes and businesses every week, or the equivalent of a home every 15 seconds. 4.5 million premises can now order a gigabit capable Full Fibre broadband service from a range of competing service providers using Openreach's new network. About STL - Sterlite Technologies Ltd STL is an industry-leading integrator of digital networks. Our fully 5G ready digital network solutions help telcos, cloud companies, citizen networks, and large enterprises deliver enhanced experiences to their customers. STL provides integrated 5G ready end-to-end solutions range from wired to wireless, design to deployment, and connectivity to compute. Our core capabilities lie in Optical Interconnect, Virtualised Access Solutions, Network Software, and System Integration. We believe in harnessing technology to create a world with next-generation connected experiences that transform everyday living. With a global patent portfolio of 462 to our credit, we conduct fundamental research in next-generation network applications at our Centre of Excellence. STL has a strong global presence with next-gen optical preform, fibre, cable, and interconnect subsystem manufacturing facilities in India, Italy, China, and Brazil, along with two software-development centers across India and a data centre design facility in the UK. For more details, visit: www.stl.tech | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube About Openreach Openreach Limited is the UK's digital network business. We're 35,000 people, working in every community to connect homes, schools, shops, banks, hospitals, libraries, mobile phone masts, broadcasters, governments and businesses large and small to the world. Our mission is to build the best possible network, with the highest quality service, making sure that everyone in the UK can be connected. We work on behalf of more than 660 communications providers like SKY, TalkTalk, Vodafone, BT and Zen, and our broadband network is the biggest in the UK, passing more than 31.8m UK premises. Over the last decade we've invested more than 14 billion into our network and, at more than 185 million kilometers, it's now long enough to wrap around the world 4,617 times. Today we're building an even faster, more reliable and future-proof broadband network which will be the UK's digital platform for decades to come. We're making progress towards our FTTP target to reach 20m premises by mid-to-late 2020s. We've also hired more than 3,000 trainee engineers this past financial year to help us build that network and deliver better service across the country. Openreach is a highly regulated, wholly owned, and independently governed unit of the BT Group. More than 90 per cent of our revenues come from services that are regulated by Ofcom and any company can access our products under equivalent prices, terms and conditions. For the year ended 31 March 2020, we reported revenue of 5bn. For more information, visit www.openreach.co.uk SOURCE STL - Sterlite Technologies Limited London: Europe has hinted it will not renew contracts for coronavirus vaccines produced by pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, in a new strategy that pivots heavily towards Pfizer and its new mRNA technology. In a surprise statement on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said negotiations were under way to buy 1.8 billion Pfizer-BioNTech doses for 2022 and 2023 enough to fully vaccinate every person in the European Union once a year for the next two years. The announcement followed a report in Italian newspaper La Stampa, which claimed European authorities would not sign new COVID vaccine deals with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson over suspected links to exceptionally rare blood clots. Europe is also unhappy with AstraZeneca over persistent supply shortages. President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinisto had a long phone call with President of Russia Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening, April 13. This was said in a press release of the Office of the President of Finland. The presidents discussed the tense situation on the Crimean peninsula and at the border between Russia and Ukraine. President Niinisto expressed his serious concern over an escalation of the situation due to the troop movements and raised the need for dialogue and actions to reduce tensions. President Putin told about his conversation with U.S. President Biden, as well as their planned meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference. President Niinisto informed of his initiative to strengthen the 50-year-old Helsinki Spirit in 2025, and it was discussed in a positive tone. In addition, the prison conditions of Alexei Navalny were discussed. As reported, the Russian armed forces have recently been building up troops near the state border of Ukraine in the north, east and south, as well as in the occupied Crimea. In addition, the number of ceasefire violations by the armed formations of the Russian Federation in eastern Ukraine has increased; there are losses among the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, the Russian Federation is conducting a propaganda campaign to justify possible aggression against Ukraine. The United States, other Western countries, as well as the EU and NATO, have come out in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity against the backdrop of Russia's escalation in eastern Ukraine. ish Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. On a winter day in 2016, Carolina Roman stepped into the Consulate of Mexico in Chicago, ready to head back to her hometown in Morelos, Mexico, after seven years of living in the country without documentation. It was a difficult decision for the 33-year-old mother of three. Roman had moved to the U.S. in 2009 and worked a series of minimum wage jobs in hopes of creating more opportunities for her children. She was reluctant to throw away the life she had built for her family in Harvey, Illinois, but she felt she had no other choice. Advertisement In 2015, Roman had discovered that her daughter, a minor, had been raped by the father of her two younger sons. Despite her shock, Roman said, she reported the crime to the Harvey Police Department right away. She then remained helpful to law enforcement throughout the investigation and prosecution process, and ultimately, after a few months, her former partner was sent to prison for the crime. It was, to say the least, a stressful time for Roman and her kids, and their anxieties had been further exacerbated by the fear and uncertainties of living without documentation. By the winter of 2016, Roman had decided to move back to Mexico, away from the place where her daughter had suffered such a trauma and where they could face arrest and deportation any day. She was going to the consulate to get a vehicle permit so that she could drive her family from Illinois to Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Roman conveyed her situation, a consulate employee informed her that she should be entitled to a form of temporary legal residency called a U visa. It is a special kind of immigration relief offered to undocumented immigrants who have cooperated with law enforcement. Her actions after her daughter was assaulted qualified her, the consulate employee told her. And the visa could eventually lead to a green card. Their bid for relief and security can turn into a nightmare of anxiety and bureaucracy. Roman was intrigued. Obtaining legal resident status, she thought, might offer her and her children some much-needed stability and peace of mind. To start off her application, Roman would need to get a signature from the Harvey Police Department to prove that she had been helpful to the officers. She submitted the certification request in early 2016. But for more than a year, Roman said, she could not get a signature from the police, who ignored her pleas for help after she and her attorney repeatedly visited, called, and emailed the department. The police gave me the runaround, Roman said. Advertisement Roman is not alone. Tens of thousands of immigrants seek U visas after being victims of or witnesses to crimes. But their bid for relief and security can turn into a nightmare of anxiety and bureaucracy, due to the unwillingness or inability of local law enforcement officers to comply with their role in the process. The U visa category was born out of lawmakers concerns for those going through the exact same predicament as Roman and her family. In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act, the first comprehensive legislation in the U.S. that sought to address domestic violence and other crimes against women. Over the next few years, lawmakers realized that the original legislation did not offer enough protection for immigrant women, who would need to leave the country, sometimes without their children, if they reported being victims of gender-based violence. The passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 further exacerbated the risk by making it easier to deport undocumented immigrations. As thenMassachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy noted in a 2000 congressional hearing, Thousands of battered immigrants are again being forced to remain in abusive relationships, out of fear of being deported or losing their children. Advertisement To close the gap, Congress created the U visa in 2000, which ensured that victims or witnesses of domestic violence, sexual assault, felonious assault, and a number of other qualifying crimes would not be deported if they work with law enforcement to solve the crimes. The first step of the U visa application process includes getting a certification from an agencya police department, a prosecutors office, a court, or another governmental departmentthat speaks to the applicants involvement in the investigation or prosecution process. This supposedly straightforward requirement, however, brings out another challenge that the federal regulation fails to address till this day. Advertisement Under the official guidance set forward by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, local agencies have complete discretion in deciding whether they want to sign a U visa form. They can enact internal policies to deny any request at will. In response to these lax rules, 15 states have enacted their own laws in an attempt to set a common standard across jurisdictions. Advertisement In Illinois, where Roman lives, the 2019 Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors Act now requires local agencies to approve all eligible U visa certifications within 90 days. Officials can only deny a request if there is no evidence that an applicant has been a victim or witness of a qualifying crime. If they do deny the request, they must provide a written notice to the requester outlining why the person does not qualify. Certifiers could be subject to civil and criminal liability if they fail to act in accordance with the state law. There are still a lot of places where law enforcement doesnt know about the certification process, said Leslye Orloff, the director of the National Immigrant Womens Advocacy Project at American University, who contributed to the initial drafting of the 2000 U visa law. And there are places that just wont do it. They want to stay away from immigration law and they may be anti-immigrant. Advertisement Advertisement Over the past decade, Orloffs team has trained more than 7,300 law enforcement officers and prosecutors in 33 states on the role of local agencies in a U visa application. But even today, she said, she continues to walk into rooms of officers who either do not know the visa category or do not like the idea of helping immigrants obtain legal status, even though the 21-year-old rule exists to incentivize undocumented immigrants to come forward and assist cops. If they want to fight crime in their communities, then excluding a whole class of people from protection is going to be unsafe to everyone, Orloff said. I would hear them say Im not racist, but Im not going to help you stay in the country because you came illegally. Austin Kocher Antonio Flores, for example, has been an officer at the San Francisco Police Department for nearly four decades. He was resistant to the idea of certifying U visa applications when he first attended a mandated training with Orloffs team in early 2000s, an NIWAP report shows. But then he saw their utility firsthand. According to the report, an undocumented young woman had fallen in love with a violent gang member who raped her, gave her drugs, and trafficked her. Fearing deportation, the woman was reluctant to come forward to the police. What finally got the case rolling was the encouragement from her mother, who previously received a U visa certification from local law enforcement based on a domestic violence case. The mother told her daughter to trust the police, and the daughters decision to share her story proved to be crucial to the investigation. With her help, the report said, Flores department was able to arrest the criminal and uproot a sex trafficking operation involving minors. Suspicious of the visa category at first, Flores eventually came around and said that such a policy that combines police work and victims services could lead to a win for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the visas proven benefits to law enforcementthe NIWAP found that immigrants who have received a certification and filed a U visa application are 73 percent more likely to participate in the criminal case and 50 percent more likely to file police reports if they experience future crimesmany agencies still decline to offer assistance. A 2018 report by the NIWAP shows that only 35 percent of law enforcement agencies, 68 percent of prosecutors offices, and 18 percent of courts said they sign U visa certifications. According to another survey by the project, the reasons officers often cite for not signing the form include that the criminal was not prosecuted, the crime happened too long ago, or the victim did not suffer enough injuries. A number of certifiers also expressed that they would refuse to provide a signature simply because the federal law gives them the authority to deny any request as they see fit. Unless a state law exists to provide more rigorous regulations, certifiers are under no obligation to cooperate with petitioners. Advertisement Austin Kocher, a faculty fellow at Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, carried out his own survey, interviewing sheriffs, police officers, and prosecutors about their opinions on U visas. He concluded that some officers are resistant to the process because of their anti-immigrant sentiments. I would hear them say Im not racist, but Im not going to help you stay in the country because you came illegally, Kocher said. A lot of people who are in law enforcement just assume that immigrants are always lying and always trying to take advantage of the system. Even states that have passed legislation specifically intended to mitigate this kind of anti-immigrant attitude have had issues enforcing those laws. An analysis of documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests for this report shows that out of 16 Illinois agenciespolice departments, sheriffs offices, and prosecutors officesthat serve sizable immigrant populations, at least nine of them appeared to have violated the state law by either failing to provide timely responses to U Visa certification requests or imposing arbitrary internal policies to deny signatures to immigrants who have helped law enforcement. Advertisement The Mount Prospect Police Department, for example, rejected seven out of 10 requests that it received in 2019 and 2020 because it has an internal policy to only assist petitioners who are currently needed to facilitate the prosecution of an active criminal case, according to records from FOIA requests. Among the immigrant victims who bore the consequences of Mount Prospects capricious rule are a woman who suffered a miscarriage due to domestic violence, a woman who was raped in her sleep and had to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, and the mother of a minor child who was sexually abused. In the last case, the Mount Prospect police refused to sign a second certification request even after the petitioners attorney pointed out that its reason for denial was contrary to the law. The department did not return calls for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Weve had this issue for years, said Rocio Becerril, a Chicago-based immigration attorney whose client could not get a signature from Mount Prospect police. Its very, very arbitrary. When this happens, I just wait for these people to retire and get a new chief of police to maybe try again in the future. Becerril has also been trying to attain a certification from the Oak Park Police Department for another client who is also a survivor of domestic abuse. She has not gotten a response since she first submitted the request in August 2019. According to Becerril, the police repeatedly told her Ill get to it if I get to it. Becerril has felt stuck as to whether she should send the department a confrontational email about the 90-day limit under the VOICES Act. Even with the law on her side, upsetting the police will likely only make her clients process more difficult. Shatonya Johnson, the deputy chief of the Oak Park Police Department, responded to my request for comment on these cases: She told me that it should not take this long for someone to hear back before noting that the department was going through a transitional period and processing requests more slowly than usual. Advertisement Advertisement Other Illinois agencies also have policies that are contrary to the VOICES Act, records show. The Naperville Police Department denied 15 out of 19 requests and follows a written policy that largely disqualifies crimes that happened more than five years ago, even though the guidance says that there should be no time limit. The Elgin Police Department had the same protocol, resulting in 17 unjustified denials in the past two years, although it amended its policy in November to follow the law. In Boone County, States Attorney Tricia Smith said she would not provide certification if the case in question is still pending. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Office would not sign the form if the case is closed. Advertisement Thats a Catch 22youre damned if you do and youre damned if you dont, said immigration attorney Richard Gellersted. If it was currently pending, they would deny it because he hasnt fully cooperated, yet when the case concludes and hes no longer needed, then they deny it for that. A few days later, the police contacted Romans lawyer and sent over the signed form that they could have easily provided months ago. The list of violations goes on. The McHenry County States Attorneys Office cited petitioners own criminal records, the age of the crimes, and the absence of prosecution as reasons for denials. In Rock Island County, the States Attorneys Office declined to sign the form of a victim of armed robbery 120 days after the initial request because of a misspelled name in the police report. Records from the Will County States Attorneys Office and the Champaign County Sheriffs Office indicate the lack of any response to certain certification requests. Neither office provided clarification for the situations after repeated attempts to contact them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the leadership that sets the tone and the procedure even after the VOICES Act, said Bethany Hoffmann, a lawyer involved in the drafting of the state legislation. I think possibly some offices dont want to do the extra work for the victims. If an agency violates state law on U visas, the pathways for the immigrant victim to rectify the situation is very limited, said Paulina Vera, a law professor at the George Washington University. The person could theoretically sue the agency, Vera said, but a lengthy lawsuit would be a big financial and emotional toll on the immigrant, who already has to pay for costly attorney fees for the visa and often risks retaliation from their abusers for reporting them to the police in the first place. Even under the VOICES Act, certifying agencies that violate the law would still have immunity from civil lawsuits or criminal prosecutions unless the petitioners can demonstrate willful or wanton misconduct on the officers part. Advertisement About a year after Roman first requested a certification from the Harvey police, she still had not heard back from the department. In March 2017, Roman learned of a community meeting where a local alderman was going to give a statement about the citys commitment to protecting its immigrant population. Running out of options, Roman stood up and called out the speaker in front of about 100 attendees. If you uphold supporting us as a community, how come Ive been waiting for a year in order to get my certification signed? she asked the alderman. I was so nervous because I thought the police was going to come arrest me and deport me, Roman said. But the only way that they would listen to me was if I probed them in public. After the meeting, a police officer approached her and took down her number. A few days later, the police contacted Romans lawyer and sent over the signed form that it could have easily provided months ago. The department did not return calls for comment. With the certification, Roman was finally able to send her U visa application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. But even with the necessary local certification in place, her application still needs to be processed by the federal bureaucracy. Right now, there is a backlog of 142,000 U visa applications waiting for final approval, and even though Joe Biden has proposed raising the annual cap on U visas from 10,000 a year to 30,000 a year, the USCIS is currently handling applications submitted in 2016, according to multiple attorneys. It could easily take more than five years for Romans application to get approved. Roman is currently earning her living as a factory worker at a candy warehouse. She said getting a U visa would greatly expand her opportunities to make a better living. When I get the U visa, I am going to educate myself so I can get a better job and take care of my family the way I should be, she said. Chandigarh: The Punjab government will spend at least 30% of funds under all government schemes for the welfare of the states SC population. This was announced on Wednesday by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, along with a host of other measures for the uplift of the Dalit community, as a mark of homage to Dr BR Ambedkar, who he said should be remembered as the first Indian who achieved so much for the Dalit Samaj. Captain Amarinder SinghPaying floral tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. BR Ambedkar, on his 130th birth anniversary, at a virtual state-level event, the Chief Minister also announced filling up of the SC vacancy backlog in all departments on priority, while promising to explore a post-matric overseas scholarship scheme for SC students, on the lines of the Baroda State Scholarship Scheme awarded to Baba Sahib under a scheme established by Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The Chief Minister further announced a special Rs 500 crore Rural Link Roads project for FY2022. The project will encompass construction of new link roads to the Bastis of Scheduled Castes and other poorer sections of the society, which do not currently have road connectivity. Shamshan ghats and places of worship will also be connected through the project. A special allocation of Rs 100 crore is proposed in 2021-22 for modernisation of villages having more than 50% SC population, said the Chief Minister, adding this was aimed at providing further impetus to existing grants in the villages having Scheduled Caste population greater than or equal to 50% of the total population. Smart phones will be given to all Class 12 SC students in government schools, while to motivate people to take up dairy farming, 150 village-level awareness camps and training at 9 Training & Extension Centres will be conducted, with special emphasis on Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, he added. Captain Amarinder Singh The Chief Minister further announced that his government also proposes to provide 30% reservation for SC applicants in villages under the `Har Ghar Pakki Chhat scheme, and also 30% in the affordable housing scheme for EWS. His government also plans to set up a Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Training at Jalandhar for competitive exams, including Civil Services. Proposed to be established under GGRK mission, it will have 50% seat reservation for candidates belonging to SC families. Other projects planned include Dr. BR Ambedkar museum and Dr. BR Ambedkar Institute of Management in PTU Campus, Kapurthala, he added. Lamenting the anti-Dalit mindset that still exists in the country, the Chief Minister underlined the need for better awareness among the people. Unfortunately, he said he did not have the resources to do all that he really wanted to do to spread Dr Ambedkars message. Captain Amarinder recalled that when Rajiv Gandhi contested for the first time from Amethi, after the death of his brother Sanjay Gandhi, the campaigning task was handed over to him for one of the four areas in the constituency. He went on to recall: A SC youth who was deputed to help me wanted to get off the jeep before entering an upper caste dominated village, but I did not allow him to. He was standing next to me when the villagers offered me water, asking him to go out. But I made it clear that he will not go out alone. So I also left the place, telling them Votan pao ya na pao, appa jaa rahe hain. (Give us votes or not, we are going!) Remembering Baba Rao Ambedkars unparalleled contribution to the nation, the Chief Minister said the son of a Subedar, he worked hard and studied when majority did not go to school. After studying at Columbia University (USA) & London School of Economics, he was also called to the Bar at Grays Inn (London). A Professor of Political Economy in the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, he practiced Law in the Bombay High Court, before going on to become Indias first Law Minister, and then the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. The Chief Minister said he was proud to be paying homage to a brilliant man, who drafted the Constitution on which the country is still running. Captain Amarinder SinghOn the occasion, Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan cited some of the steps taken by the state government for Dalit welfare. Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot lauded the various measures taken by the Captain Amarinder government, including increase in the Shagun amount and revival of post-matric scholarship scheme, which was stopped by the Centre. His colleagues Aruna Chaudhary appreciated the commendable and revolutionary steps taken for Dalit women and girls, while Charanjit Singh Channi stressed the need for the implementation of the 85th amendment, and regular recruitment of Dalits, along with reservations for Dalits in private schools, police department, AG office and Chairmen of Boards. PPCC president Sunil Jakhar criticised the `manuwadi soch that still divides the society on the basis of caste, colour, creed, with no financial equality and Dalits still treated as untouchables. People who promote this mindset are playing with the sentiments of the community and Baba Sahibs ideology, he said, adding that it is our responsibility to spread awareness among the SC community against their exploitation. MLA Raj Kumar Verka suggested setting up a committee for implementation of the 85th amendment, as well as increase in wages and permanent employment for safai karamcharis. Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Deputy Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, congratulated the Chief Minister on his visionary outlook for the SC community. Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhry and MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal also shared their thoughts on Baba Saheb on the occasion. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Residents of the upscale Las Campanas area north of Santa Fe can expect improved cellphone service in the future. The Santa Fe County Commission voted 4-1 to approve a 70-foot-tall Verizon Wireless cell tower Tuesday, overturning a decision by the Planning Commission not to allow a height variance for the tower. That area of the county has poor to nonexistent cell service, creating a public safety concern. The cell tower will be hidden within a bell tower design, and other carriers will be able to place their antennas in the structure. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Only Commissioner Rudy Garcia voted against allowing the cell tower. I just have a hard time with this because, why not go 100 foot? Why 70? Why not 50? Garcia said. I understand the whole emergency stuff. And speaking with some of my constituents in my area, its a little bit hard for me to vote for it Garcia represents District 3, which includes La Cienega, south of Santa Fe, where another cell tower is proposed. Many residents of his district are opposed to that tower. However, about 15 Las Campanas residents spoke in favor of the cell tower in their area during the public comment period of Tuesdays meeting. No one spoke against it. Chip Munday, general manager of Las Campanas Master Association, said cellphones often are the most reliable means of communication during natural disasters, such as fires, because the towers typically have their own generators. Power is usually shut off during fires to prevent transformers for blowing up, he said, meaning residents couldnt rely on their landlines for service. Stan Weiner, a resident of Las Campanas and a retired attorney, said if the commission didnt vote to approve the variance, it could be opening itself up to potential litigation over safety issues. If, God forbid, something happened and they couldnt get medical service on a timely basis. I am concerned that this county could be the subject of litigation, he said. Other residents spoke of instances in which they had medical problems, such as a fall, and struggled to get cell service to call emergency responders. One resident said his wife had to go to a neighbors house to use their landline to call for help when he fell and broke several ribs. Commissioner Anna Hansen, who represents District 2, which includes Las Campanas, said the cell tower was important for people living in the area. I really feel that this is incredibly important for my constituents and for the constituents in that entire area, she said. And it is for the health and public safety that this is being done. Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases. Download a Free Sample Report The textile market will witness a negative impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020. With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renew phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal. 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Sample report with detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown Textile Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Textile market is segmented as below: Product Natural Fibers Polyesters Nylon Others Application Fashion Technical Household Others Geography APAC North America Europe South America MEA The textile market is driven by Increasing demand for natural fibers. In addition, the growing construction activities are expected to trigger the textile market toward witnessing a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. More insights into the global trends impacting the future of the textile market Request Free Sample Report Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ Report: www.technavio.com/report/textile-market-industry-analysis SOURCE Technavio The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has failed to ensure residents living in public housing are protected from exposure to radioactive gas, the agencys independent watchdog determined this week, confirming findings from a 2019 investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive. HUD should develop a department-wide policy making clear that radon gas is a radioactive element and set requirements for testing and mitigation in public housing and other federal housing programs. Due to the danger that prolonged radon exposure can pose to residents, it is critical for HUD to act, officials from HUDs Office of Inspector General wrote. The federal report comes 17 months after The Oregonian/OregonLive published its Cancer Cloud investigation, which revealed widespread failures by HUD and local public housing authorities to protect tenants from the risk of exposure. Radon seeps in through flooring and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in America, killing an estimated 21,000 people each year. In 1988, Congress directed HUD to develop a policy protecting residents in public housing from exposure to hazardous levels of radon. But HUD waited until 2013 to begin strongly encouraging local housing authorities to test their buildings. It still does not mandate testing or radon-removal systems across the nations 1 million units of public housing. The newsroom surveyed 64 housing authorities across the country and found fewer than one in three could document radon testing. Reporters conducted independent testing in several cities, identifying high radon in public housing units in Denver, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Huntsville, Alabama with the Huntsville Housing Authority later confirming pervasive problems. And reporters interviewed scores of current and former tenants, including a 37-year-old Portland man with late-stage lung cancer who spent part of his childhood in public housing. His doctor suspected radon exposure from his youth as the likely cause of cancer. While his childhood home was since demolished, the neighboring property had radon levels high enough to prompt mitigation. He died a year ago this month, leaving behind four children. More than two dozen federal lawmakers responded to the newsrooms investigation by pressing HUD and local housing authorities to act, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who at the time was a U.S. Senator for California. HUD proposed a pilot project and secured $4 million from Congress last year to test for radon and install removal systems in public housing, although details of the program remain scarce and lawmakers warned such low funding would only scratch the surface of addressing this serious public health threat. HUDs examiners, responding to the newsrooms investigation, spent more than six months analyzing the agencys radon policies not only for public housing but also programs providing grants for affordable units and subsidies for certain low-income housing projects. The review found HUD lacked an overarching radon policy, leaving three agency programs with uneven requirements. As a result of this inconsistent approach to testing and mitigation, HUD cannot ensure that residents receive consistent and sufficient protection from the hazardous health effects of radon exposure, the Inspector Generals office wrote. The report noted that HUD regulations require all program properties to be free of radioactive substances that could affect the health and safety of occupants. Yet the agencys written policy to encourage, but not require, radon testing and mitigation in public housing could give a local housing authority the incorrect notion that unsafe levels of radon, a radioactive substance, are allowed to remain in its properties. Not requiring testing and mitigation in public housing may result in residents exposure to dangerous levels of radon over time, the Inspector Generals office wrote, adding that it often takes years or decades for past exposure to develop into lung cancer. HUDs public housing department should immediately revise its radon policy to effectively clarify that units must be free of radon, according to the reports recommendations. But federal public housing officials have so far resisted. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, had been among the most vocal lawmakers in the wake of the newsrooms investigation to pressure HUD and Ben Carson, the housing secretary under the Trump administration, to address radon problems in public housing. On Tuesday, he said the agencys decades-long inaction has gone on long enough. This report confirms my warnings to Secretary Carson over a year ago: HUD has repeatedly missed opportunities to ensure families living in federally-assisted housing are safe from radon, and its putting the health and safety of Oregonians and Americans at serious risk, Oregons senior senator said in a statement. Wyden said its imperative for the Biden administration and new HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to act on the recommendations from the Inspector Generals office. Fudge, until recently a U.S. Representative from Ohio, declined in 2019 to comment on the newsrooms investigation. HUD officials declined comment Tuesday and for several weeks offered no details about plans for the $4 million pilot project, including how many units would be tested for radon. HUD and local housing authorities would need to spend $49 million to $78 million a year for five years to test the nations public housing stock and lower radon levels, assuming one in five units needs mitigation. Thats according to estimates provided to HUD last year by the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists, a trade group that first highlighted federal inaction two decades ago. I think theres a lot of awareness at HUD, and a lot of attention to this subject, said Jane Malone, the groups national policy director. Every indication that we have is that people want to do something, they want to do the right thing. But absent mandates from HUD, local housing authorities have been slow to react to indications of radon problems. Some, including the housing authority serving Multnomah County in Oregon, identified numerous units with high levels of radon but were slow to notify tenants. Others, such as the Omaha Housing Authority in Nebraska and Portland Housing Authority in Maine, knew about problems for months or years but didnt promptly make repairs until after they were questioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Among locations tested for the newsrooms 2019 investigation, only the Huntsville Housing Authority responded by conducting its own radon testing. The agency confirmed extensive exposure in more than 60 units at one of its public housing complexes, pledging to make repairs and conduct broader testing. The full extent of whats happened since is unclear. Antonio McGinnis, the agencys executive director, declined for the past five weeks to answer questions about testing and mitigation. The agency also has failed to provide any documents in response to a March 11 public records request. On Wednesday, after this story published online, McGinnis said in an email that residents in units with high radon who wanted to move were granted transfers. He said the agency in September launched testing at other public housing complexes and recently completed the work, apparently with more problems identified. We are now working with the testing company on a mitigation strategy for the units that had higher levels, he said. Alex Corrales, the chief executive officer of the Worcester Housing Authority, initially said in response to the newsrooms investigation that he would form a small committee to conduct a thorough review and gather more information about radon. He said the review would include a radon expert to help guide the agency. Corrales last month declined to say if he ever formed the committee. A public records request revealed no documentation that a radon contractor was ever contacted, and no units have been tested by or for the agency. Corrales reiterated his concern that reporters testing, which found one unit with high levels of radon in Worcester, was not an adequate sample to make conclusions or assertions. Radon testing can become expensive and unless an authority has concrete reason to believe a problem exists, the limited funding will be diverted to other glaring needs, he said in a statement. The Denver Housing Authority responded to the newsroom investigation by hiring a contractor to draft a radon testing and mitigation plan. Completed in October 2020, the agency has not yet begun testing units, however, attempting to limit exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stella Madrid, an agency spokeswoman, said testing will begin with common spaces and garages this spring, high-rise apartments this summer, and row homes and single-family houses in fall and winter. That timeline would be two full years after the newsroom provided the Denver agency with testing records showing high levels of radon in some apartments, including Norma Flores home. Im still sitting here living with radiation every day, said Flores, 71, whose unit had radon at double the level the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says should be fixed. Flores said she is so concerned that she opens her door every two hours to air out her home, hoping to prevent radon from pooling inside. A cervical cancer survivor, Flores said shes worried about her health after living in the same public housing apartment for 16 years and is fearful of lung cancer. I think they should just get rid of the radon, she said. Its not that hard of a job. Read the newsrooms previous radon coverage: Government ignores radon risk in public housing / Nov. 22, 2019 HUD reacts to Oregonian investigation: Radon has not received the attention HUD encouraged / Nov. 25, 2019 Wyden, Merkley press HUD to address radon in public housing after Oregonian investigation / Dec. 5, 2019 More members of Congress want action after Oregonian radon investigation / Dec. 14, 2019 Congressional drumbeat grows louder for radon protections after Oregonian investigation / Dec. 21, 2019 Ignored by HUD, senators push for meeting with Secretary Ben Carson over radon failures / Jan. 15, 2020 Alabamas Doug Jones joins congressional push for HUD radon action after Oregonian investigation / Jan. 29, 2020 Cancer Cloud fallout: Ben Carson suggests HUD will now include radon problems in inspection scores / Jan. 31, 2020 Trumps budget plan includes $5 million for radon in public housing / Feb. 10, 2020 Elizabeth Warren wants HUD action on radon after Oregonian investigation. So do 10 other Massachusetts lawmakers / Feb. 14, 2020 Housing authority confirms radon problems identified by Oregonian investigation, doesnt tell tenants / Feb. 23, 2020 Housing Secretary Ben Carson finally talks radon with lawmakers, makes no promises / March 6, 2020 HUDs independent watchdog launches review of radon policies after Oregonian investigation / March 19, 2020 -- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt Massachusetts remains on track to reach 2 million fully vaccinated residents this week, despite the pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccinations. Were hopeful that we will far exceed that goal and get as many people as vaccinated as possible, Baker said during a news briefing at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Federal regulators said they expect the pause on J&J vaccinations to last a matter of days as they investigate whether reports of blood clotting among six people are linked to the single-dose vaccine they received. In Massachusetts, the J&J pause has prompted pharmacies, regional collaboratives and other sites using the single-dose vaccine to reschedule appointments. The Northampton-Amherst regional collaborative canceled roughly 200 appointments this week. The staff is looking to reschedule appointments using Pfizer doses. While the pause is inconvenient, Baker said the overall disruption to the states vaccination efforts is minimal. Massachusetts received about 11,600 J&J doses this week and 340,000 doses of Moderna and Pfizer, the vaccines that require two shots, Baker said. The Republican governor estimates the J&J doses make up 3% of the states supply this week. The White House plans to send Massachusetts an 8% increase in Moderna and Pfizer doses, Baker said. He did not provide an exact number, but such that increase amounts to some 27,000 additional doses. Despite the speed bumps along the states rollout, Baker said the state is on track on its vaccination plan based on projections set in December. If Massachusetts reaches 2 million-plus vaccinated, he said the state will have inoculated close to half of the states population thats eligible to be vaccinated. Baker on Wednesday pitched another incentive to getting vaccinated. Speaking alongside Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy, the BASE founder Robert Lewis Jr. and El Mundo Boston President Alberto Vasallo, Baker announced Red Sox Week at the Hynes, which includes a selfie station and a raffle where people could win tickets to a Boston Red Sox game. The staff will offer services in English and Spanish, Baker said. We understand the vaccination process can sometimes be stressful for individuals, Baker said. Our goal is to encourage more people to come to Boston with family and neighbors to get vaccinated together. Related Content: It wasn't unheard of for San Antonio to host a number of massive events in the same week. Not too long ago, Diwali at Hemisfair overlapped with Dia de los Muertos at La Villita while Alamo City Comic Con hosted throngs of San Antonio nerds, all happily crammed into the Alamodome. I was there. I met Jeff Goldblum, it was great. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit and our city went from party town to a quiet bizarro version of itself. The panchangas stopped. As we come out from the COVID-19-induced haze, events are popping back up. Markets are back. Restaurants can't keep up with diners. And though Big Texas Comicon announced its return later this year, some fandoms are taking things a little slower. For Heroes and Fantasies Vice President Adam Conley, that means opening his stores up for meet-and-greets that don't resemble the chaos usually found at most conventions. Like other retail shops during the pandemic, the beloved comic book enclave closed its doors for several weeks. Though the company has a serious social presence, Conley and co. had not dabbled in e-commerce during their three decades in business. READ MORE: 'We can't wait': Big Texas Comicon is returning to San Antonio this fall "It was pretty detrimental to our survival, and we were not prepared," Conley said. Their online pivot helped them stay afloat, with customers ordering through curbside pickup. "We catered to our local market because having been around for 34 years, the locals are what built us and helped create what we are." Face masks are definitely required, especially at their gaming tables that returned later in the year. And as new fans trickle in "WonderWoman," "Wandavision," and a slew of other Disney-backed projects have helped keep nerd culture satiated throughout the pandemic Heroes and Fantasies is trying its hand at personable, intimate events with some of your favorite actors. In October, the shops welcomed Jason David Frank of "Power Rangers" fame for a meet-and-greet. The actor had requirements in place to keep things safe, including masks worn during photos, but the trial run paid off for the shops. They were able to bring in talent without blowing their budget, and still made the trip worth it for the stars. Building relationships with the appropriate agent takes a minute, but Heroes and Fantasies now has the ball rolling. Lou Ferrigno of "The Incredible Hulk" had a nonstop line for his 4-hour stints at the shop in late February. They'll continue hosting events into May with "Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace" baddie Darth Maul himself making an appearance on April 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Selfies and signatures with actor Ray Park will be offered, $60 each, or $100 for the combo. VIP passes are also available for $25 with their own set of perks. Park, who also featured in 2000's "X-Men" movie as Toad, already has a great track record for appearances, something that Conley's excited about. "We've heard nothing but great things about him and his fans," Conley said. "Doing it at the store gives it that more personal feel, it's a more intimate setting to talk to the celebrity with." Come May 14, they'll host Jason Faunt, the Red Ranger in "Power Rangers Time Force" at all three shop locations. Will conventions go back to their bustling norm? Maybe. Or maybe they'll revert back to conventions of the '80s and '90s, when venues held a total of 30 vendors, and celebrities were a nice bonus. "It was nothing like we're used to setting up now where we have a 60-by-60 booth and hang things from the ceiling," Conley said. "I remember a convention at the Wyndham in '93, and Stan Lee was just there signing autographs. The line was there but it wasn't insane." The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the National Strategy for Barrier-Free Environment and established the Council to control and monitor the implementation of the Strategy. "The Cabinet of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal posted on Telegram after the Cabinets meeting. He added that the Council for Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine was established to monitor and control the implementation of the National Strategy at the suggestion of First Lady Olena Zelenska. "I would like to thank Mrs. Olena Zelenska, who raised the problem of barriers and brought together a wide range of experts, civil society representatives and authorities to build a barrier-free environment in Ukraine," the Prime Minister wrote. He stressed that a barrier-free environment as a new social norm is a bridge that will further connect Ukraine with progressive European countries, where the principle of equal rights and opportunities is at the heart of all state decisions. As reported, Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska suggested establishing the Council for Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine. According to her, for all the proposals to eliminate barriers to be fulfilled, an effective body is needed to monitor and control the progress of implementation of the Strategy. Ukraine received the official status of a member of the Biarritz Partnership an international initiative promoting equal rights and opportunities in September 2020. Ukraines accession to the Partnership was initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine in December 2019. ol A judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit brought against Pierce County, Wash., by the family of sheriffs deputy Daniel McCartney, who was fatally shot while responding to a call. McCartney, 34, was shot Jan. 7, 2018 while responding to a home invasion robbery in the Frederickson area, the News Tribune reported. Hes survived by his wife and three young sons. The lawsuit alleged deputies are not safe due to inadequate staffing. It sought damages as well as an order mandating sufficient staffing or other equitable relief that will prevent a repeat of another wrongful deputy death. Superior Court Judge Karena Kirkendoll granted the countys motion to dismiss the complaint Monday, according to court records. The countys motion said McCartney was aware of the hazards of the job but voluntarily confronted that risk. Professional rescuers assume certain risks inherent in their jobs and may not collect damages from those whose negligence brings about such risks, the county argued. A response filed on behalf of the family argued the county misapplied the professional rescuer doctrine. Understaffing is not an inherent risk of working as a law enforcement officer, the lawsuit said. Pierce County was duty bound to provide sufficient staff or alternatively to decline a law enforcement response and to inform the public of the inability to keep its residents safe by timely responding to calls with sufficient staffing. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Washington New Delhi, April 14: The Joe Biden administration is moving fast. In just 11 weeks, it has honed on China as an enemy that has to be pursued relentlessly and outmanoeuvred. America knows its enemies and how to chase them down. Two US senators have introduced the 'Strategic Competition Act of 2021', a legislation that will allow the US to edge out China in all fields-strategic, economic, and diplomatic. The bulwark of this strategy will be the Indo-Pacific region, which is right now contentious with the South China Sea swarming with warships from numerous countries. This comprehensive bipartisan legislation is the brainchild of Robert Menendez-chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senator Jim Risch. A Road Map for the US The 280-page legislation by the duo puts together US strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools for an Indo-Pacific strategy that will allow the US to square up to China and take on the challenges it poses to its national and economic security. The Strategic Competition Act of 2021 has endorsed the four-member Quad and urges the US to strengthen its relations with like-minded allies. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will take up the bill for discussion and voting on Wednesday, April 14. Speaking to the media, Menendez said: "The Strategic Competition Act of 2021 is a recognition that this moment demands a unified, strategic response that can rebuild American leadership, invest in our ability to out-compete China, and reground diplomacy in our core values." China: Opportunistic and Hostile The legislation takes note of the fact that China has attacked countries and increased hostilities when many countries were vulnerable due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. It ratcheted up tensions with India by intruding into Indian-held territory where the stand-off still continues. The document mentions the violent clash at the Pangong Tso after which India was forced to mirror Chinese deployment of men and machinery. The document says that China has: "capitalised on the world's focus on the Covid-19 pandemic by its brazen move in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and contributing to increased tensions with India. The China claims nearly all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area." Strength in Numbers The legislation also says that the US values partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries as well as the Quad. It asks the US to deepen America's regional partnerships and also cement existing ones with India, Taiwan and New Zealand. In their document, the two senators say that the US should reaffirm its commitment to the Quad and be prepared to meet regional challenges to promote a free, open, inclusive, resilient, and healthy Indo-Pacific that is defined by democracy, rule-of-law, and market-driven economic growth and is free from undue influence and coercion. "The United States should reaffirm its commitment to the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with India and further deepen bilateral defence consultations and collaboration with India commensurate with its status as a major defence partner," the bill says. It also stresses upon the US administration to build Indian capabilities and capacities against "economic and security challenges posed by China." Seeks Scrutiny of the BRI in Pakistan The legislation wants a detailed description from American diplomacy about the Pakistan-China financial collaboration in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor - a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that runs through the length of Pakistan. Through the BRI, China plans to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. Comprehensive and Idealistic The bill is holistic in its range. It looks at China's overwhelming reach across the globe, therefore, expects the US to strengthen diplomatic efforts everywhere - the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Arctic, and Oceania. The legislation lends support to a range of human rights issues like restrictions in Hong Kong as well as forced labour, forced sterilisation and other abuses in Xinjiang. It wants action against China's IP infringements, Chinese government subsidies, its predatory international policies and track the presence of Chinese companies in US capital markets. The legislations calls for enhanced cooperation with allies on arms control in the face of China's military modernisation and expansion, and wants transparency on the entire range of Chinese weapons - ballistic, hypersonic glide, and cruise missiles, conventional forces, nuclear, space, cyberspace and other strategic domains. Confident the Legislation will make it Menendez is hopeful that the legislation will find favour. He says: "I am confident that this effort has the necessary support to be overwhelmingly approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee next week and the full Senate shortly thereafter. That is the only way we will get the China challenge right - a bipartisan commitment to mutual trust and good-faith compromise, balancing pragmatism and idealism..." Risch, his partner in the legislation, says that this is an important step towards ensuring that the US is enabled to compete with China for future decades. He adds that the bill also cuts the Communist Party of China's influence across the globe, particularly in American universities. 2021 bring forth a Series of American Thoughts on China Interestingly, this is not the first attempt by the US this year to find its place in the world vis-a-vis China. The previous two documents - released in March and January - speak on similar lines. In March, the Biden administration had revealed a piece of its mind when it released the Interim National Security Guidance paper that identified China as its main global rival. The 21-page vision document was the Biden administration's pathway to dealing with China, building up a military presence in the Indo-Pacific as well as strengthening ties with allies like Europe and India. The National Security Strategy document was pragmatic in cautioning that the US along would not be able to restrain China. Just before that, it was Donald Trump, who declassified the China strategy in January barely a week before stepping down. In an unusual move, Trump laid bare the path for president-elect Biden by publishing the document - 'United States Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific.' The classified document made clear to the world, and also the incoming Biden administration, American thinking about the geo-political climate pervading the world. The Trump strategy underlined that the US needs to tackle China, accelerating India's rise as a counterweight to Beijing and also defend Taiwan against a possible Chinese attack. The US is Loath to see the World as Multipolar The latest legislation, Biden's National Security Strategy as well as Trump's confidential documents are pointers to the American realisation that it is not the sole superpower. Power slipped away from its fingers exactly when it was courting China and China was courting itself. It goes to the credit of Americans thinkers and policy makers that they have finally noticed the rise of China and how the communist giant is not averse to treading on neighbours' territories, satisfied with violating international rules and almost cheerful while challenging the US. The observation is late by a few years but they have also located the answers to the confounded China challenge. The answers lie in gathering allies, enforcing the international rule of law, flexing military muscles as well as holding China and its ruling party accountable for its misdemeanours. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ Come From Away will reopen in the West End in July. Winner of the 20th Annual WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical, the show follows a group of plane passengers stranded in Gander (as well as their Canadian hosts) in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Producers of Come From Away, John Brant and Joseph Smith, say: "It's been too long since we were able to welcome people to The Rock' and we've really missed our audiences. The resilience and kindness of Newfoundlanders is known the world over and constantly provides inspiration to us all in these challenging times. Theatre is integral to the vibrancy of the UK's creative sector and we look forward to being part of welcoming people back to London's West End. It's now more than ever that we want to tell our story and give audiences the chance to see us live again." The piece has book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein and is directed by Christopher Ashley, with musical staging by Kelly Devine, music supervision and arrangements by Ian Eisendrath, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Gareth Owen, hair design by David Brian Brown, orchestrations by August Eriksmoen, and casting by Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG. You can find out who'll be appearing in the show's West End return here. Tickets will go on sale at 2pm today, with the production ready to shuffle back reopening dates if "step four" in the government's reopening plans has to be adjusted. Official 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Auto Channel Preview (11th Generation) +VIDEO Discvover 26 years Of Honda News, Reviews and Video Inside and out, all-new Civic is a modern expression of Honda's human-centered design philosophy 2022 Civic Sedan readied for mass production at Honda plant in Canada Popular Civic Tour returns for 20th anniversary of the concert series More information, specs and assets coming April 28 Torrence CA April 14, 2021; Honda offered the first official exterior look at the production 2022 Civic Sedan today as preparations for the start of mass production near completion at Honda of Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Canada. Previewed last November with the Civic Prototype , the 2022 Civic Sedan is the most fun to drive and technologically advanced sedan in the model's nearly 50-year history. Inspired by the timeless design and human-focused values of past Civics, designers and engineers prioritized Honda's human-centered design philosophy, which maximizes the total environment for the driver and passengers, while minimizing the space needed for mechanical components. The goal is to increase the driver's ability to enjoy the car safely. The result is a sporty new look and an all-new simple and sporty interior that advances essential Civic values of uncluttered design, simple ergonomics and exceptional visibility. As Honda gears up for Civic's arrival in dealerships this summer, the Honda Civic Tour returns on April 28. For its 20th anniversary, Civic Tour is going virtual this year, with two tour stops. The April 28 headline event will be live streamed on the Live Nation Channel on Twitch and the second stop will be live streamed on the Honda Stage YouTube channel this summer. Starting at 5:00 p.m. PT, the April 28 virtual concert event on Twitch will also give Civic Tour fans a special first look at the all-new 2022 Honda Civic Sedan around 6:00 p.m. PT, leading into the performance. As previously announced, the all-new Civic Hatchback will follow Civic Sedan production by several months. Details about Civic Hatchback, to be manufactured by Honda in the United States for the first time in its history, will follow later this year. The Civic Hatchback will be built at the company's Indiana auto plant. More information about the all-new Civic Sedan, including photography, video and specifications, will be released on April 28. About Honda Honda offers a full line of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles sold through more than 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. Honda has the highest fleet average fuel economy and lowest CO2 emissions of any major full-line automaker in America, according to the latest data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Honda lineup includes the Civic, Insight Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda's electrified vehicle lineup includes the Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, Insight hybrid-electric sedan, and the Clarity Fuel Cell and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. Honda has been producing automobiles in America for over 38 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2020, more than 95 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally-sourced parts. By Xinhua Kenyan trader, Peter Mainas transport business has abruptly stopped due to insecurity along a major highway connecting northern Kenya to South Sudan. Peter Maina is a trader in the northwestern Kenyan town of Kitale. Before the militia groups in South Sudan started to waylay and attack foreign drivers on Yei-Juba road, Maina had secured many orders to supply various goods to Juba.Due to the overflow of orders, he was forced to secure a loan from a microfinance agency to finance the business. Now Maina is a frustrated man after cargo transportation to South Sudan was suspended following escalating insecurity since the beginning of April.The business was going on smoothly until April 1 when attacks against Kenyan drivers intensified. I have been unable to deliver the goods to my clients in Juba after transporters withdrew services, Maina told Xinhua during an interview on Thursday.He said that he had already run into trouble with his creditor after failing to repay back the loan he had borrowed to support the expansion of his transport business. I was expected to repay back the money this week but I am yet to deliver the consignment to the client in South Sudan and get paid, said Maina.He said the lending agency has warned of the possibility of auctioning his property to recover 450,000 shillings (4,190 U.S. dollars) loan that was advanced to him to support the expansion of his enterprise. Jane Wanjiru, a female trader is also a victim of the insurgency in South Sudan.The cereal trader supplies the commodities to her customers in Juba but the business has stopped amid rising insecurity. The mother of four has been doing the business for the past seven years.It was from the proceeds that she has managed to cater to the needs of her two children who are now in high school. I dont know how Im going to meet the school requirements for my children now that the business has been hurt by insecurity, said Wanjiru. Juma Naibei, a trader at Bokwo town located in eastern Uganda shares a similar predicament with his Kenyan counterpart.The clothes dealer said insecurity along major highways connecting Uganda and South Sudan has disrupted his business. I deliver clothes to Juba weekly but the business has hit the rock because of the transport crisis caused by insecurity, said Naibei. I dont know when normalcy will return in the troubled country to enable me to resume the business. Now Naibei is exploring business opportunities at the Suam border town. I have visited many towns in Kenya to see if I can get a cloth business as I wait for security to be restored in South Sudan, said Naibei. Kenyan transporters have stopped cargo to South Sudan for the second week after the killing of two drivers and burning of trucks. The truck drivers were ambushed along the Juba-Nimule Highway last week. It is one of the arteries linking Uganda and South Sudan and is often used by Kenyan truckers.The insecurity has since been condemned by the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kenya Transporters Association, Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association said they had suspended their services to South Sudan until security for its members was guaranteed.Traders and consumers in the worlds youngest nation have also raised concern over rising prices of commodities following the disrupted cargo transportation to the country. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 07:11:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NIAMEY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- More than 20 Nigerien pupils were killed Tuesday afternoon in a violent fire at their school located on the outskirts of Niamey, the city's fire department confirmed Tuesday evening. According to the commander of the firefighters in Niamey, Colonel Sidi Mohamed, the fire broke out around 4 p.m. local time and quickly spread to all the classrooms built with straw, trapping students inside. "We unfortunately deplore a lot of victims, more than twenty," he said. Nigerien Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, accompanied by the ministers of the interior and of national education, went to the scene of the disaster and expressed personal and governmental condolences to the bereaved families. "It is really a sad event," he said, promising that all efforts will be made so that "if it is a crime, the perpetrators will be brought to justice." Enditem NEW MILFORD YardScapes Landscape Professionals is planning its 13th Annual Spring Day of Service on Saturday, April 24. YardScapes announcement said the company is committed to the philosophy that everyone, everywhere benefits from a connection to nature and this has been especially true this past year. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this annual team-building and community-focused event has been altered but will not be canceled. In the past, this event was kicked off with coffee and pastries in the morning with teams assigned to specific areas for spring cleanup followed by a cookout and picnic back at YardScapes office. This year, while adhering to CDC recommendations, the kickoff will be held via a Zoom call with a brief welcome by YardScapes founder Shayne Newman. Volunteers will then head out to pick up litter in front of their homes, on their streets, at their place of business or at their favorite outdoor space. Instead of a post event get together, all are asked to photograph their litter hauls and submit them to YardScapes, which will compile them and award some prizes. Those who would like to participate are asked to visit the companys website or Facebook page for details and to RSVP. Litter photos can be sent to info@yardscapeslandscape.com or #Tagged on social media #YardScapesLandscape. "We were honored to be nominated alongside Google and Vulcan Real Estate." Said David Ju, Concord Pacific Vice President SEATTLE, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Vancouver-based Concord Pacific, the developer of Seattle House condominiums in partnership with local Seattle-based HB Management, accepted the "SLU Good Neighbor of the Year Award" for their work done with the South Lake Union Chamber. As Seattle reopened local businesses and facilities last year, this PPE was scarce. The SLU Chamber received the donation of masks from Canada on behalf of their membership. Concord Pacific then mobilized resources with SLU Chamber to safely distribute more than 4,000 boxes of masks directly to more than 150 businesses, organizations, and UW Medicine to safely restart community programming services, support residents of social housing, assist food banks, aid local small businesses, and protect frontline workers. "Giving and supporting the development of innovative social solutions plays a catalytic role in connecting communities and improves the quality of life. This has always been driven by our core values to develop communities in every region we build in. Being neighbors, we hold the responsibility to come together for the greater cause and to help those who are in immediate need during the Covid-19 crisis.," says David Ju, Concord Pacific Vice President. This donation was part of over 1.3 million masks that were distributed late spring and early summer 2020 to front line workers and the communities they support. This commitment was in addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars donated to healthcare for accelerated Covid-19 testing. "During these uncertain times we were grateful to Canadian-based company Concord Pacific for their partnership. Being new to SLU in 2020 they immediately engaged us to help support our community, put a smile on the faces of our neighbors and showed them there is hope. This is what community building is all about", says Danah Abarr, Executive Director, SLU Chamber. "Concord Pacific's donation helped strengthening our South Lake Union community, personally helped me create a safe environment for my clients when I reopened and was one less expense for my business during this financially challenging time", says Elise Vincentini, Owner, Downtown Dog Lounge. Concord Pacific wants to acknowledge all the continuous great work fellow finalists Googe and Vulcan Real Estate Inc. did to make SLU a better and safer place to live and work during these challenging times. About SLU Chamber The South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 with a mission of connecting people and organizations in SLU to foster strategic relationships and opportunities. Their purpose is to empower for-and-not for profit businesses in SLU to become community leaders and help one another prosper and they have a forward-looking vision for South Lake Union to become a destination neighborhood where engaged residents and thriving businesses come together to create a vibrant culture. Currently they partner with nearly 300 local businesses and nonprofits ranging from sole proprietorships to fortune 500 companies. Visit www.sluchamber.org for more information. About Concord Pacific Concord has been building Canada's largest lifestyle-forward urban communities for over 30 years . Under the leadership of President and CEO, Terry Hui, Concord Pacific Place in Vancouver and Concord CityPlace in Toronto are the country's two largest urban master-plans and are mostly complete. Concord also expanded to Seattle's tech hub in the United States and London, UK including Marylebone Square and the completion of Principal Tower in the Principal Place neighbourhood, home to Amazon UK. These communities are renowned for their vibrant urban planning and have been emulated globally. Concord Pacific exclusively uses consultant LIV Design for interior and lifestyle planning. www.LIV.ca. The award-winning developer is Canada's most substantial contributor of city parks and privately funded public art. In addition to their industry leading forward practices including Concord BioSpace and EV Parking infrastructure and design, the company's green energy arm generates twice the amount of energy needed to power all the homes in Vancouver's downtown core. Visit www.concordpacific.com for more information. SOURCE SLU Chamber, Seattle Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said the location of Twitters headquarter for Africa Operations in Ghana is a big win for the oil-producing West African Country. This, according to the Ofoase Ayirebi lawmaker, means more jobs will be coming into the country. In a tweet, he said #TwitterGhana is a big win for Ghana. This means more jobs and opportunities for our youth in the Tech space. #TwitterGhana is a big win for Ghana. This means more jobs and opportunities for our youth in the Tech space. Visit https://t.co/DiRuTrekwB to apply Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (@konkrumah) April 12, 2021 Twitter said on Monday April 12 that its mission is to serve the public conversation, and its essential, for the world and for Twitter, to increase the number of people who feel comfortable participating in it. To do this, we need to make it easier for everyone to join in and provide more relevant experiences for people across the world.Today, in line with our growth strategy, were excited to announce that we are now actively building a team in Ghana. To truly serve the public conversation, we must be more immersed in the rich and vibrant communities that drive the conversations taking place every day across the African continent.We are looking for specialists to join several teams including product, design, engineering, marketing and communications. Full details on current job openings can be found on the Twitter Careers site. Aligned with our existing WFH policies, we look forward to welcoming and onboarding our new team members remotely so that we can make an immediate impact while we explore the opportunity to open an office in Ghana in the future.Explaining the choice of Ghana, Twitter said As a champion for democracy, Ghana is a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet, of which Twitter is also an advocate. Furthermore, Ghanas recent appointment to host The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area aligns with our overarching goal to establish a presence in the region that will support our efforts to improve and tailor our service across Africa.Whenever we enter new markets, we work hard to ensure that we are not just investing in the talent that we hire, but also investing in local communities and the social fabric that supports them. We have already laid foundations through partnerships with Amref Health Africa in Kenya, Afrochella in Ghana, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) in Nigeria, and The HackLab Foundation in Ghana. As part of our long-term commitment to the region, well continue to explore compelling ways we can use the positive power of Twitter to strengthen our communities through employee engagement, platform activation, and corporate giving.We still have much to learn but we are excited to listen, learn, and engage. Public conversation is essential to solving problems, building shared ideas, and pushing us all forward together. We cant wait for the next step on that journey.Communications Minister Ursula Owusu Ekulful said the choice of Ghana as headquarters for its Africa operations is great news for our local, vibrant tech community.In a tweet on Monday April 12, she said Twitter chooses Ghana as their regional hub for Africa!! Thumbs up for Digital Ghana! Great news for our local, vibrant tech community. We cant wait to welcome others #NAkufoAddo. #TwitterGhanaShe added Ghana dey be!! #TwitterGhana.Yaaay!! Good things happen under Prez Nana ADDO!! Thank you,: she further said.President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commended Twitter for choosing Ghana as the headquarters for its Africa operations.The choice of Ghana as HQ for Twitters Africa operations is EXCELLENT news. Govt and Ghanaians welcome very much this announcement and the confidence reposed in our country. 1/3 #TwitterInGhana #TwitterGhana Mr Akufo-Addo said in a tweet. Source: 3news Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Disgraced financier Bernie Madoff died in federal prison Wednesday at the age of 82. Madoff, who is believed to have died from natural causes, pleaded guilty in 2009 to a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of billions of dollars. At the time of his death, he had served about 10 years of his 150-year sentence. Decades before his dramatic and public downfall, Madoff was a freshman at the University of Alabama. In 2009, a New York Times column by Allen Salkin detailed Madoffs membership in Sigma Alpha Mu, a Jewish fraternity at the university. Madoff attended Alabama from 1956-57 before transferring to Hofstra University. Salkins fraternity brothers described him as a low-key sort of guy who stayed out of trouble, and not a particularly good student. You can read more here. By John Zebrowski Now that state lawmakers have passed measures to create a marketplace for recreational marijuana in New Jersey as well as basically eliminated sanctions for underage possession and use of marijuana and alcohol the big challenge for local police departments is how to enforce these new regulations and to educate people about the seismic shift in thinking. Police are bracing for Memorial Day and beyond, when the odor of marijuana may become common in public places like beaches, boardwalks and parks. Many people will probably turn to police and expect the usual uniform enforcement. Its crucial for the public to understand what their police officers can and cannot do under the new law. There has been plenty of discussion among members of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP), as the public is confronted with more marijuana and alcohol possession by people of all ages, including teens. Officers hands will be tied under the new law. Here is why: If a person under the age of 21 refuses to turn over marijuana or alcohol, or wont provide identification upon request, police can no longer make an arrest nor conduct any search beyond what is in plain sight. That means the contraband cannot be confiscated and officers cannot provide a warning to parents of teens and children under the age of 18. Why? Officers wont know the identity of these kids. If police smell marijuana on a teen, officers are no longer allowed to search this juvenile or search a vehicle for any contraband not in plain sight. Officers, under the new law, must let the youth go. Police can no longer arrest or detain an under-aged person caught with pot or alcohol other than issue a written warning or notify his or her parents. It does not matter if this is the teenagers first, second, third or even 10th violation of the law. Equally puzzling is the lack of a centralized and uniform database to record all warning notices that police officers issue in New Jersey. State lawmakers have essentially decriminalized marijuana and alcohol possession for children. Yet they criminalized the good-faith actions of police who may make honest mistakes by trying to investigate and comply with the new law. If a police officer runs afoul of any regulations listed in nearly 300 pages of new legislation, that officer can be subject to a third-degree criminal charge. NJSACOP, as well as other state law-enforcement agencies, is now taking a crash course in this new law. We all want to ensure police officers are fully aware of what they are no longer allowed to do when interacting with under-aged people. Officers careers in all seriousness could depend on it. With this perspective, the public also needs to be aware. If, for example, you are sitting on the beach with your family this summer, and nearby teens have marijuana and beer, police officers will be extremely limited in their response. The officers will empathize with this obvious nuisance, but the law is the law. Police departments around the state are reminded by the Attorney Generals Office updated written policy: Law enforcement officers must be cautious when they encounter an individual under the age of 21 who is in possession of marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or alcohol. NJSACOP respectfully requests that our state lawmakers consider sensible revisions to these new laws for the welfare of those under age 21 and to safeguard police officers who must now navigate very stringent procedures. For the moment, the paramount objective is to prepare officers for these new changes and to provide plenty of education for all New Jerseyans, many of whom dont know the new normal thats coming to a beach blanket near them. While New Jersey voters approved the ballot question for a legalized marketplace for marijuana, we can only assume far fewer would have voted Yes if they realized our state lawmakers would pass subsequent legislation that would in effect give teens a green light to possess and use marijuana and alcohol. But that is now the case. And we all need to prepare for it. John Zebrowski is the first vice president of the New Jersey State Association of Chief of Police. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Biden Proposes In-Person Meeting With Putin on Neutral Turf President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Tuesday and proposed the two estranged leaders meet at a summit in a third country to discuss a raft of disputes, the White House said. The Kremlin said Wednesday it was premature to talk in tangible terms about a possible summit, saying it would consider Bidens proposal. The call between the two presidentsofficially only the second since Biden took officetook place as Western powers have grown increasingly alarmed at Russian troop buildup near the Ukrainian border, with fears that a rash move by Moscow or Kyiv could spark an outbreak of fresh hostilities. Tensions have grown in recent weeks in Donbass, eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled Russian-backed separatists in a simmering seven-year conflict that Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people. In their phone call, Biden asked Putin to take steps to lower the temperature around the conflict in Donbass, while emphasizing the United States unwavering commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the White House said in a statement. The president voiced our concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraines borders, and called on Russia to deescalate tensions, the statement noted. Kyiv has raised the alarm over a buildup of Russian forces near its eastern border, and over a rise in violence along the line of contact separating Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in Donbass. The Kremlin denies its troops are a threat, but says they will remain as long as it sees fit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last Thursday visited positions along the frontline where a ceasefire has been systematically violated in recent days, with the aim of maintaining the fighting spirit, according to a statement from the Ukrainian presidency. On the same day Zelensky visited the frontline, senior Kremlin official Dmitry Kozak said Russia would be forced to defend its citizens in eastern Ukraine depending on the scale of the military conflict there and accused Zelensky of playing with fire and of whipping up anti-Russia sentiment with his tour. In another sign of growing tensions, Moscow announced on April 6 that its military was beginning a combat readiness inspection of its forces. Russias defense minister said Tuesday that the military buildup was part of readiness drills that would last another two weeks and that came amid what he described as threats from NATO. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Russian military has deployed two armies and three airborne formations to its western regions as a response to the alliances military activities threatening Russia. Russia has regularly accused NATO of destabilizing Europe with its troop reinforcements in the Baltics and Poland since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his French and German counterparts on Friday called on Russia to halt a troop buildup and reaffirmed their support for Kyiv in its confrontation with Moscow. Biden, in his call with Putin, also reaffirmed a goal to build a stable and predictable relationship with Russia and said a summit could address the full range of issues facing the two powers. Reuters contributed to this report. ADVERTISEMENT About 30 shops were razed in a fire disaster on Monday afternoon at the Oro Central Market in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The incident occurred around 3 p.m., the fire service spokesperson in the state, Hassan Hakeem, said. Although the conflagration was huge, however, our firemen were able to demonstrate high level of professionalism and in no time the ravaging inferno was totally extinguished. Out of the 354 shops in the market area, 30 shops were consumed by the fire, but the other remaining ones were rescued by the firemen. According to the agency, the fire was caused by the careless refuse burning by an unknown person. The Director of Kwara State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, said people need to embrace fire safety responsibility in order to drastically reduce the fire outbreaks in the state. The state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited the scene on Tuesday, commiserated with the victims. Today I went to Oro, an ancient town in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, to commiserate with the victims of yesterdays inferno at the Oro Central Market in which at least 30 shops got burnt, he announced on social media. Mr AbdulRazaq said he had directed the states emergency management agency to enumerate those affected to enable the government provide some support for individuals who have lost properties. READ ALSO: Fire razes shops in Ilorin market Also, I visited the Oro General Hospital to see first hand what the real issues are, and begin the process of actualising our plans for the hospital. It is going to be expensive but we will nevertheless start to upgrade facilities at the hospital within the next quarter and ensure that the people of Oro get more dividends of democracy. We will renovate the wards, provide the right equipment, and ensure adequate power supply. He said his administration plans to build confidence so that members of the surrounding communities can patronise the hospital. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 16:39:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's exports of avocados hit 72,000 tons in 2020, up from 59,000 tons recorded in the previous year, a government official said on Wednesday. "The increase in export volumes was partly due to enhanced cultivation of avocado by Kenyan farmers over the past five years," Benjamin Tito, head of Horticultural Crops Directorate, told Xinhua on the phone. Europe is one of the Kenya's major markets for avocados. Some batches were exported to China as many exporters were still working to meet the conditions set by the Chinese government to warrant the exports of these fruits in large quantities. The official said the country restricts exports of avocado between November and January every year in order to maintain the quality of avocados to prevent premature harvesting. Enditem Lakhs of devotees have gathered at the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar even as India is struck by double whammy of second COVID-19 wave and a healthcare system on doldrums. Haridwar reported 594 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, thus, taking the number of active cases to 2,812. Haridwar's coronavirus count was 408 on Monday. Moreover, over 6 lakh devotees have arrived to participate in the Baisakhi snan which considered as the biggest of all the snans at the Kumbh mela. Inspector-General of Police, Haridwar Kumbh Mela Sanjay Gunjyal said, "Baisakhi's snan is considered to be the biggest of all 4 shahi snans and 11 snans of Kumbh combined. Compared to 1.60 crore people who arrived here in 2010, as captured by satellite image, around 6 lakh people arrived this year for Baisakhi snan." Also read: COVID-19 negative report or vaccination mandatory to attend Kumbh Mela A large number of people took the third shahi snan of Kumbh at Haridwar's Har ki Pauri ghat. The Kumbh Mela, which usually lasts for four months has been curtailed to one month due to the ongoing coronavirus situation. The large congregation has drawn comparisons with the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi last year that came under fire for flouting norms. Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat has said that this event should not be likened to the Tablighi Jamaat event. Rawat said while the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was organised in a closed space, the Kumbh Mela is being organised in an open space. Also read: Kumbh Mela 2021: Check dates, registration link and all other details Haridwar District Magistrate Deepak Rawat has appealed to the devotees to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. Rawat said, "We are appealing to the people and making them aware about Covid-19 safety protocol. We are asking people to wear masks but ensuring social distancing in this very small area (where the Kumbh Mela is being held) is going to be a really challenging task." Experts have told India Today that flouting COVID-19 protocols would lead to a rise in COVID-19 infections in several states. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut too has expressed concerns that the ongoing Kumbh Mela where COVID-19 norms have been tossed away could worsen India's coronavirus situation. Also read: Maha Kumbh 2021: How Haridwar is preparing for grand event Raut said, "It is painful for the Shiv Sena to put restrictions on our festivals and religious celebrations but the party dares to do so to save the lives of people. Our priority is to save as many lines as possible. I believe that people coming from the Kumbh mela will cause further spread of COVID-19 cases, which will cause havoc." Uttarakhand has reported 9,353 active coronavirus cases and 1,780 deaths so far. India has reported more than 1.84 lakh cases which comprise more than 1 lakh active cases, 82,339 recoveries and 1,027 fatalities in the last 24 hours. Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021 Time: 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) TORONTO, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- You are invited to participate in Brookfield Asset Management's 2021 First Quarter Conference Call & Webcast on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss with members of senior management our results and current business initiatives. These results will be released on May 13th before 7:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) and will be available following the release on our website at www.brookfield.com (http://www.brookfield.com) "News - Press Releases." The Conference Call will also be Webcast live on our website, where it will be archived for future reference. To participate in the Conference Call, please dial 1-866-688-9425 toll free in North America, or for overseas calls please dial 1-409-216-0815 (Conference ID: 4175982) at approximately 10:50 a.m. The Conference Call will also be Webcast live at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/bamQ1-2021 (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fedge.media-server.com%2Fmmc%2Fgo%2FbamQ1-2021&data=04%7C01%7CAna.Bellido%40brookfield.com%7C7e32150db4614bd3df2e08d8f2f5f1a9%7Cdaf884b0be164f2a8bbbdc6099a56844%7C0%7C0%7C637526485438436438%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=BB0lkLBMxh4COQQfrIvqHmKqhFf5QQOWDWk%2Bq%2FPGWKw%3D&reserved=0). For those unable to participate in the Conference Call, the telephone replay will be archived and available until May 20, 2021. To access this rebroadcast, please call 1-855-859-2056 or -1-404-537-3406 (Conference ID: 4175982). Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a leading global alternative asset manager with US$600 billion of assets under management across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power, private equity and credit. Brookfield owns and operates long-life assets and businesses, many of which form the backbone of the global economy. Utilizing its global reach, access to large-scale capital and operational expertise, Brookfield offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. Brookfield Asset Management is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the symbol BAM and BAM.A respectively. For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com (http://www.brookfield.com) or contact: ADVERTISEMENT The roster of teams for the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League is now complete following Manchester City and Real Madrids qualification on Wednesday night. Unlike Tuesdays games where the home teams had huge advantages going into the second leg quarter-final games, the ties for Wednesday appeared evenly poised. For the tie at Anfield, Liverpool had lost the first leg 3-1 in Spain and thus needed a minimum of a 2-0 win over Real Madrid to edge out the reigning La Liga champions, but Jurgen Klopps men failed to get the needed result-being made to settle for a barren draw. Zinedine Zidanes men benefitted a great deal from the fact that Anfield was without its fearsome atmosphere like it was when the Reds were in an even more precarious situation when they came back from a 3-0 deficit to shock Barcelona 4-0 in 2019. That nonetheless, Klopps men threatened their opponents on a number of occasions as Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had a busy day and was drawn into two excellent saves from Mohamed Salah and James Milner respectively in the first 15 minutes. Georginio Wijnaldum also came close before the half-time whistle. Expectedly, it was not Liverpool all the way as Madrid also had their own moments especially when Karim Benzema struck the post in the 20th minute. Though chances were created at Anfield, both sides failed to hit the target but Real Madrid were the happier at the end as they progressed with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline. In the other tie on Wednesday, Pep Guardiolas dream for a first Champions League triumph with Manchester City remains after the Cityzens completed a double over Borussia Dortmund. Having won the first leg 2-1, City could be edged out with a 1-0 Dortmund win and that was the case 15 minutes into the game when Jude Bellingham shot Dortmund into the lead. City however turned things round in the second half with Riyad Marhrez scoring from the penalty spot before Phil Foden sealed victory in the 75th minute off a mistake from Marwin Hitz. 2 Phil Foden is only the second player aged younger than 21 to score in both legs of a UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie, after Kylian Mbappe in 2016/17 for Monaco against Borussia Dortmund (18). Phenom. pic.twitter.com/PLCL5yxUH2 OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 14, 2021 City will face PSG, Bayern Munichs conquerors, in the semi-final while Real Madrid continue their chase of a 14th UCL title against another English team in Chelsea. LOS ANGELES The longtime suspect in the 25-year-old disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder, and his father was booked in jail as an accessory to the crime. Paul Flores, 44, who was the last person seen with Smart on the California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo before she vanished in 1996, was taken into custody in the Los Angeles area. His father, Ruben Flores, 80, was arrested at his Arroyo Grande home, where sheriffs investigators conducted a new search for evidence. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said arrest warrants were issued after a search of the elder Flores home last month using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs turned up new evidence linked to Smarts killing, though her body has not yet been found. Until we return Kristin to (her family), this is not over, Parkinson said. We have committed to them that we are not going to stop until it has been recovered no matter what the cost, no matter what the time. Smart, 19, of Stockton, vanished May 25, 1996, while returning to her dorm at Cal Poly after an off-campus party. She was last seen with Flores, a fellow freshman at the school at the time, who had offered to take her home. Smarts family issued a statement saying it was a bittersweet day they had long waited for and a first step toward bringing their daughter home. While Kristins loving spirit will always live in our hearts, our life without her hugs, laughs and smiles is a heartache that never abates, they said. The knowledge that a father and son, despite our desperate pleas for help, could have withheld this horrible secret for nearly 25 years, denying us the chance to lay our daughter to rest, is an unrelenting and unforgiving pain. Flores, 44, was arrested at his home in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles and taken to a police car in handcuffs wearing pajama bottoms and a surf T-shirt. His father, Ruben Flores, 80, was arrested at his Arroyo Grande home, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of the university. Paul Flores has been under suspicion almost from the start, but the case picked up steam in the past couple years after Parkinson ordered a thorough review of the evidence after his election in 2011 and a fulltime cold case detective was hired. New witnesses came forward and warrants allowed investigators to intercept and monitor Paul Flores phone and text messages and search his own home, along with those of his mother, father and sister that turned up new evidence, Parkinson said. He declined to offer more details because search warrants are sealed. Parkinson also credited the podcast Your Own Backyard for giving the case renewed widespread attention that led to a key witness coming forward. The podcasts creator, Chris Lambert, was a musician who grew up in the area and was intrigued by a billboard offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to Smart. Driving past that billboard was a periodic reminder that, oh yeah, they still havent found that girl, Lambert said in a video posted on the podcast website. Its different when somebody goes missing in your own backyard. Parkinson held his news conference on the university campus, gesturing over his shoulder to the place nearby where Smart was last seen alive with Flores. He acknowledged missteps by law enforcement hampered the investigation. Smarts family said in their statement that an indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years. They filed a $40 million lawsuit in 1996 against Paul Flores and added the the university for allegedly not protecting their daughter. The case was stayed awaiting a criminal case outcome, a family spokesman said. Smart wasnt reported missing until three days after she was last seen. A dorm mate at the time said police were initially reluctant to take a missing persons report because it was Memorial Day weekend and she might have left the campus. The case was originally handled by Cal Poly police and the district attorneys office. Sheriffs investigators didnt get involved until a month later. There really is no hiding the fact that there was mistakes made early on, and it made it much more difficult, Parkinson said. That first 48 hours is pretty critical in a missing person or a homicide. Parkinson likened the case to a puzzle where missing pieces are located, leading to new evidence and locations to search that then revealed other information. Its a very slow process to find each of those little pieces, Parkinson said. There was something of value in various locations that have kept coming up and coming to light. They served over 40 search warrants at 16 locations over the years, and so much evidence was compiled that it would fill three terabytes on a computer hard drive, he said. Flores went from a person of interest to a suspect, as the case progressed, and eventually became the prime suspect. Paul Flores has remained mum through the years, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions before a grand jury and in a deposition for a lawsuit that was brought against him. Flores had nothing to say when arrested, Parkinson said. Flores was being held without bail. His lawyer, Robert Sanger, declined to comment. Ruben Flores was being held on $250,000 bail. His lawyer, Harold Mesick, didnt immediately return an email message seeking comment from The Associated Press. But he told the Los Angeles Times that his client was absolutely innocent. Investigators executed a search warrant at Ruben Flores home. They continued to use radar to search the grounds, and the sound of power saws and drills whined in the background as they worked near a large deck and in the garage. The mayor of Arroyo Grande said the arrests had brought a sense of relief to the city of about 18,000 people that sits just inland from the scenic Central Coast. The disappearance of Kristin Smart has weighed heavily on the hearts of the people of Arroyo Grande all this time, Mayor Caren Ray Russom said. She was never forgotten here, and many, many of us have closely followed this case for decades. I sincerely hope that these arrests will result in justice and closure for the Smart family. ___ Brian Melley of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP reporter John Antczak contributed to this report. Advertisement Vladimir Putin yesterday snubbed Joe Biden's request to hold a summit amid soaring tensions over Russia's massive build-up of troops at the Ukrainian border. The US President, facing his first major foreign policy test against an experienced foe, invited Putin 'to de-escalate tensions' and proposed a summit 'in the coming months,' the White House said. The Kremlin declined to respond to the proposal and went on to insist that the phone call had taken place at Washington's request, keen to make it appear that Biden had come crawling to his adversary. The two leaders also discussed the Iranian nuclear program, Afghanistan peace talks and global climate change, the Kremlin said. Moscow also confirmed that shortly after their call, Putin spoke with the premier of Finland where previous high level talks have been hosted between the nuclear-armed powers, including with Donald Trump in 2018. Biden's call to Putin took place hours after Russia's deputy foreign minister warned Washington to keep its warships away from the Black Sea 'for their own good,' saying it risked turning the region into a 'powder keg'. Sergei Ryabkov said the decision to deploy two ships to the Black Sea is 'a provocation' designed 'to test our nerves' as he called the US 'an adversary', ramping up a war of words between the countries. The USS Donald Cook and USS Roosevelt destroyers are thought to be on their way to the Black Sea from a naval base in Spain and due to arrive tomorrow and Thursday, according to Turkish sources which are responsible for policing the straits leading to the sea. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also met with Ukraine's foreign minister in Brussels on Tuesday, saying that America 'stands firmly behind' its eastern European ally while NATO chief Jens Stoltenburg gave the alliance's 'unwavering support' to Kiev. President Putin has spent the last week building up forces along Ukraine's border - where there are now thought to be some 83,000 troops - presenting Joe Biden with the first major foreign policy test of his presidency. While Putin has given no official reason for the build-up, observers believe the move may be in response to a tough line that Biden has taken with Moscow, including referring to Putin as 'a killer' while vowing 'consequences' for attempts to interfere in US elections. Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Moscow who was in post when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, said this week that Putin appears to be sizing up his counterpart including how he responds to military threats. A machinegunner of the pro-Russian Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) points a weapon at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk Region, Ukraine, on Tuesday Snipers of the Ukrainian armed forces aim their rifles during training at a firing range near the town of Marink, Donetsk region, on Tuesday A soldier from the pro-Russian Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) is reflected in a mirror at fighting positions on the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces in Luhansk on Tuesday The US President, facing his first major foreign policy test against an experienced foe, invited Putin 'to de-escalate tensions' and proposed a summit 'in the coming months, the White House said without indicating the Russian president's response. The Kremlin later added that the phone call had taken place at Washington's request, keen to make it appear that Biden had come crawling to his adversary (pictured: Putin visits the Coordination Center of the Russian Government in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, and Biden speaks during the weekly economic briefing in the Oval office last week) Russia has warned the US to keep its ships out of the Black Sea 'for their own good' after Washington sent two destroyers to the region to counter a build-up of Kremlin troops on the Ukrainian border Others theorise that Putin is responding to pressure on his leadership from within Russia itself as poll numbers slump and he fends off unprecedented leaks about his personal life as well as political dissent in the form of Alexei Navalny - the now-jailed opposition leader who inspired mass rallies earlier this year. Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defence minister, said on Tuesday that NATO was planning to station 40,000 troops and 15,000 piece of military equipment in the region - a claim that NATO denies - and Russia is merely responding. He also blamed NATO training exercises and combat readiness checks for increasing tensions. 'Over three weeks, two armies and three airborne units were successfully deployed to the western borders of the Russian Federation in areas for performing combat training exercises,' he said. He added that the 'troops have shown full readiness and ability to carry out tasks to ensure the country's military security' and that the exercises would be completed 'within two weeks'. In a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, NATO leader Stoltenberg said it was actually Russia which had built up arms in the region, calling its latest military movements 'unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning.' 'NATO stands with Ukraine,' he added. Stationed alongside the Russian troops are tanks, artillery, armoured personnel carriers, anti-aircraft missile systems, landing craft and artillery boats. In response, the Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that troop withdrawals from Germany approved under Trump will be cancelled and an additional 500 soldiers will be sent to the country. The build-up has been matched by an uptick in violence between Ukrainian government forces fighting Russian-backed rebel groups in the country's east, with another Ukrainian soldier killed on Tuesday. Alexey Mamchiy, 40, was killed by shrapnel from an enemy grenade which was dropped on him by a drone, according to Ukrainian media. It brings the total number of Ukrainian troops killed in the region this year to 29. Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov, speaking in Moscow on Tuesday, warned the US to keep its distance from Russian forces in the Black Sea, saying the risk of unspecified 'incidents' is very high. 'There is absolutely nothing for American ships to be doing near our shores, this is purely a provocative action,' he said. 'Provocative in the direct sense of the word: they are testing our strength... They will not succeed. 'We warn the United States that it will be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast. It will be for their own good.' He added: 'The United States is our adversary and does everything it can to undermine Russia's position on the world stage. We do not see any other elements in their approach. Those are our conclusions.' The USS Roosevelt, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is thought to be one of two warships en route to the Black Sea as a deterrent to Russia (file image) The USS Donald Cook is also thought to be on its way to the Black Sea, and is due to arrive either tomorrow or on Thursday amid a massive build-up of Russian troops Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers are seen assembled near the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine where government forces have been fighting Russian-backed rebels since 2015 Ukrainian soldiers train using a heavy machine gun near the border with Russia amid increasing tensions between the two countries which has seen Moscow rapidly increase troop numbers A Russian minister warned the US against deploying troops to Crimea and said staying away was 'for their own good'. Pictured: Ukrainian Armed Forces patrol the border in Donbass Ukrainian servicemen hold a position on the frontline with Russia backed separatists near small city of Marinka, Donetsk Ukrainian soldiers are seen near a region occupied by Russian-backed separatist groups where fighting has increased in recent weeks, with at least 28 of Kiev's men killed so far this year 'If there is any aggravation, we of course will do everything to ensure our security and the safety of our citizens, wherever they are,' Ryabkov added. 'But Kiev and its allies in the West will be entirely responsible for the consequences of a hypothetical exacerbation.' Meanwhile the US State Department confirmed that Blinken had met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela in Brussels, saying he 'affirmed the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression.' 'The Secretary expressed concern about Russia's deliberate actions to escalate tensions with Ukraine, including through its aggressive rhetoric and disinformation, increasing ceasefire violations, and movement of troops in occupied Crimes and near Ukraine's borders,' a statement added. 'Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed the importance of advancing rule of law and economic reforms to strengthen Ukraine's institutions, support anti-corruption efforts, and further its Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations.' Ukraine says Russia has accumulated 41,000 troops at its border with eastern Ukraine and 42,000 more in Crimea. The numbers are likely to grow as the troops keep arriving. The Kremlin argues that Russia is free to deploy its troops wherever it wants on its territory and has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian military of 'provocative actions' along the line of control and of planning to retake control of the rebel regions by force. Kremlin officials charged that Kyiv's actions have threatened Russia's security, warning that Russia may intervene to protect Russian speakers in the east. Underlying Tuesday's meeting is also Ukraine's wish to become a member of NATO over the vehement objections of Moscow. Stoltenberg insisted it was up to the alliance's 30 members to decide who could join the group, 'and no one else has any right to try to meddle or to interfere in that process. 'It's a sovereign right of every nation like Ukraine to apply for membership. 'This is an important principle, because Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbors can do. 'And that is a world we are really trying to leave behind,' the NATO chief said. 'Russia must end this military buildup in and around Ukraine, stop its provocations and de-escalate immediately,' Stoltenberg added. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (right) meets with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) in Brussels Tuesday as Washington threw its full backing behind its eastern European ally Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (pictured) said there was no need for American ships 'on our shores', claiming it was 'pure provocation' Russian media also continued to ramp up tensions, with Margarita Simonyan - editor-in-chief of state-funded outlets RT and Sputnik, calling war with the US 'inevitable' and will break out 'when not if' Putin decides to seize more territory from Ukraine. But she said it will not be a conventional war, but will instead be fought over information networks - with all-out cyberwarfare, nation-wide blackouts, and the targeted disruption of internet services deployed as weapons. 'In conventional war, we could defeat Ukraine in two days,' Simonyan said, 'but it will be another kind of war. Well do it, and then [the U.S.] will respond by turning off power to [the Russian city] Voronezh.' Simonyan encourage Putin to shore up Russia's 'vulnerabilities' to cyber warfare while exploiting the US's 'catastrophic' educational standards in order to achieve victory. The latest warnings come after Russian state TV new anchor Dmitry Kiselyov warned that Russia is 'one step away from war' in Ukraine during a primetime broadcast in Russia on Sunday. He branded Ukraine a 'Nazi' state, saying that Russia may be forced to 'de-Nazify' it buy force - a process he said would bring about its 'economic and military collapse'. A news report on Russia's Channel One also likened Zelensky - a former actor - to Napoleon after digging up images of him playing the part in an old TV comedy. The Ukrainian leader was dreaming of 'Napoleonic ambitions' by hoping NATO would come to his aid against Russia, the report said. But it was clear Zelensky was not evaluating himself 'sensibly'. Portraying Napoleon on screen 'is not the same as doing it,' the report added. Another report labelled the ex-TV comedian Zelensky a 'commander-in-chief comic', a 'president of war' who was 'inciting' conflict. Viewers were told that Ukraine with NATO support, rather than Russia, was building up military firepower close to Donetsk and Luhansk, which are controlled by pro-Moscow rebels following a civil war in 2014 that has led to more than 14,000 deaths. 'Never before has there been so much Nato military hardware in Ukraine,' claimed the report. It also highlighted alleged arrivals of US transport planes and Pentagon-leased cargo vessels in strategic Ukrainian port Odessa. These claims could not be immediately corroborated. Videos have also shown tanks, mobile artillery, howitzers, armoured personnel carriers and support vehicles being ferried to the front - many of which are being massed at a camp near the city of Voronezh, around 115 miles from the border. Russia has continued to move artillery pieces (left), armoured vehicles (right) and troops to its border with Ukraine amid warnings the build-up could spark war in Europe Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Moscow, said the build-up - which is being carriedo out in full view of cameras (above ) - is 'definitely' designed to test Joe Biden Videos from Rostov-on-Don, around 100 miles from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, show tanks (left) and support vehicles being moved closer to the border Mendel added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has requested talks with Putin over the troop buildup, but has not yet received a response. Zelenskiy will this week travel to Paris to discuss the rising tensions with European allies. Asked by BBC Radio 4 how concerned world leaders should be by the situation in Ukraine, Mr McFaul responded simply: 'Very.' While US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has threatened 'consequences and costs' if Russia moves into Ukraine, Mr McFaul said his threat does not go far enough. He called on the White House should be explicit in spelling out what its retaliation would be if Russia attacked, in the hopes of changing the calculation Putin makes before giving the order. 'Sanctions almost never change Putin's behaviour post-facto, but they might change his calculations before he decides to make a move,' he said. He added that the G7 should also put out a statement condemning Russia's actions instead of forcing America to take its stand alone. Invited to speculate on why Putin is now making an issue out of a conflict that has been smouldering in eastern Ukraine for the past five years, Mr McFaul pointed to 'tough' things that Biden has said about the Russian president since taking office. Back in March, Biden called Putin 'a killer' while threatening to retaliate against Russian attempts to interfere in the 2020 election. The remark caused fury in Moscow, as Putin's spokesman called it 'unprecedented' and said it is clear that Biden 'does not want to improve relations with us, and we will continue to proceed from this'. Observers have also pointed to pressure mounting on Putin from within Russia as a reason for him to ratchet up simmering tensions. The president is facing slumping popularity in the polls, repeated leaks to the media about his closely-guarded private life, and serious opposition in the form of Alexei Navalny - the now-jailed critic who sparked mass protests back in January. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, of the Center for a New American Security, told Foreign Policy magazine that 'it feels like Putin is drumming up the besieged Russia narrative'. Amid the tensions, Russian media warned on Monday that the country is 'one step away from war' as anchors branded Ukraine a 'Nazi' state and played footage of weapons being moved to the border. Ukraine has begun pumping out its own images of military preparations, including troops practicing with an anti-tank launcher Ukrainian troops practice with anti-tank missiles and grenade launchers as the government warns of the risk of Russian invasion A Russian 'peacekeeping' vehicle is seen on the move in Transnistria, in Moldova, along Ukraine's western flank Moscow also unveiled a new video of its latest weaponry marking Day of the Air Defence Forces. More footage showed the first recent Russian military massing on Ukraine's western flank, with movements in Transnistria, a no-man's land controlled by Moscow that borders Moldova. Some carried 'peacekeeper' signs, normal for Moscow forces in the breakaway territory. It was not immediately clear where the forces were heading. Troops and equipment have also been on the move in annexed Crimea, along with the Russian regions of Pskov, Ryazan, Rostov-on-Don, and elsewhere. Images also emerged from Ukraine of forces doing drills with the Korsar (Corsar) light portable anti tank missile system. And reports say US military reconnaissance planes P-8A Poseidon and Lockheed EP-3E Orion have been spotted over the Black Sea close to Crimea during the weekend. It comes after Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, warned last week of the threat of a 'second Srebrenica' against Russian speakers in Ukraine - referencing a massacre of Muslims by Bosnian Serb forces during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war. Deputy head of the presidential administration Dmitry Kozak warned that, if Russia finds reason to intervene in the conflict, then it would be the 'beginning of the end' for Ukraine. Military action would be 'not a shot in the leg, but in the face', he added. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) An Omaha police officer has been charged with felony counts and placed on leave after being accused of using a gun to threaten teens who pounded on doors in the officer's neighborhood late at night. i SCREAMEd when i heard this. I am so, so glad this finally happened. Thank god, for her family getting this. Reply Thread Link Finally! I saw a Dateline or 20/20 episode a while back on this case. Seems like hes been the only suspect for a long time but they just didnt have enough evidence to arrest him. And this recent podcast did a LOT of legwork. Interested to learn what additional evidence theyve discovered. Reply Thread Link My first time learning about this missing case but Im glad theres a lead. Feel so bad for the family...missing persons case always get me Reply Thread Link Jesus, I just started listening to the podcast last week so this feels surreal. Glad there's finally some progress being made. Reply Thread Link I just finished the podcast last week myself, and its feel eerie thinking this is actually happening! Reply Parent Thread Link Saw this when it came up on True Crime today. I really hope her family can finally get answers and closures after so long. Reply Thread Link saw this on reddit earlier and bugged out! i hope they're able to find her body soon and honestly the entire fucking flores family should be jailed for obstruction. chris lambert is amazing for what he did on the podcast and i hope it inspires more ppl to do series long podcasts about cold cases that deserve more attention. Reply Thread Link that guy so did it Reply Thread Link Yeah and hes been free for 25 years. But then Im reminded hes still only in his early 40s. So he still has a long time to face in prison if found guilty. Reply Parent Thread Link free to get 2 more DUI charges too (i just read a 2006 article about the case), this motherfucker has been free to kill more ppl wtf Reply Parent Thread Link His whole family helped him. Its so fucked up Reply Parent Thread Link it's always mindblowing that someone who's presumably doing it for the first time can hide the body so well yet the police will search their home 25 years later and find "items of interest". but yeah, there's no way he didn't do it Reply Parent Thread Link That is pretty crazy that the podcast helped get the new evidence in this case. I have been listening to the podcast about the Doodler, a serial killer who murdered a number of gay men in the 1970s. I am hoping that the podcast will produce new leads, but it is more difficult since many of the people who may have known information are probably not with us anymore. Reply Thread Link https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-18-me-kristin18-story.html Id never heard of this case but I read the old LA Times article about it and my god, the absolute bungling of this case Reply Thread Link Listen to Your Own Backyard. Chris does an amazing job covering the case. Reply Parent Thread Link downloading a few eps! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i don't do podcasts, is there anywhere i can read a summary of what the podcast has helped uncover? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link holy shit Reply Parent Thread Link My coworker and I were so excited to hear the news. I grew up with the case, and I am so glad they finally arrested him. Reply Thread Link Holy shit. So glad for the family. But it's so fucked up to me that a damn podcast helped solve a case that the police fucked up. Reply Thread Link yeah, I was listening to an episode of Nicole Byer's podcast (it was a really good episode, btw), and basically it was pointed out how true crime is really only a thing because the police don't do their damn job! Reply Parent Thread Link i watch a lot of true crime content and it is honestly mind blowing how many unsolved cases are unsolved solely because of police error or incompetence or just lack of giving a fuck. it's insane how many murderers are walking around free not because they committed the perfect crime, or even a competent crime, but just because the police messed up. Reply Parent Thread Link I watched a special about a serial killer on ID a while ago and there was one murder where a cop caught him behind a building moments after he killed his victim, looked at the naked woman in his car who wasn't fucking moving, and chose to believe his story that they were just having sex and let him go. like.... wtf. do your job. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link absolutely. i think about the jacob wetterling case all the time. in the dark's first season covered it and the absolute incompetence of the police/sherriff/fbi is infuriating. and they all tell the reporter that they think they did a good job and there's nothing they would go back and change if given the chance. it's just. so upsetting. Reply Parent Thread Link This also isnt the first amateur slueth thats resulted in arrests/convictions. Michelle McNamaras book resulted in the Golden State Killer getting caught. (And the police hilariously tried to claim they cracked the case, while using the nickname she coined) Theres also an Australian case currently going from a podcast. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wow. I didn't think they'd ever have enough evidence for an arrest. I hope they're able to recover Kristin's remains so she can be returned to her family. Reply Thread Link ur icon looks like isamaya ffrench Reply Parent Thread Link I don't listen to podcasts but read about this case a long time ago and it must be so frustrating for her loved ones and the police to have always had a clear suspect but not having enough evidence to go after him. Like, someone found her earring at his mom's home but the police didn't follow that tip and lost the earring. And the police taking so long to start looking at it because they thought she'd gone on a holiday for sure gave the pos and his family time to destroy evidence and get rid of the body. Because his parents helped him for sure, they're enablers. His mom is the worst, suing Kristin's family for emotioal distress, what a pos. Your son killed their daughter but I'm sure helping him cover up the murder must have been so stressing. Reply Thread Link Idk if Id be able to control myself from snatching Flores and giving him a hard interrogation myself. Reply Parent Thread Link They should do a podcast on the Jonbenet case. I still cant believe to this day they werent arrested. Nothing in their story made sense. I watched a documentary where they tried to handwrite that extremely long ransom note and it took them 20 minutes! To just write it out without thinking! What kind of kidnapper breaks into their house, spends 20+ minutes writing a ransom note on the mothers stationary, and then murders a child and leaves the poor child there when its supposed to be a kidnapping?? Edited at 2021-04-13 11:46 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I'll never get over that ransom note. It's just so utterly bizarre (and, you know, fake). Reply Parent Thread Link Patsy is dead and Jon Ramsey is pretty litigious so I doubt any kind of deep dive podcast could be made or be particularly useful. But lol yes. It was obviously someone inside the house. No intruder would know where the pen and paper were, spend 20 minutes writing a ransom note (if the intent was to kidnap, why not bring a ransom note? if it was to cover up the killing, why spend so long at the scene of the crime?) and PUT THE PEN AND PAPER BACK WHERE THEY BELONG. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh god like seriously imagine if the kidnapper was like Im here to kidnap a child oh crap I forgot to bring the ransom note let me spend 20 minutes writing a new random note using their pen and paper and do some draft ransom notes first to practice my penmanship Reply Parent Thread Link I think the JBR case has gotten so much coverage (TV shows, podcasts, etc.) that there's nothing to go over anymore. There's no new information. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah but that won't happen. I think her brother successfully sued multiple outlets (and even Oprah) so no podcast or anything will come out until he's dead. But the brother absolutely did it (accident or not) and the parents covered it up. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link None of the evidence adds up to a real intruder but the cops fucked up the crime scene so badly from the beginning that it'll never be formally solved. I've also always thought the dad moved her body on purpose after he "found" her to mess up the evidence and cast reasonable doubt for any of his DNA found on her and the tape/cord/blanket because he helped stage the scene. Reply Parent Thread Link A Perth couple have been fined $11,000 and banned from owning an animal for 10 years after leaving their dog's bleeding tumour untreated for months. The 50-year-old man and 52-year-old woman were found guilty of animal cruelty charges after leaving 'Benny' the Staffordshire bull terrier to suffer from an untreated cancerous growth on his penis without seeking medical advice. RSPCA WA Executive Manager Animal and Enforcement Operations Hannah Dreaver said Benny would still be alive today if his owners had sought treatment earlier. A Perth couple have been banned from owning pets are they left their dog's bleeding cancerous untreated for months (pictured) 'What a gross abuse of a pet's love and devotion. How scared and confused Benny must have been as well as being in pain and getting thinner every day,' she said. A City of Bayswater ranger made a cruelty complaint to the RSPCA in July last year after picking up Benny as a stray and taking him to the vet. When the RSPCA inspector attended she saw Benny was very underweight with his hips, spine and rib cage all visible and he had a grapefruit-sized, weeping growth on his penis. Ms Dreaver described Benny's situation as 'cruel' and said there was 'absolutely no excuse for it.' Benny the Staffordshire bull terrier left with an untreated cancerous growth (pictured) 'If you notice a change in your pet, take it to the vet for treatment. If you can't afford to, ask for help. No other option is ok.' Benny was taken to the RSPCA's Animal Care Centre in Malaga where vets decided that euthanasia was the most humane option. The Perth Magistrate's Court heard when the inspector went to the address linked to Benny's microchip, the male owner refused to come out of the house. Two witnesses, the man's stepfather and partner, told the court the growth on Benny had been present for some time and he quickly lost weight over the past three months. The pair confirmed that no one had taken Benny to a vet or sought treatment despite his deteriorating condition. The couple received fines totaling $11,000 and were ordered to pay reimbursements and costs totaling $1915.60. Once a shining symbol of Japan's advanced technology and economic power, Toshiba has been rocked by turbulence in recent years, facing scandals and losses before staging a recovery. The industrial giant dates back to 1875 when its forerunner -- a telegraph factory -- operated in central Tokyo. It forged its success in the 1980s by developing flash memory chips and pioneering laptops. But the conglomerate, whose vast business ranges from semiconductor manufacturing equipment and escalators to storage devices and nuclear plants, found itself falling behind Asian and US rivals even before the turmoil of the mid-2010s. As company president Nobuaki Kurumatani resigns amid reports of a potential bidding war for the firm, AFP charts Toshiba's recent highs and lows: - 2015: Profit-padding scandal - In May, Toshiba withdraws its earnings forecast, citing accounting problems on several infrastructure projects. An external panel finds that high-level Toshiba staff were involved in "systematically" inflating profits by $1.2 billion between 2008 and 2014, pressuring underlings to cover up weak results. The company president and seven top executives resign over the ballooning scandal in July as its stock tanks and a painful restructuring begins with more than 10,000 jobs cut. - 2016: Asset sell-offs - The scandal hits Toshiba at a weak point after the 2008 financial crisis and 2011 Fukushima disaster, which squashed demand for atomic power in Japan and dealt a blow to its key nuclear division. In a scramble to recover, the company sheds businesses including its medical devices unit, which Canon buys for nearly $6 billion in March, and most of its home appliance subsidiary, which goes to China's Midea. Despite this, the group suffers a record net loss of around $4.4 billion for the 2015/16 financial year. In another dramatic turn of events in December, Toshiba warns of a potential writedown topping $6.3 billion at its US nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric, whose tech is at the core of around half the world's nuclear reactors. Story continues - 2017: Westinghouse goes bust - Westinghouse goes bankrupt in March and its huge losses, largely owing to delays and cost overruns, raise doubts about Toshiba's future. Strapped for cash, Toshiba is forced to try to sell part of the family silver -- its memory chip business, which accounts for around a quarter of annual revenue. The conglomerate posts a net loss of $8.8 billion in 2016/17 as it faces the humiliating threat of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It raises 600 billion yen ($5.3 billion at the time) in new capital with foreign activist investors rushing in, but is demoted to the TSE's second section. - 2018: Mega-sale of Toshiba Memory - After months of delays and complications, the $21-billion sale of prized chip unit Toshiba Memory to a group led by US investor Bain Capital is completed in June. Toshiba retains a 40 percent stake in the chip business, which is renamed Kioxia. The deal is seen as crucial to keeping Toshiba afloat, even as the firm says it has bounced back into the black and avoided delisting by ceding assets and debts related to Westinghouse. Toshiba sells its PC division to Japanese rival Sharp and liquidates its British nuclear subsidiary NuGen, meaning its only nuclear dealings are now in Japan, where it is involved in the decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima plant. - 2019-2020: Shareholder pressure - Toshiba works on its financial woes and strengthens its governance, with a board now composed of mostly external directors. But the group faces pressure from activist shareholders who want to see faster growth and a clearer long-term strategy. The crisis comes to a head after Toshiba's July 2020 annual general meeting, as some shareholders call for an independent inquiry into vote irregularities -- a demand refused by company management. - 2021: Surprise buyout offer - Toshiba wins a return to the prestigious first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but it faces pressure from activist shareholders, whose demand for an independent probe into the last AGM is approved. In early April, Toshiba says it has received a takeover offer from private equity fund CVC Capital Partners, reportedly in excess of $20 billion. Company president Nobuaki Kurumatani resigns on April 14, as reports say two other funds are considering their own offers for the Japanese household name -- potentially setting up a bidding war. etb-kaf/sah/dan Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) The Department of Health is ready to assist hospitals in ensuring compliance with their order on conducting regular COVID-19 tests for their health workers, an official said Wednesday. In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire clarified the testing protocols being imposed by the government to ensure the safety of health workers while attending to COVID-19 patients. Vergeire said the Health Department will seek ways to assist hospitals in ramping up testing after she acknowledged their financial limitations due to the pandemic. "We are going to check on this and we will try to assist hospitals so they may be able to give that protection to health workers," Vergeire said. "But it depends on the resources of hospitals. Some hospitals right now, they are having this number of individuals whom they are testing based on the increase in number of cases. Maybe that's why they are not able to comply with this department memorandum," she added. Vergeire referred to the DOH's Department Memorandum 2020-0546 which orders all public and private hospitals and health facilities to ensure the availability of testing services for all their healthcare workers exposed to persons classified as suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases. Priority must be given to healthcare workers who are suspect cases. "[This] memorandum states that all hospitals should have all their healthcare workers tested especially those catering to COVID-19 patients every two weeks based on the resources of the hospitals," she said. Vergeire added that hospitals can still at least conduct tests once a month or every two months to reduce transmission. Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines President Jose de Grano told CNN Philippines on Wednesday that budget for testing must still be factored in amid medical facilities' limited resources. He previously said some private hospitals are already resorting to reducing manpower and resources due to the unpaid claims of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. In a recent meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III claimed that the government is making sure health workers undergo testing every two weeks, and that the infected are quarantined immediately. But the group Filipino Nurses United refuted this, saying that some of their members are even forced to go on duty without getting tested. Healthcare workers are urged to report hospitals which do not provide mandatory testing. They may reach the DOH through their Hotline 1555, or the DOH Complaints Handling Unit at dohpau.chu@gmail.com. International Russia calls US an adversary, warns US warships to stay away from Crimea MOSCOW, APR 13 (AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 4/13/2021 1:13:01 PM IST Russia on Tuesday called the United States an adversary and told U.S. warships to stay well away from Crimea for their own good, calling their deployment in the Black Sea a provocation designed to test Russian nerves. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and two U.S. warships are due to arrive in the Black Sea this week amid an escalation in fighting in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled Russian-backed separatists in a conflict Kyiv says has killed 14,000 people. The United States is our adversary and does everything it can to undermine Russias position on the world stage, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was cited as saying by Russian news agencies. We do not see any other elements in their approach. Those are our conclusions, the agencies quoted him as saying. The comment suggests that the veneer of diplomatic niceties that the former Cold War enemies have generally sought to observe in recent decades is wearing thin. U.S. President Joe Biden said in March that he thought his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was a killer who would pay a price for alleged meddling in U.S. elections - an accusation that Moscow denies. Ryabkovs remarks suggest Russia will in turn robustly push back against what it sees as unacceptable U.S. interference in its own backyard. We warn the United States that it will be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast. It will be for their own good, said Ryabkov. The West is sounding the alarm over what it says is a large unexplained build-up of Russian forces close to Ukraines eastern border and in Crimea, which NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday called on Moscow to unwind. Russia has said it moves its forces around as it sees fit, including for defensive purposes, and has regularly accused NATO of destabilising Europe by moving its military infrastructure closer to Russias borders. Ryabkov was cited as shrugging off U.S. talk of consequences for any aggressive Russian actions and as saying that Moscow had studied U.S. tactics towards Russia and adapted accordingly. U.S. military support to Kyiv was a serious challenge for Russia, he added, accusing Washington and NATO of turning Ukraine into a powder keg with increasing arms supplies. Washington says Ukraine needs a strong army to defend itself from potential Russian aggression. Any threat to us merely confirms our belief that our course is the right one, Ryabkov was quoted as saying, warning U.S. warships in the Black Sea to keep their distance, given what he said was the high risk of unspecified incidents. There is absolutely nothing for American ships to be doing near our shores, this is purely a provocative action. Provocative in the direct sense of the word: they are testing our strength, playing on our nerves. They will not succeed, Ryabkov said. The Pentagon has declined to discuss the ships deployment, saying only that the U.S. military routinely sends vessels to the region. Russias Black Sea Fleet is based in Crimea and it has powerful missile and radar facilities on the peninsula. Russia confirmed on Tuesday it was continuing to move 15 navy vessels to the Black Sea from the Caspian Sea to take part in drills. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Lawmakers approved two environmental bills Tuesday that critics say could damage the states ecosystems by scaling back current policy affecting water, energy and other resources. A measure seeking to remove protections from Indianas already diminished wetlands would eliminate a 2003 law that requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to issue permits in a state-regulated wetland and end enforcement proceedings against landowners allegedly violating current law. The proposed rollbacks have sparked bipartisan opposition within the Republican-dominated Legislature and from Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, prompting lawmakers to scale back the intended repeal last week. New amendments approved by the House on Monday, however, would still reduce wetland permitting regulations for croplands and ephemeral, or temporary, streams. The bill was additionally amended to be retroactive as of Jan. 1, meaning building projects in some wetland areas would no longer need permits. Fees currently required to be paid to state as compensation for any harm those projects might cause to wetlands would also be eliminated. Another provision added to the measure would establish a task force to study wetland classifications and recommend strategies to reduce the costs of wetland compliance incurred by builders. The bill passed the House in a 58-40 vote Tuesday and now heads back to the Senate for final approval. Democratic lawmakers said Tuesday the House version of the bill while less extreme than the original legislation moved by the Senate is a step backwards and noted that the latest changes to the legislation still rolls back what opponents say are critical protections for wetlands. Noting that the loss of wetlands could lead to high costs caused by increased flooding, less water purification and lost wildlife habitat, the Hoosier Environmental Council also echoed Democrats call for the bill to be converted to a wetlands task force in conference committee. House Majority Leader Matt Lehman, of Berne, maintained that the bill improves current law but continues to provide protections. You can still remediate as youve always remediated, but weve protected what I think is the most vulnerable (wetlands), he said. The Indiana House also voted 65-30 Tuesday to advance a separate bill back to the Senate that would create a state-sponsored carbon market, allowing companies looking to offset their carbon footprint to pay for greenhouse gas reduction efforts. Although the plan has earned broad support, Democrats and environmental advocates pushed back against the bill after it was amended to provide immunity to an Indiana company slated to begin the nations largest carbon dioxide storage project in 2023. The provision adopted by House lawmakers prevents Wabash Valley Resources LLC, which operates a hydrogen production facility in Terre Haute, from being sued if carbon emissions it injects underground move to neighboring properties where they are not supposed to go. Landowners could not bring legal action against the company for perceived risks and would only be able to claim damages if they prove the company caused physical harm to them or their property, according to the amended bill. Rep. Matt Pierce, a Democrat from Bloomington, said Tuesday the immunity provision gives Wabash Valley Resources a pass to infringe on the personal property rights of those who live nearby, arguing that perceived risks associated with the pilot project can negatively affect landowners. You attempt to go and recover from the party that damaged you through the migration of this (carbon dioxide) injection, and our statute says not yet, Pierce said. Youve got to keep suffering through until the plume actually makes it to your property and you can point to physical damage, even though youre probably sitting on property now that you cant sell, and youve suffered real financial harm. If approved by the Senate, the bill will head to the governors desk. ___ Casey Smith 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. Decades of research and experience have shown that deceptive tactics like those used on Trevon are particular risk factors for false confessions. These states are well-positioned to lead on interrogation reform: between New York and Illinois alone, nearly 150 innocent people have been wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit based on false confessions. New Yorks most notorious case, of course, is the Central Park Five (now known as the Exonerated Five); Illinois is home not only to Trevon, but also the Englewood Four, the Marquette Park Four, the Dixmoor Five, the Uptown Seven and many others. Its well past time to stop these numbers from continuing to add up. Banning deception in the interrogation room is the best way to do just that. An advisory committee for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met on Wednesday to discuss the decision made on Tuesday to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine because of its possible link to extremely rare blood clots. After a robust afternoon discussion, the panel decided they needed more time to assess the data and risks, and would not vote on a recommendation until they meet again in a week or 10 days. The emergency meeting followed the Food and Drug Administrations announcement on Tuesday that it was studying six cases of rare and severe blood clots in women aged 18 to 48, one of whom died. All of the women had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before developing the clots, though it is unclear whether the vaccine is responsible. As of Tuesday, more than seven million people in the United States have received the shot, and another 10 million doses have been shipped out to the states, according to C.D.C. data. Following the call from federal health agencies on Tuesday, all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico on Tuesday quickly paused or recommended that providers pause the administration of the vaccine. The U.S. military, federally run vaccination sites, and a host of private companies, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart and Publix also paused the injections. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, is a panel of independent experts who advise the C.D.C. on its vaccine policies. At the meeting, the experts reviewed and debated data from the rare blood clots, including a seventh case, and heard comments from the public, before voting on how to proceed. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register Quebec's premier is worried the country could lose its Formula 1 race over the covid crisis. Amid fears authorities will not allow spectators to attend the Montreal street event, Quebec's director of public health suggested that a race behind closed doors may be a possibility. "There is a way to organise it behind closed doors with certain well-conceived measures," said Dr Horacio Arruda, according to QMI agency. However, while Quebec premier Francois Legault is concerned about the long-term future of the race, he is also open to seeing the event scrapped for a second year in succession. "The concern that we have is that, if we do not have a grand prix in 2021, what happens with our agreement for 2022 to 2029?" he is quoted by Radio-Canada. "Let's not forget that the grand prix is an event with the strongest economic benefits, because it is money from abroad that is spent in Quebec. "However, we always make sure that the money spent is less than the money that comes in," premier Legault added. As for reports that Formula 1 is demanding another $6 million in funding for the race to take place without spectators, Legault insisted that "a lot has already been given". Another major issue is that Formula 1 is seeking an exemption to Canada's mandatory quarantine rules - a factor that led to the postponement of this year's season opening Australian GP. "We humbly ask that an exemption be granted to the Formula 1 community to enter and leave Canada without a mandatory quarantine," part of a leaked letter to the government written by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reads. However, Quebec premier Legault sounds unconvinced that the Canadian GP needs to go ahead at all this year. "We're talking about an activity that would take place without spectators. If it wasn't in question for the following years, I don't see why we need it this year," he said. (GMM) Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 19:11:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's domestic economic activity contracted severely by 8 percent in 2020, compared to a contraction of 0.6 percent in 2019, Bank of Namibia governor Johannes Gawaxab has said. Contractions were observed in key sectors such as tourism, transport, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, as well as the public sector, said Gawaxab. According to Gawaxab, the contraction was mainly due to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the sharpest declines in output recorded in the tourism and transport sectors. Meanwhile, Gawaxab said going forward, the domestic economy is expected to grow by 2.7 percent in 2021. "The successful procurement and expeditious rollout of COVID-19 vaccination in Namibia will be critical for the extent and speed of the economic recovery," he added. Meanwhile, Namibia's central bank left its key lending rate unchanged at 3.75 percent on Wednesday, in a move directed to safeguard the one-to-one link with the South African rand and to continue supporting domestic economic growth. Enditem Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. 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 Online Masters In Business Analytics Degree Programs. Intelligent.com analyzed 105 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 20 making it to the final list for Online Masters In Business Analytics Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-business-analytics-degree-programs/ 2021 Online Masters In Business Analytics Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): American University Arizona State University Bellevue University Boston University Brandeis University Carnegie Mellon University Creighton University Indiana University Bloomington Lewis University Maryville University Penn State World Campus Rochester Institute Of Technology Rutgers University Saint Joseph's University Saint Marys University of Minnesota Stevens Institute of Technology Syracuse University University of Colorado Denver University of Connecticut Villanova 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/. Get Free Access to These 5,000+ Profiles Each profile is free to view and is packed with high-quality insights, providing businesses with detailed company information. Users can take advantage of these insights to identify, target, and connect with the right couriers and express delivery services. This company information includes employee insights, company competitors, the latest news, and more. 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We are a branch of Infiniti Research and have dedicated units in all three locations. BizVibe helps buyers find the most relevant suppliers from around the world and help sellers target prospects who need their products and/or services. For more information, please visit www.bizvibe.com and start for free today. Contact BizVibe Jesse Maida Email: [email protected] +1 855-897-5880 Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/ SOURCE BizVibe by Austin Bay April 14, 2021 Divide and conquer, or divide and rule, was a maxim Chinese strategist Sun Tzu stressed in 500 B.C. Sun wrote that the supreme military commander "subjugates other people's armies without engaging in battle, captures other people's fortified cities without attacking them." Defeating an enemy "without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence." In the 4th century B.C., Macedonia's Philip II (Alexander the Great's father) demonstrated a genius for the type of duplicitous diplomacy that weakens and divides. The authoritarian Philip seeded resentment and aggravated old feuds in rival Greek city-states. Democratic cities were especially susceptible to his mix of threat, lies and blandishments. Autocratic Macedonia leveraged Athens' endless internal political quarrels to splinter resistance. When feuds escalated to minor wars, the Macedonian army would intervene, with Philip posing as the peacemaker. If he occasionally fell short of Sun Tzu's bloodless pinnacle, his policy cocktails of charm, coercive treachery, lies and military muscle made it difficult for rival Greeks to unite and oppose his expansionist goals. Athens and Thebes finally allied, but way too late. Ultimately, Philip gained hegemonic control of Greece. Communist China's long game resembles Phillip II's, except China seeks global hegemony. Substitute propaganda and psychological warfare for lies and coercive treachery and China's shorter games (tactics and operations to achieve its goal) also model Phillip's. The long game also relies on propaganda. China's dedicated propagandists portray the communist dictatorship as a successful ideological competitor to something called the Liberal International Order (LIO). China's authoritarian governance model works far better than squabbling, quarreling democratic states, and China's decisive, autocrat-directed economic success proves it works. However, the U.S.-led LIO proves to be an ambiguous, strawman-esque concept, drawing on 20th-century Soviet propaganda that deplored evil democracy. In other words, Beijing's liars feed Cold War communist propaganda to a 21st-century audience. China's propagandists also contend a strong government recovers lost territory. That line is directed at an internal audience -- ethnic Han Chinese nationalists. Offensive psychological warfare, disinformation operations and agitation propaganda have become media terms for Philip's methods, but "divide and conquer without risking major war" remains the goal. China employs these and similar subversive methods. Combined with coercive threat, they become gray-area warfare. Right now, the U.S. and communist China are engaged in very dangerous gray-area warfare. And Beijing is the aggressor. Information-age digital media -- deluged with emotionally and politically manipulative cause celebres, and increasingly controlled by autocratic billionaire elites and authoritarian states -- are a key battlefield in this war. Unfortunately, vital American political institutions are also battlefields, to include the national security and intelligence services and the U.S. military. According to the Pentagon, psychological warfare (psywar) as a doctrine is "directed solely against enemy audiences." I pointed out in a recent column that the Department of Defense, by including so-called critical race theory in training programs, risks seeding distrust and discord that undermines unit cohesion and command authority, and, quite simply, damns respect for fellow servicemembers as individual human beings. Stripped of academic poppycock, CRT confines Americans to racial castes -- which means it is disgustingly racist. Since CRT insists on division, it is inherently divisive. Philip II would see the possibilities. No doubt Xi Jinping is enthused. For the record, Philip had slaves and brooked no opposition. Xi has Uighurs, and China is an enslaved nation with a state-controlled media. We might ask a character like Hunter Biden about Beijing's ability to pass cash to influential foreign leaders. What is to be done? Bluntly, America needs a counter-psywar strategy that can confront China's and Russia's destructive lies and treat anti-American propaganda like CRT as the faculty club rubbish it is. The goal is building public awareness of and societal resistance to these psychological warfare assaults designed to shatter us. The Biden administration is in thrall to CRT advocates, so individual Americans and private-sector organizations willing to defend freedom must be the initial actors. Treat this column as my personal contribution. YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is denying former army chief General Onik Gasparyans statement who claimed that during the September 30, 2020 Security Council meeting he - then in office - had advised the Prime Minister that the situation required actions for stopping the war within 2-3 days. On November 17th, 2020, then-Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan stated that on the fourth day of the war, during the Security Council meeting he had briefed on our losses, and said that he had stated that it was necessary to take actions in 2 or 3 days for stopping the war. Id like to responsibly and officially say for the record here that this part of his statement has nothing to do with reality, Pashinyan told lawmakers in parliament during the April 14 session. The Chief of General Staff did not say such thing, this is recorded officially, including by an audio recording. On the contrary, he had said that the adversary did not have any advancement, and that our army was fulfilling its mission and will continue doing so until the end. According to the Prime Minister, the Chief of General Staff Gasparyan had said during the Security Council meeting that In the direction of Artsakh, with our existing forces and means we can repel, thwart the adversarys attack and destroy its formations by the not a single step back principle. However, Pashinyan added that this doesn't mean that his administration was not taking actions to immediately achieve a ceasefire. Pashinyan mentioned the process whereby three different ceasefires during the war were achieved through mediators, but failed to hold. Minutes after the ceasefires were coming into force, the Azeri military was violating it. General Gasparyan was dismissed as Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces on March 10, 2021. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 22:42:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday urged Japan to prudently handle the issue of Fukushima radioactive wastewater based on full consultation with international organizations and its neighbors and substantive participation of relevant countries and international organizations. This came at the first meeting of the China-ROK dialogue and cooperation mechanism of maritime affairs held via video link. China and the ROK expressed strong dissatisfaction with the unilateral decision recently made by Japan to dump the wastewater into the sea, regardless of opposition from the international community, especially China and the ROK as its two major neighbors. China and the ROK both pledged to keep in close contact over the issue. They also voiced their readiness to work with the international community and regional countries to jointly take necessary measures to respond to this global challenge. Hailing the sound development of China-ROK ties, both sides believed the dialogue and cooperation mechanism is conducive to expanding maritime exchanges and cooperation, and will enrich the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership. Both sides agreed on the framework and operation mode of the mechanism. They also pledged to deepen cooperation in areas including marine science and technology, environmental protection, fisheries, search and rescue, shipping, defense, and law enforcement. Both sides exchanged views on issues including demarcation of territorial waters, agreed to enhance communication and coordination, and properly handle sensitive issues. They agreed to promote mutual trust and work for a Yellow Sea featuring peace, friendship, and cooperation. Hong Liang, director-general of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's foreign ministry, and Choi Hee-deok, director-general for the Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the ROK's foreign ministry, co-chaired the meeting. Japan on Tuesday announced its decision to dump contaminated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. It has generated a massive amount of radiation-tainted water since an accident triggered by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Enditem Large lumps of pink quartzite were transported some 600 miles across what is today the American Midwest in the bellies of long-necked dinosaurs, a study concluded. Researchers from the US explained that the giant sauropods likely swallowed the stomach stones, known as 'gastroliths', to help grind up food they had eaten. The gastroliths ended up being buried in Wyoming's Morrison Depositional Basin during the Late Jurassic, 155148 million years ago, when the dinosaurs perished. The team knew the stones could not have originated there, as pink quartzite in North America is only found deposited in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Wisconsin. By analysing minerals called zircons that act as little clocks, the team determined that the gastroliths formed 1.8 billion years ago, matching those from Wisconsin. Lumps of pink quartzite, pictured, were transported some 600 miles across what is today the American Midwest in the bellies of long-necked dinosaurs, a study concluded The gastroliths from the Baraboo formation in Wisconsin ended up being buried in Wyoming's Morrison Depositional Basin some 155148 million years ago, when the dinosaurs perished Researchers from the US explained that the giant sauropods likely swallowed the stomach stones, known as 'gastroliths', to help grind up food they had eaten. Pictured: a pair of diplodocuses, one of the sauropod dinosaurs that may have carried the stones What are gastroliths? Gastroliths also known as 'stomach' or 'gizzard stones' are rocks that have been within an animal's gastrointestinal tract. They appear rounded and polished, and can range from sand to cobble-sized pieces of rock and are often used as to help aid digestion, provide minerals or, in some species, as ballast. Some species retain the stones in a gizzard, while in others gastroliths are swallowed, pass through the digestive tract and are frequently replaced. Modern species which use gastroliths include plant-eating birds (like chickens and ostriches) crocodiles, alligators, seals and sea lions. Gastroliths were first identified in long-necked sauropod dinosaurs by the American palaeontologist George Reber Weiland back in 1906. Advertisement 'We believe [the stones] were transported from southern Wisconsin to north-central Wyoming in the belly of a dinosaur,' paper author and geoscientist Josh Malone of the University of Texas at Austin told Live Science. Mr Malone credits the gastroliths for helping pique his interest in the earth sciences. He first encountered them in 2017 when visiting his father, Illinois State University geologist David Malone, who was conducting field work in Wyoming at the time. 'I wasn't into geology yet I was just visiting my dad just for fun. We were walking around in the Bighorn Basin, and we kept on seeing these polished stones in the Morrison Formation,' Josh Malone added. 'I asked "Dad, what are these?" and he said, "Oh, they're gastroliths."', he continued, explaining that his father was unsure where the stones had come from. 'That was the beginning of it all. That day that we spent in the field is what got me into geology.' During that 2017 expedition, the fatherson duo collected hundreds of the pink quartzite gastroliths and took them back to the laboratory to analyse the zircon crystals contained within and determine when they were formed. They were then able to cross reference this date of around 1.8 billion years ago with the ages of known pink quartzite deposits across the continent. Pictured: an artist's impression of a Diplodocus ingesting gastroliths that are entangled in the vegetation it is consuming 'Once we got the results from those gastroliths in Wyoming, we did a statistical analysis on them, and they matched with the Baraboo Formation quartzite in Wisconsin,' Josh Malone told Live Science. In addition, the team wrote in their paper, the Wyoming gastroliths were 'indistinguishable from Baraboo Interval quartzites in terms of texture, composition and heavy minerals.' The team were also able to rule out the alternative possibility that the stones were carried on their 600 mile journey by the more conventional action of rivers. During the Late Jurassic, sediments deposited in the Morrison Basin predominantly came from eastward-flowing rivers that originated to the west not from the east, where the Baraboo quartzites first formed. During their 2017 expedition, the sonfather duo of Josh and David Malone collected hundreds of the pink quartzite gastroliths (left) from the Morrison Formation (right) and took them back to the lab to analyse the zircon crystals contained within and determine when they formed 'Once we got the results from those gastroliths in Wyoming, we did a statistical analysis on them, and they matched with the Baraboo Formation quartzite in Wisconsin,' Josh Malone told Live Science. Pictured: an outcrop of the Baraboo Formation In fact, the researchers explained, there were no rivers working their way from what we know as Wisconsin to Wyoming that would have been anywhere near strong enough to carry stones the size of the quartzites found in the Morrison Basin. 'I've had one that is larger than my palm, so they can get pretty big,' Josh Malone told Live Science. The sheer size of the gastroliths meant that they had to have been swallowed and transported by large-bodied animals like dinosaurs. None of the gastroliths collected by the Malones were found in association with fossilised skeletal remains, however, meaning that the exact species that carried them is unclear. Only a few giant dinosaurs' remains have ever been found alongside gastroliths in the Morrison Formation the meat-eating theropod Allosaurus and the long-necked sauropods Barosaurus, Diplodocus and what is suspected to be a Camarasaurus. The sheer size of the gastroliths meant that they had to have been swallowed and transported by large-bodied animals like dinosaurs. Pictured: a herd of Camarasaurus, one of the species that the researchers believe could have been responsible for transporting the stones 'Sauropod skeletons greatly outnumber those of Allosaurus throughout the Morrison Formation,' the researchers explained in their paper. 'And because gastroliths are much more common in sauropods than in large-bodied theropods, we hypothesize that sauropods were the animals most likely responsible for transport of these stones.' According to the team, the dinosaurs may have swallowed the stones deliberately as to help them grind down fibre-rich vegetation in their guts, or to extract minerals from them or, they may also have just gobbled them up by mistake. The researchers have also speculated that the migrating sauropods may have followed a weakly-flowing stream that once flowed westward from the Appalachian Mountains toward Wyoming. While the waterway wasn't strong enough to carry the big stones, it may nevertheless have helped the dinosaurs by carving out a route to follow. The researchers have also speculated that the migrating sauropods may have followed a weakly-flowing stream (depicted above) that once flowed westward from the Appalachian Mountains toward Wyoming. While the waterway wasn't strong enough to carry the big stones, it may nevertheless have helped the dinosaurs by carving out a route to follow MIGRATING DINOS This is not the first evidence to suggest that sauropod dinosaurs likely migrated over considerable distances. In 2011, for example, a study published in the journal Nature used an analysis of oxygen isotopes to show that Camarasauruses migrated several hundred miles between upland and lowland environments as to avoid water shortages. And a study published in Biology Letters in 2020 concluded that duck-billed dinosaurs whose fossils have been found in western Canada regularly migrated 50 miles at a go. Advertisement 'The stream served as a corridor for dinosaur migration,' the researchers wrote, adding that the sauropods may have ingested the stones directly from outcrops of the pink quartzite, or perhaps from stream gravel derived from these deposits. Paper author and biologist Michael D'Emic, of New York's Adelphi University, told Live Science that the sauropods likely needed to migrate because they needed to graze constantly and the plants in the Morrison Basin experienced seasonal rainfall. Palaeontologist Femke Holwerda of the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Canada, who was not involved in the present study, told Live Science that sauropods were 'quite big animals, and we know that they moved in herds.' 'We know from modern big animals that. at some point, after they stay in a locality for a while, they kind of deplete all their resources 'So they have to move on literally looking for greener pastures.' Professor D'Emic added that the findings represent 'one of, if not the longest, inferred examples of [non-bird-like] dinosaur migration' presently on record. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Terra Nova. When Portlands earliest known boba tea shop, Tea Chai Te, opened in December 2003, store owners Angela and Dominic Valdes watched many of their customers experience the drink for the first time. The couple first encountered the Taiwanese beverage themselves in 2002 at Seattle boba shop Gossip, which opened in December 2000 and closed in recent years. Angela Valdes said they spent the first few years explaining to customers how to enjoy the drink. From popping open the drink with a big brightly colored straw to having tapioca pearls and coconut jellies in the bottom, [there] was something new and exciting for everyone, she said. The drink that originated in Taiwan has exploded into U.S. markets, bringing a wave of boba shops to Portland. Boba tea, or just boba for short, is generally a sweetened milk tea with black, chewy tapioca pearls at the bottom that you suck up through fat straws. The pearls are made from the starch of the cassava root, a tuber also known as yuca, native to South America. There are competing stories for who exactly invented the drink, but many say it originated in Taiwan in the 1980s at the Chun Shui Tang teahouse. As the story goes, a woman was sitting in a staff meeting and had a dessert called fen yuan, a sweetened tapioca pudding, with her. She decided to pour the tapioca into her iced tea and boba tea was born. Since 2018, at least 32 boba tea shops have opened in the Portland metropolitan area, giving the region 55 shops in total not including restaurants and food-focused establishments that have boba on their menu. The field includes international boba tea chains like Ding Tea, Sharetea and T4 but also a wave of locally owned operations. Tea Chai Te has also since expanded to three other locations. Here, you can watch Portlands boba scene grow over the years by dragging the slider below. Pause and click on the dots to see store names and addresses. (Shops that The Oregonian/OregonLive could not find opening dates for were included at the end of the time lapse). When Steve Chao and his wife opened 5 Flavor Cafe in early 2018, boba was still not a household name in the Beaverton area neighborhood. The pitch was, we spent 15 minutes talking about what boba is because people didnt know, Chao said. There was a lot of sampling of toppings and flavors for new customers. The influx of boba shops has only driven more exposure for the drinks, in turn growing the market for everyone. Portland saw its first major chain at the start of 2019, when Taiwanese boba powerhouse Ding Tea arrived in Lents. The growing field of competitors hasnt stopped more shops from opening, even during the pandemic. Several shop owners said the shutdown has not affected them as much as other food establishments, primarily because of boba shops takeout model. Another T4 Tea for You location recently opened on Northwest 23rd Avenue, joining existing franchise outlets in Clackamas, Bethany and Beaverton. Like many of the major boba players, the T4 franchise began in Taiwan in 2004, but it has a much smaller presence in the United States than other chains. Betty Koon, who opened the store at 526 N.W. 23rd Ave with business partner Korie Tsang, said the Portland boba scene is far from saturated. Theres a lot of room to grow because if you look at the California Bay Area theres still new brands going in every year, said Koon, who has lived in boba-dense neighborhoods in California and Asia. She moved to Portland from California about three years ago. Portland is still missing major chains like Quickly, Gongcha, Chatime, CoCo Fresh and more. Homegrown chains are still expanding, and some like Tea & Tea are just beginning to plan for new locations in the city. Koon said the target audience for boba is mainly people under the age of 40, but its something more and more people are still learning about. With the endless possibilities for re-invention and creative presentation, boba has also found explosive popularity on Instagram. Fans cant seem to resist sharing the brightly colored drinks with assorted toppings served in mason jars, light bulb cups, with soft-serve and over waffles. Boba tea is becoming a culture for a younger generation, Koon said. People taste it one time, theyre open to more. Many of the new shops are also independently owned and opened by Portlanders who say theyre still not satisfied with the quality of boba in their neighborhood. Michelle Ouyang opened Just Tea in Mill Park at the end of 2019, quitting her job at a lab to fulfill her childhood dreams of running a boba tea shop. At 1045 S.E. 122nd Ave, its one of two boba shops east of Interstate 205. Whenever I had good boba as a kid, I would just be so happy, Ouyang said in Chinese. She operates the business, currently drive-thru only, with her son Vincent. Though the COVID shutdown happened just a few months after they opened, Ouyang said business has not been bad. The customers who have visited before, theyve all been very supportive, she said. -- Jaimie Ding jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding At least one in 10 positive results given by rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests were wrong in March, Public Health England data show. Since self-testing kits were put into mass use when schools in England reopened last month, 3,248 positive results have been found to be false by follow-up swab tests. The controversial kits, which have irked scientists who warn they are less accurate when people swab themselves, are now available for free to all adults with no Covid symptoms. But somewhere between 10 and 20 per cent of the positive results they give could be wrong, meaning people end up panicked and sent home from school or work unnecessarily. Between March 8 and April 7 when the 3,248 cases were found, 31,000 test results from lateral flow kits came back positive. In total, more than 8,000 positive results from the tests have been wrong since they started being used before schools reopened. Government officials insist the benefits of testing people without Covid symptoms weeding out silent carriers of the virus far outweigh their pitfalls. One outspoken critic of the self-testing policy, Professor Jon Deeks, said that tens or hundreds of people could be affected by one person getting a false positive result. He added: 'If you get a positive result it is essential that it is confirmed by a PCR test as soon as possible to check that you and your contacts do not isolate unnecessarily.' Rapid self-testing kits are now used by schools and employers across the UK. Public Health England has reported at least one in 10 positive results are found to be wrong by follow-up lab tests (Pictured: A young woman tests herself at the University of Hull) The controversial kits, which irked scientists because they are less accurate when people do the swabs themselves, are now used millions of times a week in the UK. The tests work by someone swabbing their throat and nose, mixing the swab in a testing liquid and then pouring the liquid onto a plastic cassette that gives a result in 15 minutes A total of 3,248 positive results counted in the Department of Health's daily updates were later scratched from the record for the period March 8 to April 7. These were results that were positive when someone took a lateral flow test but then negative when they took a better quality lab test afterwards. They came from a total of 30,956 rapid test positives recorded in that time out of 29.25million tests taken. This means roughly 11 per cent of all positive results from lateral flow tests hailed as being key to restarting Britains crippled economy turned out to be wrong. And the figure may be even higher because only half of the rapid tests (15,349) were actually followed up with a lab swab. Professor Deeks, a medical testing expert at the University of Birmingham, told MailOnline: 'For schools, a child testing positive will mean themselves, their family, their contacts, their childcare all being affected for 10 days. DATA SHOW OVERALL FALSE POSITIVE RATE IS EXTREMELY LOW Although the Public Health England data show thousands of people have been wrongly told they have coronavirus, it also suggests that the false positive rate of the test is extremely low. During the period from March 8 to April 7, only 0.01 per cent of people who took a rapid test got a positive result and then tested negative with a PCR test. Out of 30,956 positive results from the lateral flow tests, 3,248 got negative results from a later lab-based test. While this is a rate of over 10 per cent, the test correctly detected millions of other negative results at the same time. Overall, 29,251,374 people took a rapid test in that time frame. The proven false negative rate, therefore, was only 0.01 per cent, suggesting the test successfully detects 99.9 per cent of negative results. The true specificity of the test its ability to give the right result to someone without the virus cannot be calculated without knowing exactly how many people should be negative, but this can act as a rough guide. Advertisement 'Certainly tens and possibly 100 people. If it was a teacher it could be worse.' In February and March, positive rapid tests were not all followed up with a lab test to confirm the result. Although this policy has now been reversed and all people who get a positive result are told to take a follow-up test. The data suggest that the overall rate of false positive rates is extremely low over 99.9 per cent of the tests appear to give a negative result or a true positive. Professor Deeks said around two in every 10,000 tests could be a false positive, based on data so far. But because so many are used in Britain, even the small margin of error has the potential to affect a lot of people. In the last week of the school term before Easter, an average of 810,488 rapid tests were taken every day, out of which 160 could have been false positives. This is why it's vital for follow up positive results with a second, higher quality test. Lab-based PCR tests are considered the gold standard but they are more expensive and can take up to three days to produce a result. Professor Deeks said acting on the results of lateral flow tests alone was 'exactly the wrong thing to do'. People should not act as if they are virus-free if they get a negative result, he said, and it was also not ideal to start full contact tracing if the result is positive. People should, however, isolate and get a proper PCR test if their rapid result is positive. 'It is a mathematical certainty that as disease rates go down, the chances go up that a positive result from these lateral flow tests will be false,' Professor Deeks added. 'If you get a positive result it is essential that it is confirmed by a PCR test as soon as possible to check that you and your contacts do not isolate unnecessarily. FREE RAPID TESTS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE IN THE UK England's Covid testing blitz began last week, with everyone in the country now able to use self-test swab kits twice a week with the aim of getting life back to normal. Boots and local pharmacies are now offering lateral flow tests that adults can go in and pick up for free, even if they don't have any symptoms of the virus. Matt Hancock credited the scheme as being 'one of our most effective weapons in tackling this virus' and the Health Secretary said the campaign would cut the spread of asymptomatic Covid, which is a huge driver of the pandemic. Ministers say the programme is an essential part of the easing of restrictions, helping identify variants and thwarting outbreaks. But critics say the rapid kits could wrongly label tens of thousands of people a week as having Covid when used at such large scale muddying the water about whether the disease is making a comeback. The lateral flow kits available on the new scheme are free of charge and dished out at approved testing sites, more than 5,000 pharmacies and by post. People can collect tests for up to four household members at a time. The tests can be ordered through the government website link. Advertisement 'There is still a problem that this test will miss many cases. The Government has done too little to evaluate this test in people without symptoms before launching the biggest testing campaign in our nation's history.' The Government still defends the use of the kits, saying the tests save lives by spotting Covid cases 'we wouldnt otherwise know about'. A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'Around one in three people with coronavirus do not show any symptoms. 'So every day rapid testing is helping us find cases of Covid we wouldnt otherwise know about, breaking chains of transmission and saving lives. 'Lateral flow tests are convenient and reliable with the vast majority of positives correctly indicating infectiousness.' Everyone in Britain can now take two lateral flow tests a week for free, regardless of whether they have any symptoms. They will get results within as little as 15 minutes. Ministers hope the multi-billion-pound swabbing blitz which involves Boots and other local pharmacies will help life revert back to normal. But scientists have warned the scheme could result in a 'public health disaster', with thousands forced needlessly to self-isolate and others given false confidence that they are safe. One of the biggest issues is that the tests have low sensitivity, meaning they do not pick up everyone who is carrying the virus. People who have the virus but still test negative false negatives might get misplaced confidence from the test result and be less strict about following lockdown rules that someone who hasn't been tested, experts say. This could lead to them going back out into the community and spreading the virus without knowing. But government experts are satisfied the DIY swabs, widely used by schools, care homes and the NHS, are a key tool in reopening society. The tests are said to already have identified 120,000 cases that might not otherwise have been picked up. Commentary: The original sin of U.S. colonialism Xinhua) 08:51, April 14, 2021 People march against racism and violence on Asian Americans from the city hall to the Union Square in San Francisco, the United States, March 27, 2021. (Photo by Dong Xudong/Xinhua) From massacring native Indians to enslaving African people, from racial discrimination making people "unable to breathe" to military interference in other countries, the country called the United States has not changed much its colonialism gene. BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Claiming itself as "the city upon a hill," the United States has always boasted about its role as a preacher for so-called Western-style freedom and democracy. However, beneath the gloss, history facts have exposed that the country was born with original sins starting from colonialism, featuring violence, lies and guile. From massacring native Indians to enslaving African people, from racial discrimination making people "unable to breathe" to military interference in other countries, the country called the United States has not changed much its colonialism gene. The native Indians were the first to bear the brunt. "Gradual disappearance of the native tribes ... Miseries accompanying the forced migrations of the Indians," Alexis de Tocqueville, a French thinker and historian, had written in his masterpiece Democracy in America. Demonstrators are arrested during a protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the United States, May 31, 2020. (Photo by Angus Alexander/Xinhua) According to the French writer's description in the 19th century, the United States, young at that time, systematically expelled and massacred the Indian aborigines. Several American administrations had encouraged the slaughter and suppression of native Indians. In 1814, then U.S. President James Madison issued a decree rewarding 50 to 100 U.S. dollars for every Indian's scalp. From the 1860s to the 1890s, then President Abraham Lincoln promulgated the Homestead Act, allowing every American citizen over 21 years old to obtain land in the west of the country, where native Indians used to live for generations. "The American government does not indeed rob them of their lands, but it allows perpetual incursions to be made on them ... they will then be exposed to the same evils without the same remedies, and as the limits of the earth will at last fail them, their only refuge is the grave," wrote Tocqueville in his book referring to the misery of the Indians. Besides bloody killing and looting, lies and coercion were also old tricks that the founders of U.S. government and their successors have been apt to use. In years after the founding of the United States, most of Indian reservations promised by the government had gradually disappeared. When the U.S. government decided to expand westward in the 1860s, buffalos became the critical target as Indians viewed the animal as sacred and lived on it as essential food supply. Hunting and killing buffalos meant destroying native Indians. After decades of hunting by civil hunters as well as the U.S. army, wild buffalos were nearly extinct by 1873. Protesters rally towards the White House during a protest over the death of George Floyd in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The ploy worked as the words of the Sioux leader Sitting Bull went, "a cold wind blew across the prairie when the last buffalo fell -- a death-wind for my people." During the period between 1887 and 1933, the native Indians lost about 90 million acres of land. From the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the Indian population plummeted from 5 million to 250,000. A real genocide in human history. The U.S. colonial crimes have also been committed outside the country. In modern history, the United States annexed the Philippines in 1898 and commenced a formal military occupation of Cuba in 1899. When following European colonist powers to the semi-colonial and semi-feudal society of China, the United States initiated the Open Door policy in 1899, promoting a wave of dividing China according to the interests of Western powers. In today's world, the United States remains as a habitual meddler by wantonly interfering in other countries' internal affairs. What an irony that a country with such bad records labels itself as the lecturer in human rights teaching other countries how to behave! People should be alert to the fact that though the colonialism era has long gone, the aftermath of the colonial crimes such as racism, hegemonism and interventionism still haunts the world. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) The Andalusian region is facing a tightening of Covid-19 control measures as the fourth wave of the pandemic advances in a "worrying" way according to the regional government spokesperson, Elias Bendodo. Speaking at a press conference this Tuesday (13 April) he said, "We all need to make an extra effort so that the fourth wave does not get out of hand." He said that, at the meeting of the territorial committees of each province this Thursday, "[the places] that are at level 2, will go into level 3," because of "rate of multiplication of infections". Bendodo explained that this change of levels will mean "more limitations" for those affected localities. Currently the entire province of Malaga is at level 2, including all the health districts: Serrania, La Vega, Axarquia, Malaga, Valle del Guadalhorce and the Costa del Sol. Passing to a level 3 alert would mainly affect the allowed capacity of premises and events. Bendodo said that the fourth wave is advancing in a "worrying" way in the region and provided figures that support it: with the region having 1,473 coronavirus patients in hospital this Tuesday, 173 more than a week ago, and 297 patients in an intensive care unit. We cannot allow the fourth wave to run amok. We are not at the end of the road yet, far from it. He added, "We all need to make an extra effort so that the fourth wave does not get out of hand." Bendodo went on to say that the evolution of the disease is "most worrying" in the provinces of Seville and Granada, "which is where we have the most people in hospital". [April 14, 2021] Simplilearn Collaborates With KPMG In India To Offer Global PG Programs In Digital Business Transformation & Process Excellence BANGALORE, India, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, the world's number one Online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training, today announced a collaboration with KPMG in India to offer postgraduate programs in the field of digital business transformation & process excellence, starting with PG Program in Lean Six Sigma. Key features of the post-graduate program include master-classes, real-world capstone projects and mentoring by experts from KPMG in India, live interaction with 100+ hours of live online classes by digital transformation leaders, and Interactive peer learning via Harvard Business Publishing case studies and real-life group projects. In an industry first, the synergy created by the KPMG in India and Simplilearn partnership will provide a high-touch learning experience to the professionals enrolling in the post graduate programs. The learners are set to gain a real-world perspective of digital lean and business transformation through business case studies and masterclasses that leverage a world-class knowledge-base created via decades of consulting experience of KPMG in India. Most importantly, during the capstone, the learners will be mentored by experts from KPMG in India in-person to help them apply the theoretical frameworks to solve real-world business challengs. "The exponential rate at which technology is advancing is disrupting organizations and jobs globally. Businesses, across all sectors, are facing challenges in adopting these new changes due to skills gaps. In light of this, we are delighted to partner with KPMG in India to bring our students the most comprehensive training programs available and make them job-ready. The deep industry knowledge from the industry-leading practices of KPMG in India will help our learners gain hands-on knowledge on business problems," said Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, Simplilearn. "Together with KPMG in India, we're confident that these post graduate programs will provide everything our students need to launch new careers in different fields of digital economy operations." "The workforce of the future needs to be well-rounded and updated with ever-evolving digital technologies and management techniques. We are happy to collaborate with Simplilearn to provide learners with the skills and competencies they need to advance their careers in the growing digital economy. Through this collaboration, we will be able to help address the critical challenge of skills gaps," said Dr. K. K. Raman, Head of Business Excellence practice at KPMG in India. All course content will be available on Simplilearn's learning management system and will follow Simplilearn's unique blended learning framework, providing learners with expertly-designed content, delivered via live class sessions and pre-recorded video to meet the needs of every student's preference and schedule. Upon completion of each program, learners will receive industry-recognized certification from Simplilearn and KPMG in India. About Simplilearn Simplilearn is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital skills training, focused on helping people acquire the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Simplilearn provides outcome-based online training across technologies and applications in Data Science, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing, DevOps, Project Management, and other critical digital disciplines. Through individual courses, comprehensive certification programs, and partnerships with world-renowned universities, Simplilearn provides millions of professionals and thousands of corporate training organizations with the work-ready skills they need to excel in their careers. Based in San Francisco, CA, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped over 2,000,000 professionals and 2,000 companies across 150 countries to get trained, acquire certifications, and reach their business and career goals. With over 1,000 live classes each month, real-world projects, and more, professionals learn by doing with Simplilearn. Ongoing industry recognition for the company includes the 2020 Aegis Graham Bell Award for Innovation in EdTech, 2020 Stevie Gold Award for Customer Service Success, and recognition by the prestigious Training Industry Inc. as one of the Top IT Training Companies for 2020. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] White House: Jill Biden tolerated medical procedure well View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Jill Biden had a common medical procedure on Wednesday, came through it well and was expected to resume her normal schedule, the White House said. President Joe Biden accompanied his wife to an outpatient center near the campus of George Washington University. No further details were immediately released about the condition of the 69-year-old first lady or the procedure. The Bidens returned to the White House after two hours. Jill Biden was seen exiting the motorcade with her husband. The first lady tolerated the procedure well, communications director Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement, and planned to resume her regular schedule. Later Wednesday, President Biden was to address the nation on his plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021 the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He also planned to visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of many American service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. The first lady has no public events scheduled Wednesday. She plans a trip to Illinois on Monday. By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press PEORIA, Ill., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven research projects are sharing slightly more than $400,000 in funding through the Jump ARCHES research and development program to address challenges and expand on lessons learned about COVID-19 vaccinations and testing. The Jump ARCHES program is a partnership between OSF HealthCare and The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I) and its College of Medicine in Peoria. The funding supports research involving clinicians, engineers and social scientists to rapidly develop technologies and devices that could revolutionize medical training and health care delivery. A requirement of the grant applications was for solutions that could be deployed quickly, within four to six weeks. Investigators were also encouraged to consider how to best mitigate the impact of age, location, and social barriers in delivering quality health care to vulnerable populations. "The outcomes of these projects will help with issues arising from the current pandemic and help physicians apply lessons learned in the post-COVID health care landscape," said Seth Stutzman, coordinator for the Jump ARCHES grant program. "With the UK variant now the predominant virus in the U.S., it is critical that we leverage the talent at Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center in Peoria and the brilliant minds within engineering, technology and social science at the U of I. This will help us quickly find much-needed solutions to address the challenges health care faces in developing policies and procedures for mass vaccination, health care delivery, quality and patient safety improvements," said John Vozenilek, MD, vice president for Innovation and Digital Health at Jump and OSF HealthCare. Vozenilek is also a professor at the University of Illinois in Peoria and Urbana-Champaign. "As we develop new vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, it's also important to take into account societal factors such as age, race, location, infrastructure, and how to best provide for underserved populations. We expect significant changes in how health care is delivered so that it is more accessible for all and are proud to fund projects that spearhead these developments," said T. Kesh Kesavadas, Ph.D., director of the Health Care Engineering Systems Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Here are summaries of some key projects, with a full list of spring 2021 projects available n the Jump ARCHES website. Every shot counts: Development of a novel predictive model and toolkit to predict and decrease vaccine-preventable rural COVID-19 deaths Investigators: Jimeng Sun, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Scott Barrows, MA, FAMI, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP), OSF HealthCare; Adam Cross, MD, FAAP, OSF HealthCare, UICOMP; Ann Willemsen-Dunlap, CRNA, PhD, OSF HealthCare, UICOMP; and Mary Stapel, MD, OSF HealthCare Currently, 12% of the U.S. population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, which is below the projected 70-90% required to achieve herd immunity to the virus. This project aims to develop a predictive model to predict vaccine-preventable deaths in each county in the U.S. and the most likely reasons for vaccine hesitancy among populations. A toolkit will help guide rural populations in their decision-making about accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Human factors in the use of telepresence robots after the COVID-19 pandemic Investigators: Inki Kim, PhD, U of I; Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas, PhD, U of I; Jon Michel, MD, OSF HealthCare; and Shandra Jamison, MA, RRT, U of I The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak resulted in an increase in telemedicine visits to prevent the spread of the virus. The goal of this concept is to establish, justify and optimize a set of existing or new-use cases for telepresence robot use in telemedicine to reduce the risk of in-hospital transmission of COVID-19, as well as for continued quality of care delivery in the post-COVID-19 era. Early insights and recommendation for implementing a COVID-19 saliva-based testing program in K-12 schools: Lessons learned from four under-resourced schools Investigators; Rebecca Lee Smith, DVM, MS, PhD, U of I; Thanh (Helen) Nguyen, PhD, U of I; Nicole Delinski, DNP, MSN, RN, OSF HealthCare; Michaelene Ostrosky, PhD, U of I; and W. Catherine Cheung, PT, PhD, U of I With the goal of successfully reopening K-12 schools and keeping them open, this proposed plan will work to gain a better understanding of the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of implementing saliva-based testing in under-resourced schools, as well as parental behavior of deciding to allow their children to return to in-person learning. Voice vitals: A new approach for anxiety and depression screening in the era of COVID-19 Investigators: Mary Pietrowicz, PhD, U of I; Ryan Finkenbine, MD, UICOMP, OSF HealthCare; and Sarah Donohue, PhD, UICOMP Existing systems fall short in identifying and treating individuals with anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders due to a variety of issues, including people not seeking medical attention, attitudinal barriers like stigma, and structural barriers such as a lack of providers. This proposal aims to develop a prototype of machine models that can listen to speech and language and automatically screen for anxiety and depression disorders. See the complete list of the latest Jump ARCHES grant projects. For photos connected to this release, please visit the OSF Newsroom to download assets available there. OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria, Illinois. OSF HealthCare employs more than 23,600 Mission Partners in 147 locations, including 14 hospitals 10 acute care, four critical access with 2,097 licensed beds, and two colleges of nursing throughout Illinois and Michigan. The OSF HealthCare physician network employs more than 1,500 primary care, specialists and advanced practice providers, who are part of the OSF Medical Group. OSF HealthCare, through OSF Home Care Services, operates an extensive network of home health and hospice services. It also owns Pointcore Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center , a part of OSF Innovation , is a collaboration between University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF HealthCare. Jump replicates a variety of patient care settings to ensure novice and seasoned clinicians can practice handling medical situations in a real-world environment. Boasting six floors and 168,000 square feet, the center is one of the largest of its kind and provides space for conferences, anatomic training, virtual reality and innovation. For more information, visit www.jumpsimulation.org. Partners in Jump ARCHES University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) educates 244 medical students and nearly 300 physician residents annually. The College of Medicine is home to the Cancer Research Center, the Center for Outcomes Research and is a collaborator in Jump Simulation. Learn more about UICOMP at http://peoria.medicine.uic.edu. Health Care Engineering Systems Center (HCESC) Engineering provides clinical immersion and fosters collaboration between engineers and physicians. HCESC designs collaborative solutions to improve health care outcomes utilizing their expertise in simulation technologies, smart health systems, data analytics, human factors and medical robotics. HCESC partners with Jump in this innovative relationship of Applied Research for Community Health through Engineering and Simulation (ARCHES). HCESC is a research center in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. Learn more about HCESC at https://healtheng.illinois.edu/. University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering is one of the world's top-ranked engineering programs with students, faculty and alumni that set the standard for excellence. The college is focused on driving the economy, reimagining engineering education and bringing revolutionary ideas to the world. They work to solve the world's greatest challenges and look toward the future to find ways to make the solutions reality. Learn more about the College of Engineering at https://engineering.illinois.edu/. The Center for Social and Behavioral Science (CSBS) at the University of Illinois was created to help address some of the grand challenges facing society that can be answered using the deep social and behavioral science expertise housed at U of I. In particular, the CSBS focuses on three distinct areas: 1) solving poverty, 2) understanding the effect of technology on society and 3) the role of social and behavioral factors in health. More information can be found at https://csbs.research.illinois.edu/. Contact: Colleen Reynolds| Media Relations Coordinator OSF HealthCare | (309) 825-7255 SOURCE OSF HealthCare Related Links https://www.osfhealthcare.org A CM-11 Brave Tiger tank fires during the live fire Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) invading the island, in Pingtung, Taiwan on May 30, 2019. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) War Over Taiwan Likely in Next 5 to 10 Years: Former Australian Defence Minister Australias former defence minister is warning that a kinetic war with China is likely in the next five to 10 years, saying he believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will push to dominate the Indo-Pacific region. Five years ago, I would have said that the possibility was very unlikelynow I would have to say that the possibility is more likely than it was then, Christopher Pyne said during an address to the University of Adelaide on Monday. Not a cyber war, but a real one involving loss of life, destruction of military platforms, with aggressors and defenders on different sides, he added. This isnt rhetoric. This is something that you and I may well have to confront in the next five to 10 years. Former minister Christopher Pyne at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia on Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Pyne, who currently works for Ernst and Young as a defence consultant, has served as the defence industry and defence minister under Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. He said the CCPs takeover of Hong Kong, and its treatment of the Uyghur minority was evidence that Chinese Leader Xi Jinping had ambitions to dominate the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan, however, was the most concerning flashpoint, according to Pyne, who also called for allies to continue engagement with China, rather than containment. In recent months, Chinese military jets have made near-daily incursions into Taiwanese airspace, with the largest being in late March, when 20 Chinese military planes entered its Air Defence Identification Zone. U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a dire warning in response to Beijings increasing military build-up, saying he believed China could invade Taiwan in the next six years, while other analysts believe the timeframe could be shorter. Pyne said Xi was sending a clear message to the Biden administration with a recent speech to the CCPs rubber-stamp legislature, claiming the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) would be prepared for any complex situation. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) speaks after reviewing the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP) While the United States still accounts for $1 in every $2 spent on military in the worlda staggering statisticChinas published defence spend will be $US210 billion in 2021, he said. Chinas military is very capable in an asymmetric war against the United States and its allies around the island chains of the western Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia, Pyne claimed. Joseph Siracusa, an adjunct professor of the political history of international diplomacy at Curtin University, previously told The Epoch Times that any move on Taiwan by the CCP was driven by fear and weakness, not strength or expansionism. The expansionist story is a falsehood that the military-industrial complex tells each other as they go onto sell the latest weapon system, he said. Meanwhile Yue Shan, a China political analyst, and Epoch Times contributor revealed that despite record defence spending, the Chinese military is suffering from significant recruitment issues. Under the one-child policy, many young people are spoiled and do not want to bear hardshipsthis phenomenon is known as little emperor syndrome, he wrote. The second reason is family obligations. For example, the young man does not want to join the army because he is being groomed to take over the family business, he added. Yue also pointed to the lack of belief among Chinese in CCP ideology, and low morale within PLA ranks as additional hurdles to recruitment. CCP leadership have attempted to shift this trend however. Since Xi Jinping took over the military, the CCP has issued strict penalty requirements on people who refuse to serve in the military, Yue wrote, but noted the move has done little to address the problem. Hong Kong legislature starts deliberating bill on improving electoral system Xinhua) 15:29, April 14, 2021 -- Published on April 13, the local amendment bill mainly comprises six areas, including reconstituting the Election Committee, providing for the method for selecting the chief executive, updating the composition and formation of the LegCo, and the candidates' eligibility, among others. -- HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam hopes the draft will be passed by lawmakers by the end of May. Hong Kong will hold the elections of the Election Committee, the seventh-term LegCo, and the sixth-term chief executive on Sept. 19, 2021, Dec. 19, 2021 and March 27, 2022, respectively. -- "Now the electoral system suits Hong Kong's reality, has broader representation of society, and encourages more balanced and orderly political participation," said Anthony Wu, chairman of the Hong Kong Island Youth Organization Union. HONG KONG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's legislature on Wednesday started deliberating a widely-anticipated bill on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the latest effort to put the global financial hub back on track after disturbances in recent years. The draft laws, in a package named the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021, were brought to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the first and second reading at a meeting early afternoon. The local amendment came after China's top legislature on March 30 adopted the amended Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, concerning methods for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the formation of the LegCo. Erick Tsang, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs of the HKSAR government, stressed the necessity of the amendment when speaking at the meeting. The legislature was repeatedly plunged into chaos in recent years, including by the storming of rioters and malicious filibusters, resulting in the government nearly losing its power to govern Hong Kong, Tsang said. Published on Tuesday, the local amendment bill mainly comprises six areas, including reconstituting the Election Committee, providing for the method for selecting the chief executive, updating the composition and formation of the LegCo, and the candidates' eligibility, among others. Photo taken on April 14, 2021 shows the scene of a conference of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), south China. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) It is a very tight schedule for lawmakers to review the over-500-page bill in the coming weeks, said Martin Liao, chairman of the LegCo bills committee responsible for the draft. He vowed all-out efforts to complete the deliberations at an early date. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Tuesday that she hopes the draft will be passed by lawmakers by the end of May. The HKSAR government will fully cooperate in the work of the LegCo in scrutinizing the bill and strive for its early passage so that three major elections can be held on schedule in the next 12 months, Lam said. Elections of the Election Committee, the seventh-term LegCo, and the sixth-term chief executive will take place on Sept. 19, 2021, Dec. 19, 2021 and March 27, 2022, respectively. Aerial photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows citizens displaying 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. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Improving the electoral system came as another major step after last year's national security legislation to ensure peace and prosperity of the global financial hub. It is "obviously necessary," Grenville Cross, British barrister and former director of public prosecutions in Hong Kong, said, stressing the move is fully justified after the social unrest in 2019 and the subversive activities to take control of Hong Kong's governance through electoral loopholes last year. The "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle is also hardly uncommon, he said. "This is the case in countries around the world. People have to have the best interests of their country at heart. Otherwise, there's no future for them in democratic politics." Under the electoral improvement, the membership of the Election Committee, which elects the HKSAR chief executive and part of LegCo members and nominates LegCo candidates, has been expanded from 1,200 to 1,500. The number of LegCo members has also been increased from 70 to 90. Anthony Wu, chairman of the Hong Kong Island Youth Organization Union, believes the electoral changes will advance Hong Kong's democratic progress. "Now the electoral system suits Hong Kong's reality, has broader representation of society, and encourages more balanced and orderly political participation," he said, adding that he is looking forward to more youth representatives joining the electoral system. A pedestrian walks past a poster on improving electoral system and ensuring patriots administering Hong Kong in south China's Hong Kong, March 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) Improving the electoral system has become a consensus in Hong Kong. Over 2.38 million people signed a petition in March to show their support and a survey said some 70 percent of respondents believe the improved electoral system will brighten Hong Kong's prospects. The new democratic electoral system will prevent the political chaos seen over the recent years and restore a reasonable, orderly legislative climate, Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said. "Thereafter we can focus on improving people's living standards and reviving the economy." Yuen Mo, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, said, "We hope the LegCo will approve the bill as soon as possible to lay a solid foundation for a stable society and a prosperous economy in Hong Kong." (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) This is the Education Briefing, a weekly update on the most important news in American education. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Vaccinations interrupted As summer break looms, colleges are racing to inoculate students before they leave campus. Many schools and states had banked on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine the only one-shot Covid-19 inoculation approved for use in the U.S. to achieve that goal. But on Tuesday, all 50 states, as well as CVS and Walgreens, halted use of the vaccine after six women between 18 and 48 developed blood clots within about two weeks after their shots. One died, and another is in critical condition. Nearly seven million U.S. residents have already received the vaccine, including about one million women in that age range. Until this week, the appeal of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was simplicity: It could be stored in a normal refrigerator and required only one dose, which made it particularly attractive to colleges and universities. But the disruption will not only affect college-aged students. Newman's fate may ride on judge's interpretation of 'willful misconduct' Attorneys sparred in closing arguments on Wednesday morning over whether actions that resulted in discipline by the state Bar against District Attorney Greg Newman amounted to willful misconduct that warrants his removal from office. Superior Court Judge Robert C. Ervin of Morganton is presiding over the hearing based on a complaint filed with the clerk of Superior Court in February that Newman had committed acts of misconduct that brought his office into disrepute. Under the state law governing the removal of a D.A., evidence must show by clear and convincing that the elected prosecutor engaged in willful misconduct. An independent counsel Erwin appointed said that the two days of testimony and evidence had proved that; Newman's defense said the case had fallen short. "No doubt weve proved (the case) based on agreed facts, we proved it through our witnesses and we've proved it through their witnesses," Isaac N. "Ike" Northrup Jr. told Judge Ervin. Northrup also said that Newman in public statements had mischaracterized the state Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission decision to suspend his law license for three years, which is stayed provided Newman meets conditions the board spelled out. "That was probably enough but what was extremely troubling to me was his public statement that this was politically motivated," Northrup said. "He showed no remorse." In testimony Monday, "He said, 'Yes, politics was involved, I said that to the newspaper, I still think it.' The reason I find that particularly troubling is because the rules of professional conduct speak to that." Newman's attorneys, Stuart L. Brooks and David Freedman, emphasized that if the community believed Newman had acted improperly, they had the prerogative to fire him at the polls. If the citizens of the community were so offended by his conduct, certainly some type of opponent would have the incentive to use that and they would have voted him out of office, Brooks said. Were talking about events that happened well earlier than those elections. People of this community supported Mr. Newman. Judge Ervin asked, Is there any case law in North Carolina supporting that notion that re-election immunizes Newman from sanction? Ervin, whose grandfather, U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin, made his mark in history in his leadership of the Watergate inquiry, brought up the misconduct of President Nixon as an example of wrongdoing that voters were unaware on Election Day of 1972. It seems to me if you make that the rule that once you get elected, everything before that is protected the state would create a perverse incentive for coverup, he said. To justify removal, the court must find that Mr. Newman engaged in willful misconduct by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. That standard in state law is quite a high bar (that is) not present in this particular case, Brooks said. If Mr. Newman might have made different decisions, he might very well have the (defendants) in those cases in here saying hes taking cases that he knew he couldnt prove beyond a reasonable doubt." And he again emphasized the elections Newman won in 2014 and 2018 and the testimony of character witnesses who supported the D.A. Theres been no evidence that citizens of this county have lost the trust, confidence and respect of Mr. Newman, Brooks said. Newman may have made tactical mistakes by not hiring a lawyer initially in the 2019 bar investigation, Brooks acknowledged, and by relying on memory to respond to the inquiry without doing in-depth research. Relying on his memory at the time is not engaging in willful misconduct, he said. Freedman, another of Newman's attorneys, said the bar for removing a district attorney must be high because the law provides no lesser penalty than removal. The state bar, on the other hand, has a menu of sanctions it can impose, from censure to disbarment. Cooney told the judge that the proceeding has adhered to the letter of the law. "Any citizen can file a petition," Cooney said. "They can file it for a bad motive, they can file it for good motive, they can provide it for no motive at all. It is being conducted without bias or prejudice or sympathy or passsion. It is being done precisely the way the General Assembly wanted it to be done under the law and in our fidelity to the law." "This is not a forum for everyone with a bone to pick with the district attorney to come forward and pick that bone," he said. "We have three grounds for probable cause. We have not questioned his discretion to pick and choose his cases. That comes with the job. So he gets to decide." In the conflict of interest case, "He refused to acknowledge that he did anything wrong because what Mr. Newman said was there was no conflict. He refuses to acknowledge that he was in a conflict position," Cooney said. "He refuses to recognize that's a problem. That is a persistent refusal. He also shows an utter absence of remorse about anything. He's just doing his job, he got hard pressed for time and this is all politically motivated ... Nothing to see here, move along folks." In the closing minutes of his final argument, Cooney acknowledged that Judge Ervin would give some weight of the many character witnesses for Newman a prominent defense attorney, two ministers, two Superior Court judges, all three sheriffs in the judicial district, fellow church members, a member of the Sunday school class Newman teaches. I would contend on the other side of the scale" is signficant weight, he said. "How about the tears of a 17-year-old who never got to face her abuser in court. How much does that weigh? How about the grief of a father whose daughter had been molested, who sees the charges dropped and loses complete confidence in the court system. How much does that weigh in the balance? And there was Valerie Owenby, whose sexual abuse case is at the center of the charge that Newman failed to notify and family of a plea hearing and then lied to the judge about it. Your honor was able to assess what kind of witness she would have been, Cooney said. It took a lot for her to get on a plane, sit in this courtroom and stare down the elected district attorney. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / BeMetals Corp. (TSXV:BMET)(OTCQB:BMTLF)(Frankfurt:1OI.F) (the "Company" or "BeMetals) is pleased to announce it has received encouraging exploration drilling results from its 2020 field program at the Pangeni Copper Project ("Pangeni" or the "Project" or the "Property") in Zambia. The laboratory results from the 2020 drilling campaign highlight both the compelling focused exploration potential at the D-Prospect and generated additional priority targets for testing during this year's field program. The Pangeni Project is located on the prospective western extension of the Central African Copperbelt in Zambia (the "Zambian Copperbelt") where copper mineralization discovered on the Property is covered by a thin veneer of Kalahari sand. HIGHLIGHTS: Drill hole D3-C1: Interval 1: 3.98 metres grading 0.39% Copper ("Cu") from 71.45 metres Interval 2: 3.70 metres grading 0.37% Cu from 153.36 metres Strong motivation for follow-up aircore and core drilling at the D-Prospect Newly identified priority G2 and Q3 targets from 2020 aircore program Aircore drilling and field operations to commence in H1 2021 Note: See Table 1 below for drill intersection details and QA/QC section BeMetals President and CEO, John Wilton stated, "We are highly encouraged by the results from both our 2020 shallow aircore and follow-up core drilling programs. Core drill hole D3-C1 with intervals of 3.98 metres at 0.39% Cu and 3.70 metres at 0.37% Cu are of specific interest. These two shallow copper intersections are meaningful, as they occur some 850 metres along the same interpreted strike of mineralized zones intersected in holes D2-C1 and D2-C2 during the 2019 field season. D2-C1 intersected 5.50 metres grading 0.53% Cu, and D2-C2 intersected 5.56 metres grading 0.47% Cu. The combined results significantly expand the footprint and potential of the D-Prospect underneath the shallow sand cover in this area. In addition to the successful D-Prospect results, the 2020 aircore program generated two new targets for priority exploration follow-up during the 2021 field season at the G2 and Q3 targets. The G2 target is located at an interpreted formation contact and the Q3 target is a new standalone anomaly associated with a structural target some four kilometres southeast of the SW-Prospect. As recently reported, the Company has entered into a Joint Exploration and Option Agreement with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation ("JOGMEC") that will allow for acceleration of planned 2021 exploration with funding from both BeMetals and JOGMEC. We are currently completing the detailed design of this year's expanded exploration program and are excited to commence the campaign." 2020 EXPLORATION DRILLING RESULTS The 2020 exploration program included the completion of some 3,700 metres of shallow aircore drilling to test both significant step outs from copper intersections from the 2019 field work and to test other priority targets generated from the interpretation of the airborne magnetics. Also approximately 770 metres of core drilling was completed in five drill holes to test the copper anomalies below the Kalahari sand cover. The 2020 drilling program was completed in mid-December. Full laboratory results were received in late March 2021, and quality assessments of the data completed. D-PROSPECT Figure 1 below illustrates the location and intersected copper mineralization grades in the drill hole D3-C1 in relation to the regolith cover map for the area. It shows the new copper intersections in drill hole D3-C1 (See Table 1 below) are some 850 metres from the previously discovered copper zones intersected in D2-C1 and D2-C2 (See BeMetals' news release dated October 16, 2019). A number of aircore drilling anomalies on line D2 remain untested and there is currently no aircore drilling extending to the southeast on line D3. Within an approximate 500 metre radius of these copper intersections the average Kalahari sand cover is some 24 metres. The Company intends to complete infill and step out lines of aircore drilling with the intention of generating more core drilling targets at this exciting D-Prospect. FIGURE 1: LOCATION OF D3-C1 DRILL HOLE AT D-PROSPECT WITH AIRCORE DRILLING ANOMALIES AND REGOLITH COVER MAP TABLE 1: 2020 CORE DRILLING PROGRAM SIGNIFICANT RESULTS Borehole ID & Zone From (m) To (m) Core Interval (m) Cu % D2 PROSPECT D3-C1 Interval 1: 71.45 75.43 3.98* 0.39 Interval 2: 153.36 157.06 3.70 0.37 CT PROSPECT B2-C2 34.23 34.72 0.49 0.67 136.09 136.59 0.50 0.47 168.00 168.50 0.50 1.00 Note: Intertek Genalysis completed the analytical work with the core samples processed at their preparation facility in Kitwe, Zambia. All analytical procedures were conducted in an Intertek Genalysis laboratory in Australia. Reported widths are drilled core lengths as true widths are unknown at this time. Based upon current data it is estimated true widths range between 80 to 90% of the drilled intersections. *A nominal cut-off grade of 0.40% Cu has been used to determine the boundaries of the intersection with internal dilution at 0.30% Cu not exceeding 1 metre of the intercept. denotes intersection where a cut-off grade of 0.25% Cu has been used with no internal dilution. denotes single sample. C4, C5 TARGETS AND CT-PROSPECT Figure 2 below shows the location of the five 2020 field program core drill hole collars plotted on a satellite image of the Property. Also indicated are the aircore anomalies for the Project to date based upon laboratory results. Drill holes C4-C1 and C5-C1 intersected interpreted basement units with no significant mineralization. At the CT-Prospect drill hole B2-C2 returned three approximately 0.50 metres length samples with copper grades of 0.67, 0.47 and 1.00% Cu respectively. These mineralized zones are related to chalcopyrite and minor amounts of bornite copper sulphides and associated with observed kyanite, an alteration mineral. Kyanite has an important association with the mineralization at the Sentinel Copper Mine some 130 kilometres from the Pangeni Project. The thickness of Kalahari cover units at the CT-Prospect ranges from 1 to 7 metres. Detailed structural logging will be completed for the five core drill holes to allow for an updated interpretation of local controls on the mineralization and to revise targets where aircore anomalies were not fully explained. NEWLY GENERATED G2 AND Q3 TARGETS The location of the newly identified G2 and Q3 targets from the aircore drilling that will be followed up in the planned 2021 exploration program are also indicated on Figure 2. Table 2 below provides drill hole, azimuth, dip, end of hole depth, and collar co-ordinates for the 2020 core drilling. FIGURE 2: LOCATION OF CORE DRILL HOLES D3-C1, B2-C1, B2-C2, C4-C1, C5-C1 AIRCORE DRILLING ANOMALIES AND SATELLITE IMAGE TABLE 2: 2020 DRILL HOLE, AZIMUTH, DIP, EOH DEPTH, COLLAR CO-ORDINATES Drill Hole ID Azimuth Degree Dip Degree End of hole Depth (m) Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Geological Results D3-C1 310 -65 165.90 178056 8601638 1178 See Table 1 above B2-C1 340 -60 141.60 183841 8598480 1197 Did not intersect significant mineralization B2-C2 025 -75 194.90 183677 8598423 1189 See Table 1 above C4-C1 310 -75 100.70 177916 8596266 1229 Did not intersect significant mineralization C5-C1 312 -60 167.40 177416 8597587 1213 Did not intersect significant mineralization QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL The results reported here for these core and aircore drilling programs were analyzed by Intertek Genalysis, an independent and accredited laboratory. Samples were prepared at their facility in Kitwe, Zambia and analytical work conducted in Australia. The results were determined using multi-acid, near total digest, and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma ("ICP") Optical (Atomic) Emission Spectrometry ("OES"). The core and aircore sampling was conducted with a robust sampling protocol that included the appropriate insertion of standard reference material, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream. The aircore ICP results compare consistently with the pXRF results conducted in the field and support the robust sampling protocol implemented for the field operations. Field operations and management have been provided by Remote Exploration Services ("RES") an independent geological consulting and contracting company. The core and aircore drilling was conducted by Blurock Mining Services, of Kitwe, Zambia. THE PANGENI COPPER PROJECT The Pangeni Project is located on the western extension of the Zambian Copperbelt, within the Lufilian Arc, underlain by Katangan Supergroup metasediments situated unconformably on basement schists and gneisses, which are covered by a thin veneer of Kalahari sands. The open pit Sentinel Copper Mine is operated by First Quantum Minerals Ltd. some 130 kilometres to the northeast of the Pangeni Project. A number of major international mining companies have identified this region of the Zambian Copperbelt to be prospective for the discovery of tier one copper mines and are also conducting extensive exploration work in this area. The Pangeni property is geologically prospective for the following deposit types; Basement-hosted Cu (analogues: the Lumwana Deposit, Nyungu Prospect), Sediment-hosted stratiform Cu-Co (analogues: Nchanga, Konkola, Nkana, and Mufulira Deposits), other Domes Region Deposits e.g. Sentinel, and Kansanshi and DRC Copperbelt Deposits e.g. Lonshi, Frontier, Kamoa-Kakula). UPDATE ON THE COMPANY'S ENTRY INTO THE GOLD SECTOR WITH ACQUISITIONS IN JAPAN On February 17, 2021, the Company reported the proposed transaction to acquire privately owned Kronk Resources Inc. ("Kronk") and its wholly owned subsidiary Kazan Resources, which holds the rights to a highly prospective portfolio of gold exploration projects in Japan (the "Transaction"). BeMetals is pleased to report that at its Special General Meeting of shareholders held on March 31, 2021, shareholders of the Company approved the Transaction with 100% of shareholders that cast their vote having voted in favour of the Transaction. The Company has further been advised that shareholders of Kronk have also approved the Transaction with 100% of shareholders that cast their vote having voted in favour. Additionally, BeMetals received conditional approval for the Transaction from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on March 11, 2021 and now waits final approval to proceed with closing. The Company intends to close the transaction and concurrent private placement from B2Gold Corp., of C$7,500,000 as soon as possible following final approval from TSXV. ABOUT BEMETALS CORP. BeMetals is a precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on becoming a leading metal producer through the acquisition of quality exploration, development and potentially production stage projects. The Company is establishing itself in the gold sector with the acquisition of certain exploration projects in Japan, subject to final TSXV approval to close the transaction. BeMetals is also progressing both its advanced high-grade, zinc-silver-gold-copper polymetallic underground exploration at the South Mountain Project in Idaho through a preliminary economic assessment, and its tier-one targeted, Pangeni Copper Exploration Project in Zambia. Leading BeMetals' growth strategy is a strong board and management team, founders and significant shareholders of the Company, who have an extensive proven record of delivering considerable value in the mining sector through the discovery, construction and operation of mines around the world. QUALIFIED PERSON The technical information in this news release for BeMetals has been reviewed and approved by John Wilton, CGeol FGS, CEO and President of BeMetals, and a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF BEMETALS CORP. "John Wilton" John Wilton President, CEO and Director For further information about BeMetals please visit our website at www.bemetalscorp.com and sign-up to our email list to receive timely updates, or contact: Derek Iwanaka Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development Telephone: 604-609-6141 Email: diwanaka@bemetalscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to plans for completion of the Transaction and private placement; plans for an accelerated exploration program in 2021 at the Pangeni Project; future exploration and development of the South Mountain Project, the Pangeni project and the Japan properties; and the acquisition of additional base and/or precious metal projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: receipt of required TSXV approval for the Transaction and fulfilment of all conditions precedent to completion of the Transaction including closing of the private placement, JOGMEC funding its pro-rata portion of exploration programs at the Pangeni Project, the actual results of exploration activities, the availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund the current and future plans and expenditures, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions of the option agreements for the South Mountain Project and/or the Pangeni Project, and changes in the world commodity markets or equity markets. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. SOURCE: BeMetals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640322/BeMetals-Returns-Further-Positive-Drilling-Results-from-Pangeni-Copper-Project Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday invited President Biden to speak at a joint session of Congress on April 28, which the president accepted, according to a White House official. Ms. Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said in the letter addressed to the White House that the invitation would allow Mr. Biden to talk about the challenges and opportunities of this historic moment. Presidents traditionally address a joint session of Congress, not an official State of the Union, in their inauguration year. Mr. Biden took office on Jan. 20 pledging to unite a divided America and begin to heal the social and economic devastation wrought by the spread of the coronavirus. Last month, Google had rolled out FLoC, or Federated Learning of Cohorts, as a developer origin trial in Chrome to improve users privacy while still delivering targeted ads to advertisers. This move by Google, however, has not gone well with privacy advocates, as they claim that FLoC, which is the search giants better alternative to third-party cookies doesnt take users consent before tracking them across websites. Instead of protecting users privacy, it will actually expose their data more than ever before, privacy advocates added. For those unaware, FLoC, in Googles words, is a new approach to interest-based advertising that both improves privacy and gives publishers a tool they need for viable advertising business models. It allows users to remain anonymous as they browse across websites and also improves privacy by allowing publishers to present relevant ads to large groups (called cohorts). Also, FLoC doesnt share users browsing history with Google or anyone and wont create groups that it deems sensitive. Although Googles FLoC is only applicable to its own Chrome browser, Chromium-based makers like Brave and Vivaldi, who use the same foundations as Google Chrome, have decided to block Googles FLoC technology in their browsers. For instance, Brave has expressed displeasure over FLoC and said that it opposes FLoC, along with any other feature designed to share information about users and their interests without first getting consent. The company has also removed FLoC in the Nightly version of both Brave for desktop and Android to protect its users. The privacy-affecting aspects of FLoC have never been enabled in Brave releases; the additional implementation details of FLoC will be removed from all Brave releases with this weeks stable release. Brave is also disabling FLoC on our websites, to protect Chrome users learning about Brave, the company wrote in a blog post. It is disappointing to see Google, instead of taking the present opportunity to help design and build a user-first, privacy-first Web, proposing and immediately shipping in Chrome a set of smaller, ad-tech-conserving changes, which explicitly prioritize maintaining the structure of the Web advertising ecosystem as Google sees it. According to Brave, FLoC materially harms user privacy under the guise of being privacy-friendly. It also points out that besides users, it may be damaging for sites and advertisers, as its system will favor larger entities that can take audiences away from niche or smaller players. Meanwhile, Vivaldi too said it wont support Googles FLoC, calling its new data harvesting nasty and a privacy-invasive tracking technology. The company said that the FLoC experiment does not work in Vivaldi, as it relies on several hidden preferences being set, which are not enabled in Vivaldi. At Vivaldi, we stand up for the privacy rights of our users. We do not approve tracking and profiling, in any disguise. We certainly would not allow our products to build up local tracking profiles, Jon von Tetzchner, co-founder/CEO of Vivaldi wrote in a blog post. To us, the word privacy means actual privacy. We do not twist it into being the opposite. We do not even observe how you use our products. Our privacy policy is simple and clear; we do not want to track you. Not only Brave and Vivaldi, the search engine DuckDuckGo too added FLoC blocking capabilities to its extension recently stating that it is bad for privacy. It remains to be seen how Google plans to respond to these claims raising concern about user privacy. New Delhi: India is a country well known for its hospitality and warm welcomes and the tradition of welcoming people is innate to Indians. The same tradition is being carried out by a 'Paanwala' at his shop in Maharashtra's Nagpur. The paan-shop owner welcomes his customers with an enthusiastic spirit in addition to sprinkling rose water on customers to keep them cool, calm and composed. You can also not ignore the fact that at his small 'Mamu Paan shop', he has an innumerable variety of pan which range from Rs 15 to Rs 5000. In the video below, he is seen preparing a pan and putting in uncountable things. For instance, he puts homemade 'gulkand' which helps in keeping your internal body temperature cool. The best part of this amazing 'paanwala bhaiya' is that he lights up the pan and puts it in your mouth, a similar thing that is also famous at Delhi's Odeon. Watch: Live TV (Natural News) Two members of a school board in Texas have been indicted by a grand jury in Tarrant County, Texas over conspiracy to violate the Texas Open Meetings Act. They violated the law by sending text messages regarding a proposed racial diversity plan, which has been strongly opposed by large sections of the community. The grand jury indicted Carroll Independent School District (ISD) President Michelle Moore and Vice President Todd Carlton for knowingly engaging in communications outside of a public meeting. The two school board members were sending each other text messages regarding the districts Cultural Competence Action Plan (CCAP). This plan will supposedly address the school districts lack of diversity and inclusion. The indictment stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a parent from Southlake, Tarrant County, alleging that the board members communicated regarding the districts diversity plan before an Aug. 20, 2020 meeting. According to the Open Meetings Act, the school board is required to meet in public and school board members are not allowed to communicate with each other regarding public business in a way that keeps the contents of their interactions secret. This may be considered an unofficial, secret meeting under Texas law. A violation is considered a misdemeanor offense, and if found guilty it can carry a fine of between $100 and $500 dollars along with confinement in jail between one to six months. Neither Moore nor Carlton responded to requests for comments. Moores attorney, Mark Daniel, said in a statement that his client views the proceedings as a tremendous waste of resources. No one cares more or has done more to protect the safety and welfare of the children of the Carroll Independent School District than Michelle Moore, said Daniel. On behalf of Ms. Moore, we look forward to being exonerated and her full attention once again being devoted to the education of our children. Carroll ISD officials have taken a neutral stance on the current proceedings, stating that it is focused on providing a safe and caring learning environment for all students. In Dec. 2020, a judge filed a separate restraining order prohibiting Carroll ISD officials from moving forward with works related to CCAP. This cultural competence plan includes a proposal for including racial training classes in ISD schools for the cost of $425,000 for the first year, including $35,000 for speakers. It also calls for hiring a director of Equity and Inclusion and embedding diversity and inclusion training for students as an enrollment to graduation process in all grades. The plan will also establish a grievance system through which Carroll ISD students can report incidents of racial discrimination. (Related: Under proposal at UT-Austin, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion would be faculty job condition.) Diversity plan comes under severe fire by members of community Many members of Tarrant County welcomed the decision to indict Moore and Carlton. Jonathan Saenz, a spokesman for the Texas Values Coalition, an organization that continues to oppose the CCAP, said he was not surprised by the indictment. I wouldnt be surprised if additional Carroll ISD board members are also indicted when the investigation is finally complete, said Saenz. These policymakers are learning the hard way that just because you make the law, it doesnt mean you can break the law. I am blown away that two of our school board trustees are now facing criminal charges in Tarrant County for conspiring to circumvent the process and hold a secret meeting, said Bonnie Pendergrass, a parent of a Carroll ISD student. The fact that they were arrested, posted bond, and had the nerve to show up to our school board meeting that evening is appalling. Pendergrass wants Moore and Carlton to resign from the school board immediately. They have no business making decisions for our children, she said. Other members of the school districts community have criticized the CCAP for allegedly being made to push a left-wing agenda. They argue that this agenda could infringe upon the rights of parents, punish conservative students for not following the progressive ideology the CCAP espouses and lead to the creation of diversity police. Meanwhile, proponents of the CCAP claim that the groups opposing the plan have been harassing their supporters for months. Learn more about the state of the countrys educational institutions by reading the latest articles at EducationSystem.news. Sources include: DailyWire.com Star-Telegram.com TheTexan.news DallasNews.com After interviewing various stakeholders from public and private healthcare systems (in Lithuania and the US), researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania designed a structure revealing added value of remote healthcare services After interviewing various stakeholders from public and private healthcare systems (in Lithuania and the US), researchers Dr Agne Gadeikiene, Prof Asta Pundziene, Dr Aiste Dovaliene from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania designed a detailed structure revealing added value of remote healthcare services, i.e. telehealth. Adopting the concept of value co-creation common in business research to healthcare, the scientists claim that this is the first comprehensive analysis of this kind in the healthcare field involving two different healthcare systems. According to the researchers, although in the US the consultations via phone with physician have been available for more than fifty years, the technological development of recent years has radically changed the concept of telehealth. Using artificial intelligence for automated diagnostics, big-data analytics, virtual visits, real-time communication with data exchange, 5G, and blockchain can make a significant impact in the prediction and prevention of various health conditions, and personalisation of healthcare services. "Despite the increased usage of telehealth during the Covid-19 pandemics, these services are still limited. Without any doubt, telehealth usage will increase in the future as it is considered one of the very important healthcare service trends. However, partly due to the inertia of the healthcare system, which is slow to adopt technology innovations, telehealth development is insufficient", says Dr Agne Gadeikiene, a researcher at KTU School of Economics and Business. According to her, the acknowledgement of the telehealth added value would allow developing more precise value propositions for different stakeholders of telehealth - patients, physicians, healthcare providers, and the government. During their research, the scientists interviewed healthcare institutions managers, heads of telehealth programmes and physicians from different clinical areas where telehealth is applied, e.g. radiology, endocrinology, paediatrics and family medicine. In total, 15 interviews were conducted in Lithuania and 10 in California, USA. "There is clear evidence that telehealth enhances patient and physician experience. It saves time as there is no need to travel, you have a shorter waiting time to access the physician, timeless help at a better price, and more. The issue is with measuring the clinical outcomes of telehealth, but also patient and doctors experience and one of the major issues is exactly what we explore - the added value created by telehealth", Prof Asta Pundziene says. The research revealed that among the most commonly expressed added values for healthcare system specialists both in the US and Lithuania were: accessibility of care, convenience, timely diagnosis, cost-saving, warmer and closer relationships between the patient and physician, focus on a patient. Remote patient monitoring and monitoring after disease were indicated as added values of telehealth only among the US health service system practitioners, and patient engagement into their illness control, better quality service, convenience, learning and avoidance of mistakes, a second opinion from colleagues were among the added value dimensions indicated by healthcare system representatives in Lithuania. "The USA can be characterised as an innovative, and Lithuania - as a conservative culture. In the United States, the healthcare system is more of collaborative nature, and private insurance companies and healthcare providers search for ways to improve, save resources and satisfy their customers better. However, both research participants from Lithuania and the USA acknowledge the added value of telehealth, and it is only a matter of time until it will become a common practice in both countries", says Dr Gadeikiene. Among the inhibitions to the expansion of telehealth, the researchers indicate such organisational-level obstacles as the insufficient managerial shift towards remote patient care, lack of digital training in medical schools. Adoption of digital healthcare technologies incurs additional costs. Also, there are some inhibitions towards it on the individual level, including a lack of competence in using digital technologies both from the patient and from the physician point of view. Another cluster of obstacles is connected to reimbursement, security and liability issues. It is very difficult to bill for telehealth services, especially when they are administered at the patient's home, which is not affiliated with the hospital. Security of connection between different patient databases, systems, platforms, and information exchange, and the trust issues between patient and physician where the latter has to rely on the patients' provided information further complicates the telehealth advance. "To fully realise the potential of telehealth, the deployment and transformation part is missing. This entails orchestrating the resources, establishing new processes, capturing the value of telehealth, and transforming institutions to fit the need for the new strategies, resources, processes, and more. To do this, strong leadership is needed. The case of the US demonstrates that they are more advanced due to the stronger leadership to deploy the telehealth services", Prof Pundziene is convinced. The scientists argue that their research is especially important for healthcare policymakers and healthcare providers' executives, who seek to clearly understand what aspects should be emphasised for patients, physicians, and health insurance companies while promoting telehealth as a new way of achieving value-based healthcare. Also, the research can be very useful for telehealth platform developers as it provides a detailed structure of the telehealth added value that could be applied for a telehealth platform architecture. Additionally, the results of the research could be valuable for public policymakers as a source of information to justify the need and to promote the benefits of telehealth services. In this mission, the intermediary function could be passed on to the governmental organisations responsible for legal regulations. The scientists emphasise that a strategic approach to telehealth guarantees that the investments in the development of these services are worth spending, as their outcomes are tremendous. However, they acknowledge that this should not compromise traditional service development, as it is of no less importance. ### A teacher aide has been arrested for sending threatening messages that caused the lockdown at Clark Middle School in January, according to Laredo police. Irma Yvette Granger, 29, was served with arrest warrants that charged her with five counts of terroristic threat impair public service, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine. Webb County Jail records show she is out on bond. The United Independent School District released a statement regarding the arrest: Earlier this year, Clark Middle School received threats about potential violent acts through texts. The school was placed on immediate lockdown, and parents were informed. A thorough investigation by United ISD Police and the Laredo Police Department has confirmed that the perpetrator of the threats was a United ISD employee. The district will take appropriate personnel action and will make the recommendation that this individual be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The safety of all district students and staff is our highest priority. We urge our UISD family to report any suspicious activity to UISD police immediately to help maintain the health and safety of all students and staff. The case unfolded when officers responded to a terroristic threat report at about 9:15 a.m. Jan. 7 at Clark Middle School on West Hillside Road. The principal reported that she had received a threat via her personal cellphone. She also reported a second threatening text that stated that some people would have a shootout at the school, according to court documents. Detectives responded to Clark Middle to meet with the principal. She stated she had received a text the night before and another in the morning while she was with a UISD officer. Police said the texts made threats of shooting and killing everyone in the school. The threats came from two different numbers. School officials placed Clark Middle on lockdown. Students had their phones searched and checked, according to court documents. Threats Court documents stated the first message was sent at about 9:24 p.m. Jan. 6. It read, I will destroy Clark middle tomorrow! Shoot every stupid individual in that school! Fire it up just how I know! Next time tell your teachers to treat me better! The principal asked who the sender was but she did not get a reply. A second message was sent at about 9:47 a.m. Jan. 7 that read, Get ready for your Clark middle teachers to get shooted we have arrived and you think your smart but your not get ready for the party b---- and your polices are so stupid they will find us but after everybody is dead! Ill start slowly! A third message sent on Jan. 7 read, This is not over b---- we are still hiding and we will shoot one way or another right now clark middle teachers and everyone will pay your about to hear some gun shots you all will pay, states the affidavit. A fourth message sent at about 1:52 p.m. Jan. 8 stated, Your not smart I will destroy you all anytime now or next week if I have to put a bomb to kill everyone I will and you will not know when it will explode iam smarter that you officers f--- everyone We will be watching until we are done and over with all of you. A fifth message sent at about 3:09 p.m. Jan. 15 read, Your so stupid every student and teacher at Clark middle will get shooted one by one and this is not a threat anymore I will take action and kill you all we are watching, states the affidavit. Dispatch locates IP address Dispatch was able to locate the IP address that originally created the Pinger app, according to court documents. On Jan. 27, a detective submitted a subpoena requesting the subscriber information for the Spectrum IP address 70.113.200.3. The return showed a subscriber name of Granger with an address in the 4000 block of Aidin Street. Authorities then discovered that Granger was a teacher aide at Clark Middle who had been hired in November. On Feb. 17, detectives met with Granger. She stated she was a teacher aide hired in November and that she recalled the threats at the school. Granger stated she was at school when the first threat was made but then missed the next day of school. Ms. Granger stated she recalled the polices (police) at the school. Ms. Granger called the police polices multiple times, which is how police is spelled in one of the messages received (by the principal), states the affidavit. Granger added she had just received the principals number the previous days and did not have it in the past. Granger further added that she heard of the Pinger app because her sister had used it in the past to play pranks on her ex-boyfriend, states the affidavit. Granger initially denied having Pinger but then stated that she had it before. Granger provided a signed consent to search for her cellphone. Soon after, she allegedly called detectives to withdraw consent. Authorities then obtained a search warrant for her cellphone. When detectives served the search warrant, Granger explained that she missed school on Jan. 6 because she filed a burglary of a vehicle report. She went to school the next day and learned about the threats. Possibly hacked Granger decided to miss school on Jan. 8 due to fear from the threats. She stated she felt the principal was bothered because she missed school. She stated that an attorney friend of hers told her she would be accused of the threats because she had Pinger in the past, according to court documents. Forensic data extraction from Grangers cellphone revealed she was using the words polices and shooted, which are both words used in the threats the principal received. Ms. Granger also expresses that she is unable to take days off multiple times in these messages and mentions she wants to make more days off but needs an excuse. Ms. Granger also had messages dated on Nov. 12, 2020, in which she requested (the principals) personal cellphone number from her co-worker and asks to make sure it is her personal cellphone number after receiving it, states the affidavit. On March 25, Granger told police that she never had Pinger on her current phone and was possibly being hacked, according to court documents. These samples are processed using Biocepts RT-PCR technology at its CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited high-complexity molecular laboratory in San Diego The company is moving ahead with plans to improve testing as a way to identify new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes the COVID-19 disease ( ) (FRA:B003) reports that since the company began offering SARS-CoV-2 testing services in June 2020, it has now received more than 350,000 samples. These test samples are processed using Biocepts RT-PCR technology at its CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited high-complexity molecular laboratory in San Diego. We are exceptionally proud to continue supporting our community with SARS-CoV-2 testing and providing healthcare providers with rapid turnaround of valuable information to help contain viral spread, said Michael Nall, president and CEO of Biocept. RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 currently remains an important component of our business while we focus on our core business, including the opportunity to serve patients diagnosed with advanced cancer through commercializing our differentiated CNSide neuro-oncology offerings, Nall added. To further strengthen its COVID-19 testing business, the company is moving ahead with plans to improve testing as a way to identify new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the disease. Biocept recently partnered with Aegea Biotechnologies Inc under a supply agreement for a new PCR-based coronavirus assay kit designed by Aegea and co-developed by both companies. Aegea will supply the kit to Biocept for validation in its San Diego lab and the new assay will use Biocepts patent-protected Switch-Blocker technology for viral RNA detection and discrimination of the L and S coronavirus strain types. Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham For our most dedicated denizens of the discourse, we share this peek at some of our favorite news links of the day for purposes of education and enlightenment on this dark night. Kansas City Talks J&J Pause Local doctors weigh in on pausing Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine Out of an abundance of caution, health officials in the U.S. paused distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as some people have had issues with blood clots.Out of nearly 7 million doses given, six people experienced adverse blood clots. All were women between the ages 18 to 48. Firearm Show & Tell Woman arrested after incident with gun at Junction Elementary School KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A woman is in jail after displaying a gun Tuesday morning during an incident outside a Turner School District elementary school. The incident happened about 7:50 a.m. as a line of vehicles were dropping off students at Junction Elementary School, 2570 South 42nd Street, in Kansas City, Kansas. Cali Recall Inspires Pr0n Hottie Political Comeback Porn star Mary Carey running to replace California Gov. Newsom LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KRON) - Porn star Mary Carey announced Tuesday that she plans to run for Governor of California in an effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Carey also ran for governor in the 2003 recall election and placed 10th out of a field of over 130 candidates. Alleged Creeper Congressman Avoids Consequences Gaetz's glare stings House GOP - but his future's safe for now House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who last week called the accusations "serious," declined to say whether Gaetz should step down if the claims are true. "These are hypotheticals," he told POLITICO in the hallways. "We will deal with everything as they come." Tough Ted Talk Boehner reveals why he won't back down from Cruz feud: 'I've just decided, screw Ted Cruz' Former House Speaker John Boehner revealed the reason for his public vitriol toward Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas in a wide-ranging interview on " Special Report" Tuesday. "The guy was always stirring up trouble with some of the knuckleheads in my caucus," Boehner told "Special Report" host Bret Baier. Freebie Lesson For Today Forgiving $50K in school loans would free 36 million student borrowers from debt: data More than 36 million people would be freed from debt if the Biden administration cancels $50,000 in student debt per borrower, according to data put out Tuesday from the Education Department. Sen. (D-Mass.), a vocal proponent of the cancellation proposal being pushed by progressives, released the data after requesting answers from the Education Department earlier this month. COVID Vaxx Endures Moderna Says Its COVID Vaccine Is 90% Effective Six Months On Moderna has cited new data showing its coronavirus vaccine is still more than 90 percent effective up to six months after a person has received their second shot. The final-stage trial of the vaccine showed "continued strong efficacy," the company said in a statement Tuesday. Rolling Stone Remains Unsatisfied Mick Jagger bemoans life under lockdown and mocks anti-vaxxers in new song with Dave Grohl The Rolling Stones frontman has about had it with your TikTok videos. Mick Jagger is still not getting any satisfaction under lockdown. On Tuesday, Jagger released a surprise collaboration with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl "Easy Sleazy," which brushes through all of 2020s lowlights, including the uptick of conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine and the "prison" that is being stuck indoors. Miss Kansas Redux Meet Gracie Hunt: Chiefs heiress just crowned Miss Kansas USA The Hunt family can add another big win to its resume. Gracie Hunt - the 22-year-old daughter of Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO, Clark Hunt - was crowned Miss Kansas USA at the state's annual pageant on Sunday. Local Fabric Endures From local ranchers to celebrity A-listers, Olathe man turns denim into dreams OLATHE, KS (KCTV) -- Ryan Martin, a son of a fifth generation seamstress, has been turning and burning on sewing machines since he was 7 years old. He makes high-end bespoke jeans for his label, W.H. Ranch Dungarees. He says they stand up to anything. Kansas City Glamping Revisited Camping meets modern luxury as local business brings 'glamping' to the Kansas City metro KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Two local women are bringing glamping to the Kansas City metro. Heather Shelton and Tiffany Watts, owners of Suite Tea have created a space in Kansas City, Kansas where camping meets modern luxury. KC Chill Contd Weather Blog - A Cold April Pattern With Snow In The Forecast Out West A rather fascinating weather pattern is set up across the United States and all of North America. A blocked up weather pattern has developed. This is the second time in this year's cycling pattern, the LRC pattern, that the pattern has been blocked this significantly. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. A naval aviator attached to the command overseeing manpower readiness for the Navy faces court-martial on charges he sexually assaulted a woman in 2019. Cmdr. Edward Forrest Hill, a 16-year officer, was in or near Bangalore, India, at the time of the alleged assault, according to a charge sheet obtained by Military.com. It's not clear whether he was traveling for work or if he was off-duty. Hill, who was assigned to Chief of Naval Personnel Support out of Arlington, Virginia, allegedly committed a number of nonconsensual sexual acts upon a woman whose name is redacted in the report, including penetrating her with his finger and forcing oral sex. The alleged incident happened Aug. 4, 2019; Hill was charged Oct. 28, 2020. Read Next: 80% of Active-Duty Soldiers Will be Vaccinated by July 4th, Army Surgeon General Pledges He's set to appear in court at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., on May 20 for a motions hearing on the sexual assault charge. Hill's appointed military defense attorney, Lt. Cmdr. Andrea Kissner, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. According to career information obtained by Military.com, Hill is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who was commissioned in 2002. He has served at numerous helicopter aviation and test commands and graduated from Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, in 2012. His most recent aviation unit was Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, out of North Island, Calif., which flies MH-60R Seahawks. Prior to joining Chief of Naval Personnel Support in 2018, Hill completed a tour in the Legislative Fellows Program in Washington, D.C. A published biography from that tour adds that he previously served as a squadron department head "who was responsible for the integration of manned and unmanned aircraft onboard littoral combat ship [and] an experimental test pilot who has deployed numerous times and has logged over 2,000 hours in 29 different aircraft." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: 'All Options on Table' for Pentagon's Sexual Assault Commission WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Discount retailer Dollar General said it is planning to hire up to 20,000 new employees this spring. The company will host in-person and virtual hiring events from April 19 through April 23 to support ongoing efforts across store, distribution, transportation and corporate operations. The retailer provided a comprehensive list of hiring events and available positions on its Careers website. Prior to attending in-person hiring events, the interested candidates are asked to formally apply for desired career opportunities online. The in-person hiring events are scheduled for each traditional and DG Fresh distribution facility on Thursday, April 22 and in select stores from April 22-23. The company noted that social distancing measures and mask mandate will be exercised at all in-person events. Virtual hiring events will take place online April 19-21. In Store Operations, the opportunities are open for regional directors, district managers, store managers, assistant store managers, part-time and full-time lead sales associates and part-time sales associates. Distribution Centers offer opportunities in roles within general warehouse, human resources, inventory control, maintenance, training and administration. The company is currently seeking Class A CDL drivers to further expand its private fleet, which has grown to more than 700 tractors and more than 550 drivers in spring 2021. In addition, DG's corporate headquarters, located near Nashville, Tennessee, is looking to fill a wide range of roles. As of February 26, 2021, Dollar General operated 17,266 stores in 46 states. The company in March had reiterated its plans to execute 2,900 real estate projects in fiscal 2021, including 1,050 new store openings, 1,750 store remodels, and 100 store relocations. Last week, Discount retailer Dollar Tree, Inc. said it plans to recruit thousands of full- and part-time associates at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores and distribution centers across the country. Fast-food chain McDonald's Corp. also announced plans to hire 25,000 workers in its restaurants across Texas in April, through a three-day event from April 13 to 15. 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. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A state loan program that launched last year to help businesses hurt by the pandemic will soon be returning, with a new influx of state money and expanded eligibility requirements. Starting April 29, businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the pandemic and associated shutdowns can apply for loans through the states newly revamped and expanded Small Business Recovery Loan Fund. Marquita Russel, CEO of the New Mexico Finance Authority, the entity charged with administering the program, said during a webinar Wednesday that the program has been tweaked to provide larger loans, with less restrictive eligibility requirements. We think that the states going to find significant payoff from the investment its making in your small businesses, she said. The state launched the loan fund last summer, allocating $400 million from the states Severance Tax Permanent Fund. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ However, much of the funding went unused, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged in September that many businesses couldnt meet the application requirements. To date, just over $40.5 million has been allocated to 890 New Mexico businesses through the program, according to NMFAs website. The program was retooled during the legislative session. Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 3, which establishes a $500 million loan program with a looser set of restrictions and eligibility requirements. It increases, substantially, the access to the loan fund, and offers businesses and nonprofits enhanced loan terms, Russel said. Russel said the program now offers loans covering up to three times monthly business expenses. Maximum loans can now reach $150,000, compared to $75,000 during the first round. On the eligibility side, the revamped program allows more types of nonprofits to apply, and opens the program up to businesses with less than $5 million in net revenue, rather than gross revenue. Businesses must be 51% New Mexico-owned, down from 80% in the first round. Businesses that arent owned by New Mexicans but employ at least 10 full-time New Mexico residents are also eligible. Simply stated, more businesses are now eligible, Russel said. Businesses may now use the loan for purchasing or improving assets that help grow a business e-commerce capacity. Additionally, interest doesnt begin accruing during the first year of the loan, under the new terms. To qualify, Russel said businesses, nonprofits and sole proprietors must demonstrate that they suffered either a 20% decline in business revenues or gross receipts in 2020, or experienced a substantial disruption in operations during the pandemic. Businesses must provide a valid ID and 2019 or 2020 tax returns, and may be asked to provide additional documentation, Russel said. Russell said NMFA is concerned about fraud with the program, and will be requiring applicants to meet certain credit and identification standards. As online pandemic financing has become more prevalent across the nation, there have been more bad actors, fraudsters, who want to take advantage of these streamlined systems, she said. Texas should avoid voting laws that may hurt businesses, candidates for Fort Worth mayor said Wednesday in a forum, though some wanted to have a more hands-on approach to advocating for voting laws. Many companies have spoken out against Republican efforts to make voting more difficult in Texas, so the forum focused on Fort Worths business environment led with the question of what role the mayor should play. It was also the question where candidates D.C. Caldwell, Mattie Parker, Deborah Peoples and Ann Zadeh seem to diverge from each other the most. Legislation under consideration in Austin would prohibit drive-thru voting, block election officials from sending applications for vote-by-mail without being asked, prohibit voting temporary structures, and loosen restrictions on poll watchers. Several major companies based in Texas have criticized the proposal, including Fort Worth-based American Airlines, Dell Technologies and Southwest Airlines. In a statement American Airlines said election security should be maintained while making it easier to vote, not harder. While all the candidates appeared willing to use the mayors office to advocate for business interests, Peoples and Zadeh were the most direct about voting laws. Peoples, a former AT&T vice president and chairwoman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, said the mayors job selling the city is easier when diversity and inclusion are embraced. I know what businesses are looking for, and anything that limits diversity and inclusion is bad for business, she said. Voters Guide 2021 VOTER GUIDE Learn about the candidates in Fort Worth and Arlington, for the U.S. House in District 6 and the Tarrant Regional Water District. The lack of participation in elections locally is frustrating, Zadeh said, saying she would advocate against anything that made voting harder. I think as a mayor having that platform to support businesses that are stepping up now, and the people that work for those businesses, saying that they do not want their right to vote limited, she said. Story continues Parker, a former chief of staff for Mayor Betsy Price, didnt say if she would use the mayors bully pulpit to influence legislation one way or the other, saying the city should allow our business community to speak loudly to our state delegation or federal delegation about how theyre feeling. Instead, she said she thought businesses would shy away from areas where there is strong disagreement and suggested she would bring Tarrant Countys delegation together. You cant have them pitted against one another if youre really focused on pitching business on the city of Fort Worth, or across Texas, she said. Caldwell said the mayor should stay within within his office and wheelhouse but could discourage legislatures from passing bills. Candidates Brian Byrd, Mylene George, Mike Haynes, Cedric C. Kanyinda, Steve Penate and Christ Rector did not participate in the forum, which was hosted by the Star-Telegram, the Fort Worth Chamber, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. That mayors largest role is to advocate for the city because day-to-day business is run by the city manager and staff. Candidates offered a variety of ways to promote the city and attract businesses. Fort Worth should lean into its business friendly atmosphere, Parker said, and boost the marketing budget to aggressively pitch Fort Worth outside of Texas. The city should also look to state lawmakers and agencies as partners in promoting Fort Worth as a place to relocate a business. Peoples said the city had missed the boat in promoting Fort Worths diverse communities and workforce. She said attempts to woo companies should be intentional and deliberate. Zadeh pointed to the success of the Near Southside in promoting and opening businesses during the pandemic and said the same focus on local companies should apply across the city. Boosting local businesses will encourage other companies to move to Fort Worht, she said. These are people who are already passionate about this community, want to have employees that come from this community, she said. Having the support of their city and their chambers is something that will shine out to those other businesses that might want to relocate here as well. Australia's most decorated soldier has hit back to deny a series of what he calls 'entirely untrue' allegations made about him. SAS veteran and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith strenuously denied burying USB in his backyard in explosive claims aired by 60 Minutes on Sunday night. Australian Federal Police confirmed on Wednesday a new investigation had been launched in the wake of the fresh allegations. Mr Roberts-Smith initially chose not to rebut the specific allegations made on the 60 Minutes or in subsequent articles published by Nine Media. Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured) has denied a series of 'entirely untrue' allegations made against him on 60 Minutes through a lengthy statement issued by his lawyer His lawyer has since issued a lengthy statement on behalf of Mr Roberts-Smith, stating he was under 'sustained attacks' from journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters as well as Nine. 'The allegation that he 'hid' or failed to disclose material to the Assistant Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force during the Afghanistan Inquiry is false,' lawyer Mark O'Brien said. 'Mr Roberts-Smith fully cooperated with the Afghanistan Inquiry.' Allegations Mr Roberts-Smith threatened any witness or potential witness to the Afghanistan Inquiry to stop them giving evidence is false, his lawyer added. Allegations he buried USBs in his backyard are also false and 'simply did not happen'. 'The allegation Mr Roberts-Smith's former matrimonial home was raided by the Australian Federal Police in 2020 or at any time and USBs 'covertly seized' is false ,' Mr O'Brien said. Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured In January with partner Sarah Matulin) strenuously denied 'false' allegations that he buried USB in his backyard Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine, the publishers of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times over articles he says defamed him in suggesting he committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The defamation trial is scheduled to began in the Federal Court on June 7 after it was delayed by 12 months by the pandemic. 'The conduct of Mr McKenzie, Mr Masters and Nine so close to the commencement of the trial is of grave concern and appears to be either an attempt to intimidate Mr Roberts-Smith into discontinuing his defamation proceedings, or to punish him for bringing them,' Mr O'Brien said. 'It will neither intimidate nor deter him from proceeding with the trial and bringing the respondents, including Mr McKenzie to account for the lies they have published about him.' 'Mr Roberts-Smith risked his life for his country, having served in Afghanistan over six years through scores of missions where his safety and that of other members of the SAS was in constant jeopardy.' 'He does not seek any special treatment because of those facts, but only the same impartial reporting that is the right of any Australian whose acts may deserve public attention.' Mr Roberts-Smith has not been contacted by the APF in relation to a new investigation. 'If they do, he will co-operate with any investigation, as he has always done,' Mr O'Brien ended the statement. SAS veteran Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured in action) is a decorated Victoria Cross recipient Earlier on Wednesday, Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Ian McCartney confirmed to a Senate inquiry the matter was being investigated. 'The AFP has opened an investigation into aspects of that media reporting,' he said. But he declined to say whether the AFP was in possession of any USB drives. 'Given it's an ongoing investigation we'd prefer not to provide a running commentary.' Police confirmed The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald had referred the allegations on March 25, more than two weeks before publishing. It was deemed a sensitive investigation on March 29. Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured) has not been contacted by the Australian Federal Police in relation to a new investigation Mr McCartney would not confirm what the investigation centred on but said witness intimidation was a serious issue. 'Some of the allegations that have been raised are serious and it's being treated as a priority by the Australian Federal Police,' he said. AFP has previously confirmed it was investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, but has refused to confirm or deny specific incidents or identify who was being investigated. AFP denied to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Sunday night regarding the allegations aired by 60 Minutes. A new star has made it to San Antonio and no, they're not staying at Hotel Emma. On Monday, April 12, the City of San Antonio unveiled the 17-foot Star of Texas (La Estrella de Texas)," its newest public art installation. Located on the grounds of the San Antonio International Airport, the steel structure is the latest piece by Mexican sculptor Sebastian. His other works in the Alamo City include the iconic "La Antorcha de la Amistad (The Torch of Friendship) and the recently debuted Door of Equality (La Puerta de Igualdad)," both located downtown. The internationally known virtuoso, who works with concrete and steel, also has works in Matamoros and Mexico City. RELATED: Pabst's new creative series draws inspiration from San Antonio artists Like his other pieces, Sebastian's newest work offers a meditation on the importance of unity and equality between the multicultural residents of San Antonio and the world at large. The city stated in a press release that the sculpture, which is composed of five vertical steel components painted a fire truck red, invite viewers to see themselves as part of a greater whole. The" Star of Texas" itself represents San Antonio's place within the state. RELATED: New modern green space for work and play to open in downtown San Antonio this summer Mayor Ron Nirenberg attended the unveiling ceremony for the new sculpture, comparing the boldness of it to the lasting impact San Antonio has on visitors and residents alike. "Whether visiting San Antonio for the first time or the 100th, or a resident leaving the airport for a vacation, we all know the feeling that keeps us longing for a fast return to this great city, Nirenberg said. As you head out for your post-COVID-19 vaccine travels, check out the new installation on the south side of the airports entrance on Airport Boulevard. 10918 UNCTAD and the Family Business Network (FBN) have partnered to support family firms to embrace sustainability in their business strategies in the light of the fact that two-thirds of businesses worldwide are owned or managed by families. They also employ 60% of the worlds workforce and contribute over 70% of global GDP. The joint Family Business for Sustainable Development (FBSD) initiative is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the UN and the global family business community. Family firms can make a huge difference in global efforts towards sustainable development, said James Zhan, UNCTAD's director of investment and enterprise. He said family businesses need to be empowered to maximize their potential and seize the untapped opportunities associated with embracing the sustainability agenda. To deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, an ambitious global effort is required over the next decade to accelerate sustainable solutions to the worlds economic, environmental, social and governance challenges. Collectively, they have immense financial resources to invest in the SDGs and help plug the trillion-dollar financing gap, Zhan said. Family firms invest their own resources and can take quick action to put their businesses and investments on a sustainable track. Also, family businesses are locally minded and long-term by nature. They think in generations. However, many family businesses have traditionally been private and kept a low profile, with limited public disclosure and reporting on sustainability. The FBSD initiative gives them the opportunity to transparently report and clearly demonstrate their contribution to improving lives. It also allows them to better understand why the SDGs matter to their businesses and where they can make an impact, while allowing them to benchmark their sustainability performance against other similar businesses. The initiative aims to mobilize and support family businesses to commit to concrete and measurable contributions towards the SDGs. It offers them ways and means to integrate sustainability into their conventional business models and to provide evidence of their contributions to the SDGs. Harnessing global expertise UNCTAD and FBN will share expertise and best practices derived from their global network of investment and development stakeholders and offer the family business community an international platform to facilitate their contributions to sustainable development. FBN is a vibrant community of enterprising business owners that brings together over 4,000 families with 16,000 firms from 65 countries. Were excited to partner with UNCTAD in this ground-breaking initiative to create shared prosperity for all, mobilize investment in sustainable development and define success across generations, said Alfonso Libano, co-chair of the FBSD executive board and vice chairman of COBEGA SA, Spain. Our current focus is on expanding our capabilities on sustainability reporting and encouraging higher levels of transparency for all family businesses, no matter where they are on their sustainability journey, he added. Components of the initiative Key components of the initiative include the family business sustainability pledge, which advocates an environmental, social and governance roadmap that signatories agree to act upon. FBSD provides family firms with a template, the UNCTAD-FBN sustainability indicators for family business, to guide and assess the implementation of and reporting on actions by individual companies in a measurable, comparable and transparent manner. It seeks to inculcate sustainability considerations among business-owning families and serves as a benchmark for the overall assessment of the results and impact of the global initiative. The reporting framework builds upon UNCTADs guidance on core indicators for entity reporting on contribution towards the implementation of the SDGs. To complement the framework, the initiative elaborated additional disclosure elements to capture and recognize family businesses efforts in contributing to sustainable development. Also, the initiative will include capacity-building activities for family firms, allowing them to participate in global multistakeholder discussions on boosting sustainable development efforts, in the context of the World Investment Forum. The initiative will be guided by an advisory council co-chaired by sustainability luminaries Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, and Dame Polly Courtice, founder and director of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. I am particularly excited by this initiative because it taps into the inter-generational power of families and family wealth as a means of delivering the SDGs and addressing some of the existential risks that we face, said Dame Courtice. TradeArabia News Service California Senate Shoots Down Bill Categorizing Religious Services as Essential A bill that requires state and local governments to treat religious services as essential during a state of emergency was rejected by the California state Senate. Authored by Sen. Brian Jones (R-Santee), the Religion is Essential Act bill was presented April 13 before the Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 50 speakers spoke in favor of the proposed legislation during the hearing, while only one caller voiced opposition. The process of the hearing actually went very good, Jones told The Epoch Times in an April 14 interview following the bills defeat. The proposal, Senate Bill 397, called for the right to practice ones religion in ones chosen house of worship to be deemed essential and treated no differently than other state-declared essential services such as shopping malls, fast-food restaurants, and Hollywood film production. The bill would have prohibited the government from enforcing a health, safety, or occupancy requirement that imposes a substantial burden on a religious service during an emergency. It would have allowed a religious organization that has been subject to state or local government overreach to file a claim for relief in an administrative or judicial proceeding. The rationale for SB 397 has been bolstered by two recent United States Supreme Court decisions. South Bay Pentecostal United Church v. Newsom on February 5 was a 63 ruling overturning Gov. Gavin Newsoms ban on indoor religious services during the CCP virus pandemic. The high court ruled that while the state can impose reasonable safety restrictions and limitations, it cant enforce an outright ban of church services if similar secular activities are allowed. In Ritesh Tandon v. Newsom on April 9, the high court ruled 54, overturning Newsoms ban on in-home private religious gatherings of more than three families. The court ruled that religious gatherings should not be treated any differently than secular gatherings. Jones testified before the committee that the bill has received support from over 7,000 individuals across the state. While a governor can impose reasonable safety restrictions and limits, a governor cannot arbitrarily padlock churches, shrines, temples, mosques, and synagogues, Jones told the committee. Even the dissenters in these decisions believe that a governor cannot arbitrarily treat religion differently than similar secular activities. He quoted Justice Sonia Sotomayor from a February ruling: They may restrict attendance at houses of worship, so long as comparable secular institutions face restrictions that are at least equally as strict. While I believe the court got these rulings right, to make sure that a future governor during a future emergency doesnt try this again, we need to guarantee the right to practice ones religion in state law. Senate Bill 397 will do this simply declaring that religion is essential and should be on equal footing with all other services and industries designated as essential during an emergency. The proposed legislation was defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 272 vote. Jones was joined by Sen. Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) in supporting the measure. Voices of Support Despite the vote split among party lines, Borgeas said the issue is not partisan, but constitutional. He appealed to the First Amendment, prohibiting government infringement on the exercise of religion and peaceful assembly and ensuring equal protection of the law. I submit to you colleagues that I believe this is a First Amendment constitutional issue that invokes equal protection, Borgeas said. He said individuals should be able to gather at their places of worship if they abide by the necessary health regulations. If constitutional rights are considered essential in America, then being able to attend these activities on the sole condition that they are abiding by the prevailing health directives, that is a constitutionally protected essential activity. Im not sure how you can get around that, he said. I could not see a difference between going to Home Depot and going to church. Greg Chafuen, legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, testified to the judiciary that the bill treats religious gatherings as comparable to secular conduct. The bill protects the right of Californians to worship and to exercise their faith, especially in difficult times, Chafuen said. And it does this while still allowing the state to require compliance with neutral health and safety standards to protect the public. Jay Bhattacharya, professor of medicine at Stanford University and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, told the committee that if the bill passes and worship services are deemed essential, then it would provide an opportunity for public health officials to work with churches to worship safely. As it stands now, local public health basically just closes the churches down and doesnt allow worship, Bhattacharya said. He said that these directives have created an unnecessary conflict. In fact, if churches were deemed essential, public health could work with churches for safe worship, just like public health works with other essential businesses to operate safely during the pandemic, he said. If you look at the CDC and the World Health Organization guidance on religious observance during a pandemic, both of them emphasize the importance of religious worship. Voices of Opposition Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) testified that the bill would limit the governments ability to exercise its police force to protect the public. Whats articulated in this bill is that were basically turning over the police powers, the determination of what it should and shouldnt do to the courts or eliminating executives irrespective of what their power is to make those determinations, he said. Hertzberg used the example of an active shooter in a neighborhood near a church. He said if the government wants to impose a curfew to protect people from getting shot, but people in church or another form of assembly didnt want to abide by the curfew, then the government would be unable to exercise the police force. It would be impossible to run a government if your interpretation of the constitution, as set forth in this measure, was so strictthat literally, no matter what happened, youd be too fearful that you could not engage the police power to deal with whatever the issue was because youre too worried that this strict interpretation, or the laws written would eliminate your ability to do so, he said. Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California, testified before the judiciary in opposition to the bill from a health-risk perspective. A worship service that involves being seated in a room for an hour or more cannot be treated the same way a store is treated, where people move around, get their business done and leave, she said. These risks are just not the same. She said the CCP virus, being a respiratory virus, is not the same as a bacterial infection thats spread by touch and calls for different health measures. Each disease is different, and that is why public health measures may vary across time, she said. There is already ample protection for worship services in California law and in the United States Constitution. This bill attempts to alter what is a fine balance between individual liberty and public health. And we think its dangerous to tilt the balance this far. Roberts: 'The Pioneers' reveals great things done by common men Donus Roberts reviews the book "The Pioneers," which covers the history of what's now called the Midwest. This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong! Over the years, Carnegie Mellon University has upgraded its famous snakebot to give it the ability to do things like climb sand dunes and grasp objects . With its latest iteration, you can now add swimming to that list. Work on the Hardened Underwater Modular Robot Snake (HUMRS) started in July 2020. The universitys robotics lab began by adapting water-resistant modules it had used in the past to allow the robot to operate in less than ideal conditions. They then added a series of turbines and thrusters so that it could move underwater. Work on the project moved quickly, with HUMRS going on its first swim in a CMU pool this past March. Carnegie Mellon University The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute not to be confused with a certain other ARM helped fund this latest version of the robot snake. The robotics lab envisions organizations like the US Navy using it to inspect ships and submarines while theyre away from a port. As things stand, the crews of warships have few options when their craft is damaged. They either have to wait for a team of divers to come to their location or return to drydock. Either way, thats something that costs time and money. "If they can get that information before the ship comes into a home port or a dry dock, that saves weeks or months of time in a maintenance schedule," Matt Fischer, one of the researchers who worked on the project, said. "And in turn, that saves money." The small size and flexibility of HUMRS also mean it can navigate into areas such as pipes where a more traditional remote submersible would have trouble doing so. Outside of military use, it could also find work inspecting pipes, tanks and offshore rigs. China releases lunar sample data online Xinhua) 15:32, April 14, 2021 BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's space agency has released an online database of the first batch of the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe. Researchers and the public can access the Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Scientific Data and Sample Release System via the website www.clep.org.cn, where they can apply for data and samples, according to the China National Space Administration, which announced the release of the database Tuesday. The Chang'e-5 probe, which returned to Earth on Dec. 17, 2020, retrieved a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples, mainly rocks and soil from the lunar surface. According to China's lunar sample management regulations, the lunar samples will be generally used for four purposes, namely permanent storage, backup permanent storage, research and public welfare. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) A 74-year-old woman has died in Luxembourg two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca jab. While a causal link has not yet been determined, the case is being handled as a suspicious death, with both the Ministry of Health and public prosecutor's office investigating. Health Director Dr Jean-Claude Schmit had confirmed the news to RTL on Wednesday morning. Judicial authorities are involved in the case as "according to the attending physician it would be a suspicious death and, in his opinion, a relationship between the death of this person and his vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19, two weeks previously, could not be excluded." An autopsy was carried out on 13 April, with results expected soon. "In the current state of the procedure and as long as all the elements of the investigation are not gathered, any premature conclusion would amount to speculation", the public prosecutor's office communicated on Wednesday afternoon. As of 14 April, 99,998 people in Luxembourg received their first dose, with 35,103 people having received the second jab. In a deal rumored to be in the seven figure-range, Knopf editor Jenny Jackson sold her debut novel. Pam Dorman, who has an eponymous imprint at Penguin Random House, preempted North American rights to Pineapple Street. The book, which follows three sisters who are members of a wealthy family, is slated for early 2023. Brettne Bloom at the Book Group brokered the deal for Jackson, a 19-year veteran at Knopf who has edited such authors as Emily St. John Mandel and Erin Morgenstern. Pineapple Street, which was heading for auction before Dorman swooped in, is, the publisher said, "set in late-capitalist New York," and follows the daughters of the WASP-y Stockton family: Darley, Sasha, and Georgiana. Each sister has a different relationship to the family funds, with the oldest having been born into it, the middle sister having married into it, and the youngest eager to give all her money away. In the proposal for the book, which PW obtained, Bloom described the novel this way: "If Edith Whartons female characters are often forced to claw their way up the social ladder to secure their wealth and status, the women in Pineapple Street are on the opposite patheach one is deeply conflicted about the familial wealth they have inherited." Bloom went on to call the novel a "bighearted" tale "about love and family," comparing it to work by authors like Curtis Sittenfeld, Emma Straub and Kiley Reid. Foreign rights deals for the novel have also begun closing, with, among others, preempts completed in the U.K., Canada, and Germany. When asked about the advance, a spokesperson for the publisher declined to comment. A worker dressed in PPE talks with members of the public arriving to take COVID-19 tests at a mobile surge testing centre in Brockwell Park in south London on Apr. 13, 2021. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images) UK Extends Surge Testing as South African COVID-19 Variant Spreads in London UK health authorities have extended the ongoing COVID-19 surge testing operation to two more London boroughs in an attempt to curb the spread of a variant of the CCP virus first identified in South Africa. The local council of Barnet said on April 14 that the South African variant had been found in the north London borough. From Thursday, April 15 we will start testing people for this variant in specific postcode areas affected in N3 or those who shop on the local high street, the council said on its website. On April 13, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said additional testing and genomic sequencing were being provided in a targeted area within the SE16 postcode area in Southwark, south London. A logo is pictured on a window at Biogroup Laboratorys lab, where they are conducting rapid PCR tests, testing for the CCP virus, in west London on Jan. 21, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) A confirmed case of the South African variant had been found in the area, DHSC said, adding that the infected person was self-isolating and his or her contacts had been identified. Genomic sequencing results showed that this case is linked to the cluster identified in Lambeth and Wandsworth, where surge testing had been under way from April 12. DHSC said on April 12 that 44 confirmed cases and 30 probable cases had been identified in those two London boroughs. Dr. Kevin Fenton, regional director of Public Health England in London, said the cluster in south London is significant and it is really important people in the local area play their part in stopping any further spread within the local community. PCR testing is now available for all, and I would strongly encourage everyone in Southwark who is invited to take part to get tested, even if they dont have any symptoms of coronavirus, he said. Medical experts have warned that the South African variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus is more resistant to antibodies than the original variant and may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. A study published in February showed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine didnt seem to offer protection against mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 resulting from the South African variant. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in February that UK authorities would come down hard on the mutant virus to curb its spread in the communities. With two COVID-19 vaccines now under scrutiny for possible links to very rare cases of blood clots in the brain, U.S. government scientists are focusing on whether the specific technology behind the shots may be contributing to the risk. In Europe, health regulators said last week there was a possible link between the AstraZeneca Plc vaccine and 169 cases of a rare brain blood clot known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), accompanied by a low blood platelet count, out of 34 million shots administered in the European Economic Area. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended temporarily halting use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports of six cases of CVST in women under age 50 among some 7 million people who received the shot in the United States. Both vaccines are based on a new technology using adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, that have been modified to essentially render them harmless. The viruses are employed as vectors to ferry instructions for human cells to make proteins found on the surface of the coronavirus, priming the immune system to make antibodies that fight off the actual virus. Scientists are working to find the potential mechanism that would explain the blood clots. A leading hypothesis appears to be that the vaccines are triggering a rare immune response that could be related to these viral vectors, FDA officials said at a briefing on Tuesday. The U.S. agency will analyze data from clinical trials of several vaccines using these viral vectors, including J&Js Ebola vaccine, to look for clues. None of the previous vaccines using viral vectors have been administered at close to the scale of the AstraZeneca and J&J COVID-19 shots, which may explain why a potential link to blood clots only materialized during these massive vaccination programs. The technology has also been used in coronavirus vaccines developed in China and Russia. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, was reluctant to declare the blood clot issues a class effect shared by all adenovirus vector vaccines, but he sees marked similarity in the cases. Its plainly obvious to us already that what were seeing with the Janssen (J&J) vaccine looks very similar to what was being seen with the AstraZeneca vaccine, Marks said. We cant make some broad statement yet, but obviously, they are from the same general class of viral vectors. At the beginning In Europe, scientists are exploring a number of hypotheses, including looking more broadly at the way the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself affects blood coagulation. One team in the Netherlands plans to conduct lab studies that expose specific types of cells and tissues to the vaccines and monitor how they react. They will also explore whether any risks could be limited further by reducing the vaccine dose. There are many hypotheses, and some of them may play a role, said Eric van Gorp, a virologist at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. We are at the beginning, and - as it goes in research - it may be that we can find the clue at once, or it may be that it goes step by step. Other scientists were struck by the parallel between the J&J and AstraZeneca shots. Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London, said the similar blood clotting incidents associated with both is clearly noteworthy for defining mechanism. There has been no sign of such problems with the vaccines made by BioNTech SE with Pfizer Inc or Moderna Inc using a different technology. It would be interesting to know more about Sputnik V - also a similar adenovirus vaccine, Altmann said. The Russian vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow uses two different human cold viruses - including the Ad26 virus in the J&J shot. The issue might also affect the adenovirus vector vaccine from Chinas CanSino Biological, experts said. Examining whether there is some common link to adenoviruses is a reasonable speculation, and its a line of research and investigation. But that doesnt mean its proven, said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Moore, who took part in an informal White House briefing with other scientists on Tuesday, said the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working closely with health officials in Europe to determine whether the syndromes linked to the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines are the same. An important clue may lie in the fact that the reported events typically appear around 13 days after the shot, which is the period in which antibodies might be expected to appear. This is speculation, but the timing of something happening after about 13 days on average is suggestive of an immune response to a component to the vaccine, Moore said. Investigations of this sort could take years. But like the vaccines themselves that were produced in record time, Moore believes there will be so much effort put into the research that it will more likely be resolved within weeks. Its so clearly important, he said. Photo: Facebook The operator of a Revelstoke yoga studio has received an outpouring of community support after being fined for holding in-person classes. Rebecca Marchildon of The Alchemy Yoga Studio was fined more than $2,500 for holding what RCMP called a group-fitness class in violation of provincial health orders. Marchildon, who opened the studio in August 2019, said it was not a fitness class, but a low-impact stretching class of five people in a 1,300-square-foot facility. It was not a group fitness class, it was a yoga class, which is low-intensity stretching basically, said Marchildon. We are not a fitness facility, we are a yoga studio. Since the fines became known, a Gofundme page has been launched to help Marchildon and she has received numerous calls and messages of support. We have been getting phone calls from all over the province in support of us and people calling to say we are doing the right thing, Marchildon said. It's been really quite overwhelming and amazing. There has also been lots of support locally with area businesses even chipping in to build an outdoor yoga deck. And that support is very much needed for the fledgling business. This is the third closure and it has really put me over the edge. We started out business six months before the pandemic hit, so we have fallen through the cracks of a lot of aid that we could get. Marchildon said Alchemy does not meet the necessary requirements for government aid. Financially, we do not qualify for a single thing from the government, said Marchildon. She said businesses must have a certain number of employees her yoga instructors are sub-contractors and the business must show positive cash flow in 2019. That's the year I started my business, toward the end of August, so we were in the hole because we were starting a business, so of course we weren't making money yet, she said. We just keep falling through the cracks. Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - On Friday, Frances Jones, 52, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge John C. Hinderaker. Jones previously pleaded guilty to health care fraud. Jones, a licensed Medicare provider of durable medical equipment and the owner and operator of Oxicheck Northwest, admitted that she fraudulently billed Medicare between 2011 and March 2018 for durable medical equipment that was not provided to patients. Jones also used Medicare patient and medical provider identification without their knowledge or consent. The Court ordered Jones to pay $862,762.32 in restitution for losses incurred by the Medicare Program as a result of her fraudulent scheme. This sentencing demonstrates the seriousness of Ms. Jones actions. Stealing Medicare funds and patients medical identities is not a victimless crime, said Timothy B. DeFrancesca, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. With the aid of our law enforcement partners, we will continue protecting federal health care programs. The U.S. Attorneys Office reminds Medicare recipients to monitor their Medicare billing statements to ensure that the services documented were provided. To report any suspected Medicare Fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Price for the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Arizona, Tucson. CASE NUMBER: CR18-00821-JCH-DTF RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-026_Jones An employee of a private hospital was arrested for allegedly trying to sell a vial of remdesivir injection at an exorbitant price in Maharashtra's Pune city, police said on Wednesday. Based on a tip-off, a decoy customer was sent to Bhavani Peth area on Tuesday and the accused Shivaji Sawant was caught while attempting to sell a vial of remdesivir for Rs 7,000, a senior crime branch official said. Amid shortage of the anti-viral drug, cases of black marketing have been reported, in which the Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune police have already arrested some people in separate cases. The accused works as an assistant in a private hospital and was in possession of two vials, the official said. The family of a COVID-19 patient at the hospital had procured extra vials of the injection and had given it away to the hospital, and Sawant had somehow managed to get hold of two vials, which he tried to sell at an exorbitant price, he said. The accused has been arrested under relevant sections of the Essential Commodity Act and Drug and Cosmetic Act, the official said. The Pune police have already formed 10 teams and are undertaking a special drive against the black marketing of the drug. A County Derry man has raised over 15,000 for charity in memory of his sister after completing a 20-mile barefoot walk on Saturday. Niall O'Kane walked from Dunloy, County Antrim, to his native Maghera in his bare feet to raise money for Northern Ireland Hospice in memory of his sister Brenda, who passed away last month. The feat was made all the more remarkable when Niall woke up to an inch of snow on the morning of the walk, but with his wife and daughter leading the way in the car, he completed the walk in 8 hours. It was a bit of a shock when I woke up that morning, he told the County Derry Post. Niall's sister Brenda passed away last month. The support has been unreal, everybody's been amazing. I can't believe all the support. The phone was ringing all morning with people texting and wishing me luck. A street collection was also held in Maghera as Niall made his through to finish the walk at Brenda's grave on the Glen Road. Donations can still be made via the online link on Niall's Facebook page. Early voting for the April 24 elections continues through Saturday, April 17. In those runoff elections, voters in Louisianas Second Congressional District will elect a successor to former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, who now works as a top aide to President Joe Biden. Voters in state House District 82, which encompasses Old Jefferson and other parts of Metairie, will likewise chose a new state representative. And in the French Quarter, voters will decide whether to re-impose an expired quarter-penny sales tax dedicated mostly to additional police protection. Turnout is expected to be low across the board, so we urge all our readers to vote early if they can. If they cannot, we hope they will vote next Saturday, April 24. Sample ballots, polling locations and other voter information can be found on the Louisiana Secretary of States website at GeauxVote.com. We herewith offer our recommendations. For Congress: Troy Carter The Second Congressional District includes parts of 10 south Louisiana parishes, tracing the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, but almost 70% of the districts voters live in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. The hotly contested runoff between two New Orleans lawmakers Senators Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson has seen an inordinate amount of distortions and even some outright lies, mostly from third-party political action committees. Carter led in the primary and has garnered by far the most endorsements, including ours. Our endorsement is based not on Carters promises but on his actual performance in office. He and Peterson have very similar legislative voting records, with one notable exception: Carter shows up to cast the tough votes that progressives support, whereas Peterson has missed many of those same votes. That is a crucial difference. Heres another: Carter has proved his ability to get things done by building coalitions to pass legislation affecting our region and its people. He has been on the forefront of advocating for criminal justice reform, a higher minimum wage, equal pay for women, LGBTQ rights, abortion rights, better health care for all (including mandatory insurance coverage for women recovering from breast cancer), expanded voting rights, affordable housing, and more. In Congress, he will work to pass President Bidens agenda for securing voting rights, addressing climate change, expanding public health care, raising the minimum wage, and reforming the nations tax code. Carter is endorsed by the Alliance for Good Government, New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, New Orleans Councilmember Helena Moreno, every one of his and Petersons Black colleagues in the Senate, and more than 100 others including Richmond. We add our name to that impressive list and urge our readers to elect Troy Carter as Louisianas next congressman. Clancy DuBos: Big names, tall tales come out in congressional race The stage is set for a showdown in the Second Congressional District special election. As the clock ticks down to the start of early voting on House District 82: Eddie Connick Voters in Old Jefferson and other parts of Metairie will choose a new state representative in House District 82. We recommend former medical and health services executive Eddie Connick. Connick brings a strong business and medical background to the job. He spent more than two decades working for a leading medical technology firm, where he gained valuable insight into the challenges facing public health care. He supports tightening audit procedures to free up money for expanded care. He also will push for a top-to-bottom revision of Louisianas arcane tax code and for greater funding for early childhood education. We recommend Eddie Connick for state representative in House District 82. French Quarter Sales Tax: YES In December, voters in the French Quarter rejected the proposed renewal of a quarter-penny sales tax that had been on the books since 2015. Another, slightly different renewal of that five-year tax appears on Saturdays ballot. If renewed, the tax will be levied only in the Quarter. We withdrew our initial support of the proposed renewal in December after Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration balked at spending most of the proceeds on police protection. That decision caused Quarter voters to reject the renewal, and we agreed with their decision. The proposed renewal on Saturdays ballot is for the same level of taxation, for the same five-year time period, and covers the same geographic area as the December proposition. There are two critical differences this time, however. First, the latest proposal comes not from the mayor but from Quarter residents and businesses via Councilmember Kristin Palmer, who represents the Quarter. Second, this proposition expressly dedicates the first $2 million in revenue to POST-certified police officers (read: NOPD officers, not rent-a-cops or quality of life responders), with all funds in excess of that amount split 50/50 between POST-certified cops and homeless programs. The tax generates about $2.5 million a year in normal times. Voters and businesses in the Quarter have made it clear that they want a renewed tax for public safety. They deserve that, as do all who visit the Quarter. In addition to passing the renewed tax, Quarter residents and businesses will have to keep the pressure on the Cantrell Administration to make sure the tax proceeds which will be collected by the city dont get held up in City Halls bureaucracy. The safety and resiliency of the Quarter is too important for that to happen. For now, first things first: We urge our readers in the Quarter to say YES to the renewed quarter-penny sales tax for public safety. Different processes in PSIBs with a Nafion and CRIS membrane. Credit: Nature Energy (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00804-x Two researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a new membrane design that prevents crossover in polysulfide redox flow batteries. In their paper published in the journal Nature Energy, Zhejun Li and Yi-Chun Lu describe their work with the new membrane design. Wei Wang with Northwest National Laboratory has published a News & Views piece in the same journal issue describing problems with polysulfide redox flow batteries and the work by Li and Lu to overcome them. Back in the mid-1970s, NASA engineer Lawrence Thaller invented the idea of a redox flow battery. Since that time, such batteries have been widely used in large-scale applications such as backing up power grids. This is because they are easy to scale up to huge levelsthe concept involves storing electrolytes in decentralized external tanks. In more recent times, scientists have wanted to build polysulfide redox flow batteries because they would be cheaper to build and maintain. A plant was built to test the idea, but unfortunately, doing so revealed a glaring weakness of the materialcrossover of polysulfide species, which led to a very short life cycle. In this new effort, the researchers have overcome the problem of crossover with the development of a new membrane design. The design involves using a layer of Ketjen black carbon affixed to the surface of a Nafion membrane using polyvinylidene fluoride. The researchers note this was done by drop casting the carbon slurries onto both sides of the membrane. They also note that because the membrane was so large, the surface area across it was able to serve as a trap for polyiodide and polysulfide ions. When saturation occurred, they pointed out, the anions were blocked, keeping them from moving onto the membrane, and thus no crossover could occur. The researchers note that the high conductivity of the carbon on the membrane overcomes the low conductivity of the underlying membrane; thus, it is not detrimental to the function of the membrane as would be the case in membranes where trapping typically occurs. The researchers tested the design in both flow and static polysulfideiodide cells and found that crossover did not occur, which meant improved life cycle numbersproving the design feasible. Explore further A glowing new prospect for self-reporting batteries More information: Zhejun Li et al. Polysulfide-based redox flow batteries with long life and low levelized cost enabled by charge-reinforced ion-selective membranes, Nature Energy (2021). Zhejun Li et al. Polysulfide-based redox flow batteries with long life and low levelized cost enabled by charge-reinforced ion-selective membranes,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00804-x Wei Wang. A membrane with repelling power, Nature Energy (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00811-y Journal information: Nature Energy 2021 Science X Network Image: Shutterstock There is always an insatiable urge and yearning for extraordinary experiences that throw one out of the comfort zone. Now, more than ever there is a high demand for travel as there is an incessant need to unwind and break away. But why travel abroad? Isnt it time you dive into the rich culture, heritage diversity and vastness that our country beholds? Its time to set hunt and explore India. So large a country, such expanse of land, unexplored and unheard locales with delectable cuisines that each state offers is remarkable in itself. Reshma Mehta, co-founder at Triya Zikhara enlists a few unexplored places you can travel to when restrictions are lifted: Presenting a few hidden gems: Image: Times of India Fret no more if you have postponed your travel plans to the US and the Grand Canyon as in our very own country lies its counterpart in Gandikota; so step up and head to this breathtaking gorge. Many kings ruled from this prestigious seat ever since its discovery in 1123. The bright orange boulders and the sparkling white water below gives you a sense of calmness topped with unbeatable sunset views. Highly recommended for history buffs and adventure lovers. Image: Travel.Earth Right out of a fairytale, a call to offbeat travelers to set foot in this enchanted land, Araku Valley, which is a little away from Vizag is blessed with dazzling waterfalls, coffee plantations, velvety lawns away from the hustle bustle of the metro. This valley boasts of its first sustainable coffee brand developed by Indian tribal farmers that brew hot aromatic rich coffee which travels all the way to Paris. It is a pleasure to watch the colorful local Dhimsa dance. Araku lures you to its charm leaving you craving for more. Bamboo Chicken, a famous local delicacy is a must try. Image: North Bengal Tourism Magical winters have always been a must do in Europe. But now, the same can be experienced in a charming town, Lava. A quaint little town tucked away in the eastern Himalayas. The highlight is the unparalleled view of Kanchenjunga and Mt. Everest at this time. Home to the Neora valley National Park which is abundant in various flora and fauna, and the Changey waterfall which is mesmerizing. The lush forests are a popular spot for picnicking, trekking, bird-watching. Chhurpi cheesewith significant colour and strong taste is a must try with herbs, salad or on toast. An unforgettable savoury. Image: Times of India Photography buffs, get your camera rolling cause this is your paradise, Kinnaur, once a forbidden land, now a treasures trove of apples and apricots orchards, Juniper and Rhododendrons, Himalayan black bear, yaks, dzos and ponies to name a few. When in Kinnaur, a visit to Chitkul the last village in India is definitely recommended and easily accessible. Thupa, a popular dish, consists of vegetables, meat and noodles dipped in spicy curry is delicious. Devikulam, Kerala Image: Kerala Tourism Welcome to the sacred and spiritual land of Devikulam, what makes this land so special? Lakes! The Sita Devi Lake as it is known now has essential minerals that have therapeutic and curative powers that aids in healing the body of certain illnesses. Also, legend has it that Sita has said to have bathed in this lake making it a sacred site for Hindus. This beauty is tucked away not far from Munnar in Kerala. Devikulam boasts of undulating hills, lush green meadows, gushing waterfalls that make a jaw dropping sight. You could definitely try your hand at angling, trout fishing and hard core mountaineering. This is completely meant for those who seek mental and physical rejuvenation and adventure. Devikulam is a place where one can relish the local Malayalee cuisine. Image: Wikipedia Verkala beckons you to a laid back summer holiday. This lovely destination is surrounded by palm covered red laterite cliffs. The beach is famous for its natural spring and adding value are its many ayurvedic centers. A surfers paradise and a home to yoga is where you should head if you want to escape the mundane. The above are just a gist of what India has in store for you. So lets make 2021 all about exploring your homeland! Also Read: #TravelNow: Spice Up Your Next Vacation With A Unique Stay [April 14, 2021] Dialpad Announces CTO and COO Appointments to Drive Growth Through Innovation Dialpad Inc., the industry leader in AI-powered communication and collaboration, today announced two additions to its executive team. Brian Peterson, co-founder of Dialpad and Senior Vice President of Engineering has been promoted, becoming Dialpad's first Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Jason Yang, Dialpad's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Operations, is also stepping into a brand-new role for Dialpad as Chief Operating Officer (COO). With both additions, and other recent high-profile executive moves, Dialpad is preparing for another year of fast-paced growth by expanding its bench of senior strategists to further establish Dialpad as a pioneer enabling the future of work. During the past decade at Dialpad, Brian Peterson has overseen the development of the company's award-winning unified communications and contact center technology. Now, as CTO, Peterson will evolve Dialpad's unified communication offerings by driving the development of calling, voice and text solutions that are truly integrated, future-ready and prepared to meet the growing demand of a distributed global workforce. Under Peterson's leadership, Dialpad will expand its engineering team by almost 50% over the next twelve months while merging its entire engineering workforce under one organization to create a more unified culture and inspire frictionless innovation. "As a fellow co-founder, Brian has my complete trust and I am grateful to have him by my side, especially as Dialpad goes through this period of hypergrowth," said Craig Walker (News - Alert) , Chief Executive Officer, Dialpad. "During the past decade, Brian has taken a relatively small team and built a unique and innovative solution for the UCaaS and CCaaS markets. I am excited to have him take on this role where he'll play an integral part in bringing together our various engineering teams. With Brian's vision, deep product expertise and leadership experience, I'm confident Dialpad is the only company able to provide customers with seamless, intuitive - and truly unified - communications platform." Jason Yang brings more than two decades of experience with high-growth global companies, including in the telecommunications space, to the COO role. Prior to joining Dialpad, Yang led demand generation at Five9 (News - Alert) where he helped drive the company's valuation from $300M to $2B during a three-year period of rapid, sustained growth. As a global operations and transformation leader, Yang offers a broad perspective that will help Dialpad combine strategy, technology and people to maximize value. He plans to build Dialpad into the most innovative player in the UCaaS and CCaaS markets with predictable, sustainable, and rapid growth over the next year. "As the company's first COO, Jason brings a wealth of experience across many business areas including marketing, B2B sales, revenue operations, data analytics and customer success," continued Walker. "His business acumen and industry experience, combined with the strong relationships he's built at Dialpad over the past three years, gives me every confidence in his ability to both scale and build sustainable, rapid growth." The new additions to the C-suite follow the announcements of Tasha Liniger and Morgan Norman as Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, respectively. With these additions to its executive bench, Dialpad is prepared for another year of fast-paced growth as businesses continue to seek cloud-based calling, conferencing and contact center solutions that empower users to "work-from-anywhere." Resources Check out this round-up of Dialpad's highlights over the past year Learn why Dialpad is a Major Player in the IDC (News - Alert) MarketScape: Worldwide UCaaS Service Providers for SMB and Enterprise 2021 Vendor Assessments About Dialpad Dialpad is the leading cloud communications platform for AI-powered calling, conferencing and contact centers. Dialpad's proprietary, real-time Artificial Intelligence engine, Voice Intelligence (Vi), helps businesses make smarter decisions by giving real-time insights on every call. Built on the Google (News - Alert) Cloud Platform for unmatched security and reliability, Dialpad is easy to deploy, integrate and scale. Today, more than 70,000 of the world's most innovative businesses use Dialpad and its seamless integrations with Google Workspace, Hubspot, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, Zendesk and others to allow every user to be more productive. Customers include T-Mobile (News - Alert) , Twitter, WeWork, Uber, Stripe, Netflix, Motorola Solutions, Splunk and Domo. Dialpad is backed by the world's leading investors including Amasia, Andreessen Horowitz, Felicis Ventures, GV, ICONIQ Capital, OMERS Growth Equity, Salesforce Ventures, Scale Ventures, Section 32, SoftBank Corp., T-Mobile Ventures and Work-Bench. Headquartered in the United States, Dialpad has offices in Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan and the UK. Visit www.dialpad.com for more information and to request a demo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005163/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An ex-convict, identified only as Isaac and his friend, Yussif Mumuni have been sentenced, to a total of 34 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Circuit Court in Cape Coast. They are respectively to serve 24 and 10 years each on that score. They pleaded not guilty to the charges of robbery but were both found guilty and convicted by the court, presided over by Mrs Abena Buansi Amponsah after trial. Accounting for the difference in a jail term, Mrs Amponsah said Mumuni was a first time offender. Sergeant Yakubu Iddrisu said the complainant in the case, Mr Afortey Odai is a driver and a resident of Teshie, a suburb of Accra, while Isaac and Mumuni are both unemployed and residents of Adisadel in Cape Coast. He said two other accused persons were at large. He told the court that sometime in February 2020, at around 2230 hours, Mr Odai disembarked some passengers in Cape Coast and parked his vehicle around London Bridge, a suburb of Cape Coast, to discuss some issues with a friend named Mr Enoch Boadu. The prosecution said minutes later, one of the accused unexpectedly rushed unto the complainant and his friend, attacked them with a knife and took away an infinix phone and an amount of GH630.00. According to Sergeant Iddrisu, the complainant's plea for help attracted a witness who intervened by calling the Police. He said when a Police Patrol team arrived at the scene all the attackers bolted, however, Isaac and Mumuni were found and arrested. Join Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham faced political turbulence Tuesday after a report filed with New Mexicos top elections officer showed the governors campaign paid at least $62,500 as part of a settlement agreement with a former staffer who had accused her of sexual mistreatment. The Republican Governors Association, among other groups, seized on the payments and said they indicated at least some truth to the allegations made by James Hallinan, a spokesman for Lujan Grisham during her 2018 general election campaign. However, the governors campaign continued to deny Hallinans allegations, describing them Tuesday as baseless and false and saying the settlement agreement was reached to avoid the distraction and cost of litigation during the COVID-19 pandemic. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ And a spokesman for Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Olivers office said Tuesday that the five payments of $12,500 were an allowable expenditure under the states campaign finance laws. Since this was an employment dispute with a campaign staffer, and the dispute was related to his time with the campaign, its acceptable to use campaign funds for those expenses, Secretary of States office spokesman Alex Curtas said. The five monthly payments of $12,500 were outlined in a campaign finance report filed late Monday by the first-term Democratic governors campaign. They were listed as legal expenses and were made to an Atlanta law firm that represents Hallinan. Although a civil lawsuit was never technically filed, a Lujan Grisham campaign spokesman said Monday that the payments were part of a settlement resolving numerous dubious and disputed potential claims made by Hallinan, including issues regarding his search for employment after the 2018 gubernatorial campaign. The settlement agreement was entered by Lujan Grisham, Hallinan, the governors campaign organization and Dominic Gabello, Lujan Grishams former campaign manager who now works as a senior adviser in the Governors Office, according to the campaign. Hallinan, who now runs his own communications company, accused Lujan Grisham in late 2019 about a year after he left the campaign of pouring a bottle of water on his crotch and then grabbing his crotch through his clothes as she laughed, an incident he said took place in front of other campaign staffers. In response, a Lujan Grisham spokeswoman described the allegations as bizarre, slanderous and false, adding that the other staffers present during the campaign meeting referenced by Hallinan all maintained the alleged wrongdoing didnt occur. But the resurfacing of the allegations via the payments, which were first reported by the Journal, could give ammunition to Lujan Grishams potential GOP rivals with her 2022 reelection campaign on the horizon. $62,500 is a lot of money for a sexual harassment scandal that Lujan Grisham originally called bizarre, slanderous and categorically false, RGA spokesman Will Reinert said in a Tuesday statement. The payments certainly suggest that there must be some truth to the story, and Governor Lujan Grisham should publicly apologize to her victim for her behavior. Lujan Grisham, a former congresswoman who is the chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association, was considered for a Cabinet position in President Joe Bidens administration. She recently called sexual harassment allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo troubling but stopped short of calling on him to resign. A spokesman for her campaign on Tuesday described the Republican criticism as being inaccurate and lacking credibility. We reached a settlement to avoid the distraction and legal expense of an ongoing dispute during COVID, said Lujan Grisham campaign spokesman Jared Leopold. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Cypherpunk Holdings Inc. (CSE: HODL) ("Cypherpunk" or the "Company"), a sector leader for privacy-technology investments, is pleased to announce that Douglas Harris has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, replacing Dennis Gibson in this role, effective immediately. Douglas Harris is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator with over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, including accounting, corporate finance, private equity and mergers and acquisitions, participating in over $2 billion of transactions. Mr. Harris holds an MBA (Accg) from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a BSc. from the University of Guelph. In addition to serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Mr. Harris, also serves as the Chief Financial Officer of several public and private companies operating in the technology and natural resources sectors. Tony Guoga, the Company's Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are very pleased to welcome Doug Harris to the Cypherpunk team. Also, we thank Dennis Gibson for his service to the Company and we wish him all the best going forward." About Cypherpunk Holdings Inc. Cypherpunk is a company set-up to invest in companies, technologies and protocols, which enhance or protect privacy. Its strategy is to make targeted investments in businesses and assets with strong privacy, often within the blockchain ecosystem, including select cryptocurrencies. Current equity investments include Samourai Wallet, Wasabi Wallet, Chia, NGRAVE, and Hydro 66. Investor Relations Contacts: Veronika Oswald Cypherpunk Holdings Inc., veronika@cypherpunkholdings.com Office: 416.599.8547 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80413 LAS VEGAS, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters have reached an agreement in principle for 415 mechanics and related classifications at Allegiant Air. After the agreement in principle is finalized between the union and the company, it will go to a ratification vote by the members that is expected to occur by the end of July 2021. "We're happy that we have been able to come to an agreement that is amenable to all parties involved," said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. "It wasn't always easy to negotiate a contract in the middle of a pandemic, but those involved on both sides of the table worked hard to make it happen and that hard work paid off." The Teamsters, who already represent pilots and dispatchers at the company, were certified as the group's exclusive representative on March 7, 2018. The process of negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement for the workers began in January 2019. Negotiations were temporarily suspended early in 2020 due to the pandemic but were resumed after a brief hiatus. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Related Links www.teamster.org AUCKLAND, New Zealand and SYDNEY, Australia -- April 14, 2021- - Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET) announced that it has been selected to deploy a new networking environment for the University of Waikato (UoW) at their Hamilton and Tauranga campuses. The network will comprise the Universitys complete network infrastructure for their datacentre, campus and wireless environments, supporting over 12,000 students and 1,600 staff. The University of Waikato was founded in 1964 and is one of New Zealands top five universities. With its main campus in Hamilton, and a second campus at Tauranga, UoW offers qualifications in a wide range of subjects across 12 schools and faculties. In 1989 (with a little help from NASA) University of Waikato connected New Zealand to the Internet before going on to become the first University in New Zealand to have cyber-graduates, offering teaching degrees online. Network high performance, ease of use and automation were critical decision criteria for the University in the selection of Arista Networks. Aristas Extensible Operating System (EOSTM) and CloudVision, a network-wide workload orchestration and workflow automation system, will provide management to automate all networks tasks across all wired and wireless infrastructure. The Universitys network is comprised of Arista 7050X Series purpose built data centre switches, Arista 720X Series Cognitive Campus POE Leaf Switches and Arista C230 Wifi 6 Access Points. BEarena, one of New Zealands leading IT enterprise and cloud-focused channel partners, will also provide additional design, implementation and deployment services for the network over the next several quarters as the deployment is completed. We are very pleased to be working with Arista as we deploy the Universitys next-generation network environment, said Eion Hall, Chief Information Officer, University of Waikato. As one of New Zealands premier centres of higher education, it is critical that we are providing our students and educators with a world-class information technology environment to accomplish our mission of delivering the best possible learning enjoinment for New Zealands next generation of leaders. Garry Turner, Arista Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand said, University of Waikato is at the forefront of what is possible in the design and roll-out of their new network environment in an educational setting leveraging the best of Aristas high performance, and ease of management to support thousands of students and educators. As the pioneers of the internet in New Zealand, we are very proud of our role in helping the University of Waikato lead in the next generation of high-performance networking in the country. About Arista Networks Arista Networks is an industry leader in cognitive cloud networking solutions for large data centre and campus environments. Aristas award-winning platforms deliver availability, agility, automation analytics, and security through CloudVision and Arista EOS, an advanced network operating system. For more information, visit www.arista.com. ARISTA, CloudVision, CloudEOS and MSS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Arista Networks, Inc. in jurisdictions around the world. Other company names or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Additional information and resources can be found at www.arista.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including rapid technological and market change, customer requirements and industry standards, as well as other risks stated in our filings with the SEC available on Arista's website at www.arista.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Arista disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Chief executive Nic Budden says the strong trading momentum is expected to continue through the second quarter. Group Plc ( ) told investors it started 2021 well with strong revenue growth seen in the first quarter. The London focussed property agent reported a 24% rise in revenue to 28.5mln for the three months ended March 31 as volumes overcame under pressure rent prices in the capital. The sales side of the business saw a 60% increase amidst accelerated volume growth as lockdown restrictions were eased over the period. Mortgage broking revenue gained 20% to 2.3mln. The company noted the benefits of the recent acquisition of Douglas & Gordon, which contributed around 1mln of revenue and its investment in next generation property website Boomin. "I am delighted with the start we have made to the year, which is the best first quarter's trading in some time, said Nic Budden, chief executive. The acquisition of Douglas & Gordon, the largest acquisition in our history, represents an acceleration of the group's strategy and is a business with significant potential. Our recent investment in Boomin demonstrates our commitment to remain at the forefront of technology. As we look forward, the strong trading momentum is expected to continue through the second quarter and together with tight cost control gives us confidence that operating profit for the first half will be significantly higher than last year." In early deals in London, Foxton shares gained 1.6% to trade at 68.08p. The former Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Duante Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, according to the New York Times. The charges against Kimberly A. Potter, a white woman, come a day after she and the police chief both resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department after days of protests in the small city outside of Minneapolis. Potter, a 26-year veteran, had been on administrative leave following Sundays shooting, which happened as the Minneapolis area was already focused on the trial of four police officers in the death of George Floyd. Potter was training other officers when they pulled Wrights car over on Sunday afternoon for an expired registration on his car and something hanging from his rearview mirror. Body camera footage released after the shooting shows three officers around a stopped car. One officer attempted to handcuff Wright, while a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. A struggle ensued and Potter shot Wright. Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiners office. Gannon said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser. She can be heard on her body camera video shouting Taser! Taser! After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car sped away, and the officer is heard saying, Holy (expletive)! I shot him. The letter of resignation for Potter included one paragraph. I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately, Potter wrote. The Associated Press contributed to this report. LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE IS JUNE 9, 2021 NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Champignon Brands Inc. (OTC: SHRMF) between March 27, 2020 and February 17, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). All investors who purchased shares of Champignon Brands Inc. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com. If you have incurred losses in your investment in Champignon Brands Inc., you may, no later than June 9, 2021, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in the shares of Champignon Brands Inc. CLICK HERE TO JOIN CASE According to the filed complaint, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: Champignon had undisclosed material weaknesses and insufficient financial controls; Champignon's previously issued financial statements were false and unreliable; Champignon's earlier reported financial statements would need to be restated; Champignon's acquisitions involved an undisclosed related party; as a result of the foregoing and subsequent reporting delays and issues, the British Columbia Securities Commission would suspend Champignon's from trading; and as a result, defendants' statements about Champignon's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation. Story continues If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com, or visit our website. Contact: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP Kevin Cooper, Esq. Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis Email: gstone@whafh.com, kcooper@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774 This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. While five 'marriages' remain intact as of last night's episode, just three Married At First Sight couples were still together by the time of the reunion dinner party. And now Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal the loved-up contestants who made it all the way to the end of the experiment. Photos taken during filming at The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney on February 10 show which couples arrived together - and who tellingly arrived separately. Married At First Sight SPOILER ALERT: Daily Mail Australia's exclusive photos reveal the three couples still together at the reunion. Pictured: Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven The reunion dinner party, which will air on Wednesday night, saw all of the show's participants - regardless of their relationship status - return for one last hurrah. Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson were spotted arriving at the soiree together, proving they're very much still an item. Melissa looked in good spirits as she exited the vehicle with her husband by her side. The workplace trainer, 32, stunned in an orange dress which featured black printed brushstrokes all over. Going strong! Bryce and Melissa, both 32, were spotted arriving at the soiree together, proving they're very much still an item Stylish: Workplace trainer Melissa stunned in an orange dress which featured black printed brushstrokes all over She was glammed up for the special occasion, wearing her long blonde tresses in mermaid waves. Melissa completed her look with black square heels. Meanwhile, Bryce cut a dapper figure in a green shirt, which he teamed with black jeans and brown boots. Perfect match! Patrick Dwyer and Belinda Vickers appeared thoroughly loved-up as they arrived for the reunion - and even wore matching floral outfits Look at you! Door-to-door saleswoman Belinda, 29, showed off her newfound confidence in a crop top and flared pants, and added height by wearing platform heels Patrick Dwyer and Belinda Vickers appeared thoroughly loved-up as they arrived for the reunion - and even wore matching floral outfits. Door-to-door saleswoman Belinda, 29, showed off her newfound confidence in a crop top and flared pants, and added height by wearing platform heels. Patrick rivalled his bride's wild fashion sense by rocking a shirt with a similarly loud print, which he paired with black jeans and boots. Cute! Patrick rivalled his bride's wild fashion sense by rocking a shirt with a similarly loud print, which he paired with black jeans and boots Popular: The quirky couple have been scandal-free fan favourites so far this season Beck Zemek put on an eye-popping display as she showed off her ample assets in a red gown with a very plunging neckline. Her dress featured a perilously high thigh split, showing off her perfectly trim pins. Despite committing to 'husband' Jake Edwards during Tuesday night's episode, the Perth-based sales manager, 27, arrived at the dinner party solo. Stunning: Beck Zemek put on an eye-popping display as she showed off her ample assets in a red gown with a very plunging neckline Glamazon: Her dress featured a perilously high thigh split, showing off her perfectly trim pins No hubby, no problem! Despite committing to 'husband' Jake Edwards during Tuesday night's episode, the Perth-based sales manager, 27, arrived at the dinner party solo Meanwhile, Jake was seen making a quick entrance to the dinner party on his own. The former Carlton player, 32, opted for a smart-casual look with a black button-up shirt and white pants. The charity CEO completed his outfit with Nike sneakers and a wristwatch. Riding solo: Jake was seen making a quick entrance to the dinner party on his own Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight looked stronger than ever as they arrived hand in hand for the dinner party. Occupational therapist Kerry, 30, stunned in a black and silver sequinned mini-dress. She completed her ensemble with oversized silver earrings, and styled her brunette tresses in a high ponytail. Lovebirds: Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight looked stronger than ever as they arrived hand in hand for the dinner party Glitzy: Occupational therapist Kerry, 30, stunned in a black and silver sequinned mini-dress Oo-er missus! At one stage, Johnny put on a tactile display with his bride by placing his hand on her derriere as they made their way into the venue At one stage, Johnny put on a tactile display with his bride by placing his hand on her derriere as they made their way into the venue. The musical theatre star, 30, was dressed to impress in a white shirt, matching pants and a black blazer. He completed his look with leather sneakers that featured white soles. Pretty in pink: Despite throwing her vows into the air and deciding to commit to her 'husband' Jason Engler, Alana Lister was seen arriving at the dinner party solo Despite throwing her vows into the air and deciding to commit to her 'husband' Jason Engler, Alana Lister was seen arriving at the dinner party solo. The 30-year-old teacher certainly turned heads in a strapless lace pink dress, which she teamed with height-boosting platform heels. Jason, 35, showed up later in a light blue shirt and navy pants. Striking: The 30-year-old teacher certainly turned heads in a strapless lace pink dress, which she teamed with height-boosting platform heels Glum? Jason, 35, showed up later in a light blue shirt and navy pants He completed his outfit with brown loafers and decided not to wear any socks. Also arriving solo were brides Jaimie Gardner, Coco Stedman, Samantha Harvey, Beth Moore and Booka Nile. Jaimie, 30, was pictured slamming the door of her car as she made a dramatic entrance to the dinner party. She's back! Jaimie Gardner was pictured slamming the door of her car as she made a dramatic entrance to the dinner party She opted for a one-shoulder emerald dress, which she paired with cream boots. The sighting comes after her 'husband' Chris Jensen sensationally quit the show in protest against her aggressive attitude towards him. Chris is understood to have 'politely declined' the invitation to return. Quit: The sighting comes after her 'husband' Chris Jensen sensationally quit the show in protest against her aggressive attitude towards him Fashion: Jaimie opted for a one-shoulder emerald dress, which she paired with cream boots Single: Also arriving solo were brides Booka Nile (left), Beth Moore (right) The father of two 'didn't want to put himself in a position' where he would have to be involved in a confrontation with Jaimie again, a source said. '[Chris] doesn't want to see her again,' the insider added. 'He's not the sort of person that likes to purposely walk into confrontation. It's the complete opposite of what he stands for.' Sighting: After brutally rejecting his partner Georgia Fairweather during Tuesday's final vows, Liam Cooper rocked up to the reunion on his own After brutally rejecting his partner Georgia Fairweather during Tuesday's final vows, Liam Cooper rocked up to the reunion on his own. He wore a light grey blazer, black jeans and brown loafers. The 30-year-old made a quick entrance, no doubt ready to confront his 'wife' and co-stars after footage leaked of them trash-talking him behind his back. Revenge? The 30-year-old made a quick entrance, no doubt ready to confront his 'wife' and co-stars after footage leaked of them trash-talking him behind his back Singles club: Luxury car dealer James Susler (left) and fashion designer Sam Carraro (right) were also pictured arriving solo Stressed? Meanwhile, Brett Helling was seen picking a plant upon his arrival For the past seven seasons, Married At First Sight has filmed its dinner parties and reunion episodes at a warehouse in Sydney's Lilyfield. But things will look very different this year, after Endemol Shine had to find another location to film the reunion with the same look and feel after a rival TV production company booked out the Lilyfield space. They eventually settled on The Grounds of Alexandria, an upmarket restaurant. 'The reunion episode was supposed to be filmed in mid-January but it just kept getting pushed back. There was no way they could afford to keep it locked in,' a source said. The warehouse is owned by Legs on the Wall, a group which specialises in physical theatre and owns several large spaces on the industrial estate. Shake up! Endemol Shine had to find another location to film the reunion with the same look and feel after a rival TV production company booked out the Lilyfield space (pictured) Lanesborough Select Board Chairman John Goerlach and Town Manager Kelli Robbins host a Zoom board meeting April 12, during which the three-member panel unanimously adopted a citizen complaint policy. The formal process allows anyone with a grievance about a town employee, Lanesborough elected official, another resident or a decision made at the town government level to file a written complaint that the town manager will act on within 30 days. Complaints involving the town manager will be forwarded to the Select Board chairperson for possible action by the full board. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Enerkon Solar International (OTC Pink: ENKS) announces today the appointment of famous political strategist and consultant Mr. Agustin (Gus) Garcia as VP for Governmental Relations. Mr. Agustin (Gus) Garcia To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7322/80397_agustingarcia.jpg Enerkon Solar International Inc. (ENKS) Chairman Mr. Benjamin Ballout stated: "The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of famous political strategist and consultant Mr. Agustin (Gus) Garcia as VP for Governmental Relations and special advising member of the Board of Directors, with the primary directive of supporting the Company's commercial aspirations as to the commercialization of patents, trademarks and products owned by or acting as co-sales agents for, such biomedical, pharmaceutical, new and disruptive technologies in the field of Fuel Cell Technologies and other intellectual property of the Company and/or its subsidiaries, co-sales agents or partners." Garcorp International is the consulting company of Mr. Garcia To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7322/80397_garcorp.jpg Mr. Ballout continued: "Enerkon looks forward to great success with regulatory agencies - including the FDA and others in the United States government as well as with other countries in the region. "Mr. Garcia will also support the Company in their efforts to recommend fast track emergency use approval by the FDA for the SARS2 COVID Inst-Test owned by Graphene Leaders and distributed by KrowdX (Canada) and Enerkon wholly-owned subsidiary and co sales agent with KrowdX, Coviklear Holdings International Ltd. (UK). Being in cooperation with the Company's compliance experts, this effort is a team effort." Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFHdFsoNzXw In other news, Mr. Ballout stated that he is pleased with his visit to Washington DC and will meet with many interlocutors, related to the various business of the Company this week. The foregoing statements are forward-looking statements, and as such, they may or may not reflect the results which could transpire in the future which should be negative or not transpire at all due to circumstances or other reasons and investors, shareholders, or others should not rely on these forward-looking statements to ascertain any value if any of ENKS or to make any investment decisions and to take note that this is not an offer to buy or sell securities or an endorsement of ENKS for investment purposes as all investment carry a risk of loss sometimes a total loss of your investment in Micro cap shares markets or any market and therefore such statements or plans should not be relied upon for any business decisions of any kind - Approval and permissions required by federal regulations may or may not be approved and if not approved may result in the loss of all value and all investments in products requiring such regulatory permissions to market and sell. These statements are made as forward-looking statements for educational purposes only in accordance with the rules and regulations which pertain to the same. Enerkon Solar International Inc. www.enerkoninternational.com info@enerkoninternational.com New HQ Address in New York at: Enerkon Solar International Inc 477 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 USA Tel. +1 (877) 573-7797 Tel. +1 (718) 709-7889 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80397 Azerbaijan is doing everything to torpedo the process of opening communications, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting of the National Assembly. I want to state that we will consistently move towards the implementation of the statement signed on January 11 in Moscow, because the establishment of rail links with Russia and Iran the day before is a strategic task for us. This will mean that we can become a transport transit route from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean. In all likelihood, Azerbaijan will do everything possible to prevent the opening of communications, Pashinyan said. He also noted that oil and gas played an important role in the economic strengthening of Azerbaijan. But Armenia has a huge potential for oil in the 21st century - copper and water. Armenia should be able to do so as to export not ore, but finished products. And this is directly related to the opening of communications, since the availability of a railway connection is important for investment. Yes, we have huge resources of copper and water, the Prime Minister noted. The number of fully in-person districts continues to climb as schools return following coronavirus closures, but it remains unclear how many students are voluntarily choosing to learn virtually. As of April 12, 496 districts were hybrid, 118 remote, and 161 were fully in-person, the third week in a row the number of in-person districts increased. Thirty-two districts have different educational formats for different schools. In-person learning is at a new high again this week, with 20% of schools offering fully in-person education. At the start of the school year only 9.5% of districts were fully open. The number of remote districts fell by 12 this week. Last week, they had increased by 35 as schools said they switched to remote for one or two weeks after spring break in anticipation of out-of-state travel. Forty-one districts made changes to their educational formats this week, including 24 previously remote schools. Gov. Phil Murphy has called for all districts to reopen for either hybrid or in-person learning, announcing in March that some schools could relax social distancing measures. Although 20% of districts are fully in-person, those schools educate just 10.7% of New Jersey students, as almost all of the states largest districts remain remote or hybrid. And the number of students being offered each educational type does not take into account students who are voluntarily learning virtually, an option all schools must provide. In Newark, the states largest school district, just 39% of its 36,460 students have returned to classrooms. The option to learn virtually will be rescinded next year, and reserved only for students and teachers with medical concerns, Murphy said. Some schools have remained entirely remote since last March, while other districts have changed formats as virus conditions have changed. Districts have cited concerns about the viruss spread as the main reason for choosing to remain remote; at least one district has said it intends to stay virtual through the end of the year. There have been 240 outbreaks and 1,070 cases of the coronavirus linked to schools in New Jersey. For cases to qualify as an outbreak, they must be confirmed to have been transmitted in the classroom or during academic activities. All 21 counties have seen an in-school outbreak. Teachers are now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, and some districts have begun partnering with health agencies to distribute vaccines to teachers. At least one district will begin to administer the shot to age-eligible students. No vaccine has been approved for children under 16, although Pfizer has announced their vaccine is highly effective in children aged 12-15. Studies on younger children remain ongoing. The following 24 previously remote districts brought students back into the classroom this week: Oakland Public School District: Remote to Hybrid Woodcliff Lake School District: Remote to Hybrid Newark Public School District: Remote to Hybrid Atlantic Highlands School District: Remote to In-Person Fair Haven School District: Remote to In-Person Freehold Township School District: Remote to In-Person Hazlet Township Public School District: Remote to In-Person Henry Hudson Regional School District: Remote to Hybrid Highlands Borough School District: Remote to In-Person Little Silver Boro School District: Remote to In-Person Millstone Township School District: Remote to In-Person Monmouth County Vocational School District: Remote to Hybrid Oceanport School District: Remote to In-Person Red Bank Charter School: Remote to In-Person Red Bank Regional School District: Remote to In-Person Rumson Borough School District: Remote to In-Person Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School District: Remote to In-Person Shore Regional High School District: Remote to In-Person Upper Freehold Regional School District: Remote to In-Person Wall Township Public School District: Remote to In-Person West Long Branch School District: Remote to In-Person CHILDRENS CENTER OF MONMOUTH CO.: Remote to In-Person Lakehurst School District: Remote to In-Person Pinelands Regional School District: Remote to Hybrid Six previously in-person districts switched to remote this week: Brielle Boro School District College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School Hope Academy Charter School Tinton Falls School District Union Beach Public School District Harbor School Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. California builds data warehouse to better manage homelessness According to the January 2020 point-in-time count of the nations homeless, over one-quarter (28%) of the people experiencing homelessness nationally are in California, while the state represents only 12% of the countrys total population. To get a better handle on managing homelessness, Californias Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) developed the Homeless Data Integration System, a data warehouse that will allow the state to make data-driven policy decisions. Built in partnership with the states 44 Continuums of Care, HDIS gathers and anonymizes homelessness data into a single repository. On a regular schedule, each CoC pulls data from its homeless management information system and sends it to HDIS via a secure file transfer system. The data is cleaned and standardized. To ensure that each client has only one standardized record, HDIS uses master data management, a technique that applies a set of rules that check and validate client files by cross-matching records, flagging errors and combining duplicate entries, according to HDIS website. The cleaned and matched data is then transferred to the statewide data warehouse that analysts, data scientists and policy-makers can query. A data lake at the heart of HDIS enables the development of visualizations, data modeling, statistics and analytics. HDIS helps officials identify patterns of homelessness and create a comprehensive view of the services being delivered and the interventions proving to be most effective. It will also help the state address racial and other inequalities among people experiencing homelessness, HCFC said in its announcement. In November, the state signed a contract with Plante Moran, one of the nations largest accounting, tax and consulting firms, to deliver an end-to-end system. The three-year contract called for standing up the data warehouse, obtaining and de-identifying data from 44 CoCs and creating a secure method to view the data. The company worked with a number of partners, including Informatica, Snowflake, Tableau, Amazon Web Services and the Crisis Response Network, an Arizona nonprofit that works to improve public access to local resources, according to a company announcement issued when the contract was signed. HDIS was developed in just 15 weeks, state officials said. It can eventually be integrated other state-level data to better understand social benefits and services being accessed by people experiencing homelessness, such as CalWORKS or CalFresh. Already, HDIS has given the state insight into several metrics that were previously unavailable, officials said. From 2017 to 2020, for example, the number of people served through homelessness prevention services increased 131.6%. In 2020, 91,626 people exited homelessness and moved into permanent housing. "HDIS provides a foundational piece of the state's data infrastructure, said Joy Bonaguro, the chief data officer for the California Government Operations Agency. Before the HDIS, we had at best an infrequent and piecemeal snapshot of the homeless challenges in California. With the HDIS we will have an ongoing and holistic picture of how we can assess and improve services for those experiencing homelessness." Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, may be at least as effective as a leading antidepressant medication in a therapeutic setting. This is the finding of a study carried out by researchers at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London. In the most rigorous trial to date assessing the therapeutic potential of a 'psychedelic' compound, researchers compared two sessions of psilocybin therapy with a six-week course of a leading antidepressant (a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor called escitalopram) in 59 people with moderate-to-severe depression. The results, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that while depression scores were reduced in both groups, the reductions occurred more quickly in the psilocybin group and were greater in magnitude. However, the researchers caution that the main comparison between psilocybin and the antidepressant was not statistically significant. They add that larger trials with more patients over a longer period are needed to show if psilocybin can perform as well as, or more effectively than an established antidepressant. For the psilocybin dosing sessions, volunteers received an oral dose of the drug in a specialist clinical setting, while they listened to a curated music playlist and were guided through their experiences by a psychological support team, which included registered psychiatrists. All volunteers on the study received the same level of psychological support. People treated with psilocybin - named 'COMP360' by its developers, COMPASS Pathways PLC - showed marked improvements across a range of subjective measures, including in their ability to feel pleasure, and express emotions, greater reductions in anxiety and suicidal ideation, and increased feelings of wellbeing. Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial, who designed and led the study, said: "These results comparing two doses of psilocybin therapy with 43 daily doses of one of the best performing SSRI antidepressants help contextualise psilocybin's promise as a potential mental health treatment. Remission rates were twice as high in the psilocybin group than the escitalopram group. "One of the most important aspects of this work is that people can clearly see the promise of properly delivered psilocybin therapy by viewing it compared with a more familiar, established treatment in the same study. Psilocybin performed very favourably in this head-to-head." GROWING EVIDENCE During the study, 59 volunteers with moderate-to-severe depression received either a high dose of psilocybin and a placebo, or a very low dose of psilocybin and escitalopram. In the psilocybin arm of the trial, 30 people received an initial dose of psilocybin (25mg) at the start of the study, followed by a second dose (25mg) three weeks later. They were given six weeks of daily placebo capsules to take: one per day after the first dosing session, increasing to two per day after the second dosing session. In the escitalopram arm of the study, 29 people received 1mg psilocybin at the dosing sessions - a dose so low as to be classed as a non-active and unlikely to have an effect. They were also given six weeks of daily escitalopram: one 10mg capsule per day after the first dosing session, increasing to two per day after the second dosing session (20mg per day) - the maximum dose for this SSRI. All participants were assessed using standardised scales of depressive symptom severity. The main measure, the QIDS-SR-16, was used to gauge depressive symptoms on a continuous scale ranging from 0-27, where higher scores indicate greater depression. At the start of the trial, the mean score was 14.5 for the psilocybin group. But after six weeks, scores reduced by an average of 8.0 points. Response, defined as a reduction in depression scores from baseline of at least 50%, was seen in 70% of people in the psilocybin group, compared with 48% in the escitalopram group. In addition, remission of symptoms - measured as a score of 0-5 at week six - was seen in 57% of the psilocybin group, compared with just 28% in the escitalopram group. ENCOURAGING FINDINGS The team highlights that while the findings are generally positive, the absence of a straight placebo group and the small number of participants limits conclusions about the effect of either treatment alone. They add that the trial sample was comprised of largely white, majority male, and relatively well-educated individuals, which limits extrapolations to more diverse populations. The psilocybin group reported fewer cases of dry mouth, anxiety, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction than the escitalopram group, and a similar rate of adverse events overall. Headaches experienced one day after dosing sessions were the most common side effect of psilocybin. Dr Rosalind Watts, clinical lead of the trial and formerly based at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, said: "Context is crucial for these studies and all volunteers received therapy during and after their psilocybin sessions. Our team of therapists were on hand to offer full support through sometimes difficult emotional experiences." Professor David Nutt, principal investigator on the study and the Edmond J Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial, said: "These findings provide further support for the growing evidence base that shows that in people with depression, psilocybin offers an alternative treatment to traditional antidepressants. "In our study, psilocybin worked faster than escitalopram and was well tolerated, with a very different adverse effects profile. We look forward to further trials, which if positive should lead to psilocybin becoming a licensed medicine." URGING CAUTION The authors warn that while the initial findings are encouraging, patients with depression should not attempt to self-medicate with psilocybin, as the team provided a special clinical and therapeutic context for the drug experience and a regulated dose formulated in laboratory conditions. They stress that taking magic mushrooms or psilocybin in the absence of these careful safeguards might not have a positive outcome. Dr Carhart-Harris, added: "These latest finding build on our previous research testing psilocybin therapy for treatment resistant depression, and offer the most compelling evidence yet to support efforts towards licensing psilocybin therapy as a regulated mental health intervention. I'm deeply grateful for the philanthropic support that made this trial possible." "I strongly encourage both researchers and the public to delve deeply into our results, including those available as a published appendix to the main report." ### The study was funded by the Alexander Mosley Charitable Trust and the founders of the Centre for Psychedelic Research. Infrastructure support was provided by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre and NIHR Imperial Clinical Research Facility. *The QIDS-SR16 survey is a standardised 16-question survey used to score people on self-reported symptoms of depression. About Imperial College London Imperial College London is one of the world's leading universities. The College's 20,000 students and 8,000 staff are working to solve to the biggest challenges in science, medicine, engineering and business. Imperial is the world's fifth most international university, according to Times Higher Education, with academic ties to more than 150 countries. Reuters named the College as the UK's most innovative university because of its exceptional entrepreneurial culture and ties to industry. 149 museums in Shanghai, with 2.24 million collections By:Liu Xutong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-04-14 17:11 Shanghai'smodern museum system comprisesnational-level andstate-owned museums as the main body, with industry and non-state-owned museums as components, both containing a rich variety oftypes and diverse subjects. As of the end of last year, the city had149 registered museums, with a total of 2.24million pieces/sets, and more than half of them are available online. Redthemedmuseums have developed rapidly, with there being657 revolutionary historical sites in the city, 31 revolutionary museum memorials, and 65 red tourist attractions. As more architecture in the city become readable to citizens, Shanghai is creating a museum group without walls, which are increasingly accessible to people. So far, the total number of historic buildings open to the public has increased from nearly a hundred to 1,037.The total number of museum visits surpassed the city's total permanent population for the first time in the previous year, and museum culture is increasingly integrated into citizens' lives. Speech and Language Therapists Katie and Maria will give a Zoom talk and demonstrate how to use books and reading, to encourage young children to talk and add to the words they already know. Laois Libraries are hosting the event which they say that the event will take place on Wednesday, May 5 at 11 am. Laois Libraries, throughout April, will air a series of Healthy Ireland talks on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Laois Libraries Facebook facebook.com/laoislibraries on dealing with issues such as coping with grief and loss, support for parents/guardians of young children and adolescents and a compassion based approach to emotional over-eating. Visit www.laois.ie/departments/libraries/branch-libraries/portlaoise/portlaoise-library-news-events/ to view our online activities . In 2021, Patently Apple has posted two patent reports covering new developments regarding the possible next-gen Galaxy Z Fold smartphone. The first patent report covered a new display support system that would protect the Z Fold in a fall event. The second patent report, posted last week, supported the ongoing rumors that the next Galaxy Z Fold 3 will support S Pen input. The patent figures illustrated below prove that out. The following day, the U.S. Patent Office published yet another Galaxy Fold patent relating to the use of a new 'Conductive Plate" that is designed to support the display when writing or drawing on it. In patent FIG. 7 below we're able to see the conductive plate placed directly under and in contact with the flexible display for stability while performing other tasks related to reducing heat. What puzzled me about patent FIG. 8A was that the conductive plate was illustrated only under one side of the display. Yet by going back to last week's patent report, all of the S-Pen usage was being done on one side of the display with the other side shown to be supporting a virtual keyboard. So the plate being positioned on that one side of the phone makes sense. On the flipside, Samsung's engineers may have simply focused on illustrating one side of the phone with the conductive plate, when in fact it could be designed for both sides. That's something we'll only know for sure in a future iFixit teardown. In patent FIG. 5 below, Samsung made note of a digitizer being used, which supports the use of an S Pen. Samsung's patent application 20210105894 was published on April 8, 2021, while filed in September 2020. Last week's patent application number was 20210096742. Samsung Rollable Scrollable Phone Form factor Samsung has been a pioneer in the development of the scrollable or rollable smart phone form factor going back at least to 2015. Since that time our other IP site Patently Mobile covered at least six more patents on this form factor over the years (01, 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06). In late November 2020, Chinese smartphone vendor Oppo announced that they would be launching a scrollable/rollable smartphone dubbed OPPO X. You could read our report that offers a video of the phone in action. With Oppo surprising Samsung, you have to wonder how far behind they'll be in delivering their first scrollable/rollable smartphone to market. Just yesterday Samsung was granted a patent 10,977,771 for such a phone with patent FIG. 1 presented below. And, last Thursday, the U.S. Patent Office published patent application 20210103314 titled "Electronic Device of Sliding Type." Instead of the display scrolling out from left to right as presented above, Samsung's latest version of their scrollable/rollable smartphone pulls down in length as presented in the patent figures below. Samsung's aggressive Chinese competitors will be challenging Samsung's innovations in 2021. Oppo, as we pointed out earlier, will be releasing their first scrollable smartphone called Oppo X this fall and Xiaomi just launched their first foldable smartphone called the Mi Mix Fold earlier this month during a special event. The new phone is presented below. You could also take a look at the new device here. At the beginning of the pandemic, businesses across Athens shut their doors as people sheltered in place, and some of them decided to close indoor spaces indefinitely. Authorities are searching for the people responsible for tossing eggs at a Rutgers University fraternity house during a Holocaust remembrance event in New Brunswick last week. The vandals showed up at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house on Sicard Street during the annual 24-hour reading of the names of Holocaust victims on April 7 and 8, the university said. Rutgers chancellor Chris Molly condemned the incident in a statement. I am deeply dismayed by this act of ignorance and the hurt that it has caused members of our Jewish community, Molloy wrote. All members of our campus community deserve to learn and work in an environment in which they feel fully safe, valued and respected, free from anti-Semitism, and all other forms of hate and discrimination. Alpha Epsilon Pi couldnt immediately be reached. The fraternity house is behind the Rutgers Student Center and is just steps from the College Avenue Campus. Rutgers is committed to creating a campus environment in which all people are treated with respect, a Rutgers spokesman said in a statement. (Rutgers University Police Department) is aware of this incident and is investigating. Patrols have been increased in the area. The Rutgers spokesman declined to answer questions about the incident, adding that the university doesnt comment on ongoing investigations. Rutgers student newspaper, The Daily Targum, was the first to report on the Alpha Epsilon Pi vandalism. In February, several virtual Rutgers University Black History Month programs were attacked by Zoom bombings in which intruders hijacked the event with racist, threatening messages and images. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Alex Salmond has again declined to point the finger at Russia for the Salisbury novichok poisonings. The former SNP leader last week failed to condemn Vladimir Putin for the 2018 attack which left one woman dead and four others seriously exposed to the nerve agent, including former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Mr Salmond, who is leading his new Alba Party in next month's Holyrood elections, was asked on LBC radio whether he believed the Kremlin directed the assassination attempt but refused to be drawn. 'What I'm happily prepared to say is I do not believe that two people associated with the GRU were in Salisbury because they wanted to pay a visit to Salisbury Cathedral,' the 66-year-old said. 'I didn't think that was a particularly convincing story.' Alex Salmond, leader of the new Alba Party, failed to condemn Putin's Russia for the novichok attack on Wednesday night, just a week after a similar interview on the BBC The two suspected GRU operatives on Fisherton Road, Salisbury, England on March 4, 2018 The 2018 attack targeted former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, seriously exposing both him and his daughter Yulia (pictured together) to the toxic nerve agent Salmond's opinion on Putin's Russia has been a matter of controversy ever since he started hosting his own show on the Kremlin-controlled Russia Today (RT) news channel. In 2019, RT was fined 200,000 by Ofcom over 'serious and repeated failures' when covering the Salisbury poisoning. It was found to have breached impartiality rules in seven programmes about the attack. A pair of Russian assassins travelled to Salisbury in March 2018 in an attempt to kill former spy turned double agent Mr Skripal with military-grade nerve gas. While he and daughter Yulia survived the assassination attempt, local woman Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after coming into contact with a perfume bottle used to carry the novichok. Evidence gathered by intelligence agencies led the Government to conclude the men were officers from the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. The attack sparked global outrage and a string of diplomatic reprisals against Russia. The suspects - known by aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - were caught on CCTV in Salisbury the day before the attack. But asked about the case last week, Salmond refused to condemn the Kremlin. Mr Salmond told the BBC: 'The evidence was presented at the time and I'm struggling to understand what this has to do with a Scottish election campaign. 'It's perfectly legitimate for you to ask me about the programme I produce, along with others for broadcast on RT.' Pressed for an answer again, he added: 'Evidence came forward and was contested the evidence came forward and people can see it for what it is.' Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement, with Putin claiming the two suspects were civilians, and the pair stating in an interview that they were tourists visiting Salisbury Cathedral. Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement, with Putin claiming the two suspects were civilians, and the pair stating in an interview that they were tourists visiting Salisbury Cathedral On Wednesday night, LBC's Iain Dale also asked Mr Salmond what he thought about Russia's colossal military build-up on the Ukrainian border. The Scottish nationalist said: 'I think there's a substantial international dispute between Russia and Ukraine. 'And I'm delighted that, unlike President Trump, President Biden last night said he was looking for a secure and stable relationship with Russia.' Meanwhile, Mr Dale asked whether Mr Salmond was putting women and women's issues at the front of Alba's campaigning as a way to deflect from accusations made against him. The former first minister was cleared of a number of sexual assault allegations at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020. He said: 'There are 18 women, some of the strongest feminist voices in Scotland, in the Alba party and I'm proud to have their range of candidates. 'I also happen to believe that the women and qualities paper that was passed by our conference, which is one of the first policies of the Alba party, is a valuable addition to the Scottish political debate.' The Alba party leader described the biggest difference between his latest political project and the SNP as a sense of 'urgency' for independence. LBC carried out the interview as part of a series before the upcoming Holyrood elections in May. Results of implant's safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics for use in various open soft-tissue surgeries expected in first quarter 2022 Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc, a specialty pharmaceutical company and portfolio business of Gurnet Point Capital, announced today that the following clinical trials have been initiated to support a label expansion of its FDA-approved innovative collagen drug-device, XARACOLL (bupivacaine hydrochloride) implant: INN-CB-024 is phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 300-mg dose of the INL-001 (bupivacaine hydrochloride) implant in patients undergoing abdominoplasty; and INN-CB-025 is a phase 3 open-label study of the safety and pharmacokinetics of the INL-001 (bupivacaine hydrochloride) implant in adults following various open soft-tissue surgeries: open ventral hernia repair, abdominoplasty, open abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted colectomy, and reduction mammoplasty. "We are thrilled to announce that our non-opioid, fully bioresorbable collagen drug-device product, XARACOLL, which is currently an approved treatment option for acute postsurgical pain following open inguinal hernia repair in adults, has reached the important milestone of being studied in Phase 3 clinical trials for use in soft tissue surgeries," said Louis Pascarella, Innocoll Chief Executive Officer and President. "Following the clinical success of XARACOLL in open inguinal hernia repair and building upon the supportive Phase 2 data in other soft tissue surgeries, Innocoll is now undertaking the important work of studying the efficacy and safety of XARACOLL in achieving post-surgical pain relief in patients undergoing other soft tissue surgeries. We look forward to sharing data on these studies as we continue to expand the body of clinical data for XARACOLL and develop our unique drug-device combination product for use in additional surgeries." INN-CB-024 is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy and safety study of the INL 001 (bupivacaine HCl) implant, at 300 mg, in patients following abdominoplasty. On the day of surgery eligible patients will be randomly assigned to treatment in a 1:1 ratio to receive either XARACOLL or placebo collagen implants. Patients will then undergo abdominoplasty under general anesthesia and have either XARACOLL or placebo implanted intraoperatively. INN-CB-025 is a multicenter, Phase 3, open-label, safety, tolerability and characterization of pharmacokinetics study of the INL 001 (bupivacaine HCl) implant, at 300 mg, in patients following various soft-tissue surgeries: open ventral hernia repair, abdominoplasty, open abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted colectomy and reduction mammoplasty. After a screening period, on the day of surgery, eligible patients will undergo surgery under general anesthesia and have XARACOLL implanted intraoperatively. Efficacy is also an exploratory measure in this study. Both clinical trials are currently screening and enrolling patients and expect to be fully enrolled by year end, with results expected in the first quarter of 2022. For further details on the clinical studies, please visit the following links for INN-CB-024 and INN-CB0-025. About Innocoll Holdings Limited Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc is a global specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Athlone, Ireland. Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc and its subsidiaries Innocoll Holdings Limited and Innocoll Pharmaceuticals Limited, are focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical technologies to meet some of today's most important healthcare challenges. Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc is a portfolio business of Gurnet Point Capital. www.innocoll.com About Gurnet Point Capital Gurnet Point Capital is a unique healthcare fund founded by Ernesto Bertarelli and led by Christopher Viehbacher, who, together, have decades of expertise in an industry for which they share a passion, both as Chief Executives and as investors. With an initial allocation of $2 billion, GPC is investing long-term capital and supporting entrepreneurs in building a new generation of companies. Based in Cambridge, MA, its remit is global, encompassing life sciences and medical technologies. The fund invests across all stages of product development through to commercialization and does so with an approach that is a hybrid of venture and private equity investing strategies. www.gurnetpointcapital.com About XARACOLL Xaracoll (bupivacaine HCl) implant is a bioresorbable collagen implant providing postsurgical pain relief through the delivery of bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, at the surgical site. XARACOLL implant releases bupivacaine after placement at the surgical site through diffusion from the porous collagen implant, which dissolves over time. XARACOLL was approved in August 2020 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). XARACOLL is a registered trademark of Innocoll Pharmaceuticals Limited. Further Information About XARACOLL INDICATIONS AND USAGE XARACOLL contains an amide local anesthetic and is indicated in adults for placement into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia for up to 24 hours following open inguinal hernia repair. Limitations of Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in other surgical procedures, including orthopedic and boney procedures. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATIONS Known hypersensitivity to bupivacaine or to any local anesthetic agent of the amide-type or to other components of XARACOLL Obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia. The use of bupivacaine in this technique has resulted in fetal bradycardia and death WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Dose-Related Toxicity: Monitor cardiovascular and respiratory vital signs and patient's state of consciousness after placement of XARACOLL Methemoglobinemia: Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported in association with local anesthetic use. See full Prescribing Information for more detail on managing these risks ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials (incidence =2% and higher than placebo) included incision site swelling, dysgeusia, headache, tremor, blurred vision, seroma, scrotal swelling, pyrexia, oral hypoesthesia, and post procedural discharge. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Innocoll at 1-833-606-1421 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch DRUG INTERACTIONS Local Anesthetics: The toxic effects of local anesthetics are additive. Avoid additional local anesthetic administration within 96 hours following XARACOLL implantation. If additional local anesthetic administration with XARACOLL cannot be avoided, monitor patients for neurologic and cardiovascular effects related to local anesthetic systemic toxicity. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Pregnancy: Based on animal data, may cause fetal harm Moderate to Severe Hepatic Impairment: Consider increased monitoring for bupivacaine systemic toxicity Please see full Prescribing Information. https://xaracoll.com/xaracoll_pi.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005482/en/ Contacts: Tom Johnson Blair Hennessy (212) 371-5999 tbj@abmac.com bth@abmac.com Chrissy Teigen and John Legend know how to make an entrance even when its unexpected. And on Tuesday the Cravings founder and Legend crashed her mom Vilailuck 'Pepper' Teigen's virtual cooking segment on TODAY. Wearing nothing but a towel the playful TV personality popped in frame to say a quick hello as her mom cooked, later returning to fluff Pepper's hair a little bit. Unexpected: Chrissy Teigen, 35, wears nothing but a towel as she and John Legend crash her mom Vilailuck 'Pepper' Teigen's cooking segment on TODAY Pepper appeared on the morning show to promote her new cookbook The Pepper Thai Cookbook by demonstrating how to make stir-fried spaghetti with Thai chili paste. Everything seemed to be going as planned until the very excited couple crashed the segment. 'We're so excited for mom...I just wanted to say hi to everybody,' the cooking enthusiast shared. 'John is dressed, Chrissy is not,' Savannah Guthrie remarked. And later Al Roker joked: 'I wish John was wearing a towel,' which incited laughter from additional hosts Carson Daly and Sheinelle Jones. Over excited: 'We're so excited for mom...I just wanted to say hi to everybody,' Chrissy said during the live broadcast Promotion: Pepper appeared on the morning show to promote her new cookbook The Pepper Thai Cookbook by demonstrating how to make stir-fried spaghetti with Thai chili paste Glam squad: The Cravings founder quickly stepped in to double as Pepper's glam squad which caused her to laugh and remark 'We had to do our own hair today' Playful: 'She loves teasing and playing around with me,' Pepper said of her daughter Pepper was a good sport throughout the whole process and continued to carry on with her recipe before Chrissy made yet another appearance this time stepping into the role of stage mom. Watching from behind the lens, she seemed to notice that her mom's hair needed a little maintenance. She quickly stepped in to double as her glam squad which caused Pepper to laugh and remark 'We had to do our own hair today.' Roker asked: 'Does she always do that when you're cooking?' to which Pepper replied: 'She loves teasing and playing around with me.' Something's cooking: The Thailand native inspired her daughter's love of cooking and she lives with the Hollywood couple and their two kids in Beverly Hills Inspiration: 'I learned a lot from her, not from cooking, but how to do the cookbook because I had no idea of anything about it,' Pepper said of Chrissy Popping bottles: Celebrations were in order upon the release of the cookbook Momentous day: The TV personality went all out to make her mom feel special with a bunch of pictures of her mom cooking throughout the years and a banner that read 'congratulations' And throughout the course of the interview she revealed that she got her nickname when she and Ron Teigen (Chrissy's dad) ran a local tavern in Washington. 'I always make my own food, so spicy, so hot. My Thai name is kind of hard to pronounce so they gave me [the name] Pepper.' Additionally she added that the Chrissy's Court host inspired her to make a cookbook after finding success with her own Cravings series. 'I learned a lot from her, not from cooking, but how to do the cookbook because I had no idea of anything about it.' Love of cooking: Chrissy's love of cooking was inspired in part by her mother; pictured November 2020 Both Legend and Teigen congratulated Pepper on her accomplishment with tribute posts and they lined their vacation rental with photos of her throughout the years and a 'congratulations banner.' 'Happy cookbook birthday @pepperthai2!!! I am so proud of you!!!! And jealous - seriously this book is so f***ing good. your mommy and daddy are looking down with love and pride,' wrote Chrissy. And the book is dedicated to both her late parents and the pair's son Jack who they tragically lost at 20 weeks in late September due to partial placental abruption. Pepper told WSJ Magazine: 'We talk about him every day. Luna talks about him every day, and that's how we grieve. We're getting better each day... We're getting so much better and Chrissy too.' Dedication: And the book is dedicated to both her late parents and the pair's son Jack who they tragically lost in late September due to partial placental abruption, Chrissy sharing her grief on social media Legend also took to Instagram on Tuesday to celebrate Luna turning five. He posted sweet pictures of the girl wearing white dress and colorful necklace. 'Our baby is 5 now,' John wrote as a caption for his roughly 13.6 million followers. Birthday girl: Legend also took to Instagram on Tuesday to celebrate Luna turning five Tender photos: He posted sweet pictures of the girl wearing white dress and colorful necklace Irans move to enrich uranium up to 60% purity is a response to the sabotage at its key nuclear facility, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, adding the Islamic Republic had no intention of building a nuclear weapon. After an explosion at its Natanz uranium enrichment site on Sunday blamed by Tehran on arch-foe Israel, Iran said it would begin enriching uranium at 60%, a move bringing the fissile material closer to levels suitable for a bomb. It also said it would activate 1,000 advanced centrifuge machines at the site. Of course, the security and intelligence officials must give the final reports, but apparently it is the crime of the Zionists, and if the Zionists act against our nation, we will answer it, Rouhani said in a televised cabinet meeting. Our response to their malice is replacing the damaged centrifuges with more advanced ones and ramping up the enrichment to 60% at the Natanz facility. Iranian authorities have described the incident as an act of nuclear terrorism. Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not recognise, has not formally commented on the matter. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said on Tuesday it had been informed of Irans decision. Irans 2015 nuclear deal with six powers, which it has been breaching since the United States withdrew in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, caps the fissile purity to which Tehran can refine uranium at 3.67%. That is well under the 20% achieved before the agreement and far below the 90% suitable for a nuclear weapon. In an apparent bid to heap pressure on U.S. President Joe Bidens administration that is willing to revive the accord, Iran in recent months has raised enrichment to 20% purity, a level where uranium is considered to be highly enriched. Rouhani, echoing Irans stance for decades, said Tehran had no intention to obtain or develop nuclear weapons. France said on Tuesday it was coordinating a response with world powers, including the United States, after Iran said it would begin enriching uranium at 60%. Washington called Irans announcement provocative and said the U.S. administration was concerned, adding that it called into question Tehrans seriousness on nuclear talks. Last week, Iran and the global powers held what they described as constructive talks to salvage the 2015 accord. The talks will resume on Thursday in Vienna to discuss the sanctions Washington might lift and the nuclear curbs Tehran might observe. They (Israel) want our hands to be empty in the negotiations, but we will be in the negotiations with a stronger hand, Rouhani said. SOURCE: REUTERS Xerox Holdings Corporation Plans Webcast to Discuss 2021 First-Quarter Results Xerox Holdings Corporation (NYSE: XRX) will host a live audio webcast with online presentation slides at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 20, to discuss the company's 2021 first-quarter results. A news release containing this information will be issued earlier that day at 6:30 a.m. ET. WHEN: 8 a.m. ET, Tuesday, April 20, 2021 WHAT: Review of Xerox's 2021 first-quarter results WHO: John Visentin, vice chairman and chief executive officer, Xerox Xavier Heiss, chief financial officer, Xerox AUDIO WEBCAST: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/6786fnjw or https://www.news.xerox.com/investors Replay available. About Xerox Xerox Holdings Corporation makes every day work better. We are a workplace technology company building and integrating software and hardware for enterprises large and small. As customers seek to manage information across digital and physical platforms, Xerox delivers a seamless, secure and sustainable experience. Whether inventing the copier, Ethernet, the laser printer or more, Xerox has long defined the modern work experience. Learn how that innovation continues at xerox.com. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit https://www.news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://twitter.com/xerox, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, https://www.instagram.com/xerox/, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox is a trademark of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005169/en/ The fight over the state and local tax deduction has reached a full roar in Washington, with New Jersey Democrats signaling that they may oppose President Bidens infrastructure bill unless the full deduction, known as SALT, is restored. No salt, no dice, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th, told Axios. Like nearly everyone in New Jersey, we wish them luck and support their saber-rattling. Capping the deduction at $10,000 was a nasty piece of work, part of Trumps 2017 tax bill that was aimed like a dart at wealthy blue states. It hits the wealthy hardest, but in states like ours, with expensive homes and high taxes, middle-class families get nailed, too. But lets hope that they are members of Congress are bluffing when they put the infrastructure bill in their crosshairs. That bill is critical to lifting the American economy and engaging the fight against climate change. Killing it would also undercut another top priority of our delegation, funding for a new tunnel under the Hudson River. Drawing hard lines could kill the bill, especially if members from other states take the same absolutist positions to protect their top priorities. Democrats have only a few votes to spare, so Tea Party tactics coming from the left could doom the entire project. There is nuance to this. Gottheimer says he will vote against the infrastructure bill on these grounds only if it increases individual tax rates, or business taxes in a fashion that lands on small firms. Since we have no final draft of the infrastructure bill yet, that leaves him some wiggle room. Several members of Congress from New Jersey joined a letter to Treasurer Janet Yellen with a similar line in the sand. We could not vote for a bill that has a meaningful tax impact on our constituents unless it restores SALT deduction relief to our middle-class families, it said. That was signed by Gottheimer, along with Reps Bill Pascrell, D-9th, Mikie Sherrill, D-11th, Tom Malinowski, D-7th, Frank Pallone, D-6th, and Albio Sires, D-8th. There is room for compromise that would protect the middle class. The $10,000 cap could be raised to $15,000 or $20,000. The marriage penalty in the current law could be eliminated by allowing a $10,000 deduction for each member of a married couple. Either move would deliver substantial relief to the middle class. And those changes are more realistic politically. Republicans are opposed to making this change, and many Democrats are unenthusiastic, given that the benefits of this change would skew towards the wealthy who pay the highest state and local taxes. More than half the benefits from a full repeal of the cap would be captured by households with incomes above $1 million, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. The 2017 tax bill was a disaster all around. It increased the deficit, showered most of its benefits on the rich, and capped this deduction in a move that was transparently partisan. New Jersey gets back roughly 79 cents on every dollar we send to Washington, which makes this claw back especially grating. Aside from paying more, it has caused significant drop in home values -- an average of $40,000 in Essex County -- according to a study from Moodys Analytics. So, our people in Washington are on the right track. The realistic strategy is to press for changes in the cap that would protect the middle class, not for a full repeal. And whatever the goal, the infrastructure plan is far more important, and cant be put at risk over SALT deductions. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Vietnamese teenager Alaska Holden has defied the odds to join a Victorian classroom. The year 11 student recently became a boarder at Toorak College in Mount Eliza, thanks to the Australia-New Zealand travel bubble. Alaska Holden is settling in well at Toorak College in Mount Eliza after a journey involving two weeks quarantine in New Zealand. Credit:Eddie Jim Alaskas father is a New Zealand citizen, so father and daughter undertook two weeks quarantine in Christchurch before flying to Melbourne this month. Honestly, somehow Ive managed to settle in quite well, the 16-year-old said. Australia was always on my mind, I always wanted to go to Melbourne specifically. Bong Joon-ho / Korea Times file Bong Joon-ho, writer-director of Oscar-winning South Korean black comedy "Parasite," has called for filmmakers to address issues of recent anti-Asian crimes in the United States. Bong shared his view on the spate of recent racially charged violence in the United States and the film industry's role during an appearance as the guest speaker for Chapman University's Dodge College Master Class series held virtually on April 7 (U.S. time), the Hollywood Reporter said. "As someone who is a part of mankind, as a person, it is quite fearful to watch the hate crimes against Asian Americans and the Black Lives Matter movement," Bong said, though he admitted that he has to see the matter from an outsider's perspective as someone in Korea. "Creating a film takes a lot of time and a lot of money; it is a big unit that cannot really respond quickly to issues that are currently happening in society. But ironically, because of that, creators and filmmakers can be bolder with dealing with issues and they should not be afraid to confront them," he noted. He went on to cite Spike Lee's 1989 comedy-drama film "Do the Right Thing," which depicts problems of racism in America, as an example of a movie channeling a director's insight to "portray issues that are currently boiling underneath the surface of society that can explode later on." The movie released three years before the Los Angeles Riots almost predicted they were going to happen, Bong said. The 1992 riots occurred after four policemen have been acquitted of using excessive force in the arrest of African American activist Rodney Glen King. Bong said he took such an approach in making "Parasite," with an attempt to address an underlying problem of current society the growing economic inequality between the rich and the poor. "As creators and artists, you sort of have to see through the essence and the central questions in our society through the days that you live through and send a reply to those questions through your work," he said. (Yonhap) Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 04:03:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The photo taken on April 9, 2007 shows a view of Natanz nuclear plant, about 300 km south of Tehran, Iran. (Xinhua/Liang Youchang) Iran vows to enrich uranium with 60-percent purity at Natanz nuclear plant and install 1,000 more advanced centrifuges, in response to a suspected Israeli cyberattack. TEHRAN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of its plan to enrich uranium at 60-percent purity following the attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, Iranian news network Press TV reported Tuesday, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Iran will soon replace the centrifuges damaged in a recent act of sabotage at Natanz, Araqchi was quoted as saying. Also, Iran will install an additional 1,000 centrifuges with 50 percent higher enrichment capacity at the nuclear facility, said Araqchi, who leads the Iranian negotiating team in the Vienna talks with the representatives from Britain, China, France, Russia, and Germany. Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Behrouz Kamalvandi speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on July 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz) Besides, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the preparations for producing 60-percent uranium enrichment will begin on Tuesday night at the Natanz enrichment site, semi-official FARS news agency reported. The uranium at the purity of 60 percent is used in the production of radiopharmaceutical, Kamalvandi told FARS. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to a 3.67-percent of purity and its stockpile should not be more than 300 kilograms. However, in a response to the U.S. withdrawal from the deal and imposition of sanctions, Iran on Jan. 4 this year started to produce uranium enrichment to 20 percent of purity and the AEOI announced on April 3 that its stockpile has hit 50 kg. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attend a joint press conference in Jerusalem, on April 12, 2021. Netanyahu said that Israel will never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. (Yonatan Sindel/JINI via Xinhua) According to the Iranian parliament's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, the country should produce 120 kg of 20-percent enriched uranium within a year. Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility on Sunday faced an accident which the Iranian authorities called an act of sabotage plotted by Israel. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce is going virtual this Friday for a meet the candidates event for candidates running for Pasadena ISDs school board. During this free Zoom forum, which follows an April 8 chamber virtual event featuring those seeking Pasadena city offices, candidates will provide their platforms via submitted prerecorded videos and written responses to questions. There will be no live debate or interactive question-and-answer session. The forum will be from noon to 1 p.m. Preregistration at https://bit.ly/32sdjA9 is required to receive log-in information. The chamber is encouraging the public to join the forum to get to know each candidate and learn about their visions for the district. Four of the districts seven positions will be contested in the May 1 election among a total of 10 candidates. For Position 3, incumbent Nelda Sulliva, who has served on the school board since 1993, and is facing Yen Huynh Rabe, a former Pasadena High School teacher now at Houston ISD. A third candidate, Sunil Nepal, will be on the ballot but has stated he is no longer seeking the position. For Position 2, incumbent Mariselle Quijano, a franchise owner of several McDonalds restaurants in the area who was first elected in 2009, is seeking re-election against Crystal Davila, a math teacher in the district. More Information Election day: May 1, 2021 from 7 p.m. - 7 p.m. Early voting: April 19 - April 24 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. April 25 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. April 26 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. April 27 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Polling locations: https://bit.ly/3tpifBG See More Collapse In the Position 1 race, Texas Citizens Bank senior vice president Noble J. Alix, Jr. and licensed professional counselor Paola Gonzalez Fusilier are running to fill a seat held by term-limited Fred Robert. Position 4 trustee Jack Bailey is not seeking re-election, leaving candidates Al Bledsoe, retired special-education teacher and police investigator Casey Phelan facing off to fill the spot. Bailey has served as a trustee since 2010. A third candidate for Position 4, Areef Bhuyan, dropped out of the race on March 22 for personal reasons. Pasadena ISD has an enrollment of more than 50,000 and includes the Pasadena and South Belt communities. Early voting begins April 19. More information on the election is at https://bit.ly/3e6kSBG. Bianca Juarez and her mother Elia Juarez were sitting in their second-floor apartment at the Villa Rodriguez Apartments when they heard banging on their front door and a man yelling "Get out! Fire, fire!" Bianca said she was shaking as she quickly grabbed their dog and ran out of the building as the fire burned on the floor above them. San Antonio firefighters were called to the apartments, located at 3270 Nacogdoches Road on the North Side, just after 10 a.m. for a fire that started on the third floor. When firefighters arrived, they immediately called for help. More than 30 engines arrived, but it took firefighters about an hour extinguish the blaze. Now Playing: Video: Benita Ruiz De Garcia, Courtesy The massive fire displaced nearly 100 residents and destroyed 24 apartment units, Fire Chief Charles Hood said. Firefighters also rescued at least 10 dogs. Hood said most of the dogs were already in kennels, making it easier to rescue them. The animals were taken to Animal Care Services as a precautionary. "Thankfully, this wasn't at 3 a.m. At least most people were out of the house at work or school, or this could have been much worse," Hood said. No injuries were reported, but Hood said there has not been a secondary search because the roof collapsed, creating dangerous conditions for firefighters. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. This is the third fire at that apartment complex in a year, Hood said. The last fire was caused by a lightening strike. Student artist Lincoln Clark, one of Arts Alives 2020 Kids Art Rocks contest winners, poses next to his artwork titled CHOMP! which was leased by Haas Caywood, one of 12 area businesses who supported the 2020 Kids Art Rocks lease program. To be included in the 2021 Kids Art Rocks art show, artwork should be dropped off at Tibbits Administration Office by May 17. (Natural News) Footlocker stores in Minnesota were looted and trashed once again despite the company having donated $200 million dollars to Black Lives Matter causes in the past year. (Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Summit.news) Minnesota has been hit with yet more violent unrest over the last two nights in response to the police killing of Daunte Wright, who was shot by a female officer who mistook a gun for a taser. Footage from Sunday night showed looters breaking into a shoe store and stealing Nike trainers, because apparently justice for Daunte Wright looks an awful lot like getting your hands on a brand new pair of Air Max. Apparently police officers shot someone in Minneapolis, we dont know all the details yet, but people are already looting Nikes. Looks about right pic.twitter.com/3EUL6ffBfp Harry Khachatrian (@Harry1T6) April 12, 2021 Looters also targeted Footlocker, with footage from the scene showing the store completely cleaned out. By the end of the night, around 20 Brooklyn Center businesses had been looted as well as sporadic looting in surrounding areas, and the chaos was repeated last night. Apparently, the opportunistic thugs who looted both stores didnt care too much for Nike and Footlockers commitment to helping Black Lives Matter causes. Back in June, Nike pledged $40 million over four years to black community organizations in a bid to help tackled systemic racism and police brutality. Systemic racism and the events that have unfolded across America over the past few weeks serve as an urgent reminder of the continued change needed in our society. We know Black Lives Matter. We must educate ourselves more deeply on the issues faced by Black communities and understand the enormous suffering and senseless tragedy racial bigotry creates, John Donahoe, President and CEO of Nike said in the statement. However, Nikes financial commitment was dwarfed by Footlocker, which pledged a whopping $200 million after the George Floyd riots which went to BLM causes, investing in youth-centric Black-owned businesses and served as a means of enhancing the lives of our team members and our customers in the Black Community through Economic Development and Education. Apparently, that education didnt include educating young black males that justice has nothing to do with stealing the latest pair of high-end sneakers. Read more at: Summit.news and BlackLiesMatter.news. Officer Potter graduated from Saint Marys University of Minnesota, a small Catholic school, in 1994 with a criminal justice major, a school official said. There is no indication in available records that she had shot anyone before. She was the police union president in August 2019, when she was one of the first officers to arrive on the scene after two Brooklyn Center police officers shot and killed Kobe Dimock-Heisler, 21. A report later concluded that Mr. Dimock-Heisler, who was described as mentally ill, had lunged at a police officer with a knife during a domestic disturbance call. Officer Potter advised each of the officers to go into separate squad cars, turn off their body cameras and not talk to each other, according to the report last year by the Hennepin County attorney. No charges were filed in the case. Officer Potters husband, Jeffrey Potter, was also a police officer, serving in the Fridley Police Department in Minnesota for 28 years until his retirement in 2017. According to a community newsletter, Mr. Potter was an instructor in the department, training officers in use of force, Taser use and crowd control. In a letter Officer Potter sent to city officials on Tuesday, she said she had loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately. At a news conference announcing the departures, Mayor Mike Elliott acknowledged that of the nearly 50 police officers in the department, he knew of none who actually lived in the city they patrolled. Winbak Farm of Delaware sadly announces the passing of longtime stallion CR Commando. CR Commando passed away at the age of 25 on Saturday, April 9. He succumbed to complications from colic. CR Commando helped make Winbak Farm of Delaware successful and he will truly be missed, said Garrett Bell, General Manager. He stood his last year this season and will hopefully have a few foals in 2022. CR Commando (2, 1:53.2z [$378,602]), was a world champion at two. He was the USHWA Dan Patch and HTA Nova Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year. At two, his wins included Pennsylvania Sires Stakes division and the Breeders Crown elimination and Final. He was second in the Valley Victory Trot elimination. At three, he won the Colonial Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic elimination. According to the USTA, CR Commandos world record still stands today, said Bell. He set it at Colonial Downs in 1998 and since there are not any current tracks that measure greater than one mile, it might stand for an infinite amount of time. As a sire, CR Commando was the number one trotting sire for total number of Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Final Wins by offspring. As of April 12, CR Commando offspring had won 65 DSBF Finals. CR Commando offspring winning in Delaware was almost a sure bet, said Bell. I think that Winbak Farm of Delaware was very lucky to be the home for his stallion career. CR Commando had stood at Winbak Farm of Delaware since 2001. His offspring have earned $19,299,721. CR Commando is the sire of 196 Race Winners. CR Commando is the sire of eight who earned $300,000+ including Med Vac (1:52.2 [$810,117]), Juanita (1:56.2f [$412,366]), Special Command (1:56.4f [$399,079]), Go Sassy Go (1:54.2f [$367,340]), Powerful Committee (1:55f [$361,729]), Vrahos (3, Q1:57 [$317,281]), Twilight Mist (1:57.4f [$308,953]), and Collect The Brass (1:56.1f [$305,340]). His most recent Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Final Stakes Winners include two-time 2019 DSBF Final Winner Disco Soliel (1:58.3f -'20 [$268,479]), 2020 DSBF Final Winner Zulu (2, 1:58f -'19 [$135,776]) and 2020 DSBF Final Winner Kims Command (2, 2:02.4h -20 [$74,400]). As a broodmare sire, CR Commando has left an impact. Offspring from CR Commando broodmares include I Like My Boss (1:53f [$654,816]), Third Shift (3, 1:52.4s -20 [$384,373]), Windshield (3, 1:56.2f [$327,200]), Bluebird Rambo (1:53.3f -19 [$319,458]) and Go Byem (3, 1:53 [$311,950]). CR Commandos legacy will continue in the Winbak Farm broodmare band, said Bell. Winbak Farm is home to a selection of CR Commando daughters including Overnight Command, who is the dam of 2019 New York Sires Stakes Final Winner Third Shift. Winbak Farm of Delaware would like to thank the breeders, trainers, owners and other supporters who have helped CR Commando be a successful sire. We want to say thank you to everyone who has supported CR Commando during his breeding career, said Bell. We also want to be sure to give a special thank you to the Allen Family who allowed us to purchase their World Champion so that we could stand him in Delaware. If breeders have questions, they should call 410.885.3059 or email [email protected]. The Winbak Farm stallion lineup can be found at Winbak Farm's website. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of CR Commando. (with files from Winbak Farm) Its been a few months since Michiganders have had the chance to see a meteor shower. The Lyrid meteor shower should end that drought. Mike Murray from Delta Colleges Planetarium told us at an earlier time that, The Lyrids are one of the oldest meteor showers on record, dating back to China around 690 BCE. The light show occurs when our planet crosses the orbit of Comet Thatcher, causing its debris of ice and dust to burn up in the atmosphere. Two of the most notable meteor showers for Michigan are the Perseids and the Lyrids. While the Lyrid meteor shower doesnt have as many meteors per hour as the Perseids, the Lyrids are known to produce more fireballs. A fireball is a meteor with a bright, burning tail, and can be a spectacular sight. Fireballs can also be a frightening sight if you dont know the cause of the fiery streak. This year the Lyrids are expected to peak Wednesday night, April 21 to before sunrise Thursday, April 22. Just after sunset, the meteors are projected to emerge out of the northeastern sky. As we get toward midnight, the meteors will shoot more from the east. Just before sunrise Thursday morning, the meteors will travel from the southwest part of the sky. while its hard to predict exactly when the meteor shower will peak, an hour either side of midnight is the most common time for a meteor peak. Experts like Mike Murray say the best view to see the meteors is to lie flat on your back and look straight up. While the meteors may come from one direction in the sky, the speed is so fast its best just to look at a wide area of the sky. Dont focus on one small spot, or you may miss some meteors. This years Lyrid meteor shower will compete with a sky brightened by almost a three-quarter moon. Finding a very dark sky will be especially important. As of today, Tuesday, April 13, it looks like Michigan will be between two storm systems next Wednesday. So there is some hope of a clear sky, and visible meteors. Ill have to update you early next week on the sky, and if we get to see the Lyrids. For now, give yourself a reminder in your phone to check here for the sky forecast. Paducah Woman Arrested on Prostitution Charge By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A Paducah woman has been arrested on prostitution charges.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says detectives arrested 25-year-old LaShona Henderson on Monday, after getting complaints alleging that she was posting online ads for prostitution.Deputies said an undercover sheriff's detective contacted Henderson through the ad, and Henderson allegedly agreed to have sex with the detective in return for money.Detectives arrested Henderson at her home and charged her with prostitution. Trump blasts Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for vetoing bill banning 'chemical castration of children' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former President Donald Trump rebuked Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for vetoing a bill banning the "chemical castration of children" in his state. "The lightweight RINO Governor of Arkansas, just vetoed a Bill that banned the CHEMICAL CASTRATION OF CHILDREN. 'Bye-bye Asa,' thats the end of him!" Trump said in a statement released Thursday. The 45th president went on to praise his former press secretary, whom he has endorsed for the 2022 gubernatorial race, in his statement: "Fortunately for the great state of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders will do a fantastic job as your next Governor." The Arkansas House voted 75-25 and the Senate 25-8 on Tuesday afternoon to override the governor's veto of House Bill 1570, also known as the "Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act" and its acronym, the SAFE Act. Arkansas is the first state in the nation to ban the prescribing of puberty blockers, hormonal drugs and the surgical body mutilation of minors suffering from gender dysphoria. The medicalization of gender has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, particularly in light of a U.K. court ruling in a judicial review against the Tavistock clinic in London. Last year it was decided that youth younger than 16 lack the maturity to understand the risks to such experimental and irreversible procedures and thus cannot give informed consent under the Gillick competency, the U.K.'s legal standard by which youth can consent to medical procedures. In addition to Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee are considering similar bills. The proposed measures in the cluster of southern states follow an unsuccessful attempt in South Dakota last year to prohibit the use of puberty-suppressing drugs, cross-sex hormones, and elective cosmetic surgeries, such as a double mastectomy (what's known as "top surgery") or orchiectomy ("bottom surgery"), which is the removal of the testicles. In an interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson earlier this week, Hutchinson defended his veto of the bill on the grounds of limited government. Why do you think its important for conservatives to make certain that children can block their puberty, be chemically castrated? Why is that a conservative value? Carlson inquired of the Arkansas governor. Hutchinson replied: You have parents involved in very difficult decisions and physicians that are involved in these decisions. When Hutchinson asserted the medical expertise of various groups in favor of administering the experimental drugs, Carlson pressed him to explain further. Hutchinson added: The research that I have seen shows that these troubled youth, these ones that have gender dysphoria, that they also have depression, they have suicidal tendencies. Its a higher suicide rate than others. And they go to their parents, the parents go to doctors and they try to deal with this very difficult issue. Studies have shown that depression or suicidal ideation are not reduced after individuals undergo procedures to change their bodies to look more like the opposite sex. According to a 2003 study conducted in Sweden, those who underwent body mutilation or were prescribed cross-sex hormones had a higher suicide rate than the general population. The study, which followed 191 male-to-female gender reassignments and 133 female-to-male gender reassignments from 19732003, found that suicide attempts and in-patient psychiatric treatment actually increased among those who had a sex change. Other studies have also shown that gender-transition surgery doesn't improve mental health. To read The Christian Post's six-part series on transgender issues, click here. Grieving pastor, wife call on witnesses to help catch daughters killer Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A grieving Alabama pastor and his wife called on residents who witnessed the fatal shooting of their daughter in a public Birmingham park on Easter Sunday to come forward and help the police catch her killer. Areyelle Yarbrough, the 32-year-old daughter of the Rev. Michael Yarbrough of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church and his wife, Sonya, was shot in the head at Patton Park at about 7 p.m. on Easter. Five other victims, ages 21, 17, 16, 15, and 4, were also wounded. The 16-year-old boy was shot in the right hip while another female was shot in the chest. "I would like for them to give the information if they have it. But I know if they do have information, most of them are fearful to tell because of retaliation," said Sonya Yarbrough in an interview with ABC 3340 News. "In their mind, their [conscience] will whoop them more so than anything that I could do for them, so I pray for them and ask the Lord to guide them." One eyewitness told authorities that some 1,000 people were at the park when the shooting happened, with many grilling and eating with their families. Areyelle Yarbrough and another woman were sitting on top of a blue Dodge Charger when someone opened fire, striking the women and the vehicle. Birmingham Police Sgt. Rod Mauldin told AL.com that the shooting erupted from a fight between a group of males and the victims were innocent bystanders. No one has come forward with information leading to the killer's arrest, despite appeals from public officials and the offering of a reward by radio personality and comedian Rickey Smiley. "I just pray that they find that person or the people that are doing these killings because it's senseless. The guns need to be put away because it doesn't change anything, the grieving mother continued in her interview with ABC 3340. "I miss my child, I miss my friend, I miss my daughter, but none of that will bring her back." Sonya Yarbrough and her husband have set up a quiet memorial for their daughter in their home and both are struggling to process that she's no longer with them. "I just feel like I'm in a daze or a trance," Sonya Yarbrough said. "I know she's passed, but it doesn't seem real; I'm expecting a call. I picked up the phone to call her one day last week, so it's not real to me yet." Michael Yarbrough said his daughters death is still surreal to him. "I'm still disembodied, surreal, numb, in disbelief. Reality is slowly seeping in cause we've had no contact with her," he told the news outlet. The couple recalled how just before their daughter went to the park, she shared an Easter meal with them. While they're hoping to get some earthly justice for their daughters death, they still believe that ultimate justice will come from God. "Whether they catch him or not, it will not bring my daughter back. So there's no justice there still for me," the pastor added. "Just hope that this death can change some lives and minds and hearts to know that you can't bring somebody back, you can't go to Walmart and buy their life back," his wife added. A 52-year-old Portland man whose manipulated mugshot was used to help build a criminal case against him has pleaded guilty to four bank and credit union heists but likely will avoid federal prison under a plea deal that calls for time-served. Tyrone Lamont Allen pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of credit union robbery, one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez. The prosecutor and Allens defense lawyer are jointly recommending Allen receive time-served under whats called a contract plea, where the judge must accept the recommendation or allow the defendant to withdraw the guilty plea. Asked if he had any questions before entering his guilty pleas, Allen told the judge no and added, Im just doing it to get this put behind me ... and move on with my life. During previous court hearings, it was revealed that Portland police had altered Allens booking photo by removing his distinctive facial tattoos after none of the tellers in the holdups had reported seeing tattoos on the face of the man who robbed them. Police digitally altered Allens mugshot using Photoshop and presented the altered photo in a photo array they showed to bank tellers who had been robbed to try to identify the suspect, according to court testimony. Police also never documented that they had altered Allens mugshot in the photo array, the testimony revealed. It was Allens defense attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Mark Ahlemeyer, who discovered that his clients mugshot had been changed. When federal prosecutors shared their evidence with Ahlemeyer, nothing in any police reports documented the changes made to the photo. The altered photo of Tyrone Lamont Allen, bottom left corner, and the photos of five other similar-looking men that police showed to the witness tellers to identify the robber. (Court exhibit) Court exhibit A sentence of time-served would be unusual for a conviction on multiple bank robberies. Each count carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. Given what I know about these particular cases, Hernandez told the lawyers involved, I expect counsel to do a good job to convince me why the recommended sentence is appropriate. Neither Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Maloney nor Ahlemeyer explained the negotiated sentence Tuesday. That likely will happen when Allen faces sentencing July 9. The bank and credit union robberies and attempted robbery occurred within a four-day span from April 3 to April 7, 2017, Maloney told the court. He said Allen wore hooded sweatshirts, glasses or ball caps to try to conceal his appearance and cover up his distinctive facial tattoos. The robber threatened he had a gun and demanded money in each, according to the prosecutor. The first one occurred on April 3 at the OnPoint Community Credit Union on Northeast Ninth Avenue, when he made off with about $6,000 in cash, Maloney said. The next day, Allen held up the Wells Fargo Bank branch in the 5700 block of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and got away with $2,722, he said. On April 7, Allen attempted to rob the Bank of the West on Northeast Halsey Street after threatening to shoot a teller, the prosecutor said. When the teller stood still in shock, Allen cursed and took off. About 20 minutes later, he robbed the nearby Advantis Credit Union on Northeast 15th Avenue, stealing $5,335 in cash, Maloney said. Allens lawyer had urged the judge to suppress the eyewitness identifications of Allen based on the manipulated police photo, arguing that it rigged the outcome of the photo lineup. Police said they altered his photo so his tattoos wouldnt stand out. The judge ruled that the altered photo of Allen wasnt unnecessarily suggestive and declined to suppress the eyewitness evidence. Though Hernandez said he shared the concerns raised by Allens lawyer about the police procedure used, he found it didnt violate the defendants constitutional rights. Allen remains out of custody pending sentencing. He hasnt served much time on the bank robbery cases. He had been in custody on an unrelated first-degree theft conviction in state court with a sentence in August 2017 of a year and a half in state prison. He made his first federal court appearance on the bank robbery allegations in February 2018 and was released from custody in July 2018, court records show. Under the plea deal, Allen will also face three years of supervised release and have to pay restitution, according to court records. At the time of the police investigation leading to Allens arrest and the August 2019 challenge in court to his altered mugshot, the Portland Police Bureau had no written policy that required an officer or forensic criminalist to write a report about photo alterations. A Portland police detective testified then that there were no written protocols that specifically allowed police to alter someones photo but nothing said they could not, and that it was standard practice. The Police Bureau reviewed its policies and last month adopted a new section in its directive on eyewitness identification under the header, Altered Photos in a Photo Lineup. It says bureau members may use altered suspect photos when necessary to ensure that the suspects photo is not suggestive or conspicuous among the photos in the presentation. To use an altered photo, police shall discuss and receive approval from their direct supervisor before requesting a forensic criminalist to manipulate an image.P Police also must document any alteration to photos, the reason for the alterations and the supervisors approval in a report. Further, any police forensic evidence employee who digitally alters a photo must document the changes made, as well as the techniques or software used to make the changes. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Chennai, April 14 : Twelve men, including a BSNL junior engineer, have been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 14 year old minor girl. The All women police station of Thiruchengode arrested the men which included her sister's husband. The girl who is a Class 6 drop out was living with her sister as her father was bedridden and mother a daily wage employee. Police said the arrests were made on Tuesday evening after the parents lodged a complaint with the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Ranjitha Priya. Shakthi Ganeshan, Superintendent of Police, Namakkal, told IANS, "The girl's brother-in-law was the first to exploit her, after this several people sexually abused her which included the men at the homes where she used to go as a daily wage labourer." The DCPO in her inquiry found that 13 men had assaulted her and lodged a complaint with the Tiruchengode All women police station. Inspector A. Hemavathi arrested the accused. The minor girl has now been lodged at the Namakkal government protection home. Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks to the media outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on Oct. 29, 2019. (Sung Pi Lung/The Epoch Times) Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong Sentence Extended to 17.5 Months Imprisonment A jailed Hong Kong activist was sentenced to another four months in jail on April 13 for participating in an unauthorized anti-extradition law assembly in 2019, while also breaching the Prohibition On Face Covering Regulation. The total sentence of Joshua Wong, a 24-year-old pro-democracy leader, has been extended to 17 and a half months. Masks, an unofficial symbol of the anti-extradition movement that flared up in early June 2019, were used to protect the identities of protesting Hongkongers against political retaliation and ostracism. But four months later, a controversial anti-mask law was put in place by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, which would result in protesters being found guilty of covering up their face in an unlawful assembly or public gathering of more than 50 people. It came after the chief executive invoked the emergency ordinance for the first time in more than 50 years, which empowers her to implement laws and regulations, bypassing the Legislative Council. Justices later ruled the ban as incompatible with the Basic Law. The law came into effect at midnight on Oct. 4, 2019, provoking a public demonstration on Oct. 5. Wong was convicted for joining the unauthorized rally and wearing a mask. Wong pleaded guilty to both charges. Another participating social activist, Koo Sze-yiu, 71, was also sentenced on Tuesday by the Hong Kong Eastern Magistrates Court to five months imprisonment. It is the 11th time Koo has been sentenced among his over 30 years of involvement in social and democratic movements, he said in court. He suspects it will not be the last time. Wong has been jailed in Hong Kongs Shek Pik Prison since Dec. 2, due to his role in the anti-government protests on June 21, 2019, including inciting others to take part in the unauthorized assembly. During the demonstration, Wong led the protesters in chants as thousands of protesters besieged the police headquarters in Wan Chai district to oppose an extradition bill that would have allowed anyone in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China for trial, without approval from the citys unicameral legislature. His sentence was for 13 and a half months. Digiworld aims to grow 25 per cent on average annually in the next decade Two months ago, Digiworlds executive told securities firms that a partner producing and assembling Xiaomi tech products is opening a plant in Vietnams northern port city Haiphong, and that the plant would commence operation in the second half of this year. Albeit the information was not yet confirmed by Digiworlds leadership at the companys recent annual general shareholders meeting on April 4, the companys CEO Doan Hong Viet was quoted as saying, This is informal information; Xiaomi and Digiworld will be making an official announcement on a suitable timing in the future. In fact, Digiworld is the exclusive distributor of all Xiaomi products in the Vietnamese market. According to Viet, home appliances would be one of hte key segments of Digiworld by 2024 with the target of holding a "remarkable market share", in which TV sets would secure the largest share in value. The home appliances market, with teh main items being TV sets, refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, and the like, has been totally untouched by Digiworld until the present. Viet explained that the overly high import duty of about 15 per cent was the reason why Digiworld had yet to engage in importing products for distribution and wholesale in the Vietnamese market. At the recent AGM, CEO Viet also lifted the curtain on Digiworlds intention to venture into other product segments to realise the target of reaching a market cap in the billion-dollar range. If there was a plant assembling Xiaomi products in Vietnam, the tariff barrier would disappear, providing the bedrock for us to break into this up-and-coming segment. This will be the answer for the question how Digiworld would attain an annual growth pace averaging 25 per cent in the upcoming decade, said Viet. On the sidelines of Digiworlds annual general meeting (AGM), Viet said that the company will be making an official foray into the home appliance wholesale market late this year or early next year. Hence, this new segment will make no contributions to the companys revenue and post-tax profit targets which have been set at VND15.2 trillion ($660.87 million) and VND300 billion ($13 million) for 2021. Digiworld is the exclusive distributor of Xiaomi and Huawei products in Vietnam. If we succeed in grabbing about 5-10 per cent market share of the TV market, which is now valued at about VND40 trillion ($1.74 billion), that would be remarkable. For the time being, we are distributing Xiaomi items in this segment, said Viet. The Chinese TV market is dominated by Xiaomi. In Vietnam, the TV market belongs to three top players Samsung, Sony, and LG. According to figures by the Ministry of Industry and Trades Domestic Market Department, the domestic home appliances market is valued at about $12.5-13 billion and the purchasing demand for household electronic items and kitchen devices will remain high at least to 2025. At the recent AGM, CEO Viet also lifted the curtain on Digiworlds intention to venture into other product segments to realise the target of reaching a market cap in the billion-dollar range. Accordingly, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals through acquiring firms possessing distribution channels which Digiworld doesnt have is the tactic helping the company to realise its 25 per cent annual growth target. Digiworld was also reported to have been working with several consultancy firms and targeting several firms for M&A but has yet to reach the stage of making an announcement. Last year, consumer goods fetched Digiworld VND265 billion ($11.5 million), only 2 per cent of the companys total revenue, fulfilling only 53 per cent of the projection. The solution for this disappointing performance is giving priority to finding new products as well as engaging in M&A. Digiworlds putting investment into pawnshop chain Vietmoney is an example. The company has been using Vietmoneys outlets as a lever to stimulate business activities. Accordingly, in September 2020, Vietmoney announced wrapping up its Series A funding round from Digiworld Venture and Finnish equity fund Probus Opportunities. These two partners were reported to co-manage a 30 per cent stake in Vietmoney and have seats at Vietmoneys Board of Management. According to Digiworlds report, the partners have put VND50.5 billion ($2.2 million) to possess a 21.86 per cent stake in Vietmoney. To grow into a billion-dollar company, we are seeking growth across the board, from consumer goods to supplementing new brands, customers, and sales channels. We are also constantly searching for new models towards realising the target of shaping a complete consumer ecosystem, said Nguyen Hai Khoi, Digiworlds investment director. Khoi shares that Vietmoney is providing personal financial solutions that could effectively serve Digiworlds consumer goods segment. Statistics by fintech firm FiinGroup show that around 48 per cent of the Vietnamese population have low income of below $300 per month, a potential segment for consumer lending firms. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Coordinator for the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) in Tema, Mr Percy Opata has urged the trainees to venture into entrepreneurship and stop chasing white-collar jobs. Speaking with the Ghana News Agency at Tema, he advised the trainees to take up the opportunity offered by the government through the entrepreneurship model of the programme, as it is a way to help them explore their talents, ideas and create more job opportunities in the country. According to him, with the entrepreneurship programme, those with business ideas have been encouraged to present a proposal to National Board for Small Scale Industry NBSSI, for analysis and consideration into the business sector. He appealed to government to help the youth when they present their business ideas and give them the necessary support to gear them up. For China to be where they are today, the government gave the opportunity to the young ones, and everything we are using now are from China, technology advancement, he said. He emphasized that Ghana has the raw materials that are often exported in its raw state and such ideas could help in processing them. These boys selling coconut, you do not respect them, but do you know what they make a day? You have no idea, how much do they buy it, assuming they buy one at GH1.50 and sell it GH2.50 look at the kind of profit they are making at the end of the day, it is more than you sitting in the office He said. Two or more people can collaborate and come out together with solid ideas and government will be willing to support them. he added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nika Melia to remain in custody, as per the decision of the Tbilisi City Court By Veronika Malinboym The leader of the opposition United National Movement party, Nika Melia, was refused bail earlier today, as per the decision of Judge Nino Chakhnashvili of the Tbilisi City Court.During the court hearing on April 13, Nika Melia made a number of statements, including the one which led Judge Chakhnashvili to dismiss Nika Melia from the courtroom due to him calling her a slave [of the regime. Melia stated that conditions required to let him get out of the custody are unacceptable and humiliating:If I were released today, wouldnt it demonstrate publicly to the foreign partners, that Ivanishvilis allies let their political opponent walk free based on a political decision?! Melia noted in response to the ruling of the Tbilisi City Court, according to which, he will remain in custody.Leader of the United National Movement added that in case of him being released today, representatives of the ruling party would not have been able to say that they compromised on his case, and now it is time for the opposition to make compromises in return:Thus, any conditions that are now being offered in exchange for my freedom are both unacceptable and humiliating for me, Melia added.Melia was arrested earlier this year, on February 23, in a special operation carried out by the SWAT team at the headquarters of the United National Movement. His arrest has led to series of rallies, in which the countrys opposition bloc referred to Melia as being a political prisoner and demanded his immediate arrest. The release of Nika Melia has been discussed as part of the agenda of the several rounds of EU-mediated negotiations between the ruling government and the opposition bloc, however, no concrete agreements have yet been made.Nika Melia was charged with violating the conditions of his bail, as he both took off the electronic tracking bracelet and refused to post a bail of ?40,000 within 50 weeks of the sentencing. On February 16, Georgian Parliament suspended Melias MP status and MP immunity and allowed the Prosecutors Office to request his arrest. On February 17, Tbilisi City Court satisfied the request of the Prosecutors Office and ruled in favor of Melias arrest. The original Immersive Van Gogh has risen to blockbuster status, becoming the hottest ticket to hold. Immersive Van Gogh sold out its run in Toronto, has sold out and extended its run in Chicago, and San Francisco opened in March, where its first month is sold-out. Following the Los Angeles, New York, and Denver ticket sales announcements, each market sold out rapidly and have since extended their runs with additional tickets now available. Immersive Van Gogh is the latest creation by the world-renowned master of digital art, Italy's Massimiliano Siccardi, who for 30 years has been pioneering immersive exhibitions in Europe. Over 2 million visitors have seen his magnificent installations. With the help of 60,600 frames of video, 90,000,000 pixels, and 500,000+ cubic feet of projections, this captivating digital art exhibit merges state-of-the-art technology, theatrical storytelling, and world-class animation. It gives guests the rare opportunity to "step inside" and experience the incredible post-Impressionist works of Van Gogh like never before. Immersive Van Gogh will be making its mark at a secret location to be determined. The original Immersive Van Gogh is a spectacular, vivid, and breathtaking digital art experience that invites audiences to enter the legendary works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Goghevoking his highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness through art, light, music, movement, and imagination. Featuring stunning towering projections that illuminate the artistic genius's mind, the exhibition showcases a curated selection of images from Van Gogh's 2,000+ lifetime catalog of masterpieces, including Les Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), La Nuit etoilee (Starry Night, 1889), Les tournesols (Sunflowers, 1887), and La Chambre a coucher (The Bedroom, 1888). Paintings will be presented how the artist first saw the scenes, based on an active life and moving landscapes turned into sharp yet sweeping brush strokes. Creative Director and Italian film producer Massimiliano Siccardi has pioneered the art form with Immersive Van Gogh and taken it to an unmatched and unprecedented level. Van Gogh once said, "I dream my painting, and I paint my dreams." Siccardi and his award-winning creative team have made Van Gogh's dream come alive by creating unprecedented movements in the masterpieces. The exhibition also contains original, mood-setting music by Italian multimedia composer Luca Longobardi and Vittorio Guidotti as the Art Director. The hour-long, timed-entry, walk-through experience is designed with health and safety as a priority. Capacity will be limited in accordance with the City of Columbus' safety protocols. Additional safety precautions include touchless ticket-taking, temperature checks upon arrival, hand sanitizer stations, social distancing markers throughout the venue, and digitally projected social distancing circles on the gallery floors to ensure appropriate spacing. All guests must wear a face covering at all times during their visit. "We've created a unique and enthralling production that functions safely during this pandemic," says Co-Producer, Svetlana Dvoretsky. "Hundreds of thousands of guests have seen Immersive Van Gogh in small, socially-distanced safe groups. It is an honor to bring the arts back into peoples' lives during these times," adds Co-Producer, Corey Ross. "Despite being unknown throughout his life, Van Gogh's artwork has created a lasting impact through its emotional richness and simple beauty," said Massimiliano Siccardi, Immersive Van Gogh designer. "Both myself and Luca Longobardi are very excited to visit Columbus and once again bring Van Gogh's legacy to life in a way that embraces this city's one-of-a-kind energy." Immersive Van Gogh has received rave reviews from critics worldwide. The Chicago Tribune wrote, "entire rooms pulse with imagery and emotional resonance." While the Chicago Time Out described the exhibit as, "The future of experiential art." San Francisco Chronicle , "After a year without big, splashy art happenings, this is a huge, indulgent way to dive back in." The Toronto Sun declared, "the mind-blowing imagery, brings van Gogh's best work to life including Sunflower, Irises, and The Starry Night for a cathartic and liberating experience. Immersive Van Gogh ups the emotional ante." Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star stated, "I wondered: could projections of paintings on walls and floors be thrilling? The answer is 'yes.'" Called a "completely new way of encountering art" by CTV and a "blockbuster digital experience that has taken the art world by storm" by Artnet News, the exhibit "cleverly embraces creativity," according to Washington Post. For more information about Immersive Van Gogh, visit https://www.immersivevangogh.com/ . Follow the exhibition on social media on Instagram , and Facebook . SOURCE Lighthouse Immersive Related Links http://www.immersivevangogh.com/ Andrew Yangs two campaign managers, his press secretary, his policy director and multiple senior advisers dont actually work for his New York City mayoral campaign. Theyre employed by Tusk Strategies, a lobbying firm thats regularly hired by clients to advocate for or against bills that are being considered by the City Council and the mayor. And the arrangement raises concerns about what kind of access this lobbying firm and the private clients that hire Tusk would have to the mayor if Yang were to win the election. We believe that it is improper for the same firm to be both a campaign consultant, and then lobby the person that they helped to elect, said Susan Lerner, executive director of good-government group Common Cause New York. Consultants build a special relationship of trust with the candidate, and Lerner added theyre increasingly cashing in on that relationship. Thats exactly what Yang co-campaign manager Chris Coffey drew attention for in 2018. While employed at Tusk, he had been a paid adviser on New York City Council Member Corey Johnsons effort to get elected speaker in 2017. Johnson won, and Coffey continued to lobby Johnson on behalf of Tusk clients, including the New York City Police Benevolent Association and New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets, a group that opposes the horse carriages in Central Park. Other leading mayoral clients also have registered lobbyists consulting on their campaigns. For just a few examples, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is consulted by Global Strategy Group, which also has a lobbying practice. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams employs Pitta LLP, a consulting firm run by the same people as Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno, a lobbying firm. And former Citigroup Vice Chair Ray McGuire has hired Greenberg Traurig for compliance, and the group also has a lobbying practice. But none of those firms are as central to the candidates operation as Tusk is to Yangs. And with Yang having led all the public polls so far, its not too early to consider what position the firm would be in if Yang won. Coffey and Yangs other co-campaign manager, Sasha Ahuja, both work for Tusk Strategies, as do Yangs press secretary Jake Sporn, policy director Erika Tannor, senior adviser Eric Soufer and senior communications adviser Alex Sommer. They all also continue to work for Tusk Strategies other corporate clients at the same time even if Yangs campaign takes up most of their days. Tusk Strategies runs issue campaigns for clients, and formal lobbying on the city level is a relatively small part of the companys business. They were ranked 24th in total lobbying compensation in 2019, far behind more traditional shops like Kasirer or Bolton-St. Johns. However, with 44 employees, it was the largest lobbying firm in the city in 2020, making Tusk primed for growth if it were to help elect a favored mayor. City lobbying reports show that Tusk has active contracts with at least two clients with business before the City Council: Latch, a smartdoor startup lobbying on data privacy regulations, and Pymetrics, which sells an AI-based hiring tool and is lobbying on a bill that would regulate programs doing just that. These tech clients arguing (presumably) against regulation is typical for Tusk Strategies, the firm founded by Bradley Tusk, who worked as an aide to then-New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and as campaign manager for his successful 2009 reelection campaign. Tusks firm got in with Uber early and helped it become the behemoth that it is now by crushing regulations that would have slowed its growth. Much of Tusk Strategies work now follows that playbook. Ahead of the 2017 mayoral election, Tusk engaged in a highly public attempt to recruit a serious challenger to take on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in the Democratic primary. It failed, and de Blasio won easily. But Tusk apparently never gave up the dream of replacing de Blasio. Opportunity emerged in the form of Andrew Yang, a politically gifted, tech-friendly presidential candidate who happened to live in New York City. When Yang dropped out of the presidential race in February 2020, Tusk Strategies reached out. They kept the conversation going with Yang throughout the entire year, and revisited the idea of him running for mayor in November, after the presidential election. Yang and Tusk worked out the details in December, and formally launched the mayoral campaign in January. Yang and his communications team led by Tusk have dominated the conversation around the race since day one. In Yang, Bradley Tusk found someone who shared his big business-friendly, politically moderate worldview. He opposes tax increases and certainly buys into the same notion that you do and I do, the people will vote with their feet, Tusk said to Fox Business host Stuart Varney in an April 9 TV appearance. Tusk also said Yang was fully a private-sector person and is really taking positions that are a bit at odds with the Democratic orthodoxy on things like education, referencing Yang blaming the teachers union for keeping schools closed. Powerful lobbyists have helped elect mayors in New York City before. Politico New York reported on the way lobbyists from Capalino + Company were entrenched in de Blasios government throughout his first term. Capalino did not formally work on de Blasios campaign, but the firms founder James Capalino was a friend of de Blasio who raised money for the mayors campaign and his political nonprofit. The companys lobbying earnings soared after de Blasio took office. And though public relations firm BerlinRosen does not formally lobby, its influence in de Blasios City Hall was the subject of intense speculation and scrutiny, particularly in the mayors first term. BerlinRosen consulted on de Blasios mayoral campaign, and one of its founders, Jonathan Rosen, was one of the agents of the city with whom de Blasio unsuccessfully tried to shield his communications from the public. While Capalino was fined for specific fundraising practices and Rosen had to deal with the lawsuit over disclosing emails, there was nothing inherently illegal about helping get a candidate elected, and then profiting off of that relationship through a government relations business. When a firm has been representing a candidate and that candidate wins, obviously that firm is going to get more and more business theres no question about that, said Betsy Gotbaum, a former New York City public advocate and current executive director of Citizens Union. I think there is an ethical question, that probably something should be done about it but I dont know what should be done about it. But even if Gotbaum doesnt have a solution, her organization is willing to draw a hard line when public money is involved. Taxpayer dollars shouldnt be used to foster a practice thats going to give a disproportionate influence to the few at the expense of the public, said Rachel Bloom, director of public policy and programs at Citizens Union. Up until now, Yangs mayoral campaign has been fully funded by private donors. But he has opted into the citys public matching funds program, and the Campaign Finance Board is expected to approve a payment of more than $4 million in public funds to Yang on Thursday money that would help pay for Tusk Strategies services. Would a Mayor Yang be able to avoid giving favored lobbyists special access? Asked in March if there had been discussions with Tusk about how to deal with the firms clients and potential conflicts of interest, Yang dodged the question. Were laser-focused on making a positive case to New Yorkers and winning this race, he said. Thats all Im paying attention to. Yangs campaign did not say whether there had been such discussions, but said Yang would run things differently than de Blasio. Anyone who works for or with the Yang for NY campaign will be subject to the strictest ethical guidelines in a Yang administration. No agents of the city. No exception, said Yang communications director Alyssa Cass. Instead, voters will finally get the independent, transparent and accountable leadership they deserve. But government ethics advocates like Lerner would like to see more than just a promise. We are advocates for there being a code of conduct for campaign consultants, she said. Theres no oversight on this. Its the Wild West. While it seemed like an "American Idol" judge will most likely be the talk of Monday night's first live show, it was Wyatt Pike's decision to drop out that kept everyone buzzing. Just as Ryan Seacrest was about to announce the Top 12 finalists, he said, "Before we get to the results, I have to tell you that finalist Wyatt Pike will not be competing in the competition." Seacrest, a longtime host of the show, added, "He had to drop out. But we wish him the very best." Wyatt Pike left "American Idol" without any explanation and he wasn't mentioned further on the show. On Twitter, fans wondered what happened to the 19-year-old songwriter. Reactions ranged from prying to extreme worry. Some fans even admitted that Wyatt Pike was their favorite competition. Why Did Wyatt Pike Leave 'American Idol' Wyatt Pike's exit from the show seemed extremely abrupt, since he still appeared on Sunday's show then left before Monday's show. The Sunday show was pre-taped while Monday's show was live, so that means there's a gap between those two between a few days or even weeks. However, not much information was given during the live show but a few hours later, a representative told People magazine that Wyatt Pike left because of "personal reasons." READ ALSO: 'American Idol' Wyatt Pike Dropped Out of the Competition: Here's Why Where is Wyatt Pike? Looking at Wyatt Pike's social media post seemed to suggest that he left the competition in early April. On Apr. 4, he was still asking people to vote for him but last week, he posted an Instagram from his hometown, Park City, Utah. The first photo showed a landscape picture while the second showed a photo of what seemed to be him driving. Pike captioned the post, "Something to feel this through: home. Thankful for the rollercoaster I'm on today." He gained over 10,000 Instagram followers in three hours because fans immediately went to his account to search for clues. However, as per the Washington Post, it seemed like he's still in Los Angeles, and not in Utah. "His latest post, from five days ago, showed a picture of his hometown. But according to a comment he wrote, he still appeared to be in Los Angeles, where "Idol" is filmed," the publication said. What's Going To Happen to 'American Idol' Now That They Lack One Competitor? Wyatt Pike was considered to be one of the frontrunners in the competition, after impressing judges with the original song he wrote for his sister "Best For You." AI judge Lionel Ritchie described him as a "fabulous storyteller" and even called him "Park City James Taylor." But because Wyatt Pike left "American Idol," it has given the ABC show a chance for a new twist. Instead of bringing back an eliminated contestant from this year, "American Idol" will be giving ten contestants from last year's season a second chance to compete. READ MORE: Usher and His Fake Money Debunked: How The Rumor That He Tipped 'Ushbucks' To Adult Entertainers Started See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 22:30:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Published on April 13, the local amendment bill mainly comprises six areas, including reconstituting the Election Committee, providing for the method for selecting the chief executive, updating the composition and formation of the LegCo, and the candidates' eligibility, among others. -- HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam hopes the draft will be passed by lawmakers by the end of May. Hong Kong will hold the elections of the Election Committee, the seventh-term LegCo, and the sixth-term chief executive on Sept. 19, 2021, Dec. 19, 2021 and March 27, 2022, respectively. -- "Now the electoral system suits Hong Kong's reality, has broader representation of society, and encourages more balanced and orderly political participation," said Anthony Wu, chairman of the Hong Kong Island Youth Organization Union. HONG KONG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's legislature on Wednesday started deliberating a widely-anticipated bill on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the latest effort to put the global financial hub back on track after disturbances in recent years. The draft laws, in a package named the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021, were brought to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the first and second reading at a meeting early afternoon. The local amendment came after China's top legislature on March 30 adopted the amended Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, concerning methods for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the formation of the LegCo. Erick Tsang, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs of the HKSAR government, stressed the necessity of the amendment when speaking at the meeting. The legislature was repeatedly plunged into chaos in recent years, including by the storming of rioters and malicious filibusters, resulting in the government nearly losing its power to govern Hong Kong, Tsang said. Published on Tuesday, the local amendment bill mainly comprises six areas, including reconstituting the Election Committee, providing for the method for selecting the chief executive, updating the composition and formation of the LegCo, and the candidates' eligibility, among others. Photo taken on April 14, 2021 shows the scene of a conference of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), south China. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) It is a very tight schedule for lawmakers to review the over-500-page bill in the coming weeks, said Martin Liao, chairman of the LegCo bills committee responsible for the draft. He vowed all-out efforts to complete the deliberations at an early date. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Tuesday that she hopes the draft will be passed by lawmakers by the end of May. The HKSAR government will fully cooperate in the work of the LegCo in scrutinizing the bill and strive for its early passage so that three major elections can be held on schedule in the next 12 months, Lam said. Elections of the Election Committee, the seventh-term LegCo, and the sixth-term chief executive will take place on Sept. 19, 2021, Dec. 19, 2021 and March 27, 2022, respectively. Aerial photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows citizens displaying 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. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Improving the electoral system came as another major step after last year's national security legislation to ensure peace and prosperity of the global financial hub. It is "obviously necessary," Grenville Cross, British barrister and former director of public prosecutions in Hong Kong, said, stressing the move is fully justified after the social unrest in 2019 and the subversive activities to take control of Hong Kong's governance through electoral loopholes last year. The "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle is also hardly uncommon, he said. "This is the case in countries around the world. People have to have the best interests of their country at heart. Otherwise, there's no future for them in democratic politics." Under the electoral improvement, the membership of the Election Committee, which elects the HKSAR chief executive and part of LegCo members and nominates LegCo candidates, has been expanded from 1,200 to 1,500. The number of LegCo members has also been increased from 70 to 90. Anthony Wu, chairman of the Hong Kong Island Youth Organization Union, believes the electoral changes will advance Hong Kong's democratic progress. "Now the electoral system suits Hong Kong's reality, has broader representation of society, and encourages more balanced and orderly political participation," he said, adding that he is looking forward to more youth representatives joining the electoral system. A pedestrian walks past a poster on improving electoral system and ensuring patriots administering Hong Kong in south China's Hong Kong, March 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) Improving the electoral system has become a consensus in Hong Kong. Over 2.38 million people signed a petition in March to show their support and a survey said some 70 percent of respondents believe the improved electoral system will brighten Hong Kong's prospects. The new democratic electoral system will prevent the political chaos seen over the recent years and restore a reasonable, orderly legislative climate, Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said. "Thereafter we can focus on improving people's living standards and reviving the economy." Yuen Mo, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, said, "We hope the LegCo will approve the bill as soon as possible to lay a solid foundation for a stable society and a prosperous economy in Hong Kong." (Video reporters: Zhang Yichi, Lau Chin wai; Video editor: Zhang Yucheng) After more than a year of anxiety that someone in her multigenerational household would bring home the coronavirus and expose elderly grandparents and great-grandparents to a possibly fatal disease, Vanessa Bain was breathing a lot easier by the end of March. Almost everyone in their Menlo Park home had had at least one dose of vaccine. And then her husband tested positive. Within days so did her grandfather and great-grandmother, along with Bain and her teenage daughter, who was too young to be vaccinated. Their story is both a cautionary tale and a celebration of vaccines. Yes, one or more members of the household may be so-called breakthrough cases people who get sick after being fully vaccinated. But her grandfather and great-grandmother, ages 81 and 95, and considered very high risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, are doing OK despite testing positive. Both of them seem to be showing relatively mild symptoms. I think that means the vaccine was effective at preventing them from ending up in the hospital, which is fantastic, said Bain, 35, who is still not feeling well about two weeks after testing positive herself. Im really glad they got the vaccine even though they got COVID. I think things would be really different if they hadnt. Nearly 30% of Californians age 16 and older those who are approved for the vaccines thus far are now fully immunized, according to state data. As those numbers continue to climb, public health officials are increasingly interested in breakthrough cases, which are defined as people who test positive and have symptoms of COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. These cases should be rare and are fully expected. The vaccines are not 100% effective, and with the virus still circulating fairly widely across California, a few cases in people who are fully vaccinated are bound to happen. California doesnt yet publicly report breakthrough cases, but a survey of Bay Area counties found more than 100 confirmed or suspected. The breakthrough cases are important to track because they could provide useful clues to how the vaccines work and how the virus is changing. Breakthrough cases will help infectious disease experts identify new variants that could be evading vaccines. They will help public health officials understand how long vaccine immunity lasts and whether, or when, they need to start giving boosters. Pressure is mounting on public health authorities to create a national or state database of breakthrough cases. Such cases will likely occur in low enough numbers that county-level data wont reveal important trends, such as the demographics of who is becoming infected or what strains of the virus are breaking through. Right now lots of people are collecting cases individually in different regions, but we need all of them and as quickly as possible, said Stacia Wyman, senior genomics scientist at the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley, where her team is sequencing breakthrough cases. It is an issue that needs to be studied en masse, with every possible sample gathered together. This needs to have been organized yesterday. Somewhat ironically, breakthrough cases will provide reassurance that the vaccines are working as advertised, as was the case with Bains family. Though at least seven members of the family ended up testing positive for the virus, three of them were only partially vaccinated and one wasnt vaccinated at all. Most important to Bain: The vaccines protected the most vulnerable people in her home from serious illness. In studies, the two main vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, were found to be more than 90% effective at preventing mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, but essentially 100% at preventing hospitalization and death. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is about 75% effective at preventing moderate disease and also close to 100% at preventing hospitalization and death. The hospitalization and death data are key to reopening California and moving past the worst days of the pandemic. If people who are vaccinated rarely or never end up in the hospital or die, then the states public health response need not be so aggressive. Indeed, one of the main metrics toward the planned California reopening June 15 is keeping hospitalizations low, especially among those who have been vaccinated. State officials havent said when, or if, they will make that information publicly available. The vaccines appear to be holding up extraordinarily well so far, public health experts said. Of the suspected breakthrough cases identified by counties, many are in people who dont have symptoms but tested positive during routine screening or because they had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19. There are only a handful of reports of people hospitalized with COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. Weve given in Northern California over a million and half doses now. Of the people who are fully vaccinated, weve seen a total of one case get hospitalized, said Dr. Stephen Parodi, associate executive director of the Permanente Medical Group with Kaiser Permanente. Thats encouraging. Sonoma County has identified about 30 suspected or confirmed breakthrough cases, and San Mateo County about 40. Marin County has had six, said Dr. Matt Willis, the health officer. I suspect thats an undercount, he said. Whats important is that these cases are milder, theyre shorter duration of illness, and less severe. The California Department of Public Health has given counties criteria for tracking and investigating suspected breakthrough cases, and has said the cases will be prioritized for genomic sequencing to determine if worrisome variants are the source of infection. Studies have found that two variants first identified in South Africa and Brazil both of which have been detected in the Bay Area are somewhat resistant to vaccines. Infectious disease experts say the vaccines should still provide strong protection, but they want more information to back up that assumption. And those arent the only variants that could cause problems. The coronavirus frequently mutates, and is more likely to develop mutations that help it evade vaccines as more people are vaccinated. Wyman is about to launch a study with Kaiser to use genomic sequencing to look for mutations that may assist the virus in infecting people who are fully vaccinated, she said. Shes trying to get another study started at UC Berkeley that would do genomic testing on every positive test result that comes through campus labs, and would similarly try to identify concerning new variants. The hunt for variants is just one reason to study breakthrough cases. As more cases are logged, doctors may identify trends that help them figure out who is most at risk of disease after being vaccinated. They will be especially interested in cases that show up in the first groups of people to be vaccinated, who will be the vanguard of waning immunity the first to fall ill as vaccine protection fades away, Willis said. And hopefully everyone feel more reassured that the vaccines are holding up, and its safe to reopen and resume pre-pandemic life. Its important to recognize that we dont expect perfection, but we are preventing a lot of illness and death, said Dr. Catherine Blish, an infectious disease expert at Stanford. If anything, the vaccines are performing even better than we would have anticipated. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday (Natural News) A New Jersey man has been hospitalized after testing positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) despite receiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine less than a month before. His wife said he is in critical condition. Francisco Cosme, 52, received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the Javits Center mass vaccination site in New York City on March 6. According to his wife, Laura Eugene, he started feeling sick on April 1. (Related: Mass vaccination site in Colorado shut down after people experience adverse reactions from Johnson & Johnson vaccine.) He started to feel like he had a sore throat stuffy, his coughing and then he started to run a fever, started to feel fatigue, said Eugene. He just gets it every day just kept on getting a symptom. Eugene immediately brought her husband to get tested for COVID-19. The test came back positive. His condition deteriorated after a week, and he was rushed to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Union City, New Jersey. As of press time, Cosme is being treated for pneumonia. Doctors are not sure whether his condition will improve with time. I think hes more concerned about me, so I try to stay positive so he can see that Im okay so that he can fight. I need him to fight, said Eugene. I want to see from now whether he progresses or if he deteriorates or they just dont know which way, because they cant tell. Eugene said she and her husband were thrilled when they learned they could get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it was one and done. In addition to her husband, Eugene said her son and grandchildren have also tested positive for COVID-19. She said her son and grandchildren visited her home after she and her husband got vaccinated. Cosmes daughter, Michelle Torres, was with her father after he got vaccinated. She said her father continued to follow social distancing guidelines after receiving the vaccine, but his behavior became erratic soon after. He started becoming very confused and did things he would not normally do. Im trying to hold it together, every day you dont know what is happening. The doctor said they did all they can do and its up to him to fight and up to God, said Torres. We survived the whole year without [the vaccine. We did all the things we are supposed to do social distancing, washing hands and masking up Its crazy and we need answers. Listen to this special Situation Update breaking news episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how the antibodies created by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine cause blood clots in the brain, lungs and heart. He also delves into how the situation caused by this vaccine has gotten so bad that even the Food and Drugs Administration has called for a nationwide halt to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. New Jersey officials say taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still a good idea Since the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was released, the companys inoculation has been riddled with controversies. At least four different mass vaccination sites had to suspend their events after multiple people experienced adverse reactions. On April 9, eight people experienced adverse reactions after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at a mass vaccination event in Forsyth County, Georgia. Another site in Iowa had to be shut down on the same day after reports of adverse reactions. Two more mass vaccination events, one in Colorado and another in North Carolina, were also shut down. They both used the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has been making excuses for Johnson & Johnson. Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said on Monday during a coronavirus media briefing that the state was aware of Cosmes situation and that it was possible for vaccinated individuals to contract the virus. It will happen, she said. The efficacy could be closer to 100 percent, but there are also a percentage of cases that are either, [they] contracted COVID-19 before they got vaccinated or were exposed afterward and will fall ill. Eddy Bresnitz, a medical advisor for the NJDOH, echoed Persichillis statement that the breakthrough coronavirus cases are to be expected, We know from the pivotal trials the Phase III trials that vaccines like the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccine, for example, they prevented and the Johnson vaccine prevented severe disease and hospitalizations and deaths, said Bresnitz. There will be cases of breakthrough disease, if not in New Jersey, throughout the country and elsewhere. Theyre not likely to be very sick and hospitalized. New Jerseys Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, said Cosmes case was an outlier and this incident should not scare New Jerseyans from getting vaccinated. There are so few cases in Jersey, in the country, in the world where someone has been infected after the vaccine, said Murphy. I would just not want anyone out there to assume that thats the norm, because it isnt. Theres no data at all that suggests that. Learn more about breakthrough COVID-19 cases, as well as the adverse reactions people have experienced after taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ABC7NY.com NJ.com Industry Update Appointment 14 April 2021 Tom Dixon Appointed Designer At Pan Pacific London, United Kingdom Pan Pacific London is delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio for their destination bar in Devonshire House. Set to launch Autumn 2021 this appointment will further cement Pan Pacific London's commitment to combining world-class design with hospitality to encourage a new generation of guests to make the City of London their home away from home. Pan Pacific Hotels Group Pan Pacific Hotels Group Limited is a listed hotel subsidiary of Singapore-listed UOL Group Limited, one of Asias most established hotel and property companies with an outstanding portfolio of investment and development properties. more information Recent Appointments at Pan Pacific Jean-Philippe Jacopin - General Manager 10 February 2021 Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed industry veteran Jean-Philippe Jacopin as general manager of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering. Jacopin hails from a family of hoteliers, and his thirty-year career has seen him hold senior management positions for some of the world's leading hospitality brands in Europe and Asia-Pacific. read more Margaret Paul - General Manager 19 January 2021 Prior to joining Pan Pacific Singapore, Paul was the managing director of Emerald Palace Kempinski, Dubai and Kempinski Hotel Residences Palm Jumeirah. In total, the hotelier worked for 16 years with the Jumeirah Group both in London and Dubai, progressing to the role of general manager of the iconic Burj Al Arab and prior to that, was general manager of Madinat Jumeirah overseeing four hotels. read more Pfizer's Covid vaccine has cut emergency hospital admissions for the disease by three quarters in elderly people, an NHS study has found. Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the health service in England, said 'vaccines are successfully reducing hospitalisations and deaths'. Internal figures showed Covid admissions in A&E were down 76 per cent among vaccinated people aged 80 to 83, and positive tests fell 70 per cent. The improvements were seen from 35 days after people's first vaccine doses and based on eight out of 10 getting their second jab within four weeks. Therefore, the findings are not specifically about effectiveness after either one dose or two doses. Everyone in the study was given the Pfizer vaccine because they were enrolled in December, before the AstraZeneca jab started to be used. The research comes as NHS England statistics show that over-65s now make up a smaller proportion of hospital patients than they did before vaccines, accounting for 49 per cent in March compared to 70 per cent in December. The study found a clear reduction in the rates of positive tests, A&E visits and hospital admissions for Covid for people who were vaccinated (blue line) compared to people of a similar age who weren't vaccinated (orange line). It found that, as the time since vaccination increased, the effect became stronger (purple line), with A&E attendances and hospital admissions dropping to 75 per cent lower than in non-vaccinated people Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, today said the vaccine rollout is going 'extremely well' Separate NHS data show that an average of 175 people are now admitted to hospital with Covid each day in England. The number is a fraction of the 4,000 per day at the height of the second wave in January Sir Simon revealed the three-quarters drop in emergency admissions in a talk with the Health Service Journal today. The figures came from a study of real-world data by NHS England and the University of Manchester. The study used figures from 170,000 people aged between 80 and 83 and compared them to those from unvaccinated 76 to 79-year-olds, who weren't eligible for jabs at the time. Looking at the risk of being admitted to hospital with Covid, and the likelihood of testing positive for the virus, researchers found both were much lower after vaccination. The research covered the worst parts of the second wave, beginning on December 15 and ending on February 3. Nobody in the study had been diagnosed with Covid before it started and they all lived in the community rather than in care homes. The scientists wrote: 'The [Pfizer] mRNA vaccine is effective at reducing Covid-19 hospitalisations and infections. 'The nationwide vaccination of older adults in England with the [Pfizer] mRNA vaccine reduced the burden of Covid-19.' NHS England data revealed 51 per cent of patients in hospital were under-65, compared to 49 per cent in the over-65s age group. The above graph pictures the results Just 175 Covid patients were admitted to hospitals across England on Sunday, Department of Health data shows. This is the lowest level since mid-September when ministers were happy to allow Britons to sit inside pubs despite no one being jabbed ALL OF ENGLAND WILL GET LOCAL LONG COVID CLINIC, NHS CHIEF VOWS Every local NHS board in England will get a long Covid clinic so people have a 'clear front door' to go to to get help. Sir Simon Stevens, NHS England's chief executive, pledged that at least 83 clinics will be open by the end of April. 63 are already up and running, he said. Speaking at a Health Service Journal event the medical boss said: 'We want to make sure that the health service continues to expand its offer for long Covid.' Official statistics suggest more than half a million people were still feeling ill more than 12 weeks after contracting the virus. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, exhaustion, weakness and brain fog. Sir Simon said every integrated care system would have a long Covid clinic. Integrated care systems generally cover one or two counties and are comprised of NHS and council care services, including GP practices and hospitals. Advertisement Sir Simon told the HSJ: 'Vaccines are successfully reducing hospitalisations and deaths amongst the cohorts that have had the vaccine. 'Data that we have analysed shows a 75 per cent reduction in emergency Covid hospitalisations for the vaccination cohorts and, as more and more people are vaccinated, that effect will widen.' The medical chief said officials would have to 'track very carefully' infection rates as lockdown rules are eased, but added the vaccine rollout was 'going extremely well'. His comments come as separate data show that an average of 175 people are now admitted to hospital with Covid each day in England. The number is a fraction of the 4,000 per day at the height of the second wave in January. Department of Health statistics show hospitalisations slipped to mid-September levels on Sunday, the most recent figures. But this number is just for one day, and not the official seven-day average, which is slightly higher at 224. Nonetheless, this rate is also at the same level as it was in mid-September. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told The Times: 'The relative decline (in hospitalisations) in older age groups is most certainly due to the vaccine.' The Prime Minister warned yesterday it was 'important for everyone to understand that the reduction in these numbers in hospitalisations, and in deaths and infections, has not been achieved by vaccination programme'. 'People don't, I think, appreciate that it's the lockdown that has been overwhelmingly important in delivering this improvement in the pandemic. 'Of course the vaccination programme has helped, but the bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown. 'So, as we unlock, the result will inevitably be we will see more infection, sadly we will see more hospitalisation and deaths. People have just got to understand that.' Thank you for Reading. As a community service, our obituaries are always free to view. In order to better know our audience, we ask that you register to continuing viewing. IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union ($1.7B, Moline, IL) is helping members achieve financial health and wellness by focusing on the organization first, then reaching out to its circles of stakeholders. Executing on that philosophy is the responsibility of Ann McMillian, the Prairie State cooperatives chief financial health officer. McMillian is now in her 21st year with IHMVCU, where she began in internal audit and has since held the titles of vice president of operations, executive vice president of sales, and chief operating officer. At her behest, she took on her new role in January 2020. The irony is not lost on me that my title change happened right before COVID-19 and the economic shutdown, McMillian says. MUNICH, Germany, April 14, 2021. This evolution not only incorporates feedback from customers, but also reflects the huge amount of achievements CARUSO accomplished in the last years. Customers can simply discover, subscribe to, and manage all available data items and packages from a variety of vehicle manufacturers. Interested parties can easily sign up for a three-month trial here at https://portal.caruso-dataplace.com/auth/sign-up. CARUSO's platform enables customers to easily build solutions based on a wide variety of use cases. For example, fleet managers can monitor their cars in real time, workshops can plan the next service due in advance. Insurance companies can be informed about car accidents and regulate damages more easily. Roadside assistance companies can receive instant and proactive information regarding the respective car's location and status with the help of connected car data. At all stages of the marketplace development, user feedback cycles were included to ensure that the final product fulfills the customers' needs. "I like the new identity. It's positive, fresh, pretty straight forward, and it's much more targeted," said Mario Filchev, Executive Officer at OBI+ and customer of CARUSO. Tina Rauschenbach, Head of Customer Experience at Caruso GmbH, adds, "One important aspect for us was to hide the underlying technical complexity from our users. Our customers are driving innovations and our marketplace aims to be the best tool to support them in this challenge." Data flowing through CARUSO's platform is protected and handled 100% GDPR-compliant. Via their harmonized, OEM-independent interface, customers receive vehicle-generated data regardless of the manufacturer. This minimizes the effort on the consumer side, as only the interface to CARUSO has to be implemented. About Caruso GmbH From Connected Cars to Connected Business. CARUSO is a neutral, open, and secure mobility data marketplace. The platform enables third parties to consume data standardized across multiple vehicle manufacturers. Additionally, their built-in consent management technology ensures data privacy by giving vehicle end-users full control over data sharing. With that, CARUSO empowers its customers to easily build life-improving solutions based on data from connected cars. The company vision is to unleash innovation by being the better platform for car data. For more information, visit www.caruso-dataplace.com follow on Twitterand LinkedIn. Company Contact Tina Rauschenbach Head of Customer Experience customerexperience@caruso-dataplace.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58ab8cc0-f211-453c-92bd-93e5b82498d8 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - All US troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, 2020, which marks the 20th anniversary of the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on American soil. White House officials announced on Tuesday that after a rigorous policy review, President Biden has decided to draw down the remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan and finally end the U.S. war there after 20 years. The drawdown of the remaining around 2,500 soldiers in the war-ravaged country will begin before May 1. The remaining U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will be the force required to protect its diplomatic personnel in that country. On Wednesday, Biden will make a formal announcement regarding this. The official said the troops are withdrawing after the United States achieved the objective of delivering justice to the 9/11 attackers, and disrupting terrorists seeking to use Afghanistan as a safe haven to attack the U.S. 'We judge the threat against the homeland now emanating from Afghanistan to be at a level that we can address it without a persistent military footprint in the country and without remaining at war with the Taliban'. Washington is ending the military operations while focusing on its efforts on supporting the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan diplomatically. The White House said the President and his team took the decision after consulting with his Cabinet, members of Congress, the Afghan government, NATO Allies, partners who are still serving alongside the United States in Afghanistan, as well as other donor nations, regional powers, and former Democratic and Republican officials. The Biden administration warned the Taliban that any attacks on U.S. troops during the withdrawal will be met with a forceful response. At a news conference, the administration official admitted that a potential threat for the reemergence of al Qaeda in the region, following a drawdown of U.S. and coalition forces, remains. The longest war by United States abroad has cost it trillions of dollars and the lives of more than 2,000 soldiers. Negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban are ongoing, while the Afghan government often left on the sidelines, with no breakthrough achieved on any peace deal. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Dr. Edwin McDonald IV joins the board of Common Threads I am honored to join the board of Common Threads, an organization whose mission so closely mirrors my previous work in the community, Edwin McDonald IV, M.D. said. We need to continue to invest resources in nutrition education as communities recover from the realities of COVID. Common Threads, a national nonprofit organization that provides cooking and nutrition education to children in under-resourced communities, today announced the appointment of Edwin McDonald IV M.D., assistant professor of medicine and associate clinical director of Adult Clinical Nutrition for University of Chicago Medicine, to its national board of directors. Dr. McDonald will be a terrific asset to Common Threads national board, said Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, board vice chair and an obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Ed has a way of reaching the community in an authentic way, which will certainly help Common Threads as it continues to educate children and families on the connections between what we eat and our overall health. As a national board member, McDonald will help Common Threads develop relationships with programmatic and funding partners to help the organization fulfill its mission. He has already started collaborating with Common Threads on a project for the Oakwood Shores, a mixed income property in the historical Bronzeville community, where Common Threads cooking lessons will be paired with health education sessions. Since the onset of COVID, Common Threads programming has occurred almost exclusively online. In the 2020-2021 academic year, the organization expects to reach nearly 40,000 children, parents and teachers in Chicago and its 11 other markets. I am honored to join the board of Common Threads, an organization whose mission so closely mirrors my previous work in the community, McDonald said. We need to continue to invest resources in nutrition education as communities recover from the realities of COVID. McDonald is a gastroenterologist who works with patients with small bowel diseases, obesity and other conditions affecting the digestive system. He has worked for many years with Project Brotherhood, an health care clinic dedicated to providing accessible, affordable care for Black men on Chicagos South Side. McDonald has used creative approaches to help improve community health, teaching barbers to serve as health educators and earning a culinary arts certificate from Kendall College to better equip himself to give cooking demonstrations in under-resourced communities. McDonald received his medical education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed fellowships at Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago Medicine. About Common Threads Common Threads is a national nonprofit that provides children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits that contribute to wellness. We equip under-resourced communities with information to make affordable, nutritious and appealing food choices wherever they live, work, learn, and play. We know that food is rooted in culture and tradition so we promote diversity in our lessons and recipes, encouraging our participants to celebrate the world around them. For more information on Common Threads, visit http://www.commonthreads.org, @CommonThreadsOrg (Instagram and Facebook) or @CommonThreadsUS on Twitter. Jon Henschens March 31, 2021 article on American Thinker, A Cult of Victimhood addresses what he describes as the world of the Victimhood Cult, where the victim is the only moral authority in society. He discusses the Frankfurt Schools concept of Critical Theory and comments on Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidts The Coddling of the American Mind and Scott Kaufmans Scientific American article, Unraveling the Mindset of Victimhood. Henschen opens his article with a discussion of the Frankfurt School, which was founded in 1923 with the aim of developing Marxist studies in Germany that operated out of Goethe University in Frankfurt. After the Nazi takeover in 1933, the Frankfurt School relocated to Columbia University in New York City. According to Henschen, the influence of the Frankfurt School has been far reaching, with Critical Theory their primary focus, which has a preoccupation for critiquing modernity and capitalist society. Unable to attract converts to communism due to capitalisms abundant material wealth, the cultural Marxism of Critical Theory perpetuates discontent by dividing people by race, sex, and class with individuals falling into either oppressed or oppressor roles. Students of the movement became the New Left radicals of the 1960s, led by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and its militant offshoot, the Weather Underground. The mainspring of the movement was opposition to the Vietnam War, but they were also focused on racism, police brutality, economic injustice, authority, and the belief that America was an oppressive country that exploited other nations and its own oppressed classes. The students of the 60s are now professors at our universities, expounding on the teachings of the Frankfurt School, disseminating these race, class, and sex theories throughout academia. Now these theories are being pushed heavily into the workforce. Small and midsized companies often times not having Human Resources (HR) departments, focus on hiring the best qualified person for a job while larger companies with expansive HR departments heavily push identity politics agendas. It is commonplace for HR staff to have educational backgrounds heavily weighted in the social sciences, which are deeply indoctrinated in leftist ideology biases. A centerpiece of leftist ideology that defines the oppressed victim of society vs. the privileged oppressor is intersectionality. A persons moral authority to speak out on issues of oppression depends on the intersectionality of his identity groups, because only the oppressed can know what oppression feels like. As an example, say you are a white female who is poor and disabled vs. an upper-class black male who is able-bodied. The white female would rank higher in moral authority because the score is three to one in favor of the female for the greater number of victim rankings. What is considered a victim category can be quite arbitrary as in the case of Cuban Americans who are typically not labeled as a racial minority even though they are Hispanic, because they vote heavily Republican. The same holds true for Mormons not qualifying as a religious minority because of their strong leaning to voting Republican. The classification that has no moral authority to speak on any matter would be the white heterosexual male who is able bodied. If they happen to be Christian, that would make them the most preeminent of oppressors. Yours truly falls into this category of the greatest of oppressors. Henschen continues by commenting on the 2018 book, The Coddling of the American Mind, in which authors Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt consider the genius of Dr. Martin Luther King regarding perpetuating unity in society. King appealed to the shared morals and identities of Americans by using the unifying languages of religion and patriotism. He repeatedly used the metaphor of family, referring to people of all races and religions as brothers and sisters. He spoke often of the need for love and forgiveness, hearkening back to the words of Jesus and echoing ancient wisdom from many cultures: Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend and Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Contrary to the teachings of the Frankfurt School, Kings approach makes it clear that his movement would not destroy America; it would repair and reunite it. Lukianoff and Haidt also draw parallels to the social theories that evolved out of the Frankfurt School with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which was developed in the 1960s. They explain that CBT therapy is used to treat depression by changing distorted thinking caught in a feedback loop in which irrational negative beliefs caused powerful negative feelings, which in turn seemed to drive patients reasoning, motivating them to find evidence to support their negative beliefs. Luckianoff and Haidt explain that many social theories like intersectionality coming out of universities tend to greatly amplify the mental distortions that CBT tries to diminish. Intersectionality, for instance, looks at the world in Black and White and puts people into groups (Oppressors and Victims) rather than looking at them as individuals. They breed tribalism (them vs. us) and when the tribal switch is activated, they bind themselves tightly to the group, embracing and defending the groups moral matrix, and they stop thinking for themselves. In tribal mode, they go blind to arguments and information that challenge the tribes narrative. Henschen then turns to Scott Kaufmans June 2020 article in Scientific American titled Unraveling the Mindset of Victimhood which discusses the victimhood mindset, and is broken down into four manifestations: 1. Moral Elitism -- Perceive themselves as having an immaculate morality and view everyone else as being immoral. Moral elitism can be used to control others by accusing others of being immoral, unfair, or selfish, while seeing oneself as supremely moral and ethical. 2. Feel they have suffered enough so they no longer feel obligated to care about the pain and suffering of others. 3. Victims that tend to ruminate over their interpersonal offenses have decreased motivation for forgiveness by increasing the drive to seek revenge. 4. Constantly seeking recognition for ones victimhood. Henschen concludes that in the world of the Victimhood Cult, the victim is the only moral authority in society. The greater number of victim categories you fit in, the greater your moral authority becomes. Anyone whom disagrees with this construct are intolerantly shouted down as homophobic, Nazi, misogynistic, xenophobic, racist, sexist, Islamophobic, etc. The biggest victim gets top billing and is most to be admired in this upside down belief system. The author G. Michael Hopf sums up a stunningly persuasive cyclical vision of history. Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men and weak men create hard times." In a society that labels masculinity as toxic, safety a sacred value, feelings to always be trusted and victimhood virtuous, hard times will be our future. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 14:50:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States has seen an upward trend in COVID-19 cases for four consecutive weeks, as social distancing and mask mandates were lifted in some areas and more variants transmitted across the country. Since March 20, the 7-day moving average of new COVID-19 cases in the country has consistently remained higher compared with the previous 7-day moving average, according to data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The current 7-day moving average of daily new cases stands at 67,530 cases, up around 6 percent from the previous seven days. Meanwhile, new COVID-19 hospitalizations also went up 7.3 percent from the previous 7-day period, according to the CDC. As of April 10, the United States had recorded more than 21,000 infection cases of coronavirus variants, according to the latest data of the CDC. Among those variants cases, 20,915 cases were caused by the variant known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in Britain. There were 453 cases of a new strain initially discovered in South Africa, called B.1.351, and 497 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 the U.S. state of 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 that they have a stronger transmissibility, increase hospitalizations or deaths, and reduce effectiveness of treatments or vaccines. B.1.1.7 is the most common variant circulating in the United States and has been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, while variants P.1 and B.1.351 are relatively less, according to the CDC. Even as the country picks up its COVID-19 vaccination pace, the coronavirus variants are spreading rapidly, and health experts warn the variants infections could potentially stall the nation's recovery from the pandemic. Enditem [April 14, 2021] HRS Acquires Itelya; Addition Enhances the Most Advanced Procure2Reimburse Global Lodging Platform HRS, the leading corporate lodging platform, is transforming the financial cycle governing corporate hospitality. In an age of digital transformation and comprehensive data visibility, managed travel has largely lagged behind. With the goal of helping companies fully capture and control lodging costs from all segments - including transient, meetings and groups, and extended stay - HRS has built a unique ecosystem that enables global payment, invisible and audited invoice management, and automated VAT reclaim for global programs. HRS' acquisition of Itelya, the world's leading travel invoice management services provider, emphasizes HRS' standing as the most traveler-centric lodging leader and a true financial technology provider. Itelya's services are used today in more than 180 countries. Itelya's superior invoice collection and data management capabilities simplify an array of downstream functions, including payment to suppliers and VAT reclaim for corporations. HRS' newly-founded Travel FinTech consists of more than 100 team members, collaborating to build the next generation Pay2Reimburse ecosystem. This end-to-end solution is plug & play ready, connecting seamlessly with all leading ecosystem providers, including credit card merchants, expense tool providers and VAT reclaim services. "Itelya's decade-long expertise in global invoice management enables us to scale much faster to serve our global client base. We're excited that their existing management team, along with all their highly-talented colleagues, are joining the HRS Group," said HRS CEO Tobias Ragge. "Itelya is a centerpiece to the ecosystem we are building out. Our Lodging as a Service platform is comprehensive and unmatched, offering corporations a superior option as they recalibrate for the resumption of business travel. The fact that we own all of our technology solutions and associated data models gives us a unique capability to innovate faster and create the highest value for our customers." Complete Procure2Reimburse Ecosystem Creates Unique Data Insights For a Better Customer Experience HRS' Lodging as a Service platform includes: A procurement360 platform enabling best-in-class benchmarking regarding rates, safety, security and sustainability scorings of all lodging suppliers globally, A one-stop shop for booking corporate hotels - incorporating transient, meetings and groups, and extended stay - including AI-poweed rate filtering to eliminate incorrect rates, fully automated rebooking and a personalized recommendation engine to maximize traveler satisfaction, and The Pay2Reimburse plug & play solution, working within the entire ecosystem consisting of credit card merchants, expense tool providers and VAT reclaim services. The payment solution captures level-3 invoice data of any lodging supplier globally, performing compliance checks and generating data insights to optimize the procurement process and booking experience. News - Alert) Concur, which helps reduce the burden on travelers for itemization in expense reporting. Automation introduced in recent months facilitates exponential VAT reclaim opportunities for companies that cumulatively leave millions in spend unclaimed due to data and paperwork inaccuracies. Prominent Brands Leverage HRS Pay2Reimburse Solution Globally The seamlessness and simplicity of HRS' platform is widely used by trailblazing managed travel programs around the world. In Europe, companies including Airbus and Deutsche Telekom (News - Alert) use the technology to streamline hotel payment and reduce time and effort for travelers to be reimbursed. Companies with massive operations in China, such as Alibaba and Huawei (News - Alert) , leverage HRS' customized solutions for the unique Chinese market to navigate a completely different payment ecosystem compared to Western market standards. In the United States, the state of California in 2020 illustrated the capabilities and fast scalability of HRS' platform and automated payment tools. Within four weeks of contract signing, HRS worked with state travel program leaders and other parties to support the state's COVID-19 response by building from scratch a safe lodging procurement, booking and payment solution covering more than 2,500 preferred hotel suppliers. This project has accommodated more than 2.5 million room nights in the last 12 months, with average savings per room night ranging from 25 to 40 percent. Payment highlights include: 99 percent invoice accuracy, including level-3 data, helping speed Federal reimbursement activities, 100 percent elimination of fraud via AI-powered automated auditing procedures, and 100 percent cooperation from hotels participating in the program, improving their use of virtual payment processes and setting the stage for them to work with corporate hotel programs in the same manner as traditional business travel resumes. Recognizing the creative flexibility and massive scale of this initiative, the state of California's travel program leader was honored by Business Travel News as Travel Manager of the Year for 2020. "The business travel industry has been traditionally focused only on improving the booking process. HRS is focused on creating a better, more seamless and sustainable customer experience. This goes way beyond the booking process, encompassing the entire Procure2Reimburse process," said Tobias Ragge. "We are developing an integrated ecosystem approach as successfully demonstrated by technology players in other industry verticals. We have seen that our automated Pay2Reimburse approach not only drives significant direct and indirect cost savings, but also has the biggest impact on traveler satisfaction and thus adoption to the managed program. We're facilitating invisible post-transaction processes by leveraging technology to reduce complexity that costs corporations millions every year and creates a lot of headaches with their travelers." About HRS HRS is revolutionizing managed lodging programs for corporations, hotels and business travelers worldwide with its proprietary technology and expertise. The company is committed to facilitating safety, savings, security, satisfaction and sustainable hotel options for its global client roster. Leveraging its unique Lodging as a Service platform, HRS oversees the totality of corporate hotel programs for its clients, from initial procurement and rate assurance to booking, virtual payment and expense management. With more than 65,000 hotels joining HRS' Clean & Safe Protocol in 2020, and the recently launched Green Stay Initiative, the company provides newly-prioritized information on key decision factors impacting post-pandemic travel. The company's data-driven solutions deliver savings and performance for corporations across all hotel categories, including transient, meetings and long-stay lodging scenarios - all while digitizing processes on the hotel side for a better traveler experience. Founded in 1972, HRS today works with 35 percent of the global Fortune 500, as well as the world's leading hotel chains, regional hospitality groups and independent hotels. More information at www.hrs.com/enterprise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005476/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WORKERS under the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) banner have declared that a crippling general strike was the only way out of the current salary crisis as government was not keen on addressing their plight. ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said a crucial meeting involving doctors, teachers, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions and other stakeholders was held recently to find a lasting solution to the disputes. He said the general feeling was that a general strike that stops all workers from going to work was the only way out. Mutasa said workers should unite to force the private and public sector employers into action, adding that President Emmerson Mnangagwas administration did not have any appetite to resolve workers problems. We know that we will not get anything if we do not unite and fight back together, Mutasa said. The only way is a national strike that makes sure the whole countrys workforce stops working. That is the only way in the public and private sectors and if we dont do that, the employer will always find ways of victimising workers at the workstation and we need a general strike and we need all workers to unite. Mutasa added: Recently, we had the salaries and wages summit that was convened by the ZCTU and attended by the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, other teachers unions, and the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association. We are continuing to urge all workers to unite and to fight back. For as long as we are united, we are very optimistic that we will get what we are demanding. Civil servants have been engaged in talks with the government but the dialogue is on the verge of collapse after the parties failed to agree on two occasions. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou also confirmed that union leaders were consulting their members on the issue of a general strike. He said indications were that people were speaking with one voice. Zhou said teachers were already implementing their two-day working week programme, adding that threats by the government would not stop them. It is a minimum of one day and a maximum of two days. We have received threats from some government officials who said teachers are sabotaging the government and must resign. They are the ones to resign because they are not paying their workers, he said. We were trying to find common ground to say the government must not deal with us in private pockets and as workers we must lobby employers to pay us well and that consultation is going on and we are moving towards consolidation of worker positions for a national lobby by workers and there was general consensus on that. Labour minister Paul Mavima said there was one more meeting to go before a deadlock could be declared, but threatened a no work, no salary principle to stop workers from engaging in job action. Civil servants have declared incapacitation and are demanding the pre-October 2018 salaries of between US$520 and US$550 a month. Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa waded into the salary war, saying: No to slave wages. When the economy has dollarised with fuel, tollgates, passports being charged in US dollars, it is not only illogical, but outrightly cruel to pay civil service salaries in worthless RTGS. Pay decent wages. Maintain peoples right to dignity. You cant leave in a distorted market, a distorted stock market, a distorted foreign currency market and a distorted commodity market. It is so because of a distorted (2018) election. You cannot have the most expensive fuel in the region with salaries not meeting the high cost of living. That is fiction and why do we believe in fiction like that? No country develops on the basis of fiction. People cannot plan their lives properly because of this kind of economy. He said the way out was to address the distorted politics of the day that has led to the crisis. Zimbabweans have not known normal lives for long. They cannot breathe, doctors cannot breathe, nurses cannot breathe, teachers cannot breathe, and civil servants cannot breathe, Chamisa said. The solution is to address the distorted politics first and the economy will fall into place. Newsday CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bachelor's Degree Center ( https://www.bachelorsdegreecenter.org/ ), a free guide to traditional and online bachelor's degree programs in all disciplines, has released two rankings of the best bachelor's in Library and Information Science degree programs in the US: 15 Best Bachelor's in Library and Information Science for 2021 ( https://www.bachelorsdegreecenter.org/best-online-library-science-degrees/ ) 15 Best Online Bachelor's in Library and Information Science for 2021 ( https://www.bachelorsdegreecenter.org/best-library-information-science-degrees/ ) The Top 3 Best Library and Information Science Bachelor's Programs for 2021 are: 1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, NC 2. University of Illinois - Urbana, IL 3. University of Maryland - College Park, MD The Top 3 Best Online Library and Information Science Bachelor's Programs for 2021 are: 1. University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI 2. Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ 3. University of Oklahoma - Norman, OK A complete list of all institutions ranked is included at the end of this release. Library science has come a long way in recent decades, embracing technology and reinventing what it is that libraries do. It's no wonder programs are now known as Library and Information Science. "Library and Information Science are part of one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving fields of the 21st century," the editors of Bachelor's Degree Hub write; "Modern library and information science are as close to data analytics as they are to the shushing librarian of yesteryear." As they explain, "Library science is light-years away from dusty shelves and card catalogs (though you can have that too, if it's your thing). Today library and information science are intimately combined [...] From archives to data analytics, there's a lot of potential in library and information science." A library and information science degree "can open the door for you to learn more about becoming a librarian or other capacity in which you help individuals find the information they need for their personal, professional, or academic careers," the editors explain. Bachelor's Degree Center ranks both online and on-campus programs, since many prospective students are already working. A traditional, on-campus program "can be very diverse and with today's advanced technology, individuals can pursue this type of career working in a physical location or by working remotely." On the other hand, according to the editors, "For working adults who long for a career change, an online library and information science degree program could be an ideal choice." For working professionals looking for a leg up on the job market, "Earning your library and information science degree online gives you the flexibility that just isn't possible with an on-ground program." Bachelor's Degree Center has been providing advice, resources, and rankings on the best traditional and online bachelor's degree programs since 2014. Completely independent and unbiased, BDC is working to be the ultimate resource for new high school graduates, working adults returning to school, and nontraditional students. All Institutions in the Bachelor's Degree Center Library and Information Science Degree Rankings (in alphabetical order): Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ Bowling Green State University - Bowling Green, OH Clarion University - Clarion, PA Cornell University - Ithaca, NY Kutztown University - Kutztown, PA Michigan State University - East Lansing, MI Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights, KY Penn State World Campus - University Park, PA San Jose State University - San Jose, CA Southern Connecticut State University - New Haven, CT Syracuse University - Syracuse, NY Temple University - Philadelphia, PA University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ University of Arkansas Little Rock - Little Rock, AR University of Illinois - Urbana, IL University of Kentucky - Lexington, KY University of Maine at Augusta - Augusta, ME University of Maryland - College Park, MD University of Nebraska at Omaha - Omaha, NE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, NC University of North Carolina at Greensboro - Greensboro, NC University of North Texas - Denton, TX University of Oklahoma - Norman, OK University of South Carolina - Columbus, SC University of South Florida - Tampa, FL University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS University of Tennessee Knoxville - Knoxville, TN University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Milwaukee, WI Media Contact: Ava Ellis Media Manager, Bachelor's Degree Center [email protected] https://www.bachelorsdegreecenter.org/ 864-502-2906 SOURCE Bachelor's Degree Center They have been inseparable ever since they were first spotted heading out for dinner together in February. And Alessandra Ambrosio looked the picture of happiness as she celebrated her 40th birthday with her boyfriend Richard Lee and her two children at Nobu in Malibu on Tuesday. The supermodel showed off her lithe limbs in a thigh-skimming white minidress, while Richard showed off his model looks in a black sweater and jeans. Happy: Alessandra Ambrosio looked the picture of happiness as she celebrated her 40th birthday with her boyfriend Richard Lee and her two children at Nobu in Malibu on Tuesday Teaming her frock with a pale pink coat and open-toe heels, Alessandra appeared in high spirits as she gazed lovingly at her two children, Anja, 11, and Noah, eight, who she shares with ex Jamie Mazur. Anja, meanwhile, looked trendy in a black and white varsity jacket, white dress and boots, while her younger brother wore shorts and a tie-dye jumper. The family chatted away as they waited in the carpark for a valet to return their vehicle. Stylish: Teaming her frock with a pale pink coat and open-toe heels, Alessandra appeared in high spirits as she gazed lovingly at her two children, Anja, 11, and Noah, eight Sweet: Anja looked trendy in a black and white varsity jacket, white dress and boots, while her younger brother wore shorts and a tie-dye jumper The family's fun outing comes after Alessandra was spotted arriving at a Pilates class in Beverly Hills. Earlier on Tuesday, the fashionista was pictured stepping out of her car and greeting a friend before the start of her workout session. The former Victoria's Secret Angel's outings come just a day after she commemorated her 40th birthday by sharing a trio of scorching snaps to her Instagram account. Expressing her thoughts: Ambrosio wrote a short message in her post's caption where she noted that she was 'Feeling grateful for...everyone that has enriched my life' The former PINK spokesmodel posted three sizzling snaps from her short vacation to her Instagram account on Monday to commemorate the special occasion. Ambrosio also wrote a brief message in the post's caption, which she began by noting that she was 'Celebrating this beautiful journey!!!!' She went on to express that, on her 40th birthday, she was 'Feeling grateful for all the amazing opportunities and experiences and most of all for everyone that has enriched my life!!!' The fashion industry icon finished her message by writing that she was 'Excited for the new decade' and for all the new opportunities that were coming her way.' Keeping it real: Alessandra was seen meeting a friend after arriving at a Pilates class in Beverly Hills just a day after her 40th birthday Ambrosio and Lee stepped out for the first time publicly during a dinner date at Nobu in late February. About a week later they headed out to a food shop together and last week were spotted packing on the PDA while at a restaurant. Hunky model Richard is represented by well known modelling agency Wilhelmina and LA Models. Alessandra had previously been in a relationship with Italian fashion designer Nicolo Oddi for just over two years. They were last seen together on their trip to Brazil in late 2020 and Alessandra failed to mention Nicolo in her Valentine's Day post last month, suggesting they had split sometime prior. Alessandra began dating Nicolo not long after ending her engagement to Jamie Mazur from whom she split in March 2018 after 10 years together. Non-alcoholic fatty liver, NAFLD, is associated with several health risks. According to a new registry study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, NAFLD is linked to a 17-fold increased risk of liver cancer. The findings, published in Hepatology, underscore the need for improved follow-up of NAFLD patients with the goal of reducing the risk of cancer. "In this study with detailed liver histology data, we were able to quantify the increased risk of cancer associated with NAFLD, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma," says first author, Tracey G. Simon, researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, and hepatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "We also found that all stages of NAFLD were associated with excess cancer risk, even early stages of the disease." Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Europe and the United States, affecting more than 100 million adults. A large proportion of patients progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis, which in turn can lead to cirrhosis. There is relatively little research on cancer development with NAFLD, and prior research has some limitations that make it difficult to draw far-reaching conclusions. Hence, there is a need for more information on links between cancer risk and NAFLD, and for improved monitoring strategies for high-risk patients with NAFLD. In this study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with researchers at Harvard University and Columbia University, examined the risk of cancer in people with NAFLD. The registry study included 8,892 Swedish patients with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD and 39,907 healthy controls. Data on cancer were retrieved through the nationwide Swedish Cancer Register. Patients with NAFLD were identified through the ESPRESSO (Epidemiology Strengthened by Histopathology Reports in Sweden) cohort. Individuals with NAFLD were at a 27 percent increased risk of any cancer. This risk was to a large extent driven by the 17-fold increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Furthermore, NAFLD was associated with modestly increased rates of pancreatic cancer, kidney/bladder cancer, and melanoma, but no other cancers. "These findings should be used to develop more targeted interventions designed to reduce cancer risk in patients with NAFLD," says corresponding author Jonas F. Ludvigsson, pediatrician at Orebro University Hospital and professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet. "They also highlight the need for more personalized strategies to screen for HCC in certain high-risk patients, such as those with NAFLD fibrosis and type 2 diabetes." ### This project was supported by grants from NIH, Harvard University, Region Stockholm, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and Karolinska Institutet. Jonas F. Ludvigsson coordinates a study on behalf of the Swedish IBD quality register (SWIBREG). That study has received funding from the Janssen corporation. Tracy G. Simon has previously served as a consultant to Aetion, for work unrelated to this project. Hannes Hagstrom's department has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Intercept and Gilead, and he has been an advisory board member of Bristol Myers Squibb and Gilead. Publication: "Cancer Risk in Patients With Biopsy?Confirmed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population?Based Cohort Study". Tracey G. Simon, Bjorn Roelstraete, Rajani Sharma, Hamed Khalili, Hannes Hagstrom, Jonas F. Ludvigsson. Hepatology, online April 3, 2021, doi: 10.1002/hep.31845. ADVERTISEMENT The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says it will be possible for companies in Nigeria to be registered within three hours, before the end of 2021. The commission tweeted this on Sunday via its verified Twitter handle. It said, Garba Abubakar, the commissions registrar-general, gave this indication at a recent dinner in honour of the chairman, governing board, CAC and Nigerias Ambassador-designate to Spain, Ademola Seriki. The commission announced last December the upgrade of its online registration portal for business. It said the upgrade would include features that allow the automation of key services and processes in line with the federal governments effort to Nigerias ease of doing business. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the new regulation protocol has left businesses in the country stranded for months. According to the commission, the new development follows the deployment of an end to end registration module which is expected to end before the end of 2021. It said the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says following the successful deployment of an end-to-end registration module, it is now prioritizing the reduction of the registration circle for new companies to just 3 hours before the end of the year 2021, To achieve the target, Mr Abubakar said the Commission was making arrangements to empower over 400 approving officers with working tools to process and approve registration applications either from home or anywhere necessary. He noted that the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic adversely hampered CACs delivery timeline. However, he said the CAC was resolutely committed to serving its customers despite being forced to operate with less than 50 per cent of its workforce. He revealed that some of the new initiatives coming on board include the mandatory requirement for obtaining a letter of good standing from the CAC for procurement purposes. Under the arrangement, he said companies bidding for government contracts must obtain a letter of good standing from the commission in a bid to further strengthen the fight against corruption. Mr Seriki revealed that a new product, Optional Notification Alert System, was also being prioritised and that under the arrangement companies can elect to be notified whenever changes were made in their structure at the CAC. ADVERTISEMENT To wrap up the workshop, participants called on the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and NITDA to intensify effort towards ensuring digital inclusivity to allow more people into the social media space in the country. All critical sectors of the society are experiencing the spectacular impact of digital technology in several different ways. The disruptive power of digital technology is pervasive across every area of human endeavour; it generates creative and innovative solutions to problems facing the people and their environments. Most industries are adapting to the evolving trends that come with digital technology and innovation. The media industry happens to be the most affected, owing to the massive proliferation of digital devices. The increase in mobile devices has brought a remarkable shift in how the media creates and distributes content. As a result, media practitioners in Nigeria are taking steps to hone their skills for optimal performance in the digital age. This was the premise upon which a crop of digital-savvy media practitioners and social media influencers converged on Kano, the ancient Pyramid City. Also in attendance were some film producers from the citys movie industry, popularly known as Kannywood. Drawn from various media organisations operating in the Northern States, the practitioners were participants at a media workshop for journalists and social media influencers. The two-day event was organised by Arewa Agenda, a frontline online publication and PRNigeria Centre, with the support of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and it had as theme, Setting the Digital Reporting Agenda for a Digital Nigeria. Resource persons with vast professional experience in media and digital technology imparted practical knowledge to equip journalists and social media influencers with the skills to use technological tools for reportage and the creation of relevant content. A presentation titled Digital Inclusion and the Global Realities noted that the digital inclusion of more individuals and communities would guarantee access to and use of information and communications technology tools to generate, store and process data for guaranteed economic, social and political empowerment. Thus, digital inclusion is inevitable for the successful implementation of Nigerias digital economy, where the delivery of quality services, high efficiencies and productivity thrive across all sectors. The paper, Journalism for Digital Inclusion, presented by Mallam Yushau Shuaib, award-winning PR expert and Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria, urged the participants to always be guided by the ethics of the media profession and practice of journalism. This would help to reduce the expanding wave of fake news The first day ended with the presentation, Global Trends: Social Media for Advocacy by Ali Isa, founder of Advocacy for Development Initiative, which highlighted digital advocacy and the tools necessary to achieve targeted outcomes. It pointed out the purpose of this sort of advocacy and the skills need to effectively deploy social media to drive change and development. In view of the ever-changing nature of social media, participants were advised to continuously evaluate their social media plans, while maximising their reach and audience engagement in order to achieve set goals for specific digital advocacy campaigns. Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad of the Kano Institute of Information Technology started the presentations on the second day with a paper, Entrepreneurship Skills for Digital Economy, which explained the multi-dimensional skills necessary for building wealth in a digital economy. He highlighted the basic and advanced levels of digital skills required for building the capacity of citizens, so as to gainfully apply them in the digital era. In his paper, Networking and Work Plan, Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Programme Coordinator at The Challenge Initiative, harped on the importance of networking among media practitioners and social media influencers towards shaping the digital reporting agenda for a new Nigeria powered by digital technology. The paper, Journalism for Digital Inclusion, presented by Mallam Yushau Shuaib, award-winning PR expert and Editor-in-Chief of PRNigeria, urged the participants to always be guided by the ethics of the media profession and practice of journalism. This would help to reduce the expanding wave of fake news, disinformation and misinformation that is plaguing Nigeria and the world at large. According to him, journalists and social media influencers should focus on reporting issues on the basis of facts and not sentiments, which are capable of affecting the peace and progress of the country. He observed that media practitioners must adapt to evolving digital technologies to influence their different audience by producing relevant content for advancing development in our communities. In the final analysis, NITDA should sustain awareness creation programmes in all parts of the country in order to enhance digital literacy for guaranteed growth, as digital inclusion does not only empower the people, but it also makes the future brighter for everyone. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the sponsor of the workshop, was ably represented by its Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar. Mrs Umar advised journalists and social media influencers to demonstrate professionalism toward setting a new digital agenda in the discharge of their responsibilities as key players in the march to the digitisation of Nigeria. She enumerated the several intervention programmes embarked upon by NITDA across educational institutions and communities in different states of the federation as part of its mandate of promoting the use and development of information technology in all sectors of the economy. NITDAs image-maker expressed satisfaction with the new and increasing motivation for the acquisition of digital literacy/skills by the teeming youths of the country in different spheres of human endeavour. This, she noted, is testimony that many individuals and communities are favourably disposed to the opportunities offered by digital technology. The highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the Network for Advocates of Digital Reporting (NADIR) established as a forum for coordinating advocacies of journalists and social media influencers in northern Nigeria. To wrap up the workshop, participants called on the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and NITDA to intensify effort towards ensuring digital inclusivity to allow more people into the social media space in the country. Furthermore, the participants committed themselves to serve as change agents in the vanguard of using social media for the promotion of social/behavioural change and development of the region and the country in general. In the final analysis, NITDA should sustain awareness creation programmes in all parts of the country in order to enhance digital literacy for guaranteed growth, as digital inclusion does not only empower the people, but it also makes the future brighter for everyone. Inyene Ibanga writes from Wuye District, Abuja. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America that were coordinated from that country, several U.S. officials said Tuesday. The decision defies a May 1 deadline for full withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump administration reached with the Taliban last year, but leaves no room for additional extensions. A senior administration official called the September date an absolute deadline that wont be affected by security conditions in the country. While Bidens decision keeps U.S. troops in Afghanistan four months longer than initially planned, it sets a firm end to two decades of war that killed more than 2,200 U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as much as $1 trillion. The conflict largely crippled al-Qaida and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. But an American withdrawal also risks many of the gains made in democracy, womens rights and governance, while ensuring that the Taliban, who provided al-Qaidas safe haven, remain strong and in control of large swaths of the country. Biden has been hinting for weeks that he was going to let the May deadline lapse, and as the days went by it became clear that an orderly withdrawal of the roughly 2,500 remaining troops would be difficult and was unlikely. The administration official said the drawdown would begin by May 1. Bidens choice of the 9/11 date underscores the reason that American troops were in Afghanistan to begin with to prevent extremist groups like al-Qaida from establishing a foothold again that could be used to launch attacks against the U.S. The administration official said Biden decided that the withdrawal deadline had to be absolute, rather than based on conditions on the ground. Were committing today to going to zero U.S. forces by Sept. 11, and possibly well before, the official said, adding that Biden concluded that a conditioned withdrawal would be a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever. Defense officials and commanders had argued against the May 1 deadline, saying the U.S. troop withdrawal should be based on security conditions in Afghanistan, including Taliban attacks and violence. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden will deliver remarks on Wednesday on the way forward in Afghanistan, including his plans and timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops. She didnt provide details, but said during a White House briefing that Biden has been consistent in his view that there is not a military solution to Afghanistan, that we have been there for far too long. Several U.S. officials confirmed Bidens withdrawal decision to The Associated Press, and an administration official provided details to reporters on condition of anonymity, speaking ahead of the announcement. According to the administration official, the only U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan will be those needed to protect diplomats there. No exact number was provided, but American troop totals in Afghanistan have been understated by U.S. administrations for years. Officials have quietly acknowledged that there are hundreds more in Afghanistan than the official 2,500 number, and likely would include special operations forces conducting covert or counterterrorism missions, often working with intelligence agency personnel. Bidens new, extended timeline will allow a safe and orderly withdrawal of American troops in coordination with NATO allies, the administration official added. The presidents decision, however, risks retaliation by the Taliban on U.S. and Afghan forces, possibly escalating the 20-year war. And it will reignite political division over Americas involvement in what many have called the endless war. An intelligence community report issued Tuesday about global challenges for the next year said prospects for a peace deal in Afghanistan are low and warned that the Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield. If the coalition withdraws support, the report says, the Afghan government will struggle to control the Taliban. Congressional reaction to the new deadline was mixed. Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake, said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed it as a reckless and dangerous decision. He said any withdrawal should be conditions-based, adding that arbitrary deadlines could put troops in danger, create a breeding ground for terrorists and lead to civil war in Afghanistan. Democrats were generally more supportive. Sen. Jack Reed, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Trumps May 1 deadline limited Bidens options. We still have vital interests in protecting against terrorist attacks that could be emanating from that part of the world, but there are other areas, too, we have to be conscious of, Reed said. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said troops should come home, and the U.S. must refocus American national security on more pressing challenges. But at least one senior Democrat expressed disappointment. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said in a tweet that the U.S. has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave w/o verifiable assurances of a secure future. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told The Associated Press that the religious militia is waiting for a formal announcement to issue its reaction. The Taliban previously warned the U.S. of consequences if it reneged on the May 1 deadline. In a February 2020 agreement with the administration of President Donald Trump, the Taliban agreed to halt attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for a U.S. commitment to a complete withdrawal by May 2021. Over the past year, U.S. military commanders and defense officials have said that attacks on U.S. troops have largely paused, but that Taliban attacks on the Afghans increased. Commanders have argued that the Taliban have failed to meet the conditions of the peace agreement by continuing attacks on the Afghans and failing to totally cut ties with al-Qaida and other extremist groups. When Biden entered the White House in January, he was keenly aware of the looming deadline and had time to meet it if he had chosen to do so. He began a review of the February 2020 agreement shortly after taking office, and has been consulting at length with his defense advisers and allies. In recent weeks, it became increasingly clear that he was leaning toward defying the deadline. Its going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline, Biden said in March. Just in terms of tactical reasons, its hard to get those troops out. He added, And if we leave, were going to do so in a safe and orderly way. ___ Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Kathy Gannon in Islamabad, Eric Tucker and broadcast correspondent Sagar Meghani contributed to this report. By LOLITA C. BALDOR and ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press (TNS) As Ohio and other states are accusing Facebook of antitrust violations, representatives of the social media giant say their company faces plenty of competition and that it should be up to state lawmakers to regulate it on issues such as privacy.Members of Facebooks policy and legal team laid out their arguments against the lawsuit during a meeting this week with the editorial board of cleveland.com/. (Cleveland.com has business relationships with Facebook in a variety of ways that affect this news organizations revenue.)The lawsuit, filed by 48 attorneys general, claims that Facebook has a monopoly over social networking in the United States, noting that more than half the countrys population over the age of 13 uses a Facebook service every day.Facebook uses a buy-or-bury strategy to maintain that monopoly, the lawsuit claims, by either purchasing potential rivals or using its clout to thwart them. Facebooks market dominance, the suit continues, gives the company wide latitude to set its own rules for how it collects, uses, and protects users private information, and to profit from that information even when its not in users best interests. Eliminating rivals also harms advertisers in a number of ways, the lawsuit claims.The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to rule that Facebooks acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp (popular photo-sharing and chat applications, respectively) to be in violation of antitrust law a move that could result in Facebook having to sell those companies.The suit also asks, among other things, that states involved in the action be given advance notice before Facebook acquires any other company for $10 million or more. Kate Patchen, associate general counsel for Facebooks litigation team, said that various aspects of Facebook each have a number of competitors, and that Facebook has numerous rivals for peoples time and attention.There are a number of other ways that you can communicate with friends and family, and there are a number of other ways that you could spend your time, Patchen said. Patchen also said its the wrong time for states to challenge Facebooks purchase of WhatsApp and Instagram, considering those deals took place years ago and Facebook has invested a tremendous amount of money in those products.Facebook officials and lawyers also made other legal arguments against the states lawsuit, including that the federal government not states should be the one enforcing federal antitrust law. They also argue that the states must show that the states themselves not just their residents have been injured by Facebook, and that the lawsuit doesnt prove that. Not only do we believe theres a lack of consumer harm, but the competition that Facebook faces across all of our products actually benefits consumers, said Christen DuBois, another member of Facebooks litigation team.In recent years, Facebook has faced a variety of criticism, from concerns over privacy to its role in spreading misinformation.Will Castleberry, Facebooks vice president of state policy and community engagement, said those issues should be resolved by state and federal lawmakers and regulators, not through an antitrust lawsuit. Instead of addressing those (frustrations) in the channels they should, theyre addressing them through an antitrust lawsuit, which isnt the right channel and, candidly, wont create the solutions that theyre looking for, he said. Castleberry added that theres absolutely a need for government to regulate Facebook regarding a number of issues, from privacy controls to revenge porn.Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, when asked in an interview if the problems laid out in the lawsuit should be left to the legislature to resolve, replied: Well of course the legislature did act its called the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. So, maybe (its) 130 years late, but I think they could probably Google it. Yost, a Columbus Republican, said the lawsuits main issue is Facebooks predatory acquisition of up-and-coming competitors. Yost said Congress maybe ought to revisit Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which offers protections for Facebook and other platforms from lawsuits over illegal material or copyright violations posted by users.There are things that maybe ought to be directed toward Congress rather than the courts, but that doesnt mean that we dont have a righteous complaint before the court, Yost said. I believe we do. Businesses, residents and town workers in Grand Isle scrambled Wednesday to pump out floodwater and clear debris after a sudden violent storm hit Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island. Sea surge, rain and wind gusts as strong as 90 mph flooded streets, sank boats, stripped shingles from roofs and scattered garbage cans and other unsecured personal property, Mayor David Camardelle said. "Nobody expected it," Camardelle said of the squall, which started Tuesday around 3 p.m. and lasted a few hours. "It was like a baby hurricane." Camardelle said the wind shifted during the storm, battering the island and its residents from both back side and the Gulf of Mexico. At one point, two to three feet of water came in from Caminada Bay and flooded streets. In that respect, the storm was as bad as Hurricane Zeta in October. While a small portion on the eastern end of the island had electricity restored Wednesday just after noon, most of the island's 900 homes were still without power at midday, according to Entergy Louisiana. +5 One dead, 12 still missing from lift boat that capsized in Gulf near Louisiana, Coast Guard says A crew member was found dead and 12 were still missing off the Louisiana coast Wednesday as the U.S. Coast Guard continued its search of the G Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and the rest of south Lafourche and Jefferson parishes got the worst of Tuesday's storm in southeast Louisiana, including the capsizing of a lift boat that left one dead and 12 missing eight miles south of Fourchon. Camardelle said victims of that accident were on the minds of many in Grand Isle as they cleaned up between more thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon. 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 "If this weather would leave us alone, we could make some progress, he said. Camardelle said Louisiana 1 was still open, 17 drainage pumps were operating and Entergy crews were working to restore power. He said Jefferson Parish officials have been in touch and were sending additional pumps. He said owners of camps who do not live on the island should make their way down as soon as it is safe to do so to take stock of their properties. He said there will surely have been more erosion because of the storm. When Tuesday's storm began, a 60-foot, steel-hull shrimp boat that had just docked was hit so hard by a gust of wind that it flipped onto its side, pulling out the pilings to which it had been tied. On Wednesday afternoon, Camardelle and other volunteers helped the owner flip it back upright with some straps and a bulldozer. In one part of the island, a trailer could be seen smashed on the ground after the wind flipped it upside down, and a shrimp boat was toppled to its side on the shore. Siding had been torn off another home perched on stilts as motorists navigated flooded streets. Residents in other clusters of Jefferson Parish were also left without power on Wednesday, with 4,547 outages reported by 12:30 p.m. In addition to Grand Isle, residents in parts of Kenner and Metairie were left in the dark. Entergy said restoration times were subject to change because damage assessments were underway and bad weather was expected to continue through Friday. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 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 entered into debt settlement agreements with three arm's length creditors whereby the Company will settle outstanding payables totalling $76,000 through the issuance of 361,904 common shares of the Company (each a "Share") at a deemed price of $0.21 per Share (the "Debt Settlement"). The majority of the Shares issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws, with the exception of 47,619 Shares which will be immediately free trading pursuant to section 2.3 of Ontario Securities Commission Rule 72-503. All share issuances are subject to applicable regulatory approval, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. 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 Twitter: @XigemTech Instagram: @xigemtechnologies Facebook: @xigemtechnologies LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/xigem-technologies www.xigemtechnologies.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80386 English French PRESS RELEASE Rueil-Malmaison, April 14th 2021 VINCI Airports Traffic at 31 March 2021 Passenger numbers down 82.4% overall in the first quarter, still severely hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic Recovery pace remains uncertain in Europe, South America and Asia Traffic has been picking up since mid-March in some parts of the United States and on domestic routes in Japan, where travel restrictions are gradually being eased VINCI Airports network handled slightly over 10 million passengers in Q1 2021, i.e. 82.4% less than in Q1 2019. The trend in March 2021 is similar: traffic was 82.7% lower than in March 2019. Passenger numbers are still sluggish as the pandemic continues to rage in some regions. Air traffic dropped sharply in Europe in Q1 as the number of Covid-19 infections rose. Traffic was hit harder in the United Kingdom and Poland, where authorities introduced very strict country-wide restrictions starting in January, than in France and Serbia, where measures were softer or more surgical. After a fairly encouraging start to the year, traffic in South America seems to be heading for a downturn in Brazil and Chile, where the pandemic is resurging. Traffic has been increasing since mid-March in the handful of areas where the pandemic is losing ground and restrictions are being relaxed. This is the case in the United States, where the federal rescue plan and the steep decrease in infection rates since January have bolstered the rise in the number of flights at Orlando Sanford. The Dominican Republic and Costa Rica are benefiting from the increase in traffic to and from the United States. Japan, where international borders remain closed, saw an upswing in domestic traffic in March, when the state of emergency in the countrys main cities was lifted. In the sections below, unless otherwise stated, the changes in traffic levels in 2021 are relative to the figures for the same period in 2019. Portugals decision to lock down again on 15 January came with strict measures for passengers entering the country (in some cases including mandatory self-isolation) and bans on flights from the United Kingdom and Brazil. Traffic at the airports in Lisbon and Porto sank gradually, reaching approximately a 90% drop versus the benchmark in March. In all, traffic at the airports in Portugal is down 87.3% in Q1. The pandemic has subsided since then, and infection rates in Portugal are now among the lowest in Europe. On 15 March, authorities unveiled a plan to progressively ease the lockdown, which could bring about a recovery in traffic over the coming months. decision to lock down again on 15 January came with strict measures for passengers entering the country (in some cases including mandatory self-isolation) and bans on flights from the United Kingdom and Brazil. Traffic at the airports in Lisbon and Porto sank gradually, reaching approximately a 90% drop versus the benchmark in March. In all, traffic at the airports in Portugal is down 87.3% in Q1. The pandemic has subsided since then, and infection rates in Portugal are now among the lowest in Europe. On 15 March, authorities unveiled a plan to progressively ease the lockdown, which could bring about a recovery in traffic over the coming months. As a result of the United Kingdoms tight lockdown on 20 December 2020, traffic practically dried up at Gatwick and Belfast in Q1. Authorities started relaxing the lockdown in stages at the beginning of March, with a view to restarting international flights by the summer. tight lockdown on 20 December 2020, traffic practically dried up at Gatwick and Belfast in Q1. Authorities started relaxing the lockdown in stages at the beginning of March, with a view to restarting international flights by the summer. France closed its borders with several countries and took localised measures to stem the gradual resurgence in Covid-19 infection cases. Traffic in Q1 2021 is 82.5% below its Q1 2019 level. This drop reflects the figures at Lyon and Nantes (notably the sharp decline in international flights) and the lack of commercial flights at Chambery and Grenoble (as ski resorts were unable to reopen). Traffic at Toulon Hyeres Airport fared better (down 63.5% versus Q1 2019), principally because flights to and from Paris-Orly held up relatively well (down 33%). EasyJet is planning to start new services between Toulon and Paris-Charles de Gaulle and between Toulon and London Gatwick for the summer season, which will give Toulon Hyeres a boost over the coming months. closed its borders with several countries and took localised measures to stem the gradual resurgence in Covid-19 infection cases. Traffic in Q1 2021 is 82.5% below its Q1 2019 level. This drop reflects the figures at Lyon and Nantes (notably the sharp decline in international flights) and the lack of commercial flights at Chambery and Grenoble (as ski resorts were unable to reopen). Traffic at Toulon Hyeres Airport fared better (down 63.5% versus Q1 2019), principally because flights to and from Paris-Orly held up relatively well (down 33%). EasyJet is planning to start new services between Toulon and Paris-Charles de Gaulle and between Toulon and London Gatwick for the summer season, which will give Toulon Hyeres a boost over the coming months. Passenger numbers in Serbia were flat in Q1 (down 72.6% versus Q1 2019). Travel restrictions applying to some European countries dampened traffic, but flights to and from Istanbul and Frankfurt remained comparatively steady. Serbia has been making very rapid progress on its vaccination campaign, which could spur traffic by the summer. Air Serbia started up twice-weekly services to Geneva in March and is planning to double the number of services to New York this summer. were flat in Q1 (down 72.6% versus Q1 2019). Travel restrictions applying to some European countries dampened traffic, but flights to and from Istanbul and Frankfurt remained comparatively steady. Serbia has been making very rapid progress on its vaccination campaign, which could spur traffic by the summer. Air Serbia started up twice-weekly services to Geneva in March and is planning to double the number of services to New York this summer. Japans borders remain closed but domestic traffic has been brisk since February. Authorities relaxed the state of emergency in several cities at the end of February. Passenger numbers improved at the Osaka Itami and Kobe airports (respectively from down 72% and down 67% in January to down 59% and down 40% in March). borders remain closed but domestic traffic has been brisk since February. Authorities relaxed the state of emergency in several cities at the end of February. Passenger numbers improved at the Osaka Itami and Kobe airports (respectively from down 72% and down 67% in January to down 59% and down 40% in March). In Cambodia, the very strict restrictions on incoming traffic, which have been in effect for several months, combined with the recent upswing in infection rates, have kept traffic at a virtual standstill (down 98% in Q1). the very strict restrictions on incoming traffic, which have been in effect for several months, combined with the recent upswing in infection rates, have kept traffic at a virtual standstill (down 98% in Q1). In the United States, the steady increase in essentially domestic traffic at Orlando Sanford since August 2020 continued in Q1 2021. This airports traffic rose from down 48.6% in January to down 37% the week of 22 March, when commercial flights climbed to 91% of their 2019 level. The vaccination campaigns effects, the fact that the pandemic is losing ground as a result, and the substantial rescue plan that the government introduced in March are stimulating demand in this domestic market. the steady increase in essentially domestic traffic at Orlando Sanford since August 2020 continued in Q1 2021. This airports traffic rose from down 48.6% in January to down 37% the week of 22 March, when commercial flights climbed to 91% of their 2019 level. The vaccination campaigns effects, the fact that the pandemic is losing ground as a result, and the substantial rescue plan that the government introduced in March are stimulating demand in this domestic market. The number of passengers at the airports in the Dominican Republic has been inching up since the countrys borders reopened at the end of June 2020, and continued to do so in Q1 2021, when traffic climbed to 46.6% below its 2019 level. The figures remained on their upward trend in March, mainly due to traffic to and from the United States. Commercial flights at Las Americas Airport almost reached the same level as in 2019 (down 6.5%) and the route between Las Americas and John F. Kennedy International in New York ranked among the countrys top 10 international flights 1 . has been inching up since the countrys borders reopened at the end of June 2020, and continued to do so in Q1 2021, when traffic climbed to 46.6% below its 2019 level. The figures remained on their upward trend in March, mainly due to traffic to and from the United States. Commercial flights at Las Americas Airport almost reached the same level as in 2019 (down 6.5%) and the route between Las Americas and John F. Kennedy International in New York ranked among the countrys top 10 international flights . In Costa Rica, which reopened its borders in November 2020, traffic is 72.7% below its Q1 2019 level. After plateauing for several months, passenger traffic increased considerably in March (from down 78% versus Q1 2019 to down 56% in 3 weeks) thanks to the buoyant trend in flights to and from the United States. which reopened its borders in November 2020, traffic is 72.7% below its Q1 2019 level. After plateauing for several months, passenger traffic increased considerably in March (from down 78% versus Q1 2019 to down 56% in 3 weeks) thanks to the buoyant trend in flights to and from the United States. In Chile, passenger numbers remained stable in Q1 2021 (down 70.9% versus Q1 2019). Services to and from Europe shrivelled but regional services (to and from Lima, Bogota and Buenos Aires) and domestic services (in particular Antofagasta and Calama) fared better. The uptick was nevertheless undermined by new lockdown measures, especially in and around Santiago, when the pandemic resurged at the end of February. passenger numbers remained stable in Q1 2021 (down 70.9% versus Q1 2019). Services to and from Europe shrivelled but regional services (to and from Lima, Bogota and Buenos Aires) and domestic services (in particular Antofagasta and Calama) fared better. The uptick was nevertheless undermined by new lockdown measures, especially in and around Santiago, when the pandemic resurged at the end of February. Passenger numbers principally domestic at the Salvador Bahia Airport in Brazil had been increasing steadily since April 2020, to 17% below the benchmark the second week of January (when commercial aircraft movements were close to their 2019 levels). The severe upswing in Covid-19 cases since mid-February, however, has prompted authorities to lock down some parts of the country (for example the State of Sao Paulo, since 6 March) and to advise people against travelling. This has reversed the trend in passenger numbers, which dropped to 38.2% below Q1 2019 levels in Q1 2021. Furthermore, Gatwick Funding Limited, a 50.01% subsidiary of VINCI Airports, announces to have issued a 300 million bond, which is due to mature in 2032, with a coupon rate of 2.5%. The published information is available at the following address: https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/79IU/publication-of-final-terms/14937130 1 According to OAG, a worldwide provider of commercial air transport data. About VINCI Airports VINCI Airports, the leading private airport operator in the world, manages 45 airports in 12 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. We harness our expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, while leveraging our investment capability and expertise in optimising operational performance, modernising infrastructure and driving environmental transition. VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to start rolling out an international environmental strategy, in 2016, with a view to achieving net zero emissions throughout its network by 2050. More information: www.vinci-airports.com @VINCIAirports https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinci-airports/ PRESS CONTACT Tel.: +33(0)1 47 16 32 32 communication@vinci-airports.com Appendix Passenger traffic and commercial aircraft movements at 31 March 2021 All figures in the tables below, estimated as of 14 April 2021, are at 100%, regardless of VINCI Airports share in each airport. The figures for 2019 include airport traffic for the full period. I- Change in VINCI Airports passenger numbers in March 2021 March 2021 March YTD (3 months) % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 VINCI Airports -60.6% -82.7% -77.8% -82.4% Portugal (ANA) -79.4% -90.4% -85.0% -87.3% United-Kingdom -95.9% -98.1% -97.1% -97.7% Japan (Kansai Airports) -29.7% -78.0% -76.3% -83.8% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) -49.8% -70.6% -66.8% -70.9% France -66.2% -85.8% -78.5% -82.5% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) -90.4% -97.2% -95.9% -97.6% United States of America -6.3% -53.7% -58.4% -62.9% Brazil -31.5% -56.2% -31.7% -38.2% Serbia -40.7% -73.9% -69.3% -72.6% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) -1.2% -42.1% -42.8% -46.6% Sweden -70.9% -88.0% -84.9% -87.0% Costa Rica -47.7% -68.4% -71.3% -72.7% II-Change in VINCI Airports commercial flight movements in March 2021 March March YTD (3 months) % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 VINCI Airports -48.6% -67.6% -60.3% -65.5% Portugal (ANA) -64.5% -77.9% -70.0% -73.6% United-Kingdom -90.7% -94.4% -91.5% -93.1% Japan (Kansai Airports) -35.1% -55.8% -54.5% -59.8% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) -37.0% -58.5% -54.9% -59.3% France -45.6% -72.1% -63.5% -69.8% Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) -82.3% -91.6% -88.8% -91.8% United States of America -39.2% -53.5% -36.8% -39.7% Brazil -0.1% -28.7% -13.9% -19.7% Serbia -16.1% -49.9% -47.8% -52.4% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) 16.5% -22.1% -20.1% -27.9% Sweden -66.1% -78.2% -78.2% -79.5% Costa Rica -0.3% -25.6% -32.1% -36.7% III- Change in passenger numbers by airport at Q1 2021 In thousands of passengers VINCI Airports share (%) PAX (Q1 2021) % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 Portugal (ANA) of which Lisbon (LIS) 100 741 -86.3% -88.2% Porto (OPO) 100 356 -83.8% -86.3% Faro (FAO) 100 55 -92.8% -94.6% Madeira 100 118 -80.8% -83.9% Azores 100 131 -61.7% -67.8% TOTAL 1,401 -85.0% -87.3% United Kingdom Gatwick (LGW) 50 155 -97.9% -98.4% Belfast (BFS) 100 96 -90.6% -92.9% TOTAL 250 -97.1% -97.7% Japan (Kansai Airports) Kansai (KIX) 40 495 -89.7% -93.8% Itami (ITM) 40 1,256 -60.0% -67.6% Kobe (UKB) 40 298 -58.0% -61.8% TOTAL 2,049 -76.3% -83.8% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) Santiago (SCL) 40 2,034 -66.8% -70.9% TOTAL 2,034 -66.8% -70.9% France Lyon-Saint Exupery (LYS) & Lyon-Bron (LYN) 31 458 -77.5% -82.1% Nantes Atlantique (NTE) 85 247 -78.0% -80.2% Saint-Nazaire Montoir (SNR) 85 1 -79.0% -87.5% Rennes Bretagne (RNS) 49 44 -60.4% -75.6% Dinard Bretagne (DNR) 49 0 -99.4% -99.5% Grenoble Alpes Isere (GNB) 100 1 -99.5% -99.6% Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc (CMF) 100 1 -98.6% -99.1% Toulon Hyeres (TLN) 100 38 -39.0% -63.5% Clermont Ferrand Auvergne (CFE) 100 13 -83.0% -86.2% TOTAL 803 -78.5% -82.5% In thousands of passengers VINCI Airports share (%) PAX (Q1 2021) % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) Phnom Penh (PNH) 70 67 -93.8% -95.7% Siem Reap (REP) 70 0 -99.9% -100.0% Sihanoukville (KOS) 70 10 -94.5% -97.0% TOTAL 78 -95.9% -97.6% United States of America of which Orlando-Sanford (SFB) 100 423 -35.0% -44.8% Hollywood Burbank (BUR) MC* 308 -73.1% -75.0% Atlantic City (ACY) MC* 128 -52.4% -60.0% TOTAL 859 -58.4% -62.9% Brazil Salvador (SSA) 100 1,375 -31.7% -38.2% TOTAL 1,375 -31.7% -38.2% Serbia Belgrade (BEG) 100 284 -69.3% -72.6% TOTAL 284 -69.3% -72.6% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) of which Saint-Domingue (SDQ) 100 702 -30.3% -31.8% Puerto Plata (POP) 100 64 -77.6% -81.5% Samana (AZS) 100 1 -99.1% -99.2% La Isabela (JBQ) 100 14 -20.9% -23.2% TOTAL 781 -42.8% -46.6% Sweden Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) 90 52 -84.9% -87.0% TOTAL 52 -84.9% -87.0% Costa Rica Guanacaste (LIR) 45 123 -71.3% -72.7% TOTAL 123 -71.3% -72.7% Total VINCI Airports 10,088 -77.8% -82.4% *Management Contract IV- Change in commercial flight movements by airport at Q1 2021 Commercial flights (ATM) VINCI Airports share (%) ATM (Q1 2021) % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 Portugal (ANA) incl. Lisbon (LIS) 100 10,721 -74.8% -77.4% Porto (OPO) 100 5,185 -71.6% -74.6% Faro (FAO) 100 1,037 -81.9% -85.6% Madeira 100 2,097 -58.5% -65.1% Azores 100 3,813 -19.8% -30.3% TOTAL 22,854 -70.0% -73.6% United Kingdom London Gatwick (LGW) 50 2,141 -95.7% -96.5% Belfast (BFS) 100 2,868 -68.0% -74.7% TOTAL 5,009 -91.5% -93.1% Japon (Kansai Airports) Kansai (KIX) 40 13,581 -65.3% -72.8% Itami (ITM) 40 17,597 -46.5% -48.4% Kobe (UKB) 40 5,512 -35.4% -22.4% TOTAL 36,690 -54.5% -59.8% Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel) Santiago (SCL) 40 17,654 -54.9% -59.3% TOTAL 17,654 -54.9% -59.3% France Lyon-Saint Exupery (LYS) & Lyon-Bron (LYN) 31 9,789 -59.0% -66.3% Nantes Atlantique (NTE) 85 3,198 -70.8% -74.0% Saint-Nazaire Montoir (SNR) 85 261 -35.7% -43.0% Rennes Bretagne (RNS) 49 958 -46.8% -68.6% Dinard Bretagne (DNR) 49 42 -71.2% -73.2% Grenoble Alpes Isere (GNB) 100 187 -92.5% -92.9% Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc (CMF) 100 788 -78.5% -82.3% Toulon Hyeres (TLN) 100 936 -25.1% -42.6% Clermont Ferrand Auvergne (CFE) 100 771 -58.1% -66.0% TOTAL 16,930 -63.5% -69.8% Commercial flights (ATM) VINCI Airports share (%) ATM (Q1 2021) % change 2021 / 2020 % change 2021 / 2019 Cambodia (Cambodia Airports) Phnom Penh (PNH) 70 2,173 -81.7% -84.3% Siem Reap (REP) 70 48 -99.4% -99.6% Sihanoukville (KOS) 70 226 -90.8% -93.6% TOTAL 2,447 -88.8% -91.8% United States of America incl. Orlando-Sanford (SFB) 100 4,814 -11.6% -17.6% Hollywood Burbank (BUR) MC* 19,467 -40.6% -43.1% Atlantic City (ACY) MC* 1,241 -42.2% -44.2% TOTAL 25,522 -36.8% -39.7% Brazil Salvador (SSA) 100 17,025 -13.9% -19.7% TOTAL 17,025 -13.9% -19.7% Serbia Belgrade (BEG) 100 6,458 -47.8% -52.4% TOTAL 6,458 -47.8% -52.4% Dominican Republic (Aerodom) incl. Saint-Domingue (SDQ) 100 8,649 -12.5% -15.3% Puerto Plata (POP) 100 815 -55.9% -65.3% Samana (AZS) 100 111 -69.3% -77.3% La Isabela (JBQ) 100 1,724 -16.5% -33.7% Arroyo Barril (EPS) 100 46 +21.1% -39.5% TOTAL 11,353 -20.1% -27.9% Sweden Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) 90 554 -78.2% -79.5% TOTAL 554 -78.2% -79.5% Costa Rica Guanacaste (LIR) 45 2,958 -32.1% -36.7% TOTAL 2,958 -32.1% -36.7% Total VINCI Airports 165,454 -60.3% -65.5% * Management Contract Attachment COLUMBIA The few South Carolina school districts that don't already provide full weeks of in-classroom learning would have to do so by April 26 under legislation passed by the House. The measure approved 106-7 April 14 would also mandate that all districts offer five days weekly in person next school year. The amended bill no longer prohibits administrators from assigning teachers to educate students both in the classroom and online simultaneously. The version passed by the Senate two weeks ago allowed such double-duty in 2021-22 only in extreme and unavoidable circumstances and required paying teachers extra when that happens. The House stripped out that section altogether, concerning teachers who say the split model is overwhelming them and shortchanging students. And without a legislative ban, many teachers expect they'll be required to keep dividing their time, as districts statewide have already indicated they plan to continue offering students an all-virtual option. House leaders insist the removal was over technical problems with the wording, not the ban itself, and they hope to work out a compromise with senators that better defines what "dual modality" means and how teachers should be compensated. "There seems to be a lack of clarity as to the differences in simultaneous, dual modality and streaming (lessons). Well work to get that clarified," said Rep. Raye Felder, chairwoman of the House panel on K-12 education, adding she's confident it will be worked out ahead of the coming school year. "We just want to make sure we do it right," the Fort Mill Republican said. A perfunctory vote in the House on April 15 will return the bill to the Senate, which could either agree with the changes or send the measure to a panel of legislators to find a compromise between the chambers' version. That panel could agree on what administrators can and can't ask teachers to do without paying them more. Otherwise, Felder says the specifics will be worked out in separate legislation. But leaving that protection to chance gives teachers heartburn. "Of course, I'm fearful," Patrick Kelly, spokesman for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, said about the section's removal. "In the middle of a teaching-shortage crisis, we should be listening to the people doing the work every day." Teachers in dual roles recognize the students in their classroom fare better than those online, and that makes sense "as someone will always be shortchanged if your attention is divided," he said. The dual-duty "model is driving teachers out of the profession and to the detriment of students" at a time they need the most individual attention possible. Several Democrats asked to delay a vote to better define the dual-duty ban before sending the measure back to the Senate. But that idea was rejected. "Time is of the essence. April 26 is right around the corner," Felder said. "I do not want to hold up the start date." It's already past the April 12 deadline in the Senate's version of the bill. Only two districts haven't already set a full return by the House's deadline: Greenville and Colleton counties. As of the April 14 vote, 92 percent of the state's 1,261 K-12 public schools offered a full return to the classroom, while 96 schools provide a weekly mix of in-person and virtual learning, and one school is operating fully online, according to the state Department of Education. Broken down by district, all schools in 72 of the state's 79 school districts already provide a full-week option. Four others Florence 3 in Lake City, Lexington 1, and Orangeburg and Sumter counties plan to offer all grades a full return April 19. Tiny, rural Hampton 2 (Estill) plans to transition to a full return April 26, the House's required date. Colleton County has set May 3 as its full-return date. And Greenville County, where only high schoolers don't have the five-day option, fully intends to comply with the legislation, said spokesman Tim Waller. Currently, high schoolers in the state's largest district can be in the classroom either three days or four days weekly, depending on the week. Without the bill, the county's high schools would likely continue to operate that way for the last month of the school year. "We dont have anything against going back 100 percent," Waller said. "We were exploring every possibility under the sun to see how we could do this and maintain social distancing." He contends they can't in high schools. Regardless, with the bill expected to become law, high school desks will be moved around to comply. Beginning at 4 p.m. April 15, the plastic barriers that separate four students per table will come down. The tables will be removed, and traditional desks will be returned to high school classrooms, spaced 3 feet apart, Waller said. Agreement on fisheries subsidies trumps TRIPS waiver & Appellate Body impasse by D. Ravi Kanth April 14,2021 | Source: TWN Without addressing the existential crises stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Appellate Body impasse, the WTO director-general Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the chair of the Doha Rules negotiating body seem to be working in tandem to steam-roll an imbalanced agreement on fisheries subsidies, said people familiar with the development. In his aide-memoire sent to members on 30 March, the Rules chair, Ambassador Santiago Wills from Colombia, said that soon after our last cluster (in March), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala assumed her role as Director-General. As you know, he wrote in the same e-mail, the fisheries subsidies negotiations are high on her priority list. She has also made it clear that we should reach an outcome as soon as possible, Ambassador Wills said. And indeed, she (Ms Okonjo-Iweala) is ready to get straight to work, and I have met with her to brief her on both substantive and procedural issues, and she is reflecting on how best she can get involved, Ambassador Wills said. The chair recalled that during our last HoD meeting, many of you welcomed the momentum her appointment would bring to these negotiations, and I understand that she has started meeting with many of you and that the fisheries subsidies negotiations have been a part of those discussions. He said he hopes that those meetings (between the DG and members) have been fruitful and you are all energized to deliver on our mandate soon. Ominously, putting a one-sided agreement on fisheries subsidies before addressing the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed more than 2.8 million lives with 131 million registered cases, shows that the WTO only works to safeguard the interests of powerful developed countries and Big Pharma, said people, who asked not to be quoted. Instead of working with members on the proposed TRIPS waiver for ramping up production of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, the DG chose to convene a second round of meetings with Big Pharma to explore how to ramp up the production of vaccines, said people involved in the discussions on the TRIPS waiver. The TRIPS waiver seeks to temporarily suspend certain provisions in the TRIPS Agreement relating to copyrights, industrial designs, patents, and protection of undisclosed information to combat the COVID-19 pandemic until it is brought under control, people said. FISHERIES SUBSIDIES NEGOTIATIONS Against this backdrop, Ambassador Wills wants to embark on a series of heads of delegation (HoD) level meetings from 12 April ostensibly to unblock the key deadlocked issues in the fisheries subsidies negotiations. The chair, who has introduced controversial proposals such as Article 5.2 in the overcapacity and overfishing (OC&OF) pillar that is aimed at exempting the big subsidizers to continue with their industrial-scale fishing, is now attempting to reinforce the proposals that are inimical to the interests of an overwhelming majority of members, said a person, who asked not to be quoted. Instead of removing the controversial proposals to buttress the interests of the big subsidizers, the chair is now blaming members in that many of the discussions have become circular particularly in the areas of (i) a possible exemption for subsidies to subsistence/artisanal/small-scale fishing; (ii) due process requirements for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing determinations; and (iii) the approach to overcapacity and overfishing prohibition. In his email sent to members on 30 March, the chair said that the objective of this cluster is to address those key issues where we seem to have exhausted the technical discussions, and where we need high level attention. But, in reality, the chair has not been able to convince members as to why he inserted Article 5.2 in the second revised draft consolidated text, said people, who asked not to be identified. Ambassador Wills is now attempting to seek a trade-off between the interests of artisanal and small-scale fishermen, who survive for their livelihood on fishing and who have not in any way contributed to the problem of overfishing and depletion of global fish stocks, and the demands of the major subsidizers to continue with their industrial-scale fishing based on the OC&OF architecture, people said. The chair said he will hold small-group meetings at the HoD level only during the April cluster beginning on 12 April. The chair will convene three small-group sessions on 12-13 April to discuss a possible exemption for subsidies to subsistence/artisanal/small-scale fishing. Ambassador Wills said that his impressions from discussions on this topic at the level of experts is that many developed Members are not demandeurs of an exemption for subsidies to subsistence/artisanal/small-scale fishing, and some are even of the view that there should not be an exemption for subsidies to this type of fishing at all. Current proposals, including in paragraph 1.3 of RD/TN/RL/135, and in RD/TN/RL/136, propose for this exemption to apply to all Members The chair is asking whether his impression is correct that many developed Members are not demandeurs of an exemption for subsistence/artisanal/small-scale fishing? If so, what is the proponents rationale for having such an exemption apply to all Members? The chair sought to know whether limiting to developing Members the applicability of any such exemption or flexibility likely attracts more convergence? On Tuesday afternoon (13 April) and Wednesday all day (14 April), the chair said that he intends to hold three small-group meetings to discuss due process requirements for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing determinations. Ambassador Wills said that he will convene three small-group meetings on 15-16 April on the approach to the overcapacity and overfishing discipline. The chair said delegations generally share a similar reading, as elaborated in my communication of 9 March 2021, of the hybrid approach in Article 5 of the draft consolidated text (RD/TN/RL/126/Rev.2). Specifically, he said, the intention of Article 5.2 is to qualify the prohibition of subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing set forth in Articles 5.1 and 5.1.1, such that a Member could provide otherwise prohibited subsidies if it demonstrates that measures are implemented to maintain stocks at a biologically sustainable level. Despite this shared understanding on the reading of the provision, I note that delegations remain too far apart on how to advance our textual work on this key element of the disciplines, the chair said. He said that too often, Members point to what they perceive to be shortfalls in the current text or in the views of other Members, and then fall back to their preferred positions and approaches, without concrete suggestions for bridging the gaps. Ambassador Wills admitted that failure to progress on an overall approach for the overcapacity and overfishing discipline also is posing difficulties in moving forward in other areas. In this regard, the objective of these sessions is to explore the following question: * What specific drafting changes would need to be made to Article 5.1 and Article 5.2 of the draft consolidated text (RD/TN/RL/Rev.2) in order to make those provisions workable for your delegation(s)? * In providing your response and comments to this question, as with the other questions raised, please do bear in mind that we should be working under the mind-set of what my delegation can live with instead of what is my delegations preferred language. He will convene an open-ended meeting on 21 April at the level of HoD+1 and arrangements have been made to continue into the afternoon if necessary. OVERFISHED STOCKS Meanwhile, the chair intends to discuss the likely disciplines in the overfished stocks pillar on 8 April, an area that remains untouched from December 2019. In his email sent to members on 30 March, the chair referred to the draft text circulated by the facilitator on overfished stocks in December 2019, which was incorporated in the chairs first version of the draft consolidated text. The chair said that while work on the draft consolidated text on the disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing has evolved as per the second draft consolidated text, by contrast, the text in Article 4 on overfished stocks remains unchanged from that in the first version of the draft consolidated document, as we have not returned to that topic except for the placeholder for the un-assessed stocks, which was removed in RD/TN/RL/126/Rev.2 (the second revised draft text issued in December last year). The chair said that he wants members to focus that in the light of the evolution of the draft disciplines relating to overcapacity and overfishing (in Article 5), what changes to the language on overfished stocks would members consider necessary to capture its intended purpose? The disciplines proposed by the chair in the first version of the draft consolidated text are as follows: ARTICLE 4: PROHIBITION ON SUBSIDIES CONCERNING OVERFISHED STOCKS 4.1 No Member shall grant or maintain subsidies for fishing or fishing related activities regarding an overfished stock when any of the following situations related to that stock are present: (a) lack of recovery of the stock; or (b) continuous reduction in the level of the stock. 4.2 A fish stock is overfished if it is: [ALT1 recognized as overfished by the Member under whose jurisdiction the fishing is taking place or by a relevant RFMO/A based on best scientific evidence available to and recognized by them.] [ALT2 at such a low level that mortality from fishing needs to be restricted to allow the stock to rebuild to a level that produces maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or alternative reference points based on the best scientific evidence available to and recognized by the Member.] 4.3 A Member may grant or maintain the subsidies set out in Article 4.1 if the subsidies and/or other appropriate measures are implemented in a manner that ensures rebuilding of the stock to a biologically sustainable level as determined by the coastal Member under whose jurisdiction the fishing is taking place or a relevant RFMO/A in areas and for species under its competence. 4.4 [For the purposes of [paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article], in case of overlap between the area of jurisdiction of a coastal Member and the area of competence of a RFMO/A, the determination made by the coastal Member shall prevail.] 4.5 [PLACEHOLDER UNASSESSED STOCKS] 4.6 (a) [The prohibition under paragraph 4.1 shall not apply to subsidies granted or maintained by developing country Members, including LDC Members, for fishing or fishing related activities at sea within their territorial sea.] (b) [PLACEHOLDER TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SDT FOR OFS]] Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade. 2021 Bolch Prize to be awarded to Justice Margaret Marshall Wits graduate to receive award for defending the rule of law all her life. Retired Chief Justice Margaret H Marshall (BA 1967, LLD honoris causa 2000) former chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and a lifelong advocate for a more accountable judiciary will receive the 2021 Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law. An announcement made by David F Levi, the director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, on 7 April 2021, said: Chief Justice Marshall is an extraordinary example of someone who has quietly and persistently worked to uphold the rule of law. Having witnessed and fought against the devastating injustices of apartheid, she has a deep sense of the ways in which the law can be used either to undermine or to protect equal treatment. She has dedicated her life to ensuring that the law in substance and administration promotes justice for all. Her example on and off the bench has inspired judges and lawyers in this country and in South Africa. The Bolch Prize is awarded annually to an organisation of individual who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the rule of law and advancing rule of law principles around the world. The recipient is selected by the Bolch Judicial Institutes Advisory Board. The prize includes a customised artwork and a monetary award. Marshall will be honored during a prize giving to be broadcast online in June. Former Wits Chancellor and former deputy chief justice of the Constitutional Court, Dikgang Moseneke (LLD honoris causa), will also be honoured during the ceremony as recipient of the 2020 Bolch Prize. Marshall obtained her baccalaureate from Wits and as an undergraduate she was elected president of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS). In 1966, NUSAS invited Martin Luther King Jr and then Senator Robert Kennedy to South Africa to address students. The South African government denied King's visa. She was present when Kennedy delivered his famous "ripple of hope" speech at the University of Cape Town. For Marshall, Kennedy's words made a huge impact. As a student, she attended the trials of opponents of apartheid to bear witness to the injustices they faced under a corrupt legal system. She helped provide transportation so that families could visit loved ones incarcerated as political prisoners. Marshall left for the United States in 1968 to pursue graduate studies at Harvard and became a US citizen in 1978 obtaining a masters degree from Harvard and a law degree from Yale. She practiced law for 16 years in Boston and became a partner in the Boston firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart. In 1992, she was appointed vice president and general counsel of Harvard University, the first woman to hold that position. In 1996 she was named an associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, the oldest continuously serving appellate court in the Western Hemisphere; in 1999 she became the first woman to serve as chief justice of that court. Her 2003 opinion in Goodridge vs Department of Public Health made global headlines, sparking both criticism and praise. While some states moved to bar same-sex marriage after Goodridge, public opinion began to shift in support of same-sex marriage and several other states moved to legalise it. In 2015, the US Supreme Court extended the right to same-sex marriage to all US states and territories in Obergefell vs Hodges. Chief Justice Marshall stands high in the ranks of internationally renowned jurists, said Justice Edwin Cameron, a retired justice of the Constitutional Court. Her stout-hearted defense of reason, justice, equality and fairness is crucial in these perilous times not only in her country of birth, South Africa, but in her adopted United States of America. As a proudly gay man, I can never forget the awed admiration I felt when, for a sharply divided court, she handed down her eloquent judicial affirmation, the first ever of the right to equal marriage for LGBTIQ people. That tiny fragment of her courageous legacy well encapsulated the unflinching whole. Allow Me To Introduce The Adult Learner: A Quick Read for the Instructor of Adult Learners Five Factors to Consider to Effectively Teach Adult Learners: a considerate approach to adult education. Allow Me To Introduce The Adult Learner: A Quick Read for the Instructor of Adult Learners Five Factors to Consider to Effectively Teach Adult Learners is the creation of published author, Dr. Adrienne Werdann Garabedian, a devoted mother and passionate educator. Teaching adult learners is more than just teaching the curriculum. Its understanding who the adult learner is and identifying how each students experience and personal value can contribute to teaching and learning. In Allow Me to Introduce the Adult Learner, Dr. Adrienne Werdann Garabedian presents five factors to consider to effectively teach adult learners. A fascinating and quick read, exploring how, once classified as non-traditional learners, adult learners are being recognized more as a traditional student. The traditional student definition is slowly transforming to include the adult population returning to school. The journey continues with understanding what andragogy is and why pedagogical factors need to combine with andragogical strategies when teaching adults. The responsibility of teaching adult learners is unlike ever before. It is the responsibility of each Instructor to be able to recognize student experiences and align those experiences to concepts for effective teaching to take place. This is not a choice but necessary for effective engagement and learning. Allow Me to Introduce the Adult Learner emphasizes teaching organized. This is the only way adult learners will be able to focus and feel comfortable in the learning environment. Lastly, this book explores the impact of AI in higher education and how that relates to teaching. Overall, this book is a great way for instructors of adult learners to really grasp how they can effectively engage adults and how it is critical to take each adult learners experience and relate those experiences to the learning concepts. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dr. Garabedians new book encourages educators to appreciate the individual learner in an effort to promote more successful educational experiences for adults furthering their education. With a straightforward approach, Dr. Garabedian provides food for thought throughout the five-step approach. View a synopsis of Allow Me To Introduce The Adult Learner: A Quick Read for the Instructor of Adult Learners Five Factors to Consider to Effectively Teach Adult Learners on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Allow Me To Introduce The Adult Learner: A Quick Read for the Instructor of Adult Learners Five Factors to Consider to Effectively Teach Adult Learners at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Allow Me To Introduce The Adult Learner: A Quick Read for the Instructor of Adult Learners Five Factors to Consider to Effectively Teach Adult Learners, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. If notified, all the common projects on River Krishna that serve both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana would come under the administrative and operational control of the board. Representational image Hyderabad: The state government is seriously exploring legal options with the Supreme Court to stall the Centre's move to notify the jurisdiction of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). Stating this, official sources in the irrigation department said this is in view of reports from Delhi that the Union Jal Shakti ministry has completed all the modalities and the Centre is all set to notify the jurisdiction of KRMB. If notified, all the common projects on River Krishna that serve both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana would come under the administrative and operational control of the board. The KRMB will be the supreme authority and both the states have to seek KRMB approval to take up any new projects. The states will also have to seek approval for continuation of the works on irrigation projects that were already started without seeking approvals from the apex council and also for any redesigning of the existing projects on River Krishna. As per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, both KRMB and GRMB (Godavari river management board) were to be constituted and their jurisdiction notified within 60 days from the date of bifurcation of AP in June 2014. However, it remained pending for nearly seven years due to lack of a consensus between TS and AP. Official sources said the Telangana government wants the Centre to notify the KRMB jurisdiction only after the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal - II finalized the allocation of Krishna water to TS. The AP government on the other hand wants the Centre to notify the jurisdiction at the earliest so that the project management would be in the hands of the board, thus ensuring transparency in water allocation and usage. The TS government fears that its projects on River Krishna, namely the Palamur-Rangareddy, Dindi, will be in trouble if the Centre notifies the KRMB jurisdiction without making water allocations. The state government has started these projects without seeking approvals for water allocations. The AP government had already lodged a complaint with the Union Jal Shakti ministry as well as the KRMB against the Telangana government taking up the Palamur-RR and Dindi projects without obtaining any water allocation approvals. The TS government too lodged a complaint against AP government for taking up the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme (RLIS), diverting Krishna water from Srisailam without seeking necessary approvals. The second apex council meeting was held in October 2020 -- which was attended by the CMs of TS and AP through video conference mode. At this, the Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced that the ministry had decided to notify the jurisdiction of both KRMB and GRMB. Following this, the KRMB has sent the draft working manual to the ministry. The draft manual was also circulated between both the states several times, but no consensus could be reached. However, as the TS government continued to raise objections, the Centre had in the last apex council meeting said the states consensus was not needed and that it would go ahead with the jurisdiction notification. Blue Origin loaded two people into the capsule. They strapped in, checked communications with mission control and prepared to launch from West Texas. It would be the 15th New Shepard launch outside of Van Horn, a town about two hours southeast of El Paso. This is where Blue Origin plans to fly paying customers. But thus far, only Mannequin Skywalker (who, as the name suggests, is not alive) has taken the 11-minute journey to space and back. He would be the sole occupant on Wednesday, too, as the Blue Origin employees unloaded 70 minutes before the engine sputtered to life. Blue Origin had never planned to launch people on Wednesday. The company only sought to test the experience its customers would have prior to liftoff. From its 14th flight: Blue Origin launched its New Shepard vehicle from West Texas Still, it brings the 21-year-old company one step closer to putting humans in space. Launch Site One is the site from where well soon fly humans, a Blue Origin spokesperson said in an email. Incrementally, each one of our 15 missions has been essential to building a safe, reliable vehicle. Kent, Wash.-based Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Amazons Jeff Bezos. It broke ground on the West Texas launch site a few years later. Blue Origin The company has taken a quiet approach to developing its rockets and spacecraft. Blue Origin built and tested numerous New Shepard components for a decade before conducting the first full launch of the reusable system in 2015. Its been very, very quiet. Not flashy, said Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at analytics and engineering firm BryceTech. It doesnt really get into the news the way SpaceX does, and they do that on purpose. Very deliberative. SpaceX, which has a launch facility in South Texas outside of Brownsville, snags headlines for its battles with federal regulators and its fiery crash landings of prototypes. The SpaceX mantra is a fast-paced cadence of test, fly, fail, fix, test and fly again. Blue Origin did have a crash landing on its first New Shepard launch, but even that test was considered a success. The rocket booster pushed the capsule to the proper height, and the capsule separated and gently returned to Earth. But the rocket booster did not complete its gentle vertical landing. If New Shepard had been a traditional expendable vehicle, this would have been a flawless first test flight, Bezos said in an April 2015 news release. Of course one of our goals is reusability, and unfortunately we didnt get to recover the propulsion module. We continue to be big fans of the vertical takeoff, vertical landing architecture. New Shepard consists of a 60-foot-tall rocket booster and a crew capsule that can hold six people. The combined vehicle launches together for about 2 minutes. Then the engine shuts off and the capsule separates from the booster to coast above the Karman line, which is largely identified as the boundary of space 62 miles above the Earth. The booster returns for a controlled, rocket-powered vertical landing. In the spacecraft, which descends more slowly, occupants would have three minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth. Parachutes slow it down and then, right before landing, a retro-thrust system creates an air cushion for the capsule. Since the first New Shepard test flight, Blue Origin has stuck all its rocket booster landings. On Wednesdays flight, the crew capsule flew 347,574 feet (nearly 66 miles) above ground level. The fastest velocity during launch was 2,234 mph. The mission lasted 10 minutes and 10 seconds. After the capsule landed, the Blue Origin employees returned to practice post-flight procedures, including opening the hatch and exiting the capsule. Its next flight, the 16th launch, could have people on board, Smith said. New Shepard has really not encountered any incident, he said. Blue Origin is also building a reusable orbital rocket, New Glenn, to launch satellites and other payloads into space. New Shepard, the suborbital vehicle, is named for the first American in space. NASA astronaut Alan Shepard flew 116 miles high and then came back down. The flight on May 5, 1961, lasted about 15 minutes; Shepard did not circle the Earth. Following the same theme, New Glenn is named for the first American to orbit the Earth. NASA astronaut John Glenn circled the globe three times in a Feb. 20, 1962, flight that lasted nearly five hours. The New Glenn rocket has not yet launched into space. Its first flight could be in the fourth quarter of 2022. Blue Origin is also building a lunar lander that NASA could use in its Artemis program to lower the first woman and next man to the moon. In April 2020, NASA named three companies that would design and develop human landing systems. Blue Origin, the prime contractor for its lander, is partnering with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper. SpaceX was also selected to design a lander, and Dynetics, a company that has worked with NASA for decades and was acquired by Leidos Holdings last year, is partnering with more than 25 contractors for the third lander. More about its human landing system: Blue Origin-led lunar lander arrives in Houston NASA has not yet announced which companies will progress to the next stage of development. Launching people would be a momentous milestone as companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX and Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic seek to make space more accessible. Flying people will also be a big source of revenue for suborbital spaceflight. But there is more demand for launching satellites into orbit, Smith said. And developing a lunar lander that NASA pays to use when exploring the moon could generate long-term future revenue. The focus of the company seems to be more so on New Glenn and the lunar landing system, Smith said. That seems to be their primary focus. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder India has fast-tracked emergency use approval for eligible foreign-produced shots against Covid-19, in a move to expand its basket of vaccines amid the "highest" surge in the infections in the country and speed up the inoculation drive that got a boost with a third vaccine Sputnik V from Russia getting clearance. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, announced on Tuesday more strict restrictions in the whole state and that Section 144 CrPC (ban on assembly of 5 or more people) will be in force for 15 days starting from 8 pm on Wednesday till 7 am on May 1. "The situation is scary. War against coronavirus has begun once again," he said in his address via social media on a day when the worst-hit state reported 60,212 new Covid cases and 281 fresh deaths. He described the fresh curbs as "lockdown-like restrictions". Also Read | India logs 1.61 lakh new Covid-19 cases, 879 deaths The announcement by the Union Health Ministry by which the eligible manufacturers of the foreign vaccines are not required to undertake local clinical trials in India could clear the decks for imports of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots with certain conditions. A statement by the ministry said the government has decided that Covid-19 vaccines which have been developed and are being manufactured in foreign countries and which have been granted emergency approval for restricted use by authorities in the US, Europe, the UK, Japan or which are listed in the WHO Emergency Use Listing may be granted emergency use approval in India. The first 100 beneficiaries of such foreign vaccines shall be assessed for seven days for safety outcomes before it is rolled out for further immunisation programme within the country, it added. "We hope and we invite the vaccine makers such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and others...to be ready to come to India as early as possible," NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said at a media briefing. Read | Indias Covid-19 crisis has a familiar culprit He termed the government's move as a significant development and a liberal regulatory step that will increase the access to vaccines that are manufactured outside. "It also opens up eventually doors for import of bulk or import of finished vaccines in vials or import leading to fill and finish in the country," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told the media briefing. Currently, two vaccines -- Covaxin by Bharat Biotech and Covishield by Serum Institute of India (SII) -- are being used for inoculation in India. With India in the grip of second Covid-19 wave, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it very clear that the government would not go for lockdowns in a big way and rather resort to local containment. The minister said this at a virtual meeting with the World Bank Group president David Malpass. In his address at the 'Raisina Dialogue', Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for united global efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis, saying mankind will not be able to defeat it unless everyone comes out of it. "We understand fully, that mankind will not defeat the pandemic unless all of us, everywhere, regardless of the colour of our passports, come out of it. That is why, this year, despite many constraints, we have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries," he said at the conference, held virtually. The prime minister also said that during this pandemic, in our own humble way, within our own limited resources, we in India have tried to walk the talk. Secretary Bhushan said the "previous highest surge" has already been crossed and the trend is going upward and that is a cause for worry and that is something they continuously share with the states and UTs and try to help them tackle the pandemic in a more effective manner. "The previous highest surge was 94,372 daily cases in September which is now 1,61,736 every day," he added. The daily deaths are also showing an increasing trend. But the previous surge was 1,104 and it is presently 879 deaths. He said Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat are among states of concern. Utar Pradesh and Delhi recorded 18,021 and 13,468 Covid-19 new cases on Tuesday respectively in the biggest single-day jump so far. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Centre to cancel the Class 10 and 12 board exams and explore alternative methods, including online exams, The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said more than 850 million doses of Sputnik V are going to be produced annually in India -- the 60th country to approve the vaccine. RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said the Russian vaccine has efficacy of 91.6 per cent and provides full protection against severe cases of Covid-19 as demonstrated by the data published in one of the leading medical journals, The Lancet. The approval of Sputnik V is a "major milestone", he added. "By summer we expect to manufacture 50 million doses or more of Sputnik V a month in India," Dmitriev told a virtual press conference later in the evening. "We almost think Sputnik V is an Indian-Russian vaccine, because lots of production of Sputnik V will be done in India". The Health Ministry statement said the eligible foreign vaccines will be given emergency use approval mandating the requirement of post-approval parallel bridging clinical trial in place of conduct of local clinical trial under the provisions of the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019. "This decision will facilitate quicker access to such foreign vaccines by India and would encourage imports including import of bulk drug material, optimal utilization of domestic fill and finish capacity, etc., which will in turn provide a fillip to vaccine manufacturing capacity and total vaccine availability for domestic (use)," the ministry said. Elaborating on the government decision, Secretary Bhushan said it has created an enabling regulatory provision to enable those foreign made vaccines which have been approved by "credible foreign regulators" to get emergency use nod in India. "It denotes a very significant streamlining and fast tracking of the regulatory approval system which means that the pre-condition of having a bridging clinical trial which is phase 2 and 3 trial here for a foreign vaccine before it could be considered for emergency use authorisation has been done away with and has been replaced with a parallel bridging trial. As the approval happens the clinical trial can proceed. So therefore the availability of the vaccine becomes much faster," he added. The decision came following the recommendations of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19. This decision and the permission for the restricted emergency use of Sputnik V with certain conditions came as India surpassed Brazil to become the second worst-hit country affected by the Covid after the US. In a regulatory filing, Pharma major Dr Reddy's said it has received permission from the Drug Controller General of India to import the Sputnik vaccine into India for restricted use in emergency situations. The Finance Ministry took to Twitter to give details of Minister Sitharaman's meeting with David Malpass. "Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman shared the measures being taken by India to contain the spread of second wave of pandemic including the five pillared strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and #Covid19 appropriate behaviour," it said in a tweet. "Even with the second wave, we are very clear that we are not going in for lockdowns in a big way. We don't want to totally arrest the economy. The local level isolation of patients, or households which have people in quarantines are the methods through which the crisis will be handled, the second wave will be handled. There shall not be lockdown," the minister said. Seriously, how hard is it to just not be racist? That's one of the many questions I mentally find myself asking every time a teacher or public figure in Texas comes under fire for showcasing what is clearly unacceptable behavior. THIS IS BLACK TWITTER: Black Twitter takes Black resilience and humor online As a Black woman, it's honestly sad and unacceptable that these conversations still have to happen. Don't get me wrong, I am all for educating those who are interested in "doing more" or becoming allies for the community but no one should have to tell you what not to be doing. I am not at all here to bash anyone, moreso to draw attention to the fact that these types of situations keep happening even though everyone likes to pretend we are over these incidents. In case you needed a few examples of how not to handle matters of race in the classroom, here are a few ideas: 1. Don't glorify teenagers or white supremacists who shoot and kill unarmed individuals, aka Kyle Rittenhouse. 2. Don't broadcast racial slurs on the overhead projector and call it a "class activity." 3. Don't remove Black History Month displays to appease complaining parents who don't care to understand its meaning. 4. Don't discipline teachers who are in support of all students and want to make sure everyone feels included, especially members of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. 5. Don't outlaw dreadlocks and punish students for standing firm in their cultural beliefs. Seriously, stop trying to police Black students hair. 6. Don't force students to watch a graphic video of a Black man being killed in police custody because they're "acting as jurors." IN HIS HONOR: George Floyd honored with street mural in front of Jack Yates High School Unfortunately, this isn't even half the fight. As a country, America may never be able to fully free themselves from its racist roots, but the world would be a lot more bearable if everyone at least put in more effort. And if you have to ponder deeply on whether or not something is racist, chances are, it needs to be avoided. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Editor: In contrast to many countries the United States with its prevalence of schools and opportunities for all people and due to its diversity and openness boasts a broad spectrum of educated, intelligent and successful citizens in all disciplines who represent our entire population. This tends to promote harmony and equality. Minorities in the United States succeed due to their desire for an education and their qualities of perseverance and motivation. They include Asian Americans, Cuban Americans, Nigerian Americans, Mormon Americans and others. Jewish Americans succeed because they have availed themselves of the nations many opportunities. Minorities including Jews, Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and others continue to face discrimination. A recent rash of assaults have been committed against Asian Americans. Asian Americans helped build this country over the past 170 years, including work on the transcontinental railroad. Many of them are highly educated and are doctors, scientists, engineers, educators and business executives. Educational and employment opportunities for all, and rewards and recognition for successful people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation make the United States the envy of the world because of our perseverance and will to succeed. We are all integral parts of the greatest country in the world. DONALD MOSKOWITZ LONDONDERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE Editor: Pennsylvanians, read the new Georgia law about voting and insist that we have an identical one. It is a giant step toward democracy despite all the lies that have been told. They have expanded voter rights and hours in Georgia. Everyone that votes, either in person or by mail, should be required to show identification just like you do when you go to a doctors office, clinic or to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Whites, Hispanics, minorities and low-income voters are all required to have identification to obtain social services. Those in middle and upper income brackets have a real ID, drivers licenses or permits, insurance cards or other identifying papers. Even college kids have to produce identification to get on campus or to get a job. Only an idiot would believe that the Georgia law is a return to the Jim Crow laws. What went on in Pennsylvania in the last election should never happen again. If two weeks are needed to count votes that arrive late the law should be changed and every ballot that comes in later than the day of voting should be held and counted by two or more observers from each party. That is the democratic way. If the voting laws do not change in Pennsylvania soon, its time for the inking of thumbs as they do in Arab countries. NANCY NON PLEASANT MOUNT, WAYNE COUNTY Editor: Its been three months since the Jan. 6 insurrection, one of the darkest days in American history. The storming of the U.S. Capitol should remind us all that it really can happen here. It didnt have to be that way. For four years Republicans in power did nothing to counter the lies and bullying that set that stage for the insurrection. Spineless Republicans in Congress and statehouses even went along with President Donald Trumps big lie that the election was rigged and fraudulent, despite zero evidence that either are true. U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson, of Centre County; Fred Keller, of Snyder County; and Dan Meuser, of Luzerne County; joined 123 other House Republicans in a Texas lawsuit to try to overturn the results of the presidential election. After the Supreme Court tossed out that meritless effort, and after members of Congress had to flee the Capitol to protect themselves from a violent mob, Thompson, Keller, Meuser and others still voted against the actual certification of electoral votes that already had been certified by each state. Pennsylvanias Republican leaders, including Sen. Jake Corman and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, both of Centre County, want to use Trumps big lie as a transparent excuse to meddle in Pennsylvania elections and impose voting restrictions in the future. They all want you to forget what they did and to ignore what theyre doing. Dont let them get away with it. Call them up and call them out, every chance you get. They owe us sincere apologies for their past actions and honest explanations for their current and future attempts to suppress voting or rig elections. MARILYN GOLDFARB BOALSBURG, CENTRE COUNTY Editor: In the early centuries of the Catholic Church there sprang up a number of divergent teachings, very loosely connected to the person of Jesus Christ but having little connection to the genuine Gospel. One popular such cult was gnosticism, or secret wisdom. Gnosticism usually revolved around self-appointed prophets, who claimed to receive special information from God, which they then would reveal to their select disciples. You can see the attraction. It represented quite an elevation to the human ego, getting special revelation from the almighty that all those ordinary Pauline and Petrine Christians werent getting. It was rather like getting messages from Q on your computer. The church eventually stamped out the gnostics. The cult popped up occasionally, notably in early 20th century America, where it formed the basis for the spirit-filled Protestantism we are familiar with today. It centered, once again, around prophets receiving private revelations. Again, it is an ego cult, having little to do with the Gospel, but a lot to do with spite, hate, and ignorance. Jesus never passed out weapons, or advocated violence or rebellion. The early church went through three centuries of horrific persecution and never once lifted a finger. JEFFREY M. McHALE OLYPHANT Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 20:04:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the time has come for international forces to pull out from Afghanistan. "Together, we went into Afghanistan to deal with those who attacked us and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorists who might attack any of us," Blinken said as he arrived at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels. "Together, we have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve and now it is time to bring our forces home," Blinken said ahead of talks with NATO partners. U.S. President Joe Biden will address it publicly within hours, Blinken said. NATO partners are meeting in Brussels as the Biden administration plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan almost 20 years after the U.S. invasion following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Blinken said this is an important moment for the alliance, adding that despite the pull-out, NATO's commitment to Afghanistan and its future will remain. Enditem Advertisement They were all denied a place at his wedding, thanks to post-war nervousness at Buckingham Palace. But for the rest of his life, the Duke of Edinburgh was adamant that bygones should be bygones. That is why he made it clear that he wanted his 'blood' family the network of German nieces, nephews and cousins to whom he was devoted to be properly represented and included in his funeral arrangements. And so they shall be. For I learn that two great-nephews and a cousin are currently locked in a Covid-compliant bubble at the Berkshire home of a mutual friend ahead of Saturday's funeral. They were quietly invited to fly to the UK last weekend, in order to undergo quarantine procedures ahead of the service. Like Prince Harry, they will provided final Covid tests permit be eligible to join the Queen and other members of the immediate family at St George's Chapel on Saturday. For now, Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden; Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg are all behind closed doors in a house near Ascot. With only 30 mourners permitted inside St George's Chapel on Saturday afternoon, in line with Covid rules, it means a tenth of the congregation paying tribute to the Duke will be from Germany. 'It really is an incredible honour and we are all extremely touched and privileged to be included on behalf of the wider family,' says Prince Philipp, 51, in a statement from the house where he and his cousins must remain isolated until the weekend. His grandmother, Princess Margarita, was the Duke's elder sister and the Duke paid many visits to the family home, Langenburg Castle in southern Germany. Prince Bernhard, 50, also a father of three, is a grandson of the Duke's second sister, Theodora (known as 'Dolla'). Prince Donatus, known as 'Don', 54, is the head of the House of Hesse, into which the Duke's two younger sisters, Cecile and Sophie (known as 'Tiny') married. Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, pictured with Prince Charles, said: 'It really is an incredible honour and we are all extremely touched and privileged to be included on behalf of the wider family' Prince Bernhard, pictured with his wife at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Monaco in 2011, is the grandson of the late Duke's sister Theodora Prince Donatus, head of the House of Hesse and pictured with the Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2019, is also related to the monarch Family seat: The Queen and the Duke were guests at Langenburg Castle on a state visit in 1965 Troubles ahead: Philip, second from left, as a boy with his parents and four sisters, who adored him. They all married German aristocrats Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg is one of many of the Duke's relatives isolating behind closed doors in a house near Ascot Prince Charles meets members of his father's extended family on a trip to Langenburg in Germany in May 2013 Princess Stefanie and Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden - a great-nephew of the Duke of Edinburgh at the wedding of Count Bjorn and Countess Sandra Bernadotte in Germany in 2009 Queen Elizabeth II (accompanied by Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse) watches her horse 'Barber's Shop' compete in the Tattersalls and Ror Thoroughbred Ridden Show Class on day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park on May 16, 2014 in Windsor Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were distant cousins, both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Philip Prince was also of Greek, Danish and German descent Duke of Edinburgh's family tree reveals his German side The Duke of Edinburgh's parents were Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. They had five children - Prince Philip; Princess Margarita; Princess Theodora; Princess Cecile; and Princess Sophia. Here is the full family tree involving Philip's siblings: PRINCE PHILIP - married Queen Elizabeth II had four children - Prince Charles; Princess Anne; Prince Andrew; Prince Edward - Prince Charles - married Princess Diana two children Prince William; Prince Harry - Prince William married Kate Middleton three children Prince, Charlotte, Louis - Prince Harry married Meghan Markle one child - Archie - married Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - Princess Anne - married Mark Philips - had two children - Peter Phillips; Zara Tindall - Peter Phillips - married Autumn Phillips - two children - Savannah; Isla - Zara Phillips - married Mike Tindall - two children - Mia; Lena; Lucas - married Timothy Lawrence - Prince Andrew - married Sarah Ferguson - two children - Princess Beatrice; Princess Eugenie - Princess Beatrice - married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (no children) - Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank - one child - August - Prince Edward - married Sophie Rhys-Jones - two children - Lady Louise; James Viscount Severn PRINCESS MARGARITA - married Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg of Germany - had five children - Prince Kraft; Princess Beatrix; Prince Georg Andreas; Prince Rupprecht; Prince Albrecht - Prince Kraft - married Princess Charlotte von Croy - three children - Princess Cecile; Prince Philipp; Princess Xenia - Princess Cecile married Cyril de Commarque (no children) - Prince Philipp married Saskia Binder - had three children Marita; Max; Gustav - Princess Xenia married Max Soltmann - had one child - Louisa - married Irma Pospesch (no children) - Princess Beatrix (no marriage or children) - Prince Georg Andreas - married Princess Luise - had two children Princess Katharina; Princess Tatjana - Princess Katharina married Prince Nikolaus - had two children - Princess Laetitia; Princess Alexia - Princess Tatjana married Hubertus Stephan - had two children - Carl; Wolf - Prince Rupprecht (no marriage or children) - Prince Albrecht - married Maria-Hildegard Fischer - one child - Prince Ludwig PRINCESS THEODORA - married Berthold, Margrave of Baden - had three children - Princess Margarita, Prince Maximillian; Prince Ludwig - Princess Margarita - married Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia - had two children - Prince Nikolas; Princess Katarina - Prince Nikolas - married Ljiljana Licanin - had one child - Princess Marie - Princess Katerina - married Sir George Desmond de Silva - had one child - Victoria de Silva - Prince Maximillian - married Archduchess Valerie of Austria - had four children Marie, Bernhard; Leopold; Michael - Princess Marie - married Richard Dudley Baker - had one child - Sophia Baker - Prince Bernhard - married Stephanie Kaul - had three children - Leopold; Friedrich; Karl-Wilhelm - Prince Leopold (no marriage or children) - Prince Michael - married Christina Hohne (no children) - Prince Ludwig - married Princess Anna Maria - had three children - Princess Sophie, Prince Bernhard; Princess Aglae PRINCESS CECILE - married Hereditary Grand Duke George Donatus of Hesse - had three children - Prince Ludwig; Prince Alexander; Princess Johanna (none of their children married or had children) PRINCESS SOPHIA - married Prince Christoph of Hesse - had five children - Princess Christine; Princess Dorothea; Prince Karl; Prince Rainer; Princess Clarissa - Princess Christine - married Prince Andrej - had two children - Princess Tatiana, Princess Christopher - Princess Tatiana - married Gregory Thune-Larsen - had two children - Olga; Sonia - Prince Christopher (no marriage or children) - married Robert Floris van Eyck - had two children - Helene; Mark - Helene - married Robert Alan Harman - had one child Sascha - Mark van Eyck - married Joanne Green (no children) - Princess Dorothea - married Prince Friedrich - had two children - Princess Marina; Princess Clarissa - Princess Marina (no marriage or children) - Princess Clarissa - married Eric Michel Jacques de Waele - had one child Michel - Prince Karl - married Yvonne Szapary von Muraszombath - had two children - Prince Christoph; Princess Irina - Princess Irina - married Alexander von Schonburg-Glauchau - had one child - Valentin - Prince Christoph (no marriage or children) - Prince Rainer (no marriage or children) - Princess Clarissa - married Jean-Claude Derrien - had one child - Princess Johanna - Princess Johanna (no marriage or children) - married Prince George William of Hanover - had three children - Prince Welf Ernst; Prince Georg; Princess Friederike - Prince Welf Ernst - married Wibke van Gunsteren - had one child - Princess Tania - Princess Tania - married Naylor-Leyland - had two children - Jake; Gabriel - married Edward Hooper - had one child Louis - Prince Georg - married Victoria Anne Bee - had two children - Princess Vera; Princess Nora - Princess Vera - married Manuel Dmoch - had two children - Celina; Elena - Princess Nora - married Christian Falk - had two children - Konstantin; Lepold - Princess Friederike - married Jerry William Cyr - had two children - Julia; Jean-Paul Advertisement All these families enjoy so many precious recollections of the 'Uncle Philip', who thought nothing of popping over to Germany for a christening or a landmark birthday party for the offspring and relatives of his older sisters. They were the kind-hearted, glamorous quartet of princesses who had doted on their boisterous little brother through an often troubled childhood. The Duke never forgot that, as I learnt from Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg earlier this year when I was researching the Duke's European family. 'It was such a joy having a conversation with him. His memory was extraordinary,' he explained. 'He could remember playing hide-and-seek in the castle when he was a boy, and he always enjoyed talking to the local people. 'He could switch from German to English and back, whether he was talking about Winston Churchill or the local wildlife.' In recent days, quite properly, all the focus has been on the tremendous sadness felt by the Queen, the Royal Family and the Duke's vast network of friends and organisations. But his death has also left a huge hole among the broader continental cousinhood, who all adored the energetic, unstuffy uncle, great-uncle and cousin who always made a beeline for his younger relatives to hear their latest news. For he was not only an enthusiastic participant in family gatherings. In fact, many refer to him as 'the glue' or 'the bridge' who has kept the current British Royal Family closely connected to the European cousinhood. They are the 'other' royal family, the relatives who might not be household names in Britain but who, for generations, have happily slotted in at house parties or picnics at Balmoral, Sandringham and elsewhere. Besides, they are all themselves related to Queen Victoria anyway. And it was always at this time of year, traditionally, that the Duke would invite many of his relatives for one of the highlights of the royal calendar the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Prince Charles, Prince Philip, Prince Harry And Prince William walk behind the coffin of the Queen Mother as it arrives at Westminster Abbey Photograph by Horace W Nicholls of the funeral of King Edward VII at St George's Chapel, Windsor. Officers salute as the coffin is carried to a gun carriage pulled by sailors 15th February 1952: The coffin containing the body of King George VI is loaded onto a train at Paddington Station, London, to take it to Windsor The British Royal family watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is prepared to be carried from Westminster Abbey at the end of her funeral service on April 9, 2002 Queen Victoria's funeral procession passing through London. She was the longest-ruling British monarch, reigning from 1837-1901 The Queen Mother's coffin, draped in her personal standard, turns off The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle The Royal Family including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, the Duke of York and Prince Harry follow the Queen Mother's coffin at her funeral at Westminster Abbey, London in April 2002 The body of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), the longest-ruling British monarch, lies in state at one of her royal residences, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight The Queen Mother's funeral cortege drives along The Long Walk at Windsor Castle. The coffin was being moved from the Royal Chapel in Windsor to the Queen's Chapel at St. James's Palace in London Sailors pulling the gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Victoria, Windsor, Berkshire, following her death in 1901 The funeral procession of King George VI arrives at Windsor Castle, Berkshire in 1952, just before Queen Elizabeth took the throne King George V at the funeral of his father King Edward VII, London, 20 May 1910. The funeral was attended by huge crowds, and was the largest ever gathering of European royalty Pall bearers carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, leave Westminster Abbey in London following the funeral ceremony 15th February 1952: Members of the British Royal family entering St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the company of the King's Company Grenadier Guards who are carrying King George VI's coffin at his funeral The Royal Family Gather At Westminster Abbey For The Funeral Of The Queen Mother Who Had Lived To The Age Of 101 Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and the Queen Mother watch the body of the King being placed in Westminster Abbey King Edward VIII and his three brothers follow the gun carriage' at the Funeral of King George V in London in 1936 The Queen Mother's coffin arrives at Westminster Abbey for the funeral service in London, which was the culmination of more than a week of mourning for the royal matriarch 1936: Funeral procession of King George V in London. The gun carriage bearing the coffin is drawn by sailors 15th February 1952: The funeral cortege of King George VI makes its way through Parliament Square, London The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, the Duke of York and Prince Harry at the Queen Mother's funeral at Westminster Abbey, London in April 2002 1st May 1910: The draped coffin of King Edward VII, (1841 - 1910), who ascended the British throne in 1901, lies in state in Buckingham Palace, London Huge crowds attended the funeral of the King Edward VII (1841-1910), in London in May 1910 If Ascot Week was when the Queen filled the castle with her friends from the world of racing, then the horse show was 'the Duke's week' each spring, with plenty of Langenburgs, Badens, Hesses and Hanovers occupying the Windsor guest rooms. At big family gatherings, whether in the UK or in Germany, there would always be a big crossover. At the celebrations for the golden or diamond wedding anniversaries of the Queen and the Duke, for example, the German relations were fully included. Similarly, many a German christening has featured a House of Windsor godparent at the font. Prince Philip and his four sisters had grown up in the strange, unsettled world of peripatetic refugee royalty between the wars. They were all born into the Greek royal family, itself descended from the ruling house of Denmark, but had been driven into exile in 1922 after a military coup. Prince Philip was still a baby, taken to safety aboard a British destroyer by his big sister, Margarita, who famously carried him in an orange box. He was just a schoolboy when all four of his sisters married within a year of each other, all to German aristocrats. One of the greatest tragedies in his long life was when his sister Cecile was killed in a 1937 plane crash with her husband, George Donatus of Hesse, and two young sons, en route to a family wedding in London. Come the outbreak of war, all three surviving sisters would find themselves on the other side as Prince Philip served gallantly in the Royal Navy. One aspect of some of this week's coverage of the Duke's long life which has upset many of his German relations is the oft-repeated myth that 'all his sisters married Nazis'. Though all the surviving brothers-in-law would be forced into uniform during the war, they were certainly not all active members of the Nazi party. For example, Theodora married Prince Berthold of Baden and it was the Badens who encouraged the pioneering Jewish educationalist, Kurt Hahn, to establish his original school at their family seat, Salem Castle. Prince Philip was a pupil there himself until Hahn was driven out by the Nazis. He fled to Scotland, where he founded Gordonstoun. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, pictured as baby in 1922. His extended family are now in the UK ahead of his funeral on Saturday A rare picture of the Duke of Edinburgh, also known as Prince Philip of Greece, at the public school of Gordonstoun, Elgin, Scotland Prince Philip of Greece, later to become the Duke of Edinburgh, being held by Princess Alice of Greece after he was born in 1921 July 1922: From right to left, the Princess Theodora, Princess Cecilia, Princess Margarita and Sophia of Greece at the wedding of Edwina Ashley and Louis Mountbatten. They are the four daughters of Prince Andrew and Princess Alice of Greece December 1922: Prince Andrew of Greece (1882 - 1944) with his wife Princess Alice (1885 - 1969) and their daughters, Princess Theodora (1906 - 1960) and Princess Margarita (1905 - 1981) Left to right; Princess Cecilia, Princess Margaret, Princess Sophia, Princess Theodora - the Duke of Edinburgh's four sisters The young Philip followed him there soon afterwards, after persistently getting into trouble for mocking the Nazi salute. 'Dolla' Baden realised that this was clearly no place for her little brother. Come his wedding to Princess Elizabeth in 1947, however, the bridegroom was told that none of his sisters could attend. It was explained to the Duke that this was to spare him criticism from the Press and public but it hurt, nonetheless. He had always loved them all dearly. Only his mother, who had become a nun, was invited to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony. However, the sisters were all extremely touched and moved when they learnt how he had cheekily included them in the service. They had given him a joint wedding present a gold fountain pen and he insisted on using that (rather than the Abbey nib) to sign the wedding register. After his wedding, he made a point of including them in family gatherings. A favourite character at Royal Family bashes was always Princess Margaret of Hesse 'Aunt Peg', as Prince Charles and others called her. She had been the Hon Margaret Geddes, the British bride whose wedding to Prince Ludwig of Hesse had been the reason why poor Cecile and her family were heading for London on that fateful flight in 1937. All through her life, she would remind the younger generations that Prince Philip was 'one of the best dancers in Europe'. When the Queen paid her first state visit to Germany in 1965, it was again decided that the Duke's sisters and their husbands should be omitted from the formal events. Undeterred, the Queen and the Duke simply went to stay with them privately in between state occasions. 'It was wonderful when they arrived on the train at Langenburg it was the last time a proper train stopped there because the station closed after that!' recalls Princess Charlotte Croy, who was then married to Prince Kraft of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. She is the mother of Prince Philipp, who is now ensconced in that Ascot bubble. She has fond memories of the Duke of Edinburgh subsequently visiting the family just like any other house guest, often bringing one of his own children, so the British junior royals have all grown to know their cousins. 'I remember once that I had to finish stuffing all these felt toy animals for a charity,' says Princess Charlotte. 'I was very late with them so the Duke just joined in. There he was, stuffing toys as we chatted!' Left to right, back: Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Princess Margarita von Hohenlohe-Langenburg (sister of Prince Philip), Andrew Elphinstone (Cousin of the Queen); front, left to right: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone, the Queen with Princess Anne and the Queen Mother Circa 1930: Princess Margarita of Greece (1905 - 1981), the sister of Prince Philip, shortly before her marriage to Prince Gottfried of Hohenlohe-Langenburg July 1922: Princess Sophie of Greece, sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the wedding of Lord Louis Mountabatten to the Countess of Ashley. She married Prince Christopher of Hesse, and in 1946 married Prince George William of Hanover Circa 1930: Cecilia, Grand Duchess of Hesse (1911 - 1937). She is the daughter of Princess Alice and Prince Andrew of Greece, (sister of the Duke of Edinburgh) July 1922: At just one year old, the Duke of Edinburgh, also known as Prince Philip of Greece shows an interest in things floral Prince Philip and his sister, Princess Sophie of Hanover when they attended the funeral of the Dowager Lady Brabourne and Nicholas Knatchbull at the Church of St John the Baptist at Mersham, near Ashford, Kent Lady Louise Mountbatten with Princess Theodora of Greece (left) and Princess Margarita of Greece (right), daughters of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, and sisters of the Duke of Edinburgh When Prince Kraft died in 2004, Prince Philip dropped everything. 'He was the first person we called to share the sad news with and he certainly made sure he would be there by our side,' says Kraft's daughter, Princess Xenia zu Hohenlohe, a great-niece of the Duke. 'During the funeral service, after I had stood up to do my reading and sat down again, he put his arm around me briefly and whispered: 'Well done'. It was one of the biggest compliments paid to me in my life. If you got that kind of a remark from someone as practised in public appearances, you knew you'd got something right!' Now an international expert in sustainability in the hospitality industry, Princess Xenia says that the Duke was always a driving force in encouraging younger members of his wider family to greater things. 'His unofficial motto was always: 'Just get on with it!',' she tells me from her home in Munich. 'Over the days since his death, I have personally realised that his sense of duty, his discipline, his passion for environmental issues, his unique sense of humour and lack of ego are something for us always to aspire to. He certainly motivated me to be courageous and to stretch my horizons. I am forever grateful for this influence of his.' Like all the other members of this wide European diaspora of very sad, very proud royal cousins, Xenia wishes she could be there to pay her respects this weekend. But they are all very pleased and deeply touched that when it came to surrounding himself with his nearest and dearest at the end, dear 'Uncle Philip' had certainly not forgotten the family into which he was born. For those having troubling booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, one location is Boston is offering walk-ups on Wednesday. First come, first served. No appointment or pre-registration needed, a tweet from Boston Public Health stated. Just show up. The appointments are for the Pfizer vaccine and are available Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Plumbers Union Hall in Dorchester, which is located at 1240 Massachusetts Ave. Want to get the #COVID19 vaccine today? There are free, walk-up Pfizer vaccine appointments available today from 2-7pm at the Plumbers Union Hall, 1240 Massachusetts Avenue in Dorchester. First come, first served. No appointment or pre-registration needed. Just show up. Boston Public Health (@HealthyBoston) April 14, 2021 Gov. Charlie Baker said Massachusetts is on track to have 2 million people fully vaccinated by the end of the week, despite the pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccinations. Were hopeful that we will far exceed that goal and get as many people as vaccinated as possible, Baker said during a news briefing at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Massachusetts received about 11,600 Johnson & Johnson doses this week and 340,000 doses of Moderna and Pfizer, Baker said. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two shots. Related Content: Titusville Area School District Superintendent Stephanie Keebler presents photos of work on Carter Field to the board of school directors. The school district is waiting on the permit to start work on the field. Keebler hopes the work will be completed in time to host graduation at the new field. U.S. Capitol Police Honor Guard rotate their positions and pay respects to U.S. Capitol Police officer William Billy Evans, as Evans lies in honor Tuesday in the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. As the relations between Washington and Moscow hit their lowest point in decades, President Joe Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to de-escalate tensions at Ukraine's border and proposed a summit in the near future. The move by Biden came after thousands of Russian troops gathered along the Ukrainian border. According to Business Insider, the White House said that Biden spoke with Putin on Tuesday and discussed several regional and global issues. The President clarified to Putin that the U.S. would act firmly in defending its national interests in responding to Russia's actions like cyber intrusions and interference in the elections. In a statement, Biden also emphasized the U.S.' unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The President also voiced their concerns regarding the sudden military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukrainian borders and called on to Kremlin to ease the tensions. Biden also reiterated his goal is to build a stable and predictable relationship with Russia that is aligned with the interests of the U.S. He then called for a summit meeting in a third country in the next few months to discuss the full scope of the issues faced by the U.S. and Russia. Anthony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, made similar remarks in his talks on Tuesday. Blinken was in Brussels for talks with the foreign minister of Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders. Blinken mentioned during their talks that the U.S. stands firmly behind the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He also pointed out the importance of this U.S. support, especially that Russia is currently doing provocative action against Ukraine. READ NEXT: Biden's Nominee for Border Chief Chris Magnus Supports Black Lives Matter and Police Reforms Russia Pushes Back Against U.S. Warnings During his interview on Sunday, Blinken warned Russia of the consequences that it might face if it acts recklessly or aggressively. On Tuesday, Russia pushed back against the U.S. warnings and criticism. In a Reuters report, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the U.S. is their adversary and does everything it can to undermine Russia's position on the world stage. Ukraine has been fighting a war against Kremlin-backed separatists in the Donbas region for the last seven years. The country said Russia had amassed an estimated 80,000 troops in a total, with 40,000 in Crimea and 40,000 along the eastern border. The massive build-up of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine and in Crimea, which the Kremlin head unilaterally annexed in 2014, has raised the alarm across Europe. On Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to withdraw its troops from the border, CNBC reported. He added that NATO stands with Ukraine, and Russia must end the military build-up, stop its provocation, and de-escalate the situation immediately. Stoltenberg noted that the military build-up represented Russian troops' largest massing since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded Putin in a phone call last week about reducing the troops' presence to de-escalate the situation. READ MORE: Biden Eyeing Trump Critics To Lead Border, Immigration Agencies WATCH: Biden Proposes Summit With Putin - From Reuters In New Delhi, Muslims turn to the High Court to reopen a mosque for Ramadan. Uttarakhand's chief minister dismisses comparisons, claiming that the sacred Ganges will stop the virus. New Delhi (AsiaNews) The sight of hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the banks of the Ganges River for the Kumbh Mela Hindu festival is raising tensions among Indias religious communities. Across the country, a new surge in COVID-19 cases is reaching new records, 184,372 new cases with 1,027 deaths reported yesterday alone. To control the pandemic, churches and mosques are under tight restrictions with limits on the number of worshippers they can allow during services. Such controls do not seem to apply to Hindus. For this reason, some are complaining about government double standards. Many Christian communities have had to cancel Good Friday celebrations because they could not respect anti-COVID protocols, Father Anand Mathew, of the Indian Missionary Society, told AsiaNews yesterday. Underscoring the situation is the decision of the Nizamuddin mosque in New Delhi to file a case before the Delhi High Court in order to reopen for prayers during Ramadan, which began yesterday. The mosque has been closed since 31 March 2020, a few days after the government introduced a nationwide lockdown. This followed a large gathering organised by Tablighi Jamaat, an international Islamic organisation, which ended in a great number of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On Monday, the Court ruled in favour of the mosque, basing its argument that it is not possible to impose limits that do not apply to all places of worship in the city. The federal government responded by arguing that the Delhi Disaster Management Authority currently prohibits any gathering and therefore no more than 20 worshippers could be admitted to the Muslim place of worship. Ramesh Gupta, a lawyer representing the Waqf, the Islamic body that administers the mosque, responded by citing the ongoing Kumbh Mela celebrations in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on the banks of the Ganges, as well as the Hindu temple dedicated to Hanuman in Karol Bagh, Delhi, where social distancing rules are not being respected. The court asked the central government to file an affidavit detailing how anti-COVID rules are being followed in all places of worship. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, a Hindu nationalist, reacted angrily to the comparisons, claiming that the two situations are very different. At the mosque, people were all inside a building and here it is out in the open, Rawat said. The Kumbh Mela is near the Ganges. The flow and blessings of Ma Ganga will ensure that coronavirus does not spread. However, in Haridwar 1,002 people have tested positive to the virus in the last two days. Meanwhile, the Hindu festival is set to continue until 30 April with the greatest influx of people on 27 April when millions of pilgrims are expected to gather on the banks of the Ganges. Canadas crude oil imports fell by 20 percent in 2020 due to lower demand in the pandemic, but the United States further cemented its position as top oil supplier to Canada, supplying nearly four out of every five barrels of oil, the Canada Energy Regulator said on Wednesday. Canada is a major crude oil producer and exports much more oil than it imports, almost exclusively to the United States. Yet, Canada imports oil from abroad to feed refineries in its Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, and Ontario. Less than one third of Canadian crude oil is processed by Canadian refineries for a variety of reasons, such as lack of pipeline access to domestic supplies, specific product requirements of refineries, or because it costs less to import, the regulator said in its analysis. Last year, total Canadian crude oil imports plunged by 20 percent annually to 555,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 693,000 bpd in 2019, because the pandemic crushed demand for fuels. As imports dropped in volumes, the share of imports from the United States jumped to 77 percent of all imports in 2020 from 72 percent in 2019. The second-biggest oil supplier to Canada was the worlds top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, with a 13-percent share of Canadian oil imports, followed by Nigeria with 4 percent of imports and Norway with 3 percent, the Canada Energy Regulator said. The source for Canadas crude oil imports has changed dramatically over the past decade. The United States has moved from a bit player in 2010 to a major supplier today, with the majority of oil imported into Canada coming from our southern neighbour, Darren Christie, Chief Economist at the Canada Energy Regulator, said in a statement. The surge in U.S. crude oil production in recent years was the key driver of the U.S. becoming the top providerby a wide marginof foreign oil to Canada. This year, demand for oil in Canada is returning, and with it, optimism in the Canadian oil sector. But the million-dollar question now in terms of whats going to happen with demand is really whats going to happen with the pandemic, Canada Energy Regulators Christie told CBC in an interview. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 14 April, 2021, 16:15 CET ArcelorMittal Italia to be renamed Acciaierie d'Italia ArcelorMittal announces that it has today completed an investment agreement (the 'Investment Agreement') with Invitalia, an Italian state-owned company, forming a public-private partnership between the parties. Invitalia has injected 400 million new equity into AM InvestCo Italy, ArcelorMittal's subsidiary which signed the lease and purchase agreement for the Ilva business, providing Invitalia with a 38% shareholding and equal voting rights with joint control over the company. Going forward the joint company AM InvestCo Italy is being re-named Acciaierie d'Italia Holding, and its main operating subsidiary ArcelorMittal Italia will be renamed Acciaierie d'Italia. The Investment Agreement stipulates a second equity injection by Invitalia, of up to 680 million, to fund the completion of the purchase of Ilva's business by Acciaierie d'Italia, which is expected by May 2022 subject to certain conditions precedent*. At this point, Invitalia's shareholding in Acciaierie d'Italia would increase to 60%, with ArcelorMittal to invest up to 70 million to retain a 40% shareholding and joint control over the company. Going forward, Acciaierie d'Italia Holding will operate independently, and as such will have its own funding plans without reliance on ArcelorMittal. As a result, ArcelorMittal will deconsolidate the assets and liabilities (including the remaining lease and purchase liability) of Acciaierie d'Italia Holding (formerly AM InvestCo Italy) from its consolidated statement of financial position and will account its interest in the company under the equity method. *The conditions precedent include: the amendment of the existing environmental plan to account for changes in the new industrial plan; the lifting of all criminal seizures on the Taranto plant; and the absence of restrictive measures - in the context of criminal proceedings where Ilva is a defendant - being imposed against Acciaierie d'Italia Holding or its subsidiaries. In case conditions precedent are not met, then the Acciaierie d'Italia Holding would not be required to complete the purchase of Ilva's assets and its capital invested would be returned. The Community of St Egidio formalises an agreement with the French Government and the Semains Sociales de France to renew the Humanitarian Corridors protocol. By Linda Bordoni An agreement signed on Wednesday in Paris between the St Egidio Community, the French Ministers of the Interior and of Foreign Affairs, and a Catholic lay organization, Semains Sociales de France, lays down the conditions for the identification, reception and integration in France of 300 refugees. The refugees are vulnerable people from Iraq and Syria, many of them families. They are currently in Lebanon and will be flown to France within the next two years. This second protocol follows a similar one signed in 2017, which has already allowed for the entry into France of 504 people. Launched in Italy in February 2016, thanks to the Humanitarian Corridors project, over 3,500 refugees have already been welcomed into Europe. Most of them have fled violence in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Ethiopia or were temporarily detained in the migrant centers on the Greek island of Lesbos. The support of Pope Francis The Humanitarian Corridors project has repeatedly been supported and upheld by Pope Francis as a win-win solution for all in the current complex migration scenario. He himself brought a group of refugees to Italy when he travelled to visit the migrants and refugees on Lesbos on 16 April 2016. Subsequently he has appealed to the international community to help evacuate refugees and migrants trapped in migrant facilies in Lybia, especially the women, the children and the sick, as soon as possible through the safety of humanitarian corridors. The project, which is completely self-financed, is implemented by the Rome-based Community of St Egidio together with the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Waldensian Church. The project's aims It aims to provide safe passage to refugees who too often are forced to resort to dangerous sea crossings in which tens of thousands have died, as well as prevent exploitation by human traffickers. It grants people in "vulnerable conditions" (victims of persecution, torture and violence, families with children, elderly, infirm, people with disabilities) legal entry into Europe through humanitarian visas and the opportunity for asylum application thereafter. It also provides guarantees to the host State as the processing of humanitarian visas implies necessary checks run by authorities. Once in the host country, the refugees are welcomed into facilities and homes at the expense of partner associations; they are given language classes, the children are enrolled in school and the adults are assisted in finding work. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam holds a pamphlet for the "Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021" as she speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on April 13, 2021. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images) Attack on Epoch Times Printing Press Fueled by HK Government Inaction: Media Advocacy Group The Hong Kong government, through its inaction, was encouraging the recent violent attack on the printing press of the citys edition of The Epoch Times, media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement condemning the incident. Around 4 a.m. on April 12, four armed men barged into the Hong Kong editions printing warehouse. They smashed equipment with sledgehammers and scattered construction debris on equipment before stealing a computer and fleeing in a white van. The incident lasted for approximately two minutes, but caused extensive damage. The Hong Kong edition was forced to temporarily halt operations to make repairs and upgrade the facilitys security system. Citing an arson attack targeting the same facility just a year and a half ago, the advocacy group called for authorities to punish the intruders and restore media freedom. By leaving previous attacks on journalists unpunished and creating a climate of suspicion against independent media outlets, the Hong Kong authorities are encouraging such violence, said Cedric Alviani, head of RSFs East Asia bureau. He called on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to put an end to her governments attacks, which are threatening media independence, and restore full freedom of the press, as enshrined in the Basic Law she is supposed to enforce. Hong Kongs press freedom ratings have observed a sharp decline over the past two decades, plummeting to 80th place in 2020 on RSFs World Press Freedom Index, from 18th in 2002. By comparison, China ranked 177th out of 180. Over the past year, the Chinese regime has moved to strip Hong Kong of the liberties that distinguish it from mainland China. But some vestiges of democracy have remained in the form of a free pressand The Epoch Times represents that, former U.S. Army Gen. Jack Keane said on Fox Business on April 13. Some of the vestiges of democracy are still there, and the Chinese Communist Party is physically crushing it as best as they can, he said. At least five other journalist groups have also called on Hong Kong authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. Damaged computers and construction debris on the floor of The Epoch Times Hong Kong editions printing press in Hong Kong, on April 12, 2021. (Adrian Yu/The Epoch Times) Scott Griffen, deputy director of the Vienna-based International Press Institute, said the attack must be fully and immediately investigated by the authorities, who must hold those responsible to account. We are outraged by this latest attack on The Epoch Times, which comes at a time when the Chinese government is methodically and brutally stripping away the fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, of the people of Hong Kong, Griffen said in an emailed statement. There must be zero tolerance for attacks on journalists and media outlets, and we expect swift action by Hong Kong officials. June Guo, the director of Epoch Times Hong Kong, said the paper is aiming to resume printing before April 16, when the court will deliver sentences for key pro-democracy activists. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said he will celebrate with The Epoch Times when their printing presses are soon rolling again in Hong Kong. Tyranny thrives when those who expose it cannot be heard, he told The Epoch Times. This was clearly an attempt to silence The Epoch Times, and I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. Around the world, enemies of free speech must be met with resolve, resilience, and even louder voices. Statistics Show Employees Prefer COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Upon Returning to Work A significant amount of employees don't feel safe going back to the workplace until vaccines are distributed to all of their co-workers. Its not just businesses pushing for the COVID-19 vaccine upon return of the workplace, its mainly employees, according to an article. Envoy released its Return to Workplace Report, examining employees attitudes towards returning to the office after more than a year of working from home. The study finds the majority of employees are concerned about the health and safety risks of returning to the office. The report shows 62 percent of people support a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement in order to show up at the office. 61 percent fear their employers may get rid of some protocols a bit too soon. Nearly half of workers say they prefer a hybrid of both in-person and remote work. The data shows us that employees do want to return to the workplace, but in a way that prioritizes their need for flexibility and recognizes the pandemics impact on the way we work now. Many employees want the power to design a workweek that works best for them, which companies can support by embracing a hybrid work model, said Envoy founder and CEO Larry Gadea. Supporting employees to do their best work will look different at every companyour intention is to make it easy for companies to transition back no matter what approach they choose. In any scenario, companies will need insights, strategies, and technologies that enable them to craft a workplace experience where employees can thrive. KYODO NEWS - Apr 15, 2021 - 02:10 | All, Japan A secret North Korean negotiator with Japan, who had been directly connected to the leadership in Pyongyang and who was behind major bilateral developments over the past two decades, lost contact with Tokyo several years ago, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. The liaison, known as "Mr. Y" among the Japanese intelligence community, had told his contacts in Tokyo that he had fallen ill. Several Japanese government sources said Japan and North Korea have "lost a behind-the-scenes negotiation channel." Japan and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations and efforts to normalize ties have been strained by Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals as well as its nuclear and missile programs. The negotiator was known to be a subordinate of "Mr. X," a high-ranking North Korean security official who paved the way for the first-ever bilateral summit held in 2002 between the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, according to the sources. Together with Mr. X, the liaison officer was involved in negotiations related to Koizumi's 2002 visit to North Korea. He was also in charge of talks over a 2014 bilateral agreement struck in Stockholm on principles for negotiations toward the settlement of the abduction issue, the sources added. In 2014, he also informed Japan that two men who disappeared in the late 1970s were alive in North Korea, they said. The two were Minoru Tanaka, a Japanese government-listed abductee who went missing at age 28 after boarding a plane for Vienna at Narita airport, and Tatsumitsu Kaneda, an ethnic Korean who worked at the same ramen shop as Tanaka. Pyongyang repeatedly said Tanaka never entered North Korea. Japan officially lists 17 people as having been abducted by North Korea, with five already repatriated following the landmark 2002 summit, during which Kim Jong Il admitted North Korea had abducted Japanese nationals. Mr. Y also acted as a mediator for a secret meeting in Mongolia in 2014 between the late Shigeru Yokota and his wife Sakie, 85, parents of abductee Megumi Yokota, and Megumi's daughter Kim Eun Gyong and her family. Megumi Yokota, who was kidnapped in 1977 at age 13 on her way home from school, has become a symbol of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Along with families of other abductees, Sakie Yokota met with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last week and called for the early return of their loved ones ahead of the prime minister's talks with U.S. President Joe Biden scheduled for Friday in Washington. The security officer, whose background is not known, succeeded Mr. X about 10 years ago, and engaged in negotiations with Japan in third countries such as China and Mongolia, the sources said. Fluent in Japanese, he contacted Japanese officials using a wiretap-proof mobile phone, they said. He was believed to have developed a disease related to the brain or circulatory system, but could have been sacked from his post amid stalled Japan-North Korea negotiations, they added. Suga, who served as state minister in charge of the abduction issue under his predecessor Shinzo Abe, said after assuming the premiership last September that he is willing to meet with the current North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a son of Kim Jong Il, "without preconditions." But Suga is struggling to find a new negotiation channel as Pyongyang has shut down its borders to guard against the novel coronavirus pandemic. What appeared to be the only window of opportunity has now been closed after the North decided not to participate in the Tokyo Olympics this summer, also citing the need to prevent virus infections. Suga's office declined to comment on this matter. Song Il Ho is the North Korean ambassador in charge of negotiations to normalize relationships with Japan, but a Japanese government source said he is not one of the secret negotiators who have more discretion. ROME, APR 14 - Eurostat said Wednesday that Italy's employment rate was the second worst in the EU after Greece in 2020. The EU statistics office said the employment rate of people aged 20-64 fell to 58,1% in Italy last year, down from 59% in 2019. It said that while the employment rate fell throughout Europe, with the average dropping from 68.5% to 67.7%, the drop in Italy was bigger. Eurostat said the fall in the employment rate for women was bigger still, going from 50.1% to 49%, 13.5 points below the EU average. (ANSA). Missing California college student Kristin Smart was killed in 1996 during an attempted rape by a fellow student and the suspect's father helped hide her body, the San Luis Obispo County district attorney said Wednesday. Paul Flores will be charged with first-degree murder and his father, Ruben Flores, will be charged with accessory after murder for helping him conceal Smart's body, which has never been found, District Attorney Dan Dow said. The son and father were arrested Tuesday after years of investigations and searches that recently led to evidence connected to Smart's killing. Smart, 19, of Stockton, was last seen May 25, 1996, while returning to her dorm at California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo after an off-campus party. She was inebriated at the time and Flores, a fellow freshman at the school, had offered to walk her home. Paul Flores will be charged with first-degree murder and his father, Ruben Flores, will be charged with accessory after murder for helping him conceal Smart's body, which has never been found Suspicion has long followed Paul Flores, now 44, ever since Smart disappeared from the Cal Poly University campus in San Luis Obispo back in 1996 on her way home from a frat party Flores killed Smart in his dorm room, Dow said. Investigators, who launched a renewed search Tuesday at his father's property in nearby Arroyo Grande, believe they know where the body was buried. Dow urged the public to come forward with any information they may have about the killing or other crimes Paul Flores may have committed. In more recent years, Paul Flores frequented bars around his home in the Los Angeles area of San Pedro and may have committed other sexual assaults, Dow said. Flores has been under suspicion from the earliest days of Smart's disappearance. He has gone from being a 'person of interest' to a 'suspect' to 'the prime suspect' - and, now, defendant. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson answers questions at a press conference in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Tuesday, April 13, 2021, on arrests connected to the disappearance of Kristin Smart This photo provided by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office shows suspect Paul Flores who was taken into custody in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, for the murder of Kristin Smart San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said the arrests came after a search of the elder Flores' home last month using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs that turned up new evidence linked to Smart's killing. 'Until we return Kristin to (her family) this is not over,' Parkinson said. Smart's family issued a statement saying it was a bittersweet day they had long waited for and a first step toward bringing their daughter home. 'While Kristins loving spirit will always live in our hearts, our life without her hugs, laughs and smiles is a heartache that never abates,' they said. 'The knowledge that a father and son, despite our desperate pleas for help, could have withheld this horrible secret for nearly 25 years, denying us the chance to lay our daughter to rest, is an unrelenting and unforgiving pain.' Flores, 44, was arrested at his home in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles and taken to a police car in handcuffs wearing pajama bottoms and a surf T-shirt Investigators with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Department returned to the house of Reuben Flores Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The backyard was marked with crime scene tape Smart's family (above in an undated photo) issued a statement shortly after the arrests calling it a 'bittersweet day' but slammed Paul and Ruben Flores for allegedly hiding 'this horrible secret' for decades Flores, 44, was arrested at his home in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles and taken to a police car in handcuffs wearing pajama bottoms and a surf T-shirt. His father, Ruben Flores, 80, was arrested at his Arroyo Grande home - about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of the university. The case picked up steam in the past couple years after Parkinson ordered a thorough review of the evidence and a fulltime cold case detective was hired. New witnesses came forward and warrants allowed investigators to intercept and monitor Paul Flores' phone and text messages and search his own home, along with those of his mother, father and sister that turned up new evidence, Parkinson said. He declined to offer more details because search warrants are sealed. Parkinson also credited the podcast 'Your Own Backyard' for giving the case renewed widespread attention that led to a key witness coming forward. Paul Flores, second from left, talks to authorities after being pulled from a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department vehicle outside of a San Pedro home being searched on Febuary 5 In this March 16, 2021, photo, an investigator uses ground penetrating radar to search the backyard of the home of Ruben Flores, in Arroyo Grande, California Investigators with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Department returned to the house of Reuben Flores Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Arroyo Grande, California Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong, center, speaks during a press conference Tuesday, April 13, 2021, San Luis Obispo, California The podcast's creator, Chris Lambert, was a musician who grew up in the area and was intrigued by a billboard offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to Smart. 'Driving past that billboard was a periodic reminder that, oh yeah, they still havent found that girl,' Lambert said in a video posted on the podcast website. 'It's different when somebody goes missing in your own backyard.' Parkinson held his news conference on the university campus, gesturing over his shoulder to the place nearby where Smart was last seen alive with Flores. He acknowledged missteps by law enforcement hampered the investigation. Smart wasn't reported missing until three days after she was last seen. A dorm mate at the time said police were initially reluctant to take a missing persons report because it was Memorial Day weekend and she might have left the campus. Smart's family said in their statement that 'an indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years.' The Smart family filed a $40 million lawsuit in 1996 against Paul Flores and added the university for allegedly not protecting their daughter. The case has been stayed awaiting a criminal case outcome, a family spokesman said. The case was originally handled by Cal Poly police and the district attorneys office. Sheriffs investigators didnt get involved until a month later. In this March 16, 2021, file photo, San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office personnel dig in an area in the backyard of the home of Ruben Flores, in Arroyo Grande, California 'There really is no hiding the fact that there was mistakes made early on and it made it much more difficult,' Parkinson said. 'You know that first 48 hours is pretty critical in a missing person or a homicide.' Parkinson likened the case to a puzzle where missing pieces are located, leading to new evidence and locations to search that then revealed other information. 'It's a very slow process to find each of those little pieces,' he said. They served over 40 search warrants at 16 locations over the years, collected nearly 200 new items of evidence and used modern DNA techniques to test more than three dozen older pieces of evidence. So much evidence was compiled that it would fill three terabytes on a computer hard drive, he said. Paul Flores has remained mum through the years, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions before a grand jury and in a deposition for the lawsuit brought against him. Flores had nothing to say when arrested, Parkinson said. He was held without bail. His lawyer, Robert Sanger, declined to comment. Ruben Flores was being held on $250,000 bail. His lawyer, Harold Mesick, didn't immediately return an email message seeking comment from The Associated Press but he told the Los Angeles Times that his client was 'absolutely innocent.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) Aside from NCR Plus, which is under modified enhanced community quarantine to curb the surge in coronavirus infections, the Department of Health has also observed an increase in COVID-19 cases in other regions in Luzon, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday. As of yesterday, nakita nating mayroon tayong rehiyon katulad ng Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4-A and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) na mayroon na talagang pagtaas ng kaso sa kani-kanilang lugar and their healthcare utilization is being affected as well, Vergeire said in a briefing. [Translation: As of yesterday, we saw a spike in Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4-A, and CAR and their healthcare utilization is being affected as well.] Vergeire said clusters of cases mainly come from communities, but noted more people are catching COVID-19 in workplaces like hospitals. Nadagdagan po yung porsiyento na nagkakasakit sa workplaces, she noted. [Translation: The number of people getting infected in workplaces is rising.] NCR Plus or Greater Manila which is composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal transitioned to a more relaxed quarantine status on Monday after being placed under the strictest enhanced community quarantine for two weeks due to an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases. The Greater Manila area, as well as the provinces of Quirino and Abra, and Santiago City in Isabela are under the MECQ until April 30. READ: MECQ guidelines: What we know so far Over the past weeks, the country has been setting new record highs in the number of infections. It also recorded the deadliest day of the pandemic on April 10 as the government reported the death of 401 people due to COVID-19 on that day. The DOH has so far logged 884,783 COVID-19 cases nationwide, of which 15,286 resulted in deaths. Meanwhile, 703,963 have been tagged as recovered. Relief: Revolution Bars boss Rob Pitcher The boss of Revolution Bars has urged a swifter exit from lockdown after hospitalitys reopening. Rob Pitcher, 46, hailed Mondays success as customers braved the cold to enjoy their first pint back after lockdown. Revolution posted a 73 per cent fall in sales in the six months to December 26, and a 14.7million loss. Pitcher said: The mood was almost carnival-like. Guests were just delighted to be back out. We are ahead of vaccination progress on every measure the roadmap was built on, so it seems extraordinary that we wouldnt move the dates forward. Indoor hospitality is set to open from May 17, with all restrictions expected to be removed on June 21. Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu rushed to the Kiambu Law Courts on Tuesday, April 13 in a bid to stop Mwananchi Credit Limited from auctioning his cars. In January of last year, Waititu secured a Sh10 million car loan with the lender using two of his luxury cars as collateral. Two days after the loan was approved, Waititu was impeached, losing his handsome monthly salary and ultimately defaulting on the loan. In court papers, Baba Yao claimed he is currently financially constrained and unable to raise the money because there is no regular monthly income credited to his bank account. My failure to clear the subject loan was neither deliberate nor intentional, but it was occasioned by circumstances beyond my control. Due to the current financial constraints that Im facing, Im unable to clear the said-loan within the afore-stated period, Waititu lamented. According to the politician, the little money he has goes towards paying lawyers who are representing him in court. I am facing numerous cases before an anti-corruption court, which has incurred me a lot of costs and expenses by hiring advocates, he argued. Mwananchi Credit Limited has already seized the two vehicles Waititu used to guarantee the loan ahead of a looming auction. Waititu asked the court to stop the quick loans dealer from selling the vehicles saying he uses them in his transport business. If the vehicles are sold, I will be highly prejudiced besides suffering irreparable loss and damage, Waititu said in court documents. I am seeking more time to sell some of my property and use the money to offset the loan. Alternatively, the lender should allow me to settle the loan in installments, said Waititu. The court heard his cries and issued orders barring Mwananchi Credit Limited from selling the vehicles. Active COVID infections in Massachusetts declined for the second straight day on Wednesday, from 35,857 on Tuesday to 35,786, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. State health officials confirmed another 2,004 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Thats based on 114,256 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 14 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 17,082. The Department of Public Health on Wednesday released new data showing the number of infections confirmed among children younger than 15. Over the last two weeks, 1,235 cases were confirmed in children younger than four; 1,469 infections were confirmed in children between the ages of 5 and 9; and 1,816 infections were confirmed in children between the ages of 10 and 14, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. There were 2,696 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 who came down with COVID over the last two weeks. And 5,942 cases were confirmed among 20-somethings, according to DPH. The seven-day average of positive tests is 2.39% on Wednesday, down from 2.42% the day before. Since the pandemic began, officials have confirmed 624,666 total COVID-19 cases across the state. The number of COVID patients currently hospitalized on Wednesday is 711, down from 714 the day before. Of them, 159 are in intensive care, and 101 are intubated, data shows. Hospitalizations have hovered around 700 for the past week. There have been a total of 4,739,598 COVID vaccine doses administered in Massachusetts to date, and 1,875,316 residents are now fully vaccinated. The latest data comes a day after federal health officials announced that they have paused the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to review reports of rare blood clotting in a small group of women who were vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration paused administration of the J&J vaccine out of an abundance of caution due to reports of six cases of a rare and severe blood clot, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Gov. Charlie Baker said the state is still on course to have 2 million people fully vaccinated by the end of the week, even with the pause in J&J vaccinations. Were hopeful that we will far exceed that goal and get as many people as vaccinated as possible, Baker said during a news briefing at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on Wednesday. Total COVID cases by county: Barnstable County: 13,022 Berkshire County: 5,955 Bristol County: 62,470 Dukes County: 1,125 Essex County: 92,620 Franklin County: 2,341 Hampden County: 48,320 Hampshire County: 8,683 Middlesex County: 127,985 Nantucket County: 1,406 Norfolk County: 52,018 Plymouth County: 46,129 Suffolk County: 88,340 Worcester County: 73,068 Related Content: A federal appeals court has revived the asylum claims of twin sisters who left El Salvador after being sexually harassed and threatened by a street gang, then were told by U.S. immigration officials that it was safe to return because they were no longer teenagers. Guadalupe and Maricel Melendez Morales, now 23, fled to California in 2017 after five months of harassment by gang members who followed them home from school, made threatening comments and sexually assaulted one of them at gunpoint, the court said. The sisters said they did not go to the police because the gang would have found out. The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals did not decide whether the abuse amounted to persecution, the legal grounds for asylum, finding instead that the young women had not shown they would be in danger if they returned to El Salvador. The board said the sisters would be relatively safe because they were now older than 20, and most victims of sexual violence in El Salvador were teenage girls. The board also said they had not shown that they would be unable to relocate safely elsewhere in El Salvador or that its government would be unable or unwilling to protect them. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected those conclusions Tuesday and told the immigration board to reconsider the case and determine whether the sisters had been persecuted as members of a social group, young Salvadoran women who were treated as property. The boards finding that the sisters had aged out of danger was implausible on its face, and the record confirms that young women older than 20 face considerable violence, the three-judge panel said. Despite the boards assurance that the women could relocate safely, the court said, El Salvador is a small country and gangs are pervasive. And a witness with knowledge of conditions in the country testified that gang members have infiltrated the police at all levels, raising doubts about the governments ability to provide protection, the court said. The panel consisted of Judges William Fletcher, Paul Watford and Andrew Hurwitz. Their journey to asylum has been difficult and longer than it should have been, said one of the sisters attorneys, Jean Reisz, a University of Southern California law professor. She said an immigration judge and the appeals board had ordered them held without bond for years while their case was pending. The judge and the board ignored the evidence and denied lifesaving relief to the twins based on unlawful conclusions that the court has now overturned, Reisz said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Gandhinagar, April 14 : The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Ahmedabad has urged the Catholic church to opt for cremation of a deceased faithful, looking at the rising number of Covid-19 deaths in the state, and also the space crunch in the cemeteries. In a letter to the church, the Bishop has clarified that the Holy Mother Church teaches that the departed Catholics can either be buried or cremated. In the letter, the Bishop of the Diocese of Ahmedabad, Athanasius Rethna Swamy, wrote, "The increasing number of deaths poses a unique challenge to the church in administering the last rites of the departed ones in a dignified manner. There is also the question of dwindling space in our cemeteries. In this context, there are questions about the options of cremation in the Catholic church. This is to clarify this question." The Bishop further wrote, "The Holy Mother Church teaches that departed Catholics can either be buried or cremated. This is unequivocally spelled in the 'Instruction Ad resurgendum-cum-Christo regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation of ashes in the case of cremation' issued on August 15, 2016 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith." Quoting the the fourth point of the instruction, the Bishop wrote: "In circumstances when cremation is chosen because of sanitary, economic or social considerations, this choice must never violate the explicitly-stated or the reasonably inferable wishes of the deceased faithful. The church raises no doctrinal objections to this practice, since cremation of the deceased body does not affect his or her soul nor does it prevent God, in his omnipotence, from raising of the deceased's body to new life. Thus, cremation, in and of itself, objectively negates neither the Christian doctrine of the soul's immortality nor that of the resurrection of the body (CDF, Instruction Piam et constantem, July 5, 1963)." The Bishop has expressed that cremation should become a preferred option for the Catholics, who die of Covid in terms of hygiene and also cognisance of scarcity of space in some of the cemeteries. He has ensured the church that "the ashes will be preserved in the niches of the cemetery with full dignity in the presence of the priest who will ensure that it is done according to the church burial ritual". 3 1 of 3 Jordan Strauss /Invision /AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Evan Agostini /Invision /AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 STAMFORD Filming for Stamfords latest foray into the movie biz is officially here, but not in one of the citys hot spots. Instead, crews for Netflixs The Good Nurse will post up in some of Stamfords less noisy enclaves just outside of downtown, namely on Morgan Street and Beal Street. SALT LAKE CITY, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Scorpion , a leading provider of technology and services helping local businesses thrive, announced a $100 million investment from Bregal Sagemount to expand its technology and customer offerings. This funding is a reflection of the exceptional growth in Scorpion's business and investor belief in its vision to empower local businesses and the communities they serve. Through Scorpion's blend of AI technology and teams of experts, local businesses can improve business performance and marketing capabilities by better understanding their unique market dynamics, competitors, and customers. Scorpion brings everything together making it easy to gain insights at-a-glance and in-depth, and to take action through an all-in-one dashboard. Bringing significant local data and vertical market expertise to customers, Scorpion delivers the tools and services needed to set, measure and exceed goals. This funding comes at a time of tremendous growth for Scorpion, as the company makes plans to open a new headquarters in the Salt Lake City area. Scorpion will be bringing a team of executives, award-winning designers, developers and service professionals to the city to allow for continued expansion of talent and innovation. The company continues to add to its nearly 1,000 employees, bringing increased expertise across a variety of verticals including legal, home service providers, healthcare and franchises. Scorpion also expanded its impressive management team, appointing Daniel Street as CEO, Mikel Chertudi as Chief Revenue Officer, Raj Ramanan as Chief Operating Officer, and Azim Nagree as EVP Operations and M&A. Street, a former SVP of Digital for Nexstar, CEO of Loku, Executive at KKR and Management Consultant at Bain and Company, brings decades of extensive experience as a highly regarded technology executive with strategic insights in Local Media, Digital Marketing, and SaaS. Chertudi, former Head of Digital Marketing, Growth & Inside Sales at Adobe, is a digital SaaS expert with more than fifteen years of experience in marketing, product, and sales in B2B and B2C revenue models. Ramanan brings leadership and operational experience from his time spent at McKinsey, Disney, and KKR, and will help Scorpion grow revenue, onboard new customers, and continue to provide world-class service. Nagree, previously Principal of Nagree Consulting and VP of account management at Cision, brings 15 years of experience in growing, scaling and exiting innovative startups. Scorpion Founder Rustin Kretz remains the product visionary and will transition to its Chief Product Officer and Chairman of the Board. Additionally, Scorpion recently acquired CanIRank, an SEO software company that pioneered AI for customers to quickly secure locally-relevant, actionable, SEO insights and recommendations. This acquisition showcases Scorpion's commitment to accelerating the development of its technology, and providing customers with innovative tools. "The pandemic has cemented the need for businesses of all sizes to undergo a digital transformation in order to effectively reach and communicate with their customers. Many local providers recognize the need to adopt digital tools and services for local market insights, but simply don't know where to begin," said Scorpion CEO Daniel Street. "I am thrilled to lead Scorpion, as we continue to bring local businesses enterprise-grade technology to drive informed market decisions and enable them to focus on what they do best." Blair Greenberg, Partner at Bregal Sagemount stated, "Scorpion experienced remarkable growth thanks to its dedication to building a better way to help local businesses thrive." Kirk Smith, Principal added, "Its tireless determination, genuine care, cutting-edge tools and award-winning services are unmatched, and at the core of every customer experience. Bregal Sagemount is excited to be part of Scorpion's prosperous journey as we invest in its growth and technology expansion." Both Greenberg and Smith will be joining Scorpion's Board of Directors. About Scorpion Scorpion is the leading provider of technology and services helping local businesses thrive. It helps local service providers understand their unique market dynamics, maximize their marketing efforts, and delight their customers. Scorpion offers SEO, Reviews, Advertising, Email Marketing, Chat and Messaging, Social Media, Websites, Lead Management, Appointment Scheduling, and more. The company brings everything together in a way that's easy to understand and manage, blending AI and teams of real people with vertical expertise to support customers in setting, measuring, and reaching their goals. Scorpion is Headquartered in the Salt Lake City area, with offices in California, Texas, and New York. For more information, please visit https://www.scorpion.co/about-us/ . About Bregal Sagemount Bregal Sagemount is a growth-focused private capital firm with $4.0 billion of committed capital. The firm provides flexible capital and strategic assistance to market-leading companies in high-growth sectors across a wide variety of transaction situations. Bregal Sagemount invests $40 million to $200 million per transaction into targeted sectors including software, digital infrastructure, healthcare IT / services, business and consumer services, and financial technology / specialty finance. For more information, please visit www.sagemount.com. SOURCE Scorpion Related Links https://www.scorpion.co Capitol Police had more intelligence than was previously known ahead of the January 6 riot at Congress but were instructed not to use their most aggressive tactics to repel the mob, a report cited late Tuesday by US media said. The scathing 104-page report by the Capitol Police's internal inspector general, Michael Bolton, concluded that officers did not prepare for or respond adequately to the assault, The New Times and CNN reported. A congressional hearing on the report is scheduled for Thursday. Capitol Police failed to prepare properly even though they had intelligence warnings that Trump supporters who believed his claims that the November election was stolen from him posed a threat, the report states. Police were told to refrain from using their most aggressive crowd control tools such as stun grenades, it said. Three days before the assault the Capitol Police received an intelligence assessment warning of violence by Trump supporters. "Unlike previous postelection protests, the targets of the pro-Trump supporters are not necessarily the counter protesters as they were previously, but rather Congress itself is the target on the 6th," this threat assessment said, according to the Times. "Stop the Steal's propensity to attract white supremacists, militia members, and others who actively promote violence may lead to a significantly dangerous situation for law enforcement and the general public alike," it added. But a day before the riot the agency wrote in a plan for the protest that there were "no specific known threats related to the joint session of Congress" at which lawmakers were to formally certify Joe Biden's victory over Trump. On orders from supervisors, the police unit that specializes in handling large groups of protesters was not allowed to use some of its most powerful tools and techniques against the crowd, the report is quoted as saying. "Heavier, less-lethal weapons," including stun grenades, "were not used that day because of orders from leadership," Bolton wrote. Story continues Some of the shields that officers used shattered upon impact because they had not been stored under the right temperature. And some shields could not be used because there were locked on a bus, the report says. dw/ch The residents of Irkutsk, one of Russias coldest regions, are used to harsh winters. But when the temperature dropped to negative 60 degrees Celsius (-76 Fahrenheit) last January, even they had to submit to the elements. Please stay at home unless absolutely necessary, Governor Igor Kobzev pleaded on Instagram. With the cold came the heaviest snowfall in 25 years. It blanketed Siberia, the Far East and central Russia. When temperatures starting rising at the end of March, the Ministry of Emergency Situations warned that the melting snow may cause dangerous floods. The unstable climate system is leading to increasing extremes, to a growing number of weather anomalies, including dangerous events, said Anna Romanovskaya, director of the Moscow-based Yu. A. Izrael Institute of Global Climate and Ecology. The direction of the trend is undeniable. Russia is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. A significant part of its territory is in the Arctic, which is warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the world. Thats manifested in Siberias unusually high 2020 temperatures, two consecutive years of record wildfires and thawing permafrostthe frozen ground that covers vast swaths of the country. President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday at a meeting of the Russian Geographical Society that the nation will keep studying the negative consequences of climate change, especially in the Arctic. Russia has several cities located behind the Polar Circle and if permafrost continues to melt, we need to understand what to do with it, he said. The disasters have caused expensive damage. Reinsurance broker Aon estimated that June floods near Russias border with China in 2019 cost the nation more than $460 million. In total, major catastrophes may have led to just under $1 billion of losses in Russia that year, it said. The heat wave in Siberia in 2020 and the corresponding widespread fires are renewed evidence of climate change, said Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geo scientist at global reinsurance provider Munich Re. We view with concern the thawing permafrost soils, which amplify global warming by releasing methane. Russia hasnt developed a comprehensive system for assessing weather-related losses. Leading databases only record events with registered damage, some of the nations top climate scientists at its Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, or Rosgidromet, wrote in a 2019 paper. Data on the losses are, for the most part, only descriptive, while monetary assessments are rare. The paper also cites confidentiality requirements and the lack of a developed insurance system as key hurdles to assessing the nations economic damage from natural catastrophes. The lack of data means current estimates for Russias annual weather-related economic damage by insurers, researchers and governmental bodies vary greatly. Munich Re, which been gathering estimates of losses caused by natural disasters across the world for nearly 50 years, has only limited information on Russias recent annual weather-related damage. The data quality for Russia is not sufficient, a spokesman said. The Russian climate scientists in their 2019 paper presented a mathematical model for assessing losses from only four high-impact weather events: strong wind, summer rain, winter snow and rain, and frost. According to the model, the events resulted in monetary losses of as much as 234 billion rubles ($4 billion) in 2017. Romanovskaya from the Yu. A. Izrael Institute says that calculations should go further, including not only direct but also collateral economic losses, such as damage to residents health and the environment. She estimates Russias total weather-related losses for 2019 were around 850 billion rubles, meaning working citizens paid almost 10,000 rubles each. Its kind of a climate tax, she said. The Russian government remains sanguine about the impacts of climate change. Its the worlds biggest energy exporter and fourth-largest emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases, yet lags other nations in taking steps to reduce its pollution. The nation pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 70% from 1990 levels by 2030, assuming that its vast forests absorb the maximum amount of carbon dioxide possible. The target is so low that Russia met it years ago and has so far expressed no desire to set a more ambitious goal. Carbon Action Tracker, a UK-based nonprofit, rates its policies as critically insufficient. Russia is working on a national climate strategy set to be adopted this year, with recent comments from officials indicating the country aims to develop a low-carbon economy in the next decades rather than reach full carbon neutrality. Meanwhile the warming Arctic will keep causing greater weather imbalances in the northern hemisphere, according to Yury Varakin, head of the Rosgidromets situation center. In recent weeks, scientists have linked higher temperatures in the Arctic to the cold spell that moved as far south as Texas, shutting down power plants and leaving residents without electricity. Air masses are moving more frequently from north to south or south to north rather than in the west-east circulation that dominated during the 20th century, Varakin said. That means an Arctic blast can reach southern regions relatively quickly and Mediterranean heat can move rapidly into northern areas. This trend will only increase irreversibly in the next 10 to 15 years, leading to wilder swings in the weather, he said. With assistance from Natasha Doff and Laura Millan Lombrana. Photograph: Firemen fighting a wildfire in Russia. Photo credit: Kirill Shipitsin/TASS/Getty Images. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Natural Disasters Climate Change Russia Russia's military activities near Ukraine's border are not a routine military exercise, and Russia also massed forces in 2008 and 2014, before the start of military operations against Georgia and Ukraine, respectively, according to Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Mission to the OSCE Courtney Austrian. She said this at a special joint meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council and the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation on Wednesday, April 14. Austrian said that the United States joins other participating States in expressing its continued and considerable concern over Russia's military activities near Ukraine's border and in Russia-occupied Crimea. "These provocations only threaten to further destabilize an already tense and fragile security situation," she said. Austrian noted that Russia's refusal to provide sufficient information about unusual military activities near its border with Ukraine and in Russia-occupied Crimea "is inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the Vienna Document, which was adopted by all 57 participating States, including Russia." "After having fomented and fueled seven years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia now has the opportunity to do the right thing. Now is the moment for Russia to clearly articulate the nature of its military activities near Ukraine's border and dispel the concerns of its neighbors and OSCE participating States in accordance with the Vienna Document. All of the available evidence suggests this is not a routine military exercise," she said. She noted that the United States finds dubious "any suggestions that these activities may be related to Russia's ZAPAD exercise later this year, given the timing, location, and composition of Russian forces involved." "Ukraine is right to be concerned about these activities. In both 2008 and 2014, Russia massed forces in a similar manner before it launched military operations against Georgia and then Ukraine," Austrian said. She also said that for months now, Russia has been using its Permanent Council statements to outline a false narrative asserting a large-scale Ukrainian military operation was evident. "Such escalation on the part of Ukraine has not been seen," Austrian said. Instead, Russia has sent thousands of troops to its border with Ukraine and to Russia-occupied Crimea. "According to information obtained from available sources, Russia has more troops stationed on the Ukrainian border now than at any time since 2014. Russia has moved 15,000-25,000 troops to Crimea or closer to the Ukrainian borders. This number includes infantry, tank battalions, helicopters, and air defense assets," the diplomat said. The U.S. side assesses Russia has an estimated 31,500 troops and has deployed advanced air defense systems, such as the S-400, fighter aircraft, and coastal defense cruise missiles. "Along the internationally recognized border with Ukraine, Russia has increased its force posture considerably since 2015, stationing tens of thousands of troops, reactivating units, refurbishing bases, and deploying more capable ground, air, and air defense equipment," Austrian said. "Large military activity on the border of or indeed in the territory of a neighbor without prior notification, as is the case here, is destabilizing, particularly given the context and history. It raises questions about intentions. To our knowledge Ukraine has taken no step that could be viewed as provoking such a response. We again call on Russia to explain the size, composition, and purpose of this activity," Austrian said. op Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Texas Bill Would Prohibit Parents From Allowing Children to Undergo Sex-Change Surgeries A state senator in Texas has introduced a bill that would designate sex-change surgeries and hormone treatments for children under the age of 18 as child abuse in the Lone Star state. Senate Bill 1646 would prohibit parents from administering or supplying, or consenting to or assisting in the administering or supplying of puberty suppression prescription drug or cross-sex hormone to a child, other than an intersex child, for the purpose of gender transitioning or gender reassignment. The bill was introduced by Texas Sen. Charles Perry, a Republican, and was heard by the Senate Committee on State Affairs on Monday. If passed, the legislation would alter the states definition of child abuse to include parents allowing their children to access hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and puberty blockers. Medical professionals commonly recommend the two types of treatment to trans minors. The legislation exempts children who are born intersex. According to Perrys office, under the bill, parents could potentially have their child removed from their home if they break the proposed law. Doctors could also be accused of child abuse and have their licenses investigated by the Texas Medical Board if they perform sex change treatments. Children are unable to give informed consent. This bill gives children a chance to get to adulthood with intact bodies, Texas Republican Executive Committee Member Jill Glover testified Monday. Responding to the legislation, Adri Perez, a policy and advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Texas, suggested that if passed, it will cost lives. Gender-affirming care is essential and life-saving care, he said on Twitter. Make no mistake, restricting and even criminalizing access to health care for transgender people will cost lives. Houston-based organization Doctors for Change submitted a letter to Texas lawmakers ahead of Mondays Senate Committee on State Affairs, asking for the bill to be scrapped. We care for Texans of all ages, including transgender and non-binary children, youth, and adults and we are appalled by the blatant intention of SB 1646 to characterize the provision of our compassionate, evidence-based care as child abuse and to levy criminal penalties against providers who are putting the health and well-being of patients first, the letter said. The legislation, if approved, would take effect on Sept. 1. It is one among dozens of legislation restricting gender transition procedures for minors currently being considered nationwide. Earlier this month, Arkansas became the first state to outlaw gender reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for children under the age of 18, after lawmakers enacted the measure following Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinsons veto. It would prohibit physicians and health care professionals from providing gender transition procedures to people under 18 years old, or referring the minors to other health care professionals for the procedures. Medical providers who violate the law could face disciplinary action from the appropriate licensing entity or disciplinary review board. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. The world is heading for a 'wild west' free for all in space that could lead to disaster as firms fight for every scrap of resource in low Earth orbit, an expert has warned. Paul Kostek, a space policy specialist from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), says global agreement is 'highly unlikely' anytime soon. As the commercial space sector continues to grow at a rapid rate, firms are vying to launch constellations of satellites and new experimental craft into low Earth orbit. This has left astronomers frustrated and struggling due to 'blots in the sky' that make observations harder and less accurate, as well as concerns over space junk. The need for regulation has become more pressing after satellites from OneWeb and SpaceX Starlink came within 190ft of hitting each other last week. The UK Space Agency says it will push for clearer guidelines for the commercial space industry with the United Nations and at the next G7 summit. The need for regulation has become more pressing after satellites from OneWeb and SpaceX Starlink came close to hitting each other last week OneWeb and SpaceX (pictured), the powerhouses in the internet satellite industry, had dangerously close encounter last weekend that was out of this world WHAT IS SPACE JUNK? There are an estimated 170 million pieces of so-called 'space junk' - left behind after missions that can be as big as spent rocket stages or as small as paint flakes - in orbit alongside some US$700 billion (555bn) of space infrastructure. But only 22,000 are tracked, and with the fragments able to travel at speeds above 16,777 mph (27,000kmh), even tiny pieces could seriously damage or destroy satellites. However, traditional gripping methods don't work in space, as suction cups do not function in a vacuum and temperatures are too cold for substances like tape and glue. Grippers based around magnets are useless because most of the debris in orbit around Earth is not magnetic. Most proposed solutions, including debris harpoons, either require or cause forceful interaction with the debris, which could push those objects in unintended, unpredictable directions. Scientists point to two events that have badly worsened the problem of space junk. The first was in February 2009, when an Iridium telecoms satellite and Kosmos-2251, a Russian military satellite, accidentally collided. The second was in January 2007, when China tested an anti-satellite weapon on an old Fengyun weather satellite. Experts also pointed to two sites that have become worryingly cluttered. Advertisement There are longer-term concerns that this 'free for all approach' to space will one day result in a disastrous collision that could lead to a loss of connectivity on Earth or at an extreme case, loss of life if a crewed spacecraft were to be hit. Kostek warned that this may have to happen before government's finally agree on a set of regulations to restrict firms operating in the commercial space industry. The current hot topic in the commercial space sector is the mega constellations, built by firms like OneWeb and SpaceX, but with others including Facebook and Amazon also considering launching their own satellites in future. 'As a consequence you get into this whole discussion of how is space going to be managed, Kostek told MailOnline, speaking about the vast number of satellites due to launch. 'It really is the wild wild west, or in this cast the wild wild space,' he added, saying 'what is all of that going to mean, how are people even going to manage space.' 'You've got astronomers upset because their night vision is ruined because of the number of satellites up there and the traffic management problem. 'How do you manage all these satellites to avoid collisions, to protect essential services such as GPS and other communications.' There is already some evidence of these mammoth constellations of satellites causing problems for each other, not just for astronomers on Earth. OneWeb and SpaceX, the powerhouses in the internet satellite industry, had dangerously close encounter on April 4, with two satellites from each firm coming within just 190ft of each other as they crossed orbits. The near miss happened after OneWeb's recent launch on March 30th, which sent 36 satellites into orbit and had to pass through a sea of Starlinks on the way. This is the first known collision avoidance event since tech firms started populating space with internet beaming devices - and some may suggest, it will not be the last. This close encounter of the orbital kind sparked several 'red alerts' from the US Space Force's 18th Space Control Squadron, as if two satellites do collide it could lead to a dreaded cascade event, causing untold orbital damage. A crash between the two would produce significantly more pieces of 'space junk' as they break apart, creating more risk of further collisions as they orbit Earth. This is known as Kessler syndrome, proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978, who said it could make it impossible for humans to leave the Earth. The UK Space Agency told MailOnline that increasing levels of commercial activity in space is beneficial to people across the world, but would require tighter regulation. About 20,000 objects, including satellites and space debris are crowding low-Earth orbit and a collision between objects could generate thousands of small pieces HOW MANY ITEMS ARE THERE IN ORBIT? Rocket launches since 1957: 5450 5450 Number of satellites in orbit: 8950 8950 Number still in space: 5000 5000 Number still functioning: 1950 1950 Number of debris objects: 22300 22300 Break-ups, explosions etc: 500 500 Mass of objects in orbit: 8400 tonnes 8400 tonnes Prediction of the amount of debris in orbit using statistical models Over 10cm: 34 000 34 000 1cm to 10cm: 900 000 900 000 1mm to 1cm: 128 million Source: European Space Agency Advertisement A spokesperson said the UK was hoping to broker an international consensus on responsible behaviours in space, working with industry to develop licensing and regulation frameworks to promote safety in orbit. There are millions of pieces of debris littering space, travelling at hundreds or thousands of miles per hour - each could destroy a satellite, telescope or even a spacecraft on its way to the ISS, the moon or Mars. Kostek told MailOnline the earliest days of the commercial space industry saw firms act mainly for major space agencies, but that is gradually changing to a sustaining model. He said there would be mining, research and tourism increasing in low Earth orbit, on the moon and on Mars in the coming decades, driven by commercial firms. This is the point where debris in low Earth orbit becomes a major risk to human life, said Kostek, who explained more people would be entering orbit than ever before. 'Now you have this fascinating mix of satellites from major countries, people orbiting on space stations, vehicles, resulting in safety and debris issues.' To manage this problem global agreements are needed, not just national regulations, but pan-national agreements from all space nations, Kostek explained. 'There are agreements floating around from the United Nations and others on how the moon and space would be handled, but if you look at them the signatories don't include people actually doing the work in space,' he told MailOnline. 'The moon and probably Mars at some point, there is going to have to be a discussion on Earth from people saying 'how are we going to manage Mars or the moon' from a governmental aspect and commercial enterprises.' The UK Space Agency said they plan to raise the issue with the UN and at the 2021 G7 meeting of nations to look for more sustainability in space. As the commercial space sector continues to grow at a rapid rate, firms are vying to launch constellations of satellites and new experimental craft into low Earth orbit THE CLAW: A 100 MILLION ROBOTIC SUICIDE MISSION The ClearSpace-1 mission will target the Vespa (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter) upper stage. It was left in a 450 mile altitude orbit after the second flight of ESA's Vega launcher back in 2013. With a mass of 220lb, the Vespa is close in size to a small satellite. The relatively simple shape and sturdy construction make it a suitable first target for the clearspace-1 mission. Follow up missions will involve larger and more complex objects and even multiple objects. The ClearSpace-1 'chaser' will be launched into a lower 310 mile orbit. There it will undergo critical tests before being raised to the target orbit for rendezvous and capture. It will use a quartet of robotic arms - a pincer or 'claw' to catch Vespa. The 100 million project will end in a glorified robotic' suicide mission'. The combined chaser plus Vespa will then be de-orbited to burn up in the atmosphere 'safely away from life' Advertisement The hope is to improve existing sustainability guidelines and develop new ways of reducing the risk of collision in space and removing space debris. Kostek said there is already precedent in the form of international air routes, where International agreements are in place to aid commercial flight. 'I think it is going to be wild west first, then everyone will have to stop and ask the question - how is all of this going to work?,' he said. Space travel, particularly tourism, is going to get progressively cheaper, much like air travel did, and within 30 years a trip to the moon could be affordable as a 'once in a lifetime trip' similar to a safari or world cruise today, Kostek said. 'The biggest challenge facing space is the wild west. The reality will be that the firs time a vehicle is lost and people are killed, that will be the reality check. 'Right now we know people going up are ex-military, trained pilots, scientists, engineers who know the risk. The first time an accident with 'real people' will be the reality check that forces regulation and tighter controls,' Kostek told MailOnline. One solution to the risk of satellite collisions, potentially causing damage to property, connectivity on Earth and even life is to use a wider range of orbits and have regulations that require satellites to de-orbit when they reach their end of life. De-orbiting a satellite effectively means pushing it into the Earth so that it burns up in the planet's atmosphere, putting itself out of harms way. This can be achieved by the satellite itself having enough fuel on board to make its end of life manoeuvre, another is to have satellites designed so they can be removed by another spacecraft - such as an orbital 'tug ship'. Chris Mclaughlin, Chief of Government, Regulation & Engagement at OneWeb said all their satellites are designed to both de-orbit and with hooks for safe removal. 'It has a docking hook on it, which is the standard form to connect the Astroscale, we are confident in our design and that should we have a satellite that requires de-orbiting, the technology will exist to be able to do so,' he told MailOnline. Astroscale is a Japanese firm that has an orbital spacecraft that can hook on to a satellite and push it into Earth's atmosphere, other companies such as the British firm Skyrora and the European Exolaunch are working on similar technologies. The hope is to improve existing sustainability guidelines and develop new ways of reducing the risk of collision in space and removing space debris The current generation of OneWeb satellites is between five and seven years and they should have enough fuel for them to burn up in their own right. Mclaughlin said SpaceX Starlink satellites, most of which orbit about 550km above the Earth, are exempt from having to have de-orbit protocols under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines. The guidelines state that satellites in that orbit will re-enter within 25 years anyway and so they don't have to have de-orbit protocols. Mclaughlin said this was an example of why international cooperation are needed to create regulations that work between nations to stop firms shopping around. 'The FCC has accepted that 8.4% of any SpaceX launch will fail, that wouldn't stand scrutiny from the UK Space Agency, so it is a different approach. A number of technologies are being proposed to capture satellites no longer in service and move them - including this 'claw' approach by ClearSpace supported by ESA 'If they have 1,200 in the 550km zone and on that basis they would have 100 to 120 non-functioning satellites already, and they are trying to modify their licence to bring all of their satellites - another 3,000 - to launch into the 550km zone. 'That is coincidentally the same orbital slot the FCC has previously approved Amazon to go to, so you have a US regulator approving up to 8,000 satellites into the same zone as each other without any international agreement.' The FFC declined to comment when asked whether these rules should be amended to take into account thousands of satellites within that space. Edward F Jamieson from Satellite manufacturer NanoAvionics, who are working to create modular satellites to make it cheaper for firms to launch into space. He told MailOnline they support the idea of international regulations that would force satellite firms to clean up after themselves, including de-orbiting protocols and environmentally friendly propulsion systems within satellites. The current generation of OneWeb satellites is between five and seven years and they should have enough fuel for them to burn up in their own right The close call was due to OneWeb's (pictured) recent launch on March 30th, which sent 36 satellites into orbit and had to pass through a sea of Starlinks to hit its targeted orbit 'This would enable us to de-orbit them, put them in a graveyard orbit or even move them if there is the risk of a collision,' he said. 'A cascade is a very very unlikely scenario, and there are lots of measures in place to reduce those risks including real time tracking of objects in space.' Jamieson said most nations also require registration of any object being put in space so they can be easily tracks, so it is just the unregistered, unlicensed objects that would pose a problem, but most would be listed. 'We need careful regulation rolled in sensibly through stages that can tell us how to best tackle these problems,' he told MailOnline. " " Adrenochrome has been linked to schizophrenia treatments and the LSD counterculture movement. Now QAnon conspiracy theorists say it's part of a child sex-trafficking cult. So what is the truth behind this chemical compound? HowStuffWorks If you've ever heard of adrenochrome, chances are you've been told some pretty lofty tales about the drug. In truth, adrenochrome is a rather innocuous chemical compound produced by the oxidation of the body's stress hormone adrenaline, also called epinephrine. To better understand adrenochrome and how it become rather infamous in recent years, it's good to know a little background about epinephrine. Advertisement Adrenochrome and Epinephrine When you encounter a stressful, exciting, dangerous or threatening situation, the adrenal glands and some central nervous system neurons quickly release adrenaline (epinephrine) into the blood stream. This triggers the body's "fight or flight" response, which gives you the ability to quickly escape a predator or respond to a threat. Shortly after adrenaline was discovered in 1901, it was found to have medical uses as well. Today, it's artificially synthesized and used to treat myriad medical conditions. For example, epinephrine is the active ingredient in the EpiPen, the autoinjector used in emergencies to treat serious allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is also the primary drug used to reverse cardiac arrest. And it's sometimes administered to patients during acute asthma attacks or applied to wounds to slow bleeding. Adrenochrome, on the other hand, "doesn't have any approved indications in the United States," says Dr. Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist, emergency physician and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. "There's no available evidence to show that adrenochrome has any of the same efficacy [as epinephrine]. It has been studied, but from what I can tell it's never been shown to work at least as well as epinephrine." Advertisement Research on Adrenochrome With little evidence of its medical benefit, adrenochrome has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any uses. "Obviously, epinephrine would be the preferred and recommended agent between the two," Marino says. But another oxidation product of adrenaline called carbazochrome is available in other countries as a blood clotting agent. Synthetic adrenochrome can be purchased in the U.S. from some biotechnology companies for research purposes only. And while recent studies have been conducted, the most popularized research dates back more than 70 years. Advertisement Weird Science In the early 1950s, Canadian psychiatrists Humphry Osmond and Abram Hoffer began working under the assumption posed by some researchers at the time that schizophrenia may be triggered by an excess of adrenaline. This drew Osmond and Hoffer's attention to derivatives of adrenaline, specifically adrenochrome. Hoffer then decided he'd experiment with the hormone after which he claimed to have experienced schizophrenic symptoms (i.e., hallucinations and delusions). And thus, Osmond and Hoffer's "Adrenochrome Hypothesis" linking schizophrenia to an abnormal metabolism of adrenochrome was born. It's important to note that around this same time, Osmond and Hoffer were also beginning to embark on new research investigating the potential therapeutic benefits of drugs such as LSD and mescaline, therapies that also had the potential to cause those so-called schizophrenic symptoms in otherwise healthy adults. (Osmond would later coin the term "psychedelics" to refer to hallucinogens.) Reflecting back on the "Adrenochrome Hypothesis" in an article published in 1990 in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, the researchers said, "All we did know [about adrenochrome] was that it was readily formed by oxidation of adrenalin [sic] to a red compound in solution ... But we did suspected [sic] it might be a hallucinogen because ... it resembled a few known hallucinogens like ... LSD and ibogaine." Adrenochrome's psychedelic properties, however, never actually panned out. And, as intriguing as those studies were, "they have been largely discredited due to, primarily, methodological failures. And I think they were unable to ever replicate any of the initial findings that were popularized," Marino says. But, before the research on adrenochrome was thoroughly debunked, the drug was lumped into the same category at least in the layman's eyes as LSD and other psychedelic therapies, which set it up for celebrity status in popular culture. Advertisement Pop Culture's Take Adrenochrome's association with hallucinogens earned it a glimmer of fame during the psychedelic movement. It was mentioned in Aldous Huxley's 1954 book "The Doors of Perception;" was featured under the pseudonym "drenchrom" in Anthony Burgess' dystopian satire "A Clockwork Orange;" and had a cameo in Frank Herbert's "Destination: Void." " " A protester marches while holding a sign that says "No More Adrenochrome" at a protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, against child sex trafficking. Michael Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Perhaps the compound's greatest claim to fame is when gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, in his psychedelic classic "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," had a character describe the effects of adrenochrome as making "pure mescaline seem like ginger beer." Thompson later admitted to inflating adrenochrome's "high." Some of those seduced by the tales of adrenochrome's psychedelic properties reported their rude awakening after trying the drug. Spanish writer Eduardo Hidalgo Downing, in his memoir "Adrenochrome and Other Mythical Drugs," said adrenochrome had "no value in psychoactive terms," adding it would be more useful to guzzle a cup of coffee instead. A few posters on the harm-reduction nonprofit site Erowid.org have also debunked the hallucinogenic claims. Advertisement Conspiracy Theories Abound After shedding its rap as a psychedelic drug, adrenochrome was poised to fall somewhat into obscurity until a few years ago when the far-right wing group QAnon built some rather disturbing conspiracy theories around the compound. Supporters claim that the blood of kidnapped children is being harvested by Hollywood celebrities and the "liberal elite" for adrenochrome, which they believe has psychedelic properties and holds the promise of immortality. Despite those theories being repeatedly batted down, they keep popping up like Whac-A-Mole. "Unfortunately," Marino says, "it's the exciting, scary news headlines that are the ones people remember and not those that turn out to be true." Now That's Crazy Remember Monsters Inc., the adorable 2001 Pixar movie in which monsters have to scare children so that they scream in order to power their city? Some conspiracy theorists believe the movie is a nod to QAnon's adrenochrome theory. A TikTok user's video has gone viral for showing what she described as a 'savage' sign put up by workers at a McDonald's drive-thru, apologizing for lack of staff and pleading with the customers to be patient. The sign seen in TikToker Brittany Logan's recording, which she uploaded to her page over the weekend, reads: 'We are short-staffed. Please be patient with the staff who did show up. Nobody wants to work anymore.' Logan, who describes herself on the social media platform as a registered nurse, did not reveal the exact location of the McDonald's eatery, only referring to it as 'Our McDonald's.' A video by TikTok user Brittany Logan, from Texas, has gone viral, showing a note from workers at a McDonald's drive-thru apologizing for lack of staff. The authors of the sign lamented that they were short-staffed because 'nobody wants to work anymore' Logan described her local McDonald's as 'savage AF' in the caption accompanying her video, which so far has been viewed more than 1.2million times Past videos posted by Logan reveal that she lives and works somewhere in Texas. According to the latest data, the unemployment rate in Texas increased to 6.9 per cent in February, when the state was hit by a deadly winter storm. Logan is a registered nurse who lives in Texas and works in hospice care, according to her previous posts Logan's McDonald's video has been viewed more than 1.2 million times as of Wednesday morning and has drawn more than 1,000 comments. Several of Logan's followers pointed out that staffing problems were common in the restaurant industry, which has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic. According to published reports, eateries that have seen their business steadily pick up amid rising vaccination rates have encountered difficulties hiring back workers, many of whom have been living off of unemployment benefits and stimulus payments from the federal government. Several of Logan's followers pointed out that staffing problems were common in the restaurant industry, especially amid the pandemic One TikTok commenter wrote: 'they make more money staying home, why go back?' Another chimed in, referring to the McDonald's workers' lament expressed in the apology note: 'Its sad because its true. Weve been trying to hire people at our restaurant and no one wants to work.' But some social media users defended people's reluctance to work for a fast food company, with one writing: 'maybe if [eateries] pay good and respect their employees and think that they are actually humans, [the workers] will stay.' According to the hiring site Indeed.com, a fast food attendant at a McDonald's in Texas earns less than $9 per hour. Mark Wineman / Getty Images More details have emerged on the Asian man who was stabbed in a violent robbery in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. The victim, first identified by KGO reporter Dion Lim, is Chi Ling Lee, a 53-year-old USPS employee. Brutal images, apparently taken immediately after the attack, show Lees face and shirt covered in blood as he speaks to San Francisco police. RED BLUFF, Calif. - The Tehama County District Attorney said a 2020 police shooting that killed a gunman at the Walmart Distribution Center in Red Bluff was justified and lawful. District Attorney, Matthew Rogers made the announcement on Tuesday based on a thorough investigation. "This conclusion would seem obvious based on the facts and circumstances of this incident," Rogers in a video posted to Twitter Tuesday. "But regardless of how clear-cut this incident may be, the duty of the DA is to review officer-involved shootings in order to determine their lawfulness of the use of lethal force by law enforcement. The duty of the DA is not to simply clear involved officers in their use of force." Back in late June, law enforcement responded to a shooting at the Walmart Distribution Center on Highway 99 W south of Red Bluff. The shooter was identified as 31-year-old Louis Lane. Rogers said Lane drove to the center. When he arrived he apparently circled the parking lot several times before slamming his car into a building. SIGN UP: Get breaking news from Action News Now delivered to your inbox Lane then got out of the car, grabbed an assault rifle, and started shooting at employees. Rogers said it was clear that Lane decided to arrive at around 3:30 p.m. due to a shift change so he could have more people as targets. The shooting by Lane left several people injured and killed one employee. At one point, Lane returned to the parking lot and set his car on fire. Lane then "continued to wander the parking lot, clearly disappointed that employees had quickly fled the area," Rogers said. It all came to an end when Lane was involved in a shoot-out with two Red Bluff Police officers. One of the officers fired a shot at Lane that eventually killed him. Through a separate investigation, authorities learned Lane had worked at the Red Bluff area Walmart Distribution Center in February 2019 but had been released from employment due to failing to show for his shift. Related Content: The 11-month-old girl who was shot and killed in a random drive-by shooting in Syracuse, New York. Two other girls, a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old, were also injured in the shooting, but are expected to survive. (Screengrab via Instagram) One child is dead and two others wounded after a seemingly random shooting in Syracuse, New York. Just before 7pm on Sunday, two women were traveling eastbound on Lincoln Avenue along with their three children an 11-month old, a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old when a car coming westbound began shooting at them. Deputy Police Chief Derek P McGork gave a press conference on Monday morning addressing the shooting. He said officers responded to the call and found that the three young girls had been shot. All three children were taken to Upstate Medical Hospital for treatment. The 11-month old did not survive. Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner told reporters at the briefing that the other two children are in stable condition and are expected to survive. One of the girls was shot in the hip. The other narrowly escaped being killed, according to District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick. He also said the investigation was still ongoing and called on the public's assistance to find out who was responsible for the random shooting. "Individuals like this should not have any shelter in this community," Mr Buckner said. "We need information and for people to come forward. These were babies in the back seat of this car, so we certainly need the public to do their part in this." Mr Buckner said the police were not going to release the names of the victims, as they are minors and there is no known motive or leads on a suspect. Shakema Buckmon, the mother of the two girls who survived, told local broadcaster NewsChannel 9 that the five of them were on their way to go grocery shopping when the shooting began. I tried to save her. I tried. I tried to save my baby cousin. I tried to save her. But it was too late, she said. My cousins didnt deserve this. We didnt deserve this. Were just regular people. We didnt deserve this, like why? What is this for. The police chief said he wants justice for the killed baby, even if the shooting was an accident. Story continues "Regardless of whether they intended to hit the kids or not, there's a baby that's dead and we want to hold the individuals who are responsible for that accountable for that," Mr Buckner said. Ben Walsh, the mayor of Syracuse, said the shooting was "incompressible" and "senseless." "This is a nightmare. An unimaginable tragedy. All my thoughts are with the family, with the 11-month-old whose life was stolen, with the two other children who are recovering from their injuries and with all the others that are mourning," Mr Walsh said. Rough weather has made the last year more than challenging for Texas schools. Slowly recovering from this damage has made it even more challenging to respond to other problems as they arise. Texas public school Avery ISD recently experienced this with pipes bursting and much of their entire campus being flooded. Fortunately, leading Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas commercial roofing company Coryell Roofing and Construction have stepped up to help. In exciting news, the company recently announced they have made a gift card donation to Avery ISD to show support to the campuss seven elementary and five middle school teachers, who have worked unselfishly in the face of this series of problems. Students and staff were displaced for eight days, and all of Avery ISD was highly grateful for the donation. Lisa Olson and Wendell Olson were the Coryell employees that delivered the gift cards to the school. The teachers are very excited to have received the gift cards. It was completely unexpected, commented a member of the Avery ISD faculty. It has been such a difficult year, and then for our rooms to be damaged is almost more than a teacher can take. These gift cards are such a bright light to let us know that we are appreciated and thought of. Everyone at Coryell have been very enthusiastic about having the chance to help. It was truly one of the best experiences to surprise the teachers with the gift cards, remarked the clearly passionate Coryell Texas Office Manager Lisa Olson. The teachers were so happy to be able to replace some of the lost school supplies. Coryell plans to continue to help community members and institutions in need as the opportunity arises. For more information about Coryell Roofing and Construction, be sure to visit https://coryellroofing.com. ### If thats the case, those sly government agents will be following my movements since Im now free to travel near and far. I received the second Pfizer vaccine dose this week at the fairgrounds. The thousands of others who lined up to get their shots undoubtedly will be monitored, too. "In Wisconsin, we celebrate cheese bigger and better than anyone, and that's because cheese is really core to who we are we're a state obsessed with making the world's best cheese," says Suzanne Fanning, Chief Marketing Officer for Wisconsin Cheese and Senior Vice President at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. "We know that you don't have to live in Wisconsin to be as obsessed with cheese as we are, so this May we are providing opportunities for cheese lovers nationwide to celebrate along with us and discover the true wonders of Wisconsin our incredible, award-winning cheeses!" Here are the ways cheese lovers can join in on the fun: Look for Wisconsin Cheeses in Your Favorite Stores and Restaurants Nearly 6,000 retail locations and over 1,200 restaurants across the nation are putting a spotlight on Wisconsin specialty cheeses for the month of May. Retail promotions at grocery stores such as Murray's Cheese at Kroger, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, HEB and more will be highlighting cheeses with the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese badge. Wisconsin Cheese is available in 99% of grocery stores across the country. Restaurants nationwide will feature menu items made with Wisconsin Cheese, including some new menu items and limited time offers. Look for the "Wonders of Wisconsin" menu items at restaurants like Cousin's, Culver's, Donato's, Little Greek Fresh Grill, Minsky's, Tom & Chee/Goldstar and Topper's. Explore Fromage-Filled Virtual Events Watch for memorable and educational experiences for cheese lovers every week during American Cheese Month. Visit WisconsinCheese.com/WondersOfWisconsin to enter the ticket lottery for free exclusive events. Registration opens today and seating is limited. Each lucky selected participant will learn from cheesemakers, chefs and affineurs and receive a free shipment of cheese and accompaniments for the event sent straight to their door. Events include: Harmonious Pairings: A Night of Music and Cheese The Art of Affinage with Expert Eric Meredith Cheese, Cheers and Beers: Game Night Done Right Find Your Inner Chef: Cooking School with a Top-Rated Chef On May 26th Wisconsin Cheese will conclude the month-long celebration with The Great Wisconsin Cheese Raffle: A 180th Anniversary Spectacular. Prepare for the most epic cheese raffle ever featuring award-winning cheesemakers and surprise celebrity guests, all while supporting a good cause. Discover the Wonders of Wisconsin Online Learn about Wisconsin's commitment to mastery, creativity, quality and innovation with a new 'wonder' showcased daily on the Wisconsin Cheese Facebook and Instagram pages. Possible features will include the stories of Wisconsin's most innovative original cheeses and Master Cheesemakers. For serious cheese fanatics who want to celebrate Wisconsin Cheese all year long, consider joining Cheeselandia, Wisconsin's online cheese community. About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at WisconsinDairy.org. About Wisconsin Cheese: The tradition of cheesemaking excellence began 180 years ago, before Wisconsin was recognized as a state. Wisconsin's 1,200 cheesemakers, many of whom are third- and fourth-generation, continue to pass on old-world traditions while adopting modern innovations in cheesemaking craftsmanship. For more information, visit WisconsinCheese.com or connect on Facebook. SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Related Links http://www.wmmb.com The Slovak Spectator offers the basic information a foreigner needs to know about employment relations in Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Click on a question to find out an answer: Q: I am an EU citizen. What do I need if I want to be employed in Slovakia? Q: I come from outside the EU. What do I need if I want to be employed in Slovakia? Q: What is an average monthly salary in Slovakia? Related article Everything important about labour market (average wage in sectors of economy, labour costs, unemployment rate...) Read more Q: How much will I really earn? Q: What else am I entitled to as an employee? Q: When can I take a break during the working day? 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A woman will be entitled to this benefit after she finishes the 12th week of the pregnancy and if the woman has had sickness insurance for at least 270 days in the last two years. The benefit will be calculated at 15 percent of the gross salary of the employee or from the calculation base for a self-employed person, but it will not be lower than 10 percent of the maximal daily calculation base. The minimum sum for the pregnancy benefit for both the self-employed and employees is 215.50 over a 30-day month. The maximum amount for women who earn a gross salary of 2,184 or more, is 320 monthly. Non-working students at universities and students older than 18 at secondary school, who are not entitled to pregnancy benefit, can request a pregnancy scholarship after they finish the 12th week of pregnancy. This is set at 200. Q: Where should I look when Im looking for a job? Most job offers can be found on the online job portals, among them Profesia.sk that also has an English version. There are also job agencies which offer a variety of jobs. Some employers advertise jobs through labour offices. 8. Apr 2021 at 6:20 | Compiled by Spectator staff Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2021) - Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (TSX: XTG) (OTCQB: XTGRF) ("Xtra-Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for an additional 13 drill holes from its current resource expansion target generation program within the Zone 2 - Zone 3 maiden mineral resource footprint area, on the Company's wholly-owned Kibi Gold Project, located in the Kibi - Winneba greenstone belt (the "Kibi Gold Belt"), in Ghana, West Africa. The 13 diamond core boreholes totaling 2,185 metres were completed by the Company's in-house drilling crews from mid-January to early March 2021 on the Double 19 deposit (9), Gatehouse zone (3) and newly identified Lone Tree shear structure (1); with a total of 98 holes (13,004 metres) drilled to date since the program's initiation in September 2019. Assay results reported are provided in Table 1 below and include the following highlights: 48.8 metres grading 0.76 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold, including 1.91 g/t gold over 6.9 metres, from down-hole depth of 134.0 metres in KBDD21387, with undercut hole KBDD21391 returning 15.1 metres grading 1.24 g/t gold, including 2.56 g/t gold over 4.5 metres, from down-hole depth of 200 metres; extending mineralization down to vertical depth of 200 metres on northeasternmost NW Limb zone section at Double 19 additional NW Limb drilling highlights include: 13.5 metres grading 1.92 g/t gold, including 3.13 g/t gold over 5.9 metres, from down-hole depth of 138.5 metres in KBDD21384; 11.6 metres grading 1.00 g/t gold and 17.1 metres grading 1.13 g/t gold from down-hole depths of 92.0 metres and 121.9 metres respectively in KBDD21386; and 7.6 metres grading 2.12 g/t gold, including 4.61 g/t gold over 2.0 metres, and 8.75 metres grading 1.03 g/t gold from down-hole depths of 101.0 metres and 125.25 metres respectively in KBDD21390 473.09 g/t gold over 0.5 metres (visible gold), immediately followed by 16.1 metres grading 0.51 g/t gold, from down-hole depth of 112.8 metres in KBDD21388; with placement of mineralization along granitoid - metasediment contact highlighting potential for high-grade, contact-controlled, shear-type gold mineralization at Gatehouse, in addition to typical Kibi-type Granitoid-hosted gold mineralization 16.6 metres grading 0.96 g/t gold, including 3.47 g/t gold over 3.0 metres, from down-hole depth of 41 metres in KBDD21380 at newly identified Lone Tree shear; with drill-fence tracing auriferous structure over 125 metre down-dip distance from surface James Longshore, President and CEO, remarked: "We are incredibly pleased with the continued success of our resource expansion drilling program at the Double 19 gold deposit. With just under 5,000 m of drilling we have extended the down-plunge length of the fold hinge gold shoot to almost 300 metres and established the continuity of the newly defined NW Limb gold mineralization over an approximately 160 metre segment of the fold structure and down to a vertical depth of 200 metres. We look forward to the further resource growth potential from the ongoing step-out drilling targeting the down-plunge extension of the Double 19 fold structure." The Double 19 deposit has a current inferred mineral resource of 48,000 ounces of gold (0.61 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.43 g/t gold). The Double 19 deposit, located in Zone 3, along with the Big Bend, East Dyke, South Ridge and Mushroom deposits in Zone 2, form part of a maiden mineral resource estimate (October 26, 2012) on the Company's Kibi Gold Project. In aggregate, these five gold deposits lying within approximately 1.6 kilometres of each other are estimated to encompass an indicated mineral resource of 3.38 million tonnes grading 2.56 g/t gold for 278,000 ounces of contained gold and an additional inferred mineral resource of 2.35 million tonnes grading 1.94 g/t gold for 147,000 ounces of contained gold (@ base case 0.5 g/t cut-off). The Zone 2 - Zone 3 maiden mineral resource represents the first ever mineral resource generated on a lode gold project within the Kibi Gold Belt. Gold mineralization is characterized by auriferous quartz vein sets hosted in Belt-type granitoids geologically analogous to other "Granitoid-hosted" gold deposits of Ghana, including Kinross Gold's Chirano and Newmont Mining's Subika deposits in the Sefwi gold belt. The above mineral resource estimate was filed in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) requirements with the Technical Report entitled "Independent Technical Report, Apapam Concession, Kibi Project, Eastern Region, Ghana", prepared by SEMS Explorations and dated October 31, 2012, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Table 1: Significant Drill Intercepts Zone 2 - Zone 3 Resource Expansion Target Generation Program (Kibi Gold Project / January - March 2021) Hole ID From (metres) To (metres) Core Length (metres) Gold Grams Per Tonne Zone ID / Target KBDD21379 62.0 63.0 1.0 9.09 Double 19 - NW Limb and 112.8 126.0 13.2 1.24 including 117.5 120.2 2.7 2.82 and 141.8 162.0 20.2 0.37 KBDD21380 41.0 57.6 16.6 0.96 Lone Tree Shear including 41.0 51.0 10.0 1.53 and incl. 46.0 49.0 3.0 3.47 KBDD21381 94.0 113.0 19.0 1.02 Double 19 - NW Limb including 103.6 112.0 8.4 1.43 and 126.5 133.0 6.5 0.42 KBDD21382 3.0 4.5 1.5 1.58 Gatehouse KBDD21383 81.4 86.0 4.6 0.94 Double 19 - NW Limb and 96.9 100.4 3.5 1.19 and 118.7 132.5 13.8 0.65 including 126.0 130.0 4.0 1.01 KBDD21384 92.0 93.0 1.0 15.05 Double 19 - NW Limb and 138.5 152.0 13.5 1.92 including 139.1 145.0 5.9 3.13 KBDD21385 44.5 59.0 14.5 0.70 Gatehouse including 54.0 58.0 4.0 1.43 and 94.2 103.0 8.8 0.40 KBDD21386 92.0 112.0 20.0 0.68 Double 19 - NW Limb including 92.0 103.6 11.6 1.00 and 121.9 139.0 17.1 1.13 including 121.9 128.0 6.1 1.89 KBDD21387 134.0 182.8 48.8 0.76 Double 19 - NW Limb including 145.0 159.5 14.5 1.30 and incl. 145.0 151.9 6.9 1.91 KBDD21388 112.8 113.3 0.5 473.09 Gatehouse and 113.3 129.4 16.1 0.51 KBDD21389 50.5 57.6 7.1 0.40 Double 19 - NW Limb KBDD21390 74.0 78.2 4.2 1.63 Double 19 - NW Limb and 101.0 108.6 7.6 2.12 including 106.0 108.0 2.0 4.61 and 125.25 134.0 8.75 1.03 KBDD21391 173.0 179.0 6.0 0.69 Double 19 - NW Limb and 200.0 215.1 15.1 1.24 including 200.0 204.5 4.5 2.56 Notes: Reported intercepts are core-lengths; true width of mineralization is unknown at this time. Unless otherwise indicated intercepts constrained with a 0.25 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold minimum cut-off grade at top and bottom of intercept, with no upper cut-off applied, and maximum of five (5) consecutive samples of internal dilution (less than 0.25 g/t gold). All internal intervals above 15 g/t gold indicated. Today's drill results correspond to the latest 13 boreholes (2,185 metres) of an ongoing exploration initiative geared towards the generation of new resource expansion targets within the Zone 2 - Zone 3 maiden mineral resource footprint area of the Kibi Gold Project. With the drilling designed to follow up on early-stage gold shoots / showings discovered by previous drilling / trenching efforts (2008 - 2012), test down-plunge extensions and/or fold limbs of existing resource bodies, and to test prospective litho-structural gold settings identified by recently completed 3D geological modelling. A total of 98 boreholes totaling 13,004 metres have been completed since the initiation of the Zone 2 - Zone 3 resource expansion drilling program in late September 2019. The present 13 diamond core boreholes were completed by the Company's in-house drilling crews from January 13 to March 8, 2021 (KBDD21379 - KBDD21391), including: 9 resource expansion holes (1,645 metres) on the Double 19 deposit, 3 holes (462 metres) on the Gatehouse Zone, and one follow up hole (78 metres) on the recently identified Lone Tree shear structure. Exploration significant auriferous intercepts are presented in Table 1 above and a drill / compilation plan with collar details depicted in Figure 1, available at: (Figure 1_Zone 2 - Zone 3 Drill Plan_April 14 2021) Recent detailed 3D litho-structural modelling indicates that the Double 19 gold mineralization is emplaced within the inner arc of a tight, steep NE-plunging, isoclinally folded diorite body. With the mineralization traced to date along the fold hinge over an approximately 285 metre down-plunge distance from surface (~150 metres vertical). Today's Double 19 resource expansion drilling results include 9 holes designed to further delineate the recently identified high-grade gold mineralization developed along the apparent northwest limb of the fold structure (i.e., NW Limb Zone). The drilling was primarily conducted along five NW-SE Sections at approximately 22 metre - 30 metre spacing along the northeastern, down-plunge extremity of the deposit (~100 metres). With all holes consisting of SE-trending, steeply-inclined (-70o to -75o) boreholes. The present drilling successfully extended the NW Limb zone mineralization approximately 50 metres to the northeast with drilling efforts to date demonstrating the continuity of the NW Limb Zone over an approximately 160 metre trend-length of the fold structure (~ 240 metre down-plunge distance) and down to a vertical depth of approximately 200 metres. Hole KBDD21387 consisting of a SE-trending (-71o) borehole targeting the NW-dipping fold limb zone, at the northeastern, down-plunge extremity of the hinge zone, returned a mineralized intercept of 48.8 metres grading 0.76 g/t gold, including 1.91 g/t gold over 6.9 metres, from a down-hole depth of 134.0 metres. KBDD21387 was designed to cross-cut the previously reported mineralized intercept of 55.3 metres grading 2.1 g/t gold, including 3.47 g/t gold over 16.6 metres, from a down-hole depth of 96.2 metres in hole KBDD20341 (see the Company's news release of October 20, 2020). With the NW-trending (-75o) KBDD20341 borehole appearing to have been collared at the northwest margin of the hinge zone and drilled down the NW-dipping fold limb mineralization zone (i.e., drilled down dip). Undercut hole KBDD21391 returned a mineralized intercept of 15.1 metres grading 1.24 g/t gold, including 2.56 g/t gold over 4.5 metres, from a down-hole depth of 200.0 metres; approximately 65 metres down-dip of the KBDD21387 gold intercept. With the KBDD21391 intercept extending mineralization down to a vertical depth of approximately 200 metres on the NW Limb Zone. Drill-fan pattern holes KBDD21379 (-75o) and KBDD21381 (-70o) designed to test the down-dip extension of the NW Limb Zone, approximately 75 metres southwest of the aforementioned KBDD21387 - KBDD21391 section, returned mineralized intercepts of 13.2 metres grading 1.24 g/t gold and 19.0 metres grading 1.02 g/t gold from down-hole depths of 112.8 metres and 94.0 metres respectively; with the KBDD21381 intercept located approximately 22 metres up-dip of the KBDD21379 intercept. Additional mineralized intercept highlights from the present NW Limb Zone delineation drilling include: 13.5 metres grading 1.92 g/t gold, including 3.13 g/t gold over 5.9 metres, from a down-hole depth of 138.5 metres in KBDD21384; 11.6 metres grading 1.00 g/t gold and 17.1 metres grading 1.13 g/t gold from down-hole depths of 92.0 metres and 121.9 metres respectively in KBDD21386; and 7.6 metres grading 2.12 g/t gold, including 4.61 g/t gold over 2.0 metres, and 8.75 metres grading 1.03 g/t gold from down-hole depths of 101.0 metres and 125.25 metres respectively in KBDD21390. Hole KBDD21388 consisting of a NW-trending (-75o) borehole targeting the depth extension of the granitoid body at the northeastern extremity of the Gatehouse Zone yielded a highlight, visible gold-bearing, drill intercept of 0.5 metres grading 473.09 g/t gold from a down-hole depth of 112.8 metres. With the high-grade interval immediately followed by a mineralized intercept of 16.1 metres grading 0.51 g/t gold (113.3 m - 129.4 m), straddling the metasediment - granitoid contact. The presence of visible gold-bearing quartz veining within the metasedimentary country rock highlights the potential for the development of high-grade, shear-type mineralization along the granitoid body contact at Gatehouse, in addition to typical Kibi-type Granitoid-hosted gold mineralization. Hole KBDD21385 targeting the northern, near-surface extension of the recently defined Southern gold shoot, approximately 150 metres southwest of hole KBDD21388, returned a mineralized intercept of 14.5 metres grading 0.70 g/t gold, including 1.43 g/t gold over 4.0 metres, from a down-hole depth of 44.5 metres. Typical Kibi-type (Zone 2 - Zone 3) Granitoid-hosted gold mineralization has been traced to date over an approximately 325 metre strike length and to a 165 metre vertical depth along the NE-trending Gatehouse Zone, located approximately 500 metres southeast of the Zone 2 gold resource footprint area. At the recently identified Lone Tree shear structure located along the southeast flank of the Gatehouse Zone, hole KBDD21380 consisting of an infill borehole designed to further define the geometry / attitude of the auriferous structure along the initial KBDD20372 - #374 - #376 scout drill fence, returned a mineralized intercept of 16.6 metres grading 0.96 g/t gold, including 3.47 g/t gold over 3.0 metres, from a down-hole depth of 41 metres. With the KBDD21380 gold intercept located approximately 30 metres up-dip from the previously reported mineralized intercept of 12.0 metres grading 0.98 g/t gold, including 2.61 g/t gold over 2.1 metres, from a down-hole depth of 75 metres in KBDD20374 (see the Company's news release of February 17, 2021). The NE-striking, moderately SE-dipping Lone Tree auriferous structure has been traced over an approximately 125 metre down-dip distance from surface (~90 metres vertical) along the NW-trending drill fence (4 holes). QA/QC Yves P. Clement, P. Geo, Vice President, Exploration for Xtra-Gold is acting as the Qualified Person in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") with respect to this announcement. He has prepared and or supervised the preparation of the scientific or technical information in this announcement and confirms compliance with NI 43-101. All samples in this news release were analyzed by standard fire assay fusion with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish at the ISO 17025:2005 accredited Intertek Minerals Limited's laboratory in Tarkwa, Ghana. Xtra-Gold has implemented a rigorous quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) program to ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of drill core, trench channel, and saw-cut channel samples, the details of which can be viewed on the Company's website at www.xtragold.com. About Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. Xtra-Gold is a gold exploration company with a substantial land position in the Kibi Gold Belt. The Kibi Gold Belt, which exhibits many similar geological features to Ghana's main gold belt, the Ashanti Belt, has been the subject of very limited modern exploration activity targeting lode gold deposits as virtually all past gold mining activity and exploration efforts focused on the extensive alluvial gold occurrences in many river valleys throughout the Kibi area. Xtra-Gold holds 5 Mining Leases totaling approximately 226 sq km (22,600 ha) at the northern extremity of the Kibi Gold Belt. The Company's exploration efforts to date have focused on the Kibi Gold Project located on the Apapam Concession (33.65 sq km), along the eastern flank of the Kibi Gold Belt. The Kibi Gold Project (Zone 2 - Zone 3) maiden mineral resource estimate produced by Xtra-Gold in October 2012 represents first ever mineral resource generated on a lode gold project within the Kibi Gold Belt. The NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "Independent Technical Report, Apapam Concession, Kibi Project, Eastern Region, Ghana", prepared by SEMS Explorations and dated October 31, 2012, is filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC, and mineral resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; 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. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves" are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. Contact Information For further information please contact: James Longshore Chief Executive Officer 416-628-2881 E-mail: info@xtragold.com Website: www.xtragold.com NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/80336 Pepper is a very good dog. Hes rambunctious, but knows how to chill. Hes also a border collie and Australian shepherd mix, so hell occasionally try to herd his adoptive parents, Lloyd Brown and Alex Brandenberg, when theyre in the kitchen. And during the pandemic, hes been a nice distraction from the stresses of the world. Brown and Brandenberg adopted Pepper in July, a few months into shelter-in-place. Theyd just moved into a new building in Oakland and had been talking about adopting a dog for a while. The plan was not to get a very young dog, but they couldnt resist when they saw the tiny spotted puppy in his blue striped shirt. Weve loved every moment since, Brown says. When I have moments of just being overwhelmed ... hell just put his head on your lap, and that really helps. The middle of a pandemic, it turns out, was an ideal time to adopt a pet and not just for Brown and Brandenberg. Suddenly, people had all the time in the world to devote to a pet, and it didnt hurt that pets, in turn, offered their own special kind of emotional support. Shelters all around the Bay Area reported wait lists. Some adopters described the application process as though it were applying for admission to Harvard. But now, as vaccinations open to nearly all ages and people begin, more and more, to socialize and work outside their home, pet owners are having to find ways to head off separation anxiety. Both for their pets and for themselves. Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Brown and Brandenberg have been slowly testing the waters. Theyll set up an iPad with Zoom on it so they can check in while they eat out, an improvised nanny cam to see how Pepper is doing in their absence. Right now, he tends to bark and whine a lot. (They bought some beers for the neighbors as a preemptive thank-you as they work on it.) So far, Brown and Brandenberg have been lucky. Theyre both teachers, but only Brown has returned for in-person education. Eventually, though, theyll have to sort out a long-term solution that includes a patchwork of caretakers (both have parents nearby) and tactics. Its like were sending him to kindergarten for the first time, only its us leaving, Brown says. Anecdotally, at least, post-pandemic pet care is on a lot of minds these days. Kristy Lai, a manager at Happy Hound, an Oakland day care for dogs, says theres been a significant increase in assessments beginning in February. One of the programs usually reserved for older pets, the low-impact Lounge Around Town, has also started attracting puppies. A lot of these dogs just havent been socialized around people or other dogs, Lai says. At Fog City Dogs, a day care in San Francisco, owner Scott Schrank says he had to go on a hiring binge in March after business started to boom. Numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels, but he sees a lot of people coming in for a trial run. They love their dogs, they love that they have this new companion, but theyre also desperate to get out of the city, and I think people are realizing thats a lot more difficult when you have a dog. Courtesy Sarah Sharifi The San Francisco SPCA get lots of questions from adopters about how to deal with separation anxiety, says Jennifer Scarlett, the organizations president. Some sort of anxiety is fairly common about 25% of dogs show some distress. Anxiety can look like a lot of different things maybe a dog being overly excited when their human gets home, or the classic tear up the room behavior. For Heinz, the black-and-tan 57-varieties pup Sarah Sharifi and her boyfriend adopted six months ago, it looks a lot like tearing up anything made of paper or made for feet. Generally, though, Heinz is a lover and a deep thinker, she says. Hes thoughtful and curious in a very quiet way, Sharifi says. Oftentimes on a walk, hell just sit down and spend five whole minutes looking around. At the moment, both Sharifi and her boyfriend are working from home (hes a teacher; shes in tech), but that wont last forever. Im a little bit nervous about it, she says. So theyve been working on crate training Heinz ever since they brought him home, and they also have him signed up for a day care a couple times a week that basically consists of him running around an obstacle course all day. Once its back to the office for both of them, itll just be a game of schedule coordination. Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle Good habits start right from the beginning, Scarlett says. She advises muffling departure and arrival excitement, in part by not making it a big deal when you leave or come home. If there are certain cues that give away that youre leaving, try to make them a little less obvious. Start with small trips, too, she says, and vary and build the lengths. As you work on this, its smart to leave something at home for them to chew on. Weve got to put ourselves in their paws, Scarlett says. This, of course, is not just a story about dogs. Cats, for the record, can get anxiety, too. Its always nice to have a neighbor or friend to check in on them, Scarlett says, or maybe even think about getting a second cat. They too can suffer from being alone too much. Millie the tuxedo cat came into Jules Kochis life back in October. At first Kochis thought she might just foster a cat she wasnt sure she was ready for the commitment. That all went out the door when she finally picked Millie up from the Oakland SPCA. Millie likes to cruise the backyard garden; she asks for attention when she wants it, and theres a stray cat she likes to flirt with through Kochis window. Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle Having Millie during the pandemic was a gift. She was a conversation starter during Zoom calls, and in between emails, Kochis could pet Millie, just walk over to her and feel her existence, she says. Shell miss that when she heads back to in-person work. Its still kind of a dream. Eventually, though, Kochis, who works in tech, is going to have to go back to the office. She also has a weeklong trip home to see family at the end of the month. (Shes planning on having a friend look after Millie.) The biggest challenge for Millie, in all likelihood, will be getting used to the fact that she cant have everything on demand. She has her way right now. ... Shes used to going outside when she wants and being fed when she wants. Kochis will probably be the one with the anxiety. I remember the first time I went camping, she says she was gone for all of 25 hours, and had visions of coming home to Millie dead on the floor. Instead, when she got home, she basically looked at me and walked away because she doesnt care. Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @RyanKost .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... With 29% of the population vaccinated, New Mexico is No. 1 in the nation in vaccinations. The data from Johns Hopkins University and the CDC can be used to deduce that New Mexico reached the herd immunity threshold on March 16, 2021. Sounds confusing, since the CDC and other experts seem to believe 75% or more vaccinations are needed to reach the herd immunity threshold. Why is this happening? The simple answer: People and institutions use different models, and so the results differ. We have been overwhelmed with models over the last year, so which one is better? The simple answer is the one yielding results that most accurately match observations. While many choose the most comprehensive models, these can only be solved approximately, leading to vague results. Simple, small models that yield exact solutions are most desirable. To understand the vaccination discrepancy better, we must go back 94 years when two Englishmen formulated the mother of all epidemic models, the SIR Model, that explains how epidemics develop over time. The model is simple, elegant and classic. But there is a catch. The equations are too difficult to solve exactly. But many found approximate solutions that proved wildly popular. According to Google, over 1.5 million research papers have used the model. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A few years ago, we modified the SIR model to use as a forensic tool, designed to identify overpayments in Medicaid programs. Our results were validated implicitly when the state of New Mexico subsequently collected over $660 million in overpayments. If modifications to the model solved forensic problems, could they shed more light on the epidemic? The answer is yes. By modifying the equations, we found an exact solution to the SIR model that had eluded scientists for almost a century. And that yielded multiple results subsequently validated by observations. One result in particular was that the threshold for herd immunity when the epidemic size decreases starts when the immunized exceeds 25% of the total population. From the CDC vaccination data and the Johns Hopkins University COVID 19 data, we see that, as of April 6, the epidemic size has decreased in 29 states. New Mexico is the only state on the list that has more than 25% vaccinated, but about a dozen states have reached 25% immunizations by combining the vaccinated and those who have recovered from infection. Interestingly, while all the states in our list are unaware that they crossed the threshold, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has announced Texas is close to the critical point. Experts greeted this optimistic message with much mirth, but when the facts are out, the governor may have the last laugh. The results and map are available here. This clearly shows our (25%) result matches observations better. The onset of herd immunity should be viewed as the start of a journey when the size of the epidemic begins to decrease, and not as a destination when the pandemic ends. Many states have large pools of infected people remaining at the onset of herd immunity; without adequate continuing safety measures, the pandemic can easily surge. Infections increase geometrically, in leaps, while recoveries move arithmetically, in small steps. Surges are unavoidable as long as infections remain, and vaccinations will curb them. The Herd Immunity Map is also a tool for travelers. It offers an opportunity to rate the performance of states in managing the pandemic quantitatively and to identify the least-risky destinations in a geographical region. Our calculations have not been peer-reviewed but can be found here. Physmark Inc. and Care Maps Inc. provide software and data modeling services to spot anomalous patterns in health care data. Care Maps shows chronic and cancer disease burdens in various geographical regions, costs for treatments and trends in both disease burdens and costs. The COVID-19 work was based on academic curiosity. Email jkuriyan@att.net. The following deaths have occurred in the wider Leitrim area: Eugene Maguire Drummersee, Swanlinbar, Cavan Suddenly, in London. Son of the late Francis and Ellen, brother of the late Noel, Mary, Bridie, and Eileen. Eugene's remains will arrive, via Drummersee, to Saint Mary's Church, Swanlinbar, for 10am Funeral Mass on Saturday, 17th April 2021, with burial in Killaduff Cemetery. Due to Government & HSE guidelines, Eugene's Mass and burial will be private to family only. Those who would like to attend but are unable to do so are asked to leave their condolences for the family on the condolence section below. Those who wish to show their support along the route are asked to do so by social distancing in a safe manner. Eugene's family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time. Seamus Kiernan, Pound St, Arva, Co. Cavan Seamus Kiernan, Pound St, Arva, Co. Cavan, Tuesday April 13th 2021, peacefully, at Cavan General Hospital. Predeceased by his parents Mary & Roy Kiernan & his brother Vinnie. Seamus will be sadly missed by his niece Mary, nephews Leroy & Timmy, his neighbours & many friends. Due to current restrictions, Seamus's Funeral & burial will be private to family only. You are asked to post your messages to the family in the condolences section at the bottom of this page. Seamus's Funeral cortege will leave the McMahon Funeral Home, Farnham Rd, Cavan, on Thursday morning at 10.20am, travelling via Crossdoney, to arrive at the Sacred Heart Church, Arva, for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial will take place afterwards in Coronea Cemetery. Those standing along the route are asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines & look after each other. The Kiernan family would like to thank you for your cooperation & understanding at this time. Ann (Nan) Kelly, Cloonloo, Boyle, Sligo / Gurteen, Sligo / Boyle, Roscommon Ann (Nan) Kelly, Cloonloo, Boyle, Co. Sligo, April 12th, 2021; Peacefully in the loving care of the staff and nurses at Drumderrig House Nursing Home, Boyle. Predeceased by her brothers Frankie, Tommy-Joe and Micheal and her sister Lillie, Ann will be very sadly missed and fondly remembered by her cousins, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Removal at 12.15pm on Thursday (April 15th) from Mahons Funeral Home, Boyle, arriving at St. Patricks Church, Gurteen, for Mass of the Resurrection at 1pm. Burial afterwards in Templeronan Cemetery. In line with current Government guidelines, Anns funeral will take place privately. Funeral Mass will be live-streamed via webcam at www.churchtv.ie/gurteen Anns family acknowledge that people would like to offer their condolences. Thank you. Luke (Lukie) O'Gara, Tivanagh, Boyle, Co. Roscommon The death has occurred of Luke (Lukie) O'Gara, Tivanagh, Boyle, Co. Roscommon and Abbey Haven Nursing Home, Boyle, peacefully in his 97th year in the tender care of the North West Hospice, Sligo on Monday, 12th of April 2021. Predeceased by his sisters Bridget Mc Donagh, Nancy O'Gara and his brother Johnny. Luke will be sadly missed by his nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph's Church, Boyle at 12 noon Thursday, 15th of April, with burial afterwards to Templeronan Cemetery. Due to the current Government guidelines regarding COVID -19 Luke's Funeral Mass will be restricted to 10 people only. The funeral cortege will make its way to Templeronan Cemetery via Cloonloo. The Funeral Mass can be viewed on www.boyleparish.ie. The O'Gara family very much appreciate your support at this time. May they all Rest in Peace Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. George Floyd's girlfriend was Daunte Wright's high school teacher, it has emerged, in a tragic link between the two families. Courteney Ross spoke of her connection to the 20-year-old after appearing at a joint press conference with the Floyds and the Wrights and attorney Ben Crump on Tuesday. Her boyfriend George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in May last year after cop Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck while Daunte Wright was shot dead by officer Kimberly Potter during a traffic stop in a city suburb Sunday. Both deaths sparked violent protests in the city. Ross, who had been with Floyd for three years until his death on May 25 last year, had worked as a dean at Edison High School while Wright was in attendance there. Courteney Ross, girlfriend of George Floyd, speaks with Daunte Wright's mother, Katie Wright, before the start of a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13 Edison High School, pictured above, which Wright had attended while Courteney Ross was working there He was a 'silly boy, as goofy as can be,' and 'needed a lot of love,' Ross told the Washington Post. 'Students like Daunte needed more resources but they never got more resources,' she told the publication. 'Our system doesn't serve kids like Daunte. And now I'm seeing, more than ever, this system I once believed in, we're done doing what we need to be doing to protect Black life.' Floyd died on May 25, 2020 after white police officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with murder, put his knee on Floyd's neck for several minutes as he lay handcuffed on the pavement, gasping that he couldn't breathe. Three other Minneapolis police officers - Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao - were charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd's death. Ross, who had been with Floyd for three years until his death on May 25 last year, had worked as a dean at Edison High School while Wright was in attendance there. Ross pictured with Floyd above Daunte Wright, pictured above, was killed by veteran cop Kimberly Potter on Sunday Daunte Wright was killed by veteran cop Kimberly Potter on Sunday. His killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing in the city. Potter - who resigned from the force Tuesday - is said to have confused her gun with a taser when she shot at Daunte Wright, 20, in Brooklyn Center on Sunday. Katie Wright, center right, the mother of Daunte Wright, is embraced by George Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross, center left, before a news conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on Tuesday Courteney Ross, George Floyd's girlfriend, meets Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, before a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Outside the Brooklyn Center's heavily guarded police headquarters in Minneapolis, Tuesday, 'Murderapolis' was scrawled with black spray paint on a concrete barrier. 'Daunte Wright! Say his name!' the crowd chanted. 'No justice, no peace! Prosecute the police!' There were no reports of looting Tuesday. A group of protesters marched to the Brooklyn Center FBI building from the Brooklyn Center Police Department as the evening went on. Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer said at a midnight press conference: 'As the evening unfolded, the event devolved.' Officials said bricks and cans were thrown at cops. Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station Tuesday. More than a 1,000 protestors had arrived by early evening. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing As the mayor spoke earlier on Tuesday, Wright's relatives and supporters assembled near the Minneapolis courthouse where Chauvin is standing trial, and recounted for reporters the anguish of his death at the age of 20. Wright, who struggled with a learning disability and dropped out of high school, was remembered as a good-natured, loving man who worked multiple jobs to support his 2-year-old son. Floyd's two brothers appeared at the news conference along with Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross, who embraced Wright's mother, Katie, where she revealed she had once taught Daunte Wright in school. (Newser) Joel Greenberg, an associate of Matt Gaetz, is indeed cooperating with the Justice Department investigation focused on them both, sources say. Greenberg is seeking a plea deal, a source tells the Washington Post, and in doing so, he's reportedly been giving information to federal law enforcement authorities since last year. According to two sources who spoke to the New York Times, Greenberg, the former Seminole County tax collector in Florida, told investigators he and Gaetz were involved with women who received money or gifts in exchange for sex; the Post's source says Greenberg has admitted he and the Florida congressman paid the women themselves. The DoJ is investigating whether Gaetz and Greenberg violated sex trafficking laws and whether they had sex with a 17-year-old girl, among other things. story continues below Greenberg allegedly met the women via websites that connect people willing to exchange gifts, travel, and more for romantic liaisons. Gaetz's spokesperson, Harlan Hill, says Greenberg is simply "trying to ensnare innocent people in his troubles" and that Gaetz has never paid anyone for sex. And multiple outlets point out that Greenberg, who faces a mandatory minimum of 12 years behind bars, will likely face attacks on his credibility due to the charges against him. Meanwhile: Politico has an extensive look at the 2018 Bahamas trip that is under investigation; Greenberg was not on that trip, but Gaetz was, as was politician Halsey Beshears (who abruptly resigned over the winter as the investigation intensified) and surgeon Jason Pirozzolo, plus the aforementioned teen girl, who had turned 18 months prior, and at least four other young women. Fox News reports that the right-wing Project Veritas captured a CNN staffer admitting that, among other things, the network airs "propaganda"; technical director Charles Chester pointed to the Gaetz coverage as one example: "We're going to keep running those stories to keep hurting him and make it so that it can't be buried and, like, just settled outside of court. And just like, you know, if we keep pushing that, it's helping us." (Read more Matt Gaetz stories.) A mother has revealed how her toddler daughter covered the living room in foundation and nail polish after being left alone for 10 minutes. Mother-of-two Beth Tack, from Devon, shared a video of her daughter's handiwork before begging for advice on how to tackle the mess on the We Love Mrs Hinch Facebook group. Cleaning fans were full of sympathy for Beth's problem, but no one had any advice on how to clean up the mess. Mother-of-two Beth Tack, from Devon, shared a video of her daughter's handiwork as she begged for advice on how to tackle the mess on the We Love Mrs Hinch Facebook group The mother-of-two shared a picture of her daughter - the culprit - along with the video in her post Posting in the group, Beth shared a video showing the extent of the damage, writing: 'Someone please help me. Nail varnish and foundation, I was in the bathroom for 10 minutes.' Her mischievous toddler had completely emptied the bottle of her foundation and went on to spread it all over the grey carpet and sofa, as well as the pink Henry Hoover and herself. She had also opened a bottle of black nail polish and emptied its content on the floor. The video showed the culprit had gone back to her toys after her mischief, spreading foundation further on a toy police car and a toy bottle for her dolls. Beth shared the extent of the damage. Her daughter had spread the foundation on the carpet and sofa, as well as leaving splotches of dark blue nail polish 'There's nail varnish everywhere, someone help me,' Beth said in the video. In total disbelief, the mother is heard saying 'oh my god,' several times, as she explained she had been in the bathroom and was shocked to find the mess when she returned. Beth also shared a picture of her daughter laughing in the bath, covered in foundation and nail varnish. The child had also opened her mother's nail polish and spread it all over the carpet Cleaning enthusiasts were full of sympathy but did not have any top tips on how to clean up the mess. One joked: 'Throw the whole child away.' Another posted: 'Sorry, no help but I feel your pain.' A further added: 'If that foundation is Estee Lauder Double Wear youve got no chance.' Android 11 is Googles latest operating system. Yes, Android 12 is already under Developer Preview, but Android 11 is something you have via the stable channel. Multiple devices, including the ones from Samsung, have already received the Android 11 update. But these devices are fit perfectly with Samsungs firmware update policy. Older devices do not stand a chance to receive the Android 11 update officially. Thanks to the open-source nature of Android, owners of older phones can enjoy the latest Android OS on their phones. Advertisement Of course, you need to have your phone rooted. The latest phones to get the taste of Android 11 are Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8. We all are aware that Samsung releases two variants of its S-series and Note series phones. While devices in the US, Canada, China, etc. receive the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, other regions get devices powered by an Exynos chip. The bootloader unlocking situation on Snapdragon phones is a bit complicated, compared to the Exynos ones. So, if you own an Exynos variant Galaxy S8 or Note 8, then you can enjoy Android 11 on it, thanks to Project Sakura. Advertisement Project Sakura is based on Lineage OS 18.1 to provide you with all cool new features Project Sakuras official builds based on Android 11 are now available for Exynos Galaxy S8 and Note 8. Following the steps on the forum, you can flash and enjoy Android 11 OS on these devices. Since Project Sakura is based on Lineage OS 18.1, you can expect a whole set of goodies and new features on your phone. You will get all Android 11 features with a clean user interface and useful tweaks. However, do note that these are early builds. Meaning that there are a few features broken and missing at the moment. But that shouldnt be something pulling you from trying Android 11 on Galaxy S8 or Note 8. Advertisement To give you an overview of whats broken, Hardware Composer (HWC) isnt working. Moreover, you wont be able to use a hotspot, HDR video playback is buggy, Wi-Fi direct functionality is not working, and more. For more information on whats working and whats not and to learn how you can flash Android 11 OS on your Samsung Galaxy devices, you can head over here for Galaxy S8 and here for Galaxy Note 8. Regardless of some features missing, it is pretty exciting to see the Android community keeping older devices like the Galaxy S8 and Noe 8 alive. Make sure that you have a rooted phone, and a custom recovery like TWRP installed to flash this Android 11 ROM. A mother has turned to the internet for help after her young daughter scribbled 'mum' and love hearts on her brand new leather purse. The woman, from New South Wales, explained how her little girl decided to personalise her nude-colour wallet with an ink pen. 'My daughter tried to help me in case I lost my purse. I gasped when I saw it - she heard me and started to cry and said "don't you like my drawing?"' the mum wrote in a Facebook group. 'She was devastated when [she noticed] I wasn't in love with her writing. I didn't even raise my voice. I realised she'd just watch me label all her school stuff, I guess she thought she would label mine.' A mother has turned to the internet for cleaning tips after her young daughter scribbled 'mum' and love hearts on her brand new leather purse The mother then asked for advice on how to remove it. 'Any ideas how to get it out of leather? I've tried sanitiser, but that took the colour, oomph... metho [methylated spirit] - it has lightened it, but any ideas to completely remove please?' she asked. Many suggested using hairspray, eucalyptus, magic erasers, leather cleaner or cleaning paste Gumption and a damp cloth. 'Hairspray, leave it for 30 seconds then wipe it off. I got it off a leather handbag,' one wrote, while another said: 'Tea tree oil will do the trick - I have seen it work wonders getting biro off a white leather armchair.' Another mum shared pictures of her Michael Kors wallet after her daughter wrote: 'Mum', 'Please don't touch' and 'I love you' Dozens suggested she should keep the 'adorable' drawing as a 'keepsake' because it makes her wallet a one-of-a-kind. 'I'll leave it, it's very beautiful and adorable. It's one-of-a-kind bag that no one can buy of the shelves,' one mother write, while another added: 'I'd frame it and put it on the wall. You only get those messages for so long. You'll treasure it one day. Priceless.' One mum said: 'I'd just rock the mum do over. P.S I would of been shattered but still rock it. My girl did this to my Mimco overnight bag and it's still there but it isn't mum. It's more of a lop sided love heart and a half dead flower.' Another suggested: 'I'd treasure this. Can always buy a new handbag but can't buy a child's expression of love,' while one mum joked: 'Put the whole child in the bin.' In a follow up post, the mother said she decided to keep the drawing as a keepsake. And she wasn't the only parent to have their kid draw on their wallet. 'Looks like your daughter and mine could become friends,' one mum said, along with two pictures of her Michael Kors wallet covered in messages her daughter left, including 'Mum', 'Please don't touch' and 'I love you', along with love hearts. In 2006 and 2019, the California Legislature passed two laws (AB 1195 and AB 241) which require CME/CE activities in California to include education on cultural and linguistic competency (CLC) and implicit bias (IB) (where applicable). The law requires accrediting organizations to establish guidelines for education providers effective January 2022. AB 1195 noted legislative intent to encourage physicians and surgeons, continuing medical education providers located in this state to meet the cultural and linguistic concerns of a diverse patient population through appropriate professional development. AB 241 further noted legislative intent when declaring The Legislature intends to provide specified healing arts licensees with strategies for understanding and reducing the impact of their biases in order to reduce disparate outcomes and ensure that all patients receive fair treatment and quality health care. On April 5, 2021, The California Medical Association released draft standards to meet the requirements of the new state law. The draft standards are aimed at reducing health disparities and are based on feedback CMA received from the continuing education and health equity stakeholder communities. The standards would require California CME providers to include a link on their website to AB 1195 and AB 241 legislation that is accessible to planners, faculty, and speakers. Additionally, the definition of CLC and IB shall be presented to planners, faculty, and speakers, and CLC and IB educational resources shall be made available to those same groups. In CLC education, patient populations shall be identified and it should be determined how cultural/linguistic factors should be addressed (i.e., data, surveys, research, etc.). These should be communicated to planners, faculty, and speakers. For education with an applicable IB component, disparities shall be identified in care for provider patient populations and the role IB plays in the disparities shall be reviewed and communicated to CME planners, speakers, and faculty. Educational components must be incorporated to address the factors identified. The draft standards also require diverse planners, faculty, and/or patient representatives in the activity planning process and if there are CME activities with no applicable CLC or relevant IB content, it must be documented. The California Medical Association encourages providers, physicians, and stakeholders to submit public comments on the proposed standards before May 5, 2021. If interested, you can submit a public comment online, via a fillable form, or even via email. As indicated above, once the final standards are released in August 2021, California CME provider organizations physically located in California and accredited by either CMA CME or ACCME will be required by California statute to meet these standards as of January 1, 2022. However, CME courses that are dedicated solely to research or other issues that do not include a direct patient care component and CME courses that are offered by CME providers not located in California are excluded from the CLC and IB requirements. The Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) on Wednesday cancelled class 10 exams and postponed class 12 exams in view of surge in Covid-19 cases in the country. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, School and Higher Secretaries and other top officials attended the meeting. The exams were scheduled to be held from May 4. The board exams for class 10 are cancelled. The result will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion developed by the board, a Ministry of Education (MoE) official said. The class 12 exams have been postponed and a review of the situation will be done after June 1. Students will be given at least a 15-day notice before the exams are conducted, the official added. "The Prime Minister reiterated that the well being of the students has to be the top priority for the Government. He also stated that the Centre would keep in mind the best interests of the students and ensure that their health is taken care of at the same time their academic interests are not harmed," said Ministry of Education in a statement. "The pandemic situation in the country is seeing a resurgence of Covid-19 positive cases in many states, with a few states having been affected more than others. In this situation, schools have been shut down in 11 states. Unlike State Boards, CBSE has an all-India character, and therefore, it is essential to hold exams simultaneously throughout the country," the Ministry added. Pokhriyal said on Twitter that the decision was taken after "looking at the present situation of the pandemic and school closures, and also taking in account the safety and well-being of the students". "Students of Class 10 to be promoted on basis of internal assessment. If a student is not satisfied with the assessment then he/she can appear for the examination once the Covid situation is normal. The Board Exams for Class Xth to be held from 4th May to June 14th, 2021 are hereby cancelled. The results of Class Xth Board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the Board," informed Pokhriyal. Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him/her on this basis will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams, the minister said. Today Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji chaired a high-level meeting to review the examinations to be held at various levels in view of the developing Corona situation. Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) April 14, 2021 The situation will be reviewed on 1st June 2021 by the Board, and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations. Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) April 14, 2021 2. The Board Exams for Class Xth to be held from 4th May to June 14th, 2021 are hereby cancelled. The results of Class Xth Board will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion to be developed by the Board. Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) April 14, 2021 "I am glad that the exams have been cancelled/postponed. This is a great relief for lakhs of students and their parents," said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Twitter. "I am happy that Class 10 exams are being cancelled and dates are being rescheduled for class 12 exams. Like Class 10 students, I appeal to the govt to promote Class 12 students on the basis of internal assessment," said Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. This is the first time that the Central Board of Secondary Education has completely cancelled the board exams conducted by it. Last year, the exams were partially cancelled in the wake of riots in northeast Delhi and COVID-19 cases. The CICSE, which is the other prominent national board for school examinations, said it is reviewing the situation and will come up with a decision soon in this regard. Several principals and educationists hailed the decision while others demanded that the criteria be decided in consultation with stakeholders. Parents also expressed concerns about the delay in schedule saying either the board exams should be cancelled for class 12 or a schedule should be announced soon to ease the students' anxiety. Last week, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had urged Union Education Minister Pokhriyal to intervene and direct CBSE to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the board examinations in May despite the "massive and uncontrolled" rise in COVID-19 cases. Priyanka Gandhi again demanded on Wednesday that class 12 exams be also cancelled saying it is unfair to keep the students under pressure till June. The Shiv Sena had also written to the education ministry, requesting the government to develop a national consensus and possibly reschedule classes 10 and 12 CBSE and other board exams. Over 2 lakh students had signed an online petition demanding cancellation of board exams and the hashtag "cancelboardexams" has also been trending on Twitter for a week. The board exams are usually conducted in February-March. However, the board had decided to conduct them in May-June this year due to the pandemic situation. States including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have already announced changes in plans for board exams. Schools across the country were closed in March last year to contain the spread of COVID-19 ahead of a nationwide lockdown. Several states started reopening the schools partially from October last year, but physical classes are again being suspended because of the rise in cases. Last year, the board exams had to be postponed mid-way in March. They were later cancelled and the results were announced based on an alternative assessment scheme. India on Wednesday recorded its biggest-ever single day spike with 184,372 fresh cases. With this, India's Covid tally has shot up to 13,873,825 cases, according to MoHFW. The death toll from the deadly infection has risen to 172,115. Denmark has become the first country in the European Union to drop AstraZeneca Plcs vaccine from its Covid-19 inoculation program, amid concerns over its serious side effects. The country has decided to continue the roll-out of its vaccination program, without AstraZeneca, the Danish Health Authority said in a statement on Wednesday. There is a link between rare, but serious side effects and the Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, the authority said. It listed the risk of blood clots, hemorrhaging and a low number of blood platelets. Given that the pandemic has been kept reasonably well in check in Denmark, the authority said it was deemed acceptable to take Astra out of the countrys vaccine program, which it estimates will delay overall immunization by about three weeks. Denmark was one of the first countries to suspend the vaccine on March 11 after reports of blood clots. At the time, the Danish Health Authority called the decision a precautionary move and reiterated its view that Astras vaccine was effective and safe. Both European and British drug regulators have said they found a link between Astras vaccine and blood clots, but said benefits still outweigh the risks. Most Western European countries have limited their use of the companys vaccine to the elderly, while in Eastern Europe, Astra has largely been reinstated with no limitations. Denmarks Scandinavian neighbor, Norway, which has also kept Astra on hold since last month, is due to announce its decision on Thursday. Danish authorities said that people who have already received a first Astra shot will be offered their second jab from another producer, such as Pfizer Inc./BioNTech SE or Moderna Inc. Starbreeze has signed a licensing agreement with Canadian publisher PopReach to re-launch mobile title Payday Crime War. The terms of the agreement will see Starbreeze net a non-recoupable upfront payment of $250,000, while PopReach will receive the complete source code to Payday Crime War and access to Payday 2 content. The free-to-play publisher will be responsible for the continued development of Payday Crime War as well as all marketing, live operations, and user acquisition efforts. PopReach hopes to soft launch a beta version of the revived title by the end of 2021. The news comes just weeks after Starbreeze appointed Tobias Sjogren as its permanent CEO, and signed a co-publishing agreement with Koch Media to help launch Payday 3 in 2023. The Swedish company is continuing its gradual rehabilitation after exiting reconstruction and paying off the majority of its creditors, with the studio having previously refocused its entire business in a bid to stay above water. New Delhi: The war of words between the ruling TMC and opposition BJP is continuing unabated. The latest incident is reported from Asansol where Tapas Ray, a local BJP leader while addressing a protest rally on Friday asked the party workers to "smash fingers" of TMC workers if they dare to touch BJP workers in any part of the state. "The BJP workers and leaders are not cowards nor do we wear bangles. If any TMC worker or TMC goon dares to touch a BJP worker then we will smash the fingers of that person," said Ray. "If someone tries to provoke BJP and its cadres, we will not sit idle," he added. Reacting to Rays statement, senior TMC leader Gautam Deb said BJP is trying to "import" a culture of violence and hatred in Bengal. "The BJP is trying to import a culture of violence and hatred in Bengal. Such kinds of statements are being made to provoke violence and disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the state," said Deb. BJP took out a number of rallies in various parts of West Bengal demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the heckling of BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh in Darjeeling on Thursday. The protestors also burnt the effigies of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Set expectations. All three experts I spoke to said that parents should be clear about what the schedule is and what behavior you hope to see at the start of each day, whether its a remote school morning or a long trip to the park. Being explicit and direct is kind of a must, said Katharine Hill, a learning specialist and educational therapist based in New York. Its also worth acknowledging that each family has its own unique micro-culture, and what is expected in your house may not be whats expected in their homes. Its a little bit of a misnomer that you have to have consistent rules across households. I dont know two parents who agree on all rules and expectations even within the same home, said Yamalis Diaz, a clinical assistant professor of psychology at Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital at N.Y.U. Langone. The end goal is to teach the child what are the rules and expectations in this context. That doesnt mean you wont have to remind kids what the rules are in your home but the reminders will be easier if you have already created a foundation of expectations. If there is a behavioral issue, you can always have a reset, and getting the childrens buy-in helps. For example, if the kids are acting up when theyre supposed to be participating in a remote class, you can directly name the behavior youd like to see (for instance, Lets sit in our chairs and pay attention when the teacher is talking) and ask the children how they plan to accomplish that behavior, Mx. Hill said. Talk to other parents. If a child behaves in a way you dont love, and your attempts to set boundaries and rules arent working, youre going to have to communicate with their parents, Dr. Diaz said. She suggests being very specific about what the problem is, and gave the example of a child talking back with hurtful language. If you tell a parent their child is disrespectful, in this scenario, that suggests its a concrete characteristic, Dr. Diaz said, and the parent might feel blamed for not teaching their child respect, which may make them immediately defensive. Instead, you can say something like: I dont like the language he or she uses, because then its the language that is the problem, not the child, she said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau have discussed by phone the situation in eastern Ukraine and the need to support Kyiv in light of Russian aggression, including sanctions against Russia. The phone call between the two countries' foreign ministers took place on Tuesday, April 13, at the initiative of the U.S. side, the Polish Foreign Ministry's press service reported. The diplomats drew attention to unprecedented Russian military activity since 2014 near Ukraine's borders and in the occupied Crimea, which causes "significant concern and poses a threat to international security." They noted that the situation had been further aggravated by "the lack of a constructive response from the Russian Federation to diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions and reducing risk." According to both sides, such actions lead to the "polarization of the situation in the Donbas, which has significantly deteriorated recently." Blinken and Rau agreed on the need for further support for Ukraine in light of Russia's aggression. "They acknowledged the need to take steps, including sanctions, to persuade Russia to ease tensions with Ukraine and to fully engage in the implementation of the Minsk agreements," the statement said. Rau also briefed Blinken on the results of his recent visit to Ukraine. In addition, the two countries' foreign ministers discussed the situation in Afghanistan and NATO's further involvement in maintaining stability in that country, in particular as part of the Resolute Support Mission. op EATON COUNTY, MI A man and 5-year-old girl are dead, and a 3-year-old boy is injured after a shooting in Eaton County. The Eaton County Sheriffs Office is investigating the shooting deaths that occurred at a Delta Township home on Old River Trail around 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, deputies located a male subject in his 40s that was deceased. Deputies also located the two children that were suffering from gun shots wounds. The female child was pronounced dead at the scene while the male was rushed to a local hospital by Delta EMS. He is in critical condition, police said. There is not believed to be any continued threat to the public, according to police. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Michigan State Police, MSU Police and the MSP Crime Lab. More information will be released later, police said. Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie is twice the mouthful. Not just those syllables, but the same bloke was Lord Lamington. A century back, true, but lately the nobles been on the dictionarys plate. Charles inherited his fancy title once his father Alexander died in 1890. Soon after, the Crown sent the revamped Lamington to Siam, only for a sweet gig to emerge in the Sunshine State or colony as it was then. Lamington didnt hesitate, viewing the new governors role as the aristocratic icing. Lamingtons in the window of Phillippas Bakery in High St, Armadale. There were shock claims that the Lamington was originally known as a Wellington. Credit:Simon Schluter That was 1896. Lamington would wield his maroon mace until 1901, when federation fanned his fears of a rising socialism. (Soon after, the noble vamoosed to Bombay to wear that citys regalia.) But lets loiter down under a moment, since the antipodes is credited with the same cubic cake to bear the lamington name. But which part of antipodes? Thats the sticky bit. For years the presumption favoured Australia, how Lord Lamington somehow inspired a sponge block coated in chocolate and coconut, but then our Tasman neighbours interrupted. Toshiba CEO to step down as board meets Wednesday to consider his future: source Toshiba Corp's CEO Nobuaki Kurumatani attends a news conference at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan (Photo : REUTERS/Issei Kato) Toshiba Corp Chief Executive Nobuaki Kurumatani plans to step down as other board members consider his future at the industrial conglomerate amid controversy over a $20 billion buyout bid from his former employer, CVC Capital Partners, a source with knowledge of his decision said. Kurumatani, who has run the company for three years, faces a board meeting on Wednesday that will consider removing him, according to the source and another one with knowledge of the discussion. Local media said company Chairman Satoshi Tsunakawa was a possible successor. Advertisement The sources asked not to be identified because they are not authorised to speak to the media. Toshiba declined to comment. Kurumatani's departure could upend CVC's offer last week to take the Japanese company private. Such a takeover could shield him and other managers from pressure from activist shareholders seeking an independent investigation into whether management pressured investors to support their decisions. An internal investigation by Toshiba found no evidence that its executives were involved in efforts to pressurize shareholders. CVC is considering a 30% premium over Toshiba's current share price in a tender offer, a separate source said last week, which would value the deal at nearly 2.3 trillion yen ($21 billion). That offer has been criticised as too low by some activist shareholders. A meeting of stock owners three weeks ago voted for an independent probe into the company. Hong Kong-based activist fund Oasis Management criticised CVC's proposal as "far below fair value" in a letter to Toshiba's board chairman, Osamu Nagayama, seen by Reuters on Tuesday. It urged the company to seek other proposals for more than 6,200 yen ($56.54) per share, far above the offer of around 5,000 yen from CVC. "If the company is open to bids, we believe there would be other bidders interested in acquiring Toshiba," Oasis said in the letter. U.S. hedge fund Farallon Capital Management has also asked Toshiba to seek multiple offers, although only Oasis has so far suggested a price. U.S. investment firm KKR plans to make an offer to Toshiba that is more attractive than CVC's bid, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Oasis also asked that the company set up a special committee to discuss the CVC offer and urged that Kurumatani, as a former senior CVC executive, be excluded from the process. Kurumatani, a former banker at Toshiba's main lender, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, headed the Japanese arm of CVC before joining Toshiba. A senior adviser at CVC also serves on the company's board. Toshiba shares have been hovering well below CVC's likely offer price after hitting a four-year high last week, with the stock closing at 4,595 yen on Tuesday. Separately, the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Tuesday cited block trades of 72 billion yen of Toshiba shares on Friday, representing about 3.4% of the company's market value. Any acquisition of Toshiba, one of Japan's few manufacturers of nuclear power reactors and a maker of defence equipment, would need government approval. ($1 = 109.6600 yen) (CNN) -- President Joe Biden on Wednesday formally announced his decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that led the US into its longest war. "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result," Biden said. "I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats," he added. "I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth." In a sign he views his remarks as a historic bookend to the prolonged conflict, he delivered them from precisely the same spot in the White House Treaty Room that President George W. Bush announced the start of the war on October 7, 2001. Afterward he'll visit the section of Arlington National Cemetery where many of America's war dead from Afghanistan are buried. Biden will say that American diplomatic and humanitarian efforts will continue in Afghanistan and would support peace efforts between the Afghan government and the Taliban. But he'll be unequivocal that two decades after it began, the Afghanistan war is ending. "It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home," he said. Biden said the withdrawal will begin on May 1, in line with an agreement President Donald Trump's administration made with the Taliban. He said the complete withdrawal will be done by September 11. The deadline Biden has set is absolute, with no potential for extension based on worsening conditions on the ground. Officials said after two decades of war, it was clear to the President that throwing more time and money at Afghanistan's problems wasn't going to work. "This is not conditions-based," a senior administration official heavily involved in the deliberations said on Tuesday. "The President has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever." Some US troops will remain to protect American diplomats, though officials declined to provide a precise number. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Wednesday he spoke to Biden and that he "respects the US decision." "Afghanistan's proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful," Ghani said on Twitter. A deliberative process Biden has spent months weighing his decision, and determined a war in Afghanistan that killed some 2,300 troops and cost more than $2 trillion no longer fit within the pressing foreign policy concerns of 2021. That was true of Biden's two most recent predecessors as well, who both attempted withdrawals from Afghanistan only to be drawn back in by devolving security and attempts to prop up the government. Biden has made a different calculation that the US and the world must simply move on. Biden said that he spoke with former President George W. Bush on Tuesday ahead of announcing his decision to withdraw the troops. "I spoke yesterday with President Bush to inform him of my decision. While he and I have had many disagreements over policy throughout the years, we are absolutely united in our respect and support for the valor, courage and integrity of the women and men of the United States forces who've served," Biden said. His foreign policy priorities now lie elsewhere in Asia, where he hopes to compete with China, and in Russia, whose President he spoke with Tuesday and proposed an upcoming summit. "We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021," Biden will say, according to his speech excerpts. "Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come." Still, as Biden was making his decision, the prospect of the Taliban returning to power and potentially rolling back gains on security, democracy and women's rights provided a stark counter-argument to an immediate US withdrawal. Deliberations stretched longer than some US officials expected, even as Biden signaled repeatedly a May 1 deadline for full withdrawal was near-impossible to meet. Hoping to provide space for him to make an informed final decision that he wouldn't come to regret, officials sought to avoid pressuring a President known for blowing past deadlines. Top-level meetings were convened at an unusually high rate. Biden offered his rebuttal to the "many who will loudly insist that diplomacy cannot succeed without a robust US military presence to stand as leverage." "We gave that argument a decade. It's never proved effective. Not when we had 98,000 troops in Afghanistan, and not when we're down to a few thousand," Biden said. "Our diplomacy does not hinge on having boots in harm's way, US boots on the ground. We have to change that thinking. American troops shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip between warring parties in other countries." A long history with the conflict Officials involved in the process interpreted the lengthy timeline as a sign of Biden's genuine anguish about a path forward, sources said. Biden, meanwhile, made clear he didn't want to be rushed. In reality, Biden has been thinking about this issue for nearly as long as the war itself, having traveled to the region as a leader on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as an internal advocate -- at first ignored -- of drawing down troops during the Obama administration. On the day in 2001 that Bush addressed the nation from the Treaty Room, Biden appeared on CNN a few hours later from his home in Wilmington. Then the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden told Larry King he believed the Taliban would be quickly defeated. "There is no doubt in my mind the Taliban is done and the American people are going to learn about that and the world is going to learn about that in a matter of weeks, I predict," he said in the interview -- a projection that, 20 years later, appears misguided as his administration works to urge peace talks between the Taliban, which control large swaths of Afghanistan, and the Afghan government. Still, in the interview, Biden acknowledged the lengthy road ahead -- even though he could not have imagined he would be the president two decades later deciding to pull troops out. "The hard part is going to be putting it together," he said then. "The easiest part is going to be taking it down." Over the ensuing decades, Biden would travel to Afghanistan as part of congressional delegations and grill military leaders appearing before his committee. By the time he became vice president, Biden had adopted a skeptical view toward a continued large presence in the country. Some confidants attributed that to worsening conditions and the growing intractability of the political situation; others said his son Beau's deployment to Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard lent him new insight into the sacrifices of military families. At one point in 2009, he hand-wrote a memo to President Barack Obama arguing for a troop withdrawal and faxed it to the White House from his Thanksgiving vacation on Nantucket. He made various attempts to argue his case to Obama, who chose instead to surge troops before eventually pulling many of them out. Focusing on 2021, not 2001 His views of the war as a drain on American lives and resources haven't changed since then. He campaigned on a pledge to end the Afghanistan war and has reminded advisers in meetings that most Americans have either forgotten about it or say in polls it should end. Ultimately, he believes the time and energy spent on the Afghanistan war should be redirected to more present-day matters. "The President deeply believes that in contending with the threats and challenges of 2021, as opposed to those of 2001, we need to be focusing our energy, our resources, our personnel, the time of our foreign policy and national security leadership on those threats and challenges that are most acute for the United States," the senior administration official said, citing as examples China, the pandemic and more disperse terror threats. "Doing that requires us to close the book on a 20-year conflict in Afghanistan and move forward with clear eyes and an effective strategy to protect and defend America's national security interests." Biden officials said they believed they got a late start in weighing options for Afghanistan because of the delayed transition under President Donald Trump, who refused to acknowledge the results of the election for weeks. Officials said at the time that they weren't able to understand fully the US force posture or assess the entire scope of the agreement the Trump administration had struck with the Taliban. Starting in February, officials undertook a review of "genuine, realistic options" for Afghanistan, according to an official, mindful of Biden's instructions not to "sugarcoat" the likely outcomes. Heavy consultations between Cabinet members and foreign partners ensued. During deliberations with senior national security and military officials, Biden chafed at suggestions US troops should remain in Afghanistan for much longer, according to people familiar with the matter, reminding his advisers that -- like his two predecessors -- he promised voters he would end the country's longest war. There was not unanimous consent among his team. Among those advocating against a withdrawal, Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had been among the most ardent, suggesting earlier in the deliberations that pulling American troops from Afghanistan could cause the government in Kabul to collapse and prompt backsliding in women's rights, according to people familiar with the conversations. An annual US intelligence community's assessment released Tuesday was grim on the outlook for Afghanistan, concluding that prospects for a peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government "remain low during the next year." "The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan Government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support," the assessment said. Biden is fully aware of those risks, officials said, but made his decision based on his firm determination there wasn't a military solution to the various problems plaguing Afghanistan. Still, the images from Saigon linger, even if others reject the comparison. "This is not Vietnam. This is different," said Chuck Hagel, who earned two Purple Hearts during the Vietnam War before serving alongside Biden as a Republican senator from Nebraska and as Obama's third Secretary of Defense. "Responsibly managing the end of America's longest war, and the complications of America's interests and helping secure the future for Afghanistan with our allies and the Afghan people is the right course of action," Hagel said. This is a breaking story and will be updated. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. If someone said you had a one in a million chance of winning the lottery, you wouldnt quit your job as soon as you bought your ticket, right? Doctors and public health experts in New Jersey are hoping that people keep this context in mind this week after the U.S. government paused vaccinations with Johnson & Johnsons Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to investigate a possible serious side effect. Thats because it seems the chance of getting a rare blood clot after receiving the vaccine at least as far as we know based on the six reported cases, all in women under 50 is even less than one in a million, given over 6.8 million Americans have received the Janssen vaccine. I think the main point is that this is a rare problem, said Dr. Martin Blaser, director of Rutgers Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and an investigator on the universitys Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial. We have many drugs with risks of serious complications much greater than this one, said Blaser, also a professor of medicine. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, people can get fatal problems with that, but theyre very rare. And thats why were able to use them. Pausing the vaccine distribution to investigate is the right thing to do, health experts said, but they are worried it could rekindle fears about the vaccines at a time when the best way to knock out the coronavirus and reduce new variants is to get people vaccinated as soon as possible. Im mostly concerned about this news worsening hesitancy in the community, because weve made so much progress in building confidence in the vaccines that were available, including Johnson & Johnson, said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark, which is among the sites that paused giving out Johnson & Johnsons vaccine Tuesday. I do think instances like this are often manipulated, for disinformation and misinformation. And I hope that that doesnt hamper our overall ability to increase confidence in the vaccines. We are temporarily suspending the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at @UnivHospNewark, per @US_FDA and @CDCGov guidance below. More updates should come tomorrow after the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets. https://t.co/RhAXscnizZ Shereef Elnahal, MD (@ShereefElnahal) April 13, 2021 Vaccine hesitancy has been a public health concern as long as a vaccine for the coronavirus has been in development, because in order to hit that herd immunity threshold so we can get back to a more normal way of life, the majority of Americans need to be vaccinated. Corey Basch, a professor of public health and department chair at William Paterson University, said that any news of adverse effects of a vaccine increases the likelihood of hesitancy. But in this case, there are other options: Pfizer and Modernas mRNA vaccines, which use a different platform to deliver immunity and have not seen problems with blood clots despite the fact that they account for 96% of the nearly 190 million doses administered in the U.S. As the J&J vaccine is paused, there will be a greater demand for the mRNA vaccines, and it is likely that this demand will remain. Adverse effects, even when rare, will likely lead to preference for options where adverse events have not been reported, Basch said. Another unfortunate outcome is that those who were undecided about receiving a vaccine will opt out entirely. If this is the case, it will certainly hinder efforts to reach herd immunity. " Its also possible that some people will see this pause as a sign that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are being cautious and prioritizing safety. I think were all speculating it may hurt the vaccine efforts. Paradoxically, it may help if people see that the government is really paying attention here, Blaser said. Its not like were taking shortcuts. The government is halting the whole program because of the rare side effects. That means that theyre paying attention. So some people may be more reassured that when the pause is done, that it is relatively safe. Rowan University holds a pop-up clinic for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist and public health professor at Montclair State University, said she hopes people will read past the headlines and understand that the risk is far, far less than we already expose ourselves to with other medication or treatments. The risk of blood clots among those who take birth control pills is 750% higher than the general population, for instance, but millions of women still use the contraceptive. So between .5 and 1% of everybody who uses birth control pills will develop blood clots. Thats an order of magnitude of 1,000 times higher than what were seeing with the J&J COVID vaccine, Silvera said. Now, does that mean we shouldnt study the J&J vaccine? No, we need to look at it. But we also need to put the level of risk in context of other factors that increase our risk for blood clot or any other adverse outcome. Unless the FDA and CDC discover more blood clots linked to the vaccine, Silvera said the incidence so far of this rare blood clot is six in over 6.8 million, which is about .00009% or less than a ten thousandth of a percent. Its such a rare occurrence, she said, that it probably would not have held up the FDAs emergency use authorization even if the agency had known about the risk when it allowed Johnson & Johnsons vaccine to be used. Basch said that some may be worried that the federal government wasnt aware of the blood clot issue sooner, but the rareness of the occurrence means it wouldnt have shown up in a trial of thousands. Elnahal said that its not uncommon for rare side effects to be discovered only after a drug is on the market because of the sheer numbers involved and the fact that some people may have been excluded or underrepresented in trials. The fact that this occurred among now almost 7 million people having gotten the shot, it would have been near impossible to detect it in any reasonable clinical trial size, he said. He said hes interested to see whether scientists find any significance in the fact that the people who got this rare clot were all women between between the ages of 18 and 48. They experienced cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, in combination with low levels of blood platelets, 6 to 13 days after vaccination, according to New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. She said none have been found in New Jersey, where roughly 235,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine have been administered. Scientists dont know why the vaccine might induce the reaction, but it appears to be similar to clots that have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine that is being used in Europe but isnt approved in the U.S. Both vaccines use an adenovirus as the platform, unlike the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna. Blaser speculated that its possible the adenovirus is actually so effective after being injected that it is triggering a kind of immune system overreaction. When you have a vaccine thats a little too hot, there can be complications from it, he said. We dont know all the intermediate steps, but I think its likely theres some kind of overreaction, because the immune system is also tied to the blood clotting system and the reactions also occurred within the time period expected for an immune reaction. Silvera said researchers looking into the AstraZeneca-linked clots found they were similar to a serious thrombocytopenia caused by a rare reaction to the blood thinner heparin. In heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, antibodies are produced that bind to the platelets and can increase the risk of clotting. We dont know the why yet, but at the end of the day, I think what we do know is that its incredibly rare, so on a population level, most people dont need to worry about it, she said. At a clinical level, it needs to be understood and addressed so that we have a way of treating it. And then, at some point, hopefully we can predict who is most likely to develop these clots so that we can prevent it and target who gets which vaccine. Blaser, who used to work at the CDC earlier in his career, said he expects scientists will be carefully investigating each of the six cases and trying to find out if there are any more, so they can determine if the subjects have anything else in common that made them at higher risk for the clots. He estimated it could take a week or two, and as long as federal officials feel the risk is low enough, Johnson & Johnson will likely be available again. Then people will have to decide whether the benefit of the vaccine is greater than the risk. It could be that most people will opt not to take the J&J. Theyll opt to take the two other vaccines that have not had any problems, Blaser said. Silvera said trying to communicate the nuance of the risk to people may be a challenge. I think everybody needs to sort of take a deep breath and lets let the scientists do the science and not do the science on Facebook, she said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to a Trends Market Research (TMR) report, the global lecithin market is anticipated to reflect a CAGR of over xx% during 2018-2015. In 2018, the market was estimated at US$ XX Million and is expected to stand at US$ xx Million in terms of value by the end of 2025. Lecithin is used as a food additive and food emulsifier in several food items in order to add desirable attributes for making them more appealing to the consumers. As an emulsifier lecithin enhances the texture of food items such as in salad dressing. Growing preference for low-calorie food and increasing demand for packaged or convenience food across the globe are the two major factors expected to drive the growth of global lecithin market. Amongst various food emulsifier products, demand for lecithin is anticipated to relatively higher in the near future. Based on source type, the global market for lecithin has been segmented into sunflower, soya bean, and others. Soya bean is expected to be the largest segment of the market and is anticipated to witness a robust growth. Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3431 Based on form type, the market has been segmented into powder, granules and liquid. In terms of revenue, liquid segment is expected to account for the largest share. The segment is closely followed by powder and granules segment. Key Players Key players operating in the global market for lecithin includes Cargill, Inc., Sternchemie GmbH & Co. KG, American Lecithin Company, Thew Arnott & Co. Ltd., Lipoid GmbH, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co, Archer Daniels Midland Company, NOW Foods, and Bunge Limited. Most of these companies the formulating strategies and actively focusing on better product offering. Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/3431/Single By applications, the market has been segmented into pharmaceuticals, animal feed, food & beverage, industrial purpose and cosmetics. The food & beverage is expected to be the leading segment over the forecast period owing to the recent inclination of consumers towards natural ingredients for various food items. Food manufacturers are focusing on offering food products without GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredients to meet the expectation of the consumers. Moreover, food processing companies are launching new products to suit the growing demand for healthy ingredients in convenience food such as ready-to-eat items. According to US FDA, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) do not fall under the category of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) food items. Likewise, food manufacturers are emphasizing on developing non-GMO ingredients and raw materials substitutes. Further, most food processing companies are also focusing on production volume expansion. Higher production of lecithin will enable manufacturers to serve a larger base of customers and impact the price margins of lecithin across the globe. On the basis of region, the global market for lecithin has been segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, are anticipated to register strong growth rates during the forecast period. In 2018, North America is expected to account for the highest share of the market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific respectively. In addition, the North America is expected to continue as the leading market over 2025 and is anticipated to account for over xx% share of the market in revenues. Demand for lecithin is expected to grow significantly in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. Countries such as China and India is expected to reflect an overwhelming demand for lecithin, which in turn is will support the market growth in the region. Get Request for Table of Contents: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3431 TV personality and business mogul Bethenny Frankel has put her Greenwich house on the market after doing some renovations. Frankel, who recently bought the house at 40 Pecksland Dr. last year, a spokesperson confirmed, has listed the house for $3,375,000 - a $125,000 increase from its last listing price. According to the listing, updates to the five bedroom, five bathroom house include an upgraded kitchen, a mud room, new lighting, a "glam room" and a new boiler and hot water heater. The home has also been converted to use gas. It's listed with Centric Property Group, Inc. "The flow of the house has been transformed and re-balanced to produce a refined yet casual experience," the listing describes. RELATED: Bethenny Frankel spotted having dinner in Greenwich Frankel, a former "Real Housewife of New York City" and founder of the brand Skinnygirl as well as the disaster relief fund BSTRONG, is no stranger to the real estate business; she also starred in the Bravo show about real estate called "Bethenny & Fredrik" and has owned multiple properties. She is starring in the upcoming HBO Max show "The Big Shot," a competition show in which contestants vie for the chance to work with her. There was a time in the past when the ideal mix for a successful executive was represented by THC. In all my presentations, I kept harping on this formula- the key to open closed doors. Technical skills, was generally the first key for the entrance door. That is how one got a job in the first placeas an engineer, or accountant or any such profession. Then you made progress by inculcating or further developing Human skills. One got to manage people below, above, and aroundboth inside and outside the companywith a combination of empathy and sympathy, as may be relevant. To this was added a large dose of communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, together with a large dose of silence (as a part of communication). There were then a few (only a few), who developed conceptual skills. It was the ability to see the big picture. Also to visualise and anticipate the future, and get your team and company to try and be ahead of the raceto not only survive, but if possible, to succeed! Later came amendments to the THC formulathe most important being the addition of h- meaning, a sense of humour. Humour would help to add a human touchto be able to laugh through, to see the world with a glint in the eye. Hence many situations would not be a bundle of burnt out possibilities in the worst scenarios. One would still see light at the end of the tunnel. I had once organised a personal meeting of the chief executive officer (CEO) of a large company from India, with the developer of a new technology in US. The technology could change the profile of the products in India and give them a head-on lead. The meeting was arranged in the bar lounge of the New York hotel, where we were stayingand was scheduled for 7pm- just for an initial chat, a drink, and snacks. I had known that the CEO was close to being an 'alcoholic'so I had warned him in advanceNo drinking before the meeting (as subtly as I could). But he did not heed my advice, probably thinking that he was too senior to take such advice from a young consultant. We were both waiting for the CEO from 7pm, and he arrived only at 7.30pm, when we had begun to get impatient. When he came to our table, I immediately knew he had exceeded his 'quota.' He seemed unsteady. I pulled out a chair for him. He missed sitting down squarely and tumbled onto the floor with the chair in tow. A slight commotion in the bar with people looking across. I was embarrassed and murmured my apologies. After all, this was an initial meeting for two prospective parties to benefit from doing business together. My plans had fallen flat, just like the CEO had! And then Mr Murphy, who was still standing and waiting to be introduced, broke the ice with Dont worry too much Walter, he said. Its just that the chair had only three legs! We all burst out laughingincluding neighbours at the other tables. We took our seats, and moved on. The h had saved the situation, although I must confess that the collaboration never went through. In retrospect, I feel it was because of the three legs. Remember the adage, You never get a second chance to make a first impression! But it was Dr Jean Pierre Lehman of INSEAD, who added another 'h' to make it THC-2h. It was adding Humility to the h for humor. When asked why 'humility?' he said leadership today needs genuine global knowledge, and it takes interest, time, and humility, to keep learning. The new leader, whether in business, bureaucracy, or politics, has to go back to Leo Tolstoys story of the hedgehog and the fox. The hedgehog digs and digs and knows a lot about a very limited space. The fox runs and runs and knows only superficially about a very large area. The ideal person in todays world has to be a hybrid of the two. The day a person feels that he knows everything and there is nothing worth knowing that he does not know, it is the end of a career which would otherwise have been successful. There are many who have taught me this lesson. In the US, Philip Kotler, known as the guru of marketing, would be sitting at classes addressed even by me at the Kellogg Business School, right on the front bench and taking notes. When I saw this for the first time, I was embarrassed. What is it that I teach which you already do not know? I asked him. He said the cases studies that I give. They cannot be found easily. So, he takes notes and keeps them and often uses them. In India, I was always impressed with Prakash Tandon, former chairman of Levers India. He always carried a small pad and a pen to note down anything that struck him as unusual and thought provoking. That was a nice phrase you used Walter, let me take it down. I will also be able to use this sometime. Compliments from the Masters. But also, lessons for me in humility learning from the greats. Expansion study planned upon definition of recommended dose to gather additional data Regulatory News: NOXXON Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALNOX) (Paris:ALNOX), a biotechnology company focused on improving cancer treatments by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announced today the completion of patient recruitment in its Phase 1/2 brain cancer study with lead candidate, NOX-A12 plus radiotherapy. All three patients participating in the third and final dose cohort have been successfully enrolled and received initial treatment. NOXXON's Phase 1/2 clinical study is investigating three dose regimens of CXCL12 inhibitor, NOX-A12 (200, 400 and 600 mg/week), each combined with external beam radiotherapy in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients. Once the last patient in the third cohort completes four weeks of therapy with NOX-A12 combined with radiotherapy, the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will convene to assess the safety and tolerability of 600 mg NOX-A12 per week, the highest dose planned in the study. As outlined in the approved study protocol, it is planned for each patient to be treated with NOX-A12 for up to six months. Top-line data from this arm is planned to be available in November 2021. "The combination of NOX-A12 and radiotherapy has been well tolerated by the participating patients so far. In the upcoming and final planned DSMB meeting, the safety of the highest dose tested will be assessed. Once patients have received treatment over a longer time period, the clinical investigators will analyze all available trial data to define the recommended dose for a Phase 2 glioblastoma study," said Prof. Frank Giordano, Director and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Hospital Bonn. "Completing patient recruitment for this dose escalation study is an important step in the continued clinical assessment of our novel therapy for patients with difficult-to-treat and highly aggressive brain cancer. We are currently preparing the submission of a protocol amendment to allow the inclusion of additional patients with the goal of expanding the data base for the recommended Phase 2 dose. In addition, our expansion aims to create a basis for enrolling a broader group of patients in future studies, in particular brain cancer patients who would also receive chemotherapy in addition to NOX-A12. Notably, this would allow NOX-A12 to be tested in all first line glioblastoma patients," commented Aram Mangasarian, CEO of NOXXON. About NOXXON NOXXON's oncology-focused pipeline acts on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking the tumor protection barrier and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, NOXXON's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses against the immune system and enable greater therapeutic impact. NOXXON's lead program NOX-A12 has delivered final top-line data from a Keytruda combination trial in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients published at the ESMO conference in September 2020 and based on the trial results, including overall survival and safety profile, further studies are being planned in pancreatic cancer. NOXXON is also studying NOX-A12 in brain cancer in combination with radiotherapy which has been granted orphan drug status in the US and EU for the treatment of certain brain cancers. A trial of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit from standard chemotherapy has delivered preliminary data from the first cohort showing consistent tumor reductions. The company's second clinical-stage asset NOX-E36 is a Phase 2 TME asset targeting the innate immune system. NOXXON plans to test NOX-E36 in patients with solid tumors both as a monotherapy and in combination. Further information can be found at: www.noxxon.com Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp https://www.linkedin.com/company/noxxon-pharma-ag https://twitter.com/noxxon_pharma Disclaimer Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial indicators, developments of the financial situation or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005678/en/ Contacts: NOXXON Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 amangasarian@noxxon.com Trophic Communications Gretchen Schweitzer and Valeria Fisher Tel. +49 (0) 172 861 8540 and +49 (0) 175 804 1816 noxxon@trophic.eu NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr Delhi Metro to resume operations from Monday 05 Jun 2021 | 6:03 PM New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) The Delhi Metro services, which were halted during the lockdown, will resume again from Monday, June 7, with 50 per cent passenger carrying capacity. see more.. Bharat Biotech promised 500,000 vaccine doses in May: AAP govt tells HC 05 Jun 2021 | 5:53 PM New Delhi, Jun 5 (UNI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has responded to an observation of the Delhi High Court related to the shortage of Covid-19 vaccine in the national capital, submitting its planned inoculations by Covaxin based on the assurance by the manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, that 500,000 doses will be given to the people in May and four times that in June. see more.. Oxygen Expresses deliver over 25000 MT LMO in various parts the country 05 Jun 2021 | 5:35 PM New Delhi, Jun 5 (UNI) Indian Railways on Saturday said that it has crossed the mark of delivering 25,000 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) in 1500 tanksers to the various part of the country so far. see more.. Delhi continues to see downtick in COVID cases, 414 test +ve, 60 die 05 Jun 2021 | 5:23 PM New Delhi, Jun 5 (UNI) The National Capital on Saturday saw a dip in fresh cases of COVID-19 as according to the daily health bulletin, 414 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours while 60 people lost their lives. see more.. OAKVILLE, ON, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ("AQN") (TSX: AQN) (NYSE: AQN) today announced plans to release its first quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, May 6, 2021, after market close. AQN will hold an earnings conference call at 10:00 a.m. eastern time on Friday, May 7, 2021, hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer, Arun Banskota and Chief Financial Officer, Arthur Kacprzak. Conference call details are as follows: Date: Friday, May 7, 2021 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET Conference Call: Toll Free Dial-In Number (833) 670-0721 Toll Dial-In Number (825) 312-2060 Conference ID 3675026 Webcast: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3079718/2EEC1CE59E87CEB12E20CF93F37B363E Presentation also available at: www.algonquinpowerandutilities.com 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. SOURCE Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. Related Links http://www.algonquinpower.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Irans supreme leader on Wednesday dismissed initial offers at talks in Vienna to save Tehrans tattered nuclear deal as not worth looking at, attempting to pressure world powers after an attack on the countrys main nuclear enrichment site. The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state in the Islamic Republic, came after a day that saw Irans president similarly ratchet up pressure over the accord. European powers meanwhile warned Tehran its actions were particularly regrettable and dangerous. The talks already have been thrown into disarray by a weekend attack on Irans main Natanz nuclear enrichment site suspected to have been carried out by Israel. Tehran retaliated by announcing it would enrich uranium up to 60% higher than it ever has before but still lower than weapons-grade levels of 90%. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The offers they provide are usually arrogant and humiliating (and) are not worth looking at, the 81-year-old Khamenei said in an address marking the first day of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Iran. He also criticized the U.S. and warned time could be running out. The talks shouldnt become talks of attrition, Khamenei said. They shouldnt be in a way that parties drag on and prolong the talks. This is harmful to the country. Speaking to his Cabinet, an impassioned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the first-generation IR-1 centrifuges that were damaged in Sundays attack would be replaced by advanced IR-6 centrifuges that enrich uranium much faster. You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full, Rouhani said. Rouhani added: 60% enrichment is an answer to your evilness. We cut off both of your hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60%. Rouhani also accused Israel of being behind the Natanz attack and threatened to retaliate. In Jerusalem at a Memorial Day commemoration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to reference Iran. We must never remain apathetic to the threats of war and extermination of those who seek to eliminate us, he said. Israel has not claimed the attack, though it rarely does in its ongoing shadow war against Tehran. The talks in Vienna are aimed at finding a way for the United States to re-enter Tehrans nuclear agreement with world powers and have Iran comply again with its limits. The accord, which former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from in 2018, prevented Iran from stockpiling enough high-enriched uranium to be able to pursue a nuclear weapon in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Late on Wednesday, the European Union said formal negotiations would resume Thursday in Vienna. Rouhani in his comments Wednesday insisted Iran is still hoping that the Vienna talks lead to a negotiated settlement over its program and the accompanying lifting of punishing sanctions. Khamenei as well said he believed in his negotiators, but kept up the pressure on the West in his remarks Wednesday night. They must do what we say first, and we are assured that its done, then we will do what is we are required to do, he said. France, Germany and the United Kingdom, all parties to the nuclear deal, only hours earlier issued a joint statement Wednesday expressing their grave concern over Irans decision to increase enrichment. This is a serious development since the production of highly enriched uranium constitutes an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon, the countries said. Iran has no credible civilian need for enrichment at this level. China and Russia also took part in the deal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called Irans enrichment decision a provocative announcement. It calls into question Irans seriousness of purpose in the nuclear talks, he said in Brussels. Saudi Arabia, a regional rival to Iran, similarly issued a statement, saying enriching at that level could not be considered a program intended for peaceful purposes. It called on Iran to avoid escalation. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, though the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency says Tehran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003. An annual U.S. intelligence report released Tuesday maintained the American assessment that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that we judge would be necessary to produce a nuclear device. Iran previously had said it could use uranium enriched up to 60% for nuclear-powered ships. However, the Islamic Republic currently has no such ships in its navy. Iran had been enriching up to 20% even that was a short technical step to weapons-grade levels. The deal limited Irans enrichment to 3.67% Irans envoy to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, posted a letter online addressed to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warning against any adventurism by (the) Israeli regime targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The most-recent cowardly act of nuclear terrorism will only strengthen our determination to march forward and to replace all (damaged) centrifuges with even more advanced and sophisticated machines, Gharibabadi wrote. IAEA inspectors visited Natanz on Wednesday on their first trip since the sabotage and found Iran preparing an above-ground area for the higher enrichment, the agency said. Iran has almost completed preparations to start producing (uranium gas) enriched up to 60%, the IAEA said in a later statement. Iran informed the agency that the necessary pipework was being finalized and that feeding of (uranium gas) enriched up to 5% into a cascade of IR-6 centrifuges would start soon thereafter. The weekend attack at Natanz was initially described only as a blackout in the electrical grid feeding above-ground workshops and underground enrichment halls but later Iranian officials began calling it an attack. Alireza Zakani, the hard-line head of the Iranian parliaments research center, referred to several thousand centrifuges damaged and destroyed in a state TV interview. However, no other official has offered that figure and no images of the aftermath have been released. Satellite photographs from Planet Labs Inc. of Natanz taken Wednesday and analyzed by The Associated Press showed no apparent damage above ground at the facility. ___ Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; David Rising in Berlin; Malak Harb in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Matthew Lee in Brussels contributed to this report. (Newser) The former Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright on Sunday was running a training shift at the time. Kim Potter, who resigned Tuesday from the Brooklyn Center Police Department, had been with the force for 26 years and was training a less experienced officer, the New York Times reports. As for Wright, his last moments were spent on the phone with his mom, Katie. He called her after getting pulled over to ask for the car insurance information, CNN reports. Katie Wright says she told him to put the cop on the phone when she came back to the car. "A second goes by, and I hear the police officer come back up to the window and ask Daunte to get out of the car. Daunte asked, 'For what?' The police officer said, 'I'll explain to you when you get out of the car,'" she says. story continues below She heard a struggle, and the officer telling Wright to hang up, before the line went dead. She called back, and Wright's girlfriend, who was in the car, answered the phone on video, screaming that Wright had been shot. "And then she pointed the phone towards the driver's seat and my son was laying there, unresponsive," Katie Wright says. "That was the last time that I seen my son." Wright was supposed to see his own son, Daunte Wright Jr., for his upcoming second birthday when he was killed. As for the warrant that the officer planned to arrest Wright on after pulling him over for an expired registration, it was related to a 2019 armed robbery case, the New York Post reports. Protests continued for a third night Tuesday, with protesters calling for an independent probe into the shooting, Fox News reports. Prosecutors expect to decide Wednesday whether to charge Potter, the AP reports. (Read more Daunte Wright stories.) Goalpokhor (West Bengal): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday (April 14) that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to destroy Bengal and its culture while addressing his first rally in West Bengal in this election season. Rahul Gandhi said, "BJP wants to destroy Bengal's culture, heritage and divide it. In Assam, they are doing the same thing; in Tamil Nadu, they are trying to do the same thing with their alliance partner AIADMK," adding "The BJP has nothing to offer except for hatred, violence and divisive politics." Mocking the BJP's slogan of building "Sonar Bangla", the former Congress president termed it as a "mirage and said they "sell the same dream in every state", adding said the saffron party has nothing to offer except for hatred, violence and dividing people on the basis of language, religion, caste and creed. He further said, "In every state, they say similar things like Sonar Bangla. But, they only offer dividing people on the basis of religion, caste and language." Rahul Gandhi also took a dig at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said his party would never align with the BJP and the RSS, unlike the TMC, which in the past had been an alliance partner of the saffron party-led NDA. The Congress leader criticised the "cut money" culture in Bengal, and added "You gave the opportunity to TMC. But, they failed. People of the state have to venture out in search of jobs. This is the only state where you have to pay cut money to get jobs." Ridiculing the TMC poll slogan "Khela Hobe" (Game will happen), Rahul said serving people and playing games in this regard are not the same, adding "We have never aligned with the BJP and the RSS. Our fight is not just political but ideological too. For Mamata Ji, it is just a political fight." "The BJP knows very well Congress will never surrender before them, so they called for Congress Mukt Bharat. They never said TMC mukt Bharat, as they have been their former allies," Rahul said, urging people to vote in favour of the Congress- ISF-Left alliance in Bengal to usher in a new era of development. In Darjeeling, Rahul Gandhi said, "Narendra Modi said bhaio-bheno, beat thaali, corona will go. He said ghanti bajaao. After that, he asked people to take out their mobile phones& switch on flashlights. This man is the PM of India. Rather than helping labourers, he asked them to ring bells." "Last year in February, all Congress leaders and I collectively told PM that India is going to be affected by COVID. You start preparing to save the economy, migrant labourers and small-scale industry. Press mocked me and said I'm trying to scare people," Rahul Gandhi added. (With Agency Inputs) Advertisement A Democratic congresswoman representing St. Louis said the Minnesota cop who fatally shot a 20-year-old black man, Daunte Wright, wouldve known the difference between a Taser and a gun if her victim was white. Cori Bush, the progressive first-term member of the House, posted a tweet referencing the now-former Brooklyn Center police officer, Kimberly Potter. During a traffic stop on Sunday, Potter apparently thought she was firing a Taser at Wright, who was pulled over for allegedly driving with expired license plates. Bush's fellow 'squad' members in the House, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, also have been highly critical of the police in the wake of the shooting, with Tlaib calling for the police to be abolished. 'It wasn't an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist,' Tlaib posted to Twitter. 'Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government-funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed,' Tlaib said. Cori Bush (left), the progressive first-term member of the House, said the Minnesota cop who fatally shot a 20-year-old black man, Daunte Wright (right), wouldve known the difference between a Taser and a gun if her victim was white Ocasio-Cortez is pictured with fellow 'squad' members Tlaib (far left), Ilhan Omar (second left) and Ayanna Pressley (right) in July 2019 The Michigan Rep. made the radical declaration on Twitter Monday - one day after Wright was shot dead at a traffic stop in Minnesota when a white cop accidentally reached for her gun instead of a Taser Ocasio-Cortez also took aim at the concept of policing itself. 'Daunte Wright's killing was not a random, disconnected 'accident' - it was the repeated outcome of an indefensible system that grants impunity for state violence, rewards it w/ endlessly growing budgets at the cost of community investment, & targets those who question that order,' said Ocasio-Cortez. 'Cameras, chokehold bans, 'retraining' funds, and similar reform measures do not ultimately solve what is a systemic problem. 'That system will find a way - killings happen on camera, people are killed in other ways, retraining grows $ while often substituting for deeper measures.' Her comments mark AOC's strongest support yet for a movement to abolish the police. She has previously backed calls to defund police departments, but has not until now spoken in favor of a total scrapping of the forces, and starting again. Tlaib set off fierce debate with her incendiary tweet, which was 'liked' more than 15,000 times. 'Sounds like a call for total anarchy. I wonder if Twitter will remove this post,' one person stated in the replies section. 'This isnt racism. Everything isnt color. The cop screwed up for sure but Daunte would likely be alive if he didnt fight the police,' another wrote. However, there were some followers who agreed with Tlaib, saying that police agencies were beyond the point of reform. 'I agree. I have no power, but you do. We elected you to change things. So change them,' one voter wrote. The now-former Brooklyn Center police officer, Kim Potter (above), fatally shot Wright during a traffic stop on Sunday. Potter apparently thought she was firing a Taser at Wright, who was pulled over for allegedly driving with expired license plates The fatal shooting of another black man by police - just miles away from where George Floyd, 46, died after he was detained by Minneapolis cops last year - has sparked protests, demonstrations and riots nationwide. At least 60 people were arrested at protests in Portland, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago overnight on Tuesday. It was the third straight night of violent demonstrations. Rioters clashed with police in Minneapolis while the police union building in Portland, Oregon was set on fire. The fatal shooting of Wright has also reignited debate over police reform. Some progressives have argued that the shooting is another indication that police departments should be abolished altogether, while others say more reform is needed. In her tweet on Tuesday, Bush dismissed the idea that more training would have prevented Wrights death In her tweet on Tuesday, Bush dismissed the idea that more training would have prevented Wrights death. The 26-year-veteran cop, former president of the police union, doesnt know the difference between a taser and a gun, and you say more training wouldve fixed this? Bush wrote. Nah. But I bet she wouldve known the difference if Daunte wasnt a Black boy or if he was her loved one. In Portland, at least 100 people descended on the Portland police union headquarters in North Portland where they set the building ablaze, shot fireworks and locked traffic - prompting police to declare a riot for the second night running. Footage shows the Portland Police Association engulfed in flames before fire crews arrived to try and extinguish the blaze. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, about 90 minutes before the 10pm local time curfew deadline, police declared protests outside the Brooklyn Center police station to be an unlawful assembly; pepper spray and flash bombs were used by officers in an attempt to disperse the crowd while demonstrators used umbrellas as shields. Demonstrators began gathering again Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch. More than 1,000 protestors had arrived by early evening. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing in the city. Cops declares Minneapolis protests unlawful Tuesday as they clashed with demonstrators outside of a police station A police officer releases a chemical irritant at a protester on the other side of the fence of the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. Protesters clashed with Minneapolis police for a third night in a row Tuesday over the alleged accidental police shooting death of a black man by a veteran female cop Protesters shield themselves with umbrellas amid smoke from chemical irritants outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. Veteran cop Kimberly Potter - who resigned from the force Tuesday - is said to have confused her gun for a taser when she shot at Daunte Wright, 20, on Sunday A police officer holds a tear gas launcher while standing guard at the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. Potter's home was barricaded up Tuesday, with officers posted inside, as a group of protesters gathered at the fences Police and protesters clash Tuesday following a third night of demonstrations in the wake of Wright's death Activists raise their arms as they confront State troopers, National Guard members and other law enforcement officers following a march for Daunte Wright Tuesday. Curfews had been in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove from 10pm local time before gatherings were declared unlawful The PPA building is on fire. Portland Police just declared a riot. pic.twitter.com/P6Pko7A2r5 Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) April 14, 2021 A march for Daunte Wright, who was shot and killed by former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter, in Brooklyn Center Firefighters arrive on the scene after protesters set fire to Portland police union building Potter - who resigned from the force Tuesday - is said to have confused her gun with a taser when she shot at Daunte Wright, 20, in Brooklyn Center on Sunday. A police source told DailyMail.com they had taken precautions to protect the home. Potter, who has two adult sons, lives at the property with her husband, a former Fridley police officer. They are all understood to have left the home late Tuesday night after the address was posted to social media. About 90 minutes before the 10pm local time curfew deadline, police declared protests outside the Brooklyn Center police station to be an unlawful assembly; pepper spray and flash bombs were used by officers in an attempt to disperse the crowd while demonstrators used umbrellas as shields Law enforcement officers stand guard following a march for Daunte Wright Tuesday. Demonstrators began gathering again Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing in the city Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station Tuesday. More than a 1,000 protestors had arrived by early evening. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of George Floyd's death last May in Minneapolis, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. The trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in Floyd's death, is ongoing Cops declared protests in Minneapolis unlawful Tuesday as they clashed with demonstrators outside of police station Police and protesters faced off once again after nightfall Tuesday. 'Whose street? Our street!' the crowd chanted. The unrest had continued after the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Wright's death as a homicide and said the cause was a gunshot wound to the chest Demonstrators use umbrellas to shield themselves against tear gas and pepper balls in Brooklyn Center Tuesday Law enforcement officers stand guard while stopping the fire that hit a vehicle near the Brooklyn Center police station More than 200 demonstrators had arrived by early evening. Activists who attended the mayor's news conference called for sweeping changes to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and sharply criticized the acting police chief, Tony Gruenig, for not yet having a plan Demonstrators protect themselves with umbrellas and a blower against tear gas and pepper balls Tuesday A group of demonstrators marched to the Brooklyn Center FBI building from the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday A tear gas canister explodes as people confront law enforcement outside an apartment complex across the street from the Brooklyn Center police headquarters on Tuesday Law enforcement attempt to apprehend someone near Brooklyn Center Police Station. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. Law enforcement charge protestors outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station as they attempt to enforce the curfew. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. Protestors clash with police outside of Brooklyn Center Police Station. April 13. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop Outside the Brooklyn Center's heavily guarded police headquarters in Minneapolis, Tuesday, 'Murderapolis' was scrawled with black spray paint on a concrete barrier. 'Daunte Wright! Say his name!' the crowd chanted. 'No justice, no peace! Prosecute the police!' There were no reports of looting Tuesday. A group of protesters marched to the Brooklyn Center FBI building from the Brooklyn Center Police Department as the evening went on. Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer said at a midnight press conference: 'As the evening unfolded, the event devolved.' Officials said bricks and cans were thrown at cops. As the mayor spoke earlier on Tuesday, Wright's relatives and supporters assembled near the Minneapolis courthouse where Chauvin is standing trial, and recounted for reporters the anguish of his death at the age of 20. Wright, who struggled with a learning disability and dropped out of high school, was remembered as a good-natured, loving man who worked multiple jobs to support his 2-year-old son. Floyd's two brothers appeared at the news conference along with Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross, who embraced Wright's mother, Katie, and said she had once taught Daunte Wright in school. Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, speaks during a press conference as he joins the family of Daunte Wright outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, Chyna Whitaker, Daunte Wright's girlfriend, and Floyd family lawyer, Ben Crump, attend a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13 Katie Wright, center, mother of Daunte Wright, speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Minneapolis. Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by police Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center Naisha Wright embraces Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, as she speaks during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Katie Wright, center, mother of Daunte Wright, arrives to speak during a news conference, Tuesday, April 13, in Minneapolis. Daunte Wright, 20, was shot and killed by police Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, speaks as other family and friends and family attorney Ben Crump, listen during a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13 Naisha Wright, aunt of Daunte Wright, speaks as she is joined by members of George Floyd's family during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 13 Naisha Wright, aunt of Daunte Wright, speaks as she is joined by members of George Floyd's family during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center Floyd family lawyer, Ben Crump speaks during a press conference with Daunte Wright's and George Floyd's families, at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 13. Tensions have soared over the death on April 11 of African American Daunte Wright near the Midwestern US city, a community already on edge over the ongoing trial of a policeman accused of killing another Black man, George Floyd Wright's deadly encounter began when police pulled him over in his car for what they said was expired auto registration. According to Gannon, officers then discovered a warrant for his arrest in their system. When Wright broke away from one officer and climbed back into his car in an apparent bid to flee, the second officer, since identified as Potter, accidentally drew her pistol instead of her Taser and opened fire, he said. An autopsy found Wright was struck once in the chest. Potter can be heard on police video shouting: 'Holy shit, I just shot him.' The car then rolled away with Wright still in the driver's until it struck another vehicle and came to a stop. The recollections of Wright's mother and other relatives focused on his last moments. Katie Wright said her son called her after he was pulled over, and that she offered to mediate with police over the phone. She said she heard police order her son, who seemed confused, out of his vehicle, followed by the sound of scuffling and an officer telling him to hang up the phone. She said Wright's girlfriend, who was with him in the car, eventually picked up the phone and, amid cries and screams, told her he had been shot. 'She pointed the phone toward the driver's seat and my son was laying there, unresponsive,' Katie Wright recalled, weeping. 'That was the last time that I've seen my son.' Barriers and metal fencing was put up around the home of Officer Kimberly Potter who resigned from the force Tuesday A man speaks with two cops stationed behind barriers and metal fencing put up around the home of Officer Kimberly Potter Police started barricading Potter's home on Tuesday after her address was posted on social media, DailyMail.com can reveal. Exclusive photos show the five-bedroom home surrounded by police and workmen unloading barricades A police source said they anticipate protests and are taking precautions to prevent the home being wrecked Police stand guard as demonstrators gather outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Tuesday A traffic cone is being thrown by demonstrators over law enforcement officers Tuesday. Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer, in Brooklyn Center Protests on April 13, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota after a white veteran police officer shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright, during a traffic stop in Minneapolis on Sunday after allegedly confusing her gun for a Taser A protester in a gas mask gestures as activists confront State troopers, National Guard members and other law enforcement officers following a march for Daunte Wright on Tuesday Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the medical examiner said. Protests, pictured Tuesday, began within hours Protesters rally outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday, as it is guarded by cops and the National Guard Protesters participate in a march Tuesday, days after Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer, in Brooklyn Center Curfews are also in place for Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal, Columbia Heights, New Hope and Maple Grove 'You are hereby ordered to disperse,' an announcement played to the protesters said, warning that anyone not leaving would be arrested. The number of protesters then dropped rapidly over the next hour. The unrest had already continued for a second night Monday just hours after the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Wright's death a homicide and said the cause was a gunshot wound to the chest. White veteran police officer Potter and her police chief boss both resigned from the force Tuesday. It is not yet clear what charges Brooklyn Center Police officer Potter will face over the death of the 20-year-old black man but multiple sources told KSTP they could be filed on Wednesday. Veteran Minneapolis cop 'will be charged today' for shooting dead Daunte Wright, 20, during traffic stop after she and the Brooklyn Center chief of police both resign as city erupts in protest The white veteran police officer who shot dead Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in Minneapolis after allegedly confusing her gun for a taser could reportedly faces charges as early as today after she and her police chief boss both resigned from the force. It is not yet clear what charges Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter will face over the death of the 20-year-old black man but multiple sources told KSTP they could be filed on Wednesday. Both Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned on Tuesday two days after Wright was shot dead after he was pulled over for what police said were expired license plate tags. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Potter, a married mother-of-two, has been on administrative leave since the shooting. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot announced the resignation of Potter's police chief boss. Gannon was the one who revealed during a tense press conference a day earlier that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday two days after the 20-year-old black man was shot dead after he was pulled over for what police said were expired license plate tags The resignations came as pressure mounted for Potter to be fired, including from Mayor Elliot. Elliott said on Tuesday he was 'appreciative' that Potter submitted her resignation but that he had not asked for it. He said he wasn't sure if it was because she had heard that she would soon be fired. It is not clear if Potter will be entitled to keep her pension. Activists who attended the news conference called for sweeping changes to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and criticized acting police chief, Tony Gruenig, for not yet having a plan. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city Elliott said there were 49 police officers in the department but none of them lived in Brooklyn Center. He didn't immediately have information regarding racial diversity of those officers but said 'we have very few people of color in our department.' He went on to say he hoped Potter's resignation would 'bring some calm to the community' but that he would keep working towards 'full accountability under the law.' 'That's what we're going to continue to work for,' Elliott said. 'We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that, his family deserves that.' Wright was shot as police were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to take him into custody after running his name and realizing he had the warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the warrant but court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police last June. His aunt has said the warrant was for marijuana possession. Meanwhile, police started barricading Potter's home on Tuesday after her address was posted on social media, DailyMail.com can reveal. Exclusive photos show the five-bedroom home surrounded by police and workmen unloading barricades. A police source told DailyMail.com that they anticipate protests later and said they are taking precautions to prevent the home being wrecked. 'We learned from [Derek] Chauvin. His house got totally smashed up in the protests,' the source said. It is understood Potter left the property late last night with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick. Jeffrey, a 26-year police veteran, retired from cop work with the Fridley Police Department in 2017 and now works as a corporate investigator at Allina Health. A relative was also spotted at the home on Tuesday morning, taking a series of cardboard boxes out of the property and loading it into their car. Police sources told DailyMail.com that Potter and her family have left the area entirely. A protester gathered outside Potter's home on Tuesday after police and workers erected barricades People were spotted retrieving belongings from Potter's home on Tuesday after the police officer left with her family last night In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake. 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right,' Aubrey said. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Wright's mother added that she wants Potter to be held accountable for 'everything she's taken from us'. During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Wright's aunt, Naisha Wright, called his death 'murder' and dismissed claims it was an accident. 'They murdered my nephew. She killed my nephew,' Naisha said at the press conference, which was held alongside members of George Floyd's family. 'Every pistol, every Taser, it has a safety on it. She saw that she had to release that. That woman held that gun in front of her for a long damn time.' Naisha had earlier denied that her nephew's license plate tag was expired, as police have said. She also said a misdemeanor warrant that was out for her nephew was 'just for some weed'. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the agency investigating Wright's death. Potter has been placed on administrative duty. Brooklyn City Mayor Mike Elliott said during the press conference that the officer should be fired. 'My position is that we cannot afford to make mistakes that lead to the loss of life of other people in our profession,' Elliott said, adding he fully supported relieving the officer of her duties. His comments were in contrast to City Manager Curt Boganey, who was in charge of the police department, after he said he wanted due process to play out before passing judgment on the officer's actions. Boganey was fired by the town's City Council in an emergency meeting on Monday. Elliott now oversees the police department. Brian Peters, head of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, said Potter was working Sunday as a field training officer, training a rookie officer. 'She's just a very dedicated, passionate, good person. It's completely devastating,' he said. 'In a very tense moment, she made a mistake. It's not her character.' Potter is a married mother of two, who was first licensed as a police officer in Minnesota in 1995 at age 22, according to state records obtained by the Star Tribune. She has served on the city's negotiation team, and was among the first to arrive at the scene of another officer-involved shooting, in August 2019. In that case, Kobe Dimock-Heisler died after he allegedly rushed at officers with a knife in a home. Potter instructed the two officers involved in the 2019 incident 'to exit the residence, get into separate squad cars, turn off their body worn cameras, and to not talk to each other,' according to an investigative report from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, obtained by the paper. Both officers' actions were found to be justified and no charges were filed. Potter has been a union president for her department's officers, the paper reported, and was a longtime member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association. Potter has two adult sons and lives with her husband, a former Fridley police officer, in a different Minneapolis suburb, the paper reported. She had annual salary of $86,190, according to public records from 2018. Advertisement The state police said the dispersal order came before the 10 p.m. curfew because protesters were trying to take down the fencing and throwing rocks at police. Veteran police officer Potter could reportedly faces charges as early as tomorrow after she and her police chief boss both resigned from the force. It is not yet clear what charges Brooklyn Center Police Officer Potter will face over the death of the 20-year-old black man but multiple sources told KSTP they could be filed on Wednesday The number of protesters dropped rapidly, until only a few remained late on. Police also ordered all media to leave the scene Wright's father, Aubrey Wright, told ABC's 'Good Morning America' that he rejects the explanation that Potter mistook her gun for her Taser. 'I lost my son. He's never coming back. I can't accept that. A mistake? That doesn't even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that,' he said. Protesters are pictured Tuesday The resignations from Officer Kim Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon came two days after the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center. The Brooklyn Center Police Department is pictured Tuesday The National Guard has been called in to defend the Brooklyn Center Police Department. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city The Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday. The modest suburb just north of Minneapolis has seen its demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70% of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Hispanic Prosecutors in Hennepin County, where the shooting occurred, said they have referred the case to nearby Washington County a practice county attorneys in the Minneapolis area adopted last year in handling police deadly force cases Protesters began gathering again Tuesday at the city's heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barriers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Potter has been on administrative leave since the shooting. She is said to have left her home with her 54-year-old husband Jeffrey and their sons Sam and Nick. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Activists march to protest the death of Daunte Wright. People have taken to the streets to protest after Daunte Wright, a 20-year old black man, was shot and killed by police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Chicago: Protestors navigate along Chicago's Millennium Park during a peaceful protest on Tuesday New York: Andrew Yang attends a 'Justice for Daunte Wright' bike ride at Barclays Center Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter and Police Chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday two days after the 20-year-old black man was shot dead after he was pulled over for what police said were expired license plate tags Potter, a white veteran police officer, shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright, during a traffic stop in Minneapolis on Sunday after allegedly confusing her gun for a taser Chyna Whitiker, the mother of Wright's child, during a press conference outside the Hennepin County Government Center Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot announced the resignation of Potter's police chief boss. Gannon revealed during a tense press conference a day earlier that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. Wright was shot dead on Sunday afternoon after he and his girlfriend were pulled over during a traffic stop for what police say was an expired car registration. The officers then learned Wright, who has a toddler son, had the outstanding warrant against him. Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to take him into custody after running his name and realizing he had the warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the warrant but court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police last June. Wright had choked a woman and threatened to shoot her if she did not hand over $820 she had stuffed in her bra, court papers obtained by DailyMail.com allege. He was due to face trial on a charge of attempted aggravated robbery - with a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Large crowds gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Tuesday for the third night in a row. Wright was shot dead on Sunday afternoon after he and his girlfriend were pulled over during a traffic stop for what police say was an expired car registration. The officers then learned Wright, who has a toddler son, had the outstanding warrant against him The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement Tuesday that 'no conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete.' Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to take Wright into custody after running his name and realizing he had the warrant Mourners gather at the intersection of 63rd and Katherine Drive where a memorial has sprung up for Daunte Wright Hundreds of protesters defied a 7pm curfew in Minneapolis on Monday night. Protesters are pictured Tuesday People pay their respects to Wright on Tuesday at the intersection of 63rd and Katherine Drive. Protests also broke out overnight Tuesday in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Portland and Seattle A demonstrator carries a flag bearing the names of people of color killed by police at a rally outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department to protest the shooting death of Daunte Wright Daunte Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake after police revealed Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kimberly Potter accidentally fired her gun instead of her taser Police body cam footage of the fatal incident showed three officers approaching Daunte Wright's car in Brooklyn Center on Sunday after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake. 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right,' Aubrey said. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Police released footage of the incident from Potter's bodycam that showed her and two other officers approaching Wright's car after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop. The footage showed one officer trying to handcuff Wright as a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. Wright immediately jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee. A struggle then broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car. 'I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!' Potter could be heard shouting in her bodycam video. Immediately after, Potter can be heard saying: 'Holy sh*t. I shot him'. Wright managed to drive several blocks before coming to a stop when he hit another car. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his girlfriend, who was a passenger in the car, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. EXCLUSIVE: Daunte Wright had a warrant out for his arrest for attempted aggravated robbery charges after 'choking and holding a woman at gunpoint for $820 in 2019,' court papers reveal Daunte Wright choked a woman and threatened to shoot her if she did not hand over $820 she had stuffed in her bra, court papers obtained by DailyMail.com allege. That is the case that led to a warrant for his arrest at the time he was shot and killed by police officer Kimberly Potter in Minnesota on Sunday, leading to days of unrest. And online speculation that he did not know there was a warrant out for his arrest is false, DailyMail.com has learned. A letter returned to the court for having a wrong address was giving notice of a court date in August and had nothing to do with the warrant. Wright, 20, was shot dead in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on Sunday by Potter, 48, a 26-year veteran in the Brooklyn Center Police Department. DailyMail.com can reveal that Daunte Wright (pictured in his booking photo) 20, had a warrant out for his arrest on attempted aggravated robbery charges after allegedly holding a woman at gunpoint for $820 in December 2019 She says she mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her taser. After the gun fired, she is heard on body camera saying: 'Holy s**t I shot him.' Potter and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday. Wright was allegedly pulled over for having expired license plate tags, although he called his mother and told her it was for having an air freshener hanging on his rear-view mirror. While checking his details, Potter and other officers learned of the warrant. When they tried to handcuff him, Wright got back into his car and at that point Potter shot him in the chest after warning fellow officers to get out of the way by shouting, 'Taser, taser, taser.' Wright was due to face trial on a charge of attempted aggravated robbery - with a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Charging papers say he and a second man, Emajay Driver went to a home shared by two women in Osseo, Minnesota 'to party' in December 2019. At the time, Wright was 19 and Driver was 18. The women asked them to leave around 2.30 am on December 1, but they said they didn't have a ride and the women - who are not identified in the court documents - allowed them to sleep on the floor. In the morning, one of the women went to the bank to get her $820 rent money which she gave to the other woman and then left for work. As Wright, Driver and the second woman were leaving, Wright allegedly tried to hold up the woman. 'The three of them were walking to the door to exit the apartment and defendant Wright turned around and blocked the door preventing victim from leaving,' says the report, written by Osseo Police Officer Shane Mikkelson. DailyMail.com has learned that online speculation that Wright did not know there was a warrant out for his arrest is false. A letter (pictured) returned to the court for having a wrong address was giving notice of a court date in August and had nothing to do with the warrant 'Defendant Wright then pulled a black handgun with silver trim out from either his right waistband or his right coat pocket and pointed it at victim and demanded the rent money,' continued Mikkelson. 'Victim said 'Are you serious?' Defendant Wright replied: 'Give me the f**king money, I know you have it.' When the woman again asked him if he was serious, Wright is said to have replied: 'I'm not playing around.' Mikkelson's report said: 'The $820 cash was tucked in the victim's bra and defendant Wright placed his hand around victim's neck and choked her while trying to pull the cash from under her bra. 'Victim was able to get loose from defendant Wright and started to kneel down and scream.' After more yelling, Wright allegedly told the woman that he was going to shoot her unless he got the money. 'Give me the money and we will leave,' he allegedly said. 'Give me the money and we will go.' Mikkelson added: 'Defendant Wright then tried to choke victim a second time and tried to take her money. Defendant Driver was telling her to give defendant Wright the money. 'Defendant Driver then said: 'Let's go,' and the two defendants left and got into a white Cadillac and left the scene,' wrote Mikkelson. 'Afterwards, victim found that the cash was still in her bra.' Mikkelson said the woman identified both Wright and Driver through photo line-ups. Wright's bail was originally set at $100,000 with orders that he should not contact the victim or any witnesses, refrain from drugs and alcohol and not have any weapons. A bond bailsman paid $40,000 for his release. But his bail was revoked in July last year due to his 'failure to not possess a firearm or ammunition' and not keeping in touch with his probation officer, court papers show. At that time a judge issued a warrant for his arrest, that was still outstanding on the day he died. In recent days several people have claimed on the Internet that Wright may not even have known about the warrant because it was sent to the wrong address and returned to the court by the US Postal Service. But that letter, sent out on February 2 and returned to the court three days later was just to advise Wright of a change of date for his court hearing. Katie Wright (left), the mother of Daunte Wright, is embraced during a vigil for her son on April 12, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Wright was shot and killed yesterday by Brooklyn Center police during a traffic stop It was sent to an address in Minneapolis and marked 'Return to Sender. No such number. Unable to forward' by the USPS. Wright's killing, just 10 miles from the scene of Floyd's death in Minneapolis last May, has led to unrest in Minnesota and nationwide. Overnight protests broke out in New York, Washington, D.C., Portland, Seattle and elsewhere. Police officer Potter's five-bedroom home was surrounded by cops unloading barricades on Tuesday after her address was leaked online. A police source told DailyMail.com that they anticipate protests later and said they are taking precautions to prevent the home being wrecked. 'We learned from [Derek] Chauvin. His house got totally smashed up in the protests,' the source said. Potter left the property late last night with her 54-year-old husband Jeff and their sons Sam and Nick. Jeff Potter, retired from cop work with the Police Department in Fridley, Minnesota, in 2017 after 26 years. He now works as a corporate investigator at Allina Health. A relative was also spotted at the home on Tuesday morning, taking a series of cardboard boxes out of the property and loading it into their car. Police sources told DailyMail.com that Potter and her family have left the area entirely. In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, Wright's parents Katie and Aubrey said they could not accept their son's death was a mistake. 'I cannot accept that. I lost my son, he's never coming back. I can't accept a mistake, that doesn't even sound right,' Aubrey said. 'This officer has been on the force for 26 years.' Wright's mother added that she wants Potter to be held accountable for 'everything she's taken from us'. His aunt, Naisha Wright, had earlier called for Potter to be jailed for 'not knowing the difference between a fully loaded pistol and a taser'. 'Accident? An accident? No, come on now! I own a 20,000 volt taser. They don't feel nothing like a gun,' she told CNN. 'My family's blood is on their hands.' Naisha has denied that her nephew's license plate tag was expired, as police have said. She also said a misdemeanor warrant that was out for her nephew was 'just for some weed'. Wright's shooting death has sparked violent protests and unrest in the city that is already on edge because of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the first of four police officers charged in George Floyd's death. Police Chief Tim Gannon released footage of the incident from Potter's bodycam that showed her and two other officers approaching Wright's car after he had been pulled over for the traffic stop. The footage showed one officer trying to handcuff Wright as a second officer told him he was being arrested on a warrant. Wright immediately jumped back into his car in an apparent attempt to flee. A struggle then broke out between the officers and Wright, who was still sitting inside his car. 'I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!' Potter could be heard shouting in her bodycam video. Immediately after, Potter can be heard saying: 'Holy sh*t. I shot him'. Potter and Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday amid mounting pressure for Potter to step down. In her resignation letter, Potter - who has worked for the department for 26 years - did not address the deadly shooting that has sparked two days of violent protests and unrest across the city. 'I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,' Potter said. Potter, a married mother-of-two, had been on administrative leave since the shooting. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot also announced the resignation of Potter's police chief boss. Gannon was the one who revealed during a tense press conference a day earlier that Wright's death was the result of 'accidental discharge' after Potter mistook her taser for a gun. The resignations came as pressure mounted for Potter to be fired, including from Mayor Elliot. Police have said a struggle broke out as they tried to arrest Wright after running his name and realizing he had an outstanding warrant. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the warrant but court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police last June. His aunt has said the warrant was for marijuana possession. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the agency investigating Wright's death. Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who helped the family of George Floyd win a $27million legal settlement against the city of Minneapolis, is also representing the Wrights. In a tweet, Crump said he believed that Potter 'knew exactly what she was doing' in a previous case which he said she told officers how to 'obscure accountability'. He wrote about the previous incident involving Dimock-Heisler and Potter, saying she 'taught officers who fatally shot Kobe Dimock-Heisler how to protect themselves & obscure accountability'. Crump, quoting a Hennepin County Attorney's Office report, wrote that Potter had previously instructed two police officers in the previous case to 'exit the residence, get into separate squad cars, turn off their body worn camera, and to not talk to ech other. 'Of course Kim Potter knew exactly what she was doing. She knew how to obscure the truth. In that instance, her actions were clearly intentional,' he wrote. Wright's mother Katie Wright has previously described her son calling her in the moments before he was shot to say police had pulled him over for having air fresheners dangling from his rear-view mirror. It is illegal in Minnesota to have anything hanging from a rear-view mirror. She said he called her to get insurance information for the vehicle because she recently gave the car to him. Describing the call, Wright's mother said: 'I said when the police officer comes back to the window, put him on the phone and I will give him the insurance information. 'Then I heard the police officer come to the window and say, 'Put the phone down and get out of the car.' And Wright said 'why'. He said, 'We'll explain to you when you get out of the car.'' 'A minute later, I called and his girlfriend answered, who was the passenger in the car, and said that he'd been shot and she put it on the driver's side, and he was laying there lifeless,' Katie told gathered media on Sunday afternoon. 'I heard scuffling, and I heard police officers say, 'Daunte, don't run,'' she said through tears. The call ended, and she dialed his number again. His girlfriend answered and said he was dead in the driver's seat. Speaking before the unrest broke out, Wright's mother had urged protesters to stay peaceful and remain focused on the loss of her son. 'All the violence, if it keeps going, it's only going to be about the violence. We need it to be about why my son got shot for no reason,' she said to a crowd near the shooting scene in Brooklyn Center. 'We need to make sure it's about him and not about smashing police cars, because that's not going to bring my son back.' NEW YORK, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoli Group, the leading global ultra-premium spirits and wines company, today announced the addition of Elisa Whitehouse as Global Sustainability Leader. Based in Luxembourg, Whitehouse will work with global teams to drive Stoli's vision of full sustainability by 2025. This complete transformation will build on a multi-layered, pragmatic approach to purpose-lead change both internally and externally. "Stoli is fully committed to growing in a responsible, sustainable way. There is tremendous opportunity for smart, nimble organizations to innovate and commit to a future of which we can all be proud," commented Damian McKinney, Global CEO of Stoli Group. "Whitehouse brings the passion, know-how and ability to execute innovative strategies. We could not be more thrilled that she will play this critical role advising us as we embark on this journey." A consultant and educator, Whitehouse previously worked for the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, where she was Deputy Executive Project Manager. While there, she was instrumental in the conceptualization and hosting of "EVlution Driving Change," the Caribbeans first regional Electric Vehicle show and conference promoting Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency. Previously, Whitehouse worked with numerous international organizations driving sustainability efforts including the Inter-American Development Banks Energy Division, where she designed, administered and monitored energy sector related operations; and with the Pan American Health Organization as Communications Specialist on the worlds first Climate Smart Healthcare Project. Prior to that, Whitehouse worked for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, The European Union and the Luxembourgish Foreign Ministry in the areas of international Trade Facilitation, Quality Policy Development and Humanitarian Assistance. To achieve environmental sustainability by 2025, Stoli is committed to reduce carbon emissions across the entire value chain. Immediate plans include switching to 100% Electric Vehicle fleets, producing all secondary packaging from renewable materials, ensuring Eco Design Standards are built into every innovation and design, and promoting sustainable agriculture from grain to bottle. At the same time, commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion will ensure Stoli maximizes social sustainability performance. "Stoli will become a "B Corporation," a certification recognized as meeting the highest standard measuring social and environmental performance," explained Whitehouse. "We will use the power of business to contribute toward solving social and environmental problems while ensuring decisions are made carefully and responsibly in consideration of workers, customers, suppliers, the community and our environment." About Stoli Group Stoli Group was established in 2013 and is responsible for the production, management, and distribution of SPI's global spirits portfolio. Mainly known for the Stolichnaya Vodka brand, Stoli Group has expanded its portfolio in recent years to appeal to premium on-premise and more sophisticated global consumers. Signature brands are: Stoli Vodka, Elit Vodka, Bayou Rum, Kentucky Owl, Villa One, Gator Bite Rum Liquers, Cenote Tequila, Kah Tequila and Se Busca Mezcal. With a presence across a network of more than 176 markets, Stoli Group works with a passionate team of 200 distributors around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Stoli has production facilities in Russia, Latvia, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, and the United States some of which are steeped in history as early as the 1900s. For more information, visit stoli-group.com . SOURCE Stoli Group Related Links https://stoli-group.com California will authorize $536 million for wildfire mitigation and forest management projects before the worst of the fire season strikes later this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders said. That more than doubles $200 million in recent annual spending, advocates said, and wildfire preparedness grants were dropped entirely last year when the state prematurely anticipated a pandemic-driven budget shortfall. Armed now with an unexpected multi-billion-dollar surplus, lawmakers plan to add the money to this fiscal years budget before considering even more in the new spending plan that takes effect July 1. With California facing another extremely dry year, it is critical that we get a head start on reducing our fire risk, Newsom and his fellow Democrats who lead the Assembly and Senate said in a joint statement. Theyre rushing to thin forests, build fuel breaks around vulnerable communities and allow for planned burns before a dry winter turns into a tinder-dry summer. Last years record-setting wildfire season charred more than 4% of the state while destroying nearly 10,500 buildings and killing 33 people. Earlier this month, the governor used his emergency powers to authorize nearly $81 million to hire nearly 1,400 additional firefighters. In January, Newsom proposed spending $323 million this spring on forest health and fire prevention projects, with another $1 billion in next years budget. Lawmakers said Thursdays agreement expands on the governors plan with more short- and long-term spending on vegetation management on both public and private land, clearing space around homes and making them less vulnerable to wildfires, fire prevention grants and prevention workforce training. It also includes economic stimulus for the hard-hit forestry economy. And the leaders said they recognize that fires burn in grasslands and chaparral as well as forests, so the package includes all types of fire-prone terrain and vegetation, with incentives for prevention efforts to protect areas with larger numbers of residents. The new plan is in Assembly and Senate budget bills to be considered in coming days. A $500 million appropriation would be huge and theyll need to do substantially more than that again for next year, said Paul Mason, vice president of policy and incentives at the Pacific Forest Trust, a nonprofit land trust and think-tank that promotes forest conservation. It will need to be in the billions. Besides devoting some of the budget windfall to fire preparedness, he said lawmakers should find a stable funding source for future years. Just as it took us a century to create the fire problems we have right now, its going to take us many years to restore resilience to the forest landscape in California, Mason said. Lawmakers have already mostly divvied up what Newsom said in January would be a $15 billion one-time surplus, with most of it going to schools and a state economic stimulus package that includes $600 payments to millions of low- to moderate-income Californians. But the state expects another $26 billion in aid from the federal government with few limits on how it can be spent. Mason said Democratic President Joe Bidens new administration should also invest more in forest projects, given that more than half Californias forestland is federally owned. State officials said they hope to get federal disaster prevention grants to match money that the state will spend on making homes less vulnerable to wildfires. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire The International Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America have announced several shows of support for members striking against Warrior Met Coal. The strike began April 1. Last Friday, union members voted down a preliminary agreement with the company. According to the UMWA, the union is contributing $50,000 to establishing a relief fund for workers and families, and later this week will pay roughly $600,000 in the first wave of bi-weekly strike benefits to dues-paying members participating in strike activity. The union has also purchased health care insurance for striking members and families. Details for those wishing to contribute to the relief fund will be available later this week on the UMWAs website. The Warrior Met miners have overwhelmingly voted to continue this strike, UMWA International President Cecil Roberts said. The union is mobilizing its entire resources to support them. Roberts also announced the union will begin holding rallies in the Brookwood area for members, families and community supporters. Warrior Met produces coal used in steel production in Asia, Europe and South America. The previous agreement with the union was negotiated as Warrior Met emerged from the bankruptcy proceedings of the former Walter Energy, which declared bankruptcy in 2016. The strike encompasses workers with all of the companys operations, including the No. 4 mine, the No. 5 preparation plant, the No. 7 mine and its central shop. First broad based carrier hollowcore fibre deployment to a trading venue, offering a live route more than 30% faster than existing fibre-based routes. euNetworks Fiber UK Limited ("euNetworks"), a Western European bandwidth infrastructure company, has deployed their first ultra low latency CoreSmart cable solution based on NANF hollowcore fibres. Lumenisity Limited ("Lumenisity") supplied the CoreSmart cable solution, with this new deployment now live between Interxion: A Digital Realty Company, and the London Stock Exchange. This is the first commercially available deployment of this technology in the world and is part of an agreement covering additional deployments over the coming years between trading venues and other locations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005248/en/ Brady Rafuse, CEO of euNetworks (Photo: Business Wire) Data travels 50% faster in hollowcore cable, reducing latency by 1/3, and providing a round trip saving of 3s per km. These latency savings are very significant in financial trading applications. They can also be scaled to increase the separation of data centres by 50%, whilst maintaining the latency envelope, more than doubling the area of land in which these data centres can be located. With deployments in numerous private networks over the last three years, Lumenisity's CoreSmart is the lowest loss, broadest bandwidth hollowcore cable available commercially. euNetworks leads the market in delivering fibre-based ultra low latency services throughout Europe. Its euTrade solution is a dedicated network platform supporting the bandwidth needs of the financial services community. The company continues to optimise routes between all the key trading exchanges in Europe to ensure delivery of the shortest paths and lowest latencies available in the market. "We're very pleased to partner with euNetworks to enable them to provide the lowest latency performance to a major trading exchange using our CoreSmart cable," said Tony Pearson, Business Development Director at Lumenisity. "We are excited to be collaborating with such an established Carrier and to already have hollowcore deployed, carrying traffic as part of this development." "We continue to focus on delivering lowest latency services for our customers. We focus on identifying new and innovative technologies that can be deployed on our network to provide the best possible bandwidth solutions," said Brady Rafuse, Chief Executive Officer of euNetworks. "We're excited to be working with Lumenisity, helping to develop and deploy hollowcore fibre. We're confident that with this technology we can achieve market leading fibre-based latencies much closer to radio frequency systems, without the constraints that are inherently present with those radio frequency solutions." About euNetworks euNetworks is a critical bandwidth infrastructure company, owning and operating 17 fibre based metropolitan networks connected with a high capacity intercity backbone covering 51 cities in 15 countries across Europe. The company leads the market in data centre connectivity, directly connecting over 440 today. euNetworks is also a leading cloud connectivity provider and offers a targeted portfolio of metropolitan and long haul services including Dark Fibre, Wavelengths, and Ethernet. Wholesale, finance, content, media, mobile, data centre and enterprise customers benefit from euNetworks' unique inventory of fibre and duct based assets that are tailored to fulfil their high bandwidth needs. For further information visit eunetworks.com. About Lumenisity Limited Lumenisity Limited was formed in early 2017 as a spin out from the University of Southampton to commercialise breakthroughs in the development of hollowcore optical fibre. The company has built a team of industry leaders and experts to realise their goal to be the world's premier high-performance hollowcore fibre optic cable solutions provider offering their customers reliable, deployable, low latency and high bandwidth connections that unlock new capabilities in communication networks. Lumenisity, NANF and CoreSmart are registered trademarks of Lumenisity Limited. Visit their website at: www.lumenisity.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005248/en/ Contacts: euNetworks: Hannah Britt Senior Director, Marketing IR euNetworks hannah.britt@eunetworks.com email +44 7717 896 446 mobile Lumenisity hollowcore@lumenisity.com There are various ways the U.S. could commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our homeland. Joe Biden has decided to commemorate them by effectively surrendering to the terrorist outfit that made the attacks possible. Biden says the U.S. will withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11 of this year. There are arguments in favor of pulling out of that country, although I believe the stronger case is for maintaining our current presence (a subject for a future post). Donald Trump talked about withdrawing for four years and eventually set a May 2022 [correction: May 2021] date for giving up. Biden also wants to pull out. Fine. But doesnt it seem odd to pick September 11 as the date by which we effectively surrender Afghanistan to the Taliban? It was the Taliban, after all, that allied itself with Osama bin Laden and provided him the base from which to attack America. Bidens choice of date is symbolic. I suppose his message is that 20 years of fighting in Afghanistan is enough. That message plays well with the Democratic base and, quite possibly, with the country as a whole. But the message many will receive, especially terrorists and other adversaries, is that the U.S. has so little self respect that it symbolically chooses 9/11 as the date for accepting defeat in Afghanistan at the hands of an enemy that helped pull off the devastating 9/11 attack on America. Shortly after the attack, President Bush visited Ground Zero. He promised that those responsible for the attack would be hearing from us. They did. Now, for the twentieth anniversary of the attack, one of the groups responsible is again hearing from us. Theyre hearing Joe Biden say, Afghanistan is all yours. Great nations dont behave this way. I would have thought that no nation does. RTHK: US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan from May President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he will begin withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan on May 1 to end America's longest war, rejecting calls for US forces to stay to ensure a peaceful resolution to that country's internal conflict. In a White House speech, Biden set a goal of withdrawing all 2,500 US troops remaining in Afghanistan by September 11. By pulling out without a clear victory, the United States opens itself to criticism that a withdrawal represents a de facto admission of failure for American military strategy. "It was never meant to be a multi-generational undertaking. We were attacked. We went to war with clear goals. We achieved those objectives," Biden said, noting that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces in 2011 and saying that organisation has been "degraded" in Afghanistan. "And it's time to end the forever war." September 11 is a highly symbolic date, coming 20 years to the day of al Qaeda's attacks on the United States that prompted then-President George W. Bush to launch the conflict. The war has cost the lives of 2,400 American service members and consumed an estimated US$2 trillion. US troop numbers in Afghanistan peaked at more than 100,000 in 2011. The Democratic president had faced a May 1 withdrawal deadline, set by his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, who tried but failed to pull the troops out before he left office. Instead, Biden said the final withdrawal would start on May 1 and end by Sept. 11. "I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats," Biden said. "I will not pass this responsibility on to a fifth." "It is time to end America's longest war. It is time for American troops to come home," he said. Meeting Nato officials in Brussels earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said foreign troops under Nato command in Afghanistan will leave the country in coordination with the US withdrawal by September 11, after Germany said it would match American plans. Blinken also spoke by phone with Pakistan's army chief on Wednesday and discussed the peace process, according to a statement from the media wing of Pakistan's military. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wrote on Twitter that he has spoken with Biden and he respects the US decision. Ghani added that "we will work with our US partners to ensure a smooth transition" and "we will continue to work with our US/NATO partners in the ongoing peace efforts." There is a summit planned about Afghanistan starting on April 24 in Istanbul that is due to include the United Nations and Qatar. The Taliban, ousted from power in 2001 by US-led forces, said it would not take part in any meetings that would make decisions about Afghanistan until all foreign forces had left the country. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Wednesday called on the United States to adhere to the deal the group reached with Trump's administration. "If the agreement is committed to, the remaining problems will also be solved," Mujahid wrote on Twitter. "If the agreement is not committed to ... the problems will certainly increase." Biden rejected the idea that US troops could provide the leverage needed for peace, saying: "We gave that argument a decade. It has never proven effective." "American troops shouldnt be used as a bargaining chip between warring parties in other countries," he said. In Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, officials said they would carry on with peace talks and their forces defending the country. "Now that there is an announcement on foreign troops withdrawal within several months, we need to find a way to coexist," said Abdullah Abdullah, a top peace official and former presidential candidate. "We believe that there is no winner in Afghan conflicts and we hope the Taliban realise that too." US officials can claim to have decimated al Qaeda's core leadership in the region years ago, including tracking down and killing the group's leader bin Laden in neighbouring Pakistan in 2011. But ties between the Taliban and al Qaeda elements persist and peace and security remain elusive. Successive US presidents sought to extricate themselves from Afghanistan, but those hopes were confounded by concerns about Afghan security forces, endemic corruption in Afghanistan and the resiliency of a Taliban insurgency that enjoyed safe haven across the border in Pakistan. There is concern over the impact a withdrawal would have on human rights in Afghanistan given the gains, particularly for women and girls, during the past two decades. "I am worried about my future," said Wida Saghar, a writer and women's rights activist in Kabul. "An unknown future awaits us, when foreign forces leave and the civil war intensifies ... then who will think about women's rights? Who will care about us?" (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-04-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Gemma Collins wants to be the next - and first female - Jame Bond. The TOWIE star, 39, has revealed it's her dream to be a spy and thinks she'd be great in the role of the iconic spy - to date played only by men. She said on her podcast: 'I'd love to do a particular job that's all about keeping secrets. Namely being an international super spy. Gemma Collins wants to be the next - and first female - Jame Bond 'This would be my dream job. I am constantly obsessed with watching action movies and I can see myself being the first female Bond. 'A plus size girl! An Essex girl! The name is Bond, Gemma Bond. It's got a lovely ring to it. 'Now what things would I change if I was a female Bond? Well... I quite like the films so I wouldn't change much. 'I wouldn't put on a fancy accent. I'd talk how I talk, it'd be absolutely fabulous. I've got a licence to thrill baby!' Outgoing: Current 007 Daniel Craig is stepping down from the role, having wrapped filming on No Time To Die, the 25th movie in the franchise, in the autumn of 2019 In the running? [L-R] Richard Madden and James Norton are both names that have been floated to take over as Bond Current 007 Daniel Craig is stepping down from the role, having wrapped filming on No Time To Die, the 25th movie in the franchise, in the autumn of 2019. It was set for a cinematic release in the spring of 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic has constantly pushed it back. It is now set for a September 2021 release, pandemic-depending. Who will fill the role going forward is yet to be known. Replacement? Could Rege-Jean Page be the next 007? Spy potential: Idris Elba [L] has been a longtime name attached to the role, as has Night Manager star Tom Hiddleston [R] The likes of Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, James Norton, Rege-Jean Page, and Richard Madden have been suggested over the last few years, should the role go to a man. However, many are calling for a woman to take on the part - with the likes of Gillian Anderson and Lashana Lynch cited as possible successors. Yet long-term franchise boss Barbara Broccoli has always asserted that 007 is a male character and that will never change. 'He can be of any colour, but he is male,' she stated in an interview with Vanity Fair in 2020. 'I believe we should be creating new characters for women - strong female characters. I'm not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.' Neighbours stars, including Olivia Junkeer and Jemma Donovan, were spotted making their way to the show's Melbourne set on Tuesday amid a string of recent scandals. Former cast members such as Sharon Johal and Sachin Joab have spoken out against the long-running soap in recent weeks, alleging racism and abuse on set. Most recently, actress Sharon, 33, detailed her 'painful' experience on the program in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday. Business as usual: Neighbours stars were spotted making their way to the show's Melbourne set on Tuesday amid a string of recent scandals (Olivia Junkeer pictured) It appeared to be business as usual for the show's current cast members, including Olivia, 22, Jemma, 21, and Rebekah Elmaloglou, 47, were all seen walking to set as they prepared to film scenes. Fellow Neighbours stars Tim Kano, 34, Charlotte Chimes, 28, Matt Wilson, 32, and Richie Morris, 22, were also spotted heading to work on the show. Walking alongside each other, Jemma and Olivia appeared enthralled in their phones as they made their way to set. Scandal: Several former cast members have spoken out against the long-running soap in recent weeks, alleging racism and abuse on set. (Olivia pictured with Jemma Donovan) Checking in: Walking alongside each other, Jemma and Olivia appeared enthralled in their phones as they made their way to set Both thespians were dressed casually, with Jemma opting for black pants, which she paired with an oversize peach-coloured motif T-shirt. The daughter of fellow Neighbours alum Jason Donovan also wore a black leather blazer and white sneakers. Meanwhile, a solemn Olivia stepped out in black leggings, which she paired with a baggy cream knit jumper and white sneakers. On the phone: Fellow Neighbours star Richie Morris (pictured) was also spotted checking his phone as he walked to set, and wore a serious expression on his face Serious: A solemn Olivia stepped out in black leggings, which she paired with a baggy cream knit jumper and white sneakers Richie was also spotted checking his phone as he walked to set, and wore a serious expression on his face. The handsome young actor stepped out in baggy navy blue tracksuit pants and a saffron-coloured T-shirt. He also wore a black puffer jacket with the Neighbours logo embroidered on the front, white sneakers and a red cross-body bag. Cast catch up: An animated Rebekah Elmaloglou (centre) chatted with Tim Kano (right) and Matt Wilson (left) as she made her way to the show's set clad in a grey robe Back work: It appeared to be business as usual for the show's current cast members, who were all seen walking to set as they prepared to film scenes An animated Rebekah chatted with Tim and Matt as she made her way to the show's set clad in a grey robe. Meanwhile, Tim tepped out in a pair of dark jeans, a dark blue button-up shirt, black leather boots, and a maroon and grey windcheater jacket. Matt also opted for dark jeans, which he teamed with white sneakers and a black hooded jacket. Phoning it in: Charlotte Chimes (pictured) showed off her character's baby bump in a figure-hugging brown dress, black leather biker jacket and white sneakers Behind the scenes: The 28-year-old actress chatted on her phone as she walked to set, before waiting with the show's crew Charlotte showed off her character's baby bump in a figure-hugging brown dress, black leather biker jacket and white sneakers. The screen star chatted on her phone as she walked to set, before waiting with the show's crew. In a recent statement, ex-soap star Sharon alleged she was subjected to racial slurs, mocking comments and a colleague calling her a 'c**t' when she confronted them over an offensive remark. Neighbours royalty: Jemma is the daughter of fellow Neighbours alum Jason Donovan, and also wore a black leather blazer and white sneakers Sharon went on to claim that on more than one occasion, a current cast member (not a person of colour) directly referred to her as 'you people', while speaking in derogatory terms about an altercation they were involved in with an Indian person. She also insisted the same cast member repeatedly referred to her as 'the black one' and/or 'blackie' behind her back while in the presence of crew members, and that the person claimed the show only employs Indian actors 'to fill their diversity quota'. In a statement posted to Instagram she said: 'Having worked on Neighbours for the last four years and being one of the few people of colour to be employed as a series regular in it's 36 year history, I have been asked by many, and feel an obligation to, to share my experiences. 'I feel morally compelled to support the actors who have come forward with their experiences of racism, at a huge cost to themselves, just as this statement is to me. 'My decision for speaking publicly now is that I believe this can be a transformative moment in the show's history, creating a culture where there is deep listening, where cultural awareness and education is at the forefront of our minds, where cast and crew are encouraged to speak up and stand up for others, where unity is cultivated over division, and where people of diverse backgrounds can work in an inclusive and safe environment. 'I have thought long and hard about how I might make a valuable contribution to the discussion to help bring about transformative change in the culture of not just Neighbours, but the screen industry more broadly. 'As a qualified lawyer, I see this very clearly as a human rights issue - an issue that is not exclusive to this specific workplace, but rather endemic to our society as a whole.' Taking it seriously: In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, Fremantle said: 'We remain committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees' 'My intention is to help generate a wider discussion that we, as a country, must engage in actively, without being defensive or critical but rather with empathy and deep listening. 'I have previously spoken publicly about the lack of diversity on Australian screens, always with a view of to create awareness and provide insight. I have also publicly applauded Neighbours for the great strides it has taken in this regard and am acutely aware of, and grateful for, the rare opportunity I have had to work on this show as a woman of colour. 'This iconic show which has been a wonderful training ground for cast and crew alike and there are many people at Neighbours who are genuinely working behind the scenes to support minorities as much as they can in their respective positions. 'In saying this, my experience on Neighbours has also been painful and problematic. Like my colleagues who have spoken out over the past week, I too have experienced direct, indirect and casual racism in this workplace. 'On more than one occasion a current cast member (non-POC) directly referred to me as ''you people'' when speaking in derogatory terms about an altercation they were involved in with an Indian person. 'The same cast member repeatedly mimicked the Indian character Apu from the Simpsons': Sharon Johal (pictured) detailed her 'painful' experience on the show in a lengthy statement 'The same person repeatedly referred to me as ''the black one'' and/or ''blackie'' behind my back in the presence of other crew members. 'I have been told that the same cast member also repeatedly claims that the show only employs ''Indian actors'' and diverse actors of colour to ''fill their diversity quotas'' and ''not because they are any good''. 'From what I understand and what has been communicated to me by other cast and crew, these incidents of racism and problematic behaviour, while directed at me, are not unique to me.' She added: 'I was again sympathised with, but was advised, ''we leave the comments as they are for people to discuss''. 'I believe production has a duty of care to moderate such comments and protect its employees, especially as we were instructed and expected to promote the show on our own social media platforms.' Sharon said: 'I commend Fremantle for taking action and conducting an independent investigation, and humbly request that the scope of the investigation be widened to include all forms of discrimination, not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation and identity. 'I think (and hope) we are unified in standing against racism. I think (and hope) we are unified in wanting to feel safe at work. These statements should not be mutually exclusive.' Sharon starred on the Network 10 series as Dipi Rebecchi from 2017 until only last month. Other former cast members to have spoken out against the show, alleging racism on set include Sachin, Meyne Wyatt and guest star Shareena Clanton. 'Our characters were not from India': Sachin Joab (pictured recently), who played Ajay, said he was horrified to learn his Australian-born character was being 'sent back to India' Sachin, who played Ajay Kapoor from 2011 to 2013, told the Herald Sun he was horrified to learn his Australian-born character was being written off the show and 'sent back to India'. He said: 'I don't think I'll unfortunately ever forget... [being told]: 'We're sending Ajay and Rani back to India.'' 'It was a double-hit for me because not only was I confused at finding out that we, as the only remaining actors of colour on the show are being written out, but... our characters were not from India. Our characters were both born and raised in Australia.' Aboriginal actor Meyne, who was a regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016 playing Nate Kinski and Mason Turner, posted to Instagram multiple times in the past week to claim he 'experienced racism on set'. He said: 'It involved the c-word and I called that sh*t out and it didn't happen around me again,' he claimed. 'I did walk in on this incident in particular, so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back. I have too much experience to believe otherwise. 'And it is disappointing, but not at all surprising, to hear that five years later racism continues to be present in that workplace. But what can you say, we are in Australia.' Shock: Aboriginal actor Meyne Wyatt (pictured in 2018), who was a regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016 playing Nate Kinski and Mason Turner, also insisted he experienced racism Meanwhile, Shareena, who has also starred on Wentworth, vowed to never work on Neighbours again after claiming her stint on Ramsay Street was marred by 'multiple racist traumas' which have required ongoing counselling. 'I'm struggling to post anything positive about the months I endured on Neighbours after multiple racist traumas and navigating ongoing counselling from this highly problematic show,' she wrote on Instagram. 'It's been lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe space. 'A (staff member) thought it funny and appropriate to openly laugh at the word 'c*m sl*t' by a cast member who loudly spoke about 'c*m', 'c*m', 'c*m' in front of other cast and crew. 'Due to my insistence of engaging a Wurundjeri Elder to be included for ongoing cultural safety reasons like cultural protocols followed and debriefing, I was told 'this is not a film production, Shareena' and that 'we simply don't have the budget'. 'The humble few hundred dollars a week Aunty and I proposed was in contrast to the thousands of dollars actors were receiving each pay. I paid Aunty directly out of my own income to make up for this lack of budget. 'A senior staff member openly laughed whilst using the term 'slave driver' in reference to him 'working hard'. My management at the time didn't help as they endorsed/encouraged this 'office banter'. I fired the agent. 'Overt and covert levels of racism were rife, often disguised as 'jokes', like a white actress openly calling another actress of colour a 'lil' monkey'.' 'Twice I endured the N-word openly being used on-set and in the green room. I was even told to 'go somewhere else' by staff when confronting the actor directly because I was making others 'uncomfortable'. 'A white actress openly laughed at the racist N-word to only lie about laughing about it when questioned by HR. She said that I 'misconstrued' what she was 'laughing at' and that she was laughing at 'something else'. That is a blatant lie. 'The retaliation for calling out this misconduct and racism often left me ostracised and further marginalised. What was meant to (be an) HR follow-up (to) discuss this led to them saying they were unsure of 'what else they could do'.' In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, Fremantle, the production company behind Neighbours, said: 'We remain committed to ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees on the set of Neighbours and take very seriously any questions about racism or any other form of discrimination. 'We are engaging an independent legal investigation to work concurrently with Campfire X's cultural review and hope to work directly with the individuals that have raised concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps are appropriate.' Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting anyone pictured in this story is involved in the racism allegations. [April 14, 2021] Minister LeBlanc and Principle 3 co-leads issue Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference OTTAWA, ON, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Citizens of all democracies, including Canada, need to know they can trust and rely on the integrity and security of their democratic institutions and processes. The increased use of the Internet and other technology, while bringing many positive developments, has also led to new cyber-based threats to these institutions, including new forms of foreign interference in elections. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted just how pervasive cyber threats, such as online disinformation, can be. That is why governments, industry and civil society must work together to improve organizational preparedness, enhance citizen resilience and increase our understanding of cyber-based election interference. Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, along with Paris Call Principle 3 co-leads Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, and Karen Donfried, President of the German Marshall Fund on behalf of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, shared Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference. Throughout this past year, the co-leads held a series of workshops with international partners and experts from government, industry and civil society to share key observations and to further global understanding of ways to counter cyber-based election interference. The result of these workshops is Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference, a collection of good practices to support election management bodies, governments and other democratic stakeholders in their efforts to safeguard elections and democracy. As cyberspace continues to be a primary domain for the exercise of democracy, our government is committed to protecting elections from interference and countering malicious cyber activities. The Principle 3 co-leads present this compendium to those working to do the same. Quotes "Our government is committed to advancing and protecting democracy and we believe we are stronger and more resilient when we work together. It is why we joined with Microsoft and the Alliance for Securing Democracy to co-champion Principle 3 of the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace. Today's release, Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference, is the culmination of that work. It captures the key observations, ideas and good practices for defending electoral processes that were shared by a diverse group of stakeholders and experts. Together we are committed to advancing and protecting democracy." The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs "Democracies around the world continue to feel the impact of election interference, and the practices shared in this compendium will increase resilience against this threat. The Paris Call, specifically the partnership between Canada and the German Marshall Fund demonstrates the value and importance of multi-stakeholder engagement." Brad Smith, President, Microsoft "Protecting democratic elections against malign foreign interference is not a task for any one country, institution, or sector aloneit requires a whole-of-society effort. The Alliance for Securing Democracy joined with the Government of Canada and Microsoft to build a multi-stakeholder community to share lessons, discuss common threats, and lay out how civil society, government, and the private sector can work together to counter interference. The compendium released today draws on the expertise of scores of experts in Europe, the United States, and in the Pacific and provides concrete recommendations to improve our collective, democratic resilience." Dr. Karen Donfried, President, German Marshall Fund on behalf of the Alliance for Securing Democracy Quick Facts The Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace (Paris Call) was established by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, during the Internet Governance Forum held at UNESCO and the Paris Peace Forum in November 2018 . . The overall goal of the Paris Call is to address new cyberspace threats that could endanger citizens and infrastructure through international cooperation and collaboration. The Paris Call is a multi-stakeholder initiative, bringing together governments, the private sector and organizations in civil society. Minister LeBlanc's mandate prioritizes working with domestic and international stakeholders to strengthen Canada's whole-of-society preparedness and resilience in the face of evolving threats to democracy, and leading an integrated government response to potect Canada's democratic institutions against foreign interference and disinformation. whole-of-society preparedness and resilience in the face of evolving threats to democracy, and leading an integrated government response to potect democratic institutions against foreign interference and disinformation. Other governments participating in the Paris Call include Australia , Chile , Germany , Japan , Norway , the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom . Associated Links Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference Frequently Asked Questions Background Microsoft: Defending Democracy Alliance for Securing Democracy The Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace Launch of the Paris Call Government of Canada Democratic Institutions Democratic Institutions Protecting Democracy Stay Connected https://www.canada.ca/en/democratic-institutions.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/CdnDemocracy BACKGROUNDER Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron launched the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace with the goal of addressing new cyberspace threats that could endanger citizens and infrastructure. Supporters of the Paris Call commit to working together to adopt responsible behaviours and secure cyberspace, based on a set of nine common principles. These principles act as a non-binding declaration and set a precedent as the largest-ever multi-stakeholder cybersecurity agreement. On May 26, 2020, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, announced that the Government of Canada would be one of the three leaders on Principle 3: Defend Electoral Processes, along with Microsoft and the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD). Principle 3 aims to strengthen our capacity to prevent malign interference by foreign actors aimed at undermining electoral processes through malicious cyber activities. Throughout the remainder of 2020, the co-leads joined international and Canadian partners from government, industry, and civil society in a series of workshops. The aim was to share key observations and develop good practices to counter election interference as a means to strengthen their capacity to prevent malign cyber interference by foreign actors in electoral processes. The observations shared during these workshops make up Multi-Stakeholder Insights: A Compendium on Countering Election Interference (the Compendium), a good practice guide to help build global expertise and understanding about effective ways to counter election interference. The Compendium combines key observations from the community into six key areas. The following is an overview of the observations from each area. Improving multi-stakeholder information sharing Rising cyber threats highlight the need to improve on information sharing within and between the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally. By developing a shared language, improving on information-sharing channels and communicating continually about threats, threat actors and responses, we can improve our ability to identify and counter malicious cyber attacks and reduce their impact. Foreign interference versus acceptable nation-state influence While democracies around the world are increasingly working to prevent interference by malign foreign actors, the lack of a common framing for "foreign interference" makes it problematic for policy makers to develop standards and guidelines. By creating and agreeing to clear and globally accepted definitions for terms like "influence" and "interference," democracies around the world will be better positioned to determine what is and what is not acceptable, while protecting core democratic values. COVID-19 contingencies countering election interference in a pandemic environment The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented opportunities for election interference, given the complexity of holding an election. Election officials must engage in extensive contingency planning by building trust, providing credible information, and implementing reliable technology. Because voting methods influence who votes, which in turn influences who governs, governments around the world should seek hybrid approaches, with a focus on ensuring the highest possible participation. Each approach has benefits and risks; the right approach will differ from country to country. For these reasons, solutions must be customized and include contingencies. Interference in the information environment: mitigation and response The Internet has provided people around the world with a virtually endless stream of information and provided malicious foreign and domestic actors with a host of new opportunities to spread disinformation. Governments, traditional media, social media platforms, academia, and civil society are all part of this information ecosystem, and they all have a role to play in countering electoral interference. Working together to provide timely and accurate information is key. Ultimately, citizen resilience is the best safeguard against these hostile actions, and citizens must be empowered with reliable information to hold individuals and institutions to account. Defend, detect, and recover: countering the threat of interference in election infrastructure The recent rise in disinformation campaigns targeting elections has highlighted the complexity and exposed the vulnerabilities of election infrastructure. Protecting this infrastructure is an essential part of countering foreign interference; critical steps must be taken before, during, and after election day to ensure systems are protected. Every aspect of election infrastructure has its own vulnerabilities and requires its own solution. By looking at the overall process as a continuous, circular life cycle as opposed to a linear process, insights can be incorporated back into the learning process. Over time, mitigation measures will improve and further protect elections. Empowering citizens: understanding and building community resilience to counter the threat of election interference Well-informed and engaged citizens are crucial to a stable and properly functioning democracy. Unfortunately, the distrust of mainstream news outlets coupled with the ever-growing problem of widespread disinformation on social media is eroding citizens' faith in legitimate sources of information and threatens democracy itself. Building civic and digital literacy by giving people the tools they need to fact-check and check sources is key. By developing tangible suggestions, proactively sharing accurate information, and tailoring programs to specific communities, citizens can and will become the best defence against election interference and disinformation campaigns. SOURCE Minister for Democratic Institutions [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Australians who wish to farewell Prince Philip can watch the funeral live on TV with millions of other mourners around the world. The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will take place at George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday, with further details due to be released on Thursday. The service is scheduled to begin with a national minute of silence at 3pm, which is 12am on Sunday AEST time. Network 10 said the funeral will be aired live and then repeated on Sunday morning, while Channel 9 and 9Now will broadcast the service from 11pm. Channel 7's coverage will commence at 9.30pm on Saturday in Sydney and 7.30pm in Perth. Australians who wish to farewell Prince Philip (pictured in Perth in 2011) can watch the funeral live on TV with millions of other mourners around the world The funeral will take place at George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday. Pictured: Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth wave goodbye at Perth Airport in 2011 WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE FUNERAL The service is scheduled to begin at 3pm on Saturday, which is 12am on Sunday AEST time Network 10 Funeral will be aired live and repeated on Sunday morning Channel 9 Coverage will be broadcasted from 11pm Channel 7 Coverage will commence at 9.30pm on Saturday in Sydney and 7.30pm in Perth Viewers in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide viewers will be able to join the network's coverage when the AFL ends at about 10.30pm ABC The national broadcaster will also show the funeral live Advertisement Viewers in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide viewers will be able to join the network's coverage when the AFL ends at about 10.30pm. The ABC will also broadcast Prince Philip's farewell live. The Duke, who died peacefully on Friday, currently lies at rest in the private chapel of Windsor Castle. His body will not lie in state - where members of the public would have been able to view his coffin. On Saturday, the Duke's coffin, accompanied by the Dean of Windsor and the Lord Chamberlain, will be moved to the State Entrance of Windsor Castle by a Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. The party will place the coffin in the Land Rover - believed to be a modified Defender 130 Gun Bus that was commissioned in 2005 - at 2.40pm. On the grass in the Castle's Quadrangle will be representative detachments drawn from Philip's military special relationships. The Quadrangle will also be lined by the Household Cavalry and The Foot Guards. At 2.45pm the Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years, will lead the eight-minute procession to St George's Chapel. They will be followed by the Major General's Party, and then the Service Chiefs, reflecting His Royal Highness's close relationship with the military. A general view of the Windsor Castle on Tuesday, after Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, died at the age of 99 The Prince of Wales and other senior Royals will follow the Land Rover bearing the Duke's coffin - draped in his personal standard, a wreath of flowers and his naval cap and sword - on foot. Philips' private secretary, Archie Miller Bakewell, one of his protection officers, two of his pages and two of his valets will bring up the rear of the procession. Minute guns will be fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the east lawn of Windsor Castle for the duration of the procession, and the Curfew Tower Bell will toll. The procession will end at nearby St George's Chapel for the service, which will begin with a national minute's silence at 3pm. The no-frills service will be attended by just 30 members of the Royal Family - including the Duke's children and grandchildren. Prince Harry will fly from the Sussexes' Californian mansion but Meghan, 39, who is heavily pregnant has been advised by her doctor not to travel to the UK. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, are expected to officiate at the service. After the service, the duke will be interred in the Royal Vault of the chapel. Alison Hammond suffered an awkward slip-up during a This Morning segment about Prince Philip's ceremonial royal funeral today after she instead called it 'Prince William's'. The presenter, 46, from Birmingham, baffled viewers as she made the blunder whilst talking about the service, which is taking place on Saturday in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Alison and co-host Dermot O'Leary, alongside guests Georgia Toffolo, the TV personality, and journalist Andrew Neil, were discussing the meeting between Prince William and Prince Harry. But as Alison signed the show off before heading to the adverts, she said that the two brothers would be coming face-to-face at 'their grandfather Prince William's funeral', leaving viewers stunned. Scroll down for video Alison Hammond (pictured right) suffered an awkward slip-up during a This Morning segment about Prince Philip's ceremonial royal funeral today after she instead called it 'Prince William's' Alison and co-host Dermot O'Leary, alongside guests Georgia Toffolo, the TV personality, and journalist Andrew Neil, were discussing the meeting between Prince William and Prince Harry (pictured left with the royal family in March 2020) Social media users rushed to Twitter to share their confusion after the slip-up, with one saying: 'Phillip, William...the Queen next? Maybe we should look into Harry.' Another said: 'Maybe you should at least add a correction about Prince William being dead @AlisonHammond @radioleary? Rude! Do you even realise the words that come out of your mouths?' A third wrote: 'Prince William became a grandfather - but then he died!?', while a forth said: 'Is Prince William aware it's his funeral this Saturday?' The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will be the first time that Prince Harry comes face-to-face with the royal family since he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped away from royal duties last March and moved to California with their young son, Archie. But as Alison signed the show off before heading to the adverts, she said that the two brothers would be coming face-to-face at 'their grandfather Prince William's funeral', leaving viewers (above) stunned It will also be the brothers' first meeting since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they laid bare the extent of their rift with the Royal Family. On Saturday, Harry, 36, and William, 38, are both expected to join other senior royals and walk behind their grandfather's coffin, as the funeral procession makes its way through Windsor Castle. The brothers are believed to have already spoken on the phone since Harry landed at Heathrow. Harry is now in quarantine, but can attend the funeral in line with government rules that make exceptions for such occasions. Meghan, who is pregnant with their second child, was advised by her doctor not to make the long trip. By SA Commercial Prop News Eskom has plans to sell non-core properties, saying the proceeds will be used to raise the companys capital. Financially-constrained Eskom is looking to sell more properties, saying the proceeds will be used to raise the companys capital. As part of its efforts to raise funds from the disposal of non-core property, Eskom has announced the sale of two buildings to the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. According to the power utility, this will help relieve some of the accommodation pressures faced by university students and social housing. The sale of two high-rise office buildings in Kimberley and Johannesburg, previously utilised as regional offices, has raised R76.1 million for the utility. In total, Eskom aims to raise more than R2 billion from the sale of non-core property, Eskom said in a statement on Tuesday. Staff have since been moved to other locations as part of Eskoms drive to optimise space and derive maximum value from its extensive property portfolio. The state-owned entity said this forms part of its approved strategy to responsibly dispose of non-core immovable properties. The property disposal process is in line with Eskoms unbundling process and its bid to raise capital. The entity said the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has been given the first right of refusal on all properties with a residential potential, in line with government policy. The department will therefore convert the Kimberley Trust Centre, the tallest building in the Northern Cape city, and the 26-storey regional office in Johannesburg into residential housing units, which will assist the department towards meeting its mandate of providing social housing, Eskom explained. In terms of the sale agreement, Eskom said the Kimberley building will be converted into social housing units to meet the demand for residential units, while the Braamfontein building will enable the department to respond to the accommodation needs of university students in Johannesburg. Eskom continues to explore similar opportunities in other areas where it owns non-core property stock. It is expected that sales of Die Wilge Flats outside the Kusile Power Station at eMalahleni and the Lephalale Stands near the Medupi Power Station will be finalised during the first half of the current financial year. Another non-core immovable property is being offered for sale through the governments process of property disposal. GLOBAL HR TECH FIRM REWARD GATEWAY ANNOUNCES 117% NEW CLIENT GROWTH IN NORTH AMERICA DURING PANDEMIC New, Expanded Capabilities Drive 129% Increase in Platform Usage Global employee engagement company Reward Gateway announced growth in its U.S. client base of 117% during the first three fiscal quarters of FY2021, compared to that same period the previous year. Supporting clients such as The Arbor Company, Dental Care Alliance (DCA), HomeServe USA, PBS North Carolina and Planet Home Lending, Reward Gateway is also experiencing strong growth in platform usage due to expanded reward and recognition, wellbeing, communication and survey capabilities. New and existing clients are partnering with Reward Gateway to re-imagine how they recognize, reward, support and communicate with their people, wherever and however they work. The Reward Gateway solution addresses all of those needs by consolidating employee recognition, rewards, surveys, communications, discounts and wellbeing into one unified platform, available to all employees, anytime, anywhere and on any device. This past year has seen increases in global platform usage, including: 148% increase in social recognition eCards sent 146% increase in monetary rewards sent 182% increase in internal communication blog posts 237% increase in employee surveys issued 150% increase in wellbeing center usage "The pandemic placed new demands on how employees work and highlighted the need for a single platform where employers can connect, recognize and support individuals quickly and easily. Ultimately, this was reflected in the increased platform usage across our clients globally," noted Reward Gateway COO, Rob Boland. "We remain committed to supporting our clients in this new world of work where integrated HR technology, employee retention, engagement and an enhanced employee experience are critical for survival." Dental Care Alliance, which has 330 allied practices in 20 states with 4,500 employees, recently launched its Reward Gateway employee engagement platform, stating: "Our 30 years of success at DCA is due in no small part to the talent of our team members and their fierce commitment providing the best possible care to our patients," says Kelly Stillman, Vice President, Communications Culture. "By partnering with Reward Gateway we will continue to lead the industry by innovating, better supporting and recognizing our people, and ensuring they feel appreciated and connected to our U-SMILE values from wherever they serve." Reward Gateway also expanded its ability to help organizations connect, recognize and support employees with the launch of exciting new capabilities, including its new Reward Marketplace featuring Amazon for an industry-first flexible redemption offer; a new Microsoft Teams integration; and the ability to consolidate and streamline flexible benefits. About Reward Gateway Reward Gateway helps more than 1,900 of the world's leading companies, in 23 countries, to connect, recognize and support their best people with an employee engagement platform that brings employee benefits, discounts and perks, recognition and reward, employee wellbeing, employee communications, and employee surveys into one unified hub. Clients include American Express, Unilever, Samsung, IBM, and McDonald's. For more information, please visit www.rewardgateway.com. Reward Gateway. The Employee Engagement Platform. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005131/en/ Contacts: Rachel Weeks Rachel.Weeks@rewardgateway.com In this touching footage a Spanish hairdresser who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer breaks down in tears as his colleague shaves off his own hair in solidarity. In the video, barber Joel Ortega can be heard telling his colleague Neftali Martin, who is currently being treated for cancer, 'you're not alone'. In a post with the video on Instagram, he explained that Ortega had told him he would continue shaving his head with him until he finishes the cancer treatment. 'For me', he wrote, 'Joel is not just a co-worker, he is a brother.' At least four other barbers have shaved their heads in solidarity with Martin, a video posted to the Lords and Barber's TikTok account shows. Spanish hairdresser Neftali Martin (sitting) is having his hair shaved off in preparation for undergoing chemotherapy. Martin looks visibly touched as his colleague Joel Ortega (back) shaves off his own hair in solidarity Martin breaks down in tears over the gesture, after Ortega tells him 'you're not alone' In a post with the video on Instagram, Martin explained that Ortega had told him he would continue shaving his head with him until he finishes the cancer treatment Several people make the choice to shave their heads before undergoing treatment for cancer because hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy. In the footage, Martin can be seen in the barber's chair in Alicante, Spain, wearing a stripped gown. Behind him is fellow barber Ortega, brandishing a pair of clippers. Joel makes fast work of removing Martin's locks with the clippers before turning on his own hair and shaving that off too. As he notices the heart-warming gesture, Martin drops his face into his hands and is visibly touched by his colleagues actions. His eyes appear to glisten in the video as Ortega also shaves his sun-tinged head of hair. Ortega then appears to console Martin before blowing any remaining hairs off both of them with a hairdryer. Writing on Instagram next to the touching video, Martin (right) said: 'For me, Joel (left) is not just a co-worker, he is a brother' In the footage, Martin can be seen in the barber's chair in Alicante, Spain, wearing a stripped gown. Behind him is fellow barber Ortega, brandishing a pair of clippers Several other barbers at the Lords and Barbers shop appeared to have also shaved their heads in solidarity with their colleague Neftali Martin (pictured) Several other barbers at the Lords and Barbers shop appeared to have also shaved their heads in solidarity with their colleague. In footage posted to the Barbershop's account, three men are seeing shaving their heads while another has his done by a co-worker. On the post, the Lords and Barbers account said: 'We want to travel this path with you, together as we have always been. We want to show you what true friendship is, because we are all one. 'For the moments that we have passed and those that we have left to live. What the barber shop unites, let no one separate it.' Early yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the US pause distribution of Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine following reports of blood clotting in six recipients, all of them women aged between eighteen and forty-eight, one of whom has died and another of whom is critically ill. States, businesses, and federal facilities quickly followed the guidance. Around seven million people have received the J&J vaccine in the US; the pause is intended to allow officials and experts to investigate the instances of clotting and whether there are more of them, and to communicate care protocols to doctors, given that typical clotting treatments could, in the type of cases at issue here, prove harmful. Bolstering public confidence is also at issue: a source with knowledge of the deliberations told the Washington Post that officials agreed that there is a tremendous need for vaccines, but also a tremendous need for trust in the vaccine. The latter rationale, in particular, quickly sparked a debate in media circles. Some journalists and experts said that the pause ought to strengthen confidence among vaccine skeptics, by projecting high caution and transparency. Others disagreed. I appreciate the people saying we should feel *more* confident because theyre investigating, which is trueit works on me! Zeynep Tufekci, a sociologist and prolific commentator on the pandemic, wrote on Twitter. But the word should is doing a lot of work there. Meanwhile, lets check in on how this affects dynamics of human cognition, media, and social media. On the cognition front, some observers made the case that many members of the public will interpret the pause not as reassuring, but as justification for their skepticism, not only around the J&J vaccine but also the Pfizer and Moderna shots; on the media front, press critics questioned the ability of news organizations to clearly separate the pause from unwarranted broader panic. Some experts argued that officials didnt have any good communications choices around the clotting issue. Others, including Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida, suggested that the agencies erred in allowing dead time to elapse between the announcement of the pause and a briefing at which officials worked to contextualize ita gap in which the media scrambles for insights but everyone is short on details. ICYMI: Daunte Wright, George Floyd, and a renewed focus on police brutality As the day went on, Nate Silver, of the data-driven news site FiveThirtyEight, observed a split, of sorts: People in the public health sphere seem to be pretty agnostic on what effect the J&J pause will have on vaccine hesitancy (maybe leaning toward it being a slight positive), while the sentiment of people who cover politics/media is toward it being a clear negative. Silver, who is in the latter camp, stressed that he could be wrong, but noted that both camps have relevant expertise, given how much COVID is a political/media focal point. As someone who covers media but has limited public-health expertise, my initial thoughts ran along similar lines to Silvers. The idea that a pause will boost confidence seems, to me, to assume that skeptics will interpret it, and its attendant nuances, rationally, and not freak out about the alarming signal sent by the decision itself. Transparency is essential, but officials can be transparent about possible issues with a vaccine without suspending it; if anything, the pause recommendation was as much an act of amplification, turning exceedingly rare incidents into a wall-to-wall news story. And as we have seen, for example, with masks, the messaging judgments of health officials are open to question. Ezra Klein, of the New York Times, noted yesterday that theres no actual evidence the FDA knows how to manage public psychology correctly on this. Then again, I could be wrong. Much of the debate around the pause and vaccine confidence has been rooted in speculative behavioral assumptions that may not play out as we expect, and wrongly imply a uniformity of motivation among vaccine skeptics; plus, as G. Elliott Morris, a data journalist at The Economist, pointed out, relentlessly tweeting oh my GOD why would the CDC do something so STUPID!! is not really the way to convince people who are skeptical of scientists or medical institutions that the vaccine is safe. Its possible to go round in circles here; to forget, too, that the science here is complicated and contested, and that public confidence is far from the only reason for the pause. There are a multiplicity of factors to consider, including official reassurances that suspending J&J wont impede the overall vaccine rollout, and the fact that pauses are common after a new medical product goes on the market. Still, this isnt a normal vaccine rolloutits universally urgent, and is thus occurring under an intense media spotlight. Some journalists argued yesterday that the messaging around the pause is the responsibility of health officials more than journalists, who, after all, are obliged to cover such interventions. Given the intense spotlight, however, the media is unavoidably a crucial actor in this story, and not just as a passive conduit. Our choices matter. Since COVID vaccines came on line, experts have advised news organizations not to hype stories about very rare potential side effects. Officials acting dramatically on such incidents is, clearly, a very big story. But their actions do not, in themselves, change the underlying available data. So how should we think about reconciling these seemingly contradictory newsworthiness dynamics? Sign up for CJR 's daily email Yesterday, I posed a version of this question on Twitter. Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at NYU, advised covering the pause as a high risk maneuver, while also pulling in various points of view: Only multiperspectival reporting gets you there, he wrote. Katya Zimmer, a science journalist (and friend of mine), said that whether official advice or mere observation, her approach would be similar: find a ton of experts and let them guide the story. Steve Katz, the publisher of Mother Jones, said that his newsroom had debated the same question, and shared a resultant story, by Kiera Butler, concluding that officials had no good options but ultimately made the right decision. Other outlets published nuanced explorations of the issues at stake, including vaccine confidence, without reaching a judgment. Multiple outlets produced explainers aimed at people who recently got the J&J shot. Numerous reporters, or the experts they cited, found different ways of stressing the minuteness of the clotting risk, should a link to the J&J vaccine be provenby visualizing it, or by comparing it to the greater likelihood of being in a car accident, or dying of COVID. Some headlines centered the extreme rareness of the clots. Others made (sometimes greatly) more sweeping references to blood clot concerns or fears. Being specific, and not sensationalist, is usually a good idea, especially when it comes to headlines, tweets, and other brief formats. But there are no easy, failsafe answers here. The J&J pause is yet another example of a profound media challenge that Ive explored throughout the pandemicthe absence of certainty and ready-made expert consensus, within a media ecosystem that prizes those things. And theres a newer challenge here, too: With vaccinations and reopenings proceeding apace, but COVID still very prevalent, we are in a moment where our collective interpretation of risk, and what constitutes it, is being stretched. The public-health risks of failing to impose tough restrictions last year were comparatively clear; the J&J pause is both highly risk-averse and highly risky, depending on how you look at it. Its the medias job to communicate these competing calculations and the increasingly complexand ambiguousvariables that go into them. That is a very hard job indeed. Below, more on vaccines: The Europe precedent?: The type of clotting observed in the six Johnson & Johnson recipients is similar to that observed in very rare cases that regulators in Europe have linked to AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine, which has been widely distributed there; many European countries suspended their AstraZeneca rollouts and, in some cases, have continued to recommend restrictions on its use, especially among younger people. According to one recent poll, more than half of respondents in France, Germany, and Spain now view the AstraZeneca vaccine as unsafea datapoint that Silver wielded on Twitter yesterday to bolster his criticism of the J&J pause. The situations, however, arent entirely comparable: vaccine skepticism manifests differently in different places, and the AstraZeneca vaccine has been embroiled in a string of controversies in Europe related to supply issues and apparent geopolitical sniping. As I wrote in February, news organizations both furthered that confusion and got stuck in the middle. The type of clotting observed in the six Johnson & Johnson recipients is similar to that observed in very rare cases that regulators in Europe have linked to AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine, which has been widely distributed there; many European countries suspended their AstraZeneca rollouts and, in some cases, have continued to recommend restrictions on its use, especially among younger people. According to one recent poll, more than half of respondents in France, Germany, and Spain now view the AstraZeneca vaccine as unsafea datapoint that Silver wielded on Twitter yesterday to bolster his criticism of the J&J pause. The situations, however, arent entirely comparable: vaccine skepticism manifests differently in different places, and the AstraZeneca vaccine has been embroiled in a string of controversies in Europe related to supply issues and apparent geopolitical sniping. As I wrote in February, news organizations both furthered that confusion and got stuck in the middle. Boosting confidence?: On Sunday, Brian Stelter, CNNs chief media correspondent, said that Fox News personalities should be more forthcoming in sharing their vaccine stories, especially given high levels of skepticism among Republican voters. Live on-air vaccinations and personal testimonials and videos and selfies are all helpful, he argues. They show that its safe and easy. Since then, Fox stars and other right-wing media figures have ridiculed Stelters suggestion; Glenn Beck tweeted a picture giving CNN the middle finger. They can mock me, they can downplay their influence, they can say that getting vaccinated is a personal choicefine, Stelter responded yesterday. But big platforms come with big responsibilities. On Sunday, Brian Stelter, CNNs chief media correspondent, said that Fox News personalities should be more forthcoming in sharing their vaccine stories, especially given high levels of skepticism among Republican voters. Live on-air vaccinations and personal testimonials and videos and selfies are all helpful, he argues. They show that its safe and easy. Since then, Fox stars and other right-wing media figures have ridiculed Stelters suggestion; Glenn Beck tweeted a picture giving CNN the middle finger. They can mock me, they can downplay their influence, they can say that getting vaccinated is a personal choicefine, Stelter responded yesterday. But big platforms come with big responsibilities. Vaccine hesitancy?: Writing on Twitter yesterday, Stefanie Friedhoff, a journalist and faculty member at Brown Universitys School of Public Health, argued that we should retire the term vaccine hesitancy, which in her view has become a catch-all that misrepresents, blames people over systems, and doesnt help anything. Instead, she wrote, the words to start using are: Vaccine confidence. Intent to get vaccinated. But most importantly, we need to stop saying any of these words when its not actually about behavior but about the two most important drivers of why people dont get vaccinated: access and misinformation. Other notable stories: ICYMI: After the death of Prince Philip, media mourning in the UK Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Rachel Prusak and Deb Patterson Prusak represents District 37-West Linn in the Oregon House. Patterson represents District 10-Salem in the Oregon Senate. Mike Nielsen has worked his entire life serving his community first in the military and when he came home helping raise over 20 foster children. When Mikes wife, Jacqueline, was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, they didnt have the money to pay the $433 per pill to treat it. It took a year to find funding for her life-saving medication. Jacqueline faced liver failure, daily exhaustion, and other severe symptoms that isolated her from her family while waiting for treatment. When Cameron Locklear was diagnosed at 13 with Type 1 diabetes, a single month of insulin was $600. He remembers skipping meals and rationing food as a teenager so his family could afford his medication. Now, as a young adult in his 20s, he works 50 to 60 hours a week, lives paycheck to paycheck and still skips meals, rations his food and continues to rely on his parents for help covering his medications. These unacceptable stories recently told to the Oregon Senate Healthcare Committee reinforce what we already know: Medicine doesnt work when people cant afford it. Across the state, families ration medications, delay care and wonder how they will cover their bills at the end of the month. These are not frivolous expenses. Medication is just as fundamental a need as housing, food and electricity. In 2020, 45% of Americans reported being worried about how they would afford prescription drugs for themselves or their families, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll. The same poll showed that families worry more about the cost of prescriptions than insurance premiums, housing, utilities or food. Senate Bill 844 is exactly why we ran for office. As legislators who have spent decades serving people in primary care, health care education and advocacy, we have both spent time with families struggling to pay for medicine. This bill would create a new board of medical professionals, community leaders and advocates to review prices of drugs sold in Oregon. If this board determines a drug is overpriced, it can set limits on how much Oregonians could be required to pay for that drug. Oregon will have new authority to protect patients, insurers and pharmacies from excessive price increases. The truth is pharmaceutical companies are one of the most profitable sectors in the health care industry, making money off the sickest Oregonians. The manufacturers list price for Provenge, a medication for prostate cancer, recently increased by more than $3,000 for one course of treatment, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. For cancer medications like this, pharmaceutical companies earn $14 for every $1 spent on research and development, a World Health Organization analysis found preying on and profiting off families who must choose between going into debt or going without life-saving medication. Its no wonder the pharmaceutical companies want to keep the status quo and their outrageous profit margins. For years, they have blackmailed the public with threats of pulling drugs from the market and in fact, are using similar rhetoric in regards to our bill. But thats highly unlikely, especially considering they already adhere to price controls and regulations imposed by other countries. We are not against working together. In fact, we must work together and innovate for a healthier tomorrow where every Oregonian can get medications they need without fear of bankruptcy. Its time to support our most vulnerable Oregonians, break free of pharmaceutical fear mongering, and fix the system for people by passing SB 844. Sign up for our free weekly Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves for the first Prime Ministers Questions after the Easter Recess at Downing Street in London, on Apr. 14, 2021. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) UK PM Rejects Opposition Call for Parliamentary Inquiry on Greensill Lobbying Row British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected the oppositions call for a parliamentary inquiry into former Prime Minister David Camerons lobbying on behalf of finance company Greensill Capital. Recent media reports revealed that Cameron personally contacted ministers on behalf of Greensill via text and email. Cameron insisted he did not break any rules but accepted that he should have used formal channels. Britains former Prime Minister David Cameron arrives to attend the National Service of Remembrance, on Remembrance Sunday, at The Cenotaph in Westminster, London, on Nov. 10, 2019. (Simon Dawson/Reuters) It also emerged that top civil servant Bill Crothers was also employed by Greensill in 2015 while still working for the government. The government announced on Monday that it had commissioned an independent review into the issue. But, at Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party, said the government should not be allowed to mark its own homework. He said the prime minister will not act against sleaze, and urged members of Parliament to back Labours call for a full parliamentary inquiry to clean up the sleaze and cronyism thats at the heart of this Conservative government. Johnson said he shared the widespread concern about the issue, but he rejected Labours call for a parliamentary inquiry and urged the opposition to contribute to the review initiated by the government. I do think it is a good idea in principle that top civil servants should be able to engage with business and should have experience of the private sector. When I look at the accounts Im reading today, its not clear that those boundaries have been properly understood and Ive asked for a proper independent review of the arrangements that we have to be conducted by Nigel Boardman and he will be reporting in June, he said. Johnson said if Starmer has any representations to make on that subject, he should do so to Mr. Boardman. Johnson launched the review on Monday after the Financial Times and Sunday Times newspapers reported that Cameron contacted ministers on behalf of Greensill, including sending text messages to finance minister Rishi Sunak and arranging a drink between banker Lex Greensill and Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Greensill was brought in to advise the government while Cameron was prime minister from 2010 to 2016. After leaving office, Cameron became an adviser to Greensills now-insolvent company. On Sunday, Cameron said in a statement he did not break any codes of conduct or government rules and that ultimately the outcome of the discussions on Greensills proposals on a loan were not taken up. Reuters contributed to this report. Women now have many of the jobs controlling the worlds largest economy. And they are trying to fix it. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai hold top positions in President Joe Bidens administration. Many of his economic advisers also are women. This change may already be affecting economic policy. A new $2.3 trillion spending plan was introduced by Biden last week. It includes $400 billion to finance the care economy, which supports home- and community-based jobs taking care of children and older people. This part of the economy involves work usually done by women and has largely been ignored for many years. Bidens spending plan also includes hundreds of billions of dollars more to fix racial inequalities, as well as inequalities between rural Americans and those living in cities. In the end, it might be that this bill makes 80 years of history: it begins to fix the structural problems, Yellen wrote on Twitter. She added: This is just the start for us. Some experts say women leaders can bring a new way of examining economic policy. When youre different from the rest of the group, you often see things differently, said Rebecca Henderson. She is a professor at Harvard Business School and published a book called Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire. Were in a moment of enormous crisis. We need new ways of thinking, Henderson added. Over the past 50 years, many women have been presidents or prime ministers of their countries. Few women, however, have been in positions to make powerful decisions about the economy. Outside the United States, Christine Lagarde runs the European Central Bank with its 2.4 trillion euro balance sheet. Kristalina Georgieva is at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala leads the World Trade Organization. Ten years ago, all those jobs were held by men. The limited measures available suggest that women have a better record of managing through crises. When women are involved, the evidence is very clear: communities are better, economies are better, the world is better, Georgieva said in January. She was speaking about research done by the IMF and other economic organizations. Women make up less than 2 percent of chief executive officers at financial companies and agencies and less than 20 percent of executive board members. However, IMF research shows that having women in charge often helps keep financial organizations out of crisis. It is also important to note that the worldwide recession from the coronavirus pandemic has affected women much harder than men. Women make up 39 percent of workers worldwide, but they accounted for 54 percent of overall job losses, a recent study by McKinsey showed. Bringing these women back to work could increase gross domestic product (GDP) in many nations by up to 27 percent. Tai is the first woman of color to lead the U.S. Trade Representatives office. She has told her employees to think about diversity and to reach out to long ignored parts of the country. Okonjo-Iweala is also the first African to head the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2019, the WTO managed trade of nearly $19 trillion. The lesson for us is (to) make sure ... that we dont sink into business as usual, Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters. Its about decent work for ordinary people, she said. Im Susan Shand. The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. ____________________________________________________ Words in This Story enormous adj. extremely large manage v. to have control of something, such as a business, department, organization, etc. gross domestic product (GDP) n. the total value of goods and services a country produces in a year diversity n. a situation in which many different kinds of things or people are included in something decent adj. of a satisfactory quality or level We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. Prime Minister Scott Morrison was right to express regret for the way he treated former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate, but the whole episode has raised serious questions for the government, the opposition and the media. In October, an ALP senator used a Senate estimates hearing to question Ms Holgate over gifts of Cartier watches worth $19,950 to Australia Post executives. A few hours later in question time, Mr Morrison declared himself appalled by the waste of public money and announced Ms Holgate would be sacked if she did not stand aside pending an investigation. It is unclear why he reacted with such vitriol without even consulting her. It seems significant that the government was already under fire from the ALP about perks paid to other public servants at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. But it is now clear Mr Morrison was not reacting to facts when he launched his public attack on Ms Holgate. The governments own investigation released in January confirmed she did nothing wrong, finding no evidence of dishonesty, fraud, corruption or intentional misuse of Australia Post funds. The gift of watches had happened two years earlier and was a reward to executives for negotiating a multimillion-dollar deal that kept hundreds of local post offices open and saved thousands of jobs. When Christies auctioned for $69 million a nonfungible token, or NFT, linked to the digital collage Everydays: The First 5000 Days, many people asked WTF was an NFT? And why was a relative unknown artist by the name of Beeple now the third-highest selling living artistfor a digital work that the new owner cant even hang on the wall? The ensuing media frenzy proved that NFTs have successfully consummated a buzzy marriage of cryptocurrency and contemporary art. But they have also been touted as solving the authenticity problem that plagues digital art. Advertisement The hallmark of any digital work is that it can be replicatedperfectly, endlessly, and virtually without cost. But if you bundle the artwork with an NFT, then you have a way, some argue, of identifying the authentic copy. As the New Yorker recently put it, imagine digital Beanie Babies, but with only one existing copy of each. That supposed rarity helps make sense of the lofty price tag for Everydays, as well as for the many other NFTs out there linked to digital works ranging from tweets to music videos. Advertisement Advertisement David Hockney, the 83-year-old British painter whose pop-art masterpiece Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) briefly held the record ($90.3 million auction price in November 2018) for price paid for the work of a living artist before losing that title to Jeff Koons sculpture Rabbit ($91.1 million auction price in May 2019), is skeptical. On an art podcast, Hockney recently said, What is it that theyre owning? I dont really know. NFTs, Hockney said, are the domain of international crooks and swindlers. Advertisement Hockney may have a point. If you look at them closely, NFTs do almost nothing to guarantee authenticity. In fact, for reasons well explain, NFTs may actually make the problem of authenticity in digital art worse. The first barrier to understanding NFTs is the amalgam of techno-babble and art-world nonsense used to describe what they are. The difficulty starts with the name. On one level, it usefully distinguishes NFTs, which are a blockchain-based technology, from other blockchain-based currencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. The latter are fungible in the sense that any one Bitcoin is worth the same as any other. NFTs are nonfungible in the sense that each is unique. It is this feature that people point to when they say that an NFT can be used as a token to identify an authentic digital artwork. Advertisement Advertisement Lets turn back to Everydays and see if that argument holds up. The Christies description of the auction states that Beeple will deliver a copy of Everydaysa 500-megapixel image with a file size of about 300 megabytesto the buyer. That feature makes this transaction resemble a typical art salebuyer pays money; artist delivers authentic artwork. But unlike a painting or a sculpture or even a traditional photograph that has been created by the hand of the artist, there are countless perfect copies of Everydays floating around on the internet, copies that are indistinguishable from the one Beeple delivered to the buyer. In fact, the very technology used to store the workthe peer-to-peer InterPlanetary File Systemcreates many copies of the file containing Everydays and distributes them to many computers connected to the network as a form of distributed storage. If you want a copy of Everydays, just go here. Advertisement The NFT tells you whether you have a copy. It does not tell you whether you have the copy. Because there are so many copies of Everydays floating around, and because those copies are precisely the same down to the last pixel, it is very difficult to assure anyone that what they have is the original/authentic/canonical copy. Thats true even if we agree on a convention that would anoint the copy Beeple delivered as the real one. In any future transaction, making sure that the seller delivers that same copy to the buyer, and that the copy previously transferred has not been replaced by another, identical copy, would be very difficult or even practically impossible. But once you understand what the NFT is and how it actually works, you can see that it does nothing to permit the buyer, as the New Yorker put it, to own a digital Beanie Baby with only one existing copy. In fact, the NFT may make the authenticity question even more difficult to resolve. Advertisement Advertisement First, the nonfungible in nonfungible token refers to the token itselfthat is, to the block of code that makes up the NFT, and not to the artwork that an NFT is associated with. NFTs are often shorthanded as linking to an artwork, or pointing to or representing it. But those characterizations are misleading. NFTs identify a particular digital artwork only in the most general way: They contain a hash of the artwork as part of the code that makes up the NFT, and some contain a link to an internet address that displays a copy of the artwork. A hash is a code thats generated by passing all the data in a digital file through an algorithm that outputs a short alphanumeric signature. Heres the hash for Everydays: Advertisement 6314b55cc6ff34f67a18e1ccc977234b803f7a5497b94f1f994ac9d1b896a017 A 256-bit hash like this one is surpassingly difficult to hack. So for all practical purposes, no two files that contain different data, even if the differences are small, can have the same hash. Howeverand this is the most important pointif the same encryption algorithm is used, every file containing the same data has the same hash. What does that mean for the Everydays NFT the buyer at Christies paid $69 million for? The NFTs code contains the hash for the Everydays file, Beeples cryptocurrency wallet address, and the address for a smart contract that governs how transactions in the token will take place. And thats basically it. Which means that the NFT Christies auctioned is useless to identify an authentic copy of Everydays, assuming we can even agree which copy of Everydays is the authentic one. (Perhaps its the copy that Beeple generated originally, which is probably not the copy that the Beeple delivered to the Christies auction buyer, unless Beeple also delivered the storage media originally used when the image was created.) Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the original copy of a digital work like Everydays might be, the NFT doesnt help identify it, because the NFT does not identify a particular copy at all. All it does is tell you whether any particular putative copy of Everydays contains the same data as the file from which the hash was originally generated. In other words, the NFT tells you whether you have a copy. It does not tell you whether you have the copy. Its true that some NFTs contain a link to an internet address that displays a copy of the artwork. But that doesnt help resolve the authenticity question, either. Theres no easy way to establish whether the copy linked to the NFT is the authentic copy, assuming, again, that we even have agreement on what the authentic copy is. Indeed, even the image that appears on your screen when you access the link recorded in an NFT isnt the authentic copyits a display of another copy that is made in the memory of your computer. Advertisement Understood this way, NFTs sound less like guarantors of authenticity and more like an updated version of Sol LeWitts wall drawings. LeWitt famously broke new ground in the art world by selling artworks that consisted of instructions explaining how to make a drawing, along with the right to create the drawing the instructions described. All the instructions can tell you, standing alone, is whether a particular piece of wall art conforms with what the instructions describe. Advertisement Advertisement So to understand whether a drawing you see on a wall that corresponds to the LeWitt instructions is an authentic LeWitt, you have to know something about who produced that particular drawing, and whether they did so with LeWitts authorization and according to LeWitts instructions for that work. You have to know, in other words, all the messy detailschain of title governing the property and the rules governing its usethat are difficult enough in the physical world but much worse in the digital world, where perfect, exact copies proliferate by design. (Note that unlike with LeWitts instructions, you cant use an NFTs hash to actually create the artwork. Hashing works in only one direction.) Advertisement The Christies auction isnt purporting to sell art thats an executable idea, like a Sol LeWitt wall drawing; its purporting to sell a Beeple artwork, the monumental digital collage Everydays. But Christies hasnt sold the artwork Everydays. Nor has it sold a unique copy of Everydays. Nor has it sold a piece of technology that is capable of identifying a unique copy of Everydays. Its simply sold an NFT. All of which opens up some interesting possibilities. What if Beeple creates another copy of Everydays, generates a new NFT, and Christies auctions that? The terms of the auctionat least judging by the information that Christies has made publicdo not seem to prohibit this. But if making new copies has been banned, that has nothing to do with NFTs. Nor has it anything to do with copyright law. In fact, copyright law explicitly reserves to the artist the exclusive right to make copies of her work. Remember that when an artist sells an artwork, she retains the copyright unless that is also solda transaction that copyright law requires to be in writing. And so any commitment by the artist not to proliferate copies of a digital artwork, which she might then issue accompanied by new NFTs, would be written into an old-fashioned contract. Advertisement Advertisement So, NFTs dont help resolve the question of authenticity, and in fact, they might make things more complicated. How? Because anyone can make an NFT of any digital artwork. Making an NFT doesnt involve copying, distributing, or displaying the artwork itself, and so copyright law is not implicated. And in fact, many people have made NFTs of others artwork, and each one is owned by a different person. Which means that not only are NFTs useless at distinguishing the authentic copy, they also can add a lot of spurious and potentially confusing information about ownershipat least if you take NFTs seriously as stating some sort of ownership claim to a particular piece of art. In short, NFTs may seem to have repealed the laws of economics, but they cannot repeal the laws of intellectual property Advertisement So what explains the NFT gold rush? Some allege pandemic boredom; others, an undue fascination with anything blockchain. (Remember the Long Island Iced Tea Corp.s stock went up 432 percent after it changed its name to Long Blockchain Corp.?) In the case of Everydays, some even allege an elaborate conspiracy between Beeple and the buyer. But NFTs are probably better explained as a 21st-century potlatch. As Thorstein Veblen famously explained more than a century ago in The Theory of the Leisure Class, the wealthy, especially the newly so, are drawn to conspicuous consumption. Displaying, and even heedlessly destroying, wealth becomes a mark of status. Advertisement What makes NFTs especially interesting as a social matter is that they are the latest and greatest example of what we might call virtual Veblen goods. To economists, a Veblen good is something consumed for its ability to (supposedly) confer status through conspicuous consumption (say, fancy Champagne brought over in a nightclub by servers holding sparklers). Veblen goods are more attractive the more expensive they are. The cost is the point. Advertisement And just as more of life has moved online, so too has status competition. Instagram is perhaps Exhibit Aall that thirst!but while you can buy followers and fake photos, whats depicted in your feed is usually tangible, real things and places (even if you didnt visit them). NFTs are different. The consumption depicted is not lapping up a lovely scene in Bali but a digital product that no one can ever touch or feel. It references an artwork as a signal of connoisseurship but actually dematerializes the act of consumption. Whats purchased is not the art but a token of itsomething no one can see, or, in all likelihood, resell. (Who would want to be the second person who pays to not own Everydays?) In short, owning an NFT combines traditional Veblenesque status seeking with a 21st-century icing of crypto-cool. As the Verge wrote in its NFT explainer, Whoever got that Monet can actually appreciate it as a physical object. With digital art, a copy is literally as good as the original. Whats important is the flex of owning an original Beeple. Except, of course, the owner doesnt actually own it. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Hyderabad, April 14 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday paid tributes to B.R. Ambedkar on the occassion of his 130th birth anniversary, who is revered as the architect of India's Constitution. Rao lauded the efforts put in by Babasaheb Ambedkar to make a secular, democratic and republic country. He said it was due to Ambedkar's foresight that Telangana was formed after due constitutional process. The State government is implementing several welfare and development schemes and programmes for the benefit of oppressed classes taking inspiration from Ambedkar. "A Special Development Fund is created through the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan Act for the benefit of Dalits in proportion to their population. Under the Act, the funds which are not spent in a financial year are transferred to the next year without diverting them to other departments," said Rao on the occassion. LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cacique LLC., one of the country's top authentic Mexican food brands, has been recertified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work for the fourth year running. The company earned this honor based on extensive ratings provided directly by its employees through anonymous surveys. Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including many in-person company traditions being disrupted, leadership at Cacique made it a priority to ensure its employees continue to feel valued, appreciated and proud to be a part of the team. Beyond the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure the health and well-being of all of its employees, Cacique found new ways to foster workplace culture, including activities ranging from a Virtual Halloween Costume Contest to socially distanced drive-in movie experience and more. Here's what employees had to say about working at Cacique in its survey at the end of 2020: 88% say Cacique is a great place to work, compared to fifty-nine percent at a typical U.S.-based company 91% say that when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome 90% want to work at Cacique for a long time 90% are proud to tell others they work at Cacique "Nothing is more important to me than hearing Cacique employees enjoy working here and that the percentage who feel Cacique is a great place to work continues to grow, especially after the challenging year we all faced together," said Gil de Cardenas, CEO at Cacique. "Our employees play a critical role in the success of our company, and we know that without their hard work and dedication, Cacique would not be the company it is today." "We congratulate Cacique LLC, on their Recertification," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Best Workplace List Research at Great Place to Work. "Organizations that earn their employees' trust create great workplace cultures that deliver outstanding business results." As part of the analysis, Great Place to Work utilizes the Trust Index survey to uncover consistencies in employee's comments, and the word that came to the forefront among employees' comments was "Family" one of the Four Pillars upon which Cacique was founded and that still guide the company today. The full summary of the collective feedback can be found here. For more than 45 years, Cacique has remained a family-owned company dedicated to producing the highest-quality authentic products, including Mexican cheeses, creams, chorizos, salsas and yogurts. To learn more about Cacique, visit https://www.caciqueinc.com and https://www.linkedin.com/company/cacique. About Cacique LLC Family-owned and founded in 1973 on the principles of Family, Quality, Integrity and Authenticity, Cacique is now one of the country's top Hispanic food brands - the #1 producer of Hispanic cheeses, creams, yogurts, chorizos and salsas in the United States. Headquartered in Monrovia, California, Cacique remains dedicated to producing authentic, fresh and high-quality Hispanic products. For more information about Cacique's line of products, please visit caciqueinc.com or call (800) 521-6987 or (626) 937-3505. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees around the world and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Great Place to Work helps organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Emprising, their culture management platform, empowers leaders with the surveys, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Their unparalleled benchmark data is used to recognize Great Place to Work-Certified companies and the Best Workplaces in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For and World's Best list published annually in Fortune. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a Great Place to Work For All. To learn more, visit greatplacetowork.com , listen to the podcast Better by Great Place to Work , and read "A Great Place to Work for All." Join the community on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. SOURCE Cacique LLC Related Links https://www.caciqueinc.com Former University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Peter Hoj speaks during a press conference at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, March 22, 2020. (AAP Image/Jono Searle) Australian University Rejects Chinese-Funded Research Worth Millions for National Interest Several research projects and joint collaborations worth millions of dollars have been rejected by Adelaide University because of high-risk links to Beijing. In its submission to a national inquiry into security risks affecting higher education last month, the university revealed it rejected projects on the basis of national interest or university reputation. As a leading Australian university in the fields of defence and cybersecurity, the University of Adelaide takes seriously its responsibilities towards foreign interference, a spokesman told The Epoch Times. Examples provided to the Parliamentary committee help to illustrate the quality of the Universitys due diligence and are the direct result of improved practices and oversight in relation to these issues. One example was the rejection of a AU$3 million (US$2.3 million) project on advanced materials, which on the surface appeared to pose no risk as an Australian company was proposing it. However, upon investigation, the university discovered finance for the project would be sourced from a Hong Kong-based company whose owners had links to China. The university also denied another project on computer security and network robustness research which was proposed by a multinational company headquartered in Shenzhen. It was rejected due to concerns over the changing federal foreign policy. The denial came at a financially significant cost to the university and had put staff employment contracts in jeopardy. The decision to refuse was a result of the university conducting its due diligence into these proposals and finding risks of serious nature that could not be effectively mitigated or tolerated. A Chinese flag flies at the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China on May 12 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) The submission also revealed it had rejected five proposed engagements with foreign universities since May 2020. Some were rejected due to the proposed partner universitys links to nuclear weapons research programs and the involvement in defence research. It also noted that several of its staff members had requested advice as they had been approached to join talent programs. While international engagement and collaboration have been an enabler of success, the balance between international collaboration and the protection of sovereign interests has rarely before been so simultaneously important and fraught, University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Peter Hoj said in the opening statement of the hearing (pdf). The university recognises that the environment in which international engagement can and does occur has fundamentally changed in very recent times. Where previously, universities were encouraged to become globally engaged, including through co-publications and setting up joint ventures with foreign universities, that is no longer an uncomplicated aspiration. In contrast, Innovative Research Universities (IRU), a coalition of seven universities across Australia, called for action necessary to reduce and control risks while allowing continued prosperity through international research. This must be approached proportionately, recognizing that the risks are associated only with a small subset of these arrangements and without compromising the enormous national benefit and gains from those remaining partnerships, IRU said in its submission to the inquiry in December (pdf). In 2019, international research revenue added up to AU$483 million (US$370 million), rising 151 percent over a decade. The United States was Australias leading collaborator, with 93,000 joint publications from 2015 to 2020. This was followed by China, with 74,000 publications, then the UK, Germany, and Canada. We must remain a leading part of the international research system, IRU said. Southport Library on the Gold Coast, Australia, in September 2018 (Google Maps Street View) and a sign listing the Tourism Confucius Institute at Griffith Universitys Gold Coast campus on Dec. 27, 2018. (Richard Szabo/The Epoch Times) In its submission, IRU also recognised the risks associated with Confucius Institutes and the Thousand Talent program. Three of the 12 Confucius institutes in Australia are at IRU universities that claim they have undertaken due diligence before and during the partnership agreements. IRU members also said they are managing risks of the Thousand Talent program through internal processes. To date, there is no evidence that being part of the program has led any staff member to act against universities or Australian interests, the members said. IRU members consist of Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, and Western Sydney University. Concerns of foreign interference undermining national sovereignty in Australian universities has grown exponentially in recent years. In an address to the graduating students at Adelaide University on April 12, former defence minister Christopher Pyne warned of the growing risks of war with Beijing. Five years ago, I wouldve said that the possibility was very unlikely, now I would have to say that the possibility is more likely than it was then, he said. Not a cyberwar, but a real one involving loss of life, destruction of military platforms, with aggressors and defenders on different sides. Travel and hotels reserved only for vaccinated people: Could this model ever be established in the Grand Duchy? "The question does not arise at this stage", says the Luxembourg government. A parliamentary question from Pirate Party MP Marc Goergen raised several questions about this issue, reacting to trips organised for vaccinated people to certain countries and designated hotel complexes. These are initiatives which go "against our penal code", according to Goergen, who explains that one cannot discriminate based on health. In a joint response from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Tourism, the government at this point did not wish to take a stance on the matter, both in terms of the penal code breach and the business model itself. "The question does not arise for the moment but if it were to arise in the future, the government will consult the actors concerned before taking a position", the ministers write. As for the possibility that this selection model will be adopted by hoteliers and travel agencies in Luxembourg, the ministers reiterated that "the question did not arise" because of the limited accessibility to vaccination and the uncertainty related to the duration of protective effects of vaccines at this stage. In this context, ministers Lenert and Delles affirm "that a differentiation between vaccinated and non-vaccinated people is not justifiable". Kyle Sandilands is arguably the most controversial figure in commercial radio. But despite countless scandals over the years, the KIIS FM shock jock has never been 'cancelled' and yanked off the airwaves permanently. Now, in a new interview with Mia Freedman's No Filter podcast, Kyle has revealed that a clause in his contract prevents him from being fired. Invincible! KIIS FM radio host Kyle Sandilands has revealed that a clause in his contract prevents him from being fired He explained: 'I have to deal with crisis PR people and they've always got the wrong ideas, and I say, "You really don't know what you're doing."' 'I work for myself, I don't really work for anyone,' the 49-year-old added. 'I don't have to do anything that they say.' He then said he wasn't scared of losing his job because he's 'protected in my contract'. In an interview with 60 Minutes last year, Kyle's longtime co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson said she 'worried' that one day he'd say something that would end his career. Independent: 'I work for myself, I don't really work for anyone,' the 49-year-old explained on the No Filter podcast. 'I don't have to do anything that they say' 'That is probably the hardest part when working with Kyle, is that he has this really beautiful side. And then with that comes this other side that you just think, "Oh no, why do you have to say that? Why?" I don't know why I get nervous for him,' she said. Turning to Kyle beside her, Jackie added: 'Because I'm always worried you're going to say something that will one day just ruin you.' Although Kyle hasn't been axed from his radio position, he has lost jobs in the past due to some of his controversial segments. Fears: In an interview with 60 Minutes last year, Kyle's longtime co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (left) said she 'worried' that one day he'd say something that would end his career In August 2009, a teenage girl became emotional during a lie detector segment on Kyle and Jackie O's 2Day FM breakfast show and reluctantly admitted she had been raped when she was 12 years old. Kyle then replied: 'Right... is that the only [sexual] experience you've had?' At that moment, Jackie swiftly cut off the segment and announced the show's hosts and producers had no prior knowledge of the rape. It was too little too late, however, and the segment became a major news story. Even 2DayFM advertiser Optus announced it was appalled by the incident. Controversy: In August 2009, a teenage girl became emotional during a lie detector segment on Kyle and Jackie O's 2Day FM breakfast show and reluctantly admitted she had been raped when she was 12 years old Amid the backlash, Channel 10 confirmed that Kyle had been axed from the judging panel of Australian Idol. The network's programming boss David Mott said at the time: 'We thank Kyle for his contribution to Australian Idol over the last four years. 'But it has become increasingly clear that as Idol has remained a family-focused show, even more so this year with the 6.30pm Sunday time slot, his radio persona has taken on a more controversial position over this period which is not in the interest of the show. 'The recent controversy surrounding Kyle's radio program has highlighted more than ever the conflicting attitude of the two careers.' Kyle and Jackie reportedly earn $8million each annually, making them the highest-paid media personalities in Australia. The meeting of the Joint Commission on the nuclear deal in Vienna is postponed until April 15 due to the fact that a representative of an EU member state taking part in the negotiations tested positive for coronavirus, Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday. "According to the past program, the [nuclear deal] talks in the 4+1 format (Russia, China, France, the UK, Germany) were supposed to take place on Wednesday. However, due to the coronavirus infection of a member of the delegation for political issues from the EU and the necessity to observe medical protocols this meeting will take place on Thursday," IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. Republican Senators Want FBI to Investigate Bidens Key Pentagon Nominee Eighteen GOP senators are asking FBI Director Christopher Wray to open an investigation into President Bidens key Pentagon nominee to find out whether he solicited or disclosed classified information after his tenure with the Obama administration. The senators do not want the nomination of Colin Kahl for undersecretary of defense for policy to advance for a full vote until the FBI has completed an investigation, they wrote in a letter (pdf). Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) is leading the GOP effort to have Kahl investigated, saying the nominees answers to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services during a hearing on March 18 raised more concerns instead of providing answers. We believe an FBI investigation is warranted given Kahls evasive written response on March 23, 2021 regarding Twitter posts by Kahl in which he appeared to publicly disclose classified information and expressly state that he had received classified information from officials in the Executive Branch, the letter states. The senators asked Wray to specifically probe Kahls Twitter posts. The senators write, We also have subsequently discovered additional Twitter posts by Kahl that deserve greater scrutiny. By publicly sharing internal military plans and deliberation, Kahl appears to have exposed U.S. national security interests, the letter continues. Kahls growing record of apparent mishandling of classified information and controlled unclassified information and his evasive response regarding this issue falls short of the standard required for holding one of our nations top national security positions, the GOP senators wrote. Kahls office did not immediately return a request for comment on the GOP letter. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jonie Ernst (R-Iowa), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) also signed the letter to Wray. The senators asked Wray to specially answer four questions: Did Kahl disclose classified information on social media or to other media outlets? Did Kahl communicate with U.S. government officials about classified information, especially regarding the activities of the National Security Council? Did Kahl receive any classified information from U.S. government officials? Did he violate his classified information nondisclosure agreement? In March, the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a 13-13 vote, advanced Kahls nomination to lead the Pentagons policy department but before confirmation, Kahl will have to overcome one more procedural hurdle on the Senate floor. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement Tuesday following the Republican letter. In top national security positions like Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the duty to protect classified and sensitive information is an essential prerequisite for the job, Inhofe said. If Dr. Kahls past tweets did, in fact, disclose sensitive or confidential national security information, this could be disqualifying for the position and another example of his questionable judgment. My colleagues concerns should be investigated, and the Senate should be able to review the results of this investigation before we vote on this critical nomination. President-elect Joe Biden said of Kahl when announcing his planned nomination, that former Obama officials would help lead the Department of Defense with integrity and resolve and safeguard the lives and interests of the American people. ROME, APR 14 - President Sergio Mattarella said Wednesday that society is headed towards a "new normality" as he took part in the inauguration of the Societa Dante Alighieri's new online platform to promote the Italian language and culture around the world - Dante.global. He said the new platform "makes it possible to flank the traditional network with the digital one. "Naturally this does not substitute people and it does not surpass the precious formula of committees spread throughout the continents. "But flanking these with new instruments and immediate support in the health emergency, makes it possible for them to carry out their activities effectively with an instrument of the new normality that we will soon get to". (ANSA). The National Executive Committee of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is expected to come out with new guidelines for flagbearer aspirants ahead of the next general elections. The move has become necessary due to the recent scramble among cabinet ministers to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with barely five months into his second term. Speaking in an interview on Asaase Radio Monday 12 April, the NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, revealed NEC will meet over the issue later this month. He said the party is currently drafting a proposal to facilitate the national executive committees work. If we are not mindful of these things, what it means is that for the next three years governments activities and presidents actions are going to be distracted by these needless water testers, he said. Boadu added: Very soon we will go to our national executive committee, we want a very strong statement from the committee, beyond even that. So, I am putting forward some proposal to the national steering committee quickly by this month we will be at NEC meeting to fashion out guidance to allow governments work to go on. According to him, the party will not hesitate to sanction those who would flout the measures. President Akufo-Addo must ask any minister who has ambitions to become a presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to resign, Kwadwo Mpiani, a chief of staff in the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor had told Asaase Radio. Speaking on Asaase Radio on Thursday (18 March), Mpiani said, The ministers are there because the president appointed them to help him rule the country. So if they have decided to become candidates and not ministers at this stage, sure, he [Akufo-Addo] has every right to ask them to go and pursue their ambitions. So that he can appoint somebody to do the work which has been entrusted to him by the people of Ghana. I think that is the legitimate thing for any president to do, he added. The former chief of staff advised ministers rather to rally behind the president to perform well in his second term. Look, if you dont put the party on a sound footing, if the government doesnt do well, you may even want to put Jesus Christ there [but] I dont think He can win. So lets support the government to do well, he said. You see, the government is in a very unfortunate situation now, because of this COVID-19 and all. The economy is not doing well and it is something universal, Mpiani said. So, our attention should be on how to perform well, so that when we put up a candidate he will not have too much of a problem. Instead of doing that, when the government is not even in place, we are thinking of who will take over from Nana Addo. Its a misplaced priority. The former chief of staff did not mince his words, describing the infighting as the product of a lack of discipline and failure on the part of the leadership of the NPP. I believe the current leadership is not doing well. Thats my candid opinion, Mpiani said. He mused on the cause of the scramble, saying: I dont know why, but maybe [its because of] overambition, or maybe lack of discipline in the party [the NPP]. I think it is so wrong. He recounted how the party carried out research to identify which candidates were viable after 17 candidates expressed an interest in the race for the partys flagbearer position in 2006. The move, Mpiani said, led to the party placing limits on the number of candidates who could run for the NPP flagbearership. Source: asaaseradio Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mayor-elect Tim Kelly says economic development and investing in early childhood education are two points of emphasis for his administration over the next four years. Mr. Kelly, on the day after his election runoff victory, said he has spoken to most of the City Council members and people within the city, and said investing in preschool education is an easy sale. The science is crystal-clear, right?, the former auto dealer said in a Wednesday afternoon interview. By the time a child is six years old, their brain is wired and he or she will be on a path that you can change, but its more difficult to change after that. He linked economic development with education, saying that bringing in high-paying jobs is essential. However, he said that unless Chattanoogas education system is improved, those high-paying jobs will go to people from out-of-town. Thats where education comes in, because if we dont have a fully functional education system, which has been the case in the past, employers have no choice but to look elsewhere, Mr. Kelly said. So I look forward to working with Dr. Johnson and continuing the push to excellence in the K-12 system. The mayor-elect said he is not looking to downsize city government, but said he wants his administration to become more streamlined. He said that currently, the city government works in such a way that is convenient for the city government, and not the taxpayers. One guiding principle is that we may be looking at a director of special events, where if stakeholders engage with the city, they should be able to get everything they need from one department, rather than being shuttled from department to department, Mr. Kelly said. He also said that his administration will emphasize neighborhood development, and stated that several neighborhoods have been sorely neglected. He said his administration will focus on building infrastructure within those neighborhoods and building up business there. The mayor-elect spoke about his administrations plan for addressing racial inequity, and said it is a complex issue. He believes investing in education leads to economic development, which can fight against this issue. Were looking forward to implementing the findings of the disparity study, Mr. Kelly said. Were speaking with a consultant to come in and help us with that right away, so we can ramp it up ASAP. Mr. Kelly said he and County Mayor Jim Coppinger have a very good relationship, and that the two will work closely with one another over the next four years. He said he believes Chattanooga can simulate the benefits of metro government if the city and county work together. He said both he and Mayor Coppinger are focused on addressing homelessness in Chattanooga. He said one planned solution is to convert city-owned property into affordable housing, and to use federal aid to assist in addressing homelessness as well. The city and the county will be getting a big chunk of federal aid, and Ive already spoken to Commissioner Tim Boyd and Mayor Coppinger, Mr. Kelly said. I think we have some great opportunities there. In addition to his amicable relationship with the county mayor, Mr. Kelly said he and police chief David Roddy are on good terms. He said the two are on the same page and philosophically aligned. Mr. Kelly also said one of his main goals is restoring trust between the community and the police department, and what he called decriminalizing poverty. I dont want to be locking people up for reasons that are fundamentally economic and not criminal, Mr. Kelly said. So its making sure the city doesnt have perverse incentives to increase revenue by criminalizing people and ruining their lives for things like unpaid parking tickets. Its a lot to unpack here. Mr. Kelly said his administration is planning on having a third party non-profit act as a an entity that can keep track of his administrations progress over the next four years. Well keep track of our own metrics over time, and Im a huge fan of another thing called the Boston Indicators project, Mr. Kelly said. I look forward to talking to our non-profit community about the possibility of reconstituting something along those lines, so we have a third-party and disinterested and apolitical entity that cannot be spun, who can keep track of our progress over time. The Internal Revenue Service plans to hire hundreds of workers to ensure the $3,000-plus expanded Child Tax Credit approved in President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill will head to millions of American parents bank accounts in monthly payments starting in July. The IRS last month warned that it didnt have the manpower to simultaneously handle the third round of stimulus checks, an extended tax filing season and the implementation of a new online portal and other infrastructure to start delivering parents advances on the expanded 2021 credit this summer as intended in the American Rescue Plan. Democratic lawmakers, including members of the Massachusetts delegation, told the IRS that delays were unacceptable, as many parents are still struggling to find work in the wake of the pandemic. The expansion of the $2,000 Child Tax Credit, to $3,000 per child aged 6 to 17 and $3,600 for every child under 6, may help cut child poverty in half, according to the Biden administration. On Tuesday, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig told senators the agency will hire 300 to 500 people in the coming weeks to ensure payments are issued according to the law, with monthly advance payments starting July 1. Rettig, who noted his agency is not historically focused on distributing benefits, said the IRS will be working hard to deliver this program quickly and efficiently, according to the Associated Press. The monthly payments are an advance of your 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit. The IRS will issue monthly payments of $250 to $300 between July and December based on family information in your 2020 or 2019 return. The remainder can be claimed as part of your 2021 tax return. A family of four earning $100,000 with one child under 6 and another older child should see $550 in monthly payments, according to a Child Tax Credit calculator from Kiplinger. The Child Tax Credit has historically been available for single parents earning $200,000 or less or couples filing jointly who earn $400,000 or less. The updates approved in Bidens package will force the credit to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 annually or couples earning more than $150,000 combined. The $200,000 and $400,000 cutoffs remain in place. Another temporary update is the removal of an earnings floor; in previous years, taxpayers had to earn at least $2,500 to be eligible to receive the credit. The welcome news for parents comes after pressure from Democratic lawmakers. They need to fulfill the promise of the American Rescue Plan, Rep. Jim McGovern told MassLive in March when asked about the potential holdup. We dont want a delay. If the IRS needs more funds to make some temporary hires, come to us and lets do it. We need to get the relief to people now. These payments could literally make the difference when it comes to putting food on the table and paying rent. McGovern said the provision will help lift 55,000 Massachusetts children out of poverty. Democratic lawmakers, including several in the Massachusetts delegation and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, are pressing Congress and the Biden administration to make the temporary expansion to a $3,000-plus credit permanent. The expansion stemmed out of the House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts. The pandemic is driving families deeper and deeper into poverty, and its devastating, Neal told MassLive earlier this year. This money is going to be the difference in a roof over someones head or food on their table. This is how the tax code is supposed to work for those who need it most. Related Content: * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! A heartbroken mother has demanded answers after her son died less than 12 hours after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Luke Garrett, 20, suffered a fatal seizure brought on by a sudden spike in his temperature at his Tarbolton, South Ayrshire, home in February, his mother Tricia Garrett, 49, said. Mr Garrett had muscular dystrophy and had been shielding for around a year so was 'excited' when his turn to get a vaccine meant he could finally 'live his life'. But he died in the early hours of the morning the day after getting the jab, leaving his family 'devastated' and desperate for answers. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are investigating Mr Garrett's death - but there is no evidence of the jab causing seizures. Mrs Garrett, 49, described 'foam coming out of his mouth' during his seizure - and told how she gave her dying son CPR as they waited for paramedics to arrive. Tricia Garrett, 49, has demanded answers after her son Luke Garrett, 20, (pictured) died less than 12 hours after receiving the Pfizer vaccine Mother-of-two Mrs Garrett said: 'I didn't want him to get it. Luke had been shielding for about a year. 'He used to have support workers who came in three times a week, he also had high-functioning autism and needed support for that but he cancelled it all because he was that scared of Covid. 'He was excited about going to get his Covid jab and being able to get back out into the world and live his life. 'It wasn't even 12 hours after his Covid jab that he died. 'His whole body was in horrendous pain, he had a really high temperature; normally with his condition, his legs can end up in pain but this was different. 'Before he died, the arm he got the injection in was really painful. 'He then suffered a seizure, which has never happened before. 'He started to fit and there was foam coming out of his mouth.' Mrs Garrett, 49, (pictured with her husband Shaun Garrett, 49) believes her son would still be alive if he didn't get the Covid jab that day 'I phoned 111 about 1am and told them somebody needs to come out. I thought he needed a muscle relaxant to help with the terrible pain. 'A nurse told me they would send someone out within two hours, she was really detailed with everything, she asked about temperature and muscle pain. 'They promised they would call back within the two hours, but no one called. 'Instead, I received a call at 4am to ask if Luke still needed help. I just told them, "my son is dead".' Mr Garrett was given the vaccine at Ballochmyle Medical Practice shortly after 3pm on February 8. By midnight he was unwell. Paramedics rushed to help Mr Garrett, but nothing could be done to save him. He died around 2.30am. He was just ten days away from celebrating his 21st birthday. Mrs Garrett - who lives with her husband Shaun, 49, and 18-year-old daughter Anna - told how she gave her son CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive. She added: 'I was giving him CPR on his chest whilst on the phone to 999. 'The paramedics didn't have a clue what had caused it, they just tried to give him adrenaline but there was nothing more they could do.' The MHRA are investigating Mr Garret's death - as they do with all 'serious suspected adverse drug reactions', a statement said. Mrs Garrett added: 'Our son was fit and well, doctors used to say he was one of the better patients they had seen. Mrs Garrett - who lives with her husband Shaun, 49, and 18-year-old daughter Anna (pictured together) - told how she gave her son CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive 'He would visit a clinic yearly and would have heart checks every six months because muscular dystrophy can affect your heart. 'He was on heart drugs that were just as a preventative measure. 'The post-mortem showed his heart was in a perfect condition. He had never had a seizure before.' A spokesperson for MHRA said: 'We are saddened to hear of this loss, and our thoughts are with the family. 'As with any serious suspected ADR, reports with a fatal outcome are fully evaluated by the MHRA, including an assessment of post-mortem details if available, to consider whether the vaccine may have caused the event, or whether the event and fatal outcome were likely to be purely coincidental and due to underlying illness. 'The MHRA also continuously monitors the nature of adverse events reported with the Covid-19 vaccines including reports of seizures and convulsions. 'The current evidence does not indicate an association between the Covid-19 vaccines and onset of seizure events in people with or without a prior history of seizure.' Mr Garrett (his mother and father, pictured) had muscular dystrophy and had been shielding for around a year so was 'excited' when his turn to get a vaccine meant he could finally 'live his life' Dr Joy Tomlinson, joint director of public health at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: 'Our condolences and thoughts are with Luke Garrett's family. 'Local GP practices have been supporting the delivery of vaccinations to the over 80s, those shielding and housebound patients living in the community. 'As part of this vaccine programme, Ballochmyle Medical Practice has not stopped the vaccine programme and has continued to deliver vaccines to those eligible patients. 'We continue to urge those offered a vaccination to take up their appointment. The benefits of the Covid-19 vaccines outweigh the risks and it continues to be a safe and effective vaccine. 'The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with both symptomatic and asymptomatic testing, and the stay local guidance everyone in Scotland must follow.' The Scottish Government has said there is no 'causal link' between the Pfizer vaccine and any deaths. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts and condolences are with Luke's family, and all those who have lost a loved one during this dreadful pandemic - what they are going through is unimaginable. 'The vaccines are safe and approved by regulators - including the MHRA - and we encourage all those who are offered to get vaccinated. 'No causal link has been made between the Pfizer vaccine and any fatality in the UK. The MHRA is alerted of all deaths where a patient was recently vaccinated and they will draw their own conclusions. 'It would be inappropriate to comment further on any individual case.' A spokesperson for Pfizer yesterday said: 'We take adverse event reports very seriously. 'We closely monitor all such events and collect relevant information to share with global regulatory authorities, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. 'To date, millions of people have been vaccinated with our vaccine. 'It is important to note that serious adverse events can occur in the population that may be unrelated to the vaccine. 'Our immediate thoughts are with the bereaved family.' Muscular Dystrophy UK say they have been supporting Mr Garrett's family through their ordeal. A spokeswoman said: 'We provide support and guidance to individuals and families living with muscle-wasting conditions, and we are always here for those who have experienced a bereavement. 'We have been working closely with Luke Garrett's family to support them at this difficult time and immediately circulated details with relevant medical professionals and authorities. 'The MHRA has confirmed to us that their analysis of data relating to people who have received a Covid-19 vaccine has not shown any linkage between having a muscle-wasting condition and experiencing vaccine side-effects. 'Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have shared guidance for people affected by muscle-wasting conditions on our website. 'We are not clinically trained ourselves so rely on collaborations with leading neuromuscular clinical and healthcare professionals to help us to provide the information and advice to do this. 'Our helpline provides guidance for anyone with a muscle-wasting condition.' Medical director of NHS24 - Scotland's NHS telephone service - Dr Laura Ryan said: 'NHS24 is very sorry to hear of Luke's death and our sympathies are with his family at this difficult time. 'If Luke's family make direct contact with us we will take the matter forward with them.' SAN JOSE, Calif., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chef Avenue, an inspiring Startup at the forefront of the design of modernized, high-performance cookware, is currently riding the wave of a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign for its first product Omnipan. Omnipan's lids help with storing prepped ingredients and left-overs in the refrigerator, as well as steaming food in the oven and microwave. Warm Cinnamon Rolls made at home in Omnipan! Omnipan debuted on the popular crowdfunding platform on April 6, 2021, and to say that people love them would be a profound understatement judging by the numbers. Chef Avenue steam-rolled their original funding goal in 5 hours. Such early success with a Kickstarter campaign is noteworthy, and as Chef Avenue crosses 1000% of its funding goal, eyebrows are beginning to rise. The mind-blowing success of Omnipan on Kickstarter should be proof enough for any critic that Chef Avenue is a company that clearly understands and can deliver on what the consumers want in the way of modernized cookware concepts. High-performing and versatile, Omnipan are more than just cookware that are reinventing the industry. They are creating inspiration for aspiring cooks and are as multifunctional as they are beautiful. Another reason for the early success of Omnipan is their ability to make cooking an effortless and enjoyable activity. Omnipan were designed to go from the oven to the table to the refrigerator to the microwave and then to the dishwasher, eliminating multiple steps and additional cleaning involved in traditional cooking processes. Removing seemingly unavoidable steps in the cooking process is impressive, and Chef Avenue is doing so by inventing unique do-it-all cookware alternatives that are elegant. Just showcasing Omnipan in one's kitchen suggests a touch of elevated sophistication. "We combined the versatility of modern cookware with the demands of busy life and created something spectacular," said Seema Shenoy, Founder and CEO of Chef Avenue. "With Omnipan, you can enjoy making your weeknight dinners or create masterpieces over the weekend. Your food will be perfect every single time." Visit Omnipan's Kickstarter page to meet the people behind the company and play a role in creating the new products that will redefine the way America cooks its meals. About Chef Avenue Chef Avenue is a cookware company headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. It produces innovative, modern, and accessible cookware. It is also a socially and environmentally responsible company. More information about Chef Avenue can be found at https://www.chefavenue.biz/. Chef Avenue and Omnipan are trademarks of Chef Avenue LLC. Contact Information Chef Avenue Media Inquiry: Becca Benevento (209) 597-1977 [email protected] Related Links https://www.chefavenue.biz/ SOURCE Chef Avenue Related Links https://www.chefavenue.biz/ Jason Watts, an Allegan County Republican and the treasurer for the 6th District Republican Committee, has been in the hospital for five days. He tested positive for COVID-19 on April 1 and is certain he was exposed to the virus at the regular meeting of the district organization, he said in a Tuesday phone interview from a hospital room in Grand Rapids. Asylum seekers housed in a 'squalid and unsafe' Kent barracks where 200 caught Covid and seven attempted suicide face an 'exceptionally high risk to life' should they remain there, the High Court has heard. The Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent has been used to accommodate hundreds of asylum seekers since last September, despite the Home Office being warned by Public Health England that it was unsuitable. Six asylum seekers previously housed at the barracks, all of whom are said to be 'victims of either torture or human trafficking or both', say conditions are 'appalling', with no mental health support and just one nurse on site. At the start of a two-day hearing on Wednesday, lawyers representing the six men said accommodating asylum seekers at the barracks was a breach of their human rights and could amount to false imprisonment. Riot police were called out to the barracks on January 29 after a fire broke out causing 'significant damage' to the 100-year-old site. Fourteen people were arrested following the disturbance. More than 45,000 people have called for the camp, where numerous protests have been held, to be closed in a petition - just as the Penally camp in Wales was closed last month. Asylum seekers kept at Napier Barracks in Folkestone have repeatedly protested over the 'appalling' standards inside the former army camp Tom Hickman QC said the barracks, which is more than 100 years old and was previously used by the Ministry of Defence as temporary accommodation for soldiers, was 'inappropriate for asylum seekers'. He said the site was 'overcrowded and felt to residents like a prison', adding: 'The conditions are prison-like, they are military, with an eight-foot perimeter fence, barbed wire, unformed guards, curfews and padlocks on the gates.' Mr Hickman told the court that the 'appalling conditions' at Napier 'acted as recurring triggers for traumatic flashbacks', particularly for asylum seekers who were previously victims of torture. Almost 200 people tested positive for coronavirus during an outbreak at the Kent barracks in January and February, which one NHS official who visited Napier said was 'inevitable' given the conditions at the site, the court heard. In November footage taken at Napier Barracks showed crowds shouting 'we want freedom' at the fence. Footage recorded by an onlooker shows the group hit and pull at the barrier while officers watch from the other side. Lawyers for the six refugees also argue the Home Office failed to put in place a process to prevent 'particularly vulnerable asylum seekers' being accommodated at the barracks. Hundreds of migrants have stayed at the barracks since it was reopened in September, but asylum seekers say slammed conditions, saying there is no mental health support and just one nurse on site Opening the claimants' case at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Tom Hickman QC - representing four of the six men - said: 'The camp was squalid, ill-equipped, lacking in personal privacy and, most fundamentally of all, unsafe. 'Those moved there, including the claimants, were exposed to conditions that had serious detrimental impacts on their mental health and, indeed, their physical health, in contracting Covid-19. 'In terms of the Covid-19 situation, it is no exaggeration to say that moving the claimants and other people to the barracks exposed them to an exceptionally high risk.' Mr Hickman told the court that '45 people or thereabouts were moved into the barracks last week', adding that 'it appears to be the intention to gradually refill the camp'. He also said that there had been 'seven suicide attempts (and) seven serious incidents of self-harm' at the barracks since it had been in use. In written submissions, Mr Hickman said Public Health England told the Home Office in September that the barracks was not suitable and that, if there was a Covid-19 outbreak at the site, 'the fallout would be significant'. He said asylum seekers were housed in groups of 14 'in a single dormitory, sharing washing and toilet facilities with 14 other persons'. Napier Barracks is more than 100 years old and is based on Kent's south coast. Between January and February nearly 200 people caught Covid-19 at the site This meant that, once coronavirus broke out at the barracks, 'all residents were exposed, increasing the risk already inherent in the accommodation', Mr Hickman said. He added: 'There is no evidence that either the second national lockdown in November or the subsequent discovery of the 'Kent variant' which led to a third national lockdown prompted reconsideration of the compatibility of the use of the barracks.' Mr Hickman also said that 'it is apparent from the Home Office's evidence that a number of alternatives to barracks accommodation were considered and proposed to ministers as potential options'. But, he added, 'the decision not to adopt alternatives was essentially political, not driven by necessity'. The Home Office argues that housing asylum seekers at Napier Barracks is lawful. Last month migrants won their fight to be removed from another ex-army camp in Wales The Home Office is defending the claim and argues that housing asylum seekers at Napier Barracks is lawful. The hearing before Mr Justice Linden is due to conclude on Thursday afternoon, and it is expected the judge's ruling will be reserved to a later date. Last month asylum seekers won their fight to be moved out of former army barracks in Penally, Wales, that were described as 'impoverished and run-down'. In November footage taken at Napier Barracks showed crowds shouting 'we want freedom' at the fence Welsh Secretary Simon Hart confirmed in a letter to residents near Penally Camp, in Pembrokeshire, that the site would be returned to the Ministry of Defence by March 21. Mr Hart's letter said that although the decision to use the camp to house asylum seekers had caused 'much frustration and anger' in the community, the Home Office claimed it had 'little option at the time.' The first of around 250 male asylum seekers aged between 18 and 35 moved into the site in September of last year. Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 45F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. U.S. troops patrol at an Afghan National Army (ANA) base in Logar province, Afghanistan (Photo : REUTERS/Omar Sobhani/File Photo) President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after the al Qaeda attacks that triggered America's longest war, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The disclosure of the plan came on the same day that the U.S. intelligence community released a gloomy outlook for Afghanistan, forecasting "low" chances of a peace deal this year and warning that its government would struggle to hold the Taliban insurgency at bay if the U.S.-led coalition withdraws support. Advertisement Biden's decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed to with the Taliban by his predecessor Donald Trump. The insurgents had threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops if that deadline was missed. But Biden would still be setting a near-term withdrawal date, potentially allaying Taliban concerns. The Democratic president will publicly announce his decision on Wednesday, the White House said. A senior Biden administration official said the pullout would begin before May 1 and could be complete well before the Sept. 11 deadline. Significantly, it will not would be subject to further conditions, including security or human rights. "The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe in staying in Afghanistan forever," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in a briefing with reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the decision with NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday, sources said. Biden's decision suggests he has concluded that the U.S. military presence will no longer be decisive in achieving a lasting peace in Afghanistan, a core Pentagon assumption that has long underpinned American troop deployments there. "There is no military solution to the problems plaguing Afghanistan, and we will focus our efforts on supporting the ongoing peace process," the senior administration official said. The U.S. intelligence report, which was sent to Congress, stated: "Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Taliban is confident it can achieve military victory." It remains unclear how Biden's move would impact a planned 10-day summit starting April 24 about Afghanistan in Istanbul that is due to include the United Nations and Qatar. The Taliban said they would not take part in any summits that would make decisions about Afghanistan until all foreign forces had left the country. The May 1 deadline had already started to appear less and less likely in recent weeks, given the lack of preparations on the ground to ensure it could be done safely and responsibly. U.S. officials have also blamed the Taliban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taliban links to al Qaeda. It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following al Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks, when hijackers slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, killing almost 3,000 people. The Biden administration has said al Qaeda does not pose a threat to the U.S. homeland now. 'ABANDON THE FIGHT' Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell accused Biden of planning to "turn tail and abandon the fight in Afghanistan." It was Trump, a Republican, who had agreed to the May 1 withdrawal. "Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake," McConnell said, adding that effective counter-terrorism operations require presence and partners on the ground. There currently are about 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of more than 100,000 in 2011. About 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in the course of the Afghan conflict and many thousands more wounded. Officials in Afghanistan are bracing for the withdrawal. "We will have to survive the impact of it and it should not be considered as Taliban's victory or takeover," said a senior Afghan government source, speaking on condition of anonymity. Although successive U.S. presidents sought to extricate themselves from Afghanistan, those hopes were confounded by concerns about Afghan security forces, endemic corruption in Afghanistan and the resiliency of a Taliban insurgency that enjoyed safe haven across the border in Pakistan. Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the United States could cut off financial assistance to Afghanistan "if there is backsliding on civil society, the rights that women have achieved." Under previous Taliban rule, the rights of women and girls were curtailed. Democratic Senator Jack Reed, chairman of Senate Armed Services, called it a very difficult decision for Biden. "There is no easy answer," Reed said. New Delhi: The growing incidents of braid-chopping in the valley have led to the police imposing restrictions in Srinagar on Friday to prevent a protest called by separatists against the menace. Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest while JKLF chief Yasin Malik was arrested from his residence to prevent them from leading protests. Mobile internet was snapped across Kashmir for a few hours on Friday to prevent rumour-mongering over braid-chopping. Protests, however, did erupt at various places in Srinagar with people demanding an end to what they alleged was a conspiracy by security agencies behind the braid-chopping incidents. Dozens of incidents of braid-chopping have been reported in the state in the last few weeks, but nobody has been arrested. Officials said that residents were beating and harassing innocent people to prevent such attacks. So while the braid-chopping scare has petered out in other north Indian states, in Jammu and Kashmir it has given rise to vigilantism and violence. In one such incident, residents of north Kashmirs Delina village beat up a youth on Tuesday. Police rescued the youth and said that he was not a braid-chopper but had gone to meet a friend in the village. On Wednesday, residents of Nundreshi Colony in Srinagar found two boys moving suspiciously and beat them up. Locals helped the duo escape after finding they were militant overground workers. Two burqa-clad women were beaten on the suspicion of being braid-choppers when they entered a wedding reception in Srinagar without invitation. In Pattan, two labourers from a village in Kupwara were beaten when someone shouted that they were braid choppers. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Public privacy expectations Anonymized data When something goes wrong State transportation departments face a challenge when considering connected and automated vehicles and infrastructure. On the one hand, these transit initiatives carry the promise of making services more efficient, effective and safe for all residents. On the other hand, poorly managed projects might collect troves of sensitive resident data, share it inappropriately with police and other departments and fail to keep any of it secure against hackers, leaving residents feeling spied on and at risk.Getting the benefits of smart transit tech while minimizing the dangers may mean baking data privacy and security considerations into projects from the get-go, according to Kristin White , executive director of the Connected and Automated Vehicles Office (CAV-X) for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).We [need] to make sure we balance this historic inequity of communities that have been over surveilled. Theres a strong lack of trust with government and industry data protections, but we still sometimes need information to make informed policies, explained White.States and cities across the U.S. have been exploring how public and private use of smart transit tech can deliver benefits. Traffic lights could sense and prioritize ambulances speeding their rescue missions while connected snowplows trundling along highways in low-visibility conditions could alert other drivers to their presences to prevent collisions. Sensors in traffic infrastructure could better inform the city about how to manage congestion and where more transit options are needed, while automated vehicles have already helped deliver food and medical supplies during the pandemic.To resolve connected and automated transits tension between utility and risk, MnDOT has been working to get ahead of growing trends and act now to establish privacy and data security policies that can guide public-sector approaches to the technology at present and in the long term. The Governors Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles recently released an annual report highlighting its latest efforts, including drawing together members of academic, business, government and nonprofit sectors last year to create the CAV Innovation Alliance charged with researching and developing best practices for emerging technologies. No one set of rules will be able to cover the nuances of all situations, so the committees have focused on developing flexible frameworks that can be used to guide thinking and offer advice on a wide variety of possible use cases.Public agencies that want to preserve trust with residents must be transparent about exactly what data is being collected and understand constituents assumptions around privacy, explained Frank Douma , co-chair of the CAV Innovation Alliance subcommittee on Connectivity and Data and director of the State and Local Policy Program at the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs.Residents might expect connected infrastructure to detect what any bystander could, such as that theres a car on the street, but systems that dig deeper to detect specifically who owns the car can feel invasive an issue Douma said Minneapolis ran into in 2007, when a project that used intersection cameras to try to identify and fine drivers who ran red lights generated public outcry over privacy concerns.When youre getting into things like red light enforcement and other traffic enforcement mechanisms, youre getting into areas of possibly taking a picture of the driver or at least the license plate ... thats very identifiable, and if you aggregate that, it begins to tell the story of that persons life you dont need any government transportation system having that kind of data, Douma said.Projects collecting easily observable details may be able to simply ask residents to opt out of data collecting, while those seeking to gather more identifying information should depend on users voluntarily opting in, recommended Damien Riehl , managing director at legal research platform Fastcase and other co-chair of the Connectivity and Data subcommittee.Key principles for trust also entail ensuring that data is only ever used for the purpose it was collected, and that it stays with the transportation department only, without law enforcement or other agencies getting access, White said. Strong policies around what information is collected and how can guide departments toward approaches that help residents feel the services are working for them, not against them.Any collected data must be protected and de-identifying personal information is an important approach, but even anonymized data doesnt always stay that way, said Riehl.A hypothetical project might replace users real names with pseudonyms but would fail to be secure if it included enough other specifics like users dates of birth and neighborhoods allowing fraudsters to connect the dots and re-identify some anonymous individuals. Agencies must be on guard not only against hackers but also fraudsters or stalkers using seemingly innocuous Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to view databases with plans to crack their targets aliases, Riehl said.Government agencies must also be mindful that technology and criminal techniques are always evolving. Defense strategies thus must not only protect against the threats of today but also anticipate attacks that could emerge in the future.What isnt re-identifiable today could be re-identifiable tomorrow, Riehl warned.No organization can prevent all hacks and the strongest approach to securing residents data in the long term may be simply to not have it or at least not have it by the time bad actors develop ways to get through your defenses, explained White.The longer an organization holds onto information, the more dangerous it is to not only be hacked or to be able to connect different pieces of information to identify someone, White said. When it comes to technology, security and privacy, its really not a matter of if youre going to be exposed, but when.Organizations should regularly delete data, White explained, although how quickly they can purge records may be a case-by-case matter. Some lawsuits can be made up to seven years after the incidents, meaning governments therefore must retain certain records long enough to be able to present in court, while data like videos of road traffic often can be deleted within 48 hours, she said.Agencies also need to carefully target their data collection and only gather exactly as much as is essential for their current, specific purposes something that breaks with traditional approaches of far less discriminate approaches, said Riehl.The old mindset is to collect everything in case youll need it, Riehl said.The more data an organization collects, the more data it needs to safeguard against current and emerging misuse and threats, after all.[Connected and autonomous] vehicles will transmit tons of information, ten times a second right now, and only small pieces are really necessary for what we need to do and what the state of Minnesota wants to do, added Bill Leifheit , chief architect and CISO for Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) partnering with MnDOT. As a committee member, he focused on developing security recommendations in collaboration with MNIT Assistant Commissioner and state CISO Rohit Tandon Throughout the process of designing transit systems and devices, designers must continually debate whether to add a new sensor or collect an additional piece of data and weigh the benefits of a more-informed system against privacy concerns, added Tandon.Its a balance that has to be put in place every time what is the risk versus the value of gathering that additional sensor information, Tandon said.When it comes to harnessing developing technology to ensure it remains helpful, not harmful, to residents, targeted and minimized data collection along with clear permissions policies may be key parts of an effective strategy. [April 14, 2021] Honda and Verizon 5G Agreement Could Benefit Cell Tower Companies Like Digital Locations SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Locations, Inc. ( DLOC ), an aggregator and developer of cell tower sites for the 5G revolution, today commented that the agreement between Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Honda (NYSE: HMC) to study how 5G connectivity coupled with edge computing could allow for faster communication between cars, pedestrians and infrastructure. This announcement demonstrates the need to dramatically increase the number of 5G cell tower sites in the U.S. The goal of the study is to discover how enhanced communications being transmitted via 5G and processed at the edge could ultimately allow cars to avoid collisions and hazards and find safer routes. In order to make this a reality, 5G antennas must be spaced every few hundred feet apart on roads throughout the country. The recent agreement between Honda and Verizon comes as very welcome news to Digital Locations, said Bill Beifuss, the Companys president. The major carriers need a creative and streamlined solution to identify and activate real estate sites that can support such an increased demand in 5G infrastructure. Our more than 110,000 pre-qualified wireless cell sites and patented software makes it easy for carriers to identify, analyze and activate sites to meet the increased demand for 5G. Mr. Beifuss concluded, Digital Locations is primed to support Verizon and Hondas mission as most of our 5G sites are situated on roads and higways throughout the country. These strategically located assets could make it much easier for carriers and car companies to gather and process vital data at the edge. About Digital Locations, Inc. Digital Locations, Inc., is an aggregator and developer of cell tower and small cell sites for the 5G revolution. 5G wireless networks are expected to be 100 times faster than current 4G LTE networks. This will enable global scale killer applications such as self-driving cars, the Internet of things (IOT), mobile streaming of 4K videos, real-time hologram-based collaboration, and lag-free high definition gaming. To realize this vision, many new 5G antennas are needed because high frequency 5G signals cannot travel farther than 100 meters. It is estimated that more than 1 million new 5G cell towers must be added in the United States alone. We currently have rights to more than 110,000 pre-qualified wireless cell sites that can be developed to help meet the demands of 5G networks. Using our patented software system, network operators such as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Sprint can easily contract with site owners all over the U.S, to quickly build out their wireless networks. Our goal is to continue to acquire the rights to more sites and become a landlord of tomorrows wireless communications assets. To learn more about Digital Locations please visit www.digitallocations.com Safe Harbor Statement Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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, and while expected, there is no guarantee that we will attain the aforementioned anticipated developmental milestones. 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: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company. Press Contact: communications@digitallocations.com (805) 456-7000 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] France will allow Georgian citizens to find legal employment in the country by the end of 2021, head of the Department of Migration, Repatriation and Refugee Issues of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons Giorgi Bunturi said. Bunturi said it is upon the French side how quickly they will fulfill their obligations in order for the legal employment program to be launched in the country. "Georgia and France have already signed an agreement, which has already entered into force. As of now, consultations are underway with France to move to the implementation process. We [Georgia and France] hope that the legal employment program will be launched by the end of 2021," Agenda.ge cited him as saying. Giorgi Bunturi also told the Georgian Public Broadcaster that up to 50 different field professionals, including barmen, representatives of the construction sector, cooks will be able to find legal temporary jobs in France. Sri Lanka has banned 11 hardline Islamist organisations, including the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda, for their links to extremist activities in the country and warned that any person who conspires with them would be sentenced to prison terms between 20 and 10 years, according to an official announcement. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a special gazette notification issued on Tuesday proscribed the radical groups under the Prevention of Terrorism (temporary) Provisions Act. The notification specifies that any person who acts in contravention or conspires to act would be sentenced to prison terms between 10 to 20 years. The Government of Sri Lanka proscribed the 11 extremist organisations "in good faith for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of peace within the country and in the interest of national security, public order, and the rule of law, the notification stated. Obtaining membership, dealing with their members, promoting such organisations, providing refuge for members, donating money or material, or engaging in any transaction are prohibited. Anyone violating these regulations could face up to 10 to 20 years in prison, Colombo Page said in a report. Among the banned organisations are local Muslim groups, including the Sri Lanka Islamic Students Movement. In the immediate aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks, Sri Lanka had banned the local Jihadi group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) and two other outfits. The NTJ suicide bomb attacks on churches and luxury hotels here had killed 270 people while injuring 500 others. A special probe panel appointed in 2019 by former President Maithripala Sirisena had recommended the banning of Muslim extremist organisations who advocate radicalism in the Buddhist-majority country. The report also asked for the banning of an extremist Buddhist group, BBS or the Forces of Buddhist Power. The panel said that the BBS actions had contributed to the radicalisation of Muslims. The gazette, however, has excluded the Buddhist group. The panel report was rejected by all political parties despite the head of the local Catholic church Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urging the implementation of its recommendations which he said would give some justice to the victims of the bombings. The panel had found Sirisena and the then top security police brass culpable for failure to prevent the bombings despite the availability of prior intelligence on the impending attack. Morries Hall invokes his Fifth Amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination during the 13th day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 14, 2021. (Pool via Reuters) Judge Lets Man Who Was With George Floyd on Day He Died Avoid Taking Stand A Minnesota judge on Wednesday ruled that a man who was in George Floyds vehicle on the day Floyd died does not have to answer a single question during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Morries Hall has described himself as a key witness to the fateful events of May 25, 2020. Body camera footage from police officers showed him sitting in Floyds passenger seat. But even acknowledging that he was in Floyds car when officers approached it near Cup Foods could open Hall up to criminal charges, his public defender, Adrienne Cousins, argued. Chauvins lawyer, Eric Nelson, included in his proposed questions, After conducting your business in Cup Foods, did you return to the vehicle with Mr. Floyd? Mr. Hall cannot answer that question. Mr. Hall cannot put himself in that car with Mr. Floyd. This was a car that was searched twice, and drugs were recovered twice. If Mr. Hall puts himself in that car, he exposes himself to constructive possession charges, Cousins told Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill in the county courthouse. Hall would face charges even if Chauvin were acquitted of the three charges, including second-degree murder, against him, she added. Hall could potentially be charged with third-degree murder. Nelson also sought to ask Hall if he noticed a change in Floyds behavior in the vehicle, to describe the behavior, and whether he told Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents that Floyd was drowsy or asleep. Hall was interviewed by agents upon being apprehended in Texas several days after Floyds death. Hall fled to the state and was arrested on an outstanding warrant. He is currently in jail on charges in a separate case. Hall sold drugs to Floyd, Floyds girlfriend Courteney Ross told the court on April 1. In this still image from police body camera video, Morries Hall is seen in the passenger seat of George Floyds car in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 25, 2020. (Minneapolis Police Department) Hall, in street clothes, was then told to address the judge. He said he was not willing to answer any of the proposed questions. Why would you not answer those? Cahill asked. I am fearful of criminal charges going forward. I have open charges thats not settled yet of my personal stuff, Hall responded, before confirming he planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right. Cahill ruled in favor of Hall, the latest in a series of rulings against the defense. Im going to advise both sides to file your proposed questions but I am finding that he has a complete Fifth Amendment privilege here, the judge said. I had earlier said that possibly he could talk about how Mr. Floyd looked in the car, but counsels argument is persuasive that that could provide a link. And since its not just evidence that would incriminate a person but also provide a link to incriminating, I do find that his invocation of his Fifth Amendment right is valid and I am going to quash the subpoena. Cahill said Monday that he would not let the defense play any clips from Halls interview with law enforcement agents last year, because he found Hall was not necessarily a trustworthy witness. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning giving way to a few showers late. High 84F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. The Administration has announced it will grant Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, to Venezuelans in the United States until September 2022. Temporary Protected Status grants eligible individuals the ability to live and work in the United States for a limited time. This new TPS designation enables Venezuelan nationals, and individuals without nationality who last resided in Venezuela, currently residing in the United States to file applications for this benefit. TPS is being extended to Venezuelans due to the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent nationals from returning safely, including a humanitarian crisis marked by widespread hunger and malnutrition, rampant crime and insecurity, human rights abuses and repression, and a crumbling infrastructure. Nearly 5.6 million Venezuelans have fled their country to date and nearly one million have sought asylum globally. The living conditions in Venezuela reveal a country in turmoil, unable to protect its own citizens, said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Only individuals who can demonstrate continuous residence in the United States since March 8, 2021 are eligible for TPS under Venezuelas designation. For their own health and safety, individuals should not believe smugglers or others claiming the border is now open. Due to the pandemic, travel and admission restrictions at the border remain in place. Individuals desiring TPS must file an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the 180-day registration period. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility. More details about the eligibility criteria to submit an initial TPS application and apply can be found at www.uscis.gov. It is in times of extraordinary and temporary circumstances like these, said Secretary Mayorkas, that the United States steps forward to support eligible Venezuelan nationals already present here, while their home country seeks to right itself out of the current crises. The Second Karabakh War ended with the signing of the trilateral declaration between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia on November 10, 2020. The declaration, which stopped the war and laid the foundation for solving other thorny issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the liberation of the remaining territories under occupation (Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin) as well as the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region, may have heralded the dawning of a different period in the history of a long war-ravaged region of the South Caucasus, Modern Diplomacy reports. This is evidenced by the announcement of new cooperation initiatives such as the six-party cooperation platform and the establishment of the Zangezur corridor, which aims not only to link Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also to play a wider role in enhancing the regions standing by providing interconnectivity across diverse geographic and geopolitical zones. This process has already involved Russia and Turkey and will potentially facilitate links between Central Asia and Europe. There have already been reports and testimonies about Azerbaijans intention to move on, post-Second Karabakh War, and adopt a maximally cooperative and magnanimous approach towards Armenia following the latters defeat in the war. This was apparent in the many concessions made by Azerbaijan in the post-war period, such as providing a ten-day extension (from November 15 to November 25, 2020) of the deadline for the Armenian Armed Forces and the Armenian population that had settled in Kalbajar during the occupation to leave the region, and the return to Armenia of 69 Armenian nationalsdetained in Azerbaijan and 1400 bodies. Moreover, as a gesture of good will, Azerbaijan helped with the transfer of humanitarian aid to Armenian residents in Karabakh; facilitated the transfer of goods through Azerbaijans main territory; allowed Armenian citizens to continue using the parts of the GorusKafan highway that pass through the newly liberated Azerbaijani territories; and last, but definitely not least, for the first time in three decades the transportation of Russian natural gas to Armenia through Azerbaijan became a reality. However, this cautious optimism about the nascent prospects of peace and cooperation in the region is facing a number of challenges. These include Armenias flouting of Article 4 of the November 10, 2020 declaration that demanded the withdrawal of all remaining armed groups from Azerbaijani territories; purposeful misrepresentation by Armenia of militia members captured by Azerbaijan as a result of counter-terrorist operations since November 10 as prisoners of war (PoW) and resultant attempts to exert pressure on Azerbaijan; and the newly intensified debate on who might have launched Iskandar M missiles against the Azerbaijani city of Shusha during the 44-day war. The latter issue in particular seems to boggle the mind after the Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) recently discovered the remnants of an Iskandar M ballistic missile in Shusha. According to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the export version of this missile is the Iskandar E, which the Russian Federation exported only to Armenia. The Iskandar M, the remnants of one of which were discovered in Shusha,is in the sole possession of the Russian Federation. The story behind this discovery definitely has a dark side that needs to be clarified, as the absence of plausible answers may generate dangerous speculation. Either way, this issue, along with the others discussed above, is also inhibiting a seamless transition to the post-conflict rehabilitation period. In addition to the above, the danger posed by the landmines planted in the previously occupied Azerbaijani territories is very acute. According to some estimates, Armenia spent$350 million on planting landmines in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region. ANAMA is currently undertaking operations towards clearing the areas contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and initial estimates suggest that the neutralization of UXO, missiles, and the remaining ammunition in the combat areas could require 56 years, while it might take some1013 years before the mined areas are completely cleared. Although Azerbaijan is also receiving help from its friends, partners, and international organizations, including Turkey, Russia, and the United Nations, in the form of staff training, delivery of mine-clearing equipment, and financial assistance, this is obviously not yet sufficient for tackling this very difficult and precarious work. The issue is further exacerbated by the fact that, in response to all the gestures of goodwill by Azerbaijan aimed at turning the page on hostility and embarking on building a cooperative relationship with Armenia, the latter still refuses to give Azerbaijan maps of the landmines planted in its formerly occupied territories. Worse still, as noted by the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration at the briefing held for the diplomatic corps on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (April 5, 2021),on the one occasion when Azerbaijan was able to obtain maps of purported mined areas from Armenia, these maps turned out to contain false information, as ANAMA was unable to find anything based on the coordinates therein. This could mean that Armenia purposefully misled Azerbaijan, Mr. Hajiyev noted. Apparently, there is still no progress whatsoever in terms of persuading Armenia to cooperate on the issue of landmines. However, this is hugely important, as refusal to collaborate on such a crucial issue may diminish the already meagre prospects for achieving lasting peace and cooperation between the erstwhile enemies in the wake of Azerbaijans one-sided concessions to Armenia. International conventions prohibit anti-personnel landmines (APL), the most dangerous form used against civilians. Every year, reputable organizations in the field, such as the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL),report thousands of people dying or being injured owing to landmines. Post-Second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan has already reported the deaths of dozens of its citizens as well as military servicemen, including Russian peacekeepers, who have died or been maimed as result of anti-personnel landmine explosions. If the correct maps of the mined areas are not given to the Azerbaijani side in due time, the numbers of casualties will increase, adding to the already daunting global statistics of human deaths due to landmines. It is hoped that Armenia will not realize too late that civilians should not be at the receiving end of the regimes frustration and resentfulness over the war that was lost. Thus, there are clearly visible challenges of the post-conflict period that need to be overcome. The complexity of the outstanding issues demands transparency, cooperation, and mutual compromise if there is a genuine wish to move away from the horrors of the past. This should be undertaken by all the stakeholders that signed the November 10, 2020, agreements that ended the Second Karabakh War, because unilateral efforts may likely be insufficient to ultimately break the vicious cycle of hostility and war. An alleged act of sabotage against a key Iranian nuclear site appears to have complicated newly launched negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. Two days after the attack -- which Iran has blamed on Israel -- Tehran announced it will start enriching uranium at 60 percent purity, higher than it has ever done before. Iranian President Hassan Rohani said on April 14 that the decision to sharply boost the enrichment was a reaction to the alleged attack at the secretive underground facility in central Iran. "Enabling IR-6 [centrifuges] at Natanz today, or bringing enrichment to 60 percent, this is the response to your evilness," Rohani, apparently alluding to Israel, said at a cabinet meeting. "What you did was nuclear terrorism. What we do is legal." Iranian authorities have called the damaging attack on Natanz an act of "nuclear terrorism," suggesting it was aimed at undermining recently launched, indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington held to try to find a way for the United States to rejoin the deal it left in 2018 in exchange for Iran strictly adhering to the agreement. "You wanted to leave our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full," Rohani said, suggesting that Tehran was attempting to gain leverage in the talks in Vienna, which are due to resume later this week. Tehran's decision to enrich uranium at unprecedented levels was announced two days after the April 11 incident at Natanz. Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Kazem Gharibabadi, said on April 14 that 60 percent enrichment would begin next week. Under the nuclear deal agreed between six world powers and Iran, Tehran is allowed to enrich uranium at 3.67 percent. Nuclear enrichment of 90 percent purity is needed to produce a nuclear bomb. Tehran began enriching uranium to 20 percent in January after parliament passed a law requiring the government to boost enrichment levels. The bill was adopted following the November 2020 assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh amid suspicions that Israel was behind the killing near Tehran. Analysts have warned that the incident at Natanz -- which involved a carefully timed disruption of the site's power -- was likely to make it more difficult for Iranian negotiators to compromise in the nuclear talks, at which European countries have worked as intermediaries between Tehran and Washington. "Domestic politics in Iran were already making compromise hard, this is just going to pour gasoline on that problem," Eric Brewer, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told RFE/RL. "Enriching to 60 percent is a significant Iranian step and will further shorten Iran's breakout timeline," said Brewer, who served as a deputy national intelligence officer and was responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear program. He added that the move was "unlikely to have the intended effect of forcing the U.S. to accept Iran's demands." Who Profits? Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said sabotaging Natanz was "a very bad gamble" that he claimed would strengthen Tehran's hand in the nuclear talks. He also said Tehran will retaliate if it determines that Israel was behind the sabotage. "The Zionists want to take revenge for our progress on the way to lift cruel sanctions," Zarif said earlier in the week, adding that "we will not fall into their trap." The extent of the damage to the underground nuclear site is not clear. Citing two intelligence sources, The New York Times reported that production at Natanz could be set back for at least nine months due to the attack, which reportedly caused fires. Lawmaker Alireza Zakani, who heads the research center of Iran's hard-line parliament, said in an interview that "several thousand centrifuges were damaged and destroyed." Israel has neither denied nor confirmed a role in the incident. Unnamed intelligence sources have told Israeli media that Mossad was responsible for the sabotage. The White House has denied that the United States had any involvement in the incident while declining to comment on whether the incident might undermine efforts to restore the nuclear accord. 'Not A Small Signal' Brewer said the attack at Natanz signalled to Iran that "its adversaries can still 'reach out and touch' its nuclear program whenever they feel like it." "After years of attacks against Iranian facilities and scientists and efforts Iran has taken to prevent them, [that attack is] not a small signal," he said, adding that more events, "deliberate and otherwise," are expected that could test the talks. "For diplomacy to work we have to weather those events, and we've done so before. But that's a lot harder right now given that we're probably a ways off from a deal and there's a lack of trust," he added. Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group, said the attack at Natanz appeared to be "a win-win scenario for Israel." "If Iran doesn't retaliate out of fear of derailing nuclear diplomacy, it grants Israel a cost-free but devastating blow to Iran's nuclear program. If Iran retaliates, then it risks derailing nuclear diplomacy, which is in line with Israel's objectives," he told RFE/RL. Complicating Talks Dalia Kassa Kaye, a fellow at the Wilson Center and the former director of the Rand Center for the Middle East, believes undermining diplomacy was not the only aim of the attack at Natanz, which was also targeted in July in an act of sabotage that was also blamed on Israel as part of shadow efforts undermining Iran's nuclear program, which Israeli officials see as an existential threat. "But such incidents certainly complicate diplomacy for the [administration of President Joe Biden] and are only likely to further erode trust between the United States and Iran," she said. "It's hard to imagine the administration welcomed this action in the midst of this particularly sensitive time in nuclear diplomacy." The incident resulted in a call by Iran's Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, for Rohani's government to leave the Vienna talks that the news outlet said were taking place "under the shadow of terror." Tasnim suggested the Natanz attack must have been coordinated with the United States. Lawmaker Mojtaba Zolnur, who heads parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, called on Rohani not to trust Washington, saying Israel's "involvement" in the incident did not clear the United States, which he claimed had been working "to inflict more severe blows" on Tehran. But Reza Noroozpur, the head of the official IRNA state news agency, warned against halting the negotiations, saying it was "the demand of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu." He added that Tehran should follow the policy of "strategic patience" and retaliate at an appropriate time. U.S. President Donald Trump exited the landmark agreement in May 2018 while reimposing crippling economic sanctions at the same time. Tehran reacted by gradually decreasing its commitments under the deal. The Biden administration has expressed its readiness to rejoin the nuclear deal -- also co-signed by Germany, France, Russia, Britain, and China -- if Tehran returns to full compliance with the agreement. Washington said last week it would be prepared to lift sanctions that are inconsistent with the nuclear agreement. But Tehran has called for the removal of all sanctions in refusing any direct talks with Washington, saying that it is no longer a party to the agreement. The retail visionary WG Galen Weston, who has died aged of 80, was the inheritor of the struggling Canadian supermarket group, which in a lifetime of work he turned into an 8billion personal fortune. His commercial interests spanned the Atlantic. An unassuming billionaire, he liked nothing better than to wander the elegant halls of his landmark Canadian store, Holt Renfrew, chatting to customers about their experience and engaging with staff on the progress of new products and lines of fashion. It was under his tutelage and that of his daughter, Alannah, that the family bought control of a fading and dowdy Selfridges store on Londons Oxford Street in 2003. Power couple: Galen Weston was married to wife Hilary - a former Irish fashion model - for 55 years With an enormous investment, modernisation and a keen interest in high fashion and style they re-created the Selfridges of old, arguably turning it into Britains most alluring department store in an age when the format was in decline. The food hall and restaurants, famously serving sandwiches with lashings of salt beef, have become a go-to destination for tourists from the US, Japan and China. Galen Weston was a scion of an empire built by his grandfather George Weston on the Canadian prairies, supplying the wheat for a bread and bakery business in Toronto. By the time Galen took the reins from his father Willard Garfield in the 1970s, the bakery firm had expanded exponentially, acquiring what is now Canadas biggest supermarket group, Loblaw. It would be easy to regard Galen as just the caretaker of the family name. But his colleagues credit him with being one of the greatest wealth creators in Canadas history. Shopping landmark: Selfridges on Londons Oxford Street has been restored to its former glory He was born in Buckinghamshire on October 29, 1940, the youngest of nine children in an already prominent family. His early years in commerce were spent acquiring supermarkets in the UK before returning to Canada to rescue Loblaw. Over a long career retirement did not come until the age of 75 he developed a retail colossus which today employs more than 200,000 people , and includes the Canadian chains Shoppers Drug Mart and No Frills. Among the most renowned of Loblaws products is the Decadent chocolate chip cookie brand. I think when people think of the Westons, they think of the history and the family. But he was a real retailer, said Gordon Nixon, the former head of the Royal Bank of Canada who served on the Loblaw board. Legend: Galen Weston in his prime The acquisition of Selfridges, and, later, the upmarket Brown Thomas and Arnotts stores in Ireland, appealed to his taste for the preservation of great shopping landmarks. In the 1980s, Galen was the subject of a failed kidnapping attempt by the Irish Republican Army. Despite his Canadian roots, he was a deeply loyal to the UK, the country of his birth, and forged a close friendship with Prince Charles. In 1975 he acquired the lease of one of Britains most famous houses, Fort Belvedere, in Surrey, owned by the Crown Estate. Built in 1750-1755 for William Augustus, a son of George II, its main claim to fame came as the residence of the late Edward, Prince of Wales, the Duke of Windsor, where he entertained his future wife, Wallis Simpson. Under Galen Weston it has been restored and renovated at his own cost. The house proved a great venue for sumptuous champagne gatherings, marking his philanthropy through the Weston Family Foundation in Canada and the Selfridges Group Foundation in Britain. It has been a long tradition in all branches of the Weston family for dividends on their considerable shareholdings to be directly paid to charity. A separately, British branch of the Weston family currently controls Associated British Foods, led by chief executive George Weston. It is the owner of the no-frills fashion concern Primark, as well as luxury store Fortnum & Mason. Galen Weston died peacefully after a long illness. He is survived by Hilary, his wife of 55 years, a former Irish fashion model who served as Ontarios lieutenant-governor, his daughter Alannah (Cochrane) and his son Galen G Weston. At a time when the second Covid wave is threatening to upend economic activity again, a recent India Inc poll has revealed that chief executive officers (CEOs) in India are confident about growing their businesses in the current financial year. The annual CEO survey conducted by PwC on Wednesday shows that 70 per cent of the 60 Indian are confident about clocking revenue growth in 2021-22. The report follows the International Monetary Funds (IMFs) growth projections for India. The IMFs January 2021 World Economic Outlook projected Indias economy to grow 11.5 per cent in 2021, making it the only major economy with a double-digit growth forecast, said PwC.At least 88 per cent expect global economy to improve in 12 months. According to Fitch Ratings, global gross domestic product declined 3.4 per cent in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic remains the foremost threat to growth, according to the Seven out of 10 consider the pandemic as the uppermost threat to growth. As many as 53 per cent CEOs said uncertain economic growth is among the top threats to their companies. Cyberattacks was the second biggest threat to growth. At least 62 per cent CEOs consider cyberattacks as a major challenge. The thought of losing my customers money to theft is what keeps me up at night. So, while Covid has brought about a significant increase in digital adoption and transactions, it has also increased the risks associated with digital, said Uday Kotak, managing director and CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank. The need for operational resilience is speeding up Cloud adoption, expanding the chance of cyberattacks for corporations. Cyber-risk has become boardroom agenda, with 52 per cent Indian CEOs having factored it into their strategic risk management, alongside speed of technological change, availability of key skills, and changing consumer behaviour, said PwC. CEOs said digital transformation is integral to build fit-for-future organisations and driving business growth. Large technology-led transformation projects are being undertaken to propel automation and digitalisation in key business areas. This, in turn, demands digital upskilling of the workforce to steer the future of work that at times may be antithetical to leadership decisions. The survey found 93 per cent Indian CEOs willing to invest more in digital transformation in nearly all the sectors: manufacturing, retail and consumer, financial services, education, and health care. Eighty-eight per cent would like to simultaneously focus on digitising their risk management functions and build a cyber-resilient infrastructure that supports growth. According to them, focusing on productivity, automation, and technology will be key to sustain business growth in the new post-Covid world. Forty-two per cent CEOs are now focusing on productivity through automation and technology as a workforce strategy to make the greatest impact on their organisations competitiveness, while 35 per cent are focused on health and well-being of the workforce. A majority of CEOs sees the US (52 per cent) as its largest export-growth market. For Indian CEOs, the top territories of growth after the US are the UK (25 per cent), China (15 per cent), Bangladesh (12 per cent), Germany (12 per cent), and the UAE (12 per cent). It believes the strong economic performance of the US - on the back of a large stimulus and less disruptive decision-making will provide additional boost to the exporting companies. "Companies need to continue production, and flexibility is key to profitability." - Express CEO Bill Stoller A majority of employees at U.S. companies regularly worked from home in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, an arrangement 1 in 3 (35%) hiring decision-makers say will become the new normal. This is according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. The 57% of employees who worked remotely in 2020 is up from an average of 42% in 2019. Among those with employees who worked remotely in 2020, nearly half (48%) expect the majority of employees who began working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic to return to a physical workplace within six months. Seventeen percent say the majority have already returned to a physical workplace. Jan Riggins, general manager for two Express franchises in Fort Worth, Texas, says what she knew before the pandemic was that some people enjoy and thrive in a work-from-home environment, while others do not. But for her office, pivoting to a hybrid model of remote work could have positive lasting results. In our own office, I have seen how our forced experience to work remotely prepared us to have uninterrupted production even with additional challenges such as weather, school closings and individual quarantines, Riggins said. In the past, these would have left us hobbled, so perhaps our future does not lead to remote versus not remote, but instead a fluid transition between the two. David Robb, director of operations for the Grand Rapids, Michigan, Express franchise also predicts a more dual approach to remote work. I think that moving forward, there will be increased flexibility with working remotely or working from the office, he said. I also think that many companies are struggling with efficiencies and collaboration by having everyone remote all of the time. Long-term, I predict there will be more of a hybrid approach with office space and work from home when needed. Right now, Robb estimates 75% of his offices clients have at least some employees working from home regardless of industry due to COVID-19 precautions, but acknowledges remote work is easier for office workers than manufacturing producers. Riggins, on the other hand, estimates a much lower percentage of her office services clients offering remote work, mainly in logistics, large-equipment auctions, electronic components and safety workwear manufacturing. The common factor seems to be that these are mainly customer service, accounting and administrative positions, and the companies are large enough to create the technology infrastructure to allow remote work, she said. As for when employees will head back to the office, Robb says he thinks workers will phase back in this spring/summer with full capacity for those who are going to return in-person complete by late summer. Riggins sees a bit more expanded timeline of late 2021 or early 2022. One other byproduct of the transition to remote work during the last year is the evolution of sick leave policies. I think there will be more days when someone isnt able to come into the office for some reason, and whereas before, they would have had to take a personal day. Now it will be a work-from-home day, Robb said. Remote work is just one of the many ways companies have had to adapt in the past 12 months and it remains to be seen the lasting impact of this transition, Express CEO Bill Stoller said. Until the COVID-19 virus is under control, I believe remote work, in some form, is here to stay, he said. Companies need to continue production, and flexibility is key to profitability. Survey Methodology The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Nov. 16 and Dec. 7, 2020, among 1,002 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data was weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. *** If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena (Karami) Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing company has more than 830 franchises in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Since inception, Express has put more than 9 million people to work worldwide. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 526,000 people globally in 2020. For more information, visit http://www.ExpressPros.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-14 22:08:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, visits a middle school in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 13, 2021. Wang was on an inspection tour from Monday to Wednesday in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) HOHHOT, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang has called for creating a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, upholding an accurate understanding of country, history, ethnicity, culture and religion, and maintaining ethnic unity, social stability and tranquility in the border areas. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour from Monday to Wednesday in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He visited villages, pastoral areas, communities, schools and research institutes. Noting that forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is fundamental to realizing national rejuvenation, Wang called for promoting the preservation, innovation and integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups on the basis of strengthening the sense of identity with Chinese culture. He urged accelerated efforts in extending the use of Putonghua and standard Chinese characters and state-compiled textbooks to help people of all ethnic groups better accept scientific and cultural knowledge and enhance their employability. Stressing that the system of regional ethnic autonomy conforms to China's basic national conditions and has strong vitality, Wang called for adjustments and improvements to policies concerning ethnic groups to keep pace with the times, and the adoption of targeted policies in light of local conditions. Enditem [April 14, 2021] Amwell to Report First Quarter 2021 Operating Results and Host Conference Call on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Amwell, (NYSE: AMWL) (the "Company") a national telehealth leader, today announced that it will report first quarter ended March 31, 2021 operating results on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Following distribution of the earnings release via wire services, the Amwell management team will host a live conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review the Company's operating results and provide a general business update. A live audio webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of the Company's website at investors.amwell.com. Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the live webcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to access the webcast. Alternatively, please call (833) 979-2840 (U.S.) or (236) 384-2051 (International) to listen to the live conference call. The conference ID number for the live call will be 4793448. A replay of the call will be available via webcast for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call, at the same web link, and will remain available for approximately 90 days. About Amwell Amwell is a leading telehealth platform in the United States and globally, connecting and enabling providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver greater access to more affordable, higher quality care. Amwell believes that digital care delivery will transform ealthcare. The Company offers a single, comprehensive platform to support all telehealth needs from urgent to acute and post-acute care, as well as chronic care management and healthy living. With over a decade of experience, Amwell powers telehealth solutions for over 2,000 hospitals and over 55 health plan partners with over 36,000 employers, covering over 80 million lives. For more information please visit https://business.amwell.com/. American Well, Amwell, and Amwell Medical Group are registered trademarks or trademarks of American Well Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations, financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," or "would," or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent our beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this release. These statements, and related risks, uncertainties, factors and assumptions, include, but are not limited to: weak growth and increased volatility in the telehealth market; inability to adapt to rapid technological changes; increased competition from existing and potential new participants in the healthcare industry; changes in healthcare laws, regulations or trends and our ability to operate in the heavily regulated healthcare industry; our ability to comply with federal and state privacy regulations; the significant liability that could result from a cybersecurity breach; and other factors described under 'Risk Factors' in our most recent form 10-K filed with the SEC (News - Alert) . These risks are not exhaustive. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Further information on factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by our forward-looking statements is included in the reports we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings, when available, are available on the investor relations section of our website at investors.amwell.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005137/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Prominent real estate executive and philanthropist Randall Lewis has gifted $2 million to establish the Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact. The universitys commitment to underserved communities, as well as its proven track record in social and economic innovation, make it the perfect home for this new center. The University of La Verne has received a gift of $2 million from prominent real estate executive and philanthropist Randall Lewis. The gift will establish the Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact. The nonprofit venture will focus on increasing the economic power and impact of University of La Verne students, alumni, regional businesses, not-for-profits, and community organizations. It will provide entrepreneurial training for several learning cohorts each year and will integrate academic and hands-on approaches to job creation and long-term career support. The center will have a special emphasis on underserved communities in the region. I am delighted to partner once again with the University of La Verne on a project that will generate real and positive change in the communities of Inland Southern California, said Mr. Lewis. By blending academic excellence with on-the-ground training and experience, we will empower students and existing business owners alike to strengthen their own economic health, and by extension, that of the region as a whole. The universitys commitment to underserved communities, as well as its proven track record in social and economic innovation, make it the perfect home for this new center. The center will be located in Ontario, California, where the University of La Verne already has a strong presence through its College of Law. The new Lewis Center will complement the citys own Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art business facility, and enable the university to expand its innovative educational outreach to the surrounding community. Additional locations are also possible at regional University of La Verne campus sites such as Bakersfield, Irvine, and Burbank. Randall Lewis has done it again, University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman said. As one of our most actively engaged supporters, Mr. Lewis shares our mission for serving and supporting inland Southern California and beyond. We are profoundly grateful to partner with him to create an unparalleled and impactful economic resource for our region. The new Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact will integrate faculty expertise from all four existing University of La Verne colleges and partner with offices such as the Small Business Development Center, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, and The La Verne Experience. Its programming will be guided by a cadre of professors, community advocates, and investors. Strategic partnerships will be developed at the local, regional, national, and international levels, with a special focus on current and future businesses owned and operated by women, minorities, and veterans. Quentin Strode, currently chief operating officer of NEW Community Investments, will help shape programming at the center and will assist in creating a wide network of resources. For 25 years, Mr. Strode has focused on building innovative economic development solutions. This is the second major investment that Mr. Lewis has made in the University of La Verne. The Randall Lewis Center for Well-Being and Research opened in 2019 on the La Verne campus. It is a unique hub for teaching, researching, and promoting healthy lifestyle and well-being habits for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partnering regional organizations. The center includes indoor and outdoor spaces for fitness activities and well-being programs that promote good nutrition, stress management, sleep hygiene, sound finances, and mindfulness. Residents of inland Southern California also benefit from research and programming partnerships with leading community and health organizations. If you would like to support the work of the Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact, please contact Sherri G. Mylott, Vice President of University Advancement, at smylott@laverne.edu or 909-448-4513. # # # About the University of La Verne Founded in 1891, the University of La Verne is a private, nonprofit, comprehensive institution founded on four core values: lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity. The university serves nearly 7,000 students on the historic La Verne central campus as well as across nine regional campuses and online. Some Hong Kong civil servants are already sent to the Chinese mainland for training courses, field trips and lectures, but these programs mostly only involve senior officials. Photo: VCG Hong Kong is looking into sending the citys civil servants to temporarily work on the mainland, the governments civil service chief said. Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen mentioned the proposal at a Monday at a meeting of a Legislative Council committee meeting. If the plans go ahead, it would be the first time that the special administrative regions civil servants would be assigned to mainland government bodies. Nip said that the assignments would give civil servants a chance to watch and learn, according to a report on the meeting from local newspaper The Standard. He also said that the authorities are mulling plans for civil servants to study mandatory courses on the mainland during the three-year probation period at the start of their tenure. No precise details about these plans have been released. Ann Chiang Lai-wan, a lawmaker with the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, suggested at the meeting that civil servants could be assigned to rural areas. The Standard report quoted her as saying that this can help them better understand issues of grassroot families on the mainland. On the Chinese mainland, it is a common practice to give civil servants temporary assignments, usually to rural or poor regions, both to improve the local administration and to broaden the experience of officials. These assignments normally last less than 3 years. Some Hong Kong civil servants are already sent to the Chinese mainland for training courses, field trips and lectures, but these programs mostly only involve senior officials, Caixin has learned. Only 1,000 civil servants are eligible for mainland training courses this year, according to the citys Civil Service Bureau. Nip said that discussions are being held with the mainland authorities on increasing this number in future. The civil service chief also discussed the issue of civil servants oaths of loyalty. According to Article 6 of the National Security Law that came into effect last year, anyone running for election or holding public office in the region must take an oath to uphold the Basic Law and swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. Nip said that 129 civil servants have refused to make this pledge and are now facing forced retirement. Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Joshua Dummer (joshuadummer@caixin.com) Support quality journalism in China. Subscribe to Caixin Global starting at $0.99. Follow the Chinese markets in real time with Caixin Globals new stock database. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future has published a Half-Cooked Research Report on the Global Cryogenic Insulation Market. Market Synopsis According to the MRFR analysis, Cryogenic Insulation Market is expected to reach over USD 3.7 Billion by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 7.2%. Cryogenic insulation is used to reduce or eliminate the energy loss from the cold storage tanks and transfer lines. Cryogenic insulation effectively controls a systems environment and helps in maintaining economic effectiveness. Cryogenic insulation are high-performance materials such as polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, expanded foams, fiberglass cellular glass, polystyrene, and aerogel. The growing demand for cryogenic equipment in the food & beverage and medical industries coupled with increasing demand for liquified natural gas (LNG) and various industrial gases is expected to drive the growth of the cryogenic insulation material market during the forecast period. Pricing The price of the cryogenic insulation varies according to material type. The average price of cryogenic insulation ranges from USD 1,500/ton to 13,800/ton. SEGMENTATION By Material Type PU/PIR: The segment accounted for the largest share of the global COVID 19 Impact on Cryogenic Insulation Market and is projected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period. The high demand for PU/PIR insulation is attributed to low thermal conductivity, fire resistance, moisture resistance, and good workability. PU and PIR are widely used for insulating cold storage buildings, pipelines, storage tanks, and valves in various industries. Furthermore, the high vermin resistance enables its use in the food & beverage and medical industries. Polystyrene: The polystyrene segment is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period. Polystyrene is mostly preferred for cryogenic insulation applications in the areas of high moisture exposure. Cellular Glass: Cellular glass is widely used for insulating piping, fittings, tanks, and equipment operating in the temperature ranges of -268C to 480C. It is widely preferred in the chemical industry and ground chilled piping systems. The cellular glass segment is expected to witness healthy growth driven by its superior properties, chemical resistance, and corrosion resistance. Others: The others segment includes perlite, fiberglass, aerogel, and elastomer foams. This segment is expected to witness fastest growth during the forecast period owing to the high demand for aerogel for pipeline insulation. Browse Full Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cryogenic-insulation-market-8494 By End-Use Industry Energy & Power: The segment dominated the global cryogenic insulation market in 2018 and is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The growth is primarily attributed to the increasing demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel, favored by government policies encouraging a cleaner energy mix. The US and China accounted for over 60% of the global LNG consumption. Food & Beverage: The segment is expected to witness healthy growth driven by increasing demand for cold storage and frozen food transportation. The long-term outlook of the food & beverage segment is expected to remain positive backed by socio-economic trends such as economic growth, urbanization, changing demographics, population growth, and increasing disposable income. Medical: The medical segment is expected to witness moderate growth driven by increasing healthcare spending. According to the World Health Organization, in 2016, the global spending on health was USD 7.5 trillion and average per capita health expenditure was USD 1,000. The spending on healthcare in the low- and middle-income countries is expected to be 6%, and 4% in high-income countries during the forecast period. Chemical: Increasing investment to increase the production capacities of various chemicals across the globe, particularly in Asian countries such as China and India, is expected to augment the growth of the global cryogenic insulation market. Others: The others segment is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period. Nestwave, a Paris, France-based provider of low-power geolocation IP and cloud services for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, secured a 2.4m round of financing. Backers included the European Innovation Council, the European Commissions newly established venture capital fund, and current investors Sofimac Innovation (Paris, France) and The Faktory Fund (Liege, Belgium). The company intends to use the funds to further accelerate the rollout of its hybrid-signal global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and cellular positioning technologies. Led by Ambroise Popper, CEO, Nestwave provides a geolocation solution that enables IoT modem chip makers and DSP partners to implement low-power, cost-effective geolocation for asset tracking, personal trackers and a wide range of new IoT applications. Based on more than 10 patents issued and pending, Nestwave has developed a DSP software solution that enables modem providers in the IoT market (supporting LTE cat M1, NB-IoT, LoRa or Sigfox) to offer an accurate geolocation solution integrated within their platform. FinSMEs 14/04/2021 Just last year, the worlds most valuable startup, Ltd., was being squeezed from all sides. The Trump administration wanted the Chinese firm, which owns the ubiquitous video-sharing platform, to get rid of assets. Beijing was cracking down on tech businesses, and India had blacklisted some of its social-media apps. For all the obstacles, kept growing. Now its founder, 38-year-old Zhang Yiming, is among the worlds richest people -- a distinction that lately has carried increased risks in China. Shares of the company trade in the private market at a valuation of more than $250 billion, people familiar with the dealings have said. At that level, Zhang, who owns about a quarter of ByteDance, could be worth more than $60 billion, placing him alongside Holdings Ltd.s Pony Ma, bottled-water king Zhong Shanshan and members of the Walton and Koch families in the U. S., according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. ByteDance, famous for its short-video apps and news aggregator Toutiao, more than doubled revenue last year after expanding beyond its core advertising business into areas such as e-commerce and online gaming. Its now weighing options for the initial public offering of some businesses. Zhang is someone whos known for thinking long-term and not easily dissuaded by short-term setbacks, said Ma Rui, partner at venture-capital firm Synaptic Ventures. He is set on building an enduring, global business. Surging valuation During its last fundraising round, reached a $180 billion valuation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Thats up from $20 billion about three years ago, according to CB Insights. But in the private market, some investors recently were asking for the equivalent of a $350 billion valuation to part with their shares, the people have said. Its value for private equity investors is approaching $400 billion, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. That would mean an even bigger fortune for Zhang. ByteDance representatives didnt respond to requests for comment. Its a tough time to be wealthy in China as the government seeks to rein in the countrys most powerful corporations and their billionaire founders. Just ask Jack Ma. After opening an antitrust probe, regulators fined Alibaba a record $2.8 billion and the central bank ordered an overhaul of his Ant Group Co. fintech empire so itd be supervised more like a bank. While ByteDance hasnt been singled out as a target, its dominance in social media and war chest for deal-making are sensitive areas the government is looking into. There are no more silly games in the U. S. with Trump and potential bans or forced asset sales, said Kirk Boodry, founder of investment research firm Redex Holdings. But the pressure on tech-share prices and China in particular might make $250 billion a tough sell, he added, referring to ByteDances value in private transactions. Born in the southern Chinese city of Longyan, Zhang, the only son of civil servants, studied programming at Tianjins Nankai University, where he built a following on the schools online forum by fixing classmates computers. He joined Microsoft Corp. for a brief stint after graduating, later calling the job so boring he often worked half of the day and read books in the other half, according to an interview with Chinese media. He went on to develop several ventures, including a real estate search portal. His breakthrough came in 2012, when working in a four-bedroom apartment in Beijing he created ByteDances first hit -- a joke-sharing app that was later shut down by Beijings censors. It then turned to news aggregation before winning over more than 1 billion global users with its short-video platforms and Chinese twin app, Douyin. In the process, it attracted big-name investors such as SoftBank Group Corp., Sequoia Capital and proprietary-trading firm Susquehanna Group, making it a rarity among Chinese internet startups that usually get absorbed into the wider ecosystems of and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Novel Concept One of Zhangs earliest supporters, Susquehanna has become ByteDances largest outside backer with a 15% stake, according to a Wall Street Journal story in October. The initial bet was made at the start of 2012, when ByteDances news app Toutiao was just a concept that Zhang had drawn up on napkins, according to a 2016 blog post by Joan Wang, who led that investment for Susquehannas Chinese venture-capital unit. With facing scrutiny in the U. S. and India, Zhang has put more effort into ByteDances nascent and fast-growing Chinese businesses, which range from gaming to education to e-commerce. That helped it increase sales to about $35 billion last year and operating profit to $7 billion, a person familiar with the results said. Investors are eyeing the IPO of some of ByteDances businesses after Chinese competitor Kuaishou Technology raised $5.4 billion in February in the biggest internet listing since Uber Technologies Inc. The firms market value is now nearing $140 billion. Last month, ByteDance hired former Xiaomi Corp. executive Chew Shou Zi as its chief financial officer, filling a long vacant position that will be crucial for its eventual market offering. For Zhang, its not all about immediate payoffs. The affable founder is known for his business philosophy of delaying satisfactions as he puts the focus on long-term growth -- a message he stressed again during his spiel to employees at the companys ninth anniversary celebration last month. Keep an ordinary mind, thats something that sounds easy but important to do, he said. Put in the plainest words, when hungry, eat, when tired, sleep. [April 13, 2021] DEADLINE ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Reminds Investors That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Jianpu Technology, Inc. and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, reminds investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of investors that purchased Jianpu Technology, Inc. (NYSE: JT) American Depositary Shares ("ADS") between May 29, 2018 and February 16, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors have until April 19, 2021 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. On February 16, 2021, Jianpu announced the results of its review into "transactions carried out by the Credit Card Recommendation Business Unit" with third-party business entities. The Company concluded that previously reported revenue and associated expenses had been inflated due to "certain transactions [that] involved third-party agents (including both upstream agents and downstream suppliers) with undisclosed relationships and some transactions [that] lacked business substance." Jianpu stated that it "anticipates the total amount of overstated revenue for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to be approximately, RMB 90 million and RMB 164 million, respectively, representing approximately 4.5% and 10.1% of the total revenue previously reported." The complaint, filed on February 17, 2021, alleges that throughout the Class Period defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that certain of the Company's transactions carried out by the Credit Card Recommendation Business Unit involved undisclosed relationships or lacked business substance; (2) that, as a result, Jianpu's revenue and costs and expenses for fiscal 2018 and 2019 were overstated; (3) that there were material weaknesses in Jianpu's internal control over financial reporting; (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company's fiscal 2018 Form 20-F was reasonably likely to be restated; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. If you purchased Jianpu ADS during the Class Period and suffered a loss, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker, Melissa Fortunato, or Marion Passmore by email at investigations@bespc.com, telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413006062/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] President Joe Biden speaks during an event on gun control in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 8, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Biden Says US Troops to Be Withdrawn From Afghanistan by Sept. 11 President Joe Biden announced on April 14 that he will withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, after nearly 20 years and after his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, attempted several times to draw down troop levels. We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result, Biden said. I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth. Biden added that it is now time to end Americas longest war and time for American troops to come home, noting that the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York City cannot explain why U.S. soldiers should remain in the Central Asian country. Biden said he consulted with top military leaders and Vice President Kamala Harris to make the decision, saying troops will be fully withdrawn by Sept. 11. Biden said he also recently spoke with former President George W. Bushwho launched the war after the 9/11 attacksabout the decision. The president didnt say if Bush approved of the pullout. Last year, Trump announced an agreement with the Taliban, saying troops would withdraw from Afghanistan by May 1. A U.S. soldier keeps watch at an Afghan National Army (ANA) base in Logar Province, Afghanistan, on Aug. 5, 2018. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters) We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021, the president said. Rather than return to war with the Taliban, we have to focus on the challenges that will determine our standing and reach today and into the years to come. The United States will provide security assistance to Afghanistans army, Biden said, adding that if the Taliban attacks, the U.S., troops will defend themselves with all the tools available. The Taliban will also be held accountable to not allow other terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, to flourish in Afghanistan, the president said. We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Along with our partners, we are training and equipping nearly 300,000 personnel. And they continue to fight valiantly on behalf of their country and defend the Afghan people, at great cost, Biden said. We will support peace talks between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, facilitated by the United Nations. About 2,500 U.S. soldiers remain in Afghanistan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other top Republicans said Bidens plan to remove troops is a grave mistake. Foreign terrorists will not leave the U.S. alone because our politicians have grown tired of taking the fight to them, McConnell said on the Senate floor on April 13, adding that the administration needs to explain to the American people why he thinks abandoning our partners and retreating in the face of the Taliban will make America safer. Some Republican lawmakers praised Bidens decision. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that he is glad the troops are coming home, while Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) wrote that its time for this forever war to end. According to the 2021 report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Prospects for a peace deal will remain low during the next year, and the Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan Government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support. The report noted that Iran will build ties with both the government in Kabul and the Taliban so it can take advantage of any political outcome. International Suez Canal celebrates arrival of large dredger CAIRO, APR 13 (IANS) | Publish Date: 4/13/2021 1:12:11 PM IST Egypts Suez Canal Authority (SCA) celebrated the recent arrival of a cutter suction dredger (CSD), the largest in the Middle East. We celebrate together CSD Mohab Mameesh, the largest in the Middle East and Africa, joining the SCAs fleet, Xinhua news agency SCA Chairman Osama Rabie as saying during a ceremony held in Ismailia province on Monday. The new dredger is considered an unprecedented addition to the authoritys dredgers fleet, the SCA chief added. He stressed that it will make a quantum leap in the SCAs capabilities in carrying out dredging works and projects inside and outside Egypt. The 29,190-kilowatt heavy-duty rock CSD Mohab Mameesh was made by Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC, which is working on another dredger named Hussein Tantawy that is scheduled to be delivered to Egypt in August, according to Rabie. With an overall length of 147.4 metres and width of 23 metres, Mohab Mameesh can dredge to a depth of 35 metres, while the Suez Canal is 24 metre deep. In March, the massive Panama-flagged container ship Ever Given was successfully refloated after being stranded in the Suez Canal for almost a week, thanks to cooperation between the SCA and Dutch firm Boskalis with and its emergency response team SMIT Salvage. The new dredger was named after former SCA chief Mohab Mameesh, under whose chairmanship the one-year Suez Canal expansion project was carried out and the New Suez Canal was inaugurated in August 2015. Mameesh, who is currently a presidential adviser, also attended Mondays ceremony that was held on a platform opposite to the giant blue dredger, at the massive workshop of the SCAs dredging department. I am extremely happy with the arrival of CSD Mohab Mameesh, Mameesh said, stressing that it was a necessary move to upgrade the SCAs weary fleet of dredgers. For his part, Mostafa Kenawy, head of the dredging department at the SCA, said that the Ever Given incident draw the attention of the SCA officials to the necessity of widening the southern part of the waterway whose soil is rocky. Linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal is a major lifeline for global seaborne trade as it allows ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa. The waterway was officially opened for international navigation in late 1869. ROCHESTER, Minn. - The race to vaccinate as many people as possible before COVID-19 variants spread is on and children are next in line to receive a vaccine. Mayo Clinic says there's an increase in the number of children becoming infected which has risen from around 2% in the spring of last year to nearly 18% right now. Currently Pfizer and Moderna have COVID vaccine trials underway for children 6 months to 11 years of age. Pediatric Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse says results are expected to be released by the end of this year with vaccine approval estimated by 2022. Dr. Rajapakse says Pfizer has released data from its vaccine trial for agaes 12-15 years old with the hope of FDA approval before kids return to school in the fall. She explained, "I think we're all hopeful for the older age groups, the 12-15 year olds, we'll be able to have many of them vaccinated through the summer and before we start the new school year. I think the more kids in schools who are vaccinated the safer the school community overall will be." As far as safety concerns Pediatric and Clinic Care Specialist Dr. Joseph Poterucha says given Pfizer's data over the past months in adults it will likely reflect the same in children. Dr. Poterucha added, "It's been now 9 months. We've been seeing good safety data, no concerns with the autoimmune process or delayed immunization reaction so we know that it's safe. Really we're seeing a shift in the attitude of hesitancy." Until all students are vaccinated Mayo Clinic says CDC health guidelines should still be maintained within schools. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government will not go for full lockdown as a measure to tackle the second COVID-19 wave and only rely on measures like local containment zones. In a virtual meeting with World Bank Group President David Malpass, the Union Minister noted the effects of the lockdown on the industry as well as the economy. She said, "Even with the second wave, we are very clear that we are not going in for lockdowns in a big way. We don't want to totally arrest the economy," she said, adding the industry owners have been speaking with both the state and the central governments. While talking about the local containment strategy, the Union Minister said, "Local-level isolation of patients of households that have people in quarantine are the methods through which the crisis will be handled, the second wave will be handled." While elaborating on the federal approach adopted by the Central government in handling the crisis, Sitharaman said, "The continuous interaction between the Centre and the State... the Prime Minister engaging with the elected Chief Ministers of the provinces has kept the information sharing between the Centre and the state going very well." Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman shared the measures being taken by India to contain the spread of second wave of pandemic including the five pillared strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and #COVID19 appropriate behaviour. (3/5) pic.twitter.com/2osJ2jvygh Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 13, 2021 Sitharaman also talked about the measures taken by the government to promote green, resilient and inclusive development such as vehicle scrapping policy, providing incentives to purchase EVs, ethanol blending programme under National Bio-Fuel Policy and distributing LED bulbs. Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman welcomed the initiative of #WBG for increasing lending space for India to enhance availability of finance for development. (5/5) Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 13, 2021 Edited by Mehak Agarwal Also read: Centre approves 16 applicants under PLI scheme in key starting materials, APIs Also read: COVID-19 surge: No lockdown in Maharashtra; strict restrictions imposed from 8 PM tomorrow Even as it reels from the continuing trial of Derek Chauvin, Minneapolis is again mourning the death of a Black man killed by the police. On Sunday, a 20-year-old father, Daunte Wright, was pulled over in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of the city. When police reportedly tried to arrest him for an outstanding warrant, he sought to reenter his vehicle. One of the officers, Kim Potter, shouted Taser, Taser, Taser! and then fired one round into Wrights body. The officer has since resigned and will be charged with manslaughter. Advertisement In Brooklyn Center, the National Guard was deployed, businesses were boarded up within hours, and protesters have maintained a steady presence outside of the Brooklyn Center Police Department. To understand whats happening on the ground, I called Toussaint Morrison, a prominent organizer in the area who has been helping lead marches in the Twin Cities. We spoke about why this time feels different, whether or not people believe the officer made a mistake, and what short- and long-term goals he and other protesters have in the wake of Wrights killing. Advertisement Advertisement Aymann Ismail: What is happening in Brooklyn Center right now? Toussaint Morrison: The energy outside of the Brooklyn Center Police Department is high. I was down there, and it is people absolutely fed up. I cant speak for everybody, but I will say we were all promised justice for George. And before we can even see justice for him, they add another name to the docket. Whatever energy people were preserving for whatever verdict was going to come out of the Derek Chauvin trial, it feels like that has been redirected toward the Brooklyn Center Police Department. Righteously. Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. What have you seen so far, and what are you expecting? Two nights ago, I saw community members laying on the ground, crying. Sobbing loudly. I had to help a friend of Dauntes write in chalk, I love you, brother. Because he was inconsolable. He couldnt even gather himself to do it. People were still coming to terms with the fact that Daunte Wright had been snatched right out of existence, which for anybody that has gone through trauma, you know that it hits you in waves. And so that was my experience two nights ago. Last night at the vigil, it was the family still processing the loss and the public execution. You want to get a picture for what was on the ground yesterday? It was the entire area gathering hours after the Brooklyn Center Police Department had raised the blue line flag. Now if that doesnt illustrate to you how this is going down Advertisement Advertisement Tim Gannon, the police chief, and Kim Potter just resigned. In a sense, they had to. Otherwise, I imagine if somebody were to kill somebody, and then raise a flag that solidifies their righteousness or their belief in that that life deserved to die, thats reallywhen you saw the blue line flag and the fences outside the precinct, you knew that they knew they had fucked up. They know what they did. And theyre trying to double down. The whole thing fell apart real quick. That was less than 48 hours. Think about it right now. Today is Tuesday. In about 17 minutes, it will have been exactly 48 hours since Daunte Wright was murdered by the Brooklyn Center Police Department. [Editors note: Potter has since been charged with manslaughter.] It felt like two weeks in the past two days. Advertisement Youve been organizing since the death of George Floyd. If you think that the last two days felt like two weeks, how does all your protesting and organizing add up? I cant say it doesnt feel like its for nothing. Honestly, it just feels like its preparing us for the long haul. Thats what the work has felt like. The fact that these families will never see ultimate justicethey cant get their people back. Daunte cant be resurrected. Advertisement I expect it must feel a little bit like deja vu. But it happens in different ways. It is not the same as George Floyd. People boarded up their buildings within less than 12 hours after Daunte was killed. Theres three Humvees at a Speedway right now. So the city has an understanding of its complicity in the public execution of its own citizens. On the other end of it, the citizens of the city see what is going on. We see whats happening now. Its like, This happened. And now we know what to do. The original fist that went up in George Floyd Square got taken down because of winter. And then they put up a metal one. That same fist, the original one, got put up where Daunte was killed. Were ready. We know what to do. We know how to heal. We know how to protest. We know how to mobilize. We know how to organize. We sure as hell know how to call a press conference. And so what the city has done is shown itself. In response, weve shown the city what we want going forward. And if they cant meet the will of the people, then its going to continue to see the resignation of its long-standing officers. Thats going to change and evolve the culture of the area. Advertisement Advertisement Is there something particularly wrong in Minneapolis? Whats wrong with Minneapolis is the complete dismissal of its own problems and deeply embedded racism. There is victory and there is progress to be had with white spaces and white community members that are willing to talk about race, but in a predominantly white state, city, and community that refuses to talk about its racial issues, not only can there be no progress, theres resistance to keep the comfort. In New Jersey, they have the saying: Only the strong survive. In Minnesota, only the passive survive. People do not talk about race here. And the more you dont talk about race, the more electable you are. The inherent problem with Minnesota is the fact that the community perceives itself as nice and welcoming, when really it has one of the longest, deep-seated histories of racism. This is where sundown towns started. A sundown town is where the sun goes down and youre not white, you go homeotherwise theres going to be hell to pay. That started here. Thats what this is. Advertisement There were a couple of national protestsI saw one in D.C. and another in New Yorkbut so far, its been relatively quiet compared to the national outpouring that we saw after the loss of George Floyd. Is that frustrating for you? Or do you think this movement is working in other ways? Advertisement Advertisement Thats not frustrating for me. To see a human be choked out for eight minutes and however many seconds on that tape, that will evoke a different emotion than it will just to see bodycam footage and something happen so quick. The narrative is everything. And what people saw in George Floyd was unfortunately a slow, torturous, horrific public execution. He even had last words. With Dauntethe nature of the two, to me, are the same, but the way that they happened are not. It was swift. For Daunte, the community response has been boots on the ground, and pretty much everybodys been in solidarity on this. Theres really no confusion here in Minnesota, but itll bring out different reactions. And I think everybodys still dealing with George Floyd and paying attention to the trial. Theres a lot going on. Advertisement On the trial, do you think this will have any impact? It wont. Chauvins lawyer tried to sequester the jury, but the judge seems to be a keep-it-moving type of judge from what Ive heard. The Brooklyn Center police have said Wright was accidentally shot and that the officer thought she had her Taser. How has that been received there? Advertisement She was on the force longer than Daunte was alive. So I dont know how you mistake one for the other. But lets go back even further. Lets say she actually thought it was a Taser. Lets, in some freakish, strange, upside-down, Stranger Things worldlets give her the benefit of the doubt. Why is she grabbing for that anyway? Youre out in suburban Minnesota. Youll catch this man if you need to find him. Theres really nowhere to go. You got the license plates. The question is why did she feel the need to go for any weapon. For air fresheners? Why is that even the move? Regardless of what we think if its an accident or not, she shouldnt have had her hand on anything, and you can see the look on the Black officers face afterwards in the bodycam. Like, What the fuck are you doing? I want to know what he thinks, without the protection of the blue line. So, no, I dont believe her. I dont think it was an accident. Shes a 26-year veteran who cant tell the difference between a Taser and a gun? Then they shouldnt be a police officer. She surely has no business being the president of the police union in Brooklyn Center either. Advertisement Advertisement Some people who would give the officer the benefit of the doubt might believe that this had more to do with poor training than systemic racism. In your view, are there differences between the two? Is there a line between poor training and systemic racism? I think that theres a line between poor training and systemic racism. The racism of white folks is not going to be extracted from them or educated out of them through police training. Kims racism and Tim Gannons racism is not something that can be trained out of them within the walls of a police department. If anything, the question is how much is anti-Blackness amplified by being a cop? We can get to eradicating racism later, but you have to get to eradicating anti-Blackness and white supremacy within the walls of the police department first. Then get to the next level of work. Nobody can be inside of Kims mind and figure out what she was thinking or what she was doing, but do you believe that Kims potential racism has something to do with her pulling a gun on a Black boy? Id say yeah. But then Id go further and say, if that was a white kid stepping out of a car, would she have done that? I dont feel that she would have. I really dont think so. Advertisement Advertisement On the first night of the protests, there were reports of looting and objects being thrown at the police. And thats how the police justified using tear gas and rubber bullets. Has that tempered down now, or do you expect more of that? Have you heard from any local shop owners? Well, Im sitting in a coffee shop right now that had two windows broken. And theres nothing on my end that Ive seen or heard of where people are like, Oh, no, the whole business has been taken, we cant get it back. Speedways got Humvees outside of them, National Guards here. Whatever destruction or vandalism thats occurred, its just amplified window breaking. To call it looting is asinine to me. There was a Foot Locker and something else that got broken into. Nobodys coming for gold. If anything, to me, were kind of used to this now, right? So George Floyd happened, destruction happens. Black gentleman downtown killed himself, people initially thought it was the cops, destruction happens. Dolal Idd, destruction happened. Daunte Wright, some destruction happens. You can draw a line between it. You can say some people just want to break something. And they do it anywaythey dont need police brutality to do it. Windows get broken around the city all the time. Seats on bicycles get stolen all the time. It is what it is. But to highlight whats happening here, to highlight any window breaking, it simply takes away from the fact that Daunte Wright was snatched right out of existence. His life was snuffed out. If people want to highlight the windows breaking or the looting, I challenge that. I challenge them with the question of, is that more important than the life of Daunte Wright getting stomped out by Kim Potter? People can ask that for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its decreased, though. Its not crazy here. Some people are like, Oh, its Wild West out in uptown. And Im like, OK. No, its not. Because I can remember the Wild West. It was a little less than a year ago. What are the short-term goals for the protesters on the ground right now? What do they want to see? And what do you think will be a sign that things are moving in the right direction? Step one was resignation. Step two is going to be charges. You got to have charges. [Ed. note: Potter was arrested and charged on Wednesday.] Heres a strange thing. George Floyd was killed on a Monday. You saw the week amplify up into the weekend. You have to do something before the weekend hits, and everybody has time on their hands. Whereas in the midst of COVID you had a lot of people with a lot of time on their hands because everythings closed. So these charges got to get brought, and after that, its up to the people. What about long-term goals? End qualified immunity. Thats the first step, and ending the statute of limitations. After that, we can talk about personal liability insurance. Those are the top three for me. Some folks are like, Abolition now! And Im like, all right, cool. We can get there. But you aint going to get it all in one fell swoop. That just aint going to happen. The police reform in Minnesota bills are again stalled. The governor has again pushed for them, but what do you think will it take for the police reform bill to pass? Ill tell you what I hope it doesnt take, and thats the life of another Black man. I dont think this should take any more Black lives for this to get pushed through. What I think its going to take is, unfortunately for elected officials, it usually takes the livelihood or their careers. They usually push things when their jobs are on the line. And so its not necessarily for the people, its for their careers. So I know that a lot of politiciansespecially old white male politicianscareers are on the line, and theyre going to push to keep their jobs. These are all things that Tim Walz could have done years ago. It didnt take all this. It shouldnt have taken all this. These are moves that he could have made before. These people only push it as far as the livelihood of their career and the health of their career. I hope that it doesnt cost any more lives for it to be considered and pushed forward. For more on the push for police reform in Minnesota, listen to this episode of A Word With Jason Johnson. TRINIDAD and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) executive director, Nigel Edwards, says the changes the 39-year-old financial institution is undergoing at this time are transformational. The UTC is now in the middle of a three-year cycle of strategic changes that will culminate in 2023 and beyond, he said. Novel theory addresses centuries-old physics problem The "three-body problem," the term coined for predicting the motion of three gravitating bodies in space, is essential for understanding a variety of astrophysical processes as well as a large class of mechanical problems, and has occupied some of the world's best physicists, astronomers and mathematicians for over three centuries. Their attempts have led to the discovery of several important fields of science; yet its solution remained a mystery. At the end of the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton succeeded in explaining the motion of the planets around the sun through a law of universal gravitation. He also sought to explain the motion of the moon. Since both the earth and the sun determine the motion of the moon, Newton became interested in the problem of predicting the motion of three bodies moving in space under the influence of their mutual gravitational attraction (see attached illustration), a problem that later became known as "the three-body problem". However, unlike the two-body problem, Newton was unable to obtain a general mathematical solution for it. Indeed, the three-body problem proved easy to define, yet difficult to solve. New research, led by Professor Barak Kol at Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Racah Institute of Physics, adds a step to this scientific journey that began with Newton, touching on the limits of scientific prediction and the role of chaos in it. The theoretical study presents a novel and exact reduction of the problem, enabled by a re-examination of the basic concepts that underlie previous theories. It allows for a precise prediction of the probability for each of the three bodies to escape the system. Following Newton and two centuries of fruitful research in the field including by Euler, Lagrange and Jacobi, by the late 19th century the mathematician Poincare discovered that the problem exhibits extreme sensitivity to the bodies' initial positions and velocities. This sensitivity, which later became known as chaos, has far-reaching implications - it indicates that there is no deterministic solution in closed-form to the three-body problem. In the 20th century, the development of computers made it possible to re-examine the problem with the help of computerized simulations of the bodies' motion. The simulations showed that under some general assumptions, a three-body system experiences periods of chaotic, or random, motion alternating with periods of regular motion, until finally the system disintegrates into a pair of bodies orbiting their common center of mass and a third one moving away, or escaping, from them. The chaotic nature implies that not only is a closed-form solution impossible, but also computer simulations cannot provide specific and reliable long-term predictions. However, the availability of large sets of simulations led in 1976 to the idea of seeking a statistical prediction of the system, and in particular, predicting the escape probability of each of the three bodies. In this sense, the original goal, to find a deterministic solution, was found to be wrong, and it was recognized that the right goal is to find a statistical solution. Determining the statistical solution has proven to be no easy task due to three features of this problem: the system presents chaotic motion that alternates with regular motion; it is unbounded and susceptible to disintegration. A year ago, Racah's Dr. Nicholas Stone and his colleagues used a new method of calculation and, for the first time, achieved a closed mathematical expression for the statistical solution. However, this method, like all its predecessor statistical approaches, rests on certain assumptions. Inspired by these results, Kol initiated a re-examination of these assumptions. The infinite unbounded range of the gravitational force suggests the appearance of infinite probabilities through the so-called infinite phase-space volume. To avoid this pathology, and for other reasons, all previous attempts postulated a somewhat arbitrary "strong interaction region", and accounted only for configurations within it in the calculation of probabilities. The new study, recently published in the scientific journal Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, focuses on the outgoing flux of phase-volume, rather than the phase-volume itself. Since the flux is finite even when the volume is infinite, this flux-based approach avoids the artificial problem of infinite probabilities, without ever introducing the artificial strong interaction region. The flux-based theory predicts the escape probabilities of each body, under a certain assumption. The predictions are different from all previous frameworks, and Prof. Kol emphasizes that "tests by millions of computer simulations shows strong agreement between theory and simulation." The simulations were carried out in collaboration with Viraj Manwadkar from the University of Chicago, Alessandro Trani from the Okinawa Institute in Japan, and Nathan Leigh from University of Concepcion in Chile. This agreement proves that understanding the system requires a paradigm shift and that the new conceptual basis describes the system well. It turns out, then, that even for the foundations of such an old problem, innovation is possible. The implications of this study are wide-ranging and is expected to influence both the solution of a variety of astrophysical problems and the understanding of an entire class of problems in mechanics. In astrophysics, it may have application to the mechanism that creates pairs of compact bodies that are the source of gravitational waves, as well as to deepen the understanding of the dynamics within star clusters. In mechanics, the three-body problem is a prototype for a variety of chaotic problems, so progress in it is likely to reflect on additional problems in this important class. ### This story has been published on: 2021-04-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged Nigerians to recommit themselves to the unity and peace of the country. He also asked Nigeri... Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged Nigerians to recommit themselves to the unity and peace of the country. He also asked Nigerian Muslims not to see the ongoing Ramadan fast as merely a season of abstinence from food, drink and worldly pleasures. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice-President spoke in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after he presided over the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The statement was titled Ramadan is a time for higher virtues of love, kindness and generosity, says VP Osinbajo. Akande quoted Osinbajo as saying that Ramadan period should be seen as a time of rededication to the higher values and virtues of love, kindness, generosity. He quoted the Vice President saying that, I would like to express special greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters who have begun the Ramadan fast. This is not merely a season of abstinence from food, drink, and worldly pleasures. It is a time of rededication to the higher values and virtues of love, kindness, generosity, and consideration for others regardless of faith or ethnicity. On the need for unity and peace in the country, Osinbajo reportedly said, In particular for our nation, we must recommit ourselves now and in the future to the advancement of the unity, brotherhood, and peace in Nigeria. New Delhi: Russia has called India a "welcomed partner" in its efforts when it comes to the Afghan peace process. Russian envoy to Delhi Nikolay Kudashev at a virtual presser said, India (is the) closest friend and a trusted partner. Big meeting of minds on the majority of global and regional issues. India is a welcomed partner in our efforts to secure solutions for security and stability and predictability in and around Afghanistan. India was not invited for troika plus talks on Afghanistan hosted by Moscow. Russia, the US, China, along Pakistan were the main countries at the Troika plus talks that took place last month on 18th March. In response to a WION question, if India will be invited for future troika talks on Afghanistan, Kudashev said, "India was never denied an opportunity to be in troika but otherwise there is still larger, more comprehensive format where India is the most welcome part. Thus, the problem should not be seen from the point of view of denial, but rather from the point of view of the multiplicity of choice." Russia has been holding talks on Afghanistan. India has been invited for this format of talks that involved - Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran. This year Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India for the annual India Russia bilateral summit. Ahead of the visit that will take place towards the end of 2021, Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi in April. During Lavrov's visit, in which the Russian special envoy on Afghan Zamir Kabulov was also present, a considerable discussion took place on Afghanistan. Live TV NATO Allies decided on Wednesday (14 April 2021) to start withdrawing forces from the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by May 1, with plans to complete the drawdown of all troops within a few months, NATO official website reported. In a joint press conference with the US Secretaries of State and Defense following a virtual meeting of Allied foreign and defence ministers, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said "our drawdown will be orderly, coordinated, and deliberate". He added: "we went into Afghanistan together, we have adjusted our posture together, and we are united in leaving together". Mr. Stoltenberg called the move "the start of a new chapter" in NATO's relationship with Afghanistan, saying "Allies and partners will continue to stand with the Afghan people, but it is now for the Afghan people to build a sustainable peace". Ministers also addressed Russia's military build-up in and around Ukraine, which the Secretary General called "part of a broader pattern of Russian aggressive actions". Mr. Stoltenberg reiterated NATO's strong support for Ukraine, saying "we call on Russia to de-escalate immediately" Army of the Dead Comments Please enable JavaScript to view all comments People on the internet are currently talking about Army of the Dead. Join the discussion by posting your comment or opinion about the trending topic Army of the Dead.We use a third-party service called Disqus to enable our visitors to post comments to our website. Due to the amount of comments, we do not moderate or review posted comments on our website. Pennsylvanias Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) is advising the public to be on the lookout for a recently reported phone scam. The scam involves calls that spoof or mimic the AOPCs telephone number, the AOPC is warning. During the spoof call, those being targeted are told of alleged unpaid court fines and outstanding fees. Should the fees not be paid, the caller threatens to place the individual on the Pennsylvania sex offender registry. The AOPC advises that it will never place calls or solicit payment by credit card, gift card, or any other means of electronic funds transfer for any reason. Should you receive a phone call from a number or an individual claiming to be involved with or calling from the AOPC requesting money or payment of fines, fees or court costs, do not provide any sensitive information or forms of payment of any kind. Anyone receiving calls of this nature is encouraged to hang up immediately and contact state and/or local police as well as the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at (800) 441-2555 or scams@attorneygeneral.gov. Mali, plus neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger are now the area where most Islamic terrorist activity is going on. Islamic terror groups have been largely subdued,or put on the defensive in the rest of the world. That last place where Islamic terrorists can operate with the least resistance and interference is centered on Mali. This trend first manifested itself in 2010 when Islamic terrorists fleeing Algeria and the Middle East fled to the Sahel. This is the semi-desert region south of the Sahara Desert that stretches from the Atlantic to Ethiopia and the Nile River. With little water or any other resources, the Sahel has long been a refuge for people running from something. The Islamic terrorists often survive by pushing out local gangsters and taking over whatever profitable illegal activities are available. In northern Mali, the Sahel portion of the country, the gangster goldmine was acting as a link of the illegal smuggling pipeline that began in Central Africa and extended north to the Mediterranean. The most common, and profitable illegal goods were drugs, weapons and migrants. That last category included people able to pay their way and others who were basically captives being sold into slavery (usually sexual) in Europe. By 2012 the new Islamic terrorist gangsters controlled northern Mali so France took the initiative and moved north to quickly break Islamic terrorist control of the north. Not all the Islamic terrorists up there were killed or fled the region. Many stayed behind, operating clandestinely because they had nowhere better to go. France has since been at the center of organizing growing counterterrorism forces currently consisting of about 20,000 troops. Over 70 percent of them are from nations in the western Sahel who want the Islamic terrorists gone. Thats not going to be easy because these Islamic fanatics have nowhere else to go and a steady, if dangerous, source of income. In 2012 most of Islamic terrorist violence was still in Nigeria where a local group, Boko Haram, controlled a large chunk of northeast Nigeria. By 2016 Nigerian security forces had broken Boko Haram control but not eliminated the Islamic terrorists. As a result, since 2016 the western Sahel, centered on northern Mali, has become the epicenter of Islamic terrorist violence. Three nations (Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso) suffered over 4,000 Islamic terrorism related deaths in 2019 compared to a total of 770 during the three previous years. In 2020 the violence levels diminished a bit because of increased counter-terrorism efforts. This resulted in the deaths of several key Islamic terror group leaders. Reduced effectiveness for Islamic terror groups did not last because new leaders eventually emerged. Many of the Islamic terror groups in this region are very dependent on a few key leaders. Feuds and power struggles are a common problem within Islamic terror groups and the French have learned how to exploit that. Currently the Sahel Islamic terrorists have fallen back on the tactic of only making major attacks they are more likely to win. In the last month that has not worked out in Mali, but was more successful in nearby countries. Even the successful attacks are costly in terms of personnel and equipment lost. This is also a common pattern when it comes to Islamic terrorism. This form of religion-based violence has been breaking out every few generations for nearly a thousand years and is more persistent since the 20th century because of more wealth (mainly oil) in the Moslem world and worldwide media plus cheaper long-distance travel and weapons. A permanent fix for this has to come from the Islamic community, which was never united theologically. There are current efforts to remedy this but that will take time. Meanwhile, new religious fanatics continue to be created by video of spectacular Islamic terrorist violence somewhere in the world. Since 2014 five nations; Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria and Pakistan, have accounted for most of the terrorism-related deaths. That list has recently changed with Syria and Pakistan replaced by Somalia and Mali (including neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso). The largest source of Islamic terror deaths during that period was ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), a more radical faction of al Qaeda that is currently the most radical practitioner of Islamic terrorism. Islamic terrorism continues to be, as it has been since the 1990s, the main source of terrorism-related deaths, accounting for about 90 percent of the fatalities. The remainder of the terrorism-related deaths are ethnic (often tribal) conflicts in Africa and Asia. Purely political terrorism accounts for a fraction of one percent of all terrorism-related deaths and are outnumbered by terrorism deaths inflicted by common (often organized) criminals. In central Africa, the Islamic terrorist activity in landlocked Mali has spread to neighboring Niger and especially Burkina Faso which is, like Mali, landlocked and has 17 million people (about 20 percent more than Mali). Burkina Faso also lacks the troublesome Tuareg/Arab minority in northern Mali. Because Burkina Faso is south of Mali it also lacks the totally Sahel climate found in northern Mali and neighboring Niger. Burkina Faso also has more religious diversity with a quarter of the population being Christian and 60 percent Moslem. Moreover, the Moslem population consists of several different schools of Islam, some of them quite hostile to Sunni Islamic terrorism as practiced by al Qaeda and ISIL. In contrast, Niger and its western neighbor Mauritania are almost all Moslem and have always been the home for some Islamic conservatives who were not satisfied unless their neighbors also adopted Islamic conservatism. April 7, 2021: In the north (Gao) 250 British troops of the LRRG (Long Range Reconnaissance Group) completed a month of operations, spending most of their time on the long desert roads that connect three cities in the north, like Gao, with each other and dozens of nearby villages. The mechanized LRRG traces its origins back to World War II when the first LRRG operated to the northeast, closer to Mediterranean but in the same Sahara Desert climate and terrain found in northern Mali. Britain agreed to provide about 300 troops for three years and is sending numerous army units to Mali as a form of training and field trials of new equipment. The British Army is undergoing a major upgrade in equipment and weapons and is eager to test this new gear under combat, or at least adverse, conditions. Northern Mali provides both. Among the new items the LRRG brought with then was a new Drone40 40mm UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) that can be launched from the standard 40mm grenade launcher often carried by infantry units. Once launched, or thrown, like a grenade, Drone40 stays in the air by extending four quad-copter type propellers. Using a form of UAV flight most preferred by the infantry, Drone40 can pause to scrutinize areas or objects as well as enter structures, including caves. The hover ability is much more useful in built-up areas where you have to look into windows or alleys. If the troops find the enemy using a hovering UAV they can either call in an air or artillery strike or, if the enemy is close enough, use their grenade launcher to fire 40mm high-explosive grenades. If the enemy is really close and comes into view, you can open fire using your rifles. Drone40, and the LRRG, were both successful during their brief time keeping parts of northern Mali south. April 2, 2021 : In the north (outside Kidal) a peacekeeper base was attacked by about a hundred Islamic terrorists on motorcycles and pickup trucks. The defenders lost four men, plus 19 wounded, but repulsed the assault, killing at least 22 of attackers and wounding even more. In other words, at least half the attackers became casualties and several motorcycles and trucks were lost as well. The attack went on for about three hours and the attackers used mortars, machine-guns and at least one suicide car bomber in their effort to overrun the base, which was manned by peacekeepers from neighboring Chad. The battle took place near Aguelhok, about 200 kilometers from the Algerian border. Some Islamic terror groups use camps on both sides of the border to avoid intense patrol activity in Mali or the less frequent patrols on the Algerian side. Down south in central Mali (Diafarabe, near the Niger River) an army base was attacked by a large force of Islamic terrorists and briefly occupied before reinforcements arrived and the attackers were driven away, leaving ten dead behind and taking many dead and wounded with them. The army lost two dead with ten wounded. March 21, 2021: In the northeast (south of Gao) in the tri-border area were the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet, there was a major terrorist attack just across the border in Niger that left at least 137 civilians dead as Islamic terrorists raided several villages seeking loot and to intimidate local civilians into not cooperating with the security forces. most Islamic terrorist violence has been the tri-border area were the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. The Mali portion of the tri-border area was the original hot spot for Islamic terrorism in central Africa, predating the rapid growth, and decline of Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria between 2013 and 2016. Many Islamic terror groups prefer the tri-border area because they can escape a major counterterror operation in one country by just crossing the border. This has led the three nations to coordinate their counterterrorism efforts in this area. Mali has an advantage as they have the assistance of over 12,000 peacekeepers plus the 5,100 French counterterrorism troops who operate throughout the region. The French helped form a similar equivalent, the 5,000 strong G5 force. This is a local auxiliary to the French Sahel counterterrorism force. G5 troops are supplied by Mali and four neighboring countries while the EU (European Union) supplies millions of dollars a year to provide the G5 troops with additional equipment, weapons, training and supplements to their pay. This enables the French force to operate wherever it detects the presence of Islamic terrorists. The French first allocate a lot of intelligence and aerial surveillance efforts to the Islamic terror groups they locate. This enables the French to identify key leaders (for combat and support functions) and where they are. That enables the French to kill a lot of these key personnel. As counter-terror campaigns since the 1990s have demonstrated, this approach weakens and often destroys Islamic terror groups. The inability of local Islamic terrorists operating in or near Mali to carry out large attacks or anything at all in Europe is proof of that. Leave such groups alone that the quantity and quality of attacks will increase. There was also a less lethal attack on the Mali side of the tri-border region when a large force of ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara) gunmen attacked an army base, killing 33 soldiers and wounding 14 before retreating with . Sorry! This content is not available in your region Kai Medical Laboratory, a state-of-the-art diagnostics laboratory in Dallas, TX was acquired by Empower Clinics on October 6, 2020 to further advance the Company's COVID-19 national testing programs for enterprise clients, including movie and television studios, businesses and travel industry VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2021 / EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CSE:CBDT) (Frankfurt:8EC) (OTCQB:EPWCF) ("Empower" or the "Company") an integrated healthcare company - serving patients through medical centers, telemedicine platforms and a high complexity medical diagnostics laboratory processing thousands of COVID-19 specimens, is pleased to announce that Kai Medical Laboratory ("KAI") has received an order for COVID-19 RT-PCR tests that is anticipated to be in excess of $CAD 750,000 from two new film and television productions. 5,000 TEST ORDER FOR FILM & TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS REPRESENTS REPEAT ORDER BASED ON CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE OF KAI MEDICAL LAB In early October, shortly after the acquisition of KAI, Empower announced an agreement to process approximately 1,000 COVID-19 RT-PCR tests for a major film & TV production over a 30-day period, with the possibility of more business upon successful completion of the initial tests. On November 16, 2020 KAI received a repeat and record COVID-19 testing order for approximately 9,000 units in excess of $CAD 1,000,000 over a four-month period. Today's announcement represents a repeat Purchase Order of approximately 5,000 units to be processed over just a two-month period. The total revenue from this order is anticipated to be in excess of $CAN 750,000. "Our team at KAI continues to deliver the type of performance to Tier-1 clients that is worthy of significant repeat business that serves as unequivocal validation of our capabilities," said Steven McAuley, Chairman & CEO of Empower. "To this end, the magnitude of KAI's growth and success cannot be overstated as it continues to focus on very active business development and product development, setting a path toward significant North American growth in the midst of tripling its size. KAI is well on its way to becoming a national brand supported by our strong working capital position and a team dedicated to performance." As of September 1st, KAI has already processed tests for multiple different film and television productions in key US markets including Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, earning the highest confidence of the industry. KAI MEDICAL LABORATORY NOW EXPANDING TO TRIPLE CURRENT SIZE IN ANTICIPATION OF ANTICIPATED RAPID TEST GROWTH On February 16th, Empower announced "KAI Laboratory Now Tripling in Size in Anticipation of Test Volumes by End of Q1" KAI continues to progress on the design and build out of the laboratory expansion to prepare to meet upcoming demand in a number of areas. First, the continued processing of RT-PCR tests for film & television productions, commercial accounts and enterprise level clients. Second, the full e-commerce impact of KaiTests.com and the national direct-to-consumer marketing programs for KAI Saliva, an FDA, EUA authorized and Health Canada approved at-home Saliva COVID-19 RT-PCR Test. KAI Saliva provides travellers, both foreign and domestic with a simple, fully compliant method to obtain an RT-PCR test and test result prior to arriving or coming back into Canada and USA, or arriving in other countries that have similar executive travel orders. Finally, KAI Labs continues the development of new direct-to-consumer test protocols that will expand the product offers on Kaitests.com throughout 2021 and beyond. McAuley added "With each passing month Empower gains more strength and velocity in every aspect of our business from KAI Lab in Dallas to our rapidly expanding clinic operations in Canada and our direct-to-consumer products such as KAI Saliva. All of which are amply funded well into the future with our strongest balance sheet ever thanks to the receipt of more than $12,000,000 in warrant conversions as of last month. We are on a path, a trajectory towards building a great health and wellness company across North America, and I look forward to providing our shareholders with further specifics." This press release is available on the Empower Clinics Verified Forum on AGORACOM for shareholder discussion, questions and engagement with management https://agoracom.com/ir/EmpowerClinics ABOUT EMPOWER: Empower is an integrated healthcare company that provides body and mind wellness for patients through its clinics, with digital and telemedicine care, and world-class medical diagnostics laboratories. Supported by an experienced leadership team, Empower is aggressively growing its clinical and digital presence across North America. Our Health & Wellness and Diagnostics & Technology business units are positioned to positively impact the integrated health of our patients, while simultaneously providing long term value for our shareholders. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Steven McAuley Chief Executive Officer CONTACTS: Investors: Steven McAuley CEO s.mcauley@empowerclinics.com 604-789-2146 Investors: Tamara Mason Business Development & Communications t.mason@empowerclinics.com 416-671-5617 DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. 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. Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as "plans", "continues", "expects", "projects", "intends", "believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders as a result of the acquisition of Kai Medical Laboratory; the transaction terms; the expected number of clinics and patients following the closing; the future potential success of Kai Medical Laboratory, Sun Valley's franchise model; launch of new healthcare centers and the occurrence thereof; that the Company can bring healthcare to millions of Canadians; that new healthcare services can be added and that the Company will be positioned to be a market- leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2020 and beyond. Such statements are only projections, are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including: that Kai Medical Laboratory will successfully win any US Government RFP; that the MedX Health pilot program will be successful; that Empower will place the MedX Health teledermatology product in health centers in North America; that the Company's products may not work as expected; that the Company may not be able to expand COVID-19 testing; that legislative changes may have an adverse effect on the Company's business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue its business plan; that the Company will be able to commence and/or complete build-outs and tenants improvements for Canadian clinics or Kai Medical Laboratory expansion in 2Q 2021; that general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; failure to obtain any necessary approvals in connection with the proposed transaction; and other factors beyond the Company's control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable laws. SOURCE: Empower Clinics Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/640339/Empower-Clinics-Kai-Medical-Lab-Receives-Order-for-Up-To-5000-Covid-19-Tests-from-Two-Film-Television-Productions-in-Excess-Of-750000 Continue Reading Below Advertisement After trying it out in RoboCop, Verhoeven eagerly awaited puritanical audiences to balk at watching a woman being shot in the nude when they had no problem watching a guy being shot in the dick. But to sneak it past the censors, the scene happened so fast most viewers didnt even notice nipples slipping onto the screen. So for his next sci-fi, the Aryans vs. arthropods epic Starship Troopers, a frustrated Verhoeven decided to stop being so subtle. (Yes, RoboCop was him being subtle). This is why, out of nowhere, the movie features an extended co-ed shower scene featuring half of the main cast fully nude. Sony Pictures Soapy tits guarantee citizenship. Continue Reading Below Advertisement But his young cast of Third Reich Riverdale characters didnt feel all that comfortable with stripping down for what mustve felt like a very gratuitous B-movie nude scene. That was until Dina Meyer, whose breasts bear the brunt of the topless take, came up with a compromise. In a refreshing reversal of the typical Hollywood story, the young actress approached the aged filmmaker and told him that if he wanted to do this movie scene, he was going to have to show her just how far he was willing to go to get a shot. Sony Pictures Theyre doing their private parts. Are you? The Dutch director was going to have to drop trou. To the casts great surprise, both Verhoeven and award-winning Das Boot cinematographer Jost Vacano (who had grown up in a German nudist colony) immediately agreed to whip out their jaundiced submarines in solidarity. Verhoeven recalls: For me, it was a bit more difficult, but I said to Jost, Hey, we need to give an example He said Of course, and boom! And it worked like a charm. We undressed, and of course, then everyone started to laugh. Then we shot the scene with no problem. LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Airvet, the #1-rated telehealth software application for both veterinarians and pet parents in the U.S. and Canada, announced a collaboration with MWI Animal Health that enables the company to offer Airvets connected care and teletriage services to its network of veterinary practices in North America. MWI Animal Health, a part of AmerisourceBergen, is a leading distributor of animal health products and services, serving tens of thousands of veterinary practices. "Airvet is incredibly excited to work with MWI Animal Health to provide its veterinary practices with access to the best-in-class connected care support," said Brandon Werber, CEO of Airvet. "We are confident this collaboration will provide veterinarians with access to solutions that can help increase connectivity with pet owners and support their ability to deliver high-quality care. We are excited to begin this journey together." Airvet is a 5-star rated, connected care software application in the U.S. for both veterinarians and pet parents according to nearly 5,000 reviews in the Apple App Store. Since the pandemic, demand has increased for telehealth options in the veterinary space, and Airvet's success has skyrocketed. Airvet provides veterinary professionals with a one-stop application to streamline their workflows, while enhancing connection and communication with clients. Additionally, it offers hospitals the ability to perform curbside check-ins, and complete easy communications like sending message and photo updates before, during and after visits. Additionally, lab results are easy to share and discuss directly with clients, along with daytime and after-hours triage options. Airvet also features video and audio calls, text, and photo/video uploads, with the ability for practices to accept no-hassle digital payments. Hospitals have access to a desktop and tablet portal where they can collaborate in real-time with their entire team. "It's truly the one-stop solution for appointment setting, client communications, curb-side check-in, live-video visits, doctor's notes or dictations, and much more," said Werber. "Our technology is designed to give more time back to veterinarians and their teams, which means they have more time to focus on providing better care for the animals they serve, while enhancing communication between their practices and pet parents." About Airvet Headquartered in Los Angeles, Airvet is the leading veterinary telemedicine/telehealth platform in the country. With more than 4,200 veterinarians and more than 5,000 5-star reviews on the App Store, Airvet's cloud-based technology offers a unique telemedicine and workflow efficiency platform that enables veterinarians and their teams to connect with clients via live video, audio and chat. Airvet also includes a robust built-in triage and support community of thousands of veterinarians available 24/7 to pet parents across the country. The app is available on both the App Store and Google Play. For more information, visit www.airvet.com. For media-related inquiries, please contact our marketing team at 203.648.2122 or by emailing [email protected]. SOURCE Airvet Related Links http://www.airvet.com Kristin Cavallari and her estranged husband Jay Cutler are being sued after one of their dogs allegedly bit a man at a home in Old Hillsboro Road in Franklin, Tennessee. Nathan Beam, a resident of Jackson County, Alabama, stated in court documents obtained by WKRN on Wednesday that he was bitten by the couple's dog in June of 2020, while performing a cable and satellite install. Beam is suing for damages as he claims the incident caused him 'physical pain and mental suffering,' adding that the scuffle with Cavallari and Cutler's dog left him with 'visible disfigurement and scarring.' Sued: Kristin Cavallari and her estranged husband Jay Cutler are being sued after one of their dogs allegedly bit a man at a home in Old Hillsboro Road in Franklin, Tennessee; Kristin and Jay pictured in 2019 As per the lawsuit, Beam alleges that 'neither Cutler nor Cavallari were at the home when he arrived,' but that their dogs were openly roaming the Old Hillsboro Road property 'unrestrained' upon his arrival. Beam, who works as a satellite and cable installer, says he was asked to come to the property to perform an installation in June 2020, with the home being owned by 'Next Chapter, LLC, a Davidson County limited liability company.' Once the installation was complete, Beam claims that he returned to his truck where he alleges the former couple's German Shepherd named Kona was 'blocking the driver-side door.' Still near the truck, Beam said that he bent down to pick something off the ground, which is when he alleges that Kona 'bit his left thumb and fingernail and "would not let go for several seconds."' Bitten? Nathan Beam, a resident of Jackson County, Alabama, stated in court documents obtained by WKRN on Wednesday that he was bitten by the couple's dog in June of 2020, while performing a cable and satellite install; Kristin and Jay's dogs Bane (left) and Kona (right) pictured Although Cavallari and Cutler were 'not' at the home at the time of the incident, Beam claims that Cavallari's personal assistant was present and 'handed him a paper towel and told him to leave the property immediately.' Beam's lawsuit also suggests that it was stated in the installation agreement that 'the dogs were required to be restrained or restricted to a closed area.' Although Cutler is listed as living at an address in Davidson County, where the suit has been filed, Cavallari is listed as living at a resident in Williamson County. Not home: As per the lawsuit, Beam alleges that 'neither Cutler nor Cavallari were at the home when he arrived,' but that their dogs were openly roaming the Old Hillsboro Road property 'unrestrained' upon his arrival; Kristin and Bane pictured And it is still 'unclear what links the former couple has to Next Chapter, LLC or the Hillsboro Road property.' As part of the lawsuit, Beam and his legal team are claiming that Jay and Kristin were aware of the alleged danger their dogs posed to others due to social media posts made about them in the past. Certain Instagram postings by Cavallari about the dogs are directly cited in the suit. One of which used the caption 'beast,' while another made use of the hashtags '#TrainedKiller and #DontMessWithThisCrew.' The photos referenced in the suit were taken and posted three years ago. Damages: Beam is suing for damages as he claims the incident caused him 'physical pain and mental suffering,' adding that the scuffle with Cavallari and Cutler's dog left him with 'visible disfigurement and scarring' Kristin pictured with Bane and Kona Did they know? As part of the lawsuit, Beam and his legal team are alleging that Jay and Kristin were aware of the potential danger their dogs posed to others due to social media posts made about them in the past; Bane pictured Beam's lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Davidson County Circuit Court, with records stating that 'summons have been issued for both Cutler & Cavallari.' The former couple, who originally wed in 2013, announced last year that they would be separating after seven years of marriage and 10 years together. Kristin and Jay also happen to have welcomed three children during the span of their decade-long relationship. They share sons Camden, eight, and Jaxon, six, and five-year-old daughter Saylor James. Summons: Beam's lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Davidson County Circuit Court, with records stating that 'summons have been issued for both Cutler & Cavallari'; Jay and Kristin pictured in 2017 Amid news of the lawsuit against her and her estranged husband, Cavallari took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a stunning portrait. 'Spring,' captioned the reality TV star, 34, who recently revealed that she returning to The Hills. The trailer for the second season of the beloved reality series' reboot premiered on Tuesday, which unveiled Cavallari's return. Jason Engler showed off a suspicious-looking mark on Wednesday's episode of Married At First Sight. The 35-year-old groom had what appeared to be a love bite on the left side of his neck, just below his jawline. Despite the telling mark, Jason revealed he had actually broken up with 'wife' Alana Lister prior to the show's reunion dinner. Busted: Jason Engler (pictured) showed off a suspicious-looking mark on his neck on Wednesday's episode of Married At First Sight Alana, 30, explained that she was ready to break up with Jason at the final vows, but changed her mind after he told her he was in love with her. 'I really tried to make our relationship work. I put in a lot of effort. I really tried my hardest, I really liked Jason,' she added. 'But maybe, I think, two weeks later, Jason and I had an argument, and he just kind of refused to talk about it, refused to acknowledge it.' Suspicious: The 35-year-old groom had what appeared to be a love bite on the left side of his neck, just below his jawline Ex factor: Despite the telling mark, Jason revealed he had actually broken up with 'wife' Alana Lister prior to the show's reunion dinner Spotted: Fans at home also noticed Jason's curious mark Alana revealed Jason then 'dumped me via text message, which was really brutal', and said she 'deserved better'. 'I feel a little bit betrayed. I gave so much of myself, more than, like, a text message. We were married and I feel like you at least deserve a phone call,' she added. Meanwhile, Jason admitted he had regrets about how their relationship had ended, and wished it had 'worked out'. Cheated: Alana Lister (pictured) explained that she was ready to break up with Jason at the final vows, but changed her mind after he told her he was in love with her 'I feel a little bit betrayed. I gave so much of myself, more than, like, a text message. We were married and I feel like you at least deserve a phone call,' she said Ahead of the reunion dinner, Jason confessed he was worried about seeing Alana again, and said she'd probably have a few choice words for him. While it's not known if Jason and Alana have since moved on with other people, he previously admitted to being a party boy before appearing on the show. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment. A large MLEM program is also planned for quarter two to test the extent of the Orion intrusive complex for massive sulphide-related conductors. Three aircore drilling programs are also planned for the current quarter. Ltd ( ) has welcomed IGO Ltds ( ) planned diamond drilling program at the Orion extension within Boadiceas Symons Hill licence in Western Australia, scheduled for May-June. IGO will be testing for extensions from known nickel mineralisation, around 325 metres from previous drilling inside their Nova-Bollinger tenement. The Orion intrusion has been identified by IGO as one of its highest priority prospects for hosting massive nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralisation. A hole is planned within Boadiceas tenement to a depth of around 700 metres to follow the highly prospective Orion intrusion interpreted from 3D seismic data on IGOs mining lease. Nickel-copper-cobalt exploration potential Managing director Jon Reynolds said: It is significant that IGO has prioritised drilling for the extension of the Orion prospect. This highlights IGOs confidence on the nickel-copper-cobalt exploration potential of Orion within BOAs Symons Hill licence. The company is further encouraged by the planned MLEM and aircore drilling at Symons Hill, Transline tenements and the South Plumridge tenement, progressing exploration of BOAs Fraser Range tenements. Results from the drilling are expected in quarter three. Further exploration activities A large MLEM program (around 500 stations) is also planned for quarter two to test the extent of the Orion intrusive complex for massive sulphide-related conductors in other BOA tenements, including the Transline (E28/2895 & E28/2888) and South Plumridge tenements (E28/2937). Additionally, three air core drilling programs are earmarked for quarter two with 95 air core holes on Symons Hill and air core drilling within the Transline South and Transline North tenements. These activities are funded by IGO under the terms of the IGO - BOA agreement announced in September 2020, which included the conditional sale of Boadiceas nine exploration licences - including ballot wins in the Fraser Range to IGO. Under the terms of the agreement IGO has five-year exclusive access and exploration rights for the Fraser Range tenements listed below of the 11 BOA tenements: EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 Dont Be Diplomatic: We Are Facing a Civilizational Failure That Must Be Reversed April 13 , 2021 (EIRNS)With the Ukraine crisis careening rapidly towards a strategic showdown, President Joe Biden called President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to propose that the two leaders hold a summit meeting in a third country in the coming months to discuss the full range of issues facing the United States and Russia, according to a White House read-out. The intent would be for the United States and Russia to pursue a strategic stability dialogue on a range of arms control and emerging security issues. Even as Biden was speaking with Putin, his emissary, Secretary of State Tony Blinken, was in Brussels egging on Ukraine into a flight-forward demand to join NATO immediately, which all sides know is a tripwire for Russia. At the same time, the U.S. has deployed two warships into the Black Sea, which Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov described as a provocation designed to test Russias nerves. He warned that U.S. military support for Kiev is turning Ukraine into a powder keg, and that if there is any aggravation, we of course will do everything to ensure our security and the safety of our citizens. What more is behind the Biden-Putin phone call is unclear at this writing. But two things are clear: 1) that the Ukraine flashpoint and the broader war danger are driven by the systemic collapse of the entire trans-Atlantic financial system, which has also unleashed a pandemic, famine, and mass unemployment across the planet; and 2) that no solution for any single crisis will work, unless the entire civilizational collapse is addressed and reversed. I think it is dawning on more and more relevant people that we are looking at a potential complete and utter failure of civilization, Schiller Institute founder and President Helga Zepp-LaRouche stated today. You cannot respond to any one crisis, or collapse, or danger, as an individual phenomenon; you have to really address the entire picture as one. Because either we can catalyze some moral response from people who are willing to recognize that what is going on is a civilizational collapse, or else I think we are on a short road to disaster. Zepp-LaRouche added: I find it quite remarkable that this subject of a civilizational failure is becoming an issue among numerous important people, the most recent one being UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who yesterday reviewed the global response to the COVID-19 crisis and the situation of world famine, poverty, and unemployment, and he told a gathering of the UN ECOSOC that no element of the multilateral response has gone as it should. He said that last year more than 3 million people died of Covid, 120 million have fallen into extreme poverty, and the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs have been lost. And the crisis is far from being over. He said that the crisis is putting multilateralism to the test, and so far, we have failed. He added that a complete paradigm shift was needed. Zepp-LaRouche went on to draw a moral line in the sand: You have these absolutely incredible pictures of children dying right before the worlds eyes in Yemen and elsewhere, but that doesnt stop the richest people in the world from having made a $5 trillion increase in their wealth in the last year. How can a Bezos or a Gates or all of these other creeps like Soros, how can they live with themselves, when they know that their mass of wealth is built on the corpses of so many millions of people? I think we should say it that way, she insisted. She urged LaRouche movement organizers to not be diplomatic, but to get under peoples skin. I think anybody who sees the combination of the war danger escalating, the famine killing millions of people in several countries, COVID ragingthey must react. And against this, the leading elites are showing they are utterly incapable of dealing with this crisis. But Im convinced that this fight can be won, Zepp-LaRouche concluded, because it beats the alternative. The old paradigm is crashing, but if we do our job right, a new paradigm can be won, she stated. But to do that, I think that the moral question needs to be addressed. Watch Harleys Updates with Harley Schlanger on Wednesday, April 14, 2021: Every weekday morning on The LaRouche Organization website, Harley will give you the strategic briefing on what you need to know to start your day. In order to curb the surge in the country, Central government on Friday approved ramping up of production of the drug Remdesivir, used to treat Covid-19, which includes diverting 400,000 vials meant for export for domestic use. "The issue of availability of Remdesivir was reviewed by Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, in meetings with the all-existing manufacturers of the Remdesivir drug and other stakeholders, where decisions have been taken to increase production/supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir," said Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in a statement. The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 3.88 million vials per month. Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having the production capacity of 1 million vials per month to six manufacturers. Another 3 million vials per month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 7.8 million vials per month. As an additional measure, Remdesivir, API and formulation were placed under export ban on April 11 by DGFT to increase the supply of Remdesivir in the domestic market. On government intervention, Remdesivir supplies of approximately 4 lakh vials meant for export are being diverted by manufacturers to fulfil domestic requirement. EOU/SEZ units are also being enabled to supply to the domestic market. "Manufacturers of Remdesivir have volunteered to reduce the price to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of this week, to support the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to fight against Covid," said government. "Manufacturers of Remdesivir have been directed to give priority to fulfil hospital/institutional level supplies. Enforcement authorities of states and Central Government have been directed by DCGI to take immediate action on incidence of black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of Remdesivir," said government. Seven Indian companies produce Remdesivir under voluntary licensing agreements with Gilead Sciences Inc. They have an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month. Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 13 April 2021. PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 13 April 2021 was 50.45 USD 36.68 GBP and year-to-date performance was 11.2%. Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft). Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American domiciled companies. Category: (PSH:WeeklyNAV) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005913/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk This is an opinion column. No more thoughts and prayers, wrote then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, We need action. Now President Joe Biden is taking action by clamping down on ghost guns, limiting stabilizing braces for pistols, and crafting model red flag legislation. If it doesnt sound particularly ambitious, its because it isnt. Gun control advocates have painted themselves into a political corner where their options are either marginal gun restrictions or going after the Second Amendment. Its the consequence of a motivating political narrative that only partially connects with reality. Mass shootings are horrific events which grab our attention for good reason. We want to understand how someone, frequently without a criminal past, could take multiple lives in such a devastating way. Weve been trained to automatically inquire whether the perpetrator used AR-style rifles or any large capacity magazines. Its not a coincidence. Its where gun control advocates find our political focus. Names of gun violence victims like Andre Quintin Lawrence, Jr., Tyriek Esters, or Deunta Moore make local headlines, but their deaths and thousands like them arent national news. Neither are the 60% of gun decedents in 2019 who were suicides. Many we never hear about at all. Mass shootings still disturb us. Individual homicides and suicides rarely get a second look. When advocates for gun restrictions capture the former as the drive for policy change, we focus on policy prescriptions that, at best, have a minor impact on overall gun violence. For example, Bidens ghost gun and pistol stabilizer efforts probably wont have a significant impact on reducing gun homicides even if they are attempts to respond to specific incidents. Thats because most murders occur with perfectly legal guns, handguns to be specific. According to Californias analysis of information on the firearms used in the state to commit crimes in 2019, the vast majority (82%) were handguns. None of the firearms examined were confirmed stolen. None had a silencer. Only one was fully automatic. Californias Bureau of Forensic Services hasnt examined more than nine assault weapons, as broadly defined by state law, per year since 2001. This data tracks information by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In 2019, the FBI attributed 6,368 murders to handguns. There were 364 murders from rifles and 200 from shotguns. When it comes to the weapons used in gun violence, nothing comes close to the handgun. Thats a problem for gun control advocates for two reasons: It doesnt fit the assault weapon mythology that grabs our attention, and its difficult to address without running afoul of the Second Amendment. Handguns are fairly common firearms, and the Supreme Court has already indicated that completely banning them isnt an option. Since Illinois became a concealed carry state in 2013, no state is considered a no issue concealed carry jurisdiction. While the estimated 15-20 million modern sporting guns in America may sound like a lot, its a fraction of the overall estimate of 393 million guns owned by American civilians as reported by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey in 2018. Even if every AR-style firearm were confiscated by the federal government, the vast majority of gun homicides would remain unchanged. For as many criminals as America has who engage in gun violence, we thankfully have millions more who exercise gun ownership quite responsibly. Holding out countries like Japan and the United Kingdom as aspirational gun violence targets for America isnt realistic. In many respects, we see them as peer nations with similar values. Thats not true when it comes to guns. America has more guns than people. Gun ownership in the United States is roughly 400 times that of Japan and about 26 times more than the United Kingdom. With the protections of the Second Amendment, America is a unique outlier in the world insofar as we really do love owning guns and have the liberty and means to do so. That leaves gun control advocates in a tough spot. They can either push for marginal gun restrictions with relatively low impacts or attempt to change the Second Amendment. One offends advocates of gun control; the other remains a political third rail for all but the most progressive politicians. Many gun owners view incremental restrictions as a warm up act for a run at the Constitution. Thats largely why so many will oppose Bidens efforts to restrict a pistol stabilizer most havent ever heard about. But there may be areas for agreement even if they too involve difficult conversations that challenge our national identity. According to the CDC, 37% of gun homicide victims were Black males between the ages of 15 and 34 although they made up only 2% of the U.S. population. How does Americas historical racism connect with that shocking figure? White males accounted for 73% of all firearm suicide decedents. Whats happening there that leads that specific demographic to self-harm? We need to ask a lot of tough questions about what drives the violence taking lives. Bidens efforts to support community interventions before gun violence occurs are a good plan that shouldnt be dismissed. Finding ways to de-escalate people who think shooting themselves or others will solve a problem is critical. We must also generate meaningful opportunities for families, employment, and human connections too valuable to throw away on account of a temper and a gun. While were at it, we shouldnt reject thoughts and prayers. Well need all we can get as we take actions capable of impacting the problem of gun violence. The man accused of killing Evelyn Colon, who was known as Beth Doe for decades, is in Pennsylvania to face the criminal charge in connection with her death. Luis Sierra waived extradition from New York City and was arraigned Tuesday on a single count of homicide in Carbon County. Sierra, 63, was sent to county prison without bail. An attorney has not yet entered an appearance for him, according to court records. Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek said he will meet with Pennsylvania State Police on the possibility of any additional charges in the case. The laws as they existed in 1976 apply, but back then there wasnt a law providing to charge someone in the death of an unborn child, Greek said. Prosecutors are still deciding whether they will seek the death penalty in the case. Greek would not comment on where Evelyn was killed, or if she was killed in another location and brought to Pennsylvania. At a news conference Wednesday, authorities detailed their investigation over the past 44 years, and the break that came from a public DNA database. Were elated we could bring this to a conclusion, state police Lt. Devon Brutosky said, adding state police have other cold cases where they want to use the public databases. Even with an arrest made, however, the investigation into Evelyns death is still ongoing and authorities declined to release some details. We do not want to jeopardize the integrity of the prosecution of this case, Trooper Anthony Petroski, public information officer with Troop N, said. Authorities created a tip line for any information regarding the investigation at 800-472-8477 (800-4PA-TIPS), and ask callers to reference case #1956. The dismembered body of the pregnant 15-year-old Evelyn was found Dec. 20, 1976, in three suitcases near the Lehigh River and an Interstate 80 overpass in Carbon County. A teen playing near the Lehigh River discovered the body and a nearly full-term fetus, state police said. Evelyn, who was from Jersey City, New Jersey, was strangled and shot in the neck, the county coroner said. Her death was ruled a homicide. Evelyns body would provide new evidence to help identify her, and state police said public DNA databases are the future of helping to solve cold cases. The girl was never reported missing. Evelyn was eight to nine months pregnant the last time her family had contact with her, and they described Sierra as abusive and jealous of Evelyn, state police said. State police said they learned Evelyn and Sierra moved into an apartment in 1976 in Jersey City. In mid-December, Evelyn wasnt feeling well and asked her mother for soup, but when family member went to deliver it, the apartment was empty, state police said. In January 1977 the family received a letter, purportedly from Evelyn, written in Spanish that said she moved to Connecticut with her boyfriend, had the baby and would contact them if she needed anything, police said in court papers. For more than 30 years, Evelyns body waited across the border in Pennsylvania, with the name Beth Doe on the cross that served as her grave marker. In October 2007, state police and the FBI exhumed the remains of Evelyn and her baby to extract DNA. The next month, state police held a graveside service with clergy and troopers acted as pallbearers to give the teen and her child a proper burial, Brutosky said. The DNA was submitted to the FBIs Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, in 2008; to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons, known as NamUs, in July 2011; and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in June 2012, but none resulted in a match, Brutosky said. Late last year, labs worked to enhance the original DNA profile and it was submitted to public DNA databases where people voluntarily upload their own DNA, like 23andMe and AncestryDNA. Brutosky said a match was made with Evelyns nephew in March, which lead them to her brother, Luis Colon Sr., who was now living in Stroudsburg. Interviews with Evelyns family led them to Sierra as a suspect, state police said. Sierra was working as a bus driver and lived in Ozone Park when state police interviewed him. The Pennsylvania State Police has never stopped working on this case, as we do with all of our cases, Brutosky said. Each victim does matter to us. Greek commended state police and the numerous troopers with Troop N who never gave up on the case. Their hard work and perseverance made the identification of Evelyn Colon and her daughter possible, and bring at least some level of closure to her family, to what was a tragic and longstanding mystery, Greek said. Evelyns niece Miriam Colon-Veltman has started a GoFundMe to cover costs of a memorial and headstone. The online fundraiser says Evelyns baby was a girl, and the family has named her Emily Grace Colon. As of Wednesday, the fund had $8,886 of its $15,000 goal. While her grave still says Beth Doe, a temporary marker now honors Evelyn and her baby. @PhilipJJeffFnrl A -felt THANK YOU for marking #evelyncolon with her name that she lost so long ago, and for marking Emily Grace, a name she sadly never lived to see..and to all who cared for them all these years, never giving up hope so one day they could FINALLY be found pic.twitter.com/x71nVi5Eo4 Dorothy Colon (@dorothycolon84) April 7, 2021 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio Authorities are investigating a shooting involving a federal agent who shot a man at East 82nd and Decker Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Investigators said undercover officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in an unmarked vehicle were conducting an investigation in the neighborhood when two men, apparently unrelated to the probe, approached. One of the men brandished a gun, prompting an agent to leave his vehicle and fire his weapon, said Keith Martin, the DEAs special-agent-in-charge. Martin told reporters that shots were exchanged. The DEA agent was not injured. When questioned further by reporters, Martin said he did not know whether the man had the gun in his hand or in his waistband, only that it was brandished. He also said he did not know whether the man had fired shots at the agent. Martin spoke alongside Calvin Williams, Clevelands police chief, who said his agency will investigate the shooting. Members of the departments use of deadly force investigation team were collecting evidence at the scene until about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Martin said his agency will cooperate with the probe with full transparency. Dianna Johnson told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that her son, Trayvon Johnson, 20, had been shot by the agent. He had been taken to University Hospitals. The extent of his injuries was unclear. Johnson said her son had just been dropped off at his house when he noticed two men sitting nearby in a car. She said he went to see why they were there, as there had been a shooting at the house a few years ago. When we see people sitting outside our house, we think theyre trying to shoot into house again, she said. Thats when she said the agent jumped out of the car and shot her son in the stomach. Detectives appeared to be focusing the investigation on a pink house at the corner of East 82nd and Decker and a white GMC SUV parked on the street in front of the house, facing north. Authorities said they detained the second man who approached the agents car. He was placed in a squad car and later released. Dianna Johnson said that the second man was her other son and Trayvon Johnsons brother. She said the brother was inside the home when Trayvon got home, and walked outside when the shooting occurred. Investigators did not identify him. It is nclear whether the men and the DEA agents had spoken prior to the shooting. Were praying that the person who was injured is OK, Williams told reporters. He asked for patience from residents. Regardless of what is happening across the country, the [police officers] here in Cleveland are out here to protect our community, Williams said. When guns become involved in things, there is always a possibility of things like this happening. Ohio is an open carry state. The incident drew immediate response by law enforcement. Top officials from Cleveland police, including Williams, rushed to the neighborhood, as did officials from the DEA, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Ohio Highway Patrol. (Natural News) The Department of Defense stopped administering Johnson & Johnsons (J&J) Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to the military on Tuesday, April 13. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended the move earlier in the day, citing reports of blood clots in people who received the jab. At the recommendation of the FDA and CDC, the Department of Defense is immediately pausing the use of the J&J vaccine, DoD press secretary John Kirby said in a statement. The safety of our force and their families is a top priority for the department. Kirby said that the DoD was communicating the pause to all military health facilities. The department was also reviewing its global vaccine distribution to ensure that soldiers at home and abroad would be vaccinated. Halting the use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine deals a particular blow to the militarys efforts to swiftly vaccinate the rest of its force. The J&J vaccines more relaxed dosage and refrigeration requirements made it easier to distribute around the world, particularly to troops in remote locations. CDC, FDA call for rollout pause amid blood clot reports The CDC and FDA recommended suspending the use of the J&J vaccine amid reports of blood clots in six recipients of the jab. All six were women between the ages of 18 and 48, all of whom developed the illness within one to three weeks of vaccination. One woman in Virginia died while another in Nebraska was in critical condition. We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDCs principal deputy director, said in a joint statement. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. The rollout of the vaccine was now frozen in virtually the entire U.S., with all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico halting or recommending pausing injections by Tuesday evening. (Related: Mass vaccination site in Colorado shut down after people experience adverse reactions from Johnson & Johnson vaccine.) J&J also said that it would delay rolling out the vaccine in Europe. This came a week after the European Medicines Agency, which approved the jab over a month back, announced that it was investigating four cases of blood clots in Americans vaccinated with the shot. Marks noted that it was plainly obvious that the J&J cases were similar to the ones involving the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine. Over the past month, multiple cases of blood clots in people who received the vaccine emerged in various countries, including Norway and Denmark. After a preliminary review, the EMA determined that the jab was safe and that its benefits outweighed its risks. But in its announcement on April 4, the regulator concluded that blood clots and low levels of blood platelets should be listed as rare side effects of the shot. It also warned that these conditions could occur within two weeks of vaccination. Batch of J&J vaccine was contaminated This came weeks after a batch of the J&J vaccine was found to be contaminated. Last month, the pharmaceutical giant said that a batch of a key vaccine ingredient made at a Baltimore facility failed to meet quality standards. The firm said that the batch had been discarded, scrapping what could have been 15 million doses. This batch was never advanced to the filling and finishing stages of our manufacturing process, J&J said in a statement. A senior federal official disclosed that the batch was contaminated with ingredients of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, which the Baltimore plant also manufactured until early this month. The facility, which wasnt approved yet to distribute the J&J doses it produced, was ordered to stop making AstraZenecas jab due to the contamination incident. A report from the New York Times revealed that the facility, which is owned by Emergent BioSolutions, often flouted basic industry standards, ignored missteps and repeatedly fell short of disinfecting areas. The report also indicated that Emergent dumped five batches of the AstraZeneca-Oxford jab between last October and January because of contamination or suspected contamination. Learn more about the dangers of the unproven Wuhan coronavirus vaccines at VaccineInjuryNews.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Military.com NYTimes.com 1 EMA.Europa.eu NBCNews.com NYTimes.com 2 Opinion Article 14 April 2021 In March 2021, the Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne students had a chance to work on a unique assignment during "Creating the Future of Food Service", a course designed and delivered by Dr. Marc Stierand, Director of the Institute of Business Creativity (IBC), in collaboration with Rosewood Hotel Group. Advertisements Dr. Stierand, a former haute cuisine chef and one of the country's leading creativity researchers, founded the IBC, EHL's longest serving institute, with the aim to create a transdisciplinary hub where outside-of-the-box thinking is possible to provide research and knowledge relevant to practice. For the EHL students, this was a one-of-a-kind chance to demonstrate their creativity and develop deep experiential knowledge of the hospitality industry as it is required in practice. The assignment was introduced by Sebastian Seitel, Senior Corporate Director of Food & Beverage at Rosewood Hotel Group, and Stephane Foucher, Corporate Director of Culinary Development at Rosewood Hotel Group. They tasked the group of 17 enthusiastic students to re-design a Rosewood's 'Sense of Taste' program with the aim to wow their clients in whichever worldwide Rosewood property they happen to be staying at. The new program will have as its goal to immerse Rosewood guests into the local culture by offering unique gastronomic experiences. The students also benefitted from the IBC's unparalleled network of academic and industry associates with global reach and reputation. For example, they were able to speak to EHL alumnus, Michael Staub, Food and Beverage Manager at Rosewood Sand Hill, Menlo Park, California, who provided them with an in-depth insight into Rosewood's culinary philosophy. Then, Dr. Viktor Dorfler, University of Strathclyde Business School, UK, one of the leading authorities on the management of artificial intelligence and smart technology, tuned in and helped the students to better understand the role artificial intelligence and smart technology could play in such an ambitious new program. To finally shake up the creative process, Dirk Haltenhof, Executive Director Culinary, The Katara Towers, Lusail Raffles & Fairmont, shared his professional experience with and passion for the F&B industry, today's meaning of luxury and the DNA of any successful gastronomic experience. The mission: To upgrade the current Rosewood Sense of Taste program (SoT) by creating a new framework that can be applied at all Rosewood properties worldwide. The deliverables: To carefully study the current Sense of Taste (SoT) program and identify areas for improvement. To combine consistent Rosewood quality and unique identity of the location. To come up with a new name to replace the current "Sense of Taste". To create a mood board to provide emotional and visual access to your new proposed framework. The solution MUST: Reflect Rosewood's idea of luxury F&B experiences. Appeal to the Rosewood guest (Rosewood persona), bearing in mind that both hotel guests and locals are targeted. Assure consistent Rosewood quality across different properties. Be within the luxury price range but still be affordable (and profitable!) Insights from the course Students: This project was very inspiring because it made us think outside of the box and push ourselves to be creative. As a team, we have exchanged many ideas, and with the help of Professor Stierand, we are incredibly proud of what we were able to achieve in such a short period. - Tatjana Limburg, BOSC6 Student. Going through a creative process like we have for Rosewood "Sense of Taste Program" has been very insightful and something completely new to me. The elective was definitely one where you don't get bombarded with loads of new theory, it's more about testing your own creativity and balancing that with inputs of your other team members. I thought it was a great learning experience due to its very much hands-on learning style and I'm sure that this type of thinking is going to help me develop projects and concepts post-graduation. - Tim Schaechter, BOSC6 Student. "The students have done good research around the topic and presented their ideas professionally. Seeing their creative work was very informative and a good learning experience for us. Our work has definitely benefitted from the students' fresh input of ideas." Sebastian Seitel, Senior Corporate Director of Food and Beverage at Rosewood Hotel Group. Thanks to industry collaborator, Rosewood Hotels, the professional insights of the guest speakers, the support and infrastructure provided by the IBC and Dr Stierand's guidance in their recommendations, students showed a thorough understanding of the luxury Food and Beverage industry, and demonstrated visionary and innovative approach. The Barcelo hotel group has strengthened its presence on the Costa del Sol, where it now has five establishments, offering some 1,500 rooms and employing around 500 people when at full capacity. The chain has recently taken over the management of two four-star hotels in Torremolinos and Marbella adding almost 700 rooms, indicating that the Costa del Sol is "a strategic destination for its expansion in Andalucia". The Barcelo Hotel Group announced the addition of the new Occidental Torremolinos Playa hotel to its portfolio, the result of the strategic alliance with Hotel Investment Partners (HIP), which is the third largest hotel investor in Europe and owner of the establishment. The four-star hotel has 508 completely renovated rooms, an a la carte restaurant, a buffet restaurant and a pool bar. In addition, it has a children's club and a water park for youngsters with two swimming pools. The group says it "makes it the perfect destination for a family vacation." Sustainable tourism In Marbella, the group has also taken over the management of the Guadalmina hotel, another four-star establishment with 178 rooms and said, We are working on a complete repositioning of the hotel and want to focus on the experience of a customer who is increasingly aware and demanding with the challenges of sustainable tourism." With these new additions, Barcelo Hotel Group now manages five establishments located in Malaga, Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Marbella - where it has two hotels. In total there are 1,500 rooms more than 500 workers are employed when at full capacity. Regarding the groups expectations for summer, Gaspar Saez, regional director of Barcelo Hotels for Andalucia and Valencia, said, It is still too early to make forecasts. Everything will depend on the evolution of the pandemic and restrictions on mobility, both in the national market and in the United Kingdom, a strategic market for the Costa del Sol. He said, We trust that it will be a better summer than the previous one. We are more optimistic from September, where we see an upward trend in demand that we trust will mark the beginning of the recovery of the sector. Flash Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that his government has decided to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea amid domestic and international opposition. Suga made the announcement after convening a meeting of relevant ministers to formalize plans to release the radioactive water accumulated at the plant into the Pacific Ocean. Decade-long problem Struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011, the No. 1-3 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns. The plant has been generating massive amount of radiation-tainted water since the accident happened as it needs water to cool the reactors. The plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said it will take around two years for the release to start. The water has been treated using an advanced liquid processing system to remove most contaminants. However, things like tritium -- a radioactive byproduct of nuclear reactors -- are hard to filter out. According to some marine experts, traces of ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium isotopes in the wastewater also raise concerns. The plant has struggled to store the contaminated water in tanks at the plant where more than 1.25 million tons of contaminated water are currently stored, with the plant expected to reach capacity next year. The operator claimed that the whole decommissioning process will be hampered if it needs to keep building storage tanks within the plant's premises. Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, said the government should build more tanks to hold the water outside the plant instead of choosing the cheaper option of ocean release. Japan had considered evaporating or storing underground the tritium-laced water from the plant as an alternative. However, the Japanese government decided to dilute the contaminated water and discharge it into the sea because it was more technically feasible and would save on costs. Tritium is light and could reach as far afield as the U.S. west coast within two years, according to Ken Buesseler at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts. A more serious matter lies in potentially more dangerous radionuclide in the water, including strontium-90 and iodine-129. While filtering has reduced their concentrations, around 70 percent of the water has yet to go through a secondary filtering process. "There are major questions as to whether it will work as planned," said Shaun Burnie at Greenpeace. "Japan already contaminated and did damage to the ocean with the Fukushima power plant accident," Ahn Jae-hun, energy and climate change director at the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, a green advocacy group in Seoul, told Xinhua over phone. Citing government data from Japan, Ahn said a far higher level of radioactive isotope has been detected at the fishery products coming from Fukushima Prefecture than other areas in Japan. "The situation will continue to deteriorate further" as the nuclear wastewater, dumped from Fukushima prefecture, will circle around the entire Pacific Ocean in the long run, the environmentalist noted. Ahn urged Japan to disclose relevant information to neighboring countries, including China and South Korea, given that Tokyo's opacity fueled uncertainty and anxiety over the contamination. Calling the irradiated sewage discharge "irresponsible," he warned that once the contaminated water flows into the ocean and the marine ecosystem is destroyed, it can never be restored. Lingering erosion on economic recovery For a decade, the specter of nuclear contamination has emerged as an invisible obstacle to economic reconstruction in the disaster-stricken areas. At first, people feared that agricultural products, aquatic products including vegetables and seafood, and even industrial products from the disaster areas were contaminated, which kept consumers away, leading to a further blow to the local economy. Because of the cleanup efforts of residents in the disaster areas, the indicators of the vast majority of products have been restored to the normal range, yet there are still many people in Japan who are suspicious and distrust the products. According to a survey conducted by the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at the begining of the year, only 49 percent of aquatic products processing enterprises in Fukushima and its surrounding five prefectures saw their sales recover to more than 80 percent. Fukushima prefecture remains the slowest among the six affected prefectures to recover, with only 21 percent of sales and 41 percent of production capacity back to their original levels. At a previous government hearing on the release of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, some representatives said the government's move could undermine efforts to revive the disaster areas. The release of radioactive water into the sea will not only impact fishermen production and the price of aquatic products, it may also hit the tourism industry of the surrounding areas, the representatives said, adding that the government should introduce specific and clear compensation measures. Hiroshi Kishi, head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, said he once again expressed his "absolute opposition to the discharge of nuclear sewage into the sea" in a recent meeting with Suga and asked the government to take clear measures to solve any subsequent "reputation damage." Strong criticism The decision has faced strong opposition from the Japanese fish industry and the public, with fishery industry representatives saying it would undo years of work to restore their reputation. "We are dead against a release of contaminated water to the ocean as it could have a catastrophic impact on the future of Japan's fishing industry," Kishi told a meeting with government officials last October. According to Kishi, the release of radioactive water could trigger other countries to tighten restrictions on imports of Japanese fishery products, reversing a recent trend toward policy loosening. Currently, a number of countries and regions continue to impose restrictions on Japanese agricultural and fishery products as a result of the Fukushima crisis amid continued concerns about produce safety. "It is inevitable that there would be reputational damage regardless of how the water will be disposed of, whether into the sea or into the air," Kishi said. "I want the government to clarify how it intends to respond to such reputational damage." Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said that while addressing the concerns of the fisheries industry, the government hopes to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other global organizations while maintaining transparency over the matter. A poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun newspaper in January showed that 55 percent of respondents are against the government's plan to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the sea, while 32 percent said they support it. Yukio Edano, the leader of the country's main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, strongly condemned the plan on Saturday, saying the government's decision is unacceptable and a complete disregard for the voices of the people of Fukushima. Some environmental groups including Friends of the Earth Japan and The Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy said on Monday they have collected more than 64,000 signatures from 88 countries and regions in a petition to the government. The environmental groups called the government's decision a "crude way of deciding" without adequate discussion and called for it to be withdrawn. The plan also raised concerns from neighboring countries about a possible impact on human health and fishery businesses. China has expressed serious concerns about Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear station, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian saying that China urged the Japanese side to take a responsible attitude and treat the issue of nuclear waste disposal with caution. Zhao stressed that proper disposal of nuclear waste is related to international public interests and the vital interests of neighboring countries. It should be handled carefully and properly to avoid further damaging the marine environment, food safety and human health. Meanwhile, South Korea has also voiced its "grave concerns," with Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam saying "it will be difficult to accept if the Japanese side decides to release the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant without sufficient consultations." "Our government expresses grave concerns as the decision can have a direct and indirect impact on the safety of our people and the surrounding environment," he added. According to her former police chief, 26-year veteran police officer Kim Potter accidentally fired her gun, instead of a taser, killing Daunte Wright. "When I saw that video it made me sick to my stomach. Tragic accidents like that... It shouldn't have happened," said Bill Partridge. Partridge is the former president of the Alabama Association of Police Chiefs and the chief of the Oxford police department. He's referring to the video of officer Kim Potter firing her gun, instead of deploying her taser as seemingly intended, accidentally killing 20-year old Daunte Wright when he tried to escape while being arrested on an outstanding warrant. "Those are really training issues, because we want to train our officers to the point that it becomes muscle memory especially in high stress events - and this was a high stress event," said Partidge. Everette Johnson with the fraternal order of police echoed that a high stress situation makes it difficult for officers. "I have no doubt that in that officer's mind she thought she had her taser in her hand and she was deploying her taser," said Johnson. As a chief, Partidge explains, that high stress is something to prepare for. "I think it's very important to understand that police officers are human beings, we make mistakes too. Tragedies like this, though they are very bad. Those are definitely things that we as administrators should be looking at to make sure our officers have adequate training to get through those high stress events like that," said Partridge. The county attorney where the shooting took place said Tuesday that a decision on whether or not to file criminal charges against officer Potter will be made on Wednesday. Advertisement A graduate who was stabbed by the Fishmonger's Hall terror attacker at a prisoner rehabilitation event told the inquest today how she pleaded 'No Usman, please' then 'played dead' after he thought he had 'finished' her. Isobel Rowbotham, in her 20s, was one of three people seriously injured when she was knifed in the arm by Usman Khan during a rampage in the City near London Bridge that left two others dead on November 29, 2019. Cambridge University graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were killed by Khan - who was secretly armed with three knives and a fake suicide vest - before he was chased onto London Bridge by other attendees. Three men - two reformed offenders and a civil servant - used a narwhal tusk and a fire extinguisher to tackle the killer to the ground. Police shot him dead as he lay 'writhing around' on the pavement and refused to stop moving. Ms Rowbotham worked for Learning Together with its course coordinator, Mr Merritt. She told jurors today of how she first realised an attack had been launched when she saw her colleague hunched over and covered in blood. Still processing what had happened, Ms Rowbotham turned round to see Khan, 28, charging towards her with a look of 'intent,' jurors heard. She told the inquest she knew Khan before the rampage and had met with him before. However, she could not remember specific details. On seeing Khan approach her, Ms Rowbotham called out: 'No, Usman, please' but he ignored her, the inquest heard. An artist's impression of Isobel Rowbotham giving evidence during the inquest at Guildhall in the City of London today Usman Khan was photographed sitting one seat away from Saskia Jones in the banqueting hall at Fishmongers' Hall in 2019 Isobel Rowbotham (circled, left) and Jack Merritt (circled, right) with friends Usman Khan (left) stands across the hall from Jack Merritt (right) on November 29, 2019 before Khan carried out the attack Usman Khan and Saskia Jones sat at a table at a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall on November 29, 2018 Usman Khan stands (circled, left) at a drinks reception before the prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall in 2019 Jack Merritt (circled) in the main event room at the prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge on November 29, 2019 Usman Khan (1) and Saskia Jones (2) sit at a table together at the prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge in 2019 Housekeeping supervisor Ama Otchere, shown in an artist's sketch today, came across Khan coming out of the men's toilet with 'anger in his face' after he had stabbed Mr Merritt. Ms Otchere said that when she reached the door, Khan pushed it open and held a knife up while putting a finger to his mouth gesturing at her 'not to scream,' the inquest was told Cambridge University graduates Jack Merritt (left), 25, and Saskia Jones (right), 23, were killed by convicted terrorist Khan When it became clear he was 'intent' on attacking her, Ms Rowbotham turned around and 'hunched' in a self-defensive pose, jurors were told. Bravely recalling the atrocity today, softly spoken Ms Rowbotham said: 'The first thing I noticed was Jack coming from the area in the opposite corner and we didn't necessarily know what was going on because he was shouting that he'd been stabbed and it takes it a little while to register what he's saying. 'He was holding his stomach and he'd obviously been injured and there was a lot of blood everywhere. So I was focusing on him for a little while and it took a while to register what had actually happened. 'He was wearing a white shirt so the red blood was quite obvious and he was hunched and in a lot of pain. He was walking towards the exit.' Usman Khan, 28, who was armed with two knives and wore a fake suicide vest, was tackled by members of the public Ms Rowbotham told jurors Khan stabbed her multiple times which 'felt like punches' before she collapsed to the ground. 'I looked round to my left and then I saw Usman coming towards me with knives in his hands,' she said. 'They seemed quite big, kitchen knives. 'I don't remember whether he was running or not but he seemed to be moving fast, purposefully. He seemed quite intent. I obviously said... I knew what it was, so I said 'no, Usman please.' 'When it was obvious he wasn't going to stop I turned to my left and just sort of hunched to try and protect myself. [It] felt more sort of like punches I guess, sort of just a lot of repeated punches.' After Khan stabbed her in the neck in what he seemed to think were the 'final' blows, she lay on the floor as still as she could to stop him returning to her, the victim said. Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest, asked her: 'Did you become aware that that attack had come to an end?' 'Yes. It's a little bit fuzzy because I remember his final stabs were in my neck and it felt like he thought they were the final ones. As in, intended to finish me, I guess,' Ms Rowbotham said. 'Were you conscious and able to understand your surroundings?' Mr Hough asked. She replied: 'I was on the floor and closed my eyes but I could still hear. I sort of decided to play dead so he wouldn't come back again and realise I wasn't dead straight away sort of tried to slow down my breathing, blood flow as much as possible.' Khan also attacked Stephanie Szczotko, 26, and Lukasz Koczocik, who both survived. The killer, who was armed with two knives and wore a fake suicide vest, was tackled by members of the public with a decorative pike, narwhal tusk and fire extinguisher, and then shot dead by police on London Bridge. The inquest has already been shown an image of Khan standing yards away from Mr Merritt only three hours before murdering him, while a second showed him sitting just one seat away from his second victim Miss Jones. Bystanders and police surrounding Usman Khan at the scene of the terror attack on London Bridge on November 29, 2019 Jack Merritt is seen on CCTV arriving at the prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall on November 29, 2019 A Metropolitan Police photograph of an improvised explosive device which was shown during the inquest yesterday Saskia Jones is seen on CCTV arriving at the prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall on November 29, 2019 Steve Gallant (left), who confronted Khan on London Bridge, and Darryn Frost (right), the 38-year-old civil servant working at the Ministry of Justice who fought off Khan with a narwhal tusk Also today, Gareth Watkins, the security guard at the Fishmongers' Hall for the last 18 years, described a 'pleading look' on Mr Merritt's face as he emerged from the toilets. Merritt had originally gone outside for a vape and Mr Watkins had asked him to stay off the steps, he said in a statement to the inquest. A few minutes after coming back in he saw Merritt 'running towards me. I noticed he was bleeding through his white shirt. 'There appeared to be a bad injury in the centre of his chest. I thought this was very serious. Jack ran towards the reception office. Dawn and I were in disbelief. How the Fishmongers' Hall attack unfolded Convicted terrorist Usman Khan killed two talented young people and injured three more in around five minutes during a knife attack at Fishmongers' Hall. An inquest into the deaths of Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt has heard a detailed account of how events unfolded: March 10 1991 : Usman Khan is born in Stoke-on-Trent. : Usman Khan is born in Stoke-on-Trent. 2010 : Aged 19, Khan is convicted of terrorism offences and spends the next eight years in jail. In that time, he becomes involved with Learning Together organisation. : Aged 19, Khan is convicted of terrorism offences and spends the next eight years in jail. In that time, he becomes involved with Learning Together organisation. December 2018 : Khan is released from jail on various licence conditions and lives in Stafford. : Khan is released from jail on various licence conditions and lives in Stafford. March 2019 : Khan maintains contact with Learning Together and is involved with filming a video for the organisation. : Khan maintains contact with Learning Together and is involved with filming a video for the organisation. June 2019 : He attends a Learning Together event at one of his former prisons, HMP Whitemoor. : He attends a Learning Together event at one of his former prisons, HMP Whitemoor. November 29, 2019 , 7.30am: Khan travels by train from Stafford to Euston Station in London. He is met at the station by a Learning Together staff member and he travels by Tube and foot to Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge. On route to London, it is believed Khan straps a fake suicide belt around his waist and covers it with his jacket. , 7.30am: Khan travels by train from Stafford to Euston Station in London. He is met at the station by a Learning Together staff member and he travels by Tube and foot to Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge. On route to London, it is believed Khan straps a fake suicide belt around his waist and covers it with his jacket. 11am to noon : The delegates attend a brunch at Fishmongers' Hall. : The delegates attend a brunch at Fishmongers' Hall. 11.56am : Video footage shows Khan talking 'animatedly' with Saskia Jones at a table, even though they had not known each other before. : Video footage shows Khan talking 'animatedly' with Saskia Jones at a table, even though they had not known each other before. 12noon : The main Learning Together sessions get under way with speeches in the Banqueting Hall followed by breakout sessions until 1.30pm. : The main Learning Together sessions get under way with speeches in the Banqueting Hall followed by breakout sessions until 1.30pm. 1.37pm : Jack Merritt leaves the building briefly, returning at 1.40pm. : Jack Merritt leaves the building briefly, returning at 1.40pm. 1 .4 5pm : A further breakout session is due to begin but Khan goes down to the toilets on the ground floor next to the reception area. : A further breakout session is due to begin but Khan goes down to the toilets on the ground floor next to the reception area. Around 1.53pm : Mr Merritt goes to the gents toilets. : Mr Merritt goes to the gents toilets. Between 1.56-1.57pm : Khan launches his attack in the men's toilets at Fishmongers' Hall with two knives strapped into his hands. As he prepares, he leaves a bag containing a third blade in a cubicle and drops a prayer book on the floor. He encounters Mr Merritt in the toilets and stabs him multiple times, causing 12 injuries including a fatal wound to the chest. Khan makes his way to the cloakroom area, where he gestured to a member of staff 'as if to be quiet'. He stabs Ms Jones once in the neck. She staggers up a few steps before collapsing. Khan goes on to stab Stephanie Szczotko in the arm at the bottom of the stairs before stabbing Isobel Rowbotham in the main reception. Over the next few minutes, Khan is confronted by a number of people who take items from the walls to defend themselves, including a ornamental pike and narwhal tusks. Khan returns to attack Ms Rowbotham again as she lies on the ground. He also injures the Fishmongers' Hall porter Lukasz Koczocik, who suffers a stab to the arm. Khan forces a member of staff to open the doors by holding a knife to his chest. He tries to chase a member of the public back inside the hall but is unsuccessful. : Khan launches his attack in the men's toilets at Fishmongers' Hall with two knives strapped into his hands. As he prepares, he leaves a bag containing a third blade in a cubicle and drops a prayer book on the floor. He encounters Mr Merritt in the toilets and stabs him multiple times, causing 12 injuries including a fatal wound to the chest. Khan makes his way to the cloakroom area, where he gestured to a member of staff 'as if to be quiet'. He stabs Ms Jones once in the neck. She staggers up a few steps before collapsing. Khan goes on to stab Stephanie Szczotko in the arm at the bottom of the stairs before stabbing Isobel Rowbotham in the main reception. Over the next few minutes, Khan is confronted by a number of people who take items from the walls to defend themselves, including a ornamental pike and narwhal tusks. Khan returns to attack Ms Rowbotham again as she lies on the ground. He also injures the Fishmongers' Hall porter Lukasz Koczocik, who suffers a stab to the arm. Khan forces a member of staff to open the doors by holding a knife to his chest. He tries to chase a member of the public back inside the hall but is unsuccessful. 1.58pm : Police receive a call to attend the scene. : Police receive a call to attend the scene. Around 2.01pm : Khan is pursued on to London Bridge by John Crilly, Steven Gallant and Darryn Frost. During a confrontation on the bridge, Mr Crilly sprays a fire extinguisher at him and Mr Frost jabs at him with a narwhal tusk before they all tackled Khan to the ground with other members of the public. : Khan is pursued on to London Bridge by John Crilly, Steven Gallant and Darryn Frost. During a confrontation on the bridge, Mr Crilly sprays a fire extinguisher at him and Mr Frost jabs at him with a narwhal tusk before they all tackled Khan to the ground with other members of the public. 2.02pm : Armed City of London Police officers arrive on the bridge and tell members of the public to stand back. Khan is shot and Tasered by police, causing him to writhe on the ground. : Armed City of London Police officers arrive on the bridge and tell members of the public to stand back. Khan is shot and Tasered by police, causing him to writhe on the ground. 2.10pm : Khan is shot again due to the alleged 'threat' from what police believed was an improvised explosive device strapped to his body. : Khan is shot again due to the alleged 'threat' from what police believed was an improvised explosive device strapped to his body. 2.12pm Khan no longer shows any signs of life. Khan no longer shows any signs of life. 2.25pm Ms Jones is pronounced dead from a single neck wound. Ms Jones is pronounced dead from a single neck wound. 2.33pm : Mr Merritt is pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination later confirms he suffered multiple knife wounds, including some defensive injuries. The fatal wound is to the chest. : Mr Merritt is pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination later confirms he suffered multiple knife wounds, including some defensive injuries. The fatal wound is to the chest. 2.41pm : An explosives officer moves towards Khan with armed officers and concludes the IED is fake. : An explosives officer moves towards Khan with armed officers and concludes the IED is fake. 3.07pm : Khan's life is pronounced extinct. Advertisement 'I vividly remember a pleading look on his face. He then lay down. I looked out of the office and saw the attacker.' He described Khan as 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins tall with a beard and a baseball cap. 'It seemed as though he was chasing Jack and would go for anyone he saw. I remember the knives going up and down in his hands as he was running. They looked like large kitchen knives. 'The attacker ran towards the reception office so I immediately closed the door and held it closed with my shoulder. 'As I was leaning against the door, I could still see outside. I could see the attacker was right against the door trying to get in. 'I looked through the door glass and saw the attacker moved three or four feet away. I saw bits of furniture flying through the air.' He saw Khan point one of the knives at his colleague's chest and added: 'The attacker said, 'Let me out.' 'Andy paused for a minute. I shouted at Andy to let him out. I grabbed a fire extinguisher to protect myself and yelled a warning to everyone to get away. 'People looked bewildered as though they did not know what was going on.' He went back in to find Izzie Rowbotham lying in a pool of blood in the foetal position with a man kneeling at her side. 'I took a table cloth. I could see deep wounds, I could see the flesh and fatty tissue. I apologised for pressing so hard. 'A woman came over said the woman's name and I heard her murmur back.' Koczocik, the porter, grabbed a pike and went outside with some other people and two to three minutes later the police arrived. 'They had gloves on. I told them about Jack in the reception room. More officers came over and said keep the pressure on. An officer asked me to get a defibrillator.' As he did so, he spotted Ms Jones lying on the staircase and being worked on with another defibrillator. PC Kate Langtry of City of London Police was among the officers first on the scene, telling the inquest today how Mr Merritt has wounds across the top of his chest, both arms, and his back. 'As we made our way down from the 8th floor at Wood Street there are numerous communications on the radio,' she said. 'As we got down to the yard where we keep our vans I heard somebody say, 'shots fired', at which stage I realised it was obvious the incident was incredibly serious. 'I believe there was a report of multiple persons being injured and fire arms officers on the scene. I believed it to be a major, if not critical incident.' They parked their van near the hall and were clearing pedestrians and drivers from London Bridge when she was told by another officer that the seriously injured were inside. At 2.08pm, 12 minutes after the attack, she entered Fishmongers' Hall. 'There were personnel I assumed to be staff from Fishmongers Hall and a male I now know was Jack on the floor. 'I would describe him as being very, very unwell. His arm had been bandaged. 'We removed his clothing to do a top to toe body check and then we understood the injuries to be severe so we got first aid trauma bags brought to us. 'He was very grey in the face. He was thrashing quite violently. I understood him to be very severely injured at that stage.' Mr Merritt had injuries to the top of his chest, both arms, and when they turned him over a wound to his back. They applied tourniquets to both arms and a chest seal. 'One of my colleagues conducted a pulse check and at that stage we realised there was no pulse and he was not breathing,' PC Langtry told the inquest. 'He had gone from what I would describe as thrashing quite violently to really quite still.' He took a rasping agonal breath, suggesting he was going into cardiac arrest. They took a defibrillator off the wall and started to do chest compressions but they could not restart the heart enough to give him a shock. Bodyworn cameras showed that they arrived at the scene at 2.06pm and went into the building two minutes later. Sergeant Daniel Murphy could be heard saying: 'Right clothing off, come here get the clothing off. Keep working, keep working' and calling for 'tough cut' scissors. 'He's got a stab wound here in the arm,' he added. 'It's alright buddy it's alright mate what's your name, talk to me, talk to me, it's alright I got you.' At 2.11 pm, tourniquets were being applied and Merritt could be heard crying out and PC Nash added: 'Relax, relax, we have you. Alright young man alright.' PC Langtry reassuring him: 'Stay with us darling,' then added, 'Got no breathing, step back, I'm going to press the button.' Paramedics arrived at 2.21pm, 25 minutes after the attack, as Merritt was in cardiac arrest and told them they wanted him dragged out of the building on a 'sked' stretcher. 'Initially we were carrying it off the ground. One of the officers shouted its designed for dragging and using the lops each of us had a corner and held it and ran dragging Jack,' PC Langtry said. They restarted CPR at the junction of King William Street and Cannon Street, four minutes later, where they were met by helicopter medics from the HEMS team. The police officer added: 'They asked me how long he had been like this, I could only tell them what time the tourniquets went on. 'They said he had been "down" for however many minutes and they began what I can only describe as open heart surgery in the street.' But the efforts were unsuccessful and eight minutes later at 2.33pm, Merritt was declared dead. Usman Khan is pictured (bottom left) arriving at the prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall on November 29, 2019 A Metropolitan Police photograph of an improvised explosive device used during the terror attack at Fishmonger's Hall Mr Frost jabbed at Khan with a narwhal tusk (pictured) before tackling Khan to the ground with other members of the public Metropolitan Police photographs of a knife and tape which were shown in court yesterday as the inquest began A decorative pike, which was used by members of the public as they tackled terrorist Khan during the attack in 2019 Housekeeping supervisor Ama Otchere told the inquest that she found Khan when she went to check on crying coming from the men's toilets, and 'could see the anger in his eyes' before he stabbed his second victim while 'reciting Arabic'. Ms Otchere said that when she reached the door, Khan pushed it open and held a knife up while putting a finger to his mouth gesturing at her 'not to scream,' the inquest at Guildhall in the City of London heard today. As Ms Otchere backed away on the stairs to the cloakroom, the killer followed her before approaching a white woman, the witness said. Ms Otchere said she believed Khan was reciting lines from the Koran because he was speaking in Arabic, but she was not certain the origin of the words. She added: 'I heard a noise someone is crying in the gents toilets. I thought that maybe somebody was sick, so let me go there and check, so I tried to push the door [to the men's toilets]... and someone came out. Police officer shouted: 'Stay with us sweetheart' as medics battled to save Jack Merritt's life A policewoman shouted: 'Stay with us sweetheart' as emergency services battled to save Jack Merritt's life, the inquest heard today. The university graduate was carried out of the hall onto the junction between King William Street and Cannon Street where he was given CPR. PC Kate Langtry and PS Daniel Murphy, who responded to the incident, stayed with the victim while medics began performing surgery in the street. PC Langtry told jurors today: 'I understood him to be very severely injured at that stage.' Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest, said: 'You're saying stay with us sweetheart... You're still with Jack.' Jurors were told police entered Fishmonger's Hall at 2.08pm and carried Mr Merritt to a rendezvous point to perform first aid. CPR was stopped at 2.23pm and emergency services made the call that Mr Merritt was 'beyond saving' at 2.33pm, the inquest heard. Advertisement 'He was wearing a ash padded jacket and he was holding a knife on his right hand side. [The knife] was quite long.' Jurors heard for the first time that Khan was wearing a 'mask' as he carried out the first killing of Mr Merritt. Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest, said: 'You gestured earlier that the other movement he made was holding a finger up to his mouth.' Ms Otchere said: 'Yes'. Mr Hugh then asked: 'How did you interpret that gesture?'. 'When he saw me he wielded the knife like this and went like this [with his finger] like telling me not to scream as if someone would come,' the witness replied. Asked about Khan's demeanour, Ms Otchere said: 'No he wasn't calm. You can see from his face, you can see the anger in his face.' 'When I was going with my back he was coming towards me and then he came to the cloakroom,' she added. 'He approached a white lady.' 'And he stabbed an area which you identified as her shoulder?' Mr Hough asked. 'Yes,' Ms Otchere said. 'He was reciting the Quran.' 'So he was reciting something. Do you know it was the Koran?' the QC asked. 'It's Arabic,' Ms Otchere replied. 'Do you recognise it as passages from the Koran?' Mr Hough said. 'No,' Ms Otchere said. 'But you think it's the Koran?' Mr Hough asked. 'Yes, it's [the] Koran,' Ms Otchere replied. Earlier today, a retired judge who witnessed the terror attack told the inquest how he heard 'angry and confused' male shouts followed by 'female screams' during the rampage. John Samuels, now president of the charity Prisoner's Education Trust, described how during a comfort break he saw Ms Jones collapsed on the stairs next to a man wielding a weapon. Upon hearing screams when he stepped out onto a balcony off the main hall, he looked down to see Ms Jones 'chalk white,' the inquest heard today. 'I heard shouts and screams coming from downstairs,' Mr Samuels said. 'I think the first sound I heard were male shouts followed by female screams.' He described the male shouts as 'angry and confused', adding: 'A female who was lying collapsed on that first flight of stairs with her head on the upper staircase and her legs below.' Asked about her apparent condition, Mr Samuels said: 'I noted particularly that her face was chalk white, she appeared unconscious to me or perhaps even dead. 'The female was obstructed by a male who was standing behind her who was carrying an object as it were across his chest, above his head. I couldn't at that time identify precisely what it was, but it appeared to be used as some kind of weapon. 'Initially I thought it might have been one of the ceremonial blades that lined the staircase at Fishmonger's Hall.' 'We know a variety of weapons were used to ward off Usman Khan including a lectern, could it be one of those?' Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest, asked. 'It could well have been a lectern,' Mr Samuels replied. He then heard Dr Amy Ludlow, who oversaw the event, making a phone call amid the chaos shortly before 2pm. 'The gist of what she was shouting was police, ambulance, now,' the retired judge said. There were frantic shouts of 'there's a bomb' before guests were told to evacuate the building immediately, the inquest heard. David Robertson, who hosted the event on behalf of Fishmonger's Hall, led guests down a service staircase and out of the building onto Swan Street. Once outside, Mr Samuels heard 'a succession' of gunshots coming from London Bridge, the inquest heard. The group took shelter in a nearby solicitors' office for 40 minutes while police attended the scene, jurors heard. Jury inquests into the deaths of Mr Merritt and Ms Jones are taking place before coroner Mark Lucraft QC at Guildhall. They are due to go on for six weeks before a separate inquest into Khan's death. ADVERTISEMENT The Senate has asked the federal government and the Ebonyi State Government to put appropriate measures in place to forestall further attacks in the state. The lawmakers also condemned the activities of herdsmen which allegedly led to the recent destruction of lives and property in the state. These are some of the resolutions adopted by the Senate on Wednesday following a debate on a motion on the recent killings in the state. The motion was sponsored by Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North). The motion comes on the heels of recent attacks on residents of some communities in the state in March and April by alleged herdsmen. Some affected communities include Nkalaha, Obegu, Amazu Nkalagu, Umuhuali autonomous communities in Ishielu Local Government Areas. Over 30 people have been reportedly killed since the attacks started. Leading the debate, Mr Egwu noted that the state of insecurity in Nigeria is devastating communities and destroying lives and in Ebonyi State, saying killings, maiming, kidnapping and destruction of lives and property had now become the daily experience of the residents. On the 20th of March, 2021 over 18 indigenes of Egedege, Obegu and Amuzu communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, including a priest were gruesomely murdered in cold blood by rampaging herdsmen. On Monday, just two days ago, 12th of April 2021, herdsmen killed over 12 innocent indigenes, burnt and destroyed over 26 houses and kidnapped five people in the state. If the federal government does not intervene urgently, these wicked and senseless killings, kidnapping and destruction of property may continue, thereby subjecting innocent citizens of my state to severe hardship and terrific fear, he said. Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) and Micheal Nnachi (Ebonyi South) ,who contributed to the motions, supported the prayers. Although the police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Odah Obianuju, a deputy superintendent of police, said investigations into the killings were ongoing and the ethnic profile of the perpetrators not important, the lawmakers directed the police and other relevant security agencies to investigate the dastardly attacks in the state. It asked the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and rescue kidnapped victims that are still held captive. The Senate also asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately intervene through the provision of relief materials to the families of the victims and displaced persons in the affected communities. Upon adopting the resolutions, the lawmakers observed a minutes silence in honour of those who lost their lives during the attacks. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on April 14, 2021 2021/04/14 CCTV: Yesterday, Premier Li Keqiang held a virtual dialogue with US business leaders, where representatives of the US business community said that it is in the shared interests of both sides to avoid conflict and confrontation and bring US-China relations back onto the constructive track. Economic and trade cooperation is a cornerstone of US-China relations, they said, and "decoupling" can bring enormous instability to the two countries and even the whole world. I wonder if you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: This illustrates at least three points. First, mainstream public opinion in both countries is in favor of developing a relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. Second, economic and trade relations between China and the US are in essence mutually beneficial. Cooperation and dialogue with China, not decoupling or confrontation, is the strong aspiration of the US business community. Third, China's development and progress will remain a certain prospect for a long time to come. The US business community remains keen on cooperation with China and confident in China's growth prospects and market opportunities. I would like to stress that China-US economic and trade ties have strong roots and great resilience. Last year saw China-US trade grow against the odds amid multiple challenges. This shows that there are conditions, opportunities and needs on both sides for such cooperation. As a major developing country with a population of 1.4 billion, a 900 million-strong workforce, and 120 million market entities, China boasts a market with enormous potential, and China-US trade cooperation holds great promise. We would like to see US companies in China achieving greater success. We welcome as always businesses from all over the world including the US to take an active part in China's reform, opening-up and modernization, and will continue to facilitate their investment and operation in China. Together we can make a bigger pie of common interests, help keep industrial and supply chains secure and stable, and better realize win-win and all-win. Bloomberg: First, US climate envoy John Kerry will visit China this week, I believe he arrives today, to discuss curbing carbon emissions. Could you provide us with any details, as to who he will meet? The second question is, a US delegation will meet Taiwanese "President" Tsai Ing-wen during its trip to Taiwan. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on the US former officials' meeting with Tsai? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has released information on the matter. At China's invitation, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry visits China from April 14 to 17. During his visit, China's special envoy on climate change Xie Zhenhua will have talks with him in Shanghai. The two will have exchanges on China-US climate cooperation and COP26 of the UNFCCC. On your second question, I need to point out that Tsai Ing-wen is only head of a Chinese region. China firmly opposes all forms of official interactions between the US and the Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear. The Chinese side has lodged solemn representations with the US over the high-level government decision to send personnel to visit the Taiwan region. We urge the US side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, stop immediately all official interactions with the Taiwan region, prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to avoid further grave damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Follow-up: Did you say there will be talks between John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua? Zhao Lijian: That's right. Beijing Daily: The Japanese government yesterday officially decided to dispose of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant accident by releasing it into the sea. The ROK has summoned the Japanese ambassador in Seoul to protest. Russia expressed serious concern, calling on Japan to show transparency and responsibility. The spokesperson of the European Commission said the Japanese government should ensure absolute safety of any discharge in full compliance with its national and international obligations. But we also noted that a Japanese official claimed the water is okay to drink. And the US even thanked Japan for its "transparent efforts". Do you have any comment on that? Zhao Lijian: According to Japanese media reports, Japan plans to start releasing more than 1 million tonnes of wastewater into the sea in two years and that process is expected to last 30 years. The amount, duration, scope of affected areas and the risk level is unprecedented. Here I would like to raise three questions for the Japanese side to answer. First, has the Japanese side really heard the doubts and concerns at home and abroad? Some lawmakers from Japan's ruling party said the decision is premature at this point because nuclear wastewater should be stored for a long time rather than being dumped into the sea. In a statement of protest, the Japan Fisheries Association said the government's decision will deal a heavy blow to the industry and is "absolutely unacceptable." Protests took place across Tokyo and Fukushima yesterday, with local residents holding posters reading "Oceans are weeping; Fishes are weeping; Earth is weeping". In addition to China, the ROK, Russia and the European Union, 311 environmental groups expressed their firm opposition to Japan. The Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Japan said that the Japanese government turned its back on the clear evidence that the technology and conditions for greater storage capacity is available, they have opted for dumping the water into the Pacific Ocean. The government has taken the wholly unjust decision in total disregard of the environment. Second, is Japan's move in line with international law? Japan's decision will set a precedent for discharging treated wastewater into the ocean after a serious nuclear accident. Japan is a contracting party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and should be aware of the relevant provisions of the Convention. States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with the Convention. However, due to such factors as currents, magnitude, migratory fish, the discharge of Japan's nuclear wastewater into the sea will inevitably cause cross-border impact. In accordance with UNCLOS, the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, and the Convention on Nuclear Safety, Japan is also obliged to undertake such international obligations as notification and full consultation, environmental assessment and monitoring, preventive measures to minimize risks, and information transparency. Has Japan fulfilled all these obligations? Some say that Japan's decision was endorsed by the US. I must point out that endorsement by the US does not mean endorsement by the international community. Oddly, the US side "thanked" Japan for its efforts. Given that the US values environmental protection, it should shoulder its responsibility and urge Japan to prudently handle the disposal issue in an honest, scientific and responsible manner for the sake of marine environment and mankind's health rather than confusing right with wrong, foregoing principles and adopting double standard. Third, does the nuclear wastewater really conform to international standards? Assessment report of the IAEA expert panel says that the treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant contains other radionuclides apart from tritium. According to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the nuclear wastewater contains a total of 62 radionuclides. In August 2018, environmentalists found by analyzing data released by TEPCO that iodine-129 levels went off the chart for 60 times in the year 2017. The amount of strontium in the water is also way over the limit. It is reported that Canada has detected radioactive caesium-134 in salmon from its west coast. In waters near Hawaii, the amount of radioactive materials is twice it was before. These are signs that nuclear pollution from Fukushima may have already spread to North America. The oceans are not Japan's trash can; and the Pacific Ocean is not Japan's sewer. Japan should not expect the world to pay the bill for its treatment of wastewater. As for the individual Japanese official's remarks that the water is okay to drink, why doesn't he take a sip first? The lesson from Japan's Minamata disease is not far behind us. Many local victims have yet to walk out of the pain. Japan should not forget this tragedy, still less should it pretend to be ignorant. We strongly urge Japan to face up to its responsibility, follow the science, fulfill its international obligations and duly respond to the serious concerns of the international community, neighboring countries and its own people. It should reevaluate the issue and refrain from wantonly discharging the wastewater before reaching consensus with all stakeholders and the IAEA through full consultations. China reserves the right to make further reactions. The Paper: Recently a video clip of a 2015 interview with Sibel Edmonds, a former FBI translator, on issues relating to Xinjiang has come to light. It shows Ms. Edmonds saying, "We want to...play the minority without land (in Xinjiang)...the Chinese are gunning them down and torturing them...we put a military base there"; "We never cared about people...That's not within our interest area, unless it can be utilized, capitalized upon to get our objective". Do you have a comment? Zhao Lijian: I noticed this video clip that has drawn much attention. I'd like to play it first for those who have not watched it. (playing video) Earlier my colleague played a video clip of remarks by Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to then Secretary of State Colin Powell at the Ron Paul Institute in August 2018. He said undisguisedly that "the third reason we were there (in Afghanistan) is because there are 20 million Uyghurs (in Xinjiang). 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". I wonder whether he was accidentally spilling the beans or making a clean breast of things. But these two video clips stand as damning evidence of the aggressive and despicable conspiracy of U.S. anti-China forces to use the "lie of the century" to disrupt Xinjiang to contain China. A correspondent once asked whether we have any evidence of the US conspiring to disrupt Xinjiang and contain China. Apart from the previous two video clips, I'd like to share with you some more facts. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the institution that funded the fabrication of lies on Xinjiang, said on Twitter on December 10, 2020 that it had funded Xinjiang separatist forces since 2004. Check out this picture. (showing picture) As you can see, the map marks Xinjiang in a different color from that of other Chinese provinces and regions. Have you seen the flag up there? It's the flag of the ETIM. NED also disclosed on its website that it has funded the "World Uyghur Congress" from the so-called "East Turkestan". Take a look at this screenshot. (showing picture) Can you make out the words marked by the red circle? It reads: East Turkestan! Who refers to Xinjiang as East Turkestan? As to NED, as is known to all, it is an intermediary of the U.S. government and receives financial supports from the U.S. government and Congress. It doesn't stop at instigating unrest in Xinjiang, but engages in dirty dealings all around the globe, including in China's Hong Kong. Last year the US ambassador to Turkey also met with head of the local ETIM branch. In the video we just played, the former FBI translator said in that interview, "a lot of these people are taken out (from Xinjiang) by the Gladio operatives...they are trained, they are armed and then they are sent back". Putting things together, one cannot help but wonder, what did the US ambassador to Turkey talk about with the head of anti-China forces? What is Operation Gladio? Does the US intend to cause trouble in Xinjiang? What I just mentioned is but a drop in the ocean, or the tip of the iceberg of evidence showing systemic US efforts to implement its conspiracy to use Xinjiang to contain China. The US keeps maligning Xinjiang and weaving outrageous lies about China, but where is its evidence? Why not let facts speak? We believe more and more evidence proving how anti-China forces in the US and other Western countries are seeking to use Xinjiang to hamstring China's development will be exposed by media with integrity and people with vision. We are convinced that all rumors and lies on Xinjiang will collapse in front of facts and truth. The US should stop its wanton accusation, slandering and interference in China's domestic affairs by playing the so-called Xinjiang card. All attempts to undermine Xinjiang's harmony and stability and contain China's development are bound to fail. Xinhua News Agency: It is reported that the Intermediate People's Court of Kashgar Prefecture accepted the case of Shache Xiongying Textile Co., Ltd. suing Adrian Zenz over damaged reputation on April 2. The company requests the court to order Zenz to stop the infringement, undo the damages, restore its reputation, apologize, and compensate for the losses. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: We have debunked many times the sheer rumors on Xinjiang claimed by Adrian Zenz as so-called "research outcomes". His rumors undermined the interests of law-abiding companies and hardworking local people who have shaken off poverty in Xinjiang, and also exposed to the Chinese people and the international community how despicable Adrian Zenz and the forces behind him are. China is a country governed by law. The relevant Xinjiang company's decision to seek legal redress against Zenz reflects a stronger awareness among the Chinese citizens to safeguard their rights through the law. We support this much-applauded move. As the case progresses, we believe the Chinese people and the international community will get to know more about the contemptible moves by Zenz to concoct rumors, and the attempt of Zenz and the malicious anti-China forces behind him to disrupt Xinjiang's security and stability and impede China's development will fall apart even faster. CRI: With 97.6% of the ballots tabulated for the second round of presidential election in Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, candidate of the right-wing CREO-PSC alliance, is leading with 52.5% of the votes. Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) said the result is "irreversible". Lasso has declared victory while candidate for Union por la Esperanza (UNES) Andres Arauz has conceded defeat. Do you have any comment on this? Zhao Lijian: China has noticed the smooth presidential election in Ecuador recently. We congratulate Mr. Guillermo Lasso on his election as the President. We believe that under his leadership, Ecuador will secure new achievements in national development. China looks forward to working with the new administration in Ecuador to deepen political trust, enhance friendly exchanges and cooperation across the board and bring the China-Ecuador comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. Reuters: South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called for officials to examine ways to bring Japan's decision to release water from its Fukushima nuclear plant to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Will China consider joining South Korea in doing so? Zhao Lijian: We've repeatedly stated our position on Japan's decision to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea. We have taken note of the measures taken by the ROK. We hope Japan will take international concerns seriously. Beijing Youth Daily: On April 11, a spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that an "accident" related to the electrical system had occurred at the country's Natanz nuclear facility. Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the AEOI condemned the strike as "nuclear terrorism". What's your comment on this? Zhao Lijian: China strongly condemns the sabotage on the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran. We firmly oppose attacks on nuclear facilities, which is a grave issue and can bring unpredictable and inestimable consequences. China stands firmly for a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic means. The Iranian nuclear situation is now at a critical juncture. What's imperative is to bring the JCPOA back on track at an early date and safeguard legitimate and lawful rights and interests of all parties. We hope all sides can create enabling atmosphere and necessary conditions for this. Yomiuri Shimbun: It is expected that UNESCO will decide to adjust the assessment mechanism of the Memory of the World (MoW) program. How does China see this decision? Zhao Lijian: China appreciates UNESCO's efforts to promote comprehensive reforms to the MoW program. We hope the operation of this program can be resumed as soon as possible on this basis. We also hope that all relevant parties will uphold the purpose of the organization and program, enhance solidarity and cooperation, jointly promote the sound development of the program, and play their roles in advancing world peace. RIA Novosti: First question, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released its latest annual threat assessment. It says that Russia will remain a key space competitor and that China is working to match or exceed US capabilities in space to gain the military, economic, and prestige benefits. Do you have a comment? My second question is also in relation to this report, in which US intelligence says China is not interested in arms control agreements that restrict its attempt to expand nuclear arsenal. The report says that China intends to at least double the size of its nuclear stockpile during the next decade. What's you response? Can you confirm whether China has such a plan? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, we've noted the report. It makes a very partial interpretation of the development of China's space capabilities and claims that China poses a threat in space. The real purpose is to justify its efforts to seek hegemony in space. It is just another example showing how the US subscribes to the Cold-War mentality, hype up major power rivalry, and deflect its own responsibilities. In fact, the US itself is the top threat to outer space security. It openly defines space as a war-fighting domain, has put in place a space force and space command, develops and tests offensive counterspace systems, and plans to deploy space-based missile interceptors, exacerbating the momentum of weaponizing space and turning it into a war-fighting domain and provoking an arms race in space. Besides, it has long been stonewalling international efforts towards outer space arms control, and rejecting negotiations for conclusion of a legally-binding agreement on outer space arms control. It even singlehandedly thwarted efforts by the UN Group of Governmental Experts on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space to conclude a report. China's space exploration at a reasonable and steady pace serves to meet the needs in economic, social, technological and security fields. It is also China's contribution to mankind's exploration and development of space technology. Our capabilities pose no threat to anyone and do not breach any existing international obligations. In the meantime, China actively practices the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind in space. We advocate peaceful uses of outer space and oppose weaponization of and arms race in outer space. We believe the international community should start negotiation on an instrument on outer space arms control as soon as possible. China and Russia have jointly submitted a draft treaty on arms control in outer space to the Conference on Disarmament, providing a useful basis for international negotiation. To ensure the peaceful uses of space and prevent weaponization of and arms race in outer space is not only in the interest of all countries, but also a shared responsibility. The US should earnestly assume its responsibilities as a major power, examine its negative moves and stop attempts to paint China as a threat in outer space. It should join the international community to prevent weaponization of and arms race in outer space and contribute to lasting peace and security in space. To answer your second question, China's nuclear disarmament policy has been consistent and clear. We stand for and advocate the comprehensive prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons. China always follows the principle of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstance, and commits itself to not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally. Our nuclear force is always kept at the minimum level required by national security. Under the current situation, China's development and maintenance of limited nuclear power is necessitated by safeguarding national security, deterring nuclear warfare and upholding world peace and stability. What stands in contrast is that in recent years, the US has been investing heavily to upgrade its "nuclear triad", developing low-yield nuclear weapons, lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons, rolling out nuclear deterrence strategies tailor-made for other countries and advancing the deployment of missile defense systems. All these moves severely undermined global strategic stability. It is known to all that the US has the world's largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal. It should earnestly fulfill its special and primary responsibilities in nuclear disarmament, further drastically and substantively reduce its nuclear stockpile, so as to create conditions for realizing comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament. Some individuals and agencies in the US have been hyping up various versions of China's "military threat". This pointless attempt belies an ulterior motive. China firmly rejects it. If this US intelligence agency really cares about the issue of nuclear threat, a piece of suggestion is that it should look into the threats posed by US nuclear arsenal and policy to the world and release timely reports on that. China Daily: We understand China has paid in full its assessed contributions for the year 2021 to the UN. Could you give us more information on that? Zhao Lijian: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's legitimate rights at the UN. China has remained steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the UN-centered international system and to supporting the UN in playing an important role in international affairs. As the largest developing country, a permanent member of the Security Council and the second largest contributor to UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, China conscientiously fulfills its financial obligations to the UN. We've paid in full our assessed contributions for this year on April 13, which is a concrete step to practice multilateralism and support the UN. UN governance won't be possible without the underpinning of a strong financial foundation. All member states have the responsibility and obligation to pay their assessments in full and on time. Major countries in particular should lead by example. Multilateralism is about concrete actions, not mere rhetoric. We urge relevant countries to pay their assessments in full, on time, and without conditions to enable the UN to carry out its work and implement its mandate. It would be a concrete step to honor their commitment to multilateralism. NHK: You announced that the Chinese side will hold talks with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. What's your expectation with regard to the outcomes of the talks? Zhao Lijian: I don't have anything to offer at this moment. AFP: What is China's response to Iran's announcement that it will step up its uranium enrichment to 60% purity? Zhao Lijian: The Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical juncture. China urges all relevant parties to stay cool-headed and exercise restraint, stick to consensus on upholding the JCPOA and refrain from taking actions that will escalate tensions. The pressing task now is to work for the unconditional return of the US to the deal and revocation of all relevant sanctions, so as to create conditions for bringing the deal back on track. Reuters TV: You announced earlier that Mr. Kerry and Mr. Xie will meet in Shanghai. Could you confirm whose idea was it to have face-to-face talks, China or the US? What does China hope to get out of this? Does this meeting make a face-to-face meeting between the Chinese and US heads of state more likely? Zhao Lijian: What I can tell you is that special envoy Kerry is visiting China at the invitation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, where you may get more information if you are interested. America's leading infectious diseases expert has issued a dire warning about the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, while praising Australia's response. Dr Anthony Fauci warned no country is safe from further outbreaks until the vast majority of the world's population is vaccinated against the virus and its spread is controlled in every nation. The chief health adviser to US President Joe Biden warned about future threats of the virus and the need for the world to work together while participating in a University of New South Wales lecture via videolink on Wednesday. While lavishing praise on Australia's response, which has seen just 909 deaths across the nation related to the disease, he warned that the pandemic is far from over until every country has its spread under control. 'When you ultimately get it controlled, if you want to maintain the control, you want to have control throughout the entire world,' Dr Fauci explained. Americas top infectious diseases expert has praised 'capability and uniformity' of Australians during the pandemic. Pictured are Melburnians enjoying their post-lockdown freedom 'As long as there's the dynamic of virus replication somewhere, there will always be the threat of the emergence of variants which could then come back. 'And even though most of the rest of the world is vaccinated, it can threaten the world - that has felt that they've controlled the virus when they're still quite vulnerable. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the US National Institute of Health praised Australia on its response to the pandemic with effective lockdowns, along with the 'capability and uniformity of citizens'. 'Australia, I believe, was one of the better countries in the entire world in how you responded and unfortunately we have not done nearly as well as we should have done, Dr Fauci said. 'When you shut down, you really shut down, very effectively. 'Then when you had a situation where you opened up again, you responded quickly and efficiently and I'm sure not everybody in Australia was excited about having to shut things down but you did it in a way which was really quite uniform, but importantly, effective.' The expert praised Australia's response but warned the threat of the virus isn't over. Pictured are Sydneysiders celebrating the removal of lockout laws in Kings Cross He said vaccination will be the answer but warned the threat of public hesitancy could be a 'stumbling block' for mass vaccination. While recently elected President Biden has made the vaccine rollout a 'very top priority' in the US, Australia's rollout has been riddled with delays and bungles since it began in February. So far, 563,000 deaths in the US have been linked to the virus, with 31.4 million known cases. 'Variants are a problem, no doubt, but we are a fortunate... we now have several vaccines that are highly efficacious,' Dr Fauci said. 'The issue is we've got to get the overwhelming majority of the population vaccinated.' Dr Fauci also shared an insight into the situation in the US, admitting a lack of unity and profound divisiveness played a part in the US faring worse than other nations. Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured) says no country, including Australia, is safe from further outbreaks until the vast majority of the world's population is vaccinated against coronavirus - and its variants Dr Fauci says vaccination will be the answer. Pictured is a Sydney woman being vaccinated 'If you look at the United States, we had an inconsistent response which allowed us, unfortunately for us, to really do worse than essentially any other country, which is really extremely unfortunate,' Dr Fauci said. 'It is unfortunate we are living right now in our country in a time of profound divisiveness. I think anyone who pays any attention to what's going on in the United States sees that.' 'In some respects, that happens in different countries, but when it spills over in the middle of the worst, most historic pandemic of a respiratory disease that we've had in over 100 years, if there's anything you want, is you want people to be pulling together in uniform.' Dr Fauci says Australia was one of the best countries in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured are women on a night out in Sydney's Darlinghurst in March While Australia was once the envy of the world for its incredibly low coronavirus rates, allowing citizens to go about their ordinary lives without massive restrictions, it is now feared the nation will be left behind as the rest of the world begins to move on. Poll Do you think Australia should open its borders when people are vaccinated against Covid? Yes - we need to open up No - keep borders closed Do you think Australia should open its borders when people are vaccinated against Covid? Yes - we need to open up 854 votes No - keep borders closed 374 votes Now share your opinion International borders have been shut since March 2020 to stop the virus being brought in from overseas, and there is no known timeline for overseas travel to restart. The government has even revealed that after the majority of Australians are fully-vaccinated, it may still keep the borders shut. 'Vaccination alone is no guarantee that you can open up,' health minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday. 'If the whole country were vaccinated, you couldn't just open the borders. 'We still have to look at a series of different factors: transmission, longevity [of vaccine protection] and the global impact - and those are factors which the world is learning about.' The government's cautious approach was quickly lashed by business leaders and media commentators who said Australia has turned into a 'prison island'. About the San Francisco Chronicle article which appeared in the April 11 edition: When Mr. Phillips called, we had a conversation about the economic disparity that exits in St. Helena, my thoughts on reasons why not many Hispanics run for elected positions in St. Helena and the lack of any type of affordable housing in town. I was hoping that would be the meat of the article. I was sorry to read that my name and community service work I have done was used in a totally different tone. It is very disheartening to see my name along with an individual who claims to be prejudiced against in our town. I certainly have never felt that way growing up in this town. I thank you all of you who voted for me when a ran for City Council, I am more than satisfied with the results. I am still over the moon about all of the City Council members believing that I would be an asset for the city by appointing me to the Planning Commission. Please be assured that I will make the best decisions on behalf and for the benefit of our beautiful community and town. I am very proud to be the Mexican face in the commission and will continue to work on behalf of all the workers of St Helena so that they may afford to live here. I will continue to be vocal about that very issue. Rosaura Segura ADVERTISEMENT A military court in Burkina Faso charged former President Blaise Compaore in absentia on Tuesday in connection with the 1987 murder of his predecessor, Thomas Sankara. Mr Sankara, a revolutionary often called Africas Che Guevara, was assassinated during a bloody coup led by his former friend, Mr Compaore; one of the most infamous killings in Africas post-independence history. Mr Compaore went on to rule Burkina Faso for 27 years before being ousted in 2014, by an uprising triggered by his attempt to extend his tenure. He has previously denied any involvement in Mr Sankaras death. The trial is a landmark moment in a 34-year quest for justice, led by Mr Sankaras family and supported by many in Burkina Faso, the UK Guardian reported On Tuesday, the court charged Mr Compaore with complicity in the assassination, undermining state security and receiving cadavers, a court document seen by Reuters showed. Mr Compaore and 13 others face charges of complicity in murder and concealing the body of Mr Sankara and several aides who were killed alongside him. Mr Compaores former right-hand man, Gilbert Diendere, was also charged with several crimes related to Mr Sankaras killing, including complicity in the assassination. Mr Diendere, who has been in prison since a failed coup in 2015, was in court to hear the charges. He will enter a plea later. While in power, Mr Compaore denied calls for Mr Sankaras remains to be exhumed, but the countrys transitional government reopened the investigation in 2015. In 2016, Burkinabe authorities issued an international warrant for Mr Compaores arrest, but Ivorian authorities have rejected extradition requests for the former president who has since become a citizen of Ivory Coast.